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Horror Highlights returns with details for three very different horror-related films. Acquired after premiering at Cannes is the horror comedy Harpoon. Continue reading for release details. Also in today's Horror Highlights: news that Caroline Williams will star in Ten Minutes to Midnight and release details for Shed of the Dead, co-starring Kane Hodder.

Harpoon Trailer and Release Details: "Recently acquired out of the Cannes market for Us rights by Epic Pictures, Rob Grant’s horror comedy Harpoon is thrilled to release a new hysterically deranged sales trailer.

Repped by genre sales company Yellow Veil Pictures and coming to Dread, Epic’s celebrated genre label, the film features Munro Chambers (star of Epic Pictures’ cult hit Turbo Kid), Emily Tyra (Code Black), and Christopher Gray (The Mist), Harpoon is a black comedy about the rivalries, dark secrets, and sexual tension that amount when three best friends find themselves stranded on a...

Scream Queen Caroline Williams joined the Dead for Filth podcast as a special guest for their latest episode. In it, the panel discusses Williams' many accomplishments and more. Also in today's Horror Highlights: Hellbound Hearts: The Dark Art of Clive Barker event at The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies - London and Don't Click production details.

Dead for Filth Podcast Welcomes Caroline Williams: "Scream Queen Caroline Williams is a featured guest on the latest edition of the “Dead For Filth” podcast hosted by the extremely accomplished screenwriter/producer Michael Varrati.

Iconic Scream Queen Caroline Williams began her career in Texas, co-starring for revered cinema master Louis Malle is his Corpus Christi-based film, Alamo Bay. She worked opposite stars Ed Harris and Amy Madigan in what was her first feature film, after only six months of training at the Studio For Actors, under the tutelage of Chris Wilson. She had...

Sneak Peek footage, plus images from director Eric England's dramatic thriller "Josie" starring Sophie Turner, Dylan McDermott and Daeg Faerch:

"..'Hank', a solitary man living a dull existence in a sleepy, Southern town raises eyebrows...

"...when he develops a questionable relationship with 'Josie'...

"...a new student at the local high school..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Josie"....

Sneak Peek footage, plus images from director Eric England's dramatic thriller "Josie" (aka "Huntsville") starring Sophie Turner, Dylan McDermott and Daeg Faerch:

"..'Hank', a solitary man living a dull existence in a sleepy, Southern town raises eyebrows...

"...when he develops a questionable relationship with 'Josie'...

"...a new student at the local high school..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Josie"....

“Josie,” the incomprehensibly stupid new movie from director Eric England (“Contracted”), features a scene wherein Dylan McDermott asks a turtle how it’s doin’. Later, beloved character actor Kurt Fuller calls a turtle a “goddamned idiot” and further exclaims, “you stupid fucking turtle!” Sophie Turner’s titular character, on the other hand, thinks turtles are “so cute.” “Josie” is at its best when its characters are voicing their opinions on turtles.

From the voiceover drawl of Dylan McDermott's loner to the edge-of-town motel where he meets Sophie Turner's femme fatale, the genre pieces are set up so clearly in Josie that they border on parody. Working from Anthony Ragnone II's Black List screenplay Huntsville, director Eric England stirs up a modicum of mystery surrounding the central duo, but the tension quickly devolves into an empty tease.

At various moments throughout the movie, Turner and McDermott suggest something far more complicated and messy than the noir-tinged exercise that unfolds. McDermott conveys a sense of self-imposed exile as Hank, who lives a quiet...

Josie Trailer Eric England‘s Josie (2018) movie trailer stars Sophie Turner, Dylan McDermott, and Jack Kilmer. Josie‘s plot synopsis: “Everyone knows everyone in Huntsville. So when tattooed, sweet-talking Josie (Sophie Turner) struts into town, heads turn. Striking up relationships with young punk Gator and loner Hank (Dylan McDermott), she quickly becomes a hot topic of local [...]

Continue reading: Josie (2017) Movie Trailer: Sophie Turner & Dylan McDermott Form a Relationship in Huntsville...

"There's some rumors about you..." Screen Media Films has debuted the first official trailer for an indie thriller titled Josie, starring Sophie Turner (as seen in Barely Lethal, X-Men: Apocalypse, and on "Game of Thrones") as the titular character Josie. The film's plot is actually focused on a mysterious man named Hank, played by Dylan McDermott, who keeps a close eye on her. Josie stirs things up when she arrives in a Southern town called Huntsville, and Hank takes a liking to her, attempting to protect her from a boy she's been spending time with. The film's full cast includes Jack Kilmer, Daeg Faerch, Kurt Fuller, Robin Bartlett, Lombardo Boyar, and George Todd McLachlan. Yeah, this looks like a totally compelling Southern thriller, with a strong lead performance by Turner, who also plays Phoenix in the X-Men movies. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Eric England's Josie, direct...

Screen Media Films has nabbed North American distribution rights to director Eric England's thriller Josie, toplined by Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner, Dylan McDermott and Jack Kilmer. The film, based on the Black List script Huntsville by Anthony Ragnone, will be released day-and-date in theaters in March. It follows the tattooed, sweet-talking stranger Josie (Turner) who, upon arriving to a small, southern town, strikes up relationships with local young punk Marcus…...

Writer/director Eric England has made a name for himself in the horror genre by bending familiar genres into new and unique shapes, whether it's his debut feature Madison County, a take on the slasher movie mixed with ’70s survival horror, or 2013's Contracted, his version of a body horror film and more (although to say exactly what would spoil one of that movie's best surprises). England's fourth feature, Get the Girl, continues this tradition of genre-bending by mashing up a dark comedy, heist movie, crime thriller, and romance into one slick, sharp package.

Daily Dead recently spoke with England (listen below) about the process of writing and directing Get the Girl and how it differs from his previous work. As always, England is candid and funny in talking about his movie—arguably his most accomplished effort to date.

Get the Girl is available on VOD and iTunes now. Genre fans should totally watch it.

Welcome back to the Weekend Warrior, your weekly look at the new movies hitting theaters this weekend, as well as other cool events and things to check out.

This Past Weekend:

As per my Thursday update, M. Night Shyamalan’s thriller Split ended up winning the weekend but with way more than anyone, including myself, predicted, with more than $40 million for its opening weekend. That’s pretty impressive, and his first movie to open at that level since 2010’s The Last Airbender. Meanwhile, Vin Diesel’s sequel xXx: The Return of Xander Cage ended up making around where I predicted, taking second place with $20.1 million, not a great sign for the continuation of that franchise. Michael Keaton’s The Founder ended up right around where I predicted with $3.4 million, ending up just outside the Top 10. Hidden Figures, La La Land and Sing continued to do well with minimal drop-offs.

This...

Capturing the attention of the person you’re romantically interested in can be a challenge, especially when they barely know who you are amongst all the people who are vying for their attention. Deciding to take extreme measures to spark their interest may initially seem like a satisfying way to become noticed, but when the truth […]

The post Interview: Eric England Talks Get the Girl (Exclusive) appeared first on Shockya.com.

"Love" goes awry in Eric England's Get the Girl, a new film hitting theaters in January from Orion Pictures. A poster for the movie was recently released, and we have it to share with readers at the top of today's Highlights, which also includes a poster for Parasites and release details for Claire in Motion.

Get the Girl Poster & Release Details: “In Get The Girl, a wealthy young man is conned into staging a fake kidnapping in order to be a hero and win the affection of a girl he's madly in love with. But when one of the hired kidnappers is accidentally killed during the charade, he's forced to actually save her life while not revealing that it's been a ruse all along.”

Written and directed by Eric England, Get the Girl stars Justin Dobies, Elizabeth Whitson, Noah Segan, Adi Shankar, and Scout Taylor-Compton. Orion Pictures will release...

Jesse Burks and Eric England’s new project, Cured, stars Michael Berryman and Scout Taylor-Compton, and we have photos and impressions of the exorcism short film. In Wayward Pines, there’s one road in and no road out, and another teaser has dropped hyping fans of Fox’s Wayward Pines for the second season that premieres on Wednesday, May 25th. Also: a trailer and release details for Incarnate and six preview pages as well as cover art for the graphic novel Death Follows.

Cured Impressions and Photos: Tied and gagged on a gurney, The Possessed is carted down a hallway by four solemn women. They cart her into a room to see The Surgeon, leaving her writhing below a pair of overhead lights before backing out the door. Eyes wide and wearing a surgical mask and cap, The Surgeon turns around to greet his latest guest. He is accompanied by a tray of tools,...

Trailer and stills from new short horror film Cured. Having its world premiere at the Shock co-presented Fantastic Cinema and Craft Beer Film Festival in Little Rock, Arkansas next month is Cured, an eerie surgery-meets-possession based chiller from co-directors Eric England (Contracted, Madison County) & Jesse Burks (One Please) and starring horror icon Michael Berryman…

The post Trailer Premiere, Exclusive Stills from Michael Berryman-Starring Short Cured appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

“Babe, you made the best choice ever! You won’t regret this, I promise.” Created by Mezco Toyz, this Tiffany doll—based on her look from Bride of Chucky—speaks six phrases and is available to pre-order now. Also in this round-up: a Q&A with Kevin Riepl, the composer of the Cabin Fever reboot, and the Blu-ray details for the 1993 horror thriller The Crush!

Bride of Chucky Doll: From Mezco Toyz: “First introduced in the film Bride Of Chucky, Tiffany was the devoted girlfriend of killer Charles Lee Ray before his soul transferred into the ‘Good Guy’ doll that would come to be known as Chucky. After Chucky ended up in a police evidence vault, Tiffany used her feminine wiles to rescue him. When Chucky electrocutes her in a bathtub, he transfers her soul into a bridal doll. Now trapped in a doll body, Tiffany joins Chucky on his...

Coalition Group has set Boardwalk Empire‘s Shea Whigham and The Witch‘s Anya Taylor-Joy to star star in Huntsville, a 2014 Black List script by Anthony Ragnone that will be directed by Eric England (Contracted). The Witch plays the Toronto Film Festival tomorrow after premiering at Sundance and getting bought by A24. Huntsville centers on Hank (Whigham), a solitary man living a dull existence in the sleepy, Southern town of Sebring, Fl. Eyebrows are raised when he…...

One of the biggest surprises of 2013 for me was Contracted – Eric England’s tight little body-horror flick about a “Patient Zero” who hopes to destroy mankind by spreading a deadly Std. Weaker stomachs might have to watch most of the action through interwoven fingers, but as a contagion thriller, England’s style ensures that societal horrors come first and foremost.

Fast-forward two years, and we’re here to discuss Contracted: Phase II, a sequel that doesn’t see any involvement from England himself. First-time screenwriter Craig Walendziak and music video director Josh Forbes (you know, the guy who totally had an awful time at the MTV VMAs) take over as the creative team behind IFC Midnight’s hopeful successor, which provides the opportunity for a refreshing new take on England’s origin. Contracted is only the beginning of the end! Walendziak and Forbes had limitless possibilities for their world-continuing biological disaster,...

Today, Contracted: Phase II is set to infect theaters and VOD courtesy of IFC Midnight. Directed by Josh Forbes, the sequel stars Matt Mercer (who appeared in the original Contracted), Morgan Peter Brown, Anna Lore and Marianna Ralka. In the first film, audiences were introduced to a savage infection that caused the mental and physical breakdown of one of the infected and for Contracted: Phase II, the implications of the virus (and the mysterious man behind it all) are revealed to be something much bigger and more dangerous than anyone was ever prepared for.

Daily Dead recently chatted with Forbes about his involvement in Contracted: Phase II and discussed the pressures of directing a sequel, collaborating with the film’s stars and much more.

I'm curious, just because I noticed this was your first feature, how did you end up getting involved with Contracted: Phase II? Was this something that was brought to you?...

Seeing the final cut of Contracted Phase II should make for an interesting experience. Eric England writer and director of the first Contracted has gone on record and expressed a lessthanpositive opinion of the flick. Trailers look intriguing. What are we really going to see here and will it not only follow but play faithful in tone and direction to Englands original picture We just dont know yet but were getting awfully close to learning the truth.

Contracted (2013), from director Eric England, dealt with a very contagious sexually transmitted infection. In Contracted: Phase II, that disease is continuing to spread. Though, England has passed the director's chair to Josh Forbes. This next film focuses on the disease ridden character Riley. Recently, the film's first action packed trailer was released; horror fans can find it below. More story details can be found in the trailer. However, the synopsis mentions that this second film picks up right where the first left off. Riley (Matt Mercer), contaminated by Samantha (Najarra Townsend), is searching for a cure to his illness, which is ravaging his body. Meanwhile, the infection is spreading through much of Los Angeles, with no one immune. IFC Films will distribute this title. Contracted: Phase II will be available September 4th, 2015, through Video-on-demand. And, the film will see a few select theatres, likely in La. Fans of zombie thrillers...

The very final moments of Eric England’s 2013 Std body horror film, Contracted delivered an twist, which pushed the film—if just briefly—into a whole different subgenre. Will Contracted: Phase II follow accordingly, or keep its small portrait of decomposition? Its splattery trailer suggests: both. Matt Mercer returns in the sequel, now directed by Josh Forbes and written…

The post Contracted: Phase II Trailer Spreads appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

With more and more people staying in and firing up movies on VOD, smaller movies now have a chance to find an audience and following. That's the case for the 2013 horror flick "Contracted," which has been green-lit for a sequel after it had a strong showing with viewers on demand. Today we've got the exclusive, intense teaser for the follow-up, "Contracted: Phase II." Eric England has moved on from the director's chair, passing the torch to Josh Forbes who guides the first film's stars Matt Mercer and Alice MacDonald through the next chapter. The story follows follows Riley, one of the last people to come in contact with Samantha, who is carrying a dangerous disease, as he scrambles to track down those responsible for the outbreak. Riley must find them before the highly contagious disease not only consumes his body, but the world as we know it. "Contracted: Phase II" arrives on September 4th.

In 2013, filmmaker Eric England broke out with indie horror, Contracted, a film which intrigued and repulsed many audiences on subject matter alone. The Najarra Townsend-starring Std terror was England’s third film as director, but only second to be released. Between his 2011 Arkansas slasher debut Madison County and the Los Angeles-based Contracted lie a…

The post Q&A: Contracted Director Eric England on Thriller, Roadside appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

Contracted

Stars: Najarra Townsend, Charley Koontz, Matt Mercer, Alice Macdonald, Katie Stegeman, Caroline Williams | Written and Directed by Eric England

Contracted, originally screened at Frightfest back in 2013, stars Najarra Townsend as Samantha, a young woman who contracts something nasty after being date-raped at a party. Over the course of a few short days, she begins bleeding from pretty much every orifice and quite literally falling to bits. Her already fragile relationships with her friends, colleagues and mother (Caroline Williams) also start to break down as she refuses to seek help and becomes increasingly isolated.

The body horror elements within the film were really well done – that is to say, very icky. Cronenberg fans will be well satisfied with the deterioration of the flesh on display here. The film’s portrayal of an insular and personal crisis is well done. Samantha is on a self-destructive path in addition to the horrifying illness she finds herself with.

We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting the recent independent news sent our way. Today’s feature includes new photos of Megafoot, DVD release details for Coyote, a trailer for Muck and Red Christmas, a look at The Real Housewives of Horror Post Mortem show, and more:

First Photos from Megafoot Released: “Megafoot is a top-secret killing monstrosity (half Machine, half Bigfoot, all Terror!), which has recently escaped from the highly covert laboratory where it was created. An elite squad of soldiers has been sent to track and destroy the sadistic sasquatch before it wreaks its horrific vengeance on the human race. Expect action, suspense, creative kills and gore-soaked thrills in a movie that’s bigger than big… it’s Megafoot!

After months of rampant excitement, Ship To Shore Media, in connection with studio Epic Pictures, have finally given us a look at the Megafoot beast in anticipation of the upcoming creature-feature!

Los Angeles (December Xx, 2014) – Image Entertainment, an Rlj Entertainment (Nasdaq: Rlje) brand, has acquired all Us rights to the action thriller Roadside. Written and directed by Eric England (Madison County, Contracted), the film stars Ace Marrero (“Scorpion,” “Body of Proof”), Katie Stegeman (Madison County, Contracted), Lionel D. Carson (“The Unit”) and Jack E. Curenton (“Tim and Eric Awesome Show”). Mark Ward, Rlj Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Acquisitions for the Image brands, made the announcement today.

“The suspense and timing of the … Continue reading →

Horrornews.net...

The deal covers North American rights to the thriller starring Fran Kranz. Separately Sundance Selects has picked up The Search For General Tso, Image Entertainment has acquired Roadside and WellGo USA has set a Us release date for Supremacy.

Jack Bryan directed The Living, about a man who takes out a hit on his sister’s abusive husband. Jocelin Donahue, Chris Mulkey, Joelle Carter and Kenny Wormald round out the key cast.

Producers Jack Bryan, Laura DuBois and John Snyder brokered the acquisition with monterey media managing partner Scott Mansfield.

Sundance Selects has picked up North American rights to Ian Cheney’s documentary and Tribeca 2014 world premiere The Search For General Tso and will release theatrically and on VOD on January 2. Cinetic Media represented the filmmakers. Image Entertainment has acquired all Us rights to Eric England’s action thriller Roadside starring Ace Marrero, Katie Stegeman, Lionel D Carson and Jack E Curenton. Elias Axume of international...

Featuring a plot that amplifies people’s fears of STDs, Eric England’s Contracted has done well on VOD, with its potent combination of unsettling decomposition and keen social commentary attracting a steady stream of viewers. The home media response to Contracted has been successful enough for IFC Midnight to move forward with a sequel, Contracted: Phase II, which will follow both familiar and new faces.

Deadline reports that IFC Midnight is developing Contracted: Phase II with Josh Forbes in the director’s chair. The sequel will mark Forbes’ first feature film, working off a script by Craig Walendziak.

Eric England, who wrote and directed Contracted, is not attached to the sequel. The follow-up film will see the return of characters Riley (Matt Mercer) and Alice (Alice Macdonald). In addition to Mercer and Macdonald, the sequel’s cast includes Peter Cilella, Marianna Palka, Morgan Peter Brown, Laurel Vail, Anna Lore and Suzanne Voss.

Exclusive: After seeing strong VOD returns from last year’s Std horror flick Contracted, IFC Midnight is springing for its sequel, Contracted: Phase II. Writer-director Eric England’s first film was an original low-budget take on the zombie genre about a young woman in rapid decay after picking up an icky, mysterious disease from a one-night stand. The sequel continues where Contracted left off, as newly-infected Riley (Matt Mercer) scrambles to track down those responsible for the outbreak and discovers a larger conspiracy that threatens to infect the world.

England’s not involved in the follow-up, which is already in production in La; he’s currently filming indie comedy Get The Girl. Instead, BoulderLight Pictures producers J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules tapped new blood to helm the sequel, hiring newcomer Josh Forbes to direct from a script by first-timer Craig Walendziak.

Contracted co-stars Matt Mercer and Alice MacDonald are back,...

Eric England - director of Madison County and Contracted - has embarked on his next feature Get the Girl. The film is said to be a "dark comedy" and it's presently shooting in the Los Angeles area.

Per Variety, Scout Taylor-Compton (pictured, Halloween II), Justin Dobies, Elizabeth Wilson, Noah Segan, Adi Shankar, Jerry Purpdrank and James Landry Hebert star.

The post Scout Taylor-Compton Joins Contracted Helmer’s Get the Girl appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

Would you like to wear a Hannibal TV series t-shirt, hang out with Norrie from Under the Dome and Sophia from The Walking Dead, or experience a professionally taught two-hour stunt training session? If your answer is “all of the above”, then you’re in for a real treat, because these are only a few opportunities offered in Mental Fitness, Inc.’s online summer auction, with all proceeds going to a good cause: raising awareness for and properly treating mental health obstacles.

With all bids due by July 13th at 6 Pm Est/3 Pm Pst, this summer charity auction features nearly a dozen horror items and experiences, ranging from an autographed t-shirt to Skype calls to lunch with the star of Asian School Girls. We have the official press release with full details, as well as images of some of the items (courtesy of Mental Fitness, Inc.!):

“Hey horror fans,...

Around this time last year, Chiller premiered their anthology film Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear, which included short films from the likes of Eric England (Contracted), Emily Hagins (Pathogen) and even Pet Sematary's Gage Creed, Miko Hughes.

This year they're at it again, with the premiere looming for the follow-up Chilling Visions: 5 States of Fear.

The second installment in the series is set for premiere on July 11th at 9pm Est, of course exclusively on Chiller TV. The anthology features five short films that are each set in a different state, thus the title, and which center on five different basic human fears.

Check out the full roster of included shorts below, and set your DVRs!

Sandy - Fear of Ego Death - Written & Directed by Brett Simmons Produced By, Brett Simmons, Andrew Ducote, Kellen Moore for Brett Simmons Productions

The Trouble With Dad - Fear of...

For his latest feature, indie filmmaker Eric England takes a look at the horrific consequences of unprotected sex, how society values women and the demise of humanity’s concern for the well-being of others. A thoughtful and wonderfully cringe-inducing body horror story, Contracted is an often frightening and nasty exploration of isolation and desperation that grabs hold from the start and doesn’t let up until the film’s bitter conclusion.

Contracted follows a young waitress named Samantha (Najarra Townsend), who hits up a friend’s party only to be drugged and raped, awakening the next morning with little memory of the man who assaulted her. At first she believes she’s suffering from a really bad hangover, but soon enough Sam’s body begins to undergo some rather grotesque transformations unlike any sort of Std you were ever taught about in health class. As Samantha attempts to hide her ailments from everyone around her,...

Eric England's Contracted (review) hit like a mighty punch to the jaw to the horror genre, and lord knows we were desperately in need of a good jolt. Now, like any good swing for the fences, a sequel is on its way as a means to recapture the agony and arterial spray!

"IFC has asked us for a sequel," said filmmaker England to FEARnet. "I told the producers I wasn't interested because I never envisioned a sequel in the first place but [said] if I came up with an idea that I felt lived up to or surpassed the first film and [that I] was passionate about, I would."

"It took about a month or so of convincing, but I finally turned in a pitch after an idea came to me. Now, it's just up to the business side of things - if it makes sense for them and for us."

England...

Ever since it's release via IFC Midnight on March 18, 2014, filmmaker Eric England's indie 'body horror' flick Contracted has been burning up DVD and VOD, and we've got first word on the successful feature's inevitable sequel.

Starring Najarra Townsend, Caroline Williams (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), Alice Macdonald, Katie Stegeman, Matt Mercer, Charley Koontz, Simon Barrett, Ruben Pla, Dave Holmes and Celia Finkelstein, Contracted revolves around a 20's something Los Angeleno (Townsend), who finds herself infected with a rather potent sexual disease after being date-raped at a party.

"IFC has asked us for a sequel," filmmaker England, whose previously wrote and directed the genre feature Madison County, told us this morning of a potential follow-up to Contracted.

"I told the producers I wasn't interested, because I never envisioned a sequel in the first place, but if I came up with an idea that I felt lived up to or surpassed the first...

By Jennica Lynn Johnson, MoreHorror.com

In college, I remember taking a class in which the professor showed a public service announcement that warned young adults about date-rape. The overall message—like in any stranger-danger warning—was that the effects of the incident don’t end with the morning-after guilt and that there is a fair chance that it could have been prevented all together.

It could be easily said that Contracted (2013) is like an hour and a half-long PSA, but it digs so much deeper than that. It reveals the daily self-consciousness and indignity endured by many women and the great lengths to which they are willing to go in order to achieve love and acceptance.

Written and directed by Eric England (Madison County), Contracted tells the story of Samantha, a young woman uncertain of her sexuality and desperate to rekindle her relationship with her girlfriend Nikki. While at a friend’s party,...

Chicago – We’ve all seen the girl at the party. You know the one who catches your eye as she walks by. She’s beautiful but alone, looks a little lost, and, sadly, almost always winds up with some other guy. Eric England introduces us to such a girl at the beginning of his film “Contracted” and then spends the rest of the movie’s runtime punishing the hell out of her as a mysterious and fast moving Std eats away at all the things that had us looking in the first place.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The genius of England is he’s able to keep us looking as that pretty face disintegrates because the real problem is something else. Sam is subject to a perfect storm of rape culture, personal insecurities and friends and family determined to bring her into line with their own agendas. Where it all ends up is not entirely unpredictable.

It's often pretty interesting when a smart male filmmaker tells a horror story that's about women. Directors like Eric England (Contracted), Paul Solet (Grace), or Lucky McKee (May, The Woman, etc.) But wouldn't it be a cool switch to see a horror story about a man that was written and directed by a woman? I say hell yes it would.   Granted, Leigh Janiak's debut, Honeymoon, isn't strictly about a man; it's actually about a newlywed couple who arrive at an old family cabin to enjoy a sweet, old-fashioned honeymoon together. But beyond that, Honeymoon is about a young woman who seems to change into a new person overnight -- and the poor devoted husband who knows something is wrong, but has no idea how to figure it out.   The premise is simple and the presentation is admirably low-key, but it's in the screenplay department (which Ms. Janiak wrote with...

IFC has announced that Eric England’s Contracted is headed to DVD in March and we have a look at the cover art. At this time, it does not appear that the film will come along with any bonus features, but we’ll let readers know if we hear anything. The movie is already available on VOD & digital services and will be released to DVD on March 18th.

“Contracted tells the cautionary tale of Samantha (Townsend), a twenty‐something party girl with little discipline and even less direction. After experiencing a lapse in her relationship with her lover (Stegeman), she’s forced to move back in with her overbearing mother (Williams). Samantha’s only means to escape seems to come in the form of a flower competition that she’s determined to win. Things take a turn for the worse when Samantha spends the night with mysterious man (Barrett), leaving...

Eric England's Contracted (review), which grossed us out something fierce, has been available On Demand for a few months now, but we've just gotten word that it's headed to home video soon courtesy of IFC Films.

Look for the film on DVD March 18th, and check out the trailer if you haven't yet seen it!

Synopsis:

Contracted tells the terrifying tale of a young girl who has a one-night stand with a stranger, contracting what she thinks is a sexually transmitted disease, but it is actually something far worse. As things begin to crumble around her, she's sent on a disturbing and bloodcurdling journey, sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

The film is directed by Eric England (Madison County) and features a who's who of horror film and television thesps including Najarra Townsend (2005's hit indie Me And You And Everyone We Know, "90210"), Caroline Williams (Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Hatchet III,...

Stop-motion artist Trent Shy just checked in with his unique take on the poster for Eric England's Contracted, an itchy new flick that will make you question just how close you should get with your valentine today!

Look for the film on VOD outlets now (including iTunes, Xbox, PlayStation, Amazon Instant Video, GooglePlay, SundanceNow, and more).

Synopsis:

Contracted tells the terrifying tale of a young girl who has a one-night stand with a stranger, contracting what she thinks is a sexually transmitted disease, but it is actually something far worse. As things begin to crumble around her, she's sent on a disturbing and bloodcurdling journey, sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

The film is directed by Eric England (Madison County) and features a who's who of horror film and television thesps including Najarra Townsend (2005's hit indie Me And You And Everyone We Know, "90210"), Caroline Williams...

With four feature films already under his belt in the last few years, including Madison County and Contracted, Eric England is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the world of horror. And he's got two more headed our way. Read on for details!

Deadline reports that England, who was just signed by the Gersh Agency, is next set to direct the Tj Cimfel-scripted Hellbent, and he's also actively developing another horror film, called The Sirens.

Hellbent centers around a woman who joins a rescue crew to look for her husband after a mining accident and instead discovers a demonic presence.

As for The Sirens, that one is about a group of deep-sea fishermen who encounter four mysterious young women and get hooked into a ritual sacrifice.

Keep 'em coming, England!

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Hear the sirens in the comments section below.

Tagline: "Not Your Average One Night Stand." Director/writer: Eric England. Cast: Najarra Townsend, Caroline Williams, Alice Macdonald, Katie Stegeman and Matt Mercer. Sometimes horror films are morality plays. They warn you away from certain behaviours. Sometimes horror films play on a viewer's fears. Eric England's (Madison County) Contracted is a little bit of both of these concepts. Contracted involves one character's struggle to deal with a sexual infection. Samantha's (Najarra Townsend) devolvement into something monstrous puts the film squarely into body horror, while the consequences of unprotected sex reach a nightmarish conclusion. Contracted is a dramatic indie horror film, which will unsettle much of the film's target audience. The film begins with a scene of necrophilia, but quickly transitions to Sam and her struggles. Sam is a normal girl, dealing with some relationship issues. She is newly bisexual and quickly seduced into casual sex, with the help of intoxicants.

In Contracted a 20-something girl gets what she thinks is an Std after a night of reckless partying… turns out, it’s far worse than anything she could ever have imagined. Writer-director Eric England puts a strange, sexual new twist on the zombie genre, and he’s here to explain how and why!

Dread Central: Ok, so let’s face it… Contracted (review here) isn’t for everybody. How’s reaction to the film been so far?

Eric England: Really positive actually. I am really happy with how they…. I don’t wanna say I am shocked, but I don’t think you go in thinking they are going to love it. It’s been really good.

DC: I would have to say I was shocked, I will use the word, because it's not the kind of movie that is just another viral zombie thing… you really put a unique slant on it.

Eric England’s “Contracted” has the potential to turn into a truly disturbing slice of bodily horror a la some of David Cronenberg’s best work. The tale of a lesbian woman who literally starts falling apart after a sexual encounter at a party could have been a commentary on sexuality, a riff on our national obsession with looking perfect, a cautionary tale about drinking, or even just a twisted slice of grotesque horror.

It ends up all and none of the above thanks to a dull script and style-less direction from England. The filmmaker is lucky that the fearless Najarra Townsend keeps the piece from crumbling entirely.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

Townsend stars as Samantha, a girl who seems like she might be on the edge of a mental collapse before the physical one that overtakes her in the film. She’s leaving messages for her girlfriend Nikki (Katie Stegeman) that are...

On November 22nd Eric England's new film Contracted (review) arrived in limited theaters and VOD outlets (including iTunes, Xbox, PlayStation, Amazon Instant Video, GooglePlay, SundanceNow, and more) via IFC Midnight, and we got a chance to speak with the film's star, Najarra Townsend.

Dread Central: Eric told me that you are quite a trooper considering all the makeup and everything you had to go through. Can you tell me a little bit about what that process was like for you, having to sort of do your thing without being able to see?

Najarra Townsend: We luckily had an amazing special effects artist. She just made everything comfortable. I feel like this could have been a disaster for my face, but luckily she was awesome. I just found it to be really fun. I mean, there were challenges that came with it, [but] even the not seeing kind of helped with my character.

A couple years ago a wide-eyed, energetic director popped out on the scene with his gore-filled horror flick “Madison County,” unleashing it onto unsuspecting audiences. Now he continues to surprise and terrify us with his latest creepy creation, “Contracted.” It’s been an uphill battle for Eric England and company as they pieced together this passion project that turned a lot bigger and better than people expected to find. Now we’re at the start of the movie’s release and we wanted to find out a bit more information about this gross-out new horror flick. Two years ago I spoke with Eric England about his breakout film, but the director has changed [ Read More ]

The post Interview: Eric England On The Creation Of ‘Contracted’ appeared first on Shockya.com.

As Contracted begins, there's a whiff of after-school special about it. Writer-director Eric England draws a causal line from peer pressure to drinking to roofies and unprotected sex with a predatory lurker.

Samantha (Najarra Townsend) soon starts exhibiting symptoms

of a supergerm Std: extreme vaginal bleeding, chills, reddened eyes, and more. (Much more, but some body-horror moments shouldn't be spoiled.) Her deterioration is profound, but no one, including her doctor, seems to recognize that she needs to go to the ER. (When she looks conventionally sick, they say so; later, when she looks downright hideous, a few friends still mack on her.)

There are signals that something more is going on under the surface: Two significant but unrelated characters have tatto...

Remember all those times where you didn’t use a condom during sex and spent the next few days anxiously waiting to find out if you’d be welcoming an unexpected child into your life? I know, that’s enough of a horror movie right there, thinking about the responsibility of taking care of another life, but Contracted is worse – oh, so much worse. I firmly believe that Eric England’s body-horror flick should be shown in high schools around the world when the importance of using protecting is discussed in Sex Ed classes, because having an Std is one thing, but the thought of contracting whatever the hell this Std is will probably cause any sexually active viewers to carry a whole box of condoms on their person at all times.

Samantha (Najarra Townsend) is a hot young thing currently on the rocks with her bartender “girlfriend” Nikki (Katie Stegeman...