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An intimate family drama masquerading as a classic creature feature, Jonathan Cuartass 2020 My Heart Cant Beat Unless You Tell It To is a refreshing twist on the vampire genre. The film follows three siblings struggling to maintain a semblance of normality while the youngest brother, Thomas (Owen Campbell), lives as a vampire. Jessie (Ingrid Sophie Schram) sends out Dwight (Patrick Fugit) to kidnap and kill homeless people to feed Thomas. As the routine begins to strain the family, the human siblings prove more frightening than their vampire brother.

One of the all-time foundational fixtures in horror is the vampire. That means over a century’s worth of bloodsuckers in film, in various styles and mythology, from across the globe.

As prominent as this movie monster is, with dozens of adaptations of Bram Stoker’s Dracula alone, there’s an overwhelming selection of vampire fare that makes it easy for many worthwhile gems to fall through the cracks. This week’s streaming picks are dedicated to underseen vampire horror movies worth seeking out.

As always, here’s where you can stream them this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

Mr. Vampire – The Criterion Channel – Plex, the Roku Channel

This supernatural genre-bender from director Ricky Lau stands far apart from standard vampire fare thanks to its comedy, martial arts, and jiangshi. Taoist priest Master Kau (Lam Ching-ying) guards the realm of the living by maintaining control...

Four new Dark Sky Films titles have been added to our massive Screambox library, which already includes Willow Creek, Minor Premise, and The Deeper You Dig (details); Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary, Landlocked, and Possum (details); Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer 1 & 2, and Emelie (details); Stake Land, Summer of Blood, & Bitter Feast (details); and Wake Wood, Eaten Alive and Sleep Tight (details). Holy shit, right?!

The final batch of films is now streaming on Screambox and begins with Pollyanna McIntosh‘s Darlin’ (review), which she wrote, directed and stars in(!).

“In this sequel to Bloody Disgusting’s The Woman, a feral teenage girl is taken into strict Catholic care and prepared for her First Holy Communion.”

“Found at a Catholic hospital filthy and ferocious, feral teenager Darlin’ (Lauryn Canny) is whisked off to a care home run by The Bishop and his obedient nuns where she is to be tamed into a “good girl.

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

Days (Tsai Ming-liang)

Not a huge amount takes place at the beginning of Days. The opening exchanges are elemental: wind blows; rain patters; grass shivers; a boy in pink shorts plays with fire. But then not a huge amount happens after. The movie is the latest from director Tsai Ming-liang, a Malaysia-born filmmaker and master of slow burns; and a key figure in the second wave of Taiwanese New Cinema. What Tsai does do–and better than most–is long takes; beautiful compositions; urban bustle; gorgeous color; neon light–as well as capture touch, sexuality and the human body. – Rory O. (full review)

Where to Stream: Mubi (free for 30 days) (note: Tsai’s Afternoon is also streaming)

Fourteen (Dan Sallitt)

There is an uncomfortable,...

To celebrate the release of My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To, which is streaming and on digital download from next week, we sat down with the star of the film Patrick Fugit to find out more about this hugely surprising film.

Set in the modern-day, the film concerns a family of siblings – Dwight (Patrick Fugit), Jessie (Ingrid Sophie Schram), and younger brother Thomas (Owen Campbell) – who are facing an impossible dilemma that eats at them every day. Thomas is fighting for his life but no medicine will help him, for he can only survive on human blood. Immediately, you may be thinking that the film is a standard vampire film, but Jonathan Cuartas assured debut is so much more than that – in fact, it’s almost an after-thought.

Fugit told us about receiving the script with no prior knowledge of what it was about and within the first ten pages,...

Stars: Patrick Fugit, Ingrid Sophie Schram, Owen Campbell, Moises L. Tovar, Judah Bateman, Katie Preston | Written and Directed by Jonathan Cuartas

It will be of no surprise to many that what drew me to this movie is the rather long but very awesome title. I guess many people would see it as a bit self indulgent but for me it conjures up so many thoughts and ideas to what kind of movie it might be and it simply made me want to watch the film. My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To has much more going for it than just a great title though.

It’s a story that I don’t want to go into too much for fear of spoilers but it’s a pretty simple idea in which two siblings are looking after their younger, frail and ill brother. But the things they have...

Following its screening at the Tribeca Film Festival, My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To is now available in theaters and on digital services thanks to Dark Sky Films. Here's a look at an exclusive clip from the film:

"Dwight (Patrick Fugit) prowls the streets after dark. He searches each night for the lonely and forlorn, looking for people who won't be missed. Dwight takes no joy in this, but he needs their blood. Without fresh human blood, his fragile young brother Thomas cannot survive. Each death takes a larger toll, the burden of his crimes weighing heavier each time, threatening to crack his spirit. But Thomas (Owen Campbell) and his sister Jessie (Ingrid Sophie Schram) are all the family Dwight has left, and as a fiercely private and close-knit family unit, they depend on him and the rituals they've learned in order to keep their secret. But...

Blood’s thicker than the mud in the family affair that is My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To, a contemporary vampire tale utterly stripped of the genre’s romance. In place of mythic hoohah, writer-director Jonathan Cuartas focuses on the grim, quotidian details of day-to-day caregiving for an extremely pale invalid named Thomas (Owen Campbell), a frail wisp of a young man who is wholly dependent on older siblings Dwight (Patrick Fugit) and Jessie (Ingrid Sophie Schram) for survival, sheltered inside a drab house on the forgotten edge of an anonymous city, its every window blanketed from fatal sunlight. […]

The post Tribeca Critic’s Notebook: My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To, Roaring ’20s, Italian Studies first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Blood’s thicker than the mud in the family affair that is My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To, a contemporary vampire tale utterly stripped of the genre’s romance. In place of mythic hoohah, writer-director Jonathan Cuartas focuses on the grim, quotidian details of day-to-day caregiving for an extremely pale invalid named Thomas (Owen Campbell), a frail wisp of a young man who is wholly dependent on older siblings Dwight (Patrick Fugit) and Jessie (Ingrid Sophie Schram) for survival, sheltered inside a drab house on the forgotten edge of an anonymous city, its every window blanketed from fatal sunlight. […]

The post Tribeca Critic’s Notebook: My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To, Roaring ’20s, Italian Studies first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Recently, the indie vampire drama My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To screened as part of the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival lineup, and it’s headed to select theaters and VOD this Friday, June 25th, courtesy of Dark Sky Films. Written and directed by first-time feature filmmaker Jonathan Cuartas, My Heart stars Patrick Fugit, Ingrid Sophie Schram, and Owen Campbell as siblings who must go to great lengths in order to take care of each other, including finding potential victims to keep the youngest sibling’s appetite for blood satiated.

Last week, Daily Dead had the opportunity to speak with Fugit about his involvement in My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To, and he discussed the initial appeal of taking on the role of big brother Dwight in the project, his experiences collaborating with Cuartas and his fellow co-stars, and more.

Thanks so much for taking time to speak with me today,...

Untitled Horror Movie: "A comedy about making a horror movie from the director who brought you, Truth or Dare (2017). With their hit TV show on the brink of cancellation, six actors decide to film their own horror movie, unintentionally summoning a spirit with an affinity for violence."

Starring

Luke Baines (Shadowhunters) - @lukebaines Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever) - @darrenbarnet Tim Granaderos (13 Reasons Why) - @timothygranaderos Claire Holt (Vampire Diaries) - @claireholt Katherine McNamara (Shadowhunters) - @kat.mcnamara Emmy Raver-Lampman (The Umbrella Academy) - @emmyraver Kal Penn (Harold and Kumar go to White Castle) - @kalpenn Aisha Tyler (Friends) - @aishatyler Kevin Daniels (Council of Dads) - @kevindaniels27 Lesly Kahn (Quantum Leap) - @leslykahn Sohm Kapila (Jane The Virgin) - @sohmkapila

Credits:

Directed by Nick Simon Written by Luke Baines & Nick Simon Produced by Bronwyn Cornelius, p.g.a., Marina Stabile, p.g.a. Producers Luke Baines, p.

A recent documentary about caregiving for frail family members was called “It’s Not a Burden,” but that cheerful attitude isn’t shared by the principal figures in “My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To.” They’re adult siblings tethered to a reclusive existence because one of them has a wee abnormality, which demands flesh blood from unfortunate victims the others must scrounge up for him.

Placing more emphasis on dysfunctional domestic drama than thrills, Jonathan Cuartas’ Utah-shot first feature may be too low-key for mainstream horror fans. But the film’s conviction and strong performances should appeal to those who appreciated such prior understated, “realistic” spins on vampire cinema as “The Hamiltons,” George A. Romero’s “Martin,” the original “Let the Right One In,” or more recent “The Transmigration.” Returning to screen at the 2021 Tribeca Fest, “Heart” officially premiered at last year’s severely Covid-compromised edition, and...

Landing somewhere between intense, realistic family drama and arthouse horror, Jonathan Cuartas’ My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell it To is an oddly moving tale about social isolation, loneliness, and illness that resonates as a character study focused on the space of mourning. Dwight (Patrick Fugit) is a nightcrawler who spends his time hunting day laborers, the homeless, and other indigent persons living on the economic margins as a means of keeping his brother Thomas (Owen Campell) alive. Thomas, for all intents and purposes, is an undiagnosed vampire, warned by his waitress sister Jessie (Ingrid Sophie Schram) against leaving the house, especially during the day.

While Thomas’ origin story is never discussed––rather just accepted as a fact––Jessie and Dwight go to great lengths to create a happy household, bringing a karaoke machine into the equation and making sure Thomas’ basic needs are met while staying under the radar.

Dark Sky Films Will Release ‘My Heart Can’T Beat Unless You Tell It To’ In Select Theaters And VOD On June 25Th Written and Directed by Jonathan Cuartas Starring Patrick Fugit, Ingrid Sophie Schram, Owen Campbell Special 2021 Tribeca Festival Screening Saturday, June 12th at 10:30Pm @ Clinton Hall at Empire Outlets Dwight (Patrick Fugit) prowls …

The post My Heart Can’T Beat Unless You Tell It To – Trailer and Poster appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

"Do you have any idea what we do to get that blood?" Dark Sky Films has debuted an official trailer for an indie horror drama titled My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To, marking the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Jonathan Cuartas. This originally premiered at the Nightstream Film Festival last year, and played at tons of genre fests worldwide including: Sitges, MOTELx, Celluloid Screams, and Strasbourg Fantastic Film Festival. Two mysterious siblings find themselves at odds over care for their frail and sickly younger brother. Who might actually be a vampire? Reviews describe the film as "an unflinching look at the lengths people will go to for family ties... but it's also a story about loneliness, a story which you know is going to collapse in on itself at some point." My Heart Can't Beat Unless You Tell It To stars Patrick Fugit, Ingrid Sophie Schram, Owen Campbell,...

Exclusive: Lightbulb Film Distribution has picked up UK rights to three films out of the EFM, including BFI-backed dystopian thriller Undergods.

Kate Dickie (The Witch), Ned Dennehy (Peaky Blinders) and Geza Rohrig (Son Of Saul) star in the collection of post-apocalyptic fantasy tales about ill-fated characters and doomed fortune. Release is scheduled for summer.

“Following its European premiere at Glasgow Film Festival, we are delighted to be bringing Undergods to UK audiences later this year. Director and writer Chino Moya has created an incredible world and his debut feature doesn’t just require repeat viewings – it demands it”, commented Lightbulb’s Sales & Acquisitions Director, Peter Thompson.

The deal was negotiated with Scott Bedno of Myriad Pictures.

Lightbulb has also picked up Canadian thriller The Oak Room, starring Rj Mitte (Breaking Bad).

Set during a raging snowstorm, the film follows a drifter who returns home to the blue-collar bar located in...

Roster includes mountaineering documentary The Sanctity Of Space.

Ryan Kampe’s Visit Films has added acclaimed Sundance titles I Was a Simple Man, El Planeta and First Date to the sales roster for this week’s virtual EFM.

The slate includes previously announced Sundance thriller Superior, as well as mountaineering documentary The Sanctity Of Space, Tribeca 2020 selections Lorelei and My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To, 2020 SXSW selection The Surrogate, and survival thriller Wildcat.

Visit holds international rights to Christopher Makoto Yogi’s I Was A Simple Man, which takes place in the countryside of the north shore of O‘ahu,...

Exclusive: Dark Sky Film has picked up U.S. distribution rights to Tribeca drama-horror My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To. The deal was negotiated by Ryan Kampe on behalf of Visit Films and Greg Newman on behalf of Dark Sky Films. The film follows two mysterious siblings who find themselves at odds over care for their frail and sickly younger brother. Starring are Patrick Fugit, Ingrid Sophie Schram, and Owen Campbell. Pic is written and directed by Jonathan Cuartas. Producers are Patrick Fugit, Kenny Riches, Ian Peterson, Anthony Pedone, and Jesse Brown. Visit Films is continuing international sales during the virtual Toronto market. Newman said, “My Heart Can’t Beat Unless You Tell It To features standout performances and as a talented first time filmmaker, Cuartas is one to watch. We’re thrilled to be bringing this film to U.S. audiences.”

Jason Isaacs has joined the cast...

Entering its 19th edition this year, Tribeca Film Festival has announced its feature film lineup, including a number of anticipated titles as well as festival favorites. World premiering at the festival is Chad Hartigan’s sci-fi romance Little Fish, Gerardo Naranjo’s Kokoloko, Eleanor Coppola’s Love is Love is Love, Michael Winterbottom’s sequel The Trip to Greece, Rodney Ascher’s A Glitch in the Matrix, Talya Lavie’s Honeymood, BenDavid Grabinski’s Happily, Bryan Bertino’s The Dark & The Wicked, plus documentaries on Stanley Kubrick, Dmx, Harry Belafonte, John Belushi, Brian Wilson, and more.

In terms of festival favorites, there’s Josephine Decker’s Shirley (our review), Jayro Bustamante’s La Llorona Heidi Ewing’s I Carry You With Me, Gaspar Noé’s medium-length work Lux Aeterna, the St. Vincent-Carrie Brownstein collaboration The Nowhere Inn, and more. Plus, Judd Apatow’s The King of Staten Island will...

In today’s film news roundup, a Neil Armstrong documentary and “The Invisible Man” get release dates, “Forrest Gump” and “Saving Private Ryan” get re-released and Patrick Fugit gets cast.

Release Dates

Gravitas Ventures has bought worldwide rights to the Neil Armstrong documentary “Armstrong” and will open the film on July 12 in theaters and on demand, Variety has learned exclusively.

“Armstrong,” featuring the voice of Harrison Ford, is directed by David Fairhead (“Spitfire” and “Mission Control: The Unsung Heroes of Apollo”), and produced by Gareth Dodds and Keith Haviland (“The Last Man on the Moon”). The film will open eight days before the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing.

“Armstrong” will include never-before-seen family home-movie footage and photos, showcasing Armstrong’s service as a fighter pilot in Korea, his test-pilot days, and the Gemini 8 and Apollo 11 missions.

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Universal Pictures has set a March 13, 2020, release date for “The Invisible Man,...

After a successful and popular run on the underground film festival circuit, Lev Kalman and Whitney Horn’s surreal comedy Blondes in the Jungle is now available to watch on the movie streaming site Mubi.com.

The film follows the misadventures of three slacker twentysomethings as they head into the dense jungle of Honduras to locate the fabled Fountain of Youth in 1987. Along the way they run into a paranoid cocaine dealer and the Mayan Jaguar God, as well as debate the mysteries of 21 Jump Street and Bill Murray.

Star Ingrid Schram won the Best International Actress at the 2010 Melbourne Underground Festival, plus the film also screened at the Chicago Underground Film Film Festival and the Arizona Underground Film Festival.

Bad Lit reviewed Blondes in the Jungle in 2010, calling it “a cheerful, genial and strange comedy, yet it’s so good-natured and screwy that it’s easy to go along...

The 11th annual Melbourne Underground Film Festival wrapped on Aug. 29 with a secret, illegal screening of Bruce Labruce‘s gay porn zombie epic L.A. Zombie, which would win Labruce the Best Foreign Director Award.

The big winner this year, though was the debut feature film — and the official closing night film of Muff — by Joseph Sims, Bad Behavior. Although Stuart Simpson‘s El Monstro Del Mar! won the Best Film award, Bad Behavior took home six awards total, including Best Director, Best Male Actor, Best Screenplay and more. The film is a splatter movie about a group of teenagers running afoul of psychopaths. Australia’s The Age newspaper also recently profiled Sims.

Other Australian films taking home awards were Dominic Deacon‘s Burlesque winning Best Guerrilla Film, Road Train by Dean Francis taking the Special Jury Prize and Lanfranchi’s Memorial Discotheque by Richard Baron winning Best Documentary.

American films in addition to L.

Joseph Sim’s black comedy Bad Behaviour won six awards at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival, including Best Supporting Actress (Ellen Grimshaw), Best Supporting Actor (Roger Ward), Best Leading Actor (Lindsay Farris), Best Screenplay, Best Director (Joseph Sims).

It didn’t take home the Best Film award however; that honour went to Stuart Simpson’s’ El Monstro del Mar!, which also received Best Female Actor (Nelli Scarlet) and Best Cinematography (Stuart Simpson).

The rest of the winners are:

OZBest Film presented by Canon – El Monstro Del Mar!

Runner Up Best Film – Bad Behaviour

Best Director – Joseph Sims (Bad Behaviour)

Best Male Actor – Lindsay Farris (Bad Behaviour)

Best Female Actor – Nelli Scarlet (El Monstro Del Mar!)

Best Supporting Male Actor – Roger Ward (Bad Behaviour)

Best Supporting Female Actor – Ellen Grimshaw (Bad Behaviour)

International

Best Foreign Film – The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia

Best Foreign Director – Bruce Labruce (La Zombie...

Let’s say you went looking for the fabled Fountain of Youth. One, how would you know what it looked like if you found it? Two, just how exactly does a Fountain of Youth work? Are you transformed into a baby? Do you stay the same age as you are when you jumped in? How long do you actually live?

Those conundrums, plus the mysteries of 21 Jump Street and Bill Murray are entertainingly explored in Lev Kalman and Whitney Horn’s highly amusing Blondes in the Jungle, a film that is part jungle travelogue, part screwball comedy and part surrealist history lesson.

The titular blondes are a trio of stoner college students, Chino, Jerome and Amber (James Ward III, Travis Nutting and Ingrid Schram), hired to trek through the jungles of Honduras in 1987 to find the Fountain of Youth, whose location is a closely guarded secret of a coterie of Hollywood movie producers.