Severin Films all-star horror anthology,
The Theatre Bizarre is set to premiere at Fantasia this year, and they've released the first official trailer.
The Theatre Bizarre features segments directed by Douglas Buck, Tom Savini, David Gregory, Karim Hussain, Jeremy Kasten, Richard Stanley, and Buddy Giovanozzo and promises to be one of the most exciting horror films in recent memory. I'll let the trailer do the talking, though.
SEVERIN FILMS RELEASES FIRST TRAILER FOR HORROR ANTHOLOGY CO-PRODUCTION 'THE THEATRE BIZARRE' IN ANTICIPATION OF WORLD PREMIERE IN MONTREAL
Modern tribute to Grand Guignol features cult film icon Udo Kier and films by directors Douglas Buck, Buddy Giovinazzo, David Gregory, Karim Hussain, Jeremy Kasten Tom Savini & Richard Stanley
Los Angeles, CA --- Thursday July 7, 2011 --- Severin Films today announced the release of the first official theatrical trailer for the eagerly anticipated feature THE THEATRE BIZARRE - a modern horror omnibus inspired by the over-the-top shocks of Paris' early 20th century 'Theatre du Grand Guignol' - which will have its Gala World Premiere at the 2011 Fantasia Film Festival; in Montreal on July 16th at 9:20pm. THE THEATRE BIZARRE features horror icon and Hollywood character staple Udo Kier (BLOOD FOR DRACULA, SUSPIRIA, MELANCHOLIA) as the master of ceremonies in the framing story, set in a sinister old theatre, of six films by "horror's most adventurous minds," (Fangoria). THE THEATRE BIZARRE will also have its European Premiere at London's acclaimed FrightFest on opening night, August 25th.
The project's seven filmmakers, who were granted total creative freedom, have all made at least one modestly budgeted and internationally acclaimed movie in the horror field. The films of Douglas Buck include the 2003 Sitges sensation FAMILY PORTRAITS: A TRILOGY OF AMERICA and the recent remake of Brian DePalma's SISTERS. Buddy Giovinazzo exploded onto the genre scene with 1986's COMBAT SHOCK and went on to write and direct such features as the Tim Roth-starrer NO WAY HOME and last year's acclaimed ensemble drama LIFE IS HOT IN CRACKTOWN (adapted from his novel), as well as numerous works for German television. UK native David Gregory is the industry's foremost documentarian of horror films on DVD, and his 2008 feature debut PLAGUE TOWN was hailed as "a nightmare captured on celluloid" by Fangoria. In addition to writing and directing SUBCONSCIOUS CRUELTY and LA BELLE BÊTE, Karim Hussain is also an accomplished cinematographer whose features include HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN. Arguably horror's best-known special efects wizard for his landmark work on classics that include the original FRIDAY THE 13TH and DAWN OF THE DEAD - as well as a popular actor in such films as FROM DUSK TIL DAWN and MACHETE - Tom Savini directed the 1990 remake of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD. South African born Richard Stanley is one of the genre's most distinctive talents, whose visionary cult classics include HARDWARE and DUST DEVIL. THE THEATRE BIZARRE marks his triumphant return to horror for the first time in 18 years. Directing Kier in the film's framing segments, writer/director Jeremy Kasten was the filmmaker behind the very Guignol-esque remake of Herschel Gordon Lewis' THE WIZARD OF GORE.
"The idea for THE THEATRE BIZARRE was hatched when I was editing a DVD featurette for the 1990 art-house portmanteau ARIA, directed by Jean Luc Godard, Robert Altman, Nicolas Roeg, Ken Russell and others," explains producer and Severin Films CEO David Gregory. "Horror anthologies have a rich history dating back to the silent era, and include classics like DEAD OF NIGHT, BLACK SABBATH, SPIRITS OF THE DEAD, THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, CREEPSHOW and more. I felt that the notion of giving filmmakers a general concept, the same budget and complete creative control would lend itself perfectly to a modern horror film. In my opinion, there is no other genre where unleashing the unrestrained creative ideas of filmmakers could redeem such an outlandish array of stories and images."
Severin Films, founded in 2006 with offices in Los Angeles and London, has been called "well on its way to becoming the greatest indie label of all time" by BlogCritics.org. Their DVD and Blu-ray releases include Alejandro Jodorowsky's SANTA SANGRE, Jess Franco's MACUMBA SEXUAL and BLOODY MOON, Walerian Borowczyk's IMMORAL WOMEN, the unrated Director's Cut of Just Jaeckin's GWENDOLINE, Richard Stanley's restored HARDWARE, Enzo Castellari's original INGLORIOUS BASTARDS, Oscar®-nominee Patrice Leconte's THE HAIRDRESSER'S HUSBAND, Don Sharp's PSYCHOMANIA and Roman Polanski's WHAT? Severin's upcoming HD restorations include Richard Rush's Academy Award® Nominated THE STUNT MAN, Ted Post's THE BABY, Eugenio Martín's HORROR EXPRESS and Peter Duffell's THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD. The company's theatrical releases include BIRDEMIC: SHOCK AND TERROR, and DEVOLVED.