Monday,
June 16, 2014 - "BloodMania" is a new anthology film with
four distinctively different horror tales, each featuring Herschell Gordon
Lewis' brand of splatter. Principal photography begins late July 2014 in
Calgary, Alberta Canada. Mr. Lewis has written one segment and will direct two
of them. Herschell Gordon Lewis, originator of the “Splatter” film genre, both
revered and reviled as “The Godfather of Gore,” has expressed strong enthusiasm
for "BloodMania." “It’s time to get some fresh blood flowing into the
happy universe of horror films,” Herschell said in an exclusive interview.
“I’ll be there to be sure it happens, and I can promise that we’ll have enough
bloody messes and enough off-the-wall humor to satisfy everyone ... even
including me.”
The
“Splatter Film” phenomenon - Few categories of motion pictures enjoy the
perpetual popularity of the genre Herschell Gordon Lewis literally invented
half a century ago. The original gore-movie, "Blood Feast" (1963),
was as primitive as any movie could be. Yet, it shows in theaters to this day,
and is a DVD favorite. Herschell’s personal favorite, "Two Thousand
Maniacs" (1964), has a plot-line centering on a small U.S. southern town
that “gets even” for that country’s Civil War. Despite what one might or would
think is a plot of local interest only, the film has long been an international
success, and wherever the director travels – in Canada, the U.S., Europe, or
the Far East – he is called on to sing the theme of that movie, which he wrote.
"BloodMania," Herschell
promises, carries the slasher advantage to a new height. “First of all,” he
points out, “we've brought young directors into the slasher arena and given
them tools and effects that just didn't exist when we originated the category.
BloodMania has four dynamic episodes. I’m directing two of them. The other two
are ... well, critics will have a difficult time choosing which of those
episodes is the most effective, because we’re opening wide the gates of effects
nobody has seen before.”
Top
International Technicians - James Saito, the Diabolique Films executive of the
"BloodMania" team, who has assumed the challenging job of recruiting
major talent, has chosen some well known genre experts for the project. One
example is award-winning Screenwriter/Producer Bob Schultz, whose last two
horror films Mr. Saito points out, have been screened around the world, on
every continent except Antarctica. Mr. Schultz is writing one of the episodes
Mr. Lewis will direct. Each of the other directors will create his or her own
episode, and Jim Saito promises a competitive atmosphere that will result in
“scenes that blast off the screen.” The promise made by both Herschell Gordon
Lewis and James Saito: "BloodMania will set a level of entertainment,
shock, and wild humor that will be the benchmark for years to come."
Jim
says... "I saw my first Herschell Gordon Lewis movie at a drive-in theater
in 1971. It change the way I looked at horror cinema, and was instrumental in
shaping me into the gore-hound that I am today. The fact Mr. Lewis has
specifically chosen Diabolique Films as the vehicle for a long-awaited new
venture is not only thrilling, but a particular honor. Satisfying his legion of
fans and introducing his brand of cinema to a new younger audience is a
responsibility that we all take very seriously indeed!"
