Ahead of its theatrical release on February 8th, The Prodigy was recently screened for pregnant moms at Austin's Alamo Drafthouse in an event produced by Orion Pictures and Fons PR, and we have a look at highlights from the screening. In today's Horror Highlights, we also have a new clip from Painkillers and the final trailer for Wretch.
The Prodigy Screening for Pregnant Moms: We have photos from The Prodigy pregnancy screening below, which featured a special message from director Nicholas McCarthy:
"Thank you for agreeing to watch THE PRODIGY when you are pregnant. You are all completely insane.
As the father of a child that is the same age as the boy in the movie, I can say with some certainty that you should not fear what you are going to see, because most of it likely won’t happen to you. MOST of it.
Also, enjoy going out at all because that privilege is about to be robbed from you for the next 20 years.
In all seriousness, I really do appreciate that you have come out to see the movie and hope you like it. You are wonderful people to come tonight, And, I repeat: completely insane."
McCarthy also had this to say about the special screening:
"My first reaction when I learned there would be a pregnant-only screening of my movie was that this was the greatest day of my life.
Seriously: this is like the core audience for this movie. It’s about a mother/son relationship. And here’s this poor captive group of women watching it, and likely too tired to leave the theater if they get too scared."
Here are several comments from pregnant moms at the screening:
“In the best way possible….f--k that movie!”
“It was a really fun movie, I feel like my baby was kicking extra hard!”
“I love that it wasn’t the same concept of a demon child, but a reincarnation. That was not what I expected!”
“My boyfriend already thinks children are creepy, this just creeped him out more. I hope he loves our kid.”
“I loved it, I really hope my kid isn’t like Miles.”
“I’m having a girl so think I am all good.”
“I mean, I’m not sure about this whole kid thing anymore..this movie made me question baby innocence and maternal love.”
“I loved it! I love scary movies and I have three older children so this will be my fourth one. So if this happens, this one is definitely optional!”
“I’m probably going to run some dirt on my hands, so they are less pretty ya know? I’m keeping these.”
Directed by Nicholas McCarthy (The Pact, At Devil's Door) from a screenplay by Jeff Buhler (The Midnight Meat Train, Pet Sematary), The Prodigy stars Taylor Schilling (Orange Is the New Black), Jackson Robert Scott (It, AMC's Fear the Walking Dead), Peter Mooney (Burden of Truth, Rookie Blue), and Colm Feore (Thor, Pearl Harbor). Orion Pictures will release The Prodigy in theaters on February 8th, and we'll be sure to share the new trailer with Daily Dead readers tomorrow!
Synopsis: "In her much-anticipated foray into the horror-thriller genre, Taylor Schilling stars in THE PRODIGY as Sarah, a mother whose young son Miles' disturbing behavior signals that an evil, possibly supernatural force has overtaken him. Fearing for her family's safety, Sarah must grapple with her maternal instinct to love and protect Miles in favor of investigating what - or who - is causing his dark turn. She is forced to look for answers in the past, taking the audience on a wild ride; one where the line between perception and reality remains blurry."
Photos by Heather Kennedy:
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Clip from Painkillers: "PAINKILLERS, an all-new genre-twisting dramatic thriller starring Adam Huss (Power), Madeline Zima (Californication, Twin Peaks) and Grant Bowler (Defiance, True Blood), with a special appearance from Mischa Barton - set for release in select theaters January 31st and on VOD February 4th, 2019.
Synopsis: After a terrible car crash in which his son dies, brilliant surgeon John Clarke, tormented by guilt, becomes prey to unbearable physical pain. While his marriage starts disintegrating, John soon finds out that the only thing that can ease his pain is the taste of human blood. When he encounters Herb Morris, a man who claims he can help him get his life back, John embarks upon a nightmarish journey through which he will either have to come to terms with his pain... or become a monster.
Film Title: Painkillers
Studio/Distributor: Kew Media Group
Release Date: January 31, 2019 (limited), February 4, 2019 (VOD)
Runtime: 83 minutes
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Director: Roxy Shih
Writer: Giles Daoust
Cast: Madeline Zima, Adam Huss, Grant Bowler, and Mischa Barton
PAINKILLERS marks the second feature film from Taiwanese-American filmmaker Roxy Shih, whose debut feature 'The Tribe' won multiple awards on the festival circuit. Shih also recently completed directing ten episodes of Dark / Web (Julie Benz, Hannah Marks), an upcoming sci-fi anthology that explores the problems with living in a totally connected world."
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Final Trailer for Wretch: ""Psychological horror/thriller Wretch is coming to digital and OnDemand on January 29th via ThoughtFly Films. Described as "The Blair Witch Project on acid," the film stars Spencer Korcz, Megan Massie, and Riker Hill.
Wretch follows three friends struggling to piece together fractured memories after a drug-fueled night in the woods. In the process, they’re forced to confront guilt, jealousy, and a supernatural presence that threatens to expose their true natures.
Wretch is written and directed by Brian Cunningham, whose previous films include the horror-comedy Overtime, the acclaimed haunted house documentary Monsters Wanted, and the recent Loss Prevention, starring former WWE Superstar Al Snow and veteran actor Vernon Wells (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior, Commando).
“I’m a horror fanatic," says Cunningham, "Specifically the psychological variety that gets under your skin and makes you question what you’re watching. It was great to dive straight into the darker recesses of the genre and try to make something that really gets inside your head.”
The film pulls from the genre conventions of slasher, found footage, and monster movies to tell an enigmatic, unpredictable story.
“We wanted a movie that feels familiar but really pulls the rug out from under the audience and puts some weighty ideas in front of them,” states Cunningham. “The movie is about voyeurism, surveillance, and shifting perspectives. In a lot of ways, it’s an anti-found-footage movie that becomes something very different by the end.”
Wretch is available for pre-order on iTunes and will be released on digital and OnDemand and January 29."
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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