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Note: This review is based on the Director’s Cut.

Umbrella Entertainment resurrected a forgotten flick from the mid-90s with their Blu-ray release of Lord of Illusions last year. Back in 1995, writer-director Clive Barker ventured outside his normal horror otherworld playground to deliver this unconventional story that is part film noir and part supernatural fantasy thriller, but the result is all entertaining. Besides being a Barker joint, it starred an ex-Quantum Leaper, a Bond villain and a Seinfeld boss who loved making life a living hell for George Costanza!

And almost thirty years later, it indeed might be worth a revisit through fresh eyes.

A specialist in cases involving occult activity, private detective Harry D’Amour heads to Los Angeles for what is supposed to be an easy insurance fraud stakeout to shake off the trauma from his last job involving a demonically possessed young boy. This gig...

"A band on a mission. A door to another dimension." Buffalo 8 has launched the official trailer for a rock comedy called Free LSD, which is not really abut How To Get Free LSD, unfortunately. This wacky, weird punk creation is from a a rock band called Off!, and it's the feature directorial debut from one of the band members - Dimitri Coats (ex-Burning Brides). Alas they are taking an "indefinite hiatus" after a few shows coming up this month. The "breaking up" tour with the band will also include screenings of this film Free LSD showing with a Q&a and other surprises (before it hits VOD). "Sometimes putting the band together is a matter of life and death." This new film is an oddball sci-fi comedy about AI & multiverses. An elderly sex shop owner’s attraction to a younger woman leads him to an erectile dysfunction doctor whose treatment...

Buffalo 8 has acquired the science fiction comedy “Free LSD” from punk rock supergroup Off! and a trailer has been unveiled.

The film, which closed the 2023 Slamdance Film Festival, shares its title with the band’s album that debuted at #20 on the Billboard Album Sales Chart.

“Free LSD” stars Keith Morris (Off!’s frontman) as an elderly sex shop owner who falls for a younger woman. His romantic escapades lead him to an unconventional erectile dysfunction doctor and an experimental drug. The drug’s side effects transport him to a parallel universe where he is not only Off!’s singer but also the target of a relentless AI species bent on preventing the band from creating a consciousness-altering album.

The cast includes Off! bandmates Dimitri Coats and Autry Fulbright II, along with the late Dead Kennedys drummer D.H. Peligro. Joining them are Jack Black, James Duval, Dana Gould, Barry Del Sherman,...

Off!, the hardcore supergroup led by singer Keith Morris and guitarist Dimitri Coats (ex-Burning Brides), have announced a run of final shows to coincide with the release of their new feature film, Free LSD.

The three final shows will take place July 18th at Lincoln Hall in Chicago (with Shellac); July 20th at (Le) Poisson Rouge in New York City (with Fucked Up); and July 26th at The Belasco in Los Angeles (with Surfbort).

Each of those cities will also feature an advance screening of the movie along with a Q&a: July 17th at Music Box Theatre in Chicago; July 19th at Village East by Angelika in NYC; and August 2nd at Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles. Tickets for both the shows and film screenings can be purchased here.

The movie was written and directed by Coats, with a synopsis that is described as follows in a press release:...

Just two days before Sundance Film Festival will unveil its lineup, the other major January Utah festival has released theirs. Now in its 29th iteration, next year’s Slamdance Film Festival––which will also be providing programming both in-person and online, from January 20th through 29th––has unveiled its features slate. The lineup for the festival, which opens with Moby’s Punk Rock Vegan Movie, was culled from 7,600 total submissions, 1,522 of which were features. All films selected in the Narrative Features and Documentary Features competition categories are directorial debuts without U.S. distribution, with budgets of less than 1 million Usd.

“From the streets of Seattle to the psychedelic skies of a unicorn-run dystopia, our filmmakers are transporting audiences to new dimensions with stories that explore the nuance of disability, immigration and gender. This year’s lineup represents a generation of new directors who are breaking boundaries and redefining what filmmaking...

Slamdance has announced its feature lineup and “Free LSD” as the closing night film for the 29th Slamdance Film Festival

This year’s lineup was chosen from 7,600 submissions — 1, 522 of which were features — and represents projects from 13 different countries. The selections for the Narrative Features and Documentary Features competition categories are directorial debuts without U.S. distribution, with budgets of less than 1 million.

In addition to Slamdance’s opening night film Moby’s “Punk Rock Vegan Movie,” the festival will also showcase two additional Spotlight Feature screenings: “Downwind” and “Free LSD,” which follows one man’s inter-dimensional journey where, after using an experimental drug, he is provided a glimpse into a parallel universe. The film features appearances from Keith Morris and Jack Black.

“From the streets of Seattle to the psychedelic skies of a unicorn-run dystopia, our filmmakers are transporting audiences to new dimensions with stories that explore the nuance of disability,...

The Slamdance Film Festival has unveiled the lineup for its 29th edition — taking place both in-person in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah from January 20-26, and online on the Slamdance Channel from the 23rd to the 29th.

This year’s lineup of films from 13 countries was chosen from more than 7,600 submissions, more than 1,500 of which were features. As has been the case at each edition of Slamdance since its 1995 founding, all films selected in Narrative Features and Documentary Features competition are directorial debuts without U.S. distribution, with budgets of less than 1M Usd.

Slamdance revealed today that Dimitri Coats’ Free LSD will make its world premiere at the festival, serving as its Closing Night feature. The film featuring appearances from Keith Morris and Jack Black follows the inter-dimensional journey of a man who has used an experimental drug to cure a personal problem, thereby being provided a...

Lionsgate, the studio behind “John Wick,” “The Hunger Games” and Starz, has entered the podcasting space. The company launched a new division called Lionsgate Sound, which will operate as a full-service podcast production company, handling titles for the studio’s film and television business while also overseeing projects for third-party clients.

Lionsgate Sound will launch with four shows, including a podcast from rapper 50 Cent. It has more than a dozen additional projects in the pipeline.

The current slate includes “Cuate/twin: The Downfall of El Chapo (working title),” hosted and produced by Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson and his newly established G-Unit Audio; an interview podcast “Playing Dead”; the FBI-focused show “A Nation for Thieves”; and “Died and Survived,” which details near-death experiences. Lionsgate Sound is also producing true-crime thriller “The Lives and Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman” for exclusive distribution by CBC. The podcast from 50 Cent will be exclusively distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network,...

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis; Awards Circuit Column, a weekly analysis dissecting the trends and contenders by television editor Michael Schneider (for Emmys) and Davis (for Oscars); Awards Circuit Podcast, a weekly interview series with talent and an expert roundtable discussion; and Awards Circuit Video analyzes various categories and contenders by Variety's leading awards pundits. Variety's unmatched coverage gives its readership unbeatable exposure in print and online, as well as provide inside reports on all the contenders in this year's awards season races.

To see all the latest predictions, of all the categories, in one place, visit The Emmys Collective

Visit each category, per the individual awards show from The Emmys Hub

To see old predictions and commentary,...

Last month, this writer had the opportunity to check out a pair of films that screened as part of the 2020 Slamdance Film Festival in Park City. Here are my thoughts on the Bigfoot-centric documentary Big Fur as well as the experimental film Majnuni from directors Kouros Alaghband and Drew Hoffman.

Big Fur: In Big Fur, we’re introduced to Ken Walker, who is a taxidermist living in Canada with an extreme passion for the off-beat art form, which makes him a bit of an odd duck. But the thing is, Ken is one of the best in the game, and he has numerous awards and a ton of prestigious projects to prove just how skilled he is with rebuilding all types of wildlife. Beyond his proclivity for crafting taxidermy projects, Ken is also an avid believer in the legend of Bigfoot, to the point where he’s even hoarding baggies...

Taking place alongside Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Slamdance Film Festival is also a thrilling place for discovery of new talent, having featured work from the likes of Bong Joon Ho, the Safdies, Steven Soderbergh, Ari Aster, Jeremy Saulnier, Sean Baker, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Ana Lily Amirpour, Christopher Nolan, and more. As we look towards this year’s 26th edition, one of the titles on our radar is Majnuni, directed by Iranian-American filmmaker Kouros Alaghband, who was mentored by Béla Tarr and the film came out of his unique film school.

Set during the night within a war-torn Sarajevo, the enigmatic feature debut follows a man who stalks a broken family on a path to his old love. “Dreamlike and haunting, Majnuni periodically reminds me of Holy Motors by Leos Carax. It is intriguing, provocative, and beautiful as well as puzzling,” said Jonathan Rosenbaum.

“I met my lead actor,...

The 26th edition of the Slamdance Film Festival has set its slate for the films in the Narrative and Documentary Feature Film Competition programs as well as the lineup for their Breakouts section. The fest will take place in Park City, Utah January 24-30, 2020.

As the fest “by filmmakers, for filmmakers,” this year’s Slamdance will feature 16 premieres, including 10 world premieres with films from United States, Belarus, Canada Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, and South Africa. The films in competition are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1 million and without Us distribution. Films in both categories are also eligible for the Audience Award and Spirit of Slamdance Award.

“Slamdance is above all a place of discovery,” said Slamdance Co-founder and President Peter Baxter. “Every year filmmakers break out of the festival because the industry at large recognizes the need for new voices. With a record breaking 8,231 submissions this year,...

The Slamdance Film Festival unveiled its 2020 lineup of microbudget films Monday that will premiere at the Sundance alternative, among of which include projects about Chernobyl, a brainwashing camp, drag queens and a taxidermist looking for Bigfoot.

All films in competition during its weeklong celebration in Park City from Jan. 24-30 have no U.S. distribution and a budget of under $1 million. Films from 10 countries will participate: U.S., Belarus, Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Russia, and South Africa.

“Slamdance is above all a place of discovery,” said Slamdance Co-founder and President Peter Baxter. “Every year filmmakers break out of the festival because the industry at large recognizes the need for new voices. With a record breaking 8,231 submissions this year, our artist-led organization brings a lineup full of wonderful risk taking and unique storytelling. That’s the spirit of Slamdance 2020.”

Also Read: 'High Flying Bird' Film Review: Steven Soderbergh...

Slamdance Film Festival has unveiled its 26th anniversary narrative and documentary feature film competition programs, as well as the lineup for its new breakouts section.

The narrative lineup includes director Heather Young’s drama “Murmur.” The movie, which won the Fipresci Discovery Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival, stars Shan MacDonald as an older woman who, while performing community service at an animal shelter, begins compulsively adopting pets to ease her loneliness.

The festival, launched in 1995 as an alternative to Sundance, has included showings of such notable titles as Oren Peli’s “Paranormal Activity.” The fest, which takes place at the Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, Utah, from Jan. 24 to Jan. 30, will screen 23 movies including 10 world premieres, five North American premieres, and one U.S. premiere.

Slamdance alumni include Joe and Anthony Russo, Christopher Nolan, Marc Forster, Jared Hess, Lena Dunham, Benh Zeitlin, Seth Gordon, and Lynn Shelton.

Selectors considered record 8,231 submissions.

New work from Uruguay, Japan and South Africa are among the 20-strong Slamdance Film Festival feature film competition line-up unveiled on Monday (December 2) alongside the second Breakouts selection.

The 26th edition of the Park City, Utah, festival runs from January 24-30 and across all sections includes 16 premieres, including 10 world, 5 North American, and one Us berths. All competition films are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets under $1m and without Us distribution. All are eligible for the Audience Award and Spirit of Slamdance Award, the latter of which is voted upon by filmmakers at the festival.

“Slamdance is...

Authorities in Canada have confirmed that the billionaire couple found dead in the basement of their Toronto mansion Friday morning were strangled to death.

People obtained a statement from Toronto Police that says Honey and Barry Sherman, 70 and 75, died of “ligature neck compression,” adding that they were both strangled with a cord or rope.

Homicide detectives are handling the investigation, but have revealed few details about the slayings.

Sherman was the founder and chairman of Apotex, a large Canadian pharmaceutical company that specializes in generic drugs.

• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news,...

A Canadian billionaire and his wife were found dead in their Toronto home, under conditions which the police have called “suspicious,” according to multiple reports.

On Friday, Barry Sherman, founder and chairman of Apotex — a large Canadian pharmaceutical company that sells generic drugs — and his wife Honey were found dead at their home in Toronto, according to the BBC.

The BBC reported that during a press conference, Constable David Hopkinson said that “The circumstances of their death appear suspicious and we are treating it that way.”

According to CNBC, Hopkinson added that the police were called to their home just...

"Yosemite" (January 1) (Film Page) Director: Gabrielle Demeestère Cast: James Franco, Henry Hopper, Steven Wiig, Barry Del Sherman, Tony Vella Criticwire Average: C Why is it a Must See? James Franco is one of Hollywood's most love-him-or-hate-him figures, yet there's no denying that he keeps churning out interesting work in all mediums, including books. His first novel, "Palo Alto," became an unassumingly wonderful film courtesy of Gia Coppola, and now writer-director Gabrielle Demeestère is using his second novel, "A California Childhood," for her feature debut. "Yosemite" is told in three parts and tracks the intertwining experiences of three fifth grade friends in Palo Alto during the fall of 1985. Mixing themes of adolescence and friendship, the movie is a light and sensitive venture into the nostalgia of Franco. "Chimes at Midnight" (January 1)Director: Orson...

Sosie Bacon may only be 21, but she has a lot going for her. On top of being 2014's Miss Golden Globe, through her father Kevin Bacon, she is connected to nearly everyone in Hollywood - including every other previous Miss Golden Globe, most of whom are also the daughters (or sons) of industry power players. And while some have a connection through their famous parents, others, such as Laura Dern (who happens to have famous parents), are also connected through their own work. Don't believe us? Here's how you get from young Ms. Bacon to all of her famous predecessors,...

In the first story, a man is assaulted in Central Park, leading to a mounted police officer intervening and is shot. The horse escapes but is run over by a taxi and is still alive. Flack (Eddie Cahill) says he heard the shot from 6th Ave and it shook the windows of his car. Mac (Gary Sinise) explains it was the echo from the weapon, as if Flack wouldn't know that already. The policeman was shot through the back and through his vest by a sniper. Danny (Carmine Giovinazzo) and Aiden (Vanessa Ferlito) process the scene in search of the elusive bullet. Mac finds a mobile/cell phone, but no bullet and Danny takes the tapes from the cameras. Hawkes (Hill Harper) deduces the Cod was a single Gsw to the back, which left through the front, from a high powered rifle. His vest is examined to see where the...