If you want to make a horror movie, start with a good idea from which to develop your script - something which is uncanny, creepy, or downright terrifying (added points if this something is rumoured to have happened in real life). Brett Anstey's Dawned by Dawn (2009) has a very good central idea to start with: that of the Banshee, the screaming spirit from Irish mythology whose piercing wails signal when someone is about to die.
Next, add a spooky location (in Damned by Dawn's case, an old house in the middle of miles of desolated countryside), populate it with some strange locals (a very old lady on the verge of death) and a set of unknowing protagonists who’ll be led straight to their deaths by their own naivete and/or lack of common sense, and everything is set for your story to unfold.
This, unfortunately, is exactly where Damned by Dawn falters.
Next, add a spooky location (in Damned by Dawn's case, an old house in the middle of miles of desolated countryside), populate it with some strange locals (a very old lady on the verge of death) and a set of unknowing protagonists who’ll be led straight to their deaths by their own naivete and/or lack of common sense, and everything is set for your story to unfold.
This, unfortunately, is exactly where Damned by Dawn falters.
- 3/1/2011
- by Daniel Green
- CineVue
Director Steven C. Miller's (Automaton Transfusion) and writer Anthony C. Ferrante's (Headless Horseman) Scream of the Banshee will be debuting on the SyFy channel Saturday, March 26th, at 9:00pm. This will be the SyFy's "200th Saturday Original Movie," (SyFy) which SyFy reminds viewers has been full of "vengeful demon moths, pterodactyls, werewolves...really big snakes," (SyFy) and now disembodied spirits! This will be the television premiere of Scream of the Banshee, which notably stars Lance Henriksen and Lauren Holly. More details on this shrieking film are below.
The synopsis for Scream of the Banshee is here:
"When a college Professor opens up a strange, ornate box discovered in the basement of a University, she and her students hear a horrifying scream belonging to that of a bloodthirsty banshee. They think nothing of it, until that scream begins to haunt all that heard it in strange and surreal ways.
The synopsis for Scream of the Banshee is here:
"When a college Professor opens up a strange, ornate box discovered in the basement of a University, she and her students hear a horrifying scream belonging to that of a bloodthirsty banshee. They think nothing of it, until that scream begins to haunt all that heard it in strange and surreal ways.
- 3/1/2011
- by Remove28DaysLaterAnalysisThis@gmail.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Director: Brett Anstey.
Writers: Rob Townshend, Brett Anstey, and Russell Friedrich.
The Australian shot Damned by Dawn was released on DVD and Blu-ray November 9th, 2010, through Image Entertainment. This film had an appearance at Frightfest this same year and director Brett Anstey's first foray into feature films is a horrifying pleasure. Full of flying skeletons, roaming zombies and, of course, screaming banshees, Damned by Dawn reminds viewers not to mess with ancient curses.
Renee Wilner plays Claire, the curse meddler and before you can scream cut, legions of undead hordes are offing Claire's clan. She did not listen to her mother's words of letting the banshee help her Nana into the afterlife. Not only did she not listen, but she impaled the helping spirit on a wooden spike. Now, all hell breaks loose!
Soon, skeletons with scythes are knocking down Claire's door. They do not stop here and before you know it,...
Writers: Rob Townshend, Brett Anstey, and Russell Friedrich.
The Australian shot Damned by Dawn was released on DVD and Blu-ray November 9th, 2010, through Image Entertainment. This film had an appearance at Frightfest this same year and director Brett Anstey's first foray into feature films is a horrifying pleasure. Full of flying skeletons, roaming zombies and, of course, screaming banshees, Damned by Dawn reminds viewers not to mess with ancient curses.
Renee Wilner plays Claire, the curse meddler and before you can scream cut, legions of undead hordes are offing Claire's clan. She did not listen to her mother's words of letting the banshee help her Nana into the afterlife. Not only did she not listen, but she impaled the helping spirit on a wooden spike. Now, all hell breaks loose!
Soon, skeletons with scythes are knocking down Claire's door. They do not stop here and before you know it,...
- 2/18/2011
- by Remove28DaysLaterAnalysisThis@gmail.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Clicker for BiggerScream of the Banshee is an After Dark Original and from writers Anthony C. Ferrante (House of Bones) and Jacob Hair (2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams). Automation Transfusion director Steven C. Miller is helming this production, with the first poster from the film available here. The tagline from the graphic promises "She hasn't been out for a thousand years." Central cast, Lauren Holly (Crank: High Voltage) and Lance Henrickson (Screamers: The Hunting) are also mentioned. And apparently this demonic spirit is looking for new College aged victims.
This production will be going to theatres late in January, 2011 through After Dark and Lionsgate; After Dark will announce theatre locations shortly. For now enjoy this tease, until a trailer becomes available for this Celtic influenced thriller. More cast and crew details below.
The synopsis for Scream of the Banshee is here:
"When a college Professor opens up a strange, ornate box...
This production will be going to theatres late in January, 2011 through After Dark and Lionsgate; After Dark will announce theatre locations shortly. For now enjoy this tease, until a trailer becomes available for this Celtic influenced thriller. More cast and crew details below.
The synopsis for Scream of the Banshee is here:
"When a college Professor opens up a strange, ornate box...
- 12/24/2010
- by 28DaysLaterAnalysis@gmail.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
I recently had the pleasure of watching director Brett Anstey's Damned by Dawn thanks to the good folks at of Image Entertainment and really enjoyed it. With zombies, flying skeletons and a banshee whose scream is crazy enough to make you ask for ear muffs this is the hardcore horror fan's can't miss movie. Being the impressed horror fanatic that I am, I was recently lucky enough to ask Anstey some questions and also found out his sense of humor is almost a match to my own. Check out my latest "Versus" with Brett Anstey and be sure to watch Damned by Dawn! This is a fun movie!
Brian S- First off Brett, how'd you come up with Damned By Dawn?
Brett Anstey- Well we were originally developing a Twilight Zone flavoured film. It wasn't an anthology, more just in tone & shared some of the themes as the original series.
- 11/11/2010
- by brians
- GeekTyrant
A look at what's new on DVD today:
"Antichrist" (2009)
Directed by Lars von Trier
Released by Criterion Collection
From its incendiary debut at Cannes to becoming a cult hit defined by the meme "Chaos Reigns," Lars von Trier's psychosexual horror film about a married couple (Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg) that repairs to a cabin in the woods to grieve over the death of their young son is receiving the Criterion Collection treatment. Video interviews with von Trier, Gainsbourg, and Dafoe, making-of vignettes and a documentary about the Cannes premiere accompany the feature. (Aaron Hillis' interview with von Trier is here.)
"The Battle of River Plate" (1956)
Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Released by Hen's Tooth Video
Despite being Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's most financially successful film, it has been a rare commodity in America on home video, where people have had to buy the British...
"Antichrist" (2009)
Directed by Lars von Trier
Released by Criterion Collection
From its incendiary debut at Cannes to becoming a cult hit defined by the meme "Chaos Reigns," Lars von Trier's psychosexual horror film about a married couple (Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg) that repairs to a cabin in the woods to grieve over the death of their young son is receiving the Criterion Collection treatment. Video interviews with von Trier, Gainsbourg, and Dafoe, making-of vignettes and a documentary about the Cannes premiere accompany the feature. (Aaron Hillis' interview with von Trier is here.)
"The Battle of River Plate" (1956)
Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger
Released by Hen's Tooth Video
Despite being Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's most financially successful film, it has been a rare commodity in America on home video, where people have had to buy the British...
- 11/9/2010
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Wow! This is one of the lightest weeks in recent memory for horror title releases on DVD and Blu-ray. But that's fine because after the rush in October, we are still trying to catch up on watching all of those flicks.
This week we have the very controversial and disturbing Antichrist from Lars von Trier, which spawned a Nsfw Motion Picture Purgatory from Rick Trembles. Stephen King's new novel and Call of Duty's new edition, Black Ops (with Zombie mode), also drop, and Steve Austin joins the fray along with Tremors' inevitable Blu-ray release.
Antichrist: (The Criterion Collection)
Directed by Lars von Trier
In this graphic psychodrama, a grief-stricken man and woman retreat to a cabin deep in the woods after the accidental death of their infant son, only to find terror and violence at the hands of nature and, ultimately, each other. But this most confrontational...
This week we have the very controversial and disturbing Antichrist from Lars von Trier, which spawned a Nsfw Motion Picture Purgatory from Rick Trembles. Stephen King's new novel and Call of Duty's new edition, Black Ops (with Zombie mode), also drop, and Steve Austin joins the fray along with Tremors' inevitable Blu-ray release.
Antichrist: (The Criterion Collection)
Directed by Lars von Trier
In this graphic psychodrama, a grief-stricken man and woman retreat to a cabin deep in the woods after the accidental death of their infant son, only to find terror and violence at the hands of nature and, ultimately, each other. But this most confrontational...
- 11/8/2010
- by kwlow
- DreadCentral.com
There are two major releases this week on DVD and Blu-Ray. Danish director Lars Von Trier's Antichrist is making its way onto both DVD and Blu-Ray November 9th. There are a whole slew of extra features on this title including: commentaries, interviews, and documentaries. The second title is Image Entertainment's Damned by Dawn, which releases on the same day. This title will offer a commentary and making of video only. Numerous contacts with Image Entertainment to screen this title have gone unanswered. So, this reviewer will search for a review copy locally, as this title offers both Celtic and Australian ghost themes. Director Brett Anstey has been interviewed (here) on this title and all the special features for both films can be found inside.
The synopsis for Damned by Dawn is here:
"After receiving a mysterious gift from her dying grandmother, Claire takes her new boyfriend home to...
The synopsis for Damned by Dawn is here:
"After receiving a mysterious gift from her dying grandmother, Claire takes her new boyfriend home to...
- 11/8/2010
- by 28DaysLaterAnalysis@gmail.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Hey peeps! With Halloween approaching get in the "spirit" of things when Image Entertainment releases the Australian horror import 'Damned By Dawn' November 9th. A riveting rollercoaster ride in the tradition of such chiller classics as The Evil Dead and Drag Me To Hell, Damned By Dawn has already embraced by horror fans at Fright Fest, A Night of Horror International Film Fest and Screamfest. The feature directorial debut of talented Aussie director Brett Anstey, Damned By Dawn is produced by Odin's Eye Entertainment, and pays homage to the classic Hammer Horror films of yore. After receiving a mysterious gift from her dying grandmother, Claire (Renee Willner), takes her new boyfriend home to meet her family who live on an isolated property in the country. the family reunion begins well enough, but Claire becomes increasingly uneasy with her grandmother's medicated mumblings about the banshee coming for her during the night.
- 10/27/2010
- by brians
- GeekTyrant
Behold The Dawn Of An All-new Terror…
Image Entertaiment Presents
Damned By Dawn
Coming to Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital Download November 9
With Halloween approaching, get in to the “spirit” of things when Image Entertainment releases the Australian horror import Damned By Dawn November 9th. A riveting rollercoaster ride in the tradition of such chiller classics as The Evil Dead and Drag Me To Hell, Damned By Dawn has already been embraced by horror fans at Fright Fest, A Night of Horror International Film Festival and Screamfest. Srp for the DVD is a bone-cracking $27.97, while the Blu-ray™ Srp is a blood-curdling $29.97. In addition, the film is also available via diabolical digital download.
The feature directorial debut of talented Australian director Brett Anstey, Damned By Dawn is produced by Odin’s Eye Entertainment, and pays homage to the classic Hammer Horror films of yore. After receiving a mysterious gift from her dying grandmother,...
Image Entertaiment Presents
Damned By Dawn
Coming to Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital Download November 9
With Halloween approaching, get in to the “spirit” of things when Image Entertainment releases the Australian horror import Damned By Dawn November 9th. A riveting rollercoaster ride in the tradition of such chiller classics as The Evil Dead and Drag Me To Hell, Damned By Dawn has already been embraced by horror fans at Fright Fest, A Night of Horror International Film Festival and Screamfest. Srp for the DVD is a bone-cracking $27.97, while the Blu-ray™ Srp is a blood-curdling $29.97. In addition, the film is also available via diabolical digital download.
The feature directorial debut of talented Australian director Brett Anstey, Damned By Dawn is produced by Odin’s Eye Entertainment, and pays homage to the classic Hammer Horror films of yore. After receiving a mysterious gift from her dying grandmother,...
- 10/19/2010
- by Big Daddy aka Brandon Sites
- Big Daddy Horror Reviews - Interviews
Bridget Neval gets her scream on in a brand new featurette ingeniously entitled 'Scream' to help promote the upcoming DVD and Blu-Ray release of Aussie horror 'Damned By Dawn'. Bridget is joined by fellow antipodean performers Renee Willner, Dawn Klingberg, Danny Alder, Taryn Eva, Mark Taylor, Peter Stratford, Nina Nicols and Trent Schwarz. You canc check out the new featurette below. 'Damned By Dawn' is directed by Brett Anstey, his first feature. 'During a violent thunderstorm, a family is awoken by piercing shrieks which summon the dead to rise again. Their lives explode in a blood soaked fury as they battle malevolent spirits, whilst fighting to save their souls from eternal torment with...The Banshee.' 'Damned By Dawn' arrives on DVD and Blu-Ray in the Us on 9 November...
- 10/6/2010
- Horror Asylum
The Evil Dead inspired Aussie horror-fest from the Krypto Brothers, Damned by Dawn, has finally gotten itself some artwork to go along with its DVD and Blu-ray release on November 9th! Care to take a peek? Of course you do!
From the Press Release
Image Entertainment, one of the largest independent home entertainment distributors in North America, has picked up the exclusive distribution rights to Damned By Dawn from Australian-based sales & production company Odin's Eye Entertainment (Oee). The seriously fun, first feature film from talented Australian director Brett Anstey (The Amazing Krypto Bros.) pays homage to classic Hammer horror and is sure to be a hit with fans of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead franchise.
“Damned By Dawn is full of fright and fun,” commented Mark Ward, Vice President of Acquisitions for Image Entertainment. “The film is sure to become a cult classic, and we’re proud to be adding...
From the Press Release
Image Entertainment, one of the largest independent home entertainment distributors in North America, has picked up the exclusive distribution rights to Damned By Dawn from Australian-based sales & production company Odin's Eye Entertainment (Oee). The seriously fun, first feature film from talented Australian director Brett Anstey (The Amazing Krypto Bros.) pays homage to classic Hammer horror and is sure to be a hit with fans of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead franchise.
“Damned By Dawn is full of fright and fun,” commented Mark Ward, Vice President of Acquisitions for Image Entertainment. “The film is sure to become a cult classic, and we’re proud to be adding...
- 9/8/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Damned by Dawn DVD ArtThe Australian horror flick Damned by Dawn will have a North American DVD premiere through Image Entertainment. The film takes on the deadliness of family reunions, with some ghosts and banshees thrown in for fun. This film uses many images of CGI and one of the graphic images from the film can be seen left; this is the film's official DVD art. To release November 9th, Damned by Dawn is one to look out for.
The film's synopsis:
"After receiving a mysterious gift from her dying grandmother, Claire takes her new boyfriend home to meet her family who live on an isolated property in the country. The family reunion begins well but Claire becomes increasingly uneasy with her grandmother's medicated mumblings about the banshee coming for her during the night. Later that night, the family is awoken by piercing shrieks and Claire's worst fears become a...
The film's synopsis:
"After receiving a mysterious gift from her dying grandmother, Claire takes her new boyfriend home to meet her family who live on an isolated property in the country. The family reunion begins well but Claire becomes increasingly uneasy with her grandmother's medicated mumblings about the banshee coming for her during the night. Later that night, the family is awoken by piercing shrieks and Claire's worst fears become a...
- 8/23/2010
- by 28DaysLaterAnalysis@gmail.com (Michael Ross Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Chatsworth, CA — Image Entertainment, one of the largest independent home entertainment distributors in North America, has picked up the exclusive distribution rights to Damned By Dawn from Australian-based Sales & Production company Odin’s Eye Entertainment (Oee). The seriously fun, first feature film from talented Australian director, Brett Anstey (The Amazing Krypto Bros.) pays homage to classic Hammer Horror and is sure to be a hit with fans of Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead franchise. “Damned By Dawn is full of fright and fun,” commented Mark Ward, Vice President of Acquisitions for Image Entertainment. “The film is sure to become a cult classic and we’re proud to be [...]...
- 8/20/2010
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
One flick we've been looking forward to for a while now is the Evil Dead inspired Aussie horror-fest from the Krypto Brothers, Damned by Dawn. In a world where so many cool looking flicks go without distribution, it's bitchin' to see one actually nail the ever elusive beast down.
From the Press Release
Image Entertainment, one of the largest independent home entertainment distributors in North America, has picked up the exclusive distribution rights to Damned By Dawn from Australian-based sales & production company Odin's Eye Entertainment (Oee). The seriously fun, first feature film from talented Australian director Brett Anstey (The Amazing Krypto Bros.) pays homage to classic Hammer horror and is sure to be a hit with fans of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead franchise.
“Damned By Dawn is full of fright and fun,” commented Mark Ward, Vice President of Acquisitions for Image Entertainment. “The film is sure to become a cult classic,...
From the Press Release
Image Entertainment, one of the largest independent home entertainment distributors in North America, has picked up the exclusive distribution rights to Damned By Dawn from Australian-based sales & production company Odin's Eye Entertainment (Oee). The seriously fun, first feature film from talented Australian director Brett Anstey (The Amazing Krypto Bros.) pays homage to classic Hammer horror and is sure to be a hit with fans of Sam Raimi's Evil Dead franchise.
“Damned By Dawn is full of fright and fun,” commented Mark Ward, Vice President of Acquisitions for Image Entertainment. “The film is sure to become a cult classic,...
- 8/19/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
A slight change has occurred to the lineup of the UK's popular horror film festival Film4 FrightFest due to the withdrawal of Kaboom by its director Gregg Araki. But no worries; Plan B is now in effect, and writer/director Brett Anstey's Damned by Dawn will be screening in its place.
Here's the skinny straight from the Film4 FrightFest website:
We were keeping Brett Anstey’s Damned By Dawn for our special Halloween extravaganza because it’s not going to be released in the UK until spring 2011. But we’ve been given special permission to show this gory Australian goodie in August instead by our friends at Odin’s Eye Entertainment, and we couldn’t be more pleased. Damned By Dawn concerns a Banshee on the loose and is the nearest thing you’ll see to an Evil Dead 4, its clear Sam Raimi influences making it a remarkably effective piece of visual spookery.
Here's the skinny straight from the Film4 FrightFest website:
We were keeping Brett Anstey’s Damned By Dawn for our special Halloween extravaganza because it’s not going to be released in the UK until spring 2011. But we’ve been given special permission to show this gory Australian goodie in August instead by our friends at Odin’s Eye Entertainment, and we couldn’t be more pleased. Damned By Dawn concerns a Banshee on the loose and is the nearest thing you’ll see to an Evil Dead 4, its clear Sam Raimi influences making it a remarkably effective piece of visual spookery.
- 7/31/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
While this year's Cannes Film Festival might be bookended by Aussie talent, it be fair to assess this year's representation of Australia's Film industry as "short" in stature. A trio of films have been selected for the festival, and of the three we find a pair of short films. Muscles, written and directed by Edward Housden follows the story of boy and his sister who wants to be a bodybuilder, and will screen in Official Competition. Deeper Than Yesterday, (see trailer) written and directed by Ariel Kleiman (who received an Honourable Mention in Short Filmmaking at Sundance) tells the story of Oleg, who emerges after 3 months underwater and fears that losing perspective may mean losing himself. - While this year's Cannes Film Festival might be bookended by Aussie talent, it be fair to assess this year's representation of Australia's Film industry as "short" in stature. A trio of films have been selected for the festival,...
- 5/5/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
While this year's Cannes Film Festival might be bookended by Aussie talent, it be fair to assess this year's representation of Australia's Film industry as "short" in stature. A trio of films have been selected for the festival, and of the three we find a pair of short films. Muscles, written and directed by Edward Housden follows the story of boy and his sister who wants to be a bodybuilder, and will screen in Official Competition. Deeper Than Yesterday, (see trailer) written and directed by Ariel Kleiman (who received an Honourable Mention in Short Filmmaking at Sundance) tells the story of Oleg, who emerges after 3 months underwater and fears that losing perspective may mean losing himself. The short will premiere as part of Cannes Critics’ Week. The Tree, the Australian/French co-production will be the closing night film at the festival on May 23, as it makes its international premiere. Directed by Julie Bertuccelli,...
- 5/5/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
Call me crazy but I'm willing to bet Damned By Dawn director Brett Anstey has perused Sam Raimi's Evil Dead trilogy a time or two. The crazy camera angles, the throwback design aesthetic, the loopy energy ... they're all in there. Sure, the non-horror bits included in the Damned By Dawn trailer look as though they may stumble a bit but all the money shots are bang on. Very fun stuff, this.
After receiving a mysterious gift from her dying grandmother, Claire takes her new boyfriend home to meet her family who live on an isolated property in the country. The family reunion begins well but Claire becomes increasingly uneasy with her grandmother's medicated mumblings about the banshee coming for her during the night. Later that night, the family is awoken by piercing shrieks and Claire's worst fears become a waking nightmare as the Screaming Banshee and her army of...
After receiving a mysterious gift from her dying grandmother, Claire takes her new boyfriend home to meet her family who live on an isolated property in the country. The family reunion begins well but Claire becomes increasingly uneasy with her grandmother's medicated mumblings about the banshee coming for her during the night. Later that night, the family is awoken by piercing shrieks and Claire's worst fears become a waking nightmare as the Screaming Banshee and her army of...
- 4/30/2010
- Screen Anarchy
In the works for several years, the low-budget Australian horror/fantasy Damned By Dawn has finally emerged from the depths of postproduction to begin making appearances at genre film festivals across the world. The U.S. premiere took place at Screamfest this past Monday, with more no doubt soon to follow; keep an eye on the movie’s official website for updates.
Presented by The Amazing Krypto Brothers in Kryptovision, Damned By Dawn takes a traditional and serious approach to its horror, melding traditional supernatural tropes with present-day concerns. Announcing its intent with a quote about mournfully wailing a song of death, with a senior female voice intoning, “The line between reality and legend is thin,” Damned By Dawn then gets down to the business of putting a family in an isolated farmhouse under siege by a banshee and a small army of maniacal, scythe-wielding, flying skeletons. It seems that...
Presented by The Amazing Krypto Brothers in Kryptovision, Damned By Dawn takes a traditional and serious approach to its horror, melding traditional supernatural tropes with present-day concerns. Announcing its intent with a quote about mournfully wailing a song of death, with a senior female voice intoning, “The line between reality and legend is thin,” Damned By Dawn then gets down to the business of putting a family in an isolated farmhouse under siege by a banshee and a small army of maniacal, scythe-wielding, flying skeletons. It seems that...
- 10/21/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Michael Helms)
- Fangoria
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