The genre arm of Magnolia Pictures has a strong selection of scary and strange fare coming this summer.
Joining Prano Bailey-Bond’s CENSOR, previously announced for theatrical release June 11 and a digital debut June 18 (see our review here), Magnet Releasing will first make FUNHOUSE (pictured) available everywhere May 28. Written and directed by Jason William Lee, it stars Valter Skarsgård, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Khamisa Wilsher, Christopher Gerard, Karolina Benefield, Amanda Howells and Mathias Retamal. The synopsis: “Down and out backup singer and celebrity ex-husband Kasper [Skarsgård] is invited to compete in the Funhouse, an online BIG BROTHER-style reality show. To rebrand his image and tarnished reputation, Kasper reluctantly accepts the offer. Together with seven other C-list celebrities from around the globe, he will compete for the prize of 5 million dollars. At first, the Funhouse is just as the name suggests, full of wild times, budding friendships, love connections and brewing rivalries. To everyone’s surprise, the fun quickly turns into misery when the first challenge leaves one of the contestants brutally murdered.”
June 25 sees the release of THE EVIL NEXT DOOR, from Swedish writer/directors Oskar Mellender and Tord Danielsson. Originally titled THE OTHER SIDE, it stars Dilan Gwyn, Linus Wahlgren and Eddie Eriksson Dominguez. The synopsis: “New to her stepmom role Shirin [Gwyn] moves into a duplex with her partner, Fredrik [Wahlgren], and his son, Lucas [Dominguez]. The new home feels like the right place to start becoming a family. But when Fredrik leaves for work, strange things are heard from the other, uninhabited side. Also, who is Lucas’ new friend?”
Coming July 23 is MANDIBLES, the latest from French maverick Quentin Dupieux (RUBBER, KEEP AN EYE OUT). Gregoire Ludig, David Marsais, Adele Exarchopoulos, India Hair, Romeo Elvis, Coralie Russier and Bruno Lochet head the cast of this one; the synopsis: “When simple-minded friends Jean-Gab [Marsais] and Manu [Ludig] find a giant fly trapped in the boot of a car, they decide to train it in the hope of making a ton of cash.” Keep your eyes on this site for more on all three of these films.
