By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Blumhouse Television has joined forces with Amazon Prime Video for a slate of eight fright films, debuting in time for Halloween as a pair of double features.
The WELCOME TO THE BLUMHOUSE series will debut October 6 with THE LIE, directed by Veena Sud (THE KILLING), and BLACK BOX, from up-and-coming writer/director Emmanuel Osei-Kuffour Jr. Following those on October 13 are Elan Dassani and Rajeev Dassani’s EVIL EYE and Zu Quirke’s NOCTURNE; see more details on these movies below. The second quartet will debut in 2021.
“We are excited to launch WELCOME TO THE BLUMHOUSE with this exhilarating and provocative slate of original films for the first time ever on Prime Video,” says Julie Rapaport, co-head of movies for Amazon Studios. “This collection from diverse and emerging filmmakers was a thrill to put together with our wonderful partners at Blumhouse Television. These chilling stories have something for everyone–ready to fright and delight genre fans and newcomers alike–and we are excited to share them with our global Prime Video customers.”
“We’re beyond excited that the visions of these talented filmmakers will finally be seen by genre fans around the world, especially during this time when people are seeking to escape and be entertained,” say Marci Wiseman and Jeremy Gold, co-presidents of Blumhouse Television. “And we love the innovative idea of programming like the classic drive-in or repertory theater experience. Amazon have been incredible partners, linking arms and supporting the creative visions throughout the process of making these films.”
Written and directed by Sud, THE LIE stars THE KILLING’s Mireille Enos and Peter Sarsgaard and THE CONJURING’s Joey King. The synopsis: “When their teenaged daughter confesses to impulsively killing her best friend, two desperate parents attempt to cover up the horrific crime, leading them into a complicated web of lies and deception.” BLACK BOX was scripted by by Osei-Kuffour and Stephen Herman and stars Mamoudou Athie, Phylicia Rashad, Amanda Christine, Tosin Morohunfola, Charmaine Bingwa and Troy James; the synopsis: “After losing his wife and his memory in a car accident, a single father undergoes an agonizing experimental treatment that causes him to question who he really is.”
EVIL EYE is based on the award-winning, best-selling Audible Original production by writer Madhuri Shekar and stars Sarita Choudhury (LADY IN THE WATER), Sunita Mani, Omar Maskati and Bernard White. The synopsis: “A seemingly perfect romance turns into a nightmare when a mother becomes convinced her daughter’s new boyfriend has a dark connection to her own past.” And NOCTURNE, written and directed by feature first-timer Quirke, stars Sydney Sweeney, Madison Iseman (ANNABELLE COMES HOME), Jacques Colimon and Ivan Shaw; the synopsis: “Inside the halls of an elite arts academy, a timid music student begins to outshine her more accomplished and outgoing twin sister when she discovers a mysterious notebook belonging to a recently deceased classmate.”
