The Asylum’s latest film doesn’t so much make exploitative reference to an upcoming blockbuster, but to a “terrifying true story”. It is the story of a mansion in California, once the residence of Sarah Winchester, widow of gun magnate William Winchester — a mansion that was under construction continuously for 38 years. According to wikipedia:
June 1937 issue of Modern Mechanix relates the story from then-current accounts as follows: “Winchester and the baby girl died suddenly and Mrs. Winchester, stunned by the tragedy, fell into a coma so serious that physicians despaired of her life.
“Finally she recovered and, at a friend’s suggestion, visited a medium. During a seance, according to those familiar with her story, she received a communication from her dead husband in which he said: ‘Sarah dear, if our house had not been finished, I would still be with you. I urge you now to build a home, but never let it be finished, for then you will live. . . .'”
The story was obviously the inspiration for Stephen King’s mini-series, Rose Red (US/Canada-2002; dir. Craig R. Baxley).
Haunting of Winchester House (US-2009; dir. Mark Atkins)
Produced: David Michael Latt, David Rimawi, Paul Bales • Written: Jose Prendes and Mark Atkins • Cinematography: Mark Atkins • Starring: Lira Kellerman, Michael Holmes, Patty Roberts, Tomas Boykin
Synopsis:
A family moves into the mansion to act as caretakers, but when a malevolent force abducts their daughter they discover why the house deserves its reputation as one of the most haunted places in America.
Trailer:
Gallery:
- Source: Official website via Avery; wikipedia entry; prairieghosts.com
Rob we really must stop you hunting out releases from the Asylum, it’s not good for your health. Though I must admit to wondering why they don’t do a box set … I’m there!
This one actually looks pretty good, in a “B” grade fashion. Thanks for the heads up am going to have to find it now, a sucker for haunted house tales over here. And now have to discover which major release Asylum are … re-imagining …
I don’t have to hunt out Asylum releases — if it’s got ghosts, monsters, zombies, it gets sent to me. All thanks to the coverage I gave “MegaShark vs Giant Octopus”, I think.
But that’s fine with me. I like what they’re doing (though I don’t always like individual films). I think Asylum product is unfairly treated on the Net. It’s low-budget exploitation and needs to be accepted as such. As low-budget exploitation fare, the result is often pretty good.
It’s also getting better as the various creators hone their low-budget skills.
Rob think the problem is people aren’t aware that getting a cheap quick in before a major release has been standard practice in Hollywood for years. Pretty ironic when you consider the number of remakes Hollywood pump out each year.
Have you seen the Exorcism one Asylum did? Actually not too bad.
No, I haven’t seen that one — and I can’t remember if it’s in the pile of unwatched DVDs I have at home. I don’t think so.
Speaking of films inspired by the true events that inspired “The Exorcist”, I particularly liked “Possessed” (2000), a TV movie that stuck closer to the supposed facts of the case.
http://roberthood.net/reviews/randomstuff.html#possessed
Though The Asylum has undoubtedly played on its mockbuster reputation, I’ve found that a good number of their films that supposedly “rip off” some blockbuster or other could have been released by a different company with a less referential title and no-one would have seen much of a similarity at all — except in the general way that applies almost completely across the board. Narratively, and in most other ways, “Transmorphers”, for example, bears no relationship to “Transformers” except for having a few robots that change form — though most of them don’t.
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seriously…horror movies about my family history
You’re really related to the Winchesters of Winchester House? Well, I wouldn’t worry about the film. Nothing historically accurate is going on there.