Jack Thomas Smith Writer/Director Of Infliction

We had a chance to sit down with writer and director Jack Smith to talk about his up coming feature Infliction and whats next from Fox Trail Productions

Epic Horror-With eight years between films, what have yourself and Fox Trail Productions been doing ?

Jack Thomas Smith - That's a great question. I've been in development HELL!!! I had a verbal commitment for the financing for my action/horror feature "In The Dark", but then it fell through when the market tanked in 2008. From there, I scrambled to find

investors and dealt with two different studios to put together the project. But after endless rewrites and delays, I shifted my focus and efforts to "Infliction."

EH - What lessons have you taken away from music videos for your films and vica versa.

JTS - I always try to keep it true to the movie... And true to the artist's vision. For example, we shot a music video for my last film "Disorder." The artist's name is Purple Pam. She's a rocker from NYC. The song "Take Me Away" is a beautiful ballad and was a change of direction for her. The song dealt with suicide, so I incorporated Pam's vision and meaning behind the song with 
  the same locations that we shot the film. It really came out great and tied both the song and the movie together.

EH - With Fox Trail adding more movies to it's stable, what genre are you most comfortable with?

JTS - I love thrillers. I'm a big Brian DePalma guy. I love 
  films that have a tight story and keep you guessing... And then right when you think you have it figured out... There's a twist ending. I love complex characters and actually CARING about characters... That way it makes it so much more impactful when you lose them. With that being said, those are the types of films I like to make... Films that will keep you on the edge of your seat and will have you talking afterwards.

EH - With films like Disorder, Infliction,and your upcoming In The Dark, What do you look for in a horror movie?

JTS -  I love horror films that have a strong story and suspense. If the movie calls for gore... Awesome.  But if it's not necessary, then it's not necessary. Personally, gore doesn't scare me. Suspense is what scares me. I love when you're on the edge of your seat... You 

  have no idea what's coming next... It's the anticipation of what's to come that I find to be scarier than splatter in your face without that suspenseful buildup.

EH - Most overused horror cliches

JTS -  I hate when tension is building during a scene... And then a cat jumps out of nowhere. Can't stand that. Lol.

EH - Was there a particular event or time that you recognized that filmmaking was not just a hobby, but that it would be your life and your living?

JTS - It's something that's always been in me. Writing and filmmaking is part of my DNA. It's all I know. When I was 8, I saw "Star Wars" and that absolutely blew me away. And shortly after that, I read "The Shining" by Stephen King and that knocked me off my feet as well. At a very young age, I wanted to write and make films. And as an adult, it's the only career I've ever pursued.

EH - How did growing up shape you as a filmmaker?

JTS - As a teenager, I obsessively 
  watched films by George Romero, John Carpenter, Martin Scorsese, Brian 
  DePalma, and Stanley Kubrick. I'd practically study their films... 
  Why did a particular scene work? How did they build the tension or develop the characters? Their styles of filmmaking were brilliant and helped set the moods of their films... But their styles never got in the way of the stories. It was during that time that my father bought me a super 8 movie camera and I started shooting horror shorts and comedy shorts with my brother and friends in my neighborhood. It was a lot of fun, but I also started to learn 
  the process even on such a small scale of working with actors, shooting coverage, locations, props, wardrobe, etc. We have those

old films on DVD and every once in a while we throw them on for a good laugh.

EH - Is it harder to get started or to keep going? What was the particular thing that you had to conquer to do either?

JTS - It's really hard to break into the 
  entertainment business. When I was in my early 20s, I had completed my first screenplay and shopped it around to everyone and anyone -- studios, agents, etc. I was rejected by everyone. At that time, I had been introduced to Ted Bohus, who is an indie feature film director and producer, and we talked about doing our own film for a small budget. So we did just that... I co-wrote the screenplay with Ted and he directed "The Regenerated Man",  which was a sci-fi/horror campy type of film. We made the film for a small amount of money that we were able to pull together ourselves and secured a nationwide video deal for double our investment when it was complete. But then from there, it took another three years to put together the money for the next 

film that I produced for John Russo, who co-wrote and produced the original "Night of the Living Dead." The name of that film was "Santa Claws" and it was about a guy in a Santa Claus costume running around killing people. John directed it and I produced it and we ultimately secured distribution. From there it took six years to pull together the financing for my next film "Disorder", which I wrote, produced, and directed. "Disorder" is a psychological thriller told from the perspective of a paranoid schizophrenic... So you don't know what's real and what isn't... And right when you think you have it figured out... There's a twist ending. "Disorder" was distributed on DVD by Universal/Vivendi and on PPV and VOD by Warner Brothers. After "Disorder", I was in development hell for

years with "In The Dark" as I described earlier before I started "Infliction" in 2011. It's a long-winded answer... The bottom line is that it's hard to break into the movie business and it's equally as hard to stay in the movie business. You just have to keep moving forward and pushing your projects.

EH - What was the most important lesson you had to learn that has had a positive effect on your films? How did that lesson happen?

JTS - You learn something new with every film. I'm a firm believer in a lot of rehearsals with the actors... I storyboard every single shot and I walk through all of the setups with the DP in advance. The most important part of making a film is Pre-Production. You have

to plan and rehearse and prepare obsessively so that when you're on set you don't miss a beat. Things always happen when you shoot that you can't plan for, but if you have a solid plan in place, you can push through it. There's an old saying... "Fix it in post." And that's true to a certain extent... But you don't want to rely on post completely to make your film work. If you put in the work before you start shooting, it will make the entire process so much better and smoother

EH - What films have been the most inspiring or influential to you and why?

JTS - There's a lot. When I was a kid, it was definitely "Star Wars" and "Dawn of the Dead." For obvious reasons, "Star Wars" changed everything. George Lucas created something so original and unique... I loved the characters... The story... And the effects were amazing. It was a perfect movie. "Dawn of the Dead" is my 
  all-time favorite horror film. It was scary and the effects were off the charts... And you really wanted the characters to survive. As I got older, I realized the shot "Dawn of the Dead" took at American consumerism... We're all mindless zombies going to the malls to buy our name brands. Other films that I love and have influenced me are "Apocalypse Now", "The Crow", "Platoon", "Scarface," and "Goodfellas."

EH - “It all starts with the script.” Maybe not, but when do you know a script is ready to shoot, and what is your process of getting it there?

JTS - I guess the best way to answer this question is that I just know. When I write a screenplay, I'm conscious of the fact that there are certain plot points that need to be hit in the appropriate places and the story must flow. You're constantly tweaking 
  the script... Even when you rehearse right up to when you're on set... You can tweak and adjust the dialogue as it seems fit... And usually when I complete the script I storyboard my shots so that visually I have the film in front of me and I put together detailed shot lists so that i know the exact order how to shoot everything

EH - What do audiences want? And is it the filmmaker’s role to worry about that?

JTS -  I'm as guilty as any other filmmaker in that I want to make movies that I'd like to see and I want to tell stories that mean something to me. However, I also understand that audiences want to be entertained and that they want to see something original and thought provoking. Hopefully, the films that I make satisfy my needs as an artist, but more importantly entertain the audience and leave them discussing it and thinking about what they just watched.

EH - It is said that your upcoming film "In The Dark" was based on where you lived in Michigan, Any plans to shoot there.

JTS -  I'd LOVE to shoot there. In particular, I'd love to shoot on Grosse Ile, which is where I lived when I was a kid before moving to NJ. It all depends on the financing and Michigan's state tax credits if it makes sense to shoot there.

EH - If I walked up to an audience leaving one of your films, what would you want them to tell me

JTS - I'd like for them to tell you that they have very passionate 
  feelings about what they just saw. I want the audience to talk about my films after seeing them. We've had screenings of "Infliction" in different parts of the country followed by Q&A sessions and the discussions have been very lively. "Infliction" seems to be striking a nerve with people... especially with women... because of its disturbing subject matter

EH - One last question what can we look forward to from yourself and Fox Trail? 

JTS - I'm hoping to shoot "In The Dark" next year. That project has been a labor of love for years and I'm determined to make it happen. I'm also planning to start writing the drama "Illegals", which will be honest and unbiased in regards to the illegal immigration issue that effects us today. 

Wer (2013)

Wer (2013)


Disclaimer: I am a big fan of found footage films and it's so refreshing to find one that is as good as Wer
The 2013 film Wer not only redefines the werewolf movie but also saves it. I try to watch a couple horror movies a day and by doing so you see movies with a good cast or a good story or great direction, you seldom see all three in one film. Wer has it not only a very good veteran cast but excellent story that turns the

legend on it's head and a clear vision by the director that this ain't your Twilight wolf pack.  I don't go into any movie with high hopes and with the werewolf movies that have came out the last couple of years I was a little gun shy on Wer, but this one put my faith back in monster movies.

Written and directed by William Brent Bell known for The Devil Inside and Stay Alive. With Wer he not only reinvents the monster but adds just enough of the old werewolf legend to make us familiar with his new take. With nods to the legend

made famous in the Lon Chaney Jr. films. He lets us think we know what's going on up until he changes what we believe about werewolves. An excellent vision on the monster and well directed cast this just might turn out to be his breakout film. Wer also uses just the right amount of special effect that is so rare in today's CGI world and that alone is worth checking this film out.

The cast is full of recognizable faces from the TV and the big screen, and one unknown that steals the movie making it both scary and believable. Brian Scott O'Connor plays Talan Gwynek who lives a quiet life with his mother in a small hamlet in France and happens to live near where a

vacationing American family is attacked with the father and son being killed. After his arrest we find that he has a rare disease that makes him to weak to commit the crime and cause unusual hyper hair growth. But the only way to tell if he truly has the disease is a special test. The test causes him to turn and we get to see him release his inner beast. The story at this point takes a little bit of a preachy government wants to steal the land turn, but works more like a red herring to what is really going on. I'm not going to say anymore on the plot of the movie except to say "Don't Miss The Chance To See It" The rest of the cast are very good staying within their roles making the characters believable and likable. Starring A.J. Cook best known as Jennifer Jareau on the Tv show Criminal Minds along with longtime actor Sebastian Roché with great support from Vik Sahay and Simon Quarterman whose transformation in the film is astonishing. 

In conclusion if you're looking for a genre defining movie this one is it. I highly recommend searching our the film to see what can happen to an old story when it's seen through fresh eyes.

Red Right Hand First Look

Red Right Hand (First Look)

In a dark forest, on a lonely road, something is waiting...

Well if the teaser are any indication the new film in pre production by writer, director, and producer Stuart Lawson is sure to send chills up and down your spine. Rounding out the pre-production team are director of photography Kupa Warner and SFX makeup artist Kate Griffiths(Filmblood - Makeup Artist of the Year award in 2013.). While none would be considered "known names" on this side of the pond. This project just might change that. 

The story in itself is enough to make you think "maybe I should leave a light on tonight". Based on an urban legend from Lawson's childhood. Living in a village, as a child, Stuart heard about this terrifying story of a daughter visiting her parents and the horrific event that took place that night. After years go by, naturally it's assumed that it was just an urban legend, Until he found a newspaper clipping. The script came about after Lawson returned to his hometown for a visit and became enthralled with the story of what happen to  Catherine when she was driving down a deserted lonely road at night. 
With a kickstarter that is only asking for 6000 pounds(10000 USD) We're hoping to see the script come to life.

The Horror of an Urban Legend. In a dark forest, on a lonely road, something is waiting....

Find The Kickstarter Here

In Development Chasing Deanie: A Michigan Mystery

Chasing Deanie: A Michigan Mystery


This is a story that just begs to be made not only as a documentary but as a "based on a true story" feature. They have secured rights from numerous people involved in the case and are working on more. They are looking for any help getting this done. Lets get this made,


In February 1981 a pretty young girl walked into a middle school in an affluent suburb of Grand Rapids Michigan to watch her brothers wrestling practice and was never seen again. For over 30 years this has hung over the area like an albatross. This documentary will explore the case that have gripped people's imagination for 30 years.


Recent News Story About The Film Mlive Article
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The Sacrament (2013) Review

The Sacrament: Ti West's coming of age as a director.

8 out of 10 stars

The latest from Ti West is not your father's horror movie or maybe it is. Instead of his trademark slow burn leading up to a shock and awe moment we are treated to a movie that slow burns to a rolling boil and stays there much like Hitchcock use to do. If you're under 35 you may not realize this is based on the Jonestown massacre in 1978 where 900 people committed "revolutionary suicide" at their compound in Guyana. I truly believe that this will be considered his "coming of age movie", as he lets the story unwind in front of you without the usual horror movie hooks. There has been a lot of things said about Ti being the next great horror maker with this movie he cements his place with the likes of Carpenter, Craven, and the lot. What he gets so right in this film is he keeps leaving just enough creepy hints along the way to make you pay attention waiting for the one hint that would lead to the monster. Until you realize the monster here isn't a demon or devil just a man with the gift of gab playing on people's emotional weaknesses and men's willingness to believe. The acting, story, and soundtrack all mesh to perfection making this a definitely must watch and adds to Ti's credential as a top filmmaker

****May Contain Spoilers****

The film is framed as a VICE documentary of the religious group living at "Eden Parish" The Vice crew(AJ Bowen,Kentucker Audley) accompanied by their friend(Joe Swanberg) looking for his sister(played by Amy Seimetz) lead by "The Father" played to perfection by Gene Jones. Almost immediately after arriving they start sensing that something isn't quite right but everything is easily explained away when they question the residents. The residents tell their stories on how they were lost until they found The Father and had sold everything for a chance at eutopia. While things appear perfect on the surface though the interviews we are supplied with hints that things may not be what it seems. Including child abuse, drug use, and adultery. During an interview at a party thrown in their honor The Father does what every subject of controversy does he ducks and changes the question to suit his needs. It is after the interview that we see how charismatic the leader is as the VICE interviewer Sam says he can't believe he let him get away with hijacking the interview. Feeling like something is terribly wrong they lie awake most of the night waiting to leave we are also privy to that not all is well and a group of people want to leave. The film makers split up with one going to find how many they can take on the helicopter and two staying behind trying to keep things calm. They are quickly taken hostage, when the cameraman makes it to the chopper shots ring out and the pilot is hit he escapes to the jungle being pursued by guards of the parish. After a short chase he loses his pursuers and makes his way back to Eden. For the next 15 minutes of so we are treated to the drink the kool-aid scene. We find one of them in the home of The Father handcuffed to a chair as The Father tries to justify the things he has done while sniffing cocaine he then removes gun and in a nice twist commits suicide instead of ending the movie. We also find out that Jake's sister had led him to the compound in hopes of getting him to stay with the group and get a much needed influx of money, they find him after his sister has killed him and is pouring gas on herself before going up in flames. As the two are trying to get back to the helicopter they are spotted by a guard that is walking around finish people off and just as he see's them and we think they are going to be shot a shot rings out from another guard killing him, he then yells at them to leave and make sure their story is told and he's going to "burn it all down". With a final scene of us flying over Eden is very reminiscent of the footage of Jonestown. 



The Good
The acting especially Gene Jones who nails the cult leader by channeling Jim Jones

As much as some want to say it, this is not a found footage film it's a mockumentary,they set out to make a documentary and thats what they did.

Using the premise that it's a VICE production so the shaky cam can be held to a minimum.

The soundtrack gives all the right build ups and clues without going over the top.

Explaining the fine line between news reporter and news maker

The Bad

The back story on some of the main characters were sketchy or non existent. (the mother and daughter to name a couple)

 I think Sam played by AJ Bowen lost a lot of credibility by not leaving with Audley's Patrick when he had a chance as one of the secondary stories was his child's birth within a month. So instead of leaving and sending back help he wants to save the world which I found unrealistic for the character.

Conclusion:
Ti West creates a very good suspenseful movie that doesn't involve supernatural beings and special effect hooks

A Note To Horror Movie Producers......

An Open Letter To Horror Movie Producers

To Whom It May Concern,

  Thank You so much for all the great things you all do to make us jump and leave a light on at night while we sleep. However for the love Bella Lugosi's ghost and Bud's decaying body, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop with the "making movies counting on a sequel" nonsense. One of the major complaints I hear about horror movies today is "good movie but the ending kinda sucked though". Let that sink in you had the audience right where you wanted them only to let them slip away in the final act. Don't misinterpret this as me hating on squeals there are plenty of movie series that the second or third movie is way better than the original. But let the quality of your craft dictate what gets remade. I do understand the draw of playing for a sequel has but in doing so you short change yourself and us. This especially true of inde movies we do understand the hardships you have went though to see your vision come to life. But letting the production team take the cheap and easy way out won't help anyone. For me as I'm watching a movie that starts to play for squeal I start to feel cheated by the movie I'm watching. And it is true that horror fans will watch any horror movie that is made but don't take our love for a gerne for weakness. There are plenty of movies that beg for more of the story to be told and those will rise up above the ones that are playing they're audience for a fool. I believe it also lets your writer's and director's an easy out, your job is to challenge them not just let them go through the motions in hopes of getting an easy paycheck in the II version. We as an audience especially in horror are probably the smartest of movie goer's. Don't sacrifice what you have worked so hard to get made by hoping that you can make another, if it's good you will. Again Thank You making our nightmares real, but don't turn our nightmares into movie nightmares.

Yours Truly,

Your Audience

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Chasing The Devil (2014)

A New Classic ......Maybe
9/10 Stars
Where to start on this little gem of a movie I found.  Of all the "found footage" films being released now days it's nice to find a director and writer that gets it. The filming was done with a lot of handheld and gopro's they wore on their chest which I thought was a welcome relief to see how the perspective was being shot. Some critics have complained about the sound track or lack thereof but for me it helped immerse me into the story.   Another great plus for me is they didn't fall into the let's use lots of CGI we don't have the budget for. They also have a great script and didn't have to use the "Hey lets show T&A so the audience won't notice the plot holes".   While you may not recognize the cast as "BIG" names in the genre but all have great resumes on TV and short films. The movie revolves around the 5 main characters played by Challen Cates , Cory Knauf , Tim Phillipps , Ary Katz ,and Chris Yule.  

First some things I really enjoyed in the movie:
 The nods to other movies/Tv shows. (The Exorcist,Ghost Adventures)
 The clues were revealed mystery/thriller way so you could actually decipher with the  actors/movie.      
 We as the audience were not treated like mindless beings that had to be lead around.
Now for the bad:
The only problem we had with the film is the actors seemed a little wooden at times in the first half of the movie. Which after you realize thats most likely how real people would react to those surrounding and facing the challenges of fighting the demon with people you just met.


***REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS***

 As the film begins we learn from Patrick that his sisters death was ruled a suicide. Which he won't accept after giving us a little background on his sister (speaking latin, pentagram cut into her arm) I would tend to agree with him. We also find out whoever he has showed his sisters video blog to has met with some catastrophic event. Patricks friend is a documentary filmmaker and introduces him to a team of paranormal investigators and agrees to film the investigation. The investigators include a psychic, a assistant investigator, and a tech man. They met at the site of his sisters death a halfway house after she had spent 3 years in a mental institution where she was committed after attacking the pope on a class trip. What comes next is a nice little twist on the evil demon film, it has the ability to jump from one person to another on a whim. Most of the meat of the film takes place at Patricks house but after realizing they may become targets of the demon cameras are mounted in everyones residence. The only other location we are treated to is that of a teenage girls house which is creepily reminiscent of the Exorcist and other movies. The entity then starts leaving clues and bodies in his wake. I'll skip all the inbetween deaths as we all know in found footage movies no one gets out alive.

Might As Well Start At The Begining

As I sat here staring at my monitor wondering what would be our first true blog post should we talk about a 5 star film the new Salem tv show maybe a truly creepypasta or just a fun campy Indie movie. and then it hits me like a jump scare lets start off where it all began. In 1896 a short 3 min silent film was made by Georges Méliès  Le Manoir du diable or as it was released in the U.S. The Haunted Castle.
Lets take a look.....

Isn't that GREAT. It has everything you could ever want in the genre. We got the Devil, Ghost, and Vampires. Now I'm sure someone out there will bring up Edison's 1895 short The Execution of Mary Stuart but I consider this more of a historical film then a true horror film and at only 17 seconds it a really short short. Well there you have it the root of our family horror tree.