Dark Floors

Dark Floors – The Lordi Motion Picture
The theatrical poster.
Directed by	Pete Riski
Produced by	Markus Selin
Written by	Pekka Lehtosaari
Starring	William Hope Leon Herbert Philip Bretherton Ronald Pickup Noah Huntley Dominique McElligott Skye Bennett Lordi
Distributed by	Solar Films Nordisk Film
Release date(s)	8 February 2008 29 February 2008 7 March 2008 7 August 2008 8 August 2008 14 October 2008 10 December 2008 27 April 2009
Language	English
Budget	4,300,000 €

Dark Floors – The Lordi Motion Picture is a Finnish horror film. The film was released in February 2008 and stars William Hope, Leon Herbert, Philip Bretherton, Ronald Pickup, and Skye Bennett. The film also features all of the Lordi band members playing the monsters. Mr. Lordi has also designed the logo of the movie. A new Lordi song, Beast Loose In Paradise, is featured in the end credits of the movie.^[1][2][3]

Story

Sarah (Skye Bennett) is an autistic little girl who is currently living at 'St. Mary's Hospital'. Her father (Ben) (Noah Huntley), concerned about the state of the hospital, finally decides to take his daughter home as an MRI catches fire with Sarah inside it. They board an elevator with a group of strangers, including a businessman (Jonathan "Jon") (William Hope), a nurse (Emily) (Dominique McElligott), a tramp (Tobias) (Ronald Pickup), and a security guard (Rick) (Leon Herbert), but when the elevator reaches the next floor down, the hospital is abandoned. It soon becomes clear the safety of the group rests upon Sarah^[1]

Cast

• William Hope: Jon
• Leon Herbert: Rick
• Ronald Pickup: Tobias
• Philip Bretherton: Walter
• Noah Huntley: Ben
• Dominique McElligott: Emily
• Skye Bennett: Sarah
• Lordi: Themselves

Crew

• Director: Pete Riski
• Screenplay: Pekka Lehtosaari
• Story and concept: Pete Riski and Tomi "Mr. Lordi" Putaansuu (original idea)
• English adaptation: Howard Brodsky
• Translation from Finnish: Aretta Vähälä and Mika Karttunen
• Executive producer: Jukka Helle
• Producer: Markus Selin
• Co-producers: Julius Kemp and Ingvar Thordarsen
• Line producers: Saara Kankaanpää and Sirkka Rautiainen
• Director of photography: Jean-Noël Mustonen
• Production design: Tiina Anttila
• Editors: Antti Kulmala, Joona Louhivori, Stefan Sundlöf
• Costume designers: Tomi "Mr. Lordi" Putaansuu and Anna Vilppunen
• Musical underscore: Ville Riippa
• Casting: Jeremy Zimmerman
• Production companies: Solar Films; Kisi Productions; The Icelandic Film Company, YLE
• International distribution: Nordisk Film
• U.S./North American distribution: Ghost House Underground/Lionsgate Home Entertainment (DVD)
• U.K. distribution: Metrodome Distribution (DVD)

Production

Dark Floors was a concept that Mr. Lordi had maintained interest in since he had first launched his band. Horror films had played a key role in shaping the look of the Lordi costumes. Indeed, with the production of 'The Kin' in 2004, Mr. Lordi's expertise in makeup, costume design and prosthesis had gained him some considerable experience. Shortly after the band's legendary Eurovision victory, Mr. Lordi asked film producer Markus Selin to contact him with any movie ideas he may have. Mr. Lordi had previously worked with Selin as a storyboard artist.

Actors

The vast majority of leading actors in the film are British, a choice made by Mr. Lordi given the large amount of small time British actors who had previously or otherwise appeared on television while still being very much talented. A diverse assembly of small-time actors were used, to partly further justify the film's subtitle, 'The Lordi Motion Picture', as well as to avoid budgetary constraints. The cast members very much enjoyed working on the film, as was expressed in the special features segment on the subsequently released DVD.

The film was produced between March and April 2007. The general populace of Oulu largely played the background characters, from the living nurses to the dead, yet animate, bodies. Amputees were also largely asked for, to play the zombies, and many were willing to collaborate. Each extra had five minutes screen time maximum.

Lordi's part in the film

All of Lordi's current line-up (except for new drummer Otus) are present within the film, along with Kita, their former drummer. The band had been working on an accompanying end credits song (which turned out to be Beast Loose in Paradise). Performing this song for the end credits, the band members believed, would not ruin the atmosphere that became one of Dark Floors's strong points. Indeed, none of the Lordi members have spoken dialogue in the film, choosing instead to communicate with roars and growls. In addition, stunt extras were used when certain shots were difficult for the actual members to pull off, notably a stunt double actually running in Ox's costume.

Only Awa was present in the film by means of special effects; her scenes were shot using green screen. The four other members – Mr. Lordi, Kita, Ox and Amen – were all present in person for their scenes.

Putaansuu, in addition to designing the film's logo, conceived a large portion of the story, and co-wrote the aforementioned song 'Beast Loose In Paradise.' The film's atmospheric musical underscore was composed by Ville Hang.

During most of Dark Floors' production, Lordi was actively involved in Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzfest tour, with stunt doubles filling in for them for certain scenes. Nonetheless, each member took an active part in the overall development of the movie. An example of a scene shot without the involvement of one of the actual bandmembers occurs in the morgue scene, in which Kita pulls out one corpse's internal organs.

Budget

The full budget of Dark Floors reached $4.3 million (U.S.), making it one of the most expensive movies ever made in Finland. Most of the budget was spent on special effects design, set construction, and a large marketing campaign, along with the post-production process.

Scenery and Special Effects

The sets were the largest constructed in Finland, taking up a massive 1700 square metres during the basement carpark scene. Electrical work was very much conventional, using the same method as for a family home. It had been originally planned to shoot the film on location in the Baltics, but the village of Oulu was chosen instead, with special effects used to replicate a city when necessary. The production team visited hospitals to research the workings of an X-ray, thereby adding both credibility and authenticity to the CGI-rendered X-rays shown.

When principal photography was completed, the extended post-production phase was launched, including the insertion of Awa's ghostly appearance. This served to complement the other special effects that contributed in no small measure to the film's overall look.

Advertisement and promotions

The film was originally intended to premiere in 2007, at the Eurovision song contest in Helsinki, whose opening number, featuring Lordi, was a stunning performance of the now-immortal 'Hard Rock Hallelujah.' Unfortunately, the team could not finish their tasks in time; moreover, Lordi were already putting final touches on their Bringing Back the Balls to Europe tour. Post-production was therefore expanded into May of the same year, and was eventually rescheduled to December.

The press conference was held at the Cannes Film Festival the weekend of the 19th and 20th of May, 2007. Lordi appeared personally, as did director Pete Riski, producer Markus Selin, and virtually all the leading actors. All involved responded to questions, and shared unusual anecdotes on making the film.

Dark Floors was slowly 'leaked' by way of a marketing campaign, and the press were permitted to witness the production of Kita's lift scene, although everything else was kept under wraps.

DVD releases

The film was released on Region 2 DVD in the UK by Metrodome Distribution on 20 April, 2009, priced at £12.99 RRP.^[4] The release includes several extra features, listed as "Behind the Scenes of Dark Floors", "Cast & Crew Interviews", and "Dark Floors World Premiere featurette including Q&A with Lordi, the cast and crew and a live Lordi performance". The film is rated 18 by the BBFC for "strong bloody violence and horror".^[5]

Even though the film was a box office disappointment in Finland, it rose to gold in the DVD charts.

Elsewhere it has largely been criticised for confusing plots and little explanation, but has sold reasonably well, with new DVD releases in separate countries still taking place.

See also

• Lordi

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Solar Films
2. ^ "dark floors -arvostelu - Arvostelut.net". Arvostelut.net<!. 2009-03-05. http://www.arvostelut.net/arvostelu_haku.php?aihe=elokuva&hakusana=dark+floors. Retrieved 2009-05-02. 
3. ^ Helsingin Sanomat (2008-02-06). "Lordi-elokuvan avausviikonloppu oli vaisu - HS.fi - Viihde". HS.fi. http://www.hs.fi/viihde/artikkeli/Lordi-elokuvan+avausviikonloppu+oli+vaisu/1135233974142. Retrieved 2009-05-02. 
4. ^ DVD Times - Metrodome in April
5. ^ BBFC - Dark Floors classification information

External links

• Solar Films's Dark Floors Site
• The Finnish Film Foundation's Dark Floors page
• Nordisk Films: Dark Floors
• Nordisk Film International Sales: Dark Floors
• Kaleva newspaper's Dark Floors gallery
• Dark Floors — The Lordi Motion Picture at the Internet Movie Database
• Dark Floors — The Lordi Motion Picture at AllRovi
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