- Dance of the Dead (2008 film)
Infobox Film
name = Dance of the Dead (2008 film)
caption = Film poster
director = Gregg Bishop
producer = Gregg Bishop
Ehud Bleiberg
writer = Joe Ballarini
narrator =
starring = Jared Kusnitz
Greyson Chadwick
Chandler Darby
Carissa CapobiancoRandy McDowell
Michael V. Mammoliti
Mark Lynch
Justin Welborn
Kyle GrubbinMark Oliver
James Jarrett
music =Kristopher Carter
cinematography = George Feucht
editing = Gregg Bishop
distributor = Bleiberg Entertainment
released =United States :October 13 2008
runtime = Theatrical Cut:
95 min.
DVD Cut:
87 min.
country =USA
language = Englishgross =
website = http://danceofthedeadmovie.com/
amg_id = 1:433097
imdb_id = 0926063"Dance of the Dead" is a 2008 American independent
horror film , directed by Gregg Bishop and written by Joe Ballarini. The film featured Jared Kusnitz, Greyson Chadwick, Chandler Darby, and Carissa Capobianco. The plot revolves around the mysteriousreanimation of the dead and the efforts of Jimmy, Lindsey, Stephen, and Kyle to save their localhigh school prom from attack.The film is scheduled to have a limited theatrical release at Mann's Chinese 6 Theatres on October 13, 2008, one day before being released on DVD. [cite web|url=http://www.danceofthedeadmovie.com/|title=Dance of the Dead (official website)|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-20] Originally finished in 2007, the film premiered at a number of film festivals throughout 2008 to mostly positive reviews. Notable premieres include the
South by Southwest Film Festival and theAtlanta Film Festival .Plot
An American high school prom in Georgia is unexpectedly interrupted when a graveyard, next to a nuclear power plant, becomes the sudden source of resuscitated cadavers. As zombies march on the high school, a motley group of dateless teenage outcasts, among them Jimmy (Jared Kusnitz), Lindsey (Greyson Chadwick), Stephen (Chandler Darby) and Kyle (Justin Welborn), take on the zombies and save the day.
Cast
*Jared Kusnitz as Jimmy, the film's chief protagonist.
*Greyson Chadwick, as Lindsey
*Chandler Darby, as Steven
*Carissa Capobianco, as Gwen
*Randy McDowell , as Jules
*Blair Redford, as Nash Rambler
*Mark Oliver , as Coach Keel
*Justin Welborn, as Kyle GrubinProduction
The low-budget independent feature film was based on a script written in the late 1990s.cite news|url=http://www.accessatlanta.com/news/content/movies/stories/2008/04/18/filmfest0418.html|title=ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL: Ga.-shot film gets zombies up to speed|last=Longino|first=Bob|page=1E|date=April 18, 2008|publisher="
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution "|language=English|accessdate=2008-05-06] It was filmed in Rome andNorth Georgia .Casting
The cast of "Dance of the Dead" marked the debut of relatively unknown Georgian natives—including Greyson Chadwick, Chandler Darby, and Carissa Capobianco—and the return of sophomore actors Jared Kusnitz ("
Doll Graveyard ") and Randy McDowell ("Good Intentions"). [ [http://www.filmcreweproductions.com/DODPressNotes.pdf Press Notes] at [http://danceofthedeadmovie.com/ danceofthedeadmovie.com] . Retrieved on7 May 2008 . (English)] According to director-producer Greg Bishop, they "searched for months for the right kids, ones who were good at improv, and ended up casting more kids in Georgia...They were more natural. [The] casting director would throw them curveballs and the ones who could hang and go along ended up in the movie."Distribution
"Dance of the Dead" will be distributed in October 2008 by
Lions Gate Entertainment in a deal withSam Raimi 's new partnership Ghost House Underground. The film is expected to be part of Ghost House's inaugural slate of offerings dubbed "October Horror".cite news|url=http://www.accessatlanta.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/accessatlanta/movies/entries/2008/05/16/studio_to_distr.html|title=Movie Talk; Studio to distribute Georgia-made 'Dance of the Dead'|last=Longino|first=Bob|date=16 May 2008|publisher="The Atlanta Journal-Constitution "|pages=0|language=English|accessdate=2008-05-20]Following the
Cannes Film Festival , German distributor Splendid Film bought the rights to the high school zombie film for German release. [cite news|title=Splendid Film has splendid Cannes|last=Roxborough|first=Scott|date=9 June 2008|publisher="The Hollywood Reporter "|language=English|accessdate=2008-07-06] [cite news|title=Splendid snags 'Swing Vote'; German distributor nabs 'Dance of the Dead'|last=Meza|first=Ed|date=9 June 2008|publisher="Daily Variety"|language=English|accessdate=2008-07-10]Reception
Film festivals
"Dance of the Dead" premiered at the 15th annual South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas, March 7-15 2008 along side a lineup of 113 feature films, including 64 world premieres, high school-themed features and rock documentaries. [cite news|title=Fast times at SXSW High|last=Simmons|first=Leslie|date=February 5, 2008|publisher="
The Hollywood Reporter "|language=English|accessdate=2008-05-06] It was a 'Round Midnight selection. [cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:433097~T4|title=Awards|publisher=allmovie.com|language=English|accessdate=2008-05-07]The film was screened at the 32nd annual Atlanta Film Festival in April 2008, and considered a "must see." [cite news|url=http://www.accessatlanta.com/hp/content/movies/stories/2008/04/11/filmfest0411.html|title=The 32nd Annual Film Festival: Twenty must-see movies|last=Longino|first=Bob|date=April 11, 2008 |work=Movies and More|publisher="
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution "|pages=1E|language=English|accessdate=2008-05-06] Three separate showings of the film were sellouts at the Atlanta Film Festival. [cite news|url=http://www.accessatlanta.com/hp/content/movies/stories/2008/04/25/mojo10425mm.html|title=MOVIE mojo: Fest squeaks out bigger attendance|last=Longino|first=Bob|date=April 25, 2008|work=Movies & More|publisher="The Atlanta Journal-Constitution "|pages= 2H|language=English|accessdate=2008-05-06] Bleiberg Entertainment marketed the film at the 61st Cannes Film Festival in May 2008. [cite news|title=Energy Department Suspending Shipment to Strategic Petroleum Reserve; Obama Fires Back at 'Appeaser' Label; China Quake Death Toll Mounts|last=Anderson|first=Brooke |date=16 May 2008|publisher=CNN : CNN Newsroom|language=English|accessdate=2008-05-24] Subsequent screenings included the International Fantastic Film Festival atNeuchâtel , Switzerland, on 3 July 2008, [cite news|url=http://www.letemps.ch./template/recherche.asp?page=rechercher&contenuPage=identification&types=search&type=0&artID=233999&rubrique=1%2C2%2C3%2C4%2C5%2C6%2C7%2C8%2C9%2C10%2C11%2C12%2C13%2C15%2C16%2C17%2C18%2C19%2C20%2C21%2C22%2C23%2C24%2C25&liste=precedent|title=Le NIFFF promet une belle édition|last=Duperray|first=Elsa |date=13 June 2008|publisher="Le Temps "|language=French|accessdate=2008-07-21] [cite news|title=Fest des Lebens und des Todes|last=Berger|first=Andreas|date=8 July 2008|publisher="Der Bund "|language=German|accessdate=2008-07-21] [cite web|url=http://www.nifff.ch/index.php?section=2&subsection=moviedetails&movieid=Dans_of_the_Dead_1212141923|title=Dance of the Dead|date=1 July 2008|publisher=Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival|language=French|accessdate=2008-07-21] the Fantasy Film Fest in Germany on 15 August 2008,cite news|title=Das Wochenende wird schaurig-schön - Zombies im Cinemaxx und DDR-Rock im Filmpark Babelsberg|date=16 August 2008|publisher="Berliner Kurier" |pages=8|language=German|accessdate=2008-09-25] cite news|title=0-9|date=14 August 2008|publisher="Der Tagesspiegel "|pages=T09|language=German|accessdate=2008-09-25] the ninth Film4 FrightFest in London, UK, on 23 August 2008, [cite news|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/article4470334.ece|title=On the fright train|last=Newman|first=Kim|date=9 August 2008|publisher="The Times " (London)|pages=10|language=English|accessdate=2008-08-24] and the Rome International Film Festival in North Georgia, USA, on 7 September 2008. [cite news|title=Reel Alternatives: Enjoy 'Body Snatchers' and other cult faves without leaving your car|last=Longino|first=Bob|date=29 August 2008|publisher="The Atlanta Journal-Constitution " |pages=3H|language=English|accessdate=2008-08-29]Box office performance
Critic response
Critics were mostly positive. Jason Whyte called it a "triumph in nearly every way; not only is an independent film that takes its small budget and runs with it, it is everything you want out of a horror comedy and more." [cite web|url=http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=17154&reviewer=350|title=God is flushing the toilet. Film at 11|last=Whyte|first=Jason|date=April 4, 2008|work=Film Review|publisher=eFilmCritic.com|language=English|accessdate=2008-05-05] Scott Weinberg was surprised that "character development" was possible, and thought it "fast and funny, sick and sweet, geeky and gory. Basically, a whole lot of fun." [cite web|url=http://www.fearnet.com/MCReviewDetailPage.aspx?catid=31&mid=13390|title=Dance of the Dead (2008)|last=Weinberg |first=Scott |date=March 10, 2008|work=Film reviews|publisher=
FEARnet |language=English|accessdate=2008-05-05] Expecting a "cheesy zombie flick," reviewer Brian Gibson instead found a "zombie/prom weekend film that ended up being one of the best surprises of the [film] festival." [cite web|url=http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/reviews/sxsw-movie-review-dance-of-the-dead.php|title=SXSW Movie Review: Dance of The Dead|last=Gibson|first=Brian C.|date=March 12, 2008|work=Film Review|publisher=FilmSchoolRejects|language=English|accessdate=2008-05-05] Anton Bite, tired of the zombie comedy genre in general, still saw a film distinguished by "sharp writing, amusing characters, and a real affection for geek culture."cite web|url=http://www.littlewhitelies.co.uk/blog/the-film4-frightfest-2008-diary-day-3/|title=The Film4 FrightFest 2008 Diary - Day 3|last=Bite|first=Anton|date=28 August 2008|publisher=Little White Lies: Truth and Movies|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-23]DVD release
"Dance of the Dead" will be released on
DVD in North America on 14 October 2008. The DVD contains one audio commentary by the film's director, Gregg Bishop, and several additional features, including deleted scenes.cite news|url=http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6597497.html?q=Dance+of+the+Dead|title=Release details|last=Hulse|first=Ed|date=22 September 2008|publisher=Video Business|pages=14|language=English|accessdate=2008-09-22] A 25-minute Making of Featurette covers the making of the film.References
ee also
*
Living Dead
*Zombi series External links
* [http://danceofthedeadmovie.com/ Official website]
*imdb title|0926063
*
*amg movie|id=1:433097|title=Dance of the Dead (2008 film)
* [http://www.moviefone.com/movie/dance-of-the-dead/33444/main "Dance of the Dead (2008 film)"] atMoviefone
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