Movies In Focus

#51. Best-Selling Author Adele Parks Talks Writing & THE IMAGE OF YOU

Adele Parks MBE has sold over 5 million plus copies and has been translated into over 30 different languages.

Her 19th novel, The Image Of You has now been adapted for the screen by director Jeff Fisher and screenwriter Chris Sivertson.

Starring Sasha Pieterse, Parker Young, Néstor Carbonell and Mira Sorvino, the film is a modern take on the erotic thriller that features nods to genre masters like Brian De Palma and Paul Verhoeven.

Adele Parks joins this episode of the podcast for an in-depth chat about her writing process, how The Image Of You made it to the screen and what it’s like having someone else bring your book to life. It’s a great conversation - especially if you’re interested in the craft of writing.

The Image Of You released In Select Theatres and is Available to Buy on Digital on May 10, 2024.

 

#50. Writer/Director Francis Galluppi On The Brilliant THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY

Sometimes a movie will come along and subvert expectations - and Francis Galluppi’s brilliant feature film debut, The Last Stop In Yuma County is one of the movies. The set-up is that a travelling salesman is caught up with a pair of bank robbers in a remote diner - we’ve all seen that type of thriller a dozen times before but Galluppi takes things in many surprising directions. The last act is filled with tense kinetic energy and it’s easy to see why Galluppi has been tapped to follow in Sam Raimi’s shoes and direct the next Evil Dead film.

Francis Galluppi, the writer and director of The Last Stop In Yuma County joins this bite-sized episode of the podcast to talk about the film. He goes into detail on writing the fresh and original thriller, its excellent cast and great music.

#49. Stefon Bristol On Directing Sci-Fi Thriller BREATHE & Its A-List Cast

As its title suggests, Stefon Bristol’s Breathe is a claustrophobic and tense film that will leave you gasping for air. A prescient science fiction piece, Breathe is set in the near future where the earth has a depleted oxygen supply. A small family eke out an existence, but when strangers arrive at their doorstep paranoia seeps into their lives. Are these new arrivals friends or foes?

Bristol’s film comes with a stacked cast - Jennifer Hudson, Milla Jovovich, Quvenzhané Wallis, Common, and Sam Worthington - and they all bring added gravitas to proceedings. Wallis in particular delivers an impressive turn as the film’s central character.

Stefon Bristol joins this episode of the podcast to talk about making Breathe, its powerhouse cast and he also drops some details on his upcoming Indiana Jones-style collaboration with Spike Lee.

 

#48. Author Danny Stewart On The Underappreciated Kurt Russell Movie SOLDIER

Unfairly dismissed in 1998, Paul W.S. Anderson’s Soldier underperformed when it was released, grossing a paltry $14.5 million at the U.S. on a then substantial $60 million budget. In the UK the Kurt Russell starrer became the most expensive film to go straight to DVD/Video.

Danny Stewart's book Soldier: From Script to Screen takes a serious deep dive into the making of Paul W.S. Anderson’s film, covering every aspect of the film's production. However, over the years the reputation of Soldier has grown and what was once seen as a throwaway action pic now resonates as something totally different, offering up parallels to George Stevens' 1953 classic western, Shane. 

Danny joins the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about Soldier’s original failure and the growing legacy of the Paul W.S. Anderson science fiction actioner.

#47. Cult Auteur Larry Fessenden Talks BLACKOUT & Werewolves

It’s usually hyperbole to say that someone does it all, but in the case of Larry Fessenden, it just so happens to be true. An award-winning actor, producer, writer, director and editor - Fessenden is a genre filmmaker with a real skill in delivering works that entertain but also have a fair amount of nuance and sophistication.

Fessenden’s latest film is Blackout, a werewolf horror with a top-notch cast that includes Alex Hurt, Addison Timlin, Marshall Bell and Barbara Crampton amongst its number.

The film is not only a fantastic old-school horror pic, but it also features plenty of added social commentary - and this makes it a cut above other modestly budgeted genre films.

Larry Fessenden joined the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about the Blackout, the inspirations behind the film and his love of werewolf movies.

#46. Director Adam Cooper Discusses SLEEPING DOGS & Working With Russell Crowe & Karen Gillan

Based on E.O. Chirovici's novel, The Book of Mirrors, Sleeping Dogs is a twisty and entertaining thriller starring the mighty Russell Crowe. Crowe plays Roy Freeman, a former cop undergoing treatment for Alzheimer's disease who starts to dig into an old case in the hopes of exonerating an innocent man. The type of film that used to be Hollywood’s bread and butter, Sleeping Dogs' impressive cast also includes Karen Gillan and Tommy Flanagan.

Adam Cooper the screenwriter behind films such as Tower Heist, Exodus: Gods And Kings and Assassin’s Creed makes his directorial debut with Sleeping Dogs.

Adam joined the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about making the film, working with Russell Crowe, shooting a U.S. set movie in Australia and much more.

#45. Scott Chambers On DOCTOR JEKYLL, Hammer, Horror & WINNIE-THE-POOH BLOOD & HONEY 2

Joe Stephenson's Doctor Jekyll was the first Hammer horror film released since the company was purchased by its new owner - the perfectly named John Gore. An entertaining throwback feature with a modern twist, this new imagining of Robert Louis Stephenson's iconic tale stars Eddie Izzard and Scott Chambers. Izzard is the titular Jekyll, while Chambers plays the young man hired to assist the reclusive doctor. 

Izzard's take on Doctor Jekyll is creepy and subtle, but Scott Chambers impresses as the young man who is eager to make his second chance in life work. Chambers is an up-and-coming actor-producer who has produced over 100 low-budget films over the last ten years or so - one of those being the controversial cult success Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey.

Scott Chambers joined the Movies In Focus podcast to talk about Doctor Jekyll, the rebirth of Hammer films, the horror genre as well as Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 2.

#44. AMELIA'S CHILDREN Filmmaker Gabriel Abrantes

Writer-director Gabriel Abrantes joins this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast to discuss his new film Amelia’s Children

A slow-burning and delicately paced horror with Brigette Lundy-Paine, Carlota Cotta, Anabela Moreira, Alba Baptista, Amelia’s Children sees a New York-based musician discover that he has a long-lost mother and brother in Portugal. Taking a trip with his girlfriend, he visits them in their secluded mansion but finds that his family has a dark and deadly secret.

#43. THE FUGITIVE Director Andrew Davis Discusses His Career

In this episode of the Movies In Focus podcast, film director Andrew Davis talks about his long and prestigious career. Best known for directing the hugely acclaimed blockbuster The Fugitive with Harrison Ford, Davis’ career has been as eclectic as it has been successful.

From his excellent jazz-fused 1978 debut, Stony Island through to The Package with Gene Hackman and Under Siege with Steven Seagal to A Perfect Murder with Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow and the beloved screen adaptation of Holes, Davis has delivered across nearly all genres.

He has also worked with some of Hollywood’s biggest names with the likes of Kevin Costner, Keanu Reeves, Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight, Morgan Freeman and Arnold Schwarzenegger being added to the aforementioned roster.

This relaxed and candid discussion covers the length and breadth of Andrew Davis' rich career - it’s well worth a listen.

Find out more about Andrew Davis via his website www.andrewdavisfilms.com

#42. RUTHLESS Director Art Camacho Talks About Stunts & Action

Ruthless is a bone-crunching thriller starring an against-type Dermot Mulroney as a teacher trying to rescue one of his students from a gang of human traffickers. Eschewing preaching for entertainment, Ruthless is an enjoyable, no-frills throwback revenge thriller with a good turn from Mulroney. Best known for his romantic leads, Mulroney sells the badass action and shows an interesting side to his on-screen persona.

In a fun and entertaining episode, the director and co-writer of Ruthless, Art Camacho joined the Movies In Focus podcast.  The stuntman-turned-director talked about making the revenge thriller, as well as discussing the practicalities of filming and training for stunt sequences.