Movies In Focus

#55. Kristanna Loken & James Cullen Bressack On Making DARKNESS OF MAN With Jean Claude Van Damme

Darkness Of Man is a new action noir starring Jean Claude Van Damme as a former Interpol agent haunted by the actions of his past.  Visually striking, Darkness Of Man sees Van Damme give a nuanced turn - and it’s once again an indicator that the action icon can deliver good performances alongside bullets and flying kicks.

James Cullen Bressack, the director, producer and co-writer of Darkness Of Man is no stranger to working for legendary action heroes, having previously worked with Bruce Willis, Steven Seagal and Mel Gibson. He joins this episode of the podcast, to talk about the making of the neo-noir, working with Jean Claude Van Damme and what it’s like directing other iconic action stars.

Darkness Of Man co-star, Kristanna Loken also joins this episode.

Loken has had a storied career having played the evil T-X opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines and having starred in a variety of other films and TV shows including Bloodrayne, Burn Notice and Painkiller Jane.

Amongst other things, Kristanna Loken discusses how acting is changing in the face of new technologies, making Darkness Of Man and working with Jean Claude Van Damme.

#54. Ryan Irving On His Slasher Pastiche Arrow Short BARK

Arrow Shorts is a showcase for great short-form film-making. From the scary to the bizarre, Arrow highlights the amazing work being created by film-makers in a shorter-length medium.

Film-maker Ryan Iriving joins this episode of the podcast to talk about Bark, a witty, original and well-composed slasher pastiche which crams a lot into its short running time.

Bark sees two women desperately trying to escape a stalking axe murderer through a city park. Unfortunately for them their only eye-witness isn’t human… and he’s completely useless.

#53. Izzy Lee On The Gonzo 'Sesame Street On Acid' Arrow Short MEAT FRIEND

Arrow Shorts is a showcase for great short-form film-making. From the scary to the bizarre, Arrow highlights the amazing work being created by filmmakers in a shorter-length medium.

Film-maker Izzy Lee joins this episode of the podcast to talk about her incredibly fresh and original short film Meat Friend.

Meat Friend was nominated for a 2023 Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Short Film, and it follows an ex-con, sentient pile of hamburger meat (voiced by Steve Johanson) who teaches after-school lessons to a child (Marnie McKendry). 

It's a seriously gonzo piece of short film-making that plays like Sesame Street on acid - and it's unlike anything you've ever seen!

#52: Jeff Fisher On Erotic Thrillers & Bringing Adele Parks' THE IMAGE OF YOU To The Screen

The Image Of You is the screen adaptation of Adele Parks’ novel of the same name. Directed by Jeff Fisher and adapted by screenwriter Chris Sivertson, the film stars Sasha Pieterse, Parker Young, Néstor Carbonell and Mira Sorvino. It’s something of an outlier - a modern take on the erotic thriller - one with particular nods to masters of the genre like Brian De Palma and Paul Verhoeven.

Director Jeff Fisher joins this episode of the podcast to talk about The Image Of You, how he worked on the film’s visual style and was inspired by De Palma and Verhoeven and what it’s like bringing a best-selling novel to the screen.

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

#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.