GOREZONE LABEL GETS SKINNED
The Fangoria Presents GoreZone video/DVD label has acquired North American distribution rights to SKINNED DEEP, the bizarre horror/comedy that marks the writing/directing debut of acclaimed makeup FX artist Gabe (FRANKENHOOKER) Bartalos. SKINNED DEEP pits an all-American family against a clan of desert crazies (among them Warwick Davis, whom Bartalos made up for LEPRECHAUN). Though the story appears firmly planted in TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE/HILLS HAVE EYES territory, Bartalos throws the audience a curveball when the film takes off in surreal and whacked-out directions not unlike the midnight movies of the ’70s and early ’80s. Variety called SKINNED DEEP ‘an impressively berserk horror-comedythe stuff cult followings are made of.’ Fango video partner Hart Sharp will release SKINNED DEEP early next year.
‘SKINNED DEEP is really ‘out there,’ ‘ says Fango acquisitions chief Steven Mackler. ‘This movie has everything: good ‘creatures,’ wild special effects, shocking violence and a unique point of view. Our audience will enjoy this freaky movie because they won’t believe their eyes.’
Besides STAR WARS series/WILLOW veteran Davis, who plays the maniacal Plates, SKINNED DEEP also stars Karoline Brandt, Linda Weinrib, Eric Bennett, Peter Iasillo and 88-year-old horror magazine legend Forrest J Ackerman. The film introduces a motley band of monstrous villains, including the steel-toothed Surgeon General (played by Aaron Sims and Kurt Carley), the bashful Brain (Jay Dugre) and unassuming Granny (Liz Little). Bartalos’ Atlantic West Effects (BRAIN DAMAGE, DEAD SPACE, the CREMASTER films) handled SKINNED DEEP’s makeup FX, while Al (JASON GOES TO HELL) Magliochetti took on the visual FX challenges.
‘SKINNED DEEP is a real throwback to the cult movies we rarely see anymore, but miss all too much,’ says Fango editor Tony Timpone, who consults on the GoreZone label and brought SKINNED DEEP to the company’s attention. ‘It has the demented flavor of BASKET CASE, STREET TRASH and ERASERHEAD. I’ve always admired Gabe’s makeup prowess on the Frank Henenlotter and Matthew Barney films, so his transition to directing is a very welcome one.’
Bartalos calls SKINNED DEEP an ‘odyssey of surrealistic violence.’ The filmmaker is happy that the GoreZone label has acquired his debut picture. ‘Being a horror film buff and having read FANGORIA since its inception, I am thrilled to have my first feature film as a director distributed through Fangoria/Hart Sharp. Fango has continually supported the films I have worked on in the past as a special makeup effects artist, and I am excited that SKINNED DEEP has found a home with a magazine that continues to celebrate the dark side of cinema.’
Courtesy of Fangoria
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