Stunt coordinator/FX artist-turned-filmmaker Mark Steven Grove gave Fango the details from THE SHADOW WALKERS, a horror film that marks his second time in the director’s chair after the actioner DRAGON AND THE HAWK. Grove, whose Asgard Entertainment stunt/FX company has worked on SPAWN, GODZILLA, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and others, begins with a synopsis of his creature feature:
“A group of scientists and military personnel awaken in a subterranean laboratory with no memory of who they are. They quickly discover they are sealed in, with only one way to get out alive: They must travel deeper into the underground facility to an escape tunnel that leads to the surface. Hindered by the fact there is only limited electrical power, they struggle through the darkness, where they uncover a hive of genetically mutated creatures that stalk them from the shadows. Bred for combat, these monsters are endowed with razor-sharp talons and rows of jagged teeth capable of ripping a man apart. While avoiding danger at every turn, they begin to regain their memories, discovering the origin of the deadly creatures and the part they played in their creation.”
Those monsters and the film’s other FX were created by Larry Bones of Boneyard FX. “The primary creature was played by Trygve Lode, who was very impressive,” Grove tells Fango. “His six-foot-four-inch frame combined with a highly refined muscle structure gave him a comic book-like appearance. Even though he never gets to utter a word in the film, his ability to deliver ‘physical dialogue’ was nothing short of amazing. Beyond the monster makeup,” Grove adds, “SHADOW WALKERS also has its fair share of gore: severed limbs, torn-off faces, pipes shoved through torsos and plenty of blood splatters.”
Filmed almost entirely in an abandoned rubber plant that, Grove says, “provided over a million square feet of pre-existing sets [and] was a godsend in creating a very creepy environment to shoot a horror film,” SHADOW WALKERS stars Jason Coviello, Jennifer Summers, Cortni Mullen and Rebecca Gibel. “Jason is a talented martial artist and is very impassioned about his work, which translates amazingly well to film,” Grove says, “and all three women were amazing in their roles as well as providing the male audience with a healthy dose of sex appeal.” Clay Adams, “one of those actors who can truly become the character,” according to the director, plays the film’s human villain. Shoreline Entertainment is handling worldwide distribution, and Grove says SHADOW WALKERS has “a very good chance at being played on the Sci Fi Channel.” Keep your eyes here for release updates, and check out the movie’s official website for more info and photos.
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