Network: The CWEpisodes: Nine (half-hour)Seasons: OneTV show dates: July 9, 2015 -- August 6, 2015Series status: Cancelled/EndedPerformers include: Will Mellor, Oona Chaplin, Neil Maskell, Sheridan Smith, Ben Chaplin, Andrew Scott, Greg McHugh, Katie McGrath, Gemma Chan, Montanna Thompson, and Sian Breckin.TV show description: A romantic drama, this TV show is set in modern-day London. It revolves around the first dates between two people who have met on an online dating service.Read More…...
- 3/27/2017
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Bloody Cuts Films has released a fun new short film for the holiday season called "Christmas Horror." If you’re into Christmas horror movie then it’s worth checking out when you get a chance. It’s a simple slow burn style short film that leads up to a nightmarish ending.
It might drop down your chimney, it might mysteriously fill your stockings, it may even slip itself under your tree, but be sure... This Christmas… Evil Is Back.Bloody Cuts return with a frightful Christmas cracker of festive catastrophe, as Oliver Ebsworth, Sian Breckin and Jonah Russell deliver to you Episode 9: “Deathly Presents”.This year we’ve cooked up a Christmas pudding of pleasurable pain in association with RØDE Microphones, marking a reiginiton of the Bloody Cuts series.
The short film was directed by Ben Franklin, and I hope you enjoy it!
It might drop down your chimney, it might mysteriously fill your stockings, it may even slip itself under your tree, but be sure... This Christmas… Evil Is Back.Bloody Cuts return with a frightful Christmas cracker of festive catastrophe, as Oliver Ebsworth, Sian Breckin and Jonah Russell deliver to you Episode 9: “Deathly Presents”.This year we’ve cooked up a Christmas pudding of pleasurable pain in association with RØDE Microphones, marking a reiginiton of the Bloody Cuts series.
The short film was directed by Ben Franklin, and I hope you enjoy it!
- 12/20/2015
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Tagline: "This Christmas...Evil is back!" British production house and distributor Bloody Cuts has developed another horror film short. Their latest is titled "Deathly Presents." This title, from directors Ben Franklin and Anthony Melton, takes place on Christmas Eve. On this night, an unexpected visitor has made its way into one family's Christmas celebration. Starring Sian Breckin, Oliver Ebsworth, Fergus Rattigan and Jonah Russell, the full short is hosted here. The short is approximately six minutes long. The short film hosts a great terror-filled punch. As well, film elements such as acting, lighting and costumes all look great as "Deathly Presents" unsettles this holiday season. More on Bloody Cuts and the film is hosted below. Directors/writers: Ben Franklin and Anthony Melton. Cast: Sian Breckin, Oliver Ebsworth, Fergus Rattigan and Jonah Russell. The full short, "Deathly Presents," is here: The Bloody Cuts website is hosted here: "Deathly Presents" at Bloody.
- 12/15/2015
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
A TV series from the UK, Dates ran for one season of nine episodes in 2013. While it seems unlikely that there will be a second season, The CW resurrected another UK series, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and put it back into production several years after it was cancelled overseas. Will the ratings be good enough for the network to want a second season? Stay tuned.
Set in London, Dates revolves around the first dates between two people who have met via an online dating service. Each episode revolves around a different couple. The cast includes Will Mellor, Oona Chaplin, Neil Maskell, Sheridan Smith, Ben Chaplin, Andrew Scott, Greg McHugh, Katie McGrath, Gemma Chan, Montanna Thompson, and Sian Breckin.
Read More…...
Set in London, Dates revolves around the first dates between two people who have met via an online dating service. Each episode revolves around a different couple. The cast includes Will Mellor, Oona Chaplin, Neil Maskell, Sheridan Smith, Ben Chaplin, Andrew Scott, Greg McHugh, Katie McGrath, Gemma Chan, Montanna Thompson, and Sian Breckin.
Read More…...
- 7/10/2015
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
I have no idea how significant their roles will be, but it's still good to know that Wunmi Mosaku and Sharlene Whyte will get some screen-time in the upcoming BBC One dramedy series, Truckers. It's been a few months since Tambay first told us that Top Boy actor Ashley Walters would be joining John Dagleish, Harry Treadaway, Sian Breckin and Jenn Murray in the series created by William Ivory, described as a bitter-sweet character-driven show about getting by in difficult times. The series will follow an eclectic group of irascible characters, men and women, all of whom work for the same trucking company, driving 40 ton lorries across the Midlands. In each...
- 8/20/2013
- by Emmanuel Akitobi
- ShadowAndAct
Ashley Walters and John Dagleish will join Stephen Tompkinson in new BBC One drama Truckers.
The Bullet Boy and Beaver Falls stars have been cast in the five-part drama from writer William Ivory.
Truckers will follow the lives of truck drivers working for a haulage yard in Nottingham.
Harry Treadaway (Control), Sian Breckin (Tyrannosaur) and Jenn Murray (The Fades) will also star in the hour-long series.
Polly Hill, Head of Independent Drama, BBC, said: "It's great to see Billy's scripts attract such a terrific cast. This is a beautifully written series that is bold, funny and moving and we have a fantastic cast to pull this off."
Steve Lightfoot - executive producer for Company Pictures - added: "William Ivory has written a group of wonderful blue collar characters who leap off the page, with lives we can all relate to - and this cast of exciting actors inhabit them brilliantly...
The Bullet Boy and Beaver Falls stars have been cast in the five-part drama from writer William Ivory.
Truckers will follow the lives of truck drivers working for a haulage yard in Nottingham.
Harry Treadaway (Control), Sian Breckin (Tyrannosaur) and Jenn Murray (The Fades) will also star in the hour-long series.
Polly Hill, Head of Independent Drama, BBC, said: "It's great to see Billy's scripts attract such a terrific cast. This is a beautifully written series that is bold, funny and moving and we have a fantastic cast to pull this off."
Steve Lightfoot - executive producer for Company Pictures - added: "William Ivory has written a group of wonderful blue collar characters who leap off the page, with lives we can all relate to - and this cast of exciting actors inhabit them brilliantly...
- 5/15/2013
- Digital Spy
Channel 4 has announced an all-star cast for new drama Dates.
The 9-part series - first announced in September - is from Skins creator Bryan Elsley and will focus on the complexities of modern relationships, with each episode focusing on a different date.
© BBC
© BBC
[Left: Andrew Scott in 'Sherlock' / Right: Katie McGrath in 'Merlin']
Sherlock's Andrew Scott and Merlin star Katie McGrath are among the actors to have signed up for the half-hour series.
Fresh Meat actor Greg McHugh, White Van Man's Will Mellor and Mrs Biggs star Sheridan Smith will also appear in Dates, which is currently filming in London.
Ben Chaplin (The Thin Red Line), Neil Maskell (Utopia), Oona Chaplin (Game of Thrones), Gemma Chan (Secret Diary of A Call Girl), Montana Thompson (The Story of Tracey Beaker) and Sian Breckin (Tyrannosaur) make up the rest of the cast.
Dates - described as "surprising, awkward [and] sexy as hell...
The 9-part series - first announced in September - is from Skins creator Bryan Elsley and will focus on the complexities of modern relationships, with each episode focusing on a different date.
© BBC
© BBC
[Left: Andrew Scott in 'Sherlock' / Right: Katie McGrath in 'Merlin']
Sherlock's Andrew Scott and Merlin star Katie McGrath are among the actors to have signed up for the half-hour series.
Fresh Meat actor Greg McHugh, White Van Man's Will Mellor and Mrs Biggs star Sheridan Smith will also appear in Dates, which is currently filming in London.
Ben Chaplin (The Thin Red Line), Neil Maskell (Utopia), Oona Chaplin (Game of Thrones), Gemma Chan (Secret Diary of A Call Girl), Montana Thompson (The Story of Tracey Beaker) and Sian Breckin (Tyrannosaur) make up the rest of the cast.
Dates - described as "surprising, awkward [and] sexy as hell...
- 2/5/2013
- Digital Spy
Hollyoaks star Steven Roberts has revealed more details of the dramatic ordeal ahead for his troubled character George Smith. George faces the darkest times of his life next week as he is held captive by evil human traffickers Deena (Sian Breckin) and Graham (Steven Marsh) once again. Roberts told Inside Soap: "It's been hinted at in previous episodes that Deena and Graham want to force George and Phoebe into prostitution. Their intentions become clearer [next] week, when Deena announces that a man called Mr Evans is coming to visit George - and it's obvious that they won't just be playing card games together. "George is terrified at the prospect. He's imprisoned with no way to escape." Despite helping Deena by betraying George, Phoebe (Mandip Gill) also remains a captive. Roberts (more)...
- 3/6/2012
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Hollyoaks star Mandip Gill has revealed that her character Phoebe Jackson is in a desperate situation when she resorts to betraying her loyal friend George Smith. As first reported last week, sixth former George (Steven Roberts) will soon receive a nasty surprise as Phoebe returns and leads him straight back into the hands of evil Deena, played by Sian Breckin. Deena held Phoebe and George captive in dramatic scenes earlier this month. The pair eventually escaped but were separated immediately afterwards. Gill told Inside Soap: "George thought Phoebe had got away from danger after he found her friendship bracelet in the place where they used to hang out. "In reality, she's been trapped in Deena and Graham's house all this time. Deena has told Phoebe (more)...
- 2/28/2012
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Tyrannosaur Trailer. Paddy Considine‘s Tyrannosaur (2011) movie trailer stars Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman, Eddie Marsan, Paul Popplewell, and Ned Dennehy. Tyrannosaur‘s plot synopsis: “Tyrannosaur is the story of Joseph (Peter Mullan), a man plagued by violence and a rage that is driving him to self-destruction. As Joseph’s life spirals into turmoil a chance of redemption appears in the form of Hannah (Olivia Colman), a Christian charity shop worker. Their relationship develops to reveal that Hannah is hiding a secret of her own with devastating consequences for both of them.”
I’m guessing Joseph channels his agressive qualities towards the person that is making Hannah’s life a living hell, a person very much like himself.
Tyrannosaur also stars Samuel Bottomley and Sian Breckin.
Watch the Tyrannosaur movie trailer below and leave your thoughts on it in the comments section. For more Tyrannosaur photos, videos, and information, check out our Tyrannosaur Page.
I’m guessing Joseph channels his agressive qualities towards the person that is making Hannah’s life a living hell, a person very much like himself.
Tyrannosaur also stars Samuel Bottomley and Sian Breckin.
Watch the Tyrannosaur movie trailer below and leave your thoughts on it in the comments section. For more Tyrannosaur photos, videos, and information, check out our Tyrannosaur Page.
- 8/26/2011
- by filmbook
- Film-Book
Chicago – In this edition of the HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: DVD, one lucky winner will clean up with three DVDs from Magnolia Pictures for the movies “Donkey Punch,” “Severance” and “Splinter” plus a full-size poster for “The Oxford Murders” signed by cult-favorite director Álex de la Iglesia!
“The Oxford Murders” stars Elijah Wood and John Hurt. The film premiered on video on demand, Xbox and Amazon.com on July 7, 2010 and opens in theaters Aug. 6, 2010. “Donkey Punch” stars Robert Boulter and Sian Breckin. “Severance” stars Toby Stephens and Claudie Blakley. “Splinter” stars Charles Baker and Jill Wagner.
To win your free DVDs and poster courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer a question in this Web-based submission form. That’s it! Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.
The movie poster for “The Oxford Murders” with Elijah Wood and John Hurt.
“The Oxford Murders” stars Elijah Wood and John Hurt. The film premiered on video on demand, Xbox and Amazon.com on July 7, 2010 and opens in theaters Aug. 6, 2010. “Donkey Punch” stars Robert Boulter and Sian Breckin. “Severance” stars Toby Stephens and Claudie Blakley. “Splinter” stars Charles Baker and Jill Wagner.
To win your free DVDs and poster courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer a question in this Web-based submission form. That’s it! Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.
The movie poster for “The Oxford Murders” with Elijah Wood and John Hurt.
- 7/16/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Chicago – Two TV shows and two indie horror movies comprise the final edition of the infamous HollywoodChicago.com Round-Up for March. Both shows already have cult followings and the movies are likely to build ones of their own.
There are several major titles hitting DVD and Blu-Ray this week - “Slumdog Millionaire,” “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” “Seven Pounds,” “Marley & Me”. These are the minor ones that have hit stores in recent weeks or are just about to do so.
“Cracker: The Complete Collection” was released on March 10th, 2009.
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars - A Galaxy Divided” was released on March 24th, 2009.
“Donkey Punch” & “Shuttle” will be released on April 7th, 2009.
“Cracker: The Complete Collection”
Photo credit: Acorn Media Who doesn’t want nearly a day’s worth of highly acclaimed mystery movies? “Cracker” with Robbie Coltrane is one of the most beloved series of mysteries of the last several decades.
There are several major titles hitting DVD and Blu-Ray this week - “Slumdog Millionaire,” “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” “Seven Pounds,” “Marley & Me”. These are the minor ones that have hit stores in recent weeks or are just about to do so.
“Cracker: The Complete Collection” was released on March 10th, 2009.
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars - A Galaxy Divided” was released on March 24th, 2009.
“Donkey Punch” & “Shuttle” will be released on April 7th, 2009.
“Cracker: The Complete Collection”
Photo credit: Acorn Media Who doesn’t want nearly a day’s worth of highly acclaimed mystery movies? “Cracker” with Robbie Coltrane is one of the most beloved series of mysteries of the last several decades.
- 3/31/2009
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Magnolia Pictures recently released this brand new movie poster from the upcoming horror film “Donkey Punch” by director Oliver Blackburn and starring Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin and Tom Burke. Synopsis: After meeting at a nightclub in a Mediterranean resort, seven young adults decide to continue partying aboard a luxury yacht in the middle of the ocean. But when one of them dies in a freak accident the others argue about what to do, leading to a ruthless fight for survival. For more info, be sure to check out the official “Donkey Punch” website here. Stay tuned to Shockya.com for the latest movie news and more from “Donkey Punch”.
- 1/26/2009
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
Release Date: Jan. 23
Director: Oliver Blackburn
Writers: Oliver Blackburn and David Bloom
Cinematographer: Nanu Segal
Starring: Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin, Tom Burke, Nichola Burley, Julian Morris, Jay Taylor, Jaime Winstone
Studio/Run Time: Magnolia Pictures, 99 mins.
The phrase from which this film takes its name is likely familiar to many who have been to college in the past decade or who know someone from a fraternity. The film, in fact, broaches the subject in much the way I imagine most of us originally heard it: via flirtatious talk about over-the-top and almost certainly unreal sexual maneuvers. Donkey Punch takes this and turns it into a reality that conforms with what doctors would tell you about the move, which is that not only does it have no basis in reality, but it’s also potentially lethal. In the film, it most certainly is the latter.
Director: Oliver Blackburn
Writers: Oliver Blackburn and David Bloom
Cinematographer: Nanu Segal
Starring: Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin, Tom Burke, Nichola Burley, Julian Morris, Jay Taylor, Jaime Winstone
Studio/Run Time: Magnolia Pictures, 99 mins.
The phrase from which this film takes its name is likely familiar to many who have been to college in the past decade or who know someone from a fraternity. The film, in fact, broaches the subject in much the way I imagine most of us originally heard it: via flirtatious talk about over-the-top and almost certainly unreal sexual maneuvers. Donkey Punch takes this and turns it into a reality that conforms with what doctors would tell you about the move, which is that not only does it have no basis in reality, but it’s also potentially lethal. In the film, it most certainly is the latter.
- 1/23/2009
- Pastemagazine.com
'Donkey Punch" is slang for a particularly danger ous sexual practice - one that triggers a night of terror on a private yacht in director Olly Blackburn's lurid thriller.
Three scantily clad British girls (Jamie Winstone, Sian Breckin and Nichola Burley) vacationing in Spain unwisely accept an invitation aboard the aforementioned yacht, which is in the care of four randy young crewmen who ply them with booze and pills.
Things quickly spiral out of control when the dangerous...
Three scantily clad British girls (Jamie Winstone, Sian Breckin and Nichola Burley) vacationing in Spain unwisely accept an invitation aboard the aforementioned yacht, which is in the care of four randy young crewmen who ply them with booze and pills.
Things quickly spiral out of control when the dangerous...
- 1/23/2009
- by By LOU LUMENICK
- NYPost.com
Magnolia Pictures just released this brand new official movie trailer from the upcoming horror film “Donkey Punch” by director Oliver Blackburn and starring Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin and Tom Burke. Synopsis: After meeting at a nightclub in a Mediterranean resort, seven young adults decide to continue partying aboard a luxury yacht in the middle of the ocean. But when one of them dies in a freak accident the others argue about what to do, leading to a ruthless fight for survival. For more info, be sure to check out the official “Donkey Punch” website here. Stay tuned to Shockya.com for the latest movie news and more from “Donkey Punch”.
- 1/23/2009
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
British thriller Donkey Punch hits Us screens in limited release on January 23rd (and be available on HDNet Ultra VOD)and today there's a clip from the flick that you can check out at Arrow in the Head Here. And as an added bonus this clip explains to you what a Donkey Punch is, so goodbye sex party awkwardness and hello sexual awakening! The movie is directed by Oliver Blackburn and stars Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin and Ray Winstone's kid Jaime Winstone. In the film, a man applies a donkey...
- 1/21/2009
- by James Thoo
- JoBlo.com
See the trailer for the intense thriller from Magnet "Donkey Punch," starring Julian Morris, Tom Burke, Jay Taylor, Jaime Winstone, Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin and Nichola Burley. Magnolia's Magnet Releasing arm sends this one out in the U.S. on January 23rd after running in the U.K. on July 18th last year. The story follows four guys who plan to use their "Donkey Punch" on three hot girls they meet. After taking them ...
- 1/15/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See the trailer for the intense thriller from Magnet "Donkey Punch," starring Julian Morris, Tom Burke, Jay Taylor, Jaime Winstone, Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin and Nichola Burley. Magnolia's Magnet Releasing arm sends this one out in the U.S. on January 23rd after running in the U.K. on July 18th last year. The story follows four guys who plan to use their "Donkey Punch" on three hot girls they meet. After taking them ...
- 1/15/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See the trailer for the intense thriller from Magnet "Donkey Punch," starring Julian Morris, Tom Burke, Jay Taylor, Jaime Winstone, Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin and Nichola Burley. Magnolia's Magnet Releasing arm sends this one out in the U.S. on January 23rd after running in the U.K. on July 18th last year. The story follows four guys who plan to use their "Donkey Punch" on three hot girls they meet. After taking them to a swanky yacht for serious partying, one debaucherous act goes too far, leaving someone dead and turning this teenage joy ride into a weekend of bloody bedlam.
- 1/15/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
See the trailer for the intense thriller from Magnet "Donkey Punch," starring Julian Morris, Tom Burke, Jay Taylor, Jaime Winstone, Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin and Nichola Burley. Magnolia's Magnet Releasing arm sends this one out in the U.S. on January 23rd after running in the U.K. on July 18th last year. The story follows four guys who plan to use their "Donkey Punch" on three hot girls they meet. After taking them ...
- 1/15/2009
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Magnolia Pictures sent along a first look at the U.S. poster for British director Olly Blackburn’s Donkey Punch. The movie begins its limited theatrical release January 23 as part of the company’s 6-Shooter Film Series.
Scripted by Blackburn and David Bloom, Donkey Punch takes place during a yachting trip by a group of hedonistic 20somethings, during which one of the guys performs the titular violent sex act on one of the girls. She winds up dying, setting off conflicts and further violence and death among the group. The cast includes Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin, Tom Burke, Nichola Burley, Julian (CRY_WOLF) Morris, Jay Taylor and Jaime Winstone, with makeup FX by Paul (Doomsday) Hyett; an official website will be open soon here. Look for a feature article on Donkey Punch in Fango #280, on sale in January.
Scripted by Blackburn and David Bloom, Donkey Punch takes place during a yachting trip by a group of hedonistic 20somethings, during which one of the guys performs the titular violent sex act on one of the girls. She winds up dying, setting off conflicts and further violence and death among the group. The cast includes Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin, Tom Burke, Nichola Burley, Julian (CRY_WOLF) Morris, Jay Taylor and Jaime Winstone, with makeup FX by Paul (Doomsday) Hyett; an official website will be open soon here. Look for a feature article on Donkey Punch in Fango #280, on sale in January.
- 11/24/2008
- Fangoria
Check out the latest movie trailer from the upcoming horror film “Donkey Punch” by director Oliver Blackburn and starring Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin and Tom Burke. Synopsis: After meeting at a nightclub in a Mediterranean resort, seven young adults decide to continue partying aboard a luxury yacht in the middle of the ocean. But when one of them dies in a freak accident the others argue about what to do, leading to a ruthless fight for survival.
- 6/10/2008
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- The recent horror-film subgenre of mischievous young people on holiday getting into more trouble than planned takes to the open waters in Donkey Punch, a formulaic yet clever chiller that offers generous doses of sex and violence aboard a luxury yacht.
Its characters grow increasingly crazed and frantic in Act 2, and by the third, the filmmakers seem to catch the virus: That's when the meticulously reasoned psychological underpinnings of the group paranoia and logical design of character interactions go overboard in an absurd, indeed laughable orgy of grotesque deaths.
The British film, a first effort with a modest budget and no-name cast from director Olly Blackburn, keeps its eye on its commercial hooks long enough to reel in audiences for a couple of weeks of theatrical play before segueing to cable and DVD rentals.
The film neatly develops a sense of foreboding even in its frivolous first minutes where young Brits with handsome bodes frolic in the bars and on the beach of Mallorca while on holiday. Three girls from dreary old Leeds are out for a weekend of fun and perhaps naughtiness. Sexually confident Lisa (Sian Breckin) and free-spirited Kim (Jaime Winstone) are determined to distract downcast Tammi (Nichola Burley) from recent boyfriend woes.
They hit the bars and run into three blokes from London who coax them back to the yacht they are crewing on for the summer. Marcus (Jay Taylor) is a smooth operator, but Bluey (Tom Burke) has a look of danger in his face. Josh (Julian Morris) comes across as an innocent, so interest lies in how everyone will pair off. Then the girls meet the fourth crew member, Sean (Robert Boulter), Josh's older brother and the most mature of the young men.
Kim promises the reluctant Tammi the party will last for "only a drink," but this gets forgotten when everyone decides a late afternoon cruise would be ideal. Champagne leads to party drugs and frank talk of sex. When Bluey colorfully describes a "donkey punch," a sharp blow to the neck of a female during intercourse to increase male pleasure, you just know that Blackburn and co-writer David Bloom have found the opening for their thrill ride.
Soon everyone heads to a bedroom below deck except for Tammi and Sean, who remain above for a meaningful conversation, designating these two as the adults of this lot. Lisa and Bluey naturally pair off, followed by Marcus and Kim. Josh whips out a video camera and, again, you just know that tape is going to play a role.
In a spirit of male camaraderie, Bluey offers Josh his chance with a compliant Lisa and against absolutely no expectations Josh tries out that donkey punch. Moments later, Lisa is dead. The group divides along gender lines about how to respond.
The men all want the women to tell police that Lisa, dazed by drugs and alcohol, fell overboard. The women opt for the truth. Sean probably would agree with the women except that his younger brother is the one who will rot in a Spanish jail. Quite believably, the women do not know how to summon help in a foreign language with ship-to-shore equipment they cannot operate.
The men, lead by bad-boy Bluey, enforce their point of view with Brute Force so the body is buried at sea. Soon after, a kitchen knife gets buried in Bluey's chest. The contest of savagery and survival is on. A rifle turns up and is pointed at the women. A distress flare goes off in someone's gut. A woman breaks out of confinement by breaking through a glass door with her body. Then someone finds a chainsaw. A chainsaw on a yacht? Now you know Blackburn and Bloom are desperate.
The bloodbath looses all logic as the filmmakers ignore fairly well drawn characters in favor of grotesque deaths. That third act needed a real twist, something to surprise an audience while elevating their story above the usual cinematic carnage. It never gets one.
The film, actually shot in waters off South Africa, does get maximum mileage out of virtually a single set, a few lethal props and seven actors. But a much smarter film was possible.
DONKEY PUNCH
The U.K. Film Council and Film4 in association with Screen Yorkshire and EM Media present a Warp X production
Credits:
Director: Olly Blackburn
Screenwriters: Olly Blackburn, David Bloom
Producers: Angus Lamont, Mark Herbert, Robin Gutch
Executive producers: Peter Carlton, Lizzie Francke, Hugo Heppell, Will Clarke
Director of photography: Nanu Segal
Production designer: Delarey Wagener
Music: Francois-Eudes Chanfrault
Costume designer: Sarah Ryan
Editor: Kate Evans
Cast:
Sean: Robert Boulter
Lisa: Sian Breckin
Bluey: Tom Burke
Tammi: Nichola Burley
Josh: Julian Morris
Marcus: Jay Taylor
Kim: Jaime Winstone
Running time -- 98 minutes
No MPAA rating...
PARK CITY -- The recent horror-film subgenre of mischievous young people on holiday getting into more trouble than planned takes to the open waters in Donkey Punch, a formulaic yet clever chiller that offers generous doses of sex and violence aboard a luxury yacht.
Its characters grow increasingly crazed and frantic in Act 2, and by the third, the filmmakers seem to catch the virus: That's when the meticulously reasoned psychological underpinnings of the group paranoia and logical design of character interactions go overboard in an absurd, indeed laughable orgy of grotesque deaths.
The British film, a first effort with a modest budget and no-name cast from director Olly Blackburn, keeps its eye on its commercial hooks long enough to reel in audiences for a couple of weeks of theatrical play before segueing to cable and DVD rentals.
The film neatly develops a sense of foreboding even in its frivolous first minutes where young Brits with handsome bodes frolic in the bars and on the beach of Mallorca while on holiday. Three girls from dreary old Leeds are out for a weekend of fun and perhaps naughtiness. Sexually confident Lisa (Sian Breckin) and free-spirited Kim (Jaime Winstone) are determined to distract downcast Tammi (Nichola Burley) from recent boyfriend woes.
They hit the bars and run into three blokes from London who coax them back to the yacht they are crewing on for the summer. Marcus (Jay Taylor) is a smooth operator, but Bluey (Tom Burke) has a look of danger in his face. Josh (Julian Morris) comes across as an innocent, so interest lies in how everyone will pair off. Then the girls meet the fourth crew member, Sean (Robert Boulter), Josh's older brother and the most mature of the young men.
Kim promises the reluctant Tammi the party will last for "only a drink," but this gets forgotten when everyone decides a late afternoon cruise would be ideal. Champagne leads to party drugs and frank talk of sex. When Bluey colorfully describes a "donkey punch," a sharp blow to the neck of a female during intercourse to increase male pleasure, you just know that Blackburn and co-writer David Bloom have found the opening for their thrill ride.
Soon everyone heads to a bedroom below deck except for Tammi and Sean, who remain above for a meaningful conversation, designating these two as the adults of this lot. Lisa and Bluey naturally pair off, followed by Marcus and Kim. Josh whips out a video camera and, again, you just know that tape is going to play a role.
In a spirit of male camaraderie, Bluey offers Josh his chance with a compliant Lisa and against absolutely no expectations Josh tries out that donkey punch. Moments later, Lisa is dead. The group divides along gender lines about how to respond.
The men all want the women to tell police that Lisa, dazed by drugs and alcohol, fell overboard. The women opt for the truth. Sean probably would agree with the women except that his younger brother is the one who will rot in a Spanish jail. Quite believably, the women do not know how to summon help in a foreign language with ship-to-shore equipment they cannot operate.
The men, lead by bad-boy Bluey, enforce their point of view with Brute Force so the body is buried at sea. Soon after, a kitchen knife gets buried in Bluey's chest. The contest of savagery and survival is on. A rifle turns up and is pointed at the women. A distress flare goes off in someone's gut. A woman breaks out of confinement by breaking through a glass door with her body. Then someone finds a chainsaw. A chainsaw on a yacht? Now you know Blackburn and Bloom are desperate.
The bloodbath looses all logic as the filmmakers ignore fairly well drawn characters in favor of grotesque deaths. That third act needed a real twist, something to surprise an audience while elevating their story above the usual cinematic carnage. It never gets one.
The film, actually shot in waters off South Africa, does get maximum mileage out of virtually a single set, a few lethal props and seven actors. But a much smarter film was possible.
DONKEY PUNCH
The U.K. Film Council and Film4 in association with Screen Yorkshire and EM Media present a Warp X production
Credits:
Director: Olly Blackburn
Screenwriters: Olly Blackburn, David Bloom
Producers: Angus Lamont, Mark Herbert, Robin Gutch
Executive producers: Peter Carlton, Lizzie Francke, Hugo Heppell, Will Clarke
Director of photography: Nanu Segal
Production designer: Delarey Wagener
Music: Francois-Eudes Chanfrault
Costume designer: Sarah Ryan
Editor: Kate Evans
Cast:
Sean: Robert Boulter
Lisa: Sian Breckin
Bluey: Tom Burke
Tammi: Nichola Burley
Josh: Julian Morris
Marcus: Jay Taylor
Kim: Jaime Winstone
Running time -- 98 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 1/31/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- Though small, the horror-fantasy flick section packs a punch with notable standouts including Michael Haneke and George A. Romero preeming their latest and Quentin Tarantino making a comeback. I believe it has been a long time since he showed his face here... not since film called Reservoir Dogs. Though he didn't direct the project titled Hell Ride - this collaboration between him and Larry Bishop once again ventures into "homage territory". Serving as a launch pad for Magnolia Pictures, we find the new label Magnet Releasing showcasing of Spanish flick Timecrimes. Here are the rest of the films that will show late in the night...:The films screening in Park City at Midnight this year are: "Adventures of Power" / USA, Director and Screenwriter: Ari Gold In his quest to become the world's greatest air-drummer, a small-town dreamer must overcome obstacles and ridicule to save the day. Cast: Adrian Grenier,
- 11/29/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
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