Very Cinéma vérité, with a tiny cast of 7 or 8 actors, using a whole bunch of their method acting skills, easily help suspend your perception of reality for the nearly 90 minutes running time.
Easy on the eye too, it has nice n’ spooky laboratory type scientific sets and nice n’ spooky remote "Test Facility" desert locations, with some inventive shadowy photography, that has a lovely tone of green, who knows, you may even feel a little light headed and euphoric yourself after a bit?
“How long does it take to work?” asks Anna. “About twenty minutes” replies Thomas. If you’re not a bit of a Conspiracy Theorist, you may well be after seeing The Banshee Chapter. It is similar to the little Australian film of a few years ago, “The Tunnel”.
Ted Levine (Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs) is larger than life in his role of Thomas Blackburn, aging hippie writer of several psychedelic novels exploring the “The Trip” experience of the 60’s “acid counterculture” his character is closely inspired by the real-life writer, Hunter S. Thompson. Swedish born actress Katia Winter gives a great main character performance as Anna Rowland, a reporter, who begins to look into the events surrounding her friend, James Hirsch played by Michael Macmillan’s, disappearance.
The Banshee Chapter. Official trailer.
The Banshee Chapter dabbles, delves and plays with some of what is known and what is still a mystery, involving and concerning the CIA’s covert human experiments with several particular mind-altering substances during the early 1960’s in America. Namely, Mescaline, LSD, Psilocybin, Datura Root, and DMT. These American Government experiments were kept secret for years from the general public under The Official Secrets Act and were conducted at secret laboratory locations around the country, their existence have only just been admitted to and recognised by President Bill Clinton, under his administration.
Many of the mind-altering drugs secretly tested had long been part of ancient Shamanic Rituals, integral to American and South American Indian Tribes, by ingesting, which, the Shaman could contact the spirits, or “The Old Ones”, what they believed were the ghosts of their forefathers who they also believed would be temporally visible.
The ingredients to make LSD could be bought freely from hardware and pharmaceutical stores at that time because as yet the American Government of the era had not made all it’s individual constituents illegal. Natural Highs like Psilocybin "Sacred Mexican" Mushrooms were still also legal as were Peyote Buds ie naturally formng Mescalin and Datura Root.
Really enjoyed Banshee Chapter and I thought about it quite a bit after seeing.
This is where later on, in the early 1960’s, several and certain important figure heads came to the front of “acid counterculture” and/or the “love cults” and what was to become better known as collective bohemian commune’s. Free thinkers, philosophers, radical’s, poets, writers, artists and musicians who were later to become leading figures in what was known as the Psychedelic Hippie Lifestyle, developed these.
Some of the initiators of the “psychedelic movement” or originators of the “love cults” that flourished, were, in particular, Timothy Leary, Herbert Marshall McLuhan, Allen Ginsberg, Tom Wolfe, Jean-Louis "Jack" Kérouac (and later in 70’s the writings of Robert Shea, Robert Anton Wilson, Paddy Chayefsky and Anthropologist, Carlos Castañeda may also help you) and Ken Keasy for example.
A young journalist (Katia Winter) with an appetite for controversy, follows the trail of a strange government research chemical that might have caused the disappearance of her close friend (Michael McMillian). After tracing the substance to the desert ranch of an infamous retired novelist (Ted Levine), she’s drawn into an experience of terror and frightening entities that she cannot escape.
The labyrinthine trail of evidence leads her into the disturbing world of black ops chemical projects, unexplained radio transmissions, and shadowy disfigured entities in the blackness of night. Anne will do anything to uncover what lies behind her friend’s disappearance. But to her horror, she discovers that it wants to find her too.
Not only did it have us jumping out of our seats, it left us with that same unsettling sense of paranoia we experienced after watching The Ring for the very first time! Banshee Chapter uniquely blends the suspense-driven horrors of the 70’s with the creepy mythology of J-horror to create some truly terrifying scares. The fact that it’s based on real documents, actual testimony, and evidence researched and uncovered from decades of a horrifying secret program run by the CIA makes it beyond creepy and therefore a must-see
Available to Order on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1fjtp2G and iTunes: http://bit.ly/KgxSVh
Look out for my official UK DVD release review ... coming soon.
Hot Quotes:
Winner of Total Film’s ‘Scariest Movie’ Award at Film4 FrightFest 2013.
Winner of ‘Scariest Movie’ Award at Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2013.
“Guaranteed to make you squeal like a newborn” - Time Out.
“It is batshit crazy - but also proper, jump-out-of-your-seat scary” - Little White Lies.
“Highly Entertaining. Guaranteed to make you jump” - SciFiNow.
“A solidly unsettling picture” - Kim Newman, Screen International.
“A heady, terrifying mix of 1960s ‘counter culture’ paranoia, mind-warping hallucinogens, Hunter S Thompson-style gonzo mania and Lovecraftian weirdness.” - Nigel Floyd, Time Out.
“I actually jumped out of my skin…Nothing has made me squeal so far like this, the most unlikely of scary movies” - HorrorTalk.
“Comes up with some new ways to terrorize the eyes and ears and take you on trips few films are creative enough to go.” - Mark L. Miller, Ain’t It Cool News.
“The scariest film of Film4 FrightFest 14th - Make no mistake, The Banshee Chapter will have you on edge.” 4* - Stuart Wright, Britflicks.com.
“Enthralling, enjoyably scary and very well crafted” 4* - Dread Central.
“Banshee Chapter is a surprisingly effective horror with plenty of real scares that had people jumping out of their seats. A solid scare fest” - Entertainment Focus.
“Blair Witch clashes with The Ring… Truly Terrifying” - TheGeekAgenda.
Special Features Include:
Behind the Scenes.
Trailer.
Editor’s Notes.
About Intense Distribution.
http://www.intenseproductions.co.uk/
Intense Distribution, a newly formed division of Intense Productions is headed up by Chee Keong Cheung. “Intense Distribution was formed with the goal of working closely with both established and up and coming directors and producers on their films and I couldn’t have hoped for a better, more passionate, diverse and talented group of filmmakers to work with for our companies debut release”. Cheung adds “After such a strong response at FrightFest, together with 101 Films, we’re incredibly excited to have the opportunity to bring ‘Banshee Chapter’ to UK audiences. It’s an extremely tense, atmospheric picture with a truly unique and horrific blend of fact and fiction”. Cheung’s Intense Productions division is currently in development on the action/horror film ‘Zombie Apocalypse’, executive produced by Carlos Gallardo (‘El Mariachi’, ‘Desperado’) and Kevin Eastman (co-creator of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’) slated for production in 2014.
About 101 Films.
101 Films is a London and Brighton based entertainment label, acquiring physical, digital and TV rights of film and TV content for the UK and Ireland and is one of the UK’s fastest growing, truly independent, film labels. 101 Films releases include the Scottish cannibal horror ‘Sawney: Flesh of Man’, British Sci-Fi chiller ‘Outpost 11’ and the re-release of the original 1978 cult film ‘I Spit On Your Grave’. Andy Lyon, director of 101 Films, adds “We are very proud to be involved with Banshee Chapter, it was our number one target at FrightFest 2013 and we are very much looking forward to working with Chee and Christian to make Banshee Chapter another successful 101 release in 2014. 101 is one of the fastest growing film labels in the UK and the acquisition of this fantastic movie is another step forward for 101.”
Banshee Chapter was produced by Stephanie Riggs of Sunchaser Entertainment , Christian Arnold-Beutel (‘Ironclad’, ‘The Ledge’) of Favorit Film and Before the Door’s Corey Moosa and Sean Akers. Zachary Quinto (‘Star Trek’, ‘American Horror Story’, ‘Heroes’) and Neal Dodson executive produced with Marcus Schoefer and Gudrun Giddings.
About Before the Door.
Before the Door also produced the acclaimed ‘Margin Call’, which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, starring Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Demi Moore and Zachary Quinto, focusing around the early stages of the 2007-08 financial crisis; Victor Quinaz’s comedy ‘Break up at a Wedding’ and J.C Chandor’s upcoming ‘All is Lost’, starring Robert Redford.
A young journalist (Katia Winter) with an appetite for controversy, follows the trail of a strange government research chemical that might have caused the disappearance of her close friend (Michael McMillian). After tracing the substance to the desert ranch of an infamous retired novelist (Ted Levine), she’s drawn into an experience of terror and frightening entities that she cannot escape.
The labyrinthine trail of evidence leads her into the disturbing world of black ops chemical projects, unexplained radio transmissions, and shadowy disfigured entities in the blackness of night. Anne will do anything to uncover what lies behind her friend’s disappearance. But to her horror, she discovers that it wants to find her too.
Not only did it have us jumping out of our seats, it left us with that same unsettling sense of paranoia we experienced after watching The Ring for the very first time! Banshee Chapter uniquely blends the suspense-driven horrors of the 70’s with the creepy mythology of J-horror to create some truly terrifying scares. The fact that it’s based on real documents, actual testimony, and evidence researched and uncovered from decades of a horrifying secret program run by the CIA makes it beyond creepy and therefore a must-see
Available to Order on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1fjtp2G and iTunes: http://bit.ly/KgxSVh
Look out for my official UK DVD release review ... coming soon.
Hot Quotes:
Winner of Total Film’s ‘Scariest Movie’ Award at Film4 FrightFest 2013.
Winner of ‘Scariest Movie’ Award at Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2013.
“Guaranteed to make you squeal like a newborn” - Time Out.
“It is batshit crazy - but also proper, jump-out-of-your-seat scary” - Little White Lies.
“Highly Entertaining. Guaranteed to make you jump” - SciFiNow.
“A solidly unsettling picture” - Kim Newman, Screen International.
“A heady, terrifying mix of 1960s ‘counter culture’ paranoia, mind-warping hallucinogens, Hunter S Thompson-style gonzo mania and Lovecraftian weirdness.” - Nigel Floyd, Time Out.
“I actually jumped out of my skin…Nothing has made me squeal so far like this, the most unlikely of scary movies” - HorrorTalk.
“Comes up with some new ways to terrorize the eyes and ears and take you on trips few films are creative enough to go.” - Mark L. Miller, Ain’t It Cool News.
“The scariest film of Film4 FrightFest 14th - Make no mistake, The Banshee Chapter will have you on edge.” 4* - Stuart Wright, Britflicks.com.
“Enthralling, enjoyably scary and very well crafted” 4* - Dread Central.
“Banshee Chapter is a surprisingly effective horror with plenty of real scares that had people jumping out of their seats. A solid scare fest” - Entertainment Focus.
“Blair Witch clashes with The Ring… Truly Terrifying” - TheGeekAgenda.
Special Features Include:
Behind the Scenes.
Trailer.
Editor’s Notes.
 |
| Katia Winter and Ted Levine in Banshee Chapter. |
http://www.intenseproductions.co.uk/
Intense Distribution, a newly formed division of Intense Productions is headed up by Chee Keong Cheung. “Intense Distribution was formed with the goal of working closely with both established and up and coming directors and producers on their films and I couldn’t have hoped for a better, more passionate, diverse and talented group of filmmakers to work with for our companies debut release”. Cheung adds “After such a strong response at FrightFest, together with 101 Films, we’re incredibly excited to have the opportunity to bring ‘Banshee Chapter’ to UK audiences. It’s an extremely tense, atmospheric picture with a truly unique and horrific blend of fact and fiction”. Cheung’s Intense Productions division is currently in development on the action/horror film ‘Zombie Apocalypse’, executive produced by Carlos Gallardo (‘El Mariachi’, ‘Desperado’) and Kevin Eastman (co-creator of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’) slated for production in 2014.
About 101 Films.
101 Films is a London and Brighton based entertainment label, acquiring physical, digital and TV rights of film and TV content for the UK and Ireland and is one of the UK’s fastest growing, truly independent, film labels. 101 Films releases include the Scottish cannibal horror ‘Sawney: Flesh of Man’, British Sci-Fi chiller ‘Outpost 11’ and the re-release of the original 1978 cult film ‘I Spit On Your Grave’. Andy Lyon, director of 101 Films, adds “We are very proud to be involved with Banshee Chapter, it was our number one target at FrightFest 2013 and we are very much looking forward to working with Chee and Christian to make Banshee Chapter another successful 101 release in 2014. 101 is one of the fastest growing film labels in the UK and the acquisition of this fantastic movie is another step forward for 101.”
Banshee Chapter was produced by Stephanie Riggs of Sunchaser Entertainment , Christian Arnold-Beutel (‘Ironclad’, ‘The Ledge’) of Favorit Film and Before the Door’s Corey Moosa and Sean Akers. Zachary Quinto (‘Star Trek’, ‘American Horror Story’, ‘Heroes’) and Neal Dodson executive produced with Marcus Schoefer and Gudrun Giddings.
About Before the Door.
Before the Door also produced the acclaimed ‘Margin Call’, which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay, starring Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Demi Moore and Zachary Quinto, focusing around the early stages of the 2007-08 financial crisis; Victor Quinaz’s comedy ‘Break up at a Wedding’ and J.C Chandor’s upcoming ‘All is Lost’, starring Robert Redford.
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