Press Release: LOS ANGELES, CA – May 24, 2019: Cranked Up Films, Good Deed Entertainment’s genre-leaning distribution arm, and Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, announced today they will be launching a new curated screening series featuring top genre talent presenting and discussing both their own work and the works of other filmmakers that have been influential in their respective careers. The series will premiere with An Evening of Nightmares, on June 14, 2019. The inaugural screening event will feature cult classic films directed by Joe Dante, Mick Garris, and Alejandro Brugues, directors of NIGHTMARE CINEMA, a new horror anthology in theaters and on-demand June 21, 2019. The new film will have its streaming premiere exclusively on Shudder later this year.
The new screening series kicks off at Dynasty Typewriter at the Hayworth Theater in Los Angeles with Mick Garris presenting SLEEPWALKERS, Alejandro Brugués presentingJUAN OF THE DEAD, and Joe Dante presenting PIRANHA. Screenings will be followed by Q&As with the directors and moderated by influencers within the genre community.
“We’re thrilled to launch this new screening series with the masters of horror themselves,” said Scott Donley of Cranked Up Films. “We brought together these legendary horror directors to create NIGHTMARE CINEMA, and we’re excited to bring them together once again to present their fan-favorite films on the big screen.”
In NIGHTMARE CINEMA, five strangers are drawn to an abandoned theater and forced to watch their deepest and darkest fears play out before them. Lurking in the shadows is the Projectionist (Mickey Rourke), who preys upon their souls with his collection of disturbing films. As each reel spins its sinister tale, the characters find frightening parallels to their own lives.
Each segment in the anthology is directed by a legendary horror director – Alejandro Brugués (Ep 1: THE THING IN THE WOODS); Joe Dante (Ep 2: MIRARI); Ryûhei Kitamura (Ep 3: MASHIT); David Slade (Ep 4: THIS WAY TO EGRESS); and Mick Garris (Ep 5: DEAD). The anthology stars Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler); Elizabeth Reaser (Twilight); Annabeth Gish (Mystic Pizza); Maurice Bernard (General Hospital); Richard Chamberlain (The Towering Inferno); Sarah Elizabeth Withers (TV’s Play by Play); and Zarah Mahler (Major Crimes).
NIGHTMARE CINEMA was produced by Mick Garris via his Nice Guy Productions, Courtney Solomon and Mark Canton at Cinelou Films, and Joe Russo. Stephanie Caleb and David Hopwood from Cinelou Films and GDE’s Brandon Hill and Nikki Stier Justice served as Co-Producers. Good Deed Entertainment’s CEO and Founder Scott Donley, Lenny Shapiro, Scott Karol, the Fyzz Facility’s Robert Jones, Wayne Mark Godfrey, and Mickey Rourke are executive producers.
The Evening of Nightmares screening series will continue with screenings throughout the year presented by filmmakers from Cranked Up Films. Upcoming releases including COYOTE LAKE and RIOT GIRLS.
