Polonia brothers
Encyclopedia
Mark Polonia and John Polonia (born September 30, 1968) are twin brothers who founded Polonia Bros. Entertainment and Cinegraphic Productions. They have written, directed and produced over 30 feature film
s, mostly in the genres of horror
and sci fi
, and are now low-budget film cult icons.
John Polonia died suddenly at the age of 39 on February 25, 2008. Mark Polonia then continued to make films with childhood friend and longtime film collaborator Matt Satterly, through their production company Cinegraphic Productions.
, released on VHS by Donna Michele Productions in 1987, a shot-on-video offering which found an audience more for its audacity than for its technical virtues. Written, acted, directed and filmed by the teenage brothers and a high school friend, Splatter Farm offers a combination of slow-moving home-movie-like sequences with unflinching depictions of cannibalism, murder, acts of extreme violence, torture and dismemberment.
and not edited to their satisfaction, it contained many of the signature elements that would come to define the Polonias' work – a primitive production quality reflecting a very limited budget; the brothers themselves appearing in key roles; liberal use of people and places available to them through their day-to-day lives, and homage to the horror films they grew up with and loved.
In 1996 the brothers' alien invasion
film Feeders
was picked up by Blockbuster in the aftermath of the commercial success of Independence Day
, and became Blockbuster's #1 independent-film rental for the year. Starring John Polonia and fellow-B-movie maker Jon McBride(Cannibal Campout
, Woodchipper Massacre
) in their first foray together, this film about an invasion of Earth by small rubbery flesh-eating monsters with no mouths marked the Polonias' first wide distribution, and paved the way for future releases – perhaps 20 more of them before John's death in 2008.
Jon McBride became a regular collaborator with the brothers, and over time a fairly extensive group of actors, technicians, special effects artists and others came to work repeatedly with the brothers on horror films that aimed to entertain at all costs. Killer piranhas, killer Easter bunnies
, haunted house
s, trips to Mars
, assorted demon
s, all were covered in the course of several decades of film-making.
In 2007 they released a new and improved cut of Splatter Farm
, on DVD
through Camp Motion Pictures. The new version is missing a couple of the more outrageous scenes that made the original a 'cult classic', but is nonetheless a more professional-looking offering, easier to follow, and augmented by excellent and entertaining commentary
and featurettes – which also have become trademarks of the brothers' DVD offerings.
Polonia films have drawn the ire of critics for their alleged 'amateur' qualities (more evident in the early works). Yet those same qualities are what draw their fans, and the fans are as passionate as the detractors. Within the indie
film community, the brothers were known for their kindness and generosity to aspiring film-makers.
Polonia Brothers Entertainment and Cinegraphic Productions released Halloweenight
, based on a screenplay by, and dedicated to the memory of, the late John Polonia, in October 2009.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s, mostly in the genres of horror
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
and sci fi
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, and are now low-budget film cult icons.
John Polonia died suddenly at the age of 39 on February 25, 2008. Mark Polonia then continued to make films with childhood friend and longtime film collaborator Matt Satterly, through their production company Cinegraphic Productions.
Early days
The youngest of five siblings, the brothers were interested in film, and were making films, from a very early age. Their first commercial release was the notorious Splatter FarmSplatter Farm
Splatter Farm is a 1986 video horror film by the prolific Polonia brothers.-Plot:Twin brothers Alan and Joseph spend the summer visiting their Aunt Lacey at her secluded, run-down property...
, released on VHS by Donna Michele Productions in 1987, a shot-on-video offering which found an audience more for its audacity than for its technical virtues. Written, acted, directed and filmed by the teenage brothers and a high school friend, Splatter Farm offers a combination of slow-moving home-movie-like sequences with unflinching depictions of cannibalism, murder, acts of extreme violence, torture and dismemberment.
Career
Although the brothers had mixed feelings about this film in later years (according to their DVD commentary), in part because the initial release was a rough cutRough cut
In filmmaking, the rough cut is the second of three stages of offline editing. The rough cut is the first stage in which the film begins to resemble its final product...
and not edited to their satisfaction, it contained many of the signature elements that would come to define the Polonias' work – a primitive production quality reflecting a very limited budget; the brothers themselves appearing in key roles; liberal use of people and places available to them through their day-to-day lives, and homage to the horror films they grew up with and loved.
In 1996 the brothers' alien invasion
Alien invasion
The alien invasion is a common theme in science fiction stories and film, in which extraterrestrial life invades Earth either to exterminate and supplant human life, enslave it under a colonial system, harvest humans for food, steal the planet's resources, or destroy the planet altogether.The...
film Feeders
Feeders (film)
Feeders is a 1996 low-budget horror film made by indie film-makers the Polonia brothers, who first appeared on the independent film scene in 1987 with the cult classic Splatter Farm....
was picked up by Blockbuster in the aftermath of the commercial success of Independence Day
Independence Day (film)
Independence Day is a 1996 science fiction film about an alien invasion of Earth, focusing on a disparate group of individuals and families as they converge in the Nevada desert and, along with the rest of the human population, participate in a last-chance counterattack on July 4 – the same...
, and became Blockbuster's #1 independent-film rental for the year. Starring John Polonia and fellow-B-movie maker Jon McBride(Cannibal Campout
Cannibal Campout
Cannibal Campout is a 1988 horror film directed by Jon McBride. It is about four teenagers on a camping trip who are attacked by a trio of mutant cannibals living in the woods. It was shot completely on video, and released to video in 1988....
, Woodchipper Massacre
Woodchipper Massacre
Woodchipper Massacre is a 1988 American horror comedy directed by Jon McBride, who also directed Cannibal Campout. The film was also written by McBride.-Plot:...
) in their first foray together, this film about an invasion of Earth by small rubbery flesh-eating monsters with no mouths marked the Polonias' first wide distribution, and paved the way for future releases – perhaps 20 more of them before John's death in 2008.
Jon McBride became a regular collaborator with the brothers, and over time a fairly extensive group of actors, technicians, special effects artists and others came to work repeatedly with the brothers on horror films that aimed to entertain at all costs. Killer piranhas, killer Easter bunnies
Easter Bunny
The Easter Bunny or Easter Rabbit is a character depicted as a rabbit bringing Easter eggs, who sometimes is depicted with clothes...
, haunted house
Haunted house
A haunted house is a house or other building often perceived as being inhabited by disembodied spirits of the deceased who may have been former residents or were familiar with the property...
s, trips to Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, assorted demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
s, all were covered in the course of several decades of film-making.
In 2007 they released a new and improved cut of Splatter Farm
Splatter Farm
Splatter Farm is a 1986 video horror film by the prolific Polonia brothers.-Plot:Twin brothers Alan and Joseph spend the summer visiting their Aunt Lacey at her secluded, run-down property...
, on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
through Camp Motion Pictures. The new version is missing a couple of the more outrageous scenes that made the original a 'cult classic', but is nonetheless a more professional-looking offering, easier to follow, and augmented by excellent and entertaining commentary
Audio commentary
On disc-based video formats, an audio commentary is an additional audio track consisting of a lecture or comments by one or more speakers, that plays in real time with video...
and featurettes – which also have become trademarks of the brothers' DVD offerings.
Polonia films have drawn the ire of critics for their alleged 'amateur' qualities (more evident in the early works). Yet those same qualities are what draw their fans, and the fans are as passionate as the detractors. Within the indie
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
film community, the brothers were known for their kindness and generosity to aspiring film-makers.
Polonia Brothers Entertainment and Cinegraphic Productions released Halloweenight
Halloweenight
HalloweeNight is a 2009 low-budget horror film who was directed by Mark Polonia of the indie film duo, the Polonia brothers and longtime collaborator Matt Satterly.-Plot:...
, based on a screenplay by, and dedicated to the memory of, the late John Polonia, in October 2009.
Filmography
- Hallucinations; 1986, released 2007 as an extra on 'Splatter Beach'
- Splatter FarmSplatter FarmSplatter Farm is a 1986 video horror film by the prolific Polonia brothers.-Plot:Twin brothers Alan and Joseph spend the summer visiting their Aunt Lacey at her secluded, run-down property...
; 1986, released 1987 Donna Michelle Productions Released 2007 Camp Motion Pictures - Lethal Nightmare; not yet released
- Saurians; not yet released
- Hellspawn; released 2003 on Brentwood 4-pack 'Spawn of the Devil'
- How to Slay a Vampire; released 2004 on Brentwood 4-pack 'Blood Hunt'
- 3000 Bullets; not yet released
- Savage Vows; released 1995 on Brentwood 4-pack 'Illicit Affairs, Savage Vows'
- FeedersFeeders (film)Feeders is a 1996 low-budget horror film made by indie film-makers the Polonia brothers, who first appeared on the independent film scene in 1987 with the cult classic Splatter Farm....
; released 1996 Blockbuster, released 2003 Sub Rosa Studios - Feeders 2: Slay Bells; released 2003 Sub Rosa Studios
- Terror House; released 2004 Sub Rosa Studios
- Nightcrawlers; currently re-released 2003 on Brentwood 4-pack 'Spawn of the Devil'
- Bad Magic; released by Sub Rosa Studios
- The House That ScreamedThe House That ScreamedThe House That Screamed is a 2000 horror film by the prolific Polonia brothers, released by Sub Rosa Studios.The film, which stars Bob Dennis, concerns a writer who tries to escape recent tragedy in his life by throwing himself into his work, only to find that the house he has engaged for the...
; released 2000 Sub Rosa Studios - DwellerDweller (film)Dweller is a 2000 low budget horror film by the prolific Polonia brothers. It was released in 2004 on the Brentwood 4-pack 'Sleazy Slashers', which also included the Polonias' 'Night Thirst'....
; re-released 2004 on Brentwood 4-pack 'Sleazy Slashers' - Dinosaur Chronicles; re-released 2004 on Brentwood 4-pack 'Galaxy of Terror'
- Blood Red Planet; released 2000, re-released 2005 on Brentwood 4-pack 'Galaxy of Terror'
- Night Thirst; released 2002, re-released 2004 on Brentwood 4-pack 'Sleazy Slashers'
- Hellgate: The House that Screamed 2; released 2001 Sub Rosa Studios
- Gorrilla Warfare: Battle of the Apes; not yet released
- Preylien: Alien Predators; released 2005 on Brentwood 4-pack 'Galaxy of Terror'
- Among Us; released 2004 Sub Rosa Studios
- Peter Rottentail; released 2004 Sub Rosa Studios
- Razorteeth; released 2005 Sub Rosa Studios
- Black Mass (aka Dead Knight); released Cine Excel Entertainment in Japan
- Wildcat; released Cine Excel Entertainment in Japan
- Splatter BeachSplatter BeachSplatter Beach is a 2007 low-budget horror comedy film made by the prolific Polonia brothers. It was released on DVD by Camp Motion Pictures....
; released 2007 Camp Motion Pictures - Forest Primeval; released 2008 Tempe Entertainment
- Monster MovieMonster Movie (film)Monster Movie is a 2008 horror comedy film by the Polonia brothers. It marks the last film created by the filmmaking duo before John Polonia's death at age 39....
; released 2008 Tempe Entertainment - HalloweenightHalloweenightHalloweeNight is a 2009 low-budget horror film who was directed by Mark Polonia of the indie film duo, the Polonia brothers and longtime collaborator Matt Satterly.-Plot:...
; released 2009 (self distributed) - Army of Wolves; 2010