The Revenant
Encyclopedia
The Revenant is a horror/dark comedy film from Putrefactory Limited scheduled to be released fall 2011. The film was directed by D. Kerry Prior and stars David Anders
as the title character. The film was shot in Los Angeles, California and Khūzestān Province
, Iran.
and Liam Finn and edited by Kerry Prior, though the opening credits state "image juxtaposition designer walter montague urch".
"Walter Montague Urch" could be a reference to Walter Map
and Montague Summers
, who have written about revenants and men who have returned from the dead.
, Iran. The film is presented in 4K digital cinema
with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 spherical.
The film won the Audience Award for "Best Narrative Feature" at the 2009 CineVegas Film Festival, in Las Vegas. Harry Knowles
of Ain't It Cool News
wrote an early review, calling it "a great little genre film that gets exactly as nuts as one would hope a violent buddy flick can get with the undead."
Chris Alexander of Fangoria stated:"Forget SHAUN OF THE DEAD; this is the best dark fantasy/comedy I’ve seen since classic stuff I hold so dear to my heart, masterworks like RETURN OF THE LIVING
DEAD, RE-ANIMATOR, ROBOCOP and FRIGHT NIGHT."
Aaron Morgan from Fantastic Fest commented that "Overall this movie is a real gem and deserves a wide release here in the states to shake us out of this remake/retread horror trend."
Toronto After Dark listed The Revenant as one of the "10 Movies To See Before You Die".
Prior; "Audience Award"
The film was also an "Official Selection" of the following film festivals:
David Anders
David Anders is an American television and stage actor. He is best known for his roles as Julian Sark on Alias, and as Adam Monroe on Heroes. Although Anders is American, both of these noted roles required him to use an English accent.-Early life:Anders was born in Grants Pass, Oregon, to parents...
as the title character. The film was shot in Los Angeles, California and Khūzestān Province
Khuzestan Province
Khuzestan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the southwest of the country, bordering Iraq's Basra Province and the Persian Gulf. Its capital is Ahwaz and covers an area of 63,238 km²...
, Iran.
Plot
The film focuses on Officer First Class Bart Gregory (David Anders) who has been killed under mysterious circumstances in a Middle East skirmish. Even though his friends attend his funeral, Bart finds himself anything but at rest. Enlisting the help of his best friend Joey Leubner (Chris Wylde), Bart goes down a path of trying to make the best of his situation, but it is only a matter of time before his condition sets about a chain of events that leads him towards his true horrific destiny.Cast
- David AndersDavid AndersDavid Anders is an American television and stage actor. He is best known for his roles as Julian Sark on Alias, and as Adam Monroe on Heroes. Although Anders is American, both of these noted roles required him to use an English accent.-Early life:Anders was born in Grants Pass, Oregon, to parents...
as Barthenoy (Bart) Gregory: Having come back from death as a revenant, Bart must deal with his new condition, a potential for a second chance on life, and trying to come to terms with the girlfriend that he had left behind. - Chris WyldeChris WyldeChris Wylde is the stage name of an American actor and comedian who was born on August 22, 1976 in Hackettstown, New Jersey as Christopher Scott Noll.-Early life:...
as Joey Leubner: As Bart's best friend, Joey acts as a partner and sidekick to Bart, providing him background of Bart's deteriorating condition, and encouraging him to act on his darker impulses in order to survive. - Louise GriffithsLouise GriffithsLouise Griffiths is an English pop singer-songwriter, fashion model and actress.-Early life:Griffiths is the daughter of a London taxicab driver...
as Janet: Bart's love interest who is devastated after Bart's unexpected death. Janet nevertheless remains the devoted girlfriend to Bart, even after discovering what keeps him going after his seemingly miraculous return. - Jacy King Mathilda (Matty): A WiccaWiccaWicca , is a modern Pagan religious movement. Developing in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald Gardner, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft," and its adherents "the Wica."...
n nurse who is close friend to Janet, Matty acts as the voice of reason, and later becomes suspicious of Bart and Joey's nocturnal activities.
Additional cast
- Emiliano TorresEmiliano TorresEmiliano Torres is an Argentine assistant film director, screenplay writer, cinematographer, and production manager.He works in the cinema of Argentina.-Filmography:Writer...
- Miguel - Senyo AmoakuSenyo AmoakuSenyo Amoaku is an American film actor and composer. He was featured in The Expendables, a Lionsgate action epic released August 13, 2010, written and directed by Sylvester Stallone...
– Liquor Store Robber - Cathy ShimCathy ShimCathy Shim is a Korean-American actress and film producer. She has appeared in a variety of television shows, most notably Reno 911!, MADtv and Drake & Josh. She can currently be seen in 3Way, a lesbian web series.-Television:-Filmography:-Other work:-External links:*...
– Sophia Chang - David UryDavid UryDavid Brian Ury is an American film and television actor, stand-up comedian and Japanese film, anime and manga translation specialist. He is a descendant of German impressionist painter Lesser Ury.- Career :...
– ATM Robber - Wally White – The Minister
- Zana Zefi – Ms. Rahmanov
- Clint Jung - Marty
Development
The Revenant was written, directed, produced and by Kerry Prior, who also supervised the visual effects on the film. The film is co-produced by Jacques ThelemaqueJacques Thelemaque
Jacques Thelemaque is an American screenwriter and director best known as the president of the Los Angeles film collective Filmmakers Alliance.-Biography:...
and Liam Finn and edited by Kerry Prior, though the opening credits state "image juxtaposition designer walter montague urch".
"Walter Montague Urch" could be a reference to Walter Map
Walter Map
Walter Map was a medieval writer of works written in Latin. Only one work is attributed to Map with any certainty: De Nugis Curialium.-Life:...
and Montague Summers
Montague Summers
Augustus Montague Summers was an eccentric English author and clergyman. He is known primarily for his scholarly work on the English drama of the 17th century, as well as for his idiosyncratic studies on witches, vampires, and werewolves, in all of which he professed to believe...
, who have written about revenants and men who have returned from the dead.
Filming
Filming for The Revenant begun in April 2008 in Los Angeles, California and Khūzestān ProvinceKhuzestan Province
Khuzestan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the southwest of the country, bordering Iraq's Basra Province and the Persian Gulf. Its capital is Ahwaz and covers an area of 63,238 km²...
, Iran. The film is presented in 4K digital cinema
Digital cinema
Digital cinema refers to the use of digital technology to distribute and project motion pictures. A movie can be distributed via hard drives, optical disks or satellite and projected using a digital projector instead of a conventional film projector...
with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 spherical.
Reception
The Revenant has received very positive feedback from several film reviewers and the horror film community. A post-screening review from DreadCentral.com declared it's "sure to become a cult classic."The film won the Audience Award for "Best Narrative Feature" at the 2009 CineVegas Film Festival, in Las Vegas. Harry Knowles
Harry Knowles
Harry Knowles is known for his website called Ain't It Cool News. Knowles is a member of the Austin Film Critics Association.-Biography:...
of Ain't It Cool News
Ain't It Cool News
Ain't It Cool News is a website founded and run by Harry Knowles, dedicated to news, rumors and reviews of upcoming and currently playing films and television projects, with an emphasis on science fiction, fantasy, horror, comic-book and action genres...
wrote an early review, calling it "a great little genre film that gets exactly as nuts as one would hope a violent buddy flick can get with the undead."
Chris Alexander of Fangoria stated:"Forget SHAUN OF THE DEAD; this is the best dark fantasy/comedy I’ve seen since classic stuff I hold so dear to my heart, masterworks like RETURN OF THE LIVING
DEAD, RE-ANIMATOR, ROBOCOP and FRIGHT NIGHT."
Aaron Morgan from Fantastic Fest commented that "Overall this movie is a real gem and deserves a wide release here in the states to shake us out of this remake/retread horror trend."
Toronto After Dark listed The Revenant as one of the "10 Movies To See Before You Die".
Awards
Since its debut on the film festival circuit, The Revenant has won the following awards:- Xanadu Sci Fi and Horror Convention 2009: "Best Feature Film"
- Zompire, The Undead Film Festival 2009: "Best Feature," "Best Director" Kerry
Prior; "Audience Award"
- CineVegas 2009: "Audience Award, Best Narrative Feature"
- Toronto After Dark Film Festival 2009: "Feature Film, Silver"
- Fantastic Fest 2009: "Best Director," Kerry Prior; "Audience Award (4th Place)"
- ScreamFest, Los Angeles 2009: "Best Make Up," "Best Special FX"
- Vampire Film Festival, New Orleans 2009: "Outstanding Vampire Film" (1st Place)
- Falstaff International Film Festival 2009: "Best of the Festival Award"
- NYC Horror Film Festival 2009: "Best Picture," Kerry Prior; "Best Director," "Best Actor" (Tie: Chris Wylde, and David Anders), "Audience Choice"
- Omaha Film Festival 2010: "Best Off the Edge Film"
- A Night of Horror International Film Festival 2010: "Best Film", Best Director" (Kerry Prior)
The film was also an "Official Selection" of the following film festivals:
- Sitges 42nd International Film Festival 2009: Official Selection (10/09)
- Chicago International Film Festival 2009: Official Selection (10/09)
- Grimm Up North- UK 2009: Official Selection: (10/09)
- Mar del Plata International Film Festival 2009: Official Selection (11/09)
- Leeds International Film Festival- UK 2009: Official Selection (11/09)
- Starz Denver International Film Festival 2009: Official Selection (11/09)
- Stockholm International Film Festival 2009: Official Selection (11/09)