Shadow People (film)
| Shadow People | |
|---|---|
 DVD poster | |
| Directed by | Matthew Arnold |
| Produced by | Michael Ohoven |
| Written by |
Matthew Arnold Travis Rooks |
| Starring |
Dallas Roberts Alison Eastwood Anne Dudek |
| Music by | Corey Wallace |
| Cinematography | Matthew Heckerling |
| Edited by |
Herbert James Winterstern Todd Killingsworth Martin Hunter |
Production company |
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| Distributed by | Anchor Bay Films |
Release dates |
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Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English, Spanish |
Shadow People (previously known as The Door) is a 2013 American supernatural thriller written and directed by Matthew Arnold. It stars Dallas Roberts and Alison Eastwood.
Plot
The film begins with a series of videos posted to YouTube, with users of the website relating their experiences with unexplained sightings. Later, radio talk show host Charlie Crowe (Dallas Roberts) becomes convinced that mysterious nocturnal entities known as shadow people are responsible for a spate of deaths in his hometown. He is joined by CDC investigator Sophie Lacombe (Alison Eastwood), who seeks a more rational explanation.
Cast
- Dallas Roberts as Charlie Crowe
- Alison Eastwood as Sophie Lacombe
- Anne Dudek as Ellen
- Mariah Bonner as Maggie
- Mattie Liptak as Preston
- Christopher Berry as Tom
- Jonathan Baron as Jeff Pyatt
- Tony Schiena as Robert
- Richie Montgomery as Sparky
- Marco St. John as Professor Fisher
- Raeden Greer as Britney
- Billy Slaughter as TV Anchor
- Earl Maddox as store clerk
Production
Shadow People was filmed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Events depicted in the film are set in Cambodia in 1979 and in Eastern Kentucky in 1971 and 2008.
The film mixes dramatisations with real and faux archival footage. The faux archival footage includes interviews with people who are depicted in the dramatisations. The real archival footage includes segments from the 2008 web documentary Your Worst Nightmare.[2]
The film is dedicated to victims of Sudden Unexpected Nocturnal Death Syndrome (SUNDS).
Release
The film premiered at the Marché du Film in Cannes in 2012.[3] It was released direct-to-video on March 19, 2013.[1]
Reception
Matt Molgaard of Best Horror Movies wrote, "This is a stirring flick, and in truth, I’d be holding back if I called Shadow People anything other than an outstanding success that far exceeded expectations...Shadow People has already established itself as one of 2013’s most inspired efforts." [4] David Maine of Pop Matters wrote, "Shadow People is a spooky little movie that could have been much spookier, but still makes good use of its limited means to convey an unsettling story."[5] Ain't It Cool News declared "it made me think twice about turning on the light as I went to bed. Any film that does that is a winner in my book.".[6] Brad McHargue of Dread Central rated the film 1.5/5 stars and called the film "novel and ambitious" but too messy to fulfill the potential of the premise.[7] Pat Torfe of Bloody Disgusting rated the film 2.5/5 stars. Torfe said that Shadow People lacks balance and "doesn't know what it is."[8] Thomas Marcum of The Crypto Crew said "the movie is well done all the way around and well worth watching".[9]
References
- 1 2 Turek, Ryan (January 22, 2013). "Anchor Bay Sets Release Date for Shadow People Starring Walking Dead's Dallas Roberts". Shock Till You Drop. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
- ↑ Sedensky, Ian (March 13, 2013). "Shadow People (2012)". Culture Crypt. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
- ↑ Kemp, Stuart (May 25, 2012). "Cannes 2012: 'Shadow People' Picked Up by Anchor Bay for North America, the U.K, New Zealand". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
- ↑ Molgaard, Matt (March 27, 2013). "'Shadow People 2013 Review'". Best Horror Movies. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
- ↑ Maine, David (March 19, 2013). "'Shadow People', a Low Budget Creeper, Is Low on Effects, High on Atmospherics". PopMatters. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
- ↑ Miller, Mark (March 19, 2013). "'AICN HORROR talks about Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome with director of Shadow People, Matthew Arnold! Plus a review of the film!'". Ain't It Cool News.
- ↑ McHargue, Brad (March 17, 2013). "Shadow People (Blu-ray / DVD)". Dread Central. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
- ↑ Torfe, Pat (March 24, 2013). "[BD Review] 'Shadow People' Flickers Between Creepy and Confusing". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
- ↑ Marcum, Thomas (March 14, 2013). "'Shadow People Movie Review'". Crypto Crew.