|
|
|
Welcome To Unbound Zine |
|
| Movie Review |
|
Curse of the Wolf
Directed by Len Kabasinski
Brain Damage Films
Low budget werewolf films aren't as common as they once were and despite a few problems Curse of the Wolf manages to be an entertaining and surprisingly bloody take on the genre. The film is a bit slow in a few places and like most films of this type the acting isn't the films strongest suit. That said, Curse of the Wolf packs in a lot of gore, skin, and violence to make for an entertaining popcorn flick in the horror genre.
The basic gist of the story is a werewolf named Dakota, played by Renee Porada, no longer wants to be a part of their clan and is taking drugs to suppress her transformations. Essentially the movie revolves around Dakota being on the run from her former pack. She just wants to try and live a normal life but her pack will have nothing of it. When Dakota finds new friends, the pack shows up to exterminate her new friends and bring her back into the pack. This results in a lot of violence and a surprising amount of martial arts usage. Kabasinksi loves to add the martial arts element to his films and while it is usually fairly well implemented what are the chances that an entire pack of werewolves are trained in martial arts? But like I said earlier this is essentially a popcorn movie, so examining the plot to any great lengths really isn't at all necessary.
Dakota finally finds some help after a chase from her pack leads her to a bar. While hiding in the men's bathroom a stranger protects her and now we have a love interest and now the pack has a source of leverage against Dakota. After a rather lengthy fight involving the pack and security in the bar, the pack leaves. The next day her love interest is meant to meet her for breakfast, but when he doesn't show up she meets with the nightclub owner and enlists his help along with his hired firepower to help take out the pack. It definitely isn't the classic werewolf on a rampage type story line for a film of this nature, and in many ways the film feels very much like an action film.
Low budget and nudity seem to go hand in hand and the stars of the film have little trouble with baring it all. Darian Caine is a staple of films by this director and definitely isn't afraid to show off her assets in front of the camera. The few sex scenes here are done well but still seem a bit out of place, particularly the second sex scene as you are somewhat led to believe that the woman involved is a lesbian during previous scenes. That said, the nudity is why a lot of people check out these movies and while Curse of the Wolf definitely wouldn't be considered erotic, it has its fare share of skin.
The gore is definitely above average but the same really cannot be said about the werewolf makeup itself. Certainly werewolves look pretty good, but some others look like they cut off pieces to a Halloween mask and glued it to the actors face. It works best when you only see flashes of the faces I would say. That said there is a ridiculously cool transformation scene complete with buckets of blood. There are also some very well done torn out and slashed throat effects that spray a ridiculous amount of blood. While I wouldnt call this a gorefest, the gore certainly helps the movie have a bit more impact.
This isn't a perfect movie but it is an entertaining one. I think the running time could have been trimmed just a bit to make a more evenly paced film that wouldnt drag in any sections. If you are a fan of werewolf films this is definitely a welcome addition to your collection. Curse of the Wolf is a unique and modern twist on the genre.
Order Curse of the Wolf here!
|
|
|
UN: How did you first become interested in filmmaking? Were there certain aspects of the process that intrigued you enough to pursue directing as opposed to just acting?
Len: I was always interested in b-movie horror and martial arts/action films since i was very young. I used to stay up with my younger brother (Stephen) and watch "Swamp Thing", "Reptilicus", etc.etc. on a late night local horror program called the "late great horror show". Me and KillerWolf Films co-founder Lisa McQuiston were extras on the set of the film ZOMBIEGEDDON and after that experience i had said to her that i always wanted to do film but didn't have the knowledge. After working with Chris Watson (the film's director), i eventually formulated the script for SWAMP ZOMBIES which was originally a 20 page short story i had written then of course, i felt i had the material for a feature-length film and the rest is history in terms of that project. I wanted to pursue directing because i am a rebel at heart and don't like being told what to do by anyone, especially if it's part of my money financing a film as is the case with all the products from KillerWolf Films. I like the acting element but i only started doing it on SWAMP ZOMBIES because anything dangerous in the script i wanted my character to do so that if anyone was to get hurt....it would be me.lol
UN: Youve tackled the classic themes of the horror genre, vampires, werewolves and zombies. Are there any other classic styles of horror film youd like to give a shot? Any possibility for sequels for Swamp Zombies, Curse of the Wolf or Fist of the Vampire in the future?
Len: I would really actually like to do a ninja genre film but incorporate some horror elements into it much like 1984's NINJA III which involved possession. I also am from Erie,PA right on the lake so i would love to do a killer shark or some kind of CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON style film and utilize my hometown elements. I've actually been asked alot about a sequel to SWAMP ZOMBIES more than any others but with all due respect; FIST OF THE VAMPIRE just came out and is about to receive a good push from Brain Damage Films.....so maybe in 6 months i'll hear more about a sequel to FIST. If i had to pick, i think i'd do a sequel to SWAMP ZOMBIES because i feel my skills have improved and i'd like to go back and redo alot of that film.....Although, i've had a lot of good feedback about CURSE OF THE WOLF with even Rotten Tomatoes saying i should revisit the genre later with a better post-production team....i just might take that advice! lol.
UN: What would you say are some of the key ingredients to a successful horror film? Of course by successful I mean from a viewers perspective and not financially.
Len: I think every fan is different so obviously what they like depends on the individual. i like "action" to my horror films such as films like FROM DUSK TILL DAWN for example. With KillerWolf Films we stick to our bullets, blood, and boobs theme for all our work and also try to throw in a "camp" element to each film in some degree.
UN: Unlike most horror films you bring in a martial arts element that you really dont see often. Is it important to you to bring this element into the films? Did it seem natural given your background in martial arts?
Len: It's important because (1) it's part of my true personality (2) You don't see it done very often at this level of production (3) it's part of the gimmick that makes us different and separates us from other indie horror films (imo)....yeah, after being involved in martial arts most of my life it seemed pretty natural,lol...
UN: How long have you been training? It must be cool to not only direct but to kick a lot of ass in your own films.
Len: Over 20 years. I'd prefer to stay behind the camera more actually but George Romero once said i had the looks to be in front of it.....and of course you should listen to what George says! lol. I started in front of the camera as an extra in Chris Watson's ZOMBIEGEDDON and i consider Chris to be somewhat of a mentor of mine, he taught me alot. I credit him and Master Dave Humes (my martial arts instructor) in every film i've ever done because i not only respect them for what they've done for me but i also want to ackowledge to everyone that i NEVER forget where i come from.
UN: Have you given any thought to making a full fledged martial arts film?
Len: Yeah, I'd love to but it's hard to market unless your shooting on film. With high def cameras getting better you never know. I'd love to get the rights to the AMERICAN NINJA series and make an AMERICAN NINJA entry....that would be a dream come true. I am also a big fan of the 1980's ninja "craze" films such as NINE DEATHS OF THE NINJA, PRAY FOR DEATH, etc.etc. I think this style of film is coming in the near future for me for sure.
UN: Was it hard to get Jasmin St Claire to appear in Swamp Zombies? Id somewhat assume that she didnt have any qualms about the nudity in the role.
Len: Jasmin was one of the first actresses to sign on to do SWAMP ZOMBIES (along with Pamela Sutch). I do not know if she does films and/or nudity anymore. I contacted her to do CURSE OF THE WOLF, but she expressed that she didn't want to do nudity and i simply stated that "i can't use you right now then". It reminds me of the FROM DUSK TILL DAWN story where Rodriguez told Salma Hayek that if she couldn't dance with the boa constrictor that he "couldn't use her for the film"....we all know how that turned out and who won that battle. If i book an adult film star to appear in my film; those fans of hers will certainly expect an amount of skin. I will not let those fans down and be the first a$$hole to not put her nude in a film,lol. but Jasmin was great and very professional onset. I have no complaints...
UN: Did you find Swamp Zombies to be a learning experience? Was it a lot harder to put together a feature length film than you had initially anticipated?
Len: Oh yeah, definitely a learning experience for sure. Actually no, it was HARDER to trim down the length as the film is just too long. I wanted it to be like 1 hour and 35-40 mins and it actually is more like 1 hour and 50 mins...ugh. I think i might just go back and do a sequal and correct alot of the mistakes,lol. I'm kidding. but strangely it is my most requested work. One thing i can say about SWAMP ZOMBIES was that almost everyone had fun. I look back and remember when Monica Piccirllo told me she was "sad is was ending because she had so much fun with the film" and when numerous zombies would go walk around into resteraunts and convienience stores in full make-up. i had a fun crew for this film and have been fortunate to have hard-working cast & crew on all my films so far. Of course there are those who do not have fun,etc.etc. on a film set. When you coordinate a cast & crew of 80 people there are bound to be those who wouldn't work with you again and in turn there are those who i would never work with again. With my new film, WARRIORS OF THE APOCALYPSE we had to shed away some people i had worked with before simply because i want to advance and get better not stay the same. I've already made a CURSE OF THE WOLF, I already made a FIST OF THE VAMPIRE....i want to grow and i failed to see how i could with some of my post crew on that film. I think they took me as far as they could even though i felt some of the effort on FIST was less than stellar. When you walk into a room of 100 people and one person isn't giving 100% effort; it is easy to pick that person out and EVERYONE on my cast & crew noticed pretty quickly who the "weakest links" were. WARRIORS OF THE APOCALYPSE we went with a more professional production in terms of lighting, editing, sound, and digital effects.
UN: Was there anything specifically you want to do differently with Curse of the Wolf than you did with Swamp Zombies?
Len: Every film I do there are always numerous things I would do differently. SWAMP ZOMBIES i would up the gore, drop the "camp factor" a notch or two (but not alot), cut down the running time to 90 mins, and film on a HVX. CURSE OF THE WOLF i would have cut alot of dialogue from one of the leads and made them more the "strong silent type", and i would have boom-mic'd EVERYTHING in CURSE OF THE WOLF.
UN: Your latest film is Fist of the Vampire. How has the reception been so far? Do you feel like this is your most solid film yet? Is this film closer to what you originally pictured during the writing process than your two previous films?
Len: I think it's our most solid film yet for sure because the acting has recieved really good reviews as well as the pacing of the film. It is by far the best acting in any film i've done so far. The lighting and sound are improved from the other features but still very far from being what i need to have. We filmed this film to the script to nearly 100%, so what you see is basically the script in video form....honestly i'd say it's about 95% true to the script. Reception has been mixed like anything in performing arts, it depends on the expectation of the viewer i think. The post production team's editing & effects are spotty, sometimes really good, sometimes laughably bad....sometimes due to lack of proper editing equipment, sometimes due to just pure laziness, sometims due to them cutting another film at the same time as ours, sometimes due to lack of desire and not enough heart to give 100% to me & my cast & crew who waited over 7 months to get our film back. The editors and digital FX guys had my footage for over 3 weeks without touching a damn thing, then had the nerve to come back and say i had "unreasonable deadlines" which i got a good laugh out of considering they didn't do anything for the first 3 weeks of post. I wish I could tell my boss "i'll work on your project when i want too"....yeah, that would really go over well! lol. But those that are expecting another low-budget horror indie with the same faults as most of those types of films have might be pleasantly surprised....maybe. Watch for an awesome 2 page ad coming up in the major horror magazines out there. We're due to get a good push from Brain Damage Films for FIST. in terms of their entire catalogue I would put it right up there with their strongest 3 or 4 titles they have like STRANGE THINGS HAPPEN AT SUNDOWN (which i have always said is their best aquistion....great indie film).
UN: Up next you will be making Warriors of the Apocalypse. Was can you tell us about the film? From the title it sounds like a post-apocalyptic film of some sort.
Len: Yep. hot chicks, cars, big guns, mutated humans, martial arts, motorcycles, Darian Caine, Debbie D, Pamela Sutch, Blue Meanie.....it involves survivors of WWIII trying to make it to the last city in America. problem is there is no vacancy and the new "dictator" of the city doesn't want new comers so her team of mercs go into the wastelands and "hunt" survivors. Lot's of action.
UN: How did you initially come into contact with Brain Damage Films? They have released all of your films thus far and seem to do a bang up job of getting the word about the films spread around. Are you pleased with how your relation with the company is going right now and heading in the future?
Len: Yeah, I'm fairly happy with them and I'm pretty sure it's mutual. I think they're a good bunch of people who live and breathe indie horror. They've handled all my films and got me on broadcast television numerous times, taken all the films to Cannes, have solid deals with FYE and Suncoast, and are never late with payments. I'd like to keep the relationship with them going and maybe one day release a "KillerWolf Films" box set through them with my first 5 films included (only one more to go after WARRIORS OF THE APOCAYLPSE!lol)...who knows? WARRIORS will be a longer film phase but out of 50-some scenes i think 45 of them are completed at this point. I want to go and get some high quality inserts and up the gore a little more even which is what i'll be working on in the next month. WARRIORS should wrap all photogrpahy in about a month...screeners will go out early next year most likely....of course Brain Damage Films will be the first to get one!
Visit the Official Killer Wolf Films Myspace Page
|
