Exclusive: MPI Media Group has acquired North American distribution rights for Saïd Belktibia’s French thriller Hood Witch starring Golshifteh Farahani and Denis Lavant.
The Chicago-based company announced the acquisition on the eve of the film’s screening at horror-focused The Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans this weekend, following a buzzy world premiere at SXSW.
MPI will release the movie via its genre subsidiary Dark Sky Films in late fall 2024.
Iranian and French acting star Farahani plays a single mother who makes a living from smuggling exotic animals and illicit products such as birds of prey, venom and rare roots.
In a bid to get her son out of the city and offer him a better future, she designs and develops a mobile app that connects clients and marabouts.
It is a success but a patient’s consultation turns into a tragedy and...
The Chicago-based company announced the acquisition on the eve of the film’s screening at horror-focused The Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans this weekend, following a buzzy world premiere at SXSW.
MPI will release the movie via its genre subsidiary Dark Sky Films in late fall 2024.
Iranian and French acting star Farahani plays a single mother who makes a living from smuggling exotic animals and illicit products such as birds of prey, venom and rare roots.
In a bid to get her son out of the city and offer him a better future, she designs and develops a mobile app that connects clients and marabouts.
It is a success but a patient’s consultation turns into a tragedy and...
- 4/3/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Veteran talent manager and producer Lori Kay has parted ways with NYC-based production entity Fp to relaunch Prevail Artist Entertainment, a talent management and production company she initially established in 2015.
The move came following Kay’s reevaluation of her approach to her business amidst last year’s double strike, and as she dives more fully into producing. Relaunching Prevail will mean a return to a more focused and hands-on approach to client relations and, Kay says, “truly feels like coming home.”
In Kay’s absence, Fp’s primary production division Framework Productions will continue forward, with founder and CEO Steven Pierce at the helm alongside Head of Production James Allerdyce. The company’s recently established talent division Fp Artists, though, which Kay had been tasked with heading up, will be dissolved.
A producer on the genre feature Herd, released by Dark Sky Films, which had its world premiere at...
The move came following Kay’s reevaluation of her approach to her business amidst last year’s double strike, and as she dives more fully into producing. Relaunching Prevail will mean a return to a more focused and hands-on approach to client relations and, Kay says, “truly feels like coming home.”
In Kay’s absence, Fp’s primary production division Framework Productions will continue forward, with founder and CEO Steven Pierce at the helm alongside Head of Production James Allerdyce. The company’s recently established talent division Fp Artists, though, which Kay had been tasked with heading up, will be dissolved.
A producer on the genre feature Herd, released by Dark Sky Films, which had its world premiere at...
- 2/5/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Stars: Ellen Adair, Mitzi Akaha, Jeremy Holm, Timothy V. Murphy, Corbin Bernsen | Written by Steven Pierce, James Allerdyce, Matt Mundy | Directed by Steven Pierce
Director Steven Pierce, whose resume – until now – consisted of short films and Concert features, turns his hand to his first full-length scripted film with Herd – the latest in a very long line of zombie movies. And also the latest in a long line of zombie movies that aren’t Just about the impending end of civilisation at the hands of the shuffling undead. In fact, Herd has a Lot of levels to it. A lot.
On the surface it’s about a woman, Jamie (Ellen Adair), and her partner Alex trying to survive a just-begun zombie outbreak but scratch a little deeper and you get a story about a troubled relationship – not just the one between Jamie and Alex but also Jamie’s father, played by...
Director Steven Pierce, whose resume – until now – consisted of short films and Concert features, turns his hand to his first full-length scripted film with Herd – the latest in a very long line of zombie movies. And also the latest in a long line of zombie movies that aren’t Just about the impending end of civilisation at the hands of the shuffling undead. In fact, Herd has a Lot of levels to it. A lot.
On the surface it’s about a woman, Jamie (Ellen Adair), and her partner Alex trying to survive a just-begun zombie outbreak but scratch a little deeper and you get a story about a troubled relationship – not just the one between Jamie and Alex but also Jamie’s father, played by...
- 10/20/2023
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
To celebrate the release of Steven Pierce’s Herd, available to own on DVD & Digital from 23rd October, we are giving away DVDs to 2 lucky winners!
Have you Herd…? There’s a brand-new action-packed zombie thriller from Steven Pierce coming to our screens, starring The Sinner’s Ellen Adair (Homeland, The Sinner) as a woman trying to outrun her past, but who accidentally runs headlong into a rampant zombie outbreak and a raging war between militia groups…
With her marriage on the rocks, Jamie (Adair) convinces her wife, Alex (Mitzi Akaha – Archive 81), to join her on a make-or-break canoe trip to her remote hometown in rural Missouri, where her father still lives. But when an accident leaves Alex with a broken leg, things quickly go from bad to worse to unimaginable…
When they finally reach the town, they discover it’s been overrun by Heps – virus-infected humans turned bloody-thirsty zombies...
Have you Herd…? There’s a brand-new action-packed zombie thriller from Steven Pierce coming to our screens, starring The Sinner’s Ellen Adair (Homeland, The Sinner) as a woman trying to outrun her past, but who accidentally runs headlong into a rampant zombie outbreak and a raging war between militia groups…
With her marriage on the rocks, Jamie (Adair) convinces her wife, Alex (Mitzi Akaha – Archive 81), to join her on a make-or-break canoe trip to her remote hometown in rural Missouri, where her father still lives. But when an accident leaves Alex with a broken leg, things quickly go from bad to worse to unimaginable…
When they finally reach the town, they discover it’s been overrun by Heps – virus-infected humans turned bloody-thirsty zombies...
- 10/18/2023
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The new film Herd by Steven Pierce is a messy zombie thriller that tries too hard to be too focused on the human elements in its storytelling. Written alongside James Allerdyce, Pierce has failed to give the film a consistent vision. At one point, the story revolves purely around the lesbian couple Jamie and Alex. The segment dragged on, and then suddenly the zombie plot resumed. There is also a pseudo-dystopian drama in the middle of it all, and there are moments between characters that seem too random to be appreciated, even though they may have been acted well. The story begins with Jamie and Alex going out canoeing with the motive of mending their broken relationship. Things go south, and the couple is forced to seek help from the locals, who have their own idea of dealing with the ‘Heps’.
Spoilers Ahead
Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Film?...
Spoilers Ahead
Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Film?...
- 10/17/2023
- by Ayush Awasthi
- Film Fugitives
Despite a fairly predictable story, first-time director Steven Pierce makes some interesting tweaks to the formula with a final act that confounds expectations
Like every zombie-themed movie ever, this low-budget American feature directed by debutant Steven Pierce (co-written by Pierce and James Allerdyce) has a subtext; this one so close to the surface it’s barely sub, about schisms that divide communities. Quite often, the factions in zombie stories cleave along class lines or ethnicity. But Herd mixes the formula up in a number of interesting ways; for starters, by casting as the heroines lesbian spouses Jamie (Ellen Adair) and Alex (Mitzi Akaha), city dwellers on a camping trip trying to heal marital wounds after the loss of a child.
Thus the women are already semi-outsiders in rural Missouri where they’re visiting, although it’s near where Jamie grew up. Not that this puts her more at ease, given...
Like every zombie-themed movie ever, this low-budget American feature directed by debutant Steven Pierce (co-written by Pierce and James Allerdyce) has a subtext; this one so close to the surface it’s barely sub, about schisms that divide communities. Quite often, the factions in zombie stories cleave along class lines or ethnicity. But Herd mixes the formula up in a number of interesting ways; for starters, by casting as the heroines lesbian spouses Jamie (Ellen Adair) and Alex (Mitzi Akaha), city dwellers on a camping trip trying to heal marital wounds after the loss of a child.
Thus the women are already semi-outsiders in rural Missouri where they’re visiting, although it’s near where Jamie grew up. Not that this puts her more at ease, given...
- 10/17/2023
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
"Sometimes we have to do... things we don't want." Dark Sky Films + Framework Prod. have revealed the official trailer for the indie horror film Herd, made by filmmaker Steven Pierce. We posted a trailer for this a few months ago before its world premiere at FrightFest earlier this year. When a woman trying to outrun her past ends up trapped between a zombie outbreak (spread by a virus called "Heps") and warring militia groups, she is caught in a world where some fight for survival but others fight for control. This stars Corbin Bernsen, Timothy V. Murphy, Ellen Adair, Mitzi Akaha, and Jeremy Holm. This looks like it gets super gnarly in the second half with all the people in town turning against each other, not to mention the zombies. The film has been receiving positive reviews. Dark Sky adds: "Steven Pierce has crafted a film that brilliantly ratchets up...
- 9/19/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Following a successful world premiere at London’s FrightFest, Dark Sky Films today announced it has acquired North American distribution rights to Herd, an action-driven horror film and the directorial debut from Steven Pierce, co-written by Pierce and James Allerdyce. Herd stars Ellen Adair (Trick, Cryptid), Mitzi Akaha (Bashira), Jeremy Holm (The Ranger, Brooklyn 45, Black Mold), Amanda Fuller (Starry Eyes, All the Creatures Were Stirring) among others. The film, which premiered on IMAX at Cineworld to a sold-out crowd in Leicester Square, London, will be released in theaters and on VOD in October 2023.
The distribution arrangement was negotiated by Greg Newman, Executive Vice President of Dark Sky Films, and Bill Straus of Bridge Independent.
Herd tells the story of a woman trying to outrun a past complicated by an abusive father. When she and her wife end up trapped between a zombie outbreak and warring militia groups in her hometown,...
The distribution arrangement was negotiated by Greg Newman, Executive Vice President of Dark Sky Films, and Bill Straus of Bridge Independent.
Herd tells the story of a woman trying to outrun a past complicated by an abusive father. When she and her wife end up trapped between a zombie outbreak and warring militia groups in her hometown,...
- 8/31/2023
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
There are people out there who will shamble into line for every single zombie film that comes along. For others, it’s all getting a little tired. Most of them play out in exactly the same way. We know the rules. We know that there will be misery and sacrifice, with few, if any, survivors. It’s a little too much like real life. Every now and again, however, something different comes along.
It has been 38 years since anything has shaken up the genre quite like Herd.
One of the most eagerly anticipated films at Frightfest 2023, Steven Pierce’s film begins in a familiar way. A man – Robert – drives down a country road at a hectic pace, generating a cloud of dust. He rushes into his barn, and though he doesn’t notice it, viewers will immediately be fixated on the fact that he has left the door open. He picks up.
It has been 38 years since anything has shaken up the genre quite like Herd.
One of the most eagerly anticipated films at Frightfest 2023, Steven Pierce’s film begins in a familiar way. A man – Robert – drives down a country road at a hectic pace, generating a cloud of dust. He rushes into his barn, and though he doesn’t notice it, viewers will immediately be fixated on the fact that he has left the door open. He picks up.
- 8/25/2023
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Have you Herd…? There’s a brand-new action-packed zombie thriller from Steven Pierce coming to our screens, starring The Sinner’s Ellen Adair (Homeland, The Sinner) as a woman trying to outrun her past, but who accidentally runs headlong into a rampant zombie outbreak and a raging war between militia groups…
High Fliers is thrilled to announce that following its highly anticipated World Premiere at FrightFest 2023 on Saturday 26th August 2023, you can join the Herd on digital and physical this October.
With her marriage on the rocks, Jamie (Adair) convinces her wife, Alex (Mitzi Akaha – Archive 81), to join her on a make-or-break canoe trip to her remote hometown in rural Missouri, where her father still lives. But when an accident leaves Alex with a broken leg, things quickly go from bad to worse to unimaginable…
When they finally reach the town, they discover it’s been overrun by Heps – virus-infected...
High Fliers is thrilled to announce that following its highly anticipated World Premiere at FrightFest 2023 on Saturday 26th August 2023, you can join the Herd on digital and physical this October.
With her marriage on the rocks, Jamie (Adair) convinces her wife, Alex (Mitzi Akaha – Archive 81), to join her on a make-or-break canoe trip to her remote hometown in rural Missouri, where her father still lives. But when an accident leaves Alex with a broken leg, things quickly go from bad to worse to unimaginable…
When they finally reach the town, they discover it’s been overrun by Heps – virus-infected...
- 8/18/2023
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Framework Productions is thrilled to share the first trailer for action horror Herd. Officially Selected for this years FrightFest, the film will celebrate its World Premiere on 26th August 2023 at the iconic horror festival. Directed by Steven Pierce, the film stars Corbin Bernsen (Major League, Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, LA Law), Timothy V. Murphy (Snowpiercer, National Treasure: Book of Secrets), Ellen Adair (Homeland, Bull, The Sinner) Mitzi Akaha (Archive 81) and Jeremy Holm (Mr. Robot, House of Cards). Herd follows Jamie Miller (Adair) and her wife, Alex (Akaha) trying to save their failing marriage by going on an isolated trip in rural Missouri. After an accident, the women find themselves trapped back in Jamie’s small hometown and where her father lives (Bernsen), which has become overrun by virus infected ‘Heps’. Big John Gruber (Holm) and his clan help Jamie and Alex by shuttling them to a local vet, who sets Alex’s leg.
- 7/26/2023
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
"Some fight for survival. Others fight for control." Framework Prod. has revealed the teaser trailer for an indie horror thriller called Herd, made by filmmaker Steven Pierce. This is premiering pretty soon at the FrightFest Horror Festival in London this summer, hence the first trailer dropping now to build some buzz. When a woman trying to outrun her past ends up trapped between a zombie outbreak (from a virus called "Heps") and warring militia groups, she is caught in a world where some fight for survival but others fight for control. As usual in this kind of apocalyptic situations. The film stars Corbin Bernsen, Timothy V. Murphy, Ellen Adair, Mitzi Akaha, and Jeremy Holm. "I am beyond enthusiastic that Herd is making its World Premiere at FrightFest in London. Alan Jones and his team put on one of the most exciting genre events in the world and I am so proud to be a contributor,...
- 7/17/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Officially selected for this year’s FrightFest, zombie movie Herd will have its World Premiere on August 26 at the festival, and Bloody Disgusting has the exclusive trailer for ya today.
Directed by Steven Pierce, the film from Framework Productions stars Corbin Bernsen, Timothy V. Murphy, Ellen Adair, Mitzi Akaha (Archive 81) and Jeremy Holm.
Herd follows Jamie Miller (Adair) and her wife, Alex (Akaha) trying to save their failing marriage by going on an isolated trip in rural Missouri. After an accident, the women find themselves trapped back in Jamie’s small hometown and where her father lives (Bernsen), which has become overrun by virus infected ‘Heps’.
Big John Gruber (Holm) and his clan help Jamie and Alex by shuttling them to a local vet, who sets Alex’s leg. A horde of heps descends on the vet’s office, forcing the group to flee to a warehouse the locals are using as a survival base.
Directed by Steven Pierce, the film from Framework Productions stars Corbin Bernsen, Timothy V. Murphy, Ellen Adair, Mitzi Akaha (Archive 81) and Jeremy Holm.
Herd follows Jamie Miller (Adair) and her wife, Alex (Akaha) trying to save their failing marriage by going on an isolated trip in rural Missouri. After an accident, the women find themselves trapped back in Jamie’s small hometown and where her father lives (Bernsen), which has become overrun by virus infected ‘Heps’.
Big John Gruber (Holm) and his clan help Jamie and Alex by shuttling them to a local vet, who sets Alex’s leg. A horde of heps descends on the vet’s office, forcing the group to flee to a warehouse the locals are using as a survival base.
- 7/14/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
FrightFest, the UK genre festival, has unveiled the lineup for its latest edition (August 24-28).
The event opens with the European premiere of Suitable Flesh, the latest pic from FrightFest regular Joe Lynch. The pic follows a psychiatrist who becomes obsessed with one of her young clients with multiple personalities. The film is co-produced and co-stars Barbara Crampton.
The Sacrifice Game, from director Jenn Wexler, receiving its European premiere, is the closing night film. The festival has described the film as a wild, thrilling ride and a tribute to the beauty and boldness of classic 1970s horror.
This year the festival will host seven world premieres, including Nick Psinakis’s Cheat, Matt Sampere’s Halloween slasher Creeping Death, Raymond Wood’s feminist revenge-fantasy Faceless After Dark, Steven Pierce’s zombie survivalist thriller Herd, and Michael J. Hurst’s wild science fiction shocker Transmission.
Announcing the lineup today, fest co-director Alan Jones...
The event opens with the European premiere of Suitable Flesh, the latest pic from FrightFest regular Joe Lynch. The pic follows a psychiatrist who becomes obsessed with one of her young clients with multiple personalities. The film is co-produced and co-stars Barbara Crampton.
The Sacrifice Game, from director Jenn Wexler, receiving its European premiere, is the closing night film. The festival has described the film as a wild, thrilling ride and a tribute to the beauty and boldness of classic 1970s horror.
This year the festival will host seven world premieres, including Nick Psinakis’s Cheat, Matt Sampere’s Halloween slasher Creeping Death, Raymond Wood’s feminist revenge-fantasy Faceless After Dark, Steven Pierce’s zombie survivalist thriller Herd, and Michael J. Hurst’s wild science fiction shocker Transmission.
Announcing the lineup today, fest co-director Alan Jones...
- 7/13/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Stars: Ellen Adair, Mitzi Akaha, Jeremy Holm, Timothy V. Murphy, Corbin Bernsen | Written by Steven Pierce, James Allerdyce, Matt Mundy | Directed by Steven Pierce
Director Steven Pierce, whose resume – until now – consisted of short films and Concert features, turns his hand to his first full-length scripted film with Herd – the latest in a very long line of zombie movies. And also the latest in a long line of zombie movies that aren’t Just about the impending end of civilisation at the hands of the shuffling undead. In fact, Herd has a Lot of levels to it. A lot.
On the surface it’s about a woman, Jamie (Ellen Adair), and her partner Alex trying to survive a just-begun zombie outbreak but scratch a little deeper and you get a story about a troubled relationship – not just the one between Jamie and Alex but also Jamie’s father, played by...
Director Steven Pierce, whose resume – until now – consisted of short films and Concert features, turns his hand to his first full-length scripted film with Herd – the latest in a very long line of zombie movies. And also the latest in a long line of zombie movies that aren’t Just about the impending end of civilisation at the hands of the shuffling undead. In fact, Herd has a Lot of levels to it. A lot.
On the surface it’s about a woman, Jamie (Ellen Adair), and her partner Alex trying to survive a just-begun zombie outbreak but scratch a little deeper and you get a story about a troubled relationship – not just the one between Jamie and Alex but also Jamie’s father, played by...
- 6/13/2023
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Exclusive: Up-and-comers Kue Lawrence (Beautiful Boy), Kai Cech (Dear Santa) and Max Malas (New Amsterdam) are set to star opposite Corbin Bernsen (White House Plumbers) in the sci-fi horror mystery Marshmallow from director Daniel DelPurgatorio, which is heading into production in a couple of weeks.
The indie written by Andy Greskoviak (Black Friday) is set at a secluded summer camp, where Morgan (Lawrence), a timid and introverted 12-year-old, is thrust into a waking nightmare when a once-fabled campfire tale becomes real. As a mysterious figure descends upon the camp, Morgan and his newfound friends must embark on a treacherous journey and uncover a sinister reality buried beneath the surface. Little do they know that the truth harbors a secret that will test their resilience and unravel the very fabric of their reality.
Warner Davis and Todd Friedman will produce the pic, with Hemlock Circle Productions aboard as the production company,...
The indie written by Andy Greskoviak (Black Friday) is set at a secluded summer camp, where Morgan (Lawrence), a timid and introverted 12-year-old, is thrust into a waking nightmare when a once-fabled campfire tale becomes real. As a mysterious figure descends upon the camp, Morgan and his newfound friends must embark on a treacherous journey and uncover a sinister reality buried beneath the surface. Little do they know that the truth harbors a secret that will test their resilience and unravel the very fabric of their reality.
Warner Davis and Todd Friedman will produce the pic, with Hemlock Circle Productions aboard as the production company,...
- 5/30/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
The first episode of “Night Sky” offers nearly enough precision in its pathos to exist unto itself. Franklin (J.K. Simmons) and Irene York (Sissy Spacek) are an aging couple living just outside the (fictional) small town of Farnsworth, Il. Irene, a retired English teacher, isn’t letting her declining health affect her good humor, and Franklin enjoys taking care of her, Over their many years together, he’s adjusted his bad habits to better her life. “Son of a swine herd” are the first words out of Franklin’s mouth, as he habitually checks his language to appease his wife’s distaste for swearing. She still corrects his grammar. He smiles when she does.
Their loving rapport extends to what at first appears a simple late-night request from Irene: Tonight, she wants to “see the stars.” Franklin, while less eager, agrees, and helps Irene get situated in her wheelchair, guides her outside,...
Their loving rapport extends to what at first appears a simple late-night request from Irene: Tonight, she wants to “see the stars.” Franklin, while less eager, agrees, and helps Irene get situated in her wheelchair, guides her outside,...
- 5/16/2022
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
Bloody Disgusting has an exclusive look at the art for Herd, a new zombie horror film shooting this April under the direction of Steven Pierce. Ellen Adair is set to star in the upcoming horror indie co-written by Pierce and James Allerdyce. The film tells the story of a woman who ends […]
The post Ellen Adair Shambles to Zombie Horror ‘Herd’; Exclusive Poster Art appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
The post Ellen Adair Shambles to Zombie Horror ‘Herd’; Exclusive Poster Art appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
- 3/31/2022
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
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