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Post by petrolino on Jun 1, 2019 15:27:15 GMT
I think there's a lot of dedicated horror fans out there who are familiar with the production company The Asylum (aka. Asylum Home Entertainment) or have seen one of their movies, primarily due to the company's penchant for making "mockbusters" (a label coined by the film press around the time that "torture porn" reared its ugly head). This practise continues a long tradition among horror filmmakers as they're often being asked by producers to take what's hot at the box-office and apply a new spin to it. The difference with The Asylum is they make no effort to hide what they're copying and their films can sometimes veer perilously close to all-out parody.
The company was co-founded in 1997 by independent filmmaker David Michael Latt of Encino, California. His business partners were both former Village Roadshow executives, David Rimawi and Sherri Strain. Over the years, The Asylum has been taken to court by major studios on dramatic copyright charges so they employ a wide range of deflective tactics designed to redirect viewers away from the source material (or at least sufficiently far enough so as not to invite defamation charges or incur heavy licensing costs).
The company has some interesting sidelines worth noting. They've produced films in all different genres, some more serious than others. Talented directors have worked under their umbrella, perhaps keen to shoot in some of the many exotic locations offered by the Californian coast, or the variety of tough spots they've scouted in Downtown, Los Angeles. Interestingly, The Asylum's creative wing was birthed through Kerri Green's directorial outing 'Bellyfruit' (1999), a low budget, feminist art film.
Kerri Green (far left) attends a reunion for Richard Donner's fantasy 'The Goonies' (1985)
David Garber & David Michael Latt
Do you enjoy any of their movies?
Thanks.
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rogerthat
Sophomore
@rogerthat
Posts: 734
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Post by rogerthat on Jun 1, 2019 17:44:21 GMT
I basically despise them.
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Post by Prime etc. on Jun 1, 2019 18:03:52 GMT
Although some of their mockbuster names are clever (I Am Omega), and I understand they occasionally make a decent film (supposedly their ripoff of When A Stranger Calls is superior to the remake) I read that they have admitted, in fact they are proud, that they deliberately make bad movies, and despite their claims of profitability I suspect they engage in the same Hollywood accounting practices of the big companies.
It's not really the modern day AIP.
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Post by petrolino on Jun 2, 2019 0:22:49 GMT
Although some of their mockbuster names are clever (I Am Omega), and I understand they occasionally make a decent film (supposedly their ripoff of When A Stranger Calls is superior to the remake) I read that they have admitted, in fact they are proud, that they deliberately make bad movies, and despite their claims of profitability I suspect they engage in the same Hollywood accounting practices of the big companies. It's not really the modern day AIP. Definitely not like AIP.
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Post by poelzig on Jun 2, 2019 1:05:18 GMT
Their movies are wretched. I read about their Paranormal Entity movie on The Paranormal Activity board on the old site. Numerous threads claimed it was better than PA. I knew it would probably be crap and I was being conned but I watched it anyway. crap in every way possible. I have watched parts of several of their other rip off sound a like movies and none have even been good for so inept it's funny viewing.
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Post by James on Jun 2, 2019 2:10:24 GMT
You’d have to be a unique intellectual to be a fan of this company.
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Post by FridayOnElmStreet on Jun 2, 2019 7:33:05 GMT
In the late 90s/early 2000s they did put out good independent cinema with association with Hollywood Video. Basically its all mockbuster crap now.
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Post by FridayOnElmStreet on Jun 2, 2019 7:35:27 GMT
You’d have to be a unique intellectual to be a fan of this company. The damn thing is I am but not the new mockbuster stuff. I like the stuff they did in the late 90s/early 2000s when they were partners with Hollywood Video. They put out some pretty good indie films. Nothing like what they do now. The switched in like 2003.
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Post by petrolino on Jun 2, 2019 10:16:23 GMT
In the late 90s/early 2000s they did put out good independent cinema with association with Hollywood Video. Basically its all mockbuster crap now.
I thought their straight-up raunchy, '80s throwback comedies were hilarious. These movies proved to be hugely popular in mainland Europe and helped establish the Global Asylum brand. They became cult movies in the Visgrad nations, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland & Hungary, and remain extremely popular in the U K and Germany where they've been repackaged and remarketed for future generations of drooling horndogs. The Asylum said their biggest issue was promoting such raunchy material with G rated stills as most of their available sceen shots were scorching.
Erica Duke
'Barely Legal' (2009)
'Sex Pot' (2009)
'#1 Cheerleader Camp' (2010)
'Bikini Spring Break' (2012)
'Alpha House' (2014)
'How Life Works' - Gothic Tropic
I'v not seen Scott Wheeler's entries in the comedy cycle, 'MILF' (2010) and 'Celebrity Sex Tape' (2012), but I like that the company worked out how to mix things up and came up with the crossover rental hit 'The Coed And The Zombie Stoner' (2014). I'm not sure why they haven't returned to the well as they had a perfect comedienne in Erica Duke and a preternaturally gifted feminist gagwriter in Naomi Selfman who published her own girl power manifesto to secure a residency.
Erica Duke
'The Coed And The Zombie Stoner' (2014)
'Don't Give Me Up' - Gothic Tropic
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Post by James on Jun 2, 2019 13:03:29 GMT
You’d have to be a unique intellectual to be a fan of this company. The damn thing is I am but not the new mockbuster stuff. I like the stuff they did in the late 90s/early 2000s when they were partners with Hollywood Video. They put out some pretty good indie films. Nothing like what they do now. The switched in like 2003. What movies were made in that timeframe when they were with Hollywood Video, May I ask? |
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Post by FridayOnElmStreet on Jun 2, 2019 20:28:56 GMT
The damn thing is I am but not the new mockbuster stuff. I like the stuff they did in the late 90s/early 2000s when they were partners with Hollywood Video. They put out some pretty good indie films. Nothing like what they do now. The switched in like 2003. What movies were made in that timeframe when they were with Hollywood Video, May I ask? I doubt if you heard of any of them but it was called a monthly movie festival. One new film came out a month. They had Hollywood video ads in the beginning of the video. I got them when they were put out for sale. I still keep an eye out for them at thrift stores and on ebay. Anyway here are some titles. There are more than this but these are just ones I have seen. Sudden Manhattan (1996) Mr. Vincent (1997) Yellow (1997) Green (1997) Anarchy TV (1998) Pep Squad (1998) Chillicothe (1999) Bellyfruit (1999) The Eden Myth (1999) Jimmy Zip (1999) Equinox Knocks (1999) Dead Pet (1999) Mic and the Claw (2000) Shades of Darkness (2000) Party Crasher: My Bloody Birthday (2000) Chicks, Man (2000) Dumped (2000) Smash Cuts!: Super Sci-Fi Short Fest (2001) Ghetto Rhapsody (2001)
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Post by James on Jun 2, 2019 21:04:40 GMT
What movies were made in that timeframe when they were with Hollywood Video, May I ask? I doubt if you heard of any of them but it was called a monthly movie festival. One new film came out a month. They had Hollywood video ads in the beginning of the video. I got them when they were put out for sale. I still keep an eye out for them at thrift stores and on ebay. Anyway here are some titles. There are more than this but these are just ones I have seen. Sudden Manhattan (1996) Mr. Vincent (1997) Yellow (1997) Green (1997) Anarchy TV (1998) Pep Squad (1998) Chillicothe (1999) Bellyfruit (1999) The Eden Myth (1999) Jimmy Zip (1999) Equinox Knocks (1999) Dead Pet (1999) Mic and the Claw (2000) Shades of Darkness (2000) Party Crasher: My Bloody Birthday (2000) Chicks, Man (2000) Dumped (2000) Smash Cuts!: Super Sci-Fi Short Fest (2001) Ghetto Rhapsody (2001) Thanks. I never heard of any of these, but I was curious to know regardless  |
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Post by Prime etc. on Jun 2, 2019 22:58:02 GMT
I've heard good things about KING OF THE ANTS (The Asylum is not the only production company though).
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Post by lostinlimbo on Jun 3, 2019 0:23:50 GMT
I think ‘King of the Ants’ is the best film they have produced. I do have a soft spot for the very silly, but fun ‘Scarecrow’ too.  |
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Post by Lebowskidoo 🦞 on Jun 6, 2019 19:32:31 GMT
These Asylum movies were the best I've seen:
Nazis At the Center of the Earth (2012)
Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (2012)
Titanic 2 (2010) Terrible, but not as terrible as I thought it would be
Also, they produced Z Nation (2014-2018) the zombie series, which did get more and more insane as it went on, but still had a lot of heart.
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Post by Prime etc. on Jun 7, 2019 0:49:49 GMT
100 FEET--I haven't seen it-but I recall someone mentioning it as a decent Asylum film although it is only the distributor from what I can see.
I met a guy who sold a film to the Asylum.
He made a version of the novel CAMILLA--but they changed the name to VAMPIRES VS ZOMBIES and the director got all the hate for false advertising.
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Post by petrolino on Jun 8, 2019 12:40:45 GMT
I think ‘King of the Ants’ is the best film they have produced. I do have a soft spot for the very silly, but fun ‘Scarecrow’ too.
I enjoy the 'Scarecrow' movies. Similarly fuzzy, early digital look that the 'Bloody Murder' films achieved in rural areas.
I love 'King Of The Ants'; after John Carpenter, Stuart Gordon is my favourite living American horror director. 'King Of The Ants' is written by comedian Charlie Higson who adapted his own novel for the screen.
Charlie Higson as Swiss Toni
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Post by petrolino on Jun 8, 2019 12:46:04 GMT
These Asylum movies were the best I've seen: Nazis At the Center of the Earth (2012) Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (2012) Titanic 2 (2010) Terrible, but not as terrible as I thought it would be Also, they produced Z Nation (2014-2018) the zombie series, which did get more and more insane as it went on, but still had a lot of heart.
I'd assess 'Titanic 2' similarly. It's ropey, but actually, quite a satisfying follow-up considering the severe budgetary constraints imposed on the filmmakers.
I know a guy at work from Michigan who's a big fan of 'Z Nation'. He's a nerd like many of us here, a sci-geek primiarly, an software engineer who also enjoys shows like 'The Walking Dead' and 'Dark Matter'.
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Post by petrolino on Jun 8, 2019 12:48:45 GMT
100 FEET--I haven't seen it-but I recall someone mentioning it as a decent Asylum film although it is only the distributor from what I can see. I met a guy who sold a film to the Asylum. He made a version of the novel CAMILLA--but they changed the name to VAMPIRES VS ZOMBIES and the director got all the hate for false advertising.
Few people enjoyed Vince D'Amato's 'Vampires Vs Zombies' which even Brinke Stevens couldn't salvage. I'm guessing he named himself in honour of Joe D'Amato (Aristide Massacessi).
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Post by Prime etc. on Jun 8, 2019 17:04:04 GMT
Few people enjoyed Vince D'Amato's 'Vampires Vs Zombies' which even Brinke Stevens couldn't salvage. I'm guessing he named himself in honour of Joe D'Amato (Aristide Massacessi).
He reminded me of Johnny Depp's Ed Wood. Enthusiastic despite talent obstacles.
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