Tag Archives: Emrhys Cooper

THE NICE ONES – Review

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You know the old cautionary saying “you gotta look out for the quiet ones”. The horror flick, THE NICE ONES changes that to beware of the “suddenly nice” ones. It’s another variation on an attractive group of young revelers gathering in an isolated house when bad things start to happen. Genre veterans have seen a plethora of such gorefests, but there are usually one or two novelties in how they show the inevitable. That’s what keeps us coming back for the next one.

As Kate (Joelle Rae) and Dale (Emrhys {not a typo; I double-checked} Cooper) are driving to the aforesaid abode, she notices strange lights in the sky. Kate has been recently released from an institution for the clinically confused, and Dale had been her therapist before they started making mattress music. They’re meeting a handful of his old friends – most of whom don’t like Kate, and the feeling is mutual – except for Shelly (Ayvianna Snow), who is more amiable. When Kate tells them about the mysteriously moving lights suggestive of UFOs, they assume she’s having a schizophrenic relapse and dismiss her concerns. Most aggravating is Dale, who remains particularly condescending towards his partner, even as her fears start becoming a key part of their shared reality.

One by one, others start seeing those lights which cause major personality changes. Suddenly each affected person morphs into in a state of trancelike bliss, droning on about happiness to come, albeit by killing the rest to speed them along their path. The usual bloodbath ensues in its full glory of gory.

The rest of the details don’t matter. It’s all by the book.  No sex or nudity; mild drug use, and less mild drinking. This one will probably get an R rating simply on the blood and guts component. No expense was spared on those effects. For me, the downside is that they never explain the source of the lights… or perhaps I just missed it. Writer/director Peter Stylianou leaves things open-ended, probably hoping to set up a franchise like the SMILE series. The premise could easily support a string of sequels, with or without any of the same cast, as new players fall prey to the same lights in their skies. Time (and gross revenues) will tell. This could enjoy a long home-market life – Especially re-emerging every October.    

THE NICE ONES is available On Demand on September 29.

Check Out the Terrifying New Trailer for DREAMCATCHER – In Theaters, On Demand and Digital March 5th

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DREAMCATCHER will be in Theaters, On Demand and Digital March 5th. Here’s the trailer:

Dylan, known to his fans as DJ Dreamcatcher, is on the brink of global stardom. Everything changes the night of Cataclysm, an underground music festival, where two estranged sisters and their friends meet Dylan. After a drug fueled gruesome event, things begin to spiral into a 48-hour whirlwind of violence and mayhem.

DREAMCATCHER stars Niki Koss, Zachary Gordon, Travis Burns, Blaine Kern III, Olivia Sui, Emrhys Cooper, Elizabeth Posey, Nazanin Mandi, Adrienne Wilkinson, and Lou Ferrigno Jr.

Here’s director Jacob Johnston statement about DREAMCATCHER:

“The inception of Dreamcatcher began with a love of classic literature, 90’s ensemble horror, and a late-night walk to my neighborhood Trader Joe’s. Having known [producers] Brandon and Krystal Vayda for many years, when they called me with an opportunity to helm a: ‘music-based, ensemble thriller that speaks to multi-generational film fans’ – I was floored. I found myself swallowed in a chorus of ideas: did I want to go full slasher?  What genre of music did I want to explore?  How could I put my own spin on it? Then, while lost in this creative maelstrom – an epiphany spurred during an evening stroll; an EDM dance song randomly came on – and the pulsing, consistent bass – like a heartbeat – gave me the inspiration I needed to face the blank page. I knew two specific things going into the writing process: 1) I didn’t want throwaway, cannon-fodder characters and 2) thematically, I wanted to explore the effects of trauma and the various forms it can take. This undulating, foundational fulcrum helped to guide the arcs of the ensemble in a meaningful way. In a day-and-age of self-made fame and success, I also wanted to explore the depths one would go to retain that glory. More specifically, how and when do we lose our sense of identity – and why? As an homage, the film references Johann Goethe’s Faust and Shakespeare’s Macbeth, both stories that delve into the notion of identity and varying obstacles that come from chasing a dream with violent, reckless abandon. Each character in the film wants something they can’t have, and while some actively pursue, others silently pine – letting their muddled psyche ultimately guide the conflict of the film. Yes, there’s a masked killer whodunit element. Yes, there are slasher-adjacent kill scene set pieces. But, when you peel away the layers of these characters, whether they’re on the chopping block or not, you will see Dreamcatcher is much more. Sometimes a satirical, social commentary, sometimes a gripping dramatic love story, oftentimes a frightening thrill ride — the film, like the personality of the ensemble, evolves as the story unfolds.  Dreamcatcher is an amalgamation of unfiltered passion and creativity. The cast and crew bonded like family – and the result was an incomparable chemistry that, I believe, enhances the experience from a typified, independent film. I only get to tell this story once – and I wanted it to be thrilling and poignant, progressive and innovative — we must not forget that the second enemy of creativity, after having ‘good taste’, is being safe.”