The Last Horror Movie (2003)

Country of Origin: UK
Year of Production: 2003
Running Times: 80 mins
Format: colour     35mm
Ratio: 1.85:1
Sound:

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Prolific Films Ltd / Snakehair Productions
Executive Producers: Julian Richards, William Richards, Mike Tims
Producer: Zorana Piggott
Co-Producer: Louis Melville
Production Manager: Katia Kogler

SCRIPT
Script: James Handel
Idea: Julian Richards

DIRECTION
Director: Julian Richards
1st Assistant Director: Serena Hunt

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Chris St. John Smith
Lab: Colour Film Services, London, UK

EDITING AND POST-PRODUCTION
Editor: Claus Wehlisch

MUSIC
Music: Simon Lambros

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: Paul Hyatt

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Bettina Eberhard

MISCELLANEOUS
Script Supervisor: Rosana Coutinho

CASTING
Casting: Julian Richards

CAST
Kevin Howarth (Max)
Mark Stevenson (the assistant)
Jim Bywater (Bill)
Antonia Beamish (Petra)
Jonathan Coote (John)
Christabel Muir (Sam)
John Berlyne (Phil)
Chris Adamson (killer)
Mandy Gordon (Sarah)
Rita Davies (Grandma)
Lisa Renée (waitress)
Joe Morley (Ben)
Jamie Langthorne (Nico)
Lisa Rose (art student)
Stephen Dibben (best man)
Henry Douthwaite (Crispin)

PLOT SUMMARY

A young waitress is menaced by a serial killer in a remote American roadside diner. Suddenly, we cut to British serial killer Max talking directly to the audience, telling them that he's taped over the film you've just rented from the local video shop and he wants to take you on a little journey into his dark and violent world...

James Handel's brilliant script for The Last Horror Movie has a lot to say and does it without preaching or getting heavy handed. It's an uncomfortable film, but a compelling one and that modern day rarity, a horror film that makes you think while scaring the hell out of you. Howarth takes centre stage throughout and is simply amazing as the unreadable Max - he himself admits that he's not mad, but offers no motivation for why he commits his appalling crimes other than that he wants to create the "last horror movie you'll ever see." The Last Horror Movie will work even better on video and DVD than it does on the big screen though one has to wonder what its prospects will be. With no big name stars and the still unshakeable stigma attached to British horror films, this could go unwatched by many who would love its perverse charm and uncompromising violence. And that would be a shame as this is one genre film that deserves to be huge.

Portugal
Theatrical Distributors: Cinema Novo

UK
Theatrical Distributors: Tartan Films

USA
Theatrical Distributors: Fangoria / Bedford

AWARDS

2003
Festival of Fantastic Films, UK
Best Independent Feature Award Best Feature Film (Julian Richards) - winner

Raindance Film Festival, UK
Jury Prize Best UK Feature (Julian Richards) - winner

2004
Fantasporto, Portugal
Critics' Award (Julian Richards) - winner
International Fantasy Film Award Best Film (Julian Richards) - nominated

2003
May
18: France - shown at the Cannes Film Festival

August
23: UK - shown at Frightfest 2003, London

September
25: Sweden - shown at the Fantastisk Filmfestival Lund

October
31: UK - shown at the Raindance Film Festival, London

November
18: UK - shown at the Welsh International Film Festival

2004
February
6: USA - shown at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival and the USA Film Festival
27: Portugal - shown at the Fantasporto Film Festival

March
6: USA - shown at the Cinequest Film Festival
11: USA - shown at the Philadelphia International Film Festival

June
19: USA - theatrical release
26: UK - theatrical release

MAGAZINES

The Dark Side no.105 (September 2003) (UK)
illustrated article (by Jay Slater)

The Dark Side no.107 (October 2003) (UK)
review (by Kim Newman)

Fangoria no.230 (March 2004) pp.46-49 (USA)
illustrated interview (by MJ Simpson)

Hotdog August 2003 p.162 (UK)
illustrated interview (by Jay Slater)

Shivers no.106 (August 2003) (UK)
review (by Alan Jones)

KEYWORDS

fake documentary, serial killers, videotape

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008