Lee B. Golden III

About Lee B. Golden III

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Native New Yorker. Been writing for a long time now, and I enjoy what I do. Be nice to me!

Posts by Lee Golden:

NORTH BEND 2021: Supernatural Thrills, Fantasy, Action And Drama Topline The Fourth Festival’s Hybrid Edition

Don’t overlook the North Bend Film Festival going into the summer. The festival now enters its fourth year with a hefty listing of feature and short titles, as well as special events and panels for virtual AND in-person audiences. The line-up is available just below and for those keen on proper genre thrillers, there are some fascinating reads – namely Lodewijk Crijns’s Dutch road thriller Tailgate which continues its festival run since screening for FrightFest audiences late last year. Another suitable bookmark is Fredrik S. Hana’s feature debut doc, Code Name: Nagasaki, which garnered some attention earlier this year at Slamdance. Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko also retains its cult status with a 20th anniversary screening while the description for Julien Faraut’s The Witches Of The Orient reads pretty compelling. Of course, Jo Bae-run’s fantasy action comedy, Slate, stands out the most for me as it has in the past year, […]

STALKER Clip: Dessert, Anyone?

Lee B. Golden III

Vertical Entertainment has suspenseful and raw new thriller coming out this Friday with Stalker, from writer/director Tyler Savage. The film stars Christine Ko, Vincent Van Horn and Michael Lee Joplin from a script Savage wrote with Dash Hawkins, both who also produced the pic with J.P. Castel and Daniel Pisano. In the wake of a messy break-up, Andy Escobedo decides to start fresh, relocating from Austin to Los Angeles. Eager to make new connections, he befriends Roger, an unusual rideshare driver. But when Roger’s behavior gets too strange for comfort, Andy blows him off, choosing to focus on a budding relationship with his new girlfriend, Sam. This unhinges Roger, who begins to torment Andy, ensuring that his stay in L.A. is short-lived. The company is proudly rolling out a new clip which you can view above. Check it out along with the official trailer and poster just below!

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JOHN WICK 4 Casts Hiroyuki Sanada

Lee B. Golden III

Deadline is reporting that the next chapter of John Wick will have Hiroyuki Sanada on board for the cast. This a big, major development that’s likely been waiting to happen since prior to the third film’s shoot when That Hashtag Show first gave rise to rumors of the actor’s involvement in January 2018. It was definitely an exciting prospect that finally looks to be a reality for fans of the hit assassin franchise. At any rate, the move marks a long-awaited reunion for the actor alongside 47 Ronin cohort Keanu Reeves who leads the franchise for a fourth and hopefully fifth outing as hyped in previous interviews from director Chad Stahelski. For relative fans of Asian movies and action films, Sanada is best known for his staunch 55-year career starring for directors such as Teruo Ishii, Kinji Fukusaku, Yoji Yamada and Corey Yuen among others; Western audiences know better the […]

BORA: Help Crowdfund The Home Stretch Of Tiffany Toney’s Seductive New Psychological Horror Thriller

Lee B. Golden III

Nearly a year since the launch of upcoming psychological horror thriller, Bora, times have indeed changed for the independent production as it pressed onward with Covid-safety measures in place. Unfortunately it also meant a changing of hands, save for any other details to the matter that typically contribute to the kinds of mutability that independent films tend to endure. Alas, all things relevant to Bora and its current progress now lie in the hands of film duo, actor/director Chyna McCoy (The Matrix) and co-director Innana Ishtar, who both share the helm with a few more rounds of principal photography currently pending. For what it’s worth, it also means there’s essential crowdfunding needed for the project to help cushion its post-production expenses, which includes music, editing, additional audio recording, special effects work, and much more. It also means a few more gems of poster art, behind-the-scenes photos and marketing for the […]

Happy Birthday Scott Adkins!

Lee B. Golden III

For some, it was his earlier TV appearances like in Mutant X or EastEnders. For others, it was through his burgeoning film career in titles like The Accidental Spy or Extreme Challenge, or eventually emerging as a more standout actor in films like Black Mask 2: City Of Masks or Isaac Florentine’s Special Forces. It was the latter for me. Certainly, it was one of the handful of VHS tapes and DVDs I rented back when video stores were a thing – some of which at the time were converted to DVD rentals. It was a time from before and after I landed in the hospital for six months in and out in 2003, due to residual injuries resulting from pedestrian accident in which a car ran me down on the sidewalk and broke my leg in six places down to my foot, when most of my time was spent […]

Vietnamese Action Comedy FACE OFF: 48 HOURS Clocks In This Month From 815 Pictures

Lee B. Golden III

815 Pictures is one of the more quieter staples you’ve likely come across despite having heard of a few of their titles if you follow Asian movie releases. Their website is full-up with titles, and their most recent action comedy acquisition, Face Off: 48 Hours, comes by way of Vietnam’s own multifaceted filmmaker, actor Ly Hai. The film is actually the fifth in line of a whole regional franchise. I’m not too sure what the losses will be for not watching all the preceding titles – time will tell if those titles get some stateside traction – but the good news is that Face Off: 48 Hours will open in select cities on June 18, with select expansions on June 25. After tricked into an illegal delivery and almost killed by a gangster boss, Hien took his wife and kid to hide at a friend’s house in the Mekong Delta […]

THROW DOWN: Johnnie To’s 2004 Thriller Slams Onto Blu-Ray From Criterion This Fall

Lee B. Golden III

Criterion’s latest Hong Kong cinema flex comes by way of Johnnie To’s 2004 crime drama, Throw Down. Pre-orders are now up and running for the fully-loaded Blu-Ray releasing on September 21, 2021. Louis Koo plays a former judo champion-turned-alcoholic forced to mitigate his debts with loansharks as he struggles to operate his evening bar and lounge. Crossing paths with an eager and gifted judo fighter looking to challenge him to a match, and an aspiring singer looking for fame and a way out of Hong Kong, the trio embark on a journey that runs wild with brooding drama, comedy, martial arts thrills and cinematic poetry. This one is a cult favorite among Johnnie To collectivists and Asian movie fans. It took a while for me to see it myself at some point and thankfully, you can find the film streaming at Hi-YAH! if you live in the states. Otherwise, Criterion’s […]

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THE DIVE: Survival Thriller Heads Up New Production/Sales Partnership For augenschein and Protagonist

Lee B. Golden III

Sophie Lowe and Louisa Krause are set to star in elevated survival thriller, The Dive, from rising German filmmaker Maximilian Erlenwein. Principal photography on will commence in mid-August on location in Malta and Germany. The official logline for The Dive reads as follows, according to augenschein: “A dive at one of the world’s most remote spots becomes a fight for survival for sisters Drew (25) and May (30), when rocks tumble into the sea after a landslide, trapping May in the deep. As their oxygen runs low, Drew is forced to make a decision on life and death all by herself, with no help in sight…” The film is the first to emerge in a new slate stemming from a partnership between augenschein Sales and production, finance and sales outfit Protagonist Pictures. The two firms will co-represent worldwide rights on The Dive, as well as future select feature film titles […]

V/H/S94: Shudder Takes World Rights, Sets Release Territories For Late 2021 For Next Horror Anthology Chapter

Lee B. Golden III

Horror fans reveling in the V/H/S franchise won’t have too long to wait now with a 2021 release date TBA for the next installment, V/H/S94. AMC Networks’ premium horror and thriller streaming platform, Shudder, has acquired worldwide rights and is on board as producer. In V/H/S/94, after the discovery of a mysterious VHS tape, a brutish police swat team launch a high intensity raid on a remote warehouse, only to discover a sinister cult compound whose collection of pre-recorded material uncovers a nightmarish conspiracy. The found footage horror franchise catapulted to hit status since debuting in 2012 from producers at Bloody Disgusting and The Collective. Both companies produced the anthology sequel next to Haxan Films the following year for V/H/S 2, followed by 2014’s V/H/S Viral, and two more sequel/spin-off projects. Franchise familiars Simon Barrett (Séance) and Timo Tjahjanto (May the Devil Take You Too) are returning with their contributions next […]

BANDIT: Josh Duhmael-Led Crime Thriller Adds Nestor Carbonell

Lee B. Golden III

Filming is currently underway in Georgia for Allan Ungar’s new action crime thriller, Bandit, and with the addition of actor Nestor Carbonell (Lost, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises) announced on Tuesday. Highland Film Group is handling international sales on the project which joins Carbonell with a lead cast that includes Mel Gibson, Josh Duhamel, and Elisha Cuthbert. Ungar directs from a script by Kraig Wenman, based on author Robert Knuckle’s best-selling novel, as well as journalist Ed Arnold’s interviews with the film’s real-life inspiration, Gilbert Galvan Jr. – a.k.a. Robert Whiteman when he was dubbed the Flying Bandit in 1987. Duhmael takes on the moniker of the man himself who successfully got away with 63 bank and jewelry heists during his notorious crime spree. After escaping from a US prison and crossing the border into Canada under a new identity. He falls in love and marries Andrea (Cuthbert), […]

THE ENFORCER Enlists Antonio Banderas To Star From Millenium Media

Lee B. Golden III

Anyone else up for another Antonio Banderas-led turn at the action genre? Take a gander at Richard Hughes’ The Enforcer, which launches sales for the virtual Cannes market this month from Millennium Media. Set in Miami, the story follows an enforcer who discovers his femme fatale boss has branched out into cybersex trafficking, putting a young runaway he has befriended at risk. The enforcer sets out to sacrifice everything to save the young girl from the deadly organisation he has spent his life building. Banderas, who joins Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg for Sony’s upcoming action adventure, Uncharted, will star from a script by W. Peter Iliff who penned both Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break and the 2015 reboot among other credits. As Screen Daily reports, “Rob Van Norden, Yariv Lerner, Jeffrey Greenstein, Jonathan Yunger, and Les Weldon of Millennium Media are producing alongside Natalie Burn of Born to Burn Films. […]

GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE Pops Off With An Explosive Official Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Barring any recent talk of sequel plans, we must first turn to director Navot Papushado’s newest assassin thriller, Gunpowder Milkshake, to see if it passes muster. The all-star line-up can now be seen on full display through Netflix’s official trailer ahead of releases in theaters as well as the streamer on July 14! Sam (KAREN GILLAN) was only 12 years old when her mother Scarlet (LENA HEADEY), an elite assassin, was forced to abandon her. Sam was raised by The Firm, the ruthless crime syndicate her mother worked for. Now, 15 years later, Sam has followed in her mother’s footsteps and grown into a fierce hit-woman. She uses her “talents” to clean up The Firm’s most dangerous messes. She’s as efficient as she is loyal. But when a high-risk job goes wrong, Sam must choose between serving The Firm and protecting the life of an innocent 8-year-old girl – Emily […]

DIE IN A GUNFIGHT Takes Aim At A Familiar Love Story In The Official Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Believe it or not, but this one’s taken a little over ten years to materialize since hitting the Black List back in 2010. At long last though, the work of screenwriting duo Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari can now get some traction with director Collin Schiffli’s Die In A Gunfight, releasing on July 16 in the U.S. from Lionsgate. A visually stunning movie with an exciting mix of action, humor, and heart, DIE IN A GUNFIGHT follows Mary (Alexandra Daddario) and Ben (Diego Boneta), the star-crossed black sheep of two powerful families engaged in a centuries-long feud. When Mary and Ben reignite an affair after many years apart, their forbidden love triggers a dangerous collision of schemers and killers. Fists and bullets fly, but maybe, just maybe, love will conquer all. The film also stars Justin Chatwin, Travis Fimmel, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Billy Crudup and Wade Allain-Marcus.

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IMMORTAL: Jorma Tommila Reteams With ‘Rare Exports’ And ‘Big Game’ Director For WWII Actioner

Lee B. Golden III

Immortal is what lies ahead for director Jalmari Helander and lead cast Jorma Tommila and Peaky Blinders actor Paul Anderson, according to Variety‘s Leo Barraclough. Production begins this September in Lapland, Finland, for the World War II action thriller that further marks a reunion for Helander and Tommila who’ve previously collaborated on Helander’s debut hit, Rare Exports (2010), as well as in Big Game (2014) opposite his son, Onni Tommila, and actor Samuel L. Jackson. Set in 1945, “Immortal” tells the story of ex-soldier Aatami (Tommila), who discovers gold in the deep wilderness of Lapland. When he attempts to take his loot into the city, a squadron of Nazi soldiers led by a brutal SS officer (Anderson) get in his way and a battle for the gold ensues between the lone soldier and the Nazis. The film also reteams Helander with producer Petri Jokiranta (Rare Exports, Big Game), who will […]

THE WRECK: ‘Skylines’ Director Tackles Shark Thriller Filming This Fall

Lee B. Golden III

Liam O’Donnell’s newest thriller is on deck for international sales at Altitude with survival pic, The Wreck. Principal photography will commence in Malta in September with O’Donnell directing from a script by Nick Saltrese (A Prayer Before Dawn) and with shark attack film veteran Mark Silk (47 Meters Down, 47 Meters Down: Uncaged) serving as DoP, according to Variety’s Naman Ramachandran. The Wreck “will follow a group of old college friends who reunite on a Caribbean scuba diving trip exploring the wreckage of a WWII battleship and find themselves trapped inside the underwater labyrinth of rusted metal surrounded by great white sharks.” Andrew Prendergast and Chris Reed (Jetski) are producing with Will Clarke, Andy Mayson and Mike Runagall exec producing for Altitude. O’Donnell said: “Who doesn’t want to explore a beautiful underwater shipwreck with smart, funny and gorgeous people as great white sharks try to tear them all to shreds? […]

Art Heist Thriller AMERICAN NIGHT Falls On Voltage This Month At Cannes

Lee B. Golden III

Voltage Pictures is dishing out a first look at American Night from writer/director Alessio Della Valle. The company, in its deal with ICM, has since acquired international rights to the art heist thriller starring Golden Globe-winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Elvis, “The Tudors”), Emile Hirsch (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Alpha Dog), Paz Vega (Rambo V, “The OA”), and Golden Globe and Emmy-winner Jeremy Piven (“Entourage”, The Kingdom, Sin City), which they will sell at the Cannes Market which launches on June 21. American Night follows Michael Rubino (Hirsch) who has just become the Don of the New York Mafia, but his greatest dream is to devote his life to painting and become a great artist. John Kaplan (Meyers), an art dealer, may feel like his life is in shambles, but he still has the best eye for spotting fakes in the world. Their paths, apparently distant, cross when Andy Warhol’s Pink […]

Horror Comedy VAL Debuts A First Look Photo Ahead Of The Cannes Market

Lee B. Golden III

Aaron Fradkin’s new horror comedy, Val, is scaring up some buzz on Wednesday with a first look photo which you can view below. The film, starring John Kapelos (Netflix’s “The Umbrella Academy”), Kyle Howard (Paramount Pictures’ Orange County), SAG Award nominee Sufe Bradshaw (HBO’s “Veep,” Netflix’s Murder Mystery), Erik Griffin (Netflix’s The Sleepover), Misha Reeves (Electric Love), and Zachary Mooren (CBS’ “Criminal Minds”), and will have a release on digital through Epic’s horror shingle, Dread, on October 5. Epic will sell the film internationally at this year’s Marche Du Film. In this fun horror, FIN is a criminal on the run, wanted for the murder of his boss and the accidental shooting of an officer. He breaks into the home of a high-class escort, only to discover that you get more than you bargain for with VAL, short for “Valefar” – a demon who offers to make all his problems disappear if […]

DOOR MOUSE: Avan Jogia’s Debut Noir Finishes Filming For Highland Ahead Of World Sales

Lee B. Golden III

Actor Avan Jogia is ready for his close-up in the director’s chair following the April 12 production launch of his feature debut, Door Mouse. Highland Film Group is announcing the film’s completion and acquisition for world sales ahead of the Marche du Film. Door Mouse stars Hayley Law (Echo Boomers, Netflix’s Altered Carbon) and Keith Powers (Straight Outta Compton, What/If). Billed as a stylish neo-noir thriller, the film centers on Mouse (Law), an aspiring comic book artist stuck in a dead-end job working all-nighters at Mama’s Burlesque Club, doing nothing with her life and going nowhere. When a friend from work goes missing and the cops do nothing about it, Mouse and her sidekick, Ugly (Powers) take it upon themselves to find out what happened to her. What they discover is that corruption runs deep, monsters are real, and that sometimes, justice is meant to be taken into your own […]

THE GREAT YOKAI WAR: GUARDIANS New Official Trailer Charges Online!

Lee B. Golden III

A brand new trailer is now running online for Takashi Miike’s The Great Yokai War: Guardians. Interestingly the film is being billed as a sequel on some pages, and as a reboot according to other reports. At any rate, the film gets an August 13 release in Japan, which leaves an interesting window of opportunity to take a gander at between now and then with festivals coming back this summer. Actor Kokoro Terada stars from a script by Yusuke Watanabe (Twentieth Century Boys), for a story centered on a fifth grader who has inherited hunter’s blood and sets out on a quest to defend the world against the Yokai and the monsters who’ve aligned with them. The film also reunites Miike with actor Nao Omori (First Love) among the cast with Hana Sugisaki (Bleach), Takao Osawa (Kingdom), Sakura Ando (Shoplifters), Kenichi Endo (The Mole Song: Hong Kong Capriccio) and many more. Check out […]

ASSAULT ON RIO BRAVO Wraps Production

Lee B. Golden III

A Prayer For The Damned helmer Joe Cornet’s new film, Assault On Rio Bravo starring Alexander Nevsky (Black Rose), is announcing completion of production on the Benson, Arizona set. Pic is an international co-production between ETA Films, San Rafael Production and Nevsky’s Hollywood Storm; Nevsky is producing the film via his banner with Ruslan Vitryanyuk also producing, and with Eric Brenner exec producing alongside Cornet. Texas, 1875 – A bloodthirsty gang of outlaws is on the eve of attacking a border town to free their leader from prison. They’re an army of ruthless killers known as the most dangerous gang in the West. Their plan is to burn the entire town to the ground with everyone who in it. But a handle of warriors led by a mysterious foreigner will stand in their way… Cornet directed from a script by Craig Hamman (Boogie Boy), and joins Nevsky on screen, as well as Cornet, with a cast roster that includes Matthias Hues (Dark Angel), Natalie Denise Sperl (Mank), Olivier […]