alina andrei

Psych Slasher Thriller, AXE, Preps For Michael Coulombe’s Feature Directing Debut

Writer and director Michael Coulombe is revving up a 2018 production start for feature debut, Axe. The psychological thriller advances from a script by Coulombe whose 2012 proof of concept short (on which the current production is based) explores the cracked psyche of a man who, for reasons beyond his own understanding, became compelled to pick up an axe moments before murdering his wife in the shower.

Adam Huss (Paradox, TV series Power) is set to lead in the role of James for the feature film expansion in which he and wife Chrissie move back into his childhood home. James soon finds himself mysteriously haunted, succumbing to the disturbing memories of his past that soon begin to alter his perception of reality, thus exploring the nebulous answer to the questuon: What drives a man to madness?

Also starring are actresses Alina Andrei as Whitney and Star Gilliard in the role of Francine with actors Richard Riehle and Todd James Jackson as Hank and Arthur, respectively. Taylor J. Martin is producing and will serve as second unit director with the venerable Harry Manfredini (Friday the 13th) scoring the new independent thriller and Brandon Musselman serving as director of photography.

Axe staked its claim with major festival profusion beginning five years ago in addition to being announced on YouTube by cinema Scream Queen, Queen Malvolia. The short screened in 2014 at Scares that Care Weekend Film Festival 2014, with multiple events in 2013 at Big Bear Horro-Fi, Blood Bath 5, Playhouse West and Horror Quest.

Coulombe also took home a 3rd place win at Zombie Jesus Film Festival in 2013, in addition to wins Zed Fest that year, including Best Director, the Edgar Allen Poetic Award for Excellence in Dialogue and Narration, and Best Editor for Cuyle Carvin.

Coulombe has worn several hats in his career of well over eleven years with an extensive list of over 200 film credits, predominantly serving as script supervisor. He served as such on Robert D. Krzykowski’s Sam Elliot headliner, The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot, which premieres at Fantasia Festival next month.

OMEGA 1: The Future Is Female, Kick-Ass And Wants You To Join Her Revolution!

Lee B. Golden III

If comics are more your speed, the latest pitch trailer for the hopeful relaunch of Mark Edward Lewis and actress and stuntwoman Alina Andrei’s motion comic thriller, Omega 1. The two launched the publication in 2007 with an eye toward bringing attention to cyber security with a superhuman female protagonist at the center of an action-driven sci-fi narrative that now aims to be much more as the team pushes toward funding goals toward its fifth and sixth entries.

2023 saw the advent of World War III, but it was a war of information: the Hacker War. Now, the only way to securely transmit data is hand-delivery via highly skilled couriers. Working for the premiere courier company is OMEGA 1, a genetically enhanced she-weapon who is deadly with a sword, fist fights with firearms and can draw metal to herself. She searches for her lost identity while trying to keep herself and her clients’ data in tact. Along with her extraordinarily gifted friends in the company, she must piece together her past to uncover a conspiracy for global control and Aryan genocide. But when she discovers the people responsible for the Hacker War are family, Omega quickly finds herself in ongoing dilemma that juxtaposes her incredible ability to kill and destroy against her heart for love and care.

A live-action series is also in the works; Casting is notably unknown at the moment for who would play the role of our prime protagonist, Meg Vasalie. My only guess though (and that’s all that it is) is that Andrei herself might have some involvement considering her extensive film and TV credits to date which partly include Criminal Minds, The Purge: Anarchy, Furious Seven and Gabrielle Union thriller, Breaking In.

Whatever the case is though, she won’t be the only female involved as the team given the additions of prolific cosplayers, actresses and producers Elle Sonnet and Rebecca Larken, and photographer and cosplayer Tom Richard. They are joined by co-creator Cody Reynolds and versatile comic book artist Emmanuel Xerx Javier, as well as Lewis who has given his own testimony on the project and its m.o.:

“We were at a Denny’s restaurant bemoaning the state of affairs we found ourselves in back in 2006. We knew the hacking of our private and banking information was only going to get worse – and at the same time – we hated how female superheroes and role model television shows were being scoffed at and cancelled after a few episodes. The two issues didn’t really have anything to do with the other until we decided to make a series that addressed both. And so Omega 1 was born. We created a world which exists post World War III – a war of information theft and manipulation instead of bombs and bullets. In this world, women have to fight like men to live and work, and femininity is something which has been lost. Our lead characters discover both the secrets of the hackers and of how to be powerfully female in a world that demands male results. We’re very proud of how this story brings awareness of the hacker situation which is now, here in 2018, far worse than we ever imagined back in 2006, and how the time for female empowerment in media has finally arrived. The time for Omega 1 is now.”

All you need to know on donation details and equal perks can be found at www.fundomega1.com which has even more video, graphics and bio info about the crew behind the ambitious IP, as well as the trailer which you can check out below.

Review: IMBROGLIO Methodizes Its Madness With Cataclysmic Poetry

Lee B. Golden III

I don’t usually listen to independent rock. It’s not that I have an issue with it, really, but that it never stays in my purview long enough when it appears, and I like listening to it when it does. In this instance, filmmaker Christopher Zatta’s pick of choice is a real gritty, groovy theme that plays at least twice in his latest ambitious short film, Imbroglio, coming out of its debut at Fantasia Festival this week.

With Tracy (Alina Andrei) in his possession, Kyle (Joseph Michael Harris) leads his own group of criminals as they stage a trade-off of for his brother, Pete, believed to be held hostage by David (Travis Johns) whose own group, has Anna (Zoë Bell) seeking vengeance against Kyle’s over an earlier conflict. The standoff begins only to escalate even further when a dark twist is revealed, augmenting an already convoluted situation and ensuing a violent recapitulation from both sides in a hail of bullets, blunt force and vehicular destruction.

Zatta is no stranger to the process as this marks his fifth shortfilm directing credit next to others on several major television shows, including Marvel’s Daredevil, and Heroes, in addition to his 2014 feature debut drama, At The Maple Grove. Going into Imbroglio, you’re immediately pulled into something edgy, self-aware and direct in its approach. You know Zatta isn’t here to dance around anything with respect to the narrative, story and the action which makes the pulsating tension and build-up to the climatic and bloody second half all the more rewarding.

The cast is an exemplary line-up and with a script by Zatta that fleshes out specific characteristics from our principle players – most being motivated by violent, extreme means and measures. Mininal reference to the unseen events building toward the top of the film leaves room for all else to fall into place as we get to know both gangs and personalities of their members, such as that of Bell’s Anna, the brief dichotomy explored between actors Jason Tobias and Diosiq Burnè in the respective roles of Joey and Mike and their own proclivities. Stuntman and actor Robert Dill plays Ethan to girlfriend Rebecca, played by actress Kiralee Hayashi in a young couple pairing that antes up the stakes.

Bell, nowadays more than a stuntwoman as she’s flourished even more as an actress since showcasing a balance of both fields in projects such as Grindhouse: Death Proof (2007), and Josh C. Waller’s action horror, Raze (2013) and Camino (2015), stands out with poignance and fury as Anna and the one to root for in the second half. Alex Daniels coordinates the stunts and action to splattering appeal, orchestrated between a bloody close-quarters knife scuffle, and a raging shootout where secrets are exposed in the heat of the moment, allies are used as human shields, and all are subject to their fates one way or another.

You get the feeling that Zatta has seen his fair share of movies in his lifetime and an idea of his influences, lending greatly to the shock value of the violence that plays out. Aforementioned music by New York rock band, Wall, sets the theme amply and essentially lays the groundwork for a story rife with intrigue, fresh and fitting performances, all capitalized with explosive action and a strong, signature female lead.

The conclusion boasts an eerie, grisly finish laced with a fitting, sardonic touch that culmimates Zatta’s proof-of-concept for an arguably doable feature film series expansion. All in all, the potential is definitely there for something original to invest in with Imbroglio whose aspiring sophomore feature director could use a solid boost.