Needle (2010 film)
| Needle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | John V. Soto |
| Produced by | Deidre Kitcher |
| Screenplay by | John V. Soto and Anthony Egan |
| Starring |
Michael Dorman Jessica Marais |
| Music by | Jamie Blanks |
| Cinematography | Stephen F. Windon |
| Edited by | Jason Ballantine |
Production company |
Filmscope Entertainment |
| Distributed by | Lionsgate LLC |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | A$3 million[1] |
Needle is a 2010 independent supernatural horror film starring Michael Dorman, Jessica Marais, Travis Fimmel, Trilby Glover, and Ben Mendelsohn, and directed by John V. Soto.[2] Needle is structured as a murder mystery, with six distinct clues pointing to one of ten suspects; the trailer is intentionally misleading.[3] The film premiered at Cinefest OZ in August 2010,[4] and has since screened at the British Horror Film Festival[5] and Screamfest Horror Film Festival;[6] as well as the Melbourne Underground Film Festival. Needle had a limited 8 screen release in Australian cinemas on 28 July 2011. The film also had a successful release in Turkey on 29 July 2011 where it opened at No.4 at the box office on 62 screens. Needle played for 13 weeks eventually grossing USD$259,185.[7] At 1 September 2012, Needle has been sold in 82 countries worldwide with rights for major territories going to Lionsgate (USA), High Fliers (UK), Telepool (Germany), Playarte (Brazil), SND (France), Shochiku (Japan) and Sony (Australia) [8][9] Needle was filmed over six weeks in Perth, Western Australia.[1][10]
Director John V. Soto credits influences from such horror and mystery films as Hellraiser, Urban Legend, and I Know What You Did Last Summer.[3]
Plot
Ben Rutherford (Michael Dorman), a college student, inherits from his father an 18th-century box, called Le Vaudou Mort.
Ben shows the box to his friends, and the very same night the box is stolen. Soon after that, his closest friends start dying in mysterious ways. Le Vaudou Mort is actually a "voodoo" machine designed as a tool for revenge. When the target's photograph is put into the box, a wax doll is created, giving the user power to kill or physically harm the represented person. A killer has started to use the device against Ben’s friends.
Ben, still unaware of the nature of the box and of the fact that it has been stolen, shows some picture of Le Vaudou Mort to Professor Banyon, his archaeology teacher, seeking information on the origins of the box. Professor Baynon contacts Dr. Halmanay, who provides to Ben some clues on the origins and uses of the box.
Ben and his brother Marcus (Travis Fimmel), who has not been forgiven by Ben since their father died in a car accident after a harsh discussion with him, figure out the power of the device and search for the killer.
The killer and the motive
The killer is finally revealed to be Kandi. She is seeking revenge for the death of her father, killed and robbed ten years earlier by Samuel Rutherford, Ben's father. After the murder, her mother became insane and she grew up in foster homes. Kandi is carrying out her plan to make Ben to experience the loss of his friends for no apparent reason and finally kill him. Her plans fail due to the reaction of the two brothers and Mary and she is killed by means of Le Vaudou Mort.
Cast
- Michael Dorman as Ben Rutherford
- Travis Fimmel as Marcus Rutherford
- Tahyna Tozzi as Mary
- Jessica Marais as Kandi
- Trilby Glover as Isabel
- Chanel Marriott as Lucy
- Khan Chittenden as Jed
- Luke Carroll as Nelson
- Nathaniel Buzolic as Ryan
- Jane Badler as Professor Banyon
- John Jarratt as Paul the Coroner
- James Hagan as Samuel Rutherford
- Ben Mendelsohn as Detective Meares
- Malcolm Kennard as Detective Reddick
- Murray Bartlett as Tony Martin
- Quinton George as Mr Joshua
- Caroline McKenzie as Eliza Shaw
- Sam Longley as Basketball Coach
- Igor Sas as Dr. Halmanay
Awards
- Screamfest (2010) – Best Horror Make-up Effects[11]
- British Horror Film Festival (2010) – Best Cinematography[5]
- British Horror Film Festival (2010) – Best Special Effects (by MEG FX)[5]
- British Horror Film Festival (2010) – Best Supporting Actress (Jessica Marais)[5]
- Melbourne Underground Film Festival (2011) – Best Cinematography (Stephen Windon)[12]
- Melbourne Underground Film Festival (2011) – Best Actor (Michael Dorman)[12]
- Melbourne Underground Film Festival (2011) – Special Jury Prize (Needle, John V. Soto)[12]
- Melbourne Underground Film Festival (2011) – Best Poster Artwork
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Harvey, Shannon (2010-08-20). "Filmmaker shows how to do it his way". The West Australian. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ↑ "Official site". Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Decker, Sean. "Interview with Soto, John V. (Needle)". Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ↑ "Needle at Cinefest OZ". Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "British Horror Film Festival 2010 Official Winners". Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ↑ "Needle". Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ↑ "Needle Box Office". Retrieved 2012-09-10.
- ↑ "Australian horror film Needle selected for Screamfest". Encore Magazine (Focal Attractions). 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ↑ "Facebook information page". Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ↑ "Aussie film set to screen at Screamfest Horror Film Festival". World Movies. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ↑ "Screamfest 2010 Winners". Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Filmscope Entertainment". Retrieved 5 September 2011.