When making a slasher, horror film, it can be difficult to think of an original weapon for the killer.
But first-time director Jack Messit and his producers conceptualized a weapon nobody has ever thought of: A large combination of a knife and a corkscrew.
It's a weapon that when stabbed into a victim's gut, it tears out chunks of their flesh. The viewers can see the blood flow from the wound as pieces of skin and muscle fall from the weapon. And it's even better when the characters in the movie think the death of a friend is a prank, and they kick the dismembered flesh around like a soccer ball in a pool of the victims blood, festooned over the set of a bathroom.
And a crowd of about 50 students and faculty saw the film "Midnight Movie" at Pruis Hall Tuesday, as Cardinal Filmworks presented a movie with a Ball State University alumnus as a producer.
As founder of Bigfoot Entertainment Production Company, Ball State Alumna Kacy Andrews was one of the producers of the film. The film is set to be released during January of 2009.
"Midnight Movie" tells the story of a killer who periodically comes out of a piece of old film stock and kills the people who are watching it.
In a film that shows the deaths of 18 people, viewers will be able to see the slasher strike vengeance against teenagers, bikers, a cop and psychologist, all in a theater where they magically lose cell phone service.
Andrews said horror wasn't her genre, but she still enjoyed the movie. Especially when she heard the reaction of the students laughing when people in the movie were murdered with a giant, knife-corkscrew.
"It makes you feel good," she said.
First-time Director Jack Messitt said the film is homage to the slasher films of the 1980s. His film, which took 21 days to shoot, had a budget of about $1 million.
"It's harking back to the fun times," he said.
Andrews also said she enjoyed the showcase being on campus because it allowed her to see the students reactions, and also because it was nice to be back to the university she graduated from in 1991.
Copresident of Cardinal Filmworks Jeff Greer said he and other copresident Audrey Carlson heard about the film event through their adviser Betsy Pike. They began organizing the screening during the summer.
"We're the outlet to allow them to do that," he said.
Carlson said because Cardinal Filmworks put on the event, it allows them to get their name out too. Also, it exposes the students to the art of filmmaking.
"It's kind of a big step for the group," she said.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
