After Last Season

Last updated

After Last Season
After Last Season (2009) promotional poster.jpg
Promotional release poster
Directed byMark Region
Written byMark Region
Produced by
  • Mark Region
  • Robert Hill
  • Gary Rolen
Starring
  • Jason Kulas
  • Peggy McClellan
  • Scott Winters
  • Casey McDougal
CinematographyMark Region
Edited byVincent Grass
Music byMichael Windham
Production
company
Index Square
Distributed byIndex Square
Release date
  • June 5, 2009 (2009-06-05)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5 million [1]

After Last Season is a 2009 American science-fiction drama film written, directed, produced, and shot by Mark Region. [1] The film stars Jason Kulas and Peggy McClellan as medical students who use experimental neural microchips to discover the identity of a killer who has been murdering their classmates.

Contents

The film received negative reviews, with criticism being aimed at its acting, visuals, animations, and the perceived convolution of its plot.

Premise

Matthew Andrews and Sarah Austin are medical interns studying neurology at the Prorolis Corporation. When a serial killer begins murdering their fellow students, they use experimental chips to visualize the events of the crimes. They conclude through these visualizations that they may be able to see, and therefore prevent, the next murder before it occurs, and learn that the killer is a ghost. It is revealed at the end of the film that the events were all a dream.

Cast

Production

Director Mark Region has cited The Sixth Sense and The Exorcist as inspirations for After Last Season. The film was shot on 35mm film, and principal photography took place over five or six days in one house with fake medical equipment made from cardboard. According to Region, the film had a budget of $5 million, with $30,000 to $40,000 spent on filming and the majority of the remaining amount spent on the film's animated neural visualization sequences. [1]

Release and reception

The trailer for After Last Season was released in March 2009, and rumors began to circulate on the Internet that the trailer was part of a viral marketing campaign by director Spike Jonze, in promotion of his then-upcoming film Where the Wild Things Are . [2] Several websites even called into question whether or not director Mark Region is actually a real person. [2] [3] Lindsay Robertson of Stereogum wrote that the trailer "seems like it could only have been made in a parallel universe that irony forgot. Or written and directed by a small child." [4]

The film premiered on June 5, 2009, receiving a limited release in Lancaster, California, Austin, Texas, North Aurora, Illinois, and Rochester, New York. [1] Among the audience members who attended these screenings, a viewer in Rochester called the film "amazingly bad", while a viewer in Austin stated: "it was a total mindfuck. It can really only be described as a lesson in self control because at first, I wanted to leave, then I wanted to scream at the movie, then it became funny, and then it reached that level where it crawls under your skin and agitates you with the questions that rise from having been witness to it." [5]

Film critic Scott Von Doviak wrote that the film is "intensely boring, thoroughly disorienting and so technically incompetent it achieves several deeply unnerving effects entirely by accident." [6] C. Robert Cargill, in a review for Spill.com, referred to the film as not only the worst movie of 2009, but the worst movie of the last two decades. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Natural Born Killers</i> 1994 crime film by Oliver Stone

Natural Born Killers is a 1994 American crime film directed by Oliver Stone and starring Woody Harrelson, Juliette Lewis, Robert Downey Jr., Tommy Lee Jones, and Tom Sizemore. The film tells the story of two victims of traumatic childhoods who become lovers and mass murderers, and are irresponsibly glorified by the mass media.

<i>Scary Movie</i> 2000 film by Keenen Ivory Wayans

Scary Movie is a 2000 American slasher parody film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and written by Marlon and Shawn Wayans, alongside Buddy Johnson, Phil Beauman, Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. Starring Jon Abrahams, Carmen Electra, Shannon Elizabeth, Anna Faris, Kurt Fuller, Regina Hall, Lochlyn Munro, Cheri Oteri, and Dave Sheridan, it follows a group of teenagers who accidentally hit a man with their car, dump his body in a lake, and swear to secrecy. A year later, someone wearing a Ghostface mask and robe begins hunting them one by one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kathleen Robertson</span> Canadian actress (born 1973)

Kathleen Robertson is a Canadian actress. She has starred in a number of films, and from 2011 to 2012 played the role of Kitty O'Neill in the Starz political drama series Boss. From 2014 to 2016, Robertson starred as homicide detective Hildy Mulligan in the TNT series Murder in the First. She also played Tina Edison in the Canadian sitcom Maniac Mansion (1990–1993) and Clare Arnold in the Fox teen drama series Beverly Hills, 90210 (1994–1997). In 2019, she played a main character in the series Northern Rescue.

<i>Barnaby Jones</i> American television series 1973–1980

Barnaby Jones is an American detective television series starring Buddy Ebsen as a formerly retired investigator and Lee Meriwether as his widowed daughter-in-law, who run a private detective firm in Los Angeles, California. The show was originally introduced as a midseason replacement on the CBS network and ran from 1973 to 1980. Halfway through the series' run, Mark Shera was added to the cast as a much younger cousin of Ebsen's character, who eventually joined the firm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsay Wagner</span> American actress (born 1949)

Lindsay Jean Wagner is an American film and television actress, model, author, singer, and acting coach. Wagner is best known for her leading role in the American science fiction television series The Bionic Woman (1976–1978), in which she portrayed character Jaime Sommers. She first played the role on the series The Six Million Dollar Man. The character became a pop culture icon of the 1970s. For this role, Wagner won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Dramatic Role in 1977 – the first for an actor or actress in a science fiction series. Wagner began acting professionally in 1971 and has maintained a lengthy acting career in a variety of film and television productions to the present day.

<i>Diagnosis: Murder</i> American mystery-comedy-medical crime drama television series (1993–2001)

Diagnosis: Murder is an American comedy-mystery-medical crime drama television series starring Dick Van Dyke as Dr. Mark Sloan, a medical doctor who solves crimes with the help of his son Steve, a homicide detective played by Van Dyke's real-life son Barry. The series began as a spin-off of Jake and the Fatman, became a series of three television films, and then a weekly television series that debuted on CBS on October 29, 1993. Joyce Burditt wrote the episode in Jake and the Fatman and is listed here as the creator of the spin off series.

<i>Basic Instinct 2</i> 2006 film by Michael Caton-Jones

Basic Instinct 2 is a 2006 erotic thriller film and the sequel to 1992's Basic Instinct. The film was directed by Michael Caton-Jones and produced by Mario Kassar, Joel B. Michaels, and Andrew G. Vajna. The screenplay was by Leora Barish and Henry Bean. It stars Sharon Stone, who reprises her role of crime mystery author Catherine Tramell, and David Morrissey. The film is an international co-production of German, British, American, and Spanish production companies.

<i>Ghosts Cant Do It</i> 1989 film by John Derek

Ghosts Can't Do It is a 1989 romantic fantasy comedy film, the last film written and directed by John Derek, and starring Bo Derek and Anthony Quinn, with Julie Newmar and Leo Damian in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Bell</span> American actress (born 1979)

Lake Siegel Bell is an American actress, screenwriter, and director. She has appeared in various television series, including Boston Legal (2004–2006), Surface (2005–2006), How to Make It in America (2010–2011), Childrens Hospital (2008–2016), and Bless This Mess (2019–2020) and in films including Over Her Dead Body (2008), What Happens in Vegas (2008), It's Complicated (2009), No Strings Attached (2011), Million Dollar Arm (2014), No Escape (2015), Man Up (2015), The Secret Life of Pets (2016), Shot Caller (2017), Home Again (2017), The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019), and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).

<i>Radioland Murders</i> 1994 American film

Radioland Murders is a 1994 American comedy thriller film directed by Mel Smith and executive produced by George Lucas. Radioland Murders is set in the 1939 atmosphere of old-time radio and pays homage to the screwball comedy films of the 1930s. The film tells the story of writer Roger Henderson trying to settle relationship issues with his wife Penny while dealing with a whodunit murder mystery in a radio station. The film stars an ensemble cast, including Brian Benben, Mary Stuart Masterson, Scott Michael Campbell, Michael Lerner, and Ned Beatty. Radioland Murders also features numerous small roles and cameo appearances, including Michael McKean, Bobcat Goldthwait, Jeffrey Tambor, Christopher Lloyd, George Burns, Billy Barty, and Rosemary Clooney.

<i>R.S.V.P.</i> (2002 film) 2002 American film

R.S.V.P. is a 2002 American dark comedy suspense film written and directed by Mark Anthony Galluzzo. The film features Glenn Quinn of Roseanne and Angel fame in his final role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Stephenson (filmmaker)</span> American actor and filmmaker

Michael Stephenson, known professionally as Michael Paul Stephenson, is an American filmmaker and actor. He is known for directing the critically acclaimed documentaries Best Worst Movie and The American Scream. Michael made his narrative feature debut with Girlfriend’s Day, starring Bob Odenkirk. Michael's latest film, Attack of the Murder Hornets, is an original documentary that he directed and produced for Discovery+. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trucking industry in American culture</span>

The portrayal of the trucking industry in United States popular culture spans the depictions of trucks and truck drivers, as images of the masculine side of trucking are a common theme. The portrayal of drivers ranges from the heroes of the 1950s, living a life of freedom on the open road, to the depiction of troubled serial killers of the 1990s. Songs and movies about truck drivers were first popular in the 1940s, and mythologized their wandering lifestyle in the 1960s. Truck drivers were glorified as modern day cowboys, outlaws, and rebels during the peak of trucker culture in the 1970s.

Little Murder is a 2011 supernatural horror thriller film directed by Predrag Antonijević. The film premiered at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on January 8, 2011. The movie was distributed wide in the US on February 17, 2017 under the new title Ghost of New Orleans.

Videogum was a daily Internet publication devoted to coverage of popular culture with a focus on movies, television, and trampoline accidents. Stereogum founder Scott Lapatine founded Videogum as a sister site to Stereogum in 2008, and enlisted editors Gabe Delahaye and Lindsay Robertson, who quickly gained a cult following for their humorous commentary on pop culture and the Internet. Videogum spawned an online community known as the "Monsters" who perpetuated a variety of internet memes through the site's commentary system, chat, their communal blog, and via Twitter. The site garnered several nominations and accolades, including a win at the 2010 ECNY Awards for "Best Website".

<i>The Exorcist III</i> 1990 film by William Peter Blatty

The Exorcist III is a 1990 American psychological horror film written for the screen and directed by William Peter Blatty, based on his 1983 novel Legion. It is the third installment in The Exorcist film series, and the final installment in Blatty's "Trilogy of Faith". The film stars George C. Scott, Ed Flanders, Jason Miller, Scott Wilson, Nicol Williamson, and Brad Dourif.

<i>The Exorcist</i> (franchise) American horror media franchise

The Exorcist is an American horror media franchise that originated with William Peter Blatty's 1971 horror novel of the same name and most prominently featured in a 1973 film adaptation of the novel, and many subsequent prequels and sequels. All of these installments focus on fictional accounts of people possessed by Pazuzu, the main antagonist of the series, and the efforts of religious authorities to counter this possession.

<i>Found Footage 3D</i> 2016 American 3D found footage horror film

Found Footage 3D is a 2016 American found footage horror film. It is the debut feature film of writer/director Steven DeGennaro, and was produced by Texas Chainsaw Massacre co-creator Kim Henkel. It is the first found footage horror movie shot natively in 3D. Filming began on May 26, 2014 in Gonzales, Texas, starring Carter Roy, Alena von Stroheim, Chris O'Brien, Tom Saporito, Scott Allen Perry, Jessica Perrin, and Scott Weinberg, and wrapped mid-June 2014.

<i>Im Not Ashamed</i> 2016 American film

I'm Not Ashamed is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by Brian Baugh and based on the journals of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Columbine, Colorado. Scott, played by Masey McLain, serves as the protagonist of the film; the story of both gunmen, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, is intertwined with hers and this indicates the two were the antagonists. The film was distributed by Pure Flix Entertainment. It received negative reviews from critics and audiences. It performed poorly at the box office as well, with revenue of $2.1 million compared to the $1.5 million budget of the film.

<i>Killers of the Flower Moon</i> (film) 2023 film by Martin Scorsese

Killers of the Flower Moon is a 2023 American epic Western crime drama film directed and produced by Martin Scorsese, who co-wrote the script with Eric Roth based on the 2017 non-fiction book of the same name by David Grann. Set in 1920s Oklahoma, it focuses on a series of murders of Osage members and relations in the Osage Nation after oil was discovered on tribal land. The tribal members had retained mineral rights on their reservation, but a corrupt local political boss sought to steal the tribal members' wealth.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Macaulay, Scott (June 9, 2009). "Interview: After Last Season's Mark Region". Filmmaker Magazine . Archived from the original on November 13, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Collis, Clark (July 14, 2009). "Is 'After Last Season' part of the 'Where The Wild Things Are' campaign, or just the weirdest movie of the year?". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on July 2, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  3. Mancini, Vince (June 4, 2009). "What's The Deal With 'After Last Season'?". Uproxx. Archived from the original on July 12, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  4. Robertson, Lindsay (March 11, 2009). "Nothing Can Prepare You For The After Last Season Trailer". Stereogum. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  5. Robertson, Lindsay (June 8, 2009). "After Last Season Leaves Audiences With More Questions Than Answers". Stereogum. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  6. Von Doviak, Scott (June 7, 2009). "Review: After Last Season". Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2016 via WordPress.
  7. "Spill.com Worst of 2009 Part 4/4". 2009 via YouTube.