Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer

Last updated
Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer
AtomtheAmazingZombieKiller.jpg
Directed byZack Beins
Richard Taylor
Written byZack Beins
Richard Taylor
Tim Johnson
Produced byZack Beins
Richard Taylor
Tim Johnson
Robert Sausaman
StarringMark Shonsey
Lindy Starr
Zachary Byron Helm
Lloyd Kaufman
Production
company
Bizjack Flemco
Release date
  • April 20, 2012 (2012-04-20)(Denver Starland Horror Fest)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer is a 2012 American independent horror comedy feature film directed by Zack Beins and Richard Taylor, and written by Beins, Taylor and Tim Johnson. It stars Mark Shonsey, Lindy Starr, Zachary Byron Helm, and Lloyd Kaufman.

Contents

Plot synopsis

Atom (Mark Shonsey) is an avid bowler and hardcore horror movie fan. After having his team barred from the championship due to bowling alley corruption and losing his horny girlfriend Emily (Lindy Starr) to sadistic rival bowler Dario (Zachary Byron Helm), Atom suffers a severe head injury, causing him to hallucinate that everyone around him are the flesh-eating undead. Believing the zombie apocalypse has arrived, Atom must defend himself from the "zombies" in the most violent and unpredictable manner possible.

Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer has been described as a "love letter to Troma", featuring much of the campy aesthetic and graphic violence and nudity common of the company's films, as well as including many overt references to Troma movies and a cameo appearance from Troma president Lloyd Kaufman. [1] [2]

Production

Atom is the first feature-length film from Denver, Colorado-based production company Bizjack Flemco and filmmakers Zack Beins and Richard Taylor, who had previously directed the 2007 short film The Misled Romance of Cannibal Girl & Incest Boy and had provided special effects work for several independent films, most notably Troma Entertainment 's Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead . [1] [2] [3] To help finance the film, Beins and Taylor shot a fake trailer to generate interest, and hosted several benefit concerts for the movie with local bands. [3]

The film was shot entirely in the cities of Denver and Arvada, Colorado over the course of four years. [4] [5] According to interviews with Taylor and Beins, the production was troubled by numerous issues, exacerbated by the extremely low budget of the film; notably, large portions of the film had to be re-shot after one of the main actors quit and had to be recast, while problems in finding affordable filming locations resulted in shooting at five different bowling alleys. [1] [2] [3] Atom was shot in high-definition video; as neither Beins or Taylor owned an HD camera, the two tracked down a friend who did and offered him an acting role in exchange for use of their camera. [3]

In addition to Troma president Lloyd Kaufman, the cast of Atom also includes cameo appearances from Denver performance artist Maris the Great, KBPI DJs Uncle Nasty and Matt Need, paranormal claims investigators Bryan & Baxter, internet personality Shawn C. Phillips and popular drag queen horror actor Babette Bombshell ( Not Another B Movie , Return to the Class of Nuke 'Em High ). [2] [6] Zachory Byon Helm, who was cast as the film's primary antagonist Dario, is the president of the Denver Hearse Association, and several of his hearses were used in the production.

Release and media

Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer made its premiere at the Denver Starfest convention on April 20, 2012, and continued to play at independent film festivals across the Midwest, including the TromaDance Film Festival in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Denver Indie Fest and the Fort Collins Horror Film Festival, as well as select screenings in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. [2] [7] In 2013, the film was screened at the Denver Comic Con, followed by a Los Angeles premiere at the California Institute of Abnormalarts. [7] The same year, Atom was again screened in Denver with Midget Zombie Takeover by The Worst Movie Ever! director Glenn Berggoetz.

A DVD release of the film is scheduled after the film completes its film festival run. According to Taylor and Beins, Troma may release it should the filmmakers not find a better distribution deal. [1] [2] In November 2012, Bizjack Flemco independently released a limited run of fifty VHS copies of the film in a clamshell box. [8]

In 2013 at Comic-Con International Taylor and Beins sat on the panel for Troma Entertainment and were asked by a fan if the film will be released on something more current then VHS. Taylor asks Lloyd Kaufman if Troma would release a DVD of the film. Kaufman replies "Will see how it does on VHS." [9]

The film's eponymous theme song was written and recorded by the Orange County comedy punk band The Radioactive Chicken Heads. [1] [10] The song also appears on the band's 2009 rarities album Poultry Uprising and in a 16-bit remix on their 2013 video game Badd Bunny Breakout . In 2013, Taylor and Beins directed a music video for the song in La Habra, California, featuring the Chicken Heads and numerous cameos from local musicians, including Dukey Flyswatter of Haunted Garage. The video premiered on September 3, 2013. [11]

A digital soundtrack album for the film, featuring both the original score done by Tim Johnson and songs from punk, rock and metal bands, was released on the online music store Bandcamp on May 10, 2012. [12] In 2012, another music video was produced and made for the song "Rock & Bowl" which features all the producers of Atom under the persona band Bolonium. [13]

On May 28, 2014, it was announced that the film will be released on DVD officially by Whacked Movies early 2015. The Special Edition DVD was released on August 25, 2015.

Related Research Articles

<i>The Toxic Avenger</i> (1984 film) 1984 American superhero black comedy splatter film by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman

The Toxic Avenger is a 1984 American superhero black comedy splatter film directed by Michael Herz and Lloyd Kaufman from a screenplay by Joe Ritter, based on a story by Kaufman. It is the first installment in The Toxic Avenger film series.

<i>Class of Nuke Em High</i> 1986 film by Michael Herz, Lloyd Kaufman, Richard W. Haines

Class of Nuke 'Em High is a 1986 American science-fiction horror comedy film made by B-movie production company Troma Entertainment. It was directed by Richard W. Haines and Lloyd Kaufman under the pseudonym "Samuel Weil". New York holographer Jason Sapan created the laser effects.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troma Entertainment</span> American film production and distribution company

Troma Entertainment is an American independent film production and distribution company founded by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz in 1974. The company produces low-budget independent films, primarily of the horror comedy genre, all geared exclusively to mature audiences. Many of them play on 1950s horror with elements of farce, parody, gore, and splatter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lloyd Kaufman</span> American film director

Stanley Lloyd Kaufman Jr. is an American film director, screenwriter, producer and actor. Alongside producer Michael Herz, he is the co-founder of Troma Entertainment film studio, and the director of many of their feature films, such as The Toxic Avenger and Tromeo and Juliet. Many of the strategies employed by him at Troma have been credited with making the film industry significantly more accessible and decentralized.

<i>Redneck Zombies</i> 1987 American comedy horror trash film directed by Pericles Lewnes

Redneck Zombies is a 1987 American horror comedy trash film directed by Pericles Lewnes and released by Troma Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TromaDance</span>

The TromaDance Film Festival is a free annual independent film festival organized by Troma Entertainment. Founded in 1999, TromaDance was originally held in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah, operating concurrently alongside the Sundance Film Festival in order to showcase an independent alternative to Sundance's perceived mainstream offerings. Between 2010 and 2013, the festival had been relocated to various locations throughout New Jersey. Since 2014, TromaDance has relocated to New York City.

<i>Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead</i> 2006 parody film by Lloyd Kaufman

Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead is a 2006 black comedy musical horror film directed by Lloyd Kaufman and co-directed by Gabriel Friedman from a screenplay by Friedman and Daniel Bova. The film centers around the takeover of a New Jersey fried chicken fast food restaurant by possessed zombie chickens after it is built on top of a sacred Native American burial ground. The film was distributed and released on December 29, 2006, and in 2008 on DVD by Troma Entertainment.

<i>Monster in the Closet</i> 1987 horror comedy film by Bob Dahlin

Monster in the Closet is a 1986 horror comedy with a veteran cast, including Howard Duff and John Carradine, as well as Stacy Ferguson and Paul Walker in early roles. The film was distributed by Troma Entertainment. In the GotchaMovies article "Final Destinations and Killer Condoms", Monster in the Closet was selected as the 8th greatest moment in teen slasher history. The film was directed and written by Bob Dahlin.

<i>Croaked: Frog Monster from Hell</i> 1981 film

Croaked: Frog Monster from Hell is a 1981 American monster movie directed by Bill Rebane. The plot of Croaked involves a group of loggers terrorized by a vicious half-man/half-frog creature. The film was distributed by Troma Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radioactive Chicken Heads</span> American virtual band

The Radioactive Chicken Heads are an American virtual band formed in Orange, California in 1993. Operating anonymously under the guise of mutant chickens and vegetables, the Chicken Heads' music is primarily a mix of punk rock, heavy metal and ska punk, a blend the band advertises as "Genetically Modified Punk Rock".

<i>Decampitated</i> 1998 film

Decampitated is a 1998 independent American horror comedy film. It was directed by Matt Cunningham and stars Mike Hart, Jonathon Scott, Thomas Martwick, Steve Ladden, and Cristina Patterson Ceret. It was distributed on video by Troma Entertainment. Decampitated was filmed in Colorado and finishing funds were provided by Troma Entertainment.

<i>Make Your Own Damn Movie!</i>

Make Your Own Damn Movie! is both a book and a DVD set about Troma Entertainment and independent film in general.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Sean Michaels</span>

Kevin Sean Michaels is an American film director, artist, producer and entertainer.

Bolonium is an American new wave band based out of Denver, Colorado, formed in 2012 by filmmakers and musicians Richard Bizjack Taylor and Tim Johnson.

The Misled Romance of Cannibal Girl & Incest Boy is a 2007 independent short horror film directed by Richard Taylor and produced by the Denver, Colorado-based production company, Bizjack Flemco.

<i>Creature with the Atom Brain</i> (film) 1955 film by Edward L. Cahn

Creature with the Atom Brain is a 1955 American zombie horror science fiction film directed by Edward L. Cahn and starring Richard Denning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dukey Flyswatter</span> American actor

Michael David Sonye, best known by his stage and screen name Dukey Flyswatter, is an American actor, screenwriter, and musician, recognized for his work on numerous low-budget B movies and as singer for the Los Angeles horror punk band Haunted Garage.

James Ojala is an American special effects and makeup artist, screenwriter and film director.

<i>A Nymphoid Barbarian in Dinosaur Hell</i> 1990 American film

A Nymphoid Barbarian in Dinosaur Hell is a 1990 low-budget science fiction film from Troma Entertainment and directed by Brett Piper. It premiered at the 1990 Cannes Film Festival. Piper also worked on the special effects.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Sheehan, Gavin (November 13, 2012). "Atom The Amazing Zombie Killer". Salt Lake City Weekly.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Casciato, Cory (August 30, 2012). "Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer co-director Richard Taylor on bringing a Troma-esque sensibility to Denver film". Westword.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Retrofit, Roy (June 14, 2012). "Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer". Flunk Rock. Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
  4. ↑ Ambrose, Chace (June 25, 2012). ""My Hairline's Not the Same" A Chat With the makers of "Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer"". Couch Cutters. Archived from the original on 2013-04-16.
  5. ↑ "Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer (2012) - Filming Locations". Internet Movie Database.
  6. ↑ "Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer (2012) - Full Cast and Crew". Internet Movie Database.
  7. 1 2 "Screenings". www.atomtheamazingzombiekiller.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-19.
  8. ↑ "Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer - Store". Archived from the original on 2013-08-19.
  9. ↑ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine : 2013 July Troma ~ Atom The Amazing Zombie-Killer [Comic-Con snippet]. YouTube .
  10. ↑ "The Radioactive Chickenheads - Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer".
  11. ↑ "Radioactive Chicken Heads "Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer" music video". YouTube.
  12. ↑ "Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Score". Bandcamp.
  13. ↑ YouTube, a Google company. YouTube . Archived from the original on 2014-06-26.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.