Bloody Disgusting, The Collective, and AMC Launch Film Series

The Collective has acquired the rights to several films out of horror- and genre-heavy festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival, Slamdance, Sitges Film Festival, and Fantastic Fest and plans on releasing the films across multiple platforms.

AMC will show a new title in the series each month, at least twice a week, across 32 key markets, including a special Friday midnight show, beginning in May. After their theatrical exhibition at AMC, films from the series will be available to fans of the genre on DVD, Video on Demand (VOD), online, and television. Released though The Collective’s home-video partnership with Vivendi Universal, DVDs for titles in the Bloody Disgusting Selects series will feature unrated content, bonus features, and special packaging for each title.

The AMC showings will introduce audiences to top horror and thriller films they would not otherwise see as well as feature short films, contests, and premiere content from the genre’s heavy hitters, offering a new platform for how films can be experienced.

“There’s a huge market for niche horror films — both independent and foreign — that isn’t being met in the current environment,” said Gary Binkow, a partner at The Collective. “We’re extremely excited to be working with AMC, a company that is forward-thinking in their approach to distribution and community outreach and willing to work with us to bring the fans into theatres to experience quality horror films in high definition video and audio. Together, we will build up a series around what those fans really want. And it only makes sense to have the trusted tastemakers of the genre from the world’s number one entertainment source for horror, Bloody Disgusting, pick the titles that they think deserve to be seen by a wider audience.”

“In many of AMC’s major-market theatres, horror films are very popular, but we have lacked a steady supply of quality titles,” said Nikkole Denson-Randolph, vice president of alternative and specialty content at AMC. “We are pleased to offer our guests this innovative film series, one that will entice them to return month after month for programming selected especially for them.”

“We see a lot of horror films that never make it to the consumer here in the States,” said Brad Miska, Bloody Disgusting co-head. “We hope to change that by releasing only films we personally love and think the horror community will embrace. Horror movies are a social experience. The success of Bloody Disgusting and other horror communities proves that concept. Bloody Disgusting represents a society of hardcore fans, and we plan to activate them through these screenings, bringing the conversation off of the blogs and into the theater itself, while creating a unique experience for each filmgoer that motivates them to come back every month for the experience itself, not just the films.”

The first films to be released under this venture are:

• COLD FISH — From Sion Sono, the director of LOVE EXPOSURE and SUICIDE CLUB and based on a true story, it came as no surprise that Sono’s brutal serial killer film COLD FISH received international acclaim on the festival circuit, playing Toronto, Venice, Pusan, Fantastic Fest, and others. When Shamoto’s teenage daughter was caught stealing, a generous middle-aged man helps to resolve the situation. The man and his wife offer to have Shamoto’s daughter work at their fish store. Shamoto soon discovers the horrific truth of the seemingly perfect couple…who force him to get his hands dirty in their brutal business. Inspired by a true events, COLD FISH is a bloodcurdling suspense drama that unveils the underlying insanity of an ordinary man.

• RAMMBOCK — Produced by Melanie Berke and Sigrid Hoerner, written by Benjamin Hessler and directed by Marvin Kren, the Fantastic Fest favorite marks the first German foray into the zombie genre. Kren’s short but action packed feature follows a group of strangers attempting to fight off a horde of infected zombies in a Berlin apartment complex.