Sid Haig Celebrates HANUKKAH
We’ve been following the progress of Eben McGarr’s seasonal slasher Hanukkah for a while now, and today we have the exclusive word that cinema legend and forever badass Sid Haig has joined the film as a means to take you from the dreidel to the grave!
Haig will star as Judah Lazarus, the original psychopathic “Hanukkiller.” He joins Nick Principe, who stars as Judah’s son, Obediah Lazurus – the man who carries on the bloody family legacy of carnage.
Almost a decade in the making, the title Hanukkah itself inspires intrigued raised eyebrows, sinister smiles, and chuckles of creepy delights. The time is right! If you want to see the first Jewish slasher film as much as we do, THEY NEED YOUR HELP!
For years we’ve seen holiday horror films in which Christianity is integral to the plot. A crucifix to ward off vampires. Roman rites of exorcism. Deranged killers misinterpreting the bible. Not to mention the Christmas sleigh-load of psychotic Santas! The very concept of Hanukkah freaked out the most seasoned of producers. They’ve been asked to change the title, tone down the “Jewishness,” and censor some of the brutality. They think you don’t want this movie. We think you do.
“Hanukkah is not a mockery of faith or culture,” says McGarr. “It is a long overdue horror entry celebrating Judaism as its backdrop.” The film is slated for a December 1st premiere – the night before Hanukkah – with a general release in early 2019.
If you head on over to the film’s Indiegogo page, there’s a variety of cool things that you can nab to bring this flick to the screen; we’re talking soundtracks, pins, DVDs, Blu-rays, etc. Hell, there’s even a perk that will allow you to get killed in the flick! What’s cooler than that?
To be clear, the film is 100% in production; the Indiegogo campaign is to help the filmmakers execute this to its max potential without any compromise.
“We’re excited to have Sid Haig onboard. Not only does he bring the depth and sense of danger that’s crucial to the role of Judah Lazarus, but he really gets and supports the project, so much so that he signed on to produce, which has already proved to be an invaluable asset to production.” – director Eben McGarr, Mad Monster.
“I’m a huge fan of holiday horror films. Blood Rage, My Bloody Valentine, Halloween, Black Christmas, and Silent Night, Deadly Night are ALL yearly traditions for me. With social media, it’s become clear that these traditions are only getting stronger among horror fans. It’s exciting to bring something to the table. Hanukkah is never safe again. People are gonna know who Obediah Lazarus is… so jump in the car with us now. Check those perks out, and help us deliver the most brutal film we can.” – producer Christopher Ott.
Synopsis:
Obediah Lazarus is the son of Judah Lazarus, the original Hanukkiller. In 1983 Judah terrorized New York for seven nights and was preparing to sacrifice his eight-year-old son, Obediah, on the eighth night. Judah was convinced it was God’s will, like Abraham and Isaac, to sacrifice his only son to God. Luckily for Obediah, police tracked Judah down and stopped the sacrifice, but Judah was gunned down in the process. Warped by hatred with no guidance, Obediah Lazarus becomes a religious extremist, intolerant of non-Jews, “bad Jews,” and those he perceives to be enemies of the Jewish faith. He is about to unleash eight nights of horror.
A group of Jewish teens are getting ready to party for the holidays but are in for a Festival of Frights. With the help of a wise rabbi, they deduce that the murder victims have violated Judaic law and that their only chance at survival is to embrace their faith.
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