"In the Grip of Terror" by Amicus Productions - Horror Movie
Created by Lawrie Brewster
Amicus Productions is rising from the grave with its first horror film in over 30 years. With your help, we can bring it back for good!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Segment 2 in the Can! Amicus Update!
2 days ago
– Wed, Oct 16, 2024 at 06:48:50 AM
Firstly...
Firstly, before we dive into this update, I’d like to give you all a quick heads-up on where we’re posting updates for In the Grip of Terror and all of our retro horror films. You can find everything on our free-to-join Patreon, called the British Horror Studio. Each week, there are at least four posts, often more, filled with what we’re up to, plenty of pictures, fun details, and it’s also a brilliant way to get to know the team behind our Amicus project!
Now, rest assured, I’ve been working my socks off! If you saw me now, bedraggled as I am, you’d probably say, “Lawrie, take a day off!” But not until I finish this update!
Let’s kick off with some fantastic shots from the shoot!
Nick Ford as Hawyer, restrained by medical orderlies – taken by Sarah Daly.
Our shoot was an epic experience, with scenes set in our hospital ward, corridor, and a special Gothic bedroom we created. Naturally, it features a creepy painting of Mannering from Ambrose Bierce’s famous short story.
Here’s me as Mayley, a somewhat wimpy character, often dominated by Hawyer.
Sarah Thompson checks in on her son, played by Nathan L. Weller.
Richard and Jeannie Tatum Pate, hard at work at Pathhead Lunatic Asylum!
And, of course, our very own Miss Amicus, Megan Tremethick.
We had scenes set in the hospital ward, but the madness extended to the mental asylum dungeon, and of course, that Gothic set I mentioned! Let’s have a look:
Lit up and ready for action, with practical lighting from small lamps and candles – it looked fantastic in the footage, and I can’t wait for you to see it.
Meanwhile, our Chief Mortician, played by Peter Mahoney, checks on the patients during the night…
Here’s me pulling a funny face next to Alex Zorn, who plays Dr. Johnson – a former doctor, now committed to the asylum, and perhaps the only person who truly cares for the patients!
Fabio delivered an intense, expressive, and physical performance in the segment!
Here are some of the lads, soon to be joined by many others, who represent the Bedlam patients kept underground, forced to undergo bizarre experiments in a futile attempt to create happiness… what could possibly go wrong?
And here’s Novarro Ramon with some beautiful ladies – Tia, Beverly, and Megan!
In a wild nod to Amicus Productions’ rockabilly past, we’ve even got a surreal little sequence that I think will blow people away.
I can safely say this is our most ambitious undertaking of all the segments, and now that it’s in the can, it’s an incredible achievement.
Now, our focus shifts to the next segment and the wrap-around. This does mean the film won’t be finished until Q1 or Q2 next year, but that’s due to our commitment to quality. With so many projects on the go (as a film studio, we’ve got to juggle multiple films), we’re making sure quality is never compromised.
So far, with our first segment and this one, I feel we’re really hitting the mark. Next up is a creepy, atmospheric segment... and that’s where Cool Air comes in.
The Amicus Photo-Set!
Thanks for your patience with this, everyone. The final component of the photo-set is being produced on Friday, and we hope to deliver the reward over the weekend, but most likely by next Tuesday.
And once again, please do join the British Horror Studio! You’ll get loads more updates, and you can comment on posts or get in touch with me and the team. You can visit right here: https://www.patreon.com/britishhorrorstudio
NEW! The Femme Fatale Photo-Set Offer & Sneak Peek of Queen Ginnarra!
about 1 month ago
– Tue, Sep 03, 2024 at 03:08:32 AM
Firstly, I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who has supported my work, including with Amicus, and our current campaign for Black Chariot. We're on the road with Black Chariot (pun intended, haha) to create a fantastic and spine-tingling horror film noir.
Now, I'm excited to announce new rewards for our wonderful backers, along with an exclusive sneak peek of a work-in-progress scene from our second film, The Reign of Queen Ginnara, which you can also pledge for!
So, without further ado, let's dive into the goodies!
Femme Fatale Double Photo-Set!
Starring Megan Tremethick... I'm proud to present not one, but two photo-sets for the price of one! This is our biggest photo-set yet, featuring over 100 pictures. The sets are split into two themes: the heartbreakingly seductive Femme Fatale set, inspired by the charged intensity of film noir, and the Sensual Hitchcock set, which explores themes of sensuality, obsession, and murder, including a tribute to Hitchcock's ingenious Vertigo!
You can get this photo-set in two ways: by choosing the 'Femme Fatale Double Photo-Set' as an add-on on our campaign for Black Chariot.
Also, this set and the Kawaii and Osorishii photo-sets, featuring Megan Tremethick, are now complete and will be fulfilled immediately when the campaign ends.
A Sneak Peek of 'The Reign of Queen Ginnara'
I am also thrilled to offer a sneak peek of the stunning artwork and a secret work-in-progress glimpse of a scene from our movie, starring Megan Tremethick!
Simply click the temp-graded still from the film below for a secret YouTube link to a scene that showcases the creepy intensity Megan Tremethick brings to our second movie!
You can pledge for The Reign of Queen Ginnarra either separately or, preferably (haha), as an add-on! You can also pledge for thank-you credits and even producer-tier rewards in the add-ons section.
To add an add-on to your pledge, just click 'Manage Pledge,' then 'Change Your Pledge,' re-select the reward you previously chose, and voilà—the add-ons list will appear!
Here is a glimpse of the beautiful artwork we've prepared for The Reign of Queen Ginnara. There are signed and complete editions of this reward available in our add-ons too!
Last but not Least! The Book of Beastly Creatures Volumes 1 and 2
We're also working hard to complete the second volume of our stunning hardback book of horror short stories, each featuring a different monster or demon. Each story includes an illustration, and in a bonus section, we’ve even included rules using the DnD Open Gaming License, allowing you to feature those same creatures or cursed items in your gaming campaigns!
The Book of Beastly Creatures Volume 1 is already complete and ready for dispatch when the campaign ends. The second volume is nearing completion and will be sent out in the next 2–3 months.
I almost forgot!
And, if you haven't yet pledged for the cheeky but charming Kawaii and Osorishii Photo-Sets that Megan produced, which draw inspiration from Anime and J-Horror, you can now get them as add-on rewards.
Both sets are now complete and ready for fulfillment. Here's a sneak peek at a more work-friendly version!
And fear not... our Amicus Photo-Set is hot on the trail and will come out next month!
Chilling New Rewards and Breathtaking Artwork
about 2 months ago
– Wed, Aug 28, 2024 at 05:53:17 AM
While work continues on In the Grip of Terror, I want to draw your attention to a fantastic new project that is in the late stages of post-production. We're making this available as an add-on to support our campaign for Black Chariot.
Black Chariot, like In the Grip of Terror, is a film that isn’t supposed to be made these days. It’s a non-ironic, non-meta, black-and-white thriller set in the 1950s, in the style of Hitchcock, with a touch of supernatural horror. That doesn't happen often, right?
Well... until we started working together to make the impossible possible.
Similarly, my new film, which is now available for you to back, also stars Miss Amicus (Megan Tremethick), who plays a terrifying queen styling herself as the handmaiden to the Old Ones, just like in Black Chariot and In the Grip of Terror.
The film is a blend of I, Claudius and Lovecraft, filled with murder, occultism, betrayal, and disaster... perhaps there’s even a hint of Caligula in it. This epic-length indie horror Lovecraftian medieval descent into madness (that's a mouthful!) is almost two and a half hours long, making it the biggest film I've ever made.
Now, you can pledge for The Reign of Queen Ginnarra as a reward or add-on reward in our campaign. But first, let me show you some of the artwork for the Blu-ray.
Everyone has a choice of Digital, Blu-Ray Special Edition, Signed, or Complete Edition Blu-rays, all of which are available as add-ons. Additionally, backers can now upgrade their pledges to receive both films, thank you credits, and even producer credits—all of which offer great savings!
A Night With Jigme
Megan Tremethick has generously made her fantastic story reward available as an add-on to help us reach our stretch goals for Black Chariot. Isn't she amazing?
So, what does this reward include? It features Jigme, a character Megan Tremethick developed as a sword-and-sorcery assassin in service of the Old Ones. These stories are quite brutal, drawing inspiration from the works of Robert E. Howard (a good friend of H. P. Lovecraft).
In fact, her narrated stories are feature-length, offering a wonderful listening experience. Additionally, these stories are recorded with an intimate voice-over that places you right beside her by the campfire at night, creating a tantalizing and immersive experience. On top of that, this reward also includes a fantastic bundle of 37 photographs of Jigme in action!
You can add this excellent reward to your pledge by selecting 'A Night with Jigme' in the Reward Add-ons section. If you have already pledged, go to 'Manage Your Pledge,' choose 'Change Your Pledge,' and reselect your current reward tier. You will then be prompted to select any add-ons, including 'A Night with Jigme,' which you can confirm.
Black Chariot SMASHES Goal! Second Movie & 48-Hour Match Pledger!
about 2 months ago
– Wed, Aug 21, 2024 at 07:51:18 AM
Firstly, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone from the Amicus campaign for their support so far for In the Grip of Terror, currently in production, and to those of you who have supported our campaign for Black Chariot. The challenge of producing independent horror films that are so unique and different from mainstream entertainment is immense, but it’s made possible by each and every one of you.
We now have the opportunity to achieve three ambitious stretch goals, which will enhance our film with two extra epic scenes and a cinema screening event to which you will all be invited.
Your support is especially crucial today because, for the next 48 hours, we have a match pledger! Link : Black Chariot
Our generous backer has promised to match 50% of every pledge or upgrade made during the next 48 hours. So... this is the moment where I will be particularly grateful to you for backing our campaign. We have a wonderful selection of rewards on our page, and we've just added new rewards and add-ons today.
This includes the exclusive Blu-ray for The Reign of Queen Ginnarra, the most ambitious, epic-scale independent historic sword and sorcery fantasy film ever made. At over two and a half hours long, it draws inspiration from medieval occultism, H. P. Lovecraft, and Robert E. Howard.
Starring Miss Amcius - Megan Tremethick (Black Chariot), our second film, The Reign of Queen Ginnarra, follows the reign of a tyrannical queen who inflicts such torture and suffering upon others that she would give even the Roman emperor Caligula a run for his money. Pitted against her is the spark of rebellion and betrayal... but can a rebellion defeat the handmaiden of the Old Ones?
If you’ve already pledged, you can make changes to your pledge and select add-ons by following these steps:
Click on the "Manage your pledge" button on the Kickstarter campaign page.
Select the "Change your pledge" option.
Choose the same reward tier you initially selected.
You’ll then see a list of available add-ons. Select the desired add-ons and confirm your changes.
Exclusive Photo-Set Rewards
In addition to our second film, Miss Amicus (Megan Tremethick) has also made her fantastic anime-inspired photo-sets available in support of Black Chariot. Megan’s Kawaii and Osorishii sets take inspiration from '90s anime, including her favourite films Wicked City and Ninja Scroll. Do check your pacemakers before pledging for them!
Finally, we’ve included new add-ons that allow supporters to pledge for thank-you credits in Black Chariot without reward bundles, as well as credits in The Reign of Queen Ginnarra. You can also add Blu-rays and Signed Blu-rays for our previous films in the add-ons, with plenty to choose from, including our latest Amicus film In the Grip of Terror or Hex Studios' The Slave and the Sorcerer.
Meanwhile, we’ve scheduled our shoot for the most ambitious segment of In the Grip of Terror on the 30th of September. The crew are working hard to prepare an epic mental asylum set, inspired by Amicus Productions' classic Asylum. We’re also attempting to secure a cameo from Robert Powell, but we can’t make any promises on that front just yet.
One of the challenges isn’t a lack of desire to participate on the part of our venerable artists from that era, but for some of them, age and travel are not an ideal combination. However, we’re on the case, and I’m hoping very soon to announce a venerable name who will be joining us from that golden era of horror filmmaking.
We Launch Hitchcockian Horror 'Black Chariot' on Hitchcock's Birthday!
2 months ago
– Tue, Aug 13, 2024 at 07:59:12 AM
Greetings, my friends. I have two very important updates. The first pertains to the announcement of Black Chariot, our loving tribute to Alfred Hitchcock, who was born on this very day in 1899. Timing our release to coincide with his birthday is our little tribute to a man who, alongside Akira Kurosawa and Ken Russell, is among my greatest cinematic influences.
I also have the honour (or disservice, haha) of performing as the legendary filmmaker himself in my pitch video for Black Chariot. This is also a loving tribute to the unique trailers Hitchcock produced for films such as Psycho, The Birds, and Frenzy. In these films, he would appear as himself, regaling the audience with the ominous tale of his film in a sort of meta-fashion that placed him years ahead of his time.
So... of course, our pitch video had to do the same!
Black Chariotis an extremely creepy, retro horror filled with atmosphere and suspense. The story concerns a mysterious red case whose secret contents cast a dark shadow over those unfortunate enough to possess it. No one is safe, and at night a mysterious car with red headlights prowls.
If I had to describe Black Chariot, I would say it is something like Vertigo and Psycho meets Carnival of Souls, with a dash of Val Lewton's The Seventh Victim. Despite its throwback style, Black Chariot is a very unsettling and disturbing film. You'll need a blanket!
Black Chariot, along with Amicus Productions' In the Grip of Terror, represents our determination to champion traditional filmmaking and storytelling with inspiration from the golden era of British cinema.
On Alfred Hitchcock's birthday, I can think of no better tribute to him than indie filmmakers producing new films inspired by his greatness and the other artists who have come before me.
Black Chariot offers sumptuous Blu-rays with beautiful artwork and hours of extras, digital downloads, bundles of goodies, as well as thank-you credits and producer rewards which will see your name appear in the film’s scrolling credits and IMDb.
Here is an example of our Blu-ray Special Edition.
Our film also stars Laurence R. Harvey of The Human Centipede films in a role like you've never seen him perform before. But... enough of that!
Let me get you that link so you can enjoy my absurd pitch video, which I think is our best yet!
And what about In the Grip of Terror, I hear you ask? Well, we are scheduled to shoot our next segment, "A Diagnosis of Death," next month, which will represent our most ambitious segment for our Amicus film. Oftentimes, Amicus Productions would have one segment that clearly showed a little more budget than the rest.
Well... this will be ours! Also, for the role of our "crypt-keeper," we are currently speaking to several cast members who appeared in original Amicus Productions films (and Hammer films) who might be available. We think we've got someone who is going to delight you... but I can't give anything else away yet until they're confirmed.
We have also been posting regularly in our free-to-join Patreon group called the "British Horror Studio," where you can see updates about the Amicus sets we're building!
I expect we'll have an exciting casting announcement to make next week or the week after at the latest! Hold onto your hats!
