"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:
A Video Update and a Stupendous Endorsement!
9 months ago
– Tue, Apr 30, 2024 at 10:40:23 AM
Huzzah! An Update in Video form! How Glorious!
So, in case you're not watching the video, this is the snail mail version! Which is this... everyone is working very hard on the sets right now, and we're hoping to begin shooting the first segment in about 4 - 6 weeks. I say hoping, but in reality, WE WILL BE. Otherwise, I'll be completing the last take of our film, from a retirement home, shouting angrily at children playing on the grass outside. Probably, I'd take aim at them with my empty bourbon glasses.
In fact, do I do that now? Oh God... Oh Jesus Christ!
Things like this, but we're actually further along now than this photo might suggest. We've laid down 3,500 tiles and completed lots of beautiful building work. As the video suggests, this is an investment not just for 'In the Grip of Terror' but for all our Amicus Productions horror films to come! Check the Facebook group and video for more pictures of our progress! Right now, we're about a week or two away from painting the finished room.
Miss Amicus is making her first movie - let's help her!
As I mentioned in the video, Miss Amicus (a.k.a. Cornish beauty Megan Tremethick) is making her first-ever horror feature film. She has produced shorts before and has always been a loyal and faithful servant to Amicus and Hex.
Meg's started a 'Spoiling You' a Kickstarter Pre-Launch campaign and I sincerely hope, that everyone visits the link and hits the get notified button! I whole heartedly endorse this project! Link Right Here.
'Spoiling You' is an intense psychological horror film that draws inspiration from the classic era of J-Horror, with films such as Audition, Suicide Club, and Kairo. Megan plays a shy, lonely girl whose anime cosplay-inspired alter-ego 'Miss Mutter' runs a sensual ASMR YouTube channel.
It goes without saying that there is a little more to 'Miss Mutter' than meets the eye. When she discovers her number one fan, she invites him over for a private session...
There, she reveals a terrifying secret that even made the hairs on my neck stand on end when I read the script! You can expect a film that swings between the wild and the deadly serious, always keeping you on your toes!
Update Time!
11 months ago
– Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 04:42:47 PM
Update Time!
Firstly, my goodness, how time flies. At the moment, the team is building the set for 'A Watcher by the Dead' and for our 'Cool Air' inspired segment. We've integrated this set design as a means of refurbishing a space we're working in so that it can also protect and preserve a historic site that we're able to use to produce more Amicus films, more Hex films... more and more.
So, to keep up-to-date with almost daily updates, I would like to invite folks (for the BTS treatment) to join us over in this group on Facebook, or you can follow me on Twitter/X.
The best place to get updates is in the Facebook Group. And, if you haven't checked it out yet, you'll find plenty of updates about our horror filmmaking as well as our set-building efforts.
The Sets
The main set we've been focusing on is a large round room. It's part of a 19th-century building, and originally we had painted it red, envisioning it serving as a sort of gentleman's club for the start of 'A Watcher by the Dead'. However, it was in a poor state, with the wood-chip on the walls having suffered from damp and, well, ugh.
We knew we'd have to roll up our sleeves, and in doing so, create not just a set for the Amicus segment but a space that we could use in our future horror movies as well.
Huge amounts of set work and refurbishment have been undertaken at a location that serves as a pivotal setting for both segments in our Amicus film. Since then, we've also re-plastered the room—a no small feat—and have repaired the cornicing. And... as soon as the flooring is installed, we'll be routing oak wood (or oak veneer MDF) into dado rails, architrave, and doors. All of which will be stained and varnished, ensuring that the finished room resembles a time capsule from the past. Perfect for our film!
But, what about filming?
Of course, we're keen to get started on our movie too, and we've scheduled production for the first segment to begin in the last week of April. That, hopefully, is when I'll shout the immortal words... BUGGER! No, I mean 'action!'
Rest assured, I'll be sharing somewhat embarrassing BTS stills of me covered in biscuits, attempting to direct far more talented artists than myself to perform chilling and mysterious deeds for the glory of Amicus.
Right now, rest assured that we're working tirelessly every day, not only on Amicus but also on our other projects. We're also ensuring that our work for Amicus is both long-term and sustainable, creating not just the prerequisites for our movie but also the necessary infrastructure to make Amicus a formidable presence in the genre for years to come."
What, about those Saucy Amicus Photo-Sets!
Ah, well, unfortunately, Miss Amicus has stepped down. Instead, I've found myself hoisting up my suspenders and capturing my own antics on a Nokia 1, darting through the forest in a sheer nightie! It's a sight to behold!
Well... er... no, not exactly. In truth, we've been so engrossed in all the film preparations that time simply got away from us. But rest assured, this week and next, we'll be dedicating ourselves to producing our stunning photography sets in collaboration with the lovely Miss Amicus, Megan Tremethick.
My next update will arrive sooner than this one did – my apologies for the wait. But, once again, rest assured that we're putting in the hard graft every day, and you can always reach me directly on Facebook too.
Update Time!
11 months ago
– Sun, Mar 24, 2024 at 04:42:22 PM
Update Time!
Firstly, my goodness, how time flies. At the moment, the team is building the set for 'A Watcher by the Dead' and for our 'Cool Air' inspired segment. We've integrated this set design as a means of refurbishing a space we're working in so that it can also protect and preserve a historic site that we're able to use to produce more Amicus films, more Hex films... more and more.
So, to keep up-to-date with almost daily updates, I would like to invite folks (for the BTS treatment) to join us over in this group on Facebook, or you can follow me on Twitter/X.
The best place to get updates is in the Facebook Group. And, if you haven't checked it out yet, you'll find plenty of updates about our horror filmmaking as well as our set-building efforts.
The Sets
The main set we've been focusing on is a large round room. It's part of a 19th-century building, and originally we had painted it red, envisioning it serving as a sort of gentleman's club for the start of 'A Watcher by the Dead'. However, it was in a poor state, with the wood-chip on the walls having suffered from damp and, well, ugh.
We knew we'd have to roll up our sleeves, and in doing so, create not just a set for the Amicus segment but a space that we could use in our future horror movies as well.
Huge amounts of set work and refurbishment have been undertaken at a location that serves as a pivotal setting for both segments in our Amicus film. Since then, we've also re-plastered the room—a no small feat—and have repaired the cornicing. And... as soon as the flooring is installed, we'll be routing oak wood (or oak veneer MDF) into dado rails, architrave, and doors. All of which will be stained and varnished, ensuring that the finished room resembles a time capsule from the past. Perfect for our film!
But, what about filming?
Of course, we're keen to get started on our movie too, and we've scheduled production for the first segment to begin in the last week of April. That, hopefully, is when I'll shout the immortal words... BUGGER! No, I mean 'action!'
Rest assured, I'll be sharing somewhat embarrassing BTS stills of me covered in biscuits, attempting to direct far more talented artists than myself to perform chilling and mysterious deeds for the glory of Amicus.
Right now, rest assured that we're working tirelessly every day, not only on Amicus but also on our other projects. We're also ensuring that our work for Amicus is both long-term and sustainable, creating not just the prerequisites for our movie but also the necessary infrastructure to make Amicus a formidable presence in the genre for years to come."
What, about those Saucy Amicus Photo-Sets!
Ah, well, unfortunately, Miss Amicus has stepped down. Instead, I've found myself hoisting up my suspenders and capturing my own antics on a Nokia 1, darting through the forest in a sheer nightie! It's a sight to behold!
Well... er... no, not exactly. In truth, we've been so engrossed in all the film preparations that time simply got away from us. But rest assured, this week and next, we'll be dedicating ourselves to producing our stunning photography sets in collaboration with the lovely Miss Amicus, Megan Tremethick.
My next update will arrive sooner than this one did – my apologies for the wait. But, once again, rest assured that we're putting in the hard graft every day, and you can always reach me directly on Facebook too.
Update!!! Set Building & Casting!
about 1 year ago
– Mon, Feb 05, 2024 at 04:08:05 AM
Update!!! Set Building & Casting!
At the moment we're busy as bees building sets. Some of the jobs take ages... for example. For the segments inspired by 'Cool Air' and 'Watcher by the Dead' consists of a large round room. Now, we had repainted what we had but upon inspection the dilapidated state of that room just couldn't be hidden from camera. Peeling wallpaper, hanging ceilings, old wood-chip blurgh.
In our film, it's supposed to be a gentleman's club (with one paint-scheme) and a hospital ward with another. But, without significant alteration it would look like neither. It also needed a historic inspired refit to fit with the anachronistic style of our late 60s/early 70s imagined world.
So what does that mean?
It means this! We stripped the plaster off the ceiling, and walls. We took up the floor (which was rotten) and cleaned it up, and we're laying down new a new plywood base. This will give us a sturdy, environment to work in.
However, while there are a lot of things we can do, there are some things the crew can't do... for example slick plasterwork. Let's just say, we're at the mercy of their timetable and it can sometimes get frustrating.
Over the floor, we're going to put down victorian style floor tiles, (heritage off-white, squares, with a 3 deep, green square border). I think that will work for a lot of different paint styles in the room.
We also rescued this large Edwardian fireplace, which we'll be putting into the room. The original fireplace had been bricked up. But, as we know from any Amicus or Hammer film from old, there has to be a scene where our hero leans on the mantelpiece, and turns to his friend... with some foreboding warning!
Casting News
In addition to set building we've also cast Dorian Todd (whom you might recall from the Kickstarter video) in our 'Watcher by the Dead' segment, as well as Sam Barclay).
They'll be co-starring with Michael Daviot (the older chap, from the Kickstarter video!) and I'm sure they'll do a marvelous job. This will be the first segment we're filming.
Here they both are, in an exciting (but un-announced) new Hex Studios title! Dorian on the left, and Sam on the right!
Keep Updated!
Of course, most of you will want to be updated via Kickstarter, and that's perfectly fair. However, if you want more regular updates with little bits of information, then please follow me on Facebook (introduce yourself with a message) or follow me on Twitter too!
Also, please share our new Backerkit Store too! And, if you'd like to upgrade your previous pledge to get a credit in our movie, please private message me!
Quick Update My Friends!
about 1 year ago
– Sun, Dec 31, 2023 at 01:57:58 PM
Quick Update My Friends!
Greetings my wonderful comrades in all things indie filmmaking and classic Horror! Please accept my heart-felt best wishes for a wonderful New Year!
In the meantime rest assured that my own Christmas Holidays have been torn to pieces by the delectable preparations for our 'In the Grip of Terror' film and the completion of rewards for our previous title 'The Slave and the Sorcerer'
So, what's happening next!
Before we broke off for the Christmas Holidays our courageous minions began building the set for our first segment 'The Watcher by the Dead' as well as additional set building for our hospital sets for 'Cool Air'.
When we get back after New Years, the lads will be working on this, and I'll set up the secret Facebook Group for Amicus Fans to keep posted! Apart from that, just rest assured we're working our asses off!
This will become the 'Gentleman's Club'
Obviously, an Amicus film needs one of these - so we got one!
Turning horrible old fire doors in pretty looking panel doors!
