Pop Skull

Pop Skull
Film Poster
Directed byAdam Wingard
Written byLane Hughes
E. L. Katz
Adam Wingard
Produced byLane Hughes
E. L. Katz
Peter Katz
Adam Wingard
StarringLane Hughes
E. L. Katz
Adam Wingard
CinematographyAdam Wingard
Edited byAdam Wingard
Music byJasper Lee
Kyle McKinnon
Distributed byHALO 8 Entertainment
Release date
  • October 7, 2007 (2007-10-07) (Rome Film Festival)
Running time
86 minutes
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2,000[1]

Pop Skull is a 2007 American horror film directed by Adam Wingard.

In 2003, filmmaker Adam Wingard approached Mexican-American actor Lane Hughes with the idea of doing a semi-autobiographical film about a recent breakup. They conceived the film as "one-part psychedelic, one-part horror and one-part romance" and made it for $2,000.00.[1]

Premise

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The film depicts the lonely and disjointed life of Daniel, a young Alabama pill addict, as his efforts to cope with the trials of his day-to-day life collide with the increasing influence of murderous and displaced spirits that inhabit his home.

Cast

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  • Lane Hughes as Daniel
  • E. L. Katz as Eddie
  • Adam Wingard as Raymond
  • Jeff Dylan Graham as Matt Tepper
  • Maggie Henry as Natalie
  • Hannah Hughes as Morgan
  • Brandon Carroll as Jeff
  • L.C. Holt as Victor
  • Jennifer Price as Mom
  • Benjamin Riley (as Ben Schmitt) as Himself (Commercial Guy)
  • Debbie Stefanov as Abby

Release

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Pop Skull screened at several major film festivals, including the American Film Institute and the Rome Film Festival.[2] It won the jury award at the Boston Underground Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize at the Indianapolis International Film Festival.

Region Release date Festival
Italy October 7, 2007 Rome Film Festival
Italy October 18, 2007 Rome Film Fest
United States November 2, 2007 American Film Institute[1][3]
New Zealand July 21, 2008 New Zealand International Film Festivals[4]

Critical response

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Reviews were generally enthusiastic. LA Splash said Hughes gave "a truly magnetic Manson vibe the entire time, allowing director Adam Wingard to make great use of the extreme close-up". The Grudge screenwriter Stephen Susco remarked that it was "unlike any horror film you've ever seen - or will ever see..." Variety called the movie "powerful" and suggested it created "a new genre: acid horror".[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Wildman, John (2007-11-01). "10 BURNING QUESTIONS with ADAM WINGARD (POP SKULL)". American Film Institute. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  2. ^ Palmer, Danielle Komis (2008-02-02). "Pop Skull: Hartselle man goes from working at Movie Gallery to starring in a horror movie". The Decatur Daily. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
  3. ^ "NEWS RELEASE - AFI FEST 2007 PRESENTED BY AUDI ANNOUNCES COMPLETE FESTIVAL LINEUP" (PDF). American Film Institute. 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  4. ^ "Film » Adam Wingard on Pop Skull". The Lumière Reader. 2009-07-22. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
  5. ^ "Pop Skull". Variety. 2007.
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