SCREAM, the Horror Magazine, Interviews us Twisted Twins

When it rains it pours (and us Vancouver grrls know a thing or two about rain).


In this particular situation, the rain is a very welcome thing as it is a rain of rad proportions. DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK is out thanks to the people who truly care about independent film and have made it their mission to bring the absolute best of it to the people, IFC. Thank you, IFC, for being the best friends an independent artist could ever ask for. If you're just waking up from a coma, this may be news to you. Congrats for waking up in a world where DHIAT is on the UK Horror Channel all throughout the month, on Video On Demand (thank you, IFC Midnight!), and will be hitting limited theaters across the USA and Canada in a series of special midnight screenings. Locations and dates are a coming.

We had the esteemed joy of speaking with Scream The Horror Magazine's Richard Cooper about our journey to this point, what we've got going on now, and where the future is leading us. It is a beautiful three page, in depth interview with one of the most kick ass publications in the UK.

Oh, and did I mention we LOVE the UK? Cuz we very much do...

You can order yourself a sexy slice of SCREAM Magazine right here!

It's issue #6 and also features interviews with HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN's Jason Eisener and INSIDIOUS's James Wan. We are honored to be in such good company.

A big thank you to Richard Cooper for taking the time to speak with us and to the people of the UK, who we all adore with a fiery passion.

Bloody Best!
Jen

Good Day, Hooker!

You know, Robert Rodriguez has a lot to answer for. His Grindhouse films Planet Terror and Machete have inspired a new generation of independent film-makers wanting to turn their own twisted ideas into full-fledged features. Take Canadian director Jason Eisener for example. His Hobo With A Shotgun (didn’t the Daily Mail just love it?) is a carefully crafted homage to the action exploitation genre and boasts a standout performance from the one and only Rutger Hauer.

Then’s there’s the Soska sisters. Armed with their film-making bible, Rodriguez’s Rebel Without a Crew, the twins maxed out their credit cards to fund their own Grindhouse-inspired vision – Dead Hooker in a A Trunk.
-Pete's Peek

This is an excerpt from a fantastic article from Pete's Peek talking about tonight's DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK television premiere screening in the UK. Click here for the entire lovely article and tune in tonight to see this indie flick hit the small screen for the first time! Here is a little more motivation from Peter of Pete's Peek on Movie Talk --

Intentionally ridiculous, Dead Hooker is bloody good fun – but you have to suspend your belief from the outset. So don’t expect any logic – just sit back and enjoy one Hell of a ride.

The biggest, craziest, most humble, thank you to you reading this blog, you who heard about this flick and shared it with your friends, you who reviewed it, you who took the time to chat with us, you who become our dearest friends, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You made this possible with your support and by demanding that it be seen. Please tune in tonight!


This is the continuation of the big release. As promised, HOOKERS for everyone!

~Sylv

Canadian Grindhouse Hits The Texas Theater!

From the coasts of the Great White North comes two of the greatest exploitation films made in recent history! From the west coast the Soska Twins bring us DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK and from the east coast Jason Eisener brings HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN.

And only, in Dallas, Texas at The Texas Theatre can you see them both at the DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK AND HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN DOUBLE FEATURE!

Come dressed as a hooker or a hobo for a chance to win one of many prizes to be presented by DOA Blood Bath Entertainment!

This coming Monday, May the 30th, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK will be playing at the incredible Texas Theater in a double feature billing with Canadian grindhouse gory masterpiece, HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN. How is this possible? Andrew Rose and DOA Bloodbath Entertainment have made it so - that's right, the man who also premiered DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK originally in the US is also the man behind the double billing.


If it hadn't been for the amazing collaborative, GRINDHOUSE, our film would have never came into existence the way that it did. Having a Canadian filmmaker as a part of the fake trailer team really hit home the old Rodriguez wisdom of making your own film your own way. It is an absolute honor and privilege to be screening with Jason Eisener's great film.


If you can make it out, promote the event, or have friends in town that would dig - please help get the word out. It's going to be a hell of a show and you don't get too many of these double features anymore.

It will be the perfect date night. Guaranteed.

~Sylv

Hobo With A Shotgun and Dead Hooker In A Trunk Double Feature ONLY in Texas

Once upon a time, in a crappy film school not too far away, two twins found themselves frequently leaving class. Were they bad students? Were they "too cool for school"?

Quite the opposite in fact.

They wanted to learn about film. Not being stimulated or supported or inspired in the least, they went to where we all fell in love with film, the movies. At the time a little double billing was making the rounds. Though it was met with mixed reviews (opinions are like assholes, everyone's got one), they knew that this very special double billing could teach them more about film making than anything happening inside those school walls.

Of course, these twins were none other than we Twisted Twins.

And the double feature? Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's GRINDHOUSE, featuring Robert's PLANET TERROR and Quentin's DEATH PROOF.

And I don't have to tell you that these men are without a shadow of a doubt two of the greatest living film makers in the world. If you disagree, kindly walk yourself into my fist as I don't like to exert too much energy smackin' a fool.

But cinematic Gods Rodriguez and Tarantino weren't the only ones to come out and play in this epic double billing... Oh, no.

GRINDHOUSE quite famously had a healthy serving of awesome fed to hungry film goers in the form of "faux trailers". Directors included the coolest Jew since Jesus, Eli Roth, rocker turned badass director, Rob Zombie, the brilliant Brit behind numerous comedic gems, Edgar Wright, and one Jason Eisener, Canuck extraordinaire who birthed the now world renowned HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN.

As most of you know, we were very inspired by this HOBO. To think a Canadian film maker could play with the big boys? We made our DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK originally as a faux trailer in hopes of perhaps making it into GRINDHOUSE 2, should such a happy day have come to pass. But, our path went in a different direction and our DEAD HOOKER, like so many youths before her, grew up before our eyes and became a full length feature. She's hit the festival circuit, made many friends of horror fans and reviewers alike, won numerous awards and praises, and now she's being released to the world. On May 23rd, the lucky folks in Australia and the UK can bring her home at LONG last and we'll be making an official announcement on when the rest of the world can cuddle up with our girl.

But there's more...

I'm sure you're saying, "dammit, Jen, we know this already!" and you should. What you don't know is the point to this lil' blog that I've been crawling towards at a snail's pace.

DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK premiered to the USA in the first annual WOMEN IN HORROR month (brain child of our beloved Hannah Neurotica of Ax Wound Zine) compliments of DOA Blood Bath Entertainment's Andrew Rose. Andrew has been a friend of our Hooker from the very beginning. When he learned that the Texas Theatre in Dallas was running HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN, he saw an opportunity for a match made in independent, horror lover, Canadian heaven. What if DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK could play with HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN?

No need to ask "what if?", my friends. It's a reality. HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN and DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK will be playing together ONE NIGHT ONLY at the Texas Theatre in Dallas May 30th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(No, there aren't enough exclamation marks in the known universe to properly express my epic joy and excitement.)

Here's the story...

From the coasts of the Great White North comes two of the greatest exploitation films made in recent history! From the west coast the Soska Twins bring us DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK and from the east coast Jason Eisener brings HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN.

And only, in Dallas, Texas at The Texas Theatre can you see them both at the DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK AND HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN DOUBLE FEATURE!

Come dressed as a hooker or a hobo for a chance to win one of many prizes to be presented by DOA Blood Bath Entertainment!

Show time starts at 7:00 PM! Tickets and details available at http://www.thetexastheatre.com/ in the near future!

Dead Hooker in a Trunk Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SAEN43OHZc

Hobo with a Shotgun Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSFKGn5ocLI

This is going to be one for the history books. I know not everyone in the world lives in Texas, but I'm telling you truly, IF you can find any way to be there, do it.

It's going to an absolutely epic event and we will be doing everything in our power to make this one of the biggest and bestest (yes, that's totally a word) events to ever grace the planet. TWO Canadian films that hit the world hard despite the overwhelming odds and obstacles. It truly is a triumph for both film, independent artists, and the people who love cinema and horror.

I want to extend our most heart felt gratitude to both Andrew Rose and theatre creative director Jason Reimer for making this impossible dream a reality.

And will the Twisted Twins make an appearance? Now, that would really make it one for the history books. You'll just have to wait and see ;)

Please spread the good word, boys and grrls. There's nothing we love more than the horror community. After all, together we're an army.

Bloody Best!
Jen and Sylv

Rue Morgue Examines the Dead Hooker Situation in Saskatoon

RUE MORGUE
A publication exclusively devoted to horror in culture and entertainment. Also features cinema, store, archives, events and general information. Rue Morgue is a Canadian magazine dedicated to covering "horror in culture and entertainment," taking its name from Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue."

As a pair of Canadian horror nerds, it's hard to describe the feeling of pride and accomplishment that comes from having the opportunity to speak to the folks of this legendary, great publication. This feeling was made even grander when April Snellings approached us with interest on writing about the censorship and banning issue that arose when Tom Hutchinson of The Roxy Theater in Saskatoon decided to remove the previously approved Dark Bridges Film Festival because the title of our film - 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk' - was too offensive. Despite the fact that he never bothered to even watch the film.

It’s been said that twice is a coincidence, but three times is a trend. If that’s the case, Rue Morgue readers have probably noticed a disturbing pattern in recent months, with horror films being pulled from theaters (Hatchet II), confiscated and banned (A Serbian Film, L.A. Zombie), and even used as a basis for obscenity charges (the short films of Montreal-based FX artist Remy Couture).

The latest kerfuffle is relatively small-scale, but no less troubling. Earlier this month, a scheduled double feature of indie horror flicks Dead Hooker in a Trunk and The Taint was booted from its Saskatoon venue when an anonymous caller phoned the theatre to complain about the posters that advertised the event (see the offending poster at right). Accusations of misogyny were thrown about, even though one of the films was made by women and features an ass-kicking female protagonist. The caller insisted that it was inappropriate to screen such films in Saskatoon – probably a reference to a string of prostitute murders in and around the city.

I've heard the theater make statements saying that they would have preferred this being kept a private matter and that just adds to the absurdity we are coming face to face with. There is a ratings board that agrees upon material then rates a film accordingly. If a viewer is not interested in seeing a particular movie, then they can choose not to see it. But to have someone else make that decision for film goers by their own sense of taste is outrageous. But it didn't stop there, Tom Hutchinson also pulled Canadian-made HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN a few days after the backlash of pulling DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK.

“I’m amazed how far this has gone without any of the concerned parties actually watching or looking into the film,” said Sylvia. “To title a film Dead Hooker in a Trunk and to make that film be a blatant disrespect to the title character would be absurd for any artist – especially for a pair of female filmmakers who started to create their own work because of frustrations with the poor representation of women often seen in film. There is a lot of over-the-top, almost anime-style violence throughout the film, but I didn’t want there to be a single laugh when [the title character] dies. It’s a very humanizing and sad sequence because the fact that this woman’s life was so heartlessly stolen from her was the driving force behind the events that unfold in the film.”

There are so many stories in the news about filmmakers - cast and crew - getting unfair treatment because of their creative work. If we stand by and allow this kind of behavior to go unchecked, then this trend of self-appointed censors making ill-informed decisions on what we can and can not see. Films that are a satire are being judged as if they are not. Artists that create gore and bodies for film are being charged with being 'morally corrupted'. Festival programmers are being charged for showing films about harsh subject matter. These are all reflections of things that actually take place in our world, but it seems it is the artist who wants to get into these matters through their work that is being condemned for the material and the real life issues go swept under the carpet.


This is an extremely important issue today. Whether you are a horror fan or not - that's not the issue - the issue is that self-appointed censors are making uneducated attacks on art and they are getting away with it. This is a masterfully written piece that interviews all parties involved - we: twisted twins, John Allison: the programmer of the Dark Bridges Film Fest, Drew Buldoc: the filmmaker behind THE TAINT, and even Tom Hutchinson: the man from the Roxy Theater with the ban-happy brain waves. Please take the time to read the article and share it with your friends. I would imagine that many people would be shocked to learn about these events taking place in their own backyards.


Today, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK will be playing at the Dark Bridges Film Festival that was given a venue by the wonderful team working at the Broadway Theater in Saskatoon. To add to their free thinking mentality and maybe because they are proud ti be Canadian, they will also be showing HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN at their theater. Seems a little strange that all this actually happened over a title, a poster, and no one watched the films before condemning them, but it did happen. It will continue to happen as long as we as a society allow it to happen.


I want to thank April for taking the time to really get into the nitty gritty of this issue with her extraordinary article. I am saddened by the turn of events by the Roxy Theater, but I am so grateful and honored to have had so many wonderful people from all walks of life stand up against this injustice and do their part in making a stand.

There may be a few people who are very far from 'getting it' or even accepting that something bigger is going on here, but there is an army of educated, free-thinking, eloquent individuals who see an injustice and do something about it. Thank you for turning what could have been very sad into something that has given me a lot of faith in the future.

Now, if you're in the area, head on over to the Broadway Theater and be ready to have some fun. The Dark Bridges Film Fest happens today and I hope everyone in attendance has a wonderful time! This became more than a festival to check out independents and I thank everyone who has supported the films and the festival through these unfortunate circumstances.

~Sylv

Yahoo News Knows The 'Dead Hooker' Blues

Slasher flicks aren't getting much respect from Canadian theatre chain Magic Lantern Cinemas, based on its decision not to screen three movies in Saskatoon, based on titles and posters alone.

"Dead Hooker in a Trunk," a satirical low-budget grindhouse film directed by identical Vancouver twins Jen and Sylvia Soska, had its April 22 screening, sponsored by the Dark Bridges Film Festival, cancelled by the Roxy Theatre.

This is the beginning of the article about the banning of our film in Saskatoon as reported by Yahoo News. When I first heard about a theater banning 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk', I thought the issue would be quickly remedied after the film was looked into or the backstory or the press the film has garnered or the filmmakers behind the film. But no. The banning decision by Tom Hutchinson of The Roxy Theater stands firm much to the surprise of.. well, free society.


It doesn't end there, as this seems like a situation where one bad decision now must be paired with more poor decisions. If only the man could be accountable for his error in judgment, but no, instead he is flapping like a chicken thrown into a river trying to stay afloat. What's next on Tom Hutchinson's tirade against freedom of expression through the arts?

Another critically acclaimed Canadian grindhouse film has apparently been caught in the crossfire, as the Roxy also cancelled a booking of "Hobo With a Shotgun," with the official explanation there wasn't enough public interest to bother with a second-run screening based on recent box office grosses from the Cineplex Odeon Centre Cinemas.

A reporter from the Saskatoon StarPhoenix, who was suspicion of the timing, noted 90 people on Facebook expressed a desire to attend "Hobo With a Shotgun" at the Roxy.

By contrast, just two people attended a second-run Roxy matinee of "Black Swan."

This is beyond revolting. It's a very exciting time for Canadian cinema with all these new creative voices coming out and having their own brand of Canadian entertainment. Jason Eisener's HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN is a triumph in originality and storytelling. It is appropriate for everyone. No. But that's why the rating system is in place.

I am shocked that Tom Hutchinson is being allowed to do this. It's complete and utter horse shit. Click here to read the whole expository piece by Yahoo News.


What is being forgotten here is that Canada is not always known for its cinema. American made films seem to have almost a monopoly on what is made and what is released and what teams are being hired.

It is such a cool time to see Canadian-made films by Canadian teams that show that we can make good films too. We have unique voices too. It's so backwards that it is sickening that those grand accomplishments have been overlooked because they are not the things that are being focused on.


A very sad day for Canada indeed.

~Sylv