Following a festival tour, Noah Schamus’ directorial debut Summer Solstice will, fittingly, be arriving this summer from Cartilage Films, the indie distributor of another stellar recent directorial debut, Free Time. A tale of a friendship with a queer and trans perspective, the film will open on June 14 at NYCs IFC Center, followed by a June 21 release on LA’s Laemmle Glendale. Ahead of the release, the first trailer has now arrived.
Here’s the synopsis: “Trans man Leo’s (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) life is a jumble of auditions, acting classes, barista jobs, and situationships, all of which he hopes will amount to more. Unexpectedly, Leo’s college best friend, cisgender and straight Eleanor (Marianne Rendón), calls Leo announcing that she’ll be driving through NYC, and offers to pick him up for an impromptu trip upstate. They embark on the weekend getaway, marking their first time spent together since Leo began transitioning.
Here’s the synopsis: “Trans man Leo’s (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) life is a jumble of auditions, acting classes, barista jobs, and situationships, all of which he hopes will amount to more. Unexpectedly, Leo’s college best friend, cisgender and straight Eleanor (Marianne Rendón), calls Leo announcing that she’ll be driving through NYC, and offers to pick him up for an impromptu trip upstate. They embark on the weekend getaway, marking their first time spent together since Leo began transitioning.
- 5/7/2024
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
"Still me, Eleanor. Definitely still me. Cartilage Films has revealed an official US trailer for an indie drama titled Summer Solstice, set for small art house summer opening in limited theaters this June. The film originally premiered at the 2023 Provincetown Film Festival, as well as the Deauville, Woodstock, and BFI Flare Film Festivals. Summer Solstice centers on Leo, a trans man, and Eleanor, his cisgender and straight friend from college, who embark on an impromptu weekend trip together going upsate. They uncover old secrets, new challenges, and find the answer to the age-old question: can bad sex and good friends mix? Maybe! Maybe not? Starring Bobbi Salvör Menuez as Leo and Marianne Rendón as Eleanor. One early review praises this as "a remarkable little movie about finding emotional maturity through honesty, most importantly with yourself." This looks like it features two lovely lead performances within a heartfelt story. // Continue Reading...
- 5/6/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Cartilage Films has acquired worldwide rights to “Summer Solstice,” a new comedy that marks the feature debut of its writer and director Noah Schamus. The movie boasts an ensemble cast led by breakout performances from Bobbi Salvör Menuez (“Under the Silver Lake”) and Marianne Rendón (“Charlie Says”).
The producers are billing Schamus’s film as a modern twist on the buddy comedy, with this one told from a queer and trans perspective. It comes as filmmakers are offering fresh takes on queer stories.
“Summer Solstice” world premiered at Provincetown Film Festival and then went on to screen at New York’s LGBTQ+ film festival NewFest, with additional selections at Mill Valley Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival and Deauville American Film Festival. It will be released in theaters beginning June 14 in New York at the IFC Center with a national rollout to follow.
In “Summer Solstice,” trans man Leo’s (Bobbi...
The producers are billing Schamus’s film as a modern twist on the buddy comedy, with this one told from a queer and trans perspective. It comes as filmmakers are offering fresh takes on queer stories.
“Summer Solstice” world premiered at Provincetown Film Festival and then went on to screen at New York’s LGBTQ+ film festival NewFest, with additional selections at Mill Valley Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival and Deauville American Film Festival. It will be released in theaters beginning June 14 in New York at the IFC Center with a national rollout to follow.
In “Summer Solstice,” trans man Leo’s (Bobbi...
- 4/10/2024
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies) leads the genre-bending werewolf movie My Animal, available now in select theaters and VOD, and the musically inclined actor also wrote and performed a new single “Wicked Animal” now available to stream.
The new single is available to listen to now, which Stenberg wrote, produced and plays everything on the track.
Stenberg says of the track in a press release, “I wrote this track from the bathroom of a hotel in a tiny town situated between mountains of snow in northern Ontario during the filming of our movie My Animal. Sometimes my costar Bobbi and I wandered up and down the icy block that made up downtown, but most of the time we found solace from the cold in our room together, singing on handheld karaoke mics. This song came from that place of deep isolation and playfulness.”
My Animal, the feature debut of director Jacqueline Castel,...
The new single is available to listen to now, which Stenberg wrote, produced and plays everything on the track.
Stenberg says of the track in a press release, “I wrote this track from the bathroom of a hotel in a tiny town situated between mountains of snow in northern Ontario during the filming of our movie My Animal. Sometimes my costar Bobbi and I wandered up and down the icy block that made up downtown, but most of the time we found solace from the cold in our room together, singing on handheld karaoke mics. This song came from that place of deep isolation and playfulness.”
My Animal, the feature debut of director Jacqueline Castel,...
- 9/29/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
‘My Animal’ Director Jacqueline Castel on Star Chemistry in Steamy Werewolf Genre-Bender [Interview]
My Animal, the feature debut of director Jacqueline Castel, gives a new spin on the werewolf mythos in a sexual coming-of-age genre-bender.
The feature debut centers on a secret tryst between small town hockey player Heather (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) and ice skater Jonny (Bodies Bodies Bodies’ Amandla Stenberg) that grows ever more dangerous thanks to a family werewolf curse.
My Animal premiered in select theaters on September 8 and will be released on Digital outlets on September 15.
Bloody Disgusting previously spoke with Castel about her debut out of Sundance, where the filmmaker broke down the werewolf metaphor and the symbolism behind her use of the color red. Ahead of its theatrical release, Castel shared the real-life chemistry between her leads for her twisted werewolf romance and how that translated to the screen.
Castel recalls how her casting fell into place, leading to a pair of leads who already had built-in chemistry.
The feature debut centers on a secret tryst between small town hockey player Heather (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) and ice skater Jonny (Bodies Bodies Bodies’ Amandla Stenberg) that grows ever more dangerous thanks to a family werewolf curse.
My Animal premiered in select theaters on September 8 and will be released on Digital outlets on September 15.
Bloody Disgusting previously spoke with Castel about her debut out of Sundance, where the filmmaker broke down the werewolf metaphor and the symbolism behind her use of the color red. Ahead of its theatrical release, Castel shared the real-life chemistry between her leads for her twisted werewolf romance and how that translated to the screen.
Castel recalls how her casting fell into place, leading to a pair of leads who already had built-in chemistry.
- 9/13/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
The pumpkin spice flows free, and streaming services have begun to unveil their densely packed Halloween programming. That means the Halloween season is officially here, at least as far as horror is concerned. To help you prepare for the onslaught of horror, here’s a helpful Fall 2023 Horror Preview Guide.
It’s a densely packed slate this Halloween, and trust us, this is only the tip of the iceberg for what’s ahead. Expect plenty of surprise release announcements in store as more streaming services debut their seasonal releases, schedules, and beyond.
Here are 31 horror releases coming soon to help you get into the spooky spirit!
#ChadGetsTheAxe – September 1 (VOD)
Influencers get more than they bargained for in this horror comedy based on a short. The film “follows four social media influencers as they live-stream their trip to Devil’s Manor, the former home of a Satanic Cult. Things don’t go well.
It’s a densely packed slate this Halloween, and trust us, this is only the tip of the iceberg for what’s ahead. Expect plenty of surprise release announcements in store as more streaming services debut their seasonal releases, schedules, and beyond.
Here are 31 horror releases coming soon to help you get into the spooky spirit!
#ChadGetsTheAxe – September 1 (VOD)
Influencers get more than they bargained for in this horror comedy based on a short. The film “follows four social media influencers as they live-stream their trip to Devil’s Manor, the former home of a Satanic Cult. Things don’t go well.
- 8/25/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Paramount has debuted a new trailer for the genre-bending supernatural love story ‘My Animal.’
Tormented by a hidden family curse, Heather is forced to live a secluded life on the outskirts of a small town. When she falls for the rebellious Jonny, their connection threatens to unravel Heather’s suppressed desires, tempting her to unleash the animal within.
Directed by Jacqueline Castel, the movie stars Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Amandla Stenberg, Heidi von Palleske, Cory Lipman, Charlie & Harrison Halpenny, Joe Apollonio, Scott Thompson, Dean McDermott and Stephen McHattie.
Also in trailers – “Tenacity is a superpower…” Michael Peña stars in trailer for ‘A Million Miles Away’
The film hits select U.S. cinemas in September 8th, followed by a digital release on the 15th of September.
The post Love doesn’t run smooth in trailer for ‘My Animal’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.
Tormented by a hidden family curse, Heather is forced to live a secluded life on the outskirts of a small town. When she falls for the rebellious Jonny, their connection threatens to unravel Heather’s suppressed desires, tempting her to unleash the animal within.
Directed by Jacqueline Castel, the movie stars Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Amandla Stenberg, Heidi von Palleske, Cory Lipman, Charlie & Harrison Halpenny, Joe Apollonio, Scott Thompson, Dean McDermott and Stephen McHattie.
Also in trailers – “Tenacity is a superpower…” Michael Peña stars in trailer for ‘A Million Miles Away’
The film hits select U.S. cinemas in September 8th, followed by a digital release on the 15th of September.
The post Love doesn’t run smooth in trailer for ‘My Animal’ appeared first on HeyUGuys.
- 8/19/2023
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
The horror romance My Animal – which stars Amandla Stenberg of Bodies Bodies Bodies (read our review of that one Here) and Bobbi Salvör Menuez of Nocturnal Animals (which we reviewed at This Link) – has been getting positive reviews and strong word of mouth from its festival screenings, and a wider audience will soon have the chance to see it. The movie will be receiving a limited theatrical release on September 8th, with a digital release following on September 15th. And with those dates drawing near, a trailer for My Animal has arrived online. You can check it out in the embed above.
My Animal is coming our way from Paramount Global Content Distribution. The feature directorial debut of Jacqueline Castel, who was working from a screenplay by first-time feature writer Jae Matthews, the film is set in a small northern town and tells the story of Heather, an outcast teenage...
My Animal is coming our way from Paramount Global Content Distribution. The feature directorial debut of Jacqueline Castel, who was working from a screenplay by first-time feature writer Jae Matthews, the film is set in a small northern town and tells the story of Heather, an outcast teenage...
- 8/18/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Bobbi Salvör Menuez (Euphoria) and Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies) ignite in this genre-bending supernatural love story. Tormented by a hidden family curse, Heather is forced to live a secluded life on the outskirts of a small town. When she falls for the rebellious Jonny, their connection threatens to unravel Heather's suppressed desires, tempting her to unleash the animal within. Jacqueline Castel's Sundance midnighter My Animal will arrive in select theaters on September 8, 2023 and on digital on September 15, 2023. Paramount is distribuing the slow-burn werewolf flick next month so they have sent along the official trailer and key art so you know what to look for. My Animal stars Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Amandla Stenberg, Heidi von Palleske, Cory Lipman, Charlie &...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 8/17/2023
- Screen Anarchy
"I'll be back before midnight, so..." Paramount Global has revealed an official trailer for a supernatural love story titled My Animal, from filmmaker Jacqueline Castel. This first premiered in the Midnight section of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, and also played at the Fantasia & Overlook Film Festivals. Bobbi Salvör Menuez and Amandla Stenberg ignite in this genre-bending horror film. Tormented by a hidden family curse, Heather (an outcast teenage goalie) is forced to live a secluded life on the outskirts of a small town. When she falls for the rebellious Jonny (a tormented figure skater), their connection threatens to unravel Heather's suppressed desires, tempting her to unleash the animal within (clearly it's a werewolf). "Beneath the surface of a harrowing family drama, a steamy teen romance, and a classic monster tale, Castel bolsters this genre gem with a tactile and emotional excavation of otherness." The cast includes Heidi von Palleske,...
- 8/17/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Filmmakers love to use horny horror and genre metamorphosis for tales of eroticism or queer eroticism: hell, it works, and it’s often a beguiling mixture of moods, tones, and feelings in our nether regions. And that seems to be what filmmaker Jacqueline Castel is going for with “My Animal,” a surreal, erotic, romantic werewolf movie that premiered at Sundance earlier this year.
Written by Jae Matthews, the film stars Bobbi Salvör Menuez (from “Euphoria”), Amandla Stenberg (“Bodies Bodies Bodies”), Heidi von Palleske, Cory Lipman, Charlie & Harrison Halpenny, Joe Apollonio, Scott Thompson, Dean McDermott, and Stephen McHattie.
Continue reading ‘My Animal’ Trailer: Amandla Stenberg & ‘Euphoria’s Bobbi Salvör Menuez Star In A Trippy Lesbian Werewolf Romance at The Playlist.
Written by Jae Matthews, the film stars Bobbi Salvör Menuez (from “Euphoria”), Amandla Stenberg (“Bodies Bodies Bodies”), Heidi von Palleske, Cory Lipman, Charlie & Harrison Halpenny, Joe Apollonio, Scott Thompson, Dean McDermott, and Stephen McHattie.
Continue reading ‘My Animal’ Trailer: Amandla Stenberg & ‘Euphoria’s Bobbi Salvör Menuez Star In A Trippy Lesbian Werewolf Romance at The Playlist.
- 8/17/2023
- by The Playlist
- The Playlist
Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies) leads the upcoming horror movie My Animal, which Paramount has announced today that they’ll be releasing this coming September.
First reported by Indiewire, My Animal premieres in theaters September 8 and will be released on Digital outlets on September 15. You can watch the official trailer below.
My Animal, the feature debut of director Jacqueline Castel, has been rated “R” for: “Language throughout, sexual content, nudity, some drug use and violence.”
Amandla Stenberg stars in the upcoming horror movie alongside Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Stephen Mchattie, Heidi Von Palleske, Cory Lipman, and Joe Apollonio.
In the film…
“Heather, an outcast teenage goalie, longs to play on the hockey team of her small town. She meets and falls in love with newcomer Jonny, an alluring but tormented figure skater. The relationship blossoms despite Heather’s struggles with her alcoholic mother, her hidden sexual orientation, and a familial curse...
First reported by Indiewire, My Animal premieres in theaters September 8 and will be released on Digital outlets on September 15. You can watch the official trailer below.
My Animal, the feature debut of director Jacqueline Castel, has been rated “R” for: “Language throughout, sexual content, nudity, some drug use and violence.”
Amandla Stenberg stars in the upcoming horror movie alongside Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Stephen Mchattie, Heidi Von Palleske, Cory Lipman, and Joe Apollonio.
In the film…
“Heather, an outcast teenage goalie, longs to play on the hockey team of her small town. She meets and falls in love with newcomer Jonny, an alluring but tormented figure skater. The relationship blossoms despite Heather’s struggles with her alcoholic mother, her hidden sexual orientation, and a familial curse...
- 8/17/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
A sexual awakening unlocks a supernatural curse in first-time filmmaker Jacqueline Castel’s “My Animal,” starring “Bodies Bodies Bodies” breakout Amandla Stenberg and “Euphoria” alum Bobbi Salvör Menuez.
“My Animal” premiered at 2023 Sundance and follows an adolescent queer romance between a mysterious outsider and a burnt-out figure skater. The film was written by Jae Matthews.
Per the official synopsis, tormented by a hidden family curse, Heather (Menuez) is forced to live a secluded life on the outskirts of a small town. When she falls for the rebellious Jonny (Stenberg), their connection threatens to unravel Heather’s suppressed desires, tempting her to unleash the animal within.
Heidi von Palleske, Cory Lipman, Charlie and Harrison Halpenny, Joe Apollonio, Scott Thompson, Dean McDermott, and Stephen McHattie round out the cast. The horror-romance is produced by Andrew Bronfman and Michael Solomon, and is a Paramount Global Content Distribution release.
Director Castel called the film...
“My Animal” premiered at 2023 Sundance and follows an adolescent queer romance between a mysterious outsider and a burnt-out figure skater. The film was written by Jae Matthews.
Per the official synopsis, tormented by a hidden family curse, Heather (Menuez) is forced to live a secluded life on the outskirts of a small town. When she falls for the rebellious Jonny (Stenberg), their connection threatens to unravel Heather’s suppressed desires, tempting her to unleash the animal within.
Heidi von Palleske, Cory Lipman, Charlie and Harrison Halpenny, Joe Apollonio, Scott Thompson, Dean McDermott, and Stephen McHattie round out the cast. The horror-romance is produced by Andrew Bronfman and Michael Solomon, and is a Paramount Global Content Distribution release.
Director Castel called the film...
- 8/17/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The horror romance My Animal – which stars Amandla Stenberg of Bodies Bodies Bodies (read our review of that one Here) and Bobbi Salvör Menuez of Nocturnal Animals (which we reviewed at This Link) – will be receiving a limited theatrical release on September 8th, with a digital release following on September 15th. With those dates right around the corner, the ratings board at the Motion Picture Association has gone ahead given the film an R rating for “language throughout, sexual content, nudity, some drug use and violence“.
My Animal is coming our way from Paramount Global Content Distribution. The feature directorial debut of Jacqueline Castel, who was working from a screenplay by first-time feature writer Jae Matthews, the film is set in a small northern town and tells the story of Heather, an outcast teenage hockey goalie (Menuez), who falls for the town’s newcomer (Stenberg), an alluring but tormented figure skater.
My Animal is coming our way from Paramount Global Content Distribution. The feature directorial debut of Jacqueline Castel, who was working from a screenplay by first-time feature writer Jae Matthews, the film is set in a small northern town and tells the story of Heather, an outcast teenage hockey goalie (Menuez), who falls for the town’s newcomer (Stenberg), an alluring but tormented figure skater.
- 8/7/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies) stars in the upcoming horror movie My Animal, which was acquired out of the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year by Paramount.
My Animal has been officially rated “R” this week for…
“Language throughout, sexual content, nudity, some drug use and violence.”
My Animal is the feature debut of director Jacqueline Castel.
Amandla Stenberg stars in the upcoming horror movie alongside Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Stephen Mchattie, Heidi Von Palleske, Cory Lipman, and Joe Apollonio.
In the film…
“Heather, an outcast teenage goalie, longs to play on the hockey team of her small northern town. She meets and falls in love with newcomer Jonny, an alluring but tormented figure skater. The girls’ relationship blossoms despite Heather’s struggles with her alcoholic mother, her hidden sexual orientation, and a familial curse that transforms her into a feral wolf under the full moon.
“Heather and Jonny’s secret...
My Animal has been officially rated “R” this week for…
“Language throughout, sexual content, nudity, some drug use and violence.”
My Animal is the feature debut of director Jacqueline Castel.
Amandla Stenberg stars in the upcoming horror movie alongside Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Stephen Mchattie, Heidi Von Palleske, Cory Lipman, and Joe Apollonio.
In the film…
“Heather, an outcast teenage goalie, longs to play on the hockey team of her small northern town. She meets and falls in love with newcomer Jonny, an alluring but tormented figure skater. The girls’ relationship blossoms despite Heather’s struggles with her alcoholic mother, her hidden sexual orientation, and a familial curse that transforms her into a feral wolf under the full moon.
“Heather and Jonny’s secret...
- 8/2/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Amandla Stenberg has a couple of dates with Outfest next month.
First, the actress has been selected to receive the fest’s Platinum Maverick Award, an honor that “recognizes Stenberg’s artistry in film and music and her unapologetic use of her platform for fierce advocacy and activism within the LGBTQ+ community.” Stenberg will take the stage to accept the prize during opening night festivities at L.A.’s Orpheum Theatre on July 13.
Two days later, on July 15, Stenberg will turn up alongside co-star Bobbi Salvör Menuez and their director Jacqueline Castel at L.A.’s Redcat for a showing of their film, My Animal, as a festival platinum centerpiece screening. The screening, which follows a debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January, will be followed by a Platinum Alchemy Party and Music Showcase at 10Dtla, headlined by Madame Gandhi (who will receive a special award) and featuring such acts as Mega Bog,...
First, the actress has been selected to receive the fest’s Platinum Maverick Award, an honor that “recognizes Stenberg’s artistry in film and music and her unapologetic use of her platform for fierce advocacy and activism within the LGBTQ+ community.” Stenberg will take the stage to accept the prize during opening night festivities at L.A.’s Orpheum Theatre on July 13.
Two days later, on July 15, Stenberg will turn up alongside co-star Bobbi Salvör Menuez and their director Jacqueline Castel at L.A.’s Redcat for a showing of their film, My Animal, as a festival platinum centerpiece screening. The screening, which follows a debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January, will be followed by a Platinum Alchemy Party and Music Showcase at 10Dtla, headlined by Madame Gandhi (who will receive a special award) and featuring such acts as Mega Bog,...
- 6/15/2023
- by Chris Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Musician Amandla Stenberg, Madame Gandhi to receive honours.
My Animal, Jacqueline Castel’s queer werewolf romance which premiered at Sundance, has been named the centrepiece screening at the 41st Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival running July 13-23.
Outfest will honour actor, producer and musician Amandla Stenberg with its Platinum Maverick Award at the opening night in recognition of her “artistry in film and music, and her unapologetic use of her platform for fierce advocacy and activism within the LGBTQ+ community”.
Stenberg and Bobbi Salvör Menuez star in My Animal, which screens on July 15. That night Madame Gandhi will receive...
My Animal, Jacqueline Castel’s queer werewolf romance which premiered at Sundance, has been named the centrepiece screening at the 41st Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival running July 13-23.
Outfest will honour actor, producer and musician Amandla Stenberg with its Platinum Maverick Award at the opening night in recognition of her “artistry in film and music, and her unapologetic use of her platform for fierce advocacy and activism within the LGBTQ+ community”.
Stenberg and Bobbi Salvör Menuez star in My Animal, which screens on July 15. That night Madame Gandhi will receive...
- 6/15/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Today, Outfest announced the centerpiece events and special awardees that will headline the 41st Outfest Los Angeles Summer Festival presented by Warner Bros. Discovery and Genesis Motor America, taking place July 13 – 23 in venues around Los Angeles.
Outfest will honor actor, producer and musician Amandla Stenberg with its Platinum Maverick Award, to be presented at the festival’s opening night celebration on July 13th at the Orpheum Theatre. The award recognizes Stenberg’s artistry in film and music, and her unapologetic use of her platform for fierce advocacy and activism within the LGBTQ+ community. Stenberg will also appear alongside actor Bobbi Salvör Menuez and director Jacqueline Castel at the Redcat in downtown Los Angeles at Outfest’s July 15th Platinum Centerpiece screening of My Animal, the trio’s queer horror romance that world premiered earlier this year at Sundance.
Following the My Animal screening on July 15th will be the Platinum...
Outfest will honor actor, producer and musician Amandla Stenberg with its Platinum Maverick Award, to be presented at the festival’s opening night celebration on July 13th at the Orpheum Theatre. The award recognizes Stenberg’s artistry in film and music, and her unapologetic use of her platform for fierce advocacy and activism within the LGBTQ+ community. Stenberg will also appear alongside actor Bobbi Salvör Menuez and director Jacqueline Castel at the Redcat in downtown Los Angeles at Outfest’s July 15th Platinum Centerpiece screening of My Animal, the trio’s queer horror romance that world premiered earlier this year at Sundance.
Following the My Animal screening on July 15th will be the Platinum...
- 6/15/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: 1091 Pictures has acquired the U.S. rights to the new romantic drama Under My Skin. The film marks the feature debut of Australian writer-director David O’Donnell and is produced by Raynen O’Keefe and Alex Russell. 1091 Pictures is planning a June 6 on-demand release.
The story follows Denny, a free spirit and artist who falls for Ryan, a strait-laced lawyer. When Denny questions gender, their love is tested.
The lead character, Denny, is played by four different actors who identify as non-binary, or trans non-binary: Liv Hewson, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Kylo Freeman and Lex Ryan. Producer Alex Russell and Alexis Denisof also star.
“Under My Skin follows four wonderfully gender diverse humans, all rolled into one – they inhabit the same role,” said O’Keefe, who also identifies as trans non-binary. “Where it is still an uphill battle and obstacle to argue for the sake of actors to be able to play characters who,...
The story follows Denny, a free spirit and artist who falls for Ryan, a strait-laced lawyer. When Denny questions gender, their love is tested.
The lead character, Denny, is played by four different actors who identify as non-binary, or trans non-binary: Liv Hewson, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Kylo Freeman and Lex Ryan. Producer Alex Russell and Alexis Denisof also star.
“Under My Skin follows four wonderfully gender diverse humans, all rolled into one – they inhabit the same role,” said O’Keefe, who also identifies as trans non-binary. “Where it is still an uphill battle and obstacle to argue for the sake of actors to be able to play characters who,...
- 3/22/2023
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Lycanthropy serves as a metaphor for burgeoning queer desire in My Animal from director Jacqueline Castel. Heather (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) is a benchwarmer on her local hockey team and deals with an alcoholic mother at home. Adding to her misery is the fact that she’s confined to her quarters during each full moon due to a dangerous transformation occurring within her. She finally finds a salve in Jonny (Amandla Stenberg), a figure skater who recently moved to town. Desperate to flee from her myriad problems, Heather hopes that Jonny will join her on the journey to society’s outskirts. Edited by […]
The post “My Techniques Are Intuitive”: Editors Marc Boucrot and Jacqueline Castel on My Animal first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “My Techniques Are Intuitive”: Editors Marc Boucrot and Jacqueline Castel on My Animal first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/4/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Lycanthropy serves as a metaphor for burgeoning queer desire in My Animal from director Jacqueline Castel. Heather (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) is a benchwarmer on her local hockey team and deals with an alcoholic mother at home. Adding to her misery is the fact that she’s confined to her quarters during each full moon due to a dangerous transformation occurring within her. She finally finds a salve in Jonny (Amandla Stenberg), a figure skater who recently moved to town. Desperate to flee from her myriad problems, Heather hopes that Jonny will join her on the journey to society’s outskirts. Edited by […]
The post “My Techniques Are Intuitive”: Editors Marc Boucrot and Jacqueline Castel on My Animal first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “My Techniques Are Intuitive”: Editors Marc Boucrot and Jacqueline Castel on My Animal first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/4/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Heather (Bobbi Salvör Menuez), a hockey player with a troubled home life, becomes instantly drawn to figure skater Jonny (Amandla Stenberg) who’s just rolled into town. Despite being held captive in her own house during each full moon, Heather yearns to escape and have Jonny by her side. Teeming with queer sensuality and lust-fueled lycanthropy, director Jacqueline Castel’s My Animal injects originality into a classic monster mythology. Dp Bryn McCashin tells Filmmaker about lensing the film, which entailed frigid night shoots in Northern Ontario, Canada. See all responses to our annual Sundance cinematographer interviews here. Filmmaker: How and why did […]
The post “It Was -30 to -40 Degrees Celsius for Most of the Shoot”: Dp Bryn McCashin on My Animal first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “It Was -30 to -40 Degrees Celsius for Most of the Shoot”: Dp Bryn McCashin on My Animal first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/4/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Heather (Bobbi Salvör Menuez), a hockey player with a troubled home life, becomes instantly drawn to figure skater Jonny (Amandla Stenberg) who’s just rolled into town. Despite being held captive in her own house during each full moon, Heather yearns to escape and have Jonny by her side. Teeming with queer sensuality and lust-fueled lycanthropy, director Jacqueline Castel’s My Animal injects originality into a classic monster mythology. Dp Bryn McCashin tells Filmmaker about lensing the film, which entailed frigid night shoots in Northern Ontario, Canada. See all responses to our annual Sundance cinematographer interviews here. Filmmaker: How and why did […]
The post “It Was -30 to -40 Degrees Celsius for Most of the Shoot”: Dp Bryn McCashin on My Animal first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “It Was -30 to -40 Degrees Celsius for Most of the Shoot”: Dp Bryn McCashin on My Animal first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/4/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Stars: Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Amandla Stenberg, Stephen McHattie | Written by Jae Matthews | Directed by Jacqueline Castel
With her homelife hampered by an alcoholic mother and a hockey team who keeps her on the sidelines, Heather has a lot to grapple with — including the fact that she’s actually a werewolf. When she meets promising ice-skating star Jonny, Heather’s world turns upside down, willing to risk her own safety in the name of blossoming romance. As Jonny seems content to join her on the outskirts, Heather is left to battle the horrors that lie in wait within herself.
Werewolves… haven’t we seen them somewhere before? From Werewolf By Night to half of the cast of Twilight, it’s a trope film has visited countless times — and it could easily be argued that we don’t need to again. If a filmmaker is going to tackle one of the stereotypical genre cornerstones,...
With her homelife hampered by an alcoholic mother and a hockey team who keeps her on the sidelines, Heather has a lot to grapple with — including the fact that she’s actually a werewolf. When she meets promising ice-skating star Jonny, Heather’s world turns upside down, willing to risk her own safety in the name of blossoming romance. As Jonny seems content to join her on the outskirts, Heather is left to battle the horrors that lie in wait within herself.
Werewolves… haven’t we seen them somewhere before? From Werewolf By Night to half of the cast of Twilight, it’s a trope film has visited countless times — and it could easily be argued that we don’t need to again. If a filmmaker is going to tackle one of the stereotypical genre cornerstones,...
- 2/3/2023
- by Jasmine Valentine
- Nerdly
This review originally ran January 23, 2023, in conjunction with the film’s US premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
The collected “Discworld” novels by Terry Pratchett are so weird and so imaginative and so wry that very few filmmakers have ever seriously tried to adapt them. We’ve had one short-lived live-action series, one short film, a few animated mini-series and three ambitious live-action mini-series.
But feature films have eluded the dwellers of “Discworld” until just about — actually wait, let me check my watch here — now.
“The Amazing Maurice,” based on the 2001 children’s book “The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents,” features the voice of Hugh Laurie as the title character. He’s a cat who can talk in a world where cats don’t usually do that, even though magic is real, the living personification of Death walks among us and fairy-tale characters abound as well.
Then again, rats can’t talk either,...
The collected “Discworld” novels by Terry Pratchett are so weird and so imaginative and so wry that very few filmmakers have ever seriously tried to adapt them. We’ve had one short-lived live-action series, one short film, a few animated mini-series and three ambitious live-action mini-series.
But feature films have eluded the dwellers of “Discworld” until just about — actually wait, let me check my watch here — now.
“The Amazing Maurice,” based on the 2001 children’s book “The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents,” features the voice of Hugh Laurie as the title character. He’s a cat who can talk in a world where cats don’t usually do that, even though magic is real, the living personification of Death walks among us and fairy-tale characters abound as well.
Then again, rats can’t talk either,...
- 2/3/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- The Wrap
Similar to vampire movies, the werewolf category is crowded with diverse takes on the creature from European folklore. From the classic The Wolf Man, horror-comedy An American Werewolf in London, to the cult classic Ginger Snaps, storytellers found fascinating ways to bring the mythos into the film medium. Unfortunately, Jacqueline Castel’s My Animal has an engrossing concept that it can’t pull off.
‘My Animal’ follows a dangerous romance L-r: Amandla Stenberg as Jonny and Bobbi Salvör Menuez as Heather | Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Heather (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) lives with her extremely oppressive family with strict rules, which all revolves around her stern mother (Heidi von Palleske). Meanwhile, Heather spends much of her time at the local hockey rink, where she desperately wants to join the team. She’s forced to remain at home every time there’s a full moon, keeping her from any sort of a social life.
‘My Animal’ follows a dangerous romance L-r: Amandla Stenberg as Jonny and Bobbi Salvör Menuez as Heather | Courtesy of Sundance Institute
Heather (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) lives with her extremely oppressive family with strict rules, which all revolves around her stern mother (Heidi von Palleske). Meanwhile, Heather spends much of her time at the local hockey rink, where she desperately wants to join the team. She’s forced to remain at home every time there’s a full moon, keeping her from any sort of a social life.
- 1/31/2023
- by Jeff Nelson
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Indisputably the best female-centric werewolf movie shot in Canada since Ginger Snaps (2000) — admittedly not the most competitive of fields — sensual queer horror story My Animal marks an impressive, confident feature debut for several key talents. First and foremost, debutante director Jacqueline Castel, already an experienced short film and music video helmer who has collaborated with David Lynch and John Carpenter, imbues this first-feature script by Jae Matthews with a woozy, dreamy, retro sensibility. (Matthews is also half of the electronic band Boy Harsher along with Augustus Muller, who contribute a very John Carpenter-esque soundtrack of sustained drones and bass-heavy humming.)
Altogether, the team creates a richly hued setting for the young but in some ways more seasoned leads. Bobbi Salvor Menuez (I Love Dick) stars as a lovelorn teen-wolf living in the sticks who looks at Amandla Stenberg’s (Bodies Bodies Bodies) figure skater with the kind of longing you...
Altogether, the team creates a richly hued setting for the young but in some ways more seasoned leads. Bobbi Salvor Menuez (I Love Dick) stars as a lovelorn teen-wolf living in the sticks who looks at Amandla Stenberg’s (Bodies Bodies Bodies) figure skater with the kind of longing you...
- 1/25/2023
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘My Animal’ Star Amandla Stenberg Talks the Supernatural Romance and Being Manifested by ‘Star Wars’
Amandla Stenberg regrets not being able to attend the Sundance premiere of her new film My Animal, but she’s been a little preoccupied in a galaxy far, far away. Fortunately, Paramount picked up the ‘80s-set supernatural romance prior to the Park City festival, so Stenberg’s collaborators didn’t really need the budding superstar to help garner interest on-site.
Jacqueline Castel’s feature directorial debut revolves around a small-town romance between Bobbi Salvör Menuez’s Heather and Stenberg’s Jonny, as both characters struggle to embrace their true selves. The two lead actors had already been friends for a number of years, so Stenberg immediately connected with the material and said yes to Menuez and Castel’s pitch.
“[My Animal] felt like the kind of queer teenage dreamscape that I wish I’d grown up with. It was the queer world that I had fantasized about and dreamt about while growing up,...
Jacqueline Castel’s feature directorial debut revolves around a small-town romance between Bobbi Salvör Menuez’s Heather and Stenberg’s Jonny, as both characters struggle to embrace their true selves. The two lead actors had already been friends for a number of years, so Stenberg immediately connected with the material and said yes to Menuez and Castel’s pitch.
“[My Animal] felt like the kind of queer teenage dreamscape that I wish I’d grown up with. It was the queer world that I had fantasized about and dreamt about while growing up,...
- 1/25/2023
- by Brian Davids
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Director Jacqueline Castel and screenwriter Jae Matthews (The Runner) give a new spin on the werewolf mythos with My Animal (read my review here).
The feature debut by Castel, which made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, sees a teen outcast connect with and fall for a town newcomer, igniting a personal transformation. My Animal stars Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Amandla Stenberg, Stephen Mchattie, Heidi Von Palleske, Cory Lipman, and Joe Apollonio.
Bloody Disgusting spoke with Castel about her debut, the werewolf metaphor, and the symbolism behind her use of the color red.
Castel breaks down what attracted her to Matthews’ script and its approach to the werewolf metaphor, both as Otherness and Heather’s (Salvör Menuez) sexual discovery.
“I’m connected to outsider stories,” Castle explains. “I’m interested in telling outsider stories and stories that exist on the fringes of society. That was something that attracted me...
The feature debut by Castel, which made its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, sees a teen outcast connect with and fall for a town newcomer, igniting a personal transformation. My Animal stars Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Amandla Stenberg, Stephen Mchattie, Heidi Von Palleske, Cory Lipman, and Joe Apollonio.
Bloody Disgusting spoke with Castel about her debut, the werewolf metaphor, and the symbolism behind her use of the color red.
Castel breaks down what attracted her to Matthews’ script and its approach to the werewolf metaphor, both as Otherness and Heather’s (Salvör Menuez) sexual discovery.
“I’m connected to outsider stories,” Castle explains. “I’m interested in telling outsider stories and stories that exist on the fringes of society. That was something that attracted me...
- 1/25/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
The werewolf — the idea that a human being can suddenly transform into a savage beast — has fascinated people for centuries, from folklore and mythology to books and, of course, films. The movies have always loved a good werewolf tale, be it "The Wolf Man," "An American Werewolf in London," "Ginger Snaps," or, uh, "Teen Wolf." "My Animal" is the latest entry in the never-ending subgenre, and it's not your typical lycanthrope flick. A moody slow burn loaded with style and a killer score, "My Animal" is a queer werewolf tale using the idea of the werewolf to symbolize its lead character's inner struggles. In other words, don't expect a ton of cool transformation scenes where someone suddenly grows fur and sprouts fangs.
Heather, played by Bobbi Salvör Menuez, is a young woman who also happens to turn into a wolf when the moon is full and the clock strikes midnight.
Heather, played by Bobbi Salvör Menuez, is a young woman who also happens to turn into a wolf when the moon is full and the clock strikes midnight.
- 1/25/2023
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
At the outset of “My Animal,”, an entranced Heather (a tremendous Bobbi Salvör Menuez) sits on her knees in her white nightgown as a television’s gray glow, emanating from the visage of a full moon, envelopes her. The bluish rings under their eyes deepen, blood oozes from her nose, her body contorts, her bones crack, and her tendons twist. Growling, she drags herself across the carpet of her dimmed living room, before springing free, out of her house and through the woods for an immersive reimaging of a werewolf transformation.
And yet, it’s not solely a devoutness to the genre — the thrumming electronic ’80s score, the liquidy gray-scaled images of trees, or the aggressive shaky handheld tracking through the snow-covered forest, that awakens Castel’s film. It’s the “Beauty and the Beast” episode of the Shelly Duvall hosted series “Faerie Tale Theatre,” that Heather was watching on her television,...
And yet, it’s not solely a devoutness to the genre — the thrumming electronic ’80s score, the liquidy gray-scaled images of trees, or the aggressive shaky handheld tracking through the snow-covered forest, that awakens Castel’s film. It’s the “Beauty and the Beast” episode of the Shelly Duvall hosted series “Faerie Tale Theatre,” that Heather was watching on her television,...
- 1/24/2023
- by Robert Daniels
- Indiewire
Chronicling three encounters over the course of 24 hours, “Mutt” follows Feña, a transgender man finally comfortable in his own skin but still grappling with how his choice to live authentically recalibrated, for better or worse, his closest relationships.
Chilean-Serbian writer-director Vuk Lungulov-Klotz, who himself is trans, introduces Feña (the gender-neutral name he’s chosen) during a night out at a club where he spots John, his straight ex-boyfriend from before he transitioned. The two haven’t seen each other in over year. Once the initial awkwardness dissipates, the embers of their past romance are rekindled under the effects of alcohol and pent-up desire.
Presented in a boxy aspect ratio, the compositions that cinematographer Matthew Pothier dons on “Mutt” sway between those that convey a living-in-the-moment exuberance to get lost in (such as a brief slow-motion sequence in the rain) and other static, peculiarly angled shots that hold the conversations Feña...
Chilean-Serbian writer-director Vuk Lungulov-Klotz, who himself is trans, introduces Feña (the gender-neutral name he’s chosen) during a night out at a club where he spots John, his straight ex-boyfriend from before he transitioned. The two haven’t seen each other in over year. Once the initial awkwardness dissipates, the embers of their past romance are rekindled under the effects of alcohol and pent-up desire.
Presented in a boxy aspect ratio, the compositions that cinematographer Matthew Pothier dons on “Mutt” sway between those that convey a living-in-the-moment exuberance to get lost in (such as a brief slow-motion sequence in the rain) and other static, peculiarly angled shots that hold the conversations Feña...
- 1/24/2023
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
Like most teenagers, Heather (non-binary actor Bobbi Salvör Menuez), a social misfit who lives in a rural town in northern Canada, has a strict midnight curfew to adhere to. But unlike other teenagers, staying out for longer has a much more dangerous effect on her. We learn that in the opening scene of “My Animal,” — the camera trains its gaze on the red-headed Heather sitting in a dark room watching a werewolf movie while slowly transforming into a werewolf herself, her eyes glowing and her breath heaving.
Continue reading ‘My Animal’ Review: A Moody, Trippy Queer Werewolf Romance Is Limited, But A Remarkably Assured Debut [Sundance] at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘My Animal’ Review: A Moody, Trippy Queer Werewolf Romance Is Limited, But A Remarkably Assured Debut [Sundance] at The Playlist.
- 1/23/2023
- by Poulomi Das
- The Playlist
“Queer Canadian female teen werewolf movie” may sound mighty specific as a subgenre, yet 23 years after John Fawcett’s delicious cult item “Ginger Snaps,” along comes “My Animal” to ensure it’s no longer in a category of one. A sleek, sensuous debut feature from accomplished short film and music video director Jacqueline Castel, this chilly tale of a suburban outcast whose headlong crush on an alluring figure skater threatens to expose her shape-shifting secret skitters lithely between genres — touching on young adult romance, creature horror and dysfunctional family drama — while keeping its own identity as fluid and elusive as that of its wounded, haunted protagonist.
As played by striking nonbinary performer Bobbi Salvör Menuez, protagonist Heather is among the more intriguing werewolves in horror history: a girl whose introverted demeanor and androgynous appearance have already placed her on the social fringes of her sleepy, snow-blanketed northern Canadian town, and...
As played by striking nonbinary performer Bobbi Salvör Menuez, protagonist Heather is among the more intriguing werewolves in horror history: a girl whose introverted demeanor and androgynous appearance have already placed her on the social fringes of her sleepy, snow-blanketed northern Canadian town, and...
- 1/23/2023
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
Werewolves in horror often depict the afflicted as desperate to repress or separate themselves from their carnivorous Other self. My Animal instead correlates that Otherness with relatable emotions tied to feeling out of place within society. That angle gives a new spin on a classic monster tale, with its horror rooted more firmly in reality.
Heather (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) struggles more than most teens her age in her small Northern town. The social outcast aspires to play goalie for the local hockey team, despite the coach’s harsh preference for male players and preferential treatment toward her younger brothers. Heather’s alcoholic mother (Heidi von Palleske) wreaks havoc on her home life thanks to her volatile mood swings. Then there’s the pesky problem that requires Heather to be shackled every full moon, inherited from dad (Stephen McHattie). Then she meets town newcomer Jonny (Amandla Stenberg), a rebellious figure skater.
Heather (Bobbi Salvör Menuez) struggles more than most teens her age in her small Northern town. The social outcast aspires to play goalie for the local hockey team, despite the coach’s harsh preference for male players and preferential treatment toward her younger brothers. Heather’s alcoholic mother (Heidi von Palleske) wreaks havoc on her home life thanks to her volatile mood swings. Then there’s the pesky problem that requires Heather to be shackled every full moon, inherited from dad (Stephen McHattie). Then she meets town newcomer Jonny (Amandla Stenberg), a rebellious figure skater.
- 1/23/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
The idea that monsters are an allegory for the human condition is just about as old as the ideas of monsters themselves. But we keep coming back to it because the human condition is full of monstrousness. And also movies where people bite each other are nifty.
Fantastical creatures like werewolves hold up a mirror to our own inner natures, revealing uncomfortable truths about our lusts, our shames, our hidden strengths, our hidden weaknesses. And when the makeup department has a decent budget, they look pretty cool, too.
And so it goes that Jacqueline Castel’s debut feature “My Animal” utilizes the werewolf mythology as our entryway for a queer coming-of-age tale. Bobbi Salvör Menuez (“Under My Skin”) stars as Heather, a young woman still living with her parents and two younger, twin brothers in a snowy town in Canada. She spends her days practicing hockey, even though the local...
Fantastical creatures like werewolves hold up a mirror to our own inner natures, revealing uncomfortable truths about our lusts, our shames, our hidden strengths, our hidden weaknesses. And when the makeup department has a decent budget, they look pretty cool, too.
And so it goes that Jacqueline Castel’s debut feature “My Animal” utilizes the werewolf mythology as our entryway for a queer coming-of-age tale. Bobbi Salvör Menuez (“Under My Skin”) stars as Heather, a young woman still living with her parents and two younger, twin brothers in a snowy town in Canada. She spends her days practicing hockey, even though the local...
- 1/23/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- The Wrap
This year’s Sundance Film Festival will see the inclusion of Outfest Outpost at Acura Festival Village.
The on-site and digital hub for queer films and artists selected at Sundance and Slamdance will also feature three panel discussions Jan. 21, presented by Acura and aimed at gathering LGBTQ filmmakers and performers.
“Since 1996, Outfest has shared a very special relationship with Sundance and the community of artists, industry and fans that descend on Park City every year,” said Damien S. Navarro, executive director of Outfest. “To have historical partners like Warner Bros. Discovery — a long-time supporter of the Outfest Queer Brunch —and new partners like Acura — returning for the second year, we are excited to bring the expansion of powerful programming that we began in 2020 to in-person and virtual audiences.”
The first panel, titled “The Road To Abundance: From Sundance and Outfest To the Oscars,” brings together Chester Algernal Gordon, producer of “The Inspection,...
The on-site and digital hub for queer films and artists selected at Sundance and Slamdance will also feature three panel discussions Jan. 21, presented by Acura and aimed at gathering LGBTQ filmmakers and performers.
“Since 1996, Outfest has shared a very special relationship with Sundance and the community of artists, industry and fans that descend on Park City every year,” said Damien S. Navarro, executive director of Outfest. “To have historical partners like Warner Bros. Discovery — a long-time supporter of the Outfest Queer Brunch —and new partners like Acura — returning for the second year, we are excited to bring the expansion of powerful programming that we began in 2020 to in-person and virtual audiences.”
The first panel, titled “The Road To Abundance: From Sundance and Outfest To the Oscars,” brings together Chester Algernal Gordon, producer of “The Inspection,...
- 1/18/2023
- by Katie Reul
- Variety Film + TV
Amandla Stenberg (Bodies Bodies Bodies) stars in the upcoming Sundance horror movie My Animal, which will World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this coming weekend.
The premiere takes place January 22, 2023 at 11:55 p.m. at The Ray Theatre.
In the meantime, check out the official poster art for My Animal below.
My Animal is the feature debut of director Jacqueline Castel. Stenberg stars alongside Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Stephen Mchattie, Heidi Von Palleske, Cory Lipman, and Joe Apollonio.
In the film…
“Heather, an outcast teenage goalie, longs to play on the hockey team of her small northern town. She meets and falls in love with newcomer Jonny, an alluring but tormented figure skater. The girls’ relationship blossoms despite Heather’s struggles with her alcoholic mother, her hidden sexual orientation, and a familial curse that transforms her into a feral wolf under the full moon.
“Heather and Jonny’s secret tryst...
The premiere takes place January 22, 2023 at 11:55 p.m. at The Ray Theatre.
In the meantime, check out the official poster art for My Animal below.
My Animal is the feature debut of director Jacqueline Castel. Stenberg stars alongside Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Stephen Mchattie, Heidi Von Palleske, Cory Lipman, and Joe Apollonio.
In the film…
“Heather, an outcast teenage goalie, longs to play on the hockey team of her small northern town. She meets and falls in love with newcomer Jonny, an alluring but tormented figure skater. The girls’ relationship blossoms despite Heather’s struggles with her alcoholic mother, her hidden sexual orientation, and a familial curse that transforms her into a feral wolf under the full moon.
“Heather and Jonny’s secret tryst...
- 1/18/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
It’s hard to believe that it’s been three years since I was last in Park City to enjoy the Sundance Film Festival in person, which is why this writer is beyond thrilled to be headed back to Utah next week to partake in their amazing lineup of films once again. Sundance 2023 officially kicks off on Thursday, January 19th, and will be running through Sunday, January 29th. And while we’re undoubtedly stoked for the fest’s slate of Midnight titles, there are also a handful of genre films playing in other categories that this writer is definitely going to check out during my time at Sundance as well.
In anticipation of our return to Park City next week, here’s a look at 12 different horror, sci-fi, and genre-adjacent films that are playing at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. As usual, Sundance serves as a fantastic kickoff for the festival season,...
In anticipation of our return to Park City next week, here’s a look at 12 different horror, sci-fi, and genre-adjacent films that are playing at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. As usual, Sundance serves as a fantastic kickoff for the festival season,...
- 1/12/2023
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
In 2022, slasher movies reigned supreme. From the nostalgia-ripping "Scream" sequel to Ti West's bloody "X" trilogy, fans of the genre were treated to a bit of everything. This is especially true with the slasher-comedy "Bodies Bodies Bodies," which saw a new, unlikely horror star emerge. Amandla Stenberg, previously known for their work in YA novel adaptations, has solidified themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the genre. They may have their own "Star Wars" show in the works, but Stenberg is not leaving horror fans behind any time soon, either.
"My Animal" is set to be the next foray into horror for Stenberg, but they will be trading the comedic undertones of "Bodies" for a straight-up monster flick this time around. Although Stenberg will be joined by a familiar face or two on this latest endeavor, "My Animal" features an up-and-coming cast and crew looking to their...
"My Animal" is set to be the next foray into horror for Stenberg, but they will be trading the comedic undertones of "Bodies" for a straight-up monster flick this time around. Although Stenberg will be joined by a familiar face or two on this latest endeavor, "My Animal" features an up-and-coming cast and crew looking to their...
- 12/13/2022
- by Marcos Melendez
- Slash Film
The horror romance My Animal – which stars Amandla Stenberg of Bodies Bodies Bodies (read our review of that one Here) and Bobbi Salvör Menuez of Nocturnal Animals (which we reviewed at This Link) – will be making its debut at the Sundance Film Festival next month, but before the audience there has had a chance to see it Paramount Worldwide Acquisition Group has already swooped in and acquired the global distribution rights to the film. (Excluding Canada.)
The feature directorial debut of Jacqueline Castel, who was working from a screenplay by first-time feature writer Jae Matthews, My Animal is set in a small northern town and tells the story of Heather, an outcast teenage hockey goalie (Menuez), who falls for the town’s newcomer (Stenberg), an alluring but tormented figure skater. As their relationship deepens, Heather’s growing desires clash with her darkest secret, forcing her to control the animal within.
The feature directorial debut of Jacqueline Castel, who was working from a screenplay by first-time feature writer Jae Matthews, My Animal is set in a small northern town and tells the story of Heather, an outcast teenage hockey goalie (Menuez), who falls for the town’s newcomer (Stenberg), an alluring but tormented figure skater. As their relationship deepens, Heather’s growing desires clash with her darkest secret, forcing her to control the animal within.
- 12/12/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Click here to read the full article.
Before its Sundance Film Festival debut, horror romance My Animal has been picked up by Paramount Worldwide Acquisition Group.
The studio has landed global distribution rights, excluding Canada, with distribution plans still to be determined.
Amandla Stenberg stars in the film, the feature directorial debut from Jacqueline Castel, alongside Bobbi Salvör Menuez (I Love Dick, Under the Silver Lake). Set in a small northern town, the story follows Heather, an outcast teenage hockey goalie (Menuez), who falls for the town’s newcomer (Stenberg), an alluring but tormented figure skater. The rest of the logline reads: “As their relationship deepens, Heather’s growing desires clash with her darkest secret, forcing her to control the animal within.”
The movie is set to premiere at the Park City festival in the Midnight section.
Written by Jae Matthews, My Animal is produced by Andrew Bronfman (The Kid...
Before its Sundance Film Festival debut, horror romance My Animal has been picked up by Paramount Worldwide Acquisition Group.
The studio has landed global distribution rights, excluding Canada, with distribution plans still to be determined.
Amandla Stenberg stars in the film, the feature directorial debut from Jacqueline Castel, alongside Bobbi Salvör Menuez (I Love Dick, Under the Silver Lake). Set in a small northern town, the story follows Heather, an outcast teenage hockey goalie (Menuez), who falls for the town’s newcomer (Stenberg), an alluring but tormented figure skater. The rest of the logline reads: “As their relationship deepens, Heather’s growing desires clash with her darkest secret, forcing her to control the animal within.”
The movie is set to premiere at the Park City festival in the Midnight section.
Written by Jae Matthews, My Animal is produced by Andrew Bronfman (The Kid...
- 12/12/2022
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Taking place January 19th–29th, the 2023 Sundance Film Festival will spotlight 99 feature films from around the globe, and we have a look at the full list of movies screening in the eclectic and eerie Midnight category, including the world premieres of Brandon Cronenberg's Infinity Pool and Kenneth Dagatan's In My Mother’s Skin:
From the Press Release: From horror and comedy to works that defy genre classification, these films will keep you wide awake, even at the most arduous hour. Films that have premiered in this category in recent years include Fresh, Hereditary, Mandy, Relic, Assassination Nation, and The Babadook.
birth/rebirth / U.S.A. — A single mother and a childless morgue technician are bound together by their relationship to a little girl they have reanimated from the dead. Cast: Marin Ireland, Judy Reyes, A.J. Lister, Breeda Wool. World Premiere. Fiction. Day One
In My Mother’s Skin...
From the Press Release: From horror and comedy to works that defy genre classification, these films will keep you wide awake, even at the most arduous hour. Films that have premiered in this category in recent years include Fresh, Hereditary, Mandy, Relic, Assassination Nation, and The Babadook.
birth/rebirth / U.S.A. — A single mother and a childless morgue technician are bound together by their relationship to a little girl they have reanimated from the dead. Cast: Marin Ireland, Judy Reyes, A.J. Lister, Breeda Wool. World Premiere. Fiction. Day One
In My Mother’s Skin...
- 12/8/2022
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
It’s that time of the year again when the Sundance Film Festival shares all of its horror discoveries that we’ll be seeing in the next few years.
Today they announced the comprehensive slate of independent films selected from the fest that will take place January 19–29, 2023, in person in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, along with a selection of films available online across the country January 24–29, 2023.
Bloody Disgusting combed through the entire program this afternoon and pulled out all of the genre films of note, with first-look images and information where available.
What are you most excited to see at Sundance next year?
Midnight: From horror and comedy to works that defy genre classification, these films will keep you wide awake, even at the most arduous hour. Films that have premiered in this category in recent years include Fresh, Hereditary, Mandy, Relic, Assassination Nation, and The Babadook.
Today they announced the comprehensive slate of independent films selected from the fest that will take place January 19–29, 2023, in person in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, along with a selection of films available online across the country January 24–29, 2023.
Bloody Disgusting combed through the entire program this afternoon and pulled out all of the genre films of note, with first-look images and information where available.
What are you most excited to see at Sundance next year?
Midnight: From horror and comedy to works that defy genre classification, these films will keep you wide awake, even at the most arduous hour. Films that have premiered in this category in recent years include Fresh, Hereditary, Mandy, Relic, Assassination Nation, and The Babadook.
- 12/7/2022
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
The coronavirus pandemic couldn’t have arrived at a worse time for Leszek Bodzak, the producer behind Jan Komasa’s Oscar-nominated “Corpus Christi.” With just five days to spare before principal photography was set to begin on “Leave No Traces,” the latest feature from acclaimed director Jan P. Matuszyński (“The Last Family”), Bodzak was forced to postpone the shoot.
Yet in the four months of hand-wringing before cameras finally began to roll last July, Bodzak’s French co-producer, Les Contes Modernes, was able to secure additional financing from Arte and regional French funds, giving the film’s budget a much-needed boost. “That was something unexpectedly good from the pandemic,” says Bodzak, whose Aurum Film is also prepping Komasa’s next project, “Shine of the Sun.”
That strange twist of fate is perhaps emblematic of these uncertain times for the Polish industry, in which producers determined to soldier through the pandemic...
Yet in the four months of hand-wringing before cameras finally began to roll last July, Bodzak’s French co-producer, Les Contes Modernes, was able to secure additional financing from Arte and regional French funds, giving the film’s budget a much-needed boost. “That was something unexpectedly good from the pandemic,” says Bodzak, whose Aurum Film is also prepping Komasa’s next project, “Shine of the Sun.”
That strange twist of fate is perhaps emblematic of these uncertain times for the Polish industry, in which producers determined to soldier through the pandemic...
- 3/2/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Stars: Liv Hewson, Alex Russell, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Alexis Denisof, Chloe Freeman | Written and Directed by David O’Donnell
If 2020 has taught us anything it is that we need to be happy with ourselves and the life we live in. We live in a time when we have full choice of the life we lead, and in the end why should people stand in our way? Under My Skin is a movie that shows the difficulties of making choices, and how these choices change the relationships we are in.
Denny is a free spirited artist, who falls for Ryan, a strait-laced lawyer. When Denny begins to question their gender, it starts to test the love between the two.
For a person to be truly happy, they have to be comfortable in their own skin, and that is why I always support a persons choice to change who they are. This is...
If 2020 has taught us anything it is that we need to be happy with ourselves and the life we live in. We live in a time when we have full choice of the life we lead, and in the end why should people stand in our way? Under My Skin is a movie that shows the difficulties of making choices, and how these choices change the relationships we are in.
Denny is a free spirited artist, who falls for Ryan, a strait-laced lawyer. When Denny begins to question their gender, it starts to test the love between the two.
For a person to be truly happy, they have to be comfortable in their own skin, and that is why I always support a persons choice to change who they are. This is...
- 11/4/2020
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
"I don't fit in this body!" A festival promo trailer has debuted for an indie romantic drama titled Under My Skin, marking the feature directorial debut of Australian filmmaker David O'Donnell. It is premiering at the Raindance Film Festival in London this week - hence the trailer to go along with the premiere. One of the first ever films to deal with non-binary gender as a part of the plot. Denny, a free spirit and artist falls for Ryan, a straight laced lawyer. But when Denny questions gender their love is tested. The lead character, Denny, is played by four different actors who identify as non-binary, or trans non-binary: Liv Hewson, Bobbi Salvör Menuez, and newcomers Lex Ryan and Chloe Freeman. The cast includes Alex Russell and Alexis Denisof. I'm very curious to see how this film handles sexual identity as a key part of the story. Here's the official...
- 10/29/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
To celebrate the premiere of Under My Skin, the new indie drama that debuts at this year’s Raindance Film Festival, we spoke to two of the film’s stars about this already nominated film.
The story follows Denny, a free spirit and artist who falls for Ryan, a strait-laced lawyer. When Denny questions gender, their love is tested. The lead character, Denny, is played by four different actors who identify as non-binary, or trans non-binary: Liv Hewson (Santa Clarita Dier), Bobbi Salvor Menuez and newcomers Lex Ryan and Chloe Freeman.
We sat down with stars Liv Hewson and Bobbi Salvor Menuez to chat about the film, the uniqueness of the project, and its non-confirming narrative, and what they hope audiences take away from the film. It marks the feature debut of Australian writer-director David O’Donnell and is inspired by David and producer Raynen O’Keefe’s personal experiences.
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You can...
The story follows Denny, a free spirit and artist who falls for Ryan, a strait-laced lawyer. When Denny questions gender, their love is tested. The lead character, Denny, is played by four different actors who identify as non-binary, or trans non-binary: Liv Hewson (Santa Clarita Dier), Bobbi Salvor Menuez and newcomers Lex Ryan and Chloe Freeman.
We sat down with stars Liv Hewson and Bobbi Salvor Menuez to chat about the film, the uniqueness of the project, and its non-confirming narrative, and what they hope audiences take away from the film. It marks the feature debut of Australian writer-director David O’Donnell and is inspired by David and producer Raynen O’Keefe’s personal experiences.
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You can...
- 10/28/2020
- by Scott Davis
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Bobbi Salvör Menuez is in talks to join an international cast for “Lipstick on the Glass,” the English-language debut of acclaimed Polish director Kuba Czekaj (“Baby Bump”), Variety has learned exclusively.
Pic will star Agnieszka Podsiadlik (“Mug”), who previously collaborated with Czekaj on Berlin player “The Erlprince.” The international cast includes American actor Mari Malek (“The Nile Hilton Incident”), English-French thesp Laura Benson (“Touch Me Not”), and German actors Stipe Erceg (“The Baader Meinhof Complex”), Lena Lauzemis, and Mina Tander.
“Lipstick on the Glass” is a dystopian vision of reality in which a woman is induced to abandon her gangster husband to join a feminist sect. Producer Paweł Kosuń described it as a story about every person’s right to self-determination, regardless of their gender identity or imposed social and cultural norms.
“It poses a fundamental question: who am I?” he said. “This is a question which an ever-growing number...
Pic will star Agnieszka Podsiadlik (“Mug”), who previously collaborated with Czekaj on Berlin player “The Erlprince.” The international cast includes American actor Mari Malek (“The Nile Hilton Incident”), English-French thesp Laura Benson (“Touch Me Not”), and German actors Stipe Erceg (“The Baader Meinhof Complex”), Lena Lauzemis, and Mina Tander.
“Lipstick on the Glass” is a dystopian vision of reality in which a woman is induced to abandon her gangster husband to join a feminist sect. Producer Paweł Kosuń described it as a story about every person’s right to self-determination, regardless of their gender identity or imposed social and cultural norms.
“It poses a fundamental question: who am I?” he said. “This is a question which an ever-growing number...
- 2/22/2020
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Premiering in New York this Thursday in a one-time event prior to its free streaming launch the next day is Luigi Campi’s coming-of-age thriller My First Kiss and the People Involved. Starring Bobbi Salvör Menuez, it’s the tale of a quiet, recessive young woman (Menuez) living in a group home who goes on the hunt for her missing caregiver. Said Campi in a Filmmaker interview, “The film’s tension arises when violent events that she can’t fully grasp force her to step out of her safe zone. My first connection was to the main character’s unique way of seeing the world, […]...
- 11/5/2019
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
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