Welcome to Willits (also known as Alien Hunter) is a 2016 American science fiction comedy horror film directed by Trevor Ryan and starring Bill Sage, Sabina Gadecki, Anastasia Baranova, Dolph Lundgren, Thomas Dekker, Chris Zylka, Serge Levin, Garrett Clayton and Rory Culkin.[2][3][4][5]
| Welcome to Willits | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Trevor Ryan |
| Written by | Tim Ryan |
| Produced by | Jon Keeyes Scott Levenson Jordan Yale Levine Shaun Sanghani |
| Starring | Bill Sage Sabina Gadecki Anastasia Baranova Dolph Lundgren Thomas Dekker Chris Zylka Garrett Clayton Rory Culkin Serge Levin |
| Cinematography | Che Broadnax |
| Edited by | Phillip Blackford |
| Music by | Jeremy Little |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | IFC Midnight |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $464,770[1] |
Plot
editDeep in the Northern California woods, in the heart of the notorious Emerald Triangle, lies a remote cabin. Brock (Bill Sage) is a marijuana farmer and methamphetamine user/dealer in the area who believes his farms have been invaded by aliens. Brock's paranoia continues to grow, which may be PTSD from a past alien abduction and torture.[6] In his spare time, Brock watches the police procedure TV show "Fists of Justice", starring Dolph Lundgren as a violent policeman.
Other residents of the area are allegedly suffering from attacks from mysterious creatures.
When Brock catches a wayward group of young campers on his land, he hallucinates the campers into aliens and the situation quickly escalates into total carnage.[7]
Cast
edit- Bill Sage as Brock, a paranoid, drug-addicted pot farmer and meth dealer.
- Sabina Gadecki as Peggy, Brock's wife
- Anastasia Baranova as Courtney, Brock's niece
- Chris Zylka as Jeremiah
- Garrett Clayton as Zack
- Thomas Dekker as Klaus
- Rory Culkin as Possum
- Dolph Lundgren as Officer Derek Hutchinson, a fictional police officer on Brock's favorite television show
- Serge Levin as Officer Jackson, Derek Hutchinson's partner
Production
editAn adaptation of the sci-fi/horror short "Welcome to Willits: After Sundown."[8]
The first film was made by the Ryans. Filmed in Louisiana, Los Angeles, and Willits, California.[9]
Reception
editThe Los Angeles Times found the film promising with loopy energy, but finally the movie was unfocused. They found the film promising enough to hope for more efforts from the filmmakers.[10]
The Horror Society praised the film, finding it amazingly original. They praised the dialogue and the effects.,[11][unreliable source?]
Dread Central praised the film, finding it one of the best independent horror films of the year.[12]
Rue Morgue far preferred the short the film is based on, ridiculing the long version for "obnoxious characters, awful pacing and some of the worst practical/special effects that’s ever been produced."[13]
References
edit- ^ "Fastlane NextGen: Initial Certification Search" (Type "Welcome to Willits" in the search box). Louisiana Economic Development. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ Miska, Brad (August 24, 2017). "'Welcome To Willits' Trailer Battles Comedy and Creatures". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ McHatton, Erik (November 13, 2017). "Welcome to Willits (2017)". Dread Central. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (July 12, 2017). "IFC Midnight Acquires Horror Comedy 'Welcome To Willits'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ Collis, Clark (August 24, 2017). "Alien monsters and drug madness collide in Welcome to Willits trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ^ "Movie Review: "WELCOME TO WILLITS" is a monster misfire". February 13, 2018.
- ^ "Review: 'Welcome to Willits' is a weird and woozy slasher and aliens flick". Los Angeles Times. September 28, 2017.
- ^ "Teresa Palmer to Star in 'Welcome to Willits,' Based on SXSW Short". March 16, 2015.
- ^ "Talking with the makers behind 'Welcome to Willits' horror film". September 29, 2017.
- ^ "Review: 'Welcome to Willits' is a weird and woozy slasher and aliens flick". Los Angeles Times. September 28, 2017.
- ^ "Review: "Welcome to Willits" (2017)". May 16, 2017.
- ^ "Welcome to Willits (2017)". November 13, 2017.
- ^ "Movie Review: "WELCOME TO WILLITS" is a monster misfire". February 13, 2018.
External links
edit
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