With Paranormal Activity 2 out now, and much-anticipated alien invasion sci-fi flick, Skyline ready to land in cinemas on 12th November, it looks like indie scare-fests are whipping the nation into a frenzy.
In Skyline, which is directed by special FX gurus the Brothers Strause, B-movie fans are getting ready to watch in delighted horror as a group of friends, led by Eric Balfour and Donald Faizon, wake to an eerie, alien light beaming through their L.A condo.
Like moths to a flame, the blue light draws people outside before they suddenly vanish into thin air. The friends soon discover an otherworldly alien force is swallowing the entire human population off the face of the earth!
The eagerly anticipated sci-fi thriller Skyline is a terrifying journey into our fear of the unknown, a high-velocity, special effects bonanza. And it was all done for less than £20million. The director’s made use of their own in-house effects studios and L.A apartment for interior shots.
The brothers have said it was watching last year’s break out hit Paranormal Activity that inspired them to eschew the studio system and take control of their own film.
The result looks to be a very exciting blend of cutting-edge special effects and nail-biting tension as aliens descend on LA, before attempting to suck up the entire earth. With this in mind, we look at the top five indie break-outs of recent years that have paved the way for Skyline.
Cabin Fever (2002)
King of the Splat Pack, Eli Roth (The Last Exorcism) wrote, directed and produced this horror while he was still at NYU.
Refusing to tame his instinct for maximum gore and gross-out, Roth launched his trademark low-budget style of film-making while the film went on to become Lionsgate’s third highest-grossing film for Universal in 2003.
Mad Max (1979)
Set in a dog-eat-dog dismal future where souped-up cars are king, Mad Max is as taught as it is terrifying. A then unknown Mel Gibson was cast as Max when he famously turned up to audition black and blue from a drunken brawl the previous night.
He was hired on the spot, told the cast 'needed freaks'. And the rest is history. Mad Max was the most profitable movie ever made til the Blair Witch project, and then Paranormal Activity stole its crown.
The Descent (2005)
Scottish director Neil Marshal topped all sorts of best top 10 lists with his cave-dwelling horror, The Descent. Forcefully going against the grain with all female cast, Marshall also created some delightfully gross golem-ish monsters that lurk underground just waiting for naïve pot-holers!
Predators (1987)
When Arnie starred as the muscled predator-hunter in McTiernan’s film he was still known as The Terminator not The Guvernator.
Predators, which masterfully pitted man against alien in a freaky forest, was made for $18mil and went on to make a whopping £98 million, with a sequel directed by Nimrod Antal released earlier this year.”Get to the chopper!”
District 9 (2009)
Not strictly a break out- this film was, after all, produced by Peter ‘Lord of The Rings’ Jackson – District 9 still caused quite the kafuffle when it hit cinemas last summer, with new N Movie break-out Monsters already being referred to as ‘this year’s District 9’.
Blair Witch Project (1999)
Described as a ‘real event’ (as opposed to a film) by the studio, the Blair Witch Project shocked audiences when it emerged as a found footage documentary.
It’s terrifying ‘realness’ was enhanced by the actors using their real names, filming themselves and playing on a real Maryland witch myth to evoke real terror from audiences. Filmed for around £25k, it went on $248mil worldwide and yet the directors have done little since.
Skyline is released 12th November.