We are long overdue in inducting a new member into this site's Horror Crushes. So, let's do just that before we reach the end of this year. This time we are inducting the gorgeous Russian actress Marina Zudina!
Born Marina Vyacheslavovna Zudina in Moscow, Russia on September 3, 1965, her father was journalist and mother a music teacher. When she was a kid she took dancing, ballet, and signing lessons. After graduation she was admitted into the Theater studio of Oleg Tabakov, where she began to perform. As a student, she went on to act, getting her first roles around 1985. Most of her work is in Russian movies and TV. But, one of her only American roles , if not in fact her only one, is the reason for this induction.
That movie is 1995's awesome and somewhat underrated horror/ thriller Mute Witness. In it, a slasher movie is being shot in Russia. Billy (Marina Zudina) is the make-up artist on the flick, which is directed by her the boyfriend of her older sister. One night, Billy, who is also mute, gets stuck on the set accidently after they had stop shooting for the day and closed up shop. That night, she unwittingly witnesses a snuff movie being shot where a woman has sex on camera then is brutally stabbed to death. She tries to let the authorities and her sister know what happened, but the baddies play it off as if it all had been done via special FX. Meanwhile, we learn that the Russian mob is behind it all, headed by a man known as the Reaper (the original Obi Wan Kenobi himself, Sir Alec Guinness). And, he wants her dead and the reel containing said murder found.
This stylish horror/ thriller has a mix of Hitchcock and Argento and is one of the most underrated genre flicks of the 90s. Wrier/ co-producer/ director Anthony Waller does superb job directing it. Further elevated by expert editing and shooting, this movie has a couple of scenes that are in and of themselves masterworks of suspense. This is particularly true of the snuff scene and the subsequent chase of our heroine. The first and second act are incredible, and when it seems to slightly dip on the third act, it pulls out some great twists. I've always loved this movie. But, after many years of not seeing it (I owned the laserdisc), I watched the superlative Arrow Video 4K release and love it even more now!
Marina Zudina is very likable as Billy. Her character is smart, brave, and tough. Being mute means that she has to say it all with her eyes and face, which she does so perfectly. She is one of the best and most thoroughly underrated final girls of the era. Zudina's Billy is also that rarest of final girls, one that gets nude! And, she doesn't just get naked once or even twice, she bares skin thrice in the movie, showing butt and boobs.
Needless to say she is absolutely, and naturally, gorgeous. Which is why I had a super crush on her back when I first saw this film. Rewatching it all these years later, I was reminded of just what a stunner she is.
It's a shame that this is her only horror flick, be it American or otherwise. But, to star in one as great as Mute Witness is, in of itself, and accomplishment, especially with this great of a performance and awesome of a character. And, so it is with great honor that we induct Marina Zudina into Horror Crushes!
Writer/ Director: Duncan Birmingham Cast: Perry Mattfeld, Timothy Granaderos, Ryan Hansen, Melissa Tang, Matthew Kimbrough Year: 2022 Min: 81
Adam (Ryan Hansen) and his wife Margo (Melissa Tang) are having a house warming for their fancy new home. After everyone else leaves one couple consisting of Tom (Timothy Granaderos) and Sasha (Perry Mattfeld), which no one invited or bought with them, stick around. They say that they are their wealthy neighbors and admit to crashing the party. The two couple have drinks, do coke, and basically have a fun, wild night. But, it's a long night, and as the proceedings escalate, things begin to get worse and worse.
Who Invited Them is a horror/ thriller that looks to try something new with the home invasion trope. And, while the way the couple do the home invading is a slight bit different than the usual offerings, the end result isn't all it's cracked up to be. It certainly starts off feeling like it'll be a fun movie. And, while it is a slow burn it doesn't feel boring, at first. But, note I said, at first, as the movie drags its ass to get where we know it was going from the get go. There is a moment where it feels like it is getting intense, and then it slows down again.
There is also a pointless subplot where a friend couple of Adam and Margo are babysitting their little son. Said kid is suffering from nightmares, and he doesn't have his plushie. The wife of this couple spends her time driving around looking for our protagonists' house. She's lost and can't find it. Any and every time it cuts back to this, it made me feel irritated. As it quite frankly doesn't add tension or suspense, it's simply fucking annoying.
The twist/ revelation about the party crashers, which we all fucking know what it'll be, takes forever to happen. And, needless to say, it isn't shocking or intense or memorable. As a matter of fact, once it comes; it all but kills this flick. For fuck's sake, it's in the title and the goddamn trailer! Although, then the climax happens, and it looks like everything is coming alive and getting exciting. Only to get get one final nail in its coffin, as we end on an open ending. This finale isn't creepy, disturbing, deep, or thought provoking. It is simply frustrating.
To the flick's advantage, it is well acted. But, the two male leads, played by Ryan Hansen and Timothy Granaderos, come off as douchebags, and note one of these, Hansen, is the supposed good guy. This would be OK, if Melissa Tang's character of Margo was likable, but she comes off as not particularly interesting. The absolutely gorgeous Perry (In the Dark) Mattfeld is great as Sasha, though. She comes off as sexy, seductive, dangerous, and interesting, and is the best thing about this movie. But, that's not enough to save it. Still, the four leads do have good chemistry together, but if you don't like anyone why would you care about what happens?
Who Invited Them has some great acting and a fairly interesting setup. Unfortunately it takes too long for the secret or twist or whatever you want to call it to reveal itself. Even though we all fucking know what it is from the very beginning. The characters aren't particularly likeable, this is especially true of both males who are total douchebags. Mattfeld is great and easily the best thing in the movie, but she's definitely not enough to save it. The open ending kills whatever little hope the climax had given me. This film is a total missed opportunity as it could have been at least good fun and an intense horror/ thriller. But, in all honesty it ends up being tiresome and infuriating, making you feel like you wasted your time watching it. That all being said you can check it out for yourself when it starts streaming on Shudder on September 1, 2022.
Thomas
Haley's directorial feature film
debut Breakdown has released world wide on digital platforms from AVAIL Entertainment, with a
dvd release set for 1st Quarter 2021. It also marks the feature film debut for
his production company H2 Crew Productions.
Breakdown is
Thomas Haley’s passion project and has been in the works for a few years. It’s
release is well timed given the current pandemic which share similarities with
the film’s grim reality. After a mysterious virus has wiped out much of the
worlds population, with the remaining sick being corralled in quarantine zones,
as one man fights to find a cure to save humanity, and himself.
Breakdown is
directed and stars Thomas Haley in his most intense role released to date,
carrying much of the film’s heavy themes. He is surrounded by a stellar
supporting cast including rising scream queen Brooklyn Haley (Paranormal
Attraction, Camp Twilight, Slice and Dice), Corey Sorenson (Chicago Fire,
Patchwork, Palo Alto), Jessica Cameron (Truth or Dare, Silent Night, All
Through The House) and John Marrott (Envy, Desert Moon).
The Film has
been described as a cross between “I am Legend” and “Contagion” and was filmed
with a skeleton crew and a strategically spent micro budget. When asked about
the film Haley had these comments:
“Months were
spent in preproduction planning out where the best use our resources would
really make the biggest impact. Every shot was discussed with the team to make
every angle look its best.When CoVid
Hit Los Angeles, It was crazy. We had no idea how much reality would actually
imitate art. We had a completed project centered around a virus and I thought
lets get this out because people are going through very similar conflicts as
Tim Reynolds (our Lead Character in Breakdown) and that relatability may help
people feel less alone during this real life pandemic.”
Breakdown was written by
cinematographer Dan Jagels, who is a frequent collaborator with Haley, this is
the 13th time have worked together. When asked about his inspiration for the
script, Jagels said the following:
“I
have always wondered and been fascinated by what it would really be like when
something like a disease or natural disaster hits the world.But not on a grand scale like most disaster
or post apocalyptic movies, but for the individual.The one man or woman that is trying to
survive, that has perhaps already lost what he holds so dear.Would this person in turn lose
themselves?Their sense of right and
wrong?Especially if others around him
have gone to the dark side, so to speak. And no one is held accountable.This film explores that idea.One mans journey to do what is right,
especially when everything has been lost or taken from him.”
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