A new distribution model for movies?
August 28, 2011 6:34 PM Subscribe
The Tunnel is a surprisingly well-made horror movie with a novel distribution strategy: basically, to offer the film in every way possible, from television to movie theaters to DVDs. The filmmakers have even made the movie available for free online as a legal bit torrent file. Is preemptively making the file available as a torrent actually a good distribution model? Surprisingly, a major film studio seems to think so.
Sweet, I will totally be checking this out (it never occurred to me that a city in Australia might actually be old and big enough to have abandoned subways), and if it transpires that it doesn't suck balls (unfortunately, a movie doesn't become good just because it's "plucky" and has been made with passion and hard work rather than just loads and loads of money), then I will see to it that the creators are fairly compensated because, on the strength of their first film, I would be interested in their second.
It also helps that Bel Deliá is blisteringly hot.
posted by tumid dahlia at 6:42 PM on August 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
It also helps that Bel Deliá is blisteringly hot.
posted by tumid dahlia at 6:42 PM on August 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
I did see 'Absentia', which was about a tunnel...
Daylight was also about a tunnel. So was Marebito, sort of. Daylight was actually good, though.
posted by tumid dahlia at 6:44 PM on August 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Daylight was also about a tunnel. So was Marebito, sort of. Daylight was actually good, though.
posted by tumid dahlia at 6:44 PM on August 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
unfortunately, a movie doesn't become good just because it's "plucky" and has been made with passion and hard work rather than just loads and loads of money
I also saw The Reef at last year's Night of Horror. Proves your point on so many levels. Ugh.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 6:51 PM on August 28, 2011
I also saw The Reef at last year's Night of Horror. Proves your point on so many levels. Ugh.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 6:51 PM on August 28, 2011
Is preemptively making the file available as a torrent actually a good distribution model?
Yes, it cuts to the chase.
posted by the noob at 6:53 PM on August 28, 2011
Yes, it cuts to the chase.
posted by the noob at 6:53 PM on August 28, 2011
If the movie sucks, it doesn't matter how it's distributed.
If it's good, this will help.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:06 PM on August 28, 2011
If it's good, this will help.
posted by blue_beetle at 7:06 PM on August 28, 2011
. . . and if it transpires that it doesn't suck balls . . .
I thought it was pretty good, and definitely worth watching. (I'd also recommend downloading the higher-quality video, since a lot of the movie happens in semi-darkness). My expectations were low, and I was pleasantly surprised; it's a well-made and well-acted movie. My only real complaint is that it borrows heavily from other faux-documentary styled horror films such as [Rec], Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity, and Lake Mungo (another fantastic Aussie horror film), so if you're familiar with the genre there isn't a lot new to see here; but it executes those tropes with panache.
I also saw The Reef at last year's Night of Horror. Proves your point on so many levels. Ugh.
Aagh, yes. Just watched that on Netflix and it was excruciatingly dull, which is surprising because the same director made Black Water, a nasty little killer croc movie that I enjoyed. (It's also available to watch instantly).
posted by Frobenius Twist at 7:07 PM on August 28, 2011
I thought it was pretty good, and definitely worth watching. (I'd also recommend downloading the higher-quality video, since a lot of the movie happens in semi-darkness). My expectations were low, and I was pleasantly surprised; it's a well-made and well-acted movie. My only real complaint is that it borrows heavily from other faux-documentary styled horror films such as [Rec], Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity, and Lake Mungo (another fantastic Aussie horror film), so if you're familiar with the genre there isn't a lot new to see here; but it executes those tropes with panache.
I also saw The Reef at last year's Night of Horror. Proves your point on so many levels. Ugh.
Aagh, yes. Just watched that on Netflix and it was excruciatingly dull, which is surprising because the same director made Black Water, a nasty little killer croc movie that I enjoyed. (It's also available to watch instantly).
posted by Frobenius Twist at 7:07 PM on August 28, 2011
EVERYBODY OUT OF THE TUNNEL!
posted by The Bridge on the River Kai Ryssdal at 7:08 PM on August 28, 2011
posted by The Bridge on the River Kai Ryssdal at 7:08 PM on August 28, 2011
I like the "donate at this level, get this perk" list over to the right side of the "available for free" link in the FPP.
I love when artists do that kind of thing. It acknowledges that people are probably going to want this thing for free, at least at first. It also gives enthusiasts a way to feed their interest while raising funds for the artist. It's a great model for such trade, and I hope it serves this film company well.
posted by hippybear at 7:10 PM on August 28, 2011
I love when artists do that kind of thing. It acknowledges that people are probably going to want this thing for free, at least at first. It also gives enthusiasts a way to feed their interest while raising funds for the artist. It's a great model for such trade, and I hope it serves this film company well.
posted by hippybear at 7:10 PM on August 28, 2011
Movies about tunnels are always about bodily orifices. Always.
The opposite is also true.
posted by munchingzombie at 7:20 PM on August 28, 2011
The opposite is also true.
posted by munchingzombie at 7:20 PM on August 28, 2011
I saw this a few months ago and thought it was okay, if not great. Some of my horror fan friends, though, really liked it, and mine was the minority opinion.
posted by ThePowerPopFan at 7:30 PM on August 28, 2011
posted by ThePowerPopFan at 7:30 PM on August 28, 2011
and Lake Mungo (another fantastic Aussie horror film)
I'm not so sure Mungo should be pitched as a horror film. I'm not so sure if the motivation for docco style can be maintained past the twist.
posted by the noob at 7:34 PM on August 28, 2011
I'm not so sure Mungo should be pitched as a horror film. I'm not so sure if the motivation for docco style can be maintained past the twist.
posted by the noob at 7:34 PM on August 28, 2011
Eclipse Phase, a fantastic Transhumanist Horror RPG (pen and paper) is legally available for free on a Creative Commons licence.
They've been doing pretty well by their own account.
posted by Sebmojo at 7:52 PM on August 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
They've been doing pretty well by their own account.
posted by Sebmojo at 7:52 PM on August 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
I like horror fauxumentaries. Blair Witch is still the one to beat, of course, but [REC] comes pretty close. It's a good and effective way to make things creepier because, my god, I have a camcorder as well, and have been inside a house or to a forest! Very few of us, I'll wager, have been to abandoned creepy cabins with a bunch of hot and sexually available young folk, driving there in our new Mustangs with loads of drugs and booze and no visible means of support except for daddy, who was inevitably "never there". In any event, The Tunnel will be on my downloads list tonight, and I hope to be encouraged to support their film-making efforts in the future.
posted by tumid dahlia at 7:54 PM on August 28, 2011
posted by tumid dahlia at 7:54 PM on August 28, 2011
The movie will be available on BitTorrent starting May 19th.
Ha! I wonder if it was leaked before the 19th? What then?
posted by tumid dahlia at 7:57 PM on August 28, 2011
Ha! I wonder if it was leaked before the 19th? What then?
posted by tumid dahlia at 7:57 PM on August 28, 2011
Very few of us, I'll wager, have been to abandoned creepy cabins with a bunch of hot and sexually available young folk, driving there in our new Mustangs with loads of drugs and booze
Maybe if I had invested that 5 bucks instead of signing up here...
posted by ian1977 at 7:58 PM on August 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Maybe if I had invested that 5 bucks instead of signing up here...
posted by ian1977 at 7:58 PM on August 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Very few of us, I'll wager, have been to abandoned creepy cabins with a bunch of hot and sexually available young folk, driving there in our new Mustangs with loads of drugs and booze
And one VW beetle that fails to start at the worse possible time.
posted by the noob at 8:01 PM on August 28, 2011
And one VW beetle that fails to start at the worse possible time.
posted by the noob at 8:01 PM on August 28, 2011
Maybe if I had invested that 5 bucks instead of signing up here...
That was my mistake too. The twins giggled and said I could come if I chipped in a fiver for fuel, I was all "Nahh, I gotta be obnoxious on this website." Later I got a panicked phone call from one of them but the reception was bad and I was pretty liquored up, so I told her to just send me a MMS of what her and her sister were up to. Nada.
posted by tumid dahlia at 8:02 PM on August 28, 2011 [5 favorites]
That was my mistake too. The twins giggled and said I could come if I chipped in a fiver for fuel, I was all "Nahh, I gotta be obnoxious on this website." Later I got a panicked phone call from one of them but the reception was bad and I was pretty liquored up, so I told her to just send me a MMS of what her and her sister were up to. Nada.
posted by tumid dahlia at 8:02 PM on August 28, 2011 [5 favorites]
I tried watching this movie on ABC iview last night and was bored to tears by the "interviews" with the characters before the action. None of them seemed to have any likeable qualities. I just gave up.
posted by b33j at 8:11 PM on August 28, 2011
posted by b33j at 8:11 PM on August 28, 2011
Are there snakes in the tunnel? Cuz that would be scary. Anyway, i will try to download the torrent thingy and check it out!
posted by Mister_A at 8:20 PM on August 28, 2011
posted by Mister_A at 8:20 PM on August 28, 2011
"I'm tired of these bloody snakes in this bloody tunnel!"
posted by tumid dahlia at 8:22 PM on August 28, 2011
posted by tumid dahlia at 8:22 PM on August 28, 2011
"I've had a bloody gutful of these bloody gardener's rakes in this bloody Büchner funnel, you bloody mongrel!"
posted by No-sword at 8:29 PM on August 28, 2011
posted by No-sword at 8:29 PM on August 28, 2011
Very few of us, I'll wager, have been to abandoned creepy cabins with a bunch of hot and sexually available young folk, driving there in our new Mustangs with loads of drugs and booze and no visible means of support except for daddy, who was inevitably "never there".
I drove up to Cootamundra (a creepy country town) with two NIDA actresses, a crazy NIDA actor, a first time director, and some cameramen to shoot a creepy horror movie. I expected real horror to ensue, but unless you count country pubs it didn't....
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:32 PM on August 28, 2011
I drove up to Cootamundra (a creepy country town) with two NIDA actresses, a crazy NIDA actor, a first time director, and some cameramen to shoot a creepy horror movie. I expected real horror to ensue, but unless you count country pubs it didn't....
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:32 PM on August 28, 2011
Yeah, Cootamundra is where Mick Taylor does his grocery shopping.
posted by tumid dahlia at 8:35 PM on August 28, 2011
posted by tumid dahlia at 8:35 PM on August 28, 2011
Are there snakes in the tunnel? Cuz that would be scary. Anyway, i will try to download the torrent thingy and check it out!
Joking aside, Aus has so much horrible wildlife I'm surprised there aren't a million creature features shot here every year.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:47 PM on August 28, 2011
Joking aside, Aus has so much horrible wildlife I'm surprised there aren't a million creature features shot here every year.
posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 8:47 PM on August 28, 2011
It isn't horrible, you're just weak :P
posted by tumid dahlia at 9:30 PM on August 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by tumid dahlia at 9:30 PM on August 28, 2011 [2 favorites]
Venomous Mammal vs. Mega-Shark, up next on SyFy.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 9:56 PM on August 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 9:56 PM on August 28, 2011 [1 favorite]
Very few of us, I'll wager, have been to abandoned creepy cabins
I once (1) spent the night (2) in the middle of an overgrown wheat field (3) full of mysterious antennas (4) next to a pig farm. I'd gone there with (5) a team of scientists and (6) a semi trailer full of previously untested scientific equipment. I spent much of the night (7) staring at static on a video display imagining that I saw something in the noise. We were in radio contact with (8) our expedition to the north pole. Our leader (9) called their base a death camp* (10) in a heavy, nonspecific accent. We were also in contact with (11) our faceless sponsors (12) in the US Air Force (12) who feared an attack from outer space (13) which could not be stopped. At best we hoped (14) to provide some warning to those in harm's way before it was too late. As results started to come in, our chief engineer (15) cackled and (16) boasted that "they said it couldn't be done!" (17) Fireballs appeared on the horizon.
Enough scfi/horror tropes in one night that I'm amazed I'm still alive.
*Rurapente
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 1:25 AM on August 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
I once (1) spent the night (2) in the middle of an overgrown wheat field (3) full of mysterious antennas (4) next to a pig farm. I'd gone there with (5) a team of scientists and (6) a semi trailer full of previously untested scientific equipment. I spent much of the night (7) staring at static on a video display imagining that I saw something in the noise. We were in radio contact with (8) our expedition to the north pole. Our leader (9) called their base a death camp* (10) in a heavy, nonspecific accent. We were also in contact with (11) our faceless sponsors (12) in the US Air Force (12) who feared an attack from outer space (13) which could not be stopped. At best we hoped (14) to provide some warning to those in harm's way before it was too late. As results started to come in, our chief engineer (15) cackled and (16) boasted that "they said it couldn't be done!" (17) Fireballs appeared on the horizon.
Enough scfi/horror tropes in one night that I'm amazed I'm still alive.
*Rurapente
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 1:25 AM on August 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Aus has so much horrible wildlife I'm surprised there aren't a million creature features shot here every year.
DROP-BEARS II: THE DROPPENING
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 5:17 AM on August 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
DROP-BEARS II: THE DROPPENING
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 5:17 AM on August 29, 2011 [2 favorites]
I downloaded this off iView last week and gave it half an hour.
I was not inspired to give it any more.
posted by flabdablet at 6:25 AM on August 29, 2011
I was not inspired to give it any more.
posted by flabdablet at 6:25 AM on August 29, 2011
It isn't horrible, you're just weak :P
The proper misquotine of Glengarry Glen Ross would be "The movie is weak? YOU'RE WEAK."
posted by phearlez at 8:50 AM on August 29, 2011
The proper misquotine of Glengarry Glen Ross would be "The movie is weak? YOU'RE WEAK."
posted by phearlez at 8:50 AM on August 29, 2011
Aus has so much horrible wildlife I'm surprised there aren't a million creature features shot here every year.
I'm just going to put this here. AAAAAAAUGH
posted by Frobenius Twist at 9:09 AM on August 29, 2011
I'm just going to put this here. AAAAAAAUGH
posted by Frobenius Twist at 9:09 AM on August 29, 2011
Watched The Tunnel last night, I personally really enjoyed it and thought it was a fine horror film. Will be purchasing the DVD forthwith.
posted by tumid dahlia at 4:05 PM on August 31, 2011
posted by tumid dahlia at 4:05 PM on August 31, 2011
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posted by Lovecraft In Brooklyn at 6:40 PM on August 28, 2011