M. David Mullen Movies

Demon possession, devilish cheerleaders, and Satanic rock stars are all on the chopping block with this horror comedy from the production team behind Juno. Screenwriter Diablo Cody provides the script, with producing duties handled by Jason Reitman and Dan Dubiecki. The story centers on an impish high-school student (Amanda Seyfried) who has to protect her town against her best friend, Jennifer (Megan Fox), who after being bedeviled by an evil rock band, develops a taste for human flesh. Girlfight's Karyn Kusama directs the Fox Atomic production. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide

The recent death or her father threatening to sink the family's highly-profitable manure business, a cosmetics salesgirl attempts to keep things running smoothly as a serpentine fertilizer rep plots a takeover from afar. When it comes to fertilizer, Rose's Manure Company is where farmers go to get the best quality product that money can buy. Mr. Rose built Rose's Manure Company from the ground up. Now that Mr. Rose has been committed to the earth, the livelihood of the company's loyal fleet of salesmen seems to be circling the drain. But while Mr. Rose's estranged daughter Rosemary (Téa Leoni) hasn't talked to her father in years, she's willing to try her best to keep the family business afloat. As Rosemary goes about turning foul into profit, however, a fast-talking fertilizer rep (Kyle MacLachlan) begins drawing up plans for a lucrative takeover. Unfortunately Rosemary isn't the most experienced businesswoman in town, and in order to ensure that Rose's Manure Company retains it's upstanding reputation she puts her trust in the company's top salesman Patrick Fitzpatrick (Billy Bob Thornton). Sure Patrick can move manure by the truckload, but does he really have the business savvy to take on the most ruthless fertilizer rep in the region? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Over a hundred leading cameramen (and women) discuss the fine art of motion picture photography in this documentary. Cinematographer Style is compiled from interviews with a broad cross section of respected cinematographers, ranging from award-winning veterans such as Gordon Willis (The Godfather), Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now), Vilmos Zsigmond (Deliverance), and Haskell Wexler (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) to contemporary masters of the craft such as Roger Deakins (A Beautiful Mind), Peter Deming (Lost Highway), Ernest Dickerson (Do the Right Thing), and Remi Adefarasin (Match Point). While several participants discuss the tools of their trade, Cinematographer Style focuses as much on the philosophy behind photographing movies -- how they find a style that matches the material, their visual influences, how to prepare for a shoot, establishing a lighting and color scheme, and how "pretty" the image ought to be to match the story. Sponsored in part by Kodak, Cinematographer Style received its world premiere at the 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

An aspiring astronaut who was forced to forsake his dream of exploring space in order to save the family farm begins building his own personal rocket as a means of reaching the stars in this quirky rural drama starring Billy Bob Thornton. There once was a time when Charlie Farmer (Thornton) seemed like a shoo-in for NASA's esteemed astronaut training program. An Air Force pilot who held a degree in aerospace engineering, Charlie was well on his way to blasting off when a family crisis grounded his celestial aspirations. Of course, Charlie's feet may be firmly planted on terra firma these days, but his thoughts are constantly ascending into the clouds and beyond. It's been ten long years since the man who would navigate the stars began tending to the family farm, and during that time, Charlie has dedicated every moment of his spare time to building the rocket that will one day launch him into space. Though his devoted wife, Audie (Virginia Madsen), the pair's three children, Sunshine, Stanley, and Shepard, and even his father-in-law, Hal (Bruce Dern), all support Charlie in achieving his lifelong goal of becoming the nation's first independent astronaut, a last-minute hitch on the eve before the big launch unexpectedly stalls Charlie's countdown. It seems that Charlie's quest to obtain a substantial amount of high-grade rocket fuel has attracted the attention of not only the FBI, but the CIA, the FAA, and the United States military as well. Now, as the powers that be attempt to ground Charlie, citing concerns for civilian safety, a media frenzy descends upon the once-quiet farm as the reluctant renegade hero vows to show his children just how far one's courage and willingness to pursue one's own ideals can get a person when one refuses to give up hope. Northfork writing/directing duo Mark and Michael Polish team up to tell the tale of a man considered an oddity by his neighbors, a criminal by the government, and an inspiration by the media and the people. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

A late-career change of heart leads to a dangerous life on the run for two seasoned assassins whose complex relationship masks a dark past in director Lee Daniels' pulpy film noir. When Mickey (Cuba Gooding Jr.) was just a child, his abusive father savagely murdered the young boy's mother shortly before being gunned down by Rose (Helen Mirren), Mickey's stepmother. Twenty years later, Mickey and Rose are not only working together as hired killers, but they have grown to become lovers as well. When Rose discovers she is dying of terminal cancer and becomes addicted to morphine, her conscience soon prompts her to reevaluate her murderous ways. Assigned the task of taking out Vickie (Vanessa Ferlito), the wife of local crime boss Clayton (Stephen Dorff), Mickey and Rose are unable to complete their mission upon discovering that Vickie is pregnant. With the tragedy of the past threatening to lock Mickey, Rose, and their reluctant charge into a tragic cycle of death and deceit, the reluctant killers attempt to make amends for their violent past by protecting Vickie's unborn child and allowing Rose one last chance at redemption. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Filmmaker Angela Robinson writes and directs the action comedy D.E.B.S., a feature-length adaptation of her award-winning short film produced by a grant from POWER UP (Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up). This 90-minute spy parody involves a secret crime-fighting unit made up of sexy schoolgirls Amy (Sara Foster), Dominique (Devon Aoki), Janet (Jill Ritchie), and Max (Meagan Good). A government agency recruited them for the team based on their standardized test scores, which assumed a propensity for lying and thieving. Their assignment is to take down major villain Lucy Diamond (Jordana Brewster). As it turns out, all she really wants to have an illicit affair with D.E.B.S. leader Amy. Michael Clarke Duncan plays the president of D.E.B.S. Academy. D.E.B.S. was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Kevin Dillon portrays Hank Holten, a detective who has discovered why numerous people have disappeared: vampires are killing off people who frequent the town's rave scene. Holten's work brings him too close to the undead, and soon he has become one of their victims; however, he attempts to use all of his strength to bring them down before he succumbs. Directed by Richard Brandes, Vampires: Out for Blood co-stars Lance Henriksen. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

A guy looking for a break in the movie biz discovers the power of word of mouth in this satirical comedy. Kevin Taylor (Jordan Bridges) is an aspiring screenwriter who has pulled up stakes and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream. While working a day job, Kevin meets Marianne Roxbury (Marisa Coughlan), who is trying to work her way up the Hollywood ladder as a production executive. Biz-savvy Marianne advises Kevin that it makes more sense to spend his days schmoozing and making contacts rather than writing if he actually wants to get paid for his work and see it on a screen. With this in mind, Kevin takes a job as an assistant to Muster Hansau (Dan Hedaya), a once-powerful producer whose career is in a downward spiral. Kevin comes to realize he's merely a glorified errand boy for a washed-up blowhard, and the only people he meets are fellow lackeys with little real pull in the business, so he decides to have some fun and starts talking up a screenplay called "The New Suit" by Jordan Strawberry, even though both the script and the writer exist only in his imagination. Not wanting to sound out of the loop, no one admits they don't know anything about Strawberry and his work, and before long gossip has turned "The New Suit" into the most sought-after project in town, and Kevin finds himself controlling the destiny of a hot new writer who doesn't exist. The first American film from French director François Velle, New Suit also features Heather Donahue, Paul McCrane, and Amber Smith. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Director Michael Polish and his twin brother Mark, who co-wrote and co-starred in the low-key, yet bizarre Twin Falls Idaho, about a woman who falls in love with a conjoined twin, follow up that modest cult hit with Jackpot. Jackpot is named for the town of Jackpot, NV, said in the film to be "just across the border" from Twin Falls. Like the Polish brothers' debut, it's well shot by cinematographer M. David Mullen, and is similarly full of odd, deadpan humor, but Jackpot has much more prosaic subject matter. Sunny Holiday (Jon Gries) abandons his wife Bobbi (Daryl Hannah) and their child to go in delusional pursuit of a singing career. Sunny is seemingly unaware of his lack of talent, as he and his stalwart manager Les (arrett Morris of Saturday Night Live fame) travel from one town to another, entering karaoke contests in dive bars. Life on the road has its short-lived rewards, as desperate women occasionally fall for Sunny, despite Les' efforts to keep him out of trouble. But unbeknownst to Sunny, his wife is unhappy with the lottery tickets he sends her in lieu of child support, and she's set a private detective on his trail. One of the first features shot using a Sony 24P digital camera (along with Session 9 and Star Wars: Episode 2), Jackpot captures a grimy life on the road with detailed close-ups and effective deep-focus imagery. The quirky film jumps back and forth in time to match Sunny's playing and rewinding of a tape of his favorite song, George Jones' plaintive "Grand Tour." ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide

Lovely Sandy Kennington (Barbara Niven) would seem to have it all -- a burgeoning career, a loving young son, and a husband who makes more than she does. But hubby Edward (William R. Moses) has emotionally withdrawn from Sandy in the months following a tragic automobile accident in which their daughter was killed. His reticence troubles Sandy, who seems helpless to do anything about it. Then one day Edward comes home a changed man -- romantic, affectionate, and eager to talk about Sandy's possible transfer to New York City. There's only one problem: Edward is chained to a chair in a suburban basement, held hostage by gun-toting tough gal Beth Jenkins (Nia Peeples). So who is that man who looks like Edward making love with Sandy? ~ Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide

One of the more difficult high school students in cinematic history moves on to college in this sexy thriller. Debbie Strand (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, in the role Rose McGowan played in the first film) was sentenced to a mental institution for the criminally insane after her previous murder spree, but she manages to escape, and while making her getaway by hitchhiking, she's picked up by Sydney Hollings (Christiana Frank), a student on her way to start classes at an upscale college nearby. Debbie murders Sydney and assumes her identity in hopes of avoiding the police, but Debbie's obsession with older men starts causing problems again when she becomes interested in Sam Decker (Jsu Garcia), one of her professors. Debbie soon learns that she has a rival for Sam's affections in Carla (Katherine Kendall), Sam's girlfriend, and this proves to be bad for the long-term health of all parties concerned. Debbie also finds she doesn't get along especially well with her new roommate, Laney (Jeanette Brox). Devil in the Flesh 2 was also screened under the title Teacher's Pet. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Beware! Though the title may inspire thoughts of a cherubic being aiming arrows at would-be lovers, the subject matter of this low-budget psychological thriller is anything but romantic. Jennifer has recently left her lover and moved to L.A. to live with her wild sister Susan and work in a bookstore. There she meets the charming, handsome Eric and develops a big crush. They begin seeing each other and romance develops. Too bad, for Jennifer has no idea that beneath his wonderful exterior, Eric is an obsessive monster, one who has killed before and will surely kill again before the last reel unspools. Eric also has an equally deadly sister, one who would kill to resume her incestuous relationship with Eric. Fortunately for Jennifer, her old beau, Richard decides he wants her back. He doesn't think Eric is so wonderful and thus begins his own investigation. The coincidental (?) murder of Jennifer's sister, also sets Detective Thompson on the case. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Set in a nursing home, this drama is the brainchild of writer and director Duane B. Clark, the son of television legend Dick Clark. Zachary Throne stars as Dean Carter, an aspiring musical composer who is shocked when his own father fires him from a gig writing the score of a period motion picture. Dumped by his girlfriend at about the same time, Dean drowns his sorrows at a pub and decides on a complete change of career. He takes a job working in a financially struggling nursing home, where he befriends a cynical nurse, Anna (Christine Cavanugh). Dean also meets a depressed elderly resident, Mr. Williams (Bill Cobbs), who is terrified of an upcoming surgery that may leave him paralyzed. After Williams attempts to kill himself and Dean intervenes, the two men become friendly, and Dean eventually realizes that Williams is none other than the legendary saxophone player Eddie "Coffee Cup" Williams. Through his dedication to helping Williams regain his musical abilities, Dean rediscovers his own love of music. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide