2023 was a good year for villains. With social media discourse at an all-time low, public figures taking constant swipes at each other, and A.I. poised to render all news meaningless, it seems like the year was filled with nefarious people coming out of the woodwork to make our lives a little more stressful.
But no matter what nightmares we saw playing out in real life, we could rest in the knowledge that something equally evil or maybe even worse would be showing at our local cineplex or streaming platform. The horror genre is filled with larger-than-life foes from centuries-old monsters to futuristic killers and this year gave us villains in spades.
Some are humorous, some tragic, some pulled from reality, and some difficult to pin down. But regardless of their stories, the following ten villains made our lives just a little more terrifying – and if we don’t honor them here,...
But no matter what nightmares we saw playing out in real life, we could rest in the knowledge that something equally evil or maybe even worse would be showing at our local cineplex or streaming platform. The horror genre is filled with larger-than-life foes from centuries-old monsters to futuristic killers and this year gave us villains in spades.
Some are humorous, some tragic, some pulled from reality, and some difficult to pin down. But regardless of their stories, the following ten villains made our lives just a little more terrifying – and if we don’t honor them here,...
- 12/31/2023
- by Jenn Adams
- bloody-disgusting.com
Stars: Lucas Paul, Dali Rose Tetreault, Ross Paul, Jaime Hill | Written and Directed by Kyle Edward Ball
Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished.
Have you ever sat down to watch a movie that got tons of great word-of-mouth, only to watch it and think to yourself “How in the world did this film get so much praise? What am I missing here?” That’s the exact same feeling I got upon watching Kyle Edward Ball‘s feature directorial debut horror film Skinamarink, which initially premiered at the 26th Fantasia Film Festival last year.
Skinamarink is certainly an ambitious film, I must admit, but that doesn’t make it any good. In truth, it’s one of the most boring and uneventful films I’ve ever seen in my life.
Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished.
Have you ever sat down to watch a movie that got tons of great word-of-mouth, only to watch it and think to yourself “How in the world did this film get so much praise? What am I missing here?” That’s the exact same feeling I got upon watching Kyle Edward Ball‘s feature directorial debut horror film Skinamarink, which initially premiered at the 26th Fantasia Film Festival last year.
Skinamarink is certainly an ambitious film, I must admit, but that doesn’t make it any good. In truth, it’s one of the most boring and uneventful films I’ve ever seen in my life.
- 6/29/2023
- by Guest
- Nerdly
Regardless of your thoughts on the movie, Skinamarink is a fascinating case study in independent filmmaking. The experimental horror effort leaked on the festival circuit and proceeded to spread online via word-of-mouth. The buzz resulted in a surprisingly successful theatrical release via IFC Midnight, which in turn helped to make it one of the most polarizing horror movies in recent memory.
Skinamarink has arrived on Blu-ray and DVD with a single special feature, but it’s the one I was hoping for: an audio commentary. Writer-director-editor Kyle Edward Ball and director of photography Jamie McRae casually discuss the making of the film
Here are seven things I learned from the Skinamarink Blu-ray commentary…
1. The film was shot in seven days in Ball’s childhood home for $15,000.
Production took place over the course of seven days, with eight hours or less of shooting each day. Pre-production and post-production, however, were much more time consuming.
Skinamarink has arrived on Blu-ray and DVD with a single special feature, but it’s the one I was hoping for: an audio commentary. Writer-director-editor Kyle Edward Ball and director of photography Jamie McRae casually discuss the making of the film
Here are seven things I learned from the Skinamarink Blu-ray commentary…
1. The film was shot in seven days in Ball’s childhood home for $15,000.
Production took place over the course of seven days, with eight hours or less of shooting each day. Pre-production and post-production, however, were much more time consuming.
- 6/20/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
A viral hit on the festival scene, Kyle Edward Ball’s experimental fright flick Skinamarink scared up $2 million at the box office this year, and the film is now headed home to Blu-ray.
Skinamarink comes to Blu-ray and DVD on June 20 via Rlje Films.
Special Features include…
Audio commentary by writer-director Kyle Edward Ball and cinematographer Jamie McRae Trailer
[Related] Why Scary New Movie ‘Skinamarink’ Will Make You Afraid of the Dark Again
In Skinamarink, “Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished. To cope with the strange situation, the two bring pillows and blankets to the living room and settle into a quiet slumber party situation. They play well worn videotapes of cartoons to fill the silence of the house and distract from the frightening and inexplicable situation. All the while...
Skinamarink comes to Blu-ray and DVD on June 20 via Rlje Films.
Special Features include…
Audio commentary by writer-director Kyle Edward Ball and cinematographer Jamie McRae Trailer
[Related] Why Scary New Movie ‘Skinamarink’ Will Make You Afraid of the Dark Again
In Skinamarink, “Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished. To cope with the strange situation, the two bring pillows and blankets to the living room and settle into a quiet slumber party situation. They play well worn videotapes of cartoons to fill the silence of the house and distract from the frightening and inexplicable situation. All the while...
- 4/7/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
“Skinamarink,” the low-budget first feature from Kyle Edward Ball, is an arresting-looking horror film designed to succeed within creative financial constraints. A stew of digitally-replicated film grain and oblique angles make what you see unnerving, but Ball designed “Skinamarink” so that what you hear from beyond the frame is truly the stuff of nightmares.
Filmed over a week in his parents’ house — where they blocked out all light using a combination of Blackwrap tape and black seamless paper — Ball and his team carefully constructed a house of horrors for siblings Kevin (Lucas Paul) and Kaylee (Dali Rose Tetreault), left alone and unsure of what might be in the house with them after their father mysteriously vanishes, and all openings in and out of the house abruptly disappear.
Ball’s film is a ticking tomb bomb of terror where wooden beam creaks and crackling carpet lead to the sensation of the...
Filmed over a week in his parents’ house — where they blocked out all light using a combination of Blackwrap tape and black seamless paper — Ball and his team carefully constructed a house of horrors for siblings Kevin (Lucas Paul) and Kaylee (Dali Rose Tetreault), left alone and unsure of what might be in the house with them after their father mysteriously vanishes, and all openings in and out of the house abruptly disappear.
Ball’s film is a ticking tomb bomb of terror where wooden beam creaks and crackling carpet lead to the sensation of the...
- 2/16/2023
- by Sarah Shachat
- Indiewire
Horror fans have a new contender for “scariest film ever” on their hands.
Each new year sees the release of a bunch of buzzy new titles hoping to be met with acclaim and approval from fans of the genre.
In the last five years, films that generated word-of-mouth excitement ahead of being unveiled included Ari Aster’s Hereditary, Dashcam in 2021 and, last year, Terrifier 2.
Now, you can add Skinamarink to that list.
The film, an independent release from Canadian director Kyle Edward Ball that cost just 15,000 to make, is currently making waves on the horror scene. It’s now available to stream on Shudder.
To fully explain the plot of Skinamarink would be to spoil its surprises. All you need to know is that it follows two young children, played by Lucas Paul and Kaylee Dali Rose Tetreault, who wake up in the middle of the night to discover...
Each new year sees the release of a bunch of buzzy new titles hoping to be met with acclaim and approval from fans of the genre.
In the last five years, films that generated word-of-mouth excitement ahead of being unveiled included Ari Aster’s Hereditary, Dashcam in 2021 and, last year, Terrifier 2.
Now, you can add Skinamarink to that list.
The film, an independent release from Canadian director Kyle Edward Ball that cost just 15,000 to make, is currently making waves on the horror scene. It’s now available to stream on Shudder.
To fully explain the plot of Skinamarink would be to spoil its surprises. All you need to know is that it follows two young children, played by Lucas Paul and Kaylee Dali Rose Tetreault, who wake up in the middle of the night to discover...
- 2/3/2023
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - Film
Midway into the film, a disembodied voice whispers into the swallowing blackness: “look under the bed.” A young girl named Kaylee (Dali Rose Tetreault) bends down to take a peek, the camera following her gaze. It’s not that nothing happens in this moment, but it’s the anticipation that sends goosebumps racing down the spine. What could be tucked away beneath a bed一the boogeyman, an impish spirit, a vengeful demon一is what real-life terror is made of. It’s bumps in the night, creaky floorboards, and wind rustling through the attic. When night falls, there’s no escaping it. That’s what it is like experiencing Kyle Edward Ball’s scary feature film debut Skinamarink, a highly-stylized lo-fi experiment in imagination and unbridled fear of the dark.
Krystal Lewis, a clinical psychologist and researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health, believes a fear of the dark often relies on...
Krystal Lewis, a clinical psychologist and researcher at the National Institute of Mental Health, believes a fear of the dark often relies on...
- 2/2/2023
- by Bee Delores
- bloody-disgusting.com
The thing you should know about Skinamarink going in is that it’s a movie which does everything in its power to not be a movie. Call it an experience, call it an experiment, call it a nightmare simulator. Whatever it is, it’s unlike any movie you’ll see this year, skirting almost every cinematic convention you’ve ever heard about.
The actors’ faces, for example, are never shown. Virtually every shot seems to have no clear focus, with objects and subjects obscured or only partially in-frame, the camera seemingly misplaced and left on by mistake. Shots are often uncomfortably long and lingering, the image quality is oppressively lo-fi, and there’s no traditional soundtrack to speak of. On the surface, it’s almost as if the movie wasn’t meant to be watched by an audience at all. But Skinamarink, directed by Kyle Edward Ball in his feature debut,...
The actors’ faces, for example, are never shown. Virtually every shot seems to have no clear focus, with objects and subjects obscured or only partially in-frame, the camera seemingly misplaced and left on by mistake. Shots are often uncomfortably long and lingering, the image quality is oppressively lo-fi, and there’s no traditional soundtrack to speak of. On the surface, it’s almost as if the movie wasn’t meant to be watched by an audience at all. But Skinamarink, directed by Kyle Edward Ball in his feature debut,...
- 2/2/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Love is in the air this February, particularly regarding horror. The month is packed with theatrical darlings finding new homes on streaming, brand-new originals, and unearthed deep cuts. February has everything from polarizing indie darlings to sleeper hits and beyond.
Here are ten noteworthy horror titles available for streaming in February 2023 on some of the most popular streaming services, along with when/where you can watch them.
The Loved Ones – Paramount+
What’s February without horror romances? This brutal feature introduces Lola, who wants to be a princess and find Prince Charming. She decides that Brent is the one and invites him to the school dance. When he rejects her offer, and she sees him with another girl, Lola decides she’ll get what she wants. Lola doesn’t take rejection lightly, and things get downright brutal. The truth is that maybe no one will love her as much as daddy,...
Here are ten noteworthy horror titles available for streaming in February 2023 on some of the most popular streaming services, along with when/where you can watch them.
The Loved Ones – Paramount+
What’s February without horror romances? This brutal feature introduces Lola, who wants to be a princess and find Prince Charming. She decides that Brent is the one and invites him to the school dance. When he rejects her offer, and she sees him with another girl, Lola decides she’ll get what she wants. Lola doesn’t take rejection lightly, and things get downright brutal. The truth is that maybe no one will love her as much as daddy,...
- 2/1/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
We end one month and begin another month this week, with the transition from January to February bringing along with it Seven more brand new horror movies in the coming days.
One of those films is the next big theatrical genre release of the year, but all of the others will be available for you to watch at your leisure in the comfort of your own home.
Here’s all the new horror arriving January 31 – February 3, 2023!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
Brad Anderson (Session 9, The Machinist) is back with psychological horror movie Blood, and in the wake of the film’s theatrical release last week it’s now available on VOD today.
Michelle Monaghan (“True Detective”) stars alongside Skeet Ulrich (Scream), Finlay Wojtak-Hissong, Rodrigo Beilfuss, Erik Athavale, June B. Wilde, and Skylar Morgan Jones.
“The film follows Jess (Michelle Monaghan), a nurse...
One of those films is the next big theatrical genre release of the year, but all of the others will be available for you to watch at your leisure in the comfort of your own home.
Here’s all the new horror arriving January 31 – February 3, 2023!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
Brad Anderson (Session 9, The Machinist) is back with psychological horror movie Blood, and in the wake of the film’s theatrical release last week it’s now available on VOD today.
Michelle Monaghan (“True Detective”) stars alongside Skeet Ulrich (Scream), Finlay Wojtak-Hissong, Rodrigo Beilfuss, Erik Athavale, June B. Wilde, and Skylar Morgan Jones.
“The film follows Jess (Michelle Monaghan), a nurse...
- 1/31/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
This post contains spoilers for "Skinamarink."
Kyle Edward Ball's "Skinamarink" has become an indie horror phenomenon. For those who need catching up, the micro-budget film was financed via GoFundMe and was shot in Ball's childhood home for a thin 15,000 budget. It initially premiered at the Fantasia Film Festival in 2022, but soon after, the film leaked on the internet after a digital festival screening and became a viral sensation. "Skinamarink" was soon spread all over YouTube and TikTok; the grainy found footage video aesthetic made it an interesting and horrifying watch for those locked in their houses during Covid-19. This month, the film has been enjoying a successful limited theatrical run before it launches on Shudder on February 2nd.
"Skinamarink" follows two children who wake up in the middle of the night to find out that their parents have gone missing. Not only that, but all the doors and windows...
Kyle Edward Ball's "Skinamarink" has become an indie horror phenomenon. For those who need catching up, the micro-budget film was financed via GoFundMe and was shot in Ball's childhood home for a thin 15,000 budget. It initially premiered at the Fantasia Film Festival in 2022, but soon after, the film leaked on the internet after a digital festival screening and became a viral sensation. "Skinamarink" was soon spread all over YouTube and TikTok; the grainy found footage video aesthetic made it an interesting and horrifying watch for those locked in their houses during Covid-19. This month, the film has been enjoying a successful limited theatrical run before it launches on Shudder on February 2nd.
"Skinamarink" follows two children who wake up in the middle of the night to find out that their parents have gone missing. Not only that, but all the doors and windows...
- 1/28/2023
- by Tyler Llewyn Taing
- Slash Film
After debuting in theaters this past weekend with over 800,000 across the four-day holiday, we’ve learned that Kyle Edward Ball‘s experimental found footage movie Skinamarink (read Meagan’s review) has now passed One Million Dollars at the North American box office.
The film has now earned an incredible 67X its production budget of 15K(!), and that’s with a limited release on very few screens in just 692 theaters across the United States.
The debut feature from director Kyle Edward Ball will expand into over 800 theaters this weekend, dictated by demand as the film continues to outpace all industry estimates.
Skinamarink will then stream exclusively on Shudder February 2, 2023!
If you’d rather see it in theaters, you can get your tickets now.
This is another massive win for indie horror, following in the wake of Damien Leone’s slasher Terrifier 2 making 12.8 million at the US box office this past Halloween season.
The film has now earned an incredible 67X its production budget of 15K(!), and that’s with a limited release on very few screens in just 692 theaters across the United States.
The debut feature from director Kyle Edward Ball will expand into over 800 theaters this weekend, dictated by demand as the film continues to outpace all industry estimates.
Skinamarink will then stream exclusively on Shudder February 2, 2023!
If you’d rather see it in theaters, you can get your tickets now.
This is another massive win for indie horror, following in the wake of Damien Leone’s slasher Terrifier 2 making 12.8 million at the US box office this past Halloween season.
- 1/19/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
This post contains spoilers for "Skinamarink."
Writer/director Kyle Edward Ball's "Skinamarink" is a wholly thrilling experience, a horror film that teaches you how to watch it while you watch it, a brazen work of experimental art released into domestic multiplexes, and cleaning up in the process, it seems. One of its innovations lies in the way its cinematography and aesthetic are constructed out of liminal spaces. As /Film's Joe Roberts pointed out recently, Ball is an avowed fan of the meme, admitting that a subreddit devoted to liminal spaces influenced him when making the film. The subreddit defines the term using text from the Cambridge Art Association:
"A liminal space is the time between the 'what was' and the 'next.' It is a place of transition, a season of waiting, and not knowing. Liminal space is where all transformation takes place."
Gee, that sounds kinda similar to:...
Writer/director Kyle Edward Ball's "Skinamarink" is a wholly thrilling experience, a horror film that teaches you how to watch it while you watch it, a brazen work of experimental art released into domestic multiplexes, and cleaning up in the process, it seems. One of its innovations lies in the way its cinematography and aesthetic are constructed out of liminal spaces. As /Film's Joe Roberts pointed out recently, Ball is an avowed fan of the meme, admitting that a subreddit devoted to liminal spaces influenced him when making the film. The subreddit defines the term using text from the Cambridge Art Association:
"A liminal space is the time between the 'what was' and the 'next.' It is a place of transition, a season of waiting, and not knowing. Liminal space is where all transformation takes place."
Gee, that sounds kinda similar to:...
- 1/18/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
In the wake of the festival hit’s viral success on social media, Kyle Edward Ball‘s experimental found footage movie Skinamarink (read Meagan’s review) was released in theaters from IFC Midnight this past Friday the 13th, with a Shudder premiere planned for later this year. In just 692 theaters across the country, the film is having an impressive box office run.
A small, outside-the-box indie horror movie in limited release – and with limited screens and showtimes – Skinamarink scared up 890,000 across the four-day MLK Weekend, 815,000 of which was made in the Friday-Sunday frame. The production budget? A reported 15,000!
This is another massive win for indie horror, following in the wake of Damien Leone’s slasher Terrifier 2 making 12.8 million at the US box office this past Halloween season.
The lesson to be learned here is that theater chains are more hungry than ever to program Anything that’ll put asses in seats,...
A small, outside-the-box indie horror movie in limited release – and with limited screens and showtimes – Skinamarink scared up 890,000 across the four-day MLK Weekend, 815,000 of which was made in the Friday-Sunday frame. The production budget? A reported 15,000!
This is another massive win for indie horror, following in the wake of Damien Leone’s slasher Terrifier 2 making 12.8 million at the US box office this past Halloween season.
The lesson to be learned here is that theater chains are more hungry than ever to program Anything that’ll put asses in seats,...
- 1/17/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
There is no denying that "Skinamarink" is one hell of a terrifying film. However, outside of a few jump scares, its terror lies in its still darkness — it's one of those movies that makes your brain conjure up the unseen horrors lurking within the screen's blackness. No matter how terrifying you think the ultimate reveal of what's going on will be, you're ultimately unprepared to face the truth. I'm not ashamed to admit that it got under my skin in a way very few movies have.
However, a lot of its charm and terror come from the circumstances surrounding its production. "Skinamarink" only cost 15,000 Cad to produce, which is just under 11.2 thousand in Usd, and eagle-eyed viewers of the opening credits would have seen director Kyle Edward Ball's parents as being responsible for "locations." This terrifying film, which achieved cult virality on social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter,...
However, a lot of its charm and terror come from the circumstances surrounding its production. "Skinamarink" only cost 15,000 Cad to produce, which is just under 11.2 thousand in Usd, and eagle-eyed viewers of the opening credits would have seen director Kyle Edward Ball's parents as being responsible for "locations." This terrifying film, which achieved cult virality on social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter,...
- 1/16/2023
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
Film Review: Skinamarink (2022): An Imaginative Exercise in Terror That Will Keep Audiences Watching
Skinamarink Review — Skinamarink (2022) Film Review, a movie written and directed by Kyle Edward Ball and starring Jaime Hill, Lucas Paul, Ross Paul and Dali Rose Tetreault. Canadian filmmaker Kyle Edward Ball does something that’s never been done before with his terrifying film, Skinamarink. Ball manages to captivate viewers with almost no character development [...]
Continue reading: Film Review: Skinamarink (2022): An Imaginative Exercise in Terror That Will Keep Audiences Watching...
Continue reading: Film Review: Skinamarink (2022): An Imaginative Exercise in Terror That Will Keep Audiences Watching...
- 1/15/2023
- by Thomas Duffy
- Film-Book
The digital horror feature "Skinamarink", written and directed by Kyle Edward Ball, stars Lucas Paul as 'Kevin' and Dali Rose Tetreault as 'Kaylee', currently released theatrically through IFC Midnight, to be followed by streaming on Shudder:
"...'Skinamarink' is a slow, nightmarish walk through a vivid sensation of nostalgia, reminding adults what it felt like to be afraid of the dark, even in the comfort of one’s own home. It's difficult to describe, just as it’s very, very difficult to forget..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...'Skinamarink' is a slow, nightmarish walk through a vivid sensation of nostalgia, reminding adults what it felt like to be afraid of the dark, even in the comfort of one’s own home. It's difficult to describe, just as it’s very, very difficult to forget..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 1/15/2023
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
This post contains contain major spoilers for the film "Skinamarink."
In order to delve into the ending of Kyle Edward Ball's excellent new horror film "Skinamarink," one must know a little bit about dreams.
"Skinamarink" was filmed in Ball's own childhood home, and is about two young children, only four and six years old, wandering the hallways at 3 a.m. Their only illumination is the flickering TV set, tuned to half-absorbed public-domain cartoons. There is constantly hissing and shuffling white noise on the soundtrack, interrupted by whispers and strange, terrifying demands. The windows and doors have vanished. When one of the children wanders into their parents' room, their mom won't look at them (audiences only see the back of her head) and their father appears to be missing.
"Look under the bed," we hear. There is no story to "Skinamarink," per se, but Ball expertly constructs the rising and...
In order to delve into the ending of Kyle Edward Ball's excellent new horror film "Skinamarink," one must know a little bit about dreams.
"Skinamarink" was filmed in Ball's own childhood home, and is about two young children, only four and six years old, wandering the hallways at 3 a.m. Their only illumination is the flickering TV set, tuned to half-absorbed public-domain cartoons. There is constantly hissing and shuffling white noise on the soundtrack, interrupted by whispers and strange, terrifying demands. The windows and doors have vanished. When one of the children wanders into their parents' room, their mom won't look at them (audiences only see the back of her head) and their father appears to be missing.
"Look under the bed," we hear. There is no story to "Skinamarink," per se, but Ball expertly constructs the rising and...
- 1/14/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The primordial fear of being watched, stalked and caught by an unknown entity lurking in the dark is the basis of Skinamarink, the microbudget feature debut from writer-director-editor Kyle Edward Ball. The incredibly loose narrative follows young siblings Kevin (Lucas Paul) and Kaylee (Dali Rose Tetreault) as they patter around their family’s strikingly ordinary middle-class house in the dead of night circa 1995. Their parents are nowhere to be found, all of the doors have mysteriously vanished and the lights eventually stop working. While this phenomena is enough to chill any child, their well-being is most threatened by a supernatural […]
The post “Significant Portions of the Movie Were Literally Just Lit by the Television”: Kyle Edward Ball on Skinamarink first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Significant Portions of the Movie Were Literally Just Lit by the Television”: Kyle Edward Ball on Skinamarink first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 1/13/2023
- by Natalia Keogan
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
The primordial fear of being watched, stalked and caught by an unknown entity lurking in the dark is the basis of Skinamarink, the microbudget feature debut from writer-director-editor Kyle Edward Ball. The incredibly loose narrative follows young siblings Kevin (Lucas Paul) and Kaylee (Dali Rose Tetreault) as they patter around their family’s strikingly ordinary middle-class house in the dead of night circa 1995. Their parents are nowhere to be found, all of the doors have mysteriously vanished and the lights eventually stop working. While this phenomena is enough to chill any child, their well-being is most threatened by a supernatural […]
The post “Significant Portions of the Movie Were Literally Just Lit by the Television”: Kyle Edward Ball on Skinamarink first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Significant Portions of the Movie Were Literally Just Lit by the Television”: Kyle Edward Ball on Skinamarink first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 1/13/2023
- by Natalia Keogan
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
For five years, Canadian filmmaker Kyle Edward Ball’s YouTube channel “Bite-Sized Nightmares” has been showcasing shorts full of fuzzy video, distorted sound, and an emphasis on creepy vibes rather than storytelling. His debut feature Skinamarink became an unlikely cult hit at Fantasia last summer, especially when a copy leaked to torrent networks. The buzz it has received may surprise many people once they actually see it, because not only is it far from a conventional horror film, it’s barely a narrative. Ball is steeped both in YouTube analog horror and avant-garde cinema.
Rather than emphasizing narrative, Skinamarink evokes the consciousness of Kevin (Lucas Paul), a terrified four-year-old boy roaming around a house in the middle of the night. He and his sister discover that their parents have disappeared, while the home’s geography has been rearranged, eliminating doors and windows. On a TV, cartoons from the 1930s play,...
Rather than emphasizing narrative, Skinamarink evokes the consciousness of Kevin (Lucas Paul), a terrified four-year-old boy roaming around a house in the middle of the night. He and his sister discover that their parents have disappeared, while the home’s geography has been rearranged, eliminating doors and windows. On a TV, cartoons from the 1930s play,...
- 1/13/2023
- by Steve Erickson
- The Film Stage
Owen Gleiberman of Variety writes the Skinamarink, “is the purest and scariest horror-movie creep-out in a long time. It’s like a portal that connects the audience to the beyond. It is one of the rare ones to evoke the terror of genuine godforsaken night. “
On December 5, 2022 it was announced by Shudder and IFC Midnight that the theatrical run for the highly-anticipated paranormal thriller Skinamarink will begin Friday, January 13, 2023 ahead of the film’s streaming debut on Shudder.
With special limited screenings this Friday, get your tickets now https://skinamarink.com
Written, directed and produced by Kyle Edward Ball, making his directorial debut, the film had its premiere at Fantasia Fest and has since taken social media by storm creating an unprecedented viral sensation for an independently produced horror film.
Said Ball: “I’m thrilled that after months of keeping it secret, I can finally tell everyone that my weird...
On December 5, 2022 it was announced by Shudder and IFC Midnight that the theatrical run for the highly-anticipated paranormal thriller Skinamarink will begin Friday, January 13, 2023 ahead of the film’s streaming debut on Shudder.
With special limited screenings this Friday, get your tickets now https://skinamarink.com
Written, directed and produced by Kyle Edward Ball, making his directorial debut, the film had its premiere at Fantasia Fest and has since taken social media by storm creating an unprecedented viral sensation for an independently produced horror film.
Said Ball: “I’m thrilled that after months of keeping it secret, I can finally tell everyone that my weird...
- 1/12/2023
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
This year is already off to an incredible start for the horror genre, with M3GAN scaring up big time profits in theaters and “The Last of Us” getting set to elevate horror television on HBO.
Much like last week, this second week of 2023 is similarly home to several exciting new horror releases, including the return of Kevin Williamson plus the arrival of a viral horror indie.
Not to mention, this Friday is the first Friday the 13th of 2023!
Here’s all the new horror releasing January 10 – January 13, 2023…
First up, from Ryûhei Kitamura, the director of Midnight Meat Train, comes Lionsgate’s The Price We Pay, which just debuted on VOD this Tuesday and comes to select theaters Friday.
Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild) and Stephen Dorff (Blade) star in The Price We Pay, which looks like a genre fusion of an action-thriller and a slasher movie all in one crazy package.
Much like last week, this second week of 2023 is similarly home to several exciting new horror releases, including the return of Kevin Williamson plus the arrival of a viral horror indie.
Not to mention, this Friday is the first Friday the 13th of 2023!
Here’s all the new horror releasing January 10 – January 13, 2023…
First up, from Ryûhei Kitamura, the director of Midnight Meat Train, comes Lionsgate’s The Price We Pay, which just debuted on VOD this Tuesday and comes to select theaters Friday.
Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild) and Stephen Dorff (Blade) star in The Price We Pay, which looks like a genre fusion of an action-thriller and a slasher movie all in one crazy package.
- 1/12/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
“1995” declares a 1970s-style title card in the opening minutes of Kyle Edward Ball’s Skinamarink, a film presented in fake grain filters meant to suggest the scratchy 35mm video nasties of that era. The date proves totally irrelevant to Skinamarink’s minimal plot; at best it vaguely informs the technology we see in the two-story suburban household where the entire film takes place. This might pass as a conscious irony, but over the ensuing 100 minutes it becomes far more plausible that this semiotically lazy confusion of time and history is a quality of Ball as director, and not of his film’s barely glimpsed preschool-age protagonists.
Skinamarink, a crowdfunded passion project for writer-director-editor-YouTuber Ball, is a proudly experimental film in the sense that it is brutally formless and repetitive and masks these qualities with a veneer of faux-ethereal vagueness. Ostensibly the chronicle of two young children trapped with their single...
Skinamarink, a crowdfunded passion project for writer-director-editor-YouTuber Ball, is a proudly experimental film in the sense that it is brutally formless and repetitive and masks these qualities with a veneer of faux-ethereal vagueness. Ostensibly the chronicle of two young children trapped with their single...
- 1/12/2023
- by Eli Friedberg
- The Film Stage
Horror fans have a new contender for “scariest film ever” on their hands.
Each new year sees the release of a bunch of buzzy new titles hoping to be met with acclaim and approval from fans of the genre.
In the last five years, films that generated word-of-mouth excitement ahead of being unveiled included Ari Aster’s Hereditary, Dashcam in 2021 and, last year, Terrifier 2.
Now, you can add Skinamarink to that list.
The film, an independent release from Canadian director Kyle Edward Ball that cost just 15,000 to make, is currently making waves on the horror scene.
To fully explain the plot of Skinamarink would be to spoil its surprises. All you need to know is that it follows two young children, played by Lucas Paul and Kaylee Dali Rose Tetreault, who wake up in the middle of the night to discover their father is no longer home.
The slow-paced film,...
Each new year sees the release of a bunch of buzzy new titles hoping to be met with acclaim and approval from fans of the genre.
In the last five years, films that generated word-of-mouth excitement ahead of being unveiled included Ari Aster’s Hereditary, Dashcam in 2021 and, last year, Terrifier 2.
Now, you can add Skinamarink to that list.
The film, an independent release from Canadian director Kyle Edward Ball that cost just 15,000 to make, is currently making waves on the horror scene.
To fully explain the plot of Skinamarink would be to spoil its surprises. All you need to know is that it follows two young children, played by Lucas Paul and Kaylee Dali Rose Tetreault, who wake up in the middle of the night to discover their father is no longer home.
The slow-paced film,...
- 1/12/2023
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - Film
Writer/Director Kyle Edward Ball’s microbudget feature debut Skinamarink earned critical accolades during its festival run before becoming a viral sensation late last year on TikTok. Its buzzy reputation for terrifying viewers and its title deriving from a children’s song made popular by Sharon, Lois & Bram instilled the expectation for a unique kindertrauma horror movie. While it delivers on its singular vision, its experimental nature and reliance on technique and the power of suggestion will likely polarize.
The 1995-set Skinamarink uses the setup of two young children, Kevin (Lucas Paul) and Kaylee (Dali Rose Tetreault), waking in the night to find their parents gone along with all windows and doors. The siblings band together around the living room TV with toys and blankets for comfort as they fend for themselves, but it soon becomes clear that perhaps they’re not alone.
Skinamarink eschews conventional storytelling or plot to...
The 1995-set Skinamarink uses the setup of two young children, Kevin (Lucas Paul) and Kaylee (Dali Rose Tetreault), waking in the night to find their parents gone along with all windows and doors. The siblings band together around the living room TV with toys and blankets for comfort as they fend for themselves, but it soon becomes clear that perhaps they’re not alone.
Skinamarink eschews conventional storytelling or plot to...
- 1/11/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
If I were an ambitious producer of horror films, like Jason Blum, the first thing I would do this year is to offer a deal to Kyle Edward Ball, the writer-director of “Skinamarink.” But it would be a special kind of deal — comparable, in its way, to the one Mel Brooks struck with David Lynch to direct “The Elephant Man,” after Brooks had seen and loved “Eraserhead.”
“Skinamarink” isn’t like other horror films. Made for $15,000, it’s a hushed and nearly plotless experimental creep-out — a movie with barely any people in it (though a couple of child actors hover on the margins), one that consists mostly of static images shot inside a nondescript house at what looks like 3:00 a.m. The film will open on Jan. 13 at selected megaplexes, and that’s the right place for it; you want to experience it with an audience, kind of like a séance.
“Skinamarink” isn’t like other horror films. Made for $15,000, it’s a hushed and nearly plotless experimental creep-out — a movie with barely any people in it (though a couple of child actors hover on the margins), one that consists mostly of static images shot inside a nondescript house at what looks like 3:00 a.m. The film will open on Jan. 13 at selected megaplexes, and that’s the right place for it; you want to experience it with an audience, kind of like a séance.
- 1/10/2023
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Stars: Lucas Paul, Dali Rose Tetreault, Ross Paul, Jaime Hill | Written and Directed by Kyle Edward Ball
Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished.
Have you ever sat down to watch a movie that got tons of great word-of-mouth, only to watch it and think to yourself “How in the world did this film get so much praise? What am I missing here?” That’s the exact same feeling I got upon watching Kyle Edward Ball‘s feature directorial debut horror film Skinamarink, which initially premiered at the 26th Fantastia Film Festival last year.
Skinamarink is certainly an ambitious film, I must admit, but that doesn’t make it any good. In truth, it’s one of the most boring and uneventful films I’ve ever seen in my life.
Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished.
Have you ever sat down to watch a movie that got tons of great word-of-mouth, only to watch it and think to yourself “How in the world did this film get so much praise? What am I missing here?” That’s the exact same feeling I got upon watching Kyle Edward Ball‘s feature directorial debut horror film Skinamarink, which initially premiered at the 26th Fantastia Film Festival last year.
Skinamarink is certainly an ambitious film, I must admit, but that doesn’t make it any good. In truth, it’s one of the most boring and uneventful films I’ve ever seen in my life.
- 1/4/2023
- by Caillou Pettis
- Nerdly
"Come upstairs…" Shudder + IFC Midnight have revealed an official trailer for a Canadian indie horror film titled Skinamarink, which is already a cult horror hit on the festival circuit. It first premiered at the 2022 Fantasia Film Festival in Quebec earlier this year, and has stopped by a few other genre fests including the Ramaskrik Film Festival in Norway most recently. Made on a budget of barely 15,000, the film is poised to be a huge hit for Ball and deserves your attention when it opens in the US in early 2023. Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished. Waiting with the hope that an adult will come and fix the situation, they soon realize they're being watched. The film stars Dali Rose Tetreault and Lucas Paul as the two kids, plus Jaime Hill...
- 12/11/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
If you’ve been on the internet the last few weeks, you’ve certainly heard of the horror thriller Skinamarink. Made for around just 15,000, Kyle Edward Ball’s nocturnal creeper follows a pair of children who wake up only to find their father has disappeared and they are trapped in their home. While on its festival run this year, the film ended up leaking and clips started to go viral across the web, most notably TikTok, but thankfully it’s now getting a proper theatrical release in just a few weeks courtesy IFC Midnight and Shudder. Ahead of the January 13 bow, the new trailer has now arrived.
“Before it was pirated, on Twitter when anyone talked about my movie I would ‘like’ it,” the director told Variety. “If they did fan art, I’d retweet it. It’s so cool that people are doing fan art! Since it’s been pirated,...
“Before it was pirated, on Twitter when anyone talked about my movie I would ‘like’ it,” the director told Variety. “If they did fan art, I’d retweet it. It’s so cool that people are doing fan art! Since it’s been pirated,...
- 12/10/2022
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
If you’re a very online horror fan, chances are good that you’ve heard of “Skinamarink” by now. Kyle Edward Ball’s microbudget horror film only cost 15,000 to make but has gone viral due to some buzzy festival screenings and strategic online leaks. Horror lovers have praised Ball’s ability to create a nightmarishly retro atmosphere for his film about children trapped alone in a dangerous house, and soon everyone will have the chance to experience the terror on the big screen — and at home on Shudder.
Directed and written by Bell, “Skinamarink” stars Jaime Hill, Lucas Paul, Ross Paul, and Dali Rose Tetreault. In a recent interview with Variety, Ball spoke about the film’s unexpected success. He credited the viral popularity of his movie to the fact that it is based on subject matter that so many people have encountered in their scariest dreams.
“I have a...
Directed and written by Bell, “Skinamarink” stars Jaime Hill, Lucas Paul, Ross Paul, and Dali Rose Tetreault. In a recent interview with Variety, Ball spoke about the film’s unexpected success. He credited the viral popularity of his movie to the fact that it is based on subject matter that so many people have encountered in their scariest dreams.
“I have a...
- 12/9/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
The disturbing new digital feature "Skinamarink", written and directed by Kyle Edward Ball, stars Lucas Paul as 'Kevin' and Dali Rose Tetreault as 'Kaylee', who wake up during the night to discover that they cannot find their father, and that the windows, doors, and other objects in their house have disappeared:
"...'Skinamarink' is a slow, nightmarish walk through a vivid sensation of nostalgia, reminding adults what it felt like to be afraid of the dark, even in the comfort of one’s own home. It's difficult to describe, just as it’s very, very difficult to forget..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...'Skinamarink' is a slow, nightmarish walk through a vivid sensation of nostalgia, reminding adults what it felt like to be afraid of the dark, even in the comfort of one’s own home. It's difficult to describe, just as it’s very, very difficult to forget..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 12/6/2022
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
If you've been keeping up with Film Twitter drama or HorrorTok trends of late, this news is for you, and it's some of the best we've gotten in the horror genre for some time. Microbudget horror sensation "Skinamarink" will receive a theatrical run through IFC Midnight beginning on January 13, 2023. It has also been acquired by horror streaming service Shudder and will debut on the platform later next year, with a date to be announced.
"I'm thrilled that after months of keeping it secret, I can finally tell everyone that my weird movie is going to be in theaters and on Shudder," writer-director and producer Kyle Edward Ball said in a statement to Variety on Monday, December 5, 2022.
The film stars Lucas Paul, Dali Rose Tetreault, Ross Paul, and Jaime Hill and was executive produced by Edmon Rotea, Ava Karvonen, Bonnie Lewis, Alan Lewis, Josh Doke, and Jonathan Barkan. Emily Gotto, Shudder's...
"I'm thrilled that after months of keeping it secret, I can finally tell everyone that my weird movie is going to be in theaters and on Shudder," writer-director and producer Kyle Edward Ball said in a statement to Variety on Monday, December 5, 2022.
The film stars Lucas Paul, Dali Rose Tetreault, Ross Paul, and Jaime Hill and was executive produced by Edmon Rotea, Ava Karvonen, Bonnie Lewis, Alan Lewis, Josh Doke, and Jonathan Barkan. Emily Gotto, Shudder's...
- 12/5/2022
- by Lex Briscuso
- Slash Film
The feature film directorial debut by Kyle Edward Ball, Skinamarink has been one of the most buzzed-about horror movies since its premiere at Fantasia Fest, and if you haven't seen it yet, your wait won't be long, as IFC Midnight will release the film in theaters on January 13th ahead of its streaming release on Shudder in 2023:
Press Release: New York – December 5, 2022 – Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thrillers and the supernatural, and IFC Midnight announced today a theatrical run for the highly-anticipated paranormal thriller Skinamarink beginning Friday, January 13, 2023 ahead of the film’s streaming debut on Shudder. Written, directed and produced by Kyle Edward Ball, making his directorial debut, the film had its premiere at Fantasia Fest and has since taken social media by storm creating an unprecedented viral sensation for an independently produced horror film.
Said Ball: “I’m thrilled that after months of keeping it secret,...
Press Release: New York – December 5, 2022 – Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thrillers and the supernatural, and IFC Midnight announced today a theatrical run for the highly-anticipated paranormal thriller Skinamarink beginning Friday, January 13, 2023 ahead of the film’s streaming debut on Shudder. Written, directed and produced by Kyle Edward Ball, making his directorial debut, the film had its premiere at Fantasia Fest and has since taken social media by storm creating an unprecedented viral sensation for an independently produced horror film.
Said Ball: “I’m thrilled that after months of keeping it secret,...
- 12/5/2022
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The horror film Skinamarink has a creepy, retro-style trailer (you can watch it in the embed above) that is apparently a more accurate representation of the film’s style than you might expect. According to Variety, Skinamarink “blends atmospheric horror with a production quality that recalls a mix of creepy online found footage and David Lynch’s lo-fi experimental work.” Thanks to IFC Midnight, genre fans will get the chance to watch Skinamarink on the big screen when it receives a theatrical release on January 13th. The movie will then reach the Shudder streaming service sometime later in 2023.
Writer/director Kyle Edward Ball had this to say about the distribution deal: “I’m thrilled that after months of keeping it secret, I can finally tell everyone that my weird movie is going to be in theaters and on Shudder.“
Skinamarink has the following synopsis:
Two children wake up in the...
Writer/director Kyle Edward Ball had this to say about the distribution deal: “I’m thrilled that after months of keeping it secret, I can finally tell everyone that my weird movie is going to be in theaters and on Shudder.“
Skinamarink has the following synopsis:
Two children wake up in the...
- 12/5/2022
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
In the wake of the festival hit’s viral success on social media, the ultra creepy Skinamarink has been acquired by Shudder for streaming premiere and it’s also getting a theatrical release.
Beginning January 13, 2023, Skinamarink will come to theaters in the United States from IFC Midnight. Variety reports that the film will then be available on Shudder later in 2023.
While you wait, you can watch the film’s unsettling trailer below…
“I’m thrilled that after months of keeping it secret, I can finally tell everyone that my weird movie is going to be in theaters and on Shudder,” said writer/director Kyle Edward Ball.
In Skinamarink, “Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished. To cope with the strange situation, the two bring pillows and blankets to the living...
Beginning January 13, 2023, Skinamarink will come to theaters in the United States from IFC Midnight. Variety reports that the film will then be available on Shudder later in 2023.
While you wait, you can watch the film’s unsettling trailer below…
“I’m thrilled that after months of keeping it secret, I can finally tell everyone that my weird movie is going to be in theaters and on Shudder,” said writer/director Kyle Edward Ball.
In Skinamarink, “Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished. To cope with the strange situation, the two bring pillows and blankets to the living...
- 12/5/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
“Skinamarink,” a microbudget horror film that has received buzz online after debuting at this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival, has been acquired by horror streamer Shudder and will receive a theatrical run via IFC Midnight, starting Jan. 13. It will debut on Shudder later in 2023.
“I’m thrilled that after months of keeping it secret, I can finally tell everyone that my weird movie is going to be in theaters and on Shudder,” Kyle Edward Ball, who wrote, produced and directed “Skinamarink,” said in a statement.
Per the official synopsis, “Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished. To cope with the strange situation, the two bring pillows and blankets to the living room and settle into a quiet slumber party situation. They play well worn videotapes of cartoons to fill...
“I’m thrilled that after months of keeping it secret, I can finally tell everyone that my weird movie is going to be in theaters and on Shudder,” Kyle Edward Ball, who wrote, produced and directed “Skinamarink,” said in a statement.
Per the official synopsis, “Two children wake up in the middle of the night to find their father is missing, and all the windows and doors in their home have vanished. To cope with the strange situation, the two bring pillows and blankets to the living room and settle into a quiet slumber party situation. They play well worn videotapes of cartoons to fill...
- 12/5/2022
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
"Skinamarink" is a kinder trauma experiment put to screen with indescribable contents. Writer and director Kyle Edward Ball epitomizes arthouse classifiers while channeling childhood fears with marvelous rawness. Reader beware, because "Skinamarink" is exquisitely divisive — the kind of film that will balance zero and five-star reviews. That said, those seeking an abstract exploration of lights-out anxieties by lo-fi means should seek this shot-on-film-lookin' curiosity that abides by no conventional filmmaking rules. Imaginative children play and create on their boundless terms anyway because rules are made to be broken, aren't they?
Whatever loose narrative Ball constructs follows siblings Kevin (Lucas Paul) and Kaylee (Dali Rose...
The post Skinamarink Review: An Experimental Kinder Trauma Horror Experience [Fantasia] appeared first on /Film.
Whatever loose narrative Ball constructs follows siblings Kevin (Lucas Paul) and Kaylee (Dali Rose...
The post Skinamarink Review: An Experimental Kinder Trauma Horror Experience [Fantasia] appeared first on /Film.
- 8/1/2022
- by Matt Donato
- Slash Film
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