The Atoning
| The Atoning | |
|---|---|
 Release poster for The Atoning | |
| Directed by | Michael Williams |
| Produced by |
Michael Williams Michael LaCour Joni Seitz |
| Written by | Michael Williams |
| Starring |
Virginia Newcomb Cannon Bosarge Michael LaCour Alex Zuko Sherri Eakin Ashlynn Lopez Jessy Hughes Bryan Benfield Kyle Wigginton Nikki Caruso Dorothy Weems |
| Music by | Keatzi Gunmoney |
| Cinematography | Michael Williams |
| Edited by | Michael Williams |
Production company |
Shendopen Productions The Atoning Movie, LLC. |
| Distributed by | Gravitas Ventures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $125,000 (estimated) |
The Atoning is a 2017 American supernatural horror independent film. It was written and directed by Michael Williams, his second feature film following 2014's OzLand and his first horror film.
Synopsis
Vera (Virginia Newcomb), Ray (Michael LaCour), and Sam (Cannon Bosarge) are family members living in an apparently haunted house where nobody goes out and people never visit. As the story progresses it becomes obvious that Vera and Ray are hiding a secret from young Sam, their son. Sam suspects his parents are planning to divorce but the secret is far worse than that. Human apparitions (a man, a woman and a young girl) periodically manifest themselves in the house while demanding that the family leave. Objects move about the house on their own and a puzzle appears to assemble itself. One day, the family is surprised to discover the apparitions sitting in their living room with a medium trying to contact spirits. Incidentally, the medium's ritual reveals that Vera, Ray and Sam are ghosts unable to leave their home because of an unresolved issue. Also, the apparitions are members of a living family who have moved into the house and are trying to rid it of its ghostly occupants.
Later, demons terrorize Ray into revealing that he killed his wife and son after having an affair with a 16-year-old girl. He then killed himself. The demons carry Ray off. Vera and Sam are then able to leave the house by opening the front door which had previously been locked tight. [1]
Cast
- Virginia Newcomb as Vera
- Cannon Bosarge as Sam
- Michael LaCour as Ray
- Alex Zuko as John
- Sherri Eakin as Sara
- Ashlyn Lopez as Julie
- Jessy Hughes as Vanessa
- Bryan Benfield as Momus
- Kyle Wigginton as Zepar
- Nikki Caruso as Asmodeus
- Dorothy Weems as Charon
- Stella Allen as Abby
- Caroline Delatte as Joni
- Chris Bosarge as Uncle Danny
- Todd Barnett as Cody
- Christi Dubois as Mel
- Joni Seitz as Real Estate Agent
Production
The film was shot entirely on location in West Point, Mississippi at the home of co-producer Joni Seitz.
Release
Following a preview screening on February 2, 2017 at Malco Cinema in Columbus, Mississippi,[2][3] the film premiered at the Oxford Film Festival on February 18, 2017.[4] It screened at the Magnolia Independent Film Festival on March 4, 2017, where it won the Best Home Grown award. It screened and won the Best Feature award at the Azalea Film Festival on April 1, 2017. The film was picked up for distribution by Gravitas Ventures on May 11, 2017. It was released on Blu-Ray, DVD and digital download on September 5, 2017.
Awards
- Best Feature Film, Azalea Film Festival (2017)
- Best Home Grown Film, Magnolia Independent Film Festival (2017)
- 2nd Place for Suspense-Thriller, International Horror Hotel Film Festival (2017)
- Ron Tibbett Award for Best Mississippi Film, Tupelo Film Festival (2017)
- 1st Place Feature Film, Tupelo Film Festival (2017)
References
- ↑ "Shendopen". shendopen.com. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ↑ "Clip Syndicate Video: Sunrise Guest 1/23/17 - "The Atoning" Screening". clipsyndicate.com. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ↑ "Indie filmmaker turns to horror genre for second feature film". cdispatch.com. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
- ↑ Gagliano, Steven (December 8, 2016). "Oxford Film Festival Aims To Present Powerful, Stereotype-Breaking Films For 2017". hottytoddy.com. Retrieved January 26, 2017.