Jonas Wolcher (born April 15, 1973) is a Swedish director and producer known for best known for Die Zombiejäger, Dragonetti: The Ruthless Contract Killer and Cannibal Fog. Jonas Wolcher's storytelling style is characterized by immediate narrative delivery, with minimal exposition of past events. In "Cannibal Fog," he explored the cannibal genre, placing a strong emphasis on storytelling rather than relying solely on special effects.
One of Jonas Wolcher's notable strengths lies in his ability to select music that perfectly complements each scene, effectively maintaining the desired mood and rhythm throughout his films. Additionally, he demonstrates expertise in artwork and marketing. Jonas Wolcher's remarkable talent for promoting products and film productions with limited resources has become synonymous with the phrase "to Wolche, or Wolcha" something.
This phrase reflects his ability to achieve effective marketing and promotion despite constraints, showcasing his innovative and resourceful approach to creating awareness and generating interest in his projects. It serves as a testament to Jonas Wolcher's creativity and determination in overcoming challenges and making a significant impact in the industry.
Die Zombiejäger
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On July 6, 2003, the journey to create the movie began with Jonas Wolcher. Initially titled "Zombienoid II - City of Terror," the film was later renamed "Die Zombiejäger." The story revolved around Die Zombiejäger, an organization specialized in global zombie extermination. In the movie, they were summoned by the mayor of Gothenburg to "clean the city" of undead creatures. Jonas managed to gather numerous horror movie enthusiasts to participate in the production.
The filming took place right in the heart of Gothenburg but was filled with mishaps and errors. Despite the challenges faced during the shoot, the movie was completed in 2005. It had its premiere at the Fantastisk Film Festival in Lund. However, the initial audience reception was disappointing, and the critics expressed their dissatisfaction with the film.
Remarkably, when "Die Zombiejäger" had a rerelease at Bio Roy in Gothenburg in 2018, the critics' perception had changed. Today, the movie has undergone a transformation, evolving from an initially poorly received work to a cult classic within the realm of B-zombie movies. It has become a phenomenon, capturing the attention and admiration of audiences who appreciate its unique charm and style.
Dragonetti: The Ruthless Contract Killer
In 2010, Wolcher released Dragonetti: The Ruthless Contract Killer as a prequel to 2005's Die Zombiejäger.
He said of the film: "The extreme violence must be the worst thing ever filmed in Sweden. This is ultraviolence.". He described the film as an Ichi the Killer, Pusher and Rambo: First Blood Part II thrown into a blender spiced with angel dust and demonism.[1]
Cannibal Fog
In 2014, Wolcher released Cannibal Fog, an art house horror film.[2] The film was shot on a modest budget of €1,000.[3]
The film was well received. Critic Karen Oughton declared the film to be "a finely mixed, jangling masterpiece of humanity masquerading as merry mayhem."[4]
Personal
Born on April 15, 1973, at Östra Sjukhuset in Gothenburg, Jonas Wolcher spent a significant portion of his childhood in Munka Ljungby, Skåne, under the care of his grandparents before commencing his education. Initially working as a tourist guide and undertaking cleaning duties at youth hostels in Varberg, Jonas later transitioned into journalism. In 1996, upon returning to his hometown, he established his first company specializing in commercials. During this time, he took on various roles such as salesman, sampler, telephone salesman, and merchandiser.
While pursuing his studies in Film Theory at Gothenburg University in 1997, Jonas decided to shift his focus from aspiring to be a film critic to becoming a filmmaker. His journey in the film industry began in 1999 with "Yvonne," a Swedish adaptation of the Blair Witch Project. Unfortunately, the project faced setbacks when the owner of the camera and editing software relocated to the UK.
Undeterred by the challenges, Jonas embarked on his first short film, "Deadly Milk," in 2002. During a late-night conversation with his friend Jonas Lübeck, he shared his vision for a future film project. Collaborating with Jonas Lübeck, they filmed "Zombienoid" from March to May 2002, and it premiered at the Fantastic Film Festival in Lund later that year.
In December 2002, Jonas and his friends took on the ambitious project "Mutant: The New Era," involving nearly 100 people. However, the project faced difficulties, resulting in only three trailers being produced.
In July 2003, Jonas initiated a larger-scale endeavor initially known as "Zombienoid II," which was later renamed "Die Zombiejäger." The film was completed in September 2005 and showcased at the Fantastic Film Festival in Lund.
Parallel to his work on "Dragonetti" from 2006 to 2010, Jonas also served as a DVD author and editor for the production "Sektor 236." "Dragonetti: The Ruthless Contact Killer" premiered at the Fantastic Film Festival in Lund in September 2010.
In 2012, Jonas Wolcher collaborated with Brian Bell and Vargman Bjärsborn to create "Cannibal Fog," a horror drama centered around the theme of cannibalism. The film gained recognition as one of the most unique Swedish horror dramas of 2014 and was showcased at the Weekend of Horrors in Germany and Mórbido Mérida in Mexico.
Throughout his career, Jonas Wolcher has been involved in several projects, including "Sektor 236," "Barracuda," "WeekEND," "Root of Darkness," "Hermit: Monster Killer," and "Coctail Apocalypse," among others. He actively engages with audiences during film festivals and horror conventions, happily offering autographs and engaging in meaningful conversations.
Jonas Wolcher's storytelling style is characterized by immediate narrative delivery, with minimal exposition of past events. In "Cannibal Fog," he explored the cannibal genre, placing a strong emphasis on storytelling rather than relying solely on special effects.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Zombienoid | Director | ||||||||||
| 2005 | Die Zombiejäger | Director | ||||||||||
| 2010 | Dragonetti: The Ruthless Contract Killer | Director | ||||||||||
| 2014 | Cannibal Fog | Director | ||||||||||
| 2016 | Root of Darkness | Producer | ||||||||||
| 2016 | Hermit: Monster Killer | Producer | ||||||||||
| 2017 | Attack of the Cyber Octopuses | Fundraising (Dino Publishing JW) | ||||||||||
| 2017 | Gulag X | Co Producer | ||||||||||
| 2019 | Precision - The Child Drug Trafficking | Producer, Actor, Editor and Co Director | - | 2019 | My X Girlfriend | Co Producer | - | 2020 | The Beast Beneath Lake Bullaren - Post-Production | Producer | The Tale of Two Swords - Pre-Production | Producer |
References
- ↑ Wolcher, Jonas. "DRAGONETTI THE RUTHLESS CONTRACT KILLER". IMDB. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- ↑ Boiselle, Matt (2015-02-11). "Cannibal Fog (2014)". Dread Central. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ↑ "Cannibal Fog". Horrorpedia. 2015-04-08. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ↑ Oughton, Karen. "Cannibal Fog". Starburst Magazine. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
http://chud.com/yan-birch-handsome-devil-interview/ http://www.jonaswolcher.com/ http://theatreofblood.se/tob-moter-jonas-wolcher-skapare-av-svensk-genrefilm http://jensdanielburman.com/noveller-att-lasa/jonas-wolcher/#sthash.x6dsnBDp.dpbs http://frombeyond.se/podcast-special-intervju-med-jonas-wolcher/ http://screenanarchy.com/2017/08/swedish-cult-movie-maker-jonas-wolcher-goes-back-in-time-contrib.html https://www.amazon.com/gp/search?index=books&linkCode=qs&keywords=9780786492886