| Welcome to Willits | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Trevor Ryan |
| Written by | Tim Ryan |
| Produced by | Jon Keeyes Scott Levenson Jordan Yale Levine Shaun Sanghani |
| Starring | Bill Sage Sabina Gadecki Anastasia Baranova Dolph Lundgren Thomas Dekker Chris Zylka Garrett Clayton Rory Culkin Serge Levin |
| Cinematography | Che Broadnax |
| Edited by | Phillip Blackford |
| Music by | Jeremy Little |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | IFC Midnight |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $464,770[1] |
Welcome to Willits, also known as Alien Hunter, is a 2016 American science fiction comedy horror film directed by Trevor Ryan and starring Bill Sage, Sabina Gadecki, Anastasia Baranova, Dolph Lundgren, Thomas Dekker, Chris Zylka, Serge Levin, Garrett Clayton and Rory Culkin.[2][3][4][5]
Plot
Deep in the Northern California woods, in the heart of the notorious Emerald Triangle, lies a remote cabin. Bill Sage is a marijuana farmer and methamphetamine user/dealer in the area who believes his farms have been invaded by aliens. Sage's paranoia continues to grow, which may be PTSD from an alien abduction and torture. [6]
Residents of the area are suffering from attacks from mysterious creatures.
When Sage catches a wayward group of campers on his land, the situation quickly escalates into total carnage.[7]
Cast
- Bill Sage as Brock, a drug-addicted pot farmer who hallucinates campers into aliens but he allows to kill everybody
- Chris Zylka as Jeremiah
- Anastasia Baranova as Courtney
- Sabina Gadecki as Peggy
- Garrett Clayton as Zack
- Rory Culkin as Possum
- Thomas Dekker as Klaus
- Dolph Lundgren as Officer Derek Hutchinson, a local officer of the police department
- Serge Levin as Officer Jackson, Derek Hutchinson's partner
Production
Development
An adaptation of the sci-fi/horror short "Welcome to Willits: After Sundown."[8]
The first film was made by the Ryans. Filmed in Louisiana, Los Angeles, and Willits, California.[9]
Reception
Critical response
The Los Angeles Times found the film promising with loopy energy, but finally the movie was unfocused. They found the film promising enough to hope for more efforts from the filmmakers.[10]
The Horror Society praised the film, finding it amazingly original. They praised the dialogue and the effects. [11], However, Rue Morgue preferred the short the film is based on. [12]
Dread Central praised the film, finding it one of the best independent horror films of the year. [13]
References
- ↑ "Fastlane NextGen: Initial Certification Search" (Type "Welcome to Willits" in the search box). Louisiana Economic Development. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ↑ Miska, Brad (August 24, 2017). "'Welcome To Willits' Trailer Battles Comedy and Creatures". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ↑ McHatton, Erik (November 13, 2017). "Welcome to Willits (2017)". Dread Central. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ↑ Ramos, Dino-Ray (July 12, 2017). "IFC Midnight Acquires Horror Comedy 'Welcome To Willits'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ↑ Collis, Clark (August 24, 2017). "Alien monsters and drug madness collide in Welcome to Willits trailer". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
- ↑ "Movie Review: "WELCOME TO WILLITS" is a monster misfire". February 13, 2018.
- ↑ "Review: 'Welcome to Willits' is a weird and woozy slasher and aliens flick". Los Angeles Times. September 28, 2017.
- ↑ "Teresa Palmer to Star in 'Welcome to Willits,' Based on SXSW Short". March 16, 2015.
- ↑ "Talking with the makers behind 'Welcome to Willits' horror film". September 29, 2017.
- ↑ "Review: 'Welcome to Willits' is a weird and woozy slasher and aliens flick". Los Angeles Times. September 28, 2017.
- ↑ "Review: "Welcome to Willits" (2017)". May 16, 2017.
- ↑ "Movie Review: "WELCOME TO WILLITS" is a monster misfire". February 13, 2018.
- ↑ "Welcome to Willits (2017)". November 13, 2017.
External links