Neill Blomkamp affirms again with “Demonic,” his least entertaining feature film yet, that he is a true mad scientist with genre even if everything blows up in his face. His convictions can be truly bizarre, like with something as small as Jodie Foster’s peculiar accent in “Elysium” or the entirety of “Chappie.” Whether one likes those movies or not, it’s unmistakable that Blomkamp believes in what he’s toying with and that such confidence defines his artistry when creating his mark in the crowded world of sci-fi.

Continue reading ‘Demonic’: Neill Blomkamp’s Supernatural Horror Misfire Is More Interested In Toying With New Tech Than Story [Review] at The Playlist.

Following his directorial debut, “District 9” (2009), the sky was the limit for South African-Canadian director Neil Blomkamp. “District 9” nabbed four Oscar nods that year, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay, and made Blomkamp a sci-fi wunderkind overnight. However, since that auspicious beginning, it’s been a patchy ride—ambitious but mixed efforts like “Elysium” (2013), “Chappie” (2015). Additionally, stalled attempts at making new entries into the “Alien” and “Robocop” franchise ensured he remained out of the filmic consciousness.

Continue reading ‘Demonic’ Trailer: Supernatural Hallucinations Outside The Simulation Will F You Up In Neil Blomkamp’s New Horror at The Playlist.

It’s been a somewhat tough decade for writer-director Neill Blomkamp.  Since his box-office hit feature debut “District 9” garnered four Oscar nominations in 2009, the South African-Canadian sci-fi auteur has released two major films to diminishing critical and commercial returns: 2013’s “Elysium” (a mega-budgeted misfire by the director’s own admission) and 2015’s “Chappie” (which flopped despite a stellar cast and lighter tone).  Perhaps even more significant are the films Blompkamp ended up not making: he’s been hired and fired from shelved sequels to both “Alien” and “RoboCop,” two of the most beloved franchises in modern movies.  If either of those projects came together, his cultural footprint might more closely resemble a Ridley Scott or James Cameron.  However, notwithstanding a devoted cult following, Blomkamp’s career hasn’t quite delivered on the promise of his early success.

Continue reading ‘Demonic’ Trailer: Neill Blomkamp Returns With A Terrifying Supernatural Horror Project at The Playlist.

What did you do during the pandemic? If you’re a filmmaker with horror tendencies, you made a lo-fi horror film, it seems. That’s what Ben Wheatley did with “In The Earth,” same with filmmaking duo Nick Simon and writer/actor Luke Baine (“The Girl in the Photographs“), and it’s also what “District 9” and “Chappie” director Neill Blomkamp did too with his “free time.” The result is “Demonic,” a horror-thriller about unleashing demons and supernatural forces between family members.

Continue reading Neill Blomkamp’s ‘Demonic’ First Look: Watch Behind-The-Scenes 8mm Footage & More at The Playlist.