Robert Katz Breathes New Life into Horror

Posted by: Michael

Amicus Entertainment Ltd, one of the UK’s two leading makers of popular and profitable horror films during the 60’s and 70’s, will see new life as a viable producer of multi-platform genre fare. The venerable film company that delighted and scared audiences worldwide with such memorable cult, sci-fi, fantasy and horror movies as The House That Dripped Blood, Scream and Scream Again, Tales From The Crypt and Torture Garden has been acquired from the estate of Amicus founder Max J. Rosenberg by producer Robert Katz (Selena, Gettysburg, Gods and Generals) and long-time Amicus executive Julie Moldo, with initial financial backing by Jay Firestone (Alliance Communications, Fireworks Pictures, CanWest). The company will have offices in Los Angeles and London.

Katz intends to build and enhance the Amicus brand and library through the annual production of up to six movies per year, which will include original films as well as projects inspired by titles in the Amicus catalog. Of these, four will be budgeted at under $5 million each, with the remaining projects to be budgeted at up to $20 million each.

In order to maximize the potential of its assets, the Company will enter into a publishing deal with Baltimore-based Cemetery Dance Publications – a specialty publisher of collectible horror and suspense books and magazines, whose catalog includes works by Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz and others – that grants Cemetery the right to novelize Amicus’ films and in turn, gives Amicus access to the Cemetery library as a source for possible feature films. Amicus will also establish a presence in television and interactive media, launch a home video label and will announce shortly a distribution agreement for its films in both the theatrical and home video arenas.

Amicus’ first two original films – Clown and Stuck are both in pre-production.

Clown, a fantasy horror road film about a demonic clown, who along with his dwarf companion, wrecks havoc at a seedy carnival will be directed by Mark Jones (the Leprechaun series, Triloquist) from a screenplay that he wrote with D.G. Larson (Night Man). A first-quarter ’06 start date is planned.

Stuck is the horrific story of a young woman and her victim when she becomes involved in a bizarre hit and run. Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator, Edmond, Masters of Horror series) will direct from a screenplay that he authored with John Strysik (Tales from the Darkside). It will begin filming in the second quarter of 2006.

Katz will serve as producer on both films. The first of Amicus’ library-inspired titles will be announced shortly.

In commenting on the announcement, Robert Katz said: "I was an avid fan of Amicus’ product when the studio was in its heyday and have followed it very closely ever since. In the years before his death, Max Rosenberg and I were exploring ways in which we could work together and when the opportunity arose for us to acquire the company from his estate, I knew it was a dream come true. We have great plans for revitalizing the Amicus name and trademark and building it into one of the industry’s principal suppliers of quality genre fare."

Jay Firestone added: "This isn't just another producer of horror films. We are resurrecting a brand that is already attracting the best talent in this genre."