Foster's Release is a 1971 American short film[3] directed by Terence H. Winkless.[4] The film has been credited with inventing many of the tropes of horror later used in films such as Black Christmas, Halloween and He Knows You're Alone.[5]
| Foster's Release | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Terence H. Winkless |
| Written by | Stephen Lorimore |
| Produced by | Milton C. Hubatka |
| Starring | Mary Burkin Dan O'Bannon |
| Cinematography | Stephen Lorimore |
| Edited by | Stephen Lorimore |
Production company | Verexal Films[2] |
Release date | 1971[1] |
Running time | 14 minutes[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Premise edit
It is a retelling of the common story of "The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs"[6] about a teenage babysitter who, alone in a house at night, is harassed by a series of phone calls made by a psychotic killer.[7] The police and phone company cooperate to try to warn the girl and save her.[8]
Release and reception edit
The film was featured at the Edinburgh Film Festival, L.A. Filmex and the Chicago Film Festival, among others.[9] In Illinois, it is commonly shown to classes in home economics, for whom it illustrates the concepts of responsibility and deviancy.[10]
The film was shown together with short films by John Carpenter in 2014.[11]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Film & Video Finder. Vol. 5 (Fifth ed.). University of California: National Information Center for Educational Media, a Division of Access Innovations, Incorporated. 1997. p. 3179. ISBN 9780937548295.
- ^ a b White, William (1972). Library Journal. Vol. 97. University of Virginia: Bowker. p. 1558.
- ^ Rondinone, Troy (2019). Nightmare Factories: The Asylum in the American Imagination (illustrated ed.). JHU Press. p. 210. ISBN 9781421432687.
- ^ Clarke, Frederick (1972). Cinefantastique. Vol. 2. University of California: F.S. Clarke. p. 4.
- ^ Saucedo, Robert (November 17, 2014). "See ultra-rare student films from John Carpenter, Dan O'Bannon and more at SHOCK VALUE: THE MOVIE". Alamo Drafthouse. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ^ Bennett, Gillian; Smith, Paul (2007). Urban Legends: A Collection of International Tall Tales and Terrors. University of California: Greenwood Press. p. 52. ISBN 9780313339523.
- ^ Danielson, Larry (July 1979). "Folklore and Film: Some Thoughts on Baughman Z500-599". Western Folklore. 38 (3). Western States Folklore Society: 209–219 (11 pages). doi:10.2307/1499246. JSTOR 1499246 – via JSTOR.
- ^ Subject Area Catalog of Educational Films Listing 16 Mm Films in Visual Arts and Feature Films. University of Illinois Film Center. 1982. p. 88.
- ^ Zinoman, Jason (2011). Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror. Penguin. ISBN 9781101516966.
- ^ Bennett, Gillian; Smith, Paul (2013). Contemporary Legend. New Perspectives in Folklore (new ed.). Routledge. p. 60. ISBN 9781135812126.
- ^ Turek, Ryan (August 11, 2014). "See Foster's Release & Shorts from John Carpenter, Dan O'Bannon This October!". CommingSoon.net. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
External links edit
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