“Otis” The Fourth Feature Under The “Raw Feed” Production Banner
(March 7, 2008 – Austin, TX) – “Otis,” which has its world premiere tonight at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference & Festival, will debut on uncut DVD and Blu-ray™ Hi-Def
June 10 from Warner Home Video (WHV).
This provocative black comedy, which chronicles an all-American family’s collision with the dark world of a serial killer, was produced and directed by Tony Krantz (“Mulholland Drive,” “Sublime,” “24”), written by Thomas Schnauz (“Reaper”, “X-Files”) and Erik Jendresen (“Sublime,” “Band of Brothers”) and is WHV’s fourth acquired title from the "Raw Feed" film franchise.
Scored throughout with classic rock tunes from Blue Oyster Cult, Talking Heads, B-52’s, Quiet Riot, Flock of Seaguls, Devo, Paul Revere and the Raiders and The Shocking Blue (including their number one hit, “Venus”), “Otis” stars Daniel Stern (Home Alone, City Slickers), Illeana Douglas (Ghost World, Factory Girl) and Kevin Pollak (A Few Good Men, The Usual Suspects). Also featured are Jere Burns (Beverly Hills Cop II, “Dear John”), Ashley Johnson (Fast Food Nation, What Women Want), Jared Kusnitz (Dance of the Dead) and Bostin Christopher (Unbreakable) as “Otis.” John Shiban (Rest Stop, “Supernatural”, "X-Files”) and Daniel Myrick (Believers, The Blair Witch Project) are also producers.
In addition to its world premiere on opening day of the 15th edition of the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference & Festival in Austin, Texas, “Otis” has been accepted to numerous film festivals, including Boston Underground Film Festival, Cinequest, Cleveland International Film Festival, Digital Video & High Definition Film Festival, International Film Festival England-UK and Swansea International Film Festival (Wales UK).
“'Otis’ satirizes suburban America and the epidemic of sociopathic crime that has infiltrated our once safe neighborhoods,” said director/producer Tony Krantz. “It’s a black comedy – a brand of entertainment best achieved by playing it straight – allowing the situations and characters to shape the humor, not pushing for a set-up and punch line or breaking from reality.”
“Beyond the strong storyline and amazing music that propels the action, ‘Otis’ is cast driven featuring the highest profile talent to date for 'Raw Feed' titles,” said Jeff Baker, WHV Senior VP and General Manager for Theatrical Catalog. “Tony Krantz has crafted a remarkable film that should propel this franchise to even greater acclaim. Otis will be the first 'Raw Feed' film to street day and date in both DVD and BLU-RAY™ HI-DEF versions.”
Synopsis
“Otis” is a story of suburban America gone haywire. In the midst of a serial abductor/killer’s rampage, a beautiful young teen, Riley Lawson (Ashley Johnson), goes missing. When her desperate parents, Will and Kate (Daniel Stern and Illeana Douglas), are contacted by her kidnapper, an insufferable FBI Special Agent (Jere Burns) takes charge of the case.
But, from deep within the psychopathic subterranean world created by Otis (Bostin Christopher), Riley turns the tables on her tormentor, manages to escape and to contact her parents. Fed up with the tragi-comic inability of the FBI to find their girl, Will, Kate and Riley’s brother, Reed (Jared Kusnitz), decide to take matters - and justice - into their own hands. But when Otis’ brother, Elmo (Kevin Pollak), shows up unexpectedly, the Lawsons find themselves mired in one of the more unusual and macabre consequences of vigilantism.
Far from proclaiming ‘Mission Accomplished,’ the backed-in-a-corner Lawsons will further complicate their already deadly predicament with a surprising, unfortunate and frankly hilarious final choice.
“Otis” Extra Content (on both DVD and Blu-ray)
• Commentary by Director Tony Krantz and Writer Erik Jendresen
• Featurette: “The Twisted World of Otis” in which the cast and crew discuss how and why comedy works within the confines of the film
• “Suite 16,” the home movie of Otis’ fantasies made by Otis himself
• Alternate Ending which gives a starkly different tone and finality to the film. It includes an introduction by Tony Krantz. Films under the “Raw Feed” banner are a mix of thriller, horror and sci-fi with a strong psychological and dramatic edge, and are as much psychological as they are thriller or horror genre. The films have been released on DVD in rated and uncut versions, featuring innovative extra features and bonus content. The “Raw Feed” label originated from the creative minds of Tony Krantz, Daniel Myrick and John Shiban. The first film in the series, “Rest Stop” (written and directed by Shiban), debuted on DVD in October 2006 and has sold more than 1.5 million units worldwide, making it the top-selling MFV title in WHV history not based on a previous films. “Rest Stop” was followed by “Sublime” (directed by Krantz) in March 2007 and “Believers” (directed by Myrick) in October 2007. With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video’s film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.# # #
• Featurette: “The Twisted World of Otis” in which the cast and crew discuss how and why comedy works within the confines of the film
• “Suite 16,” the home movie of Otis’ fantasies made by Otis himself
• Alternate Ending which gives a starkly different tone and finality to the film. It includes an introduction by Tony Krantz. Films under the “Raw Feed” banner are a mix of thriller, horror and sci-fi with a strong psychological and dramatic edge, and are as much psychological as they are thriller or horror genre. The films have been released on DVD in rated and uncut versions, featuring innovative extra features and bonus content. The “Raw Feed” label originated from the creative minds of Tony Krantz, Daniel Myrick and John Shiban. The first film in the series, “Rest Stop” (written and directed by Shiban), debuted on DVD in October 2006 and has sold more than 1.5 million units worldwide, making it the top-selling MFV title in WHV history not based on a previous films. “Rest Stop” was followed by “Sublime” (directed by Krantz) in March 2007 and “Believers” (directed by Myrick) in October 2007. With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video’s film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.