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Justin McConnell

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Horror Fuel

Filmmaking Documentary ‘Clapboard Jungle’ Coming This January

This January, journey inside the world of filmmaking with Justin McConnell‘s documentary Clapboard Jungle which gives viewers a rarely seen glimpse into what it really takes to get movies made. The documentary is described as “An emotional and introspective journey following five years in the life and career of an independent filmmaker, supported by dozens of interviews, posing one question: how does an indie filmmaker survive in the current film business?” The in depth documentary features interviews with Guillermo Del Toro, Richard Stanley, Barbara Crampton, Paul Schrader, Tom Savini, George A. Romero, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Michael Biehn, Frank Henenlotter, and many more.” The acclaimed documentary, sitting at 96% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, has been featured as an Official Selection of Fantasia, Sitges, Frightfest (Winner Best Documentary), Night Visions, IFI Horrorthon, South African Horrorfest (Winner Best Documentary), CUFF. Docs, Terror-Fi New Zealand, Buffalo Dreams (Winner Best Documentary), Fantaspoa (2021), and Canadian Film Fest. Clapboard Jungle, which explores the challenges and rewards

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Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jan 11, 2021
Horror Fuel

Shapeshifter Horror ‘Lifechanger’ Arriving On Home Video

Writer-director Justin McConnell‘s (interview), Lifechanger is headed your way on Blu-ray and DVD this month and features the most actors to ever play a single character in one film. Drew has an identity problem. Every few days he has to shape-shift or face a painful death. He has to find someone and make a copy. He takes everything: their looks, memories, hopes, and dreams. Their entire life. He becomes them, and they die horribly. Enter Julia, the object of Drew’s affection. How can he make things right when he’s never the same person for very long? How do you gain back trust when who you keep changing? Part psychological thriller, part body horror, Lifechanger follows one shape-shifters’ twisted quest to repair the damage he’s caused while leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. Bill Oberst Jr. (interview), Lora Burke, Jack Foley, Elitsa Bako, Sam James White, Steve Kasan, Rachel Vanduzer, Peter Higginson, Adam Buller, Brian Quintero, Mark Rainmaker, Ry

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Mar 5, 2019
Horror Fuel

Filmmaker Justin McConnell Discusses His Film Lifechanger And More In An Interview

I sat down with writer-director-producer Justin McConnell (Minutes to Midnight, Broken Mile) recently to discuss his new horror film Lifechanger (review), the unique story of a shape-shifter trying to find his place in the world. The film’s incredible cast includes Bill Oberst Jr., Lora Burke, Jack Foley, Elitsa Bako, Sam James White, and Steve Kasan. Warning: There may be spoilers ahead. The following is transcribed from a verbal conversation. Horror Fuel: “Christmas is coming so it’s the perfect time to talk about your documentary Black Christmas Legacy. Will you tell our readers about it?” Justin McConnell: “I co-directed that with George Mihalka who did My Bloody Valentine. Anchor Bay Entertainment hired me to shoot a retrospective documentary on the film and I shot all the interviews, edited it and co-directed it with George. We got a number of people who were involved with the production in addition to notable people in the genre. Scream Factory licensed it for U.S. release.

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Dec 16, 2018
Horror Fuel

The Bodies Stack Up In Lifechanger’s Red Band Trailer

From writer-director Justin McConnell comes the highly anticipated film Lifechanger which follows a murderous shape-shifter that sets out on a blood-soaked mission to make things right with the woman he loves. Today, the official Red Band trailer for Lifechanger, a film that is the first of its kind. We’ve seen a lot of films, but never one like this. Part psychological thriller, part body horror, Lifechanger follows one shape-shifters’ twisted quest to repair the damage he’s caused while leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. Drew has an identity problem. Every few days, he has to shape-shift or face a painful death. He has to find someone and make a copy. He takes everything: their looks, memories, hopes, and dreams. Their entire life. He becomes them, and they die horribly. Enter Julia, the object of Drew’s affection. How can he make things right when he’s never the same person for very long? How do you gain back trust when

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 30, 2018
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Lifechanger (2018)

Emily Roberts (Elitsa Bako) wakes up one morning next to her withered husk of a corpse. How can this be? Well, it seems ol’ E-Dawg isn’t herself at all, but rather a shape-shifter named Drew (voiced by genre stalwart Bill Oberst Jr.) who can transform into anyone he murders for six hours before he begins to rot and must take on another form. As you can imagine, our hero will do anything to keep his secret even resorting to non-bodymorphing homicide if the sitch dictates. Soon a new wrinkle presents itself; Drew begins carrying over injuries from one body to the next…and all of the above will make his task of setting things right with an old flame that knew him as someone else damn near impossible! As you can imagine; Lifechanger is one hell of a unique motion picture. Part thriller, part body horror, part psychological drama…this flick takes all of those disparate elements and concocts a ghoulish goulash

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 24, 2018
Horror Fuel

A Shape-Shifter Will Do Anything For Love In The Trailer For ‘Lifechanger’

From writer-director Justin McConnell comes the highly anticipated film Lifechanger which follows a murderous shape-shifter that sets out on a blood-soaked mission to make things right with the woman he loves. Today, a new trailer arrived for this one of kind film. Drew has an identity problem. Every few days, has to shape-shift, or face a painful death. He has to find someone and make a copy. He takes everything: their looks, memories, hopes, and dreams. Their entire life. He becomes them, and they die horribly. Enter Julia, the object of Drew’s affection. How can he make things right when he’s never the same person for very long? How do you gain back trust when who you are keeps changing? Part psychological thriller, part body horror, Lifechanger follows one shape-shifters’ twisted quest to repair the damage he’s caused, while leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. Bill Oberst Jr., Lora Burke, Jack Foley, Elitsa Bako, Sam James White, Steve

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 21, 2018

More from Justin McConnell

Horror Fuel

Filmmaking Documentary ‘Clapboard Jungle’ Coming This January

This January, journey inside the world of filmmaking with Justin McConnell‘s documentary Clapboard Jungle which gives viewers a rarely seen glimpse into what it really takes to get movies made. The documentary is described as “An emotional and introspective journey following five years in the life and career of an independent filmmaker, supported by dozens of interviews, posing one question: how does an indie filmmaker survive in the current film business?” The in depth documentary features interviews with Guillermo Del Toro, Richard Stanley, Barbara Crampton, Paul Schrader, Tom Savini, George A. Romero, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Michael Biehn, Frank Henenlotter, and many more.” The acclaimed documentary, sitting at 96% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, has been featured as an Official Selection of Fantasia, Sitges, Frightfest (Winner Best Documentary), Night Visions, IFI Horrorthon, South African Horrorfest (Winner Best Documentary), CUFF. Docs, Terror-Fi New Zealand, Buffalo Dreams (Winner Best Documentary), Fantaspoa (2021), and Canadian Film Fest. Clapboard Jungle, which explores the challenges and rewards

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jan 11, 2021
Horror Fuel

Shapeshifter Horror ‘Lifechanger’ Arriving On Home Video

Writer-director Justin McConnell‘s (interview), Lifechanger is headed your way on Blu-ray and DVD this month and features the most actors to ever play a single character in one film. Drew has an identity problem. Every few days he has to shape-shift or face a painful death. He has to find someone and make a copy. He takes everything: their looks, memories, hopes, and dreams. Their entire life. He becomes them, and they die horribly. Enter Julia, the object of Drew’s affection. How can he make things right when he’s never the same person for very long? How do you gain back trust when who you keep changing? Part psychological thriller, part body horror, Lifechanger follows one shape-shifters’ twisted quest to repair the damage he’s caused while leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. Bill Oberst Jr. (interview), Lora Burke, Jack Foley, Elitsa Bako, Sam James White, Steve Kasan, Rachel Vanduzer, Peter Higginson, Adam Buller, Brian Quintero, Mark Rainmaker, Ry

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Mar 5, 2019
Horror Fuel

Filmmaker Justin McConnell Discusses His Film Lifechanger And More In An Interview

I sat down with writer-director-producer Justin McConnell (Minutes to Midnight, Broken Mile) recently to discuss his new horror film Lifechanger (review), the unique story of a shape-shifter trying to find his place in the world. The film’s incredible cast includes Bill Oberst Jr., Lora Burke, Jack Foley, Elitsa Bako, Sam James White, and Steve Kasan. Warning: There may be spoilers ahead. The following is transcribed from a verbal conversation. Horror Fuel: “Christmas is coming so it’s the perfect time to talk about your documentary Black Christmas Legacy. Will you tell our readers about it?” Justin McConnell: “I co-directed that with George Mihalka who did My Bloody Valentine. Anchor Bay Entertainment hired me to shoot a retrospective documentary on the film and I shot all the interviews, edited it and co-directed it with George. We got a number of people who were involved with the production in addition to notable people in the genre. Scream Factory licensed it for U.S. release.

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Dec 16, 2018
Horror Fuel

The Bodies Stack Up In Lifechanger’s Red Band Trailer

From writer-director Justin McConnell comes the highly anticipated film Lifechanger which follows a murderous shape-shifter that sets out on a blood-soaked mission to make things right with the woman he loves. Today, the official Red Band trailer for Lifechanger, a film that is the first of its kind. We’ve seen a lot of films, but never one like this. Part psychological thriller, part body horror, Lifechanger follows one shape-shifters’ twisted quest to repair the damage he’s caused while leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. Drew has an identity problem. Every few days, he has to shape-shift or face a painful death. He has to find someone and make a copy. He takes everything: their looks, memories, hopes, and dreams. Their entire life. He becomes them, and they die horribly. Enter Julia, the object of Drew’s affection. How can he make things right when he’s never the same person for very long? How do you gain back trust when

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 30, 2018
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: Lifechanger (2018)

Emily Roberts (Elitsa Bako) wakes up one morning next to her withered husk of a corpse. How can this be? Well, it seems ol’ E-Dawg isn’t herself at all, but rather a shape-shifter named Drew (voiced by genre stalwart Bill Oberst Jr.) who can transform into anyone he murders for six hours before he begins to rot and must take on another form. As you can imagine, our hero will do anything to keep his secret even resorting to non-bodymorphing homicide if the sitch dictates. Soon a new wrinkle presents itself; Drew begins carrying over injuries from one body to the next…and all of the above will make his task of setting things right with an old flame that knew him as someone else damn near impossible! As you can imagine; Lifechanger is one hell of a unique motion picture. Part thriller, part body horror, part psychological drama…this flick takes all of those disparate elements and concocts a ghoulish goulash

Continue reading →
DanXIII
Nov 24, 2018
Horror Fuel

A Shape-Shifter Will Do Anything For Love In The Trailer For ‘Lifechanger’

From writer-director Justin McConnell comes the highly anticipated film Lifechanger which follows a murderous shape-shifter that sets out on a blood-soaked mission to make things right with the woman he loves. Today, a new trailer arrived for this one of kind film. Drew has an identity problem. Every few days, has to shape-shift, or face a painful death. He has to find someone and make a copy. He takes everything: their looks, memories, hopes, and dreams. Their entire life. He becomes them, and they die horribly. Enter Julia, the object of Drew’s affection. How can he make things right when he’s never the same person for very long? How do you gain back trust when who you are keeps changing? Part psychological thriller, part body horror, Lifechanger follows one shape-shifters’ twisted quest to repair the damage he’s caused, while leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. Bill Oberst Jr., Lora Burke, Jack Foley, Elitsa Bako, Sam James White, Steve

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Nov 21, 2018