Horror Fuel
☰ Browse the Crypt
Tag

Keith Thomas

9 stories
Horror Fuel

Blumhouse Has Found Their ‘Firestarter’

Blumhouse has found their Firestarter. Ryan Kiera Armstrong will star in the new adaptation of Stephen King’s tale of the same name, from Universal Pictures, Blumhouse, and Weed Road Pictures. Armstrong (“American Horror Story”, The Tomorrow War, It: Chapter II) will star as Charlie, the young 11-year-old lead of the film who has the power of pyrokinesis. Armstrong will star alongside Zac Efron (Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, The Greatest Showman) and Michael Greyeyes (Wild Indian, Rutherford Falls, True Detective) who were previously announced. Keith Thomas, who brought us the fantastic horror film The Vigil earlier this year, directs from the script adapted by Scott Teems (Halloween Kills). The tale centers on a young girl (Armstrong) who develops pyrokinetic abilities and is abducted by a secret government agency that wants to harness her powerful gift as a weapon. Jason Blum and Academy Award® winner Akiva Goldsman will produce. Martha De Laurentiis, who was an associate producer on the 1984

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jun 3, 2021
Horror Fuel

An Interview With The Vigil’s Director Keith Thomas And Actor Dave Davis

One of the best films to come of the horror genre this year is writer-director Keith Thomas‘ feature film debut, The Vigil, starring Dave Davis. I had the opportunity to speak with both Thomas and Davis, so of course, I jumped at the chance. The Vigil (review), which I am more than a little fond of, centers on Davis’ character Yakov who is in a bad place, he’s struggling after leaving the Jewish Orthodox church and trying to cope with enormous guilt. Broke and desperate, Yokov agrees to sit shiva for a family overnight. As if things weren’t bad enough for the poor guy, an evil entity is lurking inside the house. HorrorFuel: “I’m always fascinated by where the ideas and stories come from for movies. What inspired you to write The Vigil, which is fantastic by the way.” Keith Thomas: “Wow. Well, it’s kind of a two-fold answer. One aspect of it was mercenary, in that I wanted to

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Feb 27, 2021
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: ‘The Vigil’ Is Brilliant And Scary As Hell

I grabbed a handful of Slim Jims and slid on my comfy pants and settled in to watch The Vigil, what I assumed would be your run-of-the-mill horror movie. Boy, I was wrong. The film centers on Yakov Ronen (Dave Davis), a man struggling with mental illness and overwhelming guilt for not being able to protect his little brother. Yakov has recently left the Jewish Orthodox Church and is trying to find his way in life. He’s approached by an old friend and is offered a job for the night, as a shomer which requires him to guard a dead body and protect it from evil spirits at the Litvak home. Desperate for cash he says yes, not knowing that it will be the most terrifying night of his life and one that will change him forever. Writer-director Keith Thomas makes one hell of a directorial debut with The Vigil. If he set out to make a horror film set

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Feb 21, 2021
Horror Fuel

The New ‘The Vigil’ Trailer Urges You To “Look Behind You”

This February dare to witness The Vigil, writer-director Keith Thomas‘ fantastic, thrilling new supernatural horror, which delves into ancient Jewish lore and demonology. Ahead of its release we’ve got the band trailer and a new poster. Starring Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, and Lynn Cohen, the film is set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante (Menashe Lustig) to take on the responsibility of an overnight “shomer,” fulfilling the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member. Shortly after arriving at the recently departed’s dilapidated house to sit the vigil, Yakov begins to realize that something is very, very wrong. When I sat down to write the very first draft of THE VIGIL, I knew I wanted to tell a personal story that felt universal. The movie

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

‘The Vigil’ Gets A Lit New Poster Ahead Of February Release

A lit new poster is here for writer-director Keith Thomas‘ fantastic, thrilling new supernatural horror, The Vigil which delves into ancient Jewish lore and demonology. Starring Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, and Lynn Cohen, the film is set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante (Menashe Lustig) to take on the responsibility of an overnight “shomer,” fulfilling the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member. Shortly after arriving at the recently departed’s dilapidated house to sit the vigil, Yakov begins to realize that something is very, very wrong. When I sat down to write the very first draft of THE VIGIL, I knew I wanted to tell a personal story that felt universal. The movie would be very contained and the stakes would, at first glance,

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jan 14, 2021
Horror Fuel

“Something’s Not Right” In ‘The Vigil” Trailer

The new teaser trailer for writer-director Keith Thomas‘ supernatural horror, The Vigil, delves into ancient Jewish lore and demonology. Starring Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, and Lynn Cohen, the film is set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante (Menashe Lustig) to take on the responsibility of an overnight “shomer,” fulfilling the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member. Shortly after arriving at the recently departed’s dilapidated house to sit the vigil, Yakov begins to realize that something is very, very wrong. When I sat down to write the very first draft of THE VIGIL, I knew I wanted to tell a personal story that felt universal. The movie would be very contained and the stakes would, at first glance, seem small – one man, one

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Dec 11, 2020
Horror Fuel

Zac Efron Set To Star In The New ‘Firestarter’ Adaptation

Zac Efron (Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, The Greatest Showman) has signed on to star in Firestarter, the upcoming film adaptation of Stephen King’s classic sci-fi thriller, from Universal Pictures, Blumhouse, and Weed Road Productions. The film centers on a young girl who develops pyrokinetic abilities and is abducted by a secret government agency that wants to harness her powerful gift as a weapon. Keith Thomas (The Vigil) will direct the film that is being adapted by Halloween Kills writer Scott Teems who will also executive produce. Jason Blum and Academy Award® winner Akiva Goldsman will produce. Firestarter reunites Goldsman and Blum who have previously collaborated on the Paranormal Activity franchise. Martha De Laurentiis, who was an associate producer on the 1984 adaptation of Firestarter starring a young Drew Barrymore, will executive produce. Efron, who currently is the host as well as a producer for Netflix’s docu-series “Down to Earth,” is represented by CAA, Alchemy Entertainment, Viewpoint, and Felker,

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 30, 2020
Horror Fuel

New Frightening Trailer For ‘The Vigil’ Teases Intense Supernatural Horror

This July filmmaker Keith Thomas‘ The Vigil will debut in UK cinemas. Blumhouse has yet to announce the US premiere of the film, which made waves at film festivals. While you wait, you can check out the new trailer. “Set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hassidic “Boro” Park neighborhood, The Vigil follows Yakov, a former Hassid, as he accepts a position as a shomer, hired to “sit the vigil” and watch over the body of a deceased community member. Having lost his faith, Yakov isn’t eager to go back to the insular religious community he only recently fled. But when Reb Shulem, a rabbi and confidante, approaches Yakov after a support group meeting and offers to pay Yakov to be the shomer for a recently deceased Holocaust survivor, he reluctantly accepts the job. Shortly after arriving at the dilapidated house, Yakov realizes that something is very, very wrong. This will not be a quiet vigil.” The

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jul 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

New ‘Firestarter’ Adaptation Catches ‘Vigil’ Director And ‘Halloween Kills’ Writer

A few years ago Jason Blum announced that Blumhouse was teaming up with Akiva Goldsman to develop a new adaptation of Stephen King’s Firestarter. While the film spent years in limbo, it has now sprung to life. Akiva is reportedly now writing the script along with Halloween Kills‘ Scott Teems. But that’s not all, Collider is reporting that Keith Thomas (The Vigil) has now signed on to direct. While this is not the first adaptation, we got the first in 1984, a new updated version might be nice. The original, directed by Mark L. Lester, starred Drew Barrymore as a kid with pyrokinetic abilities on the run with her telekinetic father. There is no word yet on who will star in the new film.

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Dec 17, 2019

More from Keith Thomas

Horror Fuel

Blumhouse Has Found Their ‘Firestarter’

Blumhouse has found their Firestarter. Ryan Kiera Armstrong will star in the new adaptation of Stephen King’s tale of the same name, from Universal Pictures, Blumhouse, and Weed Road Pictures. Armstrong (“American Horror Story”, The Tomorrow War, It: Chapter II) will star as Charlie, the young 11-year-old lead of the film who has the power of pyrokinesis. Armstrong will star alongside Zac Efron (Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, The Greatest Showman) and Michael Greyeyes (Wild Indian, Rutherford Falls, True Detective) who were previously announced. Keith Thomas, who brought us the fantastic horror film The Vigil earlier this year, directs from the script adapted by Scott Teems (Halloween Kills). The tale centers on a young girl (Armstrong) who develops pyrokinetic abilities and is abducted by a secret government agency that wants to harness her powerful gift as a weapon. Jason Blum and Academy Award® winner Akiva Goldsman will produce. Martha De Laurentiis, who was an associate producer on the 1984

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jun 3, 2021
Horror Fuel

An Interview With The Vigil’s Director Keith Thomas And Actor Dave Davis

One of the best films to come of the horror genre this year is writer-director Keith Thomas‘ feature film debut, The Vigil, starring Dave Davis. I had the opportunity to speak with both Thomas and Davis, so of course, I jumped at the chance. The Vigil (review), which I am more than a little fond of, centers on Davis’ character Yakov who is in a bad place, he’s struggling after leaving the Jewish Orthodox church and trying to cope with enormous guilt. Broke and desperate, Yokov agrees to sit shiva for a family overnight. As if things weren’t bad enough for the poor guy, an evil entity is lurking inside the house. HorrorFuel: “I’m always fascinated by where the ideas and stories come from for movies. What inspired you to write The Vigil, which is fantastic by the way.” Keith Thomas: “Wow. Well, it’s kind of a two-fold answer. One aspect of it was mercenary, in that I wanted to

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Feb 27, 2021
Horror Fuel

Movie Review: ‘The Vigil’ Is Brilliant And Scary As Hell

I grabbed a handful of Slim Jims and slid on my comfy pants and settled in to watch The Vigil, what I assumed would be your run-of-the-mill horror movie. Boy, I was wrong. The film centers on Yakov Ronen (Dave Davis), a man struggling with mental illness and overwhelming guilt for not being able to protect his little brother. Yakov has recently left the Jewish Orthodox Church and is trying to find his way in life. He’s approached by an old friend and is offered a job for the night, as a shomer which requires him to guard a dead body and protect it from evil spirits at the Litvak home. Desperate for cash he says yes, not knowing that it will be the most terrifying night of his life and one that will change him forever. Writer-director Keith Thomas makes one hell of a directorial debut with The Vigil. If he set out to make a horror film set

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Feb 21, 2021
Horror Fuel

The New ‘The Vigil’ Trailer Urges You To “Look Behind You”

This February dare to witness The Vigil, writer-director Keith Thomas‘ fantastic, thrilling new supernatural horror, which delves into ancient Jewish lore and demonology. Ahead of its release we’ve got the band trailer and a new poster. Starring Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, and Lynn Cohen, the film is set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante (Menashe Lustig) to take on the responsibility of an overnight “shomer,” fulfilling the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member. Shortly after arriving at the recently departed’s dilapidated house to sit the vigil, Yakov begins to realize that something is very, very wrong. When I sat down to write the very first draft of THE VIGIL, I knew I wanted to tell a personal story that felt universal. The movie

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

‘The Vigil’ Gets A Lit New Poster Ahead Of February Release

A lit new poster is here for writer-director Keith Thomas‘ fantastic, thrilling new supernatural horror, The Vigil which delves into ancient Jewish lore and demonology. Starring Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, and Lynn Cohen, the film is set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante (Menashe Lustig) to take on the responsibility of an overnight “shomer,” fulfilling the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member. Shortly after arriving at the recently departed’s dilapidated house to sit the vigil, Yakov begins to realize that something is very, very wrong. When I sat down to write the very first draft of THE VIGIL, I knew I wanted to tell a personal story that felt universal. The movie would be very contained and the stakes would, at first glance,

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jan 14, 2021
Horror Fuel

“Something’s Not Right” In ‘The Vigil” Trailer

The new teaser trailer for writer-director Keith Thomas‘ supernatural horror, The Vigil, delves into ancient Jewish lore and demonology. Starring Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, and Lynn Cohen, the film is set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante (Menashe Lustig) to take on the responsibility of an overnight “shomer,” fulfilling the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member. Shortly after arriving at the recently departed’s dilapidated house to sit the vigil, Yakov begins to realize that something is very, very wrong. When I sat down to write the very first draft of THE VIGIL, I knew I wanted to tell a personal story that felt universal. The movie would be very contained and the stakes would, at first glance, seem small – one man, one

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Dec 11, 2020
Horror Fuel

Zac Efron Set To Star In The New ‘Firestarter’ Adaptation

Zac Efron (Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile, The Greatest Showman) has signed on to star in Firestarter, the upcoming film adaptation of Stephen King’s classic sci-fi thriller, from Universal Pictures, Blumhouse, and Weed Road Productions. The film centers on a young girl who develops pyrokinetic abilities and is abducted by a secret government agency that wants to harness her powerful gift as a weapon. Keith Thomas (The Vigil) will direct the film that is being adapted by Halloween Kills writer Scott Teems who will also executive produce. Jason Blum and Academy Award® winner Akiva Goldsman will produce. Firestarter reunites Goldsman and Blum who have previously collaborated on the Paranormal Activity franchise. Martha De Laurentiis, who was an associate producer on the 1984 adaptation of Firestarter starring a young Drew Barrymore, will executive produce. Efron, who currently is the host as well as a producer for Netflix’s docu-series “Down to Earth,” is represented by CAA, Alchemy Entertainment, Viewpoint, and Felker,

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Sep 30, 2020
Horror Fuel

New Frightening Trailer For ‘The Vigil’ Teases Intense Supernatural Horror

This July filmmaker Keith Thomas‘ The Vigil will debut in UK cinemas. Blumhouse has yet to announce the US premiere of the film, which made waves at film festivals. While you wait, you can check out the new trailer. “Set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hassidic “Boro” Park neighborhood, The Vigil follows Yakov, a former Hassid, as he accepts a position as a shomer, hired to “sit the vigil” and watch over the body of a deceased community member. Having lost his faith, Yakov isn’t eager to go back to the insular religious community he only recently fled. But when Reb Shulem, a rabbi and confidante, approaches Yakov after a support group meeting and offers to pay Yakov to be the shomer for a recently deceased Holocaust survivor, he reluctantly accepts the job. Shortly after arriving at the dilapidated house, Yakov realizes that something is very, very wrong. This will not be a quiet vigil.” The

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Jul 7, 2020
Horror Fuel

New ‘Firestarter’ Adaptation Catches ‘Vigil’ Director And ‘Halloween Kills’ Writer

A few years ago Jason Blum announced that Blumhouse was teaming up with Akiva Goldsman to develop a new adaptation of Stephen King’s Firestarter. While the film spent years in limbo, it has now sprung to life. Akiva is reportedly now writing the script along with Halloween Kills‘ Scott Teems. But that’s not all, Collider is reporting that Keith Thomas (The Vigil) has now signed on to direct. While this is not the first adaptation, we got the first in 1984, a new updated version might be nice. The original, directed by Mark L. Lester, starred Drew Barrymore as a kid with pyrokinetic abilities on the run with her telekinetic father. There is no word yet on who will star in the new film.

Continue reading →
Kelli Marchman McNeely
Dec 17, 2019