ELI ROTH IN TORONTO FOR "HEMLOCK GROVE"

Eli Roth in Toronto - July 2012

Producer/Writer/Director and sometimes Actor Eli Roth has been working away for the past month on his forthcoming Netflix Series, Hemlock Grove and although he's been to Toronto several times already, I never had the opportunity of meeting him.  Fan-friendly Roth was spotted out and about today in the City's Fashion District, up-and-at-'em early after an overnight Shoot last night.

The Hostel Director is attached as a Producer to RZA's upcoming Kung-Fu Flick The Man with the Iron Fists, starring Russell Crowe, Lucy Liu, Jamie Chung and Pam Grier.  There are rumours that Roth will be directing Crowe as Dracula also in Warner Bros.' Harker.  He also will be helming another Title, Green Inferno, due in theatres 2014.

Hemlock Grove films in the City till mid-December.

See Roth in-person Monday, July 30, 2012 at TIFF Bell Lightbox as he presents the Horror Flick, Cannibal Ferox. Get your tickets here.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

LILI TAYLOR IN TORONTO FOR "HEMLOCK GROVE"

Lili Taylor in Toronto - July 2012

The immensely-talented Lili Taylor was spotted today in Toronto in friendly spirits!  Taylor currently is in Toronto filming Eli Roth's Netflix Series Hemlock Grove.  The charismatic Actress gained popularity in the late '80s alongside Julia Roberts in Comedy Mystic Pizza and since then her Career has seen several highs including work on popular Films like Say Anything, High Fidelity, Born on the Fourth of July and also a recurring Role on HBO's Six Fee Under.  She still looks gorgeous, don't you agree?

With four Films due for release over the next year, perhaps her most high-profile Movie is Blood Ties, which has her starring alongside Mila Kunis, Zoe Saldana, Clive Owen and Marion Cotillard. The Crime-Drama centers around two Brothers on both sides of the Law, facing-off in Brooklyn in the '70s.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

FAMKE JANSSEN IN TORONTO FOR "HEMLOCK GROVE"

Famke Janssen in Toronto - July 2012

Looking sharp in a red leather Pencil Skirt and an Umbrella to keep that skin fair, X-Men Star Famke Janssen was spotted earlier today in Toronto. The Actress was accompanied by her adorable black Boston Terrier, Licorice, as she headed for a day of Prep Work on Eli Roth's forthcoming Netflix Series Hemlock Grove which begins filming shortly in Toronto.

Fresh out of the shower, she declined a Photo. "My hair is still wet. Sorry. Next time!". At least she was nice about it.

Janssen stars as Olivia Godfrey in the Horror Series about a Werewolf who struggles with being Human and Monster.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

TORONTO FILMING UPDATES: JULY 2012

Kristen Kreuk & Jay Ryan in Beauty and the Beast

Filming is kicking into High Gear in Toronto after being in the doldrums earlier this year and the Ontario Media Development Corporation have just announced some updates as to what's to come...

Everyone's curious about upcoming Teen-Fiction Series The Mortal Instruments' move to the Big Screen and in has been confirmed that Production begins August 2012 with Jamie Campbell Bower (The Twilight Saga, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows: Part 1) and Jemima West (The Borgias) being confirmed additions to the Cast headed by the beautiful Lily Collins (Mirror Mirror, Abducted) as Clary Fray.  Sony Screen Gems releases the Title and loves making Movies in Toronto with their Carrie Remake currently is filming in the City and also their Resident Evil: Retribution pegged for a September 2012 release.

Horror Helmer Eli Roth (Hostel, The Last Exorcism) is set to begin Production on his Netflix Series Hemlock Grove, starring Famke Janssen (X-Men Franchise), Landon Liboiron (Degrassi: The Next Generation) and Dougray Scott (My Week with Marilyn).  One trusty Source spotted Roth out and about last week wearing the shortest of Shorts ... and we're not talking about those of the Film variety!

Although its Pilot was filmed here earlier this year, The CW's Beauty and the Beast was green-lit in May and its first Season begins filming in the City late July. This means Kristin Kreuk (Smallville), Jay Ryan (Legend of the Seeker) and Nicole Anderson (Make It or Break It) will be back shortly.

ELI ROTH'S THE LAST EXORCISM POSSESSES THE BOX OFFICE... OR NOT!

Eli Roth at MuchMusic (2009)

Eli Roth indeed is the new King of Horror as his latest film The Last Exorcism possesses Moviegoers this weekend, earning $20.4 million from 2,874 theatres. The film has also opened to strong reviews, earning a 70% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Takers which also opened this weekend debuted in second with $21 million and in all likelihood would have been at the top but had showed at only 2,206 theatres.  The action film with its cast of Bad Boys galore, stars vetern actor Matt Dillion and rapper T.I. who was jailed for possession of weapons and released this Spring. The film also stars Chris Brown who has had his share of headlines, of course not all positive. Is it premature to say that the public has forgiven him somewhat?

Two-week champion The Expendables slipped to third with $9.5 million, although still performing well. The same applies to Eat Pray Love which made $6.9 million this weekend, good enough for fourth spot in its third week also. Never under-estimate the staying power of Julia Roberts.  The Other Guys also, is a model of consistency, dropping to fifth spot in its fourth week of release, with $6.5 million putting it just shy of the $100 million mark in earnings.

The Top Ten is rounded out by parody Vampires Suck in sixth with $5.4 million, Inception in seventh with $5 million in seven weeks; Piranha 3D is on its way out in its second week with only $4.5 million in tenth.

EDIT: Updated numbers have just been released.  Takers actually just narrowly edged-out The Last Exorcism - the former pulling in $20.5 million, while the latter earned $20.4 million, reversing the previously reported Top Two positions. Nailbiter!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will-W.)

PIRANHA 3D REVIEW

To make a bad movie with the intention of making a good one happens often. To make a good movie with the intention of making a bad one - now, that's a rarity. French Director Alexandre Aja, best known for cult classic High Tension is back with Piranha 3D - the latest in a classic B-Movie franchise which dates back to the late '70s. Now with a budget courtesy of The Weinstein Co. and 3-D technology, the story gets updated for this generation of Movie-goers.

The College Kids head to Lake Victoria for Spring Break and all is a big party until some geographic movement unleashes hoards of ancient Killer Piranhas out of nowhere. Sheriff Julie Forester, played by a dearly-missed Elizabeth Shue, is in charge of maintaining order among the festivities and assigns her son Jake (Steven R. McQueen) the task of baby-sitting his two younger siblings while she is on assignment. Jerry O'Connell plays Derrick Jones, the sleazy mogul behind a Girls Gone Wild-like production company, recruiting a naive Jake to assist in scouting locations around the Lake to film his curvacious models, including Playboy Playmate Kelly Brook.

Kelly (Gossip Girl's Jessica Szohr) has feelings for Jake and decides to go aboard Derrick's Boat for some wild times on the Lake.  Jake's two unsupervised younger siblings however get themselves into trouble, heading out to the water. All the while, the College Kids are out on the water and before long, the fun comes to a full halt as the Killer Piranhas crash the party - disaster strikes and quite literally, Lake Victoria becomes a blood bath. People get mauled to death, limbs get eaten off, sexual organs all afloat.  And oh yes, the new King of Horror Eli Roth and Richard Dreyfus of Jaws, which the film pays homage to, make  cameos as well. And did I forget to mention though that somewhere amidst all the gore, you might actually find yourself laughing at the over-the-top absurdity of it all?