"The Curse of Downers Grove" is an interesting twist in the career of young indie filmmaker Derick Martini. He came to acclaim with the family drama "Lymelife" with Alec Baldwin, Rory Culkin, and Emma Roberts. Martin Scorsese liked it so much he served as an executive producer. His follow-up “Hick,” with Chloe Moretz, Blake Lively and Eddie Redmayne — a pretty notable cast — ended up on many of year-end worst lists in 2011. Now Martini’s back with the teen horror “The Curse of Downers Grove.”
Written by Bret Easton Ellis, the movie stars Bella Heathcote (“Dark Shadows”), “X-Men” actor Lucas Till, Kevin Zegers, Penelope Mitchell, Zane Holtz, Helen Slater, and Tom Arnold. Here’s the official synopsis:
The town of Downers Grove looks like your average suburban neighborhood —but Downers Grove has a disturbing secret…. For the past eight years, one senior from every high school graduating class has met a bizarre death right before graduation day. And this year, Chrissie Swanson (Bella Heathcote) has a terrible feeling that she is going to be the one to die. Can Chrissie survive the curse of Downers Grove or will she, like those seniors before her, fall prey to the town’s deadly secret?
Normally, this might sound like schlock, but Ellis, Martini and the cast are at least an intriguing combination. Anchor Bay will release the film in theaters and iTunes on August 21st. Watch the new trailer below and let us know what you think.
