Side Sho
Encyclopedia
Side Sho is a 2007 horror film
directed by Michael D'Anna
. The film was shot in and around Savannah, Georgia
, and won the awards for Best Feature Film and Best Original Score at the 2007 Terror Film Festival.
It was released on DVD July 29, 2008 by Lionsgate Entertainment.
s and carny
exhibits as a child. Director Michael D'Anna took inspiration from classic horror films of the 1970s, such as Tobe Hooper
's Eaten Alive
, Wes Craven
's original The Hills Have Eyes
, and the southern gothic
films of S. F. Brownrigg
. Several reviewers have pointed out the plot similarities with Rob Zombie
's House of 1000 Corpses
, but the director had not seen Zombie's film until he was already well into production.
The low budget production was fraught with problems, including the sudden loss of scheduled filming locations, special effects that refused to work properly, equipment malfunctions, and a rushed shooting schedule. Nevertheless, the film was completed on time and budget, in time for its July, 2007 premiere at the historic Belcourt Theater in Nashville, Tennessee
. Many of the trials and tribulations of the films' production are related by director D'Anna and star John David (J.D.) Hart on the DVD commentary track.
It was released on DVD by Lionsgate in July 2008 with an audio commentary featuring the director and star, a making-of featurette
, a blooper
reel, and many other extras.
Side Sho was released without an MPAA rating.
Horror website Dread Central commented that the film "isn't one of those movies you should skip given the chance to see it. It may have an audience out there, but for some it may be a excessive exercise in 'been there, done that'.". Bloody Disgusting
, Film Apocalypse, and Horror Junk, however, all gave the film positive notices. Fangoria
magazine also gave the film a complimentary review.
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
directed by Michael D'Anna
Michael D'Anna
Michael D'Anna is a film director, best known for his work in horror films.- Biography :D'Anna began his filmmaking career in the early 1990s editing commercials and documentaries for clients throughout the southeastern United States...
. The film was shot in and around Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
, and won the awards for Best Feature Film and Best Original Score at the 2007 Terror Film Festival.
It was released on DVD July 29, 2008 by Lionsgate Entertainment.
Synopsis
A suburban family on vacation in the backwoods of Florida venture off the main highway in search of historic roadside attractions, but find much more than they bargained for, including a forgotten tourist attraction that houses a dark secret...Production
Side Sho was inspired by writer Frank Fox's experiences visiting odd roadside attractionRoadside attraction
A roadside attraction is a feature along the side of a road, that is frequently advertised with billboards to attract tourists. In general, these are places one might stop on the way to somewhere else, rather than being a final or primary destination in and of themselves. The modern...
s and carny
Carny
Carny or carnie is a slang term used in North America and, along with showie, in Australia for a carnival employee, as well as the language they employ...
exhibits as a child. Director Michael D'Anna took inspiration from classic horror films of the 1970s, such as Tobe Hooper
Tobe Hooper
Tobe Hooper is an American film director and screenwriter, best known for his work in the horror film genre. His works include the cult classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre , along with its first sequel, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 ; the three-time Emmy-nominated Stephen King film adaptation...
's Eaten Alive
Eaten Alive
Eaten Alive is a 1977 horror film directed by Tobe Hooper...
, Wes Craven
Wes Craven
Wesley Earl "Wes" Craven is an American actor, film director, writer, producer, perhaps best known as the director of many horror films, particularly slasher films, including the famed A Nightmare on Elm Street and Wes Craven's New Nightmare, featuring the iconic Freddy Krueger character, the...
's original The Hills Have Eyes
The Hills Have Eyes
The Hills Have Eyes may refer to:*The Hills Have Eyes *The Hills Have Eyes , a 1977 film by Wes Craven*The Hills Have Eyes Part II, the 1985 sequel...
, and the southern gothic
Southern Gothic
Southern Gothic is a subgenre of Gothic fiction unique to American literature that takes place exclusively in the American South. It resembles its parent genre in that it relies on supernatural, ironic, or unusual events to guide the plot...
films of S. F. Brownrigg
S. F. Brownrigg
S. F. Brownrigg , born Sherrald Brownrigg, was an American film director and producer. During the 1970s he directed several low budget horror films, such as Don't Look In The Basement...
. Several reviewers have pointed out the plot similarities with Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie
Rob Zombie is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the heavy metal band White Zombie and has been nominated three times as a solo artist for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.Zombie has also established a career as a film director, creating the...
's House of 1000 Corpses
House of 1000 Corpses
House of 1000 Corpses is a 2003 exploitation horror film written and directed by Rob Zombie; it is his directorial debut. It was released in the United States on April 11, 2003 by Lions Gate Entertainment.-Plot:...
, but the director had not seen Zombie's film until he was already well into production.
The low budget production was fraught with problems, including the sudden loss of scheduled filming locations, special effects that refused to work properly, equipment malfunctions, and a rushed shooting schedule. Nevertheless, the film was completed on time and budget, in time for its July, 2007 premiere at the historic Belcourt Theater in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Many of the trials and tribulations of the films' production are related by director D'Anna and star John David (J.D.) Hart on the DVD commentary track.
It was released on DVD by Lionsgate in July 2008 with an audio commentary featuring the director and star, a making-of featurette
Featurette
Featurette is a term used in the American film industry to designate a film whose length is approximately three quarters of a reel, or about 20–44 minutes in running time - thus midway between a short subject and a feature film; thus it is a "small feature"...
, a blooper
Blooper
A blooper, also known as an outtake or boner is a short sequence of a film or video production, usually a deleted scene, containing a mistake made by a member of the cast or crew. It also refers to an error made during a live radio or TV broadcast or news report, usually in terms of misspoken words...
reel, and many other extras.
Side Sho was released without an MPAA rating.
Reception
Side Sho received mixed reviews from critics. While many viewer reactions were negative, reviews from publications associated with the horror genre were considerably more favorable.Horror website Dread Central commented that the film "isn't one of those movies you should skip given the chance to see it. It may have an audience out there, but for some it may be a excessive exercise in 'been there, done that'.". Bloody Disgusting
Bloody Disgusting
Bloody Disgusting is a website that covers horror movies with reviews, interviews and news. It is currently run by Brad Miska, and Tom Owen. According to one source, the site has 1.5 million unique visitors and 20 million page views each month. It is widely considered to be the "world's most...
, Film Apocalypse, and Horror Junk, however, all gave the film positive notices. Fangoria
Fangoria
Fangoria is an American magazine devoted to horror and exploitation films, which has a number of associated brands:* Fangoria Comics* Fangoria Films* Fangoria RadioFangoria may also refer to:* Fangoria , a Spanish electro pop band...
magazine also gave the film a complimentary review.
Trivia
- The film contains several in-jokeIn-jokeAn in-joke, also known as an inside joke or in joke, is a joke whose humour is clear only to people who are in a particular social group, occupation, or other community of common understanding...
references to the progressive rockProgressive rockProgressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
genre, including nods to lyrics from Emerson, Lake & PalmerEmerson, Lake & PalmerEmerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
, King CrimsonKing CrimsonKing Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
, and Van Der Graff Generator. For example, the sign outside the Side Sho attraction reads "The show that never ends" (from ELP's Karn Evil 9Karn Evil 9"Karn Evil 9" is an extended work by progressive rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer, appearing on the album Brain Salad Surgery. A futuristic fusion of rock and classical themes, it is regarded by many fans to be their best work...
suite). Director Michael D'Anna is a lifelong fan of the genre. - Leonard Wolf's score for the film was intended to sound like "Robert FrippRobert FrippRobert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
jamming with Ry CooderRy CooderRyland Peter "Ry" Cooder is an American guitarist, singer and composer. He is known for his slide guitar work, his interest in roots music from the United States, and, more recently, his collaborations with traditional musicians from many countries.His solo work has been eclectic, encompassing...
". - Although they portray mother and daughter in the film, actresses Dana Poulson and Toni Robider are, in actuality, only eight years apart in age.
- The voice of the radio evangelist heard in one scene is that of the legendary underground preacher Prophet OmegaProphet OmegaProphet Omega was a weekly radio evangelist broadcasting in Nashville, Tennessee on Music Row’s WNAH in the 1970s. He was founder of the Peaceway Temple then located at "Apartment Q-258 at 488 Lemont Drive" . He has become most known for the recordings of his sermons which became popular among...
.