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Dante Tomaselli

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Dante Tomaselli
File:Dantetomaselli.jpg
Born (1969-10-29) October 29, 1969 (age 55)
Paterson, New Jersey
NationalityAmerican
Alma materPratt Institute,
New York School of Visual Arts
Occupation(s)Director, screenwriter, score composer
RelativesAlfred Sole (cousin)

Dante Tomaselli (born October 29, 1969, in Paterson, New Jersey) is an Italian-American horror screenwriter, director, and score composer.[1][2][3] In 2013 Fearnet named Tomaselli one of their "Favorite Underrated Horror Directors", as they found his work "unique and eccentric".[4] Tomaselli is currently working on a remake of the 1976 film Alice, Sweet Alice, which was directed by his cousin Alfred Sole.[5]

Biography

Tomaselli was born on October 29, 1969 in Paterson, New Jersey. He expressed interest in becoming a horror filmmaker while he was still a child due to his enjoyment of films such as The Exorcist and Don't Look Now,[6] which he would watch with his mother at local theaters.[3] He studied filmmaking at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute and later transferred to the New York School of Visual Arts, where he received a B.F.A. degree in Advertising.[7] In 1999 he released his first film, Desecration, which he based on an earlier-made 23-minute short.[7] On January 14, 2014, Tomaselli released his first audio CD of electronic horror music, Scream in the Dark, through Elite Entertainment and MVD Audio.[8]

Tomaselli is gay and was involved with a project called Gay of the Dead.[1]

Themes and influences

Tomaselli heavily utilizes themes of Catholicism and Christianity in his work, which is inspired partly by his Catholic upbringing as a child[6] though he is critical of the concept of religion as a whole.[1] Other factors that influenced his work include Tomaselli's relation to Sole and surrealism, as well as severe nightmares he had as a child, which he has tried to work into his films.[3] Some critics mistakenly attribute directors such as Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci as influences due to some similarities between their work, but Tomaselli stated in an interview with author Matthew Edwards that he did not view those directors' work until his early twenties.[3]

Reception

Critical reception to Tomaselli's films is usually very polarized, with some criticizing the films as lacking a linear plot line.[9][10] Other critics have praised the films for this feature and remarked on the variety of filmgoers' reactions by saying that the movies would not appeal to all viewers and especially not to those that favor more mainstream fare or do not prefer surreal films.[11][12]

Discography

Filmography

Year Film Director Producer Writer Composer Notes
1999 Desecration Yes Yes Yes Yes
2002 Horror Yes Yes Yes Yes
2006 Satan's Playground Yes No Yes Yes
2012 Torture Chamber Yes Yes Yes Yes
TBA The Doll Yes No Yes Yes Will be co-written with Michael Gingold
TBA Alice, Sweet Alice Yes No Yes Yes
TBA The Ocean Yes Yes Yes Yes [5]

References

  1. ^ a b c Abley, Sean. "Gay of the Dead: Dante Tomaselli, Part Two". Fangoria. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  2. ^ "First Stills - Dante Tomaselli's Torture Chamber". Dread Central. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Edwards, Matthew (2007). Film out of bounds: essays and interviews on non-mainstream cinema worldwide. McFarland. pp. 112–125. ISBN 0786429704.
  4. ^ Doupe, Tyler. "Five More of Our Favorite Underrated Horror Directors". Fearnet. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  5. ^ a b Doupe, Tyler. "Exclusive Interview: Dante Tomaselli on 'Torture Chamber,' 'Alice Sweet Alice' and More!". Fearnet. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  6. ^ a b Green, Dai. "Interview: Dante Tomaselli (Horror, Satan's Playground, Desecration)". HorrorNews.net. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  7. ^ a b Davies Brown, Phil. "Dante Tomaselli (Interview)". Horror Asylum. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  8. ^ Gingold, Michael. "Dante Tomaselli wants you to "SCREAM IN THE DARK"". Fangoria. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  9. ^ Bertrand, Merle. "Desecration (review)". Film Threat. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  10. ^ "Horror (review)". AMC. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  11. ^ Weinberg, Scott. "Horror (review)". EfilmCritic. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  12. ^ "DESECRATION (review)". DVD Verdict. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  13. ^ Doupé, Tyler. ""SCREAM IN THE DARK" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  14. ^ Hanley, Ken W. "Exclusive first details/art on Dante Tomaselli's "THE DOLL" and conceptual soundtrack". Fangoria. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  15. ^ ""THE DOLL" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  16. ^ Doupé, Tyler. ""NIGHTMARE" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  17. ^ Galluzzo, Rob (27 March 2017). "Dante Tomaselli Unleashes Dark New Album WITCHES!". Blumhouse.com. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
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