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Azrael (film)

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Azrael
Theatrical release poster
Directed byE. L. Katz
Written bySimon Barrett
Produced by
  • Dan Kagan
  • Simon Barrett
  • Dave Caplan
Starring
CinematographyMart Taniel
Edited byBen Baudhuin
Music byToti Gudnason
Production
companies
  • Traffic.
  • C2 Motion Picture Group
Distributed by
Release dates
  • March 9, 2024 (2024-03-09) (SXSW)
  • September 27, 2024 (2024-09-27) (United States)
Running time
85 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$617,280[2][3]

Azrael is a 2024 American action horror film directed by E. L. Katz and written by Simon Barrett. The film stars Samara Weaving, Vic Carmen Sonne and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett. It premiered at the 2024 South by Southwest festival on March 9, 2024, and was theatrically released by IFC Films and Shudder in the United States on September 27, 2024.

Plot

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Many years after the Rapture, the remaining human survivors on earth are plagued by the Burned Ones, demonic humanoid creatures who are drawn to and prey upon human flesh and blood. Azrael and her lover, Kenan, are ousted from a forest-dwelling cult who believe that speech is a sin, and who have surgically removed their vocal cords to cease speaking. Josephine, one of the cult's leaders, captures and separates the couple with the help of her henchman. The cultists attempt to sacrifice Azrael to the Burned Ones, but Azrael manages to escape, killing one of the henchmen in the process.

Azrael flees through the woods and infiltrates the cult's fenced encampment, where a woman named Miriam leads the cult as a spiritual interpreter, believing the wind speaks God's will, and listening to it through a hole in the wall of a ramshackle church. Azrael is discovered by Josephine and narrowly escapes the encampment. Late that night, Azrael stumbles upon a road where a man in a truck offers her a ride, but the vehicle crashes after a cultist shoots and kills the driver. After a protracted battle, Azrael manages to kill the cultist with his own rifle.

In the woods, Azrael finds Kenan nailed to a tree, and is caught in a booby trap by one of the cultists, leaving her dangling upside down by a rope. Several of the Burned Ones descend on the scene and attack and kill the cultist before also killing Kenan. Azrael manages to hoist herself onto a tree, hanging and killing one of the Burned Ones in the process.

Azrael returns to the encampment and confronts Miriam in the church. Azrael prepares to execute her, but pauses when noticing that Miriam is pregnant, allowing Miriam a moment to attack. Miriam incapacitates her, causing Azrael to scratch Miriam's pregnant stomach as she falls to the floor. At Josephine's behest, the cultists bury Azrael in a coffin connected to a tunnel where a Burned One descends upon her, but the creature stops and backs away after it senses Miriam's blood on Azrael's hand.

Enraged, Azrael manages to climb out of the buried casket and return to the encampment, lighting it on fire and assassinating the members of the group one by one. In the church, she confronts Miriam, and a fight ensues in which Azrael bites into Miriam's neck, severely injuring her. Miriam goes into labor while an injured Josephine comes to her aid, attacking Azrael. Azrael drives a cleaver into Josephine's neck, mortally wounding her just as the cries of Miriam's newborn baby are heard. Miriam recoils in horror from the child before slitting her own throat. Azrael approaches the newborn, which is revealed to be a goat-like creature resembling the Antichrist. As the Burned Ones enter the church, they all begin to wail, as Azrael smiles and stands holding Miriam's baby.

Cast

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Production

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Azrael was announced in September 2022 with plans for E.L. Katz to direct the film written by Simon Barrett. Samara Weaving would star in the action-horror film.[4] The film began shooting in Harju County, Estonia in October 2022 with local production assistance from Katrin Kissa at Homeless Bob Production.[5][6] The production had considered filming in Ontario, but decided on Estonia instead, with some post-production activities taking place in Estonia as well. Approximately 70% of the crew was hired locally, including cinematographer Mart Taniel, as were several cast members.[6] The production created an artificial moon in the Pärispea forest during filming by using a system of connected floodlights hoisted by a crane.[7]

After filming was completed, it was taken to the 2023 European Film Market to find distribution.[8] In September 2023, Republic Pictures announced that it purchased the North American distribution rights.[9]

Release

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Azrael had its world premiere on March 9, 2024, at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.[1][10] It also screened at the Overlook Film Festival on April 5, 2024,[11] and at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on August 2, 2024.[12][13] In July 2024, IFC Films and Shudder acquired North American distribution rights to the film from Republic Pictures, scheduling it for a theatrical release on September 27, 2024, before streaming on Shudder at a later date.[14]

Reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 73% of 74 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The website's consensus reads: "Lead by another bloody fantastic performance from Samara Weaving, Azrael sacrifices depth on the altar of storytelling economy but delivers pure adrenaline in the bargain."[15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 52 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Azrael". South by Southwest. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  2. ^ "Azrael – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  3. ^ "Azrael". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  4. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (September 27, 2022). "Ready Or Not & Scream 6 Star Samara Weaving Attached To Lead Action-Horror Pic Azrael From Godzilla Vs. Kong 2 & You're Next Scribe". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on October 11, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  5. ^ "Horror Film Azrael Starts Shooting in Estonia - FilmNewEurope.com". Film New Europe Association. October 10, 2022. Archived from the original on January 28, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Villup, Kaspar (October 26, 2022). "Estonians heavily involved in US horror movie being filmed in Harju County". Eesti Rahvusringhääling. Archived from the original on February 1, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  7. ^ Tamm, Ülle (November 15, 2022). "Hollywoodi filmivõtetel särab Pärispeal öösiti kunstlik kuu" [An artificial moon actually shines at night on Hollywood film sets]. Sõnumitooja (in Estonian). Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  8. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (February 7, 2023). "Mossbank, CAA & UTA Launch Action-Horror Azrael With Ready Or Not Star Samara Weaving & You're Next Scribe, First Look – EFM". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  9. ^ Kit, Borys (September 27, 2023). "Samara Weaving Horror Movie Azrael Picked Up by Republic Pictures (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  10. ^ Complex, Valerie (January 10, 2024). "SXSW Lineup Sets The Fall Guy, 3 Body Problem Among Fest's 2024 World Premieres As First Titles Revealed". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  11. ^ "2024 Films". Overlook Film Festival. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  12. ^ "Azrael". Fantasia International Film Festival. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  13. ^ Carson, Lexi (June 6, 2024). "Montreal's Fantasia International Film Festival Unveils 'Bookworm' Starring Elijah Wood as Opening Film, Plus Second Wave of Titles (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  14. ^ Grobar, Matt (July 25, 2024). "IFC Films & Shudder Acquire Horror Thriller 'Azrael' From 'Cheap Thrills' Helmer E.L. Katz; Samara Weaving & Nathan Stewart-Jarrett Star". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  15. ^ "Azrael". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  16. ^ "Azrael". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 2, 2024.
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