Totem (film)

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For the 2023 film, see Tótem (film).
Totem
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMarcel Sarmiento
Written byEvan Dickson
Story by
  • Evan Dickson
  • Marcel Sarmiento
Produced by
  • Adam Hendricks
  • John H. Lang
  • Greg Gilreath
  • William Day Frank
Starring
CinematographyHarry Lipnick
Edited byPhillip Blackford
Music byJoseph Bauer
Production
companies
Distributed byCinemax
Release date
  • October 31, 2017 (2017-10-31) (United States)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Totem is a 2017 American supernatural horror film directed by Marcel Sarmiento and starring Kerris Dorsey, Ahna O’Reilly and James Tupper.[1] The film is written by Evan Dickson, from a story by Dickson and Sarmiento.[2] The film is a co-production between Blumhouse Productions, Divide/Conquer and Gunpowder & Sky.

The film was released on October 31, 2017 by Cinemax.[3]

Premise[edit]

When widowed father James asks his new-age girlfriend to move in, his daughters Kellie and Abby have trouble adjusting. As things become increasingly tense, a series of unexplained occurrences leads Kellie to look for a way to use a totem to control the supernatural presence in the house.

Promoted to leading lady of the house following her mother Lexy’s untimely death, 17-year-old Kellie has done a respectable job keeping together the tight trio that includes her father James and little sister Abby. For his part, James thinks it’s time to add a new face to their fold, and invites his long-term girlfriend Robin to finally move in so their family can move on.

Kellie isn’t overjoyed at the interloper in their midst. Neither is the supernatural spirit suddenly haunting their home. Robin’s arrival strangely coincides with an unseen entity paying regular visits to Abby. The little girl claims it is her mother’s protective ghost. Kellie fears the spirit isn’t as benevolent as Abby innocently presumes.

After recovering a necklace that belonged to Lexy, Kellie finds it is capable of causing objects in the house to move on their own. Maybe it’s her mother interacting from beyond the grave(while she was trying to escape from totem to her family). Maybe it’s something more malevolent. As the entity seemingly strengthens, it threatens to tear everyone apart through the paranormal power of the mysterious totem now in Kellie’s possession.

Cast[edit]

Production[edit]

Principal photography on the film began in November 2015.[4]

Additional photography took place in December 2016.

Release[edit]

The film was shot in the 2:35:1 aspect ratio but was cropped to 1:78:1 to fit HBO/Cinemax broadcast standards. The film was released on October 31, 2017.[5][6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Sprague, Mike (October 12, 2017). "Exclusive: First Look at Director Marcel Sarmiento's Totem". Dread Central. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  2. ^ Miska, Brad (October 3, 2017). "'Totem' Brings Luck to Bloody Disgusting Alumni, Halloween Release on Cinemax!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  3. ^ Knight, Jacob (October 16, 2017). "BMD Exclusive Clip: TOTEM Definitely Doesn't Save The Cat". Birth.Movies.Death. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  4. ^ "The pecking order defined #setlife". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25.
  5. ^ Collis, Clarke (October 16, 2017). "Watch a hair-raising clip from horror film Totem". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  6. ^ Miska, Brad (October 13, 2017). "New 'Totem' Images Creep Their Way Online". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved October 16, 2017.

External links[edit]

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