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Jason Butler Harner talks hot Texas summers and gorgeous landscapes for his new movie, ‘The Big Bend’ – Interview

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Jason Butler Harner (The Walking Dead, The Handmaids Tale) sat down with Ted aka Steady to discuss his new film out on VOD, THE BIG BEND. Hear about the challenges he and the crew faced while shooting during the summer in west Texas, how the environment dictates when you work and which climate is more brutal…Texas or Georgia during the summer months.

For more information on where you can see the movie visit the film’s website here: THE BIG BEND.

Currently standing at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, THE BIG BEND is written and directed by Brett Wagner and stars Harner alongside Virginia Kull (BIG LITTLE LIES), David Sullivan (ARGO), and the late Erica Ash (OUTLAW JOHNNY BLACK).

Synopsis: Two families meet for a long overdue reunion in the remote West Texas desert—where events quickly don’t go as planned. Harboring secrets and facing private crises, they explore one of the wildest places in America, testing the boundaries of marriage, friendship, and parenthood, and doing their best to survive the experience.


Jason Butler Harner Bio: 

JASON BUTLER HARNER made his feature film debut in Clint Eastwood’s Oscar nominated CHANGELING (with Angelina Jolie). With a wide variety of roles and mediums, independent film has been a constant passion and priority. THE BIG BEND is, without question, one of the most remarkable, shooting in the height of summer in the far-off-the-grid Big Bend of Texas, atop a cliff.

Recent indies of note also include EDGE OF EVERYTHING (SBIFF Winner) and the Oscar shortlisted THE ANNE FRANK GIFT SHOP, in which he stars and co-produced. In addition to memorable work on SCANDAL, RAY DONOVAN, HOMELAND, HIGH MAINTENANCE, and ALACTRAZ, recent screen work includes SUGAR (with Colin Farrell), MONSTERS: THE LYLE AND ERIK MENENDEZ STORY, RABBIT HOLE (opposite Kiefer Sutherland), THE HANDMAIDS TALE, as well as his much-lauded turn as Agent Roy Petty on the Netflix hit OZARK. Harner has performed on and off-Broadway, on London’s West End, and across the country in an array of classics, groundbreaking revivals, and world premieres.

On Broadway, he’s appeared in Tom Stoppard’s landmark trilogy and Tony Award winning THE COAST OF UTOPIA, as well as THE CRUCIBLE (with Saoirse Ronan and Ben Whishaw), and most recently opposite Janet McTeer in BERNHARDT/HAMLET. He won an Obie Award for Ivo VonHove’s HEDDA GABLER and has multiple Drama Desk nominations. Other notable stage productions include THE VILLAGE BIKE (opposite Greta Gerwig), THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY (opposite Carey Mulligan), THE CHERRY ORCHARD (Mark Taper Forum with Annette Bening and Sarah Paulson), THE GLASS MENAGERIE (opposite Sally Field), HAMLET, and Mike Bartlett’s hilariously moving COCK (opposite Corey Michael Smith). He holds an MFA from NYU’s acclaimed Graduate Acting Program and currently resides in Los Angeles with his phenomenal dog Toupeé.

Ted aka Steady is a film critic and the managing editor forCountdownCityGeeks.com. He has covered some of the largest pop culture events in the world including SXSW and San Diego Comic-Con. He has also hosted a variety of events such as eSports Tourneys, film festivals, to moderating panels for some of the biggest names in entertainment including Josh Brolin, Rosario Dawson and Giancarlo Esposito.

Interviews

Director Minos Papas brings to life folklore from his homeland and forgotten languages in ‘Motherwitch’ – Interview

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In this exclusive interview, visionary filmmaker Minos Papas sits down to discuss his haunting new feature, MOTHERWITCH (2026) — a dark, atmospheric descent into folklore, motherhood, and psychological terror.

Papas opens up about the origins of the story, the symbolism behind the film’s chilling imagery, and the emotional core that drives MOTHERWITCH. We explore the creative process, on-set challenges, casting choices, visual style, and how Minos and his team reincarnated a lost Greek dialect from the 19th century to bring a level of authenticity to the project.

The film is currently playing at the European Film Market (EFM) and will later be showcased at Marché du film de Cannes in May.


Synopsis: Eleni, a painter in Cyprus in 1882, reaches into the shadows to resurrect her lost children, but instead summons the ancient Kalikantzari of Cypriot lore. She must now confront the storm of her grief and anger and lift the curse.

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Director Jeremiah Kipp talks embalming procedures and playing video games ahead of the release of ‘The Mortuary Assistant’

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The trend of video game adaptations is once again gaining momentum in Hollywood. From Minecraft and Five Nights at Freddy’s to the latest Resident Evil installment—and now a film adaptation of the acclaimed indie horror game The Mortuary Assistant—studios are continuing to explore the storytelling potential of the gaming world.

I recently sat down with director Jeremiah Kipp to discuss the unique challenges of translating an interactive horror experience to the big screen, the creative collaboration with Willa Holland (Arrow), and what it was like working alongside the legendary creature performer Mark Steger to bring the film’s terrifying presence to life.

The Mortuary Assistant arrives in theaters on February 13 and will be available to stream on Shudder beginning March 27.


Synopsis: During her first overnight shift at the morgue, newly hired mortician Rebecca Owens falls victim to possession from a demonic entity.

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‘Hunting Jessica Brok’ brings the action and thrills to theaters this weekend – Interview

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In our latest interview about their new action thriller ‘Hunting Jessica Brok’, Danica Jones shared how deeply invested she became in portraying the film’s fierce, determined lead. She spoke about the physical and emotional preparation that went into bringing Jessica Brok to life. From intensive stunt training to understanding her character’s layered motivations. Jones explained that what drew her to the role was the opportunity to embody a protagonist who is both resolute in her mission and profoundly human in her vulnerabilities. She also highlighted the spirit on set, praising the director and cast for fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.

Richard Lukunku, who plays the film’s central antagonist, reflected on the complexity of his character and the challenges of striking the right balance between menace and nuance. He discussed how his role required him to dig into the psychological underpinnings of his character’s choices, making the work both demanding and rewarding. Lukunku and Jones both expressed excitement about the film’s release, emphasizing that ‘Hunting Jessica Brok’ delivers intense action as well as emotional depth. They said they hope audiences will connect with the story’s blend of high stakes, personal sacrifice, and the resilience of its characters when the film premieres.

Catch it in theaters starting February 13, 2026.



Synopsis: She was a ghost. A knife in boots. Special forces-trained, war-tested, emotionally cauterized. Once upon a time, Jessica Brok had a name that meant death in several dialects. Then she went off-grid. Vanished. She renamed herself Linda. Got a kid. A dusty little house. A vulture rescue center. Because nothing screams emotional healing like feeding dead rats to scavengers. She thought she was done being a weapon. She thought wrong. Enter Daniel. Ex-lover. Ex-comrade. Ex-everything. Long presumed dead, now resurrected in her driveway with a bullet wound and a story soaked in blood. He says they’re coming — the same men who trafficked children, murdered civilians, burned entire villages to hide the evidence. The ones they didn’t kill the first time. Turns out, evil doesn’t die. It adapts. It evolves. And it has Jessica’s name on a list. What follows is a sun-scorched fever dream of violence. Jessica is dragged back into the kill-or-be-killed ballet she thought she’d retired from. Only this time she’s slower, rustier, with a daughter who might become collateral damage. They take her. They torture her. They try to make her small again. They forget who she is. Bad idea. Jessica Brok is a chemical reaction. Grief + Guilt + Training = Apocalypse. She peels off her motherhood like a skin she no longer fits in. She becomes the ghost again. The shadow. The beast in the long grass. Armed with guilt and a knife, she unravels every inch of their outfit with the precision of someone who’s memorized anatomy from the inside out. Every scar she earns is a story. Every broken bone is an indictment. Every death she delivers is a sacrament. The bush becomes a church, and she is the sermon — brutal, efficient, and unforgettable. By the end, the question isn’t whether she’ll survive — it’s whether the part of her that’s human ever comes back. Because some people go through hell. Jessica Brok built a home there.

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