The Devil's Candy The Anatomy Of A Hollywood Fiasco Pdf
If you're a fan of Hollywood movies, you might be familiar with the term "Hollywood fiasco". It refers to a film that is a financial and critical failure, despite having a big-name cast and a huge budget. One such fiasco was "The Devil's Candy". This movie, which was released in 2015, was supposed to be a horror-thriller, but it turned out to be a disaster. In this article, we'll take a closer look at what went wrong with this movie and why it failed.
The Plot
The plot of "The Devil's Candy" revolves around a struggling artist named Jesse Hellman (played by Ethan Embry) who moves into a new house with his wife and daughter. The house, however, has a dark past. The previous owner, Ray Smilie (played by Pruitt Taylor Vince), was a deranged man who murdered his own family. Ray still haunts the house and tries to possess Jesse's daughter. Jesse must fight to save his family and his sanity.
The Cast
The cast of "The Devil's Candy" included some big names like Ethan Embry, Shiri Appleby, and Pruitt Taylor Vince. Ethan Embry, who played the lead role of Jesse Hellman, is a well-known actor who has appeared in several hit movies like "Can't Hardly Wait" and "Empire Records". Shiri Appleby, who played Jesse's wife, is also a well-known actress who has appeared in popular TV shows like "Roswell" and "UnREAL". Pruitt Taylor Vince, who played the deranged killer Ray Smilie, is a character actor who has appeared in several movies and TV shows.
The Production
The production of "The Devil's Candy" was plagued with problems from the start. The movie was originally supposed to be directed by Sean Byrne, who had previously directed the hit horror movie "The Loved Ones". However, Byrne dropped out of the project due to creative differences with the producers. He was replaced by a first-time director named Sean Carter.
The movie was also beset with financial problems. The budget was initially set at $5 million, but it was later reduced to $1.5 million. This meant that the movie had to be shot in just 20 days, which is a very short time for a feature film.
The Release
Despite the problems with production, "The Devil's Candy" was released in 2015. The movie had a limited theatrical release and was also released on video-on-demand platforms. However, it failed to make an impact. The movie received negative reviews from critics and audiences alike. It currently has a 5.8 rating on IMDb and a 38% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Reasons For Failure
There are several reasons why "The Devil's Candy" failed. One of the main reasons was the lack of marketing. The movie was not promoted well, which meant that not many people knew about it. The limited theatrical release also meant that the movie did not get much exposure.
The movie's low budget also affected the quality of the movie. The special effects were not up to par, and the movie looked cheap. The script was also weak, and the characters were not well-developed.
The casting of Ethan Embry as the lead was also a mistake. While Embry is a good actor, he was not well-suited for the role of Jesse Hellman. He did not have the presence or charisma to carry the movie.
The Lessons Learned
"The Devil's Candy" is a cautionary tale for filmmakers. It shows that even with a big-name cast and a huge budget, a movie can still fail if it is not marketed well and if the script and direction are weak. It also shows that a low budget can affect the quality of the movie.
One of the main lessons that can be learned from "The Devil's Candy" is the importance of marketing. A movie can have the best script and direction, but if it is not promoted well, it will not be successful. Filmmakers should invest in marketing and promotion to ensure that their movie reaches a wide audience.
Conclusion
"The Devil's Candy" is a Hollywood fiasco that could have been avoided. The movie had a big-name cast and a huge budget, but it failed due to a lack of marketing, weak script, and poor direction. It is a cautionary tale for filmmakers, showing that even with all the resources in the world, a movie can still fail if it is not marketed well and if the script and direction are weak.