Pop Skull

2007 film

October 7, 2007 (2007-10-07) (Rome Film Festival)

Running time

86 minutesLanguageEnglishBudget$2,000^[1]

Pop Skull is a 2007 American horror film directed by Adam Wingard.

In 2003, filmmaker Adam Wingard approached Mexican American actor Lane Hughes with the idea of doing a semi-autobiographical film about a recent breakup. They conceived the film as "one-part psychedelic, one-part horror and one-part romance" and made it for $2,000.00.^[1]

Premise

The film depicts the lonely and disjointed life of Daniel, a young Alabama pill addict, as his efforts to cope with the trials of his day-to-day life collide with the increasing influence of murderous and displaced spirits that inhabit his home.

Cast

Lane Hughes as Daniel
E. L. Katz as Eddie
Adam Wingard as Raymond
Jeff Dylan Graham as Matt Tepper
Maggie Henry as Natalie
Hannah Hughes as Morgan
Brandon Carroll as Jeff
L.C. Holt as Victor
Jennifer Price as Mom
Benjamin Riley (as Ben Schmitt) as Himself (Commercial Guy)
Debbie Stefanov as Abby

Release

Pop Skull screened at several major film festivals, including the American Film Institute and the Rome Film Festival.^[2] It won the jury award at the Boston Underground Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize at the Indianapolis International Film Festival.

Region	Release date	Festival
Italy	October 7, 2007	Rome Film Festival
Italy	October 18, 2007	Rome Film Fest
United States	November 2, 2007	American Film Institute^[1]^[3]
New Zealand	July 21, 2008	New Zealand International Film Festivals^[4]

Critical response

Reviews were generally enthusiastic. LA Splash said Hughes gave "a truly magnetic Manson vibe the entire time, allowing director Adam Wingard to make great use of the extreme close-up". The Grudge screenwriter Stephen Susco remarked that it was "unlike any horror film you've ever seen - or will ever see..." Variety called the movie "powerful" and suggested it created "a new genre: acid horror".^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Wildman, John (2007-11-01). "10 BURNING QUESTIONS with ADAM WINGARD (POP SKULL)". American Film Institute. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
^ Palmer, Danielle Komis (2008-02-02). "Pop Skull: Hartselle man goes from working at Movie Gallery to starring in a horror movie". The Decatur Daily. Retrieved 2011-09-18.
^ "NEWS RELEASE - AFI FEST 2007 PRESENTED BY AUDI ANNOUNCES COMPLETE FESTIVAL LINEUP" (PDF). American Film Institute. 2007-10-08. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
^ "Film » Adam Wingard on Pop Skull". The Lumière Reader. 2009-07-22. Archived from the original on 2011-09-29. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
^ "Pop Skull". Variety. 2007.