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Gruesome reality to light up Canadian screens with 'Karla' Homolka's life
by : Martin Booth
Date : Thu, 12 Jan 2006 02:02:00 GMT
Karla Homolka, whose notorious life gripped the world and hogged the news even as recently as July last year when courts permitted her release is now all set to take to the movie screens. But the controversial Hollywood drama "Karla " with Laura Prepon playing the Canadian killer appears to be in for some stiff competition in the choc-a-bloc movie season some of which are in the run up for the Oscars. lt;br / gt;
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With the best of Hollywood films already going into broad release, there is a fear that the drama on mindless violence may actually suffer owing to the availability of popular cinema. “The pre-Oscar buzz period…is a bad time” as per Howard Lichtman, President of a well-known strategic marketing firm catering to the entertainment industry said, for a film that is far from “a built-in blockbuster ". lt;br / gt;
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The film expected to premiere in August shortly after the real Karla was released from prison is now set to make its presence on screens on January 20. In fact, the film was ready to capitalize on public curiosity over Homolka on day one of the Montreal World Film Festival but suffered a last minute rethink to avoid ire from the festival sponsors. lt;br / gt;
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With Prepon who appeared in "That '70s Show " playing Karla Homolka and Misha Collins playing the sex maniac husband Paul Bernardo, the cast has little to attract filmgoers when films with big names are playing. Moreover the gruesome '90s story about a couple who raped, tortured and killed two schoolgirls is far from attractive as compared to family dramas. lt;br / gt;
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The Montreal-based Cristal Films has already planned a 100-theatre release in Canada, barring the southern Ontario city of St. Catharines where the story in reality unfolded. Even that it appears to be a decision by theatre chains themselves who felt that the film could upset local sentiments. However, there is no stopping TV advertisements which probably will reach the residents of St. Catharines even if they do not approve. lt;br / gt;
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The film 's release that is expected to take place without much fanfare like trailers or a premiere is in some ways likely to appeal as an art film rather than popular cinema. As Christal Films Vice President Sylvain Gagne puts it, "The film will be there. If the people want to see it, it will allow them to make up their minds what happened ". lt;br / gt;
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The distributor has not yet set a date for screening the film in London and the film is awaiting approval for screening in US. Tim Danson, who represented the families of the two teen victims Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy however has said that the families will not try to block the film, even though they were disappointed. The film shot in less than five weeks in 2004 for an estimated US $5 to 6-million however appears to be jinxed. lt;br / gt;
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With Lichtman suggesting the film 's key to success as the “the fascination (with Homolka and Bernardo) " it might do better released post-Oscar. With little “star power, story power, marketing power ", it is a question of whether it could be another “March of the Penguins " that surprisingly did well last summer despite being only a documenary.
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