The U.K.'s Pinewood Studios has taken a keen interest in an independent movie about America's first serial killer family.
The 2016 independent horror film, Bender, was the directorial debut of independent film maker John Alexander.
The movie centers on the Bender family (aka the "Bloody" Benders) who became historically infamous for murdering several travelers who crossed their threshold for a meal and an over-night stay. They lived in Labette County, Kansas, located in the southeast part of the state, from 1869 to 1873.
Bender has a notable cast including horror film legend James Karen (Poltergeist, Return of the Living Dead) as "Old Man Bender. It also stars Linda Purl (The Office), Bruce Davison (Willard, X-Men), and Buck Taylor (Cowboys & Aliens).
Filmed in Geary County, Kansas, and having its initial premier in Junction City, Bender has gotten an overseas release onto streaming services thanks to one of the U.K.'s leading independent film distributors High Fliers Films PLC at Pinewood Studios.
Pinewood is well known thanks to the number of famous movies filmed on its sets - several James Bond movies, Superman, Tim Burton's Batman, and Aliens.
"With these films, both independent films and major studio films, people kind of expect a little spike of interest when a film comes out." Alexander said. "It tends to decline as it becomes older and older news. But this film is a little different."
Bender had an initial indy-film spike during its initial release. Alexander said people heard about it, read about it, and most importantly, watched it. And since then, his movie seems to have expanded year after year since.
According to Alexander, his movie has played at more film festivals last year compared to 2016.
"Which is totally strange," he said. "I assumed it was an American audience. I assumed also it was largely a Midwest audience. Maybe even a Kansas audience. Maybe, even, a Southeastern Kansas audience. I didn't know how far it would reach. It just kept expanding."
Thanks to the film's distinct unsettling, style not common in other horror/thriller movies, independent or otherwise, Bender continues to grab audience's attention and remain within conversations. With the story being true, the movie leaves the audience wondering if there's another family out there like the bloody Benders. Truth can certainly be scarier than fiction.
Alexander said he believes the movie caught the attention of High Fliers, PLC and Pinewood Studios in the U.K. through other sales he's made.
That is, the movie was bought by a distributor in China for an Asian release. And it was also bought by some European distributors as well.
"Even some in Africa and South Africa," he said. "And much to my shock, I had no idea this unknown tale of the Old West would be relevant or of interest to people across many oceans."
It was at this point that Pinewood Studios decided to snag the movie for British audiences.
There was just one small issue with the movie - the title.
The word "bender" refers to the act of binge drinking in the U.K.
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| James Karen as 'Old Man Bender' in Bender. |
"It never was on my radar to have a title that would work internationally," Alexander said.
So, agents, studio executives, and Alexander discussed possible alternative titles for the movie that would suit British audiences. They finally coming up with the alternative title The Family.
"I'm totally happy with it. I think it works great," Alexander said.
Of course, it's still Bender in the U.S.
The movie was released earlier in May for U.K. streaming services such as Amazon and Video-on-Demand,
Alexander said this release platform is fine as it would have been challenging to deal with a theatrical release given the current world-wide situation with the COVID-19 outbreak.
Still, he considers himself fortunate as independent film sales are "grim and dire."
"That was the greatest victory in these sales," he said "The fact that we've actually gone against the typical standard president of sub-par deals."
In the meantime, Alexander has other horror up his sleeve.
His wife, JC Guest, who was a co-writer for Bender, is currently writing a movie which he calls "a feminist revenge horror film."
Alexander describes this horror work-in-progress as "topical and edgy. Another really bold, stylized, crazy horror film."
"The scripts being written right now," he said. "We do have our production company. And the producers who produced Bender are coming back on board for this."
Alexander also released a satirical horror short film earlier this week which he says is "super fun and creepy."
The movie, Ur Gunna Get It, stars television writer Grace McKeaney (Roseanne), who also had a one scene in Bender as "the goat lady."
"I don't do a lot of shorts," Alexander said.
The movie is fortunate to have McKeaney in its cast. As Alexander points out, she's a hilarious, brilliant, comedic mind, and horror mind.
"People still talk to me about her performance [in Bender]," he said.
Ur Gunna Get It is streaming now on Vimeo.
Click on the link to watch the trailer.
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