Feature film adaptation of "Gramma" (Mercy)

[mae]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118061265

Universal Pictures is teaming with Jason Blum's red-hot Blumhouse Prods. banner on "Mercy," a fantasy-horror movie based on Stephen King's short story "Gramma," published as part of his 1985 collection "Skeleton Crew."

Peter Cornwell ("The Haunting in Connecticut") will direct from a script by Matt Greenberg ("1408"), and Frances O'Connor ("A.I.") is set to star.

Story follows two young boys who go with their single mother (O'Connor) to take care of their elderly, senile grandmother named Mercy, only to discover that she's a witch who made a pact with a dark force many years before.

Blum, who had two horror pics among the top 10 at the box office last weekend in "Paranormal Activity 4" and "Sinister," will produce the movie with McG and Mary Viola of Wonderland Sound and Vision.

In June 2011 Blum and his company signed a three-year, first-look deal with Universal to bring low-budget genre pics to the studio.

King's story was previously adapted as an episode of "The New Twilight Zone" in 1986, with Harlan Ellison writing the script and "Carrie" star Piper Laurie providing some of the voiceover for the character of Gramma/Mercy.

Cornwell's 2009 horror pic "Haunting in Connecticut" grossed $77 million worldwide and launched a Gold Circle Films franchise that also includes "The Haunting in Georgia" and planned sequel "The Haunting in New York." He's repped by ICM Partners, Gotham Group and Felker Toczek Gellman Suddleson.

Greenberg, who wrote "Halloween H20," the King adaptation "1408" and Paramount's upcoming "Pet Sematary" remake, is repped by UTA, Magnolia Entertainment and attorney Jason Sloane.

O'Connor, who starred in Steven Spielberg's "A.I." and ABC's "Cashmere Mafia," was recently seen opposite Willem Dafoe in "The Hunter." She'll soon be seen in Billy Bob Thornton's pic "Jayne Mansfield's Car" and Francesca Gregorini's indie drama "Emanuel and the Truth About Fishes." She's repped by the Gersh Agency and manager Rob Marsala of Wishlab.

CAA reps Blum, while McG is repped by WME, Management 360 and attorney David Weber. Paradigm reps King.

[pathoftheturtle]

One of King's scariest stories... like Top 5 in disturbing/frightful material... but the TV episode adapted from it a while back might be enough already, IMHO.

[Bev Vincent]

Chandler Riggs, the child star of AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” and Super 8‘s Joel Courtney are joining the Stephen King adaptation of Mercy, writes THR.

Blumhouse and Wonderland Sound and Vision are behind the movie, which will be released by Universal.

The Haunting in Connecticut‘s Peter Cornwell is directing the horror thriller, which revolves around two brothers (Riggs, Courtney) who go with their mother to take care of their grandma. Unbeknownst to them, the grandmother is a witch, who made an evil deal using black magic years earlier. Matt Greenberg wrote the script.

Frances O’Connor is already on board to play the mother.

Mercy is based on King’s short story “Gramma,” which was first published in Weirdbook magazine in 1984.

[Emily]

I was just reading about this yesterday. I'm really excited the kid from Super 8 was cast in this, I loved that kid. Carl from TWD on the other hand.... :lol:

[Bev Vincent]

Dylan McDermott is currently speaking with the press about his return to American Horror Story and during the discussion he revealed he is joining the cast of Mercy.

Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, Mercy is based on the the short story "Gramma," which was written by Stephen King for his 1985 short story anthology "Skeleton Crew."

Peter Cornwell (The Haunting in Connecticut) directs for Blumhouse Productions (Sinister, Insidious, the Paranormal Activity series). Frances O'Connor, Chandler Riggs and Joel Courtney are starring.

>>> Source (http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news/171447-breaking-dylan-mcdermott-joins-the-cast-of-stephen-king-adaptation-mercy)

[mae]

Gramma wasn't written specifically for Skeleton Crew though (nitpick).

[mae]

http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/64137/official-plot-synopsis-stephen-kings-mercy-checks

Ready for the official story details for Blumhouse Productions' Mercy? Read on for the skinny pertaining to the Mark Duplass fantasy-horror project based on a short from Stephen King’s Skeleton Crew collection.

The flick, from Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions, stars Dylan McDermott, Frances O'Connor, Chandler Riggs, Joel Courtney, Shirley Knight, and Chris Browning.

Peter Cornwell is directing this adaptation of the Stephen King short story from his Skeleton Crew novel from a script by Matt Greenberg. Jason Blum will produce with McG and Mary Viola from Wonderland Sound and Vision.

Synopsis
Based on a short story by Stephen King, Mercy tells the tale of two young boys (“The Walking Dead”'s Chandler Riggs and Super 8's Joel Courtney) who move with their mother to take care of their dying grandmother at her decrepit farmhouse. When they suspect that the elderly woman they love has encountered a dark spirit, they fear she might not be the only one who won’t make it through the summer alive. Once George (Riggs) and Buddy McCoy (Courtney) arrive at their Gramma Mercy’s (Shirley Knight), what they find inside her 150-year-old home is nothing short of terrifying. As the brothers experience deeply disturbing phenomena they believe to be the work of an ancient witch, they must fight for their lives and overcome the evil forces threatening their family.

[Bryant Burnette]

Am I wrong, or does this sound like it'll have bupkes to do with the short story?

That doesn't mean it can't be good, of course; Blum seems to be a pretty good producer.

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

One of my favorite stories, not sure there is enough meat on that particular bone for a full length movie. Not too excited about this. Especially "low-budget", too many "B" King flicks already.

[Stockerlone]

Based on a short story called Gramma, it's not the first time this story has been adapted. Originally, the tale of two boys who discover their grandmother is a witch, was turned into an episode of The New Twilight Zone in 1986. Now it's being turned into a big screen horror with Frances O'Connor (A.I.), Mark Duplass (Safety Not Guaranteed), Dylan McDermott (American Horror Story) taking on grown up duties while Joel Courtney (Super 8) and Chandler Riggs (The Walking Dead) playing the kids.

http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/films/4-stephen-king-movies-to-get-excited-about-in-2014

[Bev Vincent]

Update: http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/74283/updates-blumhouses-stephen-king-adaptation-mercy-and-bryan-bertinos-mockingbird#axzz2ud7dF3B1

[Bev Vincent]

According to this article (http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3312002/release-info-mockingbird-mercy-town-dreaded-sundown/), Mercy is being "dumped to digital" in October.

[BROWNINGS CHILDE]

If its not good enough to be released among the plethera of horrible crap that makes it to the big screen these days (especially in the horror genre), then I am really not impressed.

[herbertwest]

Blumhouse has done some very impressive horror movies those last few years, so I am confident in it. But the fact that they are going to "dump" it, sounds not really promising.
Since they did it, so let's give it to the crowd, but not paying much attention to it...

[herbertwest]

Still no news from Blumhouse and their BH Tilt label.

IMDB claims october 7th for MERCY (as "DVD Premiere"), although the whole page for movie is pretty much empty.
I dont know what Blumhouse prepares for their digital label but so far it's been a complete radio silence, I would have expected more promotion if it's supposed to be launched in october....

[Bev Vincent]

It's available for purchase on iTunes (US) today and for rent in a couple of weeks.

[nocny]

TRAILER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUmMW1iFWtQ

[Ari_Racing]

https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/mercy-2014/id922167563

And the poster:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10671437_10152428546431872_3524932867053834842_n.j pg?oh=adbbd9c89e9379c83a077db034be7a4a&oe=54AF35BE&__gda__=1422112778_62e4f7cbad442a9843040f850850fed f

[mikeC]

Looks good.

[herbertwest]

No comment about it. It sounds like nobody has seen it?

[mattgreenbean]

This looks like one of the creepiest King movies.

[mikeC]

I'll wait to rent but it has 4 out of 5 stars on iTunes.
It's only 1 hour and 18 minutes.

[herbertwest]

Apparently Walmart may have a DVD version
Are there any bonus on it?

There is like... No information, anywhere, about this DVD

[herbertwest]

I wasnt really impressed by it...

[mae]

Mercy is now on Netflix: http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/80019611?trkid=202653