The Collective (2009 film)
Encyclopedia
The Collective is a 2008 American independent horror film
written, directed, and produced by Judson Pearce Morgan
and Kelly Overton
. The film was released to film festivals in 2008 and is slated for theatrical release in 2009.
) receives a terse voice-mail from her sister Jessica (Wynn Everett
) asking for help, but with no reason given. There is no response to her return calls, so Tyler takes the red-eye
to New York to seek her sister. Jessica has disappeared, so Tyler must find her. Her search leads her to "The Collective" a spiritually void group that practices depraved sexual rituals in a deconsecrated cathedral, only to discover that her sister is now one of them.
and that the husband-wife team of Kelly Overton and Judson Pearce wanted to make a "‘Bourne Identity’- type suspense thriller on a low budget." When commenting about The Collective screening at the festival, Tom Boyd of Real Vail wrote of Kelly Overton, "[she] is just the kind of star Vail attracts: she’s young, up-and-coming, and about to debut in the leading role in her first feature film ".
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
written, directed, and produced by Judson Pearce Morgan
Judson Pearce Morgan
Judson Pearce Morgan is an American actor, writer, producer, and director. Morgan has been married to actress Kelly Overton since April 2004.-Career:...
and Kelly Overton
Kelly Overton (actress)
Kelly Overton is an American actress, screenwriter, director, and producer.-Early life:Overton grew up in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where she graduated with their highest honor, The Charles Jehlinger Award.-Career:She has...
. The film was released to film festivals in 2008 and is slated for theatrical release in 2009.
Plot
Tyler Clarke (Kelly OvertonKelly Overton (actress)
Kelly Overton is an American actress, screenwriter, director, and producer.-Early life:Overton grew up in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where she graduated with their highest honor, The Charles Jehlinger Award.-Career:She has...
) receives a terse voice-mail from her sister Jessica (Wynn Everett
Wynn Everett
Wynn Everett is an American film and television actress.She has made appearances on television in Hope and Faith , Supernatural, Valentine, The Mentalist and NCIS: Los Angeles....
) asking for help, but with no reason given. There is no response to her return calls, so Tyler takes the red-eye
Red-eye flight
A red-eye flight is any flight departing late at night and arriving early the next morning. The term red-eye derives from the fatigue symptom of having red eyes, which can be caused or aggravated by late-night travel....
to New York to seek her sister. Jessica has disappeared, so Tyler must find her. Her search leads her to "The Collective" a spiritually void group that practices depraved sexual rituals in a deconsecrated cathedral, only to discover that her sister is now one of them.
Cast
- Kelly OvertonKelly Overton (actress)Kelly Overton is an American actress, screenwriter, director, and producer.-Early life:Overton grew up in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where she graduated with their highest honor, The Charles Jehlinger Award.-Career:She has...
as Tyler Clarke - Laura AllenLaura Allen-Personal life:Allen was born in Portland, Oregon, the daughter of Julie and David Allen. She grew up on Bainbridge Island, Washington as the middle child of three sisters: older Jennifer and younger Lindsay. She attended Wellesley College as a Sociology major and graduated in 1996...
as Clare - Donnie KeshawarzDonnie KeshawarzDonnie Keshawarz is a Canadian film and television actor.He was born in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and is of Afghan and Lithuanian descent....
as Rost - Shane McRaeShane McRaeShane McRae is an American actor. He appeared in Hack, guest starred on One Life to Live, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, and Cold Case, and was one of the stars of the ill-fated sitcom, Four Kings....
as Conor - Wynn EverettWynn EverettWynn Everett is an American film and television actress.She has made appearances on television in Hope and Faith , Supernatural, Valentine, The Mentalist and NCIS: Los Angeles....
as Jessica - David PlantDavid PlantDavid Plant was a United States Representative from Connecticut. He was born in Stratford, Connecticut. He attended the Episcopal Academy, Cheshire, Connecticut and graduated from Yale College in 1804. He studied law in the Litchfield Law School and was admitted to the bar in 1804 and commenced...
as Brian - Anne Richardson as Dawn
- Justin Allen as Nate
- Kamel Boutros as Spencer
- Anne Bates as Eden
- Carrie Yaeger as Becca
- James Yaegashi as The Janitor
Reception
Justin Tanzer of Off Off Off gave a mixed review of the film, writing that the film "lacks believability and high stakes. It is short on thought. It takes place in isolation, lacking meaningful interaction between the characters and anybody outside conspiracy-land", but granting the "movie's most redeeming feature is that it's well crafted from a technical point of view. Director/cinematographer Morgan, who has been primarily an actor up to now, has done a fantastic job behind the camera. The light and colors are simply beautiful. It would be a pleasure to see more of his work". In her review of the film, Robyn Hillman-Herrigan of Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported that the film was winner of the Audience Choice Award at the 2008 Brooklyn International Film FestivalBrooklyn International Film Festival
The Brooklyn Film Festival ', prior to 2011 called the Brooklyn International Film Festival ' is an independent film festival held every June in Brooklyn, New York...
and that the husband-wife team of Kelly Overton and Judson Pearce wanted to make a "‘Bourne Identity’- type suspense thriller on a low budget." When commenting about The Collective screening at the festival, Tom Boyd of Real Vail wrote of Kelly Overton, "[she] is just the kind of star Vail attracts: she’s young, up-and-coming, and about to debut in the leading role in her first feature film ".
Awards and nominations
The Collective has been screening at multiple film festivals through 2008 and 2009, and has received recognition at many, including:- 2008 Brooklyn International Film Festival, Audience Award
- 2008 HDFest, First runner-up Best HD Editing in a Feature, Honorable Mention Best Cinematography in a Feature
- 2008 Zero Film Festival, Purple Heart
- 2008 Trimedia Film festival, Audience Award, Best Feature Film
- 2009 Honolulu International Film Festival, Gold Kahuna Award