Dante Tomaselli

Dante Tomaselli
Born (1969-10-29) October 29, 1969 (age 55)
Paterson, New Jersey
NationalityAmerican
Alma materPratt Institute,
New York School of Visual Arts
Occupation(s)Director, screenwriter, score composer
RelativesAlfred Sole (cousin)

Dante Tomaselli (born October 29, 1969, in Paterson, New Jersey) is an Italian-American horror screenwriter, director, and score composer.[1][2][3] In 2013 Fearnet named Tomaselli one of their "Favorite Underrated Horror Directors", as they found his work "unique and eccentric".[4]

Biography

Tomaselli was born on October 29, 1969, in Paterson, New Jersey. He expressed interest in becoming a horror filmmaker while he was still a child due to his enjoyment of films such as The Exorcist and Don't Look Now,[5] which he would watch with his mother at local theaters.[3] He studied filmmaking at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute and later transferred to the New York School of Visual Arts, where he received a B.F.A. degree in Advertising.[6] In 1999 he released his first film, Desecration, which he based on an earlier-made 23-minute short.[6] On January 14, 2014, Tomaselli released his first audio CD of electronic horror music, Scream in the Dark, through Elite Entertainment and MVD Audio.[7]

Tomaselli is gay and was involved with a project called Gay of the Dead.[1]

Themes and influences

Tomaselli heavily utilizes themes of Catholicism and Christianity in his work, which is inspired partly by his Catholic upbringing as a child[5] though he is critical of the concept of religion as a whole.[1] Other factors that influenced his work include Tomaselli's relation to Sole and surrealism, as well as severe nightmares he had as a child, which he has tried to work into his films.[3] Some critics mistakenly attribute directors such as Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci as influences due to some similarities between their work, but Tomaselli stated in an interview with author Matthew Edwards that he did not view those directors' work until his early twenties.[3]

Reception

Critical reception to Tomaselli's films is usually very polarized, with some criticizing the films as lacking a linear plot line.[8][9] Other critics have praised the films for this feature and remarked on the variety of filmgoers' reactions by saying that the movies would not appeal to all viewers and especially not to those that favor more mainstream fare or do not prefer surreal films.[10][11]

Discography

Filmography

Year Film Director Producer Writer Composer Notes
1999 Desecration Yes Yes Yes Yes
2002 Horror Yes Yes Yes Yes
2006 Satan's Playground Yes No Yes Yes
2012 Torture Chamber Yes Yes Yes Yes

References

  1. ^ a b c Abley, Sean. "Gay of the Dead: Dante Tomaselli, Part Two". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  2. ^ "First Stills - Dante Tomaselli's Torture Chamber". Dread Central. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Edwards, Matthew (2007). Film out of bounds: essays and interviews on non-mainstream cinema worldwide. McFarland. pp. 112–125. ISBN 978-0786429707.
  4. ^ Doupe, Tyler. "Five More of Our Favorite Underrated Horror Directors". Fearnet. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  5. ^ a b Green, Dai. "Interview: Dante Tomaselli (Horror, Satan's Playground, Desecration)". HorrorNews.net. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  6. ^ a b Davies Brown, Phil. "Dante Tomaselli (Interview)". Horror Asylum. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  7. ^ Gingold, Michael. "Dante Tomaselli wants you to "SCREAM IN THE DARK"". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  8. ^ Bertrand, Merle. "Desecration (review)". Film Threat. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Horror (review)". AMC. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  10. ^ Weinberg, Scott. "Horror (review)". EfilmCritic. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  11. ^ "DESECRATION (review)". DVD Verdict. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  12. ^ Doupé, Tyler. ""SCREAM IN THE DARK" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  13. ^ Hanley, Ken W. "Exclusive first details/art on Dante Tomaselli's "THE DOLL" and conceptual soundtrack". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  14. ^ ""THE DOLL" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  15. ^ Doupé, Tyler. ""NIGHTMARE" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  16. ^ Galluzzo, Rob (27 March 2017). "Dante Tomaselli Unleashes Dark New Album WITCHES!". Blumhouse.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.