The Hamiltons (2006)

Directors:

Mitchell Altieri
Phil Flores

Writers:

Mitchell Altieri (writer)
Phil Flores (writer)
(more)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Every Family Has Its Secrets

Plot:

Four young adult siblings try to fend for themselves after the mysterious death of their parents. But...

Plot Keywords:

Death | Misfit | Torture | Homosexual | Video Camera

Cast

Cory Knauf	...	Francis Hamilton
Samuel Child	...	David Hamilton
Joseph McKelheer	...	Wendell Hamilton
Mackenzie Firgens	...	Darlene Hamilton
Rebekah Hoyle	...	Samantha Teal
Brittany Daniel	...	Dani Cummings
Al Liner	...	Paul Glenn
Jena Hunt	...	Kitty Davies (as Jenna Hunt)
Tara Glass	...	Jenna Smith
Larry Laverty	...	Larry Davies
Joe Egender	...	Allen Davies
Nicholas Fanella	...	Lenny Hamilton
Jackie Honea	...	Mrs. Hamilton
John Krause	...	Mr. Hamilton
Nathan Parker	...	Hot Pants
Jason Pennetta	...	David's Friend
Andrew Casden	...	Trevor
Hannah Weiss	...	Girl in Restaurant
Tim Tracy	...	Slaughter House Worker
Jaclyn Chessen	...	New Neighbor
Lucas Schulte	...	New Neighbor
Nicole Storkson	...	Lenny's Voice (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Corky Cornett	...	Frank (uncredited)

Directed by
Mitchell Altieri		(as The Butcher Brothers)
Phil Flores		(as The Butcher Brothers)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Mitchell Altieri		writer (as The Butcher Brothers)
Phil Flores		writer (as The Butcher Brothers)
Adam Weis		writer

Produced by
Mitchell Altieri	....	producer
Phil Flores	....	producer
Michael Ferris Gibson	....	executive producer
Stan Holland	....	executive producer
Oren Kaplan	....	executive producer
Ira Leemon	....	executive producer
Eddy Murillo	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Nathan Montiel
Joshua Myers

Cinematography by
Michael Maley

Film Editing by
Jesse Spencer

Art Direction by
Andrew Casden

Costume Design by
Alexis Beck		(as Alexis Tracy)

Makeup Department
Veronica Denny	....	key hair stylist
Montana Meares	....	makeup artist
Keri Picolla	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Clara M. Franco	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Samantha Wilson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jennifer McClelland	....	set dresser
Nathan Parker	....	property master
Delon Tio	....	property master
Hannah Weiss	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Ronni Brown	....	foley artist
Ben Greenwood	....	boom operator
Rory Nicholls	....	boom operator
Mischa Park-Doob	....	foley editor
William Storkson	....	sound designer
William Storkson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jon Vennarucci	....	boom operator: second unit
Nikolas Zasimczuk	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Dane Brehm	....	best boy
Erik DeGroot	....	key grip
Oren Kaplan	....	assistant camera
David Mong	....	gaffer
Jason Pennetta	....	grip
Lucas Schulte	....	grip

Editorial Department
Tricia Chiarenza	....	color timer

Music Department
William Storkson	....	composer: additional music

Other crew
Jaclyn Chessen	....	script supervisor
Phil Flores	....	child acting coach
Will Krieg	....	production assistant
Breana Pozzi	....	assistant to director

Production Companies

• San Francisco Independent Cinema
• Industrial City Films

Distributors

• After Dark Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Lionsgate (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Blue Sky Media (2007) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Free Dolphin Entertainment (2007) (France) (DVD)
• Lionsgate (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Pan Vision Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sunfilm Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Strategic Film Partners  producer's representative

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Finland:K-15 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:16 | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:R21 | Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Petaluma, California, USA

Company:

San Francisco Independent Cinema

Goofs:

Continuity: When Wendell and David are carrying the blond girl; she has a denim miniskirt, then denim pants and different shoes, then back to the denim miniskirt and original shoes. When "she" has long pants, this is obviously the camera operator they are carrying to get the point of view of the person being carried.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Francis Hamilton: What does it mean to be happy? To be content in the world around you? Mom used to say it was family. That family was the heart of everything, even existence. Without it, there's nothing. She would always have these simple answers that somehow would sound so brilliant...

The Hamiltons is a thinking person's "horror" film with a slow pace.

The Hamiltons 2005 (Theatrical "R", After Dark Horrorfest) – Directed by The Butcher Brothers, Winner of the Santa Barbara Intl Film Festival and the Malibu Film Festivals.

The Hamiltons are an unusual family that recent lost their parents. The family now consists of older brother David, who is struggling with his homosexuality and the pressures of running the household, the twins Darlene & Wendell, who are devious troublemakers, and younger brother Francis, who is coming to terms with his family and his place in the world.

The film starts out explaining that The Hamiltons siblings recently lost their parents and they have moved several times within the past couple of years. Twin Wendell soon kidnaps two young girls and it becomes apparent that The Hamiltons are not as they seem. Sensitive Francis grows weary of their ways, but is scared to be alone. Does he decide to do the right thing or stick by his family no matter what?

This is not by any means a typical horror film, but a thinking person's horror film. Those looking for gore and scares will be disappointed. It has an original story with great dialogue showcasing real problems within every family. It is ultimately a very accurate portrayal of a real family dealing with growing pains that features a slight twist at the end. During the end scene, you hear Francis giving a creepy voice-over almost giving it a documentary feel.

Cory Knauf gives a solid performance as Francis, the young man that has so much to say, but cannot. He really shows how torn Francis was in his decision and the isolation felt by many teens struggling to find their place as they hit adulthood. Mackenzie Firgens gives a great turn as twin Darlene who is vicious and sexy at the same time. You will love the scene where she chases Kitty through the house. (And maybe the one where she kisses her own brother!?!)

My only quibble is there is minimal gore and violence. During violent interactions, the camera turns away, so very little is caught on film. There is also an opening scene with Brittany Daniel that looked frightening at first, but there were some jittery camera movements and it fizzled with no pay out.

Bottom Line: The Hamiltons is a subtle "horror" film with a slow pace. This is more of a thinking man's (or woman's) horror film. Gorehounds should pass.

Rating: 7/10

Molly Celaschi www.HorrorYearbook.com MySpace.com/HorrorYearbook