'Porno' by Columbia Filmmakers Theatrically Released Soon

**Disclaimer: In light of the current COVID-19 situation, all releases and events might be subject to cancellation or postponement. The distributor has not made a specific statement regarding the release of this film.

Porno, a feature film directed by Keola Racela '15, co-written and co-produced by Matt Black '15 and Laurence Vannicelli '15, and co-produced by adjunct assistant professor Sarah Seulki Oh '15, is set to open theatrically on April 10. 

Porno received a distribution deal with the horror platform Fangoria. It premiered at last year’s SXSW film festival where it was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize in the Narrative Feature Competition. It then went on to participate in genre festivals such as Fantasia Fest, Sitges, and Telluride Horror Show.

Indiewire’s Judy Dry  commented on the film, “Racela guides the action with a self-assured hand, pacing the action at a steady clip and eliciting convincing performances from the cast of mostly newcomers. Racela edited the movie as well, and his choices here are perhaps his most effective; a few well-timed sharp camera turns easily establish the film’s comedic style. Also impressive is how the various narrative threads of this proudly pulpy horror outing coalesce into a satirical take on puritanical religious teachings. Through their curiosity unleashes a holy hellscape of demonic proportions, the real demons in Porno are self-denial, self-blame, and blind adherence to the rules.”

Taking place in a single location, an old school movie theater circa 1992, Porno finds four teenage staffers and a cranky older projectionist haunted by a sex demon while closing up one night. When the gang discovers a hidden archive full of dusty film reels, they fire up the projector on what appears to be a softcore porn/horror film — you know, that classic genre. Like some horny version of The Ring, it isn’t long before the bloody brunette from the film is unleashed into the real world, and they find themselves in an epic battle with the seductive sex demon.