LADY USHER, a multi-award-winning feature including Best Suspense/Thriller, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, Editing, and Best Director!
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For 180 years, the story of Roderick Usher and his twin sister Madeline has piqued our imaginations. While part of the terror of Edgar Allan Poe’s story is its vagueness, we are alone with the narrator in a haunted space with a sick friend. And although the narrator is Roderick’s most intimate boyhood friend, the narrator apparently does not know much about him. Including that of his sister.
Our award-winning “genre” psychological/suspense/thriller takes the idea of a male protagonist stuck in a house of sickness and turns it on its head. We take a well-known story and discard the patriarchal element in favor of matriarchy. In our story, the house is led by a strong younger mother, who also controls the property; the house of Usher. With hints of the ancient Greek story of Oedipus, we touch on Lady Usher’s son, Roderick’s feelings of desire for her. Our female protagonist, Morgan (Roderick’s girl-friend), willfully comes to the house, empowering herself to take the son away from the bizarre stranglehold of his mother.
Principal photography began in late May, 2019 and wrapped on June 11th. We locked edit at the end of September. By the end of the year, we had our music score, sound edits, effects etc. A final touch-up in January 2020, an updated IMDb page, and we are currently screening in various festivals around the world.
Awards:
Best Horror Film (MidWest WeirdFest) First Place - Best Suspense/Thriller (International Horror Hotel Film Festival) Best Thriller/Horror Feature (CARE Awards) Best Director Horror Film (Director Awards) Best Feature Film Cinematography (NYCA Film Fest) Best Original Score (NYCA Film Fest) Best Editing (CaCA Film Fest) Best Horror/Thriller Film (CaCA Film Fest) Film Festival Director’s Favorite Award (Poe Film Fest) Best Cinematographer (Mile High International Film Fest) Special Award - Adaptation of Historic Fictional Character (Harrogate Film Festival)
What are the critics saying about Lady Usher?
Movie Score 9/10 “The story structure of Lady Usher is immaculate…” “…a great modern update of the Poe short. The direction and story structure are pitch-perfect.” “The cast all deliver dynamic and engaging performances…” “Santiago is pure dynamite as Lady Usher. She commands every scene she’s in…” “…it all adds up to a movie that demands you watch it.” - Bobby LePire, Film Threat Review
“…this film's depravity just grabs you and yanks you along.” “Highly recommended” - Steve Kopian, Unseen Films
“Lady Usher is a quirky, unsettling independent horror film that gets under viewers’ skin and goes to places that more-mainstream fright fare usually doesn’t…” “Santiago invests Lady Usher with a menacing, acerbic presence, and it is obvious the actress is having a blast with the part.” “an outré, warped modern reimagining of the Edgar Allan Poe story…” “Adams constructs a singularly fascinating world within the House of Usher” “It’s a delirious psychosexual trip featuring solid performances and an auteur vision.” - Joseph Perry, Gruesome Magazine
“...an odd and eerie thriller...” “Director George Adams knows how to use the right amount of suspense...” “Theresa Santiago (Lady Usher) steals each and every scene she is in – demanding, harsh, and sinister.” “...compelling characters and beautiful production design, Lady Usher is definitely a film to make time for...” - Alina Faulds, Clapper
“…extremely weird and sinister!” “Adams has done a great job in creating suspense. The audience will become intrigued with solving the mystery of the Usher family.” “Santiago (Lady Usher) is the one who steals the show in every scene that she is in… She truly is a menacing antagonist.” “Michael Gordon Shapiro's suspenseful and creepy score certainly gives the film a spooky atmosphere.” “…this suspenseful thriller is full of surprises and likely to keep the viewer guessing until the end.” “…if one is in the mood for a weird tale and likes surprises, then Lady Usher is definitely worth checking out.” - Jason Knight, UK Film Review
“…an enjoyable Gothic romp.” “…the director does an outstanding job of creating an eerie Gothic atmosphere…” “The set and costume design are particularly impressive.” “…stylishly made, eminently entertaining…” “…knockout performances.” “Santiago is deliciously wicked as Lady Usher and is clearly reveling in her role.” “…this movie is a neat modern day spin on the classic Edgar Allan Poe tale…” - New Horror Express
“…excellent performances…” “...it’s a horror of twisted minds and psyches.” “...strange, compelling and genuinely twisted.” “...Lady Usher is definitely worth seeing.” “Adams creates an atmosphere of corruption rather than fear. His version of Poe’s story owes more to Jess Franco than Roger Corman..." Jim Morazzini, View From the Balcony (Mr. Adams is honored and humbled to be mentioned in the same paragraph as these two giants of B-Movies.)
“…the film proves most entertaining is in its more bizarre vignettes…” “...an intricate scenography and charming cast, holds enough of a reinvigorating concept and luring tone to keep us in suspense to the bitter end.” “There’s nothing safe or predictable about George Adams’s Lady Usher, a film that majestically creates horror out of defying our socio-cultural ideals…” Adrian Perez - Lonely Wolf: London International Film Festival
“…a well-structured and stylized film with a strong cast.” “Theresa Santiago gives a bravura performance in the title role…” “ Billie D. Merritt (Morgan) delivers a solid performance.” “John Ferguson (Mr. Usher) was both distressing and disturbing…” “Peter Anthony Seay (Gordon) managed to evoke both gentleness and threat by posture and gesture alone.” “…the film is entertaining, especially for those who enjoy a bit of eroticism in their Gothic horror films.” Anna Holloway - OKC Performance Art Reviewer
"...Adams has adapted the story rather than maintaining the well-worn tropes, while still retaining the feel and some of the motifs." “The film does a decent job of weaving the source material…” “…cleverly, Adams takes his own route, making this more psychological than physical.” Regarding the costumes: "...incredibly imaginative and I happily was in anticipation to see what they would wear next..." A nod to singer/songwriter Rachel Lynch... "Stick around during the credits and enjoy a music video of sorts of the excellent song “Wrecked,” by Rachel Lynch and the Daydrinkers." Richard Gary Indie Horror Films Review. Click here for the entire review.
Festival screenings include:
The International Horror Hotel Film Festival (First Place - Suspense/Thriller)
Poe Film Festival (Feature Finalist) (Film Festival Director’s Favorite Award)
Crossing the Screen (Special Screening) (UK Premiere)
Lonely Wolf: London International Film Festival (Finalist - Best Original Concept)
Hot Springs International Horror Film Festival (Official Selection)
Best Director Award (Official Selection) (Winner Best Director Horror Film - Oct 2020)
Appalachian Cinematic Arts Council - CARE Awards (Official Selection) (Winner Best Horror/Thriller - Dec 2020)
NCYA Film Festival (Official Selection) (Award Winner Cinematography & Music Score)
Harrogate Film Society Festival Features (Official Selection) (Special Award - Adaptation of Historic Fictional Character)
Across the Globe Film Festival (Finalist - Best Feature Film)
MidWest WeirdFest Film Festival (Official Selection) (Best Horror Film)
Philadelphia Independent Film Festival (Official Selection)
Orlando International Film Festival (Official Selection)
Visit our IMDb page for more info. Click here… Sneak Peek trailer.
Below is our poster and some “screen grabs” of the motion picture.
