William Brent Bellis an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is known for his work on horror films such asStay Alive(2006),The Devil Inside(2012),Wer(2013),The Boy(2016),Brahms: The Boy II(2020),Separation(2021),Orphan: First Kill(2022), andLord of Misrule(2023). His films have grossed over $300 million worldwide at the box office.
William Brent Bell | |
|---|---|
 Bell on the set ofThe Boyin 2015 | |
| Born | Lexington, Kentucky,U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter, producer |
| Years active | 1997–present |
Life and career
editBell was born inLexington, Kentucky.Along with writing partnerMatthew Peterman,Bell wrote the screenplayMercury,which was bought byUniversal StudioswithGale Anne Hurdproducing.[1]Bell and Peterman went on to set up studio projects such asIgnitionatWarner Bros.withKurt RussellandGoldie Hawnproducing andIllusionatWalt Disney Pictures.[2]The duo created several one-hour TV series includingEye to EyewithWarner Bros. TelevisionandMcG,Worthy and McGrawwithABC TelevisionandTim Minearas well asThe Fixwith Sarah Timberman andSony Television.Bell and Peterman have also developed a number of videogames includingMaster Thief,withJohn Woo.[3]
Bell's first horror project was as co-writer and director ofStay Alive,produced with McG and Peter Schlessel and financed bySpyglass Entertainmentand Endgame Entertainment.Stay Alivewas distributed domestically byBuena Vista Picturesand internationally byUniversal Pictures.His second horror film wasThe Devil Inside,also written with Matt Peterman. Produced by Peterman and Morris Paulson, the film starsFernanda Andrade,Simon Quarterman,Evan Helmuth,andSuzan Crowley,and was released theatrically byParamount Pictures.The film topped the US box office on its opening weekend, becoming a record-breaking commercial success and grossing over $100 million.[4]
In 2013, Bell went into production on his third horror film,Wer[5]which was released byFocus Features.Nav Qateel of Influx Magazine called Wer, "the best Werewolf film I've seen in years, or perhaps, ever."[6]Epic Horror Review wrote, "Wer not only redefines the werewolf movie but also saves it."[7]Wer would go on to be described by horrornews.net as, "One of the best films I've seen so far this year and a must to watch."[8]and "a film that you want to not only watch but add to your collection" by wickedchannel.com[9]
In 2014, Bell sold his pilotPosthumantoUSA NetworkandUniversal Cable ProductionswithJason Blumproducing. In 2015, Bell set up a series atFoxentitledHauntedwithChris Morganof theFast & Furiousfranchise. This20th Century Fox Televisionproduction was loosely based onThe Demon of Brownsville Road: A Pittsburgh Family's Battle with Evil.[10]
In 2015, Bell would directThe Boy,whichTom RosenbergandGary Lucchesiproduced throughLakeshore Entertainment,along with Matt Berenson, Jim Wedaa, andRoy Lee.The script was written by Stacey Menear and starredLauren Cohan,Jim Norton,Diana Hardcastle,Ben Robson,Rupert Evans,and James Russell.STX EntertainmentreleasedThe Boyon January 22, 2016, and it went on to gross a worldwide total of $77 million, against a budget of just $8 million.[11]Chris Alexander ofShockTilYouDropcalled it "one of the best contemporary wide release horror movies I've seen in years."[12]Joe Leydon criticized the story line as average inVarietyand commented, "Despite game efforts by the cast, this tepid horror opus is never scary enough to overcome its silly premise."[13]In 2017,GQ Magazinecalled the film, "the most underrated horror movie of 2016."[14]
In 2019 Bell directed the sequelBrahms: The Boy II,starringKatie Holmes,Ralph Ineson,Christopher Convery andOwain Yeoman.It was written by Stacey Menear and released on February 21, 2020. Later that year, Bell directed and producedSeparation,an Americanhorrorfilm, from a screenplay by Nick Amadeus andJosh Braun,starringRupert Friend,Violet McGraw,Mamie Gummer,Madeline BrewerandBrian Cox.In March 2021,Open Road FilmsandBriarcliff Entertainmentreleased the film on April 30, 2021.[15]
In 2021, Bell directedOrphan: First Killfrom a screenplay by David Coggeshall. It is a prequel to the 2009 filmOrphan.David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrickserves as executive producer.Isabelle Fuhrmanreprises her role as Esther, withJulia Stilesalso starring. In September 2021,Paramount Picturesacquired U.S. distribution rights to the film,[16]Orphan: First Killwas released on August 19, byParamount Playersin select theatres, digital, and streaming viaParamount+.As of December 15, 2022[update],the $8 millionOrphan: First Killhas grossed a total of $44.5 million worldwide.[17]Onreview aggregatorRotten Tomatoes,the film holds an approval rating of 72% based on 137 reviews[18]
Bell's latest release isLord of Misrule,a folkhorror filmstarringTuppence Middleton,Ralph Ineson,andMatt Stokoe.[19]Lord of Misrulewas released byMagnolia PicturesandMagnet Releasingin select theatres, digital, and streaming viaHulu.The film currently holds an approval rating of 63% with an audience rating of 80% onRotten Tomatoes[20]Lord of Misrulewas included on theHollywood Reporterlist of "Best Horror Films of 2023."[21]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Sparkle and Charm | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2006 | Stay Alive | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2012 | The Devil Inside | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2013 | Wer | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2016 | The Boy | Yes | No | No |
| 2020 | Brahms: The Boy II | Yes | No | No |
| 2021 | Separation | Yes | No | Yes |
| 2022 | Orphan: First Kill | Yes | No | No |
| 2023 | Lord of Misrule | Yes | No | Yes |
References
edit- ^"'Mercury' Rises For Valhalla, Digital Domain ".Archived fromthe originalon November 25, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 26,2008.
- ^http://www.inbaseline.com/person.aspx?person_id=45236[dead link]
- ^"William Brent Bell".Hollywood.com.RetrievedMarch 29,2016.
- ^Heath, Paul (July 28, 2015)."What are the most profitable films of the last 5 years?".The Hollywood News.RetrievedMarch 29,2016.
- ^"'Stay Alive' Duo Reteam for Doc-Style 'The Devil Inside'".BloodyDisgusting. October 19, 2009.
- ^Qateel, Nav."Influx Magazine Wer Review".influxmagazine.com.Archived fromthe originalon October 2, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 28,2016.
- ^"Epic Horror Review Wer".epichorrorblog.blogspot.com.May 31, 2014.
- ^"Film Review: Wer (2014)".horrornews.net.June 26, 2015.
- ^"Horror Review: Wer".May 5, 2014.
- ^Andreeva, Nellie (November 19, 2015)."'Haunted' Horror Drama Produced By Chris Morgan In Works At Fox ".Deadline.RetrievedMarch 29,2016.
- ^"The Boy 2016 Re-release".boxofficemojo.com.
- ^Alexander, Chris (January 23, 2016)."The Boy is an Atmospheric, Wildly Gothic Gem".shocktilyoudrop.com.
- ^Leydon, Joe (January 22, 2016)."'The Boy' Review: A Tepid Horror Movie ".Variety.com.
- ^Phillip, Tom (May 31, 2017)."This Week, Watch The Most Underrated Horror Movie of 2016".gq.com.
- ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 1, 2021)."Open Road & Briarcliff Land 'Separation', Set April Wide Release For William Brent Bell-Helmed Horror Film With Brian Cox & Rupert Friend".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedMarch 1,2021.
- ^Kit, Borys (September 9, 2021)."Paramount Picks Up Horror Thriller 'Orphan: First Kill' From eOne, Dark Castle (Exclusive)".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedSeptember 9,2021.
- ^"Orphan: First Kill (2022)".The Numbers.Nash Information Services, LLC.RetrievedSeptember 22,2022.
- ^"Orphan: First Kill (2022)".Rotten Tomatoes.Fandango Media.RetrievedAugust 25,2022.
- ^"Tuppence Middleton & Ralph Ineson Set For Folk Horror 'Lord Of Misrule' From 'The Boy' Director William Brent Bell; Filming Underway In UK".Deadline Hollywood.October 25, 2021.
- ^"Lord of Misrule (2023)".Rotten Tomatoes.Fandango Media.RetrievedDecember 8,2023.
- ^Newby, Richard (December 21, 2023)."The Best Horror Movies of 2023".hollywoodreporter.com.