Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival (2016)

Fresh and Exciting

To all those who have watched it: I hope you enjoyed it as much as I do.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Where do I even start? The movie looks fabulous. Costumes, sets, every detail contributes beautifully to the whole. The makeup, which was great in the first movie, somehow looks even better this time around. The music appeals to a wide variety of tastes--no wonder, with such an eclectic group of musicians in the cast--and if you don't find yourself dancing along to the Ark, you should have your ears checked. The casting is spot on. When I read elsewhere that Emilie had never done any acting, I confess that I was nervous, but her portrayal of June is lovely. It was clear that she did a lot of work developing the character. Chantal Claret and Jimmy Urine steal the show in the best way possible. I hope to see more of Lyndon Smith in the future (and that she'll get a whole song in the next installment, because her voice is angelic.) I have nothing but praise for the actors. Without any spoilers, let me say that the story is the best I've seen or read in years. Terrance Zdunich has taken Milton's sympathetic Lucifer and elevated him; unlike Milton, he hasn't chickened out and turned the Morning Star into a villain to satisfy popular opinion. At the same time, he doesn't completely polarize the characters. There is a lot of gray area in both Heaven and Hell (although we're clearly supposed to root for the latter). The movie is thick with references to history and musicals, building its own fully realized world, and rich with parallels to other works. Although the first will always be one of my favorite movies, "Alleluia" has claimed the top spot in my heart. (Sorry, "Return of the King.") Bousman and Zdunich's collaborations are always exciting. This time they've created something truly sublime.

In the interest of full disclosure, let me state right off the bat that I worked on this film.However...I've worked on other projects that I maybe didn't like all that much. This one is different.I've always been a huge fan of musical theater, having grown up working crew for various productions throughout my early years. Then I got swept away by the music industry, and all my focus rested there - until I somehow found myself watching 'The Devil's Carnival' and working on that film's social media. It brought me right back to my roots, and I've jumped at every chance to further that project and this, its sequel, ever since.When we were filming this one, 'Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival,' it became clear to me that what we were making went beyond the staid formula for musicals and indie films. We were pushing ourselves to create art that would transcend genre boundaries.After watching the film at the premiere the other night, I feel as though we succeeded. The music, of course, is absolutely wonderful - catchy songs, with vocals that fit perfectly with the vision set forth by the creators of this topsy-turvy universe. Visually, the film is stunning: the wardrobe and art departments completely blew my mind with their pieces, the makeup and prosthetics were truly fantastic, and the cinematography and lighting make everything come to life even more.I can't possibly say enough about the actors, from legends like Paul Sorvino and Ted Neeley and Adam Pascal (that voice!) to music icons like Emilie Autumn and Tech N9ne and Oghr, and all the other actors who you'd probably recognize from more mainstream projects (including super gorgeous humans Lyndon Smith and Briana Evigan and Kristina Klebe, to name a few). Each one brings something special to their character, a magic that you just can't write - it comes from within.I'm eternally grateful to have been part of this maddening, chaotic, wondrous world...and hope that everyone who watches this film enjoys it as much as I did.

I have to start this by saying I did work on the film last year. I have been waiting just as eagerly as everyone to see the final project. I drove out from AZ to the premier to catch all the fun in LA. I didn't have the chance to see the first installment on the road I have seen REPO! with shadow cast and knew what to expect (kinda) and I didn't want to miss it. This was 100% a great experience! I brought my mom as my VIP guest and she and I were completely blown away. The carnival side show acts didn't disappoint, saw some AMAZING costumes. Which by the way, if you were dressed up at the premier GOOD JOB! Walking into the film, I knew what everything looked like and you folks NAILED IT! The celebrities were all dressed to impress and were so very welcoming and friendly. Getting the chance to chat and catch up from a year ago was a blessing. The theater was a perfect fit. The crowd littered with the cast and crew. There was a band on stage playing original songs and were charming. Costumes and funny for the crowd. Terrance, Darren, Saar came to stage. Took the Pledge and introduced the film. I couldn't have been more excited to see how it was all pieced together. It was beautifully crafted. Eyes glued to the screen and a smile plastered across my face, I was so excited! People applauded and cheered as characters entered the screen and sang along with the film. Such a delightful time to see everyone show so much love and enthusiasm. I can't wait to see it again and would DO NOT MISS THIS in the theater.

This movie was phenomenal! Definitely worth the wait. I encourage everyone to join this hellish (and heavenly) adventure! The songs and story have evolved into something outstanding. I loved the first movie and the sequel is no different, it passed all expectations! I loved getting a better understanding of heaven and seeing Lucifer plus all my other favorite sinners again. Over all, it has continued to prove it's worthy of being my favorite movie! Everyone's hard work more then definitely paid off and it was an honor to be apart of this project in every way possible. If you love dark musicals, please check this one out. You will not be disappointed!