Dante Tomaselli
Dante Tomaselli | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 29, 1969 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Pratt Institute, New York School of Visual Arts |
| Occupation(s) | Director, screenwriter, score composer |
| Relatives | Alfred Sole (cousin) |
Dante Tomaselli (born October 29, 1969) is an Italian-American film director, screenwriter, and score composer. Known for his "unique and eccentric" work in the horror genre,[1] he was named one of Fearnet's "Favorite Underrated Horror Directors" in 2013.[1]
Biography
Tomaselli was born on October 29, 1969, in Paterson, New Jersey. He expressed interest in becoming a horror filmmaker while he was still a child, due to his enjoyment of films such as The Exorcist and Don't Look Now,[2] which he watched with his mother at local theaters.[3]
Tomaselli studied filmmaking at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute and later transferred to the New York School of Visual Arts, where he achieved a BFA in Advertising.[4] His debut feature, Desecration, which he based on a previous 23-minute short, was released in 1999.[4]
On January 14, 2014, Tomaselli released his first CD of electronic horror music, Scream in the Dark, through Elite Entertainment and MVD Audio.[5]
Themes and influences
Tomaselli often utilizes themes of Catholicism and Christianity in his work, partly inspired by his Catholic upbringing as a child;[2] though he is critical of the concept of religion as a whole.[6] Other factors that have influenced his work include his familial relation to Alfred Sole and his interest in surrealism, as well as severe nightmares he had as a child.[3] Some critics mistakenly attribute Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci as direct influences on Tomaselli, but Tomaselli has stated that he did not view those directors' films until his early twenties.[3]
Reception
Critical reception to Tomaselli's films is usually very polarized, with some criticizing the films as lacking linear plot lines;[7][8] while other critics have praised them for this feature.[9][10]
Discography
Filmography
| Year | Film | Director | Producer | Writer | Composer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Desecration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2002 | Horror | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2006 | Satan's Playground | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 2012 | Torture Chamber | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
References
- ^ a b Doupe, Tyler. "Five More of Our Favorite Underrated Horror Directors". Fearnet. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ a b Green, Dai. "Interview: Dante Tomaselli (Horror, Satan's Playground, Desecration)". HorrorNews.net. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ a b c Edwards, Matthew (2007). Film out of bounds: essays and interviews on non-mainstream cinema worldwide. McFarland. pp. 112–125. ISBN 978-0786429707.
- ^ a b Davies Brown, Phil. "Dante Tomaselli (Interview)". Horror Asylum. Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ Gingold, Michael. "Dante Tomaselli wants you to "SCREAM IN THE DARK"". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ a b Abley, Sean. "Gay of the Dead: Dante Tomaselli, Part Two". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
- ^ Bertrand, Merle. "Desecration (review)". Film Threat. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ "Horror (review)". AMC. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ Weinberg, Scott. "Horror (review)". EfilmCritic. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ "DESECRATION (review)". DVD Verdict. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ Doupé, Tyler. ""SCREAM IN THE DARK" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ Hanley, Ken W. "Exclusive first details/art on Dante Tomaselli's "THE DOLL" and conceptual soundtrack". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ ""THE DOLL" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ Doupé, Tyler. ""NIGHTMARE" (CD Review)". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ Galluzzo, Rob (27 March 2017). "Dante Tomaselli Unleashes Dark New Album WITCHES!". Blumhouse.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.