A month back, our very own Matt Donato sat down with Jason Blum at SXSW to chat about techno-horror Unfriended, and during their chat he managed to slip in a question about Area 51. The found footage horror produced through Blum’s own production company and directed by Paranormal Activity’s Oren Peli was completed in 2008. At the time, Blum confirmed that it would see the light of day at some point, and today that ‘point’ is now confirmed to be early May. And with less than a month until the long-awaited alien-tinged flick lands, it’s no surprise that a trailer has debuted.
From what we can glean from this first teaser, Peli sticks to the jerky hand-held format that made his 2007 debut so terrifying. With a group of relatively unknown actors, Area 51 tells of three conspiracy theorists who decide to uncover the truth about the shady government locale. Needless to say, it all goes horribly wrong when they do eventually penetrate the ironclad fortress.
The film’s five year stint on the shelf may deter audiences who have moved on from the once-popular format, as evidenced by the low box office draw for this year’s Project Almanac, but if you’re not opposed to the bouncing POV, there could be some genuine scares on offer.
In a theatrical deal brokered with Alamo Drafthouse cinemas, Area 51 will debut in their theaters exclusively on May 15th. If you’d prefer to have the living daylights scared out of you in the comfort of your own home, it’s also available on VOD and digital platforms on the same day.
Witness a new vision of terror from director Oren Peli. Three young conspiracy theorists attempt to uncover the mysteries of Area 51, the government’s top secret location rumored to have hosted encounters with alien beings. What they find at this hidden facility exposes horrifying, unimaginable secrets. Now you can experience their harrowing adventure in this footage pieced together from documentation of these chilling events.
