Foster's Release Explained

Foster's Release
Director:Terence H. Winkless
Producer:Milton C. Hubatka
Starring:Mary Burkin
Dan O'Bannon
Cinematography:Stephen Lorimore
Editing:Stephen Lorimore
Studio:Verexal Films
Released:[1]
Runtime:14 minutes[2]
Country:United States
Language:English

Foster's Release is a 1971 American short film[3] directed by Terence H. Winkless.[4] The film has been credited with inventing many of the tropes of horror later used in films such as Black Christmas, Halloween and He Knows You're Alone.[5]

Premise

It is a retelling of the common story of "The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs"[6] about a teenage babysitter who, alone in a house at night, is harassed by a series of phone calls made by a psychotic killer.[7] The police and phone company cooperate to try to warn the girl and save her.[8]

Release and reception

The film was featured at the Edinburgh Film Festival, L.A. Filmex and the Chicago Film Festival, among others.[9] In Illinois, it is commonly shown to classes in home economics, for whom it illustrates the concepts of responsibility and deviancy.[10]

The film was shown together with short films by John Carpenter in 2014.[11]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Film & Video Finder. National Information Center for Educational Media, a Division of Access Innovations, Incorporated. 1997. 9780937548295. University of California. 3179. Fifth. 5.
  2. Book: White, William. Library Journal. Bowker. 1972. University of Virginia. 1558. 97.
  3. Book: Rondinone, Troy. Nightmare Factories: The Asylum in the American Imagination. JHU Press. 2019. 9781421432687. 210. illustrated.
  4. Book: Clarke, Frederick. Cinefantastique. F.S. Clarke. 1972. University of California. 4. 2.
  5. Web site: See ultra-rare student films from John Carpenter, Dan O'Bannon and more at SHOCK VALUE: THE MOVIE. November 17, 2014. 2020-11-01. Alamo Drafthouse. Saucedo. Robert. https://archive.today/20201101124129/https://drafthouse.com/news/shock-value-shorts. 1 November 2020. live.
  6. Book: Urban Legends: A Collection of International Tall Tales and Terrors. Bennett. Gillian. Greenwood Press. 2007. 9780313339523. University of California. 52. Smith. Paul.
  7. Folklore and Film: Some Thoughts on Baughman Z500-599. Western Folklore. Danielson. Larry. July 1979. 38. 209–219 (11 pages). JSTOR. Western States Folklore Society. 3. 10.2307/1499246. 1499246.
  8. Book: Subject Area Catalog of Educational Films Listing 16 Mm Films in Visual Arts and Feature Films. University of Illinois Film Center. 1982. 88.
  9. Book: Zinoman, Jason. Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror. Penguin. 2011. 9781101516966.
  10. Book: Contemporary Legend. Bennett. Gillian. Routledge. 2013. 9781135812126. 60. Smith. Paul. new. New Perspectives in Folklore.
  11. Web site: See Foster's Release & Shorts from John Carpenter, Dan O'Bannon This October!. August 11, 2014. 2020-11-01. CommingSoon.net. Turek. Ryan. https://archive.today/20201101123852/https://www.comingsoon.net/horror/news/742644-see-fosters-release-shorts-john-carpenter-dan-obannon-october. 1 November 2020. live.

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