Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the authors of the Oscar-nominated “A Quiet Place,” will be back this week, opening their first major motion picture they’ve written AND directed, “Haunt.” The film, about an extreme haunted house that isn’t quite what it seems, opens Friday, Sept. 13, and stars local actor Justin Marxen. It’s produced by Eli Roth.  Read More

In July 2003, I saw the future of cinema in the work of two teens from Bettendorf. That was when I was asked by Max Collins to be a judge of the Iowa Film Awards. At the time, I was writing for three area newspapers, I was an entertainment correspondent for seven area radio stations and I was on two local TV stations – including KWQC’s “Paula Sands Live,” for which I was one of two film critics with my good friend Linda Cook. That’s why Max asked me to start judging the awards a year or two before, and I saw a number of pretty good local films, but it wasn’t until that summer of 2003... Read More

Since they were boys growing up in Bettendorf, devouring Stephen King novels and vintage chillers, Scott Beck and Bryan Woods have loved thrillers and horror films. With “A Quiet Place,” the two created a screenplay for a classic of their own. And this week, they take it to a new level. “Haunt” is the latest major studio film from the duo, and the first they’ve written AND directed. It also stars a Quad-Cities actor with whom they’re quite familiar – Justin Marxen, with whom they’ve worked for close to two decades going back to their time in the Quads. Most of Marxen’s role and... Read More

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the writers behind the Oscar-nominated “A Quiet Place” will return to their hometown of the Quad-Cities to host a screening of their new film, “Haunt,” their first directorial and screenwriting debut for a major studio. You can join the Bettendorf natives, on Saturday, Sept. 14, to see “Haunt” on the Putnam Museum’s GIANT Screen. (Rated R) For just $9 tickets ($8 seniors, college students and military), you’ll experience this brand-new movie written and directed by the Beck/Woods duo. Members save $1 on tickets. Space is... Read More

It’s alive! It’s terrifying! It’s MIDWEST MONSTER FEST! The product of the Dr. Frankensteinian mind of creator and producer Jeff O’Neil, the festival features everything from a tribute to “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” featuring a number of its stars to a costume contest, podcasting, merchandise booths, horror-themed events and more. It’ll creep into the Spotlight Theater in Moline Sept. 14-15, with show hours of Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. “If you like horror movies as much as I do, this is everything you would want in a festival,” O’Neil said. “There... Read More

We’re falling into fall, but we’re also falling into a lot of great things that are going to make it an awesome autumn in the Quad-Cities! Here’s some of the good news going on around the community! Haunt Opening Friday The 13th! “Haunt,” the directorial debut of Scott Beck and Brian Woods, the former Quad-Citians who go by the name Bluebox Films, will debut in theaters worldwide Friday, Sept. 13. Beck and Woods, who wrote the Oscar-nominated “A Quiet Place,” also wrote “Haunt,” which was produced by Eli Roth, popular for the “Hostel” films and his work with Quentin Tarantino. While... Read More

Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the authors of the Oscar-nominated “A Quiet Place,” will be back this fall, opening their first major motion picture they’ve written AND directed, “Haunt.” The film, about an extreme haunted house that isn’t quite what it seems, opens Friday, Sept. 13, and stars local actor Justin Marxen. It’s produced by Eli Roth. Check out the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbMf01_KDfY  Read More

Could two Quad-Citians bring home an Oscar to Bettendorf? This Sunday, the 91st annual Academy Awards will begin in Los Angeles at 7 p.m. CST, and “A Quiet Place,” written by Quad-Citians Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, was nominated in the sound editing category. Unfortunately, despite a Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award nom, Beck and Woods weren’t nominated in the Best Original Screenplay category, and “Place” lead Emily Blunt was snubbed for an actress pick despite some buzz. The biggest surprises among the nominees were “Black Panther,” which became the first Marvel film to... Read More

“A Quiet Place,” written by Quad-Citians Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, was nominated in the sound editing category for the 91st Academy Awards, which announced their noms this morning. Unfortunately, despite a Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice Award nom, Beck and Woods weren’t nominated in the Best Original Screenplay category, and “Place” lead Emily Blunt was snubbed for an actress pick despite some buzz. The biggest surprises among the nominees were “Black Panther,” which became the first Marvel film to be nominated for Best Picture, although it was certainly deserved. In addition... Read More

Iowa screenwriters Scott Beck & Bryan Woods’ “A Quiet Place” will be released nationwide on April 6 through Paramount Pictures. The thriller stars Emily Blunt (“Mary Poppins Returns”) and John Krasinski (“The Office”), who also directs. In addition to penning the film, Beck & Woods serve as executive producers alongside Michael Bay (“Transformers”) and his Platinum Dunes banner. In the modern horror thriller A QUIET PLACE, a family of four must navigate their lives in silence after mysterious creatures that hunt by sound threaten their... Read More