From Lionsgate comes a new action thriller directed by James Cullen Bressack. Fortress is fast and shoots from the hip. Just short of a midnight movie, it has fun with its premise and delivers some surprises, including a noteworthy and unexpectedly delicious turn from Chad Michael Murray. But the best part about this film is the man behind the camera.
Ahead of the film’s release this month, we got to chat with the young but seasoned director/producer – who has 44 shorts, features and music videos to his credit and he’s not even 30 – and it was a real treat. Bressack is incredibly humble, well-versed, really knows his films, and, seemingly most important, he is self-made.
Taking examples of similarly ambitious and competent filmmakers like Robert Rodriguez, Bressack is not just prolific and hungry, he has a way of communicating and being open to the ideas of each of his collaborators that yields a simple but effective motto: “best idea wins.”
That speaks volumes and leads to fruitful relationships with many of his frequent collaborators turned friends including Zack Ward. Now Bressack may claim to know, direct and pal around with ‘John McClane’, but it’s actually cooler to be able to call ‘Scut Farkus’ (Ward) a friend!
We get into all that and more on this episode where we talk cyber-thrillers, Swordfish, cats, cryptocurrency and Chad Michael Murray. So, for now, let’s get to the Fortress!
Written by Alan Horsnail and directed by James Cullen Bressack, Fortress stars Jesse Metcalfe, Bruce Willis, Chad Michael Murray, Kelly Greyson, Ser’Darius Blain and Shannen Doherty. It will be released by Lionsgate playing in select theaters on December 17 and on DVD and Blu-Ray on December 21.
In this dazzling action cyber-thriller, Bruce Willis (Pulp Fiction) plays Robert, a retired CIA agent living at a secret resort in the woods. One day, his estranged son drives to the camp for a visit — but he’s followed by Robert’s old nemesis, Balzary (Chad Michael Murray, “One Tree Hill”). As the site is besieged by Balzary’s attack squad, father and son retreat to a high-tech bunker. But are its steel walls and advanced weapons powerful enough to match Balzary’s bloodthirsty plans for revenge?
