Five FrightFest Facts From with Michael Lombardi star and producer of The Retaliators

2021 has been a strange year and although things may not have completely returned to normality one thing to be thankful for is the return of the Arrow Video FrightFest which takes place for real this year at Cineworld, Leicester Square in central London.

The annual five-day four-screen 50+ film extravaganza runs between 26th and 30th August and after a year online, it is wonderful to have FrightFest back with a hybrid event featuring in-cinema and online components bringing audiences a whole host of truly terrifying and terrific horror films.

Below we feature one of those monstrously amazing movies with our regular exclusive interview feature Five FrightFest Facts From and these five are from Michael Lombardi star and producer of The Retaliators:

1.Tell us about your film?
The very personal and tragic inspiration begins with screenwriters, The Geare Brothers’ younger sister, Jody. Her harrowing story lead The Geare Brothers to write THE RETALIATORS and also, serendipitously lead actor/producer, Michael Lombardi, to combine forces with The Geare Brothers to get The Retaliators film made.
In 2004, Jody Geare, then a teenager, survived a vicious rape assault while walking home alone at night. Jody narrowly survived the attack by fighting off her attacker and crawling out of a 20-foot ravine. 12 years later, through DNA advancements, her rapist was caught. Her attacker was found guilty and was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Throughout the ordeal of the trial, The Geare Brothers began writing an idea that explored the concept of an underground revenge-fantasy service for family members of crime victims. When The Geare Brothers told Jody about the script, she told them, “Please, if this script ever turns into a movie, use my name. Get my story out in the world. I want to be an inspiration for other girls.” Shortly after her incident, Jody became a firefighter. Today Jody is one of the few female Fire Captains in the United States.
The Geare Brothers wrote THE RETALIATORS and submitted the script to THE BLACKLIST and received coverage ratings so high, the script made it on to the “Top List.”
The first person they sent the finished script was to Michael Lombardi, as he was their top choice to play the lead character, John Bishop. Not only was Michael Lombardi friends with Darren Geare (they had professionally written and recorded music in years past) but Lombardi also had a special connection to the material. Jody Geare, as part of dealing with her trauma from the past, used to binge watch RESCUE ME over and over. Her favorite actor on the show was Michael Lombardi.
When Michael read the script, he called The Geare Brothers immediately. Michael saw the vision of the film very clearly. He got it. He understood the genre influences. The personal backstory. The dark humor. He saw the unique blend of 80’s action/horror and the Tarantino/ Friedkin/Siegel crime genre influences as well. Lombardi was on a plane from NY to LA in three days. When Michael arrived in LA, the three met up. Michael stated that he would fight to the ends of the earth to get this film made. The Geare Brothers made a commitment on day one to entrust Michael with producing and starring the film and turning THE RETALIATORS into a reality.
Michael brought the project directly to Allen Kovac. Allen and Better Noise immediately responded to the script, saw the vision and got behind the film 100%. They solely funded 100% of the film.
The casting process was a dream come true. Every actor brought their A game.
Shortly after the film went into production … The Covid-19 pandemic hit. Michael had to not only execute the already-impossible task of getting a movie made right, but he also had to navigate as one of the only productions in the world shooting through the early days of the Covid pandemic. Michael carried the torch through shutdowns, infections on set, multiple coasts, multiple directors … Michael even ended up directing several scenes of the film himself. Perhaps the most herculean task was Michael’s dedication to keep the story and the quality of the film intact, consistent and fluid throughout the many hurdles and pitfalls the film endured to get shot.
Along the way, an exciting victory was when Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, the famed composers of STRANGER THINGS, saw an early cut of THE RETALIATORS and signed on to score the film.

2. How did you get into making horror movies?
I’ve always been amazed at the powerful impression cinema can have on you — especially when you’re young … but nothing leaves an impression quite like the horror genre. There are horror films and images from films (like Jaws, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween) that impacted me as a kid and still haunt me to this day. I’ve been looking for years for the right horror project. Something special. When I read The Retaliators, while I was hooked by the weighty themes that the film explores in the first half — like fatherhood, morality, faith and justice — it was also a story that slowly turns into a love letter to classic 80’s horror like The Evil Dead. I really enjoyed the multiple levels to the script. It’s the kind of movie you can go out to dinner or drinks afterward and have long discussion.

3. What film would you love to see screened at FrightFest and why?
PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND looks totally insane and like a lot of fun. DEMONIC looks amazing. Completely unique … and terrifying. I love Neill Blomkamp’s style. He isn’t afraid to create out-of-the-box hybrids with genre and tone.

4. If you could create your own award to give at the FrightFest, what would it be and why?
Best Movie That Actually Scares The Shit Out of You. There are so many aspects I love about the of the horror genre aesthetic. I love the underdog spirit, the wide-array of styles, the chances filmmakers will take, the fun thrills that can happen … but sometimes it’s few and far in-between when you watch a film that actually scares the shit out of you. That’s what’s so incredibly timeless about certain classics like John Carpenter’s Halloween or Tobe Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre. They are incredible films — but to this day, they are actually scary experiences to sit and watch.

5. If your life was made into a horror film, what would it be called and who would play the starring role?
Well, you could call it anything you want as long as in-his-prime Jack Nicholson plays me. Since there’s no one cooler than Jack.

The Retaliators plays MONDAY 30TH AUGUST 2021- 10.45 & 11.10 AM Find our more and book your tickets HERE