{{short description|American online film review publication}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{italic title}} {{Infobox website | name = ''Film Threat'' | logo = Film Threat logo.svg | logo_size = 190px | screenshot = FilmThreat.png | screenshot_size = 250px | caption = ''Film Threat'' homepage | url = {{URL|http://filmthreat.com}} | commercial = | type = Film criticism | language = English | registration = | owner = Chris Gore | editor = Chris Gore<br>Mark Bell | launch_date = 1985 (magazine) <br />1997 (website) | current_status = Active | revenue = }} '''''Film Threat''''' is an American online film review publication, and earlier, a national magazine that focused primarily on independent film, although it also reviewed videos and DVDs of mainstream films, as well as Hollywood movies in theaters. It first appeared as a photocopied zine in 1985, created by Wayne State University students Chris Gore and André Seewood. In 1997, ''Film Threat'' was converted to a solely online resource.
The current incarnation of ''Film Threat'' accepts money from filmmakers who are looking for a way to promote their films. Since 2011, those seeking a review from the site can pay between $50 and $400 for varying levels of service, ranging from a "guaranteed review within 7–10 days" to a package that includes a guarantee of "100K minimum impressions".<ref>{{cite web |title=Film Threat Submit Project |url=https://filmthreat.com/submit-project/ |publisher=Film Threat |access-date=14 January 2022}}</ref>
==Beginning== The initial issues of ''Film Threat'' combined theories on cinematic narrative form and political ideology by Seewood and cinematic material and parody of mainstream film by Gore. In Gore's own words, "I thought, wouldn't it be great to start a punk rock-attitude movie magazine—and then, the people from this magazine would eventually go off and make films. Wouldn't it be great?"<ref>{{cite journal |year=1995 |title=Ten-Year Threat |journal=Film Threat |publisher=LFP Inc. |volume= 2 |issue= 21 |pages=40–51 |issn=0896-6389 }}</ref>
In issue 9, ''Film Threat'' became a printed magazine, and also around this time, Seewood left the project to pursue independent filmmaking and to write seriously about the cinema. This second life of ''Film Threat'' included Gore and "Square Dance Instructor" Paul Zimmerman getting kicked out of the 1988 Toronto Festival of Festivals,<ref>{{cite journal |author=Chris Gore and Paul Zimmerman |year=1989 |title='We Just Want to Drink!' or How We Crashed the Toronto Film Festival |journal=Film Threat |volume= 1 |issue= 18 |pages=24–33 |issn=0896-6389 }}</ref> only to return the following year under fake names representing a fake publication, ''Film Forum''.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Chris Gore, Paul Zimmerman and Rich Feren |year=1989 |title=Hook, Line & Sinker or How We Crashed the Toronto Film Festival... Again! |journal=Film Threat |volume= 1 |issue= 21 |pages=46–59 |issn=0896-6389 }}</ref> In issue 18, San Francisco State student David E. Williams wrote in, sparking a friendship with Gore that led to both of them relocating to Los Angeles in summer 1989 to work on the magazine.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
==Larry Flynt Publications== During the early 1990s, ''Film Threat'' was transformed as Gore attempted to find a more mainstream release for the magazine, while its new offshoot ''Film Threat Video Guide'', edited by Williams, continued to focus on the underground films and filmmakers that the magazine had featured in its early days. ''Film Threat'' eventually found a new home with Larry Flynt Publications (LFP), relaunching in November, 1991 as Volume 2, Issue 1. "I darted to the newsstand to grab the first glossy edition of what promised to be the turning of the tide for 'Let's-Blow-and-Stroke-the-Interviewee' type film journalism. And whose face did I see? Macaulay Culkin's," stated filmmaker Kevin Smith of the first issue of ''Film Threat'''s new edition.<ref>{{cite journal |year=1995 |title=Ten-Year Threat |journal=Film Threat |volume= 2 |issue= 21 |pages=40–51 |issn=0896-6389 }}</ref>
In 1993, the magazine—then published bimonthly—had a circulation of 125,000, and was competing with such titles as ''Premiere''.<ref>{{cite news|work=Los Angeles Times |first=David J. |last=Fox |date=November 14, 1993 |title=Movie Mags: ''Film Threat'' vs. ''Premiere'' – What War?}}</ref> Paul Zimmerman became executive editor in 1994, and the magazine continued to grow, but ''Film Threat'''s tenure with LFP ended after 28 issues in February 1993.
Gore managed to buy back the rights from LFP, and launched the magazine, for a third time, in December 1996. He printed only two issues, before retiring the magazine in 1997.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/film_threat_magazine_on_hiatus_gore_pondering_future/ |title=Film Threat Magazine On Hiatus; Gore Pondering Future |first=Eugene |last=Hernandez |date=June 24, 1997 |publisher=Indiewire}}</ref>
==Website== Gore launched ''Film Threat'' as a website in 1996. At first a sparse collection of film news, FilmThreat.com grew, covering both the indie and mainstream equally. Over the first 14 years of its online life, FilmThreat.com continued in the tradition of its print counterpart, courting controversy—such as when editor Ron Wells wrote a scathing criticism of Harry Knowles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.filmthreat.com/features/159/ |title=Deconstructing Harry: Ain't It Unethical? (part one) |author=Ron Wells |date=June 8, 2000 |publisher=Film Threat}}</ref>
Chris Gore was succeeded as editor of the website by Ron Wells (1997–2003), who was then followed by Eric Campos (2003–6) and then Mark Bell (2006–8). Over the course of 2009, the site was edited by Don R. Lewis and Matthew Sorrento, before a brief hiatus where the site went offline in December 2009. On January 25, 2010, during the Sundance Film Festival, Gore sold the website and rights to the magazine to former editor Bell,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2010/digital/markets-festivals/film-threat-sold-at-sundance-1118014419/ |title=Film Threat sold at Sundance |author=Erin Maxwell |date=January 28, 2010 |work=Variety |access-date=2022-09-16 }}</ref> who then relocated ''Film Threat'' to New Jersey<ref>{{cite web |url=http://citypaper.net/blogs/criticalmass/2010/02/17/film-threat-moves-to-south-jerz/ |title=Film Threat moves to South Jerz |author=Molly Eichel |date=February 17, 2010 |work=Philadelphia City Paper}}</ref> and relaunched the website on February 23, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.filmthreat.com/news/20184/ |title=Film Threat Returns! |author=Mark Bell |date=February 23, 2010 |work=Film Threat}}</ref>
On May 11, 2011, ''Film Threat'' announced that it planned to produce a quarterly print and e-book edition beginning in September 2011, relying upon crowdfunding for the resources.<ref>[https://www.filmthreat.com/features/35275/ The Return of Film Threat Magazine!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221225313/http://filmthreat.com/features/35275/ |date=2018-12-21 }}, ''Film Threat''.</ref> The campaign to return ''Film Threat'' to print raised only $5,111 of its $60,000 crowd-funding goal (based on two coinciding $30000 campaigns, one of which was cancelled on June 11), and were unsuccessful in its attempt to raise the necessary monies by the conclusion of the crowdfunding campaign.<ref>[http://www.indiegogo.com/The-Return-of-Film-Threat-Magazine The Return of Film Threat Magazine], ''IndieGoGo''.</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2011|work=Kickstarter|title=The Return of Film Threat Magazine|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/filmthreat/the-return-of-film-threat-magazine?ref=users}}</ref>
In 2011, ''Film Threat'' instituted a for-profit "unsolicited submission" service, charging independent filmmakers who wished to have their work reviewed by the site.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.filmthreat.com/submit-film-for-review/ |title=Film Threat – Unsolicited Films Submission for Review |access-date=2020-04-20 |archive-date=2015-03-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315162733/http://www.filmthreat.com/submit-film-for-review/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2015, Gore reacquired ''Film Threat'' and took the site offline, seeking to reboot the brand with a "Save Film Threat..." crowdfunding attempt at Kickstarter, which ran from March 19 to April 22. The attempt failed, with pledges totaling $63,725 falling short of the goal of $125,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://filmthreat.com/ |title=Film Threat homepage |access-date=2015-04-20 |date=2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961229063641/http://www.filmthreat.com/ |archive-date=1996-12-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In late August 2016, Gore started another Kickstarter campaign to save and revamp the website with a more modest goal of $37,500. The campaign brought in $56,199 (against the stretch goal of $50,000, enabling the production of a documentary about ''Film Threat''.)
===''Film Threat'' website relaunch=== On February 6, 2017, the ''Film Threat'' website was relaunched.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 3, 2017|title=The Film Threat website relaunch is only 3 days away. 2-6-2017|url=https://www.facebook.com/filmthreat/photos/a.10150190697933370.316060.321060778369/10154495185868370/?type=3&theater|work=Film Threat|publisher=Facebook}}</ref>
It also has a presence on YouTube, where Gore reviews films, many of which are mainstream releases, alongside new personality Alan Ng. Gore also has playlists dedicated to various film festivals, and so-called "Gore Rants" where he rails against certain practices in Hollywood. One rant targeted people trying to profit from the untimely death of Collider founder John Schnepp, whom Gore knew.
==Award This!== Film Threat held its fifth ''Award This!'' ceremony at the Frida Cinema on December 10, 2023,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Legacy |first=Spencer |date=2023-10-13 |title=Film Threat's Award This! Nominees Revealed |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/?p=1365159 |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=ComingSoon.net |language=en-US}}</ref> a venue they have returned to since 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Sasha |date=2021-02-22 |title=Film Threat Releases its Unconventional Nominees |url=https://www.awardsdaily.com/2021/02/22/film-threat-releases-its-unconventional-nominees/ |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=Awards Daily |language=en-US}}</ref> Previous events were held at Studio Movie Grill in Glendale, California.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leiber |first=Sarah Jae |date=2020-01-21 |title=Film Threat Announces Their AWARD THIS! Nominees For Feb. 5th Live Ceremony |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/Film-Threat-Announces-Their-AWARD-THIS-Nominees-For-Feb-5th-Live-Ceremony-20200121 |access-date=2023-12-17 |website=BroadwayWorld |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|http://filmthreat.com}}
Category:Film magazines published in the United States Category:Online magazines published in the United States Category:English-language magazines Category:American film websites Category:Entertainment-related YouTube channels Category:Internet properties established in 1997 Category:Magazines established in 1985 Category:Online magazines with defunct print editions Category:1985 establishments in Michigan Category:YouTube channels Category:YouTube channels launched in 2006