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Coven (1997 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Coven' (pronounced COE-ven) is a 1997 direct-to-video short horror film directed by Mark Borchardt. The making of the film was documented in the 1999 award-winning independent film 'American Movie'. It was shot in black-and-white with local talent around Milwaukee.
Plot summary
Mike (Borchardt) is a writer struggling with a lack of artistic productivity. To deal with the pressures he feels from within and without, he escalates his abuse of alcohol. One day, when faced with overwhelming deadlines, he takes a large quantity of pills with alcohol, resulting in an overdose and hospitalization. When Steve (Tom Schimmels) takes notice of Mike's increasing volatility and isolation, he confronts the defensive writer, showing genuine concern for his friend's self-destructive behavior in the process. It is suggested, by the lack of others at the intervention, that Steve may be the only friend Mike has left. Steve asks Mike to join him at a support group with which he is affiliated and, after gaining some perspective, Mike agrees. Soon, however, Mike comes to realize that the group has a deeper occult agenda and uses extreme, sometimes supernatural, tactics to "help" new members remain clean and sober.
Sales and distribution
'Coven' was largely funded by Mark's uncle Bill Borchardt's savings with the understanding that Mark had to sell 3,000 copies in order for Bill to make his money back. However, Bill died shortly after the release of 'Coven'. Bill, along with Mark and an assortment of friends and neighbors, star in the film. The movie was sold through the (now defunct) website www.northwestproductions.com. By 2004, Borchardt had sold 5,100 copies of "Coven" at $14.95.
Critical reception
The critical reception for 'Coven' was mixed. The film holds a rating of 43% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on seven reviews.
In popular culture
'Coven' established Borchardt as an amateur filmmaker. 'American Movie' helped Mark get noticed by a broader audience, which led to appearances (along with co-producer Mike Schank) in television programs such as 'Family Guy' and 'Greg the Bunny', in which they parody scenes from the movie.
References
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