Chernobyl Diaries (2012)

Director:

Bradley Parker

Writers:

Oren Peli (screenplay) and
Carey Van Dyke (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 May 2012 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Experience the fallout

Plot:

Six tourists hire an extreme tour guide who takes them to the abandoned city Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. During their exploration, they soon discover they are not alone.

Plot Keywords:

Pripyat | Van | Tour Guide | Abandoned Building | Vacation

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ingrid Bolsø Berdal	...	Zoe
Dimitri Diatchenko	...	Uri
Olivia Dudley	...	Natalie (as Olivia Taylor Dudley)
Devin Kelley	...	Amanda
Jesse McCartney	...	Chris
Nathan Phillips	...	Michael
Jonathan Sadowski	...	Paul
Milos Timotijevic	...	Russian Check Point Guard
Milutin Milosevic	...	Ukrainian Thug
Ivan Djordjevic	...	Ukrainian Thug
Ivan Jovic	...	Ukrainian Thug
Zinaida Dedakin	...	Restaurant Owner
Ivana Milutinovic	...	Little Girl
Alex Feldman	...	Medic Goldshimdt
Kristof Konrad	...	Medic Grotzky
Pasha D. Lychnikoff	...	Doctor (as Pasha Lynchnikoff)
Jay Kash	...	Humanoid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Colin Conners	...	Humanoid (uncredited)
Zachary Haycock	...	Jared (uncredited)

Directed by
Bradley Parker

Writing credits
Oren Peli		(screenplay) and
Carey Van Dyke		(screenplay) &
Shane Van Dyke		(screenplay)
Oren Peli		(story)

Produced by
Rob Cowan	....	executive producer
Broderick Johnson	....	executive producer
Ildiko Kemeny	....	production executive, Hungary, Pioneer Pictures
Andrew A. Kosove	....	executive producer
Oren Peli	....	producer
Milan Popelka	....	executive producer
Richard Sharkey	....	executive producer
Allison Silver	....	executive producer
Andjelija Vlaisavljevic	....	line producer: Serbia
Brian Witten	....	producer

Original Music by
Diego Stocco

Cinematography by
Morten Søborg

Film Editing by
Stan Salfas

Casting by
Terri Taylor

Production Design by
Aleksandar Denic

Set Decoration by
Mina Buric
Zsuzsa Mihalek

Costume Design by
Momirka Bailovic

Makeup Department
Márta Antal	....	prosthetic make up artist
Anthony Brooks	....	key makeup artist: reshoots
Kelly Caldwell	....	hair department head: re-shoots
Tom Denier Jr.	....	special makeup effects artist
Dan Frye	....	key mould maker
Neill Gorton	....	special makeup effects designer
James Greenwood	....	special makeup effects: sculptor
Tamzine Hanks	....	special makeup effects: Animatronic Engineer
Freya Hargreaves	....	special makeup effects: silicone technician trainee
Bethan Kate Harris	....	special makeup effects trainee
Martina Hawkins	....	special makeup effects administrator
Jovana Jovanovic	....	key hair stylist
Visnja Karaulic	....	assistant makeup artist
Stephen Kelley	....	special makeup effects artist
Matt Lambert	....	special makeup effects: sculptor
Samantha Maxwell	....	special makeup effects trainee
Rob Mayor	....	special makeup effects: studio manager
Bryan David Moss	....	key hair stylist
Sarah Pountney	....	special makeup effects: silicone technician
Melanie Rhodes	....	special makeup effects: trainee
Floris Schuller	....	special makeup effects artist
Jeremy Selenfriend	....	special makeup effects artist
Harvey Smith	....	special makeup effects: trainee sculptor
Karen Spencer	....	special makeup effects coordinator
Marina Stojanovic	....	hair stylist
Martina Subic-Dodocic	....	key makeup artist
Josh Turi	....	special makeup effects artist
Alexandra Wathey	....	special makeup effects: silicone technician

Production Management
Kálmán Antal	....	production manager
Samantha Housman	....	post-production supervisor
Louise Runge	....	post-production supervisor
Richard Sharkey	....	unit production manager
Aleksandar Tadic	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sean Guest	....	first assistant director
James Andrew Haven	....	second assistant director
Casey Mako	....	second assistant director: additonal photography
Vesna Milic	....	second second assistant director
Bogi Móricz	....	second second assistant director
Aleksandra Vlaisavljevic	....	third third assistant director

Art Department
Slobodan Cadjo	....	swing gang
Marko Dimitrijevic	....	property master
Dragan Kaplarevic	....	leadman
Moni Kovacs	....	assistant set decorator
Vladimir Ljubic	....	props
Aleksandra Mihajlovic	....	art department coordinator
Radoslav Mihajlovic	....	construction coordinator
Mirko Milosevic	....	graphic designer
Termet Nuki	....	assistant property master
Zeljko Pasic	....	swing gang
Ivana Stefanovic	....	set dressing buyer
Béla Tollay	....	stand-by props
Rachel Wilkin	....	set decoration buyer: reshoot
Dejan Zlatkovic	....	swing gang

Sound Department
Ray Beckett	....	sound mixer
Ivan Branisavljevic	....	sound utility
Scott Brewster	....	adr editor
Scott Brewster	....	adr recordist
Robert Dehn	....	sound studio manager
Trevor Gates	....	sound effects editor
Ginger Geary	....	foley artist
Angela Hemingway	....	dialogue editor
Lisa J. Levine	....	adr supervisor
Douglas Murray	....	supervising sound designer
Nemanja Novicic	....	boom operator
John Skoglund	....	additional sound mixer
Mihailo Stevanovic	....	sound utility
Jonathan Wales	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Muhamed M'Barek	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Ryan Andersen	....	visual effects production assistant: Shade VFX
Bryan Baker	....	visual effects editor: DIVE
Drew Beekler	....	digital compositor
Dustin Colson	....	visual effects artist: Shade VFX
Kevin Fanning	....	digital effects artist
Mark O. Forker	....	visual effects supervisor
Bryan Godwin	....	visual effects supervisor: Shade VFX
Patricio Harris	....	visual effects artist: Shade VFX
Harimander Singh Khalsa	....	compositing supervisor: Shade VFX
Tyler Lockard	....	paint artist
Tyler Lockard	....	visual effects artist
Bob Lowery	....	visual effects executive producer: DIVE
Andy Lueddeke	....	digital compositor
Liz McLelland	....	digital compositor
Ed Mendez	....	compositing supervisor: Dive
Colton Miller	....	visual effects artist
Anton Moss	....	digital compositor
Tom Quinn	....	visual effects producer: DIVE
John Riddle	....	technical director: Shade VFX
Matthew Robertson	....	digital compositor
Ruben Rodas	....	visual effects artist
Shane Strickman	....	senior visual effects coordinator: Shade VFX
Donald Strubler Jr.	....	digital compositor
David Van Dyke	....	visual effects executive producer: Shade VFX
Gabriel Vargas	....	digital artist
Jennifer Wessner	....	visual effects coordinator: DIVE
Ian A. Harris	....	compositor: Shade (uncredited)
Michael G. Jackson	....	matchmove artist: Shade VFX (uncredited)
Mike Morse	....	additional visual effects production assistant: DIVE (uncredited)

Stunts
Milan Alavanja	....	safety supervisor
Milan Alavanja	....	stunt rigger
Borislav Bogosavac	....	stunts
Nenad Cudic	....	stunts
Dejan Dragosavac	....	stunts
Vladan Gostiljac	....	stunts
Slavisa Ivanovic	....	stunt coordinator
Milos Kesic	....	stunts
Nenad Ninic	....	stunts
Jelena Radovic	....	stunts
Ognjen Raduljica	....	stunts
Marija Savic	....	stunts
Tihomir Savic	....	stunts
Svetlana Todorovic	....	stunts
Marko Vasiljevic	....	stunts
Ilija Vekic	....	stunts
Slobodan Vlajic	....	stunts
Miroslav Vuckovic	....	stunt rigger

Camera and Electrical Department
Andy Bader	....	second assistant camera
Sead Bihorac	....	key grip
Attila Bilik	....	gaffer: Hungary
Vladimir Bodiroga	....	electrician
Joy Britt	....	best boy electric: reshoots
Joy Britt	....	electrician
Ivan Colovic	....	best boy electric
Márk Czirják	....	best boy: Hungary
Sasa Djordjevic	....	best boy grip
Slobodan Gojkovic	....	gaffer
Srdjan Gojkovic	....	electrician
Dragan Jovic	....	key grip: second unit
Marko Lekovic	....	grip
Miodrag Popovic Misko	....	digital imaging technician (as Miodrag Popovic)
Svetomir Pajic	....	camera operator
Drasko Pejanovic	....	focus puller
Branislav Stojanovic	....	second assistant camera
Marco Urrabazo	....	digital imaging technician: reshoots
Srdjan Ursicic	....	second assistant camera
Kata Vermes	....	still photographer
Milos Vidakovic	....	electrician
Veljko Vukasovic	....	video control
Bo Webb	....	camera operator: additional photography

Casting Department
Aleksandar Adzic	....	casting: Serbia
Sarah Domeier	....	casting assistant
Patty Majorczak-Connolly	....	adr voice casting
John McAlary	....	casting associate
Nenad Pavlovic	....	casting director: Serbia
Mark Sussman	....	adr voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marija Harz	....	key costumer
Radmila Jaksic	....	seamstress
Sanja Manakoski	....	wardrobe intern
Dragana Mladenovic	....	wardrobe intern
Sonja Mrkobrada	....	wardrobe intern
Stefan Savkovic	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Brett W. Bachman	....	post-production assistant
Bryan Baker	....	conforming editor
Alex Bickel	....	colorist
Mark Longchamps	....	on-line editor
Larry McGinley	....	first assistant editor
Carl S.G. Moore	....	digital intermediate producer
Mary Prendergast	....	post-production coordinator
Eugenio Richer	....	post-production intern
Vanara Taing	....	post-production intern
David Thomas	....	digital cinema producer
Lee Wimer	....	color timer

Music Department
Charles M. Barsamian	....	music business and legal affairs
Stephanie Lowry	....	music editor
Sara Matarazzo	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Branislav Andjelkovic	....	driver
Milos Djordjevic	....	driver
Igor Kokot	....	driver
Nenad Kokot	....	picture vehicle coordinator
Nenad Kokot	....	transportation coordinator
Dusko Krekic	....	driver
Sasa Krstic	....	driver
Bozidar Marinkovic	....	driver
Bozidar Marinkovic	....	transportation
Zoran Markovic	....	driver
Dusan Milenkovic	....	driver
Slavko Novakovic	....	transportation captain
Milos Rodic	....	driver
Marko Stanojevic	....	driver
Zarko Stojanovic	....	driver

Other crew
Jelena Beatovic	....	key set production assistant
Jelena Blazic	....	production coordinator
Zoltán Bus	....	armourer
Danijela Djokanovic	....	assistant accountant
Milica Djordjevic	....	production assistant
Sandra Djurickovic	....	production accountant
Jason Feuerstein	....	production financing: Union Bank
Sanja Ilic	....	location accountant
Dejan Juric	....	production assistant
Waléra Kanischtscheff	....	voice-over: Uri
András Kopházi	....	security coordinator
Róbert Koroknyai	....	production coordinator: Hungary
Meg Lansaw	....	production assistant
Imre Légmán	....	location manager
Lili Makk	....	script supervisor
Marija Markovic	....	assistant location manager
Tamara Pesic	....	location manager
Nadezda Petrovic	....	production coordinator
Adam D. Powell	....	set production assistant
Charles Christopher Rubino	....	title designer
Milica Stankovic	....	assistant to Oren Peli and Brian Witten
George Sweney	....	supervising production accountant
Béla Szabó	....	production assistant: Hungary
Rados Vucic	....	set production assistant
Marija Vukelic	....	electronic press kit

Thanks
Armen Aghaeian	....	special thanks
Edward Mokhtarian	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Alcon Entertainment (presents)
• FilmNation Entertainment (presents)
• Oren Peli / Brian Witten Pictures (as PWP)

Distributors

• Diamond Films (2012) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Entertainment One Benelux (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Forum Hungary (2012) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Pictures (2012) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• StudioCanal (2012) (UK) (theatrical)
• Videocine S.A. de C.V. (2012) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Viva Films (2012) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (2012) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2012) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Alcon Entertainment (2012) (Canada) (all media)
• Alcon Entertainment (2012) (USA) (all media)
• Argentina Video Home (2013) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2012) (Switzerland) (all media)
• Entertainment One Benelux (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Entertainment One Benelux (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Mongkol Major (2012) (Thailand) (all media)
• Pinema (2012) (Turkey) (all media)
• Roadshow Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (DVD)
• Sookie Pictures (2012) (South Korea) (all media)
• Sun Distribution (2012) (Non-USA) (all media) (Latin America)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2012) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• DIVE (visual effects & digital intermediate)
• Millennium FX (special makeup effects)
• Shade VFX (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Codex Digital  digital recording equipment
• Cutting Edge Group  music services
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Ignition Print  poster design (uncredited)
• OneZero Productions  post-production
• Sonic Magic  post-production facilities
• Sonic Magic  sound post-production
• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting
• Work in Progress  production services: Serbia

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, some bloody images and pervasive language

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Datasat | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #47532) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | UK:15 | Ireland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Mexico:B | Japan:PG12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Australia:MA15+ | Philippines:R-13 | Italy:T | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Serbia

Company:

Alcon Entertainment

Trivia:

Oren Peli first thought of the idea for the story when he saw a photo blog posted by a girl traveling through Pripyat on a motorcycle [elenafilatova.com].

Goofs:

Factual errors: There is one nearly completed and one barely started cooling tower that was to be used for Units 5 and 6 of Chernobyl. The movie shows 3 or 4 completed cooling towers, which is not correct.

Quotes:

Paul:Have you heard of extreme tourism?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Cinema Snob: Plutonium Baby (#5.10)" (2013)

Soundtrack:

Alright

Nuclear Disappointment

Another horror movie has donned upon us this holiday weekend and it is called the Chernobyl Diaries. The first trailer I saw for this movie about a month and half ago showed some potential for a true horror fest. However, I'll tell you now that this was not the case, and instead the movie I saw today was nothing more than a hastily produced horror movie that was rather lame. I know it's disappointing, but the truth is Chernobyl diaries like most horror movies are losing their edge. Read on to find out more about this movie.

For those of you who haven't seen the trailers for this movie, Chernobyl diaries is about a group of seven college kids taking a trip to the Chernobyl reactors. What starts out as a peaceful trip full of picture taking and jokes soon takes a turn for the worst. It seems that Chernobyl is not as abandoned as they think and soon the nightmare within decides to hunt the kids through the destroyed city.

Sound familiar? It should since this is the story for a plethora of horror movie it's just taking place at a new location. So what suckered me into seeing it? Aside from being assigned this movie, I admit the traps seen in the trailer held potential for a decent and entertaining horror flick. Unfortunately the trailers are once again misleading as Chernobyl Diaries fails to live up to the publicized suspense. Instead the movie is essentially a nonstop cascade of scenes and sequences of the incredibly shallow characters running around from some unseen threat. The camera work of the movie is chaotic, Blair Witch and Cloverfield style that is unsteady and jumpy, which took away from the detail. I think they mainly did this to help keep the monsters true from in the dark and allow the audience's imagination to fill into the details. While the attempt is worthy of recognition, Parker dropped the ball on the delivery making it too fast and shallow. Although the fast pace got us to the ending faster, it still made the movie boring as the story progressed.

One thought I had after watching this film was maybe Parker was planning on the movie being humorous, like the Cabin in The Woods. Unfortunately the comedy aspect of this film was lost on me as well. The stupidity of the college kids and the predictable path they take only made me laugh at how pathetic they were. Unfortunately the dialog was unable to humor me as well and mainly consisted of the kids saying "Oh my God!" or dropping an F bomb, further adding to the disappointment. This dialog combined with the shallow characters also meant the acting didn't have to be that good as well. Although the actors played the college kid roll well, the acting was nothing extraordinary and isn't enough to convince me to suggest this movie. As for the ending of the film, well to put it nicely it stunk. Once again I was left with questions and a bit cheated out of my money. While I feel some will like the ending or find it funny, I can't say I enjoyed it all.

Were there any positives to this movie? For me there were only some minor positives I could find. Although I normally don't like the ashy grey and desolate camera colors, I felt for this movie they were needed. This camera filter brought the desolate and hopeless city to life, which added some emotional chill to the film. A few of the shots also managed to capture the isolation and terror they wanted, though they were few and far in between. Despite the simple acting, the actresses in the movie were very nice to look at and was the only thing really keeping me in the movie. Finally the short time limit of the movie was for once a good thing as I got out of this movie faster than I expected.

To sum up this movie, it's one best left to the Redbox. Although I applaud their use of letting the imagination paint the horror, the delivery still failed to impress me. Again there are no characters to latch on to in this film, and unless you just want to see lots of shadows and hear countless cursing, you will want to avoid this. My scores below are the following:

Horror: 3.0-3.5 Movie Overall: 2.5

So check back soon my friends and again keep on enjoying the movies. Or at least try to.