Chernobyl Diaries

Chernobyl Diaries, opening today in theaters everywhere, isn’t a “found footage” film - even though the mastermind behind the story, Oren Peli, is known for that wildly popular narrative device (from Paranormal Activity to the television series The River).  

There is an element of found footage to be had (someone actually finds footage), but Chernobyl Diaries is a rather straight-forward story.  It’s just not a particularly fresh one.  What the film has going for it is its unique, haunting backdrop, however, “environment” can only carry you so far.

Two brothers, and their respective girlfriends, kick their European vacation up a few notches with an “extreme” tour of Prypiat, a ghost town that once housed employees of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor…until disaster struck in 1986.  Led by their guide, this group - accompanied by two tag-along backpackers – journey into town in a ramshackle van.  Upon arrival, the sight of a desolate Prypiat is certainly an eerie one.  A rusted Ferris Wheel looms over decayed buildings.  Mutated fish life swim in a contaminated lake.  And just beyond – the Chernobyl reactor itself, where no one can venture or they run the risk of radioactive poisoning, without or without protection.

Warner Bros. Pictures starts Memorial Day weekend early by opening the new film Chernobyl Diaries at midnight on Thursday, May 24th in over 1,300 theaters in 184 U.S. and Canadian markets. Oren Peli fans who want to be the first to take an “extreme” tour of the forbidden area surrounding the infamous Chernobyl reactor can kick-off the holiday weekend by seeing the movie at the stroke of midnight on Thursday.

For our 46th episode of Choice Cuts, we called upon Oren Peli to chat about his latest endeavor, Chernobyl Diaries, a film directed by Brad Parker and is based on a story by Peli himself.  Of course, you know the man from his feature directorial debut, Paranormal Activity, which spawned a very successful franchise.  Since then, he's gone on to share producing credit on Insidious, The River and Rob Zombie's forthcoming The Lords of Salem.

A new film clip from Chernobyl Diaries (we presented you seven over the weekend) is here.  The film is opening on Friday, May 25th.  Head inside for a look!

Warner Bros. has released seven clips from the Oren Peli-created Chernobyl Diaries in anticipation of the film's May 25th release.  Head inside for a preview of the horror film directed by Brad Parker and starring Jonathan Sadowski, Devin Kelley, Jesse McCartney, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Nathan Phillips, Ingrid Bolso Berdal and Dimitri Diatchenko.

An original story by Oren Peli, Chernobyl Diaries is set in the city of Prypiat that once housed the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. The horror thriller follows a group of friends who, while vacationing in Europe, find themselves stranded in the abandoned city only to discover that they are not alone.

Yahoo! has premiered a new viral video tied in to Chernobyl Diaries that's called "Going to Extremes" blending real footage of daredevils doing extreme activities and fake footage from the upcoming film opening May 25th.  Head inside for a look.

An original story by Oren Peli, "Chernobyl Diaries" is set in the city of Prypiat that once housed the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. The horror thriller follows a group of friends who, while vacationing in Europe, find themselves stranded in the abandoned city only to discover that they are not alone.

A new photo from the May 25th release Chernobyl Diaries has hit the web, this one is called "Amanda is Against the Wall."

With a story by Oren Peli, and directed by Brad Parker, the film is set in the city of Prypiat that once housed the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. The horror thriller follows a group of friends who, while vacationing in Europe, find themselves stranded in the abandoned city only to discover that they are not alone.

Head inside for a larger look.

Warner Bros. has provided us with a 60-second preview spot for Chernobyl Diaries entitled "Meltdown."

Directed by Brad Parker and based on an original story by Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity), the film is set in the city of Prypiat that once housed the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor.

The horror thriller follows a group of friends who, while vacationing in Europe, find themselves stranded in the abandoned city only to discover that they are not alone.

Jonathan Sadowski, Devin Kelley, Jesse McCartney, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Nathan Phillips, Ingrid Bolso Berdal and Dimitri Diatchenko star.

As promised yesterday, the trailer for Chernobyl Diaries has made its premiere - along with a one-sheet - and, surprisingly, it does not look entirely like a "found footage" film.  It appears to incorporate some elements, however.

Based on a story by Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity, The River),  the film follows a group of six young tourists who, looking to go off the beaten path, hire an "extreme tour" guide. Ignoring warnings, he takes them into the city of Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor, but a deserted town since the disaster more than 25 years ago. After a brief exploration of the abandoned city, however, the group soon finds themselves stranded, only to discover that they are not alone.

This Memorial Day, you're going to get hit with more thrills from the creator of Paranormal Activity, Oren Peli.

His original story, Chernobyl Diaries, is hitting the screen, courtey of Warner Bros and Alcon Entertainment and we have the very first photo to share with you from the film in anticipation of its trailer debut tomorrow.

The film is based on an original story by Peli and follows a group of friends who become stranded in an eerie and desolate city. Abandoned years before in the aftermath of a nuclear disaster, nature has begun to reclaim everything. As the sun sets on this radioactive ghost town, inhuman cries cut through the night air. It seems they are not alone.   Brad Parker directs.  Peli produced alongside Brian Witten.

Head inside for a larger look at the pic.

Oren Peli's latest venture, The Chernobyl Diaries, has found distribution in Warner Bros.  

The release is possible thanks to Alcon Entertainment's acquisition of the thriller and the output deal the company has with Warner.

Variety says the film will hit theaters this Memorial Day weekend, which puts the film right into the summer movie fray.  This is the first we have heard of the film's official title.  When titles rolled last November, it was merely referenced as the "Untitled Oren Peli Project."