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Director Brad Anderson, who was last at TIFF and hit Midnight Madness screenings back in 2004 with “The Machinist,” gave audiences reason to fear the dark Sunday night with his chiller “Vanishing on 7th Street.”
The film is one of those horror movies that features a small group (in this case consisting of Hayden Christensen, Thandie Newton, John Leguizamo and Jacob Latimore) holed up in an enclosed space, trying to survive a dark force, in this literally the darkness, that has seemingly already taken out the rest of society.

It’s this dark force that preoccupied a good chunk of the Q&A that followed the movie.

Anderson, with Christensen, Newton and Latimore by his side, said the movie was constructed to be less concerned with any clear-cut explanations and more with “seeing as how the four souls struggle with their mortality.”

As a nod for those seeking a reason for the darkness, Anderson tries to deflect the question back to the audience, with certain characters throwing out a bevy of explanations, from the Rapture to dark matter.

“The more inexplicable it is, the more you search for an answer,” he theorized.

The movie’s makers spent a long time on the technical challenge of figuring out how to make the darkness a tangible danger. Anderson wanted the shadow effect to signify impending doom but avoid as much as possible a figure. Sound design was key.

Anderson and his team also looked at fast-motion films of slime molds growing or ink blots expanding for inspiration.

“We wanted the darkness to be organic,” he said, “for the movement of the shadows to be organic.”

Like Anderson predicted, after the screening there was some grumbling from several die-hard horror fans about the imprecise nature and origin of the dark force.

But on the other hand, it was hard to argue that the man, whose also directed episodes of “Fringe,” had made an effective chiller. One pan across the crowd would reveal girls with hands next to their heads, ready to press their ears (a nod to that successful sound design); guys sunk into their seats in an attempt to create a safe womb; and couples huddled together.
- Borys Kit
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Hayden and Tove Christensen light up TIFF with new flick, Vanishing on 7th Street.
On Saturday night Toronto was buzzing with TIFF events, parties, screenings and celeb spottings. As we party-hopped from one gala to another, one of our fave parties of the night was hosted by Canadian hottie Hayden Christensen at the hip Ultra Supper Club on Queen West.

Moet and Belvedere vodka were flowing and the music was pumping as party goers mingled and sipped on bevies in celebration of Hayden’s new thriller flick, Vanishing on 7th Street. Hayden and his brother Tove also served as producers on the film with their production company Forest Park Pictures — clearly talent runs in the fam. Clad in grey denim, combat boots, a blue and black plaid flannel shirt and a plaid scarf, we rubbed shoulders with Hayden in the VIP section as he casually chatted with friends and chilled with Tove.

Co-star Thandie Newton also made an appearance, looking adorable in black shorts, a floral blouse, heels and minimal makeup (she’s a total stunner, btw). The best part of the night? When Hayden, who partied until 4 am, requested Toronto’s hip-hop king K-OS (where has he been hiding, anyway?!) to take a spin as DJ …
By Jennifer Weatherhead at Elle Canada

Entertainment Weekly’s first look at Vanishing on 7th Street, including a new image!
Hayden Hangs Tough
Are you afraid of the dark? Then steer clear of Hayden Christensen’s latest film, Vanishing on 7th Street, which premieres Sept. 12 at the Toronto Film Festival. Read More ?

From Christopher Reeve.Org: The Reeve Foundation Champions Committee, joined by Hayden Christensen and Dior Beauty hosted a successful and fun-filled sold-out summer party last night at the Boom Boom Room in New York City.

Fashion and fundraising joined forces as Christensen, Allure magazine editor-in-chief Linda Wells, and many more welcomed supporters of the Reeve Foundation, including friends of the Foundation Jesse McConnell and Taylor Price, pictured at right.

From: NBC New York - The children of the late legendary actor Christopher Reeve gathered at The Standard’s Boom Boom Room last night for a posh summer fundraising event along with good pal Hayden Christensen.

“Hayden is a good friend, so him being here is really spectacular,” Alexandra Reeve Givens, daughter of Christopher, told Niteside at the Reeve Foundation event.

“He’s actually always been very supportive and he agreed to come. He’s followed what we’ve been doing for a long time. He wanted to just lend his name to the cause. “

Christensen’s appearance at the charity event, which supported the leading organization for people living with paralysis, speaks to his character, Matthew Reeve, son of Christopher, said: “He’s been incredibly generous with his time. I mean I’ve known him for eight years, and I just asked a good friend for a favor.”

From s2smagazine.com: Will Packer can breath a sigh of relief now that his long-awaited action flick Takers has had its Hollywood premiere.

“I thought that if we put together a really, really good looking group of guys—sexy bad boys—that women would respond and want to see it. Typically action is a male domain, but I knew that if we casted it and marketed it the right way, we would be able to broaden [our audience] and bring in women as well.”

Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen and Matt Dillion also star in Takers, which reminds us a bit of the Ocean’s series. However Will assures us that Takers is distinctly different, even with its smart-alecky comedy.


“Overall, I think it’s a satisfying movie. I think people will be pleased with it,” Will told S2S, pointing out that the film will be far from predictable. “There’s gonna be some surprises in there. It doesn’t all wrap up the way you might expect it to.”

To see what surprises Will has in store for viewers, check out Takers when it hits theaters on August 27.


The Force apparently wasn’t with “Star Wars” actor Hayden Christensen when he pitched an idea for a new TV series to the USA Network.

The Canadian-born star and his older brother yesterday filed suit in Manhattan federal court against the cable outfit, charging that it stole their idea for a comedic drama about a “concierge” doctor who makes house calls to the rich and famous.

The brothers claim that USA’s “Royal Pains” — which is in its second season — is a shameless rip-off of “Housecall,” which they offered to the NBC subsidiary in 2005.

The Christensen’s claim a USA exec told them “that, prior to learning about ‘Housecall,’ he was unaware of concierge doctors and that he thought it was a fascinating idea.”

A USA spokeswoman declined to comment.

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Last night, at the CFDA awards, the Daily Transom found itself seated next to designer Richard Chai and his guest, actor Hayden Christensen. “This is quite a night out for me,” Mr. Christensen told Mr. Chai when they first sat down and the awards hadn’t started yet.

The duo arrived with an elderly woman who was escorted to sit elsewhere. It was unclear who she was.

Mr. Chai was announced as the winner of the Swarovski award for menswear designer, presented to him by actor Ed Westwick and TV personality Alexa Chung. When his name was called, Mr. Chai just said, “Wow,” and Mr. Christensen congratulated him by slapping his back. When the designer got up to the stage, he said it again: “Wow.” Among the many people he thanked was Mr. Christensen, for being his date.

When the awards were over, Mr. Christensen turned to Mr. Chai and said, “Hold on, I have to go get my grandmother.”

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