Fox Sends Out Hide and Seek in Pieces

When theatres are delivered motion pictures, they are received in
multiple reels, pieces to be cut together dependent on the type of
projector and any special requirements by the theatre (planned
intermissions and such). A film contains approximately 2,000 to 3,000
feet of film. To make transportation easier the film is cut into
20 minute reels and there are about 4 reels per box. Each reel is
then put together to form the entire film. Your average 2 hour film
could conceivably have 6-7 reels that need to be cut together before
showing. Most theatres even screen the films before the first
audience member sees them to ensure that the film is properly in tact.

Fox is using that fact to keep the ending of their new
horror/thriller, Hide and Seek, a secret. They plan on delivering the
first 3/4 of the movie to theatres for preperation prior to sending a
security guard to deliver the final reel on a seperate day. Fox
executives believe the extreme measures are necessary and “worth the
effort”, but one could easily chalk it up to fake hype. Hide and Seek
stars Robert De Niro and Dakota fanning but has little more going for
it and certainly hasn’t generated very much buzz. Fox says they want to
prevent the twist ending from being spoiled, but with the film opening
this Friday, what would be the point? As soon as one person sees the
flic, the ending will get out. In other words, why put forth the money
and the effort?

Easy answer: fake hype, something witnessed
first hand this morning in the offices. One coworker admitted he had no
interest until he read the release that Fox would be shipping the
ending seperate. Guess it worked.

Hide and Seek, Rated R, opens Friday, January 28th in theatres everywhere.