“Murder Gardens” premiered on Amazon and Fandango
Sex, corruption, and violence, the side of the Magic City that the tourists don't see!
Watch the interview with director Mark Samuels on Channel 10
It's an exciting time for Murder Gardens creator Mark Samuels and it's crew, as the much-anticipated new "Made in Dade" urban/street featured film was released this week. The urban thriller premiered on November 19th on streaming sites and services such as Amazon Prime, Fandango and more, it is also available on DVD.
Director Mark Samuels talked to Channel 10 yesterday about the movie's controversial name. Watch the full interview here.
Murder Gardens centers around Chase Washington (Giovani Hogu), a 19 year old whose life is changed after being introduced to a life of crime and corruption by his older brother Rell. Chase ends up in the middle of a war between a notorious crew of drug dealers, corrupt politicians, and local law enforcement. Determined to survive, he must find a way to outsmart his new found enemies and keep his brother and himself out of prison or a graveyard.
With a cast that is formed almost entirely of African American, Caribbean, Latin, and other minorities, Murder Gardens focuses on the part of Miami that tourists don't know about. Staying true to this ethos, series creator Mark Samuels made sure the entire cast was compromised of locals.
The movie is honest to the culture it comes from, with Miami slang, mannerisms, and the city itself captured in the most realistic way possible. It shines a light on the extreme difference of resources and culture of the area, with Miami Gardens being physically close but culturally far from the luxury and lifestyle that Miami is commonly known for.
"In recent years, as Miami Gardens has dealt with several high-profile shootings and incidents of gun violence, the city has picked up a not-so-flattering nickname among some residents: Murder Gardens. Now a native of the city is attempting to turn that name into a feature film that he hopes will show the grittier sides of Miami Gardens." - Miami Herald
Watch the trailer for Murder Gardens here:
You can also watch the Directors Cut : The Making of Murder Gardens here.
About Murder Gardens creator Mark A. Samuels
Mark Samuels is an African American filmmaker from Miami Gardens, FL. After embarking on a successful career as an independent artist named King Colosus, Mark discovered a passion for film through his first love music. After directing music videos and documentaries for a variety of artists, record labels and production companies in South Florida, Samuels created his own production companies Dade Fire Films and Mbs Media Group. With over 10 years of experience in music and film in South Florida, Mark is creating his original series, Murder Gardens, a tale about crime and corruption based in his hometown of Miami Gardens.
Read more about Mark Samuels on IMDB