Interfilm
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film production |
| Predecessor | Ediflex Systems Inc. |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Founder | Bob Bejan |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Interactive films |
Interfilm was a U.S.-based film production company established in 1992 by Bob Bejan, focusing primarily on the creation of interactive films.
History
In August 1993, Interfilm Inc. submitted a registration for an initial public offering of two million common shares to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This followed the company's rebranding from Ediflex Systems Inc. and its agreement to acquire Interfilm Technologies Inc. during that same year. Interfilm secured a contract to produce three films with Sony Pictures Entertainment, which also invested in 10 Interfilm systems for deployment across their Lowes Cineplexes, with the entire arrangement valued at $6 million. By December 1993, the company had gone public, successfully raising $20 million in capital.
Nevertheless, due to unfavorable audience reactions to its film Ride for Your Life, Sony halted production on Bombmeister, which remained unfinished. Interfilm declared intentions to pursue legal action against Sony for breach of contract; however, the case was dismissed in 1998. The commercial underperformance of Interfilm played a role in diminishing enthusiasm for interactive films over the subsequent years.
Productions
- I'm Your Man (1992)
- Mr. Payback: An Interactive Movie (1995)
- Ride for Your Life (1995)
- Bombmeister (unreleased)
Reception
Although interactive films were an innovative concept, critics frequently condemned the quality of the scripts, performances, and overall production. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun Times awarded Mr. Payback a rating of half a star out of four, characterizing it as a "film where horrified parents might encourage kids to shout at the screen to drown out the flood of garbage." Both Ebert and Gene Siskel recognized the promise inherent in blending cinema with interactivity but pointed out that Mr. Payback failed to capitalize on this potential, instead relying heavily on crude humor and catering to violent tendencies.