It's here in the Archives section that you will find the news of the last three months.
----- October 12, 2017 -----
** HALLOWEEN reboot follows first film: Those in charge of the upcoming new HALLOWEEN film, namely director/co-writer David Gordon Green and co-writer/producer Danny McBride, have previously indicated that the new entry is ignoring most of the sequels in the series in favour of a follow-up to the John Carpenter-directed original.
Carpenter is famously getting involved again in the franchise, having sat out the series in any capacity since the third film. In a recent Q&A via Stereogum, he opened up and addressed Jamie Lee Curtis' involvement and surprisingly revealed the film will only acknowledging the first movie in the series:
"[Jamie Lee Curtis] talked to the director. Her part was written into the script and they had this idea — it's kind of a… I don't know how to describe it. It's almost an alternative reality. It picks up after the first one, and it pretends that none of the other [sequels] were made. It's gonna be fun. There's a really talented director and it was well-written. I'm impressed."
The news is a surprise. The third film is a standalone feature not tied to the series, and the fourth onwards are set years later, so both can effectively be ignored without issue.
The second on the other hand is inexorably tied to the first film and showcases the second half of the same night, picking up on the first film's cliffhanger ending. It was also penned, produced and scored by Carpenter who also did some reshoots of director Rick Rosenthal's work so it was hardly lacking his involvement.
If this is the case though, then Laurie last saw Michael fall from a second storey window after being shot by Dr. Loomisin 1978. It renders Michael more human, as the character didn't become effectively immortal to injuries that would kill normal men until the second.
It also effectively renders his blood relationship to Laurie in the mythology void because that story element didn't come into play until the sequel. The new HALLOWEEN returns to cinemas on October 19 next year. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** STRANGERS PREY AT NIGHT: Here's the first official photo from the upcoming sequel, which will be released on March 9, 2018. A family's road trip takes a dangerous turn when they arrive at a secluded mobile home park to stay with some relatives and find it mysteriously deserted. Under the cover of darkness, three masked psychopaths pay them a visit to test the family's every limit as they struggle to survive. Johannes Roberts directs this horror film inspired by the 2008 smash hit THE STRANGERS. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
----- October 11, 2017 -----
** THE CHILDREN: Variety is reporting that actress Linda Cardellini has been cast as the lead in New Line Cinema's THE CHILDREN, the latest horror flick from producer James Wan (SAW). The film appears to be unrelated to Wan's burgeoning THE CONJURING Universe movies.
Cardellini will play a social worker investigating the mysterious disappearance of two children whose own family may also be in jeopardy. Michael Chaves will direct THE CHILDREN from a script by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis. James Wan will produce through his Atomic Monster, whose Michael Clear will executive produce. Gary Dauberman is also a producer. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** PANDORA: In a world where things have very much gone to pot for mankind, survivors have banded together in a resistance that attempts to fight off their oppressors. A military outfit is sent to explore an underground facility in search of Pandora – a half-breed of shadows and man – who may become an unlikely savior to mankind, but at what cost?
** HOSTILE: After a worldwide epidemic, most of the planet's population is killed. Only a few thousand have survived and are struggling to find food and shelter. But they're not alone: they have to hide from strange creatures that go hunting at night.
Juliette, a young woman whose life has taught her to handle things on her own, is the only one in her group to have the guts to go anywhere near cities to find food. But, on her way back to the camp one afternoon, she loses control as she's driving and wakes up upside down, stuck in her car with a broken leg, in the middle of the desert and it's... nighttime.
----- October 10, 2017 -----
** PARANORMAL ACTIVITY reboot: Blumhouse Productions has reportedly expressed an interest in rebooting the PARANORMAL ACTIVITY franchise. Beginning as a no-budget indie film on the festival circuit in 2007.
By 2015 and sixth film, the shine had definitely worn off. Even so, the combined films to date were all done for a total of $28 million and have made just shy of $900 million at the worldwide box-office for both Blumhouse and Paramount Pictures.
Speaking with Cinepop this week, producer Jason Blum has revealed that his company is very interested if writer Chris Landon, who penned the middle four films of the series along with DISTURBIA and Blumhouse's new film HAPPY DEATH DAY, comes to them with a pitch: "PARANORMAL ACTIVITY is on hiatus, but if Chris over here, who's done four PARANORMAL ACTIVITY movies – if he has an idea to reboot it, we're very open to hearing it." (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** CASTLE ROCK: Enter the chilling world of Castle Rock, the new Hulu Original drama series from Executive Producer J.J. Abrams and the mind of Stephen King.
** THEY REMAIN: Here's the trailer for the upcoming film starring William Jackson Harper and Rebecca Henderson, written and directed by Philip Gelatt.
----- October 9, 2017 -----
** NEKROMANCER for Monica Bellucci: Monica Bellucci has signed on to star in Kiah and Tristan Roache-Turner's new film, NEKROMANCER. Kiah will direct while his brother produces along with Andrew Mason and Troy Lum producing for Hopscotch Features. They previously did the horror film WYRMWOOD.
"Monica Bellucci brings her wonderful talents and considerable glamour to our production and we are thrilled to have her on board working alongside this group of exciting up-and-coming actors," said Kiah Roache-Turner and the producers.
"Kiah and Tristan are among the most exciting new talents in this genre and we're delighted to be working with such bold new filmmakers," said Mason and Lum. (thanks to ScreenAnarchy.com)
** STAN AGAINST EVIL Season 2: STAN AGAINST EVIL follows Stan Miller (John C. McGinley), a perpetually disgruntled former sheriff of a small New England town who was forced into retirement. Stan has trouble relinquishing his authority to Evie Barret (Janet Varney), the tough and beautiful new sheriff in town, but they form an unlikely alliance when both begin to realize things are not quite right in their quaint New England town. Together, they valiantly fight a plague of unleashed demons that have been haunting the town, which just happens to be built on the site of a massive 17th century witch burning.
** SPAWN: Speaking last week at New York Comic Con, comic creator and soon-to-be-filmmaker Todd McFarlane opened up about the long in-development SPAWN reboot that he'll be directing. According to the Deadline web site, McFarlane revealed that pre-production on the film will begin just after the Christmas holiday, with cameras set to start rolling in February. McFarlane reiterated that the film will be "dark and R-rated," even going so far as to say that it would be a harder R than DEADPOOL.
McFarlane also revealed that the budget for the film will be a meager $10 million, an atypical budget for a superhero film (which range into the hundreds of millions at Warner Bros. and Marvel Studios) but par for the course for Blumhouse Productions (who specialize in lower-budget features anywhere from $100k to $10 million). With such a smaller scale film, the money for which McFarlane himself is at least partially putting up, allows the filmmaker to share more content with fans from the set, which he promises to do every day of production.
"I'm spending my own money," he said at NYCC. "So who cares if it doesn't work out. It's a $10 million budget movie, and (a studio) would just get a 22-year-old punk director. I just want to be the old punk directing it."
First appearing in 1992's SPAWN #1, the character quickly became the symbol for 1990s comics dark and brutal antiheroes. His Hellspawn powers allow him to teleport, shape shift, and utilize a variety of weapons (notably chains) in combat. SPAWN previously made the leap to the big screen in 1997 with Michael Jai White in the title role and then on television as an HBO animated miniseries, titled Todd McFarlane's SPAWN. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
----- October 5, 2017 -----
** ASH VS EVIL DEAD Season 3: The highly-anticipated 10-episode third season of Starz Original horror-comedy series ASH VS EVIL DEAD will premiere on Sunday, February 25, 2018 at 9PM ET/PT.
** BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN postponed: The Deadline web site brings word that the film has officially been postponed by Universal as rewrites on the script continue from screenwriter David Koepp.
"After thoughtful consideration, Universal Pictures and director Bill Condon have decided to postpone BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN," the studio said in a statement. "None of us want to move too quickly to meet a release date when we know this special movie needs more time to come together. Bill is a director whose enormous talent has been proven time and again, and we all look forward to continuing to work on this film together."
** Netflix DARK: The disappearance of two kids in the German small-town of Winden opens abysses that turn the concept of time on its head. The question is not who has kidnapped the children...but when.
----- October 4, 2017 -----
** HALLOWEEN: Judy Greer is in talks to join Jamie Lee Curtis in the Halloween cast, according to EW. Greer would play Karen Strode, the daughter of Curtis' character. Jamie Lee Curtis will return to the franchise that kicked off her career and she will once again be playing the iconic role of Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers.
** THE BABYSITTER: Netflix presents human sacrifice with hot people. THE BABYSITTER slashes to Netflix October 13.
----- October 3rd, 2017 -----
** HALLOWEEN: Producer Jason Blum is currently out doing press for Blumhouse's new horror project HAPPY DEATH DAY and discussed the company's most high profile upcoming project with the Coming Soon web site. The upcoming HALLOWEEN reboot, which sees David Gordon Green helming from a script by himself and Danny McBride. Most importantly though it brings back Jamie Lee Curtis to the franchise, and has the involvement of original film director John Carpenter.
In recent years Carpenter's name has been on remakes of several of his most famous works as an executive producer, but in those cases he's had no real involvement. That's not the case here insists Blum: "We don't take any big steps without his approval, so for instance hiring David and Danny he approved. He approved their pitch, he approved their first script. He approved bringing back Jamie Lee Curtis.
So anytime we make a big creative turn he's involved with that and we don't do it without his blessing. We went to him and asked him to be involved. There was no contractual, financial or any other obligation to have him on this movie. We went back and asked him to join us again." (thanks to ComingSoon.net & DarkHorizons.com)
** DEATH ON SCENIC DRIVE: Gabriel's new surreal effort follows the same type of madness when a young woman (Stephanie Ash) is consumed by an entity that transforms her into a blood-thirsty version of death. This new unnerving sense of identity transforms her as she begins a nightmarish path of gruesome violence against a family and local farmer (Ry Barrett).
** ZOMBIES: When the world is in shambles, plagued by a zombie outbreak, only the strong will survive, but just how much determination will it take? Will Luke and his crew have enough ambition and ammunition to outlive the undead?
** STRANGER THINGS Season 2: Here's yet another cool poster.
----- October 2nd, 2017 -----
** Stephen King update: With IT passing the $500 million mark at the box-office, it's a good month to be a fan of Stephen King. Speaking with the Vulture web site recently about other adaptations of his works coming down the pipeline, King reveals that two of his most iconic early works are looking to score new adaptations soon:
"There's talk about doing THE STAND as an extended TV series, possibly for Showtime or CBS All Access. And there's been some interest in developing SALEM'S LOT as a feature, probably because people are saying, 'Well, we took an old miniseries called IT and turned it into a phenomenon, so maybe we can do it with something else.' Nothing succeeds like excess!"
Attempts to turn THE STAND into a feature is something that's been in the works for a while now with director Josh Boone working on a movie adaptation – a project that hasn't had much movement recently. The property was previously adapted for TV in the 1990s as a mini-series.
SALEM'S LOT was done as a telemovie by Tobe Hooper in 1979 and a mini-series starring Rob Lowe in 2004, but neither is considered a particularly definitive adaptation. King also says there's talk about an animated feature adaptation of one of his other works, and while it looks like that one might happen – he won't reveal what it is. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** STRANGER THINGS: The Duffers and executive producer Shawn Levy have now said that it might go beyond four seasons, according to EW. Levy told the site, "Hearts were heard breaking in Netflix headquarters when the Brothers made four seasons sound like an official end, and I was suddenly getting phone calls from our actors' agents. The truth is we're definitely going four seasons and there's very much the possibility of a fifth. Beyond that, it becomes I think very unlikely."
In addition, we're learning a little bit more about Season 2. Millie Bobbie Brown, who plays Eleven on the series, told EW she'll be cussing this season. She said, "I didn't have much more vocabulary but the things I did have to say were really fun. There's one curse word this season which was really different and funny." We're also reportedly going to meet Barb's dad in Season 2, and the murder of the fan favorite character played by Shannon Purser will be addressed. "Especially this season, Barb's a big part of Nancy's story line and that drive to — I don't know how to say it otherwise — to find justice," Natalia Dyer who plays Nancy told the site.
We're also learning about the spider-like "shadow monster" that we've seen in Season 2 photos. Jeff Duffer told EW, "There's an H.P. Lovecraft sort of approach, this inter-dimensional being that is sort of beyond human comprehension. We purposely don't want to go too much into what it is or what it wants."
The upcoming second season is set a year after Will's return, and everything seems back to normal… but a darkness lurks just beneath the surface, threatening all of Hawkins. It's 1984 and the citizens of Hawkins, Indiana are still reeling from the horrors of the demagorgon and the secrets of Hawkins Lab. Will Byers has been rescued from the Upside Down but a bigger, sinister entity still threatens those who survived. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** ANNABELLE CREATION: The horror hit sequel is coming to Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD on October 24th, but you can own it early on Digital starting October 17th. LIGHTS OUT director David F. Sandberg's follow-up to 2014's hugely successful ANNABELLE managed to scare up nearly $257 million at the worldwide box office during its run in theaters. The Blu-ray Combo Pack contain the following special features:
- The Horror Continues
- Horror Shorts: Attic Panic and Coffer
- Director's Commentary
- Directing Annabelle
- Deleted Scenes Featurette
(thanks to ComingSoon.net)
----- September 29, 2017 -----
** ANNIHILATION: Based on Jeff VanderMeer's best-selling Southern Reach Trilogy, ANNIHILATION stars Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny and Oscar Isaac. It was written and directed by Alex Garland (EX MACHINA).
** THE MIST TV series: Spike has canceled the series THE MIST after one season, according to Variety. The show premiered on June 22 and ended Season 1 on August 24.
** JIGSAW: Here's an IMAX poster for the upcoming sequel/reboot. The eighth film in the SAW horror franchise, featuring the return of Tobin Bell, will arrive just ahead of Halloween on October 27.
----- September 27, 2017 -----
** Stephen King's IT Chapter II: New Line Cinema has given the release date of the horror sequel, which will make its debut on September 6, 2019 and will be shown in IMAX.
** AMITYVILLE THE AWAKENING: The film arrives on Blu-ray (plus Digital HD), DVD, Digital HD and On Demand November 14 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. The story follows Belle (Bella Thorne) and her family move into a new house, but when strange phenomena begin to occur in the house, Belle begins to suspect her mother (Jennifer Jason Leigh) isn't telling her everything. She soon realizes they just moved into the infamous Amityville house.
----- September 26, 2017 -----
** UNDERWORLD TV series: Franchise creator Len Wiseman is bringing the horror series to television with his production company Sketch Films and Sony Television. "The series will be a pretty big departure from the films," Wiseman tells the outlet. "I don't want to say it's more adult, but it's definitely less comic book in its tone and character." (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** Stephen King's 1922: Life is rarely fair. Based on the novella by Stephen King, comes a new Netflix Film, 1922. Premieres October 20th, only on Netflix.
** MANIAC COP remake: The proposed remake of genre great Larry Cohen's film appears to be dead. The original film followed a former highly decorated cop who was framed by his department and eventually murdered in prison. His hatred makes him come back to life, where he stalks New York and murders both guilty and innocent alike.
DRIVE director Nicolas Winding Refn has spent years trying to get a remake off the ground and it was confirmed in March the project had received a greenlight from a script by Ed Brubaker. That's not the case anymore Cohen tells Birth.Movies.Death, saying the project isn't moving ahead after all – and he's not unhappy about it: "As far as I know, that's not happening anymore, and if it is, they might be trying to keep it a secret, as they'd owe me $250,000. Ed Brubaker wrote the script, and I've read the script, and it's not very good. Ed Brubaker is a very good writer of comic books, I think. But if he's written a good script for a movie, I haven't read it.
I wrote six new scenes for the picture, based on what I'd read. And, had I written the whole script, the movie would probably be happening, as the script would be good. I wrote three films for Bill Lustig, though they changed a lot of [MANIAC COP 3] and Bill got fired from it… and I would've written the fourth movie, had they asked. But they didn't, and now it's not getting made." (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** GREMLIN: Adam receives a mysterious box from a relative containing a creature that will kill everyone he cares about. The only way to be rid of the curse is to give the box to someone he loves. As the ominous timer on the box counts down to its end, he can only imagine the horrors that await. Does he give the box away to save his family, or unleash a monster upon humanity? He can't destroy it. He can't escape it. He can only give it to someone he loves.
Extras on the DVD include audio commentary with writer director Bellgardt, lead actor Adam Hampton, producer Josh Mckamie and Producer Andy Swanson, three deleted scenes and a behind-the-scenes featurette that takes a look at the making of the movie. The film premieres on DVD October 3rd from Uncork'd Entertainment.
----- September 25, 2017 -----
** Stephen King's IT is the grossing R-rated horror film: The film adaptation of half of Stephen King's iconic novel IT has pushed past THE EXORCIST to become the highest-grossing R-rated horror film domestically after just two weeks in release. IT has earned $236.3 million stateside, passing the $232.9 million haul of THE EXORCIST including that film's two re-releases combined into the original's gross. These figures aren't adjusted for inflation though.
The film is also now the ninth highest-grossing R-rated release in history and the highest-grossing September release. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** STRANGER THINGS Season 2: Here's a cool new poster for the upcoming season, which will hit the streaming service on October 27, 2017, just in time for Halloween.
** BEYOND THE SEVENTH DOOR: Severin Films and Intervision Picture Corporation will soon release BEYOND THE SEVENTH DOOR on DVD. Special Features:
– Audio Commentary With Writer/Director B.D. Benedikt and Actor Lazar Rockwood, moderated by Paul Corupe (Canuxploitation.com)
– Beyond Beyond the 7th Door: Interviews With Writer/Director B.D. Benedikt, Actor Lazar Rockwood, and Canuxploitation.com's Paul Corupe
– The King of Cayenne: An Appreciation of Legendary Toronto Eccentric Ben Kerr
** ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE: First look at the upcoming zombie Christmas musical ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE from director John McPhail.
----- September 24, 2017 -----
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** THE DEVIL'S RAIN: The film is coming to Blu-ray from Severin Films. Each copy of the movie comes with reversible cover art and limited, numbered edition slipcase (only 1500 units) with alternate artwork will be available exclusively from the Severin webstore. Special Features:
- Audio Commentary With Director Robert Fuest
- Confessions Of Tom – Interview With Actor Tom Skerritt
- The Devil's Makeup – Interview With Special FX Artist Tom Burman
- 1975 Archive Interview With Actor William Shatner
- First Stop Durango – Interview With Script Supervisor Ana Maria Quintana
- Consulting with the Devil – A Conversation with the High Priest & High Priestess of the Church of Satan
- Hail Satan! – Interview With Anton LaVey Biographer Blanche Barton
- Filmmaker / Horror Collector Daniel Roebuck On The Devil's Rain
- On Set Polaroid Gallery Of Script Supervisor Ana Maria Quintana, Accompanied By Radio Spots
- Theatrical Trailer
- TV Spots
- Poster/Still Gallery
(thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** THE 13TH FRIDAY: When a female refugee discovers an ancient demonic device that opens the gateway to another realm, she unleashes a dark entity that poses as her daughter. After many failed attempts to have the church explain the creation of her worst nightmares, she learns that the house is cursed by an enraged spirit that died on Friday the 13th. And now a group of thrill seeking friends unknowingly unleash its wrath and damn their souls.
** THE EXORCIST Season 2: Jeremy Slater, Ben Daniels, Alfonso Herrera, and John Cho talk about the characters and what to expect on the new season of THE EXORCIST, premiering SEP 29 at 9/8c on FOX!
** DEAD ANT: When the "one-hit-wonder" glam-metal band "Sonic Grave" embark on a trip to coachella in hopes of a comeback, their peyote trip pit stop in Joshua Tree incites an "unworldly" viscous attack, and they must "rock" themselves out of harms way.
----- September 19, 2017 -----
** HALLOWEEN sequel: In an interview with the The Wrap web site, producer Jason Blum makes a pledge that they will meet their intended October 2018 release. he tells that if it isn't: "You can kill me. You can behead me. You can chop my hand off, the prince of horror, you can cut my hand off. That's on the record."
** Stephen King's IT: New Line Cinema's IT dominated the box office a second straight weekend, grossing $60 million domestically for a two-week total of $218.7 million. That makes IT the largest-grossing film ever in September for North America. Internationally, the film opened in 10 additional markets and earned $60.3 million from 15,375 screens in 56 markets. This brings the overseas total to $152.6 million and worldwide sum to $371.3 million. The top international markets this weekend were Mexico ($13.8 million), the UK ($8.2 million), Australia and Russia ($4 million), and Brazil ($3.4 million). IT cost about $35 million to make. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** SWEET TOOTH: New Line Cinema has picked up the rights to Nico van den Brink's Dutch horror short, SWEET TOOTH. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Nico van den Brink will direct the feature and have a "story by" credit. James Wan (SAW) and Chris Bender (FINAL DESTINATION) will produce.
The short premiered in July at Montreal's Fantasia International Film Festival and is described as follows: "centered on a woman who comes home to her large apartment tenement. Watching the news, she discovers that her neighbors — a mother and her two kids — have been killed, but then enters creep-zone territory when she begins to hear the laughter and running of the munchkins." (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
----- September 18, 2017 -----
** LEATHERFACE: Lionsgate and Millennium Films have released another new poster for LEATHERFACE, the upcoming prequel to THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE. In Texas, years before the events of THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, in the early days of the infamous Sawyer family, the youngest child is sentenced to a mental hospital after a suspicious incident leaves the sheriffs' daughter dead. Ten years later, he kidnaps a young nurse and escapes with 3 other inmates. Pursued by authorities including the deranged sheriff out to avenge his daughter's death, the young Sawyer teen goes on a violent road trip from hell, molding him into the monster known now as Leatherface.
The film will mark the eighth overall entry in the franchise, which currently includes, in addition to Tobe Hooper's original, three sequels, a remake, a prequel to the remake and a modern-day "direct sequel." (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** DEAD BY DAYLIGHT Leatherface: The chainsaw killer from the classick TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE series is now available in the DEAD BY DAYLIGHT video game.
** JIGSAW: Lionsgate has released even more posters for the upcoming JIGSAW, the eighth film in the SAW horror franchise featuring the return of Tobin Bell. Like all of the films before it, JIGSAW will arrive just ahead of Halloween on October 27. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
----- September 15, 2017 -----
** Jamie Lee Curtis returns to HALLOWEEN: Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.
Master of horror John Carpenter will executive produce and serve as creative consultant on this film, joining forces with cinema's current leading producer of horror, Jason Blum. Inspired by Carpenter's classic, filmmakers David Gordon Green and Danny McBride crafted a story that carves a new path from the events in the landmark 1978 film, and Green also directs.
HALLOWEEN will be produced by Malek Akkad, whose Trancas International Films has produced the HALLOWEEN series since its inception. Green and McBride will executive produce under their Rough House Pictures banner. HALLOWEEN will be distributed worldwide by Universal Pictures.
** BETTER WATCH OUT: This holiday season, you may be home, but you're not alone... In this fresh and gleefully twisted spin on home-invasion horror, babysitter Ashley (Olivia DeJonge) must defend her young charges (Levi Miller, Ed Oxenbould) when intruders break into the house one snowy night – or so she thinks.
** LORE: Based on real people and events, the podcast phenomenon comes to life with 6 terrifying stories from the Executive Producer of THE WALKING DEAD and the Executive Producer of THE X-FILES. Stream on Friday the 13th of October.
** THE SHAPE OF WATER: From master story teller, Guillermo del Toro, comes THE SHAPE OF WATER - an other-worldly fairy tale, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa's life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Rounding out the cast are Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg and Doug Jones.
----- September 14, 2017 -----
** LES AFFAMÉS: Here's a clip for the highly hyped new French Canadian horror film from Robin Aubert.
** John Carpenter's CHRISTINE: The theme for CHRISTINE is available as a part of John Carpenter's 'Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998,' out October 20 on Sacred Bones Records.
** TRAGEDY GIRLS: Best friends Sadie and McKayla are on a mission to boost their social media fandom as amateur crime reporters hot on the trail of a deranged local serial killer. After they manage to capture the killer and secretly hold him hostage, they realize the best way to get scoops on future victims would be to, you know, murder people themselves. As the @TragedyGirls become an overnight sensation and panic grips their small town, can their friendship survive the strain of national stardom? Will they get caught? Will their accounts get verified?
----- September 13, 2017 -----
** HALLOWEEN sequel: The upcoming film is set to be directed by David Gordon Green and from a script by Green and Danny McBride. Here's what John Carpenter had to say; "David and Danny both came to my office recently with [Blumhouse producer] Jason Blum and shared their vision for the new movie and …wow! They get it. I think you're gonna dig it. They blew me away."
Blumhouse will produce the project which Carpenter will be heavily involved in. Specifics of the story aren't clear beyond McBride insisting this isn't a reboot – rather one that just ignores the latter sequel mythology. The director confirmed during the Toronto Film Festival that the script is all done and the plan is to shoot the project this Fall with an October 2018 release targeted.
** Stephen King's IT sequel: As readers of the original novel know, most of the Losers' Club all move away from Derry, Maine with one notable exception: Mike Hanlon, who stays in the town as a gatekeeper for Derry and to bring the group back together 27 years later. Director Andy Muschietti says his version of the character will be a departure from the text, saying:
"I want to make his character the one pivotal character who brings them all together, but staying in Derry took a toll with him. I want him to be a junkie actually. A librarian junkie. When the second movie starts, he's a wreck…He's not just the collector of knowledge of what Pennywise has been doing in Derry. He will bear the role of trying to figure out how to defeat him. The only way he can do that is to take drugs and alter his mind."
It remains to be seen who will be cast as the adult versions of the characters in the sequel, with the outlet reporting that unknown actors could fill the shoes for the film. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** Norwegian horror MONSTER: Starz have acquired rights to Norwegian serial killer limited series MONSTER ahead of its debut. Created by head writer Hans Christian Storrøsten and directed by Anne Sewitsky, the seven-episode series also boasts Jørgen Johansson as its lead cinematographer. Johansson is considered by many to be a major influential force in the Nordic Noir artistic movement. NRK Drama will handle production, with NRK's Lasse Greve Alsos serving as executive producer. (thanks to BleedingCool.com)
----- September 12, 2017 -----
** Stephen King's IT remake kills Box Office: The highly anticipated flick earned $123.1 million from 4,103 theaters, an average of $30,002 per location. Internationally, IT has earned $62 million from 10,665 screens in 46 markets, which is the biggest opening ever for a horror film. The worldwide total is already at $185.1 million. The top international markets were the UK with $12.3 million, Russia with $6.7 million, Australia with $5.9 million, Brazil with $5.6 million, Korea with $4.3 million and Spain with $3.1 million. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** DAY OF THE DEAD remake: Saban Films has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to a slate of films from Avi Lerner's Millennium Media, including DAY OF THE DEAD.
"Avi Lerner has long become synonymous with widely appealing action thrillers with marquee names like Antonio Banderas, John Malkovich and Adrien Brody and films with the pedigree of Day of the Dead," said Saban Films President Bill Bromiley. "This is perfectly in line with our acquisition strategy. Our audiences are starving for these types of films, and with this newly minted relationship we are thrilled to have a steady pipeline of these movies we can deliver to our audiences across the country."
DAY OF THE DEAD is a remake of George Romero's classick film, is directed by Hèctor Hernández Vicens, and stars Sophie Skelton. Written by Mark Tonderai and Lars Jacobson, DAY OF THE DEAD follows a small group of military personnel and survivalists who dwell in an underground bunker as they seek to find a cure in a world overrun by zombies. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** RED CHRISTMAS: Genre icon Dee Wallace stars in a critically acclaimed role as the stressed-out mother of a squabbling family, gathered together in a remote Outback estate on Christmas Eve. Their petty dramas threaten to blacken the holiday until a mysterious and deformed stranger appears at the door seeking bloody vengeance. The film will be available nationwide October 17th on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD, including iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, Vudu and more.
** WATCH OVER US: A father and his young daughters move onto their grandfather's secluded farm following the breakup of their parents. But once there, they are soon plagued by paranormal events that reveal a deadly secret that has haunted the family for generations, and an evil force that demands they uphold a deadly promise made by their ancestors. Available on digital VOD everywhere nationwide 9/12/17.
----- September 11, 2017 -----
** 47 METERS DOWN sequel: The Hollywood Reporter brings word that this summer's sleeper hit is gearing up for a sequel. Director Johannes Roberts will return to write and direct the film, which will will add one more meter and be titled 48 METERS DOWN.
"We are so pleased by the huge success of 47 Meters Down, it totally exceeded all expectations,' said producer James Harris of The Fyzz Facility. "48 Meters Down will take the claustrophobia of cave diving and the thrill of shark encounters and move everything to the next level." (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** DEMENTIA 13 remake: A vengeful ghost, a mysterious killer, and a family where everyone has a secret converge in one night of terror in this remake of Francis Ford Coppola's debut film.
** THELMA: A Norwegian student, Thelma, moves to Oslo where she falls in love. She soon discovers that she has inexplicable powers. Opens November 10th.
** THE PURGE prequel: Series creator James DeMonaco who has officially confirmed that the upcoming fourth entry will be titled THE PURGE THE ISLAND and will serve as a prequel. Speaking with the Vulture web site about the film, which he's not directing this time as Gerard McMurray will take over the reigns, he also explained something of the storyline which will be set on the very first 'Purge' night which takes place on Staten Island:
"I said it's the first experimental Purge, which I don't know if I was supposed to say, but now I've said it, so you have it. Next July 4, it'll be coming."
He also confirms the film will answer one obvious question – why in the world don't people just leave the cities during the annual night of government sanctioned crime. He says a big reason is a financial incentive:
"I was wondering how you get people to stay for the first Purge, and what they do is they start monetizing it. People from Staten Island can easily go to Brooklyn for the evening, so what they do is start promising very decent sums of money for the very poor people in the neighborhood. It becomes a monetization of murder and violence, incentivizing killing and keeping people around for them to be victims. So you see the inception of how grotesque the idea of the Purge is, and the manipulation upon the society." (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
----- September 7, 2017 -----
** DRACUL: Paramount Pictures has acquired the rights to the prequel DRACUL with IT director Andy Muschietti possibly on board to helm, according to the Deadline web site. This is reportedly the first prequel authorized by the estate of DRACULA author Bram Stoker. DRACUL would re-team Muschietti with producers Barbara Muschietti and Roy Lee.
DRACUL was written by Dacre Stoker and J.D. Barker and is set in 1868. A 21-year-old Bram Stoker meets "an ungodly evil that he traps in an ancient tower all the while scribbling the events that led him there." (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** THE LODGERS: The story of a sister and brother haunted by a secret curse that forces them to remain in the large estate home left to them by their dead parents. But when a young man who falls in love with the sister tries to free her, his attempt sets off a deadly chain reaction.
** A QUIET PLACE: Paramount Pictures announced yesterday that principal photography is underway on director John Krasinski's horror film, starring husband and wife John Krasinski and Emily Blunt. The film is set on a farm where a family has been terrorized by a ghostly being for some time. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** Indonesian horror SATAN'S SLAVES: Here's the trailer for Joko Anwar's new film.
----- September 6, 2017 -----
** INSIDIOUS THE LAST KEY: In the supernatural thriller, which welcomes back franchise standout Lin Shaye as Dr. Elise Rainier, the brilliant parapsychologist faces her most fearsome and personal haunting yet: in her own family home. The film will arrive in theaters January 5, 2018.
** RAZORBACK: Russell Mulcahy's 1984 Australian monster film has received a 4K remaster ahead of a Blu-ray release this November 1st via Umbrella Entertainment. The film centers on a gigantic and vicious wild boar terrorizing the Australian outback, a 900 lb. beast that can rip a man in half and destroy a home in seconds and has set its sites on the small isolated community of Gamulla.
Sadly the disc will NOT include the gorier extended scenes, featured on the old Roadshow Home Video version, reinserted back into the film. Those original 35mm film elements are long lost, but an SD version of that VHS cut of the film is being included as a special feature. Melbourne's Roar Digital is behind the new 4K scan and restoration, and the disc will boast all-new extras including a discussion featurette produced by Cinemaniacs. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** THE SNOWMAN: Michael Fassbender plays a detective investigating the disappearance of a victim during the first snow of winter. He fears an elusive serial killer may be active again and with the help of a brilliant recruit (Rebecca Ferguson), the cop must connect decades-old cold cases to the brutal new one.
----- September 5, 2017 -----
** LAISSEZ BRONZER LES CADAVRES: TIFF Vanguard veterans Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani weaponize their aesthetic proclivities into an all-out bombardment of sensational style as they methodically adapt every devilish detail from the cult novel by Jean-Patrick Manchette and Jean-Pierre Bastid. A gang of thieves absconding with 250kg of stolen gold arrives at the abode of a listless artist caught in a bohemian love triangle. The scenario quickly escalates into a desperate day-long firefight between cops and robbers throughout the remote ruins of a Mediterranean hamlet — and genre and art-house tropes collide in a relentless reverie of action spectacle, exquisitely photographed on Super 16mm film.
Pivoting from the giallo-inspired imagery that enveloped their previous films, Cattet and Forzani trade in their razor blade–laden gloves for the bullets and biker jackets that characterize the pulpy Italian poliziotteschi crime films of the '60s and '70s. Still persistent of course is the filmmakers' signature penchant for the haptic fetishization of the human body, here most sensorially depicted whenever the film allegorizes the dire straits of its characters via a silhouetted cast of "Fates" pantomiming all manner of delirious depravity to an Ennio Morricone tune.
Mixing in some sun-baked spaghetti western imagery for good measure, LET THE CORPSES TAN is a wicked distillation of action cinema's core cinematographic ingredients (from crash zooms to whip pans), now radically redeployed for maximum visceral impact and delivered like a celluloid shotgun blast to the synapses.
** FRIEND REQUEST: Popular college student Laura (Alycia Debnam-Carey) has tons of friends, both on Facebook and IRL. She graciously accepts social outcast Marina's (Liesl Ahlers) online friend request, until Marina crosses the line and Laura unfriends her. To everyone's shock, Marina takes her own life in a ritual meant to torment Laura, which appears in a video posted on Laura's profile. Even though it wasn't Laura who posted the video, or other creepy content that begins appearing on her page, her Facebook friend count begins to dwindle as a result. When her real-life friends start dying mysterious, cruel deaths, Laura must figure out how to break the deadly curse before it's too late.
** ANOTHER WOLFCOP: A month has passed since the eclipse transformed hard-drinking Officer Lou Garou into the crime fighting hellion WolfCop. Although the Shape Shifters controlling the town have been extinguished, Woodhaven is far from returning to normal. Lou's liquor-fuelled antics and full moon outbursts are seriously testing his relationship with Officer Tina Walsh — the new Chief of Police. An old friend has mysteriously reappeared with a truly bizarre secret to share, and a homicidal new villain has emerged from the shadows looking to finish what the Shape Shifters started. To defeat this lethal adversary, it will take more than a lone wolf packing a pistol.
----- September 4, 2017 -----
** JEEPERS CREEPERS 3: For one night only via Fathom Events. On the last day of The Creeper's 23 day feeding frenzy, Sargent Tubbs teams up with a task force hell-bent on destroying the creature for good. The Creeper fights back in gory glory as his enemies get close to discovering his dark origins.
** Stephen King's IT sequel: Asked if the second part will have a higher budget, director Andres Muschietti not unsurprisingly responded: "Well, clearly I hope so". Muschietti has previously said that while the second half will focus on the adult versions of the characters in the present day, there will be scenes involving the kids as well as dialogue between the two timelines. There is also expected to be flashbacks throughout Derry's history, revealing numerous times IT's influence is seen in the community, and a visit to another dimension to face IT in its true form.
Muschietti's first film offers a more grounded conclusion, but he tells Yahoo Movies there's several reasons for this, and the second film will tackle the costly, FX-heavy and more otherworldly fight against the shapeshifting antagonist: "I really wanted to focus on the emotional journey of the group of kids. Getting in to that other dimension – the other side – was something that we could introduce in the second part.
In the book the perspective of the writing… is always with the Losers, so everything they know about Pennywise is very speculative and shrouded in obscurity, so I wanted to respect that mystery feeling of not knowing what's on the other side. I also wanted to leave something for the second half, so I didn't want to get in trouble with that – going into the macroverse or that transdimensional stuff – and keep it grounded, from the point of view of the kids.
There's another movie to expand into that. Also, there's a physical truth that it's a movie that has a budget. And I didn't want to get into a depiction of a realm that f—s up our budget, the creation of a world that will basically suck up half of our budget, and would have to sacrifice a lot of things. So basically it's a balancing act, but it's also intricately connected with the content, which is staying true to the emotional aspect of the book." (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** THE CROW for Sony Pictures: Sony Pictures has picked up distribution rights to THE CROW reboot which was previously in the works at Relativity for almost a decade. Various directors and actors have been attached over the years, most notably Jason Momoa, Luke Evans and Jack Huston were linked to the title role.
The project's fate was in limbo following the company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company emerged from Chapter 11 in April, but previously attached helmer Corin Hardy is no longer involved. The reboot is said to be a more faithful adaptation of the comic and follows a murder victim who returns from the dead, seeking vengeance on those who murdered him and his fiancee with the help of a mystical bird.
** NO DORMIRAS: In an abandoned psychiatric hospital, a theater company experiments with insomnia for the preparation of a stageplay. As the days without sleep go by, they cross new thresholds of perception, that expose them to the secrets of the place and the energies that inhabit it. When Bianca, a young actress , joins the cast, competing for the lead role, she must survive, not only the intensity of the work and her cast mates, but the unknown force that's pulling them towards a tragic outcome.
----- August 31, 2017 -----
** ANOTHER WOLFCOP: Vortex Words + Pictures have just announced a new partnership with A71 Entertainment and Black Fawn Distribution to release the outrageously funny horror sequel to theaters in Canada this December, followed by a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital home entertainment release through A71 and Black Fawn in 2018. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** THE MUMMY: Believe it or not: Tom Cruise's THE MUMMY has hit the magic sequelizer number--$400M+ worldwide. China is the #1 market w/ $91M. Universal Dark Universe might go forward after all.
** BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99: A former boxer named Bradley (Vince Vaughn) loses his job as an auto mechanic, and his troubled marriage is about to end. At this crossroads in his life, he feels that he has no better option than to work for an old buddy as a drug courier. This improves his situation until the terrible day that he finds himself in a gunfight between a group of police officers and his own ruthless allies. When the smoke clears, Bradley is badly hurt and thrown in prison, where his enemies force him to commit acts of violence that turn the place into a savage battleground.
----- August 30, 2017 -----
** Lucio Fulci's THE DEVIL'S HONEY: Severin Films is bringing the film uncut on September 26th. Additionally, a limited numbered edition slipcase (only 1000 units) with alternate NSFW artwork will be available exclusively from the Severin webstore.
Special Features Include:
- The Devil's Halsey: An Interview with Actor Brett Halsey
- Wild Flower: An Interview With Actress Corinne Cléry
- Producing Honey: An Interview With Producer Vincenzo Salviani
- The Devil's Sax: An Interview With Composer Claudio Natili
- Stephen Thrower on The Devil's Honey
- Fulci's Honey: An Audio Essay by Troy Howarth – Author of "Splintered Visions – Lucio Fulci And His Films"
- Alternate Opening
- Trailer
(thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** STRANGER THINGS Season 2: Here's lots of new character posters for the second season, which will hit Netflix on October 27, 2017, just in time for Halloween. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
----- August 29, 2017 -----
** HOUSEWIFE: Holly's childhood was a nightmare—at age 7, she watched her mother kill her sister and father. Twenty years later, Holly's dreams remain plagued by that painful memory. An unexpected reunion with an old friend further complicates matters, introducing Holly to a strange cult-like group that follows a celebrity psychic, one who takes a special liking to Holly. And because of him, her worst nightmares become shockingly real.
** THE ATONING: While they are haunted by ghostly apparitions, two parents try to protect their young son from a dark secret that could destroy their family.
** THE HOUSE OCTOBER BUILT 2: Recovering from the trauma of being kidnapped last Halloween by the Blue Skeleton – a group who take "extreme haunt" to another level – five friends decide they must face their fears in order to move on. Heading back out on the road to visit more haunted house attractions, signs of the Blue Skeleton start appearing again and a new terror begins.
----- August 28, 2017 -----
** RIP Tobe Hooper: The underrated horror director best known for helming THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE died Saturday in Sherman Oaks, Calif. He was 74. The Los Angeles County Coroner's Office said it was reported as a natural death. Willard Tobe Hooper was born in Austin, Texas and taught college before starting out in documentaries. He is survived by two sons.
** Dario Argento's SUSPIRIA 4K: Here's the first look at the much anticipated release from Synapse Films.
- Limited edition of only 6000 units produced
- Exclusive Steelbook packaging and collector's o-card sleeve, featuring
artwork from Malleus, Van Orton Design, Juan José Saldarriaga & Chris
MacGibbon
- Three disc [Two Blu-rays + One CD] limited collector's edition
containing a new 4K restoration of the original uncut, uncensored
Italian 35mm camera negative exclusively done by Synapse Films, with
color correction supervised and approved by Suspiria Director of
Photography, Luciano Tovoli
- Original 4.0 1977 English language LCRS sound mix not heard since the
theatrical release in 1977, presented in high-resolution DTS-HD MA 96
Khz/24-bit audio
- Italian 5.1 surround sound mix
- Two audio commentaries by authors and Argento scholars, Derek Botelho,
David Del Valle & Troy Howarth
- Do You Know Anything About Witches? – 30 minute Suspiria visual essay
written, edited and narrated by Michael Mackenzie
- Suzy in Nazi Germany – Featurette on the German locations from Suspiria
- A Sigh from the Depths: 40 Years of Suspiria – All-new anniversary
retrospective on the making of the film and its influence on cinema
- Olga's Story – Interview with star Barbara Magnolfi
- Original theatrical trailers, TV spots and radio spots
- Special Collector Edition Booklet containing an American
Cinematographer interview with Luciano Tovoli, liner notes by Derek
Botelho and restoration notes by Vincent Pereira & Don May, Jr.
- "International Classics" English "Breathing Letters" opening credit
sequence from U.S. release version
- Alternate All-English opening and closing credits sequences, playable
via seamless branching
- Newly translated, removable English SDH subtitles for the English
language version
- Newly translated, removable English subtitles for the Italian language
version
- Exclusive CD remaster of Goblin's Suspiria motion picture soundtrack,
containing additional tracks not included on the original 1977
soundtrack release.
** DEATH NOTE sequels: If director Adam Wingard's new film on Netflix proves popular, then you can expect a sequel. Speaking with THR, Wingard says Netflix wants to make at least two films if enough people watch the first one: "When I went to Netflix initially, I pitched it as at least a two-film series, maybe three, knowing this was the origin story. We definitely designed the film so it plays a closed loop. Sequels are never guaranteed. They have to be earned…
…At the end of the day, there are a lot of places to explore where to take Light. And ultimately the series is sort of about almost his downfall as a character. This is sort of the beginning of it or the origin of it. There are definitely lots of places to go, and we know generally where we would take it. Hopefully people will watch it and Netflix will order a sequel. They definitely are ready to. They just need people to watch it."
** THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS: Cate Blanchett is in negotiations to join Jack Black in an adaptation of John Bellairs' 1973 gothic horror novel THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS for Amblin Entertainment. Eli Roth is directing the tale which follows a recently orphaned boy who moves in with his uncle (Black) who turns out to be a very average witch.
Soon the boy finds himself in a world of magic and danger, especially when he discovers a clock inside the walls of his house that is designed to bring about doomsday. Blanchett will play Mrs. Zimmerman, the uncle's neighbor and best friend who is also a witch. Brad Fischer, James Vanderbilt and Eric Kripke will produce. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
----- August 24, 2017 -----
** HATCHET reboot VICTOR CROWLEY: The film will hit select U.S. theaters in October 2017 as part of Dark Sky Films' "Victor Crowley Road Show", wherein writer/director Adam Green (and other cast) will travel with and introduce the film at special one-night screening events across America. Internationally, the film is slated to bow at festivals worldwide – it will receive its international premiere this Saturday, August 26th at FrightFest in London, England. Adam Green and Kane Hodder will be in attendance for the gala screening. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** FRIDAY THE 13TH reboot: HANNIBAL TV Series writer and producer Nick Antosca was working on a version of the script that came very close to production before eventually getting scrapped. While speaking to Bloody Disgusting web site this week, Antosca detailed what his FRIDAY THE 13TH movie would have been about. He confirms his work was still only a first draft, and he discussed what projects influenced his approach:
"The Paramount FRIDAY THE 13TH movies. Plus JAWS, a little bit. We just wanted to make a classic Jason movie, with kids at camp who get slaughtered, and great kills and some characters you actually enjoy hanging out with til they die.
David Bruckner and I talked about how to make a consistent Jason throughout our movie, but nod to the different Jasons. I prefer supernatural Jason, personally. And I loved the imagery of him under the water.
We just accepted from the beginning that we would have to pick and choose elements of the mythology to make a coherent one within one movie. It's obviously not consistent over the course of the franchise, but you have a lot to work with. We adjusted the timeline a bit to make sense."
Antosca also confirmed that the plan was to have the reboot take place in the 1980s. However Paramount underwent a regime change and Antosca left the project which was finally yanked altogether from the schedule earlier this year after the dismal failure of RINGS. Antosca explains why his take didn't make any progress:
"I know Platinum Dunes was ready to go, they were enthusiastic. I heard various things, Paramount changed their mind about the 80's setting, they wanted more mythology. Also, there was some corporate changeover in the ranks there, and the people who were in charge when I was hired were no longer there. The new folks may have wanted to put their own stamp on it. It happens. I was curious to see the version they did make, and I was disappointed when that fell apart too. It shouldn't be that hard to make a FRIDAY THE 13TH movie." (thanks to Bloody-Disgusting.com)
** BESETMENT: Amanda Millard, struggling and desperate for a job, takes a position at a hotel in a small town in Oregon. It's a creepy, back country kind of town but owners Mildred Colvin and her son Billy seem nice enough at first. It's not long before Amanda discovers their real intentions, and her struggle to make a living becomes a nightmarish battle for survival. The film premiered on VOD June 6 and the DVD release is locked for September 5th from Uncorked Entertainment. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** NO DORMIRAS: In an abandoned psychiatric hospital, a theater company experiments with insomnia for the preparation of a stageplay. As the days without sleep go by, they cross new thresholds of perception, that expose them to the secrets of the place and the energies that inhabit it. When Bianca, a young actress, joins the cast, competing for the lead role, she must survive, not only the intensity of the work and her cast mates, but the unknown force that's pulling them towards a tragic outcome.
----- August 23, 2017 -----
** STRANGER THINGS Season 3 & 4: Series creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, have told the Vulture web site that STRANGER THINGS Season 3 is already a go, and a fourth and final season may be in the cards as well.
"We're thinking it will be a four-season thing and then out," says Ross. "They're going to have to get the f*ck out of this town! It's ridiculous! I don't know if we can justify something bad happening to them once a year," Matt added of where the story might go.
** JACKALS: Set in the 1980s, an estranged family hires a cult deprogrammer to take back their teenage son from a murderous cult, but find themselves under siege when the cultists surround their cabin, demanding the boy back.
** LITTLE EVIL: Meet Gary. He just married Samantha, the woman of his dreams. There's one problem, his stepson is the antichrist. Adam Scott and Evangeline Lilly star in the Netflix horror comedy from the director of TUCKER AND DALE VS. EVIL Coming to Netflix September 1.
** BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99: BONE TOMAHAWK writer/director S. Craig Zahler is back with a new genre film, which is coming out in theaters on Oct. 6, 2017.
** SLAUGHTER HIGH: Arriving for the first time on limited-edition Blu-ray uncut on October 31 from Lionsgate. A high school prank gone wrong comes back to haunt the offenders during their five-year high school reunion. From the makers of FRIDAY THE 13TH, SLAUGHTER HIGH includes all-new special features, including the "Going to Pieces" and "My Days at Doddsville" featurettes, an audio commentary with co-writers/directors George Dugdale and Peter Litten, and more! Restored and remastered, the limited-edition Vestron Video Collector's Series SLAUGHTER HIGH Blu-ray will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.97.
----- August 22, 2017 -----
** NOSFERATU remake for THE WITCH director: Actress Anya Taylor-Joy (SPLIT) is in negotiations to join the cast of the upcoming NOSFERATU remake, according to Variety. Robert Eggers, who directed Taylor-Joy in the 2015 film THE WITCH, will both direct and write the remake of the 1922 classic horror film for Studio 8. Chris Columbus and Eleanor Columbus will produce. (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** WISH UPON: The film will make its debut on Digital HD, Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and VOD on October 10th. The Blu-ray Combo Pack also includes the Director's Unrated Cut, featuring footage not seen in the theatrical release. Bonus materials on WISH UPON include "I Wish: The Cast Share What They Would Wish" (all formats except VOD), "Attic Tour with Joey King" (all formats except VOD), "Directing Darkness: John Leonetti and Cast Talk About Developing a Horror Film" (Blu-ray and Digital exclusive), and "Motion Comics: Lu Mei's Curse and Arthur Sands Reveal The Stories Behind The Previous Owners Of The Box" (Blu-ray and Digital exclusive).
** A DARK SONG: The film will be available on Blu-ray on DVD September 5th, 2017 from Scream Factory in conjunction with IFC Midnight. A determined young woman and a damaged occultist risk their lives and souls to perform a dangerous ritual that will grant them what they want.
** JIGSAW: Here's many cool new teaser posters for the upcoming film.
----- August 21, 2017 -----
** THE CONJURING Universe: After just one week in theaters around the globe, New Line Cinema's ANNABELLE CREATION has taken in more than $110 million, not only opening in the #1 spot in numerous markets, including North America, but quickly boosting filmmaker James Wan and producer Peter Safran's THE CONJURING universe of films over the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office. In making the announcement, Kroll said, "We are thrilled with the success of ANNABELLE CREATION and enormously proud to continue bringing this hugely popular THE CONJURING franchise to theaters everywhere. We congratulate our colleagues at New Line Cinema, our astute marketing and distribution teams, and everyone who put their collective creative energies together to tell such wonderfully frightening stories for movie audiences around the world to enjoy."
Toby Emmerich, President and Chief Content Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, stated, "This year marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of New Line, and without question the horror genre has always been an integral and important part of the company's DNA. While the genre has certainly evolved over the decades, watching the critical and commercial success of THE CONJURING universe has been truly spectacular and I am incredibly proud of all the talented people involved in making this happen."
Together, New Line's Richard Brener, President, Production, and Carolyn Blackwood, President, Content, Strategy & Operations, noted, "James Wan has a proven ability to tap into the minds of horror fans in a way few can. To reach this benchmark with just four films is truly remarkable. On behalf of everyone at New Line, we couldn't be more excited for him, producer Peter Safran, and all the filmmakers who were so instrumental in making each of these movies so successful." (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** M. Night Shyamalan's GLASS: Following the conclusion of SPLIT, GLASS finds Dunn (Bruce Willis) pursuing Crumb's (James McAvoy) superhuman figure of The Beast in a series of escalating encounters, while the shadowy presence of Price (Samuel L. Jackson) emerges as an orchestrator who holds secrets critical to both men. This riveting culmination of his worldwide blockbusters will be produced by Shyamalan and Jason Blum.
** JEEPERS CREEPERS 3: The upcoming sequel is set to score a limited release next month. Clocking in at 100 minutes, the film will hit September 26th with an announcement (and likely trailer) imminent.
** JIGSAW: Here's the new International poster for the upcoming sequel, which comes out on October 27.
** George Romero Limited Edition 6-Disc Box Set: Coming October 24th from Arrow Video is the George Romero "Between Night and Dawn" Limited Edition 6-Disc Box Set [Blu-ray + DVD].
Limited Edition Contents:
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard DVD presentations
- English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Reversible sleeves for each film featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx
- Limited Edition 60-page booklet featuring new writing on the films
THERE'S ALWAYS VANILLA
- Brand new 2K restoration from the original negative
- Brand new audio commentary by Travis Crawford
- Brand new interviews with actors Judith Ridley and Richard Ricci, producer Russ Streiner and - sound recordist Gary Streiner
- Digging Up the Dead - The Lost Films of George A. Romero - archive interview with Romero looking at his early films There's Always Vanilla and Season of the Witch Trailer
- Trailer
SEASON OF THE WITCH
- Brand new 4K restoration from original film elements
- Alternate extended cut
- Brand new audio commentary by Travis Crawford
- When Romero met Del Toro - celebrated filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro sits down with George Romero for this candid career-spanning conversation
- The Secret Life of Jack's Wife - archive interview with actress Jan White
- Alternate Opening Titles
- Trailers
THE CRAZIES
- Brand new 4K restoration from original film elements
- Brand new audio commentary by Travis Crawford
- Romero Was Here - featurette revisiting The Crazies filming locations in Evans City, PA
- Never Before Seen BTS footage
- 2016 Q&A with Lynn Lowry from Abertoir Film Festival
- Alternate Opening Titles
- Trailers
----- August 11, 2017 -----
** Darren Aronofsky's mother!: Here's yet another poster for the upcoming film.
** DEMON HUNTER: From Wild Eye Releasing comes DEMON HUNTER, writer-director Zoe Kavanagh's acclaimed horror-actioner, available on VOD August 15.
----- August 10, 2017 -----
** LEATHERFACE: Here's the Green Band trailer for the upcoming film which premieres on DirecTV on September 21st followed by a limited theatrical release and wide VOD release on October 20th.
** PHOBIA: Here's the trailer for the upcoming Anglo Italo anthology about fears.
** Stephen King's IT: Here's a new photo of the upcoming film.
----- August 9, 2017 -----
** HALLOWEEN reboot remake sequel: Writer Danny McBride recently spoke with Cinema Blend about the movie; "You know, it's not a remake," Danny McBride said. "It's actually, it's gonna continue the story of Michael Myers in a really grounded way. And for our mythology, we're focusing mainly in the first two movies and what that sets up and then where the story can go from there."
McBridge says that the film will start with the first two movies and essentially let the continuity play out after that, which essentially makes it HALLOWEEN III.
"Green and I are definitely going to [do] a straight-up horror," Danny McBride said. "HALLOWEEN has always been one of my favorite movies of all time. There's a simplicity and an efficiency to that first one that I think allows the movies just to be scary as hell. And so Green and I, our approach is to get back to that."
** CULT OF CHUCKY: Here's the cover of the upcoming Blu-ray/DVD release.
** Darren Aronofsky's mother!: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer star in mother!, directed by Darren Aronofsky. See it in theatres 9.15.
----- August 8, 2017 -----
** THE DEAD NEXT DOOR 2K restoration: Tempe Entertainment announces the launch of its Blu-ray label Tempe Digital with the September 26 release of the 1990 landmark independent shocker THE DEAD NEXT DOOR. Priced at $29.95 SRP, this 2-Disc Collector's Edition includes the same Blu-ray from the company's limited (and now out of print) 3-Disc Ultimate Edition, along with an all-new DVD featuring a collectible slipcover and three new bonus features.
** Universal Dark Universe: In a recent interview with IGN, THE MUMMY director Alex Kurtzman was asked about his status on the Dark Universe franchise. The Dark Universe, for those who don't know, is the Marvel Studios-esque "shared universe" idea that Universal Pictures is trying with the classic "Universal Monsters" like Dracula, the Wolfman, the Invisible Man, and the aforementioned Mummy. This was intended to start with the Luke Evans-led DRACULA UNTOLD, but that proved to be a non-starter with unimpressive box office returns and a critical panning.
Alex Kurtzman was intended to be one of the creative directors of the franchise along with fellow director Chris Morgan. However, THE MUMMY (2017) was also received with a critical panning and disappointing box office profits. Despite this, Universal seems intent on forcing this thing to stumble onwards, possibly due to sinking money on special effects and actors like Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe, and Johnny Depp.
When IGN asked Alex Kurtzman about his status in the Dark Universe series of films, he said, "You know the truth is, I don't know. I really don't know. I haven't really decided. Is the honest answer." That sounds like a frustrated and exhausted answer, which is understandable given that he's probably been fielding this question a lot lately and just had an expensive box office bomb on his hands.
They continued with asking him about how to know you're done with a franchise, to which Kurtzman said, "I have to stay interested in it. I have to feel like my passion is there for it. I think in the case of STAR TREK if your passion isn't there you shouldn't be doing it." (thanks to BleedingCool.com)
** CLOWNTERGEIST: Premiering on VOD September 12 from High Octane Pictures! Emma, a college student with a crippling fear of clowns, must come face to face with her worst fear when an evil spirit in the body of a clown is summoned terrorizing the town she calls home. One by one Emma and her friends receive a balloon with the exact time and date of when it will appear to kill them written on it. After receiving her balloon, Emma realizes that she has two days left to live, and must fight against the clock to find a way to survive.
----- August 7, 2017 -----
** FREDDY VS JASON 1997 teaser found: This was made six years before the movie would finally be released to theaters!
** Stephen King's THE DARK TOWER: Overcoming heinous reviews, the Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey-led fantasy feature is set to come in at a modest $19.5 million for the three days, topping the box-office.
** Stephen King's PET SEMETARY remake: The early word on the new first film of a two-film adaptation of Stephen King's IT is excellent. Should it succeed, director Andres Muschietti and his sister and the film's producer Barbara Muschietti have hinted that they're keen to tackle other works in the King canon.
The pair already own the film rights to King's 1981 sci-fi horror short story THE JAUNT, but in an interview published yesterday by The Toronto Sun, Barbara Muschietti says there's one book they're particularly keen on adapting: "We're huge fans of PET SEMETARY. If we can get our hands on that and do the PET SEMETARY we want to do, that will be something. One day, maybe."
The 1983 novel deals with a family who moves into a house by a busy highway, while a nearby nature walk leads to a rundown animal cemetery and, further on, an ancient Indian burial ground which can bring things back to life (albeit changed). (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** ANNABELLE CREATION: Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker's possessed creation, Annabelle. Here's a clip for the upcoming film.
----- August 3rd, 2017 -----
** DOWNRANGE: Stranded at the side of the road after a tire blowout, a group of friends become targets for an enigmatic sniper, in this wickedly entertaining bloodbath from Ryuhei Kitamura (VERSUS).
** Stephen King's IT: Here's an International trailer, featuring new scenes!
** LEATHERFACE: Here's a third poster for the upcoming film that will be released on DIRECTV on September 21, with a limited theatrical run and VOD release following on October 20.
----- August 2nd, 2017 -----
** MOTHER!: A couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence. From filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, MOTHER! stars Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer in this riveting psychological thriller about love, devotion and sacrifice. See it in theatres 9.15.
** MINDHUNTER: How do we get ahead of crazy if we don't know how crazy thinks? Two FBI agents (Jonathan Groff & Holt McCallany) set out on a sinister investigative odyssey to discover the brutal answers. MINDHUNTER. Coming to Netflix, October 13, 2017.
** Stephen King's IT: The British Board of Film Classification has announced that Andy Muschietti's IT, the upcoming first of a two-film adaptation of the iconic Stephen King novel, has a runtime of 135 minutes. The previous mini-series adaptation in 1990 ran 192 minutes, but the new IT film is essentially only half the book with a second film due to shoot early next year. That film will deal with the other half in which the kids have become adults (though there are expected to be flashback scenes with the same kids).
Barring the unexpected, the second film will have to clock in at no less than 85 minutes and more likely closer to the two-hour mark which would mean the pair together would run longer than the original mini-series by up to an hour. Clocking in at 1,140 pages, the book is one of King's larger works and so any adaptation needs a serious runtime to cover it. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** THE ICE CREAM TRUCK: Mary's husband gets relocated for work which allows her to move back to her suburban hometown. As her family ties up loose ends back home, Mary moves into their new house all alone and....waits. Yet in this idealistic world, something seems very odd. The Ice Cream Man, a symbol of youth and good times, starts killing some of her neighbors. Mary soon learns that the suburbs are scarier in more ways that she ever remembered.
