** Robert Eggers' WERWULF: The Hollywood Reporter reports that Eggers has co-written WERWULF with Sjón, and plans to direct the lycanthropy tale as his next feature.
Focus Features, who released NOSFERATU this past Christmas, will reunite with him to handle distribution, and the film has already set a Christmas Day 2026 release. Those involved are likely hoping to see success similar to what they had with NOSFERATU, which has become the director's highest-grossing film and made $156.3 million off a $50 million budget.
Details are under wraps, but the story is set to unfold in 13th century England and reportedly features dialogue that was true to the time period. It will also have translations and annotations for its use of Old English in the film. The film was also originally planned to be shot in black and white, but that is no longer the case. Eggers, Sjón, Chris and Eleanor Columbus will produce. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** HELL OF A SUMMER: The film follows 24-year-old camp counselor Jason Hochberg, who arrives at Camp Pineway thinking his biggest problem is that he feels out of touch with his teenage co-workers. What he doesn't know is that a masked killer is lurking on the campgrounds, brutally picking counselors off one by one.
** DROP: A widowed mother on her first date in years, who arrives at an upscale restaurant where she is relieved that her date, Henry is more charming and handsome than she expected. But their chemistry begins to curdle as Violet begins being irritated and then terrorized by a series of anonymous drops to her phone.
** THE DEAD THING: A woman ghosted by her charming dating app suitor refuses to let go of their relationship. THE DEAD THING is streaming on Shudder February 14.
----- January 22, 2025 -----
** THE TOXIC AVENGER remake: Cineverse has acquired the darkly comedic reimagining of Troma Entertainment's 1984 cult classic, THE TOXIC AVENGER, and confirmed it will hit cinemas in 2025. Peter Dinklage plays a downtrodden janitor who, after a freak accident, transforms into a mutant vigilante.
Directed by Macon Blair, Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood, Jacob Tremblay, Julia Davis and Taylour Paige also star in the film which will be unrated and aiming for a wide release later this year. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH: Sydney Sweeney is in negotiations to star in THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH at A24 and Picturestart. The project is said to be a "wildly revisionist and darkly comedic" take on the famed Edgar Allen Poe short story. The film will be shot this year. Playwright Charlie Polinger will write and direct, and executive produce alongside Lucy McKendrick. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** SEND HELP: Dylan O'Brien will star opposite Rachel McAdams in the darkly comic horror thriller SEND HELP which Sam Raimi will direct and produce for 20th Century Studios. Mark Swift and Damian Shannon penned the initial script with Scott Beck and Bryan Woods doing a re-write.
McAdams plays Linda, a woman on a business flight with her irritating boss Bradley (O'Brien). The plane crashes, leaving them stranded on a deserted island – the only two who survive. While Linda has serious survival skills, Bradley... does not. They must overcome past grievances and work together to survive, but ultimately, it's a battle of wills and wits to make it out alive. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** OPUS: From writer and director Mark Anthony Green and starring Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette Lewis, Murray Bartlett, Amber Midthunder, Stephanie Suganami, Young Mazino, and Tatanka Means. OPUS – In Theaters March 14.
----- January 21, 2025 -----
** SORORITY HOUSE MASSACRE 4K UHD: Coming soon to 4K UHD from Scream Factory.
** THE HUNT 4K UHD: Coming soon to 4K UHD from Shout Factory.
** THE CREEP TAPES Season One: Coming to Blu-ray on 4/1 from Shudder.
** Umbrella Entertainment update: Coming to 4K UHD in May from Umbrella Entertainment.
----- January 20, 2025 -----
** Arrow Video upcoming horror releases: Coming soon from Arrow Video are PERPETRATOR (2023), HUESERA THE BONE WOMAN (2022), DEADSTREAM (2022), SPEAK NO EVIL (2022), NIGHTWATCH (1994), NIGHTWATCH DEMONS ARE FOREVER (2023), THE SADNESS (2021) and HELLBENDER (2021).
** DEATH CYCLE: After the death of her sister, a woman is visited by a man looking to solve a series of murders by a motorcycle riding maniac. As their shared fear escalates, the killer's rampage continues, leaving them both questioning who the real monster is.
** THE WOMAN IN THE YARD: From director Jaume Collet-Serra. Opens in theaters on March 28, 2025.
** THE ARKANSAS PIGMAN MASSACRE: Set in 2004, two 12 year old girls embark on a camping trip in the remote woods with big brother Dylan. Little do they know that their peaceful getaway will turn into a nightmare when they encounter the notorious Pigman, a terrifying figure lurking in the forest.
----- January 19, 2025 -----
SMILE 2
About to embark on a new world tour, global pop sensation Skye Riley begins experiencing increasingly terrifying and inexplicable events. Overwhelmed by the escalating horrors and the pressures of fame, Skye is forced to face her dark past to regain control of her life before it spirals out of control.
The beautifully stunning and talented Naomi Scott stars in this absolutely wild ride of a sequel that takes the concept to another level... it actually had me jump, which never happens.
Paramount Pictures released the film in a beautiful 4K UHD SteelBook edition. It features a very good 2.00:1 Dolby Vision and HDR10 transfer. Multiples audio tracks are available with the English version in English Dolby Atmos/TrueHD 7.1 while the Spanish and French tracks are in Dolby Digital 5.1. Also available are English, English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles.
It features multiple extras such as Deleted and Extended scenes, Ear to Ear, The Rise and Fall of Skye Riley, Behind the Music, A New Smile, Smiler A New Monster, Turn That Frown Upside Down and Show Me Your Teeth. By far the coolest one being about the practical special effects but all of them are too short. There' also a commentary track with director Parker Finn. Finally, we get a Digital code included.
** UNTIL DAWN: Here's the full trailer for the upcoming live action adaptation of the Playstation video game!
** THE MONKEY: When twin brothers find a mysterious wind-up monkey, a series of outrageous deaths tear their family apart. Twenty-five years later, the monkey begins a new killing spree forcing the estranged brothers to confront the cursed toy.
** FEAR STREET PROM QUEEN: The upcoming film has landed an "R" MPA rating for "strong bloody violence and gore, teen drug use, language and some sexual references."
** SCREAM 7: Joel McHale is set to join the expanding cast of the seventh SCREAM film. McHale will play the role of Mark Evans, the husband of Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott. He joins newcomer Isabel May who is set to play the daughter of Sidney in the film.
Also back are Courteney Cox as Gale Weathers and Mason Gooding as Chad Meeks-Martin along with new to the franchise McKenna Grace, Asa Germann, Sam Rechner, Celeste O'Connor, and Anna Camp. The script is being written by Guy Busick, while James Vanderbilt, William Sherak, and Paul Neinstein are producing and Radio Silence will executive produce for Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
----- January 15, 2025 -----
** SCREAMBOAT: The horror film inspired by the 1928 first Mickey Mouse cartoon STEAMBOAT WILLIE which entered the public domain last January, has been pushed back. Iconic Events Releasing has shifted the U.S. theatrical release of the film from late January to April.
David Howard Thornton, best known for playing Art the Clown in the ultra-gory TERRIFIER franchise, will play the mouse Willie and looks appropriately silly for the film which will have dark comedy elements. In the film, a group of New Yorkers on a late-night ferry ride that turns deadly when a mischievous mouse begins a rampage, targeting unsuspecting passengers. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** IGOR AND THE LUNATICS: Coming soon with a new restoration from Vinegar Syndrome. After 16 years in prison, Igor and his gang are out and bent on taking revenge on the town that sent them up.
** YOU'RE NEXT 4K UHD: Coming soon to 4K UHD Steelbook from Lionsgate.
** THE GODSEND: Coming to Blu-ray on 3/18 from Kino Lorber.
----- January 14, 2025 -----
** THE SUBSTANCE: MUBI has announced a theatrical re-release for THE SUBSTANCE with the Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley-led body horror film returning to over 350 theaters nationwide from this coming Friday. The film originally debuted in cinemas on September 19th and became available to stream on October 31st. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** PRESENCE: A family moves into a suburban house and becomes convinced they're not alone. The new film from Steven Soderbergh. In theaters January 24.
** EVIL DEAD 4K UHD: Here's a look at the upcoming Walmart Exclusive Steelbook out on 3/18.
** WORLD WAR Z 4K UHD: Here's a look at the upcoming Walmart Exclusive Steelbook out on 3/18.
----- January 13, 2025 -----
** THE BROOD 4K: Here's a look at the upcoming Second Sight Films edition out 3/31.
** SCANNERS 4K: Here's a look at the upcoming Second Sight Films edition out 3/31.
** NIGHT OF THE CREEPS 4K UHD: Here's a look at the upcoming Collector's Edition!
** INFINITY POOL 4K UHD: Coming soon from Turbine.
----- January 10, 2025 -----
** 28 YEARS LATER: Empire has done a major feature piece on Danny Boyle's 28 YEARS LATER, the overall third film in the 28 DAYS LATER franchise and the first of a new trilogy. Boyle directed 2002's 28 DAYS LATER, but handed over the reins to Juan Carlos Fresnadillo who helmed 2007's 28 WEEKS LATER.
Boyle has now returned for 2025's 28 YEARS LATER, but gave the director's chair over to Nina DaCosta for the second of the new trilogy 28 YEARS LATER PART II THE BONE TEMPLE which has already been shot and opens in 2026. In the piece however, they confirmed that the third film will be directed by Boyle again. There's a caveat though – that third film won't go into production until they see the audience response to the first film.
Alex Garland pens the scripts for all three new films and says: "This is very narratively ambitious. Danny and I understood that. We tried to condense it, but its natural form felt like a trilogy."
Additionally it has also been confirmed that Cillian Murphy does NOT appear in the first film, even in a cameo, but could well return in the second and/or third films. Producer Andrew MacDonald says:
"We wanted him to be involved and he wanted to be involved. He is not in the first film, but I'm hoping there will be some Jim somewhere along the line. He's involved at the moment as an executive producer and I would hope we can work with him in some way in the future in the trilogy."
Its also been revealed that the film starts off on Holy Island, a tidal island off the UK coast which can only access the mainland at low tide. In addition, the rest of the world has reportedly remain largely unaffected by the zombie outbreak – the quarantine containing the problem primarily to the UK. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** ROUNDING: After a traumatic incident, a driven young medical resident transfers to a rural hospital for a fresh start, but the demons of his past start to catch up to him when he becomes consumed by the case of a patient with mysterious symptoms. ROUNDING opens in select theaters and on digital February 14.
----- January 9, 2025 -----
** AMERICAN PSYCHO remake: In recent months have come trade reports that film director Luca Guadagnino has been circling to direct a new adaptation of author Bret Easton Ellis' infamous novel AMERICAN PSYCHO. Now though, Ellis has shot down those reports claiming they're all a complete fabrication and he's not involved in anyway. Speaking on his podcast, he says:
"I have a feeling it's fake news. I heard somewhere, from someone, that there are no contracts. Austin Butler hasn't signed anything to play Patrick Bateman. Luca doesn't have a deal. Scott Burns, who is supposed to write the screenplay, doesn't have a deal either.
From various sources that I have, this is just fake news that was put out there to see how an audience is going to react. If it does exist, I am not involved, I have nothing to do with this, I might get some money if they do this, but I am not involved creatively on any level, and that is all I know." (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** THE MONKEY: The MPA rating for Osgood Perkins' upcoming Stephen King adaptation has been revealed. THE MONKEY has been Rated R "for strong bloody violent content, gore, language throughout and some sexual references." (thanks to ComingSoon.net)
** HEART EYES: For the past several years, the "Heart Eyes Killer" has wreaked havoc on Valentine's Day by stalking and murdering romantic couples. This Valentine's Day, no couple is safe.
----- January 8, 2025 -----
** George A. Romero's RESIDENT EVIL: In 1998, Constantin Film set out to bring RESIDENT EVIL, the legendary horror video game, to the big screen. They enlisted George A. Romero, the visionary director who redefined the zombie genre, to adapt the project. But despite the perfect pairing of horror's greatest minds, Romero's vision for RESIDENT EVIL was never realized. Now, for the first time, Salisbury's documentary uncovers the hidden story behind the project that captivated fans and the horror industry alike.
** DARK MATCH: A small-time wrestling company accepts a well-paying gig in a backwoods town only to learn, too late, that the community is run by a mysterious cult leader with devious plans for their match. With an ensemble cast led by living legend Chris Jericho, DARK MATCH premieres January 31 on Shudder.
** FORBIDDEN WORLD 4K UHD: Coming soon to 4K UHD from Scream Factory.
** THE SNOWMAN 4K UHD: Coming Soon on 4K UHD from Kino Lorber.
----- January 7, 2025 -----
** THE SUBSTANCE 2: Filmmaker Coralie Fargeat says she has no plans for a sequel to her highly acclaimed 2024 feature THE SUBSTANCE and certainly will be going with something quite different for her next film. She tells Variety: "The point of this movie to bring fresh things to the world. No sequels, no prequels… I'm going to be happy to bring something fresh to the world in a bit". (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** NOSFERATU 4K UHD: Here's a look at the upcoming 4K UHD/Extended Edition release.
** THE OTHERS: Nicole Kidman has around one hundred film and TV works to her name dating all the way back to the 1980s. But there's one role she says she'd love to revisit, one which she drew acclaim for but perhaps isn't as showy as some of her other work – Alejandro Amenábar's 2001 gothic supernatural tale THE OTHERS.
Speaking with The Guardian before the Golden Globes, she said: "Actually the character I would love to go back to is the character in THE OTHERS, Grace... because I feel like THE OTHERS gets overlooked and I loved that character."
The film unfolds in 1945 on the island of Jersey in the UK. She plays a mother desperate to protect her two young photosensitive children from the sunlight while also waiting for her husband who is off fighting in the war. As new staff join the house, Grace begins to experience supernatural phenomena. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** THE DAMNED: An ominous and chilling thriller, follows Eve and her crew as they come across a shipwreck and are faced with the moral dilemma to either help, or prioritize their own survival.
----- January 6, 2025 -----
** NOSFERATU: Robert Eggers stated in a recent interview with Esquire UK that an extended cut of NOSFERATU would be present on an upcoming physical release of the film. This marks the first time of talk of a longer version of the film being released, though a longer version was reportedly tested earlier this year.
** FEAR STREET: Author R.L. Stine has confirmed that three more films based on his FEAR STREET young adult horror novels are in development. Stine told THR: "The writers are working, so I've got my fingers crossed." Stine revealed the news of the number of projects whilst attending the GOOSEBUMPS THE VANISHING premiere.
The three films will follow on from Netflix's successful 2021 launch of a trilogy of films across the span of one month which proved a success for the streamer. A fourth film, based on his novel THE PROM QUEEN, has finished filming and is slated for sometime in 2025. The original book series features 51 books in total and has sold over 80 million copies by 2010. The books blend slasher and supernatural genres and it aims at older audiences than his kids books GOOSEBUMPS. (thanks to DarkHorizons.com)
** THE NAKED WITCH: Coming to Blu-ray on 5/13 from VCI.
** VISCERAL BETWEEN THE ROPES OF MADNESS: Coming to Blu-ray on 5/13 from Unearthed Films.
