Stores everywhere were packed has players scurried in to get their hands on the new Wii U console. Horror fans will be happy to know that Ubisoft's ZombiU is now available for the Nintendo Wii U. Jump into this first person shooter today for an all new zombie experience!

From the Press Release
Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, the studio behind critically acclaimed titles like From Dust, Beyond Good & Evil and, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, ZombiU puts players in the middle of London circa 2012, where an outbreak has infected the population, destroying their humanity and turning them into mindless monsters preying on the flesh of the few remaining survivors. This fear-fueled first-person shooter invites takes all the horror, chaos and tension found in the best of the horror genre and adds original interactive elements, including a unique death mechanic that puts players in the body of a different survivor each time they die, allowing them to track and take down their old, infected characters, recover their equipment and see if they can stay alive just a little bit longer this time.

ZombiU showcases the innovative features of the Nintendo Wii U Controller and creates new game experiences not possible on other consoles. The Nintendo Wii U Controller serves as the player’s ultimate survival kit, called the “Bug Out Bag.” The Bug Out Bag is a backpack containing all the maps, tools, weapons and supplies that players can scavenge from the limited resources available in the devastated cityscape. ZombiU also will use the Nintendo Wii U Controller’s touch screen, gyroscope and camera to create a tactile connection between gamers and the in-game world. Finally, ZombiU features a distinctive multiplayer adversarial mode that allows one player to take on the role of “Zombie Master,” spawning and controlling enemies from a top-down view on the Nintendo Wii U GamePad while the second player fights for survival on the big screen in first-person shooter view with a Wii wireless classic controller.

“ZombiU is a dark and daunting game that gamers will love to play again and again,” said Guillaume Brunier, “ZombiU takes advantage of the Wii U’s one of a kind capabilities and will be a launch title that every gamer will want to sink their teeth into.” producer, Ubisoft.

You can visit the official Zombi U website to learn more about the game.

DmC: Devil May Cry will be available for Xbox 360 and PS3 on January 15, 2012. Players can now download the demo for the video game on PSN and XBLA. Make sure to check out the new demo trailer and read on to learn more about DmC: Devil May Cry.

From the Press Release
The next installment of the multi-million selling Devil May Cry franchise, DmC sees Capcom collaborating with UK based Ninja Theory to explore new frontiers for the series. DmC is in development for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system.

From its debut on PlayStation 2 in 2001, the Devil May Cry series has been synonymous with stylish action, rewarding combat and a brash, smart-talking protagonist. This ‘Devil May Cry DNA’ remains but is now injected with a dark and brutal gameplay that promises to redefine the franchise.

Set against a contemporary backdrop, DmC will depict a duplicitous world where nothing is ever as it seems and the line between good and evil is constantly blurred. Spurred into action by the promises of a trusted relation, Dante bursts into this world intent on revenge at any cost. DmC will retain the series’ signature mix of sword and gunplay but add additional weapons, all new powers and a revitalized gameplay system as players encounter the game’s devilish mix of enemies and navigate the rich, interactive environment.

A true collaboration, DmC sees the team at Ninja Theory joined by key staff from Capcom’s R&D division. Creative direction for the title will be undertaken by Ninja Theory’s Tameen Antoniades and overseen by Hedeaki Itsuno, who has worked on all previous titles in the series. DmC is being co-produced by Capcom’s Japanese and North American development operations.

You can visit the official Capcom website to learn more about the game.

Aliens Colonial Marines will release havoc on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC next year. Players will once again battle against the blood thirsty necromorphs. A brand new multiplayer trailer has been release for the video game entitled Survivor. Read on to check out this new video, if you dare!

Aliens: Colonial Marines begins with an ostensibly abandoned ship, the U.S.S. Sulaco, recovered in orbit around LV-426. Players lead a group of highly trained United States Colonial Marines as they board the deserted craft to uncover the fate of the crew. They will have to fight to survive unspeakable horrors and their own anxieties as they chase down the truth behind a galaxy-spanning deception that places humanity at the mercy of the most murderous and deadly species in the universe. Aliens: Colonial Marines features authentic environments, such as the surface of LV-426 and Hadley’s Hope, weapons inspired by the film series and is designed to provide an exhilarating and engaging new chapter in the Aliens universe.

Aliens Colonial Marines will be available for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on February 12, 2013.

You can visit the official Aliens Colonial Marines website to learn more about the game.

A trailer has finally made its way online for the latest project from Dimension Films with director Scott Stewart (Priest, Legion), Dark Skies, and we have it for you right here free of any probes. Or if that's your thing... just ask nicely and we'll be right over.

Look for it in theatres on February 22, 2013!

Josh Hamilton, Keri Russell, and Dakota Goyo star. The film is more modest-budget scare fare from Insidious and Paranormal Activity producers Blumhouse Productions and Alliance Films.

Synopsis
Dark Skies is a psychological thriller about a suburban couple whose lives become a nightmare when a terrifying alien presence enters their home each night to prey upon their children. Increasingly isolated from skeptical friends and neighbors, the couple are forced to take matters into their own hands to save their family.

Finally the new film from Dread director Anthony DiBlasi has a home Stateside. The film is set to kick off Archstone Distribution's 2013 slate. The Los Angeles-based international sales company is branching out into US distribution and plans to release up to six titles in the New Year.

Cassadaga will open in the top 10 markets in the second half of 2013.

Cassadaga stars Kelen Coleman, Kevin Alejandro, Louise Fletcher, Rus Blackwell, Hank Stone, J LaRose, and Amy LoCicero.

Synopsis
Devastated by the death of her younger sister, Lily Morel seeks solace at the spiritualist community of Cassadaga. But instead of finding closure, she contacts something else – the vengeful ghost of a murdered young woman. With her life crumbling all around her, Lily races to unravel the mysterious circumstances surrounding the woman’s death – a task that will bring her face-to-face with a sadistic serial killer known only as "Geppetto".

Click on the image below for the NOT SAFE FOR WORK version of the festival one-sheet.

It's been awhile since we've heard anything about Joe Wilson's web series Vampire Mob, but he dropped us a line today with some casting news for the third season.

Sheryl Lee, from the iconic David Lynch series "Twin Peaks" and John Carpenter's Vampires, will be among the VMob Season Three cast, playing Miss Martini's boss.

Synopsis:
Vampire Mob is an indie comedy series about Don Grigioni (John Colella), a Mafia hitman who thought he had the solution to his problems: become a vampire. After biting his wife, Annie (Reamy Hall), who then bites her mother, Virginia (Marcia Wallace), Don’s problems get worse when his mother-in-law moves in ... for eternity.

Vampire Mob's cast also includes Chris Mulkey ("Boardwalk Empire"), Retta ("Parks and Recreation"), Emmy nominee Andy Lauer ("Caroline in the City), and Vincent Guastaferro ("NYPD Blue").

Check out both Seasons 1 and 2 below, and for more visit VampireMob.com along with Vampire Mob on Twitter and Vampire Mob on Facebook.

Looking for a way to bring your dysfunctional family together this Thanksgiving? Then how about sharing with everyone this new "brown band" trailer for ThanksKilling 3, with an intro by Turkie himself?!?

Synopsis
In ThanksKilling 3 the fowl-mouthed villain Turkie is back and hacking his way to find the last copy of ThanksKilling 2, which has landed in the hands of a group of disturbingly crude puppets.

The death toll rises as Turkie carves through the likes of Flowis the rapping grandma, Rhonda the bisexual space worm, Yomi the puppet in search of her mind, and their equally ridiculous friends who all travel through fantastical settings such as the FeatherWorld and Turkey Hell. With the guidance of Uncle Donny (Dan Usaj), the wig-wearing inventor of the PluckMaster 3000, Jefferson (Joe Hartzler), Head of Security at ThanksgivingLand, and a WiseTurkey, the gatekeeper to the FeatherWorld, our collection of raunchy characters hope to fend off the murderous rampage of Turkie, all while trying to help Yomi find her mind.

Directed by Jordan Downey, produced by Ricky Fosheim, and written by Kevin Stewart, Jordan Downey and Mike Will Downey, this hilariously gory sequel to cult hit ThanksKilling is the first movie to skip its own sequel. Gobble, Gobble, Motherf***er!

The flick is now available on iTunes and VOD.

This is it, kids! The day we gorge ourselves after spending a good portion of our morning elbow deep up the ass of a dead bird in search of The Bag™. Sure such behavior in any other situation would be cause for therapy, but today we give thanks for the experience!

There's a lot of things for us to be thankful for here at Dread Central. Good movies. Bad movies. So bad that they're good movies. And of course the miraculous times each year in which we're all not suffering some form of disasters, tragedies, illnesses, or in my own personal case... exploding organs that led to my stomach being shaved by a burly Persian man with lube in one hand and clippers in the other. Yep, I won't be forgetting 2012 anytime soon.

As always we'd like to take this time to thank our writing staff both old and new. You guys are the diesel fuel that keeps our engine running like a champ. As I said once already, every day working with you cats is indeed something to be thankful for. If only for the plethora of innuendos associated with the pen name Doctor Gash. You're all sexy bitches and superstars, and we love each of you dearly.

Then there's you... our faithful readers. It's you who allow us to be Dread Central. It's your support that keeps everything moving. We even like when you yell at us from time to time because it keeps us on our toes. We know the anger only comes from passion, and we could never fault you for that. We hope you see that very same passion in our work. We love you, and we'll never ever forget or take for granted what you guys bring to the table. You're our peers, and this site is just as much yours as it is ours.

May everyone's Thanksgiving day be filled with laughs, love, and lunacy, and may your early morning hunt sticking your hand up a dead bird's ass until you find the dreaded Bag™ housing its entrails and neck be swift, painless, and non-psyche scarring.

Thank you guys for all that you do. You've no idea how much you mean to us. Sincerely. Eat, drink, and be scary!

We're all beyond excited for Guillermo del Toro's next film Pacific Rim and are ready to devour any news about it like a Thanksgiving turkey. Case in point: this latest video that's hit the web which offers what could be a look at one of the flick's Jaegers (that's Del Toro speak for giant robot).

Look for Pacific Rim in theatres July 12th of 2013. Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Charlie Day, Ron Perlman, Rinko Kikuchi, Max Martini, Rob Kazinsky, Clifton Collins, Jr., and Diego Klattenhoff star.

Travis Beacham's script is set in 2025, the 12th year of a war against alien creatures who reside in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The story finds a group of humans banding together to create and pilot massive robots to fight the giant creatures threatening to destroy Earth.

Synopsis
From acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro comes Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ epic sci-fi action adventure Pacific Rim.

When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes--a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)--who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse.

Despite the show's recent cancellation, fans of "666 Park Avenue" should still receive some closure when the series ends its run on ABC as executive producers David Wilcox and Matt Miller promise they are "building to a powerful and surprising series finale."

Wilcox and Miller told TVLine they were given enough time to turn their swan song into a series finale, adding, "We hope fans of the show continue watching all the way to the end of Jane and Henry’s incredible journey to the dark side... where all your questions will be answered.”

As luck would have it, DVR data released last week showed the ratings for the thriller’s November 4 episode spiking a staggering 77 percent — raising hopes that ABC might un-ring the cancellation bell. The news prompted leading man Dave Annable to vent on Twitter that ABC “f—ed up” by axing the series. But it’s a decision the network appears to be standing by. While ABC president Paul Lee calls the DVR surge “amazing,” it’s not enough to offset the show’s miniscule live numbers. “It’s wonderful to see the passion [these] shows have,” he says. “We just have to make sure we monetize it.”

“666 Park Avenue” stars Rachael Taylor (“Charlie’s Angels,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” Transformers) as Jane Van Veen, Dave Annable (“Brothers & Sisters,” “Reunion”) as Henry Martin, Robert Buckley (“One Tree Hill,” “Lipstick Jungle”) as Brian Leonard, Mercedes Masöhn (“The Finder,” “Chuck,” “Three Rivers”) as Louise Leonard, Helena Mattsson (Iron Man 2, “Nikita,” “Desperate Housewives”) as Alexis Blume, and Samantha Logan as Nona Clark, with Vanessa Williams (“Desperate Housewives,” “Ugly Betty,” Shaft, Soul Food) as Olivia Doran and Terry O’Quinn (“Lost,” “Millennium,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “Alias,” “The West Wing,” “Jag”) as Gavin Doran.

For more info visit the official "666 Park Avenue" website, "like""666 Park Avenue" on Facebook, and follow "666 Park Avenue" on Twitter (@666ParkAve).

Before you have your annual overdose of tryptophan, here's a quick fix of horror TV previews for "American Horror Story: Asylum" Ep. 7 - "Dark Cousin," BBC America's "Ripper Street," and The CW's "Winter Sizzle."

"Dark Cousin" is an episode we've been excited about for a while now as it's the first appearance of Frances Conroy, who had such great chemistry with series star Jessica Lange during the first season. And from the preview, it looks to have only gotten better.

"American Horror Story: Asylum - Episode 7: “Dark Cousin” (airing November 28th at 10:00 pm e/p)
Sister Mary Eunice is terrified to discover a dark angel has descended on Briarcliff. Kit makes a bold move to be reunited with Grace. Written by Tim Minear; directed by David Semel.

"Ripper Street," starring MATTHEW MACFADYEN (Anna Karenina, MI-5, Pride and Prejudice), JEROME FLYNN ("Game of Thrones"), ADAM ROTHENBERG ("Alcatraz"), MYANNA BURING (The Twilight Saga, White Heat) and DAVID DAWSON ("Luther,""Secret Diary of a Call Girl"), premieres Saturday, January 19, 2013, at 9/8c on BBC America.

Synopsis:
History's most notorious serial killer, Jack the Ripper, tore through London. Now, the detectives who were on the case have to pick up the pieces. In the aftermath of the murders, can anyone keep order in the blood-stained London Streets?

Haunted by the failure to catch London's most evil killer, Inspector Edmund Reid (Macfadyen) now heads up the notorious H Division, the toughest district in London's East End. Charged with keeping order in the chaotic streets of Whitechapel, Inspector Reid is soon drawn deep into the seedy criminal underworld of Victorian London -- where fear always lurks that each new murder could mark the return of The Ripper.

Finally, see what's happening with your favorite shows on The CW like "Supernatural,""The Vampire Diaries," and our newest obsession, "Arrow," during the upcoming winter episodes.

In just one week, on November 30th to be exact, director Ben Wheatley's dark comedy Sightseers arrives in the UK, and we have a new clip from the flick to share. Go around to get to it before anyone else!

Edgar Wright is the film's executive producer, and actors Alice Lowe and Steve Oram wrote the script with additional material from Amy Jump.

Related Story:New Sightseers Ad Campaign Is Classified

Katherine Butler, Film4 Senior Commissioning Executive, called the film "hilariously twisted" while Lizzie Francke, Senior Production Executive at BFI Film Fund, added: "'Sightseers' takes us on a bizarre journey through some of Britain's most offbeat tourist destinations."

Synopsis
Chris (Steve Oram) wants to show Tina (Alice Lowe) his world, and he wants to do it his way - on a journey through the British Isles in his beloved Abbey Oxford Caravan. Tina's led a sheltered life, and there are things that Chris needs her to see - the Crich Tramway Museum, the Ribblehead Viaduct, the Keswick Pencil Museum and the rolling countryside that separates these wonders in his life. But it doesn't take long for the dream to fade. Litterbugs, noisy teenagers and pre-booked caravan sites, not to mention Tina's meddling mother, soon conspire to shatter Chris' dreams and send him, and anyone who rubs him up the wrong way, over a very jagged edge...

Who's ready for round two of some good old fashioned Thanksgiving face-stuffing? I know we all are, and here are some new viral images from Texas Chainsaw 3D to kick-start your hunger for blood!

In theaters January 4, 2013, Texas Chainsaw 3D is directed by John Luessenhop from a screenplay by Adam Marcus, Debra Sullivan and Kirsten Elms. Dan Yeager, John Dugan, Bill Moseley, Alexandra Daddario, Sue Rock, Tania Raymonde, Scott Eastwood, Gunnar Hansen, Tobe Hooper, Paul Rae, Keram Malicki-Sánchez, Ritchie Montgomery, Trey Songz, Marilyn Burns, Shaun Sipos, Thom Barry and Richard Riehle star.

Related News:Texas Chainsaw News, Interviews, Set Visit, and More!

Synopsis
Texas Chainsaw 3D continues the legendary story of the homicidal Sawyer family, picking up where Tobe Hooper’s 1974 horror classic left off in Newt, Texas, where for decades people went missing without a trace. The townspeople long suspected the Sawyer family, owners of a local barbeque pit, were somehow responsible. Their suspicions were finally confirmed one hot summer day when a young woman escaped the Sawyer house following the brutal murders of her four friends. Word around the small town quickly spread, and a vigilante mob of enraged locals surrounded the Sawyer stronghold, burning it to the ground and killing every last member of the family – or so they thought.

Decades later and hundreds of miles away from the original massacre, a young woman named Heather learns that she has inherited a Texas estate from a grandmother she never knew she had. After embarking on a road trip with friends to uncover her roots, she finds she is the sole owner of a lavish, isolated Victorian mansion. But her newfound wealth comes at a price as she stumbles upon a horror that awaits her in the mansion’s dank cellars…

"Supernatural" and "The Vampire Diaries" return from their Thanksgiving break next week on The CW, and we have clips to share from "Hunteri Heroici" and "My Brother's Keeper," respectively.

"Supernatural" Episode 8.08 - "Hunteri Heroici" (airs 11/28/12, 9-10 pm)
CARTOONS AREN’T ALWAYS FUNNY — Castiel (Misha Collins) tells Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) that he’s decided to become a hunter like them. Sam and Dean aren’t sold on the idea but agree to investigate a case Cas found where a man’s heart literally burst through his chest.

The guys discover there has been more than one odd murder in the small town, and all of them resemble cartoon deaths.

Paul Edwards directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb.

For more info visit "Supernatural" on cwtv.com, "like""Supernatural on Facebook, and follow @CW_network on Twitter.

"The Vampire Diaries" Episode 4.07, "My Brother's Keeper (11/29/12 airdate)
THE MISS MYSTIC FALLS PAGEANT — Caroline (Candice Accola) does her best to be there for Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Elena (Nina Dobrev) in a tough time. Damon (Ian Somerhalder) tries to convince Stefan to help him uncover Prof. Shane’s (guest star David Alpay) motives, but Stefan is intent on carrying out a different plan with Klaus (Joseph Morgan).

At the annual Miss Mystic Falls Pageant, Elena and Caroline give April (guest star Grace Phipps) advice on which dress to wear, while Tyler (Michael Trevino) and Hayley (guest star Phoebe Tonkin) work together on a secret project and Damon confronts Prof. Shane with his suspicions.

Alarmed by the vivid nightmares he’s having, Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen) turns to Matt (Zach Roerig) for help, but the situation escalates sooner than anyone expected.

Olympic Gold Medalist Gabrielle Douglas also makes an appearance. Jeffrey Hunt directed the episode written by Caroline Dries and Elisabeth R. Finch.

For more check out "The Vampire Diaries" on cwtv.com, "like""The Vampire Diaries" on Facebook, and follow "The Vampire Diaries" on Twitter.

Here in the States some of us are still trying to forget the horrors of the failed teen horror flick Cry Wolf so hopefully this new tale of humorous terror from our friends across the pond can help with their similarly titled film Crying Wolf.

Crying Wolf is a comedy horror flick from Tirana Films International and Great Dayne Entertainment starring Caroline Munro, Gary Martin, Joe Egan, Kristofer Dayne and Ian Donnelly. Tony Jopia directs.

The story is about the antics of a group of young locals in a Cotswolds village who become werewolves after one of them is bitten. The flick will be released in cinemas and on DVD worldwide in 2013. Check out the trailer below.

Argentina has been a wellspring of quality horror for many years now, and with the release of its latest revenge tale When Your Flesh Screams (Cuando tu carne grite Basta) we're hoping the country's bloody hot streak continues.

Look for more on writer/director Guillermo Martinez's film soon. Dig on the trailer and artwork below.

Synopsis
The story revolves around Martina, a biology student who, after moving from her hometown to complete her studies, decides to undertake an excursion to the outskirts of the city in search of rare and exotic specimens for research. Not finding the specimen after a long search, she decides to rest by the roadside, where her new psychotic neighbors propose to take her to the woods, where they claim is the specimen she seeks. Martina accepts the crossing naturally, but on the way the thugs kidnap her, determined to cause all sorts of sinister and gruesome acts, both physical and psychological. The story takes an unexpected turn when Martina decides to release her pent- up anger.

Our buddies over at Bloody Disgusting nailed down the teaser trailer premiere for the next film adaptation based on a novel by Brian Keene, Dark Hollow. Read on for the gory details and of course to check out the eye candy.

From the Press Release
The Devil’s Rock director Paul Campion’s adaptation of US horror author Brian Keene’s novel Dark Hollow has been picked up for world sales by Raven Banner Entertainment. After being pitched at Frontières: The 2012 Fantasia Film Festival Co-production Market, the Canadian genre specialists negotiated the deal with the horror film’s producers Leanne Saunders and Daniel Warwick.

On a walk through local woods rumoured to be haunted, writer Adam Shay come across a strange sight: a statue of a half-man, half- goat creature, a satyr from ancient legends, that comes to life before his eyes. Soon, women in town begin disappearing, summoned to the woods by the satyr’s hypnotic piping. When Adam gathers his friends to hunt down the satyr and save the women, what they uncover is an unholy evil hell-bent on protecting itself and spreading its seed...

Actor Shane Rangi ("Spartacus," Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings) is attached to play the satyr Hylinus, with Weta Workshop in New Zealand attached to create the special makeup effects.

The land of the Great White North is constantly churning our horror flicks, and another ghostly tale which is said to be Shining-esque in nature is on its way. Of course we have the first word and artwork for you!

The movie known as Becoming was directed by Omar Naim and stars Justin Bartha (The Hangover) and Rachel Nichols (P2, Red Eye). Look for more on it soon as it is in post-production.

Becoming is a dramatic supernatural thriller about Alex and Lisa, an ordinary couple who come face to face with an ancient evil. While on a road trip retracing family roots, Alex is gradually taken over by a malevolent entity, which slowly begins to replace his identity piece by piece. Though he still looks like the man she loves, this new Alex has dark and disturbing plans for Lisa and will use her trust and love against her at every turn. By combining the naturalism of Blue Valentine with the tension of The Shining, Becoming forges a new path for psychological horror.

ET Canada just scored an interview with Daniel Radcliffe on the Squamish, BC, set of the currently filming Horns from Alexandre Aja, and we have a bit of the video to show you right here.

From the sounds of things, Horns will provide horror fans with a good balance of dark and light; Radcliffe tells ET's Erin Cebula , “It is very dark, but it is also very very funny.” However, Daniel does reveal one of the things that he thinks helped secure the role for him. “I have a lot of knowledge about the devil as it turns out,” he admits.

Mandalay Pictures’ Horns stars Daniel Radcliffe, Max Minghella, Juno Temple, James Remar, Joe Anderson, and Kelli Garner. Based on the best-selling novel by Joe Hill, Horns is being directed by Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, Piranha 3D, High Tension) from an adapted screenplay by Keith Bunin ("In Treatment"). Producers are Riza Aziz, Joey McFarland, and Mandalay Pictures President Cathy Schulman. Joe Hill and Red Granite’s Joe Gatta are executive producers.

Synopsis:
Horns, a supernatural thriller driven by fantasy, mystery, and romance, follows Ig Perrish (Radcliffe), the number one suspect for the violent rape and murder of his girlfriend, Merrin (Temple). Hungover from a night of hard drinking, Ig awakens one morning to find horns starting to grow from his own head and soon realizes their power drives people to confess their sins and give in to their most selfish and unspeakable impulses – an effective tool in his quest to discover the true circumstances of his late girlfriend’s tragedy and for exacting revenge on her killer.

This rock and roll infused dark fantasy explores why bad things happen to good people and what the loss of true love can do to a man. The widely acclaimed book was on the New York Times best seller list for six weeks and has become an international bestseller as well.

Kern Saxton made his directorial debut with a horrific thriller entitled Sushi Girl starring Tony Todd and Mark Hamill, which will have its VOD release on November 27 followed by a limited theatrical run and DVD/Blu-Ray release early in 2013.

Saxton sat down with Dread Central to talk about making this memorable film.

Saxton was asked to describe Sushi Girl (review) for those yet to see the film. "Is it cheesy to say, thrills, chills, suspense, blood and gore?" Saxton joked. "It's interesting because it's a hard film to classify. It's a blend of so many things. We really straddled the line between thriller and horror. It's not truly a horror film, but it does trend that way enough to keep horror fans satisfied. I think that's one of the concepts we had in mind originally to net a broader audience. We said let's get the people who love this genre, while at the same time getting the people that love that genre."

On his vision of Sushi Girl while writing the film Saxton said, "It's a cool, fun movie. Kind of an ode to exploitation films, but I wanted to do it seriously and not tongue-in-cheek like Grindhouse does. I think we elevated it because it's not really playing in the depths of the old exploitations films that we might have started off using as a reference point. At the time I was writing it, I was watching a lot of crazy Japanese films like Branded to Kill. So there's a lot of weird stuff like that. There's some Audition in there as well. Especially when we had the idea with the sushi. And then, absolutely, there's some Tarantino in there, but there's also Kubrick, Sam Peckinpah and stuff like that."

Sushi Girl carries a powerhouse cast including Tony Todd, Mark Hamill, Andy Mackenzie and Noah Hathaway. Saxton talked about putting that team together. "The casting was really interesting," Saxton said. "Basically, we hit a bump in the road where we were going to shoot, then financing fell out and we had to wait a year before we could get it back up and running again. We were going to get it done for a low amount of money, and we were originally going to do it for an even lower amount of money so it was amazing to get what we eventually got. Everyone responded really well to the material. But I think the waterfall really started happening when Tony Todd signed on. We had gotten Jimmy Duval and Andy Mackenzie on board through friendlier connections and we had a casting director named Zora DeHorter who was really awesome finding great people for us left and right. It was just a matter of getting the people attached to such a low-budget project. It was a little difficult."

As Saxton said, the addition of Tony Todd to the cast made all the difference. "When Tony came on board it was a little bit more legit. I mean, he's Candyman," Saxton said. "Mark (Hamill) was saying when he first heard about the film that he felt safer with Tony signed on because he knew Tony would anchor it."

And the addition of Hamill turned out to be a stroke of brilliance as he delivers an incredible performance in the role of Crow. "He hadn't been on-screen for awhile, at least at the time we were shooting he hadn't been in any big screen roles and he asked me why I wanted him to play this role because it was so different from anything he had done before," Saxton said. "He said, 'Why do you see me in this role?' And I said, 'Well, you're The Joker. This is perfect for you.' And that's how it came about." However, initially Saxton never thought they could land Hamill in the role. "When we were discussing who could bring the role of Crow to life, somebody brought up Mark and immediately we were all like 'Yeah, right. Like Luke Skywalker is going to be in this movie. No way.' Then we thought, 'That would be really, really awesome. We should do everything we can do to get him in this movie.' And that was a typical situation with this film. We had a roadblock and it was either we stay in line and make a lower budget movie, or we pump it up and make it the movie that it needs to be, that it's begging to be. So we stepped up to the plate and we got it done and we made a better movie for it."

But getting over those roadblocks was not always an easy task for Saxton and the rest of the production team. "It took a year when we had to shut the production down and find more money," Saxton said. "When we got back up and running a couple of names from the cast were no longer available, so we had an emergency casting session with the producers and that's when we came up with Mark Hamill and we found Noah Hathaway through Facebook. He was in Amsterdam and we basically pulled him out of retirement and he hasn't looked back since."

Sushi Girl has a gritty, encapsulated feel that is very reminiscent to films like Reservoir Dogs. Saxton spoke about the feel of the film. "It's inevitable to make that comparison because it's such a confined film," Saxton said. "I watched Reservoir Dogs to see how he handled filming in a location where it was so contained and there wasn't a lot of movement in terms of space. Trying to see how to keep the location looking fresh."

The ambiance of the location of the sushi bar provides is a great backdrop for the true strength of the film, the magnetic characters and the fantastic work done by each member of the cast. "It's interesting because the performances all have this mutation,"You can hear it in Mark's performance. At first he starts out kind of light and boppish. Then he gets angrier as the film goes on and he becomes this insidious, disturbingly frightening guy who will rip your face off.".

To have names like Tony Todd and Mark Hamill in the cast of your first feature is a dream come true for any director and the experience was not wasted on Saxton. And the fact that they stuck with the project even when it stalled for lack of funding is a testament to the quality of the script. "It's great validation to have people that you've grown up watching your entire life respond so positively to your work that they stayed on board for a year," Saxton said. "A lot of times when a project falls apart like that they don't come back together or people move on. It was the best experience of my life. For awhile it was hard to come back to earth and realize this is real. I had to tell myself, 'You're doing it. This is a real movie. This isn't a short with your buddies anymore.' And someone told me, while watching Mark's performance, 'You realize what you've done? You killed Luke Skywalker.' That's kind of an insane thing, but I guess the notion is you're replacing one iconic performance with another. Maybe not replacing, but adding something to the chronology of his later work. People think Sushi Girl is something that is going to have legs. So I couldn't have asked for anything more as my first feature."

But for a film to truly stick around, it's got to be something viewers are going to return to. "As a filmmaker, I want to make movies that are memorable and I felt that the film has repeat value. You can watch it over and over and see new things every time. I know I have."

The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnolia Home Entertainment and Phase 4 Films jointly acquired North American rights to Sushi Girl. The revenge thriller will have a Blu-ray, DVD, and digital VOD release by Magnolia Home Entertainment under the Magnet Releasing label in early 2013.

Synopsis:
Mark Hamill (Star Wars franchise) and Tony Todd (Candyman) lead a cast of cult heroes including Noah Hathaway (The NeverEnding Story), James Duval (Donnie Darko), Andy Mackenzie (MacGruber), David Dastmalchian (The Dark Knight) and Cortney Palm (Superbad). Sushi Girl also includes feature appearances by Michael Biehn (Aliens), Sonny Chiba (Kill Bill Vol. 1), Jeff Fahey (Grindhouse) and Danny Trejo (Machete).

The film centers on the compelling character of a man called “Fish,” just released after six years in jail after successfully not ratting on those involved in the robbery that sent him to prison. The night he is released, the men he protected with silence celebrate his freedom with a congratulatory dinner. The meal is a lavish array of sushi, served off the naked body of a beautiful young woman. The sushi girl seems catatonic, trained to ignore everything in the room, even if things become dangerous. Sure enough, the unwieldy thieves can’t help but open old wounds in an attempt to find their missing loot, with violent results.