Sadly, The Shrine didn't take home the Grammy this evening, but horrific gold of another kind reared its ugly head - Nicki Minaj. Seriously? Someone get us a priest. Preferably an old priest and a young priest.

For the Grammy performance of her song "Roman Holiday" Ms. Minaj decided that parodying The Exorcist of all things was clearly the way to go. The results? More terrifying than we could have ever imagined, but not in a good way. Check it out below courtesy of an enterprising young lad on YouTube who obviously revels in our suffering so much that he's uploaded this mockery for posterity.

Behold the train wreck that is riddled with a special type of ridiculousness. Wow.

In the Ford Brothers latest zombie opus The Dead, actor Rob Freeman portrays Lieutenant Brian Murphy who survives a harrowing plane crash in western Africa only to come to realize he's got bigger issues than his plane going down: he's surrounding by hordes of flesh-hungry zombies who threaten the American engineer along every step of his dangerous journey out of the desolate and ravaged world he's been left behind in.

With its upcoming DVD and Blu-Ray release this Valentine's Day courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment, Dread Central caught up with Freeman on the phone for a brief chat where talked with the actor about the real-life dangers he and the entire cast and crew faced while shooting the zombie film in Burkina Faso and Ghana and how even a brush with death couldn't keep him from working on Howard and Jonathan Ford's stunning zombie film The Dead.

Freeman is the first to admit that he knew making a horror movie in Africa wasn't going to be a walk in the park. "You know- I was thinking, 'Man, what a great place to party for three months!' (laughs). No, I knew it wasn't going to be easy but I saw it as an adventure and I had this notion that actors should earn their stripes so this was me, earning my stripes. There were no trailers, no drivers, no coddling or anything like that. Howard and Jon were sick a lot; so was Prince (his co-star Prince David Oseia) - that poor guy was from the area and I think he got it almost as bad as I did."

And while it's true that pretty much everyone who worked on The Dead suffered a malady or two during the film's production, Freeman endured the worst of; coming down with a life-threatening case of malaria that put the actor into a brief comatose state.

"It's still surreal to even think about almost dying," said Freeman. "I expected I'd get sick in Africa but I never thought I'd get malaria and it's really hard to explain the feeling of waking up in this room in a small hut in the middle of God knows where with tubes hooked up to you and you don't even know how you got there."

"The Ford Brothers asked me if I wanted to quit after I finally got back on my feet but honestly, that hadn't even occurred to me- to stop and go home. I think I may have even laughed when they asked me if I wanted to stop filming. Quitting never occurred to me. Ever," added Freeman.

Freeman used a lot of what he experienced while shooting The Dead to flesh out his performance as an American engineer stranded in a strange and dangerous land who only longed to return to his wife and daughter after his plane crashed on the coast of Africa. "I think what kept Murphy going was his family and if he did stop, he'd die. The undead were everywhere and even though they were slow zombie, the sheer number of them would always catch up with you at some point. Surviving is the basic essence of humanity- we all want to survive, whatever it is that we're facing; whether that's going to work every day or running away from zombies in the middle of Africa."

Freeman went on to discuss how health scares were only part of the danger everyone faced while shooting The Dead; making a feature film in the troubled sociopolitical climate of Africa turned out to be incredibly dangerous and the amount of corruption the Ford Brothers faced while trying to complete their movie made it incredibly difficult for everyone involved.

"The shooting situation we found ourselves in while making The Dead was life-threatening in reality which I think, when looking back now, gives an ominous tone to the story because the corruption was pulsating through every scene," explained Freeman. "We had to go with the 'hurry up and shoot' approach because if we stayed too long in any one place, we were in jeopardy of getting our vehicles impounded, having to pay local officials off with bribes so they wouldn't confiscate our stuff or making sure we finished shooting before we ran out of food and water."

Freeman added, "At one point, we were crossing the border in Burkina Faso and we were being chased by a mob in the middle of the pitch black night. That was something else. But the people you see in the movie were real villagers and I can't even imagine what they must have thought when we showed up to shoot. In fact, there was one night when we were in this one village that got raided and we were all chased into the middle of the jungle and I wouldn't recommend doing that when you can see around you, let alone in the middle of the night."

"We really 'lived' The Dead when we were making it and I think viewers can sense that; I think that's why we've been so lucky to have gotten so many great responses to the film so far and hopefully now, more fans will enjoy what we've done here."

The wait is finally over for Jeff Leroy’s super low budget everything-and-the-kitchen-sink creature feature about astronauts who bring back mutant space rats that grow to monstrous proportions and cause all hell to break loose in downtown Los Angeles. This April on DVD you will experience Rat Scratch Fever.

Synopsis:
Jeff Leroy's schlock masterpiece Rat Scratch Fever is one the greatest feats of cinematic ingenuity thus far this century. Made on a budget of cheeseburgers and good intentions, this phantasmagoria of puppets, miniature sets, greenscreens, and live Food of the Gods-style enlarged rodents rat-chets the Dark Star homemade aesthetic to a new glorious extreme, reaching beyond sci-fi and horror conventions to become something truly transcendent, psychedelic, and wow-inducing -- and that barely rat-scratches the surface of this madcap ride! A veteran in the world of low-budget horror and softcore skin flicks, Leroy throws everything in his resourceful arsenal (and garage) at the screen for this staggering entertaining tale of astronauts that bring back humungoid mutant rats to a Los Angeles just waiting to be demolished by their feverish claws -- resulting in a mash-up of alien invasion, animal disaster and mega-action that boggles the mind, hammers the senses, and fulfills all expectations. Leroy’s incredible trailer has been circulating geek blogs since 2009 -- and we can assure you the final product is every bit as mind-shatteringly inventive and crazed as you want it to be.

Allegro Media Group is set to unleash Rat Scratch Fever upon the unsuspecting world on April 10th.

If you want to know why we’re so looking forward to this great big hunk of cinematic cheese, then feast your eyeballs on the gonzo trailer released in advance of last February’s Los Angeles world premiere.

There's just nothing like a good bump in the night flick, and hopefully that's exactly what we're going to get with the latest acquisition from Warner Brothers. Read on for the skinny!

According to Deadline Warner Bros pre-emptively acquired the script for The Waiting by first time screenwriters Mark Bianculli and Jeff Richard.

Described as Rear Window meets Paranormal Activity, mysterious events occur in the flick when two high school filmmakers decide to create the illusion of a haunting on an unsuspecting neighbor.

Yep. We're there. Look for more on this one as soon as it comes.

There hasn't been much news lately regarding Dorothy and the Witches of Oz, but with a limited theatrical run starting Friday, here's a new f/x-laden trailer for the dark family fantasy boasting Lance Henriksen, Jeffrey Combs, Mia Sara, Al Snow, Billy Boyd, Sean Astin, and Christopher Lloyd.

Synopsis:
Children's author Dorothy Gale (Paulie Rojas) makes a decent living continuing her grandfather's series of Oz books. When a new agent enters the scene, Dorothy moves to New York City. In the midst of a major business deal for her books, Dorothy discovers that her books are not based on her imagination, but on repressed memories. While Dorothy struggles with the revelation, she is forced to confront The Wicked Witch of the West, who has descended upon the Big Apple, determined to settle an old score.

The Witches of Oz (formerly Witches of Oz) already received a DVD release in the UK and parts of Europe in its original longer, mini-series format and has now undergone a minor title change and received a special effects upgrade in anticipation of this coming week’s limited theatrical run beginning February 17th at the Harkin Theaters in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Louisville, Kentucky and Kansas City, Missouri should be getting it the weekend of the 24th. If it goes well, it could open even wider around the country before Image Entertainment releases the DVD and Blu-ray on April 10th.

Below you’ll find an impressive new trailer and poster artwork for Leigh Scott’s Dorothy and the Witches of Oz.

Here it is, horror historians! A mother lode of behind-the-scenes videos that will take you everywhere you need to be to get the straight dope on the upcoming flick Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter!

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter stars Benjamin Walker, Anthony Mackie, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jimmi Simpson, Alan Tudyk, and Robin McLeavy.

Fox is aiming at a June 22nd, 2012, release for the Tim Burton-produced, Timur Bekmambetov-directed horror adventure.

Synopsis
The film explores the secret life of our greatest president, and the untold history that shaped our nation. As a young boy, Abraham Lincoln witnesses the shocking death of his mother, leading him on a path to an ongoing war - and ultimately to the presidency - he chronicles in a hidden diary. The journal reveals the incredible story of a clandestine warrior who never stopped fighting for the country he led and the people he loved.

Britain’s medieval history is fraught with real-life horrors which come to life at "Dungeons" venues across the UK, and now you and your family can feel the fear as we have a ticket valid for 2 adults and 2 children to enter these terror-filled corridors!

About the London Dungeon:
Now owned and operated by the Merlin Entertainments Group, the world’s second largest operator of visitor attractions, The London Dungeon opened its doors to the public in 1975 and is the original scare attraction in London.

For over 35 years The London Dungeon has been frightening people of all ages by bringing the darkest chapters of the capital’s blood-curdling history - torture, brutality, mutilation and physical punishments borne of nightmares - back to life through horrifying special effects, live actors and two hair-raising rides.

With 13 live shows, guests are transported to dark, bleak times from the Plague and the Great Fire of London to a visit with Fleet Street’s demon barber Sweeney Todd and a walk through Whitechapel where Jack the Ripper lurks around every corner. Launched in 2010 is "Bloody Mary: Killer Queen" – the deadliest daughter of Henry VIII, who burnt 300 people for heresy in her 5-year reign.

For those who like chills with their thrills – there is no other attraction in London that compares with the original scare attraction – The London Dungeon!

As mentioned above, our prize is one family ticket which covers up to 2 adults and 2 children for the Dungeon experience... but there’s more! It isn’t only valid for the London venue but also includes the Blackpool, Edinburgh and York Dungeons, too! The pass expires on 31st December 2012, so please do ensure that you can visit your chosen venue this year before entering.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply send us an E-MAIL HERE including YOUR FULL NAME AND POSTAL ADDRESS, and then sit back and allow us to tighten those thumbscrews a little... We’ll take care of the rest.

To get you in the mood, check out the Dungeon and other things to do in London by clicking here, and get a taste of the various attractions on offer at the London venue by clicking here.

Please note that this competition is open only to UK readers.

What's this? Another casting update for James DeMonaco's Vigilandia, which is coming to us from Platinum Dunes/Universal? The latest addition is Rhys Wakefield from Queensland, whom you may recognize if you saw Sanctum.

Wakefield joins Tony Oller, Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder, and Adelaide Kane on the project, which began shooting today. Hopefully we'll get a few more details on the plot as filming progresses.

James DeMonaco (Assault on Precinct 13) wrote and is directing. Jason Blum, Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, and Andrew Form are producing through Blum's Blumhouse and Bay's Platinum Dunes. Why Not Productions also is producing.

Look for more soon!

Not sure just how Dread-worthy this one's gonna be, but we have the first details on Michael Mann's new project, The Big Stone Grid, for you right here! Dig it!

According to Deadline, Michael Mann is in talks to direct The Big Stone Grid, a cop thriller that Sony Pictures bought as a spec script last year by S. Craig Zahler.

Michael De Luca, who’s on the Oscar circuit for Moneyball, is producing this one. The script is a hard-edged thriller in the vein of Seven and Marathon Man about two decorated detectives who uncover a terrifying extortion ring that operates within the secret underbelly of New York City.

The plan is for Mann to do a pass with the scribe, but don’t be surprised if he relocates the action to L.A., where he made such crime sagas as Heat and Collateral.

It's pretty amazing how Lego has gone from a connectible block set to a marketing phenomenon complete with video games, etc. Now we take a much closer look at their line of Monster Hunters. Dig it!

The Wolf Man - Seems to have mini figures of a werewolf and an old school adventurer or scientist...you know the kind with a pith helmet? Center pieces include a launching tree and a little buggy for the professor.

The Swamp Creature - Includes a water craft with two rockets to fire and a hunter to drive it into battle against the Creature with his harpoon! There's also a little alter-looking configuration for the Creature with a dead fish at its base.

The Mummy - A female monster hunter rides a sort of gyro-copter in pursuit of the Mummy on his chariot pulled by a skeleton horse. The Mummy has a whip and a sword while the hunter has a crossbow with a bolt and a spare bolt in her hair!

Vampire Hearse (aka Dracula's...totally awesome batmobile) - Picture the family car from "The Munsters". That can be the only inspiration for this. Dracula's long black ride features fangs in the grill, piercing red headlights, bones along the engine and more. In hot pursuit appears to be an English gentleman on a motorcycle with a fencing-type sword. There appears to be another figure with Dracula, but we can't make him out.

Zombies - We've only heard about the existence of this set so far so have no further details.

Frankenstein - A tower for catching electricity, a table for resurrecting dead flesh and a wacky scientist to scream "IT'S ALIIIVE!!" This set features the mad scientist, Frankenstein's Monster and what appear to be two angry townsfolk as well as a monster hunting vehicle with a projectile, what appears to be a holding cell for the Monster and a slice of the scientist's lab.

The Ghost Train - Exactly what it sounds like! A black engine with spectral fire coming out of its stack and green lights leading the way pulls three carts with little bat wings! The bat wings are said to flap as they go along!! The set seems to include three ghosts to battle two monster hunters in their prop plane with projectile firing mechanisms. We see the female monster hunter can hang off the bottom by a rope, brandishing a crossbow.

The Vampire Castle - Comes with a Man-Bat (or 2), Dracula, his Bride and two human monster fighters as well as a tricked-out monster hunter mobile with a launching net! The castle has some sort of crystal ray feature in the tower, which pops out from behind what looks like a stained glass window. There also seems to be a trap-door feature in the tower.

For more 2012 Toy Fair coverage, keep an eye on Nomad's Idle Hands Blog from now through the 15th.

You know the best part of these new Gremlins collectibles? You don't have to worry about the rules! Expose them to as much bright light as you want! Get 'em wet! As for feeding them after midnight... if you see these things start chomping at any time of the day, you could be in big trouble.

Check out the goods below, which all come from our friends at NECA, along with some gruesome gaming goodies the likes of Bio-Shock, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, Half Life, and Left 4 Dead. Look for much more from Toy Fair 2012 very soon. Believe me when I say the best is yet to come!

For more 2012 Toy Fair coverage, keep an eye on Nomad's Idle Hands Blog from now through the 15th.

Nordic Games is releasing Alan Wake Collector’s Edition, which will be packed full of great content, on March 2nd. You can purchase Alan Wake and Alan Wake Collector’s Edition on PC. Any avid fan of the game series will want to get their hands on what the Collector's version of Alan Wake has to offer! Read on for details.

From the Press Release
Nordic Games has revealed that the Collector’s Edition of the forthcoming highly anticipated release of Alan Wake on PC will include a wealth of amazing content offering incredible value for both fans of the award-winning game and those new to the psychological thriller.

Alan Wake Collector’s Edition will include a Bonus Disc crammed with exclusive content. This includes The History Of Remedy, The Making Of Alan Wake, The Making Of A Thriller, music videos by the Old Gods Of Asgard, several trailers to the game and Storyboard (witch concept art) as a movie clip. Also included is The Alan Wake Files, a 144-page book with evidence on the mysterious incidents around Alan Wake and Bright Falls, compiled by the fictitious author Clay Steward.

“Both the Standard and Collector’s versions of Alan Wake on PC offer something that gamers have never had the opportunity to own before and we’re delighted to be in a position to be releasing Alan Wake in all its glory,” said Nik Blower, Sales and Marketing Director, Nordic Games. “It’s great to be able to offer real value for money for PC gamers who buy a physical copy of Alan Wake.”

The Standard and Collector’s editions of Alan Wake both include the main game, with optional commentary provided by Remedy (Collector’s Edition only) and both DLCs – The Signal and The Writer – on disc one, while disc two hosts the official soundtrack, comprising 13 tracks. Also in the box are six post cards featuring different scenes from the game, the manual, a double-sided poster and seven stickers with different scenes and characters from the game.

Alan Wake and Alan Wake Collector’s Edition will be available to buy on PC on March 2nd.

Find out more on the game at the Alan Wake website .

Yes, this is typically a Foy story, but since I doubt he had as big a crush on the subjects as yours truly did back in the day, I volunteered for duty. Feast your eyes on the first stills of Barry Williams and Danny Bonaduce from the upcoming Syfy creature feature Bigfoot.

That's right - Greg Brady meets Danny Partridge in a Syfy Original Movie from The Asylum directed by Bruce Davison (Willard, X-Men, The Lords of Salem). Davison co-stars along with Sherilyn Fenn from "Twin Peaks", Andre Royo ("The Wire", "Fringe"), "WKRP"'s Howard Hesseman, and rockers Billy Idol and Alice Cooper.

The two former child stars play lifelong rivals (naturally) who both are trying to capture the hairy beast, but for very different reasons. No word on a release date yet, but you can be sure we'll be keep a close eye on this one!

Kot in Action's Tomes of Mephistopheles, a classic dungeon crawler with all the elements for a perfect RPG game, launches its alpha in the coming weeks for the PC. The only question is... Will you be tempted by the Darkside?

From the Press Release
Tomes of Mephistopheles is a first-person action-RPG dungeon crawler. With its fast-paced fluid combat, a multitude of medieval and magical weapons, an in-depth custom spell system, and randomly generated persistent worlds, ToM is a pinnacle of the genre.

Seeking the sinister Tomes, you will forge a path through the dungeons using anything that becomes available to you, while attaining skill and power along the way by exploring, questing, and crafting unique equipment and tailoring spells for yourself.

Before being imprisoned for eternity, Mephistopheles, the Lord of Darkness, put his sinister knowledge into several tomes which were scattered across the land. Many wicked souls were corrupted by the Devil and spent their lives searching for the wretched Tomes of Mephistopheles, to gain the knowledge of their unholy power. It has been foretold that the beholder of the Tomes will possess the greatest power known to mankind and will rule the world, but will corrupt it and leave it in ruins. The secret society known as the Deputies of Uriel dispatched its most skillful members to find the Tomes and destroy them at any cost. Will you fulfill your duty or succumb to the corruption of the Dark Lord ?

Game Features

Pick up real world objects. Chests and other containers do not use menus, but instead have actual items inside.

To learn more visit the Tomes of Mephistopheles website .

VISIT THE EVILSHOP @ AMAZON!
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Brush up on your tomes in the comments section below!

I remember playing with my favorite dolls fondly. Frankenstein's monster, Dracula, the Wolf Man, the Creature. Now members of this generation can pit their favorite characters from The Twilight Saga against The Hunger Games in a fight to the death of sparkling ridiculousness.

Say what you will, but these flicks have a rabid fan base and these next shots are for them. Even though I myself would probably burn, break, melt and generally torture ever yone of this things should they ever find their way into my house.

For more 2012 Toy Fair coverage, keep an eye on Nomad's Idle Hands Blog from now through the 15th.

Peter Mensah, who appeared as two different characters in "Spartacus: Vengeance" and "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena", is now heading to Bon Temps in a recurring role on HBO's "True Blood".

Per Deadline Mensah will portray Kibwe, Chancellor for the Authority, who originally hails from Africa.

The fifth season of Alan Ball's "True Blood" returns in the summer of 2012. For more in the meantime visit "True Blood" on HBO.com.

Ah, now we're getting to the interesting stuff! NECA Toys has long been a staple on the collectibles scene thanks to its amazing molds and quality products. Few people do spooky as good as NECA does, and this latest batch of goodies is a sterling example of why!

Below you'll find a gaggle of Universal Monster bobbleheads including Frankenstein's monster, The Phantom of the Opera, The Bride, The Creature from the Black Lagoon, as well as a good look as Jason from Friday the 13th Part 3 and Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter completely unmasked. Also included are some neat Freddy vs. Jason stuff and a plethora of Eddie for Iron Maiden fans. Dig it!

For more 2012 Toy Fair coverage, keep an eye on Nomad's Idle Hands Blog from now through the 15th.

Capcom's Asura’s Wrath releases February 22nd for Xbox 360 and PS3. The game follows Asura, who becomes enraged after his wife is murdered and his daughter kidnapped. He is awoken after 12,000 years and is ready to exact vengeance upon all those who have done him wrong. Blood will be spilled in the name of Asura's Wrath!

From the Press Release
Long ago in the realm of Shinkoku, eight deities known as “The Eight Guardian Generals” battled to protect civilization from a destructive force known only as Gohma. During the victory celebration, the Emperor of Shinkoku is assassinated in a sinister plot and the blame is placed on Asura. In the middle of the commotion, Asura’s wife is also murdered and his daughter kidnapped. With even his brother-in-law and rival Yasha turning against him, Asura is banished from Shinkoku. Awoken by a voice after 12,000 years, Asura vows revenge on all those who have betrayed him.

Asura’s Wrath finds Asura facing off against numerous distinct enemies, including planetary sized bosses. Through a mix of range attacks and visceral close quarter action players will fill Asura’s ‘Burst Gauge,’ unleashing the full force of his rage and delivering devastating attacks on those who betrayed him. Asura’s story of revenge will be told through episodic gameplay, taking the player on a journey of highs and lows and adopting a structure that is similar to a TV drama series.

To try the demo now for FREE, visit the Asura’s Wrath Marketplace .

On March 7, 2012, I Am Alive will finally release for Xbox 360 as part of the Xbox Live Block Party promotion. The post-apocalyptic game will cost 1200 Microsoft Points on launch, and it will be released later in the spring for Playstation 3 as well.

The score for the game I Am Alive was created by composer and sound designer Jeff Broadbent. Jeff Broadbent's work has been featured on numerous television shows for major networks including CBS, Syfy and the Disney Channel. He is also well renowned for creating the original score for Transformers: Dark of the Moon video game.

From the Official Press Release
"Jeff Broadbent's music for I Am Alive perfectly captures the atmosphere and emotion of the game," commented Sergei Titarenko, Producer, Ubisoft Shanghai. "The music matches the creative direction."

"Creating the score for I Am Alive was an exciting undertaking," said Jeff Broadbent. "The unique nature of the game allowed for a very creative and experimental approach to scoring. After first hearing of Ubisoft's concept and direction for this title, I knew it was a project that would allow for creative freedom and exploration."

The I Am Alive original score combines sublime ambiance, emotional intensity and thematic compositions to immerse players in this post-apocalyptic survival experience. As composer Jeff Broadbent explains, "A sense of environmental desolation was essential in crafting the aural landscapes of I Am Alive. Because of this, the music often uses ethereal and sound-design inspired approaches, blending organic and synthetic elements to create the sonic imagery of devastation and abandonment within a crumbling city. The quest of our unnamed protagonist to survive and protect the young girl Mei allowed for the use of poignant emotional themes and motifs."

For more information on the game, check out the official I Am Alive website.

With a cast that's growing almost daily, you'd think they'd come up with a title for Kevin Williamson's new project for Fox TV. But in any event, here are the latest two names on the roster: Shawn Ashmore and Valorie Curry.

Ashmore is probably best known for portraying Bobby Drake/Iceman in the X-Men films, but he also appeared in The Ruins, Frozen, Hatchet II, and Mother's Day. As for Curry (pictured), she's from "Veronica Mars" and The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2.

The series comes from Warner Bros. TV and Williamson’s studio-based Outerbanks Entertainment. It's described as an edge-of-the-seat thriller about Joe Carroll (James Purefoy), a diabolical serial killer who uses technology to create a cult of serial killers, and retired FBI profiler Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon), who finds himself in the middle of it. Ashmore will play a junior FBI agent who is part of the task force assisting Hardy in the search for Carroll. Curry will play a young nanny who cares for Carroll’s son.

Marcos Siega ("The Vampire Diaries", "Dexter") is set to direct the pilot, written and executive produced by Williamson, creator of the Scream horror movie franchise and co-creator/executive producer of The CW’s "The Vampire Diaries" and "The Secret Circle".

More soon!