Matchbox Films today announced the UK DVD release of Ryan Smith’s sci-fi thriller After (review) starring Karolina Wydra (“True Blood”) and Steven Strait (10,000 Years BC) with a street date of May 26th.

The Canadian release is scheduled for May 13th through Mongrel Media with US distribution penciled for July.

Synopsis
In this ‘Twilight Zone’-esque tale of the afterlife, two bus crash survivors wake from a coma to discover that they are the only inhabitants of a small American town. Scarier still, a monstrous cloud is swallowing the area, closing in on them slowly but surely. Are they dead, in an alternate dimension, or is it all a dream? As the couple scavenge houses and attempt to find a way out, they soon learn that they are not alone. Inside the mist are ravenous creatures hell-bent on preventing their escape.

On tap right now is the first clip from Jerome Sable's slasher musical Stage Fright, and as expected, it's a gory blast of blood-soaked fun. Check it out on VOD right now, if only for Meat Loaf. Who could possibly resist Meat Loaf? We'll just ignore his horrid singing during the election.

Magnet will release the film in its Ultra VOD program, launching it on iTunes and On Demand on April 3rd and following with a theatrical release on May 9th.

Minnie Driver, Meat Loaf, Allie MacDonald, Douglas Smith, Kent Nolan, Brandon Uranowitz, Ephraim Ellis, Melanie Leishman, James McGowan, Steffi DiDomenicantonio, Ryan Bobkin, Leanne Miller, and Adrianna Di Liello star.

Stage Fright tells the story of a posh musical theater camp terrorized by a killer who hates musicals. Driver plays Kylie Swanson, a haunted star of the Broadway stage and mother of two siblings who find themselves at the center of the unfolding horror at the camp. Meat Loaf plays Roger McCall, a slumming Broadway producer-turned-camp director.

Some quick Gremlins news is coming in for your weekend enjoyment as Ain't it Cool News is reporting that Warner Bros. Pictures is moving quickly on rebooting Joe Dante’s Steven Spielberg-produced flick. Given that we've been talking about this for years, we're not so surprised.

In Dante’s 1984 film, a boy (Zach Galligan) inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town. The film spawned a sequel, the 1990 Gremlins 2: The New Batch, in which Gremlins take total control over the building of a media mogul.

The two films have grossed more than $190M worldwide. A sequel or a reboot has always seemed inevitable.

Mike Flanagan wowed audiences with his feature directorial debut, Absentia, a few years back. Now he returns with an even creepier tale of supernatural terrors in Oculus (review). To celebrate the release of Oculus, we bring you a look at the Top Seven Supernatural Films that Haunt Us.

The funny thing about a really powerful supernatural movie, at least those that get wide theatrical releases, is they usually transcend the theater and become the talk of the nation for a while. And many of them even hang around our psyches for years and years to come.

We'll begin, as always, with our honorable mentions, and you'll see that many of them also took the country by storm. Low budget, found footage movies like Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch Project were absolutely larger than life during their theatrical releases.

However, bigger films can also reach out and grab you. Poltergeist and The Conjuring certainly come to mind. Some other haunting projects that are worth an honorable mention are Stephen King's 1408, a tiny indie called I Am a Ghost which had an incredibly freaky finale, cult favorite Session 9 that did for asbestos removal what Psycho did for taxidermy, and the ultra-creepy, ambiance-laden The Orphanage.

As you'll see, this list contains some legendary horror heavyweights because once you really scare us, we don't soon forget. Here are the Top Seven Supernatural Films that Haunt Us.

The Amityville Horror (1979)
The Amityville Horror kicks off this list not because it was so frightening or because of the slew of sequels and remakes it inspired, but the fact that this is a truly horrific mystery. For those who need a quick refresher, The Amityville Horror is based on a book written by Jay Anson which claims to be the true-life experiences of George and Kathy Lutz and their family after moving into the home at 112 Ocean Avenue. Just 13 months before, Ronald DeFeo, Jr., had shot and killed six members of his family. Anson's book and the original film are a representation of what happened to the Lutz family during their 28-day stay in the home... or is it? There has always been tons of speculation as to just what is real and what is fraud in the Lutzes' story, making The Amityville Horror a supernatural mystery of the highest degree.

The Shining (1980)
As tales of hauntings go, perhaps no one spins a better yarn than the great Stephen King. It's no secret that King has no love for Stanley Kubrick's vision of his classic novel, but somewhere between King's conjuring of the tale and Kubrick's mad scientist filmmaking techniques (not to mention a once-in-a-lifetime performance by Jack Nicholson), a masterful cinematic haunting was born. It's been nearly 35 years since The Shining was released, and even longer since the novel hit the stands, and still today it still stands as one of the most unsettling films of all time. This is another example of a truly excellent haunting being embraced by our culture. Sure, on the surface, The Shining looks like a slasher film to the uninformed eye. But a look deeper within the walls of The Overlook Hotel shows a much more haunted and supernatural environment. Great party, isn't it?

The Omen (1976)
Oh, young Damien. So cute. So innocent looking. But looks can be quite deceiving as Gregory Peck and company found out in this legendary Antichrist film. This was the original bad kid movie. Sure The Good Son and Orphan and plenty of movies featuring bastardly ankle-biters would follow, but Damien is the name that, to this day, is playfully reserved for those seemingly uncontrollable children we see at restaurants and shopping malls. And it's within this frivolity that the true haunting exists. It's because The Omen was such a powerful film, and it conjured the most terrifying of thoughts amongst parents, that still today the name Damien retains that power and The Omen remains such a haunting film.

The Sixth Sense (1999)
Four little words ("…I see dead people…") and a twist ending that blew audiences out of their seats made The Sixth Sense an absolute phenomenon. With every rewatch of the movie, even already knowing the fantastic surprise ending, you can't help but get chills when young Haley Joel Osment utters that iconic line. Director M. Night Shyamalan became an overnight superstar as The Sixth Sense chilled viewers and, in an absolutely amazing climax, rocked audiences beyond belief. The Sixth Sense would go on to be an absolute box office juggernaut, as many truly frightening supernatural films do. And that's because it's a damn impressive movie that works. You see something you've missed before in every re-viewing and are still haunted every time you hear those four words.

The Ring (2002)
It's not often that we give credit to an American remake over the original film, but Gore Verbinski's reimagining of the Japanese Ring truly haunted American audiences who, for the most part, would have never made the effort to see the original movie so we can thank Verbinski for bringing a very nice retelling to the American public. That being said, Samara making her climb out of the television was indeed an iconic horror moment of the 2000's. The huge box office take and the fact that the mystery and eeriness of The Ring drew audiences in, and it continues to be a staple of horror, are a testament to the brilliant writing of the original movie and the quality adaptation of the American version. The Ring is one of the few times a foreign film has been redone and captivated and haunted domestic audiences so thoroughly.

The Exorcist (1973)
Haunting?! Sweet Jesus H. Christ, when you say "haunting supernatural movie," could there be another? Believe us when we say we do try to keep The Exorcist off these lists, but it fits so well on so many of them. If you want to talk about supernatural movies that still, over 40 years later, haunt us, then look no further than The Exorcist. Sure, we all still go back and give it a viewing once a year or so, but it's still with great trepidation that we press that "Play" button and expose ourselves to the horrors we know we're about to experience. The Exorcist hasn't lost a step in four decades. It's as effective today as it was when it opened in theaters the day after Christmas in 1973 (how fucking festive). It is indeed the one true haunting that we cannot seem to shake. Pazuzu dug his claws into us, and it doesn't seem like we'll ever get them out.

Carrie (1976)
They keep trying to recapture that moment, that Carrie moment, but it just cannot be recreated. No offense to the beloved Angela Bettis (who is one of horror's most amazing assets) or Chloe Grace Moretz, but it can't be done. There was something magical between Sissy Spacek and director Brian De Palma in that original imagining of Stephen King's novel. In fact, Carrie was the first of over 100 television and movie projects based on or adapted from King's writings. So you know there was something incredibly special going on here. Carrie was the original tortured student. She was "Jeremy" as Pearl Jam sang of him. She was all the unfortunate friendless, directionless, antagonized souls we see lashing out at society today. Carrie is absolutely more pertinent now than it was when King wrote it or when the film was released. Indeed, this is an instance of foreshadowing that no one could have expected. Perhaps, with all that our society has become, Carrie haunts us more today than anything.

Mike Flanagan's Oculus opens in theaters on April 11. For the latest news and updates, be sure to "like"Oculus on Facebook and follow @blumhouse on Twitter.

The cast of "The Vampire Diaries" must be feeling the same fatigue we are with this season's stale storyline. Can co-star Paul Wesley's directorial debut, "Resident Evil" (#5.18), breathe some life into the show? While we wait to find out, here are a few new stills.

"The Vampire Diaries" Episode 5.18 - "Resident Evil" (airs 4/17/14, 8-9pm)
Both Stefan (Paul Wesley) and Elena (Nina Dobrev) are suddenly having unsettling dreams of an alternate version of the life they might have had together.

Bonnie (Kat Graham) has a disturbing encounter with Grams (guest star Jasmine Guy), who warns her about frightening changes on the Other Side. Enzo (guest star Michael Malarkey) gives Damon (Ian Somerhalder) unwanted relationship advice, then admits he is searching for a woman he loved decades before while he was held captive by the Augustines.

Liv (guest star Penelope Mitchell) enlists Matt (Zach Roerig), Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), and Tyler (Michael Trevino) to help track the Travelers and keep them from taking control of Mystic Falls. Bonnie is hurt and angry when she learns that Jeremy is working with Liv behind her back. Luke (guest star Chris Brochu) shows up at the Salvatore house and explains what he knows about Markos (guest star Raffi Barsoumian) and the Travelers to Damon, Elena, and Enzo.

Matt has a terrifying encounter with inhabitants of the Other Side. Finally, when Damon finds Markos, he is both relieved and disturbed by what Markos has to tell him. Paul Wesley directed the episode written by Brian Young and Caroline Dries.

For more info visit "The Vampire Diaries" on CWTV.com, "like""The Vampire Diaries" on Facebook, and follow "The Vampire Diaries" on Twitter.

As a means to prep you for this Friday's theatrical release of Oculus (review), we have some exclusive video interviews to dig on with stars Karen Gillan, Katee Sackhoff, and Rory Cochrane.

Karen Gillan ("Doctor Who,"Not Another Happy Ending), Brenton Thwaites (Maleficent, The Giver), Rory Cochrane (Argo, Parkland), and Katee Sackhoff ("Battlestar Galactica,"Riddick) star.

Oculus is directed by Mike Flanagan from a script he co-wrote with Jeff Howard, based on a short film Flanagan and Jeff Seidman made in 2005. Trevor Macy (Safe House, The Strangers, The Raven) and Marc D. Evans (Safe House, The Strangers, The Raven) produced the film, and Jason Blum, Ryan Kavanaugh, Tucker Tooley, Anil Kurian, D. Scott Lumpkin, Peter Schlessel, Dale Johnson, Glenn Murray, Julie May, and Mike Ilitch, Jr., serve as executive producers.

Synopsis
Ten years ago, tragedy struck the Russell family, leaving the lives of teenage siblings Tim and Kaylie forever changed when Tim was convicted of the brutal murder of their parents. Now in his 20s, Tim is newly released from protective custody and only wants to move on with his life; but Kaylie, still haunted by that fateful night, is convinced her parents’ deaths were caused by something else altogether: a malevolent supernatural force­­ unleashed through the Lasser Glass, an antique mirror in their childhood home. Determined to prove Tim’s innocence, Kaylie tracks down the mirror, only to learn similar deaths have befallen previous owners over the past century. With the mysterious entity now back in their hands, Tim and Kaylie soon find their hold on reality shattered by terrifying hallucinations and realize, too late, that their childhood nightmare is beginning again…

For the latest news and updates, be sure to "like"Oculus on Facebook and follow @blumhouse on Twitter.

Tim Lebbon is a name Dread Central readers should be familiar with as we've reviewed many of his novels over the years like Bar None, Fallen, Dusk, Dawn, and more. He has a new one on the way tomorrow, Coldbrook, and to celebrate, we have an exclusive excerpt to share!

Coldbrook arrives April 8th in paperback and on Kindle from Titan Books.

CLICK HERE to download a PDF of our exclusive excerpt.

Related Story:Guest Blog: Author Tim Lebbon's Top Ten Alien Moments

Synopsis:
Coldbrook is a secret laboratory located deep in Appalachian Mountains. Its scientists had achieved the impossible: a gateway to a new world. Theirs was to be the greatest discovery in the history of mankind, but they had no idea what they were about to unleash.

With their breakthrough comes disease, and now it is out and ravaging the human population. The only hope is a cure, and the only cure is genetic resistance: an uninfected person amongst the billions dead.

In the chaos of destruction there is only one person that can save the human race... But will they find her in time?

A new horror comic series is kicking off in June from the dark and twisted mind of The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman with art by Paul Azaceta. Are you ready to enter the world of Kyle Barnes in Outcast?

Image Comics is releasing Issue #1 on June 25th, and you can click here to pre-order your copy from TFAW.

Synopsis:
Kyle Barnes has been plagued by demonic possession all his life, and now he needs answers.

Unfortunately, what he uncovers along the way could bring about the end of life on Earth as we know it.

Albert Pyun is fighting through his health issues, and nothing's more therapeutic than doing what you love so he's back behind the camera for The Interrogation of Cheryl Cooper, a one-take film for which Pyun has released a short teaser.

The Interrogation of Cheryl Cooper stars Tommie Vegas, Shane Ryan, and Brittany Bochart. It's written by Cynthia Curnan, shot by Michael Su, and produced by Su and Curnan with music and sound design by Tony Riparetti.

The film is about a young woman name Cheryl Cooper (Vegas), who wakes up in what she believes is an interrogation room in a police station. She is interrogated by Detective Ben (Ryan) about being found at an unfinished Las Vegas hotel where there was a mass killing.

The detective is assisted by a young female rookie police officer named Officer Bardo (Bochart). Both try to get the details from Cheryl, and as they do, Cheryl begins to remember horrifying details that lead to the reveal of a terrifying fact.

The Interrogation of Cheryl Cooper will have its world premiere on May 2nd in Los Angeles and also has an invite to screen in Las Vegas' Pollygrind Film Festival in October.

Seth spends some quality time bonding with Jacob while they wait to cross the Border in this sneak peek of "From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series" Ep. 1.05, "Self-Contained." Check it out, and then tune in Tuesday for some heaven on earth.

“From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” centers on bank robber Seth Gecko (D.J. Cotrona) and his violent, unpredictable brother, Richard “Richie” Gecko (Zane Holtz), who are on the run after a bank heist left several people dead.

While heading to Mexico, Seth and Richie encounter a former pastor and his family, whom they take hostage. Using the family RV to cross the Border, chaos ensues when the group detours to a strip club that is populated by vampires. They are forced to fight until dawn in order to get out alive. The series deepens the tone of the original film, adds new characters and backstories, and expands the Mesoamerican mythology behind the creatures inside the club.

Along with Cotrona and Holtz, the international cast includes Jesse Garcia, Eiza González, Wilmer Valderrama, Adrianne Palicki, Jake Busey, Don Johnson, Madison Davenport, Lane Garrison, Robert Patrick, and Brandon Soo Hoo. The 10-episode, hour-long series is El Rey Network's first scripted original and has already been renewed for a second season.

Episode 1.05 - "Self-Contained" (airs 4/8/14)
Seth escapes the motel and leads the Fullers' RV to the Border. Meanwhile, Richie deals with an irrational fear; and Jacob (Robert Patrick) is determined to get his children safely across the Border. Directed by Joe Menendez and written by Matt Morgan and Ian Sobel.

For more info keep your eyes on the show's Facebook page, the official El Rey Network website, El Rey Network on Facebook, and El Rey Network on Twitter.

Syfy announced two upcoming projects this morning: "Z Nation," a 13-episode zombie series from The Asylum set to debut in the fall, and "Olympus," a new mythological drama that will take viewers into the action-packed world of humans, gods, and monsters.

From the Press Releases
"Z NATION":Syfy announces "Z Nation," a 13-episode zombie series set to debut in the fall of 2014.

From production company The Asylum (Sharknado), the action-horror series depicts the epic struggle to save humanity after a zombie apocalypse. The series, which will air on Syfy, will be produced by The Asylum and sold internationally by Dynamic Television.

Karl Schaefer ("Eerie Indiana,""Eureka,""Stephen King's Dead Zone") will serve as executive producer and showrunner. "'Z Nation' will take viewers where no zombie has gone before,” says Schaefer. The show, he continues, adds “a sense of hope to the horror of the apocalypse – our everyday heroes take the fight to the zombies. It’ll be an epic journey unlike anything you've seen before.”

In making the announcement, Chris Regina, Senior Vice President, Programming, Syfy, said: “'Z Nation' is a unique new journey into the long established zombie genre. Instead of existential despair, the series offers hope that somehow, some way, humanity will not only survive but triumph. In producing their first ever weekly series, our long-time partners The Asylum have created a different way of telling an iconic story.”

In "Z Nation" three years have passed since the zombie virus has gutted the country, and a team of everyday heroes must transport the only known survivor of the plague from New York to California, where the last functioning viral lab waits for his blood. Although the antibodies he carries are the world’s last, best hope for a vaccine, he hides a dark secret that threatens them all. With humankind’s survival at stake, the ragtag band embarks on a journey of survival across three thousand miles of rusted-out post-apocalyptic America.

"Z Nation" is a dynamic ensemble drama that will plunge viewers into a fully imagined post-zombie America and take them on an adventure with a diverse group of richly drawn characters. As the reluctant heroes learn to work as a team and battle ever-more-menacing zombies, their flaws, idiosyncrasies, and moral dilemmas will ultimately become the heart of the show.

"OLYMPUS":Syfy, Reunion Pictures, and Great Point Media announce new mythological drama series "Olympus," which will take viewers into the action-packed world of humans, gods, and monsters. The 13-part series of one-hour episodes will premiere on Syfy in 2015.

The team behind "Olympus" includes writer Nick Willing ("Tin Man,""Alice,""Neverland") and legendary executive producer Robert Halmi, Sr. (Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, The Odyssey, Gulliver’s Travels).

"Olympus" will tell the story of how a few brave men and women banished the gods to the realm of the unconscious - a place they called the Underworld or the Kingdom of Hades. The series will follow the protagonist on his journey as he gradually transforms from a fresh-faced and raw young man through the dramatic experiences of betrayal, love, disappointment, empowerment, and exile, until he emerges a ruthless leader of men and a match for the gods themselves.

The series is being produced by Reunion Pictures and Olympus TV (London) Limited in association with Great Point Media and will begin production this summer in Vancouver and London, with the first episode written and directed by Willing. Executive producers are Robert Halmi, Sr., for The Halmi Company, Robert Halmi, Jr., and Jim Reeve for Great Point Media, and Matthew O’Connor and Lisa Richardson for Reunion Pictures. The series is being marketed and distributed by Content Media Group outside the US, Germany, and Canada.

“'Olympus' is a fantastic blend of action, intense thrills, creatures, and great storytelling. It will feature characters from mythology in a way never before imagined,” said Chris Regina, Senior Vice President, Programming, Syfy. “It’s an excellent complement to our roster of programming, and we can’t wait to share the adventures of Hero with the Syfy audience.”

“I’m thrilled that the team of Willing, O’Connor, and Halmi are together on another exciting Syfy project. With the success of 'Tin Man,''Neverland,' and 'Alice,' we are confident that this will be another epic adventure for television,” stated Halmi, Sr.

Look for more on both of these new projects soon!

WGN America is bringing out the big guns to start off your work week as another "The People of Salem" video has arrived to get you acquainted with the characters of the network's upcoming new series. Meet Mary Sibley, portrayed by Janet Montgomery, Salem's most powerful enchantress. Beware, heathens. Black magic is near!

In “Salem” witches are real, but they are not who or what they seem. The show, which centers on an epic romance wrapped around this explosive revelation, delivers a bold new vision of Salem – and an even bolder new vision of witches.

“Salem,” premiering on Sunday, April 20th, enters the world of the most notorious witch trials in history, a period steeped in fear, suspicion, and hysteria. On an expansive set in Shreveport, Louisiana, built to reflect volatile 17th century Massachusetts, “Salem” explores what really fueled the town's infamous witch trials and dares to uncover the dark, supernatural truth behind them.

Related Story:Meet Witch Hunter Cotton Mather - One of the People of Salem

Created, executive produced, and written by award-winning writer/producer Brannon Braga (“24,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation, Voyager and Enterprise”) and Adam Simon (The Haunting in Connecticut), “Salem” stars Janet Montgomery (“Human Target,” “Made in Jersey”) as the ruthless but vulnerable Mary Sibley, Salem’s most powerful enchantress; Shane West (“Nikita,” “ER”) as handsome, hardened war veteran John Alden – and Mary’s onetime love interest; Seth Gabel (“Fringe”) as local aristocrat Cotton Mather, who fans the flames of Salem’s witch hunt; Ashley Madekwe (“Revenge”) as Mary’s mysterious, carnal accomplice, Tituba; Xander Berkeley (“Nikita,” “Being Human”) as chief politician Magistrate Hale; Tamzin Merchant (Jane Eyre) as the forthright Anne Hale, an artist with a perilous attraction to Alden; Elise Eberle (The Astronaut Farmer) as the mysteriously afflicted Mercy Lewis; and Iddo Goldberg (“Mob City”) as outcast Isaac Walton.

Keep your eyes on the "Salem" Facebook page for updates and more info.

Back in December we got our first look at Burying the Ex, the new film from master of horror Joe Dante (Gremlins, The Hole). As the zombie flick gets ready to burst up from the depths and emerge at Cannes, we got our hands on a brand new image today...

...which gives us our first look at the lovely Alexandra Daddario. Dig it, cuz!

Dante's latest also stars Anton Yelchin and Ashley Greene.

Based on a short film of the same name, the Alan Trezza-penned script follows Max (Yelchin) and Evelyn (Greene) as their relationship takes a nose dive once they move in together.

Max discovers how controlling and manipulative Evelyn is, but he’s too scared to break up with her. When fate steps in and Evelyn dies in a freak accident, newly-single Max prepares to move on with Olivia (Daddario). His romantic life becomes complicated when Evelyn rises from the grave and sets out to get her boyfriend back, even if that means turning him into one of the undead. Oliver Cooper plays Travis, Max's deadbeat half-brother, who tries to help him win Olivia's heart and defeat his undead ex.

After a lengthy stay on the shelf, Norith Soth's religious horror flick The Sibling has been rechristened Nicodemus and finally seems to be headed from the heavens down to us here on Earth.

No word yet on a release date, but we've got the teaser trailer on tap for ya today along with plot details. Dig in!

The film stars Alexander Aguila, Harry Allen, Art Roberts, Tisha Rivera, Rasheed Beckles, Megan A. Clancy, and Theresa Deveaux.

Synopsis
Nicodemus is a deeply religious boy. His desire is to connect with God. Instead he meets an Angel, in the form of a high school bully, who reveals disturbing truths about the mystery of mankind.

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Mark your calendars, kids! The new horror film from the director of You Got Served, entitled No Vacancy, will be available on DVD (plus Digital UltraViolet), Digital HD, and Video on Demand July 1st from Lionsgate Home Entertainment! Excited right?

From the Press Release
A thrilling and gruesome horror story of a road trip nightmare from the writer and director of You Got Served, No Vacancy checks in on DVD (plus Digital UltraViolet), Digital HD, and Video on Demand July 1 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment.

Starring Christopher Michael Jones (You Got Served), Jo Jo Wright (Bring It On: All or Nothing), and Dallas Lovato (Snowflake the White Gorilla), No Vacancy turns into a fight for survival as trust between new friends is broken overnight. The No Vacancy DVD, featuring deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes interviews, will be available for the suggested retail price of $26.98.

Synopsis
Seven friends on a road trip to Las Vegas are forced to stop at a roadside motel for help when their car breaks down. With no other option, the friends are convinced to spend the night but soon realize that they are trapped and being tortured and killed off one at a time. Now, the friends will need to work together and fight to survive the seemingly helpful group of people who turned their overnight stay into a dreadful, gory nightmare.

Special Features

Behind-the-scenes footage and interviews

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We here at Dread Central are super excited about the debut feature from Axelle Carolyn, who is an alum of this very website. It's a supernatural thriller called Soulmate, and it's set to headline this year's Etheria Film Night. Read on for details!

From the Press Release
The 2014 Etheria Film Night is pleased to host the North American Premiere of writer/director Axelle Carolyn’s feature film Soulmate at the Egyptian Theatre on July 12th, 2014.

Etheria Film Night is dedicated to showcasing the best new genre films directed by women and screens only one feature-length film each year. In 2014 that film is Axelle Carolyn’s supernatural thriller Soulmate. The premiere will be followed by a red carpet cocktail reception and the official Etheria Film Night short film competition lineup (to be announced in May 2014).

Recently widowed Audrey moves to the countryside in a bid to get her life back on track. When she realizes the cottage she's renting is haunted, she decides to stay and strikes up an odd relationship with the ghost...

Audrey (played by Anna Walton, who also appeared in Carolyn’s short film The Halloween Kid) is a suicidal woman mourning the recent death of her husband. Isolating herself in an old country cottage away from friends and family, she soon develops a relationship with the ghost (Tom Wisdom) haunting the property. What follows is an atypical genre film in which love is not the ultimate cure-all.

“I've always been obsessed with that idea of finding comfort in the supernatural,” Axelle Carolyn explains, “because if there are ghosts, there's an afterlife, and the people you've lost are not gone forever. So the story was born from that idea – something anybody who's ever lost someone can relate to. The locations, the atmosphere are very much inspired by those Gothic classics, but at the heart of it is a very human story, very real and contemporary.”

“Soulmate treads a fragile line between drama, horror, and Gothic romance,” says Etheria Film Night programmer and co-founder Heidi Honeycutt, “It is reminiscent of traditional classic Gothic thrillers in the vein of Jane Eyre, The Innocents, and Gaslight. Carolyn’s first short film, The Last Post, has a similar theme in which the afterlife intrudes into the natural realm.”

Soulmate is written and directed by Axelle Carolyn, produced by Claire Otway, and features Anna Walton (Audrey), Tom Wisdom (Douglas), Tanya Myers (Theresa), and Nick Brimble (Dr. Zellaby).

Head over to the Etheria Film Night website to learn more!

The Last Exorcism director Daniel Stamm was originally enlisted by Dimension Films to direct the American remake of Pascal Laugier's outstanding French horror movie Martyrs. Although he loved the script, the movie never came to be. Why?

In a recent interview with Movies.com discussing his newest film, 13 Sins (also a remake), Stamm talked about the script he received for a Martyrs remake.

"It was spellbinding," he said. "A beautiful character study of how far you’ll go for an insane friend. One of the best scripts I’ve read, probably ever."

Stamm continued on just why, although he loved the script, the project never moved forward. "The French had done these 30 pages of just mind-numbing, repetitive violence, which is genius because it makes you feel the actual horror of that stuff, but there is no entertainment value," Stamm said of the original movie. "So the Americans come in and go, ‘We have to spice this up and make it more entertaining.’ So suddenly it’s 30 pages of Saw that just didn’t work."

"The American remake keeps both girls alive; whereas, the French version kills one of the girls very early. If you keep both of them alive, this gives you a really great chance to have this psychological play between them and the torturers. Everything was going great creatively, and then the call comes in. ‘The option ran out a week ago and the French producers now want so much money that we can’t make the movie.’"

"I think they’re now back to making the movie for like $1 million, really low budget, which I think you could almost do; it’s just there’s this philosophy in Hollywood that you can never go back budget-wise. As a filmmaker you are judged by that. And then there’s also this concept I was unaware of called plateauing, where if you’re a filmmaker who makes two movies in the same budget bracket, that becomes your thing. You are the guy for the $3 million movie, and then that’s all you do. And so my agents wouldn’t let me do the $1 million movie because then that’s it for you; you’ll supposedly never get that bigger budget."

So there you have it. The almighty dollar, a power struggle, and typecasting all had a hand in shooting the Martyrs remake down. Apparently the rights to the film have switched hands are and moving forward with the lower price tag. Can't say this sounds too promising for the project, but you never know.

Blumhouse Productions announced today that Radius-TWC has acquired worldwide rights to indie horror-thriller Creep from the Duplass Brothers. Read on for the details you need to keep you creepin'.

The microbudget two-hander stars Patrick Brice as a videographer who answers an online ad to film a stranger (Mark Duplass) in a remote mountain town for a personal project that turns sinister.

Brice co-wrote the pic with Duplass and makes his directorial debut with Creep, which will be released later this year.

More on this one as it comes.

Sixteen stories of madness are on the way from the wonderfully disturbed folks over at Dark Horse, and we have your first details and also a look at the cover art right here. Steady your nerves, kids! Step right up and get your ticket for the Nightmare Carnival.

From the Press Release
Hugo and Bram Stoker Award–winning editor Ellen Datlow (Supernatural Noir, Lovecraft Unbound, Omni magazine, The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror) presents a new collection of insidious and shocking tales in the horrific and irresistible Nightmare Carnival.

Dark Horse is proud to bring you this masterwork of terror from such incredible creative talents as Terry Dowling, Priya Sharma, Dennis Danvers, and Nick Mamatas, featuring cover artwork by E. M. Gist (The Strain, Creepy).

A washed-up wrestler goes toe-to-toe with a strange new foe. A young lad’s eleventh birthday heralds the arrival of his bizarre new entourage. A suicidal diva just can’t seem to die. All of these queer marvels and more can be found at the Nightmare Carnival!

For fans of horror, noir, fantasy, crime, and the short fiction format, sixteen stories for $19.99!

Nightmare Carnival will be on sale September 24th in comic shops and October 7th in bookstores everywhere!

We're weeks removed from the untimely and tragic passing of GWAR frontman and "Holliston" star Dave Brockie, and it still doesn't seem like it's real. Thankfully, Dave has left behind quite a legacy, both musically and on film, and ArieScope has prepared a tribute to the man. Check it out!

From The ArieScope Site:
Since the passing of our brother Dave "Oderus Urungus" Brockie on March 23rd, there have been an enormous number of amazing tributes in the media.

The following video tribute celebrating Dave/"Oderus" and his amazing work on HOLLISTON has been put together on behalf of the show's cast and crew.

Laugh, remember, and say goodbye to our friend and co-star Dave Brockie below...

You are missed, Dave. Here's to ya, buddy!