At age 16, when most of us are worrying about getting our driver license, an aspiring filmmaker named Maude Michaud was getting busy establishing herself in the independent Canadian film world when she produced, wrote, directed and acted in her first short film, Finding Hope.

Since then, Michaud hasn't even had time to look back as she's gone on to write, direct and produce over 15 short films and video projects under her Quirk Films production banner including several horror short films including Red, T is for Toothpick, Snuff, The Portrait and Recessed.

Michaud also recently contributed to two horror anthology feature films called I Hate L.A. and Frankenstein Unlimited and is the mastermind behind the ongoing documentary web-series Bloody Breasts: An Exploration of Women, Feminism, and Horror Films which premiered online in April 2011.

In honor of Indie Horror Month, Dread Central recently caught up with the Montreal native to hear more about her experiences in independent filmmaking over the last ten years, Michaud's storytelling influences and more on her web series documentary Bloody Breasts.

Dread Central: Talk a bit about how you got into filmmaking and starting Quirk Films in 2001.

Maude Michaud: Very early in my life, I developed a passion for storytelling and for cinema. As a kid, I used to write stories and play them out for my friends and family while dressing up as the characters. As a result, I started taking drama classes and acted in numerous plays for about 12 years throughout my teenage years. This foray into theatre eventually made me realize I could merge my two passions (cinema and storytelling) into one by making my own movies.

When I was 16, I heard about a film festival in Toronto showcasing the work of teen filmmakers, so I figured it was my chance to test it out. I wrote and directed my first short, Finding Hope, which I shot with my dad’s Hi-8 camcorder. It ended up being chosen as part of the official selection, so I attended the festival, which confirmed that this was what I wanted to do with my life.

The creation of Quirk Films resulted from this experience; I realized that if I was going to start making my own films, I needed to be taken seriously so I founded Quirk Films. At first, it was just a title card I would add at the beginning of my shorts but throughout the years, it eventually ended up becoming my production company as I learned more about the business side of things and started getting paying contracts.

DC: Tell us more about some of your earlier shorts- did you face a lot of challenges being such a young filmmaker at the time?

Maude Michaud: Yes and no. I made my first short a few months before I began film school, so I didn’t have to wait long before finding the answers to the questions that arose during my first shooting experience. Given that I started from scratch, with only a theatre background, I did go through a big learning curve, especially concerning the technical side of filmmaking, but I was fortunate to be surrounded by people who were supportive and understanding.

Apart from that, I’d say the other main challenge I faced was that a lot of people didn’t take me seriously at first. This taught me to constantly try to surpass myself. I also had to learn very early on the importance of humility and how crucial it is to never take anything for granted.

DC: What kind of stories speak to you as a storyteller? Were there certain films (horror in particular) that have influenced your style along the way?

Maude Michaud: I’ve always been inspired by stories that explore madness and the human psyche. I also tend to be drawn to stories that push boundaries, either because of the chosen subject matter or the way it is addressed. A lot of films have inspired and influenced me (and continue to do so!) for different reasons. I’m constantly watching movies. I believe it’s one of the best ways to feed creativity and it helps push our own boundaries by exploring different ways of telling a story.

One on my favorite films, Lost Highway (David Lynch) had a huge influence on me, especially in terms of aesthetics. I often say I’m an aesthetic fetishist which means that I’m a very visual person and the visual treatment of the story will be as important as the story itself. I constantly seek out and respond to specific looks, texture and elements. A good example would be Strange Circus (Sion Sono) which I found visually mind-blowing; and I’m also a huge fan of Mario Bava too.

It’s really hard to only name a few but some movies that represent my tastes would include Videodrome and Crash (David Cronenberg) for the way they skillfully blend horror and sexuality; The Shining (Stanley Kubrick) for its story and its representation of madness; Ginger Snaps for how cleverly written it is and its great characters; À L’intérieur a.k.a. Inside (Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury) for its extreme gore; and Antichrist (Lars Von Trier) for being a downright painful movie. Blend all of those together, add a pinch of William Castle’s light-hearted fun and you should get something that resembles what goes on in my head.

DC: Since I know you've been working in Canada throughout your entire career, I was wondering if you could talk more about the independent horror filmmaking climate up there and any challenges/rewards you've experienced along the way.

Maude Michaud: I don’t feel there is a huge indie horror scene in Canada mostly due to the way film production works up here. Most productions are governmentally funded through grants and investments and this is the way the industry has been for years and private financing isn’t as prominent here as it is in the U.S. Most filmmakers will try applying for funding and, if they don’t get it, turn to DIY (or just give up and try with another project). As a result, most indie filmmakers avoid horror because they want to increase their chances of getting government financing.

There is also a huge DIY scene, especially where I live, where there is a huge emphasis on trashy films and comedic gore. All this definitely makes it challenging to be a serious indie horror filmmaker- especially if you’re interested in producing non trashy/campy horror films. However, it is also rewarding because there are few who 'tough it out' and keep making films, which encourages a sense of community among these filmmakers and a mutual respect.

DC: I know that you're heavily involved with Women in Horror Month; can you tell us more about where that involvement came from and how it's changed your career? Also, is your involvement in WiHM part of the inspiration behind your documentary project?

Maude Michaud: I actually began my documentary project about a year prior to the first WiHM, so the creation of this yearly event had a huge impact on the work I was doing, helping to validate my topic and proving that my documentary was not just looking at a small isolated community. When I began my project – which initially was supposed to take a positive, feminist look at women working within the genre – I came across Ax Wound and contacted Hannah Neurotica to chat about this and have her input on the topic.

A few months later, she contacted me asking what I thought about her idea of creating a Women in Horror Month. I immediately showed my support as it felt natural for me to do so as: one- a woman horror filmmaker and two- a scholar preparing her thesis on that very topic. The first thing I knew, programmers started contacting me about my short films. I had interview requests, bloggers were reviewing my films… it was a wonderful experience and I must admit it REALLY helped put my name out there. It was also a sort of crash-course on how to properly promote my work and establish festival strategies. I owe a lot to that first edition of the WiHM, so I like to stay involved as much as possible so I can give back a little something and hopefully help more women benefit from it.

DC: Can you talk more about Bloody Breasts and what fans can expect from your work on the doc? How is production going on that? Has anything that's come up during the interview process surprised you or changed your doc?

Maude Michaud: Production is currently on hiatus because I spent the last few months writing the accompanying document that was required as part of my thesis, so I didn’t have much time for shooting and editing. However, now that this is done and out of the way, I plan on resuming the editing of the last two episodes out of my first batch of shooting.

I do want to continue the project and expand upon what I already have by shooting new material, but I’m still studying the options. There are so many different tangents I could take! I’m hoping that, by the summer, I’ll have a clearer idea of what shape the project will take.

As for the second part of your question, I can’t say I had any major surprises, but the creation of the first WiHM month definitely changed the scope of the project. I had to make wise editing choices so that the episodes, which were shot prior to February 2010, wouldn’t feel too dated because they didn’t include coverage or mention of the WiHM. It also inspired me to pick the web series format as opposed to a more straight-forward documentary so that I could keep expanding and adding more participants- which is exactly where I’m at right now!

DC: How rewarding does it feel to still be going strong after 10 years of filmmaking?

Maude Michaud: I tend to forget I’ve been doing it for that long! It does feel rewarding but it also serves as a reminder that filmmaking is a constant effort. You can’t just make a movie and sit there, waiting for the next project to happen. You constantly have to be thinking about your next move and planning for it. For some people everything seems to happen overnight, for others it takes longer. Even if my early shorts played different festivals, my career only started to really take off in 2008-2009 so perseverance is really important; if you’re really driven (I am) and keep working toward your goal, something is bound to happen. This is the motto I keep repeating daily- even after 10 years.

DC: What's up next for you then?

Maude Michaud: A lot of really exciting projects actually! I’m currently polishing the script for my first feature film which I will be directing later this year, so I am extremely excited about that. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time, but I never dared take the plunge before and I’m really looking forward to the experience. I’m going to get a crowd funding campaign started later in the spring and you can check out my blog regularly for more information on that. .

I also recently launched the Quirk Films website where people can watch most of my shorts and I’m also actively working on a horror-themed conceptual photography project that I want to submit for gallery exhibition that hopefully I'll be able to take on the road as a touring exhibit.

For more information on the Montreal filmmaker and her short films and video projects, check out Michaud's blog here and the official Quirk Films website here.

Another trailer for the highly anticipated new film from Lionsgate The Cabin in the Woods is finally online, and we have it for you right here courtesy of our friends at FEARnet!

Look for the flick in theatres on April 13, 2012. It stars Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Anna Hutchison, Fran Kranz, Jesse Williams, Richard Jenkins, and Bradley Whitford. Drew Goddard directs from a screenplay written by him and Joss Whedon.

Synopsis
Five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods. Bad things happen. If you think you know this story, think again. From fan favorites Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard comes THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, a mind-blowing horror film that turns the genre inside out.

Takashi Miike. The name is synonymous with some of the most riveting cinema we have seen over the last couple of decades. Any time his name becomes attached to a new project we sit up and listen. So should you.

According to Nippon Cinema Takashi Miike (pictured right; Audition, Dead or Alive, Three...Extremes, Visitor Q, Gozu, One Missed Call, Ichi the Killer) is set to direct a film adaptation of Yusuke Kishi’s bestselling 2010 novel Aku no Kyoten (aka Lesson of the Evil).

The movie will star Hideaki Ito in a role quite a bit darker than what he’s usually known for. He’ll be playing a teacher named Seiji Hasumi who’s loved by his students and respected by his peers. However, his outward charm masks his true nature. In reality, Hasumi is a psychopath who is unable to feel empathy for other human beings. Specifically, he has a severe antisocial personality disorder.

Because of his mental condition, Hasumi chooses to deal with problems like bullying and overbearing “monster parents” the easy way—by systematically murdering his students.

Filming will take place from April to June with an eye toward completing it in time for inclusion at the Venice International Film Festival. A theatrical release is slated for November.

More soon!

Ubisoft Entertainment's I Am Alive will be part of the Xbox LIVE Arcade House Party event starting March 7th. We were just informed that the launch trailer is now live and well, and waiting for your undivided attention! Read on for details.

From the Press Release
I Am Alive follows an everyman’s journey to find his wife and daughter, who were lost during the “Event.” A year later, he finds Haventon, his hometown, in shambles. Buildings are destroyed, toxic ash fills the streets and society has been torn, causing inhabitants to take all necessary actions to survive.

In I Am Alive, players will be challenged by both the environment and the enemies. Stamina and resource management are key when being exposed to deadly atmospheres and scaling enormous buildings in search of supplies. The unique combat system requires players to utilize intimidation - cowards are easily swayed with an empty gun, while other enemies will put players to the test.

I Am Alive will release on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360. For more info right now visit the I Am Alive website.

Actress turned author Kathryn Leigh Scott, who played Josette DuPrés in the “Dark Shadows” TV series, has a new book on its way April 3, 2012, from Pomegranate Press entitled Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood, which she co-wrote with Jim Pierson.

Dark Shadows: Return to Collinwood is an in-depth look at five decades of the classic Gothic horror soap opera that made sympathetic vampire Barnabas Collins a pop culture phenomenon and prompted the big-screen revival starring longtime fan Johnny Depp, directed by Tim Burton.

With a foreword by Jonathan Frid, who created the role of Barnabas Collins, this new book includes hundreds of rare photographs and behind-the-scenes anecdotes from Scott, Frid, Lara Parker (Angelique Bouchard), and David Selby (Quentin Collins), all of whom appear in cameo roles with Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Michelle Pfeiffer in the new Gothic epic feature film Dark Shadows to be released this May. With the ongoing fascination for all things vampiric, this book, about the making of the new film and the history of the original series, is an enticing volume for new and old fans alike.

In its heyday the original "Dark Shadows" daytime series (ABC, 1966-1971) attracted 20 million viewers. The spooky, literate, romance and horror-driven show had universal appeal -- and came to be known as the program “kids ran home from school to watch.” Reruns and DVD releases of all 1,225 episodes have spawned new generations of "Dark Shadows" fans, who also attend annual "Dark Shadows" conventions and festivals where cast members reunite to celebrate the show’s unending popularity.

Authors Kathryn Leigh Scott and Jim Pierson have previously collaborated on five top-selling books about "Dark Shadows" and a coffee table book about the career of its creator, the late producer-director Dan Curtis.

To stay up-to-date on what else Ms. Scott has going on, be sure to visit her official site KathrynLeighScott.com.

Never being ones to sit still, Adam Green and Joe Lynch, creators of FEARnet's original series "Holliston," are taking their show on a national tour from coasts to coast in anticipation of the "Holliston" premiere next month. Also in attendance on the tour will be the show's lovely co-stars Laura Ortiz and Corri English.

The full schedule for the "Holliston" tour is below. If you're going to be near any of these stops, we suggest you do yourself a favor and check it out. "Holliston" invades homes on Tuesday, April 3rd, at 10:30 pm on FEARnet.

About "Holliston"
Adam and Joe are two down on their luck guys living in the small New England town of Holliston, Massachusetts and struggling to chase their dream of becoming horror movie filmmakers... all while dealing with life, their day jobs, and the opposite sex. With a cast that includes a cross dressing sexually inappropriate boss, a mentally handicapped cat, and an imaginary friend/alien who lives in the closet... Holliston re-invents the traditional sit-com as we know it and breaks new (and sometimes bloody) ground.

"Holliston" Tour Dates

Sunday March 11:
AUSTIN, TX
Screaming With Laughter: FEARnet TV's "Holliston"
2pm at South By South West - The Digital Domain in the Austin Convention Center, Austin TX

Join series creator/star Adam Green, co-star Joe Lynch, and FEARnet President Peter Block as they present a hilarious look at FEARnet's first original series, "Holliston". The panel will be hosted by Drew Mcweeny (Hitfix) and feature exclusive clips and footage from the upcoming sitcom.

Tuesday March 13:
BOSTON, MA
"Holliston": Advanced Screening
7pm in the Bright Family Screening Room at Emerson College's Paramount Center

Join series creator/star Adam Green along with co-stars Joe Lynch, Laura Ortiz, and Corri English as they present two advanced episodes from the upcoming FEARnet original sit-com and then do a Q&A discussion with the audience about making the horror/comedy series. Meet the cast and grab a limited poster and other free official "Holliston" schwag. Admission is FREE and open to the general public, but seating is first come first serve so we urge fans to get there early.

Wednesday March 14:
HOLLISTON, MA
An evening in Holliston
7pm at the Holliston Town Hall
703 Washington Street, Holliston, MA 01746

Join series creator/star (and Holliston native) Adam Green along with co-stars Joe Lynch, Laura Ortiz, and Corri English for an intimate and very special appearance in the actual town of Holliston, Massachusetts. The cast will present two advanced episodes from the upcoming series and do a brief Q&A with the audience.

"Hanging at Casey's"
10pm at Casey's Public Hose
81 Railroad Street, Holliston, MA 01746 (just around the block from Holliston Town Hall)

After the Town Hall screening, come celebrate with the cast at Casey's Public House (featured in "Holliston" as "Casey's Crossing") for a meet and greet. The cast will have a limited supply of "Holliston" posters to personally autograph and give away to fans. Admission is FREE and open to the general public, but seating is first come first serve so we urge fans to get there early

Saturday March 17:
ANAHEIM, CA
"Holliston" cast autograph signing
2pm at the FEARnet booth at WonderCon
Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA

Meet series creator/star Adam Green and co-stars Joe Lynch, Laura Ortiz, and Corri English as they giveaway and sign FREE limited "Holliston" posters at the FEARnet booth on the convention floor. Fans can also take pictures with life-sized standees of "Holliston's" Dee Snider ("Lance Rockett") and Oderus Urungus.

Saturday April 14:
CHICAGO, IL
Chicago Fear Fest
An Evening with "Holliston"
8pm at the Muvico Rosemonet 18
9701 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Rosemont, IL 60018

Join series creator/star Adam Green, co-star Joe Lynch, and series producer Sarah Elbert as they present two episodes of the series (one of which will have not yet aired at the time of this event). Following the screening, the filmmakers will do an in-depth Q&A about the series and give away a limited number of official "Holliston" posters that they will personally sign for fans.

Sunday April 15:
CHICAGO, IL
Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2)
So Funny, It's Scary. FEARnet TV's "Holliston"
North Building at McCormick Place
4pm in Panel Room S401abc

Join series creator/star Adam Green, co-star Joe Lynch, and series producer Sarah Elbert for the funniest panel presentation you'll see at this year's convention. Hosted by Steve Prokopy ("Capone" from Ain't It Cool News).

We recently got a tip on a Danish short film entitled The Headless Lover, and keeping to our promise to bring you the best of horror from across the globe, we checked it out. What we saw made us cringe, made us laugh and was almost certainly the best made short film we've seen in a while.

Written, directed and produced by Kim Lysgaard Andersen, The Headless Lover is actually part of a larger anthology project entitled The Book of Horror. This trilogy of films is inspired by and written in tribute to the "Tales from the Crypt." And immediately upon viewing The Headless Lover you'll see just how spot-on the filmmakers were. This could easily have been an outstanding episode of the much-loved HBO series.

Do yourself a favor and check this out. It runs about 25 minutes long and you'll dig every bloody second. Maibritt Saerens is outstanding in her role as the two-timing Sascha, and Michael Caroe and Jorn Fauerschou complement her nicely. And kudos also go to the F/X team for tackling some very challenging shots.

The Headless Lover is currently touring festivals around the world and has recently been picked out for the film festival MovieBattle 2012 where the subject for all films is supernatural horror. Like The Book of Horror and The Headless Lover on Facebook, and visit the official The Book of Horror website to see the new nightmares Andersen and the crew are concocting.

About The Book of Horror
Welcome to The Book of Horror – a trilogy of short films made by Kim Lysgaard Andersen. And welcome aboard a film project that mixes horror, jet black humor and sex in a lethal cocktail that will make your head spin.

The Book of Horror films are inspired and made in tribute to the grand old classics in "The Tales from the Crypt". If you are a fan, you have come to the right place. Still, The Book of Horror films are completely their own. Our guess is you have never seen anything quite like them. Have a look – and let us know.

Today Season Two of Machinima and Lionsgate's zombie comedy web series Bite Me debuts online, and in honor of the occasion Dread Central recently caught up with series director Jarrett Lee Conaway to talk about coming back for a second season and more.

Check out our exclusive chat with Conaway below to learn what kind of changes are in store for the hilarious cast of Bite Me during Season Two, the vital importance of a good casting department and his thoughts on the recent exciting announcement that FEARnet would be airing Bite Me on its cable network soon after the series' premiere online.

And make sure to check out the first episode of Bite Me Season Two right below our interview with Conaway.

Dread Central: Even though you're gearing up for Season Two of Bite Me, I'd love to hear more about how you got involved with the series at the beginning.

Jarrett Lee Conaway: Well, I had made a short film in 2009 called Turbo that was about the world of 4D video games, and that caught the attention of Andy Shapiro (co-writer and producer of Bite Me). He approached me about a project he was working on that had a similar theme to my short - video games - but this was more about how being a gamer would work in your benefit in case there was a real zombie apocalypse. I dug the idea, and six months later I took over a pitch and some storyboards and they liked the ideas I had in mind for the series. And, as they say, the rest was history.

DC: You know, after going back and watching Season One, I have to say I really dug that you had so many charismatic actors working on this; they had great chemistry and their enthusiasm really shows.

Jarrett Lee Conaway: Thanks! Casting is really 90 percent of what makes a project successful and so much of that is making sure everyone has chemistry together. Our casting department really worked hard to get a talented pool of actors together for Bite Me, and I think that's a huge part of why the series has such a devoted fanbase- everyone just loves these guys and want to see what happens to them with each episode. There's really someone for everyone to relate to in Bite Me, and the entire cast elevates the material in so many hilarious ways.

DC: How important is the fan base to everyone on Bite Me? Is the fact that the first season did incredibly well (over 14 million collective views) make it easier to give the green light for a second season?

Jarrett Lee Conaway: Yeah, there were rumblings pretty early on that we'd have a Season Two of Bite Me because I think Andy has always had this vision that this story would go over several seasons. Thankfully the fans loved the first season so it's great to be back again. But what the fans say about the series is incredibly important to all of us- we pay attention to everything, and sometimes it does influence us in terms of making sure we give the fans the best story possible and keep them entertained with every episode.

DC: So what kind of changes do you have in store for Bite Me Season Two then?

Jarrett Lee Conaway: Well, for Season Two the world really opens up a lot for these characters, and we definitely made it with more of a cinematic aesthetic because I think the fan expectation is higher this time around. So the world is bigger and we're going to see the character all evolve, too; also, this time our heroes have more to worry about than just zombies- they're facing their first human villain in Season Two so that will be fun to see how it plays out and how the fans respond to it.

DC: I'm sure you were feeling great after it was announced that Bite Me would also be running on the FEARnet cable channel. Are you guys planning on doing the same roll-out for the episodes on FEARnet that you are online?

Jarrett Lee Conaway: Oh absolutely! I think it's incredibly awesome to be doing a double debut of sorts- both online and on FEARnet as well. I think we're definitely setting a precedent here, and I'm really excited to see what happens.

The web series will run as 10 weeks of episodes through Machinima's YouTube channel, but on FEARnet Bite Me will run as five half-hour episodes, which fits better into standard television programming timing. Fans will also get to see a lot of behind-the-scenes interviews and stuff like that on FEARnet which is pretty cool, too; they're going to have a lot of funny stuff, trust me.

Marketing folks try anything to draw the widest audience possible so it's often hard to know the exact genre of a film until we've sat through it. With that knowledge we bring you the handful of horror films screening at this year's Tribeca Film Festival thus far...plus those that MIGHT be.

The Tribeca Film Festival runs April 18th-29th in New York City. Visit the official Tribeca 2012 website for the full World Narrative, World Documentary, and Viewpoints lineups and more info; and keep your eyes on Dread Central for further film announcements (only the first half has been revealed thus far) and full event coverage!

World Narrative Competition

Beyond the Hill (Tepenin Ardi)
Directed and written by Emin Alper (Turkey, Greece)—North American Premiere
Faik, a proud old forester, is having trouble with nomads grazing their livestock on his land. For revenge, he and his hulking farm hand Mehmet snatch a goat to butcher for a family holiday, unwittingly sparking a dire blood feud. Debuting Turkish director Emin Alper creates an atmosphere of skin-crawling terror in this psychological drama by withholding, not showing, the escalating acts of violence that hurtle these feuding farmers toward a shocking confrontation. In Turkish with subtitles.

First Winter
Directed and written by Benjamin Dickinson (USA)—World Premiere
In this extraordinary debut feature, a blackout of apocalyptic proportions strands a group of Brooklyn hipsters in a remote country farmhouse with no heat and no electricity during the coldest winter on record. At first, it’s all sex and drugs and acoustic guitars. But as the days go on and the food supply dwindles, struggles of power, jealousy, and desire threaten the group’s ability to work together in order to survive.

Jack and Diane
Directed and written by Bradley Rust Gray (USA)—World Premiere
Tomboy Jack and bubbly Diane fall head over heels in love one hot summer in New York City. When Diane reveals she must leave the city for school in Europe, their budding love is tested. Weaving horror elements into a distinctive and fresh yet timeless and universal first-love story, TFF alum Bradley Rust Gray (The Exploding Girl) brings his unique vision to this idiosyncratic story of the joys and terrors of first love. A Magnolia Pictures release.

Nancy, Please
Directed by Andrew Semans, written by Will Heinrich and Andrew Semans (USA)—World Premiere
Paul’s life is good. He has a gig teaching literature at Yale, and he just moved in with his longtime girlfriend, finally shedding his casually sinister roommate, Nancy. There’s just one thing. Paul left an item of great importance at his old apartment, and Nancy doesn’t want to give it back. Paul’s life is about to unravel. Debuting director Andrew Semans skillfully orchestrates a minor annoyance into an all-consuming obsession in this smart, stunning psychodrama.

NANCY, PLEASE teaser from Andrew Semans on Vimeo.

Viewpoints

Consuming Spirits
Directed and written by Chris Sullivan (USA)—World Premiere, Narrative
Nearly 15 years in the making, Chris Sullivan’s Consuming Spirits is a meticulously constructed tour de force of experimental animation. Shooting frame by frame in 16mm, Sullivan seamlessly blends together a range of techniques into a distinct, signature visual style. In the process, he constructs a hypnotic, layered narrative, a suspenseful Gothic tale that tracks the intertwined lives of three kindred spirits working at a local newspaper in a Midwestern rust belt town.

The Fourth Dimension
Directed by Harmony Korine, Alexey Fedorchenko, and Jan Kwiecinski, written by Harmony Korine, Alexey Fedorchenko, Jan Kwiecinski, Oleg Loevsky, and Yaroslava Pulinovich (USA, Poland, Russia)—World Premiere, Narrative
A motivational speaker named Val Kilmer (played by Val Kilmer) delivers a sermon at a roller rink. A Russian scientist builds a time machine in his apartment. Four friends stumble upon an abandoned village in the Polish countryside. All are in search of the fourth dimension—whether they know it or not. Weird, ominous, cool, compelling: These three short films could only be inspired by the creative vision of Harmony Korine and Vice Media’s Eddy Moretti. In English, Polish, Russian with subtitles.

Francophrenia (or: Don’t Kill Me, I Know Where the Baby Is)
Directed by Ian Olds and James Franco, written by Ian Olds and Paul Felten (USA)—North American Premiere, Narrative
James Franco stunned the film world when he committed to a regular gig on General Hospital, but the Oscar®-nominated actor had a clever trick up his sleeve. While shooting a key GH episode, Franco brought along a film crew. TFF award winner Ian Olds (Fixer, 2009) then repurposed Franco’s behind-the-scenes footage into an experimental psychological thriller set amid the spectacle of a celebrity’s escalating paranoia, creating a mind-bending exploration of identity.

Rubberneck
Directed by Alex Karpovsky, written by Alex Karpovsky and Garth Donovan (USA)—World Premiere, Narrative
Months after a one-night-stand-gone-nowhere with a sexy coworker, sad-sack Boston scientist Paul still finds himself increasingly consumed with obsessive thoughts toward his uninterested colleague. As his impulses become increasingly irresistible, and the repercussions of his actions snowball, the tension mounts. Indie stalwart Alex Karpovsky directs this slow-burn psychosexual character study.

Okay, "Ghost Adventures" fans. Our interview series now continues with Nick Groff, who talks spectres, Bobby Mackey's, and more. Sit back and gear up for another in-depth interview lockdown.

In Part 1 of our interview with Nick Groff, we discussed the group's origins, and now we kick off Part 2 by heading back into the dreaded Bobby Mackey's.

"We were still new," says Groff of his "Ghost Adventures" team. "It was 2008 and we had just we come off the documentary, and a couple months later we geared up for Bobby Mackey’s. In retrospect we still weren’t fully able to comprehend and understand negative energy on the side of what we know as demonic. These types of happenings have more of a negative effect on your own spiritual self. You can lose track. That’s the number one scariest thing that somebody can encounter... negative impact or negative energy at locations. They have lingering effects. If you’re good and healthy, you go to your everyday work atmosphere, and then boom, you go to one of these locations and you’re calling it out and opening yourself up to this negative effect. It attaches itself to you. It can cause disruptions in your life, your family, your health. It will screw you up big time. All three of us, majorly, have suffered that effect. It doesn’t matter if you’re the toughest, strongest guy in the world. Mentally you have to be strong and spiritually you have to be content with yourself, or else you will be a train wreck. I have seen it happen to people and it is very difficult thing to watch. I’ve learned over the years how to balance myself because having it affect me or my family is the one thing that I don’t want to happen."

"Bobby Mackey’s (Season 1, Episode 1; Season 4, Episode 3) was a different scenario than other locations, and yeah it did affect each one of us in a very different personal way. It affected Zak and Aaron a lot more severely than it did myself. I have had other locations that have really dramatically hit home with me. Like when we we’re at Moon River Brewing Company in Savannah, Georgia (Season 2, Episode 7). To this very day it’s scary to think about. I'm always saying things like 'lock me in a morgue' or 'put me in the craziest most screwed up locations you can think of', but when it comes down to dark energies taking over your own spiritual self and disrupting your inner positive light, whatever you want to call it, that’s where it gets scary. I was affected badly at several different locations like the Washoe Club (Season 3, Episode 6) and The Return to the Goldfield Hotel (Season 4, Episode 16) but that’s the type of stuff we are dealing with. It’s more dangerous than anything. More dangerous than confronting a spirit full on and it throwing you across the room, beating the shit out of you. *laughs* Seriously, because those dark energies can have a severe affect because you cannot fight back. You just have to fight your inner self. It’s complicated."

Groff continues, "I would say it’s one of the most dangerous [professions] in the world. I know it’s not... well, actually it can be physical at times, ya know? You’ve probably seen me flip over a chair into rusty, broken metal scraps and glass on the ground and of course after things like that it's off to the hospital to check for infections. Speaking of dangerous, usually when exploring these various locations asbestos and black mold is all over the place. When we can we wear protective masks; however, doing your job with them affixed to your head can get difficult at times. Number one it irritates the hell out of your face, and number two you really can't hear us that well. It gets really muffled and mumbled, and sometimes that can have the effect of contaminating the audio from the breathing with the vents. Thankfully we’ve worked them out and we’re able to use them pretty well now. Zak has to use one because his lungs are really sensitive to the dust from doing this for so long. Aaron and I, sometimes we’re just like, 'Screw it.' We do this because, I guess, of a passion of pushing ourselves so everybody else can see what we’re capturing."

Seeing as he's been to so many insane places over the course of the past several years, we prodded Nick a bit to talk about the times he found himself most scared.

"For some reason every time I try to go to the bathroom at a haunted location, the spirits try to freakin' attack me," Nick says with a laugh. "I let my guard down a little bit and they come out to try and attack me. It's crazy and even kind of funny because when you watch the Bobby Mackey’s episode and you see me go into the bathroom, no cameras are on because, well, I’m going to take a piss. Zak goes up to get the camera out of the attic and Aaron is taking care of the gear or something. When I went into the bathroom at Mackey's, I had no idea what was about to happen. Then I hear this scratching on the walls. I had got done taking a pee, I didn’t even have time to zip up my fly and the whole bathroom begins shaking. Like literally rumbling. Chaotic. Like the energy in the air has become dramatically changed. I was literally frightened for my life. I just jumped the hell out of that bathroom and ran into the other room like, 'Holy crap! Get the cameras; you don’t even know what’s going on in there.' We go back in after Zak and Aaron get their cameras, and we’re standing there, and I’m like, 'Come on, do it again!' and it happens again, all these rumbling sounds. It was so freakin' scary I literally jumped of the bathroom. That’s when you hear Zak yell 'Stop running!' The thing is. though... I wasn’t necessarily running. I was jumping, leaping forward out of the bathroom because I thought the whole thing was collapsing. That’s how scary it was. That was one extremely scary moment. Especially for me because I was not expecting that... I was totally vulnerable."

Read on for more.

"The second time I had the hell scared out of me was at Linda Vista Hospital in East LA (Season 3, Episode 23). We were in the trauma center area investigating, At this point I’m extremely tired as it was toward the end of the night. I was doing my usual thing, calling out to the spirits there. I had a digital recorder in my hand and you can see me on camera. Zak was filming me from one angle and Aaron is filming me from the other room. When I looked into the trauma center room I didn’t see anything there. You know how your eyes adjust in the dark after a while? I’m in there and just looking. I look back and I’m like, 'All right, I’m rolling on my digital recorder.' It’s so redundant I said that a thousand times that night. 'I’m rolling on my digital recorder trying to capture unexplainable voices.' Then I look back into the trauma center room and boom. There is this solid figure, a lady, standing literally two feet in front of my face. It scared the ever living shit out of me. Like being in a haunted house and then all of a sudden someone just jumps out at you when you least expect it. That’s what it felt like. The crazy thing is I could make out every single detail on this lady. She and I connected for that split second before I freaked out and I jumped back. The recorder flew out of my hand and I almost fell backwards on my ass. My heart..." Nick pauses to reflect. "I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I run out of the room for a second to catch my breath. This lady was so clear. She had this short brown hair. Our eyes connected, brown eyes. Her face kind of had like this white glow to it. It was really creepy. That really stood out to me, but the one major thing that stood out big time, that made me think, 'Okay, this was a patient or somebody there, of the past' was her hospital gown. It was like this short hospital gown. I could only see her from the waist up, and her hospital gown had these small little patterns on it of these flowers and stuff with different colors. She looked angry... like she had her head kind of tilted down like a slant looking at me. It was almost like she was reaching out at me at the last second before I turned away and jumped backwards. That, right there, was probably the biggest experience I have had in my life because it opened up my mind to knowing that there is more to life than just death. This was the part that I have been looking for all my life. It is what opened up my views and changed everything."

No matter what, though, there are always going to be skeptics, including some of the proprietors of the places the GAC visit.

"Red at the Goldfield is hardly ever there. He goes there and works on the doors during the day and then he’ll take off. He’s told me that he has stayed overnight; however, he’s kind of hard of hearing so he rarely experiences anything. Then there's Bobby Mackey himself. It was funny because we were doing an interview with Bobby and all of a sudden we heard this music playing. We were sitting there, it was completely silent, and we all heard it. We were like, 'What the heck is that noise? Where is that music coming from?' We searched it out, we looked for it, nobody had a clue. Bobby basically just shrugged and said, 'Oh that’s weird.' We’re like 'See! Maybe we got something out of them.' There was a split second where Mackey was actually intrigued by something unexplainable. When we go to places like these. we go looking for the unexplainable. It’s a different scenario for people like Bobby and Red. They only go there for a limited amount of time. They’re not spending the night searching things out. They just go in, do their thing and leave, but everybody there, especially the people who have worked there... they report seeing all types of stuff; they’ve had experiences there."

With so many possible locations around the world, we asked Nick what his dream investigation would be.

"There’s a place in New York, a psychiatric facility along the riverfront there, I forget the exact name. I actually started a petition to try to get us in there. I have our researchers, every year, for "Ghost Adventures" calling the owners trying to convince them to let us in. The problem is the place is government-owned so it makes it really impossible. It’s like 400 acres of abandoned mental asylum and buildings and such. It has insane history. I wish we could get in there. That’s one of my dream locations."

And what of international places ...

"There’s so many. So many I don’t even know where to begin. From England to... we’ve done Scotland. Italy. Poveglia Island when we went to Venice was one of the biggest locations I’ve been dying to do for about 12 years. I knew about Poveglia Island before we even started 'Ghost Adventures'."

Speaking of Poveglia (Season 3, Episode 19)... if their visit there taught them anything, it was that machetes can be bad things to have around if shit goes haywire. Case in point: when an armed Zak momentarily lost control...

"Yeah, just try taking that machete away from him. That’s a story right there. He wouldn’t give us the machete, and he was creeping Aaron and I out. We’re stranded on an island with nowhere to go. So yeah, that was a little creepy. All jokes aside, that hearkens back to the dark energy I was talking about. Zak had something come over him. We couldn’t snap him out of it. I was the only one to go in there and kind of strong-arm him and be like, 'Let’s go; let's get out of here.' Aaron had to back up because Zak was trying to attack him. It was crazy. Later Zak went back in to confront that evil energy or whatever had taken over him. I don’t recommend doing that to anyone thinking of searching out the paranormal. You have to be aware of what you’re actually doing, of who or what you’re talking with. That’s the scary part. You might think you know who you’re conversing with, but you really don’t. This is a being on the other side. Again, I don’t recommend it but that’s the type of stuff that we do. We try to push the limits to try to capture good evidence to show the world that there’s more to life than just dying."

Many fans of "Ghost Adventures" decide to go out and conduct investigations of their own. To them Nick has this bit of advice...

"Be cautious," Nick warns. "Make sure you don’t just go somewhere by yourself. That’s the key. If you're going to try and do this, you should do it with somebody that you can trust dearly. Someone close to you like a best friend. Make sure you are aware of your surroundings. Again, you don’t really know what you're communicating with if contact is made. Manipulation is one of the scariest things that evil can do to somebody. It can convince you that it's harmless. You may think it’s all fun and games at the time, 'I’m catching a voice!' or 'This is happening to me! I’m feeling this weird dramatic change in my body; this is interesting.' However, what you may not realize is that when you leave a location, after they have that exciting rush for that second, this stuff does linger and can follow you home. That’s where it can have an effect on you, and that’s the primary reason that you have to be cautious."

Join us next week for Part 3 of our interview with Nick, when we'll find out what's next for him, what's coming up on "Ghost Adventures", and of course ... he'll be answering fan questions.

For more info be sure to visit "Ghost Adventures" on Travel Channel. "Ghost Adventures" Season 6 premieres on March 9th, 2012.

This clip. Oh, man. Maureen McCormick! The original Marcia Brady! It just ... wow! Oh, man! No really ... it's like. Dude. You just have to see it for yourself. For the love of all that is holy watch this clip now.

Lionsgate Home Entertainment is set to release this terrifying spin on the Snow White fairy tale from prolific b-movie director David DeCoteau starring Shanley Caswell (Joseph Kahn’s Detention), Maureen McCormick (aka Marcia of “The Brady Bunch”), and the living legend Eric Roberts on March 20th. The only disc extra will be a stills gallery.

Thanks to DC reader Reid Taylor for the heads-up. We think. Dude ....

Synopsis
Devastated by her father’s remarriage, Snow (Shanley Caswell) begins to act out toward her new stepmother (Maureen McCormick). Given an ultimatum by his new wife, Snow’s father (Eric Roberts) sends his daughter off to a summer camp, unaware of its dark past. Snow soon learns that the camp was the site of a murder several years ago and that the suspect fled into the woods, never to be seen again. Not long into her deadly summer, campers begin dying off and Snow feels as though a killer is watching her.

With American Maniacs hitting VOD on Netflix, YouTube, iTunes and more on April 24 via Phase 4 Films, star Ashlynn Yennie and filmmaker CM Downs chatted with us regarding the gritty independent film and provided some new photos as well as an exclusive behind-the-scenes featurette.

Written by Trent Haaga (Deadgirl) and directed by Downs, American Maniacs (originally titled Fetch) revolves around “a small Kansas town, where country life is anything but simple or safe (and where) the inhabitants are a volatile mix of hostile predators, violent ex-cons, meth-head strippers, perverted cops, and psychopathic murderers who raise flesh-eating dogs,” according to the official synopsis. In addition to Yennie, the film stars Shawn G. Smith (30 Days of Night: Blood Trails), Kurt Hanover and Jason Curtis Miller, among others.

Filmed over the course of a total of thirteen days in Potter, Kansas, “American Maniacs was shot for the most part in minus-sixteen-degree weather about twenty miles north of Leavenworth State Penitentiary,” Downs recalled of principal photography. “Ashlynn came down with tonsillitis, though, on day nine and had to be rushed off set so we shut down and picked up the last four remaining days five weeks later, but with no snow. We had to be mega creative.”

“It was freezing!” mirrored Yennie (who portrays lead ‘Starlene Arbuckle’) of the shoot. “I think it was the worst snowstorm the state had seen in a long time. I was not as healthy as I could have been coming in from Los Angeles to the extreme cold and I did get sick, but they continued to shoot and I returned a month or so later to finish.”

Other problems instigated by the weather plagued the indie production as well.

“We lost all of the ‘B’ camera footage due to the cold,” Downs recalled. “There were small vibrations in the footage which made it unusable, which couldn’t be seen on the 9” monitor or laptop (during photography), and which wasn’t caught until we were in post-production while viewing it on a 60” screen.”

“Every production vehicle also broke down and lost at least one tire, even catering. It was really that cold!” continued the filmmaker. “And at some point (actress) Amanda Dawn Harrison fell through a sheet of ice into the water. I will say that the film was one of the most fun productions ever, though. Everyone took care of each other and had a blast, and no one really complained about the weather. We just marched through it. I would do it again in a heartbeat!”

As for what attracted Yennie to the role of the ‘meth-head stripper’ she plays in American Maniacs (as the trailer bills her character), “She is really complex,” said the actress, who filmed the role between principal photography of her much buzzed-about The Human Centipede films. “One would read the script for American Maniacs and think she is a total heartless bitch, but I felt that all of her ruthlessness and selfishness were simply hiding a truly insecure girl who is scarred from life. I will be honest that there were a few things in the script that had to be taken out or re-worked for me to say ‘yes’, but in the end I think we all made a good film.”

“Chris is such an amazing director,” Yennie continued of her experience working with Downs on American Maniacs. “I like his approach to directing, and he created some really beautiful shots in the film. I learn so much from each film and from every person I meet, and American Maniacs was such a wonderful team of people.”

Of the look of the flick, “This is a very unique animal of a movie,” offered Downs of American Maniacs. “It's a very Euro-style film and the first credited film on IMDB to employ the process of Digital PhotoChemistry (DPCD). The University of Toulouse, Paris did the color work for this film so it is very unique. We embedded real blood into the scenes and inserted colors outside of the traditional camera color space. It creates a very unique look to the film.”

Intrigued by this process, I pressed Downs with regard to the technical aspects of DPCD.

“It's new and being developed by Toulouse and MIT,” extrapolated Downs, who is currently casting his next feature titled Swift. “This is being created for 3D filmmaking. I was the ‘guinea pig’ so to say, and I will one hundred percent do it again with higher resolution cameras. It really is amazing and a groundbreaking technique. So, if you shoot your footage as normal, you have your 3-color CCD space; what this allows you to do is to take images of other high resolution things, for instance with us extracted blood from a recent cadaver. You then take a 7D camera in 4K and then embed this color space into the film, which is then tracked into the real-time camera color space. This is exactly what we did, and also with the cold, you can tell it's cold because of wind and sounds effects and actors portraying that it’s cold, but how do you make an audience actually ‘feel’ the cold? The answer is that you photograph high resolution 4K images of dry ice, then imbed that into the film and colorize it, hence creating the physical feeling of being cold. Pretty awesome, right? We did the entire film like this. Hindsight is 20/20, though, and it would have been nice to actually have a budget which would have lent the production much higher resolution cameras, but hey, it’s independent filmmaking. You either do it or you don't!”

American Maniacs releases to North American DVD via Pacific Entertainment/Genius Products this coming May.

American Maniacs: Behind the Scenes from CM Downs on Vimeo.

More news is coming in for NBC's latest genre show, "Midnight Sun". This time, though, it's the director we're talking about and not the cast. Read on for details.

According to Bloody Disgusting, genre veteran Brad Anderson (Session 9, Vanishing on 7th Street, Transsiberian, The Machinist) is to direct NBC's "Midnight Sun" pilot.

David Harbour (The Green Hornet) was recently added to the ensemble cast that also includes Julia Stiles (The Omen, "Dexter"), Emma Bell (Final Destination 5, Frozen, "The Walking Dead"), and Titus Welliver ("Lost", "Sons of Anarchy") as Bennett Maxwell, the charismatic and manipulative leader of Midnight Sun.

The thriller follows the mysterious disappearance of Midnight Sun, a group living on a cult-like commune in Alaska, and a female FBI cult specialist leading the investigation that uncovers a larger conspiracy.

Shooting begins this May in Vancouver.

Telltale's The Walking Dead is a 5-part episodic game series coming this spring for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. The game's talk show just released the second episode of Playing Dead, where you can get great insider information straight from the developers! We have it here along with Episode 1 in case you missed it.

From the Press Release
Telltale has released the second episode of Playing Dead at the official website for The Walking Dead. Playing Dead is Telltale’s talk show format developer diary designed to let gamers know what they can expect from the upcoming game based on Robert Kirkman’s award-winning comic book series.

The Walking Dead is a 5-part episodic game series coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade, PlayStation Network, PC and other leading platforms. The first episode will be available for download later this spring.

In this episode of Playing Dead, we join host AJ LoCascio and guests Sean Vanaman (Lead Designer) and Gary Whitta (Story Consultant and Writer for Episode Four) as they discuss how Telltale is expanding on the world that The Walking Dead fans love. They also talk about how player decisions and actions affect the game’s story in multiple ways, leading to what Telltale calls a “tailored experience”.

In addition to making new screenshots available (see them below), Telltale has also posted the first of a series of video format Q&A sessions on the games’ official website (answers come from Lead Designer Jake Rodkin and Designer Harrison Pink). Gamers are encouraged to ask more questions for future Q&A sessions by emailing playingdead@telltalegames.com or leaving a message at (707) 701 DEAD.

Playing Dead host AJ LoCascio provided the voice for Marty McFly in Telltale’s Back to the Future: The Game series. Gary Whitta is a screenwriter, author, game designer and video game journalist. Whitta’s writing credits include The Book of Eli, and Gears of War.

Stay tuned for more details! The next episode of Playing Dead will include special guest Robert Kirkman and will reveal Telltale’s The Walking Dead in action for the very first time. The Walking Dead is rated “M” (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Strong Language.

For more information visit Telltale's The Walking Dead website.

We're inching closer to the season finales of "Being Human" and "Lost Girl" on Syfy so expect the action to ramp up. Here's what to expect on March 12th in "When I Think About You I Shred Myself" and "Fae Day".

"Being Human" Episode 2.09 "When I Think About You I Shred Myself" (3/12/12 Air Date):
Josh's best friend returns from the dead, Aidan lends a hand to Henry, and Sally's confrontation with the Reaper rocks her to her core.

In "Being Human" leading normal lives is a lot harder than it looks for three roommates – vampire Aidan (Sam Witwer), ghost Sally (Meaghan Rath), and werewolf Josh (Sam Huntington) – who share their secrets and a Boston brownstone.

"Lost Girl" Episode 1.09 - "Fae Day" (3/12/12 Air Date):
A banshee's cry interrupts a Fae holiday and sets Bo on a mission to mend a family feud.

"Lost Girl" stars Anna Silk ("The Ghost Whisperer") as supernatural seductress Bo. Silk's co-stars are Kris Holden-Ried as Dyson, a shape-shifting Fae, homicide detective, and Bo’s love interest; Ksenia Solo as Kenzi, Bo’s human confidante and a street-smart survivor; Zoie Palmer as Lauren, a human doctor who competes for Bo’s heart; Rick Howland as Trick, the mysterious owner and bartender at The Dal Riata tavern with a secretive past that is yet to be unlocked; and K.C. Collins as Hale, a handsome male “Siren” who is the eternal bachelor, ultimate wingman, and Dyson’s partner on the force. Emmanuelle Vaugier guest stars as “The Morrigan”, the leader of the Dark Fae.

Another clip has arrived for Lionsgate's The Hunger Games, this one featuring Jennifer Lawrence and Lenny Kravitz having a moment. Watch and let us know what you think.

The Hunger Games, directed by Gary Ross, stars Donald Sutherland, Woody Harrelson, Wes Bentley, Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Liam Hemsworth, Paula Malcolmson, Willow Shields, Latarsha Rose, Lenny Kravitz, Brooke Bundy, Leven Rambin & Jack Quaid (#1), Alexander Ludwig & Isabelle Fuhrman (#2), Ian Nelson & Kalia Prescott (#3), Ethan Jamieson & Tara Macken (#4), Chris Mark & Jackie Emerson (#5), Ashton Moio & Kara Petersen (#6), Sam Ly & Leigha Hancock (#7), Samuel Tan & Mackenzie Lintz (#8), Imanol Yepez-Frias & Annie Thurman (#9), Jeremy Marinas & Dakota Hood (#10), Amandla Stenberg & Dayo Okeniyi (#11), and Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss) & Josh Hutcherson (Peeta) (#12).

Synopsis:
Every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another until one survivor remains.

Pitted against highly-trained Tributes who have prepared for these Games their entire lives, Katniss (Lawrence) is forced to rely upon her sharp instincts as well as the mentorship of drunken former victor Haymitch Abernathy. If she’s ever to return home to District 12, Katniss must make impossible choices in the arena that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Lionsgate will release The Hunger Games on March 23, 2012. Theater owners are continuing to add new showtimes while fans are scooping up advance tickets on Fandango.com.

Be sure to keep your eyes on the official The Hunger Games Facebook page and the official The Hunger Games Twitter feed for updates leading up to the film's release.

Yet another viral site for Ridley Scott's Prometheus is now online, and with it came a brand new still that would drive anyone on acid absolutely bonkers. Dig it!

Prometheus, starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Patrick Wilson, Logan Marshall-Green, and Ben Foster, will be in theaters on June 8th, 2012.

Synopsis
Ridley Scott, director of 'Alien' and 'Blade Runner,' returns to the genre he helped define. With 'Prometheus' he creates a groundbreaking mythology in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

As avid horror memorabilia collectors, we've been known to toss a lot of cash around for things that really only have value to us. However, every now and again something comes along so friggin' cool it would have value to anyone. This is one of those times.

Below you'll get your first look at Sideshow's Freddy Krueger Premium Format Figure. To call it amazing is a bit of an understatement. It could very well be the best damn Freddy collectible we've ever seen. That being said ... this baby will only run you a mere $349.99. Hurts, doesn't it.

If you've got the dough, the figure will be available for pre-order through the Sideshow Newsletter on Thursday, March 8th, 2012, which is typically published between 2PM and 3PM (Pacific Time). Hit up the link below for details.

The Exclusive Freddy Krueger Premium Format Figure, which will include a fine art print and an additional switch-out hand holding a skull, will be priced at $349.99 while a regular edition, without the print and extra accessory, will also be priced at $349.99.

Additionally, both versions will have a FLEXPay option available as a payment choice and a non-refundable deposit of $35 charged within 24 to 48 hours after a pre-order is placed! Make sure you log into your newsletter account on March 8th, 2012 to secure this piece for your collection.

Looking forward to Lionsgate's release of the new shark thriller starring the gorgeous Halle Berry? No? Then maybe this latest clip can chum your waters a bit. Dig it!

A three-week Ultra VOD window begins on March 8th with a theatrical release on March 30th. From there look for the flick on DVD and Blu-ray on April 24th!

From the Press Release
Lionsgate is proud to announce the Blu-ray Disc, DVD and Digital Download release of Dark Tide, available on April 24th, 2012.

Prepare to swim with the sharks this spring as Lionsgate debuts Dark Tide. Starring Academy Award® winner Halle Berry (Best Actress in a Leading Role, Monster's Ball, 2001) and Olivier Martinez (Unfaithful), the taut and suspenseful thriller follows a small boat expedition deep into the dangerous South African waters known as Shark Alley. Dark Tide is directed by John Stockwell (Into the Blue, Blue Crush, Turistas) from a screenplay by Amy Sorlie and Ronnie Christensen (story by Amy Sorlie).

Kate (Berry) is a shark expert whose business has been failing since a shark attack killed a fellow diver under her command. Once dubbed "the shark whisperer," Kate is haunted by the memory of the attack and unable to get back into the water. With bills piling up and the bank about to foreclose on Kate's boat, Kate's ex-boyfriend Jeff (Martinez) presents her with a lucrative opportunity: lead a thrill-seeking millionaire businessman on a dangerous shark dive...outside the cage. Battling her self-doubts and fear, Kate accepts the proposal -- and sets a course for the world's deadliest feeding ground: Shark Alley.

If director Josh Trank proved anything with his film Chronicle, it was that he's very capable of making a superhero/supervillian the right way. Who better to direct a tale revolving around one of Marvel's most evil characters, Venom?

According to the L.A. Times, Sony is negotiating with Trank to take the reins of the Spidey spin-off, said a person familiar with the project who was not authorized to talk about it publicly. Sony was not immediately available for comment.

The film would center on the gooey villain who was a mainstay of the Marvel comics and was a nemesis, incarnated by Topher Grace, in the third Spider-Man picture in 2007. (The character attaches himself to a human host and becomes as powerful as the web-slinging superhero.) Grace is not expected to reprise the role.

A Venom film has been gestating at the studio for quite some time, dating back at least to 2008 and preceding plans for this summer's Marc Webb-Andrew Garfield take on the character. Gary Ross negotiated to direct a Venom film back in 2009 but moved on to other projects, including the upcoming The Hunger Games.

More as it comes.