It's just about that special time of year again... another Friday the 13th! And right now we have a massive look back at some of our most memorable Friday the 13th related coverage - old and new. Sit back and enjoy, kids, and don't tell your mama.
Have a great and safe day, and make sure you scare those you love at least once!
Casting news for A&E's upcoming series "The Returned" has been coming hot and heavy in the past week with all sorts of familiar faces being added to the roster of attached talent. Today comes yet another new addition, and you "True Blood" fans out there are going to like it!
Per Variety, Michelle Forbes has joined the cast, set to play Helen Goddard, a mysterious woman who is one of the returnees. You may remember Forbes as the evil Maryann Forrester, the main antagonist of the second season of "True Blood." Currently she can be found in "Orphan Black."
Mary Elizabeth Winstead will portray Rowan, the girlfriend of late musician Simon (Mat Vairo), who had a very difficult time getting past his death 10 years ago and now will have to adjust to his return.
Also cast in Carlton Cuse’s 10-episode adaptation of the acclaimed French series "Les Revenants" are Sandrine Holt ("House of Cards") and Agnes Bruckner (The Woods, "24"). Holt plays Julie, a competent, compassionate doctor who is struggling in her personal life, while Bruckner plays the sheriff’s chief deputy. Rounding out the cast are Jeremy Sisto, Kevin Alejandro, Mark Pellegrino, and Sophie Lowe.
Keith Gordon ("Dexter") will direct.
"The Returned," from A&E Studios and FremantleMedia North America, focuses on a small town that is turned upside down when several local people who have been long presumed dead suddenly reappear, bringing with them both positive and detrimental consequences.
Look for more soon!
It wasn't long after the release of Texas Chainsaw 3D (UNRATED Blu-ray/DVD review jere) that rumors begin swirling around the internet about a possible sequel, though it seemed that a series of unfortunate events derailed those plans.
Now the sequel is apparently back on track, and we've got the latest for ya today.
Bloody Disgusting reports that a rep from Millennium Films reached out to them this week, revealing that the film is still very much on their priorities list. "While the film’s development is taking a bit longer than usual," they wrote, "it is still an active project on Millennium Films’ slate."
While it's likely that many horror fans have little to no interest in the highly polarizing film being given the sequel treatment, I personally welcome one with open arms as I was a fan of the bold choice to toss aside the narrative of the remake and go ahead and give the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre a direct sequel. You must at least applaud the attempt, even if you didn't dig the results.
And besides, it's always a good thing when Leatherface is back on the big screen, right?!
We'll have more on this one as we learn it.
At this year’s E3 in Los Angeles, Creative Assembly is giving Alien: Isolation an incredible showing to the attending media and guests! Today we get to bring a bit of that goodness online as SEGA released an additional set of terrifying screenshots for the game.
With the station in lockdown and a vicious creature on the loose, getting around requires cunning, tactics and stealth… and a great deal of courage.
The Alien is here, in the shadows, in the vents and the walkways, and the slightest noise will bring unwanted attention your way... and fast. With a small band of armed looters scavenging for supplies, that noise may be hard to avoid.
Alien: Isolation is a first-person survival horror game capturing the fear and tension evoked by Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic film. Players find themselves in an atmosphere of constant dread and mortal danger as an unpredictable, ruthless Xenomorph is stalking and killing deep in the shadows.
Underpowered and underprepared, you must scavenge resources, improvise solutions, and use your wits, not just to succeed in your mission but to simply stay alive.
Alien: Isolation will be available from October 7, 2014, for Xbox One, PlayStation4, Windows PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation3.
For more info visit the official Alien: Isolation website, "like"Alien: Isolation on Facebook, and follow Alien: Isolation on Twitter.
Those of you familiar with the history of Dread Central are aware that we know a thing or 20 about launching (and not launching) a horror channel. Why this is such an under-appreciated and arduous task is anyone's guess... but know that your favorite psychos need your help and home.
In the wake of the demise of the truly great channel FEARnet, the Chiller network is here to remind us that they are still alive... and kicking mucho ass.
Don't believe us? Well then, this latest PSA from Freddy Krueger himself, Robert Englund, should do a lot to warm your heart before tearing it straight out of your chest cavity.
Take a look, and bravo, Chiller. BRAVO!
Following his memorable work this year on NBC's "Hannibal," Laurence Fishburne will next be seen by genre fans in William Eubank's The Signal (review); and you can hear from him about the new film, opening in select markets tomorrow, right here!
"Bates Motel’s" Olivia Cooke and "Hannibal’s" Laurence Fishburne star in the flick about group of college students who are lured to the middle of the desert by a hacker. Brenton Thwaites and Beau Knapp co-star.
William Eubank directs The Signal from a script he wrote with Carlyle Eubank and David Frigerio.
Related Story:New Clip Escapes for The Signal
The Signal will hit theaters on June 13 with Focus Features expanding the release on June 20 and again on June 27.
Synopsis
Three college students on a road trip across the Southwest experience a detour: the tracking of a computer genius who has already hacked into MIT and exposed security faults. The trio find themselves drawn to an isolated area. Suddenly everything goes dark. When one of the students, Nic (Brenton Thwaites of The Giver and Maleficent), regains consciousness, he is in a waking nightmare…
For around a year the people behind the Xbox One managed to make just about every bad decision that they possibly could regarding the new console. Thankfully they've done a lot of damage control, and with Phil Spencer at the helm they seem to be getting on the right track by focusing on games. Speaking of which...
Below you'll find your first look at Grave from Broken Window Studios. In this open world survival horror experience, you must survive the night with an arsenal of defensive tools and explore an ever-changing world filled with frightening creatures.
Grave is a hybrid of environmental exploration and combative horror, promising constant tension as the player balances exploration and survival.
Check out the trailer and a couple of screenshots below. Look for Grave to arrive on the Xbox One on March 30th, 2015.
The first image from Spike Lee's Kickstarter project, Da Sweet Blood of Jesus, is here courtesy of Black Film, and you can check it out right here. Look for the flick to premiere on Sunday, June 22, at the 18th Annual American Black Film Festival.
Zaraah Abrahams, Stephen Tyrone Williams, Michael K. Williams, Felicia Pearson, Steven Hauck, and Elvis Nolasco star in the film, which focuses on human beings who are addicted to blood. It's a new kind of love story (and not a remake of Blacula).
“It’s scary. Humorous. Bloody. Sexy,” said Lee in a previous interview, adding that the film uses blood as a “metaphor. As we all know, human beings have many addictions. Drugs, sex, alcohol, power, money, Air Jordans [laughs]. In this one they’re addicted to blood. We shot in New York, Martha’s Vineyard... We shot it in 16 days, and we were one day ahead of schedule.”
Look for more on this one soon!
In probably the coolest and funniest news of the day, "American Horror Story: Freak Show's" Sarah Paulson has revealed what her character is going to be on the upcoming fourth season of the FX series.
“So excited to be playing Bette AND Dot this season,” she reveals via Twitter. “Two heads are better than one! #AHSFREAKSHOW”
Jessica Lange, Denis O'Hare, Emma Roberts, Gabourey Sidibe, Jamie Brewer, Evan Peters, Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, Angela Bassett, Frances Conroy, and Michael Chiklis will star.
Visit the show's Facebook page and Twitter feed along with "American Horror Story" on FX.
So excited to be playing Bette AND Dot this season. Two heads are better than one! #AHSFREAKSHOWpic.twitter.com/jdZJSPercn
— Sarah Paulson (@MsSarahPaulson) June 12, 2014
Our hearts were breaking for poor Cotton at the end of the last episode of "Salem," and things don't look to be getting any better for him - or anyone else in Increase's path - in the upcoming Episode 1.09, "Children, Be Afraid." Check out these stills and clips for clues of what's ahead.
As an extra bonus, we have another "Secrets of Salem" video. In this one Elise Eberle traces the evolution of her character, Mercy Lewis, into a force to be reckoned with.
"Salem" explores what really fueled the town's infamous witch trials and dares to uncover the dark, supernatural truth behind them.
Related Story:Visit our "Salem" Archive
The series stars Janet Montgomery as the ruthless but vulnerable Mary Sibley; Shane West as handsome, hardened war veteran John Alden; Seth Gabel as local aristocrat Cotton Mather; Ashley Madekwe as Mary’s mysterious, carnal accomplice, Tituba; Xander Berkeley as chief politician Magistrate Hale; Tamzin Merchant as the forthright Anne Hale; Elise Eberle as Mercy Lewis; and Iddo Goldberg as outcast Isaac Walton.
"Salem" Episode 1.09 - "Children, Be Afraid" (airs 6/15/14)
Salem sees a second death since Increase’s (guest star Stephen Lang) arrival in town, and Mary (Janet Montgomery) struggles to get George (Michael Mulheren) back under her control. Mercy (Elise Eberle) and her acolytes flex their growing power while Increase grows closer with Isaac (Iddo Goldberg), putting Isaac’s loyalty to Mary in question.
In addition to Lang, guest starring are Morgana Shaw as Mab, Dane Rhodes as Henry Hopkins, Sammi Hanratty as Dollie, Lucy Faust as Elizabeth, Mary Catherine O’Donnell as Emily, and Ben Mouton as Lamb.
Funko has yet another Pop! Vinyl figure line heading our way, and this one definitely grabbed our attention. Coming in September are six characters from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" plus a vamp variant of one of them!
From the Press Release:
If the apocalypse comes, beep me.
We have more exciting news for Joss Whedon fans today - A "BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER" POP! SERIES!
The Chosen One and her crew are ready to navigate the treacheries of Sunnydale. Are you Team Buffy and Angel or Team Buffy and Spike? You decide! Luckily, we made both Angel and Spike Pop!s so you can have it your way.
Willow, one of The Gentlemen, and Oz are also here to help you relive the magic of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
That variant we mentioned? It's fan favorite Spike, and you can see him in all his toothy glory at the bottom of the page.
You know it had to be done. The internet is made for making fun of everything related to Friday the 13th, whether it's about Jason Voorhees or, more traditionally, the black cat. So to help you folks out, we collected 13 of the funniest Friday the 13th memes (and other things) from the interwebs all in one handy place below.
Check them out here, and make sure to chuckle at least a few times. You never know when a black cat or Jason might cross your path today!
Related News:25 Possible Friday the 13th TV Series Scenarios
Related News:Celebrate Friday the 13th by Reveling in All of the Features You Could Want!
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) has a new digital series, "Academy Originals," and this week's episode looks at the "moments that changed movies," specifically the 1993 classic Jurassic Park.
Jurassic Park changed the course of filmmaking forever with its groundbreaking use of computerized graphics to create the most life-like dinosaurs ever seen on the big screen. As you may recall, movie-goers lined up time and time again to watch the film when it was released 21 years ago this week.
The 9-minute "Academy Originals" program, which you can see in its entirety below, reveals some never-before-seen behind-the-scenes details on the making of the film, such as:
"Academy Originals," AMPAS's first original digital series, is a documentary-style video series which examines everything from the creative process to the moments that changed the course of filmmaking to the artists who are charting its future. New "Academy Originals" are available each week on Oscars.org/Academy Originals and the "Academy Originals" YouTube page.
Some more behind-the-scenes images have surfaced from the set of Saw V director David Hackl's new film, Grizzly (formerlyEndangered, formerly Red Machine), and we are still wondering just where the hell is this flick already?
The latest set of images below shows off Atlin Mitchell, the stunt double for Michaela McManus, along with your first look at James Marsden.
James Marsden, Thomas Jane, Scott Glenn, Piper Perabo, Michaela McManus, and Billy Bob Thornton star in the film co-written by Jack Reher along with Guy Moshe from a story by Reher.
Synopsis
In the action thriller Grizzly, a deputy whose mission is protecting the threatened grizzly bear suddenly finds himself conflicted when a massive rogue grizzly wreaks havoc on a local Alaskan community. Enlisting the help of his estranged brother, he enters the labyrinthian Grizzly Maze to track down his wife who’s gone missing before the bear does. As the body count mounts, and an infamous bear hunter enters the fray determined to take down the bear he’s been waiting for his whole life, no one is safe in the harsh Alaskan wilds.
John Schneider has done it all. He's found success in television, music and film. Most recently he decided to try his hand at something he's always loved: horror movies. With his new film Smothered being released soon, Schneider sat down with us to talk a bit more about the project.
As John Schneider isn't a name we normally associate with the horror genre, the writer and director of Smothered explained what led him to make the movie. "I've always been a horror fan," Schneider said.
"My mother used to subscribe to some magazine I remember seeing when I was a kid that had Frankenstein on the cover," he said of his early influences. "And when I was growing up in New York, there was a thing called 'Chiller Theater' and I'd watch that every week. I can still see the hand and the 'Chiiiillller' thing. So I've always been a fan."
In Smothered we see some of our favorite horror icons in a whole new light, playing wonderful variants of themselves. "How great was it to see R.A. Milhailoff being afraid of the dark and carrying around his cute little dog?" Schneider enthused. "But the big surprise for me was… How good is Kane Hodder?! He's fantastic! He's really a romantic lead. Who would have thought that?"
When embarking on the project, Schneider was gambling that the group of horror icons he cast would be able to play much different roles than they were used to. We asked Schneider how confident he was that they would be able to pull off these parts. "I hoped that they could," Schneider said. "Kane was the only one I've known. I knew Kane way, way back when. He was a stuntman on 'Dukes' shortly after he got burned. I was hoping he could pull that off. I heard about Don Shanks for years and years but never had met him either. I depended upon Kane to suggest the different people after he had read the script. When he read there was an older guy in great shape, he said, 'You've gotta have Don Shanks.'"
And truly Shanks is one of the most entertaining characters in Smothered. "He was great, like a native American James Bond," Schneider said. "He's just so cool. One of the reviews said you've got to see this movie so you can realize that Don Shanks is indeed the coolest person in the world."
In addition to Hodder and Shanks, Bill Moseley also appears in the movie, as does Malcolm Danare, who played Peter 'Moochie' Welch in Christine. "I've known Malcolm for a long time," Schneider said. "I originally wrote that to be Sid Haig, but Sid was unavailable. Malcolm was going to be the ranger, so things got kind of shifted around. Rowdy Roddy Piper was going to be in it , but he got ill and couldn’t travel so that's why I'm in it. Michael Berryman was going to be one of the guys out camping, but Michael can't be out in the heat because of his condition. I think it was a series of very fortunate accidents… Better than unfortunate accidents like in the movie."
Fans of "Tales from the Crypt" will catch a quick phone call from John Kassir, who voiced the Crypt Keeper. It was one of several "Holliston"-like nods to horror fans. "I have Kane say, 'You're not my keeper, Kassir.' So it's dropped in there," Schneider said. "And you see John in the very end. He's standing there with the mayor. I'm hoping the real horror fan is not only going to get it, but embrace all those little subtleties."
In case you missed it, you'll find Staci's earlier interview with John Schneider here, and to learn more, be sure to "like"Smothered over on Facebook!
Most fans of the Friday the 13th franchise have been contemplating recent rumors of a found footage approach for the forthcoming series re-reboot. And it’s probably safe to assume that most (at least diehards) fans weren’t overjoyed with the notion.
I too sat in that boat, scratching my head, hoping it couldn’t be true, figuring that if the idea did come to fruition, I might get my hands on some of the Kool-Aid just to avoid future disaster pics. It simply sounded like a perplexing idea... initially.
I berated the idea and those behind it. I seethed at the thought of a handi-cam Voorhees pic. I cursed the Hollywood gods. I may have even at one point soiled myself, losing all control of my bodily functions because, let’s face it: Found footage Jason sounds truly overtly outlandish.
And then I got to really thinking of the franchise as a whole and the numerous avenues the story has taken over the years. In the beginning, Friday the 13th was an aggressive revenge picture. It then morphed into a quasi-supernatural tale, with the supposedly deceased Jason Voorhees suddenly reappearing as a hulking full grown man, now taking a cue from his own mother, dead set in a mission to exterminate camp counselors who had decapitated his mother (talk about full circle).
But things continued to shift. By the fifth installment, Jason Voorhees was nowhere to be found. In his place – donning the familiar mask – was Roy, a father with a broken heart. See, Roy was a paramedic who happened to answer the call of a violent death... but when Roy arrived on scene and spotted the victim, everything changed in his mind; that victim was his own son. Again, a vengeful murder spree ensued, this time sans the actual Jason. It was an interesting spin, but the series’ interesting spins didn’t stop there.
In Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood viewers were treated to a wild adjustment in the battle of good and evil. No longer would Jason (who returned in the sixth installment) experience the ease of slaughtering helpless teenagers. This time around, he’d be forced to face a somewhat manic, telekinetic young lady by the name of Tina Shepard. And Tina, as crazy as she seemed, was far savvier and resilient than previous victims. Her special gift also presented a challenge that Jason Voorhees had never encountered. Killing your average teen isn’t such a daunting task when you’re a massive man with a hefty machete. Disposing of someone with unorthodox powers and an unwavering resolve is an entirely different ballgame.
Moving on to the eighth Friday film, things continued to change, filmmakers clearly determined to tell a different story with each outing. And while Jason Takes Manhattan isn’t a quality picture by any means, it did differ from past stories. No longer would Voorhees target counselors around the dreaded campgrounds of Crystal Lake primarily; rather, he chose to take his slaughtering spree to the waters, and beyond that, a boat... beyond that, Manhattan! We see once more a valid attempt (though it really didn’t work) to conjure a different franchise vibe. And although the pic is terrible, credit is due to director/writer Rob Hedden for making a valid attempt to keep things from becoming too stale.
But moving on still, we reach a few installments that really, really break the mold. Jason Goes to Hell was something of an enigma of a picture. No longer do we eye the brute stalking teens in typical fashion. Rather, we see the spirit of Voorhees travel from one unsuspecting individual to the next, each becoming possessed and carrying out Jason’s murderous actions. These murderers may not have looked much like Jason, but their penchant for brutal homicide echoed Voorhees’ habits wonderfully. And the idea of bouncing from one body to the next was – admittedly – pretty damn creative. It also manufactured an air of mystery not seen since the inaugural Friday feature. The supposed final installment didn’t win too many fans over, but it was a clever attempt.
And that’s when we really believed we’d seen the end of Jason Voorhees. It seemed there was little in the way of other creative twists to tap into. Until James Isaac and Todd Farmer did the unthinkable: They sent Jason to space. Not only did they send one of cinema’s most prolific serial killers to space, they gave him a surprisingly cool makeover. Jason was no longer the raggedy, lumbering beast in clothing that had never seen a good wash; he soon became a mechanically upgraded killing machine, equipped with a brand new look and an insane metallic mask. And holy hell did he tear through the spaceship branded The Apache. The slaughtering continues as it has since the early 1980s, but the intensity of warfare in this instance is something to behold... especially the battle with android KM-14.
And that’s the trend of this franchise. Constant evolution. Beyond the first few Friday features, there has been a constant attempt to deliver something different to fans. And fans still seem to eat it up. Platinum Dunes’ 2009 reboot combined elements of the first four films, and it worked wonderfully. Jason was no longer a labored monster with little ambition. Suddenly he became a freakishly large specimen, agile beyond belief, with a connection to a woman who bore a fair resemblance to his own deceased mother. In short, Jason evolved like never before, and somehow, we saw a little hint of humanity in him.
But the question is, will we see more of the same from the forthcoming Friday the 13th re-reboot? Given the tendency to conjure different angles, it may be safe to assume we’ll see something entirely different. Perhaps a different location. Perhaps a different physical demeanor or look or a far more intelligent beast in general. It’s hard to predict. However, studying the entire franchise, and eying new possibilities, I’m beginning to think that a found footage approach could actually be extremely rewarding. It’s something we haven’t seen in 11 films. And when really envisaging potential scenarios, it’s hard to deny the fact that it could work. It could work really well.
Jason Voorhees is an urban legend come to frightening life. His murderous feats are known by countless. The curiosity (or is it stupidity) of fictitious thrill seekers draws constant attention. People (future victims) want to know about Jason. They want to see Jason. They want verification that the menace is indeed real. And that opens up the perfect can of worms for foolish youngsters determined to document the monster’s existence. Which is exactly where an amateur film crew could come into play. Think about it: Catch footage of this mythical monstrosity, and someone is on the fast track to book deals, television appearances... just a staggering level of fame.
The problem is surviving such an adventure. And you can bet no one is going to survive this kind of documentary. You don’t look Jason in the eyes, camera in hand, and walk away. However, a tenacious crew could capture some insane footage, and though that crew won’t be alive to bask in the fame of exposing Jason, cinematic fans could certainly benefit from examining footage that would inevitably find its way to the public. And if the public were to stumble upon video of the murderer, it could conceivably open other doors for future storylines. Jason Voorhees could evolve from a Hollywood myth to a meta celebrity of the darkest kind. Hell, we may even learn more of the man’s past.
I’ve long been against the idea of a found footage Friday the 13th film, but the more I juggle the thought, the more I realize it could be exactly what the franchise needs to trek into completely new territory. Being a fan of the character, I’d love to see some more innovative storylines down the road. It’s wild to think a found footage film could yield that possibility.
Get ready, kids, because come July 8, 2014, you're gonna be Hunting the Legend on DVD, but right now... right now we have some exclusive images from the flick for ya! Dig it and revel in the goodness of Sasquatchploitation!
Justin Steeley directs and also stars along with Christopher Copeland, Hannah Wallace, Jeff Causey, Alex Ballew, and Stan Copeland.
Synopsis
Five years ago, a deer hunter vanished in the Alabama woods, leaving behind only a rifle, bloodstains, and an enormous footprint from a species unknown to science. Now the hunter’s son, Chris; his two best friends; and a documentary film crew set out to learn the truth… and seek vengeance. Their search leads them deep into rugged terrain rumored to hide the huge, man-like beast known as Sasquatch. As they close in on their prey, they learn the horrifying consequences of Hunting the Legend.
Our own Foywonder told you guys about Swamphead way back in September of 2011, and finally there's something to report! The flick has been picked up for distribution by Wild Eye Releasing, and right now we have a new trailer, artwork, and more! Dig it!
Co-directed by Dustin Drover and Justin Propp, Swamphead stars Josh Harmon, Andrea Smith, Theodore Koepke, and Shaena Friedman. Look for it on DVD loaded with bonus features this October.
Synopsis
An ancient talisman buried deep at the bottom of a swamp is accidentally disturbed, conjuring the zombified, severed head of a centuries-old warrior. The killer cranium takes to the air in a unstoppable bloodbath, exacting a chomping, gnawing revenge on anyone in its path. Now it's up to a group of teenagers to destroy Swamphead - but can they stop partying long enough to put this case of bad head to rest for good?
Blanc/Biehn Productions is quickly moving through post-production on She Rises, and to follow up their recent release of two new posters for the flick, they've sent over an updated teaser trailer that approaches things from a slightly different angle than the first one we saw.
Larry Wade Carrell directs the film, which stars Angus Macfadyen, who also wrote the screenplay, Jennifer Blanc, Michael Biehn, and Daisy McCrackin as the main character, Rosebud.
Synopsis:
An ego-driven Hollywood couple are filming on location at a charming bed-and-breakfast run by an innocent young woman. But appearances aren’t always what they seem, and the couple soon learn that what seems beautiful and naïve on the outside can quickly turn into their worst nightmare.
It's becoming one of the most anticipated horror-themed television shows in some time. Guillermo del Toro's unique vampire tale "The Strain" premieres on FX on July 13. Recently one of the stars of the show, Drew Nelson, joined Dread Central to talk about the upcoming series.
Nelson shared his excitement about working with del Toro and having "The Strain" finally hit the air. "You have no idea! I'm so incredibly stoked that Guillermo chose me to be part of his vision," Nelson said.
"The creative team is top-notch, the best in the biz, and we're just hoping for the best. We're hoping that people catch on. I really feel, with this show, we're going to revolutionize the vampire genre and just turn it on its head. So all of us involved are extremely excited. And we've been keeping it a secret. It's been shrouded in secrecy this whole time and we're ready to unleash it and we're ready for people to finally see what this is all about."
Next Nelson gave a brief overview of what viewers can expect to see with "The Strain". "It centers around a character named Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, played by the amazing Corey Stoll from "House of Cards," Nelson said. "He and his team come across this mysterious viral outbreak and they find out over time that it harkens back to an ancient strain of vampirism and the story is about him and his team and a band of everyday New Yorkers banding together to combat 'The Strain' before it hits globally."
"It's really epic in scale and there are a lot of interesting characters and it's a very original concept and original kind of story that Chuck (Hogan) and Guillermo were able to write. I think people are going to dig it."
When audiences finally get a chance to see "The Strain," they're in for some intense action and some really unique vamps. "These vampires are like nothing you've ever seen," Nelson explained. "They're feral, primal creatures that are out to kill and drain anybody and anything they can find. It's a really high-octane, high-energy thriller show, and Guillermo's vision of what these vampires look like and what they do is going to just blow people away. And the CG people they've got on board for this are just unbelievable. They're so talented. They did a great job."
Nelson plays Matt Sayles, and he gave brief overview of the character."I see Matt as a very fact-based, practical thinker among all the crazy stuff that's happening," Nelson said. "Where I fit in the wheel of the story is Ephraim is involved in a bitter divorce battle with Kelly Goodweather, who's played by Natalie Brown, and they have a son between them. I'm the new guy in Kelly's life, her live-in boyfriend and also the emerging father figure to the son, Zack, who Ephraim loves and wants in his life but is so busy with his work that he can't make time for it. So there's a lot of good rivalry stuff between myself and Corey's character."
As for the show itself, Nelson feels "The Strain" is going to blow audiences away. "It's loaded with a lot of crazy kill scenes, and the books span time periods; it's really epic in scale," Nelson said. "It's going to encompass all kinds of different worlds and all the worlds are so detailed. I've seen some of the sets and I was absolutely blown away. I think we're going to turn the vampire genre in a complete 180. The quality of the acting... the cast is so stacked. We have really great actors on our show and they're all doing phenomenal work. All the pieces fit in the puzzle for success and we're just hoping the audience catches on."
Finally, the real treat for Nelson in working on "The Strain" was the opportunity to collaborate with n legendary director like del Toro. "Guillermo is everything you want in a director," Nelson said. "He's so incredibly technically sound when it comes to his vision. He knows every single minute detail, and working with him as your director, as an actor, he's so open to suggestion at the same time he's so planned. He knows exactly what he wants but he's so open to collaborating, too, which is just ideal. And to top it all off, he's just the best guy. He's literally having the time of his life. He's like a big kid. He doesn't take himself too seriously. He takes the work seriously, but you would never guess that. He's such a laid back guy on set and everybody on the crew loves him and adores him. He's always cracking jokes, and he and I had a really special rapport going on. I'd work with him again in a heartbeat. You put all your trust in him and he's going to get what he needs and you're going to get what you want. He's amazing."
The highly anticipated first season of “The Strain” will premiere on July 13th at 10 p.m. and will include 13 episodes.
For more info visit "The Strain" on YouTube, hang out with "The Strain" on Google +, and follow "The Strain" on Twitter.
