Prisons are overflowing, the world is a crowded place. What’s the solution? In the words of the immortal Ralph Kramden, “To the Moon!” Read on for details concerning the latest pickup from 20th Century Fox, The Dark Side. BANG! ZOOM!

THR reports that Fox has preemptively bought the film rights to hot Frankfurt Book Fair title The Dark Side by Anthony O’Neill for Steve Zaillian and Garrett Basch’s Film Rites to produce.

The Dark Side is an elevated sci-fi noir story set in a future where the moon is utilized as a penal colony, housing criminals, psychopaths and curious tourists alike. As an anarchic android begins wreaking havoc on the area, and bodies start turning up, an exiled detective arrives to investigate. The project is described as in the vein of Avatar and Blade Runner.

Simon & Schuster just acquired worldwide rights to the novel and plans to publish the book in Spring 2015.

More as we get it!

The post The Dark Side Lit Up by Fox appeared first on Dread Central.

About a month ago we mentioned that “Scott Ian’s Bloodworks,” which focuses on makeup and special effects artists, would be heading our way this fall on Nerdist.com; and today the first episode was released.  You can check it out right here!

About “Scott Ian’s Bloodworks”
Nerdist Industries is thrilled to welcome back Anthrax slasher Scott Ian, premiering his new series, “Scott Ian’s Bloodworks,” today. “Scott Ian’s Bloodworks” takes you behind the scenes for a look at the most impressive makeup and effects artists in the business, the A-list celebrities they work with, and the blockbuster films that benefit from their craft.

The premiere episode takes us through the doors of VVD Effects, where Vincent Van Dyke and his team transform Scott into a demonic alter ego able to make all of the 1980’s era Scott’s dreams come true.

But viewers aren’t the only ones in for a wild ride this season. Ian says, “I am very excited to be doing ‘Bloodworks’ with Nerdist. Let me rephrase that… I am a little bit nervous, nauseous, filled with dread, and sometimes scared shitless about committing to this show and letting these FX lunatics have their way with me as this season is going to be crazier, bloodier, guttier, and more fucked-upier!”

Tune in every Tuesday on Nerdist.com for new episodes of “Scott Ian’s Bloodworks”… maybe just skip the spaghetti lunch.

The post See the First Episode of Scott Ian’s Bloodworks appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Natalie Scheetz, Christa Campbell, Caroline Williams, Annika Strauss, Nick Principe

Written and directed by Marcel Waltz

Distributed by Phase 4 Films

Seven years later and the sequel to Uwe Boll’s Seed that nobody asked for has finally arrived. Wisely not released as Seed 2 because, honestly, who the hell even remembers Seed? I can barely remember anything about it, and this is coming from someone who can still recount the events of House of the Dead in vivid detail.

Seed, huh? Lemme think. Serial killer Max Seed survives the electric chair and goes looking for revenge. Ralf Moeller. Michael Pare. A rather cringe-inducing scene involving a sledgehammer. I believe he took time out from mass murdering to jazzercise. Still not sure if I dreamed that last part. That’s about all I recall.

You don’t need to have seen Seed before going into Seed 2 because I’m not even sure writer-director Marcel Waltz has ever seen it. I am positive that Waltz has seen Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes. Without the comparisons to those movies, his would have no discernible plot.

This time Uwe Boll merely presents Bloody Valley: Seed’s Revenge, a horror movie that is kind of like The Hangover except with Suicide Girls instead of funny actors and instead of wacky memory loss shenanigans a masked maniac shoots a gun in their vaginas and licks the blood off the barrel while his wife spouts quasi-religious claptrap that wouldn’t even make sense to an angry teenage stoner listening to German death metal.

Bachelorette party in Vegas. One girl has a dark past. Another is German. Another has lots of tattoos. Another is Christa Campbell. These are their only distinguishing characteristics. The movie will have already broken down long before their RV does in the desert.

They meet a mysterious hitchhiker. A cop seemingly comes to their rescue, only to reveal herself to be the barely lucid bride of masked mongoloid maniac and loud grunting enthusiast Max Seed. They also have a heavily tattooed son who is just kind of there. Don’t recall the Max Seed of the first film having a family, as if it matters.

Nearly every minute of The Hills Have Seeds‘ 76-minute run time is incoherent. Virtually no plot to speak of, gibberish dialogue you’ll wish they didn’t speak, long stretches of nothing happening, and most baffling of all, the film is edited in a non-linear fashion that only makes the experience even more tediously impenetrable. Maybe that was the point. Maybe the whole idea was to create a sadistic fever dream. Maybe the director was shooting for an avant-garde grindhouse vibe. The movie is most definitely a grind all right.

I’m watching this on VOD and wishing I had a DVD copy because I’d love to know if there’s a director’s commentary that consists of nothing but the filmmaker autistically shouting, “Brutal!” over and over. That seems to have been the core mentality and quite possibly the script’s one-word logline. Even the giant-sized fonts of the opening credits scream, “Look how brutal I am!”

But it’s not.

Amazing how a slasher movie promises nothing more than sexy women and brutal murders and still manages to botch the formula. A scene of a woman getting crucified to the ground is so painstakingly drawn out and ineffectively edited that the brutal nature of the act only elicits more yawns. The only nudity occurs in a brief, bewildering sequence where a never-before-seen, never-explained naked woman is shown crawling about the desert just long enough to get killed by Seed. Maybe I was confused by the editing, but that random nude kill appeared to have been edited smack dab in the middle of one of those non-linear sequences.

Bloody Valley: Seed’s Revenge has only one positive going for it. Nick Principe, he of “Chromeskull” fame in the Laid to Rest movies, makes for a menacing figure and probably could have really made something out of the Max Seed role if anyone involved had been interested in making an actual movie and not whatever the hell this unwatchable crap is.

It’s easily the worst movie I have suffered through all year, and I am not just talking about the horror genre.

The post Blood Valley: Seed’s Revenge (DVD) appeared first on Dread Central.

FX has released a couple more videos focusing on the real-life members of the “American Horror Story: Freak Show” cast, and today we’re happy to introduce Erika Ervin, the actress behind “Amazon Eve,” and Jyoti Kisange Amge, the world’s smallest woman, who is fulfilling her dreams in a big way.

“AHS” Season 4 kicks off October 8th at 10:00 PM on FX. The premiere will be an expanded 90-minute episode.

Related Story: FX Announces “American Crime Story” from Ryan Murphy

Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Frances Conroy, Sarah Paulson, Emma Roberts, Gabourey Sidibe, Denis O’Hare, Jamie Brewer, and Evan Peters return from previous seasons. New cast members includes Michael Chiklis, Wes Bentley, John Carroll Lynch, Finn Wittrock, Matt Bomer, Patti LaBelle and the world’s smallest living woman, Jyoti Amge.

“American Horror Story: Freak Show” – Episode 4.01 – “Monsters Among Us” (airs 10/8/14)
One of the only surviving sideshows in the country struggles to stay in business during the dawning era of television. When police make a terrifying discovery at a local farmhouse, the eccentric purveyor of the freak show (Lange) sees an opportunity that will lead her troupe either to their salvation or ruin. Written by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk; directed by Ryan Murphy.

For more info visit the “AHS: Freak Show” Facebook page, check out “AHS: Freak Show” on Tumblr, and follow @AHSFX on Twitter along with “American Horror Story” on FX.

The post Meet Two More of American Horror Story: Freak Show’s Extra-Ordinary Artists appeared first on Dread Central.

Well… This is unexpected to say the least, no? One of the most controversial films of our times, Cannibal Holocaust is on its way back to theatres for Halloween. We shit you not.

From the Press Release
Grindhouse Releasing brings director Ruggero Deodato’s notorious horror classic CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST back to the big screen starting this weekend at Landmark Theatres across the United States.

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST tells the story of four documentary filmmakers who experience brutal death at the hands of a savage South American tribe of flesh-eaters. The film is so intense, so graphic, and so unflinching in its realism that the director and producer of CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST were arrested on its original release and the film was seized.

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST was the direct inspiration for director Eli Roth’s new horror film THE GREEN INFERNO. The film stars Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi, and Carl Gabriel Yorke. Moviegoers are warned: This is the original, uncut version of CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, and its strong content may upset some viewers.

A complete list of screenings can be found below and at Grindhouse Releasing Online. Home viewers can get Grindhouse Releasing’s bestselling Blu-ray/DVD release now at Diabolik DVD, Amazon.com, and other retailers. Order yours below.

Theatres
10/10/2014 – Landmark Uptown, Minneapolis, MN
10/10/2014 – Landmark Ritz Bourse, Philadelphia, PA
10/11/2014 – Landmark Uptown, Minneapolis, MN
10/11/2014 – Landmark Ritz Bourse, Philadelphia, PA
10/17/2014 – Landmark Esquire, Denver
10/17/2014 – Landmark Tivoli, St. Louis
10/17/2014 – Landmark Main Art, Detroit
10/18/2014 – Landmark Esquire, Denver
10/18/2014 – Landmark Tivoli, St. Louis
10/18/2014 – Landmark Main Art, Detroit
10/24/2014 – Landmark E Street Cinema, Washington DC
10/24/2014 – Landmark Inwood, Dallas
10/24/2014 – Landmark Sunshine, NYC
10/25/2014 – Landmark E Street Cinema, Washington DC
10/25/2014 – Landmark Inwood, Dallas
10/25/2014 – Landmark Sunshine, NYC
11/14/2014 – Olympia Film Festival, Olympia, WA

The post Cannibal Holocaust to Take a Bite Out of Theatres appeared first on Dread Central.

It’s time for another pair of Robert Kirkman’s “The Calm Before the Swarm” chats with cast members of “The Walking Dead.” On tap today are two of the show’s badass female leads – Melissa McBride, aka Carol Peletier, and Lauren Cohan, aka Maggie Greene – offering a few hints of what we can expect in Season 5.

The highly anticipated fifth season of “The Walking Dead” kicks off in just a few more days on Sunday, October 12th.

Related Story: Robert Kirkman Talks with Danai Gurira, aka Michonne

“The Walking Dead” Episode 5.01 – “No Sanctuary” (airs 10/12/14)
We learn the true motives of the Terminans as Rick and the group find themselves in a vulnerable situation. Will they be able to work together? Written by Scott Gimple and directed by Greg Nicotero.

To stay up-to-the-minute on all things walker related, follow @WalkingDead_AMC on Twitter and visit “The Walking Dead” on Facebook. For more info be sure to hit up the official “The Walking Dead” page on AMC.com.

The post More Robert Kirkman The Walking Dead One-on-Ones: Melissa McBride and Lauren Cohan appeared first on Dread Central.

In next week’s Episode 2.02 of “The Originals,” entitled “Alive and Kicking,” the character of Kol returns in a flashback, which means we’ll get to see Nathaniel Buzolic once again. Here’s the ep’s trailer along with a new promo for the upcoming season that admonishes us to fear the fallen and watch the wicked.

“The Originals” Episode 2.02 – “Alive and Kicking” (airs 10/13/14)
GUEST STAR NATHANIEL BUZOLIC APPEARS IN FLASHBACKS TO THE 1700s — As tensions between Elijah (Daniel Gillies) and Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) grow, Klaus (Joseph Morgan) steps in and encourages her to regain her position within her werewolf pack.

Still under Davina’s (Danielle Campbell) control, Mikael (Sebastian Roche) grows impatient while she attempts to uncover a spell that would protect those closest to her. When Elijah turns to Marcel (Charles Michael Davis) for help in tracking down a vital piece of information, he is forced to remember a time long ago when they were on better terms.

Meanwhile, Davina and Kaleb (guest star Daniel Sharmon) find themselves in a dangerous situation when unexpected visitors show up and crash their dinner. Finally, Klaus grows suspicious after a meeting with Cassie (guest star Natalie Dreyfuss) doesn’t go as he had planned. Jeffrey Hunt directed the episode written by Michelle Paradise and Michael Narducci.

For more info visit “The Originals” on CWTV.com, “like” “The Originals” on Facebook, and follow “The Originals” on Twitter.

The post See The Originals’ New Season 2 Promo and the Trailer for Episode 2.02 – Alive and Kicking appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Graci Carli, Rod Luzzi, Emily Rogers, Walter Colson, Tom Riska, Cindy Hogan, Barbara VanFleet

Written and directed by L. Gustavo Cooper

RLJ/Image Entertainment

The Devil Incarnate (aka Copiii: The 1st Entry) is the feature film debut of L. Gustavo Cooper. The movie is based on a bit of Romanian folklore that dates back to the 1500’s, the legend of copiii pierdere, or the lost children. Basically, the legend says a raped woman makes a deal with a vengeance demon to dispose of her attackers and he’ll be repaid with her unborn child when she comes to term. The woman goes back on the deal and, needless to say, bad things happen. The Devil Incarnate picks up the curse in modern day Florida.

When the movie starts, it appears as if it’s going to be another found footage indie. And indeed, some of The Devil Incarnate is found footage, but Cooper blends the material from the lead couple’s handheld video camera in with traditional filming brilliantly. He takes the found footage technique, which has become rather played out and repetitive, and uses it in a very effective manner, making The Devil Incarnate feel that much more realistic.

Graci Carli stars in the lead role of Holly Davidson. She’s on her honeymoon with new husband, Trevor, and a simple psychic reading leads them down the path to a nightmare. Holly becomes overwhelmed by the copiii pierdere curse and it begins to change everything about her. At the same time she finds out she’s pregnant, so Holly explains her unorthodox behavior by blaming it on her changing hormones, and that becomes a reasonable explanation that works well and adds depth and uncertainty to the character. As an audience, we’re not exactly sure what is happening until the film moves into its thrilling climax. Carli is absolutely amazing in the lead role. This is just her second feature and she knocks it out of the park.

In addition to Carli, the rest of the cast is outstanding as well. Trevor is played brilliantly by Rod Luzzi, and Trevor’s sister, Marissa, who is struggling to find herself, is brought to life by Emily Rogers. Marissa becomes a hugely important character as the film goes on and Rogers’ performance is one of the high spots of the film. Marissa is drawn to Holly and sucked into her downward spiraling situation. And it is that spiral that makes Holly so interesting. Characters that are breaking down are always so intriguing and frightening. Like Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist – we see her slowly becoming more and more affected by the demon. The same holds true here as Holly’s afflictions are not immediately obvious. It’s not until much later in the film when we are completely sure that something is really, really wrong.

With The Devil Incarnate we basically have an up-and-coming director surrounded by a cast that is somewhat green. All the members of the cast and crew have a couple titles under their belts, but they are mostly just launching their careers. And with that being the case, the movie is not supposed to be this good. The directing is not supposed to be so slick, the acting not so spot on. The Devil Incarnate is a very good movie made by some incredibly talented people. What they lack in experience, they make up for in pure skill.

Helping to build the tension and add to the ambiance is a fantastic score and soundtrack. The music composed and selected for The Devil Incarnate is excellent and does exactly what it should do: add to the feel and flavor of the movie.

As The Devil Incarnate comes to a climax, you may find yourself a bit puzzled by what exactly happened in the movie’s conclusion. It gets a little fuzzy and the ending is somewhat open for interpretation. Personally, I would have liked a bit more of a concrete conclusion, but it stuck to the legend and the conclusion was inevitable.

L. Gustavo Cooper really puts himself on the map with The Devil Incarnate. The overall project is very good and it’s because of his attention to detail. Small things… like whenever the demon is on camera during the found footage segments, there is interference in the video. Little things like that add greatly to the realism. It’s creatively shot, not always going in chronological order, but looping back on itself. And it’s done in a way that is viewer-friendly and easy for the audience to follow. Additionally, Cooper does a masterful job at bringing some incredible performances out of a cast of budding actors. Watching this offering, you’d think he has 20 films under his belt.

The Devil Incarnate is a fantastic indie film that is definitely worth a look. Director Cooper does an amazing job weaving an intricate story of a woman suddenly overcome by an ancient curse and the effect it has on her and her new family. Kudos to Graci Carli, Emily Rogers and the rest of the cast of the film for delivering excellent performances. As indies go, The Devil Incarnate is an outstanding offering.

The post Devil Incarnate, The (DVD) appeared first on Dread Central.

So what if the Sin City sequel was around a decade too late? The point is it eventually ended up in theatres and it’s now making its way to home video. Read on for the skinny!

From the Press Release

Anchor Bay Entertainment and The Weinstein Company are proud to announce today the home entertainment release of FRANK MILLER’S SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR.  The action-packed sequel, directed by acclaimed filmmakers Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez and starring Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba, Josh Brolin, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Rosario Dawson, Bruce Willis, Eva Green, Powers Boothe, Dennis Haysbert, Ray Liotta, and Jeremy Piven, is headed to retail on November 18th. The 3D Blu-ray™ combo pack, available for a suggested retail price of $39.99, includes Blu-ray 3D™, Blu-ray™, DVD and UV. The DVD is retailed at $29.98.

FRANK MILLER’S SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR is rated R for strong brutal stylized violence throughout, sexual content, nudity, and brief drug use. Fans will be rewarded with eye-popping special features that include never-before-seen Robert Rodriguez-approved exclusives such as ‘The Movie In High-Speed Green Screen—All Green Screen Version’,  ‘Makeup Effects Of Sin City With Greg Nicotero’, ‘Stunts Of Sin City With Jeff Dashnaw’, and ‘Character Profiles’.”

In FRANK MILLER’S SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR, scandal, murder, betrayal and mystery surround the lives of those swept up in a crime-filled underworld. Co-directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller reunite to bring Miller’s visually stunning “Sin City” graphic novels back to the screen in the follow-up to the groundbreaking film, FRANK MILLER’S SIN CITY (2005). Weaving together two of Miller’s classic stories with new tales, the town’s most hard boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more reviled inhabitants.

The post Sin City: A Dame to Kill For Seeks Revenge on Home Video appeared first on Dread Central.

Some FX stills from Wolves have arrived, and they warm our hearts in the most practical of ways. Ya see? Practical werewolf effects. That so hard, Hollywood?

Directed by David Hayter, Wolves stars Lucas Till, Stephen McHattie, John Pyper-Ferguson, Merritt Patterson, and Jason Momoa. Look for it Thursday, October 16th, on Video on Demand and Friday, November 14th, in select cities nationwide.

Synopsis
Popular high school student Cayden Richards wakes from a horrific nightmare, only to realize that he’s living it. He is changing into something vicious, unpredictable, and wild. Forced to hit the road after the brutal murder of his parents, Cayden tries to hunt down the truth of what he is. In the remote mountain town of Lupine Ridge, he discovers others like himself – including the beautiful Angelina, a young woman caught between two ancient clans of “wolves.” And when he finally discovers the shocking truth behind his ancestry, Cayden realizes there is only one way to save the woman he loves… a grisly fight to the death against forces more savage than he could have ever imagined.

The post Wolves Start Howling in New Creature Pics! appeared first on Dread Central.

Some interesting news for fans of the US version of The Ring has come in… Gore Verbinski is directing a trio of new films for New Regency, including one “elevated” horror project plus a “paranoid thriller” starring Steve Carrell.  The other’s a comedy, but two out of three ain’t bad!

Per Deadline, first out of the gate is the Carrell vehicle, still untitled but written by Steve Conrad (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty).

Verbinski will then helm A Cure for Wellness, penned by Revolutionary Road writer Justin Haythe. (If you’re curious about the final project, it’s Passengers, also scripted by Conrad, said to be a “large-scale action comedy.”)

We’ll have more on A Cure for Wellness for sure and possibly on Carrell’s thriller depending on how it shakes out genre-wise so stay tuned!

The post Gore Verbinski Directing A Cure For Wellness and Untitled Steve Carrell Thriller for New Regency appeared first on Dread Central.

With a description that includes: “Crowley tells Dean the Mark needs to be fed,” next week’s Episode 10.02 of “Supernatural,” entitled “Reichenbach,” certainly sounds ominous. Here are the ep’s official synopsis and extended trailer for a few more clues.

“Supernatural” Episode 10.02 – “Reichenbach” (airs 10/14/14)
Crowley (Mark Sheppard) notices Dean (Jensen Ackles) is becoming more and more aggressive. Dean tells him that’s the side effect of being a demon, but Crowley knows it’s something more – the Mark of Cain needs to be fed.

Meanwhile, Sam (Jared Padalecki) is captured by Cole (guest star Travis Aaron Wade), an angry man who blames Dean for his father’s death years ago and wants revenge. Cole tortures Sam, hoping he’ll tell him where Dean is hiding.

Hannah (guest star Erica Carroll) sees how weak Castiel (Misha Collins) is becoming as his grace continues to fade so she makes a bold choice and asks Metatron (guest star Curtis Armstrong) for help. Thomas J. Wright directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb.

For more info visit “Supernatural” on cwtv.com, “like” “Supernatural” on Facebook, and follow @CW_spn on Twitter.

The post Extended Trailer for Supernatural Episode 10.02 – Reichenbach appeared first on Dread Central.

Here at Dread Central we love our anthology movies. We also love the ladies who work their asses off in this industry just as hard as men do. That’s exactly why we’re excited for the newly announced project XX!

Magnet Releasing announced today that they are fully financing and taking worldwide rights to XX, a new horror anthology featuring all female directors, telling stories with female leads that is being produced by XYZ Films (THE RAID, TUSK). The XX anthology will be comprised of short horror films by Karyn Kusama (GIRLFIGHT, JENNIFER’S BODY), Mary Harron (AMERICAN PSYCHO), Jennifer Lynch (SURVEILLANCE), and Jovanka Vuckovic (pictured; THE CAPTURED BIRD).

The directors have been given free creative rein within budget and time constraints, but all of the segments themselves will involve the horror genre.

“Magnet has been the home to the most exciting anthology horror films of the last several years, and we’re very pleased to continue the trend with XX. We’re especially excited about the caliber of filmmakers involved with this anthology, and the fresh approach that it’s taking to the horror genre,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles.

“We believe strongly in fostering the best talents around the world at XYZ. We believe different perspectives are what keep storytelling fresh and exciting and hope that XX can help to encourage more female writers and directors to explore the genre world. And we know the ones we have for this first effort are going to absolutely kick ass,” said XYZ’s Todd Brown.

Magnolia’s Head of International and Broadcast Sales Christina Rogers will be repping the film at AFM next month. The deal was negotiated by Magnolia VP of Acquisitions Peter Van Steemburg and Head of Business Affairs & Production Chris Matson with Todd Brown and Nick Spicer of XYZ Films.  Dwjuan Fox will serve as supervising producer for all segments of the film.

XX will be completed in 2015. More as it comes.

The post Magnet Attracts Female-Driven Horror Anthology XX appeared first on Dread Central.

It’s been awhile since last we had any casting news for the new flick Pay the Ghost with Nicolas Cage and Sarah Wayne Callies (“The Walking Dead”), but that stops now as an actor who’s no stranger to the bizarre and gory has signed on for active duty!

The Wrap is reporting that Lyriq Bent (the Saw Franchise) will be appearing opposite the abovementioned stars. Cage will play “a hard-working NYU English professor bucking for tenure when his 8-year-old son mysteriously vanishes from a Halloween day parade.”

Bent will play Detective Reynolds in the film, which is expected to be released next year.

Uli Edel (The Baader Meinhof Complex) is directing for Voltage Films.

The post Saw’s Lyriq Bent Will Pay the Ghost appeared first on Dread Central.

As reported earlier today, Black Mask has set up “Five Ghosts” as a TV series on Syfy with Universal Cable Productions producing and Evan Daugherty writing the pilot. What will be their next breakout hit? Here are the horror highlights from the publishing/production company’s just announced upcoming second slate of comics to keep an eye on:

From the Press Release
BLACK MASK STUDIOS, the publishing/production company launched last year by Matt Pizzolo (GODKILLER, OCCUPY COMICS), Brett Gurewitz (Bad Religion, CEO Epitaph Records, ANTI- Records), and Steve Niles (30 DAYS OF NIGHT), has unveiled its second slate of comics.

It’s an armada three times the size of its previous slate, now flagshipped by Grant Morrison (ALL STAR SUPERMAN, THE MULTIVERSITY), Vanesa Del Rey (EMPTY MAN), Ben Templesmith (SQUIDDER), TV and transmedia expansions of Frank Barbiere and Chris Mooneyham’s breakout hit FIVE GHOSTS, and Steve Niles’ long-awaited debut book for the upstart company.

But it’s not just legendary creators, Black Mask is also continuing its streak of debuting the next wave of creators who will be making waves in the comic market.

Says Pizzolo, “On our first slate Black Mask brought out important new works from legends like Darick Robertson and RZA while simultaneously debuting young guns like Adam Egypt Mortimer, who wowed people with Ballistic, just like we did on Occupy Comics bringing Alan Moore and J.M. DeMatteis together with then-freshmen Ales Kot and Matt Miner.”

“We’re doing that again; we’re ecstatic to be bringing new books from Grant Morrison and Vanesa Del Rey and Steve Niles, and we’re equally excited to be debuting new creators you’ll be talking about all of 2015 such as Tony Patrick, Holly Interlandi, Amancay Nahuelpan, Zoe Chevat, Jonathan Brandon Sawyer, Vita A., and tons more. We’ll also be bringing you what I think will be the breakout books by hardworking creators that savvy readers already love such as Curt Pires, Michael Moreci, Mark L. Miller, Matthew Rosenberg, and Alexis Ziritt. I’m thrilled because I love all these creators and all these books, and I’m excited because I know our strategies are the bleeding edge for getting their stories to current readers as well as new audiences,” he adds.

* 2015 *
SINATORO
writer Grant Morrison
artist Vanesa Del Rey

What is it?
Grant Morrison fans have heard rumors of this project for years now… it’s one of the stories dearest to Grant’s heart, so he took his time seeking the right home and perfect format for it. SINATORO melds the Tibetan Book of the Dead with the Great American Road Movie for Grant’s masterwork on Life, Death, and America.

Why it’s awesome:
This strange tale of living life and facing death is one Grant has been extremely passionate about for years, and it’s sure to be his next legendary work. Teaming Grant with Vanesa Del Rey makes for a real dream team — Vanesa is one of the most exciting new artists to hit the scene in years, and the dark mystique of her artwork channels all the transcendent themes of Grant’s wildest imaginings.

* 2015 *
SPACE RIDERS
writer Fabian Rangel Jr.
artist Alexis Ziritt
letterer Ryan Ferrier

What is it?
The psychedelic space opera of disgraced Captain Peligro seeking redemption and a body count worthy of his namesake, the Skullship Santa Muerte. As writer Fabian Rangel Jr. put it “Get a bowl; add KIRBY, STERANKO, B-MOVIES, and METAL; and mix until your mind is blown. We can do ANYTHING in comics. And we plan to.”

Why it’s awesome:
Alexis Ziritt (who’s been doing those amazing LOKI: RAGNAROK AND ROLL covers) is making tripped-out, psycho-manic art like no one else these days, and we think SPACE RIDERS is the perfect book for him to hit the next level. Fabian Rangel Jr. is a very cool new writer we’ve been watching for a while; his DOC UNKNOWN digital comic is a real gem, and his backup in the LIBERATOR trade went viral on Tumblr. Both of these guys are about to break huge, and SPACE RIDERS is poised to be the book that does it for them.

* 2015 *
X’ED
writer Tony Patrick
artist Ayhan Hayrula
colorist Doug Garbark

What is it?
A sci-fi thriller about a next-gen form of psychiatry: ‘subliminal hitmen’ injected into your mind who hunt down and kill the demons that haunt you. Ex-military sharpshooter Colin McClure is Mezign Corporation’s most recent recruit for the still-experimental (and often deadly) job of subliminal hitman. McClure is the perfect candidate for two reasons: a- he’s a killing machine, and b- he lost his legs in the war so subliminal-ops are his only way to see any action. But he’s also a dangerous candidate for one reason unknown to Mezign: Colin’s true motive is to enter the mind of his catatonic daughter and bring her out of a coma.

Why it’s awesome:
Melding Hitman with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, newcomer Tony Patrick has crafted a slam-dunk concept that merges all the things we love about comics: complex characters, surreal locations, mindbending concepts, and non-stop action. Ayhan’s sophisticated linework brings a smart and grounded feel to the otherworldly actioner.

* 2015 *
THE DISCIPLES
writer Steve Niles
artist Christopher Mitten

What is it?
This ghost story in space reunites comics’ king of the macabre Steve Niles with his longtime collaborator Christopher Mitten, whose stylish mix of grit and flow matches Steve’s sharp characterizations and taste for screams.

Why it’s awesome:
After wrapping their longtime collaborations 30 DAYS OF NIGHT and CRIMINAL MACABRE, Steve and Christopher cooked up the perfect new project to explode at Black Mask, and this grounded sci-horror story taps both their strengths while giving them limitless opportunity to flex their storytelling muscles.

* 2015 *
MAYDAY
writer Curt Pires
artist Chris Peterson
colorist Pete Toms
letterer Colin Bell

What is it?
Fresh off buzz-books THEREMIN and POP, Curt Pires delivers this madcap, transgressive adventure that reads like a Hunter S. Thompson supernatural shoot-em-up. A washed-up, drug-addicted screenwriter and a transgender bartender stumble onto a Satanic cult’s plan to sacrifice people all across LA (geomapped in the form of a pentagram, of course) and bring on armageddon. As our intrepid, damaged heroes embark on a suicide mission to stop the crazy cultists, even they wonder if this is all really happening or if they’re just plain batshit crazy. Probably both.

Why it’s awesome:
Pires is already a red hot writer for smart readers in the know, and we think this book will jettison him to being comics’ next great mad scientist writer. Peterson is coming off GRINDHOUSE where he honed the energetic and lurid b-movie look that makes MAYDAY roll like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas meets Pulp Fiction.

* 11/26/14 *
TOE TAG RIOT
writer Matt Miner
artist Sean Von Gorman
cover Rod Reis

What is it?
A hilarious and gory tongue-in-cheek story, Toe Tag Riot is a punk rock band cursed to become zombies whenever they perform their music! The band goes on a last cross-country tour in search of a cure to their affliction, but being the ethical sometimes zombie-punks they are, Toe Tag Riot uses their zombie superpowers to rid the world of racists, homophobes, misogynists and all kinds of other nasty people.

Why it’s awesome:
Miner and Von Gorman last collaborated on one of OCCUPY COMICS’ most popular stories (about Miner’s experience during Hurricane Sandy). Now fresh off the animal avenging comic LIBERATOR, Miner brings this LGBTQ-positive zombie-punk horrorshow that the Westboro Baptist Church themselves accidentally endorsed… and then un-endorsed, and made even bigger clowns of themselves than usual in the process. Miner’s punk-positive characters and Von Gorman’s high-energy, fun storytelling make Toe Tag Riot a zany gorefest romp like none before it.

Don’t want to wait so long for some killer comics? Then keep reading because Pirouette, from Mark Miller, is out TODAY!

* 10/8/14 *
PIROUETTE
writer Mark L. Miller
artist Carlos Granda

What is it?
Raised from infancy by duplicitous clowns who entertain by day and menace by night, Pirouette dreams of washing the paint from her face and escaping to a better life far away from her cruel adoptive circus family… because when the spotlights dim and the crowd disperses, the clown princess’ big-top dreams give way to a nightmarish world of monsters with painted smiles.

Why it’s awesome:
Mark L. Miller spins Pirouette with authentic darkness and depth of character, while Carlos Granda’s sweeping, exuberant line art evokes all the exotic charm and mysterious gloom of Pirouette’s shadowy big top.

The post Black Mask Announces Second Slate of Comics; Pirouette Available Now! appeared first on Dread Central.

On tap right now we have your first look at the official one-sheet for Spiderhole director Daniel Simpson’s next British sci-fi thriller, Hangar 10, which is – of course – based on true events. Dig it!

IFC Midnight has scooped up the film and will be releasing it November 7th on VOD outlets as well as in theaters nationwide.

While we wait for a trailer, you’ll also find the plot crunch and first still below, which give you a small taste of this latest dose of extraterrestrial horror!

Written by Adam Preston and Daniel Simpson and directed by Simpson, Hangar 10 stars Abbie Salt, Robert Curtis and Danny Shayler.

Synopsis
33 years after the infamous Rendlesham Forest UFO incident, three metal detector enthusiasts hunting for Saxon gold in the same region capture incredible footage of UFOs whilst filming their expedition. As night falls – and with their navigation equipment failing – the trio finds themselves facing a terrifying encounter with an unforgiving alien presence.

The post Hangar 10 One-Sheet Makes Contact appeared first on Dread Central.

I told you Scream Factory would probably announce more 2015 Blu-ray titles before the end of the week. I never would have guessed those titles would be Ghoulies and Ghoulies II. Well played, Scream Factory.

Today Scream Factory, in their continuing efforts to ensure Matt Fini goes bankrupt before the end of next year, announced that Ghoulies and Ghoulies II will be going from the toilet to the Blu-ray player sometime next spring. Sorry, Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College and Ghoulies IV – no love for you.

Charles Band’s Empire Films produced both the 1984 original (boasting one of the most notorious b-movie posters of all time) and its 1988 sequel about toothy Muppet-y monstrosities wreaking havoc. Presumably Scream Factory is releasing them separately and not as a double feature as they’ve been previously released to Blu-ray.

No details of extras just yet or a street date, but rest assured they will get you in the end.

The post Ghoulies and Ghoulies II Getting the Scream Factory Blu-ray Treatment appeared first on Dread Central.

What’s this? An “original” idea for a horror film? With comparisons to This Is the End and Scream, a new horror comedy is heading our way directed by Andrew Jay Cohen and Brendan O’Brien, the writers of Neighbors. Here’s your first word on Thrill Ride.

Per Deadline, Fox has bought Thrill Ride, which will be written by Peter Warren (“Happyland”).  Chernin Entertainment will produce with Cohen and O’Brien. Here’s the early synopsis:

At a particularly cruel high school, bullying has become the norm. For Senior Night the school rents out an amusement park, where the entire senior class can ride the rides and play the games as much as they want with no lines and no rules. The only drawback: Students start dying on the rides in elaborate ways. All the exits are sealed, and there is a killer on the loose, turning all the rides into ways of punishing the bullies and so-called bad people at school. Kids from different cliques have to band together to figure out who the killer is and how to stop them.

The post Fox Is Ready to Take Us on a Thrill Ride appeared first on Dread Central.

We’re just a few hours away from tonight’s premiere of “American Horror Story: Freak Show,” and FX has released one final video introduction to a member of the cast: Meet Ben Woolf and see what makes him such a unique actor.

“AHS” Season 4 kicks off October 8th (TODAY!) at 10:00 PM on FX. The premiere will be an expanded 90-minute episode.

Related Story: Meet Two More of “American Horror Story: Freak Show’s” Extra-Ordinary Artists

Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Angela Bassett, Frances Conroy, Sarah Paulson, Emma Roberts, Gabourey Sidibe, Denis O’Hare, Jamie Brewer, and Evan Peters return from previous seasons. New cast members includes Michael Chiklis, Wes Bentley, John Carroll Lynch, Finn Wittrock, Matt Bomer, Patti LaBelle and the world’s smallest living woman, Jyoti Amge.

“American Horror Story: Freak Show” – Episode 4.01 – “Monsters Among Us” (airs 10/8/14)
One of the only surviving sideshows in the country struggles to stay in business during the dawning era of television. When police make a terrifying discovery at a local farmhouse, the eccentric purveyor of the freak show (Lange) sees an opportunity that will lead her troupe either to their salvation or ruin. Written by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk; directed by Ryan Murphy.

For more info visit the “AHS: Freak Show” Facebook page, check out “AHS: Freak Show” on Tumblr, and follow @AHSFX on Twitter along with “American Horror Story” on FX.

The post American Horror Story: Freak Show – Meet the Extra-Ordinary Ben Woolf appeared first on Dread Central.

Caroline and Enzo are on a road trip in this new clip from “The Vampire Diaries” Episode 6.02, “Yellow Ledbetter,” and they make for a rather unlikely team. The tension between them – sexual and otherwise – is brewing!

“The Vampire Diaries” Episode 6.02 – “Yellow Ledbetter” (10/9/14)
Knowing she needs to come to terms with the loss of Damon (Ian Somerhalder), Elena (Nina Dobrev) turns to Alaric (Matt Davis) to help her move on with her life.

Enzo (Michael Malarkey) convinces Caroline (Candice Accola) to join him as he tracks down a lead to get Damon and Bonnie (Kat Graham) back, but Caroline is shocked when they make an unexpected detour and uncover what Stefan (Paul Wesley) has been up to. Meanwhile, Matt (Zach Roerig) worries about Jeremy (Steven R. McQueen), who is spending time with Sarah (guest star Gabrielle Walsh), a mysterious girl who has recently arrived in Mystic Falls.

Elsewhere, Tripp (guest star Colin Ferguson), leader of the community protection program, makes an interesting confession to Matt about his connection to the town. Lastly, with the Other Side destroyed and gone for good, Damon and Bonnie reluctantly band together to uncover the mystery of where they are and how they are going to get back home. Pascal Verschooris directed the episode written by Julie Plec.

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

The post Tensions Rise in this Clip from The Vampire Diaries Episode 6.02 – Yellow Ledbetter appeared first on Dread Central.