For his new horror flick The Terror Experiment director George Mendeluk relied on his son Alexander’s horror movie sensibilities as well as the terrifying true events of 9/11 for the inspiration behind his latest project which centers on a group of survivors that must make it out of a government building alive after a deadly virus is unleashed, causing anyone exposed to the contaminant to turn into a violent zombie.

Dread Central recently had the opportunity to chat briefly with both director George as well as his son Alexander who not only co-stars in the flick but also ran second unit on the production. Read on for our interview with the Mendeluks below and look for more on The Terror Experiment soon!

Dread Central: Let’s start with you George- can you talk a bit about where the story inspiration for The Terror Experiment came from?

George Mendeluk: Well, I’ve always enjoyed making horror movies because they’re so much fun but I had never tried making a zombie project before so I decided the time was right for that. Because we didn’t have a huge budget, I knew that we had to keep this somewhat of a one-location type of story and that’s when Alexander showed me 28 Days Later and I saw just how much the zombie subgenre has evolved and thought that approach was pretty amazing so that’s the feel I set out for on this. I’d say we’re similar to 28 Days Later meets Die Hard.

I also wanted The Terror Experiment to have some sort of subtext to it because I feel like every genre picture should have one- that’s what makes these kind of movies so great; you can make a silly monster movie but still say something relevant while doing so. And I have always been haunted by the 9/11 stairwell sequences. I thought of how these people went to work and when hell breaks loose, so many of them got caught on those stairs which is insanely claustrophobic when you even try to imagine it. So that’s what I did- I set out to make claustrophobia a character and make it work for the picture.

Dread Central: Alexander, how hard was it for you to balance being in front of and behind the camera so much for this movie?

Alexander Mendeluk: It was a really tough schedule. We didn’t have a lot of time or money so we all had to roll with the punches. We were shooting really quickly so one moment I was popping in front of the camera doing a zombie sequence in the stairwell and the next I was running outside as second unit director to shoot B-roll footage of SWAT teams or whatever. I was always busy which was really great because I learned a lot but it was exhausting too. I don’t know if I’d be able to do this all the time.

George Mendeluk: I have to say that getting to work with Alexander was really rewarding for me too. He just jumped right in and he worked hard from the beginning to the end. I knew that he had this great work ethic and he’s got talent as an actor so I backed him totally and because of that, I learned complete and absolute admiration and trust in my son. I would be inside of the building shooting one sequence while he would be outside shooting another sequence. I never once worried that I wouldn't get the shot because he was always on top of everything.

Dread Central: Because this is a one-location type of movie, was it ever challenging keeping up the tension and atmosphere at all because you were limited within the four walls of that building?
George Mendeluk: You know, if anything, having one location really worked to our advantage because we could play on the fact that they have to make it from the top of the building all the way to the bottom and when you’re at the top of a skyscraper and the only way down are the stairs which are crawling in zombies, that’s tension. Plus you’re putting normal people in extraordinary circumstances who aren’t used to shooting guns, being the hero, killing zombies and that always lends its self well to creating tension.

At its core, The Terror Experiment is about Jason’s character’s journey- he’s not a guy who is a fighter. He’s lost his marriage, his wife and control over his own life so when things go down, the ball is in his court to become the hero and survive this ordeal and to ensure his daughter is safe. The zombies are the window dressing and at the core, this is a movie about a hero being born. That being said, it’s not totally serious so horror fans can have fun eating popcorn while watching some crazy zombie kills too.

Dread Central: So what’s up next for you guys then?

George Mendeluk: Well, we’ve got a few things cooking but I can’t say anything officially yet. I do want to make more horror movies though- the horror world is so great and there are a ton of fun stories I’d love to tell. As someone who loves Joseph Campbell’s stories, I’d like to continue making movies in that vein.

Alexander Mendeluk: I think I do want to continue working both in front of the camera and behind it, especially after learning so much while working with my dad on Terror Experiment. I do want to still act though; I never really set out to be an actor but I got lucky with a few roles- including Twilight- and I really enjoy it. I think acting has actually been helping me become a better director too because I’m always learning more and that’s stuff I use when working with my own actors. But I don’t think I want to give up acting any time soon either so hopefully I can balance both for a while.

Vampire fans, listen up! If your favorite vamps haven't been cutting it for you lately, or even if they have been and you're just looking for more, you're in luck. The sultry vampire saga, The Dark Path Chronicles, is making its VOD premiere on April 17.

Written and directed by Mary Lambert(Pet Sematary) and starring Carson Aune, Amanda Bauer, Joseph Gatt, Elena Caruso, Katie Lambert and Will Laureano, The Dark Path Chronicles is being rereleased via Cinetic's FilmBuff label.

Check out the trailer below and keep an eye out for the 35-minute film on your favorite on demand outlets on April 17. For more visit the official Dark Path Chronicles page on FilmBuff and "like" The Dark Path Chronicles on Facebook.

Synopsis
When Samantha, a teenager who hears voices, answers the call of a mysterious stranger, she finds herself drawn into a supernatural world of vampires, ancient conflicts and The Dark Path, an inhospitable environment where time and energy are distorted.

Entering into a life-and-death struggle between good and evil played out on the streets of Los Angeles and on The Dark Path, Samantha soon finds her own life, and the lives of her sister, Lisa, and friend and advisor, Father Raymond, in mortal danger. Jurgen, a rogue vampire who was “made” during the waning days of the Third Reich has just reawakened after 75 years. Calling Samantha to the urban wilderness of Griffith Park, he takes her captive and drinks her blood.

How we love the interwebs! Everything is right at your finger tips including the first look at one of the many sets of Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Room which transforms the great white north into the far east! Dig it!

Look for the flick in theatres July 12th of 2013.

Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Charlie Day, Ron Perlman, Rinko Kikuchi, Max Martini, Rob Kazinsky, Clifton Collins, Jr., and Diego Klattenhoff star.

Travis Beacham's script is set in 2025, the 12th year of a war against alien creatures who reside in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The story finds a group of humans banding together to create and pilot massive robots to fight the giant creatures threatening to destroy Earth.

Related Topics:

• Pacific Rim

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Sometimes we come across some videos in our daily sweep of the wondrous series of tubes call the Internet that we just HAVE to share with you guys. Get ready for three fine examples of web based goodness that you're bound to watch again ... and again ... and again ....

First up we have a true rarity featuring everyone's favorite Psycho Anthony Perkins offering Motel Management instructions during his stint on Season One of the then funny, "Saturday Night Live". From there we get a really nifty inside look at how everyone's other favorite psycho Nicolas Cage picks his acting roles from the guys at College Humor, and then finally the coolest arrangement of pixels we have seen in quite sometime ... From Pretend for Real Studios comes Evil Dead 2: Rotoscoped!

Enjoy the goodies, kids! Other than humping there's no better way to get through hump day!

For the past week or so rumors have been swirling around regarding whether or not director Gary Ross would be returning the The Hunger Games franchise to take the reigns of the sequel, Catching Fire. The final word has come.

Lionsgate has just released the following statement from Ross regarding his stance on the second film:

"Despite recent speculation in the media, and after difficult but sincere consideration, I have decided not to direct Catching Fire. As a writer and a director, I simply don’t have the time I need to write and prep the movie I would have wanted to make because of the fixed and tight production schedule.

I loved making The Hunger Games – it was the happiest experience of my professional life. Lionsgate was supportive of me in a manner that few directors ever experience in a franchise: they empowered me to make the film I wanted to make and backed the movie in a way that requires no explanation beyond the remarkable results. And contrary to what has been reported, negotiations with Lionsgate have not been problematic. They have also been very understanding of me through this difficult decision.

I also cannot say enough about the people I worked with: Producer Nina Jacobson, a great collaborator and a true friend; the brilliant Suzanne Collins, who entrusted us with her most amazing and important story; the gifted and remarkable Jennifer Lawrence whose performance exceeded my wildest expectations, and the rest of the incredible cast, whom I am proud to call my friends.

To the fans I want to say thank you for your support your faith, your enthusiasm and your trust. Hard as this may be to understand I am trying to keep that trust with you. Thank you all. It’s been a wonderful experience."

Let's not forget that The Twilight Saga switched directors several times and it continued to do mega business at the box office. So, who'll replace Ross? Let the speculation begin!

The sequel to the 2008 bestseller continues the story of Katniss Everdeen and the fictional, futuristic nation of Panem. Due to the events of the previous novel, a rebellion against the ruling Capitol has begun, and Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta are forced to return to the arena in a special edition of The Hunger Games.

In The Terror Experiment, we follow a terrorist who sets off an explosion that unleashes a toxic gas inside a government building that instantly attacks a person's adrenal system, causing them to become inhumanly aggressive zombies with an uncontrollable urge to kill.

With its DVD and Blu-ray release this week, Dread Central recently had the opportunity to chat with actor Jason London who stars in The Terror Experiment about his experience making the indie horror flick as well as tackling the more physical aspects of the role and becoming a reluctant hero along the way.

Check out our interview with London below and make sure to check out The Terror Experiment now that it’s available everywhere courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Dread Central: So how much fun was it taking on zombies for The Terror Experiment?

Jason London: Oh it was great! These movies are so fantastic and so out there that all you can do is just enjoy them when you’re asked to come on board. I’ve done a lot of comedies and I’ve done dramas but I always love making horror movies. It is kind of like going back to the sandbox when you were a kid and playing pretend and making it as much fun as possible is the key. I’m not a huge horror fan myself but I’m always up for playing with monsters anytime.

Dread Central: Let’s talk a bit about your character because he isn’t your usual hero-type of character in a horror movie. Was that part of the appeal for you?

Jason London: That was definitely part of it. I’m not exactly Rambo so I don’t think I would have fit this role if that’s what George (director Mendeluk) was looking for (laughs). Thankfully, he wanted a ‘normal’ guy, someone everyone could relate to and understand what he was going through in this story. So it was fun being a character that has a real transition and for him- it’s all about finding his daughter and as a father, I could relate to that. I think that was part of the story that even George related to as well- being a father and wanting to keep your kid safe. So finding my daughter is what keeps me going.

Dread Central: You’ve got such a great ensemble of some of the most iconic actors of the 80’s and 90’s (yourself included); how was it working alongside the other cast members?

Jason London: We did have such a great cast on this; it was hard to not be a fan myself when I would be coming to set. People think actors don’t get excited about other actors but it’s not true- we do. But everyone on Terror Experiment was great to work alongside- I got to work with Pony Boy for Chris sakes (C. Thomas Howell) and the biggest ‘nerd’ ever (Robert Carradine). Do you know how hard it was to not ask him to do the nerd laugh on set? Impossible! (laughs) And then working with Judd (Nelson) was so cool too because he has been in some of my favorite movies; it really was a blast.

Dread Central: How difficult was the stunts aspect of shooting The Terror Experiment?

Jason London: Well, we didn’t have a huge budget on this so I had to kind of just go with everything which included the scene in the stairwell where I’m being lowered down by a fire hose. We really had to do that scene ourselves and the one time we dropped, we hit the ground pretty hard; I was sure that Alicia (Leigh Willis) had blown a knee or something when it happened because it’s both of us going down at the same time. But she was a total trooper and just shook off the bumps and the bruises.
But for as much as I’m not exactly a physical actor in general, I always have a lot of fun when I get a role that requires me to get my hands dirty and have some fun doing things outside the box.

Dread Central: I think it’s pretty cool that you’ve been able to stay consistently busy since you began acting in the early 90’s; is there a secret to it because we’ve all seen a lot of actors from your same generation struggle in the industry.

Jason London: Honestly, it all boils down to wanting to work and always be willing to work hard and keeping an open mind. As I said before, I’m not much of a horror fan myself but horror movies are usually the projects I have the most fun on so I had to be willing to keep an open mind and embrace doing projects outside the norm.

I have been very lucky because I’ve been a part of some really great movies that have become somewhat of iconic roles in my career- whether it’s in The Man on the Moon for those of you who grew up with that movie or comedies like Mallrats or Dazed and Confused that are pop culture moments in their own right now. And even though those roles may be the ones that everyone remembers me from, that’s not really who I am as a person so I think people forget that from time to time.

In fact, right after Dazed and Confused came out, every script I’d get sent for a good couple of months or so would have marijuana included with it because they thought I was Randall. He’s just a character but a lot of people couldn’t really separate us so my agent had his hands full for a while disposing of a lot of weed (laughs). I guess you could say that a lot of people lost the meaning of what Dazed and Confused really was about because it wasn’t supposed to be about drugs, it was about growing up. But overall, I’ve been very lucky in my career and I guess the secret is that I like being busy so I always try and stay as busy as I can because you never know what will happen next.

Dread Central: So do you have any ideas as to just what’s up ‘next’ for you then?

Jason London: Well, I actually have a few horror projects coming up that I did with some familiar faces like Kevin Sorbo and Danielle Harris so I’m really excited for those. But I’m also finally getting behind the scenes myself and I’ve been putting together some projects as a producer and potentially a director so we’ll see how that goes. I’m very excited about taking my career in a whole new direction; you can only be the paint for so long before you want to become the painter.

May 11 is going to be a big day for high-action horror across the pond, as Airborne, starring Mark Hamill and Gemma Atkinson, will be released on five UK screens as part of the prestigious British Independent Film Festival.

We've got the trailer for Airborne below and it looks like a high-intensity thriller, and anytime you include Mark Hamill, the guy who gave us Luke Skywalker and all those awesome Joker moments, you can't go wrong. Starring alongside Hamill are Andrew Shim (This is England), Julian Glover (Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade, The Empire Strikes Back), Alan Ford (Snatch, Cockneys Vs Zombies) and Billy Murray (Rise of the Footsoldier, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare). Airborne is directed by Dominic Burns (Cut!, UFO) and produced by Simon Phillips (The Last 7, Strippers Vs Werewolves) and Jonathan Sothcott (Elfie Hopkins, Devil’s Playground).

On Friday, May 11th the movie will premiere at 8:30 pm on not one but five prestigious UK screens at the same time as part of the prestigious British Independent Film Festival. The five screens are the Empire Leicester Square (in London), the Empire cinemas in Poole and Newcastle and the Apollo Cinemas in Port Talbot and Stafford.

Chelsea Films will be releasing Airborne on Region 2 DVD in July.

Synopsis
As a snow storm closes in, one final plane takes off. The plane reports to the ground that both pilots are dead, while the slowly dwindling number of passengers on the plane wish that they'd never left the ground.

Big news has just dropped out of The Profane Exhibit camp! Not only has the team enlisted the services of Grammy Award winning artist Chris Vrenna to score one of the segments, they've added noted directors Jose Mojica Marins (aka Coffin Joe) and Ignacio "Nacho" Vigalondo.

With an already incredible lineup of actors, directors and musicians, The Profane Exhibit just seems to continue growing stronger with each new piece of talent added to the project. Check out the official Facebook page for The Profane Exhibit and follow them on The Profane Exhibit Twitter feed (@ProfaneExhibit).

From the Press Release
Harbinger International is pleased to announce that we have entered into agreements with Grammy Award winner Chris Vrenna to score the segment Viral and that we have added two new directors to our already impressive lineup. Jose Mojica Marins (aka Coffin Joe), the legendary Brazilian king of blasphemy and terror, is set to direct the segment Viral for The Profane Exhibit. Academy Award nominee and film festival favorite Ignacio “Nacho” Vigalondo has also joined the lineup for The Sins of the Father.

Chris Vrenna and Steven Severin join cEvin key (Skinny Puppy), Rune Erikson (death metal legends Mayhem), Maurizio Guarini (Goblin), Sven Erik Fuzz-Krisatiansen (Mayhem), Eri Isaka Fuzz-Krisatiansen (Gallhamer), Scott Putesky (Marilyn Manson), Seb Komor (Icon of Coil) and Simon Boswellow as the current announced composers for the soundtrack for The Profane Exhibit.

Vrenna has worked as a musician, producer, and/or engineer and remixer for such bands as Rob Zombie, Megadeth, Metallica, Lords of Acid, David Bowie, Slipknot, Green Day, Pigface, KMFDM and more (including, briefly, Guns ‘N’ Roses). However, he is best known for his work in Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. He produced and played drums on the most recent Marilyn Monroe record. Since 2004 he has been drummer and keyboardist with Marilyn Manson. In 1995, as a member of Nine Inch Nails, he received an Emmy for Best Metal Performance for the NIN performance at Woodstock 1994.

He has also scored many popular video games, such as Doom 3, and recently left Marilyn Manson to focus on scoring films like The Profane Exhibit.

Steven Severin, is an English musician, composer, bassist and co-founding member of Siouxsie and the Banshees. He took the name "Severin", from the Leopold von Sacher-Masoch character that is the subject of the Velvet Underground song "Venus in Furs". After the split of Siouxsie and the Banshees in 1996, Severin began a solo career and created his own label RE. Henceforth, he also performs live solo concerts.

In 1963, Jose Mojica Marins formed the legendary character Coffin Joe (Zé do Caixão) for the now legendary cult classic At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul that he directed as well as starred in. The film’s blasphemous nature led to a storm of controversy and criticism in his home country of Brazil. This film, the first in the ‘Coffin Joe Trilogy’ is considered Brazil’s first horror film. Coffin Joe was soon appearing in many films, tv shows, videos, and more. He was known for his outrageously morbid personal appearance- long, curled fingernails and a midnight black top hat. The bands White Zombie and Necrophagia both sample Coffin Joe films, and the Brazilian band Sepultura sings a song that refers to him on their Roots album. He performed an infamous live ‘blessing’ of Sepultura during one of their performances. Due to half a century working in the horror genre, Coffin Joe is considered a living legend and a walking symbol of sacrilege, perversion, evil, and violence, and his evil sinister persona has made him into cult icon with an international following. Because Coffin Joe’s films were so sacrilegious, he is a living profane exhibit and we are extremely happy that he will be adding his skills to The Profane Exhibit film.

Ignacio “Nacho” Vigalondo has also joined the lineup for The Sins of the Father. The Spanish director is best known for his film Time Crimes and his most recent film, and the upcoming Extraterrestrial.

Coffin Joe and Nacho Vigalondo join Ryan Nicholson, Andrey Iskanov, Michael Todd Schneider, Sergio Stivaletti, Marian Dora,Yoshihiro Nishimura, Richard Stanley and Uwe Boll as directors of segments of The Profane Exhibit. Many more to still be announced.

The Profane Exhibit is an extreme international horror anthology film that was conceived, written, and produced by David Bond and Manda Manuel. Legendary horror writer Ray Garton wrote the wraparound segment, and Scott Swan (Showtime’s "Masters of Horror") wrote the screenplay. Jeremy Kasten, director of such films as the recent Wizard of Gore remake, serves as the film’s editor. There are no boundaries.

Before we even begin, you've got to take your hat off to these guys for the catchy title. A recovered footage film that centers, at least partially, around bodiless feet washing up on the beach, called Severed Footage, not bad. Read on for the details.

Taking the found footage angle to an entirely new level, the filmmakers of Severed Footage have created a petition potential audience members can sign if they'd like to see the movie 'revealed.' Take a look at the trailer below and if you'd like to see more of this Blair Witchy film, we can help you out.

For further details about the actual case visit CNN, Kanaka Pete Online, and Haunted Hovel Online.

For more visit the official Severed Footage website, "like" Severed Footage on Facebook, and follow Severed Footage on Twitter (@SeveredFootage).

Thanks to DC reader Tiffany D for the heads-up!

Synopsis
Between 2007 and 2011, 12 severed feet in running shoes have been found off the coast of Western Canada and Washington State. This is the only place in the world where severed feet are mysteriously washing up on shore. Police are baffled by this phenomenon as no other body parts have been discovered. Major news networks including, CNN, ABC, CBC, MSNBC, BBC, CTV as well as National Geographic have been following this bizarre story looking for answers.

In the fall of 2007, a student had been videoing his history project on Kanaka Pete the Axe Murderer. In January 2012 that same video was leaked from the local authorities. You decide if this video finally exposes the Mystery of the Severed Feet.

A Russian trailer for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter has arrived online with new never-before-seen footage, and all we can say is June 22, 2012, cannot get here soon enough! Check it out!

The Tim Burton-produced, Timur Bekmambetov-directed horror adventure Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter stars Benjamin Walker, Anthony Mackie, Rufus Sewell, Dominic Cooper, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jimmi Simpson, Alan Tudyk, and Robin McLeavy.

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

Time for an exclusive, kids! A clip from Elfie Hopkins that you won't find anywhere else on the net. Excited? Good. You should feel really special. Dig it!

Ryan Andrews' Elfie Hopkins stars Jaime Winstone, Ray Winstone, Aneurin Barnard, and Kimberley Nixon.

Synopsis:
Set in a sleepy hunting village, Elfie Hopkins is the story of a 22-year-old slacker and “wanna-be” detective. Elfie is a stoner and an animal lover in a village populated with hunters. Haunted by the death of her mother and surrounded by her broken father and alcoholic step-mother, Elfie seeks solace and inspiration from the old school detectives in The Maltese Falcon and Chinatown. She entertains herself, along with her geeky best friend, Dylan, by investigating the villagers and upsetting everyone with their imaginative allegations. Elfie’s mundane existence is thrown for a spin with the arrival of a family of trendy city dwellers, the Gammons.

The Gammons weave tales of adventure and entice the villagers with offers of exotic hunting holidays around the world. It’s not long before the villagers are flying off to the four corners of the world. Elfie, despite her best efforts, is not immune to the Gammons' charms but soon smells a rat. Elfie and Dylan snap into detective mode and investigate the Gammons' life. Blood soon starts to spill in the village, and it’s no longer just the blood of animals. Elfie discovers the villagers are not making those flights, and when she finally uncovers the truth, it's darker then she could have ever imagined. The Gammons are a family of cannibals!

We all know that Friday the 13th is one mama's boy's favorite day of the week, but ever wonder what happens the rest of the year? Is there some kind of prep that takes place, where does Jason chill when he's not busy dismembering folks?

Thanks to the wonders of YouTube and the always incredible Robot Chick you can now find out for yourselves what Mr. Voorhees is up to for at least three days of the year. As for the other 362 ... they remain a mystery, but always remember, kids ...

"He's still there..."

"He's still there..."

"He's still there..."

"Still there..."

"Still there..."

"..."

The latest episode of The Doomgoryum Report web-show introduces us to a fan-made vault classic based off the highly successful video game, Left 4 Dead.

In this fan made trailer/short film directed by Adrian Picardi and produced by Eric Ro known for SyFy's Resistance--we are introduced
to all our favorite game characters in one kick-ass video!

About Doomgoryums Horror Emporium
Doomgoryums Horror Emporium is a website ran by two horror fans who call themselves Axe Master and Happywax. Their web-show offers up reviews and news on all of the horror content you can stomach!

About Adrian Picardi and Eric Ro
Adrian Picardi was born and raised in South Pasadena, California. In 2006 he graduated from the Los Angeles Film School and jumped into the industry as an editor for Television. Picardi continued his directing career by independently producing a series of award winning projects. In 2008, Picardi teamed up with entrepreneur, Scott Bayless, and Producer, Eric Ro, to create a production company based in Downtown Los Angeles, called Northern Five Entertainment. Picardi’s wide range of skills, experience, and talents have been displayed time and time again, which have been extremely valuable towards every phase of the film making process.

Eric Ro has always had a dear affinity for cinema and filmmaking. With many years of on-set experience, his leadership skills from development to post-production have been proven countless times. Well rounded technically and creatively, his versatility and resourcefulness proves a great asset, in addition to his strong relationships within the industry that ensure solid delivery of every final product. Currently, he is one of the co-founders and producer of Northern Five Entertainment along with Adrian Picardi and Scott Bayless. Eric has produced numerous music videos, including Sony BMG’s Automatic Love Letters Makeup Smeared Eyes and most recently Evan’s blue, “Erase My Scars”. He also has a epic action series called the Resistance under the N5 umbrella.

To learn more you can visit the official Doomgoryums Horror Emporium website or the HappywaxYoutube Channel. If you loved the film featured in this episode then visit the official Northern Five Entertainment website.

We caught up recently with The Haunting of Whaley House writer and director Jose Prendes, who chatted with Dread openly about the production and also provided us with a handful of exclusive production stills from the now wrapped film. Read on for the skinny!

Produced by The Asylum, The Haunting of Whaley House stars Stephanie Greco as (according to the film’s official synopsis), “Penny, (who) is a skeptic, despite the fact that she works as a tour guide at The Whaley House, considered America's most haunted house. One night her friends convince her to let them into the famous museum to see if it is as haunted as everyone says it is, and they find much more than they bargained for. Just because you don't believe in ghosts doesn't mean they don't believe in you!”

Joining Greco in the festivities is genre vet Lynn Lowry (George Romero’s The Crazies), among others, as well as The Woman cinematographer Alex Vendler and producers Paul Bales and David Michael Latt.

Shot over the course of twelve days this past March in Long Beach, CA on the RED MX camera system, filmmaker Prendes said of the experience, “Well, we were an Asylum production, but we were pretty much left alone. The cast and crew were basically all of my friends who came together and helped me make the best haunted house movie we could make. We became a family and it all worked because people gave a shit. It’s very easy to find a lot of people who will just go through the motions on a movie set, but no one on this production was there for the money. They were there because they liked the script and wanted to make something special. We all really just enjoyed being around one another, and that totally translated to the footage. That love and admiration of the material and of each other really makes the film special.”

Of the film, The Haunting of Whaley House is currently in post-production and is scheduled for a home video release via The Asylum on July 31, 2012.

“Working with The Asylum is always challenging,” Prendes further offered of his experience directing the film.

“Beyond the typical things like having no money and no time, we had to also deal with producer’s notes that we could not address because they made it impossible to do so,” he expounded. “One night we had an actress that was supposed to get topless, (as) that was their request that the movie have nudity in it, so I had to contrive a way to get nudity into the picture. Well, our actress arrived and we dressed her in this short skirt and cardigan pulled tight over her ample bosom. The scene went off great and it was fun and we got the ‘boobage.’”

“The next day, however, they comment that she was ‘showing too much.’ What the hell kind of a note is that?” Prendes asked. “If she was supposed to get topless, were we to dress her in a ski parka? So the producers then said we needed to reshoot (the scene), but of course we couldn’t because we didn’t have the time or money to do so.”

As for the cinematic scares in front of the camera, Prendes describes The Haunting of Whaley House thusly.

“I read these things, and I know everyone says this type of thing, but it’s a unique haunted house movie and one where I wanted to keep the audience guessing and wondering where it would go next,” said the filmmaker. “My goal was really the make the characters likable and believable so that when shit gets real, the audience is with you one hundred percent, no matter how crazy it gets.”

As for the ‘crazy,’ “The effects were provided by Mark Villalobos and Co. at Monster FX, and they are a great team,” Prendes said of visceral aspects of the film. “They provided a mix of old school ‘bump in the night’ creations with some gruesome Evil Dead-style blood and guts.”

Prendes (whose next project is the western feature A Magnificent Death From A Shattered Hand which he will write and produce this fall, along with actor Thomas Jane who will direct, produce and star) remains enthusiastic about his horror feature and is planning to tour the festival circuit with The Haunting of Whaley House.

“I will be traveling with the movie to horror conventions and festivals to get the word out,” Prendes told us. “It is such an ‘un-Asylum’ Asylum movie, and I mean that with all due respect. I love those guys for giving me money to make a movie, but they’ve built a negative stigma with fans that can sometimes hurt them. I want people to give it a chance so I am bringing it to them. Plus, it’s a real audience movie and I want them to watch it as a shared experience. I’m hoping to premiere it at Comic-Con this year, and our Facebook fans will have reserved seats!”

For more, get daily updates on the production and stay connected through The Haunting of Whaley House official Facebook fan page.

Some new images have come our way for the Lance Henriksen survival horror flick, It's in the Blood, and we have 'em for you right here, hot, fresh, and nasty! Those offended by maggots need not click.

Starring with Henriksen are Sean Elliot and Rose Sirna. Scooter Downey makes his feature directorial debut with the film. It's in the Blood is scheduled to be released later this year. We'll keep you posted on any upcoming news, and for more visit the the official It's in the Blood website, "like" It's in the Blood on Facebook, and follow It's in the Blood on Twitter (@inthebloodmovie).

About It's in the Blood
It's in the Blood is an altogether new cinematic movement. At its core a father/son story, the film is a deconstruction of the prototypical 'creature feature', incorporating elements of mystical realism and psychological thriller. We call it a 'Psyche-Saga'.

Come on now! You didn't really think we'd let a whole day slip by without doling out some Dark Shadows images did you? It's the weekend, baby! It's time to strut your stuff! Speaking of which ...

The ensemble cast includes Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Jackie Earle Haley, Jonny Lee Miller, Bella Heathcote, Chloe Moretz, Thomas McDonell, and newcomer Gulliver McGrath.

Look for Tim Burton's Dark Shadows in theatres on May 11, 2012.

Synopsis
In the year 1752 Joshua and Naomi Collins, with young son Barnabas, set sail from Liverpool, England, to start a new life in America. But even an ocean was not enough to escape the mysterious curse that has plagued their family. Two decades pass, and Barnabas (Johnny Depp) has the world at his feet — or at least the town of Collinsport, Maine. The master of Collinwood Manor, Barnabas is rich, powerful and an inveterate playboy…until he makes the grave mistake of breaking the heart of Angelique Brouchard (Eva Green). A witch, in every sense of the word, Angelique dooms him to a fate worse than death: turning him into a vampire and then burying him alive.

Two centuries later Barnabas is inadvertently freed from his tomb and emerges into the very changed world of 1972. He returns to Collinwood Manor to find that his once-grand estate has fallen into ruin. The dysfunctional remnants of the Collins family have fared little better, each harboring their own dark secrets. Matriarch Elizabeth Collins Stoddard (Michelle Pfeiffer) has called upon live-in psychiatrist, Dr. Julia Hoffman (Helena Bonham Carter), to help with her family troubles.

Also residing in the manor are Elizabeth's ne'er-do-well brother, Roger Collins (Jonny Lee Miller); her rebellious teenage daughter, Carolyn Stoddard (Chloe Moretz); and Roger's precocious 10-year-old son, David Collins (Gulliver McGrath). The mystery extends beyond the family to caretaker Willie Loomis, played by Jackie Earle Haley, and David's new nanny, Victoria Winters, played by Bella Heathcote.

For more info visit the official Dark Shadows website.

Calm down, kids. Rob Zombie is NOT remaking the much beloved Asian film of the same name. What we're talking about here is a new commercial. No clue where he finds the time, but yes, the man has just released a new ad. Dig it!

As per FEARnet who debuted the ad for Amdro ant bait entitled "Death Note" ...

"While Rob's still involved in postproduction on his feature film The Lords of Salem (no premiere date has been set so far), he's demonstrating his multi-tasking skills by helming a series of commercials for... wait for it... Amdro ant bait. You gotta hand it to the makers of Amdro for getting right down to it and embracing microscopic mass murder, and Zombie certainly knows his way around a grisly cinematic scenario on any scale. But that's just half the fun: portraying the massacre's mastermind is none other than cult icon Clint Howard!"

Just hitting our e-mail today is a look at Vincent Gaustini's F/X work for Darren Lynn Bousman's The Devil’s Carnival (review here)! Check it out, kids! We have such sights to show you!

The team who brought you Repo! The Genetic Opera Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich will soon be haunting your hometown while on an exclusive nationwide road tour featuring burlesque, special personality meet and greets, Q&A forums, sing-alongs, costume contests, and a whole lot of devilish behavior. Audiences will get to enjoy never-before-seen Repo! The Genetic Opera behind-the-scenes footage and bonus features, and, most notably, an exclusive viewing of the first 55-minute entry into The Devil's Carnival series!

The Devil's Carnival stars Emilie Autumn, Dayton Callie, The Blessed Contessa, M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan, Briana Evigan, Sean Patrick Flanery, Maggie "Captain Maggot" Lally, J. LaRose, Jessica Lowndes, Mighty Mike, Hannah Minx, Ivan Moody, Bill Moseley, Ogre, Marc Senter, Paul Sorvino, Alexa Vega, and Terrance Zdunich.

Synopsis:
In THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL sinners are invited to a theme park where they endure the repetition of their transgressions. What chances do a conniving kleptomaniac, a gullible teenager, and an obsessed father stand when facing their own moral failings? Lucifer and his colorful cast of singing carnies invite you to grab a ticket to THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL to find out!

TICKET PRICE OPTIONS:
1. SINNERS - $20.00 (gets you a ticket to the show)
2. CARNIES - $30.00 (ticket to the show, and a pre-signed poster)
3. RINGMASTERS - $40.00 (VIP Experience: ticket to the show, pre-signed poster, and a meet & greet)

CONFIRMED cities and theaters showing THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL:

4/13 – Houston, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse
4/14 – Dallas, TX @ Lakewood Theater
4/17 – Nashville, TN @ The Nashville Limelight
4/18 – Atlanta, GA @ The Plaza Theater
4/19 – Orlando, FL @ The Premiere Cinema 14 (at Fashion Square Mall)
4/20 – Tampa, FL @ The Tampa Pitcher Show
4/21 - Charlotte, NC @ The Neighborhood Theater
4/22 – Richmond, VA @ The Byrd
4/24 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Hollywood Theater
4/26 – New York, NY @ Times Scare NYC
4/27 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Painted Bride
4/28 – South Hadley, MA @ The Tower Theater
4/29 – Boston, MA @ The Foxboro Theater
5/1 – Toronto, ON, Canada @ Toronto Underground Theater
5/2 – Toledo, OH @ Collingwood Arts Center
5/3 – Chicago, IL @ The Music Box Theater
5/4 – Des Moines, IA @ The Fluer Cinema Cafe
5/5 – Kansas City, KS @ Leawood Cinema Theater
5/6 – Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater
5/7 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Tower Theater
5/9 – Seattle, WA @ The Admiral Theater
5/10 – Portland, OR @ The Clinton St. Theater
5/11 – Sacramento, CA @ The Colonial Theaterw

New theaters are being booked so check your local listings!

Get your tickets here! For more dig on the official The Devil's Carnival website! Testify!

Good news coming out on Twitter for fans of The Collector. Co-writer Patrick Melton revealed that they’re in the final days of mixing the Marcus Dunstan-directed sequel The Collection.

Josh Stewart, Lee Tergesen, Christopher McDonald, Johnny Yong Bosch, Emma Fitzpatrick, Shannon Kane, Tim Griffin, William Peltz, Eaddy Mays, Michael Nardelli, Justin Mortelliti, Michael H. Cole, Arloa Reston and Courtney Lauren Cumming all star.

Synopsis
Arkin (Josh Stewart) escapes with his life from the vicious grips of “The Collector” during an entrapment party where he adds beautiful Elena to his “Collection.” Instead of recovering from the trauma, Arkin is suddenly abducted from the hospital by mercenaries hired by Elena’s wealthy father. Arkin is blackmailed to team up with the mercenaries and track down The Collector’s booby trapped hide out and save Elena from his sadistic rituals.

Word has hit our wire that director Darin Scott (Dark House, "Femme Fatales") is working on a new film that's getting ready to begin production in Baton Rouge on Monday. Dig it!

Details are on the scant side of the fence at the moment, but we can tell you that Scott will be making the film entitled American Horror House with Active Entertainment. Set to star are Alessandra Torresani (Playback , "American Horror Story," "Warehouse 13") and the forever gorgeous Morgan Fairchild (pictured; every TV show worth its salt).

We'll let you in on the whole enchilada as soon as we follow up. In other words ... look for more soon!