It’s no secret we’re big fans of the classics here at Dread Central, and few images are as iconic as that of Elsa Lanchester as The Bride of Frankenstein.  If you’re also a fan of the actress and this beloved character, then read on for the details of the “It’s Alive Project,” a Blacksparrow auction presented by Mucklebones LLC that celebrates Ms. Lanchester/The Bride by showcasing 80 life-size busts plus 9 life-size statues, each created by a different artist.

These incredible one-of-a-kind art pieces were crafted by some of the most talented and well-known artists in the entertainment, special effects, and monster-making industries. Each  piece was created by the artist in his or her own vision, style, and hand. You will be amazed and frightened by what can happen when these talented artists unleash their creative monsters on this unique and terrifying project. Check out a few samples below.

Bidding for the online-only auction will begin on Wednesday, June 3rd, and run until Saturday, June 27th. Proceeds will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and registration is available now by visiting BlacksparrowAuctions.com.

The post It’s Alive Project: A Tribute to Elsa Lanchester and Auction Kicks Off June 3rd appeared first on Dread Central.

One new project that’s hit our radar is the indie flick Wolf House, and we have all your details and more right here, minus the fleas that usually come with such furry affairs.

Matt Lord directs the found footage film from a script by Ken Cosentino and Elizabeth Houlihan. Marcus Ganci-Rotella, Rick Williams, Jessica Bell, Marc Sturdivant, Elizabeth Houlihan and Ken Cosentino star.

Synopsis:
In October 2010, six friends went on a camping trip in Hartland, NY. Footage uncovered from a video camera at the grisly scene shows the terrifying last moments of their lives. They returned home with an animal which they believed to be dead… an animal that could not be identified. Official police reports state the cause of deaths as “wolf attack”… it wasn’t wolves. Some of the victims were found mutilated while others are still missing. The entire ordeal was covered up and a search party was canceled after only 24 hours. Little media coverage paid any attention to what was called a “tragic animal attack,” but the truth is in these tapes. The tapes show the victims trapped in a house with monsters. Nobody has lived in the house since this event, and teenagers still dare each other to spend a night in the “Wolf House.”

The post Wolf House Opening its Doors appeared first on Dread Central.

We got a LOT of emails at Dread Central from filmmakers claiming, “This movie is going to be different” or “This movie is a game changer,” but when we heard from the folks behind Range 15, a post-appocolyptic zombie comedy that was put together by a group of US military and combat veterans, well, of course we had to check it out!

Producer Jarred Taylor told us, “[Range 15] will rival Super Troopers and Zombieland. Myself [from Article 15] and my colleagues at Ranger Up own the world’s two largest military lifestyle brands, and earlier this year we decided to join forces and make the military movie Hollywood would only screw up. We set a goal of $325K on Indiegogo and obtained that goal in just over 72 hours. We have since set a stretch goal to $500K and are sitting pretty with [a few weeks] left to go. As it sits we are the 6th most funded film on Indiegogo.”

That’s all well and good, but what about the talent assembled for the project?  The director is Ross Patterson (FDR: American Badass and Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves), and the script is by Patterson, Billy Jay, and Nick Palmisciano. The cast includes Taylor, Palmisciano, Marcus Luttrell (if their goal is met), Mat Best, Tim Kennedy, Jack Mandaville, Dakota Meyer, Evan Hafer, Tom Amenta, Vincent Vargas, and Leroy Petry.

Here are some additional details from the Range 15 Indiegogo campaign:

Welcome to the machine.

Range 15 was spawned from the veterans that make up Ranger Up and Article 15, the two largest military lifestyle brands on the planet.  For years, we’ve given you badass clothing and videos, but last October, while sitting in a bar and drinking an inappropriate amount of alcohol, we decided to join forces and make the greatest movie ever.  Then we sobered up and realized we didn’t really know how to make a movie.  Then we got drunk again and realized that God hates a coward. 

Knowing we needed a director good enough to make our vision a reality and crazy enough to read our script and not call the authorities, we broke into Ross Patterson’s house in the middle of the night and flashbanged his bedroom.  When the smoke cleared, he was in sitting in his smoking jacket wearing an eye patch, pipe in hand.  “I’ll make your movie,” he said.  “But first, you’ll have to dance for me.” We promised we’d never talk about what happened next.

We’re making the military movie you’ve always wanted someone to make: relentless ball busting, guns, explosions, hot chicks, booze, and more guns. We will not dramatically salute each other.  We will kill lots of shit, all while using our weapons correctly.  Again, there will be hot chicks.  Mat will probably sleep with all of them.  And I mean that both in the movie and in real life.  Seriously, that guy has a real problem. Tim Kennedy may or may not be oiled up in a loin cloth.

Bottom Line: The more we raise, the more badass your movie becomes.

1. Bigger explosions.
2. Crazy special effects.
3. Non-stop Act of Valor style knee slide shooting.
4. Forget about 3.  That’s not happening.
5. Hot chicks.
6. Even bigger explosions.
7. More badass celebrity cameos.
8. Viper semen.
9. Did we mention hot chicks?

Sound like something you want to see?  Then check out the Range 15 Indiegogo campaign, where you’ll find all sorts of cool perks and additional info.

The post First Details on Military Zombedy Range 15 appeared first on Dread Central.

It’s almost that time of year, budding filmmakers… film fest season!  Cinephiles around the world are marking their calendars for all the various events taking place this summer and fall; and one that just crossed our radar is the Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival, the only Flemish genre film festival, which just announced its call for entries.

RRFFF 2015 takes place from Thursday, November 5, to Tuesday, November 10, in the city center of Bruges, Belgium. Over those six days they will present a quality selection of the best national and international genre films (horror, fantasy, thrillers, action, comedies, animated films, and more) in a unique, intimate, and cozy atmosphere.  There will also be numerous special guests, lectures, and Q&A’s to enrich the visitors’ knowledge.

COMPETITIONS:

Young Blood Award
With “Young Blood,” the Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival offers a platform to starting filmmakers (first or second movie) and puts the spotlights on talented newcomers from the international genre film. The “Young Blood Award” rewards the best international starting filmmaker.

Méliès d’Argent
Adhering to the European Federation of Fantastic Film Festivals (EFFFF), the Méliès d’Argent shorts competition awards the best European fantastic short film (max. 25 minutes). With this competition, the Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival supports beginning and innovative European talented makers of short films and highlights the quality fantastic short film. The winner of the RRFFF nomination can compete, along with other European nomination winners, for the Méliès d’Or for best European fantastic short film.

Best of the Festival – Audience Awards
The audience is given a voice by voting on audience awards for best short film and best feature film.

The Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival is open to thrillers, drama, comedies, fantasy, horror, documentaries, and animated films as long as they are genre pieces. European short filmmakers are encouraged to send in their genre short film for the Méliès d’Argent.

Films must meet the following criteria in order to be Official Selections:

– The submitted film can’t be released on the Belgian sales and/or VOD market before November 11, 2015
– Only films that are produced within 12 months prior to the Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival are selected
– Only films that are spoken in English or Dutch and/or subtitled in English or Dutch are accepted
– Short films can’t last longer than 25 minutes, including credits
– Feature films need to last at least 60 minutes

For the pre-selection, films can be sent in on DVD, Blu-ray, or through an online screener link. Films can also be sent in through the online platforms Film Festival Life and Film Freeway. Search for “Razor Reel.” For more info visit the RRFFF 2015 website.

The post Belgium’s Razor Reel Flanders Film Festival Opens 2015 Call for Entries appeared first on Dread Central.

I don’t know what it is about this world… Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Slice, Haunter) once had a Swamp Thing film cooking, but it was never to be. Why can’t we have nice things?!? In any event Natali took to his Twitter account to share four pages.

The film was announced in 2010, but it never took off. According to SuperHeroHype:

“Natali’s script [was] almost a direct adaptation of writer Alan Moore’s first issue of his celebrated work on the character, with the descriptions nearly matching the cover and panels from “The Saga of the Swamp Thing” #20. The inclusion of General Sunderland further signifies the influence from the seminal arc on the script and the final page Natali posted seemingly leads into the events of Moore’s “The Anatomy Lesson,” an issue detailing the autopsy of the Swamp Thing which is often cited as among the best of Moore’s work with the character.”

The post Read 4 Pages From Vincenzo Natali’s Swamp Thing appeared first on Dread Central.

We’re not sure if someone at NBC can’t count or if there’s another video out there that will be coming our way soon, but in any event, here are Parts 3 and 4 of the network’s preview of “Hannibal’s” Season 3 return, Episode 3.01, “Antipasto.”

If Part 2 does show up, we’ll insert it and mark this story as “UPDATED” so keep your eyes open, Fannibals!

“Hannibal” returns for its third season on June 4th, starring Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter, Hugh Dancy as Will Graham, Caroline Dhavernas as Alana Bloom, Laurence Fishburne as Jack Crawford, Gillian Anderson as Bedelia Du Maurier, and Tao Okamoto as Chiyoh.

“Hannibal” Episode 3.01 – “Antipasto” (6/4/15; 10-11 PM)
HANNIBAL IS ON THE RUN – EDDIE IZZARD AND ZACHARY QUINTO GUEST STAR – Having successfully escaped FBI capture, Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving through the European landscape, with Bedelia Du Maurier (Gillian Anderson) in tow. But Dr. Lecter’s old habits and opulent tastes are still on display as he settles into a new identity and life in Florence, Italy, working at the Palazzo Capponi museum. Glimpses into the past help inform his relationship with Bedelia, a pairing not clearly defined as friend or foe. Tom Wisdom and Jeremy Crutchley also guest star.

For more info be sure to visit “Hannibal” on NBC.com, “like” “Hannibal” on Facebook, and follow “Hannibal” on Twitter.

The post More Previews Are Served for Hannibal Episode 3.01 – Antipasto appeared first on Dread Central.

On tap right now we have an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip to share from the home video edition of Monsters: Dark Continent (review). Look for it on Blu-ray and DVD on June 2nd from Anchor Bay Entertainment and RADiUS.

Helmed by first-time feature film director Tom Green, the film stars Johnny Harris (Snow White and the Huntsman, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus), Joe Dempsie (HBO’s “Game of Thrones”), Sofia Boutella (StreetDance 2, Kingsman: The Secret Service), and Sam Keeley (This Must Be the Place, What Richard Did). The film is executive produced by Gareth Edwards (upcoming: Star Wars Anthology: Rogue One), director of the original Monsters and 2014’s Godzilla.

Monsters: Dark Continent includes a behind-the-scenes featurette that will transport viewers to the set of the film.

Synopsis:
Taking place 10 years after the events of its predecessor, Monsters: Dark Continent is set against the backdrop of a world proliferated by “Infected Zones.” An insurgency of fearsome monsters lord over these regions and threaten humanity. The film follows four fresh army recruits as they embark on a life-altering mission in the Middle East, through the heart of monster territory to save a group of fellow soldiers.

The post Monsters: Dark Continent – Exclusive Home Video Clip appeared first on Dread Central.

As promised last month when we introduced you the new novel Beneath London, from steampunk pioneer James P. Blaylock and Titan Books, we have an exclusive excerpt to share.

Beneath London arrives June 9th courtesy of Titan, and if you’re not familiar with Blaylock, he and his contemporaries K.W. Jeter and Tim Powers are regarded ­as the founding fathers of the steampunk movement. Winner of two World Fantasy Awards and the Philip K. Dick Award, he currently directs the creative writing programs at Chapman University.

CLICK HERE to read our exclusive Beneath London excerpt, and pre-order your copy from the EvilShop below.

Synopsis:
When the sudden collapse of the Victoria Embankment uncovers a passage to an unknown realm beneath London, Langdon St. Ives sets out explore it, not knowing that a brilliant and wealthy psychopathic murderer is working to keep the underworld’s secrets hidden for reasons of his own. 

Assumed to be dead and buried deep beneath London, St. Ives lives secretly on the streets of the great city where he, Alice St. Ives, and their stalwart friends investigate a string of ghastly crimes: the gruesome death of a witch in a forest hovel; the kidnapping of a blind, psychic girl who can see into the human soul; and the grim horrors of a secret hospital where experiments in medical electricity and the development of human, vampiric fungi serve the strange, murderous ends of St. Ives’ greatest and most dangerous nemesis.

The post Exclusive Excerpt from James P. Blaylock’s Beneath London appeared first on Dread Central.

As if we weren’t looking forward to the upcoming 2015 Etheria Film Night already, we’ve just gotten the exclusive early word that guest directors Karen Gillan and Axelle Carolyn are going to kick off this year’s fest on June 13th with special viewings of their new short films!

Gillan’s directorial debut short, Coward, about two people who bond over the mutual experience of murder, stars Rose McIver (“iZombie”) and was produced by Mali Elfman and Mikey May. Gillan, you may recall, was a co-star of last year’s horror hit Oculus.

After presenting her first feature, Soulmate, last year, Etheria alumna Axelle Carolyn returns to introduce the North American premiere of Grim Grinning Ghost. Starring Alex Essoe (Starry Eyes), Lin Shaye (Insidious franchise), and Barbara Crampton, the short film tells the story of a woman who starts hearing mysterious footsteps behind her on her way home from a Halloween party.

Grim Grinning Ghost is part of horror anthology Tales of Halloween, which Carolyn also created and co-produced with Patrick Ewald and Shaked Berenson of Epic Pictures and Mike Mendez.  Besides Carolyn and Mendez, directors in the anthology include Neil Marshall, Darren Lynn Bousman, Lucky McKee, Paul Solet, and many others.  Tales of Halloween will be released in October 2015. Check out an exclusive still from Grim Grinning Ghost below.

Both shorts screen at 4:00 PM PT on Saturday, June 13th, before the horror feature Inner Demon by Ursula Dabrowsky. Gillan and Carolyn will both be in attendance to introduce their films.

Other special guests at Etheria 2015 include Jane Espenson (who will receive the 2015 Inspiration Award), Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”), Clare Kramer (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Emilie Ullerup (“Sanctuary”), Kyle Cassie (Deadpool), Juliet Landau (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”),  Rae Dawn Chong (Tales from the Darkside: The Movie), Caroline Williams (Tales of Halloween), Rena Riffel (Mulholland Drive), Richard Elfman (Forbidden Zone), Jeffrey Riddick (Final Destination), Amber Benson (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”), Emme Rylan (“General Hospital”), Megan Lee Joy (“Days of Our Lives”), Eugene Byrd (“True Blood”), David Blue (“SGU Stargate Universe”), Tiffany Shepis-Tretta (Sharknado 2), and more.

Tickets are available at this link: etheriafilmnight.com/tickets

About Etheria Film Night 2015:
Etheria Film Night 2015 is co-presented by the American Cinematheque and will take place at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on June 13, 2015. The evening will include a cocktail reception sponsored by Fangoria Magazine and Horrible Imaginings and a red carpet ceremony sponsored by Monstrosity Films and Birns & Sawyer. 2015 Etheria awards and screenings are sponsored by Digital Bolex, Rapid Heart Pictures, All Things Horror, and Darling Nikki’s.

2015 judges include Larry Fessenden (Glass Eye Pix), Rachel Talalay (“Dr. Who”), Patty West (AFI’s Directing Workshop for Women), Brea Grant (Best Friends Forever), Elle Schneider (Digital Bolex), Elizabeth Stanley (Trailers from Hell), John Skipp (Book of the Dead), Peter Block (A Bigger Boat Productions), Sultan Saeed Al Darmaki (Dark Dunes Productions), Neil Marshall “The Descent) Thuc Nguyen (BTCHFLCKS), Mick Garris (“Masters of Horror”), Ashlee Blackwell (graveyardshiftsisters.com), Elizabeth Kaiden (Tangerine Entertainment), Tasha Lowe-Newsome (WGA Committee of Women Writers & WoWga), Ryan Turek (Blumhouse Productions), Mynette Louie (Gamechanger Films), Brad Miska (V/H/S I & II), Jairo Alvarado (Circle of Confusion), Darin Scott (Tales from the Hood), Emily Silver (“Bones”, “Finding Carter”), Mark Alan Miller (Seraphim Films), Jessie Lilley Campbell (Mondo Cult Magazine), Eduardo Sanchez (The Blair Witch Project), and David DeCoteau (Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama).

The start times, screening schedule, and detailed information can be found on the Etheria Film Night website. Be sure to “like” the Etheria Film Night Facebook page.

The post Exclusive: Karen Gillan and Axelle Carolyn Debuting New Films at 2015 Etheria Film Night appeared first on Dread Central.

We should rename this The Buz Menagerie after our resident Jaws fanatic Mr. Wallick. The Telegraph tells us that they’ve found Jaws, where else, in Australia. It’s 16 feet of Great White Shark, weighing in at 3600 pounds. (So almost two tons.)

They named it “Joan of Shark” when it was detected by satellite coming close to one of the most popular beaches in southwest Australia, Ellen Cove. Thankfully, the folks at Ellen Cove were smarter than the doomed Amity residents and authorities closed the beach till the beast was caught.

The Great White Shark was the largest of its kind to be electronically tagged off the coast of Australia Photo: Australian Department of Fisheries

They captured the beast and put a more sophisticated tracking tag on it that’ll let us know where she is for at least a decade. That’s a good thing, as Roy Scheider may still have family out there somewhere.

The story says the monster was drawn to the area because she smelled a distressed humpback whale. I prefer to believe she smelled the entire Perth region and all of the two-legged snacks that insist on jumping in water shared by large bitey things like this critter.

I just can’t believe they let it go. Do they think they made friends with it? Tamed it in some way? They captured it on the way to a whale and swimmer buffet after shooting a tracking dart into her, then shoved a better tracker into her stomach. I’m guessing that now she’s done tracking whales and is ready to start a strict human and small boat diet.

If the Jaws films taught us nothing, it’s that we should never underestimate the grudge a shark can hold.

Have a weird story? Potential evidence of the supernatural, or at least something hard to explain? Spot any creepy critters out there roaming the wilds? LET ME KNOW! I’d love to talk about it and possibly write it up right here in the Gasp Menagerie. You’ll get appropriate credit, of course, and everyone else will get fresh creepy (as opposed to fresh Creepy, which, trust me… nobody wants that) to enjoy. As always, I can be found at mrdark@dreadcentral.com. Now get out there, find some weird, and let’s get this party started.

The post Jaws Discovered in Australia – The Gasp Menagerie appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Tom Sizemore, Judd Nelson, Nicholle Tom, Hal Ozsan

Directed by LazRael Lison

I’ll admit it. I’m a sucker for movies about writers. From Bogie in In a Lonely Place, Jack in The Shining, to Johnny Depp in Secret Window – give me a guy typing and dark things happening around him, and I am in.

At first, I was really dialed in to Private Number. We’re introduced to Michael Lane (Hal Ozsan – much easier on the eyes than his name implies), a blocked author who just can’t seem to find a way into the follow-up to his bestselling fantasy novel, Knight Fire. Even after a figment of his main character pays him a few visits full of pep-talks – and a not-so-helpful bottle of booze – the alcoholic author just can’t hold it together.

Add to that his whiny wife, Katherine (Nicholle Tom, best known from her years as a child actor), who wants a baby (like, now), an a-hole neighbor, and prank rings in the middle of the night from an unknown caller; and let’s just say Michael is at the very end of his very frayed rope.

Then things started to go haywire… for me, the viewer, and for Private Number, the movie. In spite of its tight beginning and good setup, a little less than halfway through it begins to crack. Then it crumbles. By the end it’s just a big mess. But at least it does pay off. It’s a good idea buried in a bad script. It’s well acted and beautifully shot, but it’s poorly directed and edited even worse. A good 20 minutes could have ended up excised, and Private Number would have been much better off. As it is, it’s an awkwardly cobbled together mishmash of mystery, suspense, drama, fantasy, and horror.

When it comes to the horror bits (which I know is what you’re interested in, Dread Centralites), they are pretty good. Yes, there are the obligatory jump scares, but they’re well done. And speaking of well done, there’s the ghost of a burn victim that’s pretty dang creepy. As Michael’s sanity starts to slip, more and more phantoms materialize. They’ve all died horribly, but in different ways. He begins to realize that they are all connected by one thing: a serial killer.

He calls the cops for help, but Sheriff Garrett Stance (Judd Nelson) is not very interested in solving the case. Hmmm… why would that be? When Michael turns to his morose AA sponsor (Tom Sizemore), he gets a little more sympathy but no assistance in figuring out why these murder victims keep calling long distance.

Private Number is a decent time waster if you have nothing better to do – or if you need a break from your own writer’s block. But if you do have something better to do – or better to write – then by all means, get to that instead.

The post Private Number (DVD) appeared first on Dread Central.

Exclusive time, kids! On tap right now is a clip from the sci-fi/horror hybrid Debug, which is heading to DVD on June 9, 2015, from Ketchup Entertainment. Dig it!

Debug is directed by David Hewlett (Cube) and stars Jason Momoa, Jeananne Goossen, Adrian Holmes, and Adam Butcher.

Synopsis:
In this tale of deep space cyberhorror, six young computer hackers are sent to work on a derelict space freighter as a part of a work release program. They quickly fall prey to the ship’s vengeful artificial intelligence, a program that would kill to be human. They are helpless to defend themselves as it silently roots out their deepest desires to use against them in the most imaginative and horrific ways. It takes a very determined and brilliant hacker, Kaida, to battle this malevolent entity and send it back to cyber hell.

The post Debug Clip Goes Rogue appeared first on Dread Central.

The good folks over at WTFLOL are at it again, this time bringing Jason into the live action world of Mortal Kombat fan film style as he faces off against everyone’s favorite flame-spewing ninja, Scorpion.

In the short Scorpion (aka Hanzo Hasashi) faces off against Jason Voorhees in this live action spoof of MKX, the latest Mortal Kombat installment.

Brian Rosenthal wrote and directed the short with Derek Russo starring as Jason and Xavier Rodriguez starring as Scorpion. Also featured are Edward Vazquez and Eric Vilaire.

WTFLOL previously brought us the equally as badass Sarah Connor vs. Jason and Nightmare on Vape Street. Somebody give these guys a budget and let them start making movies already… speaking of which, the gang have a film project over on IndieGoGo that you should check out!

For more info “like” WTFLOL on Facebook!

The post Badass Scorpion vs. Jason Live Action Short! appeared first on Dread Central.

One of the best films we’ve seen so far this year is Ted Geoghegan’s directorial debut, We Are Still Here (review), and today its official trailer has arrived.

Hot on the heels of a hugely successful festival run, Dark Sky Films is giving We Are Still Here, which features a dream cast of genre film veterans, a theatrical and VOD release on June 5, 2015.  This is one you definitely don’t want to miss!

Synopsis:
After the death of their college age son, Anne and Paul Sacchetti (Barbara Crampton and Andrew Sensenig) relocate to the snowswept New England hamlet of Aylesbury, a sleepy village where all is most certainly not as it seems. When strange sounds and eerie feelings convince Anne that her son’s spirit is still with them, they invite an eccentric, New Age couple (Larry Fessenden and Lisa Marie) to help them get to the bottom of the mystery.

They discover that not only are the house’s first residents, the vengeful Dagmar family, still there – but so is an ancient power. A primal darkness slumbers under the old home, waking up every thirty years and demanding the fresh blood of a new family.

An altogether new take on the haunted house genre that deftly mixes human drama and comedy, WE ARE STILL HERE is a couple’s terrifying journey through darkness and loss set against the freezing New England winter.

The post Official Trailer Debut for Ted Geoghegan’s We Are Still Here appeared first on Dread Central.

Okay, the headline is a little misleading. The name of the flick in the fake trailer embedded below isn’t Dawn of the Planet of the Zombies and the Giant Killer Plants, it’s actually Dawn of the Planet of the Zombies and the Giant Killer Plants on Some Serious Acid (officially Dawn of the… Stuff for short). The film doesn’t exist, but that doesn’t mean we can’t cross our fingers tight and pray to the movie Gods to drop this in our laps. I would honestly watch it in a heartbeat.

According to Film School Rejects, the concept is the brainchild of Norwegian filmmaker Alf Lovvold, the co-founder of Oslo called Gimpville. The effects company has tackled a number of Norwegian motion pictures, including writer/director André Øvredal’s Trollhunter. Judging from the faux trailer for Dawn of the Planet of the Zombies, Lovvold has a few tricks of his own.

But enough chit-chat. Have a look at Dawn of the Planet of the Zombies and the Giant Killer Plants and hope that this thing finds its way to the big screen sometime soon.

The post Dawn of the Planet of the Zombies and the Giant Killer Plants Doesn’t Exist, But it Needs to Happen appeared first on Dread Central.

Word of a new film that just kicked off production in Rochester, New York, has landed in our inbox, and with a plot that involves skeletons in the closet of a tight-knit family, of course we had to share the news about Time Wounds All.  We know how much you guys love skeletons!

From the Press Release:
Production is announced by MM Mayhem Films for the new horror/psychological thriller feature film Time Wounds All. From the mind of Nicholas Boise (A Fight For Survival, Awake in the Woods) and the ink of Jessi Boise comes one of the most mind-bending tales to ever take the screen. Led by award-winning actor Keith Collins (The Meat Puppet, Clean Cut), who is set to captivate and confuse you as you try to figure out the secrets hidden within the darkest depths of our minds, Time Wounds All will keep you guessing until the end.

Along with Collins, the film stars Elana Mugdan (Let’s Make a Movie, Letters to Quentin) and Francesca DiPaola (Lifetime’s “The Sisterhood”).  It’s produced by Collins and Nicholas Boise, directed by Boise, and written by Boise and Jessi Boise.

For more info visit Time Wounds All on Facebook.

Synopsis:
Inside every family there are secrets… some good and some so dark that every member must work to keep it. Elizabeth and Eddie Williams live on their childhood farm with their brother Evan. When a forgotten skeleton escapes its closet and threatens their perfect life, someone must take charge! What is this family hiding? And who are they hiding it from?

In the end one question is left unanswered… Is it fear that makes you guilty, or is it that you fear you’re already guilty?

The post First Details on New Horror/Thriller Time Wounds All appeared first on Dread Central.

It’s good to know that the people of Japan don’t hold a grudge. After decades of stomping across Tokyo, Godzilla is officially a resident of the Shinjuku ward. Is it a coincidence that the announcement was made around the same time the Toho Cinemas Kabukicho/Hotel Gracery Shinjuku entertainment complex opened for business and ahead of the Japanese reboot? Probably not.

RocketNews24 explains that in addition to officially declaring Godzilla a resident of Tokyo, the government issued an official document stating as such. In fact, quite a few people have stopped by the Shinjuku ward office to pick up a copy. Fortunately for those of us who live thousands of miles away, some photos of the document have recently popped up on Twitter.

There are currently only 3,000 copies available to the public, so if you live in the area, grab ’em while you can. Given Godzilla’s enduring popularity, chances are they won’t last long.

ゴジラの住民票もらってきたー！3000枚限定だって！ pic.twitter.com/Q8gFC35rXg

— ほりゆーこ@酔っこら処 (@dybastar) May 29, 2015

Is your Japanese a little rusty? Here’s what the document says. Thanks, RocketNews24!

Name: Godzilla

Address: Shinjuku-ku, Kabuki-cho, 1-19-1

Date of birth: April 9, 1954 [the year of the release of the very first Godzilla film]

Date of becoming a Shinjuku resident: April 9, 2015

Reason for special residency: Promoting the entertainment of and watching over the Kabuki-cho neighborhood and drawing visitors from around the globe in the form of the Godzilla head built atop the Shinjuku Toho Building.

Previous visits to Shinjuku Ward: 3 times; Godzilla (1984), Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991), Godzilla 2000 Millennium (1999)

After making Godzilla an official cultural ambassador, which includes an enormous Godzilla bust at Toho HQ, Shinjuki mayor Kenichi Yoshizumi declared that the cinematic monster is the “pride of Japan.” Sadly, Godzilla hasn’t appeared in a Japanese production since director Ryuhei Kitamura’s 2004 Godzilla: Final Wars. However, Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi’s reboot is expected to hit theaters next year. Check out the teaser image for Godzilla 2016 below.

The post Godzilla is Officially a Resident of Tokyo appeared first on Dread Central.

This made the international news rounds recently, but there’s no way I wasn’t going to add it to the Menagerie. What we have here is a newly discovered wasp called the Ampulex Dementor. Yes, the behavior of this creature inspired the discoverer to name it after the soul-sucking, happiness-draining ghostly villains of the Harry Potter stories.

Is there ANY way that ends in happiness?

Spoiler: Nope.

These may not be big wasps (about 1/3 of an inch) but they’re ugly and what they do is horrific. Their prey is cockroaches. With one sting they destroy the free will of the roach. It will stop trying to escape and become lethargic, compliant. The wasp then leads the much-larger roach back to its lair and eats it alive.

I think calling this thing a dementor is a slam on Potter’s dementors.

And now there’s nothing to do but wait for the inevitable Syfy film based on oversized versions of these turning attractive 25-year-old teenagers into zombies.

Have a weird story? Potential evidence of the supernatural, or at least something hard to explain? Spot any creepy critters out there roaming the wilds? LET ME KNOW! I’d love to talk about it and possibly write it up right here in the Gasp Menagerie. You’ll get appropriate credit, of course, and everyone else will get fresh creepy (as opposed to fresh Creepy, which, trust me… nobody wants that) to enjoy. As always, I can be found at mrdark@dreadcentral.com. Now get out there, find some weird, and let’s get this party started.

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Featuring the voices of Mia Farrow, Jeff Bridges, Alan Arkin, Angela Lansbury

Directed by Jules Bass, Arthur Rankin Jr.

Distributed by The Shout! Factory

Chances are good that no matter what your age, there were a few titles you watched so many times as a kid they are beyond reproach in terms of an objective review. Even a movie you know is garbage to uninitiated adults can be sacred, untouchable. I know I’ve got a few on my list (*cough* Masters of the Universe(1987) *cough*), but one that has managed to withstand the test of removing my rose-tinted childhood viewing glasses is The Last Unicorn (1982). Based on the novel by fantasy writer Peter S. Beagle, the film was produced and directed by the animation power duo of Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Jules Bass, and retains the signature look emblematic of their productions. This is because Topcraft, the Japanese animation studio, hand-drew all of them. As a result the film has a graceful artistic aesthetic, which isn’t a surprise given many of the animators went on to found Studio Ghibli. And the voice cast is second to none, featuring a number of screen legends and highly respected actors.

Now, over thirty years and a couple Blu-ray editions later, Shout! Factory has seen fit to release its own edition into the wild. This new release omits most previous bonus features, adds in a few new ones, but most concerning is the video quality, which sees a drastic dip in quality. More on that later…

Deep in the enchanted forest, a unicorn (Mia Farrow) learns she is the last of her kind after hearing the conversation of a couple passing hunters. Apparently unicorns don’t keep in touch very often because it’s been years since the last one was spotted and she had no clue. Concerned, she heads out of the forest in search of her brethren. A manipulative witch, Mommy Fortuna (Angela Landsbury), comes across the sleeping unicorn one night and places her under a spell before putting her in a cage, intended to be the latest in a string of illusory attractions. Thanks to the witch’s spells, people see an old toothless lion as a manticore, or a simple snake as a giant serpent. Because only the pure of heart can see a unicorn (they look like pretty horses otherwise), Mommy Fortuna doesn’t know her true identity, and ironically enough she presents her as a unicorn. The only other “pure” creature in Mommy’s stable is a harpy, a most dangerous and immortal creature. Schmendrick (Alan Arkin) is a fledgling magician in Mommy’s employ who finally has had enough of her cruel ways. He frees the unicorn, who then frees the other animals – including the harpy – to Mommy’s misfortune.

Schmendrick and the unicorn leave together, eventually coming across a campsite where they meet Molly Grue (Tammy Grimes), who joins them on the quest. The unicorn learns of the Red Bull, an animal kept by King Haggard (Christopher Lee), which he used to round up and imprison all of the unicorns. On their way to Haggard’s castle the Red Bull appears and attacks, but some quick thinking (and magic) on Schmendrick’s part turns the unicorn into a human female, causing the Red Bull to lose interest. Upon arriving at the castle Haggard is cold to his new guests, but he allows them to stay. There are few occupants, among them Prince Lir (Jeff Bridges), who takes a liking to the unicorn-woman, whom Schmendrick introduces as his niece, Amalthea. As Schmendrick and Molly search for the Red Bull’s lair, Amalthea and Lir begin a romance that causes her to forget the nature of her quest. Eventually, though, the lair is located, at which point Amalthea returns to her unicorn form and faces off against the Red Bull in a final battle by the sea.

First off, get any notion that this is a “girl movie” because it features a unicorn right out of your head. I’ve heard that charge lobbed around more than once and it simply holds no water. This is a fantastic fantasy film filled with dark moments, clearly defined characters and motivations, and top notch animation. The opening credits, in particular, freeze frame into gorgeous classic-style works of art. The unicorn is drawn elegantly, with just the right touch of beauty. My favorite character was always the Red Bull, and he’s imposing and menacing with those eternal red flames and fanged, roaring mouth. The film is replete with creatures of the forest – some real, some fictional – and the whole environment feels like an organic, cohesive universe. The humans are also convincingly realized with distinct looks.

The story is strong enough to hook in viewers, but the voice acting really brings it up to a new level. The cast is astounding: Christopher Lee, Angela Landsbury, Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, Paul Frees, Keenan Wynn, Rene Auberjonois, Alan Arkin. That is an incredible showing of star power. And Bridges even does a couple songs! One of which is a duet with Farrow. The only shame is no one asked Lee to belt out a tune, although judging by his recently released albums the music likely wasn’t metal enough.

Speaking of the music, composer Jimmy Webb delivers a solid score, but the real star is America’s rendition of the title song (which, to be fair, was written by Webb), which has been stuck in my head for around 25 years. “The Last Unicorn” is a folky ballad that’s not only a catchy composition, but it also serves as an introduction to the world viewers are about to enter. Good stuff.

Beagle has been trying to get a live-action adaptation of The Last Unicorn off the ground for a long, long time now. At one point both Lee and Landsbury expressed interest in reprising their roles – which they could still do – though it’s unlikely given they’re both very old. Lee just hit 93! If they could find the right director for such a project (not Peter Jackson; this doesn’t need to be a trilogy) there’s a very good chance it could be something special. If it never happens, though, that’s just fine because this animated version has remained a classic for over thirty years and I can’t see any reason why that legacy wouldn’t continue to endure.

This marks the fourth home video disc release of The Last Unicorn. First was a full frame DVD, followed by a proper widescreen DVD, then a Blu-ray edition in 2011 and now, this 1.85:1 1080p Blu-ray from Shout!. Unfortunately, the image has regressed in terms of quality and clarity. Whereas the 2011 release from Lionsgate retained a filmic appearance, this new edition is riddled with DNR, giving the picture a smooth, “clean”, smeared appearance. Fine details and line work have been scrubbed away to make the picture look cleaner, more vibrant. Grain is poorly resolved, looking more like a static field than a natural part of the image. This is similar to what Disney has been doing to many of its classic titles. Rather than present a restored image some studios are opting to strip away grain and detail so these older titles look closer to new digital imagery. It’s a foolish choice. This transfer was taken from, I believe, a German master that Beagle & co. have been touring the world using. Shout! may not be at fault for dropping the ball here, though in the end the product is still theirs and it’s troubling no one thought the image would be viewed as anything but compromised. On the flip side, colors do look vibrant and generously saturated. The opening in the enchanted forest features a kaleidoscope of hues that leap off the screen. Contrast holds stable and black levels are spot-on, too.

Thankfully, there isn’t much to complain about regarding the film’s English DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound track. There’s a nice depth to the track, with sounds of the forest layered densely among the score and dialogue. Rears are used effectively to bolster the soundtrack at the right moments. If I’m not mistaken, when Prince Lir is fighting the dragon, Godzilla’s roar can be faintly heard. Fans will also be happy to hear the audio is uncensored, with every “damn” left intact. There is also an English DTS-HD MA 2.0 stereo track. Subtitles are available in English.

There’s an all-new audio commentary on this disc, this one featuring author Peter S. Beagle, associate producer Michael Chase Walker, Connor Cochran, Terri Kempton, and Travis Ashmore. Despite the wealth of participants no one person is fighting for talk time, plus since Beagle is the one with most of the information he does most of the talking. This is an easy, relaxed track and it’s great to hear recollections now that the film has aged so well.

“True Magic: The Story of The Last Unicorn” is an in-depth piece that starts off with Beagle recounting how he came up with the story idea, its evolution, and eventually his completion of the project. Then, once studios got interested the film went down a number of potential avenues before resting at Rankin & Bass… which is exactly where Beagle didn’t want it! All bases are covered in this solid piece.

“Highlights from The Last Unicorn Worldwide Screening Tour with Peter S. Beagle”. After explaining the tour’s genesis, success and showing off the long lines to attend one of the events, there’s a nice Q&A session with Beagle before one of the screenings begins.

Animated storyboards and the film’s trailer finish off the extra features. Also included is a DVD copy of the feature, along with a digital copy code for redemption.

Special Features:

• NEW audio commentary with author Peter S. Beagle, associate producer Michael Chase Walker, Connor Cochran, Terri Kempton, and Travis Ashmore
• True Magic: The Story of The Last Unicorn
• Highlights from The Last Unicorn Worldwide Screening Tour with Peter S. Beagle
• Animated storyboards
• Original trailer

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Starring Tarah DeSpain, Robyn Ross, Christin Easterling

Directed by Damian Lahey

We’ve all been stuck behind one on the roadway – hell, some of us even might know one, and possibly there is a chance that one of you reading this review could potentially be one: the uber-concentrated, strategically-planned out, minivan coursing soccer mom. Those one-off Stepford Wives who manages the entire collective actions of her family while behind the wheel of her parental transport unit, almost oblivious to everything around them…but what if someone MADE them sit up and take notice?

Damian Lahey manages to cram into 8 minutes what some of us have been wondering (okay, maybe just me) – how would one of these blueprint-following maternal figures handle a dire situation such as waking up in a dingy basement, tied to a chair, with no recollection of how they got there, all the while under the close watch of a homicidal lunatic? Like I stated, it could be me, but the premise certainly does make one ponder such a situation, and Tarah DeSpain does her best as Jessica, the soccer mom in question – she ponders, she questions…and she annoys her captor. In an entirely single-shot take, DeSpain runs through an entertaining bit of dialogue that has bits and pieces of mild humor installed, so you don’t get too overwhelmed with the direness of her predicament – let’s face it, we all know what’s coming, so we might as well sit back and enjoy it.

While I’m not the largest endorser of the horror/comedy blend, Soccer Moms In Peril, does have a few funny moments, and while the title might seem a little risqué, don’t sweat it too much – simply enjoy the fact that someone decided to add the suburban progenitor to the ever-growing list of hopeless victims for the masses to watch struggle for their lives… or at least to bide a little time before the kids need to get dropped off for soccer practice.

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