It’s always fun when Scream Factory unleashes double feature Blu-rays, as they bring two films into our collections for the price of one. Respectively released in 1982 and 1984, samurai flicks The House Where Evil Dwells and Ghost Warrior are on tap next, and we’ve got details today.

These two martial arts-themed thrillers from the ’80s will be available for the first time on Blu-ray on January 5, 2016, in a release including a new high-definition transfer for The House Where Evil Dwells. Check out the art below, along with plot crunches for both films!

THE HOUSE WHERE EVIL DWELLS:
A century ago, a samurai brutally murdered his adulterous wife and her lover before taking his own life. Now, the Fletcher family has found what they think is their perfect Japanese home – not knowing it’s the same house where the murders occurred. But as strange events escalate and the ghosts of the dead toy with the living, the Fletchers discover they’ve become unwitting players in a horrible reenactment… one which they may not survive! This chilling ghost story stars Edward Albert (Galaxy of Terror), Susan George (Straw Dogs), and Doug McClure (Humanoids from the Deep) and is directed by Kevin Connor (Motel Hell).

GHOST WARRIOR (AKA SWORDKILL):
Frozen in ice for over 300 years, a deadly samurai warrior… lives again! While exploring a cave, two skiers find the body of a 400-year-old samurai warrior entombed in ice. He is brought to the United States in a hush-hush operation and revived through cryosurgery. Unfortunately, he is then forced to battle for his freedom, dignity, and life. This Charles Band production stars Janet Julian (King of New York, Humongous).

The post The House Where Evil Dwells and Ghost Warrior Head to Scream Factory Blu-ray appeared first on Dread Central.

Playing Devils Share, I knew the game felt like an unforgivably cheap cash-in. As I stated before, it is often hard to tell between a scam and a genuinely amateur project that just lacked the skills or funding to come out better. Rarely do I find a Steam review that both elucidates and educates, but the prefect words explaining this mess were right at the top. Courtesy user “Rushcaliber”:

“assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/20736, assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/2943, assetstore.unity3d.com/en/#!/content/39110. This is literally the game. And for people to defend this crap?”

Well put, Mr. Caliber.  In this case, we have evidence that this game was created with $120 of assets and not a single good natured fuck. This game is a fucking sham, and should not be on steam.

If you think the demon looks confused, it’s because he’s not even in the game.

Well Ted, tell us how you really feel! Sometimes, I have to be a bit bashful about hatefucking a game with words, giving the occasional reach-around to let the devs know that I still care about them and know they are trying their best. This is not one of those cases. I have no qualms about saying that this game is at best absolutely shit. It is almost impossible to conceive that anyone would have a contrary opinion that wasn’t held ironically.

You’re probably wondering what this game did to deserve such derision, aside from being a soulless and shameless attempt to make money off of a shockingly low price tag. Honestly, I really don’t care too much about stock assets or overall low production values. As long as a game is good, who gives a shit about all that other stuff? If you could not tell by my tone, Devils Share fails in this regard as well. The game is, without a doubt, one of the biggest piles of trash I have ever played. Calling this a game is generous, and perhaps even an abuse of the word.

Booting up the game with the all too familiar Unity settings prompt (sure to be known as our generation’s “custom map settings” screen), you are given the choice between regular and “silly” mode. We can go over the silly mode later; the game does not need the damnation of silly mode to drive home that it is shit, but I’ll be damned if I don’t let it keep digging its own grave. Spawning next to a dimly lit gas station, a MMO style objective tracker pops up in the top left and tells you to explore said adjacent gas station. Inside, you find a flashlight, which then prompts you to investigate the diner. In the diner, you find some keys, and are told to go investigate the fuel tanks. At the fuel tank, you find a pistol. If you want to take a wild guess at what the next dozen objectives look like, I bet you’d land pretty close to the mark.

Spoiler Alert: If you guessed, “find keys,” you’ve spoiled 90% of the game.

From the start, you will notice conspicuously red glowing ghoulish figures dotting the town, waiting for you to come into range to spring to life and shamble towards you. You don’t have to face this fearsome foe until you pick up the pistol, but fear not, your pinpoint accuracy and their single hitpoint life total makes you a force to be reckoned with. Beware, this foe has a secret weapon: infinite respawns with no logic as to when they will reappear in their designated waiting points. The only times you will die in this game happen when you do not realize you have reached one of those weird aggro/respawn zones, where the enemies behind you will simultaneously trigger to respawn and attack you at the same time. Truly, no horror is as intense as absurdly poor programming.

Phew, good thing they made them florescent red! Would hate to be surprised in my horror game!

Aside from the objectives, there’s nothing to see in the various extra buildings. You can fully explore all of them (that is if the models allow you to pass through the doorways and not get stuck in the environment), but aside from maybe an extra pistol clip now and then, you won’t find anything useful in the impossible to target properly shelves and drawers. Knowing this makes the experience infinitely more tolerable, allowing you to run through the game much more quickly and uninstall it those extra precious seconds faster.

So you run from objective to objective, taking time once in a while to slow down and shoot a glowstick zombie. You collect a shotgun and assault rifle in addition to the pistol, which confuses me, since they all kill with a single shot. After completing all the fetch-quests, you are sent to a house at the top of a hill, where you patiently wait for the assets to spawn before shooting the devil in the face. Credits role. Game over.

After a good 45 seconds of waiting in the final room, it goes from this…

…to HOLY SHIT, THE FUCK IS THAT!

I’d really love this review to be page after page of brutal dismemberment, picking apart every aspect of the game while making snarky parallels between the design to the ineptitude of our elected officials or hideousness to a particularly uncomely vulture. Unfortunately, I have already done that. There is so little to this game that I am left without more voluminous criticism. The game is a scant 15 minutes of complete incompetence, deplorable on every level and without redeeming factors to pad my narrative.

“And the explosion was super badass, with like tons of fire and stuff! We promise, it was so cool!”

If you didn’t hate this game enough yet by my description, let me aid your loathe with this actual description of the game’s “silly mode”. “New silly mode has been added. Silly mode introduces farts, burps, cow grenades, pistols that shoot chickens, shotguns that shoot goats, and assault rifles that shoot pigs. Have fun!” It’s the little “Have fun!” at the end that rustles my jimmies. You gave so little of a fuck about your tacked on “comedic” mode, that you couldn’t even think of a comedic way to describe it. So you give us the little ol’ bum slap given to those unfortunate Romans whose destiny it was to be lion bait before shoving us into the arena. “Have fun! Hope you avoid a gruesome lioney end! No refunds!”

The comedy equivalent of Pappa John’s: Technically pizza, but no one is smiling.

The game gives so little of a fuck, it doesn’t even add the apostrophe in “Devil’s”. It thinks you are so simple, that the entire backstory is only told to you on the Steam product page. It is such an effortless pile of shit, that every asset can be traced back to an easily purchasable general store. It is such an affront against God, that the actual launcher calls the game “Devils Cut” instead of “Devils Share”. How did you give so little of a shit that you didn’t even get the name right?

Do the world a favor. Don’t buy this game. Don’t spend the dollar on this indisputable piece of trash. Do not give the developer any money. Do not tell your friends about it. Don’t post on Facebook how much this game sucked. Do not write a Steam review. Honestly, I shouldn’t be writing this review. The slight amount of sales this will bring are a single dollar too many with each purchase. This game is an atrocity. It should not be played by anyone but YouTube clickbait scum who thrive off of shit to appease the slapping seal claps of their juvenile audiences.

As a reminder, Bottom of the Bargain Bin titles are rated in negative scores.

The post Bottom of the Bargain Bin: Devil’s Share appeared first on Dread Central.

The zombie flick JeruZalem (review) has been acquired by Epic Pictures, and to celebrate their latest get, a new trailer has shambled our way! Dig it!

From the Press Release:
Epic Pictures Releasing will release the acclaimed award-winning Israeli horror film JeruZalem on January 22, 2016. The announcement was made today by Epic Pictures Group CEO Patrick Ewald and Co-Founder Shaked Berenson, who also financed the film, which was shot on location in Israel. The film world premiered at the 2015 Fantasia International Film Festival and, among other awards, was recognized with the Audience Award and Best Editing Award at the 2015 Jerusalem Film Festival.

A unique, point-of-view style horror film directed by Doron and Yoav Paz, JeruZalem follows Rachel (played by “Jane the Virgin” star Yael Grobglas), and her friend Sarah (Danielle Jadelyn), two American girls on vacation in Jerusalem. The two follow Kevin (Yon Tumarkin), a mysterious and handsome anthropology student, into the heart of the Old City. The party is cut short when a biblical prophecy comes to pass on the night of Yom Kippur and Jerusalem’s gate to hell is opened, releasing an epic apocalypse. Trapped between the ancient walls of the holy city, the trio must survive long enough to find a way out as the fury of hell is unleashed upon them.

Shooting on location amongst the monuments of Jerusalem’s Old City, The Paz Brothers directed the film utilizing a custom-made camera mount to capture some of the holy’s city’s ancient architecture, religious landmarks, and historical sites. The film features extensive point-of-view footage, shown from the perspective of Sarah’s Google Glass-type smart eyewear, as she uses the glasses’ GPS, facial recognition, and other apps to navigate the city and identify potentially threatening strangers.

“The Paz Brothers’ first feature, Phobidilia, premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and was the Israeli film that ignited the genre wave from that country. With their second feature, JeruZalem, they have created a remarkable, cinematic film that demands to be seen in theaters,” commented Epic Pictures CEO Patrick Ewald. “We’re thrilled to bring the film to audiences across the country.”

Epic Pictures Co-Founder Shaked Berenson added, “With remarkable access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Via Dolorosa, the Western Wall, and other ancient, religious monuments typically prohibited to filmmakers, JeruZalem brings to the big screen never-seen-before sites and explores the not-so-typical underbelly of the old city.”

JeruZalem is produced by Doron and Yoav Paz and executive producers Shaked Berenson and Patrick Ewald of Epic Pictures. Co-producers are Rotem Levin, Nir Miretzky, Boris Zeleny, and Uri Levanon.

The post Epic Heads to JeruZalem; Releases New Trailer appeared first on Dread Central.

Thanksgiving is upon us, friends. Ahhh, that time of year when you’re inundated with ruthless travel, awkward conversations with your parents, and the realization that you’re drinking your father’s Scotch only to forget just how much like your family you really are.

If you’re looking for a Queen of Blood release on Blu-ray this week, it looks like you’re out of luck. Amazon has a random version slated for release this week, but it seems more likely to have a legitimate release next week. Check back here for updates.

One of my favorites is getting a Blu-ray release this week. Fred Astaire’s last film, Ghost Story, will hit shelves this week in hi-def. What I’ve always liked best about this movie is that it feels as though it was produced much earlier than its actual 1981 release.

Check out below for the entire rundown. As always, pleasant viewing… and enjoy your turkey.

MOVIES

Apocalypse Female Warriors (2015)

Starring:

Brian Anthony, Brian Arrington, Gary Barickman

Synopsis:

After WWIII has devastated America, a fierce band of female warriors attempt to survive long enough to make it to the last habitable place on Earth. But little do they know that dictator Rollins doesn’t want her city overpopulating and has assembled a team of brutal mercenaries to hunt and eliminate any “survivors” in the wastelands. The female warriors, along with the help of a mysterious man hell-bent on avenging the death of his family, fight their way to the city walls combating mutated scavengers, wasteland renegades, and the city’s own mercenaries along the way.

Purchase:

Applesauce (2014)

Starring:

Dylan Baker, Max Casella, Onur Tukel

Synopsis:

Every Tuesday night, radio talk show host Stevie Bricks invites his listeners to call in and share their stories. And tonight, Ron Welz (writer/director Onur Tukel) is ready to share his. But soon after he confesses on the air, Ron finds a severed foot in his laundry… then a cut off finger in his mail… then worse. His life begins to unravel and his marriage begins to fall apart. Someone is tormenting him. Is it his insolent high school student? Is it his best friend? His wife? In a city like New York, there are eight million suspects and each one could have a bone to pick with someone like Ron.

Take dark comedy, mix it with noir, add a dash of horror and stir in some melodrama, and you have the recipe for one of the most original and unusual movies of the year.

Purchase:

The Badger Game (2014)

Starring:

Augie Duke, Patrick Cronen, Jillian Leigh, Sam Boxleitner, Sasha Higgins

Synopsis:

It’s the twisted indie hit that’s been hailed as fun (Ain’t It Cool), intense (Horror News) and excellent all around (Indyred): When a young woman discovers that her wealthy boyfriend is married, she and three friends hatch a kidnapping-and-extortion scheme known in criminal circles as a badger game to teach him a lesson and score an easy $2 million. But they’ll soon learn certain games can quickly spin out of control…and that one seemingly perfect crime is about to go horribly wrong.

Purchase:

Blood And Lace (1971)

Starring:

Milton Selzer, Melody Patterson

Synopsis:

An orphanage operator catches her runaways and freezes them for display to a head-counting social worker.

Purchase:

Body Parts (1991)

Starring:

Jeff Fahey, Kim Delaney

Synopsis:

A psychologist loses his arm in an accident and gets another one grafted on, from a serial killer.

Purchase:

A Christmas Horror Story (2015)

Starring:

George Buza, William Shatner

Synopsis:

It’s the season of joy, peace, and goodwill… unless you live in Bailey Downs. Last Christmas Eve, two teens came to a grisly end in a school basement. Now, one year later, a new set of horrors has come to town. As three friends explore the site of the massacre, a malevolent spirit is determined to keep them there forever. One of the first cops to the scene of the bloody murders has new complications as his seven-year-old son exhibits terrifying and violent behavior. And when a local family seeks reconciliation with an estranged aunt for the wrong reasons, they suddenly find themselves running in terror from Krampus, the demonic anti-Santa Claus. Not even St. Nick is immune to the terror as he fights back against a horde of zombie elves. This is destined to be a holiday no one will ever forget….

Purchase:

Forgive Me (2015)

Starring:

Jordana Leigh, Kathy Rice, Taylor Trash

Synopsis:

A deviant rampages through a city, victimizing women after he discovers how easy it is to gain their trust. Lessons will be learned.

Purchase:

Ghost Story (1981)

Starring:

Fred Astaire, Melvyn Douglas, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr, John Houseman

Synopsis:

Elderly men telling ghost stories are haunted by a girl they accidentally drowned 50 years before.

Purchase:

Half Breed: Rise Of The Nephilim (2015)

Starring:

Diamond Troy Justice, Bad Bubba Brewer, Haley Conrad, Rachel Riggle Black

Synopsis:

CIA Operative Captain Rhodes, code name Preacher, is sent on an assassination mission to take out the head drug lord of the largest drug cartel in South America. His team is wiped out by a mysterious force before they could even reach the cartel. Captain Rhodes, the lone survivor, is suspended from the CIA because his story seems too unreal. One year later, the CIA intercepts a mysterious radio transmission while trying to obtain information about an American missionary being held hostage by the same dangerous cartel. Rhodes, now a full time preacher, reluctantly agrees to join the US Special Forces to save the hostage. He soon realizes that he faces the same inhuman force that killed so many of his men and left him seeking revenge.

Purchase:

Haunting At Foster Cabin (2015)

Starring:

AnnaMaria DeMara, Kati Sharp, Jamie Strange, John Savage

Synopsis:

Sorority Sisters accidentally unleash an unholy entity. To save mankind, they must battle evil… and each other.

Purchase:

Hole (2015)

Starring:

Paul E. Respass, Jim Barile, Charlotte Bjornbak, Char Frost

Synopsis:

Ed Kunkle is a convicted felon tormented by his own demons. Eve Adams is a single woman trying to cope with a tragic loss. Bodie Jameson is a homicide detective looking for answers. All three lives will intertwine with disturbing, deadly consequences.

Purchase:

The Incredible Two-Headed Transplant (1971)

Starring:

Bruce Dern, Pat Priest, Casey Kasem, Albert Cole, John Bloom

Synopsis:

What do you get when a mad scientist grafts the head of a maniac onto the body of a giant? A true cult classic that the Los Angeles Times calls “lots of fun”! When a brilliant yet obsessive surgeon is cast out by the medical community, he takes science to a shocking new level – by grafting the head of one man onto the body of another. But his terrifying two-headed creation escapes the lab and goes on a rampage! Cult director Anthony M. Lanza (The Glory Stompers) directed the original 2-headed monster classic featuring a script by James Gordon White (The Hellcats) and James Lawrence (The Loners) and a stellar cast that included Bruce Dern (Coming Home), Pat Priest (TV s The Munsters) and broadcasting legend Casey Kasem (American Top 40). This special edition is re-mastered in HD and features audio commentary by the RiffTrax® trio and ex Mystery Science Theater 3000 legends, Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett.

Purchase:

The Last House (2015)

Starring:

Jason Mewes, Ezra Buzzington, Monique Parent, Lauren Walsh, Felissa Rose

Synopsis:

After his girlfriend is kidnapped by a satanic trio of escaped mental patients, a young man must rescue her from a Hollywood home before their sadistic plans can be realized. Starring Jason Mewes (Clerks, Vigilante Diaries), Ezra Buzzington (TV’s “Crossbones”, The Hills Have Eyes) and Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp).

Purchase:

The Mask (1961)

Starring:

Paul Stevens, Claudette Nevins, Bill Walker

Synopsis:

After the shocking death of a disturbed patient, psychiatrist Dr. Allan Barnes (Paul Stevens) comes into possession of the ancient tribal mask that supposedly drove the young man to his doom. When Barnes puts on the mask, he is assailed with nightmarish visions of monsters, occultists, and ritual torture. Believing that the mask has opened a portal to the deepest recesses of his mind, the doctor continues to explore this terrifying new psychic world even as the mask reveals a latent violence in Barnes’ nature that threatens those closest to him.

Purchase:

Natalie’s Lose Lose (2012)

Starring:

Danielle Adams, Kenyon Glover, Natalie Victoria

Synopsis:

Natalie is a young bartender trying to make her way in the world. Somehow she wakes to find herself gagged and bound to a chair. With only her wits and cunning, she must figure out who her captors are, and what do they want from her. Can Natalie save herself and figure out who these people are!

Purchase:

The Pit And The Pendulum (1991)

Starring:

Lance Henriksen, Oliver Reed, Rona De Ricci, Jeffrey Combs

Synopsis:

Torquemada is enchanted by Maria’s beauty and subjects her and her husband Antonio to heinous tortures hoping to prove that his own desires for her are a result of her magic, and that she has bewitched him. With the help of Esmerelda, Maria’s cellmate and confessed witch, Maria must find the power to save her husband from Torquemada’s ultimate machine of torture: the inevitable, razor sharp PENDULUM poised over the inescapable PIT of hell.

Purchase:

Ray Harker (2015)

Starring:

Jeremy Isbell, Kevin Ponder

Synopsis:

After a murder rampage at a hotel party Ray Harker begins to haunt the visions of the town’s priest. He torchers the priest’s mind and draws him deeper into the madness of a killer. When Ray Harker comes to town nobody will be left alive.

Purchase:

Reichsfuhrer SS (2015)

Starring:

David B. Stewart III, Angelina Leigh, Chuck Maher, Martin Slamon, John Martineau

Synopsis:

The Reichsfuhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler was Adolf Hitler’s most loyal henchman and one of the most feared men of WWII. Surprisingly, he had only one problem… He had no stomach for murder! When the Reichsfuhrer-SS becomes physically ill during the execution of Russian POW’s on the Eastern front in 1941. Ruthless, careerist SS General Hans Shellenberg rats Himmler out to the Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler. Hitler tests his loyal Heinrich forcing him to commit the murder of a Polish prisoner named Danuta with his own hands. Thus awakening the Monster within him that will horrify the world for generations to come! Himmler may please his Fuhrer in 1941, but what awaits him after he commits suicide in 1945 is nothing less than Hell itself. See what happens when Himmler meets Erebus, the gatekeeper of Hell! See the nightmarish suffering that awaits the infamous Nazi leader who murdered millions

Purchase:

Star Leaf (2015)

Starring:

Julian Gavilanes, Russell Hodgkinson, Richard Cranor, Tyler Trerise, Shelby Truax

Synopsis:

Star Leaf is a sci-fi thriller about three friends who search for a forest of extra-terrestrial marijuana hidden deep in the Olympic Mountains and find much more than they bargained for. Starring Russell Hodgkinson and Julian Gavilanes of Sy-Fy’s “Z-Nation”, the adventure begins when Tim (Tyler Trerise) introduces his girlfriend Martha (Shelby Truax) and his Afghanistan war buddy James (Gavilanes) to the legendary Star Leaf, anticipating an out-of-this-world high and the chance to cure James’s PTSD. Things start to get strange when a forest ranger (Richard Cranor) mysteriously shows up at their late-night campfire with tales of alien visitors and odd animal behavior in the forest. And when Tim and Martha break the Star Leaf code of conduct, the evil aliens guarding the plant begin to stalk them. Reality, memory, and fantasy blur for James, whose flashbacks of the war mix with his sense of the current danger. Heedless of James’s warnings, Tim and Martha walk into a trap, and James must fight for all their lives against his own inner demons and even larger forces from beyond

Purchase:

Subspecies (1991) (20th Anniversary Edition)

Starring:

Anders Hove, Michelle Mcbride, Laura Tate, Angus Scrimm, Irina Movila

Synopsis:

Deep within the heart of Romania, a suppressed evil from the past has come back to haunt the present, and three young beauties have stumbled onto its path…Michelle and Lillian are two American students who have joined their friend Mara in Romania for their studies of the ancient myths and legends of Transylvania. But Myth turns into reality when the women become the object of desire of Radu, an evil vampire obsessed with making them his consorts. Radu creates an army of hellish creatures of the night-a Subspecies-to help him carry out his plan. What he underestimates are the powers of his brother Stefan, a good vampire who has fallen in love with Michelle and wants to save them all from the wrath of his brother. At the same time, Stefan discovers that Radu has murdered their father, King Vlad, and is trying to take control of the kingdom. Radu wants to break the centuries-old tradition established by the king so that vampires would only feed on animals rather than humans in order to survive. In the final showdown of good versus evil, Stefan must fight his wicked brother and the new vampires Radu has created, in his effort to save his loves and the lives of all in the kingdom.

Purchase:

Voodoo Man (1944)

Starring:

Bela Lugosi, John Carradine, George Zucco

Synopsis:

A mad doctor and his helpers lure girls to his lab for brain work, to help his wife.

Purchase:

You (Us) Me (2014)

Starring:

Hannah Kew, Christian J. Wilde, Hilary Hodsman

Synopsis:

A fledgling serial killer falls in love with a suicidal girl who, unbeknown to him, is only hanging around because she wants him to bump her off.

Purchase:

COLLECTIONS

The Racetrack Murders / House in the Woods

Starring:

Michael Gough, Ronald Howard

Synopsis:

It’s a double-dose of mystery and horror!

Movies:

The Racetrack Murders

Mystery at the track! A well-known thoroughbred is slain by a rival horse owner. Soon jockeys are being murdered by a mysterious killer. Scandals, blackmail, and drugs abound in this fine Bryan Edgar Wallace krimi thriller.

The House In The Woods

When a mystery novelist moves into an old house to complete his latest chiller, he discovers that the scary events in his book are coming to life. Stars British horror star Michael Gough (Horrors Of The Black Museum, Konga), Ronald Howard, and Patricia Roc.

Purchase:

The post DVD and Blu-ray Releases: November 24, 2015 appeared first on Dread Central.

Before the turkey is carved and the dressing served, the good folks behind the upcoming Pride and Prejudice and Zombies are sending you some tasty holiday tidings!

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies stars Lily James, Sam Riley, Jack Huston, Matt Smith, Douglas Booth, Charles Dance, Lena Heady, Ellie Bamber, Millie Brady, Bella Heathcote, and Suki Waterhouse. Burr Steers wrote the screenplay and directs.

Look for the film in theaters on February 5, 2016.  In the meantime join the Squad on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Synopsis:
A zombie outbreak has fallen upon the land in this reimagining of Jane Austen’s classic tale of the tangled relationships between lovers from different social classes in 19th century England. Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennet (James) is a master of martial arts and weaponry, and the handsome Mr. Darcy (Riley) is a fierce zombie killer, yet the epitome of upper class prejudice. As the zombie outbreak intensifies, they must swallow their pride and join forces on the blood-soaked battlefield in order to conquer the undead once and for all.

The post Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Wishes You a Holiday Feast Fit for a Ghoul! appeared first on Dread Central.

In his never-ending quest to produce every single bit of horror entertainment possible, Jason Blum is heading back to the small screen with a true treat for Tremors fans.

Via the Blumhouse website:

TREMORS fans, better grab(oid) your hats, ‘cuz this is pretty awesome news: Blumhouse Productions and Universal Cable are teaming up to restart the monster-worm franchise as a cable TV series, and Kevin Bacon — who, as you well know, starred in the original 1990 classic — is now confirmed to be reprising his role as Valentine McKee.

Andrew Miller (“The Secret Circle”) is attached as writer for the series, which will be once again set in the fictional desert town of Perfection, Nevada — albeit 25 years after the events of the original film.

TREMORS is no stranger to television, having had a 13-episode run on Syfy back in 2004, but as of this writing the producers are shopping the series to several potential networks.

The post Blumhouse Brings Home the (Kevin) Bacon for Tremors TV Series appeared first on Dread Central.

One of my favorite tellings of the Frankenstein saga is Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein. Apparently The Dude Designs’ Tom Hodge is a fan as well because he’s just released a mash-up one-sheet for Victor Frankenstein that has us grinning!

Victor Frankenstein stars James McAvoy, Daniel Radcliffe, Andrew Scott, Mark Gatiss, Jessica Brown Findlay, Freddie Fox, and Callum Turner.

Directed by Paul McGuigan, this adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel was written by Max Landis.  It arrives in US theaters on November 25th and in the UK on December 4th from 20th Century Fox.

Synopsis:
Radical scientist Victor Frankenstein (McAvoy) and his equally brilliant protégé, Igor Strausman (Radcliffe), share a noble vision of aiding humanity through their groundbreaking research into immortality. But Victor’s experiments go too far, and his obsession has horrifying consequences. Only Igor can bring his friend back from the brink of madness and save him from his monstrous creation.

The post New Victor Frankenstein Poster Shoots and Scores a Great Homage appeared first on Dread Central.

Word hit the interwebs earlier today that Tom Cruise was in talks for the upcoming reboot of The Mummy. The story seemed a little thin so we opted to wait before writing about it. Moments ago Deadline got to the bottom of things.

According to the site, they were told “adamantly [by Cruise’s reps] that no deal with Cruise is in the works for the film. He is filming Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, and Mission: Impossible 6 begins shooting in August.”

Universal’s The Mummy is planned as the first film in a series of interconnected monster films as Universal hopes to build a franchise out of its vault of classic movies. Other potential films revolve around Dracula, Frankenstein, the Invisible Man, the Bride of Frankenstein, and vampire hunter Van Helsing.

The post No, Tom Cruise Is NOT in Talks for Universal’s Mummy Reboot appeared first on Dread Central.

Production is well under way on The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist, and stars Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are back for some more haunting fun. On tap today are a handful of images from the London set, which will have to tide you over until we’re provided with more.

Check them out below, courtesy of James Wan’s Instagram account!

The sequel’s cast also includes Abhi Sinha, Lauren Esposito, Franka Potente, Frances O’Connor, Simon McBurney, Simon Delaney, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Patrick McAuley, Benjamin Haigh, and Madison Wolfe.

In addition to directing, Wan wrote the screenplay with Chad and Carey Hayes, with revisions by David Leslie Johnson. Wan also produces along with Peter Safran and Rob Cowan.

Farmiga and Wilson again play real-life paranormal investigating couple Lorraine and Ed Warren. O’Connor (A.I. Artificial Intelligence, “The Missing”) will play the mother of a girl who is experiencing a haunting and desperate for help.

Expect the film in theaters on June 10, 2016.

In between shots to pose with the coolest cats – Simon McBurney, Patrick and Vera. #Marylebone #theconjuring2

A photo posted by James Wan (@creepypuppet) on Nov 22, 2015 at 9:52am PST

Recreating snowy Christmas in the 70’s on the streets of London. Outside a pub naturally! #Conjuring2 A photo posted by James Wan (@creepypuppet) on Nov 18, 2015 at 1:18am PST

I bring my crane into every pub I visit. #warringtonhotel #london #conjuring2

A photo posted by James Wan (@creepypuppet) on Nov 18, 2015 at 9:55am PST

That’s a giant photo-backing on the indoor set of the first #theconjuring. It was designed to be seen thru windows & doors #tbt A photo posted by James Wan (@creepypuppet) on Nov 19, 2015 at 5:38pm PST

Taking the gorgeous #Marylebone Station back in time to seventies London. Beautiful Victorian architecture. #theconjuring2

A photo posted by James Wan (@creepypuppet) on Nov 22, 2015 at 9:24am PST

The post The Conjuring 2 – Behind the Scenes Photos Invite You Onto the Set appeared first on Dread Central.

In honor of your yearly feast of flesh, we’re giving away a prize package that will have the corpse in your life twitching (or some other motor function) with glee! Right now we have your chance to not only score a copy of “Fear the Walking Dead” on Blu-ray, but ALSO The LIMITED EDITION “The Walking Dead” Season 5 box set! You know… the one with the gnarly walker reaching out for a bite!

To enter for your chance to win, just send an email to contests@dreadcentral.com including your FULL NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS and “Thankful for the Dead” in the subject line. We’ll take care of the rest.

This contest will end at 12:01 AM PT on December 1, 2015.

The Walking Dead: The Complete Fifth Season Release Details:
In what has become a highly anticipated annual tradition for “Walking Dead” fans the world over, Anchor Bay Entertainment will be releasing THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON Blu-ray + Digital HD Limited Edition set on December 1st. The other editions will be released on August 25th.

THE WALKING DEAD: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON cast includes Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, Chandler Riggs, Melissa McBride, Chad L. Coleman, Sonequa Martin-Green, Lawrence Gilliard, Jr., Michael Cudlitz, Emily Kinney, Alanna Masterson, Christian Serratos, Josh McDermitt, Seth Gilliam, and Andrew J. West.

• Audio commentaries featuring Showrunner/Executive Producer/Writer Scott M. Gimple; Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd; Executive Producer Tom Luse; Executive Producer/Special Effects Make-Up Supervisor/Director Greg Nicotero; Director Julius Ramsay; Actors Lauren Cohan, Chad L. Coleman, Michael Cudlitz, Sonequa Martin-Green, Danai Gurira, Alana Masterson, Melissa McBride, Josh McDermitt, Norman Reedus, Christian Serratos, and Steven Yuen
• Deleted Scenes
• Inside “The Walking Dead”
• The Making of “The Walking Dead”
• The Making of Alexandria
• Beth’s Journey
• Bob’s Journey
• Noah’s Journey
• Tyreese’s Journey
• A Day in the Life of Michael Cudlitz
• A Day in the Life of Josh McDermitt
• Rotters in the Flesh

Fear The Walking Dead Release Details:
Anchor Bay Entertainment is bringing fans of the latest ingenious and pulse-pounding AMC original series, “Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete First Season,” to Blu-ray and DVD on December 1st. Created by Robert Kirkman (“The Walking Dead”) and Dave Erickson (“Sons of Anarchy”), the series hailed as “effortlessly creepy” (People) premiered in August as the #1 show in cable history.

The 2-disc sets include character bios as well as “A Look at the Series.” Both fans of the show, as well as those who have yet to encounter the engrossing drama, will have the opportunity to own all six episodes.

Living in the same universe as “The Walking Dead,” “Fear the Walking Dead” is a gritty drama that explores the onset of the undead apocalypse through the lens of a fractured family. Set in Los Angeles, a city where people come to escape, shield secrets, and bury their pasts, a mysterious outbreak threatens to disrupt what little stability high school guidance counselor Madison Clark (Kim Dickens) and English teacher Travis Manawa (Cliff Curtis) have managed to assemble. The everyday pressure of blending two families while dealing with resentful, escapist, and strung out children takes a back seat when society begins to break down. A forced evolution, a necessary survival of the fittest takes hold, and the dysfunctional family must either reinvent themselves or embrace their darker histories.

Fans can also look forward to “Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete First Season” Special Edition in 2016.

“Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete First Season” cast also includes Frank Dillane (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince), Mercedes Mason (Quarantine 2), Ruben Blades (Safe House), Alycia Debnam-Carey (The Devil’s Hand), Elizabeth Rodriguez (“Orange Is the New Black”), and Lorenzo James Henrie (Star Trek).

“Fear The Walking Dead” Season 2 premieres on AMC with 15 new episodes in 2016.

The post Win a Walking Dead Prize Package to Be Thankful For appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Miles Joris-Peyrafitte, Jason Vail, D’Angelo Midili

Directed by John Portanova

In the last few years, we have seen a surprising resurgence of films in the Bigfoot subgenre, ranging from efforts that twist the mythology in interesting ways (Bigfoot: The Lost Coast Tapes) to those that scale back for a less-is-more atmosphere (Willow Creek) to others that opt for high-tension scares (Exists).

Recently making the festival rounds is filmmaker John Portanova’s directorial debut, Valley of the Sasquatch, a film that treads much of the same ground as the aforementioned works, while also calling back to the style of such subgenre efforts from 1970’s, the heyday of Bigfoot films. A properly independent effort, Portanova’s film is a modest entry that presents a straightforward creature feature peppered with emotional drama that works to varying degrees, though it does not quite bring anything new to the table.

The film centers on Roger Crew (Vail) and his son, Michael (Joris-Peyrafitte), who fall on hard times after the death of the family matriarch. Left broke and downtrodden, the two Crew men move into an old cabin in the woods in an attempt to regroup. When two of Roger’s old friends come to visit, the four men set off into the woods for a day of hunting and drinking. As the day progresses, Michael’s strained relationship with his father grows more tense, though this is ultimately the least of the group’s worries as they all begin seeing strange things moving about in the woods. Before long, the men discover that they are being stalked by a family of Sasquatch, and as night falls, they realize they must put their differences aside in order to survive.

Valley of the Sasquatch is billed as a character-centric creature feature, which promises far more substance than the genre tends to steer towards. This begins promisingly enough with our introduction to the perpetually frustrated Michael and the stoic Roger, who are struggling just to get by, though Roger still somehow finds money for beer. Michael is the voice of reason between the two, questioning his father’s irresponsibility while expressing a desire to further his own life by returning to school, though Roger disapproves. As it is revealed that Michael’s mother passed in an accident seemingly related to alcohol, we get a sense for why his relationship with Roger is so tense in their early scenes. However, the issue is addressed in a rather expository way and there is not much nuance in any further exploration of this dynamic as the film progresses. Disappointingly, Portanova’s initial focus on what could have been much more rich emotional land to mine between the father and son seems to fall to the wayside, as we instead come to find Roger to be quite the unsympathetic party, a two-dimensional neglectful father when all is said and done.

Contrarily, what is more successfully explored later in the film is Michael’s latent pain and frustration with the state of his life. This is particularly conveyed in a notably moving chat with Will (Midili), his inexplicably youthful uncle who accompanies the family on the hunting trip. In this scene, Michael’s pain over the state of his family is expressed in a very honest way, and the rapport between him and Will, who supports Michael’s decision to make something of himself, fast makes the relationship one of the stronger emotional foundations of the movie. Unfortunately, Will is not present for nearly enough of the film, and we are ultimately left with a hollow and disconnected drama between Michael and Roger as the latter pals around with his loud-mouthed friend Sergio (David Saucedo). This pointed focus on less developed characters at times hinders the film’s emotional core–namely, when it comes down to Sergio, who is quite the insufferable character as he berates Michael in front of a frustratingly indifferent Roger. You do feel for Michael quite a bit after a while, but mostly because he has to be around such a grating and ignorant person. To its credit, the film is ultimately upheld by a lively finale that will pull viewers back in even if they momentarily checked out in the midst of the unfulfilling character drama.

Once the family of Sasquatch descend upon the men, the film transitions to a very standard creature feature effort, albeit one that is relatively engaging and infuses humor into the script in a refreshing way. Once again, Midili proves to be one of the film’s shining players, wielding Will’s quick wit with perfect comedic timing in the face of some very questionable commentary and decisions from other characters; he speaks for us all when he retorts, “That’s the only explanation that makes sense?” after another character is quick to deduce that a strange figure he spotted must be Bigfoot. The appearance of genre favorite Bill Oberst, Jr., is also a breath of fresh air as he assumes the role of the eccentric Bauman, a survivor of his own encounter with the Sasquatch tribe. While the script at times requires a great amount of suspension of disbelief and is not always sharp, Portanova makes up for this by showcasing a researched hand in regard to the subject matter, including more than a few notable call-outs for followers of cryptozoology and fans of the Bigfoot lore.

As an independent effort, Valley of the Sasquatch does wear its technical limitations a bit obviously at points, sometimes trying to do more than is convincingly feasible with the given resources. The creature design for the Sasquatch tribe is much less threatening when we see them clearly revealed all at once, and the film would likely have been more tense had it opted for a slower reveal approach. Additionally, while Portanova’s forest setting works wonders all on its own in creating an atmosphere of shadowy fear once night falls, some shots are indeed a bit too dimly lit and make it difficult to discern some of the action in latter scenes. Though the editing admittedly dips into amateur territory here and there, Portanova does deserve kudos for the practical gore and sound design, which are ultimately quite impressive here; one scene that involves an arm being ripped off elicited a squeal of enjoyment from a gore hound like myself.

While Valley of the Sasquatch does not necessarily bring on the horror in a major or fresh way, it is at times a very effectively atmospheric film with some interesting ideas behind it. Additionally, there is much here that feels refreshingly unassuming, as Portanova’s genuine conviction and passion for his subject matter is felt in the greater story he aims to tell. While the emotional aspects of the movie do not always come across as significantly as they are intended to, they are also never insultingly ironic or terribly hokey, to Portanova’s credit. At its core, Valley of the Sasquatch is a very straightforward film that recalls the simplicity of many Bigfoot films from decades past, and when viewed through such a lens, it mostly succeeds. I have no doubt that it will surely become a favorite among the subgenre’s bigger fans looking for a more classic take on the Bigfoot legend.

Have you had a chance to catch Valley of the Sasquatch? Sound off in the comments below or tweet me (@TheAriDrew) and share your thoughts!

The post Valley of the Sasquatch (2015) appeared first on Dread Central.

Lawrie Brewster’s The Unkindness of Ravens is a film that all of us here at Dread Central really want to see made, but in order for that to happen, it still needs to make a lot more money via Kickstarter, having just hit the halfway point.

We’ve now got a look at the second trailer, and it’s just as batshit crazy as the first. With the film looking as great as it does, we don’t want to sound like we’re begging or demanding, but… well… we are. Go and contribute to the Kickstarter. Now. We are not asking.

Synopsis:
The Unkindness of Ravens tells the story of Andrew, a homeless veteran plagued by flashbacks of a traumatic event he witnessed in the Army.

Andrew travels to a retreat in the remote Scottish Highlands, hoping to overcome his fear of ravens, the dark creatures that populate his visions. But in this bleak wilderness, his nightmares manifest into an enemy more powerful than he could ever have imagined.

The post Second Trailer for The Unkindness of Ravens Flies In appeared first on Dread Central.

It’s hard to say just who was more ubiquitous in the 80s: Ronald Reagan, Michael Jackson, or Freddy Krueger. Amazingly, in one of the strangest examples of pop culture pollination I can remember, the Springwood Slasher was seemingly everywhere. Any kid could walk into his or her  nearest Toys “R” Us and see Freddy’s well-done, pepperoni pizza with extra-cheese visage adorning everything from talking dolls to wax-pack trading cards, from squirt toys to yo-yos to cheaply made Halloween costumes.

The irony of a child traipsing around his neighborhood on October 31st dressed in a cheap rubber replica of a child killer’s horrifically burned face and trademark striped sweater and fedora is, in hindsight, both ridiculous and delicious. (Even more deliciously ironic is the fact that the box that contained the costume combo boasted of the product’s “fire-retardant” properties. Think on that for a moment!)

And it wasn’t just merch. The Bastard Son of 100 Maniacs also managed to invade all forms of media in the same way he did promiscuous teens’ dreams. There he was in comic books, on television (“Freddy’s Nightmares”), and in young adult novels (Freddy Krueger’s Tales of Terror). Forget Howard Stern; Freddy Krueger truly was the king of all media.

For proof, let’s travel back to the halcyon days of 1988 when Frederick was memorialized in not one but two rap songs: The Fat Boys’ “Are You Ready for Freddy?” and DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince’s “A Nightmare on My Street. (As an aside, whatever happened to rap groups? Seems they’ve gone the way of Nokia flip-phones and super-sized fries at McDonald’s.)

We’ll start with “A Nightmare on My Street.” Before “Bel-Air,” before Men in Black, before siring two of the most annoying kids to ever set foot on this planet, Will Smith was the Fresh Prince and had a reasonably successful musical career along with his partner, DJ Jazzy Jeff. Their major label debut He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper spawned the mega-hit “Parents Just Don’t Understand.” I spent my allowance on the vinyl single of said song and, after listening to the A side about a dozen times, flipped the single over to side B, dropped the needle on the record, and was introduced to “A Nightmare on My Street.” Fairly soon, I began to prefer the B side over the A. Perhaps it’s because my 12-year-old self was way too terrified to actually see a Nightmare film, so the song served handily as a sort of harmless aural equivalent.

Set to a bouncy beat eerily reminiscent of the future theme to “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” the song tells the tale of a guy “burnt up like a weenie/and his name is Fred.” Seems Will saw “Elm Street and man, was it def.” He then goes on to describe his own encounter with Freddy, voiced by a bargain-basement Robert Englund impersonator. Freddy proposes a partnership of some sort, but Willie brushes Fred off by rapping, “Yo, Fred, I think you got me all wrong!/I ain’t partners with nobody with nails that long!” (Taking the double negative into account, I assume that means the partnership is a go, right?) As the song concludes, the Fresh Prince calls Jeff to warn him, but it’s too late as the DJ soon succumbs to Freddy, who concludes the tune by exclaiming, “I’m your DJ now, Princey!”

Despite briefly considering the song for inclusion in A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: Dream Master, New Line Cinema opted to sue the duo’s label for copyright infringement instead. As a result, a filmed video was shelved and is now lost to the ages (which means don’t go looking for it on YouTube). However, I know I saw the video at least once, but perhaps it was just a vivid fever dream. Nonetheless, even without a promotional vid, the song was a hit and reached #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The Fat Boys were a bit more fortunate. Part of a trend of overweight rappers (this too was a thing; for further examples, see Heavy D, Fat Joe, Big Pun, Chubb Rock, and of course, The Notorious B.I.G.), the rotund trio had a couple of hits with rap-infused covers of The Safaris’ “Wipe Out” and Chubby Checker’s “The Twist.” They even tasted movie stardom with an appearance in 1985’s seminal Krush Groove and their own film, the 1987 comedic caper Disorderlies.

New Line actually approached The Fat Boys to record a song for Dream Master – amazing considering their reaction to “My Street.” And so “Are You Ready for Freddy?” was born. As a song, the Fat Boys’ opus is inferior to the Fresh Prince progenitor, but it is authorized and, incredibly, features rhymes dropped by the man himself, Robert Englund, in character as Freddy.

An official video was filmed with a plot whereby The Fat Boys have to spend the night in a particular house on Elm Street in order to inherit the estate of group member Prince Markie Dee’s “Uncle Frederick.” Englund is in the vid, and as well as lip-syncing his lines, he also busts out an awkward dance move or two. Despite (or maybe because of) New Line and Englund’s involvement, “Are You Ready for Freddy?” was nowhere near as successful as “My Street,” reaching only #93 on Billboard’s R&B chart and not even making a dent in the Hot 100.

This may seem mad, but really, songs about slashers were nothing new. Way back in 1976, The Ramones’ self-titled debut featured the song “Chain Saw” about everybody’s favorite Texas-based cannibal butcher (and while were on the topic of The Ramones, let’s not forget their incredible “Pet Sematary,” the theme song to the 1989 film of the same name). And in 1986, Alice Cooper contributed the sublime “He’s Back (The Man Behind the Mask)” to the soundtrack of Friday the 13th: Part VI: Jason Lives. But again, these were songs about slashers, not slashers dropping science about themselves.

And let’s not even touch Freddy’s Greatest Hits…

The post That Time When Freddy Krueger Was a Rap Star appeared first on Dread Central.

Another year has passed already?!? Really? As we head into the heartiest of holidays, we’re thankful that despite a flailing economy and the constant yappin’ of Generation Outrage (not much has changed since 2014), Dread Central is still carrying on, and that’s all because of you guys.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… it’s you who allow us to exist. It’s your support that keeps everything moving. We even like when you yell at us from time to time because it keeps us on our toes. We know the anger only comes from passion, and we could never fault you for that. We hope you see that very same passion in our work. We love you, and we’ll never ever forget or take for granted what you guys bring to the table. You’re our peers, and this site is just as much yours as it is ours.

May everyone’s Thanksgiving Day be filled with laughs, love, and lunacy; and may your early morning hunt sticking your hand up a dead bird’s ass until you find the dreaded Bag™ housing its entrails and neck be swift, painless, and non-psyche scarring.

We thank you guys for all that you do. You have no idea how much you mean to us. As always, thanks to Fright Rags for the incredible holiday eye candy you see below! EAT UP!

The post Happy Thanksgiving 2015 appeared first on Dread Central.

As if Google Maps and Google Earth weren’t already impressive enough, allowing you to see your home from satellites in the sky, the introduction of Street View took those technologies to new levels. Now, simply by entering an address, you can virtually visit almost any location in the world.

Google sends out specially designed cars with cameras affixed to them that literally take snapshots of each individual street the vehicles drive past, and in doing so they’ve managed to capture our day to day lives like never before. It’s pretty crazy, and when you think about it, kind of scary.

Not surprisingly, some pretty strange shit has been captured by Google Street View over the years, and we set out to find the creepiest of the creepy. The images range from obvious glitches to genuinely unexplainable doses of pure nightmare fuel, so strap in and get ready for the chills.

Here are the 15 creepiest images that have been documented by Google Street View!

1) YUP. THAT’S TOTALLY NORMAL. MOVING RIGHT ALONG.

2) SQUAD GOALS

3) THE PIGEONS ARE HUNGRY. FOR YOUR SOUL.

4) WHEN DRAGGING A CORPSE OFF THE PIER, MAKE SURE GOOGLE ISN’T AROUND

5) MOM SAID DON’T TALK TO STRANGERS, BUT SHE NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT THE EASTER BUNNY

The post Nightmare Fuel: The 15 Creepiest Images Captured on Google Street View appeared first on Dread Central.

Indie filmmaker James Balsamo just wrote in with a pretty unique promotion for his new flick Killer Waves. Read on for details.

“Imagine if you could have came up with an idea for a kill for the original Friday the 13th or A Nightmare on Elm Street. CEO of Acid Bath Productions James Balsamo is giving you the chance of a lifetime to suggest a kill for his new movie! When you order a Killer Waves t-shirt off of acidbathproductions.com, you can suggest a kill that might be featured in the film. One winner will be picked each week to have their idea for an onscreen murder to be featured in the movie! The kill will be released at the end of each week. This way you don’t have to wait till the film comes out for the blood and guts!! Help support the budget and make your sick fantasies come true on the big screen!”

The post Killer Waves… Buy a T-Shirt and Suggest a Kill! appeared first on Dread Central.

After premiering last year at the Horror on Sea Film Festival, the UK horror Serial Kaller is finally heading to DVD Stateside on January 26, 2016.

Starring Danni Thompson, Debbie Rochon, and Suzi Lorraine, with Bear Scary director Dan Brownlie at the helm, the slasher flick sets out to prove once and for all that there’s more to life than looks, as a bunch of beautiful models learn by literally losing their lives.

Synopsis:
A group of beautiful Internet models are trapped inside their recording studio and hunted down by a mentally unstable fan they insulted live on the air. Now the girls must join together to escape and face their murderous stalker or be picked of one by one. Beauty may only be skin deep, but revenge cuts to the bone.

The post Serial Kaller Phones Up A Trailer appeared first on Dread Central.

Director Jessica Cameron wrote in to let us know about some cool stuff that’s happening with her latest film, Mania, and share some new stills from the flick! Eat ’em up!

From the Press Release:
Jessica Cameron’s sophomore film Mania continues to rack up festival awards and screenings with three new dates announced.

Jessica Cameron’s first film, Truth or Dare, won 34 awards throughout the course of a long and successful festival run. Mania is still fresh off its September launch at The Arizona Underground Film Festival, but it’s already snagged two best picture awards at Arizona and The RIP Film Festival in Hollywood and a best actress award at RIP for Ellie Church. Mania is set to receive its fourth award at The Los Angeles International Underground Film Festival when it wins best narrative feature at the end of November.

If you are in Los Angeles on Thanksgiving weekend, make sure to check out Mania’s second LA screening at the Los Angeles International Underground Film Festival. Mania had its LA premiere on Halloween night at the RIP Film Festival to a large and enthusiastic crowd. Mania screens at the LAUFF on Saturday, November 28th, at The Complex Theater, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90036. Get your tickets here.

Then, on December 5th, Mania is set to have its Sydney premiere at the Dendy Cinema Newtown as part of A Night of Horror Film Festival, the longest running horror film festival in Australia. If you are going to be in Sydney in early December, you can buy your tickets here.

Finally, Mania is set to screen at The Portland Underground Film Festival December 4th at 8:00 PM. A full festival pass is only $30, and there are a lot of other great films playing as well as Mania. Get you tickets for The Portland Underground Film Festival here or call 1 (865) 985-3123.

Mania is produced by Mem Ferda, who also brought us Jessica Cameron’s debut, Truth or Dare, which shocked audiences worldwide with its extreme, relentless violence. Mania is just as uncompromising as its predecessor, but the violence of Cameron’s first film is replaced with a lesbian sexuality that is just as relentless and just as shocking as Truth or Dare’s extreme gore. Viewer discretion is advised.

The post Jessica Cameron’s Mania Goes International! New Stills! appeared first on Dread Central.

With Thanksgiving now over, it’s time to officially announce that the L.A. Slasher, a snarky, reality star-hating killer, is coming home for the holidays this December on DVD and VOD from Archstone Distribution.

Below are the full release details, a new poster, and seven stills from the film.

From the Press Release:
Archstone Distribution has announced that the horror/dark comedy feature film L.A. Slasher, directed by Martin Owen and produced by Jeffrey Wright and Daniel Sollinger, will be available in stores and On Demand in North America December 8, 2015.

“We are very excited to take L.A. Slasher to the home video market following its limited theatrical run in AMC Theaters this past July,” Archstone Distribution’s President & CEO Brady Bowen stated.  “It is a highly entertaining film with a unique voice that we know audiences are going to love!”

L.A. Slasher producer Daniel Sollinger remarked, “My team and I are thrilled to be working with Archstone, as they have a steady track record for bringing high quality films to audiences worldwide. We are very proud to be on their roster.”

With an all-star cast that includes Mischa Barton, Dave Bautista, Danny Trejo, Drake Bell, Eric Roberts, Brooke Hogan, Abigail Wright, Elizabeth Morris, Marisa Lauren, and Andy Dick (in his comeback vehicle), L.A. Slasher (review) is a social satire about reality TV and the glorification of people who are famous for simply being famous. Exploring why it has become acceptable to become an influential star based on no merit or talent, the story follows the titular Slasher character as he systematically abducts these “stars,” much to the joy of the online public who view his exploits via social media, and who subsequently and enthusiastically support his mantra of “Death to Reality TV.”

Already a recipient of multiple awards on the film festival circuit, the film will be on shelves at Walmart and Best Buy among others, and is currently available for pre-order via Amazon. Disc extras for L.A. Slasher include a deleted scene and feature-length commentary with director Owen, director of photography Chase Bowman, and host Richard Trejo.

L.A. Slasher is also set for its digital debut via Amazon Video, Blockbuster On Demand, CinemaNow, Google Play, Hoopla, iTunes, Microsoft Movies & TV Store, PlayStation Store, and VUDU and will be available in millions of homes On Demand.

For more info visit LASlasherMovie.com, and also follow the film on Facebook and Twitter.

The post L.A. Slasher Heading to DVD/VOD December 8th appeared first on Dread Central.

I remember before Prometheus came out, getting info about the film was akin to pulling teeth. Now nary a day goes by without Ridley Scott talking about his plans for the next several films. Read on for the latest.

First up, Scott has confirmed to Screen Daily that Noomi Rapace will be returning for the upcoming Alien: Covenant. She’ll be reprising her role as Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, who was last seen with Michael Fassbender’s severed head boarding a ship headed to the Engineer’s home world.

Scott explained that Fassbender will play two roles in the next film and that Prometheus star Noomi Rapace would return in a minor part. He said that casting of the Covenant crew roles is in the advanced stages but declined to name names, saying “we haven’t signed the contracts yet.”

From there, Scott goes on to speak with THR, telling the site his new obsession with Alien sequels stems from Scott’s frustration over the franchise sequels and how the filmmakers never asked “why?”

Alien: Covenant and the following two films will be origin stories, answering the “very basic questions posed in Alien: why the alien, who might have made it, and where did it come from?” Scott revealed at a press conference in Sydney, where he is starting pre-production on Covenant, the first sequel to Prometheus.

“It’s a very complex story. It’s an evolution of what I first did with Prometheus,” he said of the new film, which tells the story of the crew of the colony ship Covenant, who discover what they think is an uncharted paradise but is actually a dark, dangerous world, whose sole inhabitant is the synthetic David (Michael Fassbender), survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition.

“Prometheus was born out of my frustration that on Alien in 1979 – I only did one as I don’t normally do sequels. I was amazed that in the 3 that followed that no-one asked the question ‘why the Alien, who made it, and why?’ Very basic questions. So I came up with the notion of Prometheus 1, which starts to indicate who might have made it and where it came from,” Scott said.

“So I’m now going to the next one, which is the next evolution directly connected with the first one, which was this Shaw, when he replaced Michael Fassbender in two pieces, and we’ll kind of pick it up there, and it will evolve. When that’s finished, there’ll be another one and then another one which will gradually drive into the back entrance of the film in 1979,” the British director revealed.

“So, in other words, why was this space jockey there, and why did he have an Alien inside him? And those questions will be answered,” he added.

In addition to his frustration with the sequels, there’s one other reason why he’s returned to the franchise… Star Wars.

“Star Wars will be a juggernaut. Why do you think I’m doing sequels?” Scott quipped.

Alien: Covenant heads to theaters on October 6, 2017.

The post Alien: Covenant – Ridley Scott Confirms Noomi Rapace Return; Discusses Why He Came Back to the Alien Franchise appeared first on Dread Central.