Developed by From Software

Available exclusively on PS4

Rated M for Mature

Every once in a while, I am reminded of my hubris. Having reviewed Bloodborne (review), beaten it twice, played through the NG+, and delved into the higher level chalice dungeons, I figured myself well prepared for the DLC. Perhaps I was, level 170 with maxed out gear and months of experience. I was quick to find that as a freshly made level 30 with a Threaded Cane+3, I was not so well prepared.

I made the decision to experience The Old Hunters fresh after learning it could be accessed after the 4th boss. As this is a DLC review, I am going to assume that those reading this are familiar with the game, so I’ll only spend a little time clarifying things. After defeating Vicar Amelia and turning the game into the second lunar cycle, you can return to The Hunter’s Dream and receive the Eye of a Blood-Drunk Hunter. Item in hand, wait in the spot at the side of the Oedon Chapel in Cathedral Ward where the Amygdala grabs you. Instead of killing you, you are transported to The Hunter’s Nightmare, where the DLC begins.

If that was all gibberish to you, I can give you a brief idea of what that means to us well versed in the series. Bloodborne is a largely non-linear game, with only certain key fights being required to complete the game. Only 7 of the game’s 17 bosses are required to win, with Vicar Amelia being the second mandatory boss. She is for most players the 4th boss that you will encounter, with the two optional bosses before her being significantly easier stepping stones. At this point, you’re only through about 15-20% of the game, as the subsequent bosses are increasingly more challenging to reach. At this point, players will likely have only unlocked a few weapons, the ability to upgrade, and maybe the additional power of the rune slots. Placing the DLC at this point would imply that it is geared for this level of player.

Just hop in his hand and he’ll whisk you away to a magical land of insta-death and rage quits.

That is not the case. I rushed through the first 4 bosses in about 4 hours, which is slow for me. I generally go Strength, but decided to use a mix of Skill and Bloodtinge to try something new. The build had a slower start, but after some investment was powerful enough to at least carry me through Rom (roughly the game’s 2/3 point). Wanting to jump into things right away (and not wanting to trudge through the Forbidden Woods), I sacrificed myself to the Amygdala, and was off to converse with The Old Hunters. Upon arriving, I was promptly oneshot by a humanoid enemy wielding an extending chain death-cock.

I spent about 30 minutes learning the attack pattern, figuring out the parry frames, and whittling it down. I figured that this was probably just a boss enemy, here to give me a proper beatdown to remind me that this is a Souls game. The Artorius of the Abyss DLC in Dark Souls similarly opened with a challenging boss fight, so there is precedent. I was soon dispatched, this time in two hits, by the second humanoid enemy, this time wearing a bladed glove that punched holes in me faster than Kenshiro. Ah, so that first enemy wasn’t a boss. Those are just the enemies.

The content is plausibly beatable around level 50-60 for experienced players and 80-90 for scrubs. It is the hardest Bloodborne content by far, with the scant exception of a few optional semi-secret fights and those bullshit frenzy brain things. Given that the DLC is in no way connected to the main game, they could have placed it anywhere. Opening it up when they do doesn’t make sense, and will likely only confuse and infuriate new players. I get that this is a Souls game and things are hard, but even this series has always had a reasonable difficulty curve. Previous titles added DLC that fit the pace naturally, so it is unclear why they chose not to do so this time.

Not since the Black Nights of Dark Souls have I been so thoroughly wrecked by a dude guarding a single item.

That single criticism is all the bad I have to say about The Old Hunters. This is easily one of the most robust and interesting DLC packages out there. In a market flooded with microtransactions, costume packs, and cut content that should have been a part of the main game, The Old Hunters is a shining example of what DLC should be.

For $20, you get 4 massive new zones, 5 new bosses, and 16 new weapons. One of my scant few complaints about Bloodborne was the limited arsenal, which totaled only 24 unique items (technically 26, but the torch and shield don’t count). The DLC almost doubles the options, but more importantly does so without feeling like padding. The weaponry in Bloodborne was complex even for a Souls game, giving an intimate feel to each weapon’s unique style and moveset. The Old Hunters takes this a step further, expanding the available functions of weapons without breaking the game. It offers compelling new options over straight power buffs, proving itself to be a legitimate piece of compelling content over a cash grab designed to force players to buy it for the strongest gear.

My personal favorite new item is Simon’s Bowblade, which swaps between a sword and greatbow. It’s a good skirmish weapon, and appeals to my cowardly nature and caffeine fueled twitch reflexes. I wish I had taken my old Arcane/Strength build into the DLC, because the Kos Parasite is a barrel of multi-tentacle extra-dimensional monkeys fun. Bonus points for making a weapon so slimy and gross that it even makes your PVP opponent uncomfortable. There are no “regular” weapons, with even the most standard Boom Hammer and Beasthunter Saif providing such variety that they would be the star attraction of any other action-RPG. Now more than ever, Bloodborne truly has something for everyone.

You know a bow must be badass when you have to put your gun away to use it.

As far as DLC is concerned, I generally expect new items, bosses, spells, bells, whistles, hats, and of course guns. I don’t expect the world to be lifted up to new heights thematically. While Bloodborne felt like a mad world falling to pieces, The Old Hunters is a hellscape completely collapsed. It starts in the heavily distorted familiar settings of Yharnam and Cathedral Ward, and evolves into a nightmare world where madness is truly king. The vague logic that held sway over the hunters and denizens of Bloodborne is gone, replaced with a perverse unquenchable desire for blood. Enemies are numerous, but lines are blurred as foe frequently fight foe. It offers unique gameplay opportunity to pit your enemies against each other, picking the winner off after or simply escaping the confrontation altogether.

So you’re pumped, experienced, and ready to dive in? Well let me tell you, unless you are fucking fluent in Parry-nese, you don’t stand a chance in hell of making it through. The basic enemies have thousands of health and unstaggerable attack chains, so good luck just mashing your way through their 500+ damage basic attacks. For those of you unfamiliar with the series, at level 60 I have 1000 health and hit for 150. Prepare to be shocked when your visceral attack takes away a soul crushing sliver of their health bar, and be prepared to do this repeatedly to finally achieve victory. When you can, look for alternate methods of victory, as direct confrontation is not always the only option.

Aside from being soul-rendingly difficulty, the series is known for its epic bossfights. As far as boss encounters are concerned, Bloodborne is the pinnacle of the series. Bosses ranged from giant malevolent corpse piles to maddened fellow hunters, and the multi-phase design made each fight a constantly evolving challenge. In a roster already comprised of some of the best designed baddies video games have to offer, The Old Hunters bosses are the best of the franchise. Rather than just adding a few attacks, the different phases change both the look and feel of the foe dramatically. A hobbling abomination will sit upright and wield a sword. A standard sword fight will suddenly become a ball of flaming death and explosions. For a title that already raised the bar, this DLC pushes it past the limits.

“Hello there! Do you have a moment to talk about our savior, the Healing Church?”

This is absolutely a must-buy for fans of the series. If you aren’t a fan of Souls games, I pity you. You are missing out on one of the most complex, challenging, rewarding, and satisfying experiences on the market. The Old Hunters just took that level of sublime quality and raised it even further. For the few hours asking price of mastering the mechanics, you are guaranteed dozens, if not hundreds of hours of playtime. I have easily put over 600 hours into the titles, and what The Old Hunters offers has easily just put another 50 hours on top of that. This is what DLC should be. This is what gaming should be. Buy it.

The post Bloodborne: The Old Hunters (Video Game DLC) appeared first on Dread Central.

Well, folks, it’s apparent that the Christmas season is upon us. Family-friendly programming has invaded what was, for months at least, a gory landscape on TV and in our favorite local stores. Where the homage to Michael Myers once stood now sits the Elf on a Shelf, inspiring you to behave yourselves as though that actually leads to more presents.

All of that being said, for the most part this December is going to be a bit slow although the 15^th looks to be promising with close to 20 releases so keep checking back.

We only have 8 releases to speak of this week, and here we go…

Our classics this week consist of Vincent Price’s 1963 release Twice-Told Tales and 1966’s Queen of Blood. That is basically it, but you really can’t go wrong with Vincent Price, right?

Additionally, there are some pretty decent modern releases this week worth checking out. Personally, I was a fan of the first season of “Fear the Walking Dead” although I definitely (and unfortunately) saw some overly critical “reviews” (social media) regarding the tempo and pace of that show. Call me old-fashioned, but I have always preferred at least a modicum of back story with my gore, flashing lights, and explosions.

This year’s Cooties and Goodnight Mommy will also be seeing their DVD and Blu-ray releases this week, at least one of which will end up on my shelf.

Pleasant viewing, friends.

MOVIES

Cooties (2015)

Starring:

Elijah Wood, Rainn Wilson, Alison Pill, Jack McBrayer, Leigh Whannell

Synopsis:

From the twisted minds of Leigh Whannell (co-creator of Saw and Insidious) and Ian Brennan (co-creator of “Glee”), Cooties is a horror comedy with unexpected laughs and unapologetic thrills. When a cafeteria food virus turns elementary school children into killer zombies, a group of misfit teachers must band together to escape the playground carnage. The film stars Elijah Wood (The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings), Rainn Wilson (“The Office”), and Alison Pill (“The Newsroom”) as teachers who fight to survive the mayhem while hilariously bickering in an uncomfortable love triangle on the worst Monday of their lives.

Purchase:

Goodnight Mommy (2015)

Starring:

Susanna Wuest, Elias Schwarz, Lukas Schwarz

Synopsis:

In the heat of the summer. A lonesome house in the countryside between woods and corn fields. Nine-year-old twin brothers are waiting for their mother. When she comes home, bandaged after cosmetic surgery, nothing is like before. The children start to doubt that this woman is actually their mother. It emerges an existential struggle for identity and fundamental trust.

Purchase:

L.A. Slasher (2015)

Starring:

Andy Dick, Mischa Barton, Dave Bautista, Eric Roberts, Danny Trejo

Synopsis:

Incensed by the tabloid culture which celebrates it, the L.A. Slasher publicly abducts a series of reality TV stars, while the media and general public in turn begin to question if society is better off without them. A biting, social satire about reality TV and the glorification of people who are famous for simply being famous, L.A. Slasher explores why it has become acceptable and even admirable for people to become influential and wealthy based on no merit or talent – purely through notoriety achieved through shameful behavior.

Purchase:

Queen Of Blood (1966) (Blu-ray)

Starring:

John Saxon, Basil Rathbone, Dennis Hopper, Judi Meredith

Synopsis:

Cult icons John Saxon, Dennis Hopper and the legendary Basil Rathbone star in this sci-fi cult classic! In the distant future, scientists receive a distress call from an alien spaceship that has crash-landed on Mars. Dr. Farraday (Rathbone, Tales of Terror) decides to send a team of astronauts, including Allan Brenner (Saxon, Enter the Dragon) and Paul Grant (Hopper, Easy Rider), on a rescue mission. On the planet, they discover a sole survivor: a green-skinned female alien (Florence Marly, Dr. Death Seeker Of Souls). The seductive alien is brought aboard their ship, but soon the horror begins after one man is attacked and dies, drained of his blood. The Queen of Blood is thirsty for more human victims, and as the astronauts try to find their way back to Earth and safety, the Queen s bloodlust has just begun.

Purchase:

Shark Lake (2015)

Starring:

Dolph Lundgren, Sara Malakul Lane, Lance Nicholas

Synopsis:

Action legend Dolph Lundgren goes head-to-head with a blood thirsty shark that has a resort town under siege. As bodies wash up on the lake’s shore an ex-con (Lundgren) must take matters in to his own hands to protect his daughter.

Purchase:

Twice-Told Tales (1963)

Starring:

Vincent Price, Sebastian Cabot, Brett Halsey, Joyce Taylor, Beverly Garland

Synopsis:

A Terrifying Trilogy of Passion, Poison and Possession! It’s spine-tingling terror in triplicate virtuoso of horror. Vincent Price (Tales of Terror, Madhouse) dials up the depravity in this spellbinding trilogy of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s (The Scarlet Letter) chilling classics! Dripping with demented genius, poisonous plants, oozing blood and a corpse in a wedding gown, Twice Told Tales spins three gripping, diabolical nightmares of madness, mayhem and murder most foul. Price stars in all three stories, including “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”, about a scientist who finds the fountain of youth… and lives to regret it; “Rappaccini’s Daughter”, the twisted tale of a demented father whose love for his daughter turns poisonous; and “The House of the Seven Gables”, the ghostly legend of an ancient cursed family who lived for power… and died for greed. The stellar cast includes Sebastian Cabot (The Time Machine), Brett Halsey (Return of the Fly), Beverly Garland (D.O.A.) and Joyce Taylor (13 Frightened Girls!).

Purchase:

Yakuza Apocalypse (2015)

Starring:

Hayato Ichihara, Mio Yûki, Yayan Ruhian

Synopsis:

In the ruthless underground world of the yakuza, Kamiura is the legendary boss of the underlings. He is rumored to be invincible, but in truth is a vampire with superhuman powers. Kamiura’s most loyal underling, Kageyama, is seen as weak by the rest of the gang due to his sensitive skin that can’t be tattooed.  When assassins aware of boss Kamiura’s secret arrive from abroad, he is given an ultimatum: return to the international syndicate he left years ago or die. Refusing, an assassination attempt is made against Kamiura and he bites Kageyama, passing on his vampire powers to the unsuspecting yakuza.

Purchase:

TELEVISION

“Fear the Walking Dead” Season 1

Starring:

Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam Carey

Synopsis:

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 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 and English teacher Travis Manawa 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 our dysfunctional family must either reinvent themselves or embrace their darker histories.

Special Features: A Look At the Series, Inside the Characters of “Fear The Walking Dead”

Purchase:

The post DVD and Blu-ray Releases: December 1, 2015 appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring David Keith, Cathy Moriarty, Alan Rosenberg, Art Evans

Directed by Donald Cammell

Distributed by Scream Factory

There is a sense of deflation when viewing a stylish, solid film marked by capable direction, only to look up the director and find his filmography is either full of duds or lacking in entries. Writer/director Donald Cammell falls into the latter category, placing himself there after committing suicide in 1996 with only four directing credits to his name. It was his fourth film, Wild Side (1995), which landed him in the afterlife once he’d learned the film’s producer re-cut the picture without his input. Overreaction? A noble sacrifice for his art? Both? Either way, Cammell left behind a legacy that includes Mick Jagger’s film debut in Performance (1968), the Dean Koontz-sourced Demon Seed (1977) and White of the Eye (1987), a sweltering tale of psychotic murder set in Arizona. Making use of artistic filmmaking techniques and boasting a very capable cast, White of the Eye is indeed a thrilling mystery that feels like a sibling film to Michael Mann’s Manhunter (1986). All that prevents it from being a totally unheralded classic is the third act, which feels slightly deflated compared to the tense, puzzling build-up that precedes it.

Someone is killing wealthy women in Tucson. The only clues left behind by the killer are evidence of some kind of Indian ritual and a set of fairly rare tire tracks – tires that belong to very few people in the state. One of those people is Paul White (David Keith), a local high-end home theater installer with a wife, Joan (Cathy Moriarty) and young child at home. Paul is about as affable as they come; it just doesn’t add up that he’d be a ritualistic killer. His only real crime is infidelity, which eventually turns out to be his one hope for salvation when his whereabouts need to be determined by a couple of detectives who are convinced he’s their man. Only problem is, should Paul admit his wrongdoing it’ll drive a major wedge between him and Joan. Paul eventually finds his fortunes turned when the killer strikes again while he’s out tending to his tryst, giving him a solid alibi. But if Paul isn’t the one behind these gruesome slayings, then who is?

There are twists in White of the Eye that preclude me from saying anything more than the brief synopsis above. Cammell’s film is taut, brimming with anticipation for the big reveal and far more artistic than the average serial killer picture. The earlier comparison to Manhunter is less for the story content and more for Cammell’s aesthetics, which are very reminiscent of Michael Mann’s early works. This is due to choices such as camera placement, camera movement, flash-cut inserts, and even a bleach bypass process used to degrade flashback sequences. Until the third act takes the film in a new direction, what keeps the pace afloat is Cammell’s decision to imbue his picture with real panache. Some scenes, such as the opening kill, are infused with energy thanks to an abundance of angles and cuts; but this isn’t frenzied like today’s action movies. Keith is superb in the lead role, and Moriarty works well as his wife (although I’ve never found her to be a particularly good actress), but the characters are secondary to the experience of viewing White of the Eye. It’s a shame Cammell left us so early because it would be great to hear his commentary on having made the film all these years later. Visually, he was operating on a level above most contemporaries.

Another obvious comparison to Manhunter can be heard in this film’s score, composed by Rick Fenn and Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason. The keyboard and rock-n-roll compositions are very similar to the work done by Tangerine Dream for Mann’s film. The sound here is distinctly ‘80s, though some of the more psychedelic synthesized melodies sound like they came right out of the ‘70s. A good score can always elevate a film, something this one accomplishes nicely.

As mentioned earlier, the third act brings with it the film’s big reveal, and with that comes a change of course. It can be hard for films playing up a big mystery to maintain that same level of interest once the proverbial cat is out of the bag; White of the Eye swaps out intrigue for savagery, pumping up the film’s pulse immensely. There are some wonderfully unhinged moments of insanity from the killer, including a chilling monologue about setting his victims “free from misery”. Scream Factory’s Blu-ray marks the first time since VHS the film has been issued in the U.S. Setting aside some of the third act’s trite scripting, this is an aesthetically impressive picture that deserves appreciation from a wider audience.

Here is a note which accompanied this review copy:

Please note: The back-of-the-packaging lists that this presentation is from an “all-new transfer taken from the original camera negative”; however, this needs some clarification… The HD transfer is recent (about a year old) but it was not created specifically brand-new for our release. Unfortunately, we learned of this after our product was manufactured and could not correct the verbiage…

Additionally, there is also a text card preceding the film which offers further information:

The 2K transfer of the 35mm negative was done by Arrow Video in the UK and supplied by our licensor, Cinema 7.

Sharpness, grain and clarity fluctuate during the film as director Donald Cammell used different stylistic choices during the filming, including a “bleach bypass” process during some scenes.”

So, based on the above it would be reasonable to expect fluctuations aplenty for the 1.85:1 1080p picture, yet that isn’t quite the case. The biggest inconsistency to be seen here is the film grain, which varies from moderate to heavy – sometimes within a single scene – yet it maintains an organic appearance. Definition is also moderate, never spectacular, though certainly HD. The flashback sequences, done with bleach bypass process, exhibit high contrast and heavy grain – and that’s exactly how they’re supposed to look. Considering all of the “warnings” viewers might be fooled into thinking this is a poor transfer, which simply isn’t the case.

The English DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound track delivers Fenn and Mason’s sweltering synth-laden score with excellent fidelity. Sound effects are nicely separated, allowing this mix to spread out within the soundfield. Dialogue is well-balanced, though a tad muffled at times. An English DTS-HD MA 2.0 track is also included. Subtitles are available in English SDH.

The film’s audio commentary features Donald Cammell biographer Sam Umland who, as some may surmise, is a bit stiff and dry in his lecture-style reading on this track. It is definitely informative, if not a bit snooze-inducing due to his lack of enthusiasm.

“Into the White with Cinematographer Larry McConkey” – The veteran camera operator discusses how he worked with Cammell to block out scenes, achieve aesthetics, and more.

“Into the Vortex with Actor Alan Rosenberg” – He starts off with talking about how much he loves the work of David Cronenberg before segueing into the usual chatter regarding his role here.

“Eye of the Detective with Actor Art Evans” – Want to talk about being a workhorse? This guy was shooting two movies at the same time, flying back and forth between sets for weeks. He also highly praises Cammell.

A reel of deleted scenes, with commentary from Sam Umland, runs for just over 5 minutes. No audio exists for these scenes, which mainly focus on Joan’s part-time job, but Umland knows the intended dialogue and his commentary aids in making them more cohesive.

An alternate credit sequence and “Bleach Bypass Sequences”, which shows the flashback scenes prior to their adjustment, are also included here.

Special Features:

• NEW Into the Vortex – an interview with actor Alan Rosenberg
• NEW Eye of the Detective – an interview with actor Art Evans
• Audio Commentary by Donald Cammell biographer Sam Umland
• Deleted Scenes with commentary by Sam Umland
• Into the White – an interview with cinematographer and Steadicam operator Larry McConkey
• Alternate Credit Sequence
• Flashback Sequences prior to the Bleach Bypass process

The post White of the Eye (Blu-ray) appeared first on Dread Central.

What happens when a serial killer falls for suicidal young woman? Are they destined for a lifetime of happiness, or will he literally be the death of her? We’re about the find out with the new film You (Us) Me having that exact premise. It’s available on Amazon now, so let the killing begin.

From the Press Release:
Shami Media Group presents a Max Sobol film of You (Us) Me, a blood-soaked romantic psychological horror comedy. Now available on Amazon, You (Us) Me follows Edward, a fledgling serial killer who falls in love with Vivian, a suicidal girl who, unbeknownst to him, is only hanging around because she wants Edward to make her his next victim.

Directed by first timer Max Sobol, You (Us) Me is bursting with originality and style. Twitch Film also praised the performances, stating “…excellent performance from Edward (Chris Wilde) and utterly brilliant turn from Vivian (Hannah Kew) ground these extremely disturbed people. Hannah is completely believable as the broken Vivian, portraying both self-destruction and complete disdain effortlessly.”

Having played at a variety of international film festivals, You (Us) Me made its Region 1 DVD debut on Tuesday, November 24th, via Shami Media Group. To follow Max Sobol on Instagram, please click HERE.

The post Serial Killer Love Story You (Us) Me Available Now appeared first on Dread Central.

Directed by brothers Michael and Kevin Goetz, English-language film Martyrs (review) is of course a remake of Pascal Laugier’s same-named French film from 2009. The original was nothing short of a brutal masterpiece, and needless to say, it’s going to be hard for the remake to stack up.

Will it be any good? It won’t be long before we find out. The American remake of Martyrs is headed to limited theaters and Digital HD on January 22, 2016, courtesy of Anchor Bay. In the meantime, you can check out some images below along with all the info you need to know.

Bailey Noble, who played Adilyn Bellefleur in “True Blood,” toplines with “Pretty Little Liars” star Troian Bellisario. Kate Burton (Stay, Big Trouble in Little China) and Blake Robbins (Rubber) round out the cast.

Mark L. Smith (Vacancy, The Hole, The Revenant) penned the screenplay.

Synopsis:
Ten-year-old Lucie flees from the isolated warehouse where she has been held prisoner. Deeply traumatized, she is plagued by awful night terrors at the orphanage that takes her in. Her only comfort comes from Anna, a girl her own age. Nearly a decade later and still haunted by demons, Lucie finally tracks down the family that tortured her. As she and Anna move closer to the agonizing truth, they find themselves trapped in a nightmare – if they cannot escape, a martyr’s fate awaits them…

The post Martyrs Remake Headed Our Way in Early 2016 appeared first on Dread Central.

He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good. I mean, those are things we know about Christmas’ good guy, Santa Claus, and they’re off the chart creepy. Can you imagine what we’ll learn about the bad guy in Krampus? We’ll find out this weekend, but in the interim here are some new stills.

Written and directed by Michael Dougherty (Trick ’r Treat), Krampus is co-written by Zach Shields and Todd Casey and produced by Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni, Alex Garcia, and Dougherty. The film will be released by Universal Pictures on December 4, 2015.

The horror-comedy stars Emjay Anthony, Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Allison Tolman, Conchata Ferrell, Stefania Lavie Owen, and Krista Stadler.

Krampus and his mischievous underlings have been created by the combined efforts of Weta Workshop and Weta Digital, both renowned for their epic work on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies and King Kong, among many others.

Synopsis:
When his dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays, young Max (Anthony) is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas. Little does he know, this lack of festive spirit has unleashed the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing non-believers.

All hell breaks loose as beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own, laying siege to the fractured family’s home and forcing them to fight for each other if they hope to survive.

The post You Better Watch Out for New Krampus Stills appeared first on Dread Central.

Groundbreaking is a word that comes to mind when discussing Paramount’s release strategy for Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (review) and Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension (review), as both films hit limited theaters ahead of a VOD roll-out shortly thereafter.

Per Deadline, the home video experiment will see Scouts Guide hitting VOD just 39 days after it landed in theaters, and Ghost Dimension will be available for digital streaming after 53 days. The former comes home on December 8th, while the latter leaps off the big screen on December 15th.

The studio’s deal with chains including AMC Theatres, Cineplex Entertainment, National Amusements, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Southern Theatres, and Landmark Cinemas allowed it to send the titles to home video 17 days after they were shown in fewer than 300 domestic theaters.

“This flexible distribution model allows us to maximize the revenue potential of these films, satisfy consumer demand through legitimate digital access, while respecting and preserving an exclusive theatrical window,” says Paramount’s President of Worldwide Distribution and Marketing Megan Colligan.

In Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, three Scouts and lifelong friends join forces with one bad-ass cocktail waitress to become the world’s most unlikely team of heroes. When their peaceful town is ravaged by a zombie invasion, they’ll fight for the badge of a lifetime and put their scouting skills to the test to save mankind from the undead.

The Paranormal Activity franchise comes to an end with The Ghost Dimension, which follows a new family who move into a house and discover a video camera and a box of tapes in the garage. When they look through the camera’s lens, they begin to see the paranormal activity happening around them – including the re-emergence of young Kristi and Katie.

The post Scouts Guide and Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension Coming to VOD Early appeared first on Dread Central.

We’re totally on board for any horror film that stars Lance Henriksen, and the latest to feature the grizzled genre icon is the oddly-titled Monday at 11:01 A.M. We don’t yet have a release date but the trailer has arrived today and we’re getting serious déjà vu from it. The Shining, anyone?!

Written by Charles Agron and directed by Harvey Lowry (Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage), the suspense thriller also stars Charles Agron (Dark House), Briana Evigan (Step Up 2 the Streets, Burning Bright), and Lauren Shaw (Zero Dark Thirty).

Synopsis:
Agron and Shaw are Michael and Jenny, a happy couple out for a blissful weekend in a picturesque resort town. While Jenny shops in a local boutique, Michael stops off at the local watering hole, where he meets a friendly bartender (Lance Henriksen) and a sexy temptress (Briana Evigan). Michael declines her overtures, but even stranger events take place in a local hotel – such as ghostly happenings in Suite 327, the sounds of violent lovemaking that only Michael can hear; and a cult of Druid worshipers who suddenly emerge from the local forest and chase after Michael. Doing the smart thing, Michael and Jenny head out of town – only to discover that their only escape route, a mountain tunnel, is blocked by the Highway Patrol.

The post Official Trailer Arrives Monday at 11:01 A.M. appeared first on Dread Central.

A new featurette has arrived for the upcoming Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which reminds us that history is written in blood and shows where it all began…

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 New Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Featurette Shows Where It All Began appeared first on Dread Central.

Every time we think that NECA cannot possibly create any more cool collectibles from the Alien universe, they prove us wrong. Check out the latest right here, and look for these figures in stores this coming April.

Series 7 includes the long-awaited release of brand new figures from Alien vs. Predator, which are the perfect companion pieces to their currently available AvP-based Predator figures.

The Warrior Alien and Grid Alien feature over 30 points of articulation and bendable tails and stand over 9″ tall.

Now, on to the coolest of them all!

Behold the very first concept figure based on the original prototype suit for the “Big Chap” Alien in the 1979 movie. H.R. Giger originally had the suit cast in a translucent flesh-tone, but in one of the many technical hurdles that had to be overcome to bring his creature to life on screen, repeated difficulties with the material forced the change to the coloring seen in the movie.

The figure features 25 points of articulation and bendable tail and stands over 9″ tall. Wow. Just wow.

The post Holiday Alert – NECA Keeps the Cool Alien Stuff Coming! appeared first on Dread Central.

Oh, Krampus. You cannot get here soon enough. Why, you ask? Check out the first clip, which speaks for itself. Then start counting the days!

Written and directed by Michael Dougherty (Trick ’r Treat), Krampus is co-written by Zach Shields and Todd Casey and produced by Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni, Alex Garcia, and Dougherty. The film will be released by Universal Pictures on December 4, 2015.

The horror-comedy stars Emjay Anthony, Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Allison Tolman, Conchata Ferrell, Stefania Lavie Owen, and Krista Stadler.

Krampus and his mischievous underlings have been created by the combined efforts of Weta Workshop and Weta Digital, both renowned for their epic work on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies and King Kong, among many others.

Synopsis:
When his dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays, young Max (Anthony) is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas. Little does he know, this lack of festive spirit has unleashed the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing non-believers.

All hell breaks loose as beloved holiday icons take on a monstrous life of their own, laying siege to the fractured family’s home and forcing them to fight for each other if they hope to survive.

The post Krampus Attacks in First Clip! appeared first on Dread Central.

You know you’re talented when your debut feature gets a remake within a year of its release, and Gustavo Hernandez is one of the few who fit that bill. He burst onto the scene with La Casa Muda in 2010, remade as Silent House in 2011, and up next he makes his English-language debut.

Variety reports out of Ventana Sur that Hernandez is lining up psychological paranormal thriller Persomnia as his third directorial outing. The film is set up at Montevideo’s Mother Superior Films, where Hernandez partners with Ignacio Cucucovich, who will produce.

Written by Juma Fodde Roma, Persomnia centers on a young actress who joins a radical theater troupe experimenting with sleep deprivation in order to perform a play first created and put on in a psychiatric ward 30 years ago – and whose original performers, all inmates, died in a terrible fire.

As the days pass, the actors reach new levels of sensitivity, opening up to the spirits in the hospital in order to achieve unique performances, as these spirits drive the play towards the same terrible ending.

“There have been experiments on insomnia, what happens to people after four, five, six days without sleep. It’s as if their sensibility, perceptions open up to another world,” said Hernandez, adding that Persomnia is a horror film which “also talks about madness in art and just how far artists will go to create something which transcends.”

Hernandez and Cucucovich aim to co-produce with Sebastian Aloi’s Buenos Aires/L.A.-based Aeroplano Films.

What are some of the negative effects of sleep deprivation? Find out below!

The post Gustavo Hernandez’s Persomnia Will Deprive You of Sleep appeared first on Dread Central.

On DVD this coming January 5th is the new film from Micheal Bafaro, Wrecker (review), and we have the details for you cats right here.

Anna Hutchison and Drea Whitburn star.

Synopsis:
Best friends Emily and Lesley go on a road trip to the desert. When Emily decides to get off the highway and take a “short cut,” they become the target of a relentless and psychotic trucker who forces them to play a deadly game of cat and mouse.

The post Wrecker Crashes onto DVD in January appeared first on Dread Central.

When it was announced two years ago that a Trick ‘r Treat sequel was in the works, the plan was for Sam’s return to be put on the fast track. But Michael Dougherty found a different passion project in the form of Krampus, eager to bring the Christmas beast to the screen before anyone else.

Now that Krampus is in the bag and headed our way this weekend, Dougherty is eager to put his focus back on Sam, which means that Trick ‘r Treat 2 should arrive in the not too distant future. In a new interview with Bloody Disgusting, he opened up about the status of the project.

“Trick ‘r Treat 2 is a really rough outline at the moment; my hope is now to turn my attention back to Sam and Halloween so yeah, fingers crossed,” Dougherty told the site.

The full interview will hit Bloody Disgusting this afternoon so keep your eyes peeled.

The post Michael Dougherty Currently Scripting Trick ‘r Treat 2 appeared first on Dread Central.

More and more, games are being released that feel like stripped down versions of the final product, cut into pieces and released piecemeal as part of a season pass. Objections predictably arise when games like Star Wars Battlefront come with a $110 pricetag, and it seems like the days of a complete $60 AAA budget title are behind us. Many multiplayer shooters now are glorified $60 demos that bank on the season pass purchase to shore up profits from a player base that naturally declines over time. It’s a bullshit system, and one that I frankly have decided not to support any longer.

Given how much press and sales these larger exploitative titles get, it’s extremely important to recognize when a title does something right. With the release of the Rise of the Patriarch content pack later this month, Killing Floor 2 will have seen its second free major content update since its release in April. It’s coming just a few months after the previous Incinerate ‘N Detonate pack, and this time delivers a new boss as well as new maps and a Perk. Apparently, the people at Tripwire Interactive were fond of my last few treatments of their title (or at least fearful of my substantial wrath), and once again gave me the chance to preview their new toys. I’ve always enjoyed my time with the title in the past, and having the superiority complex of your typical PC gamer, I quickly snatched up the chance to experience something before the rest of the plebes.

Oh thank God, I was beginning to worry that “Black Forest” wasn’t a legit Killing Floor 2 map! Then I found the derailed future cyber train with trapped mutants, and all was right in the world.

On release, my only problem with the game was that there were only four Perks spread across six players, making for some awkward overlap. Incinerate ‘N Detonate addressed this by adding the hard hitting Demolitionist and crowd clearing Firebug. It still fell short of the seven Perk roster of the original Killing Floor, a discrepancy that has now been balanced out with Return of the Patriarch’s Gunslinger Perk. Though it bears similarities to the Sharpshooter Perk of KF1, the Gunslinger is the first KF2 Perk that isn’t a direct remake from their previous title. Aside from the shared ability to wield two pistols, the two perks fill completely different roles.

While the Sharpshooter was, well, a sharpshooter, the Gunslinger serves as a midrange specialist damage dealer. The Gunslinger’s entire loadout is pistols, all of which can be dual wielded. They start off with Dual 1858 Revolvers, a six shot old west pistol that packs more of a punch than most starting weapons. There’s a tradeoff to single vs dual wield, with the increased firepower of two guns generally outweighing the increased accuracy of a single iron sight pistol. If you buy the second pistol, you cannot go back to using it in one hand unless you sell one, so be ready when you upgrade your gear.

All that’s missing is a machine gun that shoots pistols to go full meta

One of the things I liked most about the Perks introduced in Incinerate N’ Detonate was the differences in specialization. Killing Floor 2’s base Perks all serve a set role, with the Perk selection giving benefits towards providing that specific function. Berserkers could chose between hitting things harder and having more health, but at the end of the day were still just smacking things with hammers. Gunslingers are different, and have to seriously balance a tradeoff of power and speed. Picking between the devastating 500 Handcannon, midrange .50 Desert Eagle, and rapid fire M1911 Pistol is all the choice you might see starting off, but it quickly becomes more complex as you level up the Perk.

Generally, dual wielded pistols are a novelty. There’s only so much variety you can get when your entire arsenal is various iterations of one or two of a sidearm. The Gunslinger makes this decision more meaningful with its Skills, which make you choose between becoming a precision damage dealer or an endless hail of bullets. The first skill unlocked at level five makes you pick between moving faster while aiming down the sights and faster weapon switching with automatic switch when a clip runs out. Level ten has you pick between dealing a flat 20% more damage, and an increasing damage buff up to 75% for consecutive headshots. It continues like this up the ladder, until your final choice between 3x faster fire and unlimited ammo in Zed mode.

While I enjoy the thought of being the kind of calm and calculating cold killing machine that picks all their shots carefully, something about a massive bossmonster charging you with its whirling metal death arms puts me into “spray n’ pray” mode.

What this means for players is that they can effectively fill a number of roles. Precision means killing the big baddies, with the Handcannon tearing through even the Fleshpounder efficiently. Faster weapon swaps make up for the low clip size and long reload time of the more powerful revolvers, allowing you to either dish out maximum damage on one target or clear out more weaker Zed more effectively. Combined with the variety offered by the various pistols and their one vs two handed styles, it allows the Perk to be molded fluidly into the style of your choosing.

Getting into the minutia, there are some little things that make the Perk both more and less enjoyable. The ability to purchase each gun individually is nice, as the cost barrier for the game’s higher level weapons can often be prohibitive. Since each dual wielded version is just the cost of buying the single one twice, it eases you into the higher tier weapons better. It might not be initially apparent, but guns also sell as single units. This might sound like a bit of a nitpick, but it doesn’t immediately explain this to you, and a couple of times I messed up my inventory this way. Also, since ammo pickups provide you with only a single clip, they end up being practically worthless for Gunslingers. Each drop will only give you around six bullets for your revolvers, requiring you to carry one of each weapon to make hunting down ammo worthwhile.

For eight months, Hans Volter has been the single big baddie to overcome during the climactic finale of a Killing Floor 2 match. After a long wait, we finally have a new foe to overcome with the return of the Patriarch, KF1’s endgame nemesis. They have mercifully given him a makeover, as he previously looked like something out of a 14 year old’s “badass monster drawings” notebook. The new patriarch is a hulking beast, more reminiscent of Resident Evil’s Tyrant than Herbert West after a bad transporter accident.

According to my calculations, turning invisible right after you finally get a good angle on me would be the most annoying move by 300%!

Fans of the original will recognize a lot of his moves and playstyle. Preferring to keep at range, the Patriarch is more likely to bombard than bludgeon. While Volter used easy to avoid gas grenades to flush out foes, the Patriarch employs a much more direct missile barrage. It makes cover a temporary option, and movement crucial to avoid damage from his assault cannon fire. To shore up his melee weakness, he constantly spawns hordes of weaker enemies to clog up the frontline.

As in the original, he can become temporarily invisible to heal and move to a more advantageous position, making his fight feel much more like an aggressive hunt than Volter’s kiting match. While Volter’s ranged skills were much easier to dodge, the Patriarch’s melee grab is his weak move, providing the best time to deal damage and reposition. I only fought him as a Gunslinger and Berserker so far, but he feels less challenging than Volter. I’m sure his array of moves and endless hordes of spawned zombies scale into higher difficulties very well, but I won’t pretend to be able to speak to the effect of how it plays on Hell on Earth mode.

Return of the Patriarch also introduces new maps, Farmhouse and Black Forest. Farmhouse was my favorite of the two, offering a small manageable map with plenty of satisfying chokepoints. Black Forest is much more open, necessitating more area coverage and mobility to filter the hordes. While both are fine and functional, neither felt as unique as Incinerate ‘N Detonate’s twisting Catacombs. They certainly aren’t bad, but I doubt the title would feel incomplete without them.

Has barn, legitimate Farmhouse confirmed.

Along with that, there’s a new character and hats, which I don’t care about. They also added in some kind of cosmetic shop at some point, which I also don’t care about.

When I first covered Killing Floor 2 back in June, people were critical of the slow content releases. With only two major updates in the eight months the game has been out, some might feel like there isn’t rapid enough return to invest their time. I find this notion troubling. Killing Floor 2 is a $30 Early Access game, that releases good and finished content as it is developed. This isn’t Evolve, rolling out the gate with an anemic roster 1/3 hidden behind a paywall. This isn’t Battlefront demanding $50 for the privilege of experiencing the rest of their game. This is a game that rightfully says, “hey there, we aren’t done, but check out what we have so far. This is all part of the full game, so it’ll all be introduced in the future free of cost. Because obviously, we want to sell a complete package, and of course you should give people a full game when it is done with all the content. What kind of terrible monsters would dream of doing anything else?”

When Incinerate N’ Detonate was introduced in September, I said it made the already enjoyable $30 package well worth it. Return of the Patriarch continues this trend. It’s great to see how far this title has come, with receptive patches and a genuine desire to deliver on promises. Each content pack has introduced not only just new stuff, but unique stuff that makes the game feel fresh and compelling. I look forward to what this title has to offer in months to come, though I already know what I’ll be saying about future updates. It’s already worth it, and will just become a better deal over time.

The post Progress Report: Killing Floor 2 – Return of the Patriarch Update appeared first on Dread Central.

Production of James Wan’s The Conjuring 2: The Enfield Poltergeist is cooking, and right now we have a cool new still along with some quotes from Patrick Wilson on what to expect! Read on!

“James has pushed himself and pushed himself,” Wilson tells Entertainment Weekly. “A month ago we shot this one scene, and I said to him, ‘Four movies with you, man, and this was the creepiest scene I’ve ever done.’ It was so freaky and bizarre and strange — just get ready!”

The investigations of Ed (Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) have always been surrounded by skepticism, and that skepticism is confronted head-on in the upcoming sequel.

“Without giving anything away, (Wan) wouldn’t settle for the film ending with me giving an exorcism and then the witch goes away. We can’t do that again, so we don’t… I love that they pushed the skepticism of it, I love that they pushed the Warrens’ involvement, and it’s awesome. And we stole from a couple real situations where the Warrens were confronted by skeptics because James is real conscious of that. He knows that fans who want to believe will see the movies, but he knows there are a lot of skeptics out there, so why not show that? We probably had more fun shooting it than the first one. I love it; it was fantastic.”

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.

Also dig on the image below courtesy of James Wan on Twitter.

The post New Still From The Conjuring 2; Patrick Wilson Speaks! appeared first on Dread Central.

The Full Moon franchise of choice, Puppet Master, is still going strong decades after the first film premiered; and right now we have your first look at the artwork for the latest entry, Puppet Master: Axis Termination.

According to the artwork this is the final entry in the “Axis” trilogy within the franchise, which began with Puppet Master: Axis of Evil and then continued in Puppet Master: Axis Rising.

At press time story details are being kept under wraps, but Charles Band promises the film will be something along the lines of Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge in terms of tone and bloodshed.

Stay tuned for more, and dig on the artwork below courtesy of Shock Till You Drop.

The post Full Moon Unveils Puppet Master: Axis Termination Artwork appeared first on Dread Central.

You want cool? This is cool, but man is it gonna cost you! Get ready, kids. The ultimate Hellraiser collectible is here… but again, it’s gonna cost you!

As per Clive Barker’s official site…

Presented as a hand-made, extremely limited edition, this Lament Configuration is an exact replica of a puzzle box that has been part of Clive’s personal collection for over 25 years.

Painstakingly molded as one unit, cast in resin and hand-painted to preserve the look and patina of the piece, each Lament Configuration is assembled in-house, onto a custom-made base and comes numbered with a Certificate of Authenticity.

This item is being be pre-sold until January the 1st 2016, or to a maximum of 87 orders (whichever is reached first). No orders after this date shall be accepted. Nor shall this item be made available again.

Shipping: February 2016. Price: $450.00

The post Hellraiser – Get Your Own Exact Replica of the Lament Configuration appeared first on Dread Central.

More news has come in via Scream Factory on Facebook! The label just announced that a special edition of John Carpenter’s 1995 remake of Village of the Damned is officially on its way.

“We’re pleased to start off December on a high note with the announcement of a future release that’s been requested several times over the years: John’s Carpenter’s 1995 remake of VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED!  This underrated shocker will be making its long overdue appearance on Blu-ray late next spring/early summer. And, yes, it is planned as a Collector’s Edition (extras are already in progress). Our 2016 schedule is shaping up with lots more surprises. Expect more announcements in the beginning of next year (but we may drop some more this month before the holidays).”

More soon!

The post Scream Factory Visiting John Carpenter’s Village of the Damned appeared first on Dread Central.

Remember that part in the Bible where a swarm of locusts attacks the earth because, you know, it sounds really cool to attack mankind with a ton of pesky insects? Writer/director Milko Davis has taken that biblical prophecy and given it a low-budget, B-movie spin. Tsunambee: The Wrath Cometh is headed in your direction, and no amount of praying can stop it.

Even if you’re not into the whole religious horror thing, at least you can sit back and watch as a group of unfortunate individuals are torn asunder by bees — or wasps, according to the official synopsis. Tsunamwasp just doesn’t have the same ring to it, so I’m willing to forgive this hiccup for the sake of cheesy horror-oriented goodness. Insert extremely tacky belch here.

The aforementioned synopsis gives you a clear picture of what’s going down:

As the world ends, a wrath is released that torments man for days. Symbolic in scripture of locusts plaguing man, huge swarms of wasps attack a small rural town at the beginning of a series of apocalyptic events. As a gang tries to leave the city, their escape is cut short by a group of farmers taking the law into their own hands. A local sheriff is the only hope of order left, but options are limited as the groups become tangled trying to escape an attack of biblical proportions. They must now work together to survive as the end of time ensues by setting aside their differences.

If that plot gives you a case of the holy heebie-jeebies, then have a look at the trailer and artwork for Tsunambee: The Wrath Cometh below. If more information is what you crave, swing by the official Facebook page to learn more about the movie and the folks who brought it to life.

The post Tsunambee: The Wrath Cometh Unleashes Horror of Biblical Proportions appeared first on Dread Central.