We know that you guys are probably a bit fatigued by all the various Kickstarter/Indiegogo campaigns out there these days, but when we heard about Tyler Requa’s Party Monsters, we thought it worthy of a mention.  Especially because it’s only a few thousand dollars away from its goal!

The Party Monsters Kickstarter campaign just has two weeks to go, and the details are as follows:

The 19th century’s most notorious literary characters, out of step with the times, find camaraderie as roommates in modern-day Los Angeles…

After inheriting her grandmother’s old collection of dusty books, a young woman from a small town in Washington comes across several journals that reveal decades of thoughts and stories written by a doctor called Henry Jekyll.

Meanwhile, hidden behind the walls of a castle in the Hollywood Hills and clueless of where his lost journals could have wound up, this mysterious Dr. Jekyll (Chad Lindberg) and his peculiar friends – Frankenstein’s Monster (Robert Mukes), Dorian Gray (Jeff Branson), The Phantom of the Opera, and the occasional visitor Mr. Hyde (Lindberg) – have managed to maintain a relatively low profile… up until now.

As they are forced back into society fueled by a new designer drug from Dr. Jekyll and fight over morality, women, the dishes, and everything in between, back in Washington, the young woman dives into countless pages of Dr. Jekyll’s thoughts that unveil hilarious events and bizarre secrets from their past, including scientific findings, encounters with iconic figures, and a connection with historical murder mysteries.

Tyler Requa (The Flats) is the project’s creator, and Elen Santana is its producer. Along with the actors mentioned above, Mary Elise Hayden has also signed on and will be playing the role of Mary, aka the Bride of Frankenstein.

The goal is to treat the project as a pilot given the changing landscape of the television business and all of the opportunities that the disruptive and new technology and business models are making available to content creators. They hope to have something exciting and fresh to show to all of the traditional cable channels that are spending more and more on original programming like HBO, Epix, Starz, and Showtime as well as direct-to-consumer platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and Apple.

Check out the pitch video and a few character portraits below.  If you like what you see, be sure to help out the Party Monsters campaign.

The post Party Monsters Nearing Kickstarter Goal; Help Tyler Requa Bring Them to Life appeared first on Dread Central.

Robert Loggia was an Oscar and Emmy nominee whose roles include memorable turns in such diverse films as Scarface, Prizzi’s Honor, and Big; but he also dabbled more than a few times in the horror genre. It’s with a heavy heart we report that Loggia, age 85, passed away on December 4th after a five-year battle with Alzheimer’s.

Some of the genre projects Loggia, a native of Staten Island, appeared in are Innocent Blood, Psycho II, “The Outer Limits” (1995–2002), “Tales of the Unexpected,” and, released just this year, Bleeding Hearts.

“He loved being an actor,” his widow, Audrey Loggia, told Variety. “He used to say that he never had to work.”

If only we could all be so fortunate.  Thanks for the great memories, Mr. Loggia.  RIP.

The post Rest in Peace: Robert Loggia appeared first on Dread Central.

At the 2015 Game Awards, Ubisoft confirmed that the much anticipated Far Cry: Primal will be released on February 23, 2016. They also revealed a pretty awesome trailer that shows off some of the prehistoric beasts that will be featured in the game.

They also announced that it will be available in a Collector’s Edition, which will feature bonus missions where you play as a mammoth in addition to a bunch of cool physical items such as a map, a phrase book, and a box with a sabre-toothed cat design. So I guess if you’re a Far Cry fan, this is a must-have.

Synopsis:
In Far Cry: Primal you play as Takkar, the last member of a tribe of seasoned hunters. In order to survive the Stone Age, you must use every tool at your disposal. Tame the beasts you encounter, and you may just become top of the food chain.

Rise above extinction in Far Cry: Primal, coming February 23, 2016.

Key Features:

– RISE ABOVE EXTINCTION
As Takkar, you have one goal: survival in a world where you are the prey.

– STONE AGE BY FAR CRY
This isn’t the Stone Age you thought you knew. This is the Stone Age with irreverence and mayhem. This is the Stone Age by Far Cry.

– A WORLD RULED BY GIANT BEASTS
After the last Ice Age, the glaciers retreated to leave behind a land blooming with nature and resources where humans and animals alike can thrive – provided they have what it takes to prove their dominance.

The post Far Cry: Primal Gets a Monster-Filled Trailer and Release Date appeared first on Dread Central.

Now this is one weird trailer, for what will no doubt be one weird film. Light on plot details and void of dialogue, it does a hell of a job establishing the arty, surreal tone of the upcoming Lung II. And it’s in black and white, in case you hadn’t noticed.

Lung II (Facebook) comes from Phil Stevens, who bought us this year’s horror film Flowers, which was also free of dialogue. And while non-traditional films of this kind may not be to everyone’s tastes, it seems that we have ourselves a filmmaker who really isn’t afraid to take risks and march to the beat of his own drum.

Synopsis:
A nameless man wanders the city, littered with necrotic artifacts and a trail of corpses. Are his grotesque hallucinations clues to a violent past?

The post Lung II Trailer Will Leave You Lost for Words appeared first on Dread Central.

The Witcher 3 may just have won the Game of the Year 2015 Award, but there’s another dark fantasy RPG which could be taking home that crown next year. Dark Souls III will launch for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC on April 12, 2016.

As is the custom with most major releases these days, there will be a Limited Collector’s Edition in addition to a Day One Edition. The Collector’s Edition includes a soundtrack, cloth map, art box, and a 10-inch knight statue. The Day One Edition will include the soundtrack and a guide book.

There’s also a Prestige Edition, so far only confirmed for Europe, which will include most of the content of the Collector’s Edition, but it will replace the knight statue with a hand-painted statue of the Lord of Cinder.

Dark Souls 3 will return to the insanely difficult RPG gameplay that the series has made us accustomed to, where everything that moves tries its best to kill you.

The post Dark Souls III Gets A Release Date and Special Editions appeared first on Dread Central.

Well, well, well... or should be saying ho, ho, ho?  In a very surprising turn of events, especially in light of the genre’s recent decline at the box office (Victor Frankenstein and Crimson Peak, we’re talking to you!), this weekend’s holiday horror flick Krampus (review) surpassed forecasts (around $10,000,000 or just above) with a whopping $16,020,000 (estimated for the U.S.) against a budget of only roughly $15,000,000.

Per Box Office Mojo, its foreign take was $3,300,000, resulting in a worldwide total of approx. $19,320,000.

Congrats to Legendary/Universal and especially director Michael Doughterty, who burst onto the scene in 2007 with the beloved Halloween-themed Trick ‘r Treat, for showing he’s no one-trick pony.  Now maybe Trick ‘r Treat 2 really will happen… finally!

Holding on to first place for the third week in a row is The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (review), with an estimated $18,600,00 domestically plus another $32,400,000 worldwide.

And that’s pretty much it for the theatrical horror releases this year (unless you count In the Heart of the Sea and The Revenant, which both pit man vs. nature), but 2016 kicks off with quite a few in the early going: The Forest (January 8th), The 5th Wave (January 15th), and The Boy (January 22nd).

Did you see Krampus? Let us know what you thought in the comments section below!

The post Krampus Shocks Hollywood and Lands in the #2 Spot at the Box Office! appeared first on Dread Central.

Developed by Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw

Available on PC through Steam

Not rated by ESRB (Suitable for 14+)

Low quality, budget horror games are a dime a dozen on Steam. Every week, I sift through the terrible trove of trash new releases, picking out the few good ones and shoving the rest on the backburner for a Bottom of the Bargain Bin review. I’ve developed a kind of sixth sense about gaming quality, and can hazard a pretty reasonable guess as to whether most things will be crap from a single trailer and the price tag. Generally, anything valued below $5 with an Unity engine load screen is pretty sure to land on my shit list. Flash is also a big no-no.

My bullshit detector was thrown off by The Consuming Shadow, as the shoddy Flash animation visuals didn’t reflect the bold $10 asking price. It has a “Very Positive” user rating, which granted means very little to me, but was enough to get me to at least look over the rest of the store page. It appeared to be another horror roguelike, touting procedurally generated dungeons and oodles of collectibles. The world needs more copy/paste roguelikes like it needs another ISIS, but at least I can play them drunk, so I might as well give it a shot. I looked for the developer info, wondering what miniature studio I’d be pestering today for a review copy.

Turns out, the sole developer is internet personality Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw, sensational creator of the Zero Punctuation review series and single reason why anyone googles “Escapist Magazine.” I’ve been a fan of Mr. Croshaw ever since his YouTube review for The Darkness demo, and have tuned in every Wednesday to see what kind of zany analogies he’ll come up this week to rapid fire deliver in a pleasing vaguely british accent. If I were the type of person that felt comfortable having emotions, I’d make some kind of connection between his work and my desire to be a video game critic. However, hero worship and nostalgia makes me uncomfortable, so I’ll just say that being able to review one of his games is pretty neat.

It also raised an uncomfortable question in my mind. If this game didn’t have Yahtzee’s name on it, would it be $10? Menus, character models, objects, and prompts are all designed with the telltale Flash clunkiness. It’s all blocky and without a sense of real depth, like it was all made by glueing bits of construction paper together. The interior of the car and inventory overlay doesn’t mesh, with too many rough edges and contrasting colors. It looks astonishingly amateur, and really soured my initial reaction.

DON’T LOOK BACK! Because you can’t… I didn’t model the back of the car.

Visual crumminess aside, I stayed with the game 0% out of hero worship and 100% from journalistic integrity. I learned two things very quickly: there’s more to the game than meets the eye, and it’s terrible to play drunk. Volume after volume of bestiary entry, descriptive event text, and crucial puzzle hints taunted my booze addled brain. This game requires you to read. A lot. Not in the RPG kind of “skip it if you want and you’ll probably be fine” way, either. A huge part of this game is piecing together little clues in a puzzle grid, which when correctly assembled will give you the solution for the final banishment of this runthrough’s particular randomized eldritch horror. The amount to explore, experience, and uncover proved too much for my current condition. Admitting the harsh reality of my personal failings, I stopped playing to sleep it off.

Coffee in hand and hangover slowly nursing away, I took another crack at banishing an English eldrich beast. Though there are four playable characters, you only start off with The Scholar, a balanced jack-of-all-trades with no specialization. The first challenge of the game is to correctly not click the “Kill Yourself” button, which of course I clicked the first time out of curiosity. Clicking this will kill you. I honestly don’t know what else I expected. Since it gives you one of the ending achievements, I’ll consider it a win.

Instructions unclear, what happens if I click?

After a brief intro, you get behind the wheel of your car and plot a course through an increasingly demonically plagued England. Traveling from town to town takes time, which constantly ticks down to remind you of the imminent apocalypse. Travel times elapse in a kind of “fast forward” effect, rapidly running down the clock as scenery passes by your windshield. Random events can stop you while driving, ranging from an entire dungeon to a text from your daughter saying she loves you. The random events are always a dice roll, but it never felt like any of them were so pivotal that an entire run was dictated by bullshit RNG.

Towns themselves offer a guaranteed encounter, and the status of the town dictates what kind of options are available. Corrupted towns generally just serve as a single dungeon, while human towns can also double over as shops. Every encounter is presented as a static image accompanied by a text block, so the strength of the writing and your imagination are largely responsible for your investment in the world. This isn’t a funny game, and Yahtzee flexes his macabre storytelling muscles quite impressively. It’s nothing totally new, but varied and compelling. The attention given to every passage and descriptive prose is a clear reflection of his love for storytelling.

The ultimate goal of each individual playthrough is to find the key runes to a banishment ritual, travel to Stonehenge, cast said banishment ritual, and beat a boss. Along the way, you stuff your inventory with useful items in standard roguelike fare. It can actually be kind of difficult to find useful stuff, as generally the encounters necessary to make money replace the situations where said money can be used to buy stuff. It all shakes out fine in the long run, but early on you’ll either find yourself broke or without anywhere to spend your mountain of cash. The extremely limited inventory can also be a pain, as you can’t hold any amount of bullets above six. It makes you go from fully stocked to completely fucked aggravatingly fast, but I guess that’s the feeling of tension he was going for. I can see why he wouldn’t want you to farm lesser encounters and stock up on health packs and hollow-point rounds, but my apparent lack of pockets breaks my immersion.

Alright chittering shadows, I’ve got six bullets and a book. Come at me.

Entering a dungeon switches the game to a silhouetted 2D action mode. You walk from room to room searching for loot and punching monsters when they pop up. The objectives are all simple enough, generally requiring some permutation of “get to the end of the dungeon, then run out.” The twisted enemies all have predictable attack patterns, giving the game a skill cap to balance out the random chance. Part of the fun is figuring out just how all the enemies work, and killing them slowly builds up a bestiary providing insight into their otherworldly origins.

Ending a run gives you experience based on how well you did. At the start of a run, you are shown a map of the constellations, and are able to pick a number of “Birth Stars” based on your level. These stars confer a bonus based on proximity to constellations, meaning that a star halfway between the research bonus star and the health bonus star will give you 50% of each. It’s a cool concept, but generally falls into the same pitfall of min/maxing that most RPGs do.

Although, if you have just shy of 400 stars to place, you can just go ahead and not worry about optimal builds.

The Consuming Shadow is an example of how to make atmosphere with minimal resources. The blocky shapes and shadowy figures mix well with the limited lighting and cramped environments, creating a constant sense of unknown tension. The well realized text narrative creates a mood for the world that transcends the need for cutscenes and full voice acting. The procedural nature of discovering the ultimate enemy engages you in a way a simple checklist of objectives wouldn’t. It feels like you are reading a great book, and I mean that as the utmost praise.

Still, there’s only so good a game of this limited scope can be. Aside from playing through the same kind of adventure with different characters, there’s nothing to do. There’s plenty to explore, tons to see, and a lot to uncover, but once you’ve seen it all you’re basically done. It lacks the insane randomness and difficulty of roguelikes like The Binding of Isaac, which can sap away hundreds of hours of playtime. The Consuming Shadow is an incredibly good game to sink your teeth into, discover the intricacies of, and leave with fond memories. Like a novel, it lasts for a couple of days. I recommend it for for anyone looking for a slower and more methodical title, and should get under your skin in a way other horror games can’t.

The post Consuming Shadow, The (Video Game) appeared first on Dread Central.

Ben Wheatley’s adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s same-named novel High-Rise has scored itself some distro Stateside, and we have all the initial details you need right here! Dig ’em!

From the Press Release:
Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today that they have acquired U.S. rights to HIGH-RISE, the highly-anticipated new film from acclaimed British genre-bending director Ben Wheatley (A FIELD IN ENGLAND, SIGHTSEERS, KILL LIST). The film, starring Tom Hiddleston (THE AVENGERS, CRIMSON PEAK), Jeremy Irons (BATMAN V SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE), Sienna Miller (AMERICAN SNIPER), Luke Evans (DRACULA UNTOLD), and Elizabeth Moss (“MAD MEN”), chronicles the savage breakdown of social order inside a giant residential apartment block. Written by Amy Jump based on J.G. Ballard’s seminal 1975 sci-fi novel, HIGH-RISE world-premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.

HIGH-RISE stars Hiddleston as Dr. Robert Laing, the newest resident of a luxurious apartment in a high-tech concrete skyscraper whose lofty location places him amongst the upper class. Laing quickly settles into high society life and meets the building’s eccentric tenants: Charlotte (Miller), his upstairs neighbor and bohemian single mother; Wilder (Evans), a charismatic documentarian who lives with his pregnant wife, Helen (Moss); and Mr. Royal (Irons), the enigmatic architect who designed the building. Life seems like paradise to the solitude-seeking Laing. But as power outages become more frequent and building flaws emerge, particularly on the lower floors, the regimented social strata begins to crumble, and the building becomes a battlefield in a literal class war.

“Ben Wheatley is one of the most fascinating filmmakers working today, constantly breaking down genre walls, and HIGH-RISE is no different,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “Audiences will find this highly-entertaining and inventive thriller as exciting and relevant today as Ballard’s book was when it was released nearly forty years ago.”

“I’m extremely happy that Magnet is going to be releasing HIGH-RISE, a long-cherished RPC project, as we had such satisfying results with 13 ASSASSINS,” said producer Jeremy Thomas.

Magnet, who distributed Wheatley’s first film, DOWN TERRACE, is planning a 2016 theatrical release.

“I’m very excited about working with Magnet again,” said Wheatley. “They have the brains and the balls to handle the crazy beast that is HIGH-RISE.”

HIGH-RISE is a Jeremy Thomas, HanWay Films, Film4, BFI presentation, in association with Northern Ireland Screen, Ingenious Media, Scope Invest Producteurs, S Films, of a Recorded Picture Co. production. Produced by Jeremy Thomas, Executive producers are Peter Watson, Thorsten Schumacher, Lizzie Francke, Sam Lavender, Anna Higgs, Gabriella Martinelli, Christopher Simon, and Genevieve Lemal. Nick O’Hagan and Alainee Kent are co-producers.

The post Magnet Attracts Ben Wheatley’s High-Rise appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Craig Wasson, Fred Astaire, John Houseman, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Melvyn Douglas

Directed by John C. Irvin

Distributed by Scream Factory

When someone mentions the term “ghost story”, what are some images that are conjured up? A spooky atmosphere. Blue-tinted, foggy, moonlit nights. A large mansion looming over acres of New England property. Spirits, often malevolent, lurking around every corner. Ghastly sights to chill the blood. That’s what springs forth in my mind, and I’d be willing to bet other horror fans would say some of the same, too; however, despite there being a many ghostly films there are few which fully encompass these traits and deliver a great film in the process. One of those few is Ghost Story (1981), the tale of four old codgers from New England who get together for the express purpose of telling scary stories. But the men also harbor a decades-old secret, one that has returned from beyond the grave to exact vengeance.

The film is based on a novel written by author Peter Straub, and by all accounts those who loved the book have been less than pleased with the accompanying feature. As mentioned in the bonus features, perhaps a television mini-series would have been the way to go. But for me, as someone who never read the source novel, the film was plenty satisfying. Just look at the main cast list alone: Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Melvyn Douglas, John Houseman and Fred Astaire. The presence of these men alone piqued my interest, but to have them in a solid spook story only adds to the grandeur that is Ghost Story.

Just as in The Fog (1980) one year earlier, this picture opens with narration from the gravelly voice of John Houseman. His character, Sears James, is one of four members of the Chowder Society – the others being Ricky Hawthorne (Fred Astaire), Dr. John Jaffrey (Melvyn Douglas) and Mayor Edward Charles Wanderley (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) – a group of lifelong friends who enjoy sitting in stately rooms and drinking brandy while trying to scare the bejesus out of each other with tales of madness. When one of Edward’s sons dies in a freak accident, falling out of a New York City high rise window, his other son, Don (Craig Wasson, playing both brothers) heads up to the family estate to comfort dad. But there isn’t much love lost between those two.

Something is bothering the members of the Chowder Society, and the death of Edward’s son seems to have brought forth memories and feelings of a forgotten past. When apparent accidents cause two of the members to lose their lives Don joins in with the men and, after telling a ghost story of his own in order to gain membership in the group, learns from the remaining members that the apparitions who now plague them might be related to an incident from their youth. Though the claim seems dubious, it becomes increasingly difficult to deny that some vengeful soul isn’t stalking each of the men and attempting to claim their lives.

Setting aside any complaints viewers may have about the script or the changes from the book, nobody can deny this film is dripping with venerable talent. Wasson must have felt like a babe in the woods standing alongside these titans of cinema. This was the last feature film for three of the four old timers (only Houseman continued to work) and their respective roles here as elder statesmen living a high society life seems fitting given their prestige. These guys commanded attention throughout their careers, and even in these subdued, low-key roles each is just as magnetic. Astaire, in particular, has such a soulful, expressive face. The acting seems effortless across the board. A worthy send-off for some of the old guard.

The talent behind the camera is just as astounding, in particular two men who helped shape the overall look of Ghost Story – matte artist Albert Whitlock and make-up effects guru Dick Smith. Need I say more? The work these men did back in their prime still holds up flawlessly to this day. The ghouls Smith created here are so lifelike and unsettling; with attention to detail that makes his work second to none. The reaction of the men upon seeing his fiends is palpable. And Whitlock’s work is so seamlessly integrated into the picture most viewers won’t even notice it’s there.

Not every film adapted from a novel needs to slavishly recreate those pages on the big screen. The movie you make in your mind when you read a book can’t be replicated anyway. Having watched and enjoyed Ghost Story, I’m feeling inspired to grab a copy of Straub’s novel and read it for comparisons sake. Director John Irvin’s film is stocked with talent across the board and the story is effectively unfolded over the course of this bleak Gothic nightmare, placing it right near the top of my go-to ghost movies.

Time has been kind to the film’s 1.85:1 1080p image. The print has very little damage and only minor instances of dirt. Colors are accurate and nicely saturated, with some of Smith’s make-up work really popping among the dour palette. Medium shots are a little on the soft side, but close-ups often show a nice level of detail. Shadow delineation is spotty in some of the darker scenes, but overall this image handles all conditions well and comes out looking solid.

An English DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono track has no problem carrying the film’s modest sound mix. Dialogue is present and balanced, while the film’s spine-tingling sound effects are equally as represented. The score by composer Philippe Sarde is the perfect classical complement to the film, sounding both crisp and chilling. Subtitles are available in English.

Director John C. Irvin delivers the audio commentary, discussing his experience of being new to the Hollywood scene, casting the film, working with legends and so forth.

“Ghost Story Genesis” – Author Peter Straub is interviewed here, reading passages from the novel, talking about differences in the film, the score, lectures, revisions he’s made and more. Great insight into the film and the story.

“Ghost Story Development” – This piece tackles the issue of adapting the massive novel into something workable for a feature film. It’s a fascinating look at the process and logic behind such a task.

“Alice Krige: Being Alma & Eva” – After getting hooked on drama in college, the actress began a career filled with “amazing experiences”. She’s still a looker, too.

“Albert Whitlock Visual Effects with Bill Taylor” -Taylor breaks down many of Whitlock’s effects in the film, discussing how he achieved certain looks and reinforcing the fact that Whitlock was the man in his field.

The film’s theatrical trailer, a TV spot, two radio spots, and a photo gallery are also included.

Special Features:

• New Audio Commentary by Director John Irvin
• New Interviews with Author Peter Straub, Actress Alice Krige, Screenwriter Lawrence D. Cohen, Producer Burt Weissbourd and Matte Photographer Bill Taylor
• Vintage Theatrical Trailer, TV and Radio Spots
• Photo Gallery

The post Ghost Story (Blu-ray) appeared first on Dread Central.

Dying Light was undoubtably one of the best zombie games in recent memory, so the announcement of an enhanced edition bundled with The Following expansion sure as hell has us hyped. The zombie slaying begins when Dying Light: The Following – Enhanced Edition is released in February.

From the Press Release:
Important Announcement: To all survivors!

We’re so excited to say that Dying Light: The Following – Enhanced Edition is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC with the launch date set to February 9, 2016. This definitive zombie experience will include an enhanced version of the original game, the expansion pack Dying Light: The Following, The Bozak Horde mode, the Be the Zombie mode, the Cuisine & Cargo challenge missions, the Ultimate Survivor Bundle, and all the content updates released to date – all that at the price of $59.99.

We didn’t want to follow a beaten track and just re-release our game in a new wrapping. That’s why for the last half-year we’ve been working on a ton of enhancements. We’re adding bonus post-game content, a Nightmare difficulty level, nearly 100 new animations, new NPC models, advanced AI behaviors, and more. One year after the original release, Dying Light will be bigger than ever.

These enhancements will be made available to all Dying Light players, so don’t forget to check out our announcement trailer and stay tuned for more cool news coming this week.

The post Dying Light: The Following Expansion to Include Enhanced Edition of the Original Game appeared first on Dread Central.

Don’t know about you guys, but this season of “American Horror Story” has felt extremely tedious. With that in mind, we’re hoping the powers-that-be recoup with a stronger season next year. Speaking of which, the first casting news has come to light.

Emma Roberts (pictured; “Scream Queens”) announced during an interview with Yahoo! that she’s been in contact with creator Ryan Murphy, and she’s on board for what’s next.

“Ryan and I said next season we’ll do something amazing and devilish. I love this season, I watch most of it with my eyes closed, but I think I get the gist. I love Lady Gaga so much, so I was like, ‘Next season I want to work with Lady Gaga for sure.’”

The post Emma Roberts and Lady Gaga Returning to American Horror Story Next Season appeared first on Dread Central.

Seems like things are on the upswing for Relativity Media, who recently filed bankruptcy, as The Wrap is reporting that the studio announced its slate for 2016; and it includes the sequel to the 2008 Bryan Bertino film The Strangers.

Look for The Strangers 2 in theaters on December 2, 2016. It’s unclear whether or not the previously announced Marcel Langenegger is still on board to direct. Stay tuned.

Ben Ketai (Chosen) is the latest writer on the sequel, which follows a family on the verge of sending their troubled teenage daughter to boarding school as they embark on one last family trip to a mobile home park that their uncle runs. Their last bonding opportunity turns to horror when the teenage children discover the bodies of their aunt and uncle, fresh from a recent visit from the Strangers — Man in the Mask, Pin Up Girl, and Dollface. The night becomes a race to escape for the family as the masked killers take new pleasure in tormenting their victims in this twisted sequel that picks up where the original’s bloody footprints leave off.

The post The Strangers 2 Gets a Release Date appeared first on Dread Central.

We’ve all had them. Those things… those horrid… painful… things. Right now the first word about the new horror flick The Zit is here,  and it’s gonna take more than just Noxema to deal with this bastard!

According to Variety, Casa Muda’s Gustavo Hernandez of Montevideo-based Mother Superior and Ignacio Cucucovich are set to produce El Grano (The Zit) directed by Manuel Facal, one of Latin America’s directors who has most consistently targeted a broad YA and geek crowd.

The Zit is set up as a co-production between Mother Superior and Sebastian Aloi’s Buenos Aires and L.A.-based Areoplano Films.  It’s described by Facal as a romantic comedy which morphs into psychological horror – though the over-the-top symbolism will no doubt still deliver some humor to later events.

The Zit tells the tale of a young woman who falls in love with René, a young man. But a zit begins to grow on her face and starts looking like her dead ex-boyfriend, feeding on her guilt and then fear, developing human features and becoming more and more dangerous for her new boyfriend.

The post Monstrous Zit Breaks Out on Mother Superior appeared first on Dread Central.

Currently filming in Mississippi is the next film from Mike Mendez, entitled Don’t Kill It, starring Dolph Lundgren; and right now we have a smattering of images from the set for you from its stars and more.

The images below were culled from cast and crew Instagram and Twitter posts, but Fangoria got an update on the flick’s casting. Joining Lundgren will be Kristina Klebe (Rob Zombie’s Halloween) and Courtney Gains (Children of the Corn).

Mendez is working from a script by Dan Berk and Robert Olsen. In the film Lundgren plays a demon hunter who teams with a reluctant FBI agent to battle an ancient evil unleashed in a small town, leaving a trail of death and destruction as it passes from host to host.

The post Mike Mendez’s Don’t Kill It Filming Now; First Behind-the-Scenes Images appeared first on Dread Central.

Pandie Suicide fans, this one’s for you. The upcoming short flick Massacre, written by none other than the tattooed actress and model herself, features Suicide as a woman who finds herself in an extremely unfortunate situation following an impossibly grisly murder. As you can tell from the behind-the-scenes pics below, the crime in question was certainly more than a little messy.

From the Press Release:
Actress and filmmaker Pandie Suicide has released 4 new stills from her upcoming movie MASSACRE. The pics feature Suicide and co-star Billy Morrison. MASSACRE is a brief and bloody horror flick, centering around Marianne James (played by Pandie Suicide), a girl who wakes up at the site of a very grisly mass murder and can’t remember what happened.

Written by Pandie Suicide and produced by Michel Rangel of Minonina Films, MASSACRE is a brand new and deliciously bloody independent short slasher film that recently premiered in Los Angeles.

No word when Pandie Suicide’s fans will have another opportunity to check this one out. As soon as the flick starts making the festival rounds or pops up online (legally, of course), we’ll definitely let you know. Meanwhile, check out the behind-the-scenes images below.

The post Pandie Suicide Gets Bloody in Behind-the-Scenes Pics from Massacre appeared first on Dread Central.

If the very idea of seeing two insanely creepy, life-sized dolls wandering around in real life is enough to give you nightmares well into 2016, then I’d strongly advise sitting this one out. It’s okay, easily terrified person — we won’t hold it against you. After all, they are pretty unsettling.

According to the folks at Konbini, a pair of intensely frightening dolls recently decided to take a stroll through the streets of London. Some people spotted the duo pushing a black baby buggy, whereas others stumbled across them while riding on the Tube. Regardless of where they turned up, the dolls definitely caught everyone’s attention. Of course, it’s kind of hard not to stare at something as inherently creepy as two oversized dolls with enormous heads wandering the streets in broad daylight. Then again, I’ve never been to London, so perhaps this happens on a daily basis.

As you may already have guessed, yes, this is a promotional stunt. Instead of promoting a movie or collective heart attacks, the dolls are spreading the good word about illusionist Derren Brown’s attraction as Thorpe Park, which is set to open to the general public next spring.

While you’re planning your inevitable excursion to London to check out Brown’s attraction at Thorpe Park, feel free to spend some time staring at the eerie photos hanging out below. Note: If you find yourself running out of the room in sheer terror, please don’t blame us. We told you so.

The post Two Creepy Dolls Spotted Lurking Around the Streets of London appeared first on Dread Central.

Director Brett Kelly (My Fair Zombie, Homicycle) is returning to a character he hasn’t visited since his shot-on-video days. According to the official press release, Tale of the Bonesetter — the follow-up to The Bonesetter and The Bonesetter Returns — is essentially a “proof of concept” short flick put together in hopes of generating some interest and cash in a larger scale, bigger budget version of the story. So if you’re a Bonesetter fan and you have lots of money stuffed into an oversized mattress in your master bedroom, then consider throwing some of it in Brett Kelly’s direction.

“I’m excited at the response that the short received at festivals. This inspires me to try to get the feature shot sooner rather than later, depending on the success of our funding efforts. The Bonesetter has great potential as a horror franchise character, we’ll do our best to make it happen,” Kelly said in a statement regarding what he hopes to achieve with the short film.

Want to check out Brett Kelly’s Tale of the Bonesetter right now? If so, swing by Vimeo, fork over 99 cents, and enjoy the show. Check out the trailer and some artwork below.

The post Brett Kelly’s Short Film Tale of the Bonesetter Hits Vimeo appeared first on Dread Central.

It’s hard to track the beginning of any trend, but what I can say for sure is that ugly Christmas sweaters are currently more popular than ever before. You can’t throw a rock without hitting one, so to speak, and our friends over at Fright Rags aren’t leaving us horror fans out in the cold.

The popular company just unleashed a full collection of horror movie-inspired ugly Christmas sweaters, and films like Halloween III, Jaws, Trick ‘r Treat, and even Krampus made the cut. In addition, Fright Rags also gave Krampus a clothing collection of its own, which we love them for.

Full information awaits!

From the Press Release:
‘Tis the season to be wearing an ugly sweater. If you want to be the hit of your holiday party, pick up one of Fright-Rags’ new “faux ugly sweater” crewneck sweatshirts.

Artist Joe Guy Allard applies the tacky-yet-lovable knit design style of classic Christmas sweaters to four horror favorites: Jaws, Trick ‘r Treat, Halloween II, and Halloween III: Season of the Witch.

The faux ugly sweater collection is on sale now at Fright-Rags.com. All four designs are in stock and ready to ship, ensuring domestic delivery before Christmas. Quantities are limited, so act quickly.

As if that weren’t enough, Fright-Rags also has a line of apparel dedicated to the latest holiday hit, Krampus. Available now, the Krampus collection features a faux ugly sweater and two tees from the film.

The post Fright Rags Unleashes Ugly Christmas Sweaters; Krampus, Jaws, Halloween 3 and More! appeared first on Dread Central.

Classic British horror style films are coming back to the big screen, and director Paul Hyett (Howl) is hoping to get your spine tingling with his new film, Heretiks.

From The Press Release:
PAUL HYETT (Director of HOWL and THE SEASONING HOUSE) starts photography on the chilling supernatural horror film HERETIKS for Templeheart Films, EnMar Productions, Red Rock Entertainment, and Sterling Pictures.

Set during the 17th Century, a young woman is saved from execution and led to a priory to repent her sins but discovers a greater evil lies within.

Michael Ironside (Total Recall, Starship Troopers, Scanners), three-time Olivier winner Clare Higgins (Hellraiser, Hellbound, The Golden Compass), and Hannah Arterton (Walking on Sunshine) star in this atmospheric horror/chiller currently shooting in Wales.

Director and co-writer Paul Hyett: “Being a lover of classic British horror for years, I’ve been wanting to give a classic period tale a modern, harder, stylish edge. Heretiks is the perfect vehicle to do this. It’s both a richly-layered medieval character piece and a wonderful chance to showcase the latest in visual effects and contemporary cinematography while being blessed with some of my favourite actors.”

Producer Michael Riley: “Paul and I have known each other for years, and having recently collaborated successfully on The Seasoning House (and still actually speaking to each other), I wouldn’t want to miss helping to bring his extraordinary vision to life.”

Producer Marcia Do Vales: “I have no doubt that Heretiks will be one of the most thrillingly entertaining and downright creepy movies of 2016. The script has twists and turns that will keep the audience on the edge of their seats all the way to the closing credits. It’s been a real privilege to work with Paul Hyett, Michael Riley, and Templeheart Films on a production that promises to set a new benchmark for the genre.”

The movie will be executive produced by Lyndon Baldock (Templeheart Films) and Gary Collins (Red Rock Entertainment) and produced by Marcia Do Vales (EnMar Productions) and Michael Riley (Sterling Pictures) for delivery in 2016.

The post The Heretiks Are Coming! First Info and Image appeared first on Dread Central.

Whether you loved it or didn’t care for it, there’s no denying that no horror movie released this year was more visually stunning than Guillermo del Toro’s Crimson Peak (review). Seeing those visuals up on the big screen was a real treat, and now the film is headed home. Read on for details!

From the Press Release:
A sheltered young woman abandons the safe certainty of her upbringing for life with an alluring aristocrat on a remote English estate in Crimson Peak, a visually stunning and intensely disturbing thriller from writer and director Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy), coming to Digital HD on January 26, 2016, and Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and On Demand on February 9, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and Legendary Pictures.

Brilliantly unforgettable visuals and an atmosphere steeped in dread make Crimson Peak an elegant, gorgeously realized, and completely original horror mystery that has been declared “a masterpiece” by Fox-TV. The Blu-ray Combo Pack comes with more than an hour of bonus features that reveal some of the terrifying secrets hidden behind the doors of sinister Allerdale Hall.

From the imagination of director Guillermo del Toro comes a terrifying Gothic romance masterpiece starring Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers, Thor series), Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty, The Help), Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Stoker), and Charlie Hunnam (Pacific Rim, FX’s “Sons of Anarchy”).

Synopsis:
When her heart is stolen by a seductive stranger, a young woman is swept away to a house atop a mountain of blood-red clay— a place filled with secrets that will haunt her forever. Between desire and darkness, between mystery and madness, lies the truth behind Crimson Peak. From the imagination of director Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) comes a terrifying, Gothic romance masterpiece starring Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, and Charlie Hunnam.

Special Features Exclusively on Blu-ray:

• I Remember Crimson Peak: A series of interviews with director Guillermo del Toro and his standout cast: Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston, and Jessica Chastain.
• A Living Thing: An army of artisans was amassed to construct the Sharpe mansion on North America’s largest soundstage. Witness first-hand and in great detail the construction of Del Toro’s most elaborate set to date.
• A Primer on Gothic Romance: Employing his encyclopedic knowledge and passion for the genre, Guillermo del Toro traces the lineage of Gothic romance in cinema. Using Crimson Peak as the basis, Del Toro outlines the history of cinematic terror and illuminates the differences between traditional scares and elevated horror.
• Crimson Phantoms: Del Toro’s approach to make-up effects is discussed by award-winning effects house DDT. In this piece they offer an exclusive look inside their workshop, where they deconstruct the creation of the film’s most disturbing prosthetic effects. The discussion delves into the mythology of these elegant creatures and how Del Toro’s belief in the supernatural informed the design and narrative of the ghosts.
• Hand Tailored Gothic: Costume designer Kate Hawley unravels her collaboration with Del Toro and reveals the symbolism constantly at play in the wardrobe’s design.

Blu-ray and DVD Special Features:

• Deleted Scenes
• The Light and Dark of Crimson Peak offers a stylized turn of the century with carefully crafted visuals that provide the perfect backdrop for Del Toro’s brand of psychological horror. Follow the phases of production to discover a booming America and a dark and removed England portrayed with a multi-layered sophistication unlike any seen in recent cinema.
• Beware of Crimson Peak: Tom Hiddleston (Sir Thomas Sharpe) offers a walking tour of the many secret spaces in Allerdale Hall.
• Feature Commentary with co-writer and director Guillermo Del Toro

The post Step Inside for Crimson Peak Home Video Date and Release Details appeared first on Dread Central.