There’s a lot of big talk on the official one-sheet for The Woods, and we can only hope that the film can live up to it. We’ll find out on September 16, 2016. Read on for the goods, including a teaser trailer.

Written by Simon Barrett and directed by Adam Wingard, The Woods stars James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez, Brandon Scott, Valorie Curry, Corbin Reid, and Wes Robinson. Roy Lee (The Ring, The Grudge, The Strangers, It), Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity, Insidious), Keith Calder, and Jessica Wu (You’re Next, The Guest) produce.

Story details are on the scant side of the fence, but we can tell you that the film involves a group of college students on a camping trip who discover they are not alone.

More soon!

The post The Woods Boasts BIG Scares appeared first on Dread Central.

Fresh off the release of his new album Lost Themes II, horror master John Carpenter is gearing up to embark on an epic tour both Stateside and abroad, and we have been absolutely loving the resurgence of his music career. What’s next from Carpenter? Well, let’s just say your ears are about to be real happy.

As reported by Fangoria, Carpenter will soon unload two 12-inch vinyl albums featuring brand new re-recordings of his most iconic movie themes. Hitting shelves on June 17th courtesy of Sacred Bones Records, the first EP will feature full-band re-recordings of the themes for Halloween and Escape from New York, while the second will breathe new life into the themes for Assault on Precinct 13 and The Fog.

Per Fango…

“Each double A-sided record will be available in deluxe limited edition mylar mirrorboard sleeves and as picture discs. Special blue and red vinyl editions of these 12-inch records will be available exclusively at his live performances. Yet for those outside of the vinyl circle, don’t fret: both records will be simultaneously released digitally via Sacred Bones on June 17th as well.”

Related Story: John Carpenter Announces Full 2016 Tour Dates

Whet your appetite with Carpenter’s live, in-studio video for his full-band re-recording of the Escape from New York theme!

The post John Carpenter Releasing Re-Recordings of Classic Themes; Watch New Escape from New York Music Video! appeared first on Dread Central.

And there it is, kids! My favorite headline of the day. If that doesn’t interest you in the upcoming flick that’s affectionately known as “the farting corpse movie,” we don’t know what will. Swiss Army Man, the debut feature from music video duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, was one of the most talked about films at Sundance this year, and this latest red band trailer is bound to have you talking as well!

A24 picked up Swiss Army Man out of Sundance. It farts into theaters on June 17th in New York and Los Angeles, with a nationwide expansion to follow July 1st that currently makes it the only R-rated comedy on July 4th weekend.

The film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Dano, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Synopsis:
Hank (Paul Dano) is stranded on a deserted island, having given up all hope of ever making it home again. But one day everything changes when a corpse named Manny (Daniel Radcliffe) washes up on shore; the two become fast friends and ultimately go on an epic adventure that will bring Hank back to the woman of his dreams.

The post Swiss Army Man’s Boner Will Guide You Home appeared first on Dread Central.

We adored 10 Cloverfield Lane while it was in theatres and cannot wait for it to hit home video so we can access its lunacy any time we want. Speaking of which…

From the Press Release:
Acclaimed producer J.J. Abrams and up-and-coming director Dan Trachtenberg deliver a new masterpiece that critics are calling “riveting, gripping and loaded with tension” (Scott Mantz, “Access Hollywood”) when 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE debuts on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand June 14, 2016 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. The film arrives two weeks early on Digital HD May 31.

Certified Fresh by critics with a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes, 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE delivers “heart-pounding fun” (Patrick Stinson, “Made in Hollywood”) that will “shock you senseless” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone). After a catastrophic car crash, a young woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) wakes up in a survivalist’s (John Goodman, Argo) underground bunker. He claims to have saved her from an apocalyptic attack that has left the outside world uninhabitable. His theories are supported by a mysterious stranger who is in the bunker with them (John Gallagher, Jr., “The Newsroom”), but as his increasingly suspicious actions lead her to question his motives, she’ll have to escape in order to discover the truth.

With a shocking finale that “will completely blow you away” (Eric Eisenberg, Cinemablend), 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE looks phenomenal on Blu-ray. The Combo Pack includes Digital HD, commentary with director Dan Trachtenberg and producer J.J. Abrams, and over 30 minutes of special features. Take an extensive look behind-the-scenes with Abrams and the cast as they revisit the legacy of 2008’s CLOVERFIELD, and discuss how 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE went from script to production. Continue with a tour of the ominous bunker, see how the costume designer was challenged to create a homemade Hazmat suit, follow the production team and sound designers as they work on the movie’s epic finale, and hear the unique scores composed for each character. Plus, for a limited time only, get a bonus Digital HD copy of the original CLOVERFIELD with the Blu-ray Combo Pack.

The 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE Blu-ray is presented in 1080p high definition with English Dolby Atmos, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, Portuguese 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, English SDH, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles. The DVD in the combo pack is presented in widescreen enhanced for 16:9 TVs with English 5.1 Dolby Digital, French 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital and English Audio Description and English, French, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles.

Special Features:

• Feature film in high definition
• Commentary by director Dan Trachtenberg and producer J.J. Abrams
• Over 30 minutes of Behind-The-Scenes Footage

The post 10 Cloverfield Lane Stomps its Way Home appeared first on Dread Central.

Earlier this year, Tim Burton allegedly confirmed that production had begun on the Seth Grahame-Smith-penned Beetlejuice 2, though he quickly clarified that he never actually said such a thing. So does that mean the long-awaited sequel is officially off the table? Will we never see the ghost-with-the-most on the big screen again?!

In a new interview with Collider, Burton offers a glimmer of hope.

“This is the thing, it’s something that I’m interested in, but there’s so many stories [online], dumping Michael Keaton for Johnny Depp and this or that, and I’ve talked to these people and they didn’t wanna hear this so they just made up a story,” Burton told the site. “But the fact of it is I have talked to Michael and I have talked to Winona, I’ve talked to a few people. It’s something that I really would like to do in the right circumstances, but it’s one of those films where it has to be right. It’s not a kind of a movie that cries out [for a sequel], it’s not the Beetlejuice trilogy.”

“So it’s something that if the elements are right—because I do love the character and Michael’s amazing as that character, so yeah we’ll see,” he continued. “But there’s nothing concrete yet.”

Last we heard, Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder are both on board for the sequel.

The post Tim Burton Talks Beetlejuice 2; “Something I Would Really Like to Do” appeared first on Dread Central.

The joint American-Australian-New Zealand television drama “Cleverman” debuts on Sundance TV on June 1st, and today we have several new teasers for the show to share.

“Cleverman” is based on an original concept by Ryan Griffen: One young man – The Cleverman – struggles with his own power and the responsibility to unite a divided world, but he must first overcome a deep estrangement from his older brother.  Michael Miller is script producer, and writers are Michael Miller and Jon Bell.

“Cleverman” features a superb ensemble cast led by Scottish actor Iain Glen (“Game of Thrones”), Golden Globe nominee Frances O’Connor (“The Missing”), Deborah Mailman (The Sapphires), Hunter Page-Lochard (The Sapphires), Rob Collins (The Lion King), and Stef Dawson (The Hunger Games).

Wayne Blair (The Sapphires, Septembers of Shiraz) is lead director, with acclaimed director, writer, actress, and performer Leah Purcell also directing.

Set in the near future, “Cleverman” is a smart, sexy, and startlingly original drama that sees a group of non-humans battling for survival in a world where humans feel increasingly inferior to them and want to silence, exploit, and kill them. Central to the drama is the story of two estranged Indigenous brothers who are forced together to fight for their own survival. Otherworldly creatures also emerge into this fragile and dangerous place in this action-packed new series.

Producers are Rosemary Blight and Lauren Edwards for Goalpost Pictures, Ryan Griffen, and Angela Littlejohn for Pukeko Pictures, with executive producers Sally Riley, Kylie du Fresne, Ben Grant, Martin Baynton, Adam Fratto, Jan David Frouman, and Amelie Kienlin.

The post New Cleverman Teasers Send a Message appeared first on Dread Central.

Well, last night’s episode of “Bates Motel” certainly took us to a place we weren’t quite prepared to go… yet, but if you’ve recovered and are as ready as we are to see what’s ahead in next week’s season finale, Episode 4.10, entitled “Norman,” then read on for a look at the ep’s preview.

For the rest of you who might not yet be caught up… stay away for now, and come back after you are.

We don’t have a synopsis for the finale, but I think we all know what’s coming… and that better include Emmys for everyone involved!

“Bates Motel” Episode 4.10 – “Norman” (airs 5/16/16)
Written by Kerry Ehrin; directed by Tucker Gates

The post See a Preview of the Bates Motel Season Finale Episode 4.10 – Norman appeared first on Dread Central.

We all know that school is terrifying, but throw in some demonic entities that want to trap you there forever, and you’re in Hell. And no, I’m not talking about the teachers; I’m actually talking about the new indie horror game Insane Decay of Mind, which has just arrived on Steam, in which a young girl finds herself trapped in a sinister, nightmarish labyrinth that resembles her school.

I think my state of mind would also be insane if I was trapped in school forever.

The Story
Insane Decay of Mind is a first-person horror game. You play the role of Katherine, a young girl lost in the eerie hallways of a building she believes to be her school. As she begins to realize that this labyrinth that she has found herself in is slowly warping her mind, she must make her escape in order to regain her freedom.

But freedom comes at tremendous cost.

Leaving the labyrinth is not as easy as it seems as you are not alone; there are entities that wish to keep you from escaping. During your dreadful experience, you will meet beings called “Shadows,” manifestations of your worst nightmares; you will have to subdue them as you continue wandering the darkness that envelopes you, and perhaps you will achieve your freedom.

But Why is the Game Named This?
Insanity is undoubtedly the main element: represented by the Shadow, it will encompass the entire story, haunt every frame, perhaps even disturb you own mind. It is from insanity, from foolishness, that the decay of mind begins.

The only way to oppose this deterioration is to piece together the fragments of Katherine’s story; they are hidden in the vast maze in which you find yourself… look for them very carefully.

The post Question Your Sanity with New Game Insane Decay of Mind appeared first on Dread Central.

Regardless of how you feel about this year’s Ghostbusters reboot (yeah, I know many of you reading were probably among the legions who took to YouTube to dislike the trailer), you can’t deny that the original was a masterpiece. A masterpiece that’s getting its due, as it’s being re-released in theaters next month.

Get your tickets here, and get the skinny below…

From the Press Release:
Tickets are now available for audiences to revisit Ghostbusters (1984) in select U.S. cinemas on Wednesday, June 8 – the anniversary of the original release date – and Sunday, June 12, at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time (both dates). The classic film is being re-released in anticipation of the worldwide release of Ghostbusters (2016), starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth in theaters July 15. These special screenings of the original film include an exclusive sneak peek of the highly anticipated new Ghostbusters.

Tickets for Ghostbusters (1984) can be purchased online by visiting FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy the event in more than 830 movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations, visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change).

After a team of underdog scientists (Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray) lose their cushy positions at a university in New York City, they decide to set out on their own and become “ghostbusters,” waging a high-tech battle with supernatural spirits taking up residency in New York City. In their paranormal investigations, they stumble upon a gateway to another dimension – a doorway that will release evil upon the city – and the ghostbusters must now save the Big Apple from complete destruction.

Released in 1984, the original Ghostbusters was directed and produced by Ivan Reitman, written by Aykroyd and Ramis, and starred Murray, Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Ramis, Rick Moranis, and Ernie Hudson. Following these special screenings, the classic Ghostbusters will go back into the vault until the release of the new film.

“Before the new Ghostbusters hits theaters, there’s no better way to get excited than by seeing the original back in its home on the big screen,” Fathom Events Vice President of Studio Relations Tom Lucas said. “Fathom Events is bringing this classic re-release to audiences all across the country, and we are thrilled for fans new and old to see it in its original glory with special added content.”

The post Original Ghostbusters Returning to Theaters Next Month appeared first on Dread Central.

In Most Likely to Die, the newest fright flick from director Anthony DiBlasi, it’s the night before a 10-year high school reunion, and someone’s been holding a grudge… one by one, former classmates are slain in ways befitting their yearbook descriptions.

We got the opportunity to sit down with Anthony to talk about it, and here’s what he had to say.

Dread Central: Sadly, I have not seen the movie yet! But… in looking at the trailer and clips, I get a real “80s” vibe (April Fool’s Day, Prom Night) – am I right?  Were you going for the classic horror feel for Most Likely to Die?

Anthony DiBlasi: The feel is definitely a throwback to both 80s and 90s slashers. Stepping into it, I really wanted to focus on two things from that era: an interesting psycho killer and characters we didn’t actually want to die. I think 90s slashers were a bit more successful with the latter, at least with ensembles. But I didn’t go into this wanting to re-invent the wheel either; I wanted to embrace the tropes from that era and tell a pretty straightforward whodunit slasher and create some interesting kills that hopefully people haven’t seen before.

Anthony DiBlasi Directing Last Shift

DC: I’ve noticed each of your features is different from the last, even though they are all in the horror genre. Is this something you’ve consciously decided to do?

AD: I think so. I’m drawn to new things when I’m making a movie, and I love all genres. I really like working with actors so taking on different sub-genres allows me to explore different parts of human psyche and psychology. And each sub-genre allows for a different style and look. My films Dread and Missionary are much more grounded and based in reality, and I think in some ways harder to watch for a casual viewer, but films like Last Shift and now Most Likely to Die are more accessible. Whereas with Last Shift I really wanted to scare the hell out of people, with Most Likely to Die I’m also trying to make people laugh. This movie has a lot of comedy in it as well as some over-the-top gore.

DC: How did Most Likely to Die come to you – was the script already written, or did you help develop the story and so on?

AD: Shout out to my lovely and talented agent Sheryl Petersen at APA; she had met the producers on the project, Margret Huddleston and Hannah Pillemer, and knew right away I’d hit it off with them. They were taking their first jump into horror and wanted someone who was comfortable with the genre, and they already had the script by Laura Brennan. When I read the project, I was excited because it felt like a slasher written in the 90s; and those were the films I would emulate the most when I would make home movies with my friends when I was a kid. So to be able to do one now was amazing fun. I approached the ladies with my designs of The Graduate, how I wanted him to look, how I wanted him to kill, and how I wanted him to stay true to his motives as a killer. I also wanted his motives to be complex as all hell because I feel in the 90’s especially the mythology of the killer was extremely multi-tiered, and I think there’s fun in that.

DC: You have some recognizable names in the cast – but the most intriguing is Perez Hilton. How’d that come about? Who does he play and how was he to work with? Any funny anecdotes?

AD: Perez was excellent to work with, so committed and willing to try anything. I think most people will see his name attached to the film and assume it’s a bit of stunt casting. But it’s not at all; it’s a lead, and I will say he definitely doesn’t get killed off in the first five minutes. He plays a character named Freddie who in high school was a bit of a party animal – “Most Likely to Spike the Punch” – who eventually became an alcoholic. And he comes to the table now with a lot of mystery surrounding him. He brings a lot of comedy to the table but also a lot of pathos. During casting my producers brought him up, and I thought it made sense, so I took a meeting with him and instantly thought he’d be good for the part. It was risky in a sense because he hadn’t acted in a long time, but I could see for sure he had it in him. And he really was willing to try anything.

There’s a scene in the film where I wanted to get a really big scream from one of the actors, and I originally approached Heather to do it, but she was getting over a sickness and her throat was understandably not ready for it. So I went to Perez next, which was just a completely off the cuff moment. I said, “What do you think about giving just a big over-the-top horror scream?” And he smiled as if this was the moment he was waiting for. And he totally nailed it. A few times actually.

DC: What are the most fun things about directing a body-count horror movie, and what can fans expect when they see Most Likely to Die?

AD: One of the really great things was developing the killer, “The Graduate,” with the actor that was in the costume. I won’t say his name here. How he moved, how he reacted to the characters around him, how he threatened and intimidated people. Those kinds of things really add a layer to a character and make him stand out from the pack. And then also, planning the kills of course and relating them to the characters’ “most likely to’s.” I didn’t want the superlatives to be unrealistic; they had to feel real so an audience could relate to it.

DC: What’s next for you?

AD: I actually just finished another film with MarVista called Beneficiary. It’s another left turn for me, a Hitchcockian style thriller. Not really a drop of blood in it… well, maybe a drop or two but not very much.

Look for Most Likely to Die in select theaters and On Demand on Friday, May 13th.

Heather Morris, Ryan Doom, Perez Hilton, Chad Addison, and Tess Christiansen star.

Synopsis:
“Glee” star Heather Morris and “Celebrity Big Brother’” enfant terrible/showbiz gossip blogger Perez Hilton are part of a 10-year high school reunion hosted by a disgraced ice hockey player. Soon the party takes a deadly turn when one by one the former classmates, each with a secret shared history, turn up dead according to their senior yearbook superlatives. Who is the masked psycho with the razor-sharp mortarboard, and what exactly is his problem?

The post Exclusive: Anthony DiBlasi Talks Most Likely to Die appeared first on Dread Central.

Today, May 11th, is national “Twilight Zone Day,” and to celebrate the wondrous TV legacy left behind by the great Rod Serling, we’re giving away The Twilight Zone: The 5th Dimension Limited Edition Box Set.

From RLJ Entertainment, Rod Serling’s groundbreaking original series (1959-1964) and the classic 1980s series (1985-1989) are together in one limited edition box set. This limited edition 41-DVD box set retails for an SRP of $349.98.

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

This contest will end at 12:01 AM PT on May 18th. Note: By entering this contest, you are consenting to allow Dread Central and its subsidiaries use of your email address.

The box set includes more than 20 hours of bonus features listed below. The Twilight Zone: The 5th Dimension Limited Edition Box Set also contains one of four possible collectible 1960s Twilight Zone comic books. Limited Edition packaging features 3D black and white lenticulars and a serialized number on each of the box sets.

Special Features:

• New featurettes with never-before-seen interviews
• The “American Masters” documentary “Rod Serling: Submitted for Your Approval”
• Dozens of audio commentaries previously available only on Blu-ray
• Rod Serling interviews, lectures, and appearances
• Interviews with cast and crew
• Original sponsor billboards
• Isolated music scores

The post Celebrate Twilight Zone Day by Winning the Entire 5th Dimension Box Set appeared first on Dread Central.

Earlier this month we shared the first news and trailer for sci-fi thriller Somnus, written by Russell Owen and Chris Reading, and today we’re back with the official poster art for the film.

Film production, financing, and distribution studio Epic Pictures Group has acquired the worldwide sales and distribution rights to Somnus, Reading’s directorial debut. Somnus will be released in the US by Epic Pictures Releasing this year. Reading and his production company, Candr Pictures Ltd., will collaborate with Epic Pictures Group on the multi-platform release of Somnus.

The film is inspired by the iconic work of Douglas Trumbull in such films as 2001: A Space Odyssey and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Reading stuck to practical techniques and shot with models and on location as much as possible. The interiors of Somnus‘ spaceship setting were shot in decommissioned military aircraft at the East Midland Aeropark with the help of enthusiastic volunteers there. A graduate of City University London and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama London, Reading has had success with a number of short films in festivals around the world.

The cast includes Meryl Griffiths (The Missing Hand), Marcus McMahon (A Helical), Mac McDonald (Shooter), and Jennifer Moylan-Taylor (Guardians of the Galaxy).

Synopsis:
SOMNUS follows the crew of an aging cargo ship on their final mission working the monotonous Earth-Mars shipping route. Malfunctions aboard the ship force a change off course to Somnus, a remote asteroid colony. The crew members soon discover the inhabitants of the colony have a dark past and troubling plans for the future of mankind.

The post Official Poster Unveiled for Sci-Fi Thriller Somnus appeared first on Dread Central.

It’s getting hard to write about Texas Frightmare Weekend and keep it interesting.  The show has easily established itself as the best in the nation.  The guest list is always incredible.  The hotel and volunteers are always amazing.  The list of films and filmmaking seminars are universally entertaining.  The parties are the stuff of legend.

How do I explain what happened this year without just listing the schedule of events and saying, “Yeah, that was awesome?”

I’ll do my best.

The guest list this year could be summed up in one word: legends.

Romero, Englund, Todd, Hodder, Henriksen, Savini.  You could stop there, and it’d be worth the trip.

Then you add some of the newer blood: Arquette, Lillard, Ulrich, and McGowan from Scream. Remar and Beck from The Warriors.  Mass reunions for Halloween II, Return of the Living Dead, and the entire Nightmare on Elm Street series.  Carlson Young and Bex Taylor-Klaus from the “Scream” TV show.

And it goes from there.  I could write an entire piece just listing who was there.  Universally, everyone I saw was awesome to the crowds and their assigned volunteers.

While I wasn’t able to attend any due to my other journalistic demands, the panels were reportedly awesome, including announcements of the reboot of Puppet Master and Final Destination 6 during panels by Charles Band and Tony Todd, respectively.

The parties?  The parties were wild, as always, especially Scaryoke.  I was in screenings and missed the shenanigans, but a surprise performance of “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Rose McGowan was her first public performance as a singer.  Yeah, that happened.  See, there was even video.

Rose wasn’t the only celebrity that showed up to wow the crowds.  Wildman David Arquette busted out his best metal hip-hop chops for a Rage Against the Machine performance with The Color Morale vocalist Garret Rapp.

Was this some exclusive VIP party?  No, although there was one of those for VIP passholders featuring a performance by composer and performer Allan Howarth.  This was available to all attendees of the con at no extra charge.  The guests feel at home at Frightmare, so they hang out and get wild every year.  (Do I need to mention the infamous Human Centipede reenactment with Dieter Laser and the cast/crew from Helldriver at the pool a few years back?)

That’s really the magic of Texas Frightmare.  It’s run extremely well, absolutely professional, but it feels like one big family reunion.  If you attend more than one, you’ll gain “Frightmare friends” that you only see once a year at the show.  I have several and missed a few this year.  (Larry, Grace, Lisa… I’m calling you out!) As packed and crazy as it gets, it’s one big love fest.  The Texas spirit of generosity and hospitality pervades the show and leads to a very special event not found anywhere else.

I’m already in my post-Frightmare funk.  It feels weird I can’t just drive down there and see all my friends, old and new.

Next year?  Get your ass out here.  I’m working on getting our editor-in-chief and resident pop-culture icon Uncle Creepy out here to make an appearance at next year’s show, and that’s worth the price of admission right there. (Although, if he sings at Scaryoke, airport counter-terrorism troops might be summoned due to the presence of karaoke of mass destruction.)

Mr. Dark with Corey and Bruce from thrash legends Rigor Mortis at TFW 2016

The post Event Report: Texas Frightmare Weekend 2016 appeared first on Dread Central.

We’ve been talking about a TV version of The Exorcist for a while, and now word has come that Fox is indeed giving a series order to a “new take” on the seminal horror film.

Per TV Guide, “The Exorcist” series will take the form of a psychological thriller following two very different priests tackling a family’s case of demonic possession. Starring are Geena Davis, Alfonso Herrera (as Father Tomas Ortega), and Ben Daniels (as Father Marcus Lang). Beasts of No Nation‘s Kurt Egyiawan co-stars as Father Bennett, a liaison for the Vatican, with Hannah Kasulka playing Casey Rance, the wallflower of the family, who is worried about her sister, Charlotte (Brianne Howey), who has been holed up in her room ever since her serious accident.

The producer is Jeremy Slater (The Fantastic Four), and Rupert Wyatt (Rise of the Planet of the Apes) is directing the pilot.

Look for more as it comes.

The post The Power of Christ Compels Fox to Pick Up The Exorcist appeared first on Dread Central.

We’re all waiting patiently for release news pertaining to French filmmakers Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury latest film in the Chainsaw franchise, Leatherface, but thankfully producer a href=”https://www.instagram.com/xta777/” target=”_blank”>Christa Campbell is here to tide us over with a new still!

Vanessa Grasse stars as Lizzy, a young nurse at a mental hospital who’s kidnapped by a group of violent teenagers and taken on a road trip from hell. Lili Taylor portrays Verna Sawyer; Sam Coleman, Sam Strike, and James Bloor star as the potential Leatherfaces; and Stephen Dorff stars as a lean, mean Texas Ranger who has a vendetta against the teen boy who grows up to become Leatherface.

The cast also includes Nicole Andrews, Julian Kostov, Jessica Madsen (pictured in the shot below), and Lorina Kamburova.

Leatherface was written by up-and-coming genre scribe Seth M. Sherwood.

Lionsgate has picked up distribution rights here in the States. No word on a release date yet, but we’ll keep an eye on things for you. Millennium Films, which was behind the 2013 Texas Chainsaw 3D, is once again producing with Christa Campbell, Lati Grobman, and Carl Mazzacone for Lionsgate.

Synopsis:
In this prequel to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, a young nurse is kidnapped by a group of violent teens who escape from a mental hospital and take her on a road trip from hell. Pursued by an equally deranged lawman out for revenge, one of these teens is destined for tragedy and horrors that will destroy his mind, molding him into the monster we now call Leatherface.

The post Hungry for a New Leatherface Still? Christa Campbell Has You Covered! appeared first on Dread Central.

We previously interviewed filmmaker Christopher Barcia about his Mortal Kombat short, and he was kind enough to request that we interview him again about his new and terrifying short The Black Eyed Child, which explores the legend of the black-eyed children.

If you’re unfamiliar with the legend, “black-eyed children” are supposedly kids with unnaturally dark eyes who mysteriously appear and demand to enter people’s homes. Creepy. Comic creator Joe Pruett also talked to us about his new series based on the legend, so clearly it’s something that has resonated strongly with horror fans.

Dread Central: So can you talk about the legend of the black-eyed children and why you chose to make a film about it?

Christopher Barcia: The legend of the black-eyed children can vary depending on the story or sightings people talk about, but they’re always children and always want to get inside your private space, whether that is your car, your apartment, or your home.

Nobody knows what they really want; they just know they don’t want them around because something really bad is going to happen if you let them in, and that’s what drew me into the project. Nothing is more terrifying than the threat of the unknown. The more you get involved in the legend and the stories, the more questions come up instead of answers, and even so it still links together from their signature traits. That’s why I said to myself, ‘I’ve gotta bring this to the life on video, a visual representation of what I think they are.’

DC: Do you think that there’s any truth to the legend?

CB: I think there is some truth to the legends and sightings, somewhere at some time more than one person saw something and decided to talk about it. Whether it was an elaborate prank or paranormal, maybe even alien, who knows? But it came from somewhere and groups of total strangers claim to see similar stuff, so yes, I think there is some truth there.

DC: So the film starts with a knock at the door late at night?

CB: That is where everyone who knows of the black-eyed children are going to know trouble is coming, and if someone is new to the story, they’ll learn pretty fast that the knock is only the beginning of the trouble.

DC: What’s it like working with the young actors starring as the black-eyed kids? Are they looking forward to being scary onscreen?

CB: I’ve had quite a few options to pick from in terms of child actors, and all are very willing to be scary when you explain to them that they are this mysterious creepy kid with pitch black eyes. They become super eager and you can tell their imaginations run wild at what it’s like to act scary or monstrous. Out of the submissions thus far, I’m sure whoever I cast is going to have a grand time on set being scary and will love seeing the final cut of the film.

DC: Although this is a short, are you still being ambitious in terms of narrative scope?

CB: I feel because it’s a short film that I have to be that much more ambitious. The typical narrative scope people are putting in shorts and features is bland, especially with big time horror movies coming out, but here I answer to my own creativity, so it allows me to tell a story people are familiar with in a new way. I always intend to bring something that hasn’t been seen before to the screen while also remaining true to the legends.

The post Exclusive: Director Christopher Barcia Talks The Black Eyed Child appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Lindsay Farris, Stephanie King, Brendan Cowell

Directed by Joseph Sims-Dennett

Using a hook that’s eerily reminiscent of Hitchcock’s Rear Window, Joseph Sims-Dennett’s Observance plays by a very specific set of rules, then appears to yank the rug out from under us as the movie rolls along. Keep your eyes peeled, because there’s always someone watching us at all times, whether we choose to believe it or not.

Parker (Farris) is a man whose life is taking a very circuitous route to debt-ville, with the recent loss of his child having placed him on the downside looking up at a metric-ton of hospital bills. He’s estranged from his wife, so he figures the way to relieve the financial albatross off his shoulders is to take a job observing a beautiful woman (King), and is to report all findings to an unknown client (Cowell). Seems simple enough – set up shop in a dingy apartment across the way from her place, black out the windows, and record everything…aah, if it were ONLY that easy. The phone calls are placed in complete anonymity, and the voice on the other end simply refuses to let Parker deviate from his assignment, offering a wad of dough when he appears to want to check out. Why does Parker want out of such an easy job? Well, it might have to do with the endlessly creepy images infiltrating his mind, the demonic voices getting picked up on sound recording advising him to “stop watching me”, disemboweled rats finding their way into his mattress at night – and don’t even get me started on the copious amounts of chunky squid-ink that he’s been puking into his bathroom sink – YUMMY.

He begins to wonder if the money is worth it, and his mind slowly starts to detach from reality, and for the most part, we’ve got a slow-simmering thriller that will give you the chills. However, the latter stages of this one seem to repel any rational thought, and the conclusion might possibly leave some scratching the skin off of their brain covers. Farris shines in his role of a grieving man with his back against the wall, and I’d have to give this film a solid thumbs-up on imagery alone, with numerous nightmarish scenes playing out in front of our eyes. One in particular of Parker fishing with a friend (Benedict Hardie) off of a shore-cliff simply chilled me to the bone, and I can only commend Sims-Dennett for his use of intently creepy cinematography to capture something so simple, yet ultimately terrifying. If I did have to search for a downside to this presentation, it would be the way that everything wrapped up (NO SPOILERS HERE), but for such a nice progression, the brakes got stomped on fairly hard and it left a sour taste in my mouth. Nonetheless, Observance is one film to absolutely partake in when it releases in August, if for nothing else, then to rein in those fantastic icy-bits of consternation that will run down the back of your neck. – Recommended.

The post Observance (2016) appeared first on Dread Central.

The classic flick The Terror has been available countless times on just about every single medium that there’s ever been. Now it’s hitting Blu-ray in what we hope will be a be-all, end-all edition!

From the Press Release:
Roger Corman’s 1963 thriller The Terror – transferred from 35mm archival film elements – will be available on Blu-ray May 31 from The Film Detective (distributed by Allied Vaughn).

Famous for being one of Jack Nicholson’s earliest film roles, The Terror was shot on sets remaining from the shoot of the iconic horror film The Haunted Palace. Although officially credited to Corman, The Terror had a total of five collaborative directors, including Nicholson himself and Francis Ford Coppola.

Commented film historian Phil Hopkins, owner of The Film Detective, “After years of sub-par versions, The Film Detective brings The Terror to the screen as it’s never been seen before, fully restored from 35mm archival material in its original aspect ratio. I think fans will be thrilled with the unparalleled quality of this Blu-ray release, not only visually but by the impact of the soundtrack.”

Also starring Dick Miller (A Bucket of Blood) as Stefan, married in real life to Sandra Knight (who portrays the ghost of Ilsa, the Baroness Von Leppe), who was visibly pregnant with their daughter during filming.

The Terror is presented in full screen with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 and original sound.

Synopsis:
In 18th century France, Lt. Andre Duvalier (three-time Academy Award winner Jack Nicholson; The Departed, As Good As It Gets, A Few Good Men, The Shining), an officer in Napoleon’s army, has been separated from his regiment. Wandering near the coast, he spies a young woman (Sandra Knight; Frankenstein’s Daughter, Blood Bath) and calls out to her. When she fails to acknowledge, he follows her into the dark surf and strangely loses consciousness.

He awakens in a house tended by an old woman, Katrina (Dorothy Neumann; Sorry, Wrong Number, The Ten Commandments), who claims not to know the mysterious lady. On his way once again, Andre comes upon the castle of Baron Victor Frederick Von Leppe (Boris Karloff; Frankenstein, The Mummy, How the Grinch Stole Christmas).

There he learns that the girl is in fact the spirit of the Baron’s late wife, being used as a pawn by the witchy Katrina, who is bent on driving the elderly Baron to suicide.

The post The Terror Getting a Definitive Blu-ray Release appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Paul Logan, Costas Mandylor, Matthew Willig

Directed by Jared Cohn

With the opportunity to completely shed any sense of plausibility towards a film’s storyline and simply down a few cold ones while watching some good old-fashioned, blood-soaked brutality, then Jared Cohn’s The Horde might just be right up your alley.

Starring long-time stuntman and fight coordinator Paul Logan as John Crenshaw, the movie exceeds the limits of action/horror and goes right for the throat as far as excitement is concerned. Crenshaw is an ex-Navy SEAL who, after a bit of coaxing, decides to act as a chaperone for his girlfriend’s photography students on a trip deep into the woods for a little camping assignment… sure, no trouble here! Can someone please cue the inbred, backwater, bloodthirsty cannibals to be unleashed upon this hapless group? Thanks.

In all seriousness, the movie is a generally fun time, and aside from the extremely simplistic premise of “people camp, people die,” there are more than a few instances of primal fun to be had when checking this one out. Deep down, the shedding of layers on this one could go for days, but Crenshaw’s more-than-adept acting skills, as well as the ability to hand some of these mutants their own asses in a fight, make this one good time to partake in ocularly.

Looking for cameos, you say? Well, might you be interested in Bill Moseley, Vernon Wells, and Costas Mandylor as the leader of this rampaging band of flaked-out foresters? You’ll get a little bit of everything with this presentation – heavy doses of blistering action as well as some good old-fashioned torture-gore, and hell, sprinkle a little bit of human emotion in there as well. I think we all know that last bit normally has no place in a movie such as this, but it makes it all that much more grounded… aside from the hellaciously ferocious actions that are committed within.

Now I know that this particular review may be a bit on the condensed side, but it has absolutely NO bearing on how much fun this film is. Take my word for it (which, along with a dollar, still gives you only a dollar): If it’s a popcorn flick that your heart’s desiring, might I request you spend a little time with The Horde? Recommended.

The post Horde, The (2016) appeared first on Dread Central.

In Scherzo Diabolico, a bored accountant (Francisco Barreiro) just can’t win; he’s passed over for promotion at work, has a nagging wife, and is basically dissed by everyone he meets. So he hatches a scheme to get what he feels he is owed to him. After executing his plan of kidnap and ransom, things go straight to hell. (Yes, we mean literally.)

At the press junket in L.A., we caught up with the film’s star, Francisco Barreiro, and the director, Adrián García Bogliano.

Francisco was immediately drawn to doing the movie because of its diabolical plot and how his character is at the center of all the chaos. “The film is a revenge film about an accountant that has this plan to kidnap a girl and his plan at one point just breaks out and something terrible happens at the end. This film was premiering in Tribeca, I think one of the most important film festivals in the world. It went to Sitges, it went to the Italian Film Festival, it went to New Chapere so it had like a like a really, really nice festival tour.”

Adrian added that the L.A. premiere was at the famous Silent Movie Theater, owned and operated by Cinefamily. “Yeah, it was in the Silent Movie Theater here, and it was really nice. I always love that theater; it was a good experience to finally have one of my films screening there.”

Francisco said, “It was a great audience; it was really nice because in a way it’s a black comedy, but people don’t laugh at it normally. This was the first time I’d watched the film with an audience and normally they don’t laugh at what they are feeling at that moment but when you are watching with a specific audience like this that they react to everything they love, they enjoy, they shout, so it was that kind of screening yesterday and it was really nice. The film was made with a purpose so it’s really nice to feel it like that.”

“You never know what to expect and I thought it would be just a little bit darker and a little bit more mysterious in a way and then when it turns… When I watch the film, it looks like a nice comedy and it works really good so yeah, absolutely, it changed the idea that I had when we were shooting the movie.”

Adrian said the black comedy element, along with the horror, makes the movie unique to each viewer. “I think that it is interesting because it plays in a very different way in every screening. Yesterday was one of those screenings where the people actually laughed but at every point they were supposed to laugh. You know, I don’t even know if we have that experience in the U.S. screening for instance, [so] Tribeca was something very different. I mean, I had a blast showing the film there but I realize most people didn’t really connect with the humor, the dark comedy elements of the film; even if they enjoyed it, they didn’t know if they were supposed to laugh so I think it’s very different from… not even from one country to another, but from one screening to another.”

“So far we’ve had some pretty good reviews but I think it was supposed to be a difficult movie, it was supposed to be a movie that was challenging for the audience, I don’t think it’s a movie that gives any easy alternatives to the audience. The characters are not very likable, which is something that I love to do. I love to work with characters that are not that likable and the story keeps unfolding through all the film. You can’t really pitch the film; you can’t really say this film is about peace. I love that it demands some attention.”

“Unfortunately we are part of an industry that asks you to condense your movie and tell us about your film in 25 words, which is okay, but then it’s like… I don’t know… your movie, you’re going to have two hours to show it, it’s difficult when they ask you to tell it in such a simple way. There are so many other ways to approaching cinema; it’s interesting to try that. I’ve made most of my movies very easy to pitch, but I tried this in a very different way. I wanted to try something else.”

One of the “something else” things Adrian did was to use classical music in such a bold, pervasive way that it, in fact, became another character in Scherzo Diabolico – as much as the actors themselves.

“That was something I felt from the very beginning I wanted to use, classical music on this one,” said Adrian. “This is a movie that has to do with a lot of things that I see from my generation, things that keep happening, the more humane and more common elements that have to do with personal experiences. It’s happened to other people that I know, and the classical music is something that has to do with my own frustration in a way because I wanted to be a piano player when I was a kid, and I didn’t have the talent at all to be that.”

“So I thought it was an interesting element… the main character, he’s a very frustrated guy; he also wants to be a pianist actually, and he can’t do it, so I thought the piano pieces were a nice element. Then I found the piano piece that gives the film its title, Scherzo Diabolico, and I thought it was a great idea because of the structure of the piece, but also because of the title. I thought it was a great idea to make this movie like that, like a diabolical joke. It’s a film that the main character has to do the whole movie, but eventually it backlashes, it turns against him; you can say the joke is on him!”

Scherzo Diabolico is available NOW on DVD.

Synopsis:
Aram (Francisco Barreiro; We Are What We Are, Here Comes the Devil) is a low-paid accountant living an unbearably dull existence. With a nagging wife who berates him for not being assertive enough, he quietly suffers while awaiting a long-deserved promotion. But there’s more to Aram than his quiet demeanor lets on: He has been secretly devising a scheme to finally get what he feels he is owed.

One day he asserts his power menacingly when he kidnaps a schoolgirl (Daniela Solo Vell; Eddie Reynolds y Los Angeles de Acero) and keeps her tied up in an abandoned warehouse. But what seems like the perfect plan soon unravels into his worst nightmare, and his carefully constructed scheme comes crashing down piece by bloody piece.

The post Francisco Barreiro and Adrián García Bogliano Talk Scherzo Diabolico appeared first on Dread Central.