Some new videos have arrived to help get you ready for Nerve, which is heading our way at the end of July.  Most are your standard clips/sneak peeks, but one of them explains how you can open the Postmates app to get a free limited-edition Nerve VR viewer delivered to you if you live in New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles.

So, are you a Watcher or a Player?  You better decide by July 27th!  If you’re in the UK, you have until August 12th to pick a side.

Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman (Catfish, Paranormal Activity 3, Paranormal Activity 4) directed the film, which stars Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, and Juliette Lewis. Jessica Sharzer, a writer and exec producer on “American Horror Story,” wrote the adaptation from Jeanne Ryan’s young adult novel of the same name.

Synopsis:
Hard-working high school senior Vee DeMarco (Roberts) has had it with living life on the sidelines. When she’s asked by the online game of Nerve – Are you a Watcher or a Player? – Vee decides to sign up for just one dare in what seems like a fun, harmless game. But as she finds herself caught up in the thrill of the adrenaline-fueled competition, the game begins to take a sinister turn with increasingly dangerous acts, leading her into a high stakes finale that will determine her entire future.

The post New Clips from Nerve Come Streaking In; Have a One-of-a-Kind VR Experience appeared first on Dread Central.

Our friends over at Scream Factory seem intent on making this year their biggest and best one yet, as the recent announcement of The Thing on Blu-ray has now been followed up with the news that Brian De Palma’s Carrie will be getting much the same treatment. We couldn’t be happier. Read on for details!

From the Press Release:
In 1976, Carrie, the “absolutely spellbinding horror movie” (Roger Ebert) directed by Brian DePalma (Scarface, The Untouchables, Dressed to Kill) and based on the best-selling Stephen King novel, premiered in theaters, forever changing the landscape of horror films, and launching much of its outstanding cast into stardom. On October 11, 2016, the SCREAM FACTORY™ home entertainment brand celebrates the 40th anniversary of the film with a 2-disc Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release which includes a brand new 4K scan of the film and nearly 3 hours of bonus material.

The first film adaptation of a Stephen King book, Carrie was a box office hit, garnering Academy Award® nominations for the up and coming star Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner’s Daughter), and film veteran Piper Laurie (The Hustler), a rare accomplishment for the horror genre at the time. Featuring the first major film roles for John Travolta, who was then starring in TV’s Welcome Back Kotter, Nancy Allen (RoboCop) and William Katt (The Greatest American Hero), Carrie was also the big screen debut for Amy Irving (Yentl), P.J. Soles (Halloween) and Betty Buckley (Eight Is Enough).

At the center of the film’s terror is Carrie (Spacek), a high school loner with no confidence, no friends… and no idea about the extent of her secret powers of telekinesis. But when her psychotic mother and sadistic classmates finally go too far, the once-shy teen becomes an unrestrained, vengeance-seeking powerhouse who, with the help of her ‘special gift,’ causes all hell to break loose in a famed cinematic frenzy of blood, fire and brimstone.

Over the last 40 years the ultimate revenge fantasy has become one of the all-time great horror classics, and Carrie is now, finally, offered as a definitive, two-disc Collector’s Edition Blu-ray.

Special Features:

• NEW 4K Scan Of The Original Negative
• NEW interviews with writer Laurence D. Cohen, editor Paul Hirsch, actors Piper Laurie, P.J. Soles, Nancy Allen, Betty Buckley, William Katt, Edie McClurg, casting director Harriet B. Helberg and director of photography Mario Tosi
• NEW Horror’s Hallowed Grounds – Revisiting The Film’s Original Locations
• Acting Carrie – Interviews With Actors Sissy Spacek, Amy Irving, Betty Buckley, Nancy Allen, William Katt, Piper Laurie, Priscilla Pointer and P.J. Soles And Art Director Jack Fisk And Director Brian De Palma
• Visualizing Carrie – Interviews With Brian De Palma, Jack Fisk, Lawrence D. Cohen, Paul Hirsch
• A Look At “Carrie: The Musical”
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Carrie Franchise Trailer Gallery
•  TV Spots
• Radio Spots
• Still Gallery – Rare Behind-The-Scenes Photos
• Stephen King And The Evolution Of Carrie Text Gallery

The Standard Edition and Deluxe Edition can now be pre-ordered over on ShoutFactory.com!

The post Scream Factory Unleashing Carrie 40th Anniversary Blu-ray Set appeared first on Dread Central.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if The Shallows leads to more shark movies taking over the big screen? We’d love that a whole hell of a lot. On a related note, another new shark movie is indeed headed our way, though this one is swimming directly onto home video. It’s titled In the Deep (formerly 47 Meters Down), and we’ve got the new artwork for ya today!

With 95% of the film shot underwater at the Dominican Republic’s Pinewood Studios, it should be something to see! Look for it on August 2nd.

Directed by Johannes Roberts (The Other Side of The Door), the underwater thriller stars Mandy Moore (“This Is Us,” A Walk To Remember), Claire Holt (“The Vampire Diaries,” “The Originals”), Yani Gellman (“Pretty Little Liars,” “The Young and The Restless”), and Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket, The Dark Knight Rises).

Synopsis:
In The Deep dives into a world of two sisters (Moore and Holt) who become trapped at the bottom of the ocean when a diving expedition to observe sharks goes horribly wrong. When the cable attaching their observation cage to the boat breaks and the cage sinks to the bottom of the ocean, the sisters must figure out a way to get back to safety battling injuries, lack of oxygen, and, worst of all, bloodthirsty Great White sharks.

The post Home Video Art Found In the Deep appeared first on Dread Central.

AMC announced today that it has renewed its critically acclaimed supernatural series “Preacher” for an expanded 13-episode second season, slated for 2017. The announcement isn’t much of a surprise since the show has been another ratings juggernaut for the network since its debut on May 22nd.

The Sony Pictures Television-AMC Studios co-production “Preacher” is the #2 new series on cable this year among adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 and is currently averaging 3.3 million viewers per episode, including 1.9 million adults 25-54, in Nielsen live+3 ratings.

“‘Preacher’ is a special television program, and we’re eager to share with fans the rest of this wild first season and, now, an expanded second season,” said Charlie Collier, president of AMC, SundanceTV, and AMC Studios. “What Sam, Seth, Evan, and the entire creative team have achieved in bringing Garth Ennis’ graphic novel to the screen is extraordinary. We look forward to more time with these unforgettable characters — be it in Heaven, Hell, Texas, or beyond.”

This Thursday night (June 30th), AMC will air a “Preacher” catch-up/DVR marathon of the first five episodes of the current 10-episode season, starting at 9:00 p.m. and running through 2:35 a.m. Friday morning (July 1st).

The sixth episode, “Sundowner,” appears on AMC this Sunday in the show’s regular timeslot at 9:00 p.m.

Based on the popular cult comic book franchise of the same name, “Preacher” is a supernatural and darkly comedic drama that follows a Texas preacher named Jesse Custer, who is inhabited by a mysterious entity called Genesis that gives him the power to make people do whatever he commands. Once this power attracts the attention of two mysterious angels, Fiore and DeBlanc, Jesse; his badass ex-girlfriend, Tulip; and an Irish vampire named Cassidy are thrust into a crazy world populated by a cast of characters from Heaven, Hell, and everywhere in between.

“Preacher” was developed for television by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (This Is the End, Superbad, Neighbors) and showrunner Sam Catlin (“Breaking Bad”).

The series stars Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer, Joseph Gilgun as Cassidy, Ruth Negga as Tulip, Lucy Griffiths as Emily, W. Earl Brown as Sheriff Root, Anatol Yusef as DeBlanc, Tom Brooke as Fiore, Derek Wilson as Donnie Schenck, and Ian Colletti as Eugene/Arseface.

“Preacher” Episode 1.06 – “Sundowner” (airs 7/3/16)
Jesse finally comes face to face with DeBlanc and Fiore and learns about the mysterious entity that has taken over his body.

The post AMC Renews Preacher for an Expanded Second Season; Catch Up on Season 1 This Week! appeared first on Dread Central.

Every year we wait with bated breath to see what exclusives Dark Horse will be bringing to the San Diego Comic-Con, and for 2016 there are quite a few horror items on the menu.

From the Press Release:
Dark Horse is proud to announce its selection of exclusive merchandise for San Diego Comic-Con International 2016. From the anticipated “Game of Thrones” Night King bust to variant covers by some of the most talented artists in the comics industry, Dark Horse has fans covered!

All exclusive merchandise will be available at the Dark Horse booth (#2615) for all of SDCC 2016. Please note that there will be a fixed number of exclusives set aside for each day of the convention.

Check out Dark Horse’s SDCC 2016 horror exclusives (plus a few that should be of general interest), along with quantity and price, below.

Hellboy in Hell Volume 2: The Death Card SDCC Exclusive Hardcover
$40 – Limited Edition of 1,400 – 2 per person per day

Black Hammer #1 Convention Exclusive Variant
$5 – Limited Edition of 500 – 5 per person per day

Conan the Slayer #1 SDCC Wraparound Variant
$5 – Limited Edition of 500 – 5 per person per day

B.P.R.D. Zippo Lighter
$40 – Zippo brand lighter with the B.P.R.D. logo printed on the front – Limited edition of 500 – 5 per person per day

B.P.R.D. Flask
$35 – 6 oz. brushed finish flask with the B.P.R.D. logo printed on the front; hand-numbered label on each box – Limited Edition of 275 – 5 per person per day

“Game of Thrones” The Night King Bust – Silver Edition
$150 – 8.5” silver bust – Limited Edition of 200 – 1 per person per day

Frank Frazetta “The Destroyer” Lithograph
$100 – 16” x 20” lithograph – Officially approved by the Frazetta Estate; signed and numbered by Frank Frazetta, Jr. – Limited Edition of 100 – 1 per person per day

The post #SDCC16: Dark Horse Announces San Diego Comic-Con 2016 Exclusives appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Patty Duke, Rosemary Murphy, Sian Barbara Allen, Richard Thomas

Directed by Lamont Johnson

Distributed by Scream Factory

Meeting your in-laws for the first time can be a bit nerve wracking. Ideally, you want to be on your best behavior, polite, looking sharp; this is a first impression that will likely be carried throughout the duration of a marriage. It doesn’t help that pop culture has persisted this notion of “dreading the in-laws”, adding additional stress to an already awkward situation. Unless there is some diametric opposition, your partner should be able to help integrate you into their clan with minimal hiccups. But what if your lover is dead? And you’re pregnant? That premise alone makes for an uncomfortable situation, one which can be easily exacerbated when the mother-in-law of the deceased turns out to be a real ice queen. This is the situation facing a young woman in You’ll Like My Mother (1972), a claustrophobic little tale of peculiar personalities and hidden secrets.

Francesca (Patty Duke) is a pregnant young lady who is due to give birth any day now. Still, despite her delicate condition she has traveled a considerable distance to meet the mother of her late husband, who had always told her “you’ll like my mother”. The frozen tundra of Minnesota is a stark change from her home in sunny L.A., but Francesca soldiers on until she reaches the family estate, where she is coldly greeted by Mrs. Kinsolving (Rosemary Murphy). Her chilly response can be partially chalked up to a rough morning, wherein she was forced to drown kittens because… well, we just can’t have kittens running around the place now can we? Her daughter, the mentally challenged Kathleen (Sian Barbara Allen), sits on the stairs crying over the loss. Francesca does her best to connect with Mrs. Kinsolving over their shared love of her late husband, but the old bird won’t hear any of it. She isn’t even convinced the baby is her son’s, and she certainly wants nothing to do with it now or in the future. Sensing this trip was poorly conceived, Francesca decides it would be best if she just left… except she can’t because the snow is coming down hard and all roads are blocked.

Reluctantly, Mrs. Kinsolving agrees to care for Francesca and assist in delivering her baby, being that she is a nurse and all. Unfortunately, her efforts are in vain because the baby is stillborn. Mrs. Kinsolving passes the lifeless infant off to Kathleen for a quick burial in the backyard. Because of the snowfall, Francesca will have to remain at the home for a few days. During that time, the illusion of who Mrs. Kinsolving is – or isn’t – begins to slip as Francesca makes a series of discoveries within the home that uncover more than just hidden identities but hidden persons, too. And with nowhere to run, and with her being in no condition to do so, Francesca becomes an unwilling captive to a strange, dangerous family.

Despite being a theatrical film, You’ll Like My Mother plays more like a well-made ‘70s TV movie-of-the-week. Limited almost entirely to one location, the tension is earned as our lead actress, unable to leave and in need of care due to her condition, makes one chilling finding after the next and there isn’t a thing she can do to escape. The atmosphere becomes claustrophobic and caustic. Francesca is no dummy, either, and she is able to ascertain what is happening early on, but because of the circumstances she isn’t able to call anyone out or show her hand. Instead, as familial secrets are illuminated she has no choice but to placate Mrs. Kinsolving and play the fool until the snowfall stops.

One of this film’s greatest strengths is in playing things close to the vest and maintaining an air of realism for these characters. Mrs. Kinsolving is as frigid as they get, though she still assists Francesca whenever she must even if it is done reluctantly. Murphy has a domineering presence on screen, imbuing her character with cold calculation and only the faintest hints of warmth. Her motives are simple: to protect a specific family member and to obtain money, the latter of which sees the former put to use as her muscle. It’s clear she can only keep up this charade for so long before breaking. Duke is charming and doe-eyed as Francesca, who keeps a clear head and plots out her actions with extreme care rather than the usual trope of getting flustered and doing something stupid. She only acts at the precise moment when an opportunity is presented, never sooner.

Taut, straightforward and completely lacking in excess, You’ll Like My Mother plays like a breath of fresh air in a genre often bogged down by dead horse story beats and typical turns. The performances are strong and subtle, the main location like a lavish prison, and the ending delivers on the threats teased up to the climax. I know some of these lesser known titles aren’t always big sellers for Scream Factory but I do hope fans take the time to buy and watch films like this because, while I love seeing my horror favorites get their splendid treatment, discovering these gems is part of what I love about the label.

Featuring an “all-new HD film transfer”, the 1.85:1 1080p picture is a great effort. Lamont Johnson’s utilitarian direction coupled with cinematographer Jack A. Marta’s natural aesthetics lends the film a realistic appearance. Colors are accurate without looking too bright or flashy. Film grain looks as it should, though in some shots (especially optical zooms) it flares up. Some of the interior shots use soft filters, giving an almost smoky visual style. Definition is strong and superior to DVD, but the picture never looks too crisp.

The English DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono track is a simple mix, making the most of silence by using minor sound cues to increase the tension. Dialogue comes through loud and clear, with no noticeable hissing or pops. Gil Melle’s score is beautiful, a real standout in an already strong picture. Subtitles are available in English.

“The Mystery of Kenny and Kathleen” – Richard Thomas and Sian Barbara Allen sit down, independently, for this lengthy interview. Of note: the two formed a relationship on the set of this film and went on to have a long romance. The two also discuss the infamous murders that occurred in the mansion five years after filming wrapped.

A photo gallery and the film’s theatrical trailer are also included.

Special Features:

• Interview with actors Richard Thomas and Sian Barbara Allen
• Photo Gallery
• Original Theatrical Trailer

The post You’ll Like My Mother (Blu-ray) appeared first on Dread Central.

Back in the spring of this year, the fan documentary Ghostheads premiered as a “work in progress” at the Tribeca Film Festival, and now it’s been picked up by Netflix for a premiere next month.  Read on for the details courtesy of Variety.

The streaming network has set a July 15th launch date for the Ghostbusters fan documentary Ghostheads, coinciding with Sony’s opening of its Ghostbusters reboot.

The film looks at the impact the Ghostbusters franchise has had on fans over the past three decades. Interviewees include Dan Aykroyd, Ivan Reitman, Ernie Hudson, Paul Feig, and Peter Mosen, who has been dressing like Aykroyd’s Ray Stantz character since the first film’s release and whose passion landed him a small part in the sequel.

The film is directed by Brendan Mertens, a Canadian filmmaker who said of his fellow fans, “Ghostheads are friendly people – there’s not really any animosity like in other fandoms we’ve seen. They really use their powers for good – raising money for their local communities, providing a place for people who may otherwise feel alone, and visiting children’s hospitals in full gear, brightening the days of every child they meet.”

Producers are Tommy Avallone and Lee Leshen. Adam F. Goldberg (ABC’s “The Goldbergs”) co-produced, as did Derrick Kunzer, who also serves as the film’s director of photography. Raymond Esposito and Kevin Sisti, Jr., executive produced.

“When we visited various comic cons, we’d run into Ghostheads around every corner, all of whom had their own flight suits, and many had built their own proton packs,” Leshen said. “The dedication these fans have is evidenced not only through their uniforms, but also through their positive attitude. They truly believe in the franchise’s messaging of friendship, teamwork, and doing good for the common man.”

Production took a little over a year, with financing mostly coming from Indiegogo and Kickstarter campaigns.

The post Netflix Releasing Ghostbusters Fan Documentary Ghostheads in July appeared first on Dread Central.

We’re getting closer and closer to the start of the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con, which means panel details are starting to trickle out, and among the first to be revealed are “Ash vs. Evil Dead” and “American Gods” from Starz.  Read on for the early info.

First up, on Friday, July 22nd, is the presentation for “American Gods,” which runs from 3:15-4:15 PM in Room 6BCF. That will be followed by an autograph signing from 4:45-6:00 PM at the “American Gods” Booth #4029.

Expected talent includes Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane, Yetide Badaki, Pablo Schreiber, Bruce Langley, Michael Green, Bryan Fuller, and Neil Gaiman.

With a premiere date in 2017, “American Gods” is Starz’s television adaptation of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning novel by Neil Gaiman that has been translated into over 30 languages. The plot posits a war brewing between old and new gods: the traditional gods of mythological roots from around the world steadily losing believers to an upstart pantheon of gods reflecting society’s modern love of money, technology, media, celebrity, and drugs. Its protagonist, Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle), is an ex-con who becomes bodyguard and traveling partner to Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane), a conman but in reality one of the older gods, on a cross-country mission to gather his forces in preparation to battle the new deities. Emily Browning also stars, and Bryan Fuller and Michael Green are writers and showrunners on the series. David Slade is directing the pilot and additional episodes. Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk serve as executive producers along with Fuller, Green, Slade, and Gaiman.

Next, on Saturday, July 23rd, get up close and person with the “Ash vs. Evil Dead” gang. Things kick off with an autograph signing from 2:00-3:00 PM at the “Ash vs. Evil Dead” cabin in the Petco Park Interactive Zone. That’ll be followed by a panel presentation from 6:45-7:45 PM in Room 6A, capped off by a screening with your first look at Season 2 beginning at 10:00 PM in Room 6DE.

Expected talent includes Bruce Campbell, Lucy Lawless, Rob Tapert, Dana DeLorenzo, Ray Santiago, Lee Majors, Ted Raimi, and Sam Raimi.

Premiering in October 2016, the second season of “Ash vs. Evil Dead” roars back into action with Ash leaving his beloved Jacksonville and returning to his hometown of Elk Grove. There, he confronts Ruby. The former enemies have to form an uneasy alliance as Elk Grove soon becomes the nucleus of evil.

The cast is led by Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, “Burn Notice”) in the role of Ash Williams; Lucy Lawless (“Salem,” “Spartacus”) as Ruby, who now possesses the powerful Necronomicon; Ray Santiago (“Touch,” Meet the Fockers) as Pablo Simon Bolivar, Ash’s loyal sidekick dealing with the trauma he suffered in the cabin; and Dana DeLorenzo (A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas) as Kelly Maxwell, who, grief-stricken after the death of her parents, plots revenge against the Evil Dead. Lee Majors (Do You Believe), Ted Raimi (“Xena: Warrior Princess,” Spider-Man), and Michelle Hurd (“Law & Order: SVU”) join the series this year as Brock Williams, Ash’s father; Chet Kaminski, Ash’s childhood best friend; and Linda, Ash’s high school love, respectively.

Sam Raimi serves as executive producer with Rob Tapert (Evil Dead, “Spartacus,” Xena: Warrior Princess”), Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead, “Burn Notice”), and Ivan Raimi (Drag Me to Hell, Spider-Man 3) along with Craig DiGregorio (“Workaholics,” “Chuck”), who serves as executive producer/showrunner. Aaron Lam (“Spartacus”) and Moira Grant (“Spartacus”) serve as producers.

The post #SDCC16: Starz Bringing Ash vs. Evil Dead and American Gods to the Show! appeared first on Dread Central.

On tap right now for you cats who dig their horror movies with a dash of silliness comes the trailer for Simon Basche’s follow-up to Mike Mendez’s Lavalantula; the delightfully and ludicrously named 2 Lava 2 Lantula.

The flick once again stars Police Academy stars Steve Guttenberg, Michael Winslow, and Marion Ramsey along with Eric Etebari, Michele Weaver, RJ Walker, James Bellinger, and Martin Kove.

Look for 2 Lava 2 Lantula to make its Syfy debut on August 6th. Thanks to Fangoria for the trailer below.

Synopsis:
When an unprecedented amount of sinkholes erupt all over Florida, a new nest of fire spitting Lavalantulas is awakened… wreaking their fiery havoc all over the sunshine state. Adding to the mayhem, the arachnids have hit the beach where Colton West’s step-daughter, Raya, is taking a break from school. Now an A-list movie star, Colton walks off the set of his latest hundred million dollar blockbuster to save her. Armed with specialized weapons, Colton, his personal assistant, Kyle, and his best friend, Marty, race to save the residents of Florida from these hellish prehistoric beasts and taking on the biggest, baddest one of them all — Gargantulantula.

The post 2 Lava 2 Lantula Spews Forth a Heated Good Time appeared first on Dread Central.

Annabelle 2 is looking to correct the dull path of the original film, and with Lights Out‘s David F. Sandberg at the helm, we’re pretty confident that it will do just that.

Bloody Disgusting is reporting that the flick is now filming, and the cast has expanded exponentially.

The full cast includes Stephanie Sigman (Spectre), Talitha Bateman (The 5th Wave), Lulu Wilson (upcoming Ouija 2, Deliver Us from Evil), Philippa Anne Coulthard (After the Dark), Grace Fulton (Badland), Lou Lou Safran (The Choice), Samara Lee (Foxcatcher, The Last Witch Hunter), and Tayler Buck in her feature film debut, with Anthony LaPaglia (TV’s “Without a Trace”) and Miranda Otto (Showtime’s “Homeland,” The Lord of the Rings Trilogy).

Filming is taking place in Los Angeles. The new film is once again being produced by Peter Safran and James Wan, who also partnered on The Conjuring movies.

Collaborating with Sandberg behind the scenes from his Lights Out team are production designer Jennifer Spence and editor Michel Aller, joined by director of photography Maxime Alexandre (The Other Side of the Door) and costume designer Leah Butler (Paranormal Activity 3 & 4).

Synopsis:
Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker’s possessed creation, Annabelle.

The post Annabelle 2 Begins Filming; Cast Expands appeared first on Dread Central.

Finally, production has officially kicked off on the U.S. live action adaptation of Death Note for Netflix! Read on for all the details… apples not included.

From the Press Release:
Netflix announced that principal photography begins Thursday on the original feature film Death Note from director Adam Wingard (The Guest, You’re Next). Death Note will shoot in Canada and the U.S. and stars Nat Wolff (Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars) as Light Turner; Margaret Qualley (The Nice Guys, “The Leftovers”) as Mia Sutton; Keith Stanfield (Straight Outta Compton, Dope, Short Term 12) as “L”; Paul Nakauchi (Alpha and Omega) as Watari; and Shea Whigham (“Agent Carter,” “Boardwalk Empire”) as James Turner. The film will be produced by Roy Lee (The Ring, The Departed), Dan Lin (The Lego Movie, Sherlock Holmes), Jason Hoffs (Edge of Tomorrow), and Masi Oka (“Heroes Reborn,” “Hawaii-Five-0”).

Based on the famous Japanese manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, Death Note follows a high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook, realizing it holds within it a great power; if the owner inscribes someone’s name into it while picturing their face, he or she will die. Intoxicated with his new godlike abilities, the young man begins to kill those he deems unworthy of life.

“I am honored to be working with this great cast, and I look forward to bringing Tsugumi and Takeshi’s unique story to a global audience,” said director Adam Wingard.

“Our vision for Death Note has always been to bring this captivating story to the screen for its longtime manga fans and to introduce the world to this dark and mysterious masterpiece. The talent and diversity represented in our cast, writing, and producing teams reflect our belief in staying true to the story’s concept of moral relevance — a universal theme that knows no racial boundaries,” stated producers Roy Lee and Dan Lin.

Miri Yoon (Behaving Badly), Jonathan Eirich (Hammerspace), John Powers Middleton (Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, The Lego Movie), and Brendan Ferguson (Big Eyes, Reasonable Doubt) are executive producers.

Death Note will premiere globally on Netflix in 2017.

The post Death Note Starts Filming! appeared first on Dread Central.

MTV’s “Teen Wolf” always has a big presence at the San Diego Comic-Con, and 2016 looks to be no different as along with bringing the show back for its 7th(!) appearance, the network is also hosting the “MTV Fandom Fest” and “MTV Fandom Awards.” Read on for the details.

From the Press Release:
MTV, a unit of Viacom (VIAB, VIA), today announced it will take San Diego Comic-Con by storm with the return of fan favorite and hit drama series “Teen Wolf” for the seventh time and the highly-anticipated “MTV Fandom Fest” and “MTV Fandom Awards.” MTV will be on the ground with its own branded booth, giving fans an all-new interactive VR experience on the floor of the San Diego Convention Center.

The network’s branded booth (#3729) will offer the ultimate fan experience, treating “Teen Wolf” enthusiasts to an interactive Virtual Reality activation using first-to-market gaze-activated technology. Fans will have the opportunity to meet and get autographs from a slew of MTV talent from “Teen Wolf” and “The Shannara Chronicles” set to stop by. Exclusive swag will be handed out throughout weekend including MTV portable chairs, MTV iFans, “Teen Wolf” fangs, plus posters for both series and more!

Below is the schedule of MTV events on the ground in San Diego. The signing schedule for the MTV booth will be announced via MTV “Teen Wolf” Social on Twitter and Instagram with #TeenWolfSDCC.

Thursday, July 21, 2016:

“Teen Wolf” Panel 4:30-5:30 PM
Location: Ballroom 20
“Teen Wolf” cast members and executive producer Jeff Davis will take Comic-Con by storm for the seventh consecutive year with a few surprises in tow. The pack will reveal an exclusive first-look Season 6 trailer, share shocking revelations for the upcoming season, and answer fan questions. Entertainment Weekly’s resident “Teen Wolf” expert Samantha Highfill will moderate the panel discussion and fan Q&A.

“Teen Wolf” was developed by Jeff Davis (creator, “Criminal Minds”), who also serves as executive producer. Additional executive producers include Russell Mulcahy (Highlander, Resident Evil: Extinction), Joe Genier, Marty Adelstein (“Prison Break”), René Echevarria (“Medium,” “Castle”), Tony DiSanto, and Liz Gateley. The pilot was written by Jeff Davis and Jeph Loeb & Matthew Weisman and directed by Russell Mulcahy. The “Teen Wolf” series is based on a screenplay by Jeph Loeb & Matthew Weisman. The series is a co-production with, and distributed by, MGM, in association with Lost Marbles Productions, Inc., Siesta Productions, Inc., First Cause, Inc., and DiGa.

“MTV Fandom Fest” and “MTV Fandom Awards” 6:30 PM
Location: Petco Park
Now in its third year, the “MTV Fandom Awards” honors the fans whose tenacious excitement pushes movies, TV, music, theater, and video games from subculture to mainstream worldwide success. On Thursday, July 21, all Comic-Con badge holders are welcome to join the “MTV Fandom Fest” party at Petco Park, featuring food, drinks, games, and giveaways beginning at 6:30 PM PT and leading into the 8:00 PM PT taping of the “MTV Fandom Awards.” The show will air on Sunday, July 24, at 8:00 PM ET/PT on MTV. Voting is currently open at fandomawards.mtv.com. Nominees for “Fandom of the Year,” presented by JOLLY RANCHER Candy, will feature 32 nominees going head-to-head across multiple platforms in a special social tournament spanning movies, TV dramas, TV comedies, and, for the first time ever, video games. The nominees for “Ship of the Year” will be voted on exclusively on Tumblr.

Official sponsors of the “MTV Fandom Awards” and “MTV Fandom Fest” include AT&T, Doritos®, JOLLY RANCHER Candy, Schick Hydro®, and U.S. Air Force.

The post #SDCC16: MTV Bringing Teen Wolf, VR, and More to the Show! appeared first on Dread Central.

We told you just a little while ago that Annabelle 2 had begun filming, and now via the magic of social media (i.e., the Instagram account of star Talitha Bateman), we have your first behind-the-scenes images.

Dig ’em below!

The full cast includes Stephanie Sigman (Spectre), Talitha Bateman (The 5th Wave), Lulu Wilson (Ouija 2, Deliver Us from Evil), Philippa Anne Coulthard (After the Dark), Grace Fulton (Badland), Lou Lou Safran (The Choice), Samara Lee (Foxcatcher, The Last Witch Hunter), and Tayler Buck in her feature film debut, with Anthony LaPaglia (TV’s “Without a Trace”) and Miranda Otto (Showtime’s “Homeland,” The Lord of the Rings Trilogy).

Filming is taking place in Los Angeles. The new film is once again being produced by Peter Safran and James Wan, who also partnered on The Conjuring movies.

Collaborating with Sandberg behind the scenes from his Lights Out team are production designer Jennifer Spence and editor Michel Aller, joined by director of photography Maxime Alexandre (The Other Side of the Door) and costume designer Leah Butler (Paranormal Activity 3 & 4).

Synopsis:
Several years after the tragic death of their little girl, a dollmaker and his wife welcome a nun and several girls from a shuttered orphanage into their home, soon becoming the target of the dollmaker’s possessed creation, Annabelle.

The post Annabelle 2 – First Behind-the-Scenes Images! appeared first on Dread Central.

Developed by Blooming Buds Studio

Available on PC through Steam

Suitable for 14+

There’s a fundamental problem that critics face when reviewing an art game. Judging art requires a different mindset beyond fun and boring, good vs bad. This is hard to achieve in an industry obsessed with getting over Metacritic increments of 10. Most reviewers don’t have the option to change their rating metric from “x/10” to “provoked X feels/made me think so deep,” so we end up with reviews that are either highly inflated or highly deflated based on the reviewer’s penchant for art.

It’s a struggle I was personally feeling when trying to review Calendula. The game has been on my docket for a while, but I kept reaching wildly different scores based on what direction I took my analysis. Trying to talk about the mechanics was a dead end, and the fun factor didn’t really reflect my sentiments. The game needs to be treated as a piece of art. This statement is classification, not praise. It’s worthy of academic discussion, but would fail under the scrutiny of a normal review.

So Calendula is art, but not all art is good. Yes, we were all brought up being told our macaroni drawings were wonderful and that trying our best was better than winning, but it was a lie. No matter how heartfelt and genuine our artistic explorations, it can still be garbage. Just look at my sister’s refrigerator. I love my nieces and nephews, but elephants genuinely paint better.

Calendula isn’t kindergarten art project bad, but it’s certainly not good. This shouldn’t come as a surprise for a game described as “doesn’t want to be played.” There are a number of “fake” games like Frog Fractions and Pony Island that in one way or another build off of this gimmick, so there’s nothing inherently new about being intentionally obtuse. This isn’t to say that the game is hard. Beyond figuring out how to progress, there really isn’t anything else to Calendula’s gameplay. The entirety of Calendula is figuring out where the password for the next level is hidden, then holding the forward button while disturbing images flash on the screen. It’s just a puzzle game disguised as a main menu, and your reward for finishing puzzles is a bit of a narrative.

It might not look like it, but this is gameplay.

Broken down to its nuts and bolts, it’s pretty underwhelming. Most art is. While a painting is just a bunch of paste smeared across some canvas, there’s a reason people pay to see it. The appeal of Calendula is supposed to come from the narrative.

*Spoilers*

Calendula prescribes to a symbolic, imagistic method of storytelling. The puzzles have little story integration, and aside from a few key points, the narrative is contained to pseudo-cutscene segments. Usually you’ll have to walk forward through some kind of hallway, but it’s completely on rails. You can look around to a limited angle in front of you, but can’t veer from your course at all. You’ll be bombarded with colorpalette altered creepy images, out of focus shots of figures, and quick cuts to poorly lit abandoned rooms. It goes for a “glitch imagery” vibe, and does so pretty well. It’s creepy.

And lots of spooky eyes.

As a series of images, Calendula works. It’s only when given context to those images that the game becomes a conversation piece. I’ll remind you now that this is where the spoilers are. The game is about birth, from the perspective of someone being born. The imagery of long red hallways is obviously yonic, and the structure of the foyer and staircases is evocative of the anatomy of the uterus.

It’s the kind of stuff that was made for art school. The symbolism of traveling through the hallways is representative of sperm entering, the travel into the uterus is impregnation, and the exit is your eventual birth. The contention comes over the imagery. The violent, disjointed scenes are disturbing enough to lead me to a conclusion of rape. Factoring in the fundamental nature of the game as “one that doesn’t want to be played,” it’s hard to ignore this very uncomfortable interpretation. There’s various images and messages that back this up, including a message about it not being “Your fault” or “too late to stop this.”

It could very well be just about the inherent chaos and violence of birth. That’s the beauty of art. There’s a deep experience to be had from sifting through and turning over every little pebble that makes up Calendula. In the words of the scholars, “that shit is my jam.” As something to mull over, I found Calendula to be both effective and compelling.

What ever could this shining read orb at the end of a long read hallway mean…

*Spoilers end*

This is where that bright line between art and game needs to be established. As interesting as Calendula is to analyze as an art piece, it’s incredibly dry to play. The initial charm of the game wears off fast as the puzzles become little more than a scavenger hunt to find the key object that will get you to the next checkpoint. There are some clues to guide you, but I always found them to be either incomprehensibly obtuse or incredibly obvious. Unpacking the story with puzzles became a chore.

The eventual reveal also comes off as anticlimactic. After so many hallways and disquieting images, it comes to a rather obvious head without much punch. I would have appreciated a more ambiguous finale. It’s understandable why they made it so blatant, but it deprived me of some of the self-determination that is fundamental to art.

Subtle.

For a game that kind of sucks, the artistic value gives a compelling reason to check out Calendula. On the other side of the same coin, the ending spells it all out in a way that will push away some hardcore art critics. It makes it almost impossible to recommend. It was interesting in retrospect, but a minor chore to get through.

At $7, it’s not a huge investment to try Calendula out. It’s worth seeing for what it is. This is where my job as a critic needs some alteration of scale. I don’t think most people will enjoy this game. I sure didn’t. But the analytical art merit makes it worth both the time and money cost. It doesn’t really matter if you like it or not, because it’ll give you something to think about. And that is the essence of art.

The post For Art’s Sake: Calendula appeared first on Dread Central.

Good news for those of us who are looking forward to Pacific Rim 2… Deadline is reporting that the film will be beating off kaijus theatrically on February 23, 2018.

Star Wars‘ John Boyega will play the son of the character played by Idris Elba in the Guillermo del Toro-directed original film.

“I am very proud and happy to welcome John into a fantastic sandbox,” said del Toro earlier. “The Pacific Rim universe will be reinforced with him as a leading man as it continues to be a multicultural, multi-layered world. ‘The World saving the world’ was our goal, and I couldn’t think of a better man for the job.”

Steven S. DeKnight is directing Pacific Rim 2. Thomas Tull, Mary Parent, Jon Jashni, and del Toro will produce the action adventure film along with Boyega and Femi Oguns under their Upper Room Productions shingle. Cale Boyter is executive producer.

The post Make a Date with Pacific Rim 2 appeared first on Dread Central.

AMC is bringing its big guns to the 2016 San Diego Comic-Con, and we have the details of what fans of “The Walking Dead,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” and “Preacher” have to look forward to.

From the Press Release:
The cast and producers of AMC’s hit scripted series “The Walking Dead,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” and “Preacher” will descend on this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego, CA.

In addition to official series panels, AMC will host fan activations throughout the weekend, including a “The Walking Dead”-themed booth (#4237) in the Convention Center, where fans can stop by to take photos of themselves among Negan’s (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) infamous “lineup” from the Season 6 finale, as well as a “Fear the Walking Dead” yacht at the Fifth Avenue Pier behind the Convention Center, where fans can experience life aboard the Abigail.

“FEAR THE WALKING DEAD”
· Panel from 12:00-1:00pm PT on Friday, July 22, in Hall H
· Autograph session aboard the “Fear the Walking Dead” yacht from 12:00-1:00pm PT on Saturday, July 23, Fifth Avenue Pier (Behind Convention Center)
· The “Fear the Walking Dead” Abigail experience is free to all (ages 13+) and open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 9:00am-9:00pm PT.

“Fear the Walking Dead” panelists include cast members Kim Dickens, Cliff Curtis, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Frank Dillane, Lorenzo James Henrie, Mercedes Mason, Colman Domingo, and Danay Garcia along with executive producer/showrunner David Erickson and executive producers Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Greg Nicotero, and Dave Alpert. The panel will be moderated by “Talking Dead” host Chris Hardwick.

“THE WALKING DEAD”
· Panel from 1:00-2:00pm PT on Friday, July 22 in Hall H
· Autograph session from 2:30-3:30pm PT on Friday, July 22 at AMC’s booth #4237

 “The Walking Dead” panelists include cast members Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, Chandler Riggs, Michael Cudlitz, Sonequa Martin-Green, Christian Serratos, Ross Marquand, and Josh McDermitt along with executive producer/showrunner Scott M. Gimple, executive producer Robert Kirkman, executive producer Gale Anne Hurd, executive producer/director/Special Effects Make-up Supervisor Greg Nicotero, and executive producer David Alpert. The panel will be moderated by “Talking Dead” host Chris Hardwick.

“PREACHER”
· Panel and live stage reading of the penultimate Season 1 episode on Friday, July 22, from 6:30-8:30pm PT in Hall H

“Preacher” panelists include cast members Dominic Cooper, Ruth Negga, Joseph Gilgun, Ian Colletti, and Graham McTavish along with executive producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg and co-executive producer Garth Ennis. The panel will be moderated by Kevin Smith.

In addition, if you’re a Kevin Smith fan, his annual Comic-Con panel will include a sneak peek of “Geeking Out” and a compilation of Kevin’s favorite scenes from Season 5 of “Comic Book Men.”  It takes place at 7:00pm PT on Saturday, July 23, in Hall H.

The post #SDCC16: The Walking Dead, Fear the Walking Dead, and Preacher Activities to Look Out For appeared first on Dread Central.

We’re just a few weeks away from San Diego’s big dance, and the e-mails are already hitting our inboxes at a fast and furious pace. Up next – what you can expect from Shout/Scream Factory!

From the Press Release:
Now a mainstay at San Diego Comic-Con International, pop-culture purveyor Shout! Factory returns to the convention in 2016 with a dynamic lineup, featuring captivating panel events, celebrity autograph signings, a showcase of new and upcoming home entertainment products, Comic-Con exclusive items and engaging booth activities. Fans and convention attendees are invited to join in on the excitement at the Shout! Factory booth (#4118) on the main convention floor. Fan favorite stars scheduled to attend at this time include: Joel Hodgson (creator of Mystery Science Theater 3000), Jonah Ray (Nerdist, The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail), Felicia Day (Geek & Sundry) Gail Simone (Red Sonja, Birds of Prey), Gregg Berger (Transformers: The Movie, Gargoyles) and Misty Lee (Ultimate Spider Man).

Calling all MSTies! In the not too distant future- Saturday, July 23rd at 8:30 pm in Room 24ABC, to be precise- for the panel Mystery Science Theater 3000 is Back! As the excitement mounts for the upcoming new episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000, join Joel Hodgson (creator, MST3K), Felicia Day (Geek & Sundry) and others discuss the show’s record-breaking crowdfunding campaign, and reveal behind-the-scenes info on Season 11!

Genre and horror film buffs, collectors and pop culture enthusiasts alike won’t want to miss An Inside Look at Shout! Factory and Scream Factory. At 8 pm on Friday, July 22nd in Room 29AB, join Brian Ward (Director of Blu-ray and DVD Production) and Jeff Nelson (Sr. Marketing Director) as they make special announcements and unveil exclusive sneak peeks of upcoming Blu-ray/DVD collector’s editions and new movies coming to theaters this fall. A fan-driven insider’s event filled with lively discussion and more than a few surprises, this panel discussion and Q&A will be moderated by Julia Cunningham, host of Entertainment Weekly’s “LA Daily” on Sirius XM.

Showcasing highly anticipated current and upcoming offerings from Shout! Factory’s most popular brands, the Shout! Factory Booth (#4118) will once again be an essential destination on the convention center floor. The booth also features convention exclusives, autograph signings, daily sweepstakes giveaways and much more.

Schedule Of Shout! Factory Events At Comic-Con International 2016

Wednesday, July 20th
Preview Night

Thursday, July 21st
10:00 am – Power Rangers appearance at Shout! Factory booth
11:00 am – Gail Simone and Misty Lee signing for Red Sonja: Queen Of Plagues, the new animated comic based on the Dynamite comic.

Friday July 22nd
10:00 am – Power Rangers appearance at Shout! Factory booth
2:00 pm – Meet Spot, a.k.a. Cthulhu, from the upcoming Howard Lovecraft & The Frozen Kingdom animated feature.
3:30 pm – Scream Factory Presents “Return of The Living Dead” Signing with Thom Mathews (Freddy) John Philbin (Chuck) and Sean Clark (host of “Horror’s Hallowed Grounds”)
8:00 pm – An Inside Look at Shout! Factory and Scream Factory Panel in Room 29AB.
Brian Ward (Director of Blu-ray and DVD Production) and Jeff Nelson (Sr. Marketing Director) make exclusive announcements, deliver sneak peeks from upcoming releases and more! Moderated by Julia Cunningham, host of Entertainment Weekly Radio’s “LA Daily” on SiriusXM.

Saturday, July 23rd
12:00 pm – Photo opportunity with Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot from Mystery ScienceTheater 3000.
2:00 pm – Meet Spot, a.k.a. Cthulhu, from the upcoming Howard Lovecraft & The Frozen Kingdom animated feature.
4:00 pm – MST3K Event at Camp Conival presented by Nerdist and Geek & Sundry
4:30 pm – Join Nerdist and Geek & Sundry for Camp Conival: a trip back in time to classic pop culture summer camp! Swing by the Conival Main Stage on the second concourse at Petco Park for a special Q&A with Joel Hodgson, Felicia Day, and Jonah Ray. Camp Conival does not require an event badge and is open to the public.
5:15 pm – Signing with the cast of next season of Mystery Science Theater 3000! Series creator Joel Hodgson, Jonah Ray and Felicia Day will be in attendance.
8:30 pm – Mystery Science Theater 3000 is Back! Panel in Room 24ABC. Joel Hodgson (creator, MST3K), Felicia Day (Geek & Sundry) and others discuss the show’s record-breaking crowdfunding campaign, and reveal behind-the-scenes info on Season 11.

Sunday, July 24th
11:00 am – Gregg Berger signing with exclusive Transformers: The Movie (30th Anniversary Edition) poster
12:00 pm – Appearance by Ladybug and Cat Noir of Miraculous
1:00 p.m. – Meet Spot, a.k.a. Cthulhu, from the upcoming Howard Lovecraft & The Frozen Kingdom animated feature.

Shout! Factory Booth (#4118) Comic-Con Exclusives

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir Buttons
Be Miraculous! We’re selling DVDs and giving away these “spot on” limited-edition collectibles. Stop by and say “Be Miraculous” to get your own Miraculous button! Limited to one per person.

Scream Factory Button Packs
For the 4th consecutive year, we’re giving away the highly collectible Scream Factory 5-button pack! This year, the titles we’ll be flaunting are top secret! Stop by the booth and ask for your set to reveal what we have in store for you this fall!

Shout! Factory, Shout! Kids And Scream Factory Home Entertainment
Highlights For SDCC 2016

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension Collector’s Edition
Shout Select’s inaugural release is the Collector’s Edition of the beloved ’80s cult classic! On Blu-ray for the first time, this Collector’s Edition comes loaded with bonus features, including a comprehensive retrospective featuring brand-new interviews with members of the cast and crew, and an additional disc of bonus features. Brilliant brain surgeon Banzai (Peter Weller) just made scientific history. Shifting his Oscillation Overthruster into warp speed, he’s the first man ever to travel to the Eighth Dimension and come back sane! But when his sworn enemy, the demented Dr. Lizardo ( John Lithgow), devises a plot to steal the Overthruster and bring an evil army of aliens back to destroy Earth, Buckaroo goes cranium to cranium with the madman in an extra-dimensional battle that could result in total annihilation of the universe!

Army of Darkness Collector’s Edition
Bound in human flesh and inked in blood, the ancient “Necronomicon” – the Book of the Dead – unleashes unspeakable evil upon mankind in this outrageously hilarious third chapter of Evil Dead Trilogy from legendary director Sam Raimi (Darkman, Drag Me to Hell) and producer Robert Tapert (Ash vs. Evil Dead). Army Of Darkness Collector’s Edition, featuring the Theatrical Cut of the film, the Director’s Cut (with 15 minutes of extra footage), the International Cut and the TV version (in standard definition). This definitive collector’s edition is jam-packed with bonus content, including new interviews with star and co-producer Bruce Campbell and the cast, special make-up effect artists Howard Berger, Tony Gardner, Robert Kurtzman, and Greg Nicotero, audio commentary, alternate and deleted scenes and much more – all collected in a special 3-Disc Blu-ray set!

Invasion of the Body Snatchers Collector’s Edition
The seed is planted…terror grows. Invasion of the Body Snatchers Collector’s Edition Blu-ray features a new HD transfer and comes packed with new bonus features, including interviews and audio commentary with cast and crew, and a limited-edition collectible slipcover with newly rendered artwork. In the terrifying sci-fi classic, the residents of San Francisco are becoming drone-like shadows of their former selves. As the phenomenon spreads, two Department of Health workers uncover the horrifying truth: Mysterious pods are cloning humans — and destroying the originals!

Manhunter Collector’s Edition
The first film to feature the iconic character Hannibal Lecktor, Manhunter follows former FBI profiler Will Graham (William Petersen, To Live and Die in L.A., CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) as he reluctantly returns to his old job to track a horrific serial killer known as the “Tooth Fairy.” But in order to get into the mind of this maniac, Graham must face another: Lecktor (Brian Cox, X-Men 2, Red), the imprisoned psychiatrist whose own insanity almost cost Graham his life… and whose insights into the “Tooth Fairy” could prove as dangerous as the killer himself. This Collector’s Edition features more than 5 hours of bonus content, including over 2 hours of new interviews.

Middleman: The Complete Series
Think your life has its wild twists and turns? You’ve got nothing comparable to the adventurous life of twenty-two year-old aspiring artist Wendy Watson as she gets recruited by a top secret agency to fight comic book-esque criminals under the guidance of her straight-laced boss who introduces himself only as…The Middleman. Based on the series of graphic novels by acclaimed writer Javier Grillo-Marxuach (“Lost,” “Medium”), this fan favorite live-action series aired on ABC Family.

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir – Spots On!
Wildly successful on Nickelodeon, legions of fans worldwide know that Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir is superhero super fun! When the treacherous Hawk Moth uses his evil energy to transform the citizens of Paris into super villains, only two amazing heroes stand in his way: Ladybug and Cat Noir! With the help of their magical pets, this incredible duo team up to outwit Hawk Moth and keep their city safe… but their biggest challenge might be getting through school. You see, Ladybug and Cat Noir are actually Marinette and Adrien, a pair of young students who live what seems to be a normal life. But even for these two, it’s hard to juggle schoolwork, friends, family and growing up when every day is a super-powered adventure!

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: Season 5
When Twilight Sparkle and her best friends — Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Spike — come across a town full of ponies with the exact same Cutie Mark, the gang has to learn a very powerful lesson about individuality. And the adventures just get better from there! This four-disc DVD set features all 26 episodes of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic’s fifth season and includes bonus features!

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Vol. 36
In this election year, we present two candidates for president of Mystery Science Theater 3000 Volume XXXVI. Representing the Comedy Central Party, Joel Hodgson, a champion of long-suffering cinephiles, leads the botty politic in two memorable episodes replete with inspired riffs and wacky host segments. Representing the SyFy Channel Party is Mike Nelson, a riff-ormer whose doctrine of laughter at any cost is clearly in play on the other two delirious episodes in this collection. We urge you to hear them both out as they take on some of the cheesiest movies of the day and lay out their visions for a funnier tomorrow. Includes the episodes Stranded In Space City Limits, The Incredible Melting Man and Riding With Death.

Red Sonja: Queen of Plagues
Red Sonja, the She-Devil with a Sword, intends to pay back a blood debt owed to the one man who has gained her respect… even if it means leading a doomed army to their certain deaths! Who is Dark Annisia, and how has this fearsome warrior accomplished what neither god nor demon has been able to do: force Sonja to her knees in surrender? An epic tale of blood, lust, and vengeance, Queen of the Plagues takes Red Sonja from the depths of her own grave to the heights of battlefield glory. This animated feature-length film is features the voice talent of Misty Lee, with art by Walter Giovani and based on the comics by Gail Simone.

Return of the Living Dead Collector’s Edition
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the cemetery, those brain-eating zombies are back and hungry for more tasty mortals! Writer/director Dan O’Bannon (Alien, Lifeforce) puts an uproarious spin on the zombie apocalypse movie in 1985’s cult classic The Return Of The Living Dead. Considered one of the campiest undead romps of its time, the film features a killer soundtrack with tracks from many songs from punk artists such as The Cramps, T.S.O.L. SSQ and 45 Grave. The Collector’s Edition boasts a brand new 2K scan of the film and over 12 hours of extras!

Super Sentai Zyuranger: The Complete Series
See where the worldwide phenomenon began with Super Sentai Zyuranger, the original Japanese series that inspired the Power Rangers franchise! When the sinister witch Bandora is released from her prison after 170 million years, five warriors from an ancient time are woken from suspended animation to once again defend Earth from Bandora and her evil horde. Armed with enchanted weapons and giant robotic deities known as the Guardian Beasts, it’s up to these warriors to defeat Bandora and her monsters before she can exact revenge upon the Earth for the death of her son.

Session 9
It looms up out of the woods like a dormant beast. Grand, imposing… abandoned and deteriorating, the Danvers State Mental Hospital, closed down for 15 years, is about to receive 5 new visitors. Donning protective gear, the men of the Hazmat Elimination Co. venture into the eerily vast and vacant asylum that is filled with an evil and mysterious past. Rampant patient abuse, medieval medical procedures and rumors of demonic possession are some of the many dark secrets the hospital holds – but then so do each of the men. Directed by Brad Anderson (The Machinist), Session 9 features a talented cast including David Caruso (CSI: Miami), Peter Mullan (War Horse, Trainspotting), Paul Guilfoyle (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), Josh Lucas (American Psycho), Stephen Gevedon (Show Me a Hero) and Brendan Sexton III (The Killing, Boys Don’t Cry).

They Live Collector’s Edition
Horror master John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing) directs this heart-pounding thriller in which aliens are systematically gaining control of the Earth by masquerading as humans and lulling the public into submission. Humanity’s last chance lies with a lone drifter who stumbles upon a harrowing discovery — a unique pair of sunglasses that reveals the terrifying and deadly truth. They Live boasts a bounty of special bonus content, a collectible cover featuring newly rendered retro-style artwork, a reversible wrap with original theatrical key art and much more!

The post #SDCC16 – Scream Factory Unveils Comic-Con Plans! appeared first on Dread Central.

The first look at El Rey Network and Miramax’s “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” Season 3 is finally here! Check out five intense images, and get ready for the premiere of the new season this fall on El Rey Network.

Season 3 continues the Gecko brothers’ saga as they fight their way through the world of culebras, the vampire-snake hybrids that control hidden empires in Texas and Mexico. Once the baddest outlaws in the land, Seth and Richie made a run for the Border two years ago to save their lives – and their fortune. They ran headlong into a bar full of bloodsuckers and bandits, facing off with the vampire goddess Santánico. The Geckos joined her cause, and they settled an old score. It won them a place in the culebra world. Now that world is about to explode, and new enemies are gathering – dark forces, hell-bent on destruction and domination. It’s up to the Geckos to stop them – but they can’t do it alone.

“From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” is produced by Miramax in association with Rodriguez International Pictures, FactoryMade Ventures, and Sugarcane Entertainment. Executive producers are Robert Rodriguez, showrunner Carlos Coto, writer Diego Gutierrez, FactoryMade Ventures and El Rey Network co-founders John Fogelman and Cristina Patwa, and Miramax’s Zanne Devine and Daniel Pipski.

Miramax distributes “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series” internationally in all territories.

Season 3 amps up the action in our world. It wouldn’t be Dusk without a good, gory scare – or a good ol’ fashioned brawl.
L to R – D.J. Cotrona (Seth Gecko), Dennis Keiffer (Caliman)
Photo: Robert Rodriguez/ El Rey Network and Miramax

Santanico Pandemonium (Eiza González), once imprisoned inside the temple under the Titty Twister, has found a new life for herself in the outside world. She’s actually happy! All that gets shattered when the Geckos show up to recruit her into the fight.
L to R – Eiza González (Santánico Pandemonium), Gabrielle Walsh (Manola Jimenez)
Photo: Robert Rodriguez/ El Rey Network and Miramax

Dusk has always been a Gecko Brothers story, and Seth (D.J. Cotrona) and Richie (Zane Holtz) are definitely back. When Season 3 opens, they’re working for the culebra crime bosses – but when that world gets blown up, the boys start putting together a crew to take on a dark new threat.
L to R – D.J. Cotrona (Seth Gecko), Zane Holtz (Richie Gecko)
Photo: Robert Rodriguez/ El Rey Network and Miramax

Just like the third act of the film, we’re blowing the lid off the Dusk universe in Season 3, but we’re also continuing to mash-up horror and action and Mesoamerican myth. That means new demons, new monsters – and crazy new threats.
Pictured: Shad Gaspard (Olmeca)
Photo: Robert Rodriguez / El Rey Network and Miramax

As Season 3 unfolds, Kate Fuller (Madison Davenport) – once a Bible-thumping teenager from small-town Texas – finds herself transformed by something dark and powerful. She’s not the sweet girl we met in Season 1. 
L to R – David Stanford (Psychiatrist), Madison Davenport (Kate Fuller)
Photo: Robert Rodriguez / El Rey Network and Miramax

The post Get Your First Look at From Dusk Till Dawn Season 3 appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson, Joseph Julian Soria, Terry Serpico

Written and directed by James DeMonaco

Let’s be honest for a sec. The politics of The Purge movie universe have never made much sense. The Purge is that rare franchise where I dare say a prequel would not only be welcome but wholly necessary because in three films we’ve never gotten an in-depth explanation of who the New Founding Fathers are, what they truly believe, how or why they rose to power, how the very concept of The Purge came to be, or why the populace of the United States has been willing to go along with it for decades. All we’ve gotten for three films are hints and lip service. Again, being totally honest, The Purge concept is really just a cool plot device for a series of action-horror movies.

The first Purge movie was a home invasion flick set in this insane alternate reality of America where making murder legal once a year for 12 hours was an accepted practice.

The Purge: Anarchy was more or less a survival horror flick set on the streets during The Purge. Though the second delved a little more into the politics of this world by having characters cross paths with revolutionaries opposing The Purge, part two was really just about a group of people desperately trying to survive the night in a world gone mad.

But now here we are at the third installment where we’re entering Hunger Games territory. In The Purge: Election Year, overlooking how ill-defined the concept is, is virtually impossible because the whole damn movie is built around the politics of The Purge and the New Founding Fathers’ political-religious movement that brought it about.

Eighteen years ago, Charlie Roark was the sole survivor of a Purge night home invasion. Now she’s a United States Senator on the verge of being elected President and ending the stranglehold the New Founding Fathers political movement has on America. Her single issue, of course, is ending The Purge, which she argues is really just a con job being used by corrupt, ultra-conservative, 1%’er religious fanatics to kill off the poor and help the rich get richer.

Naturally, she must be eliminated.

The very premise of The Purge: Election Year doesn’t quite fly with me. The level of fanatical fascists who could seize control of an entire nation and institute a law legalizing murder one night a year as a means of euthanizing the poor don’t exactly strike me as the sort that would feel the need to wait until Purge night to have a political rival murdered. I’m not even convinced they would even allow free elections that could potentially give voice to any political rivals.

Purging itself feels almost secondary to the plot for much of the newest installment that boils down to what felt like a retread of The Purge: Anarchy but with the focus on a boilerplate action-thriller plot about a badass dude having to protect a marked woman from henchmen working on behalf of powerful forces that need her gone before she mucks up their criminal enterprise. That the good guys end up out and about during the Hot Topic holocaust that is The Purge is merely a plot complication.

That bad assdude is the returning Frank Grillo. Unlike in Anarchy, this time he’s more of a one-note Steven Seagal-type action hero and a less compelling character for it. Last time he felt like a flesh and blood character. Now he’s just an unstoppable action hero that can suffer a devastating wound early on and show nearly no ill effects from it aside from a bloodied shirt.

To keep her safe, the Senator is put up for Purge night in a safehouse less fortified than Ethan Hawke’s home from part one with a handful of armed guards, who must have been thrilled to get to stand around outside for 12 hours hoping Purgers don’t try to kill them, let alone Neo-Nazi mercenaries in Confederate flag-adorned jumpsuits.

Here’s a crazy idea… How about locking someone this important to the future of the country in an underground bunker or solid steel time-locked panic room for 12 hours instead? Even former Vice President Dick Cheney was said to have a man-sized safe on the premises in which he could take cover in case of trouble. This set-up is such a cliché I can’t even think of a movie off the top of my head where a safehouse proved to actually be safe.

I never bought into Elizabeth Mitchell’s potential savior of the country character. I don’t know if it was her performance or how poorly the role was written that was the issue – maybe both. I found her to be a ninny that never once sounded liked a believable politician, let alone the only person whose zeal can restore liberty and justice for all. Perhaps given the ham-fisted themes of the movie making this protector of downtrodden minorities in a land of rich white evil herself a person of color who has risen to power would have made Roark a more interesting character in lieu of casting what amounts to a sexy librarian version of Elizabeth Warren.

When the opportunity arises to turn the tables on her would-be executors, in particular, their chosen candidate for the Presidency, a fire & brimstone minister who eventually sets his prolific overacting conditions to Def God One, Roark argues against doing so on the grounds that it would only make him a martyr. But the way I see it, how they intend to kill her, especially the specific way they want her to die, would make her even more of a martyr for her cause and, thusly, an even greater threat to their power, the kind that inspires uprisings in the streets. I’m clearly overthinking aspects of a plot that has not been very well thought out.

The threequel’s best and most relatable character proves to be a convenience store deli owner played by Mykelti Williamson, providing the much needed humor this franchise has typically shunned. A little of him goes a very long way. Frankly, I would have rather seen an entire movie about him and his young Mexican cohort valiantly struggling to defend his small business on Purge night from looters and that Christmas light decorated carload of Harley Quinn cosplayers taking their fandom to its logical homicidal conclusion.

Even the minor subplot about the two women risking their lives to run an ambulatory service on Purge night had the makings of a far more meaningful story than the umpteenth generic assassination/chase flick we got, even if this one happens to be set against the backdrop of Rob Zombie’s Mardi Gras.

Writer-director James DeMonaco has created a world with numerous avenues to explore; yet, he seems either uninterested or unwilling or maybe just isn’t allowed by his own New Founding Fathers to delve into those aspects in more provocative fashion. I keep wondering what a Purge movie in the hands of a Paul Verhoeven or a Larry Cohen would be like, filmmakers more willing to add real social satire and give this concept some much needed teeth. For all the talk paid to class warfare and political tyranny, the scripts remain relatively toothless.

Given how the political debate scene plays out, I’m not sure DeMonaco has ever seen one. Candidates leaving the podium, walking around the stage lecturing like Foghorn Leghorn, even walking down into the squealing audience like rock stars? Except for whoever that mystery female candidate was at the third podium who never gets to speak.

This movie could feature the most scenes of good guys getting the drop on bad guys by sneaking up on them any other movie I’ve ever seen. Isn’t that typically the other way around? Points for turning at least one cliché on its head.

Election Year is watchable, I guess, delivering enough cheap b-movie jump scares and full contact trick or treating to send some home happy. Maybe Purge fatigue is setting in for me. To me The Purge continues to be that ambitiously inept franchise with the great premise that tries as it might but cannot seem to fully capitalize on the strength of its setting.

The post Purge: Election Year, The (2016) appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Paul Dano

Directed by Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

How do you quantify originality? There’s a saying amongst writers that there are only six stories that have ever been told within the entire fabric of time. And those six stories have been broken up, rearranged, contrived, and distorted into a million different permutations which constitute our understanding of narrative throughout the history of recorded man. There’s a direct correlation to be made between the cave drawings and Shakespeare. Mark Twain to Tarantino. It’s how we express our deepest, most basest emotions, our avenue for understanding the unknowable, for breaching the barrier between the cosmic and the mundane.

We utilize this glorious human invention of narrative storytelling to draw more from the world than what’s readily apparent. We use it to explore, to imagine, to create and subvert. Stories are what have inspired me for as long as I can remember. And when I find one which unearths something previously unseen within the fabric of my being, I can’t help but proclaim it in the most pontificus terminology at my disposal and with as much passion as I can articulate.

That’s all a build-up to this statement: Swiss Army Man is one of, if not the, most sublime demonstrations of narrative and emotional cinematic resonance which I have witnessed in a very long time. And it is my hope that you will all witness it for yourselves.

I was lucky enough to attend the 2016 Sundance Film Festival, and while there I heard reports that one particular movie’s premiere screening was plagued by walkouts from festival goers. Dubbed the “farting corpse movie,” Swiss Army Man‘s reputation began as a grand subversive experiment where the artist formerly known as Harry Potter played a corpse for the entirety of the film. As resident appreciator of schlock amongst my friends and colleagues, I made sure to have a seat at the next screening without a clue as to what I was in store for. It was like a freight train to the face. I laughed, I cried, and upon leaving the theater, my face hurt from smiling for so long. Of all the films that I saw at Sundance, which included possible Best Picture contender Birth of a Nation, THIS farting corpse movie was hands down my favorite. And after witnessing the film again upon its wide release, I contend that it would also rank amongst my favorite cinematic experiences of all time.

For the record, it won’t do the film justice for me to summarize the plot specifics, but in short, it’s the story of Hank, a man stranded on a desert island who attempts to survive with the help of a dead body who washes up on the shore named Manny. Telling you more would be a disservice to what I cannot oversell as a transcendent experience for those who count themselves amongst we lovers of story. And for the longest time I could not quite put my finger on why I felt this way about this particular film, like feeling an emotion without the words to properly articulate it. Swiss Army Man is deceptively simple, expertly directed and written by the filmmaking duo “Daniels.” It is also a two-hander, with Paul Dano’s and Daniel Radcliffe’s performances adeptly hefting the story through its paces by displaying some of the best work that either actor has accomplished in their respective and illustrious careers. The music is instantly iconic. The technical design and aesthetics of the film are of the highest artistic standard. But, in fairness, a lot of movies have each of these qualities. Most films are made with competent artisans and actors whose goal is to entertain the audience at large. I have no doubt that was the goal of this film, a goal at which it excels in spades. So, what is that singular nugget of originality which allows this farting corpse movie to stand above all others, above films with arguably more profound and prestigious subject matters? Films with specific agendas or ideas or larger metaphorical reasons for existing?

The only conclusion on which I can find any sure footing is that it’s because this film does not have any of that.

The story of Swiss Army Man is just that… a story. There are no metaphorical allegories teeming beneath the surface of this narrative. There is no ulterior motive to the plot or the characters’ actions, no political ideologies or finger-pointing accusations of a negligent society. This movie has no agenda. Neither is it coarse. Mean. Vindictive. Ironic. Or self-congratulatory. There is no villain for the characters to overcome. No plight with the fate of the free world dangling into balance. It’s not even realistic! The film is an organic expression of fantasy mixed with delicate splashes of reality and metaphysical resonance. It is able to utilize fart jokes, dick jokes, decapitated raccoons, necrophilia, and loneliness to incredible emotional effect. It is a story within its own universe, a tale only able to be told through the magic of filmmaking. A film that defies genre, good taste, realism, and even sensationalism. For every moment of ridiculous body humor, there is a small, concentrated moment of human understanding, visualized through the actions and blossoming friendship between a man and a corpse, with the most poignant message imaginable at its narrative core: that we are all special.

Dead or not. Handsome or not. Socially adept or not. The fact that we are alive is a gift. Something as simple as looking out a window or talking to someone that you love or farting; all of these are wonderfully complicated shared experiences that traverse the expanse of humanity itself. It’s a simple idea, I know. But it is so important. Swiss Army Man is the herald which trumpets a revolutionary way of seeing the world and telling stories. Without irony or self-importance, without care for social acceptance or status norms, but by understanding that every person is, in his or her own perfect way, special and worthy of love, this film becomes the very thing which it exudes. It is an earnest exercise in life for life’s sake seen through the eyes of a dead man.

There have been a few times in my life when I have witnessed a film that makes me question how I view the form. Pulp Fiction, I believe, was the first, the one that blasted the floodgates, which made me see storytelling as something bigger than entertainment. These types of films are few and far between, and while the yearly output of stories from Hollywood is unique and brilliant in its own right, I always have kept a look out for something on which I could not place a label. Something wholly unique. Something organic. Something that I have no idea how they pulled it off but am so elated that they did. In short, I was looking for something special.

Something exactly like Swiss Army Man.

The post Swiss Army Man (2016) appeared first on Dread Central.