Set to debut on Amazon in October and stream for free during the entire month, the anthology horror film Terrortory will explore creepy goings-on in the state of Maryland. Dig the exclusive poster reveal below.

About Terrortory on Amazon Prime:
Kangas Kahn Films films will premiere its newest horror film, Terrortory, for free from October 1st-31st on Amazon Prime. The film will be available to stream in Germany and the United Kingdom also.

Terrortory is an anthology horror film in the vein of Creepshow and Tales from the Crypt. It features six horrific tales set in the mythical region of Maryland, known for an abundance of strange happenstances and urban legends. It stars a large cast including Johnny Alonso (Coffin, “Gotham”), Melissa LaMartina (Call Girl of Cthulhu), Bianca Allaine (Albino Farm), Maddie Howard (Ping Pong Summer), Nadia White (Milfs vs. Zombies), and more.

Director Kevin Kangas (Fear of Clowns) says, “We’ve been amazed at the response we’ve gotten so far from putting some of our movies on Prime. We had more than a million minutes streamed in the first nineteen days and passed two million minutes in just over a month.”

He says premiering the film on Amazon Prime is a perfect way to get the movie out to as many people as possible in the quickest manner possible. “We can let a ton of people see the flick without signing any lengthy contracts that tie up our rights for years,” says Kangas.

After October 31st the film will be available for streaming but most likely won’t be free, adds the director.

The post Venture into Unknown Terrortory with this Exclusive Poster Reveal appeared first on Dread Central.

Easily the most memorable segment from V/H/S gets a feature length expansion in the form of Siren, which Chiller Films will be bringing to theaters on December 2nd, 2016, and VOD, Digital HD, and DVD on December 6th. While we wait, reunite with the anthology segment’s main character courtesy of the first clip!

The film stars Chase Williamson (The Guest, John Dies at the End), Justin Welborn (The Final Destination), Michael Aaron Milligan (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Hayes Mercure (Mascots), Randy McDowell (Elvis), and Hannah Fierman (V/H/S) and is directed by Gregg Bishop (V/H/S Viral).

Synopsis:
SIREN is a horror-thriller about Jonah, an apprehensive groom-to-be whose bachelor party turns into a nightmare when he frees a seemingly innocent victimized girl locked up in a supernatural sex club. Her ruthless handler and proprietor of the sex club will stop at nothing to re-capture his prize. Jonah struggles to rescue the girl, only to discover it is he who needs to be rescued as he comes to the realization that she is a dangerous fabled predator who has chosen him as her prize.

The post Bloody First Clip Sounds the Siren appeared first on Dread Central.

The world has just gotten a lot less funny as the sad news is coming in (no, this is not a hoax) that Gene Wilder has passed on at age 83.

According to the Associated Press, Wilder’s family made the announcement this Monday afternoon. His nephew said the actor and writer died late Sunday, August 28th, in Stamford, Connecticut, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

Wilder will be best remembered for his films like Blazing Saddles, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, The Producers, Stir Crazy, and Silver Streak; but for us horror fans, it’s all about his two memorable appearances in the classic films Haunted Honeymoon and Young Frankenstein.

We here at Dread Central would like to take this time to offer our sincere condolences to Wilder’s family, friends, and constituents. Thank you, Gene, for all of the smiles and belly-aching laughs. You were one of a kind, sir. Rest easy.

The post Rest in Peace: Comedic Genius Gene Wilder appeared first on Dread Central.

Horror movie cameos don’t get any better than Bill Murray playing himself in Zombieland, but did you know that Murray wasn’t the first Hollywood star who was up for the memorable role? Speaking with Kevin Smith and Greg Grunberg on AMC’s “Geeking Out,” writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick just spilled the beans!

“We originally wrote that part for Patrick Swayze,” said Reese. “And Patrick got sick. We offered it to probably twelve other actors, and every time we did, we rewrote the script to make jokes specific to that actor.”

Reese then listed off the names of other actors the cameo was offered to.

“Sylvester Stallone, Kevin Bacon, Mark Hamill,” he added. “Jean-Claude Van Damme passed and subsequently, we heard through the grapevine, said it was the biggest mistake of his career.”

Eventually, Woody Harrelson suggested either Bill Murray or Dustin Hoffman, and the rest, of course, is history.

Listen to the full story below!

The post Find Out Which Star Was Originally Supposed to Cameo in Zombieland! appeared first on Dread Central.

It gets no more patriotic than this, folks! Ash and the gang are ready to add a lot more red to the old red, white, and blue! Check it out!

From the Press Release:
Today, the STARZ Original Series “Ash vs. Evil Dead” released the official key art and welcomes viewers to Elk Grove, Michigan, with a sneak peek into the second season, premiering October 2nd at 8:00pm ET/PT. Since Season One, Ash has been living it up in Jacksonville with his loyal sidekick Pablo and revenge-filled Kelly. Season Two kicks off with a double-deadite battle royale interrupting the party; Ash is forced to return back to his hometown of Elk Grove, Michigan… and as always, Evil follows him.

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 (“The Six Million Dollar Man”), Ted Raimi (“Xena: Warrior Princess,” Spider-Man), and Michelle Hurd (“Law & Order: SVU”) join the cast 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 Official Ash vs. Evil Dead Season 2 Artwork – GLORY, GORY, HALLELUJAH! appeared first on Dread Central.

On September 27th, our friends over at Vinegar Syndrome are unleashing a trio of new horror titles on Blu-ray, and we’ve got absolutely all the information you could possibly want, need, or desire. Plot rundowns? Check. Special features? Check. Release art? You bet your sweet ass. Read on!

We must note that Horror House on Highway 5 is limited to 3,000 units, while Hellbent is limited to just 2,000. Head over to Vinegar Syndrome’s website to pre-order your copies today!

Count Dracula’s Great Love Synopsis:
After their carriage breaks down and their driver is killed in a freak accident, a group of young women are forced to spend the night in a strange and isolated former sanatorium, which has just been purchased by the secretive Dr. Marlow (Paul Naschy). Unbeknownst to the visitors, Dr. Marlow is actually Count Dracula, and stalking the sanatorium are his recently turned vampire slaves. Soon the guests begin to be attacked by the ravenous bloodsuckers, while Dracula sets his sights on the beautiful virgin Karen, deciding to offer her his hand in marriage…

One of Naschy’s most significant roles, Javier Aguirre’s COUNT DRACULA’S GREAT LOVE is a sensitive, complex, and surprisingly subversive Dracula story featuring expert direction, effective gothic atmosphere, and gruesome violence. Presented here in its full strength ‘unclothed’ export version, Vinegar Syndrome brings this classic piece of Spanish horror cinema to Blu-ray for the first time anywhere in the world, fully restored from its uncut International negative and featuring a never released feature length audio commentary track with star Naschy and director Aguirre.

Special Features:
• All extras on both formats
• Region free Blu-ray and DVD combo pack
• Scanned & restored in 2k from 35mm internegative
• Commentary track with director Javier Aguirre and lead actor Paul Naschy
• New video interview with actress Mirta Miller
• Includes both the English dub and original Spanish language soundtrack
• International theatrical trailer
• Still gallery
• 8 page booklet by Mirek Lipinski
• English and Spanish subtitles
• Reversible cover artwork

Horror House on Highway 5 Synopsis:
A mysterious killer, wearing a Nixon mask, terrorizes and murders a young couple. A professor assigns his students a project investigating the strange events connected to a possibly dead Nazi scientist, Dr. Fredrick Bartholomew. The doctor’s assistant kidnaps students, holding them hostage and torturing them. Meanwhile, Nixon stalks the night!

One of the most confusing and compelling homemade horror films ever made, future music video director Richard Casey’s debut feature film, shot over years on nights and weekends, is a delirious collage of oddball gore, ludicrous plot twists, and a general milieu of weirdness unlike anything else in cinema history. Newly restored from original 16mm vault elements, Vinegar Syndrome presents one of the quintessential cult movies of the 80s officially on Blu-ray and DVD for the first time anywhere in the world.

Special Features:
• All extras on both formats
• Region free Blu-ray and DVD combo pack
• Scanned and restored in 2k from 16mm archival elements
• “Return to Horror House on Highway 5” – making of featurette
• Commentary track with director Richard Casey
• “Beach Party with Vom” – music video directed by Richard Casey (the impetus for Horror House on Highway 5)
• Alternate full frame presentation of Horror House on Highway 5
• Reversible cover artwork by Kevin Thomas

Hellbent Synopsis:
Director Richard Casey’s (HORROR HOUSE ON HIGHWAY 5) second feature is an ambitious and at times dreamlike Faustian story, set in the rough underworld of LA’s heavy metal and punk music scene. Lemmy (Phil Ward) is the front man for an unsuccessful band, who’s willing to do anything to make it. After a chance meeting with Mr. Tanas, a music promoter, Lemmy is offered the deal of a lifetime: fame for nothing more than his soul. The young singer doesn’t believe in such things and accepts the offer, but quickly learns that this sleazy promoter has more in store for Lemmy than just the stardom he’s dreamed of.

Directed and photographed like a surreal documentary, and co-starring David Marciano (HOMELAND) and Darcy Nichols (CAFE FLESH), HELLBENT is a blood soaked document of late 80s Los Angeles, as seen through the eyes of outcasts and derelicts. Vinegar Syndrome proudly presents this forgotten gem of independent horror newly restored from its original 35mm negative and on Blu-ray and DVD for the first time.

Special Features:
• All extras on both formats
• Region free Blu-ray and DVD combo pack
• Scanned and restored in 2k from 35mm original camera negative
• “A Little Chaos” – making of featurette
• Commentary track with director Richard Casey
• Original cover artwork by Cody Brown
• Reversible cover artwork

The post Vinegar Syndrome’s September Releases Include Count Dracula’s Great Love appeared first on Dread Central.

Developed by Robot Invader

Available on PC and PSN

Suitable for ages 14+

It’s very hard for me to consider virtual reality as anything more than a gimmick. Just look at how many of its most popular games are simulators of how to do something shitty. I get the point of comedy games, but when the key mechanic of most of your titles is fumbling around like an idiot, perhaps there’s something to that. It’s not that I don’t like the idea of being able to look around the game world with my eyeballs instead of my mouse. I just think that most developers care more about the gimmick than the game.

Which is why it’s particularly commendable when a company makes a VR game that is actually a game and not a tech demo. So, kudos Robot Invader. Dead Secret puts the game first, using the VR as a simple means to experience the world. Most notably, you actually don’t need VR to play it. Though the point-to-point movement system makes walking around a bit clunky, the game is entirely playable and equally enjoyable without an expensive headset.

You play as a young investigative reporter in the 1960’s whose dissatisfied with the bit pieces she’s constantly assigned. When reclusive professor Harris Bullard dies in his rural Kansas home, you sense the opportunity for a scoop big enough to put you on the map. Though the murder mystery premise is simple enough, the game quickly shifts to a level of eerie and bizarre that’s difficult to describe. You’ll go from simple slider puzzles and code hunting, to putting electric leeches into a moon reader to calibrate a magic dream machine. And that’s not even mentioning the masked demon you can only see while wearing your altered reality goggles.

This monkey could not possibly get any eviler.

It isn’t all puzzles and collectible notes. There is a real threat in the house, in the form of a very creepy masked assailant. You only encounter it a few times, but it’s always a tense race to safety. Most commendable, the exploration and chase scenes are entirely separate. I know some people like hunting for collectibles while a monster shambles just feet away, but I don’t. I like having the freedom to explore and take in the complicated and layered narrative. It’s particularly necessary in Dead Secrets, because there is a quiz at the end, so you better pay attention to all that story stuff.

Unfortunately, I can’t really get into the specifics of the Dead Secret story without spoiling it. There’s a real murder mystery at the core outside of all the ghosts and techno-wizardry. You’ll have to solve not only the puzzle in front of you, but the question of who murdered Harris Bullard. Each of the five suspects are equally motivated, and each has their own piece of damning evidence. Still, it isn’t terribly difficult to figure out.

I have to actually pay ATTENTION to solve a murder? Laaaaaame.

What makes Dead Secret stand out so much to me is how naturally it integrates all of its elements. The very real threat of the person in the house doesn’t conflict with all of the ghosts and dream machines. It’s all presented with a degree of seriousness and scientific realism that grounds it. The game also makes discoveries feel rewarding. There’s a golden point of difficulty between chore and clever challenge. Generally, games will make the mandatory puzzles obvious, while the secrets require real attention. Dead Secret requires ingenuity to the point that the line between secret and main path is blurred. Several times I would unlock a hidden room and feel really clever about it, only to find that it was just another part of the primary objective.

The only real complaint I have with Dead Secret is the visuals. It certainly isn’t ugly, with the character design being genuinely spooky. I mostly just didn’t feel like this was a real place. It was too bare to feel natural. Aside from the well decorated study, this didn’t feel like a lived-in home. This is an important point. If a game feels like a series boxes for puzzles to take place, it loses a lot of its impact. It has a great narrative design, and the elements that made up the main story felt well developed. It just lacked the connective tissue to make this place feel like a real location.

To be fair though, it IS Kansas…

Dead Secret also doesn’t do anything terribly unique. I’m not the guy that’s going to tell every game to reinvent the wheel, but it could have used a bit more innovation. Maybe I’m being too harsh, and the inclusion of VR is enough. I did play this just on my PC without a headset afterall. The scares were effective, and the game wasn’t afraid to let something linger. In an industry inundated with jump scares, it was nice to be forced to overcome my fears to figure out what the spooky thing was trying to show me. Even so, all of it was in service of collecting item A to fit in slot B to get the code for lock C.

This is the part where reviewing this becomes interesting for me, because I have to choose how to judge Dead Secret. As a VR game specifically, it’s great. It uses the medium well without devolving into gimmick. On the other had, as a standard PC title, it’s nothing groundbreaking. It’s certainly good, but doesn’t rise to the level of amazing. That being said, how is it fair for me to criticize the title for being too playable in too many different ways? Discrediting a great VR game for being just a good standard title neglects how hard it is to make a game that is both.

So while my reflex is to judge something negatively for being inconsistent across mediums, I’m going to temper myself and flip that. This is a great VR game and should be a part of any horror fan’s library. It’s also a decent horror mystery, and is worth checking out without a Vive or Oculus. The fact that it can be both is an example of how this industry can function past the novelty. When you get over the fact that you can look anywhere and start using that to make a good game, not just a “unique experience,” that’s when the technology really starts to come into its own. Robot Invader did something commendable with Dead Secret. So, like I said, kudos.

The post Dead Secret (Video Game) appeared first on Dread Central.

With its September 30th premiere date just a few weeks away, a new TV spot has arrived for Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, which encourages us to embrace our peculiar sides!

Based upon the best-selling novel by Ransom Riggs and directed by Tim Burton, this unforgettable motion picture experience stars Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Ella Purnell, Allison Janney, Terence Stamp, and Rupert Everett with Judi Dench and Samuel L. Jackson.

For more info connect with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children online, “like” Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children on Facebook, and follow Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children on Twitter.

Synopsis:
When Jake discovers clues to a mystery that spans alternate realities and times, he uncovers a secret refuge known as Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As he learns about the residents and their unusual abilities, Jake realizes that safety is an illusion, and danger lurks in the form of powerful, hidden enemies. Jake must figure out who is real, who can be trusted, and who he really is.

The post Embrace a New Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children TV Spot appeared first on Dread Central.

Despite earlier reports that “Grimm” Season 6 would be kicking off at the end of October, NBC has just announced that it will instead debut in January (along with the premiere of “Emerald City”), and the sixth season will be the show’s last.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Grimmsters… it’s been a fun ride, but all good things must end.  Here’s the skinny.

From the Press Release:
“GRIMM”: The final season begins Friday, January 6, 2017 (8-9 pm).  The series, which reached the 100-episode milestone last season, has long been a fan and critical favorite.  Closing out an incredibly successful run and giving viewers a chance to say goodbye over the last 13 episodes, the sixth and final season of NBC’s drama “Grimm” will begin its last chapter with the battle fans have long been waiting for — Nick versus Capt. Renard.

As for events leading into the final season, the nefarious forces of Black Claw have been silenced, and Nick (David Giuntoli) faces an all too familiar foe in Capt. Sean Renard (Sasha Roiz). Now in the seat of power as the mayor elect of Portland, Renard is poised to bring rise to his own brand of law and order. Nick must take a stand to protect his city and those closest to him, especially his child with Adalind (Claire Coffee). It will take the full force of Nick and his allies to find a way to bring the peace.

Meanwhile, Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) and Rosalee (Bree Turner) grapple with bringing a child into a new and tumultuous world, and Eve (Bitsie Tulloch) faces unsettling identity issues as her former self lurks below the surface.

“Grimm” also stars Russell Hornsby and Reggie Lee. The series was created by David Greenwalt & Jim Kouf and Stephen Carpenter. Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner (“Hollywood Game Night,” ”Hot in Cleveland”) serve as executive producers along with Greenwalt and Kouf. “Grimm” is a Universal Television and Hazy Mills production.

Meanwhile, “EMERALD CITY” debuts Friday, January 6, 2017 (9-11 pm two-hour premiere event; 9-10 pm each week thereafter).  Swept up into the eye of a tornado, 20-year-old Dorothy Gale (Adria Arjona) is transported to another world — a mystical land where an all-powerful ruler (Vincent D’Onofrio) governs over one kingdom, has outlawed magic, and faces not only the wrath of a growing cauldron of witches but a looming disaster brought on by a mythical force. Epic, romantic, and fantastical, “Emerald City” is an empowering tale of a young woman finding her true strength and identity even as she battles to bring a divided world together.

Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Ana Ularu, Mido Hamada, Jordan Loughran, Gerran Howell, and Joely Richardson also star. David Schulner, Shaun Cassidy, Josh Friedman, and Matthew Arnold serve as executive producers. The series is directed by Tarsem Singh Dhandwar, who also serves as an executive producer. “Emerald City” is a Universal Television production.

The post Grimm Season 6 to Be the Last; Premiere Date Moved to January 2017 appeared first on Dread Central.

Because we can’t friggin’ wait… if you search movie sites like Fandango for either Shin Godzilla or Godzilla Resurgence, A RELEASE DATE AND LIST OF THEATERS comes up! Start your planning! See if it’s playing near you! BE HAPPY!

Either enter your zip code here or just click on the map here!

Directed by Attack on Titan‘s Hideaki Anno and Shinji Higuchi and written by Hideaki Anno, the film stars Hiroki Hasegawa, Yutaka Takenouchi, Satomi Ishihara, Rando Yaguchi, and Ren Osugi. The flick runs 118 minutes.

For more info keep it locked here and on the official Godzilla Resurgence website.

Synopsis:
After a mysterious accident occurs in the tunnels of the Tokyo Bay Aqua Line, Japan’s emergency cabinet convenes to find the cause and a solution. Immediately afterwards, a huge creature appears, destroying town after town on a path of destruction to the nation’s capital… an unfathomable giant organism known as “Godzilla.”

The post Godzilla Resurgence Stomps on American Shores in October! See if It’s Playing Near You NOW! appeared first on Dread Central.

Originally slated to debut during the crowded Halloween season, A Monster Calls has now been pushed back a bit and will arrive in a limited Top 10 city run on December 23rd in 20-plus theaters before going wide in 1,500 venues on January 6th.

Per Deadline, the release change is a result of some very early positive audience and press reactions as well as the film’s aggressive festival roll-out. After having its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 1st, A Monster Calls will visit the San Sebastian Film Festival on September 21st and the Mill Valley Film Festival on October 10th.

The move leaves the busy pre-Halloween weekend of October 21st to Paramount’s Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, 20th Century Fox’s comedy Keeping Up with the Joneses, Universal/Blumhouse’s Ouija: Origin of Evil, Lionsgate’s Boo! A Madea Halloween, and Pure Flix’s Columbine tragedy teen drama I’m Not Ashamed.

A Monster Calls is directed by J.A. Bayona (The Impossible, The Orphanage) and written by Patrick Ness based on his award-winning children’s fantasy novel.  Felicity Jones, Sigourney Weaver, Toby Kebbell, Lewis MacDougall, and Liam Neeson star. Participant Media and River Road are producers with Lionsgate handling the film abroad.

Synopsis:
Twelve-year-old Conor (MacDougall), dealing with his mother’s (Jones) illness, a less-than-sympathetic grandmother (Weaver), and bullying classmates, finds a most unlikely ally when a Monster appears at his bedroom window. Ancient, wild, and relentless, the Monster guides Conor on a journey of courage, faith, and truth. Kebbell plays Conor’s father, and Neeson stars in performance-capture and voiceover as the nocturnally visiting Monster of the title.

The post A Monster Calls Now Set for Christmas Weekend Release appeared first on Dread Central.

Whenever we’ve mentioned Jennifer Blanc-Biehn lately, it’s mostly been with regard to the production company she and her husband, Michael Biehn, run together, Blanc/Biehn Productions.  But now she’s dipping her toes back into the acting realm with Voyeur, and we have all the early details right here!

From the Press Release:
Actress/filmmaker Jennifer Blanc-Biehn has signed on to co-star in Voyeur (aka Bryan), a new thriller by writer/director Delaney Bishop (The Death of Salvador Dali). Filming began August 24 in Los Angeles, and Voyeur is set for a spring 2017 release.

Blanc-Biehn joins an arresting cast of talent that includes Riker Lynch (“Glee”), Ayla Kell (“Make It or Break It”), and Fast Times at Ridgemont High’s Robert Romanus in a suspenseful story about three friends whose road trip to the California desert’s Coachella Music Festival is plagued with creepy twists, sordid turns, and sheer terror along the way.

“I’m excited to join Delaney’s crew,” said Blanc-Biehn. “He’s a great director, his script is amazing, and I love the way he creates a sense of tension and unease throughout Voyeur’s storyline.”

Blanc-Biehn (The Crow, “Party of Five,” Everly), who runs independent film company Blanc/Biehn Productions with husband Michael Biehn (Terminator, Aliens), often has a hand in writing, producing, or directing their provocative films (The Girl, Hidden in the Woods, The Night Visitor).

“When you’re producing or directing a film, there are so many things to worry about and consider,” said Blanc-Biehn. “I enjoy getting the opportunity to focus on a film strictly from an acting point of view and watch – and learn from – someone else’s filmmaking.”

The post Casting Firms Up for Voyeur as Jennifer Blanc-Biehn Signs On appeared first on Dread Central.

Greenville County, South Carolina, sure seems a lot like the fictional Derry, Maine, at the moment, as residents of an apartment complex in the county are currently being terrorized by a creepy clown who’s prowling around in the woods and preying on children. Seriously. This isn’t a movie. This is real life.

As reported by KTLA 5, several children and even a few adults in the area have spotted the clown in the woods, and things have gotten so strange that the police have been called and the complex’s manager has urged parents to keep a close eye on their kids. Allegedly, the clown is attempting to lure children into the woods.

One mother, who lives in Greenville County’s Fleetwood Manor Apartments, initially couldn’t even believe her son when he told her that he and his friends had seen the clown lurking in the woods.

“I thought my child was seeing things,” said Donna Arnold, “and then the next day I had about 30 kids come up to me and say, ‘Did you see the clown in the woods?’”

The complex’s manager posted the following notice on the doors of all residents.

“There has [sic] been several conversation [sic] and a lot of complaints to the office regarding a clown or a person dressed in clown clothing taking children or trying to lure children in the woods. First and foremost at Fleetwood Manor Apartments childrens [sic] safety is a top priority. At no time should a child be alone at night, or walking in the roads or wooded areas at night. Also if a person or persons are seen you are to immediately call the police. Greenville County Police Department is aware of the situation and have been riding [sic] the property daily. Remember there is a 10pm curfew for the property so to ensure your childrens [sic] safety please keep them in the house during night hours and make sure at ALL times children are supervised.”

Hundreds of children live in the community, but there have thankfully been no serious incidents.

The post A Creepy Clown Is Terrorizing South Carolina; Luring Children into Woods appeared first on Dread Central.

It’s been awhile since we’ve gotten an update on Spike’s upcoming TV adaptation of “The Mist,” but with production now under way, some news has come in with regard to a new key behind-the-scenes figure involved with the project.

From the Press Release:
David Boyd has been hired as a producer/director on the new Spike and TWC-Dimension Television (TV) scripted series “The Mist.” Based on the classic Stephen King novella, “The Mist” is currently in production in Nova Scotia. The series will premiere on Spike in 2017.

“The Mist” tells the story of a foreboding mist that arrives in one small town, ushering in a terrifying new reality for its residents, putting their humanity to the test. What will people do to survive when blinded by fear? The cast includes Morgan Spector, Frances Conroy, Alyssa Sutherland, Gus Birney, Dan Butler, Luke Cosgrove, Danica Curcic, Okezie Morro, Darren Pettie, Russell Posner, and Isiah Whitlock, Jr.

Boyd transitioned as a prominent director of photography to one of the most sought after directors around. He just directed his eighth episode of “The Walking Dead” and has directed shows such as “Friday Night Lights,” “Longmire,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “Queen of the South,” and” Aquarius.”

Christian Torpe and Amanda Segel are executive producers of “The Mist.”  Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, and David Glasser are executive producers for TWC-Dimension Television with Megan Spanjian, Matthew Signer, and Keith Levine as producers.

“I’m honored to be working alongside Christian Torpe and all his incisive talent and all the focused people at Spike and Dimension,” said Boyd (pictured below).

Sharon Levy, Executive Vice President, Original Series Programming and Development; Ted Gold, Senior Vice President, Scripted Original Series; and Lauren Ruggiero, Vice President, Scripted Programming, will oversee the project for Spike with Vlad Wolynetz serving as co-executive producer.

The post Producer/Director David Boyd Joins Spike’s The Mist appeared first on Dread Central.

Today is Frankenstein creator Mary Shelley’s 219th birthday, and in honor of the occasion, we’re pleased to share an excerpt from Sally Allen’s Unlocking Worlds: A Reading Companion for Book Lovers that focuses on Shelley’s tale and asks: Who is the Monster and Who is the Man?

Award-winning writer and teacher Sally Allen knows that good books don’t just draw us in; they talk to us, shape us, and transport us to times, places, and minds different from our own. In Unlocking Worlds: A Reading Companion for Book Lovers (available now from Amazon), Allen deftly weaves personal stories with fifteen thematized, annotated, and illustrated reading lists for what to read next. By sharing some of the treasures in her library and the secret lives they reveal, she gives us permission to embrace the shameless book lover inside each of us.

Unlocking Worlds is a testament to how reading passionately—and compassionately—can unlock the world beyond our back yard. Celebrating books and those who read them, Allen shows how the solitary act of reading can be a powerful thread that creates community and connection. Thought-provoking and eloquent, Unlocking Worlds: A Reading Companion for Book Lovers, published by Griffins Wharf, is a must-have for anyone who can’t leave the house without a book in hand.

Learn more about the author at sallyallenbooks.com.

Who is the Monster and Who is the Man?
An Analysis of the Classic Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus

By Sally Allen

Frankenstein as a massive, green, lumbering dope with giant screws in his neck makes for a Halloween icon. The guy was even a friendly goofball in the 1960s television show “The Munsters.” But the original Frankenstein wasn’t a monster, at least not the one you might expect. He was Victor Frankenstein, the protagonist of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, whose subtitle gives you an idea of the book’s themes. Frankenstein is so enamored of the natural sciences and so keen on charting new territory that he collects leftover human parts and figures out how to create a living being with them.

But he is so horrified by the being he creates that Frankenstein rejects and flees from the monster, leaving him to fend for himself. Hideously disfigured and continuously spurned by society, the monster turns nasty, and he and Frankenstein end up pursuing each other across Europe. The novel, which can be read as an allegory on multiple levels, is told in three parts—in letters from an explorer (who finds and rescues Frankenstein) to his sister, in first-person narrative by Frankenstein, and in first-person narrative by the monster. Neither Frankenstein nor the monster is entirely reliable as a narrator. While both feel they have just cause for their actions, their desires are irreconcilable. Regardless of how right or wrong each is, there is no way for either to win. The novel, one of the first horror stories ever written and still (arguably) one of the best, leaves readers questioning what it means to be human and what it means to be a monster.

The post Celebrate Mary Shelley’s Birthday with this Excerpt from Unlocking Worlds: A Reading Companion for Book Lovers appeared first on Dread Central.

Ponder this… we live in a world in which Leslie Jones gets hacked in the worst way for being in an all-female Ghostbusters redux; yet, Rob Schneider, who’s been in dozens of bad movies, gets away unscathed. It’s just not fair, man.

In any event, the new Ghostbusters is coming home in grand fashion, and we have your details.

From the Press Release:
Proton-packed and taking the supernatural world by storm, the GHOSTBUSTERS: ANSWER THE CALL EXTENDED EDITION debuts on digital September 27 and on 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack and Blu-ray October 11 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Armed with more ghostbusting action and plenty of attitude, the new EXTENDED EDITION features more than 15 minutes of never-before-seen film footage.

Director Paul Feig brings his fresh take to the supernatural comedy, joined by some of the funniest actors working today. Academy Award nominee Melissa McCarthy (Best Supporting Actress, Bridesmaids, 2011), Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids), Leslie Jones (“Saturday Night Live”), and Kate McKinnon (“Saturday Night Live”) comprise the team of four dynamic women, along with Chris Hemsworth (Thor), who prepare for an epic battle in Manhattan as mischievous ghouls descend on Times Square.

The EXTENDED EDITION Blu-ray and digital releases come loaded with both the extended edition and theatrical version of the film along with an incredible treasure trove of bonus features, including 15 deleted, extended, and alternate scenes; gag reels; filmmaker commentaries; plus more than 60 additional minutes of extended and alternate scenes available with Ultraviolet download. Five featurettes give fans an inside look at the supernatural visual effects, the “making-of” the ghosts from the film, an in-depth insight into the team’s look, attitude, and weaponry, as well as the casting of Chris Hemsworth as the Ghostbusters’ new favorite receptionist. See loads of outtakes with six Jokes-a-Plenty alternate take reels, and get an inside peek at how the set was slimed, including a recipe to make your own slime at home!

In addition to hours of special features, the Blu-ray release has been customized to give the ultimate in-home viewing experience. Using a dynamic frame break effect, you will see proton streams and ghosts leap off the screen! The 4K Ultra HD features four times the resolution of high definition, high dynamic range (HDR)–which produces brilliant highlights, vibrant colors and greater contrast on compatible displays. Plus, your home theater will be haunted by the stunning sound design with Dolby Atmos audio, remixed specifically for the home theater environment, delivering captivating sound that places and moves audio anywhere in the room, including overhead.

The three-disc EXTENDED EDITION 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack includes the 3D theatrical version of the film in addition to all of the extras found on the Blu-ray. GHOSTBUSTERS: ANSWER THE CALL will also be released on stand-alone DVD October 11th featuring the theatrical version of the film along with select bonus feature content.

Directed by Paul Feig and written by Katie Dippold & Paul Feig, GHOSTBUSTERS: ANSWER THE CALL is based on the 1984 Ivan Reitman film, written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. It is produced by Ivan Reitman and Amy Pascal and executive produced by Paul Feig, Jessie Henderson, Dan Aykroyd, Tom Pollock, Joe Medjuck, Ali Bell, and Michele Imperato Stabile.

Synopsis:
The franchise makes its long-awaited return with director Paul Feig’s unique and hilarious take on the classic supernatural comedy, led by the freshest minds in comedy today, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth. Together they team up to save Manhattan from a sudden invasion of spirits, spooks, and slime that engulfs the city.

Special Features:

• Ghostbusters Extended Edition and Theatrical Version
• 2 Hysterically Haunting Gag Reels
• 4 Unearthed Deleted Scenes
• 11 Totally Possessed Alternate Scenes and More than 60 Minutes of Additional Extended and Alternate Scenes with Ultraviolet Download
• 6 Jokes-a-Plenty Alternate Take Reels
• Filmmaker Commentaries
• Photo Gallery
• 5 Supernatural Featurettes:
  • “Chris Hemsworth Is ‘Kevin’”
  • “The Ghosts of Ghostbusters”
  • “Meet the Team”
  • “Visual Effects: 30 Years Later”
  • “Slime Time”

*Digital Extras only available with iTunes, Vudu, and Comcast

DVD Special Features:

• Filmmaker Commentaries
• Jokes-a-Plenty: Free for All
• Photo Gallery
• 3 Spectral Making-of Featurettes:
  • “Meet the Team”
  • “Visual Effects: 30 Years Later”
  • “Slime Time”

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There’s nothing like a good ghost story, and now, according to Screen Daily, we’ll be getting several of them from the UK! According to the site, Ghost Stories, the film adaptation of the chilling stage production that has been seen by more than half a million theatregoers around the world, is set to begin shooting in Yorkshire at the end of October.

Co-creators Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson, who will direct the film version from their own screenplay, revealed the shoot date at Horror Channel FrightFest and treated the festival audience to a concept teaser trailer.

The footage featured voiceover from Nyman, who reprises his role from the stage production as Professor Goodman. Martin Freeman (Captain America: Civil War, The Hobbit) will also star in the Warp Films production with other cast including Paul Whitehouse.

The film is financed by Catalyst Global Media and Screen Yorkshire.

Speaking on a panel about the future of UK horror filmmaking, chaired by Screen, Nyman said there had been interest from US studios back in 2010, when the show was playing in the West End. But they decided to team with Warp in order to retain creative control.

“There was a lot of interest early on from a couple of big American studios that wanted to do it, but they hadn’t even seen it,” said Nyman. “It was flattering but strange because you’re having conversations with people who are saying: ‘When we see it, that will be fantastic.’ But you think, ‘Why do you want it? You don’t know anything about it.’”

Nyman recalled changes suggested by US execs that ultimately convinced them to team with UK producers.

“The first meeting we had with an American producer, they said we should take one particular character, turn it into a girl, and make it a breakout role for someone from the Disney channel,” said Nyman.  “We thought, ‘Oh, god; that’s not what we want to make’. We’d rather make the film for no money and have the freedom to express ourselves.”

This led them to Warp Films, the UK production company behind This Is England, Four Lions, Kill List, and ’71. Claire Jones and Robin Gutch will produce for Warp.

“Ghost Stories is deeply British in all of its oddness and quirks, and Warp get that and support our artistic vision.”

The story centers on a letter sent from beyond the grave to a skeptical professor of psychology that sets off an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of his mentor.

Altitude Films handles sales of the chiller and introduced buyers to the project at Berlin’s European Film Market in February, where pre-sales were secured with Lionsgate for the UK and Tele München/Concorde for all German rights. Release is set for 2017.

The post Ghost Stories Set to Be Told at the End of October appeared first on Dread Central.

More casting news has arrived for Insidious: Chapter 4 as Deadline is reporting that Kirk Acevedo (pictured; Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, “The Walking Dead,” “Oz”), Bruce Davison (The Lords of Salem), Spencer Locke (Resident Evil: Extinction), and Caitlin Gerard (Smiley) have joined the cast.

The four join the previously announced Josh Stewart, Lin Shaye as parapsychologist Elise Rainier, as well as franchise co-creator Leigh Whannell and Angus Sampson, who respectively play Specs and Tucker.

Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions is financing Insidious: Chapter 4 and handling international distribution. Whannell wrote all four Insidious movies and directed Chapter 3. Adam Robitel directs this time.

James Blum, Oren Peli, and James Wan are on board to produce. Steven Schneider, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones, and Charles Layton are executive producing.

Insidous: Chapter 4 is slated to haunt theaters on October 20, 2017.

The post Insidious: Chapter 4 Gets 4 More! appeared first on Dread Central.

A trailer has finally arrived for Creepy (review), which premiered at this year’s Fantasia Film Festival. Check it out along with the artwork!

Hidetoshi Nishijima, Yuko Takeuchi, Teruyuki Kagawa, Haruna Kawaguchi, and Masahiro Higashide star in the film from Kiyoshi Kurosawa (Pulse).

Creepy, director Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s breathtaking psychological thriller, will be released in selected cinemas nationwide (UK and Ireland) and Digital HD from 25 November 2016.

Based on a novel by Yutaka Maekawa, Creepy follows ex-police detective and criminal psychologist Takakura, who moves to a quiet suburban town seeking peace and quiet but soon begins to suspect that his neighbor is a psychopath who comes into people’s households and takes over their lives.

Kurosawa, who won Best Director in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival 2015 for his elegiac drama Journey to the Shore, returns to the genre in which he made his name with this “creepy” psychological thriller. Bringing in a great ensemble cast of leading Japanese actors and actresses, Kurosawa, who also co-wrote the screenplay, has been quoted as saying: “Each actor exudes a mysterious delicacy and ferocity, which the camera has somehow been able to capture. The end result is this breathtaking thriller.”

With its gripping suspense and riveting story, Creepy marks Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s return to the horror genre with a horrific thriller so intense that audiences around the world will shiver in fear.

The post Creepy New Artwork and Trailer appeared first on Dread Central.

Developed by Eidos Montreal

Published by Square Enix

Available on PC, Xbox One, and PS4

Rated M for Mature

As a critic, I’m really not supposed to get super excited about stuff. It’s too easy to wildly skew your perspective, coloring a game as either crushingly disappointing or disproportionately satisfactory. To my credit, I’ve mostly inoculated myself to the hype-monster. With Deus Ex however, I really can’t help it. Released in 2000, the original is one of the best games of all time. It’s a shining example of ingenious design and genuine talent. It’s certainly a product of another age, which makes the fact that I can still enjoy the shit out of it truly stunning. Booting up my old disk, I have to rebind my A and D keys to strafe instead of turn. It has nothing to do with nostalgia. The game is just magnificent.

Which is why it sucked when Deus Ex: Invisible War came around and thoroughly let everyone down. Though well received at the time, it’s remembered as falling far short of its predecessor in both design and narrative. Augment choices were simplistic, with the black market option near unilaterally better. The combat was solid, but a lot of the more creative paths and options were gone. It felt more like a shooter than an RPG. Visually, the game was stunning. I remember having to buy a new graphics card just to run it. It’s a hauntingly prophetic reflection of how gaming has evolved.

Eight years later, Deus Ex: Human Revolution released and reminded us why we like more RPG in our shooter hybrids. In a market being dominated by titles like Halo and CoD, it offered a more tactical and thoughtful experience. Players could customize their Adam Jensen, loading out to go stealth, lethal, nonlethal, combat, or various other in-between options. The world it created meshed with the original, but felt unique enough that it wasn’t a rehash. There were some problems with the boss fights, but overall the game was an excellent example of how to integrate the old with the new.

I most certainly did ask for this.

So with Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, here we are again looking at a Deus Ex sequel that fails more than it delivers. I’m not going to waste time building any more: Mankind Divided is the most disappointing game I’ve played since Duke Nukem Forever. Mechanically solid and polished to a shine, it ultimately fails to deliver on the most fundamental promise of content, length, real complexity, and satisfying conclusion.

I’ll start with the few things that Mankind Divided really got right. First and foremost is the level design. Each area and quest is built with enough diversity to satisfy just about every fan. This is where the game most resembles the original Deus Ex. Want to get into a guarded drug factory? Well, you can either go through the front door, or around the back. Going around the back, you can use either a leg augment to get you over a number of barricades, or a strength augment to build a staircase. There’s a turret in the way, so you can either sneak around it to turn it off, remotely disable it, stealth augment past it, or just blow it up. Once past that, there’s the option to either go through an electrical trap to try to get in through a second side entrance, or once again jump/stack your way up to yet another entrance. And this is just the back door. The entire game is built like this.

Can you spot the hidden path in this picture?

What’s really phenomenal is how certain pathways are blocked off without certain augments, but it doesn’t prevent you from finding a creative way in. It’s kind of like how swimming was a skill in the original Deus Ex. Entirely pointless outside of finding alternate entrances, it was far from your only way in. However, those who did choose it were rewarded with some pretty spectacular shortcuts.

As a Berkeley Liberal SJW, I also loved the game’s tone. The themes of racial prejudice and police brutality are front and center here. Taking place two years after the “Augment Incident” of the first game, augmented humans have become second class citizens. Referred to as “Augs” (or more derisively, “Clanks”), they are routinely beaten in the street, harassed for identification papers, and even sent to ghettos. They even have their own section at the back of the train. The gameplay integration of this theme is seamless. Adam, being part of the super hardcore TF29, is given a pass that allows him to move freely as a normal human. That doesn’t stop police from hounding him at every corner. Distrusted by his own kind and hated by everyone else, he is out of place in a world increasingly divided. I would have loved it, if it actually ever went anywhere.

“Nowhere on this fancy paperwork says that I don’t have to act like racist dickcheese.”

My biggest gripe with Mankind Divided is that the plot fundamentally fails to deliver. Very early on, we are introduced to the Illuminati council, with vague hints at a much larger and more insidious plot. These machinations take a back seat to the very real terror attack in Prague, with Adam investigating who could be behind it. Lo and behold, it was the very same Illuminati, and thread by thread a conspiracy begins to reveal itself.

And then it just stops. At a part of the story where most would have just been reaching their first act climax, Mankind Divided just ends. A bad guy is introduced, definitively presented as a lower cog tier in a much greater machine. Once defeated, Adam resolves to take the fight even higher up the Illuminati ladder. Cool, let’s go do it! Nope, credits roll. Are you fucking kidding me? That’s Halo 2 “Finish this fight!” level bullshit. When the cutscene ended and the “New Game+” option appeared on my screen, I was stunned. I couldn’t actually believe they had ended the game so poorly. By the time the credits were done, I was furious.

When you rely on a static camera news broadcast to fill you in on why you should give a fuck about what you did the whole game, your storytelling sucks.

This is not a complete game. Further inspection of the various non-story elements just reeks of a product that is far from completed. Aside from the great level design, almost every element is far from fully baked. There’s a weapon modification system that promises to give you greater customization options for your arsenal, but never gets past basic statistical upgrades and maybe a scope or silencer. The new augments are initially flashy, but grant absolutely no additional functionality outside of new ways to zap people. There’s initially a mechanic where the new “experimental” augs overload your system, requiring you to permanently disable a previous aug to access your new abilities. Halfway through the game, they go “eh, too confusing,” and give you all your powers back.

I cannot possibly fathom a universe where I will need all four of my exploding arm cannons.

At the point of the game where it just ends, it seems like you are getting to the good part. The conspiracy is coming closer into full view, you’ve unlocked some cooler powers, and you finally can make a move against one of the bad guys. I was just unlocking the second tier of guns, including a badass automatic shotgun and a sniper rifle that fired bullets forged by Vulcan himself. You honestly pick up guns in the last level that you never get to use for more than 5 minutes because the game just ends. That doesn’t sound like a finished game to me.

Remember how everyone was bitching that Human Revolution had poorly designed boss fights that broke the flow of stealth playthroughs? Welp, Mankind Divided has those too, but only one of them. No, not one poorly designed bad boss fight and the rest are great. It has only one real boss fight. What the shit, Eidos? You promised me you had learned from your mistakes! You came out with a revamped director’s cut just to prove it! You were supposed to bring balance to the boss fights, not delete them!

Instead, there is a greater emphasis on these dialogue trees. It should be interesting, but it all boils down to remembering which of three lights flashed the most. It’s the conversational equivalent of Simon Says.

It’s clear that Mankind Divided is supposed to be part of a larger series that ties Jensen’s story with that of the original Deus Ex. We’re introduced to the current gen incarnations of series staples such as Manderley, Page, and Everette, and given more hints about Adam’s link to the future of augmentation. Oh hell, yes, this is the Deus Ex I love! Before it even gets to its first twist, double cross, or betrayal, it ends. At one point, Adam is infected with a new super virus, but miraculously survives. Does it have something to do with his genetic code? Maybe his new augments? Is he an Illuminati double secret experiment to undermine the rest of the Illuminati and establish a cyborg master race? Who the fuck knows! Find out in the next game! Or maybe the one after?! No one knows how many there will be before it ends!

On the bright side, they use the same voice actor for Bob Page, and he sounds like he’s still in a game from 2000.

What makes all this so unbearable is that the reasons behind Mankind Divided’s flaws are so transparent. There’s only so much narrative space left until they hit the timeline of Deus Ex, so they want to fit in as many games as they can. Games take money, so as much money as they can make when getting from point A to point B is just good business. As a consumer, there’s only so much bullshit between start and finish that I can take. Mankind Divided thoroughly crossed that line. Say what you will about Human Revolution’s “pick an ending” system, but at least it told a full story.

Mankind Divided gets credit where it’s due. It explores a mature theme elegantly, painting a real picture of shame, discrimination, and oppression that explodes in equal parts prejudice and rage. The layered level design is great, allowing you to actually play as you want to play. It makes what’s actually there pretty damn good. There’s just far too little of it. If this were Deus Ex, it would be like ending the game after the Gunther fight. It’s just absolutely unacceptable that a game coming out today is less robust than a predecessor now 16 years old. It’s the first third of an amazing game, that in no way stands on its own.

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