Resident Evil 7: Biohazard’s Tokyo Game Show trailer reaffirmed everything that we’ve come to know about the game thus far: that it will tone down the action in favor of a return to the genuine horror and suspense of the earlier games in the series.

The trailer heads to Louisiana, where you’ll be encountering a family of cannibals. Not zombies (although they may still be in the game), but actual humans who enjoy the taste of their own kind. Who knew? There are scarier things in Louisiana than Duck Dynasty’s Robertson clan.

Resident Evil 7 Biohazard TAPE-2 “The Bakers”
Down in Dulvey, Louisiana lies an old, derelict plantation house that looks like it hasn’t seen use in years. It turns out someone is home, though – meet the Baker family and get a glimpse at what’s to come in Resident Evil 7 biohazard, available January 24th, 2017 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. In addition to being fully playable with the included optional PlayStation VR mode, Resident Evil 7 will also support 4K on the PlayStation 4 Pro.

The post Tokyo Game Show 2016: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Trailer Puts Meat Back on the Menu appeared first on Dread Central.

No, we’re not talking about the upcoming Presidential debates (although…). What we have here is a long-absent look at America’s heart of violence and darkness entitled The Killing of America. Read on for details.

From the Press Release:
In 1981, director Sheldon Renan and Academy Award nominated co-producer/co-writer Leonard Schrader (brother of filmmaker Paul) created a graphic and provocative examination of America’s history with – and penchant for – senseless violence, mass shootings, and cold-blooded murder. Piercing, brutal, and at times unflinchingly graphic, The Killing of America was exhibited briefly in New York in 1982… and subsequently shelved.

While the ensuing thirty-five years have – thankfully – seen the lowering of overall violent crimes in the nation, the documentary’s themes about equating violence with economic and racial discrimination and the continued proliferation of personal firearms in our republic still echo in the national discourse during this election year. Sometimes, to solve a problem in front of us, we must look to the past…

Severin Films announces the October 25th release of Sheldon Renan’s controversial documentary The Killing of America on Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand. Fully restored and just as explosive almost four decades after its inception, the film will be presented uncensored and uncut. In addition, the Blu-ray release includes the even more unnerving Japanese version known as Violence USA, which contains previously unseen footage from the American cut. A limited nationwide theatrical release is also planned (cities and theaters to be announced).

The Killing of America begins with the following cautionary note: “All of the film you are about to see is real. Nothing has been staged.” Guided by interviews with criminals (including Robert Kennedy’s assassin, Sirhan Sirhan) and law enforcement officials as well as incendiary newsreel footage of actual violent crimes, viewers are taken on a profoundly disturbing and still chillingly relevant journey into a uniquely American heart of darkness. Rock! Shock! Pop! proclaimed the film “a powerful experience,” The Guardian declared it “austere and remarkable,” and Vox Magazine showered praise via the warning “not for the faint of heart.”

Special Features:

• Audio commentary with director Sheldon Renan
• Interview with director Sheldon Renan
• Interview with editor Lee Percy
• Interview with Mondo Movie historian Nick Pinkerton

The post Experience The Killing of America appeared first on Dread Central.

If you head over to the Dread Central YouTube Channel, you’ll find the next episode of our new recurring weekly video segment, the Dread Central Weekly News Wrap-Up with your host with the most Mike “Syxx” Phalin!

And while you’re there, subscribe, why dontcha? It only takes a second, and we’ll love you long time for doing so!

The show is still in its infancy (as are most of us because screw growing up) and is bound to get bigger and better from here!

BONUS! A little later today Mike will be streaming LIVE via his YouTube page from Halloween Horror Nights Orlando! If you miss the stream, don’t worry!  We’ll have the video here after the stream ends.

Whatcha waiting for? Click “play” on the below video, and look for future editions each Friday.

You can follow Mike “Syxx” Phalin on Twitter, on Facebook, and at his own website: SyxxSense.com.

The post Dread Central’s Weekly Video News Wrap-Up – 9/16/16 appeared first on Dread Central.

Word has come regarding where you’ll be able to see the new horror comedy from Kevin Smith, Yoga Hosers (review), starting TODAY! Read on for the details.

From the Press Release:
FlixFling will host the initial video-on-demand window of Kevin Smith’s YOGA HOSERS beginning today, September 16th. Produced by StarStream Entertainment, Smodcast Pictures, and Destro Films, the film starring Lily Rose Depp and Harley Quinn Smith is the second installment of Smith’s True North Trilogy, which premiered at Sundance this year. The film also features Austin Butler, Tyler Posey, Ralph Garman, Jason Mewes, and Johnny Depp.

“We could not be more thrilled to have the exclusive opportunity to offer Yoga Hosers to U.S. audiences through FlixFling. I personally love this film and have always been a fan of Kevin’s. Yoga Hosers is great fun, and the positive message it sends to young women through Harley and Lily Rose’s incredible performances is something we are all proud to support,” said FlixFling CEO Thomas Ashley.

Fifteen-year-old yoga-nuts Colleen Collette and Colleen McKenzie love their smartphones and hate their after-school job at Manitoban convenience store Eh-2-Zed. But when an ancient evil rises from beneath Canada’s crust and threatens their big invitation to a Grade 12 party, the Colleens join forces with the legendary man-hunter from Montreal named Guy Lapointe to fight for their lives with all seven Chakras, one Warrior Pose at a time. Depp, Depp the younger, and Smith the younger are returning in the roles they created for TUSK.

The post Yoga Hosers Heads to VOD appeared first on Dread Central.

You know how photos of alleged cryptids always look so damn blurry and unclear that they could actually be showing just about anything? Well, not this one.

Photographer Ian Bremner was hoping to snap some pictures of red deer in the Loch Ness, but after getting home and looking at some of his shots, he was astonished to notice that he’d captured what appears to be a snake-like creature rising from the depths. It even looks like (dare I say it?) a plesiosaur. And it sure looks a hell of a lot clearer than the other alleged Loch Ness Monster photos.

So, does this prove beyond reasonable doubt that something big lives in the depths of Britain’s largest lake, or did a floating log just very conveniently happen to be in the right place at the right time?

The post This Might Be the Most Convincing Loch Ness Monster Photo Ever Taken appeared first on Dread Central.

Yesterday we reported news on Re-Animator: Evolution, a rumored new sequel in the Re-Animator franchise – or even a reboot perhaps? – starring Lin Shaye and Brad Dourif.

Per That’s Not Current, according to the movie’s writer, Serge Leven, it was originally called Antihuman, but as it bore some resemblance to Lovecraft’s original story, they decided to repackage it. Furthermore, Leven has promised that it will be more faithful to the source material.

“Yes, [it’s definitely] legit and more true to the original material of HP Lovecraft,” he told TNC. “My original story, Antihuman, was more science-driven and had nothing to do with zombies. I don’t like the zombie genre overall. It had to do with harnessing neutrinos to stimulate any living cells. It just so happened that my original concept overlapped [with] the HP Lovecraft Re-Animator, and we decided to adapt my initial script.”

So… it sounds like a project that’s totally unrelated to the seminal franchise, apart from some shared themes based on the same source material.

The post Re-Animator: Evolution Is Legit… Sort Of appeared first on Dread Central.

A couple of new videos arrived late this afternoon to help promote next week’s season premiere of “Scream Queens,” and of course they star the Chanels!  First, the ladies are surprised by an unexpected visitor, and then they explain their different opinions of what “ghosting” means.

There’s also a new teaser vid touting the world premiere of Lady Gaga’s latest music video, “Perfect Illusion,” during the episode so dig in!

Season 2 kicks off this coming Tuesday, September 20th.

“Scream Queens” Episode 2.01 – “Scream Again” (airs 9/20/16, 9-10pm)
THE CHANELS ARE BACK… AND A NEW MYSTERY BEGINS. Years after the murderous events at Kappa House, Dean Munsch purchases an abandoned hospital under the guise of fixing the healthcare system in America. After recruiting surgeons Dr. Brock Holt and Dr. Cassidy Cascade, as well as medical student Zayday Williams, the Dean shocks everyone when she enlists the services of the disgraced Chanels to join the ranks at the teaching hospital. Meanwhile, secrets from the hospital’s past begin to reveal themselves, and a new killer surfaces.

Cast: Emma Roberts as Chanel Oberlin; Jamie Lee Curtis as Dean Cathy Munsch; Lea Michele as Hester; Abigail Breslin as Chanel #5; Billie Lourd as Chanel #3; Keke Palmer as Zayday Williams; John Stamos as Dr. Brock Holt; Taylor Lautner as Dr. Cassidy Cascade; James Earl as Chamberlain Jackson.

Guest Cast: Niecy Nash as Denise Hemphill; Cecily Strong as Catherine Hobart, Jerry O’Connell as Dr. Mike; Laura Bell Bundy as Nurse Thomas; Jeremy Batiste as Bill; Trilby Glover as Jane.

The post The Chanels Star in a Pair of New Scream Queens Promo Videos appeared first on Dread Central.

Developed by N-Fusion Interactive

Published by 505 Games

Available on Steam and iOS

Suitable for ages 13+

I always feel a bit bad pooping on passion projects. They say those that can’t do teach, and those that can’t teach write snarky internet comments. Professional critics are even worse, with all the entitlement of a creator without any of the burden of proof. I’m usually able to justify it, since even the most biting of my condemnations is just a bump in the road for a long career in game design. It only takes a couple of years to make a game, so what the heck. Take it in stride, and build towards the next big thing!

So how am I supposed to react when a game has been in development for 10 years? Right in the first sentence Ember describes itself as a “passion project 10 years in the making.” Sorry, but how? Ten years is two whole console cycles. In 2006, Call of Duty hadn’t even gone “Modern Warfare” yet. We’ve gone through one whole Obama and a quarter of a Bush terms in that time. Hell, it only took six years to beat Hitler. How did this game take ten?

Never mind how impossible it is to just give a shit about the same thing for 10 years, but think of the technical limitations. If you were making a game in 2006, it was either a late stage Xbox/PS2/GC game, or a launch title for the Wii/Xbox 360/PS3. Think about Gears of War coming out today. If you think it looks as good as your memories, then go back and play it again. I assure you, it doesn’t.

Even stranger, this is a game releasing on the iOS and PC. That’s funny, because the iPhone wasn’t even announced until 2007. Assuming they weren’t psychic, that means that this game took so long to come out that they had to shift platforms to manage the slip in technical quality. It’s probably why this game feels super dated and mechanically limited on the PC. On the other hand, this might be the best mobile game I’ve played in ages.

Unfortunately, I was a big ol’ dumb dumb and decided to review this game on the PC. Never mind that years of reviewing bad PC ports should have warned me that it’s never as good as the intended platform. I thought to myself, “a complex RPG has to be played on the PC! How ever could an iPhone capture all the depth and complexity of party management and dialogue trees?”

A mobile device? Displaying text? Unfathomable!

Well, I guess a good start would be the whole game being designed around it. From the UI to the click-and-drag commands, this is a game designed from the ground up to be controlled with a finger. You can’t assign skill hotkeys, no shortcuts for selecting different characters, no quick commands for looting, nor any of those other conveniences you expect a keyboard to offer. You will be pointing and clicking a lot in this game. Unless of course you were smarter than me and got it for the iPad/Phone.

For those of you that got it on the correct platform/are willing to put up with the awkward controls, Ember is a distinctly old-school RPG that bucks many modern trends. Waking up in a crypt at the moment of your resurrection, you are the last Lightbringer. The Lightbringers were once a mighty race of magical dudes, who took care of a spirit race called Embers. The Embers are power incarnate, and lived in tandem with the Lightbringers to bring peace and prosperity to the world. And it would have been great, if not for those meddling humans/dwarves/elves. They killed off all of the Lightbringers, and the world has since fallen into darkness. It’s up to you to bring balance to the force and save the world.

The game’s got a bizarre dark comedy vibe. In this quest, I have to answer goofy riddles for the lord of darkness. The quest before this, I had to decide whether or not to euthanize and old man with dementia who couldn’t remember killing his neighbor. Heh, the mental health issues of the elderly. Hilarious.

As far as I know, this is the basic plot. There is a lot more, but I only can read so many novels in a day. As I said, Ember is old-school, and that means text logs. Mountains and mountains of text logs. Even the tutorial is a string of text logs. Want to know how to fight? Read a book, nerd. Oh, did you want a video explanation? Tough titties. Read that book, or bash your face into a brick wall until you go back and read that book.

You know what I wish video games had more of? Books.

I’m not saying that the game does nothing to hold your hand. This isn’t Dark Souls. The quests tell you where to go, skills what they do, and items their stats/basic requirements. I was never confused which items were higher level than others, or what their various benefits were. It’s just been a while since I walked too far in the wrong direction and got savaged by a bear 10 levels higher than me.

Ember gives you a level of freedom not seen in modern RPGs. The game tells you to go east, but isn’t going to stop you from going south into the goblin lands. I mean, you probably shouldn’t due to aforementioned slaughter-bears. Being the Ted that I am, I got the wild hair up my ass to see just how tough one of these bears was. I equipped my Lightbringer with the most damaging wand I could find, and my warrior with the chestpiece that gave him the best single target stun. Expending all of my energy and health, I was able to take it down, only to find another pissed off bear four feet down the road. Am I mad there wasn’t a reward? Kind of. Would I rather have the chance to find out for myself than an invisible wall? Absolutely.

Though I’m still on the fence about the, “just throw shit in there and see what happens” crafting system.

Ember also isn’t going to restrict you with any of that “leveling tree” nonsense. If that sentence doesn’t make sense to you, of course it didn’t. We’ve gotten so used to a certain style of class based RPG that any other system just seems foreign. Warriors should wear heavy armor and have physical attacks, while rangers should shoot bows and summon pets! Ember only has stats and items. You’ll need a certain level of stat to use an item, which will give you a certain skill. It might take eight levels of strength to use your Iron Hammer of Swift Striking, which gives you the ability to hit twice.

Certain skills are bound to certain item types, like fire bolt to wands/staves. What makes Ember interesting is all of the overlap. Helms generally have some kind of healing skill, while chest pieces usually have area of effect or mobility. That means that your warrior can have a two handed great sword with double strike, but a chest piece with an AOE stun and a helm with greater heal. As a caster, you can choose between a chest piece with an AOE fire debuff or one with an evasive leap. It leads to much more creative build choices than a set tree. You might initially be keeping your mage as a back line caster, but it’s totally possible to equip him as a close range AOE disable machine. Figuring out what is best is just part of the game, and entirely up to you.

Abilities can be repeatedly cast as long as you have the energy, which did wonders towards my dream of one day becoming a blender.

This is all under the umbrella criticism that it just doesn’t work too well on the PC. If I could assign hot keys to all my skills and easily work my way through combat, I’d love it. But every time I want to cast a proactive circle of fire, I first have to engage with my warrior by clicking and dragging, waiting for him to aggro, and then click and drag my fire circle. It just adds up to a barrier of entry that makes me really wish I was playing on a different system. That’s the definition of a bad port. Ember is the mobile game fantasy we all had when games were first being designed to be played with our fingers. While the casual market would doom us to endless candy clickers, jewel matchers, and castle crushers, we hardcore gamers dreamed of how awesome it would be to play Baldur’s Gate with our fingers. Ember is the IP the mobile platform deserves.

There’s no doubt that RPGs like Divinity: Original Sin are more robust and complex. But that game is still $40. Ember is $10 new—only $7 if you get it on the iOS—and isn’t a poor alternative. The amount of value you can get out of Ember is easily worth the cost. If there were better PC integration, it could be in the running for indie sleeper hit of the year. As it stands, it is impossible to rate without splitting the two. As a PC title, it’s a poor port with more promise than execution. As a mobile game, it’s a must buy. If you want a serious gaming experience on your iPhone or iPad, this is it.

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

Directed by Tatsuya Yoshihara

Animated by Lerche, and Seva

Suitable for 17+

If there is anything that tends to be a constant in anime, it’s the fact that it can be borderline porn. Panty shots are the norm, extraordinarily bouncing boobs are left and right, and sensual scenes where someone gets “wet” are incredibly common. Some anime gracefully avoid this stereotype. Then there are others like Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou, otherwise known as Everyday Life with Monster Girls. This show is porn. Let’s just clear up that nonsense right from the start. Guaranteed, there are tons of people wanking to this. But you know what, we live in an era where our sexuality is nothing to be ashamed of anymore. If you sexually identify as an attack helicopter, that’s cool. If centaurs get you really horny, that’s fine too. There is a place for Monster Musume in this world, and frankly, we’re glad it’s here.

In most cases, a smut series that is full of smut for smut’s sake is not good. They generally take themselves too seriously, and throw some haphazard plot at you to make you think you’re watching an interesting show (think Diabolik Lovers). With Monster Musume, the creators have lovingly folded the bullshit plot into the smut to create a beautiful cake of doesn’t-take-itself-seriously. The “plot” of the show revolves around main character Kimihito Kurusu who suddenly finds himself host to a bevy of monster girls on a host family stay in the human world. As with any porn plot, they all of course fall in love with Kimihito and spend the rest of the series trying to find creative ways to get him to fall for them.

The point of the show is to enjoy the ridiculousness of it all. Have a great laugh, and ogle some animated titties. For those of you looking for a more clear-cut narrative, we can pretty much guarantee you won’t like Monster Musume. Each episode has a story to tell, but in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t really matter. Granted, the manga version is still being serialized, so a potential Season Two is sure to have more answers to the questions Season One proposes. Questions like, “Whose titties will Kimihito accidentally grope next?!” (My money’s on Centorea, the sexy centaur.)

One of the better things about Monster Musume is that it doesn’t try to be something it’s not. In the beginning the series focuses on Kimihito, and which girl he will eventually marry. But as time goes on, it becomes almost entirely about the monster girls, and their different qualities. There are new characters introduced fairly consistently, so there’s always some new fun to be had. And of course there’s always tons of boobs, butts, sexy nicknames, and borderline overt sex scenes. Can’t forget that this is a smut series after all! Monster Musume is hilarious throughout, solidifying the fact that it doesn’t ever become too serious.

Speaking of tons of characters introduced, there is literally something for everyone in this show. We’ve got a harpy, mermaid, snake girl, slime girl, spider woman, centaur, giantess, zombie, forest nymph, dragon girl (originally thought to be a boy), cyclops, and on and on. Not only are the monster species varied, so are the body types. There’s ginormous boobs, tiny/non-existent boobs, characters that are adults but look like children, characters that look older than they really are, lolitas, tomboys, maids, etcetera etcetera. There are very few anime that can pull off this kind of variety without becoming overwhelmingly confusing. Monster Musume does a great job of allowing each character their time, so that you can easily remember them all.

The girls aren’t just various combinations of boobs and tail/wings/horse bodies. They’re also monsters, imagine that! Centorea is a centaur, and she has an instinctual need to serve. With Kimihito as her leader, Centorea will do anything to keep him safe. Papi, the harpy girl, is a little dim in the head, but after all, she does have half a bird brain! Suu is a slime that absorbs moisture, but if she takes in water mixed with fertilizer? Oh no, we’ve got giant kaiju Suuzilla on our hands! Zombina is (you guessed it!) a zombie, with the ability to lose limbs with no trouble to herself. Want to flirt with an unsuspecting Kimihito? Just pop off a boob and have him sew it back on! Rachnera is a spider woman, who loves catching helpless prey in her webs to “play” with. Monster Musume is a quirky, often macabre take on immediately recognizable characters. It’s worth a watch just to see what stereotypical things these monster girls will do.

There’s a glaringly negative fact to Monster Musume, and that’s that some people don’t like to watch porn. We’ve made it abundantly clear thus far that this series is not for you if you fall in this category. Even the most seasoned porn watcher will constantly shake their head at the absurdity of it all. Monster Musume is bound to make some people feel incredibly awkward, but at least you’ve been warned. If you don’t want to watch titties flounced in your face, and awkward scenes of a slime girl absorbing moisture off her friends, stay away from Monster Musume.

For those about to laugh, we salute you. Monster Musume is a hilariously fun romp through fields of smut. There’s not much by way of plot, a Season Two might bring more, although it’s not that important for this series. If blatant fan service upon blatant fan service does not appeal to you, then you won’t enjoy Monster Musume. If you do, there’s plenty of variety for you and your fellow otaku friends to celebrate. While Monster Musume is not revolutionary, it’s certainly a hell of a lot of fun.

The post Monster Musume no Iru Nichijou – (Anime Series) appeared first on Dread Central.

Mike “Syxx” Phalin was on the ground at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights Orlando, and he shot an opening ceremony video that includes appearances by “The Walking Dead’s” Greg Nicotero, Lauren Cohan, and much more! Dig on the whole enchilada right here, right now!

About Halloween Horror Nights Orlando:
Be immersed in the worlds of the biggest names in horror as you explore 9 terrifying haunted houses, each remarkably themed and detailed by Universal’s designers and special effects wizards. As you explore every cut-throat corridor of our monstrous mazes, you’re just one scream away from a gruesome end.

This year’s attractions include the following along with a fresh crop of Scarezones:

AMERICAN HORROR STORY
Relive scene after scene of sinister threats from “Murder House” “Freak Show,” and “Hotel” in this extensive, terrifying house.

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE
Experience every scene, every kill, every bone-chilling rev of the saw from the original masterpiece.

THE WALKING DEAD
Face relentless threats starting from the beginning of the series to last season’s most unforgettable moments.

THE EXORCIST
Go inside the mind of a tormented girl, possessed by evil. It will leave you haunted.

HALLOWEEN: HELL COMES TO HADDONFIELD
Michael Myers is still alive and still out for blood in this all-new house.

KRAMPUS
As a blizzard rages outside, St. Nicholas’ evil counterpart and his band of Dark Minions claim the souls of the faithless one by one.

LUNATICS PLAYGROUND 3D – YOU WON’T STAND A CHANCE
Step into Chance’s realm where the lines between her twisted delusions and reality are continuously blurred.

GHOST TOWN: THE CURSE OF LIGHTNING GULCH
They came looking for gold. Instead they found death and destruction. Now their doomed souls seek others to join them.

TOMB OF THE ANCIENTS
Immortal beings of the ancient past have returned to rule mankind. Now they wait for someone foolish enough to disturb them.

For more information about “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios, visit HalloweenHorrorNights.com. Join the “Halloween Horror Nights” conversation using #UniversalHHN on Facebook at Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood and Instagram; Halloween Horror Nights on Twitter and Periscope @HorrorNights. Add username “HorrorNights” on Snapchat for nightly live content, and watch the terror come to life on the Halloween Horror Nights YouTube Page.

The post Halloween Horror Nights Orlando 2016 Opening Night Event Video with Greg Nicotero, Lauren Cohan, and More! appeared first on Dread Central.

Another day, another piece of Spawn 2 non-news. In an interview with AMC’s “Geeking Out,” Todd McFarlane offered the following:

“The simple answer is yes [regarding a new Spawn film]. It’s not going to be a continuation. It’s not going to be a sequel. Scrub the first movie… It’s going to be a dark, R-rated, scary, badass sort of script. It’s not a nice, polite PG-13…”

So yeah, basically it’s the same thing that he’s been saying for the past several years without any concrete information such as casting or a filming start date. He did also mention that it would utilize practical effects, but that’s also something he’s been saying for a while.

Hopefully we’ll get some solid Spawn reboot news soon.

The post Todd McFarlane Offers Another Vague Spawn Reboot Update appeared first on Dread Central.

Puppet Master: Axis Termination has begun filming, and Full Moon dropped some new images that give us a look at the much anticipated sequel.

Charles Band returns to direct Puppet Master: Axis Termination, which stars Diana Prince, Tonya Kay, and Rob Vardaro.

From the Press Release:
Puppet Master: Axis Termination is now in production! With director Charles Band at the helm, Full Moon dives into the 11th film in the Puppet Master series. Thanks to your contributions, the film will feature a very ambitious 2- to 3-month FX schedule with several amazing FX teams involved, using a combination of many types of effective, including rod puppetry, animatronics, and some stop-motion animation! We hope to have the feature completed by the end of this year and finally released in early 2017.

This is a very complicated script, and I’m super grateful to the writers who’ve found clever ways of including our contributors who purchased on-screen appearances and “killed by Blade” parts in this movie. They’re all flying out here, many of them on set now. We’ll capture some of this madness on video and post in the weeks to come. Again, thanks for helping us make this movie!

The post First Puppet Master: Axis Termination Set Photos appeared first on Dread Central.

The summer of 1999 I was a recent high school graduate living up my last summer before college. One of the biggest things for me was to see the The Blair Witch Project before college started. This film that was taking the Internet by storm enthralled me, along with millions of others. As the summer drew on I became obsessed with sitting on the website, clicking links, finding hidden pages with more information. I saw the film on opening day and immediately it became one of my favorite films. Throughout the years I fell more and more in love with the film. Traveling to the locations multiple times a year with other fans to walk the steps that Heather, Mike and Josh took back in 1997.

One thing about being a fan of a certain film or franchise is that you always want more. For the most part, fans are satisfied with the 2 or 3 films they get for a certain franchise and hold them near and dear to their hearts. But there is always that little voice in the back of their heads going “just one more movie” or “I wish they’d make a sequel someday.” Years pass, sometimes decades, and nothing, then one day an announcement is made that a beloved character or franchise is returning to the silver screen. There is much celebration, excitement, questions, and theories by fans that have waited patiently.

As the time gets closer to the release of the new film, many fans start to not only sprout theories as to what the plot will contain but also wonder if there will be any call backs to previous films or how this new film connects with the existing continuity. Since the end of the last decade, there has been resurgence in film franchises from the 80s, 90s and 00s getting the long awaited sequel. The trend has been picked up where the franchise left off, recognizing that the same amount of time has passed in movie time as in real life.

Related Story: Making The Blair Witch Project

One of the first examples of giving a nod to the franchise’s previous adventures is in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. At the beginning of the film, we see a quick glimpse of the Arc of the Covenant as the camera pans by while Indiana Jones is making his daring escape. Blair Witch (review) is not excluded from being full of things that fans of the original film will most definitely want to see.

Let’s list the nods and Easter eggs hidden within Blair Witch:

1) The Burkittsville town sign
The sign that was stolen repeatedly in the summer of 99 makes a reappearance.  Since the town changed the look of the sign in the early 2000s they haven’t had the same problem.  This is a nice call back to an iconic scene from the first film.

2) Staying in a motel the night before heading out into the woods
Just like the original, the characters rest their heads in a small town motel before roughing it in the woods.  The room is almost an exact replica from the one used in 1999.

3) Johnnie Walker Red Label
In the first film, Heather reluctantly takes a swig of Johnnie Walker Red after proclaiming she “fucking hates scotch.”  In the new film, we see a much larger bottle being prominently placed on the nightstand.

4) Walking away from the cars
As in the first film where Heather turns the camera for one last look at the car, Lisa does the same thing as they head into the Black Hills woods.

5) Crossing the creek
Heather, Mike and Josh cross the creek numerous times, but end up in the same spot after walking the same direction all day.  That theme carries over into the new film when they leave their camp after the first night and end up in the same place they left hours before.

6) Rock Piles
Rock piles signifying Rustin Parr’s victims show back up outside the tents of James and his crew.  Like in the first film, there is a rock pile for each of the campers.  Peter is already gone so there was a pile for James, Lisa and Ashley.  As in the original, a rock pile gets kicked over, this time by Ashley.

7) Running from the tent
Audiences were freaked out by the sound of children laughing outside of the tent Heather, Mike and Josh were staying in back in 1999.  Shortly after hearing the children their tent is rattled by an unseen force and our campers run off for the “safety” of the woods.  That scene is recreated, but this time, when the witch snatches their tent up into the air and James, Lisa and Ashley head deeper into the woods.

8) CP16 16mm camera
Blink and you will miss this nod to the first film.  When Lisa is headed downstairs in the house, just as she turns into the basement, the camera pans slightly down and you see a black object against the wall on the floor.  There is a small amount of light coming from the camera to catch your eye.  This call back is from when Heather meets her demise at the end of the first film.

9) The basement corner
While nobody is standing in it, Lisa’s camera movement towards that part of the basement is an eerie reminder that audiences were treated to seeing Mike standing there presumably under Elly’s spell.

10) The boiler in the basement
At the bottom of the steps going into the basement there is a large boiler in full view from Lisa’s POV.  In the first film, there was a similar boiler at the bottom of those steps.  Nice attention to detail from the director to recreate the sense of reliving Heather and Mike entering the basement.

11) “I’m so sorry”
Just like his sister’s confessional in the first film, James apologizes to Lisa for what has happened to them.  Although the POV has changed, the sentiment is the same as James is ready to accept the same fate as his sister.

12) The final shot
Again the audience is treated to the last survivor’s camera falling to the ground as an unseen assailant grabs her.  As before, the audience is left with the final image from the camera as well as ambiance of the house until the camera cuts away.  This time, instead of the sound of film running through the camera, we hear a slight buzzing sound.  Is this the sound of Lisa’s phone going off? Does that mean her body is nearby or did she drop her phone?

13) Batteries
Heading into the woods, Lisa asks Lane about his use of an old DV camera.  While he’s explaining about tapes he mentions that they require more batteries, which was a reminder from the first film.  In a quick scene, Heather explains to Josh that they “have enough battery power to fuel a small third world country for a month.”

14) The Map
In what might be one of the hardest and most clever Easter eggs of all time, Simon Barrett and Adam Wingard have smartly hidden the map from the first film somewhere in the images of Blair Witch.  The map is so well hidden that not even executives at Lionsgate know where it is.  Simon and Adam have even put out a bounty for the first person to find it, a $200 reward from Adam directly.  As of this writing nobody has found the map.  Simon has said the map is almost indiscernible on screen, which leads to the viewer having to intently look for one of the most talked about items from the first film.

The Easter eggs and nods to the original film placed within Blair Witch do a great job of not drawing attention to themselves.  By not tipping its hand and blatantly winking at the audience, the Easter eggs add to the essence of the film while not distracting from the story.  Simon and Adam have done a remarkable job paying homage to a film that has kept people asking if it was real after 17 years.

The post Blair Witch – A Summary of Easter Eggs and Nods appeared first on Dread Central.

The news of Re-Animator: Evolution has been the cause of much speculation over the past couple of days in the horror community. Since it was announced, many have been wondering whether it was even real, and if so, would it be sequel or a reboot? Not only that, but would it involve franchise figureheads Stuart Gordon, Brian Yuzna or Jeffrey Combs? Well now we have more info that should clear things up…

Our pals over at That’s Not Current have reported some more information on Evolution which might shed more light on the matter, straight from the Evolution camp itself.

The name of the film is Re-Animator: Evolution and it’s being produced by Isle Empire Films, and – as reported yesterday – the story is a truer retelling of Lovecraft’s short story Herbert West – Reanimator.

Director, co-writer and co-star Serge Levin has promised to honour Lovecraft’s original vision; therefore Evolution will share more characters from the short story, as well as elements related to its story and the science presented within it. Major Sir Eric Moreland Clapham-Lee, a character from the source material, is has already been confirmed.

According to Levin, this version will be “much darker, more thought provoking, and definitely more grounded in science than the first adaptation.”

The news that genre stalwarts Brad Dourif and Lin Shaye are attached to the project is true, and producer/co-writer Johnathon Schaech is set to play Herbert West, while Levin will play his assistant.

At this moment in time, Stuart Gordon, Brian Yuzna and Jeffrey Combs aren’t involved in any capacity. That being said, Levin hasn’t ruled their future involvement should the stars align. It’s still early stages after all.

In the meantime, Levin is in the final stages of post-production on a sci-fi horror film called Abysm starring the almighty Michael Ironside. Furthermore, he has another sci-fi movie in the works called Superstrata, which stars Paz De La Huerta (The Editor, Nurse 3D).

No more information regarding Re-Animator: Evolution is currently available as it’s being kept under wraps, but we’ll definitely be keeping our eyes on developments for this one.

Synopsis:
‘Pursued by the police, an ambitious neuroscientist uses a neutrino impulse to bring his dead wife back to life, unintentionally unlocking within her dormant powers that threaten the existence of everyone he knows.’

The post Re-Animator: Evolution – Everything We Know appeared first on Dread Central.

Hello, folks. As we count down the weeks to Halloween (and I have celebrated aging yet another year this past Sunday), this is our shortest list until November 1^st. There are only 12 releases coming to your local stores this week, and roughly half of them are classics.

Chronologically first of our classics is the nearly 75-year-old Cat People, followed by a double feature consisting of The Killer Shrews and The Giant Gila Monster. (Have you seen these on an Echo Bridge release at some point? Yes, you most likely have.)

Speaking of movies from the late 50s, the sequel to The Blob, 1972’s Beware! The Blob, is getting both a Blu-ray and DVD release this week. Up next, representing the iridescence of the 1980s, is Dead End Drive-in. Our final classic entry this time around is The Rift, which you may also know as Endless Descent.

Remember to keep checking back each week if you don’t see something here that piques your interest. There are plenty of titles dropping soon so something is bound to be appealing. Pleasant viewing, friends.

MOVIES

Alienween (2016)

Starring:

Guglielmo Favilla, Raffaele Ottolenghi, Giulia Zeeti

Synopsis:

Four friends decide to spend Halloween night partying in a country house with call girls. The house has been abandoned ever since a tragic death occurred there years ago. While they are partying, strange slimy meteors begin to fall from the sky. The raging storm outside brings them face to face with not only the house’s tragic past, but with an alien invasion of the strangest kind. This Halloween, the Aliens are here and it’s not good! They came from Outer Space… to make one HELL of a Party!

Purchase HERE

Beware! The Blob (1972)

Starring:

Robert Walker Jr., Gywnne Gilford, Godfrey Cambridge, Carol Lynley, Dick Van Patten

Synopsis:

Newly Re-mastered in HD! The Blob returns… more outrageous than ever in this 1972 sequel to the popular sci-fi classic! Plenty of familiar faces, including Robert Walker Jr. (Ensign Pulver), Larry Hagman (Dallas), Sid Haig (Busting), Burgess Meredith (Rocky), Dick Van Patten (Eight is Enough), Godfrey Cambridge (Cotton Comes to Harlem), Cindy Williams (Laverne & Shirley), Carole Lynley (The Poseidon Adventure), Gerrit Graham (Used Cars) and Shelley Berman (You Don t Mess with the Zohan) add to the fun. A geologist (Cambridge) unwittingly brings home an unusual frozen piece of debris from the North Pole. But when it accidentally thaws, the hungrier-than-ever Blob comes to life again, consuming nearly everyone in its path and terrorizing the town. No one is safe as it crawls into a bowling alley, oozes its way across an ice rink, becoming grotesquely bloated with the blood of its victims… can this bizarre creature ever be stopped? TV legend Larry Hagman directed this cult classic, the only feature film he ever directed upon its 1980s re-release, the film was tagged “The Film that J.R. Shot!”.

Purchase HERE

The Blackout Experiments (2016)

Starring:

Jessica Sowa

Synopsis:

The most extreme immersive horror experience in America is called Blackout. Not for the faint of heart, it is a terrifying, psycho-sexual thrill-ride designed to play on our deepest psychological fears. Rich Fox’s innovative horror documentary follows a group of friends whose experience with Blackout becomes deeply personal, developing into an obsession that hijacks their lives and blurs the line between reality and paranoid fantasy. Revealing an underbelly of private rituals and personal nightmares with footage that is 100% real, The Blackout Experiments is the story of our obsession with the darkness inside us. The Blackout Experiments premiered at Sundance 2016.

Purchase HERE

Blood Trap (2016)

Starring:

Costas Mandylor, Vinnie Jones

Synopsis:

When a group of criminals kidnaps a gangster’s daughter for ransom, they find themselves in way over their heads. They become locked in her compound until dark and are systematically hunted down by their victim who is actually a vampire! Stars Costas Manydlor (SAW franchise) Vinnie Jones (Snatch, X-Men – The Last Stand), and Gianni Capaldi!

Purchase HERE

Cat People (1942)

Starring:

Simone Simon, Kent Smith

Synopsis:

A New York architect marries a Serbian artist who turns into a black panther when aroused.

Purchase HERE

Dead End Drive-In (1986) (Special Edition)

Starring:

Ned Manning, Natalie McCurry, Peter Whitford, Wilbur Wilde, David Gibson

Synopsis:

THE PRICE OF ADMISSION IS THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

One of Quentin Tarantino s favorite directors, Brian Trenchard-Smith was a key figure in the Ozploitation movement, responsible for The Man from Hong Kong, Stunt Rock, Turkey Shoot, BMX Bandits… and dystopian cult classic Dead-End Drive In!

Set in a near-future where the economy has crumbled and violent gangs play havoc in the streets, the powers-that-be have decided to lure the delinquent youth into drive-in cinemas and keep them there. No longer just a place to watch trashy movies and make out, these outdoor picture shows have become concentration camps for the unruly and unwanted.

With its day-glo colour scheme, new wave soundtrack and extraordinary stunt work, Dead-End Drive-In is in the tradition of Ozploitation milestones Mad Max and The Cars That Ate Paris only very, very eighties.

Purchase HERE

Fright Night 2: New Blood (2013)

Starring:

Will Payne, Jaime Murray, Sean Power, Sacha Parkinson, Chris Waller

Synopsis:

By day Gerri Dandridge is a sexy professor, but by night she transforms into a real-life vampire with an unquenchable thirst for human blood. So when a group of high school students travel abroad to study in Romania, they find themselves ensnared in Gerri’s chilling web of lust and terror. Charley and “Evil” Ed must stop Gerri from drinking and bathing in the blood of a “new moon virgin,” which just so happens to be Charley’s ex-girlfriend, Amy. They enlist help from Peter Vincent, the vampire hunting host of a reality show called “Fright Night,” to drive a stake through Gerri’s plan and save Amy from a fate far worse than death.

Purchase HERE

Mai-Chan’s Daily Life: The Movie; Bloody Carnal Residence (2014)

Starring:

Koshi Ann, Akane Miyako, Maruyama Shogo, Roman Soako

Synopsis:

Based on the popular manga by Uziga Waita, Mai-Chan’s Daily Life is a diabolical dark comedy that takes fetish violence to shocking new extremes. A young woman, Miyako (Akane Miyako) responds to an advertisement for a live-in maid, and is given a job alongside the playfully alluring Mai-chan (Koshi Ann). Miyako quickly learns that housecleaning is the least of her duties, as the master (Maruyama Shogo) and his wife (Roman Soako) use the maids as toys in their unbridled erotic fantasies. Since Mai-chan possesses the uncanny ability to recover from any injury, no matter how severe, every violent desire is indulged, and Miyako soon finds herself actively involved in Mai-chan’s horrific destruction (and miraculous resurrection).

Purchase HERE

Queen of Spades: The Dark Rite (2016)

Starring:

Alina Babak, Valeriya Dmitrieva, Igor Khripunov, Evgeniya Loza, Sergey Pokhodaev

Synopsis:

Legend has it that any mirror may become a portal into the world of the dead. It is said the Queen of Spades gets her energy from reflective objects and anyone who sees her will go insane or die. When four teenagers summon the Queen as a joke, one of them dies suddenly and the group realizes they have conjured up an inexplicable and deadly evil.

Purchase HERE

The Rift (aka Endless Descent) (1990)

Starring:

Jack Scalia, R. Lee Ermey, Ray Wise, Deborah Adair

Synopsis:

Ray Wise (“Twin Peaks”, Robocop) stars in this underwater horror film in the tradition of Leviathan and DeepStar Six! The experimental submarine Siren 1, designed by Wick Hayes (Jack Scalia, Fear City), is missing. The rescue team, headed by Captain Phillips (R. Lee Ermey, Full Metal Jacket, The Siege of Firebase Gloria) and scientist Robbins (Wise), embark on a mission to find the missing sub. Complicated by the addition of Wick s estranged wife Nina (Deborah Adair) to the rescue team, the tension mounts as the Siren 2 dives deeper than any sub has gone before. What the crew finds in the furthermost darkest recesses of the ocean is more ghastly and horrifying than they could ever imagine! Also known as Endless Descent, co-starring Ely Pouget (Death Machine) and directed by cult director Juan Piquer Simon (Pieces, Slugs) now see this thrilling horror classic from a brand new HD master.

Purchase HERE

Sacrifice (2016)

Starring:

Radha Mitchell, Rupert Graves

Synopsis:

Disturbing secrets lie buried in the bogs of a remote island in this spellbinding thriller. Shortly after surgeon Tora Hamilton (Radha Mitchell, Silent Hill, London Has Fallen) moves with her husband (Rupert Graves, Sherlock) to the Shetland Islands – 100 miles off the coast of Scotland – she makes an unnerving discovery: the body of a young woman with strange symbols carved into her flesh and her heart ripped out. When what at first appears to be the remains of a victim of an ancient ritual turns out to be a fresh corpse, Tora is plunged into a dangerous mystery that may be connected to the dark myths of the island’s folklore.

Purchase HERE

COLLECTIONS

The Killer Shrews / The Giant Gila Monster Widescreen Double Feature

Starring:

James Best, Ken Curtis, Don Sullivan, Fred Graham, Ingrid Goude

Synopsis:

Two drive-in fan favorites appear for the first time in beautiful widescreen 16×9-enhanced transfers from 35mm film elements! Shiver in fear as a small island is over-run by giant man-eating Killer Shrews. Nothing can stop them, but James Best (“Dukes Of Hazzard”) brings on the fight till the end, while teenage rockers slam the gas pedal in their souped-up Hot Rods to take on a giant crawling Gila Monster in one the most striking double features from 1959. Bonus feature: original trailers. Both films are presented in their original black & white versions in 1.66:1 enhanced-widescreen from 35mm film elements.

Purchase HERE

The post DVD and Blu-ray Releases: September 20, 2016 appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Stephen Cromwell, Danielle Keaney, Daniel Mahony, Caoimhe Cassidy

Directed by Anthony White

Distributed by Left Films

A group of four friends head out on the road for a camping trip in rural Ireland, only to stumble upon a particularly unwelcoming town in Anthony White’s The Devil’s Woods. With campfire tales being told and some sex, drugs and booze indulged in, it’s all par for the ‘teens in the woods’ course for much of the film’s runtime.

And, disappointingly, it doesn’t really deviate from the formula for the remainder.

A promisingly vicious opening scene sets a grim tone for what’s to come, and White teases at supernatural influences through an eerie gas station encounter wherein a little girl appears to flood one of the gang’s mind with images of his own death. But it isn’t to be, and despite the nice setup – including a well-constructed scene that takes place in a very uncomfortable local pub – The Devil’s Woods spends its efforts building to a climax that never really comes.

Stalking the crew in the woods is a mac-wearing killer looking to fillet our unlucky foursome. Is he real? Is he one of the ghostly denizens of the woods spoken of in the campfire stories, or something else entirely?

The answer isn’t particularly satisfying or inventive, with White deciding to settle for some good ol’ backwoods hostility instead of capitalising on hints of a constructed mythos. This banality is evident throughout, The Devil’s Woods rarely reaching the realms of unsettling or disturbing beyond the opening moments. White does, however, manage to squeeze in a number of creative shots and some nice active camerawork.

There’s little to hold onto when it comes to the characters – realised nicely by the cast as they may be – given that their narrative-driving conflicts are completely devoid of any miniature arcs, finding themselves finished and forgotten almost as soon as they appear. Surface-level attempts are made to round these people out with their own fears, chequered pasts and secrets, but none of it is utilised to a satisfying degree.

Thankfully, though, The Devil’s Woods doesn’t hang around long enough to feel like too irritating a time sink. White knows his pacing and refuses to stretch things out unnecessarily. There are enough signs here to signal his promise as a filmmaker but sadly, as a complete product, The Devil’s Woods just doesn’t have enough meat on the bones for it to deliver the goods.

Left Films’ UK DVD release includes a trailer selection and a commentary track with director Anthony White, which is pretty standard in its insights and not enough to warrant a second spin of the disc.

The post The Devil’s Woods (UK DVD) appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Joanna Haggblom, Devis Tzivis, Anna-Sara Kennedy

Directed by Jarno Lee Vinsencius

Darkess Falls, the short film from director Jarno Lee Vinsencius, takes the “we are not alone” theory and crushes it down to a 15 minute exhibition of deceit, pursuit, and ultimately, revelation.

Melissa (Haggblom) is a woman who one day wakes up in a snowy forest, completely unaware of how she got there, and even more so, unknowing of her own identity – pretty frightening situation, actually. After a short while of suffering some hefty nightmares, one day she comes in contact (via letter) with a man (Tzivis) who claims to know exactly what she’s dealing with, and how he can potentially help her situation.

While the film, only shy of a quarter-hour does take a few moments to get going, the overall product is one that’s ripe with chilling (and impressive) visuals, frightening atmosphere, and a payoff that will make any sci-fi fan shriek with glee. Both performances by Haggblom and Tzivis are fun to watch, and both come off as believable and ultimately eerie in nature. If there were a particular negative to delve upon, it would be the lag-time at the beginning-to-middle of the short, therefore not allowing the characters to expand into a little more backstory. Otherwise, Vinsencius does a more than admirable job with his time here, and Darkness Falls is one display that should be given a look.

The post Darkness Falls (Short, 2016) appeared first on Dread Central.

After a brief announcement at the Diamond Retailer Summit, Marvel has finally spilled the beans on their new Monsters Unleashed series, and it features a whole ton of big name heroes fighting a whole otn of monsters. Read on for more.

From the Press Release:
Raining down from the outer reaches of the galaxy, rising up from the depths of the ocean, and emerging from the recesses of the Earth – monsters are staking their claim to the planet. The only thing standing in their destructive path: the united Super Heroes of the Marvel Universe.

It’s all hands on deck, as the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men, Inhumans and Champions, joined by a who’s who of solo stars – Deadpool, Spider-Man, Black Panther – battle an endless deluge of monsters and the mysterious force that controls them. Will the combined might of the Marvel Super Heroes be enough to save the day? Or will they need help to arrive from the unlikeliest of places?

Marvel Comics is excited to present MONSTERS UNLEASHED coming January 2017.

The post Fresh Details on Marvel’s New Monsters Unleashed Series appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring John Lithgow, Lolita Davidovitch, Steven Bauer

Directed by Brian De Palma

Distributed by Scream Factory

Brian De Palma spent the formative years of his career jumping between genres before finally settling into a groove that would come to define his work: suspense. Specifically, psychological thrillers populated by expert direction, taut drama, and stylish flourishes – split-screen shots, long takes, unique camera angles – that are considered trademarks of his films. After directing Body Double (1984) De Palma took a break from making his signature pictures, opting to hop between genres once again with films in comedy (Wise Guys (1986)), war (Casualties of War (1989)), and crime (The Untouchables (1987)). After The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) turned into one of the biggest bombs in his career, De Palma made for safer ground by writing and directing a film back within his wheelhouse, Raising Cain (1992). While De Palma said he was worried this could be seen as a step backward, the resulting picture wound up being a decent success – especially when compared to what he had just done prior.

Dr. Carter Nix (John Lithgow) is a celebrated child psychologist who for all of his life has been struggling to suppress a dark secret. Well, secrets – his multiple personalities. His wife, Jenny (Lolita Davidovitch), grows concerned when Carter takes a year off from his practice to spend more time with their daughter, Amy (Amanda Pombo), because it seems like he’s less interested in being a doting father and more concerned with studying her for his own research. Carter’s father, Dr. Nix, was a notable figure in the field of child psychology before he killed himself years ago, leaving Carter to take up the mantle. Jenny’s concerns take a backseat, though, when she runs across Jack (Steven Bauer), an old flame that still holds a spark. Their rekindled friendship immediately blossoms back into love making, with one such encounter taking place in the woods behind a park – a park where Jenny and Carter take their daughter to play; a park where Carter happens to be that very day when he inadvertently stumbles upon the throes of their passion.

Deeply traumatized by his wife’s transgressions, Carter’s personalities begin to take further control over his mind – Cain, a street smart hustler; Josh, a meek little boy; and, Margot, a no-nonsense nanny. Unbeknownst to Jenny, Carter (as Cain) has been killing young mothers, absconding with their children to use in his experiments on child development. After seeing Jack and Jenny together he makes the decision to frame Jack for the murders and to kill Jenny. This plan goes poorly, however, when Jenny survives the attempt on her life and later confronts Carter. She stops short of killing him because Amy is missing, too. Now apprehended, Carter is questioned by Dr. Waldheim (Frances Sternhagen), a former associate of his father who quit abruptly after learning of Dr. Nix’s unorthodox methods for research. She deduces that Carter doesn’t know anything about the child abductions but another of his personalities might, and she has to get them to spill the crucial information if any of the kids are to be found alive.

De Palma digs back into his old bag of tricks here, stylizing this haphazard tale with artistic flourishes and signature moves that distract from the sometimes messy screenplay. In some ways it feels like De Palma is relying on his tried-and-true techniques to obscure what is clearly a convoluted plot marred by strained credibility and unclear motives. In a lesser director’s hand, this film could have been absolute dog shit. It is because De Palma is such a showman, capable of feats others only attempt to imitate, that he is able to remind viewers what made them fall in love with his style seen in earlier pictures. This is not to suggest that Raising Cain ranks among the director’s worst films; on the contrary, given the inconsistency of his filmography beginning in the late ‘80s and extending up through present day, this is a reasonably strong effort that works well because of his directorial style and ability to coax strong performances out of his actors.

Casting is typically rock solid in De Palma’s features, a trait that continues with “Raising Cain”. While it’s great to see some of his early stalwarts like Steven Bauer or Gregg Henry nab choice roles, the real standout here is John Lithgow, who is asked to play no less than five characters. Lithgow shows an incredible range, bringing each facet of Carter’s personality to distinct life. As Carter, he’s manic and harmless. As Cain, he’s devious and cunning. As Josh, he’s naïve and scared. As Margot, he’s controlling and cool. Lithgow doesn’t just act these roles out in pieces throughout the film, either. The showcase scene is the interrogation, when Carter rapidly shifts between all of his multiples under questioning. Impressive stuff. The only thing that isn’t impressive: Lithgow’s ability to do an accent. As Dr. Nix, he’s supposed to be Norwegian but his thick accent sounds more like a variation of his Dr. Lizardo from The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984).

Receiving a hi-def release isn’t the only first for Raising Cain thanks to Scream Factory. This disc was delayed for a few months after being announced – and for good reason: Dutch artist and writer Peet Gelderblom assembled his own version of the film years ago, using De Palma’s original script and a DVD copy of the feature to more closely approximate De Palma’s original intentions. When his fan edit was eventually seen by De Palma he agreed that Gelderblom’s cut more closely resembled what he sought to achieve. And so, a director’s cut (of sorts) was born. That cut has also been included here, on a second disc, featuring a rearrangement of scenes, an additional establishing shot and some other minor tweaks. Scream Factory’s willingness to hold off on their street date in order to provide a more comprehensive package is commendable, as is De Palma’s willingness to essentially label a fan edit as his new official cut of the movie.

There are plenty of messy moments and the plotting often gets lost within itself – don’t even get me going on the dreams-within-dreams – but Raising Cain manages to work despite these inconsistencies. De Palma’s sense of direction and visual flair elevates this material considerably, giving the legendary film veteran’s filmography just enough of a jolt when it was needed most.

Transfers provided by Universal are always a crapshoot, and since Scream Factory’s press release made no mention of a new scan from the master I was a little nervous. Thankfully, the 1.85:1 1080p image is nicely done and far from a nightmare. The print is very clean, with virtually no dirt or damage to be seen. Film grain looks cinematic though it does spike a bit when opticals are involved. Colors lack vibrancy but look very natural overall. The film’s palette is slightly drab and mostly accurate, save for a few sequences purposefully graded to different shades. Shadow detail is weak but hardly a major issue. It would appear both cuts were sourced from the exact same master, meaning there is no noticeable quality difference between the two. De Palma pumps some scenes with a smoky atmosphere, leading to a slight decrease in definition and overall clarity.

Scream Factory has provided an English DTS-HD MA track in both 5.1 surround sound and 2.0 stereo. Unsurprisingly, the multi-channel track wins out with a greater sense of immersion. Dialogue is very clear and almost overbearing at times, mostly the ADR lines. Pino Donaggio’s score perfectly complements the film, punctuating tense moments at the precise time. Rears are mainly used to fill out the score cues, though a few bigger moments – like a thunderstorm – sound very full. Subtitles are available in English.

DISC ONE: Theatrical Cut

“Not One to Hold a Grudge – An Interview with John Lithgow” – The veteran actor provides great, vivid recollections of his work on this film. He’s typically jovial, recounting how much he loved working with De Palma while giving some good insight into his character.

“The Man in My Life – An Interview with Steven Bauer” – This sit-down is a little less focused than Lithgow’s but Bauer still has a fun time remembering his work here.

“Have You Talked to the Others? – An Interview with Paul Hirsch” – The films’ editor discusses cutting together the picture.

“Three Faces of Cain – An Interview with Gregg Henry” – Like many of the other actors before him, Henry talks about his first meeting with De Palma and their short string of pictures done together.

“The Cat’s in the Bag – An Interview with Tom Bower” – They’re really getting everyone for this disc, aren’t they? Bower jogs his memory and comes up with a few fun memories.

“A Little Too Late for That – An Interview with Mel Harris” – Another minor character takes a trip down memory lane.

A theatrical trailer and still gallery are also included.

DISC TWO: Director’s Cut

“Changing Cain: Brian De Palma’s Cult Classic Restored” – This is an all-too brief piece on Gelderblom, the man behind the film’s new version.

“Raising Cain Re-cut: A Video Essay” – Gelderblom explains the differences between the two cuts of the film.

Special Features:

DISC ONE:

• Theatrical Version of the film
• NEW interviews with actors John Lithgow, Steven Bauer, Gregg Henry, Tom Bower, Mel Harris and editor Paul Hirsch
• Original Theatrical Trailer

DISC TWO:

• Never-Before-Seen Director’s Cut of the Film featuring scenes reordered as originally intended
• NEW Featurette Changing Cain: Brian De Palma’s Cult Classic Restored
• NEW Raising Cain Re-Cut – a video essay by Peet Gelderblom

Buy it Here!

The post Raising Cain (Blu-ray) appeared first on Dread Central.

I never really understood the whole adult coloring book thing, but the damn things are all the rage right now, so they must be resonating with everyone except me.

Famous rock star and comic book creator Alan Robert has taken to creating his own coloring book for adults, and even I’ll admit that judging from the name alone it sounds pretty fucking awesome. We last reported on The Beauty of Horror: A GOREgeous Coloring Book back in May, and since then, its official website has released two new promotional videos that you can watch below.

The Beauty of Horror: A GOREgeous Coloring Book (official website) will be released by IDW on October 4, and can be yours to buy from Amazon for $11.24.

The Beauty of Horror: A GOREgeous Coloring Book by Alan Robert (IDW Publishing)
Get that red crayon ready! Rock-star-turned-comics-creator Alan Robert (Life of Agony) has inked a deal with premier publisher IDW Publishing to create a unique, horror-themed adult coloring book, titled The Beauty of Horror, scheduled for a 2016 Halloween release. The Beauty of Horror is filled with intricate, hand drawn, pen and ink illustrations by Robert that take the color enthusiast on a twisted journey through bizarre carnivals, the zombie apocalypse, serial killer lairs, and haunted burial grounds. Horror fans and newcomers alike will welcome this GORE-geous and creative blood-soaked alternative into their coloring library.

“The coloring book craze took hold of my wife and daughter a few months ago and I wanted to get in on the fun, but as I flipped through the endless pages of nature patterns, it dawned on me that someone left out all of the damn corpses,” Robert laughs. “As a proud member of the horror community, I took it upon myself to stand up for the rights of monster-lovers everywhere. Why should we be excluded from the coloring phenomenon?! Needless to say, my take on the whole thing is completely warped, but I know I’m not alone… there’s a lot of us horror-fiends out there looking to color in some morbid stuff.”

The Beauty of Horror features 80 pages of original artwork depicting a variety of increasingly terrifying scenes and patterns. Featuring a beautifully chilling red foiled cover and high-quality paper that will ensure the pools of blood you color don’t leak through the pages, Robert and IDW have come together to present a deluxe coloring experience.

“From the first image he sent over, it was clear that this was going to be a hit,” says IDW VP of New Product Development, Jerry Bennington. “Alan (Robert) has such an eye for creating these coloring pages that are gruesome and gory, but still something you can’t help but want to color. It’s really like The Walking Dead have burst into The Secret Garden, and we love it.”

The Beauty of Horror: A GOREgeous Coloring Book by Alan Robert will be available in stores on October 4, 2016 through IDW Publishing.

The post Stock Up on Red Pens – Promotional Videos Released for The Beauty of Horror: A GOREgeous Coloring Book appeared first on Dread Central.