Back in 1990, when Frank Miller was still a respected figure in the industry, he teamed up with Geoff Darrow to create a three issue comic limited series called Hard Boiled, about an insurance investigator who learns that he’s actually a cyborg who needs to fight to free his people from slavery.

Deadline are reporting that Warner Brothers are negotiating to obtain the film rights to the series, which will be produced by Solipsist Films and Hollywood Gang should to deal go through. They’re also planning to get Ben Wheatley to direct, and his High-Rise lead Tom Hiddleston may star. We’ll bring you more as this story develops.

The post Ben Wheatley May Direct an Adaptation of Frank Miller’s Hard Boiled appeared first on Dread Central.

Looking for something to fill about an hour and a half during this long Thanksgiving weekend? If psychological mystery thrillers are your thing, you’ll want to check out The Red Man, which hit VOD a few weeks ago following a successful film fest run and can be found on Amazon, iTunes, etc.

From the Press Release:
Jimmie Gonzalez (director & writer) and iconic musician and entrepreneur John Acquaviva (executive producer) present a modern-day psychological mystery titled The Red Man, which is a film about the ecstasy and depravity in the life of a contemporary DJ. The film stars Daniel Faraldo, Daniel Diamond, and Michael O’Neal.

Acquaviva says, “This film will be around for some time for the generation who understands DJ culture and can appreciate a DJ as a protagonist.” Falling into the arthouse genre with directors using a slow-burn approach, the film’s theme at its core is about conspiracy theories and how the paranoid mind reacts to them, leaving diehard cinema fans on the edge of their seats.

French producer Oliver Giacomotto has produced a haunting score for the film. During the shooting, he actually pushed himself to the edge of exhaustion while matching sounds with the scenes. His versatility and depth are put on display, especially for those interested in the film’s subtle nuances. Giacomotto explains, “95% of the soundtrack is made with very specific frequencies, not music notes; the goal of those frequencies was to disturb the audience, causing discomfort and dizziness.”

Acquaviva states, “We can all feel like puppets in this consumer world and you have to realize that you can always fuck up—this film explores that. There are a lot of elements that are personal to just about everyone who watches this and certainly me.”

For more information visit theredmanfilm.com.

Synopsis:
Evan Gough appears to have it all, but beneath the fame and fortune lies a dark and twisted plot he slowly unravels within the walls of his trendy apartment building… as well as his own mind. The Red Man dives into the difference between Gough’s traumatic experience and the façade he puts on for his fans.

The post Psychological Mystery The Red Man Now Available on VOD appeared first on Dread Central.

The world of horror is chock full of undersea terrors that tap into our fear of the unknown.  We know more about the moon than we do about the bottom of our own oceans.  The depths remain greatly unexplored and yet is the grave of many men, making them a terrifying source of anxiety for many.  Everyone from Lovecraft to ancient mariners told tales of things under the sea that we cannot understand, control, or defend ourselves against.

It’s from this chunk of collective human terror that this story comes.

Up in Nunavut, the least populated territory in Canada, in a strait between the arctic ice pack, there’s a ping.

Location of the Nunavut Ping

Some describe it as a beep.  A yacht cruising through the strait in question said it was loud enough to be heard through the hull.

The area is usually highly populated with migrating wildlife, a prime spot for hunters and fishermen from the native Inuit population…but this year the space is nearly empty.  Wildlife seem to be avoiding it entirely.

There were many suspects.  Mining operations, Greenpeace, Canadian or foreign military interests…but they’ve all been ruled out.  The Canadian military did an aerial investigation using radar and sonar to detect undersea objects and came up empty.

The ping continues.  The animals stay away.  And absolutely nobody knows what is causing it.

What do you think?  Why do animals avoid the site of this sound?  Do they sense something we can’t, some danger, some threat to life that we can’t detect ourselves?  Is it simply some military technology gone awry, or is there some other source less…tangible?

Explore The Gasp Menagerie!

Have a weird story? Potential evidence of the supernatural, or at least something hard to explain? Spot any creepy critters out there roaming the wilds? LET ME KNOW! I’d love to talk about it and possibly write it up right here in the Gasp Menagerie. You’ll get appropriate credit, of course, and everyone else will get fresh creepy (as opposed to fresh Creepy, which, trust me… nobody wants that) to enjoy. As always, I can be found at mrdark@dreadcentral.com. Now get out there, find some weird, and let’s get this party started.

The post Mysterious Undersea Ping Scares Wildlife In The Gasp Menagerie appeared first on Dread Central.

We haven’t been giving much coverage to Marvel’s new Carnage ongoing series, which follows the exploits of Symbiote-infused serial killer Cletus Kasady as he uses his abilities to unleash carnage (sorry) upon the world. With the recent release of the second hardcover volume, now could be a good place for us to start.

Writer Gerry Conway recently granted an interview to Comic Book Resources, in which he discusses how the series was influenced by everything from his own Tomb of Dracula comics down to the works of Lovecraft. If you were still in doubt about whether we should be covering a Marvel Universe comic on Dread Central, the interview also explicitly refers to it as a horror series several times, and that’s good enough for me.

Carnage was originally introduced to act as a pure evil counterpart to Venom, who was being reworked at the time to be more of an anti-hero, so rest assured, he isn’t you friendly neighborhood anything.

If you want to get stuck into the current Carnage series, then you can buy all the issues over on ComiXology, including the newly released second hardcover. They’re also hosting a sale on the series along with Carnage comics from previous years, which you can check out here before it ends on November 27.

And my God, those fucking covers, man. They’re, well, they’re really something, aren’t they?

Synopsis
Get ready to scream! Carnage, the homicidal symbiote is back, and he’s leaving a trail of bodies behind him. The FBI is hot on his trail, with a different playbook since their serial killer is a super villain. They’re equipped with the latest sonic tech and a team including military hero/astronaut John Jameson and a reformed Eddie Brock/Toxin! But when Carnage escapes into an abandoned coal mine, the FBI’s plan is starting to look like a trap… for them!

The post Carnage Unleashing Mayhem in the Marvel Universe appeared first on Dread Central.

The Unspoken will be hitting DVD December 6th from Anchor Bay Entertainment, and we have your chance to score a copy on us.

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

This contest will end at 12:01 AM PT on December 5, 2016. Note: By entering this contest, you are consenting to allow Dread Central and its subsidiaries use of your email address.

The Unspoken Release Details:
From the executive producer of Paranormal Activity and Insidious comes THE UNSPOKEN, an eerie thrill ride into the horror that lurks in an unsuspecting small town.

Directed by award-winning filmmaker Sheldon Wilson (Kaw, Shallow Ground) and starring Neal McDonough (“Suits,” “Arrow”), Jodelle Ferland (Silent Hill), Sunny Suljic, and Matt Bellefleur, look for the film on DVD December 6th.

In 1997 the close-knit Anderson family vanished from their country home without a trace and without an explanation. No bodies were ever found, and for 17 years the house has remained undisturbed… until now. A sinister tale of haunting and murder, THE UNSPOKEN is a refreshing twist on the horror genre.

The post Win a Copy of The Unspoken on DVD appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Jason Crowe, Derek Capps, Shelby Taylor Mullins

Directed by William Capps

The synopsis for this one is short, simple, and to the point: “A killer is on the loose, a group of small town criminals are trying to execute their latest plot, and plenty of blood is about to be spilled.” Doesn’t get any easier than that, does it? Actually, to label this one easy would be quite the misdirected path of illumination – we’ve got a masked slasher, a bunch of bumbling kidnappers, and one terrified young woman…now will they all have some sort of connection? Let’s just hope that over the course of this sub-10 minute short called Hazard, something will connect!

I found myself watching this one a few times over, and each time was looking for a bit of a conducive seam in which to travel, and maybe it was all those damn energy drinks I’d consumed to stay awake while writing, but this one was fairly interesting in its thinking: kidnappers running into a killer…or a killer targeting kidnappers? Any way you slice it (bad pun), we’ve got a slasher running rampant picking off those who run afoul of the law, and anyone else for that matter. Director William Capps goes for the jugular (rung up another one) with this quickie, and opts for the violence mixed in with a bit of misdirection, and for all intents and purposes, it works to a degree. Nothing spectacular or mind-blowing here, just a man in a mask putting a knife to good use…move along please.

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

In The Eyes of My Mother, Kika Magalhaes plays Francisca. She is a young woman who has been desensitized to the thought of death from an early age because her mother, formerly a surgeon in Portugal, imbued her with a thorough understanding of physiology and anatomy. When tragedy shatters her family’s quiet life in the countryside, her deep-felt trauma gradually awakens irresistible curiosities within her. As Francisca grows up, her desire to connect with the world around her takes a distinctly dark turn.

Not unlike the leads in other slow-burn black and white horror films – think Repulsion or A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night – Kika manages to put across a technicolor performance full of texture, nuance, and levels of depth.

We sat down to ask her what it was like to play such a flawed but interesting character, and more about the lauded film in general.

Dread Central: The Eyes of My Mother is a stunning film, but as such it’s not for everyone. Tell me about some of the different types of feedback you’ve experienced since it started playing in film festivals and screenings.

Kika Maglathes: Well, so far I’ve been getting all kinds of great feedback, and people love the movie. Everything has been very, very positive, I’m very surprised. Starting from Sundance we got all those amazing reviews, Rolling Stone, Variety was writing about me, specifically about my performance which was incredible. I was not expecting that, I didn’t think anyone was going to pay attention to me. But I also read some reviews, I understand that the performance cannot be that exciting. My dad was the most interested in seeing it, and I was interested to see what they had to say, my family flew all the way from Portugal to L.A. to watch the movie at AFI Fest, and my dad said the movie was boring! He said he wanted to see me doing comedy because I’m a very inventive and happy person. But that’s the beauty of the role because I’m so different from her.

DC: Are you a fan of the horror genre?

KM: I like horror movies, but after working with Nick he made me really enjoy them. I wasn’t aware of so much in the horror world, and it’s amazing, I hadn’t seen so much of it and didn’t even know… so working with Nick gave me that interest. He showed me some amazing work that I’d never even heard of. I’d never watched those movies. It’s not the kind of stuff I would ever know about and Nick was like, watch this, watch this. He had me watch all the Hitchcock movies, Audition, Under the Skin, Antichrist, all that crazy stuff, and now I’m like: Thank you for introducing me to all of this cinema I didn’t know, now I’m a fan.

DC: Welcome to the club! How’d you meet [director] Nick Pesce? You’d worked with him before, so tell me how the two you brought Francisca to life.

KM: Yes, I met Nick way before we shot this. We met doing a music video and we bonded. He like the way I worked so he said he was going to write something for us to work together; so, I got involved with Eyes of My Mother before it was even a project. So, he kind of wrote this thinking of me for the role which was great because one day he called me and said, Oh my god, I’m writing this part for you, let’s talk about it. I brought a lot to the table which was amazing for me as an actress. He was so open minded to hear my ideas and we would talk for hours about the movie, about the character, and we would exchange ideas for the scenes. The character is Portuguese and he wrote that knowing I am from Portugal so that was great. He wasn’t aware of the culture and I got to bring a lot to that role. Right before the movie I spent a month in Portugal so when I was there I was thinking of interesting references I could bring. One day I was home and my mom was listening to Fado [music] and I thought this would be amazing in the movie so I texted Nick right away and sent him some stuff from Amália Rodrigues, and he was like, Yeah, this is beautiful. The food that she’s eating is a typical Portuguese meal that is cooked with chicken and the blood of the chicken and yes, my mother cooks it with the blood. So, a lot of this stuff Nick wasn’t aware of and it was a lot of brainstorming. It was awesome, he always wanted to hear my ideas, so I feel very grateful to work with a director who was open minded. I know there are some people who have their own thing and that’s it. I guess because I was involved in this project from an early stage it was a blessing for me to have input.

DC: You did a great job weaving all that cultural stuff in, because honestly, I saw the movie not knowing anything about Nick and assumed he must be a Portuguese filmmaker!

KM: Oh, wow, that’s great! He’s not, he’s American.

DC: The Eyes of My Mother isn’t one of those “fun” horror movies… what would you say to people who want to see it but don’t know what to expect?

KM: Well, it’s definitely not a happy movie so if you’re going through a hard time in life, maybe you should not watch… But I don’t know, besides that, I think the mythology is amazing. There’s a lot of hidden messages that could be very positive if we look deeper into the movie, such as Francisca is not a crazy killer, she’s a victim. We’re very quick to judge other people’s actions when we don’t even know them, like the way Francisca grew up and all of the things that happened to her. In the end she’s not trying to hurt anyone, she’s just looking for love, and that’s the base for every human being. She’s not a monster and maybe that’s why people who see the movie sympathize with her. People who think the movie is too dark… it’s really just a sad movie, really. The script is very smart and there are some very beautiful scenes so people who think it will be very dark, don’t be discouraged. It’s not a slasher movie, you don’t see any blood, bones or open bodies, there are no scenes like that. But it’s unforgettable.

The Eyes of My Mother, from writer/director Nicolas Pesce, is getting a limited theatrical and VOD release on December 2nd. Kika Magalhães, Will Brill, Flora Diaz, Paul Nazak, Clara Wong, Diana Agostini, and Olivia Bond star.

Synopsis:
In their secluded farmhouse, a mother, formerly a surgeon in Portugal, teaches her daughter, Francisca, to understand anatomy and be unfazed by death. One afternoon, a mysterious visitor shatters the idyll of Francisca’s family life, deeply traumatizing the young girl, but also awakening unique curiosities. Though she clings to her increasingly reticent father, Francisca’s loneliness and scarred nature converge years later when her longing to connect with the world around her takes on a dark form.

Shot in crisp black and white, the haunting visual compositions evoke its protagonist’s isolation and illuminate her deeply unbalanced worldview. Genre-inflected, but so strikingly unique as to defy categorization, writer/director Nicolas Pesce’s feature debut allows only an elliptical presence in Francisca’s world, guiding our imaginations to follow her into peculiar, secret places.

The post Kika Magalhaes Talks The Eyes of My Mother appeared first on Dread Central.

If you head over to the Dread Central YouTube Channel, you’ll find the latest episode of our 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 getting bigger and better – let us know what you think!

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 Weekly News Wrap-Up 11/25/16 appeared first on Dread Central.

Two of our favorite things in the world are Christmas and Jessica Cameron so seeing them both come together in All Through the House from director Todd Nunes is pretty damn sweet. This 80s-style slasher film features a deranged Santa slayer who rips through the town of Napa, California, for some yuletide terror.

It’s currently available in all formats (Blu-ray, DVD, and streaming) on Amazon; and we were provided with some merry captioned images for you to enjoy below, the first of which is an exclusive.

Ashley Marie Nunes, Jennifer Wenger, Melynda Kiring, Lito Velasco, Natalie Montera, Danica Riner, Jason Ray Schumacher, Johanna Rae, and Cathy Garrett co-star with Cameron.

Synopsis:
Fifteen years ago a peaceful Christmas neighborhood was engulfed by fear when five-year-old Jamie Garrett was mysteriously taken from her bedroom, never to be seen again. Now, on Christmas break, Rachel Kimmel comes home from college to find her neighborhood struck again by a reign of terror…

A violent killer is hiding behind a grisly Santa mask, leaving a bloody trail of slaughtered women and castrated men to the steps of the Garrett house. Rachel finds herself in a horrifying nightmare as she discovers the twisted secret behind the mask.

Santa brings a special bag of presents for Jessica Cameron (for folks who’ve seen the film, they’ll get the inside joke of this one).

Johanna Rae is trying to make it onto Santa’s Naughty List.

Did you make it on Natalie Montera’s Christmas card list?

Group photo of the cast.

All Through The House Poster.

The post Jessica Cameron Runs All Through the House; Exclusive Image Unveiled appeared first on Dread Central.

After teasing the People of the Page (i.e., her Facebook fans) for the past few days that an announcement regarding Hollywood’s upcoming reboot of The Vampire Chronicles was imminent, author Anne Rice spilled the beans today… and to say we’re super thankful is an understatement.

Echoing something that her readers have been saying for years, Rice revealed that she and her son, Christopher (also an accomplished writer), have regained the rights to the collection that tells the tale of the vampire Lestat and will be turning it into a TV series. The previously announced movie reboot by Universal/Imagine is kaput.

Here’s the full text of her post:

The theatrical rights to the Vampire Chronicles are once again in my hands, free and clear! I could not be more excited about this! — A television series of the highest quality is now my dream for Lestat, Louis, Armand, Marius and the entire tribe. In this the new Golden Age of television, such a series is THE way to let the entire story of the vampires unfold. — My son Christopher Rice and I will be developing a pilot script and a detailed outline for an open ended series, faithfully presenting Lestat’s story as it is told in the books, complete with the many situations that readers expect to see. We will likely begin with “The Vampire Lestat” and move on from there. —– When we sit down finally to talk to producers, we will have a fully realized vision of this project with Christopher as the executive producer at the helm. I will also be an executive producer all the way. —- Again, I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to be able to announce this.

As many of you know, Universal Studios and Imagine Entertainment had optioned the series to develop motion pictures from it, and though we had the pleasure of working with many fine people in connection with this plan, it did not work out. It is, more than ever, abundantly clear that television is where the vampires belong. —- Over the years you all have told me how much you want to see a “Game of Thrones” style faithful rendering of this material, and how much you want for the series to remain in my control. Well, I have heard you. I have always heard you. What you want is what I want. — You, the readers, made these books a success before any movie was ever made based on them, and I will never forget that fact. —- Christopher and I will be posting many questions on the page for your input in the days to come. —– I am filled with optimism this morning about the future for my beloved Brat Prince. What better way to start a tour for the new book!

The post Rights to The Vampire Chronicles Revert to Anne Rice; Movie OFF and TV Series ON! appeared first on Dread Central.

On tap right now we have a UK trailer and poster for I Am Not a Serial Killer (review) based on the John Cleaver series of books. Check ’em out!

I Am Not a Serial Killer, directed by Billy O’Brien from a screenplay by O’Brien and Christopher Hyde, stars Max Records, Christopher Lloyd, Laura Fraser, and Karl Geary. Look for the film in UK Cinemas on December 9th.

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old John Wayne Cleaver (Records) is not a serial killer—but he has all the makings of one. Keeping his homicidal tendencies and morbid obsessions with death and murder in check is a constant struggle that only gets harder when a real serial killer begins terrorizing his sleepy Midwestern town. Now, in order to track down a psychopath and protect those around him, John must unleash his darkest inner demons.

The post New I Am Not a Serial Killer Poster Gives You Side-Eye appeared first on Dread Central.

Apparently Sony ain’t afraid of making more Ghostbusters movies despite box office returns or fan outrage. At least according to franchise creator Ivan Reitman. ComicBook.com caught up with Reitman to get the skinny on the sequel and any other supernatural occurrences.

“There’s going to be many other Ghostbusters movies; they’re just in development right now,” Reitman told the Mr. Wavvy podcast.

But what about the film’s box office? According to a Sony rep, “This loss calculation is way off. With multiple revenue streams, including consumer products, gaming, location-based entertainment, continued international rollout, and huge third-party promotional partnerships that mitigated costs, the bottom line, even before co-financing, is not remotely close to that number.”

As for whether or not Paul Feig would return to the series after directing the first one – “Nobody’s called me,” Feig said. “But I love those characters, and I know they are now heroes and mean a lot to a lot of people, so in a perfect world it would be great if we could see them bust more ghosts, kick more ass, and be awesome again.”

The post Ivan Reitman Promises More Ghostbusters Movies on the Way appeared first on Dread Central.

Another ghost story is on its way in the form of Wait Till Helen Comes, and right now we have a new poster and trailer for you guys to get your spooky on!

Dominic James directs. Maria Bello, Sophie Nélisse, Abigail Pniowsky, and Callum Keith Rennie star.

Synopsis:
When a reconstructed family moves to a converted church in the country, 14-year-old Molly must save her new troubled step-sister from a dangerous relationship with the desperate ghost of a young girl.

The post First Look: Wait Till Helen Comes appeared first on Dread Central.

An international poster is here for Incarnate, starring Aaron Eckhart. Check it out, and try to stave off the devil if you can!

Incarnate heads our way on December 2nd.

Hightop Releasing and BH Tilt present, in association with IM Global/Blumhouse/WWE Studios, Incarnate, a Deep Undergrounds film.

Incarnate is directed by Brad Peyton (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, Cats and Dogs 2) from a screenplay by Ronnie Christensen (Passengers, Dark Tide). In the film an exorcist taps into the subconscious of a nine-year-old boy, played by David Mazouz (“Gotham,” The Darkness), who is possessed by a powerful, ancient demon.

Aaron Eckhart, Carice van Houten, and Catalina Sandino Moreno co-star alongside WWE Superstar Mark Henry, who has a cameo.

Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity, Insidious, The Purge, and Sinister franchises) is producing the film for Blumhouse. Michael Luisi, WWE Studios President, executive produced alongside Couper Samuelson, Michael Seitzman, Trevor Engelson, Stuart Ford, and Charles Layton. Universal Pictures is distributing the film in the U.S., and Blumhouse International is overseeing foreign rights.

Synopsis:
A scientist with the ability to enter the subconscious minds of the possessed must save a young boy from the grips of a demon with powers never seen before, while facing the horrors of his past.

The post Incarnate Goes International – New Poster appeared first on Dread Central.

The way better than it had any right to be Ouija: Origin of Evil is on its way to Blu-ray and DVD on January 17, 2017; and we have the initial specs for you right here.

Mike Flanagan directs. Parker Mack, Kate Siegel, Sam Anderson, Henry Thomas, Lulu Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser, Annalise Basso, and Doug Jones star.

Synopsis:
It was never just a game. Inviting audiences again into the lore of the spirit board, Ouija: Origin of Evil tells a terrifying new tale in 1967 Los Angeles. A widowed mother and her two daughters add a new stunt to bolster their séance scam business and unwittingly invite authentic evil into their home. When the youngest daughter is overtaken by the merciless spirit, this small family confronts unthinkable fears to save her and send her possessor back to the other side.

Special Features:

• Deleted Scenes
• The Making of Ouija: Origin of Evil
• Home Is Where the Horror Is
• The Girl Behind Doris
• Feature Commentary with Director/Co-Writer/Editor Mike Flanagan

BUY IT NOW!

The post Ouija: Origin of Evil Coming to Blu-ray/DVD in January appeared first on Dread Central.

That’s right, kids! The original men in black over at Rotten Cotton are already full-throttle into Cyber Monday madness, and to sweeten the pot, they’ve added 3 killer new designs to their already badass bounty!

Check out the designs below! What are you waiting for? Head on over to the website and secure your threads now, if only to be sure you can rock the Rasputin shirt at your family’s Christmas gathering. It’s a conversation piece!

In the Mouth of Madness

Rasputin the Mad Monk

H.P. Lovecraft

The post Rotten Cotton Cyber Monday Sale Home to 3 New Designs! appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Bruce Campbell, Ossie Davis

Directed by Don Coscarelli

Distributed by Scream Factory

Bruce Campbell, the man, has almost always been on par with Bruce Campbell, the actor; a scenery-chewing, larger-than-life sarcasm machine who is able to command the attention of all in his presence. Anyone who has ever attended a convention where he has done a Q&A can attest to this – the man can magnetize an audience like few others. So, it would only stand to reason that someone would come along and give the man a meaty, spotlight-shining part that allows him the harness the entirety of his comedic chops.

That man is director Don Coscarelli, and that part is none other than The King himself, Elvis Presley. The film, Bubba Ho-Tep (2002), is ostensibly about an aging maybe-Elvis fighting an ancient mummy hell-bent on harvesting souls from the old and infirmed. But, really, this is a vehicle for Campbell to turn his personality up to eleven and devour every on-screen moment. If anything, the mummy plotline slows down the momentum built entirely upon Campbell’s performance, with a little bit of solid assistance from Ossie Davis.

Elvis Presley (Campbell) sits in a nursing home, lying beside a dying roommate, with a growth on his pecker. Life is a far cry from his prime of lovely ladies, gyrating hips, and sequined jumpsuits. The staff knows him as Sebastian Haff, an Elvis impersonator who slipped, broke his hip and wound up in a coma here at The Shady Rest Retirement Home in Texas, but that’s only a partial truth… or is it? According to Sebastian/Elvis, he made a deal with The King years ago, wherein he – Elvis – swapped places with Sebastian – his spitting image imitator – in order to get away from the glitz and glamour of the music business. Their arrangement gave Elvis a clause that would allow him to resume his former life at any moment, should he choose to do so, but a trailer park explosion blasted away all the official paperwork. No matter; Elvis is happy enough right where he’s at.

What he isn’t happy about is aging. And losing his mobility. And he definitely isn’t down with the thousands-year-old mummy that’s been forcibly removing the souls from his equally-decrepit housemates. At first it starts out as just a “bug problem”, with Bubba Ho-Tep’s scarabs attacking sleeping residents, but when the dead man himself shows up to terrorize the elderly, Elvis and his one buddy, JFK (Davis) – alive after his assassination attempt and dyed black to cover the evidence – hatch a plan to defeat this “undead sack of shit.”

Your enjoyment of this film will depend entirely on your enjoyment of Bruce Campbell, and really, I can’t imagine why anyone would watch this film unless they were down with The Chin. While he’ll always be known as Ash, Campbell’s turn as an aging Elvis might be the best bit of actual acting he’s ever achieved. His Elvis is a world weary soul, still full of piss & vinegar… though now it’s mostly piss and he has to drain it in a bedpan. The cancerous growth on his pecker isn’t doing much to brighten his spirits either. He spends his days laid up in a sweltering, austere room reminiscing about the old days and lamenting his lack of penile functionality. Crippled and considered a fraud, he has seemingly resigned himself to waiting for death. But once that old mummy comes around Elvis gets a fight in him and Campbell juices up the role with a sense of urgency and purpose. All of this character development is excellent, but let’s not be remiss of the fact Campbell does a damn fine Elvis impersonation. He’s genuine and, most importantly, respectful; this isn’t some satire of The King.

Campbell is so good, in fact, that the actual plot of the film feels like it’s subservient to his performance. The mummy doesn’t properly show up in late into the picture (nearly 40-something minutes in) and any of the moments when it is onscreen, menacing senior citizens, the film feels like it’s dragging. Luckily those moments are scant but still, the fact they seem to slow the picture only underscores how valuable Campbell is being in almost every scene. The KNB crew handled the mummy effects, charging Coscarelli for materials only because the budget was so low, and their work here is… fine. It works. It’s about as simple and effective as it gets for a Texas mummy. Personally, I’ve never quite liked the design but, then again, how much can you do with a mummy? It’s a dude covered in rags.

There isn’t much for a supporting cast outside of Ossie Davis, who completely nails the role of a blackface JFK who was unceremoniously dumped at this retirement home by LBJ. Davis perfectly toes the line between vacant headspace and acute resilience. As outrageous as his claim to be a former president is, there really isn’t much distinction between his far-fetched tale and Elvis’. Even The King himself isn’t quite sure whether or not JFK is on the level. Davis is both soulful and regal in the role, becoming the perfect partner for Elvis to team up with for a backyard brawl against the undead.

Coscarelli has teased a sequel to this film ever since it came out. The end card promising Elvis’ return was meant as more of a joke than anything but in the ensuing fourteen years there have been casting rumblings and suggestions that a sequel could be coming together. Problem is it won’t be with Campbell since he’s made it clear he and Coscarelli weren’t seeing eye-to-eye on the direction and, frankly, without Campbell I can’t see any point in making that film. There was a notion that Ron Perlman could take over as Elvis but, honestly, nobody else could do The King justice like The Chin.

The 1.85:1 1080p image shows signs of being an older master, lacking the tightness and sharpness that a newer transfer might have provided. Scream Factory doesn’t mention any restoration work, so this is likely whatever MGM had lying around for the past decade or so. Still, the image isn’t without merit. Colors appear natural and nicely saturated, though the image does look a little warm in some scenes. Grain structure is variable, with some scenes looking “chunkier” than others. Definition is average, as is fine detail; never impressive but never problematic, either. Details get a little murky within shadows, most of which can be seen in the third act. With a little bit of polish the image might have looked much stronger; as it is, the picture quality is acceptable.

There is plenty of activity to be found in the English DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround sound track (or 2.0 stereo track if you prefer). Dialogue comes through clear and clear, no issues there. The moments of mummy action are when things really kick up, with the track searing from loud effects and mummy mayhem. At times it is almost too loud, the levels sounding like they’ve been maxed out. Composer Brian Tyler’s score is the real hero here, perfectly capturing the feel of the picture with a twangy, Southern-fried score that is an ideal complement to the action on screen. Subtitles are included in English SDH.

There are three audio commentary tracks to be found – a new track, featuring writer Joe R. Lansdale; and two legacy tracks, one with director Don Coscarelli and Bruce Campbell; one with “The King”.

“The King Lives!” – Bruce Campbell sits down for this new interview to discuss the legacy of his most celebrated non-“Evil Dead” film. He is as informative and entertaining as ever.

“All is Well” – Director Don Coscarelli talks about the long, rough road to making Lansdale’s story a feature film.

“Mummies and Make-Up” – FX artist Robert Kurtzman talks about taking on the job of creating the film’s mummy for next to nothing and how they executed his look.

A reel of deleted scenes, with optional commentary by Don Coscarelli and Bruce Campbell, runs for a little over three minutes.

“Footage from the Temple Room Floor” is an unedited version of the mummification clips seen spliced in to the film.

“The Making of Bubba Ho-Tep” – Expect to see the usual talking heads and behind-the-scenes footage of the film being made.

“To Make a Mummy – Makeup and Effects” – This is another piece covering the making of the titular mummy.

“Fit for a King: Elvis Costuming” – There is one company that makes authentic replica Elvis jumpsuits, and they take their position very seriously.

“Rock Like an Egyptian: Featurette about the Music of Bubba Ho-Tep” – As the title clearly suggests, this is a look at composer Brian Tyler’s work on the film.

“Joe R. Lansdale Reads from Bubba Ho-Tep” – The author reads an excerpt from his short story.

“Archival Bruce Campbell Interviews” – Just in case you haven’t had enough of the man, here is some more.

A music video, photo gallery featuring over 50 images, theatrical trailer, and TV spot are also included.

Special Features:

• NEW Audio Commentary With Author Joe R. Lansdale
• NEW All Is Well – An Interview With Writer/Director Don Coscarelli
• NEW The King Lives! – An Interview With Star Bruce Campbell
• NEW Mummies And Make-up – An Interview With Special Effects Artist Robert Kurtzman
• Audio Commentary By Don Coscarelli And Bruce Campbell
• Audio Commentary By “The King”
• Deleted Scenes With Optional Commentary By Don Coscarelli And Bruce Campbell
• “The Making Of Bubba Ho-Tep” Featurette
• “To Make A Mummy” Make-up And Effects Featurette
• “Fit For A King” Elvis Costuming Featurette
• “Rock Like An Egyptian” Featurette About The Music Of Bubba Ho-Tep
• Joe R. Lansdale Reads From Bubba Ho-Tep
• Archival Bruce Campbell Interviews
• Music Video
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spot
• Still Gallery

BUY IT  NOW!

The post Bubba Ho-Tep (Blu-ray) appeared first on Dread Central.

Anyone who knows me knows that The Exorcist III is one of my absolute favorite films of all time. That’s why I am incredibly thankful to artist and Twitter user Richard Wells (@Slippery_Jack), who recently tried his hand at a neat little Photoshop project which takes one of the film’s most iconic scenes and jumpscares and turns it loose in other movies.

Check it out below. Congratulations, Mr. Wells. You’ve successfully won the Internet for the day. Please, for the love of all that is holy, never stop doing these!

The post No Film Is Safe from The Exorcist III’s Gemini Killer! appeared first on Dread Central.

Fans of “Mystery Science Theater 3000” can finally rejoice that two of the three lost episodes of the much beloved show have been located after much searching! The news comes straight from Joel Hodgson via the Bring Back “Mystery Science Theater 3000” Kickstarter page!  Read the details below:

I’m happy to tell you that we finally found master tapes for two of the three “lost KTMA episodes” of MST3K: Invaders from the Deep and Revenge of the Mysterons from Mars.

I actually thought we had discovered copies of these episodes at one point during the Kickstarter last year, and I was really excited that I’d be able to finally share them with you… and then it turned out that we hadn’t found them, and it was a real bummer. But then, earlier this year, a few final boxes turned up. And there they were: the very first episodes of MST3K ever made.

So yeah: If your Kickstarter rewards include any of the “Classic MST3K Bonus Episodes,” the two “lost episodes” are now waiting for you – a special “Happy Turkey Day” present from all of us at MST3K. (Just remember, though, these are really old episodes, so I hope you can look at them like a “first draft” of what the show would turn into.)

Just log into your VHX account, and you’ll see them in your collection of Classic Episodes. You can stream and download them, whatever you want.

I don’t want to give you more reading for today, so I’ll just say that I really loved getting a chance to see these early episodes again. You can see Josh and Trace and me just wading into “movie riffing” and starting to play with all the elements and dynamics of the show and the set pieces. Obviously, it’s pretty slow. We didn’t pre-watch any of the films or even attempt to write any jokes; it’s just us, starting out, “blue skying” it.

(Naturally, if I could have known that, almost 30 years later, there would be a group of about 50,000 folks looking at these as a sort of “historical document,” I probably would have tried to find ways to put more time into them. But, as they say, it is what it is.)

Also, I have to tell you: This week was the first time that I’ve watched these in a long time. Seeing them now, I’m so proud we took the leap of faith and tried it. The cast and crew are suiting up in the gear and giving it a whack, and even this early on – as primitive as it is – you can sort of feel where this is all going.

Anyway, I took some notes when I watched them, and I’d like to share those with you. But I thought maybe I’d wait until next week, and give you this weekend to watch them first.

The post Lost Episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 Located! appeared first on Dread Central.

Hello everyone! I hope you didn’t eat too many people for Thanksgiving!

In today’s episode, I get to recommend some holiday reading for you. It’s a battle between a real-life horror one side, facing off against one of literature’s most popular monsters! That’s right, the new book Dracula Vs. Hitler has hit the shelves! I read it in just over a day, with its fast pace and sense of fun, and willingness to bring some bloodshed. How could I not invite the author to the show?

Dracula Vs. Hitler Audiobook Cover

Patrick S. Duncan has been a screenwriter for a long time. He’s written Mr. Holland’s Opus, Courage Under Fire, Nick of Time, among many other titles. His resume made me extra curious to read this particular novel, which has such a gloriously absurd title. I have to admit, that it was more than I was expecting. I hope you enjoy our conversation about the story, the characters, Mr. Duncan’s writing process, and even how his personal experiences from Vietnam helped inform his work on this novel! We keep it relatively spoiler free in this discussion (unless you are a major crybaby), but I highly recommend you pick this book up in either case! San Diego people can grab it at Mysterious Galaxy Books! If you’ve read it, drop me a line and let me know what you think!

Subscribe to the Horrible Imaginings Podcast right here. You can also listen right here on Dread Central or on the Horrible Imaginings Website. You can help keep the podcast, the film festival, and our horror community going for only $1 per month! Become a patron at our Patreon for exclusive content and perks! Find out about San Diego horror events on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and always stay scared!

The post Horrible Imaginings Podcast #163: Dracula Vs. Hitler! A Conversation with Author Patrick Sheane Duncan! appeared first on Dread Central.