We told you back in December that Scream Factory would be releasing a Collector’s Edition of Firestarter and right now we have all the details you need to get heated!

From the Press Release:
Based on the unforgettable best-seller by esteemed horror author Stephen King, Firestarter chronicles the extraordinary life of Charlene “Charlie” McGee. Eight-year-old Drew Barrymore stars as the child who has the amazing ability to start fires with just a glance. Can her psychic power and the love of her father save her from “The Shop,” the threatening government agency which wants to control her…or destroy her? Available March 14th, 2017 from Scream Factory, the Collector’s Edition of Firestarter comes loaded with bonus features, including a new 2k scan of the inter-positive film element, new interviews with director Mark L. Lester, actors Freddie Jones and Drew Snyder, stuntman/actor Dick Warlock and Johannes Schmoelling of Tangerine Dream, a new exclusive performance of “Charlie’s Theme” by Johannes Schmoelling of Tangerine Dream, radio spots, and more! Fans of the film can pre-order their copy now from ShoutFactory.com

Filled with dazzling special effects and featuring an all-star cast including Martin Sheen, Heather Locklear, Art Carney, Louise Fletcher, David Keith and George C. Scott, Firestarter is directed by Mark L. Lester (Class of 1984, Commando) and is driven by a pulsating, thrilling score from Tangerine Dream (Legend, Sorcerer, Risky Business).

Special Features:

• NEW 2K scan of the inter-positive film element
• NEW Audio commentary with director Mark L. Lester
• NEW Playing with Fire: The Making of FIRESTARTER – featuring interviews with director Mark L. Lester, actors Freddie Jones and Drew Snyder, stuntman/actor Dick Warlock and Johannes Schmoelling of Tangerine Dream+
• NEW Tangerine Dream: Movie Music Memories – an interview with Johannes Schmoelling
• NEW exclusive performance of “Charlie’s Theme” by Johannes Schmoelling of Tangerine Dream
• Theatrical Trailers
• Radio Spot
• Still Gallery

BUY IT NOW!

The post Scream Factory Shares Smokin’ Hot Firestarter Specs appeared first on Dread Central.

In their never-ending quest to have cuteness drain all of our wallets dry, Funko Toys has unveiled the concept art for several new properties and a whole lot more!

Thanks to our brother site Idle Hands for all the eye candy that’s fit to print! For the complete look at what’s coming from Funko, click here.

Death Note Pops: Lineup includes Ryuk, L, and Light

Donnie Darko Dorbz: Lineup includes Donnie and Frank the Bunny

Mystery Science Theater 3K Pops: Lineup includes Tom Servo and Crow

“Teen Wolf” TV Show Pops: Scott McCall human and werewolf form and Stiles Stilinski

“The Walking Dead” Mystery Minis: This is an “In Memoriam” set featuring our favorite characters that have met a sticky end.

The post Toy Fair 2017: Funko Makes MST3K, Teen Wolf, Death Note, and Donnie Darko Go Pop and More! appeared first on Dread Central.

Here’s the thing… you have Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson squaring off against gigantic monsters (not unlike some members of the WWE) and we’re in! Adding a star from 28 Days Later is just gravy! Speaking of which…

THR is reporting that Academy Award Nominee Naomie Harris (she was ours before she was yours Oscars) has signed a deal to join Rampage, New Line’s adventure project based on the 1980s video game.

The project is reuniting Johnson, whose latest movie, Moana, nabbed an Oscar nomination, with New Line, producer Beau Flynn and director Brad Peyton. The team previously proved to be a combustible combination with San Andreas and Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.

Like the video game, the film will feature three creatures — a monstrously transformed gorilla, lizard and wolf — who wreak havoc on North American cities and landmarks. Johnson is, naturally, an animal-loving hero who is the world’s only hope. Harris will star opposite him as a geneticist with a moral streak.

Ryan Engle wrote the original draft, with work done by Carlton Cuse and Ryan Condal. Adam Sztykiel did the most current revisions.

Rampage is set to release April 20, 2018.

The post Naomie Harris Goes on a Rampage With The Rock appeared first on Dread Central.

A serial killer in the Old West? Sign us up! That’s right, kids, Dead West is looking to carve itself a nice niche in the genre! Read on for release details.

From the Press Release:
RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE) brings you DEAD WEST. Written and directed by Jeff Ferrell (Ghostlight), the film stars Jeffrey Arrington (Vicious), Brian Sutherland (Fat Kids Rule the World), Meagan Karimi-Naser (“Job Hunters”), Aurelio Voltaire (ABCs of Death 2), and Michael Joseph Draper (“Grimm”). DEAD WEST will be available on Feb. 7, 2017 on DVD for an SRP of $27.97.

In DEAD WEST, a charismatic outlaw sets out on a murderous cross-country trip searching for true love. Each time he thinks he has found “the one,” he ends up disappointed – and she ends up dead. Managing to elude capture by traveling from one town to the next, his luck runs out when Tony (Arrington), the brother of one of his victims, tracks him down. Suddenly the hunter becomes the hunted as Tony seeks vengeance by enforcing his own brand of vigilante justice.

Special Features on the DVD include Audio Commentary with director Jeff Ferrell, actor Brian Sutherland and composer Semih Tareen and the featurette The Making of Dead West.

BUY IT NOW!

The post Head Dead West in February appeared first on Dread Central.

Day of Reckoning is getting a VOD and digital download release on January 31st and we’ve got all the details you need to prepare yourselves right here!

From the Press Release:
From the creators of JeruZalem, Tales of Halloween and BIG ASS SPIDER!, Film Financier and Distributor Epic Pictures announced the VOD and digital release of Day Of Reckoning across the US and Canada on January 31st, 2017. Written by Gregory Gieras, (BIG ASS SPIDER!), and directed by Joel Novoa (God’s Slave).

Starring Jackson Hurst (“NCIS: Los Angeles,” “Scandal,” “Drop Dead Diva”) and Heather Comb (“Ray Donovan”). Other notable cast members include Hana Hayes (Insidious: Chapter 4, To the Bone), Jay Jay Warren (Night of the Living Fred, Maron), Raymond Barry (Training Day, Born on the Fourth of July), Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, We Are Still Here), Nick Gomez (“The Walking Dead,” “Dexter”), and Randy Vasquez (Shameless, “Acapulco H.E.A.T”).

Fifteen years ago, the world suffered a horrific global disaster when millions of demon-like creatures ascended from the bowels of the earth, swarming the entire planet, and feasting on mankind for one full day. Now due to a lunar eclipse they have returned for 24 hours to purge the earth’s population.  One family will battle against the odds to not only save themselves but to also seal the breach.  Who will survive this “Day Of Reckoning?”

Epic Picture’s CEO Patrick Ewald believes “Joel Novoa created a real fun action film that plays on a lot of themes around human survival, science and religion,” and co-founder, Shaked Berenson, adds, “After the incredible success with ‘Jeruzalem’ this is a natural next step for us to take on a picture of this scope with similar dynamics.”

The post Have Your Day of Reckoning on January 31st appeared first on Dread Central.

Let’s face it, that so-called Donnie Darko sequel, S. Darko, wasn’t what fans were hoping for. Not even close. Director of the original Richard Kelly, who had no involvement with that mess, has a keen idea for a true sequel, and he recently shared a bit with the masses.

“I think there’s something much bigger and more ambitious to do in that universe,” Kelly tells HMV. “It’s big and expensive and I think there’s time to get to that. I want to make sure we’ve got the budget to do it justice and not to compromise anything. Another story in this world needs resources and we need to have that in place. I need to get my next film out of the gate and then we can go back and look at it.”

Kelly was out promoting Arrow’s new special edition of Donnie Darko which is available now in the UK. No word yet on a Stateside release.

The post Richard Kelly Talks True Sequel to Donnie Darko appeared first on Dread Central.

The Dead Shack is a little old place where… We can kill together! DEAD SHACK, BABY! Sorry. Couldn’t resist. In any event… Screen Daily is reporting that Raven Banner, the Toronto-based distributor, has picked up Canadian rights to Peter Ricq’s debut feature.

Ricq, who co-wrote the script with Philippe Ivanusic-Vallee and Davila LeBlanc, is also composing an original score for Dead Shack with his band, the Juno-nominated Humans.

The horror dark comedy, which recently wrapped shooting in Vancouver, stars Lauren Holly, Donavon Stinson and Valerie Tian alongside newcomers Mathew Nelson-Mahood, Lizzie Boyd and Gabe LaBelle.

Amber Ripley of Goodbye Productions and Trilight Entertainment’s Shayne Putzlocher produce Dead Shack, while Sara Shaak and Glenn Paradis serve as executive producers.

The film centres on three children on a weekend getaway at a run-down cottage in the woods, who must save their hard-partying parents from their predatory cabin neighbour who is intent on feeding her undead family.

“Even though there’s an overall dark element to horror films, you can’t deny the pure entertainment value of them,” said Ricq. “As a kid, my father showed me contemporary horror and Amblin Entertainment movies that I found myself gravitating towards because of their marriage of horror, comedy and suspense. With Dead Shack, I have the opportunity to take an 80’s kid horror flick and turn it into an R-rated movie just like my eight-year-old self always wished it’d be.”

“I’m very excited to be working with these filmmakers to bring Dead Shack to life,” said Ripley. “The script is fun and engaging, and we have a strong creative team with an amazing cast of actors who have found a wonderful balance between the film’s comedy and horror elements.”

“Peter Ricq is a strong new voice in Canada and it’s an honour to be part of this feature debut,” said Raven Banner managing partner Michael Paszt.

The post Raven Banner Swoops in on the Dead Shack appeared first on Dread Central.

We’ve been talking about Killing Ground for several days now and news has finally come that the flick has landed distro! According to The Wrap, IFC Midnight has acquired North American rights to Sundance survival horror flick.

About the Film:
Killing Ground, is a tightly-wound thriller reminiscent of the 70’s survival thrillers such as Deliverance and Straw Dogs and more recent chillers The Vanishing and Funny Games. The film is a modern campfire story about fear, violence, heroism and the limits of courage.

This exceptionally well- crafted film is written and directed by Damien Power, who is making his feature film debut. Considered one of Australian’s rising directors and praised for his “original voice and distinctive storytelling,” Power’s short films have been programmed in noteworthy festivals such as Busan and Venice.

The film tells the story of Ian and Samantha, who arrive at an isolated campsite to find an SUV and a tent – no sign of the occupants. As night falls and the campers fail to return, Ian and Sam grow increasingly uneasy. The discovery of a distressed child wandering in the woods unleashes a terrifying chain of events that will test them to breaking point.

Ian Meadows, who plays Ian, and Harriet Dyer (Logie Award nominated actress for Best Most Outstanding Newcomer and Most Popular New Talent) who plays Sam, deliver powerful performances that have audiences feeling every desperate moment.

Aaron Glenane, most recently seen in the film Truth alongside Cate Blanchett and Robert Redford, plays Chook, whose outward calm hides a frightening cruelty. His mentor in murder, German, is played with cold malice by Aaron Pedersen, an award-winning actor best known for the hit thriller Mystery Road. Together, Chook and German are an unforgettable criminal duo.

Killing Ground has a taut, non-linear structure, which contributes to an atmosphere of timeless menace and dread. Tension builds as the narrative threads wind together; danger escalates and Sam and Ian’s options narrow drastically. The Australian bush setting plays a significant role in the film, and Killing Ground is part of a long tradition of Australian cinema – from Picnic at Hanging Rock to Wolf Creek – that finding a deep sense of unease in a hostile wilderness.

The post Sundance 2017: IFC Heads to the Killing Ground appeared first on Dread Central.

Let us be clear… IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN SPLIT YET, AVOID THIS STORY LIKE YOU WOULD A DATE WITH SOMEONE WHO’S TENDING TO A RECURRING SCORCHING CASE OF HERPES.

We’re serious, man! I mean, come on – we used BOLDED CAPS. You know… much like the Internet… that’s serious business!

If you have seen Split and are a fan of M. Night Shyamalan, then the last few moments of the film no doubt had you squealing in a state of total and absolute fanboy nirvana.

SPOILERS:

With Split Shyamalan finally began building out his own superhero universe which began with Unbreakable. For over a decade fans have pleaded for a sequel. With Split, the first step has been taken toward that goal. Recently Night sat down with star James McAvoy for an interview with Empire to talk about the film’s connection and more.

Was this film a surprise sequel to Unbreakable?

“However you want to look at it,” said Shyamalan. “Maybe it’s a new format – this movie, this movie, and a final movie.”

A final movie? Split 2? Unbreakable 3? Time will tell, but Shyamalan is already on the job!

“I’m writing the outline now. It’s weird. It’s long. It’s the longest outline I’ve ever had. It has so many characters… I hope if Split is a success [which it was], I’ll have the opportunity to finish the story. I want to finish it, so this is the third one.”

In terms of the Split/Unbreakable connection, McAvoy chimed in, “When I first read the script, it wasn’t there. There was some weird little allusion to the fact that it might be linked to Unbreakable, but it was so subtle I kinda discounted it. Then on the last day of rehearsals I was like, ‘Mate, is this thing linked to that thing?’ It was honestly the most subtle thing you could ever have written. None but the greatest fanboy alive would ever have noticed it. So it went from being a tiny music cue to a whole full-blown scene with a major movie star [read: Bruce Willis] in it.”

So, who would win should Dennis/Patricia/Hedwig/The Beast/Kevin Wendell Crumb/Barry/Orwell/Jade/etc. and David Dunn clash?

“When two baldies go to war. My money’s on B-Dog” said McAvoy. “I hope he lets me call him that.”

END SPOILERS

Stay tuned!

The post M. Night Shyamalan Talks Split Sequel: SPOILERS TO FOLLOW! appeared first on Dread Central.

We’ve known for a while that Saw: Legacy, the 8th film in the long-running franchise, is heading our way soon; and now we’ve learned who the first two potential players of Jigsaw’s games are…

Per Variety, Laura Vandervoort (“Bitten,” “V”) and Hannah Anderson (“Shoot the Messenger,” Lizzie Borden Took an Ax) have signed on for Lionsgate’s upcoming continuation of the series following a seven-year hiatus.

Brothers Peter and Michael Spierig (Daybreakers, Predestination) direct from a script by Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfiner (Piranha 3D, Piranha 3DD, Sorority Row).

Now that this first tidbit has come out, expect lots more soon!

The post First Two Saw: Legacy Cast Members Revealed appeared first on Dread Central.

Brainwaves Horror and Paranormal Talk Radio recently sat down with director Tony Valenzuela to get the scoop on his new film The Axe Murders of Villisca as well as his own experiences in the actual Villisca Murder House!

Listen in right now!

It’s radio without a safety net, kids. It’s Brainwaves: Horror and Paranormal Talk Radio.

PLEASE SUPPORT BRAINWAVES: HORROR AND PARANORMAL TALK RADIO ON PATREON!

Brainwaves: Horror and Paranormal Talk Radio is available to subscribe to on iTunes. Not an iTunes user?  You can also listen right here on the site.

Also you can hit Dread Central on Facebook on most Wednesday nights to watch a live stream of the show as it happens.

Spooky, funny, touching, honest, offensive, and at times completely random, Brainwaves airs live every Wednesday evening beginning at 9:00 PM Pacific Time (12:00 midnight Eastern Time) and runs about 3 hours per episode.

Knetter and Creepy will be taking your calls LIVE and unscreened via Skype, so let your freak flags fly! Feel free to add BrainWavesTalk to your Skype account so you can reach us, or call in from a landline or cellphone – 858 480 7789. The duo also take questions via Twitter; you can reach us at @BrainwavesRadio or @UncleCreepy and @JoeKnetter using the hashtag #BrainWaves.

Have a ghost story or a paranormal story but can’t call in? Feel free to email it to me directly at UncleCreepy@dreadcentral.com with “Brainwaves Story” in your subject line. You can now become a fan of the show via the official… BRAINWAVES FACEBOOK PAGE!

Brainwaves: Horror and Paranormal Talk Radio is hosted live (with shows to be archived as they progress) right here on Dread Central. You can tune in and listen via the FREE TuneIn Radio app or listen to TuneIn right through the website!

For more information and to listen live independent of TuneIn, visit the Deep Talk Radio Network website, “like” Deep Talk Radio on Facebook, and follow Deep Talk Radio on Twitter. And don’t forget to subscribe to Brainwaves on iTunes.

The post #Brainwaves Episode 30 – Tony Valenzuela – The Axe Murders of Villisca. LISTEN NOW! appeared first on Dread Central.

It was released all the way back in April last year, but I’m betting that most of the three-million people who bought Dark Souls III didn’t finish the game. What with the series being infamous for its insane difficultly level and everything.

However, if you do feel brave enough to step back into the world of Dark Souls once again, and if you don’t mind dying (a lot), then look for the upcoming DLC The Ringed City, which launches on March 28th, 2017. And this time, the stakes are higher than ever, because you’ll literally be placed at the end of the world (whatever the world of Dark Souls is called, it doesn’t seem to have a name). So, to quote the series’ marketing tagline, you’d better practice to“get good” before embarking on this adventure.

THE END OF THE WORLD AWAITS IN DARK SOULS™ III: THE RINGED CITY™ FOR PLAYSTATION®4 SYSTEM, XBOX ONE, AND STEAM
SANTA CLARA, Calif., (January 23, 2017) – Leading interactive entertainment publisher and developer, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., announces DARK SOULS™ III: The Ringed City™ , the final downloadable content expansion for DARK SOULS III, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.’s fastest selling title in history. This new adventure has players chasing after the Slave Knight Gael to the literal end of the world as he searches for the Dark Soul of Humanity. DARK SOULS III: The Ringed City will be available for download on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PC via STEAM™ on March 28, 2017.

At the close of the Age of Fire, as the world ends and all lands converge upon themselves, a lone adventurer descends into the madness of the earth and uncovers the secrets of the past. As players make their way to the fabled Ringed City they will encounter ancient beasts, a new cast of characters teetering on the edge of insanity, new armor, weapons, magic, and at the bottom of it all, a long lost city filled with new horrors for players to overcome.

“ DARK SOULS III: The Ringed City brings players toe-to-claw against massive beasts in a twisted descent into the bowels of the end of the world,” said Jason Enos, Director of Brand and Latin American Marketing for BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “FromSoftware has crafted visually arresting environments that evoke a sense of destroyed beauty and nail biting encounters that will leave players breathless for more.”

DARK SOULS III: The Ringed City will be available for $14.99 digitally on the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and PC via STEAM on March 28, 2017. The game is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB. DARK SOULS™ III: Ashes of Ariandel™ is currently available digitally for $14.99 on the same systems. A season pass for DARK SOULS III, which includes access to Ashes of Ariandel and The Ringed City, is available for purchase digitally for $24.99. To learn more about BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.’s other products go to: https://www.bandainamcoent.com or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS or join the conversation at https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.

The post Dark Souls III Makes One Final Journey to the Ringed City appeared first on Dread Central.

Yet another killer clown flick is coming our way soon, and this time it’s coming out of the UK. Crispy’s Curse is the third feature from director John Williams, and if you feel that the world could use another killer clown picture, then you can contribute to its Indiegogo campaign. The world needs laughter, after all.

From the Press Release:
Crispy’s Curse is a feature film that follows a christian heavy metal band as they do battle with a ghostly, demonic, murderous…but quite charming clown called Crispy. Crispy must be stopped before the towns population decreases further as he seeks bloody revenge on the ones that had him killed. I aim to raise £8000 for vital post production and promotion work on the film, to do this i have selected a range of incentives in the form of perks, including a copy of the movie on completion.

The post Crispy’s Curse Will Have You in Pieces appeared first on Dread Central.

It seems the 90s are back with a vengeance, what with The Blair Witch Project sequel shaking its way into theaters, and two of the scariest J-horror villains coming together in Sadako vs. Kayako, which makes its North American debut at TIFF. We caught up with the actresses embodying those ghostly roles at the press junket, and they revealed a lot about the new movie… even how it ends! (Skip the last two paragraphs, if you don’t want to be in the know just yet.)

The plot of the new movie melds the tropes of the two previous franchises: After viewing a legendary cursed videotape she found inside a VCR purchased at a pawn shop, Natsumi (Aimi Satsukawa) discovers she has only two days before she will be killed by the demonic entity known as Sadako (from The Ring). The only way to break the curse is to pit the demon Sadako against Kayako (from The Grudge). Kayako is an angry ghost who haunts a house where everyone who enters disappears. Natsumi’s friend Yuri (Mizuki Yamamoto) tries to help, and finds herself drawn into a horrible web of evil.

Elly Nanami (Sadako) says she loves how the project all came together. “The franchises are released by two different studios, but they got together and decided to do one movie. They wanted it to be totally different and it is such a big project. So I was looking forward to being a part of it before it even started shooting – and now, the movie is ready to be released here (in the U.S.) and it’s a real opportunity for those who love Kayako to get to know Sadako and vice versa. I had no idea how the story would develop, and how two different icons would fight… and, how was it going to end? I didn’t know, but I really enjoyed being a part of it.”

Runa Endo (Kayako) adds, “These two franchises are very famous in Japan, and they have released other versions and sequels over the years, but I think that this movie is finally the one that people expected. I was scared of possibly disappointed Kayako fans but, they love the movie. It’s really great. I had pressure, because of all the fans and so there was pressure, but now I am very happy to be a part of this film history.”

Early reviews do indeed say Sadako vs. Kayako is one of the more satisfying attempts to revive old, beloved films, franchises and characters. Funnily enough, the whole idea for this started as a joke. But when fans responded with overwhelming enthusiasm, the studios realized they might just have a hit. While there is a self-awareness written into the plot – there is a nerdy university lecture about vengeful female ghosts in Japan, complete with a PowerPoint presentation on cursed videotapes and haunted houses – the film isn’t all winks and nods. Eventually, the scares are taken seriously and there are some serious scares. And there’s even an awesome cameo by Battle Royale’s Masanobu Ando as an exorcist.

Runa says she loves the ending best of all. “At the end, I think people are expecting there will be one winner, but actually the two icons merge. So now they will get even more powerful. As for Yuri, the student, we know that she is a part of the merged ghouls. So, the audiences can expect to see the next movie as a part of the franchises. I would like to be a part of it.”

Elly agrees that the ending is a great surprise. “In terms of the last scene, that was an unexpected result. Some people think they will friends with each other or they will have a collaboration, or they will disappear. But actually, they got merged. Many people didn’t expect that kind of ending! For me, I think a new movie will give lots of people ideas to explore different ways the villains can go. I really have a great respect for the director of the movie, Koji Shiraishi, for being so brave to end it like that.”

Sadako vs. Kayako Release Details:
Shudder, the premium horror streaming service backed by AMC Networks, has picked up all North American rights to Sadako vs. Kayako, the crossover of the massive Japanese horror film franchises Ring (remade in the United States as The Ring) and Ju-on (known as The Grudge in the U.S.). The film is an epic showdown featuring the two iconic demons fighting each other in the ultimate battle of possession.

The post Exclusive Interview with Elly Nanami (Sadako) and Runa Endo (Kayako) on Sadako vs. Kayako appeared first on Dread Central.

The Poltergeist franchise is a spooky one indeed, both on and off screen. Some say it is cursed. Some say all the bad stuff that happened is just mere coincidence. Either way, Scream Factory is releasing both Poltergeist II: The Other Side and Poltergeist III onto Blu-ray and we’ve got an exclusive clip from the latter for you!

From the Press Release:
Scream Factory is unleashing the definitive editions of two supernatural horror classics with the release of the Collector’s Editions of Poltergeist II and Poltergeist III on January 31st, 2017. The suspenseful saga of Carol Anne and the Freeling family continues in these follow- up films to the smash hit Poltergeist, and are filled with spectacular special effects, memorable scares and a genuinely creepy villain. These scary sequels both include DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 tracks and come loaded with brand-new bonus features, including new 2k scans of the inter-positive, audio commentaries, interviews, behind-the-scenes featurettes and more!

In Poltergeist II, the thrilling follow-up to the smash hit Poltergeist, the Freeling family (JoBeth Williams, Craig T. Nelson, Heather O’Rourke, Oliver Robins) settles into a new home following the annihilation of their former residence by terrifying visitors from the netherworld. But the spirits of the dead are still hell-bent on luring the family’s clairvoyant daughter Carol Anne to “the other side.” This chilling sequel, directed by Brian Gibson (Breaking Glass) also stars Will Sampson (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), Julian Beck (The Cotton Club) and Zelda Rubinstein (Anguish), returning as Tangina.

Special Features:

• NEW 2K scan of the inter-positive
• NEW Audio Commentary with writer/producer Michael Grais
• NEW Audio Commentary with Poltergeist II webmaster David Furtney
• NEW Robbie’s Return – an interview with Oliver Robins
• NEW The Spirit World – an interview with special effects designers Richard Edlund, Steve Johnson and Screaming Mad George
• NEW Ghosts of Giger – a look at the contributions of artist H.R. Giger featuring rare photos and illustrations and an interviews with Giger’s friend and agent Les Barany and special effects designer Steve Johnson, Richard Edlund and Screaming Mad George
• Vintage Featurettes: They’re Back: The Making of Poltergeist II, Monster Shop and Ghostmakers: The Magic of Poltergeist II
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Still Galleries (behind-the-scenes photos, stills, posters and script pages)

BUY IT NOW!

In Poltergeist III, they’re back… again! And they’re looking for Carol Ann (Heather O’Rourke) in this riveting finale to the Poltergeist trilogy. Sent by her parents to live in a Chicago high-rise with her aunt (Nancy Allen, Carrie) and uncle (Tom Skerritt, Alien), Carol Ann discovers she must now face demons more frightening than ever before. Led by the Reverend Kane (Nathan Davis, Flowers in The Attic), the spirts have moved from invading homes to taking over an entire skyscraper. They are lurking behind every mirror… waiting. Fortunately, Tangina (Zelda Rubinstein, Poltergeist) returns to help battle these malevolent forces.

Special Features:

• NEW 2K scan of the inter-positive
• NEW Audio Commentary with director Gary Sherman
• NEW Audio Commentary with Poltergeist III webmaster David Furtney
• NEW High Spirits – an interview with screenwriter Brian Taggert
• NEW Reflections – an interview with actress Nancy Allen
• NEW Mirror Images – an interview with Special Effects Creator John Caglione, Jr.
• Alternate Ending
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Still Galleries (behind-the-scenes photos, stills, posters and script pages)

BUY IT NOW!

The post Exclusive Clip: Scream Factory’s Poltergeist III Blu-ray! appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Monica Engesser, Clint James, Owen Conway

Directed by Robert Conway

The ever-continuing possession tale. It’s a tried and true formula that just seems to never truly run out of steam, and now with the addition of Robert Conway’s The Covenant, let’s just say that the vehicle keeps on truckin’.

The table is set with an especially unsettling backstory, as a grieving wife and mother named Sarah (Engesser) is attempting to rebuild her life after the tragic deaths of both her leukemia-afflicted daughter (Amelia Haberman) and husband (Chris Masciarelli). Now with the two largest staples of her existence gone for good, her only avenue is to start back where it all began: her childhood home, and with the assistance of her recovering-alcoholic brother (Conway), the two attempt to restart in the hopes that their past can heal some very old wounds – then again, that’s usually how some serious shit begins in these types of films – and that’s why we’re all here: to revel in the misfortune of others, entertainment-wise, speaking. After the move back into their new (old) digs, Sarah begins to experience some frightening visions of her deceased daughter, and it manifests itself into her using some very sharp implements to carve into herself, and her wounds start to heal themselves at a rate that can best be described as “superhuman” quickness, and you guessed it, the expected response to all of these actions is “somebody better call an exorcist!”

I’ll yield in full on the remainder of the details on this one, but I can honestly say that for the umpteenth time of me checking out a demonic-possession flick, I had my reservations (as to be expected), but there were some genuinely legit scares in this film, and both the performances of Engesser and Conway were more than middle-ground, with each delivering a wide range of emotive responses that make you feel as if ol’ Beelzebub is right around the corner. Also, the way that each actor faced their character’s respective demons – Sarah with the burden of two deaths on her back, and her brother’s destructive drinking – accompanied by some stellar camera work and eerie musical assistance, all added up to a legitimately fun watch. The tempo is a bit on the sluggish side, but in the end of it all, it was constructed that way for a purpose, and Conway’s directorial fashion allows the audience to hold their crucifixes tightly, hoping that the bad guy from the south of Heaven will stay at bay a while longer – give this one a look when it becomes available.

The post Covenant, The (2017) appeared first on Dread Central.

Some news that will make fans of The CW’s “The Vampire Diaries” extremely happy arrived today… Nina Dobrev, who portrayed Elena Gilbert, the heart and soul of the show, is returning for the series finale!

Dobrev shared the news on her Instagram page as follows:

The series is wrapping up soon with Episode 8.16, and as the script indicates, the ep, “I Was Feeling Epic,” is returning to its roots.  It was written by series creators/exec producers Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec with Plec directing. Now that’s how you send a show off in style!

But first, there are a few more trials and tribulations to get through. This week is Episode 8.10, “Nostalgia’s a Bitch,” airing Friday night.

“The Vampire Diaries” Episode 8.10 – “Nostalgia’s a Bitch” (airs 1/27/17)
Sybil (guest star Nathalie Kelley) enacts revenge on Damon (Ian Somerhalder) by putting him in a catatonic state. Caroline (Candice King) and Bonnie (Kat Graham) enter Damon’s mind and run into familiar faces from the past, only to discover Stefan (Paul Wesley) is the key to Damon’s fate. It’s a race against time for the bell as both Sybil and her sister, Seline (Kristen Gutoskie), jockey for its control. Written by Brett Matthews and directed by Kellie Cyrus.

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Trick or Treat Studios is pressing all of our happy buttons today by unveiling a pair of masks that will be ready for Halloween inspired by R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps! Check ’em out below!

Scholastic Media and Trick or Treat Studios are proud to present The Haunted Mask from Goosebumps. Sculpted to perfection, every detail of the Haunted Mask is from the 1995 episode The Haunted Mask.

So pick up the Goosebumps Haunted Mask today, but be warned, you might not want to put it on!

Scholastic Media and Trick or Treat Studios are proud to present Goosebumps to our lineup and what better way to to unveil this amazing line than with one of the series most popular characters Slappy the Dummy! This Slappy mask is highly detailed and sculpted to perfection.

Pick up a Slappy the Dummy Mask for Halloween and give all your friends goosebumps. Just make sure you don’t say the magic words….. “Karru Marri Odonna Loma Molonu Karrano”……or your Halloween may turn into a true horror!

Also coming from Trick Or Treat Studios but not pre-orderable yet are a complete Slappy the Dummy Prop along with a pair of vacuum form masks!

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Lavender is a new film we’ve been looking forward to for a while now, and finally it’s heading our way.  It’ll be hitting DISH first early next month, followed by a theatrical/VOD release in March.  Read on for the details, new stills and artwork, plus the trailer. All photos are courtesy of AMBI Media Group.

From the Press Release:
Samuel Goldwyn Films and AMBI Group will partner on the domestic release for the anticipated thriller Lavender. Directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly (The Last Exorcism Part II), who co-wrote the film with Colin Frizzell (Resident Evil: Apocalypse), Lavender stars Abbie Cornish (Limitless), Diego Klattenhoff (TV’s “The Blacklist”), Justin Long (Live Free or Die Hard), and Dermot Mulroney (My Best Friend’s Wedding).

Samuel Goldwyn and AMBI will release the film exclusively on DISH on February 3, 2017, one month before it hits theaters and VOD on March 3, 2017. Lavender is the second collaboration between the two companies, which will release the Simon Aboud film This Beautiful Fantastic on March 10, 2017.

“Abbie Cornish provides a stellar performance in this psychological thriller,” said Melanie Miller, Executive Vice President of Samuel Goldwyn Films. “With beautiful cinematography and a distinct vision from director Ed Gass-Donnelly, we are proud to distribute Lavender in partnership with AMBI Group.”

In Lavender, when a photographer (Cornish) suffers severe memory loss after a traumatic accident, strange clues amongst her photos suggest she may be responsible for the deaths of family members she never knew she had. Long plays a psychiatrist who helps her recover lost memories.

Produced by Dave Valleau (Capote) and Gass-Donnelly, Lavender was executive produced by Andrea Iervolino (The Merchant of Venice), Monika Bacardi (The Humbling), Tex Antonucci (The Entitled), Emily Alden (Mountain Men), and Jennifer Levine (G.B.F.).

The post Lavender Lands Distro with Samuel Goldwyn Films and AMBI Group; New Stills, Artwork, Trailer, and More! appeared first on Dread Central.

More casting news has arrived for the latest Stephen King adaptation, Mr. Mercedes, as THR is reporting that “Weeds” star Mary-Louise Parker has joined the cast of David E. Kelley’s series!

Parker will play Janey Patterson, the younger sister of the late Olivia Trelawney. Janey’s no-nonsense but charming attitude radiates, as does her physical beauty. She’s emotionally mature, strong-willed, and totally winning.

Based on Stephen King’s 2014 novel of the same name, the Audience Network drama follows a demented killer (“Penny Dreadful’s” Harry Treadaway) who taunts a retired police detective (Brendan Gleeson) with a series of lurid letters and emails, forcing the ex-cop to undertake a private, and potentially felonious, crusade to bring the killer to justice before he is able to strike again.

Holland Taylor, Kelly Lynch, and Jharrel Jerome also star.

Kelley is writing the adaptation of Mr. Mercedes and will serve as showrunner on the Sonar Entertainment-produced series. Jack Bender (“Game of Thrones”) is set to direct, and the two will exec produce with Temple Hill Entertainment’s Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey.

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