Over the last few days a bunch of clips arrived for Kong: Skull Island. Now we have them all in one neat little spot for you to dig on along with some B-Roll footage and a featurette! Check out the old, the new, and forever WOW!

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures’ Kong: Skull Island reimagines the origin of the mythic Kong in a compelling, original adventure from director Jordan Vogt-Roberts.

Kong: Skull Island stars Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, John Goodman, and John C. Reilly. The international ensemble cast also includes Tian Jing, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, John Ortiz, Thomas Mann, Shea Whigham, Toby Kebbell, and Eugene Cordero.

Vogt-Roberts directs the film from a screenplay by Max Borenstein, John Gatins, Dan Gilroy, and Derek Connolly. To fully immerse audiences in the mysterious Skull Island, the director, cast, and filmmaking team filmed across three continents over six months, capturing its primordial landscapes on Oahu, Hawaii; on Australia’s Gold Coast; and finally in Vietnam, where filming took place across multiple locations, some of which have never before been seen on film.

Kong: Skull Island will be released worldwide in 2D, 3D in select theaters, and IMAX beginning March 10, 2017, from Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Synopsis:
A diverse team of scientists, soldiers, and adventurers unite to explore a mythical, uncharted island in the Pacific, as dangerous as it is beautiful. Cut off from everything they know, the team ventures into the domain of the mighty Kong, igniting the ultimate battle between man and nature. As their mission of discovery becomes one of survival, they must fight to escape a primal Eden in which humanity does not belong.

The post Kong: Skull Island – 5 Clips to Get Your Motors Running! appeared first on Dread Central.

Fans of Evil Dead 2 are about to get a little tight or in some cases, wet, in the pants as NECA has just unveiled their Evil Dead 2 – 30th Anniversary Boxset featuring Ash Williams going mano-y-mano with Deadite Ed Getley!

Hero Ash features the likeness of inimitable actor Bruce Campbell. Ash comes with a Necronomicon book that opens up, two alternate head sculpts, bone dagger, sawed off shotgun, and possessed deer head. Deadite Ed Getley comes with interchangeable heads, one of which comes apart to simulate his gruesome defeat by Ash’s chainsaw. Each 7” scale action figure is highly detailed and fully poseable.

The set comes in a deluxe 30th Anniversary window box with opening flap.

Keep it locked here for more info on this as we get it!

The post Toy Fair 2017: NECA Shows Off Evil Dead 2 – 30th Anniversary Boxset appeared first on Dread Central.

Salem’s Lot, Needful Things, Cujo, The Dark Half, Gerald’s Game, Creepshow, The Shawshank Redemption, Misery, Doctor Sleep, It, Sleepwalkers, The Dead Zone, The Shining, and so many more of Stephen King’s tales of terror have one thing in common… they either took place in or referenced the fictitious town of Castle Rock.

Now, with the dropping of the trailer you see below, comes the news that J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot are teaming with Hulu and Stephen King for the mother of all horror event series: “Castle Rock.” The last time the trio united was for the small screen adaptation of “11/22/63.”

There are no other details available at press time, but you can bet this news is about to explode! Stand by!

The post Breaking News: Stephen King, Bad Robot, and Hulu Take Us to Castle Rock appeared first on Dread Central.

If you’re a “Twin Peaks” fan, you’re probably also a fan of series regular Warren Frost, who, we are sad to report, passed away yesterday, February 17th, at the age of 91.  Frost was the father of Mark Frost, who co-created “Twin Peaks” with David Lynch, and appeared as town physician Will “Doc” Hayward in both the show’s original run and its upcoming revival.

Per THR, Frost died Friday morning at his home in Middlebury, Vermont, after a lengthy illness. His survivors include another son, Scott Frost, a novelist and photographer who also has written for “Twin Peaks” and other shows including “Babylon 5,” and a daughter, actress Lindsay Frost, whose credits include TV’s “Crossing Jordan” and the 2002 horror film The Ring.

Aside from “Peaks,” Frost also appeared in a few other horror projects: “The Stand” mini-series, Psycho IV: The Beginning, Satan’s Touch, “Intruders,” and the classic War of the Colossal Beast.

“We’re saddened today to announce the passing of our dear old dad, Warren Frost,” Mark Frost said in a statement. “From the Normandy shores on D-Day to his 50-year career on stage and screen, he remained the same humble guy from Vermont who taught us that a life devoted to telling the right kind of truths can make a real difference in the lives of others. We’re grateful to have shared him with the world for as long as we did.”

Survivors also include Frost’s wife of 68 years, Virginia, whom he met at Middlebury College, and grandsons Lucas Giolito, a pitcher with the Chicago White Sox, Casey, and Travis.

We here at Dread Central send our condolences to Warren’s friends and family members. Thanks for the memories, and godspeed!

The post Rest in Peace: Warren Frost appeared first on Dread Central.

Momentum Pictures is releasing the new thriller Devil in the Dark, directed by Tim J. Brown, on VOD/Digital on March 7th; and to make sure you’re keeping it on your radar, they dropped the film’s trailer and a few stills this weekend!

Devil in the Dark stars Robin Dunne (Syfy’s “Sanctuary”), Dan Payne (Star Trek Beyond), Daniel Cudmore (X-Men: Days of Future Past), and Briana Buckmaster (The CW’s “Supernatural”).

Synopsis:
There is no escape from this…

When estranged brothers Adam and Clint attempt to reconnect over a week-long hunting trip in remote British Columbia, they find the tables turned by a mysterious presence lurking in the forest. Convinced that they are now besieged by a supernatural presence, the siblings begrudgingly agree on only one thing: They will have to put aside their differences and work together if they plan on making it out of these dark woods alive.

The post New Trailer Reveals the Devil in the Dark appeared first on Dread Central.

The 2017 Toy Fair is under way in New York City, and some news hit our inbox today that involves one of our favorite properties: Sideshow’s Court of the Dead.  Gamer maker USAopoly has signed a licensing deal with Sideshow for its original dark fantasy property and will create a signature Court of the Dead tabletop board game, deluxe puzzles, tarot cards, and more.

We have more details plus a teaser image below!

From the Press Release:
World-renowned collectibles maker Sideshow and beloved toy and game company USAopoly announced a new partnership at New York Toy Fair 2017. Under the global licensing deal, USAoply will produce various new signature games and collectibles based on Sideshow’s Court of the Dead property for release in late 2017 and beyond. The products will be released under USAopoly’s new Project Raygun division.

A new, original Court of the Dead tabletop board game is being planned for a 2018 release. This game will expand on the lore of the property currently available as digital comics on the Court of the Dead website and in the 200-page handbook, The Chronicles of the Underworld.

A selection of 1000-piece premium puzzles featuring Sideshow’s incredible Court of the Dead art is expected to be available in late 2017. An official tarot deck, as well as a playing card deck, infused with the charmingly morbid atmosphere of the Court, will also see release later this year.

Sideshow is primarily known for producing high-end museum-quality sculptural art inspired by comic books, movies, and popular culture. However, in 2013, the acclaimed design studio launched a flagship original property: The Court of the Dead. To date, the dark fantasy universe features a collection of 13 Premium Format Figures and 22 premium art prints. The Court of the Dead product line includes some of Sideshow’s most sought-after collectibles.

“Partnering with Sideshow is an honor; as fans and collectors ourselves, we know their reputation for quality and craftsmanship is second to none,” said Mike Gonzales, Vice President of Project Raygun.

“As gamers ourselves, gaming is baked into the DNA of the Court of the Dead. Choosing the right partner to develop a game for the property was something we were very particular about, both professionally and personally. And we could not ask for a better partner than USAopoly and Project Raygun. The Court of the Dead game will transport you to the Underworld and have you spinning in your grave,” said Tom Gilliland, Sideshow Chief Creative Officer and Creator of Court of the Dead.

In the dark fantasy universe of the Court of the Dead, the savage war between Heaven and Hell is fueled by mortal souls. Death and his Court are the unlikely heroes who struggle to overcome their dark natures in order to restore balance to all the realms.

COURT OF THE DEAD – TABLETOP GAME
A new Court of the Dead tabletop board game is being planned for a 2018 release. The game will feature more of the stunning original artwork that has captivated fans of this enchanting new horror property.

COURT OF THE DEAD – PREMIUM PUZZLES
A selection of 1000-piece premium puzzles featuring Sideshow’s incredible Court of the Dead art is expected to be available in late 2017.

COURT OF THE DEAD – TAROT AND PLAYING CARDS
An official tarot deck, as well as a playing card deck, infused with the charmingly morbid atmosphere of the Court, will also see release later this year.

2018 AND BEYOND
The future looks delightfully dark as well. Project Raygun is planning to release a Court of the Dead vinyl mini-figure line and soft prop plush characters and weaponry in 2018.

The post Toy Fair 2017: USAopoly Licenses Sideshow’s Court of the Dead for Games, Puzzles, and More appeared first on Dread Central.

Created by Victor Fresco

Starring Timothy Olyphant, Drew Barrymore, Liv Hewson, and Skyler Gisondo

Streaming only on Netflix

I think we can all agree that zombies have been done to death. The world has yet to recover from the “Everything is Zombies” plague that was making its rounds a few years ago. We’ve had fast zombies and slow zombies. Smart zombies and dumb zombies. Enraged zombies, and engaged zombies. Some zombies make us sad, and others make us glad. There are zombies that fight crime, and zombies that fight Rick Grimes. Hey, screw you, I never said I was a poet.

So even with its relatively interesting premise, “Santa Clarita Diet” isn’t exactly reinventing the wheel. Residing in a pleasant suburb in the titular Santa Clarita, Joel and Sheila Hammond (Timothy Olyphant and Drew Barrymore) are two mild mannered real estate agents struggling to close their next big sale. Between taking their daughter Abby (Liv Hewson) to school and listening to their bickering neighbors, their lives are the kind of comedic boring just waiting to be shaken up. Things don’t stay normal for long, as Sheila very soon turns into a zombie. There isn’t a lot of faffing about on it; she throws up an organ in the first 10 minutes, figures out she’s dead a few later, and makes her first kill by the time the credits role.

I was lukewarm at the end of this first episode. It felt in too much of a rush to establish that this was a “funny” show, and a lot of the jokes fell predictably flat. Still, some solid performances and the guest starring Nathan Fillion kept me intrigued, and I queued up episode two. I’m glad I did, because “Santa Clarita Diet” grows into its own very quickly. Through a mix of stellar performances and some genuinely good writing, “Santa Clarita Diet” kept me on the couch for all ten episodes in an all night “regret this in the morning” binge.

Between the tight cast of characters and simple premise, “Santa Clarita Diet” has charm in spades. We get a good amount of time to learn about each of the main characters, and the supplementary cast is flooded with enjoyable cameos and great personalities. Seeing Patton Oswalt show up as a filler character was great, elevating a mundane scene to a memorable moment. The main cast is equally talented, with some great performances from each of the four main stars. Honestly, I wouldn’t consider myself a Timothy Olyphant fan, but he kills it in this role. Mad props also to Liv Hewson, who I in no way have a crush on due to her performance in “Dramaworld.”

Though my overall sentiment is plenty of warm fuzzies, that isn’t to say that “Santa Clarita Diet” is without flaws. Without getting into any spoilers, the ending is total shit. It’s clear that Netflix is going for a multi-season story arc, but to call the story unfinished would be an understatement. I’ve never seen a season end with this little resolution. It felt like Episode 10 was the lead up to an epic Episode 11 finale, but without the finale.

A more minor complaint, the nerd jokes really missed the mark. Next door neighbor Eric (Skyler Gisondo) is your typical modern nerd, more comfortable with forums than fun. He’s predictably in love with the Hammond’s daughter, and she would never have noticed him if not for his extensive pop culture zombie knowledge. The amount that his “nerd” and her “cool” clash is embarrassing. We live in an age where The Avengers movies make more money than some countries, and “The Walking Dead” needs a supplemental show just to talk about it. Nerds are no longer the slighted minority, it’s not quirky or weird that they would talk to a girl. That all being said, Gisondo’s performance completely saves the part. His believable and unironic portrayal of an awkward teen is stellar, if not somewhat curtailed by the writing.

There are some smaller plot complaints I could address, but I’ll stay spoiler free. Besides, none of that is as important as the simple fact that “Santa Clarita Diet” might just not be your kind of show. It lists itself as a horror-comedy, but horror veterans will definitely consider it the latter. This show is not scary at all, and though the blood flows freely it’s far more of a black comedy. Do not watch this if you want to be on the edge of your seat. The comedy also might be a tad too hammy for you. There are some well crafted jokes, but it frequently relies on predictable marital humor and schlock. That being said, I’m the kind of guy that would say this isn’t my type of show, and I still loved it.

If you need a bit more elucidation before deciding whether or not “Santa Clarita Diet” is worth your time, I’ll compare it to “iZombie.” If you like “iZombie,” you’ll probably like “Santa Clarita Diet.” It delves into similar issues on the practical impacts zombification would have on love, life, work, and meal planning. They both have initially smart zombies that might go feral if something goes wrong. If what bothered you about “iZombie” was the massive amount of dicking around, then “Santa Clarita Diet” is more your thing. Without the procedural format need to thwart a villain of the week, “Santa Clarita Diet” is free to tell a much more concise story. If what you liked about “iZombie” were the weekly bad guys, then you’ll probably dislike “Santa Clarita Diet”’s lack of episodic closure.

I’m incredibly excited to see what happens to these characters in Season 2. That being said, I have to end on the massive dower note that if this does not get renewed, I will consider “Santa Clarita Diet” one of the worst shows on Netflix. Seriously, the way they ended it is that bad. While once I considered Netflix to be the champion of finishing unfinished stories (thanks “Arrested Development”!), the cancellation of “Marco Polo” has rattled me. I of course understand the profit nature of television, but you can’t make shows like you assume they have a next season if that future is uncertain. This is nothing new, cancelations into unsatisfying finales are the nature of TV. But honestly, is Netflix even really TV anymore? They aren’t releasing on an episodic timetable, and don’t need to wait for a mid season renewal to know if they are getting another year of funding. I love 99% of what Netflix does, but if they become another station that just keeps tantalizing us with interesting shows only to kill them as soon as ratings drop, then the dark side has truly won.

“Santa Clarita Diet” has received enough critical acclaim that we’ll probably see a Season 2 announcement soon. If you want a quick fun watch, each of “Santa Clarita Diet”’s sub 30-minute episodes are a great choice. This isn’t an event series that will pull you through a mind blowing journey, but that isn’t the vibe it’s going for. This is an enjoyable little show chronicling the day by day of a family who suddenly has a zombie in it. I wish the conclusion was better, but it didn’t stop the overall ride from being a blast. I normally say check out the first episode for a new show, but in this case check out the first two. Give it some time to grow on you, and you won’t be disappointed.

The post Santa Clarita Diet (Season 1) appeared first on Dread Central.

Although my tenure as co-director of the HP Lovecraft Film Festival Los Angeles came to an end this year when our franchise license wasn’t renewed, I can’t say I regret the number of amazing people I got to work with and meet along the way. One such person is Mike Dalager, who has spent the last several years on an ambitious adaptation of Lovecraft’s chilling “Dreams in the Witch House” short story, and not just any adaptation–a rock opera!

This started out as a concept double LP, with a music video that played at Horrible Imaginings 2015. Now, Dalager is working on a cinematic adaptation of the concept album, and he has brought along new acting talent to do it. One such talent is actor Courtney Gains, who many of my listeners will know well as Malachi from the 1984 Children of the Corn!

I got the chance to catch up with Mike and Courtney at San Diego Comic Fest this weekend, so I decided to record a conversation about the project, the new scope of the cinema version, Gains’s involvement, and the task of adapting Lovecraft to the over-the-top medium of the rock opera. The result is a fun and often hilarious conversation. Just mind the background noise, since we were recording on the vendor floor.

Oh, and want to hear Courtney Gains talk a little more about being Malachi? Our Patreon backers get access to some exclusive bonus content for subscribing at a mere $1 per month! Head over to our Patreon to subscribe and listen to bonus content! Click the logo:

If you are a filmmaker, we want to see your latest scares! Horrible Imaginings Film Festival is now accepting submissions! Submit today to the film festival Shant Hamassian, director of Night of the Slasher, says is “five stars across the board!” Horrible Imaginings Film Festival proudly accepts entries via FilmFreeway.com, the world’s best online submission platform. FilmFreeway offers free HD online screeners, unlimited video storage, digital press kits, and more. Click to submit with FilmFreeway.

 

Find out about San Diego horror events on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and always stay scared!

The post Horrible Imaginings Podcast 169: Dreams in the Witch House, The Rock Opera appeared first on Dread Central.

Per usual, Funko is the belle of the ball at this year’s Toy Fair with a slew of announcements about new figures for The Mummy, The Dark Tower, “Westworld,” “Trollhunters,” Ripley (from Aliens), and Five Nights at Freddy’s.  Read on for a look at the concept art along with a few more details from the Funko Blog.

The Mummy
Tom Cruise finally joins the Pop! family! The Mummy – also starring Sofia Boutella – is headed to theaters this June and is the first installment in a planned Universal Monsters film universe. We can’t wait to see what’s next!

The Dark Tower
Stephen King’s The Dark Tower is headed to the big screen this summer! The Gunslinger and the Man in Black will both be available as Pop!s.

Aliens – Ripley
A Pop! and ReAction just aren’t enough… Ellen Ripley will be joining the Rock Candy line soon!

Westworld
Boy, have we got some Pop!s for you! Collect your favorite hosts and visitors from one of 2016’s biggest breakout shows.

Trollhunters
Funko has been named master toy partner for “Trollhunters,” the Netflix Original series from Dreamworks Animation. The licensing agreement will help bring “Trollhunters,” created by Guillermo del Toro, to life with the introduction of a vast assortment of products that will be available at mass retail and specialty stores nationwide.

“We are thrilled and honored to partner with Netflix and Dreamworks to bring ‘Trollhunters’ to Funko,” said Funko CEO Brian Mariotti. “Fans of the show and Funko collectors are going to be amazed at the lengths we’ve gone to recreate the characters from the show in our inimitable Funko style. We couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity.”

The first products to be introduced include Action Figures, Mystery Minis, Plush, Pop! Vinyl figures, apparel, and 12” deluxe figures.

Five Nights at Freddy’s
Don’t look now, but there’s a whole lot more coming for you Five Nights at Freddy’s fans!

The post Toy Fair 2017: Funko Announces New The Mummy, The Dark Tower, Westworld, Trollhunters, Ripley, and Five Nights at Freddy’s Figures appeared first on Dread Central.

There’s nothing that’s worse than a PG-13 entry into a franchise that’s largely been rated R. With Shane Black’s The Predator going into production the director has taken to Twitter to give fans an idea exactly where his head is at in terms of the rating for his film.

“And, just to be clear… PG-13 is for pussies. Spines bleed… a lot.” Bless your heart, sir!

Boyd Holbrook, Olivia Munn, Thomas Jane, Keegan-Michael Key, Sterling K. Brown, Jacob Tremblay, and Trevante Rhodes star. Black is directing from a script by Fred Dekker. John Davis, Joel Silver, and Lawrence Gordon — who produced the original — are producing.

In The Predator, which will be rated R, Munn is playing a scientist opposite Holbrook’s Special Forces commando.

Look for The Predator in theaters on February 9, 2018.

The post The Predator – Shane Black “PG-13 is for Pussies” appeared first on Dread Central.

There’s a very much us vs. them mentality in our country today, and to be perfectly honest it’s frightening. Not as frightening as it’s portrayed in the new film Us and Them though!

Playing as part of this year’s SXSW Film Festival, Joseph Martin’s Us and Them tells the story of an ordinary working class kid who is tired of the rough deal he faces. His plan? To start a revolution by streaming attacks against the one percent on the web. His goal? To terrify the elite into bringing about chance. His plan spirals out of control when he holds a banker and his family hostage and forces them to gamble for their lives.

Jack Roth (son of Tim Roth) stars alongside Sophie Colquhoun, Tim Bentinck, Carolyn Backhouse, Andrew Tieran, Daniel Kendrick, Paul Westwood, and Louis Dempsey.

The post SXSW 2017: Class Warfare Gets Bloody in Us and Them appeared first on Dread Central.

With Toy Fair 2017 cooking NECA just sent us over some glamour shots of the prototype for their upcoming Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III figure! Check it out!

Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 – 8″ Scale Leatherface Retro Mego Style Figure by NECA

It’s the first appearance of Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 in our retro clothed action figure line!

From the 1990 film billed as the “most controversial horror film ever,” Leatherface stands 8” tall and is fully poseable. True to the movie, the blade of his chainsaw is inscribed “The Saw Is Family” and he wears a leg brace.

Comes in blister packaging with resealable protective clamshell featuring new art from illustrator Jason Edmiston.

Look for the figure to hit this July.

The post Toy Fair 2017: Closer Look: Leatherface From Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 appeared first on Dread Central.

You know, 8″ or 6″ figures are nice but when you start getting into large scale collectibles you really get our attention! Check out your first look at NECA’s new 18″ Freddy Figure from Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3: Dream Warriors. It’s okay to drool. We did.

Introducing a new quarter scale action figure celebrating the 30th anniversary of the cult classic Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3: Dream Warriors!

This new Freddy Krueger figure stands 18″ tall and features plenty of gruesome detail, like interchangeable heads and chests to recreate different parts of the movie.

You can swap out his regular sweater front to display the tortured spirits trapped in his Chest of Souls, or switch up his regular “evil Freddy” head with a “crucifix head” with light piping effect!

He’s equipped with over 25 points of articulation and comes in collector-friendly deluxe window box packaging.

Look for the figure to hit this June!

• Stands 18″ Tall
• Interchangeable heads and chests
• Over 25 points of articulation
• Deluxe window box packaging

The post Toy Fair 2017: NECA Unveils 18″ Nightmare on Elm Street Part 3: Dream Warriors Freddy Figure appeared first on Dread Central.

Finally! Finally! Finally! NECA has spent many years doling out the Elm Street related goodies, but this? This could very well be the coolest thing they’ve ever come up with and it’s nothing short of a MUST-HAVE for fans of A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors!

In the cult horror movie, Freddy enters the dreams of Phillip via one of his marionettes, which transforms into a Freddy puppet and cuts its own strings.

This detailed prop replica of the Freddy puppet is 18″ tall and was created from original film-used molds for the head and hands. The fabric body was faithfully replicated as well, and can be posed thanks to an inner wire armature. Comes with a display stand.

Look for the figure to hit this June!

• As seen in Nightmare on Elm Street: Dream Warriors
• Stand 18″ Tall
• Created from original film-used molds for the head & hands
• Inner wire armature and display stand

The post Toy Fair 2017: Elm Street 3 Freddy Puppet is to Die For! appeared first on Dread Central.

Sometimes things just have to be cool to be a thing, and what you’re about to see is very friggin’ cool looking!

NECA is extremely excited to reveal the first in new series of action figure 2-packs inspired by classic comic book mash-ups!

The first release in the “Versus” line comes from the 1997 Batman/Aliens comic book mini-series co-published by DC Comics and Dark Horse.

In it, Batman faces strange new Aliens produced using DNA from some of Arkham Asylum’s deadliest inmates. The set includes two brand new, comic book based figures, both with over 30 points of articulation. Batman features a fabric cape, and the “Joker” Alien has a bendable tail. Window box packaging.

Look for this in July!

• The first release in a new “Versus” line!
• Based off of the 1997 comic book mini-series!
• Window box packaging
• Featuring Batman and Alien in the 7″ Scale line!
• All New Tooling!

The post Toy Fair 2017: Batman Vs. Joker Alien – Because Why Not? appeared first on Dread Central.

He’s back! Just like he said he would be. That’s right…The Terminator: The Official Board Game is now live on Kickstarter, and it’s killing it. After only two days, it’s earned $137,214 against a goal of $120,000, and Dread Central got a mention on the Kickstarter page.

It comes from the fine folks over at Space Goat Productions, and will will feature two scenarios, one of which is set in 1984 and the other in 2029. You’ll be able to play as either the forces of Skynet or the human resistance.

The series may have waned in recent years (and lord knows what direction future films will take), but it looks like the franchise has still got it. I mean my God, look at those damn miniatures! I want!

The Terminator™: The Official Board Game
An asymmetrical strategy game played across two boards based off of the iconic 1984 James Cameron film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The Terminator™: The Official Board Game is an asymmetrical strategy game for 2-5 players played across two boards: one in 1984 and one in 2029. One player takes control of all of Skynet’s forces: Hunter Killer machines, Terminator cyborgs, and more. The rest of the players take the role of the human resistance, struggling against the impossible odds of the machine uprising. Each of the two game boards play differently: 2029 focuses on light troop and resource management in a lopsided battle for dominance. 1984 focuses on personal missions with high stakes and intense pacing. Missions arise through the course of gameplay, and have players make decisions in 1984 that will affect the future, erasing and adding components in real time.

The post The Terminator: The Official Board Game Kills it on Kickstarter appeared first on Dread Central.

February is Women in Horror Month, and I wanted to share something of a personal nature. Yes, I’m a “woman in horror,” but that’s not it. While most of the attention is paid to those in front of the camera (whether on screen or the back of a book jacket), those behind the curtain are often overlooked, especially in the literary world.

As an author I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Lisa Vasquez, CEO of Stitched Smile Publications, as she runs her business. Since her company picked my novel up for publication, I’ve had a chance to get to know her and her company. She’s an exceptional example of the many women who work endlessly to bring horror to the masses.

Stitched Smile Publications is a small press, with a focus on putting out quality horror fiction. It takes a keen interest in developing talent, with plans to take things to the next level, including Stitched Smile University (SSU), an in-house writers’ boot camp that helps authors of all skill levels. Lisa was happy to take the time to sit down for a Q&A with me.

Dread Central: I know from personal experience that SSP isn’t like other small press publishers. What do you think sets your company apart from the rest?

Lisa Vasquez: Personally, I feel my company attracts people who have the same goals and mindset. We are focused on the art of the craft more than making money because we believe it’s the quality of the story which will bring in the readers. We want to continue getting better with every story we write. All the authors are very encouraging. I sit back and watch them grabbing each other and locking wrists to keep the waves from knocking them over. They are a family and show each other love and respect, not just with their writing but with their health, their family, and mental well-being. With that much investment, we elevate not only ourselves but the company itself.

DC: You really take an interest in your authors, both professionally and personally. Why?

LV: My dad was a great businessman. He could make something from nothing. One of the things he taught is integrity. Integrity, for me, is not as simple as a definition from Webster’s Dictionary. It’s a lifestyle. I know that if I invest in my authors, they will invest in themselves. It’s important for me to build people up because when you do, they will always give back. If you care about your employees, they take greater pride in their work, they feel their voice matters, they become a part of the “House” rather than just visiting.

DC: What’s your vision for SSP?

LV: Funny that you ask that. Jeff Brown (SSP’s Executive Liason) asked me this in December. I’ll give you my exact answers:

VISION: TO BECOME THE HARVARD OF PUBLISHING 

PUBLISHER GOALS: 

• Continue to improve the writing community and become recognized for our contribution by:  
  • Creating a collection of SSU lectures.   
  • Creating SSU workbooks.  
  • Teaching and encouraging VIP to participate and add to the collection (this helps them grow as well).  
  • Leading by example.  
• Continue the standard of excellence by producing innovative ideas, books, appearance, and motivation … creating a spark and passion and maintaining it. 

DC: What about financing? Publishing is one of the harder rackets out there. How do you scrape together enough to support a company in its infancy and put food on the table?

LV: This is definitely the hardest part. In the beginning I had more disposable income. I was working a full time job, making great money. The issue came up of how much time I could devote to this “child” I had given life to. I decided the only way I could do it was to make Stitched Smile Publications my number one priority. Growing my business organically (word of mouth, starting from the inner circle) and then eventually gaining enough ground to start reinvesting the pennies to dollars. Doing this would give us a solid foundation while saving up for spreading outward. Here’s the balancing question I have to keep my eyes on: Do I want to get big right now – this very moment? And the answer surprisingly is no. If I get big quickly, what we have suffers. Authors suffer, readers suffer, staff suffers. I won’t have time to dedicate to them; in turn the standards and beliefs aren’t instilled well enough to be passed on to the newcomers. It degrades the fundamentals of our company. I’d rather stay small and maintain our compass on a steady path than to lose our way.

DC: In addition to being the CEO for Stitched Smile, you’re a book cover designer, and you’re also an author in your own right, with a newly released novel, The Unfleshed: Tale of the Autopsic Bride. You obviously don’t need to look for a publisher, but it must be daunting trying to promote your own work as well as the work of the rest of your authors. How do you balance everything?

LV: This part honestly scares me the most. I’ve been in companies where the CEO was a writer and publishing their own books, and I saw that person’s books take precedence over everyone else’s. It used the company’s resources (editors, marketing, time) and elevated the CEO. I never want to do that. In fact, I nearly submitted my book to another publisher until the other publisher and SSP people said no way, I need to publish my own work and show that I had confidence in my company. It sounds stupid, but I never thought of it that way. I was so jaded by the other publisher’s example I couldn’t see past my own nose with it. It took some quiet reflection on my part to convince myself to put my book in the Stitched Smile Catalog.

First of all, I do not write fast. I savor my writing like a wine. It’s “Me” time. Second, I’m too busy behind the scenes, helping my authors make their dreams come true. And finally, I give 60% of my book’s revenue back to Stitched Smile Publications and take the same contractual terms as my own writers. I get no special treatment. It keeps my head out of the clouds and my feet firmly planted on the ground. It also shows my authors I will do everything I expect them to do with promoting their own works and works of each other.

DC: What are you most proud of writing and why?

LV: The Unsaintly was my first book. It is a phenomenal story – if I say so myself. Which I just did. It’s retired at the moment so it can go through the SSP standard of quality editing and inspection. It was originally my first, self-published book. I’m proud of it because I wrote it. I started and finished writing this book that took me 10 years of research, 3 computer crashes/lost files, self-doubt, and loss of my father to get through it. I finished it. I repeat that because I went through a period of my life where nothing made me happy enough to follow through. And then came this book, and this “writing world.” I could do this … and I did it. No matter what happens with my life, there’s a legacy and marking of my existence that my children and their children, etc., will have to remember me by.

DC: Women are under-represented in many career fields; in literature that under-representation can be twofold, starting with the authors themselves, but also with the characters they write about. Do you feel pressure to write from a female perspective or to include more female characters in your writing to balance out this under-representation?

LV: Pressure? No way. Do I enjoy it? Hell, yes, I do. Women are strong creatures. We push watermelons out of pea-sized holes and keep going. We bleed for 7 days and don’t die. We give life, for crying out loud. Not only do we give life, we can sustain that life without anything more than our own bodies (breastfeeding). We’re walking miracles, and I’m proud to be a woman. Men are amazing, too. So let them write and elevate men… I can, and do, write both genres but never because I’m pressured to, or not to. As an author, my job is to present the fascinating variables of whatever gender, monster, species, or event I set in front of the reader.

DC: In addition to running a company, designing book covers, and writing your own books, you’re also one of the primary caregivers for your baby grandson. How do you manage so many irons in the fire?

LV: I give up sleep! Ha ha! Honestly, it can be very stressful. The real answer is love. Cheesy, right? But it’s true. Passion and love drive you when you think there’s nothing left. Also, having a good calendar and time management works, as well as supportive family. My hubs will work 12+ hours a day, come home, and take the Mogwai (grandson) off my hands so I can type with both of them instead of one. My mom is my biggest fan, my kids are scared of me when I’m working and they try to speak (just kidding…sorta), and my friends ask when my next book is coming out. So they obviously want me to succeed. I’m 43, you know? I want me to succeed. Because of that, I vowed I would only do what I love to do. No excuses.

DC: What do you wish readers knew about small press publishing that they don’t?

LV: How much we rely on the reader. Not only to purchase our work, but to speak up for us. Reviews will make or break us. It’s all we’ve got to make the big corporations listen. We rely on readers to cheer us on when we make $1.25 an hour on a book we spent roughly 5k-10k hours on. Talk about us to your bookstores, libraries, schools, and friends. Mention us whenever you can. We’re no different than any other small business; we need the support of our customers.

DC: Where do you see yourself and SSP in five years?

LV: In five years, I’d love to have Stitched Smile Publications, LLC., in bookstores, doing more personal appearances, and my authors on the best sellers lists.

Our thanks to Lisa for her time! For more info visit her on social media:

Twitter: @houseofstitched or @unsatintly
Facebook: facebook.com/stitchedsmilepublications

The post Exclusive Q&A with Stitched Smile Publications CEO Lisa Vasquez appeared first on Dread Central.

We’ve got a new batch of images from Come Back to Me (original title: Kom Tillbaka Till Mig), a ghost story being produced by our friends over in Sweden.

Come Back to Me follows a woman who experiences terrifying visions after a car crash kills her unborn child.

Director Bryan Ryan worked as on the visual effects of major Hollywood films such as The Jungle Book, Ghostbusters, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. It stars Peter Carlberg, Lina Hall, Andreas Utterhall, Elin Hugoson, Hampus Ekstrom and Astrid Lennartson

It doesn’t look like we have a release date yet, so we’ll be keeping our ears open for more information.

The post Ghostly Images Come Back to Me appeared first on Dread Central.

Towards the end of last year we learned that Vision Films would be releasing The Evil Within sometime during 2017, and now we can pinpoint exactly when you’ll be able to check it out on both VOD and DVD. Read on for the details!

From the Press Release:
Vision Films is set to release The Evil Within (aka The Storyteller), the first and only film written and directed by the late Andrew Getty, grandson of oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, on all major VOD platforms in North America on February 28th and on DVD on March 3rd.

Andrew Getty was a horror film fanatic, The Evil Within being his passion project that took over a decade to complete. Getty and his FX team created their own complex special effects and animatronics and shot much of the principal photography in his home.

The Evil Within stars Frederick Koehler (Death Race), Sean Patrick Flanery (Saw 3D: The Final Chapter), Dina Meyer (Starship Troopers, Saw), Michael Berryman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, The Hills Have Eyes), and Kim Darby (True Grit). It was produced by Robert Hickey, Kent Van Vleet, and Michael Luceri.

Synopsis:
Dennis Peterson (Koehler) is a mentally challenged teen who lives with his older brother, John (Flanery). While John struggles between caring for Dennis and maintaining a relationship with his increasingly impatient girlfriend, Lydia (Meyer), Dennis finds a friend in his own reflection in an antique mirror. But in reality the reflection is soon revealed to be an evil entity (Berryman) who is more charming, smarter, and stronger than Dennis and instructs him to do horrific things in order to “fix” his brain.

Tortured and confused, Dennis embarks on a murderous rampage, collecting the bodies in his basement. A police investigation, helmed by a determined social worker (Darby), targets the Petersons in an attempt to uncover the truth behind the murders. With the walls rapidly closing in, Dennis makes his final play… with dire results.

The post Vision Films Set to Unleash The Evil Within on VOD and DVD appeared first on Dread Central.

Production is now under way on A Haunting at Silver Falls II in Oregon, and you can get all the details from the press release here.

From the Press Release:
Enderby Entertainment announced today that their genre division, Tony-Seven Films, has set a cast for the film A HAUNTING AT SILVER FALLS II and has gone into production in Oregon. The film is directed by Teo Konuralp (STREET RACER, FEEDBACK) and was written by Jesse Reffsin. The project is a follow-up to the successful A HAUNTING AT SILVER FALLS, which gained an extensive online fan base from teenage bloggers, prompting a sequel.

The film stars Dendrie Taylor (THE FIGHTER), Adam Lazarre-White (THE GIFT), Laura Flannery (“American Horror Story”), James Cavlo (HAUNTING AT SILVER FALLS), Harry Hains (THE SURFACE), Clementine Dugdale (CRACKS), and Christopher Crema (GUYS READING POEMS).

The film is produced by Richard Tucci, in association with Enderby Entertainment’s Tony-Seven Films and Outsider Pictures. Rick Dugdale, Sean E. Demott, Daniel Petrie, Jr., and Paul Hudson are executive producers.

Synopsis:
Several years after a deadly struggle with her serial killer aunt, Jordan, now in college, works to escape her troubled history. But when her aunt’s revenge-seeking specter surfaces to join forces with a deranged convict, Jordan must return to the haunted town of Silver Falls for a final showdown with the ghosts of her past.

The post A Haunting at Silver Falls II Begins Production in Oregon appeared first on Dread Central.