It’s the bane of pretty much any horror fan to endure nervous looks from parents with their children when you’re wearing a horror t-shirt. Or how about when relatives “worry” about you because you enjoy genre movies? Or maybe it’s another reporter/politician/”expert” who talks about how horror, in any form, is the root of all bad things.

To this day, there are conflicting reports coming out about how violent video games can affect people. Some say that they increase violent thoughts and behaviors while others say they lower aggressive attitudes and can be seen as a form of catharsis. No matter what comes out, it seems that we horror fans are constantly going to be seen as worrisome.

I bring all this up because the arguments from those who think horror movies are in poor taste and only contribute to the negative aspects of society haven’t really changed. A perfect example of this is when writer/director/producer Sam Raimi appeared on the British talk show “Central Weekend” in the mid/late 1980’s to discuss the first two Evil Dead films. Raimi was, and there’s no other way to put it, accosted and bombarded by “experts” who claimed that horror films are essentially tools for generating aggression and violent thoughts. There were a few supporters in Raimi’s corner, but the offended and outraged tried quite often to speak above those with differing views in an effort to seemingly shut them down.

The segment can be seen below, but I have to warn you that it’s absolutely infuriating. I do have to give MAJOR props to Raimi for keeping his cool, speaking eloquently, and not letting them get under his skin. Also, I love that he managed to throw a few jokes and barbs in there. Just goes to show that Raimi’s love of horror has in no way compromised his sense of humor or wit.

Horror fans 1, scientists 0. Checkmate.

The post Horror History: Sam Raimi Defends Evil Dead 1 & 2 on British Television appeared first on Dread Central.

A new picture from the set of Stephen King’s IT has made its way online, and it’s rather amusing in how it tells two very different stories in one shot. The picture shows a monitor on which you can see Pennywise looking creepy. However, behind the monitor are the a few of the actors from The Losers’ Club standing around, chatting, and eating some craft food, all behind the set of what appears to be the sewer system.

So, on one hand you’ve got a picture from the actual movie (if that scene makes the final cut), and on the other you’ve got behind-the-scenes gold. Man, I love movie magic!

Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard, Nicholas Hamilton, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor, and Sophia Lillis star with Bill Skarsgard, who portrays Pennywise. In addition, creature performer Javier Botet appears as The Leper, and Owen Teague plays Patrick Hocksetter, part of a group of bullies who torment The Losers’ Club.

It hits theaters on September 8th.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Chung-Hoon Chung (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl), production designer Claude Paré (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), editor Jason Ballantine (The Great Gatsby), and costume designer Janie Bryant (“Mad Men”).

Synopsis:
When children begin to disappear in the town of Derry, Maine, a group of young kids are faced with their biggest fears when they square off against an evil clown named Pennywise, whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries.

The post Here’s a New Picture of Pennywise on the Set of Stephen King’s IT appeared first on Dread Central.

AfterShock Comics has announced a new series is kicking off this summer, titled Unholy Grail. You’ll find it in stores in early July, and here’s an early look at what to expect…

From writer Cullen Bunn (Uncanny X-Men, Deadpool) and artist Mirko Colak (Punisher) comes Unholy Grail, a Lovecraftian take on the Arthurian legend that HAD to be told at AfterShock Comics. In addition to Bunn and Colak, the talent behind Unholy Grail includes letterer Simon Bowland and variant cover artist Francesco Francavilla.

We have both Colak’s and Francavilla’s covers below plus a black-and-white preview of Issue #1, which goes on sale July 5th. Take a peek… there’s no better time than Easter weekend for a classic good vs. evil brawl.

Cullen shares what readers will love most about this series: “If readers are even passingly familiar with the story of King Arthur, I think they’ll enjoy this twisted, evil version of the legend. All the familiar elements are here–Arthur, Merlin, Guinevere, Lancelot, the Round Table, Camelot, the Sword in the Stone, Excalibur–but they are seen through a very dark and horrific lens. If readers are unfamiliar with Arthur, they can still enjoy this as a horror fantasy, and it might even open their eyes to other Arthurian legends. While this is a skewed vision, I try to stay as true to the legends as possible.”

As for what it’s been like to work with AfterShock for the first time, Cullen says, “Working with AfterShock has been great! They’ve been nothing but supportive and encouraging and enthusiastic. I’ve been talking with them since their earliest days, just waiting for the timing to be right. I’m glad that’s finally the case with The Unholy Grail.”

Synopsis:
Arthur Pendragon was the king of all Britain. His story is legendary. Merlin. The Lady of the Lake. Excalibur. Camelot. The Knights of the Round Table. But these stories are bright lies painted over the truth. Here is presented the gospel of Arthur’s bloody rise to power and his unholy reign. The legend of King Arthur is not the stuff of legends, but the fuel of nightmares.

As Arthur descends into darkness, is there any lingering hope that he still might do something good?

Cover A by Mirko Colak

Cover B by Francesco Francavilla

The post New Cullen Bunn Comic Series Unholy Grail Begins in July appeared first on Dread Central.

Horror fans have a good reason to rejoice and celebrate the goodness of Blue Underground as the company is getting set to release the masterful Death Line aka Raw Meat onto Blu-ray for the very first time!

Directed by Gary Sherman and starring Donald Pleasence, Norman Rossington, David Ladd, Sharon Gurney, Hugh Armstrong, and Christopher Lee, look for Death Line on June 27th!

Synopsis:
Beneath Modern London Lives a Tribe of Once Humans. Neither Men nor Women… They are the Raw Meat of the Human Race!

When a prominent politician and a beautiful young woman vanish inside a London subway station, Scotland Yard’s Inspector Calhoun (Donald Pleasence of HALLOWEEN) investigates and makes a horrifying discovery. Not only did a group of 19th century tunnel workers survive a cave-in, but they lived for years in a secret underground enclave by consuming the flesh of their own dead. Now the lone descendant of this grisly tribe has surfaced, prowling the streets for fresh victims… and a new mate.

Norman Rossington (A HARD DAY’S NIGHT), David Ladd (THE WILD GEESE), Sharon Gurney (CRUCIBLE OF HORROR), and the legendary Christopher Lee (HORROR OF DRACULA) also star in this heart-stopping horror classic co-written and directed by Gary Sherman (DEAD & BURIED). Originally recut and released as RAW MEAT in the United States, now DEATH LINE has been freshly transferred and fully restored in 2K from the original uncensored camera negative and comes fully loaded with exclusive new Extras produced for this release!

Special Features:

• Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Gary Sherman, Producer Paul Maslansky, and Assistant Director Lewis More O’Ferrall
• Tales From The Tube – Interview with Co-Writer/Director Gary Sherman and Executive Producers Jay Kanter & Alan Ladd Jr.
• From The Depths – Interview with Star David Ladd and Producer Paul Maslansky
• Mind The Doors – Interview with Star Hugh Armstrong
• DEATH LINE Trailer
• RAW MEAT Trailer
• RAW MEAT TV Spots
• RAW MEAT Radio Spots
• Poster & Still Gallery
• BONUS Collectable Booklet featuring new writing by authors Michael Gingold and Christopher Gullo

The post Mind the Doors! Death Line Brings Raw Meat to Blu-ray! appeared first on Dread Central.

About a month ago, Italian horror maestro Dario Argento cryptically revealed that he’s got a couple projects in the works, both of which will appeal to horror fans. However, nothing more was revealed, and we were left wondering what the master of horror has up his sleeves.

In a new chat with Du-HD, Argento spoke a bit more about these projects, and one is sounding rather intriguing! Speaking of the first, he explains, “I’m writing a new film, along with an American writer, and should be shot in Canada, although it is not sure yet.”

As for the second, and this is the one that I think sounds pretty damn awesome, Argento says, “And, at the same time, I’m also writing a book of black fairy tales for adults.”

While a new horror film from Dario Argento is always something to celebrate, seeing Argento step into the world of dark fantasy for a book is just too exciting! I’m a sucker for fairy tales that have a bit of a horror twist to them, so this will be something I’ll be picking up as soon as it’s available!

The post Dario Argento Co-Writing a New Film; Also Writing a Dark Fantasy Collection appeared first on Dread Central.

Hallelujah! For many, many years people have been talking about the BBC program “Ghostwatch,” which upon airing caused quite a fervor in the UK. The show starred respected UK journalists and television personalities and was the perfect Halloween treat, but many viewers found more trick in that they believed what they were seeing was real. Think Orson Welles reading The War of the Worlds, but with spooks!

Shudder, the premium thriller, horror, and supernatural streaming service backed by AMC Networks, is releasing the BBC’s infamous faux paranormal documentary “Ghostwatch” for the first time ever in the United States.

Produced as a part of the BBC anthology series “Screen One,” it was presented as a live television investigation of paranormal activity, not as a scripted TV movie. It was banned after the premiere because of disturbed viewers making an estimated 30,000 panicked calls to the BBC switchboard in a single hour. “Ghostwatch” was never re-aired on UK television, never aired in the United States, and has never been made available on home video in the U.S.

The premiere of “Ghostwatch” on Shudder marks the second time in two months the streaming service has debuted a largely unseen piece of genre history for U.S. viewers; Shudder premiered Ken Russell’s controversial 1971 masterpiece The Devils in March, making it widely available for the first time in decades.

Directed by Lesley Manning and written by Stephen Volk, “Ghostwatch” is a documentary style on-air of a house in Northolt, Greater London, that’s experiencing bizarre poltergeist activity. The recording of “Ghostwatch” was presented as live television, causing a panic for viewers similar to The War of the Worlds in the United States.

About “GHOSTWATCH’s” release on Shudder:

• Has never aired in the United States, nor has it been made available on home video in the U.S.
• Aired once on BBC1, on Halloween night in 1992. Presented as live television and not a horror mockumentary, it resulted in an estimated 30,000 calls to the BBC switchboard in a single hour. It has never re-aired on UK television and was banned in the UK until released on DVD by the British Film Institute in 2002.
• Features actual BBC personalities playing themselves, adding to the confusion for an unsuspecting audience.
• A clear precursor to The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity, and the found-footage genre
• Has a cult following: An annual event, known as National Séance, occurs every year on Halloween night at 9:25 PM (the original broadcast time of “Ghostwatch”), when fans are encouraged to hit “play” on their own personal copies of “Ghostwatch” and live tweet the special.

Picture shows: MIKE SMITH, MICHAEL PARKINSON and SARAH GREENE
© BBC 1992

The post Shudder Brings Infamous Banned BBC Program Ghostwatch to the States appeared first on Dread Central.

Mike Flanagan’s book-to-film adaptation of Stephen King’s Gerald’s Game is supposedly coming out sometime this year, although no official release date has been given by Netflix. I’m gonna take a shot in the dark and say that it’s probably going to be saved for the Halloween season as that just makes the most sense. That being said, I have no insider information, it’s just a guess on my end.

While we wait for the film, the folk over at Daily Dead have posted an interview with producer Trevor Macy, who spoke about the adaptation and what fans can expect. Perhaps the most interesting point he brought up was how the film would play out, since it doesn’t lend itself to a lot of dialogue. In the story, a woman accidentally kills her husband during a sex act where she is handcuffed to a bed. Because of this she remains stuck, unable to free herself and far away from any possible help.

Related Story: Exclusive – Mike Flanagan Talks Playing Gerald’s Game

Calling the film a “…faithful adaptation“, Macy does state that they had to take some creative liberties in order to make the film. He explains, “There’s a storytelling device that we use that the book doesn’t. It’s really nice to get Stephen King’s support in doing that, even at the script stage, so he feels and we feel that it’s a very faithful adaptation.”

Knowing that the book is popular amongst King fans, and the horror novel world as a whole, Macy wants to make it clear that he too has an interest in seeing the project done right and with King’s approval.

“Well, I’m a big fan of the book as well, and one of the more fulfilling moments in my professional life was showing this cut to Stephen King and having him tweet how excited he was about it. I think the challenge with that—if you’re a fan of the book, so much of it takes place internally, in her [Jessie’s] head. So, “how do you do that in a cinematic way?” was the fundamental question when you’re taking that particular book into movie land. It isn’t done quite the way it’s done in the book, but I’m very proud of it, and fortunately Stephen King’s very proud of it, so I think audiences are going to like it.“

Carel Struycken and Henry Thomas co-star alongside Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood.

Book synopsis:
Once again, Jessie Burlingame (Gugino) has been talked into submitting to her husband, Gerald’s, kinky sex games—something that she’s frankly had enough of, and they never held much charm for her to begin with. So much for a “romantic getaway” at their secluded summer home. After Jessie is handcuffed to the bedposts—and Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) crosses a line with his wife—the day ends with deadly consequences. Now Jessie is utterly trapped in an isolated lakeside house that has become her prison—and comes face-to-face with her deepest, darkest fears and memories. Her only company is that of the various voices filling her mind… as well as the shadows of nightfall that may conceal an imagined or very real threat right there with her…

The post The Gerald’s Game Adaptation Has An Interesting Trick Up Its Sleeve appeared first on Dread Central.

Larry Fong, the Director of Photography on Shane Black’s The Predator, has posted a couple of cast photos on his Instagram account of actors Alfie Allen and Keegan-Michael Key in costume. The former looks a bit like the kind of guy you’d see in a dive bar and drives a pick-up truck while the latter has an almost mercenary vibe about him. Key is clearly someone with military experience but I’d say the outfit makes him look like that part of his life is firmly cemented in the past.

The film stars Thomas Jane, Edward James Olmos, Sterling K. Brown, Trevante Rhodes, Boyd Holbrook, Jacob Tremblay, Olivia Munn, Alfie Allen, Yvonne Strahovski, Augusto Aguilera, and Keegan-Michael Key.

Black is directing from a script by Fred Dekker. John Davis, Joel Silver, and Lawrence Gordon — who produced the original — are producing.

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

British film magazine Empire has sent out their monthly issue and their big story is all about Alien: Covenant, the upcoming sequel to Prometheus/prequel to Alien. We wrote about the cover over the weekend but now that the magazine is out, people have shared pictures of the article and images contained within. These images can be seen below, thanks to our pals over at AVPGalaxy.net, although I do have to warn everyone that they contain spoiler-filled images and the information contained within might ruin your experience of the film. So, proceed with caution.

Related Story: SXSW 2017: Ridley Scott, Katherine Waterston, and Danny McBride Talk Alien: Covenant

Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollett, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England, and Benjamin Rigby star in Alien: Covenant. Ridley Scott directed the film, which was written by John Logan and Dante Harper based on a story by Jack Paglen and Michael Green.

Look for Alien: Covenant everywhere on May 19th.

Synopsis:
Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with ALIEN: COVENANT, a new chapter in his groundbreaking ALIEN franchise. The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise but is actually a dark, dangerous world. When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.

The post Here’s the Entire Empire Magazine Alien: Covenant Spread appeared first on Dread Central.

Last year undead versions of John Cena, The Rock, Triple H, Undertaker, Bray Wyatt, Paige, and Roman Reigns took a bite out of wrestling fans’ action figure collections. They were a surprise hit, and now more familiar faces have joined the legion of the undead!

WWE Zombies Series 2 includes Sasha Banks, Seth Rollins, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Kevin Owens, Brock Lesnar, and AJ Styles and will be available in stores during mid-May.

Check out an early peek at the goods below courtesy of Ringside Collectibles and WrestlingFigures.com.

The post Second Wave of WWE Zombies Shambles In appeared first on Dread Central.

Back in October, the indie anthology horror film Terrortory went on to become an Amazon Prime Video Star, which made it one of the top 100 most popular movies out of their entire library. Due to the massive success, a limited edition DVD has been created that can be purchased right here.

Here’s the really cool part: If you buy one and put “DREAD” (minus the quotation marks) in the comments of the payment, you’ll have your shipping fee refunded! So, if you’ve got a tax refund coming your way, why not get yourself a little treat?*

Also due to the success of Terrortory, we’ve been told by director Kevin Kangas that the plan is to shoot TWO sequels back-to-back. The first will be directed by Kangas while the second will be directed by Dan Doran and Mark Wegner, who each directed shorts in the original film, along with other unnamed directors. We’re told that Kangas’ film may be released towards the end of 2017 or in the beginning of 2018. Doran and Wegner’s will come shortly thereafter. Just as with the first film, the plan is to release them on Amazon Prime.

Below is a test shot that reveals the return of Smiling Jack, who will also be joined once again by the Midnight Clown.

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

*To be 100% clear, this is not something we get any cut of. This was done by the filmmakers, and we just want to show some support!

The post Amazon Prime Hit Film Terrortory Now Available on DVD; TWO Sequels Being Shot appeared first on Dread Central.

Earlier this month, AMC’s “The Walking Dead” aired its Season 7 finale, which means viewers are now left waiting several months before the eighth season premieres in the fall. However, just because there’s no more zombie-killing action happening on screen, that doesn’t mean the wheels aren’t turning behind the scenes!

Related Story: The Walking Dead Continues to Dominate Key Ratings Demo for Unprecedented 5th Year

According to TVGuide, cast members Pollyanna McIntosh (pictured below), who plays Jadis; Steven Ogg, who plays Simon; and Katelyn Nacon, who plays Enid, have all been bumped up to series regular status, meaning that they will be seen a lot more in Season 8. Whether or not that’s a good thing depends on viewers and their opinion of these three characters. Why don’t you tell me in the comments your thoughts on the matter?

The post Three of the Cast of The Walking Dead Have Been Upgraded to Series Regulars appeared first on Dread Central.

Netflix’s new season of “Mystery Science Theater 3000” premiered this past weekend and fans are already diving headfirst into the buffet of movie riffing and random yet delightful interludes. One such moment comes in the form of Jonah explaining various monsters and Kaiju from around the world to Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo. How does he go about doing this? Very simple. By performing one helluva tongue-twisting rap!

It’s actually pretty damn charming and it’s wonderful to see lesser known creatures get some recognition here. Also, there’s a creature in Luxembourg that’s the size of Luxembourg? That’s pretty damn impressive, I gotta say.

The post Every Country Has a Monster and Here’s a Rap Song to Prove it to You! appeared first on Dread Central.

Were you a fan of the Brendan Fraser Mummy flicks? Well, if so, this one is for you as the trio of heavily packed with CG flicks are on their way to 4K Blu-ray!

The Mummy Ultimate Trilogy is headed our way via Universal on May 16th. The 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital HD set includes The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Other than the remastered movies themselves, there doesn’t appear to be any new supplemental material. The original Blu-rays are also included, making this a six-disc set.

Disc 1 – The Mummy (1999):

• Feature Commentary with Director Stephen Sommers and Editor Bob Ducsay
• Feature Commentary with Actor Brendan Fraser
• Feature Commentary with actors Oded Fehr, Kevin J. O’Connor, and Arnold Vosloo

Disc 2 – The Mummy Returns:

• Feature Commentary with Director/Writer Stephen Sommers and Executive Producer/Editor Bob Ducsay

Disc 3 – The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor:

• Feature Commentary with Director Rob Cohen

Disc 4 – The Mummy (1999):

• Digital Copy of The Mummy (1999)
• Includes UltraViolet
• Deleted Scenes
• Feature Commentary with Director/Writer Stephen Sommers and Executive Producer/Editor Bob Ducsay
• Feature Commentary with Actor Brendan Fraser
• Feature Commentary with Actors Oded Fehr, Kevin J. O’Connor and Arnold Vosloo
• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Sneak Peek
• Visual and Special Effects Formation
• An Army to Rule the World Part 1
• Unraveling the Legacy of The Mummy
• Building a Better Mummy
• Storyboard to Final Film Comparison
• Photograph Montage
• U-Control – Picture in Picture
• BD-Live Enabled
• My Scenes

Disc 5 – The Mummy Returns:

• Digital Copy of The Mummy Returns
• Includes UltraViolet
• Outtakes
• Feature Commentary with Director/Writer Stephen Sommers and Executive Producer/Editor Bob Ducsayç
• The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Sneak Peek
• An Army to Rule the World Part 2
• Unraveling the Legacy of The Mummy
• Visual and Special Effects Formation
• An Exclusive Conversation with The Rock
• Spotlight: On Location
• Storyboard to Final Film Comparison
• Live “Forever May Not Be Long Enough” Music Video
• U-Control – Picture in Picture
• BD-Live Enabled
• My Scenes

Disc 6 – The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor:

• Digital Copy of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
• Includes UltraViolet
• U-Control – Scene Explorer
• BD-Live – My Scenes Sharing
• BD-Live – Exclusive Content
• U-Control – Know Your Mummy
• U-Control – The Dragon Emperor’s Challenge
• U-Control – Picture in Picture
• U-Control – Visual Commentary with Director Rob Cohen
• Deleted and Extended Scenes
• The Making of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
• From City to Desert
• Legacy of the Terra Cotta
• Feature Commentary with Director Rob Cohen

BUY IT NOW!

For those of you with more classic taste, The Mummy: Complete Legacy Collection Blu-ray will be hitting the same day. The original Mummy is one of the silver screen’s most unforgettable characters and, along with the other Universal Classic Monsters, defined the Hollywood horror genre.

The Mummy: Complete Legacy Collection includes all 6 films from the original legacy including the terrifying classic starring Boris Karloff and the timeless films that followed. These landmark motion pictures defined the iconic look of the ancient Egyptian monster and continue to inspire countless remakes and adaptations that strengthen the legend of the Mummy to this day.

The post Original Modern Mummy Trilogy Gets the 4K Treatment appeared first on Dread Central.

Producer Hiram Garcia took to Twitter today to announce that the video game-to-film adaptation Rampage starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has officially kicked off production.

The movie is based on the 1986 Midway arcade game, which allowed players to assume the role of one of three giant monsters: George the giant ape, Lizzie the giant lizard, or Ralph the giant werewolf.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman, Joe Manganiello, Jake Lacy, Marley Shelton, PJ Byrne, Jack Quaid, Matt Gerald, and Breanne Hill co-star. Rampage is produced by Beau Flynn and directed by Brad Peyton. The New Line film has a release date of April 20, 2018.

The post The Rock’s Rampage Begins Rumbling appeared first on Dread Central.

You want TV spots for Alien: Covenant? YOU’VE GOT ‘EM! On tap right now we have, count ’em, 6 spots with new footage and more.

Not enough? We also have the initial list of theaters that will be showing the original Alien for Alien Day (April 26th). We’re good like that.

Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride, Demián Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Amy Seimetz, Jussie Smollett, Callie Hernandez, Nathaniel Dean, Alexander England, and Benjamin Rigby star in Alien: Covenant. Ridley Scott directed the film, which was written by John Logan and Dante Harper based on a story by Jack Paglen and Michael Green.

Look for Alien: Covenant everywhere on May 19th. For a list of theaters showing the original film in celebration of Alien Day, click here!

The post Alien: Covenant – 6 TV Spots and Alien Theater Locations Revealed! appeared first on Dread Central.

This coming Monday, April 24th, marks the series finale of “Bates Motel” on A&E, and the network has just released the official trailer for Episode 5.10, “The Cord.” The ep’s synopsis itself is short and sweet: Norman comes home.

Will you be tuning to see how things turn out for our favorite mama’s boy? Will Dylan get out alive? Will anything be able to top the absolute badassness of Alex Romero?

A late checkout is NOT an option. Tune in for the final episode of “Bates Motel” on Monday at 10/9c.

“Bates Motel” stars Vera Farmiga as Norma Bates, Freddie Highmore as Norman, Max Thieriot as Dylan, Olivia Cooke as Emma, and Nestor Carbonell as the aforementioned Romero. The series is produced by Universal Television for A&E Network. Kerry Ehrin and Carlton Cuse serve as executive producers for Cuse Productions and Kerry Ehrin Productions. Tucker Gates, Vera Farmiga, and Tom Szentgyorgyi also serve as executive producers on the series.

The post Official Trailer Released for Bates Motel Series Finale Episode 5.10 – The Cord appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring David Banks, Sarah Castro, Cortney Palm

Directed by Vincent J. Guastini and Michael McQuown

The Dark Tapes is another in a long series of found footage flicks, but there are a few things that help it stand out amongst the pack. It’s an anthology film featuring three “dark tapes” along with a wraparound directed by FX artist Vincent J. Guastini, who also lends his talents to Michael McQuown’s three mini-features.

Upon starting the flick, there’s good reason for that whole “Yep, here we go again” feeling, but there’s more going on than in your average wraparound. More on that in a bit… first let’s tackle the initial dark tape: “The Hunters and The Hunted.”

The most familiar feeling of everything that’s included here, this tape centers on a couple who begin quickly experiencing things that go more than just bump in the night. Think all of the good parts of flicks like Paranormal Activity but with all of the fat cut off. The frights comes fast and furious, and just when you think you’ve gotten a grip on where this is all going, it quickly flips the switch on you. The end result had me nodding my head in approval.

Next up we have “Cam Girls.”

The word “pointless” comes to mind. This tape exists for a couple of reasons as far as I could tell:  (1) to introduce a steamy, seductive lesbian subplot in which we see nary a nipple, and (2) to spread around some red stuff. Dull, poorly conceived, and without any real climax to speak of, these cam girls will have you demanding a refund.

But, hey, that’s the beauty of anthologies, no? If something sucks or isn’t your bag, you don’t have to wait too long before you’re on to the next segment. Enter: “Amanda’s Revenge.”

Honestly speaking, this entry is a bit of a mixed bag. After a bad run-in at a party with two guys, Amanda finds herself being kidnapped by otherworldly beings each night, who are doing a lot more than just probing her. Along the way, though, she picks up a few tricks that help her go from victim to cunning opponent. At first the acting is all over the place, but by the time we get to the nitty-gritty, our actors have firmly found their footing and are ready to deliver. Once the characters settle in, we’re treated to some pretty effective moments.

Now, back to that wraparound, “To Catch a Demon.”

As mentioned, there’s a lot more going on than in the average wraparound, which usually only exists to wrap things up in a pretty bow. This one, however, ends up being better than at least two of the segments on display here and makes me wish that Guastini did more than just direct it and present effects work for the others. What we have in “To Catch a Demon” is a study of night terrors the likes of which you’ve never seen. A master monster-maker, Guastini leaves it all on the screen for his story, and we’re all the better for it as it elevates this otherwise middle of the road project from the depths of mediocrity and into the good zone.

At the end of the day, The Dark Tapes ends up doing more right than it does wrong. If you’re done with found footage, this won’t do anything at all to win you back; however, if you’re still a fan of this sort of thing, you’ll likely eat this one up and ask for seconds. For those of you who are a bit more discerning, you’ll find some really cool creatures and a few truly frightening and original moments that will send more than just a chill down the old spine.

Disclaimer: Epic Pictures Group and Dread Central are affiliated. As a result we are treating this film as we would any other. Good or bad, we’re prepped to let you know.

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

Your first look at the new film from Sergio G. Sanchez starring The Witch‘s Anya Taylor-Joy has arrived! Read on for the trailer, artwork, and more for Marrowbone!

Executive produced by J.A. Bayona (A Monster Calls, Jurassic World 2), the film co-stars Mia Goth, George Mackay, and Charlie Heaton.

News of a domestic release is still pending, but the flick is set to open in Spain on October 27th.

Synopsis:
A young man and his four younger siblings, who have kept secret the death of their beloved mother in order to remain together, are plagued by a sinister presence in the sprawling manor in which they live.

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The first clip from The Endless, the latest feature film from Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Spring), has been released; and it is NOT for those who suffer from thalassophobia (fear of the sea).

The clip shows Benson and Moorhead on a small rowboat in the middle of a lake. Benson removes his pants and dives into the water, claiming that there is something at the deepest part. Moorhead waits in the boat and then becomes anxious when it seems that Benson’s character isn’t resurfacing. Suddenly, Benson leaps into the boat and is deathly afraid, claiming that something was in the water with him. The camera pulls back and…

I’ll let you see that for yourself below.

Benson and Moorhead star alongside Tate Ellington, James Jordan, Shane Brady, and Kira Powell.

The film will have its world premiere this Friday, April 21, at the Tribeca Film Festival. Here are the planned public screenings:

Friday, April 21st | 9:00 PM | Cinepolis Chelsea -07 – World Premiere
Saturday, April 22nd | 10:00 PM | Cinepolis Chelsea-09
Sunday, April 23rd | 7:45 PM | Cinepolis Chelsea-01
Wednesday, April 26th | 8:45 PM | Cinepolis-04

Synopsis:
The Endless is the story of two brothers who return to the deadly cult from which they fled a decade ago to find that there might be some truth to the group’s otherworldly beliefs.

The post Tribeca 2017: There’s Something Lurking in the Depths in this Clip from The Endless appeared first on Dread Central.