We may not have a title yet, but Universal has announced Jordan Peele’s next film will hit theaters on March 15, 2019.

According to THR, Peele will write, direct, and produce the untitled social thriller. The project is looking to have a larger canvas than Get Out as the budget will be about five times bigger than the low-budget movie Peele made with producer Jason Blum.

More as we get it.

Writer/director/producer JORDAN PEELE on the set of Universal Pictures’ Get Out, a speculative thriller from Blumhouse (producers of The Visit, Insidious series, and The Gift) and the mind of Peele.

The post Universal Announces a Date for Jordan Peele’s Next Film appeared first on Dread Central.

We have more news coming out of Cannes in the form of the first three stills from Matt Palmer’s new UK flick Calibre, starring Jack Lowden, Martin McCann, Tony Curran, and Ian Pirie.

Wellington Film’s Alastair Clark and Anna Griffin are producing, while Lee Brazier and Richard Holmes are executive producing the project, which centers on what happens when two friends go on a hunting trip in the Scottish Highlands and things go awry.

Synopsis:
Father-to-be Vaughn and his lifelong friend Marcus head to an isolated, struggling Scottish Highlands village for a weekend hunting trip. After a first night of heavy drinking with the villagers, the men head out on a misty autumnal morning into a vast forest. When Vaughn tries to shoot a deer, a fatal accident happens. Instead of hitting the animal, his bullet rips into a child in the distance.

The men make the fateful decision to cover up the tragic incident. But piece by piece, their secret unravels as they become stranded in the village and sucked into a never-ending nightmare. As the locals close in on the truth, Vaughn is drawn into a series of increasingly unbearable and impossible moral choices that place both his survival and his family at stake.

The post First Calibre Images Locked and Loaded appeared first on Dread Central.

Things will be getting quite horny this week on Brainwaves as we’re being joined by author George Case to talk about his new book, Here’s to My Sweet Satan: How the Occult Haunted Music, Movies and Pop Culture, 1966-1980.

Join us this coming Wednesday, May 24th, at 8:00PM PT/11:00PM ET for all the shenanigans fit to be had! It’s radio without a safety net, kids. It’s Brainwaves: Horror and Paranormal Talk Radio.

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.

Spooky, funny, touching, honest, offensive, and at times completely random, Brainwaves airs live every Wednesday evening beginning at 8:00 PM Pacific Time (11:00 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, @JoeKnetter, or @MrDarkDC and @JonathanBarkan 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 46 Guest Announcement: Author George Case – Here’s to My Sweet Satan: How the Occult Haunted Music, Movies and Pop Culture, 1966-1980 appeared first on Dread Central.

The Creepypasta phenomenon known as Slender Man will soon be haunting a big screen near you under the watchful eye of director Sylvain White (Stomp the Yard, The Losers), and right now we have some casting news for you!

According to Deadline Joey King and “The Affair’s” Julia Goldani-Telles have been tapped to co-star in the horror thriller along with Captain Fantastic actress Annalise Basso, Jaz Sinclair (When The Bough Breaks), Talitha Bateman (upcoming Annabelle: Creation), and Alex Fitzalan. Screen Gems will distribute the film May 18, 2018, and is co-producing with Mythology Entertainment, Madhouse Entertainment, and It Is No Dream Entertainment.

Scripted by David Birke and Mike Scannell, Slender Man revolves around a tall, thin horrifying figure with unnaturally long arms and a featureless fact, who is reputed to be responsible for the haunting and disappearance of countless children and teens.

The post Slender Man Finds His Victims; Cast Announced appeared first on Dread Central.

The final poster for the upcoming supernatural horror film Wish Upon has been released and can be seen below. It bears the tagline “Be Careful What You Wish For and features a subtle skull in the background.

Directed by John R. Leonetti (Annabelle), produced by Sherryl Clark (Cloverfield), and written by Barbara Marshall, Wish Upon stars Joey King, Ryan Phillippe, Ki Hong Lee, Mitchell Slaggert, Shannon Purser, Sydney Park, Alice Lee, Kevin Hanchard, and Sherilyn Fenn. It comes to theaters on July 14, 2017.

Synopsis:
Twelve years after discovering her mother’s suicide, 17-year-old Clare Shannon (Joey King) is bullied in high school, embarrassed by her manic, hoarder father, Jonathan (Ryan Phillippe), and ignored by her longtime crush. All that changes when her father comes home with an old music box whose inscription promises to grant its owner seven wishes.

While Clare is initially skeptical of this magic box, she can’t help but be seduced by its dark powers and is thrilled as her life radically improves with each wish. Clare finally has the life she’s always wanted, and everything seems perfect – until the people closest to her begin dying in violent and elaborate ways after each wish. Clare realizes that she must get rid of the box but finds herself unable and unwilling to part with her new and improved life – leading her down a dark and dangerous path.

The post Be Careful Looking at This Final Wish Upon Poster appeared first on Dread Central.

With a total worldwide gross of $440,603,537, Terminator Genisys was nowhere near the blockbuster success that Paramount had hoped it would be. And while it now appears that it’s gonna be retconned in favor of Tim Miller’s reboot, we have been blessed with the new mobile game Terminator Genisys: Future War from developer Plarium LLC. Serving as a sequel to the film, you play as either a Resistance Commander or the leader of Skynet’s Core, with you objective being to either save or crush humanity.

Terminator Genisys: Future War By Plarium LLC
Terminator Genisys: Future War is a free-to-play mobile strategy game where the human Resistance is locked in a never-ending war with the machine army. Genisys is destroyed and Skynet is offline, but the future war is far from over. Engage in large-scale strategic warfare and rejoin the struggle between machine and man. Build your base, attack your enemies and pave the way to victory for your clan in tactical multiplayer.

Plarium, developer of the hit titles Vikings: War of Clans and Throne: Kingdom at War, has created a deep strategy MMO in the Terminator universe. Set directly after the events of the film, Terminator Genisys: Future War offers players a chance to reset the future with addictive gameplay, constant action, and massive clan warfare.

With two different playable factions, you can choose to take the role of a Resistance Commander or the leader of Skynet’s Core, and either save the last of humanity or crush it under your cybernetic heel.

John Connor is MIA, and the Resistance is broken. As a human commander, it is up to you to rebuild humanity’s most determined military force, find and recruit survivors to your cause, and stop the machines from reactivating Skynet. Or you can betray humanity and convert yourself to join the machine regiments.

Would you rather play as an unstoppable killing machine? With Skynet’s primary core offline, your secondary protocols are clear. Construct factories, find lost battle schematics and terminate the human threat once and for all. If you feel sympathetic to the human cause, you can decide to reprogram yourself and fight alongside the Resistance.

Both sides are fighting for their lives and defeat is not an option. Arm yourself with futuristic tanks, relentless infantry and devastating weapons – and win the future war once and for all!

NOTE: Terminator Genisys: Future War is completely free to play, but some in-game items can be purchased for real money. You can switch off the in-game purchase option in device settings. You need an Internet connection to play this game.

GAME FEATURES

– FREE TO PLAY!
– Two playable factions, each with its own narrative, troops, buildings and upgrades!
– Intense PvP! Go on solo conquests or join a clan to dominate the map!
– Fight against powerful bosses in solo PvE or joint clan attacks!
– Unlock achievements for great rewards and bragging rights!
– Part of the official Terminator Genisys universe!
– Cutting-edge graphics!

Support: http://support-portal.plarium.com/ticketcreator/store/terminator?platformtype=ios
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terminatorgenisysfuturewar
Twitter: https://twitter.com/terminatorgame
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/2/106231500110177736688
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terminatorgenisysfuturewar
Privacy Policy: https://plarium.com/en/privacy-and-cookie-policy/
Terms of Use: https://plarium.com/en/terms-of-use/

The post Terminator Genisys: Future War Brings The Battle to Mobile appeared first on Dread Central.

It is with a very heavy heart that I write about the passing of Sir Roger Moore, who died at the age of 89 due to cancer. His family posted the below message on Twitter.

Moore began acting in the mid-40’s with a series of uncredited roles. From there, he was a regular face in cinema and television, with roles in “Ivanhoe”, “Maverick”, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, Vendetta For the Saint, “The Saint”, and more. But it was 1973’s Live and Let Die where he took on the role of British spy James Bond that cemented his name in film history. He played the role of Bond for seven films, the final being 1985’s A View to a Kill.

Prior to playing Bond, Moore took on the role of Harold Pelham in the thriller The Man Who Haunted Himself, which follows Moore as he encounters a doppelgänger of himself after a car accident. Moore was recently a voice in the upcoming animated film “Troll Hunters”, which is not related to Guillermo del Toro’s animated series.

We send our deepest condolences to his friends and family in this sad time.

The post Rest in Peace: Sir Roger Moore appeared first on Dread Central.

There’s a new version of the F.W. Murnau classic Nosferatu on DVD and this one is sporting a new score and for the first time ever… color. The results are interesting. Take a look and let us know what you think.

From the Press Release:
Nosferatu: The Colorized Version transforms F.W. Murnau’s black-and-white silent original into a more visually compelling movie by adding the dimension of colorization. Nosferatu was the first feature-length vampire movie, and was actually an unauthorized adaptation of Dracula, Bram Stoker’s classic vampire novel. Nosferatu kept most of the storyline of Dracula while altering the names of the characters.

Related Story: F.W. Murnau’s 1922 Silent Horror Classic Nosferatu Is Silent No More!

This film is regarded as a masterpiece of the German Expressionism art movement, and expresses the subjective mental world of the characters depicted in this horror film. Contemporary vampire movies continue to borrow ideas from Nosferatu up to the present day, such as the danger that sunlight presents to vampires. This silent movie was convincing to the extent that some people thought that Max Schreck, the actor who played the role of Nosferatu, actually was a vampire. The parts of the movie which depict the vampire’s castle were filmed in Slovakia. This Kinemacolor film includes a new musical score and newly colorized intertitles.

Movie Director Frederick W. Murnau
Producers Enrico Dieckmann & Albin Grau
Screenwriter Henrik Galeen
Based on Dracula, by Bram Stoker

Cast:
Max Schreck
Gustav von Wangenheim
Greta Schröder
Alexander Granach
Wolfgang Heinz

BUY IT NOW!

The post Nosferatu Now Available in Color! appeared first on Dread Central.

Next month Candy Factory Films is releasing the psychological horror film Wichita, and we have all the details for you here along with a look at the trailer, poster, several stills, plus an exclusive clip!

A provocative play on the horror genre, this Official Selection of the Santa Fe Film Festival will be available on DVD and Digital HD platforms including iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play beginning June 20th.

From the Press Release:
Something psycho this way comes in the deep, suspenseful psychological thriller Wichita.

Directed by Matthew Ward and Justyn Ah Chong and starring Travor Peterson (Sky), Caitlin Gerard (The Social Network, Magic Mike), and Persia White (“The Vampire Diaries”), Wichita explores the pain of a modern mass killer on a frighteningly familiar level. As a voyeuristic director struggles to find dignity in a cruel world that has alienated him to the point of no return, this taut, provocative play on the horror genre leads to a disturbing, emotional climax.

Synopsis:
When Jeb (Trevor Peterson) leads a writing retreat to Aspen with a team of young writers intending to save his failing kids’ TV show, it becomes a new opportunity for his hidden cameras – and hidden rage. 

The post Exclusive Clip from Wichita; Available on DVD/Digital in June appeared first on Dread Central.

Just the other day, we posted the news that Tony Jopia’s Cute Little Buggers secured North American distribution through Uncork’d Entertainment with High Octane tackling the rest of the world. Today, a few new images from the horror/comedy have been released, each of which can be seen below.

The flick stars Caroline Monroe, Joe Egan, Kristofer Dayne, Gary Martin, John R. Walker, Dani Thompson, Jess Jantschek, Lesley Scoble, Samar Sarila, Jo Price, Sarah Bennett, and Leslie Grantham.

Cute Little Buggers 3D has been described as “Gremlins meets Hot Fuzz set in the English countryside.”

Synopsis:
After hostile aliens crash-land on local farmland, the villagers at the summer ball get suspicious when young women start going missing. The villagers soon band together around our hero, Melchoir (Kristofer Dayne), to fend off the invaders and bring back peace to the sleepy English countryside.

The post Hop Along to These New Cute Little Buggers Images appeared first on Dread Central.

We’ve got a shorter list this week with only ten releases, but fortunately this is situation where quality certainly outweighs quantity. The one major issue this week is with 1988’s Hack-O-Lantern. I’ve seen the Blu-ray/DVD combo being listed for this week in some places, but for June 20^th in others. If you don’t get it now, I’ll remind you again then.

I’d say that the release that tops this week off has to be Get Out. I only just saw this movie recently and thought it was brilliant. I have been a fan of Catherine Keener’s for a while, especially for her role in Death To Smoochy (not a horror movie, but if you want to laugh, I highly suggest it – Robin Williams was great in it as well), but she absolutely terrified me in this movie.

Touted as a “female driven anthology”, featuring four female directors with stories involving a female protagonist, XX will be dropping on both DVD and Blu-ray, so be sure to pick that up.

Fans of the Cloverfield universe can pick up a DVD double feature with both Cloverfield as well as 10 Cloverfield Lane. This should be great for those boning up for the release of the next film in the “series” due out later this year.

There are also a few classics to check out this week. 1974 and 1975 bring us Voodoo Black Exorcist and Wolf Guy respectively. This week also brings us 1992’s The Vagrant.

We’ll see you again next week, friends. Pleasant viewing.

MOVIES

Get Out (2017)

Starring:

Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Caleb Landry Jones, Stephen Root

Synopsis:

When Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), a young African-American man, visits his white girlfriend’s (Allison Williams) family estate, he becomes ensnared in the more sinister, real reason for the invitation. At first, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he could have never imagined. This speculative thriller from Blumhouse (producers of The Visit, Insidious series and The Gift) and the mind of Jordan Peele (Key & Peele) is equal parts gripping thriller and provocative commentary.

BUY IT NOW!

Hack-O-Lantern (1987)

Starring:

Hy Pyke, Gregory Scott Cummins, Katina Garner

Synopsis:

When Tommy was a boy, he saw his grandpa (Hy Pyke), the leader of a vicious satanic cult, murder his father in a brutal ritual on Halloween night. Now Tommy (Gregory Scott Cummins) is 18 and grandpa is ready to indoctrinate him into the ways of the black arts. But as night approaches, someone dressed like a member of the cult, whose face is hidden behind a devilish mask, begins stalking and killing people connected to Tommy. Could it be grandpa, Tommy himself, or someone even more sinister behind these increasingly brutal murders?

Directed by Jag Mundhra (Open House, The Jigsaw Murders) and featuring atmospheric photography by Stephen Ashley Blake (Deadly Prey), Hack-O-Lantern is a lurid mix of slasher, giallo, and supernatural horror, set in the frenzied world of Satanic Panic. Previously only viewable as low quality bootlegs, Massacre Video brings this distinctly sleazy 80s classic to Blu-ray in a brand new restoration from its original 35mm camera negative and featuring revealing interviews with is producer and stars.

BUY IT NOW!

Lizard Man: Terror of the Swamp Unleashed (2012)

Starring:

Michael Harding, Sherri Box, Make Gaglio, Matthew Easton

Synopsis:

Sharknado meets The Creature from the Black Lagoon as a ferocious Lizard Man terrorizes Los Angeles! Haunted by a terrifying incident in his past, billionaire Bill Hansen seeks revenge by capturing his nemesis – the scaly crypto-creature known as the Lizard Man. Enlisting a team of mercenaries and a television personality, Bill sets out to prove to the world that the Lizard Man really exists. But when the creature breaks lose at a press conference, all plans are off as the bloodthirsty monster wreaks havoc on the city of Los Angeles.

BUY IT NOW!

The Magnificent Dead (2010)

Starring:

Bill Allgood, Linda Almanza, Larry Amaro, Alexis Celeste Elliott, Jack Wilson

Synopsis:

The Magnificent Dead takes place in the 1870’s in the small Texas town of Rosewood where local rancher Jared Hamilton and his men have declared war on the town, using fear and death to prevent a new railroad line from coming through. Guided by a priest, Father Julian the desperate town leaders decide to hire a group of six gunmen to help clean up the town. These gunmen are legendary, as they are afflicted with Leprosy and fight with reckless abandon and ruthlessness, for they have nothing to lose.

BUY IT NOW!

The Vagrant (1992)

Starring:

Bill Paxton, Michael Ironside, Marshall Bell, Mitzi Kapture, Colleen Camp

Synopsis:

The new owner of a fixer-upper turns it into a fortress to keep out a bum, with a killer at large.

BUY IT NOW!

Voodoo Black Exorcist (1974)

Starring:

Aldo Sambrell, Alexander Abrahan

Synopsis:

Archaeologists exhume the body of a prince after three thousand years and the corpse revives and begins to kill everyone he comes in contact with. He must be stopped.

BUY IT NOW!

WNUF Halloween Special (2013)

Starring:

Various

Synopsis:

For decades, obscure film collectors and lovers of esoteric cinema have sought it and now the search is over. Originally broadcast live on October 31, 1987, the ”WNUF Halloween Special” is a stunning exposé of terrifying supernatural activity that unfolded at the infamous Webber House, the site of ghastly murders. Local television personality Frank Stewart leads a group of paranormal investigators including a Catholic exorcist, Father Joseph Matheson, and the prolific husband-and-wife team Louis and Claire Berger. Together, the experts explore the darkest corners of the supposedly haunted Webber House, trying to prove the existence of the demonic entities within. Did they find the horrific truth or simply put superstitious rumors to rest? Compiled from the highest-quality source material available, this DVD features the full program, including the original commercials that ran during the notorious broadcast.

BUY IT NOW!

Wolf Guy (1975)

Starring:

Sonny Chiba, Rikiya Yasuoka

Synopsis:

Shinichi ”Sonny” Chiba is a martial arts ”manimal” in the ultra-70’s, 100% bizarre mixture of horror, action and sci-fi that is Wolf Guy, one of the rarest and most sought-after cult films produced by Japan’s Toei Studio. Based on a manga by Kazumasa Hirai (creator of 8 Man), and never before released outside of Japan, it’s a genre film classic waiting to be discovered and a completely unclassifiable trip into phantasmagoric funk.

Chiba stars as Akira Inugami, the only survivor of a clan of ancient werewolves who relies on his supernatural powers to solve mysterious crimes. After a series of bloody killings perpetrated by an unseen force, Inugami uncovers a conspiracy involving a murdered cabaret singer, corrupt politicians, and a plot by the J-CIA to harvest his blood in order to steal his lycanthropic powers! At the same time, Inugami also discovers the truth behind his family heritage, and that he may not be the last of his kind.

Directed by B-movie genius Kazuhiko Yamaguchi (Sister Streetfighter, Wandering Ginza Butterfly, Karate Bear Fighter), Wolf Guy truly is one-of-a-kind, with Chiba in full effect as the part-man, part-wolf, all-karate action hero and a collection of familiar 1970’s Toei actors in support. Violence, action, nudity, real surgical footage, and a psychedelic musical score all work together to create an unforgettable trip to the heights of Japanese cinematic weirdness.

BUY IT NOW!

XX (2017)

Starring:

Melanie Lynskey, Natalie Brown, Angela Trimbur

Synopsis:

Watch four deadly tales directed by four killer women in this horror anthology.

Karyn Kusama (Jenifer’s Body), Roxanne Benjamin (V/H/S, Southbound), Annie Clark (St. Vincent) and Jovanka Vuckovic.

BUY IT NOW!

COLLECTIONS

10 Cloverfield Lane / Cloverfield

Starring:

Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, Michael Stahl-David, Lizzy Caplan, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman

Movies:

Cloverfield

Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.

10 Cloverfield Lane

A woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) discovers the horrifying truth about the outside world while living in an underground shelter with two men (John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr.).

BUY IT NOW!

The post DVD and Blu-ray Releases: May 23, 2017 appeared first on Dread Central.

Starring Emile Hirsch, Brian Cox, Ophelia Lovibond, Olwen Kelly

Directed by André Øvredal

Distributed by Scream Factory

In my official capacity as a jaded thirtysomething horror fan, it isn’t often that a film is able to really surprise me these days. That isn’t to say there aren’t plenty of films each year that blow me away by either smashing expectations or doing something already done, only better. But there just aren’t many movies that keep me guessing right up to the big reveal – not just about the specifics of a plot, but everything about the film’s very nature. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) manages to remain enigmatic throughout, anchored by a unique take on a woefully underused subgenre with a trio of very good performances. The film picked up a healthy level of film festival buzz last year, with glowing praise coming from numerous outlets and even the King of Horror himself, Stephen King (who, to be fair, is not the barometer anyone should use for cinematic taste). I have also seen reviews that criticize the lack of action/slow burn style (GTFO) or the use of horror tropes which, while definitely there, are used to great effect and only serve to further the endless suspense revolving around a young girl’s very dead and very bizarre body.

Police are baffled at the scene of a mass murder, where all the victims died brutally but were unable to leave the home despite no clear reason why. In the basement, they find a pale dead girl (Olwen Kelly), half buried in the ground. She is exhumed and taken to a father-and-son coroner operation run by Tommy Tilden (Brian Cox) and his son, Austin (Emile Hirsch). Although Austin is all set to take his girlfriend, Emma (Ophelia Lovibond), on a date to the movies the strangeness of the situation causes him to stay and work through the night with his father. Upon examining the body, the two are stymied by a number of curiosities – peat found under her nails, both ankles and wrists fractured, and her tongue looks like it was cut out. Furthermore, her lungs are blackened (consistent with third-degree burns despite no exterior signs of burning) and her internal organs show injuries consistent with being stabbed or sliced. As skin is peeled away from muscle and her innards more fully revealed, strange phenomena begin to occur within the bunker-style mortuary as Tommy and Austin come to the conclusion all of this is somehow happening because of Jane Doe’s body… and she may not be so dead after all.

To say anything more would be a disservice to the film. This is one of those rare instances where I have gone into a film completely blind – purposely avoiding even a hint of the story so as not to spoil a thing – and, man, did that make for a splendidly terror-ific viewing. As a person who uses the internet, I am guilty of spoiling parts of films for myself that should have been saved for the big (or small) screen. All I knew about The Autopsy of Jane Doe was that it is a chamber movie with a small cast and a dead girl’s body that slowly produces answers to the question of who she is and how she died. Revealing even basic truths, such as the subgenre, would spoil some of the mystery. All of this is not to say The Autopsy of Jane Doe is wholly original because, as mentioned earlier, the film does employ a handful of standard genre clichés but it leans into them and uses them to their greatest affect, in turn giving the movie strong emotional moments. An overreliance on clichés can be a problem for some films, but using them sparingly for maximum impact isn’t damning. Also, making a movie 100% devoid of clichés is easier said than done.

If the director’s name, André Øvredal, isn’t ringing any bells (pun intended – you’ll get it after seeing the movie) then the name of his 2010 feature should help: Trollhunter. That picture, too, was packed with palpable moments of tension and remains one of the few “found footage” movies to use the now-reviled subgenre to fantastic results. And again, he did so with a lesser used subject in horror. Øvredal gets a chance to show how beautiful he can make “ugly” movies look with Jane Doe, something that wasn’t exactly on display in his found footage feature. Even the eponymous female is a thing of beauty, looking elegant and pure even when Tommy and Austin are elbow-deep in their job. The revolting-yet-routine job of dissecting corpses is shown in visceral detail, almost like an educational video. The decision to film in scope makes their environment seem expansive; giving the small surroundings a grand feel that suggests horror could be lurking far and wide, just out of reach but always coming.

Øvredal is two-for-two in my book. The Autopsy of Jane Doe lived up to the hype and then some, all thanks to a strong sense of mystery that I felt remained consistent throughout. Cox and Hirsch make for a great leading duo, with Hirsch in particular reminding viewers that he is still a damn good actor despite being out of the big screen eye for the past couple years due to a highly publicized incident at Sundance. If these two consecutive projects are any indication of how Øvredal’s filmography is going to play out, there is much to anticipate.

Beautifully shot at 2.40:1, with a stunning 1080p 24/fps AVC MPEG-4 encoded image, The Autopsy of Jane Doe makes for a near-perfect picture. There is no grain due to the digital photography, and the image is devoid of any blemishes. Colors are often natural, though clearly graded heavily during some scenes, and black levels retain their inky quality. The level of detail present throughout, especially during the autopsy scenes, is unsettling and authentic. Much of the film takes place in an underground bunker, with low lighting conditions, but the image never falters or loses information to the shadows.

An English DTS-HD MA track is available in both 2.0 stereo and 5.1 surround sound. The multi-channel track trumps the stereo option by allowing the nuances of the soundfield to permeate from all four corners of the room, enveloping the viewer in the Tilden’s claustrophobic environment. Dialogue is clear and nicely balanced. The score by composers Danny Bersi & Saunder Jurriaans is unnerving at times, nicely complementing the events unfolding on screen. Subtitles are available in English and Spanish.

Two TV spots, two teasers, and the film’s theatrical trailer are (sadly) the only bonus features included.

Special Features:

• TV spots
• Teasers
• Theatrical trailer

BUY IT NOW!

The post Autopsy of Jane Doe, The (Blu-ray) appeared first on Dread Central.

For whatever reason, our society, and popular culture in general, seems preoccupied with death. Whether it’s watching a group of survivors fend off zombie hordes or it’s a rag-tag group of scientists busting ghosts, death is all around us.

Even though this concept is something that humans have had to deal with for literally hundreds of thousands of years, the looming specter of the afterlife permeates everything we do. While we make plans for the future, we all know, in the back of our mind, that we could die at any moment. In fact, I could die ri…

While death comes to us in many forms, one of the most popular methods for showcasing the afterlife is through tales that invoke ghosts or wraiths. Whether it’s talking about ghosts around a campfire or watching eerily convincing paranormal activity videos on YouTube, spiritual beings are a major part of our collective psyche. For that reason, today we’re going to dive into some fantastic ghost stories of which you may or may not have heard.

Strap yourself in, and get ready to cross over. Here are five amazing indie novels that delve into the world of wraiths and ghosts.

Collected Ghost Stories by MR James

Long before the likes of H.P. Lovecraft or Stephen King came around, there was a man named M.R. James. No, that’s not Mr. James, but rather his initials. Since the early 1900s, James’ work has been printed and published, and it has even gone so far as to influence titans of the horror industry. Perhaps we never would have had a dog named Cujo, or a god named Cthulhu if James hadn’t written so many ghoulish works. This encyclopedic novel showcases some of James’ best works, including A View from a Hill, The Ash Tree, and A School Story. While you may not be familiar with any of those tales, trust me when I say that after reading them you’ll realize where many horror authors got their inspiration.

Dark Matter by Michelle Paver

If you liked the movie The Thing, then you may like Dark Matter by Michelle Paver. This book is a historical novel that details the exploits of an explorer named Jack, who travels to the Arctic Circle in the name of science. Set in 1937, this book creates incredible tension as Jack soon realizes that the mission has been damned by evil spirits, which forces him to reconcile not only the eternal darkness of the North Pole but also the chilling reality of death. Overall, the setting, tone, and pacing of Dark Matter make it one of the best ghost stories around, even if it doesn’t feature a human head with spider legs bursting out of it.

The Turn of the Screw by Henry James

When you read the synopsis of this novel, it almost seems like the story, which takes place inside a large estate, was the inspiration for a modern horror movie. The tale centers around a governess (nanny) who takes care of a couple of spoiled brats that seem to act out in a very peculiar manner. The nanny soon realizes that she and the children are not alone and that the house is a haven for evil. Unfortunately for her, the kids seem entranced by the dark spirits and don’t want to leave. All in a day’s work, though, we guess. If you like ghosts of the haunted house variety, then The Turn of the Screw is an excellent novel for you. Experience overwhelming dread as the governess slowly realizes that no amount of hazard pay will make up for two kids who want to play with dead people.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

If the name of this novel sounds familiar, that’s because this book was the inspiration for a couple of horror films, both creatively titled The Haunting. The last iteration of this story was a Liam Neeson/Catherine Zeta-Jones movie that opened to mixed reviews when it was released in 1999 (almost twenty years ago!!!). Fortunately, however, the reviews of the original book, which debuted all the way back in 1959, are nothing but stellar. For those who haven’t seen the Neeson movie (or the 1963 original), this tale follows a strange doctor who investigates a possible haunting at Hill House. Accompanying him are a diverse group of people, including his assistant, a young woman who has been haunted before, and the heir to Hill House, who presumably doesn’t want to deal with squatting ghosts. The tone and pacing of this novel are superb, and it holds up surprisingly well for a modern audience. If only the film did too…

 Hell House by Richard Matheson

From Hill House to Hell House, we finish off our list with yet another haunted dwelling. This time, the place is Belasco House, and much like Shirley Jackson’s tale of unwanted apparitions, Hell House follows a group of investigators hoping to probe the secrets of such a disturbing home. Previous inquiries ended up with murder and mayhem as the grand prize, but will this time be any different? Something tells me you already know the answer, but you’ll have to read it to find out if you’re correct. If you like your ghost stories with a side of blood, guts, and good ole’ fashioned murder, then Hell House is a treat for you and your depraved soul.

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Starring Heather Jane Farr, Richard Wotkun, Nixon Vicci

Directed by Michael Ramova

Sooner or later, it all comes around full-circle: the return of “found-footage” is yet upon us, and even though the film was directed back in 2015, Michael Ramova’s Panteon Woods is ready to be unleashed into the eyes of viewers, regardless of whether or not their stomachs are ready for it.

Centering around a couple of sisters: one a YouTube sensation (Farr) and the other a budding cinematographer (Vicci) who balloon the already bad idea of venturing out into the woods to see if a local urban legend of sorts walks the lush forest. As a longtime horror fan, I can attest (as many of you will as well) that I don’t care if the opportunity for a 500 lb ostrich strutting in the woods is on the plate for potentiality, but we want to see some serious carnage and yearn for some spine-tingling chills in the process. The girls opt to bring in a guide/survivalist (Richard Wotkun) that hasn’t brought his mind back from his tours in Vietnam – the guy’s a straight-up creeper, and his motives might not be on the up-and-up.

There unfortunately isn’t a whole lot to crow about with this particular presentation, and Ramova seems to play this one by the guidelines of the “found-footage playbook” – a lot of herky-jerky camera movements, nonsensical actions, few jump scares and the ever-growing ability for characters to NEVER put the damn camera down when faced with imminent danger. Also, for a presentation that had an extremely slim runtime (around 70+ minutes), there appeared to be far too much stagnant dialogue to keep your interest level afloat. Overall, if you’re a junkie for these types of flicks, then by all means dive on in, but for those who are enervated with nausea-inducing, shoddily acted “not so horror-filled” horror films, then feel free to stay in these woods…in the meantime I’ll be on the hunt for a plush 5-star resort to kick back in.

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Coming this July to theaters is the supernatural horror film Wish Upon, which sees Joey King use a mysterious box to grant her wishes…only to face the horrific consequences that come with each wish. In many ways, the story is a retelling of W.W. Jacobs’ 1902 short story “The Monkey’s Paw”, which has been adapted and seen in various ways, such as in “Tales from the Cryptkeeper” or “Rick and Morty”. The story has become an urban legend, one that ranks up there with “The Hookman” or “Bloody Mary”, which is what makes Wish Upon so interesting. If it can bring something new and exciting to the table, then I’ll be extremely pleased!

To celebrate the film’s upcoming releases, we’ve teamed up with the Wish Upon crew to help grant the wish of one of you readers, so long as you’re willing to accept the consequences that come with it! To let your wish be known, simply head to the official Wish Upon website and let them know what you want.

Directed by John R. Leonetti (Annabelle), produced by Sherryl Clark (Cloverfield), and written by Barbara Marshall, Wish Upon stars Joey King, Ryan Phillippe, Ki Hong Lee, Mitchell Slaggert, Shannon Purser, Sydney Park, Alice Lee, Kevin Hanchard, and Sherilyn Fenn. It comes to theaters on July 14, 2017.

Synopsis:
Twelve years after discovering her mother’s suicide, 17-year-old Clare Shannon (Joey King) is bullied in high school, embarrassed by her manic, hoarder father, Jonathan (Ryan Phillippe), and ignored by her longtime crush. All that changes when her father comes home with an old music box whose inscription promises to grant its owner seven wishes.

While Clare is initially skeptical of this magic box, she can’t help but be seduced by its dark powers and is thrilled as her life radically improves with each wish. Clare finally has the life she’s always wanted, and everything seems perfect – until the people closest to her begin dying in violent and elaborate ways after each wish. Clare realizes that she must get rid of the box but finds herself unable and unwilling to part with her new and improved life – leading her down a dark and dangerous path.

The post Exclusive: Wish Upon Wants to Grant You a Wish…If You’ll Face the Consequence! appeared first on Dread Central.

We know that we refer to a lot of things as not safe for work round these parts, but never has it been more true of the teaser clip of “Wyrmwood: Chronicles of the Dead”, the upcoming Australian TV series based on the Australian zombie film Wyrmwood. Lasting for just under seven minutes, the teaser about as gory as you can get, so you might want to wear an apron.

The film’s writer/director Kiah Roache-Turner and co-writer Tristan Roache-Turner returned to develop the series, with Bianca Bradey and Jay Gallagher reprising their roles. Nandalie Killick, Shaun Robert Foley, Chiara Gizzi, Alex Jewson and Tristan McKinnon also appeared in the teaser.

We don’t know much else at this point, but we’ll keep you posted.

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Word on Jeepers Creepers 3 has been quiet ever since the news broke that original film star Gina Phillips is not the lead of the third entry and the plot details that had been circulating were, in fact, wrong. And while we wish we could give you rock solid information about the film’s status, nothing certain has been released.

However, in a recent interview with Diabolique Magazine, Phillips spoke about her character’s role in Jeepers Creepers 3, explaining that while it’s true that she’s not the star of the film, she’s a rather integral role to the story, saying, “I am in it in order to launch what happens next.”

She continues by explaining: “The character’s in me now. Trish is in me – she’s with me – it’s not hard to come back to who she is at the core. But a lot has changed for Trish over the years. She’s a mother; she’s been through a lot. I haven’t gone through anything like what this character has been through – and I’m knocking on wood as I say this because I’m pretty superstitious – but I am a mom now and I understand that journey of, once you become a parent, you would do anything for that child as far as beg, borrow, steal, kill, or die for your child. It was easy to put myself in that place because it parallels my life.”

As for how writer/director Victor Salva plans on explaining Trish’s role in the film, Phillips states, “Victor has written what happens from the second after the conclusion of Jeepers Creepers 3. I think that’s all I’m allowed to say about it but he wrote in such detail and he had a lot of flashbacks to what happened over the years that it made it very easy for me. I got to see what will eventually happen to the character and he put enough flashbacks in there that I got to see what happened to her over the last 15 years. Let’s just say, there’s more to come.”

And for fans wondering why she wasn’t in the second film, Phillips explains that it wasn’t her fault and she would’ve loved to have returned. “There was originally a story that involved my character, and the studio ended up thinking it wasn’t the right movie to make,” she told the magazine. “They didn’t think it was scary enough. So Victor wrote a new movie that had nothing to do with me. I didn’t turn it down. I’m glad you asked because it’s something I’ve always wanted to clear up. Every time I see that written I think, ‘No, I didn’t turn it down!’”

EDITOR’S NOTE:
Dread Central both acknowledges and condemns the past crimes committed by Victor Salva. However, we are a news website dedicated to bringing you the headlines, and we cannot and will not let our personal beliefs influence how we bring you news. Instead, we leave it for you to decide whom or what you should or shouldn’t support. For those of you who want to further rally against Salva, there’s a petition here to boycott his upcoming film. Thank you.

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A month ahead of its 43rd year, the Saturn Awards have released the winners of key special achievement awards.

From the official press release:
This year the Life Career Award will be presented to TV’s legendary “Six Million Dollar Man” himself, Lee Majors. In this era of omnipresent superheroes, Lee Majors’ Colonel Steve Austin was ahead of his time, The Fall Guy continued his Hollywood bounty hunting, and his star power continues to shine on the hit Starz TV show “Ash Vs Evil Dead”.

Writer/director/producer Akiva Goldsman is recipient of this year’s Visionary Award. Goldsman has written such blockbuster films as: I, Robot, Cinderella Man, I Am Legend, The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, Insurgent, the Oscar-winning A Beautiful Mind and the upcoming The Dark Tower and Firestarter (as director). On TV, he’s worked on “Fringe”, “Childhood’s End”, WGN’s original drama series “Underground”, and the upcoming “Star Trek: Discovery” and Warner Bros. Television and DC Entertainment live action drama series “Titans”.

The Filmmakers Showcase Award will be bestowed to the dynamic writing/producing team of Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. Together, they’ve worked on such successful genre films as: The Hand that Rocked the Cradle, Relic, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Jurassic World, and this summer’s War for the Planet of the Apes. Upcoming is Disney’s live-action Mulan and Avatar 3.

The Breakthrough Performance Award goes to KJ Apa, who stars as the iconic Archie Andrews on The CW’s hit show “Riverdale” from Berlanti Productions. KJ’s “Archie” brings a whole new dimension to the classic Archie’s Comics character and opened up its pages to a new generation of fans.

Receiving the Special Recognition Award will be Heavy Metal Magazine. Celebrating its 40th Anniversary, the name “Heavy Metal” has become synonymous with cutting edge stories and art, and continues to be the world’s premier illustrated magazine for science fiction, horror and Fantasy for the new millennia and beyond.

The ceremony will be held on June 28th in Burbank, CA.

The post The 43rd Annual Saturn Awards Names its Special Achievement Recipients appeared first on Dread Central.

In what is probably going to be the most unexpected news of the day… Deadline is reporting that UFC fighter-turned-actor Cathal Pendred is set for a lead role in Amazon’s adaptation of the horror podcast Lore, which recounts true stories of frightening and paranormal occurrences.

Pendred will play Michael Cleary, a real-life character from Irish folklore, in the horror anthology series. A cooper who makes barrels for a local creamery, Michael is married to the younger Bridget. When Bridget starts making more money than he does and starts questioning his decisions, Michael is convinced that his loving wife has been replaced by a changeling — and he will do literally anything to prove himself right.

Lore is executive produced by Aaron Mahnke, Gale Anne Hurd, Propagate’s Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, and Brett-Patrick Jenkins.

The post UFC Fighter Cathal Pendred to Spin Lore appeared first on Dread Central.

A pair of new IMAX posters have arrived for Universal Pictures’ The Mummy and we have every giant sized image for you right here!

Tom Cruise headlines a spectacular, all-new cinematic version of the legend that has fascinated cultures all over the world since the dawn of civilization: The Mummy. The cast also includes Annabelle Wallis (King Arthur, “Peaky Blinders”), Jake Johnson (Jurassic World), Courtney B. Vance (“American Crime Story: The People V. O.J. Simpson”), Oscar winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator), and Sofia Boutella (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Star Trek Beyond) as the titular character.

Related Story: The Mummy – Tour Dr. Jekyll’s Prodigium in VR; Dracula’s Skull and The Creature’s Arm Spotted!

The creative team on this action-adventure event is led by director/producer Alex Kurtzman and producer Chris Morgan. Sean Daniel, who produced the most recent Mummy trilogy, produces alongside Kurtzman and Morgan. The script is by Jon Spaihts and Christopher McQuarrie.

Look for The Mummy in theaters on June 9, 2017.  For more info in the meantime, keep your eyes on themummy.com.

Synopsis:
Thought safely entombed in a tomb deep beneath the unforgiving desert, an ancient princess (Boutella) whose destiny was unjustly taken from her is awakened in our current day, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension.

From the sweeping sands of the Middle East through hidden labyrinths under modern-day London, The Mummy brings a surprising intensity and balance of wonder and thrills in an imaginative new take that ushers in a new world of gods and monsters.

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