Latest Articles
From Indie Game to Big Screen Horror: Dredge Getting a Live-Action Adaptation
Prepare to set sail for terror. The announcement has been made that Black Salt Games and Story Kitchen are teaming up to bring the haunting world of Dredge to life in a live-action film adaptation of the hit game. Fishing for Trouble The game is not your typical fishing simulator. Dredge is a critically acclaimed 2023 indie horror game. It has garnered praise for its unique blend of genres and unsettling atmosphere. Developed by the talented New Zealand team at Black Salt Games, Dredge casts players as fishermen venturing into the uncharted waters of a remote archipelago. This seemingly peaceful island chain harbors a sinister secret – the deeper you delve, the more bizarre and nightmarish things become. A chilling cosmic horror narrative unfolds as you upgrade your boat to explore treacherous waters and uncharted islands. The encroaching darkness and the inky depths conceal monstrous leviathans and unspeakable secrets. Each fishing expedition becomes a perilous journey into the unknown, where
Continue reading →
“Fallout” Renewed for Season Two
Following the premiere of Prime Video’s series adaptation of the hit game “Fallout,” news has come that it has already been renewed for its second season. And we are totally here for it! From Vaults to Wastelands: A Familiar World Reimagined Developed by Bethesda Softworks, the “Fallout” video game franchise has captivated players for decades. It features a rich lore, action, and a compelling post-nuclear world. Amazon’s “Fallout” series promises to stay true to the franchise’s essence. It transports viewers to a ravaged wasteland teeming with danger and opportunity. Following Lucy’s Journey The series centers around Lucy (Ella Purnell), a young woman venturing out from the relative safety of an underground Vault. Thrust into a world forever scarred by a nuclear war centuries ago. Lucy must navigate this new reality, encountering humanity’s remnants and the mutated creatures roaming the wasteland. The Cast The series has a large, impressive ensemble cast that stars alongside Purnell. The list includes Walton Goggins (“Justified”)
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Panic Fest 2024 Spoiler-Free Short Film Reviews: “Cereal,” “The Curse of the Velvet Vampire,” “We Joined a Cult,” “Up on the Housetop,” “Strange Creatures,” “Howl at the Dead”
Following is a roundup of six of the short-film shockers that screened at this year’s edition of New Orlean’s Overlook Film Festival. Cereal Canadian short Cereal, from director Shane R. Preston, finds young girl Chelsea (Trinity Kaylani Seiling in a fun performance) receiving a disturbing message from her alphabet-shaped cereal: “Kill.” This evil kid short has a nice retro vibe and looks great, with a fine supporting performance from Shelby Handley as Chelsea’s mother. My only quibble is that the fourth wall gets broken twice, which reduces the effect for me. The Curse of the Velvet Vampire Director Christoffer Schurict’s collaboration with band 802 finds two Chinese horror fans watching a strange film in a video rental store. Soon enough, this slice of cinema intersects with real life. Featuring plenty of female undead and the resulting bloodletting, along with some music video, this short film has cult favorite written all over it. We Joined a Cult From Chris McInroy, director
Continue reading →
Panic Fest 2024 Spoiler-Free Review: “Ghost Game” (2024)
Director Jill Gevargizian’s sophomore feature Ghost Game is an effective offering that uses home invasion in a unique way and serves up some intriguing surprises. Vinny (Zaen Haidar) discovers some disturbing footage on his girlfriend Laura’s (Kia Dorsey) laptop — without her permission — in which she and a man named Adrian (Sam Likowski) botch a home invasion and injure a woman. Laura explains that it is a sort of filmed challenge called Ghost Game, in which the participants live in houses without being detected by homeowners — phrogging, as it is called — and prank them, leading the residents to believe that the supernatural is involved. And it just might be, as Vinny insists that Laura get rid of Adrian and take him with her instead to her next assignment: a long-abandoned, reputedly haunted house in which a family has just moved in. The stage for real ghostly occurrences is soon set, as young daughter Samantha (Vienna Maas), who
Continue reading →
Jason Blum Resurrects ‘The Blair Witch Project’ For New Film
Horror mastermind Jason Blum and his Blumhouse Productions are set to unleash terror upon the world again. They are reimagining The Blair Witch Project for Lionsgate. This marks a thrilling collaboration between two powerhouses in the genre, which promises to take a fresh take on the found-footage phenomenon that redefined horror in 1999. The news broke at CinemaCon, the annual Las Vegas gathering of the movie theater industry. This project is the first installment in a multi-picture deal between Blumhouse and Lionsgate that will revive classic horror films for a new generation. Blumhouse, A Horror Mainstay The Blumhouse name is synonymous with scares, as evident in their wildly successful franchises like Paranormal Activity and The Purge. One of their recent hits, M3GAN, is getting a sequel, as is their adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s. This demonstrates their continued ability to tap into the zeitgeist of horror. With a cumulative box office gross of nearly $6 billion, Blumhouse has proven
Continue reading →
‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ Scores a Release Window
Fans of the jump-scare-laden video game franchise can rejoice! Just months after the chilling success of the first film adaptation, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is officially on its way. Universal’s Jim Orr announced the sequel at CinemaCon, and it is slated to terrify audiences in Fall 2025. A Hit This news comes roughly two years after the original film’s release. Even though it was available on Peacock, the movie was a box office hit, grossing a whopping $291 million worldwide. The Sequel Details about the sequel, including the director and other cast members, remain shrouded in mystery. Expectations point towards Josh Hutcherson’s return as the film’s protagonist. Production is set to begin this summer, much to Hutcherson’s delight. “We all hoped it would connect with audiences,” Hutcherson said regarding the sequel, “but I don’t think anyone, even us, expected it to resonate the way it did. I’m chomping at the bit to get back on set. Working with director
Continue reading →
Sink Your Fangs into The First Look at Robert Egger’s ‘Nosferatu’
Anticipation crackles in the air as CinemaCon attendees witness the chilling first look and transformation of Bill Skarsgård (also starring in The Crow reboot) into the legendary vampire, Count Orlok, in Robert Eggers‘ highly anticipated reimagining of Nosferatu. A Legacy Reborn Drawing inspiration from the 1922 silent masterpiece, this film breathes new life into the classic tale. While echoing the silent film’s narrative of a Transylvanian vampire spreading terror in a foreign land (though with new names), Eggers promises a fresh take on the iconic story. The unveiled trailer teases the arrival of the enigmatic vampire, plunging the ancient German town of Wisborg into a nightmarish spiral. We see glimpses of Lily-Rose Depp‘s anguished character seeking answers from Willem Dafoe‘s Professor Von Franz amidst chilling scenes of bloodcurdling imagery and a city consumed by fear. A Stellar Ensemble Depp portrays Ellen Hutter, the object of Nosferatu’s chilling desires, while Nicholas Hoult plays her betrothed, Thomas, who is destined to be
Continue reading →
Best Selling Author Completes Unfinished George A. Romero Novel ‘Pay the Piper’
Brace yourselves for a chilling new tale from beyond the grave. Legendary writer/director George A. Romero‘s unfinished manuscript, “Pay the Piper,” co-authored by bestselling author Daniel Kraus, has been completed, hitting shelves this September. This discovery is a thrilling resurrection of Romero’s legacy. While working to complete Romero’s novel The Living Dead, Kraus stumbled upon another hidden gem, a half-written novel titled “Pay the Piper.” In collaboration with Romero’s estate, Kraus completed the manuscript, ensuring this terrifying vision finds its place in the horror genre. A Descent into the Louisiana Bayou “Pay the Piper” plunges readers into the heart of the cursed Louisiana bayou. Young Renée Pontiac has grown up with whispers of “the Piper,” a malevolent entity lurking in the swamp. The spirit has long been rumored to be responsible for a string of gruesome child disappearances. The legend becomes chillingly real. Now, Renée, along with the town, must confront a horrifying truth – the sins of their ancestors,
Continue reading →
Panic Fest 2024 Spoiler-Free Film Reviews: “The Ceremony Is About to Begin” and “The Hyperborean”
The Ceremony Is About to Begin (2024) Director Sean Nichols Lynch follows up his vampire comedy Red Snow (2021) with faux documentary horror The Ceremony Is About to Begin, which he cowrote with stars Chad Westbrook Hinds and John Laird. The film starts with black-and-white interview footage with former members of the Osiris Collective, a commune/cult based on ancient Egyptian culture, including each member taking on a name from that culture. The leader was a man named Father Osiris (Raul Delarosa), who disappeared mysteriously during a mountain hike with a new member who took the name Anubis (Hinds). Documentarian Keith Evans (Laird) has a very personal reason for wanting to interview the members of the Osiris Collective, as his ex-girlfriend Maddy (Michelle Westbrook Hinds) left him for the cult. Anubis, who took over leadership of the group and whose negative behaviors drove members away, invites Evans to the Collective grounds to conduct interviews. With the film having earlier changed to
Continue reading →
James McAvoy Is Creepy AF in the ‘Speak No Evil’ Trailer
A vacation goes wrong in the trailer for Speak No Evil, the remake of the 2022 Danish horror film. This pitch-black comedy stars James McAvoy as a seemingly ordinary dad who harbors a dark secret A Picture-Perfect Family with a Hidden Darkness Speak No Evil follows a group of friends spending a weekend at the idyllic countryside home of another couple. The facade of a perfect family soon crumbles as McAvoy’s character reveals a disturbing side. His anger escalates over seemingly trivial matters like his children’s performance of the “Cotton Eyed Joe” song. The trailer hints this is just the beginning of events designed to make the guests feel increasingly uneasy. Unveiling the Unsettling: McAvoy’s Chilling Transformation Director James Watkins is known for his work on horror films like The Woman in Black and his talent for building an atmosphere of mounting dread. McAvoy is renowned for his ability to portray complex characters with a hint of menace (as seen
Continue reading →More latest articles
From Indie Game to Big Screen Horror: Dredge Getting a Live-Action Adaptation
Prepare to set sail for terror. The announcement has been made that Black Salt Games and Story Kitchen are teaming up to bring the haunting world of Dredge to life in a live-action film adaptation of the hit game. Fishing for Trouble The game is not your typical fishing simulator. Dredge is a critically acclaimed 2023 indie horror game. It has garnered praise for its unique blend of genres and unsettling atmosphere. Developed by the talented New Zealand team at Black Salt Games, Dredge casts players as fishermen venturing into the uncharted waters of a remote archipelago. This seemingly peaceful island chain harbors a sinister secret – the deeper you delve, the more bizarre and nightmarish things become. A chilling cosmic horror narrative unfolds as you upgrade your boat to explore treacherous waters and uncharted islands. The encroaching darkness and the inky depths conceal monstrous leviathans and unspeakable secrets. Each fishing expedition becomes a perilous journey into the unknown, where
Continue reading →
“Fallout” Renewed for Season Two
Following the premiere of Prime Video’s series adaptation of the hit game “Fallout,” news has come that it has already been renewed for its second season. And we are totally here for it! From Vaults to Wastelands: A Familiar World Reimagined Developed by Bethesda Softworks, the “Fallout” video game franchise has captivated players for decades. It features a rich lore, action, and a compelling post-nuclear world. Amazon’s “Fallout” series promises to stay true to the franchise’s essence. It transports viewers to a ravaged wasteland teeming with danger and opportunity. Following Lucy’s Journey The series centers around Lucy (Ella Purnell), a young woman venturing out from the relative safety of an underground Vault. Thrust into a world forever scarred by a nuclear war centuries ago. Lucy must navigate this new reality, encountering humanity’s remnants and the mutated creatures roaming the wasteland. The Cast The series has a large, impressive ensemble cast that stars alongside Purnell. The list includes Walton Goggins (“Justified”)
Continue reading →
Panic Fest 2024 Spoiler-Free Short Film Reviews: “Cereal,” “The Curse of the Velvet Vampire,” “We Joined a Cult,” “Up on the Housetop,” “Strange Creatures,” “Howl at the Dead”
Following is a roundup of six of the short-film shockers that screened at this year’s edition of New Orlean’s Overlook Film Festival. Cereal Canadian short Cereal, from director Shane R. Preston, finds young girl Chelsea (Trinity Kaylani Seiling in a fun performance) receiving a disturbing message from her alphabet-shaped cereal: “Kill.” This evil kid short has a nice retro vibe and looks great, with a fine supporting performance from Shelby Handley as Chelsea’s mother. My only quibble is that the fourth wall gets broken twice, which reduces the effect for me. The Curse of the Velvet Vampire Director Christoffer Schurict’s collaboration with band 802 finds two Chinese horror fans watching a strange film in a video rental store. Soon enough, this slice of cinema intersects with real life. Featuring plenty of female undead and the resulting bloodletting, along with some music video, this short film has cult favorite written all over it. We Joined a Cult From Chris McInroy, director
Continue reading →
Panic Fest 2024 Spoiler-Free Review: “Ghost Game” (2024)
Director Jill Gevargizian’s sophomore feature Ghost Game is an effective offering that uses home invasion in a unique way and serves up some intriguing surprises. Vinny (Zaen Haidar) discovers some disturbing footage on his girlfriend Laura’s (Kia Dorsey) laptop — without her permission — in which she and a man named Adrian (Sam Likowski) botch a home invasion and injure a woman. Laura explains that it is a sort of filmed challenge called Ghost Game, in which the participants live in houses without being detected by homeowners — phrogging, as it is called — and prank them, leading the residents to believe that the supernatural is involved. And it just might be, as Vinny insists that Laura get rid of Adrian and take him with her instead to her next assignment: a long-abandoned, reputedly haunted house in which a family has just moved in. The stage for real ghostly occurrences is soon set, as young daughter Samantha (Vienna Maas), who
Continue reading →
Jason Blum Resurrects ‘The Blair Witch Project’ For New Film
Horror mastermind Jason Blum and his Blumhouse Productions are set to unleash terror upon the world again. They are reimagining The Blair Witch Project for Lionsgate. This marks a thrilling collaboration between two powerhouses in the genre, which promises to take a fresh take on the found-footage phenomenon that redefined horror in 1999. The news broke at CinemaCon, the annual Las Vegas gathering of the movie theater industry. This project is the first installment in a multi-picture deal between Blumhouse and Lionsgate that will revive classic horror films for a new generation. Blumhouse, A Horror Mainstay The Blumhouse name is synonymous with scares, as evident in their wildly successful franchises like Paranormal Activity and The Purge. One of their recent hits, M3GAN, is getting a sequel, as is their adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s. This demonstrates their continued ability to tap into the zeitgeist of horror. With a cumulative box office gross of nearly $6 billion, Blumhouse has proven
Continue reading →
‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’ Scores a Release Window
Fans of the jump-scare-laden video game franchise can rejoice! Just months after the chilling success of the first film adaptation, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is officially on its way. Universal’s Jim Orr announced the sequel at CinemaCon, and it is slated to terrify audiences in Fall 2025. A Hit This news comes roughly two years after the original film’s release. Even though it was available on Peacock, the movie was a box office hit, grossing a whopping $291 million worldwide. The Sequel Details about the sequel, including the director and other cast members, remain shrouded in mystery. Expectations point towards Josh Hutcherson’s return as the film’s protagonist. Production is set to begin this summer, much to Hutcherson’s delight. “We all hoped it would connect with audiences,” Hutcherson said regarding the sequel, “but I don’t think anyone, even us, expected it to resonate the way it did. I’m chomping at the bit to get back on set. Working with director
Continue reading →
Sink Your Fangs into The First Look at Robert Egger’s ‘Nosferatu’
Anticipation crackles in the air as CinemaCon attendees witness the chilling first look and transformation of Bill Skarsgård (also starring in The Crow reboot) into the legendary vampire, Count Orlok, in Robert Eggers‘ highly anticipated reimagining of Nosferatu. A Legacy Reborn Drawing inspiration from the 1922 silent masterpiece, this film breathes new life into the classic tale. While echoing the silent film’s narrative of a Transylvanian vampire spreading terror in a foreign land (though with new names), Eggers promises a fresh take on the iconic story. The unveiled trailer teases the arrival of the enigmatic vampire, plunging the ancient German town of Wisborg into a nightmarish spiral. We see glimpses of Lily-Rose Depp‘s anguished character seeking answers from Willem Dafoe‘s Professor Von Franz amidst chilling scenes of bloodcurdling imagery and a city consumed by fear. A Stellar Ensemble Depp portrays Ellen Hutter, the object of Nosferatu’s chilling desires, while Nicholas Hoult plays her betrothed, Thomas, who is destined to be
Continue reading →
Best Selling Author Completes Unfinished George A. Romero Novel ‘Pay the Piper’
Brace yourselves for a chilling new tale from beyond the grave. Legendary writer/director George A. Romero‘s unfinished manuscript, “Pay the Piper,” co-authored by bestselling author Daniel Kraus, has been completed, hitting shelves this September. This discovery is a thrilling resurrection of Romero’s legacy. While working to complete Romero’s novel The Living Dead, Kraus stumbled upon another hidden gem, a half-written novel titled “Pay the Piper.” In collaboration with Romero’s estate, Kraus completed the manuscript, ensuring this terrifying vision finds its place in the horror genre. A Descent into the Louisiana Bayou “Pay the Piper” plunges readers into the heart of the cursed Louisiana bayou. Young Renée Pontiac has grown up with whispers of “the Piper,” a malevolent entity lurking in the swamp. The spirit has long been rumored to be responsible for a string of gruesome child disappearances. The legend becomes chillingly real. Now, Renée, along with the town, must confront a horrifying truth – the sins of their ancestors,
Continue reading →
Panic Fest 2024 Spoiler-Free Film Reviews: “The Ceremony Is About to Begin” and “The Hyperborean”
The Ceremony Is About to Begin (2024) Director Sean Nichols Lynch follows up his vampire comedy Red Snow (2021) with faux documentary horror The Ceremony Is About to Begin, which he cowrote with stars Chad Westbrook Hinds and John Laird. The film starts with black-and-white interview footage with former members of the Osiris Collective, a commune/cult based on ancient Egyptian culture, including each member taking on a name from that culture. The leader was a man named Father Osiris (Raul Delarosa), who disappeared mysteriously during a mountain hike with a new member who took the name Anubis (Hinds). Documentarian Keith Evans (Laird) has a very personal reason for wanting to interview the members of the Osiris Collective, as his ex-girlfriend Maddy (Michelle Westbrook Hinds) left him for the cult. Anubis, who took over leadership of the group and whose negative behaviors drove members away, invites Evans to the Collective grounds to conduct interviews. With the film having earlier changed to
Continue reading →
James McAvoy Is Creepy AF in the ‘Speak No Evil’ Trailer
A vacation goes wrong in the trailer for Speak No Evil, the remake of the 2022 Danish horror film. This pitch-black comedy stars James McAvoy as a seemingly ordinary dad who harbors a dark secret A Picture-Perfect Family with a Hidden Darkness Speak No Evil follows a group of friends spending a weekend at the idyllic countryside home of another couple. The facade of a perfect family soon crumbles as McAvoy’s character reveals a disturbing side. His anger escalates over seemingly trivial matters like his children’s performance of the “Cotton Eyed Joe” song. The trailer hints this is just the beginning of events designed to make the guests feel increasingly uneasy. Unveiling the Unsettling: McAvoy’s Chilling Transformation Director James Watkins is known for his work on horror films like The Woman in Black and his talent for building an atmosphere of mounting dread. McAvoy is renowned for his ability to portray complex characters with a hint of menace (as seen
Continue reading →