Monday 29 July 2019

PET SEMATARY (2019) - Review

A grief stricken father finds its never wise to mess around in old Indian burial grounds in PET SEMATARY, the new adaptation of horror author Stephen Kings classic novel, which available Digitally now and out on Disc in August

Louis Creed (Jason Clark - "Terminator Genisys", "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes") has just moved into a new home with his family, near the rural town of Ludlow, Maine. 

When the family's cat is killed on the nearby road, their neighbour Jud Crandall (John Lithgow - "Interstellar", "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes") tells Louis of a place , deep in the woods, where they can bury him. 

So when the cat returns alive and seemingly well the next day, Louis is extremely surprised to say the least. Although, he doesn't appear to be quite so cute and loveable any more.

But when his daughter is struck by a passing lorry days later, the grief stricken father does something extremely rash, which may have dire consequences for the rest of his family as he discovers there is a reason why the Indians stopped burying their dead there...

Also starring Amy Seimetz (Alien Covenant), Pet Sematary offers a few twists on the previous 1989 adaptation, being a lot darker and doesn't quite go in the direction you think its going to. Also features a new version of the old Ramones song "Pet Sematary" by Starcrawler.

King fans are bound to love it.

I was sent the DVD to review which comes with the following special features...

Alternate Ending
Deleted and Extended Scenes
Night Terrors – Family Haunting Visions (deleted nightmare sequences)
The Tale of Timmy Baterman (Deleted scene of Jud Crandall narrating a tale that befell the Baterman family in the town)

The Blu Ray release also contains the additional feature...
Beyond the Deadfall - 4 Part Behind the scenes documentary on the making of the film, featuring interviews with the cast and crew.
 
The 4K UHD release comes packaged with the Blu-Ray disc. The 4K disc contains the film only, with the BD containing the film and the same extras as the standalone disc.

Pre-order the UK UHD & BD from Amazon.co.uk
Pre-order the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk
Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk
 
 

Thursday 25 July 2019

The Soska Sisters' RABID - World Premiere at FrightFest, 26 Aug

FrightFest presents the World Premiere of Jen and Sylvia Soska's Terrifying New Nightmare 'Rabid' on 26 August

Acclaimed horror directors Jen and Sylvia Soska aka ‘The Twisted Twins’ (American Mary) are back with their next nightmare – the bloody, brutal and deranged Rabid!

After aspiring fashion designer Rose (Laura Vandervoort) suffers a disfiguring traffic accident she undergoes a radical and untested stem-cell treatment. The experimental transformation is a miraculous success, transforming her into a ravishing beauty. 

But she soon develops an uncontrollable sexual appetite, resulting in several torrid encounters, which sees her lovers become rabid carriers of death and disease. As the illness mutates and the contagion spreads out of control, all hell breaks loose as the infected rampage through the city on a violent and gruesome killing spree.

Based on the original horror from David Cronenberg, Rabid has already courted controversy getting the Soska Sisters banned from Twitter for sharing an image from the film. So buckle up and prepare for a blood-soaked ride at FrightFest 2019!

Starring Laura Vandervoort (Jigsaw, Bitten), Benjamin Hollingsworth (Cold Pursuit) and Phil ‘C.M. Punk’ Brooks (Girl on the Third Floor). Written and directed by Jen and Sylvia Soska. 

The Soska Sisters will also introduce a screening of a new-to-the-UK 2K restoration of David Cronenberg’s original Rabid (1977) at FrightFest on Sunday 25 August.

FrightFest presents the World Premiere of Rabidon 26 August at 5.45pm in the Arrow Video Screen and 6.15pm in the Horror Channel Screen at the Cineworld Leicester Square

Buy FrightFest Tickets: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/tickets.html



Psychological thriller KALEIDOSCOPE comes to UK Disc and Digital

British actor Toby Jones (Don’t Forget the Driver, Detectorists, Tinker Tailor, Soldier Spy) takes as the lead in "Kaleidoscope", a bleak, nightmarish psychological thriller written and directed by his brother Rupert Jones, making his feature film debut.
  
A sparse, drab flat, on a housing estate in London, loud frantic knocking and a dog barking. We meet Carl Woods (Toby Jones), an ex-prisoner with dreams of starting a gardening business, as he’s abruptly awoken from his sleep on the sofa. He goes to the door…no-one is there. 

Exploring the house, he notices lipstick traces on a glass, an ashtray full of cigarette butts, he goes upstairs and finds a shocking discovery, a dead body in the bathroom. But is everything as it seems?

As the narrative twists and turns we follow Carl’s footsteps as he chats with his neighbour Monique, prepares for his first date in 15 years with someone he met online, Abby and gets a message announcing an impending, unwanted visit from his overbearing mother…
 
With time running out, Carl’s relationship with his mother and the ramifications of his night with Abby now collide in dramatic, surprising, unforgettable ways.

Garnering critical acclaim on its theatrical release, this intense thriller is set to arrive on UK digital platforms on 12 August 2019, followed by its DVD release on 23 September 2019. 

The cast includes Sinead Matthews (Jellyfish), Cecilia Noble (Danny and the Human Zoo) and a stand out turn from national treasure Anna Reid, MBE (Last Tango in Halifax).

 View the trailer on YouTube.

Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk




Wednesday 24 July 2019

Mayhem Film Festival announces first three titles and guests for this year’s festival.


Opening Mayhem’s 15th edition is Irish supernatural comedy Extra Ordinary. In rural Ireland, reluctant medium Rose is called upon to save a local teen from the town’s resident one-hit wonder rock star, who has somewhat satanic plans to bring his career back from the dead. Expect exorcisms, and plenty of ectoplasm. Mayhem is delighted to welcome special guests from the film for a Q&A after the screening.

Next in this year’s line-up is the UK Premiere of immersive Polish historical drama Sword of God (The Mute). In the early Middle Ages, two Christian knights arrive at a pagan village hidden deep in the mountains. Soon, their faith and the bond between them are brutally tested as events spiral out of control, and many will die in the name of God.

Rounding off the first wave of announcements is the genre-bending Something Else. From directors Jeremy Gardner (cult buddy-movie-zombie-outbreak film The Battery) and Christian Stella comes a completely unique take on the monster movie – a love story. When Hank’s girlfriend vanishes, leaving only a note behind, his sanity begins to slip and something monstrous stirs in the woods that surround his home.

More events, films and guests for Mayhem 2019 will be announced later in the summer.

Early Bird passes are on sale now at £70, allowing access to the full festival including previews, premieres, and special events.

Mayhem Film Festival will take place at Broadway Cinema, Nottingham on 10 – 13 October 2019, and more news will be revealed over the summer about this year’s edition. 

For more information, please visit www.mayhemfilmfestival.com


Horror Channel celebrates FrightFest 2019 with bumper season

Film news (UK): Horror Channel celebrates FrightFest 2019 with bumper season


To celebrate FrightFest 2019, taking place in London during the August Bank Holiday, Horror Channel is dedicating thirteen nights to past festival hits. Amongst the twenty-six fearsome favourites, the channel will kick off the season with the UK TV premiere of Howard J. Ford & Jonathan Ford’s India-based zombie road movie THE DEAD 2, the follow-up to their hugely popular African zombie adventure THE DEAD. There is also a UK TV premiere for Jonathan Ford’s OFFENSIVE. Produced by brother Howard, this is a dark, violent tale of generational rage and revenge set in rural France.

There are also channel premieres for Julian Gilbey’s harrowing British survival shocker, A LONELY PLACE TO DIE, starring Melissa George and Ed Speelers; Lucky McKee and Chris Sivertson’s wickedly ghoulish subversion of the sex comedy high school movie, ALL CHEERLEADERS DIE; and the Goetz Brothers’ powerful 2015 version of Pascal Laugier’s Sadean masterpiece, MARTYRS.

The diabolical double bills are on every night from August 16th – 28th, starting from 9pm, and feature such FrightFest crowd-pleasing classics as Eli Roth’s notorious post-modern celebration of the Italian cannibal genre, THE GREEN INFERNO; Christopher Smith’s hilariously shocking SEVERANCE, starring Danny Dyer and Andy Nyman; and Ti West’s The Shining slacker-style indie sensation, THE INNKEEPERS. There’s also Dominic Brunt’s outrageous and hilarious satire ATTACK OF THE ADULT BABIES, starring a whole host of TV favourites including Kate Coogan, Charlie Chuck and Sally Dexter; Adam Green’s slasher spoof favourite HATCHET, starring horror icons Kane Hodder, Robert Englund and Tony Todd; and everyone’s favourite bserial-killer doll is reaping more murder and mayhem in Don Mancini’s CURSE OF CHUCKY.

Full film details in transmission order:

Fri 16 Aug @ 21:00 – THE DEAD 2 (2013) *UK TV Premiere


 Another darkly mysterious continent becomes an inhospitable and dangerous dead zone as the deadly virus infecting the world moves to India. As the devastating zombie outbreak takes hold, British turbine engineer Nicholas Burton (Joseph Millson) must trek from one side of the country to the other if he is ever to see his pregnant girlfriend again; but it’s a journey he must undertake if he is to save her and his unborn child from an impending flesh-eating zombie holocaust.

Fri 16 Aug @ 22:55 – ATTACK OF THE ADULT BABIES (2017)

Sat 17 Aug @ 21.00 – A LONELY PLACE TO DIE (2011) *Channel Premiere


Five mountaineers are climbing in the Scottish Highlands when they stumble across an air pipe sticking out of the forest ground emitting panicked cries from a small girl speaking Serbian. Who buried her in the earth chamber? Why? The horrifying answers will take the quintet to the death-defying Devil’s Drop. And in the deadliest game of cat-and-mouse predator becomes prey and vice versa in this top-flight terroriser laced with pulse-pounding thrills.

Sat 17 Aug @ 23:00 - OUTPOST III (2013)

Sun 18 Aug @ 21:00 – BLACK WATER (2007)

Sun 18 Aug @ 22:50 - THE GREEN INFERNO (2014)

Mon 19 Aug @ 21:00 - SEVERANCE (2006)

Mon 19 Aug @ 22:55 – DEMONIC (2015)

Tues 20 Aug @ 21:00 – THE REMAINING (2014)

Tues 20 Aug @ 22:50 – TUCKER & DALE VS EVIL (2010)

Wed 21 Aug @ 21:00 – CURSE OF CHUCKY (2013)

Wed 21 Aug @ 22:55 – EMELIE (2015)

Thurs 22 Aug @ 21:00 – THE INNKEEPERS (2011)

Thurs 22 Aug @ 23:00 – IBIZA UNDEAD (2016)

Fri 23 Aug @ 21:00 – ALL CHEERLEADERS DIE (2013) *Channel Premiere


Tragedy has rocked Blackfoot High. Students are mourning the shocking death of Lexi, captain of the cheerleading squad. Enter Maddy who wants to make the cheerleading squad pay for their bullying and wanton ways and her weird loner neighbour Leena who claims to practise the Dark Arts. Before you know it a sect of murderous succubi are born. Let the supernatural vengeance begin…

Fri 23 Aug @ 22:50 – WOLF CREEK 2 (2013)

Sat 24 Aug @ 21:00 – LET HER OUT (2016)

Sat 24 Aug @ 22:45 - MARTYRS (2015) * Channel Premiere


Lucie escapes from the warehouse where she was being held captive and brutalised. Leaving the orphanage a decade later with her best friend Anna, she’s determined to find the family who tortured her. But her urge for vengeance is the gateway to greater horrors as both girls must endure an even more unimaginable and debauched hell together.

Sun 25 Aug @ 21:00 – OFFENSIVE (2016) *UK TV Premiere


Retired Bernard and Helen Martin inherit a house in rural France where Bernard’s father liberated locals from Nazis during World War II in a raging killing spree. But this peaceful couple quickly become the target of a cruel gang of street kids. Plugged into their devices, devoid of empathy they are a new breed of technological psychopath. Soon Bernard and Helen's lives become a living hell as they are harassed, tormented and pushed beyond breaking point. Right or wrong no longer matters, survival is everything! Can Bernard live up to his father’s legend? It’s the old generation vs. the new!

Sun 25 Aug @ 23:10 – BLOODSUCKING BOSSES (2015)

Mon 26 Aug @ 21:00 – HATCHET (2006)

Mon 26 Aug @ 22:40 - GINGER SNAPS (2000)

Tues 27 Aug @ 21:00 – CREEP (2014)

Tues 27 Aug @ 22:40 - 100 BLOODY ACRES (2012)

Wed 28 Aug @ 21:00 – THE SAND (2015)

Wed 29 Aug @ 22:45 - ROAD GAMES (2015)

Horror Channel: Be Afraid

TV: Sky 317 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 70 / Freesat 138



THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD - UK BD review

I have a great fondness for these old Amicus productions, which (along with Hammer films) were a staple of late night TV at the weekends in the early 80s. Now, Second Sight films are releasing a couple of classics this month on special limited edition Blu-rays. The first of which being 1971's "The House that Dripped Blood".

As with most Amicus productions, this is an anthology film, featuring several short films with a wraparound story linking them togethor. This one revolves around a police detective (played by prolific TV actor John Bennet), who is sent to a remote town to investigate the dissapearance of an infamous horror film star who went missing after renting an old lodge.

But he discovers this is not the first person to have come to a mysterious end whilst staying there, as we're treated to 4 short tales involving the house's previous occupants.

The first, "Method for Murder", has horror novelist Deholm Elliot (The Vault of Horror, Raiders of the Lost Ark) suffering a breakdown as he thinks he is being stalked by the killer from his latest novel. Except he might not be imagining things.

The second, "Waxworks" has horror veteran Peter Cushing being strangely drawn to an alluring dummy in a wax musem, that might not be all that it appears to be.

The third segement, "Sweets to the Sweet", sees fellow horror cohort Christopher Lee hiring a private tutor for his daughter, who is alarmed at how overbearing and heavy handed he is with her. But it seems his daughter might not be the sweet, innocent child she first thought.

Which brings us to the final story, "The Cloak" in which John Pertwee (TVs Dr Who, Wurzel Gummidge) is cast in a very different role from his usual comedy, or children's TV fare. Playing a horror movie actor, who purchases a cloak from an antiques dealer (played by his Wurzell Gummidge cohort Geoffrey Bayldon) for use in his latest vampire film, only to find it has a very strange effect when he puts it on.

Written by Robert Bloch (Psycho) and featuring a star studded cast, which also includes horror veteran Ingridd Pitt (The Vampire Lovers, The Wicker Man) and Joss Ackland (Caligula, The Hunt for Red October), the film is presented in an extras laden Blu-Ray, containing the following special features

Audio Commentary with Director Peter Duffell and Author Jonathan Rigby
Audio Commentary with Film Historian and Author Troy Howarth
Interview with Second Assistant Director Mike Higgins
‘A Rated Horror Film’ - Vintage featurette featuring interviews with Director Peter Duffell and Actors Geoffrey Bayldon, IngridPitt and Chloe Franks
Theatrical Trailers
Amicus Radio Spots
Stills Gallery
Reversible sleeve featuring new artwork by Graham Humphreys and original artwork
This being a special limited edition release also contains
Rigid Slipcase Featuring New Artwork by Graham Humphreys
40 page booklet with new essays by Allan Bryce, Jon Towlson and Kat Ellinger
Reversible poster featuring new and original artwork 

"The House that Dripped Blood" is released to UK BD 29th July.

Buy the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk

 

Monday 22 July 2019

Arrow Video FrightFest 2019 announces more guests, special events

Ahead of single tickets going on sale from Sat 21st July, Arrow Video FrightFest announces their current slate of guests, more details on some special events and the short list for the Screen Genre Rising Star Award. 


As previously revealed, genre icon Dario Argento and The Soska Sisters will be attending and other returning alumni include Abner Pastoll, here with the closing night film A GOOD WOMAN IS HARD TO FIND, alongside many of the cast, producer/director Ant Timpson for opener COME TO DADDY, BLISS director Joe Begos, joined by stars Dora Madison and Graham Skipper, DANIEL ISN’T REAL helmer Adam Egypt Mortimer and Paidraig Reynolds, director of DARK LIGHT, accompanied by his cast including Jessica Madsen (Leatherface). Plus, Jordan Barker returns with WITCHES IN THE WOODS, with lead actress Hannah Kasulka, Dan Bush with THE DARK RED, accompanied by lead actress April Billingsley and the Pierce Brothers are back with THE WRETCHED.

This year’s International talent making their FrightFest debut include KNIVES AND SKIN director Jennifer Reeder, DRIVEN writer/lead actress Casey Dillard, alongside co-star Glenn Payne, EAT BRAINS LOVE director Rodman Flelder, ROCK PAPER AND SCISSORS co-director Martin Bousson, accompanied by Argentinian leading ladies Valeria Giorcelli and Agustina Cervino, Henry Jacobsen, marking his directorial debut with Blumhouse production BLOODLINE and Ireland is represented by Paddy Murphy, who is also making his directorial debut with THE PERISHED. Plus we have Eric Pennycroft, director of SADISTIC INTENTIONS, with actress Taylor Zaudtke (who also features in FrightFest entry FINGERS), I TRAPPED THE DEVIL lead actor & producer Scott Poythress, Brandon Croft for TRUE FICTION. THE DEEPER YOU DIG co-directors John Adams and Toby Poser (who also stars in the movie), VOILITION director Tony Dean Smith, alongside star John Cassini, (who also stars in TRUE FICTION), FINGERS director Juan Ortiz, THE FURIES director Tony D’Aquino and Jason Axinn, here with TO YOUR LAST DEATH.

Homegrown talent will be present in abundance this year. CRAWL star Kaya Scodelario is in the house, alongside cast and crew from MADNESS IN THE METHOD, including Busted singer/songwriter and actor Matt Willis. TALES FROM THE LODGE director Abigail Blackmore is joining us with her all-star cast, including Mackenzie Crook and Laura Fraser. Plus, Lawrie Brewster returns with anthology FOR WE ARE MANY, accompanied by crew and cast including Nicholas Vince. Tom Paton is also back with STAIRS, along with HERE COMES HELL director Jack McHenry and Andrew Desmond, director of THE SONATA.

Staying with UK talent, the FIRST BLOOD strand goes from strength to strength and all the helmers will be around, supported by their cast and crews: So let’s welcome DEATH OF A VLOGGER director Graham Hughes, A SERIAL KILLER’S GUIDE TO LIFE director Staten Cousns-Roe, CRIMINAL AUDITION director Samuel Gridley, DARK SENSE director Magnus Wake and Fredi Nwaka, director of ARE WE DEAD YET?

Established in 2016 to celebrate the work of emerging UK genre talent, FrightFest is proud to team up for the fourth year running with Screen International to present the ‘Screen Genre Rising Star Award’. This year’s short list salutes the work of Abigail Blackmore, director of twisty, terrifying black comedy horror TALES FROM THE LODGE, Staten Cousins-Roe for his highly original and compelling debut feature A SERIAL KILLER’S GUIDE TO LIFE, actress Rebecca Rogers for her stunning lead performance in STALKED, Jack McHenry for his exuberant genre cocktail of caviar and carnage HERE COMES HELL and director/actor Fredi Nwaka for his devilishly clever feature ARE WE DEAD YET?. The winner will be revealed on Monday 26 Aug, 6,30pm at the Cineworld Leicester Sq.

Other events this year include the UK launch of Dario Argento’s autobiography ‘Fear’. The genre icon and giallo legend will take to the stage to talk about the book and life at the top during Rome’s Golden Horror Era. Argento’s life-long friend and FrightFest co-director Alan Jones, who adapted, edited, annotated and illustrated the FAB Press publication, will be the master of ceremonies at this must-attend event followed by a signing session.

The discovery of new voices in the world of genre filmmaking is close to FrightFest’s darkly beating heart and the festival has teamed up with UK distribution outfit Blue Finch Films and short film funding company Genera, to launch a new initiative to help finance genre short films that are in the latter stages of development. With a £1000 fund on offer, the finalists will pitch their films to an industry panel and the winning film will be announced at the end of the festival. Hosted by FrightFest’s Short Film programmer Shelagh Rowan-Legg, the panel will include filmmaker actress Joanne Mitchell and Blue Finch Films’ Mike Chapman.

Rosie Fletcher, editor of Den Of Geek, will host FROM PAGE TO SCREAM, featuring top horror authors whose work has been adapted or optioned for the screen. They’ll talk about the processes and pitfalls of getting a novel turned into a show or film, what it's like seeing their creations come to life and about how the landscape of horror is changing in books, film and TV.

FrightFest, in association with Supermassive Games, presents a special preview of MAN OF MEDAN, the first game in The Dark Pictures anthology. Hosted by Barry Keating, they’ll be a live Q & A with the key development talent behind the game. The much anticipated interactive narrative horror adventure, developed by Supermassive Games and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, brings supernatural horror on board a ghost-ship adrift in the South Pacific. It is set to be released on Aug 30, 2019.

There’s no party like a film party and to celebrate FrightFest’s 20th year the Duke Mitchell team have once again scoured the Earth to find the weirdest pieces of film & cinema ever to have flashed into our eyeballs. Add to the mix some very SPECIAL guests, endless giveaways and brilliant trailers and it means the ‘DUKE MITCHELL FILM PARTY’ is the only place to be on a late night Saturday at FrightFest!

Keep watching our official twitter @frightfest for even more guest announcements in the coming weeks…

Arrow Video FrightFest runs from 22nd-26th August 2019 at Cineworld Leicester Square and The Prince Charles Cinema.

Single tickets go on sale Sat 20th July at noon and, alongside the few remaining Festival and day pass sales, are available to buy online: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/tickets.html

For full programme details: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/


Saturday 20 July 2019

FOR WE ARE MANY - NEW Horror Anthology from Hex studios

The latest offering from the Scottish studio is a demon-themed anthology featuring 13 shorts produced especially for the project by up-and-coming directors from around the world. For We Are Many is the first of several anthology features in the works at Hex, and seeks to showcase the best of new and emerging talent in the genre.

The film stars a host of horror icons including Eileen Dietz (The Exorcist), Nicholas Vince (Hellraiser), and Laurence R. Harvey (The Human Centipede II). Each segment tells the terrifying story of a particular demonic entity, from a devastatingly sensual succubus, to a Native-American demon that drives its victims to cannibalism, and many more, ranging from the biblical to the Lovecraftian.

Following an open pitching process, the producers at Hex worked closely with the filmmakers to ensure that each short would feature unique and iconic creatures, bold, original stories and (literally) eye-popping practical effects.

According to producer Lawrie Brewster of Hex, “A big part of our mission at Hex Studios has always been to provide a platform for, and shine a light on emerging talent. Working with so many supremely talented filmmakers to produce For We Are Many has been a fantastic experience, and we're all so proud of the film we've created together. We're already planning two further anthologies for next year which we'll be announcing soon, and which will, again, be open to all to submit pitches.”

After two years of production, For We Are Many is now almost complete, and set to première at London's legendary FrightFest. To support the release of the film, the producers have launched a Kickstarter campaign, where backers can pre-order copies of the film as well as Hex Studios' previous titles, books, T-shirts and exclusive plush toys of their infamous villain the Owlman.

Head over to their Kickstarter page to watch the trailer, check out the rewards on offer and support independent horror!

KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN: http://kck.st/2lcJPn9
 


 



Monday 15 July 2019

Lars Von Trier's ANTICHRIST soundtrack on limited edition vinyl

Cold Spring Records presents the original soundtrack for Lars Von Trier's controversial Antichrist on Limited Edition 'Eden Olive' and Black Etched Vinyl 6 September


Ten years after the film's initial release, the extreme, provocative performances from Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg in Antichrist still have the power to shock, repulse and divide audiences.

The sound design by Kristian Eidnes Andersen with Lars Von Trier, was composed using only natural sounds and samples (including internal body recordings). Each element was recorded specifically for the film and overseen by Von Trier, including a brand new, sombre performance of Händel’s ‘Lascia Ch’io Pianga’, recorded in Kastelskirken church in Copenhagen, 2009.

Antichrist OST is pressed onto heavyweight 180 gram vinyl with an etched B-Side. The vinyl is housed in a heavy 350gsm card full colour sleeve featuring the original theatrical release artwork.

Pre-order vinyl direct from Cold Spring: http://bit.ly/AntichristOST

For more information visit: http://bit.ly/ColdSpringAntichrist

Saturday 13 July 2019

BLAIR WITCH PROJECT 20th Anniversary Apparel & More from Fright-Rags

The Blair Witch Project's 20th anniversary is this weekend, and Fright-Rags is honoring the occasion with its first collection of apparel from the film. The company also has new tees from Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Splatter University. 


Celebrate 20 years of The Blair Witch Project with Fright-Rags' collection dedicated to the genre-defining film. The line features five shirts, including one with glow-in-the-dark handprints, two enamel pins, and Stickman socks. 


Fright-Rags salutes summer movies with a colorful array of apparel from Jaws and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Each Steven Spielberg classic has three shirts, including new designs, reprints, and classic artwork. 


Earn a higher degree in terror with Fright-Rags’ Splatter University apparel. The '80s slasher has received two T-shirts: one new design and one reprint.

The Blair Witch Project, Jaws, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Splatter University collections are on sale now at Fright-Rags.com.


Friday 12 July 2019

Cronenberg's RABID & lost 90s horror SKINNER head to UK BD from 101 Films Black Label

101 Films Black Label presents David Cronenberg's Rabid on two-disc Blu-ray 26 August and lost 90s horror Skinner of dual-format 23 September

RABID (David Cronenberg, 1977)

101 Films is proud to present Rabid, the enduringly tense and gruesome horror that marked a landmark in David Cronenberg’s early career. 


When Rose suffers terrible injuries in a motorcycle crash, she is taken to a nearby clinic run by Dr Keloid for experimental skin-graft surgery. At first, the revolutionary procedure proves successful, but it soon leaves Rose with a strange orifice protruding from her armpit and an insatiable thirst for human blood. Hell-bent on satisfying her bloodlust, Rose leaves a trail of insane and uncontrollably aggressive victims, as the unknown virus engulfs North America in an orgy of frenetic violence.

Starring: Marilyn Chambers, Howard Ryshpan, Frank Moore and Patricia Gage (American Psycho). Rabid is written and directed by David Cronenberg (Videodrome) and produced by John Dunning, Ivan Reitman and Don Carmody.

Brand new extras
• The Quiet Revolution: State, Society and the Canadian Horror Film – Part One: Gimme Shelter: Cinepix and the Birth of the Canadian Horror Film, a brand new feature-length documentary exploring the social contexts behind Canadian horror cinema from filmmaker and author Xavier Mendik
• Audio commentary with filmmakers Jen and Sylvia Soska (directors of the 2019’s Rabid reimagining)
• Limited edition booklet: Includes ‘The Birth of Rabid’ by Greg Dunning and ‘Stunned. Shocked. Exhilarated: Horror in the Early Films of David Cronenberg’ by Alex Morris

Additional extras
• Audio commentary with writer-director David Cronenberg
• Audio commentary with William Beard, author of ‘The Artist as Monster: The Cinema of David Cronenberg’
• Audio commentary with Jill C. Nelson, author of ‘Golden Goddesses: 25 Legendary Women Of Classic Erotic Cinema, 1968-1985’ and Marilyn Chambers' Personal Appearances Manager Ken Leicht
• Young And Rabid – An interview with actress Susan Roman
• Archive interview with David Cronenberg
• The Directors: David Cronenberg – a 1999 documentary on the filmmaker
• Interview with executive producer Ivan Reitman
• Interview with co-producer Don Carmody
• Trailer
• Radio spots
• Format: two-disc Blu-ray (all extras aside from commentaries on disc two)
• First 3,000 copies come with limited edition slipcase and booklet

This new-to-the-UK 2K restoration will screen at London’s FrightFest Film Festival on Sunday 25 August. For more information visit: http://bit.ly/Rabid77FrightFest 

SKINNER (Ivan Nagy, 1993) - UK Blu-ray debut 


At one time thought a lost film, Skinner has been resurrected from obscurity in a mind-blowing 4K restoration so cult cinema fans can now witness this 90s horror gem in all its sinful, sleazy and violent glory.

Dennis Skinner seems like a normal enough guy but he has a very abnormal hobby. At night, he creeps through the back streets looking for potential victims, and when he finds one, carefully removes their skin with an elaborate collection of knives. Heidi, one of Dennis' victims, is on his trail, waiting for a chance to get her revenge, but in the meantime Dennis has developed a crush on Kerry and wants to find a way to show her he really cares.

Starring: Ted Raimi (Spider-Man), Traci Lords (Blade), David Warshofsky (There Will Be Blood), Richard Schiff (Se7en) and Rikki Lake (Hairspray). Directed by Ivan Nagy (The Hitchhiker) and written by Paul Hart Wilden (Alone). This marks Skinner’s UK debut on any format.

Brand new extras
• Limited edition booklet includes ‘Finding Skinner’ - Screenwriter Paul Hart- Wilden on the long and multi-faceted search for the ‘lost’ Skinner master

Additional extras
• A Touch of Scandal - Interview with Director Ivan Nagy
• Under His Skin - Interview with Star Ted Raimi
• Bargain Bin VHS For A Buck - Interview with Screenwriter Paul Hart-Wilden
• Cutting Skinner - Interview with Editor Jeremy Kasten
• Flaying sequence out-takes and extended takes
• Trailer
• Format: dual format Blu-ray and DVD (DVD in limited edition only)
• First 3,000 copies come with limited edition slipcase and booklet

101 Films presents Rabid on two-disc special edition Blu-ray 26 August and Skinner on special edition dual format (Blu-ray/DVD) 23 September

Pre-order both for £25 direct from 101 Films: http://bit.ly/101black 


Thursday 11 July 2019

FRIGHTFEST REANIMATES ITS NEW BLOOD - SEARCH FOR NEW WRITERS

With FrightFest entering its 20th year, the search is set to resume for new writers in the horror genre. For the third year running, New Blood reunites FrightFest with Giles Edwards of Queensbury Pictures with its mission to find emerging UK-based writers dedicated to the genre and nurture their projects from script to screen. Queensbury is ultimately interested in buying the finished script rather than the idea, and so, this year all successful final candidates if selected should be able to send even a rough draft of the first ten pages of their script through with their acceptance. 


Already the scheme has delivered one new project Broadcast Signal Intrusion. Written by Phil Drinkwater and Tim Woodall, it’s directed by Jacob Gentry (The Signal) and goes into production in early autumn.

The successful shortlisted applicants will workshop their ideas in a group setting under the guidance of top industry professionals and genre experts. Among this year’s panel are two-for-the-price-of-one directors The Soska Sisters, producer Jen Handorff (Prevenge, The Chamber), novelist and critic Kim Newman, and Queensbury Pictures’ Giles Edwards.

Giles Edwards of Queensbury Pictures said, “Having already achieved the initial aim of New Blood, with the discovery of the phenomenal script BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION from Phil and Tim that’s going into production in Chicago in September, we’re more adamant than ever that the cream of UK genre writing talent is out there, just waiting for the opportunity to wrench our collective gut with their visions of true terror.”

Greg Day, co-director of FrightFest added, “For FrightFest to help and enable aspiring scriptwriters to have this opportunity is very gratifying, especially as Giles and Queensbury Pictures have proved that they really mean business and are not just playing industry lip-service.”

The New Blood networking and workshop event will be held on Thursday 22 August, the opening day of this year’s festival, in a Central London venue

Applications are open from Wednesday 10th July with potential participants asked to submit a 400 word proposal through the dedicated New Blood page on the FrightFest website and if selected, each writer is expected to submit the first ten pages of their script idea. The deadline is Wednesday 31st July. All successful applicants will be notified by early August and then will be requested to send over their sample script pages. All participants are expected to pay for their own travel and accommodation.

For full application requirements and to apply: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/newblood.html

FrightFest 2019, 20th anniversary edition, runs 22nd to 26th August.

Saturday 6 July 2019

Hammer's LUST FOR A VAMPIRE - On Blu-ray for the First Time - 12th Aug

The second in Hammer’s racy and rapturous Karnstein Trilogy, LUST FOR A VAMPIRE – directed by Jimmy Sangster (Writer of the legendary Dracula (1958) and The Curse of Frankenstein) – returns to wreck gloriously seductive horror once more.

In 1830, forty years to the day since the last manifestation of their dreaded vampirism, the Karnstein heirs use the blood of an innocent to bring forth the evil that is the beautiful Mircalla (YUTTE STENSGAARD). The nearby Finishing School offers rich pickings not only in in the blood of nubile young ladies but also with the headmaster (RALPH BATES) who is desperate to become Mircalla’s disciple.

As students in the school, inhabitants of the nearby village, and those who suspect Mircalla start to die, suspicion turns toward the Karnsteins and their ominous castle. A visiting author, Richard Lestrange (MICHAEL JOHNSON), instantly falls for her seductive yet lethal charms; and must save her from the wrath of his fellow villagers, whilst protecting himself against her deadly kiss. 

Bursting at the seams with lovingly put-together extras including a new featurette on Hammer in 1970, LUST FOR A VAMPIRE will arrive on UK Blu-Ray for the first time and DVD on 12th August and is available to pre-order now.

Extras include..
STRANGE LOVE: HAMMER IN 1970
SCRIPT TO SCREEN: TO LOVE A VAMPIRE
JUDY MATHESON INTERVIEW
STILLS GALLERY  

Pre-order the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk


OLDBOY - In Selected Cinemas 2nd Aug - UK TRAILER

It’s time to experience extreme vengeance as Park Chan-wook’s sensationally violent masterpiece Oldboy, releases again on the big screen with a newly mastered 4K restoration, in selected UK cinemas on the 2nd August, courtesy of Arrow Films.



Based on the Japanese manga of the same name, the film tells the horrific tale of Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a businessman who is inexplicably kidnapped and imprisoned in a grim hotel room-like cell for 15 years, without knowing his captor or the reason for his incarceration.

Eventually released, he learns of his wife’s murder and embarks on a quest for revenge whilst also striking up a romance with a young, attractive sushi chef, Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung). He eventually finds his tormentor, but their final encounter will yield yet more unimaginable horrors...

OLDBOY in selected UK cinemas 2nd August and on 4K Digital Download from 26th August, courtesy of Arrow Video

Arrow Video FrightFest 2019 announces 20th year record-breaking line-up

The UK’s biggest and boldest horror and fantasy film festival is celebrating its 20th bloody year. Since 2000 it has made its indelible mark, not only on the ever-burgeoning horror community but also on the UK genre landscape as a whole. The internationally renowned event leads the way in attesting to the versatility of the genre, its reinvention and its growing importance in the cultural landscape and this year is no exception. 


Arrow Video FrightFest 2019 is back at the Cineworld Leicester Square and The Prince Charles Cinema from Aug 22 - Aug 26. Hosting a record-breaking seventy-eight films, embracing fourteen countries and spanning six continents, this year’s five-day fear-a-thon includes 20 World, 20 International / European and 28 UK Premieres. 


As previously announced, this year’s festivities begin with the UK premiere of Ant Timpson’s deviously edgy stunner COME TO DADDY, starring Elijah Wood and reaches its bloody conclusion with the World premiere of Abner Pastoll’s superbly crafted crime story, A GOOD WOMAN IS HARD TO FIND. Other main screen international attractions include producer Guillermo del Toro and director André Øvredal’s SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK, producer Sam Raimi and director Alexandre Aja’s gruesome ‘gator yarn CRAWL, the Radio Silence gang’s lethal thriller READY OR NOT, director Kiah Roache-Turner’s futuristic Ozploitation classic NEKROTRONIC, Pedro C. Alonso’s startling captive chiller FEEDBACK, with a career-defining performance from Eddie Marsan, Kirill Sokolov’s splatterpunk action comedy WHY DON’T YOU JUST DIE! and Jason Mewes’ insanely brilliant MADNESS IN THE METHOD, starring Mewes, Vinnie Jones, Kevin Smith, Teri Hatcher, Dean Cain and with a final on-screen appearance from Stan Lee.

Making their second, very welcome appearance at the festival will be The Soska Sisters, attending for the World Premiere of RABID, their eagerly anticipated re-imagining of the Cronenberg classic. The sisters will also introduce a special retrospective screening of the original. Also attending is the legendary Dario Argento, here for a special screening of his giallo masterpiece TENEBRAE. He’ll also be in conversation with Festival co-director Alan Jones and signing copies of his autobiography, ‘Fear’, which Jones has adapted and edited. More attending guests will be announced later this month. 


FrightFest’s 20th year sees the return of directorial alumni like Adam Egypt Mortimer with his provocative psychological horror DANIEL ISN’T REAL, Christian Alvart with his twisted blockbuster CUT-OFF, Lucky McKee with the startling KINDRED SPIRITS, starring Thora Birch, Joe Begos with his terror trip BLISS, Larry Fessenden with DEPRAVED, a post-modern take on the Frankenstein legend, Padraig Reynolds with belligerent creature feature DARK LIGHT, producer Eli Roth with the grindhouse-inspired HAUNT, The Pierce Brothers’ bring us their chiller THE WRETCHED, Dan Bush is back with seat-edge shocker THE DARK RED, Jordan ‘Zombeavers’ Rubin teases us with tongue-in-chic horror comedy THE DRONE and ‘Level 16’ director Danishka Esterhazy gives us her fun-packed body-counter THE BANANA SPLITS. There is also the UK premiere of GIRL ON THE THIRD FLOOR, the directorial debut from returning producer Travis Stevens and DARLIN’, the directorial debut of past FrightFest ‘darling’ Pollyanna McIntosh Plus, those fur balls with teeth are back. CRITTERS ATTACK!, with original star Dee Wallace, will enjoy its European Premiere.

FrightFest continues to present the films that are currently shaking up the genre scene and allowing it to transform and continually excite. Like Michael Goi’s MARY starring Gary Oldman and Emily Mortimer, the inventive EAT BRAINS LOVE from Rodman Flender, Seann William Scott’s stunning serial killer turn in BLOODLINE, Chelsea Stardust’s hilarious SATANIC PANIC, the unforgettable coming-of-ager KNIVES AND SKIN, THE BLACK STRING, marking the comeback of Frankie Muniz, Kelola Racela’s lustfully demonic PORNO, the incredible animation attraction TO YOUR LAST DEATH, Emma Tammi’s critically acclaimed THE WIND, Fernando Alle’s Troma-inspired MUTANT BLAST. and the two craziest Midnight Movies you will ever see – Valeri Milev’s fabulously inventive BULLETS OF JUSTICE and Fabricio Bittar’s Brazilian gorefest GHOST KILLERS VS. BLOODY MARY.

The genre scene in the UK continues to innovate and thrive, reflected in this year’s FIRST BLOOD strand. Life coaches become dead coaches in Staten Cousins-Poe’s gem of a feature debut A SERIAL KILLER’S GUIDE TO LIFE and Graham Hughes’ viral mockumentary DEATH OF A VLOGGER, gives the found footage format a much-needed shot in the arm. Then there’s Samuel Gridley’s darkly funny CRIMINAL AUDITION, Magnus Wake’s cleverly plotted and heart-pounding DARK SENSE and making up the fearsome five is Fredi Nwaka’s ARE WE DEAD YET, a cleverly crafted supernatural comedy-crime thriller.

Other home-grown selections include the European premiere of TALES FROM THE LODGE Abigail Blackmore’s portmanteau shocker, starring Mackenzie Crook and Johnny Vegas, Carl Strathe’s disturbing DARK ENCOUNTER, starring Laura Fraser and Alice Lowe, and the world premiere of Charlie Steeds’ flesh-eating horror THE BARGE PEOPLE. There are also world premieres for Justin Edgar’s nail-biting suspense thriller STALKED (AKA ‘Unseen’), Tom Paton’s heightened horror STAIRS and producer/director Lawrie Brewster’s FOR WE ARE MANY, in which directors from around the world unleash a legion of demons. And let’s not forget director Jack McHenry, who makes a welcome return with his crowd-pleasing HERE COMES HELL, which made huge waves at our Glasgow edition earlier this year. 


Over the years FrightFest has showcased the best genre films Canada has to offer and this year a special strand has been created – ‘Canadian Chills’ – to highlight an exceptional bumper crop, which, apart from RABID, embraces the International premiere of Colin Minihan and director Kurtis David Harder’s smart chiller SPIRAL and the UK premieres of Tony Dean Smith’s sci-fi mind-bender VOLITION, Ray Xue’s entertainingly nasty EXTRACURRICULAR, starring Luke Goss, Chad Archibald’s deadly thriller I'LL TAKE YOUR DEAD, Cameron Macgowan’s dark comedy chiller RED LETTER DAY and Jordan Barker’s unrelenting assault of pure terror, WITCHES IN THE WOODS. Then there are World premieres for Jay Dahl’s malevolent HALLOWEEN PARTY and Braden Croft’s compelling TRUE FICTION, Completing the line-up are Zack Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein’s FrightFest Glasgow hit FREAKS, the International premiere of Rob Grant’s sick, sea-faring adventure HARPOON and the UK premiere of the sinister and challenging HAPPY FACE, this year’s Duke Mitchell presentation.

Another country with a fine FrightFest pedigree is Argentina and this year is no exception; with the World Premiere of producer Javier Diment’s chilling chamber piece ROCK, PAPER AND SCISSORS, plus the European premiere of Herman Finding’s IMPOSSIBLE CRIMES and the UK premiere of Pablo Pares’ apocalyptic powerhouse I AM TOXIC.

The global cabinet of fear holds more…Tunisia is represented for the first time with the UK premiere of DACHRA, an intense folk horror that has broken box office records in North Africa and Japan offers up a forgotten musical cult gem from 1985 - THE LEGEND OF THE STARDUST BROTHERS. Ireland’s entry is Paddy Murphy’s THE PERISHED. Mixing horror and pertinent social issues, the film marks the debut of a new Irish genre voice.

Further indie discoveries on the monstrous menu are: Australian chase chiller THE FURIES, the elegantly scary THE SONATA, social media shocker DEADCON, DRIVEN, a smart, meter-running battle against evil, Eric Pennycroft’s brooding SADISTIC INTENTIONS, with Larry Fessenden, the horrifying Christmas cracker I TRAPPED THE DEVIL, the quirky, cutting FINGERS and THE DEEPER YOU DIG, a Coen-Brothers-esque story of grief and survival from Toby Poser and John Adams.

Documentary lovers will enjoy Dima Ballin’s THE MAGNIFICENT OBSESSION OF MICHAEL REEVES, charting the life and early death of the man who gave us WITCHFINDER GENERAL and two documentaries from director David Gregory, MASTER OF DARK SHADOWS , an in-depth look at the talents of Dan Curtis, the ‘King of TV horror’ and SICK! SAVAGE! SENSUAL! THE REEL LIFE AND GHASTLY DEATH OF AL ADAMSON, which tells the bizarre and grim demise of one of Hollywood’s exploitation bad boys. 


In a first for FrightFest, there will be a special preview of MAN OF MEDAN, the first game in The Dark Pictures anthology. This will be followed by a Q&A session with the key development talent behind the game. The much anticipated interactive narrative horror adventure, developed by Supermassive Games and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, brings supernatural horror on board a ghost-ship adrift in the South Pacific. It is set to be released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One Aug 30, 2019.

Festival co-director Alan Jones, said today: “Over the last two decades we have tirelessly introduced our committed audiences to every trend, every new talent and every innovation that has put horror back in the collective cinephile conscious. Even after 20 years. FrightFest’s August event remains a key destination to see the latest genre movies in the manner for which they were made - on the Big Screen surrounded by fellow fear-mongers. Remember, it’s our party and we’ll scream if we want to!”

This year’s guest list, special events and the Short Film Showcase entries will all be announced in the coming weeks.

Festival passes will go on sale Sat 6 July at noon and will only be available to buy online: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/tickets.html

Single tickets will go on sale on Sat 20 July from 9am.

For full programme details: http://www.frightfest.co.uk/
  
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