Dream House and other scary houses - feature

When thinking about scary houses in films, what sends a shiver down your spine? Causing you to leave the light on when you go to sleep? The Shining? The Amityville Horror? Perhaps it's the house where Norman Bates kept his dead mother in a rocking chair, in "Psycho."

To celebrate the release of DREAM HOUSE on November 25th, we take a look at some of the scariest houses from the big screen!

The Amityville Horror (1979)

The picturesque home known as the Amityville Horror is the infamous house that appears in the film that is supposedly based on true events! Yep, that’s right, this house that appeared to be so perfect, was in fact the perfect haunted / horror house. Hearing voices telling you  to “get out!”, as well as blood dripping from the walls and inanimate objects causing physical pain to those in the house are all factors that have put The Amityville Horror House in our list!

The Shining (1980)

When thinking about the perfect job, caretaking a big beautiful, remote hotel in the winter months seems like a pretty good job, right? Not when an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future.

The Haunting (1963)

Hill House, the large, eerie mansion with a lurid history of violent death and insanity. That description says it all really. Located in a remote part of New England and isolated from any nearby community, Hill House is a 90-year-old, 19th century mansion with a long history of death and murder.

Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

The house in “Nightmare on Elm St." house where Freddy Krueger crept into the dreams of teenagers certainly stays in your mind whilst trying to sleep. Whatever you do, don't fall asleep...or you'll meet the terrifying Freddy!

Psycho (1960)

Bates Motel, need we say more?

The Exorcist (1973)

Remember that big white house with the big steps leading up to the big door? Remember what happened in that big white house? Remember the rumours that the film was cursed? You can go visit the house in Washington, if you dare.....Everything that happened around The Exorcist screams the scariest house of all time!

DREAM HOUSE is released in cinemas on November 25th.

For more informationm please visit the official website here www.dreamhousemovie.co.uk

Seasonal "Hammer Glamour" on the Horror Channel (UK)

Continuing its popular presentation of the Hammer horror era, the Horror Channel serves up a seasonal menu of blood and barely restrained cleavage in a celebration of those glorious 70s supernatural sirens.

Over 4 weeks, starting Dec 24, you can share the Xmas season with Ingrid Pitt (Countess Dracula), Yutte Stensgaard (Lust For A Vampire), Martine Beswick (Dr. Jekyll & Sister Hyde) and real-life twins and former Playboy Playmates Mary and Madeleine Collinson (Twins Of Evil) in a crop of 1971 Hammer favourites.

Sat Dec 24 @ 23:10

DR. JEKYLL & SISTER HYDE (1971). Originally from Jamaica, Martine Beswick, who plays Sister Hyde, was a favourite of the film director Terence Young who cast her in two Bond films.

Sat Dec 31 @ 23:10
LUST FOR A VAMPIRE (1971). Yutte Stensgaard only appeared in one Hammer film but made quite an impression with male viewers as the predatory Mircalla who bites her way through the pupils of a ladies finishing school.

Sat Jan 7 @ 23:10
COUNTESS DRACULA (1971). Polish-born Ingrid Pitt is perhaps the most iconic of the Hammer leading ladies and when the company was re-instated in 2007 it was Ingrid they chose to represent the old guard in Beyond The Rave.

Sat Jan 14 @ 23:10
TWINS OF EVIL (1971). Born in Malta, Mary & Madeleine Collinson have the distinction of being the only Hammer debutants to appear on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show – this after Hugh Hefner chose them as Playboy’s 1970s ‘Misses October’. 

The horror channel broadcasts on UK TV on Sky 319, Virgin 149 and Freesat 138

For more info, visit their website at www.horrorchannel.co.uk

Death comes to UK DVD in December

Coming to UK DVD & Blu-Ray in December, "Final Destination 5". Death is just as omnipresent as ever, and is unleashed after one man’s premonition saves a group of coworkers from a terrifying suspension bridge collapse. But this group of unsuspecting souls was never supposed to survive, and, in a terrifying race against time, the ill-fated group frantically tries to discover a way to escape Death’s sinister agenda.

Directed by Steven Quale, marking his major feature film directorial debut. The film brings together an ensemble cast led by Emma Bell (TV’s "The Walking Dead") and Nicholas D’Agosto (TV’s "Heroes"), along with Miles Fisher (TV’s "Mad Men" and "Gossip Girl"), Arlen Escarpeta ("Friday the 13th") and 'Final Destination' franchise icon Tony Todd ("Hatchet II", "Candyman").

FD5 is released on DVD, Blu-ray Triple Play and 3D Blu-ray December 26th

Buy the DVD at Amazon.co.uk

Buy the 3D Blu-Ray at Amazon.co.uk

Hostel 3 hits UK DVD in January.

Get ready for the next disturbing chapter in the terrifying Hostel franchise when Hostel: Part III debuts onto UK Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download on January 23, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

High stakes gambling takes on a sinister new meaning in this third chapter of the terrifying HOSTEL series. While attending a bachelor party in Las Vegas, four friends are enticed by two sexy escorts to join them at a private party way off the Strip.

Once there, they are horrified to find themselves the subjects of a perverse game of torture, where members of the Elite Hunting Club are hosting the most sadistic show in town.

Bonus materials include commentary with Director Scott Spiegel (Intruder, From Dusk Till Dawn 2) and actor Kip Pardue.

The disc will be available to pre-order shortly.

ScAIRcrows Screening - London

If you are in London on the 5th of December, there's a FREE screening of the new short horror film "ScAIRcrows" at the Pheonix Cinema in East Finchley at 1930.

ScAIRcrows tells the tale of four friends who are spending a lazy summer afternoon in a park, unaware of the aerial terror that is coming their way.

Four sentient scarecrows with the ability to become airborne are engaging in a killing spree that may well put an end to the friends' plans for the day. And their lives.

The Cast & Crew will be in attendance and there will be drinks afterwards at the Bald Faced Stag bar across the road.

Tickets for the event can be obtained by emailing info@scaircrows.com.

For more info visit the Scaircrows Facebook Page

Also, visit the official website at http://www.scaircrows.com/ 

Grindhouse Trailer Classics 3

YES!!!!! Following the successful and critically-acclaimed release of Grindhouse Trailer Classic 1 & 2, Nucleus Films are set to release a third volume this December.

Presented by Kim Newman, "Grindhouse Trailer Classics 3" will take you on another two hour trip back to the “gory days” of cult and exploitation cinema with their latest unseen compilation of audacious theatrical trailers from the sleazy cinematic sub-genre known as “grindhouse”.

There are 55 trailers to enjoy from films like Black Mama, White Mama, starring Tarantino favourite and Blaxploitation superwoman Pam Grier. Plus The Doberman Gang – an hilarious high concept robbery flick and an outrageous grindhouse oversale trailer Nazi Love Camp 27.

Then there’s classic horror exploitation fare with Don't Open the Door, Schizoid, Touch of Satan, Tourist Trap, It Came Without Warning and Night Evelyn Came out of the Grave. Sexploitation action comes thick and fast with Policewomen, Terminal Island,  Superchick & The Female Bunch.

Plus, take a tour with ‘Kim Newman’s Guide to Grindhouse’, which will transport you back to those flea-pit cinemas of yesteryear. And with the sound down and sub-titles on the disc makes a great house party piece!

 

The collection is released to UK DVD on December 5.

Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk

Daniel Radcliffe launches YouTube Ghost Story competition for Woman in Black

Daniel Radcliffe, the star of upcoming ghost story chiller, THE WOMAN IN BLACK, has launched an initiative to find the UK and Ireland’s scariest story. 

He is urging budding writers to submit their own original short story to THE WOMAN IN BLACK YouTube channel (see link below). 

The winning entry will be recorded by Radcliffe and included on THE WOMAN IN BLACK DVD and the winner will win a trip to London to attend the Premiere of THE WOMAN IN BLACK in early 2012.

Daniel Radcliffe announced the competition with a reading of an iconic scene from Susan Hill’s original novella.

Radcliffe adds some advice for potential entrants, “For all you budding writers out there remember that it’s 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration so good luck and I can’t wait to see what spooky stories you guys come up with in the coming months”

The competition will run exclusively on YouTube.   Entrants have to upload short videos of themselves reading their original ghost story through the film’s official YouTube page.  The competition closes on the 20^th of December 2011, whereupon ten finalists will be chosen and voted for by the public.  The winner will be announced on the 6^th of January 2012.

A full set of terms and conditions are available on the YouTube channel.

Visit http://www.youtube.com/thewomaninblackmovie for more info.

Keith Chegwin talks about "Kill Keith".

Keith Chegwin is interviewed about his new horror-comedy "Kill Keith" which opens in the UK on Nov 11th.

Visit the official website at http://www.killkeith.co.uk/  

It's only a T-shirt, only a T-shirt....

Matt O'Neill recently got in touch to tell us about his new site "It's Only a T-Shirt".

They produce high quality screen printed Horror T-shirts, which are fully licensed, and limited in number. Each one comes packaged in a VHS box with full colour reproduction artwork (see below).

The first title they are producing is "Patrick" (being as they are based in Australia) and is limited to 200.

For more info, visit them at http://www.itsonlyatshirt.com

 

SNOWTOWN ARRIVES THIS MONTH

Justin Kurzel’s critically acclaimed debut feature film Snowtown comes to UK cinemas this month. A huge success at this year’s London Film Festival, the film documents the true story of serial killer John Bunting.

Sixteen-year-old Jamie longs for an escape from the violence and hopelessness that surrounds him in Adelaide's disenfranchised northern suburbs, and his salvation arrives in the form of John, a charismatic man who unexpectedly comes to his aid. 

As John spends more and more time with Jamie’s family, he moves from the role of Jamie’s protector to that of a mentor, indoctrinating Jamie into his world, a world brimming with bigotry, righteousness and malice.

Like a son mimicking his father, Jamie soon begins to take on some of John’s traits and beliefs as he spends more and more time with him and his select group of friends. The protection and guidance that John presents to Jamie is initially welcomed however as events occur around him, including the disappearance of several people, Jamie begins to harbour deep suspicions about John and his motivations.

When the truth is finally revealed to Jamie his hopes of happiness are threatened by both his loyalty for, and fear of, his father-figure John Bunting, Australia’s most notorious serial killer. A nail-biting, highly acclaimed thriller, Snowtown marks the arrival of a major new filmmaking talent.

The film is released theatrically in the UK on Nov 18.

Visit the official website at http://www.snowtownfilm.com/ 

HUNGER GAMES - CHARACTER POSTERS RELEASED

Lionsgate films have just released 8 differant character posters for their upcoming film "The Hunger Games" Featuring Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and introducing Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Cinna (Lenny Kravitz), Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), Effie (Elizabeth Banks), Cato (Alexander Ludwig), and Rue (Amandla Stenberg).

Based on Suzanne Collins’ bestselling novel, The Hunger Games will be released to UK cinemas, March 23, 2012. For more info visit http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/intl/uk/ 

DRACULA, ROBIN HOOD AND JEKYLL & HYDE SET TO DO BATTLE

Publisher Mohawk Media has released the first issue of its digital comic book series, Dracula vs. Robin Hood vs. Jekyll & Hyde. Written by Chris Bunting and illustrated by JL Czerniawski, who previously collaborated on the publisher’s Mr. T graphic novels.

Bunting says: “I’ve already written a few famous faces, but this is something extra special: bringing a number of world-famous characters together for the ultimate showdown. “My other goal was to redress the mistreatment these characters have so often received. Robin Hood isn’t portrayed here as the gallant hero he obviously never was, and Dracula is closer in tone to the original than perhaps ever before.

“As for Jekyll and Hyde, he was the main inspiration for the Hulk. Because of this, it never felt right that Hulk was always portrayed as bigger and stronger… until now. “But this isn’t just a horror tale, despite the Halloween launch of issue #1. It’s full of supernatural, sci-fi, superheroics – and good old-fashioned scraps. “It’s a clash of genres as much as it is a clash of the characters who embody and represent those genres.”

Editor Stuart Buckley adds: “It feels right for a British writer to bring these British-born legends together through a British publisher. The characters’ quintessential ‘Britishness’ won’t be lost in translation as it so often has been in the past. “As a result, we expect this series to have major global appeal. The first issue is ready to download worldwide now.

“Like many readers, we miss the days when a clash between the likes of Thing and Hulk generated far more interest than publicity stunts which seem to get in the way of solid storytelling, like ‘killing off’ the hero. We hope to bring that kind of excitement back.”

Dracula vs. Robin Hood vs. Jekyll & Hyde will initially be a three issue series available monthly exclusively via the publisher’s groundbreaking line of ECO COMICS, with further instalments of the series to be announced.

It is expected to usher in a “versus” range of titles from the publisher.

Dracula vs. Robin Hood vs. Jekyll & Hyde #1 is a twenty-page issue, and is available to order now in various digital formats via the Eco Comics store: www.mohawkmedia.co.uk/ecocomics for $1.95 (approximately £1.20).

HORROR CHANNEL - SEASON OF THE BANNED

UK TV viewers, prepare to be corrupted and depraved once more as Horror Channel broadcasts a season of films that defines the Video Nasties phenomenon - one of the most extraordinary and scandalous eras in the history of British film.

Headlining this ground-breaking series is the world TV premiere of VIDEO NASTIES: MORAL PANIC, CENSORSHIP AND VIDEOTAPE, which will be broadcast on November 4th @ 10.55pm

Directed by renowned filmmaker Jake West (Doghouse, Evil Aliens) and produced by Marc Morris, (co-author of ‘Art of the Nasty’), this era-defining documentary features reflective interviews with filmmakers Neil Marshall (The Descent, Doomsday) and Christopher Smith (Severance, Black Death) as well as charting the heroic stand taken by journalist/author Martin Barker, who single-handedly came out in protest against what he saw as the erosion of civil liberties.

Season Of The Banned – The Films

4th Nov @ 00:20 - THE EVIL DEAD  (1981)

Sam Raimi’s masterpiece, starring Bruce Campbell, sees five twenty-something friends holed up in a remote cabin where they discover a Book Of The Dead, which unwittingly summon up dormant demons living in the nearby woods.

11TH Nov Double Bill – THE EXTERMINATOR and THE BEYOND

10.55pm - THE EXTERMINATOR (UK Premiere)  (1980)

This exploitation revenge classic can finally be seen (uncut) on UK TV. James Glickenhaus' explosive story sees Vietnam vet John Eastland (Robert Ginty), go on a bloody vendetta against the New York underworld when his best friend is brutally beaten by a street gang.

00:50 - THE BEYOND (1981)

Lucio Fulci’s masterpiece of face chewing Spider action, milky eyed psychics, face melting embalming fluid and rotted, flesh-crazed Zombies returns in all its blood splattered, surreal and grossly disturbing glory for a new generation of horror fans.

18TH Nov Double Bill – ISLAND OF DEATH and CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD

10.55pm – ISLAND OF DEATH (1972)
Greece is transformed into a bloodbath of sex, death and sadism by director Nico Mastorakis in a notorious film that only got the blessing from the BBFC to be distributed uncut in Sept 2010.. 

00:55 - CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (1980)
The king of Euro-Terror, LUCIO FULCI, throws open the gates of Hell, unleashing a plague of Zombies, in this notorious shock and gore masterpiece.

25TH Nov Double Bill – THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE and TENEBRAE
 

10.55pm – THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (1974)

Tobe Hoopers classic. It has been called the “movie that defined horror”. It was attacked by churches, banned by governments, and acclaimed by only the bravest of critics.

00:40 - TENEBRAE (1982)
This infamous video nasty updated the classic Giallo blueprint for the gorified 80s, courting controversy and drenching the viewer in crimson arterial spray.

For more info visit the their website at http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/

Horror channel is available to UK viewers on Sky 319/Freesat 138/Virgin 149. 

The Drummond Will returns...

As you probably know, the summer riots that happened across the UK earlier this year had an extremely detrimental effect on the indie film industry as one of the distribution warehouses got burned down, along with all the stock within.

One title adveresly affected was indie feature "The Drummond Will", which saw most of its newly pressed discs go up in smoke. But thankfully, after a lot of hard work and patience on the filmmaker’s part "The Drummond Will" is again available to buy on DVD and Blu Ray.

A first time feature film, made with money raised independently by a group of talented up and comers, The Drummond Will is a twisted black British comedy that has been taking festivals around the globe by storm.

Checkout the trailer below...

Visit the official website at http://www.drummondwill.com/

Buy the DVD at Amazon.co.uk

Buy the Blu-ray at Amazon.co.uk

Humpty Dumpty

IDW Publishing and Revenger Comics have announced the launch of BILLY MAJESTIC’S HUMPTY DUMPTY, a horrifyingly new take on an old familiar character.

In BILLY MAJESTIC’S HUMPTY DUMPTY, two backwoods brothers, Petus and Pervis Brakk, ambush a group of extraterrestrial beings who have crash-landed on their swampland property. The brothers capture the alien female and secretly keep her prisoner.

After month of captivity, the now-pregnant alien escapes into the swampland, where she gives birth to a monstrous half-human, half-alien creature, who exacts revenge on the sadistic Brakk brothers.

This original story was created and written by Billy Majestic and developed by Revenger Comics (revenger.com). Joining Majestic on this terrifying tale are artists Jordan Jordanov and Ven Dinkov.

In addition to the frightful new graphic novel, Humpty Dumpty is also currently in pre-production as a major motion picture. 

Available on Amazon or in your local comic store!

Buy online at Amazon.co.uk

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Jewish Rabies (NOT Rabbi's)!!!!

Israel's first horror film "Rabies" will be screening in london as part of the UK Jewish film festival, which is taking place at selected cinemas around the country.

Checkout the trailer below...

 

The film is being screened on Sat 12/11/11 at 22:00 at The Coronet Cinema London

And on Thu 17/11/11 at 20:30 at The Peckhamplex London 

May I Kill U - New Images

Latest production stills from the set of Stuart Urban's new Horror-Comedy "May I Kill U".

Kevin Bishop as Baz, a cycling vigilante cop who has his own way of dealing with London’s ‘scum’

 Hayley-Marie Axe plays Val, a 'kick-ass' cycling cop with a crush on Baz.

A series of back street murders start appearing on the internet

The film is set against the backdrop of the recent London riots – which were re-created in the suburbs of Wimbledon.

Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of the recent riots in London, Kevin Bishop plays a policeman with his own ‘riotous’ thoughts. With a helmet cam for company, he pedals forth in search of fame and retribution - with hilarious and devastating consequences.

The film also stars Hayley-Marie Axe, Frances Barber, Jack Doolan and Rosemary Leach.  It is produced by Stuart Urban & Alan Jay and co-produced by Rosa Russo. Director of photography is Fernando Ruiz.

Strippers Vs Werewolves - New Trailer

The New trailer for "Strippers Vs Werewolves" has just been released.

The film hits UK cinemas in 2012 and stars Adele Silva (Emmerdale), Robert Englund (A Nightmare On Elm Street), Billy Murray (Eastenders, The Bill), Martin Kemp (The Krays, Waxwork 2), Ali Bastain (Hollyoaks) , Barbara Nedeljakova (Hostel) and Steven Berkoff (who????)

More info can be found here Kaleidoscope Films