FrightFest 2018 announces record-breaking 19th year line-up.

Remaining in the heart of London’s West End for its 19th edition, the world renowned horror and fantasy film festival turbo-charges into the Cineworld Leicester Square and The Prince Charles Cinema from Aug 23 - Aug 27 2018. Hosting a record-breaking seventy films, embracing eighteen countries and spanning six continents, this year’s line-up is a true celebration of the genre’s global popularity. The five-day fear-a-thon includes 20 World, 17 European and 22 UK Premieres.

The opening night attraction is the UK premiere of THE RANGER. Jenn Wexler’s impressive directorial debut feature is an explosive, post-modern slasher, with a kick-ass punk soundtrack and a knock-out lead performance from Chloe Levin (The Transfiguration). Wexler, the first female director to open FrightFest, will be attending.

She said today: “We are honored and thrilled to be selected as this year’s opening night film. I made THE RANGER because I love punk rock and ‘80s horror. We can’t wait to share it with fans in the city where punk has its roots, at one of the world’s best genre festivals."

Bringing the festival to a fitting conclusion is the UK premiere of Gaspar Noé’s CLIMAX, courtesy of our headline sponsors Arrow Video, which finds the incorrigible Irreversible wild child at the peak of his confrontational and hypnotically mesmerising powers. Based on true events, this throbbing whirling dervish is Noé’s Disco Inferno via Dante’s. 

Over the years FrightFest has discovered and nurtured a host of talented directors and many are returning this year including Martyrs maestro Pascal Laugier with the UK premiere of his latest in the French Extreme annals INCIDENT IN A GHOST LAND, Paul Hyett with the World premiere of his medieval harrower HERETIKS, Colin Minihan with the UK premiere of romantic shocker WHAT KEEPS YOU ALIVE. Padraig Reynolds with the World premiere of his neo-slasher OPEN 24 HOURS and the fully-charged Turbo Kid trio François Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell bring us the European premiere of serial killer thriller SUMMER OF 84. Then there are World premieres for the Paz brothers scorching new take on the fable THE GOLEM, Tom Paton’s cosmic horror BLACK SITE, and Jon Knautz’s THE CLEANING LADY, starring his Goddess of Love muse Alexis Kendra.

Plus, the line-up sees Saw maven Darren Lynn Bousman return with the European premiere of nunsploitation ST AGATHA, Insidious creator Leigh Whannell gifts us with a special preview of his super sci-fi thriller UPGRADE, Johnny Kervorkian appears with the European premiere of his Cronenbergian chiller AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS, Rock video genius Joseph Kahn in back in the spotlight with the UK premiere of his extraordinary battle rap BODIED, director-turned-producer Lucky McKee with director Robert D. Krzykowski’s presents the European premiere of the superb THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT, with Hollywood veteran Sam Elliott giving an award-winning performance.

This year there are a record number of films, embracing zombie horror comedies, redemption thrillers, supernatural twisters, musicals, creature features, biographical dramas, reinvented slashers, gross animation and paranormal freakery. FrightFest has aimed to reflect that rich diversity with films such as Jerome Pikwane’s supernatural horror TOLKOLOSHE, the first festival entry from South Africa, which receives its World Premiere, John McPhail’s exuberant zombie musical ANNA AND THE APOCALYPSE, the UK premiere of Mike Mort’s gory animated shocker CHUCK STEEL: NIGHT OF THE TRAMPIRES. Caye Casas and Albert Pintó’s end of the world eye-opener KILLING GOD, Paul Raschid’s post-Brexit thriller WHITE CHAMBER, starring Shauna Macdonald and. Takeshi Sone’s LGBTQ stunner GHOST MASK: SCAR.

Then there is Matthew Holness’ much anticipated POSSUM, Jérémie Guez’s blazing A BLUEBIRD IN MY HEART, Andy Mitton’s unusual THE WITCH IN THE WINDOW, Linus de Paoli’s gut-wrenching A YOUNG MAN WITH HIGH POTENTIAL, Chris Sun’s Oz creature feature BOAR, Justin P. Lange’s intensely moving THE DARK, Evan Cecil’s splatterific LASSO, Owen Egerton’s bloody cheeky BLOOD FEST, Anthony Scott Burn’s sinister OUR HOUSE, Dominique Rocher’s galvanizing THE NIGHT EATS THE WORLD, Adam Marcus’ slay ride SECRET SANTA, Dean Devlin’s grueling BAD SAMARITAN, starring David Tennant, Trevor Stevens’ slyly futuristic ROCK STEADY ROW, Justin McConnell’s remarkable shape-shifting LIFECHANGER, Owen Long’s dark fantasy SEEDS, Nicolas Pesce’s Italian soundtack-tastic PIERCING and Franck Ribière’s stylish Grand Guignol recreation THE MOST ASSASSINATED WOMAN IN THE WORLD.

The cabinet of fear holds more…be prepared for Orson Oblowitz’s splatter revenge saga HELL IS WHERE THE HOME IS, starring Faruza Balk, Quinn, Lasher’s nightmarish HE’S OUT THERE, starring The Handmaid’s Tale’s Yvonne Strahovski, Tim van Dammen’s dimensionally hilarious MEGA TIME SQUAD, David Barker’s De Palma-esque PIMPED, Shin'ichirô Ueda’s one-take wonder ONE CUT OF THE DEAD, Giordano Giulivi’s black-and-white marvel THE LAPLACE’S DEMON, Abiel Bruhn and John Rocco’s three mothers saga THE NIGHT SITTER, Matt Mercer and Mike Testin’s unstable DEMENTIA PART II, Stewart Sparke’s action-packed BOOK OF MONSTERS, Sam Ashurst’s experimental 200-anniversary celebration FRANKENSTEIN’S CREATURE, Kristian A. Söderström’s tribute to VHS collectors everywhere VIDEOMAN, Marcus Hearn’s beautifully informative documentary HAMMER HORROR: THE WARNER BROS YEARS, Andre Gower’s look at The Monster Squad cult phenomenon, WOLFMAN’S GOT NARDS. Ante Novakovic’s Halloween-set crowd-pleaser actually titled FRIGHT FEST and there’s murder on the dance floor in Bernhard Pucher’s nightclubbed RAVERS, starring Georgia Hirst from Vikings.

The popular raw talent strand ‘First Blood’ returns with four stellar titles: Kevin Chicken’s outstanding body modification shocker PERFECT SKIN, Aislinn Clark’s THE DEVIL’S DOORWAY, a terrifying depiction of devil possession, Harry Lindley’s computer virus techno thriller CTRL and Ben Kent’s F.U.B.A.R, which sees a stag party descend on a Zombie Apocalypse paintball weekend. What could go wrong? Here’s where you’ll find tomorrow’s names today, so good talent-spotting.

Another of FrightFest’s popular discovery strands is our spotlight on South American fantasy and this year highlights the scream of the crop. The one title that is currently scaring up a storm is Demian Rugna’s TERRIFIED, (you will be!). Then there’s the European premiere of Ezequiel Endelman and Leandro Montejano’s homage to Dario Argento, CRYSTAL EYES, the UK premiere of Gonzalo Calzada’s Argentine hit LUCIFERINA and the UK premiere of Gustavo Leonel Mendoza’s CULT OF TERROR, an engaging documentary look at all the Latin American and Spanish-speaking fantasy festivals.

In 2008 FrightFest world-premiered Kerry Anne Mullaney’s The Dead Outside and since then have consistently championed female directors. This year is no exception. Apart from Jenn Wexler’s THE RANGER and Anouk Whissell’s involvement with SUMMER OF 84, we also showcase the European premiere of Mitzi Peirone’s visually dazzling BRAID, the European premiere of Aislinn Clark’s THE DEVIL’S DOORWAY (one of our ‘First Blood’ entries) and, by popular demand, a second screening of Issa López’s stunning Mexican fairytale TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID. Nor must we forget Veronika Franz, Katrin Gebbe and Agnieszka Smoczynska’s wonderful contributions to the Euro-fable anthology THE FIELD GUIDE TO EVIL, which receives its UK premiere.

No FrightFest would be complete without a couple of shockers starring our First Lady of Fright, the incomparable Barbara Crampton. This year, everyone’s favourite genre icon is represented by the European premiere of Sonny Laguna and Tommy Wiklund’s fabulous reboot PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTLEST REICH and the UK premiere of Brad Baruh’s weird, wild and blood-soaked DEAD NIGHT. 

Casting a truth-searing spotlight on FrightFest itself is Chris Collier’s documentary FRIGHTFEST: BENEATH THE DARK HEART OF CINEMA, which will receive its World premiere. Assembling a vast range of footage from every single past event and putting together dozens of interviews, the result is a warts-and-all look at the people behind FrightFest and what makes the UK’s best genre festival tick.

For many seasoned movie-lovers the much-missed Scala Cinema in London’s King’s Cross area was the repertory Mecca for the weirdest double-bills and electric audience atmospheres.  It was also where Shock Around The Clock began, the origins of FrightFest Now fans can relive those golden days with a double-bill of classic exploitation chosen by the veteran programmer of the establishment herself, Jane Giles. Her book on the venue will be published in September by FAB Press and to celebrate FrightFest and Jane Giles will present Jeff Lieberman’s pulp science fiction BLUE SUNSHINE and Julien Temple’s Sex Pistols documdrama THE GREAT ROCK’N’ROLL SWINDLE, both to be shown in 35mm.

For your ears only! In a first for FrightFest, director Roxanne Benjamin (XX, Southbound) presents an exclusive screening of FINAL STOP, a must-hear horror short produced by Sennheiser and starring Phoebe Tonkin (The Originals). Shot entirely on smartphone, and recorded in full binaural audio using the AMBEO Smart Headset, the film is designed to be watched with headphones (which will be supplied), so audiences can immerse themselves in the story and its terrifying 3D soundscape.

There will also be a special screening of GHOST STORIES where co-writers/co-directors Jeremy Dyson and star Andy Nyman will host a live commentary and The Duke Mitchell Film Club is back with a hosted presentation of Sam Jones’ documentary LIFE AFTER FLASH. This is followed by the now notoriously popular DUKE MITCHELL PARTY, where the audience and invited special guests can expect all manner of madness guaranteed to kick off your Saturday late night in style.

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 30 June 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 21 July from 9am.

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

Faceook: /FrightFestreal 

Twitter: @frightfest

Instagram: @frightfestUK

 

American Werewolf, Texas Chainsaw & Last Drive In apparel from Fright Rags

Fright-Rags' latest apparel comes from two bona fide classic that transcend the genre - An American Werewolf in London and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - along with a surprise release to commemorate the long-awaited return of Joe Bob Briggs.

Beware the moon as Fright-Rags unleashes its An American Werewolf in London line. John Landis' 1981 horror-comedy lends itself to four new shirts and four new enamel pins, including a motion pin that recreates part of the unparalleled werewolf transformation scene.

Who will survive Fright-Rags' The Texas Chainsaw Massacre apparel? Imagery from Tobe Hooper's 1974 masterpiece is emblazoned on four enamel, including one with motion to emulate Leatherface's iconic chainsaw dance from the end of the film. Four T-shirts are also available.

Seminal horror host Joe Bob Briggs is back with The Last Drive-In, a 24-horror horror movie marathon streaming on Shudder. Fright-Rags celebrates with The Last Drive-In shirt, in addition to a restock of its MonsterVision design featuring Briggs.

An American Werewolf in London, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Joe Bob Briggs collections are on sale now at Fright-Rags.com.

Be sure to return to the site this Friday, June 29, for Fright-Rags’ latest “classick” re-print. Jeff Zornow’s "Party Time" design, inspired by The Return of the Living Dead, will be available on T-shirts, tank tops, and baseball tees for three days only.

Cannibal Ferox coming to UK BD from Shameless...

Nearly a decade after initiating the genre with Man From Deep River, director Umberto Lenzi gives the final word on the Italian gut-muncher with his ferocious flesh-feasting masterpiece Cannibal Ferox. 

To lay to rest the ‘myth’ of tribal cannibalism, PhD student Gloria (Lorraine De Selle - House by the Edge of the Park) journeys to the Amazon jungle but things soon go awry when her party encounters sadistic cocaine cowboy Mike (Giovanni Lombardo Radice - City of the Living Dead, Cannibal Apocalypse). Mike is on the run from the hungry locals but all is not what it seems - as the travellers venture into the heart of darkness, they soon discover what it means to be hunted.

Also starring Zora Kerova (New York Ripper, Anthropophagus the Beast) and Robert Kerman (Eaten Alive, Cannibal Holocaust) Cannibal Ferox questions the nature of human atrocity, pulling no punches with its visceral depictions of murder, cannibalism and torture. 

Sink your teeth into one of Italian cinema’s most shocking and controversial films, making its UK Blu-ray debut with this tantalising new edition from Shameless.
*Special features*
- UK Blu-ray debut
- Limited numbered edition
- A Taste of the Jungle: an interview with director Umberto Lenzi
- Hell in the Jungle: an interview with Giovanni Lombardo Radice
- Restoration Process for Cannibal Ferox
- Cannibal and Carpet Fitters - a short film from 2015
- Lenzi Photo Gallery

Cannibal Ferox is released to special edition UK BD July 30.

(Note - this release has had 1m:55s cut to remove scenes of animal cruelty)  

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

 

Dysotopian Sci-Fi 1984 comes to UK BD for the first time - exclusive to HMV

Relive the dystopian sci-fi drama 1984 with this HMV exclusive Premium Collection Blu-ray, DVD & Digital Download available this august.

In a holocaustic future world, perpetually at war, where failure to conform is the ultimate crime, Winston Smith (John Hurt) rewrites history books and finds himself dreaming of escape from the all-seeing eyes of the Authorities. He embarks on a passionate (and illegal) affair with a young woman (Suzanna Hamilton) but they are soon caught and Smith undergoes a nightmarish brainwashing at the hands of the chief inquisitor O'Brien (Richard Burton).

The Premium Collection - revered films across all genres, celebrated in a Premium package set containing the film on Blu-ray, DVD and a Digital Copy - gives fans a must own version that allows them to watch however they choose. Each release also includes a collectible slipcase and 4 collectible artcards featuring the films key art.

1984 DVD & Blu-ray Bonus Features:
- Theatrical trailer

1984 arrives on UK BD, DVD & Digital, exclusive to HMV, August 13th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.

 

Trailer released for UPGRADE - in UK cinemas August

UPGRADE is a thrilling and hyper violent vision of the future from the producers of GET OUT and THE PURGE, and the creator of SAW and INSIDIOUS, which comes to UK cinemas August. Check out the trailer below...

After his wife is killed during a brutal mugging that also leaves him paralyzed, Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green, SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING, PROMETHEUS) is approached by a billionaire inventor with an experimental cure that will “upgrade” his body. The cure - an Artificial Intelligence implant called STEM - gives Grey physical abilities beyond anything experienced and the ability to relentlessly claim vengeance against those who murdered his wife and left him for dead.

Cast: Logan Marshall-Green (SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING, PROMETHEUS)

Writer/Director: Leigh Whannell (SAW, INSIDIOUS)

UPGRADE releases in UK cinemas on 31st August

New UK documentary: TOO HOT TO HANDLE: REMEMBERING GHOSTBUSTERS II

Anthony Bueno and Claire Bueno, producers of much anticipated CLEANIN’ UP THE TOWN: Remembering Ghostbusters, are excited to announce that they are close to completing a companion dedicated to Ghostbusters II under the title TOO HOT TO HANDLE: Remembering Ghostbusters II.

The original intention of the filmmakers was to dedicate a documentary to both Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II collectively. However, as they delved deeper into the post-production process and assembled the interviews along with a wealth of archive material, it became evident that each film warranted a documentary in its own right.

The decision has been made that CLEANIN’ UP THE TOWN: Remembering Ghostbusters will be solely on Ghostbusters, and TOO HOT TO HANDLE: Remembering Ghostbusters II will be solely on the 1989 sequel.  Both will be feature length documentaries.

“This is a very exciting time for us”, says director Anthony Bueno, “After puzzling over how we were going to approach splitting the two films in the edit of CLEANIN’ UP THE TOWN, especially when we knew how long the part on Ghostbusters needed to be, splitting them became an easy choice. Then we just thought we’d call it CLEANIN’ UP THE TOWN: PART 2, but that didn’t seem right, or accurately say what the documentary would be about. So after going through ideas and only knowing we didn’t want “Slime” in the title, as soon as we said TOO HOT TO HANDLE: Remembering Ghostbusters II, it felt right!”

Work has already commenced on Too Hot To Handle: Remembering Ghostbusters II and is in the early stages of the edit. The many interviews with cast and crew include Dan Ackroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Ivan Reitman, Ernie Hudson, as well as Industry Light and Magic’s  Dennis Muren and Ned Gorman.

Following a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign to help fund the completion of the project, CLEANIN’ UP THE TOWN: Remembering Ghostbusters is near to reaching picture lock. The edit and motion graphics are complete, leaving only the sound design, score and audio to be mastered.

The producers also want to take this opportunity to confirm that everyone who donated to the Kickstarter and the PayPal crowdfunder will have their names credited on both films.

Producer Claire Bueno stated: “We are very much aware that there is just as much love for the sequel as for the original film, and we are in no doubt that a vast amount of people contributed because they wish to see respect paid to Ghostbusters II. Having informed people we would be covering both films, it is crucial we honour this by ensuring people are credited accordingly on both docs.”

The producers are currently in talks regarding the distribution of CLEANIN’ UP THE TOWN: Remembering Ghostbusters and hope to make an announcement very soon in preparations for the 35th anniversary celebrations of the original Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II’s 30th anniversary in 2019.

Official Website: http://www.buenoproductions.com/

Twitter:  @GhostbustersDoc                     

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ghostbustersdoc/

Facebook:  CLEANIN’ UP THE TOWN: Remembering Ghostbusters: 
https://www.facebook.com/GhostbustersDoc

Facebook: TOO HOT TO HANDLE: Remembering Ghostbusters II:       
https://www.facebook.com/GhostbustersDocII/    

New poster unveiled for HABIT - in UK Cinemas June 29

Check out the new poster for HABIT, which hits UK cinemas June 29th...

From director Simeon Halligan (White Settlers, Splintered) and based on the cult novel by Stephen McGeagh, HABIT is a blood-drenched and intense claustrophobic film set in the underbelly of Manchester starring Jessica Barden from the hit Netflix show The End of the F***ing World and Showtime’s horror drama series Penny Dreadful.

 HABIT centres around Michael (Elliot James Langridge - Northern Soul) who as a young boy, along with his sister, witnesses the suicide of his mother. Now an adult and trying to find his place in the world, Michael divides his time between the job centre and the pub. A chance meeting with Lee (Barden), an introduction to her Uncle Ian (William Ash - The Tunnel) and a heavy night on the streets of Manchester, lead to a job working the door at Cloud 9, a seedy massage parlour. After witnessing the violent death of one of the punters, Michael starts having increasingly blood soaked nightmares. 

Are they flashbacks or fantasies? Little by little, he finds himself being sucked into a dangerous twilight world that he doesn’t understand – but which he finds irresistibly attractive. Addictive even.

Tantalising, gripping, dark and audacious, HABIT comes to UK cinemas 29 June 2018 on a wave of anticipation after its World Premiere at GRIMMFEST 2017 and Best Feature and Best Screenplay awards at the New York City Horror Film Festival the same year. 

This shocking, visceral and, very often, twisted tale also stars  Sally Carman (Shameless), Joanne Mitchell (Attack of the Adult Babies) and Roxanne Pallett (Wrong Turn 6).

Checkout this Q&A with the director, cast and crew at last years Mayhem Festival...

   

The Lodgers - on UK DVD June 25th

Out on UK DVD this month, from the director of "Let us Prey", Brian O'Malley, comes a classic ghost story about orphaned twins who live on a crumbling estate, in 1920s rural Ireland. 

Though isolated, Rachel (Charlotte Vega) and Edward (Bill Milner) are not alone, for they share the house with sinister unseen entities that fprbid them from leaving

When the arrival of a troubled war veteran (Eugene Simon) sparks a sexual awakening in Rachel, she realises that she will have to fight alibe to escape the family curse that has long haunted them.

The Lodgers comes to UK DVD June 25th

View the trailer on YouTube

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

 

It Came from the Desert - on UK DVD June 25th

Out on UK DVD this month, an action-packed monster movie, based on the cult classic 1980s video game.

When a group of teenage motocross contenders head to the New Mexico desert, they soon discover something strange coming from an underground military laboratory: mutated ants!

It's up to the survivors to uncover the secrets behind a crashed meteorite from the 1950, fight off their giant attackers and save the world from alien invasion.

It Came from the Desert arrives on UK DVD June 25th

View the trailer on YouTube

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

Flesh And Blood: The Hammer Heritage Of Horror documentary - coming to UK DVD July

Explore the most legendary horror studio of all time with this fascinating, frightening journey hosted by terror titans Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.

England's most successful independent film company, the "fear factory" of Hammer Studios, has a history filled with feuds, censorship battles and streaks of luck both good and bad.

Now the legacy of horror returns, featuring interviews with such Hammer legends as Raquel Welch, Veronica Carlson, Caroline Munro, Ingrid Pitt, Jimmy Sangster, Hazel Court, Martine Beswicke, Freddie Francis, Val Guest and Ray Harryhausen.

This DVD also includes behind-the-scenes home movies and nonstop shock scenes from over 40 classic films, including Horror of Dracula, Curse of Frankenstein, The Devil Rides Out, Curse of the Werewolf and many more.

The definitive study of one of the greatest names in horror!

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

 

Horror Channel gets beastly in July with ANIMAL ATTACK SEASON

Nature gets nasty on Horror Channel in July with ANIMAL ATTACK SEASON, a beastly collection of movies including the UK premiere of teeth-clenching croc thriller BLACK WATER and the network premiere of CUJI, Stephen King’s macabre tale of a rabid St. Bernard dog, starring Scream Queen Dee Wallace. The prime-time Saturday night savagery continues throughout the month with Carlos Brooks’ wonderful ‘Tiger in a House’ nerve-jangler BURNING BRIGHT and David Hackl’s killer bear actioner INTO THE GRIZZLY MAZE, starring James Marsden, Thomas Jane, and Billy Bob Thornton.

Full film details in transmission order:

Sat 7 July @ 21:00 – CUJO (1983) *Network Premiere

When sweet St. Bernard dog Cujo is bitten by a bat, he morphs into a dangerous beast and goes on a rampage in a small town. Stay-at-home mom Donna (Dee Wallace) gets caught in Cujo's crosshairs on a fateful errand with her son, Tad (Danny Pintauro). Stuck in their car, Donna and Tad have a frightening showdown with the crazed animal.

Sat 14 July @ 21:00 – BURNING BRIGHT (2010)

Johnny Gavenau’s latest get-quick-rich scheme is to turn his Florida ranch into a Safari Park. As the main attraction he buys a dangerous Bengal tiger from an unscrupulous circus trader. But the ravenous beast gets loose, its’ only refuge the ranch house interior where stepdaughter Kelly and her autistic little brother Tom reside...

Sat 21 July @ 21:00 – BLACK WATER (2007) *UK TV

A terrifying tale of survival in the mangrove swamps of Northern Australia. Grace, her boyfriend Adam and younger sister Lee are on holiday and decide to take a river tour. When their boat capsizes, in the ensuing panic, their amateur guide disappears into the murky depths. Based on a true story, the sudden reptilian attacks, and desperate attempts to get back to their submerged boat raise potent apprehension and imaginatively stretch the suspense to nail-biting levels

Sat 28 July @ 21:00 – INTO THE GRIZZLY MAZE (2007)

James Marsden, Thomas Jane, and Billy Bob Thornton star in this action-packed adventure set in the Alaskan wilderness. After a relentless grizzly starts to wreak havoc on a small town, the sheriff heads into the forest to find his ecologist wife but instead crosses paths with his estranged, ex-con brother. They soon find themselves on the run from the massive killer bear. The hunted become the hunter in this edge-of-your seat thriller about the power of nature

There are also UK TV Premieres for Dylan K Narang’s gruelling survival chiller WAKE IN FEAR and the supernatural shocker BOOGEYMAN 2, starring ‘Saw’ man Tobin Bell.

Fri 13 July @ 22:45 – BOOGEYMAN 2 (2007) *UK TV Premiere

Having witnessed the bloody death of her parents as a child, Laura Porter (Station 19’s Danielle Savre) attempts to cure her phobia of the boogeyman by checking herself into a mental health facility. However, she slowly begins to realise, as her therapy group are killed off one by one, that she is now helplessly trapped with her own greatest fear.  Also stars Tobin Bell.

Fri 27 July @ 21:00 – WAKE IN FEAR (2016) * UK TV Premiere

This feature debut from writer-director Dylan K. Narang sees an imprisoned young woman (Fear, Inc.’s Caitlin Stasey) unexpectedly cross paths with a desperate man (Markus Taylor of Deadheads) in the den of a mysterious killer. 

Horror Channel: Be Afraid

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

Website: http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horrorchannel

Twitter: https://twitter.com/horror_channel

IT LIVES - Arrives on UK DVD 06 Aug

An isolated nuclear bunker – called Plethura – deep, deep underground.

A scientist tasked with maintaining the subterranean centre in readiness for an impending strike, is all alone, apart from an omnipresent computer, Arthur.

But is there something else there?

When lone expert, Roy, is left isolated, hundreds of feet below the surface with no communication with the outside world and no way of knowing what’s going on, he starts to question his own sanity. And as an increasingly terrifying chain of events take place in the bunker, he realises that something else might be alive underground with him

Find out in the critically acclaimed, terrifying new psychological thriller from director Richard Mundy IT LIVES (aka Twenty Twenty-Four), which is set for its UK DVD debut from Second Sight Films on 06 Aug.

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

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TERRORTORY 2 - coming to Amazon Prime October

Kevin Kangas forthcoming TERRORTORY 2  will be hitting Amazon Prime this October. A sequel to TERRORTORY, which was one of the top 100 movies on all of Amazon during October 2016. 

Check out the poster below

The film stars Richard Cutting ("House of Cards"), Joe Cardamone ("Ice Cold Killers"), Chris O'Brocki ("Fear of Clowns 2"), M.T. Smith ("Terrortory"), Frederick Cowie ("Plan 9"), Philip Levine ("Fear of Clowns 2"), Neil Conway ("Bounty") and Josh Davidson ("Maladjusted"). 

TERRORTORY 2 will premiere in the US July or August, and then will debut for everyone for free for one month on Amazon Prime on October 1st. Look for a final trailer and probably an alternate poster in September.

Arrow Films to release brand new 2K restoration of DOOM ASYLUM - July

If the news that there won’t be another Sex and the City movie hit you hard, it’s time to cheer up as Arrow Video have your Charlotte fix on it’s way with their Blu-ray release of Doom Asylum. With lashings of gore and more than a few macabre chuckles, this is one of the most entertaining slashers of the 1980s - and that’s saying something.

If you thought Sex and the City 2 was a stomach-churner, you ain’t seen nothing yet! Long before playing one of Carrie Bradshaw’s best gal pals, actress Kristin Davis found herself up against an altogether different kind of horror in 1987’s Doom Asylum: a riotous mix of gore, gags and goth girl groups galore!

When a group of horny teens wind up on the grounds of a creepy abandoned asylum, they think they’ve found the perfect place to party. Little do they know that inside the building’s crumbling walls lurks a freakishly deformed maniac, driven to madness by the tragic loss of his fiancée in a car accident. With an array of grisly surgical tools at his disposal, it’s only a matter of time before the youngsters begin meeting various splattery ends at the hands of the ghoulish Coroner. Helmed by director Richard Friedman (Scared Stiff and Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge), and also starring Penthouse Pet of the Year 1988 Patty Mullen (Frankenhooker), Doom Asylum combines outlandish gore and a wise-cracking villain to create one of the most wildly entertainingly blood-spattered slashers of the late ’80s.

Horror-comedies are somewhat ten-a-penny but they so often get the balance completely wrong. They either go too funny and nullify the scares, or too scary so the laughs seem misplaced. Doom Asylum, hailing from 1987, however, gets the balance spot-on with lots of gross-out splatter combined with hilarious wise-cracks from serial killer, the Coroner.

Doom Asylum, as all good 1980s horrors should, also has perfect trash casting (in the best possible sense, of course)! As well as marking Kristin Davis’s movie debut a good 11 years before Sex and the City first premiered. The film also stars Penthouse Pet of the Year 1988, Patty Mullen, and Playboy centrefold, Ruth Collins. Now, just try to imagine Charlotte’s face if she were to hear about this…

For those who’ve only ever seen Doom Asylum on a grainy VHS, this Arrow Video release is a real treat. It includes a brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative, two brand new audio commentaries, plus a selection of new and archival interviews. First pressings also come with a brand new, fully-illustrated collector’s booklet. So, sit back, relax and enjoy some good old 80s splatter like never before.

SPECIAL FEATURES

First pressing only: Fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Amanda Reyes

-Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative

-High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation

-1.85:1 and 1.33:1 versions of the feature

-Original uncompressed PCM mono audio

-Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

-Brand new audio commentary with screenwriter Rick Marx

-Brand new audio commentary with The Hysteria Continues

-Tina’s Terror, a brand new interview with actress Ruth Collins

-Movie Madhouse, a brand new interview with director of photography Larry Revene

-Morgues & Mayhem, a brand new interview with special make-up effects creator Vincent J. Guastini
-Archival Interviews with producer Alexander W. Kogan, Jr., director Richard Friedman and production manager Bill Tasgal
-Still Gallery
-Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Justin Osbourne

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

Frightfest reveal this years stunning poster artwork.

Arrow Video FrightFest 2018 is delighted to present Graham Humphreys’ stunning artwork for this year’s annual Bank Holiday event, the UK’s largest celebration of genre cinema, taking place at Cineworld Leicester Square and The Prince Charles Cinema between Thurs Aug 23 & Mon Aug 27, 2018.

For Graham, celebrating the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' seemed too important to ignore:

“In the same way that Frankenstein gave life to his monster, horror films stimulate our imagination and give form to ideas that otherwise dare not leave the shadows”, he commented. “The painting shows our familiar host enjoying a fresh jolt...as do we - the audience - each year at FrightFest. In the background, a new entity emerges through the doorway... a new sponsor... Arrow Video!”

It’s time to crank up the Wimshurst generator, unleash the primal forces, see what's on the slab and do the Monster Mash…

WEB: www.frightfest.co.uk | FB: /FrightFestreal | TW: @frightfest | IG: @frightfestUKWEB: www.arrowfilms.com | FB: /ArrowVideo | Twitter: @ArrowFilmsVideo | IG: @ArrowVideo
#ARROWFRIGHTFEST

THE CHANGELING - Ltd Edition UK BD coming August from Second Sight.

Cited as a huge influence by renowned film-makers including Martin Scorsese and Alejandro Amenabar and lauded by horror aficionados and audiences alike, The Changeling is one of the most chilling horrors of all time and now it arrives in a brand new restored version for the first time on Blu-ray, featuring stunning newly commissioned artwork by Christopher Shy.

One of the last classic horror films to finally be released in high-definition, Peter Medak’s (The Krays) The Changeling arrives as a limited edition collector’s set including stunning packaging, a poster, a 40-page perfect bound booklet and a slew of newly created special features such as a commentaries, interviews and featurettes.

Following the tragic death of his wife and daughter in a car crash, composer John Russell leaves the city and retires to an old mansion in the hope of rebuilding his life. The peace and quiet he craves is soon disturbed however. Unexplained noises are just the beginning. Convinced there is a supernatural presence in the house he enlists the help a local historian. What they uncover is more shocking than he could ever have imagined.

George C. Scott (The Hustler) plays the lead alongside a strong cast including his wife Trish Van Devere (Where’s Poppa) and Oscar winning actor Melvyn Douglas (Being There).

One of the most highly acclaimed horror films of all time The Changeling will chill you to the bone.
 
SPECIAL FEATURES:
• Brand new 4K scan and restoration
• Limited Edition packaging featuring outer rigid slipcase, Amaray case, poster, 40 page booklet and
• Audio commentary with director Peter Medak and producer Joel B. Michaels moderated by Severin
Films’ David Gregory
• ‘The House on Cheesman Park’: The Haunting True Story of The Changeling
• ‘The Music of The Changeling’: Interview with Music Arranger Kenneth Wannberg
• ‘Building The House of Horror’: Interview with Art Director Reuben Freed
• ‘The Psychotronic Tourist’: The Changeling
• ‘Master of Horror Mick Garris on The Changeling’
• Trailer
• TV Spot
• New English subtitles for the hearing impaired
 
Limited Edition Exclusive Contents:
• Original Soundtrack CD

The Changeling Limited Edition Blu-ray will be released on 13 August 2018 from Second Sight.

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

 

Fright-Rags releases CABIN IN THE WOODS & MANI-YACK Collections

Five friends go to a cabin in the woods. Bad things happen. You think you know the story, but Drew Goddard and Joss Whedon turned the genre tropes on their head in The Cabin in the Woods. Fright-Rags has released new merchandise from the 2012 meta horror favorite, along with the new Mani-Yack collection.

Fright-Rags' The Cabin in the Woods line kicks off with three T-shirts from artists Justin Osbourn, Abrar Ajmal, and Kyle Crawford. Ajmal's design parodies the iconic Evil Dead poster art, reflecting Cabin in the Wood's clever deconstruction of the genre.

The company has also introduced System Purge blind-box enamel pins of five creatures from The Cabin in the Woods: Merman, Sugar Plum Fairy, Wolfman, Hell Lord, and the ultra-rare Unicorn. Each limited edition pin is randomly inserted in collectible "elevator" packaging.

Fright-Rags has also launched a line of Mani-Yack shirts featuring Jeff Carlson’s retro-style renderings of horror icons Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Michael Myers (Halloween), Pinhead (Hellraiser), and Ghostface (Scream). Each deign comes in three shirt styles: black, white, and ringer.

Head to Fright-Rags.com now to shop The Cabin in the Woods and Mani-Yack collections before they escape!

Be sure to return to the site this Friday, June 15, for Fright-Rags’ latest “classick” re-print. Jeff Zornow’s Father's Day design, based on Creepshow, will be available on T-shirts, tank tops, and baseball tees for three days only.

 

THE X-FILES - Series 11 - comes to UK BD & DVD July 23

The next chapter of THE X-FILES is a thrilling 10-episode installment of the classic, mind-bending series. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson return as iconic FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully for THE X-FILES SERIES 11 available on Blu-ray and DVD on 23rd July.

Mulder and Scully are investigating unsolved cases with more government conspiracies, inexplicable mysteries and alien cover-ups than ever before. Their pursuit of the truth continues with a search for their long-lost son, William, but they aren’t the only ones looking for him; dark forces gather, and the very fate of the world could be at stake. One thing is certain: secrets will be revealed… and the truth may finally be within reach.

Mitch Pileggi also returns as FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner. Additionally, the episodes feature guest-star appearances by Haley Joel Osment, Annabeth Gish, Robbie Amell, Lauren Ambrose, Karin Konoval, Barbara Hershey and William B. Davis, who reprises his legendary role as “Cigarette Smoking Man.”
 

THE X-FILES SEASON 11 will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on 23rd July.
 
BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES
- The Scully Effect
- Conversation on the Fox Lot
- Gag Reel
- Green Production
- Audio Commentary on Selected Episodes
- Solve for X: Constructing Season 11
- Implanted Memories: 25 Years of The X-Files
 
DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
- The Scully Effect
- Conversation on the Fox Lot
- Gag Reel
- Green Production
- Audio Commentary on Selected Episodes

Buy the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk

Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk

 

Mayhem Film Festival wants your scary shorts and launch of Early Bird passes

Early Bird passes are now on sale for Mayhem Film Festival 2018, which will take place at Broadway, Nottingham on 11-14 October.

Early Bird passes allow access to the full festival, including all films and special events. The passes are available for a limited period of time for just £65 for four days of exciting previews, premieres, special guests and events, showcasing the best horror, sci-fi and cult features and shorts from around the world. To buy an Early Bird pass, please visit http://www.mayhemfilmfestival.com/tickets or contact the Broadway box office on 0115 952 6611.

Mayhem is also on the lookout for short films for its ever-popular Short Film Showcase. Ahead of its 14th edition, Mayhem will be accepting local, national and international entries, hoping to compile another selection of outstanding short films for what remains a much-loved part of the festival’s programme, and still one of its most popular screenings each year.

Now a four-day event, Mayhem originally started as a single compilation of short films, and the short film selection still holds an important place in the festival’s schedule. Mayhem Film Festival continues to expand, welcoming more special guests, celebrating new and emerging talent, and highlighting bold and exciting new feature and short films from the dark edges of genre and beyond.

The call for short films is now open and filmmakers can submit their entry, for free, until midday on Friday 17 August. To submit your scary short, please email Melissa Gueneau at mayhemfilmfest@gmail.com  

Mayhem Film Festival will take place at Broadway, Nottingham on 11-14 October 2018. For more information about Mayhem, please visit www.mayhemfilmfestival.com

 

HABIT - in UK cinemas 1st JULY

From director Simeon Halligan (White Settlers, Splintered) and based on the cult novel by Stephen McGeagh, HABIT is a blood-drenched and intense claustrophobic film set in the underbelly of Manchester starring Jessica Barden from the hit Netflix show The End of the F***ing World and Showtime’s horror drama series Penny Dreadful.

This shocking, visceral and, very often, twisted tale also stars Elliot James Langridge (Northern Soul), William Ash (The Tunnel), Sally Carman (Shameless), Joanne Mitchell (Attack of the Adult Babies) and Roxanne Pallett (Wrong Turn 6).

HABIT centres around Michael (Langridge) who as a young boy, along with his sister, witnesses the suicide of his mother. Now an adult and trying to find his place in the world, Michael divides his time between the job centre and the pub. A chance meeting with Lee (Barden), an introduction to her Uncle Ian (Ash) and a heavy night on the streets of Manchester, lead to a job working the door at Cloud 9, a seedy massage parlour. After witnessing the violent death of one of the punters, Michael starts having increasingly blood soaked nightmares. Are they flashbacks or fantasies? Little by little, he finds himself being sucked into a dangerous twilight world that he doesn’t understand – but which he finds irresistibly attractive. Addictive even.

Tantalising, gripping, dark and audacious, HABIT comes to UK cinemas 1 July 2018 on a wave of anticipation after its World Premiere at GRIMMFEST 2017 and Best Feature and Best Screenplay awards at the New York City Horror Film Festival the same year.