HALLOWEEN Toys from Fright-Rags for Halfway to Halloween

Fright-Rags is honoring the halfway to Halloween mark with exclusive toys based on John Carpenter's 1978 horror classic, plus new Hannibal apparel. Michael Myers, Laurie, and Lynda action figures and Halloween Nanoforce sets are available to pre-order for one week only.

Fright-Rags' HALLOWEEN retro-style action figures include Michael Myers (with knife and headstone), Laurie Strode (with pumpkin, knife, and hanger), and Lynda van der Klock (with purse). Each one stands 3.75" tall and has five points of articulation.

Fright-Rags has reissued its Halloween Nanoforce set with variant colors. It features 12 different 2" scale black and orange figures plus a 4" glow-in-the-dark Michael Myers figure. They’re packaged together in a collectible box with a map of Haddonfield, which doubles as a checklist.

Eat the rude while wearing Fright-Rags’ HANNIBAL apparel. Bryan Fuller's small-screen reinvention of the horror icon has received three shirts and a pair of socks featuring Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter.

HALLOWEEN and HANNIBAL collections are on sale now at Fright-Rags.com. HALLOWEEN pre-orders run through Tuesday, May 4, and are expected to ship in Fall/Winter 2021.

 

HOMEWRECKER - coming to Digital, May

Misery meets Single White Female – with an extra dose of (Let’s Get) Physical thrown in for good measure – as a woman gets more than she bargains for when she makes a new friend at the gym in HOMEWRECKER.

When happy-go-lucky interior designer Michelle (Alex Essoe – Doctor Sleep, The Haunting Of Bly Manor), has a chance encounter at a fitness class, with the pushy and overly friendly Linda (Precious Chong – Falling Water, Flashpoint), she soon discovers there’s more to her than meets the eye and training might be bad for her health.

When the pair meet at the gym, Linda convinces Michelle to come to her house and redesign it. Despite her wariness, Michelle’s politeness wins out and she reluctantly agrees…But once at the house, she soon realises she’s made a terrible mistake…as Linda’s demeanour rapidly changes and her behaviour becomes increasingly erratic…could this one-woman wrecking ball threaten her whole existence?

As the dangerous and obsessive streak spirals out of control…Michelle grows more and more desperate to evade Linda’s clutches and her increasingly bizarre and disturbing measures to trap her. As the violence explodes into a bloody gore-fest will Michelle ever break free from this one-woman wrecking ball of mayhem?

Homewrecker, directed by Zach Gayne (States, Found Viral), is tongue-in-cheek fun with a bucketload of blood in equal measure and will have you second guessing that new friend you made at the gym…

This deliciously bleak and black satire, with gore and laughs in equal measure, is set for its UK premiere Digitally on 24 May from 101 Films.

 

Kiyotaka Tsurisaki Shockumentary Collection: THE TRILOGY OF DEATH coming from TetroVideo

The Kiyotaka Tsurisaki's "Trilogy of Death" is getting the TetroVideo box set treatment. It has been announced that the company will be releasing two box sets of the "Kiyotaka Tsurisaki Shockumentary Collection" that includes Orozco – The Embalmer (2001), Junk Films (2007) and The Wasteland (2014).

Both the box sets will be available for pre-order on April 30th.

The "Limited Edition Box Set" has only 170 copies and the "Golden Edition" is limited to just 30 numbered copies:

3-disc Box Set + Slipcase - 170 copies Limited Edition

3-disc Box Set + gold Slipcase + gold Card - 30 numbered copies

Written and directed by Kiyotaka Tsurisaki, who has become known for photographing dead bodies, Orozco - The Embalmber is a shockumentary about the Colombian embalmer Froilan Orozco Duarte, about his grim work in one of the poorest and most dangerous parts in Colombia: Bogotà.

Junk Films is a collection of short documentaries pondering about the meaning of life and death by the use of shocking images. In Junk Films, Kiyotaka Tsurisaki focuses on the subject of war to offer a startling look at the aftermath of combat and on death’s many forms (disasters, starvation, tragic accidents) to highlight the fragility of human life.

The Wasteland is a look into the world around us, into the aftermath of war, religion and other evil facets that aid in the destruction of Earth. 

To set the mood for The Wasteland, Kiyotaka Tsurisaki teams up with the japanese doom metal band Corrupted.

To pre-order and for other cult films, visit.. https://tetrovideo.com/ 

 

 

Shudder Acquires THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR

SHUDDER, the premium streaming service for horror, thrillers and the supernatural, has acquired exclusive rights to Justin Powell and David Charbonier’s terrifying feature debut THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR for release in North America, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. The film will be released on SHUDDER from 29 JULY 2021.

The first feature from co-writers and directors Justin Powell and David Charbonier, is a suspense thriller that tells a gripping, powerful tale of survival and friendship in the face of evil.

In THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR, a night of unimaginable terror awaits twelve-year-old Bobby (Lonnie Chavis) and his best friend, Kevin (Ezra Dewey), when they are abducted on their way home from school. Managing to escape his confines, Bobby navigates the dark halls, praying his presence goes unnoticed as he avoids his captor at every turn. 

Even worse is the arrival of another stranger, whose mysterious arrangement with the kidnapper may spell certain doom for Kevin. With no means of calling for help and miles of dark country in every direction, Bobby embarks on a rescue mission, determined to get himself and Kevin out alive… or die trying. 

Starring Lonnie Chavis (This Is Us, White Famous), Ezra Dewey (The Djinn, Criminal Minds), Kristin Bauer van Straten (True Blood, Nocturnal Animals), Scott Michael Foster (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Once Upon A Time) and Micah Hauptman (Homeland, Rust Creek).

THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR had its world premiere at Fantastic Fest before playing AFI Fest, receiving rave reviews at both festivals. The film was produced by Rick Rosenthal of Whitewater Films, Ryan Scaringe of Kinogo Pictures, Jim Hart, John Hermann and Ryan Lewis. Bert Kern, Nick Morton, and Howard Barish executive produce.
 
Powell and Charbonier’s follow-up project The Djinn will be released by AMC Networks’ IFC Midnight in North America on May 14.

THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR arrives on SHUDDER on 29 July 2021

Visit... https://www.shudder.com/

 

 

10 Questions with Howard J Ford – Director of THE LOCKDOWN HAUNTINGS.

Ahead of the UK digital release of his latest film THE LOCKDOWN HAUNTINGS on May 3, director & writer Howard J Ford talks about being a one-man crew, casting Tony Todd, his do-it-yourself SFX kit and losing his uncle to the Pandemic.

Q) You shot THE LOCKDOWN HUNTINGS during the UK’s first lockdown. Was the COVID-19 outbreak the inspiration? If so, why a ghost story?

Howard: It absolutely was. I am a believer in using what you have as an indie film-maker and I had a global pandemic! There was a sudden influx of fear, isolation and anxiety. I wondered, could I do anything cinematic with that?  I then heard that the virus is not even alive, yet this not-living thing was out there taking lives and not only that, it was INVISIBLE!   None of us knew how close this deadly thing was to them… I wondered, could I weave that into a plot, then it hit me.. A ghostly killer. That’s something could do!

Q) Although it can be described as a supernatural horror thriller, at heart lie some interesting issues around spiritual belief, our relationship with the dead and the need to forgive. Were these themes always at the heart of the script or did they evolve during filming?

Howard: Thanks. I do love layers in whatever I am making, so I love trying to find out what could be underneath, what is at the heart of it so to speak. And in the beginnings of lockdown there was all this anger and blame as to whose fault it was that we found ourselves where we are and I felt we all needed some healing elements so I wanted to find a way of getting this in there.

Q) You shot the film single-handedly. What was the both the biggest challenge and the most liberating aspect?

Howard: Yes, I quickly realised that if I was going to pull this film off during lockdown, I would not be able to have anyone with me at all. That and staying two metres away from any actors it was really a challenge. Firstly, I needed to find out if actors would let me film in their homes and a social media post gave me my answers and who was up for it. Then I picked what I felt were the absolute best cast from that. The liberating thing was, so long as the actors were ok with it, I was free to take the film in whatever direction I felt it should go at the time without having to consult a single person. I recall one moment sitting in my car outside a Tesco’s garage having shot with one actor in the morning and about to set off to another, I had a sandwich which cost £2.61 and as I finished it I realised, I just fed the whole crew for less than 3 quid!

Q) The casting of Tony Todd is inspirational. How did that come about? And the acting, in general, is great. Good to see a vibrant Angela Dixon on our screens again. Was casting a difficult operation given the restrictions that were in place then?

 

Howard: I love Tony Todd so much and I was SO thrilled when I realised he might come on board The Lockdown Hauntings. I had met Mr Todd on a flight to LA, by ‘chance’ some years back, we were sat next to each other and we spent many hours talking about all sorts of amazing things. He’s really a lovely guy and very deep and pun’s-aside, time flew by. I had also soon after that worked with John Rhys-Davies on a champagne film of all things and then found out they had the same manager, a super chap called Jeff Goldberg so we re-connected, then when I was about to go forward with ‘The Lockdown Hauntings’ and needed to cast Jordan Myers the main paranormal expert, I kind of meditated over who would be the absolute best person to do this and I thought, ‘go big’, then BOOM. Tony Todd appeared in my head and I thought, it’s a long shot but what the heck, give Jeff a call, and it all fell into place from there.

Angela Dixon is always great to work with and she went through so much on ‘Never Let Go’, which was not an easy shoot I felt she might like to do something totally different and she seemed to love the idea too and also helped fill in some of the many gaps I had on dialogue and things as I was too busy making the film to properly write it. The cast were so fabulous on this film and somehow we all just got on with it, no messing about, we just hit go and did our best within the circumstances.

Q) Given you had no crew to assist, how did you manage to achieve the numerous special effects that run all the way through the movie?

Howard: I realised I might have to go back to basics on many aspects and I have to be honest, I’m not a fan of big CGI films as I always find it hard to believe the world no matter how impressive, so I thought, well, what would they have done on ‘The Exorcist’, or ‘The Omen’, two films that scared the heck out of me, sometimes with moments that were not full of SFX.. So I re-looked into the ‘old school’ way of doing things and read stories of people pushing furniture around and things being pulled with fishing wire and air machines etc, so I made myself an SFX kit and tried to do as much as possible practically. In post, I do have some fab CGI chaps and I hope between us we can still shock and jolt you and even surprise you in all sorts of places.

Q) You sadly lost your uncle during this period. Did that having a bearing on the project?

Howard: I did, to the virus too.  It was the weirdest thing as no one could attend and we had to watch his funeral on what looked like a kind of YouTube video, all our family folks in separate homes too. I watched some people I’d never met carry his coffin up the aisle and read some words from the family. Play a couple of his favourite songs, some I remember him playing when I was at his flat in London writing my early scripts, then he was gone. This was the guy that got me into fitness, but he enjoyed his life and I felt he would have said to me, just go do it.

Q) Moving away from THE LOCKDOWN HAUNTINGS…before the pandemic struck you completed filming on THE LEDGE. Can you tell us a bit about the film?

Howard: Yes, ‘The Ledge’ which is a bit of a female cliff-hanger was a totally different production scenario. We had a crew of like 64 people and a far bigger set up. Which is great in one way, but unlike ‘The Lockdown Hauntings,’ you can’t change direction or suddenly decide to do this instead of that, or I’d have had my ass fired straight away! Ha.  I actually shot ‘The Lockdown Hauntings’ just before I flew off to do ‘The Ledge’, so both films were made in Lockdown. ‘The Ledge’ is a nail biting thriller/horror written by Tom Boyle and produced by Evolution/GFM whom I worked with on the distribution/sales of ‘The Lockdown Hauntings’. It’s a very high-concept, exciting  story of one female climber stuck high up on the side of a mountain fighting off four killers on a ledge twenty feet above her. It will be getting some great theatrical releases but not for some months after ‘The Lockdown Hauntings’.

Q) The inevitable question but it needs to be asked. Will ‘The Dead’ be walking again?

Howard: Well, by brother Jon and I do discuss it every now and then and we will consider doing ‘The Dead 3’ if the situation was right. If it happens, it will not be for a few more years. They are painful films to make and very nearly killed us for real.

Q) ADVENTURE BOYZ, your all-action family thriller, starred you and your two sons. A thespian one-off or are there ambitions for the Fords to get in front of the camera again?

Howard: Now that’s a film full of love. I made that the summer before the lockdown as I felt we already had a global disaster on our hands. That disaster being that all our children, and probably us too were relying far too much on our devices and not getting out into the real world where the real joys are, so I made ‘Adventure Boyz’ and cast my own two boys in it as I wanted to see if my story could incentivise them, and any other kids around the world to ‘get off their devices and get out there’! Sadly it came out following a lovely theatrical run as the world was told to get indoors and get on zoom! Maybe it will be re discovered. Was fun to act in too, I was never meant to be in it quite so much but I was just so available! Felix is in The Lockdown Hauntings, his third feature film before he was 10!

Q) Finally, what’s coming up for you?

Howard: Well I’m actually moving forward right now with ‘The Lockdown Hauntings 2: Second Wave’! I’ve already shot some sequences and will be doing the rest over the next couple of months or so. Hope to reveal more in Cannes. That and a couple of other projects including another supernatural film I have written called ‘Indelible’. I also have a TV series, ‘Echo Road’ I have been developing. Other than that, let’s all enjoy some life in case we get locked-down again! With ‘The Lockdown Hauntings’ I hope it’s a very different way of reflecting on lockdown and our journey through it.

THE LOCKDOWN HAUNTINGS is released on 3rd May on Digital Platforms, courtesy of Altitude Entertainment.

 

BOYS FROM COUNTY HELL to release in UK cinemas 18th June

Vertigo Releasing have announced that BOYS FROM COUNTY HELL, the ultimate Dracula ‘origin story’, is releasing in UK cinemas on June 18th. Vertigo will also be partnering with Wildcard for the Irish theatrical release which is to be confirmed.

Just when you thought the vampire film had been drained dry, along comes an unexpected and original spin on the genre from writer/director Chris Baugh, with the follow-up to his acclaimed crime thriller debut Bad Day For The Cut. 

Welcome to Six Mile Hill, a sleepy Irish backwater whose only claim to fame is the somewhat dubious local legend that Bram Stoker once spent a night in the local pub. It’s home to Eugene Moffat, a young man who fills most of his days drinking pints with his friends and pranking tourists who come to visit the gravesite of Abhartach, a legendary Irish vampire some believe to have inspired ‘Dracula.’

When a personal tragedy forces Eugene to go and work for his gruff, no-nonsense father he finds himself on the site of a controversial new road development that threatens to destroy the town’s livelihood. But strange events unfold when Eugene and the crew tear down a famous cairn believed to be the final resting place of Abhartach and they soon come under attack from a sinister force that has infected one of their workmates. As the night closes in The Boys must fight for survival while discovering the true horror of a myth that hits much closer to home than any of them realise… 

With nods to Ireland’s formidable horror heritage (the local pub is called ‘The Stoker’ after the Dracula author), it follows recent Irish folklore horror hits The Hallow and The Hole in The Ground, whilst also injecting some surprisingly hysterical moments. It echoes Clive Barker’s Irish-set eighties creature feature Rawhead Rex, as well as a delectable sense of the backwoods dread present in 2019’s Scottish rural thriller Calibre.

With a fantastic cast, including Jack Rowan (Peaky Blinders, Noughts + Crosses), Louisa Harland (Derry Girls), Nigel O’Neill (from Baugh’s debut), and John Lynch (The Banishing, Isolation), BOYS FROM COUNTY HELL is rich in celtic atmosphere, drenched in gore, wildly funny and splendidly scary - the very definition of a crowd pleaser.

 

Tony Todd stars in THE LOCKDOWN HAUNTINGS - Out 3 May

Strap yourself in for a Covid-era creep-out par-excellence, with THE LOCKDOWN HAUNTINGS, from acclaimed director Howard J Ford, (The Dead, The Dead 2) and Evolution Pictures released 3rd May on digital platforms in the UK and Ireland.

During a global lockdown the streets are empty, free from activity of humans, it is not just nature that takes advantage of this unprecedented time. Spirits are free to roam, some with evil intent and one, a notorious serial killer, is back from the dead.

Can the paranormal experts and detectives piece together how to prevent more young women, isolated and alone during lockdown, from becoming another victim of The Lockdown Hauntings?

Set at the beginning of last year’s lockdown, THE LOCKDOWN HAUNTINGS is a fast-paced mix of paranormal horror and detective thriller, that sees the evil spirit of a dead serial killer stalking his victims who are stuck in their homes alone during the Covid epidemic. 

Director Howard J. Ford pulls out all the stops to deliver a jolt-filled, creepy and highly entertaining shocker, despite having to make the film during the lockdown restrictions - not that you’ll notice, as you’ll be too busy hiding behind the sofa during the running time. Ford's assembled a fantastic cast, including horror legend Tony Todd (Candyman, Hatchet), Angela Dixon (Never Let Go), Heather Peace (Silent Witness), Jon Campling (Harry Potter) and Sarah-Jane Potts (Kinky Boots).

If you were gripped by last year’s nerve-rattler Host, and spooky classics like Paranormal Activity and Sinister, then THE LOCKDOWN HAUNTINGS will be sure to chill you to the core!

THE LOCKDOWN HAUNTINGS is released on Digital 3rd MAY.  Watch it on Apple, Amazon, Google, Sky Store, Virgin and more. 

 

Sci-fi Thriller FLASHBACK - On Digital 4 June

Fred Fitzell (Dylan O’Brien) is a man on the precipice of adulthood. With a new corporate job, a long-time girlfriend (Hannah Gross) pressuring him to define their future, and an ailing mother, Fred’s whole life changes when a chance encounter with a man from his youth results in terrifying flashbacks that send him on a wild journey into his past. 

As he slowly attempts to piece together his fragmented recollections about taking an experimental drug called Mercury, his mind begins to unravel… What is the long-hidden mystery surrounding the missing girl (Maika Monroe), and what is the terrifying creature that has been with him every step of the way?

With his past, present and future colliding, Fred begins to question his entire reality and explore all of the possible lives he could lead. Which one will he choose?

Directed by Christopher MacBride (The Conspiracy), Flashback stars Dylan O’Brien, Maika Monroe (It Follows, The Guest), Hannah Gross (Mindhunter, Joker), Emory Cohen (The OA, Brooklyn) and Keir Gilchrist (It Follows, Atypical).

 

Vertigo Releasing presents Flashback on digital platforms 4 June 2021 

Official Trailer for AXEMAN AT CUTTER'S CREEK

The Axeman returns in the tense, new trailer for Sinning Works' "AXEMAN AT CUTTER'S CREEK".

Just last month Sinning Works confirmed the new release of the 80's inspired film formerly known as "Axeman" which will serve as a reboot to the franchise rather than a simple re-release.  It stars genre vets Tiffany Shepis, Brinkes Stevens, Elissa Dowling, Jamie Bernadette and Erin Marie Hogan, and NBA basketball star Scot Pollard.

The film's director Joston "El Rey" Theney had this to say, "Axeman was a fun movie to make and I'm so appreciative of the super supportive fanbase.  But, to no fault of the cast and crew, it got rushed and we never really put our movie's best foot forward. This one'll include never-before-seen footage and a slicker, faster 80 minute run-time"

The filmmaker went on, "What really killed me was not wrapping up the film as originally intended.  It was envisioned as a trilogy from the outset and the ending we were forced to go with painted us into a corner.  But this release of Axeman At Cutter's Creek course-corrects the ship and is our first step to putting us on a path to finishing the franchise strong."

View the trailer below...

SinningWorks releases "AXEMAN AT CUTTER'S CREEK" to major VOD platforms May 7, 2021.

 

JOE BOB BRIGGS plus SHAUN OF THE DEAD Merch available from FRIGHT RAGS

Not only is influential horror host Joe Bob Briggs back with a new season of The Last Drive-In on Shudder, but he has also returned in action figure form from Fright-Rags. The horror apparel company also has other new merchandise from The Last Drive-In and Shaun of the Dead.

Fright-Rags has reissued its popular Joe Bob Briggs retro-style 3.75" toy, complete with a beer bottle and speakers, alongside the brand-new Darcy the Mail Girl figure, which includes her mail bag and Ernie the iguana. These open editions are available to pre-order through Sunday, April 18.

The Last Drive In's mutant family can also enjoy two new Season 3 shirts featuring Joe Bob and Darcy respectively, plus The Last Drive-In lounge pants and two enamel pins, one of which glows in the dark.

Have a nice cold pint in Fright-Rags’ Shaun of the Dead apparel. Edgar Wright's horror-comedy classic has received two new shirts, a reprint of the Night of the Living Dead homage design, a Winchester Tavern pint glass, and socks featuring Shaun and Ed.

Joe Bob Briggs and Shaun of the Dead collections are on sale now at Fright-Rags.com.

SHUDDER Announce May Slate including Exclusive Streaming Titles

This May delivers a packed lineup of new original and exclusive films to Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thrillers and the supernatural. 

Film details included below.

NEW SHUDDER ORIGINAL & EXCLUSIVE FILMS

FRIED BARRY – Premieres 7 May

Fried Barry follows the story of a drug-addled degenerate who, after yet another bender, gets abducted by aliens. Barry takes a backseat as his alien visitor assumes control of his body and takes it for a joyride through Cape Town. What follows is an onslaught of drugs, sex and violence as Barry’s alien tourist enters the weird and wonderful world of humankind.

The feature directorial debut from award-winning music video director Ryan Kruger and starring newcomer Gary Green, the genre pushing, acid-washed, sci-fi horror has been praised by critics and embraced by fans around the world.

The film is produced by James C. Williamson and Kruger and executive produced by Nicolai Fuglsig (12 Strong). Williamson shares a story credit with Kruger who serves as both writer and director. The expansive cast is led by Green alongside Bianka Hartenstein, Sean Cameron Michael (Shooter, Blood Drive), Chanelle de Jager (The Widow, Outlander), Joey Cramer (Flight of the Navigator) and Jonathan Pienaar (Blood Diamond, Roots).

View the trailer on YouTube

RELIC – Premieres 11 May

A deeply unsettling psychological horror, Relic is the unforgettable debut feature from writer and director Natalie Erika James who brings a fresh and profoundly human twist to the genre. When elderly mother Edna (Robyn Nevin), inexplicably vanishes, her daughter Kay (Emily Mortimer) and granddaughter Sam (Bella Heathcote) rush to their family’s decaying country home, finding clues of her increasing dementia scattered around the house in her absence. 

After Edna returns just as mysteriously as she disappeared, Kay’s concern that her mother seems unwilling or unable to say where she’s been clashes with Sam’s unabashed enthusiasm to have her grandma back. As Edna’s behaviour turns increasingly volatile, both begin to sense that an insidious presence in the house might be taking control of her.

View the trailer on YouTube

THE RECKONING – Premieres 13 May

After losing her husband during the Great Plague, Grace Haverstock (Charlotte Kirk, Ocean’s 8) is unjustly accused of being a witch and placed in the custody of England’s most ruthless witch-hunter, Judge Moorcroft (Sean Pertwee, Dog Soldiers). Forced to endure physical and emotional torture while steadfastly maintaining her innocence, Grace must face her own inner demons as the Devil himself starts to work his way into her mind.

Directed by modern master of horror Neil Marshall (The Descent, Dog Soldiers, Game of Thrones), The Reckoning was written by Marshall, star Charlotte Kirk and Edward Evers-Swindell.

View the trailer on YouTube

PG: PSYCHO GOREMAN – Premieres 20 May

In PG: Psycho Goreman, young siblings Mimi and Luke unwittingly resurrect an ancient alien overlord who was entombed on Earth millions of years ago after a failed attempt to destroy the universe. They nickname the evil creature Psycho Goreman (or PG for short) and use the magical amulet they discovered to force him to obey their childish whims. It isn’t long before PG’s reappearance draws the attention of intergalactic friends and foes from across the cosmos and a rogues’ gallery of alien combatants converges in small-town suburbia to battle for the fate of the galaxy.

Written and directed by Steven Kostanski (The Void, The Divide, Father’s Day), PG: Psycho Goreman stars Nita-Josee Hanna (Books of Blood, 4teen), Owen Myre (NOS4A2, Alternate Ground), Adam Brooks (The Return, Father’s Day), Alexis Hancey (Silver Tongue), and Matthew Ninaber (Transference).

View the trailer on YouTube

SKULL: THE MASK – Premieres 27 May
 

In this splatter-filled supernatural slasher, a Pre-Columbian artifact contains the spirit of Anhangá, the executioner of the god Tahawantinsupay. Whoever wears the masked is possessed by Anhangá and compelled to commit sacrifices to resurrect his god. It’s up to a museum assistant and a policewoman to stop the slaughter before the ritual is completed. A throwback treat for fans of ‘80s slashers and gory practical effects.

Written and directed by Armando Fonseca and Kapel Furman, who previously co-directed 2016’s Uptake Fear, Skull: The Mask stars Brazilian wrestling champion Rurik Jr., Wilton Andrade, Natallia Rodrigues, Ivo Müller, Ricardo Gelli Guta Ruiz, Gilda Nomacce and Tristan Aronovich.

NEW ADDITIONS TO SHUDDER’S MOVIE LIBRARY

3 May

WITCHFINDER GENERAL (1968)

A disturbing tale of evil set during the English Civil War. When Matthew Hopkins is appointed Witchfinder General by the Puritans under Cromwell, he is empowered to travel the countryside with his henchmen and collect a fee for each witch from whom he extracts a confession - a policy which is exploited to the full. Directed by Michael Reeves, starring Vincent Price.

BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW (1971)

When a mysterious corpse is accidentally dug up by a boy in a small town, a group of local teens starts acting very strangely. The adolescents, led by a girl named Angel (Linda Hayden), are convinced the corpse was once possessed. Hoping to get in touch with the devil through the body, the teens act out a series of demonic rituals that causes a stir among the townspeople. When word of the satanic activity spreads, certain parents start trying to lock up the kids behind the spooky stunts. Directed by Piers Haggard, starring Linda Hayden and Patrick Wymark.

10 May

CLIMATE OF THE HUNTER (2019)

Two sisters compete for the affections of a man who may be a vampire.

THE FUNERAL HOME (2020)

Bernardo is an undertaker who runs mortuary business in the same house where he resides. In the front he has his clients. And in the back, his dysfunctional family lives among coffins, wreaths and mischievous supernatural entities that visit on a daily basis. They attribute the paranormal manifestations to the dead bodies from their mortuary work but finding the real source of all this madness will be their quest, and what they might find is a terrifying truth.

17 May

I TRAPPED THE DEVIL (2019)

Hoping for a joyful family reunion, Matt and his wife pay a surprise visit to the home of his estranged brother, Steve, to celebrate Christmas. To their shock, they soon learn that Steve has a hostage in his basement -- a man he claims is the devil.

CURSE OF THE CRIMSON ALTER (1968)

An expert in the supernatural collects torture devices and helps a man exact revenge on the descendants of those responsible for burning his ancestor at the stake. Directed by Vernon Sewell, starring Christopher Lee and Boris Karloff.

18 May

DEF BY TEMPTATION (1990)

An evil succubus is preying on libidinous black men in New York City, and all that stands in her way is a minister-in-training, an aspiring actor, and a cop who specializes in cases involving the supernatural.

BLACK ROSES (1988)

Demons hypnotize the general public by posing as a rock and roll band.

24 May

DR TERRORS HOUSE OF HORRORS (1965)

Five chilling stories are linked by the character of a strange fortune-telling doctor who predicts the bizarre deaths of five fellow passengers on a train using a pack of tarot cards. Directed by Freddie Francis, starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

THE WHIP AND THE BODY (1963)

A sadistic nobleman terrorizes his family, but the relief that the family members feel upon his death is short-lived when his ghost continues the reign of terror. Directed by Mario Bava, starring Christopher Lee.

31 May

THE ASPHYX (1972)

A gentleman photographer in Victorian England tries to trap the human spirit at the moment of death. Directed by Peter Newbrook, starring Robert Stephens.

THE SORCERERS (1967)

A sinister story of mind control in which an amiable old professor creates a device enabling one person to direct the thoughts of another and experience the sensations they feel. Using a young man as a guinea pig for his experiment, he and his wife live out their twisted fantasies. Directed by Michael Reeves, starring Boris Karloff.

To subscribe visit https://www.shudder.com/ 

Paranormal forces take over Horror Channel in May

Paranormal forces take over Horror Channel in May with SUPERNATURAL WEEK, eight nights of ghostly scares highlighted by the Channel premieres of PARANORMAL ACTIVTY, the low-budget horror film that became a global phenomenon and David Robert Mitchell’s creepy body horror hit, IT FOLLOWS.

 

The special event also sees the return of genre favourites such as demon chiller FIRSTBORN, with Misfits star Antonia Laura Thomas, John Carpenter’s classic car-rage chiller CHRISTINE, the twisted supernatural gasper SINISTER, starring Ethan Hawke, the star-studded supernatural cult classic FLATLINERS, with Julia Roberts, Kiefer Sutherland and Kevin Bacon, the paranormal chiller THE QUIET ONES and Sean Byrne’s THE DEVIL’S CANDY; a devastating ride into psychological trauma, starring Ethan Embry

 

Full film details in transmission order:

Saturday 15 May @ 21:00 – PARANORMAL ACTIVITY (2007) *Channel Premiere

Katie and Micah, a carefree couple, become haunted by an unseen presence in their house. They decide to investigate the increasingly bizarre and escalating intrusions by setting up a video camera to capture evidence of the demonic presence in their house, only to find much more than they ever imagined. The huge global success of the film, shot in a week, ushered in a new era of low budget tech inspired ‘found-footage’ movies.

Sunday 16 May @ 21:00 – CHRISTINE (1983) 

High school geek Arnie Cunningham falls in love with "Christine", a bright red 1958 Plymouth Fury which has seen much better days. Setting himself the task of restoring the car to its original condition, Arnie has become consumed with passion for the sleek, rounded, chrome-laden car. His friends are horrified but it’s too late - anyone seeking to come between them becomes the victim of Christine's horrifying wrath.

Monday 17 May @ 21:00 – SINISTER (2012) 

 

Desperately in need of a best seller to revive his struggling career, true crime writer Ellison (Ethan Hawke), moves his family to the scene of his most recent story; the unsolved, gruesome murder of a loving, happy suburban family. Shunned by the local community and strained by his obligations to his family, the discovery of a batch of home movies in the attic offers Ellison shocking proof to the crime he is investigating and the terrifying realisation that his investigation may be putting his family in mortal danger.

Tuesday 18 May @ 21:00 – FLATLINERS (1990) 

Five ambitious medical students embark on a daring experiment: to push through the confines of life and touch the face of death. To help him venture into this realm, manipulative Nelson Wright (Kiefer Sutherland) has recruited  death expert (Julia Roberts), former med student (Kevin Bacon), ladies-man (William Baldwin), and the brilliant but self-absorbed documentarian (Oliver Platt). They soon find, however, that they don't return alone from their peek at the afterlife; they bring back manifestations of their past transgressions…

Wednesday 19 May @ 21:00 – THE QUIET ONES (2014)

A group of students, led by an eccentric professor (Jared Harris), prepare to conduct an experiment on a troubled young woman who insists she has been possessed by an evil doll. However, as they delve deeper they soon face a hellish ordeal.

Thursday 20 May @ 21:00 – THE DEVIL’S CANDY (2015)

Unfulfilled artist Jesse Hellman (Ethan Embry) moves his wife and fellow metal music-loving teenage daughter Zooey into a rustic Texas home with a violent past. Soon his paintings start taking on a darker, disturbing and more prophetic turn as anxieties get ramped up family tensions. Then the clearly unbalanced Ray appears on his doorstep wanting to move back where his parents tragically died. And when Ray sees Zooey, nothing prepares the family for the shocking chain of events.

Friday 21 May @ 21:00 – FIRSTBORN (2016)
 

Charlie and James are just starting their lives together. Young and in love, they’re relishing having no responsibilities until Charlie discovers she is pregnant. In a moment of youthful abandon, they decide to keep the baby. So into their world comes Thea, a beautiful girl. But her arrival brings with it terrifying entities that threaten their newly formed family

Saturday 22 May @ 21:00 –  IT FOLLOWS (2014) *Channel Premiere

For 19-year-old Jay (Maika Monroe), the fall should be about school, boys and weekends out at the lake. But after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, she finds herself plagued by strange visions and the inescapable sense that someone, or something, is following her. Faced with this burden, Jay and her teenage friends must find a way to escape the horrors 

Website: http://www.horrorchannel.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horrorchannel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/horror_channel

THRESHOLD - coming to Arrow player May

Kiss your fingernails goodbye this spring, as ARROW announces the premiere of the truly creepy - and darkly funny - horror road movie THRESHOLD.  It will release on ARROW in the UK, US and Canada May 3rd. 

When a phone call from out of the blue brings Leo (Joey Millin) back into contact with his sister, Virginia (Madison West), long estranged from her family due to years of drug abuse, he arrives to find her alone in a bare apartment in the midst of an apparent overdose.

After the convulsions and nausea subside, Virginia insists to Leo that she has been clean for 8 months due to the help of a mysterious group. She confides to her cynical brother that her edginess and paranoia actually stem from a sinister ritual conducted by the group that took her in at her lowest and eventually revealed themselves to be a cult. This curse bound her emotions and physical sensations to a man she has never met before.

With his marriage on the rocks, Leo has his own demons to face. Nonetheless, he is reluctantly persuaded by Virginia to embark on a cross-country road trip to track down this shadowy stranger under the caveat that if he's nowhere to be found and it's all in her head, she'll go to rehab. However, as their date with destiny draws nearer, Leo begins to suspect his sister’s tall tale might have some substance.

The second feature film from co-directors Powell Robinson, Patrick R Young, and producer Lauren Bates, THRESHOLD is an intelligent, engaging and beautifully shot character-led horror/drama, telling the story of a pair of siblings embarking on a voyage of discovery. Following Robinson and Young’s debut Bastard (2015), THRESHOLD was improvised and shot on two iPhones over the course of a 12-day road trip with a crew of just three. The results are an inventive and compelling psychological thriller with hints of the supernatural that recalls such indie cult classics as Ben Wheatley’s Kill List (2011) and Justin Benson And Aaron Moorhead’s Resolution (2013).

With likeable leads and remarkable production values, THRESHOLD is stylish, shocking and as unpredictable as a red-cloaked cult member. Fans of spine-tingling and audacious indie gems like After Midnight (2019) and The Bloodhound (2020) are in for a treat - but be warned, it’s one hell of a trip!

THRESHOLD DEBUTS ON ARROW IN THE UK, US & CANADA 3RD MAY

View the trailer below...

Poster & trailer for Brit Sci-Fi feature UNDERGODS released,

Lightbulb Film Distribution is delighted to share the poster and trailer for new dystopian fantasy-thriller, UNDERGODS, which will be coming to cinemas and digital download on May 17. 

In a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world, K and Z roam the streets on the lookout for corpses and something even more valuable - fresh meat. 

Following its world premiere at Fantasia last year, the film went on to celebrate its UK premiere at Glasgow Film Festival in February. Since then, Undergods has gone on to receive two British Independent Film Award (BIFA) nominations. 

From May 17, UNDERGODS will be released day-and-date; in select cinemas nationwide and On-Demand simultaneously. A limited-edition Blu-ray and vinyl soundtrack are also planned for later in the year.

Undergods stars Kate Dickie (The Witch, Game of Thrones), Ned Dennehy (Mandy, Peaky Blinders), Geza Rohrig (Resistance, Son of Saul), Burn Gorman (Pacific Rim, Enola Holmes) and Tanya Reynolds (Emma., Sex Education).

Check out the trailer below!

 

Slow burn horror WE STILL SAY GRACE - coming to Digital, May

Say your prayers as bone chilling new horror WE STILL SAY GRACE is set to put the fear of god in you. From directors Brad Helmink and John Rauschelbach (The Lodge), this terrifying horror premieres in the UK on 3 May 2021 courtesy of 101 Films.

Hollywood mainstay Bruce Davison (X-Men, Those Who Kill) gives a deliciously dark turn as religious fanatic Harold, a god-fearing family man who lives with his down-trodden wife and teenage daughters in a remote farmhouse, as far away as possible from the sin filled world and civilisation, where he rules his household with an iron fist. The older she gets, the more daughter Maggie (Holly Taylor - The Americans, Manifest) begins to question her father’s rules and rituals and is desperate to live a normal life.

When three young men break down near the house, they go in search of help…and their dream road trip soon becomes an unimaginable nightmare…as they stumble upon this seemingly happy family home that houses dark secrets. They are soon sucked into a wicked world of saints and sinners.

Intrigued by the guests, Maggie starts to develop a strong connection with one of the boys, could they be the opportunity to escape she so desperately wants? But as things start to spiral out of control, Harold isn’t prepared to relinquish his powerful grip, and tensions build between the family and the new arrivals. 

As the guests are pulled further into this deranged world, Harold’s anger at their sinful and blasphemous ways deepens and this stomach-churning drama escalates to a harrowing finale. Who will survive the wrath?

WE STILL SAY GRACE will have you praying for your soul to be saved. 

Released on Digital 3 May 2021

View the trailer on YouTube.

 

 

Psychological thriller THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW coming to Netflix - May.

Coming exclusively to Netflix this May, psychological thriller THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW.

Anna Fox (Amy Adams - Justice League) is an agoraphobic child psychologist who finds herself keeping tabs on the picture perfect family across the street through the windows of her New York City brownstone. Her life is turned upside down when she inadvertently witnesses a brutal crime. 

Based on the gripping, best-selling novel by author A.J. Finn and adapted by Tracy Letts (Actor - Lemans 66), shocking secrets are revealed and nothing and no one are what they seem in this suspenseful psychological thriller.

Amy Adams, Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour), Anthony Mackie (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Fred Hechinger (News of the World), Wyatt Russell (Overlord), Brian Tyree Henry (Godzilla vs. Kong), Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), and Julianne Moore (Hannibal) star.

THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW will be available on Netflix from 14th May

View the trailer on YouTube. 

For more info visit Netflix

THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE Limited Edition 4K BD - out June from Arrow Video

Dario Argento’s staggeringly assured debut THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, a film which redefined the ‘giallo’ genre of murder-mystery thrillers and catapulted him to international stardom, and established the key traits that would define Argento’s filmography, including lavish visuals and a flare for wildly inventive, brutal scenes of violence. 

With sumptuous cinematography by Vittorio Storaro (Apocalypse Now) and a seductive score by legendary composer Ennio Morricone (Once Upon a Time in the West), this landmark film has never looked or sounded better in this brand new 4K Ultra HD presentation from Arrow Video, complete with a collector’s booklet, poster, lobby cards and more!

Sam Dalmas (Tony Musante - We Own the Night), an American writer living in Rome, inadvertently witnesses a brutal attack on a woman (Eva Renzi - Funeral in Berlin) in a modern art gallery. 

Powerless to help, he grows increasingly obsessed with the incident. Convinced that something he saw that night holds the key to identifying the maniac terrorizing Rome, he launches his own investigation parallel to that of the police, heedless of the danger to both himself and his girlfriend Giulia (Suzy Kendall - Spasmo)…

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

New 4K restoration from the original negative by Arrow Films
4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
Restored original lossless mono Italian and English soundtracks
English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack
Audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films
Black Gloves and Screaming Mimis, an interview with author and critic Kat Ellinger exploring the film’s themes and its relationship to both the giallo and Fredric Brown’s novel The Screaming Mimi
The Power of Perception, a visual essay on the cinema of Dario Argento by Alexanda Heller-Nicholas, author of Devil’s Advocates: Suspiria and The Giallo Canvas: Art, Excess and Horror Cinema, reflecting on the recurring theme of perception and the role of art in Argento’s filmography
Crystal Nightmare, an interview with writer/director Dario Argento
An Argento Icon, an interview with actor Gildo Di Marco
Eva’s Talking, an archival interview with actor Eva Renzi
Original Italian and international theatrical trailers
2017 Texas Frightmare trailer
Image galleries
Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Howard Hughes and Jack Seabrook, and a new essay by Rachael Nisbet
Fold-out double-sided poster featuring two original pieces of poster artwork
Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproduction artcards
Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring two original pieces of poster artwork

Pre-order the UK 4K BD Box Set from Amazon.co.uk

 

 

 

LAKE MUNGO gets a Limited Edition Blu-ray Release from Second Sight

Escape the Bank Holiday, with seminal Australian horror LAKE MUNGO from director Joel Anderson, which is set for its highly anticipated first ever UK Blu-ray release as a stunning Limited Edition Box set on 31 May. 

This cult favourite arrives with a host of brand new, fascinating special features from specialist in the field Second Sight Films.

Since its original release in 2008, this documentary-style chiller has made far reaching ripples, thrilling horror fans and inspiring budding filmmakers across the globe and establishing itself as a bona fide cult classic. Now the chilling film gets the release it deserves that sees brand new interviews with cast and crew; filmmaker fans Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead and director du jour Host’s Rob Savage; a brand new commentary, video essays and archive material. 

When sixteen-year-old Alice Palmer tragically drowns while swimming in the local dam, her grieving family start to experience a series of strange, inexplicable events and become increasingly unsettled. Seeking out the help of a parapsychologist, they learn that  Alice had been living through extremely troubling, disturbing times and hiding deep, dark secrets. 

Now they are desperate to know what haunted their daughter and what is happening to them. Does Lake Mungo hold the terrifying truth?

SPECIAL FEATURES

- Archive audio commentary by Producer David Rapsey and DoP John Brawley
- New audio commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Emma Westwood
- Captured Spirits: an interview with DoP John Brawley
- Ghost in the Machine: an interview with Producer David Rapsey
- A Cop and a Friend: an interview with Actors Carole Patullo & James Lawson
- Kindred Spirits: Filmmakers Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead on Lake Mungo
- Hosting Spirits: Filmmaker Rob Savage on Lake Mungo
- Simulacra and Spirits: a video essay by film writer Josh Nelson
- Autopsy of a Family Home: a video essay by filmmaker Joseph Wallace
- Deleted scenes

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS

- Rigid slipcase
- Perfect-bound booklet with new essays by Sarah Appleton, Simon Fitzjohn, Rich Johnson, Mary Beth McAndrews and Shellie McMurdo, interview with actor James Lawson by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas plus rare behind-the-scenes photos
- Three collectors’ art cards

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

 

 

Chinese box office hit SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD in virtual cinemas 12th April and on Digital 26th April

Trinity CineAsia presents critically acclaimed thriller SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD released in virtual cinemas and as part of Chinese Cinema Season from 12th April, and available on Digital platforms from 26th April.

Li (Xiao Yang, Detective Chinatown) and his wife A Yu (Tan Zhuo - The Bravest) run a small business in Thailand and enjoy a happy home life with their two daughters. When their eldest daughter is violently assaulted, blackmailed and left traumatised by another student, her parents intervene, leading to a dead body which needs to be hidden, and every trace of the boy buried to cover up the accident.  

However, the missing boy’s parents, dogged detective La Wen (Joan Chen - Marco Polo, Lust, Caution) and mayoral candidate Du Peng (Philip Keung - Blind Detective) are pushing the local police to turn over every rock to find the truth, stopping at nothing until their missing son is found.

A remarkable directorial debut from filmmaker Sam Quah, SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD boasts incredible performances and a tense and emotionally riveting story, making it a must-see and compelling new thriller.

Trinity CineAsia presents SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD released in virtual cinemas and screening as part of Chinese Cinema Season from 12th April

Book tickets: https://www.chinesefilm.uk/film/sheep-without-a-shepherd-wu-sha/

Available on Digital from 26th April

Pre-order on iTunes.

View the trailer...