Friday 25 March 2022

FATHER OF FLIES - On Digital, April

Having sated horror fans and critics thirst for creepy chills on its UK premiere at Grimmfest now FATHER OF FLIES – a tightly paced, beautifully constructed, and terrifyingly disorientating psychological horror – from director Ben Charles Edwards (A Bird Flew In, Quant), is set for its general release on Digital from 101 Films on 11 April.

The haunting and atmospheric feature is dedicated to the late Nicholas Tucci (You’re Next, Myth), who gives a compassionate and complex performance as the lead, in one of his final film roles.  This nightmarish film is an emotionally charged entrancing journey that oozes with tension and shocks.

Having broken up with his wife who is struggling with a mental health illness (Sandra Andreis – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Only You Only Me), newly single dad, Richard (Tucci) invites his new partner Coral (Camilla Rutherford – The Darjeeling Limited, Gosford Park) to live with him and his children in their remote house, in the snow-covered mountains.

With the sudden departure of their mother, the children are unhappy and unsettled with the new set up – rebellious teen Donna (Page Ruth – Shameless, For Your Consideration) is suspicious of the new woman in their lives and is rarely home, while vulnerable and hearing-impaired Matthew (Keaton Tetlow – Mother, Eddie, Milo and the Box) is forced to share this bleak and lonely space with the strange newcomer – who sports a disturbing plastic massaging mask and is distant and disinterested in her inherited family.  

As the hostility grows and claustrophobia sets-in, the tension reaches boiling point and the family is confronted by an ominous presence, a dark, deadly malevolence… what is this terrifying supernatural force and what does it want?

This evocative tale is unrelentingly suspenseful, eerie, and sinister, packed with frights and anxiety-filled terror. 

Available from UK Digital outlets from 11th April 2022

View the Trailer: https://vimeo.com/676205878

Wednesday 23 March 2022

Trailer and poster released for WE'RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLDS FAIR - in UK cinemas April

Lightbulb Film Distribution is pleased to share the UK theatrical poster and trailer for the chilling coming-of-age horror feature, WE'RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLDS FAIR, which is coming to UK cinemas 29th.


Following its World premiere at Sundance, the film played at Fantasia and Grimmfest (UK premiere).

Directed by Jane Schoenbrun, the film stars Anna Cobb in a breakthrough role. The score was written and performed by Alex G.

We’re All Going To The World’s Fair will be released in cinemas nationwide from April 29 and on Digital Download and limited edition Blu-ray from May 9.
 
Check out the trailer below...

WE'RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLDS FAIR is an immersive modern horror film. It’s an exploration of internet culture and identity through a chilling coming-of-age story. Schoenbrun is a visionary filmmaker; an exciting new voice in elevated horror. We are excited to bring this powerful and unique film to UK and Irish audiences.” commented Sales & Acquisitions Director, Peter Thompson.  

WE'RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLDS FAIR Fair arrives in UK cinemas from April 29, and on Digital Download and Blu-ray from May 9.

Horror Channel celebrates Sci-Fi B-Movies this April

It’s back to terrify once more! Horror Channel once again celebrates the Sci-fi B-movie world of strange creatures, alien invaders and weird science with CLASSIC SCI-FI WEEKEND 2, a follow-up TV special to the popular Classic Sci-fi weekend broadcast in April 2020. The fifties are acknowledged as the Golden Age for Sci-fi movies and Horror Channel has picked ten of the most iconic, which will be broadcast on Saturday16th April and Sunday 17th April.


The season includes five channel premieres: the heart-pounding Alien invasion classic IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, pulp-horror favourite TARANTULA, featuring an uncredited Clint Eastwood, subterranean monster thriller THE MOLE PEOPLE, the beastly mutant classic THE DEADLY MANTIS and THE MONOLITH MONSTERS, in which the world is attacked by thirsty giant crystals!

The season also embraces returning favourites such as mutant octopus-rampaging IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA, Fred F. Sears’ saucer-invading caper EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS, Sears’ rampaging alien bird yarn THE GIANT CLAW, Nathan Juran’s Ray Harryhausen inspired 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH and drive-in favourite THE BLOB, starring Steve McQueen.

Full film details in transmission order:

Saturday 16 April @ 13:00 – IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE (1953) *Channel Premiere


John Putnam (Richard Carlson), an amateur astronomer, is looking at the skies with his fiancée, schoolteacher Ellen Fields (Barbara Rush), when they see what looks like a huge meteor crash into the desert. As events unfold, various townspeople start to disappear, including Ellen, to be replaced by alien ‘duplicates’ As the townspeople become aware of the danger, the likelihood of bloodshed becomes apparent. Based on a story by Ray Bradbury.

Saturday 16 April @ 14:40 – EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS (1956)

UFOs from a doomed star system invade Earth with plans of world conquest. Surrender is not an option so the human race must fight to the bitter end. Special effects are by Ray Harryhausen.

Saturday 16 April @ 16:20 – TARANTULA (1955) *Channel Premiere


This classic science fiction film featuring screen legend Clint Eastwood, tells the story of a scientist who, while researching the effects of a new synthetic nutrient, releases a giant spider in the American Southwest. Directed by Jack Arnold and starring John Agar, Mara Corday and Leo G. Carroll.

Saturday 16 April @ 17:55 – IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA (1956)

While on a routine mission, Cmdr. Pete Mathews (Kenneth Tobey) runs into trouble when his submarine is nearly sunk by an unknown creature, which is identified as a giant octopus from the nether reaches of Mindanao Deep. The beast has been awakened by nearby nuclear testing and now, radioactive and monstrously huge, the rampaging leviathan is heading toward the North American Pacific Coast.

Saturday 16 April @ 19:30 - THE GIANT CLAW (1957)

When a strange flying object is spotted, it is believed to be a UFO. However, it turns out to be an extraterrestrial bird made of anti-matter which leaves a trail of death and destruction in its wake.

Sunday 17 April @ 13:00 – THE MOLE PEOPLE (1957) *Channel Premiere

John Bentley (John Agar), leads a Middle Eastern expedition in search of a lost tribe of Sumerians. He and his cohorts follow a tunnel deep below the surface of the earth, eventually coming across a tyrannical tribe of albino Sumerians, who use the semi-human Mole People as slaves. Aware of the danger the scientists pose, the subterranean High Priest wants them eliminated.

Sunday 17 April @ 14:30 – 20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH (1957)

A manned space flight from Venus crash lands in the Mediterranean, losing its most precious cargo: reptilian eggs from the planet's surface. Italian zoologist (Frank Puglia), his American granddaughter, Marisa (Joan Taylor), and returned astronaut Calder (William Hopper) must battle to the creature before it destroys everything in its path.

Sunday 17 April @ 16:05 – THE DEADLY MANTIS (1957) *Channel Premiere


When a giant insect attacks several people in a remote Arctic region, Col. Joe Parkham (Craig Stevens) swings into action. Parkham and his associates, Dr. Ned Jackson (William Hopper) and Ned's assistant Margie Blake (Alix Talton), track the predatory mantis as it heads southward to Washington DC.

Sunday 17 April @ 17:40 – THE MONOLITH MONSTERS (1957) *Channel Premiere

A meteor crashes in the desert, leaving behind huge black chunks. While being analysed in a science lab, the crystalline stones are accidentally drenched with water and begin to grow to gargantuan dimensions. A sudden rainstorm further exacerbates the situation, causing the monoliths to grow to hitherto unimagined heights. Can the world be saved by the saline solution which the scientists are hurriedly developing in the lab?

Sunday 17 April @ 19:15 – THE BLOB (1958)


Two teenagers, Steve (Steve McQueen) and his best girl, Jane (Aneta Corseaut), notice a shooting star fall to earth, destroying an elderly man and growing to a terrifying size. The blob continues to grow, killing many, until the teenagers, with the, initially reluctant aid, of policeman Dave (Earl Rowe) discover a way to stop it.

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

Thursday 17 March 2022

Halfway to Halloween Month this April on SHUDDER

SHUDDER’S "HALFWAY TO HALLOWEEN HOTLINE" OF HORROR FILM RECOMMENDATIONS RETURNS THIS APRIL ALONG WITH A KILLER LINE-UP OF NEW ORIGINAL FILMS AND SERIES.
 

Shudder's popular "Halfway to Halloween Hotline" of personalized horror movie recommendations returns this April as part of the streamer's annual "Halfway to Halloween" celebration, which also features a killer lineup of new original series and films and genre-defining additions to Shudder's unbeatable movie library of timeless horror classics. 
 
Said Craig Engler, Shudder’s General Manager: “We’re curating a slate of the best in horror all year round, but April and October give us a unique opportunity to connect with and hear from our members directly about the movies they’re craving and what they love most about the genre. And we’re pairing that with an impressive lineup of new, fan-favorite titles, as we continue to go deep on the genre like only Shudder can.”
 
“HALFWAY TO HALLOWEEN HOTLINE”
 
Every Friday in April from 3pm – 4pm ET / 8pm – 9pm BST, members are invited to call Samuel Zimmerman, Shudder’s VP of programming, for customized horror viewing recommendations from Shudder’s expansive film collection – from his  favorite genre films of all time to highly anticipated releases this year. A new hotline phone number will be announced each Friday on Shudder’s social media platforms. 
 
Please note: While recommendations are provided for free, please note that normal phone and long-distance charges may apply. Call volume is expected to be high, so please keep trying if a busy signal is received. There are no guarantees that every call will be answered, but Sam will get through as many as he can within the hour.
 
NEW SHUDDER ORIGINAL AND EXCLUSIVE FILMS & SERIES
 
CURSED FILMS II – A Shudder Original Series
New Series Premieres 7th April with New Episodes Every Thursday
 
Shudder’s acclaimed documentary series is back to explore the facts and myths surrounding a new batch of famous films some consider cursed. The new season will feature The Wizard of Oz, Rosemary’s Baby, Stalker, The Serpent and the Rainbow, and Cannibal Holocaust. Featuring new interviews with FX expert and former Mythbusters host Adam Savage, Oscar-winning cinematographer Roger Deakins, actor Bill Pullman, and director Ruggero Deodato, among many others. 
 
THE CELLAR– A Shudder Original
New Film Premieres 15th April
Filmed on location in Roscommon, Ireland, The Cellar tells the story of Keira Woods (Elisha Cuthbert), whose daughter mysteriously vanishes in the cellar of their new house in the country. Keira soon discovers there is an ancient and powerful entity controlling their home that she will have to face or risk losing her family’s souls forever. Official Selection, SXSW 2022. Written and directed by Brendan Muldowney.
 
VIRUS 32 – A Shudder Original
New Film Premieres 21st April
 
A virus breaks out and a chilling massacre rages through the streets. The sick become hunters, and only calm their fever by unscrupulously killing all those not yet infected. Unaware of this, Iris (Paula Silva) and her daughter spend the day in the sports club where Iris works as a security guard. When night falls, their fight for survival begins. Their only hope of salvation arrives when they discover that after each attack, the infected seem to stop for 32 seconds of calm before attacking again. Also stars     Daniel Hendler and Sofía González. Written by Juma Fodde and Gustavo Hernández and directed by Gustavo Hernández.
 
NEW ADDITIONS TO SHUDDER’S MOVIE LIBRARY
 
4th April
 
HAUNT
On Halloween, a group of friends encounter an "extreme" haunted house which promises to feed on their darkest fears. The night turns deadly as they come to the horrifying realisation that some nightmares are real.
 
LORDS OF SALEM
Heidi, a radio DJ from Salem, is plagued by bizarre nightmares of vengeful witches after playing a mysterious record by a group known as The Lords. When the record becomes a huge hit, Heidi and her colleagues receive tickets for the band’s next gig, but upon arrival find that the show goes beyond anything they could have imagined. From modern horror maestro, Rob Zombie, The Lords of Salem is an enigmatic and visually stunning take on the mythology of witches that blends a 1970s aesthetic with modern day counterculture to create a vivid, macabre horror.
 
CUTTERHEAD
Rie is visiting the Copenhagen Metro construction to portray the European cooperation when an accident occurs. She is blocked in a pressure chamber alongside Croatian Ivo and Bharan from Eritrea. Despite radically different worldviews, they must put their lives and bodies in each other's hands to survive.
 
THE RITUAL
After the violent death of one of their group, four old college friends decide to take a hiking trip deep in the Swedish wilderness in order to bond and reminisce about old times. However, the inexperienced hikers soon find themselves hopelessly lost in the dense woods. As their fragile friendships begin to crack and old resentments surface, they become increasingly desperate to escape the woods. But they are not alone. Someone, or something, malevolent is watching them, intent on making them face their deepest fears and ensuring they never leave.
 
YOU MIGHT BE THE KILLER
As Sam (Fran Kranz) flees from a masked killer at camp, it slowly dawns on him that HE might be the killer. With the help of his film buff friend Chuck (Alyson Hannigan), Sam navigates through horror movie tropes to try and make it out of this plot alive. 
 
11th April
 
ROCKTOBER BLOOD
An executed rock star comes back to haunt a rock star who betrayed him, or so she thinks.
 
[REC] 2
In this Spanish horror sequel, [REC] 2 immediately follows the events of [REC], focusing on a swat team and a doctor who have been sent in to retrieve blood samples from the quarantined apartment building. Navigating the floors of the building, the group are attacked by the infected, as new and familiar faces emerge inside. This highly anticipated follow-up expands on the events of the first film, hinting at the origins of the deadly outbreak and features more scares, more zombies, and more terror.
 
[REC] 3: GENESIS
In the third instalment of Paco Plaza’s [REC] series, a couple’s vows are put to the test when a demonic virus turns their wedding guests turn into rabid monsters. Clara and Koldo’s wedding reception is going well, except for their uncle, who seems unwell. At the party’s peak, he turns into a bloodthirsty being, and soon the guests also catch the deadly disease. Can Clara and Koldo make it out alive or is the honeymoon already over?
 
[REC] 4: APOCALYPSE
The final instalment of the [REC] series, [REC] 4: Apocalypse brings the horror full circle. Continuing from the events of the first film, [REC] 4 rejoins plucky television presenter, Angela Vidal in the aftermath of her traumatic ordeal inside the apartment building. Sent to a special quarantine facility on an oil tanker, Angela fears the worst when she realises the deadly virus has followed her on board. She will have to fight the deadly zombie outbreak one final time before it infects the entire facility.
 
PUPPET MASTER
Assailed by nightmarish visions, Alex Whitaker and his fellow psychics descend on the Bodega Bay Inn. There, they discover that their compatriot Neil has apparently committed suicide. But, as the gruesome visions continue, they sense that there's still something sinister afoot. When they find themselves hunted by a band of homicidal marionettes created by twisted puppeteer Andre Toulon, they discover they're right.
 
PUPPET MASTER 2
The malicious marionettes are back to resurrect their dead master and evict parapsychologists from the family estate.
 
PUPPET MASTER 3
Gestapo agents face killer dolls when they murder puppeteer Toulon's wife in this prequel to Puppet Master.
 
12th April
 
SUBSPECIES
Michelle and Lillian are two American students who have joined their friend Mara in Romania for their studies of the ancient myths and legends of Transylvania. But Myth turns into reality when the women become the object of desire of the powerful and grotesque Radu, an evil vampire obsessed with making them his consorts.
 
THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM
In the quest to save souls, the Spanish Inquisition will stop at nothing and knows no boundaries for its evil. Maria must find the power to save her husband from the ultimate machine of torture: the razor-sharp pendulum poised over the pit of hell under the direction of Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor of Spain.
 
INTRUDER
The overnight crew of a supermarket find themselves pursued by a mysterious maniac in this fun late-80s slasher from regular Sam Raimi mainstay Scott Spiegel, who co-wrote Evil Dead 2 and appeared in many of Raimi's films.
 
18th April
 
THE BOULET BROTHERS DRAGULA - SERIES 1-3
After its biggest-ever hit fourth season and its first as a Shudder Original, past seasons of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula are coming to Shudder, making the streamer the exclusive home for all four seasons plus 2020’s Resurrection special. The beloved reality series is a competition created and hosted by The Boulet Brothers to find the world’s next Dragula Supermonster. Each season, a new group of drag artist vie for the title and crown through a series of challenges to demonstrate their mastery of the four pillars of Dragula: drag, horror, filth, and glamour.
 
ANTIVIRAL
Syd March is an employee at a clinic that sells injections of live viruses harvested from sick celebrities to obsessed fans. Syd also supplies illegal samples of these viruses to piracy groups, smuggling them from the clinic in his own body. When he becomes infected with the disease that kills super sensation Hannah Geist, Syd becomes a target for collectors and rabid fans. He must unravel the mystery surrounding her death before he suffers the same fate.
 
THE CRAZIES
In this remake of George A. Romero’s sci-fi horror, a small town descends into chaos when the local water supply becomes infected with a virus that turns the town’s inhabitants into ruthless, bloodthirsty killers. Attempting to contain the infection, the authorities block off the town leaving sheriff, David Dutten and his family to band together with the last remaining survivors, defending themselves against the infected hordes. Director Breck Eisner manages to create a stylishly crafted psychological thriller that pays homage to Romero’s original film, whilst streamlining his socio-political message for the modern age. 
 
25th April
 
ETHERIA - SERIES 5
Eleven episodes featuring savage serial killers, desperate robot husbands, ghostly visitors, gory body horror, demented sibling rivalry, ruinous secrets from the past, witchcraft and witches of several kinds, mermaids, campfire legends, and a hilarious cult indoctrination.
 
NEKROTRONIC
Our hero, Howard North, is a young orphan dragged into a conflict between the Nekromancers - a family of badass demon hunters, and Finnegan - an evil demon who absorbs people’s souls to increase her power. When Howard finds out the truth behind Finnegan’s past and her dark plans for the future, he teams up with his new friends to discover he is the ultimate Nekromancer, the only one with the power to defeat her.
 
THE REEF
A ferocious shark stalks a group of friends trying to swim to safety after a shipwreck. As the fiend with fins picks off each of the pals, the blue Australian water is turned into blood-red broth. Who will make it to shore in one piece – and who will wind up in ol’ Toothy’s stomach? This aquatic Australian horror film breathes new life into the frightful fish genre in an era when Sharknado is more well-known than Jaws. The scariest thing about The Reef? It’s all based on a true story.
 
JAMIE MARKS IS DEAD 
Fifteen-year-old Adam McCormick's life hasn't been the same since classmate Gracie Highsmith found Jamie Marks’s dead body at the edge of the river. Adam becomes fixated on Jamie's death and gradually a deep bond develops between the living teenager and the dead boy's ghost. But the more attached Adam becomes to Jamie's ghost, the weaker his ties to reality become.
 
29th April
 
BECKY
Rebellious teen Becky (Lulu Wilson) accompanies her father (Joel McHale) on a weekend getaway to a lake house in an effort to reconnect. But the trip soon takes a turn for the worse when a group of escaped convicts, led by the merciless Dominick (Kevin James), suddenly invade the house. With her father's life at stake, Becky has no choice but to take matters into her own hands.
 
30th April
 
INSIDIOUS 
Insidious is the terrifying story of a family who, shortly after moving, discover that dark spirits have possessed their home and that their son has inexplicably fallen into a coma. Trying to escape the haunting and save their son, they move again only to discover that it was not their house that was haunted...
 
INSIDIOUS  2
The terrifying sequel to Insidious following the haunted Lambert family as they seek to uncover the mysterious childhood secret that has left them dangerously connected to the spirit world.
 
INSIDIOUS 3
Go back to the beginning… in this chilling prequel that takes place before the unforgettable haunting of the Lambert family. When paranormal investigators Tucker and Specs team up with the psychic Elise to help a teenage girl contact her late mother, Elise is forced to venture back into ‘The Further’ where she finds a ruthless supernatural entity craving the souls of the living. It's the darkest chapter yet in this spine-tingling portrayal of evil unleashed
 
For a 7-day, risk-free trial, visit www.shudder.com.






Acclaimed chiller THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR - on Disc and Digital, May

THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR is the dramatic and evocative feature film debut from writing-directing duo David Charbonier and Justin Powell. This Shudder Original from the talented team – who went on to create the critically acclaimed horror The Djinn – has been described by the NME as ‘practically flawless’ and is now set for its UK Blu-ray, DVD and digital release, from Acorn Media International.

A night of unimaginable terror awaits twelve-year-old Bobby (Lonnie Chavis – This Is Us) and best friend, Kevin (Ezra Dewey – The Djinn) when they are abducted on their way home from school and taken to a house surrounded by miles of bleak, dark country in every direction.

Bobby manages to escape his confines and quietly navigates the dark halls in a bid for escape, but when he hears Kevin’s screams, he realises he can’t leave his friend behind... Avoiding his kidnapper (Kristin Bauer van Straten – True Blood) and her menacing acquaintance (Micah Hauptman – Everest) at every turn and with no means of calling for help, Bobby embarks on a high-stakes rescue mission, determined to get himself and Kevin out alive...or die trying.

Filmed from the perspective of the two young protagonists THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR tackles an undeniably dark and disturbing subject matter, while giving audiences a gripping and commanding tale of endurance and alliance in the face of evil.

What ensues is a suspenseful, chilling and expertly crafted game of cat and mouse, so tense that viewers will watch with the same trepidation as THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR.

The film, set for its UK physical premiere on 2 May 2022.

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

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

 

Horror Channel reveals raft of UK TV premieres for April

Rob W King’s gripping dystopian thriller THE HUMANITY BUREAU, starring Nicolas Cage, and Rob Grant’s twisted survival drama, ALIVE, starring Angus MacFadyen, are amongst the raft of Saturday night UK TV premieres on Horror Channel during April. Also in prime-time 9pm slots are the UK TV premieres of Owen Egerton’s supernatural horror MERCY BLACK and Jonathan Zarantonello’s sinister, psychological thriller THE BUTTERFLY ROOM, starring Barbara Steele and Ray Wise.

Plus, Padraig Reynolds’s suspense-filled neo slasher OPEN 24 HOURS, starring Vanessa Grasse, gets its channel premiere.

Full film details in transmission order:

Saturday 2 April @ 21:00 – THE BUTTERFLY ROOM (2012) *UK TV Premiere


Ann, a reclusive and butterfly-obsessed elderly lady (played by Barbara Steele), suffers from bipolar disorder. When she meets Alice, a mysterious but seemingly innocent young girl, she is lured into a twisted world and discovers that Alice has other strange friends.


Saturday 9 April @ 21:00 – ALIVE (2018) *UK TV Premiere


A man and woman awake in an abandoned sanatorium to discover that a sadistic caretaker (played by Angus MacFadyen) holds the keys to their freedom and the horrific answers as to their real identity. Directed by Rob Grant (Harpoon).

Saturday 16th April @ 21:00 – MERCY BLACK (2019) *UK TV Premiere


Fifteen years after a shocking incident, Marina Hess (Daniella Pineda) is coming home. Believing that a supernatural force was behind her dark crime, Marina works to discover the truth behind a dark phantom known as Mercy Black. What she discovers is a very real and very deadly horror that will stop at nothing to claim her and those she loves.


Saturday 23 April @ 22:50  – OPEN 24 HOURS (2018) *Channel Premiere


Mary (Vanessa Grasse) knew her boyfriend James was the Rain Ripper serial killer. But she felt powerless to act until he forced her to watch another victim being slaughtered before her eyes – and then she set him on fire. On parole from prison despite everyone thinking she was guilty by proxy, and on medication to control her paranoid hallucinations, Mary gets a graveyard shift job at the remote Deer gas station. Then the killings begin….


Saturday 30 April @ 21:00 – THE HUMANITY BUREAU (2017) *UK TV Premiere


Set in the year 2030, global warming turns parts of the American Midwest into a desert. In its attempt to take hold of the economic recession, a government agency called The Humanity Bureau exiles members of society deemed unproductive and banishes them to a colony known as New Eden. A caseworker, Noah Kross (Nicolas Cage) investigates a case appealed by a single mother and her son. Knowing the unjust fate of the innocent boy, Kross sets off to save them. But in doing so goes up against the entire Bureau.

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



Sunday 13 March 2022

Devilishly dark STOKER HILLS - On Digital 28 March

Enter STOKER HILLS at your own risk… where evil lurks in the shadows, in this nightmare-fuelled horror. The darkly enthralling new feature from director Benjamin Louis (State’s Evidence) is set to have UK audiences on the edge of their seats, or firmly behind the sofa when it gets it debut on digital from 101 Films this March.

Three college students, Ryan (David Gridley – Lady Driver), Erica (Steffani Brass – Six Feet Under) and Jake (Vince Hill-Bedford – American Fighter) set out to make a horror movie in their isolated small-town, but their film quickly takes a deadly turn, and they find themselves plunged into a hellish nightmare – something way more chilling than they could ever have imagined.

When two detectives find footage of the students’ abduction, they must delve into the terrifying tapes and look for clues to save the missing trio before it’s too late. The investigation leads them to the outskirts of Stoker Hills where they find an unimaginable hell.

This tense chiller promises dark and deadly thrills, a tasty turn from horror legend Tony Todd aka The Candyman, and a wicked twist in its tail.

Dare you take a trip to STOKER HILLS? Arriving on digital 28 March

View the Trailer on YouTube.

Horror thriller HELD! - Out on DVD & Digital, April

Bulldog Film Distribution announces that taut and terrifying thriller HELD is being released on DVD and digital platforms on April 25th.

Directed by Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing (the pair behind the Blumhouse horror sensation The Gallows and its hit sequel), with an assured script by Jill Awbrey, who also stars, HELD is a sleekly-shot shocker, where a couple’s weekend getaway in an isolated, high-tech house turns into a nightmare after the phone rings and voice says “OBEY US!”

The film, which premiered at the Arrow Video FrightFest in London, features a marvellous lead performance by Awbrey in her debut feature role, with Bart Johnson (High School Musical) a charismatic screen presence as her husband. Cluff himself can be heard as the sinister voice that tells the couple “we know everything you did”.

With elements of the Saw films, The Collector, and Demon Seed (the 70s classic sci-fi thriller about a computerised house gone wrong), HELD grabs your attention from the get go, pins you to your seat with a slow-mounting sense of dread, then hits you with a series of jolts and unexpected twists, all moodily scored by Richard Breakspear (Prey). You’ll definitely think twice before booking a quiet weekend getaway in the countryside after this.

Watch the Trailer on YouTube.



THE BABADOOK Standard Edition BD and 4K + LAKE MUNGO on Standard Edition BD - March

Following the release of THE BABADOOK and LAKE MUNGO in acclaimed Limited Edition versions, Second Sight Films now brings these two bona fide horror classics to Standard Edition Blu-ray. The Babadook will also be available as a Standard Edition 4K UHD. All versions will be released on 28 March 2022.

 THE BABADOOK

Jennifer Kent’s acclaimed, unsettling chiller THE BABADOOK stars Essie Davis (Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries), as a grief-stricken mother who is desperately trying to bring up her troubled son the best she can, will a new book be the answer to his sleep woes, or is it the beginning of an unimaginable nightmare?

Following the violent death of her husband on the day their son Samuel (Noah Wiseman) was born, Amelia struggles with his erratic behaviour, and is still battling with the never-ending grief. Refusing to celebrate Samuel’s birthday as it’s inextricably linked to such a traumatic time, life is a struggle and the one person who’s always been there for her, her sister’s (Hayley McElhinney) patience is wearing thin.

As Samuel’s seventh birthday approaches his fears get worse, he’s convinced a monster is coming to get them, and he won’t settle, no matter how many bedtime stories he’s told. When an intriguing storybook appears on the bookshelf,  Samuel becomes convinced that the Babadook is the monstrous creature he’s always feared and as Amelia senses the ominous presence herself, she slowly begins to unravel.

SPECIAL FEATURES
- Audio Commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson
- This Is My House!: an interview with Essie Davis
- The Sister: interview with Hayley McElhinney
- Don't Let It In: an interview with Kristina Ceyton
- Conjuring Nightmares: an interview with Kristian Moliere
- Shaping Darkness: an interview with Simon Njoo
- If It's in a Name or in a Look: interview with Alex Holmes
- The Bookmaker: an interview with Alexander Juhasz
- Ba-Ba-Ba...Dook!: an interview with Jed Kurzel
- Monster: short film
- They Call Him Mister Babadook: The Making Of
- There's No Place Like Home: Creating the House
- Special Effects: Stabbing Scene
- The Stunts
- Illustrating Evil: Creating the Book        

For 4K only:
-4K mastered by the original post production facility and presented in HDR10

Pre-order the UK 4K-UHD from Amazon.co.uk

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

 
LAKE MUNGO

Seminal Australian horror LAKE MUNGO from director Joel Anderson was originally released in 2008, and the documentary-style chiller has made far reaching ripples, thrilling horror fans and inspiring budding filmmakers across the globe and establishing itself as a cult classic.

When 16-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

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

 

 

Bold new horror AGNES - Coming to DVD & Digital, April

Face your fears in the bold, audacious new horror AGNES which is not to be missed.

A nun’s disturbing behaviour sparks rumours of demonic possession at a remote convent. 

When a priest-in-waiting and his disillusioned mentor are sent to investigate, their methods backfire, leaving a wake of terror and trauma. 

Starring Molly C. Quinn (Castle, Doctor Sleep), Agnes is written and directed by Mickey Reece (Climate of the Hunter)

View the trailer on YouTube.

Dazzler Media presents
AGNES on DVD & Digital Download from 4th April

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


HALLOWEEN III, TWIN PEAKS, ZOMBIE & BASKET CASE merch available from Fright-Rags

Fright-Rags has new merchandise from Halloween III: Season of the Witch, Twin Peaks, Zombie, and Basket Case.


40 years after being misunderstood upon its release, Halloween III: Season of the Witch has found its audience. Commemorate the anniversary with Fright-Rags' new pint glass featuring a wraparound design, a reprint of the sold-out long-sleeve shirt, and Silver Shamrock Novelties tees on tie-dye green and heather green.


Fright-Rags enters the town of Twin Peaks with apparel dedicated to David Lynch's surreal series. Find out who killed Laura Palmer with a new T-shirt, a new long sleeve, and restocks of two sold-out designs.


The dead are among us with Fright-Rags’ Zombie collection. Lucio Fulci's Italian horror classic has received three new T-shirts, a new long sleeve, and a reprint of the "Zombie vs Shark" design as worn by Jay Baruchel in This Is the End.


Celebrate 40 years of Basket Case with Fright Rags’ collection from the Frank Henenlotter cult classic. It features three T-shirts - including designs inspired by vintage VHS ads and Boglins - and a long-sleeve shirt.

Halloween III, Twin Peaks, Zombie, & Basket Case collections are on sale now at Fright-Rags.com.

 

 

 

Tuesday 8 March 2022

THE BETA TEST - Available on ArrowPlayer

On March 11th 2022, the essential, alternative streaming service ARROW premieres THE BETA TEST, an outlandish, sexy and darkly funny mystery thriller from the multi-talented indie triple threats Jim Cummings and PJ McCabe. 


THE BETA TEST is set in the cutthroat world of Hollywood agents - but forget Entourage - our hero is stressed out at work, his agency is in a rut, and his marriage plans are a massive distraction to signing a big new client. Then, an anonymous invitation drops into his letterbox, the agent is lured into a mysterious world of anonymous infidelity, and all hell breaks loose. 

With echoes of 2015’s The Invitation, and almost a companion piece to this year's Laguna Ave, the film features a terrific lead performance from co-writer and co-director Cummings (behind 2018’s SXSW Grand Jury Prize winner Thunder Road) who Empire describe as “magnetic”. Smartly scripted, totally unpredictable and strangely moving and erotic, THE BETA TEST is delightfully unclassifiable and massively entertaining, skewering a post-Weinstein panicking Hollywood with tremendously enjoyable glee. 

Showcasing a gigantic talent in the form of Cummings (and his co-director PJ McCabe, who also stars in the film ) this is Swimming With Sharks crossed with Eyes Wide Shut for the digital age… take THE BETA TEST immediately - you won’t regret it.

THE BETA TEST will premiere on Arrow's Streaming service March 11th

View the trailer on YouTube.

Head to ARROW and start your 30-day free trial. Available on the following Apps/devices: Xbox, Roku (all Roku sticks, boxes, devices, etc), Apple TV; iOS devices, Android TV and mobile devices, Fire TV (all Amazon Fire TV Sticks, boxes, etc), and on all web browsers at
https://www.arrow-player.com

Subscriptions are available for £4.99 monthly or £49.99 annually

Sci-Fi survival thriller PROJECT GEMINI - on Digital, March 28

Prepare for lift-off with a brand-new sci-fi survival thriller PROJECT GEMINI. From director Serik Beyseu this stellar action-adventure boasts high production values and impressive CGI and is set to thrill UK audiences with its launch on 28 March 2022 from Ignition.

Three years after a deadly virus destroyed life on Earth and rendered it unhabitable, humanity’s fate depends upon finding an entirely new home.

An international expedition is formed to find a suitable planet, and the future of humankind lies in the hands of one determined, courageous crew, Steve (Egor Koreshkov – Jetlag), David (Dmitriy Frid – The Balkan Line) and Leona (Martinez Lisa – PROJECT GEMINI). Sent to terraform a planet dubbed Tess, the interstellar squad embark on a mission to save the world… but there is something sinister waiting for them in the dark.

Let the countdown commence for PROJECT GEMINI, an out-of-this-world, battle filled feature, filled with spine-tingling suspense.

View the trailer on YouTube.

HOMEBOUND - in UK Cinemas 1 April, and on Digital 4 April

The debut feature from director Sebastian Godwin, a ‘Screen International Star of Tomorrow’,  HOMEBOUND is a creepy and atmospheric chiller starring Aisling Loftus (A Discovery of Witches) and Tom Goodman-Hill (Humans).

When Richard decides to take his new girlfriend Holly home to meet his three estranged children, Lucia, Ralph and Anna, they soon discover his ex-wife missing and the children behaving strangely. As their actions become gradually more disturbing, Holly begins to unearth a dark and twisted secret.

Emerging from Film London's Microwave project, the feature scheme from Film London, which is supported by the BFI and BBC Film, Homebound was an official selection at Fantastic Fest and Beyond Fest, which announces the arrival of a bold new voice in homegrown horror.

Blue Finch Film Releasing presents HOMEBOUND in UK cinemas 1 April and on digital 4 April 

View the trailer on YouTube

THE WITCH - Limited Edition 4K/BD Release, coming from Second Sight Films

Robert Eggers’ internationally lauded directorial debut feature THE WITCH (2016), features a spellbinding performance from a young Anya Taylor-Joy early on in a career that has seen her become a force to be reckoned with. Now this chilling, fear-filled film gets the highly anticipated Limited Edition 4K UHD/BD treatment, packed full of bonus features, courtesy of Second Sight Films.

This terrifying, enthralling horror has earned plaudits galore from across the globe, including the auspicious Sundance best director prize, along with a London Film Festival award and a double win at the Empire Awards and now gets a stunning, collectable box set release including both 4K UHD and Blu-ray versions, on 18 April 2022. 

New England, 1630: An English farmer (Ralph Ineson – Game of Thrones, The Green Knight) – upon threat of banishment by the church – leaves his colonial plantation and relocates to a remote plot, surrounded by an ominous forest, with his wife (Kate Dickie – Prevenge, Red Road) and their children... But deep in the dark woods lurks an unknown evil.

Strange and unsettling things start to occur, animals turn malevolent, crops start to fail. Then one of the children disappears and another becomes worryingly sick, could he be possessed by an evil spirit? With mounting paranoia, suspicion falls on eldest daughter Thomasin (Joy – The Queen’s Gambit, Last Night in Soho) and they accuse her of witchcraft... then darkness descends.

The Witch Limited Edition comes with special features on both discs, brand new interviews with Robert Eggers, Anya Taylor-Joy, Kate Dickie, Ralph Ineson and Harvey Scrimshaw, new and archive commentaries, a short film by the director and more! The set is presented in a rigid slipcase with new artwork by Peter Diamond, a 150 page hardback book featuring brand new essays and collector’s art cards, see full list below.

 
Special Features
• Features 4K UHD and Blu-ray with bonus features on both formats
• 4K UHD presented in Dolby Vision HDR
• Archive audio commentary by Director Robert Eggers
• New audio commentary by film writer and broadcaster Anna Bogutskaya
• A Puritan Nightmare: a new interview with Robert Eggers
• Embracing Darkness: a new interview with Anya Taylor-Joy
• Love Thy Father: a new interview Ralph Ineson
• A Pious Wife: a new interview with Actor Kate Dickie
• Caleb’s Lament: a new interview with Actor Harvey Scrimshaw
• A Primal Folktale: features interviews with Robert Eggers and cast
• BFI London Film Festival Q&A with Robert Eggers, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson and Producer Jay
Van Hoy
• Brothers: a short film by Robert Eggers
• Optional English subtitles for the hearing impaired
Limited Edition Contents
• Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Peter Diamond
• 150-page hardback book with new essays by Emerson W Baker, Daniel Bird, Anton Bitel, Charles
Bramesco, Lillian Crawford, Shelagh Rowan-Legg and Anya Stanley plus stills, costume and
production design gallery.
• 6 collectors' art cards

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

Thursday 3 March 2022

Body Horror Short STITCHES hits YouTube

A young woman will stop at nothing to hold it all together in STITCHES. A 6-minute body horror short, available now on YouTube.

STITCHES is the latest film from onStream Productions - writer/director Colin MacDonald and actress/special effects creator Nicole Barron, in collaboration with composer Jerry Smith. 

Following their award-winning short Hangail, the trio pushed themselves to make viewers' skin crawl with an even more visceral effort.

"The thought of having thin, delicate threads holding my flesh together has always disturbed me," shudders MacDonald. "Making Stitches allowed me to amplify that and explore the most nightmarish of scenarios."

onStream Production is currently in development on their next short, Hunters' Orange. For more information, visit http://www.onStreamProductions.com.

View the short film on YouTube below...

 

 

Director Howard Ford talks about THE LEDGE - Premiering at FrightFest Glasgow

Ahead of FrightFest’s UK premiere of THE LEDGE at the Glasgow Film Festival, director Howard Ford talks about how he nearly lost his life to a mountain fall, reviving THE DEAD and playing ‘Russian Roulette’.


Q) Your latest film, THE LEDGE, is receiving its UK premiere at FrightFest Glasgow 2022. Excited, nervous? 

Well it’s always an exciting time with FrightFest and I do love the big screen with a crowd as that’s why I got into making films in the first place. With ‘The Ledge’ I have tried to frame it to work well as cinema in its traditional manner as I wanted the shots and mountain scenery to breathe. So it’ll be exciting to share that immersive experience.

Q) THE LEDGE has been described as a “suspense-filled, deadly cat and mouse game thriller set on a mountain”. Happy with that? 

I’m more than happy with the description. It beats the usual  ‘female cliff-hanger’. The funny thing is about films is that no matter what you try to do or how much effort you make to get it on screen, there is always a bunch of folks who jump online and can’t wait to tell you it’s the worst film ever made! Some people get it, some never will… 

Q) Why did you choose to do THE LEDGE, given that you’re not usually a director for hire? 

I nearly lost my life to a mountain fall some years back. In fact, I was clinging on to an icy mountain with nearly a thousand-foot drop below for over seven hours with no food or water in minus temperatures, completely alone, about to die with just the serene sounds of nature and the most beautiful view you can imagine. I didn’t just think I was going to die. I KNEW I was going to die. How that didn’t happen is a longer story and something bizarrely miraculous.  Luckily I didn’t have four guys trying to kill me, nor was I the only witness to a grisly murder! So when Tom Boyle’s script landed on my lap four years ago now, I knew I had to do it! 

Q) What were the hardest challenges in making the film? 

How long do you have?! Ha. They say don’t make a film on water. They say don’t make a film in the snow. I need to add: ‘Don’t make a film on a mountain’! To just get one shot with your actor at height with your camera also at height and not put anyone in very real danger presents logistics you would not believe. We had an amazing team but time is always tight, especially when it takes several hours before you can hit the go button on a daily basis. I would say for every ten shots you can get at ground level (your actors in a room) you can get maybe three at height. It was an epic challenge for us all, literally. 


Q) Is it true THE LEDGE was shot during the first wave of the pandemic? What were the locations like?

This is true. It took a number of years to get ‘The Ledge’ going anyway, during which time I had made a far few personal and professional sacrifices to stay available for it and travelled to several countries to find the right place. Then when it did finally get going, the Pandemic popped up! We had to wait a little more until there was a window in the travel then off we flew, every day wondering if the pandemic might shut us down. The precautions were another factor in an already complex puzzle. 

Q) Before shooting THE LEDGE, you made THE LOCKDOWN HAUNTINGS, famously, singlehandedly, while the UK was in the throes of the first lockdown. How would you compare both experiences? 

I decided to do ‘The Lockdown Hauntings’ when the final delay happened on ‘The Ledge’ as I was so fired up to shoot something, I couldn’t contain myself any longer! It was bizarre as with LH I was shooting with no crew whatsoever, just me and a wonderful cast in their homes and I could shoot very fast. If I needed to move the camera, I moved the camera.  ‘The Ledge’, however, had a crew of over sixty-plus people out in the wilderness, investors, a bond company and that is whole different ballgame and responsibility. 


Q) There’s talk of a sequel to THE LOCKDOWN HAUNTINGS. How will that work? Would Tony Todd’s character come back? 

I would absolutely want to bring Tony Todd back for ‘The Lockdown Hauntings 2: Second Wave’. He was brilliant as always, but this time I’d like to shoot with him in person, not via zoom which we had to do mid pandemic as he was in LA and Angela Dixon and I were in London. There are a lot of actors I would love to work with again but we killed half of them in Part 1! Always keeping my eye out for new talent to work with too so it would be a good opportunity in that respect too. 

Q) Is it true that, if the situation was right, you and Jon would consider doing ‘The Dead 3’? 

Once we get the rights back to ‘The Dead 1’ and ‘The Dead 2’ and are in a position to sell all three films, we might just do it. We’ll make a triple-disk even if DVD players don’t exist!  Right now we wonder where the money goes when people buy or rent it, as we haven’t seen a drop for years. 

Q) You’re about to shoot another movie. What can you tell us about it? 

Yes, I’m in pre-production right now for a very exciting and I must say brutal film called ‘Russian Roulette’. We have an amazing team headed up by producer Tom George and about to announce some really exciting cast. Crazily only 24 hours after the FrightFest Glasgow screening I will be flying off and heading straight to the set for Day One of principle photography. It’s going to be a blast and some!

Q) Finally, what else does the future hold? 

After ‘RR’ I am really excited to be re-teaming with producer Fred Hedman of GFM Films and Evolution to bring to life a fantastic script from the writer of ‘The Ledge’ Tom Boyle, called ‘Damaged’. We are reuniting with a lot of the same team from ‘The Ledge’ to bring you something that I really want to make incredibly gripping and visceral. One thing I won’t be doing is going back up a mountain any time soon! But you can with ‘The Ledge’. Thanks to all who do and I can’t wait to meet the fab FrightFest crowds again! 

THE LEDGE is screening Saturday 12th March, 1pm at the GFT, as part of the Arrow Video FrightFest Glasgow 2021 event.

For more information:
https://www.frightfest.co.uk/2022glasgow/THE-LEDGE.html