Tuesday 28 June 2022

THE INVITATION - At UK Cinemas Aug 26

Gothic horror THE INVITATION from Director Jessica M Thompson (The Light of the Moon) comes to UK cinemas in August from Sony Pictures.

After the death of her mother and having no other known relatives, Evie (Nathalie Emmanuel - Game of Thrones) takes a DNA test…and discovers a long-lost cousin she never knew she had. 

Invited by her newfound family to a lavish wedding in the English countryside, she’s at first seduced by the sexy aristocrat host, but is soon thrust into a nightmare of survival as she uncovers twisted secrets in her family’s history and the unsettling intentions behind their sinful generosity.

Also starring Sean Pertwee (Dog Soldiers, TV's Gotham), Hugh Skinner (Star Wars : The Last Jedi, TV's The Windsors) Thomas Doherty (Descendants 2 & 3, TV's Legacies) and Stephanie Corneliussen (TV's Deception, Legends of Tomorrow).  

THE INVITATION comes to UK cinemas August 26th from Sony Pictures.

View the Trailer on YouTube

 

Horror comedy GATLOPP : HELL OF A GAME - Available now on Digital

Jumanji meets Escape Room in GATLOPP : HELL OF A GAME which is oavailable now from Digital Platforms from Signature Entertainment.

It’s going to be one hell of a game, as four friends reunite for game night to forget the trauma of adult life. With mischief, booze and mayhem on the cards, are they playing the game or is the game playing them? 

With their lives on the line, the group must face their inner demons by the time the sun rises or be forced to play the game for eternity. 

Written by and starring Jim Mahoney (Klaus), GATLOPP : HELL OF A GAME was directed by Alberto Belli and also stars Emmy Raver-Lampman (The Umbrella Academy, Blacklight) and Jon Bass (Baywatch).

Signature Films and Signature Entertainment presents
GATLOPP : HELL OF A GAME available on Digital Platforms now. 

View the Trailer on YouTube.


 

Eerie thriller MANNEQUIN - Premiering October

Director Jason Wright got in touch to tell us about his new film MANNEQUIN, one of his most eerie films to date. Whilst Mannequin’s roots are firmly planted within the horror genre, it also embodies an element of an uneasy thriller, sure to give even the toughest crowd goosebumps. 

Check out the trailer below...


This upcoming film was shot on a Mannequin farm with over 25,000 mannequins on it, so it definitely wasn’t for the faint hearted. Even during the day, the location was creepy, let alone when set for a horror shoot. 

MANNEQUIN is a fresh take on the classic horror movie trope, where the car breaks down, there’s no signal and it’s safe to assume that something terrible is about to happen. This film brings a new way of looking at the classic horror whilst touching on an issue in everyday life. Whilst everyone strives for perfection the themes of this film show what can happen when it goes too far, in the most horrific way possible, of course. 

The film features Laurence R. Harvey as Nathan Roper, Pete Bennett as Adrian Roper, Dani Thompson as Una Roper and Megan Lockhurst as Jade. The debutant actors Cheryl Neve, Lote Pupola, Regan Tibbenham and Adrianna Edwards play the remaining models that set of on the lucrative job. 

MANNEQUIN is due to have a cast & crew premiere in October with some very special guests being invited.

Immediately following the premiere, the film is due to be released on Amazon Prime and discussions are under way to select distributors to take the film worldwide.

Synopsis
A group of six young models head off on a lucrative, well paid modelling gig in the countryside. It seems too good to be true though! As they are driving along a bleak country road their car breaks down. With no phone signal and no houses in sight the girls split up and three of them leave to try and find help. Upon their return they discover their friends are missing, except for a shoe and a trail of blood. Has something or someone taken them? Will they find their missing friends alive? 

Social Media Links
FACEBOOK    https://www.facebook.com/mannequinfilmuk
INSTAGRAM    https://www.instagram.com/silentstudios

INDIEGOGO CAMPAIGN
We are also still running a campaign to offer the chance to get some last minute perks including VIP tickets to the premiere which the Director has planned something out of this world. So, check out the campaign via the link below.
https://igg.me/at/MANNEQUINFILM/x/566020#/




Wednesday 22 June 2022

SHUDDER Originals and Exclusive New Films - Streaming this July

New titles coming to SHUDDER in July, including the eerie, psychological thriller from South Africa GOOD MADAM, the feature documentary THIS IS GWAR – the story of the iconic, heavy metal art collective, plus library additions including BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION and a triple bill from Alejandro Jodorowosky – the self-described  “Cecil B. DeMille of the underground.”


ON THE 3RD DAY – A Shudder Exclusive - Premieres 7th July

While on a trip with her young son, Cecilia has a car accident. Three days later, she finds  herself wandering a lonely road with no sign of her child – and no memory of what happened since the crash. Cecilia’s desperate search for her son leads her on a wrenching and tumultuous journey to face off against a religious fanatic who holds the shocking key to it all. Written by Alberto Fasce and Gonzalo Ventura and directed by Daniel de la Vega.


GOOD MADAM – A Shudder Original - Premieres 14th July

Official Selection, Toronto International Film Festival. Tsidi, a single mother, is forced to move in with her estranged mother Mavis, a live-in domestic worker caring obsessively for her catatonic white ‘Madam’. As Tsidi tries to heal her family however, a sinister spectre begins to stir. South African director Jenna Cato Bass (Flatland) co-wrote the film along with Babalwa Baartman and ten other members of her cast. Directed by Jenna Cato Bass


MOLOCH – A Shudder Original - Premieres 21st July

 In Moloch, 38-year-old Betriek lives at the edge of a peat bog in the North of the Netherlands. When she and her family are attacked by a random stranger one night, Betriek sets out to find an explanation. The more she digs, the more she becomes convinced that she is being hunted by something ancient. Written by Daan Bakker and  Nico van den Brink and directed by Nico van den Brink.


THIS IS GWAR – A Shudder Original
- Premieres 21st July

This is GWAR is the powerful story of the iconic heavy metal art collective, as told by the humans who have fought to keep it alive for over thirty years. The feature documentary includes interviews with the band members, both past and present, and other artists, including Weird Al Yankovic, Thomas Lennon, Alex Winter, Bam Margera, and Ethan Embry, including never seen footage of legendary GWAR frontman Dave Brockie (Oderus Urungus). Directed by Scott Barber.


STALKED – A Shudder Exclusive - Premieres 29th July

In an effort to heal after witnessing her sister's horrific murder, Nic, her younger sister Annie and two close friends travel to a remote Pacific Island for a kayaking and diving adventure. Hours into their expedition, the women are stalked and attacked by a Great White shark. To survive, they will need to band together, and Nic will have to overcome her post-traumatic stress, face her fears, and slay a monster. Written and directed by Andrew Traucki as a follow-up to his 2010 film, The Reef. Starring Teressa Liane (The Vampire Diaries), Ann Truong (Cowboy BeBop), Saskia Archer (Boshack), Kate Lister (Clickbait), and Tim Ross (Wonderland).

NEW ADDITIONS TO SHUDDER’S MOVIE LIBRARY

5th July

THE LONG WAIT
An old Laotian hermit discovers that the ghost of a road accident victim can transport him back in time fifty years to the moment of his mother's painful death. Directed by Mattie Do (Dearest Sister), who won Best Director (New Visions) at Sitges International Film Festival for the film.

MEATCLEAVER MASSACRE
When a professor specializing in ancient rites and rituals is attacked and his family killed by four of his students, he summons an evil spirit to hunt down the attackers and avenge his family

MANSION OF THE DOOMED
An insane surgeon finds himself up to his armpits in eyeballs after guilt prompts him to begin removing the eyes of abducted people in hopes of performing transplants on his daughter who lost her own in a car-accident he caused.

THE BURNING
When an ill-advised prank misfires, summer camp caretaker Cropsy is committed to hospital with hideous burns. Released after five years, hospital officials warn him not to blame the young campers who caused his disfigurement. But no sooner is Cropsy back on the streets than he’s headed back to camp with a rusty pair of shears in hand, determined to exact his bloody revenge. Contains strong language, sexual scenes, violence and gore.

11th July

FORBIDDEN PHOTOS OF A LADY ABOVE SUSPICION
A psychotic pornographer blackmails a married woman into becoming his sex slave by threatening to reveal that her husband is a killer. Desperate to protect the man she loves, poor Minou is forced to endure kinky bondage games until threats of murder force her to go to the police. But when she brings the cops to the madman’s house, it’s empty, and soon, Minou’s sanity is called into question. Luciano Ercoli’s stellar giallo references classic Hollywood suspense thrillers, aided by a clever script from Ernesto Gastaldi (TORSO) and a superb score by Ennio Morricone.

SUSPCIOUS DEATH OF A MINOR
A young girl is found brutally murdered and the case is handed over to Detective Germi. During the investigation, the detective discovers a prostitution trafficking linked to powerful people.

DANIEL ISN'T REAL
As a boy, Luke invented an imaginary friend named Daniel who led them both into a world of fantasy and imagination. But after Daniel tricks Luke into doing something terrible, Luke is forced to lock him away. Twelve years later, the dangerous Daniel is back--and he now appears as a charming, maniuplative young man with a terrifying secret agenda.

 
A TALE OF TWO SISTERS
In this Korean horror classic, scary things happen after two sisters are reunited. The bond between Su-mi and Su-yeon is so strong, even a stay at a mental hospital couldn't break it. When they return to live at their country home, the girls' father has remarried and strange events soon lead to dark revelations. LA Times critic Kevin Thomas called it "A triumph of stylish, darkly absurdist horror that even manages to strike a chord of Shakespearean tragedy - and evokes a sense of wonder anew at all the terrible things people do to themselves and each other."

12th July

BROADCAST SIGNAL INTRUSION
For three years, James has been haunted by his wife’s sudden and inexplicable disappearance. His best distraction is work - specifically, archiving old videos. While watching decade-aged TV news footage one night, he sees a video interference that’s deeply disturbing. And it’s not the only interference he’ll see. As his obsession over these strange clips increases, and he submerges himself into their mysteries, James discovers troubling connections to his missing wife. Which will these broadcast intrusions bring him, though: long-desired answers or a never-ending nightmare?

18th July

PHANTOM OF THE MALL : ERIC'S REVENGE
A masked killer stalks a waitress (Kari Whitman) in a shopping mall just opened by a California mayor (Morgan Fairchild).

THREE BY JODOROWSKY
The self-procalimed “Cecil B. DeMille of the underground,” Alejandro Jodorowsky is a towering cult figure whose critical reputation is only now catching up with the mystique that has surrounded his work for decades. Writer, director, actor, composer, novelist, comic book author, puppeteer, guru, psychomagician, purveyor of the phantasmagorical and inspiration to John Lennon and Kanye West, the cinematic visions of Jodorowsky are disturbing, visionary, provocative and utterly unique. A full 65 years since he made his first film, Shudder presents three of his most acclaimed works including the notorious El Topo (1970), the engrossing psychedelia of The Holy Mountain (1973) and his first full feature, Fando y Lis (1968) which caused a public outcry at its Acapulco Film Festival premiere and was banned in Mexico.

EL TOPO
A mysterious black-clad gunfighter wanders a mystical Western landsape encountering multiple strange characters. Described by critic Pauline Kael as an “acid western”, this bizarre film effectively created the concept of the midnight movie, playing for more than six months to packed-out houses at New York’s Elgin Theater.

THE HOLY MOUNTAIN
With startling and ravishing imagery, a Mexican master (Alexandro Jodorowsky) leads a Christ-like figure (Horacio Salinas) and various disciples to a mountain of immortal wise men where they must kill the Nine Masters of the Summit to gain eternal life.

FANDO Y LIS
In Jodorowsky’s absurdist, post-apocalyptic debut feature, Fando and his crippled partner Lis seek the legendary fabled city of Tar, where Lis hopes to be cured of her handicap.


25th July

REC
A beautiful TV reporter and her cameraman are doing a routine interview at a local fire station when an emergency call comes in. Accompanying the firefighters to a nearby apartment, the news team begins recording the bloodcurdling screams from inside an elderly woman's unit. After authorities seal off the building to contain the threat, the news crew, firefighters and residents are trapped to face a lethal terror inside. With the camera running, nothing may survive but the film itself.

RAWHEAD REX
Ireland will never be the same after Rawhead Rex, a particularly nasty demon, is released from his underground prison by an unwitting farmer. Written by Clive Barker.

Visit SHUDDER (UK) at http://www.shudder.com
 
 



Exclusive interview with Chris Sivertson, director of MONSTROUS, ahead of UK release

Ahead of the UK digital release of his feature film MONSTROUS, writer / director Chris Sivertson talks about the joy of working with Christina Ricci, monstrous inspirations and why horror films are our modern day fairy tales.
 
Q) What drew you to take the helm on MONSTROUS, given that you usually direct films you’ve either written or co-written?
 
Christina Ricci was already attached to the script when it came to me so that was a huge draw. I’ve loved her as an actress for decades and have always admired the interesting choices she makes in material. Then I got even more excited when I read the script. I just thought it was a beautiful and emotional story and it clicked perfectly  with my sensibilities. I saw pretty clearly what I could bring to it as a filmmaker.
 
Q) You drew a magnificent performance from Christina Ricci. What was it like directing her?
 
I had a fantastic time working with Christina. She has extensive experience and is such a great talent. Her instincts about the character were deeply intuitive. It’s an intense role because the material is pretty heavy. And on a practical level it was very demanding because she is essentially in every scene of the movie. It’s a true character study and the character is put through an emotional rollercoaster. 
 
Christina is able to delve into deep and dark emotions very quickly and then she’s able to let go of those feelings just as quickly - at least that’s how it seemed from my perspective. That ability of hers made for a very enjoyable working experience. Even when we were dealing with some pretty depressing stuff, her professionalism and wicked sense of humour kept things fun on set. That was important because we had so many logistical challenges in making a pretty ambitious low budget movie during the height of the pandemic. The crew loved her.  
 
 

Q) You’ve described the film as an emotional fairy-tale. Can you elaborate?
 
I’ve always loved fairy tales. I started my first movie ‘The Lost’ with a “Once upon a time” title card to make it clear that it doesn’t take place in the real world. I was talking to Kate Dolan (‘You Are Not My Mother’) at FrightFest Glasgow and she said she considered horror movies to be our modern fairy tales and I completely agree. Fairy tales vacillate between being beautiful and horrific. The laws of normal logic don’t apply - it’s the emotional truth to the stories that’s important. That’s what I responded to when I first read the script for Monstrous - the emotional truth of the main character Laura’s journey. There’s a scene where she’s reading Billy Goat’s Gruff to her son before bedtime - and that was the feeling I wanted the whole movie to have - a bedtime story with a very clear emotional arc to it.   
 
Q) What were the challenges of setting a film in the 50s?
 
The main challenge was figuring out how to create believable 50s sets on our small budget. We spent a lot of time location scouting and found some great places to use. But then it was up to our Production Designer, Mars Feehery, to actually transform them into beautiful 50s sets. There were several points during pre-production where it seemed impossible to pull off what we needed with the money we had, but Mars worked tirelessly to make this a reality. Morgan DeGroff, our Costume Designer, made a lot of the gorgeous outfits that Christina wears by hand. And our cinematographer Senda Bonnet’s work is stunning. The whole team put in so much attention to detail. Being on set once we started shooting felt magical. It was like we were in our own little 1950s fantasy world.
 
Q) What inspired your monster creation?
 
The monster first comes out of a pond, so the initial inspiration was water itself and also aquatic creatures - both real and imaginary. Water and liquid were important because the creature is a shape-shifter. It is able to take on different forms out of water. That gave us license to not just have one single monster look, but to create several different looks that the creature could inhabit. We also got to make a movie-within-the-movie that we see parts of on TV - a 50s creature feature in the vein of ‘Creature From the Black Lagoon’, so that movie was a definite influence as well.  
 

Q) You burst on the genre scene with The Lost (2006), your superb adaptation of Jack Ketchum’s crime novel. Do you intend to do any more literary adaptations? 
 
Definitely. Over the past year or so I have adapted some really awesome twisty thrillers written by novelist Adele Parks. I don’t know when those will be made, but Adele is a great writer and I’m excited to see those stories come to life. And years ago I wrote an adaptation of a horror novel written by an author that fans of Jack Ketchum will know well. I’m still hoping that movie will see the light of day eventually, but I can’t say the title right now because certain rights issues need to be worked out again before it can move forward. 
 
Q) You further gained cult fandom with your Lindsay Lohan starring film I Know Who Killed Me. Why do you think that has happened, given its initial negative reception?
 
It was such a bizarre movie, released by a major studio during the peak of the summer movie season. I consider that one a fairy tale too. We even had Lindsay busting open a Snow White sort of glass coffin at the end of the movie to be reunited with her long lost sister - straight out of a fairy tale. The movie is filled with strange tonal shifts - there’s melodrama, humour and extreme violence - sometimes all within the same scene. I think all of the things that people hated about it when it came out are what some people embrace now. Of course there are plenty of people who still think it’s terrible, and that’s a fair opinion, but I think the fact that it’s so strange has given it a much longer life than anyone expected.  
 
Q) You’re known for your collaborations with Lucky McKee (All Cheerleaders Die). Any plans to work together in the future?
 
I imagine we will work together in some capacity sooner or later. We always read each other’s scripts and watch various cuts of each other’s movies. We have a couple scripts and stories that we’ve worked on over the years that have yet to be made - including one unfinished project that is more epic in scope than anything we’ve done before.  
 
Q) Is it important to you to remain an indie director?
 
Not really. Indie productions don’t necessarily offer more creative freedom than studio productions. They definitely can in some cases, but indies can be plagued with all the same politics and interference that studio productions are known for. Studios obviously offer more resources and a larger canvas to work on, so that’s a huge appeal. But indies still tend to be the current place where the more interesting and unexpected material is made - but that’s certainly not always the case. 
 
Q) Finally, what’s next?
 
As a director, I’m not sure what will happen next. As a writer I have plenty to keep me busy. I’ve had my hands full with writing assignments and I also have my own original scripts that I’m developing - some of which I’ve been toying with for years. It’s kind of nice when an older project that I thought was dead suddenly becomes a possibility again. That’s been happening recently, so we’ll see what the future holds!
 
MONSTROUS will be released in the UK on Monday 11h July, courtesy of Koch Films. It will be available via Amazon, as well as Sky Store, Virgin Movies, Apple TV / iTunes, Google Play, Rakuten TV and Xbox.

Sorority Babes, Cannibal Women, Castle Freaks and Fassbinder rareities - Streaming on ARROW, July

Key highlights this JULY on the essential, alternative streaming service ARROW include a selection of gloriously trashy films from Full Moon; the annual visit to Camp ARROW; a glut of gore and grue with a season of films from the mind of the legendary horror writer H.P. LOVECRAFT; more from the prolific Rainer Werner Fassbinder; a FULCI horror masterwork, wuxia classics and much more... 
 
Watch the July Sizzle Reel HERE (YouTube).
 

In July, a pair of fantastically-titled exploitation cult classics: SORORITY BABES IN THE SLIMEBALL BOWL-O-RAMA, David DeCoteau’s comedy horror starring scream queen Linnea Quigley (Return of the Living Dead, Night of the Demons) and a murderous imp; and CANNIBAL WOMEN IN THE AVOCADO JUNGLE OF DEATH, starring genre favourites Shannon Tweed (Cold Sweat) and Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog) as well as TV star Bill Maher, in a raucous B-movie feminist take on Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Also in July, ARROW present a pair of adaptations of H.P. Lovecraft films: in CASTLE FREAK, Re-animator and From Beyond stars Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton are reunited to come face to face with terror when they travel to Italy to move into a castle they’ve inherited. - discovering it is haunted by a relentless blood-thirsty creature; LURKING FEAR is set in the town of Leffert's Corners, plagued by unearthly beings for decades. When small-time thief Blake Adams (Siren’s Kiss) turns up to claim his illicit family fortune hidden in the town cemetery and with bad guys in pursuit, getting his inheritance might be a lot more complicated.

Also in July, ARROW presents Rainer Werner Fassbinder Vol. 3, bringing together a collection of lesser-seen works from various stages in the career of the enfant terrible of the New German Cinema, wrote, directed, produced and starred in over 40 films in his short but prolific life, before passing away of a drug overdose in 1982 aged just 37. Featuring high definition digital restorations prepared by the Rainer Werner Fassbinder Foundation, the films include Satan’s Brew, Rio Das Mortes, Fear of Fear, and The Niklashausen Journey.

ALSO SHOWING: Lucio Fulci’s masterpiece of metaphysical horror The Beyond; martial arts mayhem from Chinese film director and actor, King Hu, and much more…

JULY RELEASE CALENDAR

New Titles – From July 1

Raining in the Mountain
The Fate of Lee Kahn  
Legend of the Mountain  
A Touch of Zen
Dragon Inn


New Titles – From July 8

Lurking Fear  
Castle Freak  
The Beyond  

New Titles – From July 15

Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama  
Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death

New Titles – From July 22

Satan’s Brew
Mother Kuster’s Trip to Heaven
The Niklashausen Journey
Gods of the Plague
The American Soldier
Rio Das Mortes
Fear of Fear

New Titles – From July 29

Doctor Mordrid

The Art of Cult. 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 www.ARROW-Player.com.

Subscriptions are available for £4.99 monthly or £49.99 annually

Tuesday 14 June 2022

THE WITCH - Limited Edition 4K/Blu-ray Release from Second Sight Films July

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/Blu-ray 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 25 July 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 (Anya Taylor-JoyThe 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, please see full list below.

Special Features
• Features 4K UHD and Blu-ray with bonus features on both formats
• 4K UHD presented with new Dolby Vision HDR grade
• 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 4K UHD/BD set from Amazon.co.uk



Psychological horror SHE WILL - in UK cinemas July

SHE WILL, the BIFA-nominated psychological horror from debut Director Charlotte Colbert, will be released to UK cinemas on 22nd July.

Presented by horror legend Dario Argento (Suspiria, Inferno, Deep Red), the film explores the story of Veronica Ghent (Alice Krige - Carnival Row, Star Trek : Insurrection, Texas Chainsaw Massacre) who, after a double mastectomy, goes to a healing retreat in rural Scotland with her young nurse Desi (Kota Eberhardt - X-Men: Dark Phoenix). 

She discovers that the process of such surgery opens up questions about her very existence, leading her to question and confront past traumas. The two develop an unlikely bond as mysterious forces give Veronica the power to enact revenge within her dreams.

The film also stars Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Star Trek : Generations), Rupert Everett (The Happy Prince, Cemetery Man), Jon McCrea (Cruella), Amy Manson (The Nevers, Doom : Annihilation) and Olwen Fouere (The Survivalist, Texas Chainsaw Massacre).

As well as directing the project, Colbert is also a co-writer on the film alongside Kitty Percy (Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators). She previously wrote and directed The Silent Man starring Simon Amstell (Grandma’s House) and Sophie Kennedy Clarke (Philomena).

Described by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron as sitting “in the tradition of great psychological horror films”, Colbert’s profound and nightmarish vision of revenge is a “powerful debut” and centred around a mentally and physically fragile actress with an original score from Black Swan and Requiem for a Dream composer, Clint Mansell. 

View the trailer on YouTube.






Survival Thriller FALL - in UK Cinemas August

Experience a heart-pounding tale of survival from the producers of 47 Meters Down where sacrifice may just be the only way out. 

A fast drop and a sudden stop awaits Becky (Grace Fulton - Shazam!) and Hunter (Virginia Gardner - Halloween) as they find themselves trapped 2,000 feet up an abandoned radio tower in the desert. 

Highly trained and resourceful, these climbers marking the tragic passing of a friend were not ready for every eventuality. A series of unfortunate events see their gear and supplies taken from them and as temperatures rise and vultures begin to circle, the chance of survival begins to fall rapidly. 

Also starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan (Watchmen, The Walking Dead), FALL is produced & directed by Scott Mann (Final Score) and written by Scott Mann and Jonathan Frank (Final Score)

Signature Entertainment presents FALL exclusively in UK Cinemas from 19th August.

View the trailer on YouTube




 

Saturday 11 June 2022

Christina Ricci horror film MONSTROUS gets UK release

MONSTROUS, a unique supernatural thriller, starring Christina Ricci and Directed by Chris Sivertson (I Know Who Killed Me, All Cheerleaders Die), will be unleashed in the UK on Monday 11th July, courtesy of Koch Films. It will be available to download via Sky Store, Virgin Movies, Apple TV / iTunes and Amazon, as well as Google Play and Xbox.

Synopsis: A terrifying new horror awaits Laura (Christina Ricci) and her seven-year-old son Cody (Santini Barnard) when they flee her abusive ex-husband and try to settle into a new life in an idyllic and remote lakeside farmhouse. Still traumatised, their physical and mental well-being are pushed to the limit as their fragile existence is threatened by something monstrous in the lake….

Director Chris Sivertson commentated: “Monstrous is a mashup - supernatural horror, 50’s period piece, family drama, creature feature, psychological thriller - but above all it’s a character study”. He adds: “It’s impossible to talk about Monstrous without talking about the sublime Christina Ricci. A phenomenal performer, she carries the movie on her shoulders every step of the way. She evokes deep empathy for a single mother who’s trying to keep her world from crumbling to pieces”.

The film stars Christina Ricci (“Yellowjackets,” The Matrix Resurrections, Sleepy Hollow), Colleen Camp (Sliver, Clue, Die Hard With a Vengeance), Santino Bernard  (Penny Dreadful: City of Angels), Don Baldaramos (Suburbicon) and Nick Vallelonga (Green Book).

MONSTROUS is a Filmmode Entertainment presentation and a Burning Sky Films and Screen Media Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment production, in association with Red Coral Finance and in partnership with Umbrelic Entertainment, Wildfire Pictures. Scarlet Pictures, Tip Top Productions and Snakebyte Productions. Directed by Chris Sivertson, written by Carol Crest and produced by Robert Yocum, Sasha Yelaun, B.I. Rosen and Johnny Remo. Director of Photography is Senda Bonnett and Creature Visual Effects are by Dorian Cleavenger. Edited by Anjoun Agrama.



Jordan Peele's NOPE - In UK Cinemas August

Oscar winner Jordan Peele disrupted and redefined modern horror with Get Out and then Us. Now, he reimagines the summer movie with a new pop nightmare: the expansive horror epic, NOPE

Check out the trailer below...

The film reunites Peele with Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out, Judas and the Black Messiah), who is joined by Keke Palmer (Hustlers, Alice) and Oscar nominee Steven Yeun (Okja, TV's The Walking Dead) as residents in a lonely gulch of inland California who bear witness to an uncanny and chilling discovery. 

Nope, which co-stars Michael Wincott (Hitchcock, Westworld) and Brandon Perea (The OA, American Insurrection), is written and directed by Jordan Peele and is produced by Ian Cooper (Us, Candyman) and Jordan Peele for Monkeypaw Productions. 

The film will be released to UK cinemas by Universal Pictures , 12th August.


 

 

Friday 10 June 2022

Extreme films MAKING OFF and ANA - Coming to Blu-ray in June

The extreme found footage film MAKING OFF (France - 2012) by Cédric Dupuis and the experimental extreme film ANA (Canada - 2015) directed by Frédérick Maheux will be available for pre-order on monday, june 6, on the official websites TetroVideo and Goredrome.

MAKING OFF comes in a Standard Blu-ray edition and in an Ultralimited edition numbered Mediabook + slipcover + 20pag booklet. Whereas, ANA is the first official release by Goredrome Pictures and is available in a Standard edition (DVD + Blu-ray) and in an Ultralimited edition numbered Mediabook + 20page booklet.


Written an directed by Cédric Dupuis (Like Every Morning), MAKING OFF is a shocking extreme film starring Olivier Bureau, who plays a character named Cédric Dupuis, like the director.

He's a fledgeling independent filmmaker who has set out to make the most terrifying horror film of all time. But shooting without any budget and with a cast of his friends, the young man soon realizes the frustration of indie filmmaking. The only way for him to get a realistic result is to unleash his imagination but he will fall into a spiral of depravity.

This is his documentary of the events that unfolded during the making of his film…

MAKING OFF also stars Céline Berti, Mickaël Collart, Jérôme Thevenet, Nathalie Van Tongelen and Sébastien Ventura.


Considered "The best experimental film" by Marian Dora (Cannibal, Melancholie der Engel),
ANA is written and directed by Frédérick Maheux (Art/Crime).

Ana is an experimental film about extreme female performances and the darker zones of the Internet. The film is presented as "an investigation of a cyber-sect linked to the disappearances of several women online", a "moodboard of the aestheticization of self-destruction" and a "cyber occult thriller noise horror experience".

In ANA, an individual investigates the disappearance of several online women. The missing people appear in encrypted videos hidden on the web, leading the protagonist in an esoteric puzzle he tries to decipher.

Catherine Allard, Clara Brunet-Turcotte, Rebecca Harvey, Mathilde Gesseaume-Rioux, Jean-François Lacoursière, Stéphanie Meunier, Yann Lapalme, Francis Ouellette and Viviane Paradis star.

Available to pre-order on the websites TetroVideo and Goredrome.


Thursday 9 June 2022

Psychological thriller series BLACK BIRD - Coming to AppleTV

Apple has unveiled the trailer for the highly-anticipated limited drama series BLACK BIRD, a gritty, suspenseful psychological thriller developed and executive produced by acclaimed, bestselling author Dennis Lehane. The six-episode series premieres globally with the first two episodes on Friday, July 8, 2022 on Apple TV+, followed by one new episode weekly, every Friday through August 5, 2022. 


BLACK BIRD stars Taron Egerton as Jimmy Keene, Paul Walter Hauser as Larry Hall, Greg Kinnear as Brian Miller, Sepideh Moafi as Lauren McCauley, and Ray Liotta as Jimmy Keene’s father, Big Jim Keene. The series is adapted from the true crime memoir “In With The Devil: A Fallen Hero, A Serial Killer, and A Dangerous Bargain for Redemption" by James Keene and Hillel Levin.


Inspired by actual events, when high school football hero and decorated policeman’s son Jimmy Keene (Egerton) is sentenced to 10 years in a minimum security prison, he is given the choice of a lifetime — enter a maximum-security prison for the criminally insane and befriend suspected serial killer Larry Hall (Hauser), or stay where he is and serve his full sentence with no possibility of parole. Keene quickly realizes his only way out is to elicit a confession and find out where the bodies of several young girls are buried before Hall’s appeal goes through. But is this suspected killer telling the truth? Or is it just another tale from a serial liar? This dramatic and captivating story subverts the crime genre by enlisting the help of the very people put behind bars to solve its mysteries.


BLACK BIRD is developed, written and executive produced by Lehane. The first three episodes are directed by Academy Award nominee Michaël R. Roskam, who also serves as executive producer. Lehane, Egerton and Roskam executive produce alongside Richard Plepler through his EDEN Productions; Bradley Thomas, Dan Friedkin and Ryan Friedkin executive produce through Imperative Entertainment; Alexandra Milchan and Scott Lambert executive produce through EMJAG Productions; and Kary Antholis also executive produces, along with the book’s author James Keene. Jim McKay and Joe Chappelle also direct. The limited series is produced for Apple TV+ by Apple Studios.

Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL, and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial.

For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.*

For more information, visit apple.com/tvpr and see the full list of supported devices.

 

 

Sam Rami produced UMMA - coming to Digital

Sandra Oh (TV’s “Killing Eve”, “Grey’s Anatomy”) stars in this haunting thriller from producer Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead franchise), UMMA,  available to Download & Keep from June 13 and to Rent on Digital on June 27, from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. 


UMMA
, which is the Korean word for “mother,” follows Amanda (Sandra Oh) and her daughter Chris, played by Fivel Stewart (“Atypical”), living a quiet life on an American farm. 

When the remains of her estranged mother arrive from Korea, Amanda becomes haunted by the fear of turning into her.

Directed by Iris K. Shim (The House of Suh), UMMA also stars MeeWha Alana Lee (TV’s “The Chair”), Odeya Rush (Lady Bird) and Dermot Mulroney (TV’s “Hanna”).

 

Teaser trailer for forthcoming sci-fi VESPER released

Signature Entertainment are very proud to release the first teaser trailer for sci-fi VESPER, which will be released to UK Cinemas and Digital later this year...

Set after the collapse of Earth's ecosystem, this immersive and powerful sci-fi thriller follows Vesper (Raffiella Chapman - His Dark Materials), a headstrong 13-year-old girl surviving in the remnants of a strange and dangerous world with her ailing father, Darius (Richard Brake - Game of Thrones, 3 From Hell). 

When Vesper finds the mysterious Camellia (Rosy McEwen - The Alienist), alone and disoriented after a crash, she agrees to help find her missing companion in exchange for safe passage. Vesper soon discovers brutal neighbour Jonas (Eddie Marsan - Sherlock Holmes) is searching for Camellia, who harbours a life-changing secret. 

Forced into a dangerous adventure, Vesper must rely on her wits and bio-hacking abilities to unlock the key to an alternate future. 

Vesper is directed by Kristina Buozyte & Bruno Samper (Vanishing Waves), who also co-wrote the film with Brian Clark (Not Funny, The Happiest Day of the Year).

Signature Entertainment presents
VESPER in UK Cinemas and Digital later this year




 





VIPCO VAULTS OF TERRORFEST 2023 is open for submissions!

After the successful inaugural VIPCO VAULTS OF TERRORFEST world renowned video label VIPCO are once again open for festival submissions for the next online film festival VIPCO VAULTS OF TERRORFEST 2023.


For VIPCO VAULTS OF TERRORFEST 2023 they are looking for short and feature length horror submissions to be showcased in the event.

New up and coming directors are welcome to show them what they’re made of and bring their terrifying visuals to the screens.

The festival will have a panel of judges featuring Horror Screams Video Vault Founder Peter ‘Witchfinder’ Hopkins, with others to be announced, reviewing your submissions, and not only will the winning short film have the option of being showcased on the official VIPCO Youtube channel, but the winning feature film will also have the option for a DVD & VOD release from VIPCO!

Awards will be given out for the following:

Best Feature Film
Best Short Film
Best Director (Feature)
Best Director (Short)
Best Lead in a feature
Best Lead in a short
Best Sound Design
Best SFX

The festival has begun accepting submissions with entries being FREE up to the Regular Deadline of 30th September 2022 after this date there will be a small fee to pay to submit your film.

The event is scheduled to take place online on 25th February 2023.

For more details on the festival and how to submit your films go to:

https://filmfreeway.com/VipcoVaultsofTerrorFest

 

 

Sunday 5 June 2022

Acclaimed Brit horror MARTYRS LANE – on Disc & Digital, July

FOR A night of haunting dread and claustrophobic terror visit MARTYRS LANE if you dare. Acclaimed writer and director Ruth Platt (The Black Forrest) brings the chills in this powerful ghost story starring respected actor Denise Gough (Too Close, Guerrilla), that has been certified fresh with 93% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Now this Shudder Original is set to arrive on UK DVD and Digital courtesy of Acorn Media International on 4 July 2022.

Leah (Kiera Thompson – The Emily Atack Show) feels like a stranger in her own home – a large, creaky, old Victorian vicarage where she lives with her distant mother Sarah (Gough) and distracted father Thomas (Steven Cree – Outlaw King, Outlander). Leah’s days are spent tip-toeing the house in isolation, where during the night, the dark empty spaces provide plenty of room for her nightmares to creep in.

One night, Leah is visited by a mysterious young girl in a white dress (Hannah Rae – Carmilla, City of Tiny Lights), who offers her a sense of comfort. In the hope that her shadowy guest might be able to answer some questions about Leah’s absent mother, the two girls begin to play a game. But fun quickly becomes fearsome as Leah realises that her guest holds knowledge that could be incredibly dangerous...

Boasting compelling performances from two young actresses, Platt’s ghostly gothic fairy-tale is a highly atmospheric and breathtakingly evocative exploration of loss, grief, and fear. Conjuring the sense of dread of childhood bad dreams, this unsettling yet deeply moving psychological thriller promises exhilarating anxiety and foreboding fear.

Take a trip down MARTYRS LANE for a hauntingly intense cinematic fearfest.

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