Blackly comic British thriller PROTEIN - In select cinemas, 13 June

A gym-obsessed serial killer murders and eats a local drug dealer for their protein, inadvertently sparking a brutal and bloodthirsty tit-for-tat turf war between rival drug gangs in PROTEIN, which is released to selected cinemas this month, ahead of it's Digital release.

 

Based on his 2014 short film of the same name, PROTEIN is the feature film debut of award - winning writer/director Tony Burke and offers a compelling blend of blackly-comic small-town crime thriller, nuanced character drama and grisly cannibal horror. 

It stars Craig Russell (Queen Cleopatra), Kezia Burrows, Steven Meo, Charles Dale, Andrea Hall, Ross O'Hennessy, and Richard Elis.

The film premiered to rave reviews and an enthusiastic audience reaction at London’s FrightFest 2024.

PROTEIN is in select cinemas 13 June from Bulldog Film Distribution 

It will be released on Digital platforms from 14 July

View the Trailer on YouTube. 

 

 

Popeye transforms into a murderous monster in SHIVER ME TIMBERS - Out now on Digital

Witness Popeye like you’ve never seen him before in hilarious gore-filled horror SHIVER ME TIMBERS which puts its own horrifying spin on the classic cartoon with a comedic edge. The film, from writer-director Paul Stephen Mann, in his feature debut, is set to arrive on UK digital this June thanks to Reel 2 Reel Films. 
  
1986, California: we join Olive Oyl, her brother Castor and their friends as they embark on a once-in-a-lifetime camping adventure to witness a dazzling meteor shower accompanying the arrival of Halley’s Comet. 
  
But what begins as a serene evening of stargazing soon turns into a harrowing nightmare, when a tiny fragment of the comet lands in the pipe of a local old fisherman, transforming him into a terrifying superhuman killing machine. 

  
Then, all hell breaks loose as the sinister sailor embarks on a murderous rampage of destruction and the youngsters must fight for their survival with bloody hilarious consequences. 
  
Chock full of shocks, scares and nostalgic nods - grab your pipe and spinach and set sail for a fun, gore-filled horror.  

View the Trailer on YouTube.
 
SHIVER ME TIMBERS on Digital from 2 June (Reel 2 Reel Films)

 

 

David Fincher's ZODIAC - Available for the first time on 4K UHD

ZODIAC, the superbly crafted thriller from director David Fincher (Gone Girl) comes to 4K Ultra HD for the first time on July 7, featuring an outstanding ensemble cast led by Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr., and Chloë Sevigny.

The film stars Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain) as a San Francisco newspaper cartoonist who becomes obsessed with discovering the identity of the notorious Zodiac Killer. Based on the bestselling book by Robert Graysmith, ZODIAC was described by Esquire as “studiously researched and impeccably shot”.

The 4K UHD release includes the Director’s Cut of the film, as well as a commentary by director David Fincher, and a commentary by lead actors Jake Gyllenhaal and Robert Downey Jr.

The supporting cast includes Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight), Chloë Sevigny (Kids) and Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer). The film was written by James Vanderbilt (The Amazing Spider Man), and produced by Mike Medavoy, Brad Fischer, Ceán Chaffin, Arnold Messer, Louis Phillips, and Vanderbilt.

Based on the true story of the notorious serial killer and the intense manhunt he inspired, it’s a searing and singularly haunting examination of twin obsessions: one man’s desire to kill and another’s quest for the truth.

The 4K UHD contains the following special features:

- Commentary by Director David Fincher
- Commentary by Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr., Producer Brad Fischer, James Vanderbilt and James Ellroy
- Zodiac Deciphered
- Visual Effects of Zodiac Previsualisation
- This is the Zodiac Speaking
- His Name Was Arthur Leigh Allen

4K UHD MAIN FEATURE

-2160p Ultra High Definition 16x9 2.4:1
-DTS-HD Master Audio: English 5.1; Dolby Digital: Castilian Spanish 5.1, German 5.1, Parisian French 5.1
-Subtitles: English SDH, German SDH, Cantonese, Castilian Spanish, Complex Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Korean, Norwegian, Parisian French, Swedish

BLU-RAY MAIN FEATURE

-1080p High Definition 16x9 2.4:1
- Dolby Digital: English 5.1, Castilian Spanish 5.1, French 5.1, German 5.1, Italian 5.1
- Subtitles: English SDH, German SDH, Italian SDH, Castilian Spanish, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish

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

 

 

 

Bella Thorne is SAINT CLARE - On Digital, July

Witness the rise of SAINT CLARE, a haunting, blood-soaked thriller that had audiences’ blood-pressure rising and critics singing its praises at London’s FrightFest 2024 Premiere. The inimitable Bella Thorne (Blended, Midnight Sun, Scream: The TV Series) delivers an outstanding performance as the eponymous lead in a spiritually charged smalltown tale with a powerful mix of American Psycho meets Joan of Arc. The film now gets its highly anticipated UK release on 21 July 2025 from 101 Films.

Based on a novel by Don Roff, the film is expertly helmed by award-winning Italian director Mitzi Peirone (Braid) who co-wrote the screenplay with Guinevere Turner (American Psycho).

The stellar cast includes Ryan Philippe (Crash, Cruel Intentions), Rebecca DeMornay (The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Risky Business), Frank Whaley (Broken Arrow, Pulp Fiction) and Bart Johnson (High School Musical). The film features an original soundtrack by Zola Jesus.

In a small town, a solitary young woman is haunted by voices that lead her to assassinate people with bad intentions who think they can get away with it. But her last kill changes everything and sucks her headlong down a rabbit hole riddled with corruption, trafficking and twisted visions from the beyond.

Can SAINT CLARE save herself from unimaginable terror as her pursuit for retribution takes a dangerous turn, carrying her deep into an unknown hell?

 Watch this exclusive clip on YouTube.

SAINT CLARE on UK Digital 21 July 2025

 

POPEYE THE SLAYER MAN – Here to slay in the UK

POPEYE THE SLAYER MAN, Robert Michael Ryan’s visceral slasher, featuring our favourite spinach-guzzling hero, lands on Prime SVOD in late July, and the producers have unleashed some exclusive shocking stills.

 

Plus, discussions have already begun about a sequel, with Jason Robert Stephen set for an even more monstrous return. 

Ryan said today: “We’re thrilled we can make the film available to UK audiences on Prime, as well as on Amazon and Apple. We went old-school with this movie, using practical effects reminiscent of the classic horror films of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Popeye The Slayer Man is camp, chaotic, and made with a lot of love for both grindhouse horror and the worldwide cultural icon that is Popeye. For those who like their horror intense, bloody, and a bit unhinged, we hope it hits like a can of contaminated spinach”.

Synopsis: 
A group of friends sneak into an abandoned spinach canning factory to film a documentary on the legend of ‘The Sailor Man,’ who is said to haunt the factory and local docks, only to find out that the legend is all-too true. Cue eye-popping, scalping, severed arm beating and twisted heads as the rampaging slaughter begins…

Popeye the Slayer Man stars Jason Robert Stephens in the title role, Sean Michael Conway, Elena Juliano, Mabel Thomas, Marie-Louise Boisnier, Jeff Thomas, and Steven McCormack, along with “scream queens” Angela Relucio (Code Black, The Cabining) and Sarah Nicklin (The Black Mass, Garden of Eden). 

Shot in New York State, it is directed by Robert Michael Ryan from a screenplay by John Doolan (Remains), and is a co-production between Salem House Films, Millman Productions, Ron Lee Productions, and Otsego Media.  Producers are Jeff Miller, Cuyle Carvin, Robert Michael Ryan, Alexander Tucker, Nathan Todaro, and Alysa Blasetti.  

Special makeup effects are supervised by R.J. Young with cinematography by Korey Rowe.

View the Trailer on YouTube. 

 

 

 

SWEENEY TODD: SLICE AND DICE - Out now on Disc and Digital

Presenting a fresh spin on the tale of the infamous Demon Barber of Fleet Street, this period-set psychological thriller sees Todd and his unlikely associate, Mrs. Lovett, leading a deadly charge for justice against the Victorian upper class

1846 Victorian London, Sweeney Todd is a successful barber, but he is forever haunted by the devastating loss of his parents at the hands of a cruel Judge. Now he vows to seek his revenge.

One night, he saves Tobias, a young man with Down’s syndrome from a beating, which leads to a friendship with the man’s surrogate mother, local baker, Mrs. Lovett.

She too has also suffered a devastating miscarriage of justice by the same judge and his corrupt associates. Todd and Lovett make a pact, and it is her that leads the charge in  wreaking a bloody revenge – in the most macabre of ways.

The film is written and directed by Steven M. Smith (The Ghosts of Borley Rectory, Essex Boys: Law of Survival), who is also the founder of Greenway Entertainment, and is produced by Terry Bird (Grand Isle, Born to Be Blue). 

View the Trailer on YouTube.

SWEENEY TODD: SLICE AND DICE arrives on Digital & DVD on 2 June 2025 released by Kaleidoscope Film Distribution

Buy the DVD on Amazon.co.uk 

Psychological folk thriller DIRTY BOY - Premiering at the Raindance Festival

Mystic Dream Story Studio and Stone Hill, in association with Saint Halo Productions are delighted to announce that their psychological cult thriller, DIRTY BOY, will be celebrating its UK Premiere at the 33rd Raindance Film Festival on 22nd June. The film has been nominated for four awards at the festival; Best Performance in a UK Feature (Graham McTavish), Best UK Feature, Best Director of a UK Feature (Doug Rao) and Best UK Cinematography.

DIRTY BOY marks Doug Rao's feature length directorial debut, which he also wrote and co-produced. The film stars Stan Steinbichler (Zero Chill, Vienna Blood, Eismayer), Susie Porter (Gold, Wentworth Prison, Cargo), Honor Gillies (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) and Graham McTavish (The Witcher, Outlander, The Hobbit). The film was produced by Giles Alderson (The Stranger in Our Bed, Wolves of War, The Dare), Sarah Ann Grill (Slammer, Solitary) and Marek Lichtenberg (The Final 45), who also stars in the film.

Synopsis:
Raised in an oppressive cult, a reclusive schizophrenic discovers that he’s being framed by the cult leaders for a series of ritualistic murders and must prove his innocence by saving their next victim and destroying the evil sect from within.

Commenting of the films upcoming UK Premiere at Raindance, writer and director Doug Rao said; “I’m thrilled that Dirty Boy is having its UK premiere at Raindance; it’s the perfect home for a film this strange, subversive, and emotionally unhinged. Raindance has always championed wild, independent voices, and Dirty Boy is certainly that.  As star Graham McTavish dubs it, it's: 'The bastard offfspring of The Sound of Music'. To be screening in the heart of the West End, a million miles from the isolated world of the movie, feels strangely right. I can't wait for the UK to finally meet our twisted little bastard offspring of a film.”

View the Trailer on YouTube 

DIRTY BOY will have its UK Premiere at Raindance Film Festival on 22nd June