News

It’s time for a new episode of our series Revisited, and with this one we’re looking back at the 2009 sci-action movie Universal Soldier: Regeneration, the attempt to rescue the Universal Soldier franchise after the disappointment of Universal Soldier: The Return in 1999. To hear how it all turned out, check out the video embedded above!

Directed by John Hyams from a screenplay written by Victor Ostrovsky, Universal Soldier: Regeneration has the following synopsis: When a terrorist sect uses destructive android Ngu, a new model from the “Universal Soldier” line of humanlike machines, to seize the atomic reactor at Chernobyl, Luc Deveraux, an older cyborg, is reactivated to save the planet from nuclear Armageddon. Unfortunately, Deveraux will also have to contend with his nemesis, Andrew Scott, a fellow Universal Soldier who’s been recharged by the terrorists. The film stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dolph Lundgren, Andrei ‘The Pitbull’ Arlovski, Mike Pyle,...

Plenty of A-listers have gotten their start in the world of horror, from Kevin Bacon in Friday the 13th to Jennifer Aniston in Leprechaun. But did you know that Bradley Cooper also starred in a horror film early in his acting career? He plays the lead role in Ryûhei Kitamura’s 2008 film Midnight Meat Train, an adaptation of Clive Barker’s 1984 short story of the same name.

In the film,

A struggling photographer meets the owner of an eminent art gallery in pursuit of a successful career. His obsession with uncovering humanity’s dark side as his debut project draws him to a serial killer who preys on late-night subway commuters.

Cooper plays that struggling photographer who quite literally goes into the belly of the beast searching for a new subject to impress his rich benefactor. I promise you have no idea where this film is going, and it is one wild ride.

David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil) and Georgina Campbell (Barbarian) have signed on to star in the horror thriller The Shepherd, which is set to be directed by John Hyams, whose credits include Sick, Alone, Universal Soldier: Regeneration, and Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning. Anton and Image Nation are financing the film, which is expected to go into production this fall.

Written by Alexander Gustaveson, The Shepherd has the following synopsis: In the desolate Nevada night, a young woman in labor fleeing an abusive past, has her escape hijacked by a mysterious stranger, who hides an ominous threat in the back of her car.

A press release notes that Anton is handling worldwide rights, co-repping the North American rights with UTA Independent Film Group and Cinetic. They will be launching distribution sales at the Marche du Film.

The Shepherd is coming our way from Spooky Pictures and Image Nation,...

Horror is one of the most popular film genres right now, meaning there are tons of different movies being announced on an almost daily basis. You'd be forgiven for missing some of the latest exciting updates, which is why we're here to help.

The following list highlights some of the recent casting news from the horror industry. Stars from some of the biggest hits from the last few years are lining up their next projects as we speak. Among them are people like Georgina Campbell from Barbarian and David Dastmalchian from Late Night with the Devil. Keep reading to learn more about the horror updates you might have missed from this week.

Late Night with the Devil - Courtesy Shudder Late Night with the Devil and Barbarian stars team up for The Shepherd

David Dastmalchian and Georgina Campbell have been cast in the horror-thriller film The Shepherd. Variety reports that...

Late Night with the Deviland Barbarian stars David Dastmalchian and Georgina Campbell are taking the lead of The Shepherd. It's an exciting casting announcement for genre fans, given that Late Night with the Devil and Barbarian are considered to be among the best horror movies of recent years.

Per Variety, Campbell and Dastmalchian will be starring in a new horror film, The Shepherd, set to launch at Cannes. The Shepherd is directed by John Hyams from a screenplay by Alexander Gustaveson, and is set to follow a young woman in the midst of labor who just so happens to also be on the run from the abuse that has engulfed her night. While trying to escape in the dead of night in Nevada, her efforts are thrown into chaos by the appearance of a mysterious stranger who harbors an ominous threat of their own.

The Shepherd is being produced under...

Modern genre favorites David Dastmalchian (Late Night with the Devil) and Georgina Campbell (Barbarian) will star in the horror-thriller The Shepherd, Variety has learned.

Production is set to begin in the fall with John Hyams directing from a script written by Alexander Gustaveson.

Set in the desolate Nevada night, the film follows a young woman in labor fleeing an abusive past who has her escape hijacked by a mysterious stranger hiding an ominous threat in the back of her car.

Steven Schneider and Roy Lee produce for Spooky Pictures with Ben Cornwell, Jordan Foley and Nick Smith for Paperclip Ltd., Sébastien Raybaud for Anton, and Jonathan Rosenthal (Alone).

Dastmalchian is executive producing under his Good Fiend Films banner. Anton and Image Nation are financing.

“Once I turned the first few pages of The Shepherd I was hooked,” said Dastmalchian. “I immediately wanted to see this high-octane, horrifying world brought to...

The stars of horror hits “Late Night With the Devil” and “Barbarian” are uniting to take another potentially hair-raising step into the genre world.

“The Shepherd” is set to team David Dastmalchian and Georgina Campbell. The horror-thriller comes from Spooky Pictures — Image Nation (also behind “Late Night With the Devil”), with Anton launching sales in Cannes.

The film is being directed by John Hyams and written by Alexander Gustaveson. Anton is handling worldwide rights and co-repping North American rights with UTA Independent Film Group and Cinetic.

Set in the desolate Nevada night, “The Shepherd” follows a young woman in labor fleeing an abusive past who has her escape hijacked by a mysterious stranger hiding an ominous threat in the back of her car.

Reuniting the producers behind the box-office hit “Late Night with the Devil,” “The Shepherd” is produced under the Spooky Pictures – Image Nation partnership with Steven Schneider and...

Today, A24 released the official trailer for The Smashing Machine, which marks Benny Safdie’s first solo directing effort. The biographical sports film, which tells the story of legendary mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr, stars Dwayne Johnson in the lead role. Also starring in the film is Academy Award nominee Emily Blunt as former Playboy model and Kerr’s ex-wife Dawn Staples.

On display in the two-and-a-half-minute clip is the ultra-charged realism that the Safdie brothers brought to such films as Good Time and Uncut Gems. In 2002, John Hyams made a documentary, also called The Smashing Machine, about Kerr, who was then at the height of his powers but also in the throes of fighting the demons of addiction.

The Smashing Machine opens on October 3.

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The Last of Us is a post-apocalyptic thriller drama series created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann. Based on the popular video game franchise of the same name developed by Naughty Dog, the HBO series follows Joel, a smuggler who is tasked with smuggling an immune teenager named Ellie through the post-apocalyptic United States. The Last of Us stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Nico Parker, John Hannah, Merle Dandridge, Kaitlyn Dever, Isabela Merced, Tati Gabrielle, and Ariela Barer. So, if you loved the intensely thrilling drama, meaningful story, and compelling characters in The Last of Us, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Station Eleven (Max & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – HBO Max

Station Eleven is a post-apocalyptic thriller drama miniseries created by Patrick Somerville. Based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Emily St. John Mandel,...

Netflix has decided not to move forward with a third season of The Recruit, the espionage drama starring Noah Centineo. The series, which premiered in December 2022, concluded its second season earlier this year.

Colton Dunn, who played Lester Kitchens, shared the news on Threads. “‘The Recruit’ has been canceled y’all. Such a bummer,” he wrote. “I’ll share some pics and fun memories on Ig but just wanted you to hear it from me. Thanks if you watched. I’m Available Now! Hire me for your TV story!!”

Created by Alexi Hawley, The Recruit followed Owen Hendricks, a young CIA lawyer who became entangled in global conflicts after an asset attempted to expose her ties to the agency. The cast also included Aarti Mann, Fivel Stewart, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Kaylah Zander, Kristian Bruun, Angel Parker, and Jesse Collin.

Hypnotic and Lionsgate produced the series for Netflix, with executive producers including Centineo,...

Netflix’s espionage dramedy “The Recruit” has been canceled after two seasons with the streamer, Variety has confirmed.

Colton Dunn, who played former CIA operative Lester Kitchens on the show, took to Threads Wednesday night to announce the news.

“‘The Recruit’ has been cancelled y’all,” he wrote. “Such a bummer. I’ll share some pics and fun memories on Ig but just wanted you to hear it from me. Thanks if you watched. I’m Available Now! Hire me for you tv story!!”

“The Recruit” ran for 14 episodes across two seasons, first premiering in December of 2022. According to the official logline, the series followed, “Owen Hendricks (Noah Centineo), a CIA lawyer [who] becomes involved in massive international conflicts with dangerous parties after an asset tries to expose her relationship to the agency.”

Other cast members include Aarti Mann, Fivel Stewart, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Kaylah Zander, Kristian Bruun, Angel Parker and Jesse Collin.

Plot: Season Two finds CIA Lawyer, Owen Hendricks, pulled into a life-threatening espionage situation in South Korea, only to realize that the bigger threat just might be coming from inside the Agency.

Review: Netflix is going all in on the marketing push for their one-two punch of spy series returning for second seasons. A week ago, The Night Agent returned for a much-improved continuation of global espionage featuring Gabriel Basso and Luciane Buchanan. Noah Centineo tries to do the same with the next chapter of The Recruit. Two years ago, Centineo debuted as Owen Hendricks, a lawyer for the CIA, who was forced to become a field operative when he was linked to a Russian asset named Max (Laura Haddock). The first season had potential but wasted it on an uneven blend of humor and action. For season two, the formula remains close to the first run. Still, The Recruit...

There comes a time in the life of every avid action film fan when something shifts. All of a sudden the invisible becomes tangible. It's like moment Neo embraces his One-hood in The Matrix, predicting the flightpaths of bullets and nodding them to the ground. The components of how action scenes are conceived and executed becomes as easy to read as Ikea instructions. It all starts with admiration for the behind-the-scenes technicians who prioritize safety and verisimilitude; for the directors who know the consequences of each follow-through, calling upon compositional prowess and necessary coverage to convey the most believability, and, most importantly, for the performers who give their bodies to the altar of a genre that never gets enough respect. The downside is that it becomes all too apparent just how few people are really good at producing decent action. For a supposedly lowbrow art form, it certainly seems like...

CIA Lawyer Owen Hendricks (Noah Centineo) undertakes a covert operation in South Korea on season two of Netflix’s The Recruit. The full trailer shows Owen, once again considered to be in way over his head, called upon to stop an all-out war.

Additionally, season two stars series regulars Teo Yoo, Aarti Mann, Colton Dunn, Fivel Stewart, Kristian Bruun, and Kaylah Zander, Maddie Hasson, Angel Parker, and Vondie Curtis-Hall. The long-awaited season two cast also includes Nathan Fillion, James Purefoy, Young-Ah Kim, Felix Solis, Do Hyun Shin, Sanghee Lee, Omar Maskati, and Brooke Smith. Plus, Devika Bhise, Alana Hawley Purvis, Daniel Quincy Annoh, Jesse Collin are featured in the upcoming season.

“Season two of The Recruit finds CIA Lawyer, Owen Hendricks (Centineo), pulled into a life-threatening espionage situation in South Korea, only to realize that the bigger threat just might be coming from inside the Agency,” reads Netflix’s synopsis.

Netflix has released the official trailer and key art for The Recruit Season Two, which will premiere globally on the streaming service on January 30, 2025. Follow Owen Hendricks in this new trailer as the CIA lawyer realizes what’s at stake this season to the punky tune of Green Day’s “American Idiot” – with a Korean twist.

The Recruit Season Two finds CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks (Noah Centineo) pulled into a life-threatening espionage situation in South Korea, only to realize that the bigger threat just might be coming from inside the Agency.

“Owen rolls into this season basically screwed. Owen knows that if he does not walk away with a win this season, his career is going to be over. He might go to prison,” said creator, showrunner and executive producer Alexi Hawley previously.

“Depending on what people are into, they can show up this season for the big, flashy, splashy action stuff,...

Noah Centineo’s Netflix spy series “The Recruit” is headed to Seoul in its second season.

The show’s Season 2 trailer — fittingly soundtracked to Green Day’s “American Idiot” — sees CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks (Centineo) embarking on a new thrilling adventure in South Korea alongside “Past Lives” actor Teo Yoo. According to an official synopsis, the next chapter sees Hendricks “pulled into a life-threatening espionage situation in South Korea, only to realize that the bigger threat just might be coming from inside the Agency.”

In addition to Centineo and Yoo, “The Recruit’s” six-episode second season features series regulars Aarti Mann, Colton Dunn, Fivel Stewart, Kristian Bruun, Kaylah Zander, Maddie Hasson, Angel Parker and Vondie Curtis-Hall. Other key cast members include Young-Ah Kim, Felix Solis, James Purefoy, Do Hyun Shin, Sanghee Lee, Omar Maskati, Brooke Smith, Devika Bhise, Alana Hawley Purvis, Daniel Quincy Annoh, Jesse Collin and Nathan Fillion.

Season...

The Recruit ain’t a rookie no more.

In a real Happy New Year-move from Netflix, on Thursday, January 2, 2025, the streamer released the main trailer for Season 2 of “The Recruit.” Somehow, Noah Centineo’s CIA lawyer-turned actual CIA operative is even more in over his head this time.

The trailer appropriately appropriates Green Day’s “American Idiot” with more than a dose of Korean flair — that’s the setting for this season. Centineo’s Owen Hendricks is in the middle of a covert spy mission over there, “only to realize that the bigger threat just might be coming from inside the Agency,” per the logline. The second season features six one-hour episodes — and now Teo Yoo of “Past Lives.” The trailer features ones of those cool-ass back-to-back fighting scenes with the two defending a K-Pop club’s dance floor.

In addition to Centineo and Yoo, “The Recruit” stars Aarti Mann,...

Noah Centineo as Owen Hendricks in ‘The Recruit’ season 2 (Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024)

Netflix has finally set a premiere date for season two of The Recruit starring Noah Centineo. Season one premiered way back in December 2022. Season two has landed on a January 30, 2025 launch date.

In addition to Noah Centineo, season two will star Teo Yoo, Aarti Mann, Colton Dunn, Fivel Stewart, and Kristian Bruun. Kaylah Zander, Maddie Hasson, Angel Parker and Vondie Curtis-Hall also star, along with Young-Ah Kim, Felix Solis, James Purefoy, Do Hyun Shin, Sanghee Lee, and Omar Maskati. Rounding out the ensemble are Brooke Smith, Devika Bhise, Alana Hawley Purvis, Daniel Quincy Annoh, Jesse Collin, and Nathan Fillion.

“Season two of The Recruit finds CIA Lawyer, Owen Hendricks (Centineo), pulled into a life-threatening espionage situation in South Korea, only to realize that the bigger threat just might be coming from inside the Agency,” reads Netflix’s synopsis.

Netflix announced today that its action-packed espionage series, The Recruit, will return for its second season on January 30, 2025. The series comes from Entertainment One (eOne), Alexi Hawley, and Hypnotic.

The Recruit Season 2 finds CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks (Noah Centineo) pulled into a life-threatening espionage situation in South Korea, only to realize that the bigger threat just might be coming from inside the Agency.

“Owen rolls into this season basically screwed. Owen knows that if he does not walk away with a win this season, his career is going to be over. He might go to prison,” said creator, showrunner and executive producer Alexi Hawley.

“Depending on what people are into, they can show up this season for the big, flashy, splashy action stuff, but they can also be on a journey with this guy who’s just trying to fix something that he broke.”

Star and executive producer Noah Centineo...

At long last, “The Recruit” is coming back. Season 2 of the action dramedy starring Noah Centineo will premiere on Netflix on Jan. 30, 2025.

The series follows Centineo as Owen Hendricks, a man who just started working for the CIA as a lawyer. Most of Season 1 involved him grappling with a dangerous Eastern European asset as he got sucked further into the world of international politics. This time around, Owen will be pulled into a life-threatening espionage situation in South Korea — but the more he works the case, the more he realizes there may be a bigger threat inside the Agency itself.

“Owen rolls into this season basically screwed. Owen knows that if he does not walk away with a win this season, his career is going to be over,” creator, showrunner and executive producer Alexi Hawley told Tudum. “He might go to prison. Depending on what people are into, they can...

Yesterday, we shared the news that Scream Factory’s line-up of February 2025 4K releases consists of Ghosts of Mars (2001), Humanoids from the Deep (1980), Galaxy of Terror (1981), and Sick (2022). The product pre-order pages for those releases have since all gone up on the Scream Factory website – and the Sick page reveals that the movie is coming to 4K and Blu-ray with three audio commentaries and multiple interviews! You can check out the listing and make your pre-order at This Link. The Sick 4K Uhd and Blu-ray has a release date of February 4th.

A collaboration between John Hyams, director of the very cool 2020 thriller Alone, and Scream screenwriter Kevin Williamson, Sick was scripted by Katelyn Crabb (who was credited as Williamson’s assistant on Scream 2022) from a story by Williamson. The story takes place when the country locks down due to the pandemic and college student Parker and her best friend...

Development continues on a live action, supernatural crime TV series, based on the feature "Maniac Cop" (1988), to be produced and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and John Hyams, for HBO in North America and Canal+ in France:

The first "Maniac Cop" feature, directed by William Lustig, starred Tom Atkins, Bruce Campbell, Laurene Landon, Richard Roundtree, William Smith, Robert Z'Dar, and Sheree North, following an ex-police officer, who returns from the dead, seeking revenge on criminals, corrupt politicians and co-workers who wronged him.

"Maniac Cop" was followed by the feature sequels, "Maniac Cop 2" (1990) and "Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence".

"We've been talking about a re-imagining of the 'Maniac Cop' films for a number of years," said Refn, "but as we continued to work on the material, we found ourselves wanting to explore the world we were creating in greater depth.

"Turning 'Maniac Cop' into a...

Max has launched an in-app feature to live stream HBO’s linear channels programming. Subscribers will now be able to experience a live feed on the app while also having the option to rewind, restart, skip ahead and move through different content channels at their preference.

A small group of adult subscribers within the the ad-free and ultimate ad-free account tiers will now see the “Channels” feature displayed on their homepage.

Among the available channels are HBO, HBO 2, HBO Signature, HBO Comedy, HBO Zone and more.

First Looks

After the show’s midseason finale, the trailer for Fox’s “9-1-1: Lone Star”s remaining episodes dropped — the show will return on Monday, Jan. 20.

The 30-second preview teases an asteroid warning that could mean the end of the world as the crew of firefighters must band together.

“9-1-1: Lone Star” is a spinoff of the original “9-1-1” — which now airs...

From Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer scribe Kevin Williamson, Sick will infect 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on February 4 via Scream Factory.

Set amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2022 home invasion slasher has been newly mastered in 4K from the original elements with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

John Hyams (Alone) directs from a script by Williamson and Katelyn Crabb. Gideon Adlon, Beth Million, Dylan Sprayberry, Joel Courtney, Marc Menchaca, and Jane Adams star. Blumhouse produces.

Disc 1 – 4K Uhd:

Audio Commentary With Director John Hyams And Cinematographer Yaron Levy (new) Audio Commentary With Actors Gideon Adlon And Beth Million (new) Audio Commentary With Film Critic Alan Cerny (new)

Disc 2 – Blu-ray:

Audio Commentary With Director John Hyams And Cinematographer Yaron Levy (new) Audio Commentary With Actors Gideon Adlon And Beth Million (new) Audio Commentary With Film Critic Alan Cerny (new) Interview With Actor Marc Menchaca (new) Interview With Visual...

Blu-ray.com reports that Scream Factory has announced that they’ll be bringing four horror movies to 4K in February – and each one of these is a cool title that a lot of genre fans will be picking up. Scream Factory’s February 4K line-up consists of Ghosts of Mars (2001), Humanoids from the Deep (1980), Galaxy of Terror (1981), and Sick (2022)!

Directed by John Carpenter from a screenplay he wrote with Larry Sulkis, Ghosts of Mars is one of the least popular films in Carpenter’s filmography… but still, it’s Carpenter, so that means a 4K release is going to be a must-buy for a good number of fans. Here’s the synopsis: Long inhabited by human settlers, the Red Planet has become the manifest destiny of an over-populated Earth. Nearly 640,000 people now live and work all over Mars, mining the planet for its abundant natural resources. But one of those...

Inspired by the novel Stinger from legendary author Robert McCammon and executive produced by James Wan, the new series Teacup is now streaming Peacock, with the final two episodes of season one recently premiering on Halloween.

Daily Dead had the pleasure of talking with actors Rob Morgan and Jackson Kelly about the respective journeys of their characters McNab and Travis, who cross paths in the pivotal fifth episode directed by John Hyams (who also worked with Jackson on season three of Chucky).

You can watch our full interview with Rob and Jackson below, and go here to catch up on all of our coverage of Teacup!

About Teacup:

Logline: Teacup follows a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious threat in order to survive. Inspired by the New York Times bestselling novel Stinger by Robert McCammon.

Premiere Date: October...

A brutal and bloody action legacy sequel is now streaming, and finds action movie icon Jean-Claude Van Damme returning to one of his cult classic 80s sci-fi franchises. After leading the first Universal Soldier, which combines science fiction and action into a gloriously no-nonsense B-grade treat, and returning for a few much lesser follow-ups, the franchise was resurrected in 2012 with a legacy sequel led by John Wick: Chapter 4 and The Expendables 2 star Scott Adkins.

Universal Soldier: Day Of Reckoning sees Van Dammes super soldier Luc Deveraux return to the fray, but with a twist. This time, instead of leading the action as the main protagonist, the legacy sequel brings the character back as the main antagonist, with the final movie following Adkins amnesiac super soldier as he fights to discover who he really is. Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning is now available to stream on Prime Video, and you can...

Warning: Spoilers for Don't Move below!The intense new thriller Don't Move is a perfect reminder to watch an acclaimed thriller that broke out on Netflix earlier in 2024. While Don't Move sounds like a familiar concept on the surface - a resourceful young woman being chased by a killer in some isolated woods - the key gimmick behind it is the victim being injected with a paralytic agent that will make her body shut down within 20 minutes. Don't Move has received solid reviews, both for its inventive twist on the genre and its lead performances.

It doesn't reinvent the genre in any way, but it milks a lot of tension from a simple setup and doesn't overstay its welcome. In a refreshing turn of events, Don't Move's ending doesn't try to leave the door open for a sequel; once the killer is defeated, the story is over and Kelsey Asbille...

“Teacup,” Peacock’s new series executive produced by James Wan, is a tricky one to write about. Writer, producer, and showrunner Ian McCulloch (Yellowstone) draws very little from Robert McCammon’s Stinger, opting for a modern, minimalist interpretation of the horror western, one driven almost entirely by its central mystery. The eight-episode inaugural season is so structured around its enigmatic threat, purpose, methodology, and reach that “Teacup“ becomes a landmine of spoilers to dodge for the sake of preserving its many, many surprises. While that makes for a lot of setup and character dynamics to establish, McCulloch’s careful plotting and effective atmospherics pay off, resulting in an intense, rewarding inaugural season.

Set in rural Georgia, the series sees a disparate group of people forced together by a mysterious phenomenon in their surrounding woods. The type that leaves them without electricity, cell phone service, or a way to escape whatever...

Plot: Follows a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious threat in order to survive. Inspired by the New York Times bestselling novel “Stinger” by Robert McCammon.

Review: The name James Wan attached to a production likely makes you think you are in for something similar to The Conjuring or Insidious. The filmmaker has become synonymous with scary movies as much as he has directed big-budget tentpoles like Aquaman and Furious 7. Still, his prowess as a producer has fostered several cool projects under his Atomic Monster banner in recent years. The new series Teacup carries Wan’s name recognition but is the brainchild of Ian McCulloch. Inspired by the Robert McCammon novel Stinger, Teacup is a unique and original foray into genre storytelling that combines horror, science fiction, and family drama for a creepy drama series that is much...

Peacock is set to premiere a new horror series called “Teacup” on October 10th. The show was developed by acclaimed horror producer James Wan and is based loosely on the bestselling novel “Stinger” by Robert McCammon. “Teacup” tells the story of a rural family who faces a mysterious threat in their small Georgia community.

Ian McCulloch serves as the showrunner and has adapted the novel for television. While the original story was set in Texas, McCulloch moved the setting to the backwoods of Georgia. The ensemble cast includes established actors like Yvonne Strahovski of “The Handmaid’s Tale” fame alongside Scott Speedman, Chaske Spencer, and Rob Morgan. McCulloch describes “Teacup” as blending different genres like thriller, horror, family drama and science fiction into a single “keyhole” story focused on one family.

A recently released trailer for the series offers a glimpse into its eerie world. The footage starts out peacefully with...

Produced by horror maestro James Wan, the man behind “The Conjuring” and “Insidious” franchises, and developed and showrun by “Yellowstone” and “Chicago Fire” writer/producer Ian McCulloch, Peacock’s upcoming thriller “Teacup” is looking to frighten audiences right in time for Halloween. The series is adapted from Robert McCammon’s New York Times bestseller, “Stinger,” which follows a collection of differing personalities as they unite to fight against a horrifying creature set on destroying a small, rural community. Moving the narrative from Texas to Georgia, “Teacup” stars Yvonne Strahovski (“The Handmaid’s Tale”), Scott Speedman (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Rob Morgan (“Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”), and Chaske Spencer (“Banshee”) and premieres on Peacock Thursday, October 10, with two episodes airing weekly through Halloween.

Wan produces the series under his Atomic Monster shingle, but the series’ directors are E.L. Katz (“The Haunting of Bly Manor”), John Hyams (“Chucky”), Chloe Okuno (“Watcher...

Snowpiercer is a post-apocalyptic dystopian thriller film created by Josh Friedman and Graeme Manson. Based on a 2013 film of the same name by director Bong Joon-ho, the TNT and now AMC series is set in a frozen wasteland of a world with the only survivors living on a perpetually moving train, where class warfare runs rampant and the politics of survival is deadly to learn. Snowpiercer stars Jennifer Connelly and Daveed Diggs in the lead roles with Rowan Blanchard, Sean Bean, Alison Wright, Annalise Basso, Mickey Sumner, Lena Hall, and Susan Park starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the post-apocalypse, intense drama, and complex characters in Snowpiercer here are some similar shows you should check out next.

The 100 (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – The CW

The 100 is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi action drama series created by Jason Rothenberg. Based on a series of young adult sci-fi novels by author Kass Morgan,...

Being a movie star is both a blessing and a curse. The blessings are fairly obvious, but, like all things that are too good to be true, they bring with them the seeds for the curse that follows, which is that movie stardom can set actors up for that much greater a fall should they start to slip off their pedestal. Some instances of actors taking a hard fall are deserved when it's to do with their offscreen behavior, yet in instances where it's mostly to do with the projects they're involved with being subpar, it's hard not to feel sorry for them.

Take Burt Reynolds, for instance. By the end of the 1970s he was among the most well-known and highest-paid actors working, and as the 1980s rolled on he continued to work with other name stars and solid filmmakers like Dolly Parton, Don Siegel, Blake Edwards, his buddy Hal Needham,...

Jean-Claude Van Damme's passion project Frenchy has been in development hell for 14 years. Frenchy, a blend of action flick and arthouse film, is a personal project for Van Damme that awaits release. After years of edits and delays, Frenchy appears no closer to release.

Jean-Claude Van Damme wrote and directed his passion project Frenchy, but nearly after 14 years in development hell will it ever get released? Van Damme (Aka "The Muscles from Brussels") rose up from low-budget martial arts films like Kickboxer to become a genuine movie star during the 1990s. Van Damme's action movies like Hard Target, Timecop and Sudden Death were all hits, but as the decade wore on, he appeared in a string of critical and commercial duds. His various personal issues became tabloid fodder too, and by the 2000s most of his work was heading straight to DVD.

Even then, he starred in some solid action movies,...

Since Child's Play was released in 1988, Chucky has been one of horror's greatest slasher killers. Chucky combines all the raw, terrifying power of standard slashers with the spooks of a possessed doll. For years, Chucky has been a staple character that makes the possessed doll trope terrifying. The franchise has always been campy and over the top, though, so as terrifying as Chucky is, he's also hilarious. The 2021 Syfy series Chucky keeps the core elements of what makes Chucky, well, Chucky.

One of the Chucky franchise's best, most ridiculous parts is the kills. Chucky is a small doll that realistically should be easy to overpower, and yet, his victims always die in the most gruesome and hilarious ways. Chucky often dies or suffers serious injury from these murders, but that doesn't bother the possessed doll one bit. He always comes back. In the Chucky series, Chucky pulls off some of his craziest kills yet.

Alone is a white-knuckle horror-thriller about abduction, terror, and survival, a cinematic tradition in similar movies. Terrifying villains hunting heroes for no reason creates suspense. Alone is a unique take, but others do it well. Alone's battle between Jessica and a mysterious man is intense. While critics praised it, other movies offer similar themes and thrills.

John Hyams' hit horror-thriller Alone is a white-knuckle story of abduction, terror, and survival, placing it firmly within a cinematic tradition that encompasses a range of similar movies. Terrifying and mysterious antagonists hunting lonely heroes for no discernible reason is a time-honored horror trope. Part of the terror comes from the lack of explanation around the villain's motivations, making the audience feel as uncertain as the characters. While Alone is certainly an original spin on the formula, many other movies play on the idea just as effectively.

At its core, Alone is a battle...

Marc Menchaca's performances as killers in Alone and Sick establish him as a genuinely menacing presence in modern horror. Director John Hyams' genius casting of Menchaca in both films highlights their successful partnership and potential for future horror projects. The success of Alone and Sick, with impressive Rotten Tomatoes scores, proves that Hyams and Menchaca are a potent combination in the horror genre.

John Hyams' 2020 horror-thriller Alone established a genius casting trend that the filmmaker repeated three years later with his follow-up feature, Sick. Minimalist and suspenseful, Alone blends elements of classic slashers like The Hitcher, along with more modern horrors like Jeepers Creepers to create a taut, gripping tale of survival in the wilderness. However, while Alone's protagonist, Jessica, gives viewers a reason for remaining engaged throughout, it is the movie's villain that steals the show.

Played by Marc Menchaca, the mysterious psychopath eventually identified as Sam is a menacing,...

As we've seen time and time again, Netflix is a good place for movies to be rediscovered. Sometimes, a film will come and go without much fanfare upon its initial release, only to end up becoming a hit when it ends up on the popular streaming service. Even something as terrible as the box office flop "The Snowman" can end up finding new life on Netflix. You just never know how these things will turn out. Part of it is availability — almost everyone subscribes to Netflix, and it's much easier to scroll through titles and hit play than it is to get up off the couch and go find a new movie in theaters. As a result, Netflix has become the modern equivalent of the video store — a place where movie-watchers can browse and find something fresh to watch. Only it's a video store you have in your own home,...

Warning! Contains major spoilers for Your Lucky Day.

Ambiguity lingers after the blood-filled climax in "Your Lucky Day," as three survivors split a $156 million lottery prize. Greed drives the characters in "Your Lucky Day," with Ana and Abraham ultimately winning but facing guilt and potential consequences. A mid-credits scene hints at karma catching up as Ana and Abraham may face repercussions for their actions in the high-stakes thriller.

All the underlying plot points come in full circle towards Your Lucky Day's ending, but the film still leaves some ambiguity with its mid-credits scene. Driven by a talented roster of cast members, Your Lucky Day's storyline unfolds inside a store where a man, Laird, suddenly wins a $156 million lottery. Desperate to make a better life for himself, Sterling attempts to steal Laird's lottery ticket by pointing his gun at him. However, things take a grim turn when a cop...

Alone (2020) is a psychological thriller not based on a true story. The movie is inspired by the 2011 Swedish film Gone. The intense chase depicted in Alone is fictional, captivating viewers with the film's vivid and gripping scenes.

Alone tells a mind-blowing story that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish and make them wonder if it is based on a true story or completely fictional. The psychological thriller film, directed by John Hyams and written by Mattias Olsson, was released on September 18, 2020, in theaters and on video on demand services. Due to its premiere occurring at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the movie only grossed a little over $642,000 at the box office. But it is undergoing somewhat of a resurgence in 2024 following its debut on streaming.

The relatively small cast of Alone includes Jules Willcox as Jessica, Marc Menchaca as Sam, Anthony Heald as Robert,...

Jessica's escape from Sam's car while he disposes of a body is the scariest and most intense moment in Alone (2020). Amplified by the graphic violence, the final faceoff between Jessica and Sam creates high stakes and anticipation for the outcome. The heart-racing scenes in Alone are accentuated by the remote Oregon setting, which heightens the suspense.

This article contains discussion of suicide, stalking, kidnapping, murder, and graphic violence.

Alone (2020) is full of suspense, but some of its scariest moments were more agonizing and stressful than others. Directed by John Hyams, Alone follows Jessica (Jules Willcox), a recently widowed woman escaping the city and her past by moving to a remote area on her own. On her journey, Jessica finds herself crossing paths with the same off-putting man multiple times, and these not-so-chance encounters end up putting Jessica through hell. Alone is separated into five chapters based on the different stages of Jessica's escape.

Alone was primarily filmed in and around Portland, Oregon in the Pacific Northwest. For scenes set deeper in the woods, the production company also used Mount Hood National Forest as a filming location. Estacada, a small town between Portland and Mount Hood, was also used for a few short scenes.

Alone instills a sense of isolation in its viewers, and the psychological thriller needed similarly isolating filming locations to achieve that effect. Alone follows the recently widowed Jessica (Jules Willcox) as she flees from her captor, Sam (Marc Menchaca). By the ending of Alone, Jess and Sam had descended deep into the forest and far away from civilization, which helped give the audience a feeling of isolation. Alone's ability to make its viewers feel what the characters felt could make it one of the best psychological thriller movies on Netflix.

Alone is a remake of the 2011 Swedish movie Gone, and...

The following contains discussions of suicide.

Alone's protagonist Jess outwits and kills serial killer Sam after being relentlessly chased. Alone's ending implies Jess survived her ordeal, with a rescue helicopter being heard offscreen. Sam, a family man and hunter, underestimates Jess, leading to his downfall during their final confrontation.

Alone is an intense psychological horror thriller by director John Hyams, where a woman named Jessica is kidnapped and hunted by a relentless killer. 2020's Alone cast Jules Willcox as the recently widowed Jessica, who over the course of a long road trip, repeatedly encounters a strange man called Sam (Marc Menchaca). Sam seems to appear wherever she goes and is ultimately revealed to be a serial killer. Sam kidnaps Jessica and takes her to his isolated cabin, but thanks to some quick thinking, she's able to escape into the woods.

Sam proves almost impossible to shake because no matter how...

Mike Flanagan's impact on the horror genre is evident in the rise of popular films like Alone on Netflix. Similar to Flanagan's early work, Alone is a psychological thriller with a minimalist approach to create suspense. Fans of Flanagan's Hush will appreciate the similarities in plot and atmosphere found in the popular film Alone.

A currently popular Netflix thriller demonstrates how masterful the horror auteur Mike Flanagan is at his craft. Since making his film debuted in 2011 with Absentia, Mike Flanagan has emerged as one of the most prolific and influential creators in the modern horror genre. With critically acclaimed Netflix horror series such as The Haunting of Hill House (2018), The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020), Midnight Mass (2021), and The Fall of the House of Usher (2023), Flanagan has made a lasting impact on modern horror similar to Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story) and Ari Aster.

Flanagan has also directed several...

Jules Willcox starred in her breakout performance as Jessica, a widow fighting off a stalker in a game of cat-and-mouse in the wilderness, in the 2020 psychological thriller Alone. Ozark star Marc Menchaca starred opposite Willcox as the sadistic stalker, Sam, chasing Jessica in Alone. Silence of the Lambs star Anthony Heald played Robert, the hunter who helps Jessica in Alone.

Alone (2020) may have a notably small cast, but each character served a vital role in the psychological thriller. Directed by John Hyams and written by Mattias Olsson, Alone follows a recently widowed woman who is followed and kidnapped by a stalker while travelling alone. After escaping his remote cabin in the wilderness, she is forced to battle the elements while fighting off her kidnapper in a game of cat-and-mouse as he remains in close pursuit.

Alone is a remake of the 2011 Swedish film, Gone ("Försvunnen"), written and directed by Olsson.

The Core Four is no more. Although Scream (2022) and Scream VI set up the characters of Samantha Carpenter, Tara Carpenter, Mindy Meeks-Martin, and Chad Meeks-Martin as the new leads of the Scream franchise, that group is not going to end up being in Scream 7, whenever that film goes into production. Jenna Ortega allegedly wanted a substantial pay raise to reprise the role of Tara… and as we saw when Neve Campbell dropped out of Scream VI due to a pay dispute, these pay issues don’t tend to work out. So Ortega was out, but Melissa Barrera was on board to come back as Tara’s sister Samantha. Until she was fired from the project after comments she made about the Israel-Hamas war didn’t go over well with executives at Spyglass. Mindy may or not be in the movie; we can’t be sure yet, because Jasmin Savoy Brown...

Skeet Ulrich played one of the killers, Billy Loomis, in the 1996 classic Scream – and things didn’t go well for Billy at the end of that film. When the fifth film in the franchise, which was also simply titled Scream, came around in 2022, fans were surprised to learn that not only would one of the lead characters (Melissa Barrera as Samantha Carpenter) be the never-before-mentioned daughter of Billy Loomis, but she would also be seeing visions of her father throughout, allowing Ulrich, with the help of some digital de-aging, to reprise his role twenty-six years later. Samantha was again a major character in Scream VI, and Ulrich again got to make appearances as Billy. Melissa Barrera was on board to come back for Scream 7… until she was fired from the project after comments she made about the Israel-Hamas war didn’t go over well with executives at Spyglass Media.

Spyglass Media and Paramount Pictures wanted to move quickly on Scream 7… then the version of the film they wanted to move quickly on crumbled piece by piece. Scream (2022) and Scream VI directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are finishing work on their Universal Monsters movie Abigail (formerly known as Dracula’s Daughter), so with returning writers James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick working on the script, the companies hired Freaky and Happy Death Day director Christopher Landon to direct the film and started reaching out to actors. Jenna Ortega allegedly wanted a substantial pay raise to reprise the role of Tara Carpenter… and as we saw when Neve Campbell dropped out of Scream VI due to a pay dispute, these pay issues don’t tend to work out. So Ortega was out, but Melissa Barrera was on board to come back as Tara’s sister Samantha. Until she was fired from...

The intense zombie series “Black Summer” returned to Netflix for its second season on June 17, 2021, but it’s now been nearly three years since we last heard a peep from the series.

So what’s the deal? Is “Black Summer” Season 3 ever going to bite its way onto Netflix? Well, a report from What’s on Netflix this week suggests the series has been cancelled.

The site reports, “Black Summer was expected to have been ghost-canceled last year, but finally, we’ve got confirmation that the series won’t be returning for a third outing on Netflix.”

This news comes as no big surprise, as series creator John Hyams (Sick) had responded to a tweet back in April 2023 with a simple “Sadly, nah,” when asked if “Black Summer” Season 3 was ever going to happen. It seems the final nail has now been hammered in.

“Black Summer” was created by Hyams and Karl Schaefer,...