News

Exclusive: Rapper Lil Mama, Mudbound and Straight Outta’ Compton star Jason Mitchell and Carlos Ponce (Couple’s Retreat) are starring in action-thriller Mercy Mercy Me, written and directed by Wes Miller (A Day To Die).

The crime-thriller, set in 1985, sees two reformed outlaws, Mercy (Lil Mama) and Khaos (Jason Mitchell), pulled back into the life they left behind. They’re forced to take on a dangerous job that pits them against mob bosses, a crooked detective (Ponce), and their own past sins. Below are first look images of Mitchell and Lil Mama in the film.

LA-based production company Blacklight is financing the indie movie with Andrew van den Houten and Wes Miller producing, Joseph O’Connor and Lloyd Watts co-producing and Jessie Jalee and Chad Ghiron executive-producing. 79th & Broadway Entertainment will be handling the sales for both domestic and international.

“Mercy Mercy Me is story about grief, guilt, and the struggle to find forgiveness.

Exclusive: Hood River Entertainment (A Day To Die) is in production on Jackrabbit, a mystery-comedy-thriller written and directed by Emmy and Peabody winner Ballard C. Boyd, a longtime producer and segment director on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Cast includes Kuhoo Verma (Plan B), Taylor Ortega (Another Simple Plan), Soojeong Son (Kaleidoscope), Saamer Usmani (3 Body Problem) and Mark Gessner (NCIS: New Orleans).

The female-led, mystery-comedy-thriller set in NYC is about investigative reporter George (Verma) who moves to New York, but needs a roommate. Knowing no one else in the city except her childhood best friend Trish (Son), George agrees to move in with Trish’s city bestie, Avery (Ortega), an aspiring actress and full-time mess. Due to a clash of personality and a series of mishaps, the two women quickly end up at each other’s throats – and competing for Trish’s friendship. Until one day when Trish mysteriously vanishes.

“Traumatika,’ an experimental and visually bold new horror film, has sold to Saban Films for North American distribution.

The project hails from co-writer and director Pierre Tsigaridis (“Two Witches”) and co-writer and producer Maxime Rancon. Saban is plotting a theatrical release for 2025. Rancon also serves as executive producer.

“Traumatika” played Australia’s FrightFest and others on the indie horror circuit, earning positive early reviews for genre-blending and featuring multiple points-of-view in a terrorizing tapestry of scenes. The film follows Mikey, whose night terrors become reality when his mother begins showing signs of demonic possession. What he’s about to experience will haunt him for the rest of his life and claim countless lives across generations.

“[This] is not a movie you see, it’s a movie you experience. And there’s no better way to experience it than on the big screen,” Saban Films co-presidents Jonathan Saba and Shanan Becker said.

Exclusive: Black Heat, the latest feature from Call Her King filmmaker Wes Miller starring Jason Mitchell (Mudbound), will be released in U.S. cinemas on March 28.

The film is being released via a partnership between Dark Star Pictures and a newly formed distribution arm of BLacklight, the indie outfit founded by Miller and Andrew van den Houten.

Mitchell (Mudbound) stars in the pic alongside rappers Tabatha “Dreamdoll” Robinson and Nle Choppa.

Billed as a rollercoaster story of “suspense, drama, and unexpected twists,” the plot follows the broken lives of two parents portrayed by Mitchell and Robinson. After failing to get help from authorities, the pair go on a suicide mission to rescue their fifteen-year-old daughter, who’s under the control of the enigmatic King David, played by Nle Choppa.

Black Heat was financed and produced by BLacklight, with van den Houten and Wes Miller producing, Joseph O’Connor and Lloyd Watts co-producing,...

Exclusive: A Day to Die and Call Her King filmmaker Wes Miller has set the legal thriller Wildcards as his next feature and has cast Leon, Elise Neal (All of Us), Aries Spears (Mad TV), and Stakiah Lynn Washington (Angel City) in lead roles.

BLacklight (Call Her King) is financing with Andrew van den Houten, Wes Miller, Joseph O’Connor and Leon producing. Lloyd Watts is co-producing with Jessie Jalee, Chad Ghiron, and Elise Neal serving as executive producers. Also starring in the pic are Crew Morrow (The Bold and the Beautiful), Courtney Grace, Samantha Walkes (Orphan: First Kill), and Robert Catrini (Jack Reacher: Never Go Back).

Wildcards follows a jury deliberating the case of Theodore Sterling (Morrow), a privileged young man accused of sexual assault of a 20-something African-American woman (Lynn Washington). The prosecution is led by Assistant State Attorney James Jones (Spears), an overworked yet determined prosecutor,...

It might be bright and sunny outside, but on Arrow-Player, things are as dark and brooding as ever! Arrow is set to deliver an exhilarating month of film experiences in August 2024, with a line-up that promises to thrill fans of cult cinema and push the boundaries of the genre. This month’s offerings are a perfect blend of black comedy, extreme horror, and martial arts action, all available through the expertly curated streaming service that has become a go-to for fans of alternative and cult classics.

This month exclusively on Arrow comes Offspring—a brutal and chilling adaptation of Jack Ketchum’s cult horror novel, directed by Andrew van den Houten. Offspring is a visceral exploration of primal fear, following a deadly clan of feral cannibals that have terrorised the North-east Coast since 1858. This harrowing tale centers on an unsuspecting family and their innocent baby girl, who become the target of these savages.

New Trailer for Cuckoo: "Reluctantly, 17-year-old Gretchen leaves her American home to live with her father, who has just moved into a resort in the German Alps with his new family. Arriving at their future residence, they are greeted by Mr. König, her father's boss, who takes an inexplicable interest in Gretchen's mute half-sister Alma. Something doesn't seem right in this tranquil vacation paradise. Gretchen is plagued by strange noises and bloody visions until she discovers a shocking secret that also concerns her own family."

In Theaters August 9

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Anchor Bay Entertainment Acquires “Cursed In Baja” Ahead Of Its World Premiere At This Year’S Frightfest: "The founders of the revitalized Anchor Bay Entertainment, Thomas Zambeck and Brian Katz, have acquired the worldwide rights to the horror film Cursed In Baja, which will make its world premiere at this year’s FrightFest on August 23, 2024.

Barbara Crampton (You’re Next) and...

Next month's lineup of programming on Arrow Video's Arrow Player has been announced and as always there are a lot of gems coming in August.    First, we have two Selects programs coming up from one of my favorite authors, Grady Hendrix, someone I can always turn to for book referals about specific subgenres in horror literature. Andrew van den Houten, filmmaker and producer, also offers up some prime choices as well.    While we're on the topic of van den Houten, there 2009 film Offspring, based on Jack Ketchum's book by the same name, has gotten the 4K treatment and will be on the streaming platform at the end of the month.    There are a lot of goodies, old and new, to be...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Almost a decade after Lucky McKee burst upon the indie horror scene and became a ‘Master of Horror’ in the making thanks to his directorial debut May, he teamed up with legendary cult author Jack Ketchum for his most shocking and brutal film to date: The Woman, which was itself a sequel to a previous Ketchum film adaptation titled Offspring.

Both films get the 4K Uhd treatment in a brand new double feature release from Arrow Video on August 26, allowing you to experience Ketchum’s uncompromisingly twisted vision of the dark side of the American family in a definitive edition that includes a 4K remaster of The Woman plus a bonus disc featuring a restoration of its 2009 predecessor.

Bloody Disgusting has been exclusively provided with the official trailer for the upcoming 4K restoration of director Andrew van den Houten’s Offspring. Check it out below.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Limited...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Universal Monsters Toony Terrors from Neca

Neca is adding four Universal Monsters to its Toony Terrors line of figures in the style of classic Saturday morning cartoons.

The wave includes Dracula (with candle), Frankenstein, The Mummy, and The Wolf Man. Each 6″ scale toy comes on blister card packaging with a cutout backdrop.

Due out in October, the set of four costs $64.99.

The Woman + Offspring 4K Uhd from Arrow Video

The Woman is coming to 4K Ultra HD alongside its precursor, Offspring, on August 27 via Arrow Video. A booklet featuring writing by Michael Blyth, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, and Kevin Kovelant is included.

2011’s The Woman is directed by Lucky McKee (May), who co-wrote the script with Jack Ketchum,...

Film Mode has acquired international sales rights to the action adventure Decade Of The Dead which received its market screening debut in Cannes this week.

Sean Patrick Thomas, Shane Johnson, Jenna Leigh Green, Corsica Wilson, and Marissa Merrill star in the story, set 10 years after the apocalypse as a group of bounty hunters seek refuge on a tropical island ruled by a deranged cult leader.

Adam Deyoe and Fairai Branscombe Richmond directed Decade Of The Dead from a screenplay by Loren Semmens and Adam Deyoe. Semmens, Bryan Spicer, and Joel Michaely produced.

Clay Epstein and his team are showing a promo reel to buyers.

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) has set its lineup of narrative and documentary features for its 28th edition, including Jussie Smollett’s return to acting in “The Lost Holliday,” filmmaker Christine Swanson’s latest drama “Albany Road” and the acclaimed Luther Vandross doc “Never Too Much.”

This year’s festival takes place June 12-16 in Miami Beach, Fla., followed by a virtual segment June 17-24 on ABFF Play. Winners of film festival competition will be announced on June 15, during the “Best of ABFF Awards” hosted by Emmy-nominee Dondré Whitfield.

The 2024 narrative lineup includes “Albany Road,” directed and written by Swanson, starring Renée Elise Goldsberry, Lynn Whitfield and J. Alphonse Nicholson; “The Lost Holliday” directed by, co-written and starring Smollett alongside Vivica A. Fox, produced by Mona Scott-Young; “The Waterboyz,” directed by Coke Daniels and produced by Ben Crump, starring Akil McDowell, Alani “La La” Anthony and Quavo; and “Black Heat,...

Seven years ago, Victor Zarcoff introduced the world to a perverted creep named Gerald in his horror thriller 13 Cameras – and five years ago, Gerald returned to menace more people (including future Prey star Amber Midthunder) in the sequel 14 Cameras. Sadly, Neville Archambault, who played Gerald in both of those films, passed away unexpectedly last year at the age of 66. But Gerald’s legacy lives on in the upcoming sequel 15 Cameras, which is set to receive a VOD release from Gravitas Ventures on October 13th. With that date right around the corner, a trailer for 15 Cameras has arrived online and can be seen in the embed above.

Directed by Danny Madden from a screenplay by Pj McCabe, the new sequel has the following synopsis: When Cam and Sky bought their duplex, it seemed like the perfect investment opportunity for the young couple; a starter home, a mortgage offset by renters,...

In the wake of 13 Cameras and 14 Cameras, Gravitas Ventures will next be unleashing 15 Cameras, and the third piece of the trilogy is coming to VOD on October 13, 2023.

From 30 Bones Cinema & Hood River Entertainment, 15 Cameras is written by Pj McCabe, directed by Danny Madden, and stars Will Madden, Angela Wong Carbone, Hilty Bowen, James Babson, Shirley Chen, Hannah Mckechnie, Skyler Bible, Courtney Dietz, Erik Leupp, Donna Allen, Brianne Moncrief, Jim Cummings, and Stephen Ruffin.

In the upcoming horror sequel…

“When Cam and Sky bought their duplex, it seemed like the perfect investment opportunity for the young couple; a starter home, a mortgage offset by renters, and even a guest room for Sky’s sister, Carolyn. But as Sky and Cam slowly uncover hidden cameras and secrets of the duplex’s previous owner, obsession consumes their marriage and they both fall into destructive forms of voyeurism. When new tenants move in downstairs,...

Three horror classics have just landed on the Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox streaming service, which already is celebrating a massive August that kicked off with the Ghostbusters-inspired Ghastly Brothers.

Richard Attenborough’s Magic (1978) starring Anthony Hopkins and a psychotic ventriloquist dummy is the first of three movies added to Screambox, courtesy of Shout! Factory.

“Written by William Goldman, adapted from the novel he also wrote, Magic revolves around a ventriloquist seeking to renew a relationship with his former high school sweetheart,” Meagan Navarro previously wrote about the classic. “The only problem is that his dummy is the jealous type. That ventriloquist, Corky, is played by Anthony Hopkins. Unlike most killer doll horror movies, Magic favors the psychological, and Hopkins brings intensity to this twisted love story.”

She notes that this movie served as an inspiration for Don Mancini’s original Child’s Play screenplay and is currently celebrating its 45th anniversary!

Watch It Now!

Exclusive: Jason Mitchell (Mudbound) has signed on to star in the feature Black Heat, directed by Call Her King filmmaker Wes Miller.

Joining Mitchell in the pic are rappers Tabatha “Dreamdoll” Robinson and Nle Choppa, in his first big-screen appearance. Miller is directing from a script he wrote. Andrew van den Houten and Miller are producing through their Blacklight banner. Production is currently underway in Orlando, Florida.

Billed as a rollercoaster story of “suspense, drama, and unexpected twists,” plot follows the broken lives of two parents portrayed by Mitchell and Robinson. After failing to get help from authorities, the pair go on a suicide mission to rescue their fifteen-year-old daughter, who’s under the control of the enigmatic King David, played by Nle Choppa.

Mitchell is best known for his breakout performance as West Coast legend Eazy-e in F. Gary Gray’s 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton. He has since been...

When baddies bust into her courtroom, Judge Jaeda King trades her gavel for a big gun in the trailer for BET+‘s Call Her King, starring Naturi Naughton (Power Book II: Ghost) and Lance Gross (House of Payne).

Written and directed by Wes Miller (A Day to Die) and premiering Thursday, July 6, Call Her King follows Jaeda King (played by Naughton), a judge who has just sentenced Sean Samuels (The Chi‘s Jason Mitchell) to death when the courthouse is hijacked by the defendant’s brother Gabriel aka Black Caesar (Gross).

More from TVLineGood Omens Season 2 Trailer: Crowley and Aziraphale's Unholy Bond,...

Exclusive: BET+ has picked up rights to the previously unannounced action thriller Call Her King, starring Naturi Naughton (Power Book II: Ghost) and Lance Gross (House of Payne), slating it to premiere exclusively as one of the platform’s originals on July 6.

Directed by Wes Miller (A Day to Die), Call Her King follows Judge Jaeda King (Naughton), who has just sentenced Sean Samuels (Mitchell) to death when the courthouse is hijacked by Samuels’ brother Gabriel, also known as Black Caesar (Gross). The Judge must then rely on her wits, strength and skill to find a way to end the standoff, save the hostages and fight her way out.

Also starring Jason Mitchell (Mudbound), Johnny Messner (A Day to Die), Nicholas Turturro (NYPD Blue), Tobias Truvillion (First Wives Club), Garrett Hendricks (FBI) and Shiobann Amisial (Bel-Air), Call Her King is the first production falling under Andrew van den Houten and...

We’re getting this week started with a new episode of the Wtf Really Happened to This Horror Movie? video series, and this time we’re looking at the awful true crime story behind the 2007 film The Girl Next Door (watch it Here). To find out all about the crimes that inspired the movie, check out the video embedded above.

Based on a novel by Jack Ketchum, The Girl Next Door was directed by Gregory Wilson from a screenplay by Daniel Farrands and Philip Nutman. The film has the following synopsis: A teen suffers horrible abuse at the hands of her caretaker, who also encourages the neighborhood boys to torment the girl.

Farrands is best known for writing Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, and has also directed the documentaries His Name Was Jason, Never Sleep Again, Scream: The Inside Story, and Crystal Lake Memories, as well as the films The Amityville Murders,...

Horror movie “Two Witches” has been acquired by Arrow Films for distribution in U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland.

MPI Media Group is representing international sales in Cannes.

The film, described as a mix of “Rosemary’s Baby,” “Hereditary” and “Drag Me to Hell,” is writer-director Pierre Tsigaridis’ directorial feature debut.

Rebekah Kennedy (“To the Bone”), Kristina Klebe (“Halloween”) and Belle Adams (“Perry Mason”) star in “Two Witches.” Kennedy plays Masha, a young woman with violent impulses waiting to inherit her grandmother’s powers while Adams stars as the pregnant Sarah, who is unable to convince her boyfriend and his friends that creepy things have been happening ever since a strange woman gave her the evil eye in a restaurant.

Tim Fox (“Westworld”) also stars.

“Two Witches,” which premiered at the Salam Horror Film Festival, will be released in October 2022 in the U.S., Canada and U.K.

Maxime Rancon co-wrote the film.

Shudder Acquires Official Fantasia Festival Selection Moloch: "Shudder, AMC Network’s premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has acquired rights to Dutch director Nico van den Brink’s directorial debut Moloch. The film, an official selection of the Fantasia International Film Festival, will be available exclusively on Shudder in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, July 21.

“Moloch is a bold and thrilling new folk horror that is sure to chill Shudder members this summer,” said Shudder general manager Craig Engler.

Added Nico van den Brink, ”I’m extremely excited to be working with Shudder in bringing Moloch to horror-lovers worldwide. The film will have a wonderful home there. I know we have some very creepy stories to tell in the Netherlands and I'm really looking forward to inviting Shudder's diverse and international audience into the unique world of local Dutch folklore.

Gravitas Ventures and Kamikaze Dogfight have acquired the U.S. and Canadian rights for Nathan Crooker’s film “Isolation.”

The feature-length anthology connects nine stories of people from all over the world confronting their darkest fears during the pandemic. Crooker, who produces the film, tasked 11 filmmakers with creating their stories using only the production equipment and resources they had with them when they entered quarantine. They were also barred from using Zoom or other video conferencing services. “Isolation” premiered at FrightFest UK 2021 and will have its North American premiere on Oct. 15th at Screamfest LA, followed by a release on VOD platforms on Nov. 2.

Directors on the project include acclaimed horror directors such as Dennie Gordon, Larry Fessenden, Bobby Roe, Andrew Kasch, Zach Passero and Christian Pasquariello, as well as newer voices like Alexandra Near; Alix Austin and Keir Siewert; and Kyle I. Kelley and Adam Brown.

Crooker produces on...

Exclusive: Vertical Entertainment has secured the U.S. distribution rights to A Day to Die, an action-thriller starring Frank Grillo, Bruce Willis, Leon, and Kevin Dillon. Wes Miller directed the indie from a script he co-wrote with Scott Mallace and Rab Berry. The pic is expected to be released in 2022.

In the film, a disgraced parole officer (Dillon) is indebted to a local gang leader and forced to pull off a series of dangerous drug heists within twelve hours in order to pay the $2 million dollars he owes, rescue his kidnapped pregnant wife, and settle a score with the city’s corrupt police chief (Willis), who is working with the gang leader and double-crossed him years ago.

Gianni Capaldi, Brooke Butler, Vernon Davis, Mohamed Karim, Alexander Kane, and Curtis Nichouls round out the cast. Nichouls also produced the film alongside Andrew van den Houten and DJ Dodd. Capstone Group is handling global sales.

Exclusive: Kamikaze Dogfight and Gravitas Ventures has acquired the North American rights to distribute action drama, Haymaker. The movie is set to open in theaters and on demand on January 29, 2021.

The film, which marks the feature directorial debut of Nick Sasso, follows a retired Muay Thai fighter (Sasso) working as a bouncer, who rescues an alluring transgender performer (Nomi Ruiz) from a nefarious thug, eventually becoming her bodyguard, protector, and confidant. The relationship leads Sasso’s character to make an unexpected return to fighting, risking not only his relationship but his life.

“While my passion for the martial art of Muay Thai is at the center of the film, the story drives a deeper message about the importance of love and respect,” said Sasso, who also wrote the script. “It’s about acknowledging the human connections people need despite their differences and the words and actions that go unsaid that...

Exclusive: Kamikaze Dogfight and Gravitas Ventures have co-acquired U.S. rights to Don’t Look Back, written and directed by Final Destination creator Jeffrey Reddick. The pic, which serves as Reddick’s directorial debut, will now bow October 16 in theaters and on demand.

Kourtney Bell stars as Caitlin Kramer, a woman overcoming a tragic past who is among several people who see a man being fatally assaulted. When the witnesses start dying mysteriously, she must unearth if they’re being targeted by a killer or something far more insidious. Bryan Batt, Will Stout, Skyler Hart, Jeremy Holm, Jaqueline Fleming, Amanda Grace Benitez, Damon Lipari, Han Soto, Dean J. West and Stephen Twardokus also star.

“As he did with Final Destination, Jeffrey has created a terrifying framework for his characters to meet a gruesome end, and in doing so issues a timely warning against standing idly by while others suffer,” said Tony Piantedosi,...

The spooky season is upon us, and while many of the bigger horror films have decided to postpone theatrical releases in the wake of an uncertain future, VOD horror is alive and well. The latest film to toss its ring in the hat is Chop Chop, a classic slasher from first time feature producer/director, Rony Patel. Teamed up with writer Andrew Ericksen (Toxicity), Patel's debut looks like a very dark throwback to the mean spirited hack 'n slash films of old. While the writer and director may not have a ton of credits at the moment, their production company, Kamikaze Dogfight, has a pretty solid track record of bringing new talent onto the scene. Co-founded by genre vet Andrew van den Houten (The Offspring, The...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Arguably director Lucky McKee’s most radically troubling film is his 2011 hotbed of subversive themes, The Woman, which generated much distress upon its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Now the second chapter of a loosely calibrated trilogy based on and inspired by cult author Jack Ketcham (which began with 2009’s Offspring directed by Andrew van den Houten and ended with 2019’s Darlin’ from director Pollyanna McIntosh), McKee’s mounting (which was adapted from a text he wrote alongside Ketcham) is a violent, disturbing skewering of the heteropatriarchy and the subjugation of women defining the inherent misogyny of intergenerational subjugation.…...

With Clapboard Jungle, filmmaker Justin McConnell brings together two things I’m extremely passionate about: genre-driven documentaries and independent horror. Most people may not know this about me, but years (and years) ago, I created and spearheaded a movement known as Indie Horror Month as a means to help underrepresented content creators in the horror filmmaking community have an opportunity to get their moment in the spotlight. It’s been something I’ve wanted to resurrect, especially because it seems so hard these days for truly independent voices to be heard, but trying to carve out that time has been difficult.

That being said, when I read the description for Clapboard Jungle, I knew this was going to be something that would be extremely pertinent to my interests and McConnell didn’t let me down. The project is an enlightening look at the ups and downs that many indie filmmakers are constantly facing,...

In his latest interview/podcast, host and screenwriter Stuart Wright talks with Lucky McKee about writing and directing The Woman, collaborating with novelist Jack Ketchum (Rip) and the power of collaboration to making a movie. The Woman (2011) stars Pollyanna Mackintosh, Sean Bridgers, Angela Bettis and Lauren Ashley Carter.

The Woman is the last surviving member of a deadly clan of feral cannibals that has roamed the American wilderness for decades. When successful country lawyer Chris Cleek stumbles upon her whilst hunting in the woods, he decides to capture and “civilize” her with the help of his seemingly perfect all-American family, including his wife Belle and daughter Peggy. The Cleeks will soon learn, however, that hell hath no fury like The Woman scorned…

Brand new 4K restorations of The Woman and Offspring, supervised and approved by Lucky McKee and Andrew van den Houten are out now on Blu-ray, limited edition two...

Gravitas Ventures has set multi-picture output deal with Kamikaze Dogfight to release up to two horror/thriller genre titles per month in an effort to bolster its film slate. Kamikaze Dogfight, led by Andrew van den Houten and Han Soto, was spawned on the heels of van den Houten and Soto’s recently produced revenge thriller, Don’t Look Back, the feature directorial debut from genre veteran Jeffrey Reddick (Final Destination creator-writer). “Horror fans are the most loyal and supportive out there,” said van den Houten. “Giving new and established filmmakers a platform to elevate their film’s release with the strongest key art, trailers and positioning is most important to us. Whether a film is a theatrical or digital release, through our trusted partnership with Gravitas, our curation will be able to reach over a hundred million viewers at any given time.” Added Soto, “It’s exciting to be partnering...

Before she was Jadis (aka Anne) on AMC's The Walking Dead, Pollyanna McIntosh was The Woman in Lucky McKee's 2011 movie of the same name and also played the character in 2009's Offsping (also based on a novel of the same name by Ketchum). For her feature-length directorial debut, McIntosh continues the story of The Woman with Darlin'.

Dark Sky Films released Darlin' in select theaters and on VOD platforms on July 12th, and now we've learned that it's coming to Blu-ray and DVD on September 3rd.

You can view the trailer below, and in case you missed it, read Heather Wixson's SXSW review of Darlin', as well as her interview with the film's cast and crew!

"Found at a Catholic hospital filthy and ferocious, feral teenager Darlin' (Lauryn Canny) is whisked off to a care home run by The Bishop and his obedient nuns where she is to...

Before she was Jadis (aka Anne) on AMC's The Walking Dead, Pollyanna McIntosh was The Woman in Lucky McKee's 2011 movie of the same name and also played the character in 2009's Offsping (also based on a novel of the same name by Ketchum). For her feature-length directorial debut, McIntosh continues the story of The Woman with Darlin', and ahead of its release this July, Dark Sky Films unleashed a new trailer for the coming-of-age horror film.

Written and directed by McIntosh, Darlin' stars Lauryn Canny, Bryan Batt, Nora-Jane Noone, Cooper Andrews, and McIntosh, who will reprise her role as The Woman from the 2011 movie of the same name. Darlin' is produced by Andrew van den Houten and executive produced by Jack Ketchum, Lucky McKee, Malik B. Ali, Badie Ali, Hamza Ali, Greg Newman, and Travis Stevens.

Dark Sky Films will release Darlin' in select theaters and on VOD platforms on July 12th,...

It was in 2011 when horror fans were introduced to Lucky McKee’s The Woman, with Pollyanna McIntosh taking on the eponymous character. Now, eight years later, McIntosh is stepping into a number of roles for Darlin’ (you can read my review Here), including writer, director, and co-star. The story in this sequel picks up with The Woman years after we last saw her, where she’s spent her days playing caregiver to a young woman named Darlin’ (Lauryn Canny). She leaves the teen at a hospital, and because the staff there is ill-equipped to deal with her ferociously feral demeanor, Darlin’ begins to get reintegrated into the world, courtesy of a corrupt Bishop (Bryan Batt) who takes her in and wants to utilize the girl as his own pet project, as a means of showing the value of his all-female orphanage to his superiors in the church.

While in Austin last week,...

Though his books were seldom issued by major publishing houses, recently deceased author Jack Ketchum has become one of the big screen’s more frequently adapted U.S. novelists. “Darlin’” isn’t based on a Ketchum tome, per se, but it does have a through line to his work: It’s a sequel to Lucky McKee’s 2011 “The Woman,” which followed Andrew van den Houten’s 2009 “Offspring,” whose print source was a sequel to Ketcham’s 1980 debut novel “Off Season.” Ketchum earned writing credits on both films, and “Off Season” was the start of a series about a cannibalistic clan in the woods of rural Maine. At the end of “The Woman,” the titular feral captive of a “civilized” family kills her keepers and returns to the wilderness, the family’s children in tow.

While “The Woman” was a queasy psychological horror-thriller about abuse in many forms, the much less...

Before she was Jadis (aka Anne) on AMC's The Walking Dead, Pollyanna McIntosh was The Woman in Lucky McKee's 2011 movie of the same name, and for her feature-length directorial debut, McIntosh will continue the story of The Woman with Darlin', which is teased in its first trailer ahead of its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival.

Written and directed by Pollyanna McIntosh, Darlin' stars Lauryn Canny, Bryan Batt, Nora-Jane Noone, Cooper Andrews, and McIntosh, who will reprise her role as The Woman from the 2011 movie of the same name. Darlin' is produced by Andrew van den Houten and executive produced by Jack Ketchum, Lucky McKee, Malik B. Ali, Badie Ali, Hamza Ali, Greg Newman, and Travis Stevens.

Daily Dead is once again in Austin to cover the SXSW Film Festival, so be sure to check here for all of our reviews, interviews, and breaking news from the fest!

Canadian home video rights to Jenn Wexler's The Ranger have been acquired by Black Fawn Distribution, and the movie will be released on Blu-ray and DVD in Canada on January 22nd. Also in today's Horror Highlights: Nightshift VOD release details, info on Miscreated version 1.0, and a Q&A with Escape Room composer John Carey.

The Ranger Canadian Blu-ray and DVD Release Details: "Black Fawn Distribution has acquired the Canadian home video rights to Jenn Wexler’s festival favorite, the punk rock slasher flick The Ranger. The deal was brokered by 79th & Broadway Entertainment’s Andrew van den Houten, on behalf of the production companies Hood River Entertainment and Glass Eye Pix. Black Fawn Distribution’s Blu-ray/DVD release of The Ranger is set for January 22, 2019, and is packed with special features including audio commentary with members of the cast and crew, 5 making of documentaries, and more.

Directed by...

The creators behind AFI Fest 2018 have announced their Midnight lineup and it consists of films from all around the world. Also: an exclusive clip from Bonehill Road, A71 Entertainment's acquisition of the Canadian home video rights to The Ranger, and details on the Witch City Horror Film Fest in Salem, Ma.

AFI Fest 2018 Midnight Lineup Revealed: "Cam – Lola (Madeline Brewer of The Handmaid’S Tale) is a modern-day camgirl who makes her living through online private chats, but her world is about to turn upside down. Written by former camgirl Isa Mazzei, this thriller is one of the most surprising and intelligent films of the year. Dir Daniel Goldhaber. Scr Isa Mazzei, Daniel Goldhaber. Cast Madeline Brewer, Patch Darragh, Melora Walters, David Druid, Imani Hakim, Michael Dempsey. USA

In Fabric – A demonic dress haunts the lives of all that come into contact with it in this sexually explicit, phantasmagoric fever dream.

After a very successful festival run, Jenn Wexler's punk slasher The Ranger finds a home at Shudder. It has been officially announced that Shudder acquired the film, with plans for a North American and UK release in 2019. We've included the official press release below and you can learn more by checking out Patrick's festival review and my interview with co-stars Chloë Levine and Jeremy Holm.

New York, NY – Shudder, the leading subscription video on demand service for thriller, suspense and horror, announced today that they have acquired the North American, UK, Anz and Ga rights to acclaimed punk rock slasher The Ranger. The deal, which was negotiated following the film’s SXSW premiere, was done by Shudder’s Emily Gotto and 79th & Broadway Entertainment’s Andrew van den Houten, on behalf of the production companies Hood River Entertainment and Glass Eye Pix.

A wild, neon-colored romp in the...

AMC’s dedicated genre streaming service Shudder has acquired Jenn Wexler’s punk rock slasher “The Ranger” which had its world premiere at South by Southwest festival in the Midnighters section.

Shudder picked up North American, U.K., Australia/New Zealand and Germany/Austria rights. The deal was negotiated by Shudder’s Emily Gotto and 79th& Broadway Entertainment’s Andrew van den Houten, on behalf of Hood River Entertainment and Glass Eye Pix.

Described as reminiscent of “Return of the Living Dead” and “Class of 1984,” “The Ranger” follows a group of young punks who are forced to flee the city and run into a park ranger who shares a mysterious past with one of their own.

The film stars Chloë Levine (“The Transfiguration”), Jeremy Holm (“House of Cards”), Granit Lahu (“The Sinner”), Jeremy Pope, Bubba Weiler (“Puzzle”) and Amanda Grace Benitez (“School of Rock”).

“The Ranger” marks the directorial debut of Wexler,...

"Each year, millions visit our national parks. Not everyone gets to leave." Jenn Wexler's The Ranger has been creating some genre buzz on its festival circuit, and soon it could be coming to a city near you, as theatrical release dates for New York City and Los Angeles have now been revealed, along with a tense new clip.

The Ranger will be released theatrically at New York's IFC Center on August 17th, followed by a September 7th release at Los Angeles' Laemmle Music Hall. Below, we have additional details on the new slasher film from Glass Eye Pix and Hood River Entertainment, as well as a new clip:

"After a run-in with the cops at a punk show goes sideways, Chelsea and her pals flee the city in search of a place to lay low. Running to the security of Chelsea's old, abandoned family cabin in the woods,...

Award winning producer Andrew van den Houten has produced such films as The Girl Next Door and The Woman. His production company Hood River Entertainment partnered for the first time with Glass Eye Pix to produce The Ranger, a delightfully demented eighties throwback slasher that screened to a sold-out crowd at Fantasia Film Festival this […]

The post Interview: Andrew van den Houten on Producing Punk Rock Slasher The Ranger appeared first on Dread Central.

Exclusive: Freestyle Digital Media has acquired domestic rights to Breaking & Exiting, the directorial debut of Peter Facinelli. Milo Gibson stars alongside Jordan Hinson and Adam Huber in the dark comedy romance that centers on the world of suicide prevention. An August 17 theatrical release in 10 cities including Los Angeles and New York is planned.

Gibson, the son of Mel Gibson, plays Harry, a charming house thief who gets more than he bargains for during an attempted burglary when he stumbles upon Daisy (Hinson) and decides to save her from herself, sending both of them into a darkly comedic journey of self-discovery and love.

Hinson wrote the screenplay and produced with Kali Pictures’ Martine Melloul and Cecile Cubilo. Andrew van den Houten and Melloul are executive producers.

Facinelli’s acting credits include the Twilight series and Nurse Jackie.

The deal was negotiated by Freestyle director of acquisitions Rachel Koehler and van den...

The makers behind 14 Cameras have secured distribution courtesy of Gravitas Ventures. Check out the trailer and official poster that dropped for the film before its released on July 27th.

Press Release: "Gravitas Ventures announces today that they have acquired worldwide rights to the horror-thriller 14 Cameras, directed by Scott Hussion and Seth Fuller. Written by Victor Zarcoff, the film is the highly-anticipated sequel to the critically-acclaimed horror title 13 Cameras (New York Times Critic’s Pick), released by Gravitas Ventures in 2015. The film will be released in theaters and on demand nationwide on July 27th.

14 Cameras stars Neville Archambault (13 Cameras), Amber Midthunder (“Legion”), Chelsea Edmundson (Thunder Road) and Brianne Moncrief (13 Cameras) and was produced by Fuller and Hussion, with Andrew van den Houten (The Ranger), Jordan Rudman (Funeral Kings) and The McManus Bros. (writers of Netflix’s “American Vandal”) executive producing.

When a family of four rent a beautiful house for their summer vacation,...

The unsettling trailer for the new thriller Beach House has been released. Starring Willa Fitzgerald (MTV's Scream TV series), Murray Bartlett, Orlagh Cassidy, and Tom Hammond, the film follows Emma, a young adult whose beach vacation is interrupted by someone from her mother's past. Beach House has also secured worldwide distribution with Archstone Distribution, who plans to release the film in the Us on June 22nd:

Press Release: Los Angeles, CA (May 22, 2018) – Archstone Distribution has acquired worldwide rights to the new thriller film Beach House, which was directed and co-written by Jason Saltiel. Co-written and produced by Matt Simon, and executive produced by Ben Barenholtz, Beach House stars Willa Fitzgerald, Murray Bartlett, Orlagh Cassidy, and Tom Hammond. Andrew van den Houten of 79th & Broadway Entertainment is also executive producing and handling sales. The film is set to be released in theaters nationwide on June 22nd.

The film follows...

Exclusive: Archstone Distribution has picked up the worldwide distribution rights to Beach House, with plans to release the thriller in theaters June 22. Jason Saltiel co-wrote and directed the pic, which stars Willa Fitzgerald Murray Bartlett, Orlagh Cassidy, and Tom Hammond.

It follows Emma (Fitzgerald), whose quiet beach retreat takes an unsettling turn with the arrival of an enigmatic artist from her mother’s past, Paul (Bartlett). Paul challenges, enthralls, and frightens her, as she comes to suspect him of a terrible crime.

Matt Simon co-wrote and produced the pic with exec producers Andrew van den Houten of 79th & Broadway Entertainment and Ben Barenholtz.

The deal was brokered by Archstone’s Brady Bowen with van den Houten on behalf of the filmmakers.

Exclusive: Kevin and Matthew McManus, the sibling duo who serve as writers on Netflix’s crime parody series American Vandal, are set to direct The Block Island Sound, a horror-thriller which will mark their sophomore feature. The McManus Bros penned the screenplay and will produce the pic with Andrew van den Houten and Ashleigh Snead.

Michaela McManus (Into The Grizzly Maze), Chris Sheffield (The Maze Runner), Neville Archambault (13 Cameras), and Ryan O’Flanagan (American Vandal), and Jeremy Holm make up the cast that will go before cameras this month in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The story follows Audry Lynch (McManus) as she returns home to Block Island only to discover her dad (Archambault) is suffering from a series of blackouts and hallucinations. After a particularly stressful night, her father goes missing, leading Audry and her brother Harry (Sheffield) to search for answers. They’ll soon find out there is...

Jenn Wexler directed Midnighters selection.

Octane Entertainment will represent select international sales in Cannes on SXSW slasher film The Ranger from Hood River Entertainment and Glass Eye Pix.

Andrew van den Houten, horror veteran Larry Fessenden, Ashleigh Snead, Heather Buckley and Jenn Wexler produced the story of teen punks on the run from the law who face off against an unhinged park ranger.

Chloë Levine (The Transfiguration), Jeremy Holm (Mr. Robot), Granit Lahu, Jeremy Pope, Bubba Weiler, and Amanda Grace Benitez (School Of Rock) star in the SXSW Midnighters selection. First-timer Wexler directed from a screenplay she co-wrote with Giaco Furino.

While at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival, Daily Dead had the opportunity to catch up with the cast and crew from co-writer/director Jenn Wexler’s punk slasher The Ranger, which follows a group of rebellious teens into the woods as they square off against a murderous forest ranger who doesn’t take kindly to folks who don’t like to follow the rules of his wooded domain.

Wexler is no stranger to the realm of indie filmmaking, as she’s been a producer on numerous movies at Glass Eye Pix, and we heard from her about making the transition to director for her newest project and putting the film together with the cast and crew that were also in attendance for the press day for The Ranger, including her co-writer Giaco Furino, producers Heather Buckley, Andrew van den Houten, Ashleigh Snead, Chad Ghiron, and Darryl Gariglio, as well as cast members Chloe Levine,...

In today's Horror Highlights, we have an update and a video for Clive Barker Presents: Reel Fear Horror Contest, as well as Ghost Brothers clips, The Ranger casting details, info on the Final Girls Berlin Film Festival, and a new zombie-themed song on Coolzey and Soce the Elemental Wizard's new Ep, Coolsay Too.

Clive Barker Presents: Reel Fear Horror Contest: "Are you more of a slasher fan, or would you prefer a paranormal thriller? Do you like blood and guts, or do the twists and turns of psychological horror keep you on the edge of the seat? Well, now’s the chance for you and genre fans everywhere to greenlight your next favorite horror flick.

Public voting for the “Clive Barker Presents: Reel Fear Horror Contest” from Project Greenlight Digital Studios and Shudder officially opens today!

Filmmakers have submitted one-to-three minute pitches for their original horror film concepts on projectgreenlight.

Jeremy Holm (pictured above; “House of Cards”, “Mr Robot”), Chloe Levine (The Transfiguration, The Oa), Amanda Grace Benitez (All Cheerleaders Die) star alongside Granit Lahu, Jeremy Pope, and Bubba Weiler star in Larry Fessenden’s Glass Eye Pix and Andrew van den Houten’s Hood River Entertainment The Ranger, which began principal photography this week in New York. The Ranger, directed Jenn Wexler, follows a group of teen punks who get in trouble with […]...