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Charles Shyer, who was Oscar-nominated for co-writing “Private Benjamin” with Nancy Meyers and went on to direct a string of hit comedies including “Father of the Bride” and “Baby Boom,” died Friday. He was 83.

His family said in a statement to Deadline, “It’s with an indescribably heavy heart that we share the news of our beloved father, Charles Shyer’s passing. His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he’s left behind. We honor the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another quite like him.”

After Shyer’s collaboration with Meyers, whom he married the same year as “Private Benjamin” was released, the pair were Oscar-nominated for original screenplay along with Harvey Miller, kicking off a fruitful professional and personal relationship that produced some of the 1980s and ’90s most successful comedies.

It's hard to imagine "Deadpool & Wolverine" star Ryan Reynolds at a loss for words, but the actor was apparently pretty starstruck when he met the Queen of Pop, Madonna. In an interview with Radio Andy on SiriusXM, Reynolds and "Deadpool" franchise director Shawn Levy shared their experience consulting with the music legend, and apparently she had a bit of really sound advice for the duo. 

Madonna is extremely picky about licensing her music, and she's especially particular about the song "Like a Prayer," which was used in the big climax of "Deadpool & Wolverine" and its final trailer, to great effect. In order to convince the woman behind such hits as "Vogue," "Lucky Star," and "Frozen" to let them use one of her greatest (and most controversial) songs, Levy and Reynolds had to meet with her in person. They were pretty nervous when they showed her the scene "Like a Prayer" would play during,...

Needle-drop music cues have been a hallmark of the "Deadpool" franchise stretching back to the opening credits of the first film, which kicks off with an amusingly chaotic freeze-frame action sequence set to Juice Newton's cover of "Angel of the Morning." This was a strong statement of irreverent purpose, and a signal to the audience that the artists behind this big-screen take on Marvel Comics' had a mile-wide sentimental streak.

The one constant through all three films has been the trio of star Ryan Reynolds and screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. After the travestying of the Merc with a Mouth in 20th Century Fox's botched "X-Men Origins: Wolverine," these gentlemen have worked overtime to deliver a version of Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza's character that respects the fans who keep this superhero movie train chugging. And while you may love these films for their gleefully profane humor or,...

Curiously, the book alluded to in the headline is not "Christine," the novel Stephen King published in 1983. "Christine" follows a young man named Arnie who buys a disused 1958 Plymouth Fury and decides to fix it up. The car, however, begins asserting an eerie influence over Artie, turning him into a defiant 1950s greaser. He names the car Christine, and it soon begins acting with a mind of its own, chasing down anyone who would do Artie harm. Christine is a jealous girlfriend that feeds on Arnie's affection. 

Celebrated director John Carpenter famously adapted "Christine" to the big screen the same year as its publication, and many of Carpenter's eerie visuals are still scary to this day. The scene where Christine "grows back" after being smashed up by bullies is a sequence on par with the werewolf transformation scene in George Waggner's 1941 classic "The Wolf Man." The 1980s was a conservative time,...

Few directors reach the sort of stardom where their names are thrown on billboards. A Nolan or a Tarantino or a Peele become brands in and of themselves, while the other 99% bubble quietly under the surface; reliable journeymen, gallantly plugging away at the nuts and bolts of what used to be the mid-budget feature scene. These are the filmmakers who not only set the pace, but who change the very language of a genre too, consistently firing out exciting, crowd-pleasing, attention-grabbing stuff, year after year, decade after decade. Creative puppet masters living behind the scenes; their movies aren’t as stylistically loud, but their generation-spanning oeuvres are just as (if not more) legendary.

Don Siegel, J. Lee Thompson, Mary Lambert, Renny Harlin, Jonathan Demme, Doug Liman, John Frankenheimer – even just picking a handful of names at random gives you a who’s-who of filmmakers responsible for some of the most...

Pet Sematary contains a subtle reference to the It miniseries a year before its release. Jonathan Brandis did a voiceover in Pet Sematary and portrayed Young Bill Denbrough in It. A Derry, Maine road sign in the 2019 Pet Sematary remake references It, connecting Stephen King's universe.

It’s not uncommon for Stephen King adaptations to include references to other stories by him, but the 1989 adaptation of Pet Sematary had a reference to It’s miniseries a year before it was released. Stephen King’s novels and short stories have been adapted to different media for decades, and one of the most memorable ones is 1989’s Pet Sematary. Based on the 1983 novel of the same name, Pet Sematary was directed by Mary Lambert, and though it wasn’t a hit with critics during its release, with time it has received praise for its tone and performances.

Pet Sematary follows the Creed family,...

These ten horror films, helmed by talented women directors, offer a diverse range of storytelling and filmmaking styles, proving that the horror genre is enriched by their unique perspectives and creative vision.

The Babadook (2014) – Directed by Jennifer Kent: This Australian psychological horror film follows a single mother and her son who are haunted by a sinister presence that emerges from a mysterious children’s book. Jennifer Kent’s masterful direction creates a chilling atmosphere and explores themes of grief and motherhood. American Psycho (2000) – Directed by Mary Harron: Based on the controversial novel by Bret Easton Ellis, “American Psycho” is a satirical horror film that delves into the mind of a wealthy investment banker with psychopathic tendencies. Mary Harron’s direction infuses the film with dark humour and unsettling tension. Near Dark (1987) – Directed by Kathryn Bigelow: Kathryn Bigelow’s stylish and unconventional take on the vampire genre is a cult classic.

Stephen King is at his best when he's writing about his fears as a father. With "The Shining," he took his alcoholism and made the lead Jack Torrance into a worst-case scenario, someone who destroys his family (and potential writing career) because he lets his addiction consume him.

Then there's "Pet Sematary," which is all about the primal fear any parent has of their child dying. The Creed family moves to rural Maine, in a house right next to a lethal road frequented by trailer trucks. After the family cat Church becomes roadkill, Dr. Louis Creed and neighbor Jud Crandall bury the cat in an ancient Mi'kmaq burial ground. Church returns, alive but worse for wear. When Louis' toddler son Gage is killed by another oncoming truck, he can't resist the temptation to bring his son back. If there's anything that could inspire a normal person to play Dr. Frankenstein,...

One of the scariest movie characters of all time is no doubt Zelda from Pet Sematary, the deathly ill sister of Rachel Creed who was actually played by male actor Andrew Hubatsek in the ’89 big screen adaptation. Zelda, who suffers from spinal meningitis, makes a brief but unforgettable appearance in the film, and she continues inducing nightmares to this day.

Our friend Gabe Lapeer over at Homemade Horror has captured that original version of Zelda in a brand new hand-sculpted figure, and he’s launching pre-sales in one week.

Pre-sales will run from March 13-15 on the Zelda figure, which recreates the most terrifying moment from Mary Lambert’s movie. Gabe even included Church in the sculpture.

Through Homemade Horror, Gabe Lapeer whips up all kinds of custom figures and collectibles that are usually offered up on a limited basis. Other iconic horror characters he’s given the treatment to...

For this month’s installment of “TV Terrors” we revisit Showtime’s “Masters of Horror,” which was created by Mick Garris and aired for two seasons between 2005 and 2007.

It seemed like a horror fan’s wet dream: a horror anthology series with some of the greatest horror filmmakers of all time lensing short format horror films for premium cable. Although horror icons had teamed in the past to bring us series like “Tales from the Darkside” and “Tales from the Crypt,” there wasn’t a modern series that brought them all together to have a chance to tell their stories in the anthology format. “Masters of Horror” seemed like a prime opportunity to re-invent the waning anthology horror format, and while it didn’t quite re-invent the wheel as planned, it brought with it a lot of great content from some bonafide horror icons.

“Masters of Horror” was originally envisioned...

When "Pet Sematary" was published in 1983, it came with a killer marketing hook: it was billed as the book that was so scary it even frightened its author, Stephen King. Whether or not that was true was immaterial; it was too good to ignore — Stephen King, the master of horror, had penned something that scared even him! To hear King tell it, which he has numerous times over the years, he found the book so disturbing — particularly its ultra-dark subject matter — that he stuffed it in a drawer, only to later pull it out to fill a contractual obligation. I'm a big Stephen King fan, and "Pet Sematary" is my favorite King novel. My first encounter with the material wasn't the book, though — it was Mary Lambert's 1989 film adaptation.

I was six in 1989, which is probably way too young to watch "Pet Sematary." But watch it I did, and folks,...

Presented by Lisa Frankenstein, 1989 Week is dialing the clock back to the crossroads year for the genre with a full week of features that dig six feet under into the year. Today, it all comes to an end as Rachel Reeves searches for scares in the suburbs.

In the back half of the 1980s, the American suburbs experienced a resurgence in popularity. As global instabilities stabilized and economies began to boom, moving to the suburbs became a sign of financial and professional success. Primarily populated by young families, the suburbs also became associated with traditional family values, safety, and community. However, as any true crime enthusiast knows, some things (and some people) are not always as innocent as they appear.

With Hollywood quick to hop on this trend train, what resulted was a wealth of interesting Frankenstein-style film ideas that simultaneously displayed the absurd excess and nostalgic conservatism the...

In all of Stephen King’s massive catalog, few works are as bleak as his 2010 novella collection Full Dark, No Stars. Rather than supernatural entities, these four dark tales feature human monsters and deal with the horrors that live inside the human heart. Two novellas serve as mirror images of each other, exploring the female response to predatory men. “Big Driver” follows cozy mystery writer Tess Thorne on a mission of revenge against the stranger who raped her and left her for dead. “A Good Marriage” centers Darcy Anderson, a happily married woman faced with a horrifying choice when she discovers her husband’s secret life.

Both novellas were faithfully adapted into feature films in the year 2014 – for better or worse. Premiering on Lifetime, Big Driver tackles King’s rape-revenge story with Maria Bello staring as the vigilante writer and Olympia Dukakis as her literary detective. Ann Dowd and Joan Jett...

Cr. Colleen Hayes/Netflix © 2023.

The holiday season is upon us. That means the release of brand-new Christmas-themed movies, series, and specials. Below, we’ll track everything coming to Netflix over the next several weeks.

If you want help picking out a Christmas movie, series, or special, you can sift through all of Netflix’s Christmas titles here or use category codes to sort through them on Netflix itself.

Please note that this list was originally a coming soon post and has been updated to reflect other licensed new movies that have dropped on Netflix in the US and UK.

Table of Contents New Global Netflix Original and Licensed Christmas Movies in 2023 New Christmas Movies and Specials on Netflix US Motion Picture Corporation of America Collection Added to Netflix Internationally New Christmas Movies Coming Soon - 2024 & Beyond New Global Netflix Original and Licensed Christmas Movies in 2023 Love at First Sight...

Vroom, vroom! This month marks the 40th anniversary of John Carpenter‘s Christine! To celebrate, The Losers’ Club: A Stephen King Podcast and the Music Box of Horrors are hosting a special holiday screening of the King classic at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre. After all, what are the holidays without a little rock ‘n’ roll and a killer car?

The one-night only event takes place on Tuesday, December 19th at 8:00 p.m. at Chicago’s historic Music Box Theatre. In addition to the screening, the night will also include a live recording of the Losers’ Club featuring nearly all of the show’s cast members. Yes, this will be the largest gathering of the Losers to date with most of the ka-tet flying in!

That includes Randall Colburn, Jenn Adams, Justin Gerber, Dan Caffrey, Michael Roffman, Mel Kassel, Dan Pfleegor, McKenzie Gerber, Rachel Reeves, Julia Marchese, and Sammie Kuykendall.

Best. Christmas. Ever! Movie Review Rating:

Star Cast: Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Jason Biggs, Matt Cedeño, Wyatt Hunt

Director: Mary Lambert

Writers: Todd Calgi Gallicano, Charles Shyer

Best. Christmas. Ever! Movie Review Out! (Picture Credit: IMDb)

What’s Good: Clocking in at 80 minutes, the film resembles a festive TV special, embracing familiar Christmas themes. The primary setting, Jackie’s suburban McMansion, exudes comfort, adorned with holiday decorations. Brandy’s musical performance adds a lively touch, and the absurd final act nearly ventures into “so-bad-it’s-good” territory.

What’s Bad: Despite a more interesting pedigree with Charles Shyer co-writing, the film descends into mediocrity, lacking wit and cohesiveness. Unremarkable performances by Jason Biggs and Matt Cedeño, coupled with a lackluster script, contribute to the film’s mundane nature. The set decorations fail to camouflage its shortcomings, and under Mary Lambert’s direction, the potential for dark comedy transforms into a saccharine family movie.

For the last six seasons, horror writer/director Mick Garris and his producer Joe Russo have given fans an insight into movie making, and some amazing interviews. Mick has interviewed the likes of Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Mary Lambert. During its seven-year run on Dread Central family “Post Mortem” has stacked up around 180 interviews. Those interviews and past episodes will live on the Dread Podcast Network and will be available to all to listen to whenever you want.

Mick Garris announced on his social media accounts that The final “Post Mortem on @DreadCentral will be recorded on December 9th at The Egyptian Theater with Tons of past guests and a screening of Sleepwalkers. Mick also thanked Thanks to @BeyondFest and the @am_cinematheque. Mick directed the classic Stephen King film, Sleepwalkers, so it should be a great time. Thank you Mick and Joe for all the years and the podcasts.

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a Netflix original Christmas comedy that has become a huge hit on the streaming service, despite receiving negative reviews from critics and audiences. In its first week on Netflix, Best. Christmas. Ever! was watched for 22.3 million hours and had a total of 16.3 million views, ranking second in the Global Top 10. However, the movie has been criticized for its poor quality, with a 33% score on Rotten Tomatoes and negative reviews highlighting its failure to meet the standards of even mediocre holiday movies.

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a huge hit on Netflix despite the bad reactions from critics (and audiences). Released on November 16, the new Netflix original Christmas comedy follows two longtime frenemies who are reunited over the holidays in a twist of fate. The Best Christmas Ever cast is led by Boogie Nights star Heather Graham and singer Brandy Norwood alongside Matt Cedeño and Jason Biggs. The...

Stars: Brandy Norwood, Heather Graham, Jason Biggs, Matt Cedeño, Wyatt Hunt, Abby Villasmil, Madison Skye Validum, Nadia Sine | Written by Todd Calgi Gallicano, Charles Shyer | Directed by Mary Lambert

I will start this review by declaring that that title annoys me much more than it should. Why the full stops and the exclamation mark? It just feels very unnecessary. Now that is out of the way, let’s talk about the movie.

When Jackie sends out her annual ragging Christmas newsletter (I don’t think that’s a thing here in the UK – not to my knowledge – but they always seem to be a thing in American movies), it includes an invite for any of the readers (and friends) to join her at Christmas. Her high school best friend then accidentally ends up at her house after a long drive and they are forced to spend Christmas together.

If you...

It was nice while it lasted: David Fincher’s “The Killer” opened to #1 on the Netflix Top 10 last week and it’s now #3. Another high-profile Netflix Original took its place with Mary Lambert’s “Best. Christmas. Ever!” Trivia ensues: Much earlier in their careers, Fincher and Lambert each directed high-profile Madonna videos.

We’re still waiting on the PVOD releases of October titles “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (already streaming on Peacock), and “Killers of the Flower Moon” (soon to be streaming on Apple TV+). That left a sweet spot for Disney to debut Gareth Edwards’ “The Creator” at $19.99 — a rare film that’s not part of a franchise, and budgeted under $100 million.

The sci-fi thriller was a modest box office performer (just over $100 million worldwide), so its post-theatrical earnings are critical for potential profit. It is #1 at Vudu, which ranks by revenue. It was #1 during the week at iTunes,...

Try as we might, we withered gothic souls can only hold the line and extend October's scary vibes into November for so long. But with so few viewing options specific to the month (although horror fans now have a bountiful feast to indulge in around Turkey Day thanks to Eli Roth's satisfyingly sleazy slasher "Thanksgiving"), many people tend to spend this time of year diving head-first into Christmas entertainment. The streaming services of the world have sat up and taken notice, too, as evidenced by the endless ads for "Dashing Through the Snow" on Disney+ that popped up on my Roku menu over the past week.

However, it's another quirky Yuletide comedy that's making waves on streaming at the moment. Titled "Best. Christmas. Ever!", the Netflix exclusive rolled out globally on November 16, 2023. According to Netflix viewership aggregator FlixPatrol, the film quickly shot to #1 on the streamer on its first...

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a heartwarming holiday movie on Netflix that showcases the delightful chemistry between Heather Graham and Brandy as old friends who reconnect during a Christmas vacation. The film also features a fun dynamic between Jason Biggs and Matt Cedeño as the husbands who go along for the ride, along with a talented cast of child actors who bring depth and entertainment to the movie. Director Mary Lambert brings her exceptional experience working with kid actors to Best. Christmas. Ever!, creating an ensemble effort where the kids shine alongside the adult actors, making for a cozy and enjoyable viewing experience.

The latest holiday movie from Netflix has arrived! Co-written by Charles Shyer and directed by Mary Lambert, Best. Christmas. Ever! stars Heather Graham and Jason Biggs as a couple who accidentally reunite with an old friend (Brandy) and her husband (Matt Cedeño). Old resentments and jealousies quickly bubble up to the surface,...

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a standout Christmas movie this year, with a star-studded cast and directed by Mary Lambert. It follows a couple who reconnect with old friends during a Christmas trip mishap. Unlike other Christmas films, Best. Christmas. Ever! has enough depth and pathos to stand out. The performances from the cast elevate it above typical holiday fare. Heather Graham, the lead actress in the movie, discusses her recent projects, including horror films and her dream project of directing a rock and roll biopic about a famous singer/songwriter. She also talks about her experience working with Mary Lambert.

With the holiday season upon us, it's time for the annual outpouring of Christmas movies flooding the theatrical, streaming, and television markets. A standout entry this year is Best. Christmas. Ever!, starring Heather Graham, Brandy, Jason Biggs, and Matt Cedeño. Directed by Mary Lambert (Pet Sematary), Best. Christmas. Ever! follows...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Best. Christmas. Ever!

In "Best. Christmas. Ever!", jealousy wreaks havoc on the bonds of friendship as Charlotte investigates Jackie's seemingly perfect life. The film teaches valuable lessons about forgiveness, gratitude, and not taking things for granted during the holiday season. Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Jason Briggs, and Matt Cedeño deliver memorable performances in this hilarious and poignant comedy.

Christmas trees aren't the only thing green in Netflix's Best. Christmas. Ever!, a festive comedy directed by Mary Lambert whose cast of colorful characters showcases the havoc jealousy can wreak on the bonds of friendship. It begins with Charlotte and her husband Rob receiving their friend Jackie's annual newsletter extolling the triumphs of her family's year, which inevitably makes Jackie feel unaccomplished by comparison. Through a navigation snafu on their way to her sister's, Charlotte's family winds up on Jackie's doorstep just days before Christmas,...

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a serviceable Christmas movie on Netflix, with soft chuckles, tears, and sentimentality. Brandy's performance is a highlight, and there's even a musical number. The story emphasizes the risks of projecting insecurities onto others. Charlotte's self-critical nature blinds her to the importance of nurturing positivity and appreciating what she has. While the movie's directing is fun, the script drags and the conversations are flat. The film relies on Graham and Brandy to build a believable relationship, but falls short of doing so.

Fellow movie watchers, it’s the most wonderful time of year — the Netflix Christmas movies are here. The on-the-nose named Best. Christmas. Ever! brings us Brandy Norwood and Heather Graham in a sweet, sentimental Christmas adventure directed by Pet Sematary’s Mary Lambert. In this latest holiday offering, we have Brandy’s Jackie Jennings beaming with festive joy and Graham’s Charlotte Sanders as the skeptical,...

Best. Christmas. Ever! is a Christmas romantic comedy film directed by Mary Lambert, from a screenplay by Todd Calgi Gallicano and Charles Shyer. The Netflix film revolves around two friends Jackie and Charlotte, and their families. Jackie’s life seems too perfect to Charlotte and when fate brings both Jackie and Charlotte together on Christmas, Charlotte tries to prove that Jackie’s life is not perfect. Best. Christmas. Ever! stars Heather Graham, Brandy, Jason Biggs, and Matt Cedeño in the lead roles. So, if you loved the Netflix film here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Deck the Halls Credit – 20th Century Fox

Synopsis: Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito are hilarious as two neighbors trying to put the “win” in “winter” in one of the year’s funniest comedies! Determined to unseat Steve Finch’s (Broderick) reign as the town’s holiday season king, Buddy Hall (DeVito) plasters...

“Best. Christmas. Ever!” is a movie directed by Mary lambert, written by Todd Calgi Gallicano and Charles Shyer, and starring Brandy Norwood, Heather Graham, Jason Biggs, and Matt Cedeño.

Do you fancy a really cheesy Christmas movie? Well, here it is! Fresh from the oven, we present “Best. Christmas. Ever!”, promising to delight those with the sweetest and most festive spirits.

In terms of cinematography, storyline, and acting prowess… it falls a bit short.

But you know these holiday productions all come out around Christmas and are barely distinguishable from one another.

Plot

Two childhood friends reunite, almost by chance. One’s life is picture-perfect while the other’s… far from it. They and their partners have to spend Christmas together due to a snowstorm, the perfect excuse to rekindle their undying friendship.

Best. Christmas. Ever! Review of “Best. Christmas. Ever!”

Heather Graham takes the lead role and looks just...

Director Mary Lambert delivers yuletide warmth and heartfelt cheer to Netflix subscribers with “Best. Christmas. Ever!” The story centered on two women rediscovering their strength and sparkle by mending their fractured friendship finds the correct balance of cynical and saccharine without upsetting the scale. The streamer’s practically patented brand of holiday hijinks is amped up to a ridiculous degree as the hyperbolic title would suggest. Even so, its absurdist lunacy acts as a Trojan Horse containing genuinely meaningful sentiments on forgiveness, happiness and bittersweet sorrows — universalities people tend to reflect on as their year comes to a close.

Charlotte Sanders (Heather Graham) dreads Christmastime because it means her former college bestie Jackie Jennings’ (Brandy Norwood) annual newsletter is on its way. It’s filled with obnoxious lingo and humblebrags about the Jennings family’s successes, and Charlotte can’t help but feel inferior, unfavorably comparing it to her own harried life as a wife,...

Horror films like The Exorcist and A Nightmare on Elm Street have left an indelible mark on cinema by revolutionizing the genre and introducing iconic characters. Films like Hellraiser and Saw tapped into society's fears and anxieties, exploring themes of pain and human depravity with their visceral and intense storytelling. The Conjuring and Halloween redefined the slasher genre, revitalizing it with their expert direction, psychological terror, and compelling performances. They remain touchstones in horror history.

In the realm of horror movies, the inaugural installment of a franchise often serves as its litmus test, setting the tone for subsequent entries and some horror franchises have first movies that stand above the rest. From the chills of Elm Street to the demonic atmosphere of The Exorcist, these pioneering films have carved their places in theatrical history. They birthed a phenomenon and influenced generations of filmmakers, leaving an indelible mark on the genre.

Heather Graham is an uninvited guest who wants to reveal imperfections in Brandy Norwood’s impressive life in the first trailer for Netflix’s Best. Christmas. Ever!

The holiday-themed feature from filmmaker Mary Lambert hits the streaming service Nov. 16. Best. Christmas. Ever! centers on Charlotte (Graham) dealing with jealousy over her college friend Jackie (Norwood) sending boastful holiday newsletters every year. After unexpectedly ending up on her former pal’s doorstep days before Christmas, Charlotte hopes to prove that Jackie’s life is more flawed than it appears.

The trailer shows Graham’s character dealing with her complicated feelings about her past with her erstwhile bestie. “Being here reminds me of everything I wanted to do with my life and didn’t,” Graham explains.

Later in the footage, Norwood’s Jackie tells her friend, “I knew you were sneaking around. What is your problem, girl?”

Jason Biggs and Matt Cedeño co-star,...

Originally announced back in September, the Paramount Scares: Volume 1 limited edition 4K Ultra HD set is available Now, and with the release comes the reveal of the mystery title.

Kept a secret until today’s release, Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd makes its 4K Ultra HD debut in the Paramount Scares: Volume 1 box set, alongside four other Paramount horrors!

The full lineup includes…

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)—Newly remastered on 4K Ultra HD, this iconic classic celebrates its 55th anniversary this year. With groundbreaking camerawork and bone-chilling suspense, Rosemary’s Baby gave birth to the modern thriller. Featuring extraordinary performances—including Ruth Gordon in an Oscar®-winning role as an eccentric neighbor—the film received extensive critical praise. Widely considered to be one of the greatest horror films of all time, Rosemary’s Baby was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2014.

Bonus Content (on Blu-ray Disc...

"I can't imagine spending the holidays together after what happened." Yeah, no monsters at dinner next time grandma. Let's have some fun today with these new trailers this week – shall we? Netflix + Miracle Media have each debuted official trailers for holiday-themed movies coming out this fall – and they both look terrible. Which one is worse...? Which one seems like it has less originality to offer? One is a Hallmark Channel movie rip off, the other will rip off your face while you're watching some Hallmark Channel movies. Netflix is releasing a romantic comedy called Best. Christmas. Ever! this fall, the latest from filmmaker Mary Lambert (who also made 2021's A Castle for Christmas on Netflix). Starring Heather Graham, Brandy Norwood, Jason Biggs and Matt Cedeño. Miracle Media is releasing this goofy UK horror comedy called Werewolf Santa, which originally premiered at FrightFest 2023 in London a few months ago. Starring Katherine Rodden,...

It wouldn’t be that time of year without a new Lifetime-looking Xmas movie to warm your heart a little bit. Is it a movie, is it a film, or is it content? It’s hard to say, but Netflix’s “Best Christmas Ever” releases globally on Netflix on November 16, and it looks a bit standard-issue, tbh.

Fall Film Preview: 60+ Most Anticipated Movies To Watch

Directed by Mary Lambert and written by Charles Shyer and Todd Gallicano, “Best Christmas Ever” stars Heather Graham and Brandy Norwood, with a supporting cast that includes Matt Cedeño, Jason Biggs, Wyatt Hunt, Abby Villasmil, and Madison Skye Validum.

Continue reading ‘Best Christmas Ever’ Trailer: Heather Graham & Brandy Norwood Star In Netflix’s New Xmas Comedy at The Playlist.

It’s that time of year again! The leaves are changing color, the air is getting more relaxed, and Halloween is just around the corner. For many, Halloween is a time to enjoy fright-filled movies and TV shows. But for others, it’s a time to revisit their childhood with the Halloweentown movies.

These family-friendly films follow the adventures of Marnie Piper, a young witch who discovers her heritage and learns to use her powers.

If you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate Halloween this year, why not watch the Halloweentown movies in order?

Based on characters by Paul Bernbaum, The Halloweentown film series aired as works for television on The Disney Channel as Disney Channel Original Movies. To date, there are four fantasy films released in the Halloweentown franchise.

In this blog post, we’ll look at the films in order and provide some fun facts about each one.

Warning: This article contains Spoilers for Pet Sematary: Bloodlines.

Pet Sematary: Bloodlines failed to answer the biggest mystery of the 2019 remake - how did Norma die before the events of the story? The prequel missed a huge opportunity to explore Jud's relationship with Norma and potentially continue the cycle of violence by burying her in the cursed cemetery. By changing Norma's story and making her a more tragic character, Pet Sematary: Bloodlines inadvertently made her storyline more compelling than in previous adaptations.

While Pet Sematary: Bloodlines was a prequel to 2019’s Pet Sematary remake, the Stephen King spinoff failed to answer that movie’s biggest mystery. The Pet Sematary franchise has not been author Stephen King’s most successful set of adaptations. Although director Mary Lambert’s original 1989 movie Pet Sematary is now seen as a cult classic, the adaptation received mixed reviews upon release. Its first sequel was a campier,...

Brandy and Heather Graham are old college friends in the upcoming movie Best. Christmas. Ever!

The ladies are starring in the upcoming Netflix holiday movie, which debuts this holiday season, and the first look has been revealed on Wednesday (October 11).

From the looks of the first look stills, it seems we’ll also be getting a musical performance from Brandy in the movie!

Get more details and see more photos inside…

Here’s a synopsis: Every Christmas Jackie (Brandy) sends a boastful holiday newsletter that makes her old college friend Charlotte (Graham) feel like a lump of coal. When a twist of fate lands Charlotte and her family on Jackie’s snowy doorstep just days before Christmas, she seizes the opportunity to prove her old friend’s life can’t possibly be that perfect.

Also starring in the upcoming holiday flick are Matt Cedeño, Jason Biggs, Wyatt Hunt, Abby Villasmil and Madison Skye Validum.

Pet Sematary: Bloodlines features a well-rounded cast of characters, bringing Stephen King's novel to life with talented actors. This prequel to the 2019 remake delves into the history of the cemetery and introduces new characters like Jud Crandall, connecting it to the main story. The film stars Jackson White as Jud, Natalie Alyn Lind as Norma, Forrest Goodluck as Manny, Isabella Star Lablanc as Donna, and Henry Thomas as Dan Crandall, among others.

Pet Sematary: Bloodlines has a well-rounded cast of characters. Set in 1969, the prequel to 2019’s Pet Sematary follows a teenager who discovers long-buried secrets about his family that are tied to a local cemetery. The film, directed by Lindsey Anderson Beer from a screenplay she co-wrote with Jeff Buhler, was adapted from the novel by Stephen King. The cast brings to life the characters who face the multitude of terrors plaguing the town of Ludlow, Maine.

Pet Sematary: Bloodlines...

Continuing its quest to promote and center women in genre cinema, Sitges will hold its annual networking, scholarship, and conference strand, WomanInFan, which head of the industry department, Patricia Salvatierra declared “is growing by leaps and bounds.”

The events take place over Oct. 6-8, as part of the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, unspooling Oct. 5-15.

Labs, A Book Launch and Residency

This year marked the second call for the WomanInFan FanLab Short-Film Teaser Contest, won by director Samantha Aldana, for “Little Lying Wild,” billed as a story of female empowerment rooted in Mayan folklore.

Sitges also celebrates the official release of the WomanInFan imprint’s second book, “Mistress of Fan: Monsters, Creatures and Nightmares Engendered by Them,” teased last year.

The ambitious collection of essays, a joint approach at boosting women who’ve contributed fiercely to the genre, muses on cult classics and blockbuster fare while centering...

Nightmare: "Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thrillers and the supernatural, released today the trailer for the new thriller Nightmare, from writer/director Kjersti Helen Raasmussen (The Tunnel). The film will make its exclusive streaming debut on Friday, September 29 on Shudder priming fans for Shudder’s annual “FearFest.” Nightmare, a Norwegian language film with English subtitles, will also be available to stream on AMC+.

In Nightmare, Mona and Robby are a young couple in love. Robby has just landed his dream job, and they’ve scored an amazing deal on a spacious, if run-down, flat. Never mind that it requires quite a bit of renovation. Never mind the neighbors’ constant fighting, and screaming baby... Never mind that Mona is suddenly plagued by night terrors which grow more intense every time she falls asleep… Robby is eager to start a family, despite Mona’s hesitation. Eventually, Mona’s...

Madonna has thanked Pepsi for “finally realizing the genius” of their 1989 collaboration on a TV commercial that was yanked off the airwaves amid controversy, then re-released this Tuesday night during MTV’s VMAs broadcast.

Pepsi back in the day had paid Madonna a staggering-for-the-time $5 million to front an ad campaign for the pop. The deal included a TV spot, which was set to Madge’s new single, “Like a Prayer,” as well as the soft drink titan’s sponsorship of the pop star’s next concert tour.

More from TVLineBill Maher's Real Time Will Return Without Its Writers; WGA...

Now that it's officially September, we can start looking forward to Halloween season. It's not as if September offers anything fun after Labor Day provides a day off, so we might as well get in the spooky spirit. Paramount Pictures certainly isn't wasting time celebrating terror, because they've just announced their new Paramount Scares Vol. 1 box set that brings a collection of horror films to 4K Ultra HD physical media.

The Paramount Scares Vol. 1 limited edition box set comes with five films, each in stunning 4K with their own assembly of special features (more details on that below). Here are the movies you'll find in the box set:

"Rosemary's Baby" - Newly remastered on 4K Ultra HD, this iconic classic celebrates its 55th anniversary this year. With groundbreaking camerawork and bone-chilling suspense, "Rosemary's Baby" gave birth to the modern thriller. Featuring extraordinary performances — including Ruth Gordon in an Oscar-winning role...

Paramount Home Entertainment has announced that they will be releasing a limited edition 4K box set containing five horror films on October 24th. The set is called Paramount Scares Vol. 1, indicating this is just the first in what they intend to be a series of collections of chilling films from the Paramount library. The films in this particular set are the genre classics Rosemary’s Baby (1968) and Pet Sematary (1989), plus a pair of recent box office successes, Crawl (2019) and Smile (2022). Intriguingly, Paramount has chosen to keep the fifth film in the set a mystery…

According to a press release, Paramount Scares Vol. 1 will allow fans to “plumb the depths of the horror genre with this collectible box set featuring five unforgettable movies, all in eye-popping 4K Ultra HD, along with over four hours of legacy special features and exclusive collectible items. Housed in deluxe packaging, each of the following films is...

Pet Sematary: Bloodlines is a prequel to the popular Stephen King novel and successful movie franchise, but it risks repeating the failure of another horror film in 2023. The film will delve into the backstory of young Jud and explore the dark secrets of the local cemetery, based on a passage from King's book. While Bloodlines follows a similar approach to The Last Voyage of the Demeter, which was a major box office failure, it has advantages such as being based on a recognizable Stephen King novel and being released on Paramount+.

Pet Sematary: Bloodlines is the next big Stephen King adaptation but it risks repeating the same mistake as one of horror's biggest box-office failures in 2023. Pet Sematary is arguably King's bleakest novel and made for a fittingly unnerving adaptation in director Mary Lambert's 1989 movie. Despite the story closing out on something of a definitive note, Pet Sematary is a surprisingly robust franchise.

A brand new 4K Ultra HD box set is on the way from Paramount, the first release under their Paramount Scares banner, and it’s been teased today with a bit of mystery attached to it.

Reverend Entertainment’s Justin Beahm tweets this afternoon, “I am thrilled to announce Paramount’s first release under the Paramount Scares banner- a 4k box of films classic + new. Included is a special edition of Fangoria that I am honored to have served as guest editor on. Also exclusive slip covers, stickers + enamel pin. Details soon!”

The upcoming box set features five horror movies with five exclusive slipcovers, and what’s interesting is that the preview graphic only reveals four of those movies. You’re getting…

Rosemary’s Baby (1968)—Newly remastered on 4K Ultra HD, this iconic classic celebrates its 55th anniversary this year. With groundbreaking camerawork and bone-chilling suspense, Rosemary’s Baby gave birth to the modern thriller.

Netflix has been boasting about their film slate for 2023 after a successful 2022. The streaming giant already put out such content as Arnold, a documentary about Arnold Schwarzenegger, as well as an action comedy starring the legend with Fubar. The platform pushed their additional action flicks like the newly released Heart of Stone, The Mother and Extraction 2. Award season will bring such titles as The Killer and Maestro, and now Netflix is promoting a bevy of other titles in various genres for the rest of the year.

The streamer has released a list of original films that are scheduled for the fall. You can view the full list on Tudum here.

Love at First Sight – September 15

After missing her flight from New York to London, Hadley (Haley Lu Richardson) meets Oliver (Ben Hardy) in a chance encounter at the airport that sparks an instant connection. A long night on the...

Stephen King is among history’s most frequently adapted writers, up there with Charles Dickens, the Brothers Grimm, and William Shakespeare for inspiring the most successful page-to-picture creations. From Rob Reiner and David Cronenberg to Mike Flanagan and Andy Muschietti, genre filmmakers have clamored to take on King’s words for decades.

There’s no shortage of material to go around, of course. Horror’s reigning titan of literary terror has written more than 60 books and 200 short stories: many of them rooted in King’s signature strangeness and the believable humanity that turned 2017’s “It” into a global sensation. King has teamed up with his son Joe Hill to produce even more cinematic fodder in recent years. The pair’s “In the Tall Grass” novella became a Netflix movie in 2019, and Hill enjoyed his own success with Scott Derrickson’s 2022 “The Black Phone” adaptation.

Almost all of King’s titles...

Julian Sands, the actor best known for “A Room With a View” and “Warlock,” died while hiking Mount Baldy earlier this year, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

Human remains recovered at the site on Saturday were, as suspected, identified to be those of the 65-year-old actor, who had been missing since January.

“The identification process for the body located on Mt. Baldy on June 24, 2023, has been completed and was positively identified as 65-year-old Julian Sands of North Hollywood,” the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department shared in a statement on Tuesday. “The manner of death is still under investigation, pending further test results. We would like to extend our gratitude to all the volunteers that worked tirelessly to locate Mr. Sands.”

Hikers found Sands’ remains on Saturday, and they were then transported by authorities to San Bernardino County to be identified. Sands’ family reported that the British actor went missing on Jan. 13 after...

In a 2021 interview with The New York Times, Jodie Foster, one of our most guarded movie stars, confessed, "I am a solitary, internal person in an extroverted, external job. I don't think I will ever not feel lonely. It's a theme in my life. It's not such a bad thing. I don't need to be known by everyone."

Movie stardom can be a curse in this regard. Each performance, splashed across a big screen and examined time and again in the home-viewing format of your choosing, draws us near to them. We want to know them, befriend them, tear up the town with them... we want them. And since we are typically not an empathetic species (particularly in the United States), too many of us do not understand why these seemingly blessed individuals recoil from the public eye or feel ambivalent about their success.

This tension has been the central theme of Foster's career,...

(Welcome to Scariest Scene Ever, a column dedicated to the most pulse-pounding moments in horror with your tour guides, horror experts Chris Evangelista and Matt Donato. In this edition, Chris advises you not to play in the road with "Pet Sematary" 1989.)

We here at Scariest Scene Ever Industries often try to tie our spooky little column to a big new release hitting theaters the same week. And this week, the biggest movie arriving on the big screen is "Fast X," in which cars go vroom. With that in mind, I wanted to do something car-or-vehicle-related. And while there are many options for that — John Carpenter's "Christine," the big pileup from "Final Destination 2," and so on — I landed on one of the most memorable horror movie moments of all time: the untimely death of Gage Creed from "Pet Sematary." So grab your kite and let's go!

The Setup

Adapted...

Guillermo del Toro has yet to helm an adaptation of a Stephen King story, and the one book he really wants to do is perfect for him. Over the decades, a truly impressive roster of filmmakers has picked over the work of King, from John Carpenter to David Cronenberg, Frank Darabont, Mike Flanagan, Stanley Kubrick and countless others. Even with a great director, some of these adaptations have been found wanting, as King's work can be tricky to condense into a two-hour movie. The author's work is so beloved that some of his most popular books have been adapted more than once.

Case in point is Pet Sematary, one King's darkest novels from his early career. This sees a grieving father bury his son Gage in the "sour," cursed ground of a local pet sematary, with the infant coming back to life and going on a killing spree. George A Romero...