News

Destroy All Neighbors and Sissy will be released on Blu-ray on July 29 via Shudder.

Destroy All Neighbors is directed by Josh Forbes (Contracted: Phase II) and written by Mike Benner (“Bob’s Burgers”), Jared Logan (“The Late Late Show with James Corden”), and Charles A. Pieper.

Jonah Ray and Alex Winter star in the 2024 horror-comedy with Randee Heller, Pete Ploszek, Kiran Deol, Jon Daly, Thomas Lennon, and Kumail Nanjiani.

Special features:

Commentary with director Josh Forbes and actors Thomas Lennon and Jon Daly Commentary with director Josh Forbes, co-writer Charles A. Pieper, actor Christian Calloway and actress Randee Heller Commentary with director Josh Forbes and special make-up effects designer Gabe Bartalos Commentary with musicians Ryan Kattner and Brett Morris Commentary with radio personality Phil Hendrie Destroy All Makeup FX featurette Introducing Gabe Bartalos featurette Designing Skelanor featurette Designing Augie & Pig Guy featurette Destroy All Neighbors Epk Trailer Booklet with liner notes...

The past several weeks have seen devastating losses of life and property in Los Angeles, California, with the region’s wildfires leaving communities in ruins and countless individuals without the support needed to rebuild. Many of our friends in the entertainment industry have been hit hard, with various fundraisers asking friends and fans alike to come together to help.

A makeup artist on Blumhouse’s Halloween Ends and The Exorcist: Believer, Jill Fogel has seen her neighborhood in Altadena decimated and rendered uninhabitable, leaving she and her two kids, Arrow and Rain, in a tough spot. A fundraiser on Go Fund Me started by a friend is currently just shy of its $18,000 goal, and you can lend a hand and pitch in right now.

Also a special makeup effects artist, Gabe Bartalos is a legend in the field, having worked on everything from Leprechaun to Frankenhooker, Darkman, Gremlins 2, Underworld, and...

The 1980s horror film Spookies was a notoriously troubled production. Filming began in 1984 with Brendan Faulkner and Thomas Doran at the helm… but then creative and legal issues arose during post-production, so that version of the film (which was going by the title Twisted Souls) was never completed. Instead, an investor hired Eugenie Joseph to shoot new footage – involving a different cast and a lot more monsters – that was then mixed together with the footage left over from Faulkner and Doran. This mish-mash was released under the title Spookies in 1987, and over the decades it has developed a cult following. That’s why producer/co-writer Frank Farel is now moving ahead with the sequel Spookies II: Spookier, and he has told our friends at Bloody Disgusting that FX artists Gabriel Bartalos and Vincent J. Guastini, who worked on the first movie, are coming back for the follow-up!

The first Spookies (which,...

Following Bloody Disgusting’s exclusive scoop on a sequel to the 1987 cult classic Spookies earlier this year, writer-producer Frank Farel has provided us with a new update on the film.

Titled Spookies II: Spookier, an outline for the follow-up was first penned by Spookies writer-director-producer Thomas Doran.

“Despite its still relative obscurity and in the face of our major issues with the final cut-and-paste product, we realized that a sequel to our ’80s debacle, an existing movie, was likely to be our most direct path to getting a new project funded and made. Tom’s feelings on this ran hot and cold for years until he abruptly committed ideas to paper,” Farel explains.

“I eagerly read the 10 or so loosely organized pages, radically different in tone and scope — and loved them!

“Always a brilliant story man, Tom’s concept utilized elements of the original — all the horror prerequisites, of course — to springboard to a thoughtful,...

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!

Gretel & Hansel 4K Uhd from Scream Factory

Gretel & Hansel will be released on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on May 21 via Scream Factory. The 2020 dark fantasy horror film is presented in 4K from the original master with Dolby Vision.

Oz Perkins directs from a script by Rob Hayes, based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Sophia Lillis, Samuel Leakey, Charles Babalola, Jessica De Gouw, and Alice Krige star.

In Meagan Navarro’s review, she said, “The film is mesmerizing style over substance, but one that transports you if you’re open to its high-concept spell.”

Special features include: new commentaries by Perkins and horror historian Rebekah McKendry; a new interview with production designer Jeremy Reed; and four features: Storybook,...

I have had a strong appreciation for the 1990 sci-fi action thriller I Come in Peace, which is also known by the title Dark Angel in some territories, ever since it first came out when I was a kid, and several of my cohorts here on JoBlo are fans of the film as well – with John “The Arrow” Fallon recommending it and Chris Bumbray calling it “The Best Christmas Action Movie You Never Saw.” So we’re excited to hear that Shout Factory will be giving the film a 4K release on July 9th – and if you’re also a fan of this movie and want to add the 4K release to your collection, it’s available for pre-order at This Link!

Directed by Craig R. Baxley from a screenplay by Jonathan Tydor and David Koepp (under the name Leonard Maas Jr.), I Come in Peace has the following synopsis: Renegade...

Stars: Jonah Ray, Ryan Kattner, Kiran Deol, Randee Heller, Alex Winter, Jon Daly, Thomas Lennon, Kumail Nanjiani | Written by Mike Benner, Jared Logan, Charles A. Pieper | Directed by Josh Forbes

Revolving around two things many of us know all too well, neighbours from hell and writer’s block, Destroy All Neighbors is an over-the-top exercise in splatstick from director Josh Forbes and writers Mike Benner, Jared Logan and Charles A. Pieper.

William Brown makes his living as a sound engineer at Industrial Sound & Magic, helping to bring other people’s music to life. Currently, it’s the obnoxious Caleb Bang Jansen, “Emerson, Lake and Palmer? It sounds like Emerson getting buttfucked by Lake and Palmer.”

But when it comes to his own Prog Rock album, he’s stuck in a rut. While his girlfriend Emily believes in him, everyone else around him seems to exist only to stifle his efforts.

New splatter-comedy Destroy All Neighbors has more on its mind than bad neighbors run amok. Director Josh Forbes, working from the screenplay by Charles Pieper and Jared Logan, crafts a Frank Henenlotter-inspired comedy full of guts and rock ambition. Nestled at the center is a sugary-sweet story of an artist learning to get out of his own way. While that means it has all the right ingredients in place for an infectiously scrappy horror comedy, it might be too narratively streamlined for its own good.

William Brown (Jonah Ray Rodrigues) dreams of prog-rock greatness. He works as a sound engineer at a low-rent music studio by trade and spends the rest of his waking hours trying to crack his magnum opus that’ll earn him a place in rock Valhalla. Well, almost. William frequently finds himself distracted by everything around him, especially his neighbors. Even more so with the...

Actors Alex Winter and Jonah Ray Rodrigues face off as new neighbors in Shudder’s splatter-comedy Destroy All Neighbors, and it’s safe to say that the confrontation escalates to a lethal, gory degree.

In Destroy All Neighbors, Rodrigues stars as William Brown, a neurotic, self-absorbed musician easily distracted from his prog-rock ambitions by an apartment building full of eclectic neighbors. That includes the noisy and grotesque Vlad (Winter), who just moved in next door. When an accidental murder ensues, William’s unwitting reign of terror causes victims to pile up and become undead corpses that further derail his journey toward prog-rock Valhalla.

Contracted: Phase II’s Josh Forbes directed Destroy All Neighbors from a screenplay by Charles Pieper and Jared Logan, with story by Pieper and Mike Benner, and the splatter-comedy arrives on Shudder on January 12, 2024.

Ahead of its debut, Bloody Disgusting spoke with director Josh Forbes and stars...

2024 is opening hard and fast with one of the first genre releases of the year. From director Josh Forbes, Destroy All Neighbors is a story about an artist chasing perfection, avoiding distraction, and accepting that sometimes you need a little help to cross the finish line. It’s also kind of a bonkers movie with a high energy level and a ton of practical effects.

William (Jonah Ray Rodroguez) is stuck. He works as a recording engineer, finishing albums for other, more successful musicians, while slaving away at his passion project - a prog rock album that he has been “so close” to finishing for a number of years. He just can’t seem to get past the final hurdle and bring the whole thing home. He is constantly working on it, but as all artists can relate, sometimes the ending just gets further away. He lives in a...

After a trip to theaters last month, Bloody Disgusting and Screambox‘s summer camp-themed horror-comedy Shaky Shivers is now streaming on Screambox and VOD platforms.

Fast & Furious actor Sung Kang makes his directorial debut on the creature feature that features stand-out performances from newcomers Brooke Markham and Vyvy Nguyen, as well as practical effects from Gabe Bartalos.

In Shaky Shivers…

“After finding herself bitten by a mysterious animal, Lucy becomes convinced that she will transform into a fearsome werewolf.

“Joined by her best friend Karen, the two embark on a wild adventure filled with magic and mayhem, as they look to do battle with a throat-slashing creature ripped right out of an 80s horror movie.“

Shaky Shivers is written by Andrew McAllister and Aaron Strongoni.

“The whole idea was to make this for the old-school horror hounds and for them to share it with their families today,” said Kang.

This past Friday (the 13th) brought us 13 Brand New Horror Movies And Shows, and while this week isn’t going quite that hard, it’s still loaded up with fresh new horrors.

Here’s the full list of horror movies released today, October 17, 2023!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

Two classic nursery rhymes get horror movie makeovers with Three Blind Mice and Mary Had a Little Lamb this Halloween, and Three Blind Mice is now available today.

Uncork’d Entertainment brings the creature feature to Digital and DVD.

In director Pierre B‘s movie, “Abi is going cold turkey; her family has taken her to a cabin in the woods so she can be away from the city and all her troubles.

“However, little do they know, The Three Blind Mice is more than just a fairy tale, and they may be next up on the menu.

Bloody Disgusting and Screambox put the camp back into summer camp with Shaky Shivers in theaters last month, and the film is now headed home.

Fast & Furious actor Sung Kang makes his directorial debut on the horror-comedy creature feature, which will be available on Screambox and Digital tomorrow!

The film features stand-out performances from newcomers Brooke Markham and Vyvy Nguyen, as well as practical effects from Gabe Bartalos.

In Shaky Shivers…

“After finding herself bitten by a mysterious animal, Lucy becomes convinced that she will transform into a fearsome werewolf.

“Joined by her best friend Karen, the two embark on a wild adventure filled with magic and mayhem, as they look to do battle with a throat-slashing creature ripped right out of an 80s horror movie.“

Shaky Shivers is written by Andrew McAllister and Aaron Strongoni.

“The whole idea was to make this for the old-school horror hounds and...

Sung Kang, who is best known for playing the fan favorite role of Han in the Fast and Furious franchise, has made his feature directorial debut with the ’90s-set creature feature Shaky Shivers, which landed a North American distribution deal with Cinedigm. They teamed up with Fathom Events to bring the movie to theatres for one night last month, and now it has been announced (via our friends at Bloody Disgusting) that Shaky Shivers will be receiving a digital release on October 17th. The digital version can be pre-ordered on Amazon. The movie will also be streaming on the Screambox service.

Shot over the course of five weeks at a closed down girl scout camp back in 2020, Shaky Shivers takes viewers on a hilarious and nostalgic journey to an abandoned camp where two young women, played by Brooke Markham (In the Dark) and VyVy Nguyen (The Sympathizer), stumble upon a book of magical spells.

Bloody Disgusting, Screambox and Cineverse put the camp back into summer camp with Shaky Shivers in theaters earlier this month, and the film is now headed home.

Fast & Furious actor Sung Kang makes his directorial debut on the horror-comedy creature feature, which will be available on Screambox and Digital on October 17, 2023!

The film features stand-out performances from newcomers Brooke Markham and Vyvy Nguyen, as well as practical effects from Gabe Bartalos.

In Shaky Shivers…

“After finding herself bitten by a mysterious animal, Lucy becomes convinced that she will transform into a fearsome werewolf.

“Joined by her best friend Karen, the two embark on a wild adventure filled with magic and mayhem, as they look to do battle with a throat-slashing creature ripped right out of an 80s horror movie.“

Shaky Shivers is written by Andrew McAllister and Aaron Strongoni.

“The whole idea was to make this for the old-school...

Directing has long been Sung Kang's goal, and after many false starts, it has finally happened with Shaky Shivers. The film is billed as a horror-comedy — though, in our interview, Kang said he saw it more as "a comedy in the world of creatures and horror" — and follows two young women, best friends Lucy and Karen, who shelter in an abandoned camp after one of them is bitten by a mysterious animal and is convinced she is now a werewolf. It's one mishap after another as they fight magic and curses in this tale of self-discovery.

"I'm from the 80s video store era," said Kang on our Zoom call, painting a memory that very well could have been a scene out of Stranger Things, of friends riding bikes, charming video store clerks, and watching horror movies like Faces of Death and A Nightmare on Elm Street (which they would...

Actor Sung Kang is most widely known for playing fan-favorite Han in the Fast & Furious franchise, among other roles outside of horror, including a voice role in Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon. That he chose gateway horror Shaky Shivers for his feature directorial debut might seem unconventional. However, after speaking with the filmmaker, the charming tale of friendship among zombies and cryptids quickly reveals itself as the perfect vehicle for his debut.

Shaky Shivers stars Brooke Markham (In the Dark) and VyVy Nguyen (The Sympathizer) as Lucy and Karen, best friends grappling with a potential werewolf curse. With snobby customers, zombies, cryptids, and more, the friends have their hands full this summer.

With Shaky Shivers releasing in theaters for one-night-only on September 21 from Fathom Events, Bloody Disgusting spoke with Kang about his first outing in the director’s seat; specifically, why the actor-turned-director chose this horror-comedy script.

Plot: Fearing a witch’s curse is going to make her turn into a werewolf, Lucy heads to an abandoned camp with her friend Karen to wait out the full moon. But lycanthropy may be the least of their problems.

Review: The horror comedy Shaky Shivers takes its title from a cold, sweet concoction created by ice cream shop worker Karen (VyVy Nguyen), but we never actually learn what ingredients she has put into this treat. The movie itself is quite a blend of sub-genres, featuring lycanthropy, zombies, a witch, cultists, a Trapper Keeper Necronomicon, a Bigfoot enthusiast… and maybe even an appearance by Bigfoot itself.

Karen works at the aforementioned ice cream shop with her pal Lucy (Brooke Markham), and when a witchy woodsy woman called Mama Nature (played by Erin Daniels of Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses) comes in after closing time, wielding an odd puppet and asking for food,...

Sung Kang, who is best known for playing the fan favorite role of Han in the Fast and Furious franchise, has made his feature directorial debut with the ’90s-set creature feature Shaky Shivers, and a few months ago we heard that the film had landed a North American distribution deal with Cinedigm. Now a trailer for Shaky Shivers has arrived online, and along with the trailer comes the announcement that Cinedigm is teaming up with Fathom Events to bring the film to theatres for one night in September! The specific night is September 21st, and tickets are available at This Link.

Following the theatrical screening, Shaky Shivers will move to the Screambox streaming service.

Shot over the course of five weeks at a closed down girl scout camp back in 2020, Shaky Shivers takes viewers on a hilarious and nostalgic journey to an abandoned camp where two young women, played by...

Sung Kang, who is best known for playing the fan favorite role of Han in the Fast and Furious franchise, has made his feature directorial debut with the ’90s-set creature feature Shaky Shivers – and we have some good news to share about the project today: it has secured distribution from Cinedigm in North America! Shaky Shivers will be receiving a theatrical release this fall, then it will move to the Screambox streaming service.

Shot over the course of five weeks at a closed down girl scout camp back in 2020, Shaky Shivers takes viewers on a hilarious and nostalgic journey to an abandoned camp where two young women, played by Brooke Markham (In the Dark) and VyVy Nguyen (The Sympathizer), stumble upon a book of magical spells. Surrounded by classic monsters and drawing inspiration from 80’s horror films, Karen and Lucy find themselves facing a series of supernatural occurrences after a...

After more than three decades, Frank Henenlotter’s putrid parable for drug addiction hits harder than ever with tons of self-aware bite.

“Splatstick” is an exaggerated horror subgenre that explores grotesque gore that’s so over the top that it begins to border on the point of comedy. Sam Raimi, Peter Jackson, and even more contemporary voices in horror like Sion Sono or Terrifier’s Damien Leone are names that are often associated with this bold, bloody genre. Frank Henenlotter is a pivotal name in splatstick low-budget indie horror whose work often goes overlooked, despite its decidedly more outlandish energy. Henenlotter’s greatest claim to fame is his Basket Case trilogy, but it’s Brain Damage that’s actually the deepest film in his oeuvre.

All of Henenlotter’s horror films have very obvious analogues and they aren’t especially deep in their subtext, but there’s still subtext all the same.

Remember the shelves of your local video store? Of course you do. Announced today, Arrow Video is tapping back into that nostalgic experience with a brand new Blu-ray release.

“Freshly restored for the digital era with a wealth of new and archival extras, these films have never looked better,” Arrow Video teases the set this morning, which is loaded with a collection of retro films from Charles Band’s Empire International Pictures.

Arrow explains, “In 1983, entrepreneurial producer and director Charles Band founded Empire International Pictures, which would go on to make some of the most memorable and beloved genre movies of the 1980s. Empire became a mainstay of video stores across the world with their catchy titles, outlandish art and Band’s wholehearted belief in giving audiences a good time.”

In The Dungeonmaster, computer programmer Paul Bradford is sucked into a fantasy world by Mestema, a demonic sorcerer in search of a worthy opponent.

Comedian Jonah Ray discusses his favorite year in cinema (1994) with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Airport (1970)

Airport 1975 (1975)

Airport ’77 (1977)

Airplane! (1980)

Basket Case (1982)

Destroy All Neighbors (Tbd)

Satanic Hispanics (2022)

Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022)

Black Christmas (1974) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairings

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s franchise power rankings

Tales From The Crypt (1972)

Donnie Darko (2001)

Pooka! (2018)

Pooka Lives! (2020)

Harvey (1950) – Joe Dante’s trailer commentary

Ed Wood (1994)

Black Dynamite (2009)

Bride Of The Monster (1955) – Alex Kirschenbaum’s review

Glen Or Glenda (1953)

Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957)

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Frankenweenie (2012)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Dumb And Dumber (1994)

Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (1997)

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999)

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)

The Mask (1994)

Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

Scream (1996)

Evil Laugh (1986)

The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Forrest Gump (1994)

Clerks (1994)

The Search For One-Eye Jimmy (1994)

Cabin Boy (1994)

Scary Movie 2 (2001)

Scary Movie 4...

Well, it’s that time of the year. It’s the holidays! Bring on the short days, long nights, and bitter cold! Don’t forget the family dysfunction, either.

No horror trilogy captures familial dysfunction quite like Frank Henenlotter’s Basket Case Trilogy – the story of mild mannered Duane Bradley (Kevin Van Hentenryck) and his temperamental, hideously deformed twin brother, Belial.

The original film is a renegade cheapy, filmed on location (sometimes illegally) in New York City. It’s gritty and grimy and full of no-budget charisma. Since its release in 1982, Basket Case has gone on to become a drive-in and grindhouse classic.

The success of the film gave Henenlotter the opportunity to make sequels, and that he did! Basket Case 2 saw a bigger budget, more creature make-ups (thanks to genre staple and frequent Henenlotter collaborator Gabe Bartalos), and it expanded upon the world of the first film while also...

In a year full of Pinocchio adaptations, 1996’s Pinocchio’s Revenge stands the test of time as a dark, disturbing update to the living wooden boy narrative.

“I wish you were a real boy. Then I wouldn’t be all alone.”

Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio was first published in 1883 and for more than a century it’s proven to be an evergreen text that’s fascinated so many diverse storytellers and filmmakers. Disney’s animated Pinocchio is getting close to celebrating its 100th birthday, but audiences have no lack of options when it comes to Pinocchio adaptations. There’s 1996’s unintentionally-terrifying The Adventures of Pinocchio with Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Roberto Benigni has been responsible for two separate Pinocchio movies, and 2022 alone has marked the release of two new feature-film adaptations: Robert Zemeckis’ live-action Pinocchio and Guillermo del Toro’s somber stop-motion take on the classic tale. Pinocchio...

Best known for playing the fan favorite role of Han in the Fast and Furious franchise, Sung Kang has now made his feature directorial debut with the ’90s-set creature feature Shaky Shivers, which is being presented to potential distributors at the American Film Market. Shot over the course of five weeks at a closed down girl scout camp back in 2020, Shaky Shivers tells the story of two ice cream shop employees stranded at an abandoned camp, where a book of magical spells puts them in contact with a number of classic movie creatures.

Brooke Markham (Friend Request) and VyVy Nguyen (Young Sheldon) star as the ice cream shop employees and are joined in the cast by Jimmy Bellinger (Blockers), Erin Daniels (House of 1000 Corpses), Skyler Day (Parenthood), and Herschel Sparber (Lucky Stiff).

Shaky Shivers was scripted by Aaron Strongoni and Andrew McAllister, who were inspired to write a creature...

Click here to read the full article.

Audiences who know Sung Kang from the Fast and the Furious films might not expect him to pivot to a low-budget horror-comedy for his directorial debut. But in the height of Covid in 2020, the actor, who plays Han in the Fast films, spent five weeks at a closed-down Girl Scout camp shooting Shaky Shivers, a ‘90s-set monster mash that is an ode to the types of ‘80s films he grew up loving.

“I didn’t want to do something really heavy,” Kang says. “I think a lot of people expected, because of my association to these big blockbuster action movies, that I would do some action film.”

Now Kang is offering the project at AFM this week.

Shaky Shivers centers on two ice cream shop employees (played by Brooke Markham and VyVy Nguyen) stranded at an abandoned camp, where a book of magical...

Now up for pre-order, Vinegar Syndrome is bringing Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 to 4K Ultra HD later this month, the film newly scanned and restored in 4K!

Pre-orders ship on or around the ship date of October 25, and you can grab the Standard Edition or the Limited Slipcase Edition from Vinegar Syndrome’s website right now.

The special limited edition hard case + slipcover (designed by Tony Stella) is limited to 10,000 units and is only available at VinegarSyndrome.com.

Special Features for the release include…

4K Ultra HD / Region A Blu-ray Set 4K Uhd presented in High-Dynamic-Range Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative Presented with it’s original 2.0 stereo theatrical mix Brand new audio commentary with film critic Patrick Bromley Audio commentary with director Tobe Hooper Audio commentary with actors Bill Moseley, Caroline Williams and special effects makeup creator Tom Savini Audio commentary...

I don’t know about you, but my dreams are achingly normal; no super spies with beautiful femme fatales nor thrilling cliff jumping permeate my slumber. One time I dreamt I was cleaning out my garage. I don’t have a garage. Luckily, longtime effects legend Gabriel Bartalos has enough dreams and nightmares for all of us to witness, which he does gleefully with his second directorial feature, Saint Bernard, distributed by Severin Films, the finest purveyors of what the f--k. And this is a hall of famer, which is saying a lot.

“Legend” is a word readily thrown around, but in effects circles, Bartalos is just that; a partial list of credits includes Leprechaun, Dolls, From Beyond, Brain Damage, Frankenhooker, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, among many others. In other words, if one were to make a film that lived almost...

FX guru Gabe Bartalos is back behind the camera with his second directorial effort Saint Bernard, and the psychological horror movie is even more insane than you'd expect. As a master of practical gore whose work can be seen in many memorable movies, Bartalos is a legend in the horror community. His impressive splatter FX can be seen in a variety of cult classics like Brain Damage, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre II, the Basket Case sequels, and the first four movies of the Leprechaun series with Warwick Davis. In 2004, Bartalos reunited with Davis for his first horror movie, Skinned Deep. Now, the two collaborate once again with Saint Bernard featuring a very memorable role for Davis in what is probably the veteran actor's craziest movie yet.

Saint Bernard is certainly not a movie for everyone, and it's best to know that going in. Because of its over-the-top sequences, the movie wildly entertains,...

Stars: Jason Dugre, Katy Sullivan, Peter Iasillo Jr., Jack Doroshow, Bob Zmuda, Warwick Davis, George Clayton Johnson | Written and Directed by Gabe Bartalos

Now I’m not silly enough to think that any movie that is completely original or, at least shows some originality, is going to be good. But I am in the camp that believes filmmakers should definitely be trying to make movies that no one else has or that they have never seen before. And if someone does that, they will at the very least, have my attention.

And from the first few minutes, Saint Bernard definitely grabbed my attention. But I had no idea the kind of craziness that would happen in the next ninety minutes.

Make no mistake about it, Saint Bernard is a crazy movie. By the time the credits roll I wondered if I understood anything that I had just watched but not...

When I think of cult filmmakers, one of the first names to burst from my brainpan is Frank Henenlotter. From Basket Case (1982) to Bad Biology (2008), his horror films are always loaded with qualities that elude mainstream appeal, such as bizarre humor, over the top gore, and a crazy circus geek aesthetic that almost dares you to look away. Speaking of splattering cranium matter, his second feature length film, Brain Damage (1988) checks off all the Henenboxes and even one more – a trenchant social message about addiction (if you want it).

Produced by Palisades Partners and given a limited release in April, Brain Damage was Henenlotter’s long awaited follow up to Basket Case; well, long awaited at least for horror fans of that legendary micro budget wonder. While the ultra low budget of that gem gave it a unique and gritty charm, Brain Damage’s considerably deeper pockets allowed Henenlotter to...

Every makeup effect has a story behind it, but even more fascinating are the stories behind the makeup effects artists themselves. For years, Heather Wixson has shared her passion for the horror genre as the Managing Editor on Daily Dead, and we couldn't be more thrilled by the official release of her new book, Monster Squad, a celebration of practical effects artists and their incredible creations that made so many of us believe in the magic of movies and gave us nightmare fuel forever.

Now available from BearManor Media, Monster Squad: Celebrating the Artists Behind Cinema's Most Memorable Creatures shines a light on the artists who have worked tirelessly in the shadows behind the camera to create the jaw-dropping creatures that have haunted big screens and warmed our hearts.

Brimming with hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos and fascinating anecdotes in its 444 pages, Monster Squad takes you from humble beginnings in garages...

“Uh-oh, Brian! Now you’re really losing your mind!”

It’S A Headache From Hell!

From Frank Henenlotter, the man behind such cult horror favorites as Basket Case and Frankenhooker, comes Brain Damage – the ultimate head-trip, now finally on Blu-ray!

Meet Elmer. He’s your local, friendly parasite with the ability to induce euphoric hallucinations in his hosts. But these LSD-like trips come with a hefty price tag. When young Brian comes under Elmer’s addictive spell, it’s not long before he finds himself scouring the city streets in search of his parasite’s preferred food source – brains!

Featuring late TV horror host John Zacherley as the voice of Elmer, Brain Damage boasts some of the most astonishing bad taste gore-gags ever realized, including the notorious “brain-pulling sequence” and a blow-job that ends with a distinctly unconventional climax.

Limited Edition Contents

High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD...

After introducing moviegoers to Belial in Basket Case, filmmaker Frank Henenlotter brought another evil entity to the big screen in Brain Damage, one of several horror films coming out on Blu-ray in the Us this spring from Arrow Video, who have now revealed the full list of special features for the 1988 film's high-def home media release.

Press Release: May sees the release of a fantastic slate of cult cinema from Arrow Video, with a healthy mix of giallo, cult crime and gore to keep fans happy.

First comes The Climber, starring cult actor Joe Dallesandro (Flesh for Frankenstein, Blood for Dracula). The Climber is a prime example of Italian crime cinema and follows the rise and fall of Dallesandro's smalltime drug dealer, Aldo. Filled with brawls, fistfights, shootouts and explosions, this is an excellent action-thriller. The other big crime release of May is Cops vs Thugs, Kinji Fukasaku's masterpiece...

Here’s your daily dose of an indie film, web series, TV pilot, what-have-you in progress — at the end of the week, you’ll have the chance to vote for your favorite.

In the meantime: Is this a project you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments.

Malacostraca

Logline: A man who’s lost his mind sees his baby not as his own, but instead as a hideous crawdad creature. What will he do?

Elevator Pitch:

“Malacostraca” is about a married couple going through extreme difficulties. The film is seen through the unreliable eyes of the husband who’s losing his mind and ability to love. One day when, seemingly suddenly, his wife announces that she’s pregnant, his mind snaps. When the baby is born he doesn’t see it as being his, or even as being human. Instead, he sees his baby as a hideous lobster-like creature…...

We love monster movies (who doesn’t), but you know what we love even more? A monster movie that’s being worked on by legendary FX artist Gabe Bartalos, who’s known for his work on some mighty fine films including Darkman and… Continue Reading →

The post FX Artist Gabe Bartalos Working on New Film Malacostraca appeared first on Dread Central.

The continued adventures of Duane Bradley and his sinister twin brother are getting the high-def treatment, as Synapse Films announced that they will release Basket Case 2 and Basket Case 3: The Progeny on respective Blu-rays this August:

Press Release: Double your freaky fun with Frank Henenlotter’s Basket Case 2 and Basket Case 3: The Progeny on Blu-ray this August from Synapse Films!

1982’s Basket Case introduced horror fans to Duane Bradley and his twin brother Belial, and a new horror classic was born. They also introduced the world to Frank Henenlotter, the uniquely crazed talent who would later give us Brain Damage and Frankenhooker. In 1990 and ‘91, Henenlotter and star Kevin Van Hentenryck returned for two even more demented sequels, both coming to Blu-ray from Synapse Films this August, each at the low price of $19.95!

Basket Case 2

“Basket Case 2 is a hilarious genre spoof… paying homage to Tod Browning’s 1932 classic,...

Here you have another Scream Factory title, which will be judged a little harsher than usual. MGM recently released its own Blu-ray version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, and for the most part, it was just fine. In addition to the MGM Region A release, there was also an Arrow Video-released Region B Blu-ray, which most fans have considered the “definitive edition” until now. I have nothing but respect for Arrow Video. They are basically the Criterion of B-movies right now. But I think this new TCM Blu-ray may just trump their excellent release, at least ever-so-slightly in the Pq department. As for the movie itself, I’m a big fan, always have been. I know it’s a divisive title among fans because it abandoned the relentlessly terrifying tone of the first movie, and opted for a more humorous approach, but it’s utterly fascinating. That opening scene is...

This third week of April has some exciting home entertainment offerings for us genre fans, including the special edition releases of two cult classics I adore, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and The Stuff. An indie film I’ve been hearing about for a while now, Grimewave, also makes its way to DVD this Tuesday and while it may not be traditional horror, Oscar-winner The Revenant certainly has enough badassery contained within its cinematic frames to be worthy of mentioning this week, and it arrives on both Blu-ray and DVD on April 19th.

Other notable releases this week include Smothered (which features a ton of horror icons and was directed by John Schneider of Smallville and Dukes of Hazzard fame), 15 Till Midnight, Classroom 6, Ip Man 3, German Angst and She Wolf Rising.

Grimewave (Wild Eye Raw, DVD)

When the legendary, unstoppable serial killer Cfk stumbles upon a drug deal, he accidentally...

Scream Factory pays tribute to the Sawyer family on April 19th with their Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, and we’ve been provided with three copies to give away to Daily Dead readers.

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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Collector’s Edition Blu-ray copy of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.

How to Enter: For a chance to win, email contest@dailydead.com with the subject “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on April 22nd. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

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From the Press Release: “The buzzz is back! On April 19, 2016, Scream Factory will release The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 [Collector’s Edition] in a comprehensive 2-disc...

Scream Factory celebrates the upcoming 30th anniversary of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 in style on Tuesday with their Collector’s Edition Blu-ray release of the beloved sequel, and we have a clip and a trailer that tease the film’s high-def makeover, as well as a look at the new episode of Horror’s Hallowed Grounds that is included in the bonus features.

From the Press Release: “The buzzz is back! On April 19, 2016, Scream Factory will release The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 [Collector’s Edition] in a comprehensive 2-disc set with 10 hours of bonus features, including nearly 5 hours of exclusive content.

In 1974, horror fans rejoiced upon the release of Tobe Hooper’s masterpiece, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The movie raised the stakes of in-your-face filmmaking and changed the face of horror. Twelve years later, Hooper and the Sawyer clan are back with this deviously entertaining sequel, starring Dennis Hopper in one of...

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 and to celebrate, Scream Factory revealed the release details for their upcoming Collector’s Edition Blu-ray of the sequel, which includes nearly five hours of new bonus features content:

Press Release: The buzzz is back! On April 19, 2016, Scream Factory will release The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 [Collector’s Edition] in a comprehensive 2-disc set with 10 hours of bonus features, including nearly 5 hours of exclusive content.

In 1974, horror fans rejoiced upon the release of Tobe Hooper’s masterpiece, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The movie raised the stakes of in-your-face filmmaking and changed the face of horror. Twelve years later, Hooper and the Sawyer clan are back with this deviously entertaining sequel, starring Dennis Hopper in one of the most deliciously crazed performances of his career.

For a decade, Texas Ranger Lefty Enright (Hopper) has sought to avenge the brutal...

All the Warwick Davis Leprechaun movies are coming out in a new Blu Ray combo pack. The commentary tracks offer some memories of my two contributions to the guilty pleasure franchise. Here are a few more.

I grew up enjoying the absurdist humor of the Monty Python’s Flying Circus TV series. So why not Absurdist Cinema? I loved the 1941 Hellzapoppin’, an early iconic example. The concept of the mid ’90’s Leprechaun franchise was proudly ludicrous – pint sized Jason/Freddy/Chucky amalgam with an Irish twist terrorizes and kills most of the supporting cast. But he was never really scary. I decided to embrace the absurd and make it as much fun as the formula allowed.

Blue Rider Pictures, for whom I had made Night Of The Demons 2, were asked by Trimark to produce the third and, at that stage, the intended last in the series. Send the little guy to Vegas,...

Dolls is the latest cult horror title to receive the Collector’s Edition Blu-ray treatment from Scream Factory and they’ve provided us with the final list of bonus features for the November 11th release:

“Do you like handmade puppets, toy soldiers, ballerinas and dolls? Charming elderly toymaker Gabriel Hartwicke and his wife Hilary have the perfect play toys just for you! From celebrated cult filmmaker Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator), executive producer Charles Band, producer Brian Yuzna (Society) and screenwriter Ed Naha (Troll) comes a campy, horror cult classic that combines the pint-sized playmates of childhood with bone-chilling fun. The 1987 horror film Dolls is a bloody good terror trap that delivers its frights, fun and fantastic effects in equal measure. The film stars Stephen Lee (The Pit and the Pendulum), Guy Rolfe (Puppet Master III, Mr. Sardonicus), Hilary Mason (Don’t Look Now), Ian Patrick Williams (Re-Animator), Carolyn Purdy-Gordon (From Beyond...

At the San Diego Comic-Con back in July, Scream Factory announced that Stuart Gordon's Dolls would soon be getting the Collector's Edition Blu-ray treatment, and today full details have revealed all the stuffing that'll be found inside the release. Read on!

From the Press Release

Do you like handmade puppets, toy soldiers, ballerinas, and dolls? Charming elderly toymaker Gabriel Hartwicke and his wife, Hilary, have the perfect play toys just for you!

From celebrated cult filmmaker Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator), executive producer Charles Band, producer Brian Yuzna (Society), and screenwriter Ed Naha (Troll), comes a campy, horror cult classic that combines the pint-sized playmates of childhood with bone-chilling fun. The 1987 horror film Dolls is a bloody good terror trap that delivers its frights, fun, and fantastic effects in equal measure. The film stars Stephen Lee (The Pit and the Pendulum), Guy Rolfe (Puppet Master III, Mr. Sardonicus), Hilary Mason (Don...

I can’t wait for this release to finally come to fruition. It has been a long time since I have seen Stuart Gordon’s magical killer dolls film, so when Scream Factory announced it, they had my attention immediately. This is a “Collector’s Edition” so it looks as if it is getting the appropriate treatment. The artwork has been revealed, and the extras exposed. There appears to be a good mixture of both old and new. Including, but not limited to - all-new retrospective featuring interviews with director Stuart Gordon, producer Brian Yuzna, stars Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, Ian Patrick Williams, executive producer Charles Band, and special make-Up effects artists Gabe Bartalos, andJohn Vulich and more! Check out the press release below, and pre-order your copy by either clicking here for Shout!’s website, or here for Amazon.

Scream Factory™ Presents

A Film by Stuart Gordon and Executive Produced by...

How did a low budget horror movie about a diminutive Irish monster spawn five sequels, a new reboot, and the career of Jennifer Aniston? EW tracks the deranged history of the Leprechaun franchise.

British actor Warwick Davis says he has “specific” fans—well-wishers who want to discuss just one of the several fantasy franchises in which he has appeared. “People talk about Star Wars, people talk about Harry Potter,” he explains, “and people talk about Leprechaun.”

Alert readers will have noticed that one of these franchises is not like the others. While Star Wars and Harry Potter have raked in billions of dollars,...

Till Kleinert's Der Samurai was definitely one of the best and weirdest films I watched during Fantaspoa 2014. Since our own Joshua Chaplinsky wrote a great review for it, I decided to complement our coverage by talking with the German director. It was a long conversation of almost 40 minutes, which certainly proves two things: Kleinert is a great and kind guy and Fantaspoa a very unique festival. Note: Spoilers throughout.  Twitch: How has your experience been at Fantaspoa? Till Kleinert: What can I say? It has been an amazing experience. Not much sleep. Free food, free drinks all the time. It has been a blast. I have seen a lot of films that otherwise I might not have. For example, Saint Bernard by Gabe Bartalos, who...

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

Early April will see the start of Taste, a new play that should interest horror fans, as it was directed by Stuart Gordon. For those in the Hollywood area, we have details on when you can see Taste, including details on special showings that include a Stuart Gordon Q&A:

“You’re invited to the most disturbing dinner party of the year. Based on a shocking true story, two men meet online and make a unique arrangement: one will kill, cook, and eat the other. Taste imagines their first and only meeting, told in real time, in a working kitchen.

In 2011, acclaimed horror director Stuart Gordon brought his feature-film cult classic Re–Animator to the stage with the inspired songs of composer Mark Nutter and created a singing, dancing Re-Animator The Musical. The hilarious, blood drenched show ran for six months at the Steve Allen Theater before triumphant runs at...