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This week kicked off with the at-home premiere of Jurassic World Rebirth and the return of Jenna Ortega in “Wednesday” Season 2, and eight more new releases have arrived today.

Here’s all the new horror unleashed on Friday, August 8, 2025!

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

First up, Zach Cregger’s (Barbarian) new horror movie Weapons is now playing in theaters!

Weapons has been compared to PTA’s Magnolia and described as an epic tale that’s both unconventionally structured and “really fucked up” (Cregger’s own words).

In Weapons, “When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.” Dive deeper into the mystery on MaybrookMissing.com.

The cast for Cregger’s new film includes Josh Brolin (Dune 2), Julia Garner (The Royal Hotel...

In his latest film Birthrite, director Ross Partridge, along with writers Patch Darragh and Erin Gann, tackle the well-worn idea that going home is, in fact, hell on Earth. But in this film, the team takes a queer approach to the trope, crafting a familiar yet unique piece of folk horror that lingers. And with the film releasing this week, we have an exclusive clip to give you a taste of what Birthrite has in store.

Read the full synopsis below:

When a pregnant woman is bequeathed a home from an estranged aunt, she and her girlfriend leave the city behind to begin a new chapter. But when a karmic debt threatens the life of their unborn child, they soon discover their place in the cursed history of the town.

In our exclusive clip, the pregnant woman, Wren, meets a strange neighborhood kid who reveals some chilling information…

Watch now:

Alice Kremelberg,...

The dream of escaping the city for a quiet life is a potent one, and it’s the hope that propels Wren and her girlfriend Maya at the start of Birthrite. They seek peace, a place to start their family, and a fresh beginning. That new start seems to arrive in the form of a secluded New England home, inherited from Wren’s estranged Aunt Birdie after her mysterious death.

What begins as a potential sanctuary, however, quickly reveals its thorns. The idyllic fantasy sours as the couple encounters the insular and unsettling locals. A deeper darkness stirs beneath the surface of this small town, a karmic debt tied directly to Wren’s bloodline and the very soil her new home rests upon. The film wastes no time making it clear that this dark legacy has its sights set on Wren’s pregnancy, turning the promise of new life into a source of absolute terror.

Family demands sacrifice in the trailer for Birthrite.

The indie folk horror film will be born in select theaters theaters and on VOD on August 8 via Brainstorm Media.

When a pregnant woman is bequeathed a home from an estranged aunt, she and her girlfriend leave the city behind to begin a new chapter. But when a karmic debt threatens the life of their unborn child, they soon discover their place in the cursed history of the town.

Ross Partridge, best known for playing Lonnie Byers on “Stranger Things,” directs from a script by Patch Darragh and Erin Gann.

Alice Kremelberg (“The Sinner”), Juani Feliz (Civil War), Michael Chernus (“Severance”), Jennifer Lafleur (Nope), Henny Russell (“Orange Is the New Black”), and Owen Campbell (X) star.

The post ‘Birthrite’ Trailer – Indie Folk Horror Gives Birth Next Month appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

"I don't know what it wants with you, but it can't be good..." They want the baby. Scary. Brainstorm Media has unveiled an official trailer for an indie horror film titled Birthrite, made by filmmaker Ross Partridge, opening in August. Not to be confused with the other film titled Birthright also coming out later this year. The film follows a couple's quiet new beginning — only to uncover a buried legacy and a karmic curse that threatens to claim their unborn child. When a pregnant woman is bequeathed a home from an estranged aunt, she and her girlfriend leave the city behind to begin a new chapter. But when a karmic debt threatens the life of their unborn child, they soon discover their place in the cursed history of the town. Starring Alice Kremelberg, Juani Feliz, Michael Chernus, Patch Darragh, Owen Campbell, Jennifer Lafleur, and Henny Russell. Some creepy folk horror involving a sacrifice?...

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Jenna Ortega is one of the most popular and talented young up-and-coming actresses working in Hollywood right now. The 22-year-old actress began her acting career at the early age of ten with the short-lived Rob Schneider‘s 2012 sitcom Rob, but she soon gained recognition for playing the role of the younger Jane in the popular romantic comedy-drama series Jane the Virgin. From then on, Ortega has starred in some of the most recent horror movies and TV Shows, including the Scream franchise and the worldwide hit Netflix series Wednesday. While Ortega’s most recent filmography hasn’t been a hit either among the audience or the critics, she has still appeared in a number of brilliant movies. So, if you loved Ortega’s compelling performances, here are the seven best movies and TV shows starring Jenna Ortega you should check out right now.

Gutter Garbs has launched a Memorial Day Weekend sale with up to 65% off sitewide, a free tee with purchases of $150+, and $12 mystery shirts.

The company also dropped new apparel for X, Pearl, and Maxxxine, the X-traordinary horror trilogy from director Ti West and star Mia Goth.

Sam Coyne created new artwork for all three films, with standard T-shirts discounted to $30.40 and Comfort Colors heavyweight tees for $32.30. A 24×18 matte poster combining all three designs is also available for $38.

Pre-orders are open through Monday, May 26, and will ship the week of June 22.

X takes place in 1979. A group of young filmmakers set out to make an adult film in rural Texas, but when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act, the cast find themselves fighting for their lives.

Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson, Brittany Snow, Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, Owen Campbell, and Stephen Ure also star.

Pearl is a prequel set...

Nearly a decade after its release, fans are still reeling over Super Dark Times' shocking ending. 

The 2017 horror film from writers Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski follows a pair of high school friends who get wrapped up in a string of killings in their neighborhood after an afternoon gone awry in the woods. 

It stars Righteous Gemstones actor Owen Campbell and Ozark's Charlie Tahan as its central pair of teenage pals, Zach and Josh, and Tom Swift actress Elizabeth Cappuccino as local it-girl Allison. 

Read full article on The Direct.

All three films of Ti West's X movies are streaming so fans can enjoy, X, Pearl, and MaXXXine from the comfort of their home. While each of these movies can be enjoyed as their own standalone horror experience, they combine to make for a compelling trilogy of deep themes expanding across all three installments. X marked the first movie in the trilogy, as the murderous Pearl (Mia Goth) tries and fails to kill Maxine (Mia Goth) and her crew of adult film workers.

Pearl highlights the titular character's tragic past as she attempts to achieve her dreams of stardom on that same farm in 1918. Unfortunately, the harsh reality of her world ends up transforming her into the killer audiences see in X, adding a new element to the first film. MaXXXine is the final entry in the trilogy, bringing back Goth's protagonist from the first movie as she...

Nothing hits quite like a horror movie novelization. Popularized before the advent of home video, this unique art form turns our favorite scary movies into pocket-sized page-turners. While it’s thrilling to experience these terrifying tales in another format, the real treat is learning more about each story. Novelizations offer intimate access to complex characters and internal thoughts that can’t be revealed through action or dialogue. After peaking in the ’70s, it now seems that the horror novelization is making a comeback. Earlier this year, A24 announced plans to release novelizations of the X trilogy, a feminist horror series exploring the connection between sex and death. Directed by Ti West, the multigenerational saga follows two ambitious women determined to succeed under the bright lights of Hollywood. Born into wildly different eras, their stories reveal hidden truths about power, objectification, and female sexuality.

Tim Waggoner kicks off the series with X,...

An intimate family drama masquerading as a classic creature feature, Jonathan Cuartass 2020 My Heart Cant Beat Unless You Tell It To is a refreshing twist on the vampire genre. The film follows three siblings struggling to maintain a semblance of normality while the youngest brother, Thomas (Owen Campbell), lives as a vampire. Jessie (Ingrid Sophie Schram) sends out Dwight (Patrick Fugit) to kidnap and kill homeless people to feed Thomas. As the routine begins to strain the family, the human siblings prove more frightening than their vampire brother.

“Bel-Air” star Adrian Holmes teased some of what fans can expect from his character Phillip “Uncle Phil” Banks in Season 2, saying that between dodging Erica’s advances and taking a chance on a risky new client, Uncle Phil’s moral compass is put to the test.

“He has a very important moral decision to make. There’s a lot of arcs and sparks this season. It’s fizzling in a beautiful way. I love it,” Holmes told TheWrap.

Holmes is right, Uncle Phil has got his work cut for him, especially after that spicy last season cliffhanger where Erica (Diandra Lyle), Uncle Phil’s future business partner, gave him a smooch. Viewers eventually learned that the two have history, which Vivian “Aunt Viv” Banks (Cassandra Freeman) is aware of. But as far as that lock of the lips, Uncle Phil keeps that detail to himself. Holmes said Uncle Phil isn’t clueless,...

The highly anticipated third film in Ti West‘s X trilogy, MaXXXine is finally here, and the fans of the franchise are loving it. With a setting of the 80s when the real-life Night Stalker murders took place, the final film in the X trilogy follows the story of Maxine Minx as she finally gets her big break into the film industry, but when a mysterious serial killer begins to kill the starlets of Hollywood, Maxine’s future in the City of Angels comes into danger. MaXXXine stars Mia Goth in the lead role with Elizabeth Debicki, Halsey, Lily Collins, Sophie Thatcher, Moses Sumney, Kevin Bacon, Michelle Monaghan, Giancarlo Esposito, Chloe Farnworth, and Bobby Cannavale starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the glitz, glamour, murder, and mystery in MaXXXine, here are some similar movies you could watch next.

Pearl (Prime Video) Credit – A24

Pearl is the second film...

Warning: The following contains major spoilers for the X trilogy.

Ambitious women are rarely judged kindly by history. Often called cruel or heartless, they’re punished for going after what they want in a way that men simply aren’t. Especially if they choose an unconventional life, eschewing the domestic roles we’ve been told to prize. Women who choose stardom are especially vilified – either picked apart for their physical appearance or for daring to show their authentic selves to the world. And heaven help them if they show any skin. Seductive women may rise to the top, but they do so with labels like harlot, temptress, floozy, and whore.

Bette Davis, one of Hollywood’s most ambitious women, spoke on this phenomenon saying, “In this business, until you’re known as a monster you’re not a star.” This quote introduces Ti West’s MaXXXine, the concluding chapter in a trilogy exploring female ambition.

How to watch the X Slasher Franchise in release and chronological order. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

The X film series is surely one of the most acclaimed slasher film franchises of contemporary times. With its blend of horror, thrill, and sultry scenes, the intertwined story of Maxine and Pearl truly stands out. Written and directed by Ti West, and starring Mia Goth in the lead, the film series follows an adult film star being chased by a serial killer.

The franchise is relatively fresh, with its inception in 2022; however, it already comprises three exciting films, including a prequel and a sequel. Moreover, two of the films were released in the same year, which makes the timeline of the series a bit complicated for first-time watchers. So, here are all the details you need about how you can watch the X slasher film franchise in release order, as well as in chronological order.

Spoiler Warning: This story discusses plot details from “X” and “Pearl.”

Maxine f——ing Minx is ready to take ‘1980s Hollywood, so get ready to hear “I’m a star!” one more time as the third and final installment in Ti West’s horror trilogy hits theaters on July 5.

“MaXXXine” centers around an adult film star and aspiring actress named Maxine (Mia Goth) who finally makes it big with her first feature film. She’s the only survivor of the massacre that took place in the trilogy’s opener, “X,” but now, she’s the target of another killer—the Night Stalker. With Maxine and her friends’ lives in danger yet again, the horror of her past begins to unravel.

Before heading to the theaters for “MaXXXine,” here’s what you need to know from West’s past films:

“X” (2022)

The first two films in the trilogy were shot back-to-back...

Quick Links X Gives Audiences a Slasher Spectacle Pearl Disturbs Audiences in the Best Way Possible MaXXXine Will Keep Audiences Guessing

MaXXXine is the highly anticipated upcoming film, serving as the latest installment in the successful X trilogy. Scheduled for a July 5, 2024, release, this film is directed by filmmaker Ti West and features Mia Goth once again in the leading role. As a direct sequel to the 2022 film X, which achieved impressive box office success, MaXXXine holds great promise for both fans of the series and horror enthusiasts. The previous film, X, proved to be a standout in its genre, earning an impressive $15.1 million at the box office while working with a $1 million budget. Audiences were captivated by the stellar performances of the ensemble cast and the compelling chemistry between the characters, solidifying its reputation as a top-tier horror slasher film.

After they wrapped up filming X, Ti West immediately...

With the release of Ti West’s Maxxxine just around the corner, it felt high time that we covered the preceeding two films before giving our verdict on the third. So let’s start at the beginning (release dates-wise) with X.

Set in 1979, X follows a group of aspiring pornographers who venture to a secluded Texas farmhouse to shoot an adult film, only to find themselves embroiled in a nightmarish ordeal.

From the outset, West’s direction shines, capturing the essence of the era with meticulous detail. And this has been a strength of his since the opening sequence of House of the Devil (2009), which was saturated in 80’s nostalgia. With X, the cinematography mirrors the aesthetic of 1970s horror films, characterised by a grainy texture and muted color palette that evoke a sense of decay and desolation. This visual style, combined with the isolated rural setting, immediately draws intentional...

She's blonde, she's dangerous, and she's a motherf***ing movie star. The end of Ti West's "X" trilogy, "MaXXXine," is heading our way, and the Mia Goth vehicle has proven to be one of 2024's most anticipated releases. West has already said that the film will be "different from 'X' and nothing like 'Pearl,'" which is understandable considering the former was evoking the gritty realism of 1970s slashers, while the latter was like "The Wizard of Oz" in Hell. Goth returns as her "X" character Maxine Minx six years after the events of "X," and 67 years after "Pearl." This is a film to get us into the mind of Maxine and how she came to be. West's trilogy has thus far been tackling themes of fame, beauty, envy, youth, and the brutal acknowledgment that life isn't fair, and "MaXXXine" looks to be continuing those explorations.

"Pearl" showed...

When writer and director Ti West created and released the movie X last March, it was revealed that he had also filmed the prequel film, Pearl, at the same time, teaming up with A24 to build a world that revolves around the slasher genre of horror movies. The first film, which is set in 1979, follows a group of adult filmmakers as they seek out a filming location for their new film. They end up renting a guest house from an elderly couple in a remote location not unlike the Sawyer farmhouse in Texas Chain Saw Massacre. The group consists of producer Wayne (Martin Henderson), his girlfriend Maxine (Mia Goth), pornstar couple Bobby-Lynne and Jackson, filmmaker Rj (Owen Campbell) and his girlfriend and assistant, Lorraine (Jenna Ortega).

The third and final installment in the X film series, MaXXXine, is set to be released in theaters on July 5, and everyone's gearing up for its release by watching the first two films in the trilogy. While you currently have the option to watch X and Pearl on streaming, you will soon have the option to see X in theaters again. Yes, you read that right. The slasher that set off the highly successful X film series is set to return to theaters this month, and we're here to share all the details regarding its re-release.

This good news came early this morning on June 4. IndieWire reported that A24 would be re-releasing the hit slasher in theaters for one night only on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. As of June 4, tickets to see the film in theaters are available to purchase. To find out if there are screenings near you and to buy tickets,...

MaXXXine, the sequel to director Ti West‘s films Pearl (watch it Here) and X (watch that one at This Link), is swiftly approaching its July 5th theatrical release date – but before we get there, A24 will be bringing franchise starter X back to theatres for one night only, on June 18th. IndieWire reports that movie-goers who attend the June 18th screenings (tickets are available at This Link) of X will get to see a preview of MaXXXine after the end credits roll.

MaXXXine is written and directed by West. Mia Goth reprises the role of X survivor Maxine Minx, a burlesque performer and adult film actress with the goal of being a star. The film has the following synopsis: In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood...

One of the all-time foundational fixtures in horror is the vampire. That means over a century’s worth of bloodsuckers in film, in various styles and mythology, from across the globe.

As prominent as this movie monster is, with dozens of adaptations of Bram Stoker’s Dracula alone, there’s an overwhelming selection of vampire fare that makes it easy for many worthwhile gems to fall through the cracks. This week’s streaming picks are dedicated to underseen vampire horror movies worth seeking out.

As always, here’s where you can stream them this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

Mr. Vampire – The Criterion Channel – Plex, the Roku Channel

This supernatural genre-bender from director Ricky Lau stands far apart from standard vampire fare thanks to its comedy, martial arts, and jiangshi. Taoist priest Master Kau (Lam Ching-ying) guards the realm of the living by maintaining control...

This article contains mention of murder and spoilers for X (2022).

Pearl's haunting presence at the Bates Motel in the MaXXXine trailer hints at Maxine's past coming back to haunt her in the upcoming final installment of the trilogy. Maxine witnessing Lorraine's murder in X makes Jenna Ortega's character a likely candidate to return as a ghost in MaXXXine, just like Pearl in the trailer. Ortega could also appear as Lorraine in MaXXXine if the recovered footage of the adult movie from X is ever shown.

One major reveal in the official trailer for MaXXXine, the final installment in Ti West's hit slasher trilogy, set up a possible return for Jenna Ortega's X character, Lorraine. Featuring the return of Mia Goth as the titular fame-hungry starlet, MaXXXine will serve as a direct sequel to X, jumping ahead six years after Maxine's adult film colleagues were slaughtered on a...

Ti West teases a potential fourth installment in the X franchise during an interview. The director reserved sharing any more details as he is focused on the third installment, MaXXXine, which has yet to have a release date. With successful box office returns for X and Pearl, West's filmmaking and Mia Goth's dual role have earned critical acclaim for the franchise.

The future of A24's acclaimed horror franchise X gets an exciting tease from director Ti West. The 2022 eponymous slasher portrays the gruesome violence inflicted upon a pornographic movie crew by elderly couple Pearl and Howard, whose Texas farmhouse they rented. Led by Mia Goth's dual performance as both Pearl and survivor Maxine, the cast of X includes Brittany Snow, Martin Henderson, Scott Mescudi, Jenna Ortega, and Owen Campbell. Less than six months later, the prequel Pearl: An X-traordinary Origin Story was released and will be followed by MaXXXine.

“No ma’am, we don’t need Hollywood,” would-be movie producer Wayne tells his crew at the start of the horror film X. “These types of pictures turn regular folks into stars.”

The type of pictures in question are pornographic films, for which Wayne (Martin Henderson) has assembled a small cast and crew and brought them to a secluded Texas farmhouse. Set in 1979, the slasher X not only pays homage to the decade’s grisly and low-budget horror movies but it also captures a moment in which loosening obscenity laws and increased home viewing options make pornography a profitable business.

A few months after X hit theaters, director Ti West released the prequel film Pearl, which he co-wrote with star Mia Goth. Pearl takes place in 1918, long before changing mores made pornography prevalent. In fact, pornography appears only briefly in Pearl, when projectionist (future Superman David Cornswet) tries to impress...

Maxine Minx is set to return to the big screen to follow her dreams as an actress. X franchise filmmaker Ti West has confirmed the development of the third and final film of the franchise, appropriately titled MaXXXine. The project was officially announced at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival in September by West and production company A24 after a showing of Pearl revealing a post-credit teaser for MaXXXine.

Ti West’s first project for the franchise, X, was released in March 2022. The film stars Mia Goth as Maxine, Jenna Ortega as Lorraine, Brittany Snow as Bobby Lynne, Scott Mescudi, also known as Kid Cudi, as Jackson Hole, Martin Henderson as Wayne Gilroy, and Owen Campbell as Rj. After X's release and critical success, Ti West revealed in March 2022 that he had filmed the film's prequel, Pearl, back-to-back with X. Pearl was released in September 2022 with Mia Goth reprising her role as the titular character.

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!

Candy Land Blu-ray from Mvd

One of last year’s indie horror standouts, Candy Land is getting a Blu-ray release on February 5 from Mvd and Roxwell Films. Special features include a commentary by director John Swab and a digital zine.

Swab writes and directs. Olivia Luccardi, Sam Quartin, Eden Brolin, Owen Campbell, Virginia Rand, Guinevere Turner, and William Baldwin star.

In her review, Meagan Navarro said “Candy Land gives a refreshing perspective through its condemnation of religion and its positioning of sex workers as protagonists. It’s a more nuanced and lived-in approach to the sleazy slasher format, and its affecting characters elevate the familiar.”

Art the Clown Doll from Living Dead Doll

Terrifier’s...

Four new Dark Sky Films titles have been added to our massive Screambox library, which already includes Willow Creek, Minor Premise, and The Deeper You Dig (details); Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary, Landlocked, and Possum (details); Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer 1 & 2, and Emelie (details); Stake Land, Summer of Blood, & Bitter Feast (details); and Wake Wood, Eaten Alive and Sleep Tight (details). Holy shit, right?!

The final batch of films is now streaming on Screambox and begins with Pollyanna McIntosh‘s Darlin’ (review), which she wrote, directed and stars in(!).

“In this sequel to Bloody Disgusting’s The Woman, a feral teenage girl is taken into strict Catholic care and prepared for her First Holy Communion.”

“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 be tamed into a “good girl.

Each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit streaming platforms in the United States. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.

Chez Jolie Coiffure (Rosine Mbakam)

A vérité vignette of a small, expat-owned hair salon in Brussels’ African Quarter. Award-winning Cameroonian filmmaker Rosine Mbakam’s sophomore feature explores displacement, resilience, and the small economies migrants build to temper ties to their homelands, through mid-braid gossip and humble confessions.

Where to Stream: Le Cinéma Club

Giving Birth to a Butterfly (Theodore Schaefer)

We meet Diana Dent (Annie Parisse) readying matching wedding gowns soon revealed as not her own. She’s mending them to sell online—a necessity considering her bull-headed and controlling husband Daryl (Paul Sparks) is hell-bent on putting their life savings towards a dream of creating his own restaurant. That means no money for Drew (Owen Campbell) or Danielle’s (Rachel Resheff) college.

"I got scammed, Marlene, that's why we're doing this." Cinedigm has revealed a trailer for an experimental indie film titled Giving Birth to a Butterfly, marking the feature directorial debut of Theodore Schaefer. It first premiered in 2021 at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal, and is finally getting a proper release after waiting a few years - it's streaming on Fandor this May. "Pure weirdo magic. Like Donnie Darko meets Twin Peaks." After having her identity stolen, a woman, and her son's pregnant girlfriend, bond together on a surreal journey as they attempt to track down the perpetrators. Described by The Austin Chronicle as “a strange and fragile story of family, identity, and the unlikely directions of a search for self," Giving Birth to a Butterfly "mixes melancholy and anxiety with a Lynchian touch" and "takes place in a parallel universe that looks and acts like suburbia, just ever so slightly off.

Limited theatrical release planned for May.

Cinedigm has acquired North American rights to Fantasia International Film Festival road movie Giving Birth To A Butterfly, which marks the feature directorial debut of Theodore Schaefer who produced Berlinale selection The Adults.

Annie Parisse plays a woman whose identity gets stolen and bonds with her son’s pregnant girlfriend (Gus Birney) as they search for the perpetrators on a dreamlike road trip. Paul Sparks, Owen Campbell, Jessica Pimentel, and Judith Roberts round out the key cast.

Cinedigm plans a limited US theatrical release in May ahead of a digital release on its indie...

Ti West's X the movie features a terrifying killer with decidedly human motivations, but what are the Mia Goth Pearl killer's backstory and origins? First released domestically on March 18th, 2022, Ti West's "erotic horror" X has opened to rave reviews from the horror community, with critics noting X's desire to return to a well-trodden slasher formula that firmly acts as a poignant homage to classics such as John Carpenter's Halloween and Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Despite the finality of its ending, director Ti West has already completed the new X movie Pearl, which is considered a prequel film. X follows an aspiring young film crew as they arrive at a secluded Texas farm to shoot a pornographic film in the late 1970s, which idealistic director Rj (Owen Campbell) believes will be "a piece of cinema."

Blinded by their ambitions to get rich quick in...

Stars: Olivia Luccardi, William Baldwin, Sam Quartin, Owen Campbell, Virginia Rand, Guinevere Turner, Eden Brolin | Written and Directed by John Swab

Whilst it’s set in 1996, Candy Land reminds me very much of the 70s exploitation era of filmmaking, where the lines between genres blurred and a wide variety of subject matter was explored by filmmakers willing to take chances on stories that the mainstream wouldn’t tell… The latter of which is certainly the case here as writer/director John Swab tells the story of Remy (Olivia Luccardi; It Follows), a seemingly naive and devout young woman, who finds herself cast out from her religious cult. With no place to turn, she immerses herself into the underground world of truck stop sex workers a.k.a. “lot lizards,” courtesy of her hosts, Sadie (Sam Quartin; Body Brokers), Riley (Eden Brolin; Yellowstone), Liv (Virginia Rand) and Levi (Owen Campbell; X...

Alcarràs, winner of the Golden Bear in Berlin, opens on five screens in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, presented by Mubi; Quiver Distribution releases Candy Land in nine theaters; and Sony’s Tom Hanks-starring A Man Called Otto, Uar’s Women Talking and IFC Films’ Corsage move into moderate expansions as the broader specialty market barrels into Oscar nominations and a new year of reckoning with adult audiences.

The conversation about what ails the arthouse market is still treading water. Some major arthouses are Mia in a key market. With rare exceptions, audiences are failing to embrace indie titles with the gusto they’ve shown in the past. Everything Everywhere All At Once cleaned up but that’s feelgood, versus downbeat, which an emotionally exhausted moviegoing public may be avoiding. It’s not clear awards kudos will change that.

“The marketplace needs to listen to...

It’s the first week of a new year, and 2023 is going to be absolutely loaded with new horror. As always, we’ll be providing you with week-by-week previews of what’s being released.

Let’s get right into things, shall we?

Here are the first four horror releases of 2023, which are all out Now!

The 2023 horror season kicks off with the critically acclaimed M3GAN (read Meagan’s review), which is now playing in theaters. The premise? It’s essentially Annabelle meets Terminator!

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to.

When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece,...

Grimy truck stops serve as prime real estate in horror. The setting invokes a sense of desolate lawlessness as strangers pass through a revolving door of anonymity. Don’t even bother entering the filthy, unkept bathrooms; bad things always happen there. It’s precisely this setting where Candy Land unfurls its sleazy slasher filled with broken dreams, religious repression, and a sensitive depiction of sex workers right before a grim turn.

Candy Land introduces Sadie (Sam Quartin) and Liv (Virginia Rand), Riley (Eden Brolin), and Levi (Owen Campbell), a group of tight-knit sex workers dubbed “lot lizards.” They live out of the motel and spend their days chatting near the gas station, snowballs and soda in hand, in between sexual encounters in bathroom stalls or truck cabs. The lot lizards are presided over by Madame Nora (Guinevere Turner) and morally ambiguous Sheriff Rex (William Baldwin). Then the lot lizards find...

Every horny trucker heading west on Route 66 knows that Exit 16 is the last place to get any real action before you hit California. In horny trucker social circles, the rest stop has become so synonymous with its supply of “clean, drug-free pussy” that it’s earned its own unique Cb radio handle: “Candy Land.”

Watching a horror movie about the illicit, transactional affairs that take place in the cabs of these semi-trucks is every bit as entertaining as you might expect. Equal parts slasher flick and softcore porn, writer-director . Pervy grindhouse sleaze oozes out of every frame, to the point where it feels like the only proper viewing method would be a scratched 35mm print in a theater with three different inexplicably sticky substances on the floor. In other words, it’s glorious.

The heroes of our story are Riley (Eden Brolin), Levi (Owen Campbell), and Sadie (Sam Quartin), the...

The X movie ending crescendos to a bloody spectacle of a finale while also throwing up several lingering questions for its audiences. Director Ti West's 2022 slasher X follows a film crew as they arrive at a secluded Texas farm to shoot a pornographic film in the late 1970s, which idealistic fictional adult movie director Rj (Owen Campbell) believes will be "a piece of cinema." Seemingly blinded by their ambitions to capitalize on a burgeoning home video porn industry, the young group of X movie characters remains largely unaware of the covetous presence in the farmhouse next door — the old woman in X, Pearl (also played by Mia Goth). However, as night falls, Pearl's lustful intent turns violent, with Maxine (also Mia Goth), Lorraine (Jenna Ortega), Wayne (Martin Henderson), Jackson (Scott Mescudi), Bobby-Lynne (Brittany Snow of Pitch Perfect), and Rj forced to contend with the horrors of Pearl's jealousy.

Ti...

Plot: After a religious young woman joins a group of truck stop sex workers (a.k.a. lot lizards), someone starts murdering people in and around the truck stop.

Review: After making a handful of crime dramas and thrillers, writer/director John Swab shifts into the horror genre with his fifth feature Candy Land – but he definitely didn’t just dive into formula or clichê with his first horror project, as evident from the fact that he cited ‘90s cult films like Bully and Welcome to the Dollhouse as sources of inspiration. Candy Land has been described as a truck stop slasher, and it does become that in its second half, but the influence of ‘90s indie dramas is clearly felt in the movie. It’s even set in the ‘90s; around Christmas 1996, to be exact. So it’s a bit of a shame that it’s being released in January,...

The biggest question of the new year is whether horror can continue the tremendous hot streak unleashed in 2022. The good news is that, so far, all signs point to yes!

From new adaptations to hotly anticipated sequels, indie darlings, and much more, 2023’s list of horror movies looks incredibly stacked with great offerings.

We’re excited to check out these 35 horror movies in 2023, but perhaps even more excited knowing that this list is only a fraction of what’s in store….

M3GAN – January 6

(from left) M3GAN and Cady (Violet McGraw) in M3GAN, directed by Gerard Johnstone.

Get Out’s Allison Williams combats a state-of-the-art A.I. doll in this horror movie directed by award-winning filmmaker Gerard Johnstone (Housebound), from a screenplay by Akela Cooper and based on a story by Akela Cooper and James Wan.

Candy Land – January 6

This slasher movie written and directed by John Swab (Ida Red...

Quiver Distribution has unveiled a trailer for Candy Land, the truck stop slasher they’ll be giving a theatrical and VOD release in North America on January 6th, and you can check it out in the embed above!

Written and directed by John Swab (Ida Red), Candy Land sees Luccardi taking on the role of Remy, a seemingly naive and devout young woman, who finds herself cast out from her religious cult. With no place to turn, she immerses herself in the underground world of truck stop sex workers a.k.a. “lot lizards,” courtesy of her hosts, Sadie, Riley, Liv, and Levi. Under the watchful eye of their matriarch, Nora, and enigmatic local lawman, Sheriff Rex, Remy navigates between her strained belief system and the lot lizard code to find her true calling in life.

Olivia Luccardi of It Follows and Go/Don’t Go stars and is joined...

Where there’s horror, there’s death, and 2022 has been a tremendous year for horror. The genre is thriving, as evidenced by the robust offerings of surprise sequels, massive franchise returns, and original stories on every level, indie and otherwise. That means a slew of ingenious and highly creative onscreen kills that made us groan, cringe, cheer, and even cry.

We’re saluting the ten best kills in 2022 horror movies, which means massive spoilers ahead.

You’ve been warned…

10. Bodies Bodies Bodies – Machete Mistake

Party host David (Pete Davidson) gets found with his throat slashed shortly after the hurricane knocks the party out in A24’s Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, sending the rest of the partygoers into paranoid panic as they try to figure out which among them is his murderer. That panic escalates into full-blown violence until only a few remain. Only in the horror-comedy’s final moments is the...

Jenna Ortega is a force to be reckoned with. The young starlet began her career with several bit parts in TV and movies in the early 2010s. By the middle of the decade, she enjoyed a stint on the "Richie Rich" series and appearances in "The Cookie Mobster" and "After Words." But it wasn't until her role as young Jane in "Jane the Virgin" that she began to turn a few heads. Then, in 2019, she starred as Ellie in Netflix's soapy crime drama "You," in which she dished up a star-turning performance. She went from promising talent to superstar overnight, so it's no wonder that she's become a household name. Everyone wants to work with her.

In the four years since her game-changing TV gig, she's landed roles in countless more projects, including Ti West's retro-slasher "X," the Dave Grohl-backed "Studio 666," and the award-nominated, Tim Burton-directed "Wednesday" series on Netflix.

Written and Directed by John Swab Starring Olivia Luccardi, Sam Quartin, Eden Brolin, Owen Campbell, Guinevere Turner, Virginia Rand and William Baldwin Opens on January 6th on Digital and in Select Theaters Synopsis Candy Land follows Remy, a seemingly naive and devout young woman, who finds herself cast out from her …

The post Provocative Horror-Thriller Candy Land Opens Jan. 6th | Trailer + Poster Debut appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

"We are here to cleanse ourselves of this world…" Quiver Distribution has revealed an official trailer for an intriguing revenge horror thriller titled Candy Land, from filmmaker John Swab. This first premiered at FrightFest, Grimmfest, and the Locarno Film Festival a few months ago, and will be out in the US on VOD starting in early January 2023. A seemingly naive and devout young woman ends up finding solace in the underground world of truck stop sex workers also known as "lot lizards." Under the watchful eye of their matriarch, and an enigmatic local lawman, Remy navigates between her strained belief system and the code to find her true calling in life. Will she make her way out? The film stars Olivia Luccardi, Sam Quartin, Eden Brolin, Owen Campbell, Virginia Rand, Guinevere Turner, and William Baldwin. Not too sure about this one, but it's made by a talented indie horror filmmaker...

Writer/director John (Ida Red) Swab’s critically-praised horror thriller Candy Land will open the 20th edition of the New York City Horror Film Festival, to be held at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas (260 West 23rd Street) December 1 to 4, 2022. Stars Olivia Luccardi (It Follows) and Owen Campbell (X) will be attending the NYC screening.

Candy Land will be joined by over 50 films from around the world at the New York City Horror Film Festival. For this edition, classic screen bogeyman Kane Hodder (notorious slasher icon from the Friday the 13th and Hatchet films) will be receiving the fest’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

The festival offers 13 programs, each consisting of terrifying new feature films and shorts. Q&a panels and celebrity guests follow each screening. Fans and filmmakers will mingle at the full bar located at the venue.

Candy Land follows religious cult disciple Remy, who stumbles upon a rag-tag group of truck...

Writer/director John (Ida Red) Swab’s critically-praised horror thriller Candy Land will open the 20th edition of the New York City Horror Film Festival, to be held at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas (260 West 23rd Street) December 1 to 4, 2022. Stars Olivia Luccardi (It Follows) and Owen Campbell (X) will be attending the NYC screening. Candy …

The post “Candy Land” to make its East Coast Premiere as Opening Film at December’s New York City Horror Film Festival appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Olivia Luccardi of It Follows and Go/Don’t Go stars in the truck stop slasher Candy Land – and Deadline reports we’re going to have the chance to watch the horror thriller in just two months. Quiver Distribution has picked up the North American distribution rights to Candy Land and are planning to give the film a theatrical and VOD release on January 6th.

Written and directed by John Swab (Ida Red), Candy Land sees Luccardi taking on the role of Remy, a seemingly naive and devout young woman, who finds herself cast out from her religious cult. With no place to turn, she immerses herself in the underground world of truck stop sex workers a.k.a. “lot lizards,” courtesy of her hosts, Sadie, Riley, Liv, and Levi. Under the watchful eye of their matriarch, Nora, and enigmatic local lawman, Sheriff Rex, Remy navigates between her strained belief...

Written and directed by John Swab (Ida Red), the horror movie Candy Land has just been acquired by Quiver Distribution for domestic release, Deadline reports this afternoon.

The film will be released in theaters and on demand on January 6, 2023.

“Candy Land follows Remy (Olivia Luccardi), a seemingly naïve and devout young woman, who finds herself cast out from her religious cult. With no place to turn, she immerses herself in the underground world of truck stop sex workers a.k.a. “lot lizards,” courtesy of her hosts, Sadie (Sam Quartin), Riley (Eden Brolin), Liv (Virginia Rand) and Levi (Owen Campbell).

“Under the watchful eye of their matriarch, Nora (Guinevere Turner), and enigmatic local lawman, Sheriff Rex (Billy Baldwin), Remy navigates between her strained belief system and the lot lizard code to find her true calling in life.”

John Swab and Jeremy M. Rosen (Ida Red) produced the upcoming Candy Land,...