In the last 5-10 years, the found footage format has shifted more from feature-length horror films to short analog horror projects and alternate reality games on TikTok and Twitter. The analog horror emphasizes the nostalgic yet uncanny feeling conveyed by the technology of decades past.
The Ar games, on the other hand, use modern smartphones to convey a Pov atmosphere no worse than the student filmmakers of The Blair Witch Project could do with professional and amateur cameras.
And yet, no movie makes you feel for the characters like a found-footage movie. And when you add to the formula a skillful and clever approach to production and cinematography, as well as no less intriguing elements of supernatural and folk horror to the story, the result can be one of the scariest and most uncomfortable movies you've ever seen.
That's exactly what The Borderlands, released 11 years ago, turned out to be,...
The Ar games, on the other hand, use modern smartphones to convey a Pov atmosphere no worse than the student filmmakers of The Blair Witch Project could do with professional and amateur cameras.
And yet, no movie makes you feel for the characters like a found-footage movie. And when you add to the formula a skillful and clever approach to production and cinematography, as well as no less intriguing elements of supernatural and folk horror to the story, the result can be one of the scariest and most uncomfortable movies you've ever seen.
That's exactly what The Borderlands, released 11 years ago, turned out to be,...
- 4/30/2024
- by louise.everitt@startefacts.com (Louise Everitt)
- STartefacts.com
Before unleashing a cruel fate upon its characters — one of the worst in recent horror memory — The Borderlands leads the audience down a different path, insensibly alluding to what all lies ahead. The plot breadcrumbs of Elliot Goldner’s 2013 film are only more discernible after the fact. Until that momentous reveal, this plays out as a standard story of believers and nonbelievers investigating the religious unknown and finding more than they ever thought possible. What these unfortunate souls unearth is deeply disturbing.
Renamed Final Prayer in some parts, this British film has grown steadily in renown despite its small beginnings. Recently, Guillermo del Toro put The Borderlands on more radars; the popular filmmaker deemed it an “unknown gem.” Even before obtaining such a great endorsement, Goldner’s first feature (his only one to date) was applauded for its approach to first-person and folk-horror storytelling. More high praise: The Borderlands has...
Renamed Final Prayer in some parts, this British film has grown steadily in renown despite its small beginnings. Recently, Guillermo del Toro put The Borderlands on more radars; the popular filmmaker deemed it an “unknown gem.” Even before obtaining such a great endorsement, Goldner’s first feature (his only one to date) was applauded for its approach to first-person and folk-horror storytelling. More high praise: The Borderlands has...
- 4/26/2024
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
Welcome to the island of St Jory, population: one less than there used to be.
A year ago, St Jory teenager Cai Prideaux went missing and the police did very little about it. Now there’s a new sheriff in town in Sgt Grace Narayan (Anjli Mohindra), an outsider with an unbending belief in the letter of the law that’s ruffling feathers among the locals. The islanders, you see, are used to running things their own way. The True Way.
That’s the Hot Fuzz-meets-The Wicker Man premise for The Red King, an original six-part series written by Being Human creator Toby Whithouse and directed by Daniel O’Hara and Lisa Clarke. It’s a crime drama/folk horror mash-up that uses murder mystery trappings to tell a story about religion, insularity and national identity.
St Jory is your typical folk horror island in that there’s nothing typical about it.
A year ago, St Jory teenager Cai Prideaux went missing and the police did very little about it. Now there’s a new sheriff in town in Sgt Grace Narayan (Anjli Mohindra), an outsider with an unbending belief in the letter of the law that’s ruffling feathers among the locals. The islanders, you see, are used to running things their own way. The True Way.
That’s the Hot Fuzz-meets-The Wicker Man premise for The Red King, an original six-part series written by Being Human creator Toby Whithouse and directed by Daniel O’Hara and Lisa Clarke. It’s a crime drama/folk horror mash-up that uses murder mystery trappings to tell a story about religion, insularity and national identity.
St Jory is your typical folk horror island in that there’s nothing typical about it.
- 4/24/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
What makes the horror genre so interesting is the variety of means used to convey certain ideas established by the author, as well as the aspects on which its 'scary' component is based.
Thus, when we talk about horror in cinema and television, many of us prefer those that scare us with their menacing atmosphere, such as the folk horrors The Wicker Man and Midsommar, as well as the series Midnight Mass. Some of us prefer movies that play directly on common phobias, like the sharks in Jaws, the spiders in Arachnophobia, or the clowns in It. Some of us like scares that come from a sense of the unknown, as was perfectly conveyed in The Exorcist, Poltergeist, and The Thing. And some of us just like quality scares, as was the case in Drag Me To Hell and Insidious.
So the concept of 'scary' can vary from viewer to viewer greatly,...
Thus, when we talk about horror in cinema and television, many of us prefer those that scare us with their menacing atmosphere, such as the folk horrors The Wicker Man and Midsommar, as well as the series Midnight Mass. Some of us prefer movies that play directly on common phobias, like the sharks in Jaws, the spiders in Arachnophobia, or the clowns in It. Some of us like scares that come from a sense of the unknown, as was perfectly conveyed in The Exorcist, Poltergeist, and The Thing. And some of us just like quality scares, as was the case in Drag Me To Hell and Insidious.
So the concept of 'scary' can vary from viewer to viewer greatly,...
- 4/19/2024
- by louise.everitt@startefacts.com (Louise Everitt)
- STartefacts.com
Srs Cinema are collaborating with Bobby Canipe, Jr. once again for his latest movie Night Of The Strangers which is being described as a mix of “Barbarian” and “The Wicker Man”.
Night Of The Strangers is certain to be a terrifying hit and you can help out as the film is currently raising funds via a Indiegogo Crowdfunder Campaign.
Casting wise the films stars Bobby Canipe Jr. regulars Josh Allman, Angel Bradford, Ryan Martel and Jamie Apple.
Synopsis:
In the secluded countryside of Son’s Grove, Alex and Ryan eagerly anticipate a romantic escape from the city, booking an Airbnb retreat online. But their idyllic getaway takes a sinister turn as they arrive to find themselves ensnared in the clutches of a murderous cult, The Southern Redeemers, that permeate every level of the town’s society. As they navigate the hostility of the locals, it becomes chillingly clear that the...
Night Of The Strangers is certain to be a terrifying hit and you can help out as the film is currently raising funds via a Indiegogo Crowdfunder Campaign.
Casting wise the films stars Bobby Canipe Jr. regulars Josh Allman, Angel Bradford, Ryan Martel and Jamie Apple.
Synopsis:
In the secluded countryside of Son’s Grove, Alex and Ryan eagerly anticipate a romantic escape from the city, booking an Airbnb retreat online. But their idyllic getaway takes a sinister turn as they arrive to find themselves ensnared in the clutches of a murderous cult, The Southern Redeemers, that permeate every level of the town’s society. As they navigate the hostility of the locals, it becomes chillingly clear that the...
- 4/17/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
In Robin Hardy's supremely creepy 1973 cult picture "The Wicker Man," a cop named Neil Howie (Edward Woodward) travels to a remote island called Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. The citizens of Summerisle are secretive and strange and still abide by ancient Celtic religious rites. Howie, a devout Christian, is put off by their pagan weirdness. During his investigation, Howie stays at a local inn, The Green Man, overseen by Mr. McGregor (Lindsay Kemp) and his comely daughter Willow. Willow is sexually forward with Howie, something else he finds discomforting.
Later that night, while Howie attempts to sleep, Willow strips nude in her own room and gyrates seductively against the wall that neighbors Howie's. Howie can't see or hear it, but he seems to sense something strange is happening. Is she casting a spell of some kind?
It turns out that the nude body audiences saw dancing wasn't Ekland at all,...
Later that night, while Howie attempts to sleep, Willow strips nude in her own room and gyrates seductively against the wall that neighbors Howie's. Howie can't see or hear it, but he seems to sense something strange is happening. Is she casting a spell of some kind?
It turns out that the nude body audiences saw dancing wasn't Ekland at all,...
- 4/14/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The 1973 folk horror movie "The Wicker Man" is a terrifying trip into the potential dangers of religious fanaticism, but it was also pretty perilous to film as well. Some of the actors felt like making the movie was almost as horrifying as the movie itself due to miserable, wet Scotland weather and the film's dramatic climax that ends in human sacrifice. Actor Edward Woodward wasn't actually burned alive, of course, though his character, Sergeant Howie is trapped inside a massive wicker man effigy and lit aflame, and it was still pretty scary filming that scene because fire can be unpredictable. Perhaps even more unpredictable, however? Goats. There may be no creature on this earth more unpredictable, and in proper goat fashion, one of them was a real problem on the set of the most pivotal scene in "The Wicker Man."
It's pretty close to impossible to make a folk horror...
It's pretty close to impossible to make a folk horror...
- 4/6/2024
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
To celebrate the release of The Borderlands available on Limited Edition Blu-Ray Box Set & Standard Edition Blu-Ray from 15th April 2024 – we have a Limited Edition Blu-Ray Box Set to give away to one lucky winner!
Say your prayers as writer-director Elliot Goldner’s chiller The Borderlands is set to strike fear into your very soul, as this acclaimed British horror classic comes to Limited Edition Blu-ray from Second Sight Films. The brand-new set arrives on 8 April 2024 and comes complete with a host of fascinating special features, it will also be available in a standard edition.
When frequent strange happenings are reported at a thirteenth century church in rural Devon, a small team of Vatican investigators are sent in to try and demystify the unusual goings on… But what they discover is more disturbing than they could ever imagine.
Acclaim for The Borderlands (aka Final Prayer in the US) has been wide reaching,...
Say your prayers as writer-director Elliot Goldner’s chiller The Borderlands is set to strike fear into your very soul, as this acclaimed British horror classic comes to Limited Edition Blu-ray from Second Sight Films. The brand-new set arrives on 8 April 2024 and comes complete with a host of fascinating special features, it will also be available in a standard edition.
When frequent strange happenings are reported at a thirteenth century church in rural Devon, a small team of Vatican investigators are sent in to try and demystify the unusual goings on… But what they discover is more disturbing than they could ever imagine.
Acclaim for The Borderlands (aka Final Prayer in the US) has been wide reaching,...
- 3/30/2024
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Brazil’s Fantaspoa film festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and the festival is breaking numerous records, presenting an impressive total of 114 feature films, 22 of these as World Premieres, marking the largest number of feature films in Fantaspoa’s long history.
The final selection of feature films for Fantaspoa’s highly-anticipated 20th edition has been exclusively presented to Bloody Disgusting, so read on for everything you need to know!
The festival tells us this week, “With a diverse selection, the feature films screening at Fantaspoa Xx have been divided into seven distinct competitive categories: International, Ibero-American, National, Documentary, Animation, All-Nighter, and Low Budget, Great Films. These categories promise audiences a variety of cinematic experiences, from the fringes of horror and fantasy to the depths of the human imagination.
“In addition to feature films, Fantaspoa will screen 123 short films, totaling 237 participating works, making this edition of the festival the largest in its history.
The final selection of feature films for Fantaspoa’s highly-anticipated 20th edition has been exclusively presented to Bloody Disgusting, so read on for everything you need to know!
The festival tells us this week, “With a diverse selection, the feature films screening at Fantaspoa Xx have been divided into seven distinct competitive categories: International, Ibero-American, National, Documentary, Animation, All-Nighter, and Low Budget, Great Films. These categories promise audiences a variety of cinematic experiences, from the fringes of horror and fantasy to the depths of the human imagination.
“In addition to feature films, Fantaspoa will screen 123 short films, totaling 237 participating works, making this edition of the festival the largest in its history.
- 3/28/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
The Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox is home to a variety of unique horror content, from originals and exclusives to cult classics and documentaries. With such a rapidly-growing library, there are many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Here are five recommendations you can stream on Screambox right now.
Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary
If bustin’ makes you feel good, Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary should be at the top of your queue. Imagine Sam Raimi remaking Ghostbusters from a Kevin Williamson script, and you have a pretty good idea of what this Brazilian horror-comedy is like: gory, self-aware, irreverent, and wildly entertaining.
When a local high school summons Bloody Mary, the Ghoulbusters — a team of local YouTubers with a cheesy ghost hunting show — are called in to take out the vengeful spirit. In addition to possessing people to the point of cranial combustion, the ghost exploits the high school setting by haunting inanimate objects,...
Here are five recommendations you can stream on Screambox right now.
Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary
If bustin’ makes you feel good, Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary should be at the top of your queue. Imagine Sam Raimi remaking Ghostbusters from a Kevin Williamson script, and you have a pretty good idea of what this Brazilian horror-comedy is like: gory, self-aware, irreverent, and wildly entertaining.
When a local high school summons Bloody Mary, the Ghoulbusters — a team of local YouTubers with a cheesy ghost hunting show — are called in to take out the vengeful spirit. In addition to possessing people to the point of cranial combustion, the ghost exploits the high school setting by haunting inanimate objects,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
Turning down a job can sometimes come back to haunt you, especially if you're an actor who passed up a role in an acclaimed horror movie and later regretted the decision. This scenario may be difficult to imagine. After all, who would pass up the chance to be in a movie or TV show, right? As fans, though, it can be easy to forget that the movie business -- for all its glory, fanfare, legacy, and importance -- is, at the end of the day, just that: a business. A person in any industry may decline a job that doesn't feel like good fit, doesn't align with their schedule, or maybe would have them working with a filmmaker or co-star they unsure of for one reason or another.
Casting is a crucial component to any project's pre-production. In fact, come 2026, "Best Casting" will be an Oscar category. With the exact same material,...
Casting is a crucial component to any project's pre-production. In fact, come 2026, "Best Casting" will be an Oscar category. With the exact same material,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Blake Taylor
- Slash Film
Christopher Lee (The Wicker Man) gives one of his most unforgettable performances as Judge Jeffreys, the infamous 17th-century witchfinder whose unholy obsession with a luscious wench (Maria Rohm of Eugenie) fuels a jaw-dropping spree of torture, brutality and flesh-ripping perversion. Howard Vernon (Succubus), Margaret Lee (Five Golden Dragons), Maria Schell (99 Women), and Oscar nominee Leo Genn (Quo Vadis) co-star in this landmark epic of sexual violence and sadism, complete with a superb score by Bruno Nicolai (Count Dracula) and directed with spectacularly deviant glee by the one and only Jess Franco (Venus in Furs).
Night of the Blood Monster is available on 4K Uhd Blu-ray on March 26.
Enter for your chance to win a 4K Uhd Blu-ray of Night of the Blood Monster, courtesy of Blue Underground. Two (2) winners will be selected at random.
Here’s how to enter:
Step 1: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Step 2:...
Night of the Blood Monster is available on 4K Uhd Blu-ray on March 26.
Enter for your chance to win a 4K Uhd Blu-ray of Night of the Blood Monster, courtesy of Blue Underground. Two (2) winners will be selected at random.
Here’s how to enter:
Step 1: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Step 2:...
- 3/24/2024
- by Slant Staff
- Slant Magazine
Twin Peaks. Sunnydale. Castle Rock. Hawkins… America’s TV monopoly on small towns where Weird Stuff Happens has gone on for too long. Britain was once home to The Wicker Man, Children of the Stones and The Prisoner, all classics of the ‘something’s not right here’ genre. Isn’t it about time the UK put a few creepy burgs back on the map?
Actor and debut screenwriter Andrew Buchan must think so, and his answer is ITV’s Passenger – a six-episode mystery series that’s Happy Valley meets…well, no spoilers here. Comedic and sinister with a terrific cast led by Loki’s Wunmi Mosaku, Passenger, from the producers of Gangs of London and Chernobyl, is a top binge-watch that’ll keep you entertained and guessing – hopefully into a second series and beyond.
Mosaku plays Riya, a police detective who, years earlier, left her job at the Manchester Met...
Actor and debut screenwriter Andrew Buchan must think so, and his answer is ITV’s Passenger – a six-episode mystery series that’s Happy Valley meets…well, no spoilers here. Comedic and sinister with a terrific cast led by Loki’s Wunmi Mosaku, Passenger, from the producers of Gangs of London and Chernobyl, is a top binge-watch that’ll keep you entertained and guessing – hopefully into a second series and beyond.
Mosaku plays Riya, a police detective who, years earlier, left her job at the Manchester Met...
- 3/24/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Folk horror coupled with the narrative mix of wilderness survival is a tried-and-tested recipe for engaging thrillers, as the insignificance of human existence realized in the midst of the primal unknown often produces the most effective version of fear. Alix Lambert’s The Woods Are Real, drawing on a similar formula, showcases its first quarter as a promising buildup for a potentially intriguing thriller set in the woodlands. However, soon enough, the effort to jam-pack too many issues into one single narrative starts showing its adverse effects, and as a result, by the end, the feature turns out to be too pretentious and convoluted for its own good.
There are instances where visual cues from classics like The Wicker Man or Midsommar can be identified, but the overall shoddy treatment nullifies any form of impact those could have had in the storyline. The bizarre choice of plot progression, contrived dialogues,...
There are instances where visual cues from classics like The Wicker Man or Midsommar can be identified, but the overall shoddy treatment nullifies any form of impact those could have had in the storyline. The bizarre choice of plot progression, contrived dialogues,...
- 3/16/2024
- by Siddhartha Das
- Film Fugitives
In his latest podcast/interview, host and screenwriter Stuart Wright talks to with Scala!!! co-directors Jane Giles and Ali Catterall about the making of their documentary about the infamous London cinema and “3 Films That Have Impacted Everything In Your Adult Life,” which include:
Jane Giles’ 3 Films Un Chant D’Amour (1950) A Clockwork Orange (1971) Blade Runner (1982) Ali Catterall’s 3 Films Performance (1970) Theatre Of Blood (1973) The Wicker Man (1973)
“3 Films That Have Impacted Everything In Your Adult Life” is about those films that made you fall in love with film. The guest selects their trio of movies and we talk for 5 minutes, against the clock. When the alarm goes off for five minutes we move on to the next film.
Powered by RedCircle...
Jane Giles’ 3 Films Un Chant D’Amour (1950) A Clockwork Orange (1971) Blade Runner (1982) Ali Catterall’s 3 Films Performance (1970) Theatre Of Blood (1973) The Wicker Man (1973)
“3 Films That Have Impacted Everything In Your Adult Life” is about those films that made you fall in love with film. The guest selects their trio of movies and we talk for 5 minutes, against the clock. When the alarm goes off for five minutes we move on to the next film.
Powered by RedCircle...
- 3/15/2024
- by Stuart Wright
- Nerdly
The Criterion Collection is known for their dedication to championing classic and contemporary movies we should all be seeing, showcasing them with exquisite transfers and film school-level special features. But when it comes to their streaming service The Criterion Channel, the catalog is a bit looser. And it got weird and worse(?) this month, as they added a 14-title retrospective of the Golden Raspberry Awards. Titled “And the Razzie Goes To…”, Criterion’s grouping compiles 14 movies that come complete with bees, turkey time and whatever the hell Tom Green was doing for the duration of Freddy Got Fingered.
Here is the full list of Razzie flicks now available on The Criterion Channel: Cruising (1980), Heaven’s Gate (1980), Xanadu (1980), Querelle (1982), Under the Cherry Moon (1986), Ishtar (1987), Cocktail (1988), Showgirls (1995), Barb Wire (1996), The Blair Witch Project (1999), Freddy Got Fingered (2001), Swept Away (2002), Gigli (2003), and The Wicker Man (2006). That’s more than 80 Razzie nominations, ranging from Showgirls’s...
Here is the full list of Razzie flicks now available on The Criterion Channel: Cruising (1980), Heaven’s Gate (1980), Xanadu (1980), Querelle (1982), Under the Cherry Moon (1986), Ishtar (1987), Cocktail (1988), Showgirls (1995), Barb Wire (1996), The Blair Witch Project (1999), Freddy Got Fingered (2001), Swept Away (2002), Gigli (2003), and The Wicker Man (2006). That’s more than 80 Razzie nominations, ranging from Showgirls’s...
- 3/2/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
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.
And the Razzie Goes to . . .
As much as we hate to give Razzies any sort of promotion, The Criterion Channel has a new series to show just how wrong the execrable organization has been over the past decades. Launching today, they are spotlighting comedic gems like Tom Green’s Freddy Got Fingered, Elaine May’s Ishtar, and Neil Labute’s The Wicker Man, alongside Cruising, Heaven’s Gate, Xanadu, Querelle, Under the Cherry Moon, Cocktail, Showgirls, Barb Wire, The Blair Witch Project, Swept Away and Gigli.
Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel
BlackBerry (Matt Johnson)
In BlackBerry, the rise of a blue-chip tech company sets the stage for the dissolution of a longstanding friendship. Sound familiar? Just wait ‘til you hear the score.
And the Razzie Goes to . . .
As much as we hate to give Razzies any sort of promotion, The Criterion Channel has a new series to show just how wrong the execrable organization has been over the past decades. Launching today, they are spotlighting comedic gems like Tom Green’s Freddy Got Fingered, Elaine May’s Ishtar, and Neil Labute’s The Wicker Man, alongside Cruising, Heaven’s Gate, Xanadu, Querelle, Under the Cherry Moon, Cocktail, Showgirls, Barb Wire, The Blair Witch Project, Swept Away and Gigli.
Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel
BlackBerry (Matt Johnson)
In BlackBerry, the rise of a blue-chip tech company sets the stage for the dissolution of a longstanding friendship. Sound familiar? Just wait ‘til you hear the score.
- 3/1/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Studiocanal launched a brand new official podcast – and the host might just be familiar to Film Stories listeners.
This is a bit of an odd story for me to write. Basically, well, because I’m in it. I’ll see how I get on.
The rather fine folks at Studiocanal have launched an official podcast, digging into the huge archive of movies under its stewardship. It’s arriving regularly, and as well as focusing on a movie of the month, there’s a broader exploration of other bits and bobs too.
Don’t take our word for it. Here’s Jamie McHale, the head of theatrical marketing at the studio: “We’re thrilled to be launching an official podcast to celebrate our incredible library of titles and upcoming theatrical releases. The in-depth analysis and regular features such as “Dream Double Bills” and “Hidden Gems” from Simon and his guests are...
This is a bit of an odd story for me to write. Basically, well, because I’m in it. I’ll see how I get on.
The rather fine folks at Studiocanal have launched an official podcast, digging into the huge archive of movies under its stewardship. It’s arriving regularly, and as well as focusing on a movie of the month, there’s a broader exploration of other bits and bobs too.
Don’t take our word for it. Here’s Jamie McHale, the head of theatrical marketing at the studio: “We’re thrilled to be launching an official podcast to celebrate our incredible library of titles and upcoming theatrical releases. The in-depth analysis and regular features such as “Dream Double Bills” and “Hidden Gems” from Simon and his guests are...
- 2/26/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
The late 1990s had an odd fascination with the Devil and the end of days that gave audiences all kinds of crazy films with varied levels of success. Most of these seemed to come out right around 1999, the end of the millennium when people were starting to panic. However, some of these end of days films came out earlier and set the trend. 1997 was an odd year that saw the release of Dante’s Peak, The Devil’s Own, Volcano, the original Open Your Eyes, Seven Years in Tibet, and a bunch more. There was a trend for the end of days, but also a search for religion which then led to the perfect storm of both with The Devil’s Advocate (watch it Here), a bit end of days, a bit of religious mayhem, and a whole lot of cautionary tale.
In 1997, folks were getting ready for the big millennium change, but...
In 1997, folks were getting ready for the big millennium change, but...
- 2/23/2024
- by Emilie Black
- JoBlo.com
There is, a critic will argue, a great deal of value in finding and discussing the worst films of the year. All the films released in a given epoch are a reflection of the trends and ideas that produced them, and scoring the bottom of the barrel for the worst filmmaking, the worst ideas, and the most misguided thinking will provide a valuable analysis of where we are as a society. Worst-of lists are important and vital and should be written with enthusiasm. They also let critics blow off steam a little bit; we don't have the luxury to skip bad movies or avoid talking about the ones we hate. It's our job.
The Golden Raspberries, or the Razzies for short, however, lost sight of that value a while back. The annual Razzies announcement is usually a snarky affair that only serves to pick on the year's least popular blockbusters,...
The Golden Raspberries, or the Razzies for short, however, lost sight of that value a while back. The annual Razzies announcement is usually a snarky affair that only serves to pick on the year's least popular blockbusters,...
- 2/15/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Some apotheosis of film culture has been reached with Freddy Got Fingered‘s addition to the Criterion Channel. Three years after we interviewed Tom Green about his consummate film maudit, it’s appearing on the service’s Razzie-centered program that also includes the now-admired likes of Cruising, Heaven’s Gate, Querelle, and Ishtar; the still-due likes of Under the Cherry Moon; and the more-contested Gigli, Swept Away, and Nicolas Cage-led Wicker Man. In all cases it’s an opportunity to reconsider one of the lamest, thin-gruel entities in modern culture.
A Jane Russell retro features von Sternberg’s Macao, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Raoul Walsh’s The Tall Men and The Revolt of Mamie Stover; streaming premieres will be held for Yuen Woo-ping’s Dreadnaught, Claire Simon’s Our Body, Ellie Foumbi’s Our Father, the Devil, the recently restored Sepa: Our Lord of Miracles, and The Passion of Rememberance.
A Jane Russell retro features von Sternberg’s Macao, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Raoul Walsh’s The Tall Men and The Revolt of Mamie Stover; streaming premieres will be held for Yuen Woo-ping’s Dreadnaught, Claire Simon’s Our Body, Ellie Foumbi’s Our Father, the Devil, the recently restored Sepa: Our Lord of Miracles, and The Passion of Rememberance.
- 2/14/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
It’s a tale as old as time: a young musician leaves their life behind with a bag on their back and a burning desire to find inspiration away from society. Phoebe Nir’s “gonzo female desire musical” “Eco Village,” however, is far from your conventional Age of Aquarius funfair about a hippie-adjacent community in the woods.
Nir’s feature debut is adapted from her eponymous Off-Broadway play and has its world premiere in the Bright Future strand of the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Speaking exclusively with Variety, the playwright-turned-filmmaker says the film came out of a wish to be honest about how it feels to fall madly in love with someone who is bad for you.
In the film, “Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always” breakout Sidney Flanigan is Robin, a musician who hitchhikes to the titular village run by Ursula (indie veteran Lindsay Burdge) in search of pastures new. Instead...
Nir’s feature debut is adapted from her eponymous Off-Broadway play and has its world premiere in the Bright Future strand of the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Speaking exclusively with Variety, the playwright-turned-filmmaker says the film came out of a wish to be honest about how it feels to fall madly in love with someone who is bad for you.
In the film, “Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Always” breakout Sidney Flanigan is Robin, a musician who hitchhikes to the titular village run by Ursula (indie veteran Lindsay Burdge) in search of pastures new. Instead...
- 1/31/2024
- by Rafa Sales Ross
- Variety Film + TV
The sci-fi movies on this list are not all great works of art. They're not all "secretly great," not all misunderstood masterpieces, and they're certainly not all even "good." Some are! Some are merely fun. Some are bad but instructively so, movies whose bad-ness is thought-provoking. Some are even so bad, they circle back around to being incredibly entertaining.
Is "bad-ness" a lack of competence, or one of taste? As C.S. Lewis once wrote, labeling something negatively is an easy way out. "The distinction [between highbrow and lowbrow] is certainly used to allow us the satisfaction of despising certain authors and readers without imposing on us the labour of showing that they are bad," he wrote. He was talking about books, but his point still stands.
I steadfastly believe that it's worthwhile to watch "bad" movies. I believe we can learn a lot from them about our taste, about what works and what doesn't,...
Is "bad-ness" a lack of competence, or one of taste? As C.S. Lewis once wrote, labeling something negatively is an easy way out. "The distinction [between highbrow and lowbrow] is certainly used to allow us the satisfaction of despising certain authors and readers without imposing on us the labour of showing that they are bad," he wrote. He was talking about books, but his point still stands.
I steadfastly believe that it's worthwhile to watch "bad" movies. I believe we can learn a lot from them about our taste, about what works and what doesn't,...
- 1/21/2024
- by Eric Langberg
- Slash Film
The UK version of The Traitors series 2 resists reality TV stars and keeps the format familiar: and it’s sticking to its guns.
I can’t say I’m an avid follower of reality television programmes as they stand at the moment. I remember devouring early series of Big Brother and The Apprentice, when they were very much in their infancy. Yet over time, the contestants became more knowing of what they were getting into, the shows heightened things and became crueller, and watching something like The Apprentice now, it feels like it’s more about Alan Sugar’s ego and humiliating people through editing rather than an interesting show.
It’s why The Traitors – the UK version – was such a breath of fresh air at the end of 2022.
Here was a brand new format (to the UK at least) that basically played with a murder mystery-style format, where it...
I can’t say I’m an avid follower of reality television programmes as they stand at the moment. I remember devouring early series of Big Brother and The Apprentice, when they were very much in their infancy. Yet over time, the contestants became more knowing of what they were getting into, the shows heightened things and became crueller, and watching something like The Apprentice now, it feels like it’s more about Alan Sugar’s ego and humiliating people through editing rather than an interesting show.
It’s why The Traitors – the UK version – was such a breath of fresh air at the end of 2022.
Here was a brand new format (to the UK at least) that basically played with a murder mystery-style format, where it...
- 1/3/2024
- by Simon Brew
- Film Stories
Director William Brent Bell turns in a poor man’s reworking of the Brit-horror classic that can’t work up a proper head of suspense
In a quaint village somewhere in the north, judging by the accents, the new vicar Rebecca Holland (Tuppence Middleton) seems to think she’s made some progress connecting with the locals. Mind you, turnout for Sunday services yields barely enough souls for a game of five-a-side. But the community seems friendly enough to her and her husband Henry (Matt Stokoe), and they seem to have paid the family a compliment by choosing the Hollands’ pre-pubescent daughter Grace to be some kind of angel with wheat sheaf wings for the upcoming harvest festival.
Alas, it seems Rebecca has never watched The Wicker Man because, if she had, she would have understood exactly what’s going on once Grace mysteriously disappears. Much of what follows is nearly...
In a quaint village somewhere in the north, judging by the accents, the new vicar Rebecca Holland (Tuppence Middleton) seems to think she’s made some progress connecting with the locals. Mind you, turnout for Sunday services yields barely enough souls for a game of five-a-side. But the community seems friendly enough to her and her husband Henry (Matt Stokoe), and they seem to have paid the family a compliment by choosing the Hollands’ pre-pubescent daughter Grace to be some kind of angel with wheat sheaf wings for the upcoming harvest festival.
Alas, it seems Rebecca has never watched The Wicker Man because, if she had, she would have understood exactly what’s going on once Grace mysteriously disappears. Much of what follows is nearly...
- 1/2/2024
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
“Familiar” is one of those descriptors critics can twist into a positive or negative connotation. William Brent Bell’s folkloric Lord of Misrule basks in culty Pagan familiarity but not as cheap mimicry. If you’ve seen The Wicker Man, The Ritual, Kill List — I’ll spare you thirty more titles — you won’t be stricken dumbstruck by writer Tom de Ville’s ode to harvest rituals and wretched traditions. Bell’s not rewriting the book on insidious celebrations beneath all the synchronized dances and laughter, and yet, Lord of Misrule is an undeniably atmospheric venture into villages of the damned.
Tuppence Middleton leads an excellent ensemble as vicar Rebecca Holland, who — along with her family — are newer residents to the hidden settlement of Berrow. Together with her author husband Henry (Matt Stokoe) and 9-year-old daughter Grace (Evie Templeton), they prepare for a yearly autumn festival where Grace will play the role of “Harvest Angel.
Tuppence Middleton leads an excellent ensemble as vicar Rebecca Holland, who — along with her family — are newer residents to the hidden settlement of Berrow. Together with her author husband Henry (Matt Stokoe) and 9-year-old daughter Grace (Evie Templeton), they prepare for a yearly autumn festival where Grace will play the role of “Harvest Angel.
- 12/8/2023
- by Matt Donato
- DailyDead
Director William Brent Bell (Orphan: First Kill) is back this week with brand new horror movie Lord of Misrule, a folk horror movie starring Tuppence Middleton and Ralph Ineson (The Witch, Green Knight). Magnet Releasing will release Lord of Misrule in theaters and on VOD on December 8, 2023.
Tom de Ville’s (The Quiet Ones) script has been said to echo The Wicker Man and Midsommar. Like The Wicker Man, Lord of Misrule also features original folk horror music, particularly a theme song featured over the end credits. It turns out that the folk song was co-written by Bell himself.
The filmmaker shared the story behind the folk horror tune in a recent chat with Bloody Disgusting (part one here) and also touched upon the mysterious new entity prowling the quaint town at the center of the folk horror nightmare.
Brent Bell explains, “It was always one of the designs of...
Tom de Ville’s (The Quiet Ones) script has been said to echo The Wicker Man and Midsommar. Like The Wicker Man, Lord of Misrule also features original folk horror music, particularly a theme song featured over the end credits. It turns out that the folk song was co-written by Bell himself.
The filmmaker shared the story behind the folk horror tune in a recent chat with Bloody Disgusting (part one here) and also touched upon the mysterious new entity prowling the quaint town at the center of the folk horror nightmare.
Brent Bell explains, “It was always one of the designs of...
- 12/7/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Filmmaker William Brent Bell‘s latest, Lord of Misrule, bears all the familiar earmarks of folk horror. A peculiar town with Pagan roots, bonfires, masked denizens reveling in harvest rituals, and a pious Christian at the center, scrambling to make sense of it all. It’s that well-trodden but visually lush path that serves as refreshing misdirection in a new folk horror entry that attempts to keep its audience on their toes to varying degrees of success.
Tuppence Middleton stars as Rebecca Holland, a Christian preacher who’s recently moved to the quaint town of Burrow with husband Henry (Matt Stokoe) and daughter Grace (Evie Templeton). Burrow accepted her with mostly open arms, attending her sermons weekly and demonstrating patience for Rebecca’s wariness over their Fall harvest festival that’s named Grace as the “Harvest Angel.” Just as soon as Grace is revealed to be a bit of a sociopathic animal abuser,...
Tuppence Middleton stars as Rebecca Holland, a Christian preacher who’s recently moved to the quaint town of Burrow with husband Henry (Matt Stokoe) and daughter Grace (Evie Templeton). Burrow accepted her with mostly open arms, attending her sermons weekly and demonstrating patience for Rebecca’s wariness over their Fall harvest festival that’s named Grace as the “Harvest Angel.” Just as soon as Grace is revealed to be a bit of a sociopathic animal abuser,...
- 12/7/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Jess Franco’s Night Of The Blood Monster (aka The Bloody Judge) is making it's debut on 4K Uhd. Arriving on March 26, 2024, a brand-new 4K master of the complete uncensored version will be released on both 4K Uhd and Blu-ray, with all new bonus features and extras:
Horror Will Hold You Helpless!
Christopher Lee (The Wicker Man) gives one of his most unforgettable performances as Judge Jeffreys, the infamous 17th Century witchfinder whose unholy obsession with a luscious wench (Maria Rohm of Eugenie) fuels a jaw-dropping spree of torture, brutality and flesh-ripping perversion. Howard Vernon (Succubus), Margaret Lee (Five Golden Dragons), Maria Schell (99 Women) and Oscar® nominee Leo Genn (Quo Vadis) co-star in this landmark epic of sexual violence and sadism, complete with a superb score by Bruno Nicolai (Count Dracula) and directed with spectacularly deviant glee by the one and only Jess Franco (Venus In Furs).
Blue Underground...
Horror Will Hold You Helpless!
Christopher Lee (The Wicker Man) gives one of his most unforgettable performances as Judge Jeffreys, the infamous 17th Century witchfinder whose unholy obsession with a luscious wench (Maria Rohm of Eugenie) fuels a jaw-dropping spree of torture, brutality and flesh-ripping perversion. Howard Vernon (Succubus), Margaret Lee (Five Golden Dragons), Maria Schell (99 Women) and Oscar® nominee Leo Genn (Quo Vadis) co-star in this landmark epic of sexual violence and sadism, complete with a superb score by Bruno Nicolai (Count Dracula) and directed with spectacularly deviant glee by the one and only Jess Franco (Venus In Furs).
Blue Underground...
- 12/6/2023
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Director William Brent Bell (Orphan: First Kill) is back with brand new horror movie Lord of Misrule this week, and we’ve got an exclusive clip from the folk horror nightmare.
Magnet Releasing will release Lord of Misrule in theaters and on VOD on December 8, 2023.
Watch the clip below and find the previously released trailer underneath.
The film follows “Rebecca Holland (Tuppence Middleton), who has recently taken over as priest of a small town. When her young daughter Grace (Evie Templeton) goes missing at the local harvest festival, a desperate search begins. The closer they edge towards finding Grace, the more secrets emerge from the town’s dark past. Soon, Rebecca must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to rescue her daughter from the grip of evil.”
Ralph Ineson (The Witch, Green Knight) and Matt Stokoe also star.
Tom de Ville‘s (The Quiet Ones) script has...
Magnet Releasing will release Lord of Misrule in theaters and on VOD on December 8, 2023.
Watch the clip below and find the previously released trailer underneath.
The film follows “Rebecca Holland (Tuppence Middleton), who has recently taken over as priest of a small town. When her young daughter Grace (Evie Templeton) goes missing at the local harvest festival, a desperate search begins. The closer they edge towards finding Grace, the more secrets emerge from the town’s dark past. Soon, Rebecca must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to rescue her daughter from the grip of evil.”
Ralph Ineson (The Witch, Green Knight) and Matt Stokoe also star.
Tom de Ville‘s (The Quiet Ones) script has...
- 12/5/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Capernaum Photo: Fares Sokhon
Capernaum, 1.25am, Film4, Tuesday, December 5
The plight of children on the poverty line in Lebanon is put front and centre by Nadine Labaki's neorealist drama about youngster Zain, who runs away from home after his parents sell his sister. The story unfolds in two strands - one showing him scraping by on the street and the other in the confines of a courtroom where he is suing his parents for neglect. Although Labaki leans into the melodrama a little heavily in places, this is nevertheless a deeply affecting film that grips at a visceral level. Al Rafeea is now resettled in Norway, something Labaki told us about.
The Wicker Man, 10pm, BBC4, Tuesday, December 6
Fifty years to the week from...
Capernaum, 1.25am, Film4, Tuesday, December 5
The plight of children on the poverty line in Lebanon is put front and centre by Nadine Labaki's neorealist drama about youngster Zain, who runs away from home after his parents sell his sister. The story unfolds in two strands - one showing him scraping by on the street and the other in the confines of a courtroom where he is suing his parents for neglect. Although Labaki leans into the melodrama a little heavily in places, this is nevertheless a deeply affecting film that grips at a visceral level. Al Rafeea is now resettled in Norway, something Labaki told us about.
The Wicker Man, 10pm, BBC4, Tuesday, December 6
Fifty years to the week from...
- 12/4/2023
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
For cinephiles and fans of cult classics, BBC Four presents “Ex-s: The Wicker Man,” a documentary delving into the iconic film, “The Wicker Man.” Airing at 12:30 Am on Tuesday, December 6, 2023, this documentary promises an insightful exploration of the cultural phenomenon and enduring legacy of “The Wicker Man.”
The documentary unfolds as a captivating journey, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film and its impact on popular culture. Viewers can anticipate a rich narrative that delves into the intricate details of this cult classic, exploring its themes, production challenges, and the reasons behind its enduring popularity.
With its third-person narrative and simple language, “Ex-s: The Wicker Man” is set to provide a cinematic treat for those eager to unravel the mysteries and magic of this beloved film. Tune in for a late-night rendezvous with the cult classic and gain new perspectives on the making of a film...
The documentary unfolds as a captivating journey, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film and its impact on popular culture. Viewers can anticipate a rich narrative that delves into the intricate details of this cult classic, exploring its themes, production challenges, and the reasons behind its enduring popularity.
With its third-person narrative and simple language, “Ex-s: The Wicker Man” is set to provide a cinematic treat for those eager to unravel the mysteries and magic of this beloved film. Tune in for a late-night rendezvous with the cult classic and gain new perspectives on the making of a film...
- 11/29/2023
- by Posts UK
- TV Everyday
You know, the one silver lining to spooky season ending is that the holidays begin soon after. That means all the things that go bump in the night during October simply retreat into boxes with sharp bows or the shadows under your trees. These are deadly times, when even mistletoe can be deadly, and Bloody Disgusting never misses a chance to deliver a good scare.
In this case, we’re giving away several scares this year. Thanks to our friends at Lionsgate, we’ve put together The Ultimate Holiday Horror Haul, which is a big box chock full of your favorite horror titles from this year and yesteryear. Now, we don’t like to break tradition (as all gifts should be surprises), but here’s the full list of what one lucky US horror fan will receive:
— Blair Witch & The Blair Witch Project Double Feature Walmart Exclusive Steelbook (Blu-ray + Digital...
In this case, we’re giving away several scares this year. Thanks to our friends at Lionsgate, we’ve put together The Ultimate Holiday Horror Haul, which is a big box chock full of your favorite horror titles from this year and yesteryear. Now, we don’t like to break tradition (as all gifts should be surprises), but here’s the full list of what one lucky US horror fan will receive:
— Blair Witch & The Blair Witch Project Double Feature Walmart Exclusive Steelbook (Blu-ray + Digital...
- 11/17/2023
- by Michael Roffman
- bloody-disgusting.com
Some of us best remember Nicolas Cage in dramatic turns like Leaving Las Vegas and Adaptation. For others, it’s his eccentric behaviors like buying dinosaur skulls or remembering his time in the womb. And then there’s the group that sees Nicolas Cage and thinks nothing but the seemingly endless memes. And yes, Cage is well aware of his fame within the meme kingdom. You don’t say!
Nicolas Cage acknowledged his place in various memes by telling The Guardian, “I might have been the first actor who went through a kind of meme-ification…One person had cherrypicked from all these different movies where I was having meltdowns, but without any regard for how the character got to that place. I was frustrated because I didn’t know what people were taking from the movies other than that.” Here, the actor is referring to the “Nic Cage Losing His Shit” video,...
Nicolas Cage acknowledged his place in various memes by telling The Guardian, “I might have been the first actor who went through a kind of meme-ification…One person had cherrypicked from all these different movies where I was having meltdowns, but without any regard for how the character got to that place. I was frustrated because I didn’t know what people were taking from the movies other than that.” Here, the actor is referring to the “Nic Cage Losing His Shit” video,...
- 11/5/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
A classic film that not only endures but continues to inspire half a century later is a true marvel. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, The Wicker Man helped popularize the folk horror genre that continues to flourish with the likes of Midsommar, The Witch, and The Ritual. Its impact extends beyond cinema, from inspiring Radiohead (“Burn the Witch”) and Iron Maiden (“The Wicker Man”) songs to being included in the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.
In the film, Sergeant Neil Howie travels from the mainland to the Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. The devout Christian is appalled to learn that the islanders practice a form of paganism characterized by blasphemous beliefs, degeneracy, doublespeak, and peculiar customs. Like The Bride of Frankenstein, the namesake doesn’t show up until the final moments of the film, but it leaves an indelible impression long after the credits roll.
In the film, Sergeant Neil Howie travels from the mainland to the Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. The devout Christian is appalled to learn that the islanders practice a form of paganism characterized by blasphemous beliefs, degeneracy, doublespeak, and peculiar customs. Like The Bride of Frankenstein, the namesake doesn’t show up until the final moments of the film, but it leaves an indelible impression long after the credits roll.
- 11/3/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
Clockwise from top left: The Wicker Man (Warner Bros.), Vanilla Sky (Paramont), Oldboy (FilmDistrict), The Toy (Columbia)Image: AVClub
In Hollywood, it often seems that the sincerest form of flattery is to remake a foreign film. Domestic versions of international hits are a long-running thing in a town where familiarity assumes success,...
In Hollywood, it often seems that the sincerest form of flattery is to remake a foreign film. Domestic versions of international hits are a long-running thing in a town where familiarity assumes success,...
- 11/1/2023
- by Ian Spelling
- avclub.com
Halloween is perfectly suited for watching movies at home – it’s the time of year where, conceivably, things start getting cooler and a cozy night in with your favorite horror movie is at its most appealing. And thankfully there are plenty of new Blu-rays and 4K Ultra HD discs out there to fill every need, for the fans of the mega-scary, to those who just want to watch a semi-spooky romp with the family.
“Night of the Demons” 4K International Film Marketing
One of the most beloved cult movies of the 1980’s gets gussied up in 4K finery. If you’ve never seen “Night of the Demons,” it’s a hoot – and one of the most Halloween-y movies of the era. It’s about a bunch of kids who break into an abandoned funeral parlor to launch an epic Halloween party. (Shouldn’t they know better?) Soon enough they’re...
“Night of the Demons” 4K International Film Marketing
One of the most beloved cult movies of the 1980’s gets gussied up in 4K finery. If you’ve never seen “Night of the Demons,” it’s a hoot – and one of the most Halloween-y movies of the era. It’s about a bunch of kids who break into an abandoned funeral parlor to launch an epic Halloween party. (Shouldn’t they know better?) Soon enough they’re...
- 10/21/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
You can smell what’s happening in “Starve Acre” before you puzzle the rest of it out. The grassy, peaty dampness of its rural Yorkshire setting seems to hit the olfactory glands without any scratch-and-sniff assistance, only intensifying as the film unearths its literally deep-buried secrets. Daniel Kokotajlo’s impressive second feature unfolds in a vein of British folk horror that has been popular of late — with films from Ben Wheatley’s “A Field in England” to Mark Jenkins’s “Enys Men” all tapping into that retro “Wicker Man” eeriness — but rarely with such rattling sensory specificity or formal refinement. Starring Morfydd Clark and Matt Smith as former townies unprepared for the full burden of lore they inherit with their desolate farmhouse, it’s a tale of quite outlandish fantastical leaps, grounded by the chills it also finds in common weather and wildlife.
Premiering in the main competition at this year’s London Film Festival,...
Premiering in the main competition at this year’s London Film Festival,...
- 10/20/2023
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
With nearly $93 million at the box office on opening weekend alone, “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” concert film is not just a success — it’s a smash. Swift took the film directly to AMC Theaters for distribution, bypassing the major Hollywood studios in a win-win for the theater chain and Swift herself, solidifying the Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and filmmaker as an entrepreneur as well. And judging by the demographic makeup of those who came out in droves on opening weekend, “The Eras Tour” is just the latest example of how catering to female moviegoers pays off.
According to CinemaScore, a whopping 80% of opening weekend attendees were female, compared to the 65% who were female on the opening weekend of July’s blockbuster “Barbie.” The audience skewed younger as well, with 30% of moviegoers falling between the ages of 25-34, 23% between the ages of 18 and 24 and an impressive 20% under the age of 18.
These...
According to CinemaScore, a whopping 80% of opening weekend attendees were female, compared to the 65% who were female on the opening weekend of July’s blockbuster “Barbie.” The audience skewed younger as well, with 30% of moviegoers falling between the ages of 25-34, 23% between the ages of 18 and 24 and an impressive 20% under the age of 18.
These...
- 10/19/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
Robin Hardy’s folk horror classic The Wicker Man introduces its protagonist, Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward), in only a few short scenes that sketch him as a devout Christian and religious conservative. As he takes the sacrament and sings hymns in a small Scottish church, he appears to be in his element but nonetheless uncomfortable. He’s a man who looks petrified to touch any surface of the material world lest it corrupt his being.
One quickly knows everything about how Howie regards the world. This allows The Wicker Man, as written by Anthony Shaffer, to swiftly upend the man’s sense of reality when the police officer flies out to the remote Hebridean town of Summerisle to investigate a missing persons case and discovers that all of the hamlet’s residents practice a pre-Christian form of paganism.
The film lays the town’s practices out in the open,...
One quickly knows everything about how Howie regards the world. This allows The Wicker Man, as written by Anthony Shaffer, to swiftly upend the man’s sense of reality when the police officer flies out to the remote Hebridean town of Summerisle to investigate a missing persons case and discovers that all of the hamlet’s residents practice a pre-Christian form of paganism.
The film lays the town’s practices out in the open,...
- 10/18/2023
- by Jake Cole
- Slant Magazine
There’s a familiar face leading the folk horror in Orphan: First Kill director William Brent Bell‘s Lord of Misrule. Ralph Ineson presides over an eerie bonfire surrounded by masked participants in the brand new trailer for the upcoming release.
Magnet Releasing will release Lord of Misrule in theaters and on VOD on December 8, 2023.
The film follows “Rebecca Holland (Tuppence Middleton), who has recently taken over as priest of a small town. When her young daughter Grace (Evie Templeton) goes missing at the local harvest festival, a desperate search begins. The closer they edge towards finding Grace, the more secrets emerge from the town’s dark past. Soon, Rebecca must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to rescue her daughter from the grip of evil.”
Watch the new trailer below to get a glimpse of the creepy Pagan masks and strange phenomena surrounding Grace’s disappearance.
Magnet Releasing will release Lord of Misrule in theaters and on VOD on December 8, 2023.
The film follows “Rebecca Holland (Tuppence Middleton), who has recently taken over as priest of a small town. When her young daughter Grace (Evie Templeton) goes missing at the local harvest festival, a desperate search begins. The closer they edge towards finding Grace, the more secrets emerge from the town’s dark past. Soon, Rebecca must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to rescue her daughter from the grip of evil.”
Watch the new trailer below to get a glimpse of the creepy Pagan masks and strange phenomena surrounding Grace’s disappearance.
- 10/18/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
The Puppetman is a horror thriller film directed by Brandon Christensen, who also co-wrote with Ryan Christensen and Matt Manjourides. The Shudder film revolves around Michal, the daughter of a convicted killer, who always maintained his innocence by saying that an evil force made him commit those murders. But when people around her start dying in brutal ways Michal starts to realize that there was some truth in her father’s words. So, if you love the Shudder film here are some similar movies you could watch next.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (Max & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Warner Bros.
Synopsis: The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It reveals a chilling story of terror, murder and unknown evil that shocked even experienced real‐life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. One of the most sensational cases from their files, it starts with a fight for...
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (Max & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Warner Bros.
Synopsis: The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It reveals a chilling story of terror, murder and unknown evil that shocked even experienced real‐life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. One of the most sensational cases from their files, it starts with a fight for...
- 10/14/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
London film festival Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark play an unhappy couple who have moved to the moors with their young son, and soon become entwined in the occult
Award-winning director Daniel Kokotajlo made a real impression five years ago with his fiercely distinctive debut feature, Apostasy, set in an enclosed religious world. Here is his diverting but frankly more generic follow-up, adapted from the novel by Andrew Michael Hurley. It is billed as contemporary folk horror but borders on film-school pastiche, and “contemporary” means set in the era of The Wicker Man in the early 70s – a British world of brown corduroy, Austin 1100s, no central heating, odd locals and a persistent, sinister encroaching gloom in the countryside. The movie teeters on a knife-edge between scary and silly, and yet without that weird flavour of silly, the scares wouldn’t mean as much.
Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark, two...
Award-winning director Daniel Kokotajlo made a real impression five years ago with his fiercely distinctive debut feature, Apostasy, set in an enclosed religious world. Here is his diverting but frankly more generic follow-up, adapted from the novel by Andrew Michael Hurley. It is billed as contemporary folk horror but borders on film-school pastiche, and “contemporary” means set in the era of The Wicker Man in the early 70s – a British world of brown corduroy, Austin 1100s, no central heating, odd locals and a persistent, sinister encroaching gloom in the countryside. The movie teeters on a knife-edge between scary and silly, and yet without that weird flavour of silly, the scares wouldn’t mean as much.
Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark, two...
- 10/12/2023
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
In the first of a new monthly Observer column on his favourite film-makers, Mark Kermode salutes the elliptical vision of the director of Don’t Look Now, Walkabout, Performance and so much more
This month marks 50 years since the release of Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now, a personal touchstone movie (adapted from a story by Daphne du Maurier) that is at once an occult chiller, a poignant portrait of married love, a heartfelt meditation on grief and a shaggy dog story with a grisly sting in its tail. The anniversary offers film fans an excuse to dust off this classic, alongside other hallowed 1973 movies such as Enter the Dragon, The Exorcist and The Wicker Man, which was originally the supporting feature for Don’t Look Now (how’s that for a double bill). It also allows me to kick off my new column, focusing each month on a different director, with...
This month marks 50 years since the release of Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now, a personal touchstone movie (adapted from a story by Daphne du Maurier) that is at once an occult chiller, a poignant portrait of married love, a heartfelt meditation on grief and a shaggy dog story with a grisly sting in its tail. The anniversary offers film fans an excuse to dust off this classic, alongside other hallowed 1973 movies such as Enter the Dragon, The Exorcist and The Wicker Man, which was originally the supporting feature for Don’t Look Now (how’s that for a double bill). It also allows me to kick off my new column, focusing each month on a different director, with...
- 9/30/2023
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the folk-horror classic, The Wicker Man, we are giving away The Wicker Man Posters Signed by Britt Ekland to 3 lucky winners!
Studiocanal is delighted to release a glorious new 4K restoration of The Wicker Man. All three versions of the film; The Final Cut, The Director’s Cut and The Theatrical Cut, have been painstakingly restored and will be released in an exclusive 5-disc Collector’s Edition as well as a 4-isc Steelbook version. The Final Cut will also be available on Digital from September 25th.
It Is Time To Keep Your Appointment With The Wicker Man. In the 50 years since its original release, The Wicker Man has achieved true cult status as one of the most revered horror films in cinema history, despite a difficult production and heavily cut original theatrical release. The search for the fabled missing scenes has only added to...
Studiocanal is delighted to release a glorious new 4K restoration of The Wicker Man. All three versions of the film; The Final Cut, The Director’s Cut and The Theatrical Cut, have been painstakingly restored and will be released in an exclusive 5-disc Collector’s Edition as well as a 4-isc Steelbook version. The Final Cut will also be available on Digital from September 25th.
It Is Time To Keep Your Appointment With The Wicker Man. In the 50 years since its original release, The Wicker Man has achieved true cult status as one of the most revered horror films in cinema history, despite a difficult production and heavily cut original theatrical release. The search for the fabled missing scenes has only added to...
- 9/27/2023
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Exclusive: British author Lucy Clarke, who has had two novels adapted for TV by Paramount+, has seen rights to her latest thriller The Hike snapped up by Urban Myth Films.
The Hike will be made into a TV series by the Studiocanal-backed Lazarus Project producer, penned by Boiling Point’s Roanne Bardsley. No network is attached as of yet.
The Hike follows friends Maggie, Helena, Liz and Joni as they leave behind their everyday lives to hike out into the beautiful Norwegian wild. But there’s a darker side to the wilderness – and waiting on the trail is someone who’d do anything to stop the group walking away alive.
The move follows a busy couple of years for Clarke, who has seen her novels No Escape and The Castaways adapted for TV by Paramount+, although neither were produced by Urban Myth. The former starred Abigail Lawrie and Rhianne...
The Hike will be made into a TV series by the Studiocanal-backed Lazarus Project producer, penned by Boiling Point’s Roanne Bardsley. No network is attached as of yet.
The Hike follows friends Maggie, Helena, Liz and Joni as they leave behind their everyday lives to hike out into the beautiful Norwegian wild. But there’s a darker side to the wilderness – and waiting on the trail is someone who’d do anything to stop the group walking away alive.
The move follows a busy couple of years for Clarke, who has seen her novels No Escape and The Castaways adapted for TV by Paramount+, although neither were produced by Urban Myth. The former starred Abigail Lawrie and Rhianne...
- 9/27/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
His horrible mistake with The Wicker Man aside, Neil Labute has a history of making interesting films about uglier aspects of gender relations. He was exploring toxic masculinity long before it became fashionable, and he’s back on that topic here. Though it’s far from his most nuanced work, this home invasion horror tale has a few interesting things to say about expressions of masculinity and femininity within groups of women.
The occasion on which we meet these women is a hen party being held for Rose (Highdee Kuan) at a remote property which was owned by her parents and is now used for holiday rentals. The first people we meet are her older sisters: Tess (Maggie Q), a veteran of combat in Fallujah who has struggled to adjust to civilian life, and Beth (Kat Foster), a deeply conventional middle class woman who is continually embarrassed by this. They are joined.
The occasion on which we meet these women is a hen party being held for Rose (Highdee Kuan) at a remote property which was owned by her parents and is now used for holiday rentals. The first people we meet are her older sisters: Tess (Maggie Q), a veteran of combat in Fallujah who has struggled to adjust to civilian life, and Beth (Kat Foster), a deeply conventional middle class woman who is continually embarrassed by this. They are joined.
- 9/22/2023
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
There’s nothing quite like a good scare, and the best horror movies deliver thrills, chills and spills in equal measure. It can be daunting trying to figure out the right horror movie to watch on your favorite streaming service, but that’s where we come in. We’ve curated a list of some of the best and scariest horror movies on Netflix right now. Films that will rattle you to your bone, give you goosebumps and some that merely excel at giving off extreme spooky vibes. Whatever your pick, you won’t be disappointed.
Here are the best horror movies on Netflix right now.
“Annihilation” Paramount Pictures
Craving an existential crisis? Alex Garland’s “Annihilation” is the horror movie for you. Starring Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez and Oscar Isaac, the film follows a team of scientists who venture into a dangerous, unknown environmental disaster zone dubbed “The Shimmer.
Here are the best horror movies on Netflix right now.
“Annihilation” Paramount Pictures
Craving an existential crisis? Alex Garland’s “Annihilation” is the horror movie for you. Starring Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Gina Rodriguez and Oscar Isaac, the film follows a team of scientists who venture into a dangerous, unknown environmental disaster zone dubbed “The Shimmer.
- 9/22/2023
- by Haleigh Foutch
- The Wrap
This October is a Massive month for horror movies on physical media.
The studios and physical media labels tend to save some of their best stuff for spooky season, and this year is no exception. The Criterion Collection, Kino Lorber, and Shout Studios all have a huge selection this month, and studios like Paramount, Universal, and Lionsgate are bringing forward some awesome releases with unique packaging that will appeal to collectors.
If you haven’t jumped back into the world of physical media, this is as good a time as ever to start a horror movie collection.
The Criterion Collection
‘Videodrome’
The team at the Criterion Collection have truly outdone themselves with horror releases for October. First up on October 3rd is Nicolas Roeg’s thriller Don’t Look Now in a new 4K Uhd release from a recent remastering of the film. This is followed by another 4K Uhd release...
The studios and physical media labels tend to save some of their best stuff for spooky season, and this year is no exception. The Criterion Collection, Kino Lorber, and Shout Studios all have a huge selection this month, and studios like Paramount, Universal, and Lionsgate are bringing forward some awesome releases with unique packaging that will appeal to collectors.
If you haven’t jumped back into the world of physical media, this is as good a time as ever to start a horror movie collection.
The Criterion Collection
‘Videodrome’
The team at the Criterion Collection have truly outdone themselves with horror releases for October. First up on October 3rd is Nicolas Roeg’s thriller Don’t Look Now in a new 4K Uhd release from a recent remastering of the film. This is followed by another 4K Uhd release...
- 9/21/2023
- by Jeff Rauseo
- bloody-disgusting.com
Beyond Fest returns with an eclectic mix of films that will have you racing to pick up tickets! With over 55 films, there's something for everyone, including early screenings of The Toxic Avenger, a 10th anniversary screening of Pacific Rim with Guillermo del Toro in attendence, a screening of The Wicker Man with Britt Ekland in attendance, and more. Here are all of the details from the press release:
Beyond Fest, the highest-attended genre film festival in the US, is excited to announce its complete slate of 2023 programming comprising 55 features, including 5 world premieres, 3 North American Premieres, 7 US premieres, and 18 West Coast Premieres. After entertaining over 19,000 guests in 2022, Beyond Fest returns for its 11th edition from September 26th - October 10th. Built in partnership with the American Cinematheque and presented exclusively by Neon, Beyond Fest will screen at the Aero Theatre, Los Feliz 3 and Regency Village Theatre with all ticket sales going...
Beyond Fest, the highest-attended genre film festival in the US, is excited to announce its complete slate of 2023 programming comprising 55 features, including 5 world premieres, 3 North American Premieres, 7 US premieres, and 18 West Coast Premieres. After entertaining over 19,000 guests in 2022, Beyond Fest returns for its 11th edition from September 26th - October 10th. Built in partnership with the American Cinematheque and presented exclusively by Neon, Beyond Fest will screen at the Aero Theatre, Los Feliz 3 and Regency Village Theatre with all ticket sales going...
- 9/14/2023
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
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