Movies
IFC Midnight Picks Up ‘Rites of Spring’ Slasher!
IFC Midnight – a distributor that is definitely in tune with what genre fans would call “films of interest” – has acquired U.S. rights to director Padraig Reynolds’ kidnapping thriller Rites of Spring, which stars genre faves AJ Bowen (The Signal, House of the Devil, A Horrible Way to Die, Hatchet 2) and Anessa Ramsey (YellowBrickRoad, The Signal). It also features creature design by Aaron Sims (A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child, Wrong Turn, The Mist, I Am Legend, Clash of the Titans, The Thing). Color me intrigued (whatever shade that is).
No release date has been announced yet. Judging from the trailer, which you can check out after the break, it looks like a killer scarecrow flick, but I could be way off-base.
In the film, “A group of kidnappers abduct the daughter of a wealthy socialite and hide out in an abandoned school on the edge of town. But feelings of guilt soon overtake the kidnappers, dividing the group and putting their entire plan in jeopardy. The evening further spirals out of control when their poorly chosen hideout becomes a hunting ground for a mysterious creature that requires springtime ritualistic sacrifices.”
The past comes back to haunt in the first teaser for The Cycle, the latest from director Jordan Downey ( The Head Hunter, V/H/S/Beyond).
Deborah Ann Woll (“Daredevil: Born Again“, Escape Room) stars as woman shocked to discover that a recent body discovered at a crime scene turns out to be her estranged father. It unleashes a supernatural nightmare.
The Cycle will debut exclusively on Shudder on October 23, 2026.
The logline reads, “When the body of a man missing for thirty-six years is discovered at the scene of a horrific crime, it’s up to his estranged daughter to unravel his dark past.“
Jeffrey Donovan (“Burn Notice“, Villains) also stars.
Jordan Downey wrote the screenplay with Kevin Stewart (The Head Hunter).
“We are so excited about The Cycle; Jordan has crafted such an original story that is gonna excite audiences. For us he has the ability to be the next great genre filmmaker and we can’t wait to make the movie,” said James Harris of production company Tea Shop (Obsession, 47 Meters Down). Peter Heller also produces.
Deborah Ann Woll rose to fame as the feisty vampire Jessica Hamby in HBO’s “True Blood” before becoming a fan favorite as Karen Page in Marvel’s “Daredevil” series. While horror fans recognize her from Escape Room and its sequel, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions, the versatile actress has captured gamers’ attention as Laufey, Kratos’ wife in God of War: Ragnarök. She’ll receive her solo spinoff game in the upcoming God of War: Laufey.
Check out the unsettling new teaser below and expect to learn more as we get closer to the Halloween season.