The fest played host to the world premiere screening of The Purge, Uni’s collaboration with genre buffs Platinum Dunes and Blumhouse.

In theaters June 7 from director James DeMonaco, the pic takes place in an America wracked by crime, where the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period in which any and all criminal activity—including murder—is legal. Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Max Burkholder, Adelaide Kane, Edwin Hodge, Tony Oller and Rhys Wakefield all star.

Here’s Myers’ mixed-positive review.

There’s no denying that the United States has forged a unique, often cinematic relationship with violence over the past two centuries. From genocide to school shootings, this country has seen it all. It’s perhaps the biggest theme running through The Purge, a clever and exciting thriller with one hell of an elevator pitch for a plot: What would life in America be like if crime was legalized for one night a year?

Not so bad, it turns out. Especially not for James Sandin, played by Ethan Hawke. We follow him he returns to his home in a well-to-do suburban neighborhood, hours before the big night, which is referred to simply as the “Purge.” He’s made a mint in the high-end security business, turning homesteads into fortresses in advance of the big night. Hawke fills the role well, sounding so self-assured as he explains to his skeptical son Charlie how the “Purge” has more or less saved America from self-destruction. He’d sound smug if he weren’t so fatherly. But shortly after the evening begins, Charlie is unable to ignore the bedraggled stranger out on his street, begging for shelter. He lets him in, not quite anticipating the company who has targeted him.

The Purge ultimately is a home invasion film, but its twisted conceit puts some well-needed tweaks on the genre, some of which are surprising or at least interesting. The pace is great and the action is good, but above all The Purge is unsettling. There’s almost something masterful about the way DeMonaco references modern Americana all over the film, reflecting the ceremony that surrounds beloved events like Halloween or the Super Bowl. There’s also Rhys Wakefield as the film’s memorable antagonist, the polite leader of the band of masked marauders trying to break into the home. Smartly dressed and with plenty of charm, he’s a bit more nuanced and far more creepy than your average Patrick Bateman clone. Moreso than any other actor, Wakefield’s presence makes The Purge click.

Some will be disappointed that the film keeps the focus to the Sandin home, largely leaving the rest of America to our imaginations, but it’s a wise decision. There’s plenty of hints and allusions to chew over, and it’s kind of fun to ruminate on the possibilities of an evening without rules. Just don’t start whipping out the party favors. -Erik Myers

What we have to win are the following:

(1) Grand Prize = 1 BLU-RAY + 1 Warm Bodies Book + 1 t-shirt + 1 sweatshirt + 1 mini one-sheet signed (Teresa Palmer, Nicholas Hoult, Analeigh Tipton, Dave Franco, Jonathan Levine and Isaac Marion (the author))
(2) Runners Up = 2 DVD (each runner up would get 1 DVD)

TO ENTER: Just e-mail your FULL NAME ADDRESS submit@bloody-disgusting.com.

Winners will be chosen at random on June 4. Winners must live in the U.S. No PO Boxes.

Lionsgate and Summit Entertainment will be releasing Jonathon Levine’s Warm Bodies, based on Isaac Marion’s novel, on June 4th (following a digital download window starting May 14th). The Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray/Digital Copy/UltraViolet Copy) will feature 1080p, 2.40:1 video, DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 English and Dolby Digital 5.1 Spanish audio options, and English SDH and Spanish subtitles. The DVD Combo Pack (DVD/Digital Copy/UltraViolet Copy) will feature anamorphic 2.40:1 video, Dolby Digital 5.1 English and Spanish audio options, and English and Spanish subtitles.

“A funny new twist on a classic love story, Warm Bodies is a poignant tale about the power of human connection. After a zombie epidemic, R (a highly unusual zombie) encounters Julie (a human survivor), and rescues her from a zombie attack. Julie sees that R is different from the other zombies, and as the two form a special relationship in their struggle for survival, R becomes increasingly more human – setting off an exciting, romantic and often comical chain of events that begins to transform the other zombies and maybe even the whole lifeless world.”

DVD Extra reports that the Blu-ray and DVD extras are set to include: Boy Meets, er, Doesn’t Eat Girl featurette, R&J featurette, A Little Less Dead featurette, Extreme Zombie Make-Over! featurette, A Wreck in Progress featurette, Bustin’ Caps featurette, Beware of The Boneys featurette, Whimsical Sweetness: Teresa Palmer’s Warm Bodies Home Movies featurette, Zombie Acting Tips with Rob Corddry featurette, Audio Commentary with Director Jonathon Levine and Actors Nicholas Hoult and Teresa Palmer, Deleted Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary with Screenwriter/Director Jonathan Levine, Shrug and Groan Gag Reel.

Sam Neill, who you may better remember as Dr. Alan Grant in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 Jurassic Park, talked to the Dominion Post about Universal Pictures’ forthcoming sequel. His response was stomach-churning.

“I’m told it’s a big reboot, a total re-jig.”

The project, which was being called Jurassic Park IV, was put on hold this month so Safety Not Guaranteed‘s Colin Trevorrow could further develop the screenplay with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. Behind-the-scenes rumblings were that the plot could be about the government who has trained dinosaurs to carry weapons and use them for battle purposes.

And Collider, who caught wind of this shocking blurb, pointed out that producer Frank Marshall told them the project is not a reboot.

Still, you have to admit the timing is weird, especially since the 3-D re-release did quite well, and the fact that Trevorrow was scouting the same locations as the first film. Could Uni have decided they want a reboot instead of a sequel? Will they pull the ol’ title trick and have the park just re-open having similar events occur? If they do, expect the new title to be The Jurassic Park.

And I’m not one to shame a remake, but come on, Jurassic Park is a perfect movie. Neill shouldn’t even joke about it…

The Town That Dreaded Sundown is a hugely entertaining atmospheric thriller saved from the bowels of obscurity by Scream Factory. It plays out more like a police procedural than a horror film (like Zodiac), with moments of terror and misplaced comedy peppered throughout. The film becomes even more interesting when you realize that, holy shit, it really is based on a true story of one of America’s earliest serial killers. Luckily, the new Blu-ray/DVD release from Scream Factory provides plenty of true crime trivia about the actual “Phantom Killer” that paralyzed the twin cities of Texarkana with fear back in 1946, while also giving the film its best presentation ever.

Filmmaker Charles B. Pierce took some liberties with his fictionalized depictions of the real life events, but it’s nonetheless an engaging and disturbing account of the killings. The film’s opening narration paints a post-WWII small town storybook world where everything was “swell.” Like most small towns back in the ’40s, the local youths of Texarkana slobbered all over each other in cars parked along the darkest parts of lonely roads. This sets the scene for the first attack by the hooded madman.

Shortly after this first attack, Deputy Norman Ramsey (Andrew Pine) comes across two gruesomely murdered people in the forest and just misses catching the killer. Now the grave seriousness of the situation is felt and the local police call in the cavalry. Texas Ranger Morales (Ben Johnson) arrives to help with his steely gaze and cowboy cool. While the cops scramble for a lead, the town is gripped with fear and people are afraid to leave their house at night. Y’know, they dread sundown.

Much like Pierce’s previous film The Legend of Boggy Creek, Sundown is presented as a quasi-documentary. The narration starts off enjoyable, setting the scene for the peaceful town to be shattered by the killer, but then it becomes annoying as it pretty much warns the audience that another person is about to be murdered. The kills themselves are pretty plausible, although there is one infamous scene involving a girl tied to a tree and a trombone. Although it’s an awful silly bit, after a few seconds of watching it the absurdity becomes disturbing in itself.

All the while, false accusations, spooked old women, and other paranoid distractions constantly hinder the investigation by Morales and the police. The whole town and surrounding areas were paralyzed with fear for several months, so it’s hard to grasp on film the urgency and tiredness experienced by law enforcement during this time. But it’s great that Pierce focused so much attention on the efforts of the law in the film, rather than just dwelling on the horrible murders. The film doesn’t feel like exploitation, which it very easily could have.

And the scariest part of it all: the killer was never caught. The murders just stopped and the police never solved the case. Some crime enthusiasts believe that the Phantom Killer could possibly be the Zodiac Killer, who operated in the San Francisco area in the late-‘60s, but shit, who knows.

The only parts that fumble a bit are the regrettable comedic moments. Pierce also stars in the film as “Sparkplug,” an enthusiastic Barney Fife character who bumbles his way through police work. On more than one occasion a failed joke or gag is accompanied by some form of the “sad trombone.” These well-intentioned bits sharply interrupt the serious ambience of the film, but at least they’re few and spaced far enough apart that they don’t ruin the whole thing.

True crime nuts and horror fans sort of go hand-in-hand, so The Town That Dreaded Sundown is sort of a perfect storm in that regard. And Scream Factory’s package comes very, very highly recommended.

Special Features

Audio Commentary with Fangoria’s Justin Beahm and Historian Jim Presley: This track is a must-listen for anyone interested in the true-life killings. Jim Presley is an expert on the Phantom Killer and even grew up in and around Texarkana during the time. There’s loads of insight about the film’s accuracy and the gruesome murders.

Interview with Actor Andrew Pine: in this bit, Pine discusses what it was like working with Pierce and his enjoyment of the whole “circus” atmosphere. He’s got nothing but nice things to say about the people of Texarkana and how welcoming they were to the whole cast and crew.

Interview with Actress Dawn Wells: Wells (best known as Mary Anne from Gilligan’s Island) plays one of the real life women who survived an attack by the Phantom Killer. She tells a really funny and terrifying story about the pit bull used in her scene. And in case you were wondering, yes, she’s still the sexiest woman on the island. I was never into that slut Ginger.

Interview with DP James Roberson: This refined gentleman details how he got into cinematography and how he got involved with the project. He worked with Pierce previously on Winterhawk and has fond memories of the filmmaker.

“The Phantom of Texarkana”: this is a fantastic essay that covers the film and the real-life killer. There is some great information about the local backlash against the film and subsequent embrace

Trailer, Poster, and Still Gallery

SUPER AWESOME BONUS FEATURE: On the included DVD of Sundown, you’ll find Charles B. Pierce’s 1979 film The Evictors. This one’s another thriller and period piece set around World War II. A couple moves into a run-down house in Louisiana. Years before the house was the scene of a grisly showdown between landlord and tenants and, of course, some secrets stayed within the walls. It’s a genuinely moody, atmospheric film with some scary moments that are truly earned. Bravo, Scream Factory, for throwing in such a great bonus.

Oriol Paulo, who helmed Rodar’s early-year hit El cuerpo (The Body; pictured), has written a second-draft screenplay and is on board to direct.

“A typical character-driven psychological thriller, a mix that has won Spanish genre movies admirers and buyers around the world, Mirage turns on a mother battling to find her lost son. It is set in parallel worlds of 1980, 2000 and 2014,” said Rodar producer Joaquin Padro.

“Mirage is based on a terrifying premise,” Paulo said. “What if one life had to be lost in order to save another?”

A more detailed plot is under wraps.

Movie is set in a middle-class small U.S. town, he added. Rodar aims to shoot exteriors in North America, interiors in Spain, where costs are considerably lower.

In the ’80s, a lot of horny teenage campers got dismembered on screen. The Burning was released in the wake the massive success of Friday the 13th and added its fair share of corpses to the pile. But what makes the victims in The Burning different than those in the majority slasher films is that these kids are pretty damn likable. Usually you can’t wait for the obnoxious teens to get torn up, but the campers at Camp Stonewater are easy to root for. Besides one rapey scumbag, everyone else is pretty cool and the film itself is very entertaining and fun.

The film begins in 1976 at Camp Blackfoot. A group of campers sneak out out of their cabin in the middle of the night to pull a prank on Cropsy, the camp’s caretaker. By “prank” I mean they accidentally set him on fire and he’s horribly disfigured for life. Jump five years in the future and Cropsy gets released from the hospital. He dresses himself like Darkman and picks up a hooker. After killing her with a pair of scissors (foreshadowing the pruning shears to come), he sets out for Camp Stonewater, where one of the campers involved with the prank is now a counselor.

We hang out with the Stonewater kids as they play softball, buy condoms and porno mags, take a canoe trip – the usual summer camp activities. Two notable campers are a young and very skinny Fisher Stevens (Short Circuit) and a not-so-bald, not-so-stocky Jason Alexander (aka George “Lord of the Idiots” Costanza). Like I mentioned earlier, all of the campers, besides one skeezy guy, are entirely likable. Camp Stonewater looks like a decent camp void of sadistic counselors and perverse kids. I would’ve wanted to go there as a teen, for sure.

Before Cropsy can start picking the kids off, a counselor named Todd tells the ghost story of the horribly burnt caretaker over a campfire. Later in the film, Todd squares off with Cropsy and, during their struggle, the counselor suddenly remembers that he was involved with the original prank, which is weird because he earlier told the story. Maybe he repressed the memory or something. Anyway, after Todd tells the story, a shy camper starts seeing Cropsy around the camp. You know what’s coming next: teenage bloodbath.

It’s formulaic stuff, but at least there are some genuinely suspenseful moments and great kills that elevate the film above many slashers that were churned out during this period. One notable kill scene involves a massacre on a raft that the distributor demanded be cut for the theatrical release. It is a very nasty scene but nothing that’ll churn a contemporary audiences’ stomach. In the UK, The Burning was even added to the infamous “video nasty” list. The gore is pretty top-notch, thanks to effects maestro Tom Savini. Because of some adverse feelings he had towards a proposed sequel to Friday the 13th, Savini left the production to work on The Burning instead.

It is kind of a bummer that Todd defeats Cropsy in the end. Morally it’s pretty shitty. Todd was part of the group that disfigured and nearly burned the poor bastard to death in the first place. They talk about how surly and mean he was to the campers, but is that worth a prank that nearly killed him. Take it up with the camp owners, for chrissakes. So Cropsy came back for revenge and wound up getting finished off by one of the same kids who fucked him up in the first place. Hunky counselor = 1. Cropsy = 0.

At least Scream Factory has given this nasty little amoral film a fantastic Blu-ray release. Slasher fans should be doing backflips for this release – highly recommended!

A/V

Scream Factory presents The Burning with a 1080p transfer in 1.85:1 widescreen. Contrast and detail in close-ups are strong and besides a few minor blemishes, there’s nothing to bitch about. It’s an obvious upgrade from previous home video offerings of the film, that’s for sure. The DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 sounds really god too – nothing negative to report here.

Special Features

Audio Commentary with Director Tony Maylam and Film Journalist Alan Jones: This very entertaining commentary track features Maylam dishing the dirt about the Weinsteins and telling many other engaging anecdotes. It’s a lively track and definitely worth a listen.

Audio Commentary with Shelley Bruce and Bonnie Deroski: While I’m bummed they didn’t (or couldn’t) get Jason Alexander or Fisher Stevens to participate, this commentary track is a decent listen nonetheless.

Interview with Editor Jack Sholder: Sholder talks about how he got into editing and how he originally had no interest in horror films.

Interview with Actor Lou David: In this 10-minute interview with Cropsy himself, David talks about how his unique looks get him typecast as creeps. He also tells a nice little anecdote about his child, who came into this world right before filming The Burning.

Interview with Tom Savini: The effects legend talks about why he left Friday the 13th Pt. II for The Burning. He covers many of the film’s key effects, including the prank scene and the design of Cropsy’s disfigured face. He’s such an enthusiastic, animated gentleman that’s a pleasure to listen to. In one bittersweet moment, Savini does mention how one of the film’s key stuntmen passed away at far too young an age.

Interview with Actress Leah Ayres: She talks about how she transitioned from modern dance into movies and what it was like working with such a young cast.

Behind the Scenes Footage: There’s some great footage in this 8-minute montage, including Savini performing the burning legs scene in the beginning of the film. There’s lots of fire and lots of awesome stunts.

Still Gallery

Trailer

Overall Score: 4.5 outta 5

Rachel Ooze — a squishier, slimier version of the Rachel already revealed as a playable character — will be joining Lady HUNK as DLC for Revelations’ Raid Mode.

The DLC will be released in batches, with the Resistance and Enhancement Sets coming June 4. They each bring six weapon upgrades and will be priced at 160 MSP, or $1.99. The following week they’ll be joined by the new Raid Mode characters — Lady HUNK and Rachel Ooze — for 240 MSP ($2.99). After that, on June 18, we’ll get weapon upgrade packs for Jill Valentine, Parker Luciani and Jessica Sherawat for 80 MSP ($0.99) each.

Resident Evil: Revelations releases on the PS3, Xbox 360, PC and Wii U on May 21 (that’s tomorrow!).

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

The mythology Barbiere builds here is incredible. We’re lead to believe that it is harnessing the sheer power of dreams that allows for a good story. The collective unconscious, and its essence within all of us seem to be the key to any good literary character. Which provide ample amounts of questions for Fabian’s powers.

We are transported to the forgotten city, which like any forgotten city, is illustrious and beautiful. We come to learn that Fabian’s vampire transformation has weakened him significantly. Through a beautiful two page spread we learn the history of the dreamstone and Fabian’s power. Just as the exposition seems to be getting a little slow, an attack is launched and Fabian reignites his powers. The most interesting element of all this is the revelation that Fabian’s powers will seemingly kill him if he doesn’t soon learn how to control them.

Chris Mooneyham’s art continues to be breathtaking. The two page spread detailing the history of the dreamstone is just impeccable. He varies his style to create a real sense of history and never ceases to keep things interesting. Clean action just jumps off of the page, and close-ups give an incredible sense of character reaction in the pivotal moments. The pulp style remains in tact and holds the entire issue together. The use of sound effects to break up the panels is refreshing. While the amazing use of perspective allow the scope of the story to remain huge.

Mooneyham’s ability to linger in a moment is fantastic and allows the emotional beats of the story to resonate through the art. Sadly there is no insanity like the vampire panels in this issue. However, I’m happy to report that Mooneyham made sure to go out with a bang. The final page not only sets up the next issue spectacularly, but leaves me wanting the next issue NOW.

Five Ghosts is an incredible tribute to pulp stories that you just can’t find anywhere else these days. Baberie and Mooneyham understand the power of comics as a medium and “Five Ghosts” is an epic display of their mastery. They fully utilize their ideas in a way that could never translate to any other medium. I’m so hooked I feel dependent on the book. I guarantee that by the end of the year, “Five Ghosts” is what everyone will be talking about.

4.5/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – Jimbus_Christ

Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, James Franco, Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, Aziz Ansari, Emma Watson, Jason Segel and David Krumholtz all on this gory horror comedy. Rogen wrote the script with Goldberg. The project is inspired by a short called “Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalypse” that featured Rogen and Jay Baruchel playing themselves, holed up in an apartment as they dealt with the end of the world.

“The comedy This Is The End follows six friends trapped in a house after a series of strange and catastrophic events devastate Los Angeles. As the world unravels outside, dwindling supplies and cabin fever threaten to tear apart the friendships inside. Eventually, they are forced to leave the house, facing their fate and the true meaning of friendship and redemption.”

This Is The End hits June 14th!

“The Strain,” an adaptation of del Toro’s vampire novel trilogy, formally has a pilot order, but is being eyed for a 13-episode series pickup.

“The Strain is a high-concept thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Stoll), the head of the Centers for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. Actress-singer Maestro, repped by ICM Partners and 3 Arts, plays Dr. Nora Martinez, who works so closely with Ephraim, they finish each other’s sentences and stumble into an affair. A brilliant biochemist, Martinez cares more about people than the diseases that threaten them, but she will soon be forced to embrace a new identity as a ruthless warrior.”

Del Toro will direct the pilot from a script he co-wrote with Chuck Hogan, who also co-authored the books with del Toro. Cuse, who helped develop the adaptation, executive produces alongside del Toro and will serve as showrunner, overseeing the potential series with del Toro. Hogan and Gary Ungar also serve as exec producers of the project, produced by FX Prods.

This marks a return to series television for Alias alumna Maestro, who will next be seen in starring in the indie Some Girls, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival.

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

Huge congrats to the DreadOut team. I’m going to go stock up on film so I’ll be ready to kick serious ghostly ass when the game releases on Steam later this year.

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

The console’s design was surprisingly absent when Sony first unveiled it back in February, leaving many of us to wonder whether it’s design would mess with the delicate balance of our living room’s feng shui. Unfortunately, we still don’t have an answer to that. What we do have is a batch of close-ups and a blurry teaser, both of which you can enjoy after the jump.

If the following images and blurry teaser aren’t enough for you, Sony will be putting everything in focus during their pre-E3 press conference on June 10.

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

“Sleepy Hollow,” from “Transformers” team Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, finds Ichabod Crane (Tom Mison) being resurrected to find a world on the brink of doom.

From co-creators/executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (the Star Trek and Transformers franchises, “Fringe”), the thrilling new action-adventure “Sleep Hollow” is a modern-day retelling of Washington Irving’s classic. ICHABOD CRANE (Tom Mison) is resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time to find that the world is on the brink of destruction and that he is humanity’s last hope, forcing him to team up with a contemporary police officer (Nicole Beharie) to unravel a mystery that dates all the way back to the founding fathers.

“Sleepy Hollow” is from K/O Paper Products in association with 20th Century Fox Television. The series is co-created by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Phillip Iscove and Len Wiseman (“Hawaii Five-0,” Underworld and Total Recall). The series is executive-produced by Kurtzman, Orci and Wiseman and Heather Kadin. Iscove serves as supervising producer. Wiseman directed the pilot.

I’ve already watched it twice, because I’m a geek and I like watching guys flip, spin, and beat the crap out of each other while tossing out the random gruff one-liner so their opponent knows their superhero suit is isn’t nearly as cool as what they have on. I could totally keep going, but I’m positive 99% of you have already skimmed past my ramblings so you can watch the trailer. Thanks for that.

Batman: Arkham Origins launches on October 25 for the PC, PS3, Wii U and Xbox 360.

Have a question? Feel free to ever-so-gently toss Adam an email, or follow him on Twitter and Bloody Disgusting.

Before getting into the actual plot, it’s important to note that Aykroyd boldly stated that Bill Murray is not currently part of the movie. “He’s a good friend, I love him, he just doesn’t want to reprise the role. However, there will be a hole for him. If Billy wants to walk in the door and be in the movie, we will find a place.”

But, as we previously revealed, Ghostbusters 3 will feature a new cast of Busters. “We’re going to have to cast. We need four new ghostbusters. We need four new Columbia students,” stated Aykroyd.

As far as the plot of Ghostbusters 3, Dan Aykroyd said, “It’s based upon new research that’s being done in particle physics by the young men and women at Columbia University.” Aykroyd added, “Basically there’s research being done that…I can say that the world or our dimension that we live in, our four planes of existence, length, height, width, and time, become threatened by some of the research that is being done. And Ghostbusters, new Ghostbusters have to come and solve the problem.”

“Of course, we’re going to be doing you in your new format as you comment on what’s happening in Manhattan up there at Morningside Heights,” he adds, joking about King’s new role. “It’s going to be quite a spectacular scene once the stuff starts to break.”

In our old breaking news, we exclusively reported that the pic follows a ragtag group of paranormal researchers reopen their notorious ghost removal service, and a new generation of Ghostbusters is brought on board to be green slimed and trained to contain the mischievous spirits. The new ‘Busters could be lead by Dana and Peter’s lovechild, Oscar, although without Murray, this could be written out.

Ivan Reitman will direct for Columbia Pictures, with Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Rick Moranis, Sigourney Weaver all rumored to be returning.

Watch the interview bit below, thanks to Hulu. Thanks to ComicBook.com for the tip.

Megadeth will be releasing their new album Super Collider on June 4th.

Got any thoughts/questions/concerns for Jonathan Barkan? Shoot him a message on Twitter or on Bloody-Disgusting!

He will begin shooting the movie as soon as September in Toronto, Canada.

In exclusive first details, the new version follows Eric Bowen and his family who, after he loses his job, relocate to a new town to start anew. His daughter, Madison, is abducted, making him truly understand what’s important in life: family. In the new version, Eric’s wife, Amy, can communicate with the dead.

Another interesting new character is Carrigan Burke, a television personality who hosts “Haunted House Cleaners.”” The supernatural doesn’t scare this guy. Dr. Brooke Powell is Carrigan’s ex-wife who is a parapsychologist at a local university.Her team investigates the supernatural events surrounding the disappearance of the Bowen girl.

David Lindsay-Abaire is listed as the main screenwriter although Juliet Snowden and Stiles White has previously worked on it.

Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Roy Lee produce.

The tale continues in a new series from Arcana this June, despite the fact that it’s still being Kickstarted. How is it being solicited when it’s still seeking crowd funding? Your guess is as good as mine. You can read the FCBD teaser on ComiXology for free.

UPDATE: I spoke with series Erik Hendrix Re: the whole Kickstarter thing. Apparently the first three-issue arc is set for release and the Kickstarter campaign is to determine whether the series will continue after that. They are hoping to put the fate of the book in the hands’ of the readers rather than the retailers.

The first issue hits shops in June, 2013

THE STEAM ENGINES OF OZ #1
WRITTEN BY: Sean Patrick O’Reilly and Erik Hendrix
ART BY: Yannis Roumboulias
PUBLISHER: Arcana
PRICE: $3.99
RELEASE: June 2013

Straight from the pages of our FCBD Preview, The Steam Engines of Oz has arrived! Find out how the Emerald City has transformed in the last 100 years as Victoria Wright and her friends plot their escape only to fall into the clutches of a terrifying threat. This re-imagining of Oz through a SteamPunk lens is a must read for fans of Oz, SteamPunk, an exciting story, and fantastic art.

Deadly spirits, back from the grave with vengeance in mind give fuel to these tales of supernatural horror.

From Filmmakers Richard Stoudt and Laurence C. Holloway comes three tales of terror, including one story adapted from the work of master horror writer Gary Brandner author of “The Howling”.

“Invitation” based on a short story by Gary Brandner, tells the creepy tale of Len Krager, a life loser who attends a party he’ll never forget! “All Hallows’ Eve” is an exercise in suspense and atmosphere set on an eventful Halloween night. Robert Mundy is bitter since the accidental death of his brother on Halloween night. This Halloween night will be different as a vengeful ghost will seek retribution. Ghostly road hazards endanger a young used car owner in the turbo-charged yarn “Re-Possessed”, a spine tingling ‘vehicle’ for absolute fright. Jeff purchases a killer car for a killer deal……not knowing the car wants his body and soul!

Directed by Richard Stoudt and Laurence C. Holloway, the pic stars David Nelson, Michael Hanelin, Chris Labadie, Scarlett O’Neil, Maryam Cne, Michelle Green, Bobby Shook, James Leatherman, Sean Ryan McBride, Brandon Thomas, Sarah Masters, Corey Henderson.

The first issue hits on June 6th, 2013.

In My Chemical Romance’s album Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, the Killjoys fought against the megacorporation Better Living Industries. It cost them their lives, save for one—the mysterious Girl. Now, the followers of the original Killjoys languish in the desert while BLI strips citizens of their individuality. As the fight for freedom fades, it’s left to the Girl to bring them down.

In theaters July 12, “When legions of monstrous creatures, known as Kaiju, started rising from the sea, a war began that would take millions of lives and consume humanity’s resources for years on end. To combat the giant Kaiju, a special type of weapon was devised: massive robots, called Jaegers, which are controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge. But even the Jaegers are proving nearly defenseless in the face of the relentless Kaiju. On the verge of defeat, the forces defending mankind have no choice but to turn to two unlikely heroes-a washed up former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and an untested trainee (Rinko Kikuchi)-who are teamed to drive a legendary but seemingly obsolete Jaeger from the past. Together, they stand as mankind’s last hope against the mounting apocalypse.”

Charlie Hunnam, Charlie Day, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Robert Kazinsky, Ron Perlman, Max Martini, Clifton Collins, Jr., Burn Gorman, Larry Joe Campbell, Diego Klattenhoff and Brad William Henke all star.

In theaters February 7, 2014, “In RoboCop, the year is 2029 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the centre of robot technology. Their drones are winning American wars around the globe and now they want to bring this technology to the home front. Alex Murphy is a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit. After he is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp utilises their remarkable science of robotics to save Alex’s life. He returns to the streets of his beloved city with amazing new abilities, but with issues a regular man has never had to face before. ”

Director Jose Padilha (Elite Squad) reimagines the tale of part man, part machine, all cop starring Joel Kinnaman (“The Killing”) as the title character, Gary Oldman (The Dark Knight Rises) as the scientist who creates RoboCop, and Samuel L. Jackson (Snakes on a Plane, The Avengers) as media mogul Pat Novak. Peter Weller played the character in the original and the 1990 sequel.

“Season 3 will pick up four months after the events that nearly ended Jackson’s life and resurrected Peter Hale when teen werewolf Scott McCall and his friends Stiles, Lydia, and Allison begin their junior year of high school unaware that a new threat has arrived in Beacon Hills: a deadly pack of Alpha werewolves intent on bringing Derek into their fold. In the Season 3 premiere a new Alpha Pack arrives to wreak havoc on Scott’s life while Derek and Isaac struggle to locate Erica and Boyd.”

MTV will air the hour-long special “Teen Wolf: Back to the Pack” on Monday, May 27th, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT to give viewers a chance to catch up on all the action, scares, laughs, and romance from the first two seasons of “Teen Wolf.” Fans will have access to behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast as they look back at Seasons 1 and 2 plus look forward with a special Season 3 sneak peek.

Season 3 will also feature several new faces in Beacon Hills, including: Ethan and Aiden, twin Alpha werewolves played by Charlie and Max Carver; Gideon Emery as Deucalion, leader of the Alpha werewolves; Kali, an Alpha werewolf played by Felisha Terrell; Brian Patrick Wade as Ennis, an Alpha werewolf who is a force of pure brutality; and Cora, a tough 17-year-old who has ties to the Beacon Hills werewolf line, played by Adelaide Kane. This season will also mark the return of series stars Tyler Posey as Scott McCall, Crystal Reed as Allison Argent, Dylan O’Brien as Stiles, Tyler Hoechlin as Derek Hale, and Holland Roden as Lydia Martin.

The third season comes on the heels of a highly successful second season in which the show was the #1 cable series among P12-34 in its time period and averaged a 1.6 rating among P12-34, marking a 7-percent increase over Season 1. (Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Ssn 2: 6/3/12-8/13/12. Ranked on 000s.)

“Teen Wolf” was developed by Jeff Davis (creator, “Criminal Minds”), who also serves as executive producer. Additional executive producers include Marty Adelstein (“Prison Break”), René Echevarria (“Medium,” “Castle”), Tony DiSanto, and Liz Gateley. Russell Mulcahy (“Highlander,” Resident Evil: Extinction) is co-executive producer. The pilot was written by Jeff Davis and Jeph Loeb & Matthew Weisman and directed by Russell Mulcahy. The “Teen Wolf” series is based on a screenplay by Jeph Loeb & Matthew Weisman. Justin Levy is the MTV executive in charge of production. The series is a co-production with, and distributed by, MGM in association with Lost Marbles Productions, Inc., First Cause, Inc., and DiGa.

“Sheltered” is a five-issue first arc. Issue # drops July 10th, 2013 (preview here).

Official Press Release:

The founders of the survivalist colony Safe Haven are sure that the end of civilization is at hand. Economic collapse, natural disaster, civil war — they’re prepared for it all in their underground compound deep in the woods of America’s northeast. But, in SHELTERED, the new series from Image Comics by Ed Brisson (COMEBACK) and Johnnie Christmas, the threat to their existence comes from a source they never expected: their own children.

SHELTERED is a full-color comic book, with a five-issue first arc. Its first issue can be pre-ordered now (Diamond code MAY130408) and will be in stores on July 10, 2013. A four-page preview is up now at Multiversity Comics.

The Lynx will be piloted by former NASA Astronaut Col. Richard A. Searfoss on an expedition that producers say marks the first Hollywood project that commissions footage from a privately owned space company.

Plot details are being kept under wraps, but “Newcomers will center on a former NASA astronaut who saves Earth from an alien invasion with help from the commercial space industry.”

Beninati and Anderson adapted the screenplay from an original story and script by Beninati. Cinipix CEO Todd Slater (Ray, Raze) will produce alongside executive producer Mat Hayden. They join producers James MacLean (Archetype Entertainment) and Jacob Silver, who originally developed the movie package with Beninati and Anderson.

Producers are now talking to directors with an eye toward starting principal photography in the first quarter of 2014.

“Veronica suddenly finds herself in a surreal and horrifying marathon race. The rules are simple: If you are lapped, you die. If you step off the path, you die. Many will start but only one may cross the finish line alive.”

The film is written and directed by Paul Hough, produced by Jaime Hough and executive produced by John Hough.

It premiered at the 2012 Fantasia Film Festival

The book, published by Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books, “follows a mild-mannered guy who happens to kill somebody he wishes he’d never met, and buries the body in his backyard. Just as he’s learning to live with the undeniable reality of what he’s done, police unearth two bodies on his property – neither of which the hapless killer buried. His sanity threatens to unravel, snagged on the agendas of a colorful cast of characters.”

Weiser optioned the book through Mason’s reps AMB Literary Management’s Amy Moore-Benson and Liza Wachter at RWSG.

As far as monotonous scenarios go, “The End of the World as We Know It” trope is very commonplace in fiction, but there is a copious amount of ways in which apocalypses can actually manifest. Moreover, the magnitude of these apocalypses can be measured on two sliding scales of scope and severity. The former deals with the size of the destroyed “world”, and the latter determines to what extent the world actually “ends”.

In John Byrnes “Doomsday.1” #1, the narrative begins high up in the International Space Station as astrophysicist Dr. Hikari Akiyama discovers that a massive solar flare is heading straight toward the blue planet. Minutes before the flare’s impact centres on the Indian Ocean, the ISS crew launch their shuttle away from the station and orbit the Earth until the firestorms, which are completely engulfing it, burn out. They finally land “home” where the scope of the destruction is on a planetary level, in that the vast majority of planet Earth is destroyed. The severity of such a catastrophe results in species extinction and physical annihilation. Most species are almost completely wiped out, save for a low population of people.

This installment weighs in at 32 pages, and offers an extensive amount of explanatory and descriptive dialogue that lays the foundation for the overall narrative and introduces a huge cast of characters. This level of comprehensiveness in a single issue seems overwhelming considering the common decompressed style of storytelling in comics, but it does make for a complete reading experience, regardless of the fact that at times it feels like the characters are just being made to spit out information for the readers. But, Byrne writes a secure and established story with four interesting side-plots that steal the issue, and will surely weave their way into the main storyline.

These side-stories take the readers to Washington where the President breaks the news to the American public. We go from the Vatican where the pontiff and his men are fleeing, to Southeast Texas where a violent prison riot seems to be in its early stages, and finally to a submarine crew attempting to wait out Armageddon at the bottom of the ocean somewhere near New Orleans.

The artwork by Byrne is reminiscent of old-school comics of the 70’s, and while his style is not something that seems to go hand-in-hand with this particular subject matter, his impressive attention to detail makes up for it. His work is so thoroughly detailed when it comes to the background that the foreground sometimes plays second fiddle to what’s behind it. His knack for nailing facial expressions and perfectly executing body language to convey certain emotions effectively is commendable. And his recreation of the Vatican is stunning; even more so thanks to the colours by Leonard O’Grady. Overall, O’Grady seems to have chosen a light colour palette which doesn’t necessarily go with the feel of the series. If he follows suit with the colouring job he did on Byrnes regular cover for issue #1, it would have been a huge improvement.

All in all, “Doomsday.1” #1 doesn’t offer much in terms of innovating the End of the World trope, but it has the potential to take readers on a dramatically engaging adventure with all the stories it’s weaving. Cliché as they may be, the characters are surprisingly, and refreshingly, diverse. Readers will be looking forward to discovering more about them, as well as what remains on post-apocalyptic planet Earth.

3.5/5 Skulls

Reviewed by – ShadowJayd

The New Zealand Film Commission and MPI/Dark Sky Films are financing a low budget feature film scheme in which the entire budget will be given away to any individual/team who can come up with a synopsis & poster that wows the public and the in-house gurus. The first round resulted in the critically acclaimed kiwi peeping-tom rom-com How To Meet Girls From A Distance. That film was conceived and delivered in less than six months, it was then sold to Madman Entertainment after a highly successful festival run in New Zealand.

This time around Exec Producer Ant Timpson sought support from Greg Newman and MPI and upped the stakes calling it “Make My Horror Movie” with a focus entirely on the horror genre.

The MPI/Dark Sky Films brand includes the successful genre films The House of the Devil, Stake Land, The Innkeepers, Frankenstein’s Army, Hatchet III, Stitches and the upcoming Late Phases.

See, what happened was Miguel decided that it was a good idea to leap over the crowd from one section of the stage to another. However, he miscalculated the distance and proceeded to drop kick one women in the face and slam into another before landing on his keister and finishing the song holding a woman that looked suspiciously like Sally Struthers.

I could explain it a bit more but I just recommend you watch the video below, complete with commentary from WWE announcer Jim Ross (so good). There’s also a GIF for you to enjoy over and over again.

Got any thoughts/questions/concerns for Jonathan Barkan? Shoot him a message on Twitter or on Bloody-Disgusting!

Per Deadline, “Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Mark Vahradian are producing and Claudia Bluemhuber, Bill Johnson, Jim Seibel, Jacob Pechenik and Gero Bauknecht are executive producers. This is the first acquisition in Silver Reel and Lotus’ newly formed partnership, one that is focused on developing and acquiring commercial and high-caliber projects.”

The original film is about “two men who set out to avenge the deaths of their beloved women, only to discover that each killed the other’s lover and in the end only one can have his vengeance.”

The hunt is currently on for a director.

Now, Kid Rock (real name Bob Ritchie) at the Billboard Award 2013 ceremony slipped in a stinging comment on musical performances by saying, “Let’s give it up for people lip-synching under pre-recorded music.” While some are speculating that it might’ve been a direct insult against Chris Brown (which is always a welcome thing), I’m going to have to assume that Rock was levying this insult at pretty much anyone who is guilty of lip-synching. The fact that he did this on live TV is pretty awesome and just makes me like the guy all the more. I feel like he and I would have a fun chat over some beer.

Head on below to see video of Rock’s comment.

Got any thoughts/questions/concerns for Jonathan Barkan? Shoot him a message on Twitter or on Bloody-Disgusting!

Ulrich revealed the ambition during an interview with Getty Images Entertainment in Cannes where he is promoting his new movie, the band’s upcoming 3D film, Through the Never.

“The biggest enemy I have is time,” Ulrich explains. “Metallica in its 32nd year is busier and has more projects on the table and takes up more of my time than it ever has.

“I may do it,” he continues. “I would love to do something. I have actually been offered the chance to both direct and produce as well as write and I’ve acted in a couple of films so I do what I can.

“Metallica is the main thing in my life and I’m not doing to turn my back on that.”

Lars added that with Metallica, you never know what they are going to do next and they never rule anything out.

“As a band we have an inbuilt fear of repetition or stagnation or irrelevance and we just like to throw ourselves into all this crazy s*** all the time. Most of the time we never think about it until we’re half way through,” he added.

“Making a movie at this level has been a little overwhelming. In the music world you get very used to controlling your environment and in the film world there is nothing to control… it’s just like a complete clusterf***… and there’s a bizarre beauty in that.”

Metallica has expressed that they expect a new album in 2015, which leaves Ulrich quite a bit of time to make a movie if he so desires. Would you guys like to see a movie directed by Lars?

Singer/guitarist Sal Abruscato (ex-Type O Negative) states, ““In The Sleeping Death” is about an extremely depressed and suicidal individual that is seeking the inner peace of death and wants to leave the living behind.”

Lay My Soul To Waste comes out tomorrow via Steamhammer/SPV Records. Pre-orders are available for LP here and CD ">here.

A Pale Horse Named Death on-line:
Official Website
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube

Got any thoughts/questions/concerns for Jonathan Barkan? Shoot him a message on Twitter or on Bloody-Disgusting!

In theaters July 19, “Nick is dead — at least, that’s how he remembers it — and teams up with another deceased detective, a gunslinger from the Old West (played by Jeff Bridges), to work for the elite task force, the Rest In Peace Department (hence the title), to track down the dead on Earth. (Due to overpopulation, some unsettled spirits haven’t gone where they’re supposed to, and are hiding out). Technically, R.I.P.D. officers (who are overseen by Mary-Louise Parker) aren’t allowed to kill anyone living, and aren’t supposed to interact with anyone from their previous lives, but Nick is haunted by the fact that he was murdered by another cop (played by Kevin Bacon), and can’t let it go.“

Singer/guitarist Alexi Laiho states, “That could be my favorite Bodom song ever.”

Head on below to listen to the track. Also, make sure to enter our Children Of Bodom guitar giveaway contest here!

Got any thoughts/questions/concerns for Jonathan Barkan? Shoot him a message on Twitter or on Bloody-Disgusting!

Most of these movies were holding up fairly well in my memory except for Psycho 2 and Psycho 3, so I re-watched those over the weekend and was actually fairly surprised by how much I enjoyed them. When you think about it, the Psycho universe certainly has more solid installments than something like the Howling franchise, which is kind of neat. It’s just a bummer that the mythology of Norman Bates and the Bates Motel doesn’t really lend itself to much scrutiny (the minimal use of this stuff is part of what makes the original film so brilliant).

Head below for my ranking of The 5 ‘Psycho’ Films From Worst To Best!!!

5 – PSYCHO IV: THE BEGINNING

Mick Garris’ Psycho IV strains credulity right off the bat by having Norman Bates once again freed by the justice system. I’m pretty sure that if you kill a few people, plea insanity, get “cured” and released – then kill a bunch more people and go back to jail/the asylum – that’s it. You’re done. But here, not only has Norman gotten a third chance, he’s got a wife and with a bun in the oven and he calls into a radio talk show to mull over the possibility of killing his son.

All that aside, the film feels cheap and small (it is a 90′s TV movie) and the early “prequel” material with Henry Thomas and Olivia Hussey isn’t particularly interesting. I mean, freaky stuff happens and the scene in which Hussey is poisoned is fairly brutal – but it’s an early example of the general rule that “the more you explain, the less interesting it is.”

4 – PSYCHO (1998)

I admire this film simply because I still don’t understand why it exists. I’m beginning to think that’s the point, that Gus Van Sant’s “shot for shot” Psycho remake is more art installation than movie. The fact that it got made is the art.

Vince Vaughn is fine as Norman Bates (Anne Heche doesn’t fare as well) while the little tiny additions (like the fapping sound to clarify that Vaughn’s iteration is indeed whacking off) again drive home more questions than answers. Why? 15 years later and we’re still wondering. To me, that makes this film worthwhile. It’s useless and I’m okay with that.

3 – PSYCHO 2

It had been at least 2 decades since I had seen either Psycho 2 or Psycho 3 so I revisited them both specifically for this article and was surprised at how much I liked them. They’re both ridiculous, but they possess a certain charm. Psycho 2 lags just behind the 3rd installment in terms of quality because its slower pace becomes tedious and the scheme to make Norman go insane again is just flat out dumb (as is the twist to Norman’s mother’s “real” identity).

Interestingly enough, this this is an early Tom Holland script (he would later go on to write and direct Fright Night and Child’s Play) but director Richard Franklin takes a curiously meandering approach to such pulpy material. It’s as if he doesn’t want to offend Hitchcock’s ghost by having too much fun. Ultimately Meg Tilly’s sweet, vulnerable performance edges this one forward but Psycho 2 presents an interesting conundrum that plagues the other sequels – the mythology of Norman Bates just isn’t that interesting.

Of course it works in Psycho because that film utilizes this information as the basis for a series of stunning reveals. “Oh sh*t his Mom’s dead! Oh sh*t he’s dressed as a woman! Oh sh*t he stuffed her!” But the actual day-to-day of his psychology is actually pretty tedious.

2 – PSYCHO 3

While Psycho 3 doesn’t benefit from a female lead as magnetic as Meg Tilly, it fixes the former film’s pacing problems, ups the violence and is in general more gleefully entertaining. Kudos to Anthony Perkins for getting behind the camera and manifesting what is in all probability the best you could reasonably expect from an unnecessary sequel.

I also really like how Psycho 3 is such a direct follow-up to the second film. It only takes place month or so later and many of the town’s characters are brought back onboard, so it really feels like these two films are a larger movie that’s been cut in half (even though they were filmed several years apart). It’s also helpful that Jeff Fahey plays the one person in the Psycho universe who you want to see die the most.

1 – PSYCHO

Of course this is the best. I can’t really add anything that much smarter people haven’t already said, except to say that this is a perfect example of a move that really shouldn’t have a sequel. As much fun as I had with the 2nd and 3rd installments, you’re only doing yourself a disservice when you try to elaborate on something that wasn’t meant to be elaborated on. And obviously it trumps all of the other films in the franchise on every other conceivable level.

In an interview with the Shockwaves/Hardradio podcast, singer/guitarist Dave Mustaine explains the meaning of “Kingmaker”, stating, “The song ‘Kingmaker’ is about how people are running from their problems… And there’s a lot of that on this particular record — just looking at, like, ‘Here’s what I’ve got. What are you gonna do with it?’ It’s talking a lot about this generation, how people, their lives are falling apart and they just take pills. Instead of sucking up and doing what I did and going and getting the surgery and getting off the medication, they’ll continue to just trudge it out until the end of their life where they just take pills until their body is eaten… And the other thing that’s part of that song is talking about how when you take these things how they make you feel different. Some people, they get into that ’cause they like the way it makes you feel, ’cause it makes you kind of feel warm and fuzzy. In the song, it talks about wanting to fly and being ten feet tall. Booze does that to some people. And this is just something that, I think, if there is a way that I can help educate a lot of our fans, especially the younger ones that still have their whole life ahead of them, it’s not as glamorous as you think it is to go down that path of just checking it out and drugging yourself up and not facing reality…”

Straight away I can tell you that “Kingmaker” is about 100 times better than the title track, “Super Collider”. However, it’s the first track on the album and is directly followed by “Super Collider”, which means we’re going from a fairly badass thrasher to a serious junker, which never bodes well for the flow of an album.

Head on below to listen to “Kingmaker”.

“Kingmaker”
Lyrics — Mustaine
Music – Mustaine, Ellefson
Generation of the dark watch their lives decay
Persecuting their ‘own kind’, there’s nothing you can say
Don’t ask anyone for help, they won’t know what to do
If you try, if you don’t die, you’ll end up black and blue

Acoustic — Chris

Got any thoughts/questions/concerns for Jonathan Barkan? Shoot him a message on Twitter or on Bloody-Disgusting!

Check out this exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the film from one of the Broken Lizard crew!

“When new parents Alex and Penny retreat from the city and move into a place outside town, the stress and massive sleep-deprivation caused by their infant has both of them seeing things in the house that may or may not exist. Persistent sightings of a strange woman has each of them wondering if they are suffering from hallucinations, or if their new home holds a dark, supernatural presence. As their fragile grasp on reality spirals into delirium, Alex and Penny find themselves nearly helpless to deal with the horrific truth of what is really happening in the house.“

Principal photography is scheduled to commence in Utah on August 2013.

Set to star Kurt Russell (Escape from New York, Death Proof, The Thing), Peter Sarsgaard (Night Moves), Jennifer Carpenter (“Dexter,” The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Quarantine) and Timothy Olyphant (“Justified,” “Deadwood,” The Crazies), “the film follows an outlaw who unknowingly leads a band of cannibalistic Troglodytes into the peaceful western town of Bright Hope. When the monsters kidnap several settlers, including a rancher’s wife, a small rescue party consisting of the injured rancher, the sheriff, his aging deputy and a strong-willed gunslinger, journey into hell to try and rescue them. They soon find themselves in dark unknown territories where savage inbreeds armed with the ultimate weapon leave no hope of survival.”

2929 Entertainment has come on board to fully finance the project. Caliber Media Co.’s Dallas Sonnier and Jack Heller and Floren/Shieh Productions’ Aimee Shieh and Clay Floren will produce alongside 2929’s Ben Cosgrove and Shay Weiner. Celluloid Dreams has also already pre-sold France (Wildside), Australia (Transmission), Russia (Luxor) and Thailand (IPA Asia).

“Miike’s untitled project blurs the line between reality and nightmare when an actor named Kosuke plays the lead role of “Iemon” (Ebizo Ichikawa; Hara-kiri: Death of a Samurai) in a staged play of Yotsuya Kaiden. His lover Miyuki joins him on stage to play “Oiwa” (Hideaki Ito; Sukiyaki Western Django, Lesson of the Evil), but as they become engrossed in the performances, their personal life begins to disintegrate and their love, hate and grudge for each other takes over. As the two worlds begin to meld, they are thrown into their own hell where the play begins to horrifyingly unfold in real life.”

Recognised in many contemporary representations including The Ring franchise, Oiwa appears in her white burial gown, straggled hair and drooping eye from where she was maimed by poison. Originally presented on stage in the early 1800s, “Yotsuya Kaiden” has been remade and reconfigured many times but the origins remain the most powerful and terrifying image to audiences, that of a chilling ghost able to span hell and earth to exact revenge on her murderers.

Miike directs from a screenplay by Kikumi Yamagishi (Hara-kiri: Death of a Samurai, The Happiness of the Katakuris). Nobuyasu Kita (13 Assassins, Hara-kiri) rejoins Miike behind the camera as Cinematographer with Toshiaki Nakazawa (13 Assassins, Departure) producing. Production designer Yuji Hayashida and composer Koji Endo are also rejoin the crew.

Deadline reports that filming is about to start in Berlin, with script by Paranormal Activity 3‘s Michael R. Perry.

“Reynolds plays a lovable but strange bathtub factory worker who yearns for the attention of a woman in accounting. When their relationship takes a sudden murderous turn, Jerry’s evil “talking” cat and benevolent “talking” dog lead him down a fantastical path that ultimately brings him to salvation.”

Thanks to Bloody reader ‘Dana D.’ for the tip.

Variety reports that, launched last year by Backup, B Media Global is a film fund aimed at bringing Gallic financial know-how and clout to non-French movies made around the globe.

In one of its earliest moves, B Media Global has fully financed Cold in July, the next film by American director Jim Mickle, hot off his English-language remake, We Are What We Are, pictured, which bowed at Sundance. He also directed Mulberry Street and Stakeland.

Produced by Linda Moran and Rene Bastian at New York-based Belladonna, Cold is a character-driven thriller. Mickle rolls on Cold in July.

The distributor has acquired all rights in the US and Canada to John Huddles’ sci-fi thriller starring James Darcy, says Screen Daily. Bankside Films handles international sales on the Croisette.

“The Philosophers centers on a philosophy teacher at an international school in Jakarta who challenges his graduate class of 20 to elect which 10 they would send into an underground shelter in the event of a nuclear apocalypse.”

Sophie Lowe, Daryl Sabara, Freddie Stroma, Rhys Wakefield and Bonnie Wright star.

Tom Holland (Fright Night) is still attached to adapt and direct the modernized take on the short story from King’s “Nightmares and Dreamscapes” “about a man who tries to quit smoking with the help of a new drug only to discover a frightening aspect of reality as he kicks nicotine.”

The pic is aiming for a fall shoot in Atlanta and will mark Holland’s third King adaptation after The Langoliers and Thinner.

We now have a new trailer for the film, directed by Hollywood producer Neal Edelstein – an award-winning independent filmmaker and early technology adopter whose credits include The Ring, The Ring Two, Mulholland Drive and The Straight Story.

“No one knows why Melissa vanished. She warned her friends that some ghostly presence had awakened in the isolated farmhouse where she lived… something that whispered to her from the locked room where her mother went mad and died. Now she’s gone… and no one knows what unearthly horror had risen from the past and was… Haunting Melissa.

You’ve never seen anything like this, because there’s never been a haunting quite like this. The first-of-its-kind Haunting Melissa is a terrifying tale with twists and frights that you won’t soon forget. Delivered piece by piece when you least expect it — and want it most — Haunting Melissa will scare you into discovering the truth.”

You can read our special report on the launch.

Veteran storyteller Neal Edelstein has reinvented filmmaking in a way that brings the power of hypnotic, episodic content to the iTunes Store. Viewed exclusively on the iPhone and iPad this frighteningly haunting story is released in sporadic and unexpected ways that will leave you constantly guessing, and constantly engaged.

You’ll want to activate Push Notifications so you won’t miss a thing. Keep the glow of your iPhone or iPad handy, because you’ll never quite know when the haunting is coming.

Deadline reports that the first film in the deal is Bullets For The Dead, a $2M zombie Western set to shoot in Queensland Australia in July, followed by Bite, a $5M vampire film slated to shoot in Oz in October. No details ave been released about either film.