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Mickey Rourke Plays a Projectionist in ‘Nightmare Cinema’ Anthology
The next in a plethora of horror anthologies is Cinelou Films’ Nightmare Cinema, which features shorts from five genre directors: Mick Garris (Critters 2, Sleepwalkers, “The Shining” miniseries), Joe Dante (Gremlins, The Howling, Piranha, The Hole), David Slade (30 Days of Night), Ryuhei Kitamura (Downrange, Versus) and Alejandro Brugues (Juan of the Dead).
The movie centers on a group of down-on-their-luck individuals who enter the decrepit Rialto Theatre, says THR. Their deepest and darkest fears are brought to life onscreen by The Projectionist (Angel Heart’s Mickey Rourke), a mysterious, ghostly figure who holds the nightmarish futures of all who attend — and cannot escape — his screenings.
Garris is producing via his Nice Guy Productions, with Cinelou’s Courtney Solomon and Mark Canton, and Joe Russo. Good Deed Entertainment’s Scott Donley and Lenny Shapiro, as well as The Fyzz Facility’s Wayne Marc Godfrey and Robert Jones, are serving as executive producers, along with Cinelou’s Scott Karol.
We have an exclusive first look at A Man in the Woods With an Axe, a blood-soaked, genre-twisting homage to 1980s slasher films.
Spanning four decades, A Man in the Woods With an Axe begins in the summer of 1987 before pushing into the modern era, weaving together timelines and perspectives in a way that builds both dread and intrigue.
Drawing inspiration from genre standouts like Tucker and Dale vs. Evil, Hatchet, and The Cabin in the Woods, the film blends visceral horror with moments of dark humor, creating a uniquely balanced experience that honors tradition while carving its own identity.
Writer-director Dillon Brown (Primal Darkness) aims to deliver everything fans crave from a slasher while boldly subverting expectations with a mid-film twist that redefines the story.
“This is an unapologetic love letter to the films that made me fall in love with horror,” Brown tells Bloody Disgusting. “But I didn’t just want to recreate that feeling; I wanted to challenge it. About halfway through, the film takes a turn that completely changes how you view not only this story, but the genre itself.”
Brown describes the vintage-inspired production as “far and away the bloodiest film I’ve ever made,” with practical effects helmed by Cody Ruch (The Mill, Pig Hill), an instructor at Tom Savini’s Special Make-Up Effects Program.
From Horror Dadz Productions, A Man in the Woods With an Axe is currently in production and targeting an early 2027 release.
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