Connect with us

Movies

September Horror Preview: ‘It: Chapter Two,’ ‘Three from Hell,’ “Creepshow” and So Much More!

Published

on

Ah, September… the month when Hollywood typically takes a break, relaxes, and doesn’t release too many cool things… NOPE IT’S A WHOLE MONTH FULL OF HORROR, DEAL WITH IT.

It’s actually astounding how many significant horror projects are coming out in September, which again, was typically the industry’s fallow period after expensive summer marketing seasons. Between movies, television and video games there’s enough terrifying media to keep even the most zealous horror fans busy for 30 whole days, so let’s crack this month open and see what juiciness lies inside!

The elephant in the room, or rather the giant creepy demon clown, is Andy Muschietti’s It: Chapter Two, the eagerly-awaited follow-up to 2017’s gigantic blockbuster It. The sequel covers the second half of Stephen King’s iconic story, in which the grown up survivors of the first evil clown attack return to their home town to vanquish their demons once and for all. James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, James Ransone, Andy Bean, Jay Ryan and Isaiah Mustafa star as the grown up Loser’s Club, and Bill Skarsgård returns as the all-powerful Pennywise.

Fair warning: It: Chapter Two is nearly THREE HOURS LONG, so get ready for the horror epic of the season, and maybe think twice before you upsize that drink at the concession stand.

The latest Stephen King adaptation is probably going to be a box office juggernaut, but that didn’t stop Satanic Panic from opening against it. Chelsea Stardust’s new horror comedy, brought to you by Fangoria and Aperture, is about a teenaged pizza delivery girl who runs afoul of a satanic cult who want her to be their virgin sacrifice. Meagan Navarro reviewed Satanic Panic for us, and called the film “very chaotic and tonally strange.”

If two horror films a weekend isn’t enough, why not three? September 13 brings three new scary movies, including Freaks, about a little girl locked in a house by her disturbed father (Emile Hirsch), and the mysterious “Mr. Snowcone” who helps her escape. Rafael Motomayor reviewed Freaks for us last year, and called it “a timely social commentary, and a thrilling film about parenting.”

Freaks opens opposite Candy Corn, a film about – what a coincidence! – circus freaks, who raise the dead to seek vengeance on bullies in a small town. The film co-stars horror luminaries P.J. Soles (Halloween), Tony Todd (Candyman) and Courtney Gains (Children of the Corn). Rounding out the weekend’s horrifying festivities is the new film Haunt, written and directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, the co-writers of A Quiet Place. The film is about a local Halloween attraction that turns deadly. Meagan Navarro reviewed the film for us and called it a “forgettable slasher and a wasted opportunity to really let loose with its concept or its Halloween setting.”

The third weekend in September is full of movies we thought we’d never see, starting with Rob Zombie’s long-long-long-awaited follow-up to The Devil’s Rejects. The Firefly Family returns in 3 From Hell, and will screen for three nights in a row in 900 theaters across the country, with special bonuses every night. Also that weekend, audiences can finally see Polaroid, the supernatural horror thriller from Lars Klevberg, the director of the Child’s Play remake. The film, about a haunted camera, was shelved after The Weinstein Company declared bankruptcy, and is only just now getting released after being shuttered for several years.

On September 20 there are even more ghoulish delights in store, for Villains is hitting theaters and it’s about to make things weird. Bill Skarsgård and Maika Monroe star as criminals who break into a fancy house, only to find the homeowners – Jeffrey Donavan and Kyra Sedgwick – are more twisted than they are. Trace Thurman reviewed Villains for us and called the film “a welcome serving of pure batshit insanity.” Opening against it is Corporate Animals, the latest from the director of Creep and Creep 2, which stars Demi Moore and Ed Helms in a comedy thriller about a corporate retreat gone cannibalistically wrong.

Rounding out the month in movies (we haven’t even gotten to TV yet!), September 27 brings with it Bliss, about a painter who will do anything to rekindle her creative drive. Meagan Navarro reviewed Bliss for us, and called the film “a collision course of gutter trash and artistic creativity.”

Can’t get to the theater? There’s plenty of terrifying TV awaiting you. September 6 sees the release of the latest installment of Hulu’s Into the Dark. The season finale, Pure, focuses on “Daughter’s Day,” and tells a story of girls on a Purity Retreat who take part in a ritual that unleashes a demon.

Stephen King fans will find even more to sate their appetite on September 10, when the third season of Mr. Mercedes premieres on the AT&T Audience Network. And on September 12 the new series I-Land premieres on Netflix. The show stars Kate Bosworth and Alex Pettyfer, and is about a group of people who mysteriously wake up on an island, with amnesia.

And if you’re looking for something else that’s completely new, head on over to CBS on September 26 for the premiere of Evil, about a psychologist, rookie priest and contractor who team up to investigate miracles, demons and other inexplicable phenomena. Mike Colter (Luke Cage) co-stars.

But if you’re looking for something with nostalgia value, you can’t miss American Horror Story: 1984, the latest season in the FX anthology series, which takes on the persona of a 1980s slasher this season. And what horror fan could resist the allure of an all-new series based on the Stephen King/George Romero classic Creepshow? The new horror anthology – with segments directed by Greg Nicotero, Tom Savini, Roxanne Benjamin, David Bruckner and more – debuts on Shudder on September 26!

It’s hard to imagine anyone having any time for anything else after watching all those movies and TV shows, but there’s still video games in store for horror fans in September, so you might want to start taking sick days from work just to get to them all.

First up there’s Blasphemous, the new side-scrolling horror adventure starring goth guy in a pointy hat, which debuts on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Switch on September 10. You’ll have to wait a few weeks for your next horror video game hit, when the Lovecraftian RPG Stygian: Reign of the Old Ones drops on Steam, followed immediately by Code Vein, a post-apocalyptic vampire RPG from Bandai Namco. Code Vein is said to be influenced by Dark Souls, and will premiere on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on September 27.

William Bibbiani writes film criticism in Los Angeles, with bylines at The Wrap, Bloody Disgusting and IGN. He co-hosts three weekly podcasts: Critically Acclaimed (new movie reviews), The Two-Shot (double features of the best/worst movies ever made) and Canceled Too Soon (TV shows that lasted only one season or less). Member LAOFCS, former Movie Trivia Schmoedown World Champion, proud co-parent of two annoying cats.

Movies

Julia Garner Joins Horror Movie ‘Weapons’ from the Director of ‘Barbarian’

Published

on

'Apartment 7A' - Filming Wraps on ‘Relic’ Director's Next Starring “Ozark’s” Julia Garner!
Pictured: Julia Garner in 'We Are What We Are'

In addition to Leigh Whannell’s upcoming Universal Monsters movie Wolf Man, Julia Garner (The Royal Hotel) has also joined the cast of Weapons, THR has announced tonight.

Weapons is the new horror movie from New Line Cinema and director Zach Cregger (Barbarian), with Julia Garner joining the previously announced Josh Brolin (Dune 2).

The upcoming Weapons is from writer/director Zach Cregger, who will also produce alongside his Barbarian producing team: Roy Lee of Vertigo and J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules of BoulderLight Pictures. Vertigo’s Miri Yoon also produces.

The Hollywood Reporter teases, “Plot details for Weapons are being kept holstered but it is described as a multi and inter-related story horror epic that tonally is in the vein of Magnolia, the 1999 actor-crammed showcase from filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson.”

Cregger was a founding member and writer for the New York comedy troupe “The Whitest Kids U’Know,” which he started while attending The School of Visual Arts. The award-winning group’s self-titled sketch comedy show ran for five seasons on IFC-TV and Fuse. He was also a series regular on Jimmy Fallon’s NBC series “Guys with Kids” and the TBS hit series “Wrecked,” and was featured in a recurring role on the NBC series “About a Boy.”

Weapons will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Continue Reading