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

SCREAMBOX Investigates UFOs and Extraterrestrials: Several Documentaries Streaming Right Now!

Published

on

As someone who is obsessed with UFOS (or more recently known as UAPs) and the concept of extraterrestrials, I love a good documentary. Sightings have been on the rise since the 1940s, with the atomic bomb seemingly acting as a catalyst for new visitors. But what are these UFOs/UAPs? Is there an explanation or are they simply beyond our explanation? Why are they here? Who are they? How much do our governments know? The questions are endless and so are the documentaries that attempt to uncover the secrets behind decades of sightings and alleged confrontations.

Whether you’re a seasoned viewer or new to the rabbit hole, there’s always a handful of interesting documentaries to get your neurons firing and leave you with sleepless nights. SCREAMBOX is investigating with the addition of several docs, all streaming now on the Bloody Disgusting-powered service. Here’s the breakdown:

Aliens (2021): Beam into this unidentified streaming documentary for a glimpse into Extraterrestrial life. Aliens are hypothetical life forms that may occur outside Earth or that did not originate on Earth.

Aliens Uncovered: Origins (2021): Before Area 51, hidden deep in the desert, the military discovered a hidden gem that helped them create Project Bluebook.

Aliens Uncovered: ET or Man-Made (2022): The crash of Roswell wasn’t meant for New Mexico. In 1947, a neighboring state had 3 major sightings that were swept under the rug.

Aliens Uncovered: The Golden Record (2023): In the late 70s, the US government launched a message to our distant neighbors.

Roswell (2021): This high-flying documentary examines the July 1947 crash of a United States Army Air Forces balloon at a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. Theories claim the crash was actually that of a flying saucer, but what is the truth?

Also check out:

The British UFO Files (2004): Since the 1940’s the British Government has been investigating the Flying Saucer phenomenon. High-ranking military and government personnel, speak out for the first time, offering unique eyewitness accounts and inside information.

Alien Abductions and Paranormal Sightings (2016): Amazing Footage and stories from real people as they reveal their personal encounters of being abducted by Aliens.

And do not miss Hellier (2019): A crew of paranormal researchers find themselves in a dying coal town, where a series of strange coincidences lead them to a decades-old mystery.

These documentaries join SCREAMBOX’s growing library of unique horror content, including Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls, Here for Blood, Terrifier 2, RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop, Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story, The Outwaters, Living with Chucky, Project Wolf Hunting, and Pennywise: The Story of IT.

Start screaming now with SCREAMBOX on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Prime Video, Roku, YouTube TV, Samsung, Comcast, Cox, and Screambox.com.

Continue Reading