An homage to films including Hellraiser, The Thing, Alien, and The Exorcist, upcoming horror movie Thorns is said to be “ripe with physical makeup effects and plenty of gore,” and Bloody Disgusting has been provided with a bloody exclusive clip this week.

From director Douglas Schulze (The Dark Below, Hellmaster, Mimesis), Thorns features horror icon Doug Bradley (Hellraiser), said to be playing a “mysterious archbishop.”

In Thorns, “An ex-priest working for NASA is sent to investigate a remote observatory that went silent after receiving a mysterious radio signal from deep space. Upon arrival, he discovers the signal has opened a portal unleashing a thorned monster. The former priest must now summon his lost faith to stop the signal from jumpstarting the end of the world.”

Additionally, Dark Planet Releasing has announced the theatrical release of Thorns, in collaboration with Emagine Entertainment, B&B Theatres, Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas, and MetaMedia.

Thorns has played to rave reviews and enthusiastic audiences at film festivals worldwide, including Sitges Brigadoon festival, Fright Fest in London, Monsters of Film, and most recently, the film was shown as the closing night film at the New York City Horror Film Festival.

Michigan-based Emagine Entertainment will host the North American Thorns red carpet premiere on Saturday, February 17, 2024 from its Royal-Oak theater. The premiere will feature live interviews with key cast members, including horror film icon Doug Bradley, who received the 2023 New York City Horror Film Festival’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Beginning on Friday, February 23, MetaMedia will exclusively deliver the movie to the following Emagine Entertainment, Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas, and B&B Theatres in a first wave of targeted cities including Detroit, Kansas City and San Diego, with a wider release scheduled for later in 2024:

• Emagine Royal Oak (Royal Oak, MI)
• Emagine Canton (Canton, MI)
• Emagine Novi (Novi, MI)
• Emagine Rochester Hills (Rochester Hills, MI)
• B&B Lee’s Summit 16 (Lee’s Summit, MO)
• B&B Overland Park 16 (Overland Park, KS)
• B&B Shawnee 18 (Shawnee, KS)
• Cinepolis Cinemas Vista Village (Vista, CA)

Tony Timpone, Co-Producer of Thorns, said, “It has been exciting watching Thorns’ international journey from festival to festival, picking up countless fans along the way. After a packed North American premiere at the NYC Horror Film Festival, now even more audiences in the US can embrace Douglas Schulze’s unique horror film in theaters across the country.”

“At its core, Thorns is an homage to 80’s era monster movies, from our use of practical effects to a synth fueled music score and lots of easter eggs. Hellraiser, The Thing, Alien are all great films with even greater practical makeup effects. For me the best horror cinema steers away from the computer realm when pursuing all things visceral. Thorns is meant as a visceral experience,” said Doug Schulze, Writer and Director.