Movies
Documentary ‘The Thing Expanded’ Will Feature an Exclusive John Carpenter Interview
CREATORVC, the team behind the massively successful documentaries Aliens Expanded and In Search of Darkness, have launched pre-sales on The Thing Expanded this afternoon, and Bloody Disgusting has exclusively learned that the upcoming documentary will feature an exclusive, brand-new interview with legendary filmmaker John Carpenter.
Diving deep into the haunting world of Carpenter’s 1982 sci-fi-horror classic, director Ian Nathan is joined by producers Robin Block (CREATORVC), David Weiner (CREATORVC) and Josh Weiss (author of SYFY WIRE’s extensive oral history of The Thing) as they embark on the ultimate fan-driven companion to The Thing.
The ultimate exploration of a cinematic classic, The Thing Expanded will be centered on an in-depth analysis led by none-other than John Carpenter himself. The documentary will include a wealth of memories, stories, facts, rabbit-hole tangents and theories about the 1982 film and its origins and influences that Carpenter fans demand, including discussion of the 2011 prequel, videogame sequel, RPG, comics, merch, the original John W. Campbell novella Who Goes There? and much more.
Fans can join the expedition and get their name in the credits at www.thethingexpanded.com. The pre-sale for The Thing Expanded launched TODAY and runs until September 2, 2024.
“With The Thing Expanded we are taking on the ultimate horror film,” says director Ian Nathan. “For Aliens Expanded we dove head first into James Cameron’s genre-making film. But now we get to explore the paranoia, the survival, and the themes of John Carpenter’s classic, all led by what the fans want to see. And those fans are just such an extraordinary resource. I want to be infected with their genius.”
“I’m thrilled to invite super fans of The Thing on an extraordinary journey with The Thing Expanded,” says CEO of CREATORVC, Robin Block. “This unique experience is designed to deepen our understanding and appreciation of John Carpenter’s 1982 classic, bringing to light new perspectives and insights that will resonate with fans old and new.”
David Weiner says, “John Carpenter’s The Thing has lived rent-free in my brain ever since I spotted The Thing From Another World in Halloween, then sat slack-jawed through Carpenter’s iconic remake during a Saturday afternoon matinee on opening weekend in the summer of ’82. It was more than a film experience; it was an inspiration to deconstruct the film and figure out, ‘How’d they do that?!?’ To get the chance to dive deep into the film and its mythos with the Master himself in The Thing Expanded is the ultimate J&B pour for me.”
Josh Weiss adds, “John Carpenter’s The Thing is, without question, my favorite movie in the known universe. I can think of precious few films where one finds something new to contemplate on every rewatch. It is a monster movie lover’s dream come true — a veritable smorgasbord of snarling, dripping, and bloody creature effects, pulled off with otherworldly aplomb by the legendary Rob Bottin. By its very nature, the 1982 film graciously invites audiences to dissect every frame, every story beat, every character action. I am beyond thrilled and honored to be a part of what will be the definitive autopsy of John Carpenter’s ever-changing masterpiece.”
The holiday weekend means a light week for new horror releases, but it does bring the return of Dark Castle Entertainment to select theaters. It’s being joined by 6 new horror movies.
Here’s all the new horror releasing June 29, 2026 – July 3, 2026!
For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.
You wished for it. The highest-grossing horror movie of the year (so far), Curry Barker’s Obsession, arrived on Digital on June 30.
In Curry Barker’s theatrical debut Obsession, after breaking the mysterious One Wish Willow to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.
Michael Johnston (“Teen Wolf”), Inde Navarette (“Superman & Lois”), Cooper Tomlinson (“That’s a Bad Idea,” Milk & Serial), Megan Lawless (The Death That Awaits), and Emmy Award-nominee Andy Richter (“Conan,” Elf) star.
Based on a story by director James Kondelik (Behind The Walls) and a screenplay by Canadian writer Victor Rose, survival thriller Pitfall headed home to Digital on June 30. Family is murder in this Cineverse release.
In Pitfall, a young man becomes separated from his friends in the woods and plunges into a ten-foot pit lined with spikes, impaling his leg and leaving him helpless. As reality sinks in and his situation grows dire, he realizes the fall wasn’t an accident.
The film stars Richard Harmon (Final Destination: Bloodlines), Alexandra Essoe (The Pope’s Exorcist), and UFC champion Randy Couture (The Expendables) as the ruthless killer who stalks his prey in the woods. Marshall Williams (The Ice Road), Jordan Claire Robbins (The Umbrella Academy), and Matt Hamilton (Murder for Sale) also star.
The Amityville IP leans into Jaws with Amityville Shark House, just in time for the Fourth of July holiday too, as it released on Digital June 30.
Will Collazo Jr. (Amityville Thanksgiving) and Shawn C. Phillips (Amityville Karen) co-direct from a script they wrote with Julie Anne Prescott.
In the movie, after discovering an ominous shark idol hidden beneath the decaying floorboards, Richard unknowingly awakens an ancient and savage force. As the entity begins to merge with him, a quiet coastal town descends into blood-soaked chaos.
With each victim claimed, the monstrous predator grows stronger, fueling a cult’s belief that their dark god has been reborn. Now, the race is on to stop the carnage before evil consumes everything in its path.
Phillips and Prescott also star alongside Tasha Tacosa, Maritza Brikisak, Gigi Gustin (The Retaliators), Adam Marino, and Carl Solomon.
Available on Digital, Blu-ray, and DVD as of June 30 is Jacked, directed by John Fucile from a script he co-wrote with Simon Fraser.
The synopsis: “Set in the summer of 1987, JACKED follows two small-town teenagers whose day at the lake turns into a fight for survival after their car breaks down and they encounter a violent stalker.”
Marla Jean Robison, Tom Koch, Anthony Cipriani, Wynn Reichert, Kam Perez and Bella Marie star.
Get ready to work up a killer sweat and maybe spill some blood with Slashercise, a workout meets slasher hybrid that arrived exclusively on Bloodstream on July 1.
Written and directed by Ama Lea (Deathcember), the retro-styled feature follows “a masked killer known only as Meathead as he stalks the fitness clubs of Los Angeles, turning workout sessions into blood-soaked nightmares. As the city’s top trainers are picked off one by one, a group of determined fitness fanatics must fight back before they become the next bodies on the mat.”
Vanessa Decker (Stiletto), John Bloom (The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs), Spencer Charnas (Ice Nine Kills), Sarah French (Blind), Kelli Maroney (Night of the Comet), Sarah Nicklin (V/H/S/Halloween), Diana Prince (The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs), Jared Rivet (The Once and Future Smash), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), Tiffany Shepis (Victor Crowley), and Lisa Wilcox (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master) star.
After a record-breaking box office run, A24 and director Kane Parsons’ feature debut is heading back to theaters with bonus footage. AMC Theatres is unleashing Backrooms: Everything Must Go Editiontoday, July 3.
In the film written by Will Soodik, the owner of Cap’n Clark’s Ottoman Empire discovers a strange doorway in the basement of the furniture showroom. He sets out to explore the mysterious, liminal space, walking headfirst into a creepypasta nightmare.
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsvestar.
AMC describes this release as a “theatrically exclusive post-credit” with additional footage from Kane Parsons. Expect 16 minutes of bonus footage, with the new version clocking in at 2 hours and 6 minutes.
The Last Exorcism director Daniel Stamm and Dark Castle Entertainment are back with Lockbox, in select theaters July 3. It adapts Soren Narnia‘s Knifepoint Horror Podcast story “Winthrop” by Emmy-winning playwright Justin Yoffe.
In Lockbox, “Seeking peace after her mother’s death, Ellen retreats to a rural town and takes in her severely traumatized cousin Winthrop. Their fragile domestic balance shatters when an erratic neighbor warns that Winthrop is dangerous. As strange phenomena escalate, Ellen must put everything on the line to defend Winthrop from a dangerous otherworldly entity determined to track him down.”
Lou Taylor Pucci (Touch Me, Evil Dead), Carla Gugino (The Haunting of Hill House, Gerald’s Game, The Fall of the House of Usher) and Katharine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps, Backrooms) star.
This week’s new release roundups are presented by Lockbox.
Be careful who you let in. Carla Gugino and Lou Taylor Pucci star in Lockbox, only in select theaters this Friday. Get tickets.
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