Movies
[News Bites] ‘Catching Fire’ Director List Grows, ‘Infected’ & ‘Monster Project’ Announced, Tim Burton’s ‘Vampire Hunter’ Art Contest & ‘Killer Klowns’ Toys!
The official Facebook page for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is hosting quite a unique contest. They’re asking artists to submit their own Lincoln-inspired work and fans to vote on their favorite. The top 5 will be narrowed down by none other than Tim Burton! Winner receives a midnight provate screening. Go straight to the entries and vote.
American World Pictures announced via their website that Jason Dudek has gone behind the camera for the sci-fi horror Infected, which will star Vinnie Jones (The Midnight Meat Train), Danny Glover (Saw), Taylor Handley and Margo Harshman. Here’s the logline: “A pharmaceutical company recruits a well-known scientist to help develop a vaccine against a deadly virus.”
Movie Mogul Ltd (Panic Button) have announced that their new feature film Monster Project has gone into development, says Screen Daily. Described as a “cross-genre” film, “‘Monster Project’ follows six teenagers who undergo a harrowing transformation into monsters, imbued with various abilities and ailments, and are forced to go on the run, fighting for their survival.” John Shackleton will write, direct and co-produce with Movie Mogul director of operations, Gareth I. Davies.
Playlist reports that Moneyball helmer Bennet Miller and I Am Legend‘s Francis Lawrence are also in contention to direct Catching Fire, Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games sequel. The slot recently fell open when Gary Ross bailed, and since then David Cronenberg, Alfonso Cuaron and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu have been targeted for the replacement job. “The sequel continues the story of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and the fictional, futuristic nation of Panem. Due to the events of the previous novel, a rebellion against the ruling Capitol has begun, and Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta are forced to return to the arena in a special edition of the The Hunger Games.”
Amok Time has finally announced that they are now accepting pre-orders on their psychotic action figure duo – “Tiny” and Shorty” – from the cult classic film Killer Klowns From Outer Space, reports Figures. The pair, acquired by Amok way back in 2008, have faced an uphill battle to see release, but they are now slotted to arrive this November (this still leaves me skeptical). SOTA released just one Klown in 2006 – these two complete the trio of bloody bozos! Images inside.
Movies
‘Abigail’ on Track for a Better Opening Weekend Than Universal’s Previous Two Vampire Attempts
In the wake of Leigh Whannell’s Invisible Man back in 2020, Universal has been struggling to achieve further box office success with their Universal Monsters brand. Even in the early days of the pandemic, Invisible Man scared up $144 million at the worldwide box office, while last year’s Universal Monsters: Dracula movies The Last Voyage of the Demeter and Renfield didn’t even approach that number when you COMBINE their individual box office hauls.
The horror-comedy Renfield came along first in April 2023, ending its run with just $26 million. The period piece Last Voyage of the Demeter ended its own run with a mere $21 million.
But Universal is trying again with their ballerina vampire movie Abigail this weekend, the latest bloodbath directed by the filmmakers known as Radio Silence (Ready or Not, Scream).
Unlike Demeter and Renfield, the early reviews for Abigail are incredibly strong, with our own Meagan Navarro calling the film “savagely inventive in terms of its vampiric gore,” ultimately “offering a thrill ride with sharp, pointy teeth.” Read her full review here.
That early buzz – coupled with some excellent trailers – should drive Abigail to moderate box office success, the film already scaring up $1 million in Thursday previews last night. Variety notes that Abigail is currently on track to enjoy a $12 million – $15 million opening weekend, which would smash Renfield ($8 million) and Demeter’s ($6 million) opening weekends.
Working to Abigail‘s advantage is the film’s reported $28 million production budget, making it a more affordable box office bet for Universal than the two aforementioned movies.
Stay tuned for more box office reporting in the coming days.
In Abigail, “After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.”
4 New Horror Movies Releasing This Week Including ‘Late Night with the Devil’ at Home
‘Ready or Not’: Radio Silence Filmmakers Tease the “Absolute Banger” of a Sequel That’s Taking Shape
‘Sting’ Review – Throwback Creature Feature Entertains With an Impressive Practical Monster
Looking for New Episodes of “Chucky” on Peacock? Here’s What Changed
“We Built Every Creature” – ‘Alien: Romulus’ Goes Heavy on the Old School Practical Effects!
You must be logged in to post a comment.