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Here’s Every Stephen King Easter Egg in ‘The Dark Tower’

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There are worlds other than these.

Long before “cinematic universes” were the hottest thing in Hollywood, Stephen King had his own going on throughout his many novels and short stories. Big and small references throughout King’s works unite many of them inside something of a shared storytelling universe, and The Dark Tower saga is at the center of it all.

So I suppose it makes perfect sense that director Nikolaj Arcel worked so many Stephen King Easter eggs into his feature film adaptation of The Dark Tower (read our review), now out in theaters. The film is absolutely loaded with references to other King stories, most of which were unfortunately spoiled by the marketing campaign.

One of the very first shots of the film shows us two twin girls who look a lot like the Grady Twins from The Shining ; they even repeat the iconic line, “Come play with us,” just in case you didn’t get the reference. From there we’re treated to Easter eggs for tales such as Christine, Salem’s Lot, Misery and 1408… to name just a handful.

My personal favorite Easter egg is the appearance of killer dog Cujo, who’s being walked down the street by a mother and son who look a lot like Donna and Tad Trenton!

Check out every Stephen King reference in The Dark Tower below.

STEPHEN KING’S IT


THE SHINING


THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION


CUJO


CHRISTINE


THE SHINING


MR. MERCEDES


STAND BY ME


MISERY


1408


SALEM’S LOT

Writer in the horror community since 2008. Editor in Chief of Bloody Disgusting. Owns Eli Roth's prop corpse from Piranha 3D. Has two awesome cats. Still plays with toys.

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Movies

Friday, July 24 – These 5 New Horror Movies Released Today

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Pictured: 'Pinocchio Unstrung'

Nicolas Winding Refn. Michael Mann. Pinocchio. Today’s lineup of new horror movie releases is eclectic, to say the least, and we’ve got the full rundown for you as we head into the weekend.

Here are the new horror movies that released on Friday, July 24, 2026!


Her Private Hell Review

Nicolas Winding Refn’s Her Private Hell is now playing in theaters from NEON.

In the film, when a mysterious mist engulfs a futuristic metropolis, unleashing a deadly and elusive entity, a troubled young woman searches for her father. Her quest collides with an American GI on a harrowing odyssey to rescue his daughter from Hell.

Sophie Thatcher (“Yellowjackets”), Charles Melton (“Riverdale”), Kristine Froseth (How to Blow Up a Pipeline), Havana Rose Liu (No Exit), and Diego Calva (Babylon) star.

The ensemble also includes Dougray Scott (Hitman), Aoi Yamada (Perfect Days), Shioli Kutsuna (Deadpool & Wolverine), and Hidetoshi Nishijima (Shin Ultraman).

Nicolas Winding Refn directs Her Private Hell from a script he co-wrote with Esti Giordani (“Vida”). Pino Donaggio (Carrie, Don’t Look Now) composed the score.

Refn produces under his byNWR Originals banner. Executive producers include Takuma Takasaki, Kimberly Willming, Christina Erritzøe, and Lene Børglum.

Her Private Hell is rated ‘R’ for “some strong/bloody violence, sexual content, and language.”


Michael Mann‘s adaptation of Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon has received a new 4K restoration in celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary this year, and it’s been dubbed Michael Mann’s Manhunter: The Final Cut. The film is now playing in select U.S. theaters.

In Manhunter, “FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (William L. Petersen) is called out of early retirement to assist on a serial murder case involving a killer known as the “Tooth Fairy” (Tom Noonan). Graham enlists the help of imprisoned serial killer — and cannibal — Dr. Hannibal Lecktor (Brian Cox), who is the reason Graham took an early retirement.

“Soon, Graham and the FBI are entangled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game between the Tooth Fairy, Lecter, and an interfering journalist (Stephen Lang).

Michael Mann guided this 4K scan of the original 35mm negative, with a few shots from an interpositive, that was conformed and digitally restored at L’Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna.

This new 4K Final Cut, overseen by Michael Mann, “enhances the film’s depth, visual clarity and sound, offering audiences the ultimate immersive version,” per the press release. 


Part of the cinematic universe known as the “Poohniverse,” Pinocchio Unstrung puts a horror movie spin on the classic tale, and the film is now playing only in theaters.

The chilling reimagining of the familiar fable unfolds inside an elite London prep school. Created by Geppetto and influenced by a sinister Cricket, Pinocchio launches a violent crusade to carve himself into a real boy like his brother, one piece at a time…

Richard Brake (Barbarian) stars in Pinocchio Unstrung as the obsessive Geppetto, with horror icon Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street) as the voice of Cricket.

Pinocchio is voiced by Jude Evan Lloyd and brought to life via a practical animatronic created by Todd Masters (“Tales from the Crypt,” Slither). Cameron Bell, Jessica Balmer, Jack Art Gray, and Peter De Souza-Feighoney round out the horror movie’s cast.

Rhys Frake-Waterfield (Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey) writes and directs the British slasher, in addition to producing alongside Scott Jeffrey via their Jagged Edge Productions.

This is fifth entry in the Twisted Childhood Universe, following Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey and its sequelPeter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, and Bambi: The Reckoning.

The Poohniverse continues with Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey 3, currently in production, and the crossover film Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble, slated to shoot this summer.


Danny Trejo stars in indie horror movie Accursed, released on Digital today.

Here’s the official synopsis: “When a nun’s cursed secret resurfaces on Emma’s 21st birthday, a lake-house reunion turns deadly. A masked cult and dark prophecy force Emma and her friends to face possession, betrayal, and a midnight ritual that could raise ancient evil.”

Humberto Rosa and Brian Frank Visciglia directed. Gabriel Sousa, Paris Dylan, Philippe A. Haddad, Kira Cahill, Lulu Bailey, Rafael Amadeu, and Vivien Soraya also star.


And finally, Dark Sky Films released Cruel Hands on Digital today.

“A mother and her young son escape from an abusive husband to an isolated farmhouse, only to find themselves trapped between him and a raging bushfire that surrounds them.”

Cruel Hands is directed by Al Kalyk.

Mavournee Hazel, Iolanthe, Max Cattana, Charlotte Friels, Harry Greenwood, Diesel La Torraca, Josh McConville, Jack Sacks, and Jesse Turner star in the film.

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