Movies
Make-Out with Violence (V)
“The Zombie/Drama must be a Spartan category; I can’t for one think of another film I’ve seen that took quite such a large leap of faith to enjoy. In so many ways The Deagol Brothers’ film is a horror movie, but the horror on display here is universal to teenage existence.”
“After she died again we had to take her home. She came alive in the trunk”
Brothers Patrick and Carol Darling (Eric Lehning and Cody DeVos) thought the days after high school would just be a magical time, seeing friends, having parties and chasing summer love. Carol loves Addy (Leah High) and Patrick loves Wendy Hearst (Shellie Marie Shartzer). The problem? Neither girl knows the boys intentions. But, what started out as a happy time to remember, would turn out to be a summer they would never forget. Struck by the tragic disappearance of Wendy, her friends struggle to deal with uncertainty of life and death—until one afternoon when Carol discovers Wendy’s body tied to a tree in a field—twitching. Not alive and yet not quite dead, the brothers lock Wendy’s reanimated corpse in the bathroom of their friends house while they desperately try to come to grips with the situation.
Atmospheric and lyrical, like pages from some forgotten photo album snapped to life, Make-Out with Violence is a melancholy gem eerily reminiscent of Sophia Copola’s The Virgin Suicides and David Lynch’s Twin Peaks as seen through the eyes of Wes Anderson. A “so sincere it must be real” emotional journey told through the auspice of a zombie love story, this feature-length directorial debut by The Deagol Brothers and Co-written by star Cody DeVos is a visually stunning and emotionally draining look at unrequited love.
Take a moment to consider the sheer audacity it takes to envision, pen and film a dramatic coming of age love story whose central character Carol passes his day away trying to convince the girl of his dreams to see him as more than just a friend, while his brother lovingly caresses, bathes, dresses and feeds the corpse of the girl who he never got. Now, sit back in amazement as the filmmakers not only pull off that trick, but in their own bizarre way, make you feel compassion not only for the two brothers (one of whom is clearly less well adjusted than the other) but also for the steady stream of peripheral characters who have been touched by Wendy’s passing. On top of all that, you can’t help but look sadly upon Wendy’s decomposing body writhing listlessly in the porcelain bathtub and not wish the two would just kill her and end the suffering.
The film’s soundtrack is an amazing non-stop succession of some 40+ songs—most of which are written and performed by the band Non-Commissioned Officers which includes brothers Eric Lehning and Jordan Lehning (who plays Rody in the film). The soundtrack serves to amplify the nostalgic mood of the feature. In so many ways—as I mentioned before with regards to The Virgin Suicides—Make-Out with Violence feels like a love letter—a reflective remembrance of an event that has long since passed. The synth-heavy pop songs that accompany the films soft visual flair seem to further punctuate that point. It’s as if we are watching some sad and twisted story in a secret 1980’s John Hughes universe where no one is going to get the teenage queen.
The Zombie/Drama must be a Spartan category; I can’t for one think of another film I’ve seen that took quite such a large leap of faith to enjoy. In so many ways The Deagol Brothers’ film is a horror movie, but the horror on display here is universal to teenage existence. It’s not the terror of Dawn of the Dead or the bloody anarchy of 28 Days Later. In truth, it doesn’t need a living dead girl at the center of the story to sell tickets. But, it puts her there as the perfect catalyst to illustrate the divergent paths each brother takes over the course of one summer. The summer after Senior Year. The last summer of absolute youthful freedom before adulthood begins—innocence is lost and times change. That’s what Make-Out with Violence is about, it’s the American Graffiti of Zombie love stories.
This week’s big new horror release is of course Evil Dead Burn in theaters later in the week, but you don’t have to wait until this weekend to inject fresh nightmares into your eyeballs.
Five brand new horror movies have already released at home this week.
Here’s all the new horror that released on Tuesday, July 7, 2026!
Director André Øvredal’s (The Autopsy of Jane Doe, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, The Last Voyage of the Demeter) new movie Passenger is now available on Digital at home.
Here’s the synopsis for Passenger: “A few weeks into their van life adventure, a young couple witnesses a horrific accident that leaves the driver dead. Soon they’re being pursued by a demonic stalker who’s impossible to outrun and follows them wherever they go.”
André Øvredal told Bloody Disgusting in an exclusive chat, “It’s a road movie, which is what I really fell in love with. It’s totally unique for me as a horror movie. Bridging the road movie with a haunting, essentially, on the road. I think it’s the scariest movie I’ve made.”
The cast includes Jacob Scipio, Lou Llobell, Melissa Leo, Tony Doupe, Bonni Dichone, Devielle Johnson, Jessica Cruz, Miles Fowler, and Alan Trong.
The screenplay is written by Zachary Donohue (The Den) and T.W. Burgess (Mister Howl). Former Warner Bros production executive Walter Hamada, who steered the Conjuring and It franchises, is producing via his 18hz as part of his first-look deal with Paramount. It screenwriter Gary Dauberman is also producing via Coin Operated.
Supernatural horror, psychological suspense, and an eye-catching creature take center stage in The Leaching, now available on Digital from Dark Star Pictures and Uncork’d Entertainment.
“After waking up in a grave on her father’s isolated forest property with no idea of who she is or how she got there, Vivian must use her limited memory to piece together the nightmarish truth, all the while being tormented by the undead, a giant leech monster, and her ‘father.’
“Over the next few days, she will uncover the framework of a truly nefarious supernatural scheme, but will it be too late?”
The Leaching is written and directed by Evan Showalter (Ante Mortem, Bad Music Terry).
“The Leaching is an exploration of faith, the loss of self, and the monsters (literally) that emerge when people surrender themselves to something greater than they can understand,” says Showalter. “It’s an isolating horror film that plays with a very uncomfortable question.”
A film student finds herself trapped in a giallo nightmare in lo-fi horror movie City Wide Fever, which is now streaming exclusively on the Midnight Pulp streaming service.
The meta horror movie is from debut writer/director Josh Heaps.
In City Wide Fever, “Sam, a young film student, discovers a USB detailing the life and career of forgotten Italian horror director Saturnino Barresi.
“As she begins to investigate his mysterious disappearance, Sam finds herself pulled into a violent conspiracy eerily similar to those of the films she adores.”
Diletta Guglielmi, Angelica Kim, and Nancy Kimball star with Onur Tukel (Summer of Blood), Larry Fessenden (You’re Next), Carolyn Farina, and comedian Ian Fidance.
Paul Lê wrote in his review for Bloody Disgusting, “This isn’t just a case of throwback filmmaking that’s been achieved with contemporary technology; the director used era-authentic equipment to help create this striking and nostalgic piece of modern horror. The end result is a movie… teeming with enough verve and style to make it feel fresh.”
A Gen Z slasher that pays homage to ’90s teen slasher movies, You’re Dead to Me is now available on Digital outlets at home courtesy of distributor Dark Star Pictures.
In the slasher film, “Three high school seniors skip prom for a secluded weekend party free from parents, school, and responsibility, but their escape turns terrifying when they learn one of their classmates has been brutally murdered.”
Denise Richards (Valentine) stars alongside Siena Agudong (Sidelined: The QB and Me, Sidelined 2: Intercepted), Jessica Belkin (“Baywatch” ), Ella Anderson (“Henry Danger,” Song Sung Blue), and Conor Husting (“Boo, Bitch”, Hollywood Stargirl).
The film was directed by Juan Pablo Arias Munoz.
You’re Dead to Me was co-written by Sarah Howard and Terry Castle, the daughter of the legendary producer and filmmaker William Castle (House on Haunted Hill, The Tingler).
Steven Quale (Into the Storm, Final Destination 5) directed the supernatural thriller Black Box, which has now taken flight on Digital outlets courtesy of Aura Entertainment.
The film is based on the short film The Vessel, and an original screenplay from horror writer Stephen Susco (The Grudge, The Grudge 2, Texas Chainsaw 3D, Hell Fest).
Black Box (Flight 298) follows the supernatural events surrounding Vero Airlines 298 from New Orleans to Seattle.
Tom Brittney, Holly Leena White, Betsy Blue English, Dane Whyte O’Hara, Kaja Chan, Asa Ali, Boadicea Ricketts, Ceallach Spellman, Georgina Leonidas, Molly Belle Wright, Hanneke Talbot, Danny Mack, and Weronika Rosati star in Black Box.
Hammerstone Studios’ Alex Lebovici (Barbarian, Boy Kills World) and Jon Oakes (Drive, The Guilty) will produce alongside Capstone’s Christian Mercuri and David Haring (Bill & Ted Face the Music), Warren Zide (The Final Destination, American Pie), and Susco. Ruzanna Kegeyan and Roman Viaris of Capstone, and Clark Baker (Vessel) will executive produce.
What happened to Flight 298? Find out on Digital outlets now.
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