Resident Evil

While it’d be easy to say that it’s just Resident Evil, there are a few key differences between what PlayStation owners had in 1996, and what the Saturn received a year later. For starters, the port was handled by a third-party developer, Nextech, and thanks to the Saturn’s architecture, Nextech to rework the graphics. While this resulted in better colour and a bit more detail in the textures, the loading times during the door opening screens were increased. Not only that, but the transparent textures were swapped for dithered textures (a recurring issue with Saturn games), which didn’t look as good as the PlayStation version.

However, Resident Evil on the Saturn got a few exclusive goodies. The precursor to The Mercenaries Mode that we all know and love started as a “Battle Game” minigame, which has you taking on swarms of enemies as you move through rooms in the mansion. There are new costumes, as well as new enemies, including a new gold Tyrant, a zombie version of Wesker, and a replacement to the Hunter in the Tick.

Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight

A port of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for the PlayStation, this was sadly a Japan exclusive. It also unfortunately wasn’t as good as the original. Much like what happened with Resident Evil, transparencies were again changed to dithered textures, and load times were increased, and there’s more slowdown. Since the Saturn doesn’t have a select button, you have to go to the status menu to access the game map. Due to the Saturn’s different resolution when compared to the PlayStation, the graphics were stretched, resulting in obvious distortion.

As for exclusives, two new areas in the castle were added with The Cursed Prison and the Underground Garden, each with new music that remixed “Bloody Tears,” “Beginning,” and “Vampire Killer.”  Also, much like Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, the Saturn version of Symphony allowed you to play as Maria. Her arsenal consists of kicks, but can also unleash magic attacks like in Rondo, as well as use magic summon spells akin to Alucard’s magic. Lastly, Richter has been redrawn from his original Rondo appearance to match the artwork by Ayami Kojima.

Deep Fear

Taking place deep under the Pacific Ocean at the aquatic lab known as Big Table, players assume the role of John Mayor, a Navy Seal stationed at the lab for security purposes. An incident involving a nuclear submarine results in an alien virus being unleashed, causing the inhabitants of the lab to mutate into horrific creatures. John must now fight for survival to escape.

Sega tried their hand at Survival Horror, and the results were pretty good with Deep Fear. Released in 1998 to capitalize on a certain other Survival Horror title’s success, Deep Fear shares similarities with Capcom’s baby, including the downright awful voice acting. Despite this, Deep Fear leans more towards the action side of Survival Horror, and doesn’t use all of the typical tricks that Capcom employed. The cinematic camera angles and the environment of the Big Table, for example, lack variety, resulting in things looking pretty same-y as you play. The music also doesn’t quite have the same dramatic effect as in Resident Evil.

Nonetheless, Deep Fear shines in the graphics, with character models getting far more attention than its inspiration. Also, seeing as you’re underwater, the air supply mechanic is used quite well to get the tension going. Daniel went into detail on Deep Fear in his article a few years ago, so check that out if you’re keen to learn more.

Corpse Killer: Graveyard Edition

Much like Digital Pictures’ other FMV title Night Trap, Corpse Killer is dumb cheese that you can switch your brain off to enjoy, even if the gameplay is still suspect. Still, it’s a bit puzzling for Sega to bring this one to its new console. The story for this one has you playing as an unnamed marine who’s been airdropped onto a tropical island on a top secret mission to stop the evil Dr. Hellman, who plans on releasing his army of zombies on the world. On top of that, you’ve been bitten and need to find a cure while also rescuing your fellow captured marines.

Being that this is the Saturn, Sega upgraded this version of Corpse Killer to the “Graveyard Edition”, which features a few exclusives such as full-screen FMVs as opposed to the compressed FMVs in the other versions, difficulty selection, new items and power-ups, and new zombie attacks where enemies pop up in front of you and attack. Oddly, the Saturn version lacks light gun support, though this is most likely due to the programmers being unable to put in a function to select from the new multiple ammo types.

Crypt Killer

Already an unremarkable game in the arcade in terms of its graphics, story and gameplay, Konami ported their lightgun shooter Crypt Killer to the Saturn, with the expected results. Granted, the Saturn does have faster load times when compared to the PlayStation port, but the graphics are somehow worse on the Saturn. Textures are a pixelated mess on the 3D assets, while the 2D sprites for the enemies are made all the more horrendous when they decide to pop up right in front of you as a jump scare.

It’s all on top the fact that this is still the boring, uninspired game that was in the arcades. Furthermore, unless you’re a hardcore lightgun fans, when you have the likes of Sega’s own The House of the Dead on the Saturn, it really begs the question of why you would want to bother with this one.

Digital Pinball: Necronomicon

When you think of horror pinball games, chances are you immediately go to Devil’s Crush or Alien Crush on the TurboGrafx-16. Meanwhile in Japan, developer Kaze had Digital Pinball: Necronomicon, a pinball game inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft. Surprisingly, Necronomicon does have a story, where a monk has discovered the text of the eponymous Necronomicon, and is slowly being driven mad as he reads the book, with his visions being the pinball tables you play. Of course, you can forego the story and play the tables individually.

Featuring some excellent ball physics with silky smooth 60 fps gameplay and crisp graphics, the entire experience is complemented by an awesome soundtrack by John Petrucci of Dream Theater. Best of all, for those looking to import the game (seeing as it was only released in Japan), everything from the menus to the options to spoken dialogue is all in English.

Enemy Zero

The second entry in Kenji Eno’s “D Trilogy” (the first game is also on the Saturn), Enemy Zero follows Laura Lewis, who awakens from cryosleep aboard the biological research spaceship AKI on its return to Earth. It seems that aliens that are invisible to human eyes have boarded the ship and are killing off the crew. Laura must now navigate the ship and stop the alien menace.

Apart from blatantly ripping of the plot to Alien and Eno’s animosity towards Sony, Enemy Zero‘s other noteworthy aspect was its gameplay. While navigation is similar to what players were doing in D, Enemy Zero utilized the unique mechanic of sound when it came to its invisible enemies. Getting their location and distance from the player is only possible by listening for audio cues. Coupled with the delayed time to charge your weapon, the fear generated here is obvious. It’s definitely not for everyone, since this mechanic can just as easily give way to frustration very quickly, but it’s this uniqueness that also makes Enemy Zero one to try at least once.

The House of the Dead

You knew this was coming. The story for The House of the Dead (much like the game itself) is over-the-top hilarity: Dr. Roy Curien, obsessed with discovering the secrets of life and death, unleashes his army of the undead on an unsuspecting populace. It’s up to AMS agents Thomas Rogan and his partner “G” to stop the scientist.

The Saturn is known for its excellent arcade ports of fighting games, but The House of the Dead still landed fairly well. The game wasn’t a perfect port from the arcade, with the graphics and sound taking a hit, and the slowdown and mid-level load times being an annoyance (particularly with the latter if there were enemies right around the corner). It’s still a lot of fun in spite of those niggles. And once again, Sega tried to offset those issues with console-exclusive extras. The Saturn Mode allows players to choose from different characters, each with their own stats like clip size, reload speed and life bar. There’s also a boss rush mode where you fight the game’s bosses in succession.

Dark Seed

Dark Seed tells the story of Mike Dawson, an author who has just bought a spacious mansion in Woodland Hills. On the first night in the house, Mike has a nightmare where a machine shoots an alien embryo into his forehead. Upon waking up, Mike discovers that within the mansion are portals to what’s called the Dark World. The Dark World is being taken over by aliens calling themselves the Ancients. The Ancients are now looking to get into our world, and Mike (with the embryo in his head) is the key. As a result, Mike must now find a way to stop the Ancients.

Another title we’ve talked about before several times, this was oddly given a Saturn port that was exclusive to Japan. Even weirder was the fact that despite the upgrade in every department when compared to its original PC version, the Saturn port doesn’t improve the visuals at all. This meant that the 16-colour VGA palette used on the PC version has Dark Seed looking extremely out of place when compared to what was also available on the Saturn at the time. The text was also translated to Japanese, but the voice acting is still in English.

Lunacy

Another FMV game, Lunacy was developed by System Sacom, who also made Mansion of Hidden Souls on the Sega CD. The game centres around a man named Fred, who finds himself imprisoned in Misty Town jail, with no recollection of who he is, or just how wound up in jail. The player soon learns that Fred came to the village in search of answers. Once Fred is released, he learns that the town ruler, Lord Gordon, has taken quite an interest in Fred, due to the strange mark on Fred’s forehead. The mark, it turns out, is only given to those who have been to the fabled City of Moons, of which Lord Gordon is quite obsessed with finding.

Being that this is an FMV game, the entire playthrough of Lunacy is filled with characters that you’ll be interacting with to tease out information on your journey, as well as adding colour to the game. System Sacom wisely added a time-saving mechanic for players, allow you to replay important conversations from Fred’s memory so that you can “recall” specific pieces of information. Another time-saver is the fact that walking sequences are pretty quick, avoiding the dreaded molasses movement of some FMV games. The whole atmosphere of Lunacy has an eerie feeling to it, with the game taking place in perpetual night, and the surreal music only accentuating that feeling. Not an outright scary title, but a definitely creepy one.

Mr. Bones

It’s hard to classify what type of game you’re getting with Mr. Bones. From the mind of Ed Annunziata, creator of the Ecco the Dolphin series, Mr. Bones combines platforming mechanics, along with rhythm game mechanics and other minigames. Mr. Bones tells the tale of the mad scientist DaGoulian, who sets out to purify the world with evil by using alchemy and a set of drums to summon an army of the dead from their graves as his skeletal soldiers. However, one of these resurrected skeletons is so “pure of heart” that he can’t be turned. DaGoulian quickly becomes aware of Mr. Bones, and sends the skeletal army after him.

While Mr. Bones employs platforming for a good deal of its gameplay, it’s not the only mechanic you’ll encounter. The opening level is a 2D platformer, while the next employs rhythm mechanics as you avoid skeletons trying to grab you. You’ll also have sequences of Mr. Bones jamming on his guitar or drums to turn parts of the skeleton army away from DaGoulian, or you’ll be running down a hill avoiding logs chasing after you. Along with the unique gameplay, Mr. Bones sports beautiful animation, as well as a soundtrack by Ronnie Montrose that mixes blues and hard rock. A definite highlight of the Saturn library.

PowerSlave

PowerSlave (or Exhumed as it’s known in Europe) unfortunately got caught up in the Doom clone craze, and was unfortunately overlooked by many FPS fans. This is especially frustrating, given that the developers, Lobotomy Software, were able to produce some impressive graphical effects and gameplay on the Saturn. PowerSlave centres on the Egyptian city of Karnak, which has been taken over by alien forces in the late 20th century. You along with a team of soldiers are to uncover what happened. However, your helicopter is shot down, and you’re left alone to battle the aliens, who are seeking to resurrect the ancient Egyptian pharaoh King Ramses and use his powers to control the world.

While the main gameplay for PowerSlave is typical FPS action of the day, there are some platforming elements. Also, PowerSlave isn’t linear, as you have several locations to visit across the map, which you’ll be revisiting in order to grab specific artifacts that grant you special abilities, such as being able to jump higher, breathe underwater, and so on. The levels themselves also sported complex layouts when compared to something like Doom or Quake. In fact, the developers made it so that if you were up for a challenge, you could find “Team Dolls”, dolls with faces of the members of the development team on them, scattered throughout the levels. Finding all 23 would unlock a minigame called Death Tank.

The post Horrors of the Saturn: Sega’s Troubled Yet Undeterred Console at 30 appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

One animal-on-drugs movie that has already seen release is Cocaine Shark. Whereas that film treated its subject matter with an unabashedly schlocky approach, though, the more recent Deep Fear takes a similar gimmick and plays it with a straighter face. It could be the perfect post-summer movie for anyone who wants a fun cinematic trend taken a little more seriously.

Set on a yacht sailing around Grenada, Deep Fear centers on a woman named Naomi (Mãdãlina Ghenea) who, during a sailing trip to see her boyfriend (Ed Westwick), gets caught up in a plot involving sharks, a shipwreck, and 350 kilograms of white powder. Intrigued, Bloody Disgusting checked in with director Marcus Adams about the film’s tone, the current natural-horror boom, and his own experience with sharks and the ocean.

What’s your personal history with sharks? Have you ever seen one in the wild? Are you scared of them?

I lived in South Africa for two years, post-Jaws. A fisherman once caught a young shark right next to where I was surfing. It was a natural element that everyone accepted because the ocean was too beautiful to resist. There were shark nets in the main urban swimming areas—for instance, Durban Beach. However, even when swimming in non-netted areas, attacks were extremely uncommon.

How did Robert Capelli Jr. and Sophia Eptamenitis’ script for Deep Fear come to you? Did you know them beforehand or have any influence on the story?

I did not. The bones of the story were there on the page when producer Sean O’Kelly introduced me to the script. In essence, it was a sailor picking up people from a wreck, and then matters turning for the worse. The balancing act for me as a director was fusing a narco story with a shark story. If you get it wrong, you do not satisfy either genre strand. I felt the shark, not the narcos, had to be the star, and that was chiefly my input to the script development process. Decide who or what element is on the poster, then work backward from there.

Even before Cocaine Bear, there have been a ton of wacky modern shark films on Syfy over the past decade or so, none of which take themselves too seriously. With Deep Fear, did you set out to make something that’s just plain fun in the vein of Sharknado, or did you want to take a more sober and realistic approach?

As the character was inherently real—a sailor (there are no scientists in the film tampering with shark DNA or the like)—the tone had to remain set within reality. Tone in movies is probably one of the most important and sometimes difficult elements to distinguish. You still need some light relief, even if the subject matter is serious. Jaws did it with Dreyfuss, Shaw, and Scheider drunkenly singing “Show Me the Way to Go Home”, only to be somewhat rudely interrupted by the shark, as it smashed into the side of the boat. That’s genius editing and structure.

With the success of Cocaine Bear, we’re seeing an uptick in natural horror movies involving an animal ingesting some kind of substance. What are some other beasts you’d like to see in this subgenre?

Cocaine Zombies.

Deep Fear is already a pretty intense and revved-up movie. How would you make things even bigger and badder for a sequel?

More money = more shark = bigger set pieces = more revved up.

When it comes to natural horror or, more specifically, shark movies, are there any different strategic approaches you have to take as a director? How does the game plan differ from, say, a slasher movie?

When making a feature starring a creature, as a filmmaker, you are restricted/governed by the laws of physicality surrounding that specific animal. Animals, especially sharks in water for instance, have ultimate super-skills compared to us. They can naturally do many things that we as humans cannot. However, they lack the intellect of a human. So it’s invariably brains vs. brawn.

A slasher movie, on the other hand, is an almost more difficult map to navigate, especially regarding set pieces, because it’s very hard to outwit a knife-wielding psycho, both for the victim and the filmmaker. The nemesis is usually more physically able than the victim, and they are usually armed, with the same level of intelligence. So when choreographing the set pieces of a slasher, the chances of survival for the victim very quickly run out. If they continue to outwit the nemesis, the film risks implausibility. How often have we all groaned at moments where implausibility strikes and we are momentarily sucked out of the movie?

Did you and your team conduct any research on how a shark would actually respond to cocaine? If so, how did this inform the film? Any interesting takeaways?

We did have some fun conversations. One was that maybe the shark suffered the shark equivalent of “brewer’s droop” (aka erectile dysfunction)—a “floppy fin”! The other was that the shark would forget hunting our lead actress, go back to his yard, and talk shit all night with his mates.

Did you use any real shark footage in the film, or was it entirely digitized?

It’s a 90/10 percent split favoring CG. When you watch the film, see if you can spot the real versus the digital.

What are the challenges in directing horror scenes with a digital animal? How do you ensure the cast can convincingly be scared of something they can’t yet see?

Imagination is a prerequisite part of any actor’s armory. You have to trust the actor’s ability to deliver. As a director, I had to give clear timings and directions for looks and turns, shrieks and yells. We also had a plastic shark head on a pole that a diver was swimming with, which was especially good for when physical interactions were required.

Jaws remains the undisputed golden standard of shark movies. Where were you when you first saw it, and what was your reaction to it?

I was living in Durban, South Africa, swimming in shark-infested waters at the time. My initial reaction was that I knew the “swimming in the sea” experience had changed forever. Spielberg planted sharks at the forefront of our minds. The threat of a shark attack has always been at the back of our consciousness, and Spielberg irreversibly transported it to the front. I also felt that Jaws had single-handedly redefined movies forever. It’s still an utter masterpiece.

Do you believe super-sized great white sharks such as megalodons could still exist, somewhere in the depths of the ocean?

Why not? No one really believed Trump would become president, and he did. Fucked-up, scary shit actually happens. Monsters exist!

Deep Fear is now available to rent via Amazon Prime.

The post ‘Deep Fear’ Director Marcus Adams On His Cocaine-Fueled Shark Thriller [Interview] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here’s all the new horror released on Friday, November 3, 2023!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

A brand new shark attack horror movie swims our way today on Digital outlets from Gravitas Ventures, this one titled Deep Fear and mixing sharks, storms, and… cocaine?!

Madalina Ghenea (House of Gucci) and Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl) lead the cast of Deep Fear, which is marketing itself as something of a stealth “Cocaine Shark” movie.

“Set in the Caribbean, Deep Fear is an intense and visceral survival thriller with furious action throughout. Madalina Ghenea stars as Naomi, an accomplished round-the-world yachtswoman, who sets out on a solo trip to meet her boyfriend, Jackson – played by Ed Westwick – in Grenada. Her tranquil three-day sail aboard 47-foot yacht ‘The Serenity’ takes an unexpectedly dark turn when a storm forces her off the plotted course.

“Circumnavigating an uninhabited reef-fringed island, she responds to a distress signal to aid a sinking vessel where she finds survivors clinging to the shattered remains of a boat. Events soon take a malevolent twist when it transpires the survivors are savage drug traffickers who force Naomi to dive down into the hull of the sunken wreck to retrieve 350 kilos of cocaine. The plan is thwarted when Naomi finds herself surrounded by a frenzy of great white sharks – lured by the dead bodies in the wreck. In a tense and deadly undersea attack, Naomi must use her wits, skills and determination to survive both the narcos and one of nature’s most awesome apex predators.”

Macarena Gómez, Stany Coppet, Ibrahima Gueye, David Legeusse, Marianna Garradas, Marco Canadea, John-Paul Pace, Tenika Mahoney, Shane Rowe and Natasha Tikasz also star. Marcus Adams (Long Time Dead) directed Deep Fear.

Based on true events, Lionsgate’s new horror movie Squealer marks the directorial debut of Andy Armstrong, and it’s available on Digital and On Demand beginning today.

In Squealer, “Tyrese Gibson (The Fast and the Furious franchise) and Theo Rossi (“Sons of Anarchy”) star in this terrifying thriller inspired by real events.

“When young women start disappearing in a small town, a police officer and a street-smart social worker follow clues to a remote pig farm, where they discover the local butcher has been bringing his work home. Enter the world of a serial killer and experience for yourself the bloodcurdling horror of a film that’s bound to take your breath away.”

Wes Chatham (“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2”), Katherine Moennig (“Ray Donovan”), Ronnie Gene Blevins (“The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It”), Danielle Burgio (“Fear the Walking Dead”) and Christina Gonzalez (“Cruel Summer”) also star.

A retro sci-fi thriller that’s Executive Produced by Steven Soderbergh, Divinity recently premiered at Sundance, and the film is getting a wide theatrical release this week.

From distributors Utopia and Sumerian, Divinity opens nationwide in theaters on Friday, November 3, following limited theatrical rollouts in New York and Los Angeles.

Eddie Alcazar wrote and directed Divinity. Here’s the plot synopsis…

Set in an otherworldly human existence, scientist Sterling Pierce (Scott Bakula) dedicated his life to the quest for immortality, slowly creating the building blocks of a groundbreaking serum named “Divinity.” Jaxxon Pierce (Stephen Dorff), his son, now controls and manufactures his father’s once-benevolent dream.

Society on this barren planet has been entirely perverted by the supremacy of the drug, whose true origins are shrouded in mystery. Two mysterious brothers (Moises Arias and Jason Genao) arrive with a plan to abduct the mogul, and with the help of a seductive woman named Nikita (Karrueche Tran), they will be set on a path hurtling toward true immortality.

Bella Thorne also stars in the film, featuring music by DJ Muggs and Dean Hurley.

Trace Thurman reviewed Divinity for Bloody Disgusting, calling the film a “stunningly original, weird-as-hell sci-fi trip.” Trace writes, “The worldbuilding is exquisite, so it’s no wonder that an Soderbergh opted to produce the film. Divinity is a vibe, but what the film lacks in commercial appeal it more than makes up for in a seemingly unending supply of creativity.”

A bumbling wedding party must battle the forces of hell when a bride becomes possessed by the Devil (her ex-boyfriend) the night before her wedding in Courtney Gets Possessed.

The film from Jono Mitchell and Madison Hatfield is now available on VOD.

“It’s the ultimate showdown between love and the underworld when bride-to-be Courtney runs into a bit of an ex problem: her old flame is none other than the Devil himself, and she knows he’s close. With her nuptials on the line and the Prince of Darkness lurking close by, Courtney does her best to protect her childhood home on the eve of the wedding. But when her ne’er-do-well sister accidentally invites Satan inside (known more casually as Dave), he possesses Courtney – throwing a demonic wrench into her happily-ever-after plans.

“Courtney’s ragtag team of reluctant heroes including her sister, perfectionist best friend, and skeptical future sister-in-law must find a way to exorcise Dave, reclaim Courtney’s soul, and get her down the aisle with as little bloodshed as possible.”

Lauren Buglioli, Madison Hatfield, Jonathon Pawlowski, Najah Bradley, Zae Jordan, Aditi George, and Steven Reddington star in Courtney Gets Possessed.

The post Friday, November 3, 2023 – These 4 New Horror Movies Released Today appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Deep Fear chomps its way onto Digital outlets here in the States on November 3, 2023.

Madalina Ghenea (House of Gucci) and Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl) lead the cast of Deep Fear, which is now marketing itself as something of a stealth “Cocaine Shark” movie.

Aside from the cocaine, it looks much like any other shark attack movie of the past 10 years.

“Set in the Caribbean, Deep Fear is an intense and visceral survival thriller with furious action throughout. Madalina Ghenea stars as Naomi, an accomplished round-the-world yachtswoman, who sets out on a solo trip to meet her boyfriend, Jackson – played by Ed Westwick – in Grenada. Her tranquil three-day sail aboard 47-foot yacht ‘The Serenity’ takes an unexpectedly dark turn when a storm forces her off the plotted course.

“Circumnavigating an uninhabited reef-fringed island, she responds to a distress signal to aid a sinking vessel where she finds survivors clinging to the shattered remains of a boat. Events soon take a malevolent twist when it transpires the survivors are savage drug traffickers who force Naomi to dive down into the hull of the sunken wreck to retrieve 350 kilos of cocaine. The plan is thwarted when Naomi finds herself surrounded by a frenzy of great white sharks – lured by the dead bodies in the wreck. In a tense and deadly undersea attack, Naomi must use her wits, skills and determination to survive both the narcos and one of nature’s most awesome apex predators.”

Macarena Gómez, Stany Coppet, Ibrahima Gueye, David Legeusse, Marianna Garradas, Marco Canadea, John-Paul Pace, Tenika Mahoney, Shane Rowe and Natasha Tikasz also star.

Marcus Adams (Long Time Dead) directed Deep Fear.

Robert Capelli Jr and Sophia Eptamentis wrote the script.

The post ‘Deep Fear’ Trailer – There’s Blood and Cocaine in the Water in This Shark Attack Thriller appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Deep Fear chomps its way onto Digital outlets here in the States on November 3, 2023.

Madalina Ghenea (House of Gucci) and Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl) lead the cast.

“Set in the Caribbean, Deep Fear follows a round-the-world yachtswoman who sets out on a solo trip to meet her boyfriend but encounters a gang of drug traffickers who force her to dive to a wreck surrounded by great white sharks.”

Marcus Adams (Long Time Dead) directed Deep Fear.

Robert Capelli Jr and Sophia Eptamentis wrote the script.

Gravitas Ventures’ Danielle Gasher said in a statement, “Deep Fear is everything you want it to be. An action-packed, edge-of-your-seat survival movie with great performances from leads Ed Westwick and Madalina Ghenea. Gravitas Ventures is thrilled to be partnering with Brilliant Pictures on this movie, and to bring Deep Fear to North American audiences.”

Photo Credit: Brilliant Pictures

The post ‘Deep Fear’ – New Shark Attack Movie Swims Home in November appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

In the world of videogames, we see this a lot in terms of defining new genres. While the industry tends to eventually settle on a brand-neutral standard, many critics initially resort to comparing games to the most popular example of their genre, coining terms like “Souls-like” and “Doom-clone” to describe gameplay. And long before “Survival Horror” had been popularized as a genre descriptor, most gamers referred to resource-management-oriented horror titles as “Resident Evil Clones.”

Survival Horror games would eventually escape the confines of the Spencer Mansion, but many of those original “Clones” were incredibly fun to play despite their derivative design. That’s why it’s a shame that so many of them were forgotten in the ever-expanding sea of new releases. With that in mind, we’ve decided to shine a light on six underrated Resident Evil Clones that time forgot, in an effort to rescue them from obscurity.

While we’ll only be featuring lesser-known titles on this list (that means no Dino Crisis or Silent Hill), don’t forget to comment below with your own favorite Resident Evil Clones if you think we missed an important one.

Now, onto the list…

6. Extermination (2001)

While we’d see an officially licensed (and surprisingly fun) The Thing game a year later, Deep Space’s Extermination was the closest you could get to a John Carpenter-inspired Survival Horror experience back in 2001. Taking place in the (then) near-future of 2005, the game puts players in the shoes of Sgt. Dennis Riley, an isolated Marine investigating a distress call from an Antarctic research facility. Naturally, a sci-fi horror experience ensues as mutated creatures attempt to kill and infect our protagonist.

While the game’s highly customizable main weapon and chilling atmosphere are cool enough, the real anxiety-inducing highlight of Extermination is its infection system, with Riley constantly being on the verge of turning into one of the monsters that pursue him.

Curiously, the game was localized separately in Europe and North America, which led to some significant differences in dialogue and character design between both versions (though I’m partial to the less Hollywood-y PAL region take on the game).

5. The X-Files: Resist or Serve (2004)

Advertised as a collection of “lost” episodes from the show’s seventh season and written by television maestro Thomas Schnauz – while also featuring voice acting from the original cast – Resist or Serve was a surprisingly high-profile release despite its licensed origins. Featuring a trio of cases introduced by the classic X-Files intro sequence, this decidedly retro experience is a nostalgic treat for Survival Horror fans.

Sure, the fixed camera angles and limited resources were already dated back in 2004, but these slightly frustrating elements have since become part of the game’s period-accurate charms. After all, nothing says “90s” like having Agent Fox Mulder run away from a zombie because you used up all of your pistol ammo a couple of rooms ago.

Just make sure you play this one on a CRT television to get the full experience.

4. Nocturne (1999)

If you’re struggling with supernatural horrors during the Prohibition Era, who you gonna call? Spookhouse, that’s who! A secretive government organization set up by Teddy Roosevelt, Spookhouse is Nocturne’s equivalent to Hellboy’s BRPD, sending out agents to deal with paranormal threats that regular authorities aren’t equipped to handle.

While the game suffers from some janky combat mechanics and uneven difficulty as you take control of “The Stranger” on a series of eerie missions, the story and atmosphere make this strange little title a supernatural journey worth taking. You’ve certainly seen werewolves and zombies in other games, but definitely not while you’re in the middle of sabotaging an Al Capone operation.

And if you enjoy this one, I’d recommend seeking out the game’s pseudo-sequel in the form of the Blair Witch tie-in game BW Volume I: Rustin Parr, which sees Spookhouse agent Doc Holliday investigating a series of child murders in 1940s Burkittsville.

3. Deep Fear (1998)

This may be the most illusive game on this list, but the Sega Saturn’s Deep Fear remains one of the most intense survival experiences that the genre has to offer. Trapping players in an underwater research facility, the game follows ex-Navy SEAL John Mayor as he attempts to unravel the secrets of the facility while defending himself from mutated creatures and attempting not to die from asphyxiation.

Instead of bullets and ink ribbons, the real limited resource here is air, with Mayor being forced to constantly manage oxygen levels as he progresses through the game in a nerve-inducing mechanic that I’d love to see recreated in a modern horror title.

2. Cold Fear (2005)

Often referred to by its online nickname “Resident Evil 4 except it’s on a boat this time,” Darkwork’s Cold Fear is a thoroughly entertaining third-person-shooter that expertly recaptures the RE4 magic better than any of Capcom’s official sequels. Following Coast Guard Tom Hansen as he rushes to the aid of a Russian whaling vessel and finds the ship infested with zombies, the game sees players solving puzzles and shooting familiar parasites out of undead foes.

It may not be most original setup, but Cold Fear has a lot more up its sleeve than you might initially notice, featuring innovative character animations and a kick-ass soundtrack – all combined with a gameplay loop that smooths out a lot of Resident Evil’s excesses. Plus, the game is readily available on Steam for a reasonable price.

1. Obscure (2005)

Robert Rodriguez’s The Faculty is one of my favorite High School flicks, so it’s no surprise that Hydravision Entertainment’s Obscure takes the number one spot here, with the game basically serving as an unlicensed riff on the 1998 movie. Taking place in the conveniently maze-like Leafmore High, the game sees a group of five teenagers attempt to unravel the mystery behind a series of plant-like monster attacks once they become trapped within the school overnight.

While the main gameplay loop doesn’t really improve on the Resident Evil formula, it’s the couch co-op and permadeath elements that make Obscure stand out from other RE clones. The unique setting and killer 2000s soundtrack also make it a compelling time capsule for a simpler time in the horror genre.

And if you like this one, the college-set sequel is also quite fun, though it streamlines much of the experience into a more action-packed title.

The post Limited Resources: Six Underrated ‘Resident Evil’ Clones That Time Forgot appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Ahead of the New Year, here are some of the significant SCREAMBOX highlights for 2022. If you missed any of these, you can find them streaming exclusively on SCREAMBOX now!

Freddy’s Nightmares

SCREAMBOX kicked off 2022 by bringing the Nightmare on Elm Street spinoff series “Freddy’s Nightmares” to streaming for the first time as a limited exclusive. The anthology series had been unavailable previously. Aside from brief appearances on television over the years, “Freddy’s Nightmares” was only ever released on individual VHS tapes, so bringing all 44 episodes to streaming was a huge deal. Based on one of horror’s most storied franchises, “Freddy’s Nightmares” is an anthology series starring the original Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund. From 1988 to 1990, each episode tells a different story within the fictitious town of Springwood, the same setting as the A Nightmare on Elm Street films. 

Suicide Forest Village

Takashi Shimizu (Ju-on, The Grudge) drew inspiration from the real-life Aokigahara Forest, aka Suicide Forest, for his latest horror feature. The J-horror movie, filled with scares and emotion, builds to a surprising conclusion. It follows a group of friends who discover a mysterious box traced back to Jukai Village, where it is said that the land holds a grudge against trespassers, and anyone that enters it cannot escape alive.

Welcome to Hell (Bienvenidos al Infierno)

The latest entry to marry heavy metal with Satanism hails from Argentina and delivers a gory, wild ride. It centers around a terrified mother-to-be who is desperate to escape her murderous ex, who’s part of a satanic death metal band. The horror film, directed by Jimena Monteoliva (Clementina), premiered at Sitges Film Festival in Spain and screened at the Buenos Aires International Film Festival before making its way to SCREAMBOX exclusively.

Pennywise: The Story of IT

This expansive horror documentary co-directed by John Campopiano (Unearthed & Untold: The Path to Pet Sematary) and Christopher Griffiths (Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser) examines the lasting impact of the Stephen King 1990 miniseries. Pennywise also features original cast members Richard Thomas, Seth Green, and Tim Curry, who portrayed the notorious monster clown Pennywise, as well as director Tommy Lee Wallace and special effects makeup artist Bart Mixon. It’s packed with archival material and never before seen footage.

Pussycake

Calling all gorehounds; this one’s for you. With reverence for many of the eighties classics, including Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead, Pablo Parés’ PussyCake promises monsters, inter-dimensional journeys, kickass music, and lots of gore with a female rock band at the center of the midnight madness.

When the Screaming Starts

Directed by Conor Boru, When the Screaming Starts follows struggling journalist turned filmmaker Norman, who finds himself face-to-face with aspiring serial killer Aidan Mendle. When Norman is invited to follow Aidan on his journey, he thinks he’s finally landed his big break. But as Aidan and his newly recruited murder cult embark on a blood-soaked rampage, Norman’s dream of becoming a renowned documentary filmmaker becomes a nightmare. In other words, expect an infectious horror comedy with biting wit and a killer instinct.

The Rise of the Synths

The Rise of the Synths, which is narrated by the great John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing, They Live, etc.), delves deep into the world of Synthwave, the ’80s-inspired genre that’s been the backdrop to incredible shows and movies like “Stranger Things, “Beyond the Gates, Turbo Kid, The Guest, and more. Iván Castell’s in-depth documentary features Carpenter Brut, Dance with the Dead, Power Glove, Gunship, Celldweller, and GosT, among others, and will leave you rushing to add to your music playlists.

Deep Fear

The Descent meets As Above, So Below in the Belgian/French survival horror movie Deep Fear, which sees a post-graduation celebration turn into a fight for survival in the catacombs of Paris. The students find a bunker formerly owned by Nazis, though it wasn’t the only thing they left behind. Now, something hunts the teens. Deep Fear had its U.S. premiere at Fantastic Fest, and programmers described it as “an atmospheric horror full of old-school jump scares and claustrophobic cinematography.”

All Jacked Up and Full of Worms

Variety made a strong case for why this unique gem is worth checking out. They said of the psychedelic, arthouse freakout, “I hesitate to say what happens in ‘Worms,’ which did attract a certain perverse following out of Fantasia, testing the limits with an infant sex doll and squirm-inducing new drug craze.” If that’s not enough of a sell, the publication also compared writer/director Alex Phillips’s avant-garde debut to John Waters’ legacy. In other words, don’t miss the movie that ruffled feathers.

Vietnamese Horror Story

The Halloween season ushered a new horror anthology that broke box office records in Vietnam. The Tran Huu Tan-directed anthology assembles three stories inspired by Vietnamese folklore and urban legends and isn’t afraid to get gnarly. The film’s VFX was handled by Bad Clay Studio, a Ho Chi Minh-based company headed by French-Vietnamese Thierry Nguyen, whose credits include X-Men: Days Of Future Past, Mad Max: Fury Road. 

The History of the Occult

If you’re still seeking the best horror offerings of 2022, keep this Lovecraftian gem on your radar. From writer/director Cristian Ponce, History of the Occult was notably the highest-rated horror movie of 2021 on Letterboxd’s Year in Review roundup, as rated by Letterboxd users. The stylish horror movie follows producers plotting a final broadcast of their show, only to get shaken to their core by what their last guest has in store.

The Anchor

Jung Ji-yeon’s twisty psychological thriller isn’t as straightforward as you’d expect, offering a probing character study that surprises. TV anchor Se-ra (Chun Woo-hee) receives a phone call from a mother that a man has invaded her home, intent on murder. Se-ra chalks it up to a prank, only to discover her grave error later.

Terrifier 2

No film this year dominated the zeitgeist quite like Damien Leone’s megaslasher sequel. Terrifier 2 quickly went viral during its historic run box office run. The pop culture phenomenon became a constant talking point on talk shows and was even referenced in the Halloween edition of “Saturday Night Live.” The world is crazy for Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton), badass final girl Siena (Lauren LaVera), and Leone’s elaborate death pieces. We’ll be talking about Terrifier 2 and its impact on the genre for years to come. And you can replay this robust, ultra gory splatter sequel again and again on SCREAMBOX now.

None of this even begins to cover the rare repertory additions to the streaming service. The Bloody Disgusting team remains committed to unearthing hidden horror movies like Tobe Hooper’s 1993 Night Terrors, retro cartoon “Toxic Crusaders,” the uncut Halloween cult favorite Satan’s Little Helper, and much more.

SCREAMBOX is only getting warmed up, too. Sign up now!

Coming Soon:

• The Outwaters
• Living With Chucky
• Family Dinner
• Dawning
• Holy Shit!
• RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop 
• Project Wolf Hunting

The brand new, “Bloody Disgusting Approved” SCREAMBOX app is now available in the iOS and Android stores, as well as all Roku devices and televisions. The new app will be unrolling across other platforms as we work our way toward Xbox and Apple TV in 2023.

The post 12 Horror Movies Bloody Disgusting’s SCREAMBOX Premiered in 2022! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

And wouldn’t you know it, even though Halloween has come and gone there are still several new horror releases headed our way here in the first week of November. Seven of them!

Here’s all the new horror releasing November 1 – November 6, 2022!

First up, Bloody Disgusting has unleashed the brand new SCREAMBOX Original horror movie Deep Fear today, which will take you deep into the catacombs exclusively on SCREAMBOX.

A post-graduation celebration turns into a fight for survival in the catacombs of Paris in Deep Fear, a Belgian/French survival horror movie that’s also available on VOD outlets now.

“Three students celebrate their graduation by visiting the Paris catacombs. When they discover a bunker formerly occupied by the Nazis, little do they know it’s not the only thing that was left behind. Something, someone, is now hunting them.”

Grégory Beghin directs the claustrophobic terror from a script by Nicolas Tackian. Sofia Lesaffre, Victor Meutelet, Joseph Olivennes, and Kassim Meesters star.

“Dark, dank, and bloody, French horror is making a comeback and Deep Fear delivers the goods,” says Brad Miska, Managing Director of Bloody Disgusting.

With Halloween over, we now move into the arena of Christmas Horror, and a brand new movie in that sub-genre has already arrived today. It’s humorously titled… The Killing Tree!

The Killing Tree unleashes a giant killer Christmas tree, and it’s now available on VOD.

In the latest horror movie from Uncork’d, “On Christmas Eve, a scorned widow casts an ancient spell to resurrect her executed husband. However, when the spell goes wrong, the husband is brought back as an Evil Christmas Tree. Hell-bent on getting revenge on the one who caused his execution, the body count keeps rising as the Tree hunts her down.

“Can anyone stop this killer Christmas tree before he gets to his target?”

Rhys Frake-Waterfield directs, with the cast including Sarah Alexandra Marks, Marcus Massey, Judy Tcherniak, Sarah T. Cohen, Kelly Rian Sanson, Ella Starbuck, Lauren Staerck, May Kelly, Nikolai Leon, Richard Harfst, and Gillian Broderick.

Based on the Creepypasta tale of the Russian Sleep Experiment, director John Farrelly‘s The Sleep Experiment has been released on Digital outlets today from Red Water Entertainment.

The Irish psychological thriller is now available on a number of digital and cable platforms, including iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, iNDemand and DISH, starting today.

“Two detectives begin an investigation on the ethics involved in the top-secret research facility, Porton Down. One experiment, in particular, stands out to them as the most horrific, The Sleep Experiment, a scientific experiment that took place during the Cold War.

“The experiment consisted of five prisoners, deemed Enemies of the State, being locked in a sealed gas chamber. An airborne stimulant was continually administered to keep the subjects awake for 30 consecutive days. The prisoners were falsely promised that they would be set free from the prison if they completed the experiment.”

One of the most consistently fresh and exciting teams out there, Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead (Resolution, Spring, V/H/S: Viral, The Endless, Synchronic) are back with brand new movie Something in the Dirt, and it’s coming to theaters on November 4 from XYZ.

In Something in the Dirt, “Two new neighbors witness what seems to be a supernatural event in one of their apartments. At first terrified, they realize that documenting this phenomenon could provide them the lives they’ve always dreamed of.”

“It’s a sort of love letter to Los Angeles,” the duo explain. “And the movie is a mystery, so we don’t want to give away too much. But… generally the movie’s about these two new neighbors – one of them just moved into an apartment… something that might be paranormal or otherworldly happens. And they decide to explore it together.”

They add, “It’s a reaction to, ‘What if you made The X-Files today? How would you do it?’.” They say the film also deals with the “moral duties of a sci-fi writer today.”

A sequel to Joko Anwar‘s horror movie Satan’s Slaves is on the way this week, with Shudder releasing Anwar’s Satan’s Slaves: Communion on November 4, 2022.

“The film, which is the first Indonesian movie shot with IMAX technology, will stream exclusively on Shudder in the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand from November 4. Released theatrically in Indonesia in August, the film became one of the first local productions to score big at the post-pandemic box office.”

“A family living in a rundown apartment after escaping terror from their mother, who returned from death, realize that their new home is a bigger threat to their lives.”

Tara Basro, Bront Palarae, Endy Arfian, Nasar Anuz, Egi Fedly and Ayu Laksmi are back for the sequel, starring alongside new faces including Muzakki Ramdhan, Fatih Unru, Ratu Felisha, Jourdy Pranata, Kiki Narendra, Nafiza Fatia Rani and Iqbal Sulaiman.

Anwar’s Satan’s Slaves was originally released in 2017, currently streaming on Shudder as a Shudder Original. That film was a remake of Indonesian film Satan’s Slave from the 1980s.

Produced by Blumhouse and directed by Beth de Araújo, the SXSW movie Soft & Quiet has been picked up by Momentum Pictures, coming to theaters and VOD on November 4.

“The movie follows a single afternoon in the life of an elementary school teacher as she organizes a mixer of like-minded women. When the group heads home, the teacher encounters a woman from her past, leading to a volatile chain of events.”

Stefanie Estes, Olivia Luccardi, Eleanore Pienta, Dana Millican, Melissa Paulo, Jon Beavers, and Cissy Ly star in Soft & Quiet.

“Beth de Araújo finds spectacular moments of tension and discomfort in Soft & Quiet, and I’m so happy that audiences across the US are finally going to have the opportunity to watch her film in November, as it made such a lasting impression on me,” said Jason Blum.

Magnet Releasing acquired North American rights to writer/director Mali Elfman‘s genre movie Next Exit, which will explore the afterlife in theaters and on VOD this week.

You’ll be able to take Magnet’s Next Exit on Friday, November 4.

In the film…

“When a research scientist makes national news proving she can track people into the afterlife, Rose sees a way out and Teddy sees his chance to finally make it. These two strangers, both harboring dark secrets, race to join the doctor’s contentious study and leave this life behind. While Rose is haunted by a ghostly presence that she can’t outrun, Teddy is forced to confront his past. As these two misfits humorously quarrel their way across the country, they meet people along the way who force them to reckon with what is really driving them.”

Rahul Kohli (“Midnight Mass”) stars alongside Katie Parker, Rose Mciver, Tongayi Chirisa, Tim Griffin, Diva Zappa, Nico Evers-Swindell and Karen Gillan (Dual) in Next Exit.

The post Halloween Is Over But 7 New Horror Movies Are Releasing This Week! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

SCREAMBOX‘s latest release Deep Fear, as well as the nine other movies below, reinforce feelings of claustrophobia and remind you of what possible evils could be hiding below the surface. As Above, So Below, The Descent, C.H.U.D., Creep and The Midnight Meat Train are all familiar examples of this subgenre, but this list focuses on underseen movies set underground.

Deep Fear (2022)

Grégory Beghin‘s movie Deep Fear follows three friends (Sofia Lesaffre, Victor Meutelet, Kassim Meesters) and their guide (Joseph Olivennes) into the Paris Catacombs. Set in the early ’90s, the main characters have recently graduated from college, and before one member of this tight trio goes off to the army, they all have one last adventure. Traveling in closed-off parts of the Catacombs proves unwise, though, when the group enters a bunker formerly occupied by the Nazis. This movie is a slow burn at first, but once an unimaginable evil shows its face, the movie never lets up. Deep Fear is now streaming only on SCREAMBOX.

Diggers (2016)

This Russian movie isn’t entirely straightforward; two parallel stories, each one set underground, ultimately converge in Tikhon Kornev’s Diggers. This kind of format means there are more characters and situations to follow, as well as more perils to overcome (or succumb to). While a group of stranded subway passengers tries to escape their attackers — the main threat is a pack of mutant and voracious cannibals living in the subway tunnels — several other characters intentionally enter said dangerous territory so they can find the missing passengers. Diggers also gets bonus points for being a Christmas horror movie.

Dead Mine (2012)

Fans of The Raid will surely recognize Joe Taslim in this English-language Indonesian movie. Mercs and explorers looking for the legendary Yamashita’s gold soon find themselves in deep trouble when they’re trapped inside a WWII Japanese bunker. What Dead Mine lacks in character development and plot, it makes up for in action and carnage. The living samurai and the zombie-like creatures are highlights in Steven Sheil’s movie.

Urban Explorer (2011)

Andy Fetscher’s movie Urban Explorer (also known as The Depraved) pairs nicely with Deep Fear. In this German movie, an international group of thrillseekers is brought below Berlin. All is fine until the tour guide is gravely injured, and the other members scramble to find help. They then cross paths with a sadistic man living in the underground tunnels. Fetscher recently returned to the genre with the movie Old People.

Stag Night (2008)

Some familiar faces fill the cast of Stag Night: Breckin Meyer, Kip Pardue, Vinessa Shaw and Scott Adkins are all trapped in the subway tunnels after a bachelor party takes a bad turn. As they delve deeper into their environment, the characters fall prey to the homeless community living in the area. Peter A. Dowling’s movie doesn’t push the envelope enough or feel too novel, but it’s grim, fast-paced and violent.

Catacombs (2007)

Like in Deep Fear, entering the famous Catacombs spells trouble if you wander off a familiar path. Shannyn Sossamon’s character visits her sister (played by Alecia “Pink” Moore) in Paris, and when they attend a party in the limestone labyrinth down below, they become separated. The anxious protagonist wanders the tunnels in search of help, but she instead finds a killer wearing a ghoulish getup. Catacombs‘ dark and cramped story is topped off with a bold and unexpected conclusion.

SL8N8 (2006)

My Bloody Valentine fans might be interested in the Belgian-Dutch slasher movie SL8N8 (Slaughter Night). The terror of this mid-aughts obscurity begins after a teen’s father dies in a car accident. Later, the main character and her friends somehow end up in a mine where prisoners were once used to explode methane. This includes child killer Andries Martíns, who was also the subject of the protagonist’s late father’s research. This slasher has a supernatural angle, and it’s also gory to keep up with the times.

Marebito (2004)

Takashi Shimizu’s Marebito is a unique offering of subway terror. Although he’s dealt with plenty of ghosts in the past, the Ju-On director approaches the uncanny with sustained attention rather than delivering quick and cheap thrills. Here a flawed man, armed with only his camera and an unstoppable curiosity, goes in search of the mythical spirits supposedly haunting Tokyo’s subway system. What he finds is a testament to why some mysteries should remain unsolved.

The Bunker (2001)

The Bunker is one of several period-horror movies set during wartimes. The Keep, Deathwatch, R-Point, The Outpost, Sauna and Overlord are some other notable examples. Horror is an exceptional genre for telling these kinds of severe and desperate stories; literal or metaphorical elements go far when describing both the unique qualities of war and the trials of soldiers. The Bunker uses its own eldritch setting, a haunted bunker circa Germany 1944, to communicate its characters’ anxieties.

Trapped Alive (1988)

This obscure, late-’80s horror movie was filmed in Wisconsin under the title of Forever Mine, then renamed Trapped Alive before its home-video release in the early ’90s. Set at Christmas, two young women and two escaped prisoners become trapped in a mine along with a cannibal resembling Santa Claus. Though uneven and sometimes uneventful, the few hilarious moments of this bizarre slasher make it worth watching.

Deep Fear is now streaming on SCREAMBOX! 

The post Screambox’s ‘Deep Fear’ and 9 Underseen Horror Movies Set Below Ground appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

A post-graduation celebration turns into a fight for survival in the catacombs of Paris in Deep Fear, which is also available on all VOD platforms.

“Three students celebrate their graduation by visiting the Paris catacombs. When they discover a bunker formerly occupied by the Nazis, little do they know it’s not the only thing that was left behind. Something, someone, is now hunting them.”

Deep Fear had its U.S. premiere at Fantastic Fest. The festival described it as “an atmospheric horror full of old-school jump scares and claustrophobic cinematography.”

Watch an exclusive clip here, which teases bloody, rat-infested horrors…

Grégory Beghin directs the claustrophobic terror from a script by Nicolas Tackian. Sofia Lesaffre, Victor Meutelet, Joseph Olivennes, and Kassim Meesters star.

“Dark, dank, and bloody, French horror is making a comeback and Deep Fear delivers the goods,” says Brad Miska, Managing Director of Bloody Disgusting.

Deep Fear joins Screambox’s growing library of unique horror content, including Pennywise: The Story of IT, Masters of Horror, 13 Nights of Elvira, PussyCake, When the Screaming Starts, Toxic Crusaders, Satan’s Little Helper Uncut, and Terrifier 2.

Screambox is available on iOS, Android, Prime Video, YouTube TV, Comcast, and the newly redesigned Screambox.com.

Click here to become a premium SCREAMBOX subscriber!

The post ‘Deep Fear’ – Descend Into the Catacombs on SCREAMBOX Now! [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

November brings a plethora of new releases, gory cult gems, family-friendly offerings, and brand-new titles on streaming.

Here are ten noteworthy horror titles available for streaming in November 2022 on some of the most popular streaming services, along with when/where you can watch them.

Deep Fear – Screambox (November 1)

The claustrophobic element of subterranean horror always compounds the frantic terror, so expect things to get intense. A post-graduation celebration turns into a fight for survival in the catacombs of Paris in Deep Fear. Three students celebrate their graduation by visiting the Paris catacombs. When they discover a bunker formerly occupied by the Nazis, little do they know it’s not the only thing left behind. Something, someone, is now hunting them. Grégory Beghin directs from a script by Nicolas Tackian.

Satan’s Slaves: Communion – Shudder (November 4) 

In 2017, writer/director Joko Anwar’s Satan’s Slaves topped the list of highest-grossing films in Indonesia and scared up new fans when it found a home in Shudder. November brings its sequel, Communion, the first Indonesian movie shot with IMAX technology. The sequel sees the first film’s family now living in an apartment after escaping the terror unleashed by their mother’s passing. But the horror follows them home. If Communion features even a fraction of the potent chills Anwar delivered in the first film, we’re in for a frightfully good time.

All Jacked Up and Full of Worms – Screambox (November 8)

Those that like their horror as weird and transgressive as possible need look no further than writer/director Alex Phillips’s feature debut. Working at a seedy motel, maintenance man Roscoe (Phillip Andre Botello) is always searching for his latest fix. His days of dime-store drugs are over when he stumbles upon a powerfully hallucinogenic worm. Along with his new love interest (Trevor Dawkins), the pair embark on a delirious odyssey of sex, violence, and becoming one with the dirt.

Slash/Back – Shudder (November 13)

It’s up to Maika (Tasiana Shirley) and her friends to save their arctic hamlet of Pangnirtung, Nunavut when they discover an alien invasion. Maika and pals pull together their collective knowledge of horror movies and makeshift weapons, giving the aliens a fight for their lives. The aliens may be dangerous, but you don’t underestimate the girls of Pang. Nyla Innuksuk’s feature debut brings the genre fun, a gorgeous setting, and spirited leads worth rooting for in this delightful alien romp.

Vietnamese Horror Story – Screambox (November 15)

Tran Huu Tan’s horror anthology became an unexpected box office hit earlier this year in Vietnam, and now it’s headed to Screambox. Based on local folklore, Vietnamese Horror Story comprises three chapters and follows an actress seeking everlasting beauty, a magician who makes a deal with evil, and a psychic seeking the remains of a deceased girl. Considering the gruesome images unveiled so far and the fact that the VFX was handled by Thierry Nguyen’s (Mad Max: Fury Road) Bad Clay Studio, horror fans are surely in for one gnarly good time. 

The Boxer’s Omen – Arrow (November 18)

Don’t miss this absolutely unhinged Hong Kong horror cult classic when it hits Arrow later this month. The late Shaw Brothers production sees a man seeking revenge on a Thai boxer that paralyzed his brother in a match. While that seems straightforward, the path to vengeance becomes anything but when black magic enters the equation. The Boxer’s Omen has it all in one insane and insanely stylish horror-packed experience; live eel-vomiting, kickboxing, wizardry, gore, creatures, and more. Truly, don’t skip out on this pick.

Nope – Peacock (November 18)

OJ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) struggles to keep his recently passed father’s horse ranch afloat. The arrival of OJ’s lively sister Emerald (Keke Palmer) adds to his stress as he tries to maintain faithful responsibility toward the family ranch. But then, an eerie phenomenon begins swooping over their valley; the siblings become determined to capture it on camera. On the surface, Nope is an accessible, straightforward sci-fi horror movie that nails its humor as much as it elicits gasps. Below is a darker examination of media and those it abused and left behind. Jordan Peele effectively captures the scope and spectacle of a summer blockbuster, packing it with chill-inducing moments, gasp-worthy thrills, and endless endearing characters.

Slumberland – Netflix (November 18)

A young orphan travels to the realm of dreams and nightmares, searching for her late father. She’s joined by an eccentric outlaw, the half-monster Flip (Jason Momoa), in what looks to be a charming yet epic-sized adventure for the whole family. This family-friendly feature is based on the comic Little Nemo in Slumberland by Winsor McCay, and it’s directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Constantine).

Dual – Hulu (November 20)

Riley Stearns’ follow-up to pitch-black comedy The Art of Self Defense again puts his knack for off-kilter humor on display. Only this time, the writer/director applies it to a high-concept sci-fi story that uses an end-of-life decision as the starting point. Sarah’s (Karen Gillan) simple existence gets shattered by a sudden terminal illness diagnosis, prompting her to examine options to ease the blow for her loved ones. Sarah’s encouraged to participate in a cloning procedure that will allow her double to assume her life once she’s gone with her loved ones none the wiser. But Sarah’s double is a little too effective at her job as a replacement, eventually leading to a court-mandated duel to the death. Dual uses deadpan delivery and oddball performances to capture the strangeness of life, especially when faced with death.

Blood Relatives – Shudder (November 22)

Writer/Director Noah Segan’s feature debut brings a charming soft touch to the vampire tale, favoring dad jokes and affecting bonds over savage bloodletting. Francis (Segan) is a drifter with a specific routine and holds a few material possessions dear. But his comfortable yet niche way of living on society’s outskirts changes when 15-year-old Jane (Victoria Moroles) shows up at his hotel door. Her mother just passed, leaving her alone in the world, and she has a few peculiar characteristics that she wonders if she inherited from her dad. Traits like super strength and an appetite for meat so rare it’s practically still bleeding. Francis balks at the idea of a daughter, but showing Jane the ropes of vampirism slowly erodes his carefully guarded walls as they embark on a road trip. Blood Relatives delivers an infectious and charming horror comedy.

The post Ten Noteworthy Genre Movies You Can Stream at Home in November appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

A post-graduation celebration turns into a fight for survival in the catacombs of Paris in Deep Fear. It will also be available on VOD platforms the same day via Cinedigm.

“Three students celebrate their graduation by visiting the Paris catacombs. When they discover a bunker formerly occupied by the Nazis, little do they know it’s not the only thing that was left behind. Something, someone, is now hunting them.”

Deep Fear had its U.S. premiere at Fantastic Fest last month. The festival described it as “an atmospheric horror full of old-school jump scares and claustrophobic cinematography.”

Watch an exclusive clip below, which teases bloody, rat-infested horrors…

Grégory Beghin directs the claustrophobic terror from a script by Nicolas Tackian. Sofia Lesaffre, Victor Meutelet, Joseph Olivennes, and Kassim Meesters star.

“Dark, dank, and bloody, French horror is making a comeback and Deep Fear delivers the goods,” says Brad Miska, Managing Director of Bloody Disgusting.

Deep Fear joins Screambox’s growing library of unique horror content, including Pennywise: The Story of IT, Masters of Horror, 13 Nights of Elvira, PussyCake, When the Screaming Starts, Toxic Crusaders, and the forthcoming Terrifier 2 on Halloween Day.

Enjoy all this and more with a 30-day free trial of Screambox, available on iOS, Android, Prime Video, YouTube TV, Comcast, and the newly redesigned Screambox.com.

SCREAMBOX subscriptions include unlimited movies and shows, with no ads: Month-to-month pricing is $4.99, while you can get discounted rates at 3 months ($11.99) or one year ($39.99). Sign up for SCREAMBOX now! 

Click here to become a premium subscriber!

The post ‘Deep Fear’ Exclusive Clip – Head Deep into the Catacombs on SCREAMBOX in November appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Directed by Grégory Beghin (Losers Revolution) and set in the 1980s, three students set out on the adventure of a lifetime as they decide to celebrate their recent graduation in Paris. Eager to do something more exciting than visit the local tourist spots, they decide to descend into the capital city’s cryptic catacombs.

Safe within the underground, they find the escape they’ve been searching for, unaware that they are not alone in the darkness…

When they discover a bunker created during the Nazi occupation, they have no way of knowing the danger that lurks within. Something, someone, is hunting them! Trapped deep underground, the group needs to get out before it’s too late…

“The Catacombs are scary as it is, but inject a heavy dose of claustrophobia, an undead Nazi and his dog, and you’ve got yourself a nightmare deep under the streets of Paris,” says Brad Miska, Bloody Disgusting’s Managing Director.

“Dark, dank, and bloody, French horror is making a comeback and Deep Fear delivers the goods.”

Lori Donnelly writes for Fantastic Fest: “An atmospheric horror full of old-school jump scares and claustrophobic cinematography, Deep Fear puts a unique spin on subterranean horror films like The Descent and As Above, So Below. Deep Fear intelligently combines the conventions established by the earlier films with classic slasher elements into an entertaining ride that feels both nostalgic and contemporary. ”

Fantastic Fest 2022 runs from September 22 – September 29 in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit their website.

Written by Nicolas Tackian (Alex Hugo), the film pulls viewers away from the beautiful lights of the French capital into the notorious city of the dead. The film is executive produced by Sébastien Delloye and François Touwaide.

The deal was negotiated by Brandon Hill, Acquisitions Manager, on behalf of Cinedigm and Greg Chambet of WTFilms on behalf of the filmmakers.

Halloween is coming! Deep Fear joins the already massive SCREAMBOX Originals/Exclusives slate that includes Terrifier 2, All Jacked Up and Full of Worms, Story Game, Welcome to Hell, PussyCake, Pennywise: The Story of IT, Suicide Forest Village, History of the Occult, and the uncut edition of Satan’s Little Helper!

SCREAMBOX subscriptions include unlimited movies and shows, with no ads: Month-to-month pricing is $4.99, while you can get discounted rates at 3 months ($11.99) or one year ($39.99).

Sign up for SCREAMBOX now and get 30 DAYS FREE.

Click here to become a premium subscriber!

The post SCREAMBOX Acquires French Horror ‘Deep Fear’ and Heads Into the Catacombs This November! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The festival opens with the World premiere of The Lair, an action-packed “gore shocker” from Neil Marshall, who calls his latest monstrous creation “The Dirty Half Dozen meets The Thing”. Neil will be attending with star Charlotte Kirk and will also introduce a special 4K restoration screening of his modern classic, Dog Soldiers.

The closing night film is the European premiere of Scott Mann’s Fall, a pulse-pounding, vertigo-inducing experience as two best friends, stranded at the top of a remote, abandoned 2000-feet high radio tower, fight for survival.

The Bloody Disgusting-powered SCREAMBOX has a presence there. Not only is Damien Leone’s Terrifier 2 set to screen ahead of our fall theatrical release, but our kickass rocking gore-fest PussyCake will screen alongside the newly acquired title Deep Fear, Grégory Beghin’s survival horror that takes place in the catacombs where an experimental nazi and his zombie dog reside.

Passes are on sale Sat. July 16th at noon; single tickets Sat. July 23 at noon.

Click here to see what else is playing.

Check out three images from The Lair below…

In the film…

“Sergeant Tom Hook is tasked with leading a command to find Lt. Kate Sinclair, a Royal Air Force fighter pilot shot down in Afghanistan. Sinclair, pursued by insurgents, finds refuge in a long-abandoned secret bunker and unwittingly releases a deadly man-made biological weapon – half-human, half-alien and hungry for human flesh – the Ravagers.

“Hook and his team, accompanied by a handful of British SAS troops must save Sinclair from the insurgents, and more importantly from the Ravagers before they overrun the area and potentially the world.”

The post [FrightFest UK] Neil Marshall’s ‘The Lair’ to World Premiere; SCREAMBOX’s ‘PussyCake’ and ‘Deep Fear’! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Madalina Ghenea (House of Gucci) and Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl) lead the cast.

No release date has been set at this time. Stay tuned.

Deadline previews, “The story follows Naomi (Ghenea) an accomplished round-the-world yachtswoman, who sets out on a solo trip to meet her boyfriend, Jackson (Westwick) in Grenada. Her tranquil three-day sail aboard 47-foot yacht “The Serenity” takes an unexpectedly dark turn when a storm forces her off the plotted course.”

Marcus Adams (Long Time Dead) directed Deep Fear. He tells Variety, “Deep Fear‘s tense and deadly underwater scenes are the visual and metaphorical essence of the movie.”

Adams continues, “The lack of clarity and murky conditions created the perfect tone and setting for this dark and sinister thriller. Visible enough to see but not enough to be sure of their surroundings, this rendered the characters to be only partially in control and creates a feeling of intense threat. Plunged into the deep-sea blackness, there is a visceral fear that grips our film’s audience and won’t let go.”

Robert Capelli Jr and Sophia Eptamentis wrote the script.

Photo Credit: Brilliant Pictures

The post ‘Deep Fear’ – Ed Westwick Stars in the Next Shark Attack Horror Movie [Images] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Madalina Ghenea (House of Gucci) and Ed Westwick (Gossip Girl) lead the cast.

Deadline previews, “The story follows Naomi (Ghenea) an accomplished round-the-world yachtswoman, who sets out on a solo trip to meet her boyfriend, Jackson (Westwick) in Grenada. Her tranquil three-day sail aboard 47-foot yacht “The Serenity” takes an unexpectedly dark turn when a storm forces her off the plotted course.”

Marcus Adams (Long Time Dead) will be sitting in the director’s chair.

Robert Capelli Jr and Sophia Eptamentis wrote the script.

The post Survival Horror Movie ‘Deep Fear’ Pits a Shark Up Against a Woman on a Yacht appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The genre film label was launched by French producer Noor Sadar and Belgian banner Entre Chien et Loup; A Mediawan company, Black Swan Tales was also created in partnership with the sales company WTFilms.

Here are the projects…

Black Swan has just wrapped the shoot of Deep Fear, which was penned by Niko Tackian and directed by Grégory Beghin.

“The film follows three students, Kate, Henri and Max, who have come to Paris to celebrate their graduation and embark on a private visit of the Paris catacombs where they discover a vestige of the Nazi occupation.”

The banner is also producing No Filter, which is written and directed by Michael Dupret, based on his short by the same name.

“The project was developed at the Sundance residency program. The film revolves around Anna, a young woman who’s gained new notoriety on social media and discovers a new app that distorts her face and actions.”

Another project is The Night Man, a psychological thriller penned by Elsa Marpeau, which will be directed by Mélanie Delloye.

“The film revolves around a young pregnant woman who finds out her seemingly perfect boyfriend may be a dangerous sleepwalker as she hears of strange disappearances and murders taking place in the region.”

Black Swan is also developing The Hunt by writer-director Jérôme Genevray, who previously directed La nuée, which was part of Cannes’ Critics’ Week selection in 2020.

“The Hunt follows a small group of migrants who are stranded on a seemingly idyllic Mediterranean island and quickly realize they are the target of a wild man hunt.”

Sadar said the company aims to deliver four films per year.

The post Black Swan Tales Reveals Four-Film Slate: ‘Deep Fear’, ‘No Filter’, ‘The Night Man’, and ‘The Hunt’ appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

“A monster! What are you talking about? Anyway…”

Even the most committed of gamers can have a number of blind spots and Sega’s 32-bit console, the Saturn, was a system that many people never got to experience. The Sega Saturn is perhaps the biggest neglected stepchild from Sega’s glorious days back in the console war. Many people contribute the Dreamcast’s fraction of an audience for Sega’s “failure” during the console days, but the Sega Saturn made a lot more mistakes and burnt people out than the Dreamcast did. If anything, gamers were apprehensive to jump on board to the Dreamcast because of the lackluster impression that the Saturn made and people were initially resistant to try out the Saturn because of the wealth of add-ons that were implemented towards the end of the Genesis/Mega Drive’s lifespan.

Like most things that Sega does, even though the Saturn is one of the most underappreciated consoles that existed, there were a number of gems for the system that showed what the complicated machine could do when the right people were involved. Many people adopted Sony’s Play Station instead of Sega’s alternative, but in spite of this there’s still a dedicated fan base out there for the console. The survival horror genre was still in its infancy during the Saturn’s lifespan, so while the genre obviously wasn’t the console’s priority, there are only a few titles that fit into the survival horror mold and they’re ports for the most part. That being said, there still manages to be one unique, exclusive horror game that was in many ways ahead of its time, but largely goes ignored in the larger discussions of survival horror (it probably doesn’t help that barely anyone has played a Sega Saturn). Get ready to submerge yourself into the inky depths of Deep Fear.

At first glance, Deep Fear might just look like “Resident Evil on a boat”—Resident SEA-vil, if you will—but it actually pushes quite the heady story that incorporates conspiracy theories, alien narratives, and turns into a horror/sci-fi hybrid that’s quite unique and far more than a mere zombie outbreak. Imagine if Resident Evil’s iconic cutscene where a zombie is first encountered immediately undercut itself by everyone shouting “April Fools!” afterwards and showing that it was just a prank? Not only is this a creative, subversive way to kick off the horror here, it also keep the audience on their toes and brings disbelief into where the real danger lies. Deep Fear’s story revolves around the mission of preventing the outbreak of a transformative disease, with the secondary threat of nuclear warheads also adding to the danger. The task of freezing life and then attempting to resurrect it later leads to mixed results and a disastrous insecticide-like compound begins to mutate everyone into these deadly monsters.

Besides Deep Fear, the only other original horror titles on the Sega Saturn are D and its sequel, Enemy Zero. Sure, there were ports of Resident Evil, Alone in the Dark 2, and surprisingly, even Phantasmagoria, but in terms of Saturn-exclusive survival horror the pickings are pretty limited (especially considering Deep Fear never even came out in North America). There’s of course House of the Dead, but that’s much more of a shooter than survival horror fare.

Deep Fear’s release also comes during a very interesting time as it’s a year after the release of Resident Evil, but also a year before Silent Hill comes out. There was a definite gap and niche to fill here and the Saturn’s lack of popularity ultimately kept Deep Fear from finding the success that they were hoping for. It also didn’t help that the game was only released in Japan and Europe. It was also the last Saturn game to get released in Europe, so this was definitely during the end of the Saturn’s lifespan and most people—Sega included—had already moved on. The Dreamcast would even be out in Japan less than six months after Deep Fear’s European release. Sega’s reputable in-house AM7 team were the ones that were producing Deep Fear, however, the two people responsible for the title, Hiroyuki Maruhama and Kunihiro Shirahata, wouldn’t ultimately make a big splash in the horror genre. Maruhama would stick with survival horror in his career, but he goes on to direct the regrettable Dino Crisis 3. Shirahata, on the other hand, wouldn’t go on to direct anything else with Deep Fear acting as his final title.

Deep Fear attempts to make a strong first impression and it mostly succeeds. The game’s opening cinematic is operatic as hell and really tries to make this all seem epic and like a movie rather than a video game (right down to how the credits are brazenly presented). It makes for a good distillation of what the game has to offer, while it also manages to actually be scary and invoke the game’s sense of “what the fuck?” Not to mention, all of this sets the scene just as well, if not better, than Resident Evil’s introduction. In spite of the game’s strong presentation style, Deep Fear’s voice acting is notorious for somehow actually being worse than the infamously cheesy job done in Resident Evil or House of the Dead 2. The ironic thing here though is that there’s some real money and production value that’s put into this game, yet it results in utter camp. Capcom’s Resident Evil was unintentionally campy and lucked into finding a tone that inadvertently worked for the audience.

Deep Fear’s main environment, the underwater, sterile-looking Big Table doesn’t have nearly the same charm as Resident Evil’s mansion, police station, or Silent Hill’s titular town, but it’s an interesting change of scenery. The surroundings all look and sound great and the cramped claustrophobic feeling works in the game’s favor. However, it shouldn’t be a surprise that a drab submarine fails to make for exciting level design. Thankfully the enemies are at least a lot more bonkers and creative. In fact, the game’s distinct mutants are designed by acclaimed manga artist, Yaushi Nirasawa, who is known for works like the Kamen Rider series and the Garo’s “Horrors” creatures. The snake-like monster that some people transform into also pretty much feels like Deep Fear’s version of Lickers, but it’s pure ‘90s goodness. On that note, one of the first real obstacles that you encounter is a friend asking you to kill him before he transforms into a terrible spider-like, skeleton monster that could give William Birkin from Resident Evil 2 a run for his money. John Mayor, the game’s protagonist, gets put through quite the gauntlet here and the circumstances of this first monster are much more traumatic than what S.T.A.R.S. encounters in the Spencer Mansion.

Whether looking at Deep Fear’s unique monsters, the game’s setting, or its themes, the title pulls inspiration from impressive films like The Leviathan and The Abyss. It wouldn’t be decades later until franchises like Dead Space, or more specifically, BioShock, would again put survival horror in such a different, sterile environment. It’s worth addressing that there’s a 2005 title for XBOX, PS2, and Windows that’s titled Cold Fear and many claim to be a spiritual successor to this title. The two games really just share similar titles and water-based premises, but this plucky Sega Saturn game is actually the more satisfying of the two, even if it comes from a previous generation of gaming.

Music and sound design is another major way in Deep Fear manages to stand out. The game features quite the moody, eerie score and it’s actually done by Kenji Kawai, who composed the score for freaking Ghost in the Shell, so there’s considerable talent on board here. On that note, there’s little to no music in the game itself, so all the sound comes from gunfire, enemy moans, and machinery, which adds to that isolating experience. Kawai’s music is so damn good in the cutscenes that it’s a real shame that they couldn’t figure out how to get it playing through the rest of the game (although there are exceptions, like boss fights and escape sequences).

Deep Fear really stacks up in comparison to everything else that was available at the time, so it’s a shame that this title remains such an unknown gem. The game doesn’t just push to a different setting for survival horror, but it also features many concepts and features that were highly innovative for the burgeoning genre. Deep Fear is the first survival horror game with a fixed camera angle in which players can run, aim, and fire all at once, which took other titles a long time to catch onto. The game also allows for easy-to-use secondary weapons. In fact, the game’s weapon and combat mechanics feel surprisingly advanced. This allows for some fairly tense boss battles, like one where you’re essentially up against a raging demon bull and you need to avoid the rampaging beast. Another boss climbs across the top of a hallway as you run back and forth in a fight that’s not unlike one of the boss’ from Resident Evil 4.

A rather creative approach is also taken for ammo and health, which are technically infinite, provided you can find “refill” stations. Enemies can take more of a beating as a result, but all of this at least feels different than the other crop of survival horror titles from the late ’90s. On top of that, other mechanics like an air meter make Deep Fear distinctly its own thing, it’s just a shame that not enough people found out about it. It’s also exciting to see how Deep Fear incorporates the air meter and various environmental hazards into its survival horror. This is a detail that’s also present in the brilliant Saturn title, Burning Rangers, but it’s not used for horror purposes in that case. Here the idea allows players to stress over how much air they have left and if they should go explore a new room or retreat for a refill. Furthermore, limitations like static camera angles and tight hallways actually add to the horror of the game and make enemies more frightening, too.

Deep Fear is sure to make its characters an unusual lot, too. John Mayor is surrounded with a number of clichés on Big Table, but they all make for memorable, unbelievable caricatures in gaming. Mayor’s closest friend is Mooky, a huge Yankees fan who will find any opportunity to bring up the baseball team. He instantly has more personality than anyone in the original Resident Evil. Dubois (or Duboa, as his name is inexplicably spelled in the credits) is also a tremendously offensive portrayal of a homosexual and Mayor’s superior officer, Clancy, often writes about submarines and his crew in a way which feels like a major nod to the audience about how this is supposed to resemble a B-movie. All of this makes it especially brutal that this game didn’t come out in America because they’re the most appropriate and the obviously intended audience for this title. Who knows, maybe a US release would have seen Deep Fear become more of a known title or the Dreamcast could have even put out a sequel that could then go on to be underappreciated, too.

The game also features a weird fixation on animals and it shows a particular obsession with monkeys, like Anthony, who becomes a strange focal point for the video game, but one that still works for it. There’s also Rambo the bulldog who’s actually one of the few survivors at the end of the game. Rambo fits into the title in a truly bizarre fashion. Can you imagine needing to locate a dog using the lure of a cheeseburger in order to get Barry to work with you in Resident Evil or for Cybil to help you find your daughter in Silent Hill? And this is all happening on a submarine base, at that. Why are there dogs and/or cheeseburgers in the first place!

While many early survivor horror titles are victims to frustrating amounts of backtracking, Deep Fear resists this urge and pushes a fairly linear approach (although disc two does indulge in this staple a little, which unfortunately makes for a sluggish final act after an effective start). The game can feel like a fairly isolating experience as Mayor moves from place to place in the submarine in your attempts to find key cards, meet various surviving personnel, and disarm parts of the ship. It’s almost like the game’s a sim for a maintenance worker on a ship and there just also happens to be mutated monsters in the mix, too. In Deep Fear’s defense, a lot of early survivor horror titles had this back-and-forth “mission” mentality to them.

Deep Fear is far from the most frightening video game from the ‘90s, but there are still some rather brutal, cinematic death sequences in it. Mooky’s in particular strikes a real chord and is Deep Fear at its most ruthless and violent (the fingernails!). Additionally, it’s actually sad when John Mayor’s friends die in this. The fact that the game makes you fight Dubois underwater, right after you kill him, is probably the biggest surprise in the whole game. It’s surprisingly emotional for a survival horror title from this era. There are also some timed escape sequences that will definitely remind players of Resident Evil’s self-destruct countdowns. One of these tense passages involves John Mayor launching himself out of a torpedo hatch as his submarine plummets below. Later chapters in the title also play with the idea that the game’s hero might be infected with the virus himself, which is an interesting, albeit predictable, development that digs deeper than the original Resident Evil does.

Deep Fear saves plenty of excitement for its conclusion and the big set piece that the game goes out on is quite impressive and pretty much sticks the landing. It’s an ambitious way to conclude things and this awesome ending easily knocks every other survival horror game’s finale out of the water. Basically, Anthony, the cute ape, is the key to everything in the end. Everything comes down to John needing to shoot a monkey in order to end this madness, but not before the chimp’s owner risks her life for him. The visual of the transformed fairy-like Gina who hugs and embraces her pet chimp while she dies and the station self-destructs is a truly bizarre visual for the game to go out on. Even John is like, “Yeah, I’m out of here…” when he begins to witness this weirdness. But hey, at least Sharon’s dolphin gets to get away safe in the end. It probably goes off to hook up with Ecco or something.

Deep Fear is far from a perfect video game and it suffers many of the same issues that other survival horror titles from the ‘90s do, but the many ways in which Deep Fear strays from the norm and tries to do something new absolutely make this oddball title one that’s worth checking out. The fact that it’s on the Sega Saturn makes the title even more mysterious. Deep Fear feels like a video game from the ‘90s, but it’s a title that could also do tremendously well on Steam or GOG.com and it seems highly unlikely that Sega is looking to hold onto this property or has any future plans for it. Put the game out there and let people finally get to experience its weirdness. Now, during this retro renaissance, is literally the perfect time for Deep Fear to hit new audiences. It also doesn’t hurt that this year marks the game’s 20th anniversary.

And if you still have any other questions about this game, may Deep Fear’s very direct commercial speak for itself.

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