After the confirmation of a Scream 7 in 2023, however, Barrera shared support on social media for Palestine and was quickly fired from the sequel by production company Spyglass Media Group. Soon after, directed Christopher Landon parted ways with the project, while Jenna Ortega also dropped off.

Melissa Barrera was recently asked by JustWatch if there was a world in which she would return to the Scream franchise. After being visibly surprised by the question, the actor noted, “Not with the company that currently holds the rights … I love the franchise. I had an amazing time making those movies. But a lot of the hate and the difficulty that I’ve faced in the last years is because the leadership of that company made it a point to label me something that I’m not, and they never apologized, even when I was proven right.”

She added, “Even with an apology, I wouldn’t go back to work with them. So, not that I’m holding my breath — I don’t think they have that ability — but if the franchise were ever to leave those hands and go more into hands that I think honor Wes Craven’s legacy more, I think yeah.”

Understandably, a world in which Barrera returned to the series seems unlikely. However, longtime star Neve Campbell was a focal point of the first five movies, then expressed how she wouldn’t be returning for Scream VI due to a dispute over her salary. In the wake of Barrera’s firing, Campbell returned for Scream 7, as the overall narrative once again put Sidney Prescott at the forefront.

Another star who also returned for Scream 7 was Matthew Lillard, whose Stu Macher died in the original movie. While his appearance was ultimately chalked up to deepfake technology, Lillard recently expressed his remorse over his decision to return.

“When that happened to Melissa, the whole world didn’t pipe up … But she was a year early on what the f-ck’s going on. But the whole world should have popped up and said, ‘She’s right.’ And they didn’t. And that’s brutal,” Lillard recently shared at a convention appearance. “I went back to do Scream, and I got called out. And I’m like, ‘Oh, f-ck. That’s brutal.’ I feel bad about that. I feel ashamed about that. Because in that moment I was so excited to go back, I didn’t really think about Melissa and that journey. I didn’t say no.”

Lillard added, “I blew that … I’m on the wrong side of history for that. I still like being in the movie [but] it may not have been the best idea.”

Lilla and Nora Zuckerman are writing Scream 8, though other details about the project are largely unknown.

The post ‘Scream’ – Melissa Barrera Open to Franchise Return… But “Not With the Company That Currently Holds the Rights” appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Adam Alleca, who wrote the 2009 remake of Wes Craven’s The Last House on the Left, will be writing and directing the upcoming Inhabit, Variety exclusively reports today.

Inhabit features “psychological horror with relentless supernatural dread,” as well as a “chilling exploration of trauma, motherhood, and the responsibility of unfathomable power.”

The film follows a young woman who, following a traumatic life-changing event, moves into a rundown apartment complex in search of a fresh start. When she’s terrorized by bizarre occurrences — unhinged neighbors, uncanny stalkers, unprovoked violence — she comes to believe she’s being targeted by a possessive force that breaks her understanding of reality.

A force that can only be overcome by confronting the darkest parts of her own nature.

“True horror means forcing the audience to confront a universal existential fear no one’s ever dared to tell a story about before. I’ve found such a fear in Inhabit,” Adam Alleca said in a statement. “My inspirations are the kind of audacious, character-driven thrillers I love, like Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, and Get Out. Their innovation is my North Star.”

“With Inhabit, Adam has crafted a story that can shatter open the conversation on a subject often considered taboo,” previews Brendon Boyea from the production company Cinemachine. “Driven by his singular vision, it delivers a deeply intimate and extremely unnerving experience. Paired with Melissa’s powerful presence, we see this as a film that will resonate on both a visceral and human level, and we’re thrilled to be a part of bringing it to life.”

Stay tuned for more on the horror film Inhabit starring Melissa Barrera.

The post Melissa Barrera Will Star in Supernatural Apartment Horror Movie ‘Inhabit’ appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Variety explains the situation in a new report, “In late 2023, as Israeli bombs decimated Gaza in retribution for the Oct. 7 attacks, actress Melissa Barrera took stock of the carnage and spoke out. The Scream and In the Heights star posted daily messages to her Instagram calling for peace, criticizing the Israeli government’s killing of Palestinian civilians, and comparing Gaza to a concentration camp. She posted fundraising links to Palestinian human rights organizations and shared articles by Holocaust scholars accusing Israel of committing genocide.”

The end result? Barrera was removed from Scream 7 and pushed out of her talent agency, firmly dividing the Scream fandom. The decision was ultimately made to instead bring back Neve Campbell and pivot the franchise storyline back to Sidney Prescott, with both Barrera and on-screen sister Jenna Ortega absent from the final iteration of Scream 7.

In an explosive new interview with Variety, Melissa Barrera holds nothing back in explaining exactly how she feels about Spyglass and the “nostalgia-bait” reconfiguration of Scream 7.

Barrera even questions whether or not Scream 7‘s box office numbers are legit. According to all official box office reporting, Scream 7 scared up $207 million at the worldwide box office this year, making it the highest grossing single installment in the franchise to date.

“Let’s be real: the seventh one sucked,” Variety’s interviewer says to the actress at one point. Barrera responds, “I know. And I think they lied about the numbers. I don’t think it made that much money. But at the stage door, I sign Scream things every night. People who love me from those movies are coming to see the show, and they can’t ever take that away from me.”

“The only way they were able to make that movie after what happened was to nostalgia-bait as much as possible,” Barrera continues, painting an accurate picture of what Scream 7 ended up becoming in the wake of Barrera’s firing and Ortega exiting the project.

“Spyglass brought back cast members from the prior Scream films. Did that seem scabby to you? Did it feel like those were people basically crossing the picket line?” Variety asks. Barrera responds, “Oh, one hundred percent. I think they all are. And they have to live with that.”

“When you’re doing something that feels like it’s the right thing to do, and then you’re punished for it, it really fucks with your head,” Barrera notes during the chat.

She also says in response to a previous question earlier in the interview with Variety, “The reality is that Scream is always going to be a big part of me because it was two years of my life, it gave me a lot, and I’m grateful specifically to Matt [Bettinelli-Olpin] and Tyler [Gillett] who gave me that shot. That hasn’t been soured for me. They don’t have that power.”

You can read the full interview over on Variety for more from Melissa Barrera.

The post Melissa Barrera Breaks Her Silence On ‘Scream 7’ Three Years After Franchise Firing appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

After kicking off February with the flawed Michael Crichton adaptation Sphere (listen), batshit 90s Drew Barrymore flick Doppelganger (listen), and the 10th anniversary of Robert Eggers’ debut The Witch (listen), we’re closing out the month with a modern fave: Scream VI (2023).

In Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett‘s second Scream film, sisters Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara Carpenter (Jenna Ortega) have moved to NYC to make a fresh start. As Sam undergoes therapy to deal with her killer urges, Tara pretends that nothing is wrong by throwing herself into College life. But as the pair, plus returning players Chad and Mindy Meeks-Martin (Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown), will soon discover, there’s a new Ghostface – or Ghostfaces – stalking them through the Big Apple’s bodegas, subways, and parks.

With the help of intrepid reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), newly minted FBI agent Kirby (Hayden Panettiere), and local detective Wayne Bailey (Dermot Mulroney), can the Core Four survive their second round with a killer(s)? Chad really doesn’t want to get stabbed again.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, TuneIn, Amazon Music, and RSS.

Episode 375: Scream VI (2023)

Grab your ladder because we’re headed to NY to ride the subway with the Core Four in Radio Silence’s sequel to the requel, Scream VI (2023).

Obviously this is a megasized episode because we have *thoughts.* Thoughts on the killers, thoughts on who survives, thoughts on the best chase sequences and how much (or little) each character gets to do.

Plus: an absent Sidney, the return of Skeet Ulrich, the Stab shrine, and all of those homages to Scream 2. Who gives a fuck about movies?!

Cross out Scream VI!

Coming Up Next: We’re kicking off March with a celebration of the 30th anniversary of Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar’s feature film debut, Thesis (1996).

P.S. Subscribe to our Patreon for over 457 hours of Patreon content including this month’s new episodes on Hannibal Season 3 Episodes 1 & 2, Whistle, The Strangers: Chapter 3, Sam Raimi’s Send Help, a new audio commentary on 10 Cloverfield Lane and our continuing coverage of Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House (2018) on the Requel tier.

The post Celebrating The Core Four’s Final Outing in ‘Scream VI’ [Horror Queers Podcast] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Skeet Ulrich tells Entertainment Weekly in a new chat, “When we talked about coming back for [Scream] 5, it was a three-picture arc for Billy Loomis to slowly turn his daughter into the killer. Obviously, those things didn’t pan out, given certain things that happened.”

Ulrich is referring to the controversial firing of Melissa Barrera by Spyglass in the wake of Scream 6, which led to Scream 7 being retooled without Sam or her sister, Jenna Ortega’s Tara.

Scream 7 will instead put the focus back on Sidney Prescott and the original legacy characters, so it’s unlikely that we’ll ever get the continuation of Sam Carpenter’s story. The final moments of Scream 6 see Sam holding the Ghostface mask in her hands and ultimately tossing it to the ground, though there’s a faint suggestion that she may be unable to leave that legacy behind.

The original version of Scream 7, according to Ulrich’s new comments, would’ve seen Billy continue to tempt Sam over to the dark side. It’s unclear if Ulrich is saying that she eventually gives in or he’s only suggesting that Billy would’ve continued trying to get her to complete that villainous arc, though it’s a legacy she very much rejects in both Scream 5 and Scream 6.

As for Scream 7, Ulrich doubles down on his comments last week about his involvement in the current version of the movie. He definitively tells EW that he’s not coming back in next year’s Kevin Williamson-directed movie, and that he “knows nothing” of what happens in it.

Scream 7 will be slashing into theaters on February 27, 2026.

The post Skeet Ulrich Says Original Plan for ‘Scream 7’ Was for Billy to Turn Sam into Ghostface Killer appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

This one’s titled Black Tides and centers on killer orcas rather than killer sharks, and Deadline reports this week that Melissa Barrera (Scream) will star alongside John Travolta.

Ella Bleu Travolta (The Poison Rose), Álvaro Mel (A Perfect Story) and Dylan Torrell (Islands) will also star in Renny Harlin’s Black Tides, which is now filming in Gran Canaria, Spain.

Black Tides follows Bill Pierce (Travolta), an estranged father trying to reconnect with his daughter Rebecca (Barrera) and grandson Sebastian (Torrell) when their sailboat is attacked by rogue orcas off the southern Spanish coast—setting off a fight for survival across open waters.

Chris Sparling (Greenland) and Ángel Agudo (Apocalypse Z) wrote the film.

“Melissa brings both fire and vulnerability to a role that demands it all—emotionally, physically, and cinematically,” Harlin said in a statement. “She and John are movie magic together, and they elevate every beat of this story.”

“Shooting at sea is one of the hardest things you can do in film but the footage we’re getting is stunning,” added producer Adrián Guerra. “The cast has bonded in a way that’s rare and powerful, and Renny’s directing chops are on full display—balancing raw spectacle with real human emotion.”

The post Melissa Barrera Joins John Travolta in Renny Harlin’s Orca Horror Movie ‘Black Tides’ appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Look for Your Monster to arrive exclusively on Max on January 24. The film will debut on HBO linear on January 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Kayla Foster, Meghann Fahy, Brandon Victor Dixon, Ike Ufomadu, and Lana Young also star in the film from writer and director Caroline Lindy. 

Here’s the full official plot synopsis:

“Your Monster tells the story of the soft-spoken actor Laura Franco (Melissa Barrera), who is dumped by her longtime boyfriend (Edmund Donovan) while recovering from surgery and retreats to her childhood home to recover. With her future looking bleak, insult is added to injury when Laura discovers her ex is staging a musical that she helped him develop.

“But out of these gut-wrenching life changes emerges a monster (Tommy Dewey) with whom she finds a connection, encouraging Laura to follow her dreams, open her heart, and fall in love with her inner rage.”

The horror comedy movie is based on Caroline Lindy’s short film from 2019.

I wrote in my Sundance review for Bloody Disgusting, “A wholesome, whimsical romance befitting of a classic Hollywood musical but with dark underpinnings, Your Monster lets Melissa Barrera showcase her range and singing chops, even when it can’t quite decide on a cohesive approach to its monstrous metaphor.”

Producers on the Beauty and the Beast riff include Kayla Foster, Shannon Reilly, Melanie Donkers, and Kira Carstensen.  Bob Potter, Tommy Dewey, Sharon Horgan, and Clelia Mountford executive produce.

Your Monster was initially released in October and is currently available on VOD. In just over a week, you can begin streaming it at home on Max.

The post Horror RomCom ‘Your Monster’ Heads to Max Later This Month appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

You can preorder Your Monster on PVOD platforms now.

The romantic monster movie looks to be a new spin on the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. In the film, “After her life falls apart, soft-spoken actress Laura Franco finds her voice again when she meets a terrifying, yet weirdly charming, monster living in her closet.”

Here’s the full official plot synopsis:

“Your Monster tells the story of the soft-spoken actor Laura Franco (Melissa Barrera), who is dumped by her longtime boyfriend (Edmund Donovan) while recovering from surgery and retreats to her childhood home to recover. With her future looking bleak, insult is added to injury when Laura discovers her ex is staging a musical that she helped him develop.

“But out of these gut-wrenching life changes emerges a monster (Tommy Dewey) with whom she finds a connection, encouraging Laura to follow her dreams, open her heart and fall in love with her inner rage.”

Kayla Foster, Meghann Fahy, Brandon Victor Dixon, Ike Ufomadu, and Lana Young also star in the film from writer and director Caroline Lindy. Producers include Kayla Foster, Shannon Reilly, Melanie Donkers, and Kira Carstensen.  Bob Potter, Tommy Dewey, Sharon Horgan, and Clelia Mountford executive produce.

The horror comedy movie is based on Caroline Lindy’s short film from 2019.

I wrote in my Sundance review for Bloody Disgusting, “A wholesome, whimsical romance befitting of a classic Hollywood musical but with dark underpinnings, Your Monster lets Melissa Barrera showcase her range and singing chops, even when it can’t quite decide on a cohesive approach to its monstrous metaphor.”

The post Melissa Barrera Starring Horror Rom Com ‘Your Monster’ Arrives on PVOD Tomorrow appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Vertical will release Your Monster only in theaters October 25, 2024.

The romantic monster movie looks to be a new spin on the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. In the film, “After her life falls apart, soft-spoken actress Laura Franco finds her voice again when she meets a terrifying, yet weirdly charming, monster living in her closet.”

Here’s the full official plot synopsis:

“Your Monster tells the story of the soft-spoken actor Laura Franco (Melissa Barrera), who is dumped by her longtime boyfriend (Edmund Donovan) while recovering from surgery and retreats to her childhood home to recover. With her future looking bleak, insult is added to injury when Laura discovers her ex is staging a musical that she helped him develop.

“But out of these gut-wrenching life changes emerges a monster (Tommy Dewey) with whom she finds a connection, encouraging Laura to follow her dreams, open her heart and fall in love with her inner rage.”

Meghann Fahy and Kayla Foster also star in the film from writer and director Caroline Lindy. Producers include Kayla Foster, Shannon Reilly, Melanie Donkers, and Kira Carstensen.

The movie is based on Caroline Lindy’s short film from 2019.

Meagan Navarro wrote in her Sundance review for Bloody Disgusting, “A wholesome, whimsical romance befitting of a classic Hollywood musical but with dark underpinnings, Your Monster lets Melissa Barrera showcase her range and singing chops, even when it can’t quite decide on a cohesive approach to its monstrous metaphor.”

The post ‘Your Monster’ Trailer – Melissa Barrera Stars in Her Own ‘Beauty and the Beast’ This Halloween appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are seven things I learned from the Abigail commentary…

1. Abigail’s father is revealed early in the film.

Matthew Goode as Abigail’s vampiric crime lord father, Kristof Lazaar, is treated as a reveal in the final act, but Eagle-eyed viewers will notice a framed picture of him on a nightstand in Abigail’s bedroom.

The filmmakers point out that Abigail’s other nightstand features photos of Bettinelli-Olpin’s cats and Gillett’s dog.

2. 10 minutes were cut after a preview screening.

Feedback after Abigail‘s first preview screening resulted in 10 minutes being cut to tighten the pacing, which the filmmakers concede was a good note. Among the changes, two early scenes between Joey and Abigail were combined: one with Joey loosening Abigail’s handcuffs and another in which they make a pinky promise.

“Once we sort of identify the threat and live with the characters and establish the audience’s hopes and fears of what could happen to them, we needed to get to the next big, cool, fun, juicy moment that everyone’s waiting for,” Shawyer elaborates.

“To get to that, we received a note, and it worked to combine. What it did for the scene is actually give the scene more dynamic range and let you feel more of the emotions and bond with these two characters in that moment.”

3. An old-school camera technique was used to create impact.

The bloodshed in Abigail combines practical effects with digital enhancements, but an old-school camera technique was employed for when Dean smashes his face on the stairs.

“That face hitting the step is actually a shot that was shot in reverse and then played in reverse in the movie,” says Gillett. “There are a few instances of that to create a real sense of impact.”

He also notes that Angus Cloud’s co-star in the scene, a mouse named One, had strawberry jam put on its cheeks to achieve his “amazing performance.”

The same reverse-shot technique was utilized when Melissa gets stuck to the library pillar.

4. Dancing played a smaller part in the original script.

The dance element was “a very small texture in the script originally.” The film was to start in a dance studio before the production gained access to Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre for the opening sequence.

As Gillett describes, “We were like, ‘Oh, great! That’s a giant theatre. Well, that changes the tone and the vibe. Okay, cool. Let’s lean into that.’ And then meeting Alisha and finding out that she can dance and is really good. We were like, ‘Let’s lean into that. Let’s use that to our advantage.'”

The serendipity continued with Kathryn Newton, who has classical dance training. Bettinelli-Olpin pondered, “What if Abigail’s having fun, and it’s more than just a moment and we make a dance out of it ’cause Kathryn can do it? That led to the idea of, ‘We should see Alisha puppeting her.’ And then we were like, ‘Well, let’s get a song.'”

The puppeted dance was choreographed to an electric guitar version of Swan Lake to echo the opening scene. The filmmakers chose Danzig’s “Blood and Tears” in post-production, and Shawyer edited the scene to match the new music after the studio and Danzig signed off on the use of the song.

5. Dan Stevens’ character name is a reference to horror filmmakers.

Dan Stevens’ character’s real name is a reference to horror filmmakers Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett, for whom he starred in The Guest and with whom Radio Silence collaborated on V/H/S.

“Frank’s real name, Detective Adam Barrett, is a shout-out to Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett, friends of ours who worked with Dan Stevens in The Guest, which is one of our favorite movies of theirs,” notes Bettinelli-Olpin.

Gillett follows it up with the thought on everyone’s mind: “When is The Guest 2 coming out? That is the question.”

6. The library set required an elaborate lighting setup.

While most of the mansion was shot on location at Dublin’s Glenmaroon House, the library was a set that allowed for an elaborate lighting setup.

“There is a huge lift outside of the library set with this massive 8-foot by 8-foot mirror, and we’re pushing I think it’s probably an 8K [light] into the mirror, and then that mirror is aimed back through the window,” Bettinelli-Olpin explicates.

“Aaron [Morton, director of photography] talked so much about the science and how the shadows would only look right if the source of light was further away, and the only way to get the source of light far enough away was to have a light on the ground and a mirror in the sky bouncing light through that window. It, to his credit, looks fucking amazing.”

Bettinelli-Olpin adds, “Aaron also poked a giant hole in our vampire lore when he was like, ‘Isn’t moonlight just reflected sunlight? So why can they go out at night? Which, again, we chose to ignore,” they chuckle.

7. The SAG-AFTRA strike benefited the production.

Abigail was one of the many productions halted due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, but it actually benefited from the break. Impressed with the footage shot before the strike, Universal provided additional resources for the climactic battle between Joey and Frank.

Gillett explains that the studio was “really excited about the potential of this third act showdown. So they gave us more resources, more time when we got back to just really blow the roof off.

“We brought in this amazing stunt guy and second unit director named Wade Allen. He and his team at 87North helped us build and kind of redesign a bit of this final bit of choreography just to feel like it was less kick-and-punch-and-fight and more like it had the character beats within it that could only be in this movie.”

Allen, the husband of actress Annabeth Gish, earned two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Stunt Coordination for his work on Barry.

Abigail is available now on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital.

The post ‘Abigail’ – 7 Things We Learned from the Blu-ray Commentary Track appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Vertical will release Your Monster only in theaters October 25, 2024.

Love can be a beast, indeed. Check out the official art below and sign up for updates here.

The romantic monster movie looks to be a new spin on the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. In the film, “After her life falls apart, soft-spoken actress Laura Franco finds her voice again when she meets a terrifying, yet weirdly charming, monster living in her closet.”

Tommy Dewey, Meghann Fahy, Edmund Donovan and Kayla Foster also star. Producers include Kayla Foster, Shannon Reilly, Melanie Donkers, and Kira Carstensen.

The movie is based on Caroline Lindy’s short film from 2019.

Meagan Navarro wrote in her Sundance review for Bloody Disgusting, “A wholesome, whimsical romance befitting of a classic Hollywood musical but with dark underpinnings, Your Monster lets Melissa Barrera showcase her range and singing chops, even when it can’t quite decide on a cohesive approach to its monstrous metaphor.”

The post Horror Romance ‘Your Monster’ Starring Melissa Barrera Coming This Halloween [Poster] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The new movie, a joint venture between Paramount and Miramax that will technically be the sixth installment in the franchise, is expected to go into production this coming Fall.

We don’t yet know who will be writing, directing or starring in the Scary Movie reboot, but two actors in particular have already expressed an interest in joining the franchise.

The first is Melissa Barrera, who can currently be seen in theaters in Radio Silence’s bloody horror movie Abigail. Barrera is of course also the star of Scream and Scream VI, which kind of makes her a perfect candidate to lampoon herself in a Scary Movie reboot.

“I always loved those movies,” Melissa Barrera tells the website Inverse. “When I saw it announced, I was like, ‘Oh, that would be fun.’ That would be so fun to do.”

The actress adds, “They have the iconic cast that did it, so we’ll see what goes on with that. I’m just excited to see a new one.”

In a tweet posted last night, Bailee Madison (The Strangers: Prey at Night, the upcoming “Pretty Little Liars: Summer School”) also threw her hat in the running.

Madison tweets, “Random but scary movie 6 hit me up cause I just feel like we’d have fun okay bye.” Your move, Paramount. And make sure you call Anna Faris and Regina Hall too.

Directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, the first Scary Movie was released in 2000, just four years after Wes Craven reinvigorated the horror genre with his meta slasher masterpiece, Scream.

The film parodied horror movies of the time including Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and The Blair Witch Project, and the horror-comedy spoof scared up $278 million at the worldwide box office. The success of that first Scary Movie paved the way for an entire franchise of horror spoofs, five of them in total released between 2000 and 2013.

The post Melissa Barrera and Bailee Madison Want Roles in the ‘Scary Movie’ Reboot appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

While that may make for a more conventional watch with fewer surprises, Radio Silence’s ballerina vampire movie is a bloody blast all the same.

The heist-turned-vampire feature begins with the coordinated kidnapping of 12-year-old ballerina Abigail (Alisha Weir), the daughter of a powerful crime lord guaranteed to fetch a hefty ransom prize. Splitting the obscene loot are the six tasked with snatching Abigail from her home and safeguarding her for 24 hours: ex-cop Frank (Dan Stevens), medic and Abigail caretaker Joey (Melissa Barrera), endearing himbo muscleman Peter (Kevin Durand), spunky hacker Sammy (Kathryn Newton), wheelman Dean (the late Angus Cloud), and stoic ex-military gunman Rickles (William Catlett). The group of strangers arrive at their luxury hideout with minimal hiccups, where they’re given the rundown by employer Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito) and forced to give up their phones. Once left to their own devices, it quickly becomes clear that their kidnapping stint comes with job hazards they couldn’t have anticipated.

While the marketing for Abigail may have already revealed the precise threat that this code-named Rat Pack is dealing with, it actually takes a while for the unwitting kidnappers to discover the bloody truth. Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett, working from a script by Guy Busick and Stephen Shields, relegate their murderous ballerina to the background for much of the first half to establish the group dynamics and stakes. That’s not a bad thing; Abigail boasts an ensemble cast that makes you want to spend time with them. Early scenes see the six feel each other out, test boundaries, and forge tenuous alliances in acerbically funny ways that make key exposition feel far less tedious than it would in lesser hands. More impressively, this game cast adds depth and pathos to their archetypical roles within the heist and horror.

Barrera’s Joey quickly emerges as the film’s antiheroine for her street smarts and boundless empathy, tasked with the role of the straight man. Joey keeps her cool, as much as possible, even when the horror kicks arrive in full. While Barrera makes easy work of instilling rooting interest and delivering some of the tougher bursts of exposition, she’s often upstaged by Stevens, having a clear blast playing the sleazy but savvy Frank. But Stevens isn’t the only scene-stealer here. Newton, especially through her scene partners, including Cloud, delivers some of the film’s funniest moments with her infectious charisma and witty line delivery. But it’s Durand’s loveable but dumb enforcer that threatens to steal it all, with Peter serving as the butt of many jokes to an unbelievably charming degree. And when Weir finally unleashes her inner monster, her ferocious yet layered portrayal easily establishes the young actor as a star on the rise.

It’s the cast and their memorable characters that carry Abigail far when the build-up adheres to familiar narrative beats. There’s a sense of awareness of the cinematic vampires that have paved the way, with Abigail acknowledging and borrowing from various aspects of the vampire mythos, but the film never attempts to reinvent the wheel. Instead, Abigail just wants you to have a good time seeing its unlucky criminals in over their heads in increasingly deranged and violent ways. Ultimately, a few unexpected narrative turns herald in one of the goriest finales to come along in quite some time: gorehounds, this one is definitely all for you.

The exquisitely detailed production design by Susie Cullen and a heaping helping of viscera and gore from the SFX team bolster a slick production (in more ways than one) that gives this enthusiastic cast plenty to sink their teeth into. Abigail is savagely inventive in terms of its vampiric gore, offering a thrill ride with sharp, pointy teeth. Though Abigail may be too methodical in its steady ramp-up toward full-blown insanity, the brilliant ensemble makes the journey worth it. With an insane commitment to arterial spray, Abigail winds up another crowd-pleaser from Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett. It’s poised to deliver the most fun you’ll have at the movies this year.

Abigail releases in theaters on April 19, 2024.

The post ‘Abigail’ Review – Radio Silence Delivers Another Gory Good Time at the Movies appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

As for those would-be criminals, Bloody Disgusting learned more about the key players in Abigail when invited to set last summer in Ireland.

The first scene observed on set introduced the group, handpicked to kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure. They’ve just arrived at their eerie destination after a successful grab. From the grand staircase in the sprawling estate’s foyer, a commanding Lambert (Giancarlo Esposito) lays out the ground rules of the kidnapping as he takes their cellphones. The group is given fake names corresponding with members of the Rat Pack to preserve their anonymity, with the added horror bonus of telling audiences not to get too attached.

But who are these characters?

Of his intimidating character Lambert and the script, Esposito tells us, “The first couple of pages are really captivating; they were for me when I read them. I went, ‘Wow, what a great set piece in the beginning.’ Then I come into the film, and I’m taking charge and telling people what this job is, which ostensibly is a kidnapping. I have to do that convincingly for the film afterward to work.”

Expect Lambert to be very untrustworthy, as Esposito warns that “there’s a little tinge of him being resentful about” Lambert’s position.

In the scene, Dan Stevens’ Frank appears to be working directly for Lambert as his second in command during this operation. The horror stalwart describes his role within the group, “Because of the nature of this motley group, it initially follows quite classic heist movie tropes where you’ve got the wheels, the getaway driver, and you’ve got the tech girl who’s going to hack the computers, and then you’ve got the medic who’s going to administer the sleeping drugs. Then you’ve got Kevin Durand playing the muscle or whatever. Everyone seemed to have a very, very clear role in this band of criminals. And then there’s Frank, who just seemed to be an asshole. That seemed to be his special skill, really. We could never quite figure out what he was doing there. For all intents and purposes, he was the boss of the group. So maybe that’s it. Maybe bosses are just assholes, I don’t know. But that really seemed to be his special skill. That and cursing frequently. That’s definitely one of his special skills.”

Stevens certainly looks the part of an ex-cop turned mob henchman, and it turns out that he had a lot of input on his character’s design.

He explained, “That was a collaborative effort really with costume designer and directors and myself and just sort of an interesting shopping trip in Dublin one day just to see what we could pull together for him. I think the role originally had been written for a 60-something Italian American, and because of the demands of the role, I guess, or other reasons, they didn’t find somebody of that casting, so they came to me. We had to amend what sort of a cop this guy had been and what his background was. We took particular inspiration from ‘I Think You Should Leave,’ the slicked-back hair. That seemed to make us laugh. So that definitely stayed in from that.”

Immediately distrustful of Frank, a sentiment he reciprocates, is Joey, played by Scream veteran Melissa Barrera. She recounts Joey’s role within the group, “Her specialty and the reason that she’s here actually is because she’s a medic. That’s what her profession is, and she’s here basically to knock the victim, whoever they’re kidnapping, she’s supposed to inject them with a sedative and then make sure that they survive and take care of them. She has an extra sedative in case they need it. That’s her job; she’s the caretaker and the nurse, basically, of the group. But of course, being in the army, she has some skills with weapons and she has some combat training, so we get to see a little bit of that. Not a lot, but I did learn how to properly hold a gun and where the finger’s supposed to be.”

Barrera also gave her character a real name, beyond the moniker Joey, worthy of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. 

The actor tells us, “I actually gave her her real name because these characters, the names that you see in the trailer are their ‘names’ that they’re given there because they share their real names, because it’s for safety reasons in case anyone gets caught, they’re given the rat pack names. So, funny story: originally my character’s rat pack name was Sammy, and because of Sam in Scream, they changed it to Joey. I ended up being Joey and Kathryn ended up being Sammy, but I worked with Matt and Tyler to give her a real name, which is Ana Lucia Cruz, and I wanted it to be a reference to Dracula. So Lucy, I named her Ana Lucia, and Cruz as in cross, something that would kill a vampire, that protects you from the vampire. So that ended up being her name.”

Kevin Durand may look imposing in stature, but it quickly becomes clear that his character has a softer side. 

“I play a guy named Peter who is basically a hired muscle for the group,” the Canadian actor shares. “We’ve been hired to kidnap a target, and you realize that the target’s a 12-year-old, and we’re like, okay, this is too easy. We realize that it’s not as easy as we thought. Peter’s always a couple of steps behind, partially because it’s a bit of a language barrier. I’m playing him like he’s from French Canada, who’s a little bit of a skew and trying to catch up. He is not really okay with his line of work, so he drinks heavily.”

The group dynamics will play a vital role in Abigail, with the strangers reluctant to trust each other. That’s less so with Peter, who Durand reveals will quickly develop a bond with another team member. 

“Well, to a certain degree, some of us look out for each other; some of us don’t give a shit,” Durand explains. “Peter really takes a liking to Sammy, played by the amazing Kathryn Newton. So, they have a pretty cool connection, kind of like a brotherly, sibling-type thing. I mean, they don’t know each other.”

The trailer highlights that some characters quickly embrace the vampiric nature of their captive. That’s less so with Peter.

Durand comments, “How does Peter react when things get weird? He doesn’t want to believe it. He’s very Catholic and the idea that vampires actually exist, he’s like, ‘There’s no such thing.’ He doesn’t believe it and then he’s being attacked by the one.”

It’s easy to see why Peter takes a liking to Sammy. Newton brings a vivacious energy to her heavily tattooed hacker character.

Newton says of Sammy, “She’s really kind of privileged and naïve to the stakes that she’s put herself in because I think she comes from a background of nothing really bad happens to her. It might even be created in her head if something’s bad. This is a real shock. But I would argue that she’s the nicest person in the movie. I think that she’s got the best intentions; she is not here to really make any money or care about kidnapping anybody. She’s kind of here just to have a good time.”

Angus Cloud’s Dean serves as the group’s wheelman. The “Euphoria” actor brought an unflappable cool factor to the scene observed as he, along with his new colleagues, handed over their phones. Abigail marks one of his final screen appearances.

The crew’s shooter, Rickles, is played by William Catlett. Catlett walks us through his no-nonsense character, “He’s the one that kind of keeps everything grounded in the film. It’s like a heist film. Then it turns into a horror film. We were just doing EPK where we were up in my bungalow because, just like a slapper, you want to be above so you can see everything until everything goes to shit. But that’s pretty much Rickles.”

Catlett also reinforces that this assembled criminal team is working together for the first time on this kidnapping heist.

“We all just met up, but we were all summoned here by Abigail,” Catlett says. “We’d done something that brought us here. Whatever we did, it’s like payback. We were all supposed to be in this place. We think we’re coming together for one thing, but we were handpicked to be here.”

As for the eponymous vampire child and the vampiric horror? Stay tuned for more on Abigail very soon.

The post ‘Abigail’ – Meet the Criminals Behind the Heist-Turned-Vampire Horror Movie [Set Visit] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Abigail, directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, and written by Stephen Shields (The Hole in the Ground, Zombie Bashers) and Guy Busick (Scream franchise, Ready or Not), transforms a heist movie into a full-blown bloodbath.

That gore was on prominent display last summer when Bloody Disgusting was invited to the set of Abigail, filmed in the birthplace of vampire horror originator Bram Stoker: Ireland. It wasn’t just the sheer volume of fake blood and viscera that was prominently displayed on set, but the glowing praise for the young Irish actor playing the central vampire, Alisha Weir.

Weir’s breakout role as Matilda in 2022’s Matilda the Musical established her talents, but Abigail will showcase even more of the rising star’s range as she taps into her feral side and does her own stunts. That the film hinges on a 12-year-old-vampire meant that Weir was a very lucky find for directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.

Gillett says of casting Weir, “I mean, it was incredible. That that was our big source of anxiety going into this project. Just on the page, Abigail is such a character, and so much of what’s fun and interesting about the tone of the movie is about the contrast between this innocent child becoming this horrific monster. I think we knew that the movie was only going to be as good as that role was because it’s the linchpin of everything. So yeah, I mean, there was a lot of anxiety in the casting process.

“We met Alisha and it was just, I mean, we were immediately texting each other, ‘She’s so incredible.’ Just the way she presents herself, she’s so kind and so curious. Then she did a live read on that Zoom and there was a moment in the side that she was reading where she has to switch from young girl to this jump scare vampire moment. She committed so fully to it on the Zoom that it actually scared us on a Zoom audition.”

Though Weir is no stranger to extensive choreography thanks to her role in Matilda, she was excited to tackle her first horror movie and the technical challenges that brought.

“Yes, it’s definitely very different,” Weir reflects. “In Matilda, there was lots of dancing, but Matilda wasn’t really in loads of the group scenes. She was mainly just overlooking it. But in Abigail, I got to go on point and do lots of stunts, which was incredible. I hadn’t really trained in ballet. I’d done a little bit of it, but I had never gone on point, so I was so excited about that. Then the stunts were completely different, and there were lots of rehearsals for the stunts as well as there was a big fight scene at the end of the movie that took a good few weeks of rehearsing for it.

“But it was so much fun, and I kept coming home to my mom and my dad and I was telling them the things that I was doing and my sisters, and I think they were looking at me like, ‘Are you sure you’re definitely flying and punching and kicking?’ When they’ve seen the film then they believed in me, but it was amazing and I had so much fun getting to do all the stunts.”

Before Abigail reveals her monstrous side, she forges a bond with the kidnapper designated as the team’s caretaker of sorts: Melissa Barrera’s Joey. Barrera and Weir walk us through the relationship between their characters in the film.

Barrera explains, “I think it definitely starts off that Joey feels really bad that they kidnapped a little girl. She didn’t know that they were going for a little girl. She says that she wouldn’t have done it if it was a little girl. I don’t know if that’s 100% true. I think she lies to herself a lot because a lot of people that are questionable people that have made a lot of mistakes in life, I think lie to themselves to make themselves feel better. But she definitely needs this money, or she thinks that she needs this money to be able to become a better person and a better mom.

“So, at the beginning, I think she’s trying to resist forming any connection with Abigail. She’s trying to be as professional as she can, even though she feels very protective of the girl. But then Abigail is so stinking cute and sweet and starts wanting to get to know Joey. So, immediately, you can see how Joey is going into mom mode and assure her that she’s going to be okay and that she’s going to take care of her. That happens really quickly.

“That’s why when Abigail turns, Joey feels so shocked and betrayed and angry, because she understands that she’s been played and that it was all acting from Abigail. She feels really angry, and she thinks that they just have to do whatever. She doesn’t care about this vampire little girl anymore. She’s like, ‘We just have to survive.’ But then, when push comes to shove, I think their connection was real in a way. Underneath everything, there is a bond that when they do that pinky promise, there is some connection that is underneath it all. That’s the crux of the movie: Joey is trying to figure out what’s real, what’s not, what feelings of empathy to listen to, and whether she’s still being played or not with Abigail. That’s the back and forth that conflicts her throughout the movie.”

Weir responds to Barrera, “Well, yeah. I think you really said it there. Abigail does really take advantage of Joey, but there always is that bond, and I think that’s because she finds out that you have a son as well, and that really helps. That’s where the bond starts and where it unfolds. Although she is there on a mission and why she is there, although however many times she’s done this, she’s never really made a connection with someone that’s been kidnapping her, so I think that’s why in the movie, she doesn’t expect that and, although she is putting on an act and playing a different part, she still is in some ways being honest about some things that she says to Joey.”

If you’ve seen the trailer, you know that Abigail’s not your typical fanged vampire; she’s got a mouthful of shark-like chompers. While navigating an American accent with large vampire teeth presented another challenge for Weir, it turns out there was an unexpected perk to playing a vampire.

“It was very different putting on the teeth,” Weir says. “Well, first of all, I had an American accent, so that was different. Then I had the teeth, and then I had to practice working with the teeth and then with the accent as well. Then there were also stunt teeth, and the stunt teeth were bigger than them. They were like gum shields; they took up your whole mouth. I had to practice working in them. It was crazy, but it was so much fun, and I loved wearing the teeth. When I took them out, my teeth felt super weird. They felt really light because they were so heavy. But it was so much fun. It’s not every day, and it’s not that you can say a lot that you’ve played a ballerina vampire that wears teeth that’s covered in blood and has eye contacts.” 

Barrera adds, “Alisha was obsessed with, there was a black sugary thing that they put in her mouth to make her tongue dark, and it tasted like candy, right?”

“It was so good,” Weir exclaims.

“She would be constantly asking for more and more and more of it,” Barrera teases. “They would be like, ‘Alisha, your tongue is still dark.” She’d be like, ‘No, a little bit more.'”

As for the vampire lore here, expect Gillett and Bettinelli-Olpin to play around with it with a knowing wink.

Gillett elaborates on this, “One of the really fun things for us was taking a monster like a vampire, if everybody has a notion of what that is, depending on the movies you were raised on and what you consider to be canon. Borrowing a little bit from the Scream movies, we loved this idea of taking all of those rules, throwing them all in one bucket, and then having characters within the story itself call those things out and have a conversation with themselves and the audience about how they feel about those rules, what can kill a vampire, all of the different offshoots of vampire lore. And I think that for us there was just a real opportunity for invention in that. It was really every step of the way, I think, just about taking what you might think or consider familiar and then finding a new and fun way to interpret it and flip it on its head and hopefully keep audiences surprised and guessing.

“Then you have a great cast that gets to deliver all of those really wacky fun lines and ground all of the craziness of the vampire lore. I will say that just in terms of its connection to Dracula’s Daughter, I know that there was an inkling of that in the early Stephen Shields draft. I think that was definitely part of, I think what was cool in the hook of the movie. I think for us, we wanted to take that idea and to find a way to untether it from the rules of maybe an existing character or an existing franchise to create something that didn’t have maybe quite the same sort of small sandbox size that I think you can run into with franchises or characters like that. And kudos to Universal. They let us just swing wild. They kept telling us the weird stuff is working, so you might as well just make it weirder. Keep going. And we did.“

Which brings us to one of Abigail’s overarching mysteries: her father.

Bettinelli-Olpin is careful to dodge any spoilers when pressed about Abigail’s dad.

“Man, that’s a tough one,” Bettinelli-Olpin answers. “He’s a big part of the story. His presence is the shadow that just goes over everything that’s happening. We talked about him a lot in the Keyser Söze sense. He’s almost at this point more of an idea than a person. Again, like what Tyler was saying, the great thing about working on this movie and working with Universal on it is that they wanted to make sure that we didn’t feel restricted by anything that had come previously, that this could be a wholly original idea. We got to really run with that. Just using that character throughout the movie as a way to apply pressure to our characters and their own interpretation of that character is really where the fun lies in the movie and in the way that creates a pressure point for everybody, including Abigail. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give anything away, but we had a lot of fun with it.”

Weir also touches on Abigail’s parentage by teasing her arc: “At the start of the movie, obviously she’s acting like this innocent sweet girl, and that’s why she looks so young, but she’s definitely not the age she looks. She’s been around for a long time, and she’s been living for a long time, and she’s been doing this for a very, very long time and tricking people. She’s become an expert and a pro at it now. Her relationship with her father, he is mysterious and there is so many twists and turns in this movie. I don’t want to give anything away about who her father is, but she definitely has a history with her father and a past with her father that you will find out during the movie. But he is an underworld crime boss, and he is mysterious.”

Abigail is only in theaters on April 19, and tickets are on sale now.

The post ‘Abigail’ – Universal Introduces Unforgettable New Monster in 12-Year-Old Vampire Ballerina [Set Visit] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Releasing April 19, Abigail has been rated “R” for “Strong bloody violence and gore throughout, pervasive language and brief drug use.”

And it’s not hard to see why, either: Abigail is gearing up to deliver an epic blood bath.

Watch the new trailer below, where Abigail promises to eat you alive.

In the film, “After a group of would-be criminals kidnap the 12-year-old ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, all they have to do to collect a $50 million ransom is watch the girl overnight. In an isolated mansion, the captors start to dwindle, one by one, and they discover, to their mounting horror, that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.”

From Radio Silence—the directing team of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett behind the terrifying modern horror hits Ready or Not, 2022’s Scream and last year’s Scream VI—comes a brash, blood-thirsty new vision of the vampire flick, written by Stephen Shields (The Hole in the Ground, Zombie Bashers) and Guy Busick (Scream franchise, Ready or Not).

Abigail stars Melissa Barrera (Scream franchise, In the Heights), Dan Stevens (Gaslit, Legion), Kathryn Newton (Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, Freaky), William Catlett (Black Lightning, True Story), Kevin Durand (Resident Evil: Retribution, X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and Angus Cloud (Euphoria, North Hollywood) as the kidnappers and Alisha Weir (Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, Darklands) as Abigail.

The film produced by William Sherak (Scream franchise, Ready or Not), Paul Neinstein (Scream franchise; executive producer, The Night Agent) and James Vanderbilt (Zodiac, Scream franchise) for Project X Entertainment, by Tripp Vinson (Ready or Not, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island) and by Radio Silence’s Chad Vilella (executive producer Ready or Not and Scream franchise). The executive producers are Ron Lynch and Macdara Kelleher.

The post ‘Abigail’ 2nd Trailer Promises To Eat You Alive appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

We don’t yet have a release date but we expect one soon. Stay tuned.

“We were captivated by Caroline Lindy’s film at Sundance and thrilled it has made a home here at Vertical,” Vertical’s Peter Jarowey said in a statement. “Marking her directorial feature debut, she has created a fantastic, fresh, genre-defying film that perfectly balances the mix of comedy, romance, and horror topped off with a dash of musical theater that will captivate and delight audiences later this year.”

Lindy added in her own statement, “I’m beyond thrilled to collaborate with Vertical on the release of Your Monster. Their  strategies and commitment to innovative distribution aligns perfectly with our movie, and their passion for the film and desire to support my first feature means the world to me. The Sundance crowds were incredible and I’m excited that more audiences will soon have a chance to see Your Monster in theaters and beyond.”

The romantic monster movie looks to be a new spin on the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast. In the film, “After her life falls apart, soft-spoken actress Laura Franco finds her voice again when she meets a terrifying, yet weirdly charming, monster living in her closet.”

Tommy Dewey, Meghann Fahy, Edmund Donovan and Kayla Foster also star. Producers include Kayla Foster, Shannon Reilly, Melanie Donkers, and Kira Carstensen.

The movie is based on Caroline Lindy’s short film from 2019.

Meagan Navarro wrote in her Sundance review for Bloody Disgusting, “A wholesome, whimsical romance befitting of a classic Hollywood musical but with dark underpinnings, Your Monster lets Melissa Barrera showcase her range and singing chops, even when it can’t quite decide on a cohesive approach to its monstrous metaphor.”

Melissa Barrera will next be seen in the horror movie Abigail from Radio Silence.

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Erstwhile Broadway actress Laura Franco (Barrera) finds her life in shambles when cancer derails her career ambitions and her longtime boyfriend Jacob (Edmund Donovan) unceremoniously dumps her. Abandoned by her mother and ignored by her self-involved best friend Mazie (Kayla Foster), Your Monster introduces its protagonist at her lowest point, all wails and self-pity. Enter Monster (Tommy Dewey), a beast that’s lived in her childhood closet for years and took a liking to having the house to himself. Love eventually blossoms between the pair, exposing Laura’s inner Monster in the process.

Lindy struggles to navigate the humor straight out of the gate but quickly finds her rhythm with a wholesome, dark fantasy romance between Laura and Monster. The chemistry between the leads offers effortless, sugary sweet charm as the pair bicker over takeout or what to watch on TV. It leads to a number of winsome scenes as they coax out the best in each other, with Lindy making full use of old Hollywood elegance in style. The parallels to Beauty and the Beast are obvious from the start, though Lindy puts her odd couple on a vastly different path from Laura and Monster’s fairy tale counterparts.

As endearing as this central love story is, it eventually finds itself at odds with Laura’s attempts to regain the coveted lead role Jacob promised her when they were together.

Laura’s meteoric rise from timid doormat to assertive powerhouse is carried by the strength of Barrera, with Dewey’s reliable support. But Lindy struggles to graft Laura’s fantasies and desires to her reality in a way that undermines the effectiveness of the showstopping finale. Barrera ensures we understand and relate to Laura on an emotional level, but the script doesn’t quite give enough interiority to the character to make the metaphor fully work, when the film hinges upon it. It unravels the more you tug.

There’s a lot to like about Your Monster. Barrera and Dewey deftly carry the film on their shoulders, and the production design and music cues evoke the whimsical romances of yesteryear. Lindy demonstrates a stronger touch with the light hearted aspects, but the darker elements tend to falter. By the time the façade finally erodes and reality sets in, the metaphor works less and less. It results in a charming enough first effort that becomes bogged down by a disjointed approach to its central conceit. Instead of one cohesive horror dramedy, it winds up split between two warring halves: a sweet dark fantasy romance and a horror story of isolation and the toll it takes.

Your Monster made its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

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From director, writer and producer Caroline Lindy, Sundance now provides us with a sneak peek at Your Monster courtesy of more new images, which you’ll find above and below.

The romantic monster movie looks to be a new spin on the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, with Barrera at one point channeling the Bride of Frankenstein (seen above).

In the film, “After her life falls apart, soft-spoken actress Laura Franco finds her voice again when she meets a terrifying, yet weirdly charming, monster living in her closet.”

Tommy Dewey, Meghann Fahy, Edmund Donovan and Kayla Foster also star. Producers include Kayla Foster, Shannon Reilly, Melanie Donkers, and Kira Carstensen.

Your Monster is an official selection of the Midnight program at Sundance 2024.

The movie is based on Caroline Lindy’s short film from 2019.

Melissa Barrera will also soon be seen in an untitled Universal Monsters movie from Radio Silence, the filmmaking team that directed Barrera in both Scream and this year’s Scream VI.

The post ‘Your Monster’ Images – Melissa Barrera Finds a Monster Living in Her Closet in Sundance Movie appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

THR adds, “Filming had not begun, and development had been slow amid the actors and writers strikes. Now, Spyglass is expected to recalibrate plans following Barrera.”

Melissa Barrera’s Sam Carpenter is the leading member of the “Core Four,” the new group of survivor characters that have been leading this latest trilogy for the Scream franchise.

Sam Carpenter has been a particularly important character for the saga as she’s the daughter of original Scream killer Billy Loomis, and Barrerra was expected to return for Scream 7 alongside Jenna Ortega, Mason Gooding, and Jasmine Savoy Brown. Ortega’s involvement in Scream 7 is also up in the air at this time, with no confirmation she’ll be returning.

Stay tuned for more on this developing story as we learn it.

What we know about Scream 7 so far is that Christopher Landon (Happy Death Day, Freaky) will be directing the upcoming slasher sequel for Spyglass and Paramount.

Scream and Scream VI directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Radio Silence) will remain on board as executive producers, as will Chad Villella.

Landon also wrote the second, third, fourth and seventh installments of the Paranormal Activity franchise, along with writing and directing Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones. Needless to say, he’s got a highly respectable horror pedigree as he heads into Woodsboro, and his previous work proves he has the right sensibilities for the Scream saga.

The post ‘Scream 7’ – Melissa Barrera Reportedly No Longer Starring in the Franchise’s Next Installment appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

THR reports this morning that Riley Keough is producing the feature film, which will be written and directed by Kevin Armento and Jaki Bradley.

The One is said to be a “nightmarish horror about the romantic and psychological warfare waged by our beloved popular entertainment.”

“The One follows Taylor (Barrera), who makes a last-ditch effort to find love by becoming a contestant on a reality dating show. Now down to just herself and two other women competing to win the heart of Mason (Hoult), Taylor begins to feel the artifice of the show fade, and the game becomes terrifyingly real.

“Amidst the opulent beachfront setting, fairytale dates and ever-flowing champagne, pursuit turns into obsession and rivalry turns into treachery as reality itself blurs.”

Lana Condor (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before) will also star.

“We’ve been dreaming up this project for years, and are thrilled to now bring it to life with our actual dream team,” said Armento and Jaki Bradley. “Nick, Melissa, Riley, and Lana are some of the most exciting talents around, and their passion for this film — shared by our incredible producing — has us even more eager to make this nightmare a reality.”

Added Hoult and co-producer Whitaker Lader: “We were immediately drawn to this project that we think will be equally appealing to reality TV junkies and those who think it is a scourge on humanity. Jaki & Kevin’s script & vision promise a wild and deliciously dark film that will make audiences cringe, laugh, and question their own complicity.”

The post ‘The One’ – Melissa Barrera and Nicholas Hoult Starring in “Erotic Nightmare” Horror Movie appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Melissa Barrera, who of course plays a pivotal role in Radio Silence’s two Scream movies, has signed on to star in the mysterious horror movie, Deadline first reported.

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett will direct with Chad Villella serving as producer alongside William Sherak, Paul Neinstein and James Vanderbilt at Project X Entertainment.

The script was written by Stephen Shields, with revisions by Guy Busick.

Deadline notes in today’s report, “In the vein of the Studio’s recent hits like The Invisible Man and Renfield, this untitled monster thriller provides a unique take on legendary monster lore and will represent a fresh, new direction for how to celebrate these classic characters. Universal Monster films are rooted in the horror genre, with no restrictions on budget, rating or genre. They are not part of a shared interconnected universe, which allows each film to stand on its own. This new direction is filmmaker-driven, inviting innovative filmmakers with original, bold ideas for these characters to develop the stories and pitch them.”

What’s going on with Scream 7, you ask? The third installment in the new franchise hasn’t yet been announced, but we expect it won’t be long before Ghostface returns again.

Stay tuned for more on all things Radio Silence as we learn it.

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After spending our birthday month talking about ‘Weird Sex’ films like Videodrome, 1981’s Possession, Tusk and Wolf, last week Trace and I jumped back to the 60s to tackle an iconic UK spooky flick with The Haunting.

With the release of Scream 6 this past week, it only made sense to open the Patreon vault and revisit Scream (2022), Radio Silence’s ode to Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson’s iconic slasher franchise.

In the film, 10 years have passed since the last massacre in Woodsboro. When Tara (Jenna Ortega) is attacked in her house, her estranged older sister Sam (Melissa Barrera) returns home with her faithful boyfriend (Jack Quaid) in tow. When more people are killed, a new generation of suspects and victims emerges with ties to legacy characters.

It’s quickly deduced by twins Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown) and Chad (Mason Gooding), as well as Sheriff Judy Hicks (Marley Shelton)’s son Wes (Dylan Minette), that someone is making a real life “Requel” to get the stalled Stab franchise back on track.

Can the group, which grows to include original trio Sidney (Neve Campbell), Gale (Courteney Cox) and Dewey (David Arquette), unmask the killer or killers before it’s too late? It’s always someone you know!

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, TuneIn, Amazon Music, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS.

Episode 220 – Scream (2022)

We’re unlocking the Patreon vault with last year’s episode on Scream (2022) – with bonus new content around the 1:57 mark!

We’re covering *everything*, including “Re-quel” rules, what we think of the new cast (Barrera! Ortega! Savoy Brown!), our fave set pieces, how the legacy characters are handled, as well as the film’s controversial elements, including that cameo and the killer[s] motivation.

Plus: what we expect from a (now confirmed, but at the time hypothetical) sixth entry and our updated franchise ranking!

Cross out Scream!

Coming up on Wednesday: We’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of John McNaughton’s deliciously trashy Erotic Thriller Wild Things (1998)!

P.S. Subscribe to our Patreon for more than 231 hours of additional content! This month, we’ve got episodes on on The Outwaters, HBO’s adaptation of The Last of Us, 65 and, of course, Scream VI, along with audio commentaries on both Scream (2022) and The Strangers: Prey at Night.

The post Rewriting the Rules and (Re)Inventing the Requel With ‘Scream’ 2022 [Horror Queers Podcast] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Yet again helmed by Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, Scream VI also welcomes back franchise staple Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox), Scream 4 fan-favorite Kirby Reed (Hayden Panettiere), the iconic voice of Ghostface (Roger L. Jackson), and a host of new potential Ghostface victims, including veteran actor Dermot Mulroney (Copycat), Liana Liberato (The Beach House), Jack Champion (Avatar: The Way of Water), Devyn Nekoda (Ginny & Georgia), and Josh Segarra (She-Hulk: Attorney at Law).

Like 2022’s Scream, the sequel is again produced by Project X Entertainment, Spyglass Media Group, and Radio Silence Productions, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. Following its premiere in Manhattan last week, I was fortunate to sit for a chat with two-thirds of the Project X Entertainment team, including Scream VI writer/producer James Vanderbilt (who co-wrote the two latest installments with Guy Busick) and producer William Sherak. Longtime franchise fans, Vanderbilt and Sherak were excited to give their perspectives on maintaining the franchise’s integrity, navigating the Scream fanbase, and favorite moments from the latest installment of the smash slasher series.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Note that while no major explicit spoilers are revealed, some general plot points and themes are discussed.

Readers who have not yet caught Scream VI should beware!

Though likely a little-known bit of trivia at this point, the founders of Project X proactively sought to take the franchise mantle from late director and horror icon Wes Craven once the franchise rights were ultimately acquired by Spyglass Media Group in 2019. Despite many fans’ beliefs that the franchise would not be able to continue without Craven after 2011’s Scream 4, all was in fact not lost. “We felt the same way after Scream 4, so we were right there with you,” Vanderbilt shares. Sherak adds, “When the opportunity presented itself in the right moment for us, it was one of those… kismet, planets aligned, we could go get it [moments]. It was equally as exciting.”

Despite Project X’s faith in the franchise, Vanderbilt admits that it took a bit of time before the studios fully understood what they still had on their hands. “One of the things that we, right from the jump, were saying to [the studio] was that… you don’t understand how much love there is out there for these movies,” he states. “We wanted to bring them back and we really wanted to do right by them, for the fans and for ourselves. And other people, sort of in looking at it were like, ‘Well… will people care if there’s another Scream movie?’ There was a lot of that going on. And we were very much like, ‘Oh no, you don’t understand!’ Then as we […] made five, and as we started to sort of release stuff–stills and trailers–different people and the studios saw the responses, and they were very excited. It’s not that they didn’t believe it, but it truly is ‘seeing is believing’ with this fandom, I think, in a really amazing way.”

Sherak spoke especially highly of the major role franchise creator, screenwriter, and producer Kevin Williamson (whom they refer to multiple times as their “north star”) has played in guiding the team in developing the fifth and sixth franchise entries over the last few years. “When Spyglass first allowed us to take the reins with them and develop [the new films], the first thing [we decided] was this only works if we bring Kevin back into the fold,” he states. “His brain is amazing, right? He’s really, really good at this. [laughs] We’ve been fortunate that, not only did we bring him back, but we built a relationship that’s past business… [he] is a friend. And I think that that is, to us, one of the biggest pieces of this, because he’s just so good at this and he really does know what he’s doing more than most. [… Vanderbilt] worked really hard at making sure on that first pitch that Kevin understood it, heard it, and blessed [it].”

Vanderbilt further admits that, even as a long-time writer, he still managed to get starstruck by Williamson’s reactions to the latest installment. “When we were in New York for the premiere on Monday, Kevin was sitting right behind my father and I. Kevin’s seen the movie a bunch of times and loves the movie, but I could hear him laughing at the movie. It was such an amazing, surreal moment for me as a writer to hear Kevin Williamson laughing at lines I had written in a Scream movie in real time! He’s the best.” Both Vanderbilt and Sherak were also vocal in their praise of Craven’s long-time producing partner Marianne Maddalena, who, like Williamson, served as a producer on 2022’s Scream and an executive producer on Scream VI. “[She] has been nothing but incredible. I mean, Marianne was the one who found the original Ghostface mask on the first one! So it’s just been a pleasure to work with both of them all throughout this process.”

At this point, it likely goes without saying that the Scream fanbase is quite the vocal community, especially online via platforms like Reddit and Twitter–for better and worse. This was clearly acknowledged via the meta plot turns in 2022’s requel, as Vanderbilt, Busick, and the Radio Silence team have also paid close attention to fan conversations around the franchise over the years. This didn’t change as the team began work on Scream VI. “From my perspective, and I think with Guy Busick, we’re aware of [fan conversations] and we absolutely find… I don’t want to always say inspiration in it, but we’re absolutely aware of it. But also, you know… storytelling, I think, so much is trying to give the audience what they need, not what they want. ‘Cause sometimes you want Dewey Riley to make it all the way through the movie, but… the story needs him not to. So I think it’s a balance in a lot of different ways, and what’s most important to us is telling the best version of the story that we think is a great one. That’s what we really tried to do on [Scream VI] as well. You know, if five is Woodsboro and feels very much like a classic Scream movie, how can six sort of subvert that and still be a Scream movie, but make some moves and do some things that you haven’t seen before, that you won’t expect.”

After a beat, Vanderbilt adds, “I think we’re coming at it from a place of love and, you know, all you can do as a filmmaker is tell the best version of the story that you can. […] My experience has always been that if you’re coming from a place of fear, if you’re coming from a place of not wanting to offend anyone or not wanting to piss anyone off, that’s not a good way to tell a story. You know? I think the best stories come out of, ‘Oh, this is a really cool idea and I want you to come and sit by the campfire with me and let me spin you this tale. And it’s gonna surprise you, and it’s gonna scare you, and there are gonna be moments in it that make you uncomfortable. And you may not like every single one. But I promise you, by the end of the tale, you’re gonna have had an amazing time.’ That’s how we sort of look at these movies and look at storytelling in general. And so, you know, being afraid of that is never a beneficial thing.” Speaking to navigating fan theories, gripes, and wishes for the continuing franchise, Vanderbilt found comfort in Williamson’s advice early on. “I’ll just go back to something that Kevin said to us at the beginning of five when we were first starting out. We were talking about what the story was, and Kevin sort of said, ‘Never forget that these are slasher movies. […] At the end of the day, that’s what they are, and people die in slasher movies–even if these [characters] have amazing fans. That’s what these are.’ And I’ve never forgotten that. Again… he’s the north star!”

Sherak adds: “I think on top of that, once you go to shoot it, you kind of embrace the fact that we decided the movie we’re gonna make. And then you keep your head down and you go make that movie. You don’t then lift your head up and go, ‘What are the fans saying while we’re doing it?’ You embrace the movie you all decided on and then you go make it because otherwise you end up with mish-mosh, right? And I think we’ve all done a really good job of that. […] The second you start taking opinions while you’re shooting… that’s a recipe for a bad outcome.” In addition to decidedly maintaining a sense of focus on the story at hand among the filmmaking team, Vanderbilt and Sherak both expressed a sense of comfort in the process knowing that many of the actors involved in both recent installments are also major franchise fans, including Gooding, Champion, and Dylan Minnette (2022’s Scream). “The fans exist in so many places, and are also multi-generational. Some of these kids weren’t alive when the first one came out! [laughs]”

Speaking on the direction of Scream VI, Vanderbilt states that he and Busick knew early on that they wanted the relationship between the Carpenter sisters and their struggles navigating the world after the events of the fifth film to be the grounding focus of the story–a core idea very much in line what many fans have long appreciated about the previous Scream films. “I think one of the tricks of a great […] Scream movie or a great any movie is that even if the events are heightened, there has to be some emotional relatability. And so the idea of two siblings–with one thinking the other one is hovering too much [and] the younger one [wanting] to go out on their own–that’s a very relatable story. […] It felt really organic to us and exciting. And then, you know, as with anything, you put that pot on a stove and you turn up the heat under it and see what happens. […] Without giving too much away, we talked a lot about the idea of family in the movie and what family means and how family comes from many different directions.”

In addition to an emotional anchor, Scream films are also widely known for their meta-commentary on subjects ranging from the horror genre to the film industry to toxic fandom. Up front, Scream VI sees a focus on the court of public opinion, particularly with Sam’s arc as a survivor following the 2022 Woodsboro murders. “[These] movies should feel rooted in the year they’re made in a real way,” Vanderbilt states. “So, you know, 2011 and Scream 4 was really the rise of ‘I don’t need friends, I need fans’… [it] was perfectly encapsulated. So there’s some stuff in this movie that, with the idea that people believed Sam was responsible for what happened in Woodsboro… that felt very 2023. Something like that could happen and people online could go, ‘Well, I mean maybe it’s a false flag operation or maybe she did the whole thing!” […] That felt like something that would not happen 10 years ago… that would never happen to Sidney Prescott, but it would be something that happened to Sam Carpenter. So, I think reflecting where we are culturally is always sort of […] the secret sauce of these movies, past and hopefully present.”

Given the high level of awareness of fan discourse behind the scenes, Project X and company were set on giving fan-favorite characters their moments to shine (and scream) in the latest installment. In addition to the return of the Meeks-Martin twins from the previous installment–nephew and niece of franchise favorite Randy Meeks (Jamie Kennedy) and children of Martha Meeks (Heather Matarazzo)–the latest film also welcomes back Panettiere’s Kirby, who was seen in Scream 4 presumably near death but was canonically confirmed as having survived via an easter egg in last year’s entry. “Listen, Wes said she was alive so that was good enough for me,” Vanderbilt says with a smile. Sherak adds, “We had Zoomed with Hayden on five just to see what her thoughts were of acting again. You know, she had taken some time [off]… and she had told us that she was really into it so we knew going in that she would be receptive to being part of it. And when Jamie and Guy delivered a script with that character–Kirby being Kirby, which was just awesome–we went to her and she was great. She’s a pro. She’s been doing this forever, since she was a little kid. That camera turns on her and she’s magical! She’s really good at it and loves the character.”

Cox, whose Gale Weathers returns following the death of her franchise love interest and best friend Dewey Riley (David Arquette), was also game to step back into the killer’s path in the New York City setting. Vanderbilt and Sherak have nothing but love for the veteran actress, particularly for warmly welcoming the new cast members and crew with open arms on the set of the fifth film. “Courtney is such a gamer,” Sherak gushes. “She gets there, she is the sweetest, most professional… like couldn’t be nicer. And then the ability to bring her back was so much fun.” As audiences are now aware, one particular sequence in Scream VI puts Gale face to face with the killer in a manner that is much more threatening–and physically taxing–than she has experienced in many of the past films. By Sherak’s report, Cox was all in. “We said, look, here’s the sequence… you good with it? And she was good with it! […] She did it, and I mean she really did it. That is a practical location. We blocked it out, she ran through it… like, that is not a set. She did the work and she’s… she’s a joy to have on set!”

While the prospects for a seventh Scream installment are still up in the air at the time of this publication, there are unsurprisingly already fervent demands for another film among fans and speculation about where the story could go next. Still, Vanderbilt and Sherak appear content with enjoying the process one day at a time and reflecting on their own favorite moments from Scream VI for the time being. “I’m gonna give you two answers,” Sherak says. “Reading [the script], it was always the subway. It really was. It was always the subway. And I think that scene delivers in spades. But I think that, for me, watching it, I actually think it ended up being the ladder scene. […] That scene to me encapsulates everything that Jamie and Guy did in six, in one scene from start to finish.”

Vanderbilt appears to favor the film’s quieter moments upon reflection. “It’s crazy ’cause you focus on the set pieces and you focus on all of that stuff. But then, for me… it’s just some of the character moments. It’s actually them sitting around that table. You know what I mean? And one of the wonderful things about being able to make a sequel is you know who you’re writing for and you know what they’re capable of. And so being able to give [Barrera, Ortega, Savoy Brown, and Gooding] more to do and know they could park it and then watching them park it is incredibly fulfilling. That by the time you get to the ladder, you actually care if someone’s going to fall or not–not because it’s scary to fall, but because you care about the characters. That’s the thing I think I’m really proud of.”

Scream VI is now playing in theaters everywhere.

The post [Interview] ‘Scream VI’ Producers James Vanderbilt and William Sherak Discuss Legacy, Fandom, and Returning Characters appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The Halloweenies will be the judge of that as they slice and dice through Scream VI. Join the gang as they take a bite outta the Big Apple through two juggernaut episodes. Together, they discuss the franchise’s expansion into New York City, the new suspects at large, the best kill, and, yes, whether or not we’re actually getting a new Ghostface this time.

Stream the two episodes below or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS. New to the Halloweenies? Catch up with the gang by revisiting their essential episodes on past franchises such as Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Scream, and The Evil Dead.

You can also become a member of their Patreon, The Rewind, for hilariously irreverent commentaries (e.g. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Gremlins, Darkman) and one-off deep dives on your favorite rentals (e.g. Saw, 28 Days Later, Manhunter, Near Dark). Each month promises something new and unexpected from the wildest corners of the genre.

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The post ‘Scream VI’ Takes Manhattan With a New Franchise Family [Halloweenies Podcast] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Join co-hosts Michael Roffman, McKenzie Gerber, Mike Vanderbilt, and Justin Gerber as they slice and dice through the first official trailer for Scream VI due out in theaters March 10, 2022 Together, they break down each shot, spin theories about that shrine of Easter eggs, meditate on the new cast, and debate the fate of returning heroes.

Oh yeah, they also share some predictions on who’s behind the mask.

Stream the discussion below or via iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, RadioPublic, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS. Stay tuned this Monday when the gang sticks around Chicago to help Detective Mike Norris solve a string of murders in the wake of Charles Lee Ray’s death. You guessed it, they’re covering the Chucky franchise.

Until then, you can catch up with the gang by revisiting their essential episodes on past franchises such as Halloween, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th, Scream, and The Evil Dead. You can also become a member of their Patreon for exclusive commentaries on horror’s biggest blockbusters and one-off dissections of your favorite rentals.

The post Breaking Down the ‘Scream VI’ Trailer [Halloweenies Podcast] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

For starters, the new movie will take the franchise into New York City for the very first time, with Jenna Ortega teasing an “action-heavy” and “gore-heavy” new installment.

Speaking with Collider, fellow returning star Melissa Barrera provided a very similar tease this week, doubling down on the promise of Scream 6‘s ultra-violence.

Barrera explains, “There was a saying on set because (directors) Matt [Bettinelli-Olpin] and Tyler [Gillett] were always asking for more blood and more sweat. They always just wanted more. ‘More blood spritz’ was the saying because they would just always want more.

“With the last Scream, they were tip-toeing and trying to be very respectful of what the franchise had been, up until that point, and keeping their inner gory dreams at bay. But with this one, they were like, “We’re going all out.” It’s potentially a hundred times gorier.”

Jasmin Savoy Brown (“Mindy”) and Mason Gooding (“Chad”) are also back in Scream 6, alongside Hayden Panettiere as the returning Kirby from Wes Craven’s Scream 4.

In the brand new movie, “The Scream saga continues with the four survivors of the Ghostface killings as they leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter.”

Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Scream, Ready or Not) are both back behind the camera for the upcoming Scream movie, which doesn’t yet have an official title.

The next installment of Spyglass Media and Paramount Pictures’ franchise also features Samara Weaving (Ready or Not), Tony Revolori (Spider-Man: Homecoming & No Way Home), Jack Champion (Avatar: The Way of Water), Liana Liberato (The Beach House), Devyn Nekoda (“Ghostwriter”), Josh Segarra (“Arrow), and Henry Czerny (Ready or Not).

The post ‘Scream 6’ – Melissa Barrera Says Next Year’s Sequel Gets “a Hundred Times Gorier” appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Starring Melissa Barrera (In the Heights, Scream), the upcoming horror film is written by Lori Evans Taylor (Final Destination 6), who also makes her directing debut.

Watch the official Bed Rest trailer below, which looks considerably better than the average “Tubi Original” offering. As you may recall, this one was originally going to theaters.

“After years of struggling to start a family, Julie Rivers (Barrera) is pregnant again and moving into a new home with her husband as they embrace a fresh start. Upon being ordered to mandatory bed rest, Julie begins to slowly unravel as she suffers through the monotony and anxiety of her new constraints. Soon, terrifying ghostly experiences in the home begin to close in on Julie, stirring up her past demons and causing others to question her mental stability. Trapped and forced to face her past, and the supernatural, Julie fights to protect herself and her unborn baby.”

“We’re very excited to be the exclusive home for this gripping psychological thriller that has you wondering until the very end if what we see is to be believed,” said Adam Lewinson, Chief Content Officer, Tubi. “Melissa is absolutely captivating in Bed Rest and we can’t wait for audiences to see her incredible portrayal of this isolated character working through her grief while facing frightening supernatural elements.”

“As a first-time producer, it is my profound pleasure to be partnering with Tubi to bring Bed Rest to a savvy and engaged audience,” said Barrera. “While on the surface, Bed Rest is a horror film, it is a story that will resonate deeply with anyone who’s experienced grief and been haunted by loss. Lori Evans Taylor has created a deeply emotional journey for audiences, and I’m grateful to my partners at Project X and STX for bringing us together to share this story with the world.”

STXfilms has the global distribution rights for Bed Rest, in which STXinternational has licensed the film worldwide. Bed Rest is produced by William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein through their Project X Entertainment banner, along with Evans Taylor and Barrera, in what is her feature-film producorial debut.

The post ‘Bed Rest’ Trailer – ‘Scream’ Actress Melissa Barrera Faces a Ghost in Tubi Original Horror Movie appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Tubi (www.tubi.tv) has acquired the exclusive U.S. streaming rights to Bed Rest, Bloody Disgusting has learned today. Starring Melissa Barrera (“In the Heights,” “Scream”), the film is written by Lori Evans Taylor (“Final Destination 6”), who also makes her directing debut.

Bed Rest will debut December 7 only on Tubi.

“After years of struggling to start a family, Julie Rivers (Barrera) is pregnant again and moving into a new home with her husband as they embrace a fresh start. Upon being ordered to mandatory bed rest, Julie begins to slowly unravel as she suffers through the monotony and anxiety of her new constraints. Soon, terrifying ghostly experiences in the home begin to close in on Julie, stirring up her past demons and causing others to question her mental stability. Trapped and forced to face her past, and the supernatural, Julie fights to protect herself and her unborn baby.”

“We’re very excited to be the exclusive home for this gripping psychological thriller that has you wondering until the very end if what we see is to be believed,” said Adam Lewinson, Chief Content Officer, Tubi. “Melissa is absolutely captivating in Bed Rest and we can’t wait for audiences to see her incredible portrayal of this isolated character working through her grief while facing frightening supernatural elements.”

“As a first-time producer, it is my profound pleasure to be partnering with Tubi to bring Bed Rest to a savvy and engaged audience,” said Barrera. “While on the surface, Bed Rest is a horror film, it is a story that will resonate deeply with anyone who’s experienced grief and been haunted by loss. Lori Evans Taylor has created a deeply emotional journey for audiences, and I’m grateful to my partners at Project X and STX for bringing us together to share this story with the world.”

STXfilms has the global distribution rights for Bed Rest, in which STXinternational has licensed the film worldwide. Bed Rest is produced by William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein through their Project X Entertainment banner, along with Evans Taylor and Barrera, in what is her feature-film producorial debut.

The post ‘Bed Rest’ – Horror Movie Starring ‘Scream’ Actress Melissa Barrera Debuting Exclusively on Tubi appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Melissa Barrera is back as Sam in the next sequel in the slasher saga, and the actress has given us a little taste of what to expect in a new chat with the website Collider this week.

“It’s like 20 times more mortifying,” Barrera explains. “It’s awful. Because you also see how, in a city like New York City, everyone is kind of doing their own thing and someone is screaming for help, and no one will come to their help.”

She continues, “No one comes to help them, you know, like, everyone’s kind of like, ‘I’m not getting into that.’ So it’s mortifying, because you’re chased by Ghostface, but you also see humanity and how that reacts in a situation like that.”

“Anyway, I think I’ve already probably said too much,” Barrera adds.

Radio Silence’s Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Scream, Ready or Not), are both back behind the camera for the upcoming sixth movie, which doesn’t yet have an official title.

Melissa Barrera (“Sam”), Jasmin Savoy Brown (“Mindy”), Mason Gooding (“Chad”), Jenna Ortega (“Tara”), and Dermot Mulroney are all confirmed for the next installment of Spyglass Media and Paramount Pictures’ franchise, with Samara Weaving (Ready or Not, Mayhem, The Babysitter, “Ash vs Evil Dead”), Tony Revolori (Spider-Man: Homecoming & No Way Home), Jack Champion (Avatar: The Way of Water), Liana Liberato (The Beach House), Devyn Nekoda (“Ghostwriter”), Josh Segarra (“Arrow), and Henry Czerny (Ready or Not) also starring.

In the brand new movie, “The Scream saga continues with the four survivors of the Ghostface killings as they leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter.”

Scream returns to theaters worldwide on March 31, 2023. 

The post ‘Scream 6’ – Melissa Barrera Teases the New York City Setting and How It Changes the Franchise appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

“Keep Breathing” launches July 28, 2022. Watch the official trailer below.

In the six-episode limited series, “After her private plane crashes in the remote Canadian frontier, lone survivor and New York lawyer, Liv (Melissa Barrera), must battle both an unforgiving wilderness and past personal traumas to stay alive.”

Jeff Wilbusch, Austin Stowell, Juan Pablo Espinosa, and Florencia Lozano also star.

Maggie Kiley (Ep 1-3) and Rebecca Rodriguez (Ep 4-6) directed “Keep Breathing.”

Martin Gero, Brendan Gall, and Maggie Kiley serve as executive producers.

The post Netflix’s ‘Keep Breathing’ Trailer – Melissa Barrera Survived Ghostface, But Can She Survive a Plane Crash? appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

“Keep Breathing” launches July 28, 2022. Check out some first-look images below.

In the six-episode limited series, “After her private plane crashes in the remote Canadian frontier, lone survivor and New York lawyer, Liv (Melissa Barrera), must battle both an unforgiving wilderness and past personal traumas to stay alive.”

Jeff Wilbusch, Austin Stowell, Juan Pablo Espinosa, and Florencia Lozano also star.

Maggie Kiley (Ep 1-3) and Rebecca Rodriguez (Ep 4-6) directed “Keep Breathing.”

Martin Gero, Brendan Gall, and Maggie Kiley serve as executive producers.

The post “Keep Breathing” – ‘Scream’ Star Melissa Barrera Fights to Survive in Netflix Thriller Series [Images] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Hailed as “a breathless, razor-sharp slasher worthy of the legacy” by our very own Meagan Navarro (review), Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s much-anticipated new Scream arrives for purchase on Digital tomorrow, March 1, 2022, with killer bonus content!

We will be celebrating later this week with a watch party (clear your calendar for 6 PM PST on Thursday, March 3) featuring director duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not, V/H/S, Southbound) and executive producer Chad Villella of Radio Silence.

Details below.

For those looking for physical goods, the terror comes home on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on April 5. In addition, fans can own both the new 2022 movie and the original 1996 hit in a Scream 2-Movie Collection on 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray.

Scream reunites Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette who come together to help a group of fresh victims…and uncover a host of new suspects.  The film also stars Melissa Barrera, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, and Marley Shelton.

The Digital, 4K Ultra HD, and Blu-ray releases are gushing with to-die-for bonus content, including deleted scenes, interviews with the new and returning cast, plus a look at the legacy of horror legend Wes Craven:

• Filmmaker Commentary—The directors, writers and filmmakers reveal the unwritten rules for surviving this genre-busting horror movie.
• Bloodlines—Catch up with Scream stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette for a deep dive into their characters and why they came back for a fresh stab at their favorite horror franchise.
• New Blood—Meet the new generation of Woodsboro victims and potential killers!
• In the Shadow of the Master—The cast honor movie maestro Wes Craven and look back on his incredible legacy as the director who redefined horror.
• Deleted Scenes—Look out! They’re back from the dead: see the scenes slashed from the movie.

“Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a terrifying new killer resurrects the Ghostface mask. As the deaths mount, Woodsboro’s new targets must seek help from the survivors of the original Ghostface attacks. Now, only Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), former sheriff Dewey Riley (David Arquette), and reporter Gale Weathers (Courteney Cox) can find a way to stop the killer when everyone is a suspect.”

Ready to party? Join us on Thursday, March 3rd, when we hit play on Scream right at 9pm EST / 6pm PST.

If you’ve never participated in a Twitter Watch Party before, it’s simple: Press play at the start time and follow the hashtag #ScreamWatchParty to view real-time conversation on the film.

If you want to join in, tag your Tweet with #ScreamWatchParty and follow along with the hashtag. Don’t forget to also follow Bloody Disgusting, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett, and Chad Villella.

The post ‘Scream’ Slashes Into Digital Tomorrow; Join Us for a Watch Party With Radio Silence! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

That simple setup sums up the entire premise of popular online game Among Us, which makes every player sus. Because the production was so wrapped in secrecy that no one knew who the actual killer was, franchise newcomers Melissa Barrera (In the Heights) and Jack Quaid (“The Boys”) compared their time on the set of Scream to a game of Among Us.

In Scream, releasing in theaters on January 14, Barrera plays Sam Carpenter and Quaid her boyfriend Richie. Ahead of release, the pair chatted with Bloody Disgusting about their experience on the film, Barrera’s new love of horror, and Quaid’s talent for improv.

“I would’ve never even looked at a horror script if it hadn’t been Scream,” Barerra admits.  “And so I opened it because it was Scream, and because I know how big it is… because I was a huge fan when I was little. And then I loved the character. So I was like… the script is so good and there’s the original characters coming back… yes, no brainer.”

Quaid notes, “I was a horror fan beforehand. I had done one horror movie… and I think I was really into being in a horror franchise staple. And I think Scream is perfect. I really love things that are kind of meta, commenting on themselves.”

He continues, “In terms of my character… especially in the beginning of filming, we all got different scripts. I was never really quite sure what the situation was. In some versions some characters die, in other versions other characters die. In some versions somebody’s the killer, in other versions someone else is the killer. It was like a big game of Among Us.”

Our interview with Barrera and Quaid also touches upon the multiple takes that were filmed to play into the “whodunnit?” aspect. You can watch the quick video chat down below.

In the brand new Scream movie…

“Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.”

Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett directed, and Chad Villella executive produced. James Vanderbilt (Murder Mystery, Zodiac, The Amazing Spider-Man) and Guy Busick (Ready or Not, Castle Rock) wrote the script. Michel Aller served as the editor for the film.

The post ‘Scream’ – Melissa Barrera and Jack Quaid on the Secretive Early Stages of the Movie’s Production [Interview] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

History tends to repeat itself. We’re meant to look to the past and learn from its mistakes. That holds true in life and in horror. Wes Craven‘s seminal 1996 slasher dissected the patterns of the genre with a self-referential wink while going for the jugular, but horror has evolved tremendously since. Some rules hold firm, and some no longer apply. Discerning which is which isn’t as obvious or straightforward. The new Scream takes a hard, thoughtful look at Craven’s legacy and the genre, carving up brutal commentary while holding up a bloodied mirror.

James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick‘s screenplay evolves the franchise in clever and deeply poignant ways. It’s been twenty-five years since the original series of murders in Woodsboro and a decade since the events of the last string of slayings. That means scar tissue has long developed over old wounds for both Woodsboro and its legacy players, as well as a semblance of peace. That is until Ghostface reappears and targets a new generation of Woodsboro teens. How Vanderbilt and Busick graft a wholly new story onto the familiar is just one of the many impressive surprises in store for fans.

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett dedicate Scream to Wes Craven, and the horror master’s imprint looms large over their film. It’s not just in the reverence that appears in the subtle, minute details but in the measure taken to imbue this entry with its history and the characters’ organic maturity and evolution. As intrinsic to the film as Craven’s memory is, the filmmakers make it their own. There’s a parallel conversation happening on screen and behind the camera that overlaps in many ways. Scream very much belongs in this universe as an affecting continuation, but it looks and feels different, too. Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillet never lose their voice or vision in their tribute, and the baton from one generation of horror filmmakers gets effectively and seamlessly passed to another.

The filmmakers couldn’t have assembled a more perfect cast, either. The newcomers get plenty of room to breathe and develop, each ensuring Woodsboro feels just as lived in and textural as it did twenty-five years ago. It ensures that the deaths continue to hurt. Oh, do they hurt; this franchise hasn’t lost its edge at all in its visceral violence. Not everything works to perfection. A specific effect gets a little distracting, and some fake-outs don’t land as intended. But they’re very, very minor flaws in the grand scheme. None of it detracts from how exhilarating revisiting this slasher world feels or how it still manages to keep you guessing all these years later. 

Nestled deep at the center of a fascinating story lies the familiar self-awareness and respect for the genre. Only this time, that’s broadened to a surprising degree. It looks outward as well as inward. It dovetails so nicely with the narrative that the third act’s impact hits hard.

Scream defies simple expectations. It’s a clever examination of the genre and how it’s shifted since the ’90s without ever losing focus on building a deeply engaging story that makes you care. The stakes are higher than ever in many ways.

The filmmakers kick the year off with a knockout horror movie that gives all the thrills, chills, triumphant cheers, feels, and a body count you could want in a slasher and then some. To deliver something that feels like a warm horror hug yet unpredictable and new is no small feat. Scream is as much “For Wes” as for the franchise’s stalwart fans, made by savvy fans. It sidesteps the recent trend of legacy sequels in ingenious ways and fearlessly forges forward with a keen eye for which rules to make or break. It makes for a breathless, razor-sharp slasher worthy of the legacy.

Welcome back, Woodsboro. We missed you.

Scream releases in theaters on January 14, 2022.

The post [Review] ‘Scream’ Carves Up Killer and Heartfelt Commentary on Horror and Wes Craven’s Legacy appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The film will star In the Heights‘ Melissa Barrera, who has a key role in next year’s Scream sequel.

In the film…

“After years of struggling to start a family, Julie Rivers (Barrera) is pregnant again and moving into a new home with her husband as they embrace a fresh start. Upon being ordered to mandatory bed rest, Julie begins to slowly unravel as she suffers through the monotony and anxiety of her new constraints. Soon, terrifying ghostly experiences in the home begin to close in on Julie, stirring up her past demons and causing others to question her mental stability. Trapped and forced to face her past and the supernatural, Julie fights to protect herself and her unborn baby.”

Bed Rest is being produced by William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein through their Project X banner, along with Evans Taylor and Barrera.

Filming took place this year in Winnipeg.

The post STX Dates ‘Bed Rest’, Starring ‘Scream’s Melissa Barrera, for July 2022 appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

A fresh face shares the screen with a legacy cast member in this new shot, which puts David Arquette‘s Dewey Riley side by side with Melissa Barrera‘s brand new character, Sam.

Sam is at the center of things this time around. The actress recently explained, “Sam becomes the target of the Ghostface killer, and she seeks Dewey (David Arquette) for help.”

Check out the new shot below.

“Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past.”

Dylan Minnette (Goosebumps), Mason Gooding (Let It Snow), Kyle Gallner (Ghosts of War), Jasmin Savoy Brown (“Love”) and Mikey Madison (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) join an ensemble that also includes Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott, David Arquette and Courteney Cox who will return as Dewey Riley and Gale Weathers, as well as new cast members Jack Quaid (“The Boys”), Melissa Barrera (“In The Heights”) and Jenna Ortega (“You”). Marley Shelton is also returning as Scream 4 character Deputy Judy Hicks.

James Vanderbilt (Murder Mystery, Zodiac, The Amazing Spider-Man) and Guy Busick (Ready or Not, Castle Rock) wrote the script. Michel Aller edited the film, which is now complete.

Kevin Williamson is back as executive producer. Below, you can join our own Halloweenies podcast as they break down the recent first trailer for the highly anticipated sequel. Lots of theories already!

The post New Look at ‘Scream’ Puts David Arquette and Melissa Barrera on the Hunt for Ghostface [Image] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The film will star In the Heights‘ Melissa Barrera, who has a key role in next year’s Scream sequel.

In the film…

“After years of struggling to start a family, Julie Rivers (Barrera) is pregnant again and moving into a new home with her husband as they embrace a fresh start. Upon being ordered to mandatory bed rest, Julie begins to slowly unravel as she suffers through the monotony and anxiety of her new constraints. Soon, terrifying ghostly experiences in the home begin to close in on Julie, stirring up her past demons and causing others to question her mental stability. Trapped and forced to face her past and the supernatural, Julie fights to protect herself and her unborn baby.”

Bed Rest is being produced by William Sherak, James Vanderbilt, and Paul Neinstein through their Project X banner, along with Evans Taylor and Barrera.

Cameras roll next month in Winnipeg.

The post ‘Scream’ Star Melissa Barrera Haunted After Being Ordered to ‘Bed Rest’ appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Last year, Bloody Disgusting spoke to the new cast while production was still underway. True to franchise form, secrecy was of topmost priority- even the idea of sharing a single detail about their characters induced instant panic. Between the incomplete scripts and the scripts with multiple endings, the cast was kept in the dark as to Ghostface’s identity, adding a new meta layer to the shoot. All of this to say that if you’re worried about spoilers, you’ll find none here; the cast had none to give.

One thing is clear, though: everybody’s a suspect.

Let’s meet the new Scream generation and listen to their experiences on set.

Mason Gooding (Chad)

“Well, I can tell you that my character’s name is Chad. He’s a high school football player. He’s American, and he’s probably blood type O negative because I am,” Gooding shares.

On working with Radio Silence and not knowing the ending: “They’re incredibly secretive and dedicated to making sure that it’s a new and unseen experience for the fans because the worst feeling is walking into a movie, knowing how it’s going to play out. Rather than allowing that to happen, they make our lives as actors super interesting by not necessarily divulging certain levels of information. We operate under the ethos that everyone is a suspect rather than everyone’s innocent. It’s a very interesting and engaging sort of a format to tell a story.”

Kyle Gallner (Vince)

“Yeah, I’m not going to be able to give you much more than that either, man. I play Vince. I’m a guy around town in Woodsboro.”

Gallner adds to Gooding’s thoughts on the production’s secrecy, “The main reason why that can work is it’s being shot pretty sequentially. That’s how it’s able to live in that world. They’re shooting it, pretty much in order, a lot of it.”

Sonia Ammar (Liv)

“I’m Sonia Ammar, and I play Liv. I’m part of the new group of new characters to join the franchise and the legacy characters. And that’s all I can say.”

Ammar also has effusive praise for the directors. “They have such a great energy and excitement, and they have the uttermost respect and admiration for Wes Craven and the legacy that he has left behind with these films, and they just really want to pay homage to it, but bring a fresh take to it.”

Jenna Ortega (Tara)

Ortega was too afraid to reveal anything: “I don’t know how much I could say. I’m scared even to say my name. Compared to my last characters, I feel like I tend to play hard people who come off as bitchy sometimes. I don’t know. I think my character is cool, and I relate to her a lot in my personal life.

“I love horror. I love this franchise. Obviously, its self-awareness is impeccable. And just the fact that we’re given the opportunity to build on top and become a part of this immaculate world that Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson and they’ve all created is such an honor. And I think I’ve said it before, but this film, I truly believe, is just such a great fit, and I cannot wait to show everybody what we’ve been creating because it’s pretty awesome.”

Melissa Barrera (Sam)

“We’re not allowed to tell you a lot because we’ll get in trouble, but I can tell you that I play Sam, and we’re definitely a new generation of characters.” 

“It is my first time in a horror film. Do you know what’s so funny? I never thought that I would ever do a horror film in my life. I’m a scaredy-cat. I love watching horror movies, but I then can’t sleep for two weeks. All my assumptions of what it was to do a horror movie were completely wrong because this is probably one of the most fun, most chill sets that I’ve ever been on. And it’s just been an incredible experience. I’m so honored that I get to be in Scream.”

Jack Quaid (Richie)

“Oh, man. Sorry, we’re all very paranoid just because the thrill of Scream is knowing absolutely nothing. So, I’ll start by saying, my name is Richie, and Richie looks like me,” Quaid quips on the secrecy.

Quaid reflected on his continued streak of choosing very bloody projects: “I did a movie called Tragedy Girls, which was a horror-comedy, and I’m no stranger to copious amounts of blood in my projects. So, it feels like I’m coming back home in a lot of ways.”

Dylan Minnette (Wes Hicks)

Like his fellow castmates, Minnette was afraid even to utter his character’s name. Luckily, returning player Marley Shelton revealed that he plays her teen son Wes, likely a sweet nod to Wes Craven.

“It’s so surreal to share a screen with these people and to be talking about Ghostface on camera,” Minnette reveals.

Jasmin Savoy Brown (Mindy)

“Speaking for myself, being a queer woman of color and getting to be my full self on screen in my character is cool, especially in this world, with such great writing and directing. None of our characters feel like tropes; they feel like fully realized people,” Brown offers of her character.

As for the set’s confidentiality? “There’s a lot of different versions of the ending, and no one knows what’s real,” she says.

Mikey Madison (Amber)

“This is my first horror film, which is crazy because horror is one of my favorite genres. What an incredible first horror movie to do. Production has been really careful in making sure there are no leaks. I think the secrecy adds suspense as well,” Madison cryptically adds. 

Based on the trailer and first look images, though, Amber appears to be friends with Tara and perhaps a bit suspicious, too.

The post Everybody’s a Suspect: Meet the New Generation Cast and Characters of ‘Scream’! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The series is titled “Breathe,” and Barrera will be leading the cast.

“When a small plane crashes in the middle of the Canadian wilderness, a lone woman (Barrera) must battle the elements and odds to survive. Barrera’s Eve is a razor-sharp Manhattan attorney who finds herself profoundly out of her comfort zone when her small plane crashes in the Canadian wilderness, and she must battle for survival.”

The one-hour series comes from Martin Gero (“Blindspot”) and Warner Bros. TV.

Brendan Gall is writing and executive producing alongside Gero.

The post ‘Scream’ Actress Melissa Barrera Leading the Cast of Netflix Survival Series “Breathe” appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The news comes courtesy of Deadline today. They note that Barrera fills a “key role.”

Ready or Not and V/H/S filmmakers Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett are resurrecting the franchise for Spyglass Media Group and Paramount Pictures, from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt (Murder Mystery, Zodiac, The Amazing Spider-Man) and Guy Busick (Ready or Not, “Castle Rock”).

Kevin Williamson and the third member of the Radio Silence trio Bettinelli-Olpin and Gillett are part of, Chad Villella, are executive producing with Project X Entertainment’s Vanderbilt, Paul Neinstein and William Sherak serving as producers.

The plan is for Paramount to release the untitled sequel in 2021.

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