Curry Barker (Anything But Ghosts, Obsession), Nia DaCosta (28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Candyman), and James Wan (The Conjuring, Insidious, Saw) have joined Regal’s horror screening series to bring the scares during spooky season.

“Horror is always played best to a full house. The screams that ripple through an auditorium and the nervous laughter right behind them are part of what makes seeing these films together so much fun,” said Brooks LeBoeuf, Senior Vice President of US Content at Regal. “Curry, Nia, and James each answered the question every horror fan wants to ask a filmmaker: what scares the people who scare us? Their picks, alongside selections from our film team, give audiences 31 days to find out.”

“While these are often considered mainstream genre films, they were each made with such a unique vision and singular artistry that they’ve not only stood the test of time, but have become truly beloved, continuing to find new generations of devoted fans,” said James Wan. “Each one holds a special place in my heart, and I’m excited for audiences to experience them again the way they were meant to be seen: together, in a dark theater, and on the big screen!”

“Films like these are a big part of why I wanted to become a filmmaker, and I’m thrilled that audiences will have a chance to experience these on a big screen together, alongside the new 4DX version of OBSESSION,” said Curry Barker.

Along with the directors’ curated selections, Regal’s film team added an assortment of horror titles to induce plenty of shakes and shivers across the 31 days of October.

Admission to each 31 Screams on Screen showtime is just $7.99, and advance tickets are available now at theatre box offices / kiosks, on the mobile app, and through REGmovies.com. Members of Regal Unlimited can also secure tickets for each 31SOS film as part of their monthly subscription.

The post Regal’s ’31 Screams On Screen’ Series Returns In October With Selections From Curry Barker, Nia DaCosta, And James Wan appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

What makes horror such an endlessly versatile genre is that it’s possible for anything to be dangerous. These terrors can come from easily recognizable places, but it’s much harder to identify evil when it looks exactly like you. As terrifying as it is to see an inexplicable monster or a bloodthirsty serial killer, there’s nothing more destabilizing than the enemy being your double. The self is supposed to be a bastion of safety and our North Star, but what can we do when this universal tenet is endangered, and imposter syndrome sets in?

Horror stories about doubles, evil twins, doppelgängers, and lookalikes have been told since the dawn of fiction, and many cultures have their own takes on this frightening fragmentation. Doppelgänger horror taps into a primal fear that feels baked into the human condition, to some extent.

As new films and TV series deconstruct the horror behind doubles, there’s already a robust roster of movies that brilliantly break down this unnerving idea.

Hatching (2022)

Hanna Bergholm‘s Hatching, a Finnish horror film that functions like a twisted modern fairy tale, applies a radically original take on the doppelgänger formula. Tinja (Siiri Solalinna) is a 12-year-old girl whose impressive skills as a gymnast still fall short of her perfectionist mother’s expectations and the picture-perfect version of her family that she projects on social media. Hatching becomes obsessed with Tinja’s complicated feelings of inadequacy and how she never measures up to the version of herself that exists in her mother’s head. This relatable source of tension is conveyed through the fantastical introduction of a giant egg that Tinja discovers. 

As Tinja cares for this anomaly, the bird-like creature that hatches begins to bear a growing resemblance to her. A psychic connection forms between Tinja and this hatched double, which she names Alli. Alli is able to punish those who wrong Tinja, as if she’s a living extension of her id. Hatching is a stunning debut feature film from Berholm that features incredible practical effects and animatronics, not to mention an inspired double performance by Solalinna that’s as compelling as any special effect.

Us (2019)

Horror fans are still eagerly anticipating Jordan Peele‘s fourth feature film and hoping that he can recapture the magic of his debut feature, Get Out. Get Out arrived at the perfect moment to tap into the cultural zeitgeist, which left many fans feeling somewhat disappointed with Peele’s follow-up feature, Us. There’s a certain directness to Us that works in its favor, and it feels like one big Twilight Zone episode brought to life, which is perhaps appropriate that Peele’s Twilight Zone update also came out the same year. In Us, a doppelgänger rebellion has been brewing underground for decades, and the film highlights the sparking catalyst that lights this fuse. 

Us focuses on a singular family, but it’s terrifying to learn that “The Tethered” have launched a global attack. Us effectively uses the doppelgänger device as a commentary on privilege and nature versus nurture. The film’s ending may not work for everyone, but it deserves credit for its bold ambition. If nothing else, Lupita Nyong’o delivers the best work of her career, and her performances as Adelaide and Red should have earned her an Academy Award.

Cam (2018)

Daniel Goldhaber and Isa Mazzei’s Cam is a provocative horror film that takes something as archetypal as a doppelgänger and filters it through online avatars, digital martyrdom, and toxic parasocial relationships. Cam, which in part pulls from screenwriter Mazzei’s own experiences as a camgirl, explores the lengths that Alice (Madeline Brewer) will go to in order to become a site’s top streamer. Alice’s online following is put in jeopardy when she’s confronted by another streamer, “Lola,” who is her exact double. 

Cam does excellent work with how Alice processes this fragmentation and the threat of being made redundant by a better version of herself. However, Cam hits much harder than the standard doppelgänger horror story by leaning into the inherent boundaries that Alice has created in order not to blur the lines between her real self and her online camgirl identity. This separation was vital for Alice’s preservation of self, but now it threatens to become her undoing. Cam is a modern doppelgänger story that continues to resonate, and many of its themes are even echoed in Goldhaber and Mazzei’s Faces of Death remake.

Enemy (2003)

Denis Villeneuve has become so comfortable helming sprawling sci-fi epics like Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and turning Dune‘s Arakis into his personal playground that it’s sometimes easy to forget about some of the director’s smaller films, like 2013’s Enemy. Enemy, which adapts José Saramago’s The Double, pits Jake Gyllenhaal against Jake Gyllenhaal in this tense psychological thriller. Gyllenhaal’s listless college professor protagonist finds himself finally waking up when he encounters his exact physical double. Villeneuve makes sure that Enemy is a suffocating and claustrophobic experience, albeit one that’s rooted in very natural anxieties.

It’s no coincidence that Adam’s doppelgänger appears when he finds himself at a personal and emotional crossroads in his life, all while he struggles with grander concerns over an oppressive, totalitarian existence. Anyone who is interested in doing a doppelgänger double feature can pair Villeneuve’s Enemy with Richard Ayoade’s The Double, which adapts different works that are both titled The Double.

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)

Horror and science fiction are such malleable genres for holding a mirror up to society, and it’s fascinating to see how the same idea can reflect different themes, depending on when it’s being told. The original Invasion of the Body Snatchers from 1956 was a stark statement on the decade’s Communism, McCarthyism, and the fragmentation of identity that they caused in the nation’s population. The Body Snatchers remake from ’78 shifts its pod people premise to reflect the urban alienation and growing mistrust that dominated the ’70s. 

Invasion of the Body Snatchers from ’78 is largely viewed as superior to its predecessor, but both are effective looks into the population’s growing paranoia and fears of obsolescence. And while it can’t hold a candle to the ’78 remake, 1993’s Body Snatchers by Abel Ferrara at least has something to say and a timely point of view that makes it a worthwhile companion piece to Philip Kaufman’s version.

Annihilation (2018)

Alex Garland is a contemplative filmmaker who has broken down the concept of doubles and doppelgängers from many different vantage points, whether it’s artificial intelligence in Ex Machina, the living dead in the 28 Days Later franchise, or the traumatic specters of Men. Annihilation is a sci-fi/horror film that’s about coexistence and adaptation, yet its final act explores doppelgänger theory in an angry, abrupt manner. Natalie Portman plays Lena, a biologist who heads into the Shimmer — a mysterious, quarantined zone where plants and animals have experienced alien mutations. 

Annihilation explores humanity and identity while it highlights the beauty of nature’s anomalies. Its climax builds to a cathartic confrontation in which Lena faces a disturbing humanoid double who begins to master her movements. Annihilation leaves the audience with complicated feelings regarding morality, authenticity, and what defines a person’s core.

Dead Ringers (1988)

Dead Ringers is not a doppelgänger film in the traditional sense, yet David Cronenberg‘s psychological thriller about codependent twin gynecologists couldn’t go overlooked here. Many doppelgänger stories involve the sudden emergence of a double, but the Mantle twins (Jeremy Irons) have been by each other’s sides their entire lives in Dead Ringers. The terror in most doppelgänger horror stories comes from an individual’s erasure and replacement. This still takes place in Dead Ringers as the Mantle brothers’ contrasting personalities bleed into each other as the differences between them begin to evaporate. The film’s tagline was even: “Two Bodies. Two Minds. One Soul.”

There’s a natural symbiotic connection between all twins, but Elliot and Beverly begin to pose as each other and live vicariously through their other half. The film’s themes of codependency and the relationship between body and mind become increasingly complicated as it’s filtered into their gynecological craft. It’s a very different type of doppelgänger story that grounds itself in uncomfortable territory instead of a supernatural premise. 

Possession (1981)

Andrzej Żuławski‘s Possession is a tour de force feature film that almost feels like it’s haunted. Żuławski’s film depicts the painful dissolution of a marriage that suddenly turns to the doppelgänger concept as a burst of existential and supernatural terror. Possession uses its double idea as a powerful metaphor for how a marriage’s breakdown can turn its spouses into completely different people. Jealousy, paranoia, and empowerment are viscerally explored as Possession builds to a troubling fever pitch in which its original couple is destroyed, but these identical doubles find a sense of community that’s void of the pain that broke the original couple apart.

There is no shortage of horror films that look at a marriage’s dangerous power dynamics, but Sam Neill and Isabelle Adjani elevate this story to a one-of-a-kind spectacle. Here’s hoping that Parker Finn’s gestating remake achieves a fraction of the original’s deranged madness. 

The Thing (1982)

John Carpenter‘s The Thing has become an evergreen horror classic, a practical effects masterclass, and a totemic piece of cinema in its own right. Carpenter’s The Thing, a remake of Christian Nyby’s The Thing From Another World, puts its duplicitous doppelgänger hiding in plain sight. The small-scale sci-fi film creates claustrophobic terror as a small research team stationed in Antarctica learns that there’s a shapeshifting alien among them. 

While many of the doppelgänger horror films looked at here are interested in the protagonist’s identity being under attack, The Thing instead examines infiltration as paranoia sets in and man turns against man. It’s a danger that’s less about the loss of self, but rather the artificiality of humanity and what it actually means if it’s so easy to be replicated. All that’s left when everything else is stripped away is pure fear. The Thing uses the dishonest and deceptive nature of doppelgängers to provide a fascinating look into mob mentality’s toxic nature.

Mulholland Drive (2001)

David Lynch is a filmmaker who is utterly enthralled by the doppelgänger concept, and it’s found its way into a large portion of his filmography, primarily Lost Highway, INLAND EMPIRE, Twin Peaks, and Mulholland Drive. At first glance, Mulholland Drive may not seem like it’s a doppelgänger story, but nothing about Mulholland Drive is what it initially seems. The audience is thrust into the wide-eyed and endlessly idealized working actor life of Betty Elms (Naomi Watts), who finds herself at the center of a good ol’ fashioned Hollywood mystery. 

Once Mulholland Drive pulls back its layers, the truth comes into focus, and it’s revealed that this is Diane Selwyn’s story and attempt at escapism. Nevertheless, Diane can’t outrun the truth, which leads to echoes across these realities that create multiple instances of disarming doubles. Lynch’s surreal sensibilities and knack for dream logic make him a true expert when it comes to doppelgänger drama that appreciates the psychic pain and cosmic horror of this experience. A fracture — or even a reunion — should be a painful, all-encompassing experience, as it is in Mulholland Drive, Lost Highway, and Twin Peaks: The Return.

The post Seeing Double: The 10 Best Doppelgänger Horror Films For National Lookalike Day appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Predator: Badlands Figures from NECA

NECA has launched pre-orders for a Predator: Badlands Thia & Bud ultimate 7″ scale action figure set.

Thia features three interchangeable heads, interchangeable hand, synth rifle, and vine straps which can attach to the ultiamte Dek toy (sold separately). Bud has a posable tail, three interchangeable heads, interchangeable hands, and bone bison meat.

Packed in a window box, the two-pack is due out in the fouth quarter of the year for $39.99.

Stranger Things: The Complete Series 4K UHD from Arrow Video

Stranger Things: The Complete Series will be released on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on July 28 via Arrow Video.

The 25-disc box set collects all five season on physical media for the first time, presented in 4K with Dolby Vision.

Special features:

• 4K presentation in Dolby Vision of all 42 episodes
• Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround and stereo audio for all episodes, plus Dolby Atmos for Seasons 4 & 5
• Interviews with the cast and crew
• Behind-the-scenes featurettes
• Set tours
• Bloopers
• Deluxe packaging featuring new artwork by Juan Ramos

Limited edition extras:

• Palace Arcade coin
• Hellfire Club self-adhesive patch
• Hellfire Club d20
• 25 art cards
• 5 double-sided posters featuring artwork by Kyle Lambert
• Reversible sleeves featuring  art by Juan Ramos and original art by Kyle Lambert
• Double-sided fold-out Hawkins map
• 148-page perfect-bound book with original design sketches, concept art, storyboards and new writing from the Duffer Brothers, Shawn Levy, Andrew Stanton, and more

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Stranger Things premiered on Netflix in 2016 before coming to an end last year.

Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, and Sadie Sink lead the ensemble cast.

Leprechaun Doll from Trick or Treat Studios

Trick or Treat Studios has launched a Kickstarter for the ultimate Leprechaun doll.

Sculpted By Alex Ray, the screen-accurate doll stands over 30″ tall and has high-quality painted applications and inserted eyes for added realism. It features a sculpted head and hands⁠ and a flexible foam body with wire frame for posing⁠.

The pint-sized killer is dressed in layered fabric clothing with metal embellishments, and has a magnetic head and hands for use with other ultimate dolls and accessories.

Priced at $600, it’s aiming to ship in time for St. Patrick’s Day 2027.

Video Night by Adam Cesare

Adam Cesare (Clown in a Cornfield) will publish an “author preferred” version of Video Night on in paperback, e-book, and audio book on September 29 via Union Square & Co.

Originally released in 2013, the newly revised edition features a new foreword by author Stephen Graham Jones (The Only Good Indians, My Heart Is a Chainsaw) and fresh cover art by Matt Ryan Tobin (Clown in a Cornfield).

Set in 1988, the 304-page sci-fi horror novel follows two best friends — one departing for college, one destined for bad boy townie life — who decide to have a movie video night before their friendship changes forever. Little do they know, a deadly alien invasion is underway.

Masters of the Universe Skeletor Doll from Monster High

Monster High has added Masters of the Universe‘s Skeletor to its Skullector line for $70.

Standing 10.5″ tall, the armor-clad doll has 11 points of articulation. The Havoc Staff, a snake wrapped around one leg, a doll stand, and a certificate of authenticity are included.

It’s packaged in a deluxe window box with a slipcover featuring UV coating.

Cradle of Fear Blu-ray from Unearthed Films

Cradle of Filth frontman Dani Film stars in Cradle of Fear, coming to Blu-ray on May 12 via Unearthed Films.

The 2001 British horror anthology is accompanied by a second disc of short films from writer-director Alex Chandon.

Disc 1 – Cradle of Fear:

• Making of Cradle of Fear
• Making of Thing Something for Cradle of Fear
• Important Words
• Behind the Scenes Gallery
• Trailers

Disc 2 – Short Films:

• Chainsaw Scumfuck
• Bad Manor
• Bad Karma
• Drillbit
• Night Pastor
• Bullshit News
• Borderline
• Film Extremes 3 Promo
• Shorts Behind the Scenes Gallery
• Trailers

The cast includes Emily Booth, Stuart Laing, Edmund Dehn, Eileen Daly, Rebecca Eden, and Al Stokes.

The Thing Prints by Raid71

Bottleneck Gallery will release The Thing 24×36 screen prints by Raid71 today, March 20, at 12pm ET.

The standard version (left) is a hand-numbered edition of 135 and costs $60, while the variant is limited to 75 for $70.

The Crawling Hand / The Slime People Blu-ray from VCI

The Crawling Hand and The Slime People will be released on Blu-ray together as a “creepy creatures double feature” on April 21 via VCI.

Both 1963 sci-fi horror films have been newly restored in 4K from their original 35mm camera negatives.

Special features:

• The Crawling Hand audio commentary by film historian by Rob Kelly
• The Slime People audio commentary by film historian Tom Weaver
• Creature-Features featurette exploring 1950s and ’60s sci-fi
• Vintage drive-in sci-fi movie poster gallery
• Double-sided artwork
• Collectible booklet

The Crawling Hand is directed by Herbert L. Strock, who co-wrote the script with Bill Idelson. Peter Breck, Kent Taylor, Rod Lauren, Alan Hale, and Allison Hayes star.

The Slime People is directed by Robert Hutton and written by Blair Robertson and Vance Skarstedt. Robert Hutton, Les Tremayne, and Robert Burton star.

Friday the 13th: The Game – Part 8 Jason Figure from NECA

NECA has launched pre-orders for a Friday the 13th: The Game action figure of Part 8 Jason, inspired by Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan.

The 7″ scale, fully articulated toy comes with a removable mask, eight interchangeable hands, and an axe.

Packaged in a window box, the figure costs $29.99 and is due out in the fourth quarter of the year.

Desperate Living Blu-ray from Criterion

John Waters’ Desperate Living will be released on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on June 23 via The Criterion Collection.

The 1977 black comedy is the third installment in Waters’ Trash Trilogy, following 1972’s Pink Flamingos and 1974’s Female Trouble.

• 4K digital restoration, supervised and approved by director John Waters, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack (new)
• HDR presentation (new)
• Audio commentary by John Waters and actor Liz Renay
• Interview with John Waters by film programmer Cristina Cacioppo (new)
• Interview with actors Susan Lowe, Mary Vivian Pearce, and Mink Stole (new)
• Interview with production designer Vincent Peranio
• Back to Mortville – Tour of the film’s main Baltimore location, led by Waters
• Trailer
• Booklet with an essay by critic Grace Byron

Liz Renay, Mink Stole, Susan Lowe, Edith Massey, Mary Vivian Pearce, and Jean Hill star.

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives.

The post 10 New Must-Have Horror Collectibles, Including ‘Predator: Badlands’ Toys & Adam Cesare’s ‘Video Night’ appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Bloody Disgusting has learned that The Thing star and film legend Kurt Russell has joined The Thing Expanded for an exclusive sit-down interview, which will be featured in the doc!

Additionally, Bloody Disgusting has scored an exclusive trailer for The Thing Expanded documentary that features never-before-snippets of the new Kurt Russell interview.

Kurt Russell—who played the iconic role of helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady—is featured in the documentary alongside all of the film’s living cast members: Keith David (Childs), Thomas G. Waites (Windows), David Clennon (Palmer), Joel Polis (Fuchs), Richard Masur (Clark) and Peter Maloney (Bennings).

Watch the trailer for The Thing Expanded below and read on for more!

Diving deep into the haunting world of John Carpenter’s 1982 sci-fi-horror classic, director Ian Nathan is joined by producers Robin Block (CREATORVC), David Weiner (CREATORVC) and Josh Weiss (author of SYFY WIRE’s extensive oral history of The Thing) as they embark on the ultimate fan-driven companion to The Thing.

It’s important to note that we have entered the FINAL pre-order stretch for the documentary, which runs until March 24. That means you only have until March 24 to secure your copy.

Pre-order your copy on Blu-ray and Digital now!

The Thing Expanded features over two dozen interviews—not only with members of the cast, but also with legendary director John Carpenter, cinematographer Dean Cundey, editor Todd C. Ramsay, producers Stuart Cohen and Larry Franco, and several members of Rob Bottin’s special makeup effects team.

“Sitting down with Kurt Russell, the immortal Mac, for a two-hour-plus interview was truly the culmination of an extraordinary journey into an extraordinary film,” says writer-director Ian Nathan. “He was everything I knew he would be and more: funny, forthright, and full of anecdotes, as well as deep insight into both the film and, of course, John Carpenter.”

“The Thing is finally getting the recognition that is long overdue,” Ian Nathan continues. “Ignored, even derided on its release in 1982, with its recent selection for the National Film Registry, the enduring power of Carpenter’s signature movie is no longer in question. With the incredible contributions from John, Kurt, and everyone I interviewed, I like to think that with The Thing Expanded we have made the definitive statement on a masterpiece.”

“The Thing Expanded would simply not have been complete without the participation of Kurt Russell. He and the Carpenter film are a Thing-like amalgam—a package deal that goes all the way down to a molecular level,” adds producer and co-writer Josh Weiss. “And what better way to officially close out an epic, two-year production organized across three continents than by sitting down with R.J. MacReady himself?! As Outpost 31’s Chess Wizard once said: ‘Checkmate.’”

In addition, The Thing Expanded contains insights from an impressive litany of Hollywood veterans and insiders such as Frank Darabont, Guillermo del Toro, Issa López, Matt Winston, Alec Gillis, Greg Nicotero, Chuck Russell, Eli Roth, Mick Garris, and Stephen Colbert.

The post ‘The Thing Expanded’ Exclusive Trailer – Kurt Russell Joins Documentary on Carpenter Classic! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

“When we preserve films, we preserve American culture for generations to come. These selections for the National Film Registry show us that films are instrumental in capturing important parts of our nation’s story,” said Acting Librarian of Congress Robert R. Newlen. “We are proud to continue this important work, adding a broad range of 25 films to the National Film Registry as a collective effort in the film community to protect our cinematic heritage.”

Turner Classic Movies will host a television special on March 19 at 8 pm ET to screen a selection of films named to the registry this year. TCM host and film historian Jacqueline Stewart, who is chair of the National Film Preservation Board, will introduce the films.

“It is especially exciting to see that the top title nominated by the public for this year, The Thing, has been added to the National Film Registry, along with The Truman Show and The Incredibles which also had very strong public support,” said Stewart.

The Library of Congress writes: “Moody, stark, often funny and always chilling, this science fiction horror classic follows Antarctic scientists who uncover a long-dormant, malevolent extraterrestrial presence. The Thing revolutionized horror special effects and offers a brutally honest portrait of the results of paranoia and exhaustion when the unknown becomes inescapable.

“The Thing deftly adapts John W. Campbell’s 1938 novella Who Goes There? and influenced Stranger Things and Reservoir Dogs. It remains a tense, thrilling and profoundly unsettling work of cinema.”

Here’s the full list of films selected for the 2025 National Film Registry:

• The Tramp and the Dog (1896)
• The Oath of the Sword (1914)
• The Maid of McMillan (1916)
• The Lady (1925)
• Sparrows (1926)
• Ten Nights in a Barroom (1926)
• White Christmas (1954)
• High Society (1956)
• Brooklyn Bridge (1981)
• Say Amen, Somebody (1982)
• The Thing (1982)
• The Big Chill (1983)
• The Karate Kid (1984)
• Glory (1989)
• Philadelphia (1993)
• Before Sunrise (1995)
• Clueless (1995)
• The Truman Show (1998)
• Frida (2002)
• The Hours (2002)
• The Incredibles (2004)
• The Wrecking Crew (2008)
• Inception (2010)
• The Loving Story (2011)
• The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

The public submitted 7,559 titles for consideration this year. Nominations for next year will be accepted until August 15. Cast your vote here.

Previous horror films added to the National Film Registry include Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein, Psycho, The Birds, Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Carrie, Alien, The Shining, and A Nightmare on Elm Street.

The post John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ Has Been Added to the National Film Registry appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Expect a full month of festivities leading up to the highly anticipated new game, which arrives on February 27, 2026, and we’ve got the exclusive on the details.

The month-long series begins February 6 at select Alamo Drafthouse locations, and features four films that represent Resident Evil’s core staples: containment failures, creeping paranoia, and the consequences of experiments that should never have left the lab.

Admission to the four Raccoon City Cinema screenings is free with the purchase of a food and beverage voucher, redeemable at the shows.

Raccoon City Cinema brings four terrifying films back to the big screen:

• THE THING (1982, dir. John Carpenter)
• THE RING (2002, dir. Gore Verbinski)
• THE CABIN IN THE WOODS (2012, dir. Drew Goddard)
• LONGLEGS (2024, dir. Osgood Perkins)

The screenings are paired with a limited Resident Evil-inspired menu created exclusively for the series. Guests can expect playful nods to the video games with the menu:

• JILL’S SANDWICH – Inspired by the iconic line from the original Resident Evil: Double all-beef patties with two strips of applewood smoked bacon, melty cheese, pickles, & special burger sauce on a butter-toasted bun. Served with fries & ketchup.
• RED + GREEN HERB HOT DOG COMBO – A classic item combination from the Resident Evil series. Restore your strength with this smoked hot dog topped with a green herb chimichurri, red chorizo, & sliced avocado. Served with fries & ketchup.
• BINGO! FRIED CHICKEN – Inspired by Leon S. Kennedy in Resident Evil 4. Boneless chicken wings tossed in a red chile, ginger, garlic, & paprika spice blend, garnished with a drizzle of thyme-hot honey & fresh cut cilantro. Served with fries, celery & green herb ranch dressing.
• T-VIRUS COCKTAIL – Inspired by Umbrella Corporation Hendrick’s Gin, blackberry, tonic, lime
• BLUE UMBRELLA SERUM – Inspired by Blue Umbrella’s post Raccoon City mission, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Blue Curaçao, Sea Blue Red Bull, lemon, orange, cherry, mint

For more on the series, “Raccoon City Cinema offers fans a chance to revisit genre classics through the lens of one of gaming’s most influential horror worlds, just ahead of Resident Evil Requiem’s release. Timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the original 1996 Resident Evil game for PlayStation®, Raccoon City Cinema celebrates one of the most influential and best-selling horror franchises of all time, with more than 170 million copies sold worldwide as of March 2025. Resident Evil Requiem marks the ninth main entry in the series, returning players to Raccoon City for a new chapter in survival horror.”

Fans can become the master of unlocking things and reserve their spot at each screening HERE.

A new era of survival horror arrives with Resident Evil Requiem, the latest and most immersive entry yet in the iconic Resident Evil series. Experience terrifying survival horror with FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, and dive into pulse-pounding action with legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy. Both of their journeys and unique gameplay styles intertwine into a heart-stopping, emotional experience that will chill you to your core.

Check out the limted menu items below.

The post Capcom’s ‘Resident Evil Requiem’ Inspires New Alamo Drafthouse Horror Screening Series and Limited Menu appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

You don’t become a Master of Horror by making the same movie over and over again, and if there’s one genre filmmaker who makes a point of never repeating himself, it has to be John Carpenter. From iconic slashers to over-the-top kung-fu comedies, Carpenter has always been willing to tackle fresh subject matter in order to tell an unpredictable story.

However, there’s a common throughline connecting the New York-born director’s filmography that I rarely see discussed, and that’s his recurring use of movie monsters even in projects that aren’t necessarily creature features. In honor of Carpenter’s latest concert streaming on our very own Screambox, today we’re highlighting six of the most memorable monsters in John Carpenter’s work!

For the purposes of this list, we’ll be defining ‘monster’ as any non-human creature featured in one of the director’s projects, though we’ll be limiting entries to one creature per movie. That being said, this is by no means a definitive list celebrating all of the otherworldly beings in Carpenter’s films, so don’t forget to comment below if you think we missed a particularly memorable one.

With that out of the way, onto the list.

6. The Flying Eye Guardian – Big Trouble in Little China (1986)

From exploding gods to demonic primates, there’s no shortage of over-the-top effects in Carpenter’s urban fantasy opus, Big Trouble in Little China. And while fans of the movie might be expecting to see the hairy Wild-Man here, I’d actually like to dedicate this spot to a less-celebrated but no less memorable creature, the many-eyed Guardian!

Looking like a fleshy parody of Dungeons & Dragons’ Beholder monster, John Carpenter’s Flying Eye Guardian has always stuck out to me as both a kick-ass special effect and an incredibly bizarre design. From its mouth eyeball to its leathery skin and pained expression, there’s just something so off-putting about this critter that I can’t help but find him endearing.

5. Fallen Angel – Cigarette Burns (2006)

Often hailed as the last great gasp of John Carpenter’s celebrated career before stepping back from filmmaking in order to focus on music, Cigarette Burns is one of the director’s greatest achievements in serious horror storytelling – as well as the single best episode of the Masters of Horror anthology show.

Of course, much of the episode’s scare factor has to do with the horrific inclusion of a fallen angel in the cursed film-within-a-film, Le Fin Absolue Du Monde (“The Absolute End of the World”). While the creature effects here don’t exactly reinvent the wheel, with the angel being brought to life by Christopher Redman under just enough makeup meant to make him look uncanny, it’s the context behind the angel’s emaciated appearance that makes this one of the most disturbing inclusions on the list.

I also wouldn’t be surprised if this minimalist design ended up inspiring some of those popular “fallen angel” videos that went viral on early YouTube!

4. The Fascinators – They Live (1988)

The Blue Aliens from They Live are much more humanoid than the reptilian Fascinators from Eight O’Clock in the Morning (the Ray Nelson short story that the film is based on), but that doesn’t make them any less freaky. Skeletal ghouls that look more like the hollowed-out husks of human beings than actual extraterrestrials, these creatures have since become known as the terrifying face of authoritarian manipulation around the world.

That’s why Carpenter’s version of the Fascinators makes it onto the list, as it’s hard for a monster to be more memorable than by becoming forever associated with the ideas that it was created to criticize.

3. Beach Ball Alien – Dark Star (1974)

John Carpenter’s big-screen debut may be one of the most divisive features in his filmography, but even the haters have to admit that Dark Star boasts plenty of low-budget charm. If you need proof of that, look no further than the bizarre Beach Ball Alien that the crew of the Dark Star kept as an interplanetary pet.

A gas-based life-form with plastic-like skin and webbed feet that look suspiciously like a crewmember’s hands, the Beach Ball Alien has to be one of the most ridiculous monster designs in all of genre cinema. While it ultimately attacked Sgt. Pinback, I still felt bad for the inflatable critter when it was accidentally blown up by a tranquilizer dart.

2. Lovecraftian Wall of Monsters – In The Mouth of Madness (1994)

This one is a bit of a cheat, as the Wall of Monsters is more of a collection of several different Lovecraftian abominations rather than a single monstrous entity, but since they all represent the same idea of insane fiction burrowing its way into reality, I figured that we could make an exception for the work of Sutter Cane.

Besides, from fleshy star-spawn to multi-limbed crab-people, these designs are so damned cool that it would be impossible to choose a single favorite! In fact, it’s a shame that we only get the briefest glimpse of these practical creatures in the finished film, as they only get more interesting the more you look at them.

1. The Dog-Thing – The Thing (1982)

Keep up with John Carpenter Week here.

The post 6 of the Most Memorable Monsters in John Carpenter’s Filmography appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

John Carpenter’s Halloween was an early highlight in Causey’s four decade career. He returned for Halloween II and Halloween III: Season of the Witch.

Causey reunited with Carpenter on Escape from New York, The Thing, Christine, Starman, Big Trouble in Little China, Price of Darkness, Village of the Damned, and Escape from L.A.

His other genre credits include Jurassic Park III, Clue, Twilight Zone: The Movie, Wes Craven’s Chiller, and William Friedkin’s The Guardian.

Causey’s work on Warren Beatty’s Dick Tracy earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Sound Mixing.

Some of his other notable credits includes Anger Management, Erin Brockovich, The Naked Gun, Lethal Weapon 3, Hot Shots, The Fisher King, The General’s Daughter, Murder by Numbers, The Rocketeer, and four Star Trek movies (Generations, First Contact, Insurrection, Nemesis).

Sound mixers don’t get enough credit for their impact on film, but Causey’s leaves behind a long legacy of beloved and successful work.

The post ‘Halloween,’ ‘The Thing’ Sound Mixer Thomas Causey Has Passed Away appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

T.K. Carter’s 60+ film and television credits date back to 1976 and include the sitcom “Good Morning, Miss Bliss,” which was later retooled as the iconic series “Saved by the Bell,” as well as Space Jam, “Punky Brewster,” Ski Patrol, and the late Tony Scott’s Domino.

Carter made his debut on the small screen in the television series “Police Woman” back in 1976, later appearing in countless popular television shows including “Good Times,” “The Waltons,” “The Jeffersons,” “Just Our Luck,” “Jem,” “Family Matters,” “A Different World,” “The Sinbad Show,” “Moesha,” “The Nanny,” “NYPD Blue,” and “Everybody Hates Chris.”

In the world of film, T.K. Carter appeared in Youngblood, The Hollywood Knights, Underground Aces, Southern Comfort, Runaway Train, He’s My Girl, A Rage in Harlem, My Favorite Martian, Baadasssss!, and more recently, The Way Back in 2020 and Fake Friends in 2022. Carter’s most recent role saw him return to the small screen in “The Company You Keep.”

We send our condolences to all of T.K. Carter’s family, friends, and fans.

The post ‘The Thing’ Actor T.K. Carter Has Passed Away at 69 appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Unfortunately, animal performers rarely get the recognition they deserve, despite it being much harder for cats and dogs to maintain a career in show business. This is precisely why IFC recently published an open letter (jokingly) criticizing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences once they discovered that Good Boy’s Indy the Dog is ineligible for a Best Actor award. And while we wait for the industry to start valuing its non-human workers, we’ve decided to compile a list celebrating six animal actors in horror movies who deserved Academy Awards!

For the purposes of this list, we’ll only be considering roles (mostly) portrayed by actual animals, so don’t expect to see effects-driven creations from films like Jaws or even King Kong. That being said, don’t forget to comment below with your own favorite non-human performers if you think we missed a particularly talented one.

With that out of the way, onto the list!

6. Tomorrow (Tarantula) – Tarantula! (1955)

Arachnids may not be the most expressive animals out there, but body language can often speak louder than fanged mandibles. That’s why I’d like to start off our celebration of animal performers with Tomorrow, the real spider that played the main antagonist in Jack Arnold’s seminal monster movie, Tarantula!

Directed across miniature sets through small jets of air pushing it in the right direction (and shot in slow-motion in order to make its movement seem unnatural), Tomorrow was one of the first effects-enhanced performers to make it big in Hollywood, and that’s why this freaky little spider deserves to be remembered alongside the likes of Andy Serkis.

5. Sparky (Sparky) – Frankenweenie (1984)

I actually think that 2012’s animated remake of Frankenweenie is one of Tim Burton’s best films, but there’s something special about watching an undead bull terrier and its precocious owner accidentally unleash chaos in a suburban neighborhood in live-action glory. Of course, the 1984 short only works because the titular canine is so darn lovable, and that’s why Sparky makes it onto the list.

Sharing a name with his fictional counterpart, this veteran animal actor imbued his role with so much chaotic charm that audiences barely noticed he was bruised and stitched up like he’d just been part of a veterinary autopsy gone horribly wrong. If you need further proof of Sparky’s talents, just check out his later appearances in classics like Blue Velvet and even Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

4. Charlie (Black Phillip) – The Witch (2015)

Overly committed method actors have become a contentious issue in Hollywood. These days, even casual filmgoers tend to roll their eyes at the idea of performers refusing to break character and even harassing fellow castmates as a way of settling into their roles. Still, I’d argue that there is one case where this phenomenon ended up helping the movie as a whole.

In Robert Eggers’ debut feature, the satanic Black Phillip was brought to life by a real goat named Charlie, with this 210-pound thespian repeatedly injuring co-star Ralph Ineson and delaying the shoot with his seemingly demonic levels of stubbornness. But his unpredictable behavior (and the fact that his co-stars were in constant fear of being gored by the creature) made the character that much scarier despite many of the goat’s scenes having to be cut due to Charlie’s overall disdain for the filmmaking process.

3. Unnamed Gambian Pouched Rat (Ben) – Willard (2003)

The second adaptation of Ratman’s Notebooks, 2003’s Willard, is my preferred version of the story due to Crispin Glover’s mesmerizing take on the titular outcast. However, the film also benefits from a series of standout rodent performances as Willard’s furry friends wreak havoc upon his enemies.

Of course, not all rats are created equal; the most memorable rodent in the film has to be the fearsome Ben. An oversized critter with a bad temper who ends up turning on Willard towards the end of the flick, Ben was brought to life by a Gambian pouched rat whose name was unfortunately never made public. Yet, this anonymous actor’s beady eyes are so expressive that you can’t help but sympathize with him even when he’s feasting on human flesh.

2. Schnitzel & Nico (Frodo) – A Quiet Place: Day One (2024)

While moviegoers are used to seeing a single actor play dual roles (think Michael B. Jordan in Sinners), the opposite usually only happens with young children and the occasional animal. Since the unpredictable nature of felines means that having an identical backup performer can literally save millions of dollars on a production, it makes sense that the most compelling character in Michael Sarnoski’s A Quiet Place prequel was played by a pair of cats named Schnitzel and Nico!

Though Nico had to undergo extensive makeup preparation so that his fur looked more like that of his spotted counterpart, the end result was one seamless performance that pushed the boundaries of what cats can be expected to do onscreen – and they both looked cute as hell the entire time. That’s why I’d argue that both of these furry performers deserved a nomination.

1. Jed (The Thing) – The Thing (1982)

Effortlessly transitioning between seemingly innocent sled dog and otherworldly invader, the Timber Wolf/Alaskan Malamute hybrid who plays the Thing’s initial form is one of the most effective horror actors in film history. Chosen for the role because of his nearly preternatural knack for following stage directions (as well as the natural predatory behavior resulting from his unique genetic heritage), Jed makes you fear the titular creature even before Carpenter begins to play around with gruesome practical effects.

Sure, Jed’s part in the flick may not be as extensive as some of the other critters on this list, but I struggle to think of any other animal actor that has had quite the same impact on the horror genre as this talented dog. In fact, director Ben Leonberg even cited Jed as an inspiration for Indy’s intense performance in Good Boy, so we couldn’t help but place him in the number one spot!

That being said, there’s always the chance that Jed wasn’t actually acting and really was just The Thing in disguise…

The post Six Animal Actors in Horror Films That Deserved Oscars appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

1408 Steelbook 4K UHD from Lionsgate

1408 will be released on SteelBook 4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital exclusively from Amazon on January 13 via Lionsgate.

Based on the Stephen King short story, the 2007 horror film stars John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson.

The three-disc set includes both the 104-minute theatrical version and the 112-minute director’s cut in 4K with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio.

Disc 1 – 4K UHD:

• Theatrical Cut
• Don’t Enter 1408 (new)

Disc 2 – 4K UHD & Disc 3 – Blu-ray:

• Director’s Cut
• Audio Commentary by Director Mikael Håfström and Writers Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski
• Alternate Endings
• Deleted Scenes with Option Commentary
• The Secrets of 1408
• John Cusack on 1408
• Inside Room 1408
• Theatrical Trailer

A man writing a book about the paranormal travels to New York and stays in a hotel room that has been said to be responsible for the death of all the guests that come to stay.

Mikael Håfström (Escape Plan) directs from a script by Matt Greenberg (Halloween H20) and Scott Alexander & Larry Karaszewski (Ed Wood).

The Thing Pops from Funko

John Carpenter’s The Thing joined Funko’s Pop! line in conjunction with the Funko Fusion video game last year, and apparently they were popular enough to warrant more.

The new additions include the hideous Dog-Thing and a frosty version of R.J. MacReady wielding a flare.

Priced at $14.99 each, they’re due out in January.

Frankenstein Poster by Shawn Mansfield

Shawn Mansfield designed a poster for Guillermo del Toro‘s Frankenstein in the style of the classic 1931 Frankenstein artwork.

11×17 prints are available for $20. Orders placed before December 1 receive a free Frankenstein sticker.

Streaming on Netflix, the adaptation of Mary Shelley‘s genre-defining 1818 novel stars Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Christoph Waltz, Felix Kammerer, Lars Mikkelsen, David Bradley, Christian Convery, and Charles Dance star.

Meagan Navarro wrote in her review, “It showcases del Toro’s strength as a filmmaker, creating immersive worlds that enhance what he does best: championing monsters and their tragic humanity instead of using them to scare us.”

Terrifier 3 Apparel from Terror Threads

Terror Threads has a collection of new Terrifier 3 apparel up for pre-order through Sunday, November 23.

The line includes T-shirts ($35), long sleeves ($45), crewneck sweatshirts ($55), zip-up hoodies ($70), sweatpants ($50), and embroidered Santa hats ($30).

Writer-director Damien Leone is currently scripting Terrifier 4, which promises to reveal Art the Clown’s backstory.

Keeper Vinyl from Mutant

In theaters now, Osgood Perkins’ Keeper soundtrack is available on vinyl for $35 via Mutant.

Due out in March 2026, the score is composed by Edo Van Breemen (The Monkey, Afflicted).

It’s pressed on 140-gram chocolate colored vinyl, housed in an embossed slipcase with a full-color cover and a printed insert featuring artwork by Greg Ruth.

Meagan Navarro wrote in her review, “Keeper makes for one engaging and original grim fairy tale that bides its time getting under your skin as romance curdles into one fucked up nightmare.”

Metropolis Prints from Apollo Gallery

Apollo Gallery has released Metropolis 18×24 fine art lithograph prints by Adam Demarti.

The standard version (left) is limited to 75, while the variant is limited to 65. Each hand-numbered edition is $34.

Directed by Fritz Lang, the 1927 German expressionist silent film is widely regarded as one of the most influential science fiction films ever made.

Hot Spring Shark Attack Blu-ray from Utopia

Hot Spring Shark Attack will be released on Blu-ray on December 30 via Utopia.

Also known as Onsen Shâku, the 2024 Japanese horror-comedy marks the debut of writer-director Morihito Inoue.

Special features:

• Audio Commentary by Writer-Director Morihito Inoue and Special Effects Coordinator Jun Shimazaki
• Making the Practical Special Effects
• Making the Visual Effects
• Recording the Musical Score
• “Scorching War Song” – Hot Spring Shark Attack Theme Music vVdeo
• Audience Footage from the 2024 Tokyo International Shark Film Festival
• Crowdfunding Promotional Video
• Social Media Trailers
• Atami Monster Film Festival Trailer
• “Fake News” Teaser Trailer
• “Hot Spa Shark” Early Teaser Trailer
• Footage of the 3D Billboard Advertisement in Shinjuku
• Booklet with new writing by film critic Sam Cohen

In a small hot spring town in Japan, a ferocious ancient shark reawakens and begins terrorizing the local hot spring facilities. As the threat escalates, the townspeople band together to protect their beloved town from the menacing predator, leading to a fierce and thrilling battle.

Shoichiro Akaboshi, Takuya Fujimura, Kiyobumi Kaneko, Koichi Makigami, Masaki Naito, Mio Takaki, and Shigeo Ôsako star.

Be Right Back by Bill Wood

Be Right Back by Bill Wood will be published on March 3 via Scholastic, compete with sprayed edges.

The young adult horror novel is a sequel to Let’s Split Up, described as Scream meets Scooby-Doo.

A year after solving their last mystery, the Sanera gang has split up to pursue college life, leaving their detective days behind ― except for Cam, who struggles to move on. Now an assistant coach for the Sanera Sabretooths, Cam feels adrift until the Halloween festival brings the gang back together for a commemorative event. But when Cam sees the Carrington Ghoul ― a figure tied to their final case ―he’s thrust into a new mystery.

As Sanera’s Halloween festival descends into chaos, the gang discovers that someone is using local legends to commit gruesome murders. The killer’s obsession with their past exploits becomes clear as each murder echoes the myths they once debunked. With the town’s history exploited for tourism and the gang’s fame drawing unwanted attention, they must unravel the clues before the killer strikes again ― this time targeting one of their own.

A live-action TV series adaptation of Let’s Split Up is in the works.

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives.

The post 8 New Must-Have Horror Collectibles, Including ‘1408’ on Steelbook 4K UHD and ‘The Thing’ Funko Pops appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must tell you that Drew Struzan has moved on from this world as of yesterday,” noted a message on Struzan’s social media. “I feel it is important that you all know how many times he expressed to me the joy he felt knowing how much you appreciated his art.”

Struzan painted indelible posters for over 150 films, including Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Harry Potter, Blade Runner, E.T., The Goonies, First Blood, and The Shawshank Redemption.

He also created iconic artwork for several horror films, from The Thing to Hocus Pocus to Hellboy. I’ve highlight 15 of his genre works below.

For more on Struzan’s life, work, and impact, the 2013 documentary Drew: The Man Behind the Poster is currently streaming on Fandango at Home and Kanopy.

The post Legendary Poster Artist Drew Struzan Has Passed Away appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Leonberg’s Good Boy explores this assertion with the story of a haunted house told through the eyes of a brown and white Retriever. When Todd (Shane Jensen) moves into an old family home, his faithful dog Indy senses imminent danger. But rather than a simple harbinger to be forgotten once the ghosts emerge, this intrepid pet becomes Todd’s chief defender and the story’s unquestioned protagonist. We follow the horror through Indy’s eyes, battling a supernatural threat we never quite understand. All we know is that danger abounds, and man’s best friend must save the day. This unique concept succeeds thanks to an emotive performance by Indy himself and extensive planning, training, and treats from Leonberg, who also happens to be the pet’s real-life companion. 

To accomplish this daunting narrative technique, Leonberg took notes from two of the genre’s most iconic dogs. The idea for Indy’s bravery was initially inspired by E. Buzz, the loyal Golden Retriever who guides us through the doomed Freeling home in Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist. While E. Buzz and Indy face similar threats, another four-legged actor sets the bar for Good Boy and its impressive star. John Carpenter’s sci-fi classic The Thing opens with a Timber Wolf/Alaskan Malamute hybrid named Jed bounding through the Antarctic snow as a helicopter tries to shoot him down. When the unnamed animal reaches an American research station, the perplexed crew springs into action. Clark (Richard Masur), the unit’s dog handler, immediately bonds with the furry refugee while station commander Garry (Donald Moffat) takes out his mysterious assailant. Ostensibly unharmed, the dog is adopted by the research team and spends the next few hours recovering in their living quarters. 

Surprisingly well-behaved, the gentle wolfdog sits at heel when not silently roaming the station’s halls, but what appears to be superior training feels distinctly sinister upon rewatch. When Clark finally leads him into the kennel, the dog gingerly perches amidst the rest of the sled team, casually lounging in the warm hay. But just moments after the lights go out, a pulsing begins under Jed’s furry skin. The other dogs bark and whine as the intruder’s face splits apart, sending blood-red tentacles and mysterious goo flailing out in all directions. The strange dog is revealed to be a literal monster in wolf’s clothing. After lying dormant in the ice for thousands of years, this sinister Thing was resurrected by the Norwegian team and proceeded to decimate their research base. With the power to consume and replicate organic life, it has used the dog’s nonthreatening appearance to infiltrate the American outpost. We can now read sinister intent in Jed’s stoic actions as he silently surveils the research team, then prowls the halls in search of prey. Describing these unsettling scenes, Leonberg exclaims, “There are shots of him just wandering the outpost, essentially ‘casing the joint, ‘where the synchronicity between his behavior and the camera work is so precise it blows my mind.” 

Carpenter also mentions Jed’s uncanny talent in a commentary for the film. “You could do a dolly shot with him and he would not look at the camera, or the director, or the crew,” the director remembered. “Amazing work for an animal. He was really, really good.” Maser notes the dog’s unsettling onset persona and habit of scaring scene partners with an eerily focused, unblinking stare, “He did everything like a wolf. He would never bark. He never growled.” The more ferocious aspects of Jed’s wolfen heritage lend a sinister quality to this withering gaze, allowing us to see at once a gentle companion looking for warmth and a shapeshifting alien preparing to strike. Leonberg notes, “That intensity and the use of Jed’s subjectivity were hugely inspirational for us while working on Good Boy with Indy.”

Jed’s malleable performance perfectly amplifies the film’s themes of intense paranoia and distrust. Witnessing the animal’s desperate escape from certain death at the hands of his former owner, we’re tempted to take him into our arms and, like Clark, shower him with much-needed affection. With soulful eyes and a gentle demeanor, he seems perfectly safe to roam on his own and seamlessly fades into the background. However, the dog’s arrival sets off a deadly chain of events, leaving the outpost demolished and the crew mostly dead. Should the Thing first disguised in canine form ever make it to more populated land, it could theoretically destroy the human race. Like a fluffy and lovable Trojan Horse, this outwardly delightful dog could unleash a plague of monstrous assimilation that brings about the end of the world.

After this impressive debut, Jed would go on to star in many more films, becoming a stalwart of the wilderness subgenre until his death in 1995. Also known for his work in White Fang and Disney’s The Journey of Natty Gann, Jed will forever be associated with Carpenter’s icy masterpiece while holding the distinct honor of introducing Rob Bottin’s jaw-dropping special effects. In a similarly lauded film debut, Indy becomes our conduit through another chilling and dangerous world. While dazzling us with their remarkably human performances, these canine characters capture our hearts and cause us to reevaluate our own furry friends. Perhaps the pet curled up beside us is capable of more than companionship. He could be an alien in disguise, hell-bent on replicating our human form, or the last line of defense against the ghosts and ghouls that emerge to threaten us while we sleep. Whether hero or villain, Jed and Indy and their stellar performances redefine what it means to be a “good boy.”

Good Boy releases in theaters this Friday, October 3rd. Grab tickets now.

The post How John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ Inspired the Canine Star of ‘Good Boy’ appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

We have an exclusive look at a variant cover that pays homage to John Carpenter‘s The Thing, illustrated by Jarrett Williams (Rick and Morty vs. The Universe) and colored by Michael Atiyeh (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic).

Writer Wyatt Kennedy (Nights) and artist Jo Mi-Gyeong (Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) have adapted all eight episodes of the genre-bending show into a 136-page graphic novel.

In the world of Murder Drones, a natural disaster in the far future has flash-frozen humanity’s remote mining exoplanet, Copper 9. Only now the “worker drones” – built by humanity and eventually outlived by them – have to rebuild society from the frozen ashes.

This endeavor complicated by the appearance of “disassembly drones,” vampiric robot counterparts hell-bent on wiping mechanical life from the planet and an unsettling virus known as the “Absolute Solver.”

Alessio Zonno (I Heart Skullcrusher) created the cover art for the hardcover edition, while Mi-Gyeong designed the Kickstarter-exclusive paperback edition.

In addition to The Thing cover below, additional horror homage variants include Carrie and A Nightmare on Elm Street. The Kickstarter also offers several other limited edition exclusives:

• Foil variant covers for the series’ first issue
• Deluxe slipcase edition, signed by writer Wyatt Kennedy featuring a double-sided, foil-stamped slipcase
• “Fatale Error” signed slipcase edition featuring exclusive cover art by Austin Baechle (Nacelleverse);
• “Dissembly Drone” set featuring a Murder Drones #1 metal variant printed on brushed aluminum, a trucker hat, an 18×24 giclee print, and exclusive cover art by Andy Duggan (Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories)
• “Absolute Solver” set featuring a complete set of every Murder Drones comic cover, a silkscreened work jacket, a candle, an 8×10 black-and-white original character sketch by Brenda Hickey (My Little Pony) and exclusive cover art by Moss Lawton (Star Trek: Prodigy)
• “High Temp” set, limited to just 25), featuring Murder Drones “Episode 1” on VHS, a Murder Drones #1 customized variant cover with the backer’s first name, a 1:1 lithographic print of am interior art comic page from the files of artist Jo Mi-Gyeong, and exclusive cover art by Andy Duggan (Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories)

“Murder Drones: The Official Graphic Novel captures all the comedy and character beats of the animated series,” said Kennedy. “Jo Mi-Gyeong is a truly phenomenal artist and it’s a joy to see the story of Murder Drones captured like never before.”

Created by Liam Vickers, the “Murder Drones” pilot premiered on YouTube in 2021. The remaining seven episodes were released between 2022 to 2024. The entire series is now streaming worldwide on Prime Video.

The post ‘Murder Drones’ Graphic Novel Variant Cover Pays Homage to John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ [Exclusive] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The real-life spouses talk about their love for making and watching horror, including the influence that The Thing and The Substance had on their cosmic body horror movie.

Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie find themselves at a crossroads as they move to the country, abandoning all that is familiar in their lives except each other. With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural foe threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh.

Writer-director Michael Shanks makes his feature debut on the movie, which also features Damon Herriman, Sunny S. Walia, Jack Kenny, and Mia Morrissey.

Meagan Navarro wrote in her review out of Sundance, “Its unique blend of awkward romantic dramedy and cosmic body horror yields no shortage of crowd-pleasing moments and horror freakouts that left the rowdy Sundance audience laughing and screaming in equal measure.”

Together is in theaters now from Neon.

The post Dave Franco & Alison Brie Talk ‘Together’ with Rats: “‘The Thing’ Was Our North Star” appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Multi-later acrylic versions, featuring thee layers of art built up to create a 3D effect, will be available in three sizes. 24×36 is limited to 150 for $175, 16×24 is limited to 100 for $126, and 7×10.5 is limited to 100 for $75.

Bottleneck writes, “Drew Struzan’s original theatrical poster for John Carpenter’s creepy cult classic, The Thing, is one of the most ubiquitous images in movie posters, and for good reason! Drew’s image hints at the isolation; at the cold conditions; and the mystifying monsters awaiting film viewers, and we’re super proud to team up with Vice Press to faithfully recreate the original image as a Multi-Layer Acrylic edition.”

One-sheet size 27×40 fine art pigment prints, hand-numbered out of 250, will also be up for grabs for $65.

Vice Press writes, “These epic posters are printed on 200gsm Satin paper, a little thicker than traditional cinema one sheets, but sturdier and much more durable for collectors and to the same Vice Press high standards, while keeping that classic cinema poster feel.”

All editions go on sale tomorrow, July 31, at 1pm ET from Vice Press.

In The Thing, a research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

Kurt Russell stars in the 1982 sci-fi horror classic, written by Bill Lancaster and based on John W. Campbell Jr.‘s 1938 novella Who Goes There?

The post Drew Struzan’s Classic ‘The Thing’ Artwork Recreated as Multi-Layer Acrylic Prints appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The company has five pairs of lounge pants with all-over prints designed by Kyle Crawford: The Shining, Halloween III, Hellraiser, Twin Peaks, and Terrifier.

Priced at $35, lounge pants are made from a stretchy polyester/spandex blend with moisture wicking, an elastic waistband with drawstring, and two pockets.

They’re also offering four hats designed by Steve Roman Jr.: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Thing, The Return of the Living Dead, and Re-Animator.

Hat styles vary, including trucker caps, snapbacks, and velcro closures, along with flourishes like embroidery, under-brim prints, and glow in the dark accents. They’re $27 each.

The post Fright-Rags Drops Horror Lounge Pants & Hats from ‘Terrifier,’ ‘Halloween III,’ ‘Hellraiser,’ More appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

“The Real Ghostbusters” Figures from Mondo

Mondo has launched pre-orders for “The Real Ghostbusters” 1:12 scale action figures of Winston Zeddemore, Sandman, and Companion Ghost.

Winston stands 6.5″ and comes with two heads (neutral and serious), two pairs of hands (glove and ungloved), proton pack with particle thrower wand, attachable particle stream, ghost trap, swappable trap cartridge with mini Sandman, journal, journal key, and clear figure stand.

Sandman stands 8.5″ and comes with two heads (neutral and smiling), three pairs of hands (neutral, posed, and sand blast), sand bag, sand straw with sand attachment, and clear figure stand. Companion Ghost is 3.5″ and includes a stand.

Priced at $202, the exclusive, timed edition set is available until July 17 and is expected to ship in February 2026.

This is Mondo’s third “Real Ghostbusters” release, following Peter, Samhain, & Slimer and Egon, Boogieman, & Intro Ghost, with more to follow.

The Thing Shirt from Readful Things

John Carpenter’s The Thing taught viewers many important lessons, and MacReady has a timely reminder for us: ICE melts.

Featuring a distressed design by Readful Things, the shirt costs $20.99.

The Conjuring Poster from Gutter Garbs

Explore the Warrens’ case files with Gutter Garbs’ The Conjuring design by Sam Coyne.

It’s available on T-shirts ($32), long sleeves ($40), hoodies ($55), and 18×24 posters ($40) through Sunday, June 22. They’ll ship the week of July 20.

Stephen King Shirt from Uglie Kids Club

Pennywise is the (Stephen) King of pinball on Uglie Kids Club’s design by Austin Pardun.

T-shirts ($30), mineral wash tees ($32), tank tops ($30), ringer tees ($34), and baseball tees ($36) are up for pre-order until June 28 and will ship 6-8 weeks later.

M3GAN 2.0 Dress from Hot Topic

Dress to impress for next’s release of M3GAN 2.0 with this cosplay outfit from Hot Topic for $54.90.

Bond for life with the dress that features tie straps at the neck, ruffle detailing at the long-sleeves and mock turtleneck, plus an attached belt that has “New primary user… me” stitched on it.

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives.

The post 5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including ‘Real Ghostbusters’ Toys from Mondo appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The team behind the asymmetrical horror experience recently revealed to IGN their most coveted movie monster at the top of their wishlist: John Carpenter’s The Thing.

“As far as I know, it’s not something that is being discussed above me, but my dream – and probably my favorite horror movie – is the obvious one: The Thing,“ Killer designer Jason Guzzo told the outlet. “I have been here for two and a half years, and I have been on a crusade to figure out how to get The Thing into Dead by Daylight.“

In the 1982 film based on John W. Campbell Jr’s short story, a research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

The story follows a twelve-man research team who finds an alien being that has fallen from the sky and has remained buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Once unfrozen and unleashed, the creature induces paranoia and terror as it changes forms and becomes one of them.

Adding a shapeshifting creature that could take on the appearance of any players in game sounds awesome in theory but would definitely present logistical hurdles to clear, though Guzzo remains “on a crusade to get [that] done at some point.”

That’s not the only Carpenter movie monster on the devs’ list, either. Dead by Daylight Creative Director Dave Richard said, “They could be mostly a joke, but I think there’s a way to make it work, especially now in the timeline: Cujo. Christine.“

Time will tell whether Behavior Interactive will land their dream Killers for the game, but in the meantime we can look forward to Springtrap and more to wreak havoc next month.

The post ‘The Thing’ at the Top of ‘Dead By Daylight’ Developers’ Killer Wishlist appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Nosferatu & The Shining Decorations by One Man Riet

Nosferatu‘s Count Orlok and The Shining‘s Jack Torrance into retro-style “honeycomb dancer” Halloween decorations.

Priced at $20, each piece measures approximately 27″ tall with four accordion limbs.

The Thing Print by Tim Clinard

Tim Clinard designed artwork for John Carpenter’s The Thing in the style of a vintage comic.

Titled “Final Showdown,” 19×13 fine art giclee prints are limited to 125 and cost $40 from Hero Complex Gallery.

An American Werewolf in London Pop! from Funko

Funko is adding An American Werewolf in London‘s David Kessler to its Pop! line.

Priced at $11.99, the 3.75″ vinyl figure is due out in May. Hopefully we get a Pop! of the werewolf too.

Terrifier 2 Shirt from Fangoria

Art the Clown didn’t make it onto the cover of Fangoria until Terrifier 3, but the magazine is remedying that with a shirt featuring a distressed Fangoria cover design dedicated entirely to Terrifier 2.

Hot Topic carries the tee for $24.90.

Mothra & Battra Figures from Super7

Super7’s fifth wave of Toho Ultimates features Mothra and Battra from 1992’s Godzilla vs. Mothra, due out in January 2026.

Priced at $85, each 7″ scale articulated figure features a wingspan of over 12” and includes a flight stand.

Mothra comes with the Shobijn Twins in a briefcase and a set of interchangeable legs, while Battra has an alternate head and a set of interchangeable legs.

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives.

The post 5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including ‘Nosferatu’ & ‘The Shining’ Retro Decor appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The special 4K presentation commences on March 22 at the David Geffen Theater, with tickets opening to the public on February 21 at 9AM PT.

As if that’s not enough of an instant sell, Bong Joon Ho, who selected the film for this series, will be in attendance with horror master John Carpenter himself for a conversation about the sci-fi horror classic.

In the film based on John W. Campbell Jr’s short story, a research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

“Set in the winter of 1982 at a research station in Antarctica, a twelve-man research team finds an alien being that has fallen from the sky and has remained buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Soon, it is unfrozen and unleashed, creating havoc and terror as it changes forms and becomes one of them.”

John Carpenter’s paranoia-laden masterpiece, starring Kurt Russell and Keith David, is a pinnacle of practical effects. Its snowy Antarctic setting plays a pivotal role in isolation, paranoia, and the fight for survival. 

The Academy Museum’s Bong Joon Ho exhibition kicks off the day after this special screening, on March 23, just after the opening of the filmmaker’s latest film, Mickey 17. The museum details what to expect, “Whether set in 1980s Korea or an imagined future, Bong Joon Ho’s films highlight transnational and universal issues: class disparities, social injustice, the environmental crisis, and political and moral corruption. His protagonists are everyday people—unlikely heroes—who confront the absurdities of modern life. From his earliest short films to his international breakthrough The Host (Republic of Korea, 2006), through the Academy Award®–winning Parasite (Republic of Korea, 2019), Bong Joon Ho’s work defies simple categorization, embedding social critique into deeply funny, unexpected, and thought-provoking stories.

“With unprecedented access to the filmmaker’s archive and personal collection, the exhibition features over 100 original objects including storyboards, research materials, film posters, concept art, creature models, props, and on-set photographs.”

While the exhibit will run from March 23 through January 10, 2027, The Thing will be a one-night only opportunity. So set your alarms and reminders now for ticketing when it goes live tomorrow.

The post ‘The Thing’ Gets Special 4K Screening with John Carpenter and Bong Joon Ho in Person appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Return of the Living Dead Figures from Super7

Super7’s Return of the Living Dead ReAction Figures have been reanimated with glow-in-the-dark variants of Zombie Suicide and Zombie Trash, based on the film’s poster.

Priced at $25, each retro-style toy stands 3.75” tall and features five points of articulation. Suicide comes with removable guts.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space Mug from Gutter Garbs

Need a Valentine’s Day gift for the clown in your life? Look no further than Gutter Garbs’ Killer Klowns from Outer Space mug.

Priced at $40, the cotton candy cocoon stands 6.75″ tall. The painted glaze porcelain ceramic holds 27 ounces. It can also double as a vase.

Horror VHS Blankets from Pentagram Peter Pan

Pentagram Peter Pan has release a variety of horror blankets in the style of vintage VHS artwork, including A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream 2, Thirteen Ghosts, Hocus Pocus, Fright Night, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, The Mummy, The Conjuring, Terrifier, and more.

Priced at $55.99, each premium 60×80 fleece blanket features black sherpa fleece underlining. Quantities are limited.

“The Penguin” Vinyl Soundtrack from Mutant

“The Penguin” soundtrack is available on vinyl via Mutant. The score is composed by Mick Giacchino (“Star Wars: Skeleton Crew”), who provided addition music to The Batman, and includes two tracks from Shayna Steele.

The 2xLP album is pressed on 140-gram colored vinyl. It’s housed in a gatefold jacket with liner notes by Giacchino. Due out on April 25, it costs $40.

The Long Kiss Goodnight 4K UHD from Arrow Films

1996 action thriller The Long Kiss Goodnight will be released on 4K Ultra HD on April 8 via Arrow Films.

It has been newly restored in 4K from the original 35mm negative, approved by director Renny Harlin (Deep Blue Sea, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master).

Written by Shane Black (Lethal Weapon, Iron Man 3), the film stars Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Malahide, Craig Bierko, Brian Cox, and David Morse.

The limited edition set comes with a reversible sleeve featuring original and new art by Sam Hadley; a booklet with new writing on the film by Clem Bastow, Richard Kadrey, Maura McHugh, and Priscilla Page; a postcard; and a sticker.

Special features include: new commentaries by film critic Walter Chaw and the Bloodhaus podcast; new interviews with actress Yvonne Zima, stunt coordinator Steve Davidson, and makeup artist Gordon J. Smith; new video essays by film historians Josh Nelson, Howard S. Berger, and Alexandra Heller-Nicholas; archival featurettes; deleted scenes; and more.

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives.

The post 5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including Glow-in-the-Dark ‘Return of the Living Dead’ Zombies appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Tim Cappello Plush from Tapes from the Crypt

Tapes from the Crypt has turned The Lost Boys’ Tim Cappello into a singing plush in the style of classic wrestling buddies.

Standing 22″ tall, the sexy sax man plays 30 seconds of his iconic song when you squeeze him. A removable saxophone is included.

Act fast if you still believe, because pre-orders close tonight at midnight. It costs $59.99 and will ship in 6-12 weeks.

Re-Animator Poster from Matt Ryan Tobin

Re-Animator star Barbara Crampton is kicking off the film’s 40th anniversary with new artwork by Matt Ryan Tobin, in collaboration with producer Brian Yuzna and Ignite Films.

18×24 giclee prints, limited to 300, will be available exclusively from Crampton at horror conventions throughout 2025. Tobin will have a variant, limited to 100, at his public appearances.

Don’t forget that Ignite is injecting new life into Stuart Gordon’s classic H.P. Lovecraft adaptation with a 4K Ultra HD release on April 3.

Killer Klowns, Terminator, Ghostbusters Beanies from Fright-Rags

Keep your horror head warm with The Terminator, Ghostbusters, and Killer Klowns from Outer Space beanies from Fright-Rags.

Priced at $27, each acrylic beanie features an instaria knit graphic on the front crown, an embroidered logo on the front cuff, and a multi-colored pom pom on top.

The Thing Backpack from Inked Up Merch

Gear up for the winter with Inked Up Merch’s The Thing backpack for $60. It measures 16.5” tall, 11.75” wide, and 6” deep.

Embroidered with an Outpost #31 design, the polyester bag features a rucksack flap with interior cinch closure, laptop sleeve, zippered organization pocket, two side zippered pockets, and adjustable shoulder straps.

Tales from the Crypt Shirt from Gutter Garbs

Till death do you part with Gutter Garbs’ Valentine’s Day-themed “Tales from the Crypt” design by Sam Coyne.

It’s available on T-shirts for $32, Comfort Colors tees for $34, long sleeves for $40, and zip-up hoodies for $55.

Pre-orders run through Sunday, January 12, and will ship the week of February 5 to arrive in time to woo your valentine.

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives.

The post 5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including a ‘Re-Animator’ 40th Anniversary Poster appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

28 Days Later Apparel from Alternate Ending

In honor of the 28 Years Later trailer drop, Alternate Ending has been infected by 28 Days Later apparel.

The end is nigh with two promo-style T-shirts ($28), a hat ($27), four 12×18 posters ($10), and three stickers ($4).

Pre-orders run through December 22 and will ship 4-8 weeks later.

Jack Frost Figure from Distinctive Dummies

‘Tis the season for holiday horror, so Distinctive Dummies has crafted a 1:9 scale Jack Frost figure.

The 9″ collectible comes with two swappable heads (regular and melted), four swappable arms, axe, stop sign, and display base are included.

Limited to 50, the killer snowman costs $129.99 at Monsters in Motion. Shipping is slated for early January.

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters Vinyl from Mondo

Mondo is pressing the “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” soundtrack on 140-gram splatter vinyl. Priced at $35, it’s expected to ship in March.

Composed by Leopold Ross (The Book of Eli, “Shōgun”), the album is housed in a spot gloss gatefold sleeve with artwork by Owen Freeman.

The second season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” is in production now.

Black Eye Blu-ray from Warner Archive

From Creature from the Black Lagoon director Jack Arnold, Black Eye will be released on Blu-ray on December 31 via Warner Archive.

The 1974 neo-noir Blaxploitation film has been newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative. The only special feature is the theatrical trailer.

Fred “The Hammer” Williamson stars with Rosemary Forsyth and Teresa Graves. Mark Haggard and Jim Martin wrote the script, based on Jeff Jacks’ 1971 novel Murder on the Wild Side.

The Sacrifice Game from Lunchmeat

Shudder’s 2023 Christmas horror-thriller The Sacrifice Game is coming to VHS from Lunchmeat.

Priced at $30, the first edition is limited to 50 tapes. It’s expected to ship in early January.

Jenn Wexler (The Ranger) directs from a script she co-wrote with Sean Redlitz. Mena Massoud, Olivia Scott Welch, Gus Kenworthy, and Chloë Levine star.

Meagan Navarro wrote in her review, “What begins as something all too familiar eventually gives way to something more satisfying and charming. The Sacrifice Game may be a holiday ruiner for many of its characters, but for audiences, it’s a holiday horror treat.”

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives.

The post 5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including a ‘Jack Frost’ Figure appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The new trailer below presents an in-depth look at the bloodied and mangled happenings inside of Outpost #31 and the desperation the crew faces in their rescue-turned-escape mission from a gruesome, body-invading alien threat.

The Thing: Remastered is being touted as a faithful restoration of the 2002 third-person survival horror shooter inspired by John Carpenter‘s 1982 classic, The Thing. Nightdive Studios has gone back and upgraded the original game for the modern era via its proprietary KEX Engine, boasting up to a 4K resolution at 120FPS.

• Return to U.S. Outpost #31: Continue the story of The Thing and face off against terrifying monsters, from scuttling head-spiders and human-like walkers to gigantic multi-tentacled level bosses
• Who Goes There?: Command a squad of up to four NPCs from Soldier, Medic, and Engineer character classes through the game’s 11 frightening levels
• The Warmest Place to Hide: Someone in your squad may not be who they appear to be. The shape-shifting alien hides inside an imitation, so keep a watchful eye
• Don’t Lose It: Gain the trust of your squad members and minimize their fear levels lest they become defiant or, worse, succumb to paranoia
• Ultimate Alien Terror: Upgraded models, textures, and animations hand-crafted by Nightdive, plus enhanced lighting and atmospheric effects
• Stunning Visuals: Up to 4K 120FPS visuals on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S
• Checkmate: Trophies and Achievements on Windows PC via Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles

To learn more about The Thing: Remastered, check out Nightdive Studios’ Deep Dive podcast, which features interviews with multiple developers of the remaster and original Computer Artworks team members, including Mark Atkinson (director and programmer) and Ron Ashtiani (art director).

The Thing: Remastered will be released digitally later this year, on Windows PC via Steam and GOG, PlayStation® 4|5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Fans can wishlist The Thing: Remastered now.

The post ‘The Thing: Remastered’ Gameplay Trailer Puts You In Restored Outpost #31 appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

“Three years ago our studio opened it’s doors for the first time to start this exciting journey and now we’re launching our first game,” says 10:10 Games on their Steam page announcing the launch. According to the team, this is just the beginning, as they will continue to work on post-launch updates, as well as adding online Co-Op and additional content for Funko Fusion.

Speaking of additional content, according to the roadmap, the team will be adding more properties to the game. At the moment, there are 60+ characters across 20+ franchises. The October update will bring Jurassic World and John Carptenter’s The Thing into Funko Fusion, followed by Five Nights at Freddy’s and Invincible in November.

Funko Fusion is a third-person action game that’s all about celebrating fandom. You’ll be able to play with some of your favorite characters from across TV, movies, games, and comics, and explore handcrafted worlds. Select, unlock, and play with the 60+ unique playable characters, all lovingly recreated in Funko Pop! form, each with their own weapons and special moves.

The post ‘Funko Fusion’ Out Now on PC, Consoles [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Diving deep into the haunting world of Carpenter’s 1982 sci-fi-horror classic, director Ian Nathan is joined by producers Robin Block (CREATORVC), David Weiner (CREATORVC) and Josh Weiss (author of SYFY WIRE’s extensive oral history of The Thing) as they embark on the ultimate fan-driven companion to The Thing.

The ultimate exploration of a cinematic classic, The Thing Expanded will be centered on an in-depth analysis led by none-other than John Carpenter himself. The documentary will include a wealth of memories, stories, facts, rabbit-hole tangents and theories about the 1982 film and its origins and influences that Carpenter fans demand, including discussion of the 2011 prequel, videogame sequel, RPG, comics, merch, the original John W. Campbell novella Who Goes There? and much more.

Fans can join the expedition and get their name in the credits at www.thethingexpanded.com. The pre-sale for The Thing Expanded launched TODAY and runs until September 2, 2024.

“With The Thing Expanded we are taking on the ultimate horror film,” says director Ian Nathan. “For Aliens Expanded we dove head first into James Cameron’s genre-making film. But now we get to explore the paranoia, the survival, and the themes of John Carpenter’s classic, all led by what the fans want to see. And those fans are just such an extraordinary resource. I want to be infected with their genius.”

“I’m thrilled to invite super fans of The Thing on an extraordinary journey with The Thing Expanded,” says CEO of CREATORVC, Robin Block. “This unique experience is designed to deepen our understanding and appreciation of John Carpenter’s 1982 classic, bringing to light new perspectives and insights that will resonate with fans old and new.”

David Weiner says, “John Carpenter’s The Thing has lived rent-free in my brain ever since I spotted The Thing From Another World in Halloween, then sat slack-jawed through Carpenter’s iconic remake during a Saturday afternoon matinee on opening weekend in the summer of ’82. It was more than a film experience; it was an inspiration to deconstruct the film and figure out, ‘How’d they do that?!?’ To get the chance to dive deep into the film and its mythos with the Master himself in The Thing Expanded is the ultimate J&B pour for me.”

Josh Weiss adds, “John Carpenter’s The Thing is, without question, my favorite movie in the known universe. I can think of precious few films where one finds something new to contemplate on every rewatch. It is a monster movie lover’s dream come true — a veritable smorgasbord of snarling, dripping, and bloody creature effects, pulled off with otherworldly aplomb by the legendary Rob Bottin. By its very nature, the 1982 film graciously invites audiences to dissect every frame, every story beat, every character action. I am beyond thrilled and honored to be a part of what will be the definitive autopsy of John Carpenter’s ever-changing masterpiece.”

The post Documentary ‘The Thing Expanded’ Will Feature an Exclusive John Carpenter Interview appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Thanksgiving Steelbook 4K from Sony

Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving carves into Steelbook 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital on October 15 via Sony. The slasher is presented in 4K with Dolby Vision, approved by director Eli Roth, and Dolby Atmos.

Jeff Rendell penned the script, based on the faux-trailer from 2007’s Grindhouse. Patrick Dempsey, Addison Rae, Milo Manheim, Jalen Thomas Brooks, Nell Verlaque, Rick Hoffman, and Gina Gershon star.

Special features include: two new making-of featurettes; commentary by Roth and Rendell; deleted and extended scenes; outtakes; Behind the Screams; Gore Galore; and Massachusetts Movies: Eli & Jeff’s Early Films; a letter to the fans from Roth.

The Thing Pop from Funko

As if the inclusion of The Thing’s R.J. MacReady in the first installment of Funko Fusion Pops wasn’t enough, the second wave includes the film’s grotesque Blair Monster!

Due out in October, the 6.75” deluxe vinyl figure costs $29.99 and come with a redeemable code for an in-game item. A chase variant is also available.

Developed by 10:10 Games, Funko Fusion features 60+ playable characters from more than 20 fan-favorite franchises recreated in Funko Pop form. It’s coming to PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on September 13.

The Exorcist Poster by Liza Shumska

Hero Complex Gallery has released the remaining inventory of its Comic Con-exclusive prints online, including Liza Shumska’s hauntingly detailed take on the The Exorcist.

Fine art giclee prints, limited to 135, are available in 16×24 for $50 and 24×36 for $75.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Vinyl from Waxwork Records

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’s soundtrack is available on vinyl for $50 via Waxwork Records. Shipping in November, the score is composed by Dario Marianelli (V for Vendetta, Bumblebee).

The 2xLP album is pressed on two color variants: Slimer and Frozen Empire. It’s housed in a gatefold jacket with matte satin coating featuring art by JJ Harrison and a four-page booklet with liner notes from director Gil Kenan.

Body Double Steelbook 4K UHD from Sony

Body Double is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a Steelbook 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital release on September 24 from Sony. The 1984 neo-noir erotic thriller is presented in 4K with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

Brian De Palma (Scarface, Carrie) directs from a script he co-wrote with Robert J. Avrech (A Stranger Among Us). Craig Wasson, Gregg Henry, Melanie Griffith, and Deborah Shelton star.

Special features include: archival EPK interviews with De Palma, Wasson and Griffith; The Seduction, The Setup, The Mystery, and The Controversy featurettes; Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “Relax” (Body Double version) music video; still gallery; and trailer.

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives. You can also visit Broke Horror Fan.

The post 5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including ‘Thanksgiving’ on 4K Steelbook appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Funko has announced today that Kurt Russell’s iconic character from The Thing is getting his own Funko toy, part of the company’s brand new wave of toys based on Funko Fusion.

The wave also includes a battle-damaged version of killer doll M3GAN.

Toys in the Funko Fusion wave come with a redeemable code for an in-game item.

Funko Fusion is Funko’s first ever upcoming action-adventure crossover video game developed and published by 10:10 Games. Check out the recently revealed gameplay trailer HERE!

Experience a festival of fandom like never before in Funko Fusion. Play through iconic worlds and mashup characters inspired by some of your favorite franchises in an action-adventure game with uniquely authentic, irreverent humor from the creative minds of 10:10 Games.

Express your fandom with 60+ unique playable characters from more than 20 fan-favorite franchises, all lovingly recreated in Funko Pop! form. Explore incredible worlds inspired by Jurassic World, Back to the Future, JAWS, The Thing, Chucky, Battlestar Galactica, Hot Fuzz, The Umbrella Academy, Masters of the Universe, Invincible, and many more!

The post Kurt Russell’s MacReady from ‘The Thing’ Finally Gets His Own Funko Toy appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Ghost Face Figure from Mezco Toys

Ghost Face is slashing into Mezco Toyz’s One:12 Collective line. Due out in November, the 6.5″ action figure costs $95. Shipping is free with the code WINTER79.

The Scream slasher has over 28 points of articulation, a black robe with poseable hood and sleeves, four interchangeable heads (classic mask, zombie mask, glow-in-the-dark mask, and blood mask), and eight interchangeable hands.

Other accessories include: butcher knife, hunting knife, hunting knife with blood effect, scythe, remote control, popcorn bowl, three attachable blood effects, and display base with adjustable post.

Phase IV 4K UHD from Vinegar Syndrome

Phase IV crawls onto 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on March 26 via Vinegar Syndrome. The 1974 sci-fi horror cult classic has been newly restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative with HDR and mono sound.

Acclaimed title designer Saul Bass (Psycho, North by Northwest) makes his lone directorial effort from a script by Mayo Simon (Futureworld). Michael Murphy, Nigel Davenport, and Lynne Frederick star.

The 84-minute theatrical cut and an 89-minute preview version are included along with special features: an audio commentary by film historian Matthew Asprey Gear, “Evolutions: The Making of Phase IV” featurette, “Formicidae Sinfonia: The Music and Sounds of Phase IV” featurette, deleted scenes, and more.

Maniac Cop Mask from Little Shop of Gore

You have the right to remain violent in Little Shop of Gore’s Maniac Cop mask. Priced at $100, it’s limited to 50 pieces (30 available online, 20 at in-person events).

The vintage-inspired mask is made from thick, durable vacuform plastic with a chrome resin hat badge, slimline elastic strap, and foam insert. An inflatable baton is included.

The Thing Print from Vice Press

Artist Jason Raish offers a different perspective on John Carpenter’s The Thing, and Vice Press has made it even more unique with an “X-ray” archival pigment print on 24×36 5mm clear acetate film.

The timed edition is available for £69.99 (about $88) through Sunday, February 11. This beauty would look striking in a light box.

Wednesday Play Set from Mezco Toyz

Mezco Toyz has revealed a Wednesday 5 Points retro-style play set with Wednesday Addams and Enid Sinclair from the hit Netflix series. Due in September, it’s available to pre-order for $40.

Wednesday comes with two pairs of arms (regular and umbrella holding), Thing, umbrella sword, and umbrella cover. Enid comes with two pairs of arms and a backpack. Figures measure 3.75” tall. A dorm room background is included.

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives. You can also visit Broke Horror Fan.

The post 5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including Mezco’s Brand New Ghostface Action Figure appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

A good horror game will give me the same rush as a movie. Something that doesn’t often happen, however, is the intersection of the two. Sure we have stuff like Dead By Daylight and Evil Dead: The Game but for the most part the era of video games based on movies has long passed. But that’s not to say there aren’t some absolute gems based on your favorite movies.

For this list I’ve tried to highlight some of the most enjoyable adaptations I’ve played and some underappreciated ones as well. Though some may be kind of a hassle to play in modern form today, these are all absolutely worth seeking out for their own reasons.

Predator: Concrete Jungle

Released in 2005 for the PS2 and Xbox, this game put players in the starring role of a ruthless hunter in a story that traversed time itself. Beginning in the year 1930 before jumping to the year 2030, Predator: Concrete Jungle saw players as “Scarface,” a disgraced Predator warrior sent back to Earth to settle a vicious blood feud and redeem himself. Over the course of the game players will come to realize that Predator technology is fueling a vicious gang war in the city of Neonopolis and it’s up to Scarface to clean up the mess. Predator: Concrete Jungle was notable for giving players the full arsenal of a deadly warrior and dropping them into an urban city much like Predator 2. The game also featured extensive connections to not only every Predator film at the time but also the Alien films including appearances of Xenomorphs as enemies for the players to cut down.

Speaking of Xenomorphs…

Alien: Resurrection

Cursed with a plethora of development issues much like the film it’s based on, Alien: Resurrection was ahead of its time. Though the film itself is probably the most forgettable entry in the series, the game (released three years later) is far from that. A first-person shooter made in the era where Quake and Unreal were kings, Alien: Resurrection is an exercise in terror as it places players in dark environments with limited resources. It’s a horror game through and through and a terrifying one at that. Alien: Resurrection was also one of the first console FPS games that introduced the dual thumbstick control layout that is now the standard for all shooter games on consoles.

Jaws Unleashed

The Jaws series is no stranger to silly sequels and Jaws Unleashed for the PS2 and Xbox is one where you can actually play as the shark! Jaws Unleashed puts players in the role of a bloodthirsty Great White Shark in a story set 30 years after the original film. Though the story hardly matters as it’s mostly an excuse to put the shark in silly situations such as a water theme park, a beach party, or even an underground research facility to unleash glorious gory mayhem. Jaws Unleashed may not be a masterpiece like the film that inspired it but at the end of the day it’s a bloody good time.

Evil Dead: Regeneration

An oddball Evil Dead midquel for the PS2 and Xbox, Evil Dead: Regeneration is faithful to its source inspiration. For this entry players take on the role of Ash Williams (yes, voiced by Bruce Campbell) in a story that takes place in between Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness and pairs him up with a foul-mouthed Deadite sidekick. Though your typical hack and slash fare with light puzzle solving, Evil Dead: Regeneration has the trademark gore and humor you would expect from the series. The game also featured video interviews with Bruce Campbell himself where he seemingly confirms that Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash was in production at one point?

The Thing

One of my personal favorites on this list, The Thing for PS2 and Xbox is a wildly ambitious official follow up to the 1982 John Carpenter masterpiece. Players take on the role of Captain Blake as he’s sent to Outpost 31 to investigate the events of the film and what happened to the crew. Blake discovers the horrifying events that transpired and is soon put through hell and back again dealing with the alien life form. The Thing was a traditional survival horror game that added an element of squad based gameplay where Blake could command a crew of soldiers with him, the twist being that any of them could either be stricken with fear, distrust, or outright infection and needed to be dealt with accordingly. A massive gamer himself, John Carpenter gave full endorsement to The Thing as an official sequel, and it’s a damn shame this one hasn’t been rereleased.

Saw: The Video Game

Did you know a video game adaptation of Saw was considered by Konami to be a spiritual successor to Silent Hill? Did you know that there was even a video game adaptation of the Saw franchise? Konami pumped out Saw in 2009 and had it be a midquel set in between Saw and Saw II (that sounds familiar). Saw for the PS3 and Xbox 360 put players in the role of Detective Tapp as he had to make his way through an abandoned asylum that was transformed into a Jigsaw house of horrors. Saw tasked players with solving puzzles, traps and light combat with other captives. All things considered, Saw was a pretty great adaptation that felt true to the films. It’s a damn shame that the sequel squandered any goodwill they had going for them.

Blair Witch

I’m mixed on most of Bloober Team’s games, but even I’m willing to admit that Blair Witch absolutely rules. Set two years after after the 1999 film, players take on the role of veteran Ellis Lynch and his dog Bullet as they join the search party for a nine year old boy that went missing in the forests near Burkittsville, Maryland. What Ellis doesn’t realize though is that the circumstances around the disappearance are far more sinister than he’s led to believe and his search will put him fact to face with the evil force lurking in the woods. Blair Witch smartly adapts the found footage genre into a playable video game form and connects to the deep lore of the franchise. It also features gameplay involving his dog Bullet, who is a very good boy. Blair Witch absolutely belongs among the ranks of best horror movie video games.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

The most recent entry on this list sees Gun Interactive bring The Texas Chain Saw Massacre to life in a way that we’ve never seen before. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a unique asymmetrical horror game that pits 3 members of the cannibalistic Sawyer family against a team of 4 victims. Matches play out as a cat & mouse style escape room where survivors have to find a way out or become a victim of the saw. Perhaps my favorite aspect about this entry is the faithfulness to the source material and how longingly recreated everything from the original film is. It at times feels like you’re actually playing the film and that’s some of the highest praise I can give to a licensed horror game. Definitely check out The Texas Chain Saw Massacre if you haven’t yet.

The Mummy Demastered

I know what you’re thinking. “Wait, is this based on that terrible Mummy reboot with Tom Cruise?!” Truth be told it is, but Wayforward took the license and rather than make a 1:1 recreation of the film decided to make one of the most fun and brutally difficult “Metroidvania” games. Inspired by their earlier work with Aliens: Infestation, The Mummy Demastered has players join an elite squad of Prodigium soldiers as they fight off the hordes of Princess Ahmanet. What’s cool about The Mummy Demastered is its permadeath mechanic where when you die you take on the role of a new soldier and have to go retrieve all your gear. It’s a killer mechanic that adds a good amount of tension to already stellar gameplay in this underrated title. 

Friday the 13th: The Game

You knew this one was gonna be here. Friday the 13th: The Game was Gun Media and illfonic’s first foray into the multiplayer horror landscape. Friday the 13th: The Game had eight camp counselors try and survive (or defeat) Jason Voorhees, in a do or die horror movie simulator. The game ended up being an absolute love letter to the franchise featuring various incarnations of Jason and a solo mode that recreated moments of the film. There was even going to be an update that brought Jason X content into the mix but sadly all of that was cut short because of the bitter rights battle involving the series. As of this year, the game has been officially delisted. Farewell Friday the 13th, you were one of the best horror movie adaptations I played.

The post The 10 Best Video Games Based on Horror Movies appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

“The Thing Pinball is an authentic homage to the 1982 film, and features original clips from the film itself,” said Zen Studios COO Mel Kirk. “It gives long-time horror fans a go-to table in Pinball M, and completes our extraordinary line-up for launch.”

As these themed tables go, your objective with The Thing Pinball is to use your (digital) pinball skills and battle against the shape-shifting alien through the arctic chill of U.S. Outpost #31. The table covers quite a bit of ground from the film, including the initial dog kennel attack, Bennings’ discovery as The Thing and more. You’ll also be collecting blood samples and shooting “reagent cartridges” to reveal who’s human and who isn’t. The table culminates in rigging your dynamite to blow up the Outpost with The Thing in a “wild Wizard Mode”.

Obviously, it’s not going to be the same as what we got in the original video game adaptation, but hey, points for creativity! That also includes the table itself, which looks pretty darn cool (no pun intended).

Other themed tables announced for Pinball M include “Chucky’s Killer Pinball” which is inspired by Child’s Play, a table inspired by Behaviour Interactive’s Dead by Daylight, and in a nice throwback to Wildfire Studios’ 1997 PC game Balls of Steel, a Duke Nukem-inspired table with “Duke Nukem’s Big Shot Pinball”.

The post ‘Pinball M’ Launches November 30 With Table Inspired by ‘John Carpenter’s The Thing’ [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

My Bloody Valentine Figure from NECA

NECA has added another horror icon to its ultimate action figure line: My Bloody Valentine’s killer miner, Harry Warden. It costs $36.99.

The 7″ scale toy comes with a pick axe, nailer, knife, and candy box with a heart inside. It’s packaged in a window box with opening flap.

Clue 4K UHD from Shout Select

Clue will be released on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on December 12 via Shout Select. The 1985 murder-mystery comedy has been newly remastered in 4K from the original camera negative.

Jonathan Lynn (My Cousin Vinny, The Whole Nine Yards) writes and directs, based on the board game of the same name. Eileen Brennan, Tim Curry, Madeline Kahn, Christopher Lloyd, Michael McKean, Martin Mull, Lesley Ann Warren, and Colleen Camp star.

This disc has the option to play the movie with one of three alternate endings at random, harkening back o the original theatrical release, or a “trilogy” conclusion with all three outcomes. New interviews with Lynn, associate producer Jeffrey Chernov, and film music historian Daniel Schweiger are also included.

Creature from the Black Lagoon Figure from NECA

NECA has released a black-and-white version of its Creature from the Black Lagoon ultimate action figure. The previously announced color version also just hit shelves.

Priced at $36.99, the 7″ scale figure comes with three interchangeable heads (one with an articulated jaw) and eight interchangeable hands. It’s packaged in a window box with opening flap.

Midsommar Screenplay Book from A24

A24 has released a Midsommar screenplay book for $60. Expected to ship by November 20, it’s the 10th installment in the studio’s series of 8×11 hardcover editions.

In addition to Ari Aster’s script, the 300-page book includes a foreword by filmmaker Park Chan-wook (Oldboy), film stills, an essay by anthropologist Matthew Engelke, and illustrated Hårga choral primer by vocal artist Jessika Kenney.

The Thing Action from NECA

NECA has released a third ultimate action figure of The Thing’s MacReady for $36.99. Featuring Kurt Russell’s likeness, the 7″ scale action figure is based on the character’s last stand.

It comes with two interchangeable heads, six interchangeable hands, removable hat, Molotov cocktails that fit in a harness, revolver that fits in a holster, lantern, flare, and detonator. It’s packaged in a window box with opening flap.

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives. You can also visit Broke Horror Fan.

The post 5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including New ‘My Bloody Valentine’ Toy from NECA appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Inspired by 1982’s The Thing from Universal Pictures, Mondo’s MacReady (Kurt Russell) 1/6 scale figure is armed and ready to battle the ultimate in alien terror, complete with cloth and faux leather fabric elements, plus a slew of swappable hands, heads and weapons.

Available for 10 days only – limit 3 figures per person – this deluxe Timed Edition also includes the exclusive dog and spider-head creatures from the John Carpenter horror classic.

The Timed Edition ends Friday, 11/10/23 at 11:59 PM CT. After that, it’s gone FOREVER!

You can pre-order yours for $265 right now.

Check out the image gallery below, which is sure to have you salivating…

The post New 1/6 Scale ‘The Thing’ Figure from Mondo Is the Best MacReady Collectible Ever Made appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Godzilla Steelbook 4K UHD from Sony

The 1998 version of Godzilla is stomping onto Steelbook 4K Ultra HD (with Blu-ray and Digital) on October 24 from Sony. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the monster movie is presented in 4K with Dolby Vision/HDR and Dolby Atmos Audio.

Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) directs and co-wrote the script with Dean Devlin (Independence Day). Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo, Hank Azaria, Kevin Dunn, Michael Lerner, and Harry Shearer star.

No new specials have been produced, but it includes an audio commentary by visual effects supervisors Volker Engel and Karen Goulekas, Behind the scenes of Godzilla with Charles Caiman, and more.

Halloween III & Universal Monsters Candy Pails from Trick or Treat Studios

Trick or Treat Studios has launched a line of candy pails with designs from Halloween III: Season of the Witch, Frankenstein, and Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Priced at $20, the 9″ blow mold plastic buckets are expected to ship in early October to arrive in time for Halloween.

Rob Zombie Figure from NECA

Rob Zombie is joining NECA’s Little Big Head line of stylized figures, which also includes characters from his films House of 1000 Corpses and The Munsters.

The 6” PVC figurine is modeled after the cover art of Zombie’s 1998 debut solo album, Hellbilly Deluxe, in honor of its 25th anniversary. Priced at $19.99, it’s due out in December.

The Thing Shirt from Cavity Colors

John Carpenter’s The Thing has inspired plenty of great artwork and apparel, but few designs capture the spirit of Rob Bottin’s legendary practical effects like Lesle Kieu’s latest creation.

You can assimilate into the shirt from Cavity Colors for $30. It’s scheduled to ship the week of October 9.

Bone Tomahawk & Color Out of Space Steelbook Blu-rays from RLJE Films

Bone Tomahawk and Color Out of Space will be released on Steelbook Blu-ray + DVD on October 24 via RLJE Films. These editions were previously only available as Walmart exclusives.

2015’s Bone Tomahawk is written and directed by S. Craig Zahler (Brawl in Cell Block 99). Kurt Russell stars with Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Lili Simmons, Richard Jenkins, Evan Jonigkeit, Kathryn Morris, Sid Haig, David Arquette, and Fred Melamed.

2019’s Color Out of Space is directed by Richard Stanley (Hardware) from a script he co-wrote with Scarlett Amaris, based on the short story by H. P. Lovecraft. Nicolas Cage stars with Joely Richardson, Madeleine Arthur, Brendan Meyer, Julian Hilliard, Elliot Knight, Josh C. Waller, Q’orianka Kilcher, and Tommy Chong.

Existing special features for both titles are included, including making-of featurettes and deleted scenes.

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives. You can also visit Broke Horror Fan.

The post 5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including ‘Halloween III’ Candy Buckets appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The company’s annual live auction of film and TV memorabilia will be taking place beginning June 28, with the items on offer expected to fetch over $12 million!

“Over 1,400 rare and iconic lots will be sold during Propstore’s unique Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction over three days from Wednesday 28th to Friday 30th June 2023 from 8 AM PDT each day. Registration is now open at https://propstore.com/liveauction.”

Propstore lets us know, “Online proxy bids can now be submitted. In-room bidding will be open to the public at The Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, on June 28th. Online and telephone bids can be placed across the whole event.”

Top Horror items to be sold at the Propstore auction (with estimated sale prices) include:

• POLTERGEIST (1982) Screen-Matched Evil Clown Doll est. $200,000 – $400,000
• THE THING (1982) Norris (Charles Hallahan) Spider Head-Thing est. $100,000 – $200,000
• FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD (1988) Mario Kirner Collection: Jason Voorhees’ (Kane Hodder) Screen-Matched Hockey Mask est. $60,000 – $120,000
• FRIDAY THE 13TH (2009) Mario Kirner Collection: Costume, Prosthetic Head & Torso, Bear Trap & Chain est. $30,000 – $60,000
• HALLOWEEN H20: 20 YEARS LATER (1998) Michael Myers’ (Chris Durand) Stunt Mask est. $30,000 – $60,000
• CULT OF CHUCKY (2017) Screen-Matched Hero Good Guy Doll est. $20,000 – $40,000
• FREDDY VS. JASON (2003) Robert Englund-Autographed Freddy Krueger Fedora est. $20,000 – $40,000
• FREDDY’S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE (1991) Freddy Krueger’s (Robert Englund) Screen-Matched Prosthetic Razor-Claw Glove est. $20,000 – $40,000
• THE TWILIGHT ZONE (1959-1964) Male Nurse’s “Eye of the Beholder” Makeup Appliance est. $8,000 – $16,000
• FRIDAY THE 13TH (2009) Mario Kirner Collection: Jason Voorhees’ (Derek Mears) Hero Machete est. $7,000 – $14,000
• SIGNS (2002) Rev. Graham Hess’ (Mel Gibson) Mirrored Knife est. $7,000 – $14,000
• CRITTERS (1986) Animatronic Krite Puppet est. $5,000 – $10,000
• EVIL DEAD II (1987) Stop-Motion Henrietta Knowby (Ted Raimi) Worm Head est. $5,000 – $10,000
• SCREAM 2 (1997) Wes Craven and Chris Durand-Autographed Ghostface Robe est. $5,000 – $10,000
• TRICK ‘R TREAT (2007) Sam’s (Quinn Lord) Burlap Gloves est. $5,000 – $10,000
• THE CROW (1994) Bai Ling-Autographed Light-Up SFX Impaled Myca Head Display est. $4,000 – $8,000
• SAW IV (2007) Documentary Footage-Matched Exploded Billy the Puppet Head est. $4,000 – $8,000
• HELLRAISER (1987) Screen-Matched Animatronic Engineer Head est. $3,500 – $7,000
• ARMY OF DARKNESS (1992) Full-Size Deadite Soldier Puppet est. $2,500 – $5,000
• THE ADDAMS FAMILY (1991) Thing Hand Stand-In est. $2,000 – $4,000

Propstore will hold a preview exhibition at their office facility in Valencia, California, by appointment until June 20th. The exhibition will feature over 80 lots, giving fans the opportunity to see props and costumes from the auction up close and ask questions to the specialists. Visit propstore.com/liveauction to make a viewing appointment.

Brandon Alinger, Propstore COO, commented on the upcoming auction: “This year, Propstore’s Los Angeles Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction contains many never seen before treasures from film and television content, including the screen-matched “Evil” Clown who dragged Robbie under the bed in Poltergeist. We’ll also be reuniting Oliver Robins, who played Robbie, with the doll at our VIP Auction Preview at the Petersen Automotive Museum on June 24th.”

Oliver Robins – who played Robbie in Poltergeist – comments about his experience with the Evil Clown Doll which is available in Propstore’s auction: “It will be a surreal and wondrous moment to stand before the Clown Doll. Soon to be reunited after 40 years, It’s time to make peace with the tormentor of my childhood and make amends with this old foe.”

Preview some of this year’s incredible auction items below!

The post Propstore Auctioning Hundreds of Screen Used Items from ‘Poltergeist’, ‘The Thing’, ‘Friday the 13th’ & More! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

“The Thing – Dog Creature Ultimate Deluxe 7″ Scale Action Figure” recreates a gruesome sequence from John Carpenter’s 1982 classic, and it’s releasing later this year.

NECA previews, “From The Thing, John Carpenter’s acclaimed 1982 slow-build horror film classic! Deep in the Antarctic circle, an isolated research team finds something that’s been waiting for over 100,000 years… something with the ability to become one of them. Or, as they discover, any organic creature.

“From ordinary dog to morphing monstrosity, this fully articulated deluxe figure includes more than 25 interchangeable pieces to customize your Dog Creature for maximum horror. Comes in collector-friendly 5-panel packaging with opening front flap.”

The estimated ship date for this one is September 2023.

The post NECA Honors Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ With Gruesome Dog Creature Action Figure Set appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist Blu-ray from Synapse

The life and art of Evil Dead special effects artist Tom Sullivan is the subject of Invaluable: The True Story of an Epic Artist. Directed by Ryan Meade, the documentary will be released on Blu-ray on August 1 via Synapse Films.

It features archival Super 8mm, Hi8, VHS, audio, and photo materials, plus new interviews with Bruce Campbell, Ted Raimi, Josh Becker, Danny Hicks, Hal Delrich, Ellen Sandweiss, Betsy Baker, Theresa Tilly, Scott Spiegel, and more.

The disc carries nearly four hours of extras, including Other Men’s Careers, a documentary on filmmaker/Evil Dead alumnus Josh Becker; a 1989 interview with Sullivan; an unedited interview with The Evil Dead cinematographer Tim Philo; two short films by Meade; and more.

Casey Jones as The Phantom Figure from NECA

Casey Jones as The Phantom of the Opera will join NECA’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles X Universal Monsters toy line in June. It’s available to pre-order for $34.99.

The 7” scale action figure comes with three interchangeable heads (including a skull), eight interchangeable hands, two hockey gloves, two hockey sticks, and removable cloak. It’s packaged in a window box with opening flap featuring art by Daniel Horne.

This is the seventh figure in NECA’s TMNT X Universal Monsters series, following Raphael as Frankenstein, Leonardo as Ygor, Michelangelo as The Mummy, April as Bride of Frankenstein, Splinter as Van Helsing, and Donatello as The Invisible Man.

Final Girls Prints by Matthew Therrien

Matthew Therrien has launched a series of Final Girls portraits with Halloween’s Laurie Strode, Alien’s Ellen Ripley, Friday the 13th Part 2’s Ginny Field, A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Nancy Thompson, and Scream’s Sidney Prescott.

5×7 giclee prints on watercolor paper, limited to 50 each, cost $25, while open edition 8×10 giclee prints on heavy stock are $20. Therrien plans to add five new portraits to the series each month.

The Thing Steelbook Blu-ray from Mill Creek Entertainment

A prequel to John Carpenter’s 1982 classic, the 2011 version of The Thing has received a SteelBook Blu-ray release exclusively at Walmart via Mill Creek Entertainment. Priced at $19.96, it includes a semi-transparent slipcover.

The sci-fi horror film is directed by Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. and written by Eric Heisserer (Arrival, Lights Out). Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Eric Christian Olsen star.

Two new special features — “Who Goes There? Cast & Crew” and “What Goes There? Behind-the-Scenes” — are included along with a commentary by van Heijningen and producer Eric Newman, making-of and stunts featurettes, and the trailer.

Ghostbusters Proton Pack from Spirit Halloween

Spirit Halloween exclusively carries a Ghostbusters proton pack. The life-size replica measures 26” high, 15” wide, and 10” deep. It features lights and sounds, three activation modes (power up, power down, and shoot), detachable particle thrower, and adjustable straps. A pair of gloves and three patches are included.

It’ll cost you $249.99, which isn’t so bad when you consider Hasbro charged $400 for their replica two years ago — and that one didn’t come with the particle thrower.

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives. You can also visit Broke Horror Fan.

The post 5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including ‘The Thing’ Prequel on SteelBook Blu-ray appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

When most genre fans hear “adaptation,” their minds likely jump straight to film adaptations of games. 

And I don’t know if you know this or not, but people have feelings about video game movies. 

Neil and I discussed that very topic early on in Safe Room’s history. So we were elated when Dread XP writer Ian Marvin reached out to us expressing interest in chatting about the other side of the adaptation coin:

That being horror films adapted into games.

When you stop and think about it, chances are you’ll be able to recall at least a handful of games originating from film. Sure, games such as The Thing, The Blair Witch Project, and god knows how many Alien titles will likely come to mind. But beneath the surface of one’s vague memory, there are a surprising number of adaptations that aren’t all that far off the mark of what separates quality adaptations from marketing, well, cash-ins.

Something that we discuss in depth with Ian, as well as sharing some personal adaptation favorites and pitching a few horror films we’d love to see adapted into a game!

Ian’s Twitter

Ian’s Dread XP Author Page

Safe Room is a weekly horror video game discussion podcast with new episodes every Monday on

iTunes/Apple, Sticher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Linktree for additional streaming services. 

Feel free to follow the show and hosts on Twitter:

Safe Room | Neil | Jay

The post The Joy and Terror of Horror Movies Adapted Into Video Games [Safe Room Podcast] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

In the 1982 film, a shape-shifting alien looks for someplace warm to hide and assumes the appearance of its victims – including that of a kennel of Norwegian dogs, Alaskan Malamutes which become a blob of revolting, slimy, and straight-up horrifying flesh.

As part of their Toy Fair reveals this past spring, NECA announced the addition of the monster mutt to their The Thing toy line also sharing the first look at a work-in-progress of the dog, which will be available in two forms.

Now, at the San Diego Comic-Con, NECA has the full prototype on display, which includes two various stages of the dog’s transformation.

Years back, SOTA Toys had added John Carpenter’s The Thing to their “Now Playing” line with a box set featuring MacReady and the film’s dog monster.

McFarlane Toys also made figures from The Thing as part of their “Movie Maniacs” line, but they only got around to making “Norris Creature” and “Blair Monster.”

Toys based on the movie have been announced by other companies more recently, but they were unfortunately canceled. Needless to say, it’s a big deal that NECA now has the license.

Photo source: Toy Ark

Lots of horror on display by @NECA_TOYS at #SDCC2022. Includes #UniversalMonsters, #TheThing, #TheMunsters, Toony Terrors, #Predator & more: https://t.co/onDkQt0U9P pic.twitter.com/7pJSbdPrn6

— The Toyark (@Toyark) July 21, 2022

The post ‘The Thing’ – NECA Finds a Warm Place to Hide With Dog Creature Action Figure! [Photo] #SDCC appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Stranger Things Print from Vile Consumption

Stranger Things has always worn its influences on its sleeve, and the fourth season drew significant inspiration from the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. Vile Consumption’s mash-up artwork in the style of the Dream Warriors poster is available as a 13×19 print. Priced at $15, they’re expected to start shipping at the end of the month.

The Thing Shirt from Cavity Colors

John Carpenter’s The Thing is rightly lauded as a genre classic 40 years later, but it was poorly received upon its initial release. Had it been the success Universal was hoping for, perhaps it could have become a Nintendo game. Hillary White imagines just that with her shirt design for Cavity Colors. Assimilate into one for $28.

The Omen Vinyl Soundtrack from Varèse Sarabande

Despite a career full of impactful soundtracks — Alien, Poltergeist, Gremlins, Planet of the Apes, and First Blood among them — only one film earned Jerry Goldsmith the Academy Award for Best Original Score: The Omen.

Conducted by Lionel Newman (Alien, Beetlejuice), the 1976 classic’s original motion picture soundtrack is being reissued on limited edition red colored vinyl with black splatter by Varèse Sarabande. It’s housed in a jacket featuring Tom Jung’s key art. Dropping on September 23, it’s up for pre-order for $25.98.

Carrie Shirt from Terror Threads

You have to get creative when you make merchandise for movie but don’t have the rights to the star’s likeness. Terror Threads rose to the occasion with this Carrie design, which captures the fiery mayhem of the Brian De Palma film’s finale without showing Sissy Spacek’s face. Available on T-shirts ($29.99) and baseball tees ($39.99), it’s scheduled to ship the week of August 14.

Batman: The Long Halloween 4K Ultra HD from Warner Bros

Batman: The Long Halloween – Deluxe Edition combines both parts of the animated film, which were released separately last year, with additional content. It will be released on 4K Ultra HD (with Blu-ray and Digital) on September 20 via Warner Bros.

The voice cast includes Jensen Ackles as Batman, Naya Rivera as Catwoman, Josh Duhamel as Two Face, Billy Burke as Commissioner Gordon, Titus Welliver as Carmine Falcone, Julie Nathanson as Gilda Dent, David Dastmalchian as Calendar Man & The Penguin, Troy Baker as The Joker, Amy Landecker as Barbara Gordon & Carla Vitti, Fred Tatasciore as Solomon Grundy, Alyssa Diaz as Renee Montoya, and Alastair Duncan as Alfred.

Based on DC’s 1996 comic series written by Jeph Loeb and illustrated Tim Sale, the movie is directed by Chris Palmer (Voltron: Legendary Defender) and written by Tim Sheridan (Reign of the Supermen). The release carries a new special feature, “Evolution of Evil – The Long Halloween,” with Loeb and the filmmakers.

For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives. You can also visit Broke Horror Fan.

The post 5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including ‘Batman: The Long Halloween’ Deluxe Edition appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Now available, The Thing: 40th Anniversary Collection – Part 1 from Cavity Colors includes five brand new designs that are up for grabs on seven different brand new products.

T-shirts, hoodies, and sweatpants are all part of the collection, with awesome new The Thing artwork from fan-favorite artists including Devon Whitehead and Trevor Henderson!

There’s even a “cracked ice tie dye” shirt in this first wave of the 40th anniversary collection, with Hillary White putting her own spin on the blood test scene for a pair of sweatpants.

Head over to Cavity Colors to pick up your favorite items today!

The post Cavity Colors Celebrates 40 Years of ‘The Thing’ with New Clothing Collection appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Released to unenthusiastic reviews and lackluster box office receipts, Carpenter’s reimagining of John W. Campbell Jr.’s Who Goes There? has since become one of the most lauded spectacles of the sci-fi genre. With timeless effects by Rob Bottin, a chilling score by the late Ennio Morricone, and an eclectic cast led by Kurt Russell, it’s a film that begs to be revisited, which is partly why moviegoers and horror hounds are still talking about it decades later.

Join Losers Michael Roffman, Dan Pfleegor, Lara Unnerstall, and McKenzie Gerber as they head to Outpost 31 to discuss the storied history behind the production, weigh in on those timeless practical effects, quote the movie nonstop, connect the dots to King’s Dominion, and debate whether this is Carpenter’s greatest film in his catalogue. It should be noted this episode was originally recorded in July 2020 as part of our Crate series in The Barrens (Patreon).

Stream the episode below and return next week when the Losers rank the 10 best Stephen King stories to read during the summer. Right after that, they’ll be back on their chronological read-through with Everything’s Eventual. For further adventures, be sure to join the Club over long days and pleasant nights via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RadioPublic, Acast, Google Podcasts, and RSS. You can also unlock hundreds of hours of content in The Barrens (Patreon).

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Patreon | Store

The post ‘The Thing’ at 40: John Carpenter’s Sci-Fi Epic Lost the Battle But Won the War [The Losers’ Club Podcast] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

At the conclusion, an exhausted MacReady (Kurt Russell) sits beside the burning remnants of Antarctic Outpost 31 and drinks his whisky. Childs (Keith David) appears and sits beside him, admitting that he’d gotten lost pursuing the Blair-Thing during the film’s climax. With their shelter, communication systems, and transportation effectively destroyed and sleep deprivation long set in, the pair now face freezing to death. But at least they finally destroyed all traces of the Thing. 

Or did they…?

MacReady shares his whisky with Childs, a gesture that indicates distrust is futile at this point, but the exchanged looks of skepticism between them say it all. Paranoia rightfully still lingers. Childs could have been infected sometime during MacReady’s bid to take out the giant monster. Or MacReady might’ve been assimilated; Carpenter purposefully obscures when and how many of the outpost’s research team succumbed to assimilation. 

The ambiguous nature of the ending suits John Carpenter’s masterpiece well and allows for multiple interpretations. Bloody Disgusting is joining the debate in celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary, with writers weighing in on the events, pleading their case for who is and isn’t infected.

Where do you land in this debate? Sound off below!

Childs is Infected – Paul Lê

When I first watched The Thing as a kid, I believed the monster was still alive, even after MacReady so grandly destroyed it. I still think this because the monster always comes back. The lingering question is, if the monster is indeed still around, where is it? That first viewing of The Thing sealed my opinion for years: Childs had become infected when he was off-screen.

The Thing does a wonderful job of demonstrating the power of paranoia. We feel it along with the characters. That unrelenting fear only continues as Childs stumbles out of the dark and asks a badly injured MacReady, “You the only one who made it?” “Not the only one,” Kurt Russell’s character responds. This kicks off an ominous exchange punctuated by nuanced performances from the actors. Keith David is eerily calm, whereas Russell is the constant questioner. They are each so persuasive in their roles, but of the two, I always found Russell’s to be the most indicative of who here might be the monster.

One draft of Bill Lancaster’s screenplay has that line of Childs saying, in response to MacReady’s question about if he knows how to play chess, “I guess I’ll be learning.” The film, of course, omits this bit, but even without it, it seems as if Childs would be the monster if there had to be a choice. There’s a curious sense of satisfaction on MacReady’s face up until the end. Either from now knowing Childs is indeed infected, based on some undisclosed assumption he made in those final few seconds, or he realizes it doesn’t even matter anymore because this is the end. Monster or not, he’s done for. Meanwhile, Childs comes across as strangely untroubled. Perhaps he’s biding his time before he kills MacReady, knowing very well he can now. 

Earrings, breath, Childs’ drink, and a supposed canon video game have all been cited as evidence of Childs’ infection, but the debate continues. I want to believe the hero who slayed the monster cannot also be a monster. As I grow older, though, I also think maybe there is no monster anymore. And perhaps the only thing these two surviving characters are infected with is paranoia. —Paul Lê, Bloody Disgusting’s Buried in a Book, Horrors Elsewhere, Young Blood, and Series of Frights Columnist.

MacReady is Infected – Matt Donato

You’ve read the other theories, now bask in truth: MacReady is infected and has been throughout the film. Carpenter wants you to assume Childs has been infected while off-camera during the climactic finale, hence MacReady’s questioning as they sit amongst the warm flames that engulf what’s left of their outpost. Childs walks back into the frame, gone long enough for infection, and MacReady’s immediately suspicious — but I think it’s cunning, not humanitarianism, that makes MacReady suggest they both freeze to death to make sure nothing survives. Sounds like a foolproof plan coming from the mouth of an extraterrestrial body snatcher that would outlive Childs and can infect anew once eventually rescued. 

Here’s what I’ll call “The Bottle” fan theory that tries to answer why Carpenter chooses to show us the Dog Thing licking Bennings’ face, why we see MacReady give Bennings his bottle of Scotch to drink from, and why it’s essential we see MacReady with a finished bottle later on. Simply put, the unidentified infection is more contagious than presumed, and MacReady is toying with his outpost mates as a means of survival.

Think about it from a predator’s point of view. The lifeform is outnumbered, can quickly be incinerated if outed, and can’t just assimilate everyone at once. The blood test sequence is a clear point of contention for doubters and, yes, can be used as evidence to support MacReady’s human state — but who says “The Thing” didn’t orchestrate that entire ruse? Maybe its cells can flee the hot poker, only ensuring MacReady is further trusted as the fearless leader of a group trying to kill “The Thing?” It’s almost like a game of self-sacrificial chess, or maybe ruthless betrayals if you believe more than one “Thing” could exist in that massive spacecraft, and MacReady is torching his own crew to escape.

In that final scene, I see a mastermind in MacReady pulling one last trick on Childs. MacReady doesn’t have the flamethrower; Childs does. So all MacReady has to do is wait until Childs turns into a popsicle. Then only his word matters, and Evil MacReady can assimilate throughout the globe to his alien heart’s content. —Matt Donato, Bloody Disgusting Revenge of the Remakes Columnist with bylines at Fangoria, What To Watch, Collider, Nerdist, Ebert Voices, Shudder, and more.

Neither is Infected – Jenn Adams

The ending of The Thing is a masterclass in ambiguity, and there’s a reason we’ve spent the past forty years debating it. Carpenter so effectively draws us into the film’s themes of paranoia and deceit that we find ourselves looking for answers along with the characters. Is Childs the Thing? Is MacReady? Like the final two men standing, we will never know. But the reality is that it doesn’t matter. The seeds of doubt have been planted and after everything they’ve seen, each man will always see the other as contaminated. Short of giving each other dehumanizing blood tests and keeping constant tabs on each other’s whereabouts, they will never be sure the other one hasn’t been turned. And as Childs notes, they have to sleep sometime. It’s also likely that they have not actually destroyed the Thing should they both prove to be human. There is no way to locate and destroy every single particle it has left behind. They’ve already burned down the entire base, but what the fire doesn’t consume will only freeze in the snow waiting for the next crew to come along and unearth it, beginning the cycle of paranoia and destruction all over again. 

Carpenter’s nihilistic tone is strong, and it’s easy to give in to the hopelessness. But lurking within all of this negativity is the freedom to choose what we want to believe. The Thing can be hiding in plain sight within anyone anywhere at any time. We won’t know who has been contaminated until their bodies literally burst open to consume us. And perhaps that’s for the best. I like both Childs and MacReady, so I choose to believe that they have not been infected. After everything they’ve been through, they deserve a moment to rest and the company of another human. I don’t want to rob either man of that comfort. What a tragedy it would be to survive this horrific nightmare only to wind up frozen and alone. It seems that both men want this respite as well. Neither expects to make it out alive, and it would be easier to just destroy each other once and for all. But they choose trust, if only for a moment. They sit down and rest, making themselves vulnerable but too tired to do anything else. Yes, the bottle they drink from may be contaminated, but they share it anyway, choosing to spend their final moments together in relative peace. For such a nihilistic film, it’s about the closest thing to a happy ending that we can hope for. —Jenn Adams, Bloody Disgusting writer and co-host of The Losers’ Club: A Stephen King Podcast.

We’re Not Meant to Know – Michael Roffman

The greatest endings are those that elicit this exact kind of feature. Because, sure, you could point out how Childs has no breath, as countless fans have screamed over the years. (A notion that’s made even more curious when Childs says he simply got lost in the storm. Okay, dude.) You could also Google Dean Cundey’s statement on how he lit the uninfected’s eyes and compare that with, again, Childs. And if you really want to roll some eyes, you can dust off the 2002 video game sequel in which — spoiler alert — it’s revealed that MacReady lived and even retained his job as a pilot. Column A and Column B it all night long, but there is no answer, and that’s the point.

That paranoia is the ghoulish goodie-bag that Carpenter and the late Bill Lancaster wanted audiences to leave theaters with 40 years ago. It’s the same trick Carpenter employed with Halloween, only that scare lasted three years before the sequels squandered its unnerving mystery. Time has been kind for The Thing. The ice has yet to break. —Michael Roffman, Bloody Disgusting writer and co-host of the Halloweenies Podcast and The Losers’ Club: A Stephen King Podcast.

John Carpenter mentions in The Thing‘s commentary track that he struggled to find a way to implicate MacReady as an assimilated entity but ultimately left the ending ambiguous. It eventually proved the best choice, as it suits the paranoia well. The Thing keeps you on edge, unsure who is infected and when it happened. MacReady’s line sums it up best: “Trust is a tough thing to come by these days.” 

The ambiguity provides fertile ground for viewers to draw their conclusions, and it’s exacerbated by tidbits and details that have emerged in the decades since the film’s release: alternate ending plans and TV cuts or Dean Cundey’s trick to spotting infected further fuel speculation. I’ve long thought it didn’t matter if MacReady, Childs, or both were infected because the elements would trap them in place anyway. Even that stance has softened with the realization that the smoke from the burning outpost could get so large that it’d potentially attract other stations at dawn. Of course, the comics and video games brought their own canon to the mix. 

MacReady’s final line again summarizes how we should feel about the ending: “Why don’t we wait here for a little while, see what happens?“

The post ‘The Thing’ at 40: Bloody Disgusting Writers Debate John Carpenter’s Ambiguous Ending appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Board game adaptations aren’t always the easiest to pull off, as they can’t rely on the same linear storytelling as something like a video game, but Infection at Outpost 31 pulls from existing board game tropes and wraps it in the movie’s signature brand of tension and body horror.

Thankfully, there’s a long-standing genre of board games they can pull from that’s engineered to encourage gameplay that mimics what you see in the 1982 film: the hidden traitor game. Games like Werewolf and Mafia popularized this type of game, and Infection at Outpost 31 applies The Thing’s wonderful atmosphere to the basic structure, adding in their own little twists on the genre.

At the beginning of the game, cards are drawn that will make one player “the imitation,” who will be in conflict with all the human players in the game. Each player is then dealt a hand of supply cards that will be used to complete missions each round. The captain for the round, which passes between players, looks at the mission and selects a team of players to help fill the requirements on the mission card. After the team is selected, you’ll go to a room where each player on the mission will secretly add a card to the mission pile to see if they can meet the objective.

The key to the tension is that there are also sabotage cards that can be played by the imitations to try to purposely fail the mission. If the mission pile contains the necessary supplies, the captain collects an item token from the room. If the mission fails, you increase the infection tracker, which keeps track of how close you are to losing. As you progress, you’ll draw new infection cards, possibly increasing the number of imitation players in the game. Once you’ve explored enough rooms to collect the necessary tools to escape and to fight and defeat creatures hidden on the board, the final leader picks the team to escape and hopes everyone on the helicopter is human.

The imitation players can win in three different ways: maxing out the infection tracker through failed missions, destroying a certain amount of rooms, or getting on the escape team. The human players can only win if they get all the way to the escape phase and have no imitations on the final team. This gives the infected players several different strategies to play in the game. Do you play hard, trying to sink as many missions as you can while still trying to throw blame on others or do you help missions succeed in order to try to sneak your way onto that helicopter? The only catch for lying low is that the lower the infection tracker is by the time you get to the escape phase, the more blood tests can be done to see who is human. It can sometimes be difficult for imitations to play sabotages if the group talks a lot about what is being contributed to the mission, but house rules limiting table talk can help mitigate that.

The game supports four to eight players, and I feel the game plays better the more you have. It allows you to vary up the teams more than you can playing with four, since most missions require at least three people. Infection at Outpost 31 can create such memorable moments at the table, with tons of enthusiastic accusations flying as things start to spiral further out of control. Even if one imitation gets discovered, the other can have a good chance to still cause chaos to help defeat the humans. There’s tons of fun to be had playing on either side, with each offering their own forms of tension and excitement.

Not only are the mechanics of the game great, but the production makes it a worthy collector’s item. The various types of cards are different sizes so you can organize them easily and are printed on a solid card stock. The board has great art that evokes the setting of the movie, and there’s even a miniature for each of the characters from the film, along with some of the most famous forms of The Thing itself.

There was a long streak of time where this was a game that our group played almost every other week. The player count range makes it so you can play it almost any time, and the rules are easy enough to pick up quickly, so even Thing fans who have little board game experience can hop in with little effort. There are plenty of licensed board games out there, but few manage to successfully capture the mood of their source material while still acting as a nice collectible for fans in the same way that The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31 does.

Any fan of the John Carpenter classic should have no hesitation in picking this up.

The post How Board Game ‘The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31’ Perfectly Captures the Carpenter Classic appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Around the turn of the millennium, Universal Interactive was looking through the back catalog of IP owned by the studio and decided Carpenter’s The Thing was primed for a game adaptation due to its ambiguous ending for which a video game could expand upon (side note: very surprised they didn’t try to make a Halloween game). With Konami as a publisher they were off to the races on developing the title in hopes of a 2002 release for the 20th anniversary of the film. After being impressed with their 2000 video game Evolva, Konami and Universal enlisted the help of company Computer Artworks to develop the game. Surprisingly in an era of bad and rushed movie adapted games, Computer Artworks were given relatively free reign on the project. 

The game follows Captain J.F. Blake, the leader of Bravo team. After the events of the film, two U.S. Special Forces teams are sent to investigate the lost U.S. and Norwegian Antarctic camps and uncover what happened. The game starts off quick too, dropping you right in the middle of the action seeing the gory aftermath of all that transpired as you search to piece it all together. This is where the most interesting element of the game play comes into play: the fear/trust system. If you’ve heard anything about this game chances are this is what you’ve heard about the most. Throughout the game Blake will be able to lead a team of AI-controlled NPCs through the environment and give them different commands. Soldiers have higher health and better weapons and are able to thrive in combat encounters, medics keep the team alive by having unlimited heal packs (take *that* Resident Evil), and engineers repair various environmental obstacles.

The trick is, these NPC teammates won’t always trust you. They suspect you to be the thing itself. When their trust is low they can do actions like straight up ignoring you, or even worse when they fear you enough they’ll even attack you themselves and you’ll be forced to take action against them. You can earn their trust by giving them ammo and health packs, leading the charge into battle, or like in the film giving yourself a blood test in front of them. They start distrusting you if you neglect them, let them get injured, or even worse: accidentally hit them with a stray bullet with the game’s unforgiving friendly fire. The most random aspect though is the infection system, in which one or multiple members of your squad become infected by the Thing and transforms into a hideous nightmare-esque creature from the film. 

Throughout the game Blake starts to put together the events of the original film (and to an extent the 2011 prequel that hadn’t been made yet) and eventually uncovers a secret conspiracy of a corporation called Gen-Inc. who have a team there conducting scientific experiments and research on the Thing. Led by Dr. Sean Farady (who’s played by John Carpenter), they’re out to prove that the Thing is controllable. Ultimately it’s revealed that Blake’s commander, Colonel Whitley, has plans to use the Thing as a biological weapon and as a cure for his terminal cancer; subverting the expectations of the film and having an open betrayer/infected in all of the action. Eventually Blake has a showdown with the Thing-infected Whitley at the Thing’s original spaceship, defeating him and saving the world from a massive outbreak. And closing the loop on this makeshift “trilogy”

Given these elements the film not only continues the film in a fitting way but also matches the tension and anarchy that the Carpenter classic is known for. Years before the board game The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31 did it, this was the place to get your hidden identity game fix with a well known license. The game was released in 2002 to almost instant success, selling over a million copies across PC, Xbox, and Playstation 2. Fans and critics were captivated with its more action-oriented take on the horror genre, something that (at the time) still had a heavy focus on survival and puzzle solving. Best of all, fans loved the reveal of the fates of Childs and MacReady from the original film. I won’t spoil it here but you don’t learn the fate of one of them until the very end of the game and it’s a surprising reveal, to say the least.

The Thing ultimately is a game that translates the Carpenter film into fun gameplay mechanics and tells a cohesive yet faithful continuation of its source material. Unfortunately with Konami losing the rights to the film and Computer Artworks going under in 2003, a sequel to the game never made it past the proof of concept phase. Even worse the game has yet to get a re-release of any kind, causing The Thing to fall into relative obscurity in recent years.

If you have the means (aka an old console lying around like I do), I highly implore you to seek out a copy of The Thing, which remains a wonderful movie-based video game 20 years later.

The post ‘The Thing’ at 40: Looking Back at the Ambitious Video Game Sequel appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The pinnacle of this mastery is found in one of the most epic jump scares in The Thing, the iconic chest defibrillation scene.

Based on the novella Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell Jr, and penned by screenwriter Bill Lancaster, The Thing takes place at an American research station in Antarctica, occupied by a team of twelve men. Each one serves a specific role on the team to keep the isolated station functioning well. The group includes helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady (Kurt Russell), mechanic Childs (Keith David), assistant mechanic Palmer (David Clennon), cook Nauls (T.K. Carter), station commander Garry (Donald Moffat), radio operator Windows (Thomas Waites), dog handler Clark (Richard Masur), physician Copper (Richard Dysart), Senior Biologist Blair (Wilford Brimley), assistant biologist Fuchs (Joel Polis), geologist Norris (Charles Hallahan), and meteorologist Bennings (Peter Maloney). 

Events spiral out of control when a helicopter from the Norwegian facility pursues a sled dog to their station; the Americans are unaware that the dog is a shape-shifting alien in disguise. Soon they realize the creature has assimilated into their ranks, creating dangerous paranoia among them as the death toll rises.

Carpenter maintains a foreboding feeling of paranoia by keeping the identities of those who are assimilated shrouded in secrecy until the last minute. Mistrust quickly spreads with the realization that any one of them could be the Thing, and it’s only when threatened that the entity finally reveals itself in the most grotesque fashion. That setup, combined with Rob Bottin‘s gnarly and incredible practical effects and creature work, creates several standout moments in the film.

[Related] ‘The Thing’ at 40: 10 of the Coolest Collectibles You Need to Own

The initial dog kennel reveal announces the Thing’s presence and method of assimilation. Bennings gets discovered mid-assimilation and torched, further spreading the paranoia as the group is confronted with visual evidence that the alien has already infiltrated their team. The charred corpse of Fuchs is found, and it’s inferred that he committed suicide to avoid assimilation. The paranoia explodes into a tense standoff when Nauls finds what he believes to be evidence of MacReady’s assimilation.

At peak intensity, when MacReady wields dynamite in a standoff with the rest of the team, Carpenter sneaks in an unexpected and unassuming time bomb with Norris. As the remaining survivors try to regain control and subdue MacReady, the high-key suspense seems to be getting to Norris in the background. His heart appears unable to withstand the commotion. Norris clutches his chest in pain and crumbles to the floor as he suffers a heart attack.

The group momentarily but tenuously pauses their standoff to help Copper attend to Norris, standing by as the doc begins chest compressions while barking orders. He then attempts to restart Norris’s flatlining heart with a defibrillator. On his second pass, Norris’s chest opens wide, and a gaping mouth with teeth clamps down on Copper’s arms and severs them both.

This shocking moment effectively jolts viewers for two critical reasons. The most apparent is just how mundane the triggering event is. Until this point, all the deaths are violent and grim, whether self-inflicted or inhuman. Norris suffering a heart attack seems perfectly normal and understandable by comparison.

The second key component of this scene is how Carpenter stages it. He toggles between the immediate emergency with Norris and the unresolved conflict with MacReady. As a shivering MacReady keeps his flamethrower at the ready, the camera zooms in on Garry sneaking a weapon from Copper’s medical tray. A frame of MacReady surrounded, with Garry holding a scalpel behind his back, teases violence and sets the expectation that the danger will come from one of these men, not the incapacitated Norris.

That’s precisely when Carpenter strikes, using the abrupt shift from human to inhuman to knock everyone off their feet in terror, viewer included. MacReady torches the Norris-Thing, teaching everyone another valuable piece of information: every single part of the entity is a separate lifeform with a killer survival instinct.

In the film’s commentary track with Carpenter and Russell, they mention that it was discussed many times on set how people would know if they were assimilated. An ultimate agreement was reached that if the Thing could achieve perfect imitation, the assimilated wouldn’t necessarily know they were no longer human.

Norris’s startling reveal is the perfect example of this approach. Even Norris seems bewildered by his failing heart, and no one else would suspect a failing human body as a new host for the shape-shifting creature. The masterful way that Carpenter misdirects the viewer and stages this scene, culminating in another showstopper scare featuring Bottin and the SFX team’s work, makes the chest defibrillation scene one of the most iconic moments from The Thing.

Scene Screams is a recurring column that spotlights the scenes in horror that make us scream, whether through fear, laughter, or tears. It examines the most memorable, and often scariest, scenes in horror and what it is about them that makes them get under our skin. 

The post ‘The Thing’ at 40: Why the Chest Defibrillation Scene Remains Scarily Effective [Scene Screams] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

But first let’s back up a bit. Even if the presentation wasn’t great, how did The Thing perform in theaters this past Sunday night? Well, the 1982 horror classic ended up cracking into the box office charts for the entire weekend in the #9 spot, Indiewire reports, scaring up right around $500,000. That’s from the film playing in just 730 locations across the United States on a single night, with only one showing at each of those theaters. That’s pretty damn impressive!

While it may be considered a beloved horror classic today, Carpenter’s The Thing wasn’t quite a hit back in 1982. Negative reviews at the time led to The Thing making $19.6 million during its original theatrical run in North America, with the production budget reported to be $15 million. It was considered a flop back then, subsequently hurting Carpenter’s career.

Here we are 40 years later, and The Thing is still putting asses in the seats. Time has been kind to the film, rightfully considered one of the very best horror movies of the 1980s.

If you missed it this past Sunday night, you can see Carpenter’s The Thing back on the big screen nationwide tonight, June 22nd. Get your tickets now through Fathom Events.

Featuring jaw-dropping practical effects from Rob Bottin, The Thing starred Kurt Russell, Keith David, and Wilford Brimley, unleashing a monstrous nightmare at Outpost 31.

In the film based on John W. Campbell Jr’s short story, a research team in Antarctica is hunted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of its victims.

“Set in the winter of 1982 at a research station in Antarctica, a twelve-man research team finds an alien being that has fallen from the sky and has remained buried in the snow for over 100,000 years. Soon it is unfrozen and unleashed, creating havoc and terror as it changes forms and becomes one of them.”

This special event will also feature the Terror Takes Shape documentary!

The post John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’ Reportedly Made Half a Million Dollars in Theaters This Past Sunday appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Even though the merchandising for John Carpenter’s practical effects showcase may not have been as robust as it deserved over the last four decades, there are still a lot of amazing collectibles to be found, particularly in recent years, including books, toys, art, and more.

Here are ten of the coolest The Thing collectibles released over the years.

The Thing Novelization by Alan Dean Foster

Alan Dean Foster’s novel tie-in was released ahead of The Thing‘s initial release in theaters and was based on an earlier draft of the script. That means that you can expect some narrative differences from the finished film. Well, if you can even find it, that is. When it surfaces, the long out of print novel goes for a ton of money on marketplaces like eBay and Amazon.

The Thing from Another World Comic Books

Dark Horse Comics picked up where Carpenter left off in the 1982 film with the comic sequel The Thing from Another World. The two-issue comic was written by Chuck Pfarrer, with artwork by John Higgins, and published in 1991. It continues MacReady’s bid to stop the alien after getting rescued by another research facility. The Thing from Another World continued a few different stories past its 1991 run, including a Viking-set tie-in to the 2011 prequel film with The Thing from Another World: The Northman Nightmare.

Blair Monster Toy from McFarlane Toys

McFarlane Toys’ mega-popular Movie Maniac line launched in 1998 with the first series in an ongoing collection that delivered detailed figures of horror movie characters. Its third series, in 2000, brought two creatures from The Thing: the Norris Spider-Head and the Blair Monster. The latter’s design is especially cool and not as common as its spider-like counterpart.

Spiderhead Collectible from SOTA Toys

In 2006, a handful of years after McFarlane Toys took on Norris’ iconic spider moment, SOTA Toys released a niftier version in the form of a limited-edition mini bust. The package and resin figure came with a black base for display. The statue made for a perfect desk companion.

Bottin Monster Figure from Chronicle Collectibles

Another limited-edition figure, this time a Loot Crate exclusive by Chronicle Collectibles. The company drew inspiration from a sculpture from Danny Wagner and paid tribute to SFX master Rob Bottin on the packaging, referring to the figure as “Bottin’s Monster.”

The Thing Screenprint by Tyler Stout

Carpenter’s masterwork may have inspired countless pieces of stunning artwork over the decades, but this 24″ x 36″ screenprint by artist Tyler Stout, commissioned by Alamo Drafthouse for a repertory screening, ranks high among them. It’s not just the design and layout, assembling all of the ill-fated characters of Outpost 31 and its alien infiltrators, but the detail. A closer inspection of the print reveals that all the infected characters have red eyes, and the red glows in the dark as an added touch.

The Thing: Artbook

Printed In Blood’s 400-page hardcover artbook celebrated The Thing‘s 35th anniversary. The hefty artbook features over 375 pieces of art created specifically for this collection, assembling artists across the globe from comics, fine art, animation, and illustration. It also features an introduction by Eli Roth and an afterword by The Thing director John Carpenter.

The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31 Board Game

Designed by The OP Games, Infection at Output 31 captures the film’s paranoia in board game form. A group of 4-8 players set about clearing the Outpost of alien enemies and collecting gear to make their escape, while “Imitation” players covertly work to sabotage the group and work against them without being detected. The hidden identity board game breeds paranoia among players, perfectly complementing Carpenter’s movie.

The Thing OST Vinyl Deluxe Reissue

The original motion picture soundtrack did see a vinyl release in 1982, making for another out-of-print rarity. Luckily, Waxwork Records presented and released a deluxe reissue of Ennio Morricone’s masterclass score in 2020, featuring new artwork, excellent packaging, and exclusive vinyl variants.

NECA’s 40th Anniversary Poster Figure

NECA is celebrating The Thing’s 40th anniversary by paying tribute to the iconic poster. The upcoming limited release recreates the original and iconic poster art for the theatrical run. This special deco figure stands approximately 7 inches tall and features an LED light in the head and interchangeable and removable faceplates to create the poster’s signature burst of light.

The post ‘The Thing’ at 40: 10 of the Coolest Collectibles You Need to Own appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Brought to our attention by filmmaker and horror champion Mick Garris, Sunday night’s screenings from Fathom Events were a disaster, the film – for starters – presented in the wrong aspect ratio. Garris tweeted, “I just got back from seeing John Carpenter’s masterpiece at the Fathom Events 40th anniversary screening at the Universal Citywalk AMC… and I will never EVER see a Fathom Event again, and I recommend that you avoid them like the plague.”

“FIRST of all, the film was shot in the 2.35:1 widescreen aspect ratio, but was shown in 1.85:1, literally cutting out a third of the film,” Garris continued in his multi-tweet thread. “The picture was soft-focus, low-resolution, and the digital image was out of registration, so all objects were rimmed in red on one side, and blue on the other. Also, all movement all the way through the movie stuttered, like trying to watch Netflix with a really bad wifi signal.

“Fathom Events and the theaters that run them should be ashamed of themselves, and the outrageously low-quality programs they run. This could have been an amazing time revisiting one of the classics on the big screen and share it with an enthusiastic audience. The power of Carpenter’s genius movie carried us through, but I remain disgusted by this ripoff.”

So what went wrong here? To make a long story short, Fathom was not provided with a Digital Cinema Package for their theatrical showings of The Thing this past Sunday, the film instead being shown up on the big screen in 1080i. This has been a long running problem with Fathom Events screenings, as you never know ahead of time what quality you’re getting.

Twitter user @Kolpitz, who runs a movie theater, explains in a thread of his own, “In order to deliver that content they basically use two different types of technology, with wildly different results: a Dish Network DVR or a DCP (digital cinema package). The DVR is just what you think it is. Content is beamed in to a Dish Network box, where it’s recorded to a DVR and later broadcast onto a 25′ screen in 1080i. A DCP is a standard format for delivering digital movies to the big screen and is how all non-film theaters play movies these days. It is either delivered as 2K or 4K, but with significantly higher bitrates and file sizes than a standard or 4K Blu-ray.”

The good news? Thanks to the tweets from Garris and others, Fathom Events is actually making things right, announcing that Wednesday night’s showings will be presented in the proper aspect ratio. @Kolptiz explains, “Fathom / Universal have heard your complaints! They are sending a DCP of The Thing for Wednesday night’s show. It should be in the proper aspect ratio now, and will probably be 4K to boot.”

In their own statement, Fathom Events promises, “We are aware that the recent showing of The Thing wasn’t shown in its original aspect ratio & the disappointment it caused. Wednesday’s event will be shown in the proper aspect ratio.”

You can get your tickets for the Wednesday night (June 22) showings now.

If you’d like to learn more about what went wrong and how Fathom Events is making it right, browse the three aforementioned Twitter threads below, which are incredibly informative.

I just got back from seeing John Carpenter’s masterpiece at the Fathom Events 40th anniversary screening at the Universal Citywalk AMC… and I will never EVER see a Fathom Event again, and I recommend that you avoid them like the plague. pic.twitter.com/FQbkp1OjV9

— Mick Garris & The Post Mortem Podcast (@MickGarrisPM) June 20, 2022

I’ve managed a movie theater for over 18 years. I guess it’s my career now. And, during that entire time, I’ve been dealing with Fathom Events in one form or another.

— ^^¡¢|-|@€£ ¢0|_¶¡++$ (@Kolpitz) June 20, 2022

Fathom / Universal have heard your complaints! They are sending a DCP of The Thing for Wednesday night’s show. It should be in the proper aspect ratio now, and will probably be 4K to boot.

— ^^¡¢|-|@€£ ¢0|_¶¡++$ (@Kolpitz) June 21, 2022

The post ‘The Thing’ Theatrical Release from Fathom Events Was a Disaster But They’re Making It Right for Wednesday Night appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.