by Chad Kennerk
Images courtesy of Justin Hardy
When six sacks of contents arrived courtesy of a mystery benefactor, filmmakers Justin and Dominic Hardy, sons of The Wicker Man director Robin Hardy, discovered an archive of lost papers, documents and personal effects relating to the making of their father’s seminal 1973 horror cult classic – a film that quite literally tore their family apart. Robin Hardy’s obsession with his directorial debut led to significant personal and financial sacrifices, leaving a mark on his family. Understandably, the brothers developed a complex relationship with their father’s work and the legacy of The Wicker Man.
The lore is legendary – from the beleaguered production, to its disavowal and harsh editing at the hands of distributor British Lion. An initial financial failure, the film remarkably saw a revival, often attributed to a 1977 commemorative issue of Cinefantastique, which called it "the Citizen Kane of horror movies.
Images courtesy of Justin Hardy
When six sacks of contents arrived courtesy of a mystery benefactor, filmmakers Justin and Dominic Hardy, sons of The Wicker Man director Robin Hardy, discovered an archive of lost papers, documents and personal effects relating to the making of their father’s seminal 1973 horror cult classic – a film that quite literally tore their family apart. Robin Hardy’s obsession with his directorial debut led to significant personal and financial sacrifices, leaving a mark on his family. Understandably, the brothers developed a complex relationship with their father’s work and the legacy of The Wicker Man.
The lore is legendary – from the beleaguered production, to its disavowal and harsh editing at the hands of distributor British Lion. An initial financial failure, the film remarkably saw a revival, often attributed to a 1977 commemorative issue of Cinefantastique, which called it "the Citizen Kane of horror movies.
- 10/30/2024
- by Chad Kennerk
- Film Review Daily
Harvest (2024) Movie Review: A Haunting Tale of Nature and Humanity at the 68th London Film Festival
The folk-horror genre has been a perennial mainstay on screens for decades, with recent installments from films like Midsommar, Enys Men, and more recently Starve Acre revitalizing the genre. Harvest, which marks the English-language debut of Greek director Athina Rachel Tsangari, continues this tradition but deploys it in more novel ways. The film utilizes its quasi-folk-horror sensibility to paint an elegiac portrait of a pre-industrial village in the Scottish Highlands.
The film, adapted from Jim Crace’s novel of the same name, follows a small community nearing the end of the harvest season, run under their master Charles Kent (Harry Melling), who inherited the estate their village is on from his late wife, and his right-hand man Walter Thirsk (Caleb Landry Jones). The village displays all the traditional trappings of folk-horror communities found in films like The Wicker Man. They consciously live outside the gaze of God, engage in bizarre practices,...
The film, adapted from Jim Crace’s novel of the same name, follows a small community nearing the end of the harvest season, run under their master Charles Kent (Harry Melling), who inherited the estate their village is on from his late wife, and his right-hand man Walter Thirsk (Caleb Landry Jones). The village displays all the traditional trappings of folk-horror communities found in films like The Wicker Man. They consciously live outside the gaze of God, engage in bizarre practices,...
- 10/13/2024
- by Jamie Carlstrand
- High on Films
Acting is one of the highest-paying jobs in the film industry and when one is a star, they can command salaries in the millions. Many actors have increased their net worth to hundreds of millions due to their increased salaries. However, some have also fumbled and reduced their worth by spending lavishly.
From A-listers to reality TV stars, many have been vocal about their poor financial decisions, to the point where some have even declared bankruptcy. While some actors attributed it to spending more than their income, some just made poor spending decisions that ended up biting them back. Here are 10 Hollywood actors who went broke for dumb reasons.
1. Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage is one of the most divisive Hollywood actors. While he absolutely kills it in films like the Oscar-winning Leaving Las Vegas, Adaptation, and more, he has made some questionable acting choices in The Wicker Man. Similarly, the...
From A-listers to reality TV stars, many have been vocal about their poor financial decisions, to the point where some have even declared bankruptcy. While some actors attributed it to spending more than their income, some just made poor spending decisions that ended up biting them back. Here are 10 Hollywood actors who went broke for dumb reasons.
1. Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage is one of the most divisive Hollywood actors. While he absolutely kills it in films like the Oscar-winning Leaving Las Vegas, Adaptation, and more, he has made some questionable acting choices in The Wicker Man. Similarly, the...
- 10/7/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
As Grimmfest celebrates the haunting legacy of The Wicker Man 50 years on, Children of the Wicker Man makes a powerful impression, blending filmmaking history, personal discovery, and the complex relationship between father and sons. Directed by Justin Hardy and produced by Chris Nunn, this documentary goes beyond simple admiration for the cult classic, exploring the life and work of the original film’s creator, Robin Hardy, through the eyes of his children. The film is a poignant and deeply human journey that shows the impact of The Wicker Man not only on the horror landscape but also on those closest to its creator.
Will Knowles had the opportunity during the festival to speak with director Justin Hardy and producer Chris Nunn about the making of Children of the Wicker Man, its personal resonance, and what it’s like diving into such a monumental legacy while still creating something entirely their own.
Will Knowles had the opportunity during the festival to speak with director Justin Hardy and producer Chris Nunn about the making of Children of the Wicker Man, its personal resonance, and what it’s like diving into such a monumental legacy while still creating something entirely their own.
- 10/6/2024
- by William Knowles
- Love Horror
This week on The Anime Effect: The Dragon Ball Daima English dub is coming to theaters, plus Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Season 2 and Wistoria: Wand and Sword Season 2 announced! Episode 34 of The Anime Effect is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! If you're waiting to watch the video episode, it'll be live on Crunchyroll and YouTube at 7 p.m. Et. Listen or Watch on: Episode 34 Summary In this week's episode, LeAlec, Leah and Nick discuss the plethora of anime coming to Crunchyroll this fall like Dan Da Dan, After-school Hanako-kun and many more. Plus, all of the latest news in anime including a second drop of Jimmy Choo's collab with Sailor Moon , Studio Trigger honoring Transformers and more. Topics Discussed in Episode 34 Pumpkin spice H-e-b Spy x Family Code: White Dragon Ball Daima NieR Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End The Lord of the Rings...
- 10/4/2024
- by Carla Solórzano
- Crunchyroll
John Carpenter’s Halloween has influenced everything from other slasher flicks to even music videos. With her new visual “Undone,” indie-pop artist Young Summer rips images from the iconic 1978 film for a tension-splitting story that guarantees to creep under the skin.
Young Summer (real name Bobbie Allen) stars in the video as a woman unaware of her surroundings. While out walking her adorable pooch Scrappy, a stalker (Miloš Šarenac) wearing all black lurks from the corners of each frame.
Everything about the brand new “Undone” music video, on which she worked with frequent collaborator and cinematographer Seth Dunlap, feels very 1970s. From long lens shots to a vibrant but muted color grading, Allen (director/editor) masterfully laces suspense by using various classic film techniques and equipment – namely the telephoto Canon Fd 50-300mm T/4.9 zoom Lens.
“I knew using that long zoom for the spy shots would make the stalking...
Young Summer (real name Bobbie Allen) stars in the video as a woman unaware of her surroundings. While out walking her adorable pooch Scrappy, a stalker (Miloš Šarenac) wearing all black lurks from the corners of each frame.
Everything about the brand new “Undone” music video, on which she worked with frequent collaborator and cinematographer Seth Dunlap, feels very 1970s. From long lens shots to a vibrant but muted color grading, Allen (director/editor) masterfully laces suspense by using various classic film techniques and equipment – namely the telephoto Canon Fd 50-300mm T/4.9 zoom Lens.
“I knew using that long zoom for the spy shots would make the stalking...
- 9/30/2024
- by Bee Delores
- bloody-disgusting.com
There’s nothing quite like a good scare, and the best horror movies deliver thrills, chills and spills in equal measure. It can be daunting trying to figure out the right horror movie to watch on your favorite streaming service, but that’s where we come in. We’ve curated a list of some of the best and scariest horror movies on Netflix right now. Films that will rattle you to your bone, give you goosebumps and some that merely excel at giving off extreme spooky vibes. Whatever your pick, you won’t be disappointed. Especially as Spooky Season is off and running.
Here are the best horror movies on Netflix right now.
“Apostle” Netflix
An underrated original horror selection on Netflix, “Apostle” sends Dan Stevens to a remote island where he sets out to rescue his sister from a religious cult and discovers, of course, horrors beyond imagination. It...
Here are the best horror movies on Netflix right now.
“Apostle” Netflix
An underrated original horror selection on Netflix, “Apostle” sends Dan Stevens to a remote island where he sets out to rescue his sister from a religious cult and discovers, of course, horrors beyond imagination. It...
- 9/27/2024
- by Haleigh Foutch, Drew Taylor, Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
The prevailing wisdom on Tim Burton is that the filmmaker lost his touch somewhere between 1996's "Mars Attacks!" and 2003's "Big Fish." Especially in the post "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" years, when he really embraced CGI, the general consensus is that Burton became somewhat of a parody of himself. But with "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" it seems the filmmaker has gotten his mojo back, reviving his love of practical effects and the subversive element of his earlier films to deliver a movie that proves the now 66-year-old has still got it.
For me, Burton will forever be one of, if not my favorite filmmaker, simply because his earlier movies set my young imagination alight in a way no other film, TV Show, or any media has. Specifically, his 1992 "Batman" sequel "Batman Returns" remains my most transporting movie experience. The world created by Burton and production designer Bo Welch felt so immersive...
For me, Burton will forever be one of, if not my favorite filmmaker, simply because his earlier movies set my young imagination alight in a way no other film, TV Show, or any media has. Specifically, his 1992 "Batman" sequel "Batman Returns" remains my most transporting movie experience. The world created by Burton and production designer Bo Welch felt so immersive...
- 9/27/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Find Ari Aster‘s 2019 cult horror film “Midsommar” a little too self-serious? Well, director Steffen Haars has a remedy for you: “Get Away,” a slasher comedy about a family who goes on vacation to a remote Swedish isle with a sinister secret and somehow retain their British pluck as murders pile up around them.
Read More: Fantastic Fest 2024 Lineup Includes ‘Never Let Go,’ ‘The Wild Robot,’ ‘Teacup,’ ‘Ebony And Ivory’
It begs the question: why didn’t anyone think of this idea sooner? A comedic riff on “The Wicker Man” and its ilk sounds a charming sit for horror fans, even if “Get Away” remains a minor lark of a film. And with Nick Frost as the family’s Dad, there’s sure to be plenty of laughs in this one, too.
Continue reading ‘Get Away’ Trailer: Nick Frost Stars In Slasher Comedy Riff On ‘Midsommar’ This December at The Playlist.
Read More: Fantastic Fest 2024 Lineup Includes ‘Never Let Go,’ ‘The Wild Robot,’ ‘Teacup,’ ‘Ebony And Ivory’
It begs the question: why didn’t anyone think of this idea sooner? A comedic riff on “The Wicker Man” and its ilk sounds a charming sit for horror fans, even if “Get Away” remains a minor lark of a film. And with Nick Frost as the family’s Dad, there’s sure to be plenty of laughs in this one, too.
Continue reading ‘Get Away’ Trailer: Nick Frost Stars In Slasher Comedy Riff On ‘Midsommar’ This December at The Playlist.
- 9/27/2024
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
Nick Frost (Shaun of the Dead) is best known for his collaborations with friend and co-star Simon Pegg, but recently, he’s been trying to make a name for himself as a solo act. The horror-comedy Get Away proves that Frost has the juice it takes to carry a film, even if the script (which he also wrote) is a bit underdeveloped.
Get Away Review
Get Away follows a family whose idyllic vacation to the Swedish island of Svalta becomes a nightmare when they are met with hostility from the local residents and a psychopathic killer on the loose. Frost’s script certainly deserves points for being unpredictable and not following the beaten path, but his ambitious swings don’t always pay off in a rewarding way.
The first hour of Get Away feels like a comedic riff of the folk horror genre, with classics and cult classics like The Wicker Man...
Get Away Review
Get Away follows a family whose idyllic vacation to the Swedish island of Svalta becomes a nightmare when they are met with hostility from the local residents and a psychopathic killer on the loose. Frost’s script certainly deserves points for being unpredictable and not following the beaten path, but his ambitious swings don’t always pay off in a rewarding way.
The first hour of Get Away feels like a comedic riff of the folk horror genre, with classics and cult classics like The Wicker Man...
- 9/26/2024
- by Sean Boelman
- FandomWire
Nick Frost is no stranger to horror comedies, having starred in such modern classics as Shaun of the Dead and Attack the Block. This year, the actor has already starred in Krazy House (review), and now he is reuniting with that film’s director Steffen Haars in Get Away, a frequently amusing folk horror comedy that relishes in bloodshed almost as much as it does cringe comedy.
The Smith Family, comprised of patriarch Richard (Nick Frost), matriarch Susan (Aisling Bea), sister Jessie (Maisie Ayres) and brother Sam (Heartstopper‘s Sebastian Croft), is spending their holiday on Svälta, a fictional Swedish island with a dark past tied to Susan’s ancestor. Despite warnings not to from quite literally everyone they cross paths with along the way, the Smiths arrive on the island and are greeted with immediate hostility from the mainlanders, especially from the skeptical town elder (Anitta Suikkari), who is...
The Smith Family, comprised of patriarch Richard (Nick Frost), matriarch Susan (Aisling Bea), sister Jessie (Maisie Ayres) and brother Sam (Heartstopper‘s Sebastian Croft), is spending their holiday on Svälta, a fictional Swedish island with a dark past tied to Susan’s ancestor. Despite warnings not to from quite literally everyone they cross paths with along the way, the Smiths arrive on the island and are greeted with immediate hostility from the mainlanders, especially from the skeptical town elder (Anitta Suikkari), who is...
- 9/23/2024
- by Trace Thurman
- bloody-disgusting.com
During this past summer's San Diego Comic-Con, we were excited by the Panick Entertainment announcement, which saw the formation of a new horror & sci-fi brand. With an exciting and talented group of creators behind the new company, they just recently announced a trio of new comic book series and a Zoop campaign. Along with all of the details on the upcoming series and Zoop rewards, we have exclusive preview pages from Black Diamond, from Brendan Columbus and Danilo Beyruth!
Press Release: "Panick Entertainment LLC, the new premier brand in horror and science fiction, announces an exciting new comics fundraiser on the Zoop platform, spotlighting three highly anticipated series: T.A.M.A., Savager, and Black Diamond. This trio of genre-defining titles showcases bold, original stories from veteran and emerging creators that horror and sci-fi fans won’t want to miss. The fundraiser includes exclusive rewards for readers, collectors and retailers, providing a unique...
Press Release: "Panick Entertainment LLC, the new premier brand in horror and science fiction, announces an exciting new comics fundraiser on the Zoop platform, spotlighting three highly anticipated series: T.A.M.A., Savager, and Black Diamond. This trio of genre-defining titles showcases bold, original stories from veteran and emerging creators that horror and sci-fi fans won’t want to miss. The fundraiser includes exclusive rewards for readers, collectors and retailers, providing a unique...
- 9/16/2024
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Director Daniel Kokotajlo follows up his 2017 debut Apostasy with a radical shift that no-one could have predicted. Adapted from the Andrew Michael Hurley titular novel, Starve Acre trades the religious fervour of Apostasy for the folkloric kind, though the stark intimacy of Kokotajlo’s restrained filmmaking remains, with mostly solid results.
The film is disorienting from the outset, rupturing an idyllic day out for archeologist Richard (Matt Smith) and his wife Juliette (Morfydd Clark). The couple are picture perfect: lounging against a tree, his head on her lap, until their son Owen (Arthur Shaw) is caught red-handed after gouging the eye from a pony. The family’s move to Richard’s family home in rural Yorkshire proves not to be the salve for Owen’s ailing health that they hoped it to be — in fact, Owen claims to hear the voice of the same spirit that has been haunting Richard since childhood.
The film is disorienting from the outset, rupturing an idyllic day out for archeologist Richard (Matt Smith) and his wife Juliette (Morfydd Clark). The couple are picture perfect: lounging against a tree, his head on her lap, until their son Owen (Arthur Shaw) is caught red-handed after gouging the eye from a pony. The family’s move to Richard’s family home in rural Yorkshire proves not to be the salve for Owen’s ailing health that they hoped it to be — in fact, Owen claims to hear the voice of the same spirit that has been haunting Richard since childhood.
- 9/4/2024
- by Iana Murray
- Empire - Movies
As the sweltering heat of summer begins to fade and the days grow shorter, there’s an unmistakable shift in the atmosphere. The air becomes cooler, the sun sets earlier, and a creeping sense of autumn unease starts to settle in. This is the perfect time to dive into some end of summer horror movies that capture the eerie transition from the bright, carefree days of summer to the darker, more foreboding nights of early fall. These films tap into that strange in-between time when the warmth of the season lingers, but there’s a chilling edge just around the corner.
Whether you’re a fan of the rural horrors lurking in cornfields or the unsettling rituals of isolated communities, these late summer horror movies offer a mix of unsettling dread and atmospheric tension, dripping with the last drops of summer humidity. Each film on this list is perfect for...
Whether you’re a fan of the rural horrors lurking in cornfields or the unsettling rituals of isolated communities, these late summer horror movies offer a mix of unsettling dread and atmospheric tension, dripping with the last drops of summer humidity. Each film on this list is perfect for...
- 9/2/2024
- by Kimberley Elizabeth
Historically, few horror films have ever excited as much interest as The Wicker Man, which has been the subject of a substantial amount of analysis in the form of essays, books and documentaries. This documentary, however, does something quite different. Made by Justin Hardy and Dominic Hardy, who describe themselves as two of the various spawn of director Robin Hardy, whom he scattered around the world, it explores the personal consequences of the groundbreaking film and, in so doing, provides a new angle on ongoing debates about the way we deal with great art created by messy human beings.
“Why did I want to make The Wicker Man? Why did Ahab want to catch his white whale?” wrote Hardy senior in a letter to Caroline, Justin’s mother, many years after he had abandoned her. Ahab, however, did not draw on his wife’s finances to support his ambition, and his.
“Why did I want to make The Wicker Man? Why did Ahab want to catch his white whale?” wrote Hardy senior in a letter to Caroline, Justin’s mother, many years after he had abandoned her. Ahab, however, did not draw on his wife’s finances to support his ambition, and his.
- 8/22/2024
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Fantastic Fest is bigger and better this year, which is its 19th. For 2024, Fantastic Fest is presenting 28 world premieres, 15 U.S. premieres and 23 international and North American premieres, plus some great events and plenty of special guests.
Ff will take place at the iconic Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, Texas from September 19 through September 26.
The fun begins on opening night with the premiere of The Rule of Jenny Pen, starring Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow. Rush plays a judge who ends up in a nursing home. One of the other residents (Lithogow) is a strange man who takes great pleasure in terrorizing the others who live there.
Anthony B. Jenkins as Samuel, Halle Berry as Momma and Percy Daggs IV as Nolan in Never Let Go. Photo Credit: Liane Hentscher
Also premiering is Alexandre Aja’s new film Never Let Go. Aja will be joined by the film’s...
Ff will take place at the iconic Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, Texas from September 19 through September 26.
The fun begins on opening night with the premiere of The Rule of Jenny Pen, starring Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow. Rush plays a judge who ends up in a nursing home. One of the other residents (Lithogow) is a strange man who takes great pleasure in terrorizing the others who live there.
Anthony B. Jenkins as Samuel, Halle Berry as Momma and Percy Daggs IV as Nolan in Never Let Go. Photo Credit: Liane Hentscher
Also premiering is Alexandre Aja’s new film Never Let Go. Aja will be joined by the film’s...
- 8/16/2024
- by Carla Davis
- 1428 Elm
When Stuart Gordon’s Re-Animator was released back in 1986, the director and production team surely never, in their wildest dreams, imagined that their cult classic horror flick would become a trilogy. Yet, here we are. If you caught our last video on sequel Bride of Re-Animator, you’ll know by now that, although I dug the VFX and carnage in all of its practically made splendor, the movie had little else going for it. Plus, Bride didn’t have a proper theatrical run to show that continuing the series would be profitable from purely a box-office perspective. However, what makes horror the very best genre known to the movie-making universe, which of course it is my fellow gore-hounds, right? Is that despite certain movies being ridiculed or unappreciated by unimaginative critics, they become cult classics regardless. Which is a wonderful thing. Just consider daft horror flicks like Night of the Lepus,...
- 8/12/2024
- by Adam Walton
- JoBlo.com
Things that go bump in the night, fears of the dark, nights of things like The Demon, The Living Dead, The Hunter and… err… The Lepus (big rabbits), are mainstays in horror. Something half glimpsed in the gloom when everything is quiet and people are sleeping is innately creepy. So it can sometimes be extra special when a horror movie manages to scare the bejesus out of us despite being set in the cold light of day. Or indeed, as is the case with many of the following movies because they are set in broad daylight.
So let the sun warm your skin while our favorite daytime horrors chill your heart!
Midsommar
This is an obvious first pick because part of the gimmick (and we mean that with affection) of the movie is that it’s set in Sweden during a commune’s Midsummer festival where the nights are very...
So let the sun warm your skin while our favorite daytime horrors chill your heart!
Midsommar
This is an obvious first pick because part of the gimmick (and we mean that with affection) of the movie is that it’s set in Sweden during a commune’s Midsummer festival where the nights are very...
- 8/3/2024
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
Writer/Director Daniel Kokotajlo adheres to classic folk horror convention with Starve Acre, based on the book by Andrew Michael Hurly. It’s not just the 1970s rural setting or spiritual locals that call to mind foundational films like The Wicker Man but the methodical unfurling of its folklore and escalating horror. It makes for a stunning throwback feature grounded by two compelling leads but one too narratively and thematically sparse to make much of an impact.
Starve Acre introduces Richard, an archeologist who’s recently moved his wife Juliette and son Owen (Arthur Shaw) to his childhood home in the bucolic British countryside for work. Juliette, unaware that Richard’s memories of the home aren’t happy ones, feels that the move will be good for young Owen. Never mind that Richard spends most of his waking hours obsessing over his late father’s artifacts and collections, all related...
Starve Acre introduces Richard, an archeologist who’s recently moved his wife Juliette and son Owen (Arthur Shaw) to his childhood home in the bucolic British countryside for work. Juliette, unaware that Richard’s memories of the home aren’t happy ones, feels that the move will be good for young Owen. Never mind that Richard spends most of his waking hours obsessing over his late father’s artifacts and collections, all related...
- 7/23/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
A decade ago, actors Aden Young and Clayne Crawford were pivotal parts of the much-underrated Sundance channel drama series Rectify. The show had a niche fanbase, and I was a part of it. Naturally, when I got the new assignment of writing about the Canadian film The King Tide, a new film starring both Young and Crawford, I was overjoyed. And the film just happens to carry the same moody DNA as that show, which is more than I could have ever asked for. It’s contextually and thematically much different, though. Part Midnight Mass (2021), part The Village (2005), this is an exhibition of “what if Mike Flanagan and M. Night Shyamalan had a love child” There’s an undeniable The Wicker Man (1973) influence as well, if you think about it. Yet, The King Tide, directed by Christian Sparkles, can very much stand on its own as a quasi-horror-drama that is...
- 7/22/2024
- by Rohitavra Majumdar
- Film Fugitives
The summer horror movie subgenre spoils us all with an embarrassment of riches, but this also means that whenever people come up with a list of recommendations, the same players make an appearance again and again. At this point, you shouldn't need an online list to tell you that "Jaws" is the ultimate July 4th viewing experience. And considering that "Midsommar," "Summer of '84," and "I Know What You Did Last Summer" have the season in the title of the movie, these are also no-brainer suggestions for summer horror movies. Summer is also the season for summer camp movies, so "Sleepaway Camp," the entire "Friday the 13th" franchise, parodies like "The Final Girls," homages like "Fear Street: 1978," and the entire roster of Cabin in the Woods horror movies are all easy picks.
Then there are the countless folk horror films in the vein of "The Wicker Man" that all scream "summer,...
Then there are the countless folk horror films in the vein of "The Wicker Man" that all scream "summer,...
- 7/21/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Does anyone remember the Satanic panic? It was a bizarre mix of urban legend, conspiracy theory, media frenzy, and religious fanaticism that occurred primarily in the early 1980s. The phenomenon was marked by thousands of alleged incidents of ritualized abuse, often involving children, and desecrations reportedly perpetrated across the nation by scores of so-called Satanic cults in towns and cities everywhere. While many of the reports were later found to be baseless—and the initial investigative techniques used to supposedly substantiate them discredited—the aftermath of the panic remains with us today in the shape of things such as QAnon and PizzaGate.
The roots of the Satanic panic were found in the late 1960s and ‘70s, thanks to books like The Satan Seller, social changes like the rise of the counterculture in the national zeitgeist, infamous events like the Manson Family murders, the introduction of new religions into American society,...
The roots of the Satanic panic were found in the late 1960s and ‘70s, thanks to books like The Satan Seller, social changes like the rise of the counterculture in the national zeitgeist, infamous events like the Manson Family murders, the introduction of new religions into American society,...
- 7/20/2024
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
Filmmaking duo Joe Williams and Charlie Edwards-Moss’ latest short film O, Glory! is a thrilling folk horror that pays homage to the iconic films of the 70s that founded the horror sub-genre whilst also ushering in the co-directors’ modern sensibility to the formula. The story follows a psychiatric doctor who visits an isolated house when he learns of a potential patient by the name of Deborah, whose brother believes she is beginning to lose her mind. What then unfolds is a story of hysteria, hallucinatory paranoia and twists that keep you on your toes through a palpably tense atmosphere and genuine moments of terror. Dn invited Williams and Edwards-Moss to join us for a chat about their filmmaking trajectory as creative partners, the era of filmmaking they drew influence from, and the artistic decision to capture everything on the scratchy, tactility of the 35mm film.
O, Glory! feels like a meeting of past and present,...
O, Glory! feels like a meeting of past and present,...
- 7/16/2024
- by James Maitre
- Directors Notes
The 25th edition of Pigeon Shrine FrightFest is set to deliver an exhilarating blend of horror and fantasy films, with the festival moving to a new venue, the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square. Running from Thursday, 22 August to Monday, 26 August, the event will take over all seven screens at the venue, promising an unforgettable experience for horror enthusiasts.
As we can barely contain the excitement, we’re sharing the films on offer in each screen so you can quickly decide which films to add to your ‘must watch’ list.
Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024 – Discovery Screen 1 Thursday, 22 August 2024
8:15 Pm – Cinderella’s Curse (World Premiere) Directed by Louisa Warren and starring Kelly Ryan Sanson, Chrissie Wunna, Lauren Budd, and Natasha Tosini, this spine-chilling reimagining of the classic fairytale sees Cinderella summon her fairy godmother from an ancient book to exact bloody revenge on her tormentors.
10:35 Pm – Carnage for Christmas (International Premiere) Directed by Alice Maio Mackay,...
As we can barely contain the excitement, we’re sharing the films on offer in each screen so you can quickly decide which films to add to your ‘must watch’ list.
Pigeon Shrine FrightFest 2024 – Discovery Screen 1 Thursday, 22 August 2024
8:15 Pm – Cinderella’s Curse (World Premiere) Directed by Louisa Warren and starring Kelly Ryan Sanson, Chrissie Wunna, Lauren Budd, and Natasha Tosini, this spine-chilling reimagining of the classic fairytale sees Cinderella summon her fairy godmother from an ancient book to exact bloody revenge on her tormentors.
10:35 Pm – Carnage for Christmas (International Premiere) Directed by Alice Maio Mackay,...
- 7/11/2024
- by Emily Bennett
- Love Horror
There's a long and rich history of nerve-fraying folk horror in British cinema. From Witchfinder General to The Wicker Man, and A Field In England to small-screen offerings like recent Doctor Who chiller '73 Yards', these isles have proven perpetually fertile ground for tales of eldritch terror. And into that canon is about to come writer-director Daniel Kokotajlo's (Apostasy) Starve Acre. An adaptation of Andrew Michael Hurly's same-named novel, the film sees Matt Smith and Morfydd Clark star as a couple whose rural family bliss is disrupted when their son begins acting very strangely. Check out the atmospheric trailer for the movie below:
With its folk legends of 'Dandelion Jack', candlelit séances, creepy kids, reanimated rabbits, and grim-faced stars, the rain-lashed and mud-strewn Starve Acre looks like it'll be right at home amongst its rural horror peers. Here's the official synopsis, offering some tantalising clues as to what's going...
With its folk legends of 'Dandelion Jack', candlelit séances, creepy kids, reanimated rabbits, and grim-faced stars, the rain-lashed and mud-strewn Starve Acre looks like it'll be right at home amongst its rural horror peers. Here's the official synopsis, offering some tantalising clues as to what's going...
- 6/6/2024
- by Jordan King
- Empire - Movies
A couple unwittingly allows dark and sinister forces into their home when their son begins behaving strangely in Starve Acre. The new trailer and poster unveiled today teases cryptic folk horror ahead.
Brainstorm Media releases Starve Acre in theaters and On Demand on July 26, 2024.
Starring Matt Smith (His House) and Morfydd Clark (Saint Maud) in the lead roles, Starve Acre is written and directed by Daniel Kokotajlo based on the book by Andrew Michael Hurly.
About Starve Acre, set in “1970s, rural England. Richard and Juliette’s seemingly idyllic family life is thrown into turmoil when their son starts acting out of character. At Starve Acre, their remote family home, archaeologist Richard buries himself in exploring a folkloric myth that the ancient oak tree on their land is imbued with phenomenal powers. While Juliette turns to the local community to find some kind of peace, Richard obsessively digs deeper. An...
Brainstorm Media releases Starve Acre in theaters and On Demand on July 26, 2024.
Starring Matt Smith (His House) and Morfydd Clark (Saint Maud) in the lead roles, Starve Acre is written and directed by Daniel Kokotajlo based on the book by Andrew Michael Hurly.
About Starve Acre, set in “1970s, rural England. Richard and Juliette’s seemingly idyllic family life is thrown into turmoil when their son starts acting out of character. At Starve Acre, their remote family home, archaeologist Richard buries himself in exploring a folkloric myth that the ancient oak tree on their land is imbued with phenomenal powers. While Juliette turns to the local community to find some kind of peace, Richard obsessively digs deeper. An...
- 6/5/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
"This is a horrible, damned house." Whoa - what do we have here?! Deaf Crocodile, Belarusfilm, & Seagull Films, in partnership with DiabolikDVD, are releasing on disc a lost Belarusian folk horror film titled The Savage Hunt of King Stakh, which originally debuted in 1980. Described as an "ultra-rare" film that is a "major rediscovery for genre fans" who might want to take a look. A mystical drama set in an out-of-the-way castle in the Belarusian woodlands at the end of the 19th century. A young ethnographer, Andrej Bielarecki, arrives at the castle to research local folk legends including the story of King Stakh. "Part folk horror, part supernatural mystery, King Stakh is a melancholy, chilling mixture of Terry Gilliam, Italian Gothic Horror, 1960s Hammer Films, and The Wicker Man." Long unavailable, the film has recently been restored from the original film elements in its extended 126-minute Director's Cut. The film stars Elena Dimitrova,...
- 5/31/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Summer time is approaching, which means it is, of course, Belarusian folk-horror season. As part of Deaf Crocodile Films’ new collaboration with DiabolikDVD, the largest independent online distributor of specialized home video releases, their first release will be Valeri Rubinchik’s ultra-rare 1980 feature The Savage Hunt of King Stakh, based on the novel by Belarusian writer Uladzimir Karatkievich. Newly restored by Craig Rogers, Deaf Crocodile Co-Founder and Head of Post-Production and Restoration, this will mark the first-ever North American Blu-ray release of the two-hour Director’s Cut version. Ahead of the July 1 release, we’re pleased to exclusively share the restoration trailer.
Here’s the synopsis: “‘We have more ghosts than live people,’ murmurs the pale, haunted mistress of the mansion of Marsh Firs (Elena Dimitrova) to a scholar of ancient folklore (Boris Plotnikov) who has arrived at her castle to research the bloody legend of King Stakh, a murdered...
Here’s the synopsis: “‘We have more ghosts than live people,’ murmurs the pale, haunted mistress of the mansion of Marsh Firs (Elena Dimitrova) to a scholar of ancient folklore (Boris Plotnikov) who has arrived at her castle to research the bloody legend of King Stakh, a murdered...
- 5/31/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.
Challengers by Joseph K. Roman
Deadpool & Wolverine by Youssef Kirah
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga by Bartos Gyorgy
Godzilla: Minus One by Phantom City Creative
In A Violent Nature by...
Challengers by Joseph K. Roman
Deadpool & Wolverine by Youssef Kirah
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga by Bartos Gyorgy
Godzilla: Minus One by Phantom City Creative
In A Violent Nature by...
- 5/25/2024
- by Theodore Bond
- JoBlo.com
There are horror movies that don’t dive straight into the most frightening parts with all those jumpscares, loud sounds and rivers of blood. On the contrary, they set a chilling atmosphere of danger coming to swallow the characters and create a never-ending sense of unease quite slowly through perfectly developing suspense.
Here are 7 slow-burn horror must-watches, handpicked by Reddit.
The Wicker Man (1973)
First comes the cultish genre’s staple that follows a Christian detective during the investigation of the disappearance of a pagan tribe’s girl. It creates a very unsettling and even paranoidal atmosphere by blending mythical elements with onscreen reality.
Funny Games (2007)
Naomi Watts and Tim Roth’s psychological horror is a perfect example of a movie that takes time for the full extent of the terror to be revealed on screen. It focuses on a couple who get captured and tormented by two young criminals on their vacation.
Here are 7 slow-burn horror must-watches, handpicked by Reddit.
The Wicker Man (1973)
First comes the cultish genre’s staple that follows a Christian detective during the investigation of the disappearance of a pagan tribe’s girl. It creates a very unsettling and even paranoidal atmosphere by blending mythical elements with onscreen reality.
Funny Games (2007)
Naomi Watts and Tim Roth’s psychological horror is a perfect example of a movie that takes time for the full extent of the terror to be revealed on screen. It focuses on a couple who get captured and tormented by two young criminals on their vacation.
- 5/17/2024
- by info@startefacts.com (Ava Raxa)
- STartefacts.com
UK-based sales house Unannounced Film Company has boarded international sales on documentary Children Of The Wicker Man for the Cannes Market.
Justin and Dominic Hardy’s film centres around their father Robin Hardy and the making of his 1973 cult horror film The Wicker Man.
Despite being considered one of the greatest films of all time, Hardy’s sons have a complex relationship with the film and the impact it had on their relationship with their father. Along with researcher Chris Nunn, who also directs the documentary, the pair delve into a box of recently discovered production documents from The Wicker Man...
Justin and Dominic Hardy’s film centres around their father Robin Hardy and the making of his 1973 cult horror film The Wicker Man.
Despite being considered one of the greatest films of all time, Hardy’s sons have a complex relationship with the film and the impact it had on their relationship with their father. Along with researcher Chris Nunn, who also directs the documentary, the pair delve into a box of recently discovered production documents from The Wicker Man...
- 5/16/2024
- ScreenDaily
We all love horror movies for the genre's unique power to toy with our innermost fears and, in doing so, convey ideas in expressive and sometimes quite gory fashion that wouldn't have been as effective otherwise. Yet, few people expected the endings of the movies we're going to talk about today to be so traumatic. Here are 8 horror movies whose final scenes proved to be too much even for the most hardcore fans of the genre.
8 Horror Movies with the Most Unsettling Endings
8. The Descent
7. Eden Lake
6. The Wicker Man
5. Night of the Living Dead
4. Martyrs
3. Inside
2. The Mist
1. Don't Look Now
Sure, the endings of some of the movies listed above may seem a bit anticlimactic in some cases, but that doesn't take away from how messed up they were, leaving the audience shaking in their boots forever.
It is probably the classics that are worth starting with. For example,...
8 Horror Movies with the Most Unsettling Endings
8. The Descent
7. Eden Lake
6. The Wicker Man
5. Night of the Living Dead
4. Martyrs
3. Inside
2. The Mist
1. Don't Look Now
Sure, the endings of some of the movies listed above may seem a bit anticlimactic in some cases, but that doesn't take away from how messed up they were, leaving the audience shaking in their boots forever.
It is probably the classics that are worth starting with. For example,...
- 5/15/2024
- by louise.everitt@startefacts.com (Louise Everitt)
- STartefacts.com
‘Grips, twists, jostles and pokes… queasy hints of Blair Witch, Paranormal Activity, Kill List and Peep Show… punchy, funny, scary… a fantastically unnerving location’
★★★★
The Guardian
‘A smart, funny and genuinely spooky movie’
The Times
‘The script is witty, the cast are simply terrific… a spiky, intelligent little throat-grabber’
Time Out
Say your prayers as writer-director Elliot Goldner’s chiller The Borderlands is set to strike fear into your very soul, as this acclaimed British horror classic comes to Limited Edition Blu-ray from Second Sight Films. The brand-new set comes complete with a host of fascinating special features, it is also available in a Standard Edition Blu-ray.
When frequent strange happenings are reported at a thirteenth century church in rural Devon, a small team of Vatican investigators are sent in to try and demystify the unusual goings on… But what they discover is more disturbing than they could ever imagine.
★★★★
The Guardian
‘A smart, funny and genuinely spooky movie’
The Times
‘The script is witty, the cast are simply terrific… a spiky, intelligent little throat-grabber’
Time Out
Say your prayers as writer-director Elliot Goldner’s chiller The Borderlands is set to strike fear into your very soul, as this acclaimed British horror classic comes to Limited Edition Blu-ray from Second Sight Films. The brand-new set comes complete with a host of fascinating special features, it is also available in a Standard Edition Blu-ray.
When frequent strange happenings are reported at a thirteenth century church in rural Devon, a small team of Vatican investigators are sent in to try and demystify the unusual goings on… But what they discover is more disturbing than they could ever imagine.
- 5/14/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
In December of 1973, two movies that would change the face of horror and the ways it dealt with religion and spirituality were released. One was an instant hit, immediately changing the landscape of the genre forever. The other was severely cut by executives who simply did not understand it and unceremoniously slapped into the B-picture slot on double bills with Don’t Look Now, where it seemed to die a quick death. Over time, it grew from an underground cult discovery to a genre-defining masterpiece. The former is, of course, William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist, which remains a terrifying and inimitable masterpiece. The latter is Robin Hardy and Anthony Schaffer’s The Wicker Man, a truly remarkable film that became a flashpoint for an emerging subgenre—Folk Horror. Though both films deal in religion, The Exorcist and The Wicker Man could not be more divided in their approach to the subject.
- 5/9/2024
- by Brian Keiper
- bloody-disgusting.com
Midsommar (A24), Nope (Universal Pictures), Texas Chain Saw Massacre’s Hewitt house (Shutterstock), Pearl (A24)Graphic: The A.V. Club
There’s an old adage in horror: The less you show a monster, the scarier it is. Horror filmmakers are, by necessity, skilled at using darkness and shadows to creep out audiences.
There’s an old adage in horror: The less you show a monster, the scarier it is. Horror filmmakers are, by necessity, skilled at using darkness and shadows to creep out audiences.
- 5/7/2024
- by Cindy White
- avclub.com
"The Wicker Man" is the gold standard of occult horror. Police Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward), a God-fearing Englishman, arrives on the island of Summerisle to investigate the reported disappearance of a young girl. Howie soon discovers the islanders are pagans and spends the movie angrily berating them. Soon, it becomes clear the cultural differences are more sinister than the proper way to worship.
The islanders' crops are failing, so Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) has plotted a virgin sacrifice to appease their gods. No one ever said the virgin had to be a young girl; no, it's the unmarried Howie, who is burned to death in an excruciating sequence as the Summerisle villagers sing.
Despite being underserved by producer/distributor British Lion Films (to the point where Lee had to promote the film on his own time), "The Wicker Man" is now regarded as a horror classic. 2023 was the 50th anniversary of "The Wicker Man,...
The islanders' crops are failing, so Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) has plotted a virgin sacrifice to appease their gods. No one ever said the virgin had to be a young girl; no, it's the unmarried Howie, who is burned to death in an excruciating sequence as the Summerisle villagers sing.
Despite being underserved by producer/distributor British Lion Films (to the point where Lee had to promote the film on his own time), "The Wicker Man" is now regarded as a horror classic. 2023 was the 50th anniversary of "The Wicker Man,...
- 5/4/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
In the last 5-10 years, the found footage format has shifted more from feature-length horror films to short analog horror projects and alternate reality games on TikTok and Twitter. The analog horror emphasizes the nostalgic yet uncanny feeling conveyed by the technology of decades past.
The Ar games, on the other hand, use modern smartphones to convey a Pov atmosphere no worse than the student filmmakers of The Blair Witch Project could do with professional and amateur cameras.
And yet, no movie makes you feel for the characters like a found-footage movie. And when you add to the formula a skillful and clever approach to production and cinematography, as well as no less intriguing elements of supernatural and folk horror to the story, the result can be one of the scariest and most uncomfortable movies you've ever seen.
That's exactly what The Borderlands, released 11 years ago, turned out to be,...
The Ar games, on the other hand, use modern smartphones to convey a Pov atmosphere no worse than the student filmmakers of The Blair Witch Project could do with professional and amateur cameras.
And yet, no movie makes you feel for the characters like a found-footage movie. And when you add to the formula a skillful and clever approach to production and cinematography, as well as no less intriguing elements of supernatural and folk horror to the story, the result can be one of the scariest and most uncomfortable movies you've ever seen.
That's exactly what The Borderlands, released 11 years ago, turned out to be,...
- 4/30/2024
- by louise.everitt@startefacts.com (Louise Everitt)
- STartefacts.com
Before unleashing a cruel fate upon its characters — one of the worst in recent horror memory — The Borderlands leads the audience down a different path, insensibly alluding to what all lies ahead. The plot breadcrumbs of Elliot Goldner’s 2013 film are only more discernible after the fact. Until that momentous reveal, this plays out as a standard story of believers and nonbelievers investigating the religious unknown and finding more than they ever thought possible. What these unfortunate souls unearth is deeply disturbing.
Renamed Final Prayer in some parts, this British film has grown steadily in renown despite its small beginnings. Recently, Guillermo del Toro put The Borderlands on more radars; the popular filmmaker deemed it an “unknown gem.” Even before obtaining such a great endorsement, Goldner’s first feature (his only one to date) was applauded for its approach to first-person and folk-horror storytelling. More high praise: The Borderlands has...
Renamed Final Prayer in some parts, this British film has grown steadily in renown despite its small beginnings. Recently, Guillermo del Toro put The Borderlands on more radars; the popular filmmaker deemed it an “unknown gem.” Even before obtaining such a great endorsement, Goldner’s first feature (his only one to date) was applauded for its approach to first-person and folk-horror storytelling. More high praise: The Borderlands has...
- 4/26/2024
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
Welcome to the island of St Jory, population: one less than there used to be.
A year ago, St Jory teenager Cai Prideaux went missing and the police did very little about it. Now there’s a new sheriff in town in Sgt Grace Narayan (Anjli Mohindra), an outsider with an unbending belief in the letter of the law that’s ruffling feathers among the locals. The islanders, you see, are used to running things their own way. The True Way.
That’s the Hot Fuzz-meets-The Wicker Man premise for The Red King, an original six-part series written by Being Human creator Toby Whithouse and directed by Daniel O’Hara and Lisa Clarke. It’s a crime drama/folk horror mash-up that uses murder mystery trappings to tell a story about religion, insularity and national identity.
St Jory is your typical folk horror island in that there’s nothing typical about it.
A year ago, St Jory teenager Cai Prideaux went missing and the police did very little about it. Now there’s a new sheriff in town in Sgt Grace Narayan (Anjli Mohindra), an outsider with an unbending belief in the letter of the law that’s ruffling feathers among the locals. The islanders, you see, are used to running things their own way. The True Way.
That’s the Hot Fuzz-meets-The Wicker Man premise for The Red King, an original six-part series written by Being Human creator Toby Whithouse and directed by Daniel O’Hara and Lisa Clarke. It’s a crime drama/folk horror mash-up that uses murder mystery trappings to tell a story about religion, insularity and national identity.
St Jory is your typical folk horror island in that there’s nothing typical about it.
- 4/24/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
What makes the horror genre so interesting is the variety of means used to convey certain ideas established by the author, as well as the aspects on which its 'scary' component is based.
Thus, when we talk about horror in cinema and television, many of us prefer those that scare us with their menacing atmosphere, such as the folk horrors The Wicker Man and Midsommar, as well as the series Midnight Mass. Some of us prefer movies that play directly on common phobias, like the sharks in Jaws, the spiders in Arachnophobia, or the clowns in It. Some of us like scares that come from a sense of the unknown, as was perfectly conveyed in The Exorcist, Poltergeist, and The Thing. And some of us just like quality scares, as was the case in Drag Me To Hell and Insidious.
So the concept of 'scary' can vary from viewer to viewer greatly,...
Thus, when we talk about horror in cinema and television, many of us prefer those that scare us with their menacing atmosphere, such as the folk horrors The Wicker Man and Midsommar, as well as the series Midnight Mass. Some of us prefer movies that play directly on common phobias, like the sharks in Jaws, the spiders in Arachnophobia, or the clowns in It. Some of us like scares that come from a sense of the unknown, as was perfectly conveyed in The Exorcist, Poltergeist, and The Thing. And some of us just like quality scares, as was the case in Drag Me To Hell and Insidious.
So the concept of 'scary' can vary from viewer to viewer greatly,...
- 4/19/2024
- by louise.everitt@startefacts.com (Louise Everitt)
- STartefacts.com
Srs Cinema are collaborating with Bobby Canipe, Jr. once again for his latest movie Night Of The Strangers which is being described as a mix of “Barbarian” and “The Wicker Man”.
Night Of The Strangers is certain to be a terrifying hit and you can help out as the film is currently raising funds via a Indiegogo Crowdfunder Campaign.
Casting wise the films stars Bobby Canipe Jr. regulars Josh Allman, Angel Bradford, Ryan Martel and Jamie Apple.
Synopsis:
In the secluded countryside of Son’s Grove, Alex and Ryan eagerly anticipate a romantic escape from the city, booking an Airbnb retreat online. But their idyllic getaway takes a sinister turn as they arrive to find themselves ensnared in the clutches of a murderous cult, The Southern Redeemers, that permeate every level of the town’s society. As they navigate the hostility of the locals, it becomes chillingly clear that the...
Night Of The Strangers is certain to be a terrifying hit and you can help out as the film is currently raising funds via a Indiegogo Crowdfunder Campaign.
Casting wise the films stars Bobby Canipe Jr. regulars Josh Allman, Angel Bradford, Ryan Martel and Jamie Apple.
Synopsis:
In the secluded countryside of Son’s Grove, Alex and Ryan eagerly anticipate a romantic escape from the city, booking an Airbnb retreat online. But their idyllic getaway takes a sinister turn as they arrive to find themselves ensnared in the clutches of a murderous cult, The Southern Redeemers, that permeate every level of the town’s society. As they navigate the hostility of the locals, it becomes chillingly clear that the...
- 4/17/2024
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
In Robin Hardy's supremely creepy 1973 cult picture "The Wicker Man," a cop named Neil Howie (Edward Woodward) travels to a remote island called Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. The citizens of Summerisle are secretive and strange and still abide by ancient Celtic religious rites. Howie, a devout Christian, is put off by their pagan weirdness. During his investigation, Howie stays at a local inn, The Green Man, overseen by Mr. McGregor (Lindsay Kemp) and his comely daughter Willow. Willow is sexually forward with Howie, something else he finds discomforting.
Later that night, while Howie attempts to sleep, Willow strips nude in her own room and gyrates seductively against the wall that neighbors Howie's. Howie can't see or hear it, but he seems to sense something strange is happening. Is she casting a spell of some kind?
It turns out that the nude body audiences saw dancing wasn't Ekland at all,...
Later that night, while Howie attempts to sleep, Willow strips nude in her own room and gyrates seductively against the wall that neighbors Howie's. Howie can't see or hear it, but he seems to sense something strange is happening. Is she casting a spell of some kind?
It turns out that the nude body audiences saw dancing wasn't Ekland at all,...
- 4/14/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The 1973 folk horror movie "The Wicker Man" is a terrifying trip into the potential dangers of religious fanaticism, but it was also pretty perilous to film as well. Some of the actors felt like making the movie was almost as horrifying as the movie itself due to miserable, wet Scotland weather and the film's dramatic climax that ends in human sacrifice. Actor Edward Woodward wasn't actually burned alive, of course, though his character, Sergeant Howie is trapped inside a massive wicker man effigy and lit aflame, and it was still pretty scary filming that scene because fire can be unpredictable. Perhaps even more unpredictable, however? Goats. There may be no creature on this earth more unpredictable, and in proper goat fashion, one of them was a real problem on the set of the most pivotal scene in "The Wicker Man."
It's pretty close to impossible to make a folk horror...
It's pretty close to impossible to make a folk horror...
- 4/6/2024
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
To celebrate the release of The Borderlands available on Limited Edition Blu-Ray Box Set & Standard Edition Blu-Ray from 15th April 2024 – we have a Limited Edition Blu-Ray Box Set to give away to one lucky winner!
Say your prayers as writer-director Elliot Goldner’s chiller The Borderlands is set to strike fear into your very soul, as this acclaimed British horror classic comes to Limited Edition Blu-ray from Second Sight Films. The brand-new set arrives on 8 April 2024 and comes complete with a host of fascinating special features, it will also be available in a standard edition.
When frequent strange happenings are reported at a thirteenth century church in rural Devon, a small team of Vatican investigators are sent in to try and demystify the unusual goings on… But what they discover is more disturbing than they could ever imagine.
Acclaim for The Borderlands (aka Final Prayer in the US) has been wide reaching,...
Say your prayers as writer-director Elliot Goldner’s chiller The Borderlands is set to strike fear into your very soul, as this acclaimed British horror classic comes to Limited Edition Blu-ray from Second Sight Films. The brand-new set arrives on 8 April 2024 and comes complete with a host of fascinating special features, it will also be available in a standard edition.
When frequent strange happenings are reported at a thirteenth century church in rural Devon, a small team of Vatican investigators are sent in to try and demystify the unusual goings on… But what they discover is more disturbing than they could ever imagine.
Acclaim for The Borderlands (aka Final Prayer in the US) has been wide reaching,...
- 3/30/2024
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Brazil’s Fantaspoa film festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and the festival is breaking numerous records, presenting an impressive total of 114 feature films, 22 of these as World Premieres, marking the largest number of feature films in Fantaspoa’s long history.
The final selection of feature films for Fantaspoa’s highly-anticipated 20th edition has been exclusively presented to Bloody Disgusting, so read on for everything you need to know!
The festival tells us this week, “With a diverse selection, the feature films screening at Fantaspoa Xx have been divided into seven distinct competitive categories: International, Ibero-American, National, Documentary, Animation, All-Nighter, and Low Budget, Great Films. These categories promise audiences a variety of cinematic experiences, from the fringes of horror and fantasy to the depths of the human imagination.
“In addition to feature films, Fantaspoa will screen 123 short films, totaling 237 participating works, making this edition of the festival the largest in its history.
The final selection of feature films for Fantaspoa’s highly-anticipated 20th edition has been exclusively presented to Bloody Disgusting, so read on for everything you need to know!
The festival tells us this week, “With a diverse selection, the feature films screening at Fantaspoa Xx have been divided into seven distinct competitive categories: International, Ibero-American, National, Documentary, Animation, All-Nighter, and Low Budget, Great Films. These categories promise audiences a variety of cinematic experiences, from the fringes of horror and fantasy to the depths of the human imagination.
“In addition to feature films, Fantaspoa will screen 123 short films, totaling 237 participating works, making this edition of the festival the largest in its history.
- 3/28/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
The Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox is home to a variety of unique horror content, from originals and exclusives to cult classics and documentaries. With such a rapidly-growing library, there are many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
Here are five recommendations you can stream on Screambox right now.
Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary
If bustin’ makes you feel good, Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary should be at the top of your queue. Imagine Sam Raimi remaking Ghostbusters from a Kevin Williamson script, and you have a pretty good idea of what this Brazilian horror-comedy is like: gory, self-aware, irreverent, and wildly entertaining.
When a local high school summons Bloody Mary, the Ghoulbusters — a team of local YouTubers with a cheesy ghost hunting show — are called in to take out the vengeful spirit. In addition to possessing people to the point of cranial combustion, the ghost exploits the high school setting by haunting inanimate objects,...
Here are five recommendations you can stream on Screambox right now.
Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary
If bustin’ makes you feel good, Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary should be at the top of your queue. Imagine Sam Raimi remaking Ghostbusters from a Kevin Williamson script, and you have a pretty good idea of what this Brazilian horror-comedy is like: gory, self-aware, irreverent, and wildly entertaining.
When a local high school summons Bloody Mary, the Ghoulbusters — a team of local YouTubers with a cheesy ghost hunting show — are called in to take out the vengeful spirit. In addition to possessing people to the point of cranial combustion, the ghost exploits the high school setting by haunting inanimate objects,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
Turning down a job can sometimes come back to haunt you, especially if you're an actor who passed up a role in an acclaimed horror movie and later regretted the decision. This scenario may be difficult to imagine. After all, who would pass up the chance to be in a movie or TV show, right? As fans, though, it can be easy to forget that the movie business -- for all its glory, fanfare, legacy, and importance -- is, at the end of the day, just that: a business. A person in any industry may decline a job that doesn't feel like good fit, doesn't align with their schedule, or maybe would have them working with a filmmaker or co-star they unsure of for one reason or another.
Casting is a crucial component to any project's pre-production. In fact, come 2026, "Best Casting" will be an Oscar category. With the exact same material,...
Casting is a crucial component to any project's pre-production. In fact, come 2026, "Best Casting" will be an Oscar category. With the exact same material,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Blake Taylor
- Slash Film
Christopher Lee (The Wicker Man) gives one of his most unforgettable performances as Judge Jeffreys, the infamous 17th-century witchfinder whose unholy obsession with a luscious wench (Maria Rohm of Eugenie) fuels a jaw-dropping spree of torture, brutality and flesh-ripping perversion. Howard Vernon (Succubus), Margaret Lee (Five Golden Dragons), Maria Schell (99 Women), and Oscar nominee Leo Genn (Quo Vadis) co-star in this landmark epic of sexual violence and sadism, complete with a superb score by Bruno Nicolai (Count Dracula) and directed with spectacularly deviant glee by the one and only Jess Franco (Venus in Furs).
Night of the Blood Monster is available on 4K Uhd Blu-ray on March 26.
Enter for your chance to win a 4K Uhd Blu-ray of Night of the Blood Monster, courtesy of Blue Underground. Two (2) winners will be selected at random.
Here’s how to enter:
Step 1: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Step 2:...
Night of the Blood Monster is available on 4K Uhd Blu-ray on March 26.
Enter for your chance to win a 4K Uhd Blu-ray of Night of the Blood Monster, courtesy of Blue Underground. Two (2) winners will be selected at random.
Here’s how to enter:
Step 1: Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Step 2:...
- 3/24/2024
- by Slant Staff
- Slant Magazine
Twin Peaks. Sunnydale. Castle Rock. Hawkins… America’s TV monopoly on small towns where Weird Stuff Happens has gone on for too long. Britain was once home to The Wicker Man, Children of the Stones and The Prisoner, all classics of the ‘something’s not right here’ genre. Isn’t it about time the UK put a few creepy burgs back on the map?
Actor and debut screenwriter Andrew Buchan must think so, and his answer is ITV’s Passenger – a six-episode mystery series that’s Happy Valley meets…well, no spoilers here. Comedic and sinister with a terrific cast led by Loki’s Wunmi Mosaku, Passenger, from the producers of Gangs of London and Chernobyl, is a top binge-watch that’ll keep you entertained and guessing – hopefully into a second series and beyond.
Mosaku plays Riya, a police detective who, years earlier, left her job at the Manchester Met...
Actor and debut screenwriter Andrew Buchan must think so, and his answer is ITV’s Passenger – a six-episode mystery series that’s Happy Valley meets…well, no spoilers here. Comedic and sinister with a terrific cast led by Loki’s Wunmi Mosaku, Passenger, from the producers of Gangs of London and Chernobyl, is a top binge-watch that’ll keep you entertained and guessing – hopefully into a second series and beyond.
Mosaku plays Riya, a police detective who, years earlier, left her job at the Manchester Met...
- 3/24/2024
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Folk horror coupled with the narrative mix of wilderness survival is a tried-and-tested recipe for engaging thrillers, as the insignificance of human existence realized in the midst of the primal unknown often produces the most effective version of fear. Alix Lambert’s The Woods Are Real, drawing on a similar formula, showcases its first quarter as a promising buildup for a potentially intriguing thriller set in the woodlands. However, soon enough, the effort to jam-pack too many issues into one single narrative starts showing its adverse effects, and as a result, by the end, the feature turns out to be too pretentious and convoluted for its own good.
There are instances where visual cues from classics like The Wicker Man or Midsommar can be identified, but the overall shoddy treatment nullifies any form of impact those could have had in the storyline. The bizarre choice of plot progression, contrived dialogues,...
There are instances where visual cues from classics like The Wicker Man or Midsommar can be identified, but the overall shoddy treatment nullifies any form of impact those could have had in the storyline. The bizarre choice of plot progression, contrived dialogues,...
- 3/16/2024
- by Siddhartha Das
- Film Fugitives
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.