Stars: Lyndsey Craine, Johnny Vivash, Ayvianna Snow, Fenfen Huang, Juné Tiamatakorn, Michaela Longden, Arron Dennis, Daniel Thrace | Written by Paul Butler | Directed by Stewart Sparke
Well that’s it! We can officially close the book on my number one movie of 2023 because I finally got to see How to Kill Monsters and it’s an absolute belter.
Admittedly I was an adoring fan of Book of Monsters and I do think Lyndsey Craine is a bonafide yet hugely underrated superstar scream queen female lead. Then you throw in a smorgasbord of who’s who in the genre and a metric ton of gore, blood and guts. Safe to say I have been excited for this practical effects-driven low-budget Lovecraftian horror, sci-fi, comedy from director Stewart Sparke and his team at Dark Rift Horror.
How to Kill Monsters starts much the same as many other movies of its ilk… at the end…...
Well that’s it! We can officially close the book on my number one movie of 2023 because I finally got to see How to Kill Monsters and it’s an absolute belter.
Admittedly I was an adoring fan of Book of Monsters and I do think Lyndsey Craine is a bonafide yet hugely underrated superstar scream queen female lead. Then you throw in a smorgasbord of who’s who in the genre and a metric ton of gore, blood and guts. Safe to say I have been excited for this practical effects-driven low-budget Lovecraftian horror, sci-fi, comedy from director Stewart Sparke and his team at Dark Rift Horror.
How to Kill Monsters starts much the same as many other movies of its ilk… at the end…...
- 10/11/2023
- by Kevin Haldon
- Nerdly
Stewart Sparke is no newbie when it comes to giant rubber monsters and bucketfuls of goo. With two big silly indie creature features already under his belt in past FrightFest favourites The Creature Below and Book of Monsters, you’d think he’d be tiring of this sort of thing by now. Ready to shift gears into a much cleaner romantic comedy, or something that doesn’t involve having to scoop coagulated brain juice out of your work shoes every evening. But with this third effort, he confirms what we probably already knew; not only is Sparke the king of this very specific brand of lovingly batshit micro budget crowd-pleasers, neither he nor his team are going anywhere either. They’re simply having too much fun.
A sort of spiritual sequel to 2018’s Book of Monsters, How To Kill Monsters is another naturally funny, adoringly made stab at the old-school genre nuts-and-bolts.
A sort of spiritual sequel to 2018’s Book of Monsters, How To Kill Monsters is another naturally funny, adoringly made stab at the old-school genre nuts-and-bolts.
- 8/29/2023
- by Ben Robins
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
With its world premiere at Frightfest only a couple of weeks away, the first teaser trailer for How to Kill Monsters is now available for everyone to watch. For full transparency, I supported the film's Kickstarter campaign because I was so impressed with their campaign trailer, but I haven't see the film yet and I'm as excited as everyone else to check out all of the practical effects and gallons of fake blood!
"The sole survivor of a blood-drenched massacre must team up with a rag-tag bunch of rookie cops and lawbreakers to fight off an invasion of monsters from another dimension.
With a menagerie of monsters realised entirely with practical effects and buckets of fake blood and guts thrown in for good measure, How To Kill Monsters will scratch the itch of horror fans craving a throwback popcorn horror movie that delivers thrills, kills and laughs in equal measure.
"The sole survivor of a blood-drenched massacre must team up with a rag-tag bunch of rookie cops and lawbreakers to fight off an invasion of monsters from another dimension.
With a menagerie of monsters realised entirely with practical effects and buckets of fake blood and guts thrown in for good measure, How To Kill Monsters will scratch the itch of horror fans craving a throwback popcorn horror movie that delivers thrills, kills and laughs in equal measure.
- 8/10/2023
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Best known for playing cellist Kara Milovy in the 1987 James Bond film The Living Daylights, actress Maryam d’Abo made her screen acting debut in the 1982 sci-fi horror film Xtro – and now she’s returning to the world of horror by taking a role in the gothic feature The Baby in the Basket!
Directed by Nathan Shepka (When Darkness Falls) from a screenplay by Tom Jolliffe (War of the Worlds: The Attack), The Baby in the Basket has the following synopsis: In 1940s, the nuns of a remote Scottish island convent ready for an impending storm, but when a baby is left on their doorstep, Sister Agnes becomes convinced he is the Devil and wants to kill the child. After Agnes is locked away a grim series of events ensue as the storm rages, and as her Sisters begin to question faith and reality, Sister Eleanor must try to repent and...
Directed by Nathan Shepka (When Darkness Falls) from a screenplay by Tom Jolliffe (War of the Worlds: The Attack), The Baby in the Basket has the following synopsis: In 1940s, the nuns of a remote Scottish island convent ready for an impending storm, but when a baby is left on their doorstep, Sister Agnes becomes convinced he is the Devil and wants to kill the child. After Agnes is locked away a grim series of events ensue as the storm rages, and as her Sisters begin to question faith and reality, Sister Eleanor must try to repent and...
- 6/20/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Actress Maryam d’Abo is set to make her return to British horror, having joined the cast of the upcoming gothic horror feature film The Baby in the Basket.
In 1940s, the nuns of a remote Scottish island convent ready for an impending storm, but when a baby is left on their doorstep, Sister Agnes becomes convinced he is the Devil and wants to kill the child. After Agnes is locked away a grim series of events ensue as the storm rages, and as her Sisters begin to question faith and reality, Sister Eleanor must try to repent and survive the dark events at St Augustine’s.
Best known internationally for her role alongside Timothy Dalton as Bond girl Kara Milovy in 1987’s The Living Daylights, d’Abo began her acting career with a role in the cult 1982 British horror Xtro; her other horror credits include director Oliver Parker’s fantasy...
In 1940s, the nuns of a remote Scottish island convent ready for an impending storm, but when a baby is left on their doorstep, Sister Agnes becomes convinced he is the Devil and wants to kill the child. After Agnes is locked away a grim series of events ensue as the storm rages, and as her Sisters begin to question faith and reality, Sister Eleanor must try to repent and survive the dark events at St Augustine’s.
Best known internationally for her role alongside Timothy Dalton as Bond girl Kara Milovy in 1987’s The Living Daylights, d’Abo began her acting career with a role in the cult 1982 British horror Xtro; her other horror credits include director Oliver Parker’s fantasy...
- 6/19/2023
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Yes folks you read that title right…Nerdly has joined British Gothic Horror The Baby in the Basket, which stars Amber Doig-Thorne (Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey), teaming with Shepka Productions and Flickering Myth on the production.
Some years back our Managing Editor Phil put together a project called Nerdly Presents. This was with the intention of getting more involved with our industry in a production and distribution capacity. The brand got off to an “interesting” start with Nerdly Presents’ first release, director James Cullen Bressack’s Hate Crime, getting banned by the BBFC! That was swiftly followed up with the VOD release of To Jennifer, another Bressack film, via the now-defunct UK-based TheHorrorShow.TV streaming service.
In short, yes we review and cover Films, TV, Comics, Games and Wrestling at every level, but we want to do more for independent creators. Hence Nerdly Presents. More recently we have...
Some years back our Managing Editor Phil put together a project called Nerdly Presents. This was with the intention of getting more involved with our industry in a production and distribution capacity. The brand got off to an “interesting” start with Nerdly Presents’ first release, director James Cullen Bressack’s Hate Crime, getting banned by the BBFC! That was swiftly followed up with the VOD release of To Jennifer, another Bressack film, via the now-defunct UK-based TheHorrorShow.TV streaming service.
In short, yes we review and cover Films, TV, Comics, Games and Wrestling at every level, but we want to do more for independent creators. Hence Nerdly Presents. More recently we have...
- 5/11/2023
- by Kevin Haldon
- Nerdly
In his latest interview, Kevin sits down to talk with actress Amber Doig-Thorne about Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey the new viral sensation from Jagged Edge Productions; and you can also check out the Kickstarter for Ambers’s next project, The Baby in the Basket, right here.
The Baby in the Basket is a gothic horror feature inspired by 1960s horror movies, film noir and some of the classics across the ages! In short, it’s Rosemary’s Baby meets The Omen meets The Shining. The film stars Amber Doig-Thorne, alongside Michaela Longden, Elle O’Hara, and Alexandra Fay Sadeghian.
The Baby in the Basket is a gothic horror feature inspired by 1960s horror movies, film noir and some of the classics across the ages! In short, it’s Rosemary’s Baby meets The Omen meets The Shining. The film stars Amber Doig-Thorne, alongside Michaela Longden, Elle O’Hara, and Alexandra Fay Sadeghian.
- 5/5/2023
- by Kevin Haldon
- Nerdly
Shepka Productions and Flickering Myth have announced that veteran British actors Paul Barber and Annabelle Lanyon have joined the cast of the upcoming gothic horror feature The Baby in the Basket.
Paul Barber is best known for portraying Denzil in the iconic sitcom Only Fools and Horses and Horse in the classic British film The Full Monty – a role he reprises this June for Disney+’s The Full Monty sequel series. Among his other extensive film and TV credits are The Long Good Friday, The Brothers McGregor, Chancer, The 51st State, One Night in Istanbul and Renegades.
Annabelle Lanyon starred alongside Tom Cruise in the role of Oona in Ridley Scott’s 1985 cult classic fantasy Legend and also featured in the British horror Dream Demon and ITV series Quatermass. Recent credits include the horror films Werewolves of the Third Reich and Bite.
The Baby in the Basket also stars Amber Doig-Thorne,...
Paul Barber is best known for portraying Denzil in the iconic sitcom Only Fools and Horses and Horse in the classic British film The Full Monty – a role he reprises this June for Disney+’s The Full Monty sequel series. Among his other extensive film and TV credits are The Long Good Friday, The Brothers McGregor, Chancer, The 51st State, One Night in Istanbul and Renegades.
Annabelle Lanyon starred alongside Tom Cruise in the role of Oona in Ridley Scott’s 1985 cult classic fantasy Legend and also featured in the British horror Dream Demon and ITV series Quatermass. Recent credits include the horror films Werewolves of the Third Reich and Bite.
The Baby in the Basket also stars Amber Doig-Thorne,...
- 5/3/2023
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Stars: Lyndsey Craine, Lala Barlow, Vito Trigo, James Hamer-Morton, Charlie Bond, Emily Haigh, Michaela Longden, Sierra Summers, Alexander J Skinner, Justin A. Martell, Annabella Rich, Dani Thompson, Laurence R. Harvey | Written and Directed by Liam Regan
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, despite the obvious age difference, I share writer-director Liam Regan’s fondness for satellite TV channel Bravo – especially during the “horned devil” logo years, where late nights were made up of cult TV shows, weird obscure films and a Ton of Troma movies. So much so that I too consider that period of the channel as a now legendary time in UK broadcasting. It was the channel that introduced me to a wider range of Troma movies outside of The Toxic Avenger and Class of Nuke’Em High (which were stalwarts of my local video shop And that guy that used to rent tapes...
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, despite the obvious age difference, I share writer-director Liam Regan’s fondness for satellite TV channel Bravo – especially during the “horned devil” logo years, where late nights were made up of cult TV shows, weird obscure films and a Ton of Troma movies. So much so that I too consider that period of the channel as a now legendary time in UK broadcasting. It was the channel that introduced me to a wider range of Troma movies outside of The Toxic Avenger and Class of Nuke’Em High (which were stalwarts of my local video shop And that guy that used to rent tapes...
- 8/31/2022
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Ahead of Horror Channel’s UK TV Premiere of Book of Monsters, on May 14, director Stewart Sparke talks about the influence of horror fans, his obsession with the Alien franchise and collaborating with horror icon Nicholas Vince.
Did you know from a young age that you wanted to be a film director?
I remember first realising that I wanted to make films during one of many viewings of ‘The Mummy’ (1999) on VHS in my bedroom on an old 15” TV. I became quite obsessed with the film and tried to make all my friends come over to watch it because I wanted to share all the amazing trivia about how they made the special effects. This sparked the idea that perhaps I could make my own films and so my first effort was to remake the entirety of the Phantom Menace in my bedroom with myself and my friends miming along...
Did you know from a young age that you wanted to be a film director?
I remember first realising that I wanted to make films during one of many viewings of ‘The Mummy’ (1999) on VHS in my bedroom on an old 15” TV. I became quite obsessed with the film and tried to make all my friends come over to watch it because I wanted to share all the amazing trivia about how they made the special effects. This sparked the idea that perhaps I could make my own films and so my first effort was to remake the entirety of the Phantom Menace in my bedroom with myself and my friends miming along...
- 5/6/2022
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Dread and Epic Pictures presents Stewart Sparke's Book of Monsters. Fresh off a multi-festival run, Book of Monsters was written by Paul Butler and stars Nicholas Vince (Hellraiser), Lyndsey Craine, Anna Dawson, and Michaela Longden. When her 18th birthday party is crashed by terrifying creatures, Sophie and her friends must find a way to survive and send these monsters back. For more details on this film, check out the poster, trailer, and release date below.
"Epic Pictures and Dread are excited to release the key art, the trailer, and the pre-order link for the monster-driven, audience-chosen, horror film, Book Of Monsters, releasing on March 19, 2019!
Book Of Monsters began life as a Kickstarter campaign back in 2017 with a unique twist - backers could vote on six key elements of the movie including what form the monsters would take and how they killed their victims! The result is a fun horror...
"Epic Pictures and Dread are excited to release the key art, the trailer, and the pre-order link for the monster-driven, audience-chosen, horror film, Book Of Monsters, releasing on March 19, 2019!
Book Of Monsters began life as a Kickstarter campaign back in 2017 with a unique twist - backers could vote on six key elements of the movie including what form the monsters would take and how they killed their victims! The result is a fun horror...
- 2/26/2019
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Dread's latest upcoming release is Dark Rift Films' Book of Monsters. This film is a mashup of '80s creature features. And, the film's Kickstarter campaign was unusual, in that it allowed backers to choose plot points in the film. Like a Choose-your-own-adventure novel, Book of Monsters was developed by director Stewart Sparke (The Creature Below) and writer Paul Butler. To release in mid-March, this title stars: Michaela Longden, Anna Dawson (1921), Lizzie Stanton and Lyndsey Craine. Many of these filmmakers have collaborated on the horror film The Creature Below (2016). A preview for Book of Monsters' upcoming Digital release is available here. Director Sparke has talked about Book of Monsters at recent film festivals. He says of the film's main story idea: "Book of Monsters started life as a short film idea with a young girl having to fight off a monster at her eighteenth birthday party, it was just...
- 2/20/2019
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Stars: Lyndsey Craine, Michaela Longden, Lizzie Stanton, Rose Muirhead, Nicholas Vince, Daniel Thrace, Anna Dawson, Julia Munder | Written by Paul Butler | Directed by Stewart Sparke
Director Stewart Sparke and writer Paul Butler follow up their low-budget debut The Creature Below with the Kickstarter-funded monster movie Book of Monsters. Combining a witty script and practical special effects, it works as an affectionate homage to ’80s creature features while retaining a refreshingly modern-day approach to its gender politics.
Northern teenager Sophie (Lyndsey Craine) is about to turn eighteen, so her best friends Mona (Michaela Longden) and Beth (Lizzie Stanton) persuade her to have a wild and crazy house party while her widowed, well-meaning dad (Nicholas Vince) is out of town. However, things quickly spiral out of control when a suspiciously slinky gate-crasher (Steph Mossman) sneaks upstairs with an unsuspecting virgin (Arron Dennis) and performs a blood ritual that releases a host of monsters,...
Director Stewart Sparke and writer Paul Butler follow up their low-budget debut The Creature Below with the Kickstarter-funded monster movie Book of Monsters. Combining a witty script and practical special effects, it works as an affectionate homage to ’80s creature features while retaining a refreshingly modern-day approach to its gender politics.
Northern teenager Sophie (Lyndsey Craine) is about to turn eighteen, so her best friends Mona (Michaela Longden) and Beth (Lizzie Stanton) persuade her to have a wild and crazy house party while her widowed, well-meaning dad (Nicholas Vince) is out of town. However, things quickly spiral out of control when a suspiciously slinky gate-crasher (Steph Mossman) sneaks upstairs with an unsuspecting virgin (Arron Dennis) and performs a blood ritual that releases a host of monsters,...
- 1/11/2019
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
Stars: Lyndsey Craine, Michaela Longden, Lizzie Stanton, Rose Muirhead, Nicholas Vince, Daniel Thrace, Anna Dawson, Julia Munder | Written by Paul Butler | Directed by Stewart Sparke
Director Stewart Sparke and writer Paul Butler follow up their low-budget debut The Creature Below with the Kickstarter-funded monster movie Book of Monsters. Combining a witty script and practical special effects, it works as an affectionate homage to ’80s creature features while retaining a refreshingly modern-day approach to its gender politics.
Northern teenager Sophie (Lyndsey Craine) is about to turn eighteen, so her best friends Mona (Michaela Longden) and Beth (Lizzie Stanton) persuade her to have a wild and crazy house party while her widowed, well-meaning dad (Nicholas Vince) is out of town. However, things quickly spiral out of control when a suspiciously slinky gate-crasher (Steph Mossman) sneaks upstairs with an unsuspecting virgin (Arron Dennis) and performs a blood ritual that releases a host of monsters,...
Director Stewart Sparke and writer Paul Butler follow up their low-budget debut The Creature Below with the Kickstarter-funded monster movie Book of Monsters. Combining a witty script and practical special effects, it works as an affectionate homage to ’80s creature features while retaining a refreshingly modern-day approach to its gender politics.
Northern teenager Sophie (Lyndsey Craine) is about to turn eighteen, so her best friends Mona (Michaela Longden) and Beth (Lizzie Stanton) persuade her to have a wild and crazy house party while her widowed, well-meaning dad (Nicholas Vince) is out of town. However, things quickly spiral out of control when a suspiciously slinky gate-crasher (Steph Mossman) sneaks upstairs with an unsuspecting virgin (Arron Dennis) and performs a blood ritual that releases a host of monsters,...
- 8/30/2018
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
A new indie horror film is set to release in 2016. From director Stewart Sparke, The Dark Below involves a marine biologist and a unGodly creature. Somewhat claustrophobic, the first trailer shows the character Olive (Anna Dawson), struggling with visions, or her own unhinging. The film stars Anna Dawson, Michaela Longden and Daniel Thrace. The film's first trailer is hosted here. For more on the story, Olive returns from a deep sea dive. A strange creature has attached itself to her and their is no way to remove it. As the parasite grows, Olive begins to lose her grip on sanity, leading to violent events. The Dark Below was shot in the United Kingdom. From Yorkshire, the film's first teaser shows lots of interior shots, with the director focusing on one character - Olive. Fans of indie horror titles will want to keep this one on there radar. More details on...
- 9/4/2015
- by noreply@blogger.com (Michael Allen)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
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