2015
10.16

Screamfest 2015: ‘Tales of Halloween’ Review!

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Screamfest LA ushered in its 15th annual Horror Film Festival on Tuesday with the Los Angeles premiere of Epic Pictures’ “Tales of Halloween.” Helmed by 11 fright masters, the anthology features 10 interconnected stories set on Halloween night in a suburban neighborhood where ghouls, aliens, and bloodthirsty monsters have come together.

At the helm are Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III), Neil Marshall (The Descent), Dave Parker (Hills Run Red), Paul Solet (Grace), Lucky McKee (All Cheerleaders Die), Adam Gierasch (Night of the Demons), Axelle Carolyn (Soulmate), Andrew Kasch (Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy), Mike Mendez (Big Ass Spider), Ryan Schifrin (Abominable) and iconic horror author John Skipp.

Dave Parker’s “Sweet Tooth” and Neil Marshall’s “Bad Seed” bookend the anthology and are its biggest treats, as enjoyable as that rare full-sized Snickers bar in sack of fun-sized goodness.

Sweet Tooth

“Sweet Tooth” bares more bite out of the two, presenting a ghoulish narrative about a boy so deprived of candy he becomes a bonafide All Hallows’ Eve urban legend, slaughtering those who’d deny him sugary treats. Well acted, gruesome, and reminiscent of the best of “Tales From the Darkside” episodes, “Sweet Tooth” leaves one craving for more.

“Bad Seed” is campy fun that will call to mind—among older viewers and cult film enthusiasts anyway—Joe DeBello’s awesome horror-comedy “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.” The story finds a giant jack-o-lantern coming to life and devouring neighborhood residents. The pumpkin looks awesome, absolutely menacing and terrifying—especially when chomping down on a man’s head!

Axelle Carolyn’s “Grimm Grining Ghost” is the movie’s razor blade inside the apple offering, a genuinely creepy tale that creates and maintains tension up until its horrific reveal. A traditional don’t-look-back story, “Grimm Grinning Ghost” holds the distinction of being the anthology’s most frightful entry.

Tales-of-Halloween- Kids

Lucky McKee’s “Ding Dong” and Mike Mendez’s “Friday the 31” are gleefully twisted, laugh-out loud productions, the Laffy Taffy of the bunch.

“Ding Dong” is especially fucked in its riff on Hansel and Gretel, featuring an over-the-top Pollyanna McIntosh as the storied witch. “Friday the 31” pits axe murderer against alien in a bloody battle to the end when a tiny extraterrestrial invades the sexy body of a killer’s victim to show him who’s boss.

The remaining films in “Tales of Halloween” are a mix bag, but overall entertaining and fun. There isn’t a black jelly bean in the entire group. It’s really quite remarkable to see 10 quality horror shorts presented in 90-minutes. Here’s hoping we’ll be treated to more “Tales of Halloween” next year!

“Tales of Halloween” arrives on VOD and selected theaters Friday, Oct. 16.

2015
10.11

Aussie Model Samara Weaving Is ‘The Babysitter’

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Australian model and aspiring actress Samara Weaving scores her first lead role in New Line Cinema’s upcoming frightener The Babysitter. Producer and director McG (Terminator: Salvation) is at the helm with a script by Brian Duffield (Insurgent).

The Babysitter follows a 12-year-old boy and his ridiculously hot nanny on a night when dreadful things occur, which keeps it horror and not National Lampoon’s The Babysitter.

Weaving, niece to Matrix and Lord of the Rings star Hugo Weaving, has starred in a few Australian projects, including the Aussie-produced BBC series “Out of the Blue,” a murder mystery involving a group of friends gathered together years later for a high school reunion.

2015
10.10

The Well-Read and the Undead Meet in ‘Pride and Prejudice and Zombies’

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Lionsgate has released the U.K. trailer for its adaptation of author Seth Grahame-Smith’s Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an outrageous re-imagining of the Jane Austin novel Pride and Prejudice. Burr Steers (Igby Goes Down) directs and Lily James (Wrath of the Titans) toplines.

The film follows Elizabeth Bennet (Lily James) and her sisters as they wrestle with morality, manners, and the undead in 19th century London. Co-starring as Elizabeth’s hot sisters are newcomers Ellie Bamber and Millie Brady, Bella Heathcote (Dark Shadows), and Suki Waterhouse (Insurgent).

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies was published in 2009 by Quirk Books and garnered positives reviews, cracking the New York Times bestseller list. The film is slated for release Feb. 5, 2016.

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2015
10.07

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Amanda Seyfried is set to star in Showtime’s rebooted David Lynch series “Twin Peaks,” premiering in 2017. She joins Peter Sarsgaard (“The Killing”), Robert Knepper (“Heroes”), Balthazar Getty (Feast), and topliner Kyle MacLachlan, reprising his role as FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper.

No word on what role Seyfried is playing, but we hope cherry stems play a significant part. Plot details are also mum. The only thing we got is a short teaser featuring Black Lodge resident Man From Another Place (Michael J. Anderson).

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2015
10.06

Viva ‘Mexico Barbaro’

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Dark Sky has set a Nov. 3 DVD and VOD release date for Mexico Barbaro, an anthology of eight horror shorts written and directed by Mexican filmmakers. Based on Mexican folklore, the film presents tales of ghosts, monsters, boogeymen, Aztec sacrifices, Dia de Los Muertos, and more.

Mexico Barbaro, which translates to Savage Mexico in gringo, features the work of directors Isaac Ezban, Laurette Flores, Ulises Guzmán, Edgar Nito, Lex Ortega, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Aaron Soto, and Jorge Michel Grau, director of cannibal drama We Are What We Are.

Stories focus on ancient and savage Mexican traditions, corpse stealing, evil dolls, a modern take on Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window, and Dia de Los Muertos strippers!

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2015
10.05

Movie Lineup for Screamfest 2015 Revealed! Get Your Tix Now!

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The movie lineup for the 15th annual Screamfest Horror Film Festival has been revealed and it is impressive. Running Oct. 13 – Oct. 22 at the TCL Chinese 6 Theater in Hollywood, CA, the event will see the premiere of a variety of features and shorts from around the world.

World premieres include Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension, the viral outbreak thriller Condemned from clothing designer-turned-filmmaker Eli Morgan Gesner, starring Sean Penn’s daughter and fashion model Dylan Penn, and horror anthology Labyrinth from executive producer and co-star James Franco.

Screamfest will also host the Los Angeles premieres for the American remake of the controversial French psychological torture drama Martyrs, the acclaimed UK monster thriller The Woods, and Tales of Halloween, this year’s most anticipated anthology, featuring 11 horror maestros.

Also screening during the festival will be the must-see documentary Game Changer: The Legacy of SAW and a 10 year anniversary showing of John Gulager’s Feast, including a Q&A with cast and crew.

Screamfest is the biggest and longest-running horror film festival in the U.S. The show is a star-studded event where it’s easy to see actors and directors talking horror with each other and the public. For complete movie lineup info and to purchase tickets, visit the Screamfest website.

2015
10.03

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Lionsgate will release on Oct. 9 fright master Eli Roth’s Knock Knock, a psycho-sexual thriller mixing every married man’s greatest fantasy with his worst nightmare. Keanu Reeves toplines as a happily wed man who regrettably allows two hot young girls into his home while his family is away.

Cuban stunner Ana de Armas (El Callejon) and Chilean model/actress Lorenza Izzo (Green Inferno) play the sadistic and sex-crazed visitors. Posted below is a NSFW clip of the girls flashing T&A and doing awesome dirty things with a banana to distract Keanu while he face-times with his wife.

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2015
09.29

‘The X-Files’ Revival Series Trailer Will Make You Believe!

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Fox has released a full-length trailer for its eagerly anticipated “X-Files” event series, premiering Jan. 24. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprise their roles as FBI Agents Fox “Spooky” Mulder and Dana Skully 13 years after the original series went off the air.

The “X-Files” revival consists of six episodes, three written and directed by series creator and producer Chris Carter, expanding the show’s mythology and three stand-alone episodes helmed by show veterans Glen Morgan, Darin Morgan and horror maestro James Wong (Final Destination).

Also returning to the series are Mitch Pileggi (FBI Assistant Director Skinner), William B. Davis (Cigarette Smoking Man), Annabeth Gish (FBI Agent Monica Reyes) and Bruce Harwood, Tom Braidwood, and Dean Haglund (The Lone Gunmen).

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2015
09.28

Krysten Ritter ‘A.K.A. Jessica Jones’ Is Not a Morning Person!

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Netflix has released a short teaser for its new superhero series “Marvel’s A.K.A. Jessica Jones.” The 13-episode show stars Krysten Ritter as Jones, a retired costumed heroine whose post-traumatic stress disorder leads her to open a detective agency to aid other superheroes.

Judging by the teaser, Jessica Jones is not much of a morning person. She also appears to have the power to put away vast amounts of alcohol. Step aside Wonder Woman, we got us a new crush! The show becomes available on Nov. 20.

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2015
09.26

Sara Malakul Lane

Just when you thought you were done with shark thrillers, Screen Media hooks you into watching Shark Lake with actress and model Sara Malakul Lane. Set to release Oct. 2 on VOD, the movie finds Lane playing a beautiful and busty single-MILF cop in a small Lake Tahoe town.

When escaped sharks obtained on the black market make their way into the lake to feast on swimmers, the MILF cop joins forces with her biologist boyfriend and the black market dealer (Dolph Lundgren) responsible for the fiasco to stop the maneaters.

Shark Lake isn’t the first time Sara Malakul Lane has dipped her toe into shark infested waters on screen. The brunette stunner also played a role in Sharktopus, earning a place in Clatto’s list of The 10 Hottest Shark Bait Babes.

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