Horror movies captivate audiences by tapping into our primal fears and anxieties, using suspense, surprise, and the macabre to elicit strong emotional responses. From classic monsters and haunted houses to psychological thrillers and supernatural entities, these films explore the darker side of human imagination. They often reflect societal fears and personal anxieties, offering both a mirror and an escape. With their eerie soundtracks, unsettling visuals, and intense narratives, horror movies create a unique blend of entertainment and terror. They not only provide a thrill but also a cathartic experience, allowing viewers to confront their deepest fears in a controlled environment.

If you like horror movies, there’s a new one out this month. Dark Star Pictures has released the 70s-inspired, wine-soaked horror/slasher Wineville. It is available on VOD/Digital and Physical Media including Fandango at Home, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies & TV. (Gold Dust PR, 2024)

Wineville is the directorial debut from producer/star Brande Roderick who is best known for her role as Leigh Dyer on the television series Baywatch. Roderick has also appeared in various films, TV and reality shows, including Starsky and Hutch, The Nanny Diaries, and Celebrity Apprentice. Roderick will appear in Hulu’s upcoming four part docu series After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun.

Set in the 70s, Wineville follows a woman who, after escaping her abusive father as a teen, is forced to return to the family vineyard to settle his affairs upon his death. She discovers that the dark secrets she left behind have only grown more sinister over the decades, fermenting into violence and death.

Additional cast includes Carolyn Hennesy (General Hospital, Cougar Town), Texas Battle (Hard Kill, Coach Carter), Casey King (Star Trek: Pickard) and Keaton Roderick Cadrez. Wineville was written by Richard Schenkman (The Man From Earth), who also produced alongside Roderick, Robin DeMartino, and Todd Slater.

“Wineville was influenced by 70s horror classics like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Last House on the Left. I wanted my first feature to be not only in the horror genre that I loved so much growing up, but to also pay homage to the flavor and style of that decade’s films that made such an impact on me.” – Brande Roderick 

Shot at the historic Galleano Winery, the film references the Wineville Chicken Coop Murders, one of California’s most infamous true crime cases. The heinous crimes garnered significant notoriety due to their brutal nature and the subsequent investigation, which ultimately led to the renaming of Wineville to Mira Loma.

Wineville
Rated R for graphic violence, graphic language, intense themes of incest, and sexual content.
Run Time: 1hr 40 min