The supernatural horror film The Well arrives in select theaters on August 9. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Supernatural horror films captivate audiences by tapping into the unknown and the unexplainable. By introducing eerie elements like ghosts, demons, and ancient curses that defy logical understanding, they blur the line between reality and fantasy. These films evoke a primal sense of dread, utilizing atmospheric tension, unsettling soundtracks, and eerie visuals to create a palpable sense of menace. By exploring what lies beyond the realm of the living, supernatural horror challenges our perception of reality and taps into our most profound anxieties.
With that said, in today’s movie news, if you love these types of films, there’s a new one coming out today. The supernatural horror film The Well arrives in select theaters on August 9 and On Digital and On Demand September 3, 2024 via Uncork’d Entertainment. (The Well, 2024)
Starring the final girl from Terrifier 2 & 3 – Lauren LaVera – The Well is a gothic horror that embraces gore and practical effects. Italian pop star Federico Zampaglione (Shadow, Tulpa: Demon of Desire, Morrison) directed the film and co-wrote the script with Stefano Masi.
Starring alongside LaVera is Claudia Gerini, Giovanni Lombardo Radice, Taylor Zaudtke, Linda Zampaglione, Jonathan Dylan King, Lorenzo Renzi, Gianluigi Calvani, Yassine Fadel, Melanie Gaydos, Stefano Martinelli, and Courage Oviawe.
Official Synopsis: On behalf of her father, a young American art restorer travels to a remote Italian village to bring a medieval painting back to its former glory. There she meets a beautiful but aging duchess and her troubled young daughter who warns her that the painting is cursed and that she must leave before she falls prey to an evil witch who drinks the blood of tourists to achieve eternal life.
Chilling British horror movie is set for release this summer in the UK. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
In today’s movie news: after debuting in film festivals, The Moor will be released in the UK this summer. It has received critical acclaim and hopefully it will have a wider release coming soon. Check out the trailer below, it looks haunting and dark. My kind of movie.
Bulldog Film Distribution is delighted to confirm that the acclaimed British horror, The Moor will be heading to UK Cinemas from June 14 and on UK Digital HD from July 1, 2024. (Strike Media, Ltd, 2024)
The Moor stars Sophia La Porta, David Edward-Robertson, Elizabeth Dormer-Phillips as well as the late British acting legend, Bernard Hill.
Synopsis Claire was just a child when her best friend was abducted and murdered. Twenty-five years later, the killer has served his time and is due to be released. Claire is approached by Bill, the dead boy’s father, who has a plan to keep the killer behind bars. With the help of psychic Eleanor, he takes them deep into the haunted moor which he believes is his son’s final resting place. They find more than just the ghosts of dead children out there – something else, something dark and evil, stirs beneath their feet.
Run Time: 119 Mins
Chris Cronin’s feature-length directorial debut was widely praised following its World Premiere at Pigeon Shrine FrightFest, screening in the prestigious ‘First Blood’ strand. In Total Film’s FrightFest Awards 2023, the film was nominated for Best Director, Best Film and Won Best Scare.
“My aim with this story was to create an original horror film set in my home county of Yorkshire. Instead of delving into the fictional murders themselves, I focused on the aftermath and how something so terrible affects lives and relationships. What happens when so much grief and guilt are left unresolved? As a genre filmmaker I wanted to explore those important questions through tension and suspense. Genre lets us take a look at very human and painful situations and make them larger than life, forcing us to re-examine them. Thankfully, most of us don’t know what it’s like to experience a tragedy as great as Bill and Claire’s, but through the medium of horror we can elevate how awful it would be, making the audience really feel it.” – Director Chris Cronin
Aulia Sarah, Claresta Taufan Kusumarina and Maudy Effrosina in Dancing Village: The Curse Begins. Photo: Lionsgate, used with permission.
Love horror movies? I do. Horror movies tap into our primal fears, exploiting the dark recesses of the human psyche. They’re a rollercoaster ride of adrenaline and terror, plunging audiences into a world where the supernatural collides with reality and making excellent use of tension and suspense. While exploring themes of mortality, the unknown, and the macabre, they remind us of the thin veil that exists between the rational and the irrational, making us confront our deepest fears in the safety of a movie theater. If you’re looking for a new horror movie, here is an Indonesian horror movie coming out today, Friday April 26, 2024: Dancing Village: The Curse Begins (International title: Badarawuhi Di Desa Penari). It has English subtitles.
In this horror-thriller, a shaman instructs Mila to return a mystical bracelet, the Kawaturih, to the “Dancing Village,” a remote site on the easternmost tip of Java Island. Joined by her cousin, Yuda, and his friends Jito and Arya, Mila arrives on the island only to discover that the village elder has passed away, and that the new guardian, Mbah Buyut, isn’t present. Various strange and eerie events occur while awaiting Mbah Buyut’s return, including Mila being visited by Badarawuhi, a mysterious, mythical being who rules the village. When she decides to return the Kawaturih without the help of Mgah Buyut, Mila threatens the village’s safety, and she must join a ritual to select the new “Dawuh,” a cursed soul forced to dance for the rest of her life. (EG PR, 2024)
Dancing Village: The Curse Begins is a prequel to KKN DI DESA PENARI, which was the highest grossing Indonesian film in history when it was released in 2022.This new film is the first film made for IMAX movie ever produced in Southeast Asia and in 2024, it will be one of only five films made for IMAX productions worldwide. Producer Manoj Punjabi is Indonesia’s most successful film and TV producer, and is the founder of MD Pictures, the country’s largest film company. Punjabi has produced 168 movies, including five of the biggest all-time local box office hits in Indonesia, including SEWU DINO and KKN DI DESA PENARI.
The French macabre horror movie Pandemonium leads ARROW’s May 2024 lineup. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Arrow Video is excited to announce the May 2024 lineup of their subscription-based ARROW platform, available to subscribers in the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland. Enjoy a selection of new titles, from carefully cultivated curations, shorts by new talent, and deep dives into the tastes of filmmakers whose talents have delighted audiences and shaped genre filmmaking. (Arrow Video, 2024)
The May 2024 lineup leads with the exclusive ARROW release of Quarxx’s French macabre horror Pandemonium, available May 27 in the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland.
Drawing on themes found in Dante’s Inferno and Milton’s Paradise Lost, Pandemonium is a multi-textured existential fantasy, topped with signature notes of visceral horror, disturbing fairy tale, wry comedy, and dark thriller. From the creative mind of Quarxx, comes this aesthetically stunning and relentlessly macabre tale. Pandemonium made its world premiere at Neuchâtel and went on to screen at Fantasia, Frightfest, Fantasy FilmFest, Sitges, Grimmfest, Trieste, and Screamfest and you can see it at home on ARROW with a host of brand new extras.
May Seasons bloom May 3 with Jennifer Reeder Selects (UK/IRE/US/CA) Titles include Switchblade Sisters, The Sacred Spirit, Lady Morgan’s Vengeance.
Also on May 3, subscribers in all territories can enjoy a pair of underseen violent short films. The Host (UK/IRE/US/CA): In this tense-as-hell 1960 short from Jack Hill, Sid Haig plays an on-the-run cowboy who is laying low. But, to remain safe and appease a local tribe, he must commit another terrible crime. Hill and Haig’s incredible talents were burning bright right from the beginning in an atmospheric, violent debut feature that is not to be missed.
The Adventures of Denchu-Kozo (UK/IRE/US/CA): Hikari is a boy who is bullied at school because he has an electricity pole growing out of his back. One of his classmates named Momo comes to his rescue and he thanks her by sharing his secret possession with her: a time machine. Activating the time machine transports him 25 years into a dark, dystopian, world of the future. There he encounters members of the Shinsengumi Vampire Gang who are hunting a woman named Dr. Sariba who is revealed to be Momo’s future self. He and he alone must save the world.
On May 10, head to the fields and forests and watch Cunning Folk (UK/IRE/US/CA). Cunning Folk is a collection of folklore and folktales, the locals who believe in them and the outsiders who inevitably fall foul of them. If you know what’s good for you, you will fear, respect and uphold the Old Ways of the Cunning Folk. Or else… Titles include The Wyrm of Bwlch Pen Barras, Threshold, Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji.
On May 10, enjoy a trio of recent additions to the indie horror lexicon. Legs (UK/IRE/US/CA): Joy and Harry are trying to have a baby. One night, Joy swallows a spider in her sleep. When Joy subsequently develops an insatiable appetite for flies, it dawns on her that there may be more than one way of becoming a mother.
The Afterlife Bureau (UK/IRE/US/CA): “There’s something which comes after death and before you meet your maker… paperwork.” The Afterlife Bureau is a dark comedy in which brings Earthly nuisances such as bureaucracy to the afterlife.
Ouzo and Blackcurran (UK/IRE/US/CA): Two old friends take a trip down memory lane, but they are not alone – there’s someone there who never left.
On May 17, stay up all night and watch The City that Never Sleeps (UK/IRE/US/CA). On ARROW, the Big Apple is known as The City That Never Sleeps because the films set on its streets will give you nightmares. Psychopathic gangsters, deranged killers, out-of-control street gangs, even zombies and misshapen, deadly ex-conjoined twins, get a taste of an older, scarier, grittier, scuzzier New York in The City That Never Sleeps. Titles include: The Driller Killer, Basket Case, Mammoth.
Also on May 17, enjoy origin stories of genre legends. Eaten Alive (UK/IRE/US/CA): Nearly a decade before he donned Freddy Krueger’s famous red and green sweater, horror icon Robert Englund delivered a supremely sleazy performance in Eaten Alive, another essay in taut Southern terror from Tobe Hooper, director of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Oozing atmosphere from its every pore, Eaten Alive matches The Texas Chain Saw Massacre for sheer insanity helped in no small part by some marvelous histrionics from Chain Saw star Marilyn Burns and William Finley.
Spider Baby (UK/IRE/US/CA): This was the first solo feature by Jack Hill, whom Quentin Tarantino dubbed “the Howard Hawks of exploitation filmmaking,” and it remains one of his wildest and weirdest. Lon Chaney Jr gave one of his most memorable late performances as Bruno, their guardian and protector, who has managed to cover up their crimes until two distant relatives lay claim to their house. When they insist on moving in, Bruno has to cross his fingers and hope that the ‘children’ behave towards their new guests.
On May 24, slide into The Ick (UK/IRE/US/CA). Guaranteed to gross you out and featuring the sleaziest and skeeziest films on ARROW, this one is bound to give you The Ick. Titles include Doom Asylum, Hellish Flesh, The Baby.
On May 31, ARROW closes out the lineup by sending audiences to Heaven or (Mostly) Hell (UK/IRE/US/CA). Recently dead and stuck in limbo with a very important choice to make, up or down. Who knows if we get a choice of paradise or the abyss à la the beginning of Quarxx’s film Pandemonium? We’ve tried to give you a choice in this collection, but let’s be honest, on ARROW, the choice favors purgatory more than the pearly gates. Titles include Pandemonium, Hotel Poseidon, A Ghost Waits.
Head over to ARROW to start watching now. Subscriptions are available for $6.99 monthly or $69.99 yearly.
ARROW is available in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland on the following Apps/devices: Roku (all Roku sticks, boxes, devices, etc.), Apple TV & iOS devices, Samsung TVs, Android TV and mobile devices, Fire TV (all Amazon Fire TV Sticks, boxes, etc.), and on all web browsers.
With a slickly designed and user-friendly interface, and an unparalleled roster of quality content from westerns to giallo to Asian cinema, trailers, Midnight Movies, filmmaker picks and much, much more, ARROW is the place to go for the very best in on-demand entertainment.
In the coming months, ARROW will be adding Oscar-winning hits, European classics, Asian cinema masterworks, rediscovered Westerns, offbeat gems and much more as part of ARROW’s international strategy to support and celebrate the medium of film.
The new horror movie Beware the Boogeyman had a digital release this week. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
If you’re a horror fan and looking for a new movie to stream this weekend, here is one to consider.
Breaking Glass Pictures is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of Beware the Boogeyman, a gripping psychological thriller written and directed by the talented Calvin Morie McCarthy. It is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.
“Calvin is a talented filmmaker, and we enjoy working with him. His keen vision and creative prowess have brought ‘Beware the Boogeyman’ to life in a truly captivating way. With its gripping storyline and haunting atmosphere, this film promises to enthrall audiences and keep them on the edge of their seats until the very end.” – Rich Wolff, CEO of Breaking Glass Pictures
In this chilling tale, Dr. Tristian MacKenzie embarks on her first day of orientation at the Silverdale Psychiatric Hospital for the criminally insane. There, she encounters the enigmatic Dr. Moon, who reveals a series of bizarre cases involving five patients and their shared delusion: THE BOOGEYMAN.
As Dr. MacKenzie delves deeper into the unsettling files, she unravels a web of intrigue and horror that challenges her understanding of reality. With each revelation, the line between sanity and madness blurs, leading to a heart-stopping climax that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.
Elissa Dowling, Airisa Durand, and Chynna Rae Shurts star.
Prepare to be captivated by Beware the Boogeyman, a masterfully crafted thriller that explores the darkest corners of the human psyche.
The claustrophobic German thriller Trunk: Locked In is now available to view on Amazon Prime. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
If you enjoy action and thriller movies, today’s new movie release might interest you. Trunk: Locked In is a movie about a woman who wakes up disoriented in a locked trunk with no idea about what is going on or what to expect. This high octane rollercoaster ride of a movie follows a young woman in a race against time for survival. Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? It’s in German with English subtitles, but I like discovering thrilling foreign movies and subtitles are no problem for me. I know what I’m watching this weekend.
Outside the Club is excited to announce the global release of their latest feature, Marc Schießer’s pulsing thriller Trunk: Locked In, as an Original feature on Prime Video. Trunk: Locked In is available on Prime Video in over 240 countries and territories around the world. (Justin Cook PR, 2024)
Trunk: Locked In was written and directed by Marc Schießer, making his feature directorial debut after his work on the German series “Wishlist.” Schießer and his partner Tobias Lohf produced under their Outside the Club banner. Award-winning Berlin actress Sina Martens (The Perfumier, Tatort) headlines the single location thriller, with Artjom Gilz, Luise Helm and Poal Cairo in other roles. Trunk: Locked In made its world premiere at Filmfestival Cologne and went on to win the Best Thriller Feature at Nightmares Film Festival.
Trunk: Locked In – 28-year-old medical student Malina wakes up disoriented in a locked trunk and must realize with horror that she is missing more than just the memory. With her phone as the only connection to the outside world, the intelligent young woman wages a desperate fight for survival while the vehicle races relentlessly toward a terrible secret. Even if she makes it – she will never be the same.
Alice and The Vampire Queen will be available on digital starting February 13, 2024. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Breaking Glass Pictures, a leading independent film distribution company based in Philadelphia, is thrilled to announce its collaboration with acclaimed writer-director Dan Lantz on the upcoming horror film Alice and The Vampire Queen. CEO Rich Wolff expresses excitement about working on multiple projects with Lantz, stating, “Dan’s unique vision and storytelling prowess continue to captivate audiences, and it has been a pleasure collaborating on multiple films with him.” Alice and the Vampire Queen will rise this February 13 on digital. (October Coast, 2024)
Directed by Dan Lantz, and starring Shelby Hightower, Graham Wolfe, Brenna Carnuccio, Rachel Aspen, Danielle Muehlen, Xavier Michael, Chris James Boylan, and Aaron Dalla Villa, the film centers around an ex-con, Alice Oldman, who struggles to overcome her past scars. A mysterious stranger offers her a deal: create one special dish for his boss, the Vampire Queen.
The film, the latest from director Lantz (Alpha Rift, Bloodrunners) had a successful limited theatrical run in 2023. Produced by Dan Lantz, Richard Wolff, and Susan Helfrich, it explores themes of resilience, transformation, and the power of choice as Alice confronts not only the external threats posed by the supernatural forces at play but also the internal demons she must conquer to forge her path to redemption.
Midnight Peepshow will have a digital release on February 13, 2024. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Attention horror movie fans! As I always say, it’s always the perfect time for a horror movie. There’s a new horror/thriller movie coming to digital on February 13, 2024. Perhaps in just in time for Valentine’s Day, if you and your valentine like these types of movies. Don’t miss Midnight Peepshow.
In Midnight Peepshow, we are introduced to an unnamed Madame who owns and operates a peepshow offering patrons a tailor-made experience wrapped around their deepest desires, fears, and sins. Tonight, it welcomes a businessman who has a unique connection to an extreme fantasy website on the dark web. He soon becomes a witness to three stories of victims who found the same website, and now the Midnight Peepshow has found him. It will only be a matter of time before he is made to pay the ultimate price for dabbling in the dark side of his own desire. (October Coast, 2024)
Director: Airell Anthony Hayles, Andy Edwards, Jake West, Ludovica Musumeci
Cast: Zach Galligan, Chiara D’Anna, Richard Cotton, Sarah Diamond, Jamie Bacon, Derek Nelson, Jack Fairbank. Miki Davis, Ryan Oliva, Ocean M. Harris
Nightmare on 34th Street will be available on digital starting December 5, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
I like the holiday season, but for me, there’s nothing like a good horror/slasher movie to get into the mood, especially if Krampus is involved. That brings me to today’s new movie news: Nightmare on 34th street is coming to digital (Plex) on December 5, 2023 from Wild Eye Releasing. So if you’re not ready to let the creepy season go yet, check it out.
Nightmare on 34th Street– A mysterious and psychopathic Santa Claus visits a small, rural town with a bag full of unusual gifts and twisted holiday stories featuring Krampus, a murderous St. Nick, and killer carol singers that are certain to ruin the Christmas season forever. Caroline Boulton, Lucy Pinder, Dani Thompson, Ewen MacIntosh, Andy Gatenby, Adam Greaves-Neal star in a James Crow film. (October Coast, 2023)
15 Cameras is available On Demand and limited theater release. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Voyeuristic style films explore society’s insatiable thirst to watch and be watched. If you’re a fan, this new horror release might be a good fit for you. 15 Cameras is a sequel to 13 Cameras and 14 Cameras but it does well as a stand alone movie, so you don’t necessarily have to see the first two films to enjoy this one. On Friday October 13, it is coming to On Demand and in theaters in Los Angeles. 15 Cameras, directed by Danny Madden and written by PJ McCabe stars Will Madden, Angela Wong Carbone, Hilty Bowen, James Babson, Shirley Chen, Hannah Mckechnie, Skyler Bible, Courtney Dietz, Erik Leupp, Donna Allen, Brianne Moncrief, Jim Cummings, and Stephen Ruffin. (October Coast, 2023)
15 Cameras – When Cam and Sky bought their duplex, it seemed like the perfect investment opportunity for the young couple; a starter home, a mortgage offset by renters, and even a guest room for Sky’s sister, Carolyn. But as Sky and Cam slowly uncover hidden cameras and secrets of the duplex’s previous owner, obsession consumes their marriage and they both fall into destructive forms of voyeurism. When new tenants move in downstairs, their fixation with observing others has deadly consequences and they are forced to confront the very things they have been consumed by.
SA Examiner 