Other Mommy starring Jessica Chastain is now in theaters. Photo: Barnes & Noble
Book-to-Movie Adaptation:Incidents Around the House
By Josh Malerman
The Book
A young girl’s troubled family is haunted by an entity she calls “Other Mommy” in this chilling tale from the bestselling author of Bird Box.
LOCUS AWARD FINALIST • BRAM STOKER AWARD NOMINEE
Synopsis
To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world. There’s Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day:
“Can I go inside your heart?”
When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the question over and over, Bela understands that unless she says yes, her family will soon pay.
Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe, but other incidents show cracks in her parents’ marriage. The safety Bela relies on is about to unravel and Other Mommy needs an answer.
Incidents Around the House is a chilling, wholly unique tale of true horror about a family as haunted as their home.
About the Author
Josh Malerman is a New York Times bestselling author and one of two singer-songwriters for the rock band The High Strung. His debut novel, Bird Box, inspired the hit Netflix film of the same name. His other novels include Daphne, Pearl, Spin a Black Yarn, and Malorie (the sequel to Bird Box).
The Movie (Other Mommy)
Now playing in theaters, Incidents Around the House comes to the big screen under the title Other Mommy, starring Jessica Chastain.
Synopsis
Bela, an 8-year-old girl living in a home fraught with marital tension, confronts a sinister entity that emerges from her closet. The presence, whom she calls “Other Mommy,” becomes increasingly threatening to both her and her family.
Movie Details
Director: Rob Savage
Writers: Nathan Elson, Josh Malerman
Cast: Jessica Chastain, Dichen Lachman, Karen Allen
The indie horror movie It Hunts is available now on Amazon Prime. Photo: Gabriel Black, used with permission.
New Release: Indie Horror-Thriller It Hunts Arrives on Prime Video
Rain of Fire Productions, in partnership with distributor Indie Rights, has announced the streaming release of It Hunts, a gripping new supernatural horror-thriller written and directed by Gabriel Black. The 98-minute feature is now available to stream on AmazonPrime Video. (Rain of Fire Productions, 2026)
Synopsis & Official Details
The film follows Casey, a lazy nightcrawler with a diet almost as bad as his dead-end job. With his life and relationship going nowhere, his mundane existence is shattered when he begins to experience hallucinations, recurring nightmares, and escalating paranoia. Casey finds himself desperately trying to unravel the mystery of a supernatural entity that is relentlessly hunting him.
Genre: Supernatural Thriller / Psychological Horror / Drama
Directors & Producers: Written and directed by Gabriel Black; produced by Gabriel Black and Stephanie Black
Cast: Izzy Martinez, Katlin Svadbik, J.J. Crowne, Gabriel Lopez, Red Devigne, and Joyci Lucia
Production Company: Rain of Fire Productions
“We wanted to create a story that merges the gritty reality of nightcrawling with an inescapable, atmospheric horror. Casey is a deeply flawed protagonist whose lack of direction is suddenly replaced by the most primal instinct of all: survival.” — Gabriel Black, Director
Film Review: A Neon-Soaked Portrait of Modern Dread
Gabriel Black’s indie psychological horror It Hunts paints a suffocating, neon-soaked portrait of modern dread.
The story follows Casey (Izzy Martinez), a sluggish night shift worker stuck in a dead-end job and a strained relationship with his girlfriend, Alex (Katlin Svadbik). Casey has stopped imagining a future, making his sudden fear of being hunted feel both like an external threat and a physical manifestation of everything he has repressed.
When he begins experiencing recurring nightmares and paralyzing paranoia, he turns to medical professionals. Every test comes back normal, and a therapist simply prescribes antipsychotic medications. Alex, a nursing student, notices that Casey seems to be missing two years from his past and suspects he may be experiencing dissociative amnesia. Together, they attempt to uncover the missing time period, raising more questions than answers.
Character Analysis
Casey (Izzy Martinez): Serves as a compelling avatar for urban burnout. His laziness acts as a psychological shield against past traumas, making his frantic spiral feel painfully recognizable. His quest to unravel the mystery becomes an accidental journey toward self-awareness.
Alex (Katlin Svadbik): Provides a vital, grounding contrast. Though initially frustrated by Casey’s inertia, she evolves into an indispensable ally as the boundary between reality and hallucination blurs.
Core Themes
Black uses classic horror tropes to explore stagnation vs. mortality and escapism. The dread haunting Casey represents the inevitable crash of ignoring one’s mental health and unresolved past. While the title suggests a literal predator, the film’s strongest tension comes from the possibility that the monster is essentially tied to Casey’s repressed memories.
While occasional dialogue-heavy scenes slow the pacing and the open-ended ending leaves Casey’s final fate to viewer interpretation, It Hunts succeeds as a moody, atmospheric thriller that turns an ordinary life into a nightmare of suspicion and dread.
About Rain of Fire Productions
Rain of Fire Productions is an independent film production company dedicated to crafting engaging, character-driven stories across the thriller, horror, and drama genres.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
*Thank you to Gabriel Black for the screener link for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Izzy Martinez, Katlin Svadbik, and J.J. Crowne in It Hunts. Photo: Gabriel Black
U.S. Release Date: September 15, 2026 Formats: 4K Steelbook, Blu-ray, and Digital
Get ready to revisit Theta Pi in glorious high definition! The 2009 slasher favorite Sorority Row is making its long-awaited 4K Ultra HD debut on September 15, 2026. Available in a premium 4K Steelbook, standard Blu-ray, and Digital formats via Lionsgate Limited. Pre-order here.(EG PR, 2026)
The Synopsis
Who’s killing the sisters of Theta Pi?
In SororityRow, making its 4K debut, the sisters of Rosman University’s Theta Pi, Cassidy (Briana Evigan), Chugs (Margo Harshman), Jessica (Leah Pipes), Ellie (Rumer Willis), and Claire (Jamie Chung), are committed to staying mum regarding the prank that ended in tragedy for Megan (Audrina Patridge), one of their own.
But when graduation day arrives, so does terror, as a killer hunts Theta Pi’s sisters one by one.
FilmInformation
Genre: Horror, mystery
Rating: R for strong bloody violence, language, some sexuality/nudity, and partying
Running Time: 101 minutes
Directed by: Steward Hendler
Screenplay by: Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger
Based on: The original screenplay SevenSisters by Mark Rosman
Cast
Briana Evigan, Leah Pipes, Rumer Willis, Jamie Chung, Audrina Patridge, Julian Morris, Margo Harshman, Matt Lanter, and Carrie Fisher
Grit and Glamour: The Visual Design of SororityRow — Approx. TRT: 16:30
LegacySpecial Features
Audio commentary with the director and cast — Feature length
Sorority Secrets: Stories from the Set — TRT: 10:28
Killer 101 — TRT: 14:00
Kill Switch — TRT: 10:25
Deleted Scenes — TRT: 6***
Outtakes — TRT: 5:27
Sorority Pledge — TRT: 1:01
EPK B-Roll — TRT: 8:53
Confessional — TRT: 4***
Shower Rehearsal — TRT: 2:53
TV Spot — TRT: 0:31
Theatrical Trailer — TRT: 2:30
International Trailer — TRT: 1:40
AboutLionsgate Limited
Created for movie lovers by movie lovers, Lionsgate Limited celebrates the artistry of film with premium, limited-edition releases curated from Lionsgate’s expansive entertainment library.
Its mission is to enrich your connection to your favorite films through careful movie restoration, specially designed collectible packaging, and bonus content that honors the vision of the filmmakers.
‘The Amityville Horror’ by Jay Anson. Photo: Barnes & Noble
📚Book Review: The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson
Synopsis
In December 1975, the Lutz family moved into their new home in suburban Long Island. George and Kathleen Lutz knew that one year earlier, Ronald DeFeo had murdered his family in the house, but the property, complete with a boathouse and swimming pool, and the price were too good to pass up.
Twenty-eight days later, the entire Lutz family fled in terror.
Review
The Amityville Horror remains one of the most chilling entries in paranormal literature, chronicling the 28 days George and Kathleen Lutz spent in their dream home. The narrative blurs the line between documentary reporting and visceral horror and the idea that an ordinary suburban house could conceal something horrifying gives the story much of its power.
Character Dynamics
George Lutz: Positioned as the pragmatic patriarch, George’s descent from a stable family man to an uncharacteristic, brooding recluse forms the novel’s emotional core. His gradual personality shift highlights the insidious influence of the house.
Kathleen Lutz: Serving as the perceptive counterweight, Kathy’s emotional anguish and instinct to protect her three children anchor the story’s human stakes amid chaotic spectral events.
Father Mancuso: The troubled priest introduces a theological dimension, acting as a spiritual guide whose physical illness reinforces the dark forces at play.
Anson’s background in documentary writing shapes the book’s character dynamics. Rather than making them over-the-top heroes, George and Kathleen are portrayed as grounded, everyday parents unraveling under inexplicable stress. Their vulnerability makes the escalation, from strange odors and cold spots to severe levitation and demonic infestation, profoundly unsettling. Whether readers accept the events as supernatural or approach them skeptically, the characters create a strong emotional center for the story.
Core Themes
The Violation of Domestic Sanctuary: The narrative weaponizes the American Dream, transforming a dream suburban home into a site of claustrophobic dread.
Economic Vulnerability: The financial pressure of buying a bargain home amplifies the family’s stress, blending real-world anxieties with the supernatural.
Good vs. Evil: A traditional moral conflict underpins the story, questioning whether human faith can withstand an ancient, malicious presence.
Enduring Appeal
Decades after publication, the book retains its hold on readers by capitalizing on journalistic realism and the simple, terrifying prompt: “Based on a true story.” Anson’s clinical, day-by-day structure creates an immersive documentarian tone that keeps true-crime and horror enthusiasts fascinated by its eerie legacy.
Book vs. 1979 Movie Adaptation
While Jay Anson’s 1977 book and Stuart Rosenberg’s 1979 film adaptation share the same core narrative, the Lutz family fleeing their home after 28 days of supernatural terror, the two versions diverge significantly in their storytelling approach, character execution, and thematic emphasis.
Feature
Jay Anson’s Book (1977)
1979 Film Adaptation
Narrative Tone
Clinical, investigative, and documentary-style; presents events as a straightforward log of facts.
Dramatic, cinematic, and melodramatic; relies on visceral jump scares and atmosphere.
George Lutz’ Arc
Portrayed as a fatigued, cold-sensitive man suffering mood swings and physical decline.
Features a full transformation into a threatening, axe-wielding figure resembling Ronald DeFeo Jr.
Religious Subplot
Father Mancuso suffers from afar after being instructed by the house to “get out.”
Expanded into a theatrical battle between Father Delaney (Rod Steiger) and systemic church bureaucracy.
Supernatural Elements
Relies heavily on lingering dread, foul odors, subtle physical coldness, and eerie sounds.
Features overt physical manifestations, such as black ooze from toilets and red-eyed demonic pig projections.
Key Plot Differences
The book operates like an eerie non-fiction diary, emphasizing small, increasing stresses, financial burdens, broken locks, and bad weather that wears down the family piece by piece. The film dramatizes these events, escalating George’s hostility much faster and turning his obsession with chopping firewood into an explicit signal of imminent physical danger toward his family. Additionally, the movie gives Father Delaney (renamed from Mancuso) a much larger on screen presence, including scenes where he loses his sight and sanity while attempting to warn the family.
Thematic Shifts
Journalistic Realism vs. Cinematic Spectacle: The novel’s power comes from its plain, “true story” journalistic layout. The film abandons this understated documentarian tone in favor of traditional Hollywood tropes, utilizing Lalo Schifrin’s Oscar-nominated score and visual horror cues to drive the narrative.
Domestic Ruin vs. Economic Anxiety: While the book focuses heavily on spiritual violation, it’s mostly seen as an exercise in financial anxiety. The movie leans heavily into the terror of the American Dream turning into a financial trap, highlighting unpaid bills, lost money down the drain, and a house that destroys the family’s equity along with their sanity.
Final Book Verdict
I hadn’t read the book previously and opted for the audiobook instead. To my surprise, it’s not as scary as I thought going in, though it does have its occasional jump scares. The final chapters, where the family prepares to leave while the house refuses to let them go, deliver some intense action. The overall day-by-day tone that breaks down the Lutz’ experience in the house is intriguing, and fans of real-crime stories will definitely find it an interesting read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
“When he flicked the first holy water and uttered the words that accompany the gesture, Father Mancuso heard a masculine voice say with terrible clarity: ‘Get out!’”
The blood-soaked Southern throwback horror film will be released in select U.S. theaters on September 25, 2026. Photo: Bald Man Films/Convoke Media, used with permission.
THE BACKWOODS GET BLOODY: “HELLBILLY HOLLOW” TRAILER DROPS AHEAD OF SEPTEMBER THEATER RELEASE
One of the South’s most iconic haunted attractions is about to become the setting for an all-new generation’s nightmares.
Bald Man Films and Todd Slater’s Convoke Media have officially unleashed the first trailer for “Hellbilly Hollow,” a blood-soaked Southern throwback horror reminiscent of cult classics Terrifier and Friday the 13th. Filmed on location at the real-life Hellbilly Hollow haunted attraction in Vincent, Alabama, the film slashes into select U.S. theaters via Atlas Distribution Company on Friday, September 25. (Cinematic Red PR, 2026)
Check out the trailer breakdown, storyline, and behind-the-scenes details below.
The Synopsis: Real Scares in the Alabama Backwoods
In Hellbilly Hollow, a team of paranormal YouTubers ventures deep into the Alabama backwoods to film at a haunted attraction the night before Halloween. They soon encounter a sinister presence far more frightening, and deadlier, than specters and staged scares:
Tickles: A disfigured, childlike clown.
Bull: His manipulative caretaker brother.
One by one, the investigators and local thrill-seekers fall victim to the siblings’ sadistic games inside the attraction’s real-life haunted barn, hayride, and scare zones.
From Commercial Shoot to Southern Slasher
The idea for the film took root on-site at the attraction, where director Kevin Wayne was initially filming a commercial. After envisioning a sinister figure hunting victims through the haunt’s eerie backwoods setting, the concept evolved into a full-length feature.
“I’ve wanted to make a horror film for a long time – but not just any horror film. With ‘Hellbilly Hollow,’ I saw a chance to tell a true Southern horror story – one that’s sinister and twisted, atmospheric and character-driven, not just reliant on jump scares and gore.” — Kevin Wayne (Director / “Tickles”)
“We came up with a slate of outrageous, never-before-seen kills. From day one, we knew this would be the start of something bigger – a series of films built around a place, two complex, deranged siblings, and the culture they inhabit.” — Kurt Deimer (Producer / “Bull”)
Practical FX, Heavy Metal, and Carnage
Designed to deliver authentic throwback thrills, Hellbilly Hollow turns carnival mechanics into lethal traps. Engineered by executive producer and production designer Mike Denard, the set features customized, practical set pieces including:
Wack-a-Troll
High Striker
Acid Darts
Car Dunk Sequence
The Sound of Horror:
Supercharging the scares, the film features an original score composed by Roy Mayorga (Ministry), sound design by Tom Boykin (John Wick: Chapter 4, The Last of Us), and eight original songs performed by rock artist and co-star Kurt Deimer.
Cast and Crew Highlights
Cast: Kurt Deimer, Kevin Wayne, Danny Vinson, Sandra Ellis Lafferty, Megan Alexandrea Weaver, Hallie Shepherd, Trey Miller, and Keller Fornes.
Director: Kevin Wayne
Writer: Bernadette Chapman
Producers: Kurt Deimer, Todd Slater
Director of Photography: David Brower
Executive Producers: Michael T. Clarke, Mike Denard, Andy Gould, David Miller, Tim Miller, James Srygley, Kevin Wayne, and Brandon Evans.
ABOUT BALD MAN FILMS
Founded by Cincinnati-born rocker, actor, and producer Kurt Deimer, Bald Man Films specializes in producing genre content. The company is the culmination of Deimer’s unconventional journey from the school of hard knocks to entrepreneur, rock musician, actor, and film producer.
ABOUTCONVOKEMEDIA
Convoke Media is a strategic investment and content company operating at the intersection of film, television, digital media, and institutional capital. Recent films include, The Optimist, Flyover, Scare BnB, Paul & Greg & Amelia, & Don’t Log Off. Founded by veteran media executive Todd Slater, the company focuses on the development, financing, and scaling of premium content with global commercial potential.
Hellbilly Hollow still. Photo: Bald Man Films/Convoke Media
Set in 1950s Mexico, the novel follows Noemí Taboada, a glamorous socialite whose life mostly consists of high-society parties and leisure. That changes overnight when her father summons her to his office after receiving a frantic, disturbing letter from Noemí’s newly-wed cousin, Catalina. Begging for someone to save her from a “mysterious doom,” Catalina writes about hearing voices in the walls and seems consumed by paranoia. (Barnes & Noble, 2026)
Striking a deal with her father, investigate Catalina’s situation in exchange for his blessing to attend college for anthropology, Noemí strikes out for High Place, a isolated mansion tucked away in the Mexican countryside.
Noemí is an unlikely rescuer. Her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are better suited for cocktail lounges than amateur sleuthing. However, beneath her polished exterior lies a sharp mind and an indomitable will. She isn’t easily intimidated:
Not of Virgil: Catalina’s new husband, a handsome Englishman who is as menacing as he is alluring.
Not of Howard: The family’s ancient patriarch, who harbors a bizarre, unsettling fascination with Noemí.
Not of High Place itself: Even as the decaying mansion invades her dreams with visions of blood and doom.
Her sole ally in this inhospitable home is Francis, the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, Francis wants to help Noemí, but he may also be guarding dark secrets about his family’s past. Behind High Place’s walls lie stories of violence, madness, and a faded silver mining empire built on exploitation. What begins as a family rescue mission quickly devolves into a desperate fight to escape a terrifying, addictive nightmare.
Review
Mexican Gothic brilliantly reinvents classic Gothic horror by fusing familiar tropes, such as dilapidated mansions, tyrannical patriarchs, and psychological dread, with a rich, atmospheric 1950s Mexican backdrop. As Noemí steps into High Place, she enters a living nightmare built on physical isolation and lingering colonial rot.
High Place itself functions as its own character. Its decaying walls and disturbing dreamscapes create an oppressive, suffocating sense of dread. Moreno-Garcia seamlessly weaves traditional horror elements with Mexican history and sharp social commentary.
The narrative unfolds at a steady, deliberate pace, escalating the tension with every chapter and every deeply unsettling secret Noemí unearths. The author balances this high tension with beautifully poetic prose:
“Everything in High Place was gnarled and begrimed, but he’d been able to grow bright and mindful, like an odd plant that is carried onto the wrong flower bed.”
Character Dynamics
Noemí Taboada: Far from a helpless damsel in distress, Noemí’s party-girl facade conceals a fierce intellect and resilience. Her absolute refusal to break or submit to High Place makes her an incredible protagonist.
Francis Doyle: Soft-spoken and gentle, Francis offers a stark contrast to his sinister family. His inner conflict between familial loyalty and moral action makes him Noemí’s only true ally.
Howard Doyle: The ancient patriarch embodies predatory control, obsessively driven by ideas of genetic purity and bodily exploitation.
Core Themes
Colonialism & Exploitation: The Doyle family’s faded mining empire reveals how foreign powers drain local resources and labor, framing historical exploitation as a literal, invasive threat to the body.
Autonomy vs. Control: Patriarchal domination and eugenics clash directly with Noemí’s fiercely guarded independence.
A Note on the Audiobook:
While the story itself was deeply entertaining, I found the audiobook narration disappointing. The delivery felt robotic and AI-like, complete with awkward pauses and mispronunciations of Spanish names. I only kept listening because I was so hooked on finding out how the plot ended.
Final Verdict
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a haunting, visually atmospheric tale where the greatest horrors stem not just from supernatural forces, but from human greed and tyranny. It proves that gothic horror can be both frightening and deeply thought-provoking. Readers who enjoy atmospheric mysteries, strong female leads, and dark family secrets should immediately add this to their reading list.
“She had experience dealing with irritating men. They did not fluster her. She had learned, by navigating cocktail parties and meals at restaurants, that showing any kind of reaction to their crude remarks emboldened them.”
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
About the Author
Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a Mexican-Canadian novelist, short story writer, editor, and publisher. She is the author of The Bewitching, Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow, and many other acclaimed books. Her work has earned her the Locus, British Fantasy, and World Fantasy awards. She holds an MA in Science and Technology Studies from the University of British Columbia.
Turning Point will be available On Demand and Digital on August 25. Photo: Lionsgate, used with permission.
Movie Premiere: DJ Qualls Stars in the High-Stakes Horror Thriller Turning Point
If you’re looking for a horror movie that refuses to play by the rules, Turning Point deserves an immediate spot on your watchlist. Fusing the nail-biting suspense of a home invasion thriller with the relentless chaos of a zombie outbreak, it delivers edge-of-your-seat tension from start to finish.
Every knock at the door and every shadow could spell disaster, creating a gripping atmosphere that never lets up. Packed with intense action, unexpected twists, and high-stakes survival, Turning Point offers horror fans a fresh, adrenaline-fueled experience that stands out in a crowded genre.
A Simple Heist Becomes an Absolute Nightmare
Directed and written by Joshua Wagner, Turning Point is a claustrophobic, high-tension thriller coming directly to Digital and On Demand courtesy of Lionsgate. (EG PR, 2026)
The story follows two thieves trapped inside a house with a mutating victim. To stay alive, they must rely on a bizarre neighbor in a race against time before they become the monster’s next meal.
“There is danger in the night, but the true terror is inside the house.”
Official Synopsis
Margot and her partner-in-crime break into a home, only to find themselves locked inside with the owner, who is in the middle of transitioning into a zombie. They must find a way out before they become the ghoul’s first victims. Their only hope for survival is a bizarre neighbor with expert knowledge of the undead and the lingering flicker of humanity in their mutating stalker.
Cast & Crew
DJ Qualls as “Casper” (Road Trip, Hustle & Flow, The Man in the High Castle)
Jillian Lee Garner
Mike Apple
Shane Brady (Ballers, Synchronic, Doctor Sleep)
Lydia Hearst (The Haunting of Sharon Tate, Z Nation, Slayers)
Sanchita Malik (Happy Anniversary, Love, Escape the Night)
Film Specifications
Detail
Information
Title
Turning Point
Street Date
August 25, 2026
Release Format
Video on Demand / Electronic Sell-Through (Lionsgate)
Genre
Thriller / Zombie Horror
Rating
R (Violent content, gore, language, and some drug use)
The Descent: Part 2 will be available on 4K for the first time in the U.S. Photo: Lionsgate Limited, used with permission.
For physical media collectors and horror enthusiasts alike, the depths are calling once again.
Lionsgate has officially announced that The Descent: Part 2 is making its way to 4K Ultra HD for the very first time in the United States. This claustrophobic 2009 sequel is getting a gorgeous, limited-edition Steelbook release on August 11, 2026. Featuring terrifyingly vibrant custom artwork designed by the talented Matt Ryan Tobin, this is a must-have addition to your horror shelf. (EG PR, 2026)
Return to the Cave: The Story
Picking up immediately where the bone-chilling events of the first film left off, The Descent: Part 2 follows Sarah Carter (Shauna Macdonald). Dazed, covered in blood, and completely speechless, she emerges alone from the Appalachian cave system.
When authorities force her back underground to help a rescue team search for her missing friends, Sarah’s fractured memories begin to resurface—and with them, the realization of what truly lurks in the pitch black. Worse yet, the team is about to encounter a new, even more viciously feral tribe of deformed “crawlers.”
Release Details & Technical Specs
This limited release is packed with premium technical details, bringing the movie’s dark, atmospheric dread to life with gorgeous Dolby Vision HDR and crushing 5.1 surround sound.
Feature
Specification
U.S. Release Date
August 11, 2026
Format
16×9 (2.35:1) Dolby Vision Presentation
Audio
English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio™
Subtitles
English SDH
Run Time
94 minutes
Rating
R (Strong bloody horror violence, grisly images, terror, and language)
The Cast & Crew
Directed by: Jon Harris
Written by: James McCarthy, J Blakeson, James Watkins
Produced by: Christian Colson, Ivana Mackinnon
Starring: Shauna Macdonald, Natalie Mendoza, Douglas Hodge, Krysten Cummings, Gavan O’Herlihy, Josh Dallas, and Anna Skellern
Special Features Guide
The 4K + Blu-ray + Digital combo pack comes loaded with both brand-new exclusive content and classic legacy special features that take you deeper into the filmmaking process.
🎬Lionsgate Limited New Extras
Flashback on The Descent: Part 2 – Shauna Macdonald: An exclusive retrospective interview with the lead actress.
Flashback on The Descent: Part 2 – Krysten Cummings: A brand-new look back with co-star Krysten Cummings.
💀Legacy Special Features
Audio Commentary: Featuring Director Jon Harris alongside actors Shauna Macdonald, Krysten Cummings, and Anna Skellern.
The Making of The Descent: Part 2: Deeper & Darker
The Genesis (Behind-the-scenes featurette)
Deleted Scenes: Complete with optional director commentary.
EPK B-Roll & Interview Clips
Production Design & Storyboard Galleries
U.S. & International Trailers
Note on regional playback: The 4K UHD disc is entirely region-free and plays worldwide, while the included standard Blu-ray disc is locked to Region A (North America).
The Descent: Part 2 4K Steelbook is available for pre-order now. Will you be descending back into the darkness this August?
Book Review: I Know a Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours
By: Nat Cassidy
Featuring an Introduction by: Stephen King
The first collection from author Nat Cassidy features his unique blend of gleefully terrifying short fiction, including the hit novella Rest Stop.
“These stories are f*cking great. They rule. So read them.” — Stephen King, from his introduction
Synopsis
There are locations in this world where the light doesn’t seem to reach. Where, no matter how illuminated the place might be, shadows creep in too strongly to fight back.
These locations and more are your destination, and bestselling author Nat Cassidy will be your guide. Featuring the Bram Stoker Award-nominated, critically acclaimed novella Rest Stop (one of Esquire’s Best Horror Books of 2024), along with a number of other original short stories—some of which have never been published before—I Know A Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours is a travelogue down twisting side streets and through alleyways where the darkness has eyes and teeth.
Let’s hope you make it home in one piece.
The Table of Contents (Stories):
Rest Stop
Meet-Cute #1: The Unluckiest Girl
Generation
Nice
The Art of What You Want
The Lunar Eclipse
Laughlines
Run for Your Life
Jubilee
Juncture
Come Into the Life of Things
Meet-Cute #2: The Scariest Thing
A Fruiting Body
My Review: Creeping Dread in Everyday Places
Nat Cassidy is a Stephen King fan, and his influence absolutely shows. King has a keen gift for turning ordinary situations into absolute nightmares, and this collection proves that Cassidy has that exact same superpower.
I Know a Place: Rest Stop and Other Dark Detours is a chilling collection that proves horror doesn’t need haunted castles or isolated mansions to unsettle readers. Instead, Cassidy transforms the mundane—a lonely highway rest stop, a doctor’s office, a cramped apartment, even a modern kitchen—into landscapes of creeping dread where something always feels just a little wrong.
Anchored by Rest Stop, which absolutely lives up to its award-nominated reputation, the book delivers relentless tension and a growing sense of unease. Throughout the collection, Cassidy expertly blends psychological horror, supernatural terror, and deep human emotion. His characters feel completely authentic, making their encounters with the bizarre all the more impactful.
Standout Highlights
Rest Stop – Abe is in a band that has a gig coming up, but for now, he’s on the road in the middle of the night to visit his grandmother in the hospital. He has a complicated relationship with her, but she’s the only grandparent he has ever known. When he sees a sign for a gas station, he takes the next exit for a much-needed break. What could possibly go wrong? Next time you stop at an isolated gas station in the middle of the night, try not to think about this story.
Nice – Mitchell is a six-year-old boy obsessed with Santa, much to his parents’ chagrin. When Twinklebottom the Elf visits him in the middle of the night to ask for his help in easing the elves’ workload by not being too nice, he’s unprepared for how far Mitchell will go.
The Lunar Eclipse – A woman waiting for an eclipse looks back at her life and the man she met when they were six years old. They eventually became romantically involved but have since moved on. He has passed away, but she can’t help but remember the promise they made 50 years ago while witnessing another eclipse: no matter what happened, they’d be together for the next one. No matter what…
The Verdict
Each story explores different shades of fear, from grief and guilt to obsession and isolation, while maintaining a distinctive voice that is equal parts unsettling and compassionate. Cassidy’s vivid prose creates immersive settings where darkness seems to seep through every crack.
“This parking lot has gotten too dark and it feels like that van, with its impenetrable windows, is swelling in size, blotting out what little light there is.”
He takes places we all instinctively distrust, like an empty midnight gas station littered with googly eyes, and injects them with a creeping, visceral malice. The atmosphere throughout the anthology is thick and heavy; no matter how well-lit these venues claim to be, the shadows always fight back with teeth.
Cassidy’s writing is remarkably adaptable. He bounces effortlessly between psychological unease and sharp, bloody terror, ensuring that each detour feels uniquely dangerous. It’s a sharp, terrifying read that reminds us exactly why we look over our shoulders in empty rooms.
For those brave enough to step off the main highway, I Know a Place is a brilliant, dark journey that’s well worth taking. Just be prepared for the nightmares that may follow. Perfect for fans of atmospheric horror and unsettling short fiction, this exceptional collection showcases Nat Cassidy’s remarkable imagination and storytelling skill.
“It was a joke, more or less. He had to have known that.”
According to Deadline, Gary Dauberman’s Coin Operated has secured the rights to Rest Stop for a future feature film. Cassidy will adapt the screenplay with Dauberman and Mia Maniscalco as producers.
** Thank you to Eve Bailey and Flo Communications for my gifted copy for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
Sight Unseen will be available on digital and on demand on May 19. Photo: One Tree Entertainment
Movie Review: Sight Unseen
Every Gift Has a Price
The Synopsis
Three siblings inherit their estranged father’s rural cabin after his mysterious death. But the longer they spend in the house, the more apparent it becomes that someone, or something, still lives there. (One Tree Entertainment, 2026)
Sight Unseen traps viewers in a rural nightmare where something waits in the dark. You can’t hide from what you can’t see.
Film Credits
Release Date: Digital and On Demand — May 19, 2026
Written & Directed by: Stephen Packhurst
Starring: Lauren Pisano (Law & Order), Daniel Burns (Inventing Anna, Insomnia), and Kellie Spill.
Atmosphere & Tension
Sight Unseen is a tense and atmospheric horror thriller that leans heavily into isolation and the fear of the unknown. It begins as an uncomfortable family reunion and quickly spirals into something far more terrifying. As strange noises, missing objects, and unsettling encounters mount, it becomes clear the siblings are not alone.
The film’s atmosphere is its greatest asset. The rural setting feels cold, empty, and claustrophobic all at once. By keeping the “presence” largely obscured, the director taps into the primal fear that our imagination is far scarier than any physical monster.
The Verdict on Dread: Rather than relying on cheap jump scares, the cinematography turns darkness into a living threat. The true star, however, is the sound design. Every creaking floorboard and distant whisper builds a layer of anxiety that makes the tagline feel like a personal threat.
The Sibling Dynamic
The emotional weight of the movie rests on the shoulders of the three leads. Their chemistry feels authentic, with years of resentment and unresolved trauma bubbling to the surface.
Grounded Performance: Their bickering provides a realistic contrast to the escalating supernatural absurdity.
Personal Stakes: Their fractured relationships make the survivalist nightmare feel earned, turning a standard family drama into a fight for their lives.
Final Thoughts
While some plot beats may feel familiar to veteran horror fans, Sight Unseen succeeds through sheer mood and suspense. It is an eerie, nerve-rattling experience that keeps audiences guessing until the final moments.
The takeaway? Some doors are better left locked, and the secrets we inherit can eventually hunt us down.
**Thank you to One Tree Entertainment for the screener link for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
