This Week in Horror: A love letter to My Bloody Valentine, a visit to Fantasy Island, remembering an icon, devil music for Sabrina fans, and more!
For such a short month (albeit, one day longer this year than usual), February is packed! From killer gifts for your Valentine, to ways to celebrate Women in Horror Month, to all the theatrical and streaming horror your heart desires — we’ve got you covered.
FANTASY ISLAND (RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 14)
In the reboot based on the series, Fantasy Island offers a group of lucky contest winners a tropical dream trip that’s definitely too good to be true, and these guests may have to figure out what secrets the island is hiding in order to leave with their lives, much less a good tan. Fantasy Island has fans hoping for a scary trip. It’s the first big horror movie of the year, and it’s from the same producer that brought us Get Out and Halloween. Check out the latest trailer drop for the film.
A QUIET PLACE PART II (RELEASE DATE: MARCH 20)
If you watched the Superbowl pre-game events, you may have seen the latest promotion for the John Krasinski-directed follow-up to A Quiet Place. This new spot gives fans new footage that hasn’t been seen in earlier trailers, including some flashback footage of the Abbotts pre-survival mode (and a look at Krasinski before his character met his untimely and super-depressing end), as well as a shot of the monsters that are after them in the post-apocalyptic world they inhabit. In case you missed it, you can check it out right here.
SWALLOW (RELEASE DATE: MARCH 6)
Swallow brings to light a disorder that’s rarely talked about, much less seen in movies. It’s called pica, and it happens when a pregnant woman has the urge to swallow odd objects, even those that can cause danger. This riveting film focuses on Hunter (Haley Bennett, The Magnificent Seven), a woman who married a dreamy rich guy and has a beautiful life on the surface, but what lurks underneath? The pressure of her in-laws and demands of her life take a toll in this suspenseful psychological thriller.
ARMY OF THE DEAD (RELEASE DATE: WINTER 2020)
Not only is Army of the Dead a possible follow-up to Dawn of the Dead, but the Zack Snyder-helmed project is finally gettin a release after it sat for 10 years due to rights issues. Snyder is known to fans for directing a host of DC flicks, such as Justice League and Man of Steel, but he seems to have found his niche with this Netflix-exclusive film starring Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Chris D’Elia (You). Set in a casino, this zombie action movie promises big-budget effects and limitless fun.
RUN SWEETHEART RUN (RELEASE DATE: April 2020)
Run Sweetheart Run is getting all sorts of Sundance buzz. And since it’s officially Women in Horror Month, it seems only appropriate to mention it this week. Produced by Jason Blum, the movie follows a single mom, Cherie (Ella Balinksi, Charlie’s Angels), who heads out on a blind date that her boss set up. It’s not just a date from hell, it’s a night of survival. Taking the idea of a bad date and twisting it into something sinister, Run Sweetheart Run offers a feminist take on dating through the eye of its female director, Shana Feste, who directed Country Strong. Stylish and subversive, this film goes where other horror movies haven’t.
Photo Courtesy of Sundance Institute
RED 11 (SUMMER 2020)
Don’t you miss the days before Robert Rodriguez was a big-budget director? So does he, so he’s gifting us with a return to those low-budget (and we mean LOW – $7,000!) filming days with Red 11, a cool medical thriller Rodriguez wrote with his son Racer 25 years ago. He’s dusted it off and revived it, and it should hit streaming this summer. The story follows a ‘lab rat’ named Red 11 who’s in debt and becomes a subject of experiments for a quick cash grab, but what effects do the drugs really have? You’ll see Red 11 on Tubi, along with a companion series for fans called Robert Rodriguez Film School.
DEMON SQUAD (RELEASE DATE: NOW AVAILABLE)
Demon Squad follows Nick Moon, a paranormal investigator (Khristian Fulmer, The Night Shift) on a case to find a historical artifact packed with powers that every creep wants to get ahold of. He’ll meet up with many monsters along the way in this campy-fun, noire-style film from Wild Eye. You can buy the DVD or catch Demon Squad on Amazon Prime and Tubi (free).
THE DAWN (RELEASE DATE: NOW AVAILABLE)
A woman (Devanny Pinn, Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery) goes to live in a convent after her family is killed at the hands of her father. She comes to believe that demons made her father commit this atrocious action and that those same spirits haunt her. This spooky, suspenseful thriller is available on most VOD platforms. Why are nuns so creepy, anyway?
KILLER WEEKEND (RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 18)
When horror and comedy combine, it can be gold. Killer Weekend strives to strike that balance in this film about a bachelor weekend gone bad. What Sam, (Sean Verey, Nina Forever) the groom-to-be, thinks is a fun paintball excursion is actually a zombie survival experience, but in fact, the “zombies” are insane and bloodthirsty former soldiers. For a second, Sam had thought the worst part of his bachelor weekend was his future father-in-law tagging along. Looks like that’s the least of it as these men fight for their life trapped in a bunker surrounded by crazy soldiers. Or is it just part of the game? This UK movie is being compared to Shaun of the Dead and promises lots of laughs.
Click here for our complete indie release calendar.
THE CRAFT
No, not that kind of craft. The craft of acting! This short film takes us into the life of an aspiring actress who wants to be the best she can be – even if it means confronting her demons at the behest of a famous Hollywood acting coach. How far will one woman go for her art? Watch this excellent horror short from Australia right here.
MY BLOODY VALENTINE (RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 11)
The classic 1981 film gets some love in this new Blu-ray release from Scream Factory. The My Bloody Valentine Collector’s Edition releases February 11. Fans will love biting into delicious new content, including a gorgeous 4K scan, interviews with the cast and crew, and old TV spots. Plus, if you order directly from the site, you could get two exclusive posters with brand-new artwork that you’ll definitely fall in love with along with a slipcover with alternate artwork created by the fantastic Laz Marquez, who stops my heart with unending amazing movie designs. Treat yourself this V-Day with an unforgettable set and relive this fun flick. Order here.
MY BLOODY VALENTINE (FEBRUARY 14)
The Colorado chapter of HWA (Horror Writers Association) will hold a Valentine’s Day event on February 14 at the Cottonwood Center for the Arts. This event will celebrate Women in Horror Month and will include fiction and poetry readings as well as academic presentations for an unforgettable evening of horror. Even better? It’s free to attend! There will also be tons of giveaways, such as signed books, as well as food and drinks available. If you’re a nerd for the written word and you love all things scary, this event should be amazing! Keep up with even more additions to the event and get details by following HWA on Facebook and Twitter.
THE CONJURING TOURIST ATTRACTION (TBD)
Remember that uber creepy farmhouse from The Conjuring? Well, now you can explore it, and you may get more than you bargained for in the admission price – owners Cory and Jennifer Heinzen say the house their house is not just movie-haunted, it’s for-real-haunted! They’ve seen flashing lights and heard footsteps in the newly purchased farmhouse from the famous film. They’re currently working to get the house open to the public, so you should be able to have a look in mid-2020. The Heinzens are paranormal investigators, and some of their filmed footage of the house’s happenings aired in October in a special on the Travel Channel called Ghost Adventures: Curse of the Harrisville Farmhouse, so you may already know about the house. The prior owner of the home sold it after too many horror fans came to see it, so why not make it an attraction?
OCTOBER FACTION (RELEASE DATE: NOW AVAILABLE)
The family that hunts together stays together. In October Faction, now streaming on Netflix, you’ll get to know Deloris (Tamara Taylor) and Fred (J.C. MacKenzie), parents who are monster hunters, along with their teenage twins, who move the family to New York and try to keep their identities on the down-low. They’re members of a secret organization, and kind of like Spy Kids, the twins find out Deloris and Fred aren’t insurance agents, but they’re actually professionally-trained creature assassins. This 10-episode drama is based on the popular comic series of the same name.
DOGS DON’T WEAR PANTS (RELEASE DATE: FEBRUARY 6)
Switch out the scares for sadomasochism with this striking, sexy film. Dogs Don’t Wear Pants is a Finnish flick that won Best Picture at Fantastic Fest, and piques interested based on the clever title alone. It’s the dark but funny story of a quiet guy who connects with a dominatrix after he loses his wife. Trying to find himself again, he receives enlightenment in the most unlikely of ways. Consider it 50 Shades of Gray without the cringe factor but with added heart, as odd as that may sound. Catch it on Shudder.
THE WALKING DEAD
Season 10 of The Walking Dead is rising February 23, and AMC has released some noteworthy art images from the upcoming mid-season premiere. In this season, the survivors are trapped at the hands of The Whisperers, who now have Negan among them. Unless they can defeat Alpha, there’s sure to be a war on the horizon, but Eugene has hope for the world after hearing voices on the radio.
WES CRAVEN INTERVIEWS
If you didn’t catch it in hardback, grab a copy of Wes Craven Interviews in paperback from Amazon. It’s a collection of interviews with the horror master that span decades, culled and edited by Shannon Blake Skelton, a professor at Kansas State. A must-read for anyone craving Craven – and missing him.
DEAD BY DAYLIGHT TOYS
Horror video game Dead by Daylight is getting figures. Made by the Gecco company of Japan, you’ll love collecting The Trapper in 1/6 scale form. This detailed design features The Wraith in all his glory, and you can see the work that went into this figure. Hand-carved and sculpted, The Wraith’s eyes even glow, and just like in the game, you can switch them from clear to red – just one of the amazing details of this beautiful rendering. His Bear Trap also really opens and closes. Gecco has already released a sculpture of The Wraith. See pictures and find out more on their site.
GHOSTBUSTERS: ARTBOOK
Fans of Ghostbusters will love this deluxe hardcover book that celebrates the lasting legacy of the film. Packed with everything from comic artwork to animation, this book offers numerous interpretations of the characters we love, from Slimer to Marshmallow Man and everything in between. Artists from the world-over made contributions to this beautiful book that any fan of the franchise will be thrilled to own. Preorder your copy now, or get slimed. It’s your choice!
CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA
CAOS fans, get ready to sign the book of the beast with the new Waxwork Records release of the Season 1 and 2 original soundtrack of the series. The superbly Satanic packaging of this record was created by Robert Hack. He also does the artwork for the comics, which is why it looks familiar, as well as the spooky title credits to the popular Netflix series, now in its third season and not stopping anytime soon. Praise Lilith while you spin this disc in two different colors, “Satanic Splatter” or solid red, orange, and yellow vinyl. Preorder yours now.
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Stay tuned for more news as it develops.
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