ICYMI: Mother, “May” I Watch Some Horror?

In Case You Missed It (May 2018): Things are heating up outside and in the world of horror, as we find ourselves halfway to Halloween.

Horror geeks and freaks, I have…RETURNED! Braving my birthday month and Mother’s Day, and through the waves of exaggerated adornment, comes your May recap…from yours Truly.

*Stay tuned for the bottom of this article for a hard announcement.*

COMING ATTRACTIONS

THIS “HALLOWEEN” WE GET A NEW MASK AND A NEW SCORE FROM JOHN CARPENTER!  

So last I talked about ol’ Mikey I spoke on how his mask for the newest Halloween installment was to be weathered and aged and all that jazz…but now I get to see what the hell I was talking about! While I was away, Jason Blum dropped this pic on Twitter (above).

Whatdaya’ think?

Here’s the full version…

On a different note, same subject, here’s something else. Jason Blum, in the same setting, revealed to a fan that John Carpenter IS in fact doing the score. We’ve also been teased on what to expect from the trailer via Deadline:

The trailer shown to the exhibitor crowd opens in the mental asylum where Myers in incarcerated. Cut to Curtis’ Laurie Strode, still traumatized years after her encounter with the masked murderer, who is her brother. “I pray every night that he would escape… so I could kill him.” Of course he does, and Laurie goes on a spree to fulfill that desire.

[UPDATE] as of May 13th, it has been announced Halloween’s ending is undergoing a reshoot following a test screening. Halloween hits theaters October 19th, but, reportedly, we’ll see a trailer within the next couple of months.

“THE NUN” TEASER IMAGE STARES AT US IN BLACK AND WHITE

So here’s an update on James Wan’s The Nun, which shoots off from the Horror Master’s The Conjuring franchise: There was a teaser image dropped. Yes, it was poster worthy. But no, it did not reveal jack-sh*t in the plot department — nor did it reveal anything new. The pic’s below⬇

Wan’s The Nun is set years before The Conjuring and its most recent prequel Annabelle: Creation, and it follows the story of a priest (Damien Bichr) investigating the death of a nun in Rome.

The film is also said to be in vain of Italian horror films, according to James Wan at CinemaCon, where a bit of footage was released. The Nun is set to haunt theaters, and our subconscious, by September 7th.

DO POSSESSED DOLLS EVER REALLY DIE? “ANNABELLE” RETURNS FOR THIRD FILM. 

Following the success of Annabelle: Creation, which raked in $306.5 million, comes a brand new untitled Annabelle installment, according to THR. The franchise installment shoots off of, like The Nun (above), James Wan’s The Conjuring franchise.

There isn’t much released on the installment, other than Gary Dauberman is the locked script scribe with the film also marking his directorial debut. Dauberman is also behind the upcoming Are You Afraid Of The Dark rehash.

New Line has already reserved July 3, 2019, as the release date. James Wan’s Atomic Monster and Peter Safran Co. both return to produce under their production banners. No plot details dropped.

“IT” DIRECTOR SAYS WE’LL NEED ADULT DIAPERS FOR CHAPTER 2; SNL’S BILL HADER JOINS CAST, AMONG OTHERS

Andi Muschietti, the director of 2017’s IT, was at Cinema Con talking about IT: Chapter 2 (source) and said “Bring your adult diapers to the theaters” as a teaser for the film. Now does this sound like a pretty big woody to throw out there? YES! Does this set people’s expectations even higher than they already were watching the highly successful and awesome IT (2017)? YES, YES! I just hope Muschietti can deliver… again.

On a related note, it appears Jessica Chastain has been confirmed to be Chapter 2’s adult Beverly Marsh, with SNL’s Bill Hader (remember Stefon?) playing adult Richie Tozier, James McAvoy playing adult Bill Denbrough and James Ransone as Eddie Kaspbrak. Jeremey Ray Taylor, Wyatt Oleff, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Jackson Robert Scott and Jack Dylan Grazer return.

Beware the sewers in 2019?

HERE’S WHAT I KNOW SO FAR ABOUT “PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTLEST REICH”

The latest installment in Charles Band’s outlandish Puppet Master franchise, as you know, is Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich. And here’s what I know so far!

RLJE Films owns the rights. It will star Barbara Crampton, Thomas Lennon, Jenny Pellicer, Nelson Franklin Charlyne Yi, Michael Pare. Writing is being handled by S. Craig Zahler (Bone Tomahawk), with Sonny Laguna and Tommy Wiklund (We Are Monsters) co-directing. It’s scheduled to hit theaters on August 17, 2018 and is currently unrated.

The plot centers on Edgar (Lennon), recently divorced and reeling, who returns to his childhood home to regroup his life. When he finds a nefarious looking Puppet in his deceased brother’s room, he decides to sell the doll for some quick cash at a small-town convention celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the infamous Toulon Murders. Girl-next-door Ashley (Pellicer) and his comic book shop boss, Markowitz (Franklin), join Edgar for the doomed road trip. All hell breaks loose when a strange force animates the puppets at the convention, setting them on a bloody killing spree that’s motivated by an evil as old as time.

Stay tuned. I’ll find out more!

“ZOMBIELAND 2” HOARDING TWINKIES UNTIL 2019? YE-UP!

Fans of the 09′ Apocalypse Guide-Book Comedy that was ZombieLand, can rejoice; writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick are hammering away at a sequel for 2019, according to Joblo.

Wernick claims, “Zombieland came out October of 2009. We don’t know know what you get someone for their tenth anniversary, but it may be Zombieland 2“. The writer then continued, “The hope is that we’re shooting for that thing early 2019 for an October of ’19 release.”

The writer also claimed the original cast is onboard, but like everything, I’m sure that’s subject to change. There isn’t a released script either. Stay tuned.

MUST SEE TV

BRUCE CAMPBELL BID FAREWELL TO HIS CHAINSAW AS “ASH VS EVIL DEAD” DUCKED OUT FOR A FINAL SEASON. CAN ASH LIVE ON? 

In short, NOPE! Not with Bruce Campbell in his title role that is. Campbell, in response to BloodyDisgusting’s attempt at a fan rally for the series to be picked up by Netflix, “Big props to the fans for the effort but I’m retired as Ash #timetofrysomeotherfish” served as our kibosh!

Sad. Just sad. The Deadite-slayin’ show concluded last month on the 29th following “Ash and his allies trying to save the world one last time as they battle a global demon infestation, whose epicenter is Elk Grove.”

Ash VS Evil Dead, I bid you farewell.

YOU JUST CAN’T KEEP A GOOD GUY DOWN; BRAD DOURIF CONFIRMED CHILD’S PLAY TV SERIES IS STILL A POSSIBILITY.

Remember late last year when I told you guys that Child’s Play was hitting the small screen? Well, recently Brad Douriff, during an interview with Den Of Geek, rehashed the idea and left us all, at least the fans, hanging in literal, and utter, anticipation. And as I write anticipation, my scatter-mind thinks of Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Ugh! So unrelated. Anyway, here’s Douriff:

“I haven’t spoke with Don (Mancini, director of the Child’s Play/Chucky movies). My daughter is very close to him, they speak almost every day. She assures me that the TV series, at least, is something that there’s a lot of interest in. I don’t know if that’s going to happen or not, but it certainly could.”

So with “certainly could” being the ending to that sentence, I just can’t help but feel myself light-up in anticipation, yet feel my flame die thinking of how this might kill Chucky. I mean how long can a doll, without being remade mind you, still make sense and still be scary? Chuck has to be scary! Chucky has to be gory! Chucky needs his wise cracks and catch-phrases. These elements, my dear public, is what makes Chucky work!

“THE WALKING DEAD” SEASON 9 FILMING HAS BEGUN; CHECK OUT PICS AND CASTING NEWS (POTENTIAL SPOILERS)

Season 9 filming for the AMC hit is underway in Atlanta, according to TMZ. The site drops exclusive pics of the upcoming season. Here are a few for you to check out!

As far as the cast goes, two series guest are being bumped to series regulars, seemingly to fill the void of (SPOILER ALERT) the death of Chandler Riggs’ Carl last season and the departure of Lennie James’ Morgan. The series also parted ways with Steven Ogg (Simon). Greg Nicotero is said to be directing the season 9 premiere.

Avi Nash and Callan McAuliffe will become series regulars, joining the ranks of the surviving cast. Nash’s character, Siddiq, is that of a doctor and McAuliffe’s Alden is that of a former member of Negan’s Saviors who surrendered to Maggie’s (Lauren Cohan) hilltop community, was held as prisoner, tried to make nice and holds the possibility of being a love interest for Maggie.

Speaking of Maggie, remember how I told you Cohan was in salary negotiations? Well, she’s not going anywhere! AMC didn’t let her get away that easy. She’ll be in 6 episodes of the first half of Season 9 and then multiple episodes in the next half, during her hiatus for Whiskey Calavier. Which, speaking of, because of ABC’s Whiskey Cavalier, AMC gets Cohan on borrowed time. How long can the network keep this up? Will Maggie survive for season 10?

In closing, season 9 might have a possible time jump, but that hasn’t been confirmed. Stay tuned.

“FEAR THE WALKING DEAD” SEASON 4 BRINGS ON THE HEAT

The FTWD has returned for season four. Here are some highlights (SPOILER ALERT):

Morgan has now officially crossed over from “The Walking Dead” to “Fear the Walking Dead”. Nick was shot and killed. Yeah, totally sad. Frank Dillane is off the AMC hit due to his desire for, and I quote, “to keep moving”, claiming he thinks “[The storyline] achieved what needed to be achieved in the first few seasons”. The actor is, as of the source material, returning to his home country of Europe.

As for Rubin Blades’ Daniel? The actor’s fate on the AMC is on the rocks after he was trapped in the Gonzales Dam last season. But now I guess we can rest easy? Co-Show runner Andrew Chambliss says to TVLine, “[Daniel] is alive and out there,” tacking on the cliffhanger, ” The details surrounding that, are something that we’re still keeping under wraps.”

Needless to say… I’m intrigued for the reveal as much as you are. Fear The Walking Dead airs every Sunday on AMC.

NETFLIX AND KILL

“STRANGER THINGS” SEASON 3 CAST UPDATE

Joining the cast of Netflix’s award-winning hit Stranger Things for season 3 are Francesca Reale, Jake Busey and Cary Elwes. The plot for season 3 is being kept under wraps.

Elwes plays a character named Mayor Kline, a ” handsome, slick and sleazy…more concerned with his own image” type of guy, while Busey plays Bruce, “a journalist for The Hawkins Post, with questionable morals and a sick sense of humor.” Reale will play “the recurring role of Heather, a popular lifeguard at the Hawkings Community pool.”

It’s not being said why a “lifeguard” should be given a recurring role, due to the unreleased plot, but Variety reports she’s part of unveiling season 3’s dark mystery. Care for a pretty obvious prediction? I think season 3 might be Summer centric. But it’d have to be the following Summer.

As previously reported Priah Ferguson, Lucas’ sassy younger sister, is being upped to series regular. Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gatten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Cara Buono, Dacre Montgomery, Sadie Sink, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Natalia Dyer and Joe Kerry are among Season 3’s cast alongside Maya Hawke.

NETFLIX (FINALLY) NAMES THEIR SABRINA SERIES

Netflix’s adaption of Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina is currently getting it’s a** polished, buffed and filmed for its [undisclosed, yet reportedly] upcoming premiere, and now we have a title; Netflix names their adaption “Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina”.

Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina is to be a darker take on the classic Sabrina The Teenage Witch plot we’ve all come to love in the past. The series is set to be in the same vein as past horror classics like The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby, finding Sabrina wrestling to reconcile her dual nature of half-witch-half-mortal.

Keiran Shipka stars as Sabrina Spellman with Lucy Davis as Aunt Hilda, Miranda Ottto as Aunt Zelda, Richard Coyle as Father Blackwood, Ross Lunch as Harvey Kinkle,Tati Gabrielle as Prudence, Michaels Gomez as teacher Mary Wardell and Chance Perdomo as Sabrina’s warlock cousin Ambrose Spellman. With of course an evil principle portrayed by George Hawthorne.

The series is executive produced by Showrunner Roberto Aquirre-Sacasa alongside Greg Bertlanti, Sarah Schecter and Jon Goldwater. Lee Toland Krieger directs.

Source Roberto Aguire Sacasa

FOR THE HORROR HALF-PINTS

“GOOSEBUMPS 2” GETS HAUNTING NEW TITLE

Ok, so here’s the deal, Goosebumps 2 is now being titled something a bit different: Goosebumps: Haunted Halloween.

There’s no plot yet. But Chris Parnell, Ken Jeong, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Caleel Harris and Peyton Wich are all [still] along for the ride, no changes there. However, it seems Jack Black’s fate is up in the air. I know! I mean, he carried the whole thing…he WAS R.L. Stine! We’ll have to see what happens with that. The infamous “Slappy” will be portrayed by his puppeteer Avery Jones, according to Deadline.

I PUT A SPELL ON YOU, AND NOW YOU’RE…25! “HOCUS POCUS” TURNS 25, AND FREEFORM PLANS EXTRAVAGANZA

FreeForm is to host this Neilson-breaking Extravaganza for Hocus Pocus‘ 25 Anniversary, come October. Details are being kept under wraps, yet what is being revealed is the event will take place during the network’s #31NightsOfHalloween.

Per FreeForm’s official tweet:

Hocus Pocus starred Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy and was released back in 1993 following a plot of three witches returning from the dead in the 1990s.

Seems Spirit jumped the gun a bit with last year’s entire line…right?

GAME ON

FRIDAY THE 13TH THE GAME UPDATES

Ok, so the pressure was real for the F13 The Game crew; April’s update couldn’t be dropped. It couldn’t be dropped, but the Shifty Samuria via Reddit, dropped a “First Look Engine Update” vid, which sat below a lengthy explanation. Here’s the gist…

There was glitches and check-overs to be achieved first and foremost. The crew wanted to give us a good and smooth-running game. And with all the new “reworked major features”, everything in the game needed the ol’ check-over, “due to the engine revision change”. There isn’t a set date of release, but rest-assured the F13The Game folks, Gun Media, won’t be doing a surprise release.

Per. Samuria on what we’re getting from this update:

“Every piece of “Thursday News” that we have released since February 9th, 2018 is finalized in the update. The engine upgrade is complete, Single Player Challengers are finished, as are Weapon Swapping, Keybinding, the altered Jason Grab, Legendary Perks, AI Improvements, the Salt Mines, Part 7 Jason rework, and Victoria Sterling. All of these features are in our development builds and are working well. Right now, we’re buttoning up the build.”

[UPDATE] released May 11th, Gun teased “Jason Weapon Selection” will be available by level 113.

 

Stay tuned for their announcements.

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And so ends May’s update. And now for the announcement: I’m taking a break from my monthly piece on Morbidly Beautiful to focus on my studies. That doesn’t mean , however, I won’t  stick around for the occasional review or interview. Stay tuned…

CONTACT ME DIRECTLY AT @HMZHorror.