"Few genres have evolved as drastically as horror. We’ve come a long way from the old-school, practical scares of creature features and haunting psychological slow burns, but there’s still plenty to learn from the B-movies of old.

That’s especially true in an era that values IP above all; when it comes to finding the next franchise, no story is off-limits. Remakes and sequels are more prevalent than original ideas, and classics like William Castle’s House on Haunted Hill have joined a growing list of stories ripe for recycling. The 1950s film starred horror legend Vincent Price in one of his most famous roles, and has been remade before, with mixed results. Whether another addition to the franchise is necessary is, as always, a question worth asking, but the team behind a new adaptation might find a way to justify it..."

"Netflix has a tendency to release international horror films with no fanfare and often without even a trailer to promote them, but have no fear because we’re always paying attention.

On that note, the latest movie from Indonesian master of horror Joko Anwar (Satan’s Slaves, Impetigore, Nightmares & Daydreams), Grave Torture is now streaming on Netflix!

In Joko Anwar’s Grave Torture, “When a violent act kills her parents, Sita vows to debunk the idea of supernatural torment after death — a fixation that leads her on a dark quest.”

Here’s the full plot synopsis from the film’s Wikipedia page:-

“After both of her parents became victims of suicide bombings, Sita became distrustful of religion. Since then, Sita’s goal in life has been only one: to find the most sinful person and when that person dies, Sita wants to go into his grave to prove that the torment of the grave does not exist and religion is not real. However, of course there are dire consequences for those who do not believe”..."

"This post contains spoilers for "Harper's Island."

The horror anthology model is pretty commonplace in our current landscape, its core appeal lying in shifting tones and narrative motivations, along with a ton of variety to offer. Anthologies are not a brand-new phenomenon, as their enduring popularity can be traced back to shows like "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" or Rod Serling's "Twilight Zone" series, proving that even the earliest days of network television held space for such a format — on the condition that the show could sustain good ratings. When "Harper's Island" premiered on CBS in April 2009, it was marketed as a horror/slasher series that would go on to follow the anthology format in the second season, replete with new characters and a fresh setting. Unfortunately, these plans did not come to pass, as the 13-part limited event received dwindling ratings as the episodes progressed — with a season-wide average of 4.8 million — leading to its eventual cancellation..."

"There is something so enjoyable about watching a horror movie from the 1970s. Many have become so beloved and memorable that it only takes words or even to mention a few key characters to recognize which one instantly. These horror flicks were trailblazers of their time, and many of them still are. But, no matter what, they're perfect from beginning to end.

Some of the greatest, most rewatchable horror films ever are from the '70s. In a decade that saw the release of classics like Halloween, The Exorcist, and Jaws, is it any wonder why this decade is featured so often on many horror fans' lists of "favorite horror films of all time?" It was a fun era to be a horror fanatic, and it certainly had big hitters, many of whom are perfect right from the opening scene until it cuts to black. In honor of this thrilling decade for the horror genre, here are ten of the most perfect horror movies of the 1970s, ranking them on how compelling and entertaining they are all the way to the end..."

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/17484663

The 2020s have already been great for folk horror, but the current folk horror revival really got its start in the previous decade. The niche subgenre, which had been around since the 1960s and 1970s, didn't get a name until actor Mark Gatiss of Sherlock fame used the term "folk horror" in 2010 to describe a trio of influential films in his BBC documentary series, A History of Horror. Suddenly, a generation of writers and filmmakers who had grown up on the old British films and television programs were inspired to revisit the rural terrors of their youth.

Folk horror, which was initially recognized as a British phenomenon, became closely associated with imagery from the British Isles, such as stone circles, druids, and the green man. However, the modern folk horror revival has been more inclusive, as filmmakers from around the world draw inspiration from their countries' history and folklore. From Indonesia to Austria, these are the best folk horror movies of the 2010s.

1. Midsommar (2019)
2. Kill List (2011)
3. The Witch (2015)
4. The Borderlands (2013)
5. The Wailing (2016)
6. The Ritual (2017)
7. Impetigore (2019)
8. La Llorona (2019)
9. Hagazussa: A Heathen's Curse (2017)
10. A Dark Song (2016)

Warning: the image used dod The Ritual is a massive spoiler - go watch it first, it's worth going in blind.

See also:

• 10 best Folk Horror movies of the 2020s (so far)

About 4 years ago, I watched a movie which I enjoyed but can't for the life of me find. It involved a white couple getting lost in deep rural Appalachia and getting taken in by a cult-like small family in the middle of nowhere.

I don't remember the details very well since it was a few years ago and I watched it pretty late at night. I think it involved the woman being drawn in while the man wasn't, and there being murder (in a shed?), but that could be me mixing different movies up.

Does anyone know what it might have been?

"There used to be a very big difference when talking about independent horror and mainstream horror. The latter would often be much more tame, with a goal of maximizing the audience, therefore maximizing Box Office. Indie horror would often be darker, going for moments that would stick with you long after the credits roll. But as society has shifted into this different entertainment landscape, there’s more of a desire than ever for something wholly unique. Mostly in the sake of profit. Thinking outside of the box is rewarded as it’s all about grabbing attention. It’s why a film like Longlegs can come out and absolutely light the world on fire. Because filmmakers are being forced to take risks in an attempt to get people to the theaters. Audiences are tired of the same old, same old..."

"You used to hear the refrain from horror film fanatics with a lot more frequency – the original was so much scarier.

And while this is still true to some degree (the films of John Carpenter have been remade with an oddly uniform lousiness), there are still plenty of horror films that have been remade well. Sometimes the remakes are just as good as the original. In rare cases, it even surpasses the original.

Here is our definitive list of the very best horror remakes ever..."

"Dark Sky Pictures has revealed the official trailer for an indie horror film titled I Will Never Leave You Alone, the latest feature from the indie genre filmmaker DW Medoff. This premiered at the Telluride Horror Show and FrightFest and will be available to watch on VOD in October for horror season.

After being released from prison, a brooding man with a dark past is forced to stay in a haunted house to clear it of any spirits. If he leaves early, he returns to prison, but the witch-ghost he encounters there may be more of a punishment than even he can withstand. Exploring themes of grief, depression and isolation, director DW Medoff says, "Writing and directing this helped me deal with mental health issues, that suffering can spiral out of control. I made a horror movie, but it is also a warning: please ask for help when you need it." This horror stars Ken Trujillo, Katerina Eichenberger, Emma Anne Wedemeyer, and Chris Genovese. This one looks extremely scary and disquieting - tread carefully folks.

Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for DW Medoff's I Will Never Leave You Alone..."

"Putting a horror twist on popular children’s story characters who are in the public domain has become a popular trend these days. Multiple Mickey Mouse horror films are making their way out into the world since the earliest Mickey cartoons are now public domain, filmmakers are working on horror versions of Goldilocks, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella, and a whole cinematic universe is being built out of horror movies based on the likes of Winnie the Pooh, Bambi, Peter Pan, and others. Another project in this line-up of films designed to tarnish the reputation of childhood favorites is The 7 Dwarves, which puts a terrifying twist on the story of Snow White and is scheduled for release in March of 2025.

Promising a spine-chilling ride that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats, The 7 Dwarves has the following synopsis:

In The 7 Dwarves, Snow White narrowly escapes the clutches of the evil witch, only to find herself lost in the eerie depths of the dark forest. But her nightmare is far from over. She soon becomes the prey of a sadistic group of dwarves (Cranky, Jolly, Drowsy, Meek, Snuffy, Wheezy, Chief, and Ditzy). Far from being her protectors, these sadistic dwarves hunt her relentlessly, forcing Snow White to fight for survival. As she outwits and eliminates each dwarf one by one, the tension rises to a blood-soaked climax in this spine-chilling horror reimagining..."

"It’s Friday the 13th and you know what means: a bunch of new horror movies have been unleashed today to make us forget that it’s been 15 YEARS since we last saw Jason Voorhees.

Here’s all the new horror that released Friday, September 13, 2024!"

"I realized something the other day as I slipped on my sweater before heading out for a decaffeinated pumpkin coffee with other basic witches: Netflix has a ton of children’s horror like The Curse Of Bridge Hollow and Monster House that scream fall. However, the pickings are slimmer for those who want a little blood and murder alongside our autumnal festivities. Sure, some movies feel like they belong in the only season that matters. His House gives me big late September vibes, and Before I Wake seems made to watch as you carve pumpkins. But are they really about the October hustle? Are they serving pie-scented candles that start fires, corn maze mayhem, or carving up exes?

So, I took this thought experiment too far, as usual, and am back with a streaming guide for all of us basic bitches. Here are eight horror movies on Netflix that scream fall..."

cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/17338767

There's a common consensus that horror movies aren't scary anymore, but that's not necessarily true. A lot of the time, many horror movies are either missed, fly under the radar or (thankfully) do end up getting the recognition they deserve. Whether they're acknowledged or not, there do happen to be many horror movies of the modern era that are incredibly scary and leave those who believe that modern horror movies aren't scary eating their words.

Horror comes in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes a film has an abundance of horrific gore, is psychologically bending or just downright disturbing in its visuals and ideas. Regardless of how, a horror film has many ways to be terrifying and all styles and forms of doing so are still utilized today. The last five years of horror have been quite good, and it needs to be acknowledged.

1. When Evil Lurks (2023)
2. Talk to Me (2023)
3. Incantation (2022)
4. Roh'/'Soul (2019)
5. New Religion (2022)
6. Smile (2022)
7. The Sadness (2021)
8. V/H/S/99 (2022)
9. The Dark and the Wicked (2020)
10. Good Boy (2022)

edit: since posting they've expanded the list, presumably when someone pointed out some serious omissions:

11. Late Night With the Devil (2024)
12. Longlegs (2024)
13. Relic (2020)

"It’s about to be a good stretch of time for theatrical horror releases, as two of the best horror movies of the year are arriving. That would be Speak No Evil and The Substance, where reviews have now come in almost simultaneously, and these are now two of the best-reviewed horror movies of the year.

Speak No Evil has an 88% score on Rotten Tomatoes while The Substance has a 92%. In the context of well scored horror releases in 2024, that means the overall list is:

Late Night with the Devil – 97%
Oddity – 96%
Infested – 96%
Strange Darling – 95%
In Flames – 95%
New Life – 94%
The Substance 92%
Stopmotion – 91%
The Devil’s Bath 90%
Speak No Evil – 88%

So, both are in the top ten, though I would give the caveat that many of these are much smaller releases, and Speak No Evil boasts an A-lister like James McAvoy and The Substance has Demi Moore, Dennis Quaid and Margaret Qualley. In other words if you’re looking for “big” horror movies (not to say they’re better than the rest on this list), these are that. Other wide release horror films like Longlegs, A Quiet Place Day One and Trap did not review this well..."

(Article includes trailers)

"The long-awaited movie adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot from director Gary Dauberman (Annabelle Comes Home) is coming exclusively to Max this Halloween season.

Salem’s Lot premieres on Max on October 3, 2024.

Watch the official trailer for Max’s Salem’s Lot below.

Stephen King had recently tweeted praise for the film. He wrote earlier this year, “I’ve seen the new SALEM’S LOT and it’s quite good. Old-school horror filmmaking: slow build, big payoff. Not sure why WB is holding it back; not like it’s embarrassing, or anything.”

"EXCLUSIVE: Cranked Up Films, the genre film offshoot of Good Deed Entertainment, is launching its own streaming service, Cranked Up TV.

This fall, the SVOD service will debut with a catalog of horrors, including exclusive and original content and programming, interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and much more. Original film productions will include Nightmare Cinema, Extra Ordinary and the Fresh Hell trilogy among others...

“We’re excited to offer alternatives to the existing streaming services by providing horror fans access to more exciting content. We look forward to growing our brand to horror enthusiasts and providing independent filmmakers a home for their content,” said Cranked Up Films CEO Scott Donley.

Separately, Cranked Up Films is releasing the Fresh Hell films, which come from writer/director Quinn Armstrong, in select theaters and VOD. The Exorcism of Saint Patrick on August 30, Wolves Against the World on September 6 and Dead Teenagers on September 13.

Cranked Up will begin production on its next slate of films at the end of the year, starting with The Chamber from writer/director Sergio Pinheiro.

Indie film distributor Good Deed launched its production division last year, having relocated from LA to Ohio in 2019."

"Netflix on Tuesday debuted the first trailer for It’s What’s Inside, the buzzy horror thriller which the streamer swooped on at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Marking an accomplished first feature for writer-director Greg Jardin, the film streaming globally on October 4 is an enticingly twisty tale, tonally reminiscent of Halina Reijn’s 2022 A24 horror comedy Bodies Bodies Bodies, the plot specifics of which I won’t spoil. Pic watches as a group of friends gather for a pre-wedding party that descends into an existential nightmare when an estranged friend arrives with a mysterious game that awakens long-hidden secrets, desires, and grudges.

The ensemble picture stars Brittany O’Grady (The White Lotus), James Morosini (I Love My Dad), Gavin Leatherwood (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Nina Bloomgarden (The Idea of You), Alycia Debnam-Carey (Fear the Walking Dead), Reina Hardesty (Brockmire), Devon Terrell (Totally Completely Fine) and David Thompson (Panic).

William Rosenfeld, Kate Andrews, Jason Baum and Raúl Domingo produced the film, with Oscar nominee Colman Domingo executive producing alongside Ulf Ek and Robert Kapp. Check out the trailer for It’s What’s Inside..."

"When Friday the 13th was released in May 1980, its remarkable financial success poured gasoline on the flickering slasher-genre flames. Already burning solid thanks to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Halloween, these films became touch points for many filmmakers looking to break into the industry or simply stack a few coins. Everything from masks and machetes to final girls and fake-outs quickly became solidified as standard genre tropes. However, it was Friday the 13th that reframed summer camps as prime locations for slasher mayhem and popularized it with others looking to replicate the results.

For those lucky enough to have attended a summer camp in their youth, the yearly pilgrimage offered a chance to disconnect from the outside world, forge new friendships, connect with nature and escape the day-to-day oversight from annoying parents. While the often secluded, remote locations foster this sense of escape, it also naturally prohibits one. Further exacerbated with limited automobile accessibility and adult supervision, everything that makes a summer camp the perfect setting for killer chaos is built into its DNA. With many actual summer camps in the 80s willing to rent out their facilities, its no wonder why so many filmmakers were quick to jump on the summer camp canoe..."

"Mike Flanagan is no stranger to giving people nightmares, thanks to a filmography that includes The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass, and Gerald’s Game. (His 2011 feature debut, Absentia, haunts me anytime I see a sidewalk that enters into a tunnel.) With a new Exorcist film on his list of upcoming projects—something he recently told the Hollywood Reporter he views as “an opportunity to make the scariest movie I’ve ever made”—he was asked which movies he personally finds terrifying, and his answer was surprising.

Speaking to THR in the same interview, he gave special props to 2008 New French Extremity entry Martyrs (“There’s a lot of gore, but it’s gore with a point. I generally don’t love splatter”) but saved his highest praise for another movie, also from 2008: “The last one that truly frightened me into getting up off of the couch was an Australian movie, Lake Mungo. It chilled me to the bone...”

"As he branches out away from the world of horror, Mike Flanagan offers a cautiously optimistic update for Oculus 2. The 2014 horror movie served as Flanagan's first wide release and an adaptation of his short film Oculus: Chapter 3 – The Man with the Plan, centered on Karen Gillan's Kaylie and Brenton Thwaites' Tim confronting the literal demons of their past in the form of a haunted mirror that led to the deaths of their parents. Garnering largely positive reviews and grossing nine times its budget, the movie was an early step in Flanagan's eventual successful career.

While speaking with Screen Rant for the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of his new movie, The Life of Chuck, Flanagan was asked about the possibility of Oculus 2 happening. The writer/director confirmed he has "a lot of stories" in that universe that he would "love to tell", though indicated that the biggest hurdle facing development on a sequel is determining who owns the rights to the original..."

"There is a pretty good chance that a film like “Else,” the fascinating feature debut from director Thibault Emin that’s an extension of his short of the same name, is going to fly under the radar for many. This is a real shame because those who see it will find that not only does this film grow on you, but it burrows inside your very skin. Remaining mostly confined to one apartment as the world falls apart due to an unknown epidemic that’s taking hold, “Else” is a film you watch in a combination of awe and horror. As we see in all its gruesome glory what this disease can do to us, the film takes a plunge into something hauntingly beautiful. It’s a movie about the forces that consume anything and everything to make them into something that is a part of a collective. The more it expands on this, the better it gets, sweeping you up in stunning visuals that swallow you whole.

It’s also more metaphysical in nature, asking questions about the body, the self, where one begins and the other ends, as well as what happens when we let others into our life. It takes us into a world that is far bigger than us and often beyond easy understanding, creating arresting visuals that implant themselves in your mind..."

"Regardless of how many folks decry that there are too many remakes these days, the horror genre has been remaking the same films and stories since the era of silent film. Despite popular belief, a lot of horror movie remakes are pretty damn great, but an unfortunate truth is that when it comes to Americanized remakes of international works, the track record isn't quite as impressive. For every "The Ring" or "Funny Games," there are at least a dozen cash grabs that completely lose sight of what made the original film great. Oftentimes, it's because American sensibilities and the relationship with threats of danger just don't meld well with the story at hand. This is why when we see the various security cameras of various countries in "The Cabin in the Woods," the style of horror differs greatly from the horror shown in the American cabin.

Which means "Eden Lake" and "Black Mirror" director James Watkins had his work cut out for him with Blumhouse and Universal's remake of "Speak No Evil," the 2022 Dutch hit from Christian Tafdrup that exploded in popularity after IFC Films and Shudder released the film stateside. The intensely bleak psychological horror film was declared by many as one of the very best of the year, and Blumhouse wasted little time snagging the remake rights. Lovers of the original were understandably skeptical, but "Speak No Evil" (2024) joins the ranks of the rare Americanized horror remakes that get it right. Instead of rehashing the same story beat by beat, Watkins — armed with a stellar ensemble cast led by a career-best James McAvoy — takes the central conflict of the original and explores how couples from different cultures would react under the same circumstances. The result is an assault of relentless tension and the best possible outcome for an Americanized remake..."

"... the film works because Hsu and Kun-Lin expertly deploy these (often heartfelt) conventions to great effect. They know exactly how to get audiences to invest emotionally in the characters’ relationship and the ending of the film is a genuine crowd pleaser in large part because we care so much about this ragtag team.

The other reason the film is such a success is because it is a textbook execution of a horror comedy: it is laugh out loud funny and surprisingly gory...

... Then there’s the film’s use of comedic sound effects, which includes cartoon boings and other Looney Tunes-esque audio cues. These elements effortlessly reinforce the film’s inherent silliness. Then add in a not-surprising but deliciously spot-on karaoke backstory for one character, a gag with a removable mustache, and the satire of the industrial work complex that rewards youth, ostentatious behaviour and a large social media following above all else. Dead Talents Society is plenty of fun, but it is also making some astute political commentary.

All of this is delivered in a highly energetic package by Hsu, who easily balances the film’s heartfelt character beats with the zany comedy. There are several sequences that play like a heist film as characters must execute their con on the living in order to successfully pull off a scare. The direction, sound effects and Shieh Meng Ju’s editing lends the film a zippy, high octane energy.

Overall Dead Talents Society is a genuine crowd-pleaser: it’s fun, funny, extremely clever and filled with lovable characters. It’s an instant horror comedy classic and one of the best genre films of the year..."

"It’s fair to say that, in recent times, horror movies have become some of the most popular cinematic offerings. For whatever sociological or psychological reason, the audience seems to love the experience of being scared, and the result has been that many horror films are enjoying unprecedented commercial and critical success.

Over the last few years, films from the likes of Ti West, Robert Eggers, and Ari Aster have captivated horror fans’ attention, but that doesn’t mean that every single horror movie is capable of delivering quality. In fact, history has proven that horror films frequently arrive without being able to make good on their promise.

There are several reasons that a horror movie might fail even though it seems that, on the surface, it should succeed; a brilliant cast might fall victim to a poor script, or the scares of a film just might not land. Whatever the reason, though, it’s always a disappointment when we watch a shitty horror film that we hoped would do the real business.

We’ve compiled a list of ten horror movies that ought to have been better considering their premises, casts or origins. So, from completely overhyped supernatural offerings to dodgy remakes and sequels, here is a selection of admittedly terrible horror films that had so much promise..."

"This post contains spoilers for "The Thing."

There are several stand-out sequences in John Carpenter's cult classic "The Thing." The opening itself, where a Norwegian helicopter pursues a sled dog and attempts to shoot it, immediately sets the tone for this morbid tale enmeshed in distrust and paranoia. What initially feels like a senseless attempt at violence (or a classic case of humans behaving irrationally due to extreme isolation) is gradually revealed to be a sincere endeavor to rid the world of an evil force that can morph into people we know and trust. The inhabitants of the Antarctic research station feel helpless in the face of such a perfect organism — one that can mimic, adapt, and deceive at will — but the most cynical among them, MacReady (Kurt Russell), comes up with a litmus test to prove everyone's humanity and lure out the pretender.

The method employed is rather crude, but it accomplishes the goal anyway: a red-hot wire is dipped into blood samples on Petri dishes, with the intent to figure out if the creature's self-preservative instincts would react to such intrusion. Uncontaminated human blood would merely make the wire fizzle, but a mutated sample would respond violently to such a perceived attack ... and it does. Although MacReady's extreme (yet understandable) method doesn't quite go according to plan, resulting in some innocent deaths, the culprit is eventually lured out, thrashing grotesquely in a bid to shield itself from harm.

This tense, memorable sequence was the impetus behind Carpenter helming "The Thing," as it presented a unique opportunity to remake Christian Nyby's "The Thing from Another World" (along with adapting its brilliant source material, "Who Goes There?") while also allowing Carpenter to put his singular spin on it..."