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This week in horror – 14.05.21

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The controversial 1970s film ‘Faces of Death’ set for a remake from Cam creators 

The 1978 mondo film Faces of Death set audiences roaring upon its release. Never had viewers come across such so-called ‘filth’, with the UK hastily adding it to the infamous Video Nasty list. Now, we have not only become rather desentized to such material, but often there is a keen rejoice in praising once-controversial films.

The remake will follow the original closely but with a modern spin; the story will follow a young woman whose job it is to moderate and cleanse an internet streaming site of obscene material, but she soon stumbles across a channel showcasing snuff films. It is now her responsibility to uncover whether these gruesome clips are genuine murders, or some amateurs attempting to gain online fame. The remake will see a reunion of Daniel Goldhaber and Isa Mazzei who collaborated together in another online-based horror, Cam (2018). 

1980s documentary series In Search of Darkness announces a Part III

In Search of Darkness brought together all things holy within the horror world; featuring the genre’s most beloved icons, including Caroline Williams, Tom Savini, Robert Englund, Bill Moseley, Doug Bradley, Barbra Crampton and Kane Hodder. After a successful Part II, which acted as a continuation of this 1980s extravaganza, it was announced that a third entry into this documentary series is in development.

The new doc brings about a whole new wave of excitement, as they are welcoming fans to contribute with an official tweet inviting 1980s horror aficionados to help the creators in what movies and topics they want covered. It was made clear from Part I that the four-hour long film would be entirely inclusive to all areas of the genre, with discussions ranging from cult classics to the more unknown films to come from this iconic era. 

Check out our review for In Search of Darkness Part II 

George A. Romero’s lost film ‘The Amusement Park’ is restored for a summer Shudder release 

Romero’s legacy has pioneered the genre, not only due to his revolutionary zombie films including Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, but also due to his avid adventurous filmmaking that always manages to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Shudder has released an official trailer for his supposed ‘lost’ film The Amusement Park which will finally get a wide release this summer.

Filmed in 1973 was one of Romero’s most underweighted and controversial films, with it not even garnering a release. The Lutheran Society had contacted Romero about making a film on ageism and elder abuse, however due to its gruesome content it was shelved for over 40 years. It had a miniscule premiere in 2018, but audiences will finally get to see what is known as one of the most ‘Romero-esque’ films he ever made. 

DC set to release horror comics centring around The Conjuring franchise

Comic book powerhouse ‘DC’ recently announced their latest project and new venture into the horror universe, The Conjuring comics. The new line of comics will attempt to reach further than their usual audiences by drawing in horror and thriller fans as new readers. The first issue titled The Conjuring: The Lover, will be released as a prelude to the upcoming film The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and follows a young college student who is dealing with a bad romantic experience paired with poor grades and mounting pressures, however she soon feels an uneasy presence that is holding an evil power over her life.

As the first issue shows, the comics will follow a clear character-driven study, with the horror arising from emotional and personal issues. The limited series will help majorly set up the above mentioned third Conjuring movie, with writer David Leslie johnson-McGoldrick (The Conjuring 2) co-writing the first issue with Rex Ogle. 

John Carpenter and Sandy King Carpenter announces new podcast collaboration with Realm 

Horror legend John Carpenter has brought us classics such as Halloween, The Thing and They Live, and now an official three series podcast released via Realm. Carpenter will collaborate with his wife Sandy King Carpenter, who has acted as a script supervisor on multiple projects including, Sixteen Candles, Big Trouble in Little China and Prince of Darkness. Together they revealed that their three shows Roanoke Falls, Angels to Some and Furnace will have a scattered release with Roanoke Falls being released first in October this year, with the other two series being released in late 2022.

Details have remained tightly guarded, but what we do know is that each series will follow different areas of horror, ranging from serial killers and the paranormal to sci-fi frights.

This weeks article comes via Grace from Film Overload, you can check out more of her work here.

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This week in horror – 07.05.21

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Amazon Video pens new TV series based on the 1990s hit, I Know What You Did Last Summer 

1990s horror wouldn’t be the same without the writing talents of Kevin Williamson, who penned Scream, The Faculty and I Know What You Did Last Summer. As with any classic we are set to get a remake of Jim Gillespie and Williamson’s collaboration as Amazon Prime Video bravely begins early production stages. Following closely to the original 1997 slasher hit, we’ll see a bunch of teenagers in small town America battle a mysterious killer after one of their most deadliest late-night adventures leads to a fatal ending.

The series will be directed by Craig William Macnelli (Them, Channel Zero & The Twilight Zone) and stars Chrissie Fit (Picth Perfect), Madison Iseman (Annabelle Comes Home), and Brianne Tju (Scream: The TV Series). So far the series will follow a limited format, with only six episodes lined up, however with its already hyped reputation, we could possibly be seeing a major franchise revival of I Know What You Did Last Summer. 

One Cut of the Dead remake starts shooting 

In 2017 a relatively new director Shin’ichirō Ueda released One Cut of the Dead, a low-budget Zombie comedy. Little did the industry know that the film would go on to make over a thousand times its budget. The meta-parody flick zoomed across the horror world with a powerful force, as it went onto win several acclaimed awards. Now four years down the line French filmmaker Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) directs the French-language remake of this Japanese hit.

Production has just begun rolling with an official cast finally being revealed; starring is Bérénice Bejo, Romain Duris, and Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz (Revenge). Further details still remain quite hidden, but fans have speculated that this remake will be far from ordinary, with Hazanavicius bringing French extremism vibes to this Japanese rooted horror. Certainly an interesting combo…

Shudder’s May line-up revealed 

Shudder reveals quite the exciting line-up for this month’s schedule. Armed with a mix of older classics, and Shudder originals equals to a rather fan-pleasing month. New gems including the sci-go extraordinaire Fried Barry, Neil Marshall’s witchy haunt The Reckoning and the trippy Psycho Goreman will be released throughout May, with other genre essentials such as folk horror’s The Blood on Satan’s Claw and The Witchfinder General, as well as the very much underrated classics Def by Temptation and Black Roses. 

Dexter’s return is imminent as the first teaser trailer premieres

Ever since it’s 2006 release serial killer TV series Dexter has been nothing but a hit with audiences. Back in October, it was revealed that Michael C. Hall will return as the Jekyll and Hyde killer one more time with a ten-episode limited series premiering some time next year. The long-awaited revival’s trailer was released this week, which shows a snowy cabin setting with the camera backing to Dexter with a menacing grin, perhaps signaling that he’s been hiding all these years, preparing for his imminent return. 

First images revealed of the Children of the Corn reboot 

Stephen King’s 1997 short story has been adapted yet again. Kurt Wimmer’s take on evil children has already had a quiet release last year as it briefly played at two theatres, but the reboot is now set for a wide release later this year. Wimmer takes us down a less traditional route (in comparison to the other adaptions) as the film is primarily a prequel leading to the massacre situation that the story essentially follows.

The film will focus on how one young girl recruits the youth of the town to slay corrupt adults, but a hopeful high-schooler is not as easy to fool as the rest. Although the Children of the Corn franchise has spun several follow-up films, their success rate has rapidly descended with each release. However, the recent images that have circulated definitely show some promise, with a dark atmosphere, impressive cast, and a lingering sense of dread being very apparent. 

First look: Brand new images for new Saw film ‘Spiral’

Patient audiences finally get a sneak peek into the long-awaited ninth installment in one of modern horror’s most brutal franchises. The brand new images tease a brutal cat and mouse chase between the wicked Jigsaw and the brash detectives investigating a series of bloody and twisted murders. Although the series has gradually become slightly more slick and esteemed, Spiral promises that this new entry will be far from mundane, with one particular image graphically showing a torn open body strewn across train tracks! Spiral will be hitting theatres next week over in the States, however, here in the UK, we won’t have to wait long as Spiral premiers across the country in cinemas from the 17th of May. So, who’s booking their tickets?… 

New and exclusive trailer for Stranger Things season 4 

It has been nearly two years since season 3 of Stranger Things ended, and after such a long wait we have finally been granted a quick preview into the upcoming series. However, the eerie clip seemed to leave more questions than answers as we see Eleven (Milly Bobby Brown) back at Hawkins Laboratory with the creepy Dr. Brenner abusing her powers yet again. The climactic finale of season 3 left audiences shocked with the apparent death of beloved Chief Hopper, yet the new trailer does not reveal or tie up any of these loose ends that have left audiences quizzical for a while now. And it seems that the wait will only continue as earlier this year the proposed release date was postponed until further notice. 

This weeks article comes via Grace from Film Overload, you can check out more of her work here.

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This week in horror 02.05.21

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Friday the 13th: The Game finally gets new patches 

Friday the 13th: The Game has been keeping both horror and gaming fans fueled since 2017. Creators have been battling with further developing the game as ongoing licensing issues have prevented brand new additions from being made. Yet, a little loophole allows players to still play online. To keep the old content fresh developers have done a series of patches to create a better playing experience. New features include fixing max safe zones, alterations to combat teleportation, spawn issues resolved and easier access to weapon changes. 

American Psycho comes to TV as new series begins development 

Mary Harron’s American Psycho has successfully maintained acclaimed status ever since its release 21 years ago. Fans can’t get enough of Patrick Bateman’s maniacal behaviour with an official TV series closely following the film officially beginning development. The production details have been kept tightly under wraps as we’ve been left with more questions than answers; will we follow Bateman in his 50s continuing his ritualistic beauty regimes and intricately discussing business cards? Or will we see a new serial killer embody Bateman’s eccentric murder tactics? Quite interestingly this is not the first time Bret Easton Ellis’s 1991 novel has been adapted, with American Psycho 2 (2002) and a musical showing Bateman (played by Doctor Who’s Matt Smith) taking his music obsession to the next level as he dementedly sings his way through the murders. 

NECA debuts the sixth generation of Toony Terror horror figures 

Horror collectors rejoice as the game-changing merchandise machine NECA showcases their latest series of Toony Terror figures. Previous editions featured genre favourites, such as Pennywise (90’ & 17’), Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, Beetlejuice, Leatherface, Pinhead, Ash, Regan, and Victor Crowley! The sixth wave may just be one of the most exciting volumes yet as we see some of horror’s most underrated characters get a cartoon makeover, including Elvira, Captain Blake (The Fog), Herbert West and The Miner (My Bloody Valentine). 

Trailer for William Brent Bell’s upcoming horror Separation has horror fans adding it straight to their watchlists 

The trailer for Separation shows a haunting story of a young girl struck by grief as she attempts to find solace with her dead mother. The beyond creepy clips grab your attention immediately as we are treated to gloriously unnerving imagery of adult sized puppets who have seemingly come to life, as well as a disturbingly dark energy riveted throughout this haunted house. Separation stars Rupert Friend (Homeland), Mamie Gummer (The Ward), Madeline Brewer (Cam) and Brian Cox (Braveheart). 

Set for release 30th April. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXQdaCkmmIU

Netflix announces official plans for Death Note 2 

Japanese Manga series Death Note was bravely adapted by Netflix in 2017, but feedback from both fans and critics left a sour note on its reputation. However, despite the negative reception the streaming giant recently announced that a sequel is most definitely taking place… The nervously anticipated sequel has conjured plenty of rumours, with creators supposedly hoping to win fans back by focusing more on the horror and abandoning the stereotypical character developments and Americanisation that the first Death Note succumbed to. Allegedly one of the few positive aspects surrounding the first remake will be resurrected in the sequel; Willem Dafoe will return as the death god Ryuk, who will surely rise plenty of torment.

Blumhouse Productions set for another triumph as The Black Phone nears the end of production

The Black Phone follows Finney Shaw, a cunning teenage boy who is abducted and locked in a soundproof room. All hopes seem to be lost, but when Finney finds an old phone he discovers that it can transmit the killers’ previous victims’ voices. The Black Phone is directed by Scott Derickson, who has directed The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005) and Sinister (2012). His return to horror has been welcomed by fans as we also get to see a reunion between him and Ethan Hawke, who takes on the lead role. The Black Phone is based upon Joe Hill’s award winning short story of the same name. 

Set for an early 2022 release. 

This weeks article comes via Grace from Film Overload, you can check out more of her work here.

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Retrospective – Silent Hill (2006)

silent hill


A retrospective deep dive into Silent Hill on its 15th anniversary

Video games, particularly of the horror/survival genre have a rooted integrity that has a massive potential to complement cinematic adaptations. But, typically when game adaptations appear on the ‘big screen’ an overall lacklustre effect looms over any positives, with House of the Dead (2003) being a prime example. Silent Hill manages to swerve any major perpetration and has successfully conjured an almost cult status 15 years later.

A keen passion for the game, truth to pivotal details, and a brave narrative are what allowed Silent Hill to keep its beloved status. With this being said, in no way is the film entirely welcomed, with a mixed reception clouding its reputation. However, as I’ll soon decipher, the craft behind Silent Hill is undeniably worthy of cult class. 

Surrealist imagery, an atmospheric score and a labyrinth setting all melt together to create a purposefully incoherent jungle of horror. The rumor of Konami’s 1999 game being developed began circulating in the early 2000s, with director Christophe Gans constantly bartering for the rights to remake the rapidly growing game into a feature film. In fact, Gans was so personally drawn and passionate about this adaptation that during pre-production he would bring a large gaming setup with him so that whilst he was playing cast and crew would see exactly what angles and stages they should focus on re-creating. This is where a primary issue with its critical consensus lies.

Personally speaking, I do not have a great knowledge of video games at all, let alone Silent Hill. Yet, after watching plenty of playthroughs and description pieces I can fully understand how well Gans translated the hellish world of Silent Hill onto the screen. And with this basic knowledge comes a completely new perspective on the film. To lay it bare, the essence of Silent Hill relies neither on a visual frenzy nor a discerning setting, instead it’s unique perspective depends on every single detail above, even the small features that go unnoticed make a drastic difference to the audience’s experience. 

This amalgamation is tremendously challenging to effectively orchestrate. The story itself continuously takes 180 turns whenever it pleases, seeming almost nonsensical at times; but, let’s not forget that Gans is recreating a video game that has an almost unlimited amount of moves and scenarios to work your way through. Hence the film running for a staggering 125 minutes. Where I found myself truly drawn in straight away is through the narrative.

We follow Rose (Radha Mitchell), as she takes her adopted daughter Sharon (Jodelle Ferland) to the mysterious town of Silent Hill to uncover the truth behind Sharon’s innate devotion to this town. However, after they get into a car accident en route, Sharon is nowhere to be found. As a basis, I found that the extensively daunting and dark landscape encapsulates the disturbing nature of the story. When we dig down to its roots Silent Hill tells the tale of parallel dimensions and the consequences regarding veneration of power and the idolisation of higher beings. 

In avoidance of abundant spoilers, Silent Hill imitates a curse, where its unlucky visitors become stuck in limbo. The fog-casted town is a purgatory whose history has led Sharon to practically become cursed. However, an effective backstory does not immediately grant the film a gold star, instead, the boundless story can leave audiences bewildered with many questions unanswered. And this is where one of the main criticisms lies. Personally, as a viewer who had no previous experience with the game, I was at first confused with the immeasurable amount of information that I had to comprehend to understand the ending.

Seemingly I was not alone as many reviews voiced hassle over the excessive exposition drops. But for me, this is where my intrigue to know more about this film grew. Colloquially when we first watch a film we do not always become immediate fans, we need time to process and revisit to appreciate its intentions. I’ve watched Silent Hill a handful of times now and I can truthfully say that the constantly expanding universe entwined with the town is entirely enthralling. 

Silent Hill would have not been as effective without the immaculate creature designs. The film’s unnerving atmosphere is impressive, but for audiences to sit through 125 minutes of sole environment-based scares is a lot to ask. Gans re-envisioning of Pyramid Head, Dark Nurses, Grey Children, and Lying Figures all graphically personify what made them so scary in the game.

Perhaps the most interesting and overall perplexing discovery that was made evident by the film is that these monsters primarily disturb as they are all forms of humanoids, rather than completely alien antagonists with zero resemblance to an actual person. Sharon’s connection to Silent Hill is due to a tragedy that was struck by people; everything regarding the horror of the town is rooted in human consequence. 

This furthers my next point, the symbolism behind Silent Hill. It takes only a brief read of a synopsis to compare Rose’s journey into the abandoned town to Dante’s Inferno. The tale of Dante’s Inferno is such an iconic method used in the horror genre to attain a deeper meaning to a film, which of course leads to rushed endings and a plethora of stereotypes. Yet, in this case it’s hard to think of a more viable explanation. Grief, revenge, fear, anarchy, trauma, and guilt all come to life within each setting of Silent Hill. Of course, I’m not going to explain the copious layers moulded within Inferno, but when we compare the torturing of souls without rest, alongside the grossly immoral evils of lust that led to the corruption and downfall of Silent Hill we can rest assured make sense of this ambiguously misleading universe. 


The legacy of Silent Hill has been rather unconventional. Unlike many horror adaptations, Silent Hill was not made into an ever-expanding film franchise, with only one sequel to bare its name to. However, the game did soar as multiple editions and continuations followed. What we can take away from this retrospective look at Silent Hill is that the actual visual appeal that Gans has produced, combined with the game’s true essence of immorality and personal dread has certainly left its mark on video game adaptations within horror.

This weeks article comes via Grace from Film Overload, you can check out more of her work here.

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This week in horror 25.04.21

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Goodnight Mommy remake casts Naomi Watts  

The 2014 Austrian horror, Goodnight Mommy both shocked and engrossed audiences at its Venice Film Festival premiere, with its sinister portrayal of identity marking its reputation as being one of the best horrors from the 2010s. As with any internationally successful film a remake has been announced. Naomi Watts will lead the film as the key character, and although news of the remake has been somewhat apprehensively perceived audiences are warming to Watts taking on this role, with her reputation of excelling in previous remakes such as The Ring and Funny Games. 

First look: The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It 

Excited horror fans finally get a first look at the latest installment in the Conjuring Universe (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It). Due for a June 2021 release the film sees paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, take on one of their most perplexing and challenging cases. The latest trailer promises a haunting thrill of deceit, tension, and beyond chilling demonic antics as we see the Warrens dig into yet another ‘real case’. As fans eagerly await to see the eighth entry into this ever-growing cinematic universe a lot of apprehensions has been made abundant by fans. This is the first Conjuring film to not be directed by James Wan, instead, the director is Michael Chaves. Chaves previously directed possibly the least favorite film out of the series, The Curse of La Llorona. 

The Last Will and Testament of Charles Abernathy picked up by Netflix 

Netflix horror films only continue to soar the market as they pick up yet another movie, ‘The Last Will and Testament of Charles Abernathy’. The script has been floating around for quite some time now, with a rather mixed bag of reviews following closely behind it. However, with Alejandro Brugués (Juan of the Dead) directing this upcoming horror, the film is surely destined for an interesting ride. The story follows Billionaire Charles Abernathy, who on his 75th birthday invites his family back to his estate in fear that something or someone is going to kill him. 

Alexandre Aja’s latest horror Oxygen releases trailer

Alexandre Aja has certainly gained a name for himself within the horror market, with multiple hits lurking in his filmography including High Tension, The Hills Have Eyes and Mirrors. Aja’s latest journey is the upcoming sci-fi flick Oxygen, which has already amassed quite a buzz since its trailer debut this week. The film follows Elizabeth (Mélanie Laurent), a scientist who wakes up shut in a cryogenic chamber with complete memory loss. With her oxygen drastically depleting she must uncover the mystery to survive. The trailer is just as claustrophobic as it sounds as confined spaces and psychological thriller tactics merge together to create an utterly gripping experience. 

This weeks article comes via Grace from Film Overload, you can check out more of her work here.

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This week in horror 17.04.21

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Zack Snyder’s releases trailer for Army of the Dead 

Zack Snyder bravely tackled a highly acclaimed remake of Dawn of the Dead in 2004, now we are all excitedly anticipating the release of his next zombie venture, Army of the Dead. News soared online when Netflix dropped the bombshell that Snyder is back for another battle with the undead last year. Now we only have to wait until the 21st of May to see a motley crew of mercenaries breach forbidden zombie grounds in a bid to pull off an epic heist. The trailer bares its roots quite brazenly, with a focus on the unique route that Snyder has taken; instead of brainless, lethargic, zombies roaming we are roared at by a new breed of hyperintelligent beasts who are skilled, organised, and damn right ruthless. 

Texas Chainsaw Massacre receives an official R rating

The ever expanding Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise only continues to grow with the latest entry rumoured to be one of the most bloody and brutal yet as the Fede Alvarez produced horror gets a confirmed R rating. David Blue Garcia directs this direct sequel to the original, with a similar stance that 2018’s Haloween (David Gordon Green) took through ignoring previous films in the series. Although information has been kept tightly underwraps, we do know that Alice Krige (Silent Hill), Elsie Fisher (Eighth Grade), Jacob Latimore (Detroit), and Sam Douglas (Killing Eve) are set to star in the Sawyer family’s latest killing spree. 

Host’s Jed Shepherd announces live-action horror game, Ghosts

It’s no surprise that here at Dead Northern we are massive fans of 2020’s standout film, Host (Rob Savage). Now we get to see writer Jed Shepherd tackle another ghoul themed project as he introduces Ghosts, an ultra-immersive gaming experience where you play in real-time. The story you follow will see you play the role of a TV producer who has to tackle a daunting urban legend known as The Long Lady. Ghosts reunites the cast of Host once again (Haley Bishop, Emma Louise Webb, Radina Drandova, Jemma Moore, and Caroline Ward). One of the most intriguing factors is that the game is entirely live and is only playable on release at 10pm in your timezone. Ghosts takes massive inspiration from live games from the 1990s including Phantasmagoria and Night Trap. The project is currently looking for backers on Kickstarter.

Mike Flanagan announced as director for The Season of Passage adaption 

Christopher Pike’s sci-fi horror novel The Season of Passage has grown an impressive fan base since its release in 1992. Joining Flanagan in adapting this beloved book exploring a crew’s voyage into Mars is his brother James Flanagan who will be co-writing the film. The Season of Passage is definitely in good hands as Flanagan has become somewhat of an adaption aficionado with numerous hits under his belt including Doctor Sleep (based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name), the upcoming Netflix series The Midnight Club (based on another Pike novel) and the now modern classic The Haunting of Hill House (Shirley Jackson’s infamous haunted house book).

This weeks article comes via Grace from Film Overload, you can check out more of her work here.

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This week in horror – News round up 20.02.21

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This weeks horror news round up is brought to you by Grace at Film Overload!

New details surrounding Jordan Peele’s upcoming horror finally released

Jordan Peele has become somewhat of a horror mastermind in recent years, with his majorly successful projects including Get Out (2017) and Us (2019) storming through the horror market with ease. With this bravado surrounding his ventures, it’s no surprise that audiences across the board have been anticipating Peele’s latest directorial feature.

Although the upcoming untitled film has been kept tightly under wraps, we have been given a brief sneak into what’s to come; Keke Palmer has been officially cast as the lead, and Daniel Kaluuya will also star. The expected release date is not until July 2022, so fans will have to hold onto their seats for just a tad longer.

Shudder renews Creepshow for a third season

Creepshow has kept audiences both entertained and horrified since George A. Romero brought the beloved horror comics from the 1950s alive in 1982. Of course as with most horrors Creepshow has not remained a one-hit-wonder as sequels and an entire tv series have followed in its footsteps.

It now seems that this legacy is only destined for further continuation as Shudder has ordered a third season for their wildly successful anthology tv show. Creepshow showrunner Greg Nicotero has confirmed the third season will be the most ambitious yet, with the promise of some brand new storylines set to keep you up at night…


Season three is set for release later this year.

Netflix announces new series following Wednesday Addams with Tim Burton returning to the directors chair

The classic Addams Family will bless screens with their spooky charms yet again as Netflix has announced that the most morbid of the Addams ‘Wednesday’ will receive her own dedicated live-action tv series. Wednesday is set to return with her dark gumption as she battles her unpredictable psychic abilities, all the whilst investing a perplexing supernatural mystery.

Tim Burton will return as the director, with the creators of Smallville Al Gough and Miles Millar writing this very anticipated series.

Florence Pugh to star in Apple TV+ new sci-fi flick Dolly

Florence Pugh has been gracing the horror world since 2018 with her lead role in the chilling British film Malevolent, and of course the extremely successful Midsommar (2019). Pugh now returns in this upcoming sci-fi film Dolly, with Apple TV+ producing. This majorly intriguing storyline is based upon a short story written by Elizabeth Bear.

Dolly follows a robot companion doll who kills their owner, however the plot swiftly darkens when said robot asks for a lawyer. The film is majorly in its early stages, with a script not fully written nor a director chosen. Yet, it can be assured that Dolly has the potential to be a great success.

This weeks article comes via Grace from Film Overload, you can check out more of her work here.

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Review – Bloody Hell

Bloody Hell

With the fluency of director Alister Grierson, Bloody Hell has blasted onto the horror scene with an assaultive force cementing its position as being one of this year’s most surprising and devilishly indulging films. Writer ‘Robert Benjamin creates a story dripping with satirical hilarity and brutality, all whilst not falling victim to cheap cliches.

The tour de force that is Bloody Hell takes us on a wild ride as we follow Rex (Ben O’Toole), a recently released convict who unwillingly ends up in a sadistic Finnish family’s basement ready to be feasted upon by one of modern horror’s most barbarous households. However, can Rex’s internal monologue save him from the pits of hell?

It can be said that a film is dominantly character or scenario based, rarely both. Grierson carefully tiptoes between this line through creating an impressive character study without abandoning the richly entertaining narrative. O’Toole craftily carries this film with an incredible performance. We see Rex in two alternative lights, there’s his presentable persona and then his inner discourse whose valiant introspections create a devil’s advocate soliloquy.

Thrusting this rogue ‘bad-boy’ exterior even further is the film’s adventurous take upon what can be a risky sub genre; action horror. It was Rex’s heroic actions straight out of Die Hard that landed him in prison in the first place, and it seems that his time in solitude has only affixed this persona. This innately thrilling allure is what makes Rex the ultimate vigilante, with his fight or flight gutsiness exhibiting what we all wish we had the ability to do in the presence of a Nordic cannibalistic family.

Rex’s jovialness does not wear thin, but let’s not forget to mention the other piece in this twisted puzzle. The torture family trope is not entirely rare within horror, we’re accustomed to uncouth rustic families with an appetite for flesh living in an awfully convenient rural setting. Thus, it’s rare to be taken by surprise. However, we soon learn that this disturbed unit’s dynamics are much more complex than an insatiable appetite for flesh. Quite simply, Rex’s hosts are far from ordinary.


This erratic ruthlessness is not just exhibited through the characters, but also through the stimulating visuals. The sporadic hyper-stylisation is temptingly inviting, from the forthright confrontational cinematography through to the foreboding soundtrack denies the viewer any chance of normality.

This surreal horror warms with an eccentric satirical timing complimenting the surreal elements that are feathered throughout. This aligns with Bloody Hell’s use of frenzied camera work and unorthodox storytelling methods, making this a varied banquet with something for everyone.

Bloody Hell is available to watch via DVD/Blu-ray and VOD right now!

This weeks article comes via Grace from Film Overload, you can check out more of her work here.

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This week in horror – News round up 05.02.21

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This weeks horror news round up is brought to you by Grace at Film Overload!

The Midnight Club’s cast line-up finally revealed

Image result for the midnight club

Mike Flanagan has become a beloved horror mastermind in recent years, with outstanding hits such as Oculus (2013), Hush (2016), The Haunting of Hill House (2018) and The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) all residing within his extensive filmography. His latest project The Midnight Club has been closely watched since its announcement; now we’ve finally got a taste of what to expect as the cast has been released.

Top cast names include Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Zach Gilford (The Purge: Anarchy) and Matt Biedel (Phoenix Forgotten).

This exciting new Netflix series is based upon the 1994 Christopher Pike book under the same name. The story follows a mismatched group of five terminally ill patients who all reside at Rotterdam Home, and to keep themselves entertained they all meet at midnight to tell the scariest of tales.

Cloverfield sequel in the works

The found footage hit Cloverfield (2008) recently celebrated its 12 year anniversary earlier this year. Although the success of the original film spanned two semi-linked follow ups, we have yet to receive a direct sequel. However, the long awaited plans for Cloverfield 2 have been officially announced.

Unlike the original, the sequel will not be a found footage style horror. Although this is certain we are still majorly kept in the dark about the events of the film in regards to whether it will focus solely upon sci-fi elements or be a straight horror. Another confirmed detail is that J.J. Abrams will return to produce this highly anticipated sequel.

Viggo Mortensen joins forces yet again with David Cronenberg for an upcoming horror

David Cronenberg is a horror auteur, with his signature body horror style creating some of the most memorable films within the genre. Viggo Mortensen has recently stated that Cronenberg will return to the genre with an upcoming project they have been working on.

Cronenberg and Mortensen have previously worked together on Eastern Promises (2007) and A History of Violence (2005). Although these two films were drama based, Mortensen has hinted that this upcoming project goes back to Cronenberg’s horror roots, with the script being written quite a long time ago.

‘Censor’ becomes a firm favourite at this years Sundance festival

Sundance Film Festival has notoriously created buzz around some of the most iconic modern horrors including Hereditary (2018) and It Follows (2014). At this year’s virtual festival the same fate has been met by the upcoming social-commentary based horror ‘Censor’ (Prano Bailey-Bond). Censor follows a film censor who embarks on a mission to discover what happened to her missing sister.

The film thrives upon the video nasty hysteria that plagued the 1980s, this culturally significant event caused havoc upon the industry. Censor reclaims this panic through utilising the event as a backbone to portray the complex narrative. Censor does not have a confirmed release date, but we suspect it will be released at some point later this year.

This weeks article comes via Grace from Film Overload, you can check out more of her work here.

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This week in horror – News round up 30.1.21

dead northern news

This weeks horror news round up comes from Grace at Film Overload!

Frightfest hit ‘The Columnist’ sees a March release

The Columnist and How Horror Fandom Prepares Us for Crisis – /Film

The 2020 Frightfest Film Festival saw a lot of hits make their debut, however one that stood out from the bunch is The Columnist (Ivo van Aart). This slightly satirised tale of vengeance tells the story of Femke Boot (Katja Herbers), an established newspaper columnist who is suffering from a terrible case of writer’s block.

But, her life soon gains back some speed after she exacts brutal and bloody revenge on her abusive tormentors when their online harassment pushes her over the edge. Soon audiences will get a taste of this aggressive tale as The Columnist is lined up for a brief theatrical run and a direct VOD release in March.

Latest trailer for Paradise Cove promises a thrilling excursion into the unhinged

The highly anticipated upcoming horror Paradise Cove shows Mena Suvari and Todd Grinnell battle it out with a deranged woman who unknowingly lives underneath their floor boards. Suvari and Grinnel star as a married couple who move to a luxurious Malibu residence to renovate a disheveled house, however their harmony is soon disrupted when a mysterious woman makes herself known. The trailer pays homage to nostalgic 1990s cat and mouse home thrillers. This psychological thrill is set to be released via VOD mid-February.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lh6LOgCphEI

Shudder premiers a total of 11 original films across 11 weeks

The go-to horror streaming service Shudder announces its plans to premiere a whopping 11 films all within 11 weeks. Hunted, The Queen of Black Magic, A Nightmare Wakes, After Midnight, Shook, The Dark & the Wicked, Lucky, Stay Out of the F**king Attic, Slaxx, Koko-di Koko-da and Violation are all set to hit our screens very soon.

More Importantly, these films aim to present audiences with a refreshing hit of originality, with each film representing independent filmmaking and deriving from over five different counties. Shudder has been churning out hits for a while, but 2020 saw the release of Host, Impetigore and Anything for Jackson; all which saw critical and audience acclaim. Fingers crossed for the same success with the new releases.

Eli Roth’s History of Horror renewed for a third season

Eli Roth is the director of horror smash hits including Cabin Fever, Hostel and Green Inferno. With his experience in the genre comes a distinct level of knowledge and expertise, and it seems that his voyage in presenting an unnerving study into horror’s most iconic monsters and subtopics has only just started.

History of Horror’s has been officially renewed for a third season; both the first and second season guest starred a plethora of horror masterminds including scholars, filmmakers and award winning actors. Although it’s highly entertaining to watch our favourite stars discuss the grisly details of beloved films, one aspect that takes center stage in every episode is the discussion regarding the rooted societal and cultural repercussions that horror has.

Despite the details surrounding the new season being rather hushed, we can be certain that season three will be the most haunting and darkest yet.

Willy’s Wonderland showcases villainous puppets battling a chaotic Nicolas Cage

Nicolas Cage has become a modern day horror extraordinaire, with his roles in films such as Mom and Dad (2017), Mandy (2018) and Colour Out of Space (2020) showcasing him in the most disorderly brutal form.

But now we get to see Cage in his most wild role yet. Willy’s Wonderland is an action packed horror directed by Kevin Lewis. The film follows Cage as a mysterious janitor who works the night-shift at a once thriving entertainment establishment. But, when the centre’s animatronics come to life he must fight for his life in the bloodiest of battles. Willy’s Wonderland is set for a February release via VOD.

This weeks article comes via Grace from Film Overload, you can check out more of her work here.