Howdy, folks! It’s Sunday, which means it’s time for the horror haul, our weekly round-up and one-stop-shop for all things horror. This week in horror,The Grudgereboot recruitsThe Eyes of My MotherdirectorNicholas Pesce, the long-shelved (we’re talking a decade here) found footage serial killer shockerThe Poughkeepsie Tapesis finally getting a proper release,John Carpenteris developing aTales for a Halloween Nightseries for Syfy, andJigsawgets an official poster and a San Diego Comic-Con presence. Plus, new trailers for the slasherJackals,Another WolfcopandDavid Bruckner’sThe Ritual.
For all the horror news we’ve already covered on the site this week, you can click through the links below. Then, check out other genre highlights from the week and finish it all up with a rundown of the week in horror movie trailers. For more, be sure to hit upCollider Nightmaresor our round-up of thebest horror movies on Netflix. Thanks for tuning in, and sound off in the comments with your thoughts, questions, and other horror musings.
‘The Grudge’ Reboot Lands ‘Eyes of My Mother’ Director
It’s a been about fifteen years since the J-Horror trend swept Hollywood, so it should come as no surprise that studios and filmmakers are eyeing a return for the ghoulish branch of horror. Genre trends have always been cyclical and while we were begging for a break by the end of the 00s, enough time has passed to whet the appetite for some new inescapable curses and pale, vengeful ghosts. Especially with the talent that’s coming together for Ghost House’s reboot ofThe Grudge.
Deadline reports thatSam Raimi andRob Tapert’s production company has recruitedThe Eyes of My MotherdirectorNicholas Pesceto rewrite and direct newThe Grudgefilm. The reboot looks to revitalize the horror franchise created byTakashi Shimizuwith 2000’sJu-On: The Curse. Shimizu went on to direct a number of Japanese sequels, including 2002’sJu-On: The Grudge, and the subsequent American adaptationsThe GrudgeandThe Grudge 2. Pesce will work from a script byMidnight Meat TrainscribeJeff Buhler, with Raimi, Tapert, andTaka Ichiseproducing
While one look at how the Rings reboot turned out is enough to make you want to turn away from the subgenre forever, the creatives on boardThe Grudgeremake have me interested. Pesce made a hell of an impression with his haunting feature debut (Eyes), whichI loved when I caught it back at Fantastic Festlast year, and is currently in post-production on the psychological thrillerPiercing, starringMia Wasichowska. I’m genuinely excited to see what he can do with the format and style of the J-Horror tradition and keeping all my fingers crossed that he bringsEyes of My MotherDPZach Kupersteinalong with him because that seems like a visual match made in heaven.
‘The Poughkeepsie Tapes’ Is Headed to Blu-ray 10 Years Later
Well, here’s something you probably never thought would happen! The infamous found footage horror filmThe Poughkeepsie Tapesis finally getting a DVD release, ten years after it was supposed to land in theaters. Back in 2007, the serial killer shocker screened at Tribeca and BNAT to some pretty intense responses (especially BNAT, where it had a screening so hostile people still talk about it), but despite the trailers that were released in theaters, MGM pulled from distribution and sat there on the shelf earning that edge of unattainable infamy. The film had a limited VOD release through direct TV three years ago before the studio yanked the films once again with plans for a bigger release. Well, that day has finally come thanks to the folks at Scream Factory, who announced the title onFacebook. Bonus features will be revealed at a later date.
The Poughkeepsie Tapescomes from directorJohn Erick Dowdleand his creative partner (and brother)Drew Dowdle, who went on to makeM. Night Shyamalan’sDevil, the AmericanQuarantineremake, andAs Above, So Below. Scream Factory will release the Blu-ray on October 10.
you may pre-order (and get your copy two weeks early) at theScream Factory websiteand check out the trailer below.
John Carpenter Developing ‘Tales for a Halloween Night’ for Syfy
John Carpenteris bringing his award-winning graphic novelTales for a Halloween Nightto series for Syfy. The horror maestro signed an overall deal with Universal Cable Productions, which will see Carpenter executive produce scripted programming with UCP for the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment portfolio, as well as for external networks and streaming services, alongside his producing partner,Sandy King. First up is Tales for a Halloween Night, which is already in development, and Nightside, based on the literary series by New York Times bestselling authorSimon R. Green, withJill Blotevogel(Scream tv series) set to pen the script.
Carpenter commented on the partnership,
“I’m excited to partner with Universal Cable Productions on this venture into television. On one hand, it’s a return home to Universal where I have fond memories, and on the other, it’s a step into the future with great new creative partners in programming."
Check out more details on both series in the press release below.
“UCP and Carpenter are already in development on TALES OF HALLOWEEN NIGHT for SYFY. Based on Carpenter’s award-winning graphic novel anthology of stories where he brings together storytellers from the worlds of movies, novels, and comics for a collection of horror stories featuring graveyards, sunken ships, creepy crawlers and ghosts that will haunt your dreams long after you’ve finished reading. Currently, the project doesn’t have a writer attached, though a search is indeed underway.
Additionally, UCP and Carpenter are developing NIGHTSIDE, based on the literary series by New York Times bestselling author Simon R. Green, with Jill Blotevogel (SCREAM: THE TV SERIES) attached to write the script. NIGHTSIDE is the secret heart of London beating to its own rhythm, pumping lifeblood through the veins of its streets and alleys, hidden in eternal darkness where creatures of the night congregate and where the sun is afraid to shine. It’s the place to go if you’re looking to indulge the darker side of your nature—and to hell with the consequences.”
‘Jigsaw’ Gets a Poster and SDCC Details
Jigsaw is back, folks! Kind of. Maybe. I mean he’s probably still dead. In any case! Lionsgate is gearing up to re-launch the juggernautSawfranchise this Halloween withJigsaw,the eighth installment in the wildly popular, hyper-violent horror headliner that earned more than $800 million at the worldwide box office. With a title this big making its return, it should come as no surprise thatJigsawwill be popping up at SDCC later this month with starTobin Belland directorsPeterandMichael Spierigin tow.
PerJoBlo, here are the details:
Friday, July 21 at 1-2pm PT: Tobin Bell autograph signing, Sails Pavilion
Friday, July 21 at 5-6pm PT: Peter and Michael Spierig (directors of Jigsaw) will participate in the Reinventing Horror panel in Room 23ABC
SinceJigsawisn’t headlining its own panel, I wouldn’t necessarily expect the first trailer to drop (though Comic-Con is certainly a high-impact place for a launch), but one can dream. However, Lionsgate did release the first poster, which you may check out below. Plot details for the film are still being kept under wraps, but here’s the logline.
“One of the highest grossing Horror franchises of all time is back, taking the Jigsaw killer’s signature brand of twisted scenarios to the next level.”
As we previously reported,George A. Romerois gearing up for another zombie film, but this time he’ll be taking a backseat as producer with Romero’s long-time second unit directorMatt Birmantaking the helm. We previously heardRoad of the Deaddescribed as a “Road WarriormeetsRollerballat a Nascar race, with significant inspiration from Ben-Hur.” but Romero gave Rue Morgue a pretty in-depth breakdown of the plot and it really sounds right up Romero’s alley.
“It’s set in a sanctuary city where this fat cat runs a haven for rich folks, and one of the things that he does is stage drag races to entertain them. There’s a scientist there doing genetic experiments, trying to make the zombies stop eating us, and he has discovered that with a little tampering, they can recall certain memory skills that enable them to drive in these races. So it’s a demolition derby with zombies at the wheels, and of course the shit hits the fan in other ways. It’s really a romp; it’s great fun, with stunts galore.”
Romero also described the film as “almost a comedy”, emphasizing that the film doesn’t fill up on gore. He also warned not to expectRoad of the Deadto take on the current political climate:
“It would be hard to (address current U.S. politics); that’s almost too large to deal with, and we didn’t want to go there when we were writing it. This one is really almost a comedy, though it’s got scares and spooky moments and all that. It’s more about suspense than blood. While there is gore, it’s not overt; there are no big, operatic sequences where people get torn apart. There’s slapstick in it, but it’s mostly stunts; it’s quite different. One character dies, for example, in a tragic way, but was once in NASCAR and is able to come back and drive. It’s that kind of looney-tunes.”
Romero and Birman will be shopping aroundRoad of the Deadat Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal later this month, and I sure as hell hope it gets picked up because it sounds insane and delightful, and I will watch anything Romero does with a smile on my face.
Trailer Trash: ‘The Ritual’, ‘Jackals’, ‘Another Wolfcop’
The Ritual
“The Ritual is the story of four old friends from university who set out to hike through the Scandinavian wilderness after the tragic death of their best friend. But a wrong turn leads them into the ancient forests of Norse legend where something evil is stalking their every step.”
Jackals is a disturbing vision of a fractured family that will do anything to get their estranged son back from a murderous cult, but find themselves under siege when the cultists surround their cabin. A vicious battle unfolds, testing familial loyalties and unleashing a bloodbath in which there are few survivors.
Another Wolfcop
A month has passed since the eclipse transformed hard-drinking Officer Lou Garou into the crime fighting hellion WolfCop. Although the Shape Shifters controlling the town have been extinguished, Woodhaven is far from returning to normal. Lou’s liquor-fuelled antics and full moon outbursts are seriously testing his relationship with Officer Tina Walsh — the new Chief of Police. An old friend has mysteriously reappeared with a truly bizarre secret to share, and a homicidal new villain has emerged from the shadows looking to finish what the Shape Shifters started. To defeat this lethal adversary, it will take more than a lone wolf packing a pistol.
