by MoreHorror.com

FEARnet television will premiere the Machinima and Lionsgate original zombie apocalypse comedy web series, “Bite Me”on March 6th. The series will also concurrently premiere on Machinima Network online.

On the heels of the massively successful first season, it was announced today that the second season of “Bite Me,” will also be run on FEARnet, the premium cable network for horror, thriller and suspense, backed by Lionsgate, Sony and Comcast. Check out the trailer below the official details.

Machinima, the number one video entertainment brand for gamers around the world, and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), a leading diversified global entertainment company, have partnered to renew Machinima’s original zombie apocalypse comedy series “Bite Me.” It was announced today by Allen DeBevoise, Chairman and CEO of Machinima, and Lionsgate’s Curt Marvis, who orchestrated the Company’s partnership with Machinima and is overseeing the series for Lionsgate. 

On March 6th, the second season of “Bite Me” will premiere on the Machinima Network online (YouTube.com/Machinima) and on FEARnet, the premium cable network for horror, thriller and suspense, backed by Lionsgate, Sony and Comcast.

 “”Bite Me” is yet another example of the type of premium content that we know resonates with our global audience of highly engaged and influential young males,” said DeBevoise. “We’re thrilled to partner with Lionsgate on the second season and look forward to expanding this into a global franchise.”

“Lionsgate is committed to creating and delivering original content that bridges the gap between traditional and digital screens,” said Marvis. “”Bite Me” is a perfect example of our win/win approach to traditional and digital platforms, launching both on Machinima and FEARnet. Machinima is a dynamic and innovative company that is helping to change the face of the Internet, and they share our entrepreneurial culture and game-changing vision. We will continue to explore these types of synergistic partnerships in the future.”

FEARnet will be the exclusive TV home for “Bite Me.” In addition to premiere windows, the series will be expanded for FEARnet with extended episodes, behind the scenes content and special presentation movie length versions of the show. The cable outlet will also offer sneak previews of upcoming episodes prior to their appearance on YouTube.

“This series is a perfect fit for FEARnet,” said FEARnet President Peter Block. “FEARnet and Machinima share similar audiences and this is a great opportunity to promote the FEARnet brand on Machinima and vice versa.  Additionally, by enabling our audience to watch “Bite Me” in both series format and as feature-length movies on the FEARnet channel and on demand, we believe that we can further expand the tremendous reach and awareness that Machinima has already generated for the show.”

by Jesse Miller, MoreHorror.com

We at MoreHorror really love indie horror. The newest film that caught our eye was Donner Pass (review) and we've got an Exclusive interview with lead actress Desiree Hall for your pleasure.

She's fairly new on the scene, but you might also recognize her from the MTV series Teen Wolf. Check out what she had to say below.

MoreHorror.com - Can you tell me a bit about how you came to be involved with Donner Pass?

Desiree Hall - I was taking an acting class being taught by the film’s director-to-be.  One day while she and her husband (Mouncey, the producer) were in rewrites for the film, she brought some of the material into class and asked me to read it for her.  A few months later she asked me to audition and then a few weeks after that we were in rehearsals just prior to shooting.

MH - For the readers currently unfamiliar with the film, can you describe your role to them?

DH - I play Kayley, the responsible, mature kid in a group of four friends that journey to a cabin in the woods for a ski weekend.  As things begin to spin out of control, Kayley is the rational one who tries to keep everyone calm and focused on the group’s survival

MH - What was it that drew you to the role of Kayley?

DH - It’s always fun to be the lead character in a project.  That was definitely the biggest draw.  

MH - Was there anything about Kayley that you could draw upon from your own experience when you were bringing her to life?

DH - Fortunately for me, none of my experiences have had anything to do with dead bodies, but yes, I did start with my own experiences of just getting through some terrible situations.  From there, I put my trust in the prep and rehearsal work I had done and let my imagination take over.  

MH - I thought Kayley was pretty stoic throughout much of the film. To me, she’s the strong female figure of this piece. Was there something or someone that you drew inspiration from when bringing her to life?

DH - It was very important to me to portray Kayley in a way that was real to me.  Not everyone reacts the same way in a given situation and not falling apart was a big part of Kayley’s story line.  To make that more interesting and relatable to play, I decided that although she may appear stoic, on the inside, she is really freaking out the whole time and doing everything that she can to maintain control and get herself out of the situation.  She is ultimately forced to do something that she would have never done, had it not been for the circumstances.  I think that is something that is very relatable to everyone.  Learning what makes Kayley tick was definitely a process of discovery throughout rehearsals and shooting.

MH - How was it collaborating with the film’s director, Elise Robertson? Did she allow you room to explore and experiment with the character?

DH - Elise is definitely an actor’s director, so it was great being able to bounce ideas off of her and get her perspective.  She is really great with text analysis and finding subtle clues within the script to help you along.  During one of the final scenes in the movie, I was a little unsure if I was going to be able to get to the emotional places that I needed to go.  Rather than putting undue pressure on me to get it right, she just let me have a few moments to breathe into it and it really blossomed, even after multiple takes.

by MoreHorror.com

After the success of After Dark Originals, it's not a surprise that ADO decided to continue the horror onslaught with their follow up, After Dark Originals 2.

The first horror film in the new series will be Dark Circles. Check out the full details below.

From the official Release:

With the success of the After Dark Films Horrorfest "8 Films To Die For" brand, and the unanimous success of the first installment of After Dark Originals (ADO), ADF, in conjunction with Lionsgate and IM Global, is proud to announce that they will be bringing another set of 8 terrorizing films to theaters in 2012 -- After Dark Originals 2 (ADO2).  www.afterdarkoriginals.com

“We’re very proud of this new line of horror films and DARK CIRCLES is the perfect film to set the tone for our ‘newest brand of fear’.”
-Courtney Solomon, CEO of After Dark Films

After Dark Films kicks off After Dark Originals 2 with its first chilling feature of the new series that will send shivers down your spine.  DARK CIRCLES, written and directed by Writer-Director Paul Soter (of Broken Lizard infamy, the team behind CLUB DREAD, SUPER TROOPERS and BEERFEST) and starring Pell James (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Johnathon Schaech (That Thing You Do), will have its blood-curdling theatrical release in 2012.

“Hopefully this will serve as some kind of cinematic equivalent of birth control.”
-Paul Soter, Writer/Director of Dark Circles

Synopsis:

When new parents Alex and Penny retreat from the city and move into a place outside town, the stress and massive sleep-deprivation caused by their infant has both of them seeing things in the house that may or may not exist.  Persistent sightings of a strange woman has each of them wondering if they are suffering from hallucinations, or if their new home holds a dark, supernatural presence.  As their fragile grasp on reality spirals into delirium, Alex and Penny find themselves nearly helpless to deal with the horrific truth of what is really going in this house.

by MoreHorror.com

MoreHorror.com correspondent Dawna Lee Heising interviewed award-winning screenwriter Rob Tobin in December 2011. Tobin is a produced screenwriter, published novelist, former motion picture development executive and author of two popular screenwriting books. Tobin read more than 5,000 screenplays as a development executive before writing How to Write High-Structure, High-Concept Screenplays and The Screenwriting Formula.

Check out our exclusive interview with Rob Tobin under the official press release.

From the Official Release:

Rob Tobin was a writer on “Dam 999,” which was shortlisted for a 2012 Best Picture Oscar, he co-wrote “Vengeance,” a $25 million feature in pre-production, and his feature script “Storefront” is in pre-production with a scheduled June 2012 shoot in San Francisco. Four of Rob’s other feature scripts are currently under option, and his Urban Fantasy novel “Jo-Bri and the Two Worlds” was just published and is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and the iBookstore.

Tobin Currently Has Two Films in Pre-production - VENGEANCE and STOREFRONT

Among Rob’s other available screenplays is “Grampire,” a horror drama about a dying old man who gets a new lease on “life” when he’s bitten by a vampire, and “God Wars,” about a handicapped young woman who obtains magical powers and uses them to fight evil.

Tobin lives in beautiful Huntington Beach, California with his family and enjoys skiing, zip lining, barbecuing and finding new coffee shops in which to write. He’s available for writing assignments and can be reached at scripts@earthlink.net, or visit his website at: www.robtobinwriting.com.

About MoreHorror.com
The Founder and President of the premier horror film review site MoreHorror.com is Seth Metoyer, who is also the Producer and Co-owner of Dismal Productions with Bill Oberst Jr. MoreHorror.com contributors include: Shannon Hilson - Co-founder, Vice President and Senior Writer; Jason Lees - Senior Writer; Colleen Wanglund - Contributing Writer; Chris Wright - Contributing Writer; Marcey Papandrea - Contributing Writer; Jesse Miller - Contributing Writer; Shelly Martinez – Event Correspondent/Hostess; and Dawna Lee Heising - Hollywood Correspondent

by MoreHorror.com

The much talked about UK horror-thriller Splintered is on its way to a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack release on March 20th.

Mark your calendars and watch the trailer beneath the official release details below.

From the Official Release:

A group of teenagers exploring a creepy abandoned building discover a terrifying creature on a blood-thirsty rampage in the horror-thriller Splintered, debuting on Blu-ray™ + DVD Combo Pack and DVD March 20th from Well Go USA Entertainment. The film stars Stephen Martin Walters (TV’s “Skins”), Holly Weston, Sacha Dhawan (TV’s “Outsourced”), Sadie Pickering, Jonathan Readwin (Dread), Sol Heras and Colin Tierney.

The film won six awards at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival, including Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Editing, Best Score, Best Special Effects and Best Make-Up. In addition, it was nominated for Best Horror Film at the 35th Annual Saturn Awards and for Most Memorable Mutilation for the arm removal scene at Spike TV's 2009 Scream Awards. Bonus features include a behind-the-scenes featurette and deleted scenes. Splintered will be available in a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack.

Synopsis:
Troubled teen Sophie drags her friends deep into a forest in search of a local legend - a wild beast, half animal and half man, that uses its cunning ability and brutal strength to kill for pleasure. But when the beast leads Sophie and her friend, John, to an abandoned orphanage, the hunters become the hunted.

by MoreHorror.com

The new artwork for the upcoming indie film My Pure Joy looks pretty sweet as you can see.

This film from James Cullen Bressack has been generating a lot of buzz over the last year around the horror circuit and now Media Blasters' are releasing it through their FRESH MEAT Shriek Show label. Check out the details below, as well as the trailer and link to pre-order the movie through Amazon.

From the official release:

Just when you thought the day was right around the corner, it gets pushed back a month!

Over 3,000 fans of the highly anticipated indie horror flick MY PURE JOY have gathered in Facebook, anxiously awaiting the release of critically acclaimed 19-year-old filmmaker, then 18, James Cullen Bressack’s first feature film, which is being released on Media Blasters’ FRESH MEAT Shriek Show label. Release is now slated for March 13th Original release date was February 14th.

Pre-orders have been selling well on Amazon for the past two months, fueled by consistently rave reviews on horror websites. The movie is set for large-scale American release in leading retailers nationwide, including Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and Fry’s among many others. While Japanese fans can expect to be treated to a release in theaters in their country later this year.

MY PURE JOY tells the story of a deranged teenage serial killer whose unhealthy obsession with horror movies leads him on a killing spree of neighbors, friends, and family. James Cullen Bressack, who has been labeled “Horror’s New Hope”, draws special inspiration from Asian directors Takashi Miike and Chan-wook Park.

PHOTO CREDIT: Gemma La Mana

by MoreHorror.com

The teaser trailer from the upcoming film 7500 look promising. If you are a fan of The Grudge filmmaker Takashi Shimizu, then you might enjoy this little creepy, closed spaced supernatural thriller. Check out the trailer under the synopsis and movie details.

Synopsis:
7500 concerns a group of passengers who encounter what appears to be a supernatural force while on a transpacific flight.

7500, directed by The Grudge filmmaker Takashi Shimizu will be released Aug. 31 from CBS Films.

Visit the official website: http://7500Movie.com
Become a fan on Facebook: http://Facebook.com/7500Movie
On Twitter: @7500Movie

Cast & Crew includes:
Ryan Kwanten (TV’s “True Blood”), Leslie Bibb (Zookeeper), Nicky Whelan (Hall Pass), Jerry Ferrera (TV’s “Entourage”), Christian Serratos (Twilight Saga), Jamie Chung (Hangover Part II), Amy Smart (TV’s “Shameless”), producer Roy Lee (The Ring), Producer Taka Ichise (The Grudge) and director Takashi Shimzu (The Grudge)

by Colleen Wanglund, MoreHorror.com

While I’ve seen more than a few indie horror anthologies of late—some good, others forgettable—the anthology film seems to be making a comeback.  Like the classic George Romero/Stephen King CREEPSHOW (1982) and the impending THE ABCs OF DEATH due out later this year, THE THEATRE BIZARRE (2011) is one of those films that lives up to its buzz….and fans’ expectations.  Six shorts linked by framing scenes make up THE THEATRE BIZARRE, a film being distributed by Severin Films. 

The film’s opening and framing segments, directed by Jeremy Kasten (WIZARD OF GORE {2007}) titled “Theatre Guignol” star the wonderfully bizarre Udo Kier as a life-size marionette and story teller in an abandoned theater.  Virginia Newcomb plays a young woman obsessed with the old theater, who sneaks into it one fateful night to hear the strange stories.  Throughout the segments are a cast of weird, life-size marionettes which underscore the coming short.

The six shorts are as follows:

The Mother of Toads written and directed by Richard Stanley (HARDWARE {1990}) stars Shane Woodward as Martin and Victoria Maurette as Karina, a couple vacationing in France.  Martin is an anthropologist studying ancient myths and is invited to the home of a witch to see an ancient book akin to the Necronomicon.  Needless to say Martin doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into as the witch uses her magic to seduce him.  The witch is a fantastically creepy Catriona MacCall, veteran actress of Lucio Fulci flicks THE BEYOND (1981), THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY (1981) and CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (1980).  This particular short had a Dario Argento vibe to it, including some of the music.

I Love You written and directed by Buddy Giovinazzo (COMBAT SHOCK {1986}) opens with a man (Andre Hennicke) waking up covered in blood on the floor of his bathroom.  After he has cleaned himself up, his wife (Suzan Anbeh) returns to the apartment to get her things, telling her husband she is leaving him.  What ultimately happens in that apartment is anything but predictable and enjoyably bloody.

Wet Dreams directed by SFX guru Tom Savini stars James Gill as Donnie, a man who has been having increasingly disturbing dreams about his wife Carla (Debbie Rochon).  Donnie’s therapist (played by Savini) tells him how to handle these dreams.  What he fails to mention is that he is on the final joke with Carla.  This short is a gloriously bloody bit of torture porn that did, in fact, have me cracking up.  An interesting bit of trivia—Greg Nicotero was originally slated to direct Wet Dreams but had to bow out due to the success of the television show THE WALKING DEAD.  He did contribute to the SFX, however.

The Accident written and directed by Douglas Buck is a very human story dealing with the true horrors of life and death.  The story centers around a mom (Lena Kleine) explaining why people die to her young daughter (Melodie Simard) after witnessing a horrible accident between a motorcycle and a deer.  The story itself is a sad one, and disturbed me greatly because of the plight of the deer (I’m overly-sensitive when it comes to animals).  The nine-year-old actress was very good in her role of the curious and confused daughter.

Vision Stains written and directed by Karim Hussain deals with a female serial killer (Kaniehtiio Horn) who takes the vitreous humor from her female victims at the point of death and then injects it into her own eye.  The killer sees the lives of the women she kills and writes down their stories, preserving them for posterity.  In a moment of overwhelming curiosity she takes the fluid from a pregnant woman’s womb to know what an unborn child might see.  That single act completely changes her life.

Sweets written and directed by David Gregory, is a bizarre story about a couple whose co-dependent relationship centers around junk food.  Estelle (Lindsay Goranson) attempts to end the relationship with Greg (Guilford Adams) but he begs and pleads for her to stay.  Greg will come to regret that decision.  Sweets is Willy Wonka-colorful, decadent and an extremely fun allegory on excess and gluttony, with Lynn Lowry leading a weird and rather gruesome dinner party.  Actresses Erin Marie Hogan (Test Tube Baby), Elissa Dowling (Subs), and Erica Rhodes (Cellist) round out the ensemble cast.

by Shannon Hilson, MoreHorror.com

Every so often, a film lands on my desk for review that I enjoy, but find really hard to classify. The Mortician is definitely one of those films. I don’t quite feel right calling this a horror film or even a suspense film, because that’s not really what it is. However, I do think this is something that would appeal to certain types of horror fans if they give it a chance. For now, I’m going to dub The Mortician a “crime drama with a heart” and leave it at that.

The plot follows a quiet, lonely man (expertly played by Method Man) who is a mortician by trade. He lives in a rough neighborhood populated by gang members, thugs, and other equally unsavory characters. One day, his profession finds him face to face with a little boy whose mother was brutally raped and killed by some of these gang members. Said gang members are now after the boy and it’s up to the mortician to keep him safe from harm. Things are further complicated by memories from the mortician’s own past that keep coming to mind as more and more details of the boy’s ordeal come to light.

I’m really not sure what I expected when I popped this DVD in to give it a watch. Since it was about a mortician, I suppose I was bracing myself for a body count or a ton of death in one form or another. Don’t get me wrong. There are certainly plenty of bodies since the main character works at the city morgue and there are also more than a few killings with so many thuggish characters involved. However, none of that forms the true center of this movie.

by Shannon Hilson, MoreHorror.com

There's nothing we like here at MoreHorror better than an expertly made film that really covers all the bases and writer/director Nick Simon's feature debut Removal really delivers in this regard. Filled with twists, turns, gold-star performances from an all-around amazing cast, awesome dialogue, and incredible shots, this film is easily one of the best horror films I've seen in a long while. It follows the story of Cole, a carpet cleaner who takes on a rather unusual cleaning job for a wealthy client and winds up with a lot more to contend with than he bargained for.

Writer/director Nick Simon and writer/actor Oz Perkins of Removal were both kind enough to answer some questions for me recently in regards to this very cool film. If you still haven't had a chance to check it out for yourself, catch it today On Demand or on DVD.

MoreHorror Exclusive Interview with Nick Simon:

SH: Tell me a little bit about the inspiration for Removal. When and how did you first come up with the idea for this film?

NS: Removal was originally titled Shadow Play and was based on a short film I made at AFI. In fact, most of the same crew that worked on the short came along for the feature. Mark Kelly and Oz Perkins even play the same parts in the short that they do in the feature. Kevin Duggin (DP), Katy Skjerping (Editor), all four of the producers, and myself all went to AFI together.

We had a really great response from the short and (Producer) Chady Mattar came up to me after we graduated and said he wanted to make a feature version of the film, so we all jumped at the opportunity. However, it was quite challenging turning a short into a feature. What works great in short form doesn’t really apply to a three act structure. We went through several drafts of the script before we came up with what you see now.

by MoreHorror.com

The indie horror carousel continues to go round and round, and it is important for us to support that ride. There is a new ambitious horror project coming up called Coyote which features horror genre actor Bill Oberst Jr. playing the lead roll as a crazy insomniac writer with a red typewriter (hell yeah!), and the film needs your help.

Please check out the exclusive letter to horror fans from the Writer/Director of Coyote, Trevor Juenger, below. Also check out the teaser video and a special video message from Actor Bill Oberst Jr. about the project as well. Thanks! - Seth Metoyer

From "Coyote" Writer/Director Trevor Juenger
We're trying to raise $4K for a very ambitious project called Coyote. Bill Oberst Jr. stars as "Bill" an insomniac writer who...well... that's all I can really say. It's a non-linear, hallucinatory puzzle of story. We're basically seeing the world through Bill's eyes, so there's no answer as to what is "real." When the credits roll, you should have a pretty good idea of Bill's story, but it'll probably sound a little different than what another person might say. That's what I'm aiming for at least. I think the script nails that goal through a cerebral journey that explores a ton of horror themes in a really fresh way.

We're working on turning those pages into a fully fleshed out feature film. It's been going well so far. Part of our crew is assembled. We're all working for no money, and plan on continuing that this July, when the actual production begins. That said, there are a TON of practical effects, props, makeup, as well as the ever important food that costs real dollars. We've raised roughly 1/4 of our budget currently, so we're still about 3,000 short. If you head over to our indiegogo, you can help! Oh, but there's something in it for you, too. For just five bucks, you can get access to a digital version of the film before it premieres anywhere. There's also dvd's, props, and other "perks" you can pick up depending on how much you can donate.

by Jesse Miller, MoreHorror.com

 The film centres on Virginia (Melissa Sue Anderson) who is struggling with stress following the recent death of her mother and recent brain surgery following a horrific accident.

As she struggles to come to terms with it all, someone or something is picking off her friends around her one by one in bizarre and slightly comical ways.
Is Virginia mentally unstable or does someone else have a dark agenda?

Happy Birthday To Me uses the traditional whodunit angle and closely examines Virginia’s friends, setting up possible candidates for the psychotic killer and giving motivations for each of the characters.
To further complicate the guessing game, the killer is shown to wear black gloves while committing the murders and in following scenes, a character will arrive late to the bar taking their black gloves off.

The characters here are your standard 80’s slasher film characters – one dimensional and uninteresting but the cast turn in serviceable performances regardless, with Melissa Sue Anderson being a highlight as the hapless, helpless Virginia.

However, I found I couldn’t make any sort of connection with these rich kid stereotypes.

by Jason Lees, MoreHorror.com

Around here, we love it when people get lost in the woods and the only thing that turns up is their sandals.  It's even better when the only thing to survive is their cameras.  

Whether they run into a ghost, a witch, a family of cannibals, or even a Kardashian or two, it's always fun to see what survives.  

Indie filmmaker Jason Horton took a few minutes to talk with us about his latest movie MONSTERS IN THE WOODS (review) and what happens when a film crew goes up against more than just a deadline.  

Thank you for taking a few minutes to talk with us.  We know you’re busy with MONSTERS IN THE WOODS hitting shelves on February 21st (and currently available on VOD), so we really appreciate whatever time you can spare for us.

No trouble at all. This stuff is a big part of supporting your movie. I actually enjoy it. I'm narcissistic like that.

MITW takes its viewers to familiar settings as it follows a low budget film crew into a secluded part of the woods.  Savvy horror fans will recognize the set up as something they’ve seen before, but will appreciate the twists and turns you throw them.  What seemed like another ‘found footage’ flick quickly becomes something more as both the body count and the surprises begin to pile up.

Taking the familiar and adding a twist to it seems like it should be the standard approach to satisfying an audience, but it seems so rare these days.  Giving an audience what they expect seems so much safer, but it really just leaves them bored.  With the curves you threw at the audience in MONSTERS IN THE WOODS, was there ever any pressure to play it safe and just make another BLAIR WITCH? 


As a filmmaker, going over familiar territory in a familiar manner just doesn't interest me. I'll leave that to the Len Wisemen's and Brett Ratner's of the world. When I start writing a new project (if it is green-lit) it can take up year or more of my life (script, production, post, promotion and release). So it has to excite me creatively, take me to somewhere I haven't been, or if I have been there, I want to look at it a new way.

by MoreHorror.com

We first reported last month about the upcoming exploitation film House of Flesh Mannequins that's been grabbing a lot of attention and awards within the horror circuit.

We've recently been informed that the film is now available for pre-orders through Amazon.com (Click here to Pre-Order "House Of Flesh Mannequins".) The film will release via Empire Films on February 21. Check out the full details below from the official press release.

From The Official Release:
"House of Flesh Mannequins" is in part, an homage to the 1960 cult classic, "Peeping Tom" which is widely reported to be Martin Scorsese’s favorite film. Indeed, “House of Flesh Mannequins” even features a poster from the original film. But this is not a remake. The film also features a nod to the great European genre directors of the ‘70’s and ‘80’s. Cinefiles will easilyrecognize the acknowledgements to Fulci, Argento and R.W. Fassbinder, as well as the surrealism of Cronemberg and Lynch and the outrageousness of Steve McQueen.

The thing that sets "House of Flesh Mannequins" apart from other genre films is Christapharo’s willingness to push the envelope. "House of Flesh Mannequins" uses real Italian porn and fetish stars in non simulated graphic scenes. According to director Christapharo, “Everything is real, but it’s a movie, so nothing is real.”

"House of Flesh Mannequins" stars Award winners Domiziano Arcangeli (who also produced), and Giovanni Lombardo Radice, along with the captivating Irena A. Hoffman. The film also features stars of the notorious, “Theatre of Blood.” “The Theatre of Blood" is about a diverse group of European performers who make a show out of cutting, piercing, sewing themselves and other extreme S & M activities. Bonus features on the DVD include even more bizarre performances by this troop. For all of its extreme nature, "House of Flesh Mannequins" has become an international phenomenon: In addition to Arcangeli and Radice’s acting awards, the film has also won multiple awards at prestigious festival on two continents.

Christapharo is not the only Domiziano who has been busy. Arcangeli’s Empire Films, which had a hit with the Lionsgate release Virus X in 2011, has 2 more films set for release in 2012: Brides of Sodom (which is set for release in late spring) and The Ghost Maker (set for a summer release). Arcangeli also stars in the upcoming films, “Territory,” directed by Everett Lewis, who’s last film was a selection at the Sundance Film festival, and Ivan Zuccon’s Wrath of the Crows, costarring horror icons Tiffany Shepis and Debbie Rochon.

by MoreHorror.com

Wow, these Roger Corman "Monster Movie" presentations just keep on a'coming. The newest title from Anchor Bay Entertainment is CAMEL SPIDERS (we knew you'd get a kick out of that one) comes crawling to DVD and Blu-ray on March 27th. Check out the official details below.

To science, they are known as “solifugae.” They can grow up to one foot in length. Stories about these seemingly mythic creatures started surfacing when U.S. soldiers encountered them in the first Gulf War. Google™ “camel spiders” and for anyone with even a hint of arachnophobia, you’ll find videos and pictures of an eight-legged, true life nightmare. Thank goodness they’re thousands of miles away...or are they?

From master creature feature maker Roger Corman comes a spine-chilling tale about the ultimate skin-crawlers: Camel Spiders! Starring Brian Krause (Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer, “Charmed,” Sleepwalkers), GiGi Ernata (Risen, Crossed) and C. Thomas Howell, (The Outsiders, The Hitcher, The Amazing Spider-Man), Camel Spiders crawls its way onto DVD and Blu-ray™ March 27, 2012.

During a routine desert patrol, an U.S. Military unit head by Captain Sturges (Krause) is ambushed by insurgents. Just when they seemed to be outgunned, the attack suddenly stops...and their would-be assassins are dragged off by what a native liaison calls “the devils of the sand.” Wounded in the battle, Sturges earns a ticket back home to the more hospitable deserts of the Southwestern United States.

by Marcey Papandrea, MoreHorror.com

What is a ‘giallo’? – Giallo is Italian for yellow; a term which came from crime/mystery paperbacks with the yellow toned covers. In turn, highly stylized films of the same genre with elements of eroticism became known as ‘giallo’ films themselves.

Why did you pick this film? – I have been interested in the giallo genre for a long time, ever since I saw my first Dario Argento film. As part of this series I wanted to expose myself to many different gialli as possible, so I sought out a lesser-known one. The title of L’Uomo Senza Memoria really caught my attention, and with a giallo film that is all you need.

Who is behind this one? – It was directed by Duccio Tessari, his previous giallo was The Bloodstained Butterfly. It stars Luc Merenda, Anita Strindberg, Senta Berger, Umberto Orsini, Bruno Corazzari, Manfred Freyberger and Rosario Borelli.

The Film – Puzzle was an absolute delight, it had a really interesting central premise, and it revealed clues in just the right way to still keep you guessing until the final act. The film introduces us to a man who has amnesia, he doesn’t remember anything and is trying to piece together who he is. But there are those out there who don’t believe his story, and pretty soon there is someone out to kill him. This leads him to discover a few things about himself and that he has a wife waiting for him. The mystery continues as he makes his way to his wife and more mysterious characters and events follow him.

Best to keep this plotline to a minimum, because knowing too much can almost ruin the experience. I didn’t really know anything as I went into this and it was a real pleasure to watch, the mystery is what this is all about. There is something so engaging about a man with no memory and trying to solve who he is and why there are people after him.

by Christ Wright, MoreHorror.com

Mountaintop Motel Massacre is a classic example of a slasher movie that had so much potential yet it was entirely wasted! I sort of knew what to expect when I heard mundane things about this movie but I didn’t expect it to be this riddled with plot holes. New World Pictures released this movie in 1986. My mind was massacred while watching this tedious movie.

The plot begins with an insane asylum patient released back into the world and she returns back to the motel she once lived. All is not well when she “accidentally” kills her girl Lori (Jill King) in a fit of rage. I guess crazed mental patient Evelyn (Anna Chappell) was released too soon it seems? The police let Evelyn off (for reasons that make no sense) citing it was an accident. The kills to come are no accident on her part. The opening of this movie is bizarre. The girl Lori appears mentally unstable herself. She has a rabbit, conjuring up spells, and talking to her deceased Dad. Evelyn rolls in when she is angered that Lori doesn’t do what she said and winds up killing the animals and Lori simultaneously. The movie, after this stage, goes down hill fast.

This movie had so much potential. A psyched out mental patient on a rampage in a motel is vintage slasher movie. The movie is derailed with slow pacing, bad acting, and random plots out of nowhere. The movie uses 20 minutes with Evelyn doing “mind games” with her guests with roaches, spiders, and rats. Evelyn’s games with her guests come across as mere filler. One huge plot hole is how this small motel has all these tunnels underneath each motel room. How in the world could one older lady do all this? It makes no sense. At the end, we see them all leaving and apparently they see a ghost of one of the dead ones? This also made no sense. The plot in this movie was poorly constructed even for a low budget movie.

by Seth Metoyer

It's no secret (shhh) that we at MoreHorror dig on the Soska sisters. You know, the Twisted Twins who brought the world a little indie film called Dead Hooker in a Trunk (Review)?

Of course they are also going to unleash the highly anticipated "sure to shock" horror film "American Mary" to the masses as well.

In the past, we've done some extensive coverage on the aforementioned projects brought to us by Jen Soska and Sylvia Soska, and now we are delighted to share something new and different with you. Well, sort of...

Allow us to present to you the first ever live interview with the Soska sisters, presented by "The Ghost Show".

Now, I've followed the Twisted Twins for quite a while, but had never heard of "Ghost" before, or "The Ghost Show" for that matter. Let me say just say that "Ghost" is the bomb! He knocks it out of the park and brings out some of the best candid moments I'd have ever hoped to see with Jen and Sylvia. Check out their lovely foul mouths and witty comments in the video interview below.

"In this episode of The Ghost Show, Ghost sneaks The Twisted Twins Jen & Sylvia Soska (directors of "Dead Hooker In A Trunk", & "American Mary") into the Toronto Underground Cinema for a little pow wow. Find out how the Soska Sisters made their first feature, performed stunts & learn some inside secrets of their next big soon to be cult classic movie American Mary."

by Seth Metoyer, MoreHorror.com

Our Hollywood Correspondent Dawna Lee Heising had a chance to sit down with Ti West (Writer/Director The House of The Devil), Sara Paxton (Shark Night / The Last House on The Left) and Pat Healy (Magnolia) to discuss the topic of Ghosts in reference to the upcoming feature film THE INNKEEPERS.

See what they had to say in the video interview under the official press release and make sure to check out THE INNKEEPERS on VOD now and in theaters February 3, 2012.

So, do you believe in Ghosts?

From the Official Release
Dawna Lee Heising Interviews THE INNKEEPERS Director Ti West for MoreHorror.com.
Magnet Releasing Has US Theatrical and VOD Rights to THE INNKEEPERS, which Stars Sara Paxton, Pat Healy and Kelly McGillis. Segment produced by Seth Metoyer, Shannon Hilson, Matt Chassin and Dawna Lee Heising.

The Wagner/Cuban Company’s Magnet Releasing, genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, acquired U.S. theatrical and VOD rights to Ti West's haunted house film "The Innkeepers." THE INNKEEPERS is a film about a haunted hotel that expertly blends humor with truly terrifying scares. Written, directed and edited by West, who previously collaborated with Magnet on the landmark indie horror favorite The House of the Devil, THE INNKEEPERS stars Sara Paxton, Pat Healy, and Kelly McGillis, and was produced by Derek Curl, Peter Phok, West and Larry Fessenden for MPI/Dark Sky Films in partnership with Glass Eye Pix. Magnet will release THE INNKEEPERS through its Ultra VOD program, launching the film on all digital VOD platforms on December 30th of 2011, with a theatrical release in major markets in early February, 2012. MPI Media Group is releasing the film on DVD.

THE INNKEEPERS is set in the Yankee Pedlar Inn, which is about to shut its doors for good after over a century of service. Believed by many to be one of New England’s “most haunted hotels,” the last remaining employees - Claire (Sara Paxton) and Luke (Pat Healy)- are determined to uncover proof before it shuts down for good. As the Inn’s final days draw near, odd guests check in as the pair of “ghost hunters” begin to experience strange and alarming events that may ultimately cause them to be mere footnotes in the hotel’s long unexplained history. THE INNKEEPERS was inspired by West and his crew’s unnerving experiences at a similar hotel during the shooting of The House of the Devil.

Writer, producer and director Ti West has been called the most exciting young American horror director today, due to his award-winning film The House of the Devil. West has produced stellar work since the beginning of his career, imbuing both the vampire film, The Roost (2004), and the muscular backwoods splatter-flick, Triggerman (2007), with keen filmmaking intelligence. Like his producer and frequent collaborator Larry Fessenden, West likes to create distinctive personalities and see how they work in whatever creepy scenario he’s envisioned.

by Jason Lees, MoreHorror.com

The votes are in, and I’m going to admit that I’m pretty damed happy with how you all voted. I like surprises, and it looks like MoreHorror readers don’t just follow the trends and pick what’s popular out there. Nope, you guys wrote in and picked what really connected with you. Sure, there are some titles here that are on all the lists, but being popular doesn’t make them any less special. I dig your choices, and a couple of them on here I’m going to have to go out and rent this weekend, just because of your recommendations. So, without any further procrastination, here are YOUR top 13 films of 2011:

13. Hostel: Part III
I love that this made the cut. Around here, we’re big Scott Spiegel fans and anytime the man who helped bring Evil Dead 2 to the world does something, we like to take note. HOSTEL 3 was fun, like most of his work, and took the Eli Roth series in a new direction. Let’s just hope this gets the man more work. (Hostel: Part III review)

12. The Ward
Again, we’re fans of the director, and who reading this site doesn’t revere John Carpenter for his body of work. The man who bestowed HALLOWEEN, THE FOG, THE THING, and ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK to all of us should get a free pass, but he’s been fighting his own legend status for years now. When every film you make has to compete with your own back log, how do you win? Simple, you go small and make a simple film about a girl locked up in an asylum and let the acting do the work. Amber Heard, much like she did in DRIVE ANGRY and ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE, really owns the piece. This is another film I’m excited made your list. (The Ward review)

11. Troll Hunter
Guys, you picked it and I have to admit, I’m going to listen to you. This has been on my To Watch list for awhile. It’s about time I listened. From word of mouth, it’s amazing, the best application of cinema verite meets monster done ever. I’m really looking forward to this.

10. The Human Centipede 2
I love when a movie divides the audience, especially when it’s supposed to. Tom Six cut a path through audience reactions with his first Human Centipede, and I loved it. I still haven’t seen this one, but it looks like he took the joke of the first one to heart and just wanted to offend EVERYONE. I for one, can’t wait to see this, but I’m going to have to wait until it hits dvd next month for Valentine’s Day (I’m such a romantic). The idea of this film going all meta and breaking the 4th wall really has me intrigued. (The Human Centipede 2 Review)

9. Scream 4
I love me some Wes Craven, and I really loved this series back in the 90’s when it was the only bit of horror I could find at the theaters. I like how this series, of all the franchises out there, seems to be the only one that really can really reinvent itself and rise up again. Slashers might come and go, but slashers with a bit of insight seem to be able to pop up again and again. (Scream 4 Review)

by Colleen Wanglund

Frank Henenlotter’s comic take on Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein has finally been released on Blu-ray thanks to Synapse Films.

When Jeffrey Franken (James Lorinz) loses his fiancé Elizabeth Shelly (Patty Mullen) to a horrible mulching accident at a family birthday party he becomes obsessed with bringing her back. An amateur bioelectric technician with dreams of grandeur, Jeffrey gathers the pieces of Patty’s mutilated body and sets his twisted plan into motion.

Jeffrey needs some fresh parts to add to the pieces of Elizabeth, so armed with a “special” drug Jeffrey makes his way over the bridge and into Manhattan where he lines up a party of hookers. All he has to do is pick the best parts of each girl. No problem, right? The party swings into high gear but Jeffrey begins to have doubts about what he’s doing. It’s too late, however as the hookers, after partaking in Jeffrey’s magic drug begin to explode into the very pieces he needs!

Heading back to Jersey with his ill-gotten contraband, Jeffrey embarks on his experiment…bringing Elizabeth back to life. Things don’t go as planned when the newly resurrected Elizabeth heads to the city to satisfy the needs of her new body. She needs to turn tricks. As if that wasn’t enough for Jeffrey, the dead hookers’ pimp is hot on his trail. The confrontation with the pimp and the twist ending are truly priceless in this over-the-top horror comedy.

by Colleen Wanglund

Written by Todd Tjersland and directed by Matt Jaissle, the SOV flick The Necro Files (1997) stars Steve Sheppard as Detective Manners and Gary Browning as his partner Detective Sloane who are on the hunt for Logan (Isaac Cooper) a serial rapist and murderer who has killed and mutilated 200 women including Detective Sloane’s sister. The detectives find Logan at the scene of his latest kill and he manages to stun Manners with a shot to the head before he is handcuffed by Sloane. Manners, however shoots and kills Logan.

Nine months later a group of Satanists performing a ritual in a cemetery inadvertently bring Logan back from the dead. After killing and mutilating all but two of the Satanists who get away, zombie Logan goes around attacking women with his foot-and-a-half long perpetually erect penis, stabbing and feeding on their entrails while screwing them.

Meantime, Detectives Manners and Sloane are sent to find this attacker but something isn’t right. It seems the head injury that Manners suffered at the hands of Logan months before has made him aggressive, belligerent and a drug user. At first the detectives think they are looking for a copycat, until they see zombie Logan for themselves.

by Jesse Miller, MoreHorror.com

Legend has it that born out of the macabre and well-known history of the Donner Party was a curse of insatiable hunger that can make anyone who befalls it capable of disquieting evil.

For seven teens heading up for a ski weekend during a nasty blizzard, this is nothing more than just a ghost story to tell around a campfire. However, when they find one of their own dead and half-eaten, they are forced to face the fact that this ghost story just might actually be true.

With their car snowed out and no where to run and with conflicts rising amongst each other, the group not only have to confront the startling truth behind the legend but also work together to survive it.

Donner Pass is an absolutely startling, thrilling and bloody fun romp that starts the ride all guns blazing, putting you on the edge of your seat and refusing to let up till the final credits.

This film showcases an outstanding production, from some terrific cinematography by Bobby Scott, an effective haunting and moody score by Stefan Girardet, to a brilliant use of sound design (creaky floor boards, whispers and screams in the wind). Director Elise Robertson does an excellent job with the material here – she makes full use of her creative team and environment brilliantly, bringing to life the low-lit eerie backdrop and making something as harmless as an empty house feel terrifying.

Robertson skilfully keeps the film running at a brisk pace, keeping both the characters and the audience on their toes, letting the pot simmer with her band of teens before breaking out with some startling scenes of violence and gore. All the while creating somewhat of a nauseating feeling in myself, as I’m trapped in this whirlwind of horror trying to get a handle on how everything is going to play out.

by Seth Metoyer, MoreHorror.com

Our video interview coverage of the Shockfest Film Festival 2011 continues to roll in. In this episode, Dawna Lee Heising interviews Writer, Director, Actress and Producer Maria Olsen.

Maria is very busy these days in Hollywood and she catches us up on some of her past, current and recent projects, including Live-In Fear (IndieGoGo page), Sam Hell, Shellter, A Gothic Tale, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, and Paranormal Activity 3.

Check out the full interview below which was shot and edited by Astraes Locke.

For more information about Maria Olsen, you can check out her official IMDB page here. She can also be found on Twitter here.

by Marcey Papandrea, MoreHorror.com

I have to be honest; Retreat is not an easy film to review. The reason being is that this is a film best seen with as little prior knowledge as possible and it is rather difficult to discuss and review the film while remaining as spoiler free as possible. I shall do my best to not reveal much in terms of the plot, but you best just go check this film out, because it is a damn good one.

Retreat comes from co-writer/director Carl Tibbetts, this is his debut and I have to say for a debut this man knows his stuff! Usually you can tell when a film is someone’s first behind the camera, but not here. The film felt like it came from a seasoned veteran and that really speaks volumes in terms of Tibbetts talents and what he crafted here. The script was co-written by Janice Hallett who also made her debut with this. To round it off the cast were top notch with Cillian Murphy, Thandie Newton and Jamie Bell.

The basic premise sees a married couple played by Murphy and Newton retreating to an island to try and salvage their marriage. While there a young solider played by Bell shows up with some shocking news that has consequences for all three players. That is about all I feel comfortable in revealing, the film takes a lot of twists and turns and you just need to experience it for yourself.

"Retreat" relies heavily on its characters; this is a psychological horror film that is more tension than gore. Without strong leads this would have been a complete failure, but lucky for Tibbetts he scored big on that front. The trio here had the perfect balance, Murphy and Newton felt like a troubled couple with just the right amount of tension between them to make it work. Bell comes in and completely changes he dynamic and his presence is easily the most unsettling thing. Each actor played off the other so well, the chemistry was electric and it really brought the film to life. On paper the script is extremely solid, it works well and will keep people guessing, but if you place actors in there that can’t handle the material it just wont work.

by MoreHorror.com

The recent "found footage" demonic possession film The Devil Inside has received mixed reviews from horror fans so far.

Our take is that THE DEVIL INSIDE is a movie that everyone should check out, if for no other reason but to satisfy your own curiosities.

In the mean time, FEARnet has released their exclusive coverage from the Los Angeles premier of "The Devil Inside". Check out the video coverage under the details below.

FEARnet's Joe McCabe speaks with writer-director William Brent Bell and writer-producer Matthew Peterman and the cast of their found-footage exorcism thriller The Devil Inside at the film's Los Angeles premiere. The Devil Inside premiered January 6, 2012.

THE DEVIL INSIDE synopsis:
In 1989, emergency responders received a 9-1-1 call from Maria Rossi (Suzan Crowley) confessing that she had brutally killed three people. 20 years later, her daughter Isabella (Fernanda Andrade) seeks to understand the truth about what happened that night. She travels to the Centrino Hospital for the Criminally Insane in Italy where her mother has been locked away to determine if her mother is mentally ill or demonically possessed. When she recruits two young exorcists (Simon Quarterman and Evan Helmuth) to cure her mom using unconventional methods combining both science and religion, they come face-to-face with pure evil in the form of four powerful demons possessing Maria. Many have been possessed by one; only one has been possessed by many.

by MoreHorror.com

Battle Royale is a film considered so violent and controversial that it is widely held that it was banned across North America.

Well, that wasn't the case. No distribution company in the states has been willing to pick up the Japanese horror flick until now that is thanks to Anchor Bay Entertainment. Check out the full details below as well as the trailer.

From the Original Release:

A title that has shocked, thrilled and unnerved audiences.  A film whose fiendishly simple premise has inspired many imitations, including the upcoming The Hunger Games motion picture. Based on the 1999 global best-seller by Koushun Takami, the futuristic tale first came to the screen in 2000, directed by the legendary Kinju Fukasaku. Authors, filmmakers and film fans the world over consider the film and its 2003 sequel Battle Royale II: Requiem sacred cinematic classics.  And now, fans can own them on high-definition Blu-ray™ and DVD!

On March 20th, Anchor Bay Entertainment proudly brings the Battle Royale: The Complete Collection to Blu-ray™ and DVD for the first time in North America. Featuring state-of-the-art HD transfers, hi-res audio and a wealth of bonus features that delve deep into this truly international phenomenon - the three disc Blu-ray™ plus bonus DVD set has an SRP of $49.99 and an SRP $44.98 for the four disc DVD.  Battle Royale will also be released separately on Blu-ray™ for an SRP of $29.99 and DVD for an SRP of $24.98.  Pre-Book on both is February 22.  Battle Royale will be available digitally via select outlets including iTunes® and Xbox LIVE®.

42 students, Three days, One survivor – No Escape.  Welcome to the world of Battle Royale!

Battle Royale
In the near future, the economy has collapsed, unemployment has soared and juvenile crime has exploded. Fearful of their nation’s youth, the Japanese government passes The BR Law:  Each year, a 9th grade class is sent to a remote island where they will be locked into exploding neck collars, given a random weapon, and forced to hunt and kill each other until there is only one survivor left. Chiaki Kuriyama (Kill Bill) and screen legend Takeshi Kitano (Boiling Point, Brother) star in the movie that has been argued, acclaimed and banned around the world. More than a decade later, it remains one of the most savage, shocking and emotionally powerful films of all time. Now experience the complete Director’s Cut of Kinji Fukasaku’s uncompromising masterpiece – nominated for 10 Japanese Academy Awards® – available uncensored and unrated for the first time ever in America.

by MoreHorror.com

It doesn't seem almost a year ago that we reviewed the gory, 14 minute horror ride called Roid Rage (review).

Well, Sammy's back and he's ready to go on another rampage.

In this follow up companion piece, the hemorrhoid killer returns to deliver a Christmas to Santa that he will never forget.

We know, we know, Christmas has come and gone, but we thought you might get a kick out of this last holiday present. You can watch it below. Enjoy!

Companion piece to the 2011 short film "Roid Rage"
Music (almost all available on iTunes and/or Amazon):
The Rock Heroes - "Greensleeves"
Paul Haslinger - "Stealing a Beamer"
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - "A Mad Russian's Christmas"
Alan Hawkshaw & Alan Parker - "Hot Pants"
Chromeo - "Night by Night"
Gino Peguri - "Coro Dei Corsari"
Ennio Morricone - "Dialogue of the Memories"
Walter Rizzati - "Learning to Die"
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - "Faith Noel"
Lea Hart & Steve Overland - "This Christmas"

Find Roid Rage on Facebook here