MoreHorrorMovies.com - NEON is bringing one of the year’s most talked-about genre discoveries home. Leviticus, the feature directorial debut from Adrian Chiarella, will arrive on digital platforms to rent or own on July 28, 2026, followed by a Blu-ray/4K Ultra HD Combo and DVD release on September 8, 2026. The announcement came Friday, July 24, from New York, with NEON positioning the film’s home entertainment release as a major moment for horror fans who missed its festival run, or who want to revisit its unsettling blend of dread, desire, and coming-of-age romance. The film premiered in the Midnight section of the Sundance Film Festival, a section known for launching bold genre titles and boundary-pushing midnight movies. After that premiere, Leviticus gained attention as a breakout horror romance, with critics describing it as “a bone-chilling horror romance” and “staggeringly beautiful.” The release dates are now set The home release begins with digital availability, giving viewers the first chance to watch Leviticus outside of theaters and festival screenings. The physical editions will follow several weeks later for collectors and fans who want bonus features on disc. Release format Date Availability Digital rental and purchase July 28, 2026 Digital platforms Blu-ray/4K Ultra HD Combo September 8, 2026 Physical release DVD September 8, 2026 Physical release The July digital release is the fastest route for audiences ready to experience the story at home. The September disc release is aimed at viewers who want the film with added material, including commentary, interviews, and behind-the-scenes access. A coming-of-age story with a terrifying romantic hook At the center of Leviticus are two teenage boys, played by Joe Bird and Stacy Clausen, who are forced to flee a violent supernatural entity. The threat takes the form of the person they desire most, which, for each of them, means the other. That premise gives the film its sharp emotional pull. The danger is not distant or anonymous. It wears the face of longing. The result is a horror story built around intimacy, fear, and self-discovery, where attraction becomes both a refuge and a threat. Joe Bird, known for Talk to Me, joins Stacy Clausen in what NEON describes as standout performances. Their characters’ flight from the entity shapes the film’s horror, but the relationship between them gives the story its core. The monster’s form turns their feelings into something visible, dangerous, and impossible to ignore. That is also what separates Leviticus from a more familiar chase film. The fear does not come only from being hunted. It comes from what the pursuit reveals. Adrian Chiarella makes his feature debut Leviticus marks the feature directorial debut of Adrian Chiarella, who also takes part in the home release through a feature commentary and interview material. A debut feature gaining attention out of Sundance’s Midnight section can carry a particular kind of pressure. Genre audiences often look to that program for films with strong visual identity, fresh concepts, and enough emotional weight to last beyond the initial shock. Based on NEON’s announcement, Leviticus arrives with that kind of profile. The film’s description points to a director interested in more than fright mechanics. The story uses the language of horror to explore adolescence, queer desire, vulnerability, and the fear of being seen. That mix has become a rich space for modern genre filmmaking, where monsters often reveal what characters are struggling to say out loud. Sundance helped build the buzz The Sundance Midnight premiere gave Leviticus an early platform with audiences primed for strange, intense, and emotionally charged films. The section has long been a home for horror, thrillers, and genre hybrids that do not fit neatly into a single category. For Leviticus, that setting appears to have helped define the film as both a horror title and a romance. NEON’s release frames it as a “haunting coming-of-age horror romance,” a label that suggests viewers should expect emotion and atmosphere alongside fear. The critical response highlighted in the announcement also points in that direction. Calling the film “bone-chilling” places it firmly in horror territory. Calling it “staggeringly beautiful” suggests the film’s impact may come as much from mood, performance, and imagery as from scares. The physical release includes bonus features The September 8 disc editions will include a set of extras designed for viewers who want more context on the making of the film. The home entertainment release includes: Feature commentary with Adrian Chiarella A full-length track from the director, offering insight into the film’s choices, themes, and production. Interviews with Adrian Chiarella, Stacy Clausen, and Joe Bird Conversations with the director and lead actors about the story, performances, and process. Exclusive behind-the-scenes featurette A closer look at how the film came together. Official trailer The film’s trailer included as part of the release package. For a movie built on atmosphere and performance, the commentary and interviews may be especially useful. They can help viewers understand how Chiarella and the cast shaped a story where desire and terror are intertwined so closely. NEON’s announcement gives Leviticus a firm path from festival favorite to home viewing. The film arrives digitally on July 28, 2026, with Blu-ray/4K Ultra HD Combo and DVD editions set for September 8, 2026. For anyone drawn to horror that cuts close to the heart, Leviticus brings its haunted love story home soon. Its central idea is simple and cruel: what if the thing chasing you wore the face of the person you wanted most?

MoreHorrorMovies.com - A tropical getaway turns into a nightmare in The Devil’s Mouth, a new survival thriller coming to Prime Video globally this Wednesday, July 29. The film follows five friends on what starts as a carefree post-college trip along Thailand’s coastline. Sun, caves, and open water give the story a strong adventure setup. Then the mood shifts fast. The group becomes trapped inside a deadly freshwater cave system, turning the trip into a fight to stay alive. Equal parts adventure story, mystery, and shark thriller, The Devil’s Mouth aims to bring a different setting and emotional focus to a familiar genre. The new clips highlight both sides of the movie: the immediate danger of a shark attack and the quieter tension between friends who are no longer sure they want the same future. The Prime Video release brings the thriller to a global audience The film arrives on Prime Video globally on Wednesday, July 29, giving survival thriller fans a new streaming release built around claustrophobic danger, natural beauty, and a creature threat in an unexpected place. Shark movies often lean on open ocean fear. The Devil’s Mouth changes that by moving the danger into a freshwater cave system. That setting creates a different kind of pressure. The threat is not only what is in the water, but also the cave itself. The characters must deal with: Limited space Darkness and disorientation Rising panic Physical exhaustion Old tensions within the group A predator they cannot easily escape The story turns a post-college escape into a survival test The setup is simple and effective. Five friends set out for a trip through Thailand’s stunning coastal caves after college. It should be the kind of adventure that marks the start of adult life, full of freedom and possibility. Instead, the cave becomes a trap. That contrast gives the movie its hook. The audience goes in expecting beauty, risk, and travel energy, then watches the same setting turn hostile. Clear water, stone walls, and hidden passages become part of the threat. The film’s survival angle also gives the characters little room to hide. In a wide-open setting, people can separate, run, or call for help. Inside a cave system, each choice can make things worse. A wrong turn, a rising current, or a moment of panic can change everything. Charlie and Kate give the film its emotional anchor At the center of the story is the relationship between Charlie, played by Kathryn Newton, and Kate, played by Lana Condor. Their friendship gives the film its emotional core. According to the release details, Charlie and Kate are longtime friends facing tension over changing life plans. That is a smart choice for a survival thriller. When characters already carry unresolved conflict, danger does not erase it. It sharpens it. A near-death scenario can make small problems seem pointless, but it can also force people to say what they have avoided. In The Devil’s Mouth, Charlie and Kate’s bond seems to carry that weight. Their friendship has history, but the future looks less certain. Watch the new film clips Along with the release push, new clips from the film offer a closer look at its tone. Each clip points to a different part of the movie’s survival formula: sudden danger, preparation, and the eerie physical evidence of the predator. Shark Attack The “Shark Attack” clip highlights the film’s most direct threat. It shows how quickly the adventure can turn into chaos once the shark enters the picture. Always Be Prepared The “Always Be Prepared” clip leans into the survival side of the story. In a cave thriller, preparation can be the difference between staying calm and making a deadly mistake. Shark Tooth The “Shark Tooth” clip suggests a more mysterious side to the danger. A tooth can be a warning sign, a clue, or a reminder that the characters are entering a space where they are not in control. The Thailand cave setting gives the shark thriller a new shape The coastal cave setting may be the film’s biggest advantage. Thailand’s caves give the story a rich visual identity, with rocky passages, water-filled chambers, and narrow routes that can shift from breathtaking to terrifying in seconds. A cave also changes how a shark thriller works. In open water, the fear often comes from distance. The ocean is too large, and the shark can appear from anywhere. In a cave, the fear comes from closeness. The walls press in. The exits are limited. Sound travels strangely. Light becomes precious. Why this release may stand out for shark movie fans The shark movie genre has been revisited many times, from high-seas thrillers to beach survival stories. The Devil’s Mouth stands out because it combines the predator threat with a trapped-location structure. That gives the film a few built-in strengths: A confined setting that raises tension A group dynamic that can fracture under pressure A friendship story with real emotional stakes A visual backdrop that feels distinct from typical shark thrillers A mystery element tied to the cave system The result looks like a survival thriller built for viewers who want more than jump scares. The clips suggest danger, but the character details suggest the film also wants to explore what fear does to friendship.

By Seth Metoyer, MoreHorrorMovies.com - Independent filmmakers hear the same advice again and again: submit the film to festivals, contact distributors, approach streaming platforms, and wait for somebody with institutional power to open the gate. Often, unfortunately, that gate stays closed. Over the years, I have encouraged several filmmaker friends to consider another route. When traditional distribution fails to materialize, put the movie on YouTube. Let people see it. Give the work a life beyond private screening links, festival submissions, and a hard drive collecting digital dust. A finished film deserves to be seen. It sucks when a completed project goes unnoticed, especially if you’re a producer, or worse, after spending two years composing its score that might never be heard, as I have. Ouuuch. YouTube gives independent filmmakers a place to release their work directly, build a following, and create a public demonstrati0n of what they can accomplish. A short film can operate as entertainment, a calling card, a proof of concept, and a miniature feature presentation all at once. In some cases, that visibility has launched filmmakers directly into Hollywood. David F. Sandberg created the original Lights Out short with actress Lotta Losten and released it online after entering it in a horror filmmaking competition. The stripped-down film turned darkness, a hallway, and a light switch into three minutes of concentrated nightmare fuel. Its viral success led to Sandberg directing the feature-length version produced by James Wan. Sandberg went on to direct Annabelle: Creation. Fede Álvarez experienced an even faster version of that story. His effects-driven short Panic Attack! depicted giant machines demolishing Montevideo, Uruguay. After he uploaded the film to YouTube in 2009, Hollywood studios and agencies began contacting him within days. Álvarez eventually directed the 2013 Evil Dead, followed by Don’t Breathe and Alien: Romulus. The list goes on. Each story offers the same lesson: filmmakers can use the screen already available to them. That brings us to The Bad Ones. The independent sci-fi horror web series is currently experiencing the kind of organic breakout filmmakers dream about. During the last 28 days alone, the channel generated 2.6 million views. It has also built an audience of more than 302,000 subscribers and accumulated 21.7 million lifetime views, with no paid promotion behind the surge. Four episodes of the planned nine-episode season are currently available free and on demand through YouTube. Episode Five has already been filmed and premieres July 30, 2026. The project’s growing audience has also begun supporting an official branded merchandise line. In an entertainment industry obsessed with algorithms, advertising budgets, and platform placement, The Bad Ones offers a compelling reminder that viewers can still gather around an independent story through genuine discovery and word of mouth. Something Is Hiding in the San Fernando Valley Directed by Hollywood veteran Dempsey Tillman, The Bad Ones is described by its creators as an independent science-fiction horror series “inspired by a true story.” According to the series’ official description, it draws from accounts of UAP phenomena, alien encounters, abductions, and the possibility of a hidden non-human society living among us. Its story follows one man’s desperate attempt to protect his family from an alien presence operating beneath the surface of ordinary life in the San Fernando Valley. The channel presents its central question with sinister simplicity: Do you really know who your neighbor is? I'm a longtime fan of The X-Files, especially the episodes that drag extraterrestrial terror out of the distant cosmos and deposit it in ordinary American spaces. A quiet street. A suburban home. A dark stretch of highway. A bedroom where somebody wakes at the wrong hour and sees a shape that should never have entered the room. Alien horror reaches its strongest form through intimacy. The threat crosses the threshold. It studies the family, learns the neighborhood, while the sky becomes secondary once the terror stands inside the house. That atmosphere pulled me into Episode One of The Bad Ones almost immediately. The Nightmare Begins The Premiere was on October 21, 2025, and Episode One introduced a man fighting to protect his family as the reality of an alien presence becomes impossible to dismiss. The episode runs a little over thirteen minutes, which gives it enough space to establish a story while preserving the velocity of a short film. It wastes very little time. The nightmare arrives quickly, the family stakes become clear, and the episode begins building a larger mythology around abduction, survival, and a concealed society operating beneath everyday life. The premise carries traces of classic alien-conspiracy storytelling, though The Bad Ones brings that paranoia into a contemporary independent production model. The series uses traditional acting, digital effects, careful editing, and calculated bursts of spectacle to create a world that feels larger than its physical resources. Modern digital technology can place extrodenary things inside the frame. Human performance gives those things additional strength. Fear becomes convincing when an actor responds to the impossible as though their family, sanity, and immediate survival hang in the balance. Episode One approaches the effects through emotional crisis rather than replacing it. The result feels like a recovered fragment from a much larger alien invasion story; one family’s experience inside a secret war that may have already begun. Small Budget Doesn't Mean Lack of Ambition Independent productions have always turned limitations into aesthetic decisions. Horror practically built its world on that principle. A filmmaker may lack a studio backlot, a massive crew, or a fleet of expensive physical creatures. They still understand framing, sound, editing, performance, darkness, implication, and timing. Digital tools now extend that arsenal, allowing filmmakers to visualize ideas that once required major studio resources. The Bad Ones demonstrates what can happen when filmmakers combine those tools with a direct storytelling objective. The first episode establishes danger, introduces its central conflict, delivers an extraterrestrial encounter, and leaves the viewer facing a larger mystery. It operates as one chapter while carrying the shape of a complete short-form experience. A creator looks at the available res0urces, calculates what the story needs, and finds a path through the wreckage. In the case of The Bad Ones, the audience has arrived in enormous numbers. Millions Are Already Watching At the time of writing, Episode One had accumulated more than 5.1 million views, while Episode Two had climbed toward 8 million. The larger channel numbers reveal an even more dramatic trajectory. As of this publication, The Bad Ones has grown to over 302,000 subscribers and racked up more than 21.7 million lifetime views. According to the filmmakers, that growth happened without paid promotion. Those numbers transform The Bad Ones from an intriguing independent production into a striking case study in direct-to-audience filmmaking. The creators placed their work where viewers could find it, and the audience responded at a scale that many conventionally distributed independent films never reach. The channel’s success demonstrates what can happen when a project finds the right combination of concept, craft, timing, and audience curiosity. No theatrical rollout placed the series in front of viewers, and no expensive advertising campaign manufactured the momentum. People found the episodes, watched them, shared them, and returned for more. The screen was open and the filmmakers used it. Showing the Creature and the Wires The official The Bad Ones YouTube channel expands beyond the narrative. It takes a real behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like working on an indie sci-fi horror set, sharing a raw and honest day in the life of indie filmmaking, showing you exactly how we shoot sci-fi horror when you have almost no crew, a tiny budget, and no fancy equipment. Independent filmmaking can appear mystical from the outside, especially when viewers see visual effects, elaborate environments, or supernatural creatures. Production breakdowns strip away that mystery and replace it with process: planning shots, constructing sequences, developing storyboards, combining performances with effects, and solving problems with the tools at hand. The Screen Is Open I clicked on Episode One because I enjoy alien horror. I'll be continuing because the series realizes the particular fear that made The X-Files so compelling: the universe contains mysteries, and some of them may already know where we live. The Bad Ones is available free and on demand through YouTube. Four episodes of the planned nine-episode season are currently streaming, with Episode Five scheduled to premiere July 30, 2026. The channel also features behind-the-scenes videos, VFX breakdowns, production material, independent filmmaking advice, and links to the official merchandise line. Follow the The Bad Ones Official Handles for Updates • YouTube Channel: / @thebadones_series • X (Twitter): https://x.com/TillmanDem5483 • Facebook: / dempsey.tillman • Reddit Community: / wrong_extension8132

MoreHorrorMovies.com - Queer Screams will return to Portland, Oregon, from August 14-16, 2026, bringing its fourth annual celebration of LGBTQ+ genre cinema back to the Clinton Street Theater. The festival announced two major guests for its 2026 edition: writer, producer, and director Bryan Fuller, who will receive the 2026 Queer Screams Career Achievement Award, and actor Nancy Allen, who will appear for a 50th anniversary screening of Carrie. Queer Screams is dedicated to LGBTQ+ genre cinema from emerging and established queer artists, with a focus that reaches across local, national, and international film communities. Its programming centers horror, science fiction, fantasy, thriller, and other genre work made by and for queer audiences. Queer Screams returns to the Clinton Street Theater The 2026 festival will take place at the Clinton Street Theater, a long-running Portland venue known for cult, independent, and community-centered cinema. The three-day festival will run Friday through Sunday, giving audiences a full weekend of screenings, special events, and guest appearances. Festival detail Confirmed information Event Fourth Annual Queer Screams Dates August 14-16, 2026 Venue Clinton Street Theater Location Portland, Oregon Focus LGBTQ+ genre cinema Featured guests Bryan Fuller and Nancy Allen Queer Screams frames genre film as a place where queer experience, outsider identity, fear, survival, and imagination meet. The 2026 announcement continues that focus with guests whose work connects strongly to horror, cult cinema, television, and queer cultural conversation. Bryan Fuller will receive the Queer Screams Career Achievement Award Bryan Fuller will be honored with the 2026 Queer Screams Career Achievement Award, which recognizes significant contributions to queer horror cinema and culture. Fuller is best known as the creator and creative force behind series including Hannibal, Pushing Daisies, and Dead Like Me. He has also worked in the Star Trek universe, including Star Trek: Discovery. Across television, Fuller’s work often blends beauty, death, longing, humor, and the strange ways people build chosen families under impossible conditions. Queer Screams will also host a special screening of Dust Bunny, Fuller’s feature directorial debut. The screening adds a new-film spotlight to the award presentation, allowing the festival to honor Fuller’s past work while presenting his latest step as a filmmaker. Fuller’s statement for the festival placed queer horror within a long tradition of outsider art and Gothic storytelling. “From Oscar Wilde to Bram Stoker to Mary Shelley to Clive Barker, there is a long illustrious history of Queer storytellers using their experience as outsiders to tell the tales that frighten us. I am so honored to be included in this year’s Queer Screams, celebrating the aliens and the alienated in a community diverse in its solidarity.” Bryan Fuller The quote points to a key idea behind the festival: horror has often given queer artists a language for isolation, transformation, desire, monstrosity, danger, and defiance. Fuller’s inclusion in the 2026 lineup connects the festival to that larger history while honoring a creator whose work has built a devoted queer following. Nancy Allen will present a 50th anniversary screening of Carrie Queer Screams also announced that Nancy Allen will attend the 2026 festival for a 50th anniversary screening of Carrie. Released in 1976, Carrie remains one of the defining American horror films of the 1970s. Directed by Brian De Palma and adapted from Stephen King’s novel, the film follows a bullied teenager whose telekinetic powers erupt after years of cruelty and repression. Allen played Chris Hargensen, one of the film’s most memorable antagonists. The anniversary screening gives Queer Screams a chance to revisit a classic film that has long resonated with queer audiences. Carrie is not an explicitly queer film, but its themes of shame, social punishment, religious control, isolation, and public humiliation have made it especially meaningful in queer horror discussions. Allen shared her excitement about marking the film’s anniversary with the festival community. “I'm thrilled to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Carrie with the passionate, welcoming, and wonderfully devoted queer community at Queer Screams. Queer Screams is exactly what film festivals should be: fearless, welcoming, and bursting with passion. I’m thrilled to be here. Maybe this time, I'll finally get to go to the prom!” Nancy Allen A 70s Queer Prom will precede Carrie Before the Carrie screening, Queer Screams will host a live, in-person 70s Queer Prom. The event will invite promgoers to dance to a DJ spinning vinyl and mark the night with a photo booth. The prom theme draws a direct line to Carrie, where prom becomes the setting for one of horror cinema’s most famous and devastating scenes. At Queer Screams, that image gets reframed as a community event built around celebration, music, and queer joy. A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit WeSPARK Cancer Support Center, a nonprofit organization that provides support services for people affected by cancer. The prom adds a participatory event to the festival schedule, giving attendees more than a screening. It turns a horror milestone into a shared night out, one that nods to the film’s legacy while making room for people who may not have had a safe or welcoming prom experience the first time around. Queer horror remains at the center of the festival The 2026 guest announcements reflect the festival’s broader mission. Queer Screams is not simply placing LGBTQ+ audiences in front of horror films. It is centering queer artists, queer readings, queer fandom, and queer community within genre cinema. That matters because genre stories have long used monsters, ghosts, aliens, doubles, witches, vampires, and final girls to explore what society fears or rejects. For queer viewers and creators, those images can carry an added charge. They can speak to being watched, misread, punished, hidden, transformed, or finally seen. By honoring Bryan Fuller and welcoming Nancy Allen, Queer Screams 2026 brings together contemporary queer genre television, new filmmaking, and a cornerstone of 1970s horror cinema. The result is a festival announcement built around both legacy and participation. The fourth annual Queer Screams is set for August 14-16, 2026, at the Clinton Street Theater in Portland. With Fuller, Dust Bunny, Allen, Carrie, and a 70s Queer Prom already confirmed, the festival is shaping its next edition around queer horror history, community memory, and the enduring thrill of gathering in the dark. Get more information at https://queerscreams.com

MoreHorrorMovies.com - The horror genre often thrives on unsettling atmospheres and chilling narratives that linger long after the credits roll. José María Cicala’s newest film, The Dollmaker, promises to deliver just that. Set to release in North America on August 25, 2025, this Argentine horror-thriller blends eerie storytelling with a surreal, bloody edge that horror fans will find hard to forget. A Glimpse into the Story The Dollmaker unfolds in a quiet village where life seems simple and uneventful. The story centers on a young man who appears charming and harmless. He spends his days caring for his mother, working at a local video store, and collecting dolls. But beneath this calm exterior lies a darker truth. As women begin to disappear mysteriously, Inspector Porter arrives to investigate. His suspicions quickly fall on the Dollmaker, setting the stage for a tense and unsettling mystery. Behind the Scenes: Crafting the Horror José María Cicala not only directed The Dollmaker but also co-wrote the screenplay with Griselda Sanchez. The production was led by Abril Cicala under Shock House Films, ensuring a cohesive vision from script to screen. The film’s cinematography by Martin Nico captures the eerie village setting with a haunting beauty, while Cecilia Calarota’s editing maintains a tight pace that balances suspense and revelation. Music plays a crucial role in horror, and Nahuel Maeso’s score adds to the unsettling mood, weaving through scenes with a mix of subtle dread and sudden jolts. The cast, led by Rodrigo Noya, brings depth to the characters, especially Noya, whose performance earned him the Best Actor award at the US premiere during Screamfest in Los Angeles. What Sets The Dollmaker Apart The Dollmaker combines psychological horror with surreal elements, creating a story that is both creepy and thought-provoking. The film’s setting in a quiet village adds to the tension, as the contrast between peaceful life and dark secrets becomes more pronounced. The character of the Dollmaker himself is intriguing. His obsession with dolls is not just a quirky trait but a window into his disturbed mind. This focus on character development makes the horror feel more personal and intense. For fans of horror looking for something fresh, The Dollmaker offers: A unique blend of horror and thriller elements Strong performances, especially from Rodrigo Noya A haunting atmosphere that builds slowly but surely A story that mixes the surreal with the macabre Recognition from genre festivals like Screamfest The film’s 97-minute runtime makes it a compact but powerful experience, perfect for those who appreciate horror that lingers in the mind. The Dollmaker arrives as a compelling addition to the horror genre in 2025. With its chilling story, strong performances, and atmospheric direction, it promises to engage and unsettle viewers. Horror fans eager for a film that combines mystery, suspense, and surreal horror will find much to appreciate here. Mark your calendars for August 25 to catch The Dollmaker on VOD and digital platforms. Prepare for a haunting journey into a world where innocence and darkness collide in unexpected ways.

MoreHorrorMovies.com - Fire is not the only danger closing in on Maria and Dai. In Cruel Hands, the threat comes from every direction: the smoke-filled Australian wilderness, a violent man in pursuit, and a collapsing sense of safety as escape turns into survival. Directed by Al Kalyk, the new thriller arrives in theaters and on digital platforms July 24. Set during Australia’s catastrophic 2019 “Black Summer” bushfires, the film uses a real national disaster as the backdrop for an intimate story about fear, endurance, and a mother’s fight to protect her child. A survival story shaped by disaster and domestic violence Cruel Hands follows Maria, played by Mavournee Hazel of Neighbours and Shantaram, as she flees her violent husband with her 12-year-old son, Dai, played by Diesel La Torraca of Ginny & Georgia and Lambs of God. Their escape leads them to an abandoned farmhouse, where Maria tries to create a fragile pocket of safety. Outside, bushfires tear through the region. Emergency services struggle to locate them. The air becomes harder to breathe, roads become more dangerous, and the chance of rescue grows smaller. Then there is Jason, played by Josh McConville of The Invisible Man and Elvis. He is not waiting for the fires to pass. He is hunting them. That simple setup gives the film its sharpest tension. Maria and Dai are trapped between a natural disaster and a human one. The fire may be unpredictable, but Jason’s pursuit is personal. The cast brings emotional weight to the thriller Cruel Hands appears built around performance as much as suspense. Hazel’s role places Maria at the center of a story that asks for both fear and resolve. She is not only running. She is trying to make decisions under unbearable pressure while protecting her son from the truth, the danger, and the trauma closing in around them. La Torraca’s Dai gives the film its emotional stakes. A child caught in crisis changes the rhythm of a survival thriller. Every choice has a cost. Every delay matters. McConville, whose past work includes roles in major genre and dramatic films, brings menace to Jason’s pursuit. The film also features Harry Greenwood of The Nightingale and Hacksaw Ridge, along with Geneviève Lemon of The Power of the Dog and Sweetie. Together, the cast supports a story that aims for suspense without losing sight of the damage left by abuse. Al Kalyk steps forward as a genre filmmaker to watch With Cruel Hands, Croatian-Australian filmmaker Al Kalyk takes on a demanding mix of thriller, survival drama, and psychological tension. Kalyk brings experience as a writer, director, editor, and cinematographer, which suggests a hands-on approach to the film’s visual and emotional design. The premise calls for a controlled sense of place: smoke, isolation, heat, distance, and the terrifying feeling that help may be nearby but still unreachable. The strongest survival thrillers do more than place characters in danger. They reveal who those characters become when all easy choices disappear. Cruel Hands seems to aim for that space, where the pursuit is physical, but the deeper conflict is about reclaiming control after violence. Cruel Hands opens in theaters and on digital platforms on July 24, offering a stark, emotional thriller built on pursuit, panic, and the fierce will to protect a child when every path forward is burning.

MoreHorrorMovies.com - A karaoke machine with a taste for blood will take the stage at Tubi FrightFest this summer. Bad Karaoke, the feature film debut from Chris Lightbody and Robert J. Steinmiller Jr., will have its world premiere on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at the ODEON Luxe West End in London. The horror comedy stars Lexi Underwood of Little Fires Everywhere, Case Walker of The Other Two, and singer and actor Kat Cunning of Trinkets. The film follows an aspiring band whose night out turns violent when an old karaoke machine demands more than off-key confidence and drink-ticket enthusiasm. Bad Karaoke brings music horror to FrightFest Lightbody and Steinmiller Jr. co-direct the film, with Lightbody also serving as co-writer. Spencer Yaras co-wrote and produced the project, while Steinmiller Jr. also serves as producer. The premise starts with Emily, a wedding band keyboardist, who discovers an old karaoke machine in the back of a dive bar. What begins as a chance for a fun night of singing and bonding with her bandmates quickly changes course. Once the music starts, the machine reveals a sinister appetite. A strong performance may save a singer, but a bad one can have deadly consequences. The setup gives Bad Karaoke a genre-friendly hook: a familiar social ritual turned into a survival test. Karaoke already carries a built-in sense of risk, public embarrassment, shaky pitch, questionable song choices. The film pushes that anxiety into full horror-comedy territory. The directors found terror in bad performances The filmmakers framed the project with a knowingly absurd sense of humor, pointing to years of karaoke nights as the spark behind the film. “We were inspired to make this film after years of painful karaoke performances nearly put us in an early grave. We found that many people have had near-death karaoke experiences and we wanted to play with that idea, as well as say something profound about the state of new music. But instead, we made Bad Karaoke.” That neatly sets the tone for the movie’s announcement. The film appears to lean into the shared dread of being trapped in a room with a terrible rendition of a popular song, then imagines the punishment as literal. Bad Karaoke screening details at Tubi FrightFest The world premiere will take place during Tubi FrightFest at the ODEON Luxe West End. Screening detail Information Film Bad Karaoke Festival Tubi FrightFest Date Sunday, August 30, 2026 Time 8:55 p.m. BST Venue ODEON Luxe West End Screen Discovery Screen 2 The announcement also notes that streaming links are available for review consideration. Reviews remain embargoed until the premiere. Cast and filmmaker interview opportunities Several members of the creative team and cast are expected to attend the premiere in person. Scheduled attending interview opportunities include: Chris Lightbody Co-director and co-writer Robert J. Steinmiller Jr. Co-director and producer Spencer Yaras Co-writer and producer Lexi Underwood Cast member Case Walker Cast member Jenna Karan Cast member Kat Cunning is available for virtual interviews. What to expect next With its world premiere set for FrightFest, Bad Karaoke enters the festival circuit with a clear, crowd-friendly concept and a cast that brings television, film, and music audiences into the same room. For horror-comedy fans, the appeal is simple: one bad note could be fatal.

MoreHorrorMovies.com - Roadside Attractions is bringing BUDDY to San Diego Comic-Con with a packed Friday schedule built around screenings, a filmmaker intro, a panel, a press line, and a live appearance from the film’s orange unicorn star. The distributor will release BUDDY in theaters on August 28, 2026. Ahead of that release, Comic-Con attendees and press will get an early look at the film on Friday, July 24, including an exclusive extended first look with members of the creative team and cast. The Comic-Con push follows the rollout of Teaser 2, setting up Buddy as “Everyone’s Favorite Orange Unicorn” and placing the film squarely in the offbeat, genre-bending territory associated with director and co-writer Casper Kelly. BUDDY starts the day with breakfast and screenings The first event of the day is an invited SDCC breakfast and screening at Digital Gym in San Diego. Two screening blocks are scheduled, with each beginning with Breakfast with Buddy and an introduction from director and co-writer Casper Kelly before the film begins. Event Time Details Screening 1 9:00 AM Breakfast with Buddy, followed by an intro with Casper Kelly Screening 1 begins 10:00 AM Screening starts Screening 2 11:15 AM Breakfast with Buddy, followed by an intro with Casper Kelly Screening 2 begins 12:00 PM Screening starts The screenings will take place at Digital Gym, 1100 Market St., San Diego, CA 92101. Press attendance requires an RSVP request, and the invitation notes that an RSVP is not a confirmation. Confirmed access should be verified through the film’s publicity representatives. The Comic-Con panel brings Buddy to Ballroom 20 Later in the day, BUDDY heads to the San Diego Convention Center for a dedicated Comic-Con panel. The panel, titled “Buddy, Everyone’s Favorite Orange Unicorn, from the Deranged Mind of Casper Kelly,” is scheduled for 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM on Friday, July 24, in Ballroom 20 at the San Diego Convention Center. Scheduled participants include: Casper Kelly Director and co-writer Delaney Quinn Star Raphael Margules and J.D. Lifshitz Producers Devon Ludlow Lead puppeteer Buddy Special appearance The panel positions the film as one of the day’s stranger and more personality-driven Comic-Con offerings. With Kelly, the producers, the lead puppeteer, and Buddy all expected to appear, the session should give fans and press a clearer sense of the film’s tone, puppet work, and story world. The afternoon continues with the BUDDY press line After the panel, the team will move to the Hilton San Diego Bayfront for the official BUDDY press line. Press check-in begins at 3:00 PM, and the carpet opens at 3:30 PM. The press line will be held in Aqua Salon C at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, located at 1 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92101. Expected participants include Casper Kelly, Delaney Quinn, producers Raphael Margules and J.D. Lifshitz, lead puppeteer Devon Ludlow, and Buddy. For outlets covering genre film, midnight movie culture, puppetry, or the more surreal side of Comic-Con programming, the press line offers direct access to the creative team before the film’s 2026 theatrical release. What comes next for BUDDY The Comic-Con rollout gives BUDDY a full-day presence in San Diego, starting with morning screenings and ending with press availability after the main panel. That schedule suggests Roadside Attractions is introducing the film with a focus on personality, practical performance, and the oddball appeal of Buddy himself. With a theatrical release set for August 28, 2026, this Comic-Con first look will likely shape the earliest conversation around the film. For now, the key draw is simple: Casper Kelly is bringing an orange unicorn to Comic-Con, and Buddy is getting a full spotlight.

MoreHorrorMovies.com - A cursed box, a violent possession, and a race against an ancient spirit will arrive on screens this August. The Horror Collective and BloodStream will release Brendan Rudnicki’s supernatural horror film Evil Follows on Tuesday, August 4, with an exclusive BloodStream premiere alongside its TVOD debut. The announcement, dated July 22, 2026, out of Los Angeles, positions the film as a folklore-driven possession story centered on a dybbuk box and the devastating force it unleashes. Evil Follows brings folklore horror to BloodStream Written and directed by Brendan Rudnicki, Evil Follows follows Sarah, whose life changes after she opens a mysterious dybbuk box. The forgotten relic releases an ancient evil that begins to invade her world, then her body. As the possession grows more violent, reality starts to break apart around her. Her husband searches for the box’s cursed origins and turns to a renowned spiritualist for help. The story builds toward a brutal choice, since stopping the entity may require sacrifices no one is prepared to make. The premise places the film firmly in demonic-possession territory, but its use of folklore gives it a specific hook. Dybbuk box stories have long carried a sense of danger because they mix ritual, history, and the fear that some objects should never be opened. The official release details are set The Horror Collective and BloodStream will release the film on Tuesday, August 4. The launch includes: An exclusive premiere on BloodStream A TVOD debut on the same date A supernatural horror story built around possession, ritual, and cursed-object lore For indie horror fans, that dual release makes the film easy to watch while still giving BloodStream a first-look draw. Brendan Rudnicki returns to The Horror Collective Rudnicki’s statement points to a continued working relationship with Studio Dome and The Horror Collective. He praised the companies for their communication, transparency, and support of independent horror filmmakers. “After working with numerous distributors over the years, I continue coming back to Studio Dome and The Horror Collective,” says filmmaker Brendan Rudnicki. “Their communication, transparency, and the insight they provide through the Studio Dome dashboard are unmatched. More importantly, they genuinely care about independent horror and the filmmakers behind it.” What happens next Evil Follows premieres Tuesday, August 4, on BloodStream and debuts on TVOD the same day. For viewers drawn to cursed relics, possession stories, and folklore-rooted horror, Brendan Rudnicki’s latest sets up a grim question: once an ancient evil is invited in, what can anyone truly give up to make it leave?

MoreHorrorMovies.com - A festival favorite from Argentina has made its way from the horror circuit to home screens. 1978, the award-winning Argentine horror thriller directed by Luciano and Nicolás Onetti, is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi in North America. The release gives horror fans a chance to catch one of the year’s most talked-about independent genre films without waiting for another festival screening. After premiering at major international events and collecting a long list of awards, the film now arrives with a reputation built on dread, political horror, and supernatural terror. The film brings occult horror into a brutal historical setting 1978 takes place during Argentina’s military dictatorship, with the 1978 FIFA World Cup Final as its historical backdrop. That setting is not just a date on the calendar. It gives the story a tense political frame, placing state violence, public spectacle, and private terror in the same pressure cooker. The plot follows a group of government torturers who abduct what they believe are routine victims. The interrogation begins as an act of cruelty, but the captors soon realize they have made a catastrophic mistake. Their prisoners are connected to something far more dangerous than political resistance. The torturers have entered the territory of a supernatural cult. From there, the film shifts into a nightmare of occult violence and psychological collapse. The hook is simple and sharp: people accustomed to inflicting fear discover they are not in control. Luciano and Nicolás Onetti mix history with nightmare logic The Onetti Brothers, Luciano and Nicolás, have built a reputation for stylized genre filmmaking, and 1978 appears to push their sensibility into a charged historical space. Rather than treating the dictatorship era as background decoration, the film uses it as the engine for dread. Political horror often works best when it refuses to separate systems of violence from the monsters on screen. In this case, the captors are not accidental witnesses to evil. They carry evil with them. That makes the film’s descent into occult terror feel like judgment, contamination, and punishment all at once. The 1978 World Cup setting also adds a grim layer. While a nation watches a global sporting event, a private chamber of torture becomes the site of something ancient and terrifying. The contrast between public celebration and hidden violence gives the film a disturbing edge. For viewers who like horror with a strong sense of place, this is part of the appeal. 1978 is not just using Argentina as a setting. It is drawing fear from a specific historical wound. A major festival run helped build its reputation Before reaching Prime Video and Tubi, 1978 made a strong impression on the international genre circuit. The film held its World Premiere at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, one of the most respected festivals for horror, fantasy, and genre cinema. It then had its North American Premiere at Screamfest Los Angeles, a key showcase for horror films and new genre voices. From there, the movie continued across an international festival tour that included more than 40 major genre festivals around the world. In a crowded streaming market, that track record gives 1978 a clear identity. It arrives not as a random title in a horror row, but as a film that has already been tested in front of festival audiences. The awards point to more than shock value During its festival journey, 1978 collected awards across several major categories, including: Best Feature Film Best Director Best Screenplay Best Cinematography Best Special Effects Best Actor Those honors suggest the film connected on several levels, not just as a violent or provocative horror experience. Recognition for screenplay and direction points to craft. Cinematography awards hint at a strong visual identity. Special effects recognition speaks to the film’s physical horror and genre execution. That range of awards also helps explain why the film became one of the standout independent horror releases of its festival year. Horror audiences often respond to atmosphere as much as plot, and 1978 appears built around a full sensory assault: oppressive setting, ritual terror, and a mounting sense that the characters have crossed into forbidden ground. The film’s momentum continued after the festival run. According to the release, 1978 became the second most successful independent horror film on HBO Latin America, bringing the Onetti Brothers’ blend of historical terror and supernatural horror to a broader audience. The cast grounds the horror in fear and guilt The film features an Argentine cast led by Mario Alarcón, whose presence gives the story additional weight. A premise like this requires more than screaming and shock. The characters must carry fear, arrogance, guilt, and panic as the balance of power breaks apart. That is especially true when the villains become the hunted. Horror built around punishment can easily become simple revenge fantasy. 1978 aims for something darker: a collapse of control. The torturers begin in command of the room. As the occult threat emerges, their authority becomes useless. Their tools, threats, and ideology cannot protect them. That shift gives the actors room to move from menace to desperation. It also gives the audience a more uncomfortable viewing experience. The film does not ask viewers to sympathize with the captors. It asks them to watch terror consume those who believed they owned it. Where audiences can watch the film now 1978 is now available to stream in North America on: Platform Availability Amazon Prime Video Streaming in North America Tubi Streaming in North America Availability can vary by region and platform settings, so viewers should search the title directly inside each service. For horror fans, the arrival on Prime Video and Tubi makes the film much easier to access after its festival run. It also gives a wider audience the chance to see why this Argentine thriller earned attention from Sitges, Screamfest Los Angeles, and festivals around the world. The strongest horror films often come from specific fears. 1978 uses the machinery of political violence and twists it into occult nightmare. That mix gives the film a clear identity in a genre that can sometimes feel crowded with familiar setups. Its streaming release is also a reminder that international horror continues to bring some of the genre’s most daring ideas to wider audiences. Films like 1978 do not just offer scares. They bring history, style, and cultural memory into the frame. Now that it is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Tubi, the film can move beyond the festival circuit and find the home audience that has been waiting for it.

MoreHorrorMovies.com - A haunted Southern estate. A paranormal reality crew. A season premiere that becomes their final night alive. On Friday, July 24, the found-footage horror film Paranormal Investigations arrives on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Fandango, giving horror fans a new recovered-footage nightmare to queue up at home. The film follows a paranormal reality crew that enters a haunted Southern estate to film the first episode of a new season. By dawn, every crew member is dead. The only record of what happened comes from the footage they left behind. That setup is clean, tense, and built for the found-footage format. It gives the story a ticking clock, a closed-off location, and a mystery that viewers have to piece together through what the cameras captured, and what they missed. A found-footage setup built around dread Found-footage horror works best when the camera is more than a gimmick. It has to feel like part of the danger. Every shaky hallway shot, every night-vision glimpse, and every burst of static should make the viewer wonder whether the person filming is about to see something they cannot explain. Paranormal Investigations leans into that idea with a story that begins like a reality television shoot and ends as a death record. The premise is direct: “A paranormal reality crew enters a haunted Southern estate to shoot their season premiere. By dawn, they’re dead, and only the recovered footage reveals what killed them.” The best found-footage movies make the audience feel like investigators. Viewers are not just watching events unfold. They are scanning the frame, listening for sounds in the next room, and trying to catch the warning signs before the characters do. The haunted Southern estate gives the film its signature mood A haunted estate is a classic horror setting for a reason. It carries history before a character says a word. Old rooms feel like they remember things. Long hallways can hide movement. Wide staircases and sealed-off corners invite the camera to linger just a little too long. Setting the film in the South adds another layer of atmosphere. Southern Gothic horror often carries a sense of buried secrets, family history, and decay beneath the surface. That kind of setting fits naturally with a paranormal investigation story, especially one framed around a crew looking for evidence. The reality-show angle also gives the film a sharp hook. Paranormal programs often balance skepticism, performance, and fear. The crew arrives with a job to do. They need footage. They need moments that will sell the season premiere. That pressure can push characters deeper into danger than common sense would allow. The cast brings the investigation to life Paranormal Investigations features an ensemble cast led by Jamie Bernadette, David J. Rivera, Tatiana Robledo, Logan Stem, Nick Opera, John Witt, and Terry Schappert. A story like this depends on ensemble energy. The audience needs to believe that these people have worked together, argued together, and trusted one another enough to walk into a dangerous place with cameras in hand. Found-footage horror rarely gives performers the safety net of polished, traditional scenes. It often asks them to sell panic, confusion, and dread in a way that feels immediate. That can make the format demanding. The performances need to feel natural without becoming flat. The fear needs to build without feeling staged. The crew dynamic needs to be clear enough that viewers understand who is taking the lead, who is doubtful, who is performing for the camera, and who is starting to sense that something is wrong. That's an interesting angle because the audience already knows the ending. The crew does not survive the night. Raymond Wallace writes and directs The film was written and directed by Raymond Wallace, placing the story and its execution under one creative vision. The film is distributed by Chroma, with its July 24 release making it easily available across major digital platforms. Test audiences responded strongly Early test audiences have responded with enthusiasm, which is always encouraging for a horror film. The genre plays best when it can be felt in a room. A good scare is physical. Where to watch on July 24 Starting Friday, July 24, Paranormal Investigations will be available on: Apple TV Prime Video Fandango That wide digital release makes it easy to watch at home, which is a fitting way to experience a film built from recovered footage. Turn down the lights, keep the volume up, and let the mystery unfold the way the crew left it behind. Paranormal Investigations arrives with a strong premise, a chilling setting, and a cast ready to step into the dark. By dawn, the characters are gone. On July 24, the footage begins speaking for them.

MoreHorrorMovies.com - Folk horror has a unique power to unsettle, drawing on deep-rooted myths and local legends to create stories that linger long after the credits roll. The Shug, a new film by Martin J Pickering, taps into this tradition with a fresh and haunting take. Inspired by real-life sightings and a recorded interview with a woman who claims to have encountered the legendary Shug Monkey, the film brings this eerie folklore into the fractured reality of post-Brexit Britain. But The Shug is more than just a supernatural thriller. It explores the darker corners of human experience—alcoholism, generational trauma, and family breakdown—showing how the past refuses to stay buried. The Roots of Folk Horror in The Shug Folk horror often draws on rural settings, ancient myths, and the tension between modern life and old beliefs. The Shug fits this mold perfectly. The film’s central figure, the Shug Monkey, is a creature of local legend, said to haunt the British countryside. This folklore element grounds the story in a specific cultural context, making the horror feel immediate and personal. Director Martin J Pickering uses the Shug Monkey not just as a monster but as a symbol of unresolved fears and hidden histories. The creature’s reappearance in the summer of 2024 triggers a wave of fear, but it also forces characters to confront their own pasts. This blend of supernatural terror with emotional realism sets The Shug apart from typical horror films. Post-Brexit Britain as a Backdrop Setting the film in post-Brexit Britain adds a layer of social and political tension. The fractured landscape mirrors the fractured lives of the characters. The uncertainty and division in the country reflect the internal struggles faced by John, the protagonist, and those around him. John’s battle with alcoholism and his traumatic past are intertwined with the broader sense of instability. The film uses this backdrop to explore how personal and societal fractures feed into each other. The fear of the Shug Monkey becomes a metaphor for the fears and anxieties gripping the nation. Characters and Emotional Depth John, played by Nicholas Clarke, is a deeply flawed but compelling character. His violent encounter with the Shug Monkey during his teenage years left scars that have shaped his life. His struggle with alcoholism is portrayed with honesty and sensitivity, avoiding stereotypes. This adds emotional weight to the story and makes his confrontation with the creature more than just a fight for survival. Alice Bowmer, a journalist, and “The Hobbo Adventurer,” a paranormal YouTuber, bring different perspectives to the investigation. Their partnership with John creates a dynamic that balances skepticism, curiosity, and fear. The film uses these characters to explore themes of truth, memory, and the power of storytelling. Themes of Generational Trauma and Family Breakdown One of the most striking aspects of The Shug is its focus on family trauma. The film shows how past violence and secrets ripple through generations, affecting relationships and individual well-being. John’s history is not isolated; it connects to a wider pattern of pain and loss. The narrative reveals how trauma can be passed down, sometimes unconsciously, shaping behavior and choices. This theme adds complexity to the horror elements, making the film resonate on a psychological level. The Shug Monkey becomes a symbol of the past that refuses to stay hidden, demanding acknowledgment and reckoning. Visual and Practical Effects The Shug has earned recognition for its practical and visual effects, winning awards at festivals like the Catacombs Film Festival. The creature design and atmospheric cinematography by Martin J Pickering create a chilling and immersive experience. The effects avoid cheap scares, instead building tension through subtle, unsettling imagery. The film’s visual style supports its themes, using the landscape and lighting to reflect the characters’ emotional states. Shadows, mist, and the dense woods become part of the story, enhancing the sense of dread and mystery. Awards and Recognition The Shug has received several accolades, including Best Indie Film at the Boston Indie Film Festival and Best Screenplay at the Bloody Mirror Horror Screening Festival. These honors highlight the film’s strong storytelling, effective use of horror elements, and emotional depth. The recognition from indie and horror festivals shows that The Shug resonates with audiences looking for thoughtful, original horror that goes beyond jump scares. It stands as an example of how folk horror can be used to explore real human issues. The Shug invites audiences to step into a world where folklore and reality collide, revealing the shadows that linger in both. Its blend of supernatural horror and emotional storytelling makes it a standout film in the folk horror genre. For those interested in stories that challenge and haunt, The Shug offers a journey worth taking.