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The joyous comedy of Taskmaster will be back on our screens in September. More on the brilliantly funny show below.

Taskmaster has been bringing surreal silliness to our TV screens for over a decade. From Joe Wilkinson’s heartbreaking encounter with a potato and the red green to Bob Mortimer’s special cuddle, legions of fans have taken Taskmaster to their hearts.

We’re now on series 18 and joining Greg Davies and Alex Horne this year are Andy Zaltzman, Babatunde Aléshé, Emma Sidi, Jack Dee and Rosie Jones. The new series debuts on 12th September at 9pm on Channel 4.

The gang are also already planning another series, with Horne hinting at a big name appearing on Taskmaster for season 19.

“We’ve got someone in the next series, series 19, from abroad, who’s a big name overseas, which we’ve not done before. So yeah, there’s always different avenues to go down,...

The Hitcher: "You’ll definitely want to pick up The Hitcher as the seminal eighties’ slasher gets the full Limited Edition overhaul from experts in the field Second Sight Films. They present a brand-new restored 4K version from the original camera negative supervised and approved by director Robert Harmon, that’s set for release on 30 September 2024.

Get ready for a horrifying ride with director Robert Harmon’s and screenwriter Eric Red's killer thriller, starring the late, inimitable Rutger Hauer (Blade Runner, Sin City) as the hitchhiker from hell, in a career-defining villainous role that was described by Empire as ‘The best Hannibal Lector that never was’ who terrorises innocent drivers as they drive along the deserted Midwest highways.

This gruesomely gripping cult favourite starring C. Thomas Howell (The Outsiders, E.T.), Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight, Single White Female) and Jeffrey DeMunn (The Green Mile, The Mist...

Hidden away in New Zealand’s spectacular Waitere Ranges, Loop Track introduces us to Ian, a man seeking solace on a solo hiking trip. Directed and starring Thomas Sainsbury, the film offers a glimpse into Ian’s fractured psyche as he embarks on a winding forest path. Plagued by loneliness and doubts, Ian struggles to find peace in nature’s calm.

His efforts to wander alone are futile, though, as the trail brings him face-to-face with other travelers. First comes Nicky, an upbeat fellow hiker who refuses to leave Ian’s side. Later, the pair crosses paths with Austin and Monica, a friendly Australian couple exploring the woods. As Ian’s discomfort grows, simple sounds in the bushes take on a sinister air. Are the shadows of his troubled mind creeping closer, or does real danger stalk the forest fringe?

Balancing delicate tones of drama, mystery, and horror, Loop Track crafts an immersive,...

Writer-director Thomas Sainsbury plays a twitchy divorcee who wants to get away from it all, but this intriguing journey disappoints at the final hurdle

“I just wanted some quiet. But it’s so quiet out here. And all I can hear is my brain.” New Zealand hiker Ian (Thomas Sainsbury) isn’t so much a worrywart as a one-man anxiety epidemic. Out trekking solo in the forest to get away from a divorce, everything is a source of torment to this clammy-browed sadsack: his blisters, the possibility of encountering other hikers, but especially the lingering possibility something is lurking in the darkness behind him at the path’s vanishing point. Luckily, fellow wayfarer Nicky (Hayden J Weal) takes Ian under his wing.

It’s not clear if loquacious Nicky, a glucose shot in human form, is a boon companion or a further ordeal for Ian. Ditto loved-up Aussies Monica (Kate Simmonds...

Exclusively on Arrow this July, Loop Track, an electrifying journey into the unknown from Kiwi writer-director and actor Tom Sainsbury. Known for his comedic flair in such works as Wellington Paranormal and Guns Akimbo, Sainsbury stars as a hiker whose solo trek in the New Zealand bush takes a very unexpected turn.

Highly anxious Ian Thompson (Sainsbury) sets off on a solo trek in the New Zealand bush for some respite from the stress of everyday life. His plans for uninterrupted solitude are scuppered however, when he encounters Nicky (Hayden J Weal) and other hikers, only exacerbating his paranoia. As Ian’s grip on reality weakens, he becomes convinced they are being followed. Miles from civilisation, their journey turns into a fight for survival as Ian’s fears manifest into a surreal battle against an unseen threat lurking in the wilderness. Is it all just in his head? Or is someone,...

Streaming exclusively on Arrow this July is Loop Track, an unnerving psychological horror thriller from Kiwi writer-director Tom Sainsbury. Known for his comedic roles in Wellington Paranormal and Guns Akimbo, Sainsbury makes his directorial debut with this gripping and tense exploration of isolation and paranoia. Set against the backdrop of the New Zealand wilderness, Loop Track stars Sainsbury himself as Ian Thompson, a hiker whose solo trek takes a very unexpected and terrifying turn.

In Loop Track, highly anxious Ian Thompson seeks solace from the stress of everyday life by embarking on a solo hike in the New Zealand bush. However, his plans for uninterrupted solitude are quickly disrupted when he encounters fellow hiker Nicky, played by Hayden J. Weal, along with other hikers. These encounters only serve to exacerbate Ian’s paranoia. As his grip on reality weakens, Ian becomes convinced they are being followed. The journey turns into...

  Get out the Summer heat in July and cool down with next month's lineup of titles from the fine folks at Arrow. The Arrow Player features the always excellent assortment of classics and oddities from around the World.    Next month's Selects programs come from horror icon and director Mick Garris, and Kiwi actor and director Thomas Sainsbury. Sainsbury's 2023 thriller Loop Track is also part of the programming next month.    There are two more gems from the filmography of Nico Mastorakis, The Naked Truth and Ninja Academy, and to celebrate the Summer Games get ready for The Arrow Olympics.    Everything you need to know about next month's lineup follows.    Arrow Player Announces July 2024 Lineup   Streamer Highlights Classic Comedies, New...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

To celebrate the release of Loop Track on Limited Edition Blu-Ray available 8th July, we are giving you access to an exclusive clip from the film and are giving away 2 Blu-Rays!

Writer-director and actor Tom Sainsbury, known for his comedic flair in such works as Wellington Paranormal and Guns Akimbo, shows his hidden passion for thrillers and human drama with Loop Track, his latest collaboration with Chillbox Creative which promises an electrifying journey into the unknown.

Highly anxious Ian Thompson (Sainsbury) sets off on a solo trek in the New Zealand bush for some respite from the stress of everyday life. His plans for uninterrupted solitude are scuppered however, when he encounters Nicky (Hayden J Weal) and other hikers, only exacerbating his paranoia. As Ian’s grip on reality weakens, he becomes convinced they are being followed. Miles from civilisation, their journey turns into a fight for survival as Ian...

There is no place better for a horror fan than the ever-growing film library of Shudder. It was already one of the most niche streaming services in the market, it is also perfect for giving the fans what they want by giving them new and exciting horror films every month. So, if you love Shudder and are wondering what are best movies coming to the Scream Queen of streaming services in June 2024, here are our best picks for you.

A Lonely Place to Die (June 3)

A Lonely Place to Die is a British action thriller film directed by Julian Gilbey from a screenplay co-written by Julian and Will Gilbey. The 2011 film follows the story of five hikers as they hear cries of pain in the wilderness and to their horror it’s a little girl buried in the ground. When they decide to get her to safety they are chased by the kidnappers.

As another year of horror ends, we reflect on the best this genre had to offer. Usually, that means focusing on those movies that drew the most attention. However, there are also those movies that slipped under everyone’s radars for whatever reason, ultimately causing them to be overlooked. So the objective here is to bring more attention to these releases as horror fans play catch-up.

Like last year, 2023 was a strong year for horror. And these ten hidden gems might have escaped notice at the time, but it’s never too late to discover them now.

Pollen

Image: Ava Rose Kinard in D.W. Medoff’s Pollen.

In the vein of other horror movies about misunderstood outsiders, like May and Love Object, D.W. Medoff‘s first long feature Pollen focuses on an individual whose awkward and unconventional ways make her stand out in society. Although, it wasn’t always...

Written and directed by Thomas Sainsbury (who also acted in the film as the lead protagonist), Loop Track is a survival thriller that talks about the fear and paranoia in the human mind and the urge to fight those negative emotions. The story follows an introverted, socially anxious Ian, who decided to go hiking in a deep, dense forest to detach himself from the mundane world, but amid the darkness of the forest, he saw something that his other fellow hikers couldn’t comprehend. Let’s dive deep into the story of Loop Track to find out what exactly Ian saw behind the trees.

Spoilers Ahead

Plot Synopsis: What Happens In The Film?

Loop Track began with Ian in his car, arriving near the forest, when an indigenous woman knocked at his car window and started talking gibberish, which somehow frightened Ian and made him uncomfortable. Soon we understand that...

A walk in the woods tends to spell trouble for horror movie characters, and Loop Track is no exception to this unspoken genre rule. However, despite its overused setup, Tom Sainsbury‘s directorial debut — a long feature seven years in the making — manages to feel fresh. Its innovation doesn’t so much lie in the story but rather the smart execution. Sainsbury takes an admirably deliberate approach to a conventional idea, all the while delivering a rewarding conclusion that will validate many folks’ fear of nature.

From start to finish, Loop Track is a tale fraught with anxiety and paranoia. Sainsbury plays his movie’s own main character, Ian, and his insight into this nervous fellow makes for a convincing performance. Viewers don’t have to wait long before Ian’s creeping terror begins; upon his first step into the forest, it’s clear something isn’t right here. The...

Now available on digital platforms and VOD from Dark Sky Films, we have an exclusive look at Thomas Sainsbury's Loop Track just for Daily Dead readers:

"Ian, a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown, disappears from the world and takes a hike in the New Zealand wilderness. His efforts to avoid other hikers are futile and he is drawn into their worlds, but he can never shake the feeling that they are being stalked by someone, or something, sinister. As Ian’s paranoia grows, the other hikers become wary of him. He’s cagey about his past, he never sleeps, and his anxiety leads him to make concerning claims. Far from society, Ian starts to question his own sanity before plunging into a bloody battle for survival."

Directed & Written by: Thomas Sainsbury Produced by: Gabriel Lunte, Jonathan Potton, Milon Tesiram Country of Origin: New Zealand Language: English...

“Wellington Paranormal,” the series spinoff from 2014 breakout hit film “What We Do In the Shadows,” is launching an audio companion piece. It is produced by Frank Podcasts, a new New Zealand-based podcast network, headed by Mike Minogue and Tim Batt.

The podcast will feature actors, writers, directors and more, delving into the making of the Jemaine Clement produced and Taika Waititi executive produced TV series, “Wellington Paranormal.”

The show is hosted by Minogue (who played Officer Minogue in the series) and Karen O’Leary (Officer O’Leary), with Maaka Pohatu (Sarge) and Tom Sainsbury (Officer Parker) as recurring guests.

The first episode launches on Thursday (New Zealand time) with a new episode available weekly every Thursday. They will be available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major podcast apps.

The “Wellington Paranormal” TV series, which is filmed documentary style like the 2014 film from which it was created, follows Officers Minogue and...

The bumbling cops at the center of Taika Waititi and Jermaine Clement’s comedy Wellington Paranormal are to present a podcast about the series.

Mike Minogue, who plays Officer Minogue in the New Zealand program, and Karen O’Leary (Officer O’Leary) will host, delving into the making of the series, which was produced by Jermaine Clement and executive produced by Taika Waititi and is a spin-off of What We Do in the Shadows.

Other stars, such as Maaka Pohatu (Sarge) and Tom Sainsbury (Officer Parker) will be recurring guests on the podcast, which is launching on Thursday New Zealand local time or late evening Pt. Actors, writers and directors will also feature.

A new episode will launch each week on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other platform apps.

The series, originally for Tvnz, ran to four seasons and said aired on The CW and HBO Max in North America, Sky in...

Forest and Bird, the conservation group committed to defending nature across New Zealand, had everything planned out for its 100th anniversary celebration. They would — as they do annually — open up the vote for the Bird of the Year, this time billed as Bird of the Century. There would be keynote speakers, concert events, and museum exhibitions. What they didn’t plan for, however, were the additional days they would need to count the hundreds of thousands of votes they received for New Zealand’s best bird after John Oliver exposed...

New Zealand has voted the pūteketeke as its “Bird of the Century” after John Oliver announced on his show earlier this month that Last Week Tonight was taking up the mantle of “official campaign manager.”

Also known as the Australasian crested grebe, the pūteketeke gained global awareness after Oliver launched his self-described “alarmingly aggressive” campaign which included a website, billboards for “The Lord of the Wings” in Japan, France, the UK, India and Wisconsin, and an appearance by Oliver on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon dressed as the bird. The South China Morning Post reported Oliver also had a plane with a banner fly over Ipanema Beach in Brazil.

New Zealand conservation group Forest & Bird, which organized the poll, said the two-week battle of the birds “will go down in history.”

“Pūteketeke began as an outside contender for Bird of the Century but was catapulted to the top spot thanks to its unique looks,...

"There's something in the trees..." Dark Sky Films has revealed an official trailer for an indie thriller from New Zealand titled Loop Track, arriving in the US this December to watch on VOD. This first premiered at the 2023 New Zealand Film Festival earlier in the year, and it also screened at the Screamfest Horror Film Festival. A four-day journey turns into a fight for survival – this is a psychological thriller about Ian, who wants to get as far away from humanity as possible, into the New Zealand bush. Some other individuals get attached to him. And he has the feeling that they are being followed. Is that real though? Far from society, Ian starts to question his sanity before plunging into a bloody battle for his own survival. Writer / director Thomas Sainsbury also stars as Ian, with a small cast including Hayden J. Weal, Tawanda Manyimo, Kate Simmonds, and Noa Campbell.

When it comes to horror, there’s always something dangerous lurking in the woods. A brand new trailer for New Zealand psychological thriller Loop Track teases that the threat could be an anxious man on the verge of a breakdown, or something far more monstrous.

Dark Sky Films will release Loop Track on VOD and Digital on December 1.

In Loop Track: “Ian, a man on the verge of a nervous breakdown, disappears from the world and takes a hike in the New Zealand wilderness. His efforts to avoid other hikers are futile and he is drawn into their worlds, but he can never shake the feeling that they are being stalked by someone, or something, sinister. As Ian’s paranoia grows, the other hikers become wary of him. He’s cagey about his past, he never sleeps, and his anxiety leads him to make concerning claims. Far from society,...

Screamfest Horror Film Festival today announced its first-wave lineup of competitive features and shorts for its 23rd edition.

Running October 10-19 at the Tcl Chinese Theater, Screamfest welcomes horror cinephiles to experience twisted tales and frightening films together on the big screen. Tickets will be on sale soon and can be purchased via the festival website.

Before we dig into the line-up, Bloody Disgusting is excited that Screamfest will be hosting a very special advance screening of Screambox’s upcoming 80s-inspired horror comedy Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls ahead of the film’s theatrical release. Director and star Andrew Bowser, among others, will be in attendance!

‘Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls’ – Screambox Gets Silly With 80s-Inspired Horror-Comedy!

From the press release:

Considered the “Sundance of Horror,” Screamfest is proud to showcase new work from independent filmmakers from across the globe. This past year the festival screened the following films,...

Heartfelt Obsession

Netflix this week announced six new Korean romance titles slated for the rest of 2023. They are: “See You in my 19th Life,” “King the Land,” “Behind Your Touch,” “Destined With You,” “A Time Called You,” and “Doona!”

The titles were unveiled at an in-person event called “K-romance obsession” in Seoul. Guests were mostly K-drama influencers from around the Asia Pacific region and the event was decked out with reds, pinks and vast numbers of heart decorations. Guests were offered snack food that had been featured in earlier hit K-drama shows including “Crash Landing on You,” “Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” “Business Proposal” and “Alchemy of Souls.”

According to Netflix, between 2018 to 2022, global viewership of its K-Romance titles tripled, with more than 90% views coming from outside South Korea in 2022 alone. Don Kang, VP of content (Korea) said, “Our stories touch on the universal aspects of life — love, heartbreak, and tenderness, while...

Roster includes LoopTrack, Mother May I?

MPI Media Group has kicked off talks with buyers on a Cannes sales slate led by horror title Departing Seniors which screen tomorrow (Friday) and stars Ignacio Diaz-Silverio from the comedy series Primo which debuts on Amazon Freevee this weekend.

Departing Seniors is part of the genre showcase of market titles at Cannes Fantastic Pavilions Gala and centres on a bullied high school student whose visions reveal the truth behind a supposed spate of classmate suicides and may thwart a serial killer.

Clare Cooney makes her feature directorial debut and Dashawna Wright’s Choppe Productions produced alongside Cooney,...

Network: The CW

Episodes: 25 (half-hour)

Seasons: Four

TV show dates: July 11, 2021 -- August 31, 2022

Series status: Ended

Performers include: Mike Minogue, Karen O'Leary, Maaka Pohatu, Thomas Sainsbury, and Lynda Topp.

TV show description:

A comedy-horror mockumentary series, the Wellington Paranormal TV show was created by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi. The program is a spin-off of the 2014 What We Do in the Shadows film and the TV series of the same name that followed.

The story follows the adventures of Officer Kyle Minogue (Minogue) and Officer O’Leary (O'Leary). The pair are hard-working members of the Wellington constabulary’s paranormal unit who, under the supervision of Sergeant Ruawai Maaka (Pohatu), investigate supernatural occurrences that arise in the capital of New Zealand on a...

The U.K. edition of “The Masked Singer,” comedy “Call My Agent” and drama “Tehran” were among the top winners Monday at the 49th annual International Emmy Awards in New York.

David Tennant took the trophy for best actor for his work as a deceptively meek serial killer in ITV’s “Des.” Hayley Squires won for actress for her role as a happily well-adjusted porn star in “Adult Material.”

Israeli drama “Tehran,” about a female Mossad agent who goes undercover in Iran, won the top drama series prize. Season 4 of “Call My Agent,” set among agents at a Paris talent rep firm, took the prize for comedy.

The ITV rendition of “Masked Singer” prevailed in the nonscripted entertainment category. Netflix’s “Hope Frozen: A Quest to Live Twice” took the documentary award, marking the first International Emmy honor for a program from Thailand.

“Insecure” star Yvonne Orji hosted the ceremony at Casa Cipriani.

The French comedy Call My Agent and Israeli drama Tehran took the top prizes at the 49th annual International Emmys, which here handed out Monday night during an in-person ceremony in New York. See the full list of winners below.

The UK boasts both top acting honors David Tennant for crime thriller Des and Hayley Squires for porn drama Adult Material — as well as winning the Non-Scripted Entertainment prize for The Masked Singer.

Norway’s Atlantic Crossing went home with the Emmy for TV Movie/Miniseries, and Thailand’s Hope Frozen: A Quest to Live Twice won for Documentary. It was the country’s first International Emmy.

“We are delighted to be able to gather the global television community, in-person again, in New York to celebrate the world’s best television.” said International Academy President & CEO Bruce Paisner. “The diversity and geographic spread of tonight’s winners demonstrate once again...

A ghost cop pursues the man who murdered him in a well-meaning spoof that trips itself up in the final act

The ghost of a cop refuses to pass to the other side until he catches the serial killer responsible for his murder in this cheerfully silly low-budget comedy horror from New Zealand. It doesn’t quite pull it off as a spoofy send-up – there are too few laughs and no scares. But director Hayden J Weal (he was Martin Freeman’s body double in all three Hobbit films) gives a well-tuned comic performance as the policeman, appearing at first glance to be standard-issue ramrod cop but actually more interesting and far sweeter.

Weal plays officer Jason Tagg, who was stabbed to death in the line of duty while giving chase to a hoodie-wearing masked serial killer – he is victim No 7. While jumping over a fence in pursuit, Tagg’s...

Stars: Thomas Sainsbury, Hayden J. Weal, Jess Sayer, Jennifer Ward-Leland, Tomai Ihaia | Written by Thomas Sainsbury | Directed by Hayden J. Weal

Imagine if Michael J. Fox’s character in The Frighteners could only see ghost and ghouls if he took hard drugs… and was an idiot. That’s Dead in a nutshell!

Marbles, a hapless stoner, can see dead people, thanks to a homemade drug. Officer Tagg, a recently deceased wannabe super-cop is on the trail of a serial killer. So when Marbles’ mum plans to sell the family farm, and the only way of buying it is taking the money offered by Tagg in exchange for his help, Marbles accepts. Will the unlikely duo of directionless medium and ghost cop get over their prejudices and navigate their way through ghouls, perverts, a mysterious hooded figure, and an unexpected shot at love.

As I’ve said in many a previous review,...

Out on VOD today is Dead, a new horror comedy where a deceased cop returns from the dead to help hunt down a serial killer, and we've been provided with an exclusive clip just for Daily Dead readers!

"Marbles, a hapless stoner, can see ghosts. Tagg, a recently dead wannabe super-cop, needs to find a serial killer. Can a critical ghost cop and a directionless stoner get over their prejudices and work together to save lives… and deaths?"

Directed by Hayden J. Weal, Dead stars Thomas Sainsbury, Hayden J. Weal, Tomairangi I'haia, Jennifer Ward-Lealand, Michael Hurst and Cameron Rhodes. To learn more visit: https://deadthemovie.com/

In Virtual Cinemas on 9/25 and on VOD 10/6

The post Watch an Exclusive Clip from Dead appeared first on Daily Dead.

First of all, a word about titles. If you're going to make a horror movie - even a horror comedy - don't call it Dead. That's like writing a romance and calling in Love or writing a war movie and calling it War. It's forgettable, unsearchable. Okay, a very few iconic films get away with such things, but this one is not of that calibre. It is, however, well worth searching for and tremendously enjoyable.

Co-writer Thomas Sainsbury plays Marbles, a man who can see dead people. That is, with the aid of marijuana and neurological medication, he's able to observe the ghosts that are all around us, and whilst some people (like his mum) regard him as a hopeless stoner layabout, he spends his time using this ability, free of charge, to try and help people. So far this has been moving but mundane work - helping old couples to.

The trailer for 'Alien Addiction', an award-winning sci-fi comedy film has landed online.

Alien Addiction follows Riko (Jimi Jackson) who lives in a small town called Waikato, New Zealand.

Life was pretty normal for Riko until two aliens crash land near his place. He reportedly welcomes the aliens and together they develop an intergalactic relationship of epic proportions who crashed in his small New Zealand town.

An Alientologist Peter Mackintosh has tracked the aliens and Riko, and plans to capture them and reveal them to the world.

Making his feature directorial debut after numerous short films, the film is written and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Shae Sterling.

According to reports, the film was originally released in New Zealand in 2018. 'Alien Addiction' has also premiered at various Film Festivals around the world.

Apart from Jackson, the film also stars Thomas Sainsbury, Jojo Waaka, and Harry Summerfield in pivotal roles.

"They're here for a good time, man. They're just here to have fun." Gravitas Ventures has released a US trailer for the indie comedy Alien Addiction, a very strange, very kooky sci-fi flick from New Zealand. This plays like one of those totally ridiculous, 90s homemade comedies that is Z-movie quality, but still hilarious to watch. The tagline: One man, two aliens, same buzz. Riko lives in a small town in the middle of nowhere in a region called Waikato. Life was pretty normal until aliens crash-landed near his house. He welcomes the aliens, and together they develop an intergalactic relationship of epic proportions. From writer / director Shae Sterling, starring Jimi Jackson, Thomas Sainsbury, Jojo Waaka, and Harry Summerfield. As dumb as this looks, it does look quite funny. It might be worth a casual watch on weekend. This is good s**t! Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Shae Sterling's Alien Addiction,...

Starting and ending in NYC, a play will be written as it travels around the world making 15 stops with playwrights from across the globe. Each playwright will contribute the next one to four pages of text, moving the plot forward from where the previous playwright left off. The playwrights are Lisa Kron USA, NYC, Aditi Kapil USA, Minneapolis, Nicolas Billon Canada, Luz Estrada Colombia, Thomas Sainsbury New Zealand, Nick Rongjun Yu China, Anuvab Pal India, Oded Liphshiz Israel, Lily Bevan UK, Nina Mitrovi Croatia, Lana Nasser The Netherlands, Phillip M. Dikotla South Africa, Amy Conroy Ireland, Sol Rodriguez Seoane Argentina, and Chisa Hutchinson USA, NYC.