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While there aren’t any movies quite like Coralie Fergeat’s “The Substance,” there are plenty of over-the-top horror films about transformation, incredibly weird science, shared identities and losing your damn mind, like the 1981 cult movie “Possession,” pretty much every David Cronenberg movie, as well as offerings from Ken Russell, Peter Strickland, Julia Ducournau and Ari Aster.

Expect screaming, exploding heads, lots of blood and some of the most insane endings ever.

Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill in “Possession” (Credit: Gaumont) Possession (1981)

Isabelle Adjani has the mother of all freakouts in a subway in this role that earned her a César for Best Actress (the French equivalent of the Oscars) and Best Actress at the Cannes Film Fest that year, but that’s not even the most mind-blowing part of the movie form Polish director Andrzej Żuławski. She’s also cheating on her husband (Sam Neill) with something that isn’t really human.

The 16th edition of the Lumière Film Festival kicked off in high style, with a glittering lineup of stars including Benicio del Toro, Tim Burton, Monica Bellucci and Vanessa Paradis plus high-profile directors Costa-Gavras and Giuseppe Tornatore gracing the red carpet in Lyon.

Bellucci, who’s in town to present a new documentary about the stage play in which she portrays Maria Callas, was among the last to take to the red carpet. After taking a few steps, she turned back with a playful gesture as if she had forgotten something, reached through the curtain, and drew out Tim Burton, to the delight of the 5,000-strong crowd: Burton’s unannounced appearance drew massive applause.

The pair famously met and fell in love in Lyon in 2022, when Burton was the recipient of the festival’s lifetime achievement Lumière Award, which was handed to him by Bellucci. The Italian actress has since...

Metal Baby

August has been a wild ride so far. Between art house discussions of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Santa Sangre (listen) and Paul Morrissey’s Blood for Dracula (listen), we squeezed in a look at screenlife sequel Unfriended: Dark Web (listen). Now we’re ready for more contemporary foreign content with Julia Ducournau‘s sophomore feature, Titane (2021).

In the film, after a run of poorly timed murders, serial killer Alexia (Agathe Rousselle) goes on the run from the police. After shaving her head and breaking her nose, Alexia disguises herself as “Adrien,” the long-missing son of aging fire captain Vincent (Vincent Lindon).

The distraught father pledges to protect his offspring from harm, but considering Alexia’s literal Cadillac ride (ie: sex) has resulted in pregnancy, how long can Alexia or Vincent keep up the ruse? And what happens if/when the truth comes out?

Be sure to subscribe to the...

Wirgin Worries.

After kicking off August with discussions of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s surrealist masterpiece Santa Sangre (listen) and the screenlife sequel Unfriended: Dark Web (listen), we’re returning to the world of Andy Warhol with a look at Paul Morrissey‘s Udo Kier-starring vehicle Blood for Dracula (1974).

In the film, the deathly ill Count Dracula (Udo Kier) and his slimy underling Anton (Arno Juerging) travel to Italy in search of a virgin’s blood (the only type of blood he can drink). They’re welcomed at the crumbling estate of indebted Marchese Di Fiore (Vittorio De Sica), who’s desperate to marry off his daughters to rich suitors. But there, instead of pure women, the count encounters siblings with impure (aka not virgin) blood and their Marxist manservant Mario (Joe D’Allesandro), who’s suspicious of the aristocratic Dracula.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday.

Elephants, Eagles & Chickens, Oh My!

After wrapping up July with a Jan de Bont double feature discussing the movie magic of Twister (listen) and the laundry list of problems with his 1999 remake of The Haunting (listen), we’re heading down to Mexico City to discuss Alejandro Jodorowsky‘s surrealist masterpiece Santa Sangre (1989).

Santa Sangre sees Fenix (Axel Jodorowsky), a former circus magician, escape from a mental hospital to rejoin his armless mother Concha (Blanca Guerra), the leader of a strange religious cult. Once they are reunited, Fenix is forced to enact brutal murders on Concha’s behalf as he becomes “her arms.” Only a figure from his past, the deaf mute tightrope walker Alma (Sabrina Dennison), can stop him before he murders again; but will she be able to reach him in time?

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts,...

The film on the discs is the 2021 restoration of Santa Sangre. It is a massive step up, in terms of both sound and picture quality, from the pre 2021 home releases. Previously the picture had a somewhat dull, muddy appearance and the audio was a bit indistinct. The colours are now more vibrant. Jodorowsky's version of Mexico City feels more like a living, breathing city. Lavish and visceral, Santa Sangre benefits greatly from the improvement. More than anything else on the Blu-ray, the restoration is what makes the discs worth owning.

Beyond the main attraction, the two discs are packed with well over eight hours of special features. Inevitably the material here can get a bit samey. New Blood, where Jodorowsky talks about the restoration, the documentary Forget Everything You Have Ever Seen, and the audio commentary with...

Stars: Axel Jodorowsky, Blanca Guerra, Guy Stockwell, Thelma Tixou, Sabrina Dennison, Adan Jodorowsky, Faviola Elenka Tapia, Teo Jodorowsky, Sergio Bustamante | Written by Alejandro Jodorowsky, Roberto Leoni, Claudio Argento | Directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky

Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Santa Sangre is an audacious, surreal journey through trauma, redemption, and the labyrinthine corridors of the human psyche. This film, a quintessential piece of cinematic surrealism, combines elements of horror, drama, and psychological thriller to create a visually stunning and emotionally intense experience. The film follows the life of Fenix, a boy raised in a circus who endures a series of traumatic events, including witnessing his father’s violent behavior and his mother’s descent into madness. The narrative unfolds in a non-linear fashion, interweaving past and present, reality and hallucination, to depict Fenix’s struggle with his haunting memories and his quest for liberation.

Jodorowsky is known for his rich, symbolic imagery and Santa Sangre is no exception.

The Children, Eleanor!

We’ve spent the month of July discussing the badass babes of Robert Rodriguez’s Planet Terror (listen), the queer undertones of Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut (listen), and the “very bad weather” of Jan de Bont‘s 1996 tornado film, Twister (listen).

Now we’re wrapping up our de Bont double bill with his less successful 1999 special effects remake, The Haunting!

In the film, sheltered Eleanor (Lili Taylor) is recruited for a dubious insomnia study at the infamous Hill House by questionable doctor David Marrow (Liam Neeson). Along with bisexual Theo (Catherine Zeta-Taylor) and horny Luke (Owen Wilson), Nell is terrorized by annoying ghost children and the monstrous owner of the house, Hugh Crain (Charles Gunning).

As the spectral hauntings become more and more severe, Nell must uncover her tenuous connection to the previous victims before the terrible CGI swallows her and the other participants whole.

Severin Films is proud to announce the release of Santa Sangre on Limited Dual Edition on 29 July 2024. We’re giving you the chance to win Limited Dual Edition.

Legendary filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky is lauded by critics and cult cinema enthusiasts alike for his avant-garde, violently surreal, brilliantly original features. Now, one of his finest films, Santa Sangre, is set for brand-new release that will deliver an experience like never before.

Severin Films is proud to announce the release of Santa Sangre Limited Dual Edition on 29 July 2024. Get ready for a breathtaking, epic odyssey through ecstasy and anguish, belief and blasphemy, beauty and madness – and learn about the surreal genius behind it all. This must-have set features the film on both 4K Uhd and Blu-ray, with the 4K scan from the original negative supervised by Jodorowsky himself.We meet Fenix, a young boy who has grown up in a circus in Mexico,...

Rediscover the Surreal Genius of Alejandro Jodorowsky with Santa Sangre‘s Limited Dual Edition Release out on July 29th and ready for you to win below.

Win 4-Disc Limited Edition Uhd + Blu-Ray of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s masterwork Santa Sangre

Critically acclaimed filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, known for his groundbreaking works like El Topo and The Holy Mountain, continues to captivate audiences with his avant-garde, violently surreal, and brilliantly original creations. Now, one of his masterpieces, Santa Sangre, is being re-released in a stunning new edition, offering an unparalleled viewing experience.

Severin Films proudly announces the release of the Santa Sangre Limited Dual Edition on July 29, 2024. Prepare yourself for an epic journey through ecstasy and anguish, belief and blasphemy, beauty and madness, while diving deep into the mind of a surrealist genius. This essential collection includes the film in both 4K Uhd and Blu-ray formats, with the 4K restoration supervised by Jodorowsky himself,...

Fantastic Pavilion, the genre business hub launched at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023, announced a slew of deals closed at the venue this year, with L..A-based Severin Films, a boutique Blu-ray and DVD label, inking a pact to release eleven Special Edition physical discs of the most popular Originals and licensed features from horror subscription streamer Shudder and IFC Films.

Initial titles include Joko Anwar’s “Satan’s Slaves”; Brandon Cronenberg’s “Antiviral”; Can Evrenol’s “Baskin”; Franck Khalfoun’s 2012 remake of “Maniac”; Douglas Buck’s 2006 remake of “Sisters” and André Øvredal’s “The Autopsy of Jane Doe.”

The deal was brokered by Severin Film’s co-founder-ceo David Gregory, Shudder’s Vice President of Programming Sam Zimmerman, and AMC Networks Director of Content Sales Lucas Verga.

“The work done at Severin Films is astounding,” said Zimmerman, adding: “They are directly responsible for some of the greatest home video releases ever...

Alejandro Jodorowsky's masterwork 'Santa Sangre' gets 4-Disc Limited Edition Uhd + Blu-Ray Release from Severin Films on July 29th: "Legendary filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky (El Topo, The Holy Mountain) is lauded by critics and cult cinema enthusiasts alike for his avant-garde, violently surreal, brilliantly original features. Now, one of his finest films, Santa Sangre, is set for brand-new release that will deliver an experience like never before.

Severin Films is proud to announce the release of Santa Sangre Limited Dual Edition on 29 July 2024. Get ready for a breathtaking, epic odyssey through ecstasy and anguish, belief and blasphemy, beauty and madness – and learn about the surreal genius behind it all. This must-have set features the film on both 4K Uhd and Blu-ray, with the 4K scan from the original negative supervised by Jodorowsky himself.

Hailed as “Extraordinary… mind-blowing” by The Guardian, “Visionary and haunting” by Rolling Stone and “A grand work of art,...

In the early 1970s, a period marked by a surge in experimental cinema and the emergence of new cinematic voices, Chilean-French filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky embarked on an ambitious project that would challenge the conventions of traditional filmmaking. This was a time when filmmakers were pushing the boundaries of narrative and visual storytelling, experimenting with new techniques and themes. Jodorowsky, with his unique blend of surrealism and mysticism, was at the forefront of this movement. His goal was to adapt Frank Herbert’s iconic science fiction novel, Dune, into a film.

Jodorowsky is known for his avant-garde and surrealist style, which is evident in his body of work. In addition to his ambitions for Dune, he has directed several other films, each a testament to his unique artistic vision. These include El Topo (1970), a surreal western that is considered a classic of the acid western genre; The Holy Mountain (1973), a spiritual...

If you've read the hundreds of entries in his Drive-In Dust Offs column on Daily Dead or listened to him over the past several years as one of the co-hosts of Corpse Club, then you know that Scott Drebit has an infectious passion for horror movies that graced the silver screen during the golden (and sometimes gory) days of the drive-in, and he's continuing to shine a spotlight on some of his favorite films from that beloved era of cinema in his new book A Cut Below: A Celebration of B Horror Movies, 1950s–1980s!

On this episode of Daily Dead's official podcast, Scott joins fellow co-hosts Bryan Christopher and Derek Anderson to discuss what readers can look forward to in A Cut Below (which will be published by McFarland Books), including insightful discussions on five of the 60 films celebrated within its pages: Burial Ground, My Bloody Valentine, Creepshow, Popcorn,...

Coming like a bat out of hell to theaters September 14th is the long-anticipated Latino anthology horror film Satanic Hispanics. Filmmakers Mike Mendez (Big Ass Spider!) and Alejandro Brugués (Juan of the Dead) spearhead this fun, yet creepy grindhouse-like horror adventure, combining their artistic forces with horror filmmakers Eduardo Sánchez (The Blair Witch Project), Gigi Saul Guerrero (Culture Shock), and Demián Rugna (Terrified). These five Latinos groundbreakers in horror bring their unique styles in distinctive segments that are intertwined in a police investigation of a mysterious and sadistic massacre, with a lone survivor telling horrific tales that are beyond belief.

All five directors share what films and filmmakers impacted them, how Satanic Hispanics came to be, their segments, and the importance of Latino participation in horror.

What is your favorite horror movie?

Mendez: I have two, my favorite horror movie and the best horror movie. The best horror movie is The Exorcist.

If you've read his hundreds of Drive-In Dust Offs published on Daily Dead over the years, then you know that Scott Drebit has a deep passion for horror cinema on the silver screen, and we're absolutely thrilled that he's bringing that same infectious enthusiasm for the golden (and sometimes gory) days of the drive-in to his new book, A Cut Below: A Celebration of B Horror Movies, 1950s–1980s!

Featuring 12 themed horror film festivals lovingly curated by Scott and covering 60 horror movies overall, A Cut Below is brimming with insightful observations on both iconic and underseen drive-in movies, with Scott inviting readers to grab some popcorn, hop in their cars, and settle in for an enthralling, educational, and always entertaining ride into horror cinema from the 1950s–1980s.

If, like me, you've enjoyed reading Scott's Drive-In Dust Offs column, then I have no doubt that you're absolutely going to love...

If you're in the Los Angeles area and feel you are due for a extensive lesson on the history of Mexican horror cinema then you need to get to Mexico Maleficarum: Resurrecting 20th Century Mexican Horror Cinema at the Academy Museum next month.   All during the month of October a selection of screenings and bouble bills of some of the best horror films from Mexico. For the unlearned the most noteble inclusions in the program include Guillermo Del Toro's Cronos and Alejandro Jorodowski's Santa Sangre. The rest of the program is a deep dive into Mexican horror past.    I really wish I lived in Los Angeles and could attend this series. But then I'd have to live in Los Angeles (ducks for cover)....

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

New Short Film, Grummy, Tackles A Sensitive Subject with Beautiful Imagery and Amazing Storytelling: "Married writer/director team Micheline Pitt and R.H. Norman combine forces in the dark fantasy short film, Grummy, an autobiographic tale of Pitt’s childhood.

Inspired by the imagination that she escaped to during her own abusive childhood, Pitt and her filmmaker husband Norman share a heartbreaking yet poetic tale of a young girl whose stuffed creature, “Grummy,” brings a new world to life during her most vulnerable moments. This dark fairy tale is an expression of Pitt’s own sexual abuse survival story and a love note to the monsters and fantastic worlds that helped her survive.

According to Pitt, “This story is very personal, because I was this little girl. I used my imagination to escape from an abusive childhood; I used books, movies and toys to get away. If I didn't have my...

Maximiliano Contenti's giallo love letter The Last Matinee leads Arrow's December SVOD lineup and we have an exclusive clip just for Daily Dead readers! Debuting on Arrow on December 1st to subscribers in the US, Canada, the UK, and Ireland, The Last Matinee will kick off Arrow's December releases, which is packed with an eclectic mix of titles that will please any genre fan:

December 1 will see the arrival of The Last Matinee (UK/US/CA/Ire), Santa Sangre (US/CA), All the Colors of the Giallo (UK/US/CA/Ire), King Boxer (UK/US/CA/Ire), The Boxer from Shantung (UK/US/CA/Ire), Five Shaolin Masters (UK/US/CA/Ire), Shaolin Temple (UK/US/CA/Ire), Mighty Peking Man (UK/US/CA/Ire), Challenge of the Masters (UK/US/CA/Ire), Executioners of Shaolin (UK/US/CA/Ire), Dirty Ho (UK/US/CA/Ire), Heroes of...

Fans of Alejandro Jodorowsky's Santa Sangre will want to take note of a shiny new release of the horror classic coming care of the good folks at Severin Films.

The new release features a new 4K scan from the original negative, supervised by Jodorowsky himself.

The limited-edition 4-disc set also includes an astounding amount of bonus content - over 8 hours of extras! - as well as an exclusive CD of Simon Boswell's iconic soundtrack. Other bonus content included:

- Forget Everything You Have Ever Seen: The World of Santa Sangre - Feature length documentary with Co-Writer / Director Alejandro Jodorowsky, Actors Axel Jodorowsky, Blanca Guerra, Thelma Tixou, Sabrina Dennison, Adan Jodorowsky, Elenka Tapia, Teo Tapia

-New Blood - Alejandro Jodorowsky on the restoration of...

Severin Films is not messing around when it comes to their April release slate. Leading the charge is the world 4K Uhd premiere of Alejandro Jodorowsky's Mexican surrealist giallo, Santa Sangre. A brand new 4K restoration approved by the man, himself at his preferred lab in Paris, this Uhd promises to make you "Forget Everything You Have Ever Seen" with bold colors and incredible detail. Last year Severin released Santa Sangre for limited theatrical engagements with their own 4K restoration, but this new color grading promises to be even more eye-popping, with Jodorowsky himself even commenting that even he's never seen it look so good. Add to that over eight hours of new and archival features as well as a soundtrack CD curated by original...

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

A producer on Alejandro Jodorowsky’s “Endless Poetry” is fighting to reclaim a $200,000 loan repayment as part of an ongoing legal dispute with the cult filmmaker’s Satori Films banner.

A Paris tribunal has directed Satori Films to pay Amir Abbas Nokhasteh, an executive producer on “Endless Poetry,” almost $200,000 in repayment of a loan from the producer that was used to make the 2016 film.

A March 2020 court order from the Judicial Tribunal of Paris, seen by Variety, required Satori Films to pay a provisional sum of $193,484.01 as repayment of a $200,000 loan on the film, plus $3,563 in legal costs. However, Satori Films, of which Jodorowsky owns 94%, filed for voluntary liquidation on July 23, according to filings on France’s Infogreffe registry, seen by Variety.

“I’m not looking for sympathy at all. It is more about shedding a light on something that is happening,” Nokhasteh tells Variety.

The origins of the dispute stretch back to 2015 when Jodorowsky,...

Colombian folk horror tale set to open in US through Dark Sky Films.

Mpi Media Group has struck another key deal on Colombian dark western fairy tale Luz: The Flower Of Evil, securing Mexican distribution deal on the Sitges and Morbido selection.

Juan Diego Escobar Alzate’s film won the Silver Skull for best Latin American film at Morbido last year and has sold to elevated genre specialist Mantícora Distribución, whose recent releases include Peter Strickland’s In Fabric and a restored version of Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Santa Sangre.

Mantícora Distribución will partner with genre aces Mórbido Group to promote...

Alamo Drafthouse has partnered with ScreenPlus and Vista Cinema to serve another helping of cinematic goodness with their own VOD platform Alamo On Demand. The new “video store” is curated by Drafthouse programmers, with studio partners that include Lionsgate, Magnolia Pictures, Neon, among others.

Launching today, Alamo On Demand will include a library of entertainment for rental or purchase that is suitable for the discerning Drafthouse audience.

“I’ll describe the scenario that sold me on the ScreenPlus platform,” said Tim League, Alamo Drafthouse founder and Executive Chairman. “Alamo Drafthouse had been promoting Portrait of a Lady on Fire to our guests for months. We love people to see films in the cinema first and foremost, but the reality is not everyone can always make the time for every movie they want to see. This platform allows us to give folks who missed Portrait of a Lady on Fire in...

As the calendar changes from October to November, Mexican horror fans will ascend for the twelfth year on Morbido Fest, a Mexico City-based festival dedicated to all things macabre, organized and executed by Morbido Group CEO and founder Pablo Guisa Koestinger.

This year’s festival will kick off Oct. 30 with a spectacle grander in its ambition than any Morbido inauguration before. Taking place within the Esperanza Iris City theater, more than 60 artists will perform six choreographed musical numbers with Guisa taking the reigns as master of ceremonies. Those familiar with Guisa and his public persona won’t be surprised to hear that his opening night wardrobe alone includes eight costumes, with more to come in the following days.

Somehow, the TV network owner, festival director, writer, publisher and radio host found time to make appearances in three high-profile films screening at this year’s fest: Paco Plaza’s “Eye for an Eye,...

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences is out with its 2018 list of invitations for membership. Here is the list of the record 928 folks from 59 countries. Note that 10 individuals (noted by an asterisk) have been invited to join the Academy by multiple branches; they must select one branch upon accepting membership.

New members will be welcomed into the Academy at invitation-only receptions in the fall.

Actors

Hiam Abbass – “Blade Runner 2049,” “The Visitor”

Damián Alcázar – “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” “El Crimen del Padre Amaro”

Naveen Andrews – “Mighty Joe Young,” “The English Patient”

Gemma Arterton – “Their Finest,” “Quantum of Solace”

Zawe Ashton – “Nocturnal Animals,” “Blitz”

Eileen Atkins – “Gosford Park,” “Cold Mountain”

Hank Azaria – “Anastasia,” “The Birdcage”

Doona Bae – “Cloud Atlas,” “The Host”

Christine Baranski – “Miss Sloane,” “Mamma Mia!”

Carlos Bardem – “Assassin’s Creed,” “Che”

Irene Bedard – “Smoke Signals,” “Pocahontas”

Bill Bellamy – “Any Given Sunday,” “love jones”

Haley Bennett – “Thank You for Your Service,...

"Thank you for not smoking." Comet TV's October viewing guide is here and it will feature the Robocop trilogy! Also: details on Splathouse Podcast Season 2, and Holy Blood: Mexican Horror Cinema, with a trailer for The Elf capping off today's second Horror Highlights!

Comet TV's October Programming Guide Revealed: Press Release: “Airing On Comet in October

You Don’T Need A Subscription To Watch These Great Movies…

They’Re Airing For Free On Comet!

Robocop Trilogy

Robocop (1987)

Robocop 2 (1990)

Robocop 3 (1993)

Friday, October 6

Starting at 8P/7C

Sunday, October 8

Starting at 2P/1C

Saturday, October 21

Starting at 10P/9C

Thursday, October 26

Starting at 4P/3C

New On Comet In October

Andromeda

Classic Space Opera is coming to Comet! Based on materials from sci-fi legend Gene Roddenberry, Andromeda stars all action hero Kevin Sorbo as the Captain of the Andromeda Ascendant, a highly advanced ship whose crew is charged with restoring power and stability to the Systems Commonwealth.

by Sebastian Nebel

Name your Top 5 films without repeating a language or country of origin.

That was the challenge I posed on Twitter last month. It's tricky enough to limit your favorites to a specific number, and I was interested in seeing what kind of responses this added degree of difficulty would garner.

Turns out Twitter loves making lists! I got a ton of replies – way too many to collect all of them here, unfortunately. But I've rounded up a handful of them after the jump including lists by The Film Experience contributors, film critics and film makers...

edgarwright

@edgarwright

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo)

2001: A Space Odyssey

Police Story (警察故事)

Delicatessen

Santa Sangre (Holy Blood)

— August 28, 2017...

Ghostbusters action figures highlight a new round of collectibles from Diamond Select toys, and in today's Horror Highlights, we also have release details for Eric Red's new werewolf book, trailers for The Blessed Ones and Altar, and new images from Whispers.

New Diamond Select Toys Collectibles: From Diamond Select Toys: "Another New Toy day has arrived, and a new shipment of Diamond Select Toys items have arrived at your local comic shop! Multiple sets of Minimates mini-figures, from Watchmen, Predator and Forbidden Planet, as well as a popular Back to the Future Time Machine vehicle, are in comic shops now, as well as the fifth assortment of Ghostbusters Movie action figures! Reserve your favorites at your local comic shop, or order through your favorite online retailer!

Back to the Future 2 Hover Time Machine Electronic Vehicle

It’s time to go back… back to the future! Dst has upgraded their...

Tony Sokol Feb 13, 2017

Robert Stromberg is going from Disney's Malificent to a new slasher movie called Carnival...

The upcoming noir slasher film Carnival is about a knife-throwing artist performing at a traveling circus. But the barnstorming blade buff is not the villain, he is the hunter. In the tradition of Tod Browning’s Freaks, Alejandro Jodorowsky's Santa Sangre, Hammer’s Vampire Circus and Halloween perennial Carnival Of Souls, Carnival will be a three-ringed affair.

Carnival will be directed by Robert Stromberg, the Oscar-winning production designer who made Maleficent (2014) with Angelina Jolie as the sympathetic, malicious witch. Stromberg was the first production designer to ever win back-to- back Oscars, for Avatar and Alice In Wonderland. He turned the lonely journey of astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) from Ridley Scott’s The Martian into The Martian: Vr Experience, which was released at Sundance last year. Stromberg also directed the pilot Dawn for Hulu and MGM.

Author: Sean Wilson

Arriving on Blu-Ray and DVD on 13th February, provocative and gruesome horror We Are the Flesh is the latest movie from director Emiliano Rocha Minter. Engulfing viewers in a nightmarish and surreal world, whereby two siblings find themselves manipulated by a terrifying stranger, it’s controversial Mexican cinema in every sense of the word.

It also follows a proud tradition of rich, boundary-pushing cinema to have emerged from the country. To honour the film’s release, here are some of Mexico’s finest.

Un Chien Andalou (1929)

Few images are seared onto viewers’ minds as vividly as the eyeball being sliced in Luis Bunuel’s groundbreaking surrealist classic (in reality it was a cow’s eye, not a human’s). But in truth the Spanish filmmaker’s trendsetting collaboration with Salvador Dali is filled to the brim with all other manner of striking imagery that left a lasting...

Latin American filmmakers have done well in the Oscar race over the last three years: Awards have gone to two Mexican directors, while films from Colombia and Chile have landed nominations. Meanwhile, revered auteurs from these region have maintained their positions on the world stage, and American-based Latino filmmakers and actors have become outspoken advocates for the need of inclusion and opportunity. But many others receive far less attention even as they toil away on the sidelines to make sure these artists receive the attention they deserve.

The unsung heroes of Latin American cinema’s success work in film journalism, distribution companies, film-oriented nonprofits, festivals, and even major studios. Behind the scenes, Latinos are paving the way for filmmakers and others who are fighting to be heard, seen, and understood. This crowd of influencers includes U.S Latinos, Latin Americans and Hispanics, all of whom are represented in the following overview.

Mark and Aaron tackle Guillermo Del Toro’s debut film, recently re-released as part of the Trilogía boxset. Cronos is technically in the vampire genre, but even for his first film, has a distinctive Del Toro feel. We get into the character of Jesus Gris, and how Del Toro uses him as a tragic figure that touches on themes of mortality and religion. We also explore Del Toro’s passion and his “Bleak House,” showing that his passion for the medium informs his work.

About the film:

Guillermo del Toro made an auspicious and audacious feature debut with Cronos, a highly unorthodox tale about the seductiveness of the idea of immortality. Kindly antiques dealer Jesús Gris (Federico Luppi) happens upon an ancient golden device in the shape of a scarab, and soon finds himself the possessor and victim of its sinister, addictive powers, as well as the target of a...

Cult filmmaker to appear in conversation at film festival.

Chilean filmmaker and artist Alejandro Jodorowsky is to be awarded with a Pardo d’onore at the 69th Locarno Film Festival (Aug 3-13).

As well as screening a selection of his films and the award ceremony on the Piazza Grande, Jodorowsky will also participate in a conversation open to all festival-goers.

As son of Russian immigrants exiled in Chile, Jodorowsky began his artistic career as a puppeteer, poet and theater director. At 23, he moved to France and joined Marcel Marceau’s mime troupe, and five years later founded - alongside Roland Topor and Fernando Arrabal - the performance art movement Panique, which aimed to counter the mainstreaming of surrealism.

Jodorowsky subsequently moved to Mexico, where, over the next 17 years, he created avant-garde theater de Mexico, and directed Fando And Lis (1968), El Topo (1970), The Holy Mountain (1973) and Santa Sangre (1989), films which made him a cult filmmaker around the world...

After three days of celebs, slashers, and screenings, the Silver Scream Fest went out with a flourish today in Santa Rosa, Calif. The three-day film festival saw luminaries like Freddy Krueger’s own Robert Englund, director John Landis, seven-time makeup-effects Oscar winner Rick Baker, ambidextrous artist Rob Prior, and Elm Street heroine Heather Langenkamp, among others, come to meet fans and talk about their contributions to horror cinema.

There were screenings of some of the best independent scary cinema out there, in addition to screenings of contemporary classics like A Nightmare On Elm Street, New Nightmare, An American Werewolf In London (on its 35th anniversary), and Santa Sangre alongside classics from the Golden Age of Hollywood like Dracula (On its 85th anniversary! Seems like just yesterday….), Island Of Lost Souls, and White Zombie.

There was a celebration of FM’s own Uncle Forry, a tribute to iconic horror filmmaker Wes Craven (Scream,...

You guys! It’s almost time for our Silver Scream Fest in beautiful Santa Rosa, Calif. It’s in two weeks and you can still get tix! You can also win posters, T-shirts, and even tix to the event. Check our Facebook and Twitter daily for ways to get your furry paws on some great swag!

Also: Did I mention that Santa Rosa is wine country? You can see stars, catch some screenings of both new and classic films, and tickle your palate, all in one gloriously gory weekend!

Highlights include:

• A tribute to Wes Craven by none other than his greatest creation, Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund himself; Freddy’s favorite leading lady, Heather Langenkamp from A Nightmare On Elm Street and New Nightmare; and Craven’s longtime producer Marianne Maddelena.

• A celebration of An American Werewolf In London’s 35th anniversary with a reunion of director John Landis (The Blues Brothers,...

[Originally appeared in the January 2015 issue of Deadly Magazine. Catch up with Part One of the retrospective here.]

Though it was prematurely cancelled in 2012, the horror comedy TV series Todd & The Book of Pure Evil has lived on through the memories of its loyal fan base, been discovered by a new audience on home media, and will return in an animated film in the near future. Last fall, I had the great pleasure of speaking with the series' co-creators and main cast, who looked back on fighting evil... with mixed results.

In this second part of Daily Dead's retrospective on Todd & The Book of Pure Evil, Alex House (Todd Smith), Maggie Castle (Jenny Kolinsky), Bill Turnbull (Curtis Weaver), Melanie Leishman (Hannah B. Williams), Shawn Pierce (music composer), and series co-creator Craig David Wallace discuss their time on the truly unique series that showed the humor, horror, and often blood-soaked trials and tribulations of high school.

What were your auditions like for Todd & The Book of Pure Evil?

Alex House...

Special Mention: The Last Wave

Directed by Peter Weir

Written by Tony Morphett and Peter Weir

Australia, 1977

Genre: Psychological Thriller

The tagline reads, “The Occult Forces. The Ritual Murder. The Sinister Storms. The Prophetic Dreams. The Last Wave.”

Peter Weir follows up on his critically acclaimed masterpiece Picnic at Hanging Rock with this visually striking and totally engrossing surrealist psychological thriller. Much like Picnic, The Last Wave is built around a mystery that may have a supernatural explanation. And like many Peter Weir movies, The Last Wave explores the conflict between two radically different cultures- in this case, that of Aboriginal Australians and the white Europeans.

It is about a white lawyer, David Burton (Richard Chamberlain), whose seemingly normal life is rattled after he takes on a pro bono legal aid case to defend a group of Aborigines from a murder charge in Sydney. The mystery within the mystery surrounding...

This Tuesday marks the end of the wildly entertaining Season 2 of El Rey Network and Miramax’s “From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series,” and along with a sneak peek of the finale, Episode 2.10, “Santa Sangre,” which features the Gecko… Continue Reading →

The post See a Sneak Peek of From Dusk Till Dawn’s Season 2 Finale; Win a Robert Rodriguez-Signed Character Card appeared first on Dread Central.

What is it about foreign horror films that makes them more interesting than so many English language horror films? You would have to think that the language barrier makes it more terrifying; people screaming is already difficult, but speaking a language you don’t understand can only make it worse. So, why are the remakes typically so bad? On this portion of the list, we are treated to a few of the more upsetting films in the canon – one movie I wouldn’t wish for anyone to see, a few that blazed the trail for many more, and one that I would elevate above the horror genre into its own little super-genre.

30. Janghwa, Hongryeon (2003)

English Title: A Tale of Two Sisters

Directed by: Kim Ji-woon

Another excellent Korean horror film America had to remake to lesser results. 2003’s A Tale of Two Sisters is just one of many film adaptations of the folktale,...

Three posters inspired by George A. Romero's Creepshow have been released and designed by Boneface and We Buy Your Kids. Also: a trailer for The Forest, a look at Demi Lovato in From Dusk Till Dawn Season 2, and a new Fallout 4 video.

Creepshow Posters: "October Is Upon Us! Easily the best month of the year, it’s time to celebrate all things creepy and crawly. We’re thrilled to kick things off with three awesome posters by Boneface and We Buy Your Kids for one of the best horror anthologies ever - Creepshow!

Creepshow by Boneface. 18"x24" screen print. Hand numbered. Edition of 225. Printed by D&L Screenprinting. $40 Creepshow (Version 1) by We Buy Your Kids. 18"x24" screen print. Hand numbered. Edition of 150. Printed by D&L Screenprinting. $40 Creepshow (Version 2) by We Buy Your Kids. 18"x24" screen print. Hand numbered. Edition of 150. Printed by D&L Screenprinting. $40

These posters will...

We told you back in June that Demi Lovato is guest starring in “From Dusk Till Dawn” this season, and as it turns out, she’s not just appearing in the finale, Episode 2.10, “Santa Sangre”; we’ll also see her in… Continue Reading →

The post Get Your First Look at Demi Lovato in From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series appeared first on Dread Central.

The pope of esoteric midnight films returned after 23 years from filmmaking limbo in a poetical semi-autobiopic The Dance of Reality, which saw him also reunited with his former producer Michel Seydoux since their paths parted after Dune´s non-realisation. The 86-year old Alejandro Jodorowsky is etched into the textbooks as versatile artist, philosopher and therapist and as a filmmaker known for El Topo, The Holy Mountain or Santa Sangre rendered in his very own aesthetics of the bizarre and surreal. However, the two decades spanning his filmmaking celibacy does not mean Jodo has been sitting idle in his Paris apartment. He resolved the koan (challenge in Zen Buddhism) of wanting to make more movies, yet lacking the proper funding, by jumping to another medium, graphic novels,...

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

One of the unlikeliest “comebacks” in recent history was that of Alejandro Jodorowsky, who at age eighty-five last year had two new movies in cinemas: One a documentary in which he was the subject, the other his first feature as writer-director in nearly fifteen years. Frank Pavich’s Jodorowsky's Dune drew on voluminous archival materials to chronicle the Chilean-French surrealist’s failed (yet still influential) attempt to make a mid-1970s film of Frank Herbert’s science-fiction epic, which would have utilized such disparate talents as Salvador Dalí, Pink Floyd, H.R. Giger, Mick Jagger and Orson Welles. The filmmaker’s own The Dance of Reality was an autobiographical phantasmagoria that cast several of his family members. It showed his distinctively outrageous, poetical imagination as vigorous as ever. But a look back at 1989's Santa Sangre... >> - Dennis Harvey...

One of the unlikeliest “comebacks” in recent history was that of Alejandro Jodorowsky, who at age eighty-five last year had two new movies in cinemas: One a documentary in which he was the subject, the other his first feature as writer-director in nearly fifteen years. Frank Pavich’s Jodorowsky's Dune drew on voluminous archival materials to chronicle the Chilean-French surrealist’s failed (yet still influential) attempt to make a mid-1970s film of Frank Herbert’s science-fiction epic, which would have utilized such disparate talents as Salvador Dalí, Pink Floyd, H.R. Giger, Mick Jagger and Orson Welles. The filmmaker’s own The Dance of Reality was an autobiographical phantasmagoria that cast several of his family members. It showed his distinctively outrageous, poetical imagination as vigorous as ever. But a look back at 1989's Santa Sangre... >> - Dennis Harvey...

Welcome back everyone for the final day of Daily Dead’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide! Because it’s been an exceptional year for genre fans, we’re focusing today on recapping more books and films that would make for great gifts this holiday season and are perfect for all fans. We’ve also got another great find from over on Etsy and we’re celebrating a new subscription service from the fine folks over at Waxworks Records.

And be sure to check out today’s final Holiday Horrors trivia question below for your shot at winning some awesome merchandise from our fine sponsors at HorrorDecor.net, Scream Factory and Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Thanks so much for following along with our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide and I hope you guys had as much fun reading the series as I had putting it together!

Vendor Spotlight: Waxwork Records

Waxwork Records specializes in releasing horror,...

Some pretty significant viewing has appeared this week. Jonathan Rosenbaum and Kevin B. Lee have collaborated on an audiovisual essay about Jacques Rivette's Out 1: Noli Me Tangere (1971); Nicole Brenez talks with Eric Hurtado and Marc Hurtado about the work that desistfilm has made available online; and Milena Kans examines Alejandro Jodorowsky's view of humans and animals in Fando and Lis (1968), El Topo (1970), The Holy Mountain (1973), Santa Sangre (1989) and The Rainbow Thief (1990). We also have news on upcoming work from Richard Linklater and David Fincher and we point to a lengthy conversation with David Lynch. » - David Hudson...

Some pretty significant viewing has appeared this week. Jonathan Rosenbaum and Kevin B. Lee have collaborated on an audiovisual essay about Jacques Rivette's Out 1: Noli Me Tangere (1971); Nicole Brenez talks with Eric Hurtado and Marc Hurtado about the work that desistfilm has made available online; and Milena Kans examines Alejandro Jodorowsky's view of humans and animals in Fando and Lis (1968), El Topo (1970), The Holy Mountain (1973), Santa Sangre (1989) and The Rainbow Thief (1990). We also have news on upcoming work from Richard Linklater and David Fincher and we point to a lengthy conversation with David Lynch. » - David Hudson...

For the second week of August, horror fans can look forward to a fun array of titles arriving on DVD and Blu-ray this week, including the Troma classic The Toxic Avenger, the cult classic Motel Hell from Scream Factory and the recent indie horror film Proxy.

Also arriving this week are the latest animated Batman feature, A Haunted House 2, a few more indie slasher films, including Crawl or Die and Bunnyman Massacre, as well as the long-awaited re-release of Santa Sangre on DVD from Severin Films.

Spotlight Titles:

Motel Hell Collector’s Edition (Scream Factory, Blu-ray & DVD Combo)

You really are what you eat with Farmer Vincent’s smoked meat in this creepy horror yarn that ’packs a punch that goes way beyond mere terror’ (Boxoffice). Vincent’s popular products contain a special ingredient that the psychotic farmer and his sister would literally kill to keep a secret! Starring...

Blu-ray, DVD & Digital Release Date: Aug. 25, 2014

Price: DVD $19.98, Blu-ray $21.98

Studio: Abkco

After a 23-year hiatus, the biographical fantasy-drama The Dance of Reality marks the triumphant return of Alejandro Jodorowsky, the visionary Chilean filmmaker behind the Seventies cult classics El Topo, The Holy Mountain and, most recently, 1989′s Santa Sangre.

In the radiantly visceral autobiographical film, a young Jodorowsky (Jeremias Herskovitz) is confronted by a collection of compelling characters that contributed to his burgeoning surreal consciousness.

The legendary filmmaker was born in 1929 in Tocopilla, a coastal town on the edge of the Chilean desert, where the film was shot. Blending his personal history with metaphor, mythology, and poetry, The Dance of Reality reflects Jodorowsky’s philosophy that reality is not objective but rather a “dance” created by our own imaginations.

The movie opened theatrically to outstanding reviews in May, 2014, receiving a 93% positive rating at Rotten Tomatoes based on 44 published reviews.

Presented in Spanish with English subtitles,...