The Guide to Modern Horror Movies http://www.esplatter.com 2007 ESplatter.com A "Quarantine 2" is in the works, but apparently won't be a remake of "Rec 2" ("Quarantine" was an almost shot-for-shot remake of "Rec"). John Pogue, who wrote US Marshals, Ghost Ship and Skulls 1 & 2, will have his directorial debut with this project. Despite being a shot-for-shot remake, "Quarantine" was a pretty good English language horror mockumentary that made a decent amount of money at the box office. "Quarantine 2", however, may be quarantined to DVD store shelves only as a direct-to-video release.. . . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1540 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1540 It may be the last horror film to star Isaac Hayes. William Lustig's 1997 direct-to-video "Uncle Sam," which was written by the great Larry Cohen, is heading to Blu-Ray June 29, in time for Independence Day. You old schoolers may remember the semi-animiated VHS box for this amusing, political horror film that predates David Arquette's similar "The Tripper" by close to a decade. Expect spectacular picture quality and extras from the original DVD release, including commentary from Lustig, Hayes and Cohen.. . . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1535 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1535 Here's a forgotten slasher that I don't think has ever had a DVD release before. 1982's "Dorm That Dripped Blood" is finally heading to disc. Synapse Films has secured the only 35mm print of the film under its alternate title "Death Dorm." Synapse's Don May Jr. told Fango that this is the "the best looking version of the film ever on home video." Synapse is apparently workig closely with director-producer Jeffrey Obrow on the release, which has yet to get a definitive date.. . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1536 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1536 George Romero's "Survival of the Dead" hits DVD in the UK in about a week and a half! We have a view of the DVD art for UK residents, plus a giant view of the film's new poster. It hits some theaters in the U.S. in April. The film is the sixth "Living Dead" film from the great George Romero and focuses on the activities on an island after the zombie apocalypse. His last one was the excellent "Diary of the Dead." . . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1537 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1537 Another 1980s horror classic that does not need a remake is "Pet Sematary". But the hugely successful Stephen King film is indeed getting a remake. Matthew Greenberg, the man who wrote the script for the good King adaptation "1408," is writing it too. No solid word yet on a director or a star, although George Clooney was once rumored to be making this remake.. . . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1538 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1538 You could have predicted this, but the upcoming "Alien" prequel from Ridley Scott is going to be in 3D. Shadow Locked interviewed art-director Roger Christian who slipped out news on Scott's new "Alien" movie. "Ridley's doing the next Alien in 3D ... He has a very clear understanding of where this should go. They kind of stopped dead one of the greatest horror franchises there's ever been, and it had legs to go on. So I'm hoping he'll revive another three. The world certainly wants it, and the fans want it - everybody." Jon Spaihts is writing the script. . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1539 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1539 It has been far too long since Brian De Palma directed a horror movie -- or any movie for that matter. The helmer of the original "Carrie," "Sisters" and "Dressed the Kill" left the genre to direct mainstream films but hasn't been busy lately. Now, he may be tapped to direct the apparently high-budget sequel to the megasmash "Paranomral Activity." The LA Times reports: When it comes to "Paranormal Activity," nothing should surprise us anymore. This was a movie that was shot for $10,000 and became a $100-million-plus box-office powerhouse. And it did all that with no stars and no brand pedigree -- just a brilliant "America demanded it" marketing campaign. So the fact that a number of emerging genre directors are being considered to direct the second picture in the haunted-house franchise (tentatively titled "Paranormal Activity 2" but probably soon to be renamed) makes perfect sense. More eerie, though, is that the studio is now seriously considering a trio of more experienced directors. http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1533 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1533 The advance buzz from test screenings is that the "Nightmare on Elm Street" remake is a PG-13 piece of hogwash. The "Texas Chainsaw" remake from Platinum Dunes was passable as a retelling of a supposedly "true" event. The "Friday the 13th" remake could be swallowed as a sequel in the series -- not a true remake, which it wasn't. But this new non-Robert Englund Freddy film just seems like too much to swallow. A Nightmare on Elm Street Trailer 2 in HDTrailer Park Movies | MySpace Video And here is the new poster. Directed by rock video filmmaker Samuel Bayer, the new "Nightmare" hits cineplex screens April 30. . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1534 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1534 Reports the L.A. Times today: Craven recently finished “My Soul to Take,” which is scheduled for release sometime this year. And in May, he starts on “Scream 4.” And after that? “My goal is to die in my 90s on the set, say, ‘That’s a wrap,’ after the last shot, fall over dead and have the grips go out and raise a beer to me.” The last "Scream" film to hit screens was way back in 2000. . . . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1532 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1532 Eli Roth is joining the mockumentary horror club by producing "The Last Exorcism," a new "Paranormal Activity"-style horror film that has been picked up for distribution by Lionsgate, according to MTV. Formerly titled "Cotton," the film, which premieres at SXSW next month, brings the faux-doc method to a story of an Evengelical priest (Patrick Fabian) who invites a film crew to document his final exorcism. According to a Lionsgate executive, "audiences are going to find this movie scary as, well, hell." . . . . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1527 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1527 The film franchise may thankfully be dead -- replaced by the long-in-development "Alien" prequel and a coming "Predators" reboot movie -- but the "Alien vs. Predator" videogame franchise is alive and kicking. Here's a preview trailer for the next game in the series, "Alien vs. Predator," which arrives February 16, 2010. . . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1528 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1528 The 1960 classic "The Innocents" remains one of the best ghost stories ever filmed. Now, the Henry James book upon which it was based, is being adapted into a 3D movie -- in Italy of all places. Italian director Marcello Avallone ("Specters") is directing the 3D movie. It will be filmed in English and produced by Vito Matassino. . . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1529 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1529 Based on a Jack Ketchum novel, Offspring basically went to DVD last year without much fanfare. But a sequel is already in the works and guess who is directing? None other than a Master of Horror, Lucky McKee. And, yes, Angela Bettis will be starring in the follow up. Scripted by both Ketchum and McKee, the film -- entitled Offspring: The Woman, about the last surviving member of the savage cannibal clan from the first film. McKee is prosimising a "feral" film.. http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1530 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1530 America's Shout! Factory is set to release Luigi Cozzi's 1979 sci fi film "Starcrash" on August 10! Details are scarce. While this is not a horror film, it's certainly of interest to horror fans because of Cozzi and of course the fact that Caroline Munro is in the cast. More details to come. . . . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1531 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1531 Bummer days. The release dates for "Humanoids From the Deep" and "Piranha" have been moved from April to August, apparently because of the fact that Dimension Films has moved the release of "Piranha 3D" to that future timeframe as well. In any case, here is a roundup of Shout! Factory's upcoming slate of Roger Corman-produced cult titles, which includes "Death Race 2000" as well. May 4 ROCK ’N’ ROLL HIGH SCHOOL DVD and Blu-ray SUBURBIA DVD June 22 DEATH RACE 2000 DVD and Blu-ray WARLORDS OF THE 21ST CENTURY/DEATHSPORT double-feature DVD July 20 FORBIDDEN WORLD DVD GALAXY OF TERROR DVD ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS/NOT OF THIS EARTH (1957) double-feature DVD August 3 PIRANHA special-edition DVD and Blu-ray HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP DVD UP FROM THE DEPTHS/DEMON OF PARADISE double-feature DVD September 7 STARCRASH DVD and Blu-ray BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS DVD September 28 NOT OF THIS EARTH (1988) DVD TIME WALKER/DEAD SPACE double-feature DVD. . . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1522 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1522 One of the best horror releases in recent months, Frank Henenlotter's "Bad Biology" is just about to strike DVD. For those of youin Yew York City, they are holding a DVD release party with the cast and Henenlotter this Saturday. The RareFlixstore (210 Meadowlands Parkway, Secaucus NJ) is hosting a signing party the Shriek Show DVD release on Saturday, Feb. 13, from1-3 p.m. Meet Mr. Henenlotter himself, along with "The Girls of Bad Biology." For more, click here.. http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1523 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1523 Heaven help us all! Taurus Entertainment is at work on a third "Day of the Dead" film. That would actually be a fourth if you include the recent "Day of the Dead" remake that went direct to DVD. Yes, there was a "Day of the Dead" "sequel" some years back that went straight to DVD too. It was horrible and most of us have wisely forgotten it. Now, "Day of the Dead: Epidemic" is being made. Ugh. http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1524 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1524 One of the best horror films of the 1970s, "Blood on Satan's Claw" has never had a proper DVD release -- anywhere. The only one it ever got was overseas and it was non-anamorphic widescreen. Weak! Well, it looks like UK DVD maker Odeon is working on a new transfer, which means hopefully a proper Anamorphic widescreen release of this excellent, unjustly unreleased -- in the U.S. release -- horror masterpiece. Odeon is also releasing the excellent "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors" on March 22. http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1525 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1525 Richard Blackburn, director of "Lemora: The Lady Dracula" will be on hand to discuss his film at a screening on Wednesday at the Egyptian Theatre down in L.A., Wednesday, Feb. 10. Click here for the 411. "Lemora" is Blackburn's only film and it's a great little movie from 1973. If you live in L.A. and love '70s horror, you owe it to yourself to attend this screening.. http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1526 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1526 Mary Elizabeth Winstead of "Final Destination 3" and Joel Edgerton of "Acolytes" are the first cast to be announced for the forthcoming prequel to John Carpenter's "The Thing." The film stars shooting March 15 in Toronto, Canada. Matthijs Van Heijningen is directing the film co-scripted by Eric Heisserer and Ronald D. Moore (of "Battlestar Galactica" fame). The movie stars Winstead as a Ph.D. candidate that joins the Norwegian research film, which we saw in the first film. The team discovered the alien spaceship that ultimately dooms them. http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1520 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1520 The follow up to Neil Marshall's now classic "The Descent" wont' be heading to big screens in the U.S. Instead, it will head straight to DVD April 27, courtesy of Lionsgate HomeEntertainment. That's around the same time it will hit DVD in the UK. Cover art has been revealed too. The film is directed by John Harris, the editor of the excellent "Eden Lake." Two days after the events of the first film Sarah is washed away to safety with no memory of the events of the last time she was in the cave. She is taken to hospital where it is revealed some of the blood on her matches that of Juno Kaplan. http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1521 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1521 Sounds crazy, but a horror movie remake is getting the $33,000-a-second advertising treatment during today's Superbowl. The February 26 release of "The Crazies", starring Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell, and directed by Breck Eisner will get the kind of exposure usually reserved for "Star Wars" films. And here it is: . . . . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1519 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1519 Also known as "La Casa Muda" and directed by Gustavo Hernandez, "The Spanish House" is the first horror movie ever shot in one gigantic, continuous take -- not unlike Alfred Hitchcock's "Rope," which appeared to be shot in one take. Here's the trailer: Laura (Florencia Colucci) and her father ( Gustavo Alonso) settle down in a cottage which seems to be off the beaten track in order to update it since its owner ( Abel Tripaldi) will soon put the house on sale. They will spend the night there in order to start the repairs the following morning. Everything seems to go on smoothly until Laura hears a sound that comes from outside and gets louder and louder in the upper floor of the house. Wilson goes up to see what is going on while she remains downstairs on her own waiting for her father to come down. The plot is based on a true story that happened some time ago in a small village in Uruguay . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1516 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1516 "Underworld," that "Blade"-inspired vampire franchise that won't die, is heading to 3D theaters -- and will be set in space. So says Variety. Len Wiseman is set to direct the next installment and Kate Beckinsale is likely to return in a limited capacity. Sounds a little bit too reminiscent of "Leprechaun 4" if you ask me.. . . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1517 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1517 It's been too long since we had our last contest. This one is actually for what is one of the best horror-sci-fi releases in recent memory: Christopher Smith's awesome "Triangle" starring Melissa George. Check out our review here. It's a great, great movie. The first three of your to email Lucius Gore with your mailing address win a DVD! Please put "Triangle" in your subject line. . . http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1518 http://www.esplatter.com/news.php?id=1518