Hex Studios Present EGOMANIAC

Egomaniac

Horror production house Hex Studios (The Unkindness of Ravens; Owlman/Lord of Tears) have launched a YouTube series showcasing new films. Titled Hex Presents, it comes hosted by studio head honcho Lawrie Brewster (who you may recall as the subject of our first-ever Independents Day feature), taking on the role of a gothic priest preaching the Word that is Horror from a pulpit of shadowed darkness from which humanity’s primal dread is made manifest.

First to be exhibited is Egomaniac, the compelling, observant and darkly hilarious horror comedy from Kate Shenton (another Independents Day alumnus) that sees the trials and tribulations of director Catherine Sweeney as she attempts to put together her zombie horror/romantic comedy movie. As the semi-autobiographical tale highlights, denounces and satirises the rampant misogyny of the film industry, Catherine is continually forced to compromise in order to make her fucking film, while being slowly driven to insanity by the sleaze, idiocy, pretention, desperation and pomposity with which she must surround herself.

Egomaniac is only the first of the new series featured on Hex’s YouTube channel amidst their Owlman prank videos and Creepypasta recordings, so keep an eye out (or even subscribe) to see more excellent horror movies you might have missed.

Jay Ali Joins MARVEL’S DAREDEVIL

Jay Ali

While the overall output of Marvel’s Netflix shows has been largely loved by fans, many see the crowning jewel of that shared realm as the Guardian Devil, Daredevil. And now, the third season of ol’ Hornhead’s show has brought in a new addition.

As per Netflix themselves, The Fosters’ Jay Ali has signed on to play Rahul “Ray” Nadeem. The character is described as “an honest but ambitious FBI agent willing to go to any length for his family.”

On this news, Marvel TV’s Jeph Loeb enthused, “We are thrilled to welcome Jay into our stellar cast. His storyline and riveting performance will captivate our fans in the third season of Marvel’s Daredevil.”

Season 3 showrunner Erik Oleson added, “I love Jay Ali. It isn’t easy to join a cast as talented as Marvel’s Daredevil – and Jay blew us all out of the water with his audition. His moving performance in Season 3 will show the world that he’s a star in the making.”

Ali joins a cast that includes the return Charlie Cox as the titular hero, Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson, and Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk.

Marvel’s Daredevil returns to Netflix later this year.

THE GRUDGE Reboot Adds Lin Shaye

Lin Shaye Insidious: The Last Key

With John Cho recently added to Ghost House Pictures’ upcoming reboot of The Grudge, now comes word of another genre favourite joining the picture.

As per Variety, the Insidious franchise’s Lin Shaye has signed on for the redo, joining Cho, Andrea Riseborough, and Demian Bichir.

The Eyes of My Mother’s Nicolas Pesce is on board to write and direct this refresh of an old favourite, with Pesce reworking a script previously put in place by Midnight Meat Train’s Jeff Buhler. The Grudge, of course, was originally released in 2002 under the Ju-on title. That Japanese horror was then given a more Western skew with the 2004-starring Sarah Michelle Geller remake. That, though, was not simply it for the franchise, with a whopping eleven Ju-on or Grudge movies to date, plus several short films, video games, and graphic novels.

This latest take on The Grudge is due to start production in May.

Tessa Thompson in Talks to Join Hemsworth in MEN IN BLACK Spinoff

Tessa Thompson Chris Hemsworth

With Chris Hemsworth previously rumoured to be taking a headline role in the upcoming Men in Black reboot, now comes word that the MCU’s famed Thunder God could well be joined by Valkyrie.

As per The Hollywood Reporter, Thor: Ragnarok co-star Tessa Thompson is in talks to join Hemsworth in the picture. Pegged as a spinoff-cum-reboot of the MiB franchise, neither Will Smith nor Tommy Lee Jones will be returning. Instead, this new film will look to expand the world seen in the original trilogy.

Straight Outta Compton’s F. Gary Gray is on board to direct, with Matt Holloway and Art Marcum currently working on the screenplay for what’s currently booked in for a June 14th, 2019 release.

Classic Horror Double-bill Launches 2018 Line-up for FANTASTIQ

Night of the Living Dead

The daddy of underground cinema classics is 50 years old in 2018. Never seen Night of the Living Dead? See it on the big screen at Square Chapel in Halifax courtesy of FANTASTIQ, Sunday 6th May at 5.45pm, in a double-bill with Dominic Brunt’s zombie shocker BEFORE DAWN, followed by a Q&A with Dominic Brunt himself!

FANTASTIQ – The Festival of Fantasy, Sci-Fi & Horror is coming home to Yorkshire with a nerve-jangling double-bill that combines a timeless shocker with one of the hundreds of films that it has inspired over more than half a century.

Released in 1968, George A. Romero’s tense and audacious debut Night of the Living Dead ushered in a new era of raw modern horror. Rightly championed by fans around the world, it is now revered as a seminal cult classic – a quasi-expressionistic celluloid nightmare and the Citizen Kane of the horror ‘B’s.

In Before Dawn estranged husband and wife Alex and Meg head to a remote cottage in a bid to salvage their marriage. But as their domestic drama is played out in isolation, a much bigger drama (the apocalypse) is slowly being played out elsewhere. Edgy, frenetic and terrifyingly claustrophobic, Before Dawn is also powerfully original.

Emmerdale regular Dominic Brunt is forging a reputation as a writer, director and producer of acclaimed independent films. He made his debut with Before Dawn in 2013, following up with Bait and Adult Babies. He will be interviewed by journalist and author, Tony Earnshaw, director and co-founder of FANTASTIQ, the Festival of Fantasy, Sci-Fi & Horror.

Tickets and further info: https://www.squarechapel.co.uk/whats-on/dawn-night-living-dead-horror-double-bill-qa/

FANTASTIQ, the Festival of Fantasy, Sci-Fi & Horror was founded in 2012 and built upon the evergreen attraction of films fantastique including retro delights, special guests, tribute events and new releases.

For more info and updates on FANTASTIQ, head on over to http://fantastiq.co.uk/.

Adam Croasdell to Play PREACHER’s Eccarius

Adam Coasdell Eccarius Preacher

Ahead of its hotly anticipated third season, AMC’s Preacher has moved to bring in another new addition that some comic book fans will be more than familiar with.

As confirmed by AMC themselves, Reign’s Adam Croasdell has been brought in to play Eccarius, a 350-year-old vampire who made a couple of appearances in the Preacher comic book realm. For TV, the character’s description has him pegged as “regal, charming, and styles himself after the more romantic, Gothic image of vampires. He appears to be a cliché at first but a much darker character lurks beneath the surface.”

Other new additions already announced are Betty Buckley as Jesse’s Gran-ma, Jonny Coyne as Allfather D’Aronique, and Prema Cruz as Madame Boyd.

Expect more on Preacher’s third season as it continues to develop.

Peters and Bates Confirmed for AHS Return

Evan Peters Kathy Bates American Horror Story

With Sarah Paulson previously the only confirmed cast member for the upcoming eighth season of American Horror Story, now comes word on two further familiar places who’ll be joining the mainstay in AHS’ return.

As per EW, both Evan Peters and Kathy Bates will be returning to the fold; Peters being the only other name than Sarah Paulson to have appeared in every single season to date.

On this news, creator Ryan Murphy told the outlet, “Kathy and Sarah Paulson have a lot of great stuff they get to do. So, with Evan Peters, the three of them are the leads this year.”

Over the weekend, there were rumours that the title of the near-future-set Season 8 will be American Horror Story: Radioactive, and Murphy addressed these rumblings. “I heard about the rumour,” he said, “Well, that’s based on a fact that we’ve cleared a lot of titles for that show. It’s an interesting idea. I can neither confirm nor deny.”

American Horror Story returns to screens later this year.

Logo Revealed for SHAZAM!

Shazam!

While we’ve yet to see an official look at the all-powerful hero, we’ve now been given a first glimpse at the logo for Warner Brothers’ Shazam!

The WB released the image, which you can find left or click below for a larger version:

Shazam!

In terms of synopsis, the official word on Shazam! reads:

We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s case, by shouting out one word – SHAZAM! – this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult superhero Shazam, courtesy of an ancient wizard. Still a kid at heart – inside a ripped, godlike body – Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he’ll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr Thaddeus Sivana.

Already on board for Shazam! are Asher Angel as Billy Batson, Zachary Levi as the titular Shazam, Ron Cephas as the Wizard, Mark Strong as the ‘big bad’ of the picture, Doctor Sivana, Marta Milans and Cooper Andrews as Billy’s foster parents, and then roles for Jack Dylan Grazer, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen and Jovan Armand as pals of Billy’s.

To be directed by David F. Sandberg, Shazam! is set for an April 5th, 2019 release.

Dee Wallace Joins Rob Zombie’s 3 FROM HELL

Dee Wallace Rob Zombie

With the cat now well and truly out of the bag on Rob Zombie’s 3 from Hell, the upcoming outing for the Firefly clan has brought in its second new addition.

Taking to his social media accounts, Zombie has revealed that genre fave Dee Wallace is joining the long-awaited follow-up to The Devil’s Rejects. Wallace is best known to genre fans for classics such as The Howling, E.T., Cujo, Critters, Popcorn, The Frighteners, The House of the Devil, and Zombie’s The Lords of Salem.

There’s no details on just what role Dee Wallace will be playing in 3 from Hell, but she joins the returning Sheri Moon Zombie, Bill Moseley, Sid Haig, and fellow new addition Austin Stoker in the currently-shooting picture.

Get Infected with Horror Channel in April

horror infection

Make sure you have had all your booster shots and stay indoors in April as the Infection Season takes over Horror Channel.

Every Saturday throughout April there’s a chance to catch some of the most infectious horror films of all time, starting with the double salvo of Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later and the sequel 28 Weeks Later. The remake of George Romero’s The Crazies and M. Night Shyamalan’s The Happening round the season off.

Also in April, you can experience the brilliant Turbo Kid, and the fabulously fun B-movie homage Spiders 3D, which will both receiving its UK TV Premieres.

Three films to put in your diary as must-sees are the long-awaited sequels to Alfred Hitchcock’s seminal shocker Psycho. Original star Anthony Perkins returns as Norman Bates in Psycho II, Psycho III, and Psycho IV: The Beginning.

With premieres for the slasher Cry Wolf, Sarah Michelle Geller in the supernatural thriller The Return, and the brilliant Tobe Hooper classic The Funhouse, there’s plenty to keep you entertained and terrified as we wait for spring to actually really begin.

For full details and listings, head over to the Horror Channel website. You can tune in on Sky 319, Virgin 149, Freesat 138, Freeview 70.