Lionsgate won the battle to distribute the Eli Roth produced film, The Last Exorcism. If you’re wondering why you haven’t heard of this one before–well, you have. They renamed the film, which was previously titled, Cotton. Personally, I’m not a fan of either title, but I’ll still curious to see the faux documentary feature about a disillusioned minister who lets a film crew record his his last exorcism.
“After a career spent helping the devout through prayer and trickery, Rev. Cotton Marcus invites a film crew to document his final fraudulent days as an exorcist. Soon his faith is truly tested …read more

A young woman seeks out the mundane after a troubled past and finds peace in a hospital alone at night, collating patient records. That is, until a series of unsettling events leads her to believe the hospital may be connected to a number of recent murders in the area. To get to the truth, Roslyn must solve the mystery of her own disturbing past.

The first clips for UK horror-thriller Psych:9 were released earlier this month and I recently had the opportunity to talk with director Andrew Shortell about the film that stars Sara Foster (The Big Bounce) as Roslyn, Cary …read more

Taking a cue from Conan O’Brien and Jay Leno, Lionsgate and Paramount have decided to go head-to-head when it comes to their box office darlings, Saw VII 3D and Paranormal Activity 2.
Paramount hired Saw VI director Kevin Greutert and prime time veteran writer Michael R. Perry to create the sequel to last year’s indie sensation, Paranormal Activity. Ironically, this would have put Paranormal Activity 2 up against Lionsgate’s Saw VII for this year’s pre-Halloween weekend. Apparently, this got Lionsgate’s panties in a twist and they have decided to exercise an option in Greutert’s contract that forces him back to the …read more

Recent films like Paranormal Activity and The House of the Devil owe a debt of gratitude to Herk Harvey’s cult classic, Carnival of Souls. The film was made for a mere $33,000 and relies on dramatic black-and-white photography and a dreamy atmosphere to conjure the horror beneath the everyday. A young organist’s life is transformed after a car crash and she becomes haunted by a ghostly figure.
From the start of the film (there are no opening credits) we are jolted into Mary Henry’s (Candace Hilligoss) world. A drag race sends Mary’s car plummeting into a river, but she mysteriously survives …read more

The After Dark Horrorfest 4 lineup is almost upon us (opening January 29) and The Reeds and Lake Mungo both have some new one sheets to celebrate with.

The Reeds takes six friends on a deadly weekend boating trip through the Norfolk Broads and Lake Mungo is a supernatural mystery surrounding the drowning of a young girl. I’ll be anxious to find out if this one is as similar to Twin Peaks as it sounds. Bob wouldn’t like that.
Bloody-Disgusting also premiered this new one sheet for The Violent Kind, which makes its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. In the film …read more

Check out these new clips from the UK horror-thriller Psych:9, directed by Andrew Shortell.
Roslyn (Sara Foster), a troubled young woman, takes a job at a recently closed hospital to collate the hardcopy patient records. Working alone in the building after dark, she experiences a series of unsettling events that lead her to believe the hospital may be connected to a number of recent murders in the area. To uncover the truth, she has to solve the mystery of her own disturbing past.
In the first clip, Monitor, we get a glimpse of the thing that may be haunting Sara. In Therapy, …read more

Love you Paramount for getting cozy with the indie film world and yay Paranormal Activity (I’ve said it all enough already) but are you guys seriously going to keep draining the life out of this film? Isn’t this the bazillionth sweepstakes surrounding Oren Peli’s haunt flick? Ok you supernatural suckers–here’s a little more for you.

You can win a red carpet screening in your home and a home theater entertainment system by entering the new Paranormal Activity sweepstakes here. On December 28 Paramount brings the red carpet and press to your home to watch PA with the alternate ending on your …read more

Oh what a dream, to be able to attend the Sundance Film Festival! This year’s lineup for the Park City at Midnight category has an interesting selection. The festival runs January 21-31 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah and is the largest indie film festival in the US. Many now famous horror flicks had their premiere at the festival including The Blair Witch Project and Saw. Check out the lineup below plus a few trailers and let me know what you think.
Buried
Spain/USA
Director: Rodrigo Cortes; Screenwriter: Chris Sparling
A U.S. contractor working in Iraq awakes to find he is …read more

Join me tonight at 8 PM ET for a free form chat about all things horror. Suggested topics (but not limited to): Boris Karloff (in honor of Frankensteinia’s Boris Karloff Blogathon), how has the Ms. Horror Blogosphere competition been a positive experience for you (plus some rants if necessary…ahh therapy) and what you’re looking forward to seeing in the new year. Hope to talk to you tonight!

Though it’s often hard because of my job, I’m one of those people who tries to avoid learning too much about a film before I see it. Particularly if it’s one I’m excited about. Case in point–Paranormal Activity. Many people who saw Paranormal Activity late in the game absolutely hated it. I can’t say I blame them after one of the trailers gave away the biggest scare in the film and the hype surrounding it became so infectious, there was no avoiding it no matter how hard you tried.
Director Richard Ledes is playing it smart. He’s only giving audiences a …read more