News

It's finally that time of year! AMC is going wall to wall with scary movies as Fearfest 2017 kicks off today with a Halloween marathon! Check out the full schedule of what's in store below, and continue reading:

Monday, October 23, 2017

9:00 am Halloween

11:00 am Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

1:00 pm Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers

3:00 pm Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers

5:00 pm Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later

7:00 pm Halloween II

9:30 pm Halloween

11:30 pm Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

1:30 am Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers

3:30 am Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers

9:00 am House on Haunted Hill

11:00 am House of Wax

1:30 pm Halloween H2O: 20 Years Later

3:30 pm Halloween II

6:00 pm Child’s Play

8:00 pm Curse of Chucky

10:00 pm Cult of Chucky

Wednesday,...

The hit Happy Death Day hints at renewed interest in the masked killer genre, with Jamie Lee Curtis back in the Halloween saga and Scream getting revived

Vampire in Brooklyn, Thinner, The Dentist, Leprechaun 3 … the horror genre in the mid-90s was terrifying for all the wrong reasons. It was barely even a thing, at least outside of the very bottom shelf of Blockbuster, a place where kids would awkwardly hover before begging parents to let them watch some film about an evil laundry-folding machine.

Related: Horrorwood! Will the new golden age of scary movies save cinema?

Continue reading...

Interviewed by Jonathan Weichsel

Over the last few years Steven Chang has emerged as one of the most active members of the indie horror community. There is no question that Mr. Chang is deeply passionate about the various artists that he promotes through his Facebook "spotlights," as well as his various Facebook pages. I also like to believe that the artists Chang supports appreciate his boundless enthusiasm for them and their work. I got the chance recently to interview Chang via Facebook's messenger app. You can read our discussion below.

Jonathan Weichsel: How would you describe your role within the indie horror industry? Are you a promoter? Networker? What is your title?

Steven Chang: I am mainly a promoter who does networking when events are available. Such as horror cons or film festivals.

Jonathan Weichsel: Cool! So, how did you first get into indie horror?

Steven Chang...

Dystopia! What a place to be. Well, except when people are mulched to feed an over populated society (Soylent Green) or killed at the age of 30 to control it (Logan’s Run); and in the case of Turkey Shoot (1982), hunted for sport by society’s elite. Come to think of it, Dystopia is kind of a bummer.

Released in its native Australia in October, Turkey Shoot wouldn’t see the light of day in the U.S. until September of ’83 under the title Escape 2000. Both titles work; the former playing into the more lurid elements, while the latter highlights the cut rate sci-fi angle. And it’s the swirling combination of the two that gives this sucker its punch. Turkey Shoot is A class exploitation with a down under smile.

Travel with me to the near future of 1995. (The “near future”, in filmmaking terms, means the viewer is treated...

There’s at least one truism when it comes to film franchises: at some point, some part of your sequel will have to take place in Las Vegas. Don’t believe me? Well there’s Godfather II, Rush Hour 2, Vegas Vacation, Think Like a Man Too, Leprechaun 3 and the list goes on. The latest to follow this rule is Sharknado 4. And now we’re getting a look as to what happens when flying sharks attack Sin City. SyFy has released its first trailer for the made-for-tv movie. It’s exactly what you’d expect, assuming you’d expect Ian Ziering doing a pelvic thrust to the nose of a shark. If you didn’t expect that, perhaps I’ve spoiled that surprise. Sorry about that. Sharknado 4: The 4th Awakens features Ziering, Tara Reid and a bevy of D-listers and people you’d completely forgotten about. But this...

By Julie Clark

The horror film genre is one that many people sidestep when picking out an option for film night, not simply out of fear; but often because of uninspired, predictable story-lines and limp performances. However, that isn’t to say that there aren’t still some great horror films out there. This piece, in particular, focuses on horror films which feature scenes of gambling: you may not love all of them, but they are the best on offer.

Arbat

‘Arbat’ is local Thai for ‘violation’ or ‘offense’. The movie is the story of a young man forced into becoming a monk by his father. The novice monk goes on to develop a romantic relationship with a local village girl, leading to ghostly occurrences and strange happenings. The film features several scenes of gambling, drinking, violence – all the bells and whistles. However, its reference to Buddhism was deemed insulting...

*Updated with new film and TV show listings.* Happy October, everyone! Our favorite month is finally upon us, which means everyone is getting into the Halloween spirit, especially when it comes to upcoming TV programming over the next 31 days. Trying to keep track of everything that’s playing throughout October can be a hellish affair, so once again Daily Dead is here to help make sure you know about everything Halloween-related hitting cable and network airwaves over the coming weeks.

* All Updated & Additional Listings Are In Bold (all times listed are Et/Pt)*

Thursday, October 1st

9:00am – Halloween Crazier (Travel Channel)

10:00am – Halloween Craziest (Travel Channel)

4:00pm – Firestarter (AMC)

6:00pm – The Last Exorcism (Syfy)

6:30pm – Pet Sematary (AMC)

8:00pm – My Babysitter’s a Vampire (Disney)

8:30pm – Stephen King’s Thinner (AMC)

10:00pm – Dominion Season 3 Finale (Syfy)

10:30 pm – Cujo (AMC)

Friday,...

Alfred Hitchcock’s masterpiece Vertigo, restored and presented in 70mm, will be shown at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland on July 17, 18, and 19. I’ll be there, because this film has a special place in my heart. In 1959 we lived in the small English village of Odiham in Hampshire. 3000 people, 7 pubs, one picture palace—The Regal. I was 13 years old, and for the first time I was allowed to go to the movies on a winter’s night by myself. (My mother was a little over-protective, hence my later flirtation with stunts.) To get to the Regal on the outskirts of town, I had to walk through the cemetery of the Norman-era church. Dark shadows. Wisps of fog. Knowing I was going to see a film crafted by a director dubbed the Master of Suspense made the graveyard all the spookier. Vertigo was on its re-release, making its way through the...

What’s joining Netflix in the month of April? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with a full list of original programming -- finally, Daredevil is premiering! -- movies, and your favorite TV shows streaming starting April 1.

Among our top picks: The Aussie horror indie, The Babadook, Life Partners starring Leighton Meester and Community’s Gillian Jacobs, and Hot Fuzz.

Netflix Originals

All Hail King Julien, Season 1 (4/3/15)

Derek, Special (4/3/15)

Marvel’s Daredevil, Season 1 (4/10/15)

Chris De’Elia: Incorrigible (4/17/15)

News: Tina Fey and Ellie Kemper Dish on Their Hilarious Netflix Series!

Movies

4/1

And Now ... Ladies and Gentlemen...

Bandolero

Barnyard

The Beautician and the Beast

Bound

Buffalo Soldiers

The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course

Down to Earth

Leprechaun 3

Leprechaun 4: In Space

Leprechaun 6: Back 2 tha Hood

Suicide Kings

Sunset Strip

Underworld

Whiteboyz

Wrong Turn at Tahoe

4/2

Life Partners

Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage

4/3

Starry Eyes

The Quiet Ones

4/4

Delta Farce

4/7

Preservation

4/9

Crank

Pioneer

4/10

The Awakening

Broken

Burning...

What's new on Netflix in April 2015? The eagerly anticipated original "Marvel's Daredevil," with Charlie Cox as the blind superhero, which debuts April 10, for one. Also new: Acclaimed horror films, including the Iranian vampire movie "A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night" and the Aussie chiller "The Babadook;" a quartet of Nigerian films; and new seasons of "Wilfred," "Halt and Catch Fire," and "Sons of Anarchy."

Here's a much larger rundown of what's new on Netflix in April 2015, provided by Netflix. As always, all titles and dates are subject to change. We've also go you covered in terms of what's leaving Netflix in April 2015, in case you were wondering.​

Available April 1

"And Now ... Ladies and Gentlemen..." (2002)

"Bandolero" (2000)

"Barnyard" (2006)

"The Beautician and the Beast" (1997)

"Bound" (1996)

"Buffalo Soldiers" (2001)

"The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course" (2002)

"Down to Earth" (2001)

"Leprechaun 3 "(1995)

"Leprechaun 4: In Space" (1997)

"Leprechaun 6: Back 2 tha Hood" (2003)

"Suicide Kings" (1997)

"Sunset Strip" (2000)

"Underworld...

At the beginning of (and throughout) every month, Netflix Streaming adds new movies and TV shows to its library. Here is a quick list of several that you might be interested in. Some of these may have previously been on Netflix, only to have been removed and then added back. We will update this list as more titles are added closer to the end of the month.Movies April 1And Now ... Ladies and Gentlemen... (2002)Bandolero (2000)Barnyard (2006)The Beautician and the Beast (1997)Bound (1996)Buffalo Soldiers (2001)The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002)Down to Earth (2001)Leprechaun 3 (1995)Leprechaun 4: In Space (1997)Leprechaun 6: Back 2 tha Hood (2003)Suicide Kings (1997)Sunset Strip (2000)Underworld (2003)Whiteboyz (1999)Wrong Turn at Tahoe (2009) April 2Life Partners (2014)Sinbad: The Fifth Voyage (2014) April 3Starry Eyes (2014)The Quiet Ones (2014) April 7Preservation (2014) April 9Pioneer (2013) April 10The Awakening (2013)Broken (2013)Burning Bridges (2014)Confusion Na Wa (2013)Finding Mercy (2012)Finding Mercy 2...

Amy Schumer and Bill Hader in TrainwreckPhoto: Universal Pictures With Sundance just wrapping up and Berlin starting up in a few days, we are now immersed in the year-long barrage of film festivals. One such festival in South By Southwest. A few weeks back they announced the first seven films of their program, including the opening night film Brand: A Second Coming. Today, they have revealed the rest of the features to be shown in March (except for the midnight program), and some of it has me very excited. The bigger titles announced do not do much for me. Paul Feig's Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy, and the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart starrer Get Hard leave a lot to be desired in terms of anticipation, as does a work in progress cut of Judd Apatow's latest film Trainwreck. I'm guessing an Apatow work in progress is probably around three and a half hours.

There’s only one director who can claim to have introduced the world to Nicole Kidman (in 1983’s BMX Bandits) and directed two Leprechaun films (1995’s Leprechaun 3 and 1997’s Leprechaun 4: In Space). That director’s name? Brian Trenchard-Smith.

The latest film from the prolific auteur and Tarantino favorite is the action-comedy Drive Hard, which stars John Cusack as a criminal who robs a bank run by criminals and Thomas Jane as an ex-race car driver he coerces into becoming his reluctant wheelman. How did the project come about? “Well, I’ve never met a green light I didn’t like,...

Eleven years after the final installment in the original series, the Leprechaun franchise was brought back from the dead this week courtesy of Lionsgate and WWE Films, who together released Leprechaun: Origins (review) onto VOD outlets this past Tuesday.

The Warwick Davis incarnation of the titular character had a reign of terror that lasted from 1993 until 2003, the original franchise spanning seven installments that saw the Irish jokester taking a trip to Vegas, being shipped off to space and ridin’ dirty in tha hood on two separate occasions.

Needless to say, the Leprechaun has left a pretty large body count in his wake over the years, and in celebration of the reboot we wanted to shine the green spotlight on some of his most memorable slayings. So today we bring you the seven best kills from the original six Leprechaun films, which are the some of the wildest and most off...

How did a low budget horror movie about a diminutive Irish monster spawn five sequels, a new reboot, and the career of Jennifer Aniston? EW tracks the deranged history of the Leprechaun franchise.

British actor Warwick Davis says he has “specific” fans—well-wishers who want to discuss just one of the several fantasy franchises in which he has appeared. “People talk about Star Wars, people talk about Harry Potter,” he explains, “and people talk about Leprechaun.”

Alert readers will have noticed that one of these franchises is not like the others. While Star Wars and Harry Potter have raked in billions of dollars,...

It is often perplexing why the horror genre is so awash with titles that have been so badly written, so sloppily produced, that they are released, flop, then are pulled quicker than it takes you to say 'Candyman' three times in a mirror. I mean not to besmirch the haunting Candyman in that little simile, as what I am comparing it to, Leprechaun 3, towers high above it in terms of being an absolutely terrible movie....

There are your everyday movie trailers. And then there's some next-level business like the trailer for "Drive Hard," which is a real movie that actually got made and is coming out sometime soon. Rarely do trailers leave me genuinely speechless; such was the case with "Drive Hard." Rarely have I seen such Wtf-worthy madness. It is that insane.

The film stars John Cusack as a master criminal who dupes Thomas Jane, a former Formula 1 champion who now works as a driving instructor, to help him rob a bank... Yes. This is the plot of the movie. But that doesn't quite get into what makes the trailer such a surrealist masterpiece: take, for example, Jane's wig, which makes him look like he's in a high-school production of "Hair," or the fact that Cusack is wearing sunglasses, gloves and a baseball cap throughout the entire trailer. The entire trailer.

To give you...

There’s never been a better time to look back on the Child’s Play franchise than this week, which sees the long awaited release of the sixth installment in the series; Curse of Chucky. Today, we shine the spotlight on one of the unsung heroes of the franchise; an actor by the name of Ed Gale, who actually played Chucky in the three most beloved installments. In fact, he’s the only actor to date who has physically portrayed the pint-sized terror.

Though it’s mostly Brad Dourif and special effects artist Kevin Yagher who are credited with bringing Chucky to life, the character never would’ve been able to move around on screen if it weren’t for Ed Gale. Inside the Chucky costume in Child’s Play, Child’s Play 2 and Bride of Chucky, Gale is essentially to the franchise what Kane Hodder is to the Friday the 13th...

I keep forgetting to post something every time Amazon has some deals running, but I remembered today as they are offering some solid deals on some horror franchises that may pique your interest. Chief among this week's selection are the complete Resident Evil, Mimic and Underworld collections on Blu-ray along with fractured portions of other horror franchises such as Scream and Scary Movie. The Scream, Saw and Mimic trilogies are also available on sale on DVD along with the DVD collection of the Leprechaun franchise. Considering it's Halloween and the discounts are pretty solid where you can get each Resident Evil movie for essentially $8.29 or each Underworld movie for $8.16 they may be worth considering depending on your at home taste in movie watching. Neither are cinematic classics, but both make for decent, at-home diversions. The complete list is available below. Blu-ray Mimic: Three-Film Set - $11.99 The Resident Evil Collection - $41.49 Includes Resident Evil,...

From Director/Screenwriter David Dubos (The Roommate, Leprechaun 3) and Produced by Xavier Salinas (Net Effect, Dead By Friday) comes Bayou Tales. Starring Roger Bart ( ABC’s Revenge, Hostel II), Lin Shaye ( Insidious), and Neil Brown Jr. (The Walking Dead, Battle: Los Angeles).

Bayou Tales is the latest in a seeming resurgence of Horror Anthologies. Following the likes of such classics as Creepshow 1 and 2, Tales from the Crypt, Tales … Continue reading →...

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! It’s a day of national Irish pride that also somehow gives people an excuse to vomit up their green beer by 10 a.m. If you’re looking to celebrate the Emerald Isle but don’t want to get stomach bile on your Adidas, here’s the alternative: Your four-leaf-clover wielding friends at EW have programmed a 24-hour movie marathon that will not only give you a full range of St. Paddy’s Day-related tie-ins, but also an excellent reason not to leave the house.

So stock up on snacks, grab some like-minded friends, and dive right in!

St. Patrick's Day fast approaches, and how are you going to celebrate? That's right -- you're going to stay at home at watch all six movies in the "Leprechaun" series, the greatest horror franchise in the history of forever.

Look, don't go to a bar (or five). There you'll only find the heartbreak that comes with being surrounded by rowdy crazies. Curl up on the couch instead with plenty o' liquor and watch "Leprechaun" (1993), "Leprechaun 2" (1994), "Leprechaun 3" (1995), "Leprechaun 4: In Space" (1997), "Leprechaun in the Hood" (2000) and "Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood" (2003). We'd tell you to be sure to watch them in that order if it really mattered, but it really doesn't.

All that matters is you celebrate the most wonderful day of the year with the "Leprechaun" Drinking Game we've created below — click on it for a printable Pdf version in case the Internet goes out amidst all the Irish debauchery.

Warwick Davis has been a part of our lives as movie fans for three decades, starring as Wicket the Ewok in "Return of the Jedi" and later as the title character in "Willow" before starring in the "Leprechaun" movies and in every "Harry Potter" film in the franchise. Quite the career!

The following mini-biography marks a few significant dates in Davis' life, complete with fun facts that you may not have known about the esteemed English thespian.

February 3, 1970: Born to narcissist parents Warren and Harwick Davis in Epsom, Surrey, UK.

April 25, 1977: Sees "Star Wars" for the first time with his older brother, Meriweather. During the show, he allegedly points to the screen and whispers something to Meriweather that would seem to have amazingly prophesied his future: "One day, Meriweather, I'm going to play a murderous leprechaun in a film franchise that will launch the career of a promising young actress named Jennifer Aniston.

NextMovie kicks off Leprechaun Week today! Look for new "Leprechaun"-related content every day this week in the lead-up to St. Paddy's Day. Because it's what Leprechaun would have wanted ...

"I have not come to play with fruit. I just want me magic flute!"

So sayeth the ever-rhyming Irish demon played by Warwick Davis in "Leprechaun in the Hood" (2000) to the lusty cross-dressing Miss Fontaine (Lobo Sebastian). A little later, these two engage in a passionate romp under the sheets during which Miss Fontaine's cries of pain will be mistaken for gasps of orgasmic delight by at least one bewildered passer-by as the Leprechaun claims another victim.

It's astonishingly tasteless, crass and almost (almost) admirably brazen ... which kind of sums up the "Leprechaun" series in its entirety. And that's a pretty impressive entirety — there are six of the damn things in that pot of cinematic gold, after all.

The Leprechaun...

With Tribeca Film giving Hansel & Gretel Get Baked a nationwide VOD and digital release on February 19th and screenings in select cities on February 22nd, we thought it time to bring you our interview with the flick’s director, Duane Journey. Look for our review tomorrow!

Produced by James Cotton (Madison County), Brett Hudson and Mark Morgan with executive producers William S. Beasley and Michael Pollack, Hansel & Gretel Get Baked was penned by first-time feature screenwriter David Tillman. The film stars Twilight actor Michael Welch as “Hansel,” Molly C. Quinn as “Gretel” and Lara Flynn Boyle (“Twin Peaks”) as “Agnes” the witch and revolves around an old crone (Boyle) who lives in Pasadena, California, and lures teens into her house with a special blend of marijuana in order to eat the adolescents in an effort to maintain her own youth and beauty.

Shooting day nineteen of twenty-one, we sat down...

Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Gatins started his career as an actor. He played small roles in films like Leprechaun 3, Varsity Blues and Meet Dave before (and while) writing screenplays for Summer Catch, Coach Carter and Real Steel. Gatins may have originally come to Hollywood to be an actor, but it’s his screenwriting that’s made him a star. And with the release Flight (out on Blu-ray and DVD February 5), his star is suddenly shining just about as brightly as it’s ever going to get. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Denzel Washington, Gatins masterful screenplay for Flight not only turned a movie with a major plane-crash set piece into a small, human drama, but it also garnered the young writer an Oscar nomination. Movies.com recently sat down with...

Read More...

By Scott Neumyer

It took nearly ten difficult years for screenwriter John Gatins' story of an alcoholic pilot who pulls off an impossible move to save the lives of many of his passengers but comes under scrutiny for his personal life to achieve lift off. But one phone call from Oscar-winner Denzel Washington and the support of director Robert Zemeckis finally helped get "Flight" (out on Blu-ray and DVD February 5) off the ground.

An incredibly human story about addiction, wrapped inside a miraculous action set piece, the film features a great performance from Washington, a hilarious John Goodman, and Gatins' own Oscar-nominated screenplay.

MTV News recently spoke with Gatins to discuss the transition from acting to screenwriting, his upcoming films, and the pressure of a writer's acceptance speech.

MTV: The first thing I have to ask is how does one go from acting in "Leprechaun 3" to writing an Oscar nominated screenplay?...

Man, 1995 is going to suck. If you’re worried about what the future is going to be like in the 90′s, I would advise steering clear of “Leprechaun 3″ and “Silk Stalkings” director Brian Trenchard-Smith’s goofy dystopian effort “Escape 2000″ (aka “Turkey Shoot”). Steve “Private Wars” Railsback and Olivia “Ice Cream Man” Hussey, who would later reunite for the 1994 erotic thriller “Save Me”, star as a pair of inmates at a re-education camp for moral degenerates. And, in true “prison in the middle of nowhere” fashion, most of the in-house activities include torture, humiliation, and rape. Just when you think life on the inside couldn’t possibly get any worse for these poor bastards, our heroes are soon thrust into a cheesy “Most Dangerous Game”-style scenario by a group of eccentric hunters, one of which employs the services of a freak he liberated from a sideshow. Yes, it’s that kind of movie,...

Just when you thought it was safe to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, Lionsgate is unleashing a trio of cult classics that'll have you thinking twice about stealing any mysterious pots of gold you may find.

This weekend the cult classics Leprechaun in the Hood, Leprechaun: Back 2 tha Hood and Leprechaun 3 are all debuting on VOD in HD for the first time ever, and to mark the occasion, Dread Central had the distinct privilege of chatting with the Leprechaun himself, iconic actor Warwick Davis.

Since getting his start in the industry as Wicket in George Lucas' Return of the Jedi in 1983, Davis has starred in countless classic films including Willow and the entire Harry Potter series as well; but for those of you who fancy horror over fantasy, then undoubtedly you know Davis best as the evil mythological character who has been terrorizing anyone looking to steal his...

It’s that time of the year, Killer Fans! We are back with our annual Halloween Watch List. Besides some of our writers recommending flicks for October, we will be bringing in a few of our friends who work in the industry to see what they watch at the most wonderful time of the year for genre fiends.

Legendary auteur Brian Trenchard-Smith, the director of Escape 2000, Dead-End Drive In and Leprechaun 3, gives us his favorite flicks for Halloween!

Night of the Demons 2

Naturally.

Audition

Shared a taxi with that girl and she recited Japanese poetry she had written.

Evil Dead 2

The best of the trilogy.

The Haunting

Robert Wise version please! Such atmosphere. Such skill with what you don’t see.

Ju-On

The last hour of creeping dread is fantastic.

Rec

Spanish version is much better than the Us copy.

Pan’s Labyrinth

Great creature and atmosphere...

When Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides opens this weekend, it will continue one of the most fascinating cinematic trends of the last few years: the Rise of the Big-Budget Fourquel. Third sequels didn’t use to exist outside of low-budget horror cash-cows and Z-grade monster franchises. Trilogies simply felt more dignified, whether you were designing an action-adventure saga (Back to the Future, Star Wars) or a soul-searing work of cinematic artistry (The Godfather, the Apu series.) But we live in undignified times. As Roger Ebert recently pointed out in Newsweek, 2011 features the highest number of fourquels ever: Besides Pirates,...

DreamWorks launched the viral site Wrb.com ahead of official release of “Real Steel” film this fall. The site has an initial main page, but secret codes are needed to access hidden features. The hidden features include images and brand new viral videos of a couple of boxing robots—Noisy Boy and The Mighty Zeus. “The World Robot Boxing League (Wrb) is a primary showcase for robot prizefighting since November 2013, and we continue to provide our fans with the best mechanical/sporting entertainment on the planet,” wrote Wrb on its Faq page. Fans can also provide their e-mail addresses to receive updates in the future. If you want to play with the site yourself, here are the codes courtesy of Genre Addict: 3B1E3B2AB, 1E1C3E4AA, DAC21BD3B, ED124A2C2, 143E3134A, D4AD1DB32, 3234CA14D, 1E4414CA2, DE3E13BCB, 3EB33BC...

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, lads and lassies! Time to dust off your green garb and prep your palette for jade-tinted guzzling so you can properly rep the 0.064% of your genetics that lay claim to Irish heritage.

Since we’re of the mind that any proper pre-game should include the screening of a flick or two, we’ve compiled some of our favorite Emerald Isle-themed movies. And – as with today’s holiday – you don’t have to be Irish to enjoy ‘em.

Check out our list past the jump!

“The Commitments” (1991)

This tale of a group of misfit musicians in Dublin who form a soul band manages loads of heartwarming laughs sans any cheesiness. The then-unknown actors were chosen for their musical talents, but many have gone on to achieve substantial fame – most notably, Colm Meaney (“Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Con Air,” “Layer Cake”) and Glen Hansard (vocalist/guitarist...

Let’s face it, nobody wants to be reminded of what they looked and sounded like at 16. Even the most beautiful and talented grown-ups do their best to sweep evidence of their awkward teen years under the rug. Unfortunately, when you’re a famous actress with a list of movie credits that stretches back to puberty, keeping your past on the down-low isn’t easy. Take Nicole Kidman, whose debut film — 1983′s Aussie kids adventure BMX Bandits — is being released on Blu-ray on March 15. Long before she appeared on American radars in Dead Calm, or became Mrs. Tom Cruise, or won a Best Actress Oscar,...

Caroline Williams made her mark in the horror genre very early in her career. Her first notable role came in 1985 with a small part in The Legend of Billie Jean. The very next year Williams took on Leatherface and the whole crazy Sawyer family in Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, which would forever endear her to the horror masses with her portrayal of final girl Venita “Stretch” Brock.

Just a few years later, Williams stepped back into the horror genre as Matty Crimmins in The Stepfather 2 and reprised her role as Stretch for a brief cameo in TCM 3. In 1995 Williams braved the evilest little dude in horror not named Chucky when she appeared in Leprechaun 3 as Loretta, a greedy casino worker who gets more than she bargained for.

Now that it’s been almost 25 years since she was first introduced to horror fans, Dread Central...

Wrong Turn 3 director Declan O’Brien will be previewing his new Fox DVD splatter sequel at the fast-approaching East Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors, to be held June 5-7 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (11th Avenue between 34th and 39th Streets) in New York City. O’Brien (pictured below with friend), the director of the Sci Fi Channel original movies Rock Monster, Monster Ark and Cyclops, will debut exclusive clips from Wrong Turn 3 (about another group of lost travelers facing off against inbred hillbilly maniacs) at the convention on Sunday.

In addition to his directing chores, O’Brien has also scripted Harpies, The Snake King and Savage Planet for Sci Fi. Stop by this site again over the next couple of days as we begin posting the full schedules (auditorium panels and film programs) for the Fango show.

In other convention news, Trick ’R Treat...

A panel devoted to the Canadian slasher flick Smash Cut has been added to the lineup of the fast-approaching East Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors, to be held June 5-7, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (11th Avenue between 34th and 39th Streets) in New York City. Representing the film will be stars David Hess and Jennilee Murray, plus director Lee Gordon Demarbre (Jesus Christ, Vampire Hunter), writer Ian Driscoll and the Godfather of Gore himself, Herschell Gordon Lewis!

In Smash Cut (an ode to the films of Herschell Gordon Lewis, who has a cameo in the movie), Hess (pictured below) plays Able Whitman, a troubled filmmaker losing his mind in an extraordinary way. After accidentally killing an exotic dancer, he decides to use her body parts in his newest horror picture. But when her sister (played by porn star Sasha Grey) begins investigating, Able must...

A panel devoted to the Canadian slasher flick Smash Cut has been added to the lineup of the fast-approaching East Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors, to be held June 5-7, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (11th Avenue between 34th and 39th Streets) in New York City. Representing the film will be stars David Hess and Jennilee Murray, plus director Lee Gordon Demarbre (Jesus Christ, Vampire Hunter), writer Ian Driscoll and the Godfather of Gore himself, Herschell Gordon Lewis!

In Smash Cut (an ode to the films of Herschell Gordon Lewis, who has a cameo in the movie), Hess (pictured below) plays Able Whitman, a troubled filmmaker losing his mind in an extraordinary way. After accidentally killing an exotic dancer, he decides to use her body parts in his newest horror picture. But when her sister (played by porn star Sasha Grey) begins investigating, Able must...

30 Days Of Night actor Ben Foster (pictured below), star of the upcoming sci-fi thriller Pandorum, has joined the lineup of the fast-approaching East Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors, to be held June 5-7, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (11th Avenue between 34th and 39th Streets) in New York City. Foster, who also won raves for his roles in 3:10 To Yuma and X-men: The Last Stand (as Angel), will be joined on Saturday by Pandorum co-star Cung Le, the three-time world champion martial artist.

In other convention news, the Offspring presentation has added castmates Holter Graham, Vic Manetti, Ahna Tessler, Leigh Shannon, Brainscan’s Amy Hargreaves and Headspace’s Pollyanna McIntosh, as well as Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer composer Ryan Shore, to its Saturday preview slot. Other exciting guests/programs set for Fango’s Big Apple blowout include:

• Guillermo del Toro: acclaimed director of Hellboy movies,...

Monster metalheads Gwar will be invading the fast-approaching East Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors, to be held June 5-7, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (11th Avenue between 34th and 39th Streets) in New York City. Bandmates Sleazy P. Martini, Slave, Jizmak Da Gusha and Oderus Urungus will be on hand all three days (at their “human skin” booth), and host a panel on Sunday in their human guises (Don Drakulich, Matt Maguire, Brad Roberts and Dave Brockie).

In another convention update, some new Friday The 13th veterans have joined the roster, namely first Jason Ari Lehman, Part 2’s Warrington Gillette and Part V: A New Beginning director Danny Steinmann, who also helmed The Unseen (under a pseudonym) and Savage Streets. Other exciting guests/programs set for Fango’s Big Apple blowout (more to come!) include:

• Guillermo del Toro: acclaimed director of Hellboy movies, Pan’S Labyrinth,...

Friday The 13th’s Mrs. Voorhees, actress Betsy Palmer, and her “son,” Jason actor Kane Hodder from the series’ seventh through 10th installments, have joined the lineup of the fast-approaching East Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors. The event will be held June 5-7, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (11th Avenue between 34th and 39th Streets) in New York City. Fan favorite Palmer also appeared in The Fear: Resurrection and Bryan Norton’s Penny Dreadful, while Hodder stalked through Hatchet, B.T.K. (pictured), Ed Gein: The Butcher Of Plainfield, Fallen Angels and Prison, to name a few.

Two other additions to the NYC Fango con worth noting:

• Toxic Avenger: The Musical: special guests and song highlights from the Off-Broadway smash! (Saturday)

• Walking Distance panel: with Closet Space writer/director Mel House and sexy actresses Debbie Rochon, Shannon Lark and Natalie Jones

Other exciting guests/programs set for...

Trick ’R Treat writer/director Michael Dougherty (pictured below) has joined the lineup of the fast-approaching East Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors. The event will be held June 5-7, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (11th Avenue between 34th and 39th Streets) in New York City. Dougherty, co-scripter of Superman Returns, X2 and Urban Legends: Bloody Mary, made his directorial debut on Trick ’R Treat, an anthology that has garnered raves on the festival circuit and will debut on DVD this fall.

Other exciting guests/programs set for Fango’s Big Apple blowout (more to come!) include:

• Guillermo del Toro: acclaimed director of Hellboy movies, Pan’S Labyrinth, Blade II, Mimic and Cronos, signing copies of his first novel, the vampire epic The Strain, on Friday (5 p.m.-7 p.m.). Also appearing: The Strain co-author Chuck Hogan

• Dario Argento: Italian maestro behind Suspiria,...

Hellboy movies director Guillermo del Toro has joined the lineup of the fast-approaching East Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors. The event will be held June 5-7, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (11th Avenue between 34th and 39th Streets) in New York City. One of the most celebrated genre directors of our time, del Toro will be appearing at the convention on Friday (5 to 7 p.m. only) for an exclusive stage appearance and to sign copies of his first novel, the vampire epic The Strain: Book One Of The Strain (coming June 2 from William Morrow), with co-author Chuck Hogan.

Del Toro has also helmed such thrilling horror and fantasy films as Pan’S Labyrinth, Blade II, Mimic and Cronos. He next begins shooting The Hobbit for producer Peter Jackson in 2010. You can find out more about The Strain here. Other exciting guests/programs set for Fango...

Hellraiser actress Ashley Laurence (pictured below) has joined the lineup of the fast approaching East Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors. The event will be held June 5-7, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (11th Avenue between 34th and 39th Streets) in New York City. The lovely Laurence played Kirsty Cotton in Hellraiser, Hellbound: Hellraiser II and Hellraiser: Hellseeker, and also appeared in Lightning Bug, Red, Warlock III and Lurking Fear.

In addition, the Big Apple show will welcome a reunion of original Last House On The Left’s villains David Hess, Fred Lincoln, Jeramie Rain and Marc Sheffler. Plus, here are some more cool Manhattan additions:

• Dead Air: world-premiere screening of the Corbin Bernsen-directed zombie flick; introduced by cast members Josh Feinman (from Sleeper Cell) and Elle Travis (Saturday)

• Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni: actress from Dario Argento’s Mother Of Tears, Opera and Phantom Of The Opera,...

We thought we were finished, but everybody wants to come to our scary shindig next week! Legendary Skinny Puppy singer Nivek Ogre (a.k.a. Oghr) and a few more notable genre folks have joined the lineup of the fast approaching West Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors convention, to be held April 17-19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center (1201 South Figueroa).

Ogre will appear with his Repo! The Genetic Opera cast and crew on Sunday. The singer played Pavi Largo in the cult horror/rock musical. The latest bonus guests (hey, we are running out of room!) include:

• Greydon Clark: cult director of Without Warning, Satan’S Cheerleaders, Wacko, Black Shampoo and Dance MacAbre (signing at Hollywood Book & Poster table)

• Tim Thomerson: fan favorite from Near Dark, Trancers, Dollman, Nemesis and new War Wolves and Live Evil (the latter screening at the con; Thomerson will...

The Los Angeles Weekend of Horrors just keeps getting better, with so many guests being added (and some day-of surprises in-store!) that we can barely keep up here at Fango HQ! The latest addition to the West Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors convention, to be held April 17-19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center (1201 South Figueroa) is G Tom Mac, the writer and voice of "Cry Little Sister" from The Lost Boys. He'll be joined with star Corey Haim at the event on Sunday, April 19th!

The most recent announcement of Fango terror talent includes:

• Roddy Piper Wrestler/They Live star previews new film A Gothic Tale; also appearing: Piper’s daughter, actress Ariel Teal Toombs of Creeper (Sunday)

• Terrance Zdunich, Repo! The Genetic Opera star and co-creator (appearing Sunday)

• Last House On The Left reunion: with original baddies David Hess, Fred Lincoln, Jeramie Rain and Marc Sheffler...

Ok, so you East Coasters are feeling left out from all the La convention madness we’ve been announcing the last few weeks (see recent news here)? Well, we’re ready to spread the love to the New York City area again. First off, Master of Horror Dario Argento (pictured) has joined the lineup of the next East Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors, to be held June 5-7, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (655 West 34th Street) in New York City! The Italian maestro behind Suspiria, Deep Red, Tenebrae, Opera and Mother Of Tears will have the first news on his latest bloodbath, Giallo, starring Adrien Brody.

Plus, here are some more cool Manhattan additions:

Tony Darrow (pictured): much loved actor/comic from Street Trash, The Sopranos, Goodfellas and Lynch Mob, a new gangster horror flick (!) Lesleh Donaldson: Canadian actress from Happy Birthday To Me,...

Wrestler/They Live star Roddy Piper and a ton more genre stars have joined the lineup of the fast approaching West Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors convention, to be held April 17-19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center (1201 South Figueroa). Piper will appear with his daughter, actress Ariel Teal Toombs of Creeper (formerly Little F*Cker), on Sunday to discuss their respective new fright films (also screening at the con), including Piper’s new anthology A Gothic Tale (pictured).

The additional, perhaps final, windfall of Fango terror talent includes:

• Terrance Zdunich, Repo! The Genetic Opera star and co-creator (appearing Sunday)

• Last House On The Left reunion: with original baddies David Hess, Fred Lincoln, Jeramie Rain and Marc Sheffler (panel on Sunday; signing all three days at Hollywood Book & Poster tables)

• Christa Campbell: star of 2001 Maniacs and Day Of The Dead, signing free posters from her new...

Drag Me To Hell actors Justin Long and Lorna Raver (Fango #283’s cover girl!) have joined the lineup of the upcoming West Coast edition of Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors convention, to be held April 17-19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center (1201 South Figueroa). Long (of the Jeepers Creepers films and Live Free Or Die Hard) and Raver (a TV actress who has logged time on Star Trek: Voyager, Charmed and Weeds) will join director Sam Raimi on Friday at the show.

Other exciting guests/programs set for Fango’s Southern California blowout include:

• Sam Raimi: director of the Evil Dead and Spider-man trilogies, Darkman, Crimewave, The Quick And The Dead and many more will preview Drag Me To Hell (Friday)

• Clive Barker: creator of Hellraiser, Candyman, Nightbreed, Midnight Meat Train and Lord Of Illusions will preview his new movies Dread and Book Of Blood, plus the novel...

Prong mainman Tommy Victor, who was recently interviewed by Fangoria (read it here) will be appearing at Fangoria's Weekend Of Horrors in Los Angeles, April 17-19, 2009. Victor, who recently toured with both Ministry and Danzig, will see the release of Prong's Power Of The Damn Mixxxer (read our review) on May 12th, 2009 via 13th Planet Records.

Tommy will be appearing at the Schecter Guitar Research booth for signing sessions throughout the weekend, along with Skumlove, who's new album The Church Of The New Perversion was recently recorded and co-written with Victor.

Music from Skumlove's past album Songs Of Lust And Corrosion were featured on the Award winning Horror-Porn DVD "Grub Girl" and the B-style horror movie Intermedio starring Edward Furlong (Terminator 2) and Amber Benson (Buffy: The Vampire Slayer).

Other exciting guests/programs set for Fango’s Southern California blowout include: • Sam Raimi: director of the Evil Dead and Spider-man trilogies,...