Indie Spotlight

2014/01/19 20:14:47 +00:00 | Tamika Jones

We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today's massive feature includes a review for Nobody Can Cool, first details on The Night Crew, Heir, and a Doctor Who documentary called Who's Changing: An Adventure In Time With Fans, a new clip from Muck, trailers for Blood Shed, NightBeasts, and Virginia Obscura, and much more:

[Editor's Note: We want to give a big thanks to our Indie Spotlight manager, Tamika Jones, for her constant work on this weekly feature and putting together our largest Indie Spotlight to date this weekend!]

Indie Spotlight Review: Nobody Can Cool

by Heather Wixson

Nobody Can Cool is the rather impressive directorial debut from up-and-coming filmmaking duo DPYX, Marcy Boyle and Rachel Holzman, who crafted a blisteringly taut and thoughtful indie crime thriller with a palpable sense of tension from start to finish. A gritty and engaging tale of deceit, violence and desperation, Nobody Can Cool is anchored by a breakout performance by Nick Principe (best known from his work in the Laid to Rest series, Madison County and The FP) and further demonstrates how good material can overcome any budgetary limitations independent filmmakers may face with an intelligent “less is more” approach that really works in its favor.

The story of Nobody Can Cool starts off simply enough with a young couple, Susan (Catherine Annette) and David (David Atlas), who are hoping to enjoy a weekend getaway at a friend’s cabin only to discover it’s being occupied by a mysterious couple, Len (Nick Principe) and Gigi (Nikki Bohm). Rather than trek out in the middle of the night to look for a hotel in the middle of nowhere, the two couples awkwardly agree to share the cabin for the night and that’s when things get complicated. Susan and David’s suspicions of the offbeat Len and Gigi are soon proven true when they discover that by staying the night, they’ve gotten themselves mixed up in the business of two hardened criminals who aren’t above a little bloodshed if the payday’s right. As tensions rise, devastating secrets are revealed between both couples proving that when you deceive the ones you love, the consequences can be deadly.

Much of the credit as to why Nobody Can Cool works so well is due to the first-time writing, producing and directing team of DPYX (Boyle and Holzman) who wisely focus on building tension as well as creating a surprising and engaging story that doesn’t feel like the same micro-budgeted thriller we often see time and time again, which was really refreshing.

That’s not to say the budgetary limitations were completely hidden in Nobody Can Cool; the need to keep the story confined to one location is evident and the film also suffers from several shoddy CG shots which made me wonder why DPYX didn’t try to just rewrite the gag if they weren’t able to nail it practically. However, when it comes to independent films, when they manage to hook me in with a clever story, it’s really easy for me to overlook the little things that may not necessarily be perfect because in the end, the story trumps them all and Nobody Can Cool did just that in spades.

In terms of performances, Principe is the standout with a rather fantastic performance Nobody Can Cool, proving that this guy should have been doing more work without a mask over the last few years because he oozes a cool charisma that you can’t help but like even when his character Len is being a total prick. The rest of the ensemble- Annette, Bohm and Atlas- are all really strong as well in the film and do a solid job with the material.

As a whole, Nobody Can Cool is an impressive debut that demonstrates you don’t need big bucks when you’ve got a lot of talent both behind and in front of the camera. Definitely a bit of a slow-burn, Nobody Can Cool kicks into high gear once the story’s layers begin to peel back, exposing some deadly secrets that actually managed to keep me guessing through the conclusion. Absolutely worth checking out if you’re a big fan of other indie crime thrillers like Ratline or A Horrible Way to Die.

Film Rating: 3/5

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First Details on The Night Crew: "Premiere Entertainment Group announces today that principal photography has commenced in Palm Springs, CA on its latest feature film The Night Crew. Directed by Christian Sesma and written by Paul Sloan and Sesma, the movie stars Luke Goss (Hellboy II), Danny Trejo (Machete), Bokeem Woodbine (Riddick) and Chasty Ballesteros (Final Destination 5). The Night Crew is being produced by Ryan Noto.

The Night Crew centers on a group of hard up bounty hunters who must survive the night in a desert motel against a horde of savage cartel killers. They soon realize that their fugitive, a mysterious Chinese woman, is much more than she lets on.

The director of photography is Anthony J. Rickert-Epstein (We the Party), the editor is Eric Potter (The Lincoln Lawyer) with casting by Jennifer Cooper (Scenic Route, CSI:NY).

Jack Campbell and Elias Axume from Premiere Entertainment Group are handling worldwide distribution and will be introducing the title at the upcoming Berlin International Film Festival."

For more information, visit: http://www.premiereentertainmentgroup.com

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New Details on Short Film, Heir: "After connecting with a stranger of similar interests online, family man Gordon and his son Paul, embark on an ill-fated road trip in which Gordon aims to indulge in a secret passion. Before the day ends a horrible truth will be uncovered and a harsh lesson will be learned.

Combining the best and brightest of our previous film, Familiar, with new and accomplished collaborators (Bill Oberst Jr., Marc Rousse and Ron Basch from Red Sneakers Media), Heir is set to be a disturbing, practical FX driven horror short which examines one of societies darkest taboos in a way only Fatal Pictures can. Heir stands to be our darkest, sharpest and most successful film to date!

Written and Directed by Richard Powell. Produced by Zach Green, Marc Roussel, Ron Basch and Richard Powell. Produced in association with Red Sneakers Media - both Director’s Guild of Canada nominees for Best Short Film. Associate Producer Heather Wixson (Founder Cinemayhem Film Festival, Journalist Dread Central). Special Effects by The Butcher Shop (Familiar, Devil's Night). Cinematography by Michael Davidson."

Heir's Kickstarter campaign has also been launched. On the campaign's site, Robert Nolan "talks about the film and past collaborations."

To learn more, and to support the film's progress, visit:

https://www.facebook.com/HeirTheFinalShortFromFatalPictures

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New Clip for Muck and 4K/Ultra HD Release Details: "For Steve Wolsh, being independent with a limited budget would not stop him from literally seeing the bigger picture, and he knew that 4K / Ultra HD was the future. Muck is full of stunning slow motion fire, glass explosions, water combat, and rapid-paced fierce horror stunts that will jump off the screen in 2014 in both HD and Ultra HD. Muck pushes the limits of what can be done in both independent filmmaking and within the horror genre. Steve Wolsh aims to get Muck in as many languages and territories as possible, so he partnered up with Blacklist Productions in Hollywood to have the ability to screen Muck in 4K / Ultra HD for interested parties.

With the release of Muck later this year, casting for Muck is already underway. For the prequel, Steve Wolsh has promised to push his practical effects and the phrase “No CGI” into even more dangerous places. The entire original Muck cast, including Horror Legend Kane Hodder and 2012 Playboy Playmate of the Year Jaclyn Swedberg, as well as Australian hunk Lachlan Buchanan (Newcastle, Pretty Little Liars, and NCIS: Red), YouTube sensation Lauren Francesca, Indian beauty Puja Mohindra, Bryce Draper, Grant Alan Ouzts, Stephanie Danielson, and Laura Jacobs (Almost Human), will all be alive and well in the prequel along with the 13 new characters being added to the Muck universe. It could get messy…"

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First Three Minutes of House at the End of the Drive: "Oman, who wrote the original screenplay, lives in the house down the drive from where the actual Manson/Tate slayings took place, and also where most of the principal photography was shot. The independent horror movie was inspired by Oman’s personal experiences residing only a stone’s throw away from the location of one of America’s most infamous crimes.

“House at the End of the Drive,” is based on actual supernatural events that have taken place in my house,” remarks the film’s creator, David Oman. “Like “The Exorcist” and “The Entity” before it, the film is anchored on documented evidence of the paranormal. But after all of my experiences I have learned that you have more to fear from the living than from the dead.”

The story asks this, can a 36 year old mass-murder haunt four people enough to rip open a doorway to the past and catapult them back in time to the night of one of Hollywood’s most horrible ritual slayings?

The chatter of a quiet dinner party in posh Oxford Canyon is rudely interrupted as the real truths are set on the table. Fact and fiction intertwine as the couple’s talk of ghosts and spirits from beyond which prompts them to take steps that will alter that night and their lives forever. Supernatural forces from the past transport the dinner guests through time --back to the night of the original killings. In a cruel twist of fate, they materialize as the soon-to-be victims of the massacre they had been discussing only minutes earlier. Is the knowledge of the future enough to shield them from the horrors of the “helter-skelter” mayhem from the past? Can careful plotting overpower the invasion by the most infamous family of mass murderers? Surely, yesterday is finally over. Only time will tell, as the visitors from the house at the end of the drive are swept into a hell storm of dark forces and fury almost beyond belief. Which is scarier the past or the present? Sometimes there is no difference!

Oman’s famous residence is no stranger to the world of paranormal activity. The unworldly stories of the house will be featured in several upcoming television programs including the History channel’s “Haunted History: The Manson Murders” which aired July 12, 2013 at 7 p.m. PST and “Paranormal Witness: The Manson Curse,” which aired July 31, 2013 at 8 p.m. PST on the SyFy channel.

“House at the End of the Drive"...It’s Where They Died,” features an award winning cast including Lance Henrikson (Aliens), Angela Jones (Pulp Fiction), Jessica Szohr (Gossip Girl) and Jonathan Mangum (The Bucket List)."

For more information on this film, visit: http://www.houseattheendofthedrive.com/

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Plus One DVD Details : "Director Dennis Iliadis (The Last House on the Left) delivers thought-provoking suspense with Plus One, a supernatural thriller that tests the limits of survival and the loyalties of friendship. Three college friends head out for the biggest party of the year, each looking for something different: sex, love, a simple human connection. The possibilities are endless at the mansion, where the music throbs, liquor flows and hired strippers dance on an outdoor stage. But an unexplained paranormal phenomenon disrupts the proceedings. Perfect replicas of all the partying kids suddenly appear, and what's even weirder, they are doing everything their originals did 15 minutes earlier. As the party descends into bloody chaos, the three friends must struggle to maintain their wits and stay alive. Ashley Hinshaw (About Cherry), Rhys Wakefield (Endless Love) and Logan Miller (Night Moves) star in [this] mind-bending thriller.

Special Features on the DVD include:

- Commentary with Director Dennis Iliadis & Cinematographer Mihai Malaimare, Jr.
- Visual Effects Behind the Scenes
- Deleted Scenes
- ZAP Entertainment/screenslam.com Interview with Director Dennis Iliadis
- Interview with Dennis Iliadis & Cast at SXSW by Perri Nemiroff, ShockYa.com
- Poster Gallery
- Cast Auditions
- Red Band Trailer

[Plus One was released on DVD] on January 14th, 2014."

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Doctor Who Documentary Release Details and Trailer: "Capital City Entertainment, a London based film and theater production company, has today announced plans to release on DVD and VOD on 27 January 2014, Who's Changing: An Adventure In Time With Fans, a new documentary about the changing face of fandom of the world's longest running science fiction series, Doctor Who, featuring new and exclusive interviews with many stars from the show past and present.

From the first ever Doctor Who convention, through the wilderness years and to cosplayers at the conventions of today, Who's Changing looks at how and why the nature of Doctor Who's fans changed as mainstream interest in the show took hold.

Who's Changing features interviews with many familiar faces from the show such as Louise Jameson (Leela), Sophie Aldred (Ace), Simon Fisher-Becker (Dorium Maldovar), Neve McIntosh (Madame Vastra), Catrin Stewart (Jenny Flint), Caitlin Blackwood (Amelia Pond), Dan Starkey (Commander Strax) as well as faces from behind the scenes such as script editors Gary Russell and Eric Saward and scriptwriters Andrew Smith (Doctor Who, Full Circle), Jane Espenson (Torchwood: Miracle Day, Buffy, Battlestar Galactica) and James Moran (Doctor Who, The Fires of Pompeii).

Who's Changing will be available to buy on DVD from Amazon as well as specialist cult TV and sci-fi retailers such as Forbidden Planet, Galaxy 4, The Who Shop, StarTrader, The Cinema Store and WhoOne, as well as being available to stream online on VOD from the official website.

To purchase this documentary on DVD or VOD, visit: http://www.whoschanging.co.uk

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Walking with the Dead Casting and Production Details: "A month into the zombie apocalypse, a group of survivors, including four who "for safety reasons" go by the names of their favorite cities--Green Bay, Chicago, Brooklyn, and Harlem--a Sheriff fresh off a nice, relaxing, six-week coma, his small-business-owner 10 year old son, and a voiceover-prone zombie, Romeo, who has convinced the group that he's not dead, just a little slow, are forced from the safety of their mall-camp in hopes of finding a rumored safe-haven.

Jacqui Holland (Stretch, My Best Friend’s Girl), Dave Sheridan (Scary Movie) Joey Oglesby (Fruitvale Station), Sophia Ali (The Longshots), and Tim Ogletree (Supernatural Activity) have joined the cast of Walking with the Dead, a spoof of AMC’s popular coffin dodgers series.

The film, currently lensing in San Antonio, Texas, is based on an original script by Ogletree (Supernatural Activity) and directed by Scott Dow.

The film is produced in association with MNDFCK, actress Jacqui Holland’s new production company."

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Dead Sea Full Trailer: "Origin Releasing and Micro Bay Features are proud to release the FULL TRAILER for their "Action Adventure Creature Feature" Dead Sea.

This globe-spanning story follows a Marine Biologist who is thrust into the violent paranoia surrounding a town preparing for the return of an impending sacrifice to a legendary serpentine creature, in this case being a giant LAMPREY, said to have surfaced from hell during an earthquake.

The film stars Britt Griffith (Syfy's Ghosthunters, Ghosthunters International), James Jw Wiseman (The Deadliest Warrior), Devanny Pinn (The Black Dahlia Haunting, Truth or Dare), James Duval (Donnie Darko, Independence Day), Alexis Iacono (The Penny Dreadful Picture Show, World of Warcraft), Tawny Amber Young (Wonderland), Chanel Ryan (Bad Kids Go To Hell, BASEketball), Candace Kita (Barb Wire, Two and a Half Men), KJ McCormick (Syfy's Ghosthunters), Frederic Doss (Transformers, GI JOE The Rise of Cobra) and was directed by Shockfest 2012 "Best Director" Award Winner Brandon Slagle.

The film is set to release on DVD/Blu-Ray late Spring 2014."

For more information about this film, go to its official Facebook page at: http://facebook.com/DeadSeaMovie or on IMDB at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663222/

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NightBeasts Trailer and Release Details: "Nightbeasts is a multiple award winning, theatrically released movie written and directed by Wes Sullivan. This horror/thriller stars Zach Galligan of" Gremlins" fame. Charles Thomas takes his son Tim on a weekend hunting trip to the woods only to have that outing violently interrupted by the appearance of Bigfoot. What starts as a vacation turns into an intense battle of survival against malevolent forces. Robert Miano of Donnie Brasco fame co-stars."

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Virginia Obscura Trailer and Release Details: "Virginia Obscura" has scored North American distribution with Full Moon and Wizard Studios!

The twisty grindhouse-meets-arthouse giallo-style horror film -- which stars Matt Mitler (The Mutilator, Basketcase 2), Thomas Kovacs (My Bloody Valentine), Linnea Quigley (Return of the Living Dead), Jessica Cameron (Silent Night, Truth or Dare), Christopher Marrone (Plus One), and new blood: Jennie Brown and Ed Conrade -- was selected and signed by Full Moon for the first wave of new releases by Wizard Studios.

Now the iconic Wizard label is being relaunched by Charles Band (producer of Ghoulies, Re-Animator, Troll, Creepozoids) and his company Full Moon Features (best known for the Puppet Master series, along with its other horror franchises: Gingerdead Man) with a focus on rising indie filmmakers and their cutting-edge genre films.

With a release date of February 21st 2014, Virginia Obscura will be premiering online via Full Moon's video streaming website, before coming to DVD and other VOD platforms."

To purchase this film and stream it online, go to: http://www.fullmoonstreaming.com/movie/virginia-obscura-movie

To watch the trailer, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-zK9pzW2E0&feature=youtu.be

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My Name is A by Anonymous DVD Release Details: "Loosely based on the murder of 9 yr. old Elizabeth Olten by her 15 yr. old neighbor Alyssa Bustamante; 'A' explores teen self-mutilation, bulimia, rape, bullying and depression in its most real and raw form, incorporating partial found-footage snippets and brief actual acts. Directed by Shane Ryan, the film features Russian pop star Teona Dolnikova (formerly of the band Slot), introducing Katie Marsh as Alyssa, with Domiziano Arcangeli (Scary or Die, Ambushed). Co-produced by filmmaker Ryan Nicholson (Live Feed, Gutterballs, The Profane Exhibit) and actor Kevin Gage (Michael Mann's Heat, Ridley Scott's G.I. Jane, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Knockaround Guys, Blow, Con Air). Wild Eye Releasing has acquired DVD rights for an early/mid 2014 release (the film was completed in early 2011)."

For more information on this film, go to: http://www.madsincinema.com/my-name-is-a-by-anonymous.html

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Lenore #9 Preview Art: "Taxidermy is missing and Lenore has an important question for him, so she forces Pooty and Ragamuffin to join her in a mighty quest, dressed as fantasy heroes, to rescue their lost friend from the evil clutches of something that is clutch-y. What obstacles will be thrown in the path of our brave and noble warriors? Honestly, no idea yet. Seriously, I just thought of this like 2 minutes ago while watching TV. It'll be epic-y though. EPIC-Y!

This is the last issue before the big battle happens that destroys the town of Nevermore and forever costs one of the main characters their lives. It's all been leading up to this. Well, not THIS, this. Next issue is the THIS, this. THIS is confusing. Whatevs...Lenore and gang do a fantasy quest. Funny happens. *Drops mic*"

Lenore #9 was written by Roman Dirge and is available now courtesy of Titan Comics.

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Blood Rush DVD and VOD Release Details: "When a small town is overcome with a blood lust the local witch doctor is thought to be the source. What they don't know is that he has a different agenda. Five friends fight for their lives when there seems no escaping from the town and the virus that follows them. One by one the sickness tries to take hold of them and no-one knows who is infected and who is safe.

Brain Damage films is set to unleash Blood Rush on DVD and VOD in North America on March 4, 2014. Availability will include all major and minor Cable/Satellite VOD operators as well as major internet platforms including iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, Vudu, Xbox Video and more. DVD bonus features will include an audio commentary track and a featurette about the film's premiere with Q&A.

Blood Rush, the second feature written by Kerry Finlayson and directed by Evan Marlowe (the so-called "Newlyweds of Horror" and creators of Horror House), is a new take on the zombie/afflicted genre which brings an unique atmosphere, story, and cult-retro feel to the screen. Viewers looking for flesh-eating fun and dark humor will get their money's worth from the film, as well as viewers who like a little more substance and will appreciate the subtle underlying social commentary.

Blood Rush took home both the Kahuna Gold Award at the 2013 Honolulu Film Awards and the Best Music Soundtrack Award at the 2012 Tabloid Witch Awards."

For more information on Blood Rush, visit: https://www.facebook.com/BloodRushTheMovie

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Fighting Down into the Kingdom of Dreams Release Details: "Long ago lived Ing, who gave us Inglish.

Eighty generations later, Ing's descendant Hrothbert fights down beneath the surface of another Earth, hunting the Wight, a supernatural being who holds the secret of his people, the Ingaevones. But when Hrothbert encounters the Hrudu Man, a nearly-immortal giant metal rabbit, and Isolde, a beautiful subterranean revolutionary, Hrothbert's quest grows stranger, and far deadlier.

To regain his honor and his reason, Hrothbert must recover the lost dreaming of the Rat City of Roth, re-fight War War One with fusion weapons in a parallel New York City, and find out just what it means to re-arrive at Howth Castle and Environs in the belly of a ravaged Manhattan."

Written by Robin Wyatt Dunn, Fighting Down into the Kingdom of Dreams is a Dark Fantasy novel published by John Ott. It is available in both Paperback and E-book."

For more information on the author or the novel, visit: http://www.robindunn.com

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Son of Ghost Man Trailer and Release Details: "Boonbam Productions is proud to announce the release of their first feature length film entitled “Son Of Ghostman” written and directed by first time film maker Kurt Edward Larson, and produced by Gabriel Guyer.

Son of Ghostman is a romantic comedy which finds Denny McNamara (played by Devin Ordoyne) an unemployed, recently dumped man in his early thirties who decides to moonlight as the ‘son’ of his childhood hero, a bygone local horror host by the name of Ghostman. When his videos go viral, he must settle an old score with a high school rival and figure out where his life is headed, all while keeping his identity secret from a new woman in town he’s fallen for.

The movie features an ensemble of fresh faces including Devin Ordoyne, Angela Gulner, Marlon Correa, Matthew Boehm, Daniel McCann, and writer director Kurt Larson as the sinister Count Dracool.

Son Of Ghostman is currently available to rent or own at Vimeo, or on dvd at the Son Of Ghostman website."

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Deadly Presence VOD and DVD Release Details: "Three girlfriends looking for a night of fun decide to stay at an old haunted house. Nothing creepy seems to come of their séance session until a few months later when one of the girls leaves a cryptic video message before committing suicide in her bathtub. Now it's up to Andie to find the answers before tragedy strikes again.

Brain Damage Films is set to release Deadly Presence on DVD February 4, 2014. DVD bonus features will include a 30-minute behind the scenes featurette. The film is also available On Demand now through most Cable VOD operators and Internet platforms including iTunes, Vudu, Xbox Video, Sony Entertainment Network and more."

To learn more, visit: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Deadly-Presence/419639848075519

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Flu DVD Release Details: "A human trafficker is infected with an unknown virus and dies in a Bundang hospital, covered in red rashes and coughing up blood. Less than 24 hours after the death of the first patient, similar cases are reported all over Bundang. The medics despair over the super virus that has no known cure, but they soon find hope when they hear of a sole survivor who may have developed antibodies against this ruthless viral mutation. As medical professionals rush to find the sole individual with the potential key for a cure, fatalities rise and soon the government has no choice but to quarantine the city. Amidst the ensuing panic, wild desperation and violence, the struggle for life between the infected and non-infected begins to spiral out of control.

Writer/Director Kim Sung-soo (Beat, Scream City) delivers the viscous viral outbreak thriller FLU, debuting on DVD March 18th from CJ Entertainment. The worst epidemic ever seen is sweeping through the Seoul suburb of Bundang. Within hours after a patient dies in the hospital covered in an oozing red rash and regurgitating blood, the deadly virus sweeps the city and the body count rapidly rises. Medical professionals are in a panic over the mysteriously murderous infection and soon the government orders the military to quarantine the entire area -- no one gets in, no one gets out. Desperation and violence grip the public as the infected and non-infected struggle for life and everything begins to spiral out of control. The all-star cast includes Jang Hyuk (The Client), Su Ae (Sunny, A Family), Yoo Hae-jin (Musa-The Warrior, King and the Clown) and newcomer Park Min-ha."

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LFO Trailer Released: "LFO is a Swedish dark comedy/drama/Sci-Fi about a man who realizes that he can hypnotize with sound. He starts experimenting on his neighbors, where the abuse of power takes over and, eventually, severe consequences for mankind are at stake."

LFO stars Patrik Karlson, Izabella Iza Tschig, Ahnna Rasch, and Per Löfberg.

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First Details on Hell Town: "Renowned author, bellydancer, punk rock poet Pleasant Gehman joins the cast of Hell Town, a slasher comedy by Steve Balderson (Firecracker) and Elizabeth Spear (Roundball).

Hell Town is a soap-opera styled horror film set in a small American town. Two families clash over love, fortune, and betrayal; all the while a serial killer offs the football team one-by-one in gruesome and horrifying scenes. Gehman is cast in the role of the evil nurse."

For more information on Hell Town, visit: http://igg.me/at/helltown

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First Details for The Dead Divide Us: "This is the story of two brothers, living on opposite ends of the country, struggling to survive in a world meeting it's demise.

A deadly virus is sweeping the nation and infecting it's victims with a morbidly psychotic urge to attack those not diseased.
In the final days of America’s struggle to contain this horrid outbreak, the Landry brothers can only do their best to protect the ones they love.

Robert Landry lives in Colton, Pennsylvania. The infectious disease has started to spread west from Manhattan and parts of New England; rapidly gaining ground. Robert is immediately faced with the dangers of this new world. His first task is to kill his infected landlord; in a dark and very personal first chapter.

Robert’s main goal is to ensure the safety of his mother and father; who live a short ways out of town. Along with his old friend Jan Goodman, Robert continually gets put to the test in every chapter.

The army has setup a safe zone in Colton, but Robert slips away from the tyrannous Major Frost to ensure his parents’ safety, and the events that follow, at his parents country home, will leave him wishing he had never left his apartment that morning.

Paul Landry lives in Green Falls, Washington. Here, news of the disease is spreading fast. Paul is a family man, his concerns are to keep his wife and two young sons safe.

His neighbor, Roy Benton, is a figure head in their small community. It doesn’t take long for fear to gain control, news of the inevitable disease slowly breaks down the cohesion of this north-west logging town. Paul, along with his neighbor Roy, fight hard to gain supplies for survival. Their plan is to take both of their families to refuge in the mountains; to an old log cabin that used to belong to Roy’s grandfather. But what is the cost of food, water, and ammunition in a world going completely mad?"

Written by Vincent Tobia, The Dead Divide Us will be available as an E-book soon.

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The Devil's Bargain Release Details: "It’s 1974 and Earth is about to be obliterated by a massive asteroid. Adi (Jonnie Hurn) and his young wife Ange (Chloe Farnworth), haunted by memories of the death of their son, journey to the idyllic rural setting where he was conceived, determined to shed clothes, inhibitions and psychological traumas before the planet is destroyed forever. But the arrival of Luca (Dan Burman), a charismatic and mysterious young photographer, turns what’s left of their world upside-down and the horror to come is of biblical proportions.

A Disparado and Monk3ys Ink Films production, written and directed by Drew Cullingham, produced by Drew Cullingham and Ian Manson, co-produced by James Fisher and Andrew Mackay. Starring Jonnie Hurn, Chloe Farnworth and Dan Burman.

Unseen. Uncertified. Unmissable. Drew Cullingham (Umbrage: The First Vampire, Black Smoke Rising) has written and directed a savage, psychological portrait of love, lust and the end of the world, which will be available to watch from Mon., Jan 17, 2014."

To purchase this film online, head over to Distrify, at: http://distrify.com/films/7680-the-devil-s-bargain

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First Details on The Long Night of Victor Kowalsky: "The Long Night of Victor Kowalsky, directed by Stefano Poggioni, played by Cristiano Burgio and based on a Novel by Claudio Fallani. The film has been produced by Essi Girano with The Factory PRD and Electric Sheep comics. We are submitting the movie to festivals."

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Mortal Remains London Premiere Details: "The legend of forgotten horror filmmaker Karl Atticus will finally be explored in depth at the London premiere of Mortal Remains, an award-winning feature film to be presented at the Phoenix Cinema in East Finchley, London on April 14,2014.

Mortal Remains is a “docu-thriller” which delves into the shadowy story of Karl Atticus, a notorious U.S. filmmaker who has been mysteriously eradicated from cinematic history for reasons unknown. Interviews with film historians and aficionados – among them Eduardo Sanchez, co-director of The Blair Witch Project – reveal that the true story of Atticus' past may have been far more sinister than the shadowy legacy he left behind.

Produced by filmmakers Christian Stavrakis and Mark Ricche, the film has screened at several American festivals including the Spooky Movie Film Festival hosted by the American Film Institute; the Terror Film Festival in Philadelphia, where it was nominated for five awards and won two (Audience Favorite and Best Editing); and HorrorQuest Film Fest in Atlanta, where it won for Best Directing."

To learn more about this film, or its London premiere, visit: http://www.wehearthorror.com/#!mortal-remains-london-2014/c1359

In Fear Theatrical and VOD Release Details: "Having already conquered the Sundance Film Festival, In Fear, the critically acclaimed feature film debut of writer/director Jeremy Lovering, arrives March 11th on Blu-ray, VOD and DVD from Anchor Bay Films. In Fear will also enjoy several U.S. exclusive theatrical engagements starting Friday, March 7th. Pre-book on February 12th.

Starring Iain De Caestecker (ABC’s hit series “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D”), Alice Englert (Beautiful Creatures) and Allen Leech (“Downton Abbey”), In Fear has taken the horror world by storm, garnering rave reviews wherever it is played. The film stunned audiences in international film festivals in nine countries, including Canada’s Toronto After Dark, Germany’s Rosebud Entertainment Fantasy Festival, Spain’s Fancine – Festival de Cine Fantastico and South Korea’s Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival.

In Fear is a tense psychological horror about a young couple's fight to make it through the night. Home invasion but in a car. In real-time. Tom (De Caestecker) and Lucy (Englert) are trapped in a maze of country roads with only their vehicle for protection, terrorized by an unseen tormentor hell-bent on exploiting their worst fears. Driving, lost and tormented in the night, primal fears of the dark and the unknown give way to fear that you have let the evil in, or that it is already there."

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Kill Me Now Release Details: "The horror comedy featuring stars of Cracked and Snl Kill Me Now [is] now available for download!

In the not-too-distant past, with the help of a windowless van and a jar of chloroform, a group of sketch comedians were hauled off to the backwoods of Illinois to shoot their first movie! The horror comedy features Streamy and Webby Award winner Michael Swaim (“Agents of Cracked”), new “Saturday Night Live” cast members Beck Bennett and Kyle Mooney and the casts of Web TV series “Those Aren’t Muskets!,” “Good Neighbor,” “Tremendosaur,” “Team Tiger Awesome,” and “Horsehead Businessman.” The film is now available for fans to download directly from the official Kill Me Now website for less than five bucks!

Kill Me Now chronicles one unforgettable night in the lives of a ragtag group of small-town teens. It's a night that will prove equally unforgettable for the sinister Driller Killer (Brett Fancy – “EastEnders,” “Luther”), a deranged serial killer bent on ridding the world of vapidity and dumbassedness (Everyone Else). When he comes upon the kids' all-night graduation party--conveniently held at a cabin deep in the woods--he finds both in spades. Unfortunately, Mr. Killer is about to learn something crappy bumper stickers learned long ago: stupid people can be deadly in large numbers. Kill Me Now blends horror, comedy, depth and plain jackassery to form a brew so potent you won't know whether to laugh, scream, or think about, like, life and stuff. The movie features performances from a staggering array of the Internet's hottest up-and-coming comedians, writing from the guys behind “Those Aren't Muskets!” and Cracked.com, direction from a dude whose previous work includes hardcore, joint-smokin', Twista-havin', Kanye-featurin' rap videos, and at least one scene where a chick totally gets a drill to the brain. But it's funny!

Written by Michael Swaim and directed by Travis Long, Kill Me Now was filmed on location in Effingham, Illinois and stars Michael Swaim, Brett Fancy, Kyle Mooney, Beck Bennett, Nick Rutherford, Jacob Reed, Lisa Marie King, Brentan Schellenbach, Nick Mundy, Kaitlin Large, Dan Rubiano, Noah Byrne, Katy Stoll, Katie Willert and Daniel O'Brien."

To download Kill Me Now, go to: http://www.killmenowmovie.com/

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Daddy's Little Girl Trailer and US Release Details: "Vicious Circle Films and SlaughterFX are excited to announce that Chris Sun's Daddy's Little Girl is now available nationwide on cable VOD. The Australian revenge thriller arrives in the US following an impressive festival showing. At the Pollygrind Underground Film Festival of Las Vegas, Daddy's Little Girl took home the grand jury prize, best director, best overall individual performance by actor Michael Thomson and best screenplay.

After the police find Derek's daughter brutally murdered on the beach, he vows to make the culprit suffer for his actions, even if that person is 'part of the family.' With careful research into the history of torture, Derek prepares himself and his basement for a week of brutal tactics that will make his daughter's killer feel the pain that he has inflicted upon so many others. In a time when stranger danger is ever present, a single father learns that it's the ones you trust most who have to be watched the closest."

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Hide and Seek Trailer and VOD Release Details: "Sung-soo has everything that a man would want - a big inheritance, wife and children, a luxury apartment, a fancy car, etc. But in truth, he suffers from insomnia and obsessive compulsive disorder. One day, he hears that his estranged brother, Sung-cheol, has gone missing. Feeling guilty and somehow responsible, he visits his brother's apartment despite the fact that he has kept Sung-cheol's existence from his family.The shabby half empty apartment complex has strange symbols inscribed under the door bells, and the residents look terrified, hurriedly locking themselves in as Sungsoo and his family appear at the building. There are rumours that some bizarre people have squatted in the empty flats. And even the next door neighbor Joo-hee goes paranoid when asked about his brother.When they return home from the trip, a feeling of dark uneasiness lingers around the family. Strange things start to happen. Sung-soo's house keys disappear, someone tries to break in when only his children are at home. Then the engravings under his doorbell appear. Mysterious whispers are heard, terrifying the entire family. With his family quivering in fear, Sung-soo's compulsiveness and nightmares gets worse.

Hide and Seek (one of the top 10 box office hits of 2013 in South Korea) is the first title out of the gate for 2014, hitting VOD on January 15th (DVD release date in April), and the rest of the slate includes the Dutch thriller APP and Kim Ki-Duk's Moebius, which screened at Fantastic Fest and AFI Fest."

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Do You Like My Basement? DVD Release Date Announced: "Do You Like My Basement? is a dark, comic horror film with a unique voyeuristic approach to fear and a subtle commentary on actors and filmmakers.

The story begins with a cameraman entering a home, he introduces himself as: "Stanley Farmer - a filmmaker." It immediately becomes obvious that he is an intruder and after the clinical disposal of the owners, Stanley transforms the apartment, particularly its dank basement, into a homemade studio and places several hidden cameras around the space. Soon Chad, a cheerful actor, arrives at the house for a casting session and is surprised when Stanley films everything he does. When questioned about his approach, Stanley explains he is attempting to: "achieve a sense of unequaled realism." It's only when we are midway through the first of his auditions that we realize what a truly original film this will be. Stanley creates a spontaneous, dark, comic, narrative, spun from the auditions of innocent actors who arrive at his apartment and agree to play along with his homemade horror project. We are sucked into his film-within-a-film as we bear witness to the actors' candid interviews that evolve into terrifying basement auditions. The unfortunate timing of innocent callers heightens the tension as Stanley juggles the devilish drama in the basement with home improvements and nosy neighbors, all while still wielding his camera to create an improvised cinematic masterpiece."

Do You Like My Basement? will be available on DVD on January 28th.

To learn more about this film, go to: http://www.VirgilFilmsEnt.com

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Excerpt from Die Trying: A Zombie Apocalypse: "Trapped amidst the horror of the zombie apocalypse, three men hear the sound of a helicopter overhead and know it represents their last desperate hope to survive the terror and reach safety. But survival comes at a cost - and the undead hordes that ravage the world are not the only lurking evil the men must face. But for Mitch Logan, his brother, Jed, and their friend, Clinton Harrigan, there is no choice. They must fight to survive - or Die Trying.

Excerpt:

I turned back to the line of undead. I saw Jed now. He was inside the broken cockpit of the helicopter, firing through the shattered Plexiglas. He was concealed behind the dead body of the pilot, aiming carefully at the dark looming shapes of death.

I heard the roar of his Glock, tearing through the hissing sound of the rain, and then snapped my eyes to the line of undead. I saw one of them suddenly double over and clutch at its stomach. It was a woman – I think. The figure had long straggly hair and was thinly built. It was about fifteen yards away. It froze for a split-second, and then slowly toppled backwards into the grass. I heard Jed give a ragged cheer. “I got one!” – then the sound was cut off by another rumble of thunder that boomed overhead.

And then a remarkable thing happened. The line of undead stopped. Froze. They were close enough to see physical details now – close enough to hear the sound of them shambling towards us in the long grass as the noise of the rain ebbed and flowed. I sensed the hunched, prowling way they held themselves, like mad dogs that drop their heads and bunch their shoulders when on the scent of prey.

For a second nothing at all happened. I saw undead heads turn towards the place in the line where the woman ghoul had fallen. Then I saw the attitude of the others seem to change. I heard one of the ghouls growl – and it was a chilling, terrible sound, quickly imitated by others. The cry went up – and then suddenly those nearest the woman lunged towards the place where she had fallen. They were snarling and roaring – gnashing teeth and clawing. I saw one of the undead rise up, and he had a forearm in his bloodied hands, gnawing at it with rabid madness.

I heard fabric tearing, and then the horrific sound of bones cracking and flesh ripping. Another of the ghouls reeled away into the darkness and his hands were full and heavy with dripping bloodied organs that slithered in his fingers like tentacles.
I heard Clinton Harrigan’s voice behind me, and his words were numbed and slowed by incredulous horror.

“Holy Mary, mother of God…”

And then a louder, more urgent voice that could only be my brother’s, shouting the words that my brain was shouting at the same instant.
“Run! Now!”

I didn’t turn away from the horror. The ghouls were in a frenzy, dismembering the corpse in the grass. I saw only hunched shoulders and flailing arms beating the grass into maddened swishing tails, but I could imagine the gory detail. Snap-shot images of the slaughter-yard scene in the backyard came back to haunt me.

Jed fired again. And again.

I drew the Glock from my jeans and fired into the dark mass of bodies. I don’t know if I hit anything – I just fired. Then I fired again. I heard a sudden new sound – the sound of different gunfire, the noise of it slamming in my ears – and without turning I guessed the man had recovered his weapon from where it had fallen.

I sensed that Jed’s words had culminated into panicked action behind me. I heard heavy footsteps, pounding in the sloshing mud, and when I glanced over my shoulder, I was alone. Harrigan, the man and the girl had disappeared round behind the darkened, shadowed shelter of the broken helicopter. I wanted to run after them. Cowardice and regret compounded. I wasn’t made of the right stuff for a heroic last stand. I wanted to run too.

I fired twice more. The gun leaped in my hand and I saw one of the dark savage shapes roll away from the milling gnashing pack.
“Jed?”

I knew he was still nearby. I had heard one of his shots rip the night apart, just a moment after I had fired. His voice came back to me, clear and close.

“Yeah?”

“It’s time to go,” I said. “Where are the others?”

There was a pause, and in that moment of silence I shuffled backwards until I felt the frame of the helicopter press against my legs.
“They’re going back over the fence,” I heard Jed say. He was moving as he spoke, coming closer. Then I saw him round the nose of the helicopter and stride towards me. The ground was a quagmire of rutted muddy troughs from where the helicopter’s crash landing had torn the earth to pieces.

Other undead shapes were filling the skyline, sweeping down from the hillside streets and coming across the field. And I saw more dark movement to our left – just flickering shadows that might have been wind-tossed branches – but might also have been more undead hunting their way towards us from surrounding houses. I’d had enough. My nerves were frayed.

“Let’s get out of here,” I said urgently. “It’s time for a cowardly retreat. We’ve done enough. Time to save our asses.”

I glanced at Jed. The bastard was smiling – not because I was funny, but because he was enjoying himself. I could see it in the glint of his eyes. There was a macabre sense of joy for him in shooting and killing, and I had to grab his arm and push him away into the darkness, even as he continued to fire.

To purchase this book to read it in its entirety, head over to the US Amazon or UK Amazon store.

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Outpost: Rise of the Spetsnaz Trailer and Release Details: "In the third installment of the hit Nazi Zombie action-horror franchise, OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ, we discover the horrifying origins of these supernatural soldiers as they battle the most ruthless and notorious of all military special forces: the Russian Spetsnaz."

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Production Details for Grinder: "Actor Brandon Ruckdashel (The Lair, Co-ed Confidential, Changing the Game), is set to direct the new indie feature “Grinder.” The script, written earlier this year by him, is a thriller set in New York and explores America’s obsession with youth, sex, and beauty.

When anonymous sex is just a click away, a teen boy writes emotional checks he can’t cash, an older man falls for his beauty, and his friends try to hold on to him - as he falls deeper into a freewheeling lifestyle now taboo in our culture. How safe is anonymous sex and the apps that drive it?

This is Brandon’s second full length project and follows many similar themes to his successful play “Exposure.” Brandon is best known for his sexually provocative work as an actor both in film and onstage (Ascension). Some of the directors he has worked with as an actor and draws inspiration from include Fred Olen Ray (Dante’s Cove, The Lair) and Jim Wynorski (Chopping Mall), who he wrapped two features for in early 2013. Behind the lens, Brandon has shot two music videos for Kim Cameron (totalling 1.4 Million views on YouTube) and Thriller “Gravedigger” now in distribution.

Casting will commence in late January with a reading of the script set for March."

About the Author - Tamika Jones

Tamika hails from North Beach, Maryland, a tiny town inches from the Chesapeake Bay.She knew she wanted to be an actor after reciting a soliloquy by Sojourner Truth in front of her entire fifth grade class. Since then, she's appeared in over 20 film and television projects. In addition to acting, Tamika is the Indie Spotlight manager for Daily Dead, where she brings readers news on independent horror projects every weekend.

The first horror film Tamika watched was Child's Play. Being eight years old at the time, she remembers being so scared when Chucky came to life that she projectile vomited. It's tough for her to choose only one movie as her favorite horror film, so she picked two: Nosferatu and The Stepford Wives (1975).

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