Norman Bates is coming to the U.K., well, sort of. The Bates Motel Blu-ray Box Set will hit stores in the U.K. in October. Also in this round-up: a Q&A with Keith Arem from The Phoenix Incident and an excerpt from Julie Stevens' The Cherry on His Cigar.
Bates Motel UK Blu-ray Box Set: This box set consists of six discs which include all three seasons of the show, and will arrive in stores on October 12th:
From Blu-ray.com: "Bates Motel Season 1
From the producers of Lost and Friday Night Lights comes a modern day prequel to the iconic horror film, Psycho. After finding his father dead, teenager Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore) and his mother, Norma (Vera Farmiga), purchase a motel and move to White Pine Bay in search of a new life, but they soon discover this idyllic seaside town hides some deadly secrets. Unable to trust anyone but each other, the two indulge in a deeply twisted relationship that raises the question: does mother really know best? Bonus features: Deleted Scenes, Paley Center panel discussion with cast and crew.
Bates Motel Season 2
Bates Motel has vacancies and welcomes you for a second season, starring Academy Award nominated actress Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore. In the aftermath of Miss Watson's murder, Norman's (Highmore) innocence is buried under blackouts, suspicious characters, and his strange behavior. Meanwhile, Norma (Farmiga) faces dark truths of her own when family secrets begin to unravel and looming threats from local villains jeopardize Norma's stab at happiness. No matter where you turn – there's no escaping what bubbles beneath the surface in White Pine Bay. Experience every thrilling twist and turn with all 10 episodes, back-to-back and uninterrupted, from Bates Motel Season Two.
Bates Motel Season 3
After a blissful summer of closeness with his mother in the safe confines of their home, Norman (Freddie Highmore) returns to school and is flooded with fears about what really happened with Blaire Watson. Norma (Vera Farmiga) is forced to face the truth about Norman for the first time and turns for support to the other man in her life, Norman's half-brother, Dylan (Max Thieriot). This relationship triggers Norman's jealousy and a new kind of love triangle erupts between Norma and her two sons. When Norma's estranged brother, Caleb (Kenny Johnson) returns to White Pine Bay, the family bond is challenged more than ever. Norma also finds herself growing closer to the enigmatic Sheriff Romero (Nestor Carbonell) while trying to protect her business and her son before fate crashes down on her. Watch all 10 chilling episodes, back-to-back and uninterrupted in Bates Motel Season Three."
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The Phoenix Incident: "This alien thriller, written and directed by gaming director Keith Arem (Call of Duty, Titanfall), chronicles the military cover-up of the largest UFO sighting in US History, 'The Phoenix Lights.'"
Your upcoming feature film, The Phoenix Incident, is based on the Phoenix Lights occurrence in 1997—purportedly one of the largest UFO sightings and cover-ups in history. What attracted you to this story? Did you have a personal interest in the Lights Over Phoenix prior to taking on this project?
Keith Arem: I've been extremely passionate about the subject of UFOs my entire life and I've always wanted to do a project based on real events. I grew up in Arizona and personally saw several incredible unexplained objects in the skies. When the events over Phoenix took place, it was the first time a mass sighting was captured by so many civilians and demonstrated why the military's response and cover-up was so controversial.
It looks like the military’s reaction to a potential alien invasion plays a key role in The Phoenix Incident. Did your extensive background working on the Call of Duty games affect how you approached that side of the story?
Keith Arem: Through the course of working on several military-based projects, I've had the opportunity to work with several investigative journalists and military consultants. Knowing my passion and history in Arizona, many of my contacts were able to provide me with unique access to their experiences, footage, and stories. After hearing about some of the operations that took place during the Phoenix Lights, combined with many of the other unexplained events that occurred, I knew this was a story that I needed to tell.
I understand that you shot part of the film on location in Arizona where the UFO sightings actually took place back in ’97. How important was it for you to immerse this film in its real-life roots?
Keith Arem: I felt it was extremely important to keep the film authentic and include many of the original people and locations in the film. Since some of the original footage was not available to us, I felt any supplemental material had to be authentic and it was extremely important for us to return to the site where the original events took place. With the cooperation of the National Park Service and the City of Phoenix, our crews gained unprecedented access to many of the areas where the events transpired. We also met with many of the original eyewitnesses and government officials involved in the case as well as spoke with many of the journalists that covered the sightings.
Do you have any favorite alien encounter movies, TV shows, or books that fueled your passion for this project?
Keith Arem: Area 51: An Uncensored History of America's Top Secret Military Base, Fire in the Sky, and Communion are all fantastic reads, but Close Encounters has always been a significant influence. I’ve appreciated shows like The X-Files that based many of their storylines on actual events or scientific facts, and documentaries likeRestrepo, The Jinx, and Citizen Four that provided great examples of storytelling through real events. Combining these influences, I wanted this film to be a blend of documentary elements and footage from the events in Phoenix.
With The Phoenix Incident expected to hit theaters next year from XLrator Media, what projects do you have on deck that you can tease for our readers, and where can they find you on social media?
Keith Arem: I'm currently developing several new scripts based on my upcoming graphic novels, including my next motion picture, Frost Road. We're hoping to begin production on the pre sequel to Phoenix, as well as a television series based on other related incidents. My new app INFEX is available through iTunes. You can follow us @PCBProductions on Twitter or @PCBEntertainment on Instagram.
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The Cherry on His Cigar: Press Release: "PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. – What do you get when you combine a hurricane, a heated romance, the Black Market and a rabies-infected murderer?
In “The Cherry on His Cigar,” Julie “J.A.” Stevens tells the thrilling story of Morgan Logan and Isaac Hanlon, two lovers torn apart and reunited years later in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina who unexpectedly fall prey to a murderous madman’s syndicate of trafficking human organs.
With a story spanning 13 years, “The Cherry on His Cigar” propels readers on a roller-coaster ride across North America, racing down the coast of Costa Rica, jumping to American Samoa and up through the Bering Strait.
Stevens credits many years of watching action, suspense and romance movies as the inspiration for her psychological thriller.
“I grew up watching ‘macho-men’ actors like Charlton Heston, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jean-Claude Van Damme,” Stevens said. “The strong, heroic character of Isaac Hanlon is very much based on men like these.”
A suspenseful story filled with adventure, love, revenge and a hint of paranormal activity, “The Cherry on His Cigar” is the perfect getaway for readers looking for an escape from the monotony of their everyday lives.
For more information, visit http://www.thecherryonhiscigar.com.
The Cherry on His Cigar
By J.A. Stevens
ISBN: 978-1-4931-8405-7
Available in hardcover, softcover, and e-book
Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Xlibris
About the author
Julie Stevens is a certified pharmacy technician. When she is not working, she enjoys watching football and movies, reading, writing, traveling and walking her two dogs."
Chapter Thirty-Two
California
“That dog bite on your hand is extremely infected, Winston,” Maria said as she looked at him gravely. “And the one on the back of your neck is infected as well so make sure you finish those antibiotics, and here are a few morphine tablets. You’re going to need these as soon as the anesthesia wears off, but, Winston, that bullet will eventually have to come out and you better take it easy for a couple of weeks so that the stitches in your belly will hold.” Maria put her medical supplies back into her bag. As she gazed at him, she was perplexed by the bizarre glint in his eyes. “You have a fever,” she said as she felt his forehead with her hand.
Brownstone viciously grabbed her hand, squeezing it as hard as he could, and sneered, “Don’t fucking touch me again.” He then flung her hand away.
Shocked by his barbaric mood swing, Maria continued to stare at him as she rubbed her hand gingerly.
“What are you looking at?” he snarled.“I’ve known you for almost sixteen years, Winston, and not once have you ever said a harsh word to me.”
Radically insane from birth, Winston’s extreme intelligence had enabled him to forethink his crimes from a very early age and expertly erase the slightest bit of evidence that might lead authorities to him. Over the years, he had enjoyed every moment of defiling dead bodies in the most lurid, carnal manners imaginable. Now, he was no longer confident in his superior mastery of eluding police. His intellect was unable to control the wild maniacal thoughts that constantly raced through his mind or the new unfamiliar anxiety crushing his ability to reason. He knew that the rabies virus had taken over, and the need to see, feel, and taste more blood was overwhelming and the potential for discovery and apprehension mattered not. His mind was now that of a wild, demented creature.
Maria cleared her throat, slightly nervous by his odd behavior. Holding a tablet in the palm of her hand, she pulled a bottle of water from her bag and said, “Take this, it will bring the fever down.”
“Get that away from me,” he bellowed as he knocked the bottle out of her hand.
Water spewed everywhere as the bottle bounced off the wall of the dirty motel room.
“Listen, Winston,” Maria said impatiently as she walked toward the bathroom door to retrieve a towel.
“Liz is waiting out in the car, and Court is at the airport ready to transport the organs to—” Her voice trailed off as she opened the door, and slowly backing out of the bathroom, she now understood why he was so vehement about not wanting her to go in there earlier.
His evil glint suddenly became focused and he asked, “Did you say Elizabeth is outside?”
“Winston, how did you get hurt?” Maria quietly asked as she continued to stare at the bathroom entrance.
“Acquiring fresh organs.”
Maria opened one of the coolers, noting the condition of the organ. She looked back up at Brownstone, asking in a choked voice, “Did you remove the organs here?”
“Yes.” He giggled insanely. “I had no choice.”
“Winston, there’s no solution in the bag, the plastic container is cracked, the cooling elements are exhausted, and the organ is totally ripped up.”
“Oh well, the donors were all strippers, and I know how you feel about strippers,” he replied, curling his nose disgustedly as he too looked inside the cooler.
“All these years, Winston, were any of the donors accident victims?” “Victims, yes. Accidents, no.”
“Court and Phillip?” “Totally aware.”
“Liz?” Maria asked as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“Liz enabled us to fill our biggest order a few months ago. You are indirectly responsible as well.”
“How could I possibly be responsible for this?” she hissed. “You’ve been making a profit right along with the rest of us,” he snarled. “The . . . the bodies in the bathroom, their throats have been cut,” she said as her voice trembled. “Why is there no blood?”
“I drank most of it,” he said as he pointed to an ice bucket on the nightstand. “There isn’t much left, and I’m ready for more, a lot more.”
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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