Poster Reveal: Chris LaMartina's SPIRIT TASTING, from Terror Vision Films: "The poster for Chris LaMartina's upcoming thriller, SPIRIT TASTING, is now available. The original artwork by Marc Schoenbach of Sadist Art Designs will be featured at all live events during the film's roadshow, running from November through January.
A post-punk riff on The Monkey’s Paw, SPIRIT TASTING follows three former punks (Sean Doherty, Melissa LaMartina, and Trevor Wilhelms) as they toast their late bandmate at a distillery on New Year’s Eve.
When a strange sommelier (Matt Lake) invites them to a top-shelf tasting, they discover there’s only one catch: Every bottle requires a “wish.”
But as each of their desires twist into doom, these old friends discover that every pour at the Red Bat Distillery comes at a deadly price.
Director Chris LaMartina recently appeared on The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs to screen his modern seasonal classic WNUF Halloween Special, and first noted there that his new film would be out before the end of the year. The film was formally announced at Variety three days later.
Celebrating its seasonal setting, SPIRIT TASTING will screen as a roadshow across America, with the filmmaker and select cast appearing at all screenings for introductions and Q&A’s. Coinciding with the tour, the film will pour onto Blu-Ray with top-shelf bonus features, including a feature-length making-of documentary.
Directed and edited by Chris LaMartina with a script by LaMartina and Michael Varrati, SPIRIT TASTING stars Sean Doherty, Matt Lake, Melissa LaMartina, Trevor Wilhelms, Matt Baughman, Cate Paris, and Tatiana Nya Ford with cameos from Grady Hendrix, Clay McLeod Chapman, Peaches Christ, and Henry Zebrowski. It is produced by Melissa LaMartina, Chris LaMartina, Michael Varrati, and Ted Geoghegan, and Executive Produced by Ryan Graveface."
SPIRIT TASTING's roadshow dates and locations are as follows
Thursday, November 12th - Baltimore, MD (The Senator Theatre)
Friday, November 20th - Chicago, IL (The Music Box)
Saturday, November 21st - Minneapolis, MN (The Heights)
Saturday, December 5th - Los Angeles, CA (Los Feliz 3)
Saturday, December 26th - Philadelphia, PA (PhilaMOCA)
Sunday, December 27th - Red Bank, NJ (Base Center Cinema)
Monday, December 28th - Brooklyn, NY (The Twisted Spine)
Tuesday, December 29th - Seymour, CT (Strand Theater)
Wednesday, December 30th - Providence, RI (AS220)
Thursday, December 31st - Salem, MA (Cinema Salem)
Friday, January 1st - Catskill, NY (Community Theater)
Saturday, January 2nd - Wind Gap, PA (The Gap Theatre)
Saturday, January 6th - Ashburn, VA (Alamo Drafthouse One Loudoun)
Sunday, January 17th - Harrisburg, PA (Midtown Cinemas)
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Killer Tomatoes Take Over Universal Horror Unleashed Nov. 6–7: "The killer tomatoes are headed for Sin City, and they're making a weekend of it. Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, the fifth film in the cult horror-comedy franchise that has been terrorizing produce aisles since 1978, will screen at Universal Horror Unleashed at AREA15, 3051 S. Rancho Drive in Las Vegas, on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7, with a filmmaker and cast panel following the Friday show.
There's no separate ticket to buy, as anyone holding a ticket to Universal Horror Unleashed that night can catch the screening, but a Premiere House reservation is required to attend and a tomato-themed dinner (what else!) is available for purchase. Universal Horror Unleashed tickets start at $14.99 and are available here.
Universal Horror Unleashed opens at 4pm both nights, with the film rolling at 8pm. On Friday, the tomatoes give way at 9:30pm to a panel featuring David Ferino, the noted director who took the reins of the franchise for its first new feature in over three decades, tomato puppeteer Victor Yerrid, and producer Michael Polis, with additional cast members to be announced. Everyone will be out the door by 11pm, which in Vegas terms means the night is just getting started. Fans can also get up close with a display of the film's puppets and costumes.
[*Editor's note: Updated appearance info: Cast Members: Samantha Bailey, Noor Razooky, Zachary Roozen, tomato puppeteer Victor Yerrid. Director - David Ferino, and producer Michael Polis.]
Produced by Michael Polis (Yo Gabba Gabba!), directed by David Ferino (Wardcliffe), and written by Killer Tomatoes original creator Costa Dillon, the film’s cast includes comedy legend David Koechner (Anchorman), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), Catherine Corcoran (Terrifier), and franchise icon John Astin (The Addams Family), who returns as Professor Gangreen decades after first appearing in the series, Dan Bakkedahl (Veep), Myrna Velasco (Star Wars Resistance), Zachary Roozen (Romeo and Juliet Killers), Samantha Bailey (Just Add Magic), and Noor Razooky (The Old Man).
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence kicks off when a young, greedy, and rather Elizabeth Holmesesque, corporate prodigy goes rogue while working under her aging mentor Professor Nicholas Gangreen (John Astin).
Director David Ferino notes, "Universal Horror Unleashed is the perfect home for us, because these are people who take their monsters seriously, and our monsters happen to be tomatoes. We can't wait to see a Vegas crowd scream and laugh at the same time." Adding, "And if anyone leaves craving marinara, our work here is done."
Producer Michael Polis says, "We've taken these tomatoes from Comic-Con to the deck of the USS Midway, and now they're rolling into their first Vegas residency. We're just trying not to let it go to their heads.”
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence is rated PG-13 and was recently released on VOD. Universal Horror Unleashed is recommended for guests 13 and up. Tickets and dinner reservations are available here."
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DECENTRALIZED PICTURES UNLEASHES THE SAM RAIMI HORROR AWARD: "Legendary film director Sam Raimi and Decentralized Pictures (DCP), the nonprofit dedicated to empowering emerging filmmakers, wants to help the next great horror director bring their short film to life with the Sam Raimi Horror Award. Recognizing a rising storyteller who projects a unique perspective on horror, the award package includes $25,000 to produce a short horror film, mentoring support, P&A support and distribution of the completed film on the upcoming DCP+ streaming platform.
A horror icon whose appeal spans generations, from the “Evil Dead” franchise to “Darkman”, “Drag Me to Hell” and the recent survival horror hit “Send Help”, Raimi’s unique style has consistently demonstrated how horror can be used not only to frighten, but to build unforgettable stories, explore powerful ideas, and tell deeply human stories that stay with audiences for years to come. This award aims to identify a director with a novel approach to horror. Applicants are encouraged to explore the horror genre in original and unconventional ways, whether psychological, supernatural, visceral, comedic or an entirely unexpected direction.
“This collaboration with Decentralized Pictures to help elevate promising filmmaking talent has been both a professional and personal passion of mine,” said Sam Raimi. “I can’t wait to discover the next standout horror visionary that will have audiences screaming in fright and delight.”
Submission Requirements:
Submission Fee: $25 (Fee is for community review compensation)
Short Video: A compelling short video sample demonstrating the filmmaker’s creative perspective, storytelling ability, and production capabilities. This may be a previously produced scene, short film excerpt, visual sample, teaser, or proof of concept.
Project Description: One-page document or lookbook describing the film the applicant wishes to produce (synopsis, visual references, etc.)
100% of the award submission fees are distributed for moderation and peer reviews, creating an essential incentive to encourage more community engagement. The platform is entirely free to join and start reviewing, allowing submission fees to be earned directly through active participation. This ensures the platform remains accessible to creators from all economic backgrounds without requiring a direct submission purchase. By redistributing this fee to members of the DCP community, DCP seeks to make access to the film industry more democratic, inviting the public to decide the projects that are most deserving of recognition.
Submissions are open now through December 31, with the community review period ending 14 days after submissions closes. The finalists will be announced shortly after the review period ends. Sam Raimi, Roman Coppola, Jed Shepherd, Eduardo Sanchez, Leo Matchett, Emma Raimi will select the final recipient.
Following the success of the nonprofit’s recent Sofia Coppola Short Film Award and the recently announced Kevin Smith Casting Award, DCP continues the trend of democratizing access to filmmaking using a community-driven selection process. Full eligibility and submission requirements for the Sam Raimi Horror Film Award can be found at: https://app.decentralized.pictures/awards/6aeb3e0f1cd327aff901e346
By entering, each entrant warrants and represents the following with respect to their Submission: (a) entrant is the sole and exclusive owner of the Submission; (b) the Submission will not infringe on any rights (including, without limitation any intellectual property rights) of any third parties; (c) any third parties appearing in the Submission have given entrant appropriate consent and used as permitted herein; and (d) all information the entrant provided herein is true and accurate.
Rules subject to change at any time without warning at DCP’s sole discretion."
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FROM SCREAM QUEEN TO POET: HORROR ACTRESS JAMIE BERNADETTE REVEALS TWO INCHES FROM SUICIDE: "Award-winning actress and filmmaker Jamie Bernadette, known for her extensive work in horror cinema, is stepping into a deeply personal new chapter with the release of her debut poetry collection, Two Inches from Suicide, arriving November 10, 2026.
With more than 100 film and television credits, including approximately 40 horror films, Bernadette has spent years bringing complex characters to life on screen. Now, she turns her attention to the written word, sharing a collection of poetry that explores abuse, depression, addiction, death, the afterlife, suicide, relationships, and her experiences navigating a career in Hollywood.
Bernadette played the lead role in I Spit on Your Grave: Déjà Vu, directed by Meir Zarchi, who also wrote and directed the original 1978 horror classic I Spit on Your Grave. Bernadette starred opposite Camille Keaton, who played the lead in the original 1978 film and portrayed Bernadette's character's mother in Déjà Vu. Bernadette also starred in the horror film 4/20 Massacre, which aired on Showtime, and The 6th Friend, for which she received Best Actress awards at the Freakshow Horror Film Festival and RIP Film Festival.
Her television credits include CBS's NCIS: New Orleans, NBC's Chicago Fire and Midnight, Texas, and 14 Lifetime TV movies. Her additional film credits include Lionsgate's She Rides Shotgun, starring Taron Egerton, and a lead role in The Furnace, directed by Oscar-nominated director Darrell Roodt.
Born and raised in Kankakee, Illinois, as the youngest of nine children, Bernadette began writing at just six years old. What started as a childhood creative outlet became a lifelong passion, eventually leading to the deeply personal work collected in Two Inches from Suicide."
“Reading and writing poetry have always been important parts of my life,” says Bernadette. “Poetry has a way of reaching people on a deeply personal level, especially during difficult times. I believe it's important to share our creative work because we never know who it might touch, inspire, or help. My hope is that readers will find something in these poems that resonates with their own experiences.”
The following is an excerpt from Bernadette's poem “A Marriage”:
We’ll soon be a grave-couple.
Our coffins neatly situated side by side—
Tidy as books on a shelf but not quite as trustworthy.
Dress me in my withered wedding gown
And lipstick my lips—
Red as blood—
The pain blotted out.
String my ring and wrap it around my neck—
Choking—
Even in death we shall not unstick.
Now we barely live each day,
Struggling to make it through.
The rock-tock ticking of our porch swing
Creaks from the bed of our sunken porch.
I’ll sew and you’ll stare blankly at cold cars passing,
Wringing and unwringing the wrinkles of your hands
While I press the lips of my collapsed mouth together—
Both of us trying to figure out a way into some heaven.
Two Inches from Suicide, an 82-page paperback collection featuring 29 poems, will be released November 10, 2026. Paperback, hardcover, and eBook editions will be available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, with additional eBook availability through Apple Books and Kobo and print editions through other major booksellers.
The Kindle edition is currently available for preorder on Amazon:
After more than a decade as a consultant in the entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who passionately explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He is also consulted with as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, film festivals, and conventions.
After more than a decade as a consultant in the entertainment industry, Jonathan James launched Daily Dead in 2010 to share his passion for horror. He takes immense pride in Daily Dead's talented team of writers, who passionately explore and celebrate horror as a respected art form capable of telling complex, character-driven stories with deep emotional and cultural impact.
Over the course of his career, Jonathan has written more than 10,000 articles and hosted panels at major conventions, including New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con. He is also consulted with as an expert on horror and pop culture, offering insights on horror history and the latest trends through media outlets, film festivals, and conventions.
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