Horror Highlights: QUEENS OF THE DEAD, WISECRACK, A GAME IN THE WOODS

2025/09/05 18:52:57 +00:00 | Jonathan James

Teaser Poster for Tina Romero's Queer Zombie Comedy QUEENS OF THE DEAD: "A zombie apocalypse breaks out in Brooklyn on the night of a giant warehouse party, where an eclectic group of drag queens, club kids, and frenemies must put aside their drama and use their unique skills to fight against the brain-thirsty, scrolling undead."

Director: Tina Romero
Written by: Tina Romero and Erin Judge
Cast: Katy O’Brian, Jaquel Spivey, Tomas Matos, Nina West, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Jack Haven, Cheyenne Jackson, Dominique Jackson, Margaret Cho, Riki Lindhome, Eve Lindley, Becca Blackwell, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Julie J
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Language: English
Runtime: 99 minutes

In Theaters Friday, October 24th

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TENDERFOOT TV AND IHEARTPODCASTS ANNOUNCE “WISECRACK,” A STAND-UP COMEDY ROUTINE THAT UNRAVELS INTO A CHILLING TRUE CRIME STORY: "Today, Tenderfoot TV, the podcast studio behind Up and Vanished, To Live and Die in LA, and Radio Rental, and iHeartPodcasts, the number 1 podcast publisher according to Podtrac, announced its boldest series yet, Wisecrack. Part stand-up comedy special and part true crime documentary, the six-part limited series begins with comedian Edd Hedges on stage, performing a set that uniquely transforms into the story of the most terrifying night of his life, and the deadliest night in his small English village.

On July 22, 2015, Hedges, who was relentlessly bullied as a child, returned home as a comedian on the rise. What started as a charity homecoming performance turned into something far darker. In his own words, Edd recounts how a night of laughter gave way to fear when a murderer began claiming lives just hours after his performance. That fear literally hit home for Edd when the murderer came looking for him. Processing the trauma of that night, Edd turned tragedy into comedy when he developed a stand up routine that not only covered the crimes, but also the people and places that shaped his childhood. The set is woven throughout the podcast as both character portrait and scene-setting device, pulling listeners from the bright lights of the stage to the darkness of a true crime investigation.

Co-produced by Tenderfoot TV and iHeartPodcasts, in association with Starwipe Productions, the project began at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where Emmy®-nominated TV crime producer Jodi Tovay first witnessed Hedges’ performance. On stage, he spun a quirky yet creepy tale told from his own experience. What sounded like just another edgy bit soon revealed itself as the entry point into a years-long investigation, and the truth about a killer who murdered his family before showing up on Edd’s doorstep..

“I was taking a break from making crime television when Edd's story found me,” said Jodi Tovay, Host & Producer of Wisecrack. “The moment I heard his set, it stopped me in my tracks. My curiosity took over and I left vacation early and got to work, knowing that everyone needed to hear this immediately.”

As Wisecrack unfolds, Hedges’ set shapes the narrative. His self-deprecating jokes and coming-of-age stories are woven into an investigation that takes host Jodi Tovay from Atlanta to the UK, moving from Edd’s small English village to the courtroom and prison, before ending where it all began: on stage.

“If you want to hear about my father with 8 fingers, how my mother became an accidental meth dealer, and uncover why my neighbor became a murderer, then Wisecrack is for you,” said Edd Hedges. “I tried to deal with the trauma of that night through comedy, but I wasn’t willing to fully drop my guard. This podcast faces it all, head-on.”

ALT: “Stand-up was my escape. Having been the butt of the jokes growing up, I was able to use the same material to now have audiences laughing with me, not at me,” said Edd Hedges. “So if you want to hear about my father with 8 fingers, how my mother became an accidental meth dealer, and uncover why my neighbor became a murderer, this podcast is for you.

Atlanta-based network, Tenderfoot TV, is no stranger to pushing creative boundaries within the narrative true crime genre. “When you think you have heard every type of true crime story, Wisecrack proves you haven’t,” said Donald Albright, Tenderfoot TV Co-founder and CEO. “Comedy and crime are a proven recipe for success, but Wisecrack uses the art of stand-up comedy as a device to tell a narrative story, where every punchline hides something darker. I don’t think podcast listeners have ever experienced anything quite like it.”

A bold, genre-defying listening experience, Wisecrack premieres September 2, 2025, and new episodes will be released each Wednesday on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard. Tenderfoot+ subscribers can binge the entire season ad-free on release day.

Wisecrack is distributed by iHeartPodcasts."

To listen to Wisecrack now, visit: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-wisecrack-288632921/

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A GAME IN THE WOODS: "After a Texas rancher dies, his granddaughter and her girlfriend discover masked hunters at his ranch competing in a twisted game of life and death. Will the beauties and their already rocky romance survive the brutal carnage?"

Director's Statement: "In creating A Game in the Woods, I wanted to channel my frustration with a world where wealth and power often shield individuals from accountability. During Donald Trump’s first presidency, I saw this dynamic intensify, with certain groups empowered to disregard empathy and treat “the other” as less than human. The killers in this story embody that mindset, acting without consequence or conscience.

My creative approach embraced the low-budget ethos of my favorite slasher films, like The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. I intentionally avoided drone shots or aerials, as they didn’t fit the raw, grounded feel I wanted to capture. Setting the film primarily in daylight was another deliberate choice, both to avoid lighting costs and to expose the ugliness in plain sight – just as real hunters typically hunt during the day. For me, showing this nastiness under the sun rather than hiding it in shadows added an extra layer of brutality.

I hope audiences enjoy it as a slasher, but I also hope they recognize the film’s subtext, critiquing issues like trophy hunting, racism, and sexism. While I am proud of my state, Texas, I am also deeply aware of its complexities and challenges with these concepts. Through A Game in the Woods, I aim to highlight the strength and resilience within us all, especially women, and to show that when pushed, we can rise to protect ourselves and those we care about."

Written and directed by Mike McCutchen, and produced by J.J. Weber, the film stars Eleanor Newman, Emily Skeen, and John P. Crowley.

Release Info:

A GAME IN THE WOODS was released on DVD last TUESDAY (8/26) and is now available at:

As well as Streaming:

USA