Horror Highlights: TERROR TALES, NEW YEAR, NEW YOU, Krampus Shirt, GHOST ADVENTURES New Year’s Eve Marathon, IRIS.FALL Q&A, THE HARROWING

Not long now before the new year arrives, so Sophia Takal's New Year, New You on Hulu will premiere at just the right time! Also in today's Highlights, Terror Tales' VOD release news, Ghost Adventures' New Year's Eve marathon details, Iris.Fall Q&A with Thomas Parisch, and The Harrowing VOD and On Demand debut.

New Year, New You Hulu Premiere Details: "Synopsis: A group of friends from high school reconnects for a special New Year's Eve girls night but as they begin to rehash old memories many of the gripes they've been harboring manifest in murderous ways.

Directed by Sophia Takal (ALWAYS SHINE, GREEN) and Starring Suki Waterhouse (THE BAD BATCH, ASSASSINATION NATION), Carly Chaikin (“Mr. Robot”), Kirby Howell-Baptiste (“Killing Eve”, “Barry”), Melissa Bergland (“Winners & Losers”).

TRT: 82 min.
Country: USA
Language: English

About “Into The Dark”
A horror event series from the prolific, award-winning producer, Jason Blum's independent TV studio. The series includes 12 super-sized episodes, with a new installment released each month inspired by a holiday and will feature Blumhouse's signature genre/thriller spin on the story."

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Terror Tales VOD Release Details, Trailer, and Poster: "From writer-director Jimmy Lee Combs, a film that brings together cast from Friday the 13th, Maniac Cop 1 & 2, George Romero's The Crazies, Wes Craven's The People Under the Stairs, Sleepaway Camp, Critters 2 and more, on VOD January 8th from High Octane Pictures!

When Michael wakes up he is horrified to find that he is riding shotgun with a psychopath (Christopher Showerman, “Supergirl”) who reveals to him that his wife and daughter are held captive in the attached cargo trailer. The trailer is rigged to release a deadly toxin when triggered by a switch in the car. Thinking of his family’s safety, he cooperates with everything the psychotic driver asks him to do even if it means breaking the law.

During this bizarre ride, the driver subjects Michael to three horrific tales of the macabre including a demon that takes a mother (Lynn Lowry, “Shivers”) on a journey of self-discovery and reveals to her the horrifying truth behind her son’s suicide. The next tale transpires in the '80s where a Detective is hot on the trail of a serial killer known as The Sledgehammer (Jonathan Tiersten, “Sleepaway Camp”) who is terrorizing a video store owner and his wife. In the final tale, an evil deity (Yan Birch, “Wes Craven's The People Under the Stairs”) is using the human body as a host to possess its victims. When the deity destroys one victim it jumps to another causing an epidemic of possessions being reported.

With a burning desire for the truth behind his abduction and the safety of his family, will Michael have the will to survive the madness? Your sanity will be tried and tested in Terror Tales.

Laurene Landon (Maniac Cop), Jennifer Runyon (Ghostbusters), Ari Lehmann (Friday the 13th), Ashley Park (“Rosewood”), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), and Helen Udy (The Dead Zone) also star.

In the tradition of Creepshow, Terror Tales turns up the terror this January!"

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Krampus Shirt from Offworld Designs: "A Bradley Klopton design from Offworld Designs sure to horrify your friends in family in a good way. He's half goat and half demon and ALL business with naughty kids this holiday season."

https://www.offworlddesigns.com/krampus-t-shirt/

https://www.offworlddesigns.com/krampus-ladies-v-neck/

www.offworlddesigns.com

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Ghost Adventures New Year's Eve Marathon Details: "Travel Channel is ringing in 2019 with a two-day marathon of its wildly popular, hit series “Ghost Adventures,” featuring Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Billy Tolley, and Jay Wasley – the paranormal investigative team who boldly go where most fear to tread. Beginning Monday, December 31, the lineup will feature some of the series’ most terrifying and unforgettable episodes from recent seasons – including “The Slaughter House” featuring superstar Post Malone, “The Titanic Museum” and “Return to Winchester Mystery House.”

The marathon culminates in the television premiere of Zak Bagans’ film, “Demon House,” on Tuesday, January 1st. The documentary follows Bagans’ investigation of a Gary, Indiana, home he purchased sight unseen, after learning about its demonic history. Immediately following the film’s network debut, Travel Channel will premiere the one-hour special “Demon House: Lost Footage,” revealing exclusive, never-before-seen footage from the documentary, along with special commentary from Bagans about the unforgettable and terrifying experience.

“As Zak’s TV family, we are excited to feature his incredible film and nourish fans with never-before-seen extra content,” said Jane Latman, general manager, Travel Channel. “And what better way to ring in the New Year than from the edge of your seat!”

Next, in a two-part “Ghost Adventures” special, the team investigates one of America’s most haunted towns – Alton, Illinois. Known as the River Bend region, Alton is situated just north of St. Louis, Missouri, and is rife with dark history. Bagans and the crew investigate the area’s most haunted buildings in “Curse of the River Bend” – premiering on Saturday, January 5th and Saturday, January 12th.

“Ghost Adventures” Marathon
Beginning Monday, December 31st at 8:00 a.m. ET/PT
In each episode of “Ghost Adventures,” Zak Bagans and Aaron Goodwin, along with A/V techs Billy Tolley and Jay Wasley, travel to a different haunted destination where they meet with locals, eyewitnesses, and experts in an attempt to piece together the haunted history of each site. They then begin a dusk-to-dawn “lockdown” investigation, using the latest scientific gadgets and technology in an effort to obtain physical evidence of the paranormal and uncover the truth behind each haunted mystery.

Featured episodes include: “Manresa Castle,” “Odd Fellows Asylum,” “Grand Canyon Caverns,” “Old Lincoln County Hospital,” “Palace Saloon,” “Kennedy Mine,” “The Titanic Museum,” “Pythian Castle,” “The Slaughter House,” “Nevada State Prison,” “Black Dahlia House,” “Return to Winchester Mystery House,” “Stone Lion Inn,” “The Washoe Club: Final Chapter” and more.

“Demon House” – Two-Hour Documentary; Television Premiere
Premieres Tuesday, January 1 at 9 p.m. ET/PT
In 2014, the story of a demon possession in Gary, Indiana, caused a worldwide media sensation. Paranormal investigator Zak Bagans was producing an episode of his popular television series, “Ghost Adventures,” when the story broke; he bought the house a day later over the phone, sight unseen. But Bagans and his crew were unprepared for what awaited them at the house possessed by “200 demons.” Bagans soon suffered from a debilitating illness, crew members quit and people nearly died ... Bagans even started to wonder if just viewing the film could open audiences up to possession themselves. Had he made a movie too dangerous to release?

“Demon House: Lost Footage” – One-Hour Special
Premieres Tuesday, January 1st at 11 p.m. ET/PT
This exclusive special reveals never-before-seen footage from Zak Bagans’ film, “Demon House,” a documentary that follows Bagans’ investigation of a haunted Gary, Indiana, home he purchased, sight unseen, and is believed to be possessed by demons. The hour-long special features commentary from Bagans about the home and its backstory, the terrifying investigation and unseen evidence.

“Curse of the River Bend” – Two-Part “Ghost Adventures” Special
Premieres Saturday, January 5th and Saturday, January 12th at 9 p.m. ET/PT
Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Jay Wasley and Billy Tolley head to Alton, Illinois, in this two-part “Ghost Adventures” special. A city just north of St. Louis, Missouri, Alton sits on the Mississippi River. Rife with a dark history, it’s considered one of America’s most haunted towns. The crew investigates two of the town’s most haunted buildings in hopes of capturing paranormal evidence.

“McPike Mansion” – Premieres Saturday, January 5th at 9 p.m. ET/PT
The team travels to Alton, Illinois, a town considered by many to be one of the most haunted places in America, to investigate a Victorian mansion with a rich history and reports of dangerous paranormal activity.

“Mineral Springs Hotel” – Premieres Saturday, January 12th at 9 p.m. ET/PT
The crew concludes their two-part investigation of Alton, Illinois, at the Mineral Springs Hotel. The 1914 structure has been witness to multiple deaths, and Zak Bagans believes a demonic entity is keeping these lost souls trapped inside the building.

For more on “Ghost Adventures,” visit TravelChannel.com and follow @TravelChannel, @GhostAdventures and #GhostAdventures on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for additional content and updates. Follow the team on Twitter: @Zak_Bagans, @AaronGoodwin, @BillyTolley, @jaywasley.

ABOUT TRAVEL CHANNEL
For the bold, daring and spontaneous; those adventurers who embrace the thrill of the unexpected; those risk-takers who aren’t afraid of a little mystery; if you’re up for anything, down for whatever, and above all, love great stories, journey on to Travel Channel. We’re more than you expect and everything you didn’t know you were looking for. Reaching more than 82 million U.S. cable homes, Travel Channel is the world’s leading travel media brand. Fans also can visit Travel Channel for more information or interact with other fans through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Travel Channel is owned by Discovery, Inc., a global leader in real life entertainment spanning 220 countries and territories, whose portfolio also includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network."

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Q&A with Composer Thomas Parisch for Horror Adventure Game Iris.Fall: "If you are a fan of darker, horror video games then you might want to check out the new gothic adventure game Iris.Fall by Tencent’s NEXT Studios for Steam. After waking from a dream, Iris follows a black cat (never a good idea) into a dilapidated theater, traveling back and forth through a strange labyrinth of light and shadow (A reoccurring theme in the game). As the story unfolds, Iris begins to realize that everything in this theater seems to have some kind of hidden connection to herself. Adding to the intrigue of the game is the unique score by composers Thomas Parisch and Edwin Wendler, which was created from altered instruments and some original pieces by inventor Yoon Lee such as a zither (using dog food cans among other things) and an altered violin that was turned into a rattling fiddle.

We got the chance to speak with Parisch about his work on the game, what it was like being part of the Resident Evil franchise and more below!

For those people that aren’t familiar with Iris.Fall can you tell them a little about it?

Thomas Parisch: Iris.Fall is a puzzle game that follows the adventures of a little girl exploring a mysterious theater. Developed by Tencent’s Next Studio, the game has really stunning artwork evoking a unique world of wonder and magic with a hint of eeriness. As the player is drawn more and more into Iris’ world, discoveries will unravel the secret truth between her and the theater. Essentially it is the journey of self-discovery that gamers will go on playing as the girl Iris...

You scored the game alongside Edwin Wendler, what were each of your strengths on the game?

Thomas Parisch: Apart from the actual scoring and before Edwin came on board, I was involved very early on to find the right tone and direction for the music. It was a lot of brainstorming ideas with the audio director for the game regarding instrument choices and styles. Quickly we knew that we needed to get away from standard instruments as we typically use them. We started altering traditional ones at first to change timbre and achieve entirely new sounds. We wanted imperfect, tainted and somewhat old-fashioned and brittle colors. Finding the right ratio between pitch and noise was key. Koozer, the Iris.Fall audio director was also really enamored by the barrel organ, as it is an instrument full of theater nostalgia. In the end, we decided to simply design our own uniquely whacky instruments to create a sound world entirely it's very own for Iris.Fall. We enlisted Yoon Lee, an amazing musician, and inventor, to come up with ideas for instruments that could fit our ideas. In the end, he built a special zither (using dog food cans among other things) and altered a violin to be a strangely rattling fiddle. After the master plan of the sound world for the game was laid out and our palette was in place (but while the zither was still being built, took a month to do that), the writing started. At this point, I had been writing the central theme for the game which kind of grew out of the many sound experiments from the beginning. But it was also the time when I got busy with other projects, so we were lucky to find help in Edwin Wendler, an amazing composer I had the pleasure of collaborating with on another project before. He took all of our ideas and ran with them giving them his own spin, which only enriched the whole score even more...

How would you describe the Iris.Fall score?

Thomas Parisch: The score combines both the world of childhood wonder and theater magic. I hope it takes the listener inside the slightly spooky and magical theater as well as letting him/her experience through Iris’ eyes and ears. The sound palette speaks to connecting those worlds. There are a lot of childhood reminiscent colors such as a music box, toy piano, bells etc. on one side. On the other side, to play on and play with the theater backdrop, we also had the accordion and of course our specially designed zither and the scrappy violin, which seems like apparatuses from another, surreal universe. Overall, it is a rather intimate score with only a few big and dramatic moments. It microcosmos with a lot of depth, however, a whole universe of dreamlike magic is contained. It is not your typical Disney magic, however. As the many questions and riddles are solved, one is left with uncertainty and a constant vagueness that is slightly scary. Musically, it is mainly through ambient textures, slightly out-of-tune performances and scratchy colors that this faint horror remains always an undercurrent beneath the surface of pretty melodies and lighthearted show tunes.

Throughout Iris.Fall there is a theme of “light and shadow”. Does the score reflect these 2 contrasting elements?

TP: There isn’t really such a clear duality in the music per se... However, in the sense that it combines childhood and theater, there certainly are two distinct themes. Even though those are not exactly polar opposites, there are some clear contrasts I would say. Iris’ perspective is through the glasses of childhood, her world is very introverted but also fragile and delicate. The world she enters, the theater, is boldly expressive, extroverted so to say, it is brusk in its cheerfulness, a bit rough. But there’s often a crossover between them both, they overlap a lot, mix into each other... just like Iris is enveloped by the theater... I guess, in the sense that we eventually realize that both worlds belong together there is a similarity between light and shadow being opposites but also inseparably linked...

You were also one of the composers of Resident Evil 6. What areas did you focus on for that game?

Thomas Parisch: The bulk of it was an in-game underscore. The background music was pretty wide ranged from ambient, mood setting music to big epic battles and everything in between. There were a few cinematics, cutscenes, I wrote for as well which was really a great way of mixing things up. But the cut scenes actually were not traditional scoring to picture either for the most part as those scenes were not done when the music needed to be written. At times there wasn’t even a rough picture to work with, just a timeline. A lot of it was a new process for me as this was my first bigger game project. Luckily, there was a great help from the experienced team at Capcom, they were always open to discuss and guide us during the assignments (I was working on RE6 with Laurent Ziliani as my writing partner at the time). When it was done, our music made up about half of the score. We also wrote the main theme to RE6 which was a great honor.

Both having a certain horror/gothic element to them, how do you think the score for Resident Evil 6 is different from your recent work for Iris.Fall?

Thomas Parisch: The worlds of Iris.Fall and RE6 may both have a horror element but they are very different in many ways. First of all, the scope: Iris.Fall is rather intimate while RE6 is as epic as it gets. Also, Iris.Fall is very subtle and the gothic element is just one component that never comes straight at you. It is brooding under the surface and even then it is rather ambiguous. Because Iris.Fall wants us to guess/explore, it deprives us of answers. So the horror, if any, is mostly in our imagination. Resident Evil, on the contrary, is mostly straight-ahead horror and gore. The music also didn’t allow for a lot of subtlety for the most part. It was first-degree horror and action: loud, dissonant, aggressive. It needed to get the adrenaline to surge. It is simply a very different game... When you face the most terrifying creatures, it’s not much of a difficult puzzle to realize the one thing you need to do is fight... Accordingly, the music is grand in RE6: an orchestra larger than life with tons of additional distorted colors and drums etc. Iris.Fall is a microcosm that invites you to look inside, it invites you to reflect what this world may be. RE6 was a thrilling project at the time that taught me so many things and helped me grow. But now, a good 6-7 years later, also because of it, I am a very different composer and can resonate with the subtler world that is Iris.Fall. Raising questions rather than presenting answers...

Did you watch any of the Resident Evil films before you began work on the game? If so, do you have a favorite?

Thomas Parisch: Yeah, I think I watched a few to prepare for the project. But research for the music was mostly done by checking out the previous games, not so much the rest of the movies. We quickly realized that the movies themselves were not linked very closely to the games, in terms of artistic direction. Also, game music is, of course, different than film music. The games were developed in Japan and scored for the most part exclusively by Japanese composers, the movies are for the most part Hollywood productions with western talent scoring them. Coming in as Westerners to this well-established series, we had to pick up where the last game left off, so the games were what we checked out..."

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The Harrowing VOD and On Demand Release Details: "The Harrowing, from director Jon Keeyes (American Nightmare) and starring genre icons Michael Ironside (Total Recall, Starship Troopers) and Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy, G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra), premieres on VOD Christmas day from Film Mode Entertainment.

Haunted by the ritualistic killing of his best friend, a vice detective (Matthew Tompkins, Sicario) determined to discover the truth goes undercover into a forensic hospital and is plunged into his own personal hell where demons might be real.

Jon Keeyes, writer and director of the film, says “We've carefully crafted an intelligent, suspenseful, tense thriller that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats while driving them down a road of psychological twists and turns. Right out of the gate, we pull them in with an explosive opening sequence and then keep them guessing as the mystery unfolds until we blow their minds in the final moments. Being able to construct such an intricate puzzle like this - that is both entertaining and thought-provoking - has been a joy."

Matthew Tompkins, Producer: "The Harrowing is carefully constructed to be a powerful synergy of elements that make it one of those rare 'elevated' genre films with true crossover appeal to a wide variety of hardcore fans...The film is a potent mix of horror and supernatural elements that underpin a very smart, disturbing, and complicated psychological thriller...the idea of being able to drive the narrative utilizing all of these things, to truly pull that off, from both a commercial and artistic perspective, was a fantastic opportunity for us as Filmmakers."

In addition to Ironside, Vosloo, and Tompkins, the dynamic ensemble cast also includes "The Haunting of Hill House"’s Arianne Martin and Damon Carney (Hellraiser: Judgement).

Available on VOD and on Demand December 25, 2018, from Clay Epstein’s Film Mode Entertainment."