THE LEACHING: "Dark Star Pictures and Uncork’d Entertainment are co-releasing the creature feature THE LEACHING On Digital and On Demand July 7.
Written and directed by Evan Showalter (Ante Mortem, Bad Music Terry), THE LEACHING blends supernatural horror, psychological suspense, and creature-feature thrills into a haunting tale of fractured identity and family secrets.
Synopsis: After waking up in a grave on her father's isolated forest property with no idea of who she is or how she got there, Vivian must use her limited memory to piece together the nightmarish truth, all the while being tormented by the undead, a giant leech monster, and her "father." Over the next few days, she will uncover the framework of a truly nefarious supernatural scheme, but will it be too late?
“The Leaching is an exploration of faith, the loss of self, and the monsters (literally) that emerge when people surrender themselves to something greater than they can understand,” says Showalter. “It’s an isolating horror film that plays with a very uncomfortable question: Can you trust your family?”"
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Eric Powell's Epic Appalachian Fantasy story; Hillbilly: The War Of Witches Kickstarter Campaign:
"HILLBILLY: The War Of Witches Hardcover Collection
Eric Powell's Appalachian Mountain fantasy epic that tells the story of Rondel. A lonely figure who wanders the wooded hills among witches and magical creatures as a folktale hero to those who dwell in this gritty dream world.
For the 10th anniversary of the series, Eric Powell and Albatross Funnybooks are proud to present Hillbilly: The War of Witches. A special hard cover edition of the first twelve issues of the acclaimed comic book. The book is not just a reprint—it’s a new vision of the series. When the initial publication happened in 2016, Eric was running Albatross as a full time publishing company. Meaning he was juggling a lot of responsibilities which put a crunch on how many hours he could spend at the drawing board. This lead to Eric being unhappy with some of the artwork that had to go to print. But he’s taking this opportunity to revisit those parts of the book that he felt were unsatisfactory. (Don’t worry, Jabba the Hut isn’t going to show up and Rondel always cleaves first.) This reimagined art will be packaged in this beautiful limited edition hardcover with a few bells and whistles.
The campaigns pre-launch page is live now! https://www.kickstarter.com/
Official launch date is July 14th!"
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ENCYCLOPOCALYPSE PUBLICATIONS ANNOUNCES THE OFFICIAL NOVELIZATION OF STEVEN KOSTANSKI'S DEATHSTALKER: "Encyclopocalypse Publications is proud to announce the release of DEATHSTALKER, the official novelization of the acclaimed 2025 fantasy-adventure film written and directed by Steven Kostanski. Penned by celebrated genre author Bret Nelson and featuring a foreword by Patton Oswalt, who voices the wizard Doodad in the film, DEATHSTALKER will be released worldwide on September 7, 2026.
“Whooooo! A movie novelization!” Patton Oswalt declares in the book’s foreword, “Movie novelizations were a huge part of being a movie lover in the ‘70s and ‘80s – especially if you were a fan of genre stuff like horror, sci-fi, slasher and fantasy… Readers of Alan Dean Foster’s beloved novelization of Ridley Scott’s Alien, for instance, were privy to the knowledge (never divulged in the film) that the crew of the Nostromo’s food supply was their reconstituted waste materials, processed by -- insert future technological advance here -- to appear as meat, veggies, and starches. The mind reels.”
This brand new novelization, created in partnership with Shout! Studios and Raven Banner Entertainment, expands upon the world of the Steven Kostanski’s Deathstalker while remaining faithful to its spirit of adventure, horror, and sword-and-sorcery spectacle.
Andrew Hunt, producer and a founding partner of Raven Banner Entertainment, praised the book’s saying, "Bret understands exactly what makes Deathstalker tick - the pulp energy, the blood-soaked mayhem, the sense that anything can lunge out of the dark at any moment. He's written the novelization this film deserves."
Director Steven Kostanski added, “Like Manborg and Betrayal and Black Lace before it, Bret has gone beyond the confines of my film's runtime to expand the Deathstalker universe, bringing depth and detail to lore that is only teased on screen. The result is a wacky, exciting, and richly imagined adventure that makes this book a must-read not only for fans of Corman's franchise but for any fan of sword-and-sorcery.”
A bold reimagining of the beloved cult sword-and-sorcery classic, Kostanski's Deathstalker
The novelization expands upon the film's world of monsters, magic, mayhem, and adventure, bringing readers deeper into the war-torn realm of Abraxeon and the dangerous quest that places its reluctant hero at the center of an unplanned adventure after accidentally unleashing a curse upon… himself.
Deathstalker must undo the spell before it destroys him… and perhaps the entire kingdom.
Author Bret Nelson has become one of genre publishing's most distinct voices, earning acclaim for his Ace Paperback inspired Double Tap series, and his multi-path Frankie Freako tie-in title, Betrayal and Black Lace. With Deathstalker, Nelson delivers a fast-paced fantasy adventure packed with action, monsters, humor, and the larger-than-life spirit that has made sword-and-sorcery classics beloved by generations of fans.
"Deathstalker is a classic,” said Mark Alan Miller, founder of Encyclopocalypse Publications. “Steven Kostanski’s remake created something that honors the original while carving out its own brilliant twisted identity. Bret expanded Steve’s love letter to Sam Raimi and rubber monsters into one of the best novelizations I’ve ever read. I love this book.”
Author Bret Nelson said, “I grew up on Fritz Leiber, Michael Moorcock, Conan comic books, and many, many marathons of tabletop dungeon campaigns. Seeing Steven Kostanski's new version of Deathstalker brought the best of those moments back to me, and I'm very happy to be invited along on this adventure."
The release also includes a foreword by Emmy and Grammy Award-winning comedian, actor, and writer Patton Oswalt, who provides the voice of the wizard Doodad in the film.
Deathstalker joins Encyclopocalypse's expansive line of film novelizations and media tie-in publishing, celebrating cult cinema, genre storytelling, and beloved properties through expanded literary adaptations.
Deathstalker will be available in paperback, ebook, editions beginning September 7, 2026 with an audiobook release slated for later this year."
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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