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Setting a vampire — even a tiny one, as in “Abigail” — loose on the world is a messy affair, which got the IndieWire Craft team wondering less about stakes and more about modern special effects make-up. Are there fake blood brands you can buy? Are there different blood recipes for film versus TV? How much has fake blood changed from Nosferatur to Hammer horror to today’s scary movies? Or is fake blood just all VFX these days?

Who better to ask than Dave Elsey of Igor Studios, a self-described makeup FX Jedi and one of the lead designers of the chilling corpsicle in “True Detective: Night Country”? A connoisseur of practical tricks to create worlds of fantastic horror, Elsey’s recipes for fake blood are most often based on the ones that makeup legend Dick Smith came up with in the ’70s, which have been used in everything from “The Godfather...

Spoilers for "True Detective: Night Country" follow.

The dark, sleepy mining town of Ennis, Alaska, which is where the events of "True Detective: Night Country" are set, conceals many dark secrets beneath the ice. When a group of researchers go missing from their base, Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) and the rest of the police force have enough reasons to suspect foul play, but nothing prepares them for what they find. The researchers are found frozen together with no clothes on, their limbs tangled and protruding in various directions, with expressions of pure terror stamped on their icy faces. It is a rather ugly thing to look at, and Danvers immediately describes it as a corpsicle, which is perhaps the most inventive way of referring to this horrifying spectacle.

Writer-director Issa López chooses to linger on these bodies, zooming in on specific body parts that could possibly serve as a clue...

At the end of “True Detective Night Country” episode 1, a frozen block of naked dead bodies — seven to be precise, are discovered. Their faces and a few limbs are sticking out of the ice, and their expressions are that of sheer terror.

Ennis Police Department chief Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster), who has been investigating the disappearance of several researchers from the Tsalal Arctic Research Station, dubs the discovery a “corpsicle.” In Episode 2, the corpsicle is excavated and transferred to an ice rink. Prosthetics designers Lou and Dave Elsey were in charge of constructing the giant set piece, taking inspiration from the grouping of rats known as a “rat king,” sculptures and illustrations such as those in “Dante’s Inferno.”

It began with discussions with showrunner Issa López about what the conglomeration would look like and what the position of the bodies would be. She didn’t want a pile of dead bodies.

This post contains spoilers for "True Detective: Night Country"

Episode 2 of "True Detective: Night Country" is one of the most explosive installments in the series for years. First, there's the revelation that "Night Country" is a stealth sequel to season 1 of "True Detective" with the confirmation that Rose Aguineau (Fiona Shaw)'s late husband, Travis, is indeed Rust Cohle's father. Then, there's the confirmation that the Tuttle family, responsible for the ritual killings in season 1, are funding the Tsalal research station, further cementing "Night Country" as a long-awaited follow-up to Nic Pizzolatto's classic first season.

But even without the season 1 connections, new showrunner Issa López has done an excellent job of crafting a story and a world that could very easily stand on its own. Set in the fictional Ennis, Alaska, "Night Country" eschews the sweaty environs of Louisiana for a frozen town shrouded in perpetual darkness. Indeed, the...

[Warning: This post includes spoilers for “True Detective: Night Country.”]

Twisted engravings from Dante’s “Inferno,” mummified bodies from Mexico, and a phenomenon where rats’ tails get entangled and they thrash and flail and maul each other until they die: These may not be a few of your favorite things but they are a few of “True Detective: Night Country” showrunner Issa López’s key influences for the extremely cold case detective Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) has to solve.

Dubbed “The Corpsicle” as far back as the scriptwriting, López knew that the snarl of naked bodies — once the scientists at Tsalal research station before they, somehow, all wound up (mostly) underneath the ice — would not only be another entry in the “True Detective” pantheon of grotesque murder tableaus, but it would visually cement the tone for Season 4’s blend of crime procedural, alienation from nature, and the looming dark of something supernatural. If the bodies weren...

Farscape’s creators Rockne S. O’Bannon and Brian Henson gave a new interview as part of Shout! Factory’s Fandemonium Marathon, explaining the thought process behind the diminutive despot Dominar Rygel XVI (voiced by the late Jonathan Hardy).

In the clip, which is exclusive to SyfyWire, the duo recalls pushing the Jim Henson Creature Shop to its limits in order to create the show’s iconic “strange alien lifeforms.”

Farscape | Making Creature Shop’s Strange Alien LifeformsD’Argo star Anthony Simcoe and the Creature Shop’s Dave Elsey on bringing Farscape’s very alien aliens to life.The CompanionPeter Ray Allison

“Rygel, that was as small as we could make him, basically, and be able to work him” explains Henson.

“I wanted Rygel to be 12-inches, because he’s a ruler,” continued O’Bannon. “Which is a joke that could never be said, but tickled me. But he wouldn’t be able to be articulated.

Rick Baker is a legend. The special makeup effects master is responsible for creating work for "Videodrome," "Thriller," "Harry and the Hendersons," "Coming to America," "Men in Black," "The Nutty Professor," and so much more. His work is iconic (and I don't use that word lightly) and arguably unparalleled. Hell, he won the very first Oscar for Best Makeup for his groundbreaking work on "American Werewolf in London," and he would go on to win the award a record seven times. In short, Rick Baker is one of the best to ever do it.

Not only is Baker an artist, but he's also a fan of the classic makeup work of cinema, particularly the Universal Monsters, most of which were created by Jack Pierce. So it makes sense that when Universal decided to remake "The Wolfman," Baker would want to be on board to bring the lycanthrope to life. Baker...

Any time we at Cinema Retro might feel self-congratulatory about staying in print for sixteen years, we're immediately humbled by the fact that Dick Klemensen has been publishing Little Shoppe of Horrors magazine since 1972. You read that right...1972, the same year it seemed like a good idea to re-elect Richard Nixon in the biggest landslide in American history and Marlon Brando regained his mojo as The Godfather. Since then, Dick's magazine has been the gold standard for coverage of everything and anything to do with the Hammer films horror classics. The vast majority of every issue is dedicated to Hammer and yet he never gets repetitive. Dick started to reach out to the Hammer stars, directors, producers and technicians in the early 1970s and thus acquired a priceless archive of their stories and memories during an era in which most critics didn't take the films seriously. Dick's latest issue features...

Continuing their retrospective episodes on horror remakes released in 2010 that celebrate their 10th anniversaries this year, Horror BFFs Heather Wixson and Patrick Bromley take a look back at Joe Johnston's remake of George Waggner's The Wolf Man on this episode of Daily Dead's official podcast!

Listen as Heather and Patrick discuss the lycanthropic reimagining, including Rick Baker and Dave Elsey's Oscar-winning makeup effects, Johnston's take on the timeless Universal Monster, the film's immersive gothic atmosphere, and the memorable performances by Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, and Hugo Weaving.

So, whether you howl your love of The Wolfman to the moon on a monthly basis or you're new to the 2010 remake, sit back, relax, and enjoy a new Horror BFFs episode of Corpse Club!

You can listen to the new episode of Corpse Club right now on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, TuneIn, and SoundCloud.

In today’s TV news roundup, Kelly Ripa will reprise her role on “American Housewife,” and Bravo sets a premiere date for the Viola Davis-produced limited series “In a Man’s World.”

Casting

Beth Behrs, Joe Keery, Keegan-Michael Key, Dylan McDermott and Paula Pell are among the new guest cast members joining season three of CBS All Access’ “No Activity.” Following last season’s disastrous bust, season three finds Detectives Cullen and Tolbeck back in uniform with a revolving door of quirky new partners and criminals while robots edge in on Janice and Fatima in dispatch. Jake Johnson, Sunita Mani, Jason Mantzoukas, Amy Sedaris and J.K. Simmons will all return as guest characters.

Kelly Ripa will reprise her role as divorcee and Katie Otto’s (Katy Mixon) new boss, Whitney on the latest season of ABC‘s “American Housewife,” Variety has learned exclusively. Ripa had previously voiced the role for two episodes last season.

Headlining today's Horror Highlights is a clip from Dave and Lou Elsey's haunting short film Keep the Gaslight Burning. Co-starring critically acclaimed makeup artist Rick Baker and Markie Post, the short film's fire will burn brightly this summer. We also have a look at the short film Let it Die and eight images from the new movie Painkillers.

Keep the Gaslight Burning Clip Revealed: "A brutal murder, a grand and gothic house, a vengeful ghost ... they're the elements that Oscar®-winning director Dave Elsey (Best Achievement in Makeup: The Wolfman) and co-director Lou Elsey combine in the brand-new short film Keep The Gaslight Burning --and they're joined by another film makeup legend, seven-time Oscar® winner Rick Baker, who plays a pivotal role, as well as acclaimed actress Markie Post (above).

Keep The Gaslight Burning will make its official public debut this summer ... but for now, we wanted to share...

Most people think that snobby Oscar voters through the decades have turned their backs on the horror genre. Not so. True, far more horror flicks have been nominated for Oscars — including many Alfred Hitchcock movies — than have won. Hitch was nominated six times for Best Director and never took home a gold statue, which is why he was awarded an Honorary Oscar in 1968. “Thank you,” he said, and walked offstage.

We scoured the record books to find 25 Oscar-winning horror movies, and herewith rank them for you.

After heated arguments among the IndieWire staff, we threw out a dozen or so monster movies (“King Kong,” “Mighty Joe Young,” “Jurassic Park”), ghost films (“Ghost”) and scary psychological thrillers like Hitchcock’s “Spellbound” that just didn’t feel like horror flicks to us.

Defining a horror movie is subjective. Is it about gore and guts and supernatural beings, or how it makes you feel?...

Action director Simon West (Con Air, Expendables 2, Tomb Raider) has signed on to helm a fantasy-action movie called War Wolf. This sounds like it has potential to be not only a great film but an awesome fantasy franchise.

War Wolf is set in 1356, after decades of war between the French and English armies, with English soldier Earl Hugo awarded the castle of his enemy, the French assassin Mauchet. But in the walls of the castle and the lands that surround it, someone has reawakened the Loup de Guerre, the ferocious War Wolf of French legend and the nightmarish creature is now on a killing spree.

Variety reports that this is the first in a planned series of films that will center around the magical world of the Loup de Guerre.

There are going to be a lot of special effects makeup and costuming that need to be created for the projects,...

Fortitude International has added the action title to its Cannes slate and the producers have earmarked a November shoot in Italy.

Ileen Maisel, Lawrence Elman and Jib Polhemus are producing War Wolf. West, Fortitude International and Amber Entertainment hope to build a franchise around the property and Paul Finch, author of the Heck crime novels, is working on a novel of the project.

Andy Briggs and Finch wrote the screenplay to War Wolf, which takes place in 1356 during the Hundred Years War between England and France.

After the Englishman Earl Hugo wins the castle of his enemy, French assassin Mauchet, someone has reawakened a ferocious fabled wolf known as the Loup de Guerre that threatens to go on a killing spree.

Mission: Impossible effects, make-up and costume specialist Dave Elsey and Lou Elsey are on board

West’s (pictured) credits include The Expendables 2, Con Air, and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

Fortitude International...

Makeup artist and Sherlock Holmes nerd David Elsey finally got his chance to transform the famous Baker Street sleuth in an entirely new way—as a 93-year-old struggling to solve the case that led to his retirement. (Watch a featurette on the film's makeup above.) "It was a great opportunity to do something fresh with the character and wasn't just a disguise, and really help Bill Condon and Ian McKellen tell their story," recalled Elsey, who shared an Oscar with Rick Baker for "The Wolfman." "No matter how old he got, we didn't want to lose that Sherlock Holmes silhouette," added Elsey, who with the aid of his wife and partner, Lou Elsey, alternated between the 93-year-old and 62-year-old Holmes for flashbacks. Read More: "Ian McKellen's Performance as 'Mr. Holmes' Delivers Sleeper Indie Hit" However, even though Elsey had been on the project for a year, there was only...

Makeup artist Dave Elsey realized a childhood dream working on Mr Holmes, the Ian McKellen-starring pic from Bill Condon in which Elsey tasked with transforming the 76-year-old two-time Oscar nominee into both younger and older versions of Sherlock Holmes. In fact, you could call Elsey a Holmes superfan. He grew up in London, where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the iconic detective novels, and near the Whitechapel district, where the real-life Jack the Ripper killed his…...

Bill Condon chats to us about Sir Ian McKellen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Beauty & The Beast, and Mr Holmes...

We caught up with director Bill Condon recently to chat about his new film Mr Holmes, a fictional biopic of the famous Baker Street sleuth played by Sir Ian McKellen. Condon has a vast and wide-ranging career in the movies with titles like the outstanding Gods & Monsters and Kinsey sitting beside showstoppers like Dreamgirls and The Twilight Saga.

Despite suffering from a bout of hay fever (your author was suffering too, dear reader), Bill was warm and friendly, and we bonded over our mutual love for the Disney animated film Beauty And The Beast (which he is currently directing a live action remake of).

How did Mr Holmes come about? Was this a project that you were keen to do?

Actually, Anne Carey, the producer, came to me with the script, based on...

Cate Blanchett and Michelle Williams at the Oscars, with a purple-garbed Scarlett Johansson in the background Cate Blanchett and Michelle Williams at the 83rd Academy Awards A bit of newfangled Old Hollywood glamour as five-time Oscar nominee Cate Blanchett, who presented the 2011 Oscars for Best Costume Design and Best Make-Up, and two-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams are seen chatting backstage during the live broadcast of the 83rd Academy Awards ceremony, held on Feb. 27 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Cate Blanchett Oscar nominations Cate Blanchett took home the 2004 Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her work in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator, in which she plays Katharine Hepburn opposite Leonardo DiCaprio's Howard Hughes. Blanchett's other Oscar nominations were the following: Best Actress for Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth (1998). Best Supporting Actress for Richard Eyre's Notes on a Scandal (2006). Best Actress for Shekhar Kapur's Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007). Best...

“Everybody relax… I’m here.”

Ladies and gentlemen, don’t get too comfortable in your seats with FM 275, because a certain Jack Burton is coming along in 276, and he’s bound to bring trouble. And monsters. Another Jason Edmiston cover for the ages:

Yes, it’s the first official Famous Monsters tribute to John Carpenter‘s 80s classic Big Trouble In Little China! Within, find an interview with Carpenter himself, along with a feature on Eric Powell and Boom! Studios’ Big Trouble comic series, plus a complete retrospective on the context of the film’s release.

John Carpenter: “I read the script, and I loved it. I was like, what is this? It was unlike anything I’d ever seen in an American film. It was written by a friend of mine, W.D. Richter. I went to film school with him. So we talked, and he explained to me...

It’s not every day you get to interview an Academy Award winner while wearing a demon hat. Well… actually it is, for me. I love my job!

Dread Central sent me to the set of Fire City: Interpreter of Signs to chat with cast and crew. It’s the directorial debut of monster master Tom Woodruff, Jr., and he’s got his own junior, David Woodruff, following in his F/X footsteps.

Along for the ride into the depths of hell is makeup/effects artist Dave Elsey (The Wolfman, 2010 Academy Award - Best Achievement in Makeup).

Dread Central: So how did each of you hear about Fire City initially?

David Woodruff: Well, when they started the project, they went over to my dad's studio Adi to do the creature for the first of what was then, three years ago I believe, supposed to be a web series. And...

We were lucky enough to get to play with demons on the set of Fire City: The Interpreter of Signs earlier this month while the complex “horror noir,” which is the brainchild of writer-producers Brian Lubocki and Michael Hayes, was shooting.

It’s directed by F/X master Tom Woodruff, Jr., and stars Tobias Jelinek as Vine the Demon, who must square off with an even eviler Demoness, Cornelia (played by Danielle "Dani" Chuchran).

We had a chance to talk with the actors plus the director and his two right-hand practical effects guys (his son, David Woodruff, and Academy Award winner Dave Elsey), but in this installment you'll hear from the originators of Fire City: The Interpreter of Signs, Lubocki and Hayes.

Dread Central: So… what’s the Fire City story in this film? It's based on your body of shorts and other works set in this world, correct?

Brian Lubocki...

Directed by Academy Award-winning special effects makeup artist Tom Woodruff, Jr., Fire City is a movie we’ve been watching very closely from its inception as a short film, during its successful Kickstarter campaign, and right on up to the filming on-set...

Which is where we got all kinds of exclusives on this “hellish fantasy,” which is set against the noir backdrop of Fire City -- where demons secretly live among humans.

When we caught up with lead actor Tobias Jelinek, he was in full-on demon garb as his character, Atum Vine. Right down to his pointy fangs!

Tobias Jelinek: Hi, let me take my teeth out... here.

Dread Central: The writer-producers Michael and Brian were telling me that they had seen 80 people for your role; you must feel really privileged to have been selected.

Tj: I am certainly thrilled. Just from the get go, when I read the description of this character,...

So, this happened last night. Fair bit of a warning for sex and violence.

Lost Boys-esque, no? Gratuitous romantic subplots aside, I’m curious to see where this one goes with its werewolf mythology. As I’ve stated before, good werewolf movies are scarce, and this one boasts almost entirely practical makeup effects (by FM cover artist Dave Elsey, no less), which is something to be admired. And Jason Momoa is a badass, so there’s that.

Here’s hoping the film doesn’t pander too much to the “teen” audience and there’s plenty of arterial spray.

So, this happened last night. Fair bit of a warning for sex and violence.

Lost Boys-esque, no? Gratuitous romantic subplots aside, I’m curious to see where this one goes with its werewolf mythology. As I’ve stated before, good werewolf movies are scarce, and this one boasts almost entirely practical makeup effects (by FM cover artist Dave Elsey, no less), which is something to be admired. And Jason Momoa is a badass, so there’s that.

Here’s hoping the film doesn’t pander too much to the “teen” audience and there’s plenty of arterial spray.

Eagle-eyed DC reader Rob P. just gave us the heads up that a trailer for David Hayter's Wolves, starring Jason Momoa, Lucas Till, and Stephen McHattie, is now online so you have him to thank for this bit of goodness!

Ketchup Entertainment has acquired U.S. distribution rights for Wolves, the action thriller that marks the feature directorial debut of X-Men and Watchmen scribe David Hayter.

Copperheart Entertainment’s Steve Hoban produced with makeup effects by Oscar-winning creature designers Dave Elsey and Lou Elsey. Merritt Patterson and John Pyper-Ferguson round out the cast.

The film will be released this summer.

Said Ketchup CEO Gareth West: “From the first time we saw Wolves, we knew audiences would be swept up in the exciting action and powerful storytelling. Wolves is a great addition to the Ketchup slate.”

Said Hayter: “My producers and I have worked for years to make Wolves something special and unique,...

It has been announced that Ketchup Entertainment has acquired Us rights to Wolves, a new werewolf movie staring Lucas Till and Jason Momoa:

“Los Angeles (January 29, 2014) —- Ketchup Entertainment today announced the acquisition of U.S. rights to Wolves, the directorial debut of screenwriter David Hayter (X-Men, X2, Watchmen). The werewolf action-thriller, written by Hayter, stars Lucas Till (X-Men: First Class), Stephen McHattie (Immortals, Watchmen) and Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones, Conan the Barbarian). The film is produced by Copperheart Entertainment’s Steve Hoban (Splice, Ginger Snaps), with makeup effects by Oscar-winning creature designers Dave Elsey and Lou Elsey (The Wolfman, X-Men: First Class).

Wolves follows the story of Cayden Richards (Till) – a handsome eighteen year-old with a dark secret. Forced to hit the road after the brutal murder of his parents, Cayden finds himself turning into a savage wolf and is thrust between two warring clans of werewolves...

The other night I was looking through those Bernie Wrightson images from Stephen King’s Cycle of the Werewolf and realized that we haven’t had a ruthless, gory werewolf film in some time. While I’m not sure if X-Men writer David Hayter’s new film Wolves is going to be what I (we) want, I’m always down for a new werewolf film.

While I have never heard of Ketchup Entertainment, David Hayter is someone that floats above the radar for me after being involved with the first two X-Men films and worked on the Watchmen screenplay. Let’s just hope Wolves delivers. Read below for the official press release.

From the Press Release

Los Angeles (January 29, 2014) —- Ketchup Entertainment today announced the acquisition of U.S. rights to Wolves, the directorial debut of screenwriter David Hayter (X-Men, X2, Watchmen). The werewolf action-thriller, written by Hayter, stars Lucas Till...

Ketchup Entertainment today announced the acquisition of U.S. rights to Wolves , the directorial debut of screenwriter David Hayter ( X-Men , X2 , Watchmen ). The werewolf action-thriller, written by Hayter, stars Lucas Till ( X-Men: First Class ), Stephen McHattie ( Immortals , Watchmen ) and Jason Momoa ("Game of Thrones," Conan the Barbarian ). The film is produced by Copperheart Entertainmen's Steve Hoban ( Splice , Ginger Snaps ), with makeup effects by Oscar-winning creature designers Dave Elsey and Lou Elsey ( The Wolfman , X-Men: First Class ). Wolves follows the story of Cayden Richards (Till) - a handsome eighteen year-old with a dark secret. Forced to hit the road after the brutal murder of his parents, Cayden finds himself turning into a savage wolf...

Things are moving quickly for David Hayter's Wolves, starring Jason Momoa, Lucas Till, and Stephen McHattie. The film has been acquired for distribution; and we have your details hot, fresh, and furry. Kinda like a Bronie but more masculine.

According to Deadline, Ketchup Entertainment today acquired U.S. distribution rights on Wolves, the action thriller that marks the feature directorial debut of X-Men and Watchmen scribe David Hayter.

Copperheart Entertainment’s Steve Hoban produced with makeup effects by Oscar-winning creature designers Dave Elsey and Lou Elsey. Merritt Patterson and John Pyper-Ferguson round out the cast.

The film will be released this summer.

Said Ketchup CEO Gareth West: “From the first time we saw Wolves, we knew audiences would be swept up in the exciting action and powerful storytelling. Wolves is a great addition to the Ketchup slate.”

Said Hayter: “My producers and I have worked for years to...

Exclusive: Ketchup Entertainment today acquired U.S. distribution rights on Wolves, the action thriller that marks the feature directorial debut of X-Men and Watchmen scribe David Hayter. Written by Hayter, the film stars X-Men: First Class‘ Lucas Till, Watchmen‘s Stephen McHattie, and Game Of Thrones‘ Jason Momoa. Copperheart Entertainment’s Steve Hoban produced with makeup effects by Oscar-winning creature designers Dave Elsey and Lou Elsey. Till plays a high school student who witnesses the brutal murder of his parents, and finds himself turning into a savage wolf. He is thrust between two warring wolf packs fighting for control of Lupine Ridge. Merritt Patterson and John Pyper-Ferguson round out the cast. The film will be released this summer. Said Ketchup CEO Gareth West: “From the first time we saw Wolves, we knew audiences would be swept up in the exciting action and powerful storytelling. Wolves is a great addition to the Ketchup slate.

Fox hired Adi in an 11th hour scramble to reconceive The Beast for X-men First Class and Alec Gillis jumped on a plane to London to meet with director Matthew Vaughn. Alec's surprise that another designer had been hired turned to delight when he discovered he was to be teamed with Adi alum Dave Elsey. Dave had been one of the London crew on Alien 3, and would go on to win an Oscar on The Wolfman. Dave's wife Lou brought her considerable hair working talents to the mix too. With crews in London and L.A., the team pulled off a minor miracle in short order! Was there any discussion about making The Beast look like Kelsey Grammer's version seen in X-Men: The Last Stand? Tom Woodruff Jr.: By the time the show dropped in our laps, a certain amount of design work had already been done by another Mufx studio,...

Odd List Louisa Mellor Dec 17, 2012

We've plucked 13 potential little beauties out of the 2013 UK film line-up, feat. sci-fi, comic-book, horror, comedy, thriller & more...

Look ahead to the UK films coming out in 2013 and you’ll see a diverse landscape of filmmakers, genres, actors, budgets and ideas. Next year brings us something new from Joanna Hogg, and something else from Danny Dyer. Irvine Welsh’s Filth will almost certainly live up to its title, but the Absolutely Fabulous film? We’ll see.

Al Pacino’s playing King Lear, and Stephen Mangan’s playing Postman Pat. Shane Meadows is making a film about the Tour de France, and Nigel Cole is making a film about an otter. Steve Coogan will be a porn baron, Bridget Jones will have a baby, Nick Frost will dance the salsa, Martin Freeman will save Santa, and Sean Bean, bless the man, will probably die.

None of...

The first images and synopsis for Wolves are now available.  David Hayter (X-Men, X2 writer) makes his directorial debut in this clash of werewolf clans starring Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones) and Lucas Till (X-Men: First Class). Till stars as Cayden Richards, an 18-year-old who runs away from his perfect life when he turns into a werewolf and slaughters his family. Cayden makes it to the town of Lupine Ridge, where the alpha-wolf Connor and the aging John Tollerman vie for control. Steve recently had the opportunity to interview make-up supervisor Dave Elsey (X-Men: First Class) who will also be working on Wolves; he calls it "very violent and bloody." Wolves is currently filming. Hit the jump to see the images and read the synopsis. Here are the first images from Wolves, followed by the synopsis: Synopsis: Cayden Richards, 18, has it all: Captain of the high school football team; straight-a student; gorgeous girlfriend.

1.) Steven Spielberg is looking to rival Kathryn Bigelow's Zero Dark Thirty with his own account of Osama Bin Laden's manhunt. Retired Navy Seal Matt Bissonnette, who wrote the memoir "[amazon asin="0525953728" text="No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama bin Laden"] under the pseudonym Mark Owen, has entered talks with the filmmaker about turning the book into a movie. Bissonnette has also been in discussions with DreamWorks and HBO. Robopocalypse is locked in as Spielberg's next directing gig, so even if he wins the rights we won't see the film for at least a couple years. Even still, it would be interesting to see what this take would add to the story. It would be nice to see a more personal, focused character piece, whereas Bigelow's film seems more operations-based, looking at the hunt from several levels of government intelligence. [NY Post] 2.) Jamie Bell and Connie Nielsen have joined the cast of Lars von Trier's Nymphomaniac, which begins its 11-week shoot in Germany tomorrow.

Finally some casting news has come in for David Hayter's furry fright flick Wolves, and we have it for you right here free of fleas, ticks, and all that confounded howling. Read on for the latest on who's eating whom.

According to Variety, Jason Momoa (Conan the Barbarian, "Game of Thrones") and Merritt Patterson (The Hole) are joining Lucas Till in werewolf thriller Wolves with David Hayter helming from his own script in his feature directing debut. Wolves is set to shoot in Toronto this fall. Copperheart's Steve Hoban is producing with Benedict Carver, Steven Paul, and Hartley Gorenstein exec producing.

Entertainment One has acquired Canadian rights to the film. The producers will handle sales rights in the Us, the UK, and Benelux while TF1 Intl. will handle the rest of the world.

Till will portray an 18-year-old who's forced to hit the road after the death of his...

Jason Momoa and Merritt Patterson have both joined the cast of David Hayter's directorial debut, Wolves , report Heat Vision and Variety . They join the previously-announced Lucas Till in the big screen werewolf thriller. For Wolves , which has been kicking around since about 2010, Hayter.s goal is to start an original franchise that avoids many of the cliches that have become associated with werewolf films. Igor Studios. Dave Elsey is designing the original creatures for the film, hot off his success creating "Beast" for X-Men: First Class , for which he recently won a Saturn Award. Till plays a werewolf named Caleb who, accused of murdering his parents, goes on the run and winds up in a strange town called Lupine Ridge. Momoa, best known for "Game of...

More Wolves are coming, whether you like it or not. David Hayter, the writer for the original X-men, The Scorpion King, X2 and Watchmen is writing and directing Wolves, which he hopes to be the start of a whole new franchise. According to Styd, the hopeful franchise aims to “avoids many of the cliches that have become associated with werewolf films” with Saturn award winning Igor Studios’ Dave Elsey (X-men: First Class) designing the original creatures for the film.

For Hayter’s directorial debut, he’s hired Lucas Till, or Havok from X-men: First Class, to star. Steve Hoban (Splice) and Benedict Carver (great name) will also produce.

Hayter had the following to say about the film, which starts shooting in the fall: ”I am so excited to be going into production on Wolves. This is a story that is close to my heart, and a film that I hope...

It's good to see werewolves getting so much love lately. At least those damned Twilight flicks were good for something. In any event, there's more hairy horror headed our way. Read on for the first details on David Hayter's Wolves.

From the Press Release

Copperheart Entertainment, French financier-sales agent TF1 International and Telefim Canada will co-finance the feature film Wolves, written and directed by David Hayter (writer of X-Men).

Wolves is Hayter’s directorial debut, and it will shoot in Toronto this fall, starring Lucas Till (X-Men: First Class) in the lead. The action-thriller is being produced by Copperheart’s Steve Hoban and executive produced by Benedict Carver.

“We are delighted to be backing this exciting movie that marks David’s debut as a filmmaker,” said Sabine Chemaly, Evp International Distribution of TF1 International. “This is exactly the kind of commercial genre film that TF1 International wants to be...

Wolves? Where’s Liam Neeson when you really need him? Oh, that’s right: helping to save his family (and himself) again. So it looks like Lucas Till will be facing down against the vicious creatures alone in David Hayter’s new movie Wolves.But from the sounds of it, Wolves will not just be a simple man-vs-nature tale. The plot finds Till as an 18-year-old who has to hit the bricks after his parents die, his mind running with questions about his ancestry. He ends up in an isolated town and soon discovers that there’s more to his background than he thought.Hayter, who has written the likes of X-Men, X2, Watchmen and The Scorpion King, is getting to make his film-directing debut with the movie, which will tackle werewolves in a new way. At least, that’s the plan: "This is a story that is close to...

Copperheart Entertainment and Telefim Canada will co-finance the feature film Wolves, written and directed by David Hayter (writer of X-Men).

Shooting begins this fall on Hayter's directorial debut and he has X-Men: First Class' Lucas Till in line to star.

Steve Hoban will produce; he also gave us Splice, Ginger Snaps and 388 Arletta Avenue. Benedict Carver is serving as executive producer.

With Wolves, which has been kicking around since about 2010, Hayter’s goal is to start an original franchise that avoids many of the cliches that have become associated with werewolf films. Igor Studios’ Dave Elsey is designing the original creatures for Wolves, hot off his success creating “Beast” for X-Men: First Class, for which he recently won a Saturn Award.

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Copperheart Entertainment and Telefim Canada will co-finance the feature film Wolves , ShockTillYouDrop.com reports. The project is written and directed by David Hayter (writer of X-Men ). Shooting begins this fall on Hayter's directorial debut and he has X-Men: First Class ' Lucas Till in line to star. With Wolves , which has been kicking around since about 2010, Hayter.s goal is to start an original franchise that avoids many of the cliches that have become associated with werewolf films. Igor Studios. Dave Elsey is designing the original creatures for Wolves, hot off his success creating .Beast. for X-Men: First Class , for which he recently won a Saturn Award. "I am so excited to be going into production on 'Wolves'. This is a story that is close to my...

Bryan Singer, the director of X-Men and X2 and producer of the upcoming sequel to X-Men: First Class, has confirmed the title of the follow-up film. Singer said in a recent interview that the title would be X-Men: Days of Future Past, a nod toward a storyline in the comics that ran in the early 80s. It would certainly fit in with Singer's claim that the sequel's story is bold and ambitious, as the comics involve alternate timelines and a dystopian future in addition to meaty social conflicts like internment camps and assassinations. Much more from Singer follows after the jump. Before we get into Singer's comments, be sure to take a look at our Comic-Con interview with sequel writer Simon Kinberg and a recent talk with make-up supervisor, Dave Elsey. Now, here's a look at some of the juicier quotes from Singer during an interview with IGN: Question: You mentioned X-Men,...

Alien 3 isn't David Fincher's best work, but it's still fun to see some behind the scenes footage of what went in to creating the special effects for the movie. The video below gives us a look at the creation of a baby Alien they called the Bambi Burster. This movie was made about 20 years ago, so practical effects were the way to go. I actually kind of wish they would use more practical effects in movies these days. it would have been so cool working on stuff like this for the movies!

Here's the note that came along with the video,

For Fincher's Alien 3, we created the "Bambi Burster". Though cut from the film, this video shows a test of the unfinished rod puppet. Crowded around it are Adi co-founder and multi-Oscar nominee Alec Gillis, future Weta dignitary Gino Acevedo, future Oscar winners Dave Elsey and Mark Coulier,...

One of the best things about the Saturn Awards, bestowed annually by The Academy of Science Fiction Fantasy and Horror Films (SciFiMafia.com’s esteemed editor in chief is amongst the members), is that the winners are almost always familiar, and are almost always amongst our favorite movies, shows, and people in front of and behind the cameras.

The awards have expanded beyond recognizing and celebrating science fiction, fantasy, and horror, to include action, adventure, thrillers, dark drama, independent films, international film releases, and “all forms of edgy entertainment.”

Here is the list of 2012 recipients, awarded last week:

Film Awards

Best Science Fiction Film: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Best Fantasy Film: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

Best Horror/Thriller Film: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Best Action/Adventure Film: Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

Best Actor: Michael Shannon (Take Shelter)

Best Actress: Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia...

Talking to Collider at the Saturn Awards last week, Make-Up Supervisor Dave Elsey has shared his thoughts on the challenges of creating Beast for 2011's X-Men: First Class and his hopes to return to the universe created by Matthew Vaughn for the 2014 sequel (rumoured to be titled X-Men: Days of Future Past). Little is known about the film at this point, and even the rumour mill has been pretty dead. However, with shooting set to begin next January, it shouldn't be too long until we start hearing some casting news and plot details. To hear more from Elsey on his other projects (including David Hayter's Wolves), be sure to click on the link at the bottom of the page. Which mutants are you hoping will appear in the sequel? sound off with your thoughts below. "The biggest challenge on X-Men [First Class] was that I was actually brought in quite late.

Shortly after Dave Elsey won the Saturn Award for Best Make-Up in X-Men: First Class (which he shared with Fran Needham and Conor O'Sullivan) I got to speak with him backstage. We talked about what it was like to work on X-Men with Nicholas Hoult, what the Saturn Awards mean to him, new characters and other rumors for the upcoming sequel to X-Men: First Class, and more. In addition, while I'd heard screenwriter David Hayter (X-Men, X2, Watchmen) was making his directorial debut with an original screenplay called Wolves, I didn't know much about it. But with Elsey doing the make-up, he revealed that casting has begun, it's filming in Toronto, a stunt arranger who works with Jackie Chan has been brought onto the project, and he said: "It’s very violent and bloody, but it’s less like The Wolfman and actually a lot more like an X-Men kind of movie.

The 38th Annual Saturn Awards took place last night and a number of horror titles were nominated, including The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, Supernatural, and Insidious. Robert Kirkman was also the recipient of this year’s Innovator Award for his work on The Walking Dead TV and comic book series. Who else ended up taking home awards? We have the full list of winners:

Film Awards

Best Science Fiction Film: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Best Fantasy Film: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

Best Horror/Thriller Film: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Best Action/Adventure Film: Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

Best Actor: Michael Shannon (Take Shelter)

Best Actress: Kirsten Dunst (Melancholia)

Best Supporting Actor: Andy Serkis (Rise of the Planet of the Apes)

Best Supporting Actress: Emily Blunt (The Adjustment Bureau)

Best Performance by a Younger Actor: Joel Courtney (Super 8)

Best Director: J.J. Abrams...

Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Super 8, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2 may have been skunked when it came time to hand out Academy Awards, but they cleaned up but good at the Saturn Awards, which honor the best in science fiction, fantasy, and horror. At a ceremony Thursday night in Burbank, Calif., Rise of the Planet of the Apes won Best Science Fiction Film, as well as Best Supporting Actor (for Andy Serkis’ motion capture performance as the sentient ape Caesar), and Best Visual Effects. Super 8′s director (J.J. Abrams), composer (Michael Giacchino...

The official list of winners is here from this year's Saturn Awards. You'll never believe what won for best Horror/Thriller Film. Read on to find out just who took home the gold, for better or for worse. Dig it.

From the Press Release

Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Super 8 each received three Saturn Awards tonight as the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films presented the 38th annual Saturn Awards, the top honors for genre entertainment.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes was named Best Science Fiction Film, and Super 8 received awards for Best Director (J.J. Abrams), Best Music (Michael Giacchino) and Best Performance by a Younger Actor (Joel Courtney). The Saturn Award for Best Fantasy Film was presented to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2; Best Horror Thriller Film was The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and Best Action/Adventure Film was Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.

Life-caster John Schoonraad tells us about his work, from Star Wars and Kick-Ass through to Rambo, X-Men and Jim Henson.

“Head on a stick!” I’m sitting opposite life-caster and special effects artist John Schoonraad, and he’s regaling me with a story about the time he made a fake head of Kristin Scott Thomas during the production of The English Patient.

“I did Kristin Scott Thomas’ head on a stick,” Schoonraad says. “You know the albatross on a stick [Monty Python sketch]? I just walked in, shouting, ‘Head on a stick!’ No one knew what was going on.”

This brief tale sums up John Schoonraad’s genuine enthusiasm for his remarkable body of work. He’ll casually mention working on something as jaw-dropping as Return Of The Jedi (“I worked on Jabba the Hutt’s skiff”), and then immediately go on to talk about the years he spent working with Jim Henson (there was,...