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Fantaspoa, the largest genre film festival in Latin America, will kick off in Brazil next month with a live-scored centenary anniversary screening of The Phantom of the Opera starring Lon Chaney and has unveiled a line-up of more than 100 features.

Running April 9-27 in Porto Alegre, the 21st edition bringsinternational premieres forAnnapurna Sriram’s freshly minted SXSW special jury award winnerFucktoys,Marko Mäkilaakso’s Finnish monster horror homageTheCreeps, and Toby Jones’ Fantastic Fest premiereAJ Goes To The Dog Park.

Latin American premieres bring sci-fi satireRich Flufrom Spain’s Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, the director behind 2019 TIFF hitThePlatform, and psychological dramasThreefrom pioneering UAE...

Toronto-based genre specialist Raven Banner arrives in Berlin with a sales line-up led by the Irish-language Galway Film Fleadh and FrightFest horror An Taibhse (Ghost).

Raven Banner has boarded worldwide rights to the story set against the backdrop of the Great Famine in the mid-19th century. When a man and his daughter take up caretaker roles at an isolated mansion, their hopes of a tranquil assignment are shattered when a malevolent force awakens within the building’s walls.

John Farrelly directed and Jim Sheridan served as executive producer.Raven Banner brokered the deal with John Moss and Juan Pablo Reinoso...

Screen Rant is proud to present an exclusive clip from the new Finnish series Helsinki Syndrome, streaming exclusively on Topic beginning on February 16. The 8-episode thriller follows entrepreneur and family man Elias Karo, whose vendetta against the government causes him to take four journalists hostage in order to uncover a decades-long deceit that ruined his family and along with far too many others. When a bank manager and a district court judge made off with his family’s possessions in the '90s, an event that was sanctioned by the Finnish government, hundreds of others were affected and cannot escape the cycle of poverty to this day. who find themselves ineligible for any Covid assistance, bankrupting their businesses. Elias hopes that by holding the journalists captive, he can expose the corruption and conspiracy to keep Finland’s working poor from getting ahead.

Helsinki Syndrome is directed by Juuso Syrjä (who...

Marko Mäkilaakso directs.

Raven Banner has picked up world sales on creature feature The Creeps starring Christopher Lambert, which is set to start production in Finland this month.

Marko Mäkilaakso directs and Miika J. Norvanto of Black Lion Pictures and Timo Puustinen of Frozen Flame Pictures are producing.

The Creeps tells the story of two American youngsters who prepare to celebrate Monsterfest in a Finnish ski resort that gets overrun by small creatures. Chris Cavalier (Hidden Figures) and Iiro Panula (Bordertown) star alongside Lambert.

Disney veteran Barry Atkinson is designing the creatures.

“The Creeps will be a straight-down-the-pipe fun popcorn...

Gamers from the late ’80s and early ’90s may have fond memories of spending countless hours battling massive insects in the Cinemaware video game It Came from the Desert. Featuring motocross stunts, giant ants, and a potent blend of horror and humor, the film adaptation of the 1989 video game is out today on digital platforms from The Orchard, and we caught up with co-writer/director Marko Mäkilaakso in our latest Q&A feature to discuss the making of his modern-day creature feature.

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions for us, Marko! Your new movie It Came from the Desert is inspired by the 1980s video game of the same name. Do you have a nostalgic connection to that game?

Marko Mäkilaakso: My pleasure! Yes, when the first game came out in Finland where I grew up, me and my friends spent hours and hours in front of the...

When you're going up against giant ants, you need a lot of firepower (unless you have gallons of bug spray on hand), and that's exactly what two motocross-loving survivors use when they face one massive insect in our exclusive clip from the new creature feature It Came from the Desert.

You can watch two survivors gear up against a giant ant in our exclusive clip from the new horror comedy below. It Came from the Desert will be on Digital and On Demand beginning 5/29 from The Orchard. To learn more about the movie, visit:

http://radi.al/ItCameFromTheDesert

Directed by Marko Mäkilaakso from a screenplay co-written by Mäkilaakso, Hank Woon Jr., and Trent Haaga, It Came from the Desert stars Mark Arnold, Harry Lister Smith, Alex Mills, and Vanessa Grasse.

Synopsis: "A pulpy monster movie inspired by the cult classic 1980s video game "It Came from the Desert," featuring rival motocross heroes and heroines,...

"Ants are incredibly resilient - all we did is splice them with alien DNA and grow them to super-size." The Orchard has released a new official trailer for the very cheesy sci-fi horror film It Came From the Desert, adapted from a video game in the 1980s about giant ants. The game is obviously inspired by the sci-fi classic Them! (also about giant ants) and really this is almost just a remake of Them!, but it looks way way worse. The film "features rival motocross heroes and heroines, kegger parties in the desert, secret underground military bases, romantic insecurities...and of course giant ants." This stars Mark Arnold, Harry Lister Smith, Vanessa Grasse, Alex Mills, James Alper, Claudia Trujillo, Callum McGowan, and Aino Sirje. It doesn't look very good, but it does seem extra violent and action-packed, that's something at least. Here's the new official trailer (+ poster) for Marko Mäkilaakso...

A lovely lineup of 43 features has been lined up for the fall edition of the Night Visions International Film Festival in Helsinki, Finland, which will be held during the final week of November. The leading titles of the fall festival season, including Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water and Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead's The Endless, are featured. Also notable are Finnish premieres of locally-produced films Teemu Nikki's Euthanizer and Marko Mäkilaakso's It Came from the Desert. Here are all the details in the full statement from the festival: Scandinavia's biggest genre film festival Night Visions unveiled today the full lineup of its fall 2017 edition, taking place in Helsinki, Finland from November 22nd to November 26th, 2017. The Official Selection of this...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Ahead of the UK premiere of his latest film It Came From the Desert at the Horror Channel Frightfest Halloween event, director Marko Mäkilaakso shares his admiration for Roger Corman, love of B-Movies, spoofing and overcoming homeland obstacles.

It Came From the Desert is inspired by Cinemaware’s cult 1980s video game, which in turn was motivated by the giant creature feature craze infesting 1950s Hollywood. What was the main inspiration for you?

There’s so many movies and makers which inspired Icftd, but the main inspiration was exactly that; creature feature infested 1950s Hollywood films, and the legendary Cinemaware Desert games and creature features and action comedies I grew up with in the 1980s. I love B-movies and mainstream filmmakers who give homages to those in their works, like Joe Dante, John Landis, Tim Burton, Steven Spielberg etc. There’s something so pure and honest about B-movies and even...

Amiga fans rejoice! One of The best games ever to grace that classic gaming machine is making it’s way to the movies. Game developer Cinemaware and Roger! Pictures have teamed to bring you It Came From the Desert – a movie version of the classic action-adventure Giant Killer Ant video game originally released in 1989. The film will reportedly tie into (Not follow) the original game’s story and see new characters head to New Mexico decades later and discover new horrors…

Set in June of 1951, the game follows Greg Bradley, a geologist living in the remote town of Lizard Breath in the United States. After a meteorite falls in the outskirts of town, a large army of mutant-ants begins appearing across town, and the player is the only one who can stop it. The game’s incredible success among gamers has created a cult following that continues to this day,...

The line-up for this years Horror Channel FrightFest Halloween 2017 event has just been announced and features seven choice shockers for the 7th annual West End Halloween event. This year, the all-day shocktoberfest is at the Empire Haymarket on Saturday October 28th and embraces one world, one European and five UK premieres, spanning three continents… And what a selection! The latest film from Lawrie Brewster (Lord of Tears); the UK premiere of Beyond Skyline And the UK premiere of It Came From the Desert!, the giant ant movie based on the classic Cinemaware video game!

From the emotional making of a low-budget slasher to zombie nightmares, Gothic horrors, an outrageously strange mind cult, a sci-fi alien action extravaganza, a comic strip creature feature and the last word in Killer Clowns, this year’s line-up is an eclectic mix of the quirky, unusual and extreme. Alan Jones, FrightFest co-director said today:

After...

Amiga fans rejoice! One of The best games ever to grace that classic home computer is making it’s way to the movies. Game developer Cinemaware and Roger! Pictures have teamed to bring you It Came From the Desert – a movie version of the classic action-adventure Giant Killer Ant video game originally released in 1989, which is currently set to have its world premiere as part of the Fantasy Film Fest in September. The film will reportedly tie into (Not follow) the original game’s story and see new characters head to New Mexico over Sixty years later and discover new horrors…

Set in June of 1951, the game follows Greg Bradley, a geologist living in the remote town of Lizard Breath in the United States. After a meteorite falls in the outskirts of town, a large army of mutant-ants begins appearing across town, and the player is the only one who can stop it.

Amiga fans rejoice! One of The best games ever to grace that classic gaming machine is making it’s way to the movies. Game developer Cinemaware and Roger! Pictures have teamed to bring you It Came From the Desert – a movie version of the classic action-adventure Giant Killer Ant video game originally released in 1989. The film will reportedly tie into (Not follow) the original game’s story and see new characters head to New Mexico decades later and discover new horrors…

Set in June of 1951, the game follows Greg Bradley, a geologist living in the remote town of Lizard Breath in the United States. After a meteorite falls in the outskirts of town, a large army of mutant-ants begins appearing across town, and the player is the only one who can stop it. The game’s incredible success among gamers has created a cult following that continues to this day,...

"We're trapped by this giant ant!" File this one under "Wait, this film really exists?!" Roger! Pictures out of Finland has launched the first trailer for a movie called It Came From the Desert, adapted from a video game in the 1980s about giant ants. The game is obviously inspired by the sci-fi classic Them! (also about giant ants) and thus this is clearly an updated version of the giant ant sci-fi story. Sadly, it looks more like a SyFy movie than anything I'm excited to see, but maybe I should've expected that. This film stars Mark Arnold, Harry Lister Smith, Vanessa Grasse, Alex Mills, James Alper, Claudia Trujillo, Callum McGowan, and Aino Sirje. The coolest part in this is the first reveal of someone being impaled through the chest, but the ants themselves look terrible. Hopefully they're much better in the final version. Have fun. Here's the official trailer...

There really is not a whole lot we have to say about the Finnish creature feature It Came From the Desert. After a couple proofs of concept came out Canadian outfit Raven Banner jumped on board to help get it out into the world and now the official trailer is here! It Came From The Desert is an adaptation of a 1989 video game and is directed by filmmaker Marko Mäkilaakso who made War of the Dead, which was not the most favorite thing I saw on the festival circuit that year, but it is hard to screw up giant ants. Mäkilaakso directed and co-wrote with Hank Woon (Age of Dinosaurs) and Trent Haaga (68 Kill). Roger! Picture’s Teemu Virta and Alliance Media...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Exclusive: Alliance Media Partners teams with Salt executives to launch new company; Matt Bomer thriller on slate.

Production and finance company Alliance Media Partners (Amp) is joining with former Salt sales boss James Norrie to launch London-based sales outfit Amp International, which will take on the Salt slate and some of its staff.

Norrie (below), previously of Icon and Capitol Films, will spearhead sales at Amp International. Joining from Salt will be Nina Kolokouri and Timo Suomi, sales and acquisitions executive.

The current Salt slate includes Walking Out - launching at Sundance in the Us Dramatic Competition later this month - produced by Brunson Green, Laura Ivey and starring Matt Bomer and Bill Pullman; and Malicious, a supernatural horror thriller starring Delroy Lindo, Josh Stewart[/link], Bojana Novakovic, Melissa Bolona and Yvette Yates, directed by Michael Winnick, and produced/financed by Lost Hills Films.

The new Amp group (Alliance Media Partners and Amp International) will work across film sales...

You may remember a game from way back when (actually 1989) called It Came from the Desert. Inspired by the classic 1959 movie Them!, it has you traversing the Nevada desert battling (you’ve guessed it) giant ants. Director Marko Mäkilaakso… Continue Reading →

The post New Teaser Released for Monster Game Adaptation It Came from the Desert appeared first on Dread Central.

Exclusive: Producers join Marko Mäkilaakso’s pulpy monster movie based on the 80’s video game; Raven Banner sells.

Fledgling UK production/finance company Alliance Media Partners (Amp) is collaborating with Finland’s Roger! Pictures to produce the action-comedy-sci-fi It Came From The Desert.

The film is the first feature from Roger! Pictures, run by producer Teemu Virta and director Marko Mäkilaakso, whose aim is to produce genre films with budgets of under $1m for the international market.

Iron Sky producer Tero Kaukomaa, a shareholder in Roger!, is an executive producer on the film, which is described as “a smart, pulpy, action monster movie, inspired by Cinemaware’s cult 1980s video game of the same name. Its tall tale involves rival motocross heroes (and heroines), kegger parties in the desert, secret underground military bases, romantic insecurities…and giant ants!”

Kaukomaa said: “This deal with Amp gives us an extra power boost to produce this great script into a...

Exclusive: Video game adaptation sees mutant ants wreacking havoc in the New Mexico Desert.

Genre movie It Came From The Desert from Marko Mäkilaakso (director of 2011 shocker War Of The Dead) has been exciting buyers in the market.

Raven Banner has confirmed deals with Tiberius (Germany), Minerva (Italy), Zylo (France), Borsalino (Latin America), Crystalsky (Philippines), H.G.C. (China), Monster Pictures (Australia/New Zealand), Moviecloud (Taiwan), and Roll Caption (Turkey)

Production is set for spring on the action-adventure computer game adaptation that features giant mutant ants wreaking destruction in the New Mexico Desert. Roger Pictures produces and Tero Kaukomaa (Iron Sky) is the executive producer.

There are giant ants on the way to spread destruction in Marko Mäkilaakso's adaptation of classic video game It Came From The Desert. We first covered this one back in February when the project was initially announced but following a successful Cannes where rights to the film were pre-sold to a handful of territories producers are on their way to launching full production before the end of the year and have opted to release the two minute proof of concept reel they showed buyers in Cannes.For those unfamiliar, a proof of concept isn't a trailer, per se, and most often the footage found within them never even appears in the finished film. Instead they're a an original creation designed to show off the abilities of...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Set up last year to champion Scandinavian horror, the Nordic Genre Invasion has most recently infiltrated Cannes, where some significant deals have advanced the cause. Taneli Mustonen's Bodom is finally underway, and it's been joined on its journey to production by Pål Oie's Villmark Asylum and Marko Mäkilaakso's It Came From The Desert.Mustonen's Bodom is inspired by the legendary unsolved murders at Lake Bodom in 1960 (the metal-inclined may already be familiar with the Finnish Children of Bodom, named for the same reason). Set in the present day, the film is about two couples who go to Bodom to reconstruct the events. It goes badly. “We aim to bring down the whole camping industry in Finland,” production company Don Films' Aleksi Hyvärinen chuckled to Empire last autumn. Mustonen's most recent film, The Reunion, was the biggest homegrown box-office hit in Finland in more than a decade.Oie's Villmark...

Amiga fans rejoice! One of The best games ever to grace that classic gaming machine is making it’s way to the movies. Game developer Cinemaware has entered into a partnership agreement with Roger! Pictures to produce It Came From the Desert – a movie version of the classic action-adventure Giant Killer Ant video game originally released in 1989.

The film will reportedly tie into the original game’s story and see new characters head to New Mexico decades later and discover new horrors…

Set in June of 1951, the game follows Greg Bradley, a geologist living in the remote town of Lizard Breath in the United States. After a meteorite falls in the outskirts of town, a large army of mutant-ants begins appearing across town, and the player is the only one who can stop it. The game’s incredible success among gamers has created a cult following that continues to this day,...

Director Marko Mäkilaakso is currently developing It Came From the Desert, a giant ant film inspired by a giant ant video game inspired by giant ant films! The Finnish filmmaker known for War of the Dead is teaming with Roger! Pictures and video game developer and publisher Cinemaware on the adaptation. The film, which Twitch revealed art…

The post Teaser: Giant Ant Video Game Adaptation, It Came From the Desert appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

Third edition will include pitching of 17 projects and screening of 19 completed features.Scroll down for full lists

The Finnish Film Affair is to host its third edition during the Helsinki International Film Festival (Sept 23-25).

The showcase for new Finnish films will include 17 projects being pitched and the screening of 19 completed films. A Project Development Clinic has been added for first and second-time directors.

The 17 new projects will be pitched to 60 guests including sales agents, festival programmers, distributors and TV buyers, including Fortissimo Films, Wild Bunch, Memento Films International, Films Transit, Sundance Film Festival, Koch Media and Zdf/Arte.

The pitches include The Fencer by Klaus Härö, whose previous film Letters to Father Jacob sold worldwide; and Stupid Young Heart from Oscar-nominated Selma Vilhunen (Do I Have To Take Care Of Everything?).

Other titles include Tsamo by Markku Lehmuskallio, documentary Mother’s Wish by Joonas Berghäll (Steam Of Life), and Cross Your Heart by Petri Kotwica, whose...

Exclusive: Sequel will be directed by Timo Vuorensola and will see several of the original cast return.

Iron Sky producer Tero Kaukomaa has revealed further details of Iron Sky The Coming Race, the $10m sequel to the original Nazis on the moon saga.

The film will again be directed by Timo Vuorensola. Several of the original cast will be returning, among them cult star Udo Kier, Julia Dietze and Stephanie Paul.

Earlier this month the film-makers behind the project began raising equity crowdfunding for Iron Sky Universe Ltd, the company owning the Iron Sky franchise. A second sequel is being planned as is a prequel – and a special promo has already been shot.

The Iron Sky sequel is due to be shot in Babelsberg studios. A large part of the post-production will be done in Germany. The German co-producer is 27 Films Production. The producers have already received development support from the Finnish Film Foundation and Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH (Mbb...

Iron Sky’s Tero Kaukomaa [pictured] is new company’s executive producer.

The recently launched Helsinki-based production company Roger! Pictures has struck a co-production and financing deal with Patrick Ewald’s Epic Pictures Group for historical action title Viking - Rise Of The Warrior. Marko Mäkilaakso directs.

Roger!’s slate also includes Mäkilaakso’s Salem-set horror story Night of the Witch and Mäkilaakso’s action comedy The Troublemakers.

Roger! was founded in late 2013 by producer Teema Virta, director Makilaakso and executive producer Tero Kaukomaa (Iron Sky).

“We are committed to bringing strong and entertaining stories with high quality visuals. We have a solid lineup of films in development and we have received a very positive response. In addition, we are building a reliable, first-rate production pipeline and constantly looking for partners to produce genre films for our audience,” says producer/CEO Teemu Virta.

Directed by: Marko Makilaakso

Written by: Marko Makilaakso

Starring: Mikko Leppilampi, Andrew Tiernan, Samuel Vauramo, Jouko Ahola, Antti Reini, Magdalena Gorska

The zombie movie apocalypse continues with War of the Dead, an action film/zombie hybrid with some surprisingly strong cinematography, solid performances and several other positive aspects the target audience will not especially care about.

During WWII, along the Russian border, Nazi scientists hide away in a secret bunker and perform “anti-death” experiments on captured Russian soldiers. When the test subjects turn into crazed, flesh-eating zombies with superhuman strength, the experiments are abandoned and the “evidence” is buried in a mass grave. Two years later an American and Finnish task force led by Captain Stone (Andrew Tiernan) is recruited to find and destroy the Nazi bunker. They face off with German soldiers and several men on both sides are killed or severely wounded.

The remaining members of the task force continue on their mission,...

Normally, a B-movie that can find a new fun twist on killing Nazis (like Iron Sky) or zombies (like far too many to list) earns a place in the pantheon of cult classic films. Marko Makilaakso’s War of the Dead deserves no such dubious honor but it comes close. Despite some decent special effects and writing with definite potential, the cast drags the film into worthless slop with acting that’s over-the-top in just the wrong way. It’s never so bad it’s funny; it’s just poorly made with the cast going for the most obvious character portrayals while still making themselves impossible to invest in from the audience’s perspective. As both writer and director it’s clear Marko Makilaakso could have a potentially bright future down the road, but it doesn’t start with War of the Dead.

Read more...

Described as "Band of Brothers" meets "The Walking Dead," War of the Dead is hitting Blu-ray and DVD just after the first of the new year from Entertainment One, and we have all the info you need on the film right here, including a trailer and some stills.

From the Press Release:

The "March of the Undead" continues from Entertainment One, home of all things that shamble with War of the Dead (UK DVD review here), an epic mashup of zombie and war films! In the record books as the most expensive film to ever be shot in Lithuania, it's certain to give you your fix if you're the kinda person who just can't resist a zombie in uniform. Could there be a better film to start off the New Year with?

The film is directed by Marko Mäkilaakso and stars Andrew Tiernan (300; The Pianist; Lock, Stock and Two Smoking...

Director: Marko Mäkilaakso. Writers Marko Mäkilaakso, and Barr B. Potter. Cast: Andrew Tiernan, Mikko Leppilampi, Samuel Vauramo, Jouko Ahola, Mark Wingett, and Andreas Wilson. War of the Dead was originally titled Stone's War. This film has undergone several other changes in its eight year production history. Production companies have come and gone along with primary cast members. James van der Beek was one actor who was attached to this picture only to be replaced by another. War of the Dead released in the United Kingdom on DVD May 28th and this film has not overcome the many challenges of production. The film reviewed here is simply lackluster in story and character development. Only a few exciting film elements draw this title out of complete oblivion. The film is set during World War II. Finnish and American forces are working together to destroy an underground German bunker. Beneath the ground, an...

The horror news coming out of the Cannes Film Market is literally bursting at the seams! Here's all the latest in one neat little story. Read on!

First up... Worldview Entertainment will finance and produce The Green Inferno, Eli Roth's directorial follow-up to the Hostel franchise. Plot points on the horror-thriller remain under wraps, and production is set to begin in autumn in Peru and Chile. Roth co-wrote the screenplay with Aftershock co-writer Guillermo Amoedo from an original story by Roth. Roth recently directed the pilot episode of Netflix’s “Hemlock Grove.”

The Little Film Company has licensed the sci-fi thriller War of the Dead to eOne in the Us, Momentum in the UK, and Alliance in Canada. Marko Makilaakso directed the story “set during the second world war as an elite troop of Us and Finnish forces encounter a terrifying enemy deep in the frozen forests.”

Fox will...

As its title suggests, “War of the Dead” is a horror-action hybrid which sees soldiers facing off against zombies, this time with a World War II backdrop. Much like its undead ghouls, the Finish film actually lurched its way slowly to the screen over several years, managing to overcome a troubled production history which saw funding problems and the loss of lead actors on two occasions. Thankfully, director Marko Mäkilaakso, best known for his documentaries and shorts, was able to keep a steady hand, and the film finally lands shortly on region 2 DVD via Momentum. The film opens in 1939 in a secret Nazi bunker on the Russian/Finish border, where dastardly scientists are carrying out ‘anti-death’ experiments. Fast forward a couple of years, and a squad of American and Finish soldiers arrives on the scene, charged with cleaning up the mess and eliminating any survivors, living or dead. Surviving an ambush en route,...

World War II didn’t last as long as anyone waiting for the eventual release of Marko Mäkilaakso’s WWII zombie flick “War of the Dead”. I kid, I kid. It hasn’t been that long. It just feels like it’s been that long. But wait no longer, kids — or at least, you won’t have to wait too much longer. UK-based Momentum Pictures has announced that “War of the Dead” will be bringing the zombie war home on May 28, 2012. The press release only mentions DVD and not Blu-ray, so it appears this will only be a DVD release only. Here’s a reminder what “War of the Dead” is all about: At the beginning of World War II in 1939, in a secret bunker near the border of Russia and Finland, the Nazis began “Anti-Death” experiments on captured Russian soldiers. Two years later the project was abandoned with all...

Well folks, it’s not quite the glitz filled opening event we were expecting, but after nearly four long years of waiting, Marko Makilaakso’s (Finnish, but filmed in English) World War II action/zombie flick War of the Dead, has finally got release date...of sorts! And if you haven’t guesses already...yep, it’s heading straight to DVD. Comments about lost opportunities to one side, here’s the good news. UK outfit Momentum Pictures have nabbed the rights to the movie, and it bows there on May 28. Synopsis: Captain Martin Stone is leading a finely-trained, elite platoon of American and Finnish soldiers as they attack an enemy bunker. Underestimating their enemy’s strength, they are quickly beaten back into the forest. As they try to regroup, they are suddenly attacked by the same soldiers they had just killed a few minutes earlier. Forced to flee deeper into Russian territory,...

The UK’s favorite horror festival visits its second home at the Glasgow Film Festival for the 7th year with its biggest lineup ever. From Friday, February 24th, to Saturday, February 25th, Film4 FrightFest will be screening 11 new must-see genre titles, 10 of which are UK premieres.

From the Press Release:

Expect to be taken on a roller-coaster ride from hell with this ghoulish global celluloid feast featuring Argentinean demons, flesh-hungry Russian zombies, mutant cannibals, a Chinese-speaking alien, Asia’s deadliest killers, a Croatian hit-man, Pinocchio obsessed psychos, and Jack Nicholson like you’ve never seen him before.

With guest directors and filmmakers from all over world (to be announced shortly), surprises on screen and off, and our unique community feeling, FrightFest at the Gff has now become a must-attend occasion on the horror fantasy fan's calendar.

Alan Jones, FrightFest’s co-director said: "Film4 FrightFest is thrilled to be part of...

The UK’s favourite horror fantasy festival returns to its second home at the Glasgow Film Festival for the 7th year with its biggest line-up ever.

From Friday Feb 24 to Saturday Feb 25, Film4 FrightFest will be screening eleven new must-see genre titles. ten of which are UK premieres. So expect to be taken of the roller-coaster ride from hell with this ghoulish global celluloid feast, featuring Argentinean demons, flesh-hungry Russian zombies, mutant cannibals, a Chinese-speaking alien, Asia’s deadliest killers, a Croatian hit-man, Pinocchio obsessed psychos and Jack Nicholson like you’ve never seen him before.

With guest directors and filmmakers from all over world (to be announced shortly), surprises on screen and off, and our unique community feeling, FrightFest at the Gff has now become a must-attend occasion on the horror fantasy fan’s calendar.

Here is the full line-up

Fri 24

13:30 Corman’S World: Exploits Of A Hollywood...

My favourite horror film festival, FrightFest, have announced the line-up for next month’s Glasgow Ff, which takes place as part of the Glasgow Film Festival – with what looks to be the biggest line-up ever. Says Alan Jones, FrightFest’s co-director:

Film4 FrightFest is thrilled to be part of the Glasgow Film Festival for its seventh and biggest year. We’ll be showing eleven fantastic premieres, previews and special events to shock, thrill and amaze over two days – plus those must-meet guests from all corners of the genre. So, be part of the best community spirit in the country while watching the best fright stuff currently on offer. There couldn’t be a better way to delve into 2012 and ready yourselves for FrightFest the 13th in August

From Friday February 24th to Saturday February 25th, Film4 FrightFest will be screening Eleven new genre titles, ten of which are UK premieres...

We started reporting on Marko Mäkilaakso’s “War of the Dead” back when it was still called “Stone’s War”, named after the film’s main character. There were trailers, posters, images, but never a release date. 2008 was the last time we heard anything about the movie, but now it seems like Stone and company are finally getting their chance at a wide release. The long-delayed zombie actioner finds a platoon of American and Finnish soldiers who are driven deep into a Russian forest, where they discover a terrifying Nazi secret. Hint: zombies. Nazi zombies, to be more exact. March 1942. Captain Martin Stone leads an American unit on a mission to destroy an enemy bunker; joining forces with an elite platoon of soldiers. But when the troops find themselves being attacked by the same enemy soldiers they had killed in an earlier ambush, they quickly begin to question who exactly the enemy is…...

For those Shock readers living in the UK, The Little Film company has sold War of of the Dead to Momentum Films/Alliance Pictures, so look for it to be released in the near future. War of the Dead is directed by Marko Makilaakso and stars Andrew Tiernan as Captain Martin Stone who leads a specially trained, elite platoon of American and Finnish soldiers who attack an enemy bunker. Underestimating their enemy.s strength, they are quickly beaten back into the forest. As the platoon tries to regroup, they are suddenly attacked by the same soldiers whom they.d just killed minutes earlier. Forced to flee deeper into Russian territory, they discover one of war.s most terrifying secrets and realize they have woken up a far more deadly enemy. Stay tuned for any U.S. distribution...

War of the Dead

Directed by Marko Makilaakso

2011, Germany/Italy/Lithuania, 85 minutes

There’s no villain quite like a Nazi, unless it’s a Nazi zombie. War of the Dead has plenty of Nazi zombies, along with Soviet zombies, Finnish zombies, and probably some American zombies. National identity gets less important the further along a zombie outbreak you are.

Anyway, War of the Dead takes us to the last days of the Second World War, where a joint American/Finnish task force is set to attack a Soviet-occupied bunker, which was once occupied by Nazis and the scene of horrific experiments. Then, zombies happen—I don’t mean to sound glib. There are other things going on in this movie, like character development, backstory, and that sort of thing. It’s just that director Marko Makilaakso has a talent for cutting away nonsense and focusing on what’s important to the film: the soldiers,...

Looks like it's going to be a big year for zombie apocalypses once again and writer/director Marko Makilaakso's Lithuanian zombie effort 'War of the Dead' (also known as 'Stone's War') looks to be leading the flesh-hungry pack. The flick is set to premiere finally at this years Toronto After Dark Film Festival and it's also scored a new festival poster and trailer. Andrew Tiernan, Mikko Leppilampi, Samuli Vauramo, Jouko Ahola, Mark Wingett, Andreas Wilson, Antti Reini and the sexy Magdalena Gorska (below) all star. Check out the plot, one-sheet and new trailer below....

We’ve asked that question more than once, and more than once Marko Makilaakso’s World War II action/zombie flick War of the Dead, has failed to fill its dance card. Well, it seems times they are a changing. A new poster is out - and the reason? War of the Dead is finally finished and set to premiere at this years Toronto After Dark film festival. Now, lets just hope someone picks up the rights to it, and releases the damn thing so we can see it. Festival trailer below. Synopsis: Captain Martin Stone is leading a finely-trained, elite platoon of American and Finnish soldiers as they attack an enemy bunker. Underestimating their enemy’s strength, they are quickly beaten back into the forest. As they try to regroup, they are suddenly attacked by the same soldiers they had just killed a few minutes earlier. Forced to flee deeper into Russian territory,...

We’ve asked that question more than once, and more than once Marko Makilaakso’s World War II action/zombie flick War of the Dead, has failed to fill its dance card. Well, it seems times they are a changing. A new poster is out - and the reason? War of the Dead is finally finished and set to premiere at this years Toronto After Dark film festival. Now, lets just hope someone picks up the rights to it, and releases the damn thing so we can see it. Festival trailer below. Synopsis: Captain Martin Stone is leading a finely-trained, elite platoon of American and Finnish soldiers as they attack an enemy bunker. Underestimating their enemy’s strength, they are quickly beaten back into the forest. As they try to regroup, they are suddenly attacked by the same soldiers they had just killed a few minutes earlier. Forced to flee deeper into Russian territory,...

Just recently, we to told you the Toronto After Dark film festival announced its line-up, including the world premiere of Marko Makilaakso's War of the Dead . Today, we've got some images and art to share with you. Formerly known as Stone's War , this World War II zombie flick stars Andrew Tiernan (Ephialtes of 300 ). Synopsis: Captain Martin Stone is leading a finely-trained, elite platoon of American and Finnish soldiers as they attack an enemy bunker. Underestimating their enemy.s strength, they are quickly beaten back into the forest. As they try to regroup, they are suddenly attacked by the same soldiers they had just killed a few minutes earlier. Forced to flee deeper into Russian territory, they discover one of war.s most terrifying secrets and realize they have...

Can one ever tire of Nazi Zombies? I hope not because Finnish director Marko Mäkilaakso has been working a long time on his film War of the Dead. The WWII era zombie flick is set to have it's world premiere at Toronto After Dark and in anticipation of its arrival a fresh one sheet and teaser are ready for your approval. Captain Martin Stone is leading a finely-trained, elite platoon of American and Finnish soldiers as they attack an enemy bunker. Underestimating their enemy's strength, they are quickly beaten back into the forest. As they try to regroup, they are suddenly attacked by the same soldiers they had just killed a few minutes earlier. Forced to flee deeper into Russian territory, they discover one of war's most terrifying...

It seems like forever that fans have waiting to for epic World War II zombie film War Of The Dead directed by award-winning Finnish music video director Marko Mäkilaakso to be completed. Outdated clips on YouTube date back to 2008, but the multi-national co-production starring Andrew Tiernan (300) has been at least five years in the making, and is already on the record books at the most expensive film ever to be shot in Lithuania. Finally this week came exciting news that the World Premiere of War is set for next month's Toronto After Dark Film Festival (October 20-27). But a quick search online revealed no new artwork or official trailer. But all that changes today, as Bloody-Disgusting can now exclusively reveal to fans the official one-sheet and official teaser for the World Premiere of War of the Dead! Check out the bloody zombie Nazi action below...

The official announcement for the last wave of films screening at this year’s After Dark Film Festival was made last tonight on Canada’s Space Channel. Making the list is the new film by Jason Trost titled Vs. about, “four Super Heroes who find themselves abducted by their Arch Nemesis and are forced to compete in a series of challenges in order to save an abandoned town full of kidnapped innocent civilians”. I’ve heard great things about this film from some lucky few who have already seen it, and considering I was a huge fan of the director’s previous film, The Fp, Vs. is at the top of my list of things to see. Also announced is Mike Flanagan’s Absentia, which we raved about, a while back on episode 25 of the Sordid Cinema podcast. Some Guy Who Kills People also make the cut. I highly recommend...

Love zombies and war!? Then you're in luck. No...it's not 'World War Z', it's Lithuanian horror flick 'War of the Dead' (also known as 'Stone's War'). The new action zombie feature from writer/director Marko Makilaakso, which he co-wrote along with Barr B. Potter, has been around for a while now and finally it appears to be ramping up towards an actual release! A new, albeit brief, ad for the movie has appeared over at the official Facebook page which you can check out below revealing 2011 as the release year. The movie stars Andrew Tiernan, Mikko Leppilampi, Samuli Vauramo, Jouko Ahola, Mark Wingett, Andreas Wilson, Antti Reini and hottie Magdalena Gorska - who you can check out below in a cheeky and downright dirty topless pic!...

Back in February we posed the question as to whether Marko Mäkilaakso’s World War II action/zombie flick, was finally going to see the light of day after we’d heard some rumblings that it was so. Well this new (if short) teaser trail has to say anything about the matter, that’ll be a Yes. About damn time too. More hopefully soon. Synopsis: Captain Martin Stone is leading a finely-trained, elite platoon of American and Finnish soldiers as they attack an enemy bunker. Underestimating their enemy’s strength, they are quickly beaten back into the forest. As they try to regroup, they are suddenly attacked by the same soldiers they had just killed a few minutes earlier. Forced to flee deeper into Russian territory, they discover one of war’s most terrifying secrets and realize they have woken up a far more deadly enemy. Via: Quietearth...

Funny how things can evolve throughout the creative process. When I first saw a listing for Deadly Descent on UFO International Productions' website months ago, the synopsis described skiers and snowboarders trapped on a mountain by an avalanche having to also deal with a pack of wild dogs after them. Somewhere along the way those ravenous dogs got turned into a Yeti and the title got massively elongated to Deadly Descent: The Legend of the Abominable Snowman.

In 1992 Glacier Peak, Washington, a small group of back country skiers climb Glacier Peak, one of most remote mountains in the Cascade Range. Lead by Jake Tanner, the group is somewhere high up on the mountain where they disappear and are never seen again.

Present Day - Glacier Peak. A helicopter soars over the snowy peak. In the rear cabin is a U.S. Special Forces member fresh off a long tour in Afghanistan: Brian Tanner.