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Creature Features as a subgenre of horror tend to be in direct response to the cultural anxieties of the people that create them. The most obvious example, of course, is Godzilla. A film produced by Japan in the wake of Americas nuclear assault, its easy to see why a giant lizard that feeds on radiation would be terrifying for the audience it was created for. For its part, The Burrowers is a 2008 horror-western set against the backdrop of the American frontier in 1879. Written and directed by J.T. Petty and starring Clancy Brown, William Mapother, Laura Leighton, Karl Geary, and Alexandra Edmo, The Burrowers is an exploration of the evils of settler-colonialism and white supremacy through its protagonists' search for missing settlers.

Since the earliest days of Hollywood, the Western genre has proven to be incredibly versatile, with visionaries like John Ford, Sergio Leone and Howard Hawks bringing their own styles to the big screen. While most fans of the Old West know it for epic, classical and revisionist stories, horror has also been a core part of the genre for decades. Dating back to the earliest uses of claymation monsters in B-movie Westerns, filmmakers have used the desolate, lawless setting to great effect in telling scary stories.

Where some movies will lean into the horror element more, others make the scares almost incidental to the Old West setting. Regardless, the combined use of two genres that are best known for tension, isolation and danger has made for some truly great pieces of cinema. Ranging from overlooked popcorn movies to surprisingly deep takes on the American West, these movies are a great source of entertainment.

Quick Links Bone Tomahawk Plot and Cast Bone Tomahawk Is the Greatest Modern Western Horror How Bone Tomahawk Is Connected to Beowulf

The Western horror genre may be slightly niche. Still, it is marked by many phenomenal movies, from J.T. Petty's atmospheric horror Western The Burrowers to the vastly underrated frontier cannibalistic thriller Ravenous. The genre has established itself as a favorite among fans of both genres, with a few stand-out movies leading the charge. Among these films, though, one stands out more than the others: the S. Craig Zahler-directed and Kurt Russell-led Bone Tomahawk.

Bone Tomahawk is a modern masterpiece that blends genre elements under the distinct vision of its director. However, the movie draws its inspiration from curious places, including one of the oldest recorded works of literature, Beowulf. By drawing on modern and contemporary forms of storytelling, we will look at how the two...

Howdy, partner! Ever wondered what happens when the wild, wild West meets the cold, cold chills of horror? Well, buckle up, buttercup, because we’re about to take you on a ghostly gallop through the most thrilling horror westerns this side of the Mississippi. Imagine a world where tumbleweeds meet terror, and saloons are not just serving whiskey but dishing out scares by the shotful!

These 10 horror westerns are the perfect blend of gun-slinging grit and supernatural spookiness, promising tales that’ll have you clinging to your cowboy hat. So, if you’re ready to explore the eerie expanses where the only things deader than the desert are the ghosts haunting it, then you’ve hitched your wagon to the right post. Let’s dive into the dusty, deserted streets of horror westerns!

Rlje 10. The Pale Door (2020)

Imagine a daring train heist that takes an unexpected turn, spiraling into a...

Human characters often prove themselves the worst monsters in horror movies, overshadowing the supernatural creatures they face. These insidious characters exploit fears, manipulate instincts, and rally followers, casting a darker shadow over the monstrous elements. These films explore themes of fear, prejudice, corporate greed, unchecked ambition, and the consequences of prioritizing personal gain over human safety.

Horror movie creature features abound with a variety of malevolent characters, but human characters often prove themselves the worst monsters of all. Some contribute to the plot's tension or act as crucial devices, while others offer more complexity in their role, influencing things like character development. Yet there also exist characters whose cruel and malicious actions frame them in as monstrous a light as the supernatural creatures they face.

These insidious characters, at times, overshadow the monsters themselves and become an antagonist. Worse still, their often charismatic nature is capable of rallying followers by tapping into their deepest fears,...

Though not the most popular of subgenres within film, horror westerns have been gaining decent, fan-favorite traction as of late. The earliest example is The Rawhide Terror (1934), directed by Bruce M. Mitchell and Jack Nelson from a script that was penned by the latter. From there, one other horror western from the earlier years of Hollywood remains worth noting today. Featuring Michael Pate as a vampire gunfighter, Curse of the Undead (1959) isn't held in high regard, or anything. But it is noted by historians as an early example of a western-horror film.

It would be several more decades before the subgenre truly took off with regard to worldwide popularity. Filmmakers pumped out B-movie-level products until a certain release in the 1980s, called Near Dark (1987). A neo-Western horror hybrid, it's one of the greatest films of its kind, seeing direction under the great Kathryn Bigelow from a script she co-wrote alongside Eric Red.

If Supernatural is to evolve beyond the Winchester family, its best spinoff option is a Sam Colt prequel. For such a beloved show, Supernatural had trouble mounting a spinoff. The chemistry between Sam and Dean Winchester is what made the original work so well, so any potential offshoot was already at a disadvantage without them. The two biggest swings at creating a Supernatural spinoff during the original run were Bloodlines - which had a backdoor pilot during season 9 - and Wayward Sisters. "Bloodlines" has the distinction of being one of the series' most hated episodes (about on par with Supernatural's "Bugs") and the planned spinoff was scrapped.

Wayward Sisters was another backdoor pilot during Supernatural season 13, but despite featuring fan-favorite Sheriff Mills (Kim Rhodes), it also failed to launch a solo show. The curse appears to be broken, as prequel The Winchesters finished its first season in March 2023, though...

Lauren Kisilevsky, most recently vice president of original movies at Disney Channel, has been promoted to senior vice president of original movies at Disney Branded Television, where she will develop and oversee production of Disney Channel and Disney Plus’ growing slate of films.

The exec has already overseen a wide range of Disney Channel and Disney Plus originals, including “Upside-Down Magic,” “Descendants 3,” “Zombies 2” and the upcoming “Spin,” as well as “Secret Society of Second Born Royals” and the upcoming “Sneakerella.” The “Descendants” and “Zombies” franchises have proven to be big audience draws for Disney.

“Lauren is an exceptional creative executive whose deep understanding of our brand and tremendous contributions continue to yield must-experience movies for kids and families,” said Disney Branded TV exec VP of creative development and strategy Ayo Davis. “As Disney Branded Television continues to augment its efforts in attracting and building the very best and...

There just aren’t enough horror westerns. There are a handful, sure, but they can more or less be counted on two hands. There are even fewer good ones: some, like Near Dark and Ravenous, are memorable and deserving of classic status. Some, like The Burrowers and Ghost Town, are a lot of fun. The rest tend to be titles like Dead in Tombstone and are best left forgotten. One of the most recent hybrids, 2015’s Bone Tomahawk, is considered “fringe” horror at best by some, not considered horror at all by others.

Director Aaron B. Koontz (Scare Package) obviously agrees with me about this lack of horror westerns, which is why his latest film The Pale Door is a terrific genre mashup that finds a traditional oater interrupted by a supernatural nightmare. Zachary Knighton plays the leader of a gang who scheme to pull off a daring train heist.

That's a wrap! James Wan has wrapped filming his new horror movie Malignant. Wan has spent the past few years directing massive blockbusters, such as Aquaman and Furious 7. But now, the man behind The Conjuring universe is taking a trip back to his original horror roots with his latest creation. While much remains mysterious about this particular project, Wan has shared some final set photos following the production wrapping over the weekend.

Taking to Instagram, James Wan revealed a handful of photos from behind-the-scenes, with various cast and crew members holding the clapboard. Unfortunately, they don't reveal much in terms of what to expect from the movie itself, as Wan seems to be playing this one particularly close to the chest. Wan provided the following caption with the photos.

"So we wrapped principal photography on Malignant over the weekend. Big thank you to an amazing cast and crew!! You...

J.T. Petty, who has penned video games like Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell and Outlast, has written and is set to direct Appetite, a missing-persons thriller to be produced by David S. Goyer’s Phantom Four. The project is moving forward as Productivity Media has come aboard to fully finance the pic. Casting is underway with the a first-quarter 2020 start date being eyed.

The plot centers on a mother who investigates her daughter’s disappearance leading to inexplicable and terrible consequences.

Phantom Four’s Goyer and Keith Levine are producing. CAA Media Finance arranged financing and will rep Appetite’s domestic rights. Celsius Entertainment will sell foreign.

“J.T. has crafted a unique vision that completely upends the missing child genre in a fresh and unpredictable way,” Goyer said in a release announcing the news. “We are excited to help him bring to life this truly original tale.”

Petty recently co-penned My Only Sunshine,...

It's a happy moment for Harry Potter fans when the young cast pops up in the limelight, especially when they're together. Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) and Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) brought that joy to instagram this morning.

The actor behind Draco Malfoy posted a photo of the pair practicing guitar in their pajamas. The Deathly Hallows actor captioned the photo with "quick learner x." It was taken in South Africa, but no other details have been released by either star about their trip or the significance of Emma learning some musical skills.

Tom Felton and Emma Watson have remained friends throughout the years, posting a selfie or video here and there. In February, Watson posted a picture of her taken by her co-star. Then in November, she shared a beach-side picture of the two of them to promote Felton's TV series Origin. The horror, sci-fi series followed a group of...

Comparisons to Misery seem inevitable, but the bone-chilling trailer for Winterskin also evokes the frontier horror of Ravenous, the creature horror of The Descent and The Burrowers, and even the madcap pandemonium of The Evil Dead. Fasten your seatbelt and give it a spin at the top of the article! Synopsis:Gunned down in the snowy […] The post Bone-Chilling Trailer for Winterskin Looks Like Misery Meets Evil Dead appeared first on Dread Central.

Hulu has released its list of all the new content coming May 1 as well as everything that will leave the streaming service at the end of the month.

Highlights include Hulu Originals like “Into The Dark: All That We Destroy,” the show’s eighth episode coming May 3. Hulu describes the show as “A geneticist who fears that her son may be becoming a serial killer creates a group of clones in an attempt to cure him of his psychopathic tendencies by allowing him to relive the murder of his first victim.”

George Clooney’s “Catch-22,” which is on the Joseph Heller novel of the same name arrives mid-month. Per Hulu: “‘Catch-22'” is the story of the incomparable, artful dodger, Yossarian, a Us Air Force bombardier in World War II who is furious because thousands of people he has never met are trying to kill him.” The show stars Kyle Chandler,...

Holiday horror was an under-appreciated horror sub-genre in past decades, but that's all changed in recent years with more Christmas-themed horror coming out than ever before. To satisfy your holiday horror thirst this Christmas, Beck Underwood and Glass Eye Pix have teamed up for The Creepy Christmas Film Festival, an online film festival that will serve as a digital advent calendar, providing horror fans with a new short every day in December:

New York City, 26 November 2018 — In 2008, filmmaker and animator Beck Underwood and NYC-based production company Glass Eye Pix attempted the unthinkable - creating a digital advent calendar that offered genre fans a new Christmas-themed horror short every day from December 1st through December 25th. Dubbed "The Creepy Christmas Film Festival", it was a resounding success, featuring a host of contributors including Mary Harron, Sara Driver, Jim Mickle, and Ti West.

Now, ten years later, The Creepy Christmas Fest returns for more yuletide carnage,...

More casting news for Mike Flanagan’s Doctor Sleep today, as Deadline reports that The House of the Devil star Jocelin Donahue has joined the Stephen King adaptation. Donahue also starred in The Burrowers, Insidious: Chapter 2, Dead Awake and the memorable “Father’s Day” segment of horror anthology Holidays. Carl Lumbly was recently tapped to play Dick Hallorann with Alex […]...

For those of you who like your Old West tales sprinkled with monsters and terror, you’re not gonna do much better than J.T. Petty’s killer creature feature The Burrowers, which is now streaming on Shudder and is our Pick of… Continue Reading →

The post DC’s Shudder Pick of the Weekend – The Burrowers appeared first on Dread Central.

In today's Horror Highlights, we have a look at Halloween Forevermore's limited edition Cthulhu statue, a horror DVD prize pack contest courtesy of Level 33 Entertainment, an excerpt from The Anatomy of Fear: Conversations with Cult Horror and Science-Fiction Filmmakers, a trailer for the haunting short film Agatha, the cast announcement for Manos Returns, a teaser video and poster for Barry Baker: Aspiring Serial Killer, and details on the All Through the House Blu-ray signing at Dark Delicacies in Burbank.

Halloween Forevermore's Limited Edition Cthulhu Statue: "Halloween Forevermore is a company known to many Halloween and Horror fans. Formed in 2014, they have released one dozen very popular and well-made wax warmers that appeal to both the seasonal Halloween fan and horror lifestyle enthusiasts. Their Undertaker and Cthulhu wax warmers were featured in Rue Morgue magazine. The company that trick-or-treats 365 nights a year is proud to announce a new limited edition...

Probably one of the more overlooked aspects of the filmmaking process is sound design, which can be a crucial element to any movie, but especially when it comes to genre projects. Sound can elevate a mood, hint at impending dangers, set the stage for the unusual and so much more.

Daily Dead recently had the opportunity to catch up with one of the busiest sound designers out there, Katie Halliday, who recently worked on The Strain, Alleluia! The Devil’s Carnival, Pay the Ghost, as well as Antibirth, which is set to make its world premiere later this month at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.

Check out what Halliday had to say on the inspiration to pursue a career in sound, some of the earlier projects she worked on, and her thoughts on the misconceptions of sound design.

What made you decide to pursue a career in sound design?

Katie Halliday...

Down to the Bone: Zahler’s Debut a Dapper Genre Hybrid

For his directorial debut, screenwriter S. Craig Zahler assembles an illustrious cast in Bone Tomahawk, an old-school Western eventually shading by successful moments of horror. Though this feels like somewhat of an ingenious, if perverted version of something like The Searchers (1956), and is not the only recent blending of western horror (J.T. Petty’s 2008 film The Burrowers terrorizes its settlers with subterranean creatures), Zahler’s painstaking characterizations elevate the material beyond the usual potential of swarthy genre films handled as B-grade fare.

Although sporting an uncustomary running time considering the limited narrative (eclipsing two hours), which sometimes seems unnecessary, Zahler’s film is never arduous and sports a completely fine-tuned package of superb visuals and increasingly ominous score.

In the small town of Bright Hope, Sheriff Franklin Hunt (Kurt Russell) is the amiable voice of the law, assisted...

J.T. Petty ("The Burrowers") is set to direct the upcoming darkly comic thriller "My Only Sunshine".

The story centers on a pair of bank robbers who plan a heist in order to finance their divorce. Petty wrote with screenplay with Kate Petty.

Carissa Buffel, Kevin Matusow, Steven Chester Prince, Lawrence Mattis and Matt Smith will produce. Casting is underway and filming begins early 2016 in Ottawa.

Source: Variety...

J.T. Petty’s newest entry into the genre is the horror comedy hybrid Hellbenders (review), a lightweight but surprisingly warm-hearted adventure focusing on a group of debaucherous exorcists who stay in a constant state of sin in order to trap demons more effectively before being sent down the elevator to hell.

Petty enjoyed some success with 2008’s The Burrowers, and it isn’t hard to tell that the same set of eyes was behind the camera for Hellbenders. The director spoke to us briefly about the film, which is now available on Blu-ray in glorious 3D.

DC:i remember first meeting you at Fangoria Radio years ago when you were promoting The Burrowers, which I first saw at Fantastic Fest back in 2008. That film was a genre twist on a western, and Hellbenders is a twist on religious horror. Is the fresh take on an old idea what first gets you excited about an idea?...

The horror comedy, Hellbenders arrives on 3-D Blu-ray (includes 3-D and standard version of the film plus Digital HD UltraViolet), DVD (plus Digital UltraViolet) and Digital HD on February 18 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. An official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival, Hellbenders was written and directed by Jt Petty (The Burrowers). Clifton Collins Jr. (Pacific Rim), Clancy Brown (Cowboys and Aliens) and Andre Royo (HBO’s “The Wire”) star in this … Continue reading →

Horrornews.net...

Director J.T. Petty’s horror/comedy “Hellbenders” is finally hitting home video next year. Although it’s arriving a little later than some fans had hoped, at least they can now mark an official date on their calendars. I have a hunch that this one might be worth the wait. However, that’s not a money-back guarantee. Sorry, folks. Fans who decide to pick up the flick on Blu-ray can enjoy the 3D version of “Hellbenders.” If you haven’t made that jump to high-definition just yet, then you’ll have to settle for the two-dimensional edition. Depending on how you feel about 3D, that’s either a really good or a really bad thing. The choice, for what I understand, is entirely yours. Here’s what the film is all about: An official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival, Hellbenders was written and directed by Jt Petty (The Burrowers). Clifton Collins,...

The horror comedy, Hellbenders arrives on 3-D Blu-ray (includes 3-D and standard version of the film plus Digital HD UltraViolet), DVD (plus Digital UltraViolet) and Digital HD on February 18 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. An official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival, Hellbenders was written and directed by Jt Petty (The Burrowers). Clifton Collins Jr. (Pacific Rim), Clancy Brown (Cowboys and Aliens) and Andre Royo (HBO’s “The Wire”) star in this twisted tale of … Continue reading →

Horrornews.net...

Jt Petty's Hellbenders (review) is one of those horror flicks we've been waiting for far too long. It originally premiered last year at the Toronto International Film Festival and has now finally been dated for home video release.

Read on for all the details, fresh out of Hell!

From the Press Release

The horror comedy Hellbenders arrives on 3D Blu-ray (includes 3D and standard version of the film plus Digital HD UltraViolet), DVD (plus Digital UltraViolet), and Digital HD on February 18 from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. An official selection at the Toronto International Film Festival, Hellbenders was written and directed by Jt Petty (The Burrowers). Clifton Collins, Jr. (Pacific Rim), Clancy Brown (Cowboys and Aliens), and Andre Royo (HBO's "The Wire") star in this twisted tale of rebel ministers who drag the worst demons back to hell. Shot in state-of-the-art 3D, Hellbenders includes an audio commentary with the director, a "making of" featurette,...

Exorcism movies don’t get anymore audacious (or fun) than J.T. Petty’s latest, Hellbenders 3D, which arrives on VOD platforms everywhere today. The story follows a group of priests known as the “Hellbound Saints” whose jobs it is to rid the world of demonic forces, even if it means they must drag them down to hell themselves.

During a recent press day for the horror/comedy hybrid, Daily Dead spoke with Petty and the film’s co-stars, Clancy Brown and Clifton Collins Jr., about their experiences working on the project, what inspired Petty to take such an off-beat take on what’s usually a very traditional world, and much more about Hellbenders 3D.

Daily Dead: This is definitely one of the more unique exorcism films I’ve experienced. What inspired the story and your approach to creating the Hellbound Saints?

J.T. Petty: Right around the time I had the idea for Hellbenders 3D,...

Hath No Fury: Petty’s Latest a 3D Misfire

Serving as a glaringly obvious example of the degradation of the horror genre via raunchy slapstick is J.T. Petty’s latest effort, the dismal, dull and doltish Hellbenders. Petty, an up and coming talent over the past several years, having cut his teeth on horror sequels and showing promise as a sort of poor man’s Ti West, here provides us with a regression of talent, ridiculously employing the use of 3D technology and only showing us that it’s simply a gimmick that merely masks the lack of substance on screen.

A down and out group of Catholic priests known as the Hellbound Saints of Brooklyn Parish specialize in exorcism and live like nasty, dirty fratboys in a house of extreme squalor and debauchery. Led by an extremely foulmouthed and dysfunctional Father Angus (Clancy Brown), the group abides by engaging...

Hellbenders is the latest film from writer/director J.T. Petty, who also directed The Burrowers and Mimic 3: Sentinel. It revolves around The Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints, a congregation of ministers from different faiths who live in a constant state of debauchery and sin. Why you ask? Well, there are some demons so terrible that no mortal man of God can successfully them drive back to hell, and that’s where these Hellbound Saints (or Hellbenders) come in. They are a group of highly trained exorcists whose constant state of debauchery has them more than ready to go to Hell at a moment’s notice, allowing them to take the terrible demons along with them so that they can face the damnation they deserve.

The movie stars two of the best character actors working in Hollywood today, Clancy Brown and Clifton Collins Jr. Brown plays Angus, the...

One has to be cautious when describing a scrappy little foul-mouthed indie horror comedy. For example, one could say that the new movie Hellbenders wants to be Ghostbusters meets The Exorcist with some Bad Santa attitude, a dash of Boondock Saints religious irony, and a little Dogma-style blasphemin' on the side. But that'd be overselling Hellbenders in a big way. It's choppy, sometimes sloppy, and even a little chintzy towards Act III -- but there's also an irrepressibly raucous and enthusiastic approach to such crazy material that makes Hellbenders, for all its faults, a little difficult to dislike.

  The hook is unarguably amusing: there's a team of exorcists in New York City who must remain knee-deep in sinful behavior at all times so that they will seem especially delicious to any demons they may have to exorcise and then escort back to hell. (Read it twice.) This gives writer/director...

Faces of Death is literally the film that will not die.  Announced back in 2007, and based on the original late-'70s title, the "new" Faces of Death feature film was a writing and directing vehicle for J.T. Petty who, at the time, had The Burrowers hitting DVD.

Over the years, we've heard sporadic updates about its development.  Some of those updates had to do with the rights and where the project was originally housed, the now shuttered Rogue Pictures.  

Things then went quiet until we caught up to J.T. Petty today - promoting his new film Hellbenders 3D - who offered a status report.

Read more...

If you love movies about Hell and people who can bender it, then check out J.T. Petty’s “Hellbenders.” All kidding aside, the latest creation from the director of “The Burrowers” actually looks kind of spiffy. The poster is incredibly lame, but the red band trailer is actually something special. If you dig this sort of thing, anyway. Besides, it’s hard to dislike a movie that stars Clancy Brown. Incredibly hard. I’ve rewatched the “Nightmare on Elm Street” remake because he’s in there. Stop judging me. Check out this synopsis below: Hellbenders follows the exploits of the Brooklyn-based Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints, known as Hellbenders, a team of lewd and blasphemous ministers who live in a constant state of debauchery in order to be damnation-ready so they can drag the worst of demons back to Hell. When one of the foulest demons possess one of...

I thought this evening we could use something a little silly. The red band trailer for horror comedy Hellbenders has made it online, and I want to know why I didn't know about this sooner. You've got Clancy Brown, Clifton Collins Jr, and Dan Fogler as a group of unapologetic sinners who just happen to be qualified exorcists. Their mission in life is to take demons back to Hell no matter what the means. The story comes from the comic from Jt Petty (The Burrowers) who is also serving as...

I called filmmaker J.T. Petty a “director to keep an eye on” after seeing his Western horror film The Burrowers a few years back. Well, now he’s back – and the latest red-band trailer for his upcoming Hellbenders looks sure to please. Here’s the official plot breakdown for the feature: “The film follows the exploits of the Brooklyn-based Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints, known as Hellbenders, a team of lewd and blasphemous ministers who live in a constant state of debauchery in order to be damnation-ready so they can drag the worst of demons back to Hell. When one of the foulest demons possess one of their own and threatens the existence of both Brooklyn and the world, the Hellbenders’ faith is tested.” The new clip...

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Tiff’s Midnight Madness program turned 25 this year, and for two and half decades, the hardworking programers have gathered some of the strangest, most terrifying, wild, intriguing and downright entertaining films from around the world. From dark comedies to Japanese gore-fests and indie horror gems, the Midnight Madness program hasn’t lost its edge as one the leading showcases of genre cinema. In its 25-year history, Midnight Madness has introduced adventurous late-night moviegoers to such cult faves as Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused and Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. But what separates Midnight Madness from, say, Montreal’s three and half week long genre festival Fantasia, is that Tiff selects only ten films to make the cut. In other words, these programmers don’t mess around. Last week I decided that I would post reviews of my personal favourite films that screened in past years. And just like the Tiff programmers,...

Check Out All Of MTV's Fall Previews Here!

This Is Part Of MTV Multiplayer's 10 Most Anticipated Video Games Of The Fall! Check 'Em All Out Here.

It's when you're disoriented and a little lost in the dark and the battery on your camera starts chirping that "Outlast" is at its most effective. It's the part where "Outlast" attempts to tell its complicated and largely forgettable story about an evil corporation run amok and German spirits that the first effort from indie developer Red Barrels starts to falter. In fact, after a strong and largely unsettling first hour, "Outlast," the first-person horror game Red Barrels slips from fresh and frightening early on to tired and familiar by the time the final body drops.

Armed only with a trusty camcorder and a note warning you of abuses at the Mount Massive Asylum, you play as investigative journalist Miles Upshur, dedicated to finding...

Here's a brief clip from the upcoming "Curse of Chucky," which is set to premiere via VOD on September 24. The killer doll terrorizes a broken family, determined to settle a score and inflict murder and mayhem. Series creator Don Mancini returns to the story, which finds cult icon Brad Dourif back in the voice role of the lunatic plaything. Is it just us, or is Chucky's makeover more terrifying than ever?

Click past the jump to see the clip and the rest of this week's Horror Bites!

'Poltergeist' Remake Casts 'The Following' Actor

The Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert-produced remake of "Poltergeist," starring Sam Rockwell and Rosemarie DeWitt as the couple who contends with angry spirits in the burbs, has cast Kyle Catlett of "The Following" (Joey Matthews) in the reboot. Fingers crossed for a reenactment of the scene in which the son practically wets...

Fans of The Burrowers and Hellbenders will certainly be thrilled to know that the man who created those films, J.T. Petty, has released his long lost movie Soft for Digging (review here) for purchase online. Read on to shovel up the deets!

The 2001 film, which stars Edmond Mercier, Sarah Ingerson, and Andrew Hewitt, features a man who wanders into the woods after his cat and happens upon a murder. The details of the release can be found in this letter Petty sent to his mum. You can buy the film now and watch or download immediately, DRM-free, at SoftforDigging.com.

J.T.'s Letter to Mom

June 11, 2013

Dear Mom,

Big day today, I'm releasing my first movie, Soft for Digging, online through Vhx. You can purchase it at softfordigging.com for $5.00, and then stream it or download a DRM-free quicktime. The original score by Sophocles Papavasilopoulos and James Wolcott is included,...

Lionsgate has released an international trailer for the horror comedy Hellbenders. The film is directed by J.T. Petty (The Burrowers), who adapted the material from his own graphic novel, and tells the story of a group of lewd and blasphemous demon-exorcising Brooklyn ministers called The Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints. Expect Sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll and a ton of computer effects; sadly the film was shot entirely in digital 3D, and the trailer gives a good impression of just that. Lionsgate just acquired the rights to the film, which was a 2012 Toronto International Film Festival entry, but no VOD or theatrical release dates have been set yet.

Hellbenders, an R-rated 3D exorcism comedy, follows the Order of Hellbound Saints (Brooklyn Parish), a highly secretive and profoundly blasphemous men of God, as they battle demonic forces too terrible to be cast out by traditional Vatican-approved methods.

The post Watch...

If I had a nickel for every trailer I.ve seen that featured a flaming vagina with teeth, I could put that singular nickel in the bank. Whatever I was originally expecting from the above Hellbenders trailer (courtesy of Dread Central), it was all immediately extinguished once Rage Against the Machine.s .Killing in the Name of. started blasting in the background. I.ve watched it three times now and still don.t know how to react. A horror comedy from J.T. Petty (The Burrowers), who adapted the material from his own graphic novel, Hellbenders tells the story of the Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints, a group of foul-mouthed, demon-exorcising Brooklyn ministers that meet their match when one of them gets possessed, and the entire world is in danger. But they don.t just throw holy water and wave crosses around; these ministers drag demons down to Hell, ...

Just a few months ago Dread Central was invited on a visit to the set of James Wan's highly anticipated sequel Insidious Chapter 2, which was using the super creepy (and most likely haunted) Linda Vista Hospital in Los Angeles as its primary shooting location.

During our set visit we had the opportunity to tour Linda Vista, which is not only being used for a hospital setting but is also being utilized as a soundstage of sorts, with sets being constructed inside the hospital that incorporate locations we first saw in Insidious (more on that soon). As someone who has been lucky enough to tour Linda Vista for several other productions, it seemed like an unusual choice to build an entire living room or bedroom inside the hospital, but in reality it was a decision that was demonstrative of the production's indie roots, which chose to go the creative route for their flashback scenes.

Special Mention: The Fake Trailers from Grindhouse (2007, USA): The four fake trailers featured in the otherwise disappointing Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino double-feature: Machete by Robert Rodriguez, Werewolf Women of the SS by Rob Zombie, Thanksgiving by Eli Roth and Don’t by Edgar Wright-are all very entertaining trips down horror/exploitation film memory lane and are easily the best part of the film.

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2) Other Notable Horror Films Of The 2000’s:

This list focuses on films that are partially successful and even touch on brilliance at times but ultimately don’t pull everything together to fully deliver on their promise.

Intacto (Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, 2001, Spain):

This film about a group of people blessed with supernatural good luck has a great premise, several great scenes-the revelation of the plane crash early in the film, the blindfolded race through the trees and the Russian roulette climax-plus the welcome presence of...

Naughty ministers from the borough of Brooklyn who “live in a constant state of debauchery” in order to ready themselves to drag demons back to hell? If you’re a fan of horror-comedies, J.T. Petty’s Hellbenders sounds pretty promising.

Hellbenders, which premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, was just acquired by Lionsgate for North America, Canada and India. Film Arcade will be releasing the film theatrically in North America, and the release date should be announced soon.

Shot in 3D, Hellbenders is based on a comic by Petty, who also wrote and directed The Burrowers. You may remember that some time back, FEARnet reported Petty was looking for fan-made possession videos to be featured in the film. It will be interesting to see how he incorporates those shorts into the plot. Hellbenders stars Clancy Brown, Clifton Collins Jr., Andre Royo, Robyn Rikoon, Macon Blair and Dan Folger.

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Around these parts we're big fans of Jt Petty (Soft for Digging, The Burrowers) so we've been anxious to see his latest, horror comedy Hellbenders; and now, thanks to Lionsgate, we'll be able to do exactly that!

From the Press Release:

Lionsgate has acquired Jt Petty’s horror comedy Hellbenders for North America, Canada and India. Film Arcade is releasing theatrically in North America, with a date to be announced shortly. Hellbenders stars Clancy Brown, Clifton Collins, Jr., Andre Royo, Robyn Rikoon, Macon Blair and Dan Folger. The film was produced by Jon Denny, Lawrence Mattis, David Moscow, Mark Pederson and Aldey Sanchez. Circle of Confusion and OffHollywood Pictures produced the film in association with Ambush Entertainment. Hellbenders was shot in digital 3D.

The movie, which premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival, follows the exploits of the Brooklyn-based Augustine Interfaith Order of Hellbound Saints, known as Hellbenders, a team...

Variety reports Lionsgate has acquired the latest from director J.T. Petty, who last wowed with his excellent horror/western The Burrowers. Hellbenders stars Clifton Collins Jr., Clancy Brown, Dan Fogler and Robyn Rikoon, and sees the Hellbound Saints of Brooklyn Parish, a raucous team of smoking, drinking and demon killing men and women of the cloth who come in handy when extreme exorcism is needed. 

The 3D horror/comedy recently premiered as part of Midnight Madness at the Toronto International Film Festival. For more on the film, see Fango's review and our early talk with FX artist Brian Spears. You can also see a brand new poster for the film, snapped by Shock Till You Drop at the American Film Market, below.

Variety reports Lionsgate has acquired the latest from director J.T. Petty, who last wowed with his excellent horror/western The Burrowers. Hellbenders stars Clifton Collins Jr., Clancy Brown, Dan Fogler and Robyn Rikoon, and sees the Hellbound Saints of Brooklyn Parish, a raucous team of smoking, drinking and demon killing men and women of the cloth who come in handy when extreme exorcism is needed. 

The 3D horror/comedy recently premiered as part of Midnight Madness at the Toronto International Film Festival. For more on the film, see Fango's review and our early talk with FX artist Brian Spears. You can also see a brand new poster for the film, snapped by Shock Till You Drop at the American Film Market, below.

Variety reports Lionsgate has acquired the latest from director J.T. Petty, who last wowed with his excellent horror/western The Burrowers. Hellbenders stars Clifton Collins Jr., Clancy Brown, Dan Fogler and Robyn Rikoon, and sees the Hellbound Saints of Brooklyn Parish, a raucous team of smoking, drinking and demon killing men and women of the cloth who come in handy when extreme exorcism is needed. 

The 3D horror/comedy recently premiered as part of Midnight Madness at the Toronto International Film Festival. For more on the film, see Fango's review and our early talk with FX artist Brian Spears. You can also see a brand new poster for the film, snapped by Shock Till You Drop at the American Film Market, below.

J.T. Petty's latest film, Hellbenders has been picked up by Lionsgate for release, says Variety.  Petty previously helmed Mimic: Sentinel, S&Man and The Burrowers.  

Clancy Brown toplines the cast which also includes Dan Fogler, Andrew Royo and Clifton Collins Jr.  Four new pics from the flick floated our way and you'll find them after the jump.

The horror-comedy follows the Order of Hellbound Saints (Brooklyn Parish), a highly secretive and profoundly blasphemous men of God, as they battle demonic forces too terrible to be cast out by traditional Vatican-approved methods.

The film was shot in 3D; stay tuned for a release date.  In the meantime, head inside for a larger look at the poster we spotted at the American Film Market.

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Rob Hall and his Almost Human FX have crafted an endless series of vampires, demons and creatures of the night for the likes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The Burrowers, The Crazies and The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Hall since directed Lightning Bug and the bloody-as-hell Laid To Rest movies; and now taken Chromeskull's knife to the metal legend Scott Ian's face.

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Rob Hall and his Almost Human FX have crafted an endless series of vampires, demons and creatures of the night for the likes of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The Burrowers, The Crazies and The Sarah Connor Chronicles. Hall since directed Lightning Bug and the bloody-as-hell Laid To Rest movies; and now taken Chromeskull's knife to the metal legend Scott Ian's face.

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