News

Writer-director Rungano Nyoni’s On Becoming a Guinea Fowl begins magnetically and absurdly, and with a wonderfully welcome lack of forewarning of what’s to come. Dressed like Missy Elliott in her iconic music video for “The Rain,” Shula (Susan Chardy) is heading back from a “fancy dress” party when her pop music-infused reverie is interrupted by the sight of her Uncle Fred (Roy Chisha) lying dead on the side of the road.

What follows is a sardonically funny phone call between Shula, strangely unbothered in her extravagant gemstone-adorned helmet and inflated black romper, and her father (Henry B.J. Phiri) as she tells him that her uncle is a corpse. But Dad has a hard time understanding her and insists that Uncle Fred cannot die, and that she must be wrong. The next day, one of her many aunts demands that she feign ignorance if the cops ask her what she knows.

Alan Wake 2 developer Remedy’s upcoming co-op game, codenamed Vanguard, will no longer be free-to-play due to a “rapidly changing” market.

Developer Remedy may be better known for its narrative-driven games – not least this year’s rather spiffing, and very spooky Alan Wake 2 – but it’s also been dabbling in other, rather different genres. One of those dabblings was previously codenamed Vanguard, and was billed as a free-to-play co-op shooter game that has long been shrouded in secrecy.

Behind the scenes, however, Remedy has begun to have second thoughts about the whole free-to-play part of the equation, and has even gotten cold feet over the old Vanguard codename. As a result, what was once Vanguard is now called Kestrel – but due to “uncertainties in creating a successful game due to the rapidly changing free-to-play market and associated risks”, both Remedy and publisher Tencent are looking for a “new direction” for the game.

Hyenas is an upcoming hero shooter that combines elements like zero-gravity and a post-apocalyptic world for a unique new multiplayer experience. The game comes from Creative Assembly and its parent company Sega, and is slated to enter its beta phase soon. Players will be able to choose between several different heroes, called Hyenas, and utilize them on missions to steal pop culture-themed merchandise from evil billionaires.

Following the invention of an antigravity technology, billionaires have largely left Earth to live on Mars and manage to maintain satisfaction in their new life through Merch - the rare debris left behind from human society. With so much already taken from them, gangs have taken to stealing this Merch back for themselves, with Hyenas having everything from Sonic keychains to Ataris. Eight Hyenas have been announced as part of the title so far, all of which have their own quirky qualities and abilities,...

Three years after successfully redrawing the cinema map of Manhattan with the opening of an influential arthouse theater on the Lower East Side, Metrograph is launching a distribution company.

Metrograph Pictures will put out both new releases and restored classics. It will be led by Head of Distribution George Schmalz, an industry vet who most recently curated AMC Networks’ Sundance Now streaming service. Schmalz will team with Jake Perlin, Artistic Director and Director of Programming of Metrograph, on acquisitions.

The distributor’s first title, The Competition (Le Concours), will open February 22. Claire Simon’s documentary portrait of the admissions process at French film school La Fémis screened in Venice as well as festivals in Vienna and London and got the True Vision award at the True/False Film Festival. After opening at the Metrograph, the film will expand nationally, the company said.

Restorations of several films are also on the release slate,...

New York City’s fledgling independent cinema The Metrograph — which opened in March of 2016, the first indie arthouse to open in the city in over a decade — is getting into the distribution business. Metrograph Pictures will launch on February 22, and will focus on “standout new releases and restored classics.” The new distributor will be led by Head of Distribution George Schmalz, an industry veteran who most recently served as curator for AMC’s Sundance Now. Schmalz will work closely with Jake Perlin, Artistic Director and Director of Programming of Metrograph, on all acquisitions.

Its first planned title is Claire Simon’s “The Competition” (Le Concours), billed as “a sensational documentary portrait of the admission process at French film school La Fémis,” which previously screened at the Venice, Vienna, BFI-London film festivals. In keeping with the new distributor’s mission, the theatrical release will mark the U.S. theatrical debut of veteran filmmaker Simon.

Rungano Nyoni wasn’t exactly surprised when her casting director vanished during pre-production in Zambia. Born in the southern African nation, but raised in Wales, she had girded herself for the challenges of shooting in a country whose film industry holds itself to different professional standards than those prevailing in the U.K.

“Using European sensibilities in Africa just doesn’t work. You have to adjust to the local [way of doing] things,” she says. “We were behind from the beginning. It was really an uphill climb.”

Shooting in Zambia was a calculated risk that paid off for Nyoni, whose feature directorial debut, “I Am Not a Witch,” world-premiered at the Cannes Film Festival’s Directors’ Fortnight in 2017, and is this year’s U.K.’s foreign-language Oscar submission. Film Movement is the pic’s U.S. distributor. Nyoni was also named one of Variety’s 10 Brits to Watch and won a BAFTA...

The western genre as we know it is unique to a specific period and place. However, “The Five Fingers of Marseilles” simultaneously honors its cinematic ancestors while subverting the genre, exploring new territory by placing the story within an Indigenous South African community simmering with a legacy of colonialism. Directed by Michael Matthews and screenwriter Sean Drummond have created a welcome expansion of the western genre, particularly within the context of African cinema, where it has been underutilized for years.

“We started with a real world view of wanting to make a South African project that would travel and would find international audiences, and not only appeal to South Africans,” Matthews said in a phone interview. He was joined by Drummond, who agreed. “We felt it was time for a South African story to find its place on the world stage,” he said. “People who know westerns can relate to the film as a western,...

Following their impressively varied Main Slate section and Projections lineup, the full slate for Retrospective and Revivals at the 56th New York Film Festival have been announced. After last year’s Robert Mitchum retrospective, this year’s edition is split into three parts, paying tributing to the late Dan Talbot and Pierre Rissient, as well as spotlighting a trio of documentaries that delve into cinema history.

“For Pierre and Dan, two genuine heroes, everything to do with cinema was urgent. This year’s retrospective section pays tribute to both men, who passed away within six months of each other,” Nyff Director and Selection Committee Chair Kent Jones said.

Talbot, founder of New Yorker Films and longtime director of Lincoln Plaza Cinemas, will be honored with personal favorites from Bernardo Bertolucci, Straub-Huillet, Nagisa Oshima, Jean-Luc Godard, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and more. Meanwhile, producer, publicist, distributor, curator, and cinema polymath Pierre Rissient...

Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord – and many horror films to boot. Payback has always been a constant theme, whether it’s a sinister spirit avenging murder, or a maniacal parent repaying camp counselors for not watching her handicapped child. The meteoric rise in popularity of video games and personal computers at the turn of the 80’s, married with ancient evil, brought a modern edge to this shopworn trope. A sympathetic tale of comeuppance, Evilspeak (1981) serves up its revenge under the computer screen’s warm glow.

Released by Moreno Films, first in Japan in August of ’81 and February of ’82 in North America, Evilspeak nearly made back its 1,000,000 Us budget opening weekend stateside. A few good reviews trickled in, comparing it favorably to the high school horrorfest Carrie (1976). Regardless of comparisons, it stands as a unique antique of a burgeoning time in technology and a potent payback tale.

Our story begins...

Normally, this is the part of the review where I wax nostalgic, and talk a little bit about what this particular “cult classic” means to me. In the case of Evilspeak, though, I can only claim to have known of its existence. I saw it on the video store shelf, but I never made the plunge and took it home. It’s surprising to me, honestly, because I think I rented damn near everything on the horror rack at least twice. I don’t know the reason that I continued to sit Evilspeak’s box back on the shelf, but I wish I had watched it back then, as it’s quite an entertaining movie. Featuring a young and awkward Clint Howard, playing a “slow”, cadet at a military school. As he gets picked on day in and day out, he turns to Satanism in the form of a book...

Hey everyone! We’re back again with a look at the DVD and Blu-ray horror titles coming your way this week. Not only does Scream Factory have a double dose of terror in high definition on tap for you guys but we’ve also got two different collections of modern horror goodies being released by Anchor Bay Entertainment as well.

And for those of you who might have missed it in theaters earlier this year, I, Frankenstein is making its home debut this week as well. It’s kind of a light week for horror fans but there are definitely some worthwhile goodies to bring home this week- check them out below!

Spotlight Titles:

Evilspeak (Scream Factory, Blu-ray)

Life sucks for Stanley Coppersmith (Clint Howard, Rock ‘n’ Roll High School), a teenage outcast who’s bullied by everyone at a strict military academy. When Stanley discovers the crypt of a...

Scream Factory’s May releases include 80′s cult classics Evilspeak and Final Exam, and they’ve released the original theatrical trailers for both titles.

“This May, Scream Factory™ invites loyal fans and horror movie enthusiasts to combat the stress associated with long office hours and final exams with a double dose of 80s high-camp horror romps when Eric Weston’s Evilspeak, starring Clint Howard (Rock ‘n’ Roll High School), R.G. Armstrong (Children of the Corn), Joseph Cortese (Death Collector), Claude Earl Jones (Dark Night of the Scarecrow), Haywood Nelson (What’s Happening!), Don Stark (That ‘70s Show), Charles Tyner (Father Murphy), Lenny Montana (The Godfather), Richard Moll (Night Court), and Jimmy Huston’s Final Exam, starring Cecile Bagdadi, Joel S. Rice (Bounty Hunters), arrive on Blu-ray™ for the first time on May 13, 2014. Each movie collection boasts anamorphic widescreen movie presentation and insightful bonus content. Evilspeak and Final Exam Blu-ray™ editions...

A double dose of 1981 horror flicks will usher us into the summer, courtesy of our friends over at Scream Factory. Read on for full details about both releases, which put Evilspeak and Final Exam on Blu-ray for the very first time!

From the Press Release

This May, Scream Factory™ invites loyal fans and horror movie enthusiasts to combat the stress associated with long office hours and final exams with a double dose of 80s high-camp horror romps.

Eric Weston’s Evilspeak, starring Clint Howard (Rock ‘n’ Roll High School), R.G. Armstrong (Children of the Corn), Joseph Cortese (Death Collector), Claude Earl Jones (Dark Night of the Scarecrow), Haywood Nelson ("What’s Happening!"), Don Stark ("That ‘70s Show"), Charles Tyner (Father Murphy), Lenny Montana (The Godfather), Richard Moll ("Night Court"), and Jimmy Huston’s Final Exam, starring Cecile Bagdadi, Joel S. Rice (Bounty Hunters), arrive on Blu-ray™ for the first time...

Scream Factory officially announced a May release for 80′s cult classics Evilspeak and Final Exam, and we have a look at the official cover art, along with the list of bonus features:

This May, Scream Factory™ invites loyal fans and horror movie enthusiasts to combat the stress associated with long office hours and final exams with a double dose of 80s high-camp horror romps when Eric Weston’s Evilspeak, starring Clint Howard (Rock ‘n’ Roll High School), R.G. Armstrong (Children of the Corn), Joseph Cortese (Death Collector), Claude Earl Jones (Dark Night of the Scarecrow), Haywood Nelson (What’s Happening!), Don Stark (That ‘70s Show), Charles Tyner (Father Murphy), Lenny Montana (The Godfather), Richard Moll (Night Court), and Jimmy Huston’s Final Exam, starring Cecile Bagdadi, Joel S. Rice (Bounty Hunters), arrive on Blu-ray™ for the first time on May 13, 2014. Each movie collection boasts anamorphic widescreen movie presentation and insightful bonus content.

Well, folks, 2011 is officially in the can, and surprisingly it wasn't such a horrendous year. It was definitely better than 2010, which was a huge step up from the putrid 2009. We laughed, we applauded, we were left dumbstruck, and of course we were infuriated. Read on for our cheers and jeers!

Now, with a fresh movie-watching start before us, we're taking our usual yearly look back at the good, the bad, the Wtf, and everything in between.

And don't be lazy by just reading along! Get off of your asses and give us your lists in the comments section below. We wanna hear from you if only to compare notes. Lots and lots of notes.

Speaking of notes, the most common complaint we've heard over the years is that we don't have one definitive list representing Dread Central as a whole so for 2011 we dropped everyone's choices in the blender, hit puree,...

Directed By: Eric Weston

Starring: Costas Mandylor, Christa Campbell, Amanda Aardsma, Derrick Kosinski, Joshua Alba, Christina Murphy

It’s not hard to see why out of about 10 different DVDs, the first one my hand gravitates towards is called, Hyenas. What’s not to love about hyenas that eat people? The cover is simple and straight forward; a giant snarling hyena probably laughing and saying mean things about Mufasa because that’s what hyenas do. Imagine my surprise then, when within the first few minutes of the film, the “hyenas” are seen driving cars and wearing Ray-Bans. That’s right, these hyenas are more like werewolves---only not as cool and worse at acting.

The latest muck that Lionsgate Dtv offers up is the latest creative spin on the werewolf genre and it’s terrible. So terrible in fact that the best actor cast in the film is none other than that...

It is Mortal Kombat week as the new video game arrives from Warner Bros. Taking advantage of the buzz, the two theatrical films based on the game are being re-released on Blu-ray as well.

The first Mortal Kombat was directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and stars Christopher Lambert, Robin Shou, Linden Ashby and Bridgette Wilson while the sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, was directed by John R. Leonetti and stars Robin Shou, Talisa Soto and James Remar.

If you need help with the gameplay, don't forget the Mortal Kombat Prima Official Game Guide, both paperback and hardcover editions.

Don't fret; there are a couple other less-than-notable horror titles dropping this week, too. You can decide for yourselves if Tokyo Gore Police and Hyenas are worth the space on your library shelf.

Mortal Kombat (Video Game)

By Warner Bros

The newest chapter of the iconic fighting franchise marks a triumphant return to...

A look at what's new on DVD this week:

"Fubar: Balls to the Wall"

Directed by Michael Dowse

Released by Screen Media Films

Following up the 2002 cult comedy about lifelong metalhead pals Terry and Dean, this sequel, which recently premiered to much acclaim at SXSW, finds the duo down on their luck when they decide to head up north to work in the oil industry, but when their best laid plans go awry, Dean attempts to get on worker's comp, leading to the kind of exploits best enjoyed with a cold beer.

"Born to Raise Hell" (2011)

Directed by Darren Shahlavi

Released by Paramount

Steven Seagal not only stars as an Interpol agent named Samuel Axel in this Dtv thriller, but also wrote the script, so you know it has to be good. In it, Axel must bring down a gun trafficking ring in the Balkans where the stakes become personal...

There is one notable horror film releasing on DVD April 19th and the title is Hyenas. The film is much like a werewolf film, but substitute the wolf for the hyena. Christa Campbell (Drive Angry 3D) and Costas Mandylor (Saw V) are the principal stars, with Lionsgate Home Entertainment releasing this title. Reviews have not been kind; however, fans of low budget films might find something of value here. More details on this title are below.

The synopsis for Hyenas is here:

"Gannon, a man whose family was brutally murdered. He returns to the scene of the crime to find justice for his family, while seeking his revenge. With the recruitment of the town’s hunter, Gannon learns of a growing breed that hunts in packs waiting to eat you alive. Together they will stop at nothing to bring this growing breed to extinction" (Uhm).

Release Date: April 19th (DVD).

Director/writer: Eric Weston.

Review by Jason Lees, MoreHorror.com

Hyenas (Eric Weston, 2011)

My mama taught me that if I didn’t have anything nice to say, that I should just keep my big yap shut, but in the case of “Hyenas” I have to go against my upbringing and at least say something. Mom, I’ll Try to be positive.

“Hyenas” takes up where other were-flicks left off and gives us, you guessed it, were-hyenas. Instead of wolves, our villains are offshoots from those most “laughingest” of God’s creatures. Nope, we don’t get just any old clichéd hairy monsters chasing stupid thirty year old teenagers. This time, we get Atari level CGI clichéd hairy monsters chasing… yea, I’m being negative. Sorry, Mom.

The sad thing is that the premise actually had promise. We start off with a woman and her infant baby attacked by the pack, leaving Costas Mandylor to seek revenge.

Last week we brought you up-to-speed on Spiders 3D, a new giant spider flick from the director of The Gate. I contacted the film’s star, Christa Campbell, for a few quick words about her role as a giant spider fighter.

The lovely Miss Campbell, who can currently be seen very naked in three voluptuous dimensions in Drive Angry 3D and on DVD next month as a seductive were-hyena prowling for Costas Mandylor in Hyenas, had this to say about her role in the eight-legged, three-dimensional, creepy crawler creature feature:

"I play Rachel, a mom who is going through a divorce with her husband, Jason, when the world is taken over by spiders. We have to fight, kill, and save the world. This brings our family back together."

Husband Jason is portrayed by Patrick Muldoon. When jokingly asked if she got any tips on fighting giant bugs from the ex-Starship Trooper,...

Ready for some werewolf (or should we say wereyena) action starring Costas Mandylor? Of course you are! How in the world could you possibly refuse that premise?

Lionsgate announced today that Evilspeak director Eric Weston's Hyenas (mini-review here) will be hitting DVD and digital download on April 19th, 2011. The flick stars Christa Campbell (2001 Maniacs), Costas Mandylor (Saw 3D), Rudolf Martin (Swordfish), Joshua Alba (Unrest), and Meshach Taylor (Damien: Omen II).

We know, you can't wait, right?

Synopsis

A small town man whose family was brutally murdered, Gannon (Mandylor) returns to the scene of the crime in search of justice for his slain loved ones. With the help of the town's hunter, Gannon learns of a roving clan of shape-shifting human-hyena hybrid creatures that hunt for human prey. With revenge on the brain, Gannon will stop at nothing to bring this growing breed to extinction.

- Uncle Creepy

Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!

Hyenas makes its DVD, Digital Download and On Demand premiere this April from Lionsgate. The film features a diverse cast of horror favorites including Costas Mandylor, Christa Campbell, Steven Taylor and Meshach Taylor. Synopsis: A small town man whose family was brutally murdered, Gannon (Mandylor) returns to the scene of the crime in search of justice for his slain loved ones. With the help of the town's hunter, Gannon learns of a roving clan of shape-shifting human-hyena hybrid creatures that hunt for human prey. With revenge on the brain, Gannon will stop at nothing to bring this growing breed to extinction. Look for it April 19.

Here is a breakdown of the latest horror films that have gone through the MPAA in the past three weeks. Surprisingly the list is devoid of any PG-13 films. All of it is comprised of R rated features. Most surprising, though, is that Mega Shark vs. Crocosaurus got an R rating for some language. Go figure?!?

Scream Of The Banshee from After Dark Films is Rated R for bloody horror violence and brief sexual content.

Bread Crumbs is Rated R For horror violence, sexual content, nudity and language

Zombie Women Of Satan which is to be released by Screen Media Films in March on DVD is rated R for bloody horror violence, strong sexuality, nudity, pervasive language and some drug use.

Blood Night: The Legend Of Mary Hatchet starring genre vets Bill Moseley and Danielle Harris, which was originally self distributed, had to go through the MPAA after the film...

On October 2nd the third annual GoreZone International Film Festival got under way at Leicester Square’s Prince Charles Cinema; and for the first time ever, Dread was on the scene to check it out. Our report follows along with condensed reviews of six of the films shown over the weekend.

Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet, Breath of Hate, Hyenas, Cyrus: Mind of a Serial Killer, New Terminal Hotel, Darfur, and Devil's Playground are all included, but first a recap of the event and awards show.

In the face of fellow Leicester Square-based festival and horror heavy hitter, Film4 Frightfest, GoreZone (or Gz, as the magazine has rebranded) would appear to be the underdog. Having experienced the festival first-hand, however, it’s pleasing to discover a level of intimacy and audience connection that is easily lost amongst the hustle and bustle of many larger profile fests, bolstered by...

For the second time in as many months, London’s Leicester Square is the place to be for UK horror fans as the GoreZone International Film Festival returns to the Prince Charles Cinema on October 2nd and 3rd. Featuring not only bevy of blood-soaked movies and guests but also GoreZone Magazine’s first ever awards ceremony, can you afford to miss it?

Check out the full press release:

Roll up, roll up! The third annual GoreZone International Film Festival is hittin’ London on October 2nd and 3rd at the prestigious Prince Charles Cinema on Leicester Square. 13 film premieres, 2 days, no chance for survival!

Hosted by the ever delectable Emily Booth (Evil Aliens) and Christa Campbell (Hyenas), this year’s festival will be covered for broadcast on Lava TV (U.K.) and The Fusion Network (U.S.A.).

This year will also feature our first live awards ceremony with the results,...

American World Pictures has posted info and trailers on its website for several new films the company is handling distribution for. I expect we'll be seeing more of this in the next few days with so much wheelin' & dealin' going on at the Cannes Film Festival. Of particular interest to our readers are a new Predator clone with Kevin Sorbo and some lycan horror starring Costas Mandylor and a frequently naked Christa Campbell.

First up is Flesh Wounds with TV "Hercules" Kevin Sorbo leading a squad of soldiers being stalked by a cybernetic super soldier run amok in the woods. With Predators coming out this summer, it shouldn't come as any big surprise to see Predator knock-offs making a comeback as well - at least this one thus far.

On a remote Us Army facility that officially doesn’t exist, a top-secret group of scientists conduct weapons research when they...

Clint Howard was Satan’s number one cheerleader in Evilspeak and now the film’s director, Eric Weston, is mixing up some new mayhem in Hyenas. The film stars Costas Mandylor (The Saw series) and Christa Campbell (Day of the Dead, Guardian) in a story about a roving clan of shape-shifting human and hyena hybrids that have a bloodthirsty appetite for humans. One man, Gannon (Mandylor), is out for revenge against the beasts that killed his family but has to contend with the wicked Wilda (Campbell) and her clan along the way. The film’s unofficial trailer was recently released (filming is still [...]

Post from: Screamstress...

Eric Weston, the filmmaker responsible for turning Clint Howard into a satanically powered psychopath in 1982’s Evilspeak, got in touch with Fango to talk up his new creature feature Hyenas. “I would say it belongs in the werewolf genre,” he tells us about the movie, which stars Saw villain Costas Mandylor and 2001 Maniacs starlet Christa Campbell, the latter of whom provided the fresh photos seen below.

“The story claims that there are several packs of these ‘were-hyenas’ roaming around the United States,” Weston continues. “They travel from place to place, finding people to eat. In our film, a man called Gannon, played by Costas, is out to get his revenge on the beasts that killed his wife and child. However, there is a nice amount of tongue-in-cheek humor in Hyenas; it has quite a lighthearted feel.”

The writer/director also acknowledges that it was something of a lucky break to get Mandylor involved.