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50 years after The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Allen Danziger is back with a massacre of a different kind in The WeedHacker Massacre.

Danziger, who played Jerry in Tobe Hooper‘s 1974 classic, co-created the new horror-comedy with writer Ray Spivey. He also appears in the movie as Sheriff Danzinshoos and serves as executive producer.

In the meta slasher, the cast and crew of The WeedHacker Massacre boldly attempt to film their movie where a series of gruesome unsolved murders occurred 10 years ago. Bad acting, bounced payroll checks, and the masked killer’s return threaten what is surely to become their worst movie ever.

Directed by stunt performer Jody Stelzig, the film stars David Treviño, Molly Sakonchick, Bobbie Grace (“Fear the Walking Dead”), Sean Reyna, and Parrish Randall (Circus of the Dead).

Currently seeking distribution, The WeedHacker Massacre will premiere at the Golden State Film Festival on February 20 at the Tcl Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Exclusive: Lioness star and executive producer Jill Wagner has signed with Cesd for theatrical representation.

Wagner can currently be seen as CIA Spec Ops team leader Bobby in Taylor Sheridan’s Lioness, alongside Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman in the Paramount+ spy thriller series, which wrapped its second season in December. She also serves as an executive producer on the series.

She previously starred in MTV’s Teen Wolf as Kate Argent, one of the primary antagonists featured throughout the show’s first four seasons, and served as host of Teen Wolf‘s after-show Wolf Watch. She also was cast as the first female regular sketch performer on MTV’s popular television series Punk’d, opposite Ashton Kutcher.

She went on to become a regular in Hallmark Channel movies and mysteries, including Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses; Mystery 101, Hearts of Winter; The Angel Tree; and, A Christmas Miracle for Daisy,...

From empty hotel lobbies to dreamscapes comprised of infinitely expanding pools, the rise of liminal horror continues to be one of the most fascinating genre trends in recent memory. However, there’s a specific kind of transitional space that I rarely see get the same attention as some other meme-heavy settings, and that would be the secluded roadside locations that you often see when travelling between one city and another.

Lonely roadside diners, gas stations and long stretches of empty road – it’s easy to understand why these frequently ominous sights can get the mind racing, and that’s precisely why I think they make ideal settings for a certain kind of scary story. And in honor of these chilling liminal tales, we’ve decided to come up with a list highlighting six of the best roadside horror flicks for your viewing pleasure!

For the purposes of this list, we...

Warning: Spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4!I am certain that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is ready to undo the most controversial moment of the franchise. Anyone only familiar with the cartoons and movies probably thinks I sound dramatic, but those who have seen just how unbelievably dark the Tmnt comics can get know I'm talking about the death of Splinter. For many fans, it was genuinely blasphemous to kill Splinter.

However, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4 by Jason Aaron, Chris Burnham, Brian Reber, and Shawn Lee gives me the impression that Splinter's inevitable return has been foreshadowed. Mind you, the foreshadowing comes through the ramblings of a madman named Donatello, whose badass rebrand has driven him crazy.

As easy as it would be to dismiss both Donatello and his ramblings in this issue, I think there is at least a method to the madness - if not from Donatello, then from the story itself.

As we celebrate our 40th year, we continue to support filmmakers in our Artist Development Programs. Project Involve, the Og Artist Development program is in its 32nd year where it’s fostered the careers of over 1000 filmmakers. And this year Pi has 31 new Fellows joining as part of its 2025 cohort.

They’ll join the likes of Andrew Ahn (Bridgerton), Thembi Banks (Young. Wild. Free.), Effie T. Brown (The Inspection), Linda Yvette Chávez (Flamin’ Hot), Jon M. Chu (Wicked), Jomo Fray (Nickel Boys), Rachel Goldberg (Agatha All Along), Hank Jones (Will Trent), Mako Kamitsuna (All Day and a Night), Marvin Lemus (Gentefied), Latoya Morgan (Splinter), Lulu Wang (Expats), Harry Yoon (The Fire Inside), Kim Yutani and many more.

With Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group as the Lead Sponsor, Film Independent continues to advance its mission to support diversity and inclusion in the film industry. “2025 marks my 20th year with Project Involve,...

Much like The Boys itself, this list contains content that may be considered graphic by some readers.

From explosive rectums to newfound familial ties, characters and audiences alike have been witness to some memorable moments on The Boys. The writers behind the hit series have created a foundation upon the unexpected, often going further than anyone can imagine. Throughout the series, the twists and turns have not only kept viewers engaged, but they've also added depth to each character.

Whether it's insight into their backstories or a visual representation of the characters, each action has been methodically placed in an effort to move the story forward. While there are quite a few moments that have left fans with questions or in utter disbelief, it's safe to say that audiences can never be too sure of what's to come, aside from more shocking moments. The Boys is the kind of show...

Several years before the video game movie boom of recent years, Tom Hardy could have helped lead the way with one adaptation that didn't end up seeing the light of day. More than a decade ago, Hardy was set to lead a Splinter Cell feature film based on the game, but it's been confirmed that this will never end up happening.

In a new interview with The Direct, producer Basil Iwanyk verified the fate of the Splinter Cell feature film. According to Iwanyk, whose other work includes the Sicario and John Wick franchises, the project fizzled out in development hell after years of failed attempts at getting the right screenplay and budget needed to make the film as "awesome" as it could have been. In the end, that makes the producer "really sad," as he felt there was so much potential in the ill-fated film.

Related Venom 3 Director Put Tom...

Fans of the popular action video game franchise Splinter Cell will no doubt be left a little heartbroken by the latest update regarding the long-gestating live-action adaptation starring Venom actor and Oscar nominee Tom Hardy. Word is, the adaptation is now dead after production just couldn't get it right. Producer Basil Iwanyk, who had been signed on to the Splinter Cell movie since as far back as 2013, made the revelation while speaking with The Direct.

Splinter Cell fans and audiences would no doubt have loved to see Tom Hardy bring the gruff, highly trained black-ops operative to life on the big screen. Sadly, it sounds like its not going to happen, with Iwanyk twisting the knife even further and calling the proposed movie hardcore and awesome.

"'That movie would have been awesome... Just couldn't get it right, script-wise, budget-wise. But it was going to be great. We had a million different versions of it,...

By the time Toby Wilkins’ 2008 film Splinter first arrived on the scene — a limited theatrical premiere on Halloween — zombies were everywhere. Yet the first-time director managed to rework the already overused concept into something fresh, not to mention plain creepy. And with its preference for practical effects wizardry, Splinter stood out from its fellow high-concept horrors made on a low budget.

Splinter references the grandfather of cinematic zombies, George A. Romero’s iconic Night of the Living Dead, in a number of ways, apart from the most obvious. Indeed the characters are holed up and fighting for their lives against the walking dead, although in this case, an isolated gas station rather than a farmhouse serves as their refuge. Other films tend to use these pitstops as we do in real life; they are temporary detours before heading off for a proper destination. Instead the director and screenwriters bring the journey to a screeching halt,...

The new horror and science fiction anthology, “Deepest, Darkest,” has added yet another cast mate to its already stellar lineup of genre heavyweights.

Rahul Kohli, a beloved member of Mike Flanagan’s Flanaverse and essential teammate in the crime-solving “iZombie” series, has officially joined the star-studded cast of “Deepest, Darkest,” a new horror anthology from writer and director Marc Bernardin and actor Tiffany Smith.

“‘Deepest Darkest’ is an exciting project combining all my favorite genres and my favorite people. Joining this project was a no-brainer for me,” says Kohli, expressing his enthusiasm early in the process to Variety.

Kohli joins the previously announced cast of Smith (“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”), Rosario Dawson, Ernie Hudson (“Ghostbusters”), Yetide Badaki (“American Gods”), Phil Lamarr and “Quantum Leap” stars Raymond Lee and Caitlin Bassett.

To top off that impressive lineup, the genre showcase is executive-produced by Akela Cooper and David Dastmalchian.

“Deepest,...

“…Welcome to the streets of New York City, where the best pizza and ‘human-mutant’ chaos reigns:

“It's up to the ‘Turtle’ brothers to restore the peace in ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed. New mutants have been doing well to be accepted by the citizens. But that all changed when some mutants began wreaking havoc.

‘From the sewer to the skyscrapers, no corner is safe from the mess oozing through the city. Now, it is up to the fearless four to unleash their unique ‘ninja’ skills and stop the madness before the human-mutant relationship they worked for goes down the drain.

“Use that adrenaline pumping through your veins to save the city, and enlist the help of ‘April’ and ‘Splinter’.

“Whether you are a seasoned ‘ninjutsu’ master or a ninja in training, you can get through this new action-packed brawler game playing solo or in local co-op mode, available October...

Star Wars Outlaws may have surprised some players upon its launch when the open-world scoundrel fantasy turned out to be a lot more stealth-focused than they may have expected. Considering Kay Vess' past as a thief and the fact that the whole game seems to be building up to a major heist, the idea that she might have to spend a fair amount of time sneaking around places isn't exactly out of place, but some compulsory stealth sections have been the source of some controversy from some players.

The game's creative director, Julian Gerighty, recently spoke with Gamesradar+ about this, noting that these instant-fail stealth sections can be "incredibly punishing," citing one on Mirogana in the earlier section of the game, in particular. After looking at some of the recent player data, Gerighty noted that the difficulty may have been "a mistake" and stated that Massive Entertainment is looking to improve this.

Writer-producer Marc Bernardin is returning to directing with Deepest, Darkest. He is leading a geekfest of a creators of color making a horror anthology around the theme of keeping secrets.

Ghostbusters icon Ernie Hudson, Phil Lamarr (Futurama), American Gods’ Yetide Badaki, Quantum Leap star Raymond Lee and co-star Caitlin Bassett, among others, will star in the genre showcase, which is launching a crowdfunding campaign Aug. 27.

The WGA Award winner and Eisner-nominated Bernardin created the project with actress Tiffany Smith, who appeared in his directorial debut Splinter. That film also launched on Kickstarter and went on to become a hit on the festival circuit, gathering up several awards.

Akela Cooper, who co-wrote the horror hit M3GAN and worked on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds as well as Luke Cage, is executive producing Deepest Darkest.

“So many of my friends have shared the same experience that I have, being a person of...

Marvel's early Star Wars comics expanded the galaxy with new stories, bridging gaps between the original films with important character developments. Darth Vader in Marvel's comics was not just a menacing villain, but a master strategist who orchestrated events and manipulated others to stay ahead. Mandalorian lore and key elements like lightsaber variants were introduced in Marvel's comics, shaping the Star Wars universe beyond the original films.

The first published works in the Star Wars Legends continuity changed the franchise for the better in a multitude of ways. After the overwhelming success of 1977s Star Wars (now known as A New Hope), it was not long before Lucasfilm began to expand the galaxy with new stories. A low-budget sequel for A New Hope was planned if the movie was unsuccessful, but this story ended up becoming the 1978 novel Splinter of the Minds Eye, by Alan Dean Foster. While Splinter is...

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a great follow-up to Mutant Mayhem, bridging the gap to the upcoming sequel. Jackie Chan's absence as Splinter is noticeable, impacting the series despite clever attempts to work around it. While some cast members return, financial considerations likely led to Chan not reprising his role in the show.

Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuted on Paramount+ on August 12, 2024, and is a great continuation of the film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, with one exception. The hand-drawn animated series is a follow-up to the 2023 film Mutant Mayhem, which rebooted the beloved heroes in a half-shell for a new generation. Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles bridges the gap between the 2023 film and the upcoming 2026 sequel.

Many of the actors from the film return to reprise their roles, including Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo, Brady Noon as Raphael, Micah Abbey as Donatello,...

Summer is winding to a close, though the blistering sun has not yet received the memo. That means the final days of vacationing or summer road trips are in order. Of course, horror has taught us the myriad of ways that the open road can induce abject terror and stress; flat tires are the least of your summer worries in horror.

Films like The Hitcher, Near Dark, and Splinter highlight how car troubles, creepy rest stops, and seedy motels don’t compare to humanity’s worst- human or otherwise- prowling the highways.

This week’s streaming picks are dedicated to road trip horror movies. These five titles exploit our travel anxieties by pitting their protagonists against vampires, cannibals, psychopaths, and the devil himself over vast stretches of highway.

Here’s where you can stream them this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

Blood Relatives – AMC+, Shudder...

Warning: This article contains Spoilers for The Boys season 4, episode 6, "Dirty Business."

Jensen Ackles and Jeffrey Dean Morgan's reunion in The Boys is impossible due to season 4's Joe Kessler twist. Since Kessler would need to be recast to have the characters interact in a flashback, this Supernatural reunion is unlikely. A more exciting Supernatural reunion between Ackles and Jared Padalecki is possible in The Boys season 5.

The Boys often features actors from Eric Kripke's former series, Supernatural, but it looks like the most exciting reunion is now impossible and as a fan of the CW show, I'm devastated about it. From minor stars to more recognizable players, many Supernatural actors appear in The Boys. Black Noir actor Nathan Mitchell and Splinter star Rob Benedict will both be familiar to fans of the CW show, and Jim Beaver's Robert Singer even references Supernatural with his name.

These...

The Boys actor Cameron Crovetti explains what it is like to watch season 4 with his family. Crovetti was horrified watching a particular episode 2 scene with his parents. Ryan's complex relationships with Homelander and Billy Butcher take center stage in the new season.

The Boys's Cameron Crovetti explains what it is like to watch season 4 with his parents. Crovetti plays Ryan in The Boys, who is first introduced to the series at the end of season 1. He is the son of Homelander and Billy Butcher's late wife Becca, and he is the first naturally-born Supe in the universe. Ryan plays a more prominent role in The Boys season 4, as Homelander is increasingly attempting to train him to become increasingly powerful.

The next episode of The Boys releases on Thursday, June 27.

In a new TikTok from Crovetti, the actor explains what it is like to watch The Boys season 4 sitting next to his parents.

Splinter Cell‘s been responsible for some of Ubisoft’s most iconic work, but the developer seems to have forgotten its impact and how even today, fans want the stealth adventures to continue. With the recent launch of XDefiant, a first-person shooter title that features some of the characters from the series, things were looking a little more hopeful for the community.

More than a decade after the last installment, the new entry was expected to get a trailer at the upcoming Ubisoft Forward, but it seems like the fanbase will have to wait a lot longer.

Splinter Cell Will Reportedly Not Be Making an Appearance at Ubisoft’s Event

It’s been more than a decade since the last Splinter Cell installment was released.

In 2021, Ubisoft brought joy to every Splinter Cell fan by announcing that it’ll be remaking the first game, which was launched more than two decades ago,...

Jeffrey Dean Morgan is the latest member of the "Supernatural" cast to join showrunner Eric Kripke's most recent creation: the filthy, irreverent superhero satire series "The Boys." Morgan played John Winchester, father of the demon-hunting Winchester brothers (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki) in "Supernatural," and in "The Boys" season 4 he'll be introduced as CIA analyst Joe Kessler. There's a possibility he could even be reunited with his on-screen son, since Ackles also joined the world of "The Boys" last season as a very special boy: Soldier Boy.

This was Ackles' first time suiting up on camera as a superhero, which is actually pretty surprising given that his 15-season tenure on "Supernatural" saw him in a variety of disguises. Soldier Boy is currently taking a cryogenic nap, but after season 3 ended, Kripke told Entertainment Weekly, "I can't imagine the series ending without Soldier Boy making another appearance." Ackles himself is...

Writer Ian Shorr has signed with WME for representation in all areas.

Shorr is currently adapting the Korean film Time to Hunt for Netflix, with 42 producing. The original Korean language movie has three outlaws plotting a money heist to leave their dystopian world behind for a faraway paradise, only to draw the attention of a vicious killer.

Shorr penned the 2021 film Infinite, a sci-fi thriller that was directed by Antoine Fuqua, with Mark Wahlberg and Chiwetel Ejiofor starring in the drama about a confused man discovering his schizophrenic visions are actually memories from past lives just in time to save humanity.

He also sold his sci-fi thriller spec script for Capsule to 20th Century Fox, with Hutch Parker (The Wolverine) producing. Capsule followed a young man whose life is upturned when he begins to receive metallic capsules containing messages from his future self.

His other projects include selling the horror...

The next Ghost Recon title may return to franchise roots with first-person, MilSim-like gameplay. The new game is reportedly inspired by Modern Warfare, Battlefield, and Ready or Not with its dark, realistic missions. The next Ghost Recon game is rumored to feature significant graphical improvements, and will potentially be released in 2025-2026.

New leaks suggest that the next Ghost Recon title could be returning to the franchise's roots. The last two entries in the series, Ghost Recon Wildlands, and Ghost Recon Breakpoint adopted the more typical formula seen in recent Ubisoft titles, seeing the Ghosts exploring large open-world maps to defeat an enemy threat such as a cartel or a group of mercenaries, and while Ubisoft was developing a free-to-play Ghost Recon battle royale title, this was canceled less than a year after its 2021 announcement.

As per a report from Insider Gaming, the upcoming Ghost Recon Game - which is...

Luke and Leia's potential romance in the original Star Wars movies is now extremely awkward due to their revealed sibling relationship. Legends-era Star Wars materials, such as the Marvel comics, thankfully focused more on Leia's eventual romance with Han Solo, ignoring the potential Luke and Leia relationship. The novel Splinter of the Mind's Eye originally depicted Luke and Leia's romantic feelings for each other, but the comic adaptation reframed their interactions as purely platonic, making it less awkward.

Luke Skywalker's and Princess Leia’s kiss in The Empire Strikes Back is one of the Star Wars saga’s most awkward moments in hindsight, but one Legends-era property, unfortunately, outclasses it. George Lucas, despite some of his claims, did not have all the Star Wars movies, let alone the original trilogy, planned out from the start. This includes the fact that Luke and Leia are siblings, as revealed in Return of the Jedi,...

Darth Vader's potential power in the Force made him one of the most powerful and feared individuals in the galaxy, and Star Wars keeps forgetting this. Several properties in the Star Wars franchise undermine the crucial defeat of Vader in Return of the Jedi, by depicting him suffering defeats before those events. Vader's defeats in both the Legends and canon continuities cheapen his threat level and undermine the impact of his original trilogy portrayal.

The Star Wars franchise has a bad habit of forgetting how dangerous Darth Vader truly is. Before becoming a dreaded Dark Lord of the Sith, Anakin Skywalker’s astounding connection to the Force – and the subsequent theory that he was the prophesized Chosen One – led the Jedi Order to allow him into their ranks, despite the traditions broken by doing so. Anakin’s potential power in the Force also led him to be targeted by Palpatine,...

As I get older, I find it harder and harder to find horror movies from the 80s and even 90s to qualify for a recommendation towards a best horror movie you never saw. First is the influx of all these great companies like Vinegar Syndrome, Arrow, and Severin Films, not to mention Kino and Scream Factory, who pull out all the stops finding the most hidden of hidden gems to clean up and release. Second, we have a ludicrous amount of streaming services, and the free ones typically can find these smaller movies that cost way less to license a streamable version. Between my generation recommending everything under the sun to their coworkers, friends, and family as well as newer generations being willing to stream something if its easy to find, the 80s is well represented, for better and for worse. The 2000s are Chock Full of movies that came...

Vipco & BayView Entertainment have released the horror anthology film Return To The Theatre Of Terror, which is now available to rent/buy on Amazon Prime Video in the USA.

Return To The Theatre Of Terror is also out now on Blu-ray (Region Free) in the USA.

Return To The Theatre Of Terror will arrive on AVOD Digital Platforms in North America on 27th February 2024.

Winner of the Kevin Smith Award for NJ Homegrown Feature (Garden State Film Festival), Return To The Theatre Of Terror is “Inspired by The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits… (director) Ryan honors the genre he and many others enjoyed growing up. Consists of four short horror and sci-fi films – “Soothsayer,” “Splinter,” “Haunted” and “Robot” – each telling a unique tale.” – Stephen Appezzato, The Two River Times.

Synopsis:

While shooting a web series with his best friend, young Jack unwittingly enters the Theatre of Terror! The mysterious...

Ah, Christmas. It’s a time of family get-togethers, going into debt, and TV and movie studios trying their best to cater to everyone. Unless you’re on the Hallmark Channel, and it’s pretty obvious you’ve got one specific demo you are targeting with extreme prejudice.

Over the years, many Christmas-themed movies and TV specials have danced across screens, both big and small. Some of them are classics like A Muppet Christmas Carol, or It’s a Wonderful Life. Others go out of their way to try and be extreme in their counter-programming, like Silent Night, Deadly Night (which has somehow made six total films over the years…good lord).

And then others are just so odd and unexpected that they deserve their own list, and that’s what we’re doing today. I’m not sure this list should be counted as Nice or Naughty; we’ll say...

Return To The Theatre Of Terror consists of four short horror and sci-fi films “Soothsayer,” “Splinter,” “Haunted” and “Robot” each telling a unique tale. This anthology inspired by The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limit is coming to Blu-ray on December 26, 2023 from Bayview Entertainment. While shooting a web series with his best friend, …

The post Return To The Theatre Of Terror coming to Blu-ray from Bayview Entertainment appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

20th Century Fox wasn’t sure what it had in Star Wars, and apparently, neither did George Lucas. The director was building up his company, Lucasfilm, and unleashed his secret weapon: Charley Lippincott. He whipped people into a previously unknown frenzy by working the fans at science fiction and comics conventions. He saw to it DelRey had the novelization out months before the film, as well as three of the six-issue comics adaptation from Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin at Marvel. These people were lined up for day one, and the word of the month spread so fast that it endured throughout the summer of 1977.

Before the Special came the finale from The Donny and Marie Show, which Donny discusses on the documentary.

As we learn in the wonderfully entertaining A Disturbance in the Force, a 90-minute documentary from directors Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak, despite all his statements saying he had everything planned out,...

Writer/artist Sophie Campbell's Tmnt run has breathed new life into the series, pushing boundaries and staying true to the lore. Arguably, Campbell's greatest accomplishment has been revamping the forgettable villain Armaggon into the Turtles' ultimate threat. As her current 50 issue run approaches its end, Campbell reflects on her proudest contributions and upcoming plans to continue telling Tmnt stories.

Right now, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans are on the Road to 150, the end of a fifty-issue stretch of Tmnt continuity written by acclaimed writer/artist Sophie Campbell. The storyline Campbell will be bringing to a close in issue #150 is one that began in issue #101, which followed the immensely impactful City at War storyline - aka the death of Master Splinter - as well as the fallout of the mutagen bomb that infected a number of New York City residents, turning them into mutanimals. The world of Tmnt was...

Vipco & BayView Entertainment will release the horror anthology film Return To The Theatre Of Terror on Blu-ray (Region Free) in the USA and on Est/VOD/SVOD Digital Platforms in North America on 26th December 2023.

Return To The Theatre Of Terror will arrive on AVOD Digital Platforms in North America on 27th February 2024.

Winner of the Kevin Smith Award for NJ Homegrown Feature (Garden State Film Festival), Return To The Theatre Of Terror is “Inspired by The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits… (director) Ryan honors the genre he and many others enjoyed growing up. Consists of four short horror and sci-fi films – “Soothsayer,” “Splinter,” “Haunted” and “Robot” – each telling a unique tale.” – Stephen Appezzato, The Two River Times.

Synopsis:

While shooting a web series with his best friend, young Jack unwittingly enters the Theatre of Terror! The mysterious projectionist Colin returns to take Jack under his wing and introduce...

From November to December, it's time for what's next at Plex! Prepare for your "Killers of the Flower Moon" screening by catching one of Martin Scorcese and Leonardo DiCaprio's collaborations, "The Aviator," taking flight on the free streamer on Dec. 1.

The platform will also add romantic dramas and thrillers such as “Two Lovers” starring Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow and double the dosage for A24 heads with “It Comes At Night” and “The Last Black Man in San Francisco.”

Check out The Streamable’s top picks for Plex’s December additions and see everything getting added to the library throughout the month!

Watch Now Tba plex.tv What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Plex in December 2023? “Barking Dogs Never Bite” | Friday, Dec. 1

“Parasite” filmmaker and Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho makes his directorial debut with the 2000 black comedy that follows Yun-ju (played by Lee Sung-jae), a part-time...

Stars: Bill Fellows, Jane Asher, Michael McKell, Lucy-Jane Quinlan, Dylan Reeves-Fellows, Sharon Lawrence, Caleb J. Burton | Written and Directed by David Bryant

It’s never too early to review Christmas movies is it?! In fact, this isn’t the first Christmas horror movie I’ve reviewed for Nerdly this year, but now it’s November expect a few more. Splinter shows a man whose wife and son were murdered over Christmas, and he has now become a recluse. Despite Christmas now being long gone, the decorations and tree are still up, and he believes something or someone is watching him. Is it the ghosts of his wife and son, or something much worse?

Director David Bryant does a good job of making you forget about the movie’s low budget. He keeps the film character-driven, with plenty of dialogue and a strong story. It’s a brave move in...

Horror movies have provided moviegoers with some of their favorite films since Hollywood began. Dating all the way back to the classic days of Universal Studios' horror, these films follow various scary threats, from ghosts and zombies to masked killers and demons. Halloween is a great time to discover and enjoy some of Hollywood's most underrated horror stories, especially for fans who love a good scare.

Horror comes in all forms, from psychological fears to gore-fest slashers, but it's increasingly easy for great films to get overlooked by audiences. Some films suffer from a low budget, difficult competition or simple obscurity, with fans being left to find such movies on their own. Some of these can become a horror buff's favorite new movie, and they all make for great popcorn flicks for the scariest holiday.

Splinter

Release Date

October 31, 2008

Director

Toby Wilkins

Cast

Jill Wagner, Paulo Costanzo, Shea Whigham, Rachel Kerbs,...

In Tmnt: Mutant Mayhem's sequel, Shredder's story is connected to Tcri, the Techno Cosmic Research Institute, suggesting a different history for the character than usual iterations. The sequel could introduce Shredder as Utrom Shredder from the 2003 animated show, tying him to the alien race Cynthia is part of, the Tcri's leader. Utrom Shredder would make sense in the sequel, explaining the link between Cynthia and Shredder and providing a deeper motivation for opposing the Turtles given the Turtles' making an enemy of Tcri/Utroms in the first movie.

The tease included in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem that set up Shredder's involvement in a sequel could also have foreshadowed a big identity twist concerning the Turtles' arch-nemesis. The villain of the first installment in the new iteration of the iconic Turtle team was Superfly, with some changes being made to overall Tmnt lore. That said, the ending of...

The "Ninja Rap" scene from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of the Ooze is a memorable moment in the franchise's history that continues to resonate with fans. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have had a strong connection to hip hop culture, with rap songs appearing in various adaptations of the franchise. Artists from the hip hop world, such as LL Cool J and Kendrick Lamar, have referenced the Ninja Turtles in their music, further solidifying the link between the turtles and hip hop.

A new piece of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles art turns up the nostalgia factor. The long-running franchise about a group of young turtles has spanned numerous mediums, including film and television. They notably led an animated series in 1987 that lasted until 1996 before making the jump to movies in 1990's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. That received a sequel a year later, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze.

One of the most foundational pillars of horror also happens to be one of its more nebulously defined subgenres: the creature feature. At its most ubiquitous of definitions, the creature feature is simply a horror movie in which a monster plays a prominent role as the primary antagonist; the term says it all. It’s the creature part that’s loose for interpretation, of course.

A creature feature could be anything from carnivorous aliens from space to manmade monsters that turn on their makers, and everything in between. Often, a creature feature highlights nature running amok. This week’s streaming picks are dedicated to the horror movies that bring the monster mayhem in various ways, but all showcase excellent practical effects.

More specifically, this week belongs to underseen creature features that deserve more attention. As always, here’s where you can stream them this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks,...

The following contains spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, now playing in theaters.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem definitely meshes generations of Tmnt lore together and then subverts it all in a clever, dynamic way. It has something for everyone as director Jeff Rowe brings the Heroes in a Half Shell back to basics. Here, they're 15 year-olds who just want to come up to the surface and be accepted.

However, Jackie Chan's Master Splinter warns the brothers humanity will always persecute them. Undeterred, the turtles set out to stop mutant monsters and show society they have value. Unfortunately, while it seems like a relatively simple plot, Mutant Mayhem has quite a few gaps in the narrative and odd questions that never get answered.

Related: 10 Best Idw Comics From The 2010s, Ranked

How Does Splinter Learn English?

This iteration has Splinter as a rat finding the baby turtles covered in ooze.

The Nickelodeon animated movie Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem almost included an updated tribute to the opening theme song of the 1987 cartoon.

On Instagram, story artist Ray Xu uploaded an animatic of an unused scene for Mutant Mayhem. The scene in question is a new rendition of the opening sequence from the 1987 Tmnt cartoon. "Early on I was given this fun sequence, a mini homage to the classic opening sequence," Xu said. "Brought me back to my childhood. Note: it had no sequence number, when Jeff [Rowe] launched it, he called it the 'Dazzling Title Sequence.' I was thinking at the time, 'Oh man, better bring the dazzle, Ray! Don’t fail!'"

Related: Tmnt: Mutant Mayhem Cast & Character Guide

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ray Xu (@rayxuxu)

The Mutant Mayhem animatic stays true to the beginning of the 1987 theme song by showing the...

When SyFy announced the reboot series 12 Monkeys, fans of the classic movie rolled their eyes and asked, "Why?" However, with the show's narrative complexity and unforgettable characters, it more than justified its existence. Jennifer Goines, the character inspired by Brad Pitt in the film, is easily 12 Monkeys' best character, but she almost wasn't in the show at all. At least not in its earliest stages.

Sci-fi fans best know Terry Matalas as Star Trek: Picard Season 3's mastermind and the only storyteller who can give fans Star Trek: Legacy. However, before he reunited the crew of the USS Enterprise-d, he and his former college roommate Travis Fickett decided to take on time and space. Emily Hampshire, also known for playing Stevie on Schitt's Creek, was cast in a gender-swapped version of Jeffrey Goines, a breakout role for Pitt. Only, the story Fickett and Matalas came up with wasn't originally based on 12 Monkeys,...

Raphael's death in "The Last Ronin" led to the creation of Splinter's Strikers, an army that significantly increased Splinter's Hamato Clan membership. The truce between the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Purple Dragons, facilitated by Splinter, saved April O'Neil's life and allowed her to give birth to the next generation of Tmnt. The inclusion of Splinter's Strikers and the continuation of the Tmnt legacy would not have been possible without the tragic demise of Raphael.

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin - The Lost Day Special While Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans may understandably assume that the death of one of the original Turtles would only create a decrease in Splinter’s Hamato Clan membership, that wasn’t the case in The Last Ronin timeline. In fact, Splinter’s clan membership exploded after Raphael’s demise, as that’s when Hamato Yoshi created the brutal kill-squad,...

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem introduces new origins for Splinter, simplifying his backstory and making him a New York City sewer rat who learns ninjutsu through movies and videos. Baxter Stockman, a well-known villain in the Tmnt franchise, is revealed to be the creator of the ooze, a key element that mutates the heroes and villains, linking him to the franchise in a new way. The film shows major transformations in character dynamics, with iconic villains like Bebop and Rocksteady becoming allies with the Turtles, while Shredder is portrayed as working for the Utroms, setting up a new role for him in the future of the Tmnt universe.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is the start of an all-new Tmnt series, and here are the 10 biggest lore and character changes that the film makes to the franchise.

Warning: Contains Spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem!

Splinter's romantic relationship with Scumbug in Tmnt: Mutant Mayhem led to confusion about his sexuality, but he is not gay. Previous iterations of Splinter in Tmnt have not explored his romantic pursuits, except for his relationship with Tang Shen. The confusion about Splinter's sexuality was fueled by a marketing mistake that incorrectly identified Scumbug's gender as male.

A romance with Scumbug has left audiences wondering if Splinter is gay in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and here is the official answer. The animated reboot for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles brings Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo back to the big screen alongside a plethora of other mutants. This includes their mutant rat father-figure Splinter as expected, with Jackie Chan providing the voice for the wise, martial arts expert. Tmnt: Mutant Mayhem's Splinter receives a prominent storyline...

It started as a joke. Way back in the ’80s, the phenomenon we now call “superhero fatigue” was already a thing, at least among comics afficionados. Frustrated with pulp creators recycling the same old ideas, Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird hatched the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The idea was to poke fun at how lame mainstream heroes had gotten, but the parody got so popular, it spawned a mini-empire of its own: movies, games, TV series and a whole lotta merch. At a certain point (around the time Michael Bay got involved), the brand got out of hand. Time for a reset.

With “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,” Nickelodeon Movies takes the fertile turtle property back to its roots: Tapping “permanent teenager” (as the trailer cleverly dubs the former “Freaks and Geeks” star) Seth Rogen to produce, the toon studio commissioned an animated reboot that focuses on the ooze-boosted vigilantes’ awkward adolescent identities,...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem features actual teenage actors voicing the iconic Ninja Turtles, bringing authentic energy and banter to the film. Director Jeff Rowe explains that Jackie Chan's portrayal of Splinter is a perfect fit, with his warm and lovable personality shining through even when disciplining the turtles. The film is packed with Easter eggs and pays homage to previous iterations of the Ninja Turtles, with a standout moment being the use of Ninja Rap. The animation style is innovative, capturing the weird and funny nature of the turtles.

In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Donatello, the four iconic Ninja Turtle brothers, strive to win the approval of New York. Yearning to be accepted as normal teenagers, they team up with their new friend April O'Neil and take on a crime syndicate. However, the Turtles get in over their heads when...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem director Jeff Rowe explained the reason why they rewrote the script multiple times during the leading quartet’s voice recording sessions.

After six movies and four animated shows, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are finally getting an adaptation where the titular team is appropriately voiced by teenage actors. Speaking with Screen Rant, Rowe revealed how the young cast’s chemistry impacted the production of Paramount’s latest animated adaptation, confirming that they decided to rewrite the script to base the characters off their respective voice actors.

Related: Tmnt: Mutant Mayhem First Reactions Hail It the Best Iteration Since the 1990s

"The first time they all met each other was when we put them in a room together, and it just crackled with electricity," Rowe recalled. "They came to life, they talked over each other, and we immediately threw the script we had...

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set out to be accepted as normal teenagers in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, but get in over their heads when they face an army of mutants. Ice Cube discusses his role as Superfly in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem and how the character shares similarities with Splinter in their views on humanity. Ice Cube wanted to bring fun and pop culture references to his role, collaborating with Jeff Rowe and Seth Rogen, who encouraged creativity and craziness in the film's production.

Raphael, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Donatello dream of being accepted as normal teenagers in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. The four brothers set out to make that happen with the help of their new friend, April O'Neil. In the hopes of winning New York over, they go after a crime syndicate, but get in over their heads when an army of mutants is sent after them,...

Jackie Chan provides the voice of Splinter in the upcoming animated film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and according to one of his co-stars, the performance is among the very best to come from the veteran actor.

Set to hit theaters in early August, the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film features an ensemble voice cast. Along with Jackie Chan as Splinter, Ice Cube also stars, serving as the voice of the character Super Fly. Speaking about his role in the film with ComicBook.com, Cube was asked if he had any funny stories to reveal about Chan. The rapper-turned-actor clarifies that he didn't get to meet Chan during production, but after seeing the movie, he was so impressed with the Rush Hour star that Ice Cube wants to see him win an Academy Award.

Related: Tmnt: Mutant Mayhem Director Describes ‘Distinctly Human’ Feel of Film

"I haven't met Jackie Chan yet.

Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation released character posters for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem that show off the upcoming film's expansive cast of mutants.

The brand-new one-sheets introduce the titular Heroes in a Half Shell, who will be voiced by Nicolas Cantu (Leonardo), Micah Abbey (Donatello), Brady Noon (Raphael) and Shamon Brown Jr. (Michelangelo). The posters, which capture the film's visually stunning art style, also feature closer looks at Jackie Chan's Splinter, Ayo Edebiri's April O'Neil and Giancarlo Esposito's Baxter Stockman. The rest of the mutants on display include Seth Rogen and John Cena as fan-favorites Bebop and Rocksteady, Ice Cube as Superfly, Hannibal Buress as Genghis Frog, Rose Byrne as Leatherhead, Natasia Demetriou as Wingnut, Post Malone as Ray Fillet, Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom and Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko, with Scumbug voicing himself.

Related: Seth Rogen's Tmnt Movie Debuts a Very Different Look...

George Lucas may have launched the Star Wars franchise in 1977, but since then countless other writers, artists, and other creative teams have created other new characters in his galaxy far, far away. From the outset, George Lucas knew he had created something that others could build upon - a sandbox that other creatives could play in. The first official tie-in comics and novels were published well before the original trilogy was wrapped; in fact, Alan Dean Foster's Splinter of the Mind's Eye released before The Empire Strikes Back.

These stories are now considered non-canon, or "Legends," after Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012. Disney relaunched the wider canon, but they've continued to incorporate some of the best characters from Legends into their new canon. Here are the 10 best Star Wars characters who weren't created by George Lucas himself.

Starkiller (Galen Marek)

Code-named Starkiller, Galen Marek was introduced in Sean Williams' Legends...