Here’s a selection of some of the horror and genre news that caught our eye during the last week…
TNT To Revive Tales From The Crypt With M. Night Shyamalan
Great news for fans of the classic HBO anthology series Tales From The Crypt as TNT in the USA have announced that they are looking to revive the franchise — looking initially to produce an one hour block helmed by director M. Night Shyamalan (The Visit, Sixth Sense, Unbreakable). As The Hollywood Reporter have stated, details are somewhat scare at the moment, but here is what is known so far:
While details about the programming block are scarce, the two hours are set to consist of short- and long-form storytelling. The “Tales From the Crypt” segment will be based on the original and feature new stories — all exec produced by Shyamalan and his Binding Edge Pictures partner, Ashwin Rajan. The night is expected to include such elements as “Tales” stories, a serialized one-hour anthology that could potentially be several episodes at the end of a season as well as other yet-to-be determined content.
Set to launch in the fall, TNT is expected to announce additional series to be featured in the horror block in the coming months!
“I couldn’t be more excited to be teaming up with Kevin Reilly, Sarah Aubrey and the entire TNT team in this unique endeavor. To be part of such a beloved brand like ‘Tales From the Crypt,’ something I grew up watching, and to also have the chance to push the boundaries of genre television as a whole, is an inspiring opportunity that I can’t wait to dive into,” stated Shyamalan.
The TNT entry marks the latest incarnation of horror anthology “Tales”. The series originated as a 1950s EC Comics series created by William Gaines. In addition to Shyamalan and Rajan, James D. Stern (Looper, Freeheld) will exec produce via his Endgame Entertainment. Aloris Entertainment’s John Santilli (The English Teacher) and Dan McKinnon (Missing William) will also executive produce. The original comics spawned multiple seasons of the cult classic for HBO and became a worldwide brand.
Mark Of The Witch Set For DVD Release This February
Originally screened at FrightFest as Another, Metrodome is set to release Jason Bognacki’s Mark of the Witch this February 15 for DVD. Staring David Landry (Insurgent), Maria Olsen (Paranormal Activity 3) AND Lillian Pennypacker, the film deals with a beautiful young woman driven into a dark underworld of demonic possession, desire, and extreme indulgences when she learns she may be the devil’s daughter. Time Out said, ‘The film’s love of the saturated colours, dreamlike atmospheres and lush soundtracks of 1960s and ‘70s Italian giallo thrillers oozes from every frame’, while the Daily Record said the film ‘Wears its Dario Argento influences on its sleeve and is delightfully deranged’.
Damien Mini-Series US Premiere Date Announced
As reported by A&E at the Television Critics Association’s press tour in the US, their upcoming Damien mini-series has been given a premiere date of March 7. The new series is set to follow the titular character in a direct continuation of the events of classic horror The Omen. Starring Bradley James as Damien, the cast is rounded out by Barbara Hershey, Megalyn Echikunwoke, Omid Abtahi, and David Meunier.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Produced by Fox Television Studios and based on Twentieth Century Fox’s classic horror film, The Omen, the series follows the adult life of Damien Thorn, the mysterious child from the 1976 motion picture who has grown up, seemingly unaware of the satanic forces around him. Haunted by his past, Damien must now come to terms with his true destiny — that he is the Antichrist, the most feared man throughout the ages.
The Visit gets January DVD and Blu-Ray Release
Get ready for some deep dark secrets to be uncovered as The Visit comes to Blu-Ray and DVD on 18 January 2016. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan (Sixth Sense, Signs, The Village) and produced by Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity, Insidious), The Visit follows a terrifying story of a brother and sister, staring Olivia DeJonge (The Sisterhood of Night, Polarised) and Ed Oxenbould (Paper Planes, Julian), who are sent to their grandparents’, Deanna Dunagan (House of Cards, The Cherokee Word for Water) and Peter McRobbie (Lincoln, Spider-Man 2), remote Pennsylvania farm for a weeklong trip. Once the children discover that the elderly couple are involved in something deeply disturbing, they see their chances of getting back home growing smaller and smaller every day…
Both formats include the film’s alternate ending, make it a must-have for your horror film collection.
Sci-Fi/Horror Thriller Arrowhead hits DVD This February
Arrowhead is a tale of survival set amongst the distant stars. Kye is a prisoner of war caught between two armies, neither of whose ideology he believes in. When offered an opportunity for freedom, Kye sets out on one last rescue mission only to become stranded when his ship crash lands. Kye soon realises that the deadliest creature on the desert moon is himself. Starring Christopher Kirby (Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith), Dan Mor (Killing Jesus), Shaun Micallef, and Aleisha Rose, directed by Jesse O’Brien.
Arrowhead is released in the UK 22 February.
Lost After Dark Gets Late February DVD Release
Starring Robert Patrick (X-Files, Terminator 2), Sarah Fisher, Mark Weibe, Jesse Camacho and David Lipper, Lost After Dark is to hit DVD in the UK February 29 via Metrodome. Directed by Ian Kessner, this homage to 80’s style slasher films tells the tale of a group of stranded teens turn to an abandoned farmhouse for shelter from the elements but soon find a far greater danger lies inside. When one of the friends is brutally murdered, the group begins to fear they are being stalked by a vicious cannibalistic murderer. As the students are picked off one by one, a deadly game of survival begins that only the lucky ones will survive.
