Here’s a selection of some of the horror and genre news that caught our eye during the last week…
Alan Moore & George A. Romero Named as 2016 HWA Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
The Horror Writer’s Association has announced the recipients of their 2016 Lifetime Achievement Awards as Alan Moore and George A. Romero. The award is presented annually to those whose work has influenced the horror genre. Moore is known for his comics and graphic novels such as From Hell, Watchmen, Batman: The Killing Joke, and The Saga of Swamp Thing. Romero is the celebrated director of the horror classics The Night of the Living Dead, Martin, Dawn of the Dead, The Dark Half, and Creepshow. The awards will be presented in Las Vegas, Nevada at Stokercon, Saturday, May 14, 2016.
Founded in 1985, the Horror Writers Association is a nonprofit organization of writers, editors and publishers throughout the world dedicated to the promotion of dark literature and the interests of those who write it. The HAW is home of the prestigious Bram Stoker Award for excellence in Horror Fiction.
Tickets to the banquet and the convention are on sale to the public HERE. For more on the Horror Writers Associations, visit Horror.Org
Frightfest Presents Set to Release Babysitter from Hell Thriller Emelie
Frightfest Presents have announced that babysitter from hell thriller Emelie is set to be made available on DVD Monday April 4, 2016 and on VOD & for download from Monday March 14, 2016. Starring Sarah Bolger (Agent Carter, Once Upon a Time, The Lazarus Effect), Chris Beetem (Black Hawk Down, TV’s Orange Is The New Black), Sarah Poufar (TV’s Scandal), and Joshua Rush (Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Break Point), the film was directed by Michael Thelin (TV’s The Live Room).
Here’s the official synopsis: When their usual babysitter cancels on the eve of their thirteenth wedding anniversary, the Thompsons call on a new girl. At first this new babysitter seems like a dream come true for the Thompson’s three children, but as the night lingers on, the kids come to realize there is something very wrong with the new babysitter, and she is not who she claims to be.
Crystal Lake Publishing Releases Two from Mercedes Murdock Yardley and Tales from the Lake, Vol.2
Crystal Lake Publishing have announced the release of two reissues by Mercedes M. Yardley, as well as a star studded anthology. First, Mercedes M. Yardley’s Pretty Little Dead Girls and Apocalyptic Montessa and Nuclear Lulu have been rereleased by Crystal Lake and are available now. Tales from the Lake, Vol 2 features a dream roster including Ramsey Campbell, Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee, Lisa Morton, Tim Lebbon, Richard Chizmar, Jim Goforth, Ben Eads, Jan Edwards, Hal Bodner, Raven Dane, Rocky Alexander, Glen Johnson, and Aaron Dries. The anthology also includes the three winners from Crystal Lake Publishing’s Tales from The Lake Horror Competition: ‘Descending’ by John Whalen, ‘Forever Dark’ by Jonathan Winn, and ‘Ripperscape’ by Vincenzo Bilof. With cover art by Ben Baldwin, the anthology was edited by Joe Mynhardt, Emma Audsley and R.J. Cavender.
For more information, please visit Crystal Lake Publishing’s official website HERE.
Annabelle Wallis in talks to join Cruise in Universal’s The Mummy Reboot
Annabelle Wallis, who we last saw in New Line’s The Conjuring spinoff Annabelle, is in negotiations for the female lead role opposite Tom Cruise in Universal’s The Mummy. Her character is an archaeologist in the film, while Sofia Boutella is on board to play the iconic monster. Developed by Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan for Universal in line with a shared universe for all their upcoming rebooted versions of classic monster movies. Kurtzman is also on board to direct, and will produce alongside Morgan and Sean Daniel, with Jon Spaihts penning the script. With Universal planning an Avengers-style universe, we should expect Cruise to appear in other tie-in films in the future. Universal is planning to release The Mummy June 9, 2017.
Shout! Factory secures US Distribution for Bite
Shout! Factory have secured all theatrical, broadcast VOD, digital, and home entertainment rights to Chad Archibald’s indie horror film Bite, and is set to come soon from Breakthrough Entertainment. Starring Elma Begovic, Annette Wozniak, and Jordan Gray, here’s the official synopsis:
“While on her bachelorette party getaway, Casey, the bride to be, gets a seemingly harmless bite from an unknown insect. After returning home with cold feet, Casey tries to call off her wedding but before she’s able to, she starts exhibiting insect like traits. Between her physical transformation and her wedding anxiety, Casey succumbs to her new instincts and begins creating a hive that not only houses her translucent eggs, but feeds on the flesh of others. As her transformation becomes complete, Casey discovers that everything can change with a single bite.”
SXSW Set to premiere Carles Torren’s Pet
The Revolver Picture Company, along with Magic Lantern and Spanish filmmaker Carles Torrens (Apartment 13), is set to premiere his new film, Pet, at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX. Written by Jeremy Slater (Fox’s upcoming The Exorcist; The Lazarus Effect, Fantastic Four), the film stars Dominic Monaghan (The Lord of the Rings, “Lost”) and Ksenia Solo (Black Swan, Gone Girl). The film is described as a psychological thriller in the vein of William Mastrosimone’s Extremities and deals with two very isolated people, Seth and Holly, who appear very different at first glance, but are more alike than they realize. This dark love story promises to examine how far someone is willing to go in the name of love.
Click HERE to view the trailer.