Weekly Round-up: Friday the 13th, FrightFest and More!

It's time again for the weekly round-up of horror news and developments. First up...

Motel Hell Blu-ray and DVD Release

Scream Factory have recently announced their plans to re-release the 80's cult classic, Motel Hell. A horror-comedy by Kevin Connor, this trashy number follows Farmer Vincent and his sister Ida who run Motel Hello and sell and produce popular meat products. Although we're not talking animal meat here as indeed, it takes all kinds of critters to make Farmer Vincent fritters... Rivalry, chainsaw fights and a few severed vocal chords later, we have a lurid, laughable and cheesy flick that rightly belongs in any horror collection.

On August 12th, 2014, Motel Hell will be re-released on blu-ray in a definitive collector's edition including a collectible retro-art cover and the following special features:

• New audio commentary with director Kevin Connor
• New It Takes All Kinds: The Making of Motel Hell featuring interviews from director Kevin Connor, writers/producers Robert Jaffe and Steven Charles Jaffe and actor Marc Silver
• New Shooting Old School with cinematographer Thomas Del Ruth
• Another Head on the Chopping Block: an interview with actor Paul Linke
• From Glamour to Gore: an interview with actress Rosanne Katon
• Ida, Be Thy Name: A look back at Motel Hell's frightful female protagonist Ida Smith
• Theatrical Trailer
• Photo Galleries

Friday the 13th in 3D?

Camp Crystal Lake has been in the news again, following Paramount's recent announcement of another Friday the 13th installment. Other than the confirmation of David Bruckner as the film's director, further details have been speculative. Once believed to be a found footage piece, Paramount Pictures International SVP, Edward Ryan, has now hinted at the prospect of 3D. 


When discussing Paramount Pictures' schedule in a recent interview, Ryan listed Friday the 13th within the 3D category. Of course this is subject to change, although if correct, it would hardly be a surprise given the recent track record of horror remakes and reboots. Nevertheless stay tuned for further updates as more information becomes available. 

Robert Englund to Return as Freddy

If like me, you are a horror fan based in the UK, you will sympathise with how often this geographical restriction impinges jealousy upon those that live in the US. Last week was no exception as it was revealed that Robert Englund will return for one last time, as the iconic Freddy Krueger.

The 2014 Flashback Weekend Chicago Horror Convention is shaping up to be a truly memorable event with this latest development. Not only will pundits witness Englund in the pivotal Krueger make up (to be applied by Robert Kurtzman) one last time, but they will also get a photo opportunity with the man himself.

In addition to this, there will be a live Q&A session - all of which, is to celebrate the upcoming 30th anniversary of A Nightmare on Elm Street.

For a look at the rest of the enviable line up of the 2014 Flashback Weekend, visit the official website - http://flashbackweekend.com/

FrightFest Opening Film Announced

It's not all doom and gloom for us British horror fans however, as we have the pleasure of hosting Film4 FrightFest every year, and as it's just around the corner (21st - 25th August), the opening film of the festival has been revealed.

Adam Wingard's The Guest will be kicking things off, and having been labelled as a 'dazzling, horror thriller' and described as an homage to 1980's action flicks, it promises to be a great opener from the creative minds that have brought us V/H/S, V/H/S 2 and You're Next.

A full line up of this years Film4 FrightFest will be announced on Friday 27th June. 

That's it for the round-up of last week's news. Stay tuned for more Wise Words... coming soon. In the mean time, feel free to post a comment - what are your thoughts on these latest developments?