News Round-up: Upcoming blockbusters and VOD highlights!

It's been a while since the last news round-up and, as ever, there is a lot to catch up on - namely the release dates of a few eagerly anticipated horrors. So, it makes sense to do an upcoming releases special, neatly rounding-up what horrors we can expect later this year (although by no means comprehensively). Just you wait, Halloween will be upon us before you know it...

Upcoming Blockbusters

As partial as we are to the occasional summer blockbuster, or a good old moan at the existence of Michael Bay, it's always good to know what various multiplexes will be blaring out come Halloween. Last week revealed some of the frights we can begin to expect from the big screen later this year.

Cast your mind back to last summer and you'll remember James Wan's monumental success with The Conjuring. You'll also remember the film's biggest star, Annabelle, who has now received her own spin-off film. Catch the teaser below;



Directed by The Conjuring's cinematographer John Leonetti, Annabelle looks to have that familiar Wan-esque format (fitting as he's the film's Producer) - well crafted tension and suspense and a penchant for jump-scares... but lacking originality. Annabelle is due for release October 3rd (US) and October 10th (UK).

Next up on the list of blockbuster fodder is Ouija - a stereotypical teen horror, due for release on October 25th (US), surrounding a group of friends and their unfortunate experience with a Ouija board. After viewing the trailer (released last week), it appears we shouldn't hold our breath for anything particularly scary, entertaining, smart or original.

Thank goodness then, for Alexandre Aja's adaptation of Joe Hill's novel, Horns. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, this follows the story of Ig Perrish - a young man who is wrongly blamed for the murder of his girlfriend. One morning, Perrish awakes with a pair of horns on his head that grant him the ultimate power in possessing a curious hold over all those he encounters. With this new found ability, he goes on a mission to get to the bottom of his girlfriend's murder. It's set to be a dark, horror-fantasy setting itself apart from the above spin-offs and jump-scares. Horns is due for release on October 31st (US and UK).

In a previous news round-up, Wise Words... shared enthusiasm for Kevin Smith's upcoming body-horror, Tusk. Of course this isn't a blockbuster, but by the looks of things it will nevertheless receive a theatrical release. Starring Justin Long as an enthusiastic podcaster, Tusk follows his surgical transformation into a walrus by a mysterious seafarer. Whether you love or loathe Smith as a director, you can't deny it - that's an original premise - and it must be said that excitement is rife for this upcoming feature. Luckily, we won't have to wait long as Tusk will hit theatres in the US on September 19th (UK release date TBC).

Video on Demand

Despite the occasional anomaly such as Tusk or Horns, there is the common conception that horror blockbusters (and I use the term cautiously) are not for horror fans. So where can we get our fix of talented horror folk and their twisted, horrifying and original work? Video on Demand of course - a platform that has long been perceived as the hot spot for horror. These select, upcoming releases are proving no different.

On August 12th, Septic Man will be available to purchase and download. Directed by Jesse Thomas Cook and written by Tony Burgess, the story follows Jack, a sewage worker determined to get to the bottom of a town's contamination crisis. During his investigation he becomes trapped underground in a septic tank and undergoes a hideous transformation. Check out the trailer below;


Sporting an impressive amount of critical acclaim after its festival run, Septic Man promises to be a dark and affecting body-horror, full of gross-out set pieces sure to please any horror fan.

Although, if septic tanks aren't your thing and you prefer an intense, psychological break down of a newlywed couple then you're in luck. On the 12th of September, Magnet will release Honeymoon On Demand. The film stars Rose Leslie (Bea) and Harry Treadaway (Paul) as a newly married couple who escape to the country for their romantic honeymoon.

Sure enough, things don't go to plan as Bea is discovered wandering one night, totally disorientated. From then on, their journey of love goes in to deep and disturbing depths with chilling consequences. Her behavior turns increasingly peculiar and Paul suspects more than sleepwalking is at play. With captivating performances and a strong, psychological backbone, Honeymoon could well be the most affecting feature this Autumn.

After further delay by Blumhouse Productions, the ghostly tale of Jessabelle will now hit On Demand in a few months. From the producers of Paranormal Activity and Insidious, this film follows the titular character as she returns home wheelchair-bound, following a fatal car accident. Rather than building a stronger relationship with her father in such horrendous circumstances, Jessabelle is instead tormented by a spirit who has long-awaited her return. Queue all manners of spooky apparitions and unwanted bath-buddies. Jessabelle is due for release on November 7th.

Yet to have a release date but worthy of a mention is Deep Dark, a film about a failed sculptor who finds a strange, talking hole in the wall (voiced by Denise Poirier). The hole has the power to fulfill his wildest dreams, or inadvertently become his worst nightmare.

Putting a clever twist on the 'careful what you wish for' parable, Deep Dark looks to be a sinister and downright disturbing horror. As we speak, the film is still in post-production, but the folks at Vitamin M and Polluted Pictures have been nice enough to provide us with a little teaser. Check it out below;



By no means a list of all upcoming releases, these are a select few which should at the very least get our tongues wagging. What are your thoughts on the above? Are there any you're particularly looking forward to?
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