Trailer Round-up: Annabelle, Amityville: The Awakening and More!

It's time for another round-up and this week Wise Words... is focusing on the bout of new trailers that have recently been released. From the Paris catacombs to a devilish doll, it appears a variety of horror sub-genres are being covered. Have a look and see what you think...

Amityville: The Awakening

Once again we are returning to 112 Ocean Avenue - Long Island's most haunted house, famous for the real-life paranormal experiences of the Lutz family. Amityville: The Awakening isn't quite another generic re-telling of this tale that the franchise is so used to seeing, rather it is a sequel loosely based on the urban mythology, which sees a family, unaware of the house's history, take up residence.


This Jason Blum and Dimension-Films production, directed by Franck Khalfoun (who most recently helmed the successful Maniac remake), follows a single mother move herself and her three children into the seemingly lovely home, to best care for her son's severe, bed-ridden state. Sure enough, paranormal activity ensues (maggots and all) forming what looks like an unfortunately formulaic flick.
Amityville: The Awakening is due for release January 2nd, 2015. 
Annabelle

If creepy dolls aren't your thing I'd look away now, as the full trailer for The Conjuring spin-off Annabelle, directed by John R. Leonetti, premiered last week. The film follows John Form and his wife, Mia, who just so happen to be the proud owners of a beautiful, vintage doll. Of course by 'beautiful' we mean a malevolent entity, responsible for fear-inducing blood-shed. 


Despite a different director, the James Wan 'stamp' is evident here (after all, he is the film's producer), with the impressive period set-design and well-crafted scares. Say what you like about the man's 'appeal-to-the-masses' technique, certain moments work. For The Conjuring, it was the infamous 'wardrobe sequence'. For Annabelle, we may want to think twice about leaving room doors open...

Annabelle is due for release October 3rd in the US and October 10th in the UK.

As Above, So Below

By now you will have probably seen the trailer for As Above, So Below. Plaguing every ad-break is the teaser for this horror, set underneath the streets of Paris in the city's infamous catacombs. What looks to be another typically dull found-footage affair might just have a few more tricks up its sleeve, thanks to the new NSFW red-band trailer...


It is safe to argue that As Above, So Below now appears a little gorier than expected, within a location that could induce a great deal of anxiety, especially for those who take unkindly to claustrophobic settings. If you enjoyed The Borderlands (particularly the ending), this could be an upcoming release to look out for...

As Above, So Below is due for release August 29th, 2014.

Exists

Eduardo Sanchez, one half of the directing duo responsible for the infamous The Blair Witch Project, is taking us back to the woods with his new film, Exists. The premise follows five friends who take a trip to the woods for a fun summer getaway, only for the fun to be remarkably cut short as they soon become victim to a terrifying urban legend...


That's right, Bigfoot is alive ladies and gentlemen and in full terrorising form, bounding between the trees of this familiar forest setting. You could argue that the found-footage technique compliments such a premise, as there are clearly one or two decent shots of the predatory creature. It's doubtful that Exists will offer us anything astounding or original, as much of the film looks remarkably formulaic (/annoying), but there may be one or two salvaging sequences, dominated by our furry friend in the spotlight. 

Exists is due for release on multiple platforms October 24th, 2014.

So there we have it, a round-up of the latest trailers. What are your thoughts on these upcoming releases? Do any of these trailers get your horror heartbeat racing? Share your thoughts and post a comment! 

Horror Highlights: Gamescom 2014

Gamescom, Cologne's largest trade fair and events highlight for interactive games and entertainment, has been and gone for another year. Thousands once again gathered for first-hand reveals and exclusives in the 'next generation of gaming'.

This year was a particularly exciting one for us horror fans, not least because everything from post-apocalyptic survival to the supernatural was represented, in what can only be described as one of the most prolific weeks horror gaming has seen for quite some time. With that in mind, read on to see what all the fuss is about...

Until Dawn

Following its initial reveal two years ago, teen slasher Until Dawn has been severely rebooted and reworked by developer Supermassive Games. Gamescom premiered this swanky new trailer, showcasing significant improvement in the games aesthetics, plot and casting. Check it out below;


Until Dawn will be available on the PS4 and is set for a release in 2015.
Dead Island 2
Another exclusive trailer from this year's Gamescom, showcases the first gameplay footage from the upcoming zombie-smashing Dead Island 2. Up until now we had only seen a CGI trailer, but this latest snippet places the game on a whole new level, reminding us why we all enjoyed the franchise so much in the first place - to gleefully obliterate the undead. Check out the trailer below;

Fast-paced, gun-toting, body-freezing, head-exploding fun appears to be the general message, and now with dual-wielding abilities. Hoorah!
Dead Island 2 is due for release Spring 2015 on the PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
Dying Light
In keeping with the zombie theme, Gamescom also premiered a new gameplay trailer for Techland's Dying Light. This game is hardly groundbreaking in its originality (mind you, neither is Dead Island) however there are some elements which should keep things a little fresh. Check out the trailer below;

In addition to the all-too-familiar open-world concept, gamers can see that Dying Light also has freerunning, multi-player co-op games (in which you can join as a monster) and extensive character progression. Not to mention, the titular clue that things get a little tougher once the sun goes down... Can you live to see the light? Unfortunately you will have to wait a little while, before finding out.
Dying Light is due for release February 2015 on the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. 
The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead here, The Walking Dead there, The Walking Dead everywhere. This phenomenon, very much like the walkers themselves, will not die. In addition to Telltale's successful episodic series (and the not-so-successful Survival Instinct), Gamescom has exclusively revealed the teaser for a new Walking Dead game, developed by Overkill Software. 

Detail about the game is a little scarce, other than it being a co-op shooter set in Washington D.C. As evident from the trailer, The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman is also involved, namely to oversee its production and most likely ensure that this is the game "fans have been waiting for". 
Release date and platforms TBC.
Bloodborne
One of the most exciting horror games to feature at this year's Gamescom was Bloodborne. Developed by From Software and directed by Demon's Souls and Dark Souls' Hidetaka Miyazaki, this horror-fantasy set in the fictional city Yharnam has many gamers positively ecstatic. Yet to feel the same way? Well check out the exclusive gameplay trailer below;

Blending the much-loved elements of Dark Souls with new monsters, treacherous scenery and a violently deranged plot, this epic looks dark, tough and beautiful. 
Bloodborne is set for release in 2015, exclusively on PS4. 
Other Gamescom highlights...
Amidst all of the above, other horror games that we have known about for quite some time also had their moment to shine.
Another trailer for Alien: Isolation (due for release October 7th on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One) was premiered, just to keep us fans salivating, further showcasing the relentless hunt and survival expected from the much-loved franchise.
A new trailer for  The Order: 1886 (due for release February 2015 on PS4) was also revealed, showing off its intriguing premise of werewolf-fighting and steampunk weaponry, set in Victorian London.
The Evil Within (due for release October 14th on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One) also had a few announcements up its sleeve at this year's Gamescom. Namely the unveil of a season pass, that will unlock all three of the game's planned single-player add-ons, and the estimated campaign time of a whopping 15-20 hours - without the DLC. 
But of course, there was one reveal this year that took the crown and dominated headlines...
Silent Hills
Good news for some, bad news for others, but whatever your attachment to the Silent Hill franchise, this surprising announcement is undeniably intriguing. Silent Hills is being lead by Hideo Kojima (of Metal Gear fame), in collaboration with Guillermo del Toro, and features Norman Reedus as the game's star. Any further information is not yet known, although a sneaky promo for the game's playable teaser accompanied its reveal at Gamescom. Check it out below;

If you haven't yet seen or played the teaser, I advise you to do so... and preferably not alone. It is mind-boggling, unsettling and a little frightening. Whether or not the actual game will continue such tricks, and indeed persuade hot-on-the-mark skeptics, is yet to be determined. It all appears promising however, so watch this space for further updates. 
Silent Hills is exclusively for PS4. Other platforms and a release date TBC.

So there you have it, Wise Words... Horror Highlights from Gamescom 2014. What are your thoughts on the above? Is there a game that you are particularly excited about? Get involved and post a comment! 

News Round-up: The Babadook, Screamfest 2014 and More!

A lot of this week's news has so far been dominated with reports from Gamescom 2014. Indeed, there is a lot to be excited about (keep your eyes peeled for a Wise Words... horror highlights special), but what else has been going on in the world of horror? Well you're in luck, as it's time for another News Round-up...

American Horror Story: Freak Show Debut

The creepy workings of Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck are to once again grace our screens, as their new series of American Horror Story is upon us.

On October 8th, 2014, American Horror Story: Freak Show will debut on its home channel, FX. The familiar faces of Jessica Lange, Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson return, with Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett, in a series set in the 1950s. It surrounds one of the last remaining freak shows of that era, promising us the likes of Siamese twins and bearded ladies, in amongst the show's usual madness. Newcomers to the cast include John Carroll Lynch, taking the reigns as the season's core villain, rumoured to be a rather scary killer-clown. An official trailer is yet to be released, so stay tuned for further updates.

American Horror Story: Freak Show will debut on Wednesday 8th October, 2014 at 10pm, only on FX (UK date TBC).

The Devil's Advocate Television Series

According to reports from Deadline, rumor has it that The Devil's Advocate might well be getting the television treatment. This 1997 thriller, directed by Taylor Hackford and adapted from Andrew Neiderman's novel of the same name, starred Keanu Reeves as a skilled public defender who unknowingly joins a law firm run by The Devil, played by Al Pacino. 

From Warner Bros. TV to the platform of NBC, a pilot episode of this devilish tale has been ordered, to be penned by Matt Venne, who will also co-executive produce with John Wells, Andrew Stearn and Arnold Kopelson (who produced the 1997 feature).

It's still very early days yet, but a legal drama with a supernatural twist is the sort of premise networks will push for in today's horror-fuelled programming. Odds are, this will go ahead.

Are you a fan of the film? How do you feel about a televisual adaption? Post a comment! 

New Trailer for The Babadook

Australian horror, The Babadook is causing an absolute storm right now, not least because of its rave reviews emerging from various festival circuits. Since its premiere at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, high praise has been circulating the web as us unlucky pundits wait with feverish anticipation. Needless to say such anticipation is now even greater, as a second trailer has been released...


Written and directed by Jennifer Kent, the film follows widowed-mother Amelia and the struggling relationship with her out-of-control six year-old, Samuel, as both are plagued by a mysterious children's book,The Babadook, and its titular sinister creature. Ghostly hallucinations, familial frustration, emotional strife and a long-fingered, top-hat-wearing monster? Count us in.

The Babadook is set for release on October 24th (UK) and November 28th (US). 

Screamfest 2014 Line-up

Screamfest 2014 is soon to terrorise the streets of LA once again, and as the festival that has previously brought us Trick 'r Treat, Paranormal Activity and American Mary, horror fans eagerly await what delights have been added to this year's line-up. 

Well, the first wave of programming has been announced and lucky festival-goers will be able to catch the world premiere of See No Evil 2, in addition to Richard Bates Jr's Suburban Gothic and Venezuelan hit The House at the End of Time. Other films include; The Creep Behind the Camera, I Survived a Zombie Holocaust, Julia, Parlor and Refuge.

Screamfest runs from October 14th to October 23rd. Visit the official website for further information and stay tuned for future announcements!

That's it for now - fancy sharing your views on any of the above? Post a comment! 

Up next on Wise Words... - the Horror Highlights of Gamescom 2014!

News Round-up: TIFF, Resident Evil and More!

It's time for another round-up - here are a few more horror news highlights from the past week or so.

TIFF Midnight Madness Selection

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is fast approaching, which means the acclaimed Midnight Madness programme, showcasing all the best in upcoming horror, shock and action, is upon us too. This year's selection has been announced and it's looking pretty impressive, including the world premieres of Kevin Smith's Tusk and [REC] 4: Apocalypse. Other films include;

• Big Game - A thriller, starring Samuel L. Jackson, which follows the survival of his character and a 13 year-old boy in the wilderness, after an Air Force One plane is forced down after an act of terrorism. 
• Cub - A group of young Cub scouts find themselves stalked by a psychopathic huntsman, who has plagued the forest with deadly traps.
• The Editor - A loving tribute to/parody of the Dario Argento/Mario Bava giallo films in which a one-time film editor becomes a prime suspect in a series of brutal murders.
• Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films - A documentary that follows the rise and fall of exploitation powerhouse Cannon Films, whose contribution to cinema include American Ninja, Death Wish II and Masters of the Universe.
• The Guest - The latest from director Adam Wingard, in which a charming young man arrives at the house of a grieving family, claiming to be the best friend of their dead son. 
• It Follows - A nineteen year-old girl finds herself stuck with a sexually transmitted serial haunting, in which the lingering phantoms remain unless she passes the curse on to someone else.
• Tokyo Tribe - A yakuza street-gang hip-hop musical epic (need we say more?)
• What We Do in the Shadows - Another horror-comedy to emerge from New Zealand, in which the mockumentary format is used to follow a trio of vampires who struggle to adapt to life in the 21st century. 

This year's TIFF takes place from the 4th to the 14th of September. For more information on Midnight Madness, visit the official website.

In the works...

Dead Island
Paradise. Virus outbreak. Zombie apocalypse. We've heard it all before and yet, we can't get enough. That's right, along with the upcoming release of Dead Island 2, it has now been confirmed that a film adaptation of this video game franchise is on the way. Occupant Entertainment and Deep Silver have teamed up to deliver this inevitable project and although we are far off any further detail, the shooting schedule is set to begin in 2015.

Resident Evil
In keeping with the gaming theme, Capcom has announced that the 2002 Gamecube 'remake' of the survival-horror juggernaut, Resident Evil, has received the remaster treatment. It has been rebooted for all current and next-gen platforms and will be available in early 2015, bringing Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine back to our screens... only in a far less 'blocky' aesthetic.

According to the company's official statement, this remastered version will be a walk down memory lane, using the latest resolution enhancement and 3D model technology. The game resolutions and textures have been significantly upgraded to 1080p, revealing beautiful and intense detail, and the sound effects are now a fully remastered 5.1 surround support. 

Fans of the franchise may be a little dubious of this recent announcement. Given the plans of a Resident Evil 7, and the not-so-successful predecessors, the release of this remastered edition could well be just a sneaky technique to test the proverbial waters. On the other hand, there is every chance this is a much-loved hark back to the good ol' days.

Either way, it's a win-win situation. Play the game and relive the 'old school' Resident Evil, or hate every second of it and join consumer activism in shaping the future of this much-loved franchise. 

The Beast Within
This week it was announced that the 1982 horror, The Beast Within, is receiving the remake treatment by none other than the original's writer, Tom Holland. Holland has voiced his wishes to have another go at this transformation classic, to primarily implement previous ideas that were, at the time, inconceivable.

Given the development of CGI and practical effects, he is now able to bring his original concepts to screen. Fear not, it won't all be digital drivel however, as Holland has quite rightly confirmed that Michael MacCleary's infamous transformation scene will remain 'old-school' and 'in-camera'. Phew. After all, how can you beat this...?


The passing of Dick Smith and Marilyn Burns

To end on a somewhat bitter-sweet note, the past week or so has seen the unfortunate loss of two horror icons. The first being Marilyn Burns, who has starred in the likes of Eaten Alive, Helter Skelter, Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation, Texas Chainsaw 3D and most recently, The Sacrament. Of course, her most famous role was Sally Hardesty in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, in which her delirious laughter, sheer terror and primal screams lauded her as one of horror's original scream-queens, and provided cinema with a performance never to be forgotten.

The other loss if of course, Dick Smith. Close friend and mentee Rick Baker announced his passing last week with an official statement:

"The master is gone. My friend and mentor Dick Smith is no longer with us. The world will no longer be the same". 

It's difficult to summarise Smith's career and to put in to words just how influential and iconic his work has been. His make-up effects have shaped not only the horror genre, but film as a whole. From the old-age make-up in The Godfather and Amadeus (for which he won an Academy Award), to the blood-soaked finale in Taxi Driver, to his most iconic work of all - transforming Max von Sydow and Linda Blair in The Exorcist.

His artistry makes every effect on screen feel palpable, his mark is indellible, his work is influential. Indeed, all of the great artists that exist today do so because of Smith - he is 'The Godfather of Make-up'. His passing is a great shame, but what a legacy he has left behind. 

That's it for now, stayed tuned for the next news round-up!

News Round-up: Septic Man, The ABCs of Death 2 and More!

Here we are again! It's time to round up the very latest horror news and updates. First up...

Release dates announced!

The ABCs of Death 2
In 2013, 26 tales of death were brought to us by 26 different directors in Magnet's The ABCs of Death. This year, the alphabet is getting revisited by a new batch of horror-loving creatives, including the likes of Jen and Sylvia Soska and Julian Barratt. The premise remains the same however, as each director interprets their assigned letter to explore death, primarly in the most repulsive, bonkers and unimaginable way possible.

Along with the film's official poster, the release dates for this portmanteau have also been confirmed. The ABCs of Death 2 will come out on all VOD platforms on October 2nd, before receiving a limited theatrical release on October 31st. 

The Babadook
Another one to add to this year's Halloween watch-list is The Babadook - an Australian horror from Jennifer Kent which recently caused a storm at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The film looks genuinely creepy and follows the crumbling relationship between a mother and her young son, as the titular creature begins to terrorize the two.

The Babadook will receive its UK premiere at this month's Film4 FrightFest, followed by a wider release on October 24th. Until then, check out the trailer below;



The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 40th Anniversary - cover art and special features announced!

As we all know, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the Tobe Hooper classic, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. To mark the occasion, in addition to various screenings, a 4k remastered version of the film is being re-released on DVD and Blu-ray, courtesy of MPI and Dark Sky Films. This week the cover art and bonus features were revealed, which had many of us squealing with delight. See below...

Both editions (Blu/DVD combo on the left and Blu on the right) will include the following special features;

• Track 1 - writer-producer-director Tobe Hooper, actor Gunnar Hansen, cinematographer Daniel Pearl
• Track 2 - actors Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger and Paul A. Partain, and production designer Robert Burns
• Track 3 - writer-producer-director Tober Hooper
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Shocking Truth
• Flesh Wounds: Seven Stories of the Saw
• A Tour of the TCSM house with Gunnar Hansen
• Off the Hook with Terri McMinn (1080p, 17:02)
• Production Manager Roz Bozman interview (480p)
• New deleted scenes and outtakes
• New interview with actor John Dugan 
• New interview with editor J. Larry Carroll
• Blooper Reel
• Outtakes from 'The Shocking Truth'
• Dr W.E Barnes presents 'Making Grandpa' (still gallery)
• Still gallery
• Trailers 1 and 2, TV Spots 1,2 and 3, and Radio spots 1 and 2

The 40th anniversary edition of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre will come out in a Blu-ray/DVD combo and sole Blu-ray release on September 16th, 2014.

Red Band trailer for Septic Man

The smell of sweet success is encroaching, as the much anticipated Septic Man is set for release this month. In one last promotional push, getting us horror fans even more excited, a new red band trailer for the film has been released. Catch it below:



It's no wonder that Septic Man has won awards throughout its festival circuit, and been lauded as 'stunning' (Little Red Umbrella), 'funny' (Twitch)  and a 'visceral story that will leave you shaken and desperate for a shower' (Rue Morgue Magazine). It indeed looks disgusting, disturbing and downright loopy, with a distinct 'Brundlefly' vibe, emanating from those wonderful shots of the deformed sewage worker, Jack. 

Thankfully, we don't have long to wait until we can revel in this filth. Septic Man will receive a full VOD release on August 12th, followed by a DVD release on August 19th.

It's a short but sweet edition of News Round-up this time but fear not, another part is just on its way... Stay tuned!