The Most Anticipated Horror Films of 2015:.. or 2016?

As this feature comes to a close, it is time for some Wise Words... to be shared on the most anticipated horror films of 2015, which will most likely be released in 2016. We're talking films that are still in production, those that are yet to be picked up for release or even those that, for one reason or another, have mysteriously disappeared into the post-production ether. The rumour mills continue to turn however and it is fair to say that, at some point or another in the near distant future, the following films will appear and satisfy our fiendish intrigue...

Friday the 13th

Back in May 2014, producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form revealed that a Friday the 13th film is in the works. Set in the 1980s with a plot boasting both Jason and Pamela Vorhees, fans of the franchise are understandably excited (but of course dubious) for this reboot due for release in November. In a recent interview with Collider however, this time frame sounds remarkably optimistic given that they're still working on the script. What with shooting to start, followed by post-production, 2016 is looking more likely to host this forthcoming Vorhees reunion.

The Green Inferno

Last year horror pundits were shocked (and not in the way Eli Roth had intended) after The Green Inferno - Roth's latest directorial effort - was pulled from release. This cannibal-horror, which follows student activists into the depth of the Amazon rainforest, was taken off Open Road's release calendar in August and subsequently drifted into liminal existence. Reportedly nothing to do with the film's quality (which as it so happens, is apparently very good), it's release was halted due to a company restructure at financier Worldview Entertainment.

Months have now passed and it seems The Green Inferno will see a cinematic release afterall. In a recent interview at Sundance Film Festival, Roth explained, "As of right now, all systems are go for the theatrical release [...]. Here’s the thing: everyone is working to resolve it. Open Road has been amazing through this entire process. I really love them, they’ve been great. Even with whatever situation World View is going through, everyone is working together to find the best, cleanest, most positive resolution and get the film out in the widest release possible. [...] I think realistically [the release] would be in the August to September range".

Nothing is for certain (other than the rife anticipation amongst Roth fans) so fingers crossed one and all, for some promising cannibalistic carnage this year.

31

Self-proclaimed as his most 'brutal film to date', this latest effort from Rob Zombie - entitled 31 - follows five hostages held captive in Murder World, as they play a twisted game and fend off a gang of evil clowns in the bid for survival.

Beyond premise, little else is known about this crowdfunded endeavor. Yet this, in addition to some interesting concept artwork, is all that is needed to garner a great following. It's a shame avid followers will have to wait a while until any sign of a release date however, given that Zombie and his crew are still in pre-production. All we can hope for this year, is at least a few more teasers. Bring it on, Zombie.

Phantasm: Ravager

The Tall Man returns, along with Mike, Jody and their family friend Reggie, as the fifth and final instalment of the Phantasm franchise - Ravager - returns to our screens this year. Despite the fact that, under the auspice of Don Coscarelli, all filming completed last March, a release date is yet to be confirmed. Although, from the looks of this recently-released teaser trailer, surely we can't be that far off?

That's it for The Most Anticipated Horror Films of 2015 and it's fair to say that, from beloved franchises to wonderfully divisive directors, it's great to see the exciting work that's in store for us... be it this year or the next.

Stay tuned as next up, Wise Words... are shared on The Most Anticipated Horror Shows of 2015.

The Most Anticipated Horror Films of 2015: Wyrmwood, It Follows and More!

In the last Wise Words... post we had a look at the most anticipated horror blockbusters of 2015 and as expected, there is the usual barrage of sequels and remakes, in addition to one or two vehicles of nostalgia, set for our multiplex screens. Whilst mildly entertaining for some, these mainstream horror releases are by no means original... or exciting. So what can we expect from the smaller screens this year?

As we all know, this particular market is forever shifting and new releases are a daily occurance. Horror-romance Sping (17th April), supernatural horror-comedy Kitchen Sink (6th November), zombie showdown Scouts vs. Zombies (30th October) and Christmas release Krampus (4th December) are all surfacing this year. By no means comprehensive, it's a fine example of what we can expect from the horror genre in the next few months. No finer, than the three horror films featured below, which stand out in terms of anticipation, integrity and downright asininity.

First up and due for release on the 13th of February is the eagerly awaited Australian horror, Wyrmwood. Set in the heart of Australian bushland, this zombie apocalypse feature follows Barry (Jay Gallagher) and Benny (Leon Burchill) on a mission to save Brooke (Bianca Bradey), Barry's sister, from a psychotic doctor and team of soldiers.


From the looks of things, Director Kiah Roache-Turner has had a blast in combining the beloved zombie sub-genre with Australian humour, and the pace and aesthetics of the forthcoming Mad Max vehicle. In other words it looks positively bonkers, and a laughing riot for all horror fans out there seeking a gory, mindless thrill.

Away from the Ozpocalypse (but no less bizarre) is the forthcoming Marjane Satrapi oddity entitled, The Voices. Due for release March 20th, this American-German horror-comedy follows the mentally-ill Jerry Hickfang (Ryan Reynolds), whose withdrawal from anti-psychotic medication results in a fairly violent turn of events. Sounds serious enough, but throw in a talking cat called Mr Whiskers and the very vocal, decapitated head of Gemma Arterton, and we've got a dark, absurdist comedy on our hands. Met with warm acclaim at last year's Sundance Film Festival and boasting a cast further bolstered by Anna Kendrick, this looks to be a delightfully dark journey into the human psyche.

Last but not least is It Follows, due for release 27th February. This small, independent chiller, directed by  David Robert Mitchell, received heavy praise during its festival circuit last year, lauded as both a "progressive" feature and "dream come true" for today's horror fan. The film tells the story of Jay (Maika Monroe), a 19-year-old  girl who, after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, is subsequently plagued by strange visions and the inescapabe feeling that something, or someone, is following her.

Sex and horror have always been interchangeable tropes which allow for fascinating exploration into humanity, both physically and psychologically. As such, the pairing of the two has been a long-standing pinnacle of the horror genre and It Follows should prove no different. This contemporary, metaphoric exploration of sexual trauma and the threat of sexually transmitted disease will provide a claustrophobic, intense and thought-provoking terror for horror fans to enjoy and film theorists to revere.

 

That's it for the most anticipated horror films of 2015! Although stay tuned for some Wise Words... on the forthcoming 31, Phantasm V: Ravager and Cooties.

The Most Anticipated Horror Films of 2015: Goosebumps, Crimson Peak and More!

We're half way through January and we've already seen The Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death and [REC]4: Apocalypse hit our screens. Needless to say the response has been a little lacklustre but lets not start as we mean to go on. This year is bound to boast some incredible horror releases full of genuine frights and originality... right?

Unfortunately in their usual strife to appeal to the masses, studios will continue to churn out various sequels and remakes in 2015. Even though a release date is not confirmed, Amityville: The Awakening will soon surface, of which the most interesting aspect is the film's director, Franck Khalfoun, who recently helmed the Maniac remake. Paranormal Activity returns on March 13th with its sixth installation, The Ghost Dimension, and Insidious: Chapter 3 will make an appearance on June 5th. 

The Poltergeist remake is due for release on July 24th and it is no wonder that an element of trepidation surrounds the film's production. What else do you expect when re-working one of Tobe Hooper's best? Certainly not a 3D children's film... but according to lead actor, Sam Rockwell, that's the direction that has been taken;

"This one's gonna be in 3D though [...] it's more of a kids' movie so I don't know if it's gonna be like rated-R scary. It's not like Conjuring type of scary. You know, it's a different kind of movie. It's more of an adventure"
 
It may not be the frightful experience some horror fans are after, but with the likes of Rockwell starring and Sam Raimi producing, you could argue some consideration for creative integrity. 

In the same vein of childhood adventure, the 7th of August will bring us the highly anticipated Goosebumps adaptation, starring Jack Black as the infamous R. L. Stine. For anyone who grew up reading these books (and vividly remember their luminescent covers), a feature-length film is certainly a delicate subject. However director Rob Letterman and lead actor Black have expressed great sincerity in the careful balance of horror and comedy. Not to mention, the careful reference to some of the series' most beloved entries (namely Night of the Living Dummy, The Haunted Mask and Welcome to Camp Nightmare). Add in a killer-sponge and they're on to a winner.

Also appealing to the masses and horror fans alike is Victor Frankenstein, due for release on October 2nd. Starring James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe, this familiar tale is given a unique spin as we follow the rise of medical student Victor Von Frankenstein from Igor's perspective, and see how their partnership comes to pass. Written by Max Landis (Chronicle) and described by Radcliffe as "a film about relationships set against the backdrop of creating monsters", this could well prove to be a very interesting origin story indeed.

Last but not least, and scheduled for an October 16th release, is the eagerly awaited Crimson Peak from genre-favourite Guillermo del Toro. Set in a crumbling mansion in Cumbria, the film follows young author Edith Cushing , who discovers that her new husband, Sir Thomas Sharpe, is not who he appears to be. Featuring a fantastic cast that includes Mia Wasikowska, Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain, del Toro explains that Crimson Peak is a "very set-oriented, classical but at the same time modern take on the ghost story".

With the desire to honour the 'grand dames' of of the haunted house sub-genre, the director has openly referenced The Haunting and The Innocents, whilst also tipping the proverbial hat to other classics such as The Omen, The Exorcist and The Shining. Del Toro continues, "I think people are getting used to horror subjects done as found footage or B-value budgets. I wanted this to feel like a throwback". If there's one thing we could say about this man, it's that he definitely knows his horror. From plot and thematic conventions, to the classically gothic set design, Crimson Peak certainly promises to be a delightfully dark treat for 2015. 

A fair few blockbusters to look forward to this year but what about the smaller releases? Stay tuned to Wise Words... to find out.

The Most Anticipated Horror Games of 2015: Bloodborne

So far The Most Anticipated Horror Games of 2015 has featured zombie-favourites Dying Light and Dead Island II, the cinematic slasher Until Dawn, and the science-fiction mystery that is SOMA. You may ask about horror favourites Doom or Silent Hills but let's face it, 2016 is a more probable year for their release. Likewise, Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (17th February), The Order: 1886 (20th February) and Friday the 13th (release date TBC) are all eagerly awaited games and utterly deserving of the final spot, as this Wise Words... feature comes to a close. However there is one game due for release this year that trumps them all - Hidetaka Miyazaki's Bloodborne.

Developed by From Software (makers of the Dark Souls series), Miyazaki's latest effort is a gothic action RPG, set in the ancient city of Yharnam. Thanks to an endemic illness plaguing the city, players must fend off deranged mobs and fight malformed citizens, as they navigate the streets and avoid the danger, death and chaos that lurks behind every corner.

You'd be right to point out certain similarities between Bloodborne and Miyazaki's former franchise. Indeed there are elements of its gamplay that look almost identical - the third-person perspective, character's movement, and inevitable demise at the press of a wrong button, strike startling resemblences to the much-loved masochism of Dark Souls and Dark Souls II. Yet the game also boasts stark differences, worthy of rife anticipation and quite frankly... the purchase of a PlayStation 4.

As you can see, Bloodborne's mechanics appear quicker in pace and this new-found agility compliments the dynamic, dual-weilding arsenal now available. Far more expressive in motion, the gameplay also generates a theatricality that extends beyond the characteristics of the players' un-named traveller to his surrounding environment. 

Rather than armour, non-bestial characters are leather-clad creations, whose muskets, blunderbusses and cleavers take evident inspiration from the Steampunk sub-genre. Violent creatures, once unsuspecting citizens of Yharnam, now represent wonderful imaginings clearly inspired by H.P Lovecraft and his Cthulhu mythology.  

The city itself epitomises Gothic expressionism and boasts aesthetics borne for this next-generational platform. The angular fencing and stratospheric architecture pair beautifully with the game's moon-lit cobbled streets, flickering oil lamps and misty veneer.The environment is dramatic, emphatic and all the more effective when occasionally splattered with dark red blood. 

With the hope that From Software provides a steady framerate for optimum performance, Bloodborne promises to be a dark and twisted game, that will immerse players into a wonderfully unique, bleak and macabre world. Just be prepared to die a few times...

 Bloodborne is due for release 24th March, 2015, exclusively for PlayStation 4.

 

The Most Anticipated Horror Games of 2015: SOMA

Previously in 'The Most Anticipated Horror Games of 2015', Wise Words... were shed on the forthcoming slasher, Until Dawn. This time around, we vacate the perils of targeted teens and enter the realm of science-fiction.

This year SOMA is coming to PC and PlayStation 4 thanks to independent developer, Frictional Games. As it stands the game remains an enigma, and what little information we know of the plot lies on its official website. In short, the game takes place on PATHOS-2, a remote research facility in which the machines begin to take on human characteristics.

Despite such minimal information, the anticipation for SOMA's release increases by the day. This shouldn't come as a suprise however, given that the Swedish-based producers are responsible for the infamous Amnesia: The Dark Descent. From the looks of things, fear-inducing gameplay will once again leave us intrigued yet terrified, as we roam the non-descript realm created in SOMA, longing for the comparatively peaceful halls of Brennenburg Castle.



Accordingly, Frictional's Creative Director, Thomas Grip, explains that SOMA is "not just another carnival ride of cheap scares. It is meant to chill you to your core, and confront you with questions about your very existence"

He continues, "The subject that SOMA will discuss is consciousness. Personally, I find it the most profound [of] questions that [...] is possible to ask. ‘How can the feeling of subjective experience arise from a chunk of flesh?’ Exploring this further takes us to questions such as ‘Can machines be conscious?’ and ‘Do we have free will?’ It quickly gets very disturbing, and is ideal for a futuristic horror setting. It is the kind of sci-fi that we want to make.”

The gamplay mechanics and graphics of SOMA appear far more advanced in comparison to Frictional's previous outputs. Not to mention, the game's design cleverly combines the bleak and nihilistic aesthetic of horror with the surreal and compelling spectacle of science-fiction. Yet these words from Grip imply that SOMA's aesthetics (although important) are secondary in comparison to its ambitious existential themes - a commendable approach and one that will undoubtedly have a longer-lasting effect on all gamers who brave this sinister journey.

Perhaps a game for those who enjoy a slower path to terror with a more horrifying pay-off, SOMA sounds ambitious and compelling, and is most certainly one to look forward to this year.

SOMA is due for release late 2015 on Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux and

PlayStation 4.

Next up... 'The Most Anticipated Horror Games of 2015: Bloodborne'

The Most Anticipated Horror Games of 2015: Until Dawn

In the last Wise Words... post, 'The Most Anticipated Horror Games of 2015' began with a brief look at the upcoming zombie-fests Dying Light and Dead Island II. From the undead to the soon-to-be-dead, next up is the forthcoming horror experience, Until Dawn.

Developed by Supermassive Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment, this slasher will place gamers at the pitfall of a crazed serial killer, when a teenage trip to a remote log cabin takes a dark and deadly turn. Players will have the opportunity to control each terrified teen in an unravelling story of violence, fear, betrayal and death ultimately created by you. The game's innovative choice mechanics and Butterfly-Effect Interface carve out a unique story in which you determine your own survival, as well as the fate of others, in every decision you make.


Both ambitious and dynamic, it's not only the game's storytelling mechanics that are impressive. Until Dawn has a distinct cinematic quality to enahnce connectivity and immerse players in to the world of Blackwood Pines. The rendering capability of the Killzone Shadowfall Engine, in conjunction with the game's lighting and animation, has clearly been used to evoke a sense of realism. Likewise, the talented cast and crew behind the game's production have been hired to hopefully bolster the authenticity of all characters on screen. Hayden Panettiere, Rami Malek and Brett Dalton are just some of the lead voice-actors, whilst horror film directors Larry Fessenden and Graham Reznick (Stake Land, Habit, The Last Winter) have written the game's story.

Perhaps a slow-burner, Until Dawn nevertheless promises to be an all-encompassing experience, fully placing you at the mercy of a serial killer and the story's subsequent twists and turns. Whether it will pack enough action for some gamers remains to be seen, yet following The Last of Us it would be fantastic to once again have a game both gripping on an emotional and physical level.

Until Dawn is due for release Summer 2015 on PlayStation 4.

Up next... 'The Most Anticipated Horror Games of 2015: SOMA'

The Most Anticipated Horror Games of 2015: Dying Light and Dead Island II

You could say that 2014 was a great year for horror gaming. It saw the fantastic success of indie frights Outlast: Whistleblower and Five Nights at Freddy's, and the release of big hitters The Evil Within and Alien: Isolation. From maniacal butchers and mental asylums, to the isolated Sevastopol and treacherous air vents, survival horror arguably upped its game for the most part of last year. So what about this year? What games can we expect in 2015 that will have us glued to our consoles or fleeing in fright?

The zombie sub-genre remains in full swing with two upcoming releases, Techland's Dying Light and Deep Silver's Dead Island II. They both adopt the apocalyptic premise that we all know and love - hand-crafted weapons, hordes of flesh-eating zombies, and a variety of other angry monsters - however each game also introduces something new to revitalise this familiar set-up.

Dying Light's pièce de résistance is its Natural Movement System, which allows players to freely traverse the game's immense landscape, to outwit the undead and complete various missions for survival. The game also operates on a day-and-night cycle, promising terror and downright difficulty as soon as the sun sets.



Given the game's studio release and ambitious gameplay, you'd be right to feel a little apprehensive about Dying Light. More often than not, the pressure to release a highly anticipated game often comes at the price of the finished product. The last thing Dying Light needs are noticable glitches that obstruct the games freerunning mechanics. However the recent decision to withdraw the game from last generation consoles, and lower the frame rate to 30fps, proves that the game's developers are keen to avoid such issues.

Senior game producer Adrian Ciszewski explains, "In such a fast-paced game, a stable frame-rate is paramount... When you're desperately trying to escape from a horde of pursuing Volatiles, even the smallest drop can lead to a mistimed jump and consequently your death.

That's why we made the choice to lock the frame rate at a rock-solid 30fps on consoles, at the same time reducing the input lag to the minimum. The result is a perfectly smooth, gameplay-tailored peformance".

Consequently, the lower frame rate has also helped Techland deliver a 1080p resolution. Ciszewski continues, "We believe we hit the sweet spot with Dying Light's performance".

Dead Island II offers a similar sense of freedom to players in its new Californian location, although that doesn't mean we can parkour amongst the palm trees. Deep Silver have instead developed a colossal map, the breadth and scope of which should offer gamers continual discovery and joy in defeating the undead on beautiful sandy beaches, iconic piers and even in the hills of Hollywood.

In a similar fashion to the game's predecessor there are several characters to choose from, each boasting their own story and fighting style. However, the game's combat now offers different mechanics - such as dual-wielding and eight-player co-op - to fend off zombies in a variety of gory ways.



Referred to as 'the zombie apocalypse of your dreams', Dead Island II is clearly the more fun, brightly-coloured and tongue-in-cheek affair. Afterall, what other game lets you launch a zombie 60 feet in to the air? If it's ambition you're after however, and something a little darker in tone, perhaps Dying Light is the better of the two. Either way, the undead are as ever-present on our consoles this year.

Dying Light is due for release on January 30th, 2015, on Microsoft Windows, Playstation 4 and Xbox One.

Dead Island II is due for release Q2 2015 on Microsoft Windows, Playstation 4 and Xbox One.

Stay tuned to Wise Words... for 'The Most Anticipated Horror Games of 2015: Until Dawn'