Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (also known as Mystery Incorporated or Scooby-Doo! Mystery, Inc.) is the eleventh incarnation of Hanna-Barbera’s Scooby-Doo animated series, and the first incarnation not to be first-run on Saturday mornings. The series is produced by Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network and premiered in the United States on Cartoon Network on April 5, 2010.

Mystery Incorporated returns to the early days of Scooby and the gang, when they are still solving mysteries in their home town, though it makes many references to previous incarnations of the franchise, not least among them many cases and creatures from the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!. Episode by episode, the series takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to the classic Scooby-Doo formula (similar to A Pup Named Scooby-Doo and Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!), with increasingly outlandish technology, skills and scenarios making up each villain’s story, and a different spin on the famous “meddling kids” quote at the end of every episode. Contrasting sharply with this, however, are two elements that have never been used in a Scooby-Doo series before: a serial format with an ongoing story arc featuring many dark plot elements that are treated with near-total seriousness, and ongoing relationship drama between the characters.

The series pays extensive homage to the horror genre, drawing on many works from film, television and literature in both parodic and serious ways, from horror movie classics like A Nightmare on Elm Street, modern films such as Saw, television series Twin Peaks, and the works of H. P. Lovecraft, alongside the classic monster horror movies shown in previous series. Other Hanna-Barbera characters occasionally guest-star, including Captain Caveman, Jabberjaw, Speed Buggy, The Funky Phantom, Blue Falcon and Dynomutt, and more.

As was the case with the previous three installments in the franchise, Mystery Incorporated redesigns the main characters, this time into a retro look that returns them to their original 1969 outfits, with some small changes (such as Velma now wearing bows in her hair). The series is also the animated debut of Matthew Lillard as the voice of Shaggy, after he portrayed the character in two live-action films, Scooby-Doo (2002) and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004). Casey Kasem, the original voice of Shaggy, now voices Shaggy’s father. Linda Cardellini, who played Velma in the live-action movies, is the voice of Hot Dog Water, a recurring character in the series.

Fred Jones, Jr., Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, Norville “Shaggy” Rogers, and Scooby-Doo are a team of teen mystery solvers who live in the small town of Crystal Cove, the self-proclaimed “Most Hauntedest Place on Earth”. The allegedly “cursed” town’s long history of strange disappearances and ghost and monster sightings form the basis for its thriving tourist industry; as such, the adults of the town (chief among them being Fred’s father Mayor Fred Jones Sr. and Sheriff Bronson Stone) are not happy that the kids are debunking all the supernatural goings-on that bring in so much revenue as the overwrought schemes of charlatans and criminals.

In addition to the traditional cases they always solve, the team finds itself being nudged into the uncovering of a dark secret that is hidden in the past of Crystal Cove. Following cryptic hints from a faceless mystery-man known only as “Mr. E.” (a play on “mystery”), the gang unearths the legend of a cursed Conquistador treasure, the secret history of Crystal Cove’s founding Darrow Family, and the mysterious, unsolved disappearance of four mystery-solving youths and their pet bird—the originalMystery Incorporated. Standing in the way of their solving this mystery, however, are the romantic entanglements pulling the kids apart: Shaggy finds himself unable to put his new romance with Velma ahead of his longtime friendship with Scooby, while Daphne pines for a trap-obsessed Fred, who obliviously struggles to realise he shares her feelings, too.

Wikipedia | IMDb | Official website | Scooby-Doo on Horrorpedia

Beneath is a 2013 American horror film directed by Larry Fessenden. The film had its world premiere at the Stanley Film Festival on May 3, 2013 and later aired on the Chiller channel. Beneath stars Daniel Zovatto, Bonnie Dennison, and Chris Conroy as teenagers that must fight for their lives against man-eating fish.

Six high school seniors celebrating with day’s excursion find themselves on rowboat attacked by man-eating fish and must decide who must be sacrificed as they fight their way back to shore…

Buy Beneath on Blu-ray from Amazon.com

“Beneath has its tone meter calibrated a little too far into serious territory when it would have benefited from a slier wink of black comedy.  The film is only as good as it needs to be for a rubber water monster movie on Chiller TV, when clearly the actors and the production are better than the script that they have to work with.” Culture Crypt

“Beneath is just a mess of a film, and whether or not you find it entertaining is dependent entirely on your ability to find humor in the failings of others. Am I being too harsh? Maybe. But the primary antagonist is a giant wall-eyed tigerfish so take from that what you will.” Dread Central

Wikipedia | IMDb

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Oculus is a 2013 American horror film from Jason Blum, the producer of Paranormal Activity and Insidious. It was directed by Mike Flanagan (Abstentia) from a screenplay by him and Jeff Howard. The film stars Karen Gillan (Doctor Who, Outcast), Brenton Thwaites, Rory Cochrane (Dazed and Confused) and Katee Sackhoff (Riddick, Battlestar Galactica). A US release for April 11, 2014 is scheduled by Intrepid Pictures/Relativity.

Ten years ago, tragedy struck the Russell family, leaving the lives of teenage siblings Tim and Kaylie forever changed when Tim was convicted of the brutal murder of their parents.

Now in his 20s, Tim is newly released from protective custody and only wants to move on with his life; but Kaylie, still haunted by that fateful night, is convinced her parents’ deaths were caused by something else altogether: a malevolent supernatural force­­ unleashed through the Lasser Glass, an antique mirror in their childhood home. Determined to prove Tim’s innocence, Kaylie tracks down the mirror, only to learn similar deaths have befallen previous owners over the past century. With the mysterious entity now back in their hands, Tim and Kaylie soon find their hold on reality shattered by terrifying hallucinations, and realize, too late, that their childhood nightmare is beginning again…

IMDb

Patrick: Evil Awakens (formerly Patrick) is a 2013 Australian sci-fi horror film directed by Mark Hartley (Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!) from a screenplay by Justin King. It stars Charles Dance, Rachel Griffiths, Sharni Vinson, Peta Sergeant, Eliza Taylor, Martin Crewes, Damon Garneau and Rod Mullinar. Richard E. Grant was originally cast as the doctor but had to withdraw due to a scheduling conflict. The film’s score is by Pino Donaggio (Tourist Trap, Dressed to Kill, Crawlspace). The film is a remake of Patrick (1978) which previously spawned an unofficial sleazy Italian sequel Patrick Still Lives (1980). The movie premiered at the Melbourne International Film Festival on July 27, 2013 and was officially theatrically released in Australia in October 17, 2013.

Plot:

After killing his mother and her lover some years before, Patrick is the comatose patient in Room 15 of a remote, private psychiatric clinic run by the secretive Dr. Roget, who treats him as guinea pig in his bizarre studies of life and death.

When Kathy, a nurse who has recently separated from her boyfriend, begins working at the clinic, she is instructed to care for Patrick. She is disturbed by Roget’s treatment of him and somehow feels that Patrick is trying to make a connection with her. When Kathy realizes that the lifeless murderer can communicate, she is shocked but compelled to prove her theory. Patrick has psychokinetic powers, which he uses to talk to Kathy by transferring his thoughts to her computer. As Patrick’s communication becomes stronger, strange and terrifying events begin to occur. Patrick has feelings for Kathy, and his affection is about to manifest itself as a deadly, bloody obsession.

Reviews:

‘Laden with simple jump scares and backed by a tone that’s both brutally violent and darkly amusing, Patrick is a good example of how to remake an obscure but admired horror flick: remake a little, rewrite a lot, always respect the source material, and if you can actually address a few of the original flick’s shortcomings in the process, well that’s just a cool bonus.’ Scott Weinberg, FEARnet

‘The setup is decent, the actors are good and even the script and direction initially seem like they’re going to rise above the pack. But then convolution and an overwhelming chintziness set in (alongside gore effects that conceptually rub the wrong way against the film’s tone) and it becomes a slog to the finish line. I felt like I knew every maddening, repetitious beat like the back of my own hand and was just winding down the clock.’ Evan Dickson, Bloody Disgusting

‘Yet rescuing the film from its weakness for cliche is its strong cast, with Dance – the go-to guy for condescending hauteur – a huge improvement on the original’s campy Robert Helpmann. Vinson makes a convincingly feisty heroine, Peta Sergeant is a live wire as her chief ally, Nurse Williams, while Griffiths rescues a potentially over-the-top character by underplaying. Scoff, you may, at the moments reeking of Camembert, but the extended climax is a satisfying onslaught of madness and mayhem that should leave viewers suitably drenched in perspiration.’ Lynden Barber, The Guardian

‘Because the film is so highly stylized, it’s easier for Hartley and screenwriter Justin King to get away with some of the more implausible death sequences, but it must have also been difficult to craft kills that weren’t too ridiculous. Because the tone is established and maintained, it allows Hartley and company to be almost limitless in their creativity. Also, because Patrick has control over circuit boards and can use his will to travel through electricity, new technology is used to the film’s advantage without undermining its roots, staying true to the original film in some respects. It’s so inventive and these types of kills are rarely seen on screen, so the joy felt watching them and how they compliment the premise make it much easier to go along with the outlandish.’ Drew Tinnin, Dread Central

Wikipedia | IMDb

Zombeavers is a 2013 American sex comedy horror film co-written (with Al and Jon Kaplan) and directed by Jordan Rubin. It stars Bill Burr, Cortney Palm, Rachel Melvin, Hutch Dano, Jake Weary, Rex Linn, Brent Briscoe, Robert R. Shafer, Peter Gilroy, Lexi Atkins, Phyllis Katz and Chad Anderson.

A group of college kids staying at a riverside cabin are menaced by a horde of deadly zombie beavers. A planned weekend of sex and debauchery soon turns gruesome as the beavers close in on the terrified teens who must fight to save their lives…

‘Horny co-eds, severed feet, the great outdoors, and undead beavers chomping their way toward crotch, Zombeavers is more than just a simple film. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will inspire great interest in mother nature, and it just might teach you something about love. For instance, in one scene a man says, “I’ve never seen a beaver up close.” His girlfriend responds, “You should try going down on me once in a while.” See? Life lessons.’ Lacy Donohue, Defamer at Gawker.com

IMDb

The Quiet Ones is a 2013 British horror film produced by Hammer Films starring Jared Harris, Sam Claflin, Olivia Cooke, Erin Richards, Rory Fleck-Byrne and Laurie Calvert. It is released April 2014.

Directed by John Pogue (Quarantine 2: Terminal), and apparently “inspired by true events”, The Quiet Ones ”tells the story of an unorthodox professor who uses controversial methods and leads his best students off the grid to take part in a dangerous experiment: to create a poltergeist. Based on the theory that paranormal activity is caused by human negative energy, the rogue scientists perform a series of tests on a young patient, pushing her to the edge of sanity. As frightening occurrences begin to take place with shocking and gruesome consequences, the group quickly realizes they have triggered a force more terrifying than they ever could have imagined.”

IMDb | Official page

Wolf Creek 2 is a 2013 Australian horror film co-written and directed by Greg Mclean (Wolf Creek, Rogue). It stars John Jarratt, Ryan Corr, Shannon Ashlyn, Phillipe Klaus, Gerard Kennedy and Annie Byron. The film is due for release in Australia on February 20, 2014.

The outback once more becomes a place of horror as another unwitting tourist becomes the prey for crazed, serial-killing pig-shooter Mick Taylor.

IMDb | Related: Australian horror

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The Vampire Show is a four part Danish web series, shot in 2013 and available for viewing online. The episodes total just under 90 minutes.

Shot in English, the series a parody of reality TV, and has been described by the producers as “political satire”. It follows the lives (if that’s the right word!) of a group of vampires, who are being filmed by a TV crew.

The show is the creation of Xinxin Ren Gudbjörnsson, a Chinese filmmaker living in Denmark. After applications for funding were turned down, the production was shot independently for just 660 Kroner ($121), most of which seems to have been spent on the website (visit www.thevampireshow.com) and two pairs of plastic fangs. A crew of 20 people, including the cast, were sourced through a free casting agency and Facebook. Each episode was shot over a weekend once a month.

Unfortunately, the series is rather weak, even when you take into account the zero budget. It’s overly dark (and while studio lighting is costly, you can do wonders with a 500 watt security light and a bit of ingenuity) and rather too slow moving to be involving. More significantly, it’s not really very funny. But, we invite you to make your own mind up. Here’s the first episode – the others, along with behind the scenes footage, is on the website.

http://cphpost.dk/news/mission-impossible-how-to-make-a-tv-show-for-the-cost-of-a-tom-cruise-poster.3969.html

David Flint

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Only Lovers Left Alive is a 2013 romance drama vampire film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch, starring Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska, and John Hurt. It was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

After living for centuries, vampire Adam (Tom Hiddleston) is a reclusive musician who cannot get accustomed to the modern world and all of its new technology. Adam pays Ian (Anton Yelchin), his only human friend, to buy vintage guitars and recording equipment. Adam asks Ian to have a wooden bullet made for him, so he can take his own life. Adam survives on blood-bank donations regularly supplied by Doctor Watson (Jeffrey Wright), who is happy to take Adam’s money and not ask any questions. While Adam lives in a deserted area of Detroit, his wife Eve (Tilda Swinton) lives in Tangier, where she shares a regular blood supply with her friend, another vampire named Marlowe (John Hurt).

During a phone FaceTime conversation, Eve senses Adam’s depression with society and decides to leave Tangier to be with him. The lovers unite and are content enjoying each others company, eating blood popsicles, playing chess, dancing to music at home, and driving around the city at night. Shortly after Eve arrives, her younger sister, Ava (Mia Wasikowska), shows up from Los Angeles and disrupts the couple’s idyllic reunion. After a night out at a local club, Ava kills Ian, draining him of blood, and she is kicked out of the house by Adam. Adam and Eve dispose of Ian’s corpse. Ava’s impulsive behaviour cause Adam and Eve to have to leave Detroit, and hastily return to Tangier. Experiencing blood-withdrawal, the couple discover that their long time friend and mentor Marlowe has fallen ill due to a bad batch of blood. After a while, Marlowe dies in front of them. Running low on finances, and with no regular blood supply, the couple spot a pair of local young lovers kissing. Adam and Eve approach them, with their fangs out…

“Jim Jarmusch takes all the elegant longing, the romantic notability and insatiable moral questioning that had been sucked out of the vampire genre in recent years by faux-perilous teenage kitsch, and gives it back to us with Only Lovers Left Alive.” Eye For Film

“There is a lot that I loved about Only Lovers Left Alive, though I’ve no doubt that it’s not a film made to everyone’s taste. I might add that it’s barely a horror film, past the fact that it’s a story concerning vampires, but in some ways that’s apt. We’ve seen vampires done in many different ways and this might be as much a meditation on the vampire trope as it is a meditation on the ills of society and creative expression. All in all, it’s probably a film that gazes a little bit too much at its navel, but my, what an attractive navel it is.” Brutal As Hell

“For the first time in recent memory, a title has arrived that at least begins to scrape deeper in to the existential potential of vampire characters. Sadly, this brief glimpse squanders its value by otherwise wandering traveled ground. A certain momentum carries much of the first act of Only Lovers Left Alive, though this theoretically intriguing meander soon becomes the film’s ultimate downfall despite the involved talent. Jim Jarmusch does not intend to analyze questions but simply to put ideas out there, and as a result, his product ultimately feels lackadaisical and aimless.” Sound on Sight

Wikipedia | IMDb | Facebook

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Hannibal is an American psychological thriller–horror television series developed by Bryan Fuller for NBC. The series is based on characters and elements appearing in the novel Red Dragon by Thomas Harris and focuses on the budding relationship between FBI special investigator Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), a forensic psychiatrist destined to become Graham’s most cunning enemy. Hannibal has received critical acclaim, with the performances of the lead actors and the visual style of the show being singled out by critics.

On May 30, 2013, Hannibal was renewed for a second season of thirteen episodes, which will premiere on February 28, 2014. The new series also stars Laurence Fishburne as Jack Crawford, the head of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit. Caroline Dhavernas and Hettienne Park also co-star. Scroll down to watch four clips from the new shows.

Season Two, Episode 2.01 synopsis: ‘Will (Hugh Dancy) is determined to fight for his innocence as Hannibal (Mads Mikkelsen) and Jack (Laurence Fishburne) try to wrap their heads around the fact he’s behind bars. Meanwhile, Alana (Caroline Dhavernas) faces a strained relationship with Will while Kade Purnell (Cynthia Nixon) with the FBI pays him a visit. Also starring Hettienne Park, Aaron Abrams, Scott Thompson and Gillian Anderson (X-Files) ‘

Buy Hannibal Season One on Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon.com | Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon.co.uk

We are grateful to Daily Dead for altering us to the YouTube clips.

Posted by Adrian J Smith

Almost Human is a 2013 low budget American horror film – not to be confused with the TV series of the same name – written and directed by Joe Begos (Bad Moon Rising) for Channel 83 productions. It stars Graham Skipper, Josh Ethier, Vanesa Leigh, Susan T. Travers, Anthony Amaral III, Michael A. LoCicero, Jeremy Furtado, Jami Tennille, Chuck Doherty. The film is now showing in theatres and available on video-on-demand (VOD) from IFC Midnight.

Plot:

Mark Fisher disappeared from his home in a brilliant flash of blue light almost two years ago. His friend Seth Hampton was the last to see him alive. Now a string of grisly, violent murders leads Seth to believe that Mark is back, and something evil is inside of him…

Reviews:

“Competent acting and nice, gruesome effects (especially near the end!) help elevate Almost Human above its very low budget. While the decision to go for a more straightfoward slasher (albeit with an alien antagonist) might disappoint anyone looking for something deeper, fans of low budget horror films will find it a short, nasty treat.” Alex Riviello, Badass Digest

“Suffice to say, I really didn’t care at all for Almost Human, although I’d still say Begos has potential as a director and especially as a cinematographer. At the very least, the movie looks good, and the tight eighty-minute running time is spot-on, and never feels like too much of a chore. At the same time though, the writing and performances come up terribly short and keep the film from being anything more than a quickie gore flick.” Chris Bumbray, Arrow in the Head

“Almost Human has a nice emotional thread at play that concerns loss and grief.  It’s minor, but let’s be thankful a flick like this even has some emotional beats to hit.  When it’s not focusing on this angle, the film is full-throttle crazy town with Mark slaughtering those he meets in brutal ways.  Blood flows, folks.  Oh yes, blood flows.  And it’s gleefully executed in various practical ways.  Also, Mark reveals that he has a few extraterrestrial talents which are a hoot to watch and will make some squirm in their seat.” Ryan Turek, Shock Till You Drop

IMDb

Dracano is a 2013 American monster film directed by Kevin O’Neil and starring Gina Holden, Corin Nemec and Troy Evans.

A catastrophic volcanic eruption releases ancient dragon-like creatures on the surrounding areas. Scientists believe this could start a chain reaction of volcanic eruptions giving way to a global Dragon Apocalypse….

“Since the SyFy Channel has seriously scaled back their original movie docket, crap movies like Dracano just don’t have a real home anymore. Now we have to the find them, as opposed to them finding us. This doesn’t please me. Who really wants to look for this stuff? I’ll do it, because I have a sickness, but I liked it better when these crap movies came on TV for free.” Film Critics United

“Wild science, dragons, gruff military personnel, probing news media, not a bad way to spend 90 minutes. The action in Dracano moves along at a decent clip, and the acting is decent. I recommend Dracano, a 7 out of 10.” Dan’s Movie Report

IMDb

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The Sacrament is a 2013 American found footage horror thriller film directed by Ti West (The Innkeepers, The House of the Devil) and produced by Eli Roth. The movie had its world premiere on September 3, 2013 at the Venice Film Festival and will have a wide theatrical release on May 1, 2014. The movie’s plot takes several elements from real life events such as the Jonestown Massacre of 1978 (previously filmed as Guyana: Crime of the Century aka Guyana: Cult of the Damned).

Plot:

Patrick (Kentucker Audley) is a fashion photographer traveling to meet his sister Caroline (Amy Seimetz) at Eden Parish, the commune she’s been living at since she left her drug rehabilitation program. Despite some misgivings over his sister’s vagueness over the commune’s location, Patrick travels to the commune with his friends and co-workers Sam (AJ Bowen) and Jake (Joe Swanberg), who suspect that they might get a story out of the travels. Once there, Patrick is met by his sister, who is happier and healthier than she has been in a while. His friends begin to film interviews with Eden Parish’s inhabitants, all of which speak of the commune in glowing terms. However they soon discover that there is a sinister edge to the commune that belies the seemingly peaceful setting…

Reviews:

“The film’s intelligence extends to its strong but suitably modest tech package, with the narrative involvement of Vice providing an alibi for Eric Robbins’ fluid, generously lit lensing; most films in the found-footage genre have no reason to look this good. Jade Healy’s production design is a particular asset, visually conveying the camp’s spartan, faux-organic principles with absolute authenticity. Sound design, as ever with the helmer’s work, is tack-sharp, as is Tyler Bates’ spooky score — even if it occasionally seems to have crept in from one of West’s more retro efforts.” Guy Lodge, Variety

” … if you sit down prepared to be a little bit patient (it’s not even a very long movie!) there’s a good chance you’ll appreciate the mystery, the suspense, the shocks, and the payoffs that The Sacrament has to offer. With all due respect to The Innkeepers and House of the Devil — two very good thrillers — The Sacrament may be Ti West’s angriest, cleverest, and most accomplished feature yet.” Scott Weinberg, Fearnet

“If you know anything about the saga of Jim Jones, you know where “The Sacrament” is headed. It’s an unfortunate familiarity that West makes no effort to avoid, instead recreating the horrors that urged the Jonestown community into the afterlife. The picture is violent, a necessary cinematic pressure to capture despair, yet West lingers on the suffering, studying a man gasping for life as he’s poisoned to death, while showing a little girl getting her throat slit by her mother. It’s gratuitous, especially when it becomes clear that the film isn’t going anywhere original with its overview of brutal self-sacrifice, instead lingering the details of awful deaths. “The Sacrament” bottoms out in its second half, with West too paralyzed by the particulars of his inspiration to craft an innovative take on a horrifying event in human history.” Brian Orndorf, Blu-ray.com

Wikipedia | IMDb

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All Cheerleaders Die is a 2013 American comedy horror film remake written and directed by Lucky McKee and Chris Sivertson for Modernciné. It was screened in the Midnight Madness section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. The film stars Caitlin Stasey, Sianoa Smit-McPhee, Brooke Butler, Amanda Grace Cooper, Reanin Johannink, Tom Williamson, Chris Petrovski, Leigh Parker, Nicholas S. Morrison, Jordan Wilson, Felisha Cooper.

The film is a bigger budget remake of the 2001 shot-on-video film All Cheerleaders Die, also written and directed by Lucky McKee and Chris Sivertson. It will be released by Image in Spring 2014.

Plot:

Maddy (Caitlin Stasey) is a rebel and outsider at Blackfoot High, dead set on bringing down the clique of too-cool cheerleaders who rule the school. When Maddy turns up at tryouts to infiltrate their squad, you might think that you know where this film is going. But after things turn ugly at a bush party and Maddy’s wiccan ex-girlfriend Leena (Sianoa Smit-McPhee) interferes in her plot, Maddy, Leena and the whole pom-pom-wielding posse must become unlikely allies in a supernatural showdown against the boys, led by Terry (Tom Williamson), the captain of the football team.

Reviews:

“With its splashy paintbox palette and jaunty pop soundtrack, All Cheerleaders Die just about hangs together as a cheerfully goofy romp. The story has some of the pulpy energy of early Sam Raimi or Peter Jackson, but little of their subversive attitude or spiky originality. The characters are cartoonish, the pacing is bumpy and the plot illogical. Does this matter? Probably not to the film’s target demographic, assuming there is still an audience for knowingly trashy semi-spoof horror comedies which appear to be stranded somewhere the 1980s. A guilty pleasure, but instantly forgettable.” Stephen Dalton, The Hollywood Reporter

“All Cheerleaders Die is either a feminist film, or a particular type of man’s idea of what a feminist film could be. But it certainly is schlocky, funny, violent, clever and surprisingly sexy. It is a great unwind movie if you like this sort of thing and does what it sets out to do – entertain.” John Sharp, The Hollywood News

“Mashing together elements redolent of “The Craft,” “Species,” “Pet Sematary” and anything featuring toned young bods jiggling booty and tossing hair in slo-mo, “All Cheerleaders Die” has fun with its umpteen cliches. Still, the satirical edge is underplayed enough to make some viewers wonder whether the film is faux-stupid or the real thing … Even for those most receptive to the tongue-in-cheek tone here, McKee and Silvertson’s in-joke will likely rate just middling on the scale of subversive hilarity. It’s a fond, briskly diverting homage, but not a truly inspired one. Performances, visual approach, f/x and other major contributions all faithfully adhere to current B-horror stylistic conventions.” Dennis Harvey, Variety

Wikipedia | IMDb | Official site | We are grateful to The Hollywood Reporter for the poster image.

Afflicted is a 2013 Canadian action horror film written and directed by Clif Prowse, Derek Lee, both of whom star. The rest of the cast are Baya Rehaz, Edo Van Breemen, Zachary Gray.

Plot:

Two best friends set out on the trip of a lifetime around the world. Their journey, documented every step of the way, soon takes a dark and unexpected turn after an encounter with a beautiful woman in Paris leaves one of them mysteriously afflicted.

Reviews:

” … the film works so well is that you really care about these men and you feel the pain and fear Derek is dealing with both directly with him, and through Clif’s eyes. It is because these men matter, that they are important that the dire, scary situation they find themselves in resonates as well as it does. Often scary and with a real emotional core, Afflicted is an unexpected gem that I hope gets some serious support when released.” Flay Otters, Horror-Movies.ca

“Afflicted is a small concept thriller that attempted to fake its way into becoming a feature film, but there just isn’t enough story to sustain 45 minutes let alone this movie’s miniscule 85 minute running time. About a third of the way through the film should have ended, it had run its course and could have come to a close with a satisfying, creepy and freakishly humorous conclusion as Derek proves killing himself is not the answer to his newfound vampire affliction.” Brad Brevet, Rope of Silicon

“Afflicted is also really fucking scary. Lee and Prowse do not waste a shot, do not waste a moment, in telling their story. Through sound, the careful use of effects, and through great character work, Prowse and Lee take an intimate story and turn it into something larger than itself.  It explores the genre with true grace, intelligence, and terror; for a monster to truly work onscreen, you have to love it a little. Afflicted loves its monster, and so do we.” Ain’t It Cool News

“Afflicted is the perfect film through which one can cast off the negativity associated with found footage and simply call it what it is: a unique and engaging way to present the narrative. It doesn’t need to be a found footage movie, but the perspectives Derek and Clif give to his physical changes and the subsequent mess they find themselves in allows for some incredibly effective and creepy horror filmmaking.” Brad McHargue, Dread Central

IMDb

The Legend of Six Fingers is a 2013 American found footage monster horror film written and directed by Sam Qualiana (Snow Shark: Ancient Show Beast). It stars Debbie Rochon, Lynn Lowry, Andrew Elias, Tiffany Shepis and Tim O’Hearn.

Bloody Earth Films will release the film on DVD and VOD on June 24, 2014.

Two filmmakers, Neil and Andrew, set out to make a documentary about a rash of domestic animal slaughters in rural Western New York. After interviewing several local residents, the filmmakers learn the Native American legend of Yá·yahk osnúhsa? – “Six Fingers” in English, a bipedal creature not unlike Bigfoot, so named because it has three fingers on each hand. Believing that Six Fingers is responsible for the animal slayings, the filmmakers set out on a terrifying journey into the woods to discover whether or not the creature exists…

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We Are What We Are is a 2013 American horror film co-wriiten (with Nick Damici) and directed by Jim Mickle (Mulberry Street, Stake Land). It was screened at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and in the Directors’ Fortnight section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. It is a remake of the 2010 Mexican film of the same name. The film stars Bill Sage, Julia Garner, Ambyr Childers, Kelly McGillis, Odeya Rush, Michael Parks, Wyatt Russell and Nick Damici.

A seemingly wholesome and benevolent family, the Parkers have always kept to themselves, and for good reason. Behind closed doors, patriarch Frank rules his family with a rigorous fervor, determined to keep his ancestral customs intact at any cost. As a torrential rainstorm moves into the area, tragedy strikes and his daughters Iris and Rose are forced to assume responsibilities that extend beyond those of a typical family. As the unrelenting downpour continues to flood their small town, the local authorities begin to uncover clues that bring them closer to the secret that the Parkers have held closely for so many years. While the town’s doctor who’s daughter was eaten by Frank watches, the daughters both decide to consume their overbearing father, by eating his flesh while still alive…

Horrorpedia opinion: While there is an inevitable backlash against any US remake of a ‘foreign language’ film, We Are What We Are shows the validity of such remakes. This is less a carbon copy than a new interpretation of the basic story, given a Southern Gothic make-over and arguably resulting in a superior film. It could be argued – and we accept that this is a contentious opinion – that remakes like this manage to improve on the story by giving a fresh look at the story. Not that all such remakes do this successfully, but when they do – as in this case – the resulting film is a potent, powerful variation that both compliments and expands upon the original story.

‘What’s particularly impressive about We Are What We Are is what it changes (which is a lot) and what it chooses to keep; the central core of both films is very similar and yet fascinating for different reasons. The film also boasts strong essentials in the cinematography and score departments, while Mr. Mickle acts as his own editor, and the result is two disparate subplots that slowly converge in clever and intense fashion. This is a sober and serious horror tale, but it does remember to include some jolts, scares, and seriously bloody bits, too. It’s just a tight little package, all told.’ Scott Weinberg, FEARnet

‘The best element of the picture is how Mickle slowly, painstakingly builds both suspense and grotesque horror. Mickle is a natural born filmmaker and there is seldom a frame or beat that’s out of step. In fact there’s something very peculiar at work here in just how rich his approach is since there’s a genuine attempt to humanize its characters in a way where we often empathize with their situation even when they’re engaging in utterly horrendous actions. This is in stark contrast to the original Mexican version where its characters are pretty reprehensible as human beings…’ Glen Klymkiw, Film Corner

‘The movie saves most of its modest number of jolts for its last quarter or so, which makes them all the more intense. They stick in your craw – and be warned, they’re not for the squeamish… Mickle’s version has all the American Gothic trappings, maybe even pouring it on a bit thick at times. Despite the generally somber tone, there are a few moments when he seems to be tweaking genre buffs’ memories of movies by the likes of Wes Craven and Tobe Hooper.’ Walter Addiego, San Francisco Gate

‘Mickle takes a slightly different tack altogether, using the Grau screenplay as a jumping point to set more of a mood piece, using the gore to accent the feeling of anachronism he sets up with the central family. The violence of Mickle’s We Are What We Are, builds slowly toward a shocking and gruesome finale worthy of any horror fan’s attention.’ Brandon A. DuHamel, Blu-rayDefinition.com

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Devil’s Knot is a 2013 biographical crime-drama thriller film directed by Atom Egoyan. The film is based on a true story as told in Mara Leveritt’s 2002 book of the same name, concerning three teenagers known as the West Memphis Three, who were convicted for killing three young boys and subsequently sentenced to life in prison. The movie stars Reese Witherspoon, Kevin Durand, Stephen Moyer, Colin Firth, Elias Koteas and Bruce Greenwood. It had a limited release in Canadian theatres on January 24, 2014, and will be released in U.S. theaters and Video on demand (VOD) services on May 9, 2014.

Plot:

In 1993, in the lower-class community of West Memphis, Arkansas, three eight-year-old boys – Stevie Branch (Jurgensmeyer), Christopher Byers (Spink), and Michael Moore (Boardman Jr.) – go missing from their neighborhood. After an extensive search, their bound and beaten bodies are found the next day. The community and the police department are convinced that the murders are the work of a satanic cult due to the violent and sexual natures of the crime. A month later, three teenagers – Damien Echols (Hamrick), Jason Baldwin (Meriwether), and Jessie Misskelley Jr. (Higgins) – are arrested after Misskelley confesses after approximately four hours of interrogation. They are taken to trial where Baldwin and Misskelley are sentenced to life and Echols to death all while still claiming they’re innocent…

Reviews:

” … while Egoyan and Co. are to be commended for doing a tactful, dignified job with material that could have made for a ghoulish horror show, the result nevertheless comes across as a flat, ponderous proposition, transforming a fascinating tale of small-town prejudice and miscarried justice into a surprisingly staid courtroom drama.” Scott Foundas, Variety

“The plotting and pace are so scratchy as to deflate a story which, on paper, abounds in amazing revelations and horrible ironies. This is a morbid, mawkish misfire…” Catherine Shoard, The Guardian

“Tech values are consistently strong, with Mychael Danna’s score particularly effective. A closing dedication to the three murdered children is more moving than many such gestures, reminding us that while prosecutorial sins have kept this story alive as one of three teen lives stolen by the state, three even younger boys were robbed of something much greater.” John DeFore, The Hollywood Reporter

“Do we need a fictional version of this story? Does the Devil’s Knot add anything, be it intellectually or aesthetically to what has already been covered so extensively by other, greater works? Do we need this film? The answer, sadly, is a resolute “no”.” Jason Gorber, Twitch

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Horror Story is a Bollywood horror film written by Vikram Bhatt (RAAZ, Haunted, 1920: Evil Returns) and directed by Ayush Raina. The film stars Ravish Desai, Hasan Zaidi, and features the Bollywood debut of television actor Karan Kundra. It was released on September 13, 2013.The plot revolves around a night spent by seven youngsters at a haunted hotel.

Bhatt has stated that he did not want Horror Story to contain any songs or any sex scenes. He also remarked that he wanted to avoid casting “big stars” in the film, as he believed that they “cannot turn the audience fearful” in what he termed as a “hardcore horror film”. Ravish Desai has commented that the movie will be the first in a franchise and that planning for further films has already begun.

Plot:

A group of seven youngsters – four guys and three girls decide to spend a night at a reportedly haunted hotel to celebrate the farewell of one of them leaving for the USA. Despite people’s warnings and other “signs” trying to ward them off from there, they enter the hotel, and then the truth dawns on them…

Reviews:

“Horror Story isn’t a masterpiece, yet it is one of the better movies to come of this genre. It offers cheap thrills, goose-bumpy moments and genuine shrieks unlike the giggle inducing comic moments other proclaimed horror movies. At the end ultimately it depends on how much you revel in movies of this nature. Are you spooked easily? Do you eye-roll at flying chairs, random screams and hackneyed false scares? Do you believe in ghosts/spirits? Whatever your take is, you may not hate or like this one in its entirety, but you won’t be bored either. Yes it’s not a great film, that doesn’t make it a completely bad one either.” Pooja Rao, Bolly Spice

“Debutant director Ayush Raina shoots the grisly goings-on with the minimum stress on conventional sounds and visuals associated with the horror genre. Belatedly the horror genre has chanced upon the relevance of austerity in putting forward the panic and terror of youngsters trapped in a situation where they cannot escape from a satanic annihilation.” IBN Live

“Horror Story is less than two hours long, mercifully has no songs or blossoming romances, and unfortunately no skin show or scares either.” Aditya Mehta, Mehta Kya Kehta?

“The film uses too many ideas from popular films like The Ring and lacks tremendously on elaborating the writer’s imaginative bent! It is a brazenly written, uninspired work lacking originality and freshness. You can easily give this one a miss unless you are desperate to scare yourself, in which case I assure you, the film will need a great deal of effort from your side to numb you off!” Mohar Basu, Koimoi.com

Indian horror on Horrorpedia: 1920: Evil Returns | Aatank | Aatma (2006) | Agyaat | Bandh Darwaza | Bees Saal Baad | Bhoot Returns | Bollywood Evil Dead | Cape Karma | Darling | Darwaza (1978) | Dracula 2012 | Ek Thi Daayan | Horror Story | Khooni Panja | Purana Mandir | Purani Haveli | Qatil Chudail | Veerana (1988)

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Borgman is a 2013 Dutch dark thriller film written and directed by Alex van Warmerdam about an enigmatic vagrant who enters the lives of an upper-class family and quickly unravels their carefully curated lifestyle. It was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival. Drafthouse Films acquired US distribution rights to the film just over a week after its red carpet premiere. It stars Jan Bijvoet, Hadewych Minis, Jeroen Perceval, Alex van Warmerdam, Tom Dewispelaere, Sara Hjort Ditlevsen, Elve Lijbaart, Dirkje van der Pijl, Pieter-Bas de Waard, Eva van de Wijdeven, Annet Malherbe.

Plot:

Charming and mysterious, Camiel Borgman seems almost otherworldly, and it isn’t long before he has the wife, children and nanny under his spell in a calculated bid to take over their home life. However, his domestic assimilation takes a malevolent turn as his ultimate plan comes to bear, igniting a series of increasingly maddening and menacing events…

Reviews:

“For the sake of descriptive economy, it’s tempting to classify “Borgman” (named for its oddly passive-aggressive chief villain) as another entry in the increasingly popular subgenre of the home-invasion thriller, but that would misrepresent the film’s more complex premise. “Home inveigling” or even “home infection” would be closer to the mark: Many of the most horrific domestic violations in this story occur with the permission of the family under threat, lending a Pinter-esque slant to van Warmerdam’s slow-burning narrative.” Guy Lodge, Variety

“The freedom to tell a story absurdly has mostly vanished. What audience conditioned to be literal-minded can put up with it? But van Warmerdam touches his brush lightly, dipping often into violence and vulgarity, and sticking to its commitment from start to finish to never, for one second, make any sense. ” Sasha Stone, The Wrap

“There isn’t necessarily an assertion that it’s this family’s bourgeois complacency that has led to their undoing, instead the focus is on the mercurial and mysterious Borgman, and his semi-supernatural powers of influence and persuasion. So the didactic tone that can sometimes, let’s be honest, make Haneke feel a bit of a slog, is absent here in favor of a playfulness that permeates even the film’s darkest moments (viz the stupidly beautiful and surreal shot of the dumped bodies in the lake shimmying gently in the current like aquatic plants in a fish tank). It’s not a film that despises its audience or wants you to ask particularly deep questions of yourself, instead it’s a fable, a good-looking parable about the mysterious ways in which evil can work.” Jessica Kiang, Indie Wire

“Obviously we’re in creepy, provocative and somewhat ambiguous territory here, but van Warmerdam also brings wit and humor that is often laugh-out-loud hilarious to the proceedings. It’s certainly dark, sterile and deadpan, along with pretty much every stylistic choice in the movie, but also whip-smart, inventive and often very surprising.” Brian Clark, Twitch Film

” … like the bastard child of Luis Buñuel and Micheal Haneke, with the influence of Dogtooth by Yorgos Lanthimos — an unusual, unsettling, and violent demolition of accepted social politics.” Russ Fischer. /Film

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