Connect with us

News

Five Horror Shows That Audiences Have All But Forgotten

Published

on

Horror on television is experiencing a boom that viewers haven’t seen since the old days of Rod Serling and Alfred Hitchcock.  With shows like American Horror Story, The Walking Dead, and Hannibal, there’s plenty on the air to keep even the most insatiable viewers busy.  Even during the slim years, however, there were pockets of horror programming that slipped through the cracks.  Here are five forgotten horror shows that came and went before they even had a chance.

 

1. Freakylinks

TV_1

Freakylinks was a show that was developed by Haxan Films (the creators of The Blair Witch Project) for the Fox network in 2000.  It starred Ethan Embry as the operator of a website called Freakylinks.com who, along with his team, investigated claims of paranormal activity and supernatural occurrences.  In many regards, Freakylinks was a poor-man’s The X-Files, with the gang checking out a different monster-of-the-week during every episode, their collective experiences hinting at a larger mythology.  That mythology was never fully realized, however, as Freakylinks lasted only one season.  The curious can find episodes of the show on YouTube.  Here’s the first one.

[youtube id=”HTLRqQ1zcn0″ align=”center” autoplay=”no”]

 

2. Fear

TV_2

Before there was Paranormal State or Ghost Hunters, there was FearFear was part game show, part paranormal research show, and it aired on MTV in the early 2000s.  Also known as MTV’s Fear, the show tossed a group of kids into a supposedly haunted place and made them investigate the spookiness, with a monetary reward waiting at the end for those who did not chicken out.  It was a cool prototype for the modern ghost hunting shows, but with more of an exploitative methodology; the producers always seemed like they were purposely trying to scare the hell out of the contestants.  Just like Freakylinks, many episodes of Fear can be found on YouTube.  Here’s the first one, in which the unsuspecting players investigate West Virginia State Penitentiary.

[youtube id=”mX0Wfwqbf34″ align=”center” autoplay=”no”]

 

3. Fear Itself

TV_3

When the Showtime network elected to not renew Masters of Horror for a third season, series creator Mick Garris took his concept to NBC, and the resulting series was Fear ItselfFear Itself basically WAS the third season of Masters of Horror, following the same formula of teaming up established directors and writers to make hour long horror films.  Because they were airing on broadcast television as opposed to pay cable, episodes of Fear Itself had to be edited for content, as well as shortened in order to make room for the commercials.  Even with the limitations, Fear Itself was still probably one of the scariest shows to ever air on network television.  It was put on hiatus during the 2008 Olympics, and was never brought back.  Again, thanks to YouTube, here’s the first episode, “The Sacrifice.”

[youtube id=”dbSbzaSculo” align=”center” autoplay=”no”]

 

4. The Hitchhiker

TV_4

Back when HBO Original Programming was in its infancy, the cable channel produced the anthology show The Hitchhiker.  Every Saturday night from 1983 to 1987, audiences were treated to a cool story along the lines of The Twilight Zone or Alfred Hitchcock Presents, each one introduced by Page Fletcher, the Canadian actor who played the show’s titular host.  The Hitchhiker had a decent run, but the show was soon replaced on HBO by Tales from the Crypt.  Luckily, select episodes continue to live on in the cyber world.  Here’s an episode from the fourth season called “Homebodies.”

[youtube id=”-5dtPvbDoi4″ align=”center” autoplay=”no”]

 

5. Darkroom

TV_5

In the fall of 1981, prime time television was awash in sitcoms and soap operas.  Looking for something different, ABC rolled the dice on an anthology horror show called Darkroom.  Hosted by James Coburn, Darkroom followed the formula of revered anthology shows like Night Gallery and The Outer Limits, bringing together different writers, directors, and actors to produce two or three tales of terror that were crammed into an hour of programming every week.  In ABC’s eyes, the experiment was a failure, and Darkroom was cancelled before the end of its first season.  Four episodes that went unaired by ABC were later compiled into the now-classic horror anthology film Nightmares.  Because of the obscurity of the show, existing copies of Darkroom episodes are of very poor quality, but they’re out there.  Here’s the first one.

[youtube id=”gV-QhrkGBrE” align=”center” autoplay=”no”]

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

News

New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

Published

on

Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

Published

on

Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

News

How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

Published

on

Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Embed Gif with Clickable Title