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5 Must-See Cosmic Horror Films

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Stare into the void with me: a look into cosmic horror

Cosmic horror has been having a resurgence as of late, and horror nerds like me couldn’t be happier. Inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, cosmic horror explores concepts of an uncaring universe filled with ancient gods and those who worship them. Imagine that you are having a great day doing some yard work. The sun is shining as you push your lawn mower down the lawn, and you feel content as some music plays in your headphones. Now imagine this serene day from the viewpoint of the ants that live in the grass. 

Creating the perfect blend of horror and science-fiction, cosmic horror has gifted us some of the best horror films ever made. Movies like The ThingEvent Horizon, and Cabin in The Woods are just a few. If you haven’t seen any of these films, turn off whatever you have on in the background and do so now. As always, my goal is to bring something new to your watchlist. So, follow me down the rabbit hole but stay close; we won’t need eyes where we are going.

In The Tall Grass 

In The Tall Grass Movie Poster

Once upon a time, Stephen King terrified his readers with a tale about some kids and their corn god. Feeling that he set the bar too low, he teamed up with his son Joe Hill to pose the question “What if grass were evil”? Proving they can work with any premise handed to them, they created the short story In the Tall Grass. Starring Laysla De Oliveira (Lock and Key) and Patrick Wilson (Insidious), this film is a powerhouse of emotion and scenery.

This film shows why cosmic horror is so important. What other genre would dare to explore a concept like evil grass that can control time? What this movie lacks in plot, it makes up for in questions. Luckily for us, it isn’t slowed down by anything close to answers. Like a clown car jam-packed with horror tropes, In the Tall Grass is a fun surprise for people who stumble across it.


Last Shift

Last Shift Movie Poster

It would be sacrilege to talk about cosmic horror and not include a movie about cults. Cosmic horror and cults go together like tentacles and madness. For almost a decade Last Shift has been considered a hidden gem in the genre. The movie has gained such a following that it is receiving a facelift under the title Malum and is set to be released on March 31, 2023.

Starring Juliana Harkavy (The Flashand Hank Stone (Santa Girl), Last Shift pulses with anxiety from its opening scene and never stops. The film wastes no time with trivial things like backstory and character development and chooses instead to jump right into its gritty tale of illusions. Director Anthony Diblasi (Midnight Meat Train) gives us a bleak and terrifying look into the limits of our own sanity. 


Banshee Chapter

Banshee Chapter Movie Poster

Horror films have always drawn deep from the well of unethical government experiments, but none more than MK Ultra. Banshee Chapter mixes Lovecraft’s From Beyond with a Hunter S Thompson acid party, and the results are spectacular. Not only is this a terrifying film, but it doubles as a great anti- drug PSA. 

Starring Katia Winter (The Wave) as our heroine and Ted Levine (Silence of the Lambs) as the Wish.com version of Hunter S. ThompsonBanshee Chapter takes us on a paranoia-fueled adventure into a conspiracy theorist’s dream. If you’re looking for something a little less campy than Stranger Things, I recommend Banshee Chapter.


John Dies at The End

John Dies At The End Movie Poster

Let’s look into something a little less bleak, shall we? John Dies at the End is a smart and hilarious example of how cosmic horror can be taken in new directions. What started as a webseriel by the brilliant David Wong evolved into one of the wackiest films I have ever seen. John Dies at the End opens with a reference to the Ship of Theseus, to show you it has class, and then spends the rest of its runtime stripping away that mirage. 

Starring Chase Williamson (Victor Crowley) and Paul Giamatti (Sideways), this film emphasizes the weirdness that comes with cosmic horror. David Wong shows us that if you break the rules of reality not only would it be terrifying, but it would probably also be hilarious. If you want something a little lighter to add to your watch list, I recommend John Dies at the End


The Endless

The Endless Movie Poster

The Endless is a masterclass in how good cosmic horror can be. This movie has everything, a giant sea god, time loops, and your friendly neighborhood cult. The Endless manages to have everything while sacrificing nothing. Building on the craziness that was ResolutionThe Endless manages to create an atmosphere of absolute dread.

This glorious film is written by, directed, and stars Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhead. These two creators manage to give us a haunting and hopeful tale of what family really means. Not only do our characters have to tackle concepts beyond their comprehension, but they must also face their own guilt and resentment. If you want a film that will fill you with both despair and anguish, check out The Endless.

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Editorial

7 Great ‘Scream’ Fan Films & Shorts Worth a Watch

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The Scream franchise is such an iconic series, that many budding filmmakers take inspiration from it and make their own sequels or, at least, build upon the original universe created by screenwriter Kevin Williamson. YouTube is the perfect medium to showcase these talents (and budgets) with fan-made homages with their own personal twists.

The great thing about Ghostface is that he can appear anywhere, in any town, he just needs the signature mask, knife, and unhinged motive. Thanks to Fair Use laws it’s possible to expand upon Wes Craven’s creation by simply getting a group of young adults together and killing them off one by one. Oh, and don’t forget the twist. You’ll notice that Roger Jackson’s famous Ghostface voice is uncanny valley, but you get the gist.

We have gathered five fan films/shorts related to Scream that we thought were pretty good. Although they can’t possibly match the beats of a $33 million blockbuster, they get by on what they have. But who needs money? If you’re talented and motivated anything is possible as proven by these filmmakers who are well on their way to the big leagues.

Take a look at the below films and let us know what you think. And while you’re at it, leave these young filmmakers a thumbs up, or leave them a comment to encourage them to create more films. Besides, where else are you going to see Ghostface vs. a Katana all set to a hip-hop soundtrack?

Scream Live (2023)

Scream Live

Ghostface (2021)

Ghostface

Ghost Face (2023)

Ghost Face

Don’t Scream (2022)

Don’t Scream

Scream: A Fan Film (2023)

Scream: A Fan Film

The Scream (2023)

The Scream

A Scream Fan Film (2023)

A Scream Fan Film
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Horror Movies Releasing This Month – April 2024 [Trailers]

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April 2024 Horror Movies

With only six months until Halloween, it is surprising how many horror movies will be released in April. People are still scratching their heads as to why Late Night With the Devil wasn’t an October release since it has that theme already built in. But who’s complaining? Certainly not us.

In fact, we are elated because we are getting a vampire movie from Radio Silence, a prequel to an honored franchise, not one, but two monster spider movies, and a film directed by David Cronenberg’s other child.

It’s a lot. So we have provided you with a list of movies with help from the internet, their synopsis from IMDb, and when and where they will drop. The rest is up to your scrolling finger. Enjoy!

The First Omen: In theaters April 5

The First Omen

A young American woman is sent to Rome to begin a life of service to the church, but encounters a darkness that causes her to question her faith and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy that hopes to bring about the birth of evil incarnate.

Monkey Man: In theaters April 5

Monkey Man

An anonymous young man unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systemically victimize the poor and powerless.

Sting: In theaters April 12

Sting

After raising an unnervingly talented spider in secret, 12-year-old Charlotte must face the facts about her pet-and fight for her family’s survival-when the once-charming creature rapidly transforms into a giant, flesh-eating monster.

In Flames: In theaters April 12

In Flames

After the death of the family patriarch, a mother and daughter’s precarious existence is ripped apart. They must find strength in each other if they are to survive the malevolent forces that threaten to engulf them.

Abigail: In Theaters April 19

Abigail

After a group of criminals kidnap the ballerina daughter of a powerful underworld figure, they retreat to an isolated mansion, unaware that they’re locked inside with no normal little girl.

The Night of the Harvest: In theaters April 19

The Night of the Harvest

Aubrey and her friends go geocaching in the woods behind an old cornfield where they are trapped and hunted by a masked woman in white.

Humane: In theaters April 26

Humane

In the wake of an environmental collapse that is forcing humanity to shed 20% of its population, a family dinner erupts into chaos when a father’s plan to enlist in the government’s new euthanasia program goes horribly awry.

Civil War: In theaters April 12

Civil War

A journey across a dystopian future America, following a team of military-embedded journalists as they race against time to reach DC before rebel factions descend upon the White House.

Cinderella’s Revenge: In select theaters April 26

Cinderella summons her fairy godmother from an ancient flesh-bound book to get revenge on her evil stepsisters and stepmother who abuse her daily.

Other horror movies on streaming:

Bag of Lies VOD April 2

Bag of Lies

Desperate to save his dying wife, Matt turns to The Bag, an ancient relic with dark magic. The cure demands a chilling ritual and strict rules. As his wife heals, Matt’s sanity unravels, facing terrifying consequences.

Black Out VOD April 12 

Black Out

A Fine Arts painter is convinced that he is a werewolf wreaking havoc on a small American town under the full moon.

Baghead on Shudder and AMC+ on April 5

A young woman inherits a run-down pub and discovers a dark secret within its basement – Baghead – a shape-shifting creature that will let you speak to lost loved ones, but not without consequence.

Baghead

Infested: on Shudder April 26

Residents of a rundown French apartment building battle against an army of deadly, rapidly reproducing spiders.

Infested
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Incredible Horror Props Go Up For Auction

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You can take your horror movie fandom to the next level with these actual props from some of your favorite films. Heritage Auctions is a collectibles auctioneer house selling movie memorabilia from classic movies.

Keep in mind these things aren’t cheap, so unless you’ve got a surplus of money in your bank account you may want to take heed. But it sure is fun to browse through what they have to offer, knowing that some lots contain iconic props used in classic films. Make sure to review the descriptions carefully, as they differentiate between ‘Hero’ items, which are used on screen, and others that are original reproductions. We have selected a few items from their website to showcase below.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula Vlad the Impaler red armor display figure with a current bid of $4,400.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Columbia, 1992), Gary Oldman “Vlad the Impaler” Red Armor Display Figure. Original reproduction armor made from molded fiberglass components covering a ribbed, cotton body suit with separate arm extensions. Armor includes full head helmet and corresponding plate guards. Display figure features a foam body with wire armature mounted on a wooden support platform for easy display. It measures approx. 71″ x 28″ x 11″ (wood base to mask horns). The figure is dressed in the iconic red armor that Vlad/Dracula (Gary Oldman) wore at the beginning of the Francis Ford Coppola film. Exhibits display wear, chipping in fiberglass pieces, detached components, cracking, discoloration and general age. Special shipping arrangements will apply. Obtained from technical advisor Christopher Gilman. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.

The Shining (Warner Bros., 1980), Jack Nicholson “Jack Torrance” Hero Axe. Vintage original hero axe from Stanley Kubrick’s horror classic film. Jack Nicholson famously wields this axe in a quintessential horror sequence, as he murders Dick Hallorann (Scatman Crothers), terrorizes his wife Wendy Torrance (Shelley Duvall) hacking through the bathroom door, and stalks his son Danny (Danny Lloyd) through the Overlook Hotel’s snowy maze. This custom axe was ground and polished by the studio to accentuate light reflection for dramatic effect. Axe measures 35.5″ in length and axe head is 11.5″ wide.

During the iconic bathroom sequence, over Wendy’s screams, the camera cuts towards the door in close-up, as Jack tears through the wood, and delivers one of the most famous lines in cinema history, “Heeeeere’s Johnny!” – a line the actor ad-libbed in the moment of shooting. Adding to the scene’s terror is director Stanley Kubrick’s choice to whip-pan the camera towards the door – timed perfectly to Nicholson’s axe swings. As the legend goes, 60 takes were needed before Kubrick was satisfied with the door-hacking sequence. Exhibits production wear, including scuffing and abrasions in the wooden handle near the axe head. Obtained from Bapty & Co. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.

Jurassic Park (Universal, 1993), Wayne Knight “Dennis Nedry” Hero Dinosaur Embryo Cryogenic Smuggling Device. Original hero cryogenic containment prop disguised as a can of Barbasol shaving cream measuring 6.25″ tall and 8.25″ in circumference constructed of milled metal, aluminum and plastic with branded decals and labeling. Comprised of (2) main components including (1) faux Barbasol can sleeve with plastic cap and exterior company branding fashioned of thin aluminum with a milled aluminum interior cap to perfectly house (1), cryogenic containment unit measuring 4.5″ tall, hand-milled from aluminum and featuring a rotating base with a rubber O-ring seal for fitting to the aluminum sheath and 2-circular metal rings around a central metal stem with 10-holes each to house plastic conical vessels. Included are seven labeled embryo vials reading:

TR-1.024 (Tyrannosaurus Rex)
VR-1.011 (Velociraptor)
BA-1.034 (Brachiosaurus)
PR-2.012 (Proceratosaurus)
PA-3.011 (possibly Parasaurolophus)
PA-2.065 (possibly Parasaurolophus)
HE-1.0135 (possibly Herrasaurus)

Designed to hold and preserve dinosaur embryos for 36 hours, the can is highly visible early in the film as Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) meets with his Biosyn contact, Lewis Dodgson (Cameron Thor), who gives him the can and explains its features while devising a plan to steal dinosaur DNA samples from John Hammond’s (Richard Attenborough) InGen. Later in the film, Nedry uses the can as he infiltrates the cold storage facility on Isla Nubar and secures the DNA samples. The can is ultimately lost as it falls from Nedry’s jeep, washed away in churning mud when the deceitful computer programmer meets his demise in the jaws of a Dilophosaurus. Chosen by Art Director John Bell, the Barbasol brand can was a perfect fit for its aesthetics and instant recognizability which would help it stick out in its scenes and draw the audiences’ eyes. Since the film’s 1993 release, Barbasol, and their can’s classic design, have become synonymous with the Jurassic Park franchise. Exhibits production and display wear with scuffing to the finish, oxidation across the metal components, color fading, and adhesive loosening to the vial’s labels. Vials contain remnants of the clear yellowish liquid used to fill them during production, with the “PR-2.012” vial missing its cap. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auction.

Hocus Pocus (Walt Disney, 1993), Bette Midler “Winifred Sanderson” Static Book of Spells. Original static Book of Spells measuring 14″ x 10″ x 3.5″ constructed of lightweight wood, dense foam rubber, metal and other multimedia materials. Features intricately detailed features, including a cover and spine made of wood but finished with a foam rubber exterior, designed to mimic human flesh bound with twine stitching. Adorned with a closed-lidded eye, silver serpents with plastic jeweled eyes, and a metal clasp that displays a molded claw and eye relief with a plastic yellow jewel. The interior pages are crafted from dense foam rubber, molded and painted to resemble ancient, worn paper.

B3MP1T HOCUS POCUS 1993 Buena Vista/Walt Disney film with Bette Midler

This prop was primarily used in the film by the character Winifred Sanderson (Bette Midler), who affectionately refers to it as “Book.” The Book of Spells, a sentient book of magic, had various behind-the-scenes versions and builds, including lightweight static versions like this one. These were utilized in scenes where the book needed to be carried or held without requiring animatronics or the ability to be opened and read from. Integral to the film’s whimsical special effects, the Book of Spells has become not only an iconic prop but also a beloved character among fans of this classic Halloween-themed classic. Exhibits production and display use with light scuffing to the paint, chipping and aging typical of foam rubber, and three drill holes located on the back at the center, top left, and bottom left corners – which were used for previous display and placement. Obtained from Walt Disney Pictures. Comes with a COA from Heritage Auctions.

All images courtesy of Heritage Auctions

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