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‘The Humans’ is a Special Kind of Thanksgiving Horror Must-Watch

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Humans

The world needs more Thanksgiving horror. Sure, we have a few titles here and there but it’s tough to beat big Holiday films like Black Christmas or Trick ‘r Treat. 2021’s The Humans is a very special kind of solution to that problem. The Thanksgiving dramedy gathers a family together for the holiday but has seriously spooky shadows lurking all around its central plot.

The Humans brings a family of three generations together on Thanksgiving. The entire film takes place in an oddly spaced and dilapidated duplex in lower Manhattan. Brigid (Beanie Feldstein) and her boyfriend, Richard (Steven Yeun) are hosting their first big holiday dinner while also proving to her dad that she is a grown-up with a life of her own.

As the evening progresses, family secrets are revealed as strange occurrences begin to go bump in the night all around the family’s fall-out.

This film isn’t a traditional horror picture. It isn’t outright “scary” or loaded with jump scares. However, the absence of attention placed on the supernatural elements occurring under the family’s noses makes for a chilling portrait. Added to that, both Beanie’s father, Erik (Richard Jenkins) and mom, Deirdre (Jayne Houdyshell) are permitting several glasses of Thanksgiving wine to loosen their lips on several enormous holiday shattering reveals.

There are a lot of elements of The Humans that remind me of Robert Wise’s The Haunting (1963). The horror in Wise’s film wasn’t blatant and wasn’t anything you could see. Instead, it played its big horror moments with audio and used character development and surrounding subtleties to put goosebumps on its audience’s arms.

Humans

The acting and ensemble cast alone is enough reason to watch The Humans. But, the elegantly laid horror elements are a perfect cocktail for a rewatchable Thanksgiving pick. The entire film is very grounded in this family’s drama as well. So, for those of us who have hosted Thanksgiving dinner surrounded by a lot of family, you know that the horror of those moments is on the day.

Stephen Karam directs from an adaptation of his stage play by the same name. He transforms traditional stage into a well-laid-out and claustrophobic duplex. The isolation of the Manhattan duplex begins to work terrifying wonders over the course of the film.

Halfway through The Humans, Yeun’s character discusses a comic book that he read as a youth in which half-alien, half-demon creatures would sit around and tell horror stories about humans and the lives that they lead. Since the entire film is filmed very voyeuristically, it’s almost like the audience are the monsters that Yeun discusses.

It took me a couple of viewings to catch all the supernatural stuff occurring in the periphery. The spooky events begin to happen almost right from the beginning of the film. It’s fun to keep your eyes out for those moments while watching the very real family drama occurring at the film’s center.

I say, come for the subtle horror elements and stay for Richard Jenkins and the incredible acting from this cast. There is a certain amount of comfort that lives in this film as well. That combined with the elegant horror elements make for a rewatchable film that has become a new yearly watch for Thanksgiving.

See where you can stream A24’s The Humans here.

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Cillian Murphy Officially Returning In ’28 Years Later’

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This may come as a shock to fans of the franchise. In an interview with Deadline, Sony Chairman Tony Rothman stated he would return “in a surprising way”. His character was last seen in the first film, 28 Days Later, and wasn’t seen again in the sequel, 28 Weeks Later. Other actors starring in the movie include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and more. Check out more of what he said and more about the film 28 Years Later below.

Movie Scene from 28 Days Later (2002)

Rothman stated, “Yes, but in a surprising way and in a way that grows, let me put it that way. This is Danny at his best, combined with a very commercial genre, like we had with Edgar Wright and Baby Driver.”

Movie Scene from 28 Days Later (2002)

While the plot is being kept under wraps, we know that this will be a trilogy of films and that Danny Boyle (28 Days Later) will direct the first film 28 Years Later. Alex Garland is writing the scripts for all 3 films. Danny Boyle’s role in the next two films is unknown as Nia DaCosta (Candyman 2021) is set to direct the second film. No director has been attached to the final film in the trilogy. Cillian Murphy will be an executive producer and actor for the first film. The film will also star Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Bullet Train), Jodie Comer (The Last Duel), Ralph Fiennes (Schindler’s List), and Jack O’Connell (Eden Lake).

Movie Scene from 28 Days Later (2002)

28 Days Later was released in 2002 and follows the story of Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes up in a coma only to find that the city he is in is deserted. He later comes to find out that a mysterious aggression-inducing virus has swept through the United Kingdom and has turned everyone into flesh-eating zombies. The first film was a financial success, making $84.6M on an $8M Budget. 

Official Movie Poster for 28 Days Later (2002)

This is exciting news for fans of the franchise and a surprise as well. Are you excited that Cillian Murphy will be appearing in the film? Let us know in the comments below. Also, check out the trailer for the original film below.

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New Body Horror Film ‘The Substance’ Releases Teaser

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We haven’t seen Demi Moore in a movie since The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent back in 2022. She has been busy though, she had a part in Ryan Murphy’s latest Feud chapter and now she is contemplating altering her body to make it more youthful in the body horror film The Substance.

Apparently, according to the official synopsis, there is a newly developed beauty regimen that “generates another you. A new, younger, more beautiful, more perfect you. And there’s only one rule: You share time. One week for you. One week for the new you. Seven days each. A perfect balance. Easy. Right? If you respect the balance… what could possibly go wrong?”

A still from the film (used in out header) suggests that this new technology requires a lot more than dabbing it under your eyes or administering a sticky mask. The film premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and was bought by Mubi. No US release date has been announced.

The Substance

The Substance reminds us of another FDA nightmare, The Stuff (1985) in which a commercially marketed whipped treat turns people into zombies. That film is a dark comedy about consumerism and gluttony. While Deadline reports that The Substance is humourous as well as gory, they don’t say how rooted it is in satire.

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‘Fall’ Team Finds ‘Daybreakers’ Brothers to Helm Follow-Up

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The sleeper hit Fall (2022) is getting not one, but two sequels. Written and directed by Scott Mann, Fall was slow out of the gate thanks to a crunchy CGI trailer, but thanks to the performances, writing and outstanding direction, it found its footing to pull in seven times its original $3 million budget. That cashfall was mostly thanks to word of mouth and VOD.

The Spierig Brothers, Michael and Peter, are taking over the reins for Fall 2, with Mann returning to the director’s chair for its sequel Fall 3.

The Spierig Brothers delved into horror movies starting with Undead in 2003, and after that the apocalyptic vampire action thriller Daybreakers (2009). Perhaps their biggest break was getting to add to the Saw universe in 2017 with Jigsaw which led them to Winchester (2018) starring Helen Mirren.

Variety got a statement from the directing duo, in which they said, “We’re extremely excited to helm the second installment of this franchise and bring to life another nail biting, vertigo inducing thrill ride.“

Mann said he can’t wait for Flawless (his production company) to work with the brothers on this latest installment. “I am so proud to hand over the reins to the Spierigs, two highly respected genre directors whose addition will undoubtedly make this follow-up even more of a must-see experience than we already knew it would be.”

Fall 2 is written by Mann and his co-writer of the first film, Jonathan Frank. No plot details are being released at this time, however, movie site JoBlo has said some characters from the first film will return for the sequel.

So what do you think? Will lightning strike twice for Fall 2 and Fall 3 or was the first one enough for you? Let us know.

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