Yay

Fall is getting not one but two sequels. It’s great news because now we know bad CGI can be consciously ignored when everything else is so great. 

Yay

A man is labeled a time traveler after allegedly entering a garden shed in his 30s and exiting the next day in his 60s. If the magic is true we can finally go back and talk to Jason Blum right after Paranormal Activity and make him promise to never to touch an Exorcist movie. 

Nay

The Coffee Table. This may be the first time we have suggested spoiling a film before actually seeing it. Wait. Maybe we spoiled Old by suggesting you don’t go see it. 

Nay

Prolific B moviemaker Roger Corman passes away at 98. He gave many actors and directors a chance in Hollywood, some would go on to win major awards. His films were outrageous, often gratuitous but always filled with heart. 

Yay

Clown Motel becomes a trilogy. Cheap Indy horror filmmakers aren’t micromanaged by rich and power studio execs so they can have fun with their material, and what better place to exercise that freedom than at a creepy desert motel in Nevada lorded over by hundreds of clowns. 

Nay

A Jason Universe is announced which promises many lateral “activations” in the Friday the 13th universe. Although the definition of said “activations” is never fully explained it leads us to believe it was a typo for “transactions” so Fortnite players scan by a Jason skin wearing a non-IP regulation hockey mask. 

Welcome to Yay or Nay a weekly mini post about what I think is good and bad news in the horror community written in bite-sized chunks. This is for the week of May 5 through May 10.

Yay:

In a Violent Nature made someone puke at the Chicago Critics Film Fest screening. It’s the first time this year that a critic got sick at a movie that wasn’t a Blumhouse film. 

Nay:

Radio Silence pulls out of remake of Escape From New York. Darn, we wanted to see Snake try to escape a remote locked-down mansion full of distopean New York City “crazies.”

Yay:

A new Twisters trailer dropped, focusing on the powerful forces of nature that tear through rural towns. It’s a great alternative to watching candidates do the same thing on local news during this year’s presidential press cycle.  

Nay:

Producer Bryan Fuller walks away from A24’s Friday the 13th series Camp Crystal Lake saying the studio wanted to go a “different way.” After two years of development for a horror series it seems that way doesn’t include ideas from people who actually know what their talking about: fans in a subreddit.

Yay:

Finally, The Tall Man from Phantasm is getting his own Funko Pop! Too bad the toy company is failing. This gives new meaning to Angus Scrimm’s famous line from the movie: “You play a good game…but the game is finished. Now you die!”

Nay:

Football king Travis Kelce joins new Ryan Murphy horror project as a supporting actor. He got more press than the announcement of Dahmer’s Emmy winner Niecy Nash-Betts actually getting the lead. 

Discovering hidden gems in the world of cinema can be thrilling, especially when it comes to indie films, where creativity often flourishes without the constraints of massive budgets. To help movie buffs find these lesser-known masterpieces, we’ve curated a special list of indie horror films. Perfect for those who appreciate the underdog and love to support emerging talent, this list is your gateway to potentially uncovering your next favorite director, actor, or horror franchise. Each entry includes a brief synopsis and, when available, a trailer to give you a taste of the spine-chilling excitement that awaits.

Insane Like Me?

Directed by Chip Joslin, this intense narrative centers on a combat veteran who, upon returning from overseas duty, becomes the prime suspect in his girlfriend’s enigmatic disappearance. Wrongfully convicted and incarcerated in a mental asylum for nine years, he is eventually released and seeks to unravel the truth and seek justice. The cast boasts notable talents including Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts, along with Samantha Reddy, Jack Maxwell, Paul Kolker, and Meg Hobgood.

“Insane Like Me?”debuts on Cable and Digital VOD on June 4, 2024.

Silent Hill: The Room – Short Film

Henry Townshend wakes up in his apartment, finding it chained shut from the inside… A fan film based on the game Silent Hill 4: The Room by Konami.

Key Crew & Cast:

• Writer, Director, Producer, Editor, VFX: Nick Merola
• Starring: Brian Dole as Henry Townshend, Thea Henry
• Director of Photography: Eric Teti
• Production Design: Alexandra Winsby
• Sound: Thomas Wynn
• Music: Akira Yamaoka
• Assistant Camera: Hailey Port
• Gaffer: Prannoy Jacob
• SFX Makeup: Kayla Vancil
• Art PA: Haddie Webster
• Color Correction: Matthew Greenberg
• VFX Collaboration: Kyle Jurgia
• Production Assistants: Brandom Weavil, Lauren Smith, Steve Visbeck

Alien Hunt

On a hunting trip in the wilderness, a group of siblings discovers an abandoned military outpost on their land, but is it what it seems? Their trip takes a sinister turn when they find themselves facing off against a relentless army of extra-terrestrial beings. Suddenly, the hunters become the hunted. The formidable squad of alien soldiers will stop at nothing to wipe out the enemy and in an all-out, brutal battle for survival, it’s kill or be killed in Alien Hunt.

This brand-new sci-fi horror from director Aaron Mirtes (Robot Riot, The OctoGames, The Bigfoot Trap, Painted in Blood) is set for its US Premiere on May 14, 2024.

The Hangman

To mend their troubled relationship, a middle-aged door-to-door salesman, Leon, takes his teenage son on a camping trip into deep rural Appalachia. Little do they know of the mountainous region’s sinister secrets. A local cult has summoned an evil demon born of hate and pain, known to them as The Hangman, and now the bodies have begun to pile up. Leon wakes up in the morning to discover that his son is missing. To find him, Leon must face the murderous cult and the bloodthirsty monster that is The Hangman.

The Hangman will have a limited theatrical run beginning May 31. The film will be available to rent or purchase on video-on-demand (VOD) starting June 4th.