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‘Beyond The Gates’ Is A Nostalgia-Filled Blast Of Cult Horror

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I remember playing VHS board games as a kid of the 80’s. I had some adventure based ones and even a racing one. I’d spend weekends playing them while eating heaping bowls of Count Chocula cereal. The premise for the games were simple enough, you and some friends would gather around the TV, pop in a VHS tape and let the tape guide your adventure. Usually, they would come with a board game or some sort of “Plug in” peripheral. It was pretty awesome. Beyond The Gates takes the VHS board game to an all-new terrifyingly fun level and my nostalgia thanks it.

When Gordon (Graham Skipper) and John (Chase Williams), two brothers (who don’t get along too well) reunite to sort out their fathers old video store inventory, they discover a VHS board game called Beyond The Gates. Remembering that type of game fondly, they decide to pop the tape in. An mesmerizing and haunting woman, named Evelyn, (Barbara Crampton) introduces herself to the guys and begins the game. Little do Gordon and John know that they just started a game that may lead them to their father who strangely disappeared or to certain death. Once the game begins, these guys are forced to play through until the bloody end.

Every move made in game has consequences in the real-world and forces the brothers to make some pretty brutal decisions the further they advance.

This film has it all, nostalgia fans! Video stores, VCRs, VHS tapes, and an fantasic premise at its core. The film as a whole, feels like a throwback to the 80’s and all the things that we genre fans loved about it.

Beyond

The cast is awesome as well. Skipper (Almost Human, Minds Eye) plays the well-rounded brother. He brings a foundation to  the film and is basically the audience manifested on the screen. Williams, (John Dies At The End) plays the more frenetic brother; more of the wild card. The chemistry between Skipper and Williams works well. Their characters feel organic when bouncing dialogue of each other, leading to the center-piece, estranged family working to pull us in on a believable relationship. The cast also features genre-favorites Crampton (Re-Animator, We Are Still Here) and Matt Mercer (Contracted 1&2). To be honest, this cast alone would have pulled me in to watching.

The film plays out like a mashup of ‘The Ring’ meeting ‘Jumanji,’ with an attached 80’s love letter. For a genre film that features some pretty awesome gore effects, like disembowelment, and a gruesome head explosion, the film has heart. Director, Jackson Stewart does a great job of balancing all the moving parts of a horror, comedy by adding in well-placed family drama into the formula.

I’m a fan, I feel like Beyond The Gates is something I would have randomly discovered on a video store shelf. It has cult staying power, and you can feel that the people that were making the film were doing so out of love for all the things we 80’s lovers were obsessed with.

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A24 Creating New Action Thriller “Onslaught” From ‘The Guest’ & ‘You’re Next’ Duo

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It’s always nice to see a reunion in the world of horror. Following a competitive bidding war, A24 has secured the rights to the new action thriller film Onslaught. Adam Wingard (Godzilla vs. Kong) will be directing the film. He will be joined by his longtime creative partner Simon Barret (You’re Next) as the scriptwriter.

For those unaware, Wingard and Barret made a name for themselves while working together on films such as You’re Next and The Guest. The two creatives are card carrying horror royalty. The pair have worked on films such as V/H/S, Blair Witch, The ABC’s of Death, and A Horrible Way to Die.

An exclusive article of out Deadline gives us the limited information we have on the topic. Although we don’t have much to go on, Deadline does offer the following information.

A24

“Plot details are being kept under wraps but the film is in the vein of Wingard and Barrett’s cult classics like The Guest and You’re Next. Lyrical Media and A24 will co-finance. A24 will handle worldwide releasing. Principal photography will begin in Fall 2024.”

A24 will be producing the film alongside Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett for Ryder Picture Company, Alexander Black for Lyrical Media, Wingard and Jeremy Platt for Breakaway Civilization, and Simon Barret.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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Director Louis Leterrier Creating New Sci-Fi Horror Film “11817”

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Louis Leterrier

According to an article from Deadline, Louis Leterrier (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) is about to shake things up with his new Sci-Fi horror film 11817. Leterrier is set to produce and direct the new Movie. 11817 is penned by the glorious Mathew Robinson (The Invention of Lying).

Rocket Science will be taking the film to Cannes in search of a buyer. While we don’t know much about what the film looks like, Deadline offers the following plot synopsis.

“The film watches as inexplicable forces trap a family of four inside their house indefinitely. As both modern luxuries and life or death essentials begin to run out, the family must learn how to be resourceful to survive and outsmart who — or what — is keeping them trapped…”

“Directing projects where the audience gets behind the characters has always been my focus. However complex, flawed, heroic, we identify with them as we live through their journey,” said Leterrier. “It’s what excites me about 11817‘s wholly original concept and the family at the heart of our story. This is an experience that movie audiences won’t forget.”

Leterrier has made a name for himself in the past for working on beloved franchises. His portfolio includes gems such as Now You See Me, The Incredible Hulk, Clash of The Titans, and The Transporter. He is currently attached to create the final Fast and the Furious film. However, it will be interesting to see what Leterrier can do working with some darker subject material.

That’s all the information we have for you at this time. As always, make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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New to Netflix (U.S.) This Month [May 2024]

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atlas movie Netflix starring Jennifer Lopez

Another month means fresh additions to Netflix. Although there aren’t many new horror titles this month, there are still some notable movies well worth your time. For instance, you can watch Karen Black try to land a 747 jet in Airport 1979, or Casper Van Dien kill giant insects in Paul Verhoeven’s bloody sci-fi opus Starship Troopers.

We are looking forward to the Jennifer Lopez sci-fi action movie Atlas. But let us know what you are going to watch. And if we have missed something, put it in the comments.

May 1:

Airport

A blizzard, a bomb, and a stowaway help create the perfect storm for the manager of a Midwestern airport and a pilot with a messy personal life.

Airport ’75

Airport ’75

When a Boeing 747 loses its pilots in a midair collision, a member of the cabin crew must take control with radio help from a flight instructor.

Airport ’77

A luxury 747 packed with VIPs and priceless art goes down in the Bermuda Triangle after being hijacked by thieves — and time for a rescue is running out.

Jumanji

Two siblings discover an enchanted board game that opens a door to a magical world — and unwittingly release a man who’s been trapped inside for years.

Hellboy

Hellboy

A half-demon paranormal investigator questions his defense of humans when a dismembered sorceress rejoins the living to wreak brutal vengeance.

Starship Troopers

When fire-spitting, brain-sucking bugs attack Earth and obliterate Buenos Aires, an infantry unit heads to the aliens’ planet for a showdown.

May 9

Bodkin

Bodkin

A ragtag crew of podcasters sets out to investigate mysterious disappearances from decades earlier in a charming Irish town with dark, dreadful secrets.

May 15

The Clovehitch Killer

The Clovehitch Killer

A teenager’s picture-perfect family is torn apart when he uncovers unnerving evidence of a serial killer close to home.

May 16

Upgrade

After a violent mugging leaves him paralyzed, a man receives a computer chip implant that allows him to control his body — and get his revenge.

Monster

Monster

After being abducted and taken to a desolate house, a girl sets out to rescue her friend and escape from their malicious kidnapper.

May 24

Atlas

Atlas

A brilliant counterterrorism analyst with a deep distrust of AI discovers it might be her only hope when a mission to capture a renegade robot goes awry.

Jurassic World: Chaos Theory

The Camp Cretaceous gang come together to unravel a mystery when they discover a global conspiracy that brings danger to dinosaurs — and to themselves.

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