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Groundhog Day Part 12: The Fake Slasher Film in The Monster Squad

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Today is of course Groundhog Day, the one day out of every year where the fate of the seasons lies in the hands of a goddamn rodent. Ole Phil saw his shadow today, which, unfortunately for all of us, means that six more weeks of winter is headed our way.

In the 1980s, the slasher sub-genre pretty much mined every single holiday on the calendar for all they were worth, with films such as Silent Night, Deadly Night, My Bloody Valentine and New Year’s Evil becoming annual traditions for us horror-hounds.

Groundhog Day, however, was left out in the cold – one of the few holidays to not receive its own horror movie. Well, not a real one, at least…

gdy2

It’s not uncommon for movies to feature fake movies within them, as it can be quite costly to acquire the rights to use clips from actual movies. Released in 1987, The Monster Squad did just that, introducing a faux slasher franchise called Groundhog Day.

In the film, horror buff Sean Crenshaw desperately wants to go see the franchise’s 12th installment with his friends one night, though his dad informs him he has to stay home and babysit. In a later scene, Sean is using his binoculars to watch the drive-in film from the roof of his house, where we see a brief snippet of the fake movie.

All that we ever really learn about the franchise is that it centers on a guy with an axe who comes back from the dead with each new installment, and in Groundhog Day: Part 12 he once again crawls out of his grave to do some killing. Typical slasher fun, to say the least.

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Last year, nearly 30 years after the release of The Monster Squad, artist Nathan Thomas Milliner and co-writer/director Fred Dekker teamed up for a fun little art project, which saw Nathan designing a poster for the faux movie. He and Dekker also wrote up a little synopsis of the series, providing the villain with a name and fleshing out the story a bit more.

In Nathan’s words…

Groundhog Day

The Groundhog Day slasher series went on for a record 17 entries beating out the famous Friday the 13th series. The 17th film, GroundHog Day 17: LARS STARS which found our lunatic fighting aliens in space, was the final nail in the coffin. The story was of Gravedigger Lars Murmeltiertag–a Norwegian immigrant who was killed by a group of teenagers one night in 1958 while hanging out in a cemetery one cold night. Lars was pushed into the grave he was digging and broke his neck. It all happened on Groundhog Day and 20 years later, LUNATIC LARS rose from the grave he died in, donning a Groundhog mask and a pick ax and started his bloody revenge.

Not really…

This was the fake movie series within the movie THE MONSTER SQUAD. Fred Dekker and I collaborated on this piece and it was a real pleasure. I hope everyone enjoys it.

So, you see, Groundhog day did in fact get its own slasher series – if only within the confines of one of the best horror movies ever made. For now, it’ll have to do!

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

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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

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

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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.

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

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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.

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