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The Long Strange Journey of ‘Friend Request’

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Can Friend Request do what Unfriended couldn’t?

The fall movie lineup is filled with clowns, maniacal serial killers, and haunted cameras. But Simon Verhoeven’s “Friend Request” is one that we are keeping our eyes on, it has already seen a semi-successful German theatrical run in 2016 with over $2M at the box office in its first week.

The social media horror film has undergone a few different titles throughout its lifetime. At one point it was called “Unknown Error,” so as not to be confused with Levan Gabriadze’s stateside “Unfriended,” in 2014.

And even more convoluted, Friend Request was once itself called Unfriended because the American film was released over there as Unknown User, so no copyright infringement there.

Unlike the U.S film, Verhoeven’s doesn’t appear to be told through the “Live cam” feature on your laptop.

That gimmick may have run its course starting with Paranormal Activity 4 (2012) before being warmed-over by Unfriended.

Friend Request is an international release, it was filmed in Cape Town South Africa, and despite its German production roots, the cast speaks English, no subtitles needed.

For everything that the film makers try to do to set it apart, Friend Request also shares a plot point with the other film: a high school outsider commits suicide, getting vigilante justice from beyond the grave.

While Unfriended is told through Skype, and the supernatural entity plays BFFS against each other, Friend Request takes place in the outside world.

Our heroine Laura is very popular on social media and in an act of compassion adds an outcast named Marina to her friend’s list. When Laura inadvertently omits Marina from a social function she kills herself, setting into motion a series of strange deaths among Laura’s friends and prompting her to find out why.

The conceptualization of  2014’s Unfriended was a good one, a story told through the pop-up Skype and PM windows was a stylish filming gimmick. And having the entity force friends to reveal their true natures was a nice touch. But there were some hitches along the way. A few of the self-kills seemed overly exaggerated and clearly, the players were pantomiming as one would if they were trying to scare a younger sibling.

With Friend Request taking place in an open world, there is enough room for the director to show more by way of the monster and how each friend dies. He’s not limited to the computer screen to tell his story.

Although Friend Request may seem like another attempt at trying to scare audiences with something we use every day, this film has already been a  minor hit abroad and it’s rare those titles get a wide release in the U.S.

Friend Request opens nationwide on September 22.

 

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The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

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The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

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Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors. 

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie. 

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time. 

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.

Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Footwear for Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams doll shoes
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1994’s ‘The Crow’ Coming Back to Theaters for A New Special Engagement

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The Crow

Cinemark recently announced that they will be bringing The Crow back from the dead once again. This announcement comes just in time for the film’s 30th anniversary. Cinemark will be playing The Crow in select theaters on May 29th and 30th.

For those unaware, The Crow is a fantastic film based on the gritty graphic novel by James O’Barr. Widely considered one of the best films of the 90s, The Crow’s lifespan was cut short when Brandon Lee died of an accidental on set shooting.

The official synapsis of the film is as follows. “The modern-gothic original that entranced audiences and critics alike, The Crow tells the tale of a young musician brutally murdered alongside his beloved fiancée, only to be risen from the grave by a mysterious crow. Seeking revenge, he battles a criminal underground that must answer for its crimes. Adapted from the comic book saga of the same name, this action-packed thriller from director Alex Proyas (Dark City) features hypnotic style, dazzling visuals, and a soulful performance by the late Brandon Lee.”

The Crow

The timing of this release couldn’t be better. As a new generation of fans eagerly awaits the release of The Crow remake, they can now see the classic film in all of its glory. As much as we love Bill Skarsgard (IT), there is something timeless in Brandon Lee’s performance in the film.

This theatrical release is part of the Scream Greats series. This is a collaboration between Paramount Scares and Fangoria to bring audiences some of the best classic horror films. So far, they are doing a fantastic job.

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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