Movies
The Terrors of a Mother’s Love: 5 Heart-Rending Mother’s Day Horror Films

Here’s a Mother’s Day Horror movie list to enjoy this weekend! The number of horror films involving mothers is so high that it’s impossible to list them all here. One can only imagine what Freud would say about this phenomenon. So, I have cultivated a list that I think best represents the spirit of the celebration.
So put down your phone and pick up the remote, we are going to watch my favorite Mother’s Day films. Oh, and don’t worry. I will always think you are good enough.
The Babadook

This film has provided us with so much since its release in 2014. This tragic story about love, resentment and the heartaches of parenting also spawned a LGBTQ+ icon with endless meme potential.
I will admit this is one of the few horror films I have seen that truly frightened me when I first viewed it. Not because of anything explicitly shown, more so because of the miasma the oozes from the film. The Babadook places a film of guilt on you that refuses to wash off. What would Mother’s Day be without a thick layer of guilt.
The performances by Essie Davis (Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities) and Noah Wiseman (The Gift) are both mesmerizing and terrifyingly raw. If you haven’t watched this film, please do so immediately. Afterward, you may want to call your mother and apologize for some things.
The Shining

I am probably going to upset a certain segment of horror fans with this, but I prefer the 1997 mini-series to Stanley Kubrick’s version. I know it is blasphemy, but I’ll die on this hill.
At the heart of this story is a wife and mother trying to hold on to her troubled marriage while protecting her son. The terror comes not from monsters but from addiction and the always present specter of relapse. Well, I suppose it also comes from the mind-controlling hotel filled with ghosts.
It may not have the shine of its more well-known adaptation, but it is much closer to the source material. Stephen King didn’t care for Kubrick’s Wendy stating that she was “one of the most misogynistic characters ever put on film”.
The performances by Rebecca De Mornay (Mother’s Day), Steven Weber (Channel Zero) and Courtland Mead (Hellraiser: Bloodline) depict how trauma can manifest itself long after an injury has occurred. If you want a deeper look at the shining but don’t want to read a brick, track down this mini-series.
Hereditary

A24 movies may not always land on their feet but when they do the results are incredible. Hereditary is one the most well received movies under the banner of “elevated horror”.
The set pieces are meticulously laid out while the themes of loss and secrecy take the viewer into a landscape shaped by paranoia. Even if you don’t care for the contents, there is no denying Hereditary comes in a beautiful package.
This film gives us a masterful display of how grief can consume a family after the loss of a loved one. What really makes this film stand out are the harrowing performances by Toni Collette (Nightmare Alley), Gabriel Byrne (Ghost Ship), Milly Shapiro (Monkey Bars), and Alex Wolff (old).
Hereditary shows us that sometimes our problems don’t come from our mother. Sometimes they come from her mother. If you want a film that will make you feel better about your own family, give Hereditary a try.
Psycho

This is the greatest Mother’s Day horror movie of all time. This Hitchcock film shows us just how enduring a mother’s impact on her children can be.
The acting style of the 1950’s had something special about it. The way that Janet Leigh’s (The Fog) voice floats effortlessly through each scene adds a touch of romanticism to the film that is lost in modern media.
You can’t mention Psycho without talking about how amazing Anthony Perkins (Psycho II) portrays Norman Bates. His acting in this film makes me feel nostalgic for a time I’ve never experienced.
This film is still known today because of how relatable it can be. Who doesn’t know what it is like to have the voice of your dead mother telling you to commit murder, I know I do.
This film doesn’t get the traction that it used to because it is in black and white. If this doesn’t bother you and you want to see just how terrifying chocolate syrup can be, go watch Psycho.
The Lodge

What would a Mother’s Day list be without an evil stepmother. Well, more like a severely damaged stepmother. This is by far the bleakest film on this list and not recommended for the faint of heart.
That being said, I absolutely adore this film. The Lodge lets you know what it is all about within the first fifteen minutes of its run time.
There is a deep tension that resonates from the first scene all the way until the end of the film. This movie is like slowly pulling off a band aid. It is gruesome and painful, but you can’t stop halfway through.
Everyone plays a part in sharing their misery with you. An amazing cast consisting of Riley Keough (It Comes at Night), Jaeden Martell (IT) and Lia McHugh (A House on the Bayou) completes this depressing portrait of resentment.
This film gives an amazing example of how to truly gaslight someone. If you really want to experience some sadness this Mother’s Day, I recommend watching The Lodge.

Movies
‘King On Screen’ Trailer – A New Stephen King Documentary, Coming Soon

Today the official trailer has been released for a new documentary, King on Screen, that Dark Star Pictures has acquired the North American rights.
Over the years, Stephen King has gained recognition as an immensely popular and prolific author known for his mastery of horror, supernatural, and suspense. His writing style is often characterized by vivid descriptions and compelling characters, and he just has an overall knack for building that suspense that we’ve all come to enjoy.

King has the ability to create a sense of unease and terror in everyday settings; this has become quite a hallmark for the author. The dark side of human nature and how people treat each other is another trademark King often delivers within his characters.

The Synopsis: 1976; Brian de Palma directs Carrie, the first novel by Stephen King. Since then, more than 50 directors have adapted the master of horror’s books into more than 80 films and series, making him the most adapted author alive in the world. What’s so fascinating about him that filmmakers cannot stop adapting his works? KING ON SCREEN reunites the filmmakers that have adapted Stephen King’s books for cinema and TV, including Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Walking Dead), Tom Holland (The Langoliers, Chucky), Mick Garris (The Stand, Sleepwalkers) and Taylor Hackford (Dolores Claiborne, Ray). It is a movie made for the fans and with the fans, led by an international ambition.
Interviews also include Tim Curry, James Can, Dee Wallace, Mark L. Lester, Mike Flanagan, Vincenzo Natali, and Greg Nicotero. Directed by Daphné Baiwir
The documentary will be in select theaters on August 11, 2023, and On Demand and Blu-Ray on September 8, 2023.
Movies
A New Supernatural Thriller – ‘Hell Hath No Fury’ Is In The Works

A new supernatural thriller, Hell Hath No Fury, is currently in the works. (not to be confused with the 2021 film with the same title). Miles Crawford (Babylon), Sharlene Rädlein (Spinning Out of Control), Brooke Butler (Ozark), Jamie Zevallos (The Skulleton), and Lorenzo Antonucci (Paradise City) have signed on to the Karbis Sarafyan and Andrew Pearce-produced thriller film.
Written by Dennis Wilder and directed by Rustam Vakilov, Hell Hath No Fury follows Aidan (Crawford), an agnostic psychiatrist who runs a residential facility while grieving the loss of his newborn child with his wife. When one of his patients is brutally murdered just as a beautiful new employee comes into his life, he tries to balance saving his marriage with preventing the facility from closing. As the story progresses, Aidan must confront his own lack of faith as he realizes that these frightening new circumstances are anything but natural.
“The plot features a thrilling mix of psychological drama, horror, and supernatural elements that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats,” said producer Sarafyan. “It is a stroy about grief, faith, and the power of the human spirit to overcome even the most challenigng obstacles.”
Not much more is known about this new thriller. Check out the cast’s photos below, and check back with iHorror.com for more information on Hell Hath No Fury.





Lists
5 New Horror Movies You Can Stream Starting This Week

I am old enough to remember when after a new horror movie’s theatrical release, you would have to wait six months before you could find it at the local video store. That’s if they even released in the area where you lived.
Some movies were viewed once and lost into the void forever. They were very dark times. Fortunately for us, streaming services have cut that wait down to a fraction of the time. This week we have some big hitters coming to VOD, so let’s jump right in.
* An update has been made to this article. The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster will be released in theaters June 9th and will be released on digital on demand services June 23rd.
Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story

Ok, so this isn’t technically a horror movie, it’s a documentary. That said, it should still be on all horror fan’s watch list this week. This documentary is about one of horror’s largest icons. The man who haunts all of our dreams, Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street).
Not only is the source material amazing, but we have two great co-directors heading this endeavor. Gary Smart (Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser) and Christopher Griffiths (Pennywise: The Story of It) have made a name for themselves in the horror community for providing in-depth analysis of some of the greatest horror films ever made.
Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story will be streaming via Screambox on June 6th. If you want to know more about this documentary before watching it, check out our interview with Gary Smart and Christopher Griffiths here.
Renfield

Nicolas Cage (The Wicker Man) is really hard to put a label on. He has been in so many terrific films, while also ruining one of the greatest folk horror films ever made. For better or worse, his over-the-top acting has placed him in a special place in the hearts of many.
In this iteration of Dracula, he is joined by Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies), and Awkwafina (The Little Mermaid). Renfield looks to be a more lighthearted take on the classic Bram Stoker tale. We can only hope that the awkward lovable style of Hoult mingles well with the zaniness that Cage is known for. Renfield will be streaming on Peacock June 9th.
Devilreaux

Tony Todd (Candy Man) is one of horror’s greatest living icons. The man has a way of making evil sexy in an unmatched way. Joining Tony in this period piece is the marvelous Sheri Davis (The Amityville Moon).
This one feels fairly cut and dry. We get some old-timey racism which leads to a curse that haunts the land to this day. Mix in some voodoo for good measure and we have ourselves a horror movie. If you want an older feel to your new horror movie, this one’s for you. Devilreaux will be released to video on demand services on June 9th.
Brooklyn 45

If you aren’t already subscribed to Shudder, now is the time to try out a free trial. That said, all horror fans should still have it on their watch list this week.. But they normally include some of the standout horror films of the year.
Brooklyn 45 looks like it is going to be one of the good ones. Already receiving massive praise before its release, the hype on this one has me excited. Starring Anne Ramsey (The Taking of Deborah Logan), Ron Rains (Teacher), and Jeremy Holm (Mr. Robot). Brooklyn 45 is my most anticipated new horror film this week. Brooklyn 45 will hit shudder June 9th.
She Came from the Woods

Tubi has been playing its hand at making its own horror films for a while now. Up until this point they have been less than stellar. But after seeing the trailer for She Came from the Woods, I have hope that’s all about to change.
This film isn’t giving us anything new, it’s an old camp legend gone awry. But what it is giving us is William Sadler (Tales from the Crypt) right back where he belongs. Fighting ghosts with a shotgun and loving every minute of it. If you are looking for a new horror movie that is easy to digest, this is the one for you. She Came from the Woods will hit Tubi June 10th.