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Now Streaming: ‘The Blackcoat’s Daughter’ is Atmospheric and Haunting

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By now, many horror aficionados have witnessed and basked in the quiet, eerie glory of Oz Perkin’s I am the Pretty Thing that Lives in the House. The film, released straight-to-Netflix last year, took just about everybody by surprise; there was seemingly no promotion for the film whatsoever. One day, it was just there. It was a true Halloween treat if I’ve ever seen one, and I became an immediate fan of Perkins.

What many don’t know, however, is that Pretty Thing is actually the director’s second film. His first, The Blackcoat’s Daughter, wrapped up filming in 2015. It took over a year until it got US distribution, and was finally shown in the States this February. Two years after the film’s completion, I’ve finally seen The Blackcoat’s Daughter – and what I’ve seen is nothing short of amazing.

IMDb.com

The film, starring Emma Roberts, follows two girls left alone in a private school. At the same time, a mysterious girl (Roberts) is on a mission to get to the school for reasons unknown. To say any more of the plot would be spoiling it, as it is a film that holds many surprises. What I can say, however, is it deals with numerous cliches of the horror genre and turns them on their heads. This is mainly a movie about possession. Make no mistake, however; another clone of The Exorcist this is not.

Much like Pretty Thing, The Blackcoat’s Daughter is drenched in atmosphere. Yet there is a heavy amount of contrast between the two films. Whereas Pretty Thing is ethereal and hauntingly beautiful, The Blackcoat’s Daughter is drowning in blackness and dread. Roberts’ performance here is stellar. Her character is enigmatic and intriguing, and though many may be turned off by her presence due to a dislike of her previous work in Scream Queens and American Horror Story, to think the actress’ inclusion of the film would hamper the effect is nothing short of foolish. Her performance in Perkins’ film proves that she has the chops to take on much more than fun and campy television.

Kiernan Shipka and Lucy Boynton both give great performances as well as the two girls left in their desolate Catholic school, but their story becomes all the more compelling given the factor of Roberts’ parallel story. Why does she want to get to the school so bad? What connection, if any, does she have with these girls? And will she ever even make it to the school, or will something happen to her beforehand?

IMDb.com

Rest assured, these questions will be answered by the end of the film. I can tell you this much, however; it’s most definitely not what you’d expect. I was certainly taken off-guard by the conclusion. It ends on a powerful and thought-provoking note – The Blackcoat’s Daughter is in no rush to spell things out for you. What this movie means and what actually occurred will take a small amount of analyzation. It’s nothing as vague as something from the mind of David Lynch, but it is incredibly smart in its effort to “show, don’t tell” nonetheless.

The Blackcoat’s Daughter is now streaming on Amazon Prime. It is highly recommended. Ambient, dark, and spooky, this isn’t a film for everyone. Yet if you give it a chance, you might walk away satisfied.

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New Jason Universe to Spin Friday the 13th Franchise Into Many Directions

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The entertainment site IGN has confirmed today that Jason Voorhees isn’t dead. It reports that Horror, Inc. is behind the launch of Jason Universe a Friday the 13th-based outlet that will, “span a wide range of platforms from entertainment, games, immersive experiences, merchandise and more…” with more announcements to be made about the project coming this year.

Robert Barsamian, President of Horror, Inc., said in a statement to IGN, “For decades, Jason shocked and thrilled audiences who kept coming back for more. We’re excited to work with Victor Miller and Marc Toberoff on new projects we’ll announce in the coming months.”

For those following the Friday the 13th rights courtroom drama, Miller wrote the first film and was granted full control over those rights, but director Sean S. Cunningham owns Jason as an intellectual property (read hockey mask) since, plot twist, he wasn’t the killer in the original. Notably, Miller is not a part of Horror, Inc. Also, curiously a hockey mask is used as a part of the Horror, Inc. logo.

Robert Barsamian has a history with the franchise, having funded the first film and a few of its sequels. He is also an executive producer of Crystal Lake in production at Peacock for A24 and funded the making of Friday the 13th: The Game.

Bryan Fuller was a part of the team for the Peacock spin-off but left the project because, as he posted on Instagram, “A24 has elected to go a different way with the material.” his ambiguous statement had some fans wondering if Crystal Lake would shirk its simple slasher rep to become a more “elevated” experience.

However, Barsamian says it can be both, “We’re focused on honoring the legacy while elevating the fan experience and appealing to today’s horror audiences as we develop new ways to watch, interact and engage with the Jason Universe.”

Sheri Conn, Global GM of Horror, Inc, says Jason has been a pop culture icon for over 40 years thanks to movies and video games, “We can’t wait to introduce new Jason Universe activations to these amazing fans.”

If you want to follow what Horror Inc. has in store for our beloved Jason you can follow them at the official Jason Universe website.

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‘Fall’ Team Finds ‘Daybreakers’ Brothers to Helm Follow-Up

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The sleeper hit Fall (2022) is getting not one, but two sequels. Written and directed by Scott Mann, Fall was slow out of the gate thanks to a crunchy CGI trailer, but thanks to the performances, writing and outstanding direction, it found its footing to pull in seven times its original $3 million budget. That cashfall was mostly thanks to word of mouth and VOD.

The Spierig Brothers, Michael and Peter, are taking over the reins for Fall 2, with Mann returning to the director’s chair for its sequel Fall 3.

The Spierig Brothers delved into horror movies starting with Undead in 2003, and after that the apocalyptic vampire action thriller Daybreakers (2009). Perhaps their biggest break was getting to add to the Saw universe in 2017 with Jigsaw which led them to Winchester (2018) starring Helen Mirren.

Variety got a statement from the directing duo, in which they said, “We’re extremely excited to helm the second installment of this franchise and bring to life another nail biting, vertigo inducing thrill ride.“

Mann said he can’t wait for Flawless (his production company) to work with the brothers on this latest installment. “I am so proud to hand over the reins to the Spierigs, two highly respected genre directors whose addition will undoubtedly make this follow-up even more of a must-see experience than we already knew it would be.”

Fall 2 is written by Mann and his co-writer of the first film, Jonathan Frank. No plot details are being released at this time, however, movie site JoBlo has said some characters from the first film will return for the sequel.

So what do you think? Will lightning strike twice for Fall 2 and Fall 3 or was the first one enough for you? Let us know.

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Chilling New Alt Poster for “Mickey Vs Winnie” Unveiled

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MVW Mickey Vs Winnie Horror Movie

Buzz is growing around “Mickey vs Winnie,” a new slasher film that reimagines Mickey and Winnie as twisted, monstrous adversaries. Directed by Glenn Douglas Packard, the movie follows a group of friends who stumble upon these nightmarish characters in a cursed forest. While the plot sounds straightforward, it promises unexpected twists that horror fans will relish. The newly released alt poster captures the film’s eerie essence with a dark, Rob Zombie-esque album cover vibe, enhancing its sinister appeal.

This alt version adds a vibrant, edgy tone, setting the stage for a unique slasher movie experience that blends childhood memories with nightmarish twists. This new version suggests that as the silhouetted girl runs deeper into the forest, she delves further into the sinister realm dominated by the twisted incarnations of Mickey and Winnie. Stay tuned for more updates and set photos as production continues for “Mickey vs Winnie”.

MVW Mickey Vs Winnie Horror Movie
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