Movies
That Finished 2023 ‘Omen’ Prequel Just Disappeared, Is it Cursed?
It has been seven years since it was announced that a prequel to the 1976 Satanic child horror movie The Omen was getting made. But all these years later we still haven’t seen it. Is it cursed like the original? We know that it is being directed by Arkasha Stevenson, based on a script by her and Tim Smith.
We also know that the film has already been made and is supposed to have a 2023 release.
Back in January of this year the star of the movie, Nell Tiger Free (Servant), told The Hollywood Reporter, “I can tell you that we have finished shooting. We have made the movie. It matches Servant with how much I truly loved the project and how excited I am about it. Even though there are notes and elements that are similar to Servant and (her character on the show) Leanne, it’s so wildly different. So it’s going to be really cool. At least I hope it’s going to be really cool. I’m very proud of it. So, hopefully, it’s going to be out this year. I don’t know when.”
Moreover The First Omen is being produced by Phantom 4, the production house behind Netflix’s The Sandman, Antlers and Terminator Dark Fate. However a quick search of their site doesn’t list the The First Omen as a project they are working on.
There haven’t been any updates on why there has been such a delay in its release or when it will get out of “Post-production” purgatory. It could be that the movie just isn’t that good and oftentimes in the movie business if they aren’t good they get shelved, reworked, or (yikes!) sent to streaming.
However, director Stevenson has some pretty good content under her belt. She has done episodes for the highly-rated shows Channel Zero and Legion and also directed the insanely entertaining Netflix series Brand New Cherry Flavor (2021).
Then there is the prolific actor Bill Nighy (not the kid’s TV scientist) who also stars in the film. He is well-respected in the industry having appeared in such films as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Underworld: Evolution, and Shaun of the Dead.
Maybe it’s “the curse.” Several movies including Poltergeist, The Exorcist, and The Crow are rumored to have been cursed. The Omen (1976) is also a part of that group. A slew of tragedy hit that production, including deaths and plane crashes. It’s been reported that the Rotwieller used in the movie turned on its trainer.
Curses aside, nothing seemed to happen to the 2006 remake starring Julia Stiles and Liev Schrieber other than it has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 26%.
There are no plot details for The First Omen, other than it takes place before the events of the original. Hopefully, they are waiting for fall to give it a Halloween window, that would be smart. They could be waiting for the same marketing opportunity they used for the remake which was to release it on June 6, 2006 (6/06/06). But that opportunity won’t come around again until 2106. It can’t be that bad.
Whatever the reason, there are plenty of horror movies to keep us satisfied in 2023 — we don’t need another Omen movie. There is, of course, Exorcist: Believer, The Nun 2, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and Last Voyage of the Demeter still to come.
Movies
Watch The New ‘Wizard of Oz’ Horror Film ‘Gale’ on New Streaming App
There is a new horror movie streaming app available on your digital devices. It’s called Chilling and it’s currently streaming Gale Stay Away From Oz. This movie got some buzz last year when a full-length trailer was released, since then, it hasn’t really been promoted. But recently it has become available to watch. Well, sort of.
The movie streaming on Chilling is actually a short. The studio says it’s a precursor for an upcoming full-length movie.
Here’s what they had to say on YouTube:
“The short film is now live [on Chilling app], and serves as the setup for the feature film that will be going in to production soon.
Long gone are the days of emerald cities and yellow brick roads, the enchanting tale of the Wizard of Oz takes a haunting turn. Dorothy Gale (Karen Swan), now in her twilight years, bears the scars of a lifetime entangled with the paranormal forces of a mystical realm. These otherworldly encounters have left her shattered, and the echoes of her experiences now reverberate through her sole living relative, Emily (Chloë Culligan Crump). As Emily is beckoned to confront the unresolved matters of this bone-chilling Oz, a terrifying journey awaits her.”
One of the most incredible things we took away from the teaser other than how moody and creepy it is, was how much lead actress Chloë Culligan Crump resembles Judy Garland, the original Dorothy from the 1939 original.
It’s about time someone continued this story. There are definitely elements of horror in Frank L. Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz book series. There have been attempts to reboot it, but nothing has ever quite captured its eerie but jovial qualities.
In 2013 we got the Sam Raimi directed Oz the Great and Powerful but it didn’t do much. And then there was the series Tin Man that actually got some good reviews. Of course, there is our favorite, 1985’s Return to Oz starring a young Fairuza Balk who would later become a teen witch in the hit 1996 movie The Craft.
If you want to watch Gale just go to the Chiller website and sign up (we are not affiliated or sponsored by them). It is as low as $3.99 a month, but they are offering a free seven-day trial.
Latest Teaser:
First Regular Trailer:
Movies
Saw X Earns A Total Of $29.3M Worldwide In Its Opening Weekend
Saw X is one film that has been a big surprise in its opening weekend. Not only has the film had the biggest opening in the franchise since 2010. The film has earned 18M domestically and 11.3M overseas for a total of 29.3M globally. This is a very impressive haul for this franchise, especially considering the horror film was made on a $15M budget. Check out the official trailer below.
Saw X is also breaking more franchise records by being the highest-rated film among critics in the franchise, sitting at 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 92% among fans. This is the first certified fresh film in the franchise with the other highest-rated one being the first film sitting at 50%. It has also received great reviews from other critics and fans.
The film brings back franchise favorites John Kramer and Amanda Young. It establishes the mentor relationship between the two, and we see more of it play out on screen. It also goes back to the roots of the basic saw traps and grisly results. These are things that fans have been craving to see for a while now. Also, make sure to stick around after the movie is over for a mid-credit scene that has got Saw fans talking.
The film synopsis states “John Kramer is back. The most chilling installment of the Saw franchise yet explores the untold chapter of Jigsaw’s most personal game. Set between the events of Saw I and II, a sick and desperate John travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure in hopes of a miracle cure for his cancer – only to discover the entire operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable. Armed with a newfound purpose, John returns to his work, turning the tables on the con artists in his signature visceral way through a series of ingenious and terrifying traps.”
The film is being released by Lionsgate and is being produced by Twisted Pictures. It is being directed by Kevin Gruetert (Saw VI, Saw 3D). The story is written by Josh Stolberg and Peter Goldfinger. The movie is set to star Tobin Bell (Saw Franchise) as the infamous John Kramer. The movie will also star Micheal Beach (Aquaman, Mayor of Kingstown), Renata Vaca (Dale Gas, Rosario Tijeras), Steven Brand (The Scorpion King, Teen Wolf), and Synnøve Macody Lund (Headhunters, The Girl in the Spider’s Web).
This film is performing well both financially and with the audience. Lionsgate will definitely be considering producing another film in the near future. Did you enjoy this addition to the franchise? Let us know in the comments below. Also, check out some clips from the movie below.
Lists
Shout! TV and Scream Factory TV Roll Out Their Horror Schedules
Shout! TV and Scream Factory TV are celebrating five years of their horror block 31 Nights of Horror. These channels can be found on Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, and Android apps and digital streaming platforms such as Amazon Freevee, Local Now, Plex, Pluto TV, Redbox, Samsung TV Plus, Sling TV, Streamium, TCL, Twitch, and XUMO.
The following schedule of horror movies will play each night through the month of October. Shout! TV plays the broadcast edited versions while Scream Factory streams them uncensored.
There are quite a few movies worth noting in this collection including the underrated Dr. Giggles, or the rarely seen Bloodsucking Bastards.
For Neil Marshall fans (The Descent, The Descent II, Hellboy (2019)) they are streaming one of his early works Dog Soldiers.
There are also some seasonal classics such as Night of the Living Dead, House on Haunted Hill, and Carnival of Souls.
Below is the full list of movies:
31 NIGHTS OF HORROR OCTOBER PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE:
Programs are scheduled for 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT nightly.
- 10/1/23 Night of the Living Dead
- 10/1/23 Day of the Dead
- 10/2/23 Demon Squad
- 10/2/23 Santo and the Treasure of Dracula
- 10/3/23 Black Sabbath
- 10/3/23 The Evil Eye
- 10/4/23 Willard
- 10/4/23 Ben
- 10/5/23 Cockneys vs. Zombies
- 10/5/23 Zombie High
- 10/6/23 Lisa and the Devil
- 10/6/23 Exorcist III
- 10/7/23 Silent Night, Deadly Night 2
- 10/7/23 Magic
- 10/8/23 Apollo 18
- 10/8/23 Piranha
- 10/9/23 Galaxy of Terror
- 10/9/23 Forbidden World
- 10/10/23 Last Man on Earth
- 10/10/23 The Monster Club
- 10/11/23 Ghosthouse
- 10/11/23 Witchboard
- 10/12/23 Bloodsucking Bastards
- 10/12/23 Nosferatu the Vampyre (Herzog)
- 10/13/23 Assault on Precinct 13
- 10/13/23 Saturday the 14th
- 10/14/23 Willard
- 10/14/23 Ben
- 10/15/23 Black Christmas
- 10/15/23 House on Haunted Hill
- 10/16/23 Slumber Party Massacre
- 10/16/23 Slumber Party Massacre II
- 10/17/23 Horror Hospital
- 10/17/23 Dr. Giggles
- 10/18/23 Phantom of the Opera
- 10/18/23 Hunchback of Notre Dame
- 10/19/23 Stepfather
- 10/19/23 Stepfather II
- 10/20/23 Witchery
- 10/20/23 Hell Night
- 10/21/23 Carnival of Souls
- 10/21/23 Nightbreed
- 10/22/23 Dog Soldiers
- 10/22/23 The Stepfather
- 10/23/23 Sharkansas Women’s Prison Massacre
- 10/23/23 Terror Beneath the Sea
- 10/24/23 Creepshow III
- 10/24/23 Body Bags
- 10/25/23 The Wasp Woman
- 10/25/23 Lady Frankenstein
- 10/26/23 Road Games
- 10/26/23 Elvira’s Haunted Hills
- 10/27/23 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
- 10/27/23 Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde
- 10/28/23 Bad Moon
- 10/28/23 Plan 9 From Outer Space
- 10/29/23 Day of the Dead
- 10/29/23 Night of the Demons
- 10/30/32 A Bay of Blood
- 10/30/23 Kill, Baby…Kill!
- 10/31/23 Night of the Living Dead
- 10/31/23 Night of the Demons
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