Wednesday 26 September 2018

Competition: Win Halloween 4K UHD Blu-ray


Revisit Haddonfield this Halloween as John Carpenter’s classic horror film is re-released on DVD, Blu-ray
and for the first time on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (which also includes 5 lobby-style artcards) to celebrate 40
years of terror.

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you and 3 copies on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray to give away.



Synopsis
It may have been 40 years since Michael Myers returned to terrorise his hometown but the horror is as real
today…

Jamie Lee Curtis and Donald Pleasance star in the ultimate, original slasher movie HALLOWEEN… Escaped psychopathic child-murderer Myers returns to the home where he butchered his sister with a carving knife to torment and murder residents once again. Baby-sitter Laurie Strode becomes his new target in this creepy, evil and unforgettable film.

With a soundtrack to remember, a face mask you’ll want to forget and scares that stay with you beyond the 31st October - this is the only movie worth watching this Halloween.

HALLOWEEN is out for the first time on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray from the 1st October.

Click here to buy from Amazon (Opens in a new window)

COMPETITION CLOSED


Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 08-10-18
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.


Tuesday 25 September 2018

Film news (UK): 13-night Halloween Season haunts Horror Channel


Horror Channel presents its Haunted Halloween season this October, taking possession of the nation’s TVs for thirteen nights with a supernaturally spooky selection of premieres and classic favourites, including the UK TV premiere of Jesse Thomas Cook’s THE HEXECUTIONERS, a nerve-shredding American Gothic tale of terror. There are also network premieres for the gripping US-remake of THE GRUDGE starring Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Carles Torrens’s paranormal chiller APARTMENT 143. Amongst returning channel hits are James Wan’s supernatural stunner INSIDIOUS, John Carpenter’s iconic THE FOG, and Lluis Quilez’s Colombia-shot suspense thriller OUT OF THE DARK.


Full film details of season in transmission order:

Fri 19 Oct @ 21:00 – APARTMENT 143 (2011) *Network Premiee

A team of parapsychologists sets out to investigate a series of strange phenomena taking place in a newly occupied apartment. With the residents plagued by telephone calls with no caller, mysterious shadows and flying objects, the team attempts to contact the “other side” in order to bring peace to the apartment. However, the investigation grows increasingly dangerous as the team delve further into the apartments mysteries


Sat 20 Oct @ 21:00 – THE UNBORN (2009)
Sun 21 Oct @ 21:00 – THIR13EN GHOSTS (2001)
Mon 22 Oct @ 21:00 – DEAD SILENCE (2007)
Tues 23 Oct @ 21:00 – OUT OF THE DARK (2014)
Wed 24 Oct @ 21:00 – THE FOG (1981)
Thurs 25 Oct @ 21:00 – THE HAUNTING IN CONNETICUT 2

Fri 26 Oct @ 21:00 – THE HEXECUTIONERS (2015) *UK TV Premiere

In a future world where sanctioned euthanasia has become an industry, Malison is has just started a job assisting suicides for the Rite-To-Die company. After a distressing first call-out, she is paired with seasoned veteran Olivia, and they head to the remote estate of a man on his deathbed wishing to expire via a Tibetan death. Soon the shocking reasons why this arcane method has been chosen become clear, as the demise-inducing duo find themselves fighting vengeful spirits determined to stop it.



Sat 27 Oct @ 21:00 – THE GRUDGE (2004) *Network Premiere

In this remake of the original horror, also directed by Takashi Shimizu, the action moves to Tokyo, where where American nurse Karen (Sarah Michelle Gellar is exposed to a mysterious supernatural curse, one that locks a person in a powerful rage before claiming their life and spreading to another victim. Also starring Bill Pullman, Ryo Ishibashi (Audition) and Roswell’s Jason Behr.


Sun 28 Oct @ 21:00 – WIND CHILL (2007)
Mon 29 Oct @ 21:00 – CONFINED (2015)
Tues 30 Oct @ 21:00 – DEMONIC (2015)
Wed 31 Oct @ 21:00 – INSIDIOUS (2010)

There is also a small screen debut for Bruce McDonald’s atmospheric and impressive Halloween horror HELLIONS, and network premieres for Scott Derrickson’s terrifying THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE starring Jennifer Carpenter and Tom Wilkinson, Peter Webber’s HANNIBAL RISING, Greg McLean’s ROGUE starring Sam Worthington, vampire action thriller PRIEST starring Paul Bettany, and found-footage monster horror EXISTS.


Plus Stephen King’s popular sci-fi adaptation UNDER THE DOME returns for Season 2 from Wed 10 Oct at 8pm, with Season 3 kicking off on Mon 29 Oct at 8pm.


Horror Channel: Be Afraid
TV: Sky 317 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 70 / Freesat 138

Thursday 20 September 2018

Interview with Ruben Estremera

Ruben Estremera left “corporate hell” to work in the significantly more exciting world of film just three years ago. Since then, he and producing partner Gregory Wolk have produced several movies, including the sci-fi zombie movie Apocalypse Rising, Trump-Halloween spoof President Evil and A Lesson in Cruelty.


When did your producing career begin, sir?

Fairly late to the game, in 2015. Left the corporate world to do something I’ve been wanting to do for years. I’m finding that my years in corporate hell are coming in handy. Filmmaking is a business.


Was it always the dream to produce movies?

I wanted to be involved in making movies but producing them wasn’t in the initial plan. Once my partner and I experienced being ripped-off by a hired producer, we knew we had to do it ourselves.

How many films have you done now?

Four feature films


The one we’d like to discuss is your addition to the fantasy category. Is that a genre you’ve always been fascinated with or was it a matter of simply making a movie that you know would sell?

I’ve always loved dark fantasy. Would it sell? I knew it would appeal to a wide audience, even though some studios gave me the brush-off, saying that “zombies are done.” When someone tells me that I can’t do something, it makes me want to do it even more.


And how did APOCALYPSE RISING come to be?

My partner, Gregory Wolk, had written a novel called “The Dead Site” and we decided to adapt it into a film.


What came first? The script or the idea?

The novel came first, and then the script.


How did you pitch the film to your cast? What interested them?

If you like The Walking Dead, Star Trek, or Game of Thrones, you’ll love this. As if that wasn’t enough to have everyone wanting to be involved, saying that the film contained sex, violence, zombies and Jesus Christ, clinched the sale.


And the look of the film, based on the trailer, suggests a similar tone to the classics. That intentional?

Yes. There’s so much great material from what came before us. However, today’s audiences demand a fresh take on everything. There is no going back to the old days (tell our politicians that, please!) but we’re wise to keep what works and incorporate new methods, updated humour and sensibilities.


When did you watch your first cut?

Autumn of last year. Then it sold at AFM.


Did the distributor change anything when they came aboard?

They suggested that we change the title. We filmed it with the working titled of The Dead Site. I came up with a few alternates, one of which was Apocalypse Rising, and they loved it.



Thursday 13 September 2018

Interview with David Kempf - By Jon Donnis


David Kempf has written over fifty short stories, many with themes of horror fiction. He has won several writing awards including first place in Millersville University's Lemuria magazine's short story competition. Two of his short stories were selected for the 2007 publication of The Grackle.

In 2014 he wrote The Horror of It All, featuring interviews with prominent figures in the horror community. All the proceeds from that book went to help those suffering from ALS.


So this is your fourth novel?

Yes. Dark Fiction, The Petsorcist, Travel Bug and now this one, Damned Fiction.


With a title like Damned Fiction, I assume this is finally the official sequel to Dark Fiction. 

Yes. This new noel Damned Fiction is an official sequel to my first novel Dark Fiction. Although one of the characters (Dr. Henry David Wells) is in The Petsorcist, it is not a sequel to Dark Fiction. Christopher and Dr. Wells (from Dark Fiction) are mentioned in Travel Bug but once again, it is not a sequel. Damned Fiction takes place about a few months after the events of Dark Fiction. This time out, Dr. Wells and Christopher do not have to deal with the evil wish masters known as the Jinn. They must deal with the Devil himself who is interested in finding a writer worthy to write his biography. Thus the title Damned Fiction.


Dr. Henry David Wells is the central character once again. Why?

I suppose because he is my most intriguing character. His Faustian bargain with evil forces in the first novel made him interesting. Now he is literally about to do a deal with Satan himself, with the Devil. He has unnaturally long life, the man fought with the British during The Revolutionary War. Now he is an American college professor and bestselling horror author. He is an extremely promiscuous man as well as a tragic hero and everyman. Wells is the opposite of Christopher who is essentially goodness incarnate. Christopher is the Christ figure, just like his name he is the Christ-bearer, the hero, the force of good. Not Wells. He is good and evil coexisting. There is simply no other character I enjoy writing about more than Dr. Wells.


Tell us about how you came up with the premise for this one. 

Well, I thought about how Dr. Wells has already made a Faustian deal with the Jinn so it would only be a natural progression to take the next step. To watch him deal with the Devil himself. I also assumed that if Satan returned to earth he would want to have the number one bestselling book on Amazon. I thought that would come natural to us just like it does to all of us. There is also another key element with the Sarah character and what she writes about. I want to keep that a secret for now. Christopher’s goodness and selfless nature also plays a key role in fighting against Satan’s plans but I hope people will read the book to find out for themselves what I mean.


How would you classify the genre you write?

I honestly don’t know. It’s fantasy, horror, science fiction, drama, comedy and tragedy all mixed in together. It’s whatever works and whatever I need at the time.


Why do you think people are so fascinated by the Devil?

Funny you should ask that. I was just watching The Exorcist again the other day. The movie never gets old. I mean people are afraid of the unknown and we don’t want to take full responsibility for the terrible evil that humans inflict upon each other. Men have been slaughtering each other for thousands of years. We don’t want to blame nature so we need to blame a supernatural being that influences us if we will it or obey it or whatever. Believing in the devil preys upon our deepest fears of an invisible world in this world and the one that is to come. The Devil is also a symbol of man’s vanity and this narcissistic culture is fascinated by fame more than fortune these days. So I can see many people who would sell their soul to him for glory. I know Dr. Wells would at least be willing to hear the Devil’s presentation!


What your favorite stories and books about Satan?

Well, Milton’s Paradise Lost, Dante’s Inferno, Faust, Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, Washington Irving’s The Devil & Tom Walker, Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby and William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist.


What are some of your favorite films dealing with the Devil?

The Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby, The Ninth Gate, The Devil’s Advocate, Angel Heart, The Omen, Bedazzled, Legend, John Carpenter’s Prince of Darkness, Spawn, Legend and Needful Things. The irony is that movies like The Empire Strikes Back, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Dark Knight were bigger influences on this novel. That’s because these films were all important central parts of a trilogy or even sequels that could stand on their own. In that way I guess I hope this book is similar to The Godfather Part 2.


So the Devil wants to be the number one bestseller on Amazon?

I think that goes without saying.


Is this straight horror or a mixture of comedy and horror like your previous book The Petsorcist?

There is some tongue and cheek stuff, yes. I mean, come on, the Devil has been done to death. He has been done to terrify, enlighten, educate, warn and entertain. He has been used by religion to scare people into submission and by writers and playwrights as a punchline to make people laugh. I chose to walk a line in-between to make the reader laugh uncomfortably throughout the novel. That was my desired goal anyway.


Why the release date of May 5th?

I am superstitious so I just thought I would get it out on Smashwords anyway on May 5th. That is when Anne Rice published Interview with the Vampire in 1976, one of my favorite novels.


Why did you choose to write actual people as characters in this novel?

Oh, like real life writers and artists? Yes, I thought that would be a nice touch. Something interesting, you know. It’s a longstanding literary tradition like making fun of real life people who have wronged you as thinly disguised characters in your books. In this case, though, I use the actual names of real life people I admire and look up to. Jon Donnis, the editor of Masters of Horror U.K. comes to mind. As for thinly disguised characters with a different name used for petty vengeance, I think we know I am much too mature for that sort of thing.

   
Why are you choosing to make the novel permafree on Amazon?

It’s not like I am a household name or anything. A free book could possibly attract readers to my other work. It’s kind of my gift to readers of horror, fantasy and science fiction.


What are your current projects?

I will be working on promoting The Wisdom Tree, a children’s book about addiction I wrote with my eight-year-old Andrew this summer.


What’s next?

There is a laundry list, I think. I have a book that pays tribute to Arthur Machen, a very dark novella about a comedian on house arrest, a novel about a psychotic novel editor, lots and many unedited books. I wrote the first and second drafts but never actually bothered finishing getting the final edits done. In a weird way, I think I have already finished my life’s work; I just have to essentially get the stuff edited. Before I bother with that, I will finish up with the sequel to Damned Fiction, to really conclude the storyline of Dr. Wells, Christopher and all Faustian dark fiction literary bargains. The working title of the novel is The Wage of Sin.

Links:
Amazon
Official Website