Alam Nyo Ba?

We’ve got some sad news to report as this week winds down: Chuck Russell, a filmmaker who was behind several memorable genre hits with movies including The Mask, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Blob, Eraser, and The Scorpion King, has passed away at the age of 74. This comes as quite a shock because, as you can see in the video embedded above, JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray had the opportunity to interview Russell just a few weeks ago.

According to TMZ, Russell died unexpectedly at his home in the San Diego area on Wednesday. His family confirmed his passing to the outlet, although an official cause of death has not yet been announced. Emergency responders were called to Russell’s home following a report of an unconscious man.

Russell leaves behind a remarkable legacy that spans almost forty years of filmmaking. He made his directorial debut with 1987’s A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, widely regarded as one of the strongest entries in that franchise. He followed that success by co-writing and directing 1988’s The Blob, a remake that has earned cult classic status for its amazing practical effects.

His biggest commercial breakthrough came in 1994 with The Mask, the blockbuster comedy that helped transform Jim Carrey into a bona fide movie star. Blending cutting edge effects with Carrey’s physical comedy, the film became one of the year’s biggest hits and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects. Russell worked closely with Industrial Light & Magic to help push digital effects technology forward at a time when CGI was still in its early stages.

Russell continued delivering major studio action films throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, directing Arnold Schwarzenegger in Eraser before introducing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as a leading man in 2002’s The Scorpion King, a performance that helped launch Johnson’s Hollywood career.

After stepping away from directing for more than a decade, Russell returned with 2016’s I Am Wrath starring John Travolta and later reunited with the actor for 2022’s Paradise City, which also featured Bruce Willis. His final directing credit was 2024’s Witchboard, a reimagining of the 1986 supernatural horror film.

Throughout his career, Russell demonstrated an ability to move between horror, action, comedy, and fantasy while embracing new filmmaking technology and practical effects alike. Whether terrifying audiences with Freddy Krueger, bringing comic book chaos to life in The Mask, or delivering blockbuster action with Schwarzenegger and Johnson, his films continue to entertain generations of movie fans.

Russell is survived by his wife of 19 years, Ania, his children Logan, Riley, and Carlyn, his former wife Patti Rao, and his sister Anne Jacob. He was 74.

Everyone at JoBlo extends our deepest condolences to Chuck Russell’s family, friends, and fans.

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Apple’s expanding Monsterverse continues to assemble an impressive cast. The upcoming Monarch: Legacy of Monsters prequel starring Wyatt Russell has added Ralph Ineson (The Fantastic Four: First Steps), Corey Stoll (Billions), and Nyasha Hatendi (Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials) as series regulars.

According to Deadline, details regarding the characters they’ll be playing are being kept under wraps for now, but the trio joins a cast led by Wyatt Russell, who reprises his role as a younger Colonel Lee Shaw, alongside Millie Brady (The Last Kingdom) and Pilou Asbæk (Foundation).

Set in 1984 during the height of the Cold War, the series follows Shaw on a dangerous mission behind enemy lines to prevent the Soviets from unleashing a terrifying new Titan powerful enough to devastate the United States and alter the balance of global power.

The project serves as a prequel to Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, with Wyatt Russell once again portraying the younger version of Lee Shaw. His father, Kurt Russell, plays the older incarnation of the character on Monarch, and the father-and-son casting proved to be one of the highlights of the original series. The prequel promises to explore an entirely new chapter in Shaw’s life.

Late last month, it was revealed that Millie Brady and Pilou Asbæk had joined the project in undisclosed roles, expanding what is quickly becoming an impressive television ensemble. The pilot episode will be directed by JD Dillard (Devotion), with Joby Harold serving as showrunner. Harold isn’t just overseeing this series, either. He recently signed an overall deal with Legendary to guide the Monsterverse’s television future for Apple TV+, developing multiple projects that will feature both entirely new Titans and familiar fan favorites.

Earlier this year, Wyatt Russell teased that fans shouldn’t expect a straightforward continuation of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

“You’ve got absolutely no f*cking clue what to expect,” Russell said. “I think people are going to expect one thing and be like, ‘Holy shit, this is not what I expected.’ It’ll go deeper into Lee’s experience after he came up, and being sort of put on ice, in 1982, and then what happens after that, and why he’s needed and the mission he goes on.”

Legendary’s Monsterverse has grown into one of Hollywood’s biggest shared universes since Godzilla roared back onto the big screen in 2014. The franchise now includes Kong: Skull Island, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Kong, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and the Apple TV+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

The next theatrical chapter, Godzilla x Kong: Supernova, is currently slated to hit theaters on March 26, 2027. Directed by Grant Sputore (I Am Mother), the sequel stars Kaitlyn Dever, Dan Stevens, Jack O’Connell, Alycia Debnam-Carey, Delroy Lindo, Matthew Modine, and Sam Neill, with rumors suggesting that the villain SpaceGodzilla could make his Monsterverse debut.

With production moving forward on Wyatt Russell’s prequel series and Godzilla x Kong: Supernova on the horizon, Legendary clearly has no plans to slow the expansion of its Monsterverse anytime soon.

What do you think of the latest additions to the Monsterverse? Who do you think Ralph Ineson, Corey Stoll, and Nyasha Hatendi could be playing? Let us know in the comments below!

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Prime Video had its Comic-Con panel today, offering fans a look at the upcoming Blade Runner 2099 by unveiling the first trailer for the show! You can check it out in the embed above. They also announced the premiere date: all eight episodes of the series will debut on November 25, 2026, exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Blade Runner 2099

Blade Runner 2099 is Prime Video’s live-action sequel series set 50 years after Blade Runner 2049, expanding the universe created by Ridley Scott’s 1982 sci-fi classic. Michelle Yeoh stars as Olwen, a replicant Blade Runner hunting rogue replicants during the final days of her predetermined lifespan, while Hunter Schafer plays Cora, a human fugitive forced to impersonate a Blade Runner after losing touch with her own humanity.

One of the biggest topics during the Blade Runner 2099 panel was the show’s place within the larger Blade Runner universe and how it builds on the ideas introduced in Blade Runner and Blade Runner 2049. Showrunner Silka Luisa said one of the things that always resonated with her about the original film was its portrayal of the replicants, explaining that she found herself rooting for them rather than the humans.

“It may not be humans who teach us what being human is.”

Luisa explained that Blade Runner 2099 explores what happens after the world hinted at in Blade Runner 2049, imagining a future where replicants have become the dominant species and humanity is no longer at the top of the food chain.

“So much of what Blade Runner promised is just around the corner,” she said. “What happens when our time ends? What happens when we are no longer the dominant species?”

Rather than focusing on the conflict itself, Luisa revealed that she imagined there had already been a major war between humans and replicants. The series examines the aftermath of that conflict and the world left behind.

Here’s the official synopsis: Fifty years after the events of Blade Runner 2049, Los Angeles has been reborn, just not by humanity. Cora, a fugitive in a final bid to stop running, takes on one last identity: a Blade Runner. Forced to partner with Olwen, a Replicant days from dying, she hunts down a runaway hiding a truth that could collapse their fragile city.

Dimitri Abold (The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes) and Lewis Gribben (Somewhere Boy) are series regulars alongside stars Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer. Katelyn Rose Downey (The Nun II), Daniel Rigby (Renegade Nell), Johnny Harris (“A Gentleman in Moscow”), Amy Lennox (Only Child), Sheila Atim (The Woman King), Matthew Needham (House of the Dragon), Tom Burke (Furiosa) and Maurizio Lombardi (Ripley) are recurring guest stars.

Silka Luisa serves as showrunner and executive producer along with Ridley Scott, Alcon Entertainment co-founders Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson, Alcon’s President of Television Ben Roberts, David W. Zucker and Clayton Krueger from Scott Free Productions, Tom Spezialy, Richard Sharkey, Michael Green, Cynthia Yorkin, Frank Giustra, and Isa Dick Hackett. Jonathan van Tulleken (Shogun) is an executive producer and directed the first two episodes of the limited series. Steven Johnson is Co-EP.

Although the show introduces a new chapter in the franchise, the producers stressed that longtime fans can expect connections to the previous films. They described those links as “connective tissue” that ties the series into established Blade Runner canon, while emphasizing that Blade Runner 2099 has also been designed to welcome newcomers who may not be deeply familiar with either of the first two movies.

Are you looking forward to Blade Runner 2099? Check out the trailer, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

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PLOT: In Finnish forest, Saga and her husband Jon embark on a new chapter as parents. But Saga’s joy is overshadowed by a chilling suspicion about their newborn, unbeknownst to Jon, causing a rift as she alone grapples with the disturbing truth.
 

REVIEW: 2022’s Hatching gave us a unique film about motherhood with a very unique horror twist. It was a big hit for Shudder and seemed to signal a new voice for the genre. Now, director Hana Bergholm is back, and she’s taking on a similar theme of motherhood, only with some different horror to flavor it. But does Nightborn manage to do something different from her previous effort, while still occupying a similar space?

Nightborn follows a couple, Saga and Jon, as they move out into the Finnish forest to start a family. But there’s something wrong with their son, Kuura, and only Saga seems to notice it. Because of this, she makes it very clear that she doesn’t want the baby and that something is wrong with it. Of course, she’s right, but those around her simply think she has post-partum depression. If the film didn’t lean so heavily into this haunted forest and Saga’s family history with it, then her rejection of the baby could have been a unique metaphor. The point simply gets lost once you add in this supernatural force, making the story feel less emotionally satisfying overall.

Rupert Grint has chosen some very interesting roles since his time in Harry Potter, and this one is no different. Jon is a complicated man who clearly just wants to have a family, but his desire for such results in him ignoring the plights of his wife. He’s doing what he thinks is right but his blinders start to morph him into a bit of a villain. It’s not a very showy role, and he’s simply there as a foil in Saga’s journey. The entire film rests of the performance of Seidi Haarla, who is incredible as Saga. Her turmoil is poignant and its somehow easy to sympathize with her treatment of the child. And I absolutely love how she always refers to the child as “it.”

The entirety of Nightborn takes place at this house in the Finnish forest, and there are some interesting visuals. From the truly beautiful Panaglide shots to the art design of the kids’ playroom, it’s all very impressive. Most of the tension comes from the unpredictability of Kuura. You just never know what this child will do. The breastfeeding scenes had me physically wincing, as the sound design tears away at your nerves. I also really liked the look of the child, as he almost seems like a little Eddie Munster.

It can be frustrating with how much every single person that’s not Saga, has blinders on when it comes to Kuura. This could have worked except there’s no mystery that the baby is evil. It’s clear right from the start that something is not right there. And nearly every event that happens after just proves it further. It takes every non-Saga character to overtly ignore actions that can only be described as evil. Just having one person that would listen to her, would have given us a sliver of hope. Instead, Saga is simply ignored and treated as though she’s the bad guy in all of this.

Some elements really work for Nightborn, and others fail to connect. Seidi is the absolute highlight, and she gives such a fantastic performance. I was able to both sympathize with her and be disturbed by her solutions. And while frustration may have been what the filmmakers were going for, it doesn’t make for the most enjoyable experience. This is a slow burn with some good performances, but ultimately misses the mark overall. It feels like there’s a reveal that we simply don’t receive, and instead are left with a movie that doesn’t quite reach its full potential.

Nightborn is currently playing at the Fantasia International Film Festival and streams on Shudder on July 31st, 2026.

Nightborn

AVERAGE

6

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NECA has revealed its latest Friday the 13th collectible, announcing an Ultimate Jason Universe Jason Voorhees action figure based on the version of the slasher introduced in last year’s official short film Sweet Revenge.

The 7-inch-scale figure recreates Jason’s first live-action appearance in more than sixteen years, complete with the redesigned hockey mask that debuted in Sweet Revenge, director Mike P. Nelson’s short film that launched the Jason Universe initiative. While the return of Jason was a milestone for the long-dormant franchise, both the short itself and the character’s updated look sparked mixed reactions from fans, with the redesigned hockey mask proving especially divisive across the horror community.

NECA’s Ultimate figure is fully articulated and comes packed with accessories, including Jason’s machete, a kitchen knife, an apple corer, a boat motor complete with his victims’ remains, and interchangeable hands. The company has opened pre-orders through its online store with a suggested retail price of $37.99, and the figure is expected to ship in the second quarter of 2027.

Sweet Revenge marked the first official live-action Friday the 13th project since the 2009 reboot, arriving after years of legal disputes kept the franchise sidelined. Produced as part of the launch of the Jason Universe brand, the 15-minute short was intended to usher in a new era of films, television, games, merchandise, and other projects centered on Jason Voorhees.

Despite the excitement surrounding Jason’s return, Sweet Revenge wasn’t embraced as enthusiastically as many fans had hoped. The short received a mixed response from viewers, with criticism aimed at everything from its story to the new interpretation of Jason. Our own Tyler Nichols gave the film a 4/10 review, and the redesigned hockey mask quickly became one of the most debated aspects of the Jason Universe relaunch, with many longtime fans preferring the classic look established in the feature films.

Adding to the confusion, Sweet Revenge disappeared from YouTube several months after its release without any prior announcement, only to return after an almost seven-month absence. Director Mike P. Nelson explained that the removal was tied to the short’s initial promotional period.

The Jason Universe initiative has also generated a mixed reception beyond Sweet Revenge, with portions of the fanbase remaining skeptical of the brand’s creative direction even as anticipation continues to build for Crystal Lake, the upcoming Friday the 13th prequel TV series, and the franchise’s planned return to the big screen.

Whether fans embrace this latest collectible maydepend on how they feel about Jason’s newest design, but for collectors looking to own a piece of the Jason Universe era, NECA’s latest Ultimate figure is now available for pre-order.

What do you think of NECA’s new Jason Universe figure? Has the redesigned hockey mask grown on you, or do you still prefer Jason’s classic look? Let us know in the comments below.

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The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has unveiled the Primetime lineup for its 2026 edition, showcasing a slate of television series that includes Mike Flanagan’s Carrie, the Friday the 13th prequel Crystal Lake, Slow Horses, and several world premiere productions from Canada and around the globe.

Running from September 10 through September 20, the 2026 festival’s Primetime programme highlights acclaimed creators and star-studded casts, with appearances from performers including Gary Oldman, Jon Hamm, Linda Cardellini, Carrie-Anne Moss, François Arnaud, Bérénice Bejo, and Hudson Williams.

This year’s lineup places a particular emphasis on adaptations of established properties, with Carrie, Crystal Lake, and American Hostage among the headline premieres. The programme opens with Jesse McKeown’s Below, a six-episode thriller starring Mackenzie Davis, Charlie Heaton, and Josh Hartnett, while Mike Flanagan’s Carrie has been selected as the festival’s closing Primetime presentation.

TIFF’s Primetime programme gives audiences an early look at upcoming television series by screening one or two episodes, often accompanied by conversations with the casts and creative teams behind the shows.

The complete 2026 TIFF Primetime lineup

2.6 Seconds: Death in the Outback | Darren Dale | Australia
World Premiere

Alice | Virginie Verrier, Guillaume Lonergan | France, Canada
World Premiere

American Hostage | Shawn Ryan, Eileen Myers, Adam Arkin | USA
World Premiere

Below | Jesse McKeown | Canada
World Premiere
Opening series

Blindspot Berlin | David Nawrath | Germany
World Premiere

Carrie | Mike Flanagan | Canada, USA
World Premiere
Closing series

Crystal Lake | Brad Caleb Kane, Michael Lennox | USA
World Premiere

Oxygen Masks Will (Not) Drop Automatically | Marcelo Gomes, Carol Minêm | Brazil
North American Premiere

Slow Horses | Will Smith, Adam Randall | United Kingdom, USA
International Premiere

YAGA | Kat Sandler, Rachel Talalay, David Frazee | Canada
World Premiere

Geoff Macnaughton serves as lead programmer for TIFF’s Primetime section. The 51st Toronto International Film Festival runs September 10–20, 2026, with additional programming announcements set to continue during TIFF Takeover on August 4.

Which series are you most looking forward to seeing premiere at TIFF? Let us know in the comments below. Crystal Lake has my attention above all else, but I’m also very curious to see what Mike Flanagan’s Carrie will be like.

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NEON has u/nveiled the trailer for It Ends, the acclaimed horror thriller from writer/director Alex Ullom, ahead of the film’s theatrical release on August 21st. Check it out in the embed above!

After premiering at SXSW last year and later winning Best First Feature at the Fantasia International Film Festival, It Ends is now preparing to introduce a wider audience to its unsettling story of survival, repetition, and the horror of being trapped in a nightmare that won’t end.

What is It Ends about?

Ullom’s story has the following synopsis:

“Some wrong turns last forever. A group of recent grads head out on a late night drive for grub, hoping to enjoy one final hangout before their paths diverge. Instead, they accidentally turn onto a never-ending, two-lane hellscape surrounded by untold horrors and cosmic forces beyond their understanding. Cramped together inside a Jeep Cherokee and with the miles stretching infinitely ahead, they face a choice: embrace their new existence or fight to escape it.”

While It Ends features the kind of terrifying imagery and survival elements horror fans expect, Ullom has explained that the film is less about the immediate scares and more about how people adapt when horror becomes part of everyday life.

Ullom told Bloody Disgusting:

“This was always a movie that was more about how we live with horror than about the actual horror. I make this joke too much, but I always wanted to see the family in Hereditary give a postgame interview and just be like, ‘Yeah, that was terrifying. That was absolutely terrifying.’ Then, they all die, obviously, but like they go about their lives. The movie is constantly recontextualizing the things that happen in it, so when they find the first car, it’s very scary. Then, later in the movie, they find cars all the time. It’s nothing. It was always in the design for the characters to slowly try to live with everything they just went through, which I think is also very relevant to the time we live in, where there’s just crazy stuff happening every day, and you just kind of f*cking exist with it.“

Who stars in It Ends?

The cast includes:

• Akira Jackson (Urban Flesh Eaters) as Day
• Phinehas Yoon (One True Loves) as James
• Mitchell Cole (Against the Spread) as Tyler
• Noah Toth (Hollywood Casting Confessions) as Fisher

It Ends was produced by Carry Carusone, Evan Barber, Jess Calder, and Keith Calder.

What did you think of the It Ends trailer? Will you be watching this movie next month? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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