Alam Nyo Ba?

Deadline reports that Nicolas Winding Refn‘s first feature directorial effort in ten years, a serial killer thriller called Her Private Hell, has secured a summer release date, with NEON planning to give the film a “moderate release in 800 to 1,200 theaters” on July 24th. The film has stayed shrouded in secrecy up to this point, but we’ll be hearing a lot more about it very soon, as it’s scheduled to make its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival later this month in the out-of-competition section.

Who’s in Her Private Hell?

Last year, we heard that Sophie Thatcher (Companion), Kristine Froseth (Sierra Burgess Is a Loser), Havana Rose Liu (No Exit), Charles Melton (Warfare), Dougray Scott (Mission: Impossible II), Diego Calva (Babylon), Aoi Yamada (Perfect Days), Shioli Kutsuna (Deadpool & Wolverine), and Hidetoshi Nishijima (Drive My Car) star in the film. Details on the characters they’ll be playing have not been revealed

What is Her Private Hell about?

Deadline hears that the movie has myriad storylines, but fires up in a metropolis future where actresses are gathering at a posh hotel where they’re set to make a Barberella-like movie. A heinous killer known as Leather Man is going around the city taking the lives of women.

Refn directed from a screenplay he wrote with Esti Giordani, whose credits include the TV shows The Skinny, I Love Dick, Room 104, Vida, and Stick

Although ten years have passed since Refn’s previous movie, Neon Demon, he has been keeping busy outside of the feature world. In addition to making made two streaming noir series (Prime Video’s 2019 Too Old to Die Young and Netflix’s 2022 Copenhagen Cowboy), he has also been a brand filmmaker for Prada, making shorts like 2022’s Touch of Crude.

The director is best known for making the 2011 film Drive. His other credits include Pusher, Bleeder, Fear X, Pusher II, Pusher III, Bronson, Valhalla Rising, and Only God Forgives. He was also one of the many directors who contributed to the “surreal and psychedelic journey” known as Circus Maximus. Although none of the projects he has made since Drive have been able to match the success or popularity of that film, he has made sure to remain a director worth keeping an eye on.

Her Private Hell‘s summer release date sends it out into the world right in between the releases of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey on July 17th and Marvel’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 31st. Are you looking forward to the movie? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Her Private Hell: Nicolas Winding Refn film secures a summer release date appeared first on JoBlo.

At one point in time, Steven Spielberg was set to direct the thriller Cape Fear, while Martin Scorsese was attached to direct the historical drama Schindler’s List. Then Scorsese decided to step away from Schindler’s List, a choice that coincided with Spielberg deciding that Cape Fear was too violent for him. So the directors traded movies – resulting in Scorsese directing Robert De Niro and Juliette Lewis to Oscar nominations for Cape Fear and Spielberg turning Schindler’s List into a Best Picture winner. Now, Spielberg and Scorsese are teaming up to executive produce a TV series adaptation of Cape Fear for Apple TV+, with Nick Antosca on board as executive producer and showrunner – and Apple TV has decided to show off the new faces of fear with a batch of posters, which can be seen at the bottom of this article.

What’s this Cape Fear about?

This version of Cape Fear stars  Amy Adams (Man of Steel), Patrick Wilson (The Conjuring), and Javier Bardem (Skyfall).

Coming our way from Amblin Television and UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group, the series is said to be “as an unconventional take on the IP” that turns the story into a tense, contemporary thriller that examines America’s obsession with true crime in the 21st century. In it, a storm is coming for happily married attorneys Anna (Adams’ character) and Tom Bowden (Wilson) when Max Cady (played by Bardem), a notorious killer from their past, gets out of prison. The story will be told over the course of ten episodes.

Adams, Wilson, and Bardem are joined in the cast by Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Ted Levine (The Silence of the Lambs), Margarita Levieva (Daredevil: Born Again), CCH Pounder (Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight), Anna Baryshnikov (Love Lies Bleeding), Jamie Hector (Bosch), Lily Collias (Good One), Joe Anders (Bonus Track), and Malia Pyles (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin). Levieva is taking on a role that was previously assigned to Clara Wong (The Eyes of My Mother). It’s not clear why the recasting was necessary.

What’s the history of Cape Fear?

The Cape Fear story began with a novel called The Executioners by John D. MacDonald. First published in 1957, that book received a film adaptation in 1962 that was directed by J. Lee Thompson (who was working from storyboards devised by original director Alfred Hitchcock). Released in 1991, Scorsese’s Cape Fear was a second take on the material. It’s said that Antosca has been obsessed with the Cape Fear movies since he was a kid. His previous credits include Hannibal, The Forest, Channel Zero, Brand New Cherry Flavor, Antlers, The Act, Candy, and A Friend of the Family.

In addition to Spielberg, Scorsese, Antosca, Adams, and Bardem, the Cape Fear TV series is executive produced by Alex Hedlund of Eat the Cat and Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey of Amblin Television, plus Morten Tyldum, the director of the first episode.

When does Cape Fear premiere?

The Cape Fear TV series is scheduled to begin streaming on Apple TV+ on June 5th. Will you be watching? Take a look at the posters, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Apple TV shows off the new faces of fear in a batch of Cape Fear posters appeared first on JoBlo.

Last year, Ben Leonberg made his feature directorial debut with a haunted house movie called Good Boy, which had the unique approach of being told from the dog’s perspective. JoBlo’s own Tyler Nichols gave Good Boy a 7/10 review that you can read HERE. Now, Deadline reports that Leonberg has set up his second feature, and he’s also taking a unique approach to this one: it’s a horror project called Follow Mode, and it’s going to be shot entirely with drones!

What is Follow Mode about?

Scripted by Leonberg and Alex Cannon, who also co-wrote Good Boy, Follow Mode has the following synopsis:

Consumer-grade drones now come with a “hands-free” setting that automatically directs the camera to follow you – in case you’re a surfer taking your next wave, a snowboarder back-flipping off a half-pipe, or a serial killer stalking your next victim. When a group of teens knock this drone out of the sky, they discover that it contains home movies of the killer’s brutal crimes. Now, they must race to expose the killer before becoming his next victims.

Smile and Twilight producer Temple Hill is backing this one, and Protagonist will be presenting the project to potential buyers at the Cannes market. Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, John Fischer, Hal Sadoff, and Ben Levine are producing the film for Temple Hill, with Protagonist Pictures’ Dave Bishop, James Pugh, and George Hamilton serving as executive producers.

What has been said about Follow Mode?

Dave Bishop, CEO of Protagonist Pictures, provided the following statement: “Temple Hill once again proves its instinct for fresh, audience-grabbing horror. Follow Mode is the kind of bold, high-concept horror that stops you in your tracks – propulsive, original and viscerally thrilling from its first frame to its last. In Good Boy, Ben proved he is a filmmaker both comfortable pushing boundaries and mastering tension. Shot entirely with drones, delivering a strikingly cinematic experience, Follow Mode offers a new perspective on terror audiences have simply never seen before. Ben has crafted a rare, diabolical treat that feels both groundbreaking and deeply unsettling.“

Leonberg had this to say: “The rise of hands-free drone technology has introduced a chilling new vulnerability to everyday life—anyone with a drone can become a peeping tom, a stalker, or worse… That anxiety drives Follow Mode. We’re so thrilled to be partnered with Temple Hill, whose track record in the genre makes them a perfect fit for this unsettling new take on found footage.“

Temple Hill added, “We were blown away by Ben’s first film Good Boy and its original approach to perspective in the horror space and sought him out to find something to do together. We see Follow Mode as the next evolution of the found footage movie – playing on the terrifying reality that any of us could be followed and watched by store-bought technology. With Ben’s tremendous vision and expertise in POV filmmaking, we couldn’t be more excited to share this spine-chilling project with audiences around the world.“

Are you glad to hear that Good Boy director Ben Leonberg has set up his next feature? What do you think of the fact that it will be shot entirely with drones? Share your thoughts on Follow Mode by leaving a comment below.

The post Follow Mode: Good Boy director’s next film will be shot entirely with drones appeared first on JoBlo.

Saw is the series that just won’t stop. Some horror fans love these movies, others write them off as nothing but torture porn, but movie-goers usually show up to give them healthy box office returns. Not only did the most recent film, Saw X, wind up making over $100 million worldwide, but it also earned the franchise’s best reviews since the original. Now, Blumhouse Productions is gearing up to show us what they can do with the property. But, how does the entire series rank? You can check out our Saw Movies Ranked list below – then let us know how you would rank the movies by leaving a comment!

Saw Movies Ranked (Worst to Best)

• 10. Saw 3D (2010) – Worst entry, messy finale
• 9. Jigsaw (2017) – Repetitive and forgettable reboot
• 8. Saw V (2008) – Strong moments, weak overall story
• 7. Saw IV (2007) – Convoluted but expands mythology
• 6. Saw III (2006) – Dark, emotional, but unpleasant
• 5. Saw VI (2009) – Surprisingly fun with social commentary
• 4. Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021) – Refreshing standalone
• 3. Saw X (2023) – Strong return with character focus
• 2. Saw II (2005) – Bigger sequel
• 1. Saw (2004) – Best overall, genre classic

10. SAW 3D (2010)

Why it ranks here: A rushed, messy finale that fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion.

What works:

• Bringing back Dr. Gordon was a smart idea
• Some of the most ambitious traps in the series

What doesn’t:

• Disjointed story due to last-minute director change
• Weak payoff for Hoffman’s arc
• The fake Jigsaw survivor storyline feels irrelevant

Bottom line:
Despite its scale, Saw 3D is an underwhelming and chaotic ending to the original run.

Envisioned as the “Final Chapter”, the seventh Saw movie was released in 3D so it could throw some of the biggest, most over-the-top traps of the franchise right in the viewer’s face. Saw 3D was directed by Saw VI’s Kevin Greutert, who was forced to replace Saw V director David Hackl just two weeks before filming was to begin. A move like that is just asking for a mess, and that’s exactly what the finished film turned out to be. A mess. Bringing Dr. Lawrence Gordon / Cary Elwes from the first movie back for the “last one” was a good idea, but it could have been handled better. The storyline following a guy who lied about being a Jigsaw survivor as he’s put to the test feels irrelevant. The way-too-long saga of Jigsaw’s follower Mark Hoffman is finally brought to an end, but in the most underwhelming way possible. He deserved worse.

9. JIGSAW (2017)

Why it ranks here: A failed attempt to reboot the franchise that repeats old ideas without adding anything meaningful.

What works:

• A new creative team offers a slightly different perspective
• A few traps stand out visually

What doesn’t:

• Retreads familiar twists (secret apprentice, timeline tricks)
• Forgettable characters
• Doesn’t resolve lingering questions from earlier films

Bottom line:
Jigsaw feels like a stale continuation rather than a true reinvention, making it one of the least memorable entries.

You might think the Saw franchise would be refreshed and rejuvenated after a seven year rest, with new writers crafting the story and new directors (Michael and Peter Spierig) at the helm. But Jigsaw feels like just another in the previous line of sequels, and even falls into the same traps that dragged down the series the first time around: timeline tricks, flashbacks, forgettable characters going through a bunch of traps, and a secret apprentice. Questions left unanswered at the end of Saw 3D remain unanswered, as Jigsaw goes off in its own direction with a new Jigsaw follower we had never seen or heard of before. The most memorable thing about this movie is the fact that there’s a trap involving lazers at one point.

8. SAW V (2008)

Why it ranks here: A sluggish installment that prioritizes lore over engaging storytelling.

What works:

• The Strahm vs. Hoffman dynamic adds tension
• The tracheotomy trap is one of the franchise’s most memorable moments

What doesn’t:

• The group trap storyline lacks emotional investment
• Heavy reliance on flashbacks slows pacing
• Feels like it’s going through the motions

Bottom line:
While it has standout moments, Saw V is ultimately a dull and overextended chapter in the saga.

Now we know that Mark Hoffman is the apprentice carrying on Jigsaw’s work, and FBI agent Peter Strahm is figuring this out as well. While Hoffman and Strahm play cat and mouse through dimly lit scenes, there’s also a group of five people going through a series of tests / traps. But it’s difficult to care what’s going on with them when the real focus of the movie is Strahm’s pursuit of Hoffman and flashbacks to Hoffman being recruited by Jigsaw. Directed by David Hackl (who was production designer and/or second unit director on previous sequels), Saw V has one of the coolest moments in the franchise – Strahm giving himself a tracheotomy with a pen to survive a water trap – but otherwise feels like it’s just trudging through the motions. It’s a dull, tired entry in the franchise. Which isn’t surprising, since they were pumping these sequels out so quickly.

7. SAW IV (2007)

Why it ranks here: Expands the mythology but pushes the series deeper into convoluted territory.

What works:

• Deeper exploration of Jigsaw’s backstory
• Continues the franchise’s expanding narrative

What doesn’t:

• Overcomplicated storytelling
• Increasing reliance on twists and timelines
• Begins the “soap opera” phase of the series

Bottom line:
Saw IV adds to the lore but sacrifices clarity, marking the point where the franchise becomes overly convoluted.

Saw II and III director Darren Lynn Bousman stuck around for this sequel, but the story came from a new team of writers who had to figure out how to continue the franchise now that Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda (Shawnee Smith) were dead. One choice was obvious: Jigsaw needed a new apprentice. But some other choices were unexpected, like the fact that they still have Donnie Wahlberg hanging around as Saw II’s Eric Matthews, six months after he appeared to be as good as dead. They also dive deeper into Jigsaw’s back story than ever before, giving him even more reasons for getting into the business of making death traps. Terminal cancer and a car accident / failed suicide attempt weren’t the only things that drove him over the edge, there was also a tragic romance and a lost child. This is when the Saw franchise becomes a convoluted, gory soap opera, which is part of its charm as far as some fans are concerned.

6. SAW III (2006)

Why it ranks here: A bold and emotional entry that’s weighed down by its extreme bleakness.

What works:

• Strong emotional core centered on grief and forgiveness
• High-stakes narrative involving Jigsaw’s survival
• Memorable and intense traps

What doesn’t:

• Excessively dark and unpleasant tone
• Some traps feel more grotesque than meaningful

Bottom line:
Saw III tells a compelling story but is so bleak and brutal that it becomes difficult to revisit.

Franchise creators James Wan and Leigh Whannell still receive executive producer credits on every new Saw movie, but their creative involvement with the series really ended with Saw III. And they saved the grossest for last. Even Whannell was reportedly sickened by the sight of the traps in this one, which feels much darker and meaner than its predecessors. And includes a trap that involves rotten pig guts. While the terminally ill Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda are forcing a surgeon to give him brain surgery, a grieving man played by Angus Macfadyen is made to go through rooms where he has to decide whether or not to save people connected to his son’s death in a drunk driving incident (the driver, the witness who didn’t testify, the judge who gave a lenient sentence). This is a bleak, ugly movie that tells an interesting story, but it’s really not pleasant to sit through.

5. SAW VI (2009)

Why it ranks here: A surprisingly strong late sequel that injects energy and social commentary into the formula.

What works:

• Unique focus on a health insurance executive adds thematic depth
• More engaging and “fun” tone compared to earlier entries
• Creative traps tied to moral choices

What doesn’t:

• Continued reliance on Hoffman as the central villain
• Still weighed down by unnecessary flashbacks

Bottom line:
Saw VI stands out as one of the better sequels, offering a fresh angle even as it remains tied to the franchise’s baggage.

Mark Hoffman is not an interesting villain, and it’s really annoying to watch multiple movies of him slipping out of situations you hope will remove him from the franchise. But while we’re still stuck with Hoffman and we’re still being shown a ridiculous amount of flashbacks designed to answer questions we didn’t even know to ask (three movies later, we’re still getting details about what was going on in Saw III), Saw VI does manage to be a step up from a few previous installments. Director Kevin Greutert, who edited the previous films, made a movie that brings an element of fun back into the proceedings, and the screenwriters had the great idea of putting a health insurance executive from Jigsaw’s past at the center of the games being played in this one. Unfortunately, Saw VI was the least successful Saw up to this point because movie-goers were giving up on the franchise.

4. SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW (2021)

Why it ranks here: A refreshing standalone that breaks away from the franchise’s tangled continuity.

What works:

• Simpler, more straightforward story
• Chris Rock brings a different energy to the series
• Doesn’t rely heavily on past mythology

What doesn’t:

• Villain lacks impact
• Tone can feel uneven when shifting between humor and seriousness

Bottom line:
Spiral works best as a standalone thriller, offering a break from the franchise’s increasingly complex timeline.

Saw II, III, and IV director Darren Lynn Bousman returned to direct this entry about a Jigsaw copycat. Sort of the Friday the 13th: A New Beginning of Saw movies. Chris Rock stars as a detective trying to figure out who keeps killing cops with elaborate traps, and his performance is at its best when he’s cracking jokes. When Rock tries to be serious and intense, it’s not quite convincing. Samuel L. Jackson plays his dad, who gets stuck in a trap along the way – and it is fun to see an icon like SLJ strung up in a Jigsaw-style device. Other than the traps and references to Jigsaw, Spiral: From the Book of Saw has little to do with other Saw movies… which was kind of refreshing at this point. There’s no reason to worry about continuity, you can just sit back and take it in as a simple, straightforward revenge movie.

3. SAW X (2023)

Why it ranks here: A strong return to form that refocuses the story on Jigsaw himself.

What works:

• Character-driven approach centered on John Kramer
• Simpler timeline avoids unnecessary confusion
• More emotionally engaging than most sequels

What doesn’t:

• Still part of a messy timeline
• Some familiar formula elements remain

Bottom line:
Saw X revitalizes the franchise by stripping things back and putting the focus where it belongs: on Jigsaw.

I find several of the Saw sequels tough to sit through. Not because of the violence and gore, but because they get bogged down with excessive flashbacks, timeline tricks, and soap opera-esque dramatic elements. I got so tired of that stuff, I even found the generally unpopular “spin-off” Spiral to be a refreshing entry in the franchise because it didn’t attempt to further (or further convolute) the story of John “Jigsaw” Kramer… So it’s surprising to find that Saw X was able to get me interested in another Jigsaw story – and it was able to do so by jumping back in time, being set in between the first and second movies. Before the franchise got so messy. This time Jigsaw himself is the star and we follow him as he falls prey to a medical scam, then gets revenge on the scammers by playing his usual games with them. Not only was this the most enjoyable Saw sequel in quite a while, it was also the first time I had any interest in John Kramer as a character. In the other movies I always found him to be a pompous, hypocritical ass.

2. SAW II (2005)

Why it ranks here: A smart and effective sequel that successfully expands the original concept.

What works:

• Expands from a single room to a larger, more complex game
• Strong tension between Jigsaw and Detective Matthews
• Memorable traps like the syringe pit

What doesn’t:

• Slightly less tight than the original
• Relies more on scale than precision

Bottom line:
Saw II builds on the original in meaningful ways, delivering a bigger but still engaging experience.

Like any self-respecting sequel, director Darren Lynn Bousman’s Saw II takes the concept introduced in the first movie and goes bigger with it. Instead of two people trapped in a room we get seven people trapped in a house, hit with nerve gas and forced to participate in a series of games that have been set up throughout the rooms so they can retrieve vials of antidote. While they’re playing their games, deeply flawed detective Eric Matthews and a SWAT team have stormed a warehouse and caught Jigsaw himself… and yet Jigsaw, who we learn more about this time around, still manages to be in control of the situation. The traps are gruesome and cringe-inducing (the syringe pit is one of the most memorable moments in the series), but there’s still a sense of fun to the sequel. It doesn’t feel as bleak and mean-spirited as future installments in the franchise would.

1. SAW (2004)

Why it ranks here: The original remains the most effective and iconic entry in the franchise.

What works:

• Simple but brilliant concept
• Strong performances and tension
• One of the most memorable twists in horror history

What doesn’t:

• Lower budget limits some production elements

Bottom line:
Saw is a modern horror classic that proves simplicity and strong storytelling can outshine even the most elaborate sequels.

The Saw franchise has become so big and convoluted, you might forget that it all started with a simple little serial killer thriller. Director James Wan and screenwriter Leigh Whannell came up with an idea they could bring to the screen for very little money: two men trapped in a room with chains on their ankles and hacksaws at hand. Then they built a fascinating story around those two men. The story of the Jigsaw Killer, who forces victims to play dangerous “games” to decide their fate. Most of them don’t survive. There’s also a mother and daughter being held at gunpoint, an obsessed detective chasing the wrong suspect, and a Jigsaw survivor who is grateful for the experience. And a jaw-dropping twist. Even if no sequels had ever been made, we’d still be talking about Saw as a classic thriller along the lines of Seven.

Final Thoughts

The Saw franchise starts as a tight, inventive thriller, peaks early with Saw II, then spirals into increasingly convoluted sequels before finding new life with Saw X. While later entries lean too heavily on timelines and twists, the series at its best delivers clever concepts, memorable traps, and one of horror’s most iconic villains.

Saw Movies Comparison

Movie	Rank	Strength	Weakness
Saw	1	Original concept, twist	Low budget limits
Saw II	2	Expands concept	Less tight than original
Saw X	3	Character focus	Still part of the messy timeline
Spiral	4	Standalone story	Weak villain
Saw VI	5	Social commentary	Hoffman fatigue
Saw III	6	Emotional weight	Extremely bleak
Saw IV	7	Mythology expansion	Overly convoluted
Saw V	8	Strong moments	Dull pacing
Jigsaw	9	New attempt	Repetitive formula
Saw 3D	10	Big scale	Messy execution

The post Saw Movies Ranked: From Worst to Best appeared first on JoBlo.

Two years have passed since it was announced that a reimagining of the 1999 hit The Blair Witch Project was moving forward under the guidance of Blumhouse Productions – and now, the project has officially found its director: Dylan Clark. A press release has been sent out to confirm that Clark is going to be directing the new Blair Witch Project, and is rewriting the script by Chris Devlin. This press release also reveals that Joshua Leonard and Michael C. Williams, two of the original stars of The Blair Witch Project, as well as the original filmmakers, Eduardo Sánchez, Daniel Myrick, and Gregg Hale, will serve as executive producers on the film, “bringing the full mythology and legacy of the franchise to a new generation of storytelling.“

Oddly, Leonard and Williams’ co-star Heather Donahue is not on the list of executive producers.

Who Is Dylan Clark?

If the name Dylan Clark isn’t familiar to you, that may be because Clark hasn’t made a feature film yet. Four months ago, it was reported that Clark is set to make his feature directorial debut with the horror thriller Portrait of God, which is coming our way from Universal Pictures and producers Sam Raimi and Jordan Peele. Written by Clark and Joe Russo (The Inheritance), that movie will be an expansion of Clark’s short film of the same name.

Plot details are being kept under wraps for the time being, but the short follows a religious young woman who discovers the answer to the question, ‘What does God look like?’

Peele is producing Portrait of God alongside Win Rosenfeld through Monkeypaw Productions, with Raimi and Romel Adam producing through Ghost House Pictures.

Clark is also writing to direct an adaptation of his short film Story Time, with Zak Olkewicz and LD Entertainment producing.

Who’s Behind the New Blair Witch?

As for the reimagining of The Blair Witch Project, Atomic Monster’s James Wan and Blumhouse’s Jason Blum are producing the film with Roy Lee, who previously produced the 2016 film Blair Witch. The idea is that this reimagining could kick off a series of Blair Witch movies, taking the franchise into a new era.

Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath are producing for Divide/Conquer. Steven Schneider is an executive producer. Michael Clear and Judson Scott are executive producing for Atomic Monster, with Alayna Glasthal overseeing for the company. Scott O’Brien and Pavan Kalidindi are overseeing the project for Lionsgate.

Lionsgate and Blumhouse have made a multi-picture pact that will see Blumhouse reimagining horror classics from the Lionsgate library – and the development and production of a new The Blair Witch Project is the first project on that slate.

When the project was announced, Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael C. Williams were inspired to start speaking up about the fact that they had never been properly financially compensated for the roles they played into turning the original film into a massive hit that spawned a franchise. They let it be known they they want to receive residuals “equivalent to the sum that would’ve been allotted through SAG-AFTRA, had we had proper union or legal representation when the film was made” and they want to be consulted on any future Blair Witch installments… and it sounds like their demands have been met. Several months ago, Williams made a post to social media to confirm that he had buried the hatchet with Lionsgate and Blumhouse. And now, he and Leonard are executive producers on the new film.

Are you glad to hear that the original film’s stars and filmmakers are involved with Blumhouse’s reimagining of The Blair Witch Project? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

The post The Blair Witch Project reboot adds the original film’s stars and filmmakers as executive producers appeared first on JoBlo.

Cody

With a Texas Chainsaw Massacre TV series in the works (and a new film also in development), we here at JoBlo and Arrow in the Head have decided to compile a list of some of the Scariest Moments in the Franchise – and for the sake of fairness, we have made sure to choose at least one scene from every one of the movies. Rather than ranking the franchise’s scariest moments from 1 to 10, this list highlights the single most terrifying scene from each Texas Chainsaw Massacre film, along with a few additional standout moments from the 1974 original that defined the series.

Some of the entries in this series aren’t very popular, but on this list we’re trying to see the good in all of them. Give the Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Scariest Moments in the Franchise list a look below, and let us know what your favorite scary moments in the franchise are by leaving a comment.

As you’ll see, the scariest moment in the entire Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise is widely considered to be the dinner scene from the 1974 original, thanks to its chaotic editing, extreme performances, and overwhelming intensity.

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (1974)

Scariest Scene: Hitching a Ride

What Happens:
In 1974, director Tobe Hooper gifted the world with one of the most intense, terrifying horror films ever made. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (or The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, as shown in the title sequence and on the movie’s copyright) is filled with jaw-dropping moments, with the first scary scene coming early on, in broad daylight. Five young people out driving on a brutally hot day decide to give a hitch-hiker a break from the heat – and instantly regret their decision when this guy (played by Edwin Neal) turns out to be very strange. He has pictures he took in a slaughterhouse, he cuts himself with a knife like it’s a party trick, and it’s clear that if they keep riding with him for very long something terrible is going to happen. Sure enough, the situation falls apart very quickly.

Why It’s Scary:
The horror unfolds in broad daylight, creating a sense of reality and unpredictability. The tension escalates as the hitchhiker’s behavior becomes increasingly disturbing.

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 (1986)

Scariest Scene: Radio Station Raid

What Happens:
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 is a brilliant sequel, with director Tobe Hooper and writer L.M. Kit Carson increasing the humor while still delivering a movie that is completely nuts. There’s terrific acting performances, awesome gore, incredible production design – and an unexpected but hilarious story of “unrequited love” between Leatherface (Bill Johnson and Bob Elmore) and radio DJ Stretch (Caroline Williams). The sequence where Leatherface and Chop Top (Bill Moseley) raid the radio station is pure nightmare fuel, as Chop Top makes a mess of Stretch’s pal L.G. (Lou Perryman)… but then it takes a turn when Leatherface, tasked with killing Stretch, falls in love with her instead. And starts acting like his chainsaw is an extension of himself…

Why It’s Scary:
The scene mixes violence with bizarre character behavior, creating an unpredictable and unsettling tone.

LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III (1990)

Scariest Scene: Roadside Tire Change Stalking

What Happens:
Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III was a rough production and director Jeff Burr wanted his name taken off of it, but it’s actually a good slasher movie and a solid attempt on New Line Cinema’s part to turn Leatherface into their next big icon as the Elm Street movies were winding down. That plan just didn’t work out. The Leatherface character (played by R.A. Mihailoff, with Kane Hodder handling stunts), now surrounded by a new family that includes Viggo Mortensen, is quite intimidating in this one and does a lot of night stalking. The scariest scene involves Ryan (William Butler) trying to change a car tire while Michelle (Kate Hodge) holds a lantern for him – but she keeps getting distracted by a squeaking sound out in the darkness. We know the squeak is coming from Leatherface’s leg brace as he gets closer and closer…

Why It’s Scary:
The suspense builds through sound and anticipation, with the audience aware of the threat before the characters are.

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE NEXT GENERATION (1994)

Scariest Scene: Vilmer’s Antics

What Happens:
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation is a lot of things, but scary isn’t exactly one of them. The movie was written and directed by the first film’s co-writer Kim Henkel, and he didn’t catch lightning in a bottle twice. Next Generation‘s greatest asset is the performance delivered by Matthew McConaughey in the role of Vilmer, one of Leatherface’s relatives this time around. McConaughey put a lot of energy into bringing Vilmer to life, and this is a guy you would not want to cross paths with. When he gets in heroine Renee Zellweger’s face, strangles her, puts a knife to her throat, sticks his fingers in her mouth, screams in her ear – he really is a scary person inside a goofball movie.

Why It’s Scary:
The intensity of Vilmer’s behavior and performance creates genuine fear despite the film’s overall tone.

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2003)

Scariest Scene: Suicide Re-Enactment

What Happens:
Director Marcus Nispel’s 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre certainly gets the adrenaline pumping with its extended climactic chase sequence (it was very clever to set part of this chase inside a slaughterhouse), but Leatherface isn’t the scariest character in this movie. That honor goes to R. Lee Ermey’s Hoyt, who claims to be the local sheriff. In the film’s scariest scene, Hoyt forces a character who witnessed a girl shooting herself in the head to re-enact the suicide, complete with the barrel of a gun in their mouth and their finger on the trigger. Some of Hoyt’s lines are so grotesque and inappropriate that they come off as humorous, but there are times when he gets so intense you expect him to kill everyone right then and there.

Why It’s Scary:
The psychological intimidation and realism of the situation make it deeply disturbing.

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING (2006)

Scariest Scene: Draft Dodger Confrontation

What Happens:
The Chainsaw remake didn’t set up a franchise very well, killing off Hoyt and hacking one of Leatherface’s arms off, so they had to make a prequel set in 1969 as the follow-up. R. Lee Ermey’s intensity in the role of Hoyt steals the show once again, and this time he puts brothers Eric (Matt Bomer) and Dean (Taylor Handley) through quite a torturous experience… which he probably would have done anyway, but his distaste for them is increased when he finds out one of them was trying to dodge being drafted for the Vietnam War. Ermey gets to play a twisted variation on his Full Metal Jacket character (and his own real life drill sergeant past) as he deals with these two.

Why It’s Scary:
The scene is driven by psychological torment and Hoyt’s aggressive authority.

TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D (2013)

Scariest Scene: Monster in the Basement

What Happens:
There are questionable decisions (ignoring that the original film was set in 1973) and bad lines (“Do your thing, cuz!”) in John Luessenhop’s Texas Chainsaw 3D, but it’s an entertaining slasher nonetheless. A standout sequence is a chase that includes a flipped van and a visit to a carnival. But the best jumps come when characters venture into the basement of the house the final girl played by Alexandra Daddario has just inherited and find that Leatherface lives down there. Three times Luessenhop provides startling reveals of Leatherface during a basement exploration scene, so choose which time works best for you: when Leatherface attacks the hitcher (who was stupidly left alone in the house despite being a stranger), nice guy Kenny, or the cop.

Why It’s Scary:
Repeated jump scares and confined spaces heighten tension and surprise.

LEATHERFACE (2017)

Scariest Scene: Gorman House Riot

What Happens:
Leatherface may not be with his family with the majority of this “origin story” from directors Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo (he’s not even Leatherface until the very end), but that doesn’t mean he isn’t surrounded by homicidal maniacs. Locked away in the Gorman House Youth Reformery for several years in his youth, the Leatherface-to-be escapes during a riot. This riot takes up several minutes, and in that time a few of the young patients – Bud (Sam Coleman), Ike (James Bloor), Clarice (Jessica Madsen), Jackson (Sam Strike) – murder staff members and even a couple fellow patients. To be trapped in a place being overrun by violent, disturbed youngsters, as Nurse Lizzy White (Vanessa Grasse) is, would not be pleasant.

Why It’s Scary:
The chaos creates a sense of overwhelming danger.

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (2022)

Scariest Scene: Under the Floorboards

What Happens:
After contributing to the Evil Dead franchise but before he went to space for Alien: Romulus, Fede Álvarez got his hands on Chainsaw, crafting the story for and producing this Netflix release, which was directed by David Blue Garcia. It’s a short movie (the end credits start rolling after just 73 minutes), and most of its running time is packed with suspenseful sequences designed to put viewers on the edge of their seats. The scene of hipsters getting massacred on a bus is the coolest part, but there are plenty of options for the scariest. How about when a young woman is trapped in a wrecked vehicle with dead bodies while Leatherface cuts himself a new face mask just a few feet away? Or the extended sequence where another young woman witnesses multiple attacks while hiding from Leatherface in a house? She eventually ends up in the crawlspace under the house – and that’s when Leatherface starts sawing through the floorboards. He manages to clip a pipe along the way, dumping sewage all over the girl. Now that’s scary. I’d rather deal with Leatherface than get doused with sewage.

Why It’s Scary:
Claustrophobia, helplessness, and physical discomfort combine to make the scene especially intense.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) – Additional Terrifying Moments

Introducing Leatherface

What Happens:
With their ride running low on gas, Kirk (William Vail) and Pam (Teri McMinn) seek help at a farmhouse – which we’ll find out is the home of Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen). An icon was born the moment this hulking, horrifying character stepped onto the screen and slammed a hammer into Kirk’s head. After Pam finds that this house is full of bizarre works of art made out of human body parts, Leatherface catches sight of the girl and they both let out screams at the same time as he chases her down. She gets caught and placed on a meathook while Leatherface saws up the corpse of her boyfriend. Audiences watching this movie for the first time in 1974 didn’t know what hit them.

Why It’s Scary:
The sudden violence and shocking imagery introduced audiences to a new level of horror.

Dinner with the Family

What Happens:
After being pursued by Leatherface in one of the greatest chase sequences ever put to film, our heroine Sally (Marilyn Burns) is captured by his family and forced to sit at the dinner table with Leatherface, his brothers the Hitch-Hiker and the Cook (Jim Siedow), and their ancient, hammer-wielding, blood-sucking Grandpa (John Dugan). The dinner scene is pure madness, shot and cut in such a way that it seems like Hooper is trying to drive the viewer insane right along with this twisted family. Burns gave one of the most convincing “screaming and crying in fear” performances of all time, and the actors playing her tormentors gave her a lot to play off of. When Leatherface takes a knife to her finger, Hansen even cut Burns for real.

This is why the dinner scene stands as the film’s most terrifying sequence overall.

Why It’s Scary:
The scene’s editing, performances, and sheer madness create one of the most disturbing sequences in horror history.

Scariest Scene in Each Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie

• 1974 – Dinner scene / Hitchhiker encounter / Leatherface introduction
• 1986 – Radio station raid
• 1990 – Roadside tire change stalking
• 1994 – Vilmer’s antics
• 2003 – Suicide re-enactment
• 2006 – Hoyt vs. draft dodgers
• 2013 – Basement reveals
• 2017 – Gorman House riot
• 2022 – Crawlspace / floorboards attack

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scariest scene in each Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie?

Each film in the franchise has its own standout moment. For example, the 1974 original is known for the dinner scene, while the 2003 remake features the disturbing suicide re-enactment led by Hoyt.

Why isn’t this list ranked from 1 to 10?

Instead of ranking scenes against each other, this article highlights the single scariest moment from each film, since every entry in the franchise has a different tone and style of horror.

Which Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie is the scariest overall?

The 1974 original is widely considered the scariest due to its realism, documentary-style filmmaking, and intense performances.

What makes the original 1974 film stand out?

It features multiple iconic horror moments, including the hitchhiker scene, Leatherface’s introduction, and the dinner sequence, all of which helped define the franchise.

Are the sequels as scary as the original?

Most sequels lean more into stylization, gore, or dark humor, while the original film focuses on raw psychological terror.

Which villain is the most frightening in the series?

While Leatherface is the central icon, characters like Hoyt in the 2003 remake and Vilmer in the 1994 film stand out for their unpredictable and aggressive behavior.

The post The Scariest Moment in Each Texas Chainsaw Massacre Film appeared first on JoBlo.

Back in 1968, writer/director George A. Romero and co-writer John A. Russo managed to redefine the word “zombie” with the classic film Night of the Living Dead, despite the fact that they didn’t consider the ghouls in their movie to be zombies. Romero went on to tell further zombie stories with the likes of Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead, and Russo has also gone back to the world of flesh-eating ghouls with the novel Return of the Living Dead (which spawned a classic movie that was completely different from the source material) and the comic book Escape of the Living Dead, among other stories. Now, Russo is teaming with director Dustin Ferguson for a new zombie movie called Rebirth of the Living Dead – and it’s set to star legendary scream queens Michelle Bauer (Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers), Brinke Stevens (The Slumber Party Massacre), and Jewel Shepard, who played Casey in The Return of the Living Dead!

What is Rebirth of the Living Dead about?

Following the events of both Night of the Living Dead and the Return of the Living Dead novel, Rebirth of the Living Dead picks up nearly 50 years later in Los Angeles where “Trioxin Trash” is the new drug on the street. This “ultimate high” turns users into brain-craving Living Dead and it’s up to a lone scientist and a young couple to uncover the cure before it’s too late.

Details on the characters Bauer, Stevens, and Shepard will be playing have not been revealed. The character featured on the poster below is played by Jaedra DiGiammarino (Witchcraft 17).

Rebirth of the Living Dead comes along just months after Ferguson and Russo worked together on Midnight 3, a sequel to Russo’s 1982 slasher Midnight, which was followed by a sequel (Midnight 2: Sex, Death and Videotape) in 1993 and a remake in 2020.

Want to contribute to Rebirth of the Living Dead?

Ferguson has previous ties with the Living Dead series as a Producer/Director of Special Features for the Blu-Ray of Return of the Living Dead Part 2, and is also the owner of the “Lost Cut” of Return of the Living Dead ///. He promises that this film will not only directly follow previous events, but also pay homage to several classic moments from the different Living Dead films as well.

A fundraising campaign with a goal of $10,000 is in progress on IndieGogo. As of this writing, with 23 days left to go, the campaign has raised $1,770. Perks include a mobile game, receiving a signed DVD or Blu-ray copy of the film, getting a signed poster, having your picture in the movie, getting a special thanks in the credits, or becoming a producer. There’s even a “Be a Zombie in the Movie” perk!

Does Rebirth of the Living Dead sound interesting to you, and will you be contributing to the fundraising campaign? Share your thoughts on this Dustin Ferguson / John A. Russo / Jaedra DiGiammarino / Michelle Bauer / Brinke Stevens / Jewel Shepard project by leaving a comment below.

The post Rebirth of the Living Dead casts scream queens Jewel Shepard, Michelle Bauer, and Brinke Stevens appeared first on JoBlo.