Alam Nyo Ba?

The Friday the 13th TV series Crystal Lake, which is coming our way from A24 and the Peacock streaming service, is scheduled to start streaming on Thursday, October 15th. The series stars Linda Cardellini as Pamela Voorhees, mother of the legendary horror icon Jason Voorhees – and during a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Cardellini revealed what drew her to the series.

What is Crystal Lake?

On Halloween of 2022, it was announced that original Friday the 13th screenwriter Victor Miller – fresh off winning the U.S. copyright to the 1980 film after a lawsuit that stretched on for years – was teaming up with his lawyer Marc Toberoff, franchise rights holder Rob Barsamian, A24, Peacock, and showrunner Bryan Fuller (whose credits include Hannibal and Pushing Daisies) to develop Crystal Lake.

Things were moving ahead at a good pace, filming was expected to begin in July 2024, but then the project hit a speed bump at the end of April 2024 with the firing of Fuller and his frequent collaborator Jim Danger Gray. Things got back on track in late August 2024 with the hiring of a new showrunner – and that person is Brad Caleb Kane, who also serves as co-showrunner and executive producer of It: Welcome to Derry, the It prequel series on HBO.

When Fuller was involved with Crystal Lake, he was planning for there to be two musical options to choose from when fans watched the show on Peacock: a classic score by Friday the 13th franchise composer Harry Manfredini and a modern score. It’s not clear if that’s still the plan, but Kane recently took to social media to reveal that he and Manfredini are “cookin’ up some fresh nightmare fuel for ya.”

In addition to showrunner, Kane will be credited as creator, writer, and executive producer of Crystal Lake. It remains to be seen if he’s using anything from the original Fuller scripts and outlines, or if he scrapped those and started over completely. When he was hired, he provided the following statement: “From the moment I watched Jason Voorhees squeeze a guy’s eyeball out of its socket (in glorious 3D!) at the tender age of 8 years old, I knew my creative path was someday destined to converge with The Man Behind The Mask. Nothing defined my childhood more than growing up in the golden age of the slasher flick, and nothing’s defined the genre more than Friday The 13th. I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to contribute a chapter to this iconic franchise, particularly with such fearless partners as Peacock and A24.“ Beyond It: Welcome to Derry, Kane’s TV credits include Fringe, Black Sails, Lodge 49, Moonhaven, Warrior, and Tokyo Vice.

According to Deadline, Crystal Lake‘s version of Pamela is believed to be a mother who had given up a singing career to raise a special needs child and takes a dark turn when she loses her son. The series is being executive produced by A24, Kane, Marc Toberoff, Victor Miller, Robert M. Barsamian, Robert P. Barsamian, Tyson Bidner, and Stuart Manashil. As Deadline notes, “The project will mark one of A24’s first major IP-driven efforts amid a recent move expand in a more commercial direction.”

Who’s in the cast?

The cast of the show includes includes Linda Cardellini (No Good Deed) as Jason Voorhees’ vengeful mother Pamela Voorhees, Nick Cordileone (Warrior) as Ralph – better known as Crazy Ralph, William Catlett (Black Lightning) as a character named Levon Brooks, who may be Crystal Lake’s chief of police; Devin Kessler (Godfather of Harlem) as Briana Brooks, Cameron Scoggins (Shades of Blue) as Dorf, and Gwendolyn Sundstrom (I’m Beginning to See the Light) as Grace. 

Friday the 13th fans will recognize the name Dorf, as he was the motorcycle cop who made a visit to Camp Crystal Lake in the original film. Kane confirmed that Dorf is “one of many” legacy characters from the original film who will be showing up in the series. 

Also confirmed to be in the cast are Nancy Nagrant (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as Kay Christy, Victoria Russell (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit) as Celeste, Natalie Shaw (Daredevil: Born Again) as Pinky, Austin Colby (Pretty Thing) as Shep, Joy Suprano (Best Foot Forward) as Rita, Danielle Kotch (Director’s Cut) as Claudette, and Phoenix Parnevik (Bel-Air) as Barry. There are more legacy characters in the mix here, as Barry and Claudette were the names of the first two victims in the original Friday the 13th. 

Callum Vinson (Chucky season 3) plays young Jason Voorhees, with Zachary Branch (Monarch: Legacy of Monsters) reportedly appearing in one episode as an adult Jason Voorhees.

Directors on the series include Michael Lennox (Derry Girls), who helms episodes 1 through 3; Celine Held and Logan George (Caddo Lake), directing episodes 4 through 6, and Quyen Tran (Sirens), directing episodes 7 and 8.

Production on Crystal Lake started in New Jersey last June and wrapped in October. It was was filming under the not-so-secret codename Mama’s Boy. Summer camp scenes were filmed in West Milford, New Jersey and lake scenes were filmed in Ringwood, New Jersey, with Blairstown, New Jersey standing in as downtown Crystal Lake, just like it did in the original movie. Some filming also took place in South Orange Village.

What did Linda Cardellini say about Crystal Lake?

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Cardellini said, “With Crystal Lake, A24, Peacock and [creator] Brad Caleb Kane all came together and they just had this concept for making this story about Pam Voorhees. And if you watch the original movie, it really operates like a whodunit. Spoiler: at the end, you find out that it was Pam Voorhees. She’s only in the movie for the last little bit, but she leaves this impression on the entire franchise. There’s so many movies subsequent that you’d think Jason’s always been in that mask doing what he’s doing. But that wasn’t the case. I don’t think he gets the mask until a few movies down.

It just seemed like something that I had never done. I haven’t seen that many female slashers like that. To dive into who she might have been, I thought, well, that’s something I’ve never done. When I’m looking for things to do next, I ask myself what’s something I haven’t done yet. And that was one of them.“

When the interviewer said that the original Friday the 13th is about “a pissed off mom who’s seeking vengeance,” Cardellini added, “Yeah, because they let her son drown! There’s fertile backstory there!“

The eight episodes of Crystal Lake will be streaming on Peacock in the United States. Sky and its streaming service Now will be bringing the series to the UK and Ireland. As mentioned, the show will premiere on October 15th, just in time for spooky season viewings. The fun doesn’t stop on Halloween, because November brings a Friday the 13th, so viewers can circle back and watch the show on the fitting calendar date as well.

Are you looking forward to seeing Linda Cardellini as Pam Voorhees in Crystal Lake? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post What drew Linda Cardellini to the Friday the 13th TV series Crystal Lake? appeared first on JoBlo.

Earlier this year, legendary drive-in movie critic Joe Bob Briggs had to break some bad news to his fans: the Shudder streaming service had cancelled his show The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs. But there’s a silver lining here, as not only had Shudder commissioned Joe Bob to shoot a handful of specials that will air through the rest of the year – but as of January 1st, he’s a free agent who’ll be able to take his movie-hosting talents anywhere. One week after the Last Drive-in series finale, Joe Bob let us know that he was already weighing the options for another TV show – and now, Fangoria has learned that Joe Bob is planning for his new show to focus on forgotten films from decades past!

Joe Bob Briggs

Joe Bob Briggs made his debut as a drive-in movie critic in the early ’80s and soon earned a job hosting movies on The Movie Channel, where Joe Bob’s Drive-in Theater ran from 1986 to 1996. That was followed by the TNT series MonsterVision, which he hosted from 1996 to 2000.

That was followed by an eighteen-year stretch of darkness, but then he made his triumphant return with The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs on Shudder. The Shudder era began with a 13-film marathon on July 13, 2018 – an event that Joe Bob thought might be his last rodeo. But so many people tuned in for that marathon, it crashed Shudder’s servers and convinced them to give him an on-going series, mixed with holiday specials.

On The Last Drive-In, the world’s foremost drive-in movie critic hosts eclectic horror movies, talking about their merits, histories and significance to genre cinema. The show is produced by Matt Manjourides and Justin Martell and directed by Austin Jennings. Joe Bob is joined on every episode by Diana Prince as Darcy the Mail Girl.

What’s Next?

Joe Bob was recently in Austin, Texas to host a theatrical double feature billed as Satan’s Workshop. Fangoria reports that he told the audience that this event was intended to test out potential movies for his new show. He said, “We care about your opinions here. We’re both gonna study your faces, your bodies and your involuntary skeletal language in order to see whether these movies are having any impact on you. We don’t care whether you’re loving the movie or hating the movie. We do care whether or not the movie is boring you.“

The movies shown that night were Raphael Nussbaum’s 1973 film Pets, followed by Norman Mailer’s Tough Guys Don’t Dance from 1987. Neither of those are horror movies, but they are “underseen genre offerings of differing sorts.” Joe Bob said, “What we’re looking for with Satan’s Workshop are films we can use on our new show that are not shop-worn. Now, what I mean by that is, Plan 9 from Outer Space is a lot of fun, but it’s shop-worn. The Baby…one of my favorite of all the films we hosted on Shudder is not shop-worn. It’s just as shocking today as it was in 1973.“

Noting that “the sweet spot for forgotten cult movies is 1969 to 1977,” Joe Bob added, “The most exciting stuff we did (on The Last Drive-in) were forgotten films, or undiscovered films, or neglected films, or films that people did see years ago but their appeal has done a 180.” So his vision for his next series is for it to “be all about forgotten stuff, rather than beloved horror classics.” He even referenced Showgirls as an example of a “forgotten film” that would be fitting for the show.

While The Last Drive-in was, with few exceptions, a horror show, The Movie Channel and TNT did have Joe Bob hosting a variety of genres back in the day, so I would love to see him get a chance to cover a wide range of “forgotten films” in his next show. Does this sound like an interesting approach to you? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Director Andrzej Żuławski’s 1981 horror film Possession is so unique, it’s difficult to imagine anyone even attempting to remake it. The mind-bending creature feature was a reflection of the issues Żuławski was dealing with at the time; his marriage had ended in a devastating divorce, he was driven out of his home country of Poland because the Communist government didn’t approve of his filmmaking endeavors, and Possession was his way of purging dark emotions. It’s not something that can be replicated – but Parker Finn, the writer/director of Smile and the upcoming Smile 2, has an approach to the material that he wants to share with the world. His remake is set to star Margaret Qualley (The Substance) and Callum Turner (Masters of the Air) – and Isabelle Adjani, the star of the original film, has given Qualley her blessing.

What is Possession about?

Scripted by Żuławski and Frederic Tuten, the original Possession was set in West Berlin and starred Sam Neill as a spy who returns home from the field to his wife (Isabella Adjani) and son. All is not quiet on the marital front, as the wife asks for a divorce and the couple descends into a destructive cycle that not only includes infidelity and neglect, but spins into murder, a tentacled alien creature and doppelgangers.

The film premiered at the 34th Cannes Film Festival, where Adjani won the Best Actress award.

What did Isabelle Adjani say about the remake?

Speaking with Numéro at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Adjani said (with thanks to our friends at Bloody Disgusting for pointing it out), “When I met Margaret at a dinner party a few years ago, she told me she looked more like me than her mother, so it seems this family resemblance influenced the director’s choice of actress for the role in Possession. Besides, she’s incredibly talented! And yes, Possession, a film that dares to be mystical and horrific, and this talismanic role, has achieved cult status. Today, the new cinematic extremism that has become trendy has led to remakes of films like Possession, with a certain enlightened opportunism. Why not?“

Is a remake necessary?

Not everyone is enthusiastic about Żuławski’s film being remade. Our own Chris Bumbray, who wrote about the prospect before the remake news was confirmed, is steadfastly against it, writing, “There’s just one problem: it will never be as good.

The original Possession is inseparable from its context. It was shot in Cold War-era West Germany, on location near Berlin Wall. That setting isn’t background texture—it’s the film’s soul.

It’s a cinematic time capsule. And then there’s the ending. Possession is so provocative, so confrontational in its final act, that there’s no realistic way a modern studio-backed remake wouldn’t sand off its sharpest edges. If Finn gets to make it, you can be sure it’ll be forced into something more palatable—and more mainstream.“

Surprisingly, this isn’t the first Possession remake. The film recently received a loose Indonesian remake called Possession: Kerasukan, directed by Razka Robby Ertanto.

Are you interested in Parker Finn’s Possession remake, and are you glad to hear that Isabelle Adjani is cool with Margaret Qualley stepping into her shoes? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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The image of Santa Claus has been curated over the years to become wholesome and a symbol of happiness. In the past, he had been seen as a representation of Saint Nicholas or Father Christmas. In the 80s, he seemed to take a darker turn as horror filmmakers decided to use his visage to corrupt the viewer’s expectations. This sweet and gentle man would now be a killer. Multiple films decided to use this idea, and a whole sub-genre of horror Christmas movies was born. (Sure, we already had the classic Black Christmas by then, but it didn’t have a killer Santa in it.) Which ones are the best killer Santa movies?

Killer Santa Movies Featured in This Article

Film	Year	Country	Subgenre
Violent Night	2022	United States	Action Horror Comedy
Santa’s Slay	2005	Canada / United States	Horror Comedy
Tales from the Crypt: “…And All Through the House”	1972 / 1989	United Kingdom / United States	Anthology Horror
Christmas Bloody Christmas	2022	United States	Science Fiction Horror
Christmas Evil	1980	United States	Psychological Horror
Silent Night	2012	United States / Canada	Slasher
Rare Exports	2010	Finland	Dark Fantasy Horror
Deadly Games	1989	France	Home-Invasion Thriller
Saint	2010	Netherlands	Supernatural Horror
Silent Night, Deadly Night	1984	United States	Slasher

Violent Night (2022)

• Release Year: 2022
• Director: Tommy Wirkola
• Country: United States
• Subgenre: Action Horror Comedy
• Starring: David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Beverly D’Angelo
• Why It’s Important: One of the most successful modern Christmas horror films, flipping the killer Santa formula by making Santa the hero instead of the villain.

Most killer Santa Clauses are villains, but this newer movie had the jolly man fighting for the side of good. This little twist makes the film even more fun. A wealthy family is held hostage, and it turns out their only hope is the fat man himself. David Harbour plays the legendary figure who is losing faith in the holiday. When he stumbles upon the situation, there is no choice but to free the family. What follows is Saint Nick messing up a whole group of mercenaries led by John Leguizamo. He kills one by putting a grenade down the back of their pants. When he starts to run away, Santa stops and looks into the camera, saying, “I have to watch.” He turns around just as the grenade goes off in all of its gory glory.

Santa’s Slay (2005)

• Release Year: 2005
• Director: David Steiman
• Country: Canada / United States
• Subgenre: Horror Comedy
• Starring: Bill Goldberg, Douglas Smith, Emilie de Ravin
• Why It’s Important: A cult favorite known for its absurd premise that Santa Claus is the son of the Devil and for Bill Goldberg’s over-the-top performance.

This might be the most over-the-top title on the list, and that’s saying something. Goldberg, yes the wrestler Goldberg, plays Santa. In this movie, we learn that Santa is actually the son of the Devil. He lost a game of curling with an angel and had to be the jolly man we all know for 1,000 years. Well, time is up, and now it’s back to his demonic ways. His first order of business is killing a bunch of famous people that everyone has wanted to punch in the face for a long time. After that, he starts killing anyone he can get his hands on. Only an angel and apparently a couple of local teenagers can stop him. It is a goofy fun time.

Tales From The Crypt (1972 & 1989)

• Release Years: 1972 (Film Segment), 1989 (Television Episode)
• Director: Freddie Francis (1972), Robert Zemeckis (1989 Episode)
• Countries: United Kingdom / United States
• Subgenre: Anthology Horror
• Starring: Joan Collins (1972), Larry Drake (1989)
• Why It’s Important: One of the earliest and most influential examples of a homicidal Santa Claus appearing in horror media.

This is sort of a cheat as it is from one movie and one TV show. In 1972, Amicus Productions put out a Tales From The Crypt anthology movie. One of the stories involved a woman (Joan Collins) who killed her husband on Christmas Eve, being killed by a demented man in a Santa suit. The same story was redone for the HBO series and was done better, in my opinion, because of Larry Drake’s portrayal of the evil St. Nick. Both are great watches and so much fun.

Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022)

• Release Year: 2022
• Director: Joe Begos
• Country: United States
• Subgenre: Science Fiction Horror
• Starring: Riley Dandy, Sam Delich, Jonah Ray
• Why It’s Important: Combines Christmas horror with killer-robot science fiction, creating one of the most unique modern killer Santa films.

The only entry on the list to feature a killer robot Santa! That alone should sell you on the film. For some reason, people thought it would be a good idea to retrofit decommissioned military robots into store Santas. Surely, nothing can go wrong. Except, of course, it does as one comes to life and goes on a killing spree that spares no one. A kid gets an axe to the head. This Terminator-fueled holiday film is bonkers and a lot of fun. Seeing a robot Santa driving an ambulance into cop cars is enough to get you in the holiday spirit.

Christmas Evil (1980)

• Release Year: 1980
• Director: Lewis Jackson
• Country: United States
• Subgenre: Psychological Horror
• Starring: Brandon Maggart, Jeffrey DeMunn, Dianne Hull
• Why It’s Important: Often regarded as one of the first true killer Santa movies and a major influence on later holiday horror films.

One of the earliest killer Santa films shows Harry as a young boy. He sees his mother and father getting “intimate” while his father is dressed up in a Santa costume. Upon realizing Santa isn’t real, he cuts himself with a broken snow globe. When he grows up, he works for a toy manufacturing company and tries to spread Christmas cheer all year round. When he feels taken advantage of at work, he snaps and begins a killing spree while dressed up as Santa Claus. He begins to find those that he feels have been naughty and gives them more than a lump of coal.

Silent Night (2012)

• Release Year: 2012
• Director: Steven C. Miller
• Country: United States / Canada
• Subgenre: Slasher
• Starring: Jaime King, Malcolm McDowell, Donal Logue
• Why It’s Important: A modern reimagining of the killer Santa concept featuring elaborate kills and a more mystery-oriented storyline.

The movie is supposed to be a “remake” of Silent Night, Deadly Night, but it really has nothing to do with that film. However, having a killer Santa running around with a flamethrower and chucking people into a wood chipper makes for a fun movie. A small Wisconsin town is besieged by the killer Santa and has to figure out where he will strike next. The film is an entertaining bloodbath that will get any horror fan into the holiday spirit, even with Malcolm McDowell chewing up all the scenery he can get his hands on as the town sheriff. While not as legendary as the film it’s supposed to be a remake of, it still brings a lot of fun.

Rare Exports (2010)

• Release Year: 2010
• Director: Jalmari Helander
• Country: Finland
• Subgenre: Dark Fantasy Horror
• Starring: Onni Tommila, Jorma Tommila, Tommi Korpela
• Why It’s Important: A critically acclaimed international horror film that reimagines Santa Claus through Nordic folklore and mythology.

Technically, this film doesn’t have a killer Santa in it, but it does show where mall Santas come from. They are usually evil anyway. An excavation team finds a large being encased in ice, but soon they all disappear. A boy and his father find a bearded man in their shed, believing it might be Santa. They quickly find out he is one of Santa’s “helpers.” Santa is an evil being who had been imprisoned in ice years ago but now seems on the verge of being released. A swarm of these “helpers” arrives to stop the villagers from destroying Santa for good. A fun Finnish film about evil Santas and the strange folklore around them.

Deadly Games (1989)

• Release Year: 1989
• Director: René Manzor
• Country: France
• Subgenre: Home-Invasion Thriller
• Starring: Alain Musy, Brigitte Fossey, Louis Ducreux
• Why It’s Important: A cult French thriller that blends Christmas horror with a cat-and-mouse survival story years before Home Alone became a phenomenon.

This French film has gained steam over the years, especially after being shown on Joe Bob Brigg’s The Last Drive-In. A homeless man gets a job as a mall Santa but is fired after slapping a child. He heads to the manager’s house but finds that only a young kid and his sick grandad are home. What he doesn’t realize is that the kid is a technical genius who sets up booby traps all across their house. It quickly becomes a battle between the young lad, who seems obsessed with Rambo. Take one part Die Hard and one part Home Alone, then you get Deadly Games. Worth checking out.

Saint (2010)

• Release Year: 2010
• Director: Dick Maas
• Country: Netherlands
• Subgenre: Supernatural Horror
• Starring: Egbert Jan Weeber, Bert Luppes, Caro Lenssen
• Why It’s Important: Draws directly from European Saint Nicholas folklore, presenting one of the most distinctive supernatural killer Santas in horror cinema.

This entry from The Netherlands shows St. Nicholas as an evil bishop who kidnaps children when there is a full moon on December 5th. A teenager and a disgraced police detective are the only ones who understand what is happening. They have to confront St. Nicholas and his minions before he kidnaps any more children. This film plays on old folklore legends that Santa is based on and has a lot of fun with the ancient European traditions that most American viewers may not know. It’s a great watch that brings something a little different to the killer Santa subgenre.

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

• Release Year: 1984
• Director: Charles E. Sellier Jr.
• Country: United States
• Subgenre: Slasher
• Starring: Robert Brian Wilson, Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick
• Why It’s Important: The defining killer Santa movie, infamous for its controversy and one of the most influential Christmas horror films ever made.

While it’s not the first, it is for sure the most well-known killer Santa movie. The film was such a big deal that protests from parent groups got it pulled from theaters. Film star Mickey Rooney wrote a letter shaming the filmmakers, saying they should be run out of town for sullying the image of Santa. He would later star as the evil Toy Maker in the 5th entry in the series. This film not only has a killer Santa but, in fact, has two of them!

Billy sees his parents killed by a maniac in a Santa outfit. He had a rough time living in an orphanage but was released on his 18th birthday. When he gets a job at a retail store, he is forced to dress up as Santa for the kids. This brings back memories of his parent’s death, and he snaps. He goes on a killing spree as he decides who has been “naughty,” whittling down his naughty list one-by-one. The film features one of the most famous holiday horror deaths. Billy lifts Linnea Quigley while she is topless and impales her on a set of deer antlers mounted to the wall. A great film that should be enjoyed every Christmas season.

Frequently Asked Questions About Killer Santa Movies

What was the first killer Santa movie?

While Black Christmas (1974) helped establish Christmas horror as a genre, Christmas Evil (1980) is often cited as one of the earliest films centered around a killer dressed as Santa Claus. The concept became much more popular after the release of Silent Night, Deadly Night in 1984.

Why was Silent Night, Deadly Night controversial?

The film sparked protests from parents’ groups and concerned citizens who objected to portraying Santa Claus as a murderer. The backlash led to the movie being pulled from many theaters shortly after its release, although it later became a cult classic.

Are killer Santa movies always slashers?

No. While many entries in the subgenre are slashers, others blend horror with action, fantasy, science fiction, or dark comedy. Films like Violent Night, Rare Exports, and Christmas Bloody Christmas each take a different approach to the killer Santa concept.

What is the most famous killer Santa movie?

Silent Night, Deadly Night is generally considered the most famous and influential killer Santa film. Its controversy, sequels, and enduring cult following helped define the subgenre.

Is Violent Night a killer Santa movie?

Yes, although it reverses the traditional formula. Instead of being the villain, Santa Claus is the hero who uses brutal violence to protect a family from armed criminals.

Which killer Santa movie is the scariest?

Many horror fans consider Christmas Evil and Silent Night, Deadly Night among the scariest because they focus on disturbed human killers rather than supernatural threats. Others may prefer the folklore-inspired terror of Rare Exports or Saint.

Are there any killer Santa movies based on folklore?

Yes. Rare Exports and Saint both draw heavily from European legends surrounding Saint Nicholas and related winter folklore, presenting darker interpretations of the holiday figure.

Why are there so many horror movies about Santa Claus?

Santa Claus represents kindness, generosity, and childhood innocence. Horror filmmakers often enjoy subverting familiar symbols, making Santa an effective figure for creating shock, suspense, and dark humor.

What are your favorite killer Santa movies? Let us know in the comments.

The post Best Killer Santa Movies appeared first on JoBlo.

Directed by Adam Wingard and said to be in the vein of his cult classics The Guest and You’re Next, the “gonzo action horror thriller” Onslaught is set to reach theatres on September 4th. The trailer was attached to the A24 horror film Backrooms when it was released last weekend, and now that trailer has made its way online. Check it out in the embed above!

Who stars in Onslaught?

Adria Arjona (Hit Man); Dan Stevens, who worked with Wingard on The Guest and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire; Drew Starkey (Outer Banks), Michael Biehn (The Terminator), Reginald VelJohnson (Die Hard), comedian Eric Wareheim (Tim & Eric), and Wingard’s Godzilla vs. Kong and Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire cast member Rebecca Hall star in the film alongside UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex “Poatan” Pereira.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Pereira will be able to “bring his set of skills to the role — including anaconda chokes and roundhouse kicks.” They also note that “Pereira is a former kickboxer and Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is one of a handful of fighters to become a champion in two different weight divisions.”

What is Onslaught about?

Speaking of skillsets, sources say that Arjona’s character is “a mother living in a trailer who falls back on a particular set of skills in order to protect her loved ones after she runs afoul of a threat that has escaped a secret military base.” 

Stevens plays a German scientist who is working on the experiments that escape, and Hall’s character is connected to his in some way. Biehn plays the leader of an elite group of mercenaries who try to reign in the threat. VelJohnson’s character is a member of the mother’s trailer park community, and so is Wareheim’s character.

The screenplay for Onslaught was written by Simon Barrett, who collaborated with Wingard on The Guest, You’re Next, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, A Horrible Way to Die, and Blair Witch, among other projects.

Lyrical Media and A24 are co-financing Onslaught and A24 will handle worldwide distribution. Aaron Ryder and Andrew Swett are producing the film under their Ryder Picture Company banner, alongside A24. Alexander Black is producing for Lyrical Media. Wingard and his manager Jeremy Platt are also producing, through their new shingle Breakaway Civilization, along with Barrett. Lyrical’s Jon Rosenberg and Natalie Sellers serve as executive producers.

Are you looking forward to Onslaught? Take a look at the trailer, then share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

The post Adam Wingard’s gonzo action horror thriller Onslaught unleashes the ideal combatant in first trailer appeared first on JoBlo.

Thirteen years have gone by since the release of a new entry in the Scary Movie horror parody series – but the franchise isn’t dormant any longer. In 2024, it was announced that the Miramax label at Paramount, which is now operating under new boss Jonathan Glickman, had given the greenlight to a new Scary Movie sequel (Scary Movie 6, to be exact), with the plan being to get the film into theatres sometime in 2025. Well, they weren’t able to get the film into production as quickly as they hoped, but the new Scary Movie is scheduled to reach theatres on June 5, 2026. With that date quickly creeping up on us, the final trailer for the film has dropped online and can be seen in the embed above.

Who’s in the new Scary Movie?

The Wayans Brothers wrote the screenplay for the new film with Rick Alvarez, who has previously worked with members of the family on multiple projects, including A Haunted House, A Haunted House 2, Fifty Shades of Black, Naked, Sextuplets, Dance Flick, Little Man, White Chicks, and Scary Movie 2, among other things.

Directed by Michael Tiddes, who was the helm of the Haunted House movies, Fifty Shades of Black, Naked, and Sextuplets (and don’t forget Half Baked: Totally High), Scary Movie 6 stars Anna Faris and Regina Hall, reprising the roles of Cindy Campbell and Brenda Meeks.

Other returning cast members include Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Lochlyn Monroe, Dave Sheridan, Cheri Oteri, Chris Elliott, and Jon Abrahams. Newcomers include Olivia Rose Keegan, Savannah Lee Nassif, Cameron Scott Roberts, Sydney Park, Gregg Wayans, Ruby Snowber, Damon Wayans Jr., Kim Wayans, Heidi Gardner, and Benny Zielke.

Sleepaway Camp‘s Felissa Rose and Terrifier producer Michael Leavy are featured in the Terrifier 3 parody sequence.

Scary Movie Refresher

Directed by In Living Color creator Keenen Ivory Wayans from a screenplay written by a bunch of people (Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Buddy Johnson, Phil Beauman, Jason Friedberg, and Aaron Seltzer), the first Scary Movie was released by Dimension Films back in 2000. 

Scary Movie 2 was released in 2001, and the Wayans remained at the head of the creative team for that one. Keenen Ivory Wayans directed it from a screenplay credited to Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Alyson Fouse, Greg Grabianski, Dave Polsky, Michael Anthony Snowden, and Craig Wayans.

There was a shake-up behind the scenes on 2003’s Scary Movie 3, as Dimension hired Airplane and The Naked Gun director David Zucker to take the helm. Zucker directed that film from a screenplay by Craig Mazin and Pat Proft. That trio returned for Scary Movie 4 in 2006, with Jim Abrahams also receiving a writing credit.

Seven years later, Pat Proft and David Zucker came back to write Scary Movie 5, which was directed by Undercover Brother‘s Malcolm D. Lee.

The first Scary Movie was made on a budget of $19 million and earned $278 million at the box office, so the budgets increased for most of the sequels. Scary Movie 2 cost $45 million and made $141 million, Scary Movie 3 cost $48 million and made almost $221 million, and Scary Movie 4 was made for $40 million and earned $178 million at the box office. After the lengthy break between movies, Scary Movie 5 got a lower budget, dropping back down to $20 million. That was a good decision, because the film only made $78 million at the box office.

Are you looking forward to the new Scary Movie? Check out the final trailer, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Scary Movie final trailer unveiled ahead of the film’s release this weekend appeared first on JoBlo.

Bryan

Apartment buildings should feel safe. They’re places where people sleep, raise families, and go about their daily lives surrounded by neighbors. Horror movies have long understood that this setting can be turned into something unsettling. Thin walls, dark hallways, unreliable elevators, and strangers living just a few feet away create the perfect environment for fear. Whether the threat comes from killers, demons, parasites, ghosts, or something even stranger, apartment horror films transform ordinary living spaces into claustrophobic nightmares. Here are some of the best horror movies to make apartment life terrifying.

Film	Year	Horror Type	Apartment Threat	Why It Stands Out
Critters 3	1991	Creature Feature	Flesh-eating alien creatures	Leonardo DiCaprio’s early role and chaotic creature attacks inside an apartment complex
The Toolbox Murders	1978	Slasher	Killer using construction tools	Classic exploitation-era slasher set almost entirely in an apartment building
Eyes of a Stranger	1981	Psychological Slasher	Voyeuristic serial killer	Builds paranoia around neighbors and apartment surveillance
Poltergeist 3	1988	Supernatural Horror	Haunting inside a skyscraper	Makes strong use of mirrors, elevators, and urban architecture
The Sentinel	1977	Occult Horror	Satanic gateway hidden in apartment building	Eerie atmosphere and bizarre supporting characters
Shivers	1975	Body Horror	Parasite outbreak among residents	David Cronenberg’s disturbing take on infection horror
Candyman	1992	Urban Legend Horror	Supernatural killer haunting housing project	Combines social commentary with supernatural terror
REC / Quarantine	2007 / 2008	Infection Horror	Quarantined building full of infected residents	Claustrophobic found-footage panic and escalating chaos
Demons 2	1986	Demonic Horror	Demonic possession spreading through tenants	Fast-paced gore and apartment-wide demonic outbreak
Rosemary’s Baby	1968	Psychological / Occult Horror	Manipulative neighbors and cult conspiracy	One of the definitive paranoia-driven apartment horror films

C​ritters 3 (1991)

• Director: Kristine Peterson
• Subgenre: Creature Feature
• Setting: Urban apartment building
• Main Threat: Alien Crites multiplying inside the complex
• Why Horror Fans Remember It: Leonardo DiCaprio’s film debut and nonstop creature attacks
• Apartment Horror Element: Residents are trapped inside an apartment building while ravenous creatures spread from unit to unit

T​his film stars an Oscar winner: the one and only Leonardo DiCaprio. Before returning home to the big city, his family stops at a rest area. They don’t know that some newly hatched Crites have stowed away in their vehicle. Once they return to their apartment building, the new creatures take over and chow down on anything they can get their mouths on. The residents of the building have to find a way to fend off the balls of teeth until Charlie the bounty hunter can capture them.

T​he Toolbox Murders (1978)

• Director: Dennis Donnelly
• Subgenre: Slasher Horror
• Setting: Apartment building
• Main Threat: A masked killer using household tools
• Why Horror Fans Remember It: Gritty exploitation atmosphere and brutal practical effects
• Apartment Horror Element: The killer may be living among the tenants, turning neighbors and shared living spaces into sources of fear

A killer terrorizes an apartment building. He can get into their apartments and kill them off with the use of standard tools. The residents begin to wonder if the killer could be someone living among them. This film is the usual slasher exploitation film that was starting to become popular during the era. It just missed out on the slasher boom that would happen in the wake of Halloween, which came out just a few months later. It was remade in 2004 and that one was directed by horror master Tobe Hooper.

E​yes of a Stranger (1981)

• Director: Ken Wiederhorn
• Subgenre: Psychological Slasher
• Setting: Miami apartment complex
• Main Threat: Voyeuristic serial killer stalking residents
• Why Horror Fans Remember It: Suspenseful stalking sequences and Jennifer Jason Leigh’s performance
• Apartment Horror Element: The proximity of neighboring buildings and apartments creates paranoia, surveillance, and a constant sense of vulnerability

A​ news reporter is covering a series of murders in Miami. Soon she begins to think a creepy man in an apartment building across from hers is the killer. She becomes the target of his attention as her reports gain popularity on TV. Quickly she begins to worry about the safety of herself and her blind younger sister that lives with her. An interesting slasher film that has a young Jennifer Jason Leigh as the blind sister. It will make you wary of anyone you pass in your apartment hallway.

P​oltergeist III (1988)

• Director: Gary Sherman
• Subgenre: Supernatural Horror
• Setting: Chicago skyscraper apartment building
• Main Threat: Supernatural haunting led by Reverend Kane
• Why Horror Fans Remember It: Creative use of mirrors and high-rise architecture
• Apartment Horror Element: A high-rise apartment building becomes a vertical prison where supernatural forces can strike through mirrors and shared spaces

I​n the third entry in the franchise, the action is moved from California to the Hancock Building in Chicago. Carol Anne moved in with her aunt and uncle to escape the chaos she experienced in the first two films. Little does she know that Kane has followed her. The film makes excellent use of the city-building setting. There are multiple scenes set in the parking garage and building pool. The varied locations within one building help keep the story from getting stale. It is considered a bad film in the series but worth re-evaluating by horror fans. When you think of the best apartment horror films, this movie immediately jumps to mind.

The Sentinel (1977)

• Director: Michael Winner
• Subgenre: Occult Horror
• Setting: Gothic apartment building
• Main Threat: Satanic forces hidden among residents
• Why Horror Fans Remember It: Surreal imagery and unsettling supporting cast
• Apartment Horror Element: An ordinary apartment building hides a terrifying secret, making the residents themselves part of the horror

A​ young woman moves into a building that has a blind priest living on the top floor. As she moves in, she meets the eccentric characters that live there. The young woman begins to have strange dreams and feels uneasy in the building. It turns out there may be more going on than she realizes. The cast is filled with great actors like Burgess Meredith, Chris Sarandon, Beverly D’Angelo, Christopher Walken, and Ava Gardner. The weirdness is something Evil Dead Rise, another horror film set in an apartment building, definitely learned from this film.

S​hivers (1975)

• Director: David Cronenberg
• Subgenre: Body Horror
• Setting: Self-contained apartment complex
• Main Threat: Parasitic infection spreading through tenants
• Why Horror Fans Remember It: Early Cronenberg body horror and disturbing infection themes
• Apartment Horror Element: A self-contained apartment complex becomes a breeding ground for infection, leaving residents with nowhere safe to escape

D​avid Cronenberg brought us this tale about an apartment building on an island that aims to be self-sufficient. It has its own grocery store, gym, and offices. Soon a parasite moves among the residents, turning them into sex-crazed maniacs. As the infection spreads, the survivors begin to run out of places to hide. They start trying to fight off the infected while also escaping from the enclosed apartment building. Easily one of the best apartment horror films since the whole thing takes place inside this self-sustaining complex.

C​andyman (1992)

• Director: Bernard Rose
• Subgenre: Urban Legend Horror
• Setting: Cabrini-Green housing project
• Main Threat: The Candyman legend becoming real
• Why Horror Fans Remember It: Atmospheric storytelling and social commentary
• Apartment Horror Element: Hidden passageways, shared walls, and an interconnected housing project allow terror to move unseen among residents

I​n this horror classic, a woman begins investigating a series of murders in a Chicago housing project. She finds that it all connects to an urban legend of a being named Candyman. If you say his name five times into a mirror, he comes to kill you. As she digs deeper, she finds that there is some truth to the legend. She spends a lot of time inside the housing project and finds hidden rooms deep within parts of the building.

REC/Q​uarantine (2007 & 2008)

• Directors: Jaume Balagueró & Paco Plaza (REC), John Erick Dowdle (Quarantine)
• Subgenre: Found Footage / Infection Horror
• Setting: Quarantined apartment building
• Main Threat: Violent infected residents trapped inside
• Why Horror Fans Remember It: Relentless pacing and claustrophobic tension
• Apartment Horror Element: Government quarantine seals residents inside a single building as a deadly outbreak spreads floor by floor

I​t doesn’t matter which version you pick, as they both play out pretty much the same, but I always try to stick with the original before any remake. A news reporter is doing a night where she rides along with the fire department on their emergency calls. They get a strange call to an apartment building. When they arrive, they find multiple people dead and bleeding. Others seem to have been infected with something that makes them go feral and attack people. As they try to leave, they find the army has blocked off all the exits and will kill anyone that attempts to leave the building.

D​emons 2 (1986)

• Director: Lamberto Bava
• Subgenre: Demonic Horror
• Setting: Modern apartment tower
• Main Threat: Demonic possession spreading through residents
• Why Horror Fans Remember It: Over-the-top gore and chaotic escalation
• Apartment Horror Element: Demonic possession spreads rapidly through an apartment tower, turning neighbors into threats and cutting off escape routes

A​ group of residents in an apartment building throw a birthday party. The birthday girl is upset and locks herself in her room. She turns on the TV and becomes possessed by a demon shown in the movie. As she rampages through the building, more and more residents become infected.

R​osemary’s Baby (1968)

• Director: Roman Polanski
• Subgenre: Psychological / Occult Horror
• Setting: Historic New York apartment building
• Main Threat: Manipulative neighbors hiding a cult conspiracy
• Why Horror Fans Remember It: Slow-burn paranoia and psychological terror
• Apartment Horror Element: The greatest threat comes from trusted neighbors, transforming community and domestic life into sources of paranoia

A​ young couple hoping to start a family soon moves into an old apartment building. They find their neighbors are somewhat eccentric but enjoy the company. When Rosemary gets pregnant, she starts to notice that she is being cut off from her friends and family. As the baby’s birth nears, things start to get weird, and she begins to believe her neighbors are behind it. When she learns the truth, it will be too late. Classic tale of a woman driven to insanity by those she trusts.

FAQ: Best Apartment Horror Films

What are the best apartment horror movies?

Some of the most popular apartment horror films include Rosemary’s Baby, Candyman, REC, Shivers, Demons 2, and The Sentinel. These films use confined urban living spaces to create paranoia, tension, and claustrophobic fear.

Why are apartment settings effective in horror movies?

Apartment horror films work because characters are surrounded by strangers, trapped in confined spaces, and unable to easily escape danger. Hallways, elevators, stairwells, and neighboring rooms all become sources of tension.

Is REC or Quarantine better?

Most horror fans prefer REC because it is the original Spanish-language version and is often considered more intense and atmospheric. However, Quarantine follows a very similar story and remains popular with American audiences.

What is body horror in apartment horror films?

Body horror focuses on physical transformation, infection, or mutation. Movies like Shivers and Demons 2 use apartment buildings as enclosed spaces where horrifying transformations spread rapidly among residents.

Are apartment horror movies considered a subgenre?

Yes. Apartment horror is often viewed as a branch of urban horror. These films typically focus on isolation, paranoia, dangerous neighbors, supernatural threats, or outbreaks occurring within apartment complexes or high-rise buildings.

What are common themes in apartment horror films?

Common themes include:

• Claustrophobia
• Fear of neighbors
• Urban isolation
• Loss of privacy
• Supernatural infestation
• Infection outbreaks
• Inability to escape danger

Which apartment horror films inspired Evil Dead Rise?

While the filmmakers have not named a single direct inspiration, Demons 2, REC, Shivers, and The Sentinel all feature ideas similar to Evil Dead Rise, including trapped residents, supernatural outbreaks, and chaos spreading through apartment buildings.

Apartment horror remains one of the genre’s most effective subgenres because it transforms familiar living spaces into traps. Whether the threat comes from demons, killers, parasites, or cults, these films prove that terror can be waiting just beyond the next apartment door. W​hat do you consider the best apartment horror films? Let us know in the comments.

The post Best Apartment Horror Films appeared first on JoBlo.