The secrets of Verity are heading home. Amazon MGM Studios’ adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling psychological thriller will be available to rent or buy on Prime Video in the United States starting tomorrow, October 27. The film stars Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, and Josh Hartnett, with director Michael Showalter bringing Hoover’s twisted tale of ambition, attraction, and disturbing secrets to the screen.

The digital release follows the film’s theatrical debut on October 2. Viewers will be able to rent Verity for $19.99 or purchase it digitally for $24.99. A Prime membership is not required to rent or buy the movie, although regional availability and pricing may vary. According to Amazon, viewers who rent the film have 30 days to start watching and 48 hours to finish once playback begins.

What Is Verity About?

Based on Hoover’s bestselling novel, Verity follows Lowen Ashleigh (Johnson), a struggling writer who receives an unusual career opportunity from Jeremy Crawford (Hartnett). Jeremy’s wife, Verity Crawford (Hathaway), is a celebrated author left incapacitated after an accident, and he hires Lowen to finish the remaining books in Verity’s successful series.

Lowen moves into the Crawford family’s remote estate to research Verity’s work. But when she discovers a disturbing manuscript that appears to contain the author’s personal confessions, her assignment takes a sinister turn. As she reads further, Lowen begins questioning the truth about Verity, her family, and the events described in the manuscript.

Directed by Showalter (The Idea of You), the film features a screenplay by Nick Antosca and Hoover. The cast also includes Ismael Cruz Cordova and Brady Wagner. The movie is rated R for sexual content, some nudity, language, violence, and bloody images.

What Did We Think of Verity?

The film brings together three popular stars for a story packed with secrets and psychological games, but the result didn’t win over JoBlo’s reviewer. In his Verity review, Tyler Nichols gave the adaptation a Below Average rating, criticizing its performances, pacing, and handling of its twists. Tyler praised Hathaway for bringing more dimension to the mysterious title character, but found Johnson’s performance underwhelming and felt the film struggled to generate suspense. He also questioned whether Showalter’s direction gave the material enough energy to make its revelations land properly.

For viewers who missed Verity in theaters, the digital release offers a chance to decide for themselves whether this dark adaptation of Hoover’s novel delivers the psychological thrills its premise promises. Will you be checking it out? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Verity digital release: Colleen Hoover adaptation is coming to Prime Video this week appeared first on JoBlo.

Robert Eggers’ Werwulf is bringing its medieval nightmare to theatres this Christmas, and Focus Features has revealed that tickets are now on sale for select 35mm screenings!

Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Lily-Rose Depp, Willem Dafoe, and Ralph Ineson, Werwulf is the latest period horror film from the filmmaker behind The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman, and Nosferatu. The film is scheduled to open exclusively in theatres on December 25, 2026.

Werwulf 35mm Screening Tickets Are Now on Sale

Fans who want to experience Eggers’ latest film on 35mm film can now purchase tickets for special screenings at participating theatres across the United States. The announced venues include:

• Alamo Drafthouse Downtown LA — Los Angeles, California
• Alamo Drafthouse Cedars — Dallas, Texas
• Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn — Brooklyn, New York
• Alamo Drafthouse New Mission — San Francisco, California
• Angelika Film Center at Mosaic — Fairfax, Virginia
• Angelika Film Center — Dallas, Texas
• Belcourt Theatre — Nashville, Tennessee
• Enzian Theater — Maitland, Florida
• Harkins Tempe Marketplace — Tempe, Arizona
• Heights Theater — Columbia Heights, Minnesota
• Hollywood Theatre — Portland, Oregon
• Jacob Burns Film Center — Pleasantville, New York
• Philadelphia Film Society East Theater — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Plaza Theatre — Atlanta, Georgia
• Screenland Armour — North Kansas City, Missouri
• Somerville Theatre — Somerville, Massachusetts
• Village East by Angelika — New York, New York

Screening schedules and availability may vary by location. Fans can find ticket information through the official Werwulf website.

What Is Robert Eggers’ Werwulf About?

Focus Features is keeping the plot details close to the vest, describing the movie as a tale of devotion, damnation, and the devil within. The story takes place in 13th-century England, where a mysterious creature stalks the fog-covered countryside and local folklore begins turning into a terrifying reality.

Taylor-Johnson plays a cursed farmer struggling to find salvation through love, while Depp plays his wife. Dafoe also stars as a hunter. The cast reunites Eggers collaborators from Nosferatu, alongside Hamnet performer Bodhi Rae Breathnach.

Eggers co-wrote the screenplay with Sjón, his writing partner on The Northman. The production has emphasized period authenticity, including historically informed dialogue and a visual approach designed to make its medieval setting feel harsh, grimy, and unforgiving. The director has described Werwulf as the darkest thing he has written.

Werwulf reaches theatres on December 25, 2026. Will you be buying tickets for a 35mm screening? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Robert Eggers’ Werwulf announces 35mm screenings appeared first on JoBlo.

Halloween is about to get a fresh dose of undead mayhem. Return of the Living Dead: Aftermath is scheduled to launch exclusively on DragonFlix on October 31, 2026, with a digital release package that promises more than just another zombie movie. According to the platform’s announcement, fans can preorder the film and receive three different versions of the feature, along with a collection of bonus material celebrating the legacy of the original 1985 horror classic.

The release is being presented as a direct sequel to the 1985 classic The Return of the Living Dead.

Return of the Living Dead: Aftermath Arrives Amid Franchise Confusion

The arrival of Return of the Living Dead: Aftermath comes as multiple projects connected to the cult zombie franchise have been announced. DragonFlix is promoting Aftermath as a direct sequel to the 1985 original, while Trash’s Revenge, from ROTLD Originals LLC and DragonSTUDIOS, has also been developed as part of a new Return of the Living Dead universe. Meanwhile, director Steve Wolsh’s separate Return of the Living Dead project has been caught up in a public legal dispute involving franchise veterans and the companies behind Trash’s Revenge.

The competing projects have made the franchise’s future complicated, but DragonFlix says Aftermath and its accompanying bonus material will be available on Halloween for $19.

Return of the Living Dead: Aftermath Offers Three Versions of the Movie

One of the more unusual features of the Aftermath release is the inclusion of three separate feature-length formats in the same preorder package. Alongside the standard 2D version, buyers will receive a full side-by-side 3D version designed for compatible virtual reality headsets and a traditional red-and-cyan anaglyph 3D edition.

Preorders are available through the platform’s official website.

Original Return of the Living Dead Veterans Featured in Bonus Material

The preorder package also includes several documentaries and retrospectives exploring the history of the franchise. Among the highlights is a segment featuring John Russo, the horror writer and co-creator associated with the Living Dead legacy, discussing the series and its impact. Linnea Quigley and Beverly Randolph, both associated with the original 1985 film, are also featured in a retrospective looking back at the making of the cult classic.

The package includes a documentary titled Juan Lord Music ID, which explores the music and punk influences associated with the franchise. A release trailer and a downloadable PDF screenplay are also part of the announced collection.

When Does Return of the Living Dead: Aftermath Come Out?

Here are the key details:

• Title: Return of the Living Dead: Aftermath
• Release date: October 31, 2026
• Platform: DragonFlix
• Preorder price: $19
• Feature formats: Standard 2D, full side-by-side 3D for compatible headsets, and red-and-cyan anaglyph 3D
• Bonus features: Release trailer, Juan Lord music documentary, John Russo retrospective, Linnea Quigley and Beverly Randolph featurette, and downloadable PDF screenplay

Fans can find preorder information at DragonFlix.

With its Halloween launch, multiple viewing formats, and a collection of franchise retrospectives, Return of the Living Dead: Aftermath is positioning itself as a special release for fans of the original cult classic. Whether viewers are most interested in the new film, the returning franchise veterans, or the archival extras, DragonFlix is bringing the package to its platform just in time for the year’s biggest night for horror. Will you be checking it out? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Return of the Living Dead: Aftermath sets Halloween release on DragonFlix appeared first on JoBlo.

Chris

WB/Legendary’s MonsterVerse saga has attempted to somewhat reinvent the traditional Kaiju film for Western audiences, with our mighty monster heroes Godzilla and Kong now being called Titans. While the franchise arguably stumbled out of the gate with director Gareth Edwards’ coolly received Godzilla, the saga has steadily grown in popularity, and the most recent release, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire was a big hit. But how do the films stack up against each other? Let’s take a look with our MonsterVerse Movies Ranked List!

• 1. Kong: Skull Island (2017) — Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts. Biggest strength: Style, heart, and ensemble cast. Biggest weakness: Thin lead protagonists.
• 2. Godzilla vs. Kong (2021) — Directed by Adam Wingard. Biggest strength: Action spectacle and pacing. Biggest weakness: Uneven human subplot.
• 3. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) — Directed by Adam Wingard. Biggest strength: Titan-focused storytelling. Biggest weakness: Minimal emotional depth.
• 4. Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) — Directed by Michael Dougherty. Biggest strength: Massive kaiju battles. Biggest weakness: Overstuffed universe-building.
• 5. Godzilla (2014) — Directed by Gareth Edwards. Biggest strength: Atmosphere and scale. Biggest weakness: Too little Godzilla.

5. Godzilla (2014)

• Director: Gareth Edwards
• Main Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranston, Juliette Binoche, Ken Watanabe
• Tone: Serious disaster thriller
• Best Monster Moment: HALO jump into San Francisco
• Most Common Criticism: Godzilla appears too little
• Most Praised Element: Atmosphere and scale
• Legacy: Established the Western version of the MonsterVerse and introduced the grounded “Titan” approach.

Audiences were pretty hyped for Gareth Edwards’ 2014 Godzilla reboot, with awesome early trailers that used Ligeti’s Requiem II from 2001: A Space Odyssey, promising the most intense Kaiju movie to date. It didn’t really work out that way, with many complaining about how dull the film was, with Godzilla himself off-screen for endless patches of time. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who’s since proved himself a solid leading man, made for a bland hero, and the fact that two of the best actors in the film, Bryan Cranston and Juliette Binoche, were killed off early on, didn’t endear it to anyone. At least we got a great line from Ken Watanabe.

4. Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019)

• Director: Michael Dougherty
• Main Cast: Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, Vera Farmiga
• Tone: Mythic sci-fi epic
• Featured Titans: Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, King Ghidorah
• Best Monster Moment: Godzilla’s burning form finale
• Most Common Criticism: Complicated shared-universe setup
• Most Praised Element: Fan-service monster battles
• Legacy: Initially divisive but increasingly appreciated by kaiju fans.

Luckily, the sequel (which was actually the third film in the franchise), which replaced Edwards with director Michael Dougherty (Trick or Treat), was more entertaining, with it packed with more monster action, putting Godzilla up against Mothra, Rodan , and King Ghidorah. However, it proved to be a costly box office disappointment, earning initially poor reviews because Legendary was trying to set up a complicated shared universe no one seemed all that interested in – yet. The box office results were disasterous, and had they not already started shooting the next film in the franchise, the MonsterVerse might have ended right here. Still, the movie is a bit underrated, with Kyle Chandler cast against type as our family man hero.

3. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)

• Director: Adam Wingard
• Main Cast: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens
• Tone: Fast-paced monster adventure
• Best Monster Moment: Kong’s extended Hollow Earth sequences
• Most Common Criticism: Thin human storylines
• Most Praised Element: Focus on Titan action
• Legacy: Cemented the franchise’s evolution toward pure monster spectacle.

The newest addition to the MonsterVerse saga is stripped down as far as its human characters go. Millie Bobby Brown’s Madison Russell was initially supposed to be the franchise’s anchor, but she sits out this entry. Instead, Rebecca Hall’s Dr. Ilene Andrews and her adopted daughter, Kaylee Hottle Jia, seem to be the new anchors, with Brian Tyree Henry also carrying over from 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong for comic relief. One thing this movie does is double down on the monsters, especially Kong, with many extended sequences focusing only on the Titans themselves rather than the humans. Meanwhile, Dan Stevens brings some welcome energy to the film as a cool new character named Trapper, who’s basically a veterinarian for Kaiju.

2. Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)

• Director: Adam Wingard
• Main Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall
• Tone: Action-heavy crossover event
• Best Monster Moment: Aircraft carrier battle
• Most Common Criticism: Simplistic plot
• Most Praised Element: Crowd-pleasing action and pacing
• Legacy: Became a pandemic-era box office success and revived excitement for theatrical blockbusters.

One of the smartest things Legendary and WB did for this installment was bring in genre director Adam Wingard to take over the franchise. Reinventing the saga from the perspective of an action director, he made Kong our underdog hero protagonist and doubled down on the carnage as the Titan went on an adventure into the Hollow Earth. Audiences loved it, and this fun flick was a bright spot for all during the early dark days of the pandemic.

1. Kong: Skull Island (2017)

• Director: Jordan Vogt-Roberts
• Main Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, John C. Reilly
• Tone: Vietnam War adventure fantasy
• Best Monster Moment: Kong vs. the Skullcrawler finale
• Most Common Criticism: Generic lead heroes
• Most Praised Element: Personality, style, and supporting cast
• Legacy: Widely considered the most emotionally engaging MonsterVerse film.

As good as Adam Wingard’s additions to the franchise are, I have a soft spot for the Vietnam War-set prequel, Kong: Skull Island. For one thing, it has the best cast, even if the two heroes, played by Brie Larson and Tom Hiddleston, are dull. There’s Samuel L. Jackson, Shea Wigham, John Goodman, and best of all, John C. Reilly, who delivers an acclaimed performance as a long-lost soldier from WW2 still fighting the war twenty-nine years later. Of all the movies in the franchise, this is the one with the most heart and style (from director Jordan Vogt-Roberts) and the one I judge all MonsterVerse movies against.

FAQ

What is the MonsterVerse?

The MonsterVerse is a shared cinematic universe created by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, featuring iconic Titans like Godzilla and Kong.

What is the best MonsterVerse movie?

Based on this ranking, Kong: Skull Island is considered the best due to its strong visual style, memorable supporting cast, emotional core, and adventurous tone.

Why is Godzilla ranked last?

While praised for atmosphere and realism, many viewers felt the movie spent too little time showing Godzilla and focused too heavily on less compelling human characters.

Which MonsterVerse movie has the most monster action?

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire probably contains the heaviest emphasis on Titan-focused action, with long stretches centered almost entirely on Kong and the creatures themselves.

Did Godzilla: King of the Monsters flop?

It underperformed financially relative to expectations and received mixed reviews upon release, though fan appreciation has grown over time.

What order should you watch the MonsterVerse movies in?

1. Godzilla
2. Kong: Skull Island
3. Godzilla: King of the Monsters
4. Godzilla vs. Kong
5. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Which MonsterVerse movie is the most critically acclaimed?

Kong: Skull Island is often regarded as the most consistently praised by both critics and audiences due to its balance of action, humor, and character work.

Do you agree with my rankings? Let us know how your list of MonsterVerse movies ranked would look in the comments!

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

Kevin

When most of her friends have been brutally slaughtered, the final girl is the last woman standing, leaving her to face off against whatever masked maniac, supernatural monster, or chainsaw-wielding lunatic has been making her life a living hell. The term was popularized by film scholar Carol J. Clover in her 1992 book Men, Women, and Chain Saws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film, but the archetype had been kicking ass and taking names long before then.

The 1980s were a golden age for horror, with the slasher boom introducing audiences to some of the most iconic killers in movie history. But for every unstoppable psychopath carving his way through a group of horny teenagers, there was usually one woman who refused to go down without a fight. Whether they survived through brains, bravery, or just plain luck, these heroines proved that even the nastiest monsters could meet their match. So, while Freddy, Jason, and Leatherface tend to get all the glory, it’s time to show some love to the ladies who gave them hell. Here are five of the greatest final girls introduced in the ’80s!

Nancy Thompson — A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Played by Heather Langenkamp

When it comes to the greatest final girls in horror history, Nancy Thompson definitely deserves a spot near the very top. While most slasher victims have the luxury of potentially running away from their killers, Freddy Krueger is waiting for Nancy in her dreams. So the longer she stays awake, the more vulnerable she becomes. 

Like many young folks living through a horror movie, the adults around Nancy dismiss her warnings despite knowing damn well who Freddy is. She’s forced to take matters into her own hands, learning everything she can about Freddy and how she can fight back. Despite being frightened, exhausted, and increasingly isolated as her friends are picked off one by one, she never gives up.

Heather Langenkamp is fantastic in the role, giving Nancy the perfect blend of vulnerability, intelligence, and toughness. She’s someone you can’t help but root for from beginning to end, and Langenkamp brings such a natural charm and likability to the character that it’s easy to see why she became a fan favourite. And let’s be honest, I doubt I was the only one who had a pretty big crush on her.

How She Won: Nancy realizes she can pull Freddy out of the dream world and into reality, where he can actually be hurt. She prepares a series of booby traps throughout her house and drags Freddy into the waking world. She eventually realizes that Freddy draws his power from fear, so she turns her back on him and refuses to give him any more. Freddy seemingly disappears, although the film’s final twist suggests he isn’t quite finished with Nancy. Still, she managed to beat the dream demon at his own game, which is more than most of his victims can say.

Ginny Field — Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)

Played by Amy Steel

Jason Voorhees has faced plenty of final girls over the years, but few have outsmarted him quite like Ginny Field. Introduced in Friday the 13th Part 2, Ginny is a counsellor-in-training who quickly establishes herself as more than just another potential victim. She’s intelligent, confident, and genuinely likable, with Amy Steel delivering one of the best performances in the franchise. Unlike some of the more forgettable characters who populate the Friday the 13th movies, Ginny actually feels like a real person.

As a child psychology student, Ginny is fascinated by the legend of Jason Voorhees and even speculates about what his traumatic childhood and relationship with his mother might have done to him. That curiosity becomes her greatest weapon, as she’s able to get inside Jason’s head.

How She Won: After being chased through the woods, Ginny stumbles into Jason’s shack and discovers a shrine dedicated to his dead mother, complete with Pamela Voorhees’ severed head. Thinking quickly, Ginny puts on Pamela’s sweater and impersonates her, convincing Jason that his mother has returned. The trick works long enough to throw him off guard, although he eventually sees through the deception and attacks, but Ginny grabs a machete and buries it deep in his shoulder.

Kirsty Cotton — Hellraiser (1987)

Played by Ashley Laurence

Not only does Kirsty Cotton have to contend with Pinhead and the Cenobites, but she also has her own murderous family members to worry about. That’s a lot to deal with at once, but she proves to be a remarkably capable survivor.

She may not be prepared for the horrors that await her—and really, who would be?—but she adapts quickly. Ashley Laurence brings a grounded, believable quality to the role, allowing Kirsty to be absolutely terrified without ever seeming helpless. Rather than simply running from the Cenobites, she actually finds a way to negotiate with them, using their own twisted rules to her advantage.

How She Won: After accidentally opening the Lament Configuration puzzle box and summoning the Cenobites, Kirsty bargains for her life by offering them Frank, her murderous uncle, who escaped their dimension. She eventually exposes Frank, who has killed her father and stolen his skin, allowing the Cenobites to reclaim him in spectacularly gruesome fashion. Unfortunately, Pinhead and his companions have no intention of letting Kirsty walk away. She manages to get her hands on the puzzle box and manipulate it to send the Cenobites back to their realm, escaping with her life.

Tina Shepard — Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (1988)

Played by Lar Park Lincoln

Most of Jason Voorhees’ victims don’t stand much of a chance once he gets his hands on them, but Tina Shepard is a different story. She possesses powerful telekinetic abilities, making her one of the few people capable of going toe-to-toe with Crystal Lake’s killing machine. It’s basically Jason versus Carrie.

As a child, Tina accidentally caused the death of her father when her dormant telekinetic abilities emerged, leaving her deeply traumatized. She’s spent years struggling with guilt and fear, and her psychiatrist is more interested in exploiting her powers than helping her.

Lar Park Lincoln gives Tina an emotional vulnerability that makes her easy to sympathize with, but once Jason starts slaughtering everyone around her, she finally gets the chance to unleash everything she’s been holding back. There’s something immensely satisfying about watching Jason, who usually has the upper hand in every encounter, suddenly find himself on the receiving end of a serious ass-kicking.

How She Won: Using her telekinetic powers, Tina electrocutes Jason, hurls objects at him, collapses part of a building on top of him, and even crushes his hockey mask. She eventually sets him on fire and escapes a massive explosion, but naturally, Jason keeps coming. In a final desperate effort, Tina uses her powers to summon her dead father from the depths of Crystal Lake. He emerges from the water, wraps a chain around Jason, and drags him back beneath the surface.

Vanita “Stretch” Brock — The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)

Played by Caroline Williams

Vanita “Stretch” Brock is a small-town radio DJ who finds herself targeted by Leatherface and his cannibalistic family after recording one of their murders. 

Caroline Williams delivers an incredibly physical performance, throwing herself into the film’s madness with great enthusiasm. As unseemly as it might be, Stretch even manages to exploit Leatherface’s strange attraction to her and convinces him to spare her. For anyone else, that’s the time to start running in the opposite direction and not look back, but Stretch follows the cannibalistic family back to their lair, an abandoned amusement park, to give them a taste of their own medicine.

How She Won: After surviving the Sawyer family’s grotesque dinner festivities, Stretch escapes into the abandoned amusement park and is cornered at the top of a tower by the deranged Chop Top. She discovers a chainsaw clutched in the hands of the family’s mummified grandmother. Despite being slashed repeatedly with a straight razor, Stretch manages to start the saw and drive it into Chop Top, sending him tumbling to his apparent death. With her tormentor defeated, she triumphantly swings the chainsaw above her head, recreating Leatherface’s famous dance from the original film.

The post Five Greatest Final Girls of ’80s Horror appeared first on JoBlo.

The end of an era is upon us, as Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy the Mail Girl return to Shudder tonight for Joe Bob’s Halloween House Party, the final Halloween special of The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs to air on the streaming service. The special premieres live at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, October 23, with an on-demand release scheduled for Sunday, October 25.

Briggs has made it clear that this isn’t a night for mourning, though. In a message to fans, he encouraged everyone to gather on their favorite social media platforms and watch together, adding, “It’s not a wake, it’s a launch into 2027.” He also emphasized the significance of tonight’s event, declaring, “It’s the last Halloween special we’ll ever do on Shudder.”

ATTENTION MUTANTS! Let's make this last Halloween special mirror the first one 8 years ago. Everybody gather tonight at 9 EDT/6 PDT on your favorite app–X, Insta, Facebook, Discord, but MOST of you are on X–and remember, it's not a wake, it's a launch into 2027! @kinky_horror pic.twitter.com/qorzXeluoy

— Joe Bob Briggs (@therealjoebob) October 23, 2026

That’s a sad milestone for fans who have spent the last eight years celebrating Halloween with the world’s foremost drive-in movie critic. But while The Last Drive-In is coming to an end on Shudder, Briggs has no intention of hanging up his cowboy hat. In fact, he has a growing list of projects that will keep him busy well beyond tonight’s festivities.

This Friday! It's final! It's the last Halloween special we'll ever do on Shudder! It's called JOE BOB'S HALLOWEEN HOUSE PARTY but it should have been called THE CANCELLATION THAT WOULDN'T DIE! 9pm Eastern/6 Pacific. Also on @AMCPlus. @kinky_horror pic.twitter.com/fotscOV0CW

— Joe Bob Briggs (@therealjoebob) October 19, 2026

Joe Bob Briggs Says Goodbye to Halloween on Shudder

It was announced earlier this year that Shudder was ending The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs as a regular series. The show’s series finale aired in March, bringing an end to its run after seven seasons, although Shudder commissioned four additional specials to give Briggs and Darcy the Mail Girl a chance to return throughout the remainder of the year.

Joe Bob’s Halloween House Party is one of those final specials, and the second-to-last chapter of Briggs’ Shudder era. Only the Christmas special remains.

When The Last Drive-In debuted on July 13, 2018, with a 13-movie marathon, Briggs thought the event might be his last opportunity to host a movie marathon. Instead, the overwhelming response from viewers crashed Shudder’s servers and helped convince the streaming service to give him an ongoing series. Across seven seasons and numerous specials, Briggs and Darcy, played by Diana Prince, hosted more than 200 movies, sharing their knowledge of horror history, exploitation cinema, cult favorites, and the many strange stories behind the movies they presented. The show was directed by Austin Jennings and produced by Matt Manjourides and Justin Martell of Not the Funeral Home.

Joe Bob Conquers Christmas Will Be the Final Shudder Special

The final special in Briggs’ Shudder run will be Joe Bob Conquers Christmas, a Shudder Original that promises to send the show out with two holiday horror classics. The official description reads: “Deck the halls with bones and bodies for Joe Bob Conquers Christmas! Horror legends Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy the Mail Girl ring in the festive season with two Christmas classics that ‘ruined’ the holiday upon release – all while raising money through their annual charity fundraiser.” The special will air live on Shudder TV on Friday, December 4, at 9 p.m. ET, followed by an on-demand release on Sunday, December 6.

The annual Christmas charity fundraiser has been a meaningful part of The Last Drive-In, with auctions held during previous holiday specials helping the show raise $1 million for charity over the years. It’s fitting that Briggs and Darcy will have one final opportunity to bring their devoted audience together for a good cause before their Shudder obligations are complete.

Joe Bob Briggs Has a New Television Show in the Works

Although the end of The Last Drive-In initially left fans wondering where they would see Briggs next, the host has already been exploring his options for a new television series. After the cancellation was announced, Briggs told Variety that offers for another show had started coming in. He was interested in hearing what fans wanted from his next project, whether that meant continuing his familiar movie-hosting format or trying something different. He also revealed that his next series could focus on forgotten films from decades past rather than the horror classics that frequently appeared on The Last Drive-In.

Briggs described his interest in overlooked movies as a desire to find films that haven’t been worn out through repeated screenings and familiar discussion. As he explained to Fangoria, the sweet spot for forgotten cult movies is 1969 to 1977, and he wants the new series to be “all about forgotten stuff, rather than beloved horror classics.”

That could mean a wider variety of genres than viewers have come to expect from The Last Drive-In. Briggs previously hosted Joe Bob’s Drive-In Theater on The Movie Channel from 1986 to 1996 and TNT’s MonsterVision from 1996 to 2000, presenting an assortment of movies before disappearing from television for 18 years. His return with The Last Drive-In introduced a new generation to his approach to movie hosting.

Briggs has also discussed plans to launch a genre-film production company with his longtime friend Bob Bernie of Picturehouse. The project was already moving forward when he spoke to Variety earlier this year, with a production slate and projects in development.

A MonsterVision Comic, an Audiobook, and a GWAR Album

Briggs’ post-Shudder plans extend beyond television. He and Darcy are also returning to MonsterVision in comic book form. Dynamite Entertainment is publishing MonsterVision Featuring Joe Bob Briggs and Darcy #1, written by David Avallone and illustrated by Edu Menna. The comic finds the familiar duo embarking on a monster-hunting adventure, bringing their television partnership into a new medium. The first issue is scheduled to arrive in comic shops on December 23.

Briggs is also preparing an audiobook edition of Joe Bob Goes to the Drive-In. Narrated by Briggs himself, the expanded collection features his original drive-in columns, movie reviews, fan letters, and famously unfiltered responses. The DRM-free digital audiobook is scheduled for release on December 15, with pre-orders available through his official website.

And then there is the matter of GWAR. The shock-rock legends have teamed up with Briggs for GWAR and the Last Drive-In-Stein, an album celebrating GWAR’s more than four decades of musical mayhem and Briggs’ 40 years of television history. The vinyl release is scheduled for November 13 through Pit Records.

Briggs has another screen appearance on the way, too. He has an acting role in the creature feature The Eye from Beyond, which stars Fright Night‘s William Ragsdale and Sleepaway Camp‘s Felissa Rose.

Taken together, these projects show that Briggs has plenty to occupy his time after Shudder. Between a possible new television series, a production company, a comic book, an audiobook, a feature-film role, and a record with GWAR, the drive-in spirit is hardly disappearing.

The Drive-In Lives On

Tonight’s Joe Bob’s Halloween House Party marks the end of a particular tradition, but it doesn’t mark the end of Briggs’ career as a movie host or his relationship with the fans who have followed him for decades. The final Christmas special will bring his Shudder era to a close in December. After that, the big question is where Briggs will take his movie-hosting talents next, and what form his planned series about forgotten films will ultimately take.

For now, horror fans can gather for one last Halloween celebration on Shudder, with Briggs and Darcy leading the festivities as they have for the past eight years.

Joe Bob’s Halloween House Party premieres live tonight, Friday, October 23, at 9 p.m. ET on Shudder, with an on-demand release on Sunday, October 25. The final Shudder special, Joe Bob Conquers Christmas, follows on December 4, with streaming on demand beginning December 6. Will you be watching? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Joe Bob Briggs’ final Halloween special on Shudder airs tonight appeared first on JoBlo.

What if Michael Myers was connected to the Silver Shamrock Corporation all along? That’s the idea behind Project Shamrock: The Secret Origins of Michael Myers Exposed, a new Halloween franchise fan film from Hobo with a Shotgun, Dark Side of the Ring, and Kids vs. Aliens director Jason Eisener. The short imagines a secret chapter in the Halloween mythology, bringing Michael Myers and Halloween III: Season of the Witch together in a way fans have been speculating about for years. Check it out in the embed above!

Project Shamrock Reimagines the Origins of Michael Myers

Written, directed, and edited by Eisener, Project Shamrock is set in the 1960s, before the events of John Carpenter’s Halloween. The story is presented as a recently uncovered industrial film reel containing disturbing evidence of a secret program run by the Silver Shamrock Corporation. That’s the company behind those seemingly innocent Halloween masks that play a horrifying role in the story of Halloween III. Eisener takes that premise in a new direction, imagining that the corporation’s experiments go back further than we ever knew.

The short follows a janitor, played by Dave Brunt, who is questioned about his time working at the Silver Shamrock factory. As his testimony unfolds, we learn about a top secret initiative called Project Shamrock and experiments involving children. One of the subjects was a young boy named Michael Myers.

Eisener doesn’t stop at connecting the two corners of the franchise, either. The short also incorporates references to Halloween 5 and Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, bringing the Cult of Thorn into the mix.

Jason Eisener Gives Halloween a Vintage Horror Makeover

Fangoria reports that Eisener and his collaborators shot the short over two days in Dartmouth and Halifax, Nova Scotia, using 8mm and 16mm film to create the look of a vintage industrial production. Andy Appelle handled cinematography, while Andrew Gordon Macpherson provided the music and sound. Katie McQueston oversaw production design, props, wardrobe, and special effects supervision, and practical effects artist Steven Kostanski (Psycho Goreman, Deathstalker) contributed a prosthetic head.

Brunt, who plays the janitor in Project Shamrock, also has a connection to Eisener’s early work: he starred in the original Hobo with a Shotgun trailer that became part of the promotional campaign for Grindhouse. The film also features Mark Palermo, Johnny Purcell, Cher Hann, Ziggy Bell, Jovie Bell, Connor King, and Paul Doucette, among others.

Could Halloween III and Michael Myers Share a Universe?

The idea behind Project Shamrock is fun because Halloween III: Season of the Witch has always occupied an unusual place in the franchise. Directed by Tommy Lee Wallace, the 1982 film tells a standalone story involving Silver Shamrock’s deadly Halloween masks, without featuring Michael Myers as its antagonist. That separation was intentional. The original plan for the Halloween series was to explore different Halloween-related horror stories as an anthology rather than return to Michael Myers in every installment. But after Season of the Witch failed to find the audience the studio wanted, Michael returned in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, and the franchise continued down the slasher path.

Over the decades, fans have come up with all sorts of theories about how the movies might fit together. Eisener’s short takes one of those possibilities and runs with it. What if Silver Shamrock’s experiments weren’t limited to the events of Season of the Witch? The short’s connections to the Cult of Thorn add another layer, nodding to the mythology introduced in the later Michael Myers sequels. Whether you find that mythology fascinating or convoluted, the idea of bringing it into Silver Shamrock’s world is an entertaining one.

Project Shamrock: The Secret Origins of Michael Myers Exposed is a not-for-profit fan film produced by Jen Yamato and Ian Matheson, with Appelle also serving as co-producer. You can watch it for free on YouTube and in the embed above.

Have you watched Jason Eisener’s Project Shamrock? What do you think of the idea of connecting Michael Myers to Silver Shamrock? Let us know in the comments!

The post Jason Eisener’s Project Shamrock fan film connects Michael Myers to Halloween III appeared first on JoBlo.