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The Gasp! Horror Film Festival returns to Cultplex in Manchester from 27 to 29 June, showcasing an ambitious three-day programme of more than 30 premieres, in excess of 50 short films and nine feature presentations, capped by the annual Mystery Queer Classic. Now in its third year, Gasp! expands its remit beyond horror into science fiction, fantasy and thriller, while maintaining its focus on work by filmmakers of colour, women, creators with disabilities and LGBTQ+ voices.

Highlights begin with the UK premiere of Welcome to Praeris, a visually arresting sci-fi thriller from Jérémy Ibraimovski that follows two survivors as they chase a shared dreamscape in a deserted world. It shares the opening night slot with The Lies of Our Confines, an inner-city horror set in the Scottish Highlands. Later on Friday, the festival’s first Short Film Showcase mixes body horror, anime-inspired fairy tales and supernatural dramas in bite-sized form. The night closes with...

"The Amusement Park" - See Romero's "Lost" Film on the Big Screen: "To celebrate the upcoming release of John Carpenter Presents George A. Romero's The Amusement Park as a graphic novel from Storm King Comics, the Vidiots Foundation in Los Angeles is presenting a rare opportunity to see the original film on the big screen.

On Tuesday, June 10, Vidiots will present Romero's original 1975 film, long thought "lost," followed by a conversation about the film with Storm King Comics founder Sandy King, The Amusement Park illustrator Ryan Carr and moderated by IndieWire's Alison Foreman. After the big-screen event, Sandy and Ryan will be available in the lobby to sign copies of The Amusement Park."

Tickets are available for purchase here: https://vidiotsfoundation.org/movies/the-amusement-park/

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In Search of Darkness: 1995-1999 Ultimate Horror Doc Begins Pre-Orders Today for Limited Time: "Creatorvc, makers of the critically acclaimed In Search of Darkness...

Creatorvc, makers of the acclaimed In Search of Darkness horror documentary series, are back to cap their deep-dive into the ’90s with a bloody bang with In Search of Darkness: 1995 -1999, available for pre-order now through June 9 exclusively at 90shorrordoc.com.

Bloody Disgusting is exclusively debuting the new documentary’s trailer today, which is a 5-minute celebration of mid-to-late ’90s horror. You don’t want to miss it. Check it out below.

From Writer/Director David Weiner, In Search of Darkness: 1995 -1999 will take a deep dive journey into iconic late-’90s horror to deconstruct, re-contextualize, and reframe teen-driven, meta-fueled movies like Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Craft, Halloween H20, Bride of Chucky, and In the Mouth of Madness; the gritty Se7en and From Dusk Till Dawn; the surprising The Sixth Sense; Ring and the J-Horror explosion; plus indie sensations like Tales from the Hood...

The entertainment industry is in the midst of a general contraction after last year’s SAG and WGA strikes, but there’s one sector that continues to thrive: holiday-themed TV movies! Granted, last year’s 116 has very slightly declined to a mere 110 in 2024, but that should still provide you with enough distraction to minimize your obligation to make conversation with loved ones.

There are probably sicko fans out there who commit to watching every single one of these titles. I am, however, normal, and thus limited my in-depth investigation to a single platform: Netflix, which has released “only” five new Christmas comedies. Which (if any) should be your next watch? This guide should help narrow it down.

“I want to watch something from an actual comedy legend”

Comedy fans of a certain age will remember Fear of A Black Hat, a feature mockumentary about fictional hip-hop act Nwh, and a...

Spoiler Alert: This story contains spoilers for “Meet Me Next Christmas,” now streaming on Netflix.

Christina Millian and Devale Ellis knew their passionate kiss in Netflix’s “Meet Me Next Christmas” had to be perfect.

“One of the producers was just like, ‘Listen, man, no pressure at all. Movies are made right here at this moment, so don’t mess this up. But there’s no pressure. But let’s elevate the film by making a great kiss. Okay, go out there, kids,'” Ellis tells Variety of the pressure to nail that pivotal moment.

So how did they overcome the nerves and deliver? “We got threatened,” Ellis jokes. Acknowledging that the logistics of the shot required for an intense make-out, Ellis adds, “[Director Rusty Cundieff] let us know, like, ‘It’s gonna be long, because we gotta go around you guys three times as the world melts around you.’ And then Christina had,...

It took no time at all for Rusty Cundieff's Netflix holiday rom-com, Meet Me Next Christmas, to soar to the top of the streaming giant's Top 10 like a shining Christmas tree star. Starring Christina Milian and Devale Ellis, the movie clearly captures not only the seasonal spirit but the hearts of something to the tune of 18 million people and counting!

Netflixs new Christmas movie, Meet Me Next Christmas, has everything that can be expected from a holiday movie, but with one twist, it subtly fixed a tiring trope in Christmas rom-coms. Holiday content has begun on Netflix, and kicking off the season is Meet Me Next Christmas. Directed by Rusty Cundieff, Meet Me Next Christmas stars Christina Milian as Layla, whos in a stable relationship with her boyfriend, with whom she attends the Pentatonix Christmas Eve concert every year. Unfortunately, Layla finds her boyfriend cheating on her a couple of days before Christmas Eve.

Remembering a deal she made with James (Kofi Siriboe) the year before when they met at the airport about meeting the following year at the Pentatonix concert if they were both single, Layla desperately tries to get a ticket. Layla enlists the help of Teddy (Devale Ellis), who works at a company that aims to get whatever their clients need,...

For the second time in two weeks, a previous #1 VOD release, still at premium price, returned to #1 after a week in a lower position.

“The Wild Robot” (Universal), still #4 in theaters this weekend parallel to home availability, repeats the move “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” (Warner Bros. Discovery) managed last week.

The rise comes for two reasons. First, a lack of competitive new releases, including disinterest in “Joker: Folie à Deux” (Wbd). Second is likely its rental price reduction from an initial premium at $24.99 to the more standard $19.99 PVOD cost.

After over three weeks where five different original movies took the top daily spot, Will Smith, whose “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” was his last studio #1, returned with his 2015 mid-level success “Focus.” But for most of the week, “Meet Me Next Christmas” led their list.

Fandango (which ranks by revenue) and iTunes (by transactions) both also list the “Beetlejuice” sequel and “Deadpool & Wolverine...

After a long election week, give yourself a break this weekend. Monday will bring Veterans Day, the federal holiday recognizing those who have served in the United States armed forces, and a dedicated stream makes for a great salute to their service.

You can reflect on the meaning of the holiday by going back to its origins with a pair of films depicting World War I, or by queuing up some more contemporary stories about veterans’ experiences after coming home from deployment. And if you prefer a less direct approach to the subject than actual military stories, you can show your support by watching movies of other genres made by actors and filmmakers who are vets themselves.

The start of the holiday season. Rusty Cundieff’s festive new rom-com Meet Me Next Christmasstars Christina Milian as a woman on a mission to go to the Pentatonix Christmas Eve concert, who...

Netflix’s 2024 holiday movie Meet Me Next Christmas, directed by Rusty Cundieff, combines festive cheer with romance and adventure as Layla (Christina Milian) races against time to find tickets to a Christmas Eve concert in hopes of meeting her dream guy. Although the film is set in the iconic streets of New York City, most of the production was actually shot in Toronto, Canada. Here’s a look at the primary filming locations and some fun details about how Toronto was transformed to replicate the magic of Christmas in New York in Meet Me Next Christmas.

Netflix’s ‘Meet Me Next Christmas’: Where Was the Film Shot? – Filming Locations & Other Details Prime Filming Location: Toronto, Ontario

While Meet Me Next Christmas unfolds in NYC, its lively scenes were primarily captured in Toronto, which has become a go-to location for productions needing a New York vibe at a lower cost.

Meet Me Next Christmas is the latest in the ever-expanding collection of Netflix Christmas movies. Over the last several years, the streamer has gotten deep into the Christmas movie game. They still have some work to do to catch up to Hallmark, at least in terms of quantity (Hallmark is premiering 32 new Christmas-themed movies this year!). But the Netflix Christmas movies have a very similar vibe. They’re cheesy, corny, fluffy, cute, predictable. They’re comfort food movies, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Enter Meet Me Next Christmas.

Meet Me Next Christmas. (L to R) Christina Milian as Layla and Kofie Sirboe as James in Meet Me Next Christmas. Cr. Marni Grossman/Netflix © 2024. Meet Me Next Christmas Plot

Layla (Christina Milian) meets the charming and handsome James (Kofi Siriboe) during a layover at an airport lounge. They have an instant connection, but there’s only one problem: Layla has a boyfriend.

What to Watch This Weekend (Photo Credit – Instagram)

This week, there are major Ott releases like Devara (Telugu), A R M (Malayalam), Vettaiyan (Tamil), and more. However, in theaters, we’ve picked just one Hollywood movie. While many films are releasing in theaters this week, we’ve chosen to focus on just one. I’m curious to know which one. Let’s dive into our list.

Available On Ott

Disney Plus Hotstar

A R M Ajayante Randam Moshanam (Malayalam)

This action-adventure period drama, directed by Jithin Laal, spans three periods and stars Tovino Thomas in a triple role. The story follows Ajayan, a man haunted by his family’s past; his grandfather, Maniyan, was branded a thief after dying in an attempt to steal the Chyothivilakku, a mystical object forged from an asteroid that holds the power to control the elements. Despite his reluctance, Ajayan becomes entangled in the intrigue...

Christina Milian is a charming lead in the streamer’s first festive offering of the year which is watchable enough given the low bar

Sneaking in just before the fleet of red Coca-Cola trucks comes barreling into town, it’s the arrival of Netflix’s made-for-pittance festive lineup, a holiday tradition that’s similarly bad for your teeth. In 2023, it was kicked off by the deceptively titled Best. Christmas. Ever!, a rotten nadir not just for the genre but for film as a whole last year, and so the perfectly competent Meet Me Next Christmas lands with a respectable shrug. Things have been, and undoubtedly will get, worse in the streamer’s most overstuffed subgenre, so inoffensively watchable will do.

Its low-level success is partly down to Chappelle’s Show director Rusty Cundieff and largely down to lead Christina Milian, the one-time R&b star who has become a staple of the cheapo romcom,...

Although we still have time before the spooky season ends, Christmas is creeping just around the corner. That means holiday-themed movies and shows will soon be hitting broadcast television and streaming services to help viewers get in a festive mood. In preparation for the occasion, Netflix has shared the official trailer for Meet Me Next Christmas, a heartwarming new romantic feature from Tales From the Hood director Rusty Cundieff starring Christina Milian, Devale Ellis, and Kofi Siriboe. The footage teases a holiday dilemma for Milian as she desperately seeks the man of her dreams in New York City and instead finds another potential flame along the way.

Netflix is focusing on holiday-themed romantic comedies this November, releasing a new film every Wednesday. Kicking off the streaming service’s “Holiday Movie Spree” is “Meet Me Next Christmas,” starring actress Christina Milian. The movie follows Milian’s character Layla as she searches for concert tickets in New York City just before Christmas Eve.

Directed by Rusty Cundieff, “Meet Me Next Christmas” also features actors Devale Ellis, Kofi Siriboe, and Tymika Tafari. Additionally, the popular a cappella group Pentatonix makes a special appearance and performs in the film. Writers Camilla Rubis and Molly Haldeman crafted the script, blending romance with music over the festive season.

Following “Meet Me Next Christmas” on November 6th are three more romantic comedies. “Hot Frosty” starring Lacey Chabert and Dustin Milligan comes out on November 13th. “The Merry Gentlemen” featuring Chad Michael Murray and Britt Robertson will be released on November 20th. And Lindsay Lohan...

Christina Milian is a woman on a mission in the first trailer for Netflix’s holiday rom-com “Meet Me Next Christmas.”

In pursuit of a fairytale romance with the man of her dreams, Layla (Milian) must race through New York City to get her hands on the hottest ticket in town: the sold out Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert.

The film from director Rusty Cundieff also stars Devale Ellis, Kofi Siriboe, Tymika Tafari, Kalen Allen, Nikki Duval, Wesley French and Pentatonix’s five members Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola and Matt Sallee.

Camilla Rubis and Molly Haldeman wrote the script. Marc Roberts serves as a producer, while executive producers include Simon Lythgoe, Matt Code and Milian.

The project marks Milian’s third collaboration with Netflix following her popular destination romances, 2021’s “Resort to Love” — which spent four weeks on the streamer’s global top 10 film list — and 2019’s “Falling Inn Love.

Need something new to stream this month but don’t want to shell out for a subscription. Not a problem.

While traditional streamers like Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video keep hiking prices and adding ads to their paid platforms, Fast services like Tubi and Pluto TV are gaining ground by providing viewers with free options full of watch-worthy films and series. And in October, the roster is full up with Halloween-friendly movies, from spooky to downright scary.

Here’s your special spooky season edition of the best new movies to watch free on Tubi.

“The Evil Dead” (New Line Cinema) “The Evil Dead” (1981)

The shoestring-budget horror classic that spawned one of the most enduring and consistent horror franchises, Sam Raimi’s “Evil Dead” holds up nearly 45 years later. Starring Bruce Campbell as enduring horror icon Ash Williams, “Evil Dead” doesn’t have the snark or silliness that would come with the sequels,...

November 1st is a tough day for horror hounds. The decorations are still up, the air remains crisp, but the spirit has seemingly moved on, perhaps vanquished by the sun. Alamo Drafthouse says to hell with all of that and has announced two month’s worth of genre joy that’ll take you from Dia de los Muertos to Christmas Eve with minimal whiplash.

Terror Tuesday is a weekly slash-and-thrash through the world of horror, and they’ve booked a number of holiday-tinged forever classics mixed in with new canon-busting entries, many of which are screening from new, sparkling scans. Highlights include Lake Mungo, Tales from the Hood, The Changeling, and a pre-Thanksgiving feast with the Sawyers.

Weird Wednesday is similarly a weekly exploration of exploitation, pop oddities, and underloved gems. (Think of it as channel-surfing a transmission from a better dimension). And like Terror Tuesday, they’ve loaded it...

57 Seconds is a unique twist on the time travel genre, following a tech blogger who gains the ability to travel 57 seconds into the past. The sci-fi thriller explores timely themes, including the negative effects of Big Pharma, while delivering thrilling time-travel action. The film features an ensemble cast including Josh Hutcherson, Morgan Freeman, and Lovie Simone, and was directed by Rusty Cundieff, known for his work on horror anthologies, including his co-created Tales from the Hood.

The time travel genre gets a unique twist in 57 Seconds. Based on E.C. Tubb's short story "Lucifer," the sci-fi thriller centers on a troubled tech blogger as he gets his hands on a ring that allows him to travel 57 seconds into the past, initially using it to make a better life for himself before setting his sights on a target with ties to his past.

Five Nights at Freddy's' Josh Hutcherson...

Time travel is in these days. What would you do if you stumbled upon a ring that could take you back to the past? Don't get too excited, it'd only be 57 seconds. But apparently the possibilities are virtually endless, as demonstrated by Franklin (Josh Hutcherson), the protagonist in Rusty Cundieff's new feature. 57 Seconds also stars Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman as a sort of futuristic Steve Jobs in the medical tech industry. Franklin stumbles upon a daring piece of jewelry that allows him to manipulate scenarios for the good of humanity (or just for fun in a casino) by traveling back just under a minute.

We recently caught up with director Cundieff (Christmas in Harmony) to learn more about bringing an intriguing tale to life on the big screen, what it's been like working with Hollywood heavy-hitters.

Bringing a Short Story to Life

Hutcherson and Freeman hold the screen well...

"57 Seconds" is a new 'time-travel' science fiction thriller, directed by Rusty Cundieff, starring Josh Hutcherson and Morgan Freeman, now playing in theaters:

"...blogger 'Franklin Fausti' thwarts an attack against 'Anton Burrell', a visionary tech guru he has been given a chance to interview. 

"He finds a ring that Burrell dropped and discovers that it gives its wearer the ability to travel 57 seconds into the past. With Burrell's help, Franklin decides to use it to take revenge against the pharmaceutical company that was responsible for his sister's death.."

Click the images to enlarge...

The Avenue will release the action/thriller/sci-fi film 57 Seconds in theaters and available to buy on digital September 29, 2023. Check Out The Trailer: https://youtu.be/zztwCBesT3g 57 Seconds is a thrilling time travel story that explores the ethics and consequences of technology. The film stars Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games franchise), Greg Germann (“Grey’s Anatomy”), Lovie Simone(“Greenleaf”), Bevin Bru (“Batwoman”), Sammi Rotibi (“The Lost Symbol”) and Morgan …

The post Director/Co-Writer Rusty Cundieff – 57 Seconds – In Theaters and available to buy on digital September 29, 2023 appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Update: This giveaway is now closed, but keep an eye out next week, as we'll have more things to give away then!

We're giving away three iTunes codes for the upcoming Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson sci-fi thriller, 57 Seconds. The film's a mysterious time travel story that explores the ethics and consequences of technology. Aside from Hutcherson and Freeman, the film stars Greg Germann (Grey's Anatomy), Lovie Simone (Greenleaf), Bevin Bru (Batwoman), and Sammi Rotibi (The Lost Symbol).

The movie was directed by Rusty Cundieff (Tales From The Hood franchise) and produced by Morgan Freeman’s production company, Revelations Entertainment. Cundieff co-wrote the film with Macon Blair (The Toxic Avenger) based on the short story entitled “Lucifer” by E.C. Tubb. The synopsis reads as follows:

When a tech blogger discovers a time-altering device, he unleashes its power to rewrite the past and seek revenge against the ruthless corporate empire that destroyed his family.

We love rock & roll, and so do most moviegoers, which is why cinema is filled with heroes who get together with their friends to pound out some numbers. Whether they do it for fame and fortune or to just hang out with buddies, pop bands are inherently cinematic, tying together moving images and sound to create something spectacular. That’s particularly true of fictional groups, who often draw from real-world inspirations and transform them into moving protagonists or hated villains.

This list covers ten of the best fictional bands in cinema history. The key word here is “bands,” as we ignore solo acts, even from really good films. So Mac Sledge from Tender Mercies won’t show up, nor will Noni Jean from Beyond the Lights. Also, we’re looking at fictional groups here, so the Ramones from Rock & Roll High School don’t show up, nor do Talking Heads,...

Check out an exclusive clip from time travel thriller 57 Seconds, featuring Franklin Fausti (Josh Hutcherson) interviewing technology visionary Anton Burrell (Morgan Freeman). The movie explores major ethical questions about Big Pharma and the consequences of time travel. Franklin's quest for justice could have deadly ramifications, as he uses his newfound power to seek revenge and alter the course of events.

Screen Rant is thrilled to present an exclusive clip from the new time travel thriller 57 Seconds. In the movie, a tech blogger, Franklin Fausti (Josh Hutcherson), scores an interview with technology visionary Anton Burrell (Morgan Freeman) and thwarts an attack against the guru. While there, Franklin discovers a ring, and through a bit of trial and error, he realizes the ring gives him the ability to travel backward in time by exactly 57 seconds.

With this newfound power and Anton's help, Franklin decides to go over the corporation...

"57 Seconds" is a new 'time-travel' science fiction thriller, directed by Rusty Cundieff, starring Josh Hutcherson and Morgan Freeman, releasing September 23, 2023 in theaters:

"...blogger 'Franklin Fausti' thwarts an attack against 'Anton Burrell', a visionary tech guru he has been given a chance to interview. 

"He finds a ring that Burrell dropped and discovers that it gives its wearer the ability to travel 57 seconds into the past. With Burrell's help, Franklin decides to use it to take revenge against the pharmaceutical company that was responsible for his sister's death.."

Click the images to enlarge...

“57 Seconds” is a new science fiction action thriller, directed by Rusty Cundieff, based on the book "Fallen Angel" by Edwin Charles Tubb, starring Josh Hutcherson and Morgan Freeman, opening September 29, 2023 in theaters:

“…blogger ‘Franklin Fausti’ thwarts an attack against ‘Anton Burrell’, a visionary tech guru he has been given a chance to interview.

“He finds a ring that Burrell dropped and discovers that it gives its wearer the ability to travel 57 seconds into the past. With Burrell's help, Franklin decides to use it to take revenge against the pharmaceutical company that was responsible for his sister's death…”

Click the images to enlarge,..

Josh Hutcherson and Morgan Freeman learn how to travel through time in the first trailer for 57 Seconds. The upcoming science fiction adventure from Highland Film Group is directed by Rusty Cundieff (Tales from the Hood), and is coming to theaters and in September.

Time travel has always been an interesting subject for movies and tv shows to explore, and it's been present in mainstream and independent projects since always. But the most interesting thing about Cundieff's new film is that the time travel experience is limited to 57 seconds, so how much can actually be changed in that little time? A lot, apparently.

Hutcherson and Freeman will be joined by Lovie Simone, Greg Germann, Sammi Rotibi, Lucius Baston, and Aaron Jay Rome in this action-packed adventure. Here's the official synopsis and trailer:

"Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games) and Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman (Million Dollar Baby) star in this heart-racing action thriller.

The first trailer of Rusty Cundieff’s 57 Seconds is out and its mind-bending. The sci-fi thriller led by Josh Hutcherson and Morgan Freeman is a time-traveling tale with a twist, and is based on the short story Lucifer by author E.C. Tubb. Interestingly, while recent time travel stories used the concept to explore the multiverse in the superhero or drama genre, Cundieff’s tale seems to be focused on the hero traveling back to the past for personal gain, as well as a quest for revenge.

Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson team up in the sci-fi thriller 57 Seconds, which follows a blogger seeking revenge after his family is destroyed. The film is based on Edwin Charles Tubb's "Fallen Angel" and introduces a time-altering device for the protagonist's quest for justice. The official trailer, unveiled on IGN, gives a glimpse into the action-packed and suspenseful experience, featuring an unexpected pairing of actors and a storyline involving time travel and a pharmaceutical company.

The 57 Seconds trailer reveals an unexpected team-up between Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson. Directed by Rusty Cundieff, the sci-fi thriller is based on the story "Fallen Angel" by Edwin Charles Tubb and follows a tech blogger who discovers a time-altering device and uses it to seek revenge against those responsible for destroying his family. Other than the pairing of The Hunger Games' Josh Hutcherson and Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman, the cast also includes Lovie Simone,...

Time is a precious thing. We’re all at the mercy of its perpetual rhythm and are helpless against its march toward oblivion. Still, what if someone invented a device to help you change the past? What would you do if you could return to nearly a minute before you made a critical mistake? What’s to stop you from succeeding at everything you do? Can you resist the urge to undo every misstep along your life’s journey? Franklin Fausti is about to find out in the new 57 Seconds trailer.

Rusty Cundieff directs from a script he co-wrote with Macon Blair, based on a short story entitled “Lucifer” by E.C. Tubb. The story revolves around a tech blogger (Hutcherson) discovering a time-altering device. He unleashes its power to rewrite the past and seek revenge against the ruthless corporate empire that destroyed his family. But his actions soon trigger a terrifying chain of events,...

"This is not about your sister, this is about power." Highland Film Group has revealed an official trailer for an intriguing indie sci-fi thriller film titled 57 Seconds, from a filmmaker named Rusty Cundieff. He has mostly done lots of TV work, and some strange genre films, but this is one of his first major feature films in years. Here's the logline pitch: When a tech blogger lands an interview with a tech guru and stops an attack on him, he finds a mysterious ring that takes him back 57 seconds into the past. The ring gimmick is a bit cheesy, and the script is a time travel concept to explore the idea of "going back and redoing things" until you get them right. Which seems to a big way for him to learn some lessons in this, along with realizing 57 seconds is not a long time... Josh Hutcherson co-stars with Morgan Freeman,...

It was more than a little heartening to see Roger Corman paid tribute by Quentin Tarantino at Cannes’ closing night. By now the director-producer-mogul’s imprint on cinema is understood to eclipse, rough estimate, 99.5% of anybody who’s touched the medium, but on a night for celebrating what’s new, trend-following, and manicured it could’ve hardly been more necessary. Thus I’m further heartened seeing the Criterion Channel will host a retrospective of Corman’s Edgar Allan Poe adaptations running eight films and aptly titled “Grindhouse Gothic,” though I might save the selections for October.

Centerpiece, though, is a hip hop series including Bill Duke’s superb Deep Cover, Ghost Dog, and numerous documentaries––among them Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest, making Michael Rapaport a Criterion-approved auteur. Ten films starring Kay Francis and 21 Eurothrillers round out series; streaming premieres include the Dardenne brothers’ Tori and Lokita,...

The episode of The Test of Time covering Tales from the Hood was Written by Andrew Hatfield, Narrated by Niki Minter, Edited by Mike Conway, Produced by John Fallon and Tyler Nichols, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

For the most part on this show, we are looking at certified classics to see if they still hold up. For the most part, anyway. Looking at you C.H.U.D. We try to look at everything from the cinematography and direction to the acting and special effects. Sometimes though the story ends up being the most important aspect of the movie. Every now and then a movie needs a reappraisal even when it wasn’t a hit at the time or seen as a classic. Look at what happened to The Thing. From box office dud (even though that has been blown out of proportion) and critical hatred to topping...

Christina Milian continues her streak of rom-coms at Netflix with the upcoming holiday movie “Meet Me Next Christmas.”

The project marks the actor and musician’s third collaboration with Netflix following her popular destination romances, 2021’s “Resort to Love” — which spent four weeks on the streamer’s global top 10 film list — and 2019’s “Falling Inn Love.”

Milian will executive produce and star in “Meet Me Next Christmas,” playing Layla, who, in pursuit of a fairytale romance with the man of her dreams, must race through New York City to get her hands on the hottest ticket in town: the sold out Pentatonix Christmas Eve Concert.

The film also stars Devale Ellis, Kofi Siriboe and Kalen Allen, alongside the Grammy-winning a capella group Pentatonix.

Directed by Rusty Cundieff, “Meet Me Next Christmas” is written by Molly Haldeman and Camilla Rubis. Mark Roberts is producing the project, while Simon Lythgoe and Matt Code executive produce alongside Milian.

Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities — a marvelous compendium of streaming deadtime stories — emphasizes everything that lures me to horror anthologies. It feels like a reinvention of Showtime’s Masters of Horror, highlighting everything I appreciate about the format. One might balk at calling Cabinet of Curiosities an outright horror anthology, more a miniseries? Still, the decadently morbid and dazzlingly darkened atmosphere under del Toro’s oversight draws rich atmospheric throughlines. Del Toro’s program calls to mind grim grab bags like A Christmas Horror Story, the V/H/S series, Southbound, and all the subgenre classics fans already laud.

If you think horror anthologies are just scattered collections of short-form storytelling and that’s all, consider yourself open to reeducation. Horror anthologies are often maligned because — like other subgenres such as found footage — horror anthologies can become fallback “easy to make” titles. Individual scripts only need to stretch minutes versus hours,...

Featuring segments directed by Greg Nicotero, Joe Lynch, Axelle Carolyn, and other talented filmmakers, Shudder's Creepshow Season 3 is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on December 6th via Rlje Films, and we have a look at the cover art and full list of bonus features ahead of its release:

Press Release: Los Angeles – Rlje Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, has picked up select rights to the horror series Creepshow 3 from Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural. Rlje Films will release Creepshow 3 on DVD and Blu-ray on December 6, 2022.

The six-episode season is directed by Rusty Cundieff (“Chappelle’s Show”), Greg Nicotero (“The Walking Dead”), Joe Lynch (Mayhem), Jeffrey F. January (“The Walking Dead”), John Harrison (Tales from the Darkside: The Movie), and Axelle Carolyn (Tales of Halloween). The series stars Ali Larter (“Heroes”), Justin Long (Jeepers Creepers), Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect), and Ethan Embry (Sweet...

Exclusive: After launching in Cannes, financier Ashland Hill Media Finance has come aboard to co-finance Rupert Sanders’ reboot of The Crow, starring Bill Skarsgård, FKA Twigs and Danny Houston.

Ashland Hill, which was set up by producers Joe Simpson, Simon Williams and Jonathan Bross, helped close finance on the reboot, which recently went into post-production.

Based on James O’Barr’s original graphic novel, the film charts the story of a brutally murdered man who comes back to life as an undead avenger of his and his fiancée’s murder. The script for the modern re-imagining was penned by Oscar nominee Zach Baylin (King Richard). CAA Media Finance reps domestic on the revenge-thriller. FilmNation is repping international. The tragic 1994 version, which starred the late Brandon Lee, became a cult classic.

Meanwhile, Ashland Hill has also come aboard to finance Louis Mandylor’s 3 Days in Malay, Brandon Slagle’s The Flood and Neil Marshall’s Duchess.

photo credit Kane Skennar

The first look photo has been released for the upcoming action thriller Land Of Bad starring Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe, Liam Hemsworth (Independence Day: Resurgence, The Hunger Games), Luke Hemsworth (HBO’s “Westworld”), Milo Ventimiglia (NBC’s “This is Us”), Ricky Whittle (Starz’s “American Gods”), Daniel MacPherson and Chika Ikogwe (Netflix’s “Heartbreak High”).

Directed by Will Eubank and co-written by Eubank and David Frigerio (Lionsgate’s Crypto, Focus Features’ The Signal), Highland Film Group has locked distribution deals in key territories for Land of Bad with Rialto Distribution for Australia and New Zealand, Wild Bunch for Germany, Blue Swan Entertainment for Italy, YouPlanet Pictures for Spain, Nos Lusomundo Audiovisuals for Portugal, Spentzos Film for Greece, Vertical Entertainment for Eastern Europe, Moviebox for Turkey, MovieCloud for Taiwan, Pictureworks for India, First Run Inc. for South Korea, Imagem Filmes for South America, Filmfinity for South...

From slashers, to zombies, eco horror, and much, much more, MoMA's "Horror: Messaging the Monstrous" is a 10-week film series that includes 110 films, including a 3D screening of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead! Featuring horror from around the world and taking place from June 23rd through September 5th, we have all the details so you can start planning your visit! Full program details can also be found at: moma.org/horror

Press Release:

The Museum of Modern Art announces Horror: Messaging the Monstrous, a 10-week film series that includes over 110 features and a selection of short films that capture the horror genre’s uncanny ability to express the lurking fears of a society and the anxieties caused by social, cultural, and political change. Presented in the Museum’s Titus Theaters in the Black Family Film Center from June 23 through September 5, 2022, Horror: Messaging the Monstrous is organized weekly...

Exclusive: Emmy winner Loretta Devine, Sheila E. and Misty Copeland round out the voice cast of Eureka!, Disney Jr.’s upcoming animated preschool series, joining previously announced leads Ruth Righi, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Lil Rel Howery and Javier Muñoz. Also cast in recurring roles are Ellie Kemper (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Jack McBrayer (30 Rock), Ryan Michelle Bathé (The Endgame) and Wendell Pierce (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.) Disney also has released a trailer for the upcoming series. You can watch it below.

Set in the fantastical prehistoric world of Rocky Falls, Eureka! follows the story of Eureka (Righi), a young girl inventor who is way ahead of her time. She designs inventions and contraptions in the hopes of making the world a better place and moving her prehistoric community into a more modern era.

Goldsberry and Howery voice Eureka’s parents Roxy and Rolle, and Muñoz portrays her teacher, Ohm.

Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson star in “57 Seconds,” a thriller based in the world of tech and big pharma. The film is directed by Rusty Cundieff, and written by Macon Blair, and is based on the acclaimed story by British author E.C. Tubbs.

In “57 Seconds,” tech blogger Franklin Fausti (Hutcherson) lands a career-defining interview with the visionary technology guru Anton Burrell (Morgan Freeman). After thwarting an attack against the celebrated technophile, Franklin picks up a mysterious ring that Burrell has dropped and soon discovers the ring allows its possessor to travel 57 seconds into the past. Driven by revenge and with Burrell’s support, Franklin uses the ring to dismantle the pharmaceutical company responsible for his sister’s death. But he soon gets entangled in a treacherous and brutal chain of events with much more than his own destiny at stake.

The cast also includes Lovie Simone, Greg Germann...

Scoot McNairy, Kit Harington and Josh Lucas are set to star in “Blood for Dust,” an upcoming action thriller that will be directed by Rod Blackhurst.

Former friends Cliff (McNairy), a traveling salesman struggling to make a living, and Ricky (Harington), an illegal-weapons dealer making serious money, reconnect one fateful day. Hoping to make some quick cash, Cliff agrees to partner with the violent Ricky, who is expanding his business to include cross-state drug and gun deliveries for John, a mid-level American cartel boss (Lucas). Reluctantly he agrees to retrofit his beat-up station wagon to carry dozens of kilos of drugs. When Ricky turns a simple exchange into a bloodbath to eliminate the competition, Cliff is forced to grapple with a harsh new reality.

McNairy has appeared in “Argo” and “Gone Girl” and in the streaming miniseries “Godless,” as well as “Narcos: Mexico.” Harington starred in “Game of Thrones,” earning an Emmy nomination,...

A trio of veteran film financiers and producers are launching a new venture.

Joe Simpson, Simon Williams and Jonathan Bross are teaming up on Ashland Hill Media Finance, a film and TV financing venture, backed by an alternative investment fund with assets under management of 1.85 billion. From its offices in Santa Monica and London, Ashland Hill expects to close upwards of 25 deals in the next 12 months, with plans to further expand its operations beyond the U.S. and U.K. later this year. The company will also acquire rights and package projects for its own production pipeline.

“We are the new and much-needed source of reliable, flexible and speedy financing for the film and TV markets,” Simpson said. “We help the producers, filmmakers and storytellers of the world turn their visions into reality.”

The initial slate of Ashland Hill-financed films includes: Philip Noyce’s action-thriller “Fast Charlie” starring Pierce Brosnan,...

Exclusive: Oscar winner Russell Crowe (Gladiator) and The Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth are set to star in action-thriller film Land Of Bad, we can reveal.

Crowe will play Reaper, an Air Force drone pilot supporting a Delta Force special ops mission in the South Philippines. After the mission goes terribly wrong, he has 48 hours to remedy what has devolved into a wild rescue operation. Hemsworth will play the green air controller who is thrust into the middle of a high-stakes extraction which involves no weapons and no communication other than the drone above.

Highland Film Group is launching sales at the upcoming Cannes market.

Written by David Frigerio and Will Eubank (Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin) and directed by the latter, the film is due to start principal photography in September in Australia.

Land Of Bad is produced by Broken Open Pictures’ David Frigerio (The Signal), Eubank, Volition Media...

While the 1970s and 1980s were strong decades for independent horror filmmaking, the 1990s proved to be a somewhat interesting time, as there seemed to be an overall tendency for this realm of the industry to be focused on making sequels and creating franchises out of ’80s horror hits, with a few landmark indie horror projects in the mix as well. And since sequels were so dominant at that time, I thought it only made sense for us to start there for this look back on the history of ’90s indie horror cinema.

After the 1980s proved to be a great time for indie horror, where so many movies ended up being successful due to a combination of theatrical releases and the increasing popularity of home video, it feels like in the decade that followed, many producers working in the independent realm wanted to capitalize on those successes by turning...

Principal photography scheduled for spring start in Winnipeg, Canada.

In a high-profile package that has dropped in the run-up to Cannes Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth will star in the horror thriller Felix for producer Joe Carnahan, with Highland Film Group boarding world sales.

John Kissack, whose credits include horror thriller Everfall, will direct from a screenplay by Casey Giltner with principal photography scheduled for a spring start in Winnipeg, Canada.

Highland has commenced pre-sales on Felix, which centres on Charlie and his best friend Jimmy who are making a film and dream of becoming big-time Hollywood directors.

Invoking an oft-overlooked canon, actor turned director Bill Posley fabricates a highly entertaining homage to the Black horror of decades past with “Bitch Ass,” a slasher picture set in 1999 aiming to become the heir of cult classics the likes of “Blacula” or “Bones.” Posley’s genuine fondness for his predecessors in the genre is first visible in the perfect casting of Tony Todd, who played the title part in the original 1992 “Candyman,” as a TV horror host — think the famed Elvira, the Cryptkeeper from “Tales from the Crypt,” or Mr. Simms from “Tales from the Hood” — to introduce his

Reveling in an appropriately malevolent laugh, Todd describes Bitch Ass as “the first Black serial killer to don a mask” and then immerses us into his world through an old television set and a VHS tape. Right off the bat, Posley announces his murderous protagonist’s fascination with games of all...

Here's another strong contender for the virtual European Film Market (EFM) in Berlin: Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson ("The Hunger Games") are teaming up for "57 Seconds," an action sci-fi thriller, courtesy of Highland Film Group. Per The Hollywood Reporter, "57 Seconds" will be directed by Rusty Cundieff, while the script is written by Macon Blair, who was involved with Netflix's "I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore," which won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.

"57 Seconds" revolves around tech blogger Franklin Fausti (Hutcherson), who...

The post 57 Seconds: Morgan Freeman, Josh Hutcherson to Team for Sci-fi Thriller from Macon Blair appeared first on /Film.

CAA Media Finance represents US rights.

Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson are set to star in the upcoming sci-fi thriller 57 Seconds with Highland Film Group handling international sales at EFM.

CAA Media Finance represents US rights on the story about a tech blogger who thwarts an attack on a tech guru and comes into possession of the latter’s ring, which allows the wearer to travel 57 seconds back in time.

Driven by revenge and with the guru’s support, the young man uses the ring to dismantle the pharmaceutical company responsible for his sister’s death.

Rusty Cundieff directs from...