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Attraction proves problematic if not fatal in “Pretty Thing.” Those who’ve missed the steaminess of the peak “erotic thriller” era as defined by “9 1/2 Weeks,” “Basic Instinct” and so forth may find some nostalgic pleasure in this slick if more modest enterprise, with Alicia Silverstone as a middle-aged businesswoman who picks up sexy younger Karl Glusman, only to find she’s acquired an obsessive stalker.

Director Justin Kelly and actor-turned-writer Jack Donnelly do a decent job setting things up, soft-pedaling narrative clichés and delivering medium-grade, relatively un-corny sexiness in a handsome widescreen production. But the suspense mechanics never develop much momentum and despite solid performances, the script lacks sufficient depth to work as a serious character drama. So this “Thing” ends up being forgettable, that fate sealed by a weak fade-out. Nonetheless, it’s a diverting enough way to spend 90-odd minutes.

At some kind of reception in a high-end Manhattan hotel,...

There’s a hypnotic dreaminess to several sequences in director Justin Kelly’s new film, Pretty Thing. Aided immensely by a twinkly harp and piano score courtesy of Tim Kvasnosky, the effect almost feels like a fairytale.

It’s a classic story: poor cater waiter Elliot (Karl Gusman) locks eyes with beautiful older woman Sophie (Alicia Silverstone) at a fancy party, they covertly make plans to meet in her hotel room, and they have a passionate sexual encounter. It’s magical, even in the light of day, when Sophie encourages her younger lover to stay, order room service, and takes his number.

The whole encounter plays like a gender-flipped version of Pretty Woman (see also: the film’s title). Naturally Elliot becomes infatuated with Sophie, eager to meet up again or even just connect via text. Of course, because this is an erotic thriller, things naturally take a turn.

One...

If you dig a slasher film with a dose of retro energy and a smart setup, I have a recommendation that will likely be right up your alley. I’m talking about Founder’s Day, a sorely underrated film from the Bloomquist brothers (Erik and Carson Bloomquist). In my review of the film, I said, “Like She Came from the Woods did before it, Founders Day frequently upends expectations… It’s clear that the Brothers Bloomquist have a knack for subverting that which viewers are likely to anticipate.”

As you can probably tell from my enthusiastic endorsement, I had a fun time with Founder’s Day. Although the flick doesn’t quite rise to the level of the brothers’ previous film, She Came from the Woods, Founder’s Day is nonetheless an enjoyable slasher that pays homage to celebrated efforts like Scream.

The setup for this slasher goes like this:...

With Stranger Things’ fifth and final season in the works, fans find themselves on a constant emotional rollercoaster. While the Hawkins gang preps for its ultimate showdown against the Upside Down, not everyone from the previous seasons is expected to be along for the ride. Season 4 came to an end with shifting alliances, massive revelations, and tear-jerking goodbyes- some of which are permanent, as it turns out.

As anticipation and excitement for Season 5 builds, the absence of some characters has ignited debate across social media. It has been confirmed that Joseph Quinn will not be returning to his role as Eddie Munson. But that’s not all. Let’s have a look at Eddie and 3 other familiar faces we won’t be seeing in Stranger Things’ much-awaited finale season.

1. Joseph Quinn (Eddie Munson)

Eddie Munson’s heroic, tragic death at the end of Season 4 still haunts fans. The enigmatic metalhead...

Sony Pictures Classics is out with Jane Austen Wrecked My Life in limited release, Angel Studios’ The Last Rodeo opens wide and A24’s Friendship added screens with few new indies braving the double whammy of live action Lilo & Stitch and Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – Final Reckoning.

The former may have set a Disney record for Memorial Day weekend previews, Deadline reports, while Tom Cruise’s high octane eighth outing as Ethan Hunt may have set a record preview night for a Mission: Impossible.

Jane Austen in her own right “has become a bit of a rock star in the marketplace,” SPC brass rightly noted when the distributor acquired the feature debut by Laura Piani ahead of its TIFF world premiere last year. It’s opening on 61 screens in select markets including Lincoln Square and Angelika Film Center in New York and the AMC Grove and Laemmle Royal in LA.

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Winter Spring Summer or Fall is a romantic drama film directed by Tiffany Paulsen from a screenplay by Dan Schoffer. The 2024 film follows Remi, a teen girl who has already planned out her future, but her plan goes wrong when she meets Barnes, a boy who prefers to live in the moment. Winter Spring Summer or Fall stars Jenna Ortega, Percy Hynes White, Marisol Nichols, and Adam Rodriguez. So, if you loved the teen drama, romantic story, and entertaining characters in Winter Spring Summer or Fall, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

The Spectacular Now (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – A24

The Spectacular Now is a coming-of-age romantic drama film directed by James Ponsoldt from a screenplay co-written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. Based on the 2008 novel of the same name by Tim Tharp,...

Exclusive: Menemsha Films announced today they will be releasing the ensemble comedy film Bad Shabbos in New York City on May 23 with an expansion to LA, NY metro area and additional markets on June 6.

The pic directed by Daniel Robbins (Citizen Weiner) follows David (Jon Bass) and his fiancée Meg (Meghan Leathers) who are about to have their parents meet for the first time over a Shabbat dinner when an accidental death (or murder?) gets in the way. With Meg’s Catholic parents due any moment, this family dinner soon spirals into a hilarious disaster. Sedgwick and Smith, the matriarch and doorman/family friend, respectively, lead a hilarious ensemble that puts a modern stamp on a story that explores interfaith relationships and family dynamics.

Pic stars Kyra Sedgwick, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Jon Bass, Milana Vayntrub, David Paymer, Meghan Leathers, Theo Taplitz, Ashley Zukerman, Catherine Curtin, and John Bedford Lloyd.

Something feels off as we count down to the final season of Stranger Things, and fans have noticed it, too. Among the returning cast, one familiar face is nowhere to be seen. Eduardo Franco, who played Argyle, hasn’t popped up in any updates. The set photos are out, and production is moving full speed ahead, but Argyle’s signature long hair and chill vibe are noticeably missing.

Season 5 is shaping up to be the biggest chapter yet. With Vecna still a looming threat and Hawkins more unstable than ever, fans are expecting emotional goodbyes, epic battles, and plenty of surprises. But for those who loved the easygoing Surfer Boy Pizza guy from Season 4, something is clearly missing from the final adventure.

Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, and Eduardo Franco in Chapter Nine: The Piggyback (Credits- Netflix)

Argyle quickly became a fan favorite, offering comic relief...

The newest genre title from the Bloomquist Brothers (Ten Minutes to Midnight) marks the reunion of 13 Reasons Why duo Devin Druid and Amy Hargreaves, who join an ensemble cast including Naomi Grace (NCIS), William Russ (Boy Meets World), Catherine Curtin (Stranger Things), Emilia McCarthy (SkyMed), and Olivia Nikkanen (The Society). Election Month Exclusive: Political Slasher Founders …

The post Political slasher Founders Day lands teaser + release date appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

2024 was a packed year for several actors working in Hollywood, whether they are continuously rising stars or already well-established names in the industry. The year had plenty of noteworthy character-driven dramas, animated features, chaotic comedies, and big-budget blockbusters to keep audiences entertained. More importantly, these actors proved their capability of playing two different types of characters.

For example, multiple actors from the enthralling and visually stunning Dune: Part Two, like Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, and Austin Butler, also appeared in acclaimed and award-worthy dramas in the same year. They are just a few of many actors who stole the show in 2024 with their commanding screen presence and shockingly good versatility. From newcomers like Cailee Spaeny to big-name stars like Chris Hemsworth, 2024 was a spectacular year for these particular performers.

Gabriel Labelle Ran a Food Stand & Portrayed The Iconic Lorne Michaels Snack Shack & Saturday Night

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Exclusive: The Umbrella Academy and Beef actor Justin H. Min is leading cast in indie feature Handle With Care.

The project marks the feature debut of Matthew James Thompson who also penned the script and executive-produced with Min. Cast also includes Nicole Brydon Bloom (The Gilded Age), Elizabeth Paige (Modern Love) and Jon Rudnitsky (SNL).

The story follows Cole (Min) as he navigates the divorce of a year-long marriage from Reese (Nicole Brydon Bloom). Cole learns the tragic realities of divorce while jumping through a series of legal hoops and is tasked with selling their unopened wedding gifts online as they are technically joint assets – really. The absurdity of it all is not lost on Cole, who begins this journey appraising everything in his life both figuratively & literally with a practiced cynicism alongside commentary on the “wedding industrial complex.” However, the strangers he meets along the way via Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace,...

The Easterseals Disability Film Challenge has partnered with Film Independent to award 12 disabled filmmakers with grants to help them develop their short films into episodic series or feature films.

Grant recipients will have access to workshops, one-on-one mentorship and networking opportunities with industry leaders through the Film Independent grantee program. The grants were made possible by the Adobe Foundation.

“We are proud of the outstanding films produced over the past 11 years and I am grateful that the Challenge has provided a high-profile platform that has enabled many of our participants to go on to such prominent success,” said Nic Novicki, director and founder of the Edfc. “Thanks to the Adobe Foundation and Film Independent, we are able to provide our talented participants with the resources to take their projects to the next level. We can’t wait to see these projects continue to flourish on the big and small screens.

Fusion Entertainment has signed veteran documentary filmmaker Katy Chevigny for management on the heels of the world premiere of her first narrative feature, “The Easy Kind,” at the Telluride Film Festival.

Chevigny has produced or directed over a dozen documentary features and series over the course of her career, and she’s the co-founder of the long-running independent production company Big Mouth Productions. She won an Emmy in 2023 for directing two episodes of “Home” for A24 / AppleTV+. She also co-wrote and co-directed (with Ross Kauffman) the documentary film “E-Team,” for which she was nominated for two Emmys. With Marilyn Ness, she has produced several films, including the Netflix Original documentaries “Becoming,” which was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards, and Kirsten Johnson’s Emmy-winning “Dick Johnson Is Dead.” She also co-directed “Deadline” with Johnson. Chevigny is married to Jack Smith, the U.S. attorney who led two Justice Department criminal investigations into Donald Trump.

Saturday Night's digital release date has been revealed.

Saturday Night will be available to buy or rent on digital platforms on November 12, followed by Blu-ray and DVD on January 7.

More to come...

Source: Sony Pictures

Saturday Night 4/10

Saturday Night (2024) is a forthcoming film with an undisclosed director. The movie centers on the vibrant nightlife of a bustling city, capturing the intertwining lives and stories of a diverse ensemble cast navigating personal and social challenges over the course of a single evening.

Director Jason ReitmanRelease Date October 11, 2024Writers Jason Reitman, Gil KenanCast Presley Coley, Abraham Hsu, Justin Matthew Smith, Ellen Boscov, Naomi McPherson, Kirsty Woodward, Mcabe Gregg, Leander Suleiman, Corinne Britti, Rowan Joseph, James Logan, Drew Scheid, Parker Wierling, Jon Batiste, Matt Wood, Emily Fairn, Kim Matula, Brian Welch, Kaia Gerber, Andrew Barth Feldman, Nicholas Podany, Billy Bryk, Gabriel Labelle, Rachel Sennott, Catherine Curtin, Robert Wuhl, Tracy Letts, Brad Garrett, Cory Michael Smith,...

2024 has been a year packed with great cinema from all different genres. Some of the years biggest hits have also been the most financially successful, like Dune: Part Two, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Deadpool & Wolverine. However, unfortunately, many other great films have fallen by the popularity wayside.

Every year brings a number of films that dont live up to financial or critical expectations, but there are also a lot of films that simply dont spark huge love from audiences. These films are absolutely not failures; they are completely underrated and deserve a second look.

Watch the Chaotic Origin Story of Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live is one of the longest-running TV shows of all time, but its premiere episode was filled with production problems that should have doomed the series from the start. And this year, Jason Reitman tells the story of that tumultuous and chaotic night with Saturday Night.

Longtime friends and collaborators, Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan, reunite once more in this new biopic, charting the explosive birth of the iconic Saturday Night Live comedy program on the US TV network NBC.

Set in the frantic 90 minutes before the show’s inaugural episode aired, Saturday Night expertly captures the unpredictable, high-stakes nature of live television, weaving in biting humour, personal conflicts, and the birth of a cultural phenomenon.

Reitman and Kenan’s script balances tension and comedy, paying homage to the anarchic energy of SNL’s origins while offering insight into the fragile egos, narcotic excesses and volatile personalities that shaped its creation.

The film opens on October 11, 1975, with a visibly stressed Lorne Michaels, portrayed with nuance and gravitas by The Fabelmans star Gabriel Labelle, entering NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Plaza in preparation for the first show. Outside he is greeted by a stressed out NBC page (Stanger Things...

New York-based indie sales outfit Visit Films has secured worldwide sales rights to “The Easy Kind,” starring country singer Elizabeth Cook, following the film’s well-received premiere at the Telluride Film Festival.

In the film, Cook portrays a fictionalized version of herself, exploring the challenges of a musician navigating middle age and an industry that has yet to fully recognize her talent. The supporting cast includes Susie Essman, David Letterman, Karen Allen, Charles Esten, Melissa Jackson and Catherine Curtin.

The film represents the narrative feature debut of award-winning documentary filmmaker Katy Chevigny whose previous credits include directing two Emmy-winning episodes of “Home” for A24 and AppleTV+, and co-directing the Emmy-nominated documentary “E-Team.”

“The Easy Kind” is produced by Chevigny’s Big Mouth Productions, in association with Forager Films, Mystic Entertainment and Love Today Productions. Producers include Chevigny, Peter Gilbert, Nikhil Melnechuk and Natalie Farrey. The film also features a new original song by Cook,...

"Sounds like you're screwed." Ahaha yeah you tell him. Good Deed Entertainment has revealed the official trailer for an indie film titled Hangdog, shot in Maine and set in Maine. This first premiered last year at a bunch of regional film festivals and it will be getting a VOD release in October for anyone who wants to watch. An anxiety-ridden 30-something named Walt embarks on a desperate quest through Portland, Maine to retrieve his stolen dog before his girlfriend returns from a trip – or risk losing them both. Husband & wife filmmakers "Matt and Jen have crafted a charming and engaging grown-up film in Hangdog, and it’s our pleasure to be a part of bringing this crowdpleaser to audiences nationwide this October." Starring Desmin Borges as Walt, Kelly O'Sullivan, Barbara Rosenblat, Steve Coulter, and Catherine Curtin. This looks like an amusing, light, and mostly enjoyable indie comedy giving us a...

Good Deed Entertainment has acquired worldwide rights to Hangdog, a comedy movie starring Desmin Borges and Kelly O’Sullivan.

Director Matt Cascella’s feature is scheduled for release via digital platforms on Oct. 25, which will be preceded by advance theatrical screenings in select cities. Rounding out the cast are Barbara Rosenblat, Steve Coulter, Catherine Curtin and rescue dog-turned-performer Mr. Tibbs.

Set in Portland, Maine, Hangdog centers on Walt (Borges), who deals with anxiety while attempting to retrieve his stolen dog before his girlfriend, Wendy (O’Sullivan), returns from a business trip.

The film earned audience awards at the Woods Hole and New Hampshire Film Festivals. It has also screened at the Provincetown International Film Festival, the Berkshire International Film Festival and the Calgary International Film Festival.

Cascella helmed the film from a script by Jen Cordery. Cascella, Borges, Alyssa Roehrenbeck and Patrick White serve as producers.

“Matt and Jen have crafted...

The stars of Saturday Night are hitting the red carpet!

Rachel Sennott, Gabriel Labelle, and Willem Dafoe posed for photos together at the premiere of their new movie held during the 2024 Toronto Film Festival on Tuesday (Sept. 10) at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, Canada.

Corey Michael Smith, Kaia Gerber, and tons of other cast members were also in attendance at the premiere.

Here’s the movie’s synopsis: At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television – and culture – forever. Directed by Jason Reitman and written by Gil Kenan & Reitman, Saturday Night is based on the true story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live. Full of humor, chaos, and the magic of a revolution that almost wasn’t, we count down the minutes in real time until we hear those famous words…...

Since the announcement that Stranger Things has been renewed for a fifth and final season, there have been regular news updates and audience speculation about which actors will return to face off against Vecna and the creatures of the Upside Down for the show's final outing. It has recently been announced that an original cast member of the show will not be making an appearance in the upcoming season. Catherine Curtin, who played the role of Dustin's mom, Claudia Henderson, throughout the course of the past three seasons, will not be returning for the show's fifth season.

Although she has only been a minor character up until this point, the absence of his mom could be detrimental for Dustin in this season. Dustin is going through a lot in the show: he is growing up, he has his first girlfriend, and more importantly, he has just witnessed the death of one of his best friends,...

A cast update for Stranger Things season 5 reveals a minor character wont return, and while that isnt a big loss, it makes me relieved for one character, while the show continues a big trend. After four seasons of many twists and shocking reveals, Stranger Things is ending with its fifth season, which has a lot to cover and solve. The final season of Stranger Things is bringing back the shows main cast and introducing a couple of new ones, but fans can rest assured that the whole Hawkins crew is teaming up again to defeat Vecna and save Hawkins.

At the end of Stranger Things season 4, Vecna disappeared, Max was in a coma, and a massive earthquake that almost destroyed Hawkins opened portals, allowing the Upside Down to bleed into this world. Season 5 will have to address all this and how Vecna can be defeated, so Eleven will need all the help she can get.

Stranger Things actress Catherine Curtin will not reprise her role as Claudia Henderson for the fifth and final season of the beloved Netflix series. As the mother of Dustin Henderson (played by Gaten Matarazzo), she is one of the surviving inhabitants of Hawkins, where Stranger Things primarily takes place, but will not return to the show due to scheduling conflicts.

Although Curtin's character is still alive, Screen Rant reports that the actress has been preoccupied with shooting the upcoming film Saturday Night, which follows the story of Saturday Night Live's premiere in 1975. Despite being unable to return for Stranger Things' final season, Curtin shared her correspondence with her co-stars, saying that fans will not feel disappointed by the long wait. This is the first update fans have received regarding Stranger Things in nearly two months, with Netflix reporting in July that season 5 will debut sometime in 2025.

Stranger Things

Inspired...

Stranger Things' Catherine Curtin, who has played Claudia Henderson, the mother of Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) since season 2, will not return in season 5 of the hit Netflix series. Curtin also appeared as Mrs. Henderson in seasons 3 and 4. She is among the characters who are still alive despite the many dangers posed by Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and the Upside Down that will have to be dealt with in Stranger Things season 5's story.

On an episode of the Monday Morning Critic Podcast (via What's On Netflix), Curtin explained that she is not part of Stranger Things' final season because she was shooting the upcoming film Saturday Night, which tells the story of Saturday Night Live's 1975 premiere. Despite not returning to the Netflix series, she confirmed that she has spoken with some of her peers who are involved with season 5, who have teased that the show's highly-anticipated ending will be worth the wait.

Catherine Curtin, best known for her work as correctional officer Wanda Bell in “Orange Is the New Black,” has signed with Fusion Entertainment.

Curtin recently completed production on Jason Reitman’s “Saturday Night,” portraying Joan Carbunkle, an NBC censor who squares off against the show’s producer Lorne Michaels and the rest of the “Saturday Night Live” creative team during the program’s first season.

A veteran of 150 films and TV shows, Curtin has appeared in “Partner Track,” “Homeland” and “Insecure.” Her credits also include roles in “Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens,” “Tommy,” “The Loudest Voice,” “The Blacklist,” “Mindhunter,” “Blue Bloods,” “Bull,” “Law & Order,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “The Naked Brothers Band” and “Surveillance.” In addition, she had a recurring role on Netflix’s smash hit “Stranger Things,” appearing in 11 episodes.

Her upcoming productions include “Bad Shabbos,” which showed at Tribeca,” and “If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing,” which screened at the Bentonville Film Festival.

Bad Shabbos explores a dysfunctional family dinner by going to thrilling and comedic extremes. The cast of Bad Shabbos boasts a number of talented actors, including Kyra Sedgwick and Jon Bass. The movie has received positive feedback for its hilarious script, talented cast, and fun, collaborative set atmosphere.

Bad Shabbos, which premiered at this year's Tribeca Film Festival, takes the concept of a dysfunctional family sitting down for dinner to thrilling and comedic extremes. Directed by Daniel Robbins, who co-wrote the screenplay with Zack Weiner, the movie follows a modern Orthodox Jewish family preparing to meet the gentile parents of their eldest son's gentile fiance. Kyra Sedgwick (The Summer I Turned Pretty) spearheads the cast as neurotic matriarch Ellen, alongside David Paymer as her hapless husband Richard.

In addition to the aforementioned heavy hitters, Bad Shabbos boasts a delightful cast that includes Jon Bass as the groom-to-be, Meghan Leathers as his fiancee Meg,...

Set in the well-heeled part of New York’s Upper West Side Jewish community, Tribeca Festival audience award winner “Bad Shabbos” is an entertaining, fast-paced comedy about a Sabbath dinner gone terribly awry. After four previous indie features, director Daniel Robbins should score wider distribution with this tender look at several generations of modern Jews trying to balance the polarities of secular and religious lives, along with the dilemma of a dead body in the bathroom. Robbins and his longtime co-writer Zack Weiner up the comedy ante by stirring in several dysfunctional family dramas, an inter-faith culture clash and an intrepid doorman. A strong ensemble cast nails the tasty dialogue and increasingly frantic action without falling into shtick.

David (Jon Bass) and his fiancée Meg (Meghan Leathers), a shiksa already deep into conversion class, are headed for another Friday Sabbath dinner at the home of his parents, Richard (David Paymer...

Quick Links The Location Is Key in Bad Shabbos Bad Shabbos Has a Lackluster Climax Bad Shabbos offers a darkly comic take on family dynamics during the Sabbath but falls flat with a predictable ending. Talented veteran actors add humor to the mix, but the film struggles to resonate beyond those familiar with Jewish traditions. Location plays a crucial role in the film's antics, but the lackluster climax fails to deliver true comedic satisfaction.

Shabbos is the Yiddish word for the Sabbath, where observant Jews rest, dine, and celebrate their faith with family from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. Bad Shabbos adds accidental murder to the equation in a darkly comic religious romp that quickly runs out of steam. A talented cast of veteran actors squeeze every drop of humor from the schtick. And then bandy about in strained, hand-wringing anxiety to a predictable conclusion that was broadcast in the literal opening.

As if their weekly shabbat gathering wasn’t already a reason for them to all start kvetching, imagine what happens when a Jewish family from Manhattan’s Upper West Side accidentally murders one of their dinner guests. Or when their future and very goy-ish in-laws try to pronounce the word “chutzpah.” Or when the Wu-Tang Clan’s Method Man shows up wearing a yarmulke.

These are some of the shandas (that’s Yiddish for scandals, disgraces, shames, etc.) in Bad Shabbos, an ensemble comedy set during one long and volatile Friday night get-together that leaves a body fresh on the ground and ready for shiva.

Directed by Daniel Robbins (Pledge), who co-wrote the script with Zack Weiner, the film is rather familiar in conception and execution, even if it concentrates on the very narrow community of upper-class Manhattanites that most of us know from the films of Woody Allen. Some...

Founders Day: "In this satirical political slasher from the Bloomquist Brothers, a small town is shaken by a series of ominous killings in the days leading up to a heated mayoral election. As accusations fly and the threat of a masked killer darkens every street corner, the residents must race to uncover the truth before fear consumes the town.

Fresh off of a multi-city national theatrical run, has enjoyed a strong festival and great critical reception. The latest feature from fraternal writing-director duo Erik & Carson Bloomquist and production outfit Mainframe Pictures boasts a strong ensemble cast including the reunion of 13 Reasons Why stars Devin Druid and Amy Hargreaves, Naomi Grace (NCIS), Catherine Curtin (Stranger Things), Emilia McCarthy (SkyMed), Olivia Nikkanen (The Society), and William Russ (Boy Meets World)."

Directed by: Erik Bloomquist Written by: Erik Bloomquist & Carson Bloomquist Produced by: Erik Bloomquist, Carson Bloomquist & Adam Weppler Production Company:...

Two of this year’s theatrical releases have made their at-home debuts this week, and they bring along with them an original slasher movie, a found footage movie, and the feature debut of the filmmaker who’s about to make his mark on the Evil Dead film franchise.

Here’s all the new horror releasing May 6 – May 12, 2024!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

Less than two months after releasing in theaters, where it has scared up $195.2 million at the box office, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is now available on Digital at home.

You can rent the film for $19.99 or purchase it for $24.99.

In Gil Kenan’s Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, the Spengler family returns to where it all started – the iconic New York City firehouse – to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level.

The return of a fan favorite franchise, the critically acclaimed new movie from a modern day genre visionary, and a slasher from the perspective of the Jason Voorhees-like killer.

It’s all headed our way in the coming weeks. And it’s only the tip of the iceberg…

Here’s all the new horror releasing in theaters and at home in May 2024!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

I Saw The TV Glow – May 3 (Limited), May 17 (Wide)

Fresh off the haunting and singularly creepy indie We’re All Going to the World’s Fair, Jane Schoenbrun is back with A24‘s I Saw the TV Glow, releasing only in theaters May 3.

In I Saw the TV Glow, “Owen is just trying to make it through life in the suburbs when his classmate introduces him to a mysterious TV show — a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own.

Stars: Olivia Nikkanen, Naomi Grace, Jayce Bartok, Devin Druid, Emilia McCarthy, Amy Hargreaves, Catherine Curtin | Written by Erik Bloomquist, Carson Bloomquist | Directed by Erik Bloomquist

The Bloomquist brothers, director Erik and co-writer Carson are back with their second film this year, following up their summer camp horror She Came from the Woods with Founders Day. Billed as a political slasher has an interesting history to it. The original concept dates back to 2011, and a script that was considered for inclusion in Project Greenlight. They even made a conceptual trailer for it before the project collapsed. And what better time to revive it than now in a time of political division and violence?

In the town of Fairwood, two things are fast approaching, its 300th anniversary and the election of its next mayor. The race is a contentious one, the first image we see is of a campaign sign being destroyed.

After being released exclusively in movie theaters this past January, the tricentennial-themed slasher movie Founders Day is now headed home courtesy of Dark Sky Films.

Founders Day will be released on at-home Digital on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.

In this “bold political slasher” from the Bloomquist Brothers, a small town is shaken by a series of ominous killings in the days leading up to a heated mayoral election.

As accusations fly and the threat of a masked killer darkens every street corner, the residents must race to uncover the truth before fear consumes the town.

“We’re very happy to be partnering with the team at Dark Sky who know and love the power of genre cinema like we do,” said the Bloomquist brothers. “As the chaos of modern politics rages, The Founder is primed and ready to be unleashed on American audiences.”

Erik Bloomquist directed Founders Day, written by Erik and Carson Bloomquist.

Close on the heels of Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving came another holiday-themed slasher movie, as director Erik Bloomquist‘s slasher movie Founders Day received a limited theatrical release in the United States, courtesy of Dark Sky Films, back in January. If you didn’t catch the movie during its run on the big screen, we have a positive update to share with you today: Coming Soon reports that Founders Day has a digital release date of May 7th.

Written by Erik Bloomquist and Carson Bloomquist, Founders Day is a contemporary murder mystery set in the midst of a heated mayoral election on the eve of a quaint New England town’s tricentennial.

The Bloomquist brothers produced the film for Mainframe Pictures, alongside Adam Weppler. Hargreaves co-produced with William Russ. William Kay serves as executive producer with Blue Finch Films’ Mike Chapman and Fatima Hayward.

The film stars Amy Hargreaves (Brainscan...

Making it past the post by the smallest sliver of a hair, “Founders Day” is worth watching if only because it brings a jolt of femme queer weirdness to a genre historically dominated by men. Sure, it still includes a half-naked, quarter-witted, straight blonde chick getting attacked by a serial killer, promptly grabbing her boobs with both hands, and running down a school hallway scream-whining, “I learned my lesson!” But that’s just the (super creepy) price you’ll have to pay to enjoy star Naomi Grace as a likable lesbian final girl in an otherwise wildly misguided horror comedy from the Blooomquist Brothers.

The star-spangled political slasher starts off strong enough, introducing the authentically charming high school sweethearts Allison (Grace) and Melissa (Olivia Nikkanen). The seniors stand on the precipice of college, locking their initials to a local bridge in their hometown of Fairwood on a chilly, romantic night in November.

“Divisive” has become the fallback term for just about any political personality or issue in recent years, so bitter have differences between the two parties and many of their adherents become. The more fanatical beliefs to be found in an era of increasingly alarmist rhetoric have already provided inspiration for some horror movies, primarily smaller indie productions. The new “Founders Day,” which opens Jan. 19 on 700-plus U.S. screens, is slicker than most such while also more overt in pivoting on political rancor.

But you can’t make a pointed movie about politics — not even a semi-tongue-in-cheek genre film — without political content, and Erik Bloomquist’s feature proves toothless in that regard. Apparently afraid to offend anyone, despite numerous murders onscreen, it centers on a hostile mayoral race between candidates who posture stereotypically yet seem to have no discernible platform, ideology or affiliations on the liberal-to-conservative continuum. That renders the intended satire feeble,...

It was only a matter of time before somebody came out with a trippy, blood-soaked Tricentennial slasher movie with a masked killer in a white wig, toting a gavel for a weapon. And during an election year no less. There will be disorder in this court, and you will love it. Welcome to Founders Day, the offbeat horror comedy from Bloomquist Brothers Erik and Carson, the filmmakers who brought us She Came from the Woods and Night at the Eagle Inn through their Mainframe Pictures.

The daring political slasher revolves around the small town of Fairwood, which is shaken by a series of gruesome killings during a Founders Day weekend celebration prior to a pivotal mayoral election. Accusations abound, and the threat of a masked killer has everybody on edge as the residents rush to uncover the truth.

Erik Bloomquist directed the project, which he co-wrote with brother Carson. The...

Character exploration takes a backseat to the bloody kills and political comedy in Founders Day — perfect for slasher film fans craving a quick fix. The unique masked killer, wielding a secret knife hidden in a gavel, provides thrilling and well-executed horror moments. While the film suffers from some overacting and empty characters, it remains a hellishly fun thrill ride that entertains with its reckless ambition.

Don’t expect deep dives into character exploration in Founders Day. Leave the plunging to the masked killer stabbing people with a secret knife hidden in the gavel they’re using a weapon. It’s all part of frenetic events plaguing the small town of Fairwood in the latest masked slasher film, which foregoes heftier character motivations and keeps its bloody feet firmly planted in the horror comedy subgenre.

That’s not a bad thing if you’re a slasher film fan looking for a quick fix.

This year’s brand new horror releases roll on in the third full week of 2024, and we’ve got five new ones headed our way this week. Some only in theaters, others now available at home.

Here’s all the new horror releasing January 15 – January 21, 2024!

For daily reminders about new horror releases, be sure to follow @HorrorCalendar.

The latest original horror movie from Dread is Last Night at Terrace Lanes, a bowling-themed horror movie that was just released onto VOD outlets this past Tuesday, January 16.

Last Night at Terraces Lanes, filmed at an abandoned bowling alley, was written by Adam Cesare (Clown in a Cornfield) and directed by Jamie Nash.

In the new indie horror movie, “When a bloodthirsty cult invades a bowling alley on its final night of operation, a high schooler on a date from hell, must join forces with her survivalist dad to fend off the crazed murderers.

Founders Day Photo: David Apuzzo/Mainframe Pictures There are lots of ways to tell when you’re in good hands while watching a movie. It might be the casting, or the lighting, or the clever dialogue in the script. It might be the way the film plays with genre, or...

Founders DayPhoto: David Apuzzo/Mainframe Pictures

There are lots of ways to tell when you’re in good hands while watching a movie. It might be the casting, or the lighting, or the clever dialogue in the script. It might be the way the film plays with genre, or the...

Close on the heels of Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving comes another holiday-themed slasher movie, director Erik Bloomquist‘s slasher movie Founders Day, which Dark Sky Films will be giving a limited theatrical release in the United States on January 19th. There’s a mayoral election at the center of this one, and in a newly released promo – which you can watch in the embed above – viewers are introduced to the two candidates. Check it out!

Written by Erik Bloomquist and Carson Bloomquist, Founders Day is a contemporary murder mystery set in the midst of a heated mayoral election on the eve of a quaint New England town’s tricentennial.

The Bloomquist brothers produced the film for Mainframe Pictures, alongside Adam Weppler. Hargreaves co-produced with William Russ. William Kay serves as executive producer with Blue Finch Films’ Mike Chapman and Fatima Hayward.

The film stars Amy Hargreaves (Brainscan), Devin Druid (13 Reasons Why...

Close on the heels of Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving comes another holiday-themed slasher movie, director Erik Bloomquist‘s slasher movie Founders Day, which Dark Sky Films will be giving a limited theatrical release in the United States on January 19th. With that date just one month away, a trailer for Founders Day has made its way online and can be seen in the embed above.

Written by Erik Bloomquist and Carson Bloomquist, Founders Day is a contemporary murder mystery set in the midst of a heated mayoral election on the eve of a quaint New England town’s tricentennial.

The Bloomquist brothers produced the film for Mainframe Pictures, alongside Adam Weppler. Hargreaves co-produced with William Russ. William Kay serves as executive producer with Blue Finch Films’ Mike Chapman and Fatima Hayward.

The film stars Amy Hargreaves (Brainscan), Devin Druid (13 Reasons Why), Emilia McCarthy (SkyMed), Catherine Curtin (Stranger Things), William...

"A gavel-banging good time." What a funny quote. Dark Sky Films has revealed the full official trailer for an indie horror film called Founders Day, opening in theaters this January. It premiered at a few genre fests this year including Popcorn Frights Film Festival along with FrightFest London and the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. It will be slashing the big screen soon. The newest genre title from the Bloomquist Brothers marks the reunion of 13 Reasons Why duo Devin Druid and Amy Hargreaves. They're part of an ensemble cast that also features Naomi Grace, William Russ, Catherine Curtin, Emilia McCarthy, & Olivia Nikkanen. In the film, a small town is shaken by a series of ominous killings in the days leading up to a heated Mayoral election. It's described as a "political slasher", bringing the corrupt politics of this town right into the plot. Watch out. // Continue Reading ›...

The slasher movie Founders Day is headed exclusively to movie theaters on January 19, 2024, and the official trailer for the rated “R” slasher has sliced our way this afternoon.

Watch the official trailer for Founders Day below.

In this “bold political slasher” from the Bloomquist Brothers, a small town is shaken by a series of ominous killings in the days leading up to a heated mayoral election.

As accusations fly and the threat of a masked killer darkens every street corner, the residents must race to uncover the truth before fear consumes the town.

“We’re very happy to be partnering with the team at Dark Sky who know and love the power of genre cinema like we do,” said the Bloomquist brothers. “As the chaos of modern politics rages, The Founder is primed and ready to be unleashed on American audiences.”

Erik Bloomquist directed Founders Day, written by Erik and Carson Bloomquist.

Exclusive: Married actors Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) and Mark Menchaca (Ozark) have been set to star in Long Pork, a revenge thriller short helmed by up-and-comer Iris Dukatt, who also wrote the screenplay.

Produced by Madhouse Films, the rising female led-production company founded by Katherine Romans and Charlie Sarah Traisman, as well as Elizabeth Valenti, the film takes place in a future post-Roe America where all reproductive rights have been banned. Headey plays Lily Williams, master chef at the renowned Foal’s Steakhouse, who lost her only daughter to forced birth under the federal ban. When Lily learns that Philip Anderson (Menchaca), the judge responsible for denying her daughter’s abortion request, is coming to dine at Foal’s, she enlists her team of cooks to exact bloody revenge, setting the stage for revolution.

Also starring in the pic, intended as a proof of concept for a feature, include Catherine Curtin,...

Earlier this week, we learned that director Erik Bloomquist‘s slasher movie Founders Day has secured a North American distribution deal with Dark Sky Films, and the company is planning to give it a theatrical release sometime in the first quarter of 2024. In preparation for that release, the movie has also now secured a rating from the Motion Picture Association ratings board. Founders Day has been rated R for “strong bloody violence, language, and some sexual references.” So it delivers pretty much what you expect to see from a slasher movie.

Written by Erik Bloomquist and Carson Bloomquist, Founders Day is a contemporary murder mystery set in the midst of a heated mayoral election on the eve of a quaint New England town’s tricentennial.

The Bloomquist brothers produced the film for Mainframe Pictures, alongside Adam Weppler. Hargreaves co-produced with William Russ. William Kay serves as executive producer with Blue...

The slasher movie Founders Day is headed our way in early 2024 from Dark Sky Films, and we’ve learned this week that the film has received an official “R” rating from the MPA.

Founders Day is rated “R” for…

“Strong bloody violence, language and some sexual references.”

You can check out the official teaser trailer below for a taste.

In this “bold political slasher” from the Bloomquist Brothers, a small town is shaken by a series of ominous killings in the days leading up to a heated mayoral election.

As accusations fly and the threat of a masked killer darkens every street corner, the residents must race to uncover the truth before fear consumes the town.

“We’re very happy to be partnering with the team at Dark Sky who know and love the power of genre cinema like we do,” said the Bloomquist brothers. “As the chaos of modern politics rages,...

"Let's all go to the lobby!" And get some snacks for the horror show today. Dark Sky Films has unveiled the first teaser trailer for an indie horror film coming to theaters in January called Founders Day, self-labeled a "political slasher". It has already been playing at genre film festivals this fall, starting at Popcorn Frights Film Festival along with FrightFest London and the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. Now it's set to play on the big screen in a few months from now. The newest genre title from the Bloomquist Brothers marks the reunion of 13 Reasons Why duo Devin Druid and Amy Hargreaves, who join an ensemble cast including Naomi Grace, William Russ, Catherine Curtin, Emilia McCarthy, and Olivia Nikkanen. In the film, a small town is shaken by a series of ominous killings in the days leading up to a heated Mayoral election. Another masked killer thriller with freaky twists and crazy characters,...