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Stars: Jade Pettyjohn, JoJo Siwa, Jennifer Ens, Justin Derickson, Ali Fumiko Whitney, Julian Haig, Cardi Wong, Peter Giles, Jack Doupe-Smith | Written by Josh Sims, Jessica Sarah Flaum, John Baldecchi | Directed by Marcus Dunstan

Sarah (Jade Pettyjohn) and her aspiring influencer friends spend the night in a holiday rental on their way to a music festival, but unbeknownst to them they’re being watched on hidden cameras. Their weekend of partying suddenly takes a disturbingly gruesome turn when an uninvited guest arrives with one mission in mind… to make these sinners pay for their wrongdoings. One by one, they are hunted down. Alone and afraid, with no followers to save them, they are brutally bumped off at the hands of a masked murderer. When a former friend’s (JoJo Siwa) dark past comes to light, can Sarah and her few remaining friends stop the crazed killer before they too meet their bloody demise?...

On Friday nights, IndieWire After Dark takes a feature-length beat to honor fringe cinema in the streaming age.

First, read the Bait: a weird and wonderful pick from any time in film. Then, try the Bite: a breakdown of the movie’s ending, impact, and any other spoilers you’d want.

For November 2024, we’ve been eating light (read: on vacation) but did recommend a full Six-Course Midnight Movie Meal in the video above. In honor of Thanksgiving, we also dug deep into our favorite pick with Marcus Dunstan and “Pilgrim.”

The Bait: The Scariest Historical Hobbyists in Hulu History

Hulu’s “Pilgrim” is about inviting a source of entertainment to live in your home — and then facing weird penalties when you ask it to leave. Sound familiar to you, subscriber?

From the gone-too-soon horror anthology “Into the Dark,” this seasonal scary movie from 2019 follows a group of...

Halfway to Amarillo is a meta-Western comedy where the protagonist's characters come to life, causing chaos in his life. The film is directed by Burt Binder, known for his work as a producer, and making his directorial debut. The film has received positive reception, winning "Best Independent Feature" at the Ifs Los Angeles Film Festival.

What happens when characters you’ve created come to life? That is the question posed by the upcoming meta-Western comedy, Halfway to Amarillo, for which a new trailer has now been released. Coming courtesy of Rapid Trailer, Halfway to Amarillo follows writer Michael Coleman, who gets stuck while writing his second novel, a Western, when the two main characters leap off the page and wreak havoc on his life, forcing him to reevaluate his priorities. Check out the trailer for Halfway to Amarillo below.

"Michael Coleman is working on a novel that will make or break his career.

Gravitas Ventures has picked up “Halfway to Amarillo,” a neo-western kind of comedy which is set for distribution this November. Written and directed by Burt Binder, “Amarillo” follows an author who, in a bout of writer’s block, finds that his fictional characters have leapt straight off the pages of his novel and are running amok through Los Angeles.

The film stars Peter Giles (“Portlandia”), Luke Jones (“FBI: Most Wanted”), Lindsey G. Smith (“Happy Death Day”) and Binder. According to the film’s official synopsis, “The story centers around writer Michael Coleman who comes down with writer’s block when at his lowest point, the main character from his novel, an outlaw named Eli West played by Jones, leaps out of the novel into the real world throwing a wrench into Michael’s life. The villain in the novel, a crooked sheriff named Morgan Ambrose played by Giles, follows in...

Stars: Brianne Tju, Ali Gallo, Benjamin Wadsworth, Peter Giles, Lo Graham, Uriah Shelton, Drew Scheid, Joshua Mikel, C.J. LeBlanc | Written by Marcus Dunstan, Patrick Melton | Directed by Marcus Dunstan

Unhuman begins with title cards proclaiming it ”A Blumhouse Afterschool Special” and “Presented by the Student Teach Division (Std)”. That was the last thing I was expecting from a film by director Marcus Dunstan and his long-time co-writer Patrick Melton. While the three Feast films had their share of humour the duo are better known for more serious fare such as several of the later Saw films as well as The Collector and its sequel, both of which Dunstan also directed.

And it does begin like an Afterschool Special, Ever goes from dealing with her overprotective mother to being picked up by her best friend Tamra (Ali Gallo; Before I Go) who nearly hits Randall on their way to school. But...

Arriving on digital this Friday, June 3rd, from Blumhouse Television and Epix is Unhuman, the latest project from Marcus Dunstan that finds a group of high schoolers on a field trip in a fight for their lives when things take a turn and they are confronted by a horde of blood-thirsty zombies. Co-written by Dunstan and Patrick Melton, Unhuman stars Brianne Tju, Benjamin Wadsworth, Uriah Shelton, Ali Gallo, and Peter Giles.

During the recent press day for Unhuman, Daily Dead had the chance to speak with Dunstan about his approach to the story for his latest tale of terror and how events from his childhood helped inspired him to take the less-expected route with the film’s storytelling. Dunstan also discusses working with his cast and crew and gives this writer hope that The Collective, the intended third part of The Collector trilogy, will eventually move forward at some point in the future after all.

"What is it with you shut-ins and these zombie fantasies?" Blumhouse + Paramount have revealed the main trailer for Unhuman, a horror comedy from Blumhouse Television that is coming to VOD next month. A new film from the filmmaker behind The Collector and The Collection, though this feels much different. A group of misfit high school students must band together to survive when their school bus crashes on a field trip. Relationships are tested once they realize they are being stalked by strange attackers. They must take down the murderous zombie-creatures... before they end up killing each other first. This stars Brianne Tju, Benjamin Wadsworth, Uriah Shelton, Ali Gallo, and Peter Giles. This definitely looks made-for-tv, with a limited budget and derivative ideas, even the "undead" after them aren't that scary. Worth skipping? Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Marcus Dunstan's Unhuman, direct from YouTube: The dead will have this club for breakfast.

From Blumhouse Television and Epix, we have a look at the trailer for Unhuman, directed by Marcus Dunstan and written by Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan:

"The dead will have this club for breakfast. Blumhouse Television and Epix bring you the story of a high school field trip gone bloody awry. Seven misfit students must band together against a growing gang of unhuman savages. The group’s trust in each other is tested to the limit in a brutal, horrifying fight to survive and they must take down the murderous zombie-creatures… before they kill each other first."

Starring Brianne Tju, Benjamin Wadsworth, Uriah Shelton, Ali Gallo and Peter Giles, Unhuman will hit digital platforms on June 3rd.

The post Watch the Trailer for Unhuman appeared first on Daily Dead.

Exclusive: Unhuman will be the second of eight standalone horror and genre films from Epix’s and Blumhouse’s TV movie partnership.

From director Marcus Dunstan and writer Paul Soter, Unhuman follows the first film in the series A House on the Bayou and stars Brianne Tju (Light As a Feather), Benjamin Wadsworth (Your Honor), Ali Gallo (The Carpool) and Uriah Shelton (Freaky).

Unhuman follows a group of high school students whose school bus crashes while on a field trip. Relationships are tested amongst the students once they realize they are being stalked by a mysterious attacker who intends to drive them out of their bucolic adolescence and straight into a horrifying fight to survive.

The film also features Josh Mikel, Cj LeBlanc, Lo Graham, Drew Scheid, Peter Giles, Blake Burt and Dana Wing Lau. Production is underway in New Orleans.

Executive producers are Jason Blum, Chris McCumber and Jeremy Gold for Blumhouse,...

Do you ever feel like there just isn’t enough horror content surrounding the Thanksgiving holiday? Well then, I’ve got a treat for you. Blumhouse is releasing the next installment of their horror anthology series Into the Dark at Hulu entitled Pilgrim.

Based on a shocking true story: In an attempt to remind her family of their privilege and help them bond, Ms. Anna Barker invites Pilgrim reenactors to stay with them over Thanksgiving. When the “actors” refuse to break character, the Barker family learns that there is such a thing as too much gratitude.

This episode was directed and co-written by Marcus Dunstan (Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark), alongside co-writers Noah Feinberg and Patrick Melton. Pilgrim stars Reign Edwards, Peter Giles, Courtney Henggeler, Kerr Smith, Taj Speights, Beth Curry, and Antonio Raul Corbo.

Check out the trailer below, and see Into the Dark: Pilgrim on Hulu...

Thanksgiving reenactors bring their an unsettling slice of historical horror to the dinner table of one unfortunate family in the trailer for Pilgrim, the November episode of Blumhouse and Hulu's Into the Dark horror anthology series.

Directed by Marcus Dunstan from a screenplay co-written by Noah Feinberg and Dunstan & Patrick Melton, Pilgrim stars Reign Edwards, Peter Giles, Courtney Henggeler, Kerr Smith, Taj Speights, and Antonio Raul Corbo. Below, you can watch the official trailer for Pilgrim before it premieres on Hulu beginning Friday, November 1st.

Pilgrim Synopsis: "Inspired by true events: In an attempt to remind her family of their privilege and help them bond, Ms. Anna Barker invites Pilgrim reenactors to stay with them over Thanksgiving. When the "actors" refuse to break character, the Barker family learns that there is such a thing as too much gratitude."

Series Description: "In partnership with Blumhouse Television, Into The Dark is...

Exclusive: It’s going to be a terrifying Thanksgiving. Hulu’s horror event series Into the Dark has set Kerr Smith (Riverdale), Reign Edwards (Snowfall), Peter Giles (Man Seeking Woman), Courtney Henggeler (Cobra Kai), Taj Speights (Grey’s Anatomy) and Antonio Raul Corbo (Broke) for the “Pilgrim” installment of the Blumhouse Television series.

Into the Dark includes 12 feature-length episodes, released each month over one year and inspired by a holiday, featuring Blumhouse’s signature genre/thriller spin on the story. Marcus Dunstan directed “Pilgrim” and co-wrote it with Patrick Melton as well as Noah Feinberg. It will premiere on November 1.

“Pilgrim” is inspired by true events and follows Ms. Anna Barker, who invites Pilgrim re-enactors to her family’s Thanksgiving in an effort to remind them of their privilege and help them bond. When the “actors” refuse to break character, the Barker family learns that there is such a thing as too much gratitude.

Before they owned a feminist bookstore together, Candace and Toni were ’90s nightclub dance floor rivals.

The two shoulder-padded “Portlandia” residents, played by Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein, respectively, will go at it battle-style on a Thursday flashback, when the quirky IFC comedy returns for its fifth season. Peter Giles guest stars on the opener. In a way, so does German music group Snap!, via its “The Power” anthem.

Also Read: ‘Saturday Night Live’s’ Not So Colorful Past: A History of Its Diversity (Photos)

Like any good dance floor cat fight, this one starts with mutually inaudible passive-aggressive insults,...

It’s been 5 months since my last confession and so I’d like to share with you thoughts about What I’ve Been Watching. It’s a chance for me to share some TV viewing pleasures I have had in the hopes that you’ll check them out for yourself; you never know, you just might find a new favorite!

If I am missing any good movies and/or TV shows, post a comment below or Facebook and let me know.

Say Goodbye, Nucky And Friends

Boardwalk Empire

It wasn’t The Sopranos, but it never intended to be. Instead, it was one of the best crime dramas ever on TV and set itself apart a slow boil style set in a period of history that requires attention to detail and character. It was a wild ride that I will soon have to revisit.

Status: The series finale aired October 26, 2014 on HBO

No.

2015 is looking up a particularly good year to be a Carrie Brownstein fan. She'll be back on the road with the reunited Sleater-Kinney, who will also be dropping No Cities To Love, their first new album since 2005's The Woods. You'll also see Brownstein pop up in a role in Todd Haynes' "Carol." But before all that, "Portlandia," the show that has raised her profile over the last half decade, will be back, and a new trailer has arrived. And make no mistake, the fifth season of the hipster skewering show will be bigger than ever. Vanessa Bayer, Steve Buscemi, Shepard Fairey, Greta Gerwig, Peter Giles, Matt Groening, Anna Gunn, Justin Long, Jane Lynch, Natasha Lyonne, Seth Meyers, Brigitte Nielsen, Parker Posey, Paul Reubens, Paul Simon, Olivia Wilde and Oscar the Grouch are all confirmed to make appearances, with Jeff Goldblum, Kumail Nanjiani, Ed Begley Jr. and Kyle MacLachlan reprising their roles.

This certainly doesn't happen very often -- a network has changed their mind. After cancelling The Life & Times of Tim, HBO has decided to bring it back for season three.

The Life & Times of Tim revolves around Tim (Steve Dildarian), a nice guy who works for a fictional New York City corporation and often finds himself in embarrassing situations. Other voice actors in the series include Mary Jane Otto, Matt Johnson, Nick Kroll, Bob Morrow, and Peter Giles.

Following the HBO cancellation, we spoke to Dildarian about plans to find another outlet for the series. Media Rights Capitol (Mrc), the company that produces Tim, was actively looking for another buyer. Prospects included Adult Swim, Comedy Central and TBS.

The animated series has indeed been saved but by the least-likely channel. HBO execs have changed their minds and picked it...

Recently, fans of HBO's The Life & Times of Tim were surprised to hear that HBO had cancelled the animated TV show after two seasons. The show's creator, Steve Dildarian, was just as surprised when he got the news a couple months ago but, as far as he's concerned, Tim's story is far from over.

The Life & Times of Tim follows Tim (Dildarian), a self-conscious and unassuming guy who works for a big corporation. Unfortunately, he often finds himself caught in the middle of bizarre and embarrassing situations. His friends are Stu (Nick Kroll) and Rodney (Matt Johnson) and he works under "The Boss" (Peter Giles), an egotistical and uncaring employer. At home, Tim lives with his type-a girlfriend, Amy (Mj Otto), and is friends with an aging prostitute (Bob Morrow), the one person who truly understands him. Other voice actors include Edie McClurg, Julianne Grossman,...

HBO's animated series, The Life & Times of Tim has been cancelled after two seasons but there's a chance that the TV show could still live on.

The Life & Times of Tim revolves around Tim (Steve Dildarian), a nice guy who works for a fictional New York City corporation and often finds himself in embarrassing situations. Other voice actors in the series include Mary Jane Otto, Matt Johnson, Nick Kroll, Bob Morrow, and Peter Giles.

Created by Dildarian, the series has been running on Friday nights on HBO and finished airing its second season in April. To date, 20 episodes have been produced.

Though HBO has decided to drop the animated show, Media Rights Capitol (Mrc), the company that produces Tim, is actively looking for another buyer. Possible outlets include Adult Swim, Comedy Central or TBS.

There are a lot of movies out there.  Many of them more repugnant than stuff you find on the bottom of your shoe after a stroll through the sewer, but many of them are treasures like finding $20 in the pocket of a jacket you haven't worn in a couple of years.

The point is, there is a lot of great cinema out there that even some of the biggest film fans haven't had the chance (or taken the chance) to sit down and watch.

With "The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" opening up this weekend, I thought this would be a great opportunity to introduce you to my 4 favorite Ben Kingsley films that you probably haven't seen yet.

Why haven't you seen these films yet?

Well, there are probably a lot of different reasons.  Some of these movies are pretty old, some didn't have mass appeal and so...