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In the suffocating quiet of a remote religious commune, a young woman named Magpie performs an act of final rebellion. With her abusive husband dead from a poisoned cup, she sets in motion a chain of events that threatens to shatter her community’s fragile piety.

This singular act of defiance places her in direct opposition to her father, the settlement’s domineering Pastor, and appears to awaken a primeval entity in the surrounding woods. A horned, white-eyed beast begins to stalk the periphery of their world, its arrival concurrent with Magpie’s newfound and dangerous agency.

The Severed Sun quickly establishes itself as a grim fable of paranoia, where one woman’s righteous fury summons a power that may be far more terrifying than the oppression she seeks to escape. The film charts the collision of rigid, man-made faith with an older, wilder force, asking what happens when the...

"There will be periods of darkness and light!" Yes, but this looks like such a dark film. Dark Star Pictures has revealed an official trailer for The Severed Sun, a British folk horror from filmmaker Dean Puckett. This premiered at last year's Fantastic Fest in Austin in the fall, and will be out to watch in May next month including on VOD. Magpie lives in an isolated religious community ruled over by her father, The Pastor. She kills her abusive husband, awakening a supernatural Beast in the process. She becomes an outcast, and as the Beast unleashes bloody carnage, a brutal witch hunt begins, tearing the community apart. The is the real synopsis straight from IMDb! Starring Emma Appleton as Magpie, Toby Stephens, Barney Harris, Lewis Gribben, Oliver Maltman, James Swanton. In this gripping tale of faith, fear, and the darkness within, friendships crumble, loyalties are tested, and the community hurtles toward self-destruction.

An isolated religious community is torn asunder by the arrival of a mysterious beast in the new trailer for The Severed Sun, a folk horror movie arriving this May from Dark Sky Films.

Writer-Director Dean Puckett makes his feature debut with The Severed Sun, releasing in theaters and Digital on May 16, 2025.

The Severed Sun is set “In the heart of an isolated religious community, The Pastor delivers his fervent sermons to a devoted congregation. But dark secrets fester. In the depths of the forest, The Pastor’s daughter, Magpie, takes desperate action, ending the life of her abusive husband. Little does she know, his murder will unleash a malevolent force—a mysterious beast with shimmering white eyes. As weeks pass, suspicion and paranoia grip the community, with accusatory fingers pointed at Magpie. The Pastor struggles to restore Magpie’s dwindling faith, and he is unable to bring her back into ‘The Truth.

Severin Launches New Seasonal Ghost Story Series On Shudder This December: "From boutique label Severin Films and renowned author, producer and filmmaker Kier-La Janisse comes new annual series The Haunted Season.

Created by Janisse and executive produced by Severin Films, new episodes of The Haunted Season will arrive on Shudder each December with chilling short form horror tales in the tradition of telling ghost stories for Christmas. Future episodes will be announced each year as the holiday season approaches.

The first of these original commissioned productions comes from director Sean Hogan, called To Fire You Come at Last.

In 17th century England, near a rural village where unquiet spirits gather, a grieving Squire hires three local men to help carry his son’s coffin to a graveyard across the countryside. But as darkness descends upon their journey, disturbing secrets will be revealed. Violence will rise to the surface. And as...

Although Apartment 7A walks through an original storyline, it marks the return of many familiar characters from Rosemary's Baby. Based on Ira Levin's book of the same name, Rosemary's Baby is an iconic film that has influenced generations of horror movies. Despite premiering nearly 50 years ago, the film stands the test of time and is as scary and unsettling as it was back in the day. While masterfully unfolding a thoughtful metaphor for gaslighting and paranoia in a marriage, the film also invites viewers to fill in the blanks with their interpretations of shrouded character fates.

These intentional blanks in Rosemary's Baby's narrative allow it to pave the way for a prequel. Apartment 7A takes this opportunity by focusing primarily on one character, Terry, who only shows up in the 1968 film's opening arc. While Apartment 7A differs from Rosemary's Baby in more ways than one, it unravels its...

Apart from featuring a new set of characters, Apartment 7A also marks the return of several familiar faces from its parent film, Rosemary's Baby. Based on Ira Levin's 1967 novel, Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby premiered over half a decade ago but is still often ranked among the best horror flicks of all time. Its exploration of themes surrounding Catholicism, the occult, and women's liberation remains timeless and influential, explaining why its narrative has further expanded with a prequel movie, Apartment 7A.

Directed by Natalie Erika James, Apartment 7A unfolds in the same setting as Rosemary's Baby, walking through the backstory of a character, Terry Gionoffrio, who briefly appears in the parent film. Since Apartment 7A's story is set in the primary location as Rosemary's Baby, the prequel film reinstates many original characters from the 1968 film. At the same time, it also adds a few new players to the...

Stars: Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Jacob Batalon, Avantika, Humberly González, Wolfgang Novogratz, Larsen Thompson | Written and Directed by Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg

Adapted from Nicholas Adams’ 1992 novel, the much better titled Horrorscope, Tarot is the feature directorial debut from writers/directors Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg. The story opens at a rented mansion inhabited by a group of college students celebrating a birthday, although tensions are high due to a recent break-up within the group. When they run out of beer, the group search the mansion for hidden alcohol only to discover strange tarot cards within the basement.

Despite saying that it is a sacred rule of Tarot to not use someone else’s deck, Hayley (Harriet Slater) agrees to use the strange deck to read everyone else’s horoscopes. One by one, their horoscopes come true as they meet their ends, with it becoming clear that the group are...

Stars: Caitlyn Barber, Charlotte Dawn Potter, Maaike Tol, Nadia Dawber, Sapphire Brewer-Marchant, Dave King, Bodo Friesecke, James Swanton | Written by Lars Janssen, Charlotte Dawn Potter | Directed by Lars Janssen

With a career that includes directing short films, Lars Janssen makes his feature directorial debut with Underground. The story follows a group of women on a bachelorette party, although their celebrations are cut short when a taxi driver leaves them stranded near a WWII underground bunker. After one of their own is hurt, the group find themselves trapped within the bunker and soon discover it is full of bizarre occurrences.

Early on, the set-up establishes this as a found-footage film. The choice is explained in-universe as recording the bachelorette party for a wedding present, and the decision is a stylistically interesting one. As the early portions focus on the characters, the shooting style allows for an up-close look at the relationships...

After a triumphant festival circuit that began with a sold-out world premiere at FrightFest, Scott Lyus’s debut feature film Walking Against the Rain is finally making its way to digital platforms in the UK and Europe this summer. The film has garnered significant acclaim, winning Best Overall Film at the Nightmares Film Festival and making notable appearances at PanicFest in the US and the Trieste Science+Fiction Film Festival in Italy.

Walking Against the Rain is a gripping tale of survival and human connection, set against a desolate landscape. The story follows two strangers, Blair and Tommy, who are desperately trying to find each other while navigating a barren wasteland. Their only means of communication are two rapidly depleting battery-operated radio mics, and they are relentlessly pursued by a terrifying new monster known as ‘The Forsaken’. As they journey through this unforgiving terrain, they must confront their own losses...

Stars: Harriet Slater, Adain Bradley, Jacob Batalon, Avantika, Humberly González, Wolfgang Novogratz, Larsen Thompson | Written and Directed by Spenser Cohen, Anna Halberg

Adapted from Nicholas Adams’ 1992 novel, the much better titled Horrorscope, Tarot is the feature directorial debut from writers/directors Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg. The story opens at a rented mansion inhabited by a group of college students celebrating a birthday, although tensions are high due to a recent break-up within the group. When they run out of beer, the group search the mansion for hidden alcohol only to discover strange tarot cards within the basement.

Despite saying that it is a sacred rule of Tarot to not use someone else’s deck, Hayley (Harriet Slater) agrees to use the strange deck to read everyone else’s horoscopes. One by one, their horoscopes come true as they meet their ends, with it becoming clear that the group are...

"Do you want to hear the next bit of the story?" IFC Films has revealed an official trailer for Stopmotion, a very strange and peculiar indie horror film from English filmmaker Robert Morgan. This first premiered at both Fantastic Fest 2023 and the Sitges Film Festival last year, where I originally saw it. Yes, there is stop-motion animation work in this, though it's really a story about a woman who is creating a film. Ella Blake, a stop-motion animator struggling to control her demons after the loss of her overbearing mother, embarks upon the creation of a film that becomes the battleground for her sanity. As Ella's mind starts to fracture, the characters in her project take on a life of their own. Then it gets really weird! "An unnerving display of psychological horror reminiscent of Censor (2021)." IFC also adds that this features "truly unforgettable, Švankmajer-esque animation." Aisling Franciosi stars as Ella,...

Writer and actor Mark Gatiss is keeping the Christmas ghost story tradition going with Lot No. 249, a new BBC adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle‘s short story. Deadline reports that Gatiss will reunite with “Game of Thrones” alum Kit Harrington for the project.

Lot No. 249 will air on BBC Two this Christmas. A U.S. distributor has not yet been named.

The adaptation ““revolves around a group of Oxford students, one of whom undertakes research into the secrets of Ancient Egypt, which become the talk of the college. Can these experiments truly breathe life to the horrifying bag of bones which is the mysterious Lot. No 249?”

Harrington will star alongside Freddie Fox. Harington will play Abercrombie Smith and Fox will play Edward Bellingham.

Colin Ryan (Boundless), John Heffernan (Dracula), James Swanton (Stopmotion), Jonathan Rigby (Father Brown) and Andrew Horton (Slotherhouse) also star in this Mummy story.

Gatiss told Deadline, “It...

Exclusive: Sherlock co-creator Mark Gatiss has adapted a short story from the detective’s creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, as his annual Christmas ghost story for the BBC. Kit Harington (Game of Thrones) and Freddie Fox (Slow Horses) are attached to star.

Gatiss has penned a version of Conan Doyle’s Lot No. 249, having adapted various Sherlock Holmes novels for the Beeb betweenn 2010 and 2017, alongside former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat.

The special will air as part of the BBC’s winter schedule and comes after Gatiss adapted The Tractate Middoth in 2013, The Dead Room (2018), Martin’s Close (2019) The Mezzotint (2021) and Count Magnus (2022) – four of which were based on works by M.R James.

Lot No. 249 follows group of Oxford students, one of whom undertakes research into the secrets of Ancient Egypt and becomes the talk of the college. “Can these experiments truly breathe life to the horrifying bag of bones which is the mysterious Lot.

Some horror films have the look of what is thought to be yesteryear. Many employ this for the story, the actors to be a certain style of the time for nostalgia. One of the moments you notice when viewing these is the Directorial choices that often are too modern for the time. The lighting is not for black and white photography that was often done by Europeans fleeing trouble in their countries. Casting your mind back to the days of Dead Of Night (1945), and The Ghost Train (1941) and sprinkling in the crime work of Director Basil Dearden you have the wonderful experience of Sean Hogan’s folk horror short film To Fire You Come at Last (2023)

Evocatively photographed in early Mario Bava ‘Black Sunday’ style in black and white you find a group of men who have been coerced into walking a coffin to the local graveyard for burial. However,...

Stars: Mark Carlisle, Richard Rowden, Harry Roebuck, James Swanton | Written and Directed by Sean Hogan

Running at only 45 minutes, To Fire You Come At Last is one of the shorter features playing at this year’s Frightfest. Within that tight runtime, writer/director Sean Hogan crafts an eerie folk-horror tale that delivers an unsettling atmosphere within the black-and-white imagery brought to the screen.

Set in rural 17th-century England, Squire Marlow (Mark Carlisle) intends to carry the coffin containing his deceased son to the local graveyard. Joining him in the long walk are his right-hand man, Pike (Richard Rowden), and Holt (Harry Roebuck), a childhood friend of the deceased. The only other person able to help them is Ramsey (James Swanton), a low-status drunk that all look down upon. Despite the party being afraid of walking the pathway after dark, Marlow promises to double their wages if they take the journey.

Emma Appleton is all set to bewitch the audience once more in her new project. The actress is known for her spellbinding performance in The Witcher. The upcoming indie film has caught the attention of horror enthusiasts. The untitled feature will mark the debut of the promising filmmaker Dean Puckett as reported by Collider.

The film narrates a haunting portrayal of a terrified town, and it features Appleton at the heart of what seems to be a nightmarish scenario. Appleton's look hints at something sinister unfolding​​, while dressed in old English attire and smeared with blood.

Not many details are known about the film. We do know that the film has already wrapped up production in the southwest coast of England. Aside from that, the narrative revolves around a brutal witch hunt that wreaks havoc in a small religious community. The story takes a dark turn following the enigmatic death of a town member.

The debut feature from filmmaker Dean Puckett, production has wrapped in England on an untitled folk horror movie, and Deadline shares a first-look image with us today.

Emma Appleton (“The Witcher”) stars.

In the upcoming horror movie, “When Magpie’s husband dies in mysterious circumstances, a brutal witch-hunt threatens to tear apart an isolated religious community.”

Jodhi May, Lewis Gribben, Barney Harris, Oliver Maltman, James Swanton, and Toby Stephens also star.

The film is produced by Rebecca Wolff of Grasp the Nettle Films and Jude Goldrei of Lunar Lander Films. Executive Producers are Piers Holdsworth Hunt, Kate Byers, Linn Waite, Malik Ali, Badie Ali, Hamza Ali, Evan Leighton-Davis, and Rupert Hanbury-Tenison. Co-Producers are Daria Nitsche and James Brant, with Ella Turner as Associate Producer.

Deadline notes, “The project was developed as part of the BFI, BBC Films, and Creative UK’s iFeatures program, which has developed successful indie pics.”

The...

Exclusive: Emma Appleton is among the cast leading a currently untitled indie British folk horror from debut feature filmmaker Dean Puckett, which has just wrapped production on the southwest coast of England.

Appleton leads the cast, which is rounded out by Jodhi May, Lewis Gribben, Barney Harris, Oliver Maltman, James Swanton, and Toby Stephens. The film is produced by Rebecca Wolff of Grasp the Nettle Films and Jude Goldrei of Lunar Lander Films. Logline reads: When Magpie’s husband dies in mysterious circumstances, a brutal witch-hunt threatens to tear apart an isolated religious community.

Production took place on Cornwall’s Bodmin Moor, an expansive rocky moorland. The Cornish region has a long and rich history of horror filmmaking. Alfred Hitchcock’s second du Maurier adaptation Rebecca is set in Cornwall, and more recently, the region’s distinct landscape feature heavily in the work...

Out now on VOD is Walking Against the Rain, the debut feature of director Scott Lyus that brings apocalyptic creature feature mayhem in the form of full-body practical creature effects.

Bloody Disgusting has an exclusive clip that introduces Tommy (Reece Douglas) as he attempts to make first contact with Blair (Sophia Eleni), but he’ll have to survive an attack from one of the film’s brand new monster creations, The Forsaken, first.

The monstrous Forsaken are brought to life via full-body practical creature effects from BIFA-winning FX designer Dan Martin (Infinity Pool).

Walking Against the Rain follows “the story of Blair and Tommy, two strangers who traverse an empty landscape in search of each other, relying only on their two soon-to-die battery-operated radio mics for communication. As they try to evade a new evil monster, they confront loss and grief and learn to trust humanity once again.”

Johnny Vivash,...

This week is the final week of May, and it’s also the unofficial start of summer. We’re headed towards the 3-day Memorial Day Weekend, which should give you some extra time for movie-watching. And that’s a good thing because this week is loaded up with fresh horrors.

Here’s all the new horror releasing May 23 – May 28, 2023!

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

Viral horror stories have come to life in CreepyPasta, a brand new Screambox Original that’s streaming exclusively on Bloody Disgusting’s Screambox beginning today.

In the brand new horror anthology, “Trapped in an abandoned house, a young man desperately searches for clues to how he got there. The answer is hidden within a series of disturbing viral videos – each of which begins to infect his mind.”

Watch the official CreepyPasta trailer below.

And start screaming now with Screambox on iOS,...

The debut feature of director Scott Lyus, monster movie Walking Against the Rain has been acquired by Gravitas Ventures. Variety first reported the news this afternoon.

Crossroad Pictures produced Walking Against the Rain, written & directed by Lyus. Gravitas acquired North American, Australian and New Zealand rights to the film.

Look for Walking Against the Rain on VOD beginning May 23 in North America.

“The follows the story of Blair and Tommy, two strangers who traverse an empty landscape in search of each other, relying only on their two soon-to-die battery-operated radio mics for communication. As they try to evade a new evil monster, they confront loss and grief and learn to trust humanity once again.”

Sophia Eleni, Reece Douglas, Johnny Vivash, Francesca Louise White, Diane Spencer, and James Swanton star.

Variety notes, “The film boasts full-body practical creature effects from BIFA-winning FX designer Dan Martin (“Infinity Pool”).”

Lyus said in a statement,...

Global independent film distributor Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American, Australian and New Zealand rights to Scott Lyus’ debut feature, “Walking Against the Rain.”

The follows the story of Blair and Tommy, two strangers who traverse an empty landscape in search of each other, relying only on their two soon-to-die battery-operated radio mics for communication. As they try to evade a new evil monster, they confront loss and grief and learn to trust humanity once again.

“Walking Against The Rain” is written and directed by Lyus and produced in partnership with Chris Nials under their U.K. production company Crossroad Pictures.

The cast includes Sophia Eleni, Reece Douglas, Johnny Vivash, Francesca Louise White, Diane Spencer, and James Swanton. The film boasts full-body practical creature effects from BIFA-winning FX designer Dan Martin (“Infinity Pool”).

The film has had a successful festival tour, including a sold-out world premiere at Frightfest in the U.

Stars: Sophia Eleni, Reese Douglas, James Swanton, Johnny Vivash | Written and Directed by Scott Lyus

Writer-director Scott Lyus made something of an impact on the film festival circuit with his short film Black Mass and now he’s back with his first feature, Walking Against the Rain, which explores a familiar post-apocalyptic theme but puts a wonderfully different spin on things!

The film follows two strangers, Blair and Tommy are navigating their way across a barren landscape in a desperate attempt to find each other. With their only form of communication being two soon-to-die battery-operated radio microphones and with a new evil in the shape of ‘The Forsaken’ tracking them down, they must not only make their way to a rendezvous point but also merely survive.

By now there’s no one out there who doesn’t have experience in watching post-apocalyptic movies, and probably are familiar with the nihilistic,...

Stars: Tim Cartwright, Emma Spurgin Hussey, James Swanton, Reece Connolly, Jake Watkins, Richard Rowden, Rory Wilton, Grace Blackman, Derek Nelson | Written and Directed by Charlie Steeds

Originally titled The Haunting of the Bloody Tower and shot back to back with Werewolf Castle, The Haunting of the Tower of London sees writer/director Charlie Steeds go off in another new direction with his films. Where Werewolf Castle was more of a medieval fantasy, The Haunting of the Tower of London is a historical horror/mystery that plays a bit like a mix of the Vincent Price films The Tower of London and Witchfinder General with a supernatural element added in for good measure.

Based extremely loosely on actual events The Haunting of the Tower of London opens with the discovery of the corpses of two missing princes. The future Richard III, currently the Duke of Gloucester and “the most feared man...

Stars: Harry Shum Jr., Chris Sullivan, Kelley Mack, Justin Welborn, James Swanton | Written by Tim Woodall, Phil Drinkwater | Directed by Jacob Gentry

Expanded from the 2016 short of the same name, Broadcast Signal Intrusion stars Harry Shum Jr. as James, a bereaved video archivist who, while logging tapes of old TV broadcasts, comes across a surreal and disturbing clip of a masked entity. He believes it’s the product of broadcast signal hacking, but his discovery takes a sinister turn when he tracks down similar broadcast intrusions that turn his mission even more rabbit-hole obsessive.

Ok, let’s get the elephant in the room out of the way first. Yes, Broadcast Signal Intrusion is Remarkably similar to Brian De Palma’s Blow Out, and to a lesser extent the 2021 horror Sinister. Like remarkably. Of course, this is also apparently inspired by actual real-life events that took place in Chicago in the...

The Jack In The Box: Awakening Arrives On VOD, Digital And DVD This January 18th

Here’s the scary trailer:

4Digital Media has released the new official trailer and poster for The Jack In The Box: Awakening.Lawrence Fowler returns with his second installment of the heart stopping horror with one very demonic clown – Jack Is Back!

Now you can win the Win the Blu-ray of The Jack In The Box: Awakening. We Are Movie Geeks has three to give away. Just leave a comment below telling us what your favorite horror movie that starts with the letter ‘J’ is (I’d say Jaws. It’s so easy!)

1. You Must Be A US Resident. Prize Will Only Be Shipped To US Addresses. No P.O. Boxes. No Duplicate Addresses.

2. Winner Will Be Chosen From All Qualifying Entries. No Purchase Necessary

Terminally ill heiress Olga Marsdale acquires a mysterious gothic box containing a captured demon – Jack.

The Jack In The Box: Awakening Arrives On VOD, Digital And DVD This January 18th

Here’s the scary trailer:

4Digital Media has released the new official trailer and poster for The Jack In The Box: Awakening. Lawrence Fowler returns with his second installment of the heart stopping horror with one very demonic clown – Jack Is Back!

Terminally ill heiress Olga Marsdale acquires a mysterious gothic box containing a captured demon – Jack. The powerful entity within makes a deadly deal with Olga and her devoted son Edgar – deliver six victims to Jack and Olga will live. They trap several unsuspecting victims for him within the vast crumbling mansion – but can they deliver all six before it’s too late? Or will Amy, the young and innocent woman recently hired to look after the estate turn out to be more than a match for both the family and the Jack?

The...

A killer clown is on the rampage in knockout chiller The Jack in the Box: Awakening, released on DVD & Digital 3rd January 2022. To celebrate we are giving away a DVD!

Move over Pennywise – creepy clown The Jack’s back, and this time he’s here to slay – in the sequel to the 2019 horror favourite The Jack in the Box. This time round The Jack makes a dreadful deal with a dying woman to ensure he gets his six victims.

Written and directed by Lawrence Fowler, the creator of the original film, that Geek Legion of Doom said gave “Annabelle a run for her money”, it stars Matt McClure (Penny Dreadful), Nicola Wright (Devil Djinn), and James Swanton as The Jack.

Mixing elements of Hellraiser and Killjoy with The Conjuring universe, and featuring outstanding creature design, shocks a-plenty and some fantastically spooky locations, this a cracking standalone sequel in what promises...

Stars: Harry Shum Jr., Chris Sullivan, Kelley Mack, Justin Welborn, James Swanton | Written by Tim Woodall, Phil Drinkwater | Directed by Jacob Gentry

Expanded from the 2016 short of the same name, Broadcast Signal Intrusion stars Harry Shum Jr. as James, a bereaved video archivist who, while logging tapes of old TV broadcasts, comes across a surreal and disturbing clip of a masked entity. He believes it’s the product of broadcast signal hacking, but his discovery takes a sinister turn when he tracks down similar broadcast intrusions that turn his mission even more rabbit-hole obsessive.

Ok, lets get the elephant in the room out of the way first. Yes, Broadcast Signal Intrusion is Remarkably similar to Brian De Palma’s Blow Out, and to a lesser extent the 2021 horror Sinister. Like remarkably. Of course this is also apparently inspired by actual real-life events that took place in Chicago in the 80s...

The apocalyptic Biblical monster movie, shot on locations in the UK over a three-week period, will star Cruel Summer’s Reece Douglas, newcomer Maisy Kay and James Swanton as monster creation ‘The Forsaken’. Set six months after a biblical plague has fallen upon the world, Walking Against The Rain tells the story of two strangers, Tommy …

The post Scott Lyus Set to Direct Debut Horror Feature film Walking Against The Rain early June 2020 appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.

"You'll be safe - just stay inside the circle." We've saved the best for last...! After posting a bunch of horror shorts throughout October, one of the best shorts has debuted online just in time for Halloween. Salt is the latest horror short made by filmmaker Rob Savage, with his writing partner Jed Shepherd. The two last made the highly successful Dawn of the Deaf, a zombie movie told entirely in sign language. Salt is a two-minute horror short about a mother protecting her sick daughter - using a ring of salt. Starring Alice Lowe, Beau Gadson, and James Swanton. It's incredible how much they pull off in two minutes, with all of the elements working in harmony to make this instantly iconic. Thanks to everyone on Twitter for the tip on this one. Short description from Vimeo: "A demonic presence closes in on a mother and her sick daughter.