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Mickey Keating has made several interesting genre movies over the last twelve years. He brought us the cult movie Ritual in 2013, the snowbound creature feature Pod in 2015, the psychological thriller Darling in 2015, the “hunting humans” film Carnage Park in 2016, the “psychos on a rampage” film Psychopaths in 2017, and Offseason, the story of a sea-dwelling demon, in 2021. Now, Keating is back with the home invasion horror film Invader (you can watch a trailer for the film in the embed above), and Doppelgänger Releasing is planning a limited theatrical release that’s scheduled for February 21st. Invader will then receive a digital release on March 25th.

Telling its story in both English and Spanish, Invader has the following synopsis: Ana (Vero Maynez) is a long way from home, but eager to visit her cousin Camila in the Chicago suburbs. After Ana’s bus gets delayed, she arrives very late and begins to...

Indie filmmaker Mickey Keating (Darling, Ritual, Carnage Park, Pod, Offseason) is back with an unsettling new home invasion horror film, Invader, which now has a release date and new trailer.

Invader opens in select theaters on February 21, 2025.

Vero Maynez, Colin Huerta, and Ruby Vallejo star.

In Invader, “Ana (Vero Maynez) is a long way from home, but eager to visit her cousin Camila in the Chicago suburbs. After Ana’s bus gets delayed, she arrives very late and begins to fear the worst when she can’t get ahold of Camila. Accompanied by Carlo (Colin Huerta), one of Camila’s co-workers, Ana decides to venture on foot to search for her cousin, encountering ominous signs, hostile locals, and the punishingly empty expanse of suburban America. When they arrive at Camila’s house, the night spirals into chaos when Ana and Carlo realize the bizarre and jaw-dropping truth.”

Keating partners with...

It starts with a knock on the cabin door, and from there, Ritual drags viewers into a twisted game of cat and mouse. The Indonesian psychological thriller, also known as Modus Anomali, doesn’t just toy with the protagonist—it doesn’t hesitate to go after the audience too. Directed by Joko Anwar, the film’s premise presents itself as your run-of-the-mill survival story. However, down the line, it unravels into a disturbing exploration of paranoia and the darker corners of the human psyche. The film itself hones in on a mysterious man who wakes up in the middle of the woods completely clueless as to how he got there. The only pieces of information he has to go on are that his family is missing and that some anonymous and highly motivated figure is hunting him. As the plot progresses, he manages to piece together clues; however, the film...

Christopher Lee starred in many now-classic horror movies, among them The Wicker Man, which ended up becoming the direct inspiration for a metal song 27 years after its release. Christopher Lee is one of the most respected actors of his generation, with an impressive career spanning over six decades and covering not just movies and TV projects but also music. Lee became widely known after playing Dracula in seven Hammer Horror movies, which also made him one of the most iconic horror actors ever. Outside his Dracula movies, one of Lee’s most notable horror movies is The Wicker Man.

The Wicker Man was directed by Robin Hardy, written by Anthony Shaffer, and inspired by David Pinner’s 1967 novel Ritual. The Wicker Man is a folk horror movie that follows Sgt. Neil Howie (Edward Woodward), who travels to the island of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. There...

Path of Exile 2 has had an explosive debut getting over hundreds of thousands of players in its first month. And while the game already has a massive community and good player retention, its co-op system has been a big sore point.

The game has been one of the biggest hits in recent memory, but it has this big flaw. | Image Credit: Grinding Gear Games.

While the game offers crossplay and couch co-op, many issues have been reported by players. The reports include uneven loot distribution, lack of progression parity, and problematic level scaling. This has made playing with your friends very difficult and annoying, especially if you’re the higher level player.

Path of Exile 2 is very good, but it’s not without issues There’s a surprising amount of problems here. | Image Credit: Grinding Gear Games.

One of the most glaring issues is the disparity in loot distribution during co-op encounters.

Apart from trying to avoid back-to-back Stephen King, trust me, he will be coming back this year as its kind of inevitable, I also like looking at modern horror adaptations. This is two-fold as the internet has done the 80s and 90s to death but also because there are some genuinely original and fantastic IPs that have yet to get the spotlight they deserve. The most recent example of this is The Ruins which is a horror one hit wonder from Scott Smith, yeah, he did other things but that was his only horror novel, and that’s a cool and original piece. The Ritual wasn’t one of those immediate releases where the book was churned into a movie before the book had time to cook and it is the only adaptation from a very U.K author’s works. While the movie did extremely well on Netflix and...

Wales Interactive is staying on course with their post-launch roadmap for Sker Ritual, announcing their new free content drop in “House of the Damned”, scheduled to arrive on July 22. The update, which includes a new map, new weapons, new cosmetics and more, gets its first look in a brief teaser trailer that you can watch below.

Along with the eponymous new map, player can also indulge themselves with a new standard weapon in the upgraded version of the Pistolet Stamped Smg, which upon reaching Tier 3 will now be called “The Rattler”. Along with The Rattler, players can also snag “The Corpse Grinder”, a brand new special weapon ready to shred blood, flesh, and bone during it’s ‘reload’. Exclusive to House of the Damned, with a rare chance at Lucky in other levels, you’ll need to pick up The Corpse Grinder in order to complete the main Ee mission.

Exploring Harry Jowsey’s Net Worth, Career, Age, And More. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Have you ever wondered about the net worth of the cast of reality TV stars, who we don’t know enter the villa to actually find love or get their hands on the cash? Netflix’s reality shows like Perfect Match, Too Hot to Handle, and others are catching up the viewership ratings significantly and we’ve one person in mind who actually caught a lot of attention because of his “playboy” identity.

Harry Jowsey, the 27-year-old social media influencer and fashion model first stepped into reality TV in Heartbreak Island. His recent appearance in The Perfect Match Season 2 has again brought him too much limelight, especially since he became a changed man from what he was before. Let’s learn everything we know about Jowsey.

Harry Jowsey’s Career

Harry Jowsey was raised in Yeppoon, Australia,...

Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent is detailing how she lost her virginity to a man with a very weird ritual. She has spoken about this incident on the show and in her book. Now, she feels the need to delve deeper but what more is she sharing? Keep reading for more details.

Lala Kent Details Losing Virginity To Man With Weird Ritual

During Season 11 of Vanderpump Rules, Lala Kent admitted she still struggled with finding a partner. After her ex-fiance and baby daddy, Randall Emmett betrayed her, her trust was broken and she was even leery of the people her friends dated. That was why, when she wanted to have a second child, she decided to do it on her own. She underwent Iui and found what she felt was the right donor. Now, she is due with her second daughter in September 2024. However, fans of the show and of...

In December of 1973, two movies that would change the face of horror and the ways it dealt with religion and spirituality were released. One was an instant hit, immediately changing the landscape of the genre forever. The other was severely cut by executives who simply did not understand it and unceremoniously slapped into the B-picture slot on double bills with Don’t Look Now, where it seemed to die a quick death. Over time, it grew from an underground cult discovery to a genre-defining masterpiece. The former is, of course, William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist, which remains a terrifying and inimitable masterpiece. The latter is Robin Hardy and Anthony Schaffer’s The Wicker Man, a truly remarkable film that became a flashpoint for an emerging subgenre—Folk Horror. Though both films deal in religion, The Exorcist and The Wicker Man could not be more divided in their approach to the subject.

Al Pacino and Dan Stevens have been cast in 'The Ritual'.The duo will play troubled priests in the exorcism horror film from director David Midell.XYZ Films have acquired worldwide rights to the project – which is based on a true story and has been written by Midell and Enrico Natale - and are planning to release it in cinemas in 2025 and arrange international distribution at the forthcoming Cannes market.'The Ritual' follows a pair of priests – one who is questioning his faith (Stevens) and another reckoning with a troubled past (Pacino) – who have to put their differences aside to save a possessed young woman through a dangerous series of exorcisms.The flick is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose demonic possession concluded with harrowing exorcisms.Dan, 41, is coming off the back of a part in the monster movie 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire...

There are few platformers that promise the idea of diverse challenges, intricate level design, and art direction that calms the child within you. With such innocence, Planet of Lana brings a vibrant world to life that isn’t afraid of keeping things simple yet feeling confident about it.

Games like Limbo and Ori and the Will of the Wisps have always held a special place in my heart, especially when I crave a side-scroller that brings a tear to the eye. Planet of Lana successfully tells a story without saying much. With an adorable companion by your side and a young girl who’s making sense of a planet that’s starting to feel overwhelmed, this game should easily be on your to-game list.

Planet of Lana is available on Xbox Game Pass, along with Steam, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.

Keep Moving, There...

Born December 7th, 1979, Ayako Fujitani grew up in Osaka, Japan, loving movies at a young age. Whether horror, science-fiction, or drama, it didn't matter so long as it delivered. Fast forward to her teens, following an opportunity to present renowned actor Hiroyuki Sanada with a bouquet at a local film festival, something stood out to director Shusuke Kaneko. Hence, he offered her an audition opportunity for a lead part in his film “Gamera: Guardian of the Universe.” Initially hesitant but curious, the youth went to the audition but walked away feeling unsatisfied with how they did. Then, she got the part. Following guidance during the movie's production and its preceding sequels, Ayako grew as an actor, pursued more challenging roles moving forward, and also became active as a writer. Since then, she frequently works internationally.

Ayako Fujitani is a terrific actress with a lot of range who can make her characters feel real.

Indie filmmaker Mickey Keating (Darling, Ritual, Carnage Park, Pod, Offseason) is back here in 2024 with new home invasion horror movie Invader, and Bloody Disgusting has been exclusively provided with the teaser trailer, poster and release information this morning.

Keating partners with producer/star Joe Swanberg for Invader, and we’ve learned that it’s headed to Alamo Drafthouse cinemas.

Invader will open in the following four Alamo locations on March 15, 2024:

Alamo Drafthouse Downtown LA (Los Angeles) Alamo Drafthouse Lower Manhattan (New York) Alamo Drafthouse Wrigleyville (Chicago) Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (Austin)

Alamo Drafthouse will have the film exclusively for one week.

In the horror movie from writer/director Keating, “A young woman arrives in the Chicago suburbs and begins to suspect that something terrible has happened to her missing cousin, but soon realizes that her greatest fears don’t even begin to scratch the surface.”

Vero Maynez, Colin Huerta,...

The Ritual's introduction of the Jötunn, a terrifying creature from Norse mythology, has sparked conversations and added a pervading sense of dread to the horror movie. The Jötunn in The Ritual combines folklore horror and mythology with an aesthetic reminiscent of movies like The Thing or Silent Hill, making it visually striking and unique. While the Jötunn in the movie differs from traditional Norse mythology, it aligns with the mythological elements of nature spirits and their tumultuous relationship with humans, a common theme in folk horror.

The Netflix original horror movie, The Ritual, channeled some of the darker, more terrifying elements of Norse mythology through its introduction of a terrifying creature known as the Jötunn. Directed by David Bruckner, The Ritual premiered in 2017 to strong critical consensus, which praised the pervading sense of dread throughout the film. The Ritual's all-star British cast of Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier,...

300 is a highly entertaining film, but it is one of the most historically inaccurate movies. The film dangerously idealizes Spartan society, ignoring their oppressive and prejudiced culture. 300 misrepresents the attire of Spartan warriors and depicts the Persian army as fantasy-style villains.

The 2006 historical fantasy film 300 provides a retelling of the infamous Battle of Thermopylae, and many viewers wonder if 300 is a true story. The truth is complex, as 300 is based on real events, but just like the source material — the graphic novel of the same name by Frank Miller — it takes significant creative liberties. 300 is well-known for its unique filming techniques that make the film feel like the comic book series it is loosely based on, also called 300. While 300 is a highly entertaining film with incredible shots and strong performances, it is probably one of the most historically inaccurate movies.

300 is meant to exaggerate history,...

1973's The Wicker Man, based on David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual, is not an easy film to pigeonhole into a specific genre. At times, it's a crime thriller, a musical, a cerebral statement on religion and the masses, and, the one it fits closest to, horror. There's no gore, no jump scares, no boogeymen, and yet it earns its title as a horror, folk horror specifically, cult classic. 50 years after its release, Its influence can still be felt in today's horror movies. It poses several questions. How do you find a missing girl if there's no missing girl to be found? How do you know what's real and what's not? Can one man stay true to his faith in the face of those who openly defy it? The horror of The Wicker Man isn't even necessarily what's on screen, but what stays with you afterward.

The Wicker Man's infamous 2006 remake starring Nicolas Cage hurt the reputation of the original 1973 film. The original Wicker Man from 1973 tells the same story a thousand times smarter, making it one of the greatest horror movies ever made. The 50th anniversary of the original Wicker Man is a good opportunity to re-discover it, and put the Nicolas Cage version on the pop-cultural back seat.

Mention The Wicker Man, and the go-to response is to invoke the infamous 2006 disaster starring Nicolas Cage. It bombed on first release and has since attained the same dubious status as Battlefield: Earth and the 1980s Howard the Duck. Today, it's probably best known for the memes that arose from it, featuring Cage delivering manic lines like "How'd it get Burned?!" and "the bees… the Bees…"

Certainly, the film deserves every bit of its reputation as a well-meaning effort sunk beneath the weight of unfortunate creative decisions.

The Wicker Man: The Official Story of the Film offers exclusive images and behind-the-scenes looks into the cult classic's journey from development to cult popularity. The movie faced numerous troubles during production and post-production, including financial issues and studio demands for cuts to the film. Despite setbacks, The Wicker Man has become a cult classic and has influenced other movies in the folk horror genre, including Ari Aster's Midsommar.

Take a trip back to the mysterious island of Summerisle with exclusive images from The Wicker Man: The Official Story of the Film. Partially inspired by the David Pinner novel Ritual, the 1973 British horror movie centered on a police officer heading to an isolated island community after learning of a young girl who's gone missing, only to be shocked by the pagan rituals conducted by the locals and learning of a darker game at play. Led by Edward Woodward and Christopher Lee,...

Quick Links How to Start the Altars of Summoning Every Available Altar of Summoning Encounter Rewards from Finishing Altars of Summoning

The Season of the Witch released for Destiny 2 challenges ambitious Guardians with Altars of Summoning event rituals to complete in reverence to the new Hive god of Vengeance, Eris Morn. Three players can approach this seasonal content in fast-paced arenas of various difficulties. Many rare rewards are available for those who take on these Altars more than once, from unique Engrams to even a powerful weapon.

You have to finish the beginning quests for the Season of the Witch before you can access the Altars of Summoning, starting with the "Toil and Trouble" mission. Your character also needs to have a Power Level of 1760, or else you can't join your friends when they try to tackle the ritual challenges. Feel free to meet rare objectives, such as the Warpriest...

Director David Bruckner is eager to create a follow-up to his Hellraiser reboot, but is still waiting to find out if there will be more movies in the franchise. While the 2022 Hellraiser film received positive reviews from critics, audiences were not as enthusiastic about the reboot. Bruckner expressed his admiration for the original Hellraiser film and the world that was created, and he hopes to have the opportunity to continue exploring it if the audience responds positively.

During an exclusive chat with ComicBook.com, director David Bruckner discussed the future of the Hellraiser franchise and revealed that he's still waiting to find out if there's going to be more movies.

In 2022, Bruckner's Hellraiser reboot was released on Hulu. The Night House director's reimagining of Clive Barker's popular franchise starred Jamie Clayton, Goran Visnjic, Hiam Abbass, Brandon Flynn, and Drew Starkey. While the film received mainly positive reviews from critics,...

Ghost have hit the road for a summer US tour, bringing fellow Swedes Amon Amarth along for the ride. The “Re-Imperator” officially kicked off with a packed show Wednesday night (August 2nd) at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, California.

Supporting their latest release, The Great Heathen Army, Amon Amarth got the ball rolling with a nine-song setlist that had the metalheads in the already full venue singing along. The band kicked off the set with “Raven’s Flight,” complete with a viking helmet drum riser, and two massive swordsman statues on either side of the stage. “Put Your Back into the Oar” was easily the crowd favorite of the set, as made obvious by the fans rowing along to the song. By the time the band wrapped up their brief set with “Twilight of the Thunder Guard,” the entire venue was primed for the headliners.

With “Imperium” blasting over the Pa as the curtain dropped,...

The writers strike caused a lot of films and TV shows to shut down production a couple months ago – and a lot more that were able to continue filming without writers have since been shut down by the Screen Actors Guild strike. But if a production happens to be independent, it can receive a waiver that will allow it to continue filming and its actors will continue working, even if they’re SAG members. Deadline and Variety report that some of the projects that have received SAG waivers include the Sam Raimi-produced horror film Don’t Move, the Mel Gibson / Mark Wahlberg thriller Flight Risk, the thriller The Watchers, and Hannibal TV series creator Bryan Fuller’s Dust Bunny, starring Mads Mikkelsen and Sigourney Weaver.

Nearly fifty movies and TV shows have received waivers so far. Some of them have even already been completed, but needed a waiver so the...

Hunting Xenomorphs is literally a part of the Predators’ culture, however, Alien reveals the one planet the Yautja would never go to kill Xenomorphs (for more reasons than one). Predators hunt Xenomorphs as a part of their coming of age ceremony known as the Blooding Ritual. For a Yautja to become a mature member of its clan, they have to kill a Xenomorph (or a team of them has to wipe out a small hive of Xenomorphs) and then brand itself with the mark of their clan using their dead Xenomorph’s acid blood. The Blooding Ritual is featured in almost every Alien vs Predator story, including the 2004 film, as that is generally the basis for their conflict. To ensure that Xenomorph life is thriving in the galaxy in order to continue this important rite of passage tradition, Predators even go so far as to abduct Queen Aliens and spread...

Director Robin Hardy’s 1973 folk horror film The Wicker Man (watch it Here) is considered to be a genre classic – and the folks at Studio Canal are certainly showing it a lot of love and respect with their upcoming 5-disc collector’s edition release, which will contain Blu-ray (which may be locked to Region B) and 4K Uhd (All Region) discs. The street date for this release is September 4th – and before that, Studio Canal will also be holding a “one night only” theatrical re-release event on June 21st.

In addition to the 5-disc collector’s edition, there will be a new digital release and a steelbook.

Inspired by David Pinner’s 1967 novel Ritual, The Wicker Man was directed by Hardy from a screenplay by Anthony Shaffer. The film has the following synopsis: When a young girl mysteriously disappears, Police Sergeant Howie travels to a remote Scottish island to investigate.

Classic folk horror movie The Wicker Man turns fifty later this year, but today, May 1, 2023, makes for the perfect time to celebrate its momentous anniversary.

The entire premise centers around May Day festivities, after all, building its horror around the themes of rebirth, fertility, and the driving desire for an isolated community to thrive with a fruitful harvest. What’s now considered a foundational pillar of folk horror wasn’t always the case. The Wicker Man eschewed conventional horror tactics that puzzled upon initial release, mining its ultimate terror from one unforgettable ending.

The opening text attempts to establish authenticity with a producer’s thanks to Lord Summerisle (Christopher Lee) and his people for cooperating with the film’s production and providing insight into their religion and culture. It then cuts to a seaplane arriving at the remote Summerisle setting over the opening credits, introducing Police Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward...

The universe of American Horror Story is inhabited by all types of creatures and magical entities, including witches and warlocks, but only a couple have completed the Seven Wonders test – and here’s every one of them. Although each season of American Horror Story tells a different story, with time, they have formed a universe with events and characters referenced in other seasons, and it even had a crossover season with Apocalypse.

American Horror Story: Apocalypse brought together Murder House, Coven, and Hotel and introduced new characters with special abilities, including witches and warlocks. Following what Coven established about witches and warlocks and the tests they go through in order to prove their power, some characters went through the Seven Wonders test, used to determine who will be the Supreme Witch. Those who take the test have to demonstrate that they possess the powers of telekinesis, concilium, descensum, transmutation, pyrokinesis,...

Alex Westthorp Oct 1, 2019

Witches, demons and ancient pagan rituals: Alex explores the use of folk horror in the Doctor's adventures...

This article originally ran on Den of Geek UK.

Thought to be a relatively recent term, coined by director Piers Haggard and popularised by Doctor Who's own Mark Gatiss, "folk horror" is essentially horror based on old countryside folklore. It is a sub-genre of occult fiction, which encompasses paganism, witchcraft, superstition, legends and the traditions of the countryside. Often texts will refer to "Green man" rituals, stone circles, Devil worship, disfigurement and the "memories" of the earth.

In the cinema, folk horror is at the fore in films like the 1967 Hammer classic The Devil Rides Out, Terence Fisher's vision of the 1934 novel by Denis Wheatley, Piers Haggard's own 1974 film Blood On Satan's Claw (which incidentally features a terrific cast including a pre-Who Anthony Ainley and a post-Who Wendy Padbury...

Chances are you know Hideaki Anno only from his involvement in Evangelion. The man rose to fame when his series aired 15 years ago. It marked the start for a series of sequels, reboots, manga adaptations and an unlimited slew of marketing potential. But Hideaki Anno is more than just Evangelion, he also made a couple of live action film of which Shiki-Jitsu is by far the most accomplished one. A ravishing look into the mind of an exceptional (and exceptionally distraught) woman, brought to life the way only an animation expert could.Hideaki Anno may be one of the most famous anime directors out there (Evangelion being one of the most critically acclaimed animation series), but very few people seems to care for his live...