News

Brian DePalma’s Carrie (1976) has cast a very wide shadow since it hit theatres. Many horror films have used the trope of telekinesis for the greater bad following its release, including Jennifer, The Fury, Patrick, The Medusa Touch (all ’78), Scanners (’81), and several more. (You can’t make me mention Friday the 13th Part VII. Oh. Dammit.) Of course, television is anything if not inclusive, and the networks scrambled to come up with their own takes on teenage angst. However, ABC’s The Initiation of Sarah (1978) took a slightly different tact and sent the girl off to college – and ended up serving a strong dose of female empowerment.

First broadcast on Monday, February 6th, Sarah had her work cut out, not so much from NBC, who provided their own Monday Night at the Movies, but from CBS’ juggernaut of M*A*S*H/One Day at a Time. Regardless of ratings,...

Stars: Alix Elizabeth Gitter, Erick Avari, Steve Bacic, James C. Burns, James Cavlo, Tadhg Kelly, James Ralph, Tara Westwood, Jade Ramsey, Nikita Ramsey | Written by Cam Cannon, Rachel Long, Brian Pittman | Directed by Brett Donowho

Recently orphaned teen Jordan is sent to live with her aunt and uncle in the small town of Silver Falls. Clashing with her newfound guardians, Jordan develops a burgeoning friendship with a curious classmate that leads to a shocking discovery; according to local legend, two young twins who were killed by their father have cast a dark spell over Silver Falls. When Jordan finds a mysterious ring, the murdered girls’ restless spirits begin to shadow her every move. Meanwhile, Jordan’s concerned aunt and uncle refer her to a therapist who sees medication and hospitalization as the only solution to her problems. As the frightened teen fights to prove her sanity, a killer draws near.

“If a movie makes you happy, for whatever reason, then it’s a good movie.”

—Big E

*******Warning: Review Contains Spoilers*******

By Ernie Magnotta

If there’s one thing I love, it’s 1970s made-for-tv horror films. I remember sitting in front of the television as a kid and watching a plethora of films such as Gargoyles, Bad Ronald, Satan’s School for Girls, Horror at 37,000 Feet, Devil Dog: Hound of Hell, Scream Pretty Peggy, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Moon of the Wolf and The Initiation of Sarah just to name a few. Some of those are better than others, but all were fun.

When I think back, there have been some legendary names associated with small screen horrors. Genre masters John Carpenter (Halloween), Steven Spielberg (Jaws), Wes Craven (Nightmare on Elm Street), Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and Joseph Stefano (Psycho) all took shots at television...

Boardwalk Empire, Ep. 5.08: “Eldorado” leaves only the dust and ash of regret

That it seemed obvious for the series’ finale to send Nucky out was a bit of a given, considering the telegraphed nature of the flashback conceit which had been building for the entirety of this season. There were glimpses of hope, and chances for atonement but the clock had already run out by the time Nucky took his final stroll down the boardwalk…. click here to read the article.

‘Neverending Nightmares’ is truly neverending

Based on designer Matt Gilgenbach’s battle with obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression, Neverending Nightmares is a psychological horror game that amplifies feelings of unease through repetition in a minimalist setting. Personally, this was the most difficult game for me to finish because of the content. There were several moments when I just had to stop and seriously question whether or not I could feasibly finish the game.

The fall premieres and finales continue on this week, giving us plenty of TV to discuss on the podcast. First we take a look at the comedies, including a preview of Eliza Coupe’s new comedy Benched, a look at the Mike Tyson Mysteries pilot and Newsreaders premiere, and a deep dive with the fabulous Jane the Virgin. Then Kate does another Genre Roundup before we talk Marvel’s Agents of Shield, and we close out the week with the dramas, including the series finale of Boardwalk Empire. Afterward, Steve Prokopy, Capone of AICN, comes back to the DVD Shelf for the fifth installment of Steve Prokopy’s Horror Picks, this time looking at the 1978 TV movies The Initiation of Sarah and Are You in the House Alone?

Our Week in Comedy (11:02-34:52): Mike Tyson Mysteries pilot, Newsreaders premiere, Preview Benched, blackish, Jane the Virgin

Our Week...

With Tom Holland’s latest series now available on FEARnet and VOD entitled “Twisted Tales” and his group of short stories exclusively for the Kindle, “Untold Tales”, Holland is entering into a new creative stage in his long and varied career as an actor, writer, director, and producer.

The legendary creator of Fright Night, Child’s Play, Cloak & Dagger, and Psycho II (just to name a few), Holland recently reached out to Dread Central to discuss his thoughts on the new incarnation of Fright Night 2: New Blood (review) from director Eduardo Rodriguez, the new FEARnet series, and his upcoming projects including his desire to remake his 1982 screenplay The Beast Within. There’s also a great update about adapting Stephen King’s “The Ten O’Clock People” showing how both writers are working together to make the story fit more into the modern world.

Dread Central: So, you saw the...

With all of the classic horror titles that Scream Factory will be bringing to Blu-ray over the next six months, it’s a good chance that you’ve missed an announcement or two. There have also been a couple of date changes and we have a list of more than thirty upcoming titles.

Many of the movies listed below will be released to Blu-ray and DVD, while a handful are DVD only or Blu-ray only. We’re covering every upcoming Scream Factory release, so make sure to check back regularly for trailers, clips, box art, and additional release details.

The Amityville Trilogy Box Set (10/1) All Night Horror Marathon (What’s the Matter with Helen, The Vagrant, The Godsend, The Outing) (10/8) The Vincent Price Collection (10/22) Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear (10/22) All Night Horror Marathon 2 (Cellar Dweller, The Dungeonmaster, Contamination 7, Catacombs) (10/29) Body Bags (11/12) Assault on Precinct 13 (11/19) Night of the Comet (11/19) Eve of Destruction...

In addition to the Scream Factory's Huge news that Nightbreed: The Cabal Cut is on its way to home video, they also announced several other titles that are coming at ya!

John Carpenter’S Assault On Precinct 13 (Collector’s Edition) – The original classic siege thriller is intensified further with all-new ‘Scream’-produced extras. (Nov 2013)

Eve Of Destruction – The 1991 Gregory Hines android-gone-amok sci-fi thriller hits Blu and anamorphic widescreen for the first time.

Saturn 3 – This post-Alien 1980 Kirk Douglas and Farrah Fawcett vs. Evil Robot flick gets a considerable upgrade to Blu-ray for the first time. New extras planned. (Dec 2013)

Darkman (Collector’s Edition) – The 1990 Sam Raimi cult classic gets the full on ‘Scream’ treatment with all new extras. (Dec 2013)

Scream Factory “TV Terrors” –Two made-for-tv movies - 1978’s The Initiation Of Sarah and Are You In The House Alone? – will be packaged together on DVD for the first time at a good price.

A ton of new Scream Factory releases were announced at San Diego Comic-Con today including Clive Barker's Nightbreed The Cabal Cut, John Carpenter's Assault on Precinct 13, Cat People and more.

From the Scream Factory Facebook page:

Here’s the list of upcoming films we literally just announced at Comic-Con tonight:

John Carpenter’S Assault On Precinct 13 (Collector’s Edition) – The original classic siege thriller is intensified further with all-new ‘Scream’-produced extras. (Nov 2012)

Eve Of Destruction – The 1991 Gregory Hines android-gone-amok sci-fi thriller hits Blu and anamorphic widescreen for the first time.

Saturn 3 – This post-Alien 1980 Kirk Douglas and Farrah Fawcett vs. Evil Robot flick gets a considerable upgrade to Blu-ray for the first time. New extras planned. (Dec 2012)

Darkman (Collector’s Edition) – The 1990 Sam Raimi cult classic gets the full on ‘Scream’ treatment with all new extras. (Dec 2012)

Scream Factory “TV Terrors” –Two made-for-tv movies -...

When the current theatrical reboot (a sequel and toothless TV remake had already come and gone) of Carrie was announced, there was a lot of teeth gnashing and cries of "leave the classics alone!," mostly by me. But as details began to leak out, the prospect became more intriguing. Gay director Kimberly Pierce gave us the masterpiece Boys Don't Cry, and the fabulous Julianne Moore signed up to play Carrie's psychotic fanatical mother. Chloe Moretz doesn't look anything like Stephen King's Carrie, but then neither did Sissy Spacek, so I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

Carrie was supposed to open in March, but the studio has pushed it back to October, which means they're either hoping for Halloween dollars ... or it's a sign of a troubled production.

But while we wait to rain judgment down on the new version of our favorite telekinetic teen, let's take...

JoAnna Garcia will presumably get pulses racing as a doctor on Royal Pains, TVLine has learned exclusively — thus providing her with a convenient East Coast gig while slugger hubby Nick Swisher’s New York Yankees cruise into the post-season.

USA Network Schedules November Runs for Burn Notice and Covert Affairs

In multiple episodes of USA Network’s medical dramedy, Garcia will play Dr. Nina Greene, a smart and compassionate nephrologist who may or may not be a former child star. The doc’s possibly famous-ish background comes to the fore when she is pressed on the issue by patient Jack O’Malley,...

Made for television horror films thrived in the 70's with strong offerings like Trilogy of Terror, Satan's School For Girls, The Initiation of Sarah, and Don't Be Afraid of the Dark. However, in the 80's there was a decline in quality. In the 90's TV horror movies thrived yet again, especially those that were adpatations of Stephen King books. We got such films as It (1990), Sometimes They Come Back, The Stand, The Tommyknockers, The Longoliers and the Shining (1997). My pick for favorite made for television horror film is also another adaptation of a Stephen King work and a remake at that. Before you get all made at me for picking a remake, let me argue the facts of the case. So I give you…..

Salem's Lot (2004) - A remake of a made for television movie. This remake of Salem's Lot also premiered on TV on the TNT network. The film...

The Believers (1987) Favorite occult themed horror movie? Hmmmm...... odly enough TV movies come to mind right away - The Initiation of Sarah, I've Been Waiting For You and Satan's School for Girls. I've been meaning to get around to watching that remake of Ssfg with Shannon Doherty in it for a minute now, now that I think about it! While, I enjoyed the above films, especially I've Been Waiting For You, my pick goes to a film that I think is one of the scariest horror films to have ever come out and it ranks in my top 10 horror films of the 80's. So without further hesitation, I give you........

The Believers - The Believers involves a father and son coping with the death of their wife/mother, but they won't have much time to get their lives back together as the son has been selected to be the next...