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Film Independent is currently in the middle of a Matching Campaign to raise support for the next 30 years of filmmaker support. All donations make before or on September 15 will be doubled—dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000. To kick off the campaign, we’re re-posting a few of our most popular blogs.

Among other consumer benefits, one major upside to the increasing niche-ification of popular culture has been the continuing emergence of esoteric micro-genres of film and TV. Twenty years ago, you might not necessarily think of “horror documentaries” as its own subgenre. Sure, there were documentaries that maybe fell a little more on the creepy/unsettling side, but it was rare that a nonfiction film would be tailored to appeal to a horror-first genre audience. Now, of course, things are different. In recent years, a robust tradition of terrifying nonfiction films have emerged, many as terrifying – or even more eerie – than their traditional narrative counterparts.

Ah, December. A time for sipping hot beverages, retail therapy, and gathering the family around the television. This holiday season, Netflix will add blockbuster comedies new and old to its collection, as well as some more artistic fare fresh from festival circuit. Next month on the streaming platform, home viewers can catch the comedic stylings of Chris Pratt in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” in case they missed it in theaters. If you prefer something a little darker, the Wachowskis’ dystopian epic “V for Vendetta” will also be available.

Read More:‘American Crime Story: Versace’ Trailer: Ryan Murphy’s FX Series Goes Back to the ’90s for Fashion World Murder

Jim Carrey may be recently known for his painting skills and red carpet nihilism, but back in the ’90s he was just “Ace Ventura.” Beginning in December, you can revisit both “Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls” and “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

The remains of five young women were found in the marshes alongside Gilgo Beach, a remote spit of land on the south shore of Long Island, between December 2010 and March 2011. Parts of five more bodies were discovered in the same area the following month. Detectives theorized the murders were the work of a serial killer but turned up no suspects. The cases went cold and stayed cold. Police were accused of obfuscation and corruption, charges that would later prove true.

But there was something else, perhaps, hindering the investigations. The first five victims were identified as escorts, women who advertised their services online. Did police slack on solving the cases because they considered sex workers culpable for their own murders? How do you square a TV crew member, reporting on the search at Gilgo Beach, being overheard to say, “I can’t believe they’re doing all this for a...

I’m swamped with life, and movies/TV that I Have to watch, so my recreational October horror movie consumption is taking a hit. Slow week, for me. Oh, well, soon Exhumed Films 24 Hour Horror-Thon will be upon us, and I will be inside of a theater with movies on-film playing continuously for 24 straight hours. That should even me out. We have a mixed bag this week, including the new episode of The Walking Dead, which I am told is being counted.

The Walking Dead – Season 5, episode 1 “No Sanctuary” Sunday, October 12th – 66 minutes – 2 pts

Love it or hate it, The Walking Dead is here to stay. I’m one of the ones that love it, and this episode was one of the best of the entire series. Tons of action, and formerly-weak characters being total badasses. They didn’t meander, or spend an entire season setting up how the group would escape Terminus.

Available now on VOD and DVD is writer/director Joshua Zeman's urban legend documentary Killer Legends. For those who've seen Zeman's solid 2009 effort Cropsey, Killer Legends is a continuation of the filmmaker's interest not just in urban legends but in the real stories behind the tales. Rather than focus on one subject like its predecessor, though, Legends is made up of four vignettes each devoted to a true crime that helped shape some of our most widely recognized legends: The Candyman, The Killer Clown, The Babysitter Murders, and The Hookman. Individually, I found Zeman's look at "The Hookman" and its ties to the "Moonlight Murders" of Texarkana in 1946 (the inspiration for Charles B. Pierce's The Town That Dreaded Sundown) to be the strongest of the four. On the whole, the doc is a fascinating project that seamlessly blends elements of crime, horror, and nostalgia as you recall the...

We return with the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes a new trailer for Repentance and Rockabilly Zombie Weekend, details on the Sundance Next Fest Lineup, Eat Men Like Air, Mindless, and much more:

First Rockabilly Zombie Weekend Trailer: “When Becky and Grant arrive at their rockabilly-themed wedding, despite warnings of a West Nile Virus outbreak, things go horribly wrong as the mosquito-spread virus spawns zombies, who begin feeding on the wedding guests as well as the other locals. The two newlyweds have to escape along with their family and friends if they ever want to live to see their honeymoon!

Rockabilly Zombie Weekend is a new feature length horror thriller with a rocking twist on the modern zombie film. It’s currently being released on DVD on July 1st, 2014 through Green Apple Entertainment. The film (as well as other merchandise) can...

Director Josh Zeman's Killer Legends - a documentary exploration of the truth behind a quartet of popular urban legends from the helmer of the acclaimed Cropsey - hits DVD on July 1st and we've got a trio of DVD copies to give away to lucky Twitch readers!Along with producer and co-host Rachel Mills, Zeman here looks into the historical basis for four urban legends: The Candyman, The Babysitter And The Man Upstairs, The Hookman and The Killer Clown. Check out the pair of teasers we released for the film below and email me here for your chance to win a DVD. Remember to include your mailing address!...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

The documentary Killer Legends will be available on DVD nationwide July 1st from Breaking Glass Pictures, and right now we have your chance to score a copy on us for free. That's right... free. You don't have to do a damn thing other than click for details!

To enter for your chance to win, just send us an email at contests@dreadcentral.com including your Full Name And Mailing Address. We’ll take care of the rest.

This contest will end on at 12:01 Am Pt on June 30th.

Killer Legends follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate four timeless legends that continue to haunt the American public. Directed by Zeman, the documentary examines the urban legends of The Candyman, The Killer Clown, The Baby-Sitter and the Man Upstairs, and The Hookman.

The DVD release (Srp $19.99) will also include seven special features on the legendary quartet.

Joshua and Rachel travel to Houston,...

This year's crop of fictional horror films has been pretty disappointing so far, but maybe the documentary Killer Legends, available on DVD nationwide July 1st from Breaking Glass Pictures, can add some chill to our hot summer months.

Killer Legends follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate four timeless legends that continue to haunt the American public. Directed by Zeman, the documentary examines the urban legends of The Candyman, The Killer Clown, The Baby-Sitter and the Man Upstairs, and The Hookman.

The DVD release (Srp $19.99) will also include seven special features on the legendary quartet.

Joshua and Rachel travel to Houston, Texas, where they explore the tainted candy legend parents fear every Halloween. In Columbia, Missouri. they compare The Baby-Sitter and the Man Upstairs legend to the unsolved murder of Janett Christman - a babysitter found murdered in 1950. In Texarkana, Texas, the filmmakers investigate the real-life case...

Urban Legends, as scary as they may be are really just warnings for something much more dangerous, the reality that started it all. Every town has it's Legends and every neighborhood has it's Boogeymen. Breaking Glass Pictures and director Joshua Zeman bring to us the real life Horror documentary Killer Legends. Zeman, along with his fellow filmmaker Rachel Mills go on a quest to uncover the truth about Urban Legends. The documentary is coming in…...

Stars: Joshua Zeman, Rachel Mills | Written and Directed by Joshua Zeman

Review by Scott Clark of Cinehouse

In 2010 Joshua Zeman’s Cropsey investigated the point where folklore and real life merge. Killer Legends builds on Zeman’s fascination with the true-crime origins of urban legends, exploring how such tales are manufactured and perpetuated.

From the start it’s a far more accomplished piece of investigatory work than Cropsey, the scope and depth of analysis provides genuine insight into what kind of circumstance can queue the inception of contemporary folklore. For such purposes, Zeman picks the most popular urban legends: the hook handed killer on Lover’s Lane, the babysitter and the call from inside the house, the razor blades in the Halloween candy, etc. For each of these popular folk tales Zeman, and his research partner Rachel Mills, strip back the façade to find the real and often-unsettling truth behind the legend.

Attention, New York! Nitehawk Cinema in Brooklyn has been developing its "Signature Series" program for some time, including revisiting the more mainstream ‘70s pornography for "Nitehawk Naughties", which will continue into the summer months.

Now, their "One Nite Only" series will highlight nine upcoming films including artist and music documentaries, re-releases and anniversaries, restorations and classic repertory films.

Tonight at 9:30 P.M. Et, Nitehawk presents a special One Nite Only screening of the new horror documentary Killer Legends in celebration of its upcoming March 16 premiere on the Chiller Network. The event includes a Q&A with filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills moderated by Fangoria’s Sam Zimmerman. If you enjoyed the documentary Cropsey from Zeman and are in or around Brooklyn this evening, Killer Legends looks to explore the true origins of urban legends on a much grander scale than the more intimate, personal exploration in Cropsey.

Killer Legends...

Cropsey director Josh Zeman's latest exploration of dark true crime, Killer Legends, will soon be upon us with a sneak peak screening scheduled for Brooklyn's Nitehawk Cinema on March 13th prior to the premiere on Chiller March 16th at 8pm. And to get you into the mood, we've got a second exclusive trailer for you.Killer Legends explores the truth behind a quartet of popular urban legends - The Candyman, The Babysitter And The Man Upstairs, The Hookman and The Killer Clown - with this trailer focusing on the most notorious clown of them all: John Wayne Gacy. Take a look below....

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Chiller TV will debut its newest special, "Killer Legends," on Sunday, March 16th. It is hosted and directed by Josh Zeman (Cropsey) and explores true crime stories behind popular urban legends. Right now we have another Exclusive clip from the show for you to check out!

The hair-raising two-hour event, which begins at 8 Pm Et, focuses on four timeless urban legends that haunt the psyche of the American public. This horror documentary follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate the true crimes that may have spawned these urban legends while exploring how these myths evolved and why we continue to believe.

The documentary probes the following legends:

The Candyman: The film takes viewers to Houston, Texas, to explore the legend of tainted candy that strikes fear in parents every Halloween. Though the legend is prolific, in actuality there is only one documented case of a child dying...

Back in 2009 director Josh Zeman created something of a stir with his dark and disturbing documentary Cropsey, a deconstruction and exploration of the real life basis of an urban legend from his home town. And Zeman is back now and mining similar territory with his upcoming Chiller backed follow up Killer Legends.Along with producer and co-host Rachel Mills, Zeman here looks into the historical basis for four urban legends: The Candyman, The Babysitter And The Man Upstairs, The Hookman and The Killer Clown. Want a taste of what's coming? We've got an exclusive Killer Legends trailer for you here. Titled Imitation of Death, this one focuses on the Hookman segment of the film and the so called Moonlight Murders that occurred in Texarkana in...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Having grown up in Brooklyn, New York, I can tell you first-hand there's no shortage of cool things to do. Well, if you're in the city that never sleeps, we are about to add something to the ever expanding list of coolness - we are giving away two tickets for the upcoming screening of "Killer Legends"!

Nitehawk Cinema (in Williamsburg/Brooklyn) presents a special one night only screening on Thursday, March 13, at 9:30 Pm of the new horror documentary Killer Legends" in celebration of its upcoming March 16 premiere on the Chiller Network.

The screening will also include a Q&A with filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills moderated by Fangoria’s Sam Zimmerman!

To enter for your chance to win, just send us an E-mail Here including your Full Name And Mailing Address. We’ll take care of the rest and inform the winner by 5 Pm on Tuesday, March 11.

The...

On Sunday, March 16th, Chiller TV will debut its newest special, "Killer Legends," hosted and directed by Josh Zeman (Cropsey), which explores true crime stories behind popular urban legends. Right now we have an Exclusive clip for you to check out!

The hair-raising two-hour event, which begins at 8 Pm Et, focuses on four timeless urban legends that haunt the psyche of the American public. This horror documentary follows filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Rachel Mills as they investigate the true crimes that may have spawned these urban legends while exploring how these myths evolved and why we continue to believe.

The documentary probes the following legends:

The Candyman: The film takes viewers to Houston, Texas, to explore the legend of tainted candy that strikes fear in parents every Halloween. Though the legend is prolific, in actuality there is only one documented case of a child dying from tainted candy: 8-year-old Timothy O’Bryan.