Tuesday, 1 April 2025

PREVIEW: Don't Turn Out The Lights (2025 Film) A Relentless Descent into Terror

Don't Turn Out The Lights
 

Prepare for an unrelenting nightmare with Don't Turn Out The Lights, a brutal supernatural horror from Anaconda producer Andy Fickman, out now on digital platforms courtesy of 101 Films. What begins as a carefree road trip soon becomes a blood-soaked fight for survival as a group of friends en route to a music festival take a wrong turn into pure terror. Stranded in the middle of nowhere with no signal, no help, and something watching from the darkness, their dream weekend quickly turns into a waking nightmare.

Their camper van, once a symbol of freedom, becomes a prison as night falls and an unseen force begins to hunt them. Tension and paranoia take hold, fraying friendships and leaving them exposed to the malevolent presence stalking the shadows. One by one, they meet gruesome ends in increasingly brutal and imaginative ways, as the film revels in its slasher roots with expertly crafted practical effects and relentless gore. Even fleeting moments of respite are shattered by bursts of shocking violence, keeping the terror at a fever pitch.

Fickman masterfully builds dread, using the suffocating darkness and claustrophobic setting to prey on primal fears of the unknown. The unseen horror is ever-present, lurking just out of sight, tightening its grip until the chilling climax leaves a lasting mark.

For horror fans craving a no-holds-barred, blood-soaked thrill ride, Don't Turn Out The Lights delivers in full force. So gather your bravest friends, lock the doors, and keep a torch close, because the film is out now and you might just think twice before turning off the lights.

Apple TV - https://apple.co/3D71aXj


Monday, 31 March 2025

COMPETITION: Win Black Cab (A Shudder Original) on Blu-ray



Nick Frost gives a chilling performance as the cab driver from hell in spine-chilling horror Black Cab from director Bruce Goodison.  The film arrives on Blu-ray and digital 7th April courtesy of Acorn Media International.

And to celebrate we have a copy on Blu-ray to give away!

Synopsis:
Nick Frost gives a brilliant performance as creepy cabbie Ian, playing against type in his most sinister role yet with Synnøve Karlsen bringing an emotive and compelling performance as his tormented passenger, making this one serious spine tingler.   
 
After an awkward date Anne (Karlsen) and her controlling, abusive fiancĂ© (Luke Norris – Poldark) hail a taxi, but it quicky dawns on them that they’ve picked the wrong ride, as their night goes from bad to terrifying… 
 
Brutally abducted and tied up, the couple are at the mercy of their captor and with their destination unknown, things become even more frightening as ghostly visions of a women appear to torment them. As secrets are revealed about Anne’s past, Ian’s true motive starts to become clear. Can they escape the clutches of the disturbed driver and the bone-chilling haunting presence, or is this their final destination? 
 
With shocking twists and revelations sure to scare your socks off, this is one Black Cab ride you’ll never forget. 

Pre-Order from https://amzn.to/3Y6IYEg

Enter now for a chance to win.

Who plays Anne in Black Cab?

Send your name, address and of course the answer to competition365@outlook.com

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 14-04-25
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count and emails blacklisted due to not checking this page first.
4. Winners will be chosen randomly and will be informed via email.
5. Entries that come directly from other websites will not be accepted.

Friday, 28 March 2025

PREVIEW: Lyla (2025 Film) - A Chilling Descent into Deception

Lyla
 

Jolene Andersen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., V/H/S/Beyond) delivers a hauntingly sinister performance in Lyla, a brooding psychological thriller written, directed, and shot by Gordon Cowie. The film is set for a digital release on 31 March, courtesy of Miracle Media.

Seeking solitude to focus on his writing, Mark (Clark Moore – Monsters, Yellowstone) takes his wife Lyla and their son on a remote getaway. But Lyla harbours a dark secret, one she will go to any lengths to protect. As tension mounts, Mark’s growing suspicions pull him into a downward spiral, threatening not just his family, but his own grip on reality.

A chilling exploration of trust and manipulation, Lyla is a disturbingly gripping thriller that lingers long after the credits roll. Available on digital from 31 March.

Thursday, 27 March 2025

PREVIEW: Screamboat (2025 FIlm) - A New Slasher Horror Starring David Howard Thornton

 

David Howard Thornton, known for his chilling performance as Art the Clown in the Terrifier films, takes on a new kind of horror in Screamboat, a slasher that turns an ordinary ferry ride into a blood-soaked nightmare.

A late-night commute across New York’s waters spirals into chaos when a seemingly harmless mouse goes on a killing spree, picking off passengers one by one. Trapped at sea, the survivors must work together to stop the tiny terror before none of them make it to shore.

Joining Thornton is a cast packed with horror talent, including Kailey Hyman (Terrifier 2), Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf), Jesse Posey (Selena: The Series), Jarlath Conroy (Day of the Dead), Jesse Kove (D-Day: Battle of Omaha Beach), and Brian Quinn (Impractical Jokers). The film’s creature effects come from Quantum Creation FX, the team behind The Last Voyage of the Demeter, with inspiration from Avatar: The Way of Water artist Christian Cordelia.

Directed by Steven LaMorte (The Mean One) and co-written with Matthew Garcia-Dunn (Silent Hill: Ascension), Screamboat delivers a mix of dark humour and gruesome horror that will have audiences thinking twice before their next ferry ride.

Distributed by Signature Entertainment, Screamboat docks exclusively at Vue cinemas on 2 April.

Interview with Anthony DiBlasi on Adapting Clive Barker’s Dread, Axe Murder Challenges, and His Close Ties to Horror

Anthony DiBlasi

Ahead of Dread airing on NYX UK, director Anthony DiBlasi reflects on adapting Clive Barker’s psychological horror story for the screen. He discusses the challenges of staying true to the source material, the technical difficulties of filming intense scenes, and his close working relationship with Barker.

What drew you to this particular Clive Barker story, and how did you go about adapting it for film?

I was drawn to it because it was Clive’s only non-supernatural story that he’d written up until that point… maybe even his only one now. I was very close to the age of these characters when I adapted it. I knew their voice and what they were going through. It was most important to me that I remained as faithful to the source material as possible. I had to expand it, of course, but I wanted to make sure his themes remained constant throughout the adaptation.


The film relies on psychological horror rather than traditional jump scares. How did you go about creating that tension throughout the story?

I kind of cheated a little, using the psychological terror as a trigger to manifest supernatural terror. But that’s something I love to do. It makes the audience uneasy when they’re not sure where a scare is going to come from. Yes, it’s still grounded in reality, but Quaid is dealing with manifestations that haunt him in the physical world. The audience is feeling his building madness, which puts all of our other characters in real physical jeopardy.

The character dynamics in the film are intense and unsettling. How did you work with the cast to develop such emotionally raw performances?

I think it really came from letting the cast explore their characters together. I got the whole main cast together for rehearsal sessions, and we improvised scenes that were not in the film. I let them grow naturally and made adjustments as the improv continued, whispering in one actor’s ear or another to take the narrative in a new direction. It’s a way I love to work. It’s improv but with real-time direction, and one session can go for forty-five minutes or an hour without them ever breaking character. I believe they carried the conflicts that were created in these sessions into the film. It became a shared history between them all.

The film explores fear in a very personal way. Did any of the themes in Dread resonate with you on a personal level?

I remained faithful to Clive’s story, but I swapped around or created some characters. Steven’s history in the short story became Joshua’s, and Steven’s history became mine. I was in a bad car accident when I was sixteen and had three friends in the car with me. Everyone survived thankfully, but there were some very serious injuries. I was able to put that into the film, almost seeing Steven as a stand-in for my own little brother. Abby was a creation who isn’t in the short story. A close friend of mine has a port-wine birthmark, and it was always a part of her social experience growing up, so I thought that was a perfect way to represent dread in a physical form. Dread from how people see you just by walking into a room. Abby carries that every moment of her life.

The film has a stark and unsettling atmosphere. What choices did you make in terms of cinematography, lighting, and sound design to enhance that mood?

Well, I had an incredible DP on that film. Sam McCurdy, who shot The Descent and went on to win an Emmy for Shogun. We settled on this look that he described as being ‘nicotine stained.’ We also shot on the Viper camera, a camera not in use anymore, which in itself makes it unique for the time.

What was the most challenging scene to shoot in Dread?

It’s hard to say, all these years later. I only have good memories of the experience. But I know the axe murder scenes were very technically challenging because I wanted this huge camera attached to an axe. A giant rig had to be built so we could get that full pendulum swing of the axe through the air. It was a twenty-five-foot rig that had to be built to get that natural swing. The whole house was a set, thankfully, so it could accommodate the rig inside it. When we dragged the axe, the camera was attached to a separate rig, which had to be carried up the stairs while still connected to the axe. Now it’s easy to do those kinds of things because you can use tiny cameras, but unless you're Nolan, who would probably still attach an IMAX camera to an axe if he wanted to, it was a real technical challenge back then.

You’ve worked closely with Clive Barker on multiple projects. What have you learned from him, and do you have any favourite memories?

It was an honour to learn from him. His mind is vast with creative knowledge and inspiration. That was a solid ten to twelve years of my life, and it thankfully continues now. Most of my favourite memories with Clive are outside of film, having travelled with him around the US for his book tours in my early days and getting to see him interact with his fans. He poured so much energy into each person he met. That humbles you as a creator, to see how gracious he is with his fans.

What do you think makes an effective horror film?

It’s a bit of a magic trick, really. It comes from the gut. You also have to realise what scares or entertains some people won’t scare or entertain others. I don’t scare easily. Ghost stories can get under my skin more than anything else, so when I’m trying to terrify the audience, I can’t really use myself as a barometer. But what I like to do is puppeteer emotions. If I can break down social boundaries and instigate some fun or drama, I’ll do it. It’s just who I am. It’s the Gemini in me, I guess.

Horror audiences in the UK are big fans of your work, and Dread premiered at FrightFest. Do you have any favourite memories from that experience?

It was getting to watch it in the biggest theatre I’ve ever stepped into with an audience at the Empire in Leicester Square. That was a monumental experience, to be there with the cast. For most of the cast, it was the first time they were seeing it, which I just loved. Being able to watch them watch the film for the first time at FrightFest is something I’ll never forget.

You’ve directed both psychological and supernatural horror films like Dread, Last Shift, and Malum. Do you prefer one over the other, and how do your approaches differ?

I enjoy both. I like unravelling characters in a screenplay slowly. I think it all comes down to how you can get an audience to perceive terror both on the screen and on the page. Both sub-genres are really rooted in psychology.

Can you share anything about your current projects?

Clive and I have actually stepped into developing something else together, so hopefully, that will be announced to the world in the coming months.

Dread airs on NYX UK on Friday, March 29 at 11.15 pm. Freeview 271 / Channelbox App / TCL TVs / Distro TV.

Tuesday, 25 March 2025

NYX UK Celebrates Horror Legends and Premieres Spine-Chilling Films This April

NYX UK
 

Horror channel NYX UK is set to celebrate the birthdays of two legendary figures in the genre while delivering a thrilling slate of premieres throughout April.

The month kicks off with a tribute to the master of silent horror, Lon Chaney, on Tuesday 1 April. Known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces," Chaney brought unforgettable characters to life through his groundbreaking use of makeup and physical performance. To honour his legacy, NYX UK will screen The Unknown (1927) at 9pm, followed by The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) at 10.15pm. Both films showcase his ability to transform into tragic yet haunting figures, making them the perfect way to celebrate his contribution to the genre.

THE UNKNOWN

On Thursday 3 April, NYX UK shifts focus to the world of Italian horror, paying tribute to Lamberto Bava with a double bill of his most iconic films. Demons (9pm) and Demons 2 (11pm) deliver a night of gore-soaked, neon-lit chaos. Produced by horror maestro Dario Argento, these films remain some of the most stylish and intense examples of 80s horror, blending supernatural terror with relentless energy.

Horror series Dark Rewind continues its popular run at 9pm, offering deep dives into cult classics. On 8 April, host August Kyss revisits the bizarre 1980 horror-comedy Motel Hell, a twisted take on the slasher genre with a darkly comedic edge. Later in the month, on 22 April, The House on Sorority Row (1983) takes centre stage, bringing a mix of sorority drama, deadly secrets, and classic 80s slasher thrills.

FROSTBITE

Another fan-favourite series, Galveston’s Cavern of Creeps, remains a must-watch on Thursday nights at 9pm. This month, underworld exile Galveston and his hapless mortal roommate Jack guide viewers through two channel premieres. On 4 April, Jacques Tourneur’s supernatural horror classic Night of the Demon (1957) takes over the screen, followed on 18 April by The Brain That Wouldn’t Die (1962), a cult sci-fi horror about a scientist’s gruesome experiment gone wrong.

April also brings two more channel premieres. Anders Banke’s acclaimed vampire horror Frostbite (2006) arrives on Thursday 10 April at 9pm, offering a chilling take on the undead set against a frozen Scandinavian backdrop. Meanwhile, Hansel & Gretel Get Baked (2013) delivers a darkly comedic reimagining of the classic fairy tale, blending horror with stoner comedy on Sunday 20 April at 9pm.

DEMONS 2

For those seeking more blood-curdling delights, NYX UK has packed the schedule with some of horror’s most distinctive films. Discopath (11 April) brings a Canadian slasher twist to disco-era terror, while Scottish werewolf thriller Wild Country (17 April), starring Peter Capaldi and Martin Compston, offers a homegrown dose of supernatural horror. Israel’s first slasher film Rabies (24 April) adds international flair, and psychological horror Grimm Love (25 April), based on the infamous Armin Meiwes cannibal case, delivers unsettling true-crime-inspired chills. The month concludes in style with Dario Argento’s Giallo masterpiece Tenebrae on Sunday 26 April, a must-see for fans of stylish and brutal murder mysteries.

With a lineup celebrating horror icons, cult classics, and new discoveries, NYX UK ensures that April is packed with frights for every kind of horror fan.

Freeview 271 / Channelbox App / TCL TVs / Distro TV

PREVIEW: Revelations (2025 Film) A Haunting Thriller of Faith and Obsession

 

Director Yeon Sang-ho, known for his deep explorations of human nature, reunites with writer Choi Gyu-seok for Revelations, a gripping new thriller arriving on Netflix on March 21. Following their success with Hellbound, the duo now delves into faith, guilt, and obsession in a tense, psychological drama. Adding further prestige, acclaimed filmmaker Alfonso CuarĂłn (Roma, Gravity) serves as executive producer, bringing his cinematic expertise to the project.

The story follows Pastor Min-chan (Ryu Jun-yeol), who becomes convinced he has received a divine message identifying an ex-convict, Kwon Yang-rae (Shin Min-jae), as the culprit behind a churchgoer's disappearance. Certain he is carrying out God's will, Min-chan relentlessly hunts Yang-rae, while detective Yeon-hui (Shin Hyun-been) investigates the case, tormented by visions of her late sister. As their paths intertwine, the pursuit of truth descends into a harrowing struggle between faith and reason.

The teaser trailer sets an ominous tone, blending psychological horror with an intense game of cat and mouse. The official poster heightens the intrigue, depicting the three leads scattered in a rain-soaked forest, each looking in a different direction as an eerie presence lurks in the shadows. The imagery hints at the moral ambiguity and difficult choices that will define the story.

With a stellar cast and Yeon's signature storytelling, Revelations promises to be a thought-provoking thriller that lingers long after the credits roll. This is one to watch.