Horror Channel invaded by week of Sci-Fi Horror

 

Horror Channel goes extra-terrestrial with SCI-FEAR WEEK (Saturday 20th to Friday 26th, 9pm), in which strange science, terrifying tech and insidious invasions takes control, highlighted by the Channel premiere of jolting sci-fi thriller THE LAST DAYS ON MARS, starring Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai and Olivia Williams. It also includes the channel premieres of 1980 British science fiction movie SATURN 3, which stars Farrah Fawcett, Kirk Douglas and Harvey Keitel and XTRO, an unsettling slice of Sci-Fi Horror and one of the few British films that landed on the UK film censors' infamous 'Video Nasty' list.

Full film details in transmission order:

Saturday 20 November @ 21:00 – THE LAST DAYS ON MARS (2013) *Channel Premiere

On the last day of the first manned mission to Mars, a crew member of Tantalus Base believes he has made an astounding discovery - fossilised evidence of bacterial life. But a routine excavation turns to disaster when the porous ground collapses, and he falls into a deep crevice. His devastated colleagues attempt to recover his body. However, when another vanishes they start to suspect that the life-form they have discovered is not yet dead.

Sunday 21 November @ 21:00 – SATURN 3 (1990) *Channel Premiere

Adam (Kirk Douglas) and Alex (Farrah Fawcett) are scientists stationed deep beneath the barren surface of Saturn's moon, Titan, seeking new forms of food for an exhausted planet Earth. Captain James, a murderous psychopath, reaches Titan and cuts off communication with the rest of the solar system. Aided by his 'helper robot' James reduces life at the space station to one of survival. For Adam and Alex their only hope is to flee the planet, but the homicidal robot stands in their way. Also stars Harvey Keitel.

 

Monday 22 November @21:00 – CELL (2016)

Best-selling horror author Stephen King’s acclaimed tech-inspired apocalyptic nightmare.

Tuesday 23 November @ 21:00 – SCANNERS (1981)

Considered one of David Cronenberg’s early genre classics,

 

Wednesday 24 November @ 21:00 – EXTRATERRESTRIAL (2014)

An alien onslaught chiller, directed by Colin Minihan and starring Brittanty Allen,

Thursday 25 November @ 21:00 – KILL COMMAND (2016)

Steven Gomez’s superior Brit sci-fi action thriller

 

Friday 26 November @ 21:00 – XTRO (1982) *Channel Premiere

Three years ago young Tony watched with horror as his father was taken into the night sky by a mysterious blinding light and never seen again. Until now. His father is coming home but he's not the man he used to be. Now considered a cult classic and one of the most bizarre horror films of its time

 

TV: Sky 317 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 70 / Freesat 138

Interview with Rhiannon Frater By David Kempf

Rhiannon Frater is the award-winning author of the As the World Dies zombie trilogy (Tor) as well as independent works such as The Last Bastion of the Living. She also co-hosted the ZCast: a Z Nation Fan Podcast, interviewing the cast and crew of the SyFy show. Born and raised in Texas, she currently resides with her husband and furry children (a.k.a pets) in South Texas. She loves scary movies, sci-fi and horror shows, playing video games, cooking, dyeing her hair weird colors, and shopping for Betsey Johnson purses and shoes.

When did you first become interested in writing?
As soon as I learned to talk, I was a storyteller. I told elaborate tales with very well-defined characters. My mother found it very entertaining. Once I discovered books, I knew I wanted to be a writer.

How did you get involved in fantasy/horror?
I write about what I fear. I thought for a long time I would be a mystery or science fiction writer, but when my muse showed up she had sharp teeth and a lust for blood.

I honestly believe I inherited my love of horror from my grandfather. I lived in Texas and he was in Ohio when I was growing up, so I rarely saw him. He passed away when I was pretty young. Yet, my mom says I’m a lot like him in my love of horror films and books. So it must be genetic!

How would you classify the genre you write about?
When I started out, I called myself a horror writer. But I noticed that reviewers and readers classified my novels as anything but horror most of the time. A reviewer defined my zombie series (with all its blood, death, and gore) as chick-lit. If you look up the definition, As The World Dies is definitely not in that genre. Horror seems to have a very narrow definition in the minds of some, so I mostly call myself a speculative fiction author. All my novels have an element of horror in them. I absolutely love supernatural and gothic horror.

Why do you think horror and fantasy books remain so popular?
Horror provides a safe way to be scared. That’s very therapeutic. We live in stressful times. Fear, anxiety, and depression are a common part of life for many. Horror allows us an outlet for those feelings.

As for fantasy, it’s a way to be a hero vicariously through the characters. We can be the savior of not only ourselves, but others. Again, very therapeutic.

What inspires your stories?
My dreams. I have very vivid dreams with full plots and well-rounded characters. Most fade when I wake up, but the ones that stick in my head have a good chance of becoming novels.

Do you like writing about vampires or zombies more?
They’re very different, but I lean toward vampires. They’re powerful, but confined by their limitations, which I find challenging to write about. I also love the trappings that come with the lore. I can explore the human condition through a monstrous being in a very exaggerated way and have fun doing it.

When I write in the zombie genre, it’s all about the people. The characters have to not only resonate with me, but the readers. You have to care about them. I was told by more than a few readers that you can swap out the apocalyptic event the characters are facing and the stories would still work. The zombies are the backdrop, the constant threat, the personification of death. It’s the characters that make the difference. I want people to read my zombie stories and feel like they’re with friends (and sometimes enemies).

What do you think the difference between American horror and British horror is?
Well, this is based on the novels I’ve read and films I’ve seen, so I might be wrong, but it seems to me that British horror is a-ok with destroying the heroes and unhappy endings. I know a few UK films have a different, happier ending when released in the USA.

American horror swerves back and forth on what is popular, usually dependent on what’s going on in the country. I do think we tend to have more “happy” endings.

What are your favorite horror books now?
My favorites I’ve read this year are:
House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland
Rules for Vanishing by Kate Alice Marshall
The Cold by Rich Hawkins

What are some of your favorite horror movies now?
I really enjoyed The Nun. I just watched it for my October Moviefest. I loved the gothic atmosphere. I have a soft spot for gothic horror.

I also enjoyed the Fear Street movies on Netflix. I didn’t expect to, but they were quite good.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment as an author so far?
The first thing that comes to mind are the people who tell me that my books provide an escape from the real world and their troubles. I’ve had several cancer survivors tell me that reading or listening to my novels during chemotherapy made it more bearable. That means a lot to me. It’s why I write.

Do you have any advice for new writers?
Read a lot. Write a lot. Write some more. Write until you find your voice and your genre. Write about what you love. Keep writing until you finish a book. Don’t give up.

What is your opinion of the new self-publishing trend?
I started out self-publishing before I got my deals with Tor. It is a great responsibility to self-publish. You have to make absolutely sure it is the best book possible before you put it out. Finding a good editor is vital.

Self-publishing is also great for writers who have a great story, but can’t find a home for it. My first agent and my editor at Tor told me the same thing: a story can be fantastic, but if the publisher doesn’t believe it will sell, they won’t acquire it. Maybe it’s too niche, or the market is glutted with that type of story, or maybe a novel in that genre bombed. There are lots of reasons a publisher might pass on a good book. Self-publishing allows authors to bring that story to readers and not just sit in a dark trunk.

What are your current projects?
I am working on a ghost idea for my agent to pitch to publishers and I’m writing a zombie novel to self-publish.

Please in your own words write a paragraph about yourself & your work today.
I am a full-time writer living in South Texas with my husband. I love everything spooky. I’m goth, so I definitely look like someone who writes vampire novels. Every day is Halloween in my life.

What are you doing for Halloween this year?
It is my 14th wedding anniversary, so we’ll have a romantic dinner and enjoy the Halloween festivities in our area. It’ll be a lovely, spooky night!

You can find her online at:
Website: rhiannonfrater.com
Online Store: https://ko-fi.com/rfrater/shop
Twitter: twitter.com/rhiannonfrater
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rhiannonfraterfans/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rhiannon-Frater/e/B0027DLFL6/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/rhiannonfrater/
Email: rhiannonfrater at gmail.com

FULL MOVIE - Wes Craven's SHOCKER (1989)

 

Shocker (also known as Wes Craven's Shocker) is a 1989 American slasher film written and directed by Wes Craven, and starring Michael Murphy, Peter Berg, Cami Cooper, and Mitch Pileggi. The film was released by Universal Pictures on October 27, 1989, and grossed $16.6 million.

After being sent to the electric chair, a serial killer uses electricity to come back from the dead and carry out his vengeance on the football player who turned him in to the police.

Interview with Stephen Moyer

On the eve of the World premiere of LAST SURVIVORS at FrightFest Halloween, Stephen Moyer talks his role and actively challenging the stereotypical view of women in horror.

In director Drew Mylrea’s LAST SURVIVORS, Stephen Moyer plays Troy, who has been living off the grid with his son Jake (Drew Van Acker) for over twenty years. Sensing his son’s growing curiosity about the outside world, he warns him of the dangers should he ever leave their woodland utopia. Any trespassers are shown no mercy, but when Jake happens across a beautiful woman Henrietta (Alicia Silverstone), the utopia Troy has built is set to unravel.

Reflecting on his character, Moyer says, “I'm ageing into those roles where I'm playing the father of twenty-five year olds!. It's like my days are changing in terms of how I see myself and how I'm seen. So that's the kind of stuff that comes to me.” No stranger to genre, the actor admits, “I love this film because it's a psychological thriller as opposed to a straight horror. I was touched by the relationship between my character and his son, and the writing was excellent and really spare, and it’s beautifully set in this remote area.” He adds, “It’s quite a deep thinking film as well as hopefully fun and interesting.”

In spite of his passion for the project, the outbreak of Covid meant for a time that the film might never happen. “A year a half before we even shot it, Drew and I were talking about who my character was. Covid happened and it looked like the film wasn't going to happen, but then they found a window. We went off to Montana in the middle of nowhere, and shot it in the snow.”

The films drama revolves around the arrival of the disruptive stranger (Henrietta, played by Alicia Silverstone, a familiar antagonist in cinema. Speaking about the appeal of these characters, Moyer suggests, “often it's something other to us. They’re someone who has a different sense of being of exactness, or self-possession that we don't ourselves have. When somebody feels like they're different, ‘the other’, we're compelled to watch them. In some way we're all hoping that we could be like that, and have that sense of self-belief. It’s always tantalising.”

This speaks to the idea that cinema allows the audience to express their less sociable side. It’s the part of us that wants to not have to conform to social expectations and please other people in order to belong. “They exist in their own world without the same moral compass, so it definitely sets them apart.” Moyer continues, “There's definitely a primal, elemental idea of what the female represents in this story. It's early man stuff in terms of primal origin, desire and Adam and Eve. There’s also a whole other underlying story about her personal journey, which one doesn't necessarily perceive if you’re not watching closely in her moments.”

In his opinion what’s so great about these types of story is the relationship between the characters and the audience, specifically what each are privy to. “The audience get to see things that the other characters in their moments don't get to see. The tantalising mirror is if what the audience are seeing is different to what the other characters are perceiving.”

Elaborating on his observation of what the female stranger represents, Moyer believes genre cinema is actively challenging the stereotypical view of women in horror, who are often sexualised and subjected to violence. “Obviously it's not a perfect world, but how far we've come in these last few years is incredible. So to be fair that's happening, and it’s about how in any way we can empower not just female characters, but female writers, and filmmakers and crew.”

He adds, “If you look at how something like PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN flipped the idea of what we find morally agreeable, there's this fantastic role for a woman who is all things and more. It’s happening as we speak, and the closer we get to that 50/50 divide of crew and cast, writers and directors, the way that stories are told will change. It's inevitable and it's happening already.”

LAST SURVIVORS plays at Arrow Video FrightFest Halloween on Sat 30th October, 1.10pm, Cineworld Leicester SQ.  Cast and crew, including Moyer, will be attending.

Tickets: https://www.frightfest.co.uk/Halloween21/LastSurvivors.html

Horror Channel unveils an unholy host of premieres for November

Long weekends just got scarier as Horror Channel announces eleven premieres for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights across November, including five UK TV premieres, three by emerging female directors.

Being shown for the first time on the small screen are Elle Callahan’s allegorical paranormal thriller WITCH HUNT, Amelia Moses’ lyrical lycanthrope horror BLOODTHIRSTY and Coralie Fargeat’s directorial debut, the slickly gruesome REVENGE. Also getting their first showings on TV are Nicolas Pesce’s smartly sadistic PIERCING and John Berardo’s subversive slasher INITIATION.

Neil Marshall makes a welcome return with the channel premiere of DOOMSDAY, as do The Soska Sisters, with the channel premiere of their stand-out body horror hit AMERICAN MARY. Plus, there is a channel premiere for Katie Aselton’s intense battle-of-the-sexes thriller BLACK ROCK and for three remakes – the 2009 version of THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, with Wes Craven in a producing role, the 2007 version of THE HITCHER, with Sean Bean reprising the Rutger Hauer role and the 2014 version of erotic thriller THE LOFT, again directed by Erik Van Looy and starring Karl Urban.

Full film details in transmission order:

Friday 5 November @ 21:00 – WITCH HUNT (2021) *UK TV Premiere
Witch trials have come to life in modern day America and no one is safe from persecution or execution. Claire (Gideon Adlon) and her mother (Elizabeth Mitchell) are part of an underground movement in charge of ferrying women accused of witchcraft to safety. All is well in their world until a new charge brings the witch hunters to their door. Will they escape with their lives or will they also be charged with the ungodly crime of being a witch?

Friday 5 November @ 23:00 – PIERCING (2018) *UK TV Premiere
Reed (Christopher Abbott) is going on a business trip, but in lieu of a suitcase filled with clothes, he's packed a toothbrush and a murder kit. Everything is meticulously planned: check into a hotel and kill an unsuspecting victim. Only then will he rid himself of his devious impulses and continue to be a good husband and father. But Reed gets more than he bargained for with Jackie (Mia Wasikowska), an alluring call girl who arrives at his room.

Saturday 6 November @ 22:45 – DOOMSDAY (2008) *Channel Premiere
In this action-packed thriller from writer/director Neil Marshall (The Descent), authorities brutally quarantine a country as it succumbs to fear and chaos when a virus strikes. The literal walling-off works for three decades--until the dreaded Reaper virus violently resurfaces in a major city. Starring Rhona Mitra, Bob Hoskins, and Malcolm McDowell.

Sunday 7 November @ 21:00 – BLACK ROCK (2012) *Channel Premiere
Three childhood friends set aside their personal issues and reunite for a girls' weekend on a remote island off the coast of Maine. One wrong move turns their weekend getaway into a deadly fight for survival. Stars Katie Aselton, Lake Bell and Kate Bosworth

Friday 12 November @ 23:05 – AMERICAN MARY (2012) *Channel Premiere
Medical student Mary Mason (Katharine Isabelle) becomes increasingly disenchanted by the school she studies at and the established doctors she once admired. The allure of easy money to solve her debt problems sends her into the twilight world of body modification and underground surgeries where obsessed flesh artists will pay anything to get their unusual procedures done. But Mary finds that her new ‘profession’ leaves more marks on her own psyche than on her freakish clientele. Also stars Jen and Sylvia Soska.
 

Saturday 13 November @ 22:50 – THE HITCHER (2007) *Channel Premier
When two travellers pick up a hitcher on the side of the road, they immediately discover that their worst fears have come true - this Hitcher is a murderous psychopath. However, it's only after the young couple barely escape with their lives that the real trouble begins. A new take on the 1986 classic starring Sean Bean.

Sunday 14 November @ 21:00 – THE LOFT (2014) *Channel premiere
Five married men conspire to secretly share a penthouse loft in the city - a place where they can indulge in their deepest extramarital fantasies. But the fantasy becomes a nightmare when they discover the dead body of an unknown woman in the loft, and they realise one of the group must be involved. Stars Karl Urban and James Marsden.

Friday 19 November @ 21:00 – BLOODTHIRSTY (2020) *UK TV Premiere
When an offer to record with one of the greatest music producers of all time comes along, singer Grey can’t refuse. Moving cross country to record her new album in a remote location, Grey begins to realise there’s a beastly secret lurking within her new home. Will her own humanity be the price for fame and how much blood will be shed to secure a hit?

Friday 19 November @ 22:40 – REVENGE (2017) *UK TV Premiere
Three wealthy married men get together for their annual hunting game in a desert canyon. One of them is accompanied by his young mistress, who quickly arouses the interest of the two others, and things get dramatically out of hand.

Saturday 27 November @ 22:30 – THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (2009) *Channel Premiere
This remake brings one of the most notorious thrillers of all time to a new generation, as it explores how far two ordinary people will go to exact revenge on the sociopaths who harmed their child. As producer, Wes Craven revisits the landmark film that launched his directing career and influenced decades of horror films to follow:

Sunday 28 November @ 22:55 – INITIATION (2020) *UK TV Premiere
One night, at Whiton University, a star-athlete is murdered in the wake of a buried assault allegation, kicking off a spree of social media-linked slayings. As a masked killer targets students across campus, a trio of sorority sisters race to uncover the truth behind the school's hidden secrets - and the horrifying meaning of an exclamation point - before they become the next victims.

TV: Sky 317 / Virgin 149 / Freeview 70 / Freesat 138

COMPETITION: Win No Man of God on DVD

No Man of God  - Released from 25th October

And to celebrate we have a great competition for you 2 copies on DVD to give away.

Synopsis: 

In 1980, Ted Bundy was sentenced to death by electrocution. In the years that followed, he agreed to disclose the details of his crimes, but only to one man. No Man of God is based on the true story of the strange and complicated relationship that developed between FBI agent Bill Hagmaier (Wood) and an incarcerated Ted Bundy (Luke Kirby) in the years leading to Bundy's execution. 

Starring Elijah Wood, Luke Kirby and Robert Patrick

Also available on Special Edition Blu-ray which arrives in astunning rigid box packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork, it includes a set of art cards and fascinating extended interviews with stars Elijah Wood, Luke Kirby and Aleksa Palladino.

Pre-Order from Amazon at https://amzn.to/3BTMMLV

For your chance to win just answer the question below.

COMPETITION CLOSED

Quick Terms and conditions - For full T&C click here
1. Closing date 01-11-21
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.

FULL MOVIE: Jason Rising: A Friday the 13th Fan Film (2021)

A fan tribute to Friday the 13th, JASON RISING follows Wessex County Police Officer Pete Daltry (Kyle Vahan) and his Deputy Eve Glover (Anna Campbell), along with U.S. Marshals Jed (Jason Reynolds) and Bear (Jerry Bell Jr.), hot on the trail of three escapees (Lisa Sorenson, Jennie Vaughn, Elizabeth Garrett) from the Wessex County Corrections Farm. Soon after realizing their chase has led them onto the cursed grounds of Camp Crystal Lake, Daltry quickly discovers that they are the ones being hunted by the undead mass murderers Jason Voorhees (Dan Kyle) and his deranged mother Pamela (Alyxandria McCormack).

Support the makers of the film at 

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/jason-rising-a-friday-the-13th-fan-film--6#/

Directed by James Sweet

Based on Friday the 13th By Sean S. Cunningham & Victor Miller

Starring
Kyle Vahan
Anna Campbell
Jerry Bell Jr.
Jason Reynolds
Lisa Sorenson
Kyle Vahan
Anna Campbell
Jerry Bell Jr.
Jason Reynolds
Lisa Sorenson
James Sweet
Vincente DiSanti

Featuring
Dan Kyle as Jason Voorhees and "Old Man" Daltry
Alyxandria McCormack as Pamela Voorhees
and Kristina Haddad as the evil voice of Pamela and Dispatch Sue