Psychotic Saturdays! Six Flicks That Take A Detour Into Insanity

Some journeys are good for the soul while others take you into Hell itself. What starts as a simple trip to discovery and new beginnings often brings to light a world more terrifying than the one we leave behind. Regardless of the need for making this journey one thing is certain, all trips must force the person to travel through the realms of the insane. Check out these six films that send you through stories demented and psychotic. As you discover or rediscover these stories of truly psychotic journeys where the normal lives clash with the truly abnormal environments let these tales of terror bring a little psychotica into your Saturday!

1. Hidden (2009)



Painful memories arise when Kai Koss goes back to his childhood home after 19 years and inherits his dead mother's house. Directed by Pål Øie and starring Kristoffer Joner, Cecilie A. Mosli and Bjarte Hjelmeland this imported nightmare takes the journey of rediscovery and resolution into the bowels of pure horror.








2. Vacancy (2007)



Directed by Nimród Antal and starring Luke Wilson, Kate Beckinsale this film has one couples trip going into realities that are too horrific to image. The young couple become stranded at a motel only to find they are the target of sadistic snuff film makers.








3. Riding The Bullet (2004)



One guy’s journey to reach his mother’s bedside as she lays dying soon becomes a trip into a reality of nightmares and new challenges. Directed by Mick Garris and starring Jonathan Jackson, David Arquette and Barbara Hershey.









4. Psycho (1998)



A remake of the classic by Alfred Hitchcock this 1998 film doesn’t leer far from the original. A young woman seizes an opportunity for a new start in life but soon finds no crime goes unpunished. Directed by Gus Van Sant and starring Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Viggo Mortensen and Julianne Moore.








5. Dead Wood (2007)



Directed by David Bryant, Sebastian Smith and Richard Stiles the film finds four friends on a weekend journey of fun soon realizing that often it is better to forgo trips into the dark woods. The film stars Fergus March, Emily Juniper and John Samuel Worsey.








6. The Perfect Getaway (2009)



A couple soon discovers that not all vacationers are as fun loving and free spirited as the brochures propose as they soon fight for survival against a truly psychotic pair of fellow travelers. Directed by David Twohy and starring Milla Jovovich, Steve Zahn,Kiele Sanchez  and Timothy Olyphant.

Check Out The Trailer For “Best Friends Forever”

“Best Friends Forever” is an apocalyptic comedy that is both dark and witty. The film is directed by Brea Grant and will premiere at Slamdance Film Festival. It stars Brea Grant, Vera Miao, Sean Maher, Stacey Storey, Kit Williamson, Alex Berg and Alex Fernie. Check out the trailer below.

Harriet, a perpetually optimistic comic-book artist, dreams of escaping her past in Los Angeles and hits the road for a new life in Austin, Texas. She drags Reba her seemingly devil-may-care BFF, along for the ride. After nuclear bombs explode in four cities, the girls are forced to ask: When faced with the end of the world - what is most important to you?

Check Out The Trailer For Indie Flick “The Taking”

“The Taking” is a smart and full throttle nightmare thriller directed by the The BAPartists ,Cezil Reed and Lydelle Jackson under their Indie studio BAPart Films. The movie is a witty and emotional melodrama soaked in bloody horror that focuses on two souls in a battle for survival as they must struggle to escape the sinister plans of a family to sacrifice them to some malevolent force. It stars John Halas, Alana Jackler, Lynnette Gaza, Gordon Price, Olivia Szego, Frank Bliss, Linda Kennedy, Lynn Mastio Rice and Nick Hanson.

The Taking is a cinematic experience of light and sound. It’s a film made with balls and intellectual muscle. In this film you will discover horrific art told via grisly images and two tales of woe…

The experience begins with Carl who seeks to murder his best friend and adulterous fiancé. Unexpectedly, he awakens in a wooded wasteland. He has no idea as to where he is or how he got there. A sinister family now holds him captive along with another victim named Jade. They’re subjected to arcane rituals and are left tied to a tree for several days.

When Carl looks back on their grisly experience in the forest, he comes to the realization that they’re not just in the woods; rather, they are in a place where people go to fight the vices living inside of them. The losing of this fight is something far worse than death; it’s the utter damnation of one’s very soul.

Watch The Extended TV Spot Of “Beautiful Creatures”

Check out this extended TV spot for the witchy flick “Beautiful Creatures”. The film stars Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert, Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis, Emmy Rossum and Emma Thompson.

A supernatural love story set in the South, “Beautiful Creatures” tells the tale of two star-crossed lovers: Ethan, a young man longing to escape his small town, and Lena, a mysterious new girl. Together, they uncover dark secrets about their respective families, their history and their town. Richard LaGravenese directs from his adaptation of the first novel in the best-selling series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

Check Out The Trailer For Psychological Thriller “The Call”

A killer is bringing back Halle Barry’s past in this intense thriller in which she plays a 911 operator that has just taken a call from a young girl during an abduction. The film is directed by Brad Anderson and when first announced over a year ago the film was titled “The Hive”. Now going by the name “The Call” we have the first glimpse of this thriller with the new trailer. Also in the cast are Abigail Breslin, Morris Chestnut, Michael Eklund, and Michael Imperioli. The film comes out March 15th of this year.

Check Out The First Clip From “The Haunting In Connecticut 2: Ghosts Of Georgia”

“Ghosts Of Georgia” is the next installment to the Haunting franchise and takes place in the south. A family movies into their dream home only to discover  a supernatural malevolence is present. The film is directed by Tom Elkins and stars Chad Michael Murray, Abigail Spencer, Katee Sackhoff, Emily Alyn Lind, and Cicely Tyson. I complained before in a post about this film in regards to the title. That complaint still stands. The story is well known enough thanks to the television series ‘A Haunting’ for this film to have it’s on “The Haunting” title because there is no connection to Connecticut what so ever but whatever! Check out the first footage from the next film in the franchise.

When Andy Wyrick moves his wife Lisa and daughter Heidi to an historic home in Georgia, they quickly discover they are not the house’s only inhabitants. Joined by Lisa’s free-spirited sister, Joyce, the family soon comes face-to-face with a bone-chilling mystery born of a deranged desire… a haunting secret rising from underground and threatening to bring down anyone in its path.

The Fox By Conrad Williams

Book Worth Reading:

Conrad Williams The Fox will be released in March 2013 but you can pre-order through This Is Horror now in all available regions. The novel chronicles a couple’s nightmare during a blizzard on an excursion into the countryside with their young daughter.

They took their daughters to a glamping farm to escape the stresses of the city. There were chickens to feed, logs to chop and a fire to keep stoked. For a day it was fun to reconvene with nature and connect with what it meant to be wild.
But on that first night a blizzard hit and they woke up to a white world. The snow only made the blood easier to see…
Now the chickens have disappeared and there’s a dead little surprise down by the children’s playground. A warning that you can’t just wish all the bad stuff away…

First Images From “Ghost Team One” Horror/Comedy

“Ghost Team One” has gained official selection spot in the 2013 Slamdance Film Festival and has released these stills of the horror/ comedy from Scott Rutherford and Ben Peyser. The comedy spoof film that is meant to poke fun at the found footage craze stars Carlos Santos, J.R. Villarreal, Fernanda Romero and Tony Cavalero. Scheduled for it’s first screening on Sunday, January 20 at 10:20pm, the second screening on January 24 at 1:00pm “Ghost Team One” will be at the main Screening Room of Treasure Mountain Inn at 255 Main Street at Slamdance. Check out the images below.

Two friends decide to make a documentary about a murder that supposedly took place in their home decades ago as an attempt to impress a girl. The girl is drawn by the notion that the ghost still resides in the house and the guys think this is prime “fishing” material. The flaw in the boys plan turns out to be that the real supernatural entity is very much present and pissed off. It turns out to be Vietnamese madam set on revenge from the 30’s who has developed a thing for the boys.

Deviant Films “Fat Chance”

In a return to the classic style of 80’s gross out Slasher flicks Deviant Films brings us a “Fat Chance”. The film is a throwback to the campy over-the-top style that a lot of us feed off of as kids. Directed by Tommy Golden, Daniel Emery Taylor and Jim O'Rear the film stars John Dugan, Scott Tepperman, Jim O’Rear, Daniel Emery Taylor, and G. Larry Butler. Check out the Indiegogo page for more info on this Indie flick.

Ten obese men appear on a competitive reality show geared toward weight-loss. As the competition grows more intense the contestants realize they are losing more than just weight; they are losing competitors. Are the contestants dropping out voluntarily or is something more insidious going on? Will they survive? Fat chance.
 

Check Out The Trailer For Aussie Creature Feature “Throwback”

“Throwback” is an indie film from Australian director Travis Bain and stars Shawn Brack, Anthony Ring, Melanie Serafin, Vernon Wells, Warren Clements, Andy Bramble, Mike Elliott, Trevor Garvey and Shaun Cram. The film follows two treasure hunters exploring the outback in North Queensland. On their quest for gold they have the misfortune of discovering another of the Australian treasure’s, the legendary Yowie. The Aboriginal Sasquatch. Soon the two explores and their companions find themselves in a fight for survival. Check out the trailer below.

Phase 4 Acquires “Bad Kids Go To Hell”

Phase 4 Films has acquired the instant classic dark comedy/horror flick “Bad Kids Go To Hell” and will release it On Demand, Digital Download January 11th-Tomorrow! The DVD release date not yet set.
From The Press Release:


Phase 4 Films announced today that they have acquired all digital and DVD distribution rights to BAD KIDS GO TO HELL, the thrilling dark comedic heir to THE BREAKFAST CLUB, from filmmakers Matthew Spradlin and Barry Wernick. In addition to directing the film, Spradlin co-wrote the comic and screen treatment with Wernick, who also produced. BAD KIDS GO TO HELL, which stars THE BREAKFAST CLUB alum Judd Nelson, had its theatrical release across the U.S. and Canada begin December 7th, 2012. The film will be available on several On Demand platforms this Friday, January 11th, while the DVD release date is yet to be announced.

The film, based on the popular comic book series of the same name, tells the tale of six private school students locked in a Saturday detention with a killer on the loose. Ben Browder (Farscape, Stargate SG-1, Doctor Who) also stars, as well as Ali Faulkner (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1), Roger Edwards (Freelancers), Marc Donato (Degrassi: The Next Generation), Cameron Deane Stewart (Pitch Perfect), Augie Duke (The Mentalist), Amanda Alch (When Zachary Beaver Came to Town), Jeffrey Schmidt (Interstate), and Chanel Ryan (BASEketball).
 

Check Out The Teaser Trailer For “Morningside Monster”

The teaser trailer for “Morningside Monster” has finally arrived. The film stars Tiffany Shepis and Robert Pralgo and follows the nightmare that unfolds in a small New Jersey town with the discovery of a brutally murdered body. Soon more deaths begin and as the sheriff desperately tries to catch a killer in the community the residents begin to place focus on each other, pitting friends and foes against one another. The film also stars Catherine Taber and is directed by Chris Ethridge.

Check Out The Trailer For “The Devil’s Carnival 2: The Librarian”

The trailer for the sequel to one of the coolest cult musical’s ever has arrived. “The Devil’s Carnival 2: The Librarian” will continue the struggle of good verses evil in one of the most soulful rock opera’s of our time. Check out the glorious nine minute treat below. You may recognize the title character who is played by Tech N9ne in Darren Bousman’s follow up to the 2012 cult musical. The film comes out later this year and if this trailer is any sign of the fun promo stuff to come out as we wait then 2013 is gonna one Hell of a fun slide into nightmares and dreamscapes.

Check Out The Trailer For Eli Roth’s ‘Hemlock Grove’

The trailer for Netflix’s original series ‘Hemlock Grove’ has been unleashed. The Eli Roth directed show stars Dougray Scott, Famke Janssen, Landon Liboiron and Bill Skarsgard. The series premieres April 19th to Netflix subscribers allowing all 13 episodes to be viewed back to back or however you Netflix- that is epic- and should be what On-Demand customers (like me) should get to experience with our favorite programs!

The story focuses around the murder of a young girl whose body was found near the former Godfrey steel mill. The suspects in her killing include Peter, a 17-year-old Gypsy kid from the wrong side of the tracks, and Roman, the arrogant Godfrey Scion, whose sister Shelley is disturbingly deformed and whose mother, Olivia, is the beautiful and controlling grand dame of Hemlock Grove.

Check Out The Teaser Trailer For “Girls Against Boys”

“Girls Against Boys” is slated for release on February 1, 2013. Check out the teaser trailer for a film that is sure to become the anti-Valentine movie. The film is directed by Austin Chick and stars Danielle Panabaker, Nicole LaLiberte, Andrew Howard, Michael Stahl-David, Liam Aiken.

When Shae (Danielle Panabaker), a naïve college student, is tormented by several men in a matter of days, she reaches her breaking point, and is drawn into coworker Lu’s (Nicole LaLiberte) twisted plan for revenge. Together, the two embark on a gruesome killing spree, terrorizing and brutally murdering not just their attackers, but any man who gets in their way. However, after a wild weekend of retaliation, the friendship between the girls shifts into a dangerous obsession, and their perverse game becomes a desperate struggle for Shae to maintain control against Lu’s deadly and seductive influence.

Check Out The Trailer For “The Last Exorcism Part II”

The trailer has been released for the sequel to “The Last Exorcism” with some twisted visual treats. “Part II” hits theatres on March 1st 2013 and stars Ashley Bell, Spencer Treat Clark, Judd Lormand, Julia Garner and Andrew Sensenig. As Nell Sweetzer tries to build a new life after the events of the first movie, the evil force that once possessed her returns with an even more horrific plan.

“Spiders 3D” Gets Theatrical Release

“Spiders 3D” is a sci-fi/creature feature that I have been reading about for awhile now with about as much enthusiasm as I give any straight to DVD or Syfy movie. However this CGI monster is doing something that I never really expected. It is infesting cinemas, sort of, in limited release for worthy fans who will be at Rave Theatre Town Square in Vegas on the 12th of January.  The film is planning worldwide VOD release on February 8th. So it is totally not where I thought this film would go. I thought DVD, minimal fanfare and maybe a Syfy premiere. So kudos “Spiders 3D”.  Here is the RSVP email for anyone interested info@3dff.org .

“Spiders 3D” is directed by Tibor Takacs and stars Patrick Muldoon, Christa Campbell, Shelly Varod, John Mack, Sarah Brown and William Hope. It revisits the classic B-movie craze of the 50’s and 60’s and has this monstrous arachnids crashing down to earth in New York City. A Soviet space station carries a threat of apocalypse as a Giant Queen chooses the city’s subway system as her lair.

 

New Teaser Poster For The Return Of ‘The Walking Dead’

As word comes out about the record viewership for AMC’s original series based on the comic about the zombie apocalypse a new poster was released to amp up fans over the epic return to season 3 of ‘The Walking Dead’. It is epic because of the battle the group we have watched survive so much since the fall of society because this time it is not the undead that pose the biggest threat but tyranny from another group of survivors and division among his own. The show saw a historical number of viewers for the mid-season finale on Dec. 2nd raking in a total of 15.2 million watchers. It is the first time a cable television series has ever beat out and totally dominated the fall season. That says a lot, especially when you look back at all the kick ass shows that cable giants like HBO and SHO have created over years not to mention the scores of weekly supernatural dramas that many of us set our weekly calendars by! ‘The Walking Dead’ returns Feb. 10th at 9:00pm.

With his group in tatters, his sanity in question, and his own son questioning his every move, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) must somehow pull everyone together to face their greatest challenge -- the Governor (David Morrissey).  In order to survive, he must risk everything, including the group's very humanity.

Teaser Poster For “Haunt” Offers A Sinister Warning

Check out the sinister teaser poster for new supernatural nightmare flick “Haunt”. The film is a new supernatural/paranormal horror story from the production team behind “District 9”. “Haunt”  is directed by Mac Carter and is expected to release in time for 2013’s holiday season, the exact date is October 19th. The film stars Jacki Weaver, Liana Liberato and Harrison Gilbertson but most of the stuff about this project is still unclear. The story however focuses on a introverted teenager who befriends the new neighbor whose family just moved in to a house that is apparently haunted. Together they set out to investigate the place.