Actor Sam Schweikert Behind-the-Scenes Of Techno-Horror “Other Halves”

Actor Sam Schweikert goes Behind-the-Scenes on Techno-Horror “Other Halves”

Today, Other Halves, the horror film about the last dating app you’ll ever use, released a behind-the-scenes interview with actor Sam Schweikert (Hart of Dixie).  Sam plays coder Shawn Engles, the only male on the Other Halves app development team.  Sam has a crush on Beth (Megan Hui - The Before Time), but can’t muster the courage to say something without the help of the sinister Other Halves app.

Other Halves stars Lauren Lakis (Hybrids, Gun Woman) and Mercedes Manning (Strictly Sexual, Zipper) as programmers who develop a revolutionary new dating app called Other Halves. On the night before the app is set to launch, they discover it causes strange side effects: users lose all self-control, becoming amoral, lascivious, violent... evil. They consider shutting the app down, but...

EVIL IS PROFITABLE.

The Red-Band Trailer recently debuted to much acclaim.  Two previous teasers gave us a clever glimpse of the evil properties of the app, the first disguised as a “Start-Up Investor Pitch” and the second teaser announcing the “Public Beta” of the revolutionary dating app.  “Other Halves” will make you think twice before you swipe right.

Other Halves, from One Oh One Radio Pictures, is the feature film debut for director and co-writer Matthew T. Price, and co-writer Kelly Morr.

The film is being produced by Curt Chatham, and also stars Lianna Liew (Truth Or Dare), Melanie Friedrich (Positive: Some Doors Should Remain Closed), and Carson Nicely (The Conan O'Brien Show).

My Review Of "We Are Still Here"

Ted Geoghegan's "We Are Still Here" is a dark, almost unassuming occultist nightmare. The film stars  Barbara Crampton, Andrew Sensenig, Lisa Marie, Larry Fessenden, Monte Markham, Kelsea Dakota, Michael Patrick, Susan Gibney, Guy Gane III, Elissa Dowling, and Zorah Burress in a period ghost story that revolves around a house that harbors an evil that has one family, and the town it rests in, held in the grip of a truly terrifying haunting. (Cryptic I know, but I don't want to spoil this film by giving away key plot details.)

The story that Geoghegan, along with Richard Griffin, creates is a melancholic blend of casual attitude, and sobering horror. There is no overstated approach to building the paranormal aspects of "We Are Still Here", or that all too familiar "your so dumb that I am telling you the scary part is coming" staging. The almost comfortable character interactions and dialog seem to echo the the loss and sorrow that the two main characters feel in the story, which create a relaxed viewing experience so when the suspense leads into the scares, they often are pretty scary. The acting and situations don't feel contrived or forced. 

"We Are Still Here" does have an extra slice of the macabre with an "American Gothic"/"Twin Peaks" type of community that surrounds the country home with a dark, historical back story. Evil people do evil thinks when faced with evil. That is all I will say about that part of the story. Anyway it takes the paranormal, ghost story to another level of nightmare that doesn't happen often in films about haunting. Plus it begs for a sequel, and further exploration into the house's history and the evil within. 

The special effects are pretty well thought out and executed. There are elements that pull from classic horror, which considering that "We Are Still Here" is a period piece set in the 70's, just helps create that creepy atmosphere that classic horror films seemed to have, that modern films often fall flat when trying to tap into. The creature effects are cringe worthy, and the chills are definitely effective. Actually if some of the cast weren't so recognizable, you would forget that this is a recent film, and think that you ran across good old horror from way back when! It is quite surprising just how well the production value, set design, and attention to detail "We Are Still Here" contains. Much like "The House Of The Devil", this flashback horror is entertaining, creepy, and - when it needs to be- chilling!

Teaser Trailer Released For "Campground: The Requel"

Studio 605 has released a teaser trailer for "Campground: The Requel". The film is "retooling" of sorts of the original indie horror "The Campground", only it is different. Roman Jossart has made the ingeniously creative decision to not just go for a standard sequel, but instead, opting to remake the original story and infuse it with new "sequel worthy" material. Thus "Campground: The Requel" is born!

I x-ed out the "The" from the title because the film changed its name from "The Campground-" to just "Campground-". Just an F.Y.I

The film stars Anna Love, Casey Weber, Jack Norman, Marla Van Lanen, and Jossart in a slasher celebration. After a few friends decided to break into the abandoned campground to have a party they learn quick that the local legend Charlie Varsin is much more than myth. After a bloody night of hiding and surviving The friends decide to look more into the story surrounding Charlie Varsin and they find out much more than they bargained for and find themselves in the middle of something that will get you killed.

"Fear The Walking Dead" Poster And First Look Images

The new poster for "Fear The Walking Dead" proves why it is never wise to go down dark corridors during the zombie apocalypse. AMC has also released some first look images from the new original series spun from "The Walking Dead".

"Fear The Walking Dead" hits our nerves and breaks social media this summer. The series stars Kim Dickens (Gone Girl, Sons of Anarchy), Cliff Curtis (Missing, Gang Related), Frank Dillane (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) and Alycia Debnam Carey (Into the Storm). Executive Produced by Dave Erickson (Marco Polo, Sons of Anarchy), Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd, Greg Nicotero and David Alpert.

What did the world look like as it was transforming into the horrifying apocalypse depicted in "The Walking Dead"? This spin-off set in Los Angeles, following new characters as they face the beginning of the end of the world, will answer that question.

"Annulment" Puts Ill-Fated Relationships To The Test

Bryan Stumpf's zombie comedy, "Annulment" puts the question of ill-fated relationship status to the test in his new project. The film has already won best writer & director award at  Snowtown Film Festival back in January. The romantic zomedy short film stars  Kat Scicluna, Mike LaRose, Joe Felece, and Jared Dicroce.

A recently divorced couple must "make nice" and get along to survive hordes of zombie-like humans, infected by a deadly pandemic.

Behind The Scene Stills Released From Set Of "Abruptio"

Hellbent Pictures has teamed with composers Savage & Spies, the guys behind "The Human Centipede: First Sequence, for horror film "Abruptio". The film is now in production.

The very stylized, and highly conceptual horror will have all the characters in the film portrayed as lifelike puppets. Recording sessions have been underway, with the voices of Sid Haig (The Devil’s Rejects, House of 1000 Corpses) recorded and James Marsters (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) set for the end of June. "Abruptio" is the brainchild of Evan Marlowe and will feature Christopher McDonald.

The film follows Les Hackle, a man whom discovers a sinister race of beings is manipulating mankind in order to create mayhem. He must uncover their plan before the explosive they've implanted in his neck detonates.

"Abruptio" Website 

New Teaser Released For "New Blood Awakening"

A new teaser has been released for vampire sequel "New Blood Awakening". The film is the follow to "New Blood Rising" directed by Chad Zuver. "Awakening" is due out in 2016 and stars Allan Meyette, Sarah Thomas, Melissa Zahs, Greg Kissner, Chris Wietrzykowski, Mark Klein, Jeanine Visuue.

"New Blood Rising" followed Jade, her sister Ophelia, and brother Bryce as three vampires who make their way to a small town to gather their thoughts so that they could make a plan to restore their bloodline. The trio find themselves facing extinction as a group of vampire hunters track them down. 




You can read my review of "New Blood Rising" here:  http://asouthernlifeinscandaloustimes.blogspot.com/2014/07/my-review-of-new-blood-rising.html

Release Date And DVD Cover Art Announced For "Dead Woman's Hollow"

Wild Eye Releasing has announced the release date for "Dead Woman's Hollow". Along with the announcement the company has revealed the DVD cover art. "Dead Woman's Hollow" is based on true events, directed by Libby McDermott, and will hit shelves on June 23rd.  The film stars Jeremy Bingaman, Bethany Coyle, Roger Durga Dahal, and Charles Dawson.

Press Release: 

Wild Eye Releasing has announced that Libby McDermott’s debut feature, the chilling psychological horror film Dead Woman’s Hollow is coming to DVD. Based on the shocking hate crime that ripped through the quiet of Appalachia in 1988, Dead Woman’s Hollow will be available nationwide June 23rd.

McDermott took home awards for Best Horror Feature and Best Make Up at the World Music and Independent Film Festival, and Charles Dawson was named Best Male Lead at the WC Horror Film Festival for his turn as small town law enforcement trying to hunt down a murderer in the woods he calls home.

Two attractive young coeds set off for a camping trip in the Pennsylvania woods to get away from it all. After a rifle-toting mountain man discovers they are a couple, the women become his prey: hunted, shot and left for dead. The local sheriff begins to connect their frightened testimony with unsolved disappearances and murders on the trail. Can he act in time to stop more killings?

Official Poster Released For "The Dark Below" Ahead Of Fantasia World Premiere

Fangoria has revealed the poster for upcoming horror film "The Dark Below" ahead of its Fantasia Film Festival World Premiere. The film is directed by Douglas Schulze and stars Veronica Cartwright, Lauren Mae Shafer, David G.B. Brown, Sarah Zorn. "The Dark Below" premieres during the Canadian film festival which runs July 14th thru August 4th.

The Dark Below is a terrifying tale about a divers struggle to stay alive beneath a frozen lake while a killer hunts them from above. Set largely on and beneath a frozen lake the production crew filmed "The Dark Below" outdoors in temperatures that, at times dropped to minus 20 degrees. Schulze explains; “There’s no green screen here; we filmed this almost entirely in real locations with real elements.”

Schulze’s previous films include the top selling MIMESIS (Anchor Bay / Starz) about role players that recreate Romero’s classic Night of the Living Dead complete with flesh eating, Dark Fields (with the late David Carradine).

My Review Of "Closer To God"

First off let me say that this is not "Splice" or "Splice-like" for any sci-fi, horror fans expecting that kind of movie experience. This film is a more down-to-earth, loose representation of what an event like "a cloned child done secretly then leaked out" would be like, how it would be received by society. "Closer To God" is more of a dark drama with horror affectations.

The film is directed by Billy Senese who tells a very emotional, long-drawn out, story with a real heartfelt approach to the human experience surrounding such an event as "Closer To God" explores. Cloning a successful human, then expanding the science of possibilities while protecting the material and the child. Compound that with the social repercussions, religiosity and naturalistic outrage, and you have Senese's film's theme.

"Closer To God" stars Jeremy Childs, Shelean Newman, Shannon Hoppe, David Alford and Isaac Disney. The cinematography and setting is dark and somber, offering a more emotionally disconnected approach to this dark character study with only slight moments of personality that leak in from the Scientist and host mother's point of view. The rest of the time we are "chaos rubber-neckers" watching from a distance as this train-wreck of scientific achievements unfolds. That doesn't mean that the film or story is without personality or emotion. "Closer To God" reeks of melodrama and emotion, the story is strong and the acting is so well done that a tense, connection develops between the audience that story develops.

The horror aspect is minor and you have to hold on for the duration of this slow-burn, melodrama to get to that horror portion. It may not be worth it to die hard horror fans, or people going into the film wanting high energy thrills and chills. "Closer To God" keeps with a somber, macabre, almost haunting atmosphere, like watching a wake or or funeral, but only if the Westboro Church was outside, or the dead person was a mass-murder and also one of your closest relatives.  That is the human connection I got once I became invested in these characters and this dark, sci-fi story. The effects are spot on but there isn't a lot of attention or sensationalism offered to those moments.

Overall I have to say that, as a dark drama, "Closer To God" is an intense, emotional story that is captivating. As a horror film or a "Frankenstein" styled film, I never really got that aspect. I say some aspect at the end, but it was so underdeveloped or poorly highlighted, that it doesn't really count. I think for people that have a pace of film that they like similar to "Stoker" or "Birth" , then "Closer To God" will be your speed. For more action, suspense, horror film fans-skip it because your just gonna get bored. I personally enjoyed the story and subject matter, I love any film that explores cloning! I say we go there and get it done-let the nightmarish consequences unfold!

Teaser Trailer Released For "Massacre"

The first teaser trailer for Deathaus Films' "Massacre" has been released. The film is directed by  Erik Boccio and stars Billy Idol, London May, Katey Foley, Jeff Hilliard, Jeordie White, Rob Patterson, Troy Butcher, and Pandie Suicide. 

Marianne James wakes up at the site of a very grisly mass murder, and can’t remember anything that happened.

First Trailer Released For "Extinction" Starring Matthew Fox

The first official trailer for upcoming horror thriller starring Matthew Fox, "Extinction" has been released. The film is directed by Miguel Ángel Vivas. "extinction" co-stars Jeffrey Donovan, Quinn McColgan, Valeria Vereau, and Clara Lago. It is slated for release in theatres and iTunes on July 31st.

For nine years, Patrick (Matthew Fox), Jack (Jeffrey Donovan) and his daughter Lu (Quinn McColgan) have outlasted the zombie apocalypse by shutting themselves off in the snowbound town of Harmony. The monsters have seemingly disappeared, with no sign of other survivors, but the constant fear of the unknown is starting to take a toll on this makeshift family. When Patrick goes scavenging for food, he discovers the undead have returned and evolved into something terrifying beyond imagination. Will the last breath of the human race survive a second zombie apocalypse?

Trailer Released For Indie Slasher Sequel "Playing With Dolls: Bloodlust"

The official trailer has been released for indie slasher sequel "Playing With Dolls: Bloodlust". It is an indie gorefest directed by Rene Perez and starring  Richard Tyson, Karin Brauns, Colin Bryant, Elonda Seawood, Andy Espinoza Long. The film is due out in 2016. 

"Playing With Dolls" focuses on a serial killer purposely released from an asylum for the criminally insane so that he can continue his rampage. All under the watchful eye of video cameras set up in his killing field. "Playing With Dolls" continues that rampage and carnage in the aptly titled "Bloodlust" sequel. 

Stina, played by Karin Brauns, is lured to a nature reserve with hopes of becoming a star. She soon realizes that a killer is lurking around the cabin where she is staying. As the horror takes hold an eccentric, psychotic voyeur is watching the terror unfold. The serial killer is his weapon and the reserve is where he directs the killer to create the bloodbath for his own purposes.

Check Out Opening Scene From "The Gallows"

Check out the opening scene from upcoming high school, found footage horror "The Gallows". The film hits theatres on July 10th, and stars Cassidy Gifford, Ryan Shoos, Reese Mishler and Pfeifer Brown. "The Gallows" is directed by  Travis Cluff and Chris Lofing.

Twenty years after an accident caused the death of the lead actor during a high school play, students at the same small town school resurrect the failed stage production in a misguided attempt to honor the anniversary of the tragedy—but ultimately find out that some things are better left alone. 

First Trailer Released For "The Hospital 2"

The first official trailer has arrived for indie slasher horror "The Hospital 2". The film is set to be released September 26th, 2015. Read the full press release below.

Press Release:

Featuring genre favorites Betsy Rue (My Bloody Valentine 3D, “True Blood”), Debbie Rochon (American Nightmare), Jim O’Rear (Don’t Look in the Basement 2), Daniel Emery Taylor (Return of the Swamp Thing), and Scott Tepperman (“Ghost Hunters International”), THE HOSPITAL 2 amps things up a few notches and pushes the boundaries of shocking theatrics even further than the first film.

Five years after the brutal events that befell Skye and Beth inside Old Saint Leopold’s Hospital, the two survivors continue to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives. With news of the past violent events resurfacing in the press and media, the two ladies face dealing with those ugly memories all over again. Soon, though, the events become more than just memories as Skye and Beth are hurled into another fight for survival against some very real demons from their past that are hell-bent on destroying them and everything that they hold dear.

THE HOSPITAL 2 premieres theatrically September 26, 2015.