AMC Releases New Webisodes "Fear the Walking Dead: Passage"

NEW YORK, NY – October 18, 2016 – Following last year’s successful web series, “Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462,” which delivered over 4.6 million video streams and garnered two Emmy® Award nominations, including Outstanding Short Form Comedy or Drama Series, AMC will roll out a new season of “Fear” webisodes, titled “Fear the Walking Dead: Passage.” The first installment of the 16-part series is currently live at www.AMC.com/passage and will air during one commercial break within “The Walking Dead” Season 7 premiere episode on Sunday, October 23rd.

Subsequent episodes of “Passage,” each less than one-minute long, will debut every Sunday, online and then on-air as promos during new episodes of “The Walking Dead,” for the duration of Season 7. The web series is produced by “Fear the Walking Dead” showrunner and executive producer Dave Erickson, directed and produced by Andrew Bernstein and written by Lauren Signorino and Mike Zunic, who also serve as consulting producers.

The second season of webisodes follows a fearsome survivor, Sierra (Kelsey Scott), who agrees to help an injured woman, Gabi (Mishel Prada), in exchange for an apocalyptic sanctuary. Over the course of their harrowing journey, the women go on to face many dangers and learn what they need to survive.

“We saw a tremendous response to last year’s ‘Flight 462’ so we are excited to again be expanding the world of ‘Fear’ with another story of survival at the onset of the apocalypse,” said Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for AMC and SundanceTV. “It’s great to be working with Dave Erickson and the ‘Fear’ team on this new piece of original short-form content that will continue to engage fans in the series’ off-season.”

31 Days of Horror Day 19: Slasher (TV Series) 2016 - REVIEW

In an era where binge watching is the "in" thing, a lot of TV networks and popular streaming services are pumping out the new shows. I remember as a kid having to wait a full week or even a season before you found out what happened in that cliffhanger that has your knickers all in a twist. Who shot J.R.? I dunno, you have to wait a season plus four episodes to find out. Arguably the most prolific and well known cliffhanger to come out of prime time TV during that time. Nowadays, you just wait for it to show up on Netflix or Hulu and watch the hell out of it. So, does the anticipation make it better or worse?

Sarah (Katie McGrath) and her husband Dylan (Brandon Jay McLaren) move back to the town and home where her parents were murdered years earlier. Before long, the past comes back to haunt the entire town as a string of murders begin. With the help of her friend Robin (Christopher Jacot), Sarah tries to unravel the puzzle that is The Executioner to find out who could be committing these brutal crimes.

So, I came across several reviews for Slasher where people criticizing the acting. Overall, the cast was pretty solid. The one major problem I had was with Irish born McGrath. She seems to have a hard time hiding her accent. Especially in scenes where she is required to get emotional or excited. That doesn't necessarily make her a bad actress but it makes it bad fit in the role of an American. McLaren is a phenomenal actor and I've enjoyed watching him blossom over the years. The same goes for Jacot. He brings a sarcastic, comedic flare to each role that I've seen him in.

To create a successful TV series, you have to have suspense in order to keep viewers wanting to continue on to the next episode. Slasher has a good back story and foundation to build on but creator Aaron Martin didn't quite capitalize on that. Quite honestly, the characters are unlikeable and do some questionable things which will likely turn views off. The big reveal also won't come as much of a surprise. There are also a couple of different storylines going on at once that inevitably cause a bit of confusion. However, on a positive note, there are some good effects throughout, the film is shot well and the locations are pretty great. In the end, what most likely would've made a pretty solid feature, fizzles out as a series.

Production Begins for Pumpkin Hollow

He’s captivated YouTube with his horror fan films, web-series “Melody Heights” and original short film Floaters, and now 20-year-old Gage Briney is in pre-production of his debut feature film Pumpkin Hollow. In a move that will ripen the interest in horror fans, Briney, an Arkansas native, will focus primarily on his original, intricate story and its use of special effects over the common place tactics of jump scares and CGI gore. With production slated to begin in November, Gage formally welcomes you to Pumpkin Hollow. Pick your friends wisely.

Pumpkin Hollow will see five college students traveling from New York to Arkansas as Gavin prepares to introduce his girlfriend, Blair, to his parents for the first time. Gavin hasn’t seen his parents in three years and upon reuniting with his relatives he discovers that they are now the proud owners of a huge pumpkin patch and scream park called Pumpkin Hollow. The reunion is also met with the murder of two teenagers, resulting in the hollow’s sudden closure by state officials. Undeterred, the group of friends head into the attraction and are alarmed to discover that the attractions – werewolves, killer clowns, doll-faced killers, backwoods hillbillies, etc – come to life. This isn’t the only secret hidden in the catacombs covered in orange gourds and now the college kids must try to survive creepy re-animated killers… and each other.

Cast members appearing in Pumpkin Hollow will include Benny Owens, Megan Elders Owens, Grant Adams, Connar Leigh Fletcher, Alex Bonyata and Bella Beyer. Further casting announcements are pending. Crew members include co-director and cinematographer Michael Brown, lighting by Kandra Leonard and music by Seth Hise. HorrorSociety.com’s Michael DeFellipo will serve as a supervising producer. The film will be shot on location at the real Pumpkin Hollow; owned by Daryl Dalton, Ellen Dalton and Gavin Dye in St. Francis, Arkansas.

A GoFundMe campaign will be launched in support of Pumpkin Hollow soon. Until then, please follow this upcoming title on Facebook.

Abbey Grace Coming to DVD and VOD

Director Stephen Durham (The Butchers) unleashes a new tale in terror with Abbey Grace, premiering on Demand November 8 from Uncork’d Entertainment.

When Stacy's mom dies, Stacey puts her life and career on hold and returns to her childhood home to take care of her OCD agorophobic brother Ben who hasn't been out of the house for 23 years only to find out the house they grew up in harbors a disturbing secret.

Debbie Sheridan, Jacob Hobbs, Amber Gallaway, and Semi Anthony star in a David Dittlinger and Stephen Durham written film, directed by Stephen Durham.

Abbey Grace On VOD November 8 and DVD December 6 from Uncork’d Entertainment.

Octane Pictures Acquires Gehenna

Burbank, CA : Highly-anticipated creature-feature Gehenna: Where Death Lives, directed, produced, and co-written by makeup and special effects master Hiroshi Katagiri, has been acquired by High Octane Pictures.

High Octane Pictures is a newly-minted shingle, founded by industry vet and CAA Alum Galen Christy. It has acquired the international sales rights for the film, which boasts high-end sets and spectacular effects work from director Hiroshi Katagiri himself, and his friends from the industry. Katagiri’s storied career includes working at Stan Winston Studios and also working with Steven Spielberg on Jurassic Park, A.I and War of the Worlds. Other credits include Pacific Rim, The Hunger Games, and Aliens vs Predator: Requiem. Gehenna marks his debut as a feature film director.

Encompassing horror, suspense and a twist that will blow your mind, Gehenna fixes on five people who enter a hidden bunker from WW2, and realize it's way more than a bunker. Some fates are MUCH worse than death.

The ensemble cast includes Doug Jones (Pan’s Labyrinth, Crimson Peak), Genre icon Lance Henriksen (TV’s Millennium, Aliens), Eva Swan, Simon Phillips, and Justin Gordon.

Spectral Motion, known for award-winning work on such films as Hellboy and Looper, did the makeup effects on the creature played by Jones.

Gehenna has been accepted at festivals that include Shriekfest and with the support of High Octane Pictures, will have a major presence at this year’s American Film Market.

First Trailer for Massacre on Aisle 12 Released

Los Angeles, California - Full Auto Films and Code 3 Films have teamed up to bring horror fans Massacre on Aisle 12. This film is a blend of comedy and horror. The film stars: Jim Klock (“Scream Queens”) , Chad Ridgely (Murder Eleven), Mike Capozzi ("Interrogations Gone Wrong" with Keanu Reeves) and Michael Buonomo. Set for its World Premiere in November, the film’s first teaser shows several employees fighting over a bag of stolen loot. Massacre on Aisle 12 was directed by Jim Klock and William Mark McCullough (Patient Seven). As well, the script was developed by Jim Klock, from the original script written by A.J. Via and Chad Ridgely. All of the upcoming release details for the film and the teaser are available here!

The bloodshed begins on Christmas Eve. As a hardware store begins to close, a duffel bag of cash is found, but so is a body. Now, the employees must decide what to do with both items. Should they turn the cash in, or go on a Christmas shopping spree? Events take an even bloodier turn when the employees turn on each other.

The teaser shows more of the chaos. And, indie horror fans can see the film this November 4th-6th. The film is slated for its World Premiere at the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival that weekend. For now, horror fans can watch several characters implode in the face of so much cash.

The official teaser 

Visit the film's Facebook fan page.

More details on the film’s premiere will be available here.

Trailer, Stills and Release Date for Krampus Unleashed

Hotly anticipated yuletide horror title KRAMPUS UNLEASHED premieres on VOD this November from Uncork’d Entertainment.

The film sees the yuletide monster, the dark companion of Santa Claus, in town with a few days to kill.

Some things are better left buried. In pursuit of a lost treasure, a group of fortune hunters mistakenly unearth an ancient demonic summoning stone that holds a terrible curse and awakens a timeless evil, the Krampus. After centuries of slumber, Krampus, the Christmas Devil, has awoken with a thirst that only blood will quench. He knows if you've been naughty!

From writer-director Robert Conway (KRAMPUS : THE RECKONING, THE ENCOUNTER) comes KRAMPUS UNLEASHED, going for a Slay November 1 on VOD and December 13 on DVD.