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Indie Movie Review: ‘Headless’ (The Spin-Off of ‘Found’)

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2014 finally brought Scott Schirmer’s Found to a wider audience, along with the announcement that its film within a film, Headless, would go into production thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign. I had the good fortune of attending Found’s premiere in Indiana back in 2012, and as soon it was over, people were already asking if Schirmer and crew would make a standalone feature of Headless. It left that big of an impression (it also led to Found being banned in Australia).

Schirmer actually worked on Headless in the capacities of co-producer and co-editor, and let Arthur Cullipher, who led the gore effects on Found, take over directorial duties. The result is a film that makes use of its micro-budget just as efficiently as Found, while taking on a wildly different feel. It does maintain the feel the original Headless segment set up wonderfully, and takes it to new extremes and into the territory from which the original was truly inspired. That would be the insane and sometimes hard-to-find bloodbath flicks of the seventies and early eighties.

When I interviewed screenwriter Nathan Erdel (Todd Rigney, who wrote Found sat this one out) about the direction he planned to take Headless in back in July, he mentioned films like The Last House on Dead End Street and The Headless Eyes – both somewhat obscure and nutty films from the aforementioned era. Having seen the final product, I can tell you the whole team did a fantastic job of capturing that feel. I’d add that I couldn’t help but think about the original Maniac and Texas Chainsaw Massacre at times as well. To be clear, Headless doesn’t borrow too heavily from any of these films directly. It just has that old, dirty feel.

Yes, like Found, it’s low budget, so if you’re looking for some polished Hollywood fare, you’re looking in the wrong place. Quite frankly, too big a budget would probably only hurt a movie like this anyway. If you’ve seen Found, then you’ve seen what Headless is about, and Headless the feature perfectly extends that universe right into an hour and a half of depravity that never has a dull moment. It even manages to work some genuine creepiness in beyond the obvious slasher and gorefest elements you already know you’ll be consuming. This is helped with the introduction of a new “character” known (though not referred to in the movie by name) as “Skullboy”.

skullboy from headless

Skullboy would be our killer’s subconscious/imaginary friend, who kind of serves as a guide on his path of mayhem. This could be silly if not handled right, but it’s handled so, so right. It gives us another character to watch, and helps illustrate the killer’s extremely fucked state of mind and backstory.

The gore effects are fantastically fun, and are even elevated from what we saw in Found, and that’s a very good thing as Headless is certainly a showcase of practical effects.

Where it differs significantly from its seventies inspirations is that it never drags or feels like it’s going on too long. For a movie with so much severed head intercourse, somehow it never feels overplayed. There are also some moments of humor, which probably help in that department as well.

The score and other music work wonderfully, and help create the perfect complement to the trippy visuals, while the acting is right where it needs to be for this kind of film.

Keep in mind, Headless is literally supposed to be a movie from 1978. That’s the tape Found’s characters watched in that film. The real Headless is meant to be that very movie (though it does play out a bit differently than the original tape did – in a totally good way).

Ultimately, Headless is an entertaining slasher film for those who appreciate horror that takes things further than the norm. I would highly recommend anyone who hasn’t seen Found watch that first, because it gives you the context for what Headless is actually trying to be. Still, I believe it stands just fine on its own.

I’ve been waiting for this movie for nearly three years, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. I don’t have a release date for you yet, but it’s getting its premiere on Saturday at Culture Shock in Indianapolis.

You can read our interviews with Cullipher and Shane Beasley, who plays the Headless killer (in both movies) here, and our interviews with Schirmer and co-producer Kara Erdel here and here respectively.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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