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‘Power Drill Massacre’ is an Homage to VHS, Sleazy Slashers and PS1

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Call me old fashioned, but I miss the good ol’ days of survival horror when it was you and your wits, no weapons (or at least very limited), a somewhat simple plot, the cheesy dialogue and of course, the really cool killers these games seemed to have. I remember playing Alone in the Dark on 3DO and being floored by it. I still bust that game out from time to time to play.

CLOCKTOWER

Then along came Resident Evil and changed that game. I’m not saying that as a negative. Regardless of how that series started to go downhill after Resident Evil 4 (or wherever depending on your opinion), but after it hit the scene, just damn near every survival horror game had to involve a secret bio-chemical company with an evil plot – I’m looking at you, Clock Tower: The Struggle Within. There’s another good example; Clock Tower. I love the first game to pieces. I thought the setup and plot was great, Scissorman is a cool villain and I liked how the character you play as depends on a situation in the prologue. It, along with many other survival horror games, had branching paths which would allow you multiple endings and enhancing the replay value.

Then of course, you have your Silent Hill games, which added a whole new level of psychological horror elements rather than being more jump scares. Somewhere along the way, we lost sight of all of that. All the series I mentioned, Alone in the DarkResident Evil and Silent Hill all became heavily more combat focused and only began to offer boo scares. Of course, with Summer Camp and Until Dawn coming out soon, that could all change, but recently I stumbled upon a game that is a throwback to all that, graphics, sounds, music and all.

Power Drill Massacre from developer Puppet Combo on PC and Mac looks like it belongs in the Playstation 1 era, sporting really polygonal graphics, a synthy score and even janky controls (luckily you can plug in a controller and it plays much better). The plot is rather simple: A teenage couple gets into a car wreck leaving the girlfriend (you) unharmed and looking for help. You stumble upon a creepy looking building, which is usually a good sign, and upon entering it, the door locks behind you. You must search for an exit while accidentally uncover what happened in this building and what it means for you. Oh, and there is a masked psycho wielding a power drill chasing you.

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POWERDILL2

 

POWERDRILL3

The game is purely for fans of not only the old style PS1 survival horror games and sleazy slasher films of the early 80’s, but of VHS fans as well, since the game has a video option that enables the graphics to look like it’s playing on an old VHS tape. I had a lot of fun with this game and it was great to have that old feeling back. The game is also dripping with mood and suspense since the killer will literally jump out at any moment. There are two endings available, which is a lot for a game that is an early demo/proof of concept. Puppet Combo is making a sequel with slightly better graphics and a deeper story to add more gameplay, but keeping the same spirit. You can follow their Facebook for updates. It’s free to download from their site, so play it and remember the good times.

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And for a quick look at the Power Drill Massacre 2

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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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