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5 Female Directed Horror Films Now Streaming on Netflix: Part 1

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Written by Shannon McGrew

For the past 8 years, the month of February has been home to the Women in Horror Month initiative created by Hannah Forman, Editor-in-Chief of Ax Wound Zine.  To help support and promote females within the horror genre, I’ve compiled a list of the top 5 horror films directed by women that you can currently stream on Neflix.  So do yourself a favor and add all of these movies to your queue, set aside a full day, grab some popcorn, and indulge yourself with these incredible horror films directed by insanely talented women.

5. “The Babadook
Directed by: Jennifer Kent
Synopsis:  A single mother, plagued by the violent death of her husband, battles with her son’s fear of a monster lurking in the house, but soon discovers a sinister presence all around her.

Why You Should Watch:  Jennifer Kent came out swinging with “The Babadook” and it took the horror world by storm. Whether you love the film or hate it, it has cemented itself as one of the most talked about horror films in recent years. Not only was the film directed by a woman but it also featured a strong performance by actress Essie Davis and brought to light the struggles of motherhood and having to raise a child on your own.

4. “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night
Directed by: Ana Lily Amirpour
Synopsis:  In the Iranian ghost-town Bad City, a place that reeks of death and loneliness, the townspeople are unaware they are being stalked by a lonesome vampire.

Why You Should Watch: This is one of those films that never seems to have any bad press surrounding it.  Like “The Babadook“, it also has a strong performance by a female lead in actress Sheila Vand‘s The Girl.  This is the only film on the list that I haven’t seen and I know that I must remedy that soon but from all the praises that I’ve heard about it, I can only assume that it’s a fantastic watch.

3. “The Invitation
Directed by: Karyn Kusama
Synopsis: While attending a dinner party at his former home, a man thinks his ex-wife and her new husband have sinister intentions for their guests.

Why You Should Watch: I know, I know.  This is one of those films people either love or hate and I’ve received backlash in the past for putting this film on my top 10 of 2016.  Regardless, I still think it’s a powerhouse of a movie with terrific performances from everyone in the cast.  It’s a slow burn and it definitely takes awhile before the action really starts to play out, but once it does the payoff is so worth it.  The last five minutes of this film are chilling and it makes you question if you really those that are close to you.

2. “Ravenous
Directed by: Antonia Bird
Synopsis: In a remote military outpost in the 19th Century, Captain John Boyd and his regiment embark on a rescue mission which takes a dark turn when they are ambushed by a sadistic cannibal.

Why You Should Watch: “Ravenous” is such a badass film and why more people don’t know about this movie is beyond me.  The film has everything from cannibals to the legend of Wendigo, with a touch of humor and mountains of gore.  Add in an all star cast that includes Guy Pearce, Robert Carlyle, David Arquette and Jeremy Davies and you have yourself one hell of a horror movie expertly directed by Antonia Bird.

1. “Honeymoon
Directed by: Leigh Janiak
Synopsis: A newlywed couple finds their lake-country honeymoon descend into chaos after Paul finds Bea wandering and disoriented in the middle of the night.

Why You Should Watch: I literally can’t say enough good things about “Honeymoon.”  This has to be one of my favorite movies that’s currently streaming on Netflix and one of the few that has been able to keep my entire attention from start to finish.  There are moments that are incredibly chilling and the chemistry between the couple (played by Rose Leslie and Harry Treadaway) is palpable and intense as we watch them go from happy newlyweds in love to a couple engulfed in a chaos of terror and confusion.  I can’t urge you enough to check out this film, it’s a definite much watch for any and all horror fans!

I would also like to make two special mentions, as both director Sarah Adina Smith and Axelle Carolyn are involved in horror anthologies that are currently streaming on Netflix.  In “Holidays“, Sarah Adina Smith’s segment “Mother’s Day” follows a woman who can’t stop getting pregnant and finds herself involved with a coven of barren witches after attending a strange ritual.  It’s definitely a disturbing short, one that made me want to never ever get pregnant.  In “Tales of Halloween“, Axelle Carolyn’s segment “Grim Grinning Ghosts” follows a young woman that is haunted by a malevolent spirit.  Her short is masterfully done with an ending that will stay with you long after it’s over.

Now go out and help spread the word about these talented directors and do your part to help support Women in Horror all year long!

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Russell Crowe To Star in Another Exorcism Movie & It’s Not a Sequel

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Maybe it’s because The Exorcist just celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year, or maybe it’s because aging Academy Award-winning actors aren’t too proud to take on obscure roles, but Russell Crowe is visiting the Devil once again in yet another possession film. And it’s not related to his last one, The Pope’s Exorcist.

According to Collider, the film titled The Exorcism was originally going to be released under the name The Georgetown Project. Rights for its North American release were once in the hands of Miramax but then went to Vertical Entertainment. It will release on June 7 in theaters then head over to Shudder for subscribers.

Crowe will also star in this year’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter which is set to drop in theaters on August 30.

As for The Exorcism, Collider provides us with what it’s about:

“The film centers around actor Anthony Miller (Crowe), whose troubles come to the forefront as he shoots a supernatural horror movie. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) has to figure out whether he’s lapsing into his past addictions, or if something even more horrific is occurring. “

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New F-Bomb Laden ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer: Bloody Buddy Movie

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Deadpool & Wolverine might be the buddy movie of the decade. The two heterodox superheroes are back in the latest trailer for the summer blockbuster, this time with more f-bombs than a gangster film.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Movie Trailer

This time the focus is on Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman. The adamantium-infused X-Man is having a bit of a pity party when Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) arrives on the scene who then tries to convince him to team up for selfish reasons. The result is a profanity-filled trailer with a Strange surprise at the end.

Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. It comes out on July 26. Here is the latest trailer, and we suggest if you are at work and your space isn’t private, you might want to put in headphones.

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Original Blair Witch Cast Ask Lionsgate for Retroactive Residuals in Light of New Film

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The Blair Witch Project Cast

Jason Blum is planning to reboot The Blair Witch Project for the second time. That’s a fairly large task considering none of the reboots or sequels have managed to capture the magic of the 1999 film that brought found footage into the mainstream.

This idea has not been lost on the original Blair Witch cast, who has recently reached out to Lionsgate to ask for what they feel is fair compensation for their role in the pivotal film. Lionsgate gained access to The Blair Witch Project in 2003 when they purchased Artisan Entertainment.

Blair witch
The Blair Witch Project Cast

However, Artisan Entertainment was an independent studio before its purchase, meaning the actors were not part of SAG-AFTRA. As a result, the cast are not entitled to the same residuals from the project as actors in other major films. The cast doesn’t feel that the studio should be able to continue to profit off of their hard work and likenesses without fair compensation.

Their most recent request asks for “meaningful consultation on any future ‘Blair Witch’ reboot, sequel, prequel, toy, game, ride, escape room, etc., in which one could reasonably assume that Heather, Michael & Josh’s names and/or likenesses will be associated for promotional purposes in the public sphere.”

The blair witch project

At this time, Lionsgate has not offered any comment about this issue.

The full statement made by the cast can be found below.

OUR ASKS OF LIONSGATE (From Heather, Michael & Josh, stars of “The Blair Witch Project”):

1. Retroactive + future residual payments to Heather, Michael and Josh for acting services rendered in the original BWP, equivalent to the sum that would’ve been allotted through SAG-AFTRA, had we had proper union or legal representation when the film was made.

2. Meaningful consultation on any future Blair Witch reboot, sequel, prequel, toy, game, ride, escape room, etc…, in which one could reasonably assume that Heather, Michael & Josh’s names and/or likenesses will be associated for promotional purposes in the public sphere.

Note: Our film has now been rebooted twice, both times were a disappointment from a fan/box office/critical perspective. Neither of these films were made with significant creative input from the original team. As the insiders who created the Blair Witch and have been listening to what fans love & want for 25 years, we’re your single greatest, yet thus-far un-utilized secret-weapon!

3. “The Blair Witch Grant”: A 60k grant (the budget of our original movie), paid out yearly by Lionsgate, to an unknown/aspiring genre filmmaker to assist in making theirfirst feature film. This is a GRANT, not a development fund, hence Lionsgate will not own any of the underlying rights to the project.

A PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM THE DIRECTORS & PRODUCERS OF “THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT”:

As we near the 25th anniversary of The Blair Witch Project, our pride in the storyworld we created and the film we produced is reaffirmed by the recent announcement of a reboot by horror icons Jason Blum and James Wan.

While we, the original filmmakers, respect Lionsgate’s right to monetize the intellectual property as it sees fit, we must highlight the significant contributions of the original cast — Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Mike Williams. As the literal faces of what has become a franchise, their likenesses, voices, and real names are inseparably tied to The Blair Witch Project. Their unique contributions not only defined the film’s authenticity but continue to resonate with audiences around the world.

We celebrate our film’s legacy, and equally, we believe the actors deserve to be celebrated for their enduring association with the franchise.

Sincerely, Eduardo Sanchez, Dan Myrick, Gregg Hale, Robin Cowie, and Michael Monello

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