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Watch: Award-Winning Horror Short ‘Here There Be Monsters’

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Here There Be Monsters Horror Short

Australian horror is home to some creepy little creature features. When the entire country is full of animals that are probably trying to kill you, you’re bound to find some inspiration in nature. And then there’s the fantastic “fear thy neighbor” films that prove just how scary some people can be. In Here There Be Monsters — an Australian horror short — we’re introduced to these top two types of terror; the villains we know, and the creatures we don’t.

After incessant bullying on the bus ride home, a young girl falls asleep and ends up trapped inside the school bus at the empty depot. Her frustration quickly turns to dread when she sees something lurking in the vast dark yard – something big – and Elki’s going to have to summon up every piece of courage she didn’t know she had if she’s going to survive the night.

Here There Be Monsters is free of dialogue, which makes the sound and music so very important. Erin McKimm does an incredible job with such a simple musical theme that’s woven throughout the short. It’s heartbreaking and honest, and communicates volumes of emotion alongside Savannah Foran-McDaniel’s delicate yet powerful performance as Elki.

As you watch the opening sequence — Elki being bullied on a school bus — you want nothing more than to throw your arms around her in a gesture of support and protection. It’s a brief snapshot of Elki’s life, but it’s effective in communicating a deep level of pain. Foran-McDaniel is commanding as the short’s lead and focus, drawing the audience along with her as we feel her fear and frustration.

The short showcases a satisfying practical monster design, which was designed, built, and operated by the team at Steve Boyle FX. The monster’s spine-tingling sound was born from the vocal skills of world famous beat boxer Tom Thum and engineered by sound designer Pete Christie. The result is a real down-to-earth terror that could feasibly crawl right out of the Australian muck (from whence it ostensibly came).

The film has played at 50+ festivals around the world, including Sitges, Hollyshorts, Screamfest and many more genre favorites, winning multiple awards along the way. Writer/director Drew MacDonald describes it as “something of a throwback creature feature mixed with a contemporary story about bullying”. But Here There Be Monsters is not just a cool creature feature, it carries a weight through its theme, focusing on the transference of anger.

There’s a complexity that runs through the short’s approach to bullying, demonstrating the cycles of anger and fear we fall into. MacDonald airs the dirty laundry of the bully’s situation in just a few seconds, offering a balanced and humbling angle to a once abhorrent character. The final moments are impactful, daring the audience to find the monster on screen.

You can watch the full Here There Be Monsters film on YouTube below, courtesy of Alter.

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Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

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The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

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lizzie borden house

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

Inside the Lizzie Borden House

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

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’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

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28 years later

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.

28 Days Later

The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.

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