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iHorror Spotlight: An Interview with Rob Schrab

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The boutique video store installation Slashback Video has come and gone, but the memories remain. The exhibit was a recreation of video stores of old but completely horror themed, becoming a popular attraction to genre fans in the Los Angeles area. Though it mainly featured vintage tapes, it also featured custom boxes and art for imagined movies befitting of the era. One such exhibitor is writer/director Rob Schrab (The Sarah Silverman Program, Monster House), whose art label ‘Schrab Home Video’ has a number of original VHS boxes and pieces that were a particular highlight of the attraction and featuring such titles like Cannibal Airlines, Shark Hotel, and Wizard Vigilante which are also available on various apparel through Teepublic. I sat down with him to talk about the exhibit, the genre, and more.

Image via IMDB

What were some of the first horror movies you watched?

Mainly creature feature stuff. Local TV, sci-fi, horror. Stuff like The Howling, but cut for TV. Alien, Poltergeist, one of my first was The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 which blew my mind because it was like a fever dream of colors, noise, and make-up effects.

What was your upbringing like?

I lived in a small town like Mayville, Wisconsin. I watched a lot of TV and drew a lot. We didn’t even have a video store. We had a 5 And Dime where you could rent movies. I’d rent Return Of The Living Dead, which is so terrifying and amazing. I love zombies and From Beyond, stuff that’s so weird, colorful, and amazing.

The sweet spot for me was 1982 to 1987. The summer of ’82 had so many great movies. On the cover of Starlog magazine through the year. ET, Star Trek II: Wrath Of Khan, The Road Warrior. Every single horror movie has been remade in one way, shape, or form from that one summer. Movies done really well by Dante, Raimi, O’Bannon. I’ve seen every movie by John Carpenter. He brought a look of horror that persists to this day as it is now.

What recent horror movies have you enjoyed?

Get Out I think is such an amazing movie. I assumed it was a spoof, but it’s straight-forward, strong POV, with rich mythology. Well constructed to the last scene. It should be nominated for best screenplay.

They Look Like People was really well done. Really smart, creepy, with mounting dread. Only movie I’ve seen to compel me to yell at my TV. I love it when a horror movie gets that kind of reaction, when it disarms you, attacks you. Horror movies make you afraid of being killed without actually harming you. It makes you think “I’m going to die one day, but how?”

Shudder [the streaming service] has got great taste.I’ve been more open to newer films because of Shudder. They always have something playing. I watched it last night and High Tension was playing and I thought “Oh! I want to check that out.”

What are your favorite horror sub-genres?

Cop vs Monster. The Dark. The police detective up against an insidious monster. The Hidden is just really great fun. Alligator is such an influence on me. John Sayles wrote such an amazing script based on a dumb idea. Also, horror anthologies like Tales From The Darkside.

How did you get involved with Slashback Video?

Schrab Home Video, SHV. I’ve been making my own home videos for awhile. Did it for a pitch and people loved it. I tried to change it up and make it its own thing. It’s all about making your own thing. I was working with Bad Robot and sent them Cannibal Airlines, Dan Trachtenberg saw it and wanted it in 10 Cloverfield Lane. People were actually really interested. I met Ryan Turek and he said he was doing Slashback Video, so I sent in 13 boxes. I was just really happy to be a part of that.

Image via Nerdist

What were your reactions to the opening of Slashback Video?

Amazing! I couldn’t even get in for a long time, and I was unable to really go back. It’s the video movie club. What video stores were. I loved haunting the aisles and finding something new and seeing what’s good and what’s bad based on the VHS box. Looking for gold, like the first time you watch Night Of The Creeps or Terrorvision.

What were the influences for your boxes?

Mutant Hunt. Great box, terrible movie. The first half-hour is pretty fun, but that box is pretty amazing. Razorback. Ghoulies. It’s one of those movies everyone has seen. Screamers. Blood Beach. I’d buy all the VHS tapes. Rawhead Rex because it’s so ridiculous. I’m a big fan of the Empire Home Movies. Especially From Beyond because it was so fun and had so many great lines. Fred Dekker is such an influence. Night Of The Creeps is such a great mash-up of invasion, monster, and zombie movies.

What were you most pleased with about Slashback Video?

The love of Slashback Video by the community overall. You don’t get love looking at boxes on Netflix. It’s overwhelming and you end up browsing without watching anything. Dan Harmon and I would watch the entire sci-fi movie section at the video store hoping to find bad movies.

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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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