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Henry Zaga Says Now is the Perfect Time to See ‘The New Mutants’

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For Henry Zaga, the fact that The New Mutants is finally hitting theaters after a three year wait seems almost like a dream.

“At some point, I was like, is this a marketing stunt? Is there any movie at all?” Zaga said, laughing, in an interview with iHorror this week. “We’ve been so excited for three years. If anything I think the delays have only gotten fans more passionate and more excited about it. It’s basically become an urban legend on its own. It’s my first movie in theaters so it couldn’t be more weird and awesome at the same time.”

Not only is this Zaga’s first film getting the theatrical treatment, but it’s also the fulfillment of more than one dream.

He admits he did not grow up reading The New Mutants, but was a fan of the X-Men cartoons and anything that involved Spider-Man and Batman. Like many kids, he grew up wanting to be super-powered, fighting criminals and taking down the bad guys.

What he didn’t expect was for the movie to check off more boxes than he first imagined.

Henry Zaga’s Sunspot in full-power mode in The New Mutants.

“I was even talking to Charlie [Heaton] about it after we watched it in March and you forget things,” he explained. “Like, I didn’t totally forget it but for a minute I blanked that I spoke Portuguese in the movie. I was like, ‘Oh my God, I am speaking my native language, playing a Brazilian person in a superhero Marvel movie. This is so awesome!’ So, I think that the ten-year-old in me went really crazy for a moment.”

Zaga also appreciated that his character Roberto da Costa aka Sunspot was a layered character that gave him more to dig into while playing the role.

 

For those unfamiliar, da Costa’s powers emerge, unfortunately while he is with his girlfriend in Brazil resulting in the girl’s death. When we meet him in the film, he is terrified of himself, but he hides it behind a veneer of jokes and bravado.

“I think a lot of people will see themselves in my character because we all make mistakes that we’re not even to blame for and we have to live with them,” Zaga pointed out. “We can’t live in spite of them, we have to live with them and they’re a part of who we are and our story. So, without giving too much away, Roberto uses fake confidence to really hide a very sensitive, broken side of his love-craving 17 year old self.”

As the actor’s description of da Costa might explain, much of the horror of The New Mutants is born from the unresolved issues of these mutants’ pasts before they arrived at the hospital. Over-powered teens trying to navigate adolescence with abilities they don’t understand and cannot fully control naturally lends itself to a scarier story.

“Josh [Boone] put it beautifully,” the actor said. “We never tried to make a horror movie. The comics are scary. Our history is scary. There’s no other way of doing this movie except to show our young side with the teenage years and the horror aspect just comes naturally. We’re too powerful for our own good. Can you imagine lighting yourself on fire every time you kiss someone? Bad stuff would happen. It’s really more of a necessity than a gimmick.”

Henry Zaga as Roberto da Costa and Anya Taylor-Joy as Illyana Rasputin in 20th Century Studios’ THE NEW MUTANTS. Photo by Claire Folger. © 2020 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Still, there were moments on set, filming in an abandoned mental hospital, that sent chills down Zaga’s spine from time to time.

In particular, he says, from time to time, when he was in a quiet corner by himself between takes, there was a noticeable smell that would seemingly come from nowhere.

“It was just like a punch in the gut,” Zaga said. “It was almost like something is looming. It’s weird how smell affects you in that way. It creeps into you before you even notice it. I was like, oh yeah, we are in a place that people have died in and have a tough time in. It’s not okay. We’re in a real, abandoned mental hospital. So that would be the punch in the gut for me.”

Despite the creepy location, the actor says he wishes he could go back and relive the experience of making the film. His time with his fellow cast members and the experience of working with director Josh Boone is one he won’t soon forget.

He also thinks that all of the delays and various setbacks have actually managed to bring the film to theaters at the perfect time.

“I’m glad it’s coming out in a moment where we’re understanding this pandemic a little more,” Zaga said. “We understand the guidelines a little better. We couldn’t’ have released this in April of this year. In a weird way I think it’s coming out at a perfect time. We’ve been quarantining so long and these characters in the movie are quarantining in a secret institution in the middle of nowhere. Maybe the world is finally ready for us.”

We here at iHorror are certainly ready to see The New Mutants, and it’s out in theaters today! Check out the character video for Henry Zaga’s Roberto da Costa below and let us know if you’ll be watching in the comments.

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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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