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Miskatonic Institute Of Horror Studies Is A True School For Screams

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Horror has often been associated with the arcane. Curiosity for knowledge of beyond that mortals cannot even comprehend. And right now, there is an organization for all those educational desires; The Miskatonic Institute Of Horror Studies! Per their website, this non-profit organization was founded by Kier-La Janisse in March 2010 in Canada, but has since grown to recurring events in London, New York, and most recently Los Angeles. ”

In fall of 2018, Miskatonic will be launching a pilot semester in Los Angeles, co-directed by Kier-La Janisse with Rebekah McKendry and Elric Kane of Blumhouse’s Shock Waves podcast, which will be hosted at the storied Los Feliz headquarters of the Philosophical Research Society, founded by occultist Manly Palmer Hall in 1934.”

Rebekah McKendry and Elric Kane introduce the event. Image via Jacob Davison.

I had the good fortune of attending the first Miskatonic Los Angeles class: a conversation with PhantasmBubba Ho-Tep, and John Dies At The End director/writer Don Coscarelli! An event lined up with his new biographical book True Indie: Life and Death in Filmmaking. The event held at a lecture hall in the Philosophical Research Society building, which coincidentally is where I took a semester in yoga. A sizable crowd attended to hear the life and career path of one of the ‘Masters Of Horror’ straight form the man himself. After a short introduction from Rebekah McKendry and Elric Kane, as well as Philosophical Research society school president Dr. Greg Salyer giving a brief history on the premises, JACKALS screenwriter and Deadright Horror Trivia co-host Jared Rivet took the stage as the night’s moderator before being joined by Don Coscarelli.

Don Coscarelli and moderator Jared Rivet. Image via Jacob Davison.

It was a fascinating conversation and presentation from one of independent horror’s most treasured heroes. Starting from his roots in Long Beach and his numerous struggles trying to get his first feature, Jim: The World’s Greatest off the ground to further career difficulties throughout. But all the way, Don persisted and made numerous friends like Reggie Bannister and Angus Scrimm and still managed for the most part to make the kinds of projects he wanted. Going into more recent movies like John Dies At The End and the finale to his beloved franchise, Phantasm RaVager. Though the event was three hours long (with a ten minute intermission in the middle) the night slipped past me as I hung on every word to the very end. Eventually ending the night to a roar of applause and a book signing of True Indie afterward.

Don Coscarelli and Jared Rivet talk Phantasm. Image via Jacob Davison.

If you’re looking to broaden your education of all things horror, I cannot reccommend attending these classes enough. The next being Rebekah McKendry’s “I Dream Of Deep Water: An Exploration Of The History And Psychology Of Aquatic Horror” tomorrow in Los Angeles with more courses of carnage to come!

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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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