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Travel Back to The VCR Age of Horror at SLASHBACK VIDEO!

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The internet has made movie accessibility a breeze. If you want to find a movie to watch, you got Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, and all manner of streaming sites on top of Amazon ordering and local Red Box rentals. But it didn’t always used to be this way. Back in the day, the best way to find a specific movie, especially a horror movie, was to visit your local video store. Walking those hallowed aisles of VHS and later DVD divided by genre, alphabetical order, and new releases. Those days, and most video stores have gone the way of the dodo, though. Blockbuster all but a myth. But what if I were to tell you there was a place to witness the video rental days of old, complete with art pieces and other goodies? Then let’s take a trip down to SLASHBACK VIDEO!

An art installation event in Burbank, California located at the Bearded Lady’s Mystic Museum, and presented alongside Blumhouse’s Ryan Turek with support by genre companies like Fright-Rags, Creepy Co., Waxwork Records, Phantom Carriage, and Mixtape Massacre. With that kind of pedigree, you know it’s a good time.

Visiting the store myself, it was like travelling to a wonderful alternate universe where not only video stores still existed, but there was an entire store devoted to the horror label. All across from another exhibit revolving around Ben Cooper Vintage Halloween Masks and costumes. There are dozens of rare and collectible genre titles to look at (but not physically touch) such as A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, HELLRAISER, and FRIDAY THE 13th, to obscure and gonzo titles like THE KEEP, STAGE FRIGHT, and SOLE SURVIVOR (The Slashback Video Pick of the Month). Slashback Video operates as a true art gallery for the video era. As so many movies tantalized with simple things like cover art and memorable titles.

The setting decorated with all things genre related and from the time long past. With inflatable promo items for THE CHILDREN OF THE CORN III: URBAN HARVEST and even JAWS: THE REVENGE. A small TV plays round the clock horror movies (I was lucky to see them play ARMY OF DARKNESS on a loop.) As well, there were several custom art pieces such as movie posters and VHS boxes featuring pop up monsters and items. All of which are for sale to video connoisseurs.

One of my favorite galleries was the ‘New Releases’ aisle. Featuring VHS versions of modern horror with retro overtones such as THE FINAL GIRLS and BEYOND THE GATES. As well as a multitude of faux VHS tapes made by artist/writer/comedian, Rob Schrab. Featuring ludicrously awesome titles and cover art like TREE-ANIMATOR, SHARK HOTEL, and CANNIBAL AIRLINES among many more.

 

And on top of everything else: They have a working SPLATTER HOUSE arcade cabinet with a quarter per play!

And yet, there is so much left to discover down the magnetic tape rabbit hole. So, if you’re in the Los Angeles area, and want to relive the golden age of horror rentals, or even give a history lesson to someone while looking at some kick-ass art, check out Slashback Video!

 

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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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