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‘Scary Stories to Tell in The Dark’ Effectively Bridges Horror for Young and Old

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Stories

There are several decades between me and my Scholastic Book Fair days. But, even now, those memories are still an elementary school high point. Picking up Clive Barker’s Thief of Always, Stephen King’s Eyes of the Dragon and Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark were undoubtedly formative for me. On the bright side so much time has passed since those book fair glory days that I was able to go into this film adaptation with little to no expectation at all, which I believe assisted in my view of the film’s bigger picture.

The story opens up on the small town of Mills Valley on Halloween. The towns folk are rushing about doing their thing in all the forms of quaintness. The setting within the first ten minutes of the film began to solidify a natural admiration for the vibe that was being exuded. Shades of King’s New England mixed with equal parts Hocus Pocus lined the frames and created a warm and welcoming intro.

The story eventually centers on Stella (Zoe Margaret Collletti), a horror-obsessed, aspiring writer who is reluctant to head out into town with her friends on Halloween. After some convincing, she and her friends head out to a haunted house for some spookins. After, Stella regales her group of friends with the history of the old house and the haunting story of Sarah Bellows, they stumble upon a mysterious book belonging to Bellows before leaving the old house with book in tow.

Much like LeMarchand’s box in Hellraiser, the book begins to unleash terrors of its own volition by self-scribbling stories on blank pages. Stories that come true and befall any of the children who were unfortunate enough to have stepped foot in the Bellows Mansion that night.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark’s framing device is very similar to Trick r’ Treat’s. With each story’s connective tissue rooted in the overreaching story of Stella and her pals. A nice play on the cut and dry approach to classic anthologies that introduce a bare bones setting in which each respective story is given its 20 to 30-minute runtime.

Stories

The biggest “how are they going to do that?” moment I had when I first heard about the film dealt with the the approach to the film’s structure. Either, it was going to be standalone tales in a classic anthology format, which raised concerns that these micro stories wouldn’t be enough to stand on their own, or it was going to be something that was smart enough to glue the pieces together organically.

Luckily, it was the latter. Classic ghost story sensibilities of east and west are both at play in Stella’s story. Pepper in Schwartz’s stories with some gnarly special effects to match Stephen Gammell’s memorable book illustrations and the whole thing is a package of playful scares and heart.

The kids in this film are really good and well-directed. Unlike, the kids of IT who felt less organic and more like a caricature of what a writer’s room felt kids should be like according to the popularity of Stranger Things. The young talent here fit all the beats of friendship and adolescence making the entire thing feel grounded and relatable.

The film is also surprisingly set against against Nixon’s election, the Vietnam war and surrounding draft. One of the films protagonists, Ramón Morales (Michael Garza) is even revealed to be a draft dodger at one point. Meanwhile, the through line of black and white tv images reporting news on Nixon and the status of the war are strewn about the films runtime. Timely subtext for what is currently going on in Mexico. The comparison of youth being slaughtered in a narrative that is being written for them is exacting and poignant. I’m interested to know if producer, Guillermo Del Toro had anything to do with that aspect of the story coming together.

Stories

The film’s best moments come from it’s creatively interwoven short stories. The Jangly man and Big Toe Stew both representing the feeling that I had when reading the book as a kid. Creepy, but fun and something I looked forward to revisiting. The Jangly Man in particular is a complete ride. From it’s special effects to its approach to the Jangly Man’s design, the last fifteen min of the film are all the more bizarre and unnerving because of him. A scene involving The Jangly Man falling into cadaverous quarters is easily one for 2019’s most rad points of horror imagery.

And director, André Øverdal is no stranger to nailing terrifying imagery and capturing horror beats. His film, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, is a complete, brilliant contained creep fest and was one of the high points of horror the year of its release. In Scary Stories, he takes his feel for terror and his obvious love of the source material and applies it in an exceedingly successful approach.

With most films these days there is a couple of CGI scenes that are pretty painful to watch. Not cause of the pain the characters are experiencing but because of the cheap look of some of the films big moments. There is a scene involving hundreds of spiders, that looks like it was made around the days of the Scorpion King. However, not all FX are bad. It picks and chooses when to up the effort. The stuff with The Jangly Man for example is full of rad hits and some bad misses. Total practical FX would have gone a long way here but it seems this just where we are headed sadly.

I really love that Scary Stories is for everyone. All sexes, all ages, everyone. I also love that it’s simultaneously working on different levels and paying respect to different works of cinematic ghost story past in the arenas of east and west. It manages to do all that while keeping fans of the original short stories happy and offering a heck of a social commentary message. It was definitely a surprise. It’s a propulsive blast of nostalgia, chills and fun. Scary Stories to Tell in The Dark, builds an exciting bridge between adult horror and kids gateway horror. This is absolutely something I would have wanted my parents to take me to see. It is easily going to be a yearly Halloween re-watch.

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is out Aug. 9 in theaters everywhere.

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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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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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