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[RECAP] Screams and Dreams at the iHorror Film Festival

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iHorror Film Festival

October 5, 2019 brought together independent filmmakers, genre legends, and more to the iHorror Film Festival at the historic Cuban Club in the Ybor City District of Tampa, Florida.

Boasting massive iHorror banners to welcome guests, the Cuban Club, already rumored to be one of the most haunted places in the U.S., took on an even more sinister feel with its curtains drawn and its lights dimmed to create the perfect setting for festival attendees.

That mood was enhanced further when actress Lexi Balestrieri emerged from the shadows costumed as Samara from The Ring and began to wind her way through the theater and lobby, lunging at patrons browsing the merchandise area and even stopping for the occasional selfie.

The festival also provided paranormal tours of the Cuban Club hosted by the Brooksville Paranormal Investigation Team.

 

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Story time! When I was 13, I saw The Ring for the first time. It scared the ever-loving &@!* out of me and I couldn’t sleep in my room without music playing for a few months after. Samara Morgan was unlike any other horror villain I’d ever seen. She wasn’t lurking in your house, wielding a weapon and slinging guts everywhere. She terrorized her victims through their minds. If you watched her videotape, she tortured you mentally and seven days later she crawled out of your TV to kill you. Not something you forget about from a horror film. This year, @joshnoftz asked me if I wanted to dress up like a horror icon and scare people at iHorror Film Festival this year. I happily obliged and knew right away who I wanted to be. While Samara doesn’t quite have the same effect on me, I respect the hell out of as a horror icon. So, enjoy these photos of me being creepy. Thank you @horrorceo for the opportunity! ? ? ?‍♀️ #horror #ihorror #ihorrorfilmfestival #scary #thering #samaramorgan #spooky #scareactor #horrorfilms #horrormovies #horroricons #halloween #happyhalloween #scarymovies #scarycharacter

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The day began at 10 am with a block of short films shot entirely in Florida to celebrate the festival’s location. Three more blocks followed throughout the day featuring the work of filmmakers from around the world under the supervision of sound, lighting, and projection designer and technician Matthew Coombs from J Thor Productions, Inc.

As someone who has spent a lot of time at film festivals, one of my favorite things to see is the networking that goes on between blocks of films, and the iHorror Film Festival was no different.

Whether they were gathered around the cash bar, taking photos on the iHorror Thrones and at the step and repeat, or sitting at “candlelit” tables throughout the lobby, directors and actors and crew members alike met to talk about their craft and shake hands with others in their field who had impressed them. We’ll no doubt be seeing more movies born from these conversations soon!


At 5:30 pm the excitement rose as Dan Myrick (The Blair Witch Project) and Jeffrey Reddick (Final Destination) took the stage with iHorror journalist Waylon Jordan and podcaster and filmmaker Jason Henne, who also served as master of ceremonies throughout the festival, to discuss the film industry and offer advice to filmmakers about marketing their films, approaching reviewers, and a variety of other topics.

Myrick and Reddick also spoke about a new Southern Gothic anthology series they’re creating which will be produced in Florida called The Black Veil.

With the panel ended, it was the moment of truth as the iHorror Awards were handed out with no few surprises and special awards along with those whose nominees had been listed in advance. You can see the full list of winners below.

The electric energy of the festival lasted throughout the day and as the credits rolled on the final film of the night, the applause only underlined the experience of festival-goers.

There’s little doubt that next year’s iHorror Film Festival under the direction of iHorror’s fearless leader Anthony Pernicka and festival co-creator Josh Noftz will be even bigger and better than this year!

Complete List of iHorror Film Festival Awards Presented:

  • Best Film: The Desecrated directed by John Gray
  • Best Director: Marc Cartwright, We Die Alone
  • Best Actor: Graham Vines, Exposure
  • Best Actress: Michele Yeager, Treat Street
  • Best Make-up/Practical FX: Z-Goat: First Bleat
  • Best Cinematography: Andrew Scott Baird, Starlets
  • Best Production Design: J. Zachary Thurman, Finley
  • Best Editing: Jay Gartland, The Loop
  • Best Sound Design: Tony Ahedo, Downpour
  • Best Florida Film: Vessel, directed by Scott Sullivan and Fever, directed by Brian Rosenthal
  • Most Horrifying Moment: Emetephobia

Special Awards Presented at the iHorror Film Festival:

  • Kristian Krempel: Outstanding Support for the Local Film Community and the iHorror Festival
  • Dan Myrick: Horror Legend Award
  • Jeffrey Reddick: Horror Legend Award
  • Josh Noftz: Dedication and Contribution in Co-Creating the iHorror Film Festival
  • Waylon Jordan: For his continuing contributions to iHorror as a writer/editor and his work on the iHorror Film Festival

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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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