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The Creepy and Peculiar Shine in Sundance 2021’s Midnight Selections

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Sundance

Sundance Film Festival is quickly approaching. This year’s predominantly virtual festival opens on January 28, 2021, and as always, they have an amazing slate of films for viewing including their Midnight category selections.

“From horror and comedy to works that defy genre classification,” the official Sundance website states. “these films will keep you wide awake, even at the most arduous hour.”

It’s a category that’s always catered to genre fans with previous years’ selections including HereditaryThe Babadook, and Assassination Nation, and this year is no exception. Check out the full list of films below, and stay tuned for coverage from iHorror as the festival gets underway!

Censor (Directed by Prano Bailey-Bond)

Set in the era of the “video nasty” in 1985, Niamh Algar (Raised by Wolves) stars as Enid, a film censor who takes her job very seriously. After viewing a film that seems uncannily similar to the hazy memories of her childhood concerning the disappearance of her sister, she finds the line between fact and fiction slowly blurring in the most terrifying ways.

The film marks the feature debut of Welsh director Prano Bailey-Bond. The director co-wrote the screenplay for the film with Anthony Fletcher. They previously collaborated on several short films including Man vs. Sand and Nasty.

Coming Home in the Dark (Directed by James Ashcroft)

Alan and Jill have no idea the terrifying series of events they will set in motion when they decide to take their sons on a spontaneous hike through the New Zealand wilderness. When two drifters emerge from the woods as the family stops for a picnic, they soon find themselves taken by prisoner and confronted by ghosts of their past that will no longer remain silent. The film comes with a warning of extreme violence and gore.

Director James Ashcroft makes his feature directorial debut with Coming Home in the Dark. He previously served as the artistic director of the Indigenous Maori theater company Taki Rua.

A Glitch in the Matrix (Directed by Rodney Ascher)

Documentarian Rodney Ascher returns to Sundance with his new film, A Glitch in the Matrix, a deep dive into the ideas of simulation theory which states that the world we live in may not be entirely real. Ascher traces the theory from the ancient Greeks to modern iterations of the tenets by Philip K. Dick and the Wachowskis (The Matrix) as well as modern scholars.

Ascher has produced some of the most compelling, and sometimes terrifying, documentaries of the last decade including Room 237 and The Nightmare. The latter was especially enthralling as it took a deep dive into the eerie common experiences of those who suffer from sleep paralysis.

Knocking (Directed by Frida Kempff)

Molly is still adjusting to her new life after her release from a mental healthcare facility. She initially finds some comfort in her new apartment, but the feeling does not last long after she begins to hear strange knocking on her ceiling. As she tries to figure out what the sound is, she is dismissed by her neighbors who say they hear nothing. The sounds increase and soon Molly begins to hear the desperate cries of a woman who sounds like she is in danger. She must find out what is happening. But how?

Director Frida Kempff explores the culture of gaslighting and the social stigma surrounding mental illness in this harrowing psychological thriller. which is already gaining a lot of buzz as Sundance approaches.

Mother Schmuckers (Directed by Harpo and Lenny Guit)

Issachar and Zabulon are two smarmy brothers who find themselves in a predicament after they lose their mother’s nippy dog. The woman kicks them out of her home and refuses to let them return until they have found the dog which leads them on a bizarre hunt through the urban jungle of Brussels.

The film comes with a content warning for “graphic depictions of animal abuse, sexual violence, and other subject matter that could be offensive to some viewers. Not suitable for audiences under 18.”

Violation (Directed by Dusty Mancinelli and Madeline Sims-Fewer)

Unhappily married Miriam and Caleb join the former’s somewhat estranged sister Greta and her husband, Dylan for a weekend getaway in the hopes of reconciliation. After he attempts to reconnect with Greta seemingly fail, Miriam finds herself drawn to Dylan. The weekend is fractured after an act of sexual of violence takes place, and Miriam soon finds herself on the path to vengeance.

Madeline Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli met at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival Talent Lab and were soon writing and directing together. This is their first feature film. Sims-Fewer also stars as Miriam in Violation.

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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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