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Forget ‘Tiger King,’ Here Are 7 Great Horror Movies Featuring Big Cats

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Uncaged

Prowling about nature, calculating the perfect element of surprise before pouncing on their prey and shredding them to pieces, big cats are a force to be reckoned with. And in the case of Netflix’s Tiger King so is the evasive Carole Baskin.

Felines have been giving us some of the craziest moments in entertainment history this past year.

Whether it’s a big cat feud between a meth-addicted tiger zookeeper and a coy, alleged perfect murderess or a bizarre CGI adaptation of Cats, there’s no doubt that kitties are not canceled in 2020.

On the cinematic horror front, cats have been the source of human bloodshed for the past 50 years.

Below are some notable movies about big cats doing what they do best whether it’s on an African savannah or in the streets of Amsterdam, cats rule in these choice cuts.

Although not all of these movies are readily available on demand (I have given info on where to find them when I can), they are something to look for while social distancing.

In no particular order:

Burning Bright (Dir. Carlos Brooks)

One of the most underrated horror films of the 2000s, Burning Bright is not only a suspenseful action thriller but a terrifying home invasion movie, the invader being a starving tiger.

Whereas Tiger King kept you on the edge of your seat because of its plot twists, Burning Bright is a straight-forward cat-and-mouse game between feline and final girl.

Available on Shudder.

Roar (Dir. Noel Marshall)

Deemed the “Most Dangerous Movie Ever Made,” Roar is, on one hand, a humourous film about big cat conservation and on another a terrifying lesson about working with wild animals on film.

Aside from the peril written in the official script, actors and crew working on the movie were mauled and put in harm’s way every time the director called action.

A young Melanie Griffith (see clip below) had to have stitches after a lion attacked her face, and cinematographer Jan Du Bont was scalped after he got in the way of one of the giant beasts.

The Ghost and the Darkness (Dir. Stephen Hopkins)

When this film came out people compared it to Jaws. But instead of a Great White shark, the apex killers were two Tsavo lions in Africa named  “the Ghost” and “the Darkness.”

A thrilling adventure and a few truly terrifying moments The Ghost and the Darkness earned an Academy Award and made The Lion King look like Hello Kitty.

Available on Starz.

Uncaged aka Prey (Dir. Dick Maas 2016)

Bringing starving big cats to the streets of Amsterdam, director Dick Maas serves up some truly thrilling moments in Uncaged. And get this, there is even a lion on a public light rail system–bet you didn’t see that coming.

Filmed in the picturesque streets of the Dutch capital, this killer kitty on the loose horror movie uses some pretty terrific practical special effects. Uncaged is a little gem that you may not know even existed.

Available on Prime.

Prey (Dir. Darrell Roodt 2007)

A family on an African safari gets more than they bargained for when they accidentally get stranded within a big cat infested game reserve and are stalked by hungry lions in this “based on a true story” event.

DVD available for purchase on Amazon.

Maneater (Dir. Gary Yates)

Gary Busey gets to play the hero in this 2007 made-for-TV movie about a tiger terrorizing a small rural community. This film is based on the novel Shikar by Jack Warner.

Sheriff Barnes (Busey) must go Die Hard in an Appalachian town against a Bengal Tiger who dines on the population as if they are a flavor of Purina Fancy Feast.

Available on Prime.

Zoombies (Dir. Glenn Miller)

This list probably wouldn’t be complete without an Asylum Pictures release.

Bad CGI, questionable choices in over dramatics by the actors and a derivative plot are what you expect from the house of Asylum. That is definitely what you get here with Zoombies, a movie as fun as its title.

Available to stream free for Amazon Prime members.

Honorable mentions:

Sleepwalkers (Dir. Mick Garris)

Sleepwalkers is technically not a big cat movie. However, their smaller cousins do play a huge part in the plot, especially—spoiler alert—the main character: Shapeshifter and werecat Charles who along with his mother are on the prowl for virgins.

Unfortunately, Charles is caught by the domestic short hairs and is mortal enemies with housecats who are sick of his destructive behavior and end up using him as a scratching post.

Like Tiger King, this film is full of WTF moments. You can’t look away from the screen even during Sleepwalkers’ most uncomfortable and incestuous moments.

Rent on Prime.

Day of the Animals (William Girdler)

Thanks to Jaws, cinema in the 70s was filled with mother nature being a real bitch. Several horror movies were made where she ran amuck including this cautionary tale of fauna taking back the land due to a depleted ozone layer.

A group of hikers set off to scale a trail through the California wooded mountainside. Led by Steve Buckner, played by the late rugged leading man Christopher George, the group soon encounters an assortment of rogue wild animals who pick them off one by one including a mountain lion.

Leslie Neilsen, before his crossover into comedy, serves up some serious over dramatics as a hiker affected by the increased amounts of radiation caused by the sun’s rays.

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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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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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