Weekly Horror Round up - Saturday 4th April 2015

From Neon Demons to Lucio Fulci, Our resident horror writer Bradley Hadcroft deliver’s his weekly round up of some of the highlights from the world of horror….

News :

The Neon Demon :

Nicolas Winding Refn’s Only God Forgives follow up revealed more casting details this week as it commenced principle photography.

VARIETY reported the addition of Desmond Harrington(Dexter) to the much anticipated horror film’s line up.He joins Keanu Reeves(John Wick) and Elle Fanning(Super 8) in this tale of a Model who’s Los Angeles dream turns into a living nightmare.

It will be fascinating too see how Refn handles “The One” and what mysterious first time co-script writer Mary Laws brings to the table. Will the brilliantly titled The Neon Demon see the director dampen his Art-house sensibilities or let them of the leash entirely for a truly demented horror experience ?

DEADPOOL shoots for R rating :

In an exclusive from JoBlo Ryan Reynolds donned the famous costume for the first time to deliver a message concerning the rating of the forthcoming adaptation.Watch it below.

Jameson Empire Awards 2015 :

This week saw Empire Magazine hand out their annual accolades.Critic’s darling The babadook beat off competition from the incredible Under The Skin and the contentiously included The Guest to secure victory in the”Best Horror”section.

Other nominations included the more main stream offerings Annabelle and Oculus in this reader voted category.Even genre fans who pitch their tents in the over-hyped camp regarding The Babadook will be heartened by this nod to original indie horror by the masses.[our review]

Robert Z’Dar :

The horror genre lost another icon this week as actor Robert Z’Dar suffered a fatal heart attack on Monday at the age of 64 reports OK Magazine .

The former real life Chicago police officer and Chippendale possessed a unique physical screen presence that left him much in demand,not least within the horror film community. Z’Dar suffered from acromegaly but turned his resultant striking jawline into an asset with over 100 film appearances under his belt.

Superb in William Lustig’s cult Maniac Cop series and a regular convention favourite Z’Dar continued working right up to his death.

He will be sadly missed and the impending Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance will be much the poorer without his involvement.

The James Herbert horror award :

Nick Cutter became the inaugural recipient of this award for his scouts in peril tale The Troop.Presented by a panel, including the legendary horror author’s daughter Kerry, it’s goal is to unearth and encourage the next generation of horror writers.

Cutter has a new book called The Deep out now and another The Acolyte on the way.

Film adaptations could well follow especially as Nick Cutter is the pseudonym of Canadian author Craig Davidson ,the man who’s work Rust and Bone was turned into a riveting movie of the same name by Jacques Audiard ,and won best film at the London film festival back in 2012.

Either way the man with the Steven King quote on his jacket still found the time to send us a picture of the awesome rat statuette he was presented with in tribute to the late great Herbert.

The Stanley Film Festival

The ultra hip Colorado horror film festival published it’s line up this week and as usual it is very strong indeed.Held in the hotel that inspired the shinning the program contains many titles that will go on to be the genre hits of the year.

Browse the selection here and see what’s hot on the horror scene horizon – including last weeks trailer watch pick Deathgasm along with one of this weeks Goodnight Mommy.

The festival closes with The Final Girls rapidly shaping up to be the most hyped horror of 2015.

Trailer Watch :

Despite the apparent recent success of original horror material the studios thirst for remakes remains anything but sated. 20th Century Fox released the latest trailer for it’s Poltergeist reboot(what ever that actually means) containing new footage this week.

With PG friendly director Gil Kenan holding the reins we should be reminding ourselves that nobody died in the 1982 original.

Will Tobe Hooper be screaming “Don’t touch my baby ! “or will the 321,864 followers of the originals Facebook page be satisfied ?

We shall find out when the film is released in UK theatres on May 22nd 2015.

The 44th New Directors/New Films festival based in Lincoln New York screened a film this week some are already calling the scariest of the year.

Austrian film Goodnight Mommy is a doppelganger themed story of nine year old twins coming to terms with parental loss from directors Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala.

This is the same festival that showcased The Babadook a year ago in the same slot so they certainly know a potential horror hit when they see one.

The trailer for Joel Edgerton’s directorial debut The Gift appeared online this week.The film, previously known as Weirdo,stars Jason Bateman(Teen Wolf Too) and Rebecca Hall(Iron Man 3) as a couple who’s lives are sent into free-fall by the appearance of an old “Friend” in the shape of Edgerton(The Thing) himself.

This psychological horror film could prove lively with producer Jason Blum(Whiplash) and Oscar nominated editor Matt Chesse(World War Z) instilling a healthy dose of pedigree.

Blu-ray release of the week :

Master of blood-soaked cinema Lucio Fulci has 3 of his most notorious films presented in one value for money package from the excellent Blue Underground.

Bringing the surrealist visuals, visceral violence and intestine vomiting to full 1080p HD is – City Of the Living Dead, The House By The Cemetery and The New York Ripper.

Release Date: March 31, 2015.

The Extras are ridiculously impressive in their abundance and scope right across all 3 discs.

A cat and mouse chase through the seedy haunts of a sexual wasteland !!!