Darren Lynn Bousman has spent over 120 days making his next project, and as of yesterday, the Saw series veteran has wrapped production on the still-unnamed feature.
“Finally back in LA after a 120 plus day absence making a secret movie with an academy award winner! So stoked to talk about it when I’m allowed! For now I have a lot of Halloween shenanigans to cram into a very short time!,” Bousman said today via his Twitter account.
Bousman first confirmed that filming on the project was complete in a tweet on Saturday. The director named Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Vienna, and Prague as filming locations, and included a cryptic shoutout to an unidentified collaborator: “Thank you to the insane cast and crew and most importantly HE. (You know who you are!)”
While we await details on the upcoming film, there’s reason to expect that it’ll be another horror title from the seasoned genre helmer. Last Thursday, Bousman shared an update on the project from his Instagram account that teased a blood-splattered scene. “My next movie will be a romantic comedy. I promise,” he joked.
Are you a fan of Darren Lynn Bousman? Are you looking forward to finding out what his next movie will be? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Dread Central is now on Google News.
“The bonfire scene will look beautiful. Have you ever burned at the stake?” It is perhaps an odd question to ask someone. But that’s how Lux Æterna begins.
A split screen shows Béatrice Dalle and Charlotte Gainsbourg—two French actors—having a conversation about their past film experiences: their roles, their on-screen lovers, horrible directors, producers, and crew members. It’s revealed that Béatrice and Charlotte are making a film about witches together, with Béatrice directing and Charlotte as the star.
Lux Æterna is a 51-minute mockumentary-style film that takes place on—you guessed it—a film set over the course of one night. While the opening scene is calm, cool, and collected, the action that follows is anything but. Minor on-set drama and rivalries quickly spin out of control, descending into a state of bedlam.
The production team hates Béatrice Dalle (or rather, the exaggerated [we hope…] version of herself she plays) and wants her to be fired from the film. Supporting actors are lost as to what their characters’ motives are and even confused about the film itself. An American actor-slash-filmmaker is desperate to talk to Charlotte about a new project he wants her for. Meanwhile, Charlotte is desperate to get home because her young daughter may have had a traumatic experience at school.
The feuds and the squabbles eventually culminate in a bizarre on-set malfunction that’s upsetting for both the actors in the film and the audience watching it happen.
Lux Æterna was written and directed by Gaspar Noé, a filmmaker known for his dark and disturbing oeuvre. Lux Æterna fits that bill. This is a truly bizarre film that defies any particular genre. (Is it a drama? A black comedy? A thriller?). The mockumentary style is vaguely metafictional, but not enough that it’s entirely clear that metafiction was the intent. There seems to be an overarching comment about narcissism in the film industry and the exploitation of actors, particularly women. To top it all off, it’s interjected with clips of the 1922 docudrama Häxan, which is about the history of witchcraft and witch trials in Medieval Europe.
The storyline that happens during the first forty-five or so minutes of Lux Æterna, however, is totally overshadowed by the ending, which seems to be getting the most attention in film festivals. The malfunction that happens during the shooting of the film within the film causes the lights to flash red, green, and blue at an increasingly rapid pace, causing psychological distress to Charlotte Gainsbourg (who’s tied to a stake, can’t free herself, and can only scream for help) and Béatrice Dalle, who is forced to watch it happen and can’t seem to do anything about it. It’s a disturbing scene that feels both voyeuristic (because it is) and perversely engrossing (because… it is).
On Lux Æterna’s page on Brooklyn Horror Film Festival’s website, there’s a note that reads, “Photosensitivity Warning: This film contains extended sequences of flashing lights.” In the theater, right before the screening started, we were given the same warning about the film’s strobe effects. Luckily, no one had a seizure. But the combination of the strobes and the image of Charlotte Gainsbourg screaming for help might trigger a panic attack.
Bee Luxury shows you how to replicate a fantastic Halloween effect with a creepy idea that makes the face look as if it was a floating mask, but a shattered one, which is why this look is so spine-chilling and awesome.
The broken parts in the mouth and eyes give way to a hollow look that gives the impression that this creepy mask was once full of life, had a mouth and could see her surroundings, until someone wanted to hide something from her, so they smashed the eyes so she would not continue to see the evil around her, and they later shattered her mouth as well so it wouldn’t speak of what it had seen, which caused the mask to harbor anger and a thirst for revenge within, slowly turning into a darker version of what she once was and causing the darkness that bubbles inside to seep into the world wherever she goes, consuming everything around her.
Director Alfonso Cortés-Cavanillas’ new Spanish horror thriller, Ego, conjures memories of early COVID quarantining.
Remember those early days of the lockdown, when no one really knew what was happening or how to cope with the world’s sudden state of isolation? Luckily, this pandemic happened in 2020, when most of us had steady Internet access and a reliable way of communicating with our friends and family, no matter how far away we were from each other. To combat the inevitable boredom and loneliness that quarantining caused us, many of us also turned to dating apps to pass the time (and maybe find that special someone).
In Ego, a young woman does just this. But instead of finding a love connection, she finds a woman who looks exactly like her. Soon after swiping right, her entire world turns upside down.
The protagonist, Paloma (played by María Pedraza) lives with her mother (Marian Álvarez) in an apartment in Madrid. Paloma doesn’t have a job and doesn’t seem to be in school. We learn that her father recently died by suicide and that Paloma herself struggles with her mental health. Paloma only seems to talk to a few people: her mother, her best friend Jorge (Pol Monen), her psychiatrist (Alicia Borrachero)… and the random women she connects with on a dating app.
When Paloma finds a user on the app that looks identical to her, she swipes right to match, thinking she’s about to bust a catfisher using a photo of her. Instead, she ends up chatting with her doppelgänger (played by Pedraza in a double role). Over the course of one week, Paloma’s mental health spirals as she finds herself becoming the target of vicious harassment, stalking, and identity theft.
Written by Jorge Navarro de Lemus, Ego‘s story has a lot of strengths. María Pedraza’s portrayal of the tortured, traumatized, and mostly-closeted Paloma is sympathetic, nuanced, and entirely believable. Her performance as Paloma’s evil double is horrifying in a calculated and ice cold way. Pedraza plays both characters with finesse and just the right amount of playfulness. The scenes that Pedraza and Álvarez share as on-screen mother and daughter are equally strong. While some scenes between the two are in the film for purely expository reasons, others are deeper, more intimate, and utterly heart-wrenching.
Although Ego is skillfully directed by Cortés-Cavanillas and its dialogue is strong, the film has a major problem. All of the action—which includes the protagonist meeting her doppelgänger, being victimized in a pre-meditated way, and having a severe mental breakdown—happens over the course of one week. This isn’t even a detail that we can ignore, because the film is broken up into seven parts. Because of the set-in-stone time frame, the film’s pacing is much too quick. The action, not to mention the emotionally raw scenes between Paloma and her mother, is rushed. It takes the audience out of the realm of the movie and diminishes the impact of the climax.
That’s really a damn shame, because the climax is beautifully chaotic.
Back in June, NEON and Topic Studios announced that Alexander Skarsgård would star in Possessor director Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool. Now, thanks to cinematographer Karim Hussain, we’ve learned that the sci-fi thriller has finished filming.
“Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool is wrapped! Thanks to the cast and crew who worked so hard on this intense shoot, think we have something special here,” Hussain said today, via his Facebook page.
Principal photography for Infinity Pool began on September 6. The film marks NEON’s latest collaboration with Cronenberg following Possessor, which was released to much acclaim last year.
Skarsgård further serves as executive producer. NEON co-financed and executive produced the film alongside Topic Studios. Telefilm Canada and the Croatian Film Fund also co-finance the production.
Here’s the official synopsis for Infinity Pool:
“James and Em are young, rich, in love, and on vacation. Their all-inclusive resort boasts island tours and gleaming beaches. But outside of the hotel gates waits something much more dangerous and seductive, beyond the edge of paradise.”
Are you a fan of Brandon Cronenberg and Alexander Skarsgård? Are you looking forward to seeing the first footage from Infinity Pool? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Dread Central is now on Google News.
Featured image photographs by Rich Polk (L) and Karim Hussain (R).
Voodoo dolls are famous because of the dark magic often associated with them. After all, the idea is to tether the doll to someone and have whatever happens to the doll also befall the person they are tied to, whether it is good or bad, and regardless of distance. This, of course, makes them dangerous and scary items, which Halloween thrives on, and it is also why this makeup tutorial by Kayla Kochar to turn yourself into a voodoo doll is so fantastic.
Now, instead of the spooky and ragged voodoo doll look, Kayla Kochar presents a more glamorous option, and she does a great job at creating this style, especially with the stitching effects because, while you see her putting them together, it is incredible to see how she gives them depth and makes them look so realistic it is hard to believe that they are just makeup, which is a powerful element that helps demonstrate how expertly this look is crafted.
Cheers to my first ever halloween makeup tutorial! Halloween is hands down my favorite holiday & i was so excited to make this & had so much fun doing it! Hope ya’ll enjoy xoxo… also im not a professional lmao OBVIOUSLY
The Halloween style that Samaro goes for on this makeup tutorial sort of makes me feel like I just gazed into the future, because she presents a cyborg look with golden details on the gears and the machinery that can be seen though the parts that are supposed to be skin, giving them a nice steampunk style, and enhancing them by showing them against a black background that helps the robotic side stand out more while at the same time adding the illusion that what you see is but a section of the mechanisms and that there are hundreds of other metal parts moving in the background, unseen, that make this cyborg work.
The effects on the skin are done very well as well, as she simply applies some white to all the parts that don’t have any robotic components to them, and what these lines do is give the skin an effect that makes it appear as if it was also made from a metal alloy that’s reflecting the light, enhancing the cyborg style without overpowering it with details so the futuristic aspects can properly shine in this magnificent look.
24/31
Cyborg
Inspired by @the_wigs_and_makeup_manager
Mac Cosmetics Chromacake “Pure White”, “Black Black” and Extra Dimension Eye Shadow “Sweet Heat”
Kat Von D Shade and Light Palette Eye, and Tattoo Liner “Trooper”
Urban Decay Cosmetics Heavy Metal Liner “Midnight Cowboy”
Nyx Cosmetics Jumbo Pencil “Cottage Cheese”
Becca Cosmetics Shimmering Skin Perfector “Pearl”
Sugarpill Loose Pigment “Goldilux”
Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick “Naked”
Diamond FX Face Paint “Essential Black” and “Essential White”
Eldora False Eyelashes “h179”
Since 2012, the V/H/S franchise’s found footage techniques and anthology format have delivered terrifying segments from horror’s freshest voices. The series has showcased the work of Adam Wingard, David Bruckner, Ti West, Glenn McQuaid, Joe Swanberg, and the filmmaking collective Radio Silence. Now, they’re finally adding women directors to the mix in V/H/S/94, the fourth installment of the franchise.
With V/H/S/94, Jennifer Reeder, Chloe Okuno, Timo Tjahjanto, Ryan Prows, and Simon Barrett now join the ranks of V/H/S directors. In the new film, each add their own signature flair for the creepy to their respective segments.
Dread Central sat down with Reeder, Okuno, Prows, and Barrett to discuss gore, making a movie during the pandemic, and being a part of the iconic franchise.
Watch the interview:
V/H/S/94 begins after the discovery of a mysterious VHS tape. A brutish police swat team launches a high-intensity raid on a remote warehouse. There, they discover a sinister cult compound whose collection of pre-recorded material uncovers a nightmarish conspiracy.
Reeder directed the wraparound narrative “Holy Hell.” Okuno directed the nasty creature feature “Storm Drain.” Barrett directed his twist on the undead “The Empty Wake.” Tjahjanto brings his gory best in “The Subject.” Finally, Prows rounds out the team with his take on American militias in “Terror.”
Dread Central had the chance to discuss the Amazon original series I Know WhatYou Did Last Summer with star Brianne Tju. The actress was kind enough to fill us in on some of the nuances of her character, Margot and also revealed what she thinks about the horror genre as a viewer.
Check out the full exchange with Brianne Tju:
Synopsis: A car full of teenage friends hits a pedestrian and the occupants of the vehicle agree to cover up their criminal misconduct in a moment of panic. But all is not said and done when they offload the body of their victim. The deceased or someone close to them begins tormenting the naughty teens with unwanted gifts, text messages and…murder!
In addition to Tju, the series also stars Ashley Moore, Madison Iseman, Ezekiel Goodman, Sebastian Amoruso, Bill Heck, Fiona Rene, Spencer Sutherland, Brooke Bloom, Danielle Delaunay, and Cassie Beck.
And be sure to hit us up on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to let us know your thoughts on the I Know What You Did Last Summer series. Check out new episodes of the show every Friday on Amazon Prime.
If you are like most of us, then you slept on Peacock until Jamie Lee Curtis told us that is where we could find Halloween Kills if we wanted to watch it from the comfort of our own homes this October. You probably started the free trial and are now wondering what else there is to watch. Well, we are all in luck because Peacock has hidden horror treasures all over the app.
Peacock’s Creepy Collections
Peacock has the majority of the franchises we grew up on. They either have the entire collection, or the majority of the collection, to help round out your spooky season viewing plans. I did a deep dive and the “math” for you, so you’re welcome!
Child’s Play
Peacock has everything Chucky aside from the very first film and the TV series that just premiered. If you’re wanting to finish this franchise or revisit it, this Halloween season is your time!
Friday the 13th
They are missing Part III, The Final Chapter, and Jason Goes to Hell, but eight out of eleven movies isn’t bad. They also don’t have the 2009 remake (which I didn’t include in the count).
Leprechaun
As a child, I quit this franchise around the second movie, but there are now eight of them and you can find the first seven here. If you want to go to space, or the hood, with this creepy leprechaun you can live your best life.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
The only movie missing from this franchise is Wes Craven’s New Nightmare. They even have the divisive remake that some of us might be ready to revisit even if we’ll never post about it in the timeline.
Phantasm
You can finally watch all five movies and you can watch them in order! If you’re a fan of the Tall Man then Peacock has you covered.
Saw
Peacock has every saw film aside from Spiral: From the Book Of Jigsaw. Whether you’re like me and wandered off somewhere in the middle, or a diehard fan wanting to take a trip down that bloody memory lane, Peacock is the place to do it.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
Peacock skips over all of the films, aside from TCM2, in a quest to get to the 2003 remake. Then it ignores Texas Chainsaw 3D, the third film in the rebooted series. The app is truly moving in mysterious ways, but who am I to look any Leatherface binge in the mouth?
Gremlins
For those of you that don’t let Halloween have the full month of glory, you can get into the cute and off-putting world of the Gremlins. You can find both streaming here, so why not make it a double feature. I’m looking forward to doing that after Halloween because I realized I’ve never seen them back to back and should remedy that myself.
Elvira’s Movie Macabre
The app has collected eleven early episodes into a hodgepodge season that includes movies like Maneater of Hydra, The Devil’s Wedding Night, and Frankenstein’s Castle of Freaks. If all of the recent Elvira news has made you nostalgic, or introduced you to this gothic goddess, then you can check out the Queen of Horror’s earlier episodes here while catching some classic B movies you might have missed.
Come For the Hitchcock, Stay For the Norman Bates
Not only can you watch seven seasons of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and three seasons of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, but you can also do a deep dive into the world of Psycho. While Peacock does not have the original film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, they have the three sequels, the remake with Vince Vaughn, and the Bates Motel Series.
Movies On Peacock Recommended by Girl, That’s Scary!
There are tons of movies on the app that I need to watch, but I am starting with the ones that Girl, That’s Scary recommended in their Twitter thread. They are one of my favorite horror podcasts (and part of Dread’s podcast network!), so I will happily watch whatever they tell me to. I think this is the month that I revisit The People Under the Stairs before trying Videodrome, It Follows, and finally checking out Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark.
The Classics Though!
The Universal Classic Monsters Collection is where it is really at on the app. As someone who has a soft spot for the classic creature features, I am so excited to dive into Dracula, Creature From the Black Lagoon, and The Mummy and see these 1930’s movies in all of their studio glory. They are also pretty quick, meaning you can pack in all of them with a good weekend.
In My Day It Was the Sci-Fi Channel
If you are like me, then you like to break up the horror with a little bit of science fiction sometimes. Peacock has curated a lot of hard-to-find genre shows like Sliders and Battlestar Galactica. They even have Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction if you want to get into your nostalgic feelings and go to sleep listening to Jonathan Frakes calmly giving you nightmare bait.
Peacock’s Halloween Episodes
Because Peacock is an NBC entity, they have a catalog of comfort shows, and all of those have a few Halloween episodes. They have compiled them all into their category for the month to save us precious moments of scrolling so we can get straight to the goods. You can catch classic shows Cheers and Murder She Wrote, as well as newer series like Superstore, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Office, and Modern Family.
Let me know if I missed any goodies at @missharai!
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