Good morning,
with summer travel in full bloom, we thought we’d start your week off with a travel horror story that has a familiar ending. And on that click-baity note, read on…
🩸TODAY’S TERROR — GATE CHANGE FROM HELL
You arrive at your gate early.
Coffee in hand.
Phone charged.
Life is good.
Then you glance at the departure board.
Your flight has quietly moved from Gate A3...
...to Gate Z47.
Apparently, Z47 is located somewhere between another terminal and the surface of the moon.
Now you're sprinting through the airport dragging a carry-on with one wheel that suddenly refuses to cooperate.
You finally arrive, breathless, sweaty, and just in time to hear:
"This flight has been delayed 90 minutes."
Some people run marathons.
The rest of us audition for 28 Gates Later.
🩸RECENT HORROR NEWS
Eli Roth Is Trying to Build a Horror Business Without the Studios
Eli Roth says frustration with studio notes, shrinking residuals and the traditional Hollywood system helped push him to release Ice Cream Man through his own company, The Horror Section. The idea is bigger than one movie: Roth wants to build a direct relationship with horror audiences and create an alternative way of financing, marketing and distributing genre films.
Why The Grudge cares: Horror filmmakers have spent decades trying to get invited into Hollywood.
Seems Roth is saying: What if we build another house?
For independent horror creators, that may be the scarier—and much more interesting—story.
Leprechaun Is Crawling Out of the Basement Again
Lionsgate is developing a new Leprechaun movie, with horror veterans Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan writing the screenplay.
Yes. The murderous little Irishman who has survived sequels, space travel and an unfortunate trip to “the hood” seems to still be employable.
Meanwhile, some of us can't get a callback.
Kumail Nanjiani Is Making His Horror Directing Debut
Kumail Nanjiani is stepping behind the camera for the first time with Howl, a horror-comedy acquired by Orion Pictures. He'll direct as well as star.
The more interesting part may be the continued migration of major comedy talent into horror.
I guess once you've spent enough time in Hollywood, terror just feels like the natural next genre.
V/H/S Is Making a Mixtape
Shudder has announced V/H/S/MIXTAPE, the ninth installment of the horror anthology franchise, arriving this October. The filmmaker lineup includes RZA, Ernest Dickerson and Flying Lotus.
Nine movies.
At this point, finding an unlabeled VHS tape in your attic isn't frightening.
Finding out you aren't directing one of the segments is.
🩸THE 1000 SUBSCRIBER CELEBRATION — RECAP
The Winning Hidden Gem Movie
We had a small but dedicated turnout for a fun and entertaining celebration. I’d never met filmmaker, Will Lee before (that’s Will in the photo below, top right). I found him knowledgeable and gracious. A great guy.
We plan to have him back for a screening of another of his shorts soon. Currently, he’s deep into pre-production of his first feature film. The Grudge will follow him on his journey. So, stay tuned. We’ll all want to be in the theater, popcorn in hand, for the premiere.
The Hidden Gem winning movie was Lucio Fulci’s City of The Living Dead. The person who submitted was not present, and so we will holdover the Grand Prize until next time.
We need more of you to come out for our events. These events are tiny drips of fun, not long and drawn out. We never overstay our welcome. We send a Zoom link in an email, you bring your own beverage, and have a good time. We’re planning to host another Ready or Not Trivia Night in the fall. So, brush up on your horror trivia. T-Bone and I hope to see you there.
🩸TAKE THE GRUDGE POLL
What's Your Favorite Horror Creature?
🩸NEWSWORTHY NUMBER
40 meters
That's the estimated diameter of the crater scientists predicted a discarded Falcon 9 upper stage would make when it slammed into the far side of the Moon on August 5.
Researchers calculated the rocket stage would hit at roughly 2.4 kilometers per second between the Bell and Einstein craters.
We have officially reached the stage of civilization where we're leaving mysterious impact craters on the Moon. Horror movie? Just remember where you got the idea ;-) 🌕💥
🩸HORROR IN THEATERS.
Teenage Sex And Death Camp Miasma – (Aug. 7th) A queer director making a slasher franchise sequel becomes obsessed with casting the original film's "final girl," leading both women into psychological and sexual chaos… Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson star. Hacks meets the X-Files. Yep, that sounds like chaos.
The Ice Cream Man — (Aug. 7th) This summer the children are having a meltdown with Eli Roth’s new movie… Good Humor has officially left the building. Trailer
Evil Dead Burn — (July 10th—still in theaters) After the loss of her husband, a grieving woman seeks solace with her in-laws at their secluded family home. However, it soon becomes a reunion from hell as the Book of the Dead unleashes demonic forces that transform them into Deadites one by one… Because there’s nothing like visiting a secluded farmhouse… in the woods, to handle grief. Trailer
Coming Soon
Insidious: Out of The Further — (Aug 21st) A young mother discovers she can travel into The Further—a purgatorial realm of lost souls. When something evil comes after her, she realizes she can bring what lives there back to the real world.
It Ends — (Aug 21st) follows a group of graduates who go on a late night drive, but accidentally turn onto a two lane hellscape surrounded by untold horrors…Never trust a road that doesn't appear interested in letting you leave.
Keep an eye out for
Train To Busan — (Back in theares Aug. 14th) The 2016 Korean zombie masterpiece returns to theaters in a limited run. Zombies. Claustrophobia. Parental guilt. Public transportation. Basically four nightmares for the price of one.
Buddy — (Aug 28th) Dressed as a unicorn, a beloved TV children’s host reveals his true self…He should have dressed as a Teletubby. Those were true horrors.
Colony — (Aug 28th) South Korean action horror film about the harrowing struggle of isolated survivors trapped in a building, quarantined amidst an unknown outbreak… We lived through COVID, now we get to watch it.
Resident Evil – (Sept. 18) From the director of Barbarian and Weapons (Zach Cregger) comes a reboot about a medical courier who is caught in a viral outbreak of infected monsters in Racoon City... Sweet! Trailer
🩸THE GRUDGE BLOG — 5 THINGS TO UPDATE YOUR HORROR WRITING
In The Blog this week I discuss the 5 sub-genres you should be writing in today and why. This post is great even if you aren’t a writer because it tells you where horror is headed.
🩸HORROR TO WATCH ON STREAMERS
What’s Worth The Watch — a mix of hidden gems, buzzy titles, comfort horror, underseen picks, and classics worth revisiting
“Worst Staycation Ever”
The Last House — Streaming on: Netflix
The Last House arrived August 7, starring Greta Lee and Wagner Moura as parents whose family suddenly discovers their home has been mysteriously sealed—with something ominous keeping them inside. Netflix categorizes it as sci-fi, horror and thriller.
“Questionable Vacation Choice”
The Yeti — Streaming on: Shudder
The Yeti premiered August 7. A rescue team heads into remote northern Alaska searching for a missing oil tycoon and adventurer.
Unfortunately, somebody already lives there.
This is why The Grudge recommends beaches
COMFORT HORROR PICK OF THE WEEK
“Here comes the bride”
Bride of Chucky (1998) — Stremaming on: Netflix
Bride of Chucky is now on Netflix. Sometimes comfort horror means watching two homicidal dolls discover that relationships require work.
Couples therapy would have been cheaper.
🩸FINAL SIP
Summer travel season is still going strong, so remember:
Check your flight.
Check your gate.
Check under the hotel bed.
And if your GPS says “Continue onto unmarked road for 17 miles”...
maybe this is the year you discover the joy of a staycation.
Safe travels. See you next week—assuming eveyone makes it home. ✈️☕🩸
We read your emails. Questions, comments, things we can improve, or a nice pat on the back: email us at: [email protected].
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