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Assemble your quarantine coven! Blumhouse is releasing a sequel to a 1996 hit with The Craft: Legacy just in time for this Halloween. Sleeper hit original The Craft focused on a teenage cult honing their power as witches and young women. Blumhouse dropped a full trailer to announce the October 28th release date for the highly-demanded sequel. The Craft: Legacy brings together a more diverse cast with Lovie Simone and Trans Latinx actress Zoey Luna. This time around, filmmaker Zoe Lister-Jones is serving as director. Die-hard fans will recognize tributes to the preceding film in the new trailer. Much like other theatrical films making their debut amidst the global pandemic, The Craft: Legacy will be debuting through Video On Demand. Check out the full trailer below and make your Halloween plans accordingly.

Vampires have another thing coming to them if they try messing with the Bronx. Real-life blood-sucking is the true enemy of Netflix’s newest flick, Vampires vs. The Bronx. Director Osmany Rodriguez brings new life to the undead with a storyline centered on community and fighting capitalistic structures of oppression. Vampires take the form of real estate corporations in this film. feasting on communities through gentrification. Our heroes, three brightly expressive young boys, power their way through a fun but dire adventure in the Bronx. The incorporation of Spanish dialogue and textured relationship with parental figures helps flesh this film out into a solid, memorable entry that will serve as Halloween fare for years to come. 4 out 5 skulls. Check out the trailer below:

UPDATED: After over a year of movie release dates being postponed, Horror fans were treated to good news with the announcement of Chris Rock’s Saw film having its release date moved up earlier than expected on May 14th. This new date accompanies the latest trailer, which focuses on a new Jigsaw "copycat" killer. It’s been almost 20 years since the start of the franchise, and its universe continues in Spiral: From the Book of Saw. One of the things setting this installment apart is the addition of Chris Rock as both star and producer. This series has never boasted a bonafide blockbuster star like Rock or co-star Samuel L. Jackson before. Aside from a new star, a new puppet also graces the screen in Spiral. Our new killer now has a more ambiguous voice compared to Jigsaw's gruff, masculine one. Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures revealed that the film would NOT be available on VOD the same day it hits theaters - a consumer friendly route that many studios have taken during the pandemic. While this indicates positive faith in the return of theater business, it also alienates viewers choosing to stay quarantined until COVID vaccines. Hip Hop heads will be exited to hear 21Savage in the trailer. Check it out below and let us know what you think:

Chris Rock’s new comedy is a total scream. Wait, let me do that again - Chris Rock’s new HORROR film is a total scream. Yes, superstar comedian Chris Rock could be a bonafide Horror star by the end of Spiral: From the Book of Saw’s theatrical run. Considering Rock is credited as an executive producer on the project, it’s safe to attribute at least some of the film’s accomplishments to the star himself. Aside from obvious star power (along with Samuel L. Jackson and Riverdale’s Marisol Nichols,) Chris Rock brings a verve and presence not seen in a Saw lead since the 2004 original. However, his high energy performance is a double-edged sword with a few dramatic or intense sequences feeling awkwardly over-acted. Jackson, on the other hand, does exactly what a trademark Jackson role sets out to do (which is fine and good.) Nichols is a standout with her turn as a ferocious police captain. Storywise, Spiral is an upgrade from its unnecessarily complex predecessor Jigsaw. Focusing on a singular storyline makes the Saw formula thrive, leaving more space for the goods that Horror fans come for such as gore and suspense. These new traps accompany a terrifying new puppet complete with a uniquely chilling voice. What works best about this new figure is their androgyny, leaving everyone to be a suspect. Spiral’s stakes definitely feel higher than previous Saw movies. Our new Jigsaw copycat ambitiously targets systemic injustice and the film successfully avoids having this come off as a pandering element. Personally, we do not condone “copaganda” nor the belief in there being “good cops” (because ALL cops are compliant with an oppressive system.) Yet, a revenge tale against police corruption is a positive change in the Saw universe. It’s worth noting that Spiral also doesn’t go for the cheap shot of copying and pasting headlines of racist police brutality and portraying them on screen. As far as body Horror goes, this is an exciting rush for any Horror fan.

That blaring siren could only mean one thing: it’s Purge season. The Forever Purge is the most recent and potentially final chapter of the mammoth Blumhouse franchise. What unfolds is a redemptive narrative on par with the best of the Purge entries. What started as a slasher series with socio-political themes has developed into an action/horror hybrid with ambitious commentary. Essentially, the concept has always been more interesting than any individual execution (so far.) It’s easy to appreciate the setting as a breakaway from the series’ signature cityscapes. Two thrilling body Horror scenes are included as well, going so far as to be reminiscent of Saw. Ana de la Reguera’s Adela is the star of this spectacle, complete with a fascinating back-story. As an action flick, there are the typical cringe-worthy lines that can be expected. Tenoch Mejia’s Juan saying, “Does this translate?” before firing off bullets comes to mind. Most of what doesn’t work stems from the story, with a portrayal of racism that feels hollow with little nuance. While it’s refreshing to see Mexican director Everardo Valerio Gout directing Mexican leads, the storytelling comes from a perspective that feels out-of-touch with its own characters. We’re supposed to believe that undocumented immigrants would risk everything to save their racist employer. The empathy given to Josh Lucas’s Dylan Tucker feels strange considering his character’s view on separating races and nationalities. The fact that this “view” is passed off as a mere redeemable flaw is pretty chilling itself. Even an indigenous character spouts, “ some of you deserve another chance” to an undocumented immigrant. SOME? These lines show the writer’s true colors...which are several shades of white. At the end of the day, The Forever Purge is admirable for its aim. It’s meant to inspire with bloody delight. Although it delivers more on the fun, it is gratifying to see Mexico’s portrayal as a symbol of hope in the final act. The positives here culminate in the hope that large studios continue to invest in redemptive Horror. Even the negatives serve a purpose: a reminder to hire people of color in all spaces...especially writing.

Looks like fear just dropped a pin...and the address reads Fear Street. Early Wednesday morning, the trailer for the adaptation of R.L. Stine’s book series of the same name debuted to virtual fanfare. Since 1989, the teenage novels have sold over 80 million copies worldwide. It’s no surprise then, that Netflix greenlit 3 feature-length films under the Fear Street banner back to back to back starting July 2nd. Each installment in the Netflix trilogy tackles a different time period, ranging from the 1600s to 1994. Traditionally, Fear Street stories follow teenagers in fictitious Shadyside, Ohio. The franchise had much more mature themes than R.L. Stine’s other literary offerings, such as Goosebumps. Director Leigh Janiak has made her passion for Horror clear, directing a genre film (Honeymoon) for her debut, as well as directing two episodes of the Scream TV series. Her take on the Fear Street material was yet another feature slated to have been released in 2020 - with plans being ultimately changed due to the pandemic. Which Horror / Young Adult books would you most like to see adapted? In the meantime, check out the trailer for the upcoming Netflix trilogy below.

In the words of the New Founding Fathers, “if you’re gonna have the Purge, you’re gonna have the Purge...foreva.” Or was that Cardi B? Anyway, Blumhouse is closing its runaway hit Purge franchise with The Forever Purge, courtesy of Mexican director Everardo Gout. What’s being touted as the last entry of the Purge franchise follows a Mexican couple who find themselves at the mercy of people committed to Purging for life. Gout is an interesting choice as the director of this movie, especially since his most noted work is the 2016 National Geographic series Mars. Writer James DeMonaco, who’s worked on each Purge film before, penned this script as well. It seems as though Blumhouse is going for a spectacle of a finale thanks to a rumored 25 million dollar plus budget. For comparison, 2013’s The Purge was made for a mere 3 million dollar budget. The new film’s budget seems fitting considering this franchise spans several films and a cable series. Check out the trailer for the July 2nd release and let us know if you’re ready to say goodbye to the Purge...forever.

Silence is the secret to screams. Summer’s first blockbuster release, A Quiet Place Part II, thrives within its own thrilling tension and heightened stakes. Thankfully, there’s no overkill of flashbacks nor over-explanation of lore. New faces (Cillian Murphy / Djimon Hounsou) help sculpt a style of world-building unique to this terrifying franchise. Actress Millicent Simmonds, an advocate for the Deaf community, was THE scene-stealer amid a stellar cast in A Quiet Place. Her second turn as the clever Regan further exemplifies the film’s most seasoned stars as her equals. Noah Jupe is also a rising star, delivering a memorable scene that conveys traumatizing pain. Despite references to the first movie littered throughout, A Quiet Place Part II has a considerable change in tone. This sequel opts for straight thrills with larger action sequences. It’s easy to miss the intimacy that kept us invested in the Abbot family to begin with. Regardless, Emily Blunt’s return as determined mother Evelyn is a driving force of the feature. One element emphasized this time around is the family’s ingenuity as it becomes clear that the Abbots have survived due to their wits rather than the chance that they happened to be able to communicate through American Sign Language together. Diversity appears to be an afterthought here, with people of color relegated to side roles...that die. No, seriously, every Black character that speaks ends up dying. Most frustrating is the use of the dated “sacrificial Black person” trope. In 2021, the bare minimum should be more. Thankfully, most of the film still works beautifully together to create something undeniably riveting that transcends genre. Sound mixing and editing takes center stage in this movie, so look out for recognition come awards season. According to Rotten Tomatoes, over 90% of critics and audiences enjoyed their time revisiting this universe, so hopes are high that a third Quiet Place film makes it to theaters. Next time around, let’s be sure to develop our POC characters, please.

Women in horror know no bounds. Candyman helmer Nia DaCosta made headlines today as Marvel Studios announced DaCosta as the director of the sequel to last year’s Captain Marvel, thus making her Marvel's first black female director. The young filmmaker made waves with her award-winning directorial debut Little Woods starring actress Tessa Thompson. Captain Marvel’s sequel could potentially reunite Nia and Tessa, as Tessa is an integral part of the larger Marvel Universe. This move follows Marvel’s successful trend of handing over blockbuster franchises to independent directors like Nia. One great example is Slither director James Gunn and his Guardians of the Galaxy installments. Horror fans can expect their fill of Nia’s visuals this September when Candyman (produced by Jordan Peele) finally releases.

Author Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s horror fantasy novel is getting new life as a Hulu series. “Mexican Gothic,” the summer 2020 novel which Hulu greenlit, follows a young heroine unraveling the dark secrets of her extended family. Live with Kelly and Ryan host Kelly Rippa will be producing the series with her husband, Mark Consuelos of Riverdale fame. The duo are developing the project under their production company - Milojo Productions. “We feel like we hit the literary jackpot, and cannot wait to bring Silvia’s gorgeous writing to life, together with Hulu,” Rippa said in a statement to Deadline. ABC Signature will also be producing. With Lovecraft Country already delivering rave reviews, the future of horror fantasy looks bright.

Aquaman fans are in for new nautical nightmares thanks to James Wan. 2018’s superhero blockbuster had a thrilling monster sequence that might have felt familiar to some. That’s because horror legend-in-the-making James Wan (Saw / Insidious/The Conjuring) crafted his own signature scary tone into the film. Warner Bros. even reportedly greenlit a horror film spin-off from that sequence alone. James Wan announced via Twitter that viewers could expect that same signature tone in the next Aquaman installment. “Just like my first movie had a touch of my horror sensibility in it...there’ll be a little bit of that in this next one. I think It’s something that’s a big part of who I am and it just naturally comes out in these kinds of films; especially...where the story takes place in these underwater worlds that can be very scary. So naturally my love for the horror genre just means that I latch myself to these scenes and try to pick up a little bit more of my scary source on them,” shared Wan. Expect his new vision in 2022.

It’s (TV) showtime. Cartoon Network’s hit series Teen Titans Go! Is getting a visit from the animated bio-exorcist himself - BEETLEJUICE! Tim Burton’s 1988 macabre masterpiece first got the cartoon treatment with a children’s spin-off series that lasted four seasons until 1991. Now, over 30 years since Beetlejuice’s debut, Broadway’s own Alex Brightman will be voicing the iconic role alongside the famous Titans. Alex Brightman is no stranger to the role, as he originated it in the hit Broadway adaptation of the film. In the episode titled, “Ghost with the Most,” viewers will be transported to the Netherworld in search of Halloween spirit. The team’s adventure is complete with a “Banana Boat Song” dance sequence. Keep an eye out for the Maitlands in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo! And yes, we made sure not to say THAT name 3 times. Check out a preview of the episode below:

Kick off your shoes, pop out your fangs, and take off your wigs as we discuss the darling new telling of Roald Dahl’s The Witches. The HBO Max release is truer to the original source material with a new setting, thanks to writers Guillermo Del Toro and Kenya Barris. This new, colorful world crafted by Director Robert Zemeckis is less terrifying than its 1990 counterpart starring Anjelica Huston. Octavia Spencer and Anne Hathaway give warm and fun performances, even when challenged with distracting CGI elements. This time around, the witches are a little too glamorous but deliciously awful nonetheless. Chris Rock joins this retelling as our narrator, which helps bring energy to more dragged-out sequences involving CGI mice. The film’s heart is ultimately its biggest strength as it leans in heavily to feel-good themes amid commentary on grief. While it might be a hit-or-miss for adults familiar with the 1990 film, this is a must-watch for families celebrating Halloween at home

We’re nearly done with a Halloween season unlike ever before. Drive-through experiences are the new normal and we’re all finding virtual ways to get scared. One constant, however, is how scare-actors are undervalued and overlooked as an integral part of the horror experience. After consulting with scare-actors from major seasonal attractions, we put together a list of considerations haunt-owners can take into account. Aside from common COVID-19 era considerations, owners should also: Set specific boundaries with your audience AND cast - Especially when social distancing is critical, less accidents happen when roles and spaces are well-defined. Compensate generously - Scare-acting is still acting, and these performers are choosing to share their time and talent with your production. Be lenient with break times and scheduling - Horror roles are often aggressively physical. Everyone has a different relationship with their body, so respect their rest-periods. This is especially true for improv-heavy roles. Remember to supply water, tea, and honey! Trust your cast - If an actor brings up a safety concern or shares an uncomfortable experience, value them by believing them. Enforce mask policies for the entire cast AND audience - Working together is NOT quarantining together. Their families will be grateful. Treat cast equally - Your most visible characters and lead roles should not equate to more valued actors. Cast responsibly - Your cast (and overall team) should be diverse, so be sure to understand what story you’re telling and who should tell and portray it. Be open to feedback and consider changing content.

Velma Dinkley, the brainy Coolsville detective from the Scooby Doo franchise, has a new show and a new sound - courtesy of star Mindy Kaling. This casting comes with the launch of a new HBO Max series centered on the origin story of one of the most iconic animated bobs of all time. Aptly titled Velma, the series promises to “unmask the complex and colorful past of one of America’s most beloved mystery solvers…” In a first for the Scooby Doo franchise, this streaming original will be aimed at adult audiences. Comedian Mindy Kaling will be pulling double duty as both star and executive producer. Here’s hoping Velma can find her glasses in time for the show’s debut.

A full-blown Horror legend is finally returning to the Director’s chair for the first time in half a decade. Saw filmmaker James Wan is prepping the release of his latest Horror flick - Malignant. Wan, the creator of 3 of the highest-grossing Horror franchises in film history, hasn’t taken the Director’s reigns on a Horror set since The Conjuring 2 in 2016. It’s been even longer still since Wan has directed an original Horror piece (2013’s The Conjuring.) After pandemic-related release delays, Malignant finally has a solid release date of September 10th, 2021. The film will follow on the (controversial) Warner Bros. promise to stream all theatrical films on HBO Max immediately upon release. Wan confirmed the date via social media alongside a new poster for the feature. A hand is shown holding a striking, golden blade in the new visual. Little is known about the top-secret plot of the movie. That surely hasn’t stopped fans from theorizing anyway. Are you hoping for a signature James Wan-style puppet? Or looking for something new?