Indonesian horror film “MONSTER” coming to Netflix next month; first photos By MICHAEL GINGOLD It’s a remake of the acclaimed kidnapping chiller THE BOY BEHIND THE DOOR from a few years back, with a gender switch. MONSTER, directed by Rako Prijanto (PERFECT STRANGERS) from a script by Alim Sudio, will premiere on Netflix on a date in May to be announced; keep an eye on the film’s official page. It stars Sulthan Hamonangan, Anantya Kirana, Marsha Timothy and Alex Abbad; the synopsis: “It was supposed to be a normal day for Alana [Hamonangan] and Zara [Kirana]. A day when they came home from ..read more

Exclusive clip: “CINDERELLA’S REVENGE” claims a deserving victim By MICHAEL GINGOLD This frightful fairy-tale variation has a genre veteran behind the scenes. CINDERELLA’S REVENGE will play nationwide theatrical engagements at Regal venues beginning April 26 from Sobini Films and Iconic Releasing. Quiver Distribution is handling all other North American rights. Directed by Andy Edwards from a script by Tom Jolliffe, it stars Lauren Staerck, SPECIES’ Natasha Henstridge, Stephanie Lodge, Beatrice Fletcher, Megan Purvis and Darrell Griggs. Mark L. Lester, director of CLASS OF 1984 and FIRESTAR ..read more

Post Malone, Michael Bay et al. team up for new horror-action IP universe By MICHAEL GINGOLD The currently untitled saga will stretch from the feature-film realm to the comics page. Recording artist Post Malone has joined forces with Michael Bay and Brad Fuller’s Platinum Dunes company and Vault Comics on an IP universe based on an original story by Malone. According to the PR, “Blending elements of road thrillers like MAD MAX: FURY ROAD and demonic horror like EVIL DEAD, the story is set in medieval Europe, where the only thing standing in the way of the horde of demons infesting the conti ..read more

Body-horror winner “THE CLEANSE” gets long-overdue special-edition Blu-ray; full details and art By MICHAEL GINGOLD The filmmaker has put together a very extensive package of extras. Writer/director Bobby Miller has announced that Sony Pictures is releasing his offbeat horror/drama THE CLEANSE (a.k.a. THE MASTER CLEANSE) on Blu-ray May 21. After winning strong reviews (including ours) at festivals in 2016, the film took two years to see limited theatrical/VOD release, and is now available in a definitive showcase. Johnny Galecki stars as a young man who loses his job and his fiancée and dec ..read more

Zoë Kravitz takes you on a vacation to hell as director of “BLINK TWICE”; see the trailer By MICHAEL GINGOLD The actor turned filmmaker has some cool genre names in her cast. Amazon MGM Studios has released the trailer for BLINK TWICE, which arrives exclusively in theaters August 23. The feature directorial debut of Zoë Kravitz, who scripted with E.T. Feigenbaum, it stars Naomi Ackie, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Kyle MacLachlan, Haley Joel Osment, Geena Davis and Alia Shawkat. The synopsis: “When tech billionaire Slater King [Tatum] meets cocktail waitress Fri ..read more

Al Pacino and Dan Stevens are exorcists in “THE RITUAL,” coming next year By MICHAEL GINGOLD One of this year’s busiest genre actors is getting busier still. Variety reports that Al Pacino and Dan Stevens are starring in THE RITUAL, for which XYZ Films has picked up worldwide rights. The company will give the movie theatrical release in 2025 and set up international distribution at next month’s Cannes Film Festival marketplace. The director is David Midell of the award-winning THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN, who scripted with Enrico Natale, and the cast also includes Ashley Greene and A ..read more

Exclusive Interview: Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett on the care and feeding of “ABIGAIL” By MICHAEL GINGOLD A memorable addition to the bloodsucker canon is showcased in ABIGAIL, now in release from Universal, the latest film from directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett of the Radio Silence collective. RUE MORGUE spoke to the duo about their twisty, extremely bloody horror/crime feature. The title character is a young ballerina kidnapped by a motley gang of criminals played by Melissa Barrera, Dan Stevens (who discusses the film here), Kathryn Newton, Kevin Dura ..read more

Sneak Peek: A New Generation of Horror Arrives in “RUE MORGUE #218” May/Jun 2024 Issue! A new generation of horror filmmakers make their mark in the latest issue of RUE MORGUE (#218 May/June 2024). First, a brutal family thriller from a legacy family in horror, CAITLIN CRONENBERG‘s HUMANE is a debut befitting her surname. Also, a horror dynasty is birthed with the arrival of THE WATCHERS, ISHANA SHYAMALAN’s modern gothic debut. Plus! A look at the new work from the children of some of the genre’s biggest icons. Also featured: Survival-horror game V RISING and the AI interactive SUCK UP ..read more

“THE EXORCISM” with Russell Crowe, from “THE FINAL GIRLS” writers, gets distribution and a date By MICHAEL GINGOLD No relation to THE POPE’S EXORCIST, it was previously titled THE GEORGETOWN PROJECT. Vertical has announced that it has picked up North American rights to THE EXORCISM, with an exclusive theatrical release set to begin June 7. Shudder has grabbed streaming rights. It was directed by Joshua John Miller (son of THE EXORCIST’s Jason Miller, who began as an actor in films like NEAR DARK) and written by Miller and M.A. Fortin, the duo who scripted the modern cult fave THE FINAL GIRL ..read more

Exclusive Interview: Filmmakers Colin and Cameron Cairnes on creating talk-show terror in “LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL” By MICHAEL GINGOLD Now streaming on Shudder, AMC+ and other platforms following a successful theatrical release from IFC Films, LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL is the breakout feature for its writer/directors, Colin and Cameron Cairnes. RUE MORGUE spoke with the Australian brothers about their influences, casting, the technical challenges and more. The duo’s third fright film after 2013’s 100 BLOODY ACRES and 2016’s SCARE CAMPAIGN, LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL stars David Dastmalchia ..read more