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News Bites: Capcom Releasing Live-Action ‘Dead Rising’ Movie, ‘Shelter’ Teaser and ‘Supernatural Spinoff

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A rash of small news bites have hit Bloody Disgusting’s inbox this morning, with one specific story that’s quite exciting. Beyond the break you can watch a teaser trailer for Capcom’s live-action movie for the video game “Dead Rising”(!), along with a new one sheet for Shelter, info on Tucker & Dale‘s battle with evil in Canada, and details on a “Supernatural” spinoff headed straight to the web. Watch for more if anything small breaks throughout the day.
FIRST SHELTER ONE SHEET

Courtesy of the IMP Awards comes the first real one sheet for Shelter, the Julianne Moore thriller directed by Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein.

The film follows a female forensic psychiatrist who specializes in debunking multiple personality disorder. When she discovers that her latest patient’s various personalities are all murder victims, she struggles to find a logical explanation for the man’s delusion.

A JAPANESE LIVE-ACTiON DEAD RISING MOVIE?!

Coming out of left field is an official Japanese website for a ive-action Dead Rising adaptation, courtesy of publisher Capcom!

Dead Rising’s story centers on Frank West, a photojournalist who ends up trapped in a shopping mall in the fictional town of Willamette, Colorado, that is infested with zombies. Frank must defend himself from zombie attacks, rescue survivors, contend with crazed psychopaths, and stay alive while still attempting to uncover the truth behind the incident. The player controls Frank as he explores the mall, using any available object as a weapon. The player can complete several main and optional missions to earn Prestige Points (PP) and gain special abilities. The game is designed as a sandbox game and features several endings, depending on the decisions the player makes along the way.

Check out the teaser!

TUCKER & DALE LAUGHT IT UP IN CANADA

While we still wait to see who picks it up here in the States, Maple Pictures has acquired all rights in all media in Canada to the film Tucker & Dale vs Evil, it was announced today by Maple Co-Presidents Laurie May and Brad Pelman.

Directed by Eli Craig, TUCKER & DALE VS. EVIL is the story of two hillbillies with hearts of gold who are mistaken for serial killers by a group of camping teens who have seen one too many horror movies. The film stars Alan Tudyk (DODGEBALL, SERENITY), Tyler Labine (ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO) and Katrina Bowden (SEX DRIVE). Click here for poster, stills, clips, trailers and reviews.

GHOSTFACERS, SUPERNATURAL WEB SPINOFF

Via Variety:

McG’s Wonderland shingle and Warner Bros. TV are plotting a spinoff to the CW’s long-running spooky drama “Supernatural.”
But rather than produce it for TV, the new show — “Ghostfacers” — is heading straight for the Internet.

“Ghostfacers” reps the latest expansion into the digital studio space for Wonderland, which is producing the “Supernatural” spinoff with Warner Bros. TV’s Studio 2.0.

In a twist, “Ghostfacers” will preem on TheWB.com — the interactive/video-on-demand website that emerged from the ashes of the WB television network (where “Supernatural” first bowed). The series will also appear on the CW’s website.

Wonderland has already begun production on the project, which will initially run as 10 three-minute episodes.

“Ghostfacers” follows a team of ghost hunters who tape their exploits in documentary fashion.

“It felt like the nature and style of what they do with their show-within-a-show would be fun to see in new media,” said Wonderland TV topper Peter Johnson. “It’s a fun, subversive way to allow these characters to play in the margins.”

The somewhat comedic group first appeared on the first season of “Supernatural” (and were created for the show by Trey Callaway for the episode “Hell House”) and also returned in season three, in the episode “Ghostfacers,” by Ben Edlund.

According to Johnson, the “Ghostfacers” characters have already spawned a convention in London.

New series’ first installment will follow the “Ghostfacers” as they investigate a theater believed to be haunted by the ghost of a young starlet (played by “Nip/Tuck” alum Kelly Carlson).

“Ghostfacers” stars A.J. Buckley (“CSI: NY”), Travis Wester (“Bones”), Brittany Ishibashi (“Supernatural”) and Austin Basis (“Life Unexpected”).

Besides starring in “Ghostfacers,” Buckley and Wester are also writers on the project, along with Patrick Doody and Chris Valenziano. “Ghostfacers” is exec produced by McG, Peter Johnson, Jeff Grosvenor, Eric Kripke and Phil Sgriccia.

The web series reps the latest cross-media extension for “Supernatural,” which has spawned 18 comic books, several novels and an official magazine. Another round of six comic books are in the works as well.

“‘Supernatural’ has sprung forth beyond the TV show,” said Johnson. “The mother series seems flexible enough to allow our creative talent to pursue some of these other arenas.”

Beyond the webisodes, TheWB.com and CWTV.com will also include other “Ghostfacers” content, such as gag reels, behind-the-scenes videos, photo galleries and actor confessionals. More mythology will also be uploaded to a dedicated “Ghostfacers” website.

Wonderland has also been behind the web series “Sorority Forever” and “Exposed.” Going forward, however, Johnson said the company’s digital studio output will focus on extensions of the production shingle’s TV and film projects.

“Supernatural” is in its fifth season on the air.

Horror movie fanatic who co-founded Bloody Disgusting in 2001. Producer on Southbound, V/H/S/2/3/94, SiREN, Under the Bed, and A Horrible Way to Die. Chicago-based. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Taco Bell daily. Franchise favs: Hellraiser, Child's Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Scream and Friday the 13th. Horror 365 days a year.

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Editorials

Six Shot-on-VHS Horror Movies to Watch After ‘Frogman’

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Frogman VHS

Nostalgia is a funny thing. From the unexpected resurgence of vinyl to modern-day flip phones, it’s pretty clear that the technical limitations of the past can often inspire the stylish trends of the future. One of my favorite examples of this is the ongoing analog horror craze, as I find it fascinating how many of the genre’s major creators appear to have been born after the decline of VHS tapes and eerie PSAs.

It’s almost like there’s a subconscious understanding that some stories are best told through fuzzy visuals and heavily compressed audio, which is why I appreciate flicks like Anthony Cousins’s Found Footage throwback Frogman, a cryptozoology-inspired scary movie that dares to incorporate lo-fi aesthetics into its storytelling during a time when most studios encourage filmmakers to make their projects look as generically slick and polished as possible. And if you also enjoyed Frogman and are on the lookout for more VHS-based gems, Bloody-Disgusting has got you covered, as we’ve come up with a list highlighting six shot-on-VHS classics for your viewing pleasure.

As usual, don’t forget to comment below with your own favorite analog thrillers if you think we missed a particularly spooky one. I’d also like to give a shout-out to Bloody-Disgusting’s own long-running V/H/S series, which won’t be included here for obvious reasons.

Now, onto the list…


6. Zero Day (2003)

School shootings are one of the scariest realities of the modern world, but the complicated political elements behind these tragedies mean that most genre filmmakers don’t even try to tell stories about them. There are a few exceptions, however, and one of the most notable is Ben Coccio’s Zero Day, a deeply uncomfortable Found Footage character study that explores just how far ill-intentioned teenagers might go to prove a point.

Inspired by the real-world Columbine Basement Tapes, in which the mass-murderers kept a record of their plans and motivations, Coccio’s film follows a fictional video diary where troubled friends Andre and Calvin discuss their homicidal intentions. Another case where the gritty visuals make the story hit even harder, I’d recommend this one for discerning fans of True Crime media.


5. August Underground (2001)

Out of all the movies on this list, Fred Vogel’s August Underground is simultaneously one of the most fascinating and the hardest to recommend. A simulated snuff film following the exploits of a degenerate serial killer and his deranged filmmaker friend, the low production value and amateurish visuals make this shot-on-video experience even more uncomfortable as you begin to question if it really is just a movie.

And while Vogel would go on to expand on this controversial production with a series of slightly more agreeable sequels that boasted improved visuals, none of the follow-ups can quite compare to the raw thrills of the original. Just make sure that you don’t accidentally pick this one for family movie night if you dare to give it a watch.


4. WNUF Halloween Special (2013)

Frogman VHS list

The only entry on this list produced after the decline of VHS-based media, this 2013 classic still holds up as a convincing masterclass in authentic period-piece horror. A simulated recording of a public access show gone terribly wrong, the WNUF Halloween Special should be on everyone’s spooky season watchlist – though I’d argue that it’s best enjoyed as a background conversation piece during Halloween parties.

From the hilarious yet extremely believable retro advertisements to the not-so-subtle hints of the satanic panic motivating the story, this is a delightful experience even if you weren’t alive back when this kind of TV was still on the air.

And if you like this one, don’t forget to check out the Out There Halloween Mega Tape, which was made by the same director.


3. The McPherson Tape (1989)

Originally made popular by bootleg copies circulating the underground VHS trading scene, there’s no discussing shot-on-video horror without bringing up one of the grandaddies of modern-day Found Footage, the legendary McPherson Tape. Also known as UFO Abduction, this homemade thriller follows a birthday party gone wrong as the Van Heese family is visited by extraterrestrials.

While the flick works better as a terrifying hoax rather than a proper movie due to its odd pacing and general lack of traditional story structure, it’s still a must-watch for Found Footage fans. Just be sure to track down the gritty original, not the 1998 remake, Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County.


2. Ghostwatch (1992)

Frogman VHS movies

The term “made-for-TV” used to carry some seriously negative connotations in the world of film, with most audiences assuming that this kind of classification meant that they were about to watch low-budget schlock unsuitable for the big screen. However, there were plenty of clever filmmakers that managed to turn the limitations of broadcast television into storytelling tools, and a great example of this is Stephen Volk’s excellent mockumentary, Ghostwatch.

Starring real TV host Sir Michael Parkinson and borrowing details from the infamous Enfield Poltergeist case, this controversial TV special attempted to do for hauntings what Orson Welles’s War of the Worlds radio adaptation did for aliens. And while we’ve seen scarier Found Footage ghost stories in the decades since Ghostwatch premiered, I’d argue that the chilling authenticity behind the production makes it well worth revisiting in 2024.


1. America’s Deadliest Home Video (1993)

Jack Perez’s pioneer POV thriller may not be that well known these days, but this obscure little gem is actually responsible for many Found Footage tropes that we now take for granted. Telling the story of an amateur cameraman who finds himself being kidnapped by a group of criminals during a road trip, this video diary from hell still holds up as a horrific example of grounded Found Footage.

While some questionable acting and convenient story beats sometimes break the carefully crafted immersion, America’s Deadliest Home Video stands out by not only being one of the first of its kind, but also by embracing its amateurish roots instead of being embarrassed by them.


Frogman, which actually was released on VHS, is now available on VOD outlets.

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