Horror news
From Jedi to Joker and now Killer doll. Mark Hamill will be the voice of Chucky
Well, it is official we now know who the voice of Chucky will be. Mark Hamill has confirmed on social media platforms that he is the voice of Chucky for the new Child’s Play film.
There’s been controversy around the movie since day one primarily based on the fact the movie is being remade, but with some changes, the movie is standing on its own two legs and now we have confirmation Mark Hamill the man who has given us iconic performances is now the legendary killer doll. One can only think about how he will bring the doll to life. June 28th cannot come here soon enough.
COMING 2019: A Violent Swamp Thing is Headed to the Small Screen
It’s been reported that Derek Mears will be playing the character Swamp thing for the exclusive DC comics TV series. The character Dr. Alec Holland hasn’t been cast yet, but other reported cast members are Crystal Reed (Gotham TV series, Teen Wolf TV series) as Abby Arcane and Maria Sten (Channel Zero TV series, Persuasion TV series) as Liz Tremayne. Derek is no stranger to horror films being in such films as Hatchet 3 (2013), Friday the 13th (2009), Predator (2018), plus James Wan is the executive producer and has said the film will be rated R for graphic violence. Just exactly how brutal will this be? Hard to tell but the production has a great cast behind it. Len Wiseman (Underworld, Lucifer) will direct the pilot episode. Filming begins this fall. Co-written by Gary Dauberman (IT chapters 1 and 2 and the upcoming third Annabelle film) as well as Mark Verheiden (Ash vs Evil Dead) Perhaps that answers the question on how brutal this will be.
This is a huge deal for not only comic fans of Swamp Thing, Constantine, The Walking Dead, and Locke and Key. This gives hope that the horror comics have a lot of stories to tell. There also giving a platform for the streaming services where not are they affordable but producing great shows that people binge in one day, one weekend developing a huge fan base with no restrictions towards violence, nudity, and language. Swamp Thing will premiere on a streaming service for DC slated for some time in 2019 another benefit is you can read the comics from their library. I would recommend reading Swamp Thing by Alan Moore, Jeff Lemire, and Scott Snyder because at this rate if we’re getting Swamp Thing, we might be seeing other horror comics grace the small screen.
Swamp Thing the TV series is being produced by Atomic Monster and DC Universe.
SyFy Announces Clive Barker’s Nightbreed TV Series
Cabal, Clive Barker’s 1988 novella about a man’s struggle with self-demons and ultimate attempt to find the mythical(?) sanctuary city of Midian, is being brought to TV by SyFy, Morgan Creek Entertainment (Nightbreed (1990) directed by David Cronenberg), Universal Cable Prods, and writer Josh Stolberg,
SyFy’s Nightbreed will explore race relations in the US using the human-monster dichotomy displayed throughout the novella. The story will follow a group of subterranean monster-humans forced to find another place to live after their home is destroyed.
Before I continue, I want to talk a bit about the movie Nightbreed, which gets some criticism, but should it? For me, I had a difficult time relating to the protagonist because of the casting choice and likewise his girlfriend. However, every other performance blew me away. I have mixed feelings. It’s nothing against either of the actors; they just didn’t click with me. Watch and decide for yourself.
Horror TV series are popular right now, The Walking Dead is still going in spite of the departure of Andrew Lincoln, Ash vs Evil Dead was doing well but not well enough for Starz, I (okay, borderline horror for the younger set) seems popular, Supernatural still pushing it on Netflix, and scores more. But, people are dropping cable packages to watch online. What does this say for the possibility of a win with this one?
From to the names attached, we can be cautiously hopeful. David Robinson, President of Morgan Creek Entertainment Group, seems quite optimistic:
Maybe we can be a little more than cautiously optimistic. Star Trek managed to address these issues with a great deal of success.
Keep your claws crossed. I am.
Death House (2018) New Release Date
Hey, horror fans just got a heads up from Rick Finkelstein, CEO of Entertainment Factory LLC and producer of the highly anticipated Death House, that the release has been pushed back just a bit to further strengthen its debut. Hannover House Distributors has now rescheduled the release for March 2nd, 2018. They also plan to expand the reach of Death House to approximately 20 additional markets on March 9th and March 16th. Home video and digital releases are anticipated for July.
On March 2nd the lucky people that will get to enjoy Death House first will be Los Angeles and Van Nuys California, along with Stroudsburg Pennsylvania which is the birthplace of the amazing Director Harrison Smith. The next lucky people will be able to go on March 9th and they are located in New York, N.Y., Chicago, IL., Philadelphia, PA., Dallas-Ft. Worth TX., Washington D.C., Atlanta, GA., Tampa-St. Petersberg FL., Phoenix AZ., Miami-Ft. Lauderdale FL., Orlando-Daytona Beach FL., Sacramento CA., Charlotte, N.C., Kansas City KS./MO., Oklahoma City OK., Jacksonville FL., Memphis TN., and N.W. AK.
With a running time of 93 minutes, we will have a little over an hour and a half of gore-filled strong horror violence, naughty language and nudity with its “R” rating. We have waited this long, and I know from talking to the director Harrison Smith, it will be WELL worth the wait! So better start planning for your sojourn into the bowels of the Hell.
In Memoriam Jack Ketchum
Jack Ketchum
(Dallas Mayr)
10 November 1946 – 24 January 24, 2018
More sad news in the world of horror as Pollyanna McIntosh broke the word of author and actor Jack Ketchum’s death at 71 of cancer:
Ketchum’s own Twitter account confirmed it:
And Ketchum’s good friend and fellow writer Christopher Golden commented on his passing:
Ketchum, whose works The Lost, The Girl Next Door, Offspring, The Woman, Mail Order, Olivia, and “The Box”, have been adapted for film and video, had been battling cancer for a long time.
The Bram Stoker Award winner was an actor as well as an author, appearing in Offspring (2009) and Red (2008) under his given name Dallas Mayr and The Girl Next Door (2007), Header (2006), and The Lost (2006) under his best-known writing pseudonym Jack Ketchum.
Ketchum received a BA in English from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, and worked as a soda jerk, lumber salesman, high school teacher, and literary agent in addition to his work as an author and an actor. Like many in the horror industry, Ketchum found solace in horror during his childhood, even beginning to make up stories at a very young age and using his toys as characters in them.
As a teenager, Ketchum became friends with Psycho author Robert Bloch, who became his mentor, supporting Ketchum’s work in the same way H.P. Lovecraft supported his.
Ketchum primarily supported himself by selling his short stories and articles to magazines – many under the pen name Jerzy Livingston – before finally concentrating on his novels. Like Stephen King, Ketchum had the problem of too much at one time. Thus, to prevent flooding the market, he would submit under his own name and the pen name in case both pieces were accepted for publication.
Awards
“The Box” (1994) Bram Stoker Award for Best Short Story
“Gone” (2000) Bram Stoker Award for Best Short Fiction
Peaceable Kingdom (2003) Bram Stoker Award for Best Collection
Closing Time (2003) Bram Stoker Award for Best Long Fiction
World Horror Convention Grand Master Award (2011)
Nominations
Right to Life (1999) Bram Stoker Award nominee for Best Long Fiction
The Lost (2001) Bram Stoker Award nominee for Best Novel
The Haunt (2001) Bram Stoker Award nominee for Best Short Fiction
I’m Not Sam (2012) Bram Stoker Award nominee for Best Long Fiction (with Lucky McKee)
I’m Not Sam (2012) Shirley Jackson Award nominee for Best Novella (with Lucky McKee)
Jack Ketchum was a unique talent and, from all reports, a wonderful person. Rest in peace, sir.