One of this summer’s most hotly anticipated new movies is A24 and Ti West’s MaXXXine, a follow-up to X and Pearl that brings Mia Goth’s title character into the 1980s.

With her past catching up to her, Maxine attempts to make it big as a superstar in Hollywood, 1985. While you wait, check out a new image below courtesy of USA Today this week.

Releasing in theaters on July 5, 2024, MaXXXine is rated “R” for…

“Strong violence, gore, sexual content, graphic nudity, language and drug use.”

If you missed the official trailer, you can watch it right here.

Mia Goth stars alongside Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Halsey, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito and Kevin Bacon in MaXXXine.

Here’s the official plot synopsis from A24 this week: “In 1980s Hollywood, adult film star and aspiring actress Maxine Minx finally gets her big break. But as a mysterious killer stalks the starlets of Hollywood, a trail of blood threatens to reveal her sinister past.”

Last we saw Maxine in Ti West’s X (2022), she was the sole survivor of a massacre carried out by elderly couple Howard and Pearl in the Summer of ’79. Goth of course pulled double duty as the villain Pearl in that movie, who got her own origin story in Pearl (2022). Pearl and Maxine are different characters, but they share the common goal of wanting to be stars.

Will Maxine finally make it in Hollywood? Or will the demons of her past become her ultimate downfall? With the Night Stalker roaming free, we expect MaXXXine to get wild this summer.

The post ‘MaXXXine’ – Mia Goth Takes Hollywood in New Image from Ti West’s Sequel appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Life’s a beach and then someone dies in Slaughter Beach, a low budget horror-comedy slasher from the crew at Clockout Films. Last week, the film’s official premiere was hosted by Delco Horror Haven, a new non-profit horror organization dedicated to supporting indie horror in the greater Philadelphia area.

Director Daniel C. Davis (Same Dance) takes a different approach with his take on the serial killer subgenre. When two underachievers are unable to land jobs due to a serial killer ruining their beach town’s tourism and economy, the duo become low rent superhero crime fighters to end the murderer’s reign of terror. Ralph (Jon McKoy) and Barry (Ethan Han) develop their new personas, Awesome Boy and Bludgeon Man respectively, to form the Defender Benders and clean up the streets in their Bender Mobile.

The film’s main antagonist causing havoc in their coastal town is a killer fisherman who yields a murderous hook. From that description, you’d might think it’s a nod to I Know What You Did Last Summer, but our yellow slicker-wearing killer resembles the Gorton Seafood’s fisherman mascot more than Ben Willis. Especially since there is no mystery to the killer’s identity by the midway point of the proceedings. Our villain also rocks a tackle box filled with body parts from his victims that he uses as bait for his fishing adventures in between kills. So as you can see, our villain is indeed a unique one, or as unique as you can be following the thousands of slasher film villains that have come beforehand.

The film’s first act really focuses on developing our two main characters as we follow their bizarre foray into crimefighting via some silly scenarios. But once they cross paths with Fish Man Sam (Jim Cannatelli) spouting his Moby Dick-esque tale of Lulu the giant Horseshoe crab, which I recently learned is a medicinal crab, the killings become plentiful, and things start to take off.

Can Ralph prove his dad wrong by rising above his slacker status with Barry to defend his turf from the evil fisherman on a serious murder bender? Or can he at least just get some form of employment and help pay their bills? Is Lulu really a horseshoe crab or just a horse shit tale? You’ll have to walk in the sands of Slaughter Beach to find out.

As you can tell by that premise, the emphasis of this horror-comedy leans more to the comedic side of the field, but there are enough creative kills and surprisingly great practical gore effects for such a humble budget to scratch that horror itch. Ever see an’80s-inspired murder spree montage set to upbeat music in a film before? Slaughter Beach checks that box rather entertainingly. Again, the montage is played for laughs versus scares, but it is nonetheless effective with its use of gore while still maintaining the film’s intended zany, off the wall tone.

Director Davis employs many slasher flick tropes such as a folklore legend used to drive the narrative, the villain casting some one-liners during their kills, ineffective and incompetent local law enforcement, and a killer mainly using a signature weapon on their prey. However, it’s all played with tongue firmly jammed in cheek, which is the right play for this type of film.

The best way to gauge your interest for whether you should watch this film or not is how you feel about Troma films. Because Slaughter Beach most certainly feels inspired by some of the older throwback films within Lloyd Kauffman’s cinematic playground in many ways. Watch this film if you see that as complimentary statement, or steer clear if you are on the opposite side of Troma’s very polarizing spectrum.

This 78-minute affair was produced with little budget, but also noticeably with a lot of heart. Not to mention a pretty killer soundtrack that really sticks out in a good way, especially during the beach scenes. It is also short enough with the right balance of levity to offer up some quick, mindless fun. And isn’t that something we all need more of in life?

Slaughter Beach can be viewed for free online right now at Tubi.

Delco Horror Haven is planning more independent film premieres throughout 2024. You can keep up to date with all their events over on the official Delco Horror Haven Facebook page.

The post ‘Slaughter Beach’ Review – Troma-Style Horror-Comedy Slasher Now Streaming on Tubi appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Ridley Scott’s original horror classic Alien is currently celebrating its 45th anniversary with a theatrical re-release, and it won’t be long before the franchise comes back to theaters again.

Fede Alvarez’s (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe) Alien: Romulus will be unleashed in theaters nationwide on August 16, and USA Today has scored a killer new sneak peek today.

45 years ago, the Xenomorph was born from the minds of Ridley Scott, H.R. Giger and Dan O’Bannon. This summer, the monster is back… and scarier than ever. See the new shot above.

[Related] ‘Alien: Romulus’ Goes Heavy on the Old School Practical Effects!

Here’s the full official plot synopsis for Alvarez’s Alien: Romulus, which comes in the wake of Disney reviving the Predator franchise in spectacular fashion with last year’s Prey…

“While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.”

Cailee Spaeny (The Craft: Legacy, Pacific Rim Uprising) leads the cast alongside Isabela Merced, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Spike Fearn and Aileen Wu.

Alien: Romulus takes place in between the first two films. It’s been described as “an original standalone feature,” one that “will focus on a group of young people on a distant world.” 

Fede Alvarez co-wrote the script with Rodo Sayagues (Evil Dead). Ridley Scott is on board as producer for the film, the first movie in the franchise to be released by Disney.

The post New Image from ‘Alien: Romulus’ Reminds Just How Terrifying the Xenomorph Still Is 45 Years Later appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Fresh new label Dreamscape Productions has announced the upcoming creature feature comedy Round the Decay, with Deadline bringing us the first casting news this afternoon.

Melody Kay (The NeverEnding Story III) will star alongside Victoria Mirrer (Everwinter Night), Phil Duran (“Breaking Bad”), Damian Maffei (Haunt, The Strangers: Prey at Night), Sarah Nicklin (The Black Mass, Garden of Eden), and Rodger Clarke (Red Dead Redemption II).

Round the Decay follows “Kenzie (Victoria Mirrer) as she gets entangled in a sinister plot in the sleepy town of Newport Valley to get closure on her broken engagement.”

Here’s the full official plot synopsis…

“When prominent locals take in a lost hiker, Kenzie, newcomer Roz and mysterious outsider Munroe find themselves caught between the leaders of the town’s factions and entangled in an ancient sinister plot dating back to its founder that threatens the survival of the town and their lives.”

Adam Newman wrote the script and is also directing the horror film.

Round the Decay is produced by Newman, Hansson, Jay Voishnis, Jon Balanoff, and Adam McDonald; and executive produced by Sean Ward, CEO of Dreamscape.

The post ‘Round the Decay’ – Creature Feature Comedy Stars Damian Maffei and Melody Kay appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

In just over two more weeks, Lionsgate will be back in theaters with The Strangers: Chapter 1, the first film in a brand new reboot trilogy from director Renny Harlin (A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Master, Deep Blue Sea). It’s coming to theaters May 17, 2024.

While you wait, check out a series of new character posters below.

Madelaine Petsch (“Riverdale”), Froy Gutierrez (Hocus Pocus 2), Rachel Shenton (The Silent Child), Ema Horvath (“Rings of Power”) and Gabe Basso (Hillbilly Elegy) star.

Based on the original 2008 cult horror franchise, the project features Petsch, who drives cross-country with her longtime boyfriend (Gutierrez) to begin a new life in the Pacific Northwest. When their car breaks down in Venus, Oregon, they’re forced to spend the night in a secluded Airbnb, where they are terrorized from dusk till dawn by three masked strangers.

Here’s the full official synopsis: “After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.”

Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, Deep Blue Sea, Die Hard 2) is directing from a script by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland (The Freak Brothers, Due Date). Lionsgate will distribute worldwide.

The Strangers began in 2008 with Bryan Bertino’s original home invasion horror movie, a terrifying film that introduced three masked killers who returned 10 years later with The Strangers: Prey at Night in 2018. The first film took place in a remote house in the woods while the sequel brought the murderous Man in the Mask, Dollface and Pinup Girl into a trailer park.

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