Gad Elmaleh (fan of Nanni Moretti and Woody Allen films) on the set of Stay With Us (Reste Un Peu) with his parents
Stand-up comedian Gad Elmaleh, the director and star of Stay With Us (co-written with Benjamin Charbit) plays a version of himself who explores a lifelong fascination with the Virgin Mary. After living in America, Gad returns to Paris, where he is welcomed by his parents, played by the actor’s actual mother and father, Régine and David, his sister Judith and old friends, which include the actor Roschdy Zem (star of Arnaud Desplechin’s Oh Mercy! with Léa Seydoux and Sara Forestier). Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, Simone Veil, and Henri Bergson get a shoutout as Gad reflects on some wide-ranging questions on faith as he meets with a priest (Father Barthélémy played by Nicolas Port), a rabbi (Pierre-Henry Salfati), a nun (Catherine Thiercelin), a theologian (Frédéric Lenoir), and...
Stand-up comedian Gad Elmaleh, the director and star of Stay With Us (co-written with Benjamin Charbit) plays a version of himself who explores a lifelong fascination with the Virgin Mary. After living in America, Gad returns to Paris, where he is welcomed by his parents, played by the actor’s actual mother and father, Régine and David, his sister Judith and old friends, which include the actor Roschdy Zem (star of Arnaud Desplechin’s Oh Mercy! with Léa Seydoux and Sara Forestier). Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger, Simone Veil, and Henri Bergson get a shoutout as Gad reflects on some wide-ranging questions on faith as he meets with a priest (Father Barthélémy played by Nicolas Port), a rabbi (Pierre-Henry Salfati), a nun (Catherine Thiercelin), a theologian (Frédéric Lenoir), and...
- 5/9/2024
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
The Guinness World Records once listed the BBC’s Doctor Who as the “most successful Science Fiction television series in the world,” and, in November 2023, the show turned an impressive 60 years old. Doctor Who originally ran from 1963 to 1989 and was relaunched in 2005.
Despite its grand age, it’s not demonstrating any signs of slowing down.
Former showrunner Russell T Davies (fresh from his success with It’s A Sin) returns to the franchise following last year’s Christmas specials with fan-favorites David Tennant and Catherine Tate. With the 14th season — which, for the first time ever, will premiere simultaneously worldwide thanks to Disney+ (on Friday at 7 p.m.) — Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education and Barbie) officially becomes the newest incarnation of the errant Time Lord.
But, what about those who have already played the role of The Doctor (a.k.a. Doctor Who) over the past seven decades? Below is your 101 to all of the lead actors.
Despite its grand age, it’s not demonstrating any signs of slowing down.
Former showrunner Russell T Davies (fresh from his success with It’s A Sin) returns to the franchise following last year’s Christmas specials with fan-favorites David Tennant and Catherine Tate. With the 14th season — which, for the first time ever, will premiere simultaneously worldwide thanks to Disney+ (on Friday at 7 p.m.) — Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education and Barbie) officially becomes the newest incarnation of the errant Time Lord.
But, what about those who have already played the role of The Doctor (a.k.a. Doctor Who) over the past seven decades? Below is your 101 to all of the lead actors.
- 5/9/2024
- by Cameron K McEwan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
World War II was still raging in May 1944. The allied invasion of Normandy — aka D-Day — was just around the corner on June 6th. Americans kept the home fires burning and escaped from the global conflict by going to the movies. Two of the biggest films of the year, Leo McCarey’s “Going My Way” and George Cukor’s “Gaslight,” recently celebrated their 80th anniversaries.
Actually, “Going My Way” had a special “Fighting Front” premiere on April 27th: 65 prints were shipped to battle fronts and shown “from Alaska to Italy, and from England to the jungles of Burma.” The sentimental comedy-drama-musical arrived in New York on May 3rd.
And it was just the uplifting film audiences needed. Bing Crosby starred as Father O’Malley, a laid-back young priest who arrives at a debt-ridden New York City church that is run by the older, set-in-his ways Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald). The elder...
Actually, “Going My Way” had a special “Fighting Front” premiere on April 27th: 65 prints were shipped to battle fronts and shown “from Alaska to Italy, and from England to the jungles of Burma.” The sentimental comedy-drama-musical arrived in New York on May 3rd.
And it was just the uplifting film audiences needed. Bing Crosby starred as Father O’Malley, a laid-back young priest who arrives at a debt-ridden New York City church that is run by the older, set-in-his ways Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald). The elder...
- 5/9/2024
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
The last time I watched a horror this bad, it was probably a corny Bollywood horror film. Brent Cote’s Possessions can easily feature on a list of the worst horror movies of all time. Set in a storage facility, the director probably wanted to bring back the old-school trope of vengeful spirits taking control of kids. There’s nothing wrong with following tropes if they’re done right, but this film fails in every way it possibly could. While shows like American Horror Story thrive on the very same premise of spirits refusing to release their hold on a site, Brent Cote never fully commits to his own story. If not for Clive Standen’s brilliant performance, I wonder if one could sit through this film.
Spoilers Ahead
What happens in the movie?
Months after his wife’s death in an accident, Pete Thompson buys a storage facility and...
Spoilers Ahead
What happens in the movie?
Months after his wife’s death in an accident, Pete Thompson buys a storage facility and...
- 5/8/2024
- by Aniket Mukherjee
- Film Fugitives
On June 26th, Dstlry will release both Spectregraph #2 and Blasfamous #3, and we have an exclusive look at the Foc variant covers from Jae Lee and Sweeney Boo! Dstlry has continues to impress, with a diverse array of stories and creators that have me excited for each new issue.
From James Tynion IV and Christian Ward, "Spectregraph revolves around an isolated mansion nestled into the coastline, a short drive north of Los Angeles. Rumors have haunted the place for years—its owner a titan of American industry, with a strange fascination in the occult and the paranormal. The richest men and women in the country have whispered to each other, trying to understand what he was building alone in that mansion for all those years. And now finally, with his death, and his estate open for sale… they can finally find out for themselves."
Spectregraph #2
"Trapped in the Malibu mausoleum of late billionaire Ambrose Everett Hall,...
From James Tynion IV and Christian Ward, "Spectregraph revolves around an isolated mansion nestled into the coastline, a short drive north of Los Angeles. Rumors have haunted the place for years—its owner a titan of American industry, with a strange fascination in the occult and the paranormal. The richest men and women in the country have whispered to each other, trying to understand what he was building alone in that mansion for all those years. And now finally, with his death, and his estate open for sale… they can finally find out for themselves."
Spectregraph #2
"Trapped in the Malibu mausoleum of late billionaire Ambrose Everett Hall,...
- 5/6/2024
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
President Biden on Friday announced that he would be awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 19 recipients, including a handful of names familiar to the world of media and entertainment.
The Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor that the President can bestow, and is given to those “who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.”
This year’s list of honorees include Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh, who “continues to shatter stereotypes and enrich American culture,” according to the White House.
It also includes Phil Donahue, the journalist whose daytime talk show transformed syndicated TV and become one of the most influential programs of its era.
Other honorees include Bloomberg founder Michael Bloomberg, former Vice President (and the focus of An Inconvenient Truth) Al Gore and Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky.
You can...
The Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honor that the President can bestow, and is given to those “who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values, or security of the United States, world peace, or other significant societal, public or private endeavors.”
This year’s list of honorees include Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh, who “continues to shatter stereotypes and enrich American culture,” according to the White House.
It also includes Phil Donahue, the journalist whose daytime talk show transformed syndicated TV and become one of the most influential programs of its era.
Other honorees include Bloomberg founder Michael Bloomberg, former Vice President (and the focus of An Inconvenient Truth) Al Gore and Olympic swimmer Katie Ledecky.
You can...
- 5/3/2024
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
If you were entertained by Russell Crowe in a cassock (and tootling around on a Lambretta) as Father Gabriele Amorth in last year's The Pope's Exorcist (and its $76.9 million box office off the back of an $18 million budget suggests plenty of you were), you'll no doubt be happy to hear that, according to producer Jeff Katz, Crowe will be battling demonic forces once more in a sequel.
Katz hit social media to announce that he'd gotten word of the sequel decision.
The Pope's Exorcist, which was directed by Julius Avery, finds Crowe as the real-life Italian priest who performed over 100,000 exorcisms for the Vatican. His latest mission took him on a tricky quest to help a possessed American boy and ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to keep hidden.
The end of the film teed up sequels, but there's no word yet on what case the new movie will feature.
Katz hit social media to announce that he'd gotten word of the sequel decision.
The Pope's Exorcist, which was directed by Julius Avery, finds Crowe as the real-life Italian priest who performed over 100,000 exorcisms for the Vatican. His latest mission took him on a tricky quest to help a possessed American boy and ends up uncovering a centuries-old conspiracy the Vatican has desperately tried to keep hidden.
The end of the film teed up sequels, but there's no word yet on what case the new movie will feature.
- 5/2/2024
- by James White
- Empire - Movies
It’s been one year since Columbia Pictures / Screen Gems brought The Pope’s Exorcist (read our review Here), a supernatural thriller starring Russell Crowe, to theatres. Just two weeks after the film was released, our friends at Bloody Disgusting heard that a sequel was in development… but then things went quiet for a while. Crowe recently said that The Pope’s Exorcist was meant to kick off a trilogy, but the franchise’s progress had been slowed down by “a change of studio heads.” Things have apparently been worked out, though, because producer Jeff Katz of Worldwide Katz has just taken to social media to announce that the Pope’s Exorcist sequel has been given the greenlight!
Katz wrote, “Amorth Nation — I just got the call. It’S Officially Happening!!! “È un seguito, amici miei.”* Thank you to the amazing #ThePopesExorcist fans. You made this happen. Gas up your Lambretta – and get ready to ride.
Katz wrote, “Amorth Nation — I just got the call. It’S Officially Happening!!! “È un seguito, amici miei.”* Thank you to the amazing #ThePopesExorcist fans. You made this happen. Gas up your Lambretta – and get ready to ride.
- 5/2/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Russell Crowe will save souls and ride Lambrettas again: "The Pope's Exorcist" is officially getting a sequel! Producer Jeff Katz took to Twitter on Wednesday evening to announce the news, posting, "Amorth Nation -- I just got the call...It's Officially Happening!!!" Katz followed up with an Italian phrase, "È un seguito, amici miei," which translates to "It's a sequel, my friends."
Never one to miss a chance to reference Crowe's character's motorized scooter (aren't we all?), Katz also wrote, "Thank you to the amazing #ThePopesExorcist fans. You made this happen. Gas up your Lambretta - and get ready to ride."
"The Pope's Exorcist" was both a slightly campy novelty and a surprise box office success when it dropped in April 2023, earning nearly $77 million worldwide against a comparatively slim budget of just $18 million (per Variety). The film blew past initial expectations -- the Variety article cited above guessed it would earn $10 million in U.
Never one to miss a chance to reference Crowe's character's motorized scooter (aren't we all?), Katz also wrote, "Thank you to the amazing #ThePopesExorcist fans. You made this happen. Gas up your Lambretta - and get ready to ride."
"The Pope's Exorcist" was both a slightly campy novelty and a surprise box office success when it dropped in April 2023, earning nearly $77 million worldwide against a comparatively slim budget of just $18 million (per Variety). The film blew past initial expectations -- the Variety article cited above guessed it would earn $10 million in U.
- 5/2/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
It may not seem like it but The Pope’s Exorcist was a hit at the box office last year, scaring up $76.9 million on a production budget of just $18 million. Academy Award winner Russell Crowe plays real-life exorcist Gabriele Amorth in the horror film, and it didn’t take long for Screen Gems to start thinking about a sequel. It seems it’s now actually happening.
The Pope’s Exorcist producer Jeff Katz took to Twitter last night to officially announce The Pope’s Exorcist 2, tweeting: “Amorth Nation — I just got the call. It’s officially happening!”
Katz added in last night’s tweet, “Thank you to the amazing #ThePopesExorcist fans. You made this happen. Gas up your Lambretta – and get ready to ride.”
According to a recent interview with Russell Crowe, a trilogy had originally been planned at Screen Gems, which could end up happening if the sequel performs as well as the first film.
The Pope’s Exorcist producer Jeff Katz took to Twitter last night to officially announce The Pope’s Exorcist 2, tweeting: “Amorth Nation — I just got the call. It’s officially happening!”
Katz added in last night’s tweet, “Thank you to the amazing #ThePopesExorcist fans. You made this happen. Gas up your Lambretta – and get ready to ride.”
According to a recent interview with Russell Crowe, a trilogy had originally been planned at Screen Gems, which could end up happening if the sequel performs as well as the first film.
- 5/2/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
It looks like Russell Crowe cannot leave behind the horror and mystery genres so soon. According to an official update from The Pope’s Exorcist’s producer, Jeff Katz, the 2023 film will receive a sequel soon. The horror film was a sleeper hit at the box office and, despite not being perfect, was liked by many.
Russell Crowe in The Pope’s Exorcist
The Pope’s Exorcist mostly earned mixed reviews from critics. However, it seems like the makers want to mimic the first film’s unexpected success. Earlier this year, Russell Crowe discussed the possibility of numerous follow-ups to the Julius Avery directorial. Jeff Katz has now confirmed that the universe will expand and follow the blueprint of the Planet of the Apes franchise for its title.
How will The Pope’s Exorcist follow the path of the Planet of the Apes franchise?
A still from War for the Planet of the Apes...
Russell Crowe in The Pope’s Exorcist
The Pope’s Exorcist mostly earned mixed reviews from critics. However, it seems like the makers want to mimic the first film’s unexpected success. Earlier this year, Russell Crowe discussed the possibility of numerous follow-ups to the Julius Avery directorial. Jeff Katz has now confirmed that the universe will expand and follow the blueprint of the Planet of the Apes franchise for its title.
How will The Pope’s Exorcist follow the path of the Planet of the Apes franchise?
A still from War for the Planet of the Apes...
- 5/2/2024
- by Subham Mandal
- FandomWire
In the last 5-10 years, the found footage format has shifted more from feature-length horror films to short analog horror projects and alternate reality games on TikTok and Twitter. The analog horror emphasizes the nostalgic yet uncanny feeling conveyed by the technology of decades past.
The Ar games, on the other hand, use modern smartphones to convey a Pov atmosphere no worse than the student filmmakers of The Blair Witch Project could do with professional and amateur cameras.
And yet, no movie makes you feel for the characters like a found-footage movie. And when you add to the formula a skillful and clever approach to production and cinematography, as well as no less intriguing elements of supernatural and folk horror to the story, the result can be one of the scariest and most uncomfortable movies you've ever seen.
That's exactly what The Borderlands, released 11 years ago, turned out to be,...
The Ar games, on the other hand, use modern smartphones to convey a Pov atmosphere no worse than the student filmmakers of The Blair Witch Project could do with professional and amateur cameras.
And yet, no movie makes you feel for the characters like a found-footage movie. And when you add to the formula a skillful and clever approach to production and cinematography, as well as no less intriguing elements of supernatural and folk horror to the story, the result can be one of the scariest and most uncomfortable movies you've ever seen.
That's exactly what The Borderlands, released 11 years ago, turned out to be,...
- 4/30/2024
- by louise.everitt@startefacts.com (Louise Everitt)
- STartefacts.com
The inevitability of death has always raised questions about the meaning and purpose of human existence. While some believe that death renders all our efforts and achievements futile, others find peace in the belief in an afterlife. Finding hope in the fact that there might be consciousness after death, creationists usually believe that the subjective values and principles we stand for in this life carry significance beyond the grave. The fragility of these same values, especially when confronted with the realization of an impending death, is a central theme explored in the Netflix series Goodbye Earth. As the world comes face-to-face with the threat of an asteroid collision, it falls into a state of utter chaos, which makes you wonder if the people really have the right to let an entire population perish just to protect one’s own resources.
Spoilers Ahead
What’s the plot about?
This Netflix series...
Spoilers Ahead
What’s the plot about?
This Netflix series...
- 4/28/2024
- by Shrey Ashley Philip
- Film Fugitives
The life of a Catholic priest demands significant sacrifices. After undergoing at least six years of rigorous training at the seminary, they relinquish their past lives to serve the people of their parish and those in need selflessly. However, in the dystopian world portrayed in Goodbye Earth, where an asteroid is set to crash into the Korean peninsula, the reality is far from ideal. As the impending catastrophe looms, anarchy has taken root in the Korean city of Woongcheon. Amidst the chaos, the government authorities and the wealthy have abandoned the country, leaving the citizens to fend for themselves. In this desperate situation, some men have stooped to the deplorable act of trafficking children, while others have formed cults, capitalizing on the hopelessness of the desperate people.
In this depressing world emerges the figure of Father Baek, a man who has seemingly abandoned his principles and life’s work for...
In this depressing world emerges the figure of Father Baek, a man who has seemingly abandoned his principles and life’s work for...
- 4/28/2024
- by Shrey Ashley Philip
- Film Fugitives
Even in this age of instant YouTube gratification, movie trailers are a big deal. They get us hyped for an upcoming project by making promises that the eventual film will (hopefully) pay off. The best sizzle reels are even able to do this by giving a taste of things to come without ruining any surprises or plot twists. Think about the teaser for Alien with its cracking egg and unnerving siren sound, or the deft use of a choral version of Radiohead’s “Creep” in the classic promo for The Social Network. Both of those examples speak to the haunting nature of their movies while allowing space for the film to stand on its own down the road.
But some trailers do their job too well. Some trailers outdo the movies they advertise, sometimes because the film has a concept too shallow to sustain more than three minutes, and sometimes...
But some trailers do their job too well. Some trailers outdo the movies they advertise, sometimes because the film has a concept too shallow to sustain more than three minutes, and sometimes...
- 4/27/2024
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
Before unleashing a cruel fate upon its characters — one of the worst in recent horror memory — The Borderlands leads the audience down a different path, insensibly alluding to what all lies ahead. The plot breadcrumbs of Elliot Goldner’s 2013 film are only more discernible after the fact. Until that momentous reveal, this plays out as a standard story of believers and nonbelievers investigating the religious unknown and finding more than they ever thought possible. What these unfortunate souls unearth is deeply disturbing.
Renamed Final Prayer in some parts, this British film has grown steadily in renown despite its small beginnings. Recently, Guillermo del Toro put The Borderlands on more radars; the popular filmmaker deemed it an “unknown gem.” Even before obtaining such a great endorsement, Goldner’s first feature (his only one to date) was applauded for its approach to first-person and folk-horror storytelling. More high praise: The Borderlands has...
Renamed Final Prayer in some parts, this British film has grown steadily in renown despite its small beginnings. Recently, Guillermo del Toro put The Borderlands on more radars; the popular filmmaker deemed it an “unknown gem.” Even before obtaining such a great endorsement, Goldner’s first feature (his only one to date) was applauded for its approach to first-person and folk-horror storytelling. More high praise: The Borderlands has...
- 4/26/2024
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
Russell CrowePhoto: Vertical
He’s been a Gladiator. He’s been a Nice Guy. He’s been a Pope’s Exorcist. Now get ready to see Russell Crowe as you’ve never seen him before. In The Exorcism, Russell Crowe plays an actor playing an exorcist. Well, at least that...
He’s been a Gladiator. He’s been a Nice Guy. He’s been a Pope’s Exorcist. Now get ready to see Russell Crowe as you’ve never seen him before. In The Exorcism, Russell Crowe plays an actor playing an exorcist. Well, at least that...
- 4/25/2024
- by Matt Schimkowitz
- avclub.com
[Warning: The following contains Major spoilers for Shōgun Episode 10, “A Dream of a Dream.”] Anna Sawai‘s Mariko was the savior of Shōgun in more ways than one. In the pivotal, riveting, and ultimately heartbreaking Shōgun Episode 9, “Crimson Sky,” her actions in Osaka ended up becoming the climactic confrontation of the entire limited series. Mariko was lost in the final moments of “Crimson Sky,” but the Shōgun Episode 10 finale, “A Dream of a Dream,” revealed that Mariko took secret efforts to save her lover, Cosmo Jarvis‘ John Blackthorne. Blackthorne was apprehended by the Portuguese Christians, led by Father Martin Alvito (Tommy Bastow), in Osaka after the ambush that killed Mariko. Separated from Yabushige (Tadanobu Asano), Blackthorne was defenseless as Alvito and a band of soldiers walked him through the woods beyond Osaka castle. Blackthorne had just awoken from a days-long sleep triggered by the blast that killed Mariko; he missed her burial because of it. The ...
- 4/25/2024
- TV Insider
The trailer for the latest take on the demon extraction genre dropped on Thursday with a first look at The Exorcism, which stars Oscar winner Russell Crowe as an actor who begins to unravel while filming a supernatural horror film.
The Exorcism, from director Joshua John Miller, will see an exclusive theatrical release beginning on June 21.
In this go-around in the genre that has captivated audiences since 1973’s The Exorcist, Crowe is joined by Ryan Simpkins as his character’s estranged daughter, who begins to suspect her father’s troubles are more sinister than a relapse into former addiction issues.
Per the logline, Crowe stars as Anthony Miller, a “troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film.”
The cast is rounded out with several notable supporting actors, including Sam Worthington (Avatar: The Way of Water), Chloe Bailey (Praise This), Adam Goldberg (The Equalizer) and David Hyde Pierce...
The Exorcism, from director Joshua John Miller, will see an exclusive theatrical release beginning on June 21.
In this go-around in the genre that has captivated audiences since 1973’s The Exorcist, Crowe is joined by Ryan Simpkins as his character’s estranged daughter, who begins to suspect her father’s troubles are more sinister than a relapse into former addiction issues.
Per the logline, Crowe stars as Anthony Miller, a “troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film.”
The cast is rounded out with several notable supporting actors, including Sam Worthington (Avatar: The Way of Water), Chloe Bailey (Praise This), Adam Goldberg (The Equalizer) and David Hyde Pierce...
- 4/25/2024
- by Kevin Dolak
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
"Can he be saved?" Vertical has revealed the official trailer for a horror thriller film titled The Exorcism, starring Russell Crowe - though it's not related to his other exorcism film The Pope's Exorcist from last year. This was originally titled The Georgetown Project, but they gave it this new title that will confuse people into thinking it's related to the classic The Exorcist. Though it sort of is. This film is made by Joshua John Miller, son of actor Jason Miller, who played the doomed Father Karras in the original Exorcist film. It's inspired by his experiences growing up knowing his dad played that role. A troubled actor begins to unravel while shooting a horror film. His estranged daughter wonders if he's slipping back into his past addictions or if there's something more sinister at play. Also starring Ryan Simpkins, Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg, Samantha Mathis, & David Hyde Pierce.
- 4/25/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Yesterday, the folks at Vertical let us know they’d be dropping a trailer for the horror film The Exorcism (formerly known as The Georgetown Project), which stars Russell Crowe and is set to receive a North American theatrical release on June 7th, online today. Sure enough, a trailer for The Exorcism has just arrived online, and you can check it out in the embed above!
Crowe recently played real-life exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth in the supernatural horror film The Pope’s Exorcist, which could turn out to be a franchise starter. He actually worked on this movie before making The Pope’s Exorcist – in fact, The Exorcism was first announced four and a half years ago. So it’s good to see that it’s finally making its way out into the world.
Coming our way from Miramax, producer Kevin Williamson, and Outerbanks Entertainment, The Exorcism sees Crowe taking on the role of Anthony Miller,...
Crowe recently played real-life exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth in the supernatural horror film The Pope’s Exorcist, which could turn out to be a franchise starter. He actually worked on this movie before making The Pope’s Exorcist – in fact, The Exorcism was first announced four and a half years ago. So it’s good to see that it’s finally making its way out into the world.
Coming our way from Miramax, producer Kevin Williamson, and Outerbanks Entertainment, The Exorcism sees Crowe taking on the role of Anthony Miller,...
- 4/25/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
An electrician, a priest, and the President.
No, that's not the start of a joke. It's just three out of the five characters already played by Devon Sawa on Chucky.
Anyone even slightly familiar with the franchise is already aware of Chucky's constant and imminent return with each installment.
However, the almost meta resurrection of Devon Sawa with each season was an unexpected surprise.
If you've been along for the insane killer doll ride for all three seasons, then you know by now that no adult character, whether main, recurring, or extra, is ever safe in the Chucky universe.
And much like Kenny McCormick from South Park, no adult character is more expected to die than those played by Sawa.
The show stands out with its over-the-top and campy kills in a franchise that centers around a possessed doll with a lust for bloody macabre.
Chucky Season 3 treated viewers...
No, that's not the start of a joke. It's just three out of the five characters already played by Devon Sawa on Chucky.
Anyone even slightly familiar with the franchise is already aware of Chucky's constant and imminent return with each installment.
However, the almost meta resurrection of Devon Sawa with each season was an unexpected surprise.
If you've been along for the insane killer doll ride for all three seasons, then you know by now that no adult character, whether main, recurring, or extra, is ever safe in the Chucky universe.
And much like Kenny McCormick from South Park, no adult character is more expected to die than those played by Sawa.
The show stands out with its over-the-top and campy kills in a franchise that centers around a possessed doll with a lust for bloody macabre.
Chucky Season 3 treated viewers...
- 4/24/2024
- by Joshua Pleming
- TVfanatic
This article contains spoilers for Shogun episode 10.
The characters of FX’s Shōgun know all about endings. After John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) experiences the first of many Japanese earthquakes in the miniseries’ fourth episode, his translator/lover Mariko (Anna Sawai) explains how her people have come to adapt to the environmental instability.
“It is why our houses are built to go up as quickly as they come down,” she says. “Because death is in our air. And sea and earth. It can come for us at any moment. Before you meddle with our politics, just remember … we live and we die. We control nothing beyond that.”
While Mariko-sama is right that a person can control nothing beyond living and dying, it turns out that one individual living or dying is enough to change everything. Mariko helped establish the future with her sacrifice in Shōgun‘s penultimate episode. Now it’s...
The characters of FX’s Shōgun know all about endings. After John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis) experiences the first of many Japanese earthquakes in the miniseries’ fourth episode, his translator/lover Mariko (Anna Sawai) explains how her people have come to adapt to the environmental instability.
“It is why our houses are built to go up as quickly as they come down,” she says. “Because death is in our air. And sea and earth. It can come for us at any moment. Before you meddle with our politics, just remember … we live and we die. We control nothing beyond that.”
While Mariko-sama is right that a person can control nothing beyond living and dying, it turns out that one individual living or dying is enough to change everything. Mariko helped establish the future with her sacrifice in Shōgun‘s penultimate episode. Now it’s...
- 4/24/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Manhunt and Outlast are probably some of the first names that come to your mind when asked about the most disturbing games you’ve encountered. And if you think you’ve seen it all when it comes to horror games, think again.
If you’re looking for some titles that’ll not only give you a scare but truly shake your very foundation with their disturbing content, these five titles will haunt your dreams long after you’ve put down the controller. Some of these games contain potentially triggering content, so proceed with caution.
5 Disturbing Games Other Than Manhunt That’ll Give You a Unique Scare
Move aside Manhunt, there’s some new kids on the block
5. Faith: The Unholy Trinity
Uncover the eerie mystery of a small rural town using the power of faith.
Developed by Airdorf Games, this indie title combines visuals from classic 8-bit horror games with...
If you’re looking for some titles that’ll not only give you a scare but truly shake your very foundation with their disturbing content, these five titles will haunt your dreams long after you’ve put down the controller. Some of these games contain potentially triggering content, so proceed with caution.
5 Disturbing Games Other Than Manhunt That’ll Give You a Unique Scare
Move aside Manhunt, there’s some new kids on the block
5. Faith: The Unholy Trinity
Uncover the eerie mystery of a small rural town using the power of faith.
Developed by Airdorf Games, this indie title combines visuals from classic 8-bit horror games with...
- 4/24/2024
- by Vibha Hegde
- FandomWire
Al Pacino has played the Devil before (in the 1997 film The Devil’s Advocate), now he’s set to play an enemy of the Devil, as he has signed on to play a troubled priest in the exorcism horror film The Ritual. Pacino will star in the film alongside Dan Stevens of Abigail and Godzilla x Kong, who will also be playing a troubled priest.
Variety reports that XYZ Films has acquired the worldwide rights to The Ritual and are planning to give the movie a theatrical release sometime in 2025. They’ll be setting up international distribution deals at the upcoming Cannes Film Market. David Midell will be directing the film from a screenplay he wrote with Enrico Natale. He previously directed the 2014 drama NightLights and the 2019 thriller The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain.
Based on a true story, The Ritual will center on two priests — one questioning his faith (Stevens) and...
Variety reports that XYZ Films has acquired the worldwide rights to The Ritual and are planning to give the movie a theatrical release sometime in 2025. They’ll be setting up international distribution deals at the upcoming Cannes Film Market. David Midell will be directing the film from a screenplay he wrote with Enrico Natale. He previously directed the 2014 drama NightLights and the 2019 thriller The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain.
Based on a true story, The Ritual will center on two priests — one questioning his faith (Stevens) and...
- 4/23/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Immaculate is a movie starring Sydney Sweeney with Álvaro Morte and Simona Tabasco. It is directed by Michael Mohan.
“Immaculate” emerges as a commendable horror flick, blending all the timeless elements against a backdrop that almost never fails to chill its audience: a convent. Set in Italy around the mid-20th century, it provides an atmospheric setting that adds depth to the narrative.
While the plot may tread familiar ground and might not offer many surprises, both lead actress Sydney Sweeney and director Michael Mohan go to great lengths to ensure the film crosses the finish line as both entertaining and, at intervals, genuinely frightening.
Plot Overview
The story introduces us to a novice nun arriving at a new convent. Welcomed by a seemingly kind-hearted priest, she soon plunges into a world of nightmarish visions and sinister thoughts. To her shock, she discovers she’s pregnant, despite vehemently claiming no relations with any man.
“Immaculate” emerges as a commendable horror flick, blending all the timeless elements against a backdrop that almost never fails to chill its audience: a convent. Set in Italy around the mid-20th century, it provides an atmospheric setting that adds depth to the narrative.
While the plot may tread familiar ground and might not offer many surprises, both lead actress Sydney Sweeney and director Michael Mohan go to great lengths to ensure the film crosses the finish line as both entertaining and, at intervals, genuinely frightening.
Plot Overview
The story introduces us to a novice nun arriving at a new convent. Welcomed by a seemingly kind-hearted priest, she soon plunges into a world of nightmarish visions and sinister thoughts. To her shock, she discovers she’s pregnant, despite vehemently claiming no relations with any man.
- 4/22/2024
- by Veronica Loop
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
Having won a number of awards in festivals like the Filmapalooza and Chelsea, “Requiem for a Martyr” is a very interesting effort by its two directors to give an epic hypostasis to a 9-minute short.
Requiem for a Martyr review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
The story takes place in Ming Dynasty China and begins with two Jesuit priests, Father Paul and Father Thomas, with the former carrying the latter, who is injured, in an obvious effort to escape from someone. They soon reach an establishment where the owners of the house seem to have contradicting opinions about what they should do with them. At the same time, their daughters seem to have an agreement with the duo, to escape after the two priests manage to steal something that belonged to the faith. In the end, Father Paul, a former Crusader, decides to stay back in order...
Requiem for a Martyr review is part of the Submit Your Film Initiative
The story takes place in Ming Dynasty China and begins with two Jesuit priests, Father Paul and Father Thomas, with the former carrying the latter, who is injured, in an obvious effort to escape from someone. They soon reach an establishment where the owners of the house seem to have contradicting opinions about what they should do with them. At the same time, their daughters seem to have an agreement with the duo, to escape after the two priests manage to steal something that belonged to the faith. In the end, Father Paul, a former Crusader, decides to stay back in order...
- 4/22/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
(Welcome to Tales from the Box Office, our column that examines box office miracles, disasters, and everything in between, as well as what we can learn from them.)
"You can't count it!" That's what producer Peter Safran said to Entertainment Weekly in 2023 about "The Curse of La Llorona" being part of The Conjuring Universe. Safran, who has helped to spearhead the very successful horror franchise alongside James Wan since 2013, did not leave any room for interpretation there. Yet, director Michael Chaves' successful 2019 feature directorial debut contains characters from "Conjuring" films, as well as overt references to events in those stories. Be that as it may, this movie now exists as both an unquestionable hit and a film that narratively exists in The Conjuring Universe but, for technical reasons, actually doesn't.
In the era of cinematic universes, it's an almost unprecedented situation. Why provide connective tissue if the plan isn't to connect these dots?...
"You can't count it!" That's what producer Peter Safran said to Entertainment Weekly in 2023 about "The Curse of La Llorona" being part of The Conjuring Universe. Safran, who has helped to spearhead the very successful horror franchise alongside James Wan since 2013, did not leave any room for interpretation there. Yet, director Michael Chaves' successful 2019 feature directorial debut contains characters from "Conjuring" films, as well as overt references to events in those stories. Be that as it may, this movie now exists as both an unquestionable hit and a film that narratively exists in The Conjuring Universe but, for technical reasons, actually doesn't.
In the era of cinematic universes, it's an almost unprecedented situation. Why provide connective tissue if the plan isn't to connect these dots?...
- 4/20/2024
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Prime Video’s Fallout has been receiving largely positive reviews, along with critical praise for the performances in the series. Aaron Morten is one such face that the audience familiarized through the series. The actor plays the role of Maximus, an ally to Ella Purnell’s Lucy, in the series. Fans believe that Aaron Morten closely resembles disgraced actor Jonathan Majors and that he could replace Majors as the MCU’s Kang.
Aaron Morten in Prime Video’s Fallout
Disney fired Kang actor Majors following his guilty conviction on misdemeanor assault and harassment charges filed by his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. Marvel is looking to recast the role, with Colman Domingo and Jon Boyega being some of the names thrown around for the role.
Marvel Fans Have Found Their Kang Replacement In Fallout Star Aaron Morten
Fallout star Aaron Morten is fans’ new pick to replace Jonathan Majors’ Kang
Fallout is...
Aaron Morten in Prime Video’s Fallout
Disney fired Kang actor Majors following his guilty conviction on misdemeanor assault and harassment charges filed by his ex-girlfriend, Grace Jabbari. Marvel is looking to recast the role, with Colman Domingo and Jon Boyega being some of the names thrown around for the role.
Marvel Fans Have Found Their Kang Replacement In Fallout Star Aaron Morten
Fallout star Aaron Morten is fans’ new pick to replace Jonathan Majors’ Kang
Fallout is...
- 4/19/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth mythology includes several epic and powerful love stories. Aragorn and Arwen are probably the best known thanks to the Lord of the Rings films, plus Sam and Rosie get married at the end, and the extended editions also feature Éowyn and Faramir’s relationship, though that one was a bit rushed even in the books. But book fans also know the stories of Tuor and Idril, Elwing and Eärendil, and the rather more tragic story of Aegnor and Andreth, among others.
The love story that meant the most to Tolkien himself, though, was the story of Beren and Lúthien, which was directly inspired by the writer’s own life.
The story of Beren and Lúthien is one of very few stories about the First and Second Ages of Middle-earth told, in a brief and summarized form, in The Lord of the Rings itself. Fuller versions can...
The love story that meant the most to Tolkien himself, though, was the story of Beren and Lúthien, which was directly inspired by the writer’s own life.
The story of Beren and Lúthien is one of very few stories about the First and Second Ages of Middle-earth told, in a brief and summarized form, in The Lord of the Rings itself. Fuller versions can...
- 4/16/2024
- by John Saavedra
- Den of Geek
Last week, we saw the release of The First Omen, which was universally praised. I agree with Chris Bumbray’s review where he said it was “quite provocative, with several images, including a gruesome birthing scene, pushing the limits of the R-rating in a way I didn’t expect from a movie bankrolled by Disney.” And what I was personally most impressed with is how much it creates its own identity. Because if there’s one thing horror franchises have had an issue with, it’s carving its own path.
I still remember when the first trailer came out, and I was shocked to see the response. I felt the teaser was really cool and a unique way to present a film, as each shot was presented in reverse. So, I didn’t understand the hate that was thrown at it. But thinking about it more, I realized it really...
I still remember when the first trailer came out, and I was shocked to see the response. I felt the teaser was really cool and a unique way to present a film, as each shot was presented in reverse. So, I didn’t understand the hate that was thrown at it. But thinking about it more, I realized it really...
- 4/13/2024
- by Tyler Nichols
- JoBlo.com
From writer Niall O’Rourke and artist Rob Moran, The Crying Boy is a horror comic book series about grief, a family struggling to keep it together, and an encounter with a demon that feeds on the souls of children. With the first issue released in February, and the second issue now available, we have a preview from issue #1 that you can read right now!
"Nadia and her son Samir have moved to Queens, New York to restart their lives after the violent death of her husband. They discover an old painting of a sad innocent looking boy hanging in their new apartment. Nadia is reluctant to keep the maudlin canvas but relents when her son seems to bond with it. The grief torn family have no idea that within the canvas hides a demon from Hell surviving for millennia by feeding on the souls of children. Thrown into the world...
"Nadia and her son Samir have moved to Queens, New York to restart their lives after the violent death of her husband. They discover an old painting of a sad innocent looking boy hanging in their new apartment. Nadia is reluctant to keep the maudlin canvas but relents when her son seems to bond with it. The grief torn family have no idea that within the canvas hides a demon from Hell surviving for millennia by feeding on the souls of children. Thrown into the world...
- 4/12/2024
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
From the director of acclaimed classics such as Max Payne and A Good Day to Die Hard, as well as the second-unit camera operator on Space Truckers, comes a movie made simply because its release date was badass. Join JoBlo Horror as we shout at the devil with The Omen. Welcome to our horror party, kids, where we take some horror films (good or bad) and make a fun game out of it. I’m Mike Conway, and because of the release of The First Omen, we are looking into the eyes of evil with The Omen released in 2006 (watch it Here).
The Omen follows diplomat Robert Thorn and his wife Katherine. After Katherine unknowingly gives birth to a stillborn child, Robert is approached by a priest to take a newborn from a mother who had just died. As the years go by, grisly and mysterious deaths begin to surround their child,...
The Omen follows diplomat Robert Thorn and his wife Katherine. After Katherine unknowingly gives birth to a stillborn child, Robert is approached by a priest to take a newborn from a mother who had just died. As the years go by, grisly and mysterious deaths begin to surround their child,...
- 4/8/2024
- by Michael Conway
- JoBlo.com
Faith as an institution has historically been founded upon the goodwill of bringing people together, but in the wrong hands, like every other medium, it can be wielded as a terrible weapon to doom humankind. Arkasha Stevenson’s The First Omen, a prequel to the original The Omen (1976), focuses on the malevolent potential of faith when it is controlled by peddlers of religion. As the movie acts as a period piece to showcase a transition in contemporary Western generational consciousness, the horror aspects of the narrative get an anchor to establish themselves in a meaningful way.
David Seltzer’s horror classic The Omen gained much success through the sensational choice of portraying a child as the central evil entity and also by delineating the dispensationalist belief system, which had started making an impact on the cultural zeitgeist of the Western world during the 1970s. The first movie’s success was...
David Seltzer’s horror classic The Omen gained much success through the sensational choice of portraying a child as the central evil entity and also by delineating the dispensationalist belief system, which had started making an impact on the cultural zeitgeist of the Western world during the 1970s. The first movie’s success was...
- 4/6/2024
- by Siddhartha Das
- Film Fugitives
[Editor’s note: The following article contains spoilers for “The First Omen.”]
In the IP-mad world of Hollywood, we’ve got remakes and sequels, re-quels and “legacy prequels,” entire cinematic timelines up-ended and rearranged, whole franchises twisted to and fro, so isn’t it refreshing to see something like Arkasha Stevenson’s “The First Omen”? It’s the rare contemporary horror prequel that wears its devotion to the original series on its sleeve, while also cleverly reorienting previous events to chart a potential new storyline.
The basis of Stevenson’s film, which she co-wrote with producers Tim Smith and Keith Thomas, takes a classic subplot from Richard Donner’s 1976 chiller — that not only is young Damien the Antichrist, but that he was the product of a planned spawning between the Devil and a female jackal — and makes it a touch more believable. In “The First Omen,” Damien’s mom isn’t actually a jackal, but young would-be nun Margaret...
In the IP-mad world of Hollywood, we’ve got remakes and sequels, re-quels and “legacy prequels,” entire cinematic timelines up-ended and rearranged, whole franchises twisted to and fro, so isn’t it refreshing to see something like Arkasha Stevenson’s “The First Omen”? It’s the rare contemporary horror prequel that wears its devotion to the original series on its sleeve, while also cleverly reorienting previous events to chart a potential new storyline.
The basis of Stevenson’s film, which she co-wrote with producers Tim Smith and Keith Thomas, takes a classic subplot from Richard Donner’s 1976 chiller — that not only is young Damien the Antichrist, but that he was the product of a planned spawning between the Devil and a female jackal — and makes it a touch more believable. In “The First Omen,” Damien’s mom isn’t actually a jackal, but young would-be nun Margaret...
- 4/5/2024
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Stars: Nell Tiger Free, Ralph Ineson, Sônia Braga, Tawfeek Barhom, Maria Caballero, Charles Dance, Billy Nighy, Nicole Sorace | Written by Tim Smith, Arkasha Stevenson, Keith Thomas | Directed by Arkasha Stevenson
Typical. You wait years for a movie about a teenage American nun who becomes mysteriously pregnant when she travels to an Italian nunnery and then two come along at once. Consequently, The First Omen – a prequel to the 1976 horror classic – has had its thunder stolen somewhat by Michael Mohan’s excellent Sydney Sweeney-starring nunsploitation picture Immaculate (which is still in cinemas), but still delivers its fair share of tense atmospherics, jump scares and impressive body horror.
The film begins in 1971, with virginal young American novice Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) travelling to Rome, where she’s met by kindly Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy), before beginning her apprenticeship at the Vizzardeli Orphanage, where she will eventually take her vows. Soon, Margaret’s...
Typical. You wait years for a movie about a teenage American nun who becomes mysteriously pregnant when she travels to an Italian nunnery and then two come along at once. Consequently, The First Omen – a prequel to the 1976 horror classic – has had its thunder stolen somewhat by Michael Mohan’s excellent Sydney Sweeney-starring nunsploitation picture Immaculate (which is still in cinemas), but still delivers its fair share of tense atmospherics, jump scares and impressive body horror.
The film begins in 1971, with virginal young American novice Margaret (Nell Tiger Free) travelling to Rome, where she’s met by kindly Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy), before beginning her apprenticeship at the Vizzardeli Orphanage, where she will eventually take her vows. Soon, Margaret’s...
- 4/5/2024
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
This article contains spoilers for "The Omen" and "The First Omen."
In Richard Donner's terrifying 1976 horror film "The Omen," American diplomat and presidential hopeful Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) rushes to a hospital in Rome, Italy as his wife Kathy (Lee Remick) has just given birth to their first child. Tragically, Robert is told that the child has died, but Kathy is unaware of the baby's passing. Once he arrives, he is greeted by hospital chaplain Father Spiletto (Martin Benson) who offers him a chance to spare his wife the unfathomable pain. He tells Robert that at the same time Kathy lost their child, a woman in a neighboring hospital room died during childbirth, leaving her baby without a mother. He persuades Robert to accept this baby boy and pass it on as their own biological baby, believing that what Kathy doesn't know won't hurt her.
A nun passes the...
In Richard Donner's terrifying 1976 horror film "The Omen," American diplomat and presidential hopeful Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) rushes to a hospital in Rome, Italy as his wife Kathy (Lee Remick) has just given birth to their first child. Tragically, Robert is told that the child has died, but Kathy is unaware of the baby's passing. Once he arrives, he is greeted by hospital chaplain Father Spiletto (Martin Benson) who offers him a chance to spare his wife the unfathomable pain. He tells Robert that at the same time Kathy lost their child, a woman in a neighboring hospital room died during childbirth, leaving her baby without a mother. He persuades Robert to accept this baby boy and pass it on as their own biological baby, believing that what Kathy doesn't know won't hurt her.
A nun passes the...
- 4/5/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Euro Gang Entertainment, the company launched last year by Hollywood veterans Gianni Nunnari and Simon Horsman (“Legacy: The True Story of the L.A. Lakers”) is ramping up operations in Italy through a partnership with Rome-based Alfred Film, the young shingle co-founded by experienced producers Roberto Amoroso and Maria Theresia Braun.
The Euro Gang deal with Alfred currently comprises three feature films and an English-language TV series that will shoot in Italy and elsewhere, according to a statement.
Founded in 2020, Alfred Film – which is named in homage to Alfred Hitchcock – is focused on commercially-driven quality projects such as their mainstream comedy “Tre di Troppo,” directed by and starring Italian comedy draw Fabio De Luigi, which grossed €4.7 million ($5 million) at the local box office and is the third highest-grossing Italian film of 2023.
Amoroso is a former creative director at Sky Italia, where during a long stint at the pay-tv platform he was...
The Euro Gang deal with Alfred currently comprises three feature films and an English-language TV series that will shoot in Italy and elsewhere, according to a statement.
Founded in 2020, Alfred Film – which is named in homage to Alfred Hitchcock – is focused on commercially-driven quality projects such as their mainstream comedy “Tre di Troppo,” directed by and starring Italian comedy draw Fabio De Luigi, which grossed €4.7 million ($5 million) at the local box office and is the third highest-grossing Italian film of 2023.
Amoroso is a former creative director at Sky Italia, where during a long stint at the pay-tv platform he was...
- 4/5/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
This article contains major spoilers for "The First Omen."Hello folks! Welcome back to Nunsploitation 2024: Battle of the Babies.
When last we left the saga of Damien Thorn, it was 1981, and Damien was played by the devilishly handsome Sam Neill in "The Final Conflict." In that film, the Antichrist nearly fulfilled his evil purpose in halting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, but was foiled by his one-time lover, journalist Kate Reynolds (Lisa Harrow), who through the grace of God and her own strength was able to fatally stab Damien with the magical dagger of Megiddo, the weapon that poor Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) failed to use against his adopted son Damien (Harvey Spencer Stephens) when he was a child in 1976.
If a 33-year-old Damien in 1981 seems implausible given that the first film sees Damien as merely five years of age and the 1978 sequel, "Damien: Omen II" follows the...
When last we left the saga of Damien Thorn, it was 1981, and Damien was played by the devilishly handsome Sam Neill in "The Final Conflict." In that film, the Antichrist nearly fulfilled his evil purpose in halting the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, but was foiled by his one-time lover, journalist Kate Reynolds (Lisa Harrow), who through the grace of God and her own strength was able to fatally stab Damien with the magical dagger of Megiddo, the weapon that poor Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) failed to use against his adopted son Damien (Harvey Spencer Stephens) when he was a child in 1976.
If a 33-year-old Damien in 1981 seems implausible given that the first film sees Damien as merely five years of age and the 1978 sequel, "Damien: Omen II" follows the...
- 4/4/2024
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
Spoiler Alert: This article discusses plot points from “The First Omen.”
Director Arkasha Stevenson grew up as a fan of “The Omen” franchise, but any anxiety she felt about helming a prequel to the 1976 original was funneled into the potential of shifting the series’ perspective.
“It’s a pretty masculine franchise,” she says. “Exploring it through the point of view of a woman was exciting. It felt like it validated its place because it already had something new to say.”
The result is “The First Omen,” the sixth film in the franchise, which was last seen in a 2006 reboot. This feature, Stevenson’s first after directing episodes of television series like “Channel Zero” and “Brand New Cherry Flavor,” puts the events in motion to start the sprawling tale of Damien, a little boy who is the Antichrist. This kickoff chapter follows a young American woman named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free...
Director Arkasha Stevenson grew up as a fan of “The Omen” franchise, but any anxiety she felt about helming a prequel to the 1976 original was funneled into the potential of shifting the series’ perspective.
“It’s a pretty masculine franchise,” she says. “Exploring it through the point of view of a woman was exciting. It felt like it validated its place because it already had something new to say.”
The result is “The First Omen,” the sixth film in the franchise, which was last seen in a 2006 reboot. This feature, Stevenson’s first after directing episodes of television series like “Channel Zero” and “Brand New Cherry Flavor,” puts the events in motion to start the sprawling tale of Damien, a little boy who is the Antichrist. This kickoff chapter follows a young American woman named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free...
- 4/4/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
In the late 1890s, they were just introducing the electric chair for capital punishment, and Stephen Hall decided to make an awful movie about it. The Gates is a weak attempt at making a horror; at times it comes off as a parody of the genre. A serial killer who’s trying to resurrect his wife with necromancy haunts the prison where he was killed at.
Spoilers Ahead
What Happens In The Movie?
William Colcott slices the throat of his 28th victim when cops knock on his door. He’s trying to offer up women as sacrifices so his wife would come back to life. William kills a policeman before getting arrested, but his contact with the dark entities continues in his prison cell. The Bishopsgate prison is chosen to test the new electric chair, and who’d make a better candidate than William? William struggles to survive, but a...
Spoilers Ahead
What Happens In The Movie?
William Colcott slices the throat of his 28th victim when cops knock on his door. He’s trying to offer up women as sacrifices so his wife would come back to life. William kills a policeman before getting arrested, but his contact with the dark entities continues in his prison cell. The Bishopsgate prison is chosen to test the new electric chair, and who’d make a better candidate than William? William struggles to survive, but a...
- 4/4/2024
- by Aniket Mukherjee
- Film Fugitives
Nell Tiger Free as Margaret and Nicole Sorace as Carlita in ‘The First Omen’ (Photo © 2024 20th Century Studios)
Over the almost fifty years of its existence, The Omen franchise has been a rollercoaster. The original The Omen was terrifying. The sequel, Damien: Omen II ventured a bit into Final Destination territory, but still had its chills and thrills. Omen III: The Final Conflict went truly crazy yet still remained a horror film, while the television movie Omen IV: The Awakening bordered on the absurd with its unintentional hilarity. And then, in 2006, The Omen received the 21st century’s badge of horror honor/shame – the pointless shot-for-shot remake.
Now, the series is attempting a bounce-back with The First Omen.
Just as its title suggests, The First Omen takes place before the events of The Omen. Set in 1971, the story revolves around a young American nun-to-be named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free from...
Over the almost fifty years of its existence, The Omen franchise has been a rollercoaster. The original The Omen was terrifying. The sequel, Damien: Omen II ventured a bit into Final Destination territory, but still had its chills and thrills. Omen III: The Final Conflict went truly crazy yet still remained a horror film, while the television movie Omen IV: The Awakening bordered on the absurd with its unintentional hilarity. And then, in 2006, The Omen received the 21st century’s badge of horror honor/shame – the pointless shot-for-shot remake.
Now, the series is attempting a bounce-back with The First Omen.
Just as its title suggests, The First Omen takes place before the events of The Omen. Set in 1971, the story revolves around a young American nun-to-be named Margaret (Nell Tiger Free from...
- 4/4/2024
- by James Jay Edwards
- Showbiz Junkies
Richard Donner’s The Omen begins June 6, at 6 am in Rome, with the birth of the Antichrist and his adoption into an affluent American family. Damien Thorn’s birth and subsequent reign of terror, preordained by franchise canon, make approaching a prequel to a heralded horror classic a daunting task. Director Arkasha Stevenson makes it look effortless with The First Omen, a masterclass in form matched by its compelling horror and characters.
The First Omen, set in 1971, follows American novitiate Margaret Daino (“Servant” star Nell Tiger Free) as she’s sent to Rome to work in an orphanage before she takes the veil. As Margaret adapts to not just her new vocation but an entirely new country and a city in the throes of unrest, she finds herself drawn to socially withdrawn orphan Carlita (Nicole Sorace). It’s through her bond with and concern for Carlita that Margaret notices something amiss within the convent.
The First Omen, set in 1971, follows American novitiate Margaret Daino (“Servant” star Nell Tiger Free) as she’s sent to Rome to work in an orphanage before she takes the veil. As Margaret adapts to not just her new vocation but an entirely new country and a city in the throes of unrest, she finds herself drawn to socially withdrawn orphan Carlita (Nicole Sorace). It’s through her bond with and concern for Carlita that Margaret notices something amiss within the convent.
- 4/4/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Nell Tiger Free is a terrified nun who discovers a dark secret at the heart of the Catholic church. Here’s our The First Omen review.
After what felt like an eternity of no decent or exciting horror films, we’re incredibly lucky to have three land in our laps within a few weeks. We’ve already been impressed by Sydney Sweeney’s powerhouse performance in Immaculate and terrified silly by David Dastmalchian’s talk show horror with a satanic spin in Late Night With The Devil, but I doubt any of us expecting The First Omen, a prequel to Richard Donner’s 1976 film The Omen, to join those two as early favourites for the best horror films of 2024.
We’ve been burned many times with these prequels, reboots and sequels which heavily borrow from some of our favourite classic horror films. The Exorcist: Believer is still all too fresh in our minds…...
After what felt like an eternity of no decent or exciting horror films, we’re incredibly lucky to have three land in our laps within a few weeks. We’ve already been impressed by Sydney Sweeney’s powerhouse performance in Immaculate and terrified silly by David Dastmalchian’s talk show horror with a satanic spin in Late Night With The Devil, but I doubt any of us expecting The First Omen, a prequel to Richard Donner’s 1976 film The Omen, to join those two as early favourites for the best horror films of 2024.
We’ve been burned many times with these prequels, reboots and sequels which heavily borrow from some of our favourite classic horror films. The Exorcist: Believer is still all too fresh in our minds…...
- 4/4/2024
- by Maria Lattila
- Film Stories
“Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?” spat Hamlet. “Get thee to a nunnery!” Oh, if the Prince of Darkness … er, Denmark, only knew what evil lurks within such walls.
In the first “Omen” movie, the infant Antichrist, Damien — born at 6 a.m. on the sixth day of the sixth month — is given to an American diplomat and his wife to be raised as their own. The adoptive father is told that the boy’s mother died during childbirth, but upon closer investigation, he discovers not a human skeleton but that of a jackal. For nearly half a century, that was practically all the backstory audiences needed for “The Omen” to remain one of the most terrifying movies ever made.
Now comes “The First Omen,” the latest in a frenzy of high-profile prequels fleshing out the origins of long-running franchises. Tapping into another trend, “The Omen” also got the...
In the first “Omen” movie, the infant Antichrist, Damien — born at 6 a.m. on the sixth day of the sixth month — is given to an American diplomat and his wife to be raised as their own. The adoptive father is told that the boy’s mother died during childbirth, but upon closer investigation, he discovers not a human skeleton but that of a jackal. For nearly half a century, that was practically all the backstory audiences needed for “The Omen” to remain one of the most terrifying movies ever made.
Now comes “The First Omen,” the latest in a frenzy of high-profile prequels fleshing out the origins of long-running franchises. Tapping into another trend, “The Omen” also got the...
- 4/4/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
The Big Door Prize is coming back!
Season 2 of the acclaimed Apple TV+ series is set to arrive on April 24 on the streamer.
The 10-episode second season will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, April 24 with three episodes, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through June 12.
Based on M.O. Walsh’s novel, Season 2 follows the residents of Deerfield as the Morpho machine readies them for the mysterious “next stage.” As everyone’s potentials are exchanged for visions, new relationships form and new questions are asked. Dusty and Cass decide to take time apart while Trina and Jacob learn that they can shed their old labels. Giorgio and Izzy each find romance while Hana and Father Reuben attempt to discover the purpose of the machine. The small town is once again left questioning what they thought they knew about their lives, relationships, potentials and about the Morpho itself.
Click...
Season 2 of the acclaimed Apple TV+ series is set to arrive on April 24 on the streamer.
The 10-episode second season will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, April 24 with three episodes, followed by one new episode every Wednesday through June 12.
Based on M.O. Walsh’s novel, Season 2 follows the residents of Deerfield as the Morpho machine readies them for the mysterious “next stage.” As everyone’s potentials are exchanged for visions, new relationships form and new questions are asked. Dusty and Cass decide to take time apart while Trina and Jacob learn that they can shed their old labels. Giorgio and Izzy each find romance while Hana and Father Reuben attempt to discover the purpose of the machine. The small town is once again left questioning what they thought they knew about their lives, relationships, potentials and about the Morpho itself.
Click...
- 4/3/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
It’s been almost exactly one year since Columbia Pictures / Screen Gems brought The Pope’s Exorcist (read our review Here), a supernatural thriller starring Russell Crowe, to theatres. Just two weeks after the film was released, our friends at Bloody Disgusting heard that a sequel was in development… but everything has been quiet since then. During a recent interview with The Six O’Clock Show, Crowe confirmed that a sequel is in development – and that The Pope’s Exorcist was actually meant to be chapter one in a trilogy!
As it turns out, things have been quiet on the Pope’s Exorcist front because there was a behind-the-scenes shake-up with the studio executives, but it sounds like Crowe still has hopes that the trilogy is going to happen. He told The Six O’Clock Show (with thanks to MovieWeb for the transcription), “(A sequel) is in discussion at the moment. The...
As it turns out, things have been quiet on the Pope’s Exorcist front because there was a behind-the-scenes shake-up with the studio executives, but it sounds like Crowe still has hopes that the trilogy is going to happen. He told The Six O’Clock Show (with thanks to MovieWeb for the transcription), “(A sequel) is in discussion at the moment. The...
- 4/2/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Academy Award winner Russell Crowe plays real-life exorcist Gabriele Amorth in The Pope’s Exorcist, which made an impressive $76 million in theaters last year and shot to the top of Netflix’s streaming charts in the wake of its theatrical release. We had learned almost exactly one year ago that Screen Gems was working on a sequel, but what’s the latest on that?
In a recent chat with Virgin Media Television’s The Six O’Clock Show – brought to our attention by MovieWeb – Russell Crowe himself provided a fresh update on the future of our favorite Vespa-riding exorcist. It sounds like a trilogy had originally been planned at Screen Gems, but a change of studio heads has muddied up the works at this particular moment in time.
Crowe explained to the show when asked if he would be reprising the role of Gabriele Amorth, “That’s in discussion at the moment.
In a recent chat with Virgin Media Television’s The Six O’Clock Show – brought to our attention by MovieWeb – Russell Crowe himself provided a fresh update on the future of our favorite Vespa-riding exorcist. It sounds like a trilogy had originally been planned at Screen Gems, but a change of studio heads has muddied up the works at this particular moment in time.
Crowe explained to the show when asked if he would be reprising the role of Gabriele Amorth, “That’s in discussion at the moment.
- 4/2/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
This review contains massive episode spoilers.
Right before he blew up the bridge back in his final episode from the flagship series, a fatally-injured Rick Grimes uttered “I found them” before he was thrust into the chaos of the Civic Republic Military and stolen from his children’s lives for years. Three seasons and six jam-packed, spin-off episodes later, Rick has indeed finally found them, and the long journey of a sheriff from Atlanta faced with the end of the world has reached its conclusion.
“The Last Time” kicks off with a beautiful dynamic shot passing over a table filled with the remnants of an intensive planning session and candlelit dinner. Michonne and Rick are romantically enjoying the eve before their bold attack on the Civic Republic Military. Above all, “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” has up-held its commitment to being a romance set within the zombie apocalypse.
Right before he blew up the bridge back in his final episode from the flagship series, a fatally-injured Rick Grimes uttered “I found them” before he was thrust into the chaos of the Civic Republic Military and stolen from his children’s lives for years. Three seasons and six jam-packed, spin-off episodes later, Rick has indeed finally found them, and the long journey of a sheriff from Atlanta faced with the end of the world has reached its conclusion.
“The Last Time” kicks off with a beautiful dynamic shot passing over a table filled with the remnants of an intensive planning session and candlelit dinner. Michonne and Rick are romantically enjoying the eve before their bold attack on the Civic Republic Military. Above all, “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” has up-held its commitment to being a romance set within the zombie apocalypse.
- 4/2/2024
- by Noah Levine
- bloody-disgusting.com
It’s been inferred since last year that Martin Scorsese’s forthcoming Jesus film would take an aslant approach to the greatest story ever told. Put simply and enigmatically by the man himself: “I don’t know what it’s going to be, exactly. I don’t know what you’d call it. It wouldn’t be a straight narrative. But there would be staged scenes. And I’d be in it.”
After furthers confirmations and intimations of what the film, an adaptation of Shūsaku Endō’s A Life of Jesus, will constitute, Father Antonio Spadaro––with whom Scorsese conversed for a series of interviews that form the recently published Italian book Dialoghi sulla fede (Dialogues on Faith)––has given Variety a close view of its intentions. Per Scorsese’s hopes to remove negative onuses from religion, Spadaro said the feature seeks “to recover this original experience that he had of the fully embodied,...
After furthers confirmations and intimations of what the film, an adaptation of Shūsaku Endō’s A Life of Jesus, will constitute, Father Antonio Spadaro––with whom Scorsese conversed for a series of interviews that form the recently published Italian book Dialoghi sulla fede (Dialogues on Faith)––has given Variety a close view of its intentions. Per Scorsese’s hopes to remove negative onuses from religion, Spadaro said the feature seeks “to recover this original experience that he had of the fully embodied,...
- 3/27/2024
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.