Welcome to the FTS feature that brings you a bi-weekly helping of all things horror. If you are looking for things that go bump, bite and boo be sure to click through. Read all about the latest horror news, see new trailers, and read what other bloggers are talking about.

I’m not really a big fan of re-releasing old films in 3D but I do like the chance to see some classics on the big screen. This upcoming October some of us will get a chance to see the horror classic Halloween in theaters again! Read about the theatrical re-release of John Carpenter’s Halloween.

It’s always nice when the horror genre gets the love it deserves. This year the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is hosting month long screenings of some of Universal’s most memorable horror films. See how the Academy is celebrating Universal’s Legacy of Horror.

With so many Hitchcock related projects currently in the works, the upcoming TV series Bates Motel might be getting lost in the shuffle. Fortunately, the casting of talented actress Vera Farmiga seems to be giving the show a boost in the curiosity department. Read the casting info for the upcoming Psycho TV series Bates Motel.

THE HOLE
Directed by Joe Dante. Starring: Teri Polo, Chris Massoglia, and Nathan Gamble.
Sadly, this is a trailer that I would care less about if Joe Dante’s name wasn’t attached to it. I dig some of his work but this films seems too uneven. Maybe the trailer is holding back on some campy sensibilities that I’m sure run throughout the film, but in doing so it makes the movie look like it wants to be taken more serious than is likely its intention.

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 3D
Directed by: John Luessenhop. Starring: Alexandra Daddario, Tania Raymonde and Scott Eastwood.
I get it, I do. Chainsaws are scary. People love Leatherface. I see where studios come from when they decide to make more of these. Too bad this installment doesn’t seem fresh at all, regardless of what time period it takes place in. It’s reminiscent of the recent Friday the 13th re-whatever and I basically thought that blew chunks.

SMILEY
Directed by: Michael J. Gallagher. Starring: Caitlin Gerard, Melanie Papalia and Shane Dawson.
Holy YouTube stars Batman! Um, this doesn’t look terrible? It seems to be getting some negative feedback but I think that the villain seems creepy enough. The trailer is light in the plot department but to be honest I wouldn’t mind giving this a shot. I am I missing something? Does it actually look like shit but I’m not seeing it?

THE BAY
Directed by: Barry Levinson. Starring: Kristen Connolly, Jane McNeill and Anthony Reynolds.
Oh yay, another found footage trailer to review! Everyone’s gushing about this one like “Oh it’s Barry Levinson, yall! This shit gonna be tight!” but I’d like to remind those people that the same dude also made Envy. I do like the story here – flesh eaters are certainly creepy, but there appears to be like 10 million characters in this film. I hope it’s not just a smattering of vid clips pieced together to describe some government conspiracy thing.

MAMA
Directed by: Andres Muschietti. Starring: Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Megan Charpentier .
This trailer shaped up nicely. It does a great job selling me with the imagery as well as the performances. Chastain looks unrecognizable with her black bob hairdo and that helped to shift focus from her as an actor too her character in the film. It’s presented by Guillermo Del Toro, who continues to stay in my good graces with his push for The Orphanage despite his totally disappointing approval of Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark. I’ll be very eager to see this once the release date draws near.

Attack From Planet B has a list of some of their favorite mad scientists in film. Read the list of their Top Mad Movie Scientists @ Attack From Planet B.

Freddy In Space always comes out with some inventive post ideas. This one combindes two great things in life: Horror films and ice cream. Read the article about the history of ice cream horror films @ Freddy In Space.

Goregirl’s Dungeon just makes me wanna shout “You go, goregirl!” Recently she put together one of those badass lists she likes to do, this time putting her focus on zombie films. See the list of five great moments in the history of zombie cinema @ Goregirl’s Dungeon.

Deep Red Rum writer Erin Lashley wrote an awesome list for morehorror.com about some of horror’s biggest out there moment. If you’re searching for a list of scenes that are guaranteed to have you cursing in disbelief, then this list is for you. If that doesn’t intriguing you, I’m not sure what will. Read the list for seven great WTF moments in horror history @ More Horror

The Movie Log has been churning out a ton of horror review lately but I decided to feautre a film most of FTS watched together recently. Read Mr. Darko’s review for the new horror anthology V/H/S @ The Movie Log.

Do you have a link, short, or trailer you’d like me to discuss in this feature?
Send it over to lindsay@frenchtoastsunday.com and I’ll be sure to get to it!

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Lindsay is the site's founder and main contributor. She is also the individual on the FTS Podcast that speaks with an odd sentence structure, can't properly pronounce names and sounds like a 12 year old boy.

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14 Responses

  1. Andrew

    Levinson might have made Envy, but he also made The Diner, Tin Men, Rain Man, Wag the Dog, and Good Morning, Vietnam. I think that’s enough to keep him out of director jail, even if his last couple features have been less than great. So basically, I’m looking forward to The Bay, because I want to see a real director make something substantial and effective out of the found footage gimmick. Plus, I like seeing people step outside of their comfort zones.

    As for Smiley— it has Keith David! But it also looks like some weird child to Cry Wolf! I don’t know. It looks janky. So does the Texas Chainsaw movie, which I’m mostly put off by because of the absence of “massacre” in the title.

    Then there’s Mama, and I recommend you track down the short on Youtube because it’s effective and creepy even if it lacks anything by way of context. I don’t know, I think I could watch Goth Chastain and Jaime Lannister deal with haunted children and a ghostly mother for an hour and a half. Especially if GDT is producing. Love that GDT is taking projects like this and giving amateur filmmakers a shot at making something bigger. That’s cool.

    Looking forward to The Hole, too, but I get that it might not be everyone’s bag.

    As to today– big day for horror, since Cabin in the Woods hits home release today! Great news for any horror fan.

    • Linds

      I get your point on Levinson, I was just pointing out that not all his films are winners and his rep doesn’t lend itself enough to the film that it will make me run out to see it. IMO the trailer is pretty generic. I’ll give it a shot but I’m not over the moon about it.

      I’d love to check out the short that inspired Mama! I’ll definitely track it down now that you mentioned it.

      Can’t wait to pick up Cabin in the Woods! I’m going to try to pull together an FTS movie night 🙂

    • Linds

      I don’t want to hype it up too much (did that with The Possession and was very disappointed) but will be looking forward to it regardless.

  3. Erin

    I have been seeing Smiley trailers all over YouTube and I just can’t with that face. It reminds me of the Mitchell and Webb sketch about the kid with an ass for a face. Mama has potential, but it won’t come to a theater near me, so I’ll go out and see The Bay and add a half star to my rating during the experience because of the big screen and the big speakers, and then I’ll come home and realize I’ve been suckered again and I’ll feel a little ashamed.

    • Linds

      HAHAHA I’ve never seen that sketch but I can picture that.

      I hear you on The Bay. I want to be open minded about found footage films but I often feel let down afterwards. I’m trying to adjust to the fact that they don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

  4. Robert (totheescapehatch.com)

    Stoked for the re-release of Halloween and I’m actually starting to get interested in Bates’ Motel. I think they cast Freddie Highmore as Norman?

    Great selections of trailers. I’m interested in all of those, particularly Chainsaw, Mama, and The Bay. Mama has definitely piqued my interest. I hope the twist is what I think it is.

    • Linds

      Hell yeah! I love re-release events so I hope I can catch it.

      I didn’t see the Highmore casting news yet but that sounds really interesting. Can’t wait to see how the project turns out.

    • Linds

      Yeah i think Mama is the only film that will stay on my radar besides The Bay only because I’m sure it will eventually have a wide release.

  6. John

    I love the Smiley trailer. That’s a really memorable horror icon, kind of in the vein of Sam from Trick r’ Treat.

    I was so excited about the link with the Universal creature features until I found out it wasn’t showing anywhere near me (strangely enough, the link is from my town- STL- but is about LA).

    • Linds

      So I’m not alone! I think the mask is well done, I think there’s too much hate happening.

      Yeaaaah, it does stink that the showings are in LA but I included it because I was excited that the Academy had something to do with classic horror.

      • John

        I’m thrilled to see anyone shining a light on the Universal creatures, even if I can’t see them locally. Those movies deserve every bit of publicity they can get.