What

Spooky Empire May-Hem is a horror festival/convention taking place in Orlando, Florida. Featuring special guests, panels, music, tattoo artists, dealer rooms, pool parties, photo ops, Q&A sessions, and other surprises. Note: this will be the last Spooky Empire event at the Wyndham. Starting in October, 2012, all Spooky Empire events will take place at the Hilton Orlando.

When

May 25 – 27, 2012

Start Times: Friday 5:00pm, Saturday 11:00am, Sunday 11:00am
Exhibitor Room Hours: Friday 5pm-11pm, Saturday 11am-8pm, Sunday 11am-5pm
Celebrity Autograph Rooms: Friday 5pm-10pm, Saturday 11am-7pm, Sunday 11am-5pm

Where

Wyndham Orlando Resort
8001 International Dr
Orlando, FL 32819
(800) 421-8001
(407) 351-2420

The Wyndham has special room rates of $69/night when you mention the code word “Spooky Empire”. The phone number to reserve your room is 1-800-421-8001.

Wyndham Parking: The old Friday’s Front Row in I-Drive (across street from Wyndham), Off Sandlake Rd (east of Universal Blvd), Canada Ave (off Sand Lake Rd)

Who

Linda Hamilton (The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Children of the Corn)
Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Slither)
Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy, Mallrats, Big Daddy)
Kristanna Loken (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Bloodrayne, Painkiller Jane)
Monica Keena (Freddy vs Jason, Left in Darkness, Long Distance, Night of the Demons)
Holly Marie Combs (Charmed)
Brian Krause (Charmed)
Madison Lintz (The Walking Dead)
Oliver Robins (Poltergeist)

More guests to be announced here.

Schedule

Thursday, May 24

Thursday night: pre-party with drink and food specials at Gatorville, by the pool at the Wyndham.

Friday, May 25

To be Announced

Saturday, May 26

Mad Monster Party: celebrities in attendance.
Other events To be Announced

Sunday, May 27

To be Announced

Other Events

Tattoo Festival. See more info here.

Tickets

Weekend Pass $50 (gets you in for all 3 days)
Friday Pass $30
Saturday Pass $35
Sunday Pass $30
VIP Package: $199

The VIP Package includes: a collectible VIP pass, limited edition t-shirt, full weekend admission, admission to all Q&As/seminars first, fast access to autograph lines, access to Saturday night VIP party with open bar, live DJs, prizes, and more.

Buy tickets here.

Official Site

Check out the official site and Facebook page.

We’ve got a block of upcoming horror films for the new year. Check out some of the trailers and info:

The Devil Inside
Director: William Brent Bell
Release Date: Now playing

In Italy, a woman becomes involved in a series of unauthorized exorcisms during her mission to discover what happened to her mother, who allegedly murdered three people during her own exorcism. Reviews were not kind but the film is currently kicking box office butt.

The Divide
Director: Xavier Gens
Release Date: Jan 13, 2012 (limited)

Apocalyptic thriller involving survivors of a nuclear attack (including Laren German and Michael Biehn) who take refuge in a building but soon turn on each other. Directed by Frenchman Xavier Gens, who gave us the brutal Frontier(s).

Underworld: Awakening
Directors: Måns Mårlind, Björn Stein
Release Date: Jan 20, 2012

Like the inexplicably enduring Resident Evil franchise, the Underworld series of films keeps going. Kate Beckinsale is back, and this time she gets to kill lots of humans who have started a war against vampires and lycans. More leather, more bullets, more Beckinsale.

The Wicker Tree
Director: Robin Hardy
Release Date: Jan 27, 2012 (limited)

That’s right, Robin Hardy, who directed the original cult classic The Wicker Man (no, not the Nick Cage remake), returns with this sequel. Christopher Lee comes back for a cameo, too.

The Woman in Black
Director: James Watkins
Release Date: Feb 3, 2012

Daniel Radcliffe finally moves away from Harry Potter and into this supernatural thriller involving a ghost terrorizing a remote village.

Click Here For More Upcoming Horror in 2012

Paramount Pictures has announced that it is developing Paranormal Activity 4, since Paranormal Activity 3 has grossed over $103 million domestically to date (almost $203 million worldwide).

The first three Paranormal Activity films together have grossed $581 million worldwide. The first film, from Oren Peli, only cost about $15,000 to make. It grossed $193 million worldwide. (In comparison, the $60K budgeted Blair Witch Project grossed $248.6 million worldwide).

There is no information yet on storyline or cast for Paranormal Activity 4. However, we figure it will premiere during the Halloween season like last time. Watch this space for updates.

Source: Variety

On Friday, January 13, 2012, the Vista Theater in Los Angeles, California will be showing a Friday the 13th Double Screening to celebrate the release of a new 6 CD soundtrack box set, which will feature the complete scores from the first 6 movies in the Friday the 13th series. The limited edition soundtrack set is an official release of composer Harry Manfredini’s scores for the movies up to Jason Lives.

The double feature will include the first movie Friday the 13th and the 6th movie Jason Lives. After the first film is shown, a Q&A panel will commence, featuring Harry Manfredini, Friday the 13th‘s Adrienne King (“Alice”), and the following cast from Jason Lives: Thom Matthews (“Tommy Jarvis”), David Kagen (“Sheriff Garris”), Darcy DeMoss (“Nikki”), Vinnie Guastaferro (“Deputy Rick Cologne”), and Nancy McLoughlin (“Lizabeth”). Ryan Turek from ShockTillYouDrop will host.

The screening starts at 9:3pm at the Vista Theater (4473 Sunset Drive, Los Angeles). $15 tickets can be bought here.

For $70 cash, you can purchase the box set at the event. You can also order it online at La La Land Records. The set also features a 40 page booklet. There will only be 1300 units sold of this special limited edition.

The next day, on January 14th, Harry Manfredini will be available at Dark Delicacies (3512 W. Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank CA) for signings (2pm).

Source: Creature Features

What is currently known about [Rec]3 Genesis:

• The action takes place at a wedding, miles away from the original location and partly in broad daylight
• Reporter Angela Videl will not appear in this installment; however a tenant from the apartment from the first 2 films will be seen.
• Again, directed by Paco Plaza, who also directed the first two
• Stars Leticia Dolera, Javier Botet, Diego Martín, and Mireia Ros
• There will be a setup for the 4th movie REC: Apocalypse, which is said to be the final installment.
• It is unclear whether the entire film will take place using cam-point-of-view. The trailer makes it seem like it won’t be.

Leticia Dolera

[REC]3 Trailer

The new [Rec] 3 trailer is below. Spanish language only, but we think English speakers will still get the gist of it!

Release Date

[Rec] 3 will be released in theaters on March 30, 2012. Fox Searchlight Pictures has bought the international rights of the franchise, for viewing in the states.

Photos

Christmas Evil (1980)
A holiday favorite of John Waters (how’s that for an endorsement!) you’ll totally have a blast with this surprisingly entertaining chiller about a loner toy maker (Brandon Maggert – Fiona Apple’s dad!) who takes his desire to be Santa a little too far. Also known in circles as You Better Watch Out, it tries to humanize its psycho central character, who retains a certain childlike innocence but is faced with the selfishness of the adult world, which sends him over the edge. Part Frankenstein, part Taxi Driver, and it even has a metaphysical ending that we swear was ripped off by Thelma & Louise! See our review here.



Silent Night Deadly Night (1984)
This is the Christmas-themed slasher that sent mothers and religious groups into an uproar when it entered theaters back in 1984. Little Billy watches the shocking murder of his parents by a dude dressed in a Santa suit and is sent to an orpanage run by an evil nun who teaches him that the guilty must be “punished.” Now grown up and adopting her philosophy, Billy (Robert Brian Wilson) puts on a Santa suit for his job and promptly loses it. The result is your expected bloody mayhem, including a scene with a nude Linnea Quigley (well, that’s redundant, right?) gets impaled on a pair of antlers. Naughty! Read our review here.



Black Christmas (1974)
Bob Clark’s seminal holiday shocker about the girls of a Canadian sorority that fall prey to a psycho killer during Christmas break. The killer’s name is Billy and he likes to go on about somebody named Agnes, but we’re never sure what the hell he is talking about. But hey, you know those psychos – always babbling about something. Atmospheric and unsettling, this is the complete opposite of Clark’s other holiday movie Christmas Story, so try not to get them confused when doing your holiday shopping. (You might not want little Timmy getting scarred for life). Black Christmas features Margot Kidder (sexy) and John Saxon. If that’s not enough for you, it has plenty of slasher motifs that were ripped off countless numbers of times, as well as a plot point stolen by When A Stranger Calls! Read our review here. (And don’t get the movie confused with the remake).



Santa’s Slay (2005)
Santa’s Slay is very much a black comedy (which is why it was reviewed by our sister site Odd Culture and not us) but if you are in the mood for a good laugh when watching people get slaughtered by a wrestler in a Santa suit, then you this is the flick for you! WWE wrestler Bill Goldberg plays Santa, who is really the son of Satan who lost a bet 1,000 years ago and had to spread holiday cheer instead of holiday fear. But now that the millenium is over he can get back to his Satanic ways. (Satan…Santa…doh! Why didn’t we see that coming?!). Funny in spots but gets a little too goofy at the end… at least it has the late Robert Culp as an angel now in the form of an old grandpa. Best scene is in the beginning, when Goldberg comes down the chimney and takes out a family of rich jerks including Fran Drescher, Chris Kattan, Rebecca Gayheart, and James Caan!



The Walking Dead Season One
AMC and Anchor Bay bring to DVD the apocalypse drama from last year, based on Robert Kirkman’s graphic novel. The Walking Dead follows a band of Atlanta-based survivors of a viral outbreak that has caused the dead to rise up and consume the living. Features Michael Rooker and Norman Reedus, good effects, story, and characterizations. A massive hit, this DVD features all 6 episodes of the first season along with special features.



Evil Dead 2 (1987)
Sam Raimi’s slapstick/splatter classic makes it to Blu-Ray thanks to Lionsgate. We get a 1.78:1 presentation in 5.1 DTS-HD master audio, a new feature-length documentary (including Bruce Campbell and the rest of the cast), commentary carried over from previous DVD/laserdisc releases, and other supporting goodies. This is the best the film has ever looked and at such a low price it is a must buy for horror fans (or those looking to buy a nice holiday gift for their horror fan friends!)



Gremlins (1984)
Want to get your little nephew started on the road to horror movie fandom? Ease him in with this Christmas-themed creature feature featuring the cute little lovable Mogwai who doesn’t seem so lovable anymore when you feed him after midnight. It’s a Frank Capra fantasy turned on its head. Read our review here.



The Thing (1982)
One of the greatest horror movies ever made, John Carpenter’s other masterpiece (besides Halloween) belongs on every horror fan’s shelf. Especially this awesome-looking Blu-Ray edition. Read our review here.



The Vampire Diaries – Season One
The Vampire Diaries – Season Two
Now you can get the first two seasons of the popular CW show. Based on the series by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is like a soap opera involving vampires that has been compared to Twilight and even True Blood. Stars Nina Dobrev; co-created by Kevin Williamson. Get both seasons on DVD/Blu-Ray.



True Blood – Season One
True Blood – Season Two
True Blood – Season Three
You know you have friends that are True Blood fanatics. You’re probably one yourself. Now get them the first three seasons of True Blood on DVD/Blu-Ray. And then get extra copies for yourself!



The Exorcist (1973)
The ultimate edition for one of the most popular horror movies in history is up for grabs – this blu-ray edition of the film is at a price that can’t be beat. Features both the extended cut (2000 edition) and the original theatrical cut. Plenty of extras!



Silent Night Bloody Night (1974)
Very creepy winter chiller that has a nice bloody axe murder, an interesting sepia-toned flashback sequence, and… Mary Woronov! It seems to have even influenced Black Christmas! You can read our review here.



The Shining (1980)
Speaking of winter horror, you can’t go wrong with Kubrick’s masterpiece interpretation of Stephen King’s novel. This Blu-Ray is a great opportunity to let your friends (or yourself) revisit this classic.



Don’t Open Till Christmas (1984)
If your friends or family members really hate Santa Claus, then get them this British slasher from 1984 about a serial killer offing various Santas in gory ways. Santas are shot, stabbed, burned, and even castrated. Scotland Yard detectives are too stupid to stop the killings. Plus, there’s boobs and a great tagline: “Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring…….they were all dead!” Read our review here.



Horror Express (1972)
Not exactly a Christmas horror movie but it’s certainly a cult classic and good for a snowy day. Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing are turn-of-the-century anthropologists fighting off a millions-of-years-old monster on the Trans-Siberian Express. They also have to deal with a crazy (and hilarious) Cossack played by Telly Savalas. There is a lot more going on here and it’s worth the watch… the Blu-ray version is the best this film has ever looked. Apparently, the HD transfer comes from vault elements recently unearthed in a Mongolian film depot. Read our review here.

Piranha 3DD (clever!) can also be called Piranha 2 (but don’t get it confused with Piranha II: The Spawning).

Synopsis

After the events at Lake Victoria, the pre-historic school of blood-thirsty piranhas make their way into a newly opened waterpark. Expect more blood, more mayhem, and bigger boobs.

Cast

Hell of a cast here. First, the returning ones: Ving Rhames will be back (Bad News: he lost his legs in the last movie. Good News: he seems to be a fan of Planet Terror). Also returning is Christopher Lloyd as our favorite pet store owner/piranha expert who will surely be looking very crazy and concerned about mutating piranhas (will they fly, like in Cameron’s film? Oh, please tell us they’ll fly!) Also coming back is Paul Scheer as Andrew Cunningham.

The rest of the cast includes Katrina Bowden (Tucker & Dale vs Evil), Danielle Panabaker (Friday the 13th remake), Chris Zylka (Shark Night 3D), Chelan Simmons (also seen in Tucker and Dale vs Evil as well as Final Destination 3), Elise Neal (Scream 2), and comedian David Koechner (Anchorman, Final Destination 5).

And now for the fun guest stars! None other than David Hasselhoff (Knight Rider, Baywatch) starring as himself, Gary Busey as a character named Clayton, and the immortal Clu Gulager as somebody named Mo.

Piranha 3DD is directed by John Gulager, who is the man responsible for all three Feast Movies. This also explains why Clu Gulager is in it, being John’s dad and all. Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton (the Feast movies, the later Saw movies, The Collector) get writing credits.

Release Date

Piranha 3DD was originally slated to be released on November 23rd, 2011, but that date has been moved somewhere into 2012. Dimension has bumped it, along with the upcoming Amityville flick: The Lost Tapes. Updates will be posted here as they arrive.

Photos