By Julia Evans, World-Today-News.com – July 30, 2024
Horror fans, prepare to be disturbed.Softstar Entertainment, the studio behind popular titles like The legend of Sword and Fairy and Xuan-Yuan Sword, is diving headfirst into the macabre wiht a new survival horror game based on the works of legendary manga artist Junji Ito.
The game, titled *Junji Ito Maniac:
New York, NY – Pop Mart, the rapidly expanding global collectibles company, is releasing a new line of collectible figures based on the iconic horror franchise Chucky beginning September 12. The launch arrives just in time for the Halloween season and signals Pop mart’s continued strategy of blending licensed properties with original artist-driven designs.
Pop Mart has quickly become a dominant force in the art toy market, known for its “blind box” format – where consumers purchase sealed boxes containing randomly selected figures – and collaborations with independent artists worldwide. The company aims to transform collectible designs into broader entertainment experiences, extending character stories beyond the toy itself.”We’re really, really excited to continue to bring in new artists and new IP and then extend those stories into the Pop Mart universe as well,” stated pop Mart’s representative.
The company is actively developing ways to engage its audience with deeper narratives surrounding its properties, including utilizing short-form animation for social media to reveal character backstories and personalities. “There’s so much great storytelling within all of the characters,” explained the representative. “At the core we are a pop culture entertainment company…bringing the storytelling to life through collectible design.” They specifically cited the success of artist Kaws‘ Labubu as a property with potential for expansion into other entertainment mediums.
Pop Mart is also planning to expand its physical presence in the U.S. with pop-up shop experiences later this year and into 2024, perhaps including immersive experiences similar to its Popland locations currently operating globally, including one in Beijing.
The Chucky franchise series figures are available for purchase online at https://www.popmart.com/us/products/3611/chucky-franchise-series-figures and at pop Mart retail locations starting September 12.
## Peacock Serves Up Screams: 10 Horror Sequels to Binge Now
Horror fans,rejoice! Peacock is bolstering its already remarkable library with a chilling collection of sequels,offering both nostalgic revisits and underappreciated gems.As the days grow shorter and the nights get longer, these films provide the perfect blend of scares and suspense, all conveniently available for streaming.Whether you’re a seasoned horror veteran or a newcomer to the genre, there’s something here to send shivers down your spine.
This curated list focuses on sequels that expand upon established universes and characters, offering deeper dives into the worlds you already love-or love to fear. From slasher icons to supernatural entities, these films prove that sometimes, the terror is just getting started. Here are 10 horror sequels currently streaming on Peacock that deserve a spot on your watchlist.
## Phantasm II
Don Coscarelli’s Phantasm II (1988) expands the bizarre mythology of the original, sending Mike Pearson and Reggie on a quest to stop the Tall Man across dimensions. It’s a wild ride of practical effects and surreal imagery. Watch on Peacock.
## Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead
Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead (1994) continues the saga with a more action-oriented approach, as Mike and Reggie battle the Tall Man in a desolate landscape. Watch on Peacock.
## Phantasm IV: Oblivion
Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998) sees the heroes facing off against the Tall Man in a more psychological battle, delving deeper into the dreamlike nature of the Phantasm universe.
Los Angeles, CA – August 22, 2024 – IFC Films is placing a critically important bet on the horror film “Good Boy,” aiming to replicate the theatrical success of recent indie hits like “Late Night with the Devil” and “In a Violent Nature.” The film, directed by Miguel Ángel León, centers around a boy and his dog, and is slated for a wide theatrical release on October 3rd. A surge in Google searches related to the dog’s fate, as evidenced by recent search traffic data (see image), suggests early audience engagement.
IFC Entertainment Group head Scott Shooman emphasized the company’s commitment to identifying and amplifying “fascinating, noisy product” as major studios increasingly focus on broader, four-quadrant films. ”We’re a bespoke company and we really pay attention to what people want to see,” Shooman told IndieWire. “Last year was our second-best theatrical year ever and we want to continue that.”
The strategy builds on the success of “Late Night with the Devil,” which reached 1,400 screens in 2024 and grossed $10 million, and “In a Violent Nature,” which also played in 1,400 theaters, earning $4.2 million. These films currently rank as the #4 and #16 highest-grossing releases in IFC’s history, respectively. While 2002’s “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” holds the top spot with a massive $241 million, Shooman clarified that IFC’s involvement was limited to a distribution service deal, making Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood” ($25 million gross) the company’s true biggest hit.The push for theatrical success comes after a restructuring within IFC Films. Following the departure of former president Arianna Bocco in March 2023, Scott Shooman was appointed to the role. As part of this shift, the company consolidated its genre content under its streaming platform, Shudder, sunsetting the IFC Midnight imprint. “Good Boy” will be branded with both the IFC and Shudder logos, though a specific streaming release date remains unconfirmed.
“We have different windows for different types of films, and we’re working on that for ‘Good Boy’ as we speak,” Shooman explained. “We never want to pre-announce a date prematurely. What we can say is we hope everyone sees it in theaters on October 3rd,and that’s really where we’re pointing people right now.”
Notably, “Good Boy” distinguishes itself from previous IFC horror successes with a PG-13 rating. “I don’t think there’s any age limit on loving dogs,” Shooman stated. The film’s unique origin story - director Miguel Ángel León made the film with his own dog – is also being highlighted as a key marketing element. “It’s exactly the story of how you’d want an independent movie to have come together,” Shooman said. ”This is his dog! This is not a stage dog, and it’s just like this is the magic and why we all got into this business.”
the film’s production utilized advanced camera technology, as highlighted in a recent IndieWire gallery showcasing the Alexa 35 and Sony Venice cameras used at SXSW 2025.
Brian Welk contributed to this report.
“Good Boy” releases in theaters from IFC on Friday, October 3.
Young actress Jenna Ortega, known for her intense portrayal of Wednesday Addams, reveals the significant personal toll her performances take, admitting her work often leads to sleepless nights and nightmares.
The 22-year-old actress confessed to The Hollywood Reporter that she finds it difficult to rewatch her scenes, often feeling immense pressure and anxiety. “I don’t think I have ever shot a scene in my life that did not prevent me from sleeping and gave nightmares,” Ortega shared. She described the early days of filming as chaotic and stressful, noting that her nervousness is visible in older footage.
Despite her internal struggles, director Tim Burton noted that she hides it well. Ortega herself commented on her character’s role, stating, “What is great with the character on Wednesday is that she constantly makes remarks on society and that she somehow denigrates the public,” a sentiment that has sometimes drawn sharp criticism online.
Ortega also discussed the modern phenomenon of the “death of the movie star,” where excessive public knowledge blurs the lines between an actor’s persona and private life. She lamented the expectation for creatives to constantly share themselves publicly, suggesting they should be allowed to focus solely on their art.
“We know too much. And people feel in right to access these snippets of your life, while if they were themselves subject to the same meticulous examination, they would not feel so comfortable. But we are expecting creatives that they are expressed publicly, when they should not do half of the time. They are supposed to become their brand sellers. But we should simply lock them in a room and let them create their art.”
—Jenna Ortega
The actress feels a growing disconnect from her public identity, stating, “We almost come to a point where we have the impression that our name no longer belongs to us. I hardly identify with him anymore.” She also highlighted the challenges of confronting public prejudice.
Tim Burton echoed this sentiment, expressing nostalgia for a time when actors and film productions maintained more mystery. “The days when everything was mysterious,” he mused. “I regret the time when we did not know how much a film cost and when we did not know everything about the actors.”
Details about the upcoming two-part season of “Wednesday” remain under wraps, with the first four episodes premiering August 6 and the following four on September 3. Jenna Ortega offered a glimpse into the new season, noting Netflix’s increased confidence and more ambitious sequences.
The cast will be joined by new talent such as Steve Buscemi and Billie Piper, whose presence pushes Ortega to excel. The new season will explore Wednesday’s reaction to saving her school, with Ortega anticipating, “It is therefore nice to see her collapse again Under the weight of the attention we pay to him.”
Industry analysis suggests that while the average streaming budget for original series has risen significantly, reaching an estimated $12.7 million per episode in 2023 (Forbes, 2023), the pressure on actors to maintain a public presence continues to grow.
Filmmaker Kiyoshi Kurosawa prioritizes meticulous research into his films’ settings and backdrops, immersing himself in extensive reading to achieve a high degree of realism.
His latest thriller, “Cloud,” features Masaki Suda as a man facing hardship who engages in questionable online resale practices, profiting substantially. The narrative escalates as the protagonist encounters victims seeking retribution.
Kurosawa is known for his unflinching depiction of violence, often characterized by its graphic nature and extreme intensity, yet presented with striking cinematography that can, at times, lend a darkly humorous or bizarre quality.
In his 1997 film “Cure,” a police detective, portrayed by Koji Yakusho, investigates a series of brutal murders. The film employs continuous, uncut shots to effectively convey the characters’ complex emotions and their chilling detachment, with shifts in their demeanor occurring dramatically within single scenes to explore themes of madness.
Despite his commitment to realism, Kurosawa, who cites Alfred Hitchcock as an influence, does not shy away from incorporating subtle, unreal elements to cultivate a distinctively eerie atmosphere. He has stated that his films are never lighthearted.
“Everything being happy is not possible if you start with the realism of modern-day Japan,” Kurosawa commented.
Kurosawa views filmmaking as a complex collaborative process involving numerous individuals, with producers focused on box office performance and actors on their roles. However, he believes the ultimate success of a film hinges on adhering to one’s core convictions.
“it all boils down to: I understand there are manny opinions, but we must choose what is right. What does being right mean? To figure that out is the creator’s job,” he stated.
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Yuri Kageyama can be found on Threads at: https://www.threads.com/@yurikageyama
