Paranormal Pop Culture 2012 Film Preview

BY ANDREW PETERS

Even though we're a month into 2012, there are still 11 more to go, and those promise to be loaded with freaky, paranormal-filled films. Grab your calendars and mark the dates for the following Paranormal Pop Culture films of 2012, and if we missed anything, don't be too scared to let us know.

JANUARY

Underworld: The Awakening 3D (Jan. 20) R
In this fourth installment of the series, after awakening from a coma like state after fifteen years, Selene discovers she has a vampire/Lycan hybrid daughter, Nissa. Selene must find her daughter and stop Biocom from creating a super Lycan that will kill them all. Starring Kate Beckinsale, Stephen Rea and Michael Ealy Charles Dance. Directed by Mans Marlind and Bjorn Stein.

The Wicker Tree (Jan. 27) R, Limited Release
From the director of The Wicker Man comes a sequel about Christian Gospel singer Beth and her boyfriend Steve as they depart from their homeland in Texas to go to Scotland and preach door-to-door. After being welcomed into Tressock, things begin to go horribly wrong. Starring Christopher Lee, Joan Collins and Graham McTavish. Directed by Robin Hardy.



FEBRUARY

The Innkeepers (Feb. 3) R (In theaters and Video on Demand) The Yankee Pedlar Inn is about to close its doors and faithful employees Claire and Luke are determined to uncover its haunted history. As the final days draw near, odd guests check in as strange and alarming events unfold. Starring Sara Paxton, Pat Healy and Kelly McGillis. Directed by Ti West.

The Woman in Black (Feb. 3) PG-13
In order to sort out a deceased client’s papers, lawyer Arthur Kipps must travel to a remote village. Alone in the client’s house, he begins uncovering secrets and seeing a woman dressed all in black. With no help from the locals, he sets out to uncover her identity as well as her intentions. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds and Janet McTeer. Directed by James Watkins.




Chronicle (Feb. 3) PG-13
What looks to be the latest attempt at something different with the found-footage genre, three high school friends gain super powers after a remarkable discovery. The trouble begins when they have to battle with their darker sides and their friendships. Starring Michael B. Jordan, Alex Russell and Dane DeHaan. Directed by Josh Trank.

Stormhouse (Feb. 7) R (Direct to Video) The film documents the last four days of a military experiment that has captured a ...something. Hayley Sands is brought to Stormhouse by the Government to make contact with the captured entity, but her arrival triggers a series of events which lead to the its escape, plunging the base into a horrific nightmare. Starring Grant Masters, Patrick Flynn and Grahame Fox. Directed by Dan Turner.

The Dead (Feb. 14) R ( Direct to Video) An American mercenary, the sole survivor of a plane crash, has to run the gauntlet across Africa, battling with the living dead. Joining forces with a local military man desperately searching for his son amongst the chaos, they fight together to survive. Starring Rob Freeman, Prince David Oseia and David Dontoh. Directed by Howard and Jonathan Ford.

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3D (Feb. 17) PG-13
Johnny Blaze returns and still struggling with his cruse, becoming the Devil’s bounty hunter. Hiding in Europe, he’s hired by a secret sect of the Church to rescue a young boy from the Devil. Starring Nicolas Cage, Ciaran Hinds and Violante Placido. Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor.

MARCH

Silent House (March 9) R
A remake of the chilling 2010 Spanish film La Casa Muda (The Silent House), tells the tale in real time - a single eighty-something minute take - about a troubled young woman who goes to visit her family’s isolated summer home. They shortly discover they are not alone. Starring Elizabeth Olsen, Eric Sheffer Stevens and Julia Taylor Ross. Directed by Chris Kentis.



Monster Brawl (March 27) Not Yet Rated (Direct to Video)
Live on Pay-Per-View, eight classic movie monsters, along with their colorful managers, fight to the grisly and gory death set inside an abandoned and cursed graveyard in this horror/comedy! Starring Dave Foley, Art Hindle and Robert Maillet. Directed by Jesse T. Cook.

Intruders (Mar. 30) Not Yet Rated
Two children, Juan and Mila, who live in different countries, are terrorized by something malevolent. Something unknown. Their lives, as well as their families, begin to shatter once the parents being to witness this terrible being. Starring Clive Owen, Daniel Brühl and Carice Van Houten. Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.

APRIL

Seven Below (Apr 7th) Not Yet Rated (Direct to Video)
A group of strangers are brought together at a strange house when a terrible storm leaves them trapped inside. Much to their horror, they seem to be reliving ghastly and horrible events that happened a hundred years ago. Starring Val Kilmer, Ving Rhames and Luke Goss. Directed by Kevin Carraway.

The Cabin in the Woods (April 13) R
A group of friends, headed by Thor’s Chris Hemsworth, retreat to a cabin in the woods (hence the title), but soon realize there is something far more sinister and evil, but time is running out before they can fathom it. Starring Chris Hemsworth, Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford. Directed by Drew Goddard and written by Joss Whedon.

Scary Movie 5 (April 20) Not Yet Rated
Just when you thought the series was through, it returns and is up to its usual style of folly gags. Starring Anthony Anderson, Regina Hall, Kevin Hart. Directed by David Zucker.

MAY

Dark Shadows (May 11) Not Yet Rated
Based off the atmospheric and gothic television series, it’s only fitting that Tim Burton would direct this tale about a man, Barnabas Collins, who is turned into a vampire by his bitter lover in the 1700s. He was then buried, but now dug up and wants to connect with his descendants. Starring Johnny Depp, Jackie Earle Haley and Helena Bonham Carter. Directed by Tim Burton

Men in Black 3 3D (May 25) Not Yet Rated
Everyone’s favorite agents J & K are back and this time, they are going back… in time. Aside a younger Agent K, the two must set things right once Agent J learns there is more to the universe, secrets that reveal themselves, as the two save the world for a third time. Starring Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin. Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.



JUNE

Jack and Diane (June 1) Not Yet Rated
Jack and Diane, two teenage girls, spend a passionate night together in New York City. Smitten with one another, the two grow close until Jack discovers Diane is leaving the country and starts to push her away. Diane struggles to keep her close while hiding a newly discovered werewolf-like visions awakened by their sexual desire. Starring Juno Temple, Riley Keough, Cara Seymour. Directed by Bradley Rust Gray.

Prometheus (June 8) Not Yet Rated
Finally, the long-awaited film (and Alien prequel??) in which a team voyages to discover a clue to the origin of mankind that will take them to darkest corners of space where they must battle to save the human race. Starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron. Directed by Ridley Scott.



Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter 3D (June 22) Not Yet Rated
Look into the fictitious secret life of our greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, who witnesses his mother killed when he was young, which leads him to an ongoing war against the undead and ultimately to presidency that he chronicles in a journal. Starring Benjamin Walker, Anthony Mackie and Dominic Cooper. Directed by Timur Bekmambetov.

AUGUST

Warm Bodies (Aug. 10) Not Yet Rated
An odd friendship grows between a sentient zombie and the girlfriend of one of his victims that begins a chain of events that will forever transform him along with his fellow zombies. Starring Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer and Rob Corddry. Directed by Jonathan Levine.

ParaNorman 3D (Aug. 17) Not Yet Rated
Norman, who can communicate with the dead, is called to save his town when it becomes invaded by zombies. Of course, he’ll have to take on ghosts, witches and moronic grown-ups, to save his town from a centuries-old curse in this animated tale. But, is this pushing Norman and his skill too much? Starring Kodi Smit-McPhee, Casey Affleck and Tempestt Bledsoe. Directed by Sam Fell and Chris Butler.



The Apparition (Aug 24) PG-13
Based on true events, young couple Ben and Kelly accidently unleash a supernatural presence in their home during a college experiment. As this entity feeds on their fear, they must turn to an expert in the paranormal, but even with his help, they may be too late to save themselves. Starring Ashley Greene, Sebastian Stan and Luke Pasqualino. Directed by Todd Lincoln.

7500 (Aug. 31) Not Yet Rated
A haunted house movie on an airplane, the plot concerns a group of passengers who encounter what appears to be a supernatural force while on a trans-Pacific flight from L.A. to Tokyo. Starring Ryan Kwanten (True Blood). Directed by Takashi Shimzu (The Grudge).


SEPTEMBER

Re5ident Evil: Retribution 3D (Sept. 14) Not Yet Rated
Alice continues her hunt to bring down the evil corporation Umbrella in the newest installment. Her journey will take her across the globe, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. As usual, she is aided by new allies and old friends in her fight. Starring Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory and Colin Salmon. Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson.



Hotel Transylvania 3D (Sept. 21) Not Yet Rated
An animated “Romeo and Juliet” inspired story with monsters, Simon Van Helsing falls head over heels for the beautiful daughter of Dracula. But as the story goes, the families are enemies and the secret couple must stop the fighting and bring peace between monsters and humans. Starring Adam Sandler, Miley Cyrus and Kevin James. Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky.

OCTOBER

Frankenweenie (Oct. 5) Not Yet Rated
A stop-motion animated film about Vincent, who loses his beloved dog Sparky and harnesses the power of science to return him to life. Vincent tries to keep him hidden, but Sparky escapes and the townspeople go mad. Based on his own short, Tim Burton returns to direct it once again as a full length feature. Starring Winona Ryder, Martin Short and Catherine O’Hara. Directed by Tim Burton.

Paranormal Activity 4 (Oct. 19) Not Yet Rated
No synopsis available at this time, but it probably involves found footage and demons - and is made on the cheap. Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman.

Halloween 3D (Oct. 26) Not Yet Rated
No synopsis available at this time. Directed by Patrick Lussier.

NOVEMBER

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (Nov. 16) Not Yet Rated
Bella, torn between her love for Edward and her deep connection with Jacob, has gone through a year of temptation, loss, and strife to reach the ultimate turning point. She has made her choice, but now a chain of events will unfold with possible devastating consequences. Starring Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner. Directed by Bill Condon.

DECEMBER

World War Z (Dec. 21) Not Yet Rated
A zombie pandemic plagues the world and United Nations employee Gerry Lane races against time to stop the outbreak that is crumbling the government and armies and destroying the existence of humanity. Starring Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos and James Badge Dale, Bryan Cranston. Directed by Marc Forster.



NO RELEASE DATE

The Awakening, Childish Games, Dunderland, John Dies At The End, Juan of the Dead, Piranha 3DD, Rec 3: Genesis, Rosewood Lane, The Sacred, Thale, Twixt, The Unleashed