Robert Englund Makes PSA Pleas For Psychopaths, Chiller

Without a home, there are psychopaths in America doomed to amateur gardening and eating old human teeth, forgoing their dreams of hacking into unsuspecting teenagers.

If that idea makes you weepy, get out the Kleenex because Robert Englund brings on the tears (of joy!) in his faux PSA for Chiller. The iconic horror actor pleads viewers to tune into original Chiller movies so slashers won't be so alone and ignored in the world.

This is funny stuff, and whomever came up with this buzzy concept over at Chiller deserves a raise for doing something right. Also, could this be just the beginning of similarly-themed PSAs from the NBCUniversal Comcast company?

Might I suggest Robert Englund return as a Jerry Lewis host for a telethon spot with Kane Hodder, Tony Todd, Gunnar Hansen and Brad Dourif all accepting donations for Chiller from callers -- who are all calling from inside the house!

Comcast Acquires FEARNET

According to Deadline, the horror-themed channel, VOD service and website, FEARNET, has been bought out by Comcast. They report, "Comcast has bought out its partners in the joint venture — Sony Pictures Entertainment and Lionsgate Entertainment — to take 100% ownership. Following the transaction, which closed this morning, FEARnet will no longer be a stand-alone brand but will be folded into Comcast’s NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment division."

A spokesman for the company told Deadline yesterday, “NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment has acquired all remaining interests in FEARnet from its productive venture with Lionsgate and Sony. FEARnet, along with its popular content, will be integrated into NBCU Cable Entertainment. This process will take place over a yet to be determined period of time.”

The plan is for FEARNET "to be folded mainly into Comcast/NBCU Cable Entertainment’s similarly thriller, suspense and horror-focused Chiller, though some content could also migrate to Syfy." Launched in 2006 on Halloween as a three-way partnership between Comcast, Lionsgate and Sony, Deadline's source heard that "Lionsgate and Sony ultimately opted to monetize their minority stakes in what had been a noncore asset for them rather than continuing."

As stated, this is a process that will take time. We'll keep you posted on any new developments.

-Larissa Mrykalo

Chiller Launches "Killer Shorts" Film Contest

Chiller, known for cultivating fresh talents in the horror genre, has just launched the "Killer Shorts" film contest. The contest is geared towards "collegiate-level" filmmakers in schools across the United States. Aspiring directors are asked to submit a 2-3 minutes long horror short.

Chiller will be making appearances and hosting various engagements on college campuses across the nation, which are all aimed at bringing awareness to independent filmmaking, from now until mid-April. Not enrolled in one of the participating colleges? Don't worry, you can still submit a short!

When submissions close on April 30, Chiller will select their top 13 and audiences will then choose their favorite on the Chiller website. The winning short airing on Chiller after the premiere of their original horror anthology, "Chilling Visions: 5 States of Fear," on July 11, 2014.

"Chilling Visions: 5 States of Fear" is the latest installment in Chiller’s anthology film series, Chilling Visions. Last year marked the debut of the anthology, titled "Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear" and features the work of five up-and-coming filmmakers, including a short by the young and critically acclaimed director, Emily Hagins.  "5 States of Fear" will comprise shorts inspired by five basic human fears, with each short set in a specific location across five different U.S. states.

Think you've got what it takes?

-Nowal Massari

Laurel TV's 'Monsters' To Be Released on DVD This Spring

Cover artwork via Fangoria

Oh boy, candied critters! Following the recent announcement that "Tales From the Darkside" is returning to television, Fangoria revealed that cult-classic TV series "Monsters" will be coming to DVD. Apparently, 2014 is the resurrection year for horror anthologies.

Released by Entertainment One, "Monsters: The Complete Series" is a nine disc set that will feature all 72 episodes of the show. The series aired from 1988-91 with reruns on both the Syfy and Chiller networks. No special features have been announced at this time.

Richard P. Rubinstein of Laurel Entertainment, who also worked on "Tales From the Darkside" and numerous George A. Romero films, served as executive producer. Many talented actors were featured on the show, such as Tony Shaloub, Adrienne Barbeau, Steve Buscemi and Pam Grier, and also showcased stories adapted from the works of Robert Bloch and Stephen King.

"Monsters: The Complete Series" will be available on March 4, and retails for $99.98. If the name itself isn't ringing any bells, check out the show's intro!




-Nowal Massari

Chiller's 'Beneath' Love Child Of Slasher And Monster Flicks

BY SHEILA McNAIR


Tonight on Chiller, cult horror fave Larry Fessenden ("Wendigo," "The Last Winter") directs Chiller’s "Beneath" -- arguably the love child of "Friday the 13th" and "Piranha 3D" -- where six high school grads head to a lake where they hope to party and blow off some steam.

The trip seems to be off to a good start, other than the lack of cellular service at the lake. So this is takes place in present day, and girl-next-door (Bonnie Dennison) Kitty states, "But how will we tweet about our adventure?" Things get tricky when a mysterious stranger played by Mark Margolis ("Breaking Bad") warns Johnny (Daniel Zovatto, tortured soul and organizer of the trip) to stay away from the water. Johnny, thinking they’re only going to cross the lake and get to the island to start partying, doesn’t heed the advice.

Chiller Gets Scary Good with 'Real Fear 2: The Truth Behind (More) Movies'

Chiller is bringing back the popular Real Fear franchise with the two-hour special, Real Fear 2: The Truth Behind (More) Movies.

On Friday, September 6 at 9 p.m., paranormal investigators Richard Dolan, Katrina Weidman, John McGarry, Chris Holt and Becky Weingrad will dig up the facts that inspired some truly terrifying films. They’ll also receive some expert advise on the cases from psychic, Chip Coffey and legendary researcher, John Zaffis.

In this special, they’ll not only listen to eyewitness interviews but also reenactments of events that expose more information about the tales behind the films.

According to the press release they’ll discover, “gripping evidence of the paranormal activity that inspired The Haunting in Connecticut; the eyewitness reports of a winged creature that led to The Blair Witch Project; the terrifying UFO abduction claim behind Fire in the Sky and the series of mysterious deaths that inspired the chilling classic A Nightmare on Elm Street.”

Be sure to check out the Q&A with Katrina Weidman over at ChillerTV.com for some more insight on the series.

-Larissa Mrykalo

Chiller TV unveils upcoming original programming

The Chiller network announced today a few upcoming goodies to make unlucky number '13 - 2013 that is - seem a little more fortunate for horror fans.

A slew that includes a two new "Chiller 13" countdown specials, a new original movie and an anthology film (a first for the network), the releases will build on a year of programming that included strong ratings with Adults 25-54 and the coveted 18-34 demo.

Here's the breakdown, according to the press release:

Chiller commences production on 'Beneath'

The Innkeepers, by Glass Eye Pix

According to a press release, production has begun in Oxford, Conn., on Chiller network's newest original movie, Beneath.

The Spring 2013 monster movie stars Danny Zovatto (Innocence), Bonnie Dennison (Stake Land, Third Watch), Chris Conroy (Sorority Row), Jonny Orsini (Imogene), Griffin Newman (Political Animals) and Mackenzie Rosman (7th Heaven). Also joining the cast is Emmy-nominee Mark Margolis (Hector Salamanco from Breaking Bad) as Mr. Parks.

Following in the footsteps of Chiller's The Remains by Steve Niles, Beneath is written by Tony Daniel and Brian D. Smith, and directed by horror icon Larry Fessenden (The Last Winter, Habit) and produced by Fessenden and Peter Phok for Glass Eye Pix (Stake Land, The Innkeepers, I Sell The Dead). 

The official synopsis:

When a group of young friends commemorating their high school graduation take a trip to the remote Black Lake, their celebration turns into a nightmare with the sudden appearance of a bloodthirsty, underwater predator. Stuck in a leaking boat with no oars, the teens face the ultimate tests of friendship and sacrifice during a terror-stricken fight for survival.

-Aaron Sagers

Steve Niles on his 'Remains' in Chiller original movie

BY AARON SAGERS


Forget zombies or vampires, but when it comes to microwave ovens, horror novelist and comic book writer Steve Niles has a scary problem. It turns out that the creator of Remains - the supernatural zombie comic adapted for a Dec. 16 movie on the Chiller Network - cannot run the microwave while also on the phone. Much like a walking dead uprising throws a monkey wrench into someone's everyday life, the microwave obliterates the phone signal when Niles is conducting an interview.

Kitchen appliance disruptions aside, Niles is having a pretty good run. After bringing elements of the Frankenstein and zombie mythos to the worlds of Batman and Superman (in Simon Dark and DC Infinite Halloween Special) - as well as creating his own originally scary stories like 30 Days of Night, Wake The Dead and Criminal Macabre - Niles is credited with a crafting a horror renaissance in comics. Niles is also a horror pundit and personality, appearing on Spike TV's "Zombie Vs. Vampire" Deadliest Warrior.

Now, his story Remains is the basis for Chiller's first original movies. Starring Grant Bowler (True Blood), Lance Reddick (Fringe, Lost), Miko Hughes (Pet Sematary), Tawny Cypress (Heroes) and Evalena Marie (Are We There Yet?), and produced by Synthetic Cinema International, Remains is about zombies in post-apocalyptic Reno, Nevada, who make things exceedingly challenging for survivors as they grow steadily stronger, smarter and more aggressive by the minute.

Niles spoke with Paranormal Pop Culture and a group of other journalists about the new movie, which airs Dec. 16, at 10 p.m. (interview after the jump).

A Chiller TV Christmas guarantees frights

When you work at a horror network, you tend to get into the holiday mood a little differently.

For instance, instead of subjecting viewers to stories of misfit toys and weather misers, Chiller TV is ushering in the week before Christmas on Dec. 17, beginning at 8 p.m., with a top-13 countdown of the "Decade's Scariest Movie Moments."

The counting down will be down by pop culture and horror movie experts. Additionally, participants include Kyle Massey (Dancing With The Stars finalist), renowned special makeup effects supervisor Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead), comedians Dan Gurewitch & David Young (collegehumor.com), actress Betsy Russell (the Saw anthology), writer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), actor Tony Todd (Final Destination) and horror film director Lucky McKee (May), among others.

Also, the Chiller 13's "most memorably spine-tingling moments" will be followed up on Dec. 31 with a New Year's Eve zombie marathon. So while you're wishing you're undead after either eating too much pie or arguing politics with family, you can watch classics The Evil Dead with envy for the victims.

Watch the teaser for Chiller 13 below.