The chair creaks as you settle onto it. The candlelight flickers. All around you the ravenous faces of your so-called friends twist in delight as you slowly open the box laid out on the table. Welcome to Dangerous Games! Each week, we'll feature a horror/thriller/monster tabletop game you should be playing. Don't be scared… roll the dice… what's the worst that could happen?

'Catacombs' - Sands of Time Games (2010)

You're creeping through a dank, vile catacomb. All around you the smiling faces of skulls seem to move and chatter in your torchlight. You, so called "brave" adventurer, have been sent down into these unhallowed tombs to find the vile lich, or to slay to corrupted dragon, or to kill the dreaded sorcerer. These catacombs seem to beg for your blood, can you and your friends flick your way to victory?

Yes, that's right, I said "flick your way to victory." 'Catacombs' is a game for two to five players that combines the atmosphere of a fantasy dungeon crawl with a dexterity-based flicking game. Your characters are represented by small discs, and you'll spend the game flicking them at your opponents to move and "deal damage." And if that's not enough, it's all flavored to look at feel more like horror/fantasy, rather than just a vanilla adventure.

Gameplay Mechanics

As mentioned above, the chief mechanic in this game is disc flicking. One player will play the roll of the Overseer. He controls all the monsters, including the final boss. The other players will control one of four heroes, each of them with a special set of abilities and special moves they can do. There's the thief, the wizard, the elf and the barbarian.

As players flick their way across the board they'll earn gold from killing monsters. With that they can buy items at a set time in the game. There are multiple boards with room for obstacles built into them, and the game continues until either all the heroes are killed (and the Overseer wins) or until the heroes make it into the final room and kill the final boss (and the players win).

Replay Value

This is not a long game. You can play through a full adventure in under an hour. As such, it has a lot of appeal to lighter-game fans. If you like a game you can set up quickly and play in that short amount of time, you'll definitely keep coming back to 'Catacombs.' It is a lighter game, without heavy and overbearing rules, so it's a pleasure to return to.

Overall Impressions

This is one of those games that I've been staring at on the shelf of my local game shop. I finally did some research and scooped it up, and I'm really glad I did. This won all types of awards for "most innovative game" the year it came out. That's for good reason, this is an awesome, completely wild, new way to play a game. If you can find yourself a copy and you like your horror splashed with elves… check it out!

Tomorrow marks the stateside home video release of You're Next, which saw release over in the UK today.  As a fun little promotional campaign for the release, the company handling the UK distribution had custom LEGO figures of horror icons whipped up, which they used for the infographic seen above.  If you saw the graphic getting shared around the internet this past weekend, I'm willing to bet that you were left wondering if there was any possible way you could get your hands on these awesome figures, and today we're happy to report that there indeed is!

UK company MINIFIGS.ME specalizes in custom-made personalized LEGOs, and they're the ones who created the promotional figures.  Realizing that horror fans were probably going to want them, they've made the six iconic villains available for sale over on their website, ranging in price from approximately $18 (Norman Bates) to $25 (Freddy Krueger).  Each of the killers comes equipped with their own weapon of choice, Jack Torrance clutching his trusty axe and You're Next's Fox Mask brandishing a deadly crossbow.

Head over to the Mini Figs website to purchase your favorite villains, and to find out how you can get yourself a custom LEGO figure, made in your likeness!

The release of Grindhouse in 2007 started a trend of fans making their own fake trailers for horror movies that don't really exist, inspired by Eli Roth's Thanksgiving and Edgar Wright's Don't.  One of those faux trailers that came along in the wake of the film was Jon Watts' Clown, which claimed to have the involvement of Eli Roth.  In truth, Roth had nothing whatsoever to do with the film, which many horror fans were bummed to discover wasn't actually a film at all.

That is... until now.

To make a long story short, Roth ended up seeing the trailer, and was so impressed with it that he helped Watts turn the idea into an actual feature length horror film.  Set for release sometime in the near future, Clown centers on a father who puts on a clown costume to entertain his son, and soon finds himself unable to take it off.  The curly wig fuses with his real hair, the red nose becomes a part of his own and even the makeup can't be washed off.  Turns out, the spirit of an evil killer clown has overtaken the man, and it won't be happy until he kills everyone he loves.

Check out the just released official trailer for Clown, and you'll also find Watts' original faux trailer below it!

UPDATE: Trailer was taken down at studio request but you can still see the original faux Clown trailer below.

One man's trash is another man's treasure, as they say, and for artist Steve Casino, this little pearl of wisdom most definitely applies.  Rather than going out and buying expensive canvases, and painting his work onto them, Casino instead paints the shells of peanuts, which the rest of us toss in the trash once we've consumed their tasty contents.  He calls himself 'the painter of nuts,' and you'll be amazed at the creations he's able to turn them into.

Though Casino turns his nuts into all sorts of iconic pop culture characters, from Elvis Presley to Doctor Who, it's his horror nuts that we're of course most impressed with here on FEARNET.  Herman and Lily Munster, Alfred Hitchcock and Dracula are just a few of the horror icons that have been depicted in Casino's incredibly unique form of art, which recently caught the attention of Good Morning America.  His process first begins with finding the perfectly shaped peanut for each individual job, which he then paints and spices up with things like hair, arms, legs and various other accessories.  The results?  Nuts that you'd rather look at than eat!

Check out more of Casino's horror-inspired creations below, and see even more peanut art over on his website!

A beautiful young woman wakes up in a dark basement, only to discover that she's being held captive by a pair of lunatics who...

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The giant squid has been described as one of the most elusive creatures of the sea, and classified as the largest invertebrate on planet Earth.  In fact, it wasn't until 2004 that researchers were ever able to even film one of the massive sea monsters in its natural habitat, and very rarely have they been glimpsed over the years, aside from corpses washing ashore from time to time.

So you can imagine the surprise of one Japanese fisherman, when he unexpectedly netted one of the elusive creatures last week.

As reported by The Huffington Post, Shigenori Goto is the man who made the rare catch, while he was fishing for yellowtails off Japan's Sadogashima Island.  Around 7am, Goto spotted the giant male squid, catching it in his net and dragging it to the surface.  Unfortunately, the 13-foot long, 350-pound beast died soon after it was taken out of its natural habitat, though researchers still say the catch will prove to be incredibly useful for them.

Below you'll find video footage taken of the terrifying monster, which you probably shouldn't watch if you've got a fear of the things that go splash in the night!

It's estimated that giant squid can grow to sizes of 43-feet long, making this guy a mere baby in comparison.  A frightening thought, isn't it?!

It sure seems like a lot of Asian horror films have to do with real estate in one way or another. I'm thinking specifically of the Grudge series from Japan and the rather excellent Dream Home (2010) from Hong Kong, but I'm certain there are several others. (Hey, I needed a clever opening.) And of course I brought up that first point because I have another solid import to add to the list: Korea's Hide and Seek, which comes from first-time writer/director Jung Huh, and was a pretty big hit in its native country.

An adorable letter from a 7-year-old Australian girl began surfacing around the internet last week, which she recently sent off to the scientists at CSIRO (the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization).  In the hand-written letter, young Sophie asked scientists if they could breed her a dragon pet, saying that she would call it Toothless if it was a girl, and Stuart if it was a boy.  "Would it be possible if you could make a dragon for me?," she wrote.  "I would like it if you could, but if you can't that's fine."

Though the scientists initially wrote back that dragons aren't real, and that even they therefore couldn't make her dream a reality, they eventually thought better of squashing her How To Train a Dragon-inspired fantasies, and utilized the incredible power of 3D printers to make her wish come true.  As we spotted over on Geeks Are Sexy, the scientists at the organization ended up printing a 3D dragon out of titanium, based on Sophie's drawing, which they have indeed named Toothless.  The blue dragon is currently on its way to Sophie's home in Brisbane, and I can only hope that someone catches her smile on film, when Toothless arrives on her doorstep.  Go you, scientists.

Check out a short video of Toothless below, which shows the process of her creation!

Bates Motel was one of last season's most enjoyable shows, so I am very excited that it returns for a second season in March. A&E just released the first two teases for season two.

Someone's at the door.

Plus, enjoy this little "making of season two" video courtesy of Shock Till You Drop:

It's always an exciting thing when big name stars are attached to genre films, and the upcoming flick Repentance is full of them.  Produced by and starring Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, the thriller also stars Anthony Mackie, Mike Epps and Sanaa Lathan as four characters whose lives intersect and are forever changed as a result.

Directed by Philippe Caland, the psychological thriller centers around Mackie's Tommy Carter, a therapist and spiritual advisor who's still dealing with the trauma of an alcohol-induced car crash that nearly took his life.  In an effort to raise funds to help his brother (Mike Epps), Tommy takes on a troubled man named Angel Sanchez (Whitaker) as a personal client, and soon finds that Sanchez's problems are a danger to his well-being, to say the least.

Repentance will be getting a limited theatrical rollout on February 28th.  In the meantime, you can meet the four main characters from the film below, with these easy to digest character introduction teasers.  Learn more about the film over on the official website.

With director Tammi Sutton’s much-buzzed about and award-winning feature Isle of Dogs premiering in Los Angeles this coming Saturday night at the New Beverly Cinema (7165 West Beverly Blvd.), we caught up with the filmmaker to discuss her thoughts on the premiere and feature, as well as those on Whispers, her latest project, and more. 

“I'm excited to announce my feature film Isle of Dogs is playing at The New Beverly,” Sutton, who also executive produced from a script by Seth Hogan, told us of the L.A. bow of her bloody, British crime-thriller. Isle of Dog stars Andrew Howard (I Spit On Your Grave) as a violent gangster who finds himself embroiled in a love triangle with his Russian trophy-wife Nadia (Hostel actress Barbara Nedeljakova), and a small-time hood (Edward Hogg).

“As a filmmaker, on a very personal level, I had always dreamed of filming something in England,” Sutton told us.

“I had grown up on a steady diet of British film and television, from Dr. Who, Hammer classic horror, James Bond films, Faulty Towers, and any and all other classic comedy, sci-fi, horror, and dramas you can name from the UK.  As I got older, I seriously got interested in the British gangster and Italian giallo films, so while traveling in England and Europe, they were all I could think about.  The band Goblin was the soundtrack for my travels.  Honestly, if I'd had gone to Italy in the 70’s, I'm sure I'd have ended up like the girls in the end of the film To Be Twenty."

Sutton has proven herself an engagingly formidable and supportive member of the L.A. horror scene. “On one of my trips to Berlin to scout Babelsberg Studios during the Berlinale Film Festival, I was hanging out with producer and friend Travis Stevens, who I adore, and I mentioned to him that I was ready to make a movie that I wanted to see, and that I would have a real passion for, but that I needed a strong British writer to help bring my ideas to life.  Travis and I went to a great bowling alley-karaoke party in Germany, and he insisted that I meet British writer Sean Hogan, and that was it.  Sean and I connected in London shortly after, and Isle of Dogs was born.” 

As for her directorial approach to the flick, “It was not what I was used to,” she said openly.

“Previous to this film I had only done work-for-hire types of films.  I was used to heavy guidelines and particulars from casting, music choices, locations, and everything else imaginable.  This one was different in every way.  The freedom that came with Isle of Dogs also came with new self-induced expectations and challenges, and sometimes, fears.  Simply put, I had no one to hide behind or make excuses to when it came to making artistic choices, and I'd never felt so scared in my life.  I'd never felt so free either.  It was the stuff directors and filmmakers dream of.  I appreciate every single moment of that experience. I had a very special, strong team of cast and crew, and hope that they all know that I needed every bit of their support and every bit of their ribbing.  I made a film that, at the end of the day, I can say that I fell in love with, and I’m excited I finally get to share it with others.”

Regarding Sutton’s upcoming work, she’s currently finishing her next feature, Whispers, a psychological thriller which stars Keeley Hazell and Craig Rees, along with Nedeljakova, Phil Bloomberg and Diane Goldner (Feast).  The synopsis is as follows:  "When a young mother (Hazell) loses her child, she retreats to the British countryside with her husband (Rees) to his childhood home, only to find herself haunted by her darkest fears."  Filming for Whispers is still in production and additional cast members will be announced soon.

Tickets to the screening, which takes place at 11:55 PM this Saturday (with a Q&A to follow with Sutton and star Nedeljakova) can be purchased here.  Isle of Dogs releases on DVD on January 28^th via Green Apple Entertainment. Follow the flick on Twitter and on Facebook. 

Stay tuned for more!

In the opening scene of Gremlins 2: The New Batch, loveable Mogwai Gizmo sees a clip of Rambo: First Blood Part 2 on TV, which inspires him to fight back against Stripe and his evil allies later on in the film - tying a red bandana around his head and launching an all out John Rambo-inspired assault on his fellow Gremlins.  But what if the sequel had been made in the 2000s, rather than in the 1990s?  What action flick would Gizmo be more likely to catch a clip of on TV, and use as inspiration to fight back?  Kill Bill, perhaps?

The violence of Quentin Tarantino meets the humor of Joe Dante in this incredibly fun animated mash-up video, which imagines a world where Gizmo indeed does take inspiration from Uma Thurman's bloody revenge on O-Ren Ishii and her Crazy 88, rather than on John Rambo's assault on enemy troops.  The man behind the gory re-imagining of Gremlins 2 is Samuel Toniolo, and it took him about a year's worth of work to complete - now that's dedication!

Hit the play button below to watch the green blood fly in Kill Stripe!

Next on our tour of abandoned amusement parks is Joyland in Wichita, Kansas. First founded in 1933 to display a miniature train, then moved locations in 1949 to the place it still stands today. In the early 1970s, the Ottaway family sold the park to Stanley and Margaret Nelson, who added the majority of the rides that still stand today.

Joyland closed in 2004 for both economical and safety concerns. It briefly reopened for the 2006 season when the T-Rex Group leased the park and did some renovations. It has sat empty since 2006, with only vandals and arsonists and urban explorers visiting the site. Locals have started an aggressive campaign to raise funds to restore the park, and were recently granted tax-exempt status. The park includes many historical relics, including the last standing wooden roller coaster by the famous Philadelphia Toboggan Company; the last Wacky Shack to be built by designer Bill Tracy (only months before he died); and one of two Mammoth Military Band Organs from the Wurlitzer Company (and it was played by a terrifying clown named Louie).

But of course, you are here for the pictures of a once-happy place that now looks like it has been taken over by zombies.

For more abandoned amusement parks, check out Miracle Strip in Florida; Disney World's Abandoned Parks; Prehistoric Forest in Michigan; and Okpo Land in Korea.

Photos courtesy of Imgur

We've all likely been spooked by stories that suggest all sorts of creepy crawlies enter our noses, ears and even mouths while we sleep, the bugs eager to find a warm and cozy place to spend the night.  But does it actually happen?  Do we actually eat insects while we sleep?  And do the bugs that roam around our houses really convert our other orifices into hotel rooms?  The answer to all of these questions is, unforunately, yes.

As reported by ABC, Australian man Hendrik Helmer was startled awake early last Wednesday morning by a sharp pain in his ear, and he immediately suspected that an insect was to blame.  Racked with overwhelming pain, Helmer made several attempts to remove the potential bug from his ear canal, including using a vacuum cleaner to try and suck it out, all of which did nothing but drive the creature further into his ear.

Out of options, Helmer had his roomate take him to the hospital, where initial attempts to drown out the bug also failed.  It began to burrow deeper and deeper into his ear, forcing the doctor to grab a pair of forceps and dig it out.  Turns out, it was a cockroach that turned Helmer's ear into a literal Roach Motel, and the sucker measured in at 2 centimeters long.

Free of pain, Helmer says his sleeping habits will not be changed because of the incident, though some friends of his have begun sleeping with headphones on.  Not a bad idea, if I may say so myself!