A new year, new horrors to discover. What are we most excited about?
Maniac
The remake of William Lustig’s 1980 grindhouse classic Maniac takes a new spin with director Franck Khalfoun in the driver’s seat. Elijah Wood stars as Frank, the titular maniac, who scalps women to work out his mommy issues. What sets the new Maniac apart from the old is that this one is all told from Frank’s point of view, which takes the gruesome film to a whole new level of unnerving fright. Maniac made the festival rounds during 2012, and I was lucky enough to see it. What I am looking forward to is the reaction of other horror fans when they get a chance to see this uncomfortable little flick.
Evil Dead
I am intrigued to see what could bring original Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell back to the franchise (as a producer.) Although wasn’t Evil Dead II essentially a remake of Evil Dead?
Pacific Rim
There has been a lot of hype for Guillermo del Toro’s giant monsters vs. giant robots film, and in anyone else’s hands, I would chalk it up to generic blockbuster shlock. But del Toro is a mad genius, so I will trust anything he creates.
Carrie
I have far less faith in this remake than the other remakes on this list, but I am curious as to what director Kimberly Pierce will do with Carrie. Chloe Moretz always plays strong (and strongheaded) characters - I am not sure if she can play the timid pre-prom Carrie.
The Following
This is one of the top-rated new TV series of the season. Fox has a dodgy history with dramas (they have far more failures than successes - and even the successes haven’t been good television) but it is a fascinating concept (a serial killer is using technology to create a brainwashed cult of copycat killers that he can control from prison) created by Kevin Williamson, and starring Kevin Bacon.
Bates Motel
There have been a lot of Psycho sequels (and a prequel or two, I believe) but this one has a strong cast (led by Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore) and A&E seems to be putting its full support behind the project. I’m concerned about the fact that Bates Motel is set in the modern day, but I think if they essentially “ignore” Hitchcock’s Psycho, it will hold up just fine.
Hannibal
Bryan Fuller’s other NBC genre project, Mockingbird Lane, was DOA. I am excited to see what master of small screen quirkiness has come up with for such a famous franchise as Hannibal, but I don’t want to get screwed over again. NBC has yet to announce a premiere date for Hannibal, which doesn’t give me much hope.
A New Album from Nine Inch Nails
So I heard a rumor Trent Reznor might be releasing a new album this year under the Nine Inch Nails moniker. Reznor certainly hasn’t put aside music when he put aside the band name, but what is more exciting is that he is considering touring again. Count me in!
Castlevania - Mirror of Fate
I played a very, very early build of this entry in the Castlevania series at Comic-Con. Designed for the Nintendo 3DS, it looked cool and the 3D was quite nice. I want to see what the full game has in store.
Fantastic Fest
I have heard nothing but wonderful things about this hardcore genre film fest/social event in Austin. I am hoping this year I get to go. Horror movies, booze, food, more horror movies, and people who love horror movies for a whole week. Sounds like a little slice of heaven.