There’s more than a few eyebrow-raising projects in the second half of 2009. Again, this is just a selection of US films, and while there’s sure to be a few sleeper hits that haven’t been covered, this reviewer will try his best to look into other offerings, not only from the rest of the West, but also, of course, from the East.
Information on the following films is sketchy so far, with only three of them given definate timeframes and some of them likely to slip into 2010 releases, but here’s what’s lurking.
August-November 2009 Releases in Horror Films:
- H2 (Halloween 2)
Slated for August 28th is Rob Zombie’s sequal to his own re-make of the John Carpenter slasher. Despite a generally poor reception to the first attempt, criticism of the film was nonetheless a strong mix of applause for a brave effort and scorn for a lack of technical subtlety and experience.
The fact that Mr. Zombie returns to direct the sequal is at least a positive note in the production and anything has to be better than continuing with the farcical sequals of the original franchise.
- Zombieland
Then there’s another zombie-movie. They’re everywhere. There’s no stopping them. This film might be flirting with a thematic overload in the genre, but for the fact that it’s taking the route of a) a horror-comedy, and b) the lesser-seen quick-footed undead, used to good effect in one of the few worthwhile re-makes in 2004’s Dawn of the Dead by 300 director Zach Snyder.
Starring Woody Harrelson and Jesse Einberg this will also have to contend with inevitable comparisons to zombie-comedy Shaun of the Dead, which puts it at a major disadvantage. It’ll need a good director, but as with most horror-film productions, it’s been given a first-timer in Ruben Fleischer. Scheduled for October 9th.
- The Wolf Man
Surely the most anticipated re-make in recent years and one that’s arguably overdue, based on the 1941 Universal, George Waggner, Lon Chaney classic.
Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, and Anthony Hopkins should make for a great cast (assuming they’re working with a quality script). In an ideal world, however, one might not be inclined to give the project to the director of Jurassic Park III – Joe Johnston. Let’s hope he’s inspired on this one. A US and UK release is now put at November 6th, having been put back from April.
In Early Production Through 2009: TBA
All of the following films, as yet, do not have a set release, though most are expected this year.
- Cell & From A Buick 8
There’s a Stephen King one-two with Cell and From A Buick 8. Cell provides the setting for a technological future overrun with…yes, more zombies. The writer/director of Hostel Parts I & II, Eli Roth, is attached. Not a big fan of Eli Roth here, but there’s potential in the setting.
From a Buick 8 also has a successful director attached – none other than Tobe Hooper. This, in a nutshell, is about a car that takes it’s passengers to a dark dimension, but bad directors can make bad films out of great premises and good directors good films from mediocre premises. This will be all about Hooper’s delivery, so this one’s well worth keeping an eye out for.
- Ligeia & Edgar Allan Poe
From a contemporary master of horror to a timeless master, as this year celebrates the 200th anniversary of Poe’s birth. Ligeia is an adaptation from director Michael Staininger (yet another first-timer) from the story of the same name. This will likely be more of an homage than a transition from medium to medium, but has nevertheless set high standards for itself.
Then there’s Edgar Allan Poe, from Nu Image Films, based on a script developed by Sylvester Stallone with Robert Downey Jr as preferred choice to portray the man himself in this biopic. It’s this reviewer’s pick of the litter, simply because of the many x-factors involved (excepting a perfect choice in Downey Jr). It could be great, could be terrible, or just somewhere in the mild middle. Place your bets.
- House of the Devil, There's No Place Like Home & Hypothermia
A triple-bill deal struck at Dark Sky Films and Glass Eye Pix will bring us House of the Devil, in which a baby-sitting job serves to lure it’s victim to a satanic ritual. Not related to the Méliès equivalent. Director Ti West is also working on Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever, for a 2009 release.
The second and third of the trinity are There’s No Place Like home (directed and written by JT Petty) and Hypothermia (directed and written by James Felix McKenney). There’s virtually no details on these yet, except that Hypothermia will be an ice-creature feature. More on these as they come to light.
- 25/8
Another return for a horror heavy-weight with Wes Craven’s latest - 25/8 . It’s the story of a serial killer who stalks seven children born on the same day that he died. It may sound like a re-take on the Nightmare premise, but you can’t ignore a veteran of the genre.
- Drag Me to Hell
As the story of a supernatural curse gone wrong, it may not immediately demand attention, but when we hear that this is a return to horror for Sam Raimi, well, it’s worth getting excited about. Raimi’s homecoming feature will be big news, irrespective of the final result.
- Frankenstein
Most speculative of them all is a new Frankenstein film, more than news-worthy at this stage simply because MTV News was recently told by a certain director tha he’s “always been” interested in doing his own version. The director? Guillermo Del Toro. This seems to be moving into pre-production and will be a must-see.
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To review the first article’s selection and sources, click Here.
