Horror Squad, Horror Movies, News, Trailers, and More

Just when you thought it was safe to assume the mega horror franchise would once again own another Halloween at the box office, Friday estimates are showing that Paranormal Activity ($7.5 million) beat Saw VI ($7 million), despite the fact that the latter is playing on over 1,100 more screens than the former. Could this finally be the year that a Saw film tanks at the box office? Could Paranormal Activity be the movie that keeps Jigsaw in check? And if Saw VI loses the weekend box office to Paranormal Activity (which early estimates are indicating), what will this mean for the Saw franchise moving forward?

Whether or not you liked Paranormal Activity, you really do have to give it props for being one of the most successful underdog flicks in history. Do you realize that if the film somehow manages to pull in a total of $100 million at the box office (after this weekend it could climb above $60 million), it will become the most successful Paramount film in modern history? As Deadline Hollywood points out, the movie was acquired for $300k and the studio only spent around $10 million on prints and advertising, so, says a DH "insider", "this will be the best return Paramount has ever had." I'd like to repeat that because it's definitely worth repeating: This little indie film could give Paramount the best return it has ever had. Remarkable.

More at Cinematical!

Everyone who has ever owned a red and green striped sweater has at one point in their life contemplated dressing up as Freddy Krueger for Halloween. But while some think that all they need is a sweater and a make-shift claw, there's a lot more that goes into a clever Krueger Halloween costume -- and last thing you want is for your sorry ass to bumble into a costume party and have everyone go, "Soooo, you're dressed up as ... Santa's mutilated bastard child?"

For that reason (and for that reason alone), we here at Horror Squad have decided to pull together the 10 worst Freddy Krueger costumes we could find online so that this year on Halloween, none of our faithful readers will embarrass themselves (not to mention one of horror's greatest all-time villains) by wearing some half-assed Krueger get-up.

Check them out after the jump.

Horror Squad has just received this exclusive behind-the-scenes clip from The Hills Run Red DVD, which hit stores September 29. And because what else would you feature from a film called The Hills Run Red, the clip we have (watch it after the jump) shows the production team setting up a shot in which buckets of blood are literally poured down a hill. Directed by Dave Parker and starring an excellent William Sadler, here's a brief rundown of the plot from our good friends over at FearNet:

"The Hills Run Red (THRR) is a modestly-budgeted but effective gore fest about the search for a legendary 'lost' horror film of the same title, a movie that was supposedly so notorious and disturbing it was only screened once before disappearing from the face of the earth...as did it's entire cast and iconic director Wilson Wyler Concannon."

Buzz on this one is pretty good, so head after the jump to watch the clip and make sure to pick up the DVD, now available in stores.

Those who missed Paranormal Activity over the weekend when it unleashed a handful of midnight screenings in select cities will be happy to know that due to overwhelming demand, Paramount Pictures has decided to extend the film's release into 20 more cities beginning this Friday. The studio has encouraged fans to demand the film play in their city via its official website, and have said that since then over 200,000 people have requested a screening at a theater near them -- turning this low-budgeted (it was made for only $15,000) horror flick into this fall's sleeper sensation.

From Brad's Fantastic Fest review of the film: "Completed in 2007 and rumored to possess several different endings, this film, although not flawless, is as close to perfect as you can get with a horror film. The concept of the film is simple: a young woman, Katie, has been experiencing some rather disturbing paranormal events lately – odd bumps, creepy vibes, and, strange whispers in the night -- and her boyfriend Micah sets up a camera in their living room in an attempt to record evidence of paranormal activity. Although she firmly believes that what is happening is real, he is skeptical. But the camera never lies." [Read More]

Keep an eye on the Paranormal Activity website for more information and to find out which cities the film will be expanding to next.

More on Moviefone: Is Paranormal Activity the next Blair Witch Project?

Horror Squad has received four exclusive images from Sorority Row (due in theaters on September 11), about a group of sorority sisters who try to cover up the death-by-prank of their fellow sister, but then find themselves being tracked by a serial killer. In addition to the images (which you can click through in the gallery below), Moviefone landed a bunch of behind-the-scenes videos which help introduce you to each girl in the film ... before, ya know, you watch them get brutally murdered in whatever creative way the filmmakers saw fit. (I'd personally like to see a sorority girl impaled with the Greek letters of her particular sorority -- how cool would that be?)

And speaking of girls, the film stars Briana Evigan, Leah Pipes, Rumer Willis, Jamie Chung, Audrina Patridge and more. Check out the new images below and watch the videos after the jump. Sorority Row slices her way into theaters on September 11.

Because we want to make commenting, debating, ranting and discussing as easy as possible on our new genre sites, Horror Squad and SciFi Squad, we've gone and changed the commenting system so that you do not need an AOL account to drop your two cents in. Just like the commenting system on Cinematical, you now have the option to comment under a name you've been using for a long time now, under your AIM screename or as someone completely new -- it's all up to you!

Of course, in return we ask that you remain civil and friendly. We're all here for the same reason -- we love movies -- and there's no reason why we can't geek out about it in a manner that doesn't insult one or more of your fellow readers. So have fun, get creative and please comment away!

In anticipation of this year's San Diego Comic Con, Horror Squad and SciFi Squad have launched the ultimate fan polls, asking you readers to vote not only for the best films of all time in their respective genre, but also on favorite characters, future scream queens, films from the past year and so on. We're going to ask you to make some tough choices here, but that's the point -- how else are we to determine the best of the best? So check out our Ultimate Horror Movie Fan Poll below and vote away! When you're done, head on over to SciFi Squad and do the same. We'll announce the winners just in time for this year's Comic Con.

The first clip from Sam Raimi's upcoming horror flick Drag Me To Hell has arrived online via Moviefone (watch it there or down below), and in it star Alison Lohman has what appears to be a frightening encounter with ... a breeze. Yeah yeah -- what's so scary about wind? Well, when the wind begins to take the form of some freaky monster, then, um, something tells me we'd all be cowering in the corner. Unfortunately I didn't have the pleasure of watching Drag Me To Hell when it screened (as a "work in progress") at this year's SXSW Film Festival, but a whole bunch of Cinematical writers really dug it, and why wouldn't they: Sam Raimi has done wonders with this genre in the past (Evil Dead movies, anyone?), and he's a natural when it comes to massaging in the creep factor.

From Peter Martin's SXSW review: "But this much is clear: Raimi has made a joyful romp through his personal horror playground and come up with a very entertaining horror-comedy that gets back to the basics. By that I mean creepy shadows on the wall and things that go bump in the night: all the odd, unexplained sights and sounds that keep anxious children awake at night, hiding under the covers. Any inkling that Raimi's soul might have been irretrievably chewed up by the Hollywood studio machinery -- a well-founded concern after the disappointing Spider-Man 3 -- quickly evaporates once the story gets underway."

Check out the clip below; Drag Me To Hell drags its freaky ass into theaters on May 29.

Director Rob Zombie has already wrapped production on Halloween 2 (or H2), even though it feels as if only two weeks have passed since his return to the franchise was announced. Zombie celebrated by releasing an image of the new Michael Myers, stressing that this will be one of many faces Myers shows off in the new film. This comes after word spread that Myers will remain mask-less for 70% of the movie, which would certainly be a huge departure from the original horror franchise. I dunno, I kinda like my slashers in a mask. Remove the mask and, well, they're just another random weirdo ... and I've seen enough of those just walking the streets of New York City.

What do you think: With the mask or without it?

By: Elisabeth Rappe

Remember the Venom spin-off rumors that were slithering around last July? They've now turned into something official. Sony is developing a Venom movie, and they've hired two writers to develop it: Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, who have only just left the still-filming Zombieland. The project is in such early stages that we don't have additional details, though more might become clearer once Spider-Man 4 settles down.