Brotherhood of the Wolf and Silent Hill director Christophe Gans’ new Silent Hill movie Return to Silent Hill, which is said to be “totally independent from the two previous movies,” is set to make its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this month – and in anticipation of that premiere, Variety has gotten their hands on the first image from the movie, which features the iconic character Pyramid Head from the video game series! You can check it out at the bottom of this article.

Gans directed the 2006 version of Silent Hill from a screenplay he wrote with Roger Avary and Nicolas Boukhrief, and directed this new film from a screenplay he wrote with Sandra Vo-Anh and Will Schneider. Based on the video game Silent Hill 2, Return to Silent Hill follows James, a man broken after being separated from his one true love. When a mysterious letter calls him back to Silent Hill in search of her, he finds a once-recognizable town transformed by an unknown evil. As James descends deeper into the darkness, he encounters terrifying figures both familiar and new and begins to question his own sanity as he struggles to make sense of reality and hold on long enough to save his lost love.

The film stars Jeremy Irvine (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) and Hannah Emily Anderson (Jigsaw).

Return to Silent Hill was produced by Victor Hadida, Molly Hassell, and David Wulf. When the project was heading into production, Gans provided the following statement: “Return to Silent Hill is a mythological love story about someone so deeply in love, they’re willing to go to Hell to save someone. I’m delighted to have the wonderful talents of both Jeremy Irvine and Hannah Emily Anderson take us on this journey into a psychological horror world that I hope will both satisfy and surprise fans of Silent Hill.“

Hadida added: “Christophe and I have been working closely with our partners at KONAMI, as they update the video game, to also create a version of Silent Hill for the theatrical audiences of today. You will still find the iconic monsters – but there will also be new designs. We are confident that this new film and KONAMI’s updated game together will propel the Silent Hill franchise forward for years to come.“

Are you looking forward to Return to Silent Hill? Take a look at the image of Pyramid Head, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Return to Silent Hill first look image features Pyramid Head appeared first on JoBlo.

Super Mario 64’s Cool, Cool Mountain is probably one of the most iconic snow levels in gaming history, but did you know that people have spent the past 28 years trying to get through a single door? That is until earlier this week, when a Youtuber named pannenkoek2012 uploaded a video explaining how to get through…

Read more…

Super Mario 64’s Cool, Cool Mountain is probably one of the most iconic snow levels in gaming history, but did you know that people have spent the past 28 years trying to get through a single door? That is until earlier this week, when a Youtuber named pannenkoek2012 uploaded a video explaining how to get through…

Read more…

PLOT: After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple is forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.

REVIEW: I count myself as a big fan of the original Strangers. The idea of home invasion is absolutely terrifying and its pulled off brilliantly. The Strangers themselves were able to enter the pop culture zenith due to their incredible mask designs and the mystery behind them. Then Prey At Night came out and didn’t have quite the same impact. Sure, everyone likes the pool scene but what else is there? So it’s nice to see The Strangers return, but more in the style of the 2008 film. But those expecting the same old, same old may be disappointed.

Despite being a soft reboot, Chapter 1 is very much a different vibe from the original film. Following two young adults, this has a decidedly more slashery feel; complete with tropes and jump scares. And I’ve harped on jump scares for ages but it all depends on the context. A cat jumping out of nowhere, accompanied by a loud noise? Cheap. The appearance of a creepy mechanic after showing him staring from a distance? Perfectly set up. Especially when tension permeates nearly every frame, so these moments of release help the momentum of the film. This is definitely one you’ll want to experience with a crowd.

In many ways, Chapter 1 feels like a retelling of the original story. Only instead of a couple being attacked at their summer home, it’s a younger couple being attacked at their Airbnb. Nearly all of us have used these services so it feels like a nice modern upgrade. I mean hell, what millennials actually own homes, let alone vacation homes? Maya and Ryan are a believable couple, even if their interactions in the first act are a little hokey. They’re both great once the horror starts. And the town of Venus, Oregon has a personality all its own, with various locals that are teased to be the true identities of the nefarious bad guys. I liked the religious angle they hinted at, as there’s clearly a lot more going on here.

Maya and Ryan are an interesting couple because they feel so fundamentally opposed. Maya is open and trusting while Ryan is more reserved and combative. Unlike the original where it was more “is our relationship over”, this is more of a “are these people right for each other?” Then through the course of the film, we see how much they clearly care for each other. And I really enjoyed how Maya feels like more of an audience surrogate while Ryan is making standard horror mistakes.

There’s not a whole lot of violence here but I appreciated how much they went for practically. There’s a bit involving a nail that is expertly handled. However, there is one bit of CGI that is genuinely baffling in its execution. It really took me out of the film and made me question why they even included it in the first place. There are a few moments of “Why aren’t you just driving/running!?” but it doesn’t ruin the experience. If anything, I was very impressed with the logic on display. There’s a moment where Maya remembers to take the shotgun with her that elicited a massive reaction from my screening audience.

The Strangers themselves all have personalities that help them feel distinguishable. Bringing back the same mask designs was a smart move as they’re truly terrifying, especially when shown lurking in the background. Their lack of dialogue and body language really adds to their aura. I loved all the lurking near the characters without their knowledge. My main concern going in was that we’d find out too much about the villains. And while there are hints to their purpose, nothing is outright stated. Mystery is their strong suit so it’s hard not to worry about any potential unmaskings in future entries.

Overall I really enjoyed my time with The Strangers: Chapter 1. I think that fans of the original will enjoy this one but there will be some annoyed at how slashery it gets. This is much more overt in its scares. The rest of the trilogy is really going to affect how this one is viewed in hindsight because there’s a lot of setup going on. If they go too far with explaining the origins, then this would could play worse on rewatch. But with only hints of what’s to come, I really enjoyed this outing for what it is: a cat and mouse thriller set at a cabin in the woods. As a massive slasher fan, this film felt like it was made for me and I can’t wait to see where they take it.

THE STRANGERS – Chapter 1 will be available in theaters nationwide on May 17, 2024. Check out our interviews with the cast HERE.

The Strangers: Chapter 1

GOOD

7

The post The Strangers: Chapter 1 Review appeared first on JoBlo.

While 3D cinema had come and gone in popularity, one premium screen that was made popular by Christopher Nolan’s attempt to use the technology is IMAX. Originally, the special cameras and format were meant for nature & science documentaries. The picture quality was unlike any that was seen before in order to capture the immense detail in every facet of the natural life on Earth. Then, Nolan had taken to using it for his blockbuster sequel, The Dark Knight, and crews of camera operators and projectionists would have to learn to utilize the practice for general audience movies.

The format has since taken off and has become a more luxurious and immersive way to watch a movie. This is especially if the film were a special effects-laden narrative that aims to take you on a journey onto a bigger plane. The practice has become more and more common in Hollywood with their big movies, and after last year’s Oppenheimer and this year’s Dune: Part Two, the appeal looks to be just as strong as ever. Deadline reports that the company has unveiled its 2025 slate of films and the output doubles any year in their history.

The 2025 movies filmed with IMAX cameras will include:
Captain America: Brave New World (Disney/Marvel) 
Untitled Ryan Coogler/Michael B. Jordan film (WB)
Thunderbolts (Disney/Marvel) 
Flowervale Street (WB)
Mission: Impossible 8 (Paramount) 
How To Train Your Dragon (Universal)
Untitled Formula One (Apple/Distributor TBC)
Superman (WB/DC)
The Fantastic Four (Disney/Marvel)
Mercy (MGM/Amazon)
The Bride! (WB)
TRON: Ares (Disney)
Blade (Disney/Marvel)
Chinese New Year, title TBC

IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond would respond to the recent figure that one in every five tickets are an IMAX purchase, “We always knew Imax was a very valuable proposition to audiences. It took longer than we had hoped for it to spill out in a dramatic way.” He added, “IMAX is becoming as much about excellence in production as it is presentation of the biggest blockbuster filmmaking. Quite simply, audiences get that if you see a movie filmed for IMAX in IMAX, you’re getting the best, most immersive cinematic experience money can buy, which is why we’re driving a huge share of the global box office on these titles.”

The future looks bright as IMAX is also in the process of developing and finalizing the release of four next-generation 15/65mm film cameras. The new technological equipment is on track to beta test their early prototypes this year, possibly in August. They are also expecting the new cameras to enter production by the end of the year.

The post IMAX boasts their 2025 slate as their biggest ever that have been filmed specially for the format appeared first on JoBlo.

FaZe Clan, the massively popular conglomerate of pro gamers, streamers, and online personalities, is trying to reinvent itself after a catastrophic IPO and recent purge of a majority of its members. It’s now partnering with DraftKings to do that, taking $11 million from the sports betting app to explore new…

Read more…

FaZe Clan, the massively popular conglomerate of pro gamers, streamers, and online personalities, is trying to reinvent itself after a catastrophic IPO and recent purge of a majority of its members. It’s now partnering with DraftKings to do that, taking $11 million from the sports betting app to explore new…

Read more…

I Rented Out The Peacock Theater in Los Angeles So I Could Hijack The Primetime Emmy Awards – Check Out What Happened Next! We could very well be seeing videos like that invade the Emmy Awards – that is, if YouTube gets its way, as CEO Neal Mohan said that web content should be considered for Emmy Awards. So smash that like and subscribe, guys!

In an op-ped piece for The Hollywood Reporter, Mohan said that YouTube plays a major role in our society and that content creators are far more innovative and hard-working than one might figure. “If you think creators are just recording vlogs from their bedrooms, then I have some big news. Creators have writers’ rooms, production teams, and business strategies. They’re developing programming that’s not just popular and relevant – it’s breaking boundaries.”

So, why should the Emmys bother with YouTube when something like the Webby Awards has been around for nearly three decades? According to Mohan, it’s all about keeping up with what’s hip. “Some might argue that broadening the Primetime Emmys to include consideration of creators would detract from its storied history or lessen its cultural significance. But recognizing the work of creators is the best way for the Television Academy to continue its legacy of honoring modern culture, while also building a bridge to the next generation of viewers.” Indeed, Primetime Emmy ratings have been on the decline, hitting yet another all-time low for the 75th annual ceremony. Hey, if the Emmys want to go ahead and nominate our own 900k+-subscriber channel, we wouldn’t stop them!

But not everything Mohan says quite tracks. Outside of name-dropping some of YouTube’s biggest catches – like MrBeast and Sean Evans, whose Hot Ones show has proven to be one of the most heralded interview shows running – he tried to finagle how we consume most of our video content. As he claimed, “The Emmys are a celebration of the best of television, and they should reflect what viewers are actually watching on their TV screens,” clearly not considering that it’s pretty rare for anybody to watch the latest PewDiePie exposé on their 4K flatscreen; no, they’re watching it on their phones. 

And while Mohan does have a passion to bring YouTube to the Emmy stage, he might have been unwise to touch on one of the industry’s most debated, hot-button topics: the use of artificial intelligence, which more than likely won’t help him drum up support for his cause. “As we enter a new era driven by AI, creators continue to lead the way. They’re jumping in to make the most of this moment even as traditional studios are still navigating the path forward. Creators see AI’s potential to amplify, augment, and scale their creativity.”

Do you think YouTube and content creators should be eligible for Emmy Awards? Give us your take in the comments section below, and who knows? Maybe our staff and JoBlo Originals and Horror Originals could make their way to the podium some day!

The post Could YouTube content be eligible for Emmys? appeared first on JoBlo.

The Netflix streaming service has a new film chief in Dan Lin – and one of the first projects Lin has greenlit at the streamer is an adaptation of author Ruth Ware’s bestselling 2016 thriller novel The Woman in Cabin 10, which has Keira Knightley attached to star in it as the titular woman! Simon Stone, who previously directed The Dig for Netflix, will be directing the film from a screenplay by Snake Eyes writers Joe Shrapnel and Anna Waterhouse (with Stone handling script revisions himself).

Knightley will be playing a travel journalist assigned to cover the launch of a luxury yacht. When she witnesses a passenger tossed overboard in the dead of night, no one believes her story as all on the ship have been accounted for. Doggedly she searches for answers, putting her own life in danger as the boat barrels through the desolate North Sea.

A description of Ware’s novel (you can pick up a copy at THIS LINK) provides some more information: In this tightly wound, enthralling story reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s works, Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. The sky is clear, the waters calm, and the veneered, select guests jovial as the exclusive cruise ship, the Aurora, begins her voyage in the picturesque North Sea. At first Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: The cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can describe only as a dark and terrifying nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for – and so the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong. With surprising twists, spine-tingling turns, and a setting that proves as uncomfortably claustrophobic as it is eerily beautiful, Ruth Ware offers up another taut and intense listen in The Woman in Cabin 10 – one that will leave even the most sure-footed listener restlessly uneasy long after the last minute ends.

Variety notes that Sister, the production company co-founded by Elizabeth Murdoch and Jane Featherstone and led by CEO Cindy Holland, is producing the film with Debra Hayward, while Sister’s Ilda Diffley serves as executive producer.

I have had some of Ruth Ware’s work recommended to me, but I haven’t gotten around to reading any of her books yet, so I’m not familiar with The Woman in Cabin 10 – but the description sounds interesting enough that I’m definitely going to be reading the book before the film adaptation reaches Netflix.

Have you read The Woman in Cabin 10? What do you think of Keira Knightley signing on to star in the Netflix adaptation? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post The Woman in Cabin 10: Keira Knightley to star in Ruth Ware thriller adaptation appeared first on JoBlo.

The last couple of years have really ramped up in AI capability and debate. It even became one of the biggest issues that the artists fought for when the writers and actors held union strikes when Hollywood studios started to implement more of the technology to cut certain corners. People all over social media would blow up at Disney for attempting to slip by some rather synthetic-looking extras for a basketball scene in a Disney+ movie titled Prom Pact. Even films like Civil War and Late Night with the Devil, which have been shown admiration and support from audiences for the filmmakers’ ingenuity with their creative visions, came under fire for using AI technology for producing images.

A new article from The Hollywood Reporter has admitted that “everyone in Hollywood uses AI, but they are scared to admit it.” Naturally, no matter how big or how small the usage is, it’s a hot-button issue when people’s jobs are taken away and creativity is stifled with a bunch of ones and zeroes composing from an imitation of style. According to THR, David Kavanagh, who is an executive officer of the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE), has said that some sectors of the industry are in danger of being dismantled altogether. Kavanagh stated, “Dubbing and subtitling employment in Europe is finished. It’s hard to see how they will survive this.” He would cite a technology in Europe being used to produce lip-synced dubs in multiple languages, even using versions of the original actor’s performance. The technology can alter the actor’s mouth into matching the newly dubbed dialogue in addition to using an AI voice pulled from the actors’ own.

It was revealed that this Saturday in Cannes, indie distributor XYZ Films, who released popular foreign movies like The Raid films, will present a sizzle reel of AI-translated trailers for some international films. These films include a Nordic sci-fi movie, UFO Sweden, a French comedy thriller, Vincent Must Die, and the Korean action hit Smugglers. These trailers will be featuring the TrueSync dubbing technology from L.A.-based company Flawless. Additionally, Flawless and XYZ will be pitching the tech for a way to cheaply produce high-quality English-language dubs that will make them more accessible for viewers who do not wish to contend with subtitles. The companies — Flawless, XYZ Films and Tea Shop Productions — are planning to release UFO Sweden worldwide for what is being touted as the “first large-scale theatrical release of a fully translated film using AI.”

There have already been some AI “reshoots” used for the movie Fall, where Flawless used their TrueSync technology to remove F-bombs from the movie. It was explained, “The Flawless team in post-production changed more than 30 F-bombs throughout the movie into PG-13-acceptable epithets like ‘freaking’ along with a few other lines of dialogue. […] Employing the same principles used to create ‘deepfakes,’ TrueSync alters the mouth movements of the actors to match the alternate dialogue being spoken (a process the startup calls ‘vubbing’). Mann realized the Flawless engine could also be used to clean up the F-words in his movie.”

The post Could AI be a suitable tool in the dubbing process of movies? appeared first on JoBlo.