Spooky season has come and gone, replaced with the cheerful end-of-the-year holiday season… but that doesn’t mean we won’t have the chance to catch some horror movies on the big screen this month. A werewolf movie appropriately titled Werewolves is set to reach theatres this weekend. Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu remake, which looks to be an instant classic, will be released on the 25th. And just two days later, December 27th, the slasher horror comedy Bloody Axe Wound will be getting a limited theatrical release. You can watch the trailer in the embed above.

Written and directed by Matthew John Lawrence, whose middle name lets us know he is not the child actor from Mrs. Doubtfire and Boy Meets World (he was, however, the writer and director of Uncle Peckerhead), Bloody Axe Wound has the following synopsis: Abbie Bladecut is a teenager torn between the macabre traditions of her family’s bloody trade and the tender stirrings of her first crush. In the small town of Clover Falls, Abbie’s father, Roger Bladecut, has built an infamous legacy by capturing real-life killings on tape and selling them to eager customers, but as Abbie delves deeper into the grisly family business, she begins to wonder if it’s time to take the family tradition in a new direction.

The film stars Sari Arambulo, Molly Brown, Eddie Leavy, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and Billy Burke. It has a running time of 83 minutes, which is about perfect as far as I’m concerned.

Hilarie Burton Morgan and Jeffrey Dean Morgan produced Bloody Axe Wound for Mischief Farm, while Cassandra Del Viscio and Mary Stuart Masterson did the same for Off Label HV. Liz DeCesare, Jordan Manekin, Eric Knapp, Mackenzie Luzzi, and Sarah Fairchild are also producers on the film, while Meg Mortimer served as an executive producer.

Following its theatrical release, Bloody Axe Wound will also be released through the Shudder streaming service, but a specific Shudder premiere date has not yet been announced.

What did you think of the Bloody Axe Wound trailer? Does this look like a movie you would want to catch during its limited theatrical run? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Bloody Axe Wound trailer: Jeffrey Dean Morgan horror comedy reaches theatres this month appeared first on JoBlo.

A new report reveals that most gamers typically play video games for about 7 hours a week. In that same period, however, they watch over 8 hours of video game-related videos and streams. In other words, a lot of people reading this are spending more time watching Twitch than playing video games.

Read more…

Peacock’s Bel-Air is doing “The Carlton” again after renewing the fan-favorite drama for a fourth and final season. Bel-Air is a contemporary reimagining of the beloved ’90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, starring a young Will Smith as a Philadelphia import learning to navigate the lap of luxury in Los Angeles, California. According to sources, Bel-Air Season 4 has eight episodes to end the series.

The evolution of Bel-Air is remarkable. The series comes from Morgan Cooper’s four-minute viral short, which presents a more grounded and grittier take on the characters and premise of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Bel-Air helped put Peacock’s name in the spotlight as one of the streamer’s most successful original series.

Set in the modern-day, Bel-Air is a dramatic reimagining of the Fresh Prince concept. The serialized, one-hour presentation follows “Will’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. With a reimagined vision, Bel-Air will dive deeper into the inherent conflicts, emotions, and biases that were impossible to fully explore in a 30-minute sitcom format, while still delivering swagger and nods to the original show.”

Before he joined the cast of Bel-Air as the drama’s central character, Will, Jabari Banks nearly passed on the opportunity to star in the show. His father sent him a casting call, but Jabari waved it away, thinking, “Dad, this is not how auditons go.” When his agent called him about the audition two weeks later, Jabari took it as a sign and went above and beyond to land the role. Three seasons later, with Season 4 on the way, Bel-Air is a unique entertainment gem with an origin story as extraordinary as Will himself.

Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, Jimmy Akingbola, Jordan L. Jones, and Simone Joy Jones join Jabari Banks as primary cast members of Peacock’s Bel-Air. Throughout the show’s history, many notable guest stars have appeared in Bel-Air, including Tatyana Ali, Joseph Marcell, Vernee Watson-Johnson and Daphne Maxwell Reid, along with Bianca Belair, Bill Bellamy, Justin Cornwell, Andra Day, Melissa DeSousa, Nicholas Duvernay, Dulé Hill, Anna Maria Horsford, April Parker Jones, Melanie Liburd, Jazlyn Martin, Vic Mensa, DK Metcalf, Saweetie, Alycia Pascual-Peña, David Ramsey, Karrueche Tran, Joivan Wade and Marlon Wayans.

While Bel-Air is wrapping up its Season 4 presentation, we’re excited to see what Jabari Banks and other extended cast members do next. Bel-Air opened many doors and remains one of Peacock’s best series.

The post Peacock’s Bel-Air is coming to an end with Season 4 appeared first on JoBlo.

The holiday season is a magical time for moviegoers as studios rush to bring their most prominent titles to cinemas, vying for those after-meal entertainment dollars. This year, there’s some stiff competition as films like Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Kraven the Hunter, and Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu enter the battle. Still, one film is ready to present fans with a new story for a time-honored franchise, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. Today, tickets are available on Fandango for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, premiering in theaters on Friday, December 13.

According to Fandango’s 2024 Most Anticipated Movies Survey, The War of the Rohirrim was voted the #5 Most Anticipated Holiday Movie and the #2 Most Anticipated Movie of December. Legendary anime director Kenji Kamiyama (Napping Princess, Akira, Blade Runner: Black Lotus) directs The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an animated dark fantasy epic set in the unbelievable world created by J.R.R. Tolkien.

“Set 183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy of films, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan. A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg—a mighty fortress that will later come to be known as Helm’s Deep. Finding herself in an increasingly desperate situation, Héra, the daughter of Helm, must summon the will to lead the resistance against a deadly enemy intent on their total destruction.”

The talented voice cast is led by Brian Cox (Succession) as Helm Hammerhand, the mighty King of Rohan; Gaia Wise (A Walk in the Woods) as his daughter Héra; and Luke Pasqualino (Snowpiercer) as Wulf.  Miranda Otto, who delivered an unforgettable, award-winning performance in “The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy, reprises her role as Éowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan, who serves as the tale’s narrator.  The voice ensemble also includes Lorraine Ashbourne (Netflix’s Bridgerton), Yazdan Qafouri (I Came By), Benjamin Wainwright (World on Fire), Laurence Ubong Williams (Gateway), Shaun Dooley (The Witcher), Michael Wildman (Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), Jude Akuwudike (Beasts of No Nation), Bilal Hasna (Sparks) and Janine Duvitski (Benidorm).

Tickets for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim are on sale now through Fandango. Trust me, you won’t want to miss your chance to see the latest chapter of The Lord of the Rings franchise on the big screen.

The post Fandango lights the pyres for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim as advanced tickets go on sale appeared first on JoBlo.

Our own reviewer Alex Maidy wasn’t very impressed by the Apple TV+ thriller series Surface – you can read his 5/10 review at THIS LINK – but Apple TV+ went ahead and ordered a second season of the show… and now Deadline has revealed that Surface season 2 has been given a premiere date of Friday, February 21st. The new season will consist of eight episodes, released on a weekly basis through April 11th. A batch of first look images have also been unveiled. One can be seen at the top of this article, and there are two more at the bottom.

Surface season 2 will see Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who is also an executive producer on the series, reprising the role of Sophie, a woman who has extreme memory loss after a traumatic head injury. In the first season, set in San Francisco, Sophie seeks to rediscover herself, unearthing sins ranging from an affair to much deeper questions about a hidden past and her true identity. For its second season, the show will be moving to London, where Sophie will find out where she really came from and what made her into the flawed person she is. The mess she left behind in San Francisco, however, will catch up with her.

Mbatha-Raw is joined in the cast by fellow returning stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen and Millie Brady, with new additions including Phil Dunster (Ted Lasso), Gavin Drea (Daisy Jones & The Six), Rupert Graves (Sherlock), Tara Fitzgerald (Game of Thrones), Nina Sosanya (Last Tango in Halifax), Joely Richardson (Nip/Tuck), and Freida Pinto (Rise of the Planet of the Apes). We know that Pinto plays Grace, the fiancé of Dunster’s character Quinn. “Quinn is the troubled scion of the infamous Huntley family. As the soon-to-be newest member of the Huntley family, Grace is said to be conflicted about what she’s really signing up for, and forms a special bond with Sophie.“

Mbatha-Raw provided the following statement to The Hollywood Reporter: “I am thrilled to continue this journey and dive deeper into the tension and mystery of Surface with with this brilliant team. I love playing Sophie and I can’t wait for fans and new audiences to join us as she enters the dangerous new world of her past in season 2. As an actor and executive producer, it’s incredibly meaningful to be bringing this story home to London.“

Surface was created by Veronica West, who also co-executive produced the Dexter revival. West had this to say about the show’s renewal: “This is really a brand new chapter set in a whole new world — I can’t wait for people to see how the show evolves as we explore an emboldened, fearless Sophie in season 2. It’s been such a pleasure working with Gugu, Apple and the team at Hello Sunshine and a real privilege to continue the journey.“

West and Mbatha-Raw executive produce the series alongside Hello Sunshine’s Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter.

Are you looking forward to Surface season 2, and are you glad to hear that the premiere date isn’t far off? Take a look at the images, then let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Surface season 2: AppleTV+ sets a February premiere date for Gugu Mbatha-Raw thriller appeared first on JoBlo.

Based on the 1949 science fiction novel of the same name, Earth Abides is an anomaly in contemporary series set after the fall of society. In Earth Abides, there are no zombies, monsters, or aliens. This series focuses on humanity and society and what that means for the fate of the world when a plague wipes out mankind. With a short, six-episode series coming to screens, Earth Abides is unlike other series that take place after the end of the world.

Set in the present day, Earth Abides follows Ish (Alexander Ludwig), a man who is isolated from society when a plague descends and wipes out most of human life. As he struggles to find a way to survive on his own, Ish encounters Emma (Jessica Frances Dukes), followed by others who are immune to the disease. As the years pass and they form a new society, the leftover rules of the past come back to haunt them. With conflict brewing in the form of strangers and newcomers to their tribe, Ish and Emma must decide how they want to shape the new world: in the image of the old or a bold new direction.

I chatted with the cast and creators of the series about how it distinguishes itself from similar science fiction series. Star Alexander Ludwig talked about the challenge of playing the last man on Earth as well as aging over decades. Jessica Frances Dukes talked about how similar the character of Emma was and the chemistry she shared with her co-star. Aaron Tveit talked about playing a character different than his normal roles and his aspiration to be in a fantasy series. Executive producer Kearie Peak talked about the journey to bring the novel to screens as well as how they fit the massive narrative into limited episodes. Writer and showrunner Todd Komarnicki talked about the logistical challenges of telling a series like this on a budget as well as the great cast they had. Check out the full interviews in the embed above.

Earth Abides premiered on December 1st on MGM+.

The post Interviews: Earth Abides star Alexander Ludwig and more discuss their MGM+ series appeared first on JoBlo.

For two seasons, Fallout star Ella Purnell had the lead in a drama series called Sweetbitter for Starz. A couple of months ago, she returned to Starz in another show with “Sweet” in the title, this one called Sweetpea, which premiered as a Starz original in the United States and Canada in October. At the time, the show was being referred to as a six episode limited series, but now, Deadline has broken the news that Sky Studios and Starz has ordered season 2 of Sweetpea.

The short description of Sweetpea goes like this: “The girl everyone overlooks might just be able to get away with murder.” Here’s some more information: Rhiannon Lewis doesn’t make much of an impression – people walk past her in the street without a second glance. She’s continually overlooked for a promotion at work, the guy she likes won’t commit, and her dad is really, really sick. So far, so shit. Then everything in her life turns upside down. Rhiannon is pushed over the edge, and loses control. Suddenly the wallflower is gone, and in its place is a young woman capable of anything… Rhiannon’s life transforms as she steps into a new, intoxicating power, but can she keep her killer secret? The series is based on a novel by C.J. Skuse.

Purnell, who also played a prominent character on Yellowjackets, takes on the role of Rhiannon Lewis and is joined in the cast by Nicôle Lecky (Sense8), Jon Pointing (Big Boys), Calam Lynch (Dunkirk), Leah Harvey (Foundation), Tim Samuels (Empire of Light), Dino Kelly (Peaky Blinders), Lucy Heath (Trying), Alexander Bellinfantie (My Bloody Galentine), Elliot Cable (The Shamrock Spitfire), Jessica Brindle (EastEnders), Luke McGibney (Mystery Island), and Jessye Romeo (Pennyworth).

Sweetpea comes our way from See-Saw Films and Fanboy, in association with Sky Studios. The series was written by executive producer Kirstie Swain, along with fellow writers Krissie Ducker, Laura Jayne Tunbridge, and Selina Lim. Ella Jones is director and executive producer.

Purnell provided the following statement about Sweetpea‘s season 2 renewal: “Being part of Rhiannon’s coming-of-rage journey has been a career highlight for me, and to see fans engage with and relate to our oddball Rhiannon, in all her complexity, feels truly special. I cannot wait for audiences to see what she does next. Stay tuned.” Patrick Walters of See-Saw Films and Fanboy added: “Making Sweetpea has been the most exhilarating of rollercoaster rides, and we’re so excited to be partnering again with Sky Studios, and to have Starz back as the show’s US home for Series 2. Rhiannon already feels like an iconic character and See-Saw and Fanboy can’t wait get back into the world of the show with the powerhouse that is Ella Purnell.“

Have you watched Sweetpea, and will you be tuning in for season 2? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Sweetpea: Starz has ordered season 2 of the Ella Purnell killer series appeared first on JoBlo.

Nintendo is adding a steady flow of classic games to its Switch Online platform, from the most obvious to the most obscure, but perhaps never something as significant as the NES version of Tetris. Why such a big deal? Because not only will this be the very first time the game has been made available on any platform…

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Nintendo is adding a steady flow of classic games to its Switch Online platform, from the most obvious to the most obscure, but perhaps never something as significant as the NES version of Tetris. Why such a big deal? Because not only will this be the very first time the game has been made available on any platform…

Read more…

Alfonso Cuarón’s Gravity showed what existential horrors could happen should an astronaut find themselves alone in the treacherous vastness of space, but Last Breath shows what has happened in the incredible true story of a diver who is trapped in the terrifyingly unknown depths of the sea. Woody Harrelson stars in the film with Shang-Chi and Kim’s Convenience star Simu Liu. Harrelson recently had Liu on his podcast, Where Everybody Knows Your Name, where the two alluded to all the inside jokes and stories that were experienced on this film.

Focus Features has now released the trailer to this dramatic new thriller. The synopsis reads, “A heart-pounding film that follows seasoned deep-sea divers as they battle the raging elements to rescue their crewmate trapped hundreds of feet below the ocean’s surface. Based on a true story, Last Breath is an electrifying story about teamwork, resilience, and a race against time to do the impossible.”

Co-starring with Harrelson and Liu is Finn Cole, who plays the ill-fated diver who gets separated from his crew, and Cliff Curtis as the ship captain trying everything in his power to help from the surface of the water. The film is helmed by Alex Parkinson, whose resume includes TV shows like River Monsters and James Wade’s Mighty Rivers. He directs from a screenplay written by him, Mitchell LaFortune and David Brooks. Last Breath is produced by David Brooks, Paul Brooks, Hal Sadoff, Norman Golightly, Jeremy Plager, Stewart Le Maréchal, Al Morrow and Anna Mohr-Pietsch.

Liu would address fan concerns that a Shang-Chi follow-up doesn’t seem to be on Marvel’s upcoming schedule. They stated on Threads, “I feel like Marvel has abandoned the Shang-Chi fan base. There has been no effort by the studio to get the sequel filming or even include the character in other Marvel films. Frustrating as hell.” To which Simu Liu himself would respond, “I proooomiss it’s happening.”

In the meantime, Liu is also set to star in an untitled espionage techno-thriller series for the Peacock streaming service and producer James Wan. Said to be set “five minutes in the future”, the series begins with “first-generation American intelligence analyst Alexander Hale (Liu) realizing his brain has been hacked, giving the perpetrators access to everything he sees and hears. Caught between his shadowy agency and the unknown hackers, he must maintain a performance 24/7 to flush out who’s responsible and prove where his allegiance lies.”

Last Breath hits theaters on February 28, 2025

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