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- Black History Month recs 🎥, Favorite sports horror 🏈, Must-see thriller musical 🎶, & more!
Black History Month recs 🎥, Favorite sports horror 🏈, Must-see thriller musical 🎶, & more!
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Brett Petersel | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd | X
This weekend, the world will be glued to their mobile devices and Smart TVs to watch Super Bowl LIX, which will be streaming live from New Orleans. If you've been paying attention to the Big Game, you'll know it's not about the sport itself but the very, very expensive advertisements, halftime show, and celebrities who are attending. In this case, it'll be about Taylor Swift for the third year in a row, like Groundhog Day.
Over the years, sports hasn't played a major role in any horror films (that we can think of), but acts more like a subtle element rather than a major one. These sports-like elements (racing, escape rooms, and, yes, even cheerleading) are constructed as a sort of catalyst to what propels the film to move forward and take things to the next level. So, for this issue, and because of the Super Bowl, we're setting our sights on horror in sports! Yay, sports.
As promised, we'd like to introduce a new section to the newsletter: Trailerville. Every week, we will be covering the latest horror film trailers (as well as a few of our favorite retro trailers), showcasing the highlights (and lowlights), as well as some information about each. While trailers do spoil most films, we'll keep it simple here and avoid all such things (but we will call out any spoilers IF there are any).
By Brett Petersel | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd | X
Scream VII had better be incredible because of all of the names being announced. Now, let's add one more to the list: Ethan Embry. While his role in the film has not been disclosed, he sort of resembles Joe McHale, who will be playing Mark, Sidney's husband.
Tony Todd WILL be appearing in Final Destination: Bloodlines. The actor, who passed away last year, is slated to appear in a number of upcoming films.
The M3GAN 2.0 teaser trailer is here. She looks... different.
We need to get our hands on The Monkey popcorn bucket, thanks to AMC.
Speak No Evil (2024) director Christian Tafdrup is set to direct a remake of 1999's Audition. Watch the original, folks!
Another remake is in the works at Miramax. This time, it's for The Faculty. Have we run out of original ideas?
Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett are back with Onslaught, which will star Rebecca Hall (The Town, The Night House) and be released by A24.
Bee Delores | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd and Brett Petersel | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd | X
Sports are not a prominent theme in horror films, yet there are many scenes featuring sports, such as baseball and running, so we put together a number of our favorite horror films that feature some sort of action sequence involving a sport (or two). Check out the list on Letterboxd.
Bee Delores | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd and Brett Petersel | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd | X
Welcome to Trailerville, where we write about some of our favorite upcoming films' trailers.
Mickey Keating prepares his seventh feature film with Invader, Hitting limited theaters in two weeks, the home invasion film promises plenty of classic thrills and chills. Judging by the trailer, it packages the usual scares for something thrilling that could very well end up on my Best of 2025 list. Trailers are sometimes misleading, but I like what I see. What am I hoping for? I'm always up for a twist or two when it comes these kinds of movies. I mean, I like the standard slasher or home invasion as the next person. But let's bring a little razzle-dazzle, shall we? [written by Bee]
Of course, the first teaser we have of Final Destination: Bloodlines is one long death sequence. They certainly know their audience, because let's be real: no one is tuning into these films for the plot. We wanna see blood, guts, and gore in hilariously elaborate set pieces! Where the second installment made you scared of log trucks, this one might frighten you from ever getting a piercing again. I'm glad I already have my ears pierced. And if the film's other death scenes are as convoluted as this one, sign. me. up! [written by Bee]
Chappell Roan had a huge night at the Grammy Awards this week. Not only did she take away some much-deserved hardware, but her album track "Femininomenon" served as the soundtrack for M3GAN 2.0. In the first teaser, everyone's favorite robotic doll can be seen dancing and twirling against a background of bright pink light. It's obvious they're hoping for another viral moment (I haven't checked TikTok lately) or at least stir general public interest. I can't say I was interested before, but I sure am now. If Megan digs Chappel's music, I'm game. Let's hope they don't hold back on the carnage this time; that was my biggest complaint of the "uncut" version of the first movie. There was still very tame gore. Come on, guys, let's go hard this time... [written by Bee]
If you're old like me, you grew up with Popeye the Sailor Man, a scrawny guy with a pipe sticking out of the side of his mouth, wooing his way into not only Olive Oil's heart, but the hearts of others. It looks like the Popeye IP expired (like many of Disney's characters), and this spring, we'll get a Popeye horror film, Popeye the Slayer Man. To be honest, the storyline sounds interesting, and, thanks to the spoiler-ish red band trailer, very gory (cheesy, but gory). We'll let you be the judge. Watch the trailer here.
Bee Delores | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd
As the powers that be are busy dismantling DEI programs in the federal government, and performative corporations roll back their own initiatives, celebrating Black horror is as important as ever. I reckon with my own privilege and my place in the world, realizing that I need to use whatever platform I have to uplift marginalized voices. That's what we're all about here at Horrorverse: spotlighting voices that are not our own. I take it upon myself to commit to this every single day. With this week's newsletter, I wanted to keep my writing to a minimum and let the horror speak for itself.
For our sports-themed issue, I've rounded up some essentials that display great physical strength and/or mental acuity. My list - now on Letterboxd - includes titles like Sweetheart, Jagged Mind, Run Sweetheart Run, Range Runners, Eat the Night, Canary (short), and Don't Look Back. Peruse the list, discover a Black horror gem, and let it wash over you. During this troubling time in U.S. history, we need horror movies more than ever - to provoke, to confront, to understand, to find hope, to learn how to live again. Horror has always been political, in one form or another, and it's our job to sift through the gruesome imagery and skin-peeling kills to find the meaning. Trust me, it's always in there somewhere. You just have to be willing and able to look a bit harder and deeper than you normally would. Horror can entertain, sure, but it's main purpose is to teach. And we better be paying attention.
P.S. I also put together a list of 10 Essential Black and Queer Horror Movies for Uncertain Political Times for Flood Magazine.
Bee Delores | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd and Brett Petersel | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd | X
Do you like thrillers? How about musicals? If you answered yes to both, try The Devil & the Daylong Brothers on for size. Directed by Brandon McCormick, the 2025 indie gives the rowdy spirt of O Brother Where Art Thou? with a bit more grit and foot-stomping blues. With music by Nicholas Kirk, who masterfully composes songs that worm into the brain, the film tells the story of three brothers who journey across the country killing people in their search for their souls. Pretty easy setup, yeah? [written by Bee]
Director Matt Ninaber conjures up a horrifying medieval fantasy with his latest film, A Knight's War. It's an ambitious venture by all accounts. From handmade set construction, scenes shot in Ninaber's backyard, and well-plotted composition/lighting, the indie (released via Dread) makes a bid for one of the year's most creative and visually captivating films so far. While the story - following a knight named Bhodie who treks into the underworld to save The Chosen One - lacks real punch or gravitas, there's enough appetizing imagery to carry it through to the finish line. A Knight's War shows great promise for the filmmaker, most known as the titular character in Psycho Goreman, and demonstrates real care to the craft. A Knight's War doesn't do much in the way of reinvention, but for those who are drawn to this type of genre film, it'll satiate that hunger. [written by Bee]
Dark Match arrives on Shudder as a real treat. While the story could have hit way harder than it does, Lowell Dean's feature film tantalizes with plenty of wrestling. Miss Behave (Ayisha Issa) and a group of fellow wrestlers head out to a secluded venue where they are matched up with other (far more deadly) competitors. Little does Miss Behave know, the wrestling match is a fight to the literal death. In using the elements of wind, water, earth, fire, and spirit, the match-ups risk tearing the wrestlers apart. If you're looking for a Friday night film to entertain, look no further than Dark Match. [written by Bee]
We're all sad about Tony Todd's recent passing, but news about his appearance in Final Destination: Bloodlines warms our hearts. While there are still a few films featuring the horror icon that have yet to be released, Werewolf Game, now available on VOD, is not one that ranks high on the list. Todd's character in the film is diminished to (mostly) a voice behind a mask, giving instructions to unwilling contestants to participate in a game where one person dies after a selection process. It's nothing new, and the masks and kills are nothing special. Plus, I saw better acting when I caught one of my sixth grade science students cheating on an exam than from anyone in this film. [Review by Brett]
The Running Man (1987), which stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Ben Richards, a fugitive on the run who, after being caught, must survive The Running Man game, a play 'til the death show that streams live to audiences around the world.
In November, Edgar Wright's remake, which stars Glenn Powell, will hit theaters. Let's hope it's as good as the original!. Check out our list on Letterboxd here.
The Substance's 4K Steelbook is beautiful. It will be available for purchase in April 2025.
Final Destination: Bloodlines will be released in IMAX! May 16th can't come soon enough!
Wolf Man is now available to own and rent on digital, and, on March 18th, on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD.
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