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Justin Burning on SOV Horror 📹 SOV Essentials 📝 News about Orphans, Gremlins 3 👀 & More

Justin Burning on SOV Horror 📹 SOV Essentials 📝 News about Orphans, Gremlins 3 👀 & More

November 14, 2025

Justin Burning | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

Hiya, Horrorverse! My name’s Justin Burning. I wrote the book HAND-HELD HELL: THE OUTBREAK OF HOMEMADE HORROR, which was published in 2023 by Terror Vision/Graveface Publishing. It’s a 376-page, full-color deep dive into the world of amateur shot-on-video (SOV) and 8mm horror, with a focus on 44 crazy, no-budget flicks and 22 in-depth interviews with the filmmakers. In the gonzo spirit of the book, and as we enter what has been lovingly termed “SOVember,” this week’s newsletter will focus on SOV horror.

“SOV” means “shot on video,” as in: the movie was recorded on videocassette, like the VHS tapes you remember your parents using to record your awkward childhood birthday parties. When this format was introduced in the late ‘70s and quickly grew very affordable, it provided a whole lot of enthusiastic, enterprising horror fans the ability to make scary movies in their backyards, roping in their own friends, family, pets, and props. Coinciding with this, video rental stores began popping up all over and they needed tapes for people to rent! This made it very easy to not only make a movie but get it on a shelf for people not related to you to watch.

As you might imagine, the lack of quality control meant the entertainment value of SOV horror was all over the gosh dang place, but it also meant a lot of stuff otherwise too bizarre, salacious, or bloodthirsty made it into the greedy eyeholes of the rental public. Not only did these movies expand the boundaries of taste, their ingenuity and DIY ethos inspired under-budgeted horror auteurs of the future — who have been similarly enabled by very affordable digital video technology.

Enjoy this week’s foray into the often strange, sometimes beautiful world of SOV horror.

Take a closer look →

THE HORRORVERSE TEAM

BEE DELORES
Editor in Chief
Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

BRETT PETERSEL
Managing Editor
Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

SARAH STUBBS
Editorial Lead
Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

IN THE NEWS

Brett Petersel | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

🕛 Feed Me: Gremlins 3 set for November 2027 release
Chris Columbus will be directing a third Gremlins film set for release on November 19, 2027. Gizmo will be returning, but no word yet on whether both Billy (Zach Galligan) and Kate (Phoebe Cates) will return, as well as Howie Mandel, who voiced Gizmo in the first two films.

👭🏻 Orphans brings back Isabelle Fuhrman… with friends?
The third film in the Orphan franchise, Orphans, is taking a Saw X-like direction, calling it an “inbetweenquel”. Fangoria has the scoop on what we can possibly expect, including some great theories.

🛸 Alien: Earth renewed for a second season
It comes as no surprise that Alien: Earth will return for a second season, even though there was a lot of online chatter suggesting otherwise. Well, it is now officially confirmed, and filming begins in 2026.

🍦 First photo from Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man sprinkles fear
Eli Roth’s Ice Cream Man will be delivering scary treats to theatergoers in 2026. Bloody Disgusting has shared the first photo from the film, which “follows an idyllic summer town descending into madness when an ice cream man serves kids sweet delights with horrifying results.”

Berkley is reissuing Clive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volumes 1-3 — the landmark collection that defined modern horror. This new edition is available for order now!

This refreshed classic includes an all-new afterword by Grady Hendrix, who writes, “Barker has no patience with the status quo. He’s on the side of the monsters.”

Clive Barker may be best known as the creator of Hellraiser, but it was Books of Blood that established Barker as a major voice in horror. Blending visceral imagery, existential dread, queerness, and surrealism, these stories reset the bar for the entire genre and influenced a generation of horror writers.

Purchase here: https://a.co/d/44LJWBr

SOV ESSENTIALS

Looking to get started in the world of SOV Horror? Here are some films to start with!

Horror That Heals with Horror in Seconds

Horror in Seconds, the Vancouver-based indie horror festival for racialized filmmakers, continues its monthly horror-themed events with one that redefines what horror can do. On Wednesday, November 19th, the festival partners with Catoro Cat Café for Spooky Movie Night with Cats, the first event to weave mental health awareness into the genre through gentle chair yoga and a screening of the Festival's 60 second films, followed by Werewolves Within.

This unique event explores how horror and healing can coexist by inviting attendees to regulate their nervous system, build community and process fear in a safe, mindful way.

Horror in Seconds spotlights diverse voices in horror and amplifies accessible filmmaking through 60-second, dialogue-free smartphone films. You can now stream a selection of these micro-shorts on Minute Shorts and see for yourself that you don't need fancy equipment to make movies. All you need is a story and your phone.

RIYL: THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN (1976)

Slashers are a class all their own, but these films hit differently. In this list, we look at serial killers that have been mythologized. Check out our recommendations on Letterboxd.

MACABRE DAILY: WEEKLY UPDATES

💀 “THE CREEP TAPES” (2025) Mixes Things Up In Its Second Season With Stellar Results (REVIEW) [LINK]

💀 COLLECTOR'S CRYPT - "FREAKED" (UMBRELLA 4K UHD COLLECTOR'S EDITION) [LINK]

💀 Final "FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S 2" (2025) Trailer Pulls Back the Curtain on Major Storyline (TRAILER) [LINK]

💀 Arianna Rivas of "BLACK PHONE 2" talks about taking on the role of Mustgan [LINK]

WHAT TO WATCH

Having just finished a road trip (from New York to Florida), stopping to see friends along the way, I revisited one of my favorite road trip films, Downrange. While anything can happen while driving anywhere, especially with a mix of terrible drivers and sketchy rest stops, and who could forget the Beltway Snipers back in the early 2000s, driving alone or with friends doesn't mean you're safe from all of the bad elements out there. That's why this film's innocent trip quickly turns into a nightmare as everyone is targeted by a side-road sniper whose targets, including passerbys, are not safe behind cars or trees. It's a simple film, but terrifying as we read about such things in real life. [written by Brett]

In keeping with this week's SOV theme, I've got to tell you all about my favorite SOVember watch so far, Harvest Brood. Justin's review on Letterboxd was what got me to watch it. As I said in my own Letterboxd review, it's eerie and atmospheric and it is the bar that SOV now needs to meet in my mind. It truly gets under your skin. What's even better is that the director has put in on YouTube for free! [written by Sarah]

Established in 2020, Macabre Daily is your home for the dark side of pop culture on the internet providing news, reviews, interviews, and opinions about the world of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and cult films! Macabre Daily serves over 11,000 visitors per month to our website and over 13,7000 followers on our social media platforms. Our team of contributors covers a wide array of media such as movies, television, and physical media. Visit macabredaily.com for more.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

Sarah Stubbs | Bluesky | Instagram | Letterboxd

If you're still missing the autumnal vibes of October and Halloween and aren't ready to lean into the holidays yet, I've got a great indie double for you! These films aren’t just a fun double feature, but are actually interconnected, while remaining separate enough that you could watch either of them without seeing the other.

The first film is Mark Polonia’s 2009 film, HalloweeNight. Made shortly after his brother and partner, John’s death, this film was based on a screenplay written by John and serves as a tribute. In it, a mistreated student builds a scarecrow to get revenge on his bullies, and a Halloween massacre ensues. This is a really fun low-budget indie flick. If you’re missing pumpkin season, this is the film for you!

The follow up film, The Stalking (2024) was co-directed by Polonia Brothers' collaborator Jeff Kirkendall and was also co-directed by Mark Polonia. The lore around the scarecrow is built up a bit more and now involves witchcraft. The autumnal vibes are still there but this time we get plant-based horror as well! You won’t look at sunflowers the same after this one!

The Freaked (1993) restoration release is poised to be quite a moment for fans of the film. While Freaked had an unceremonious, extremely limited release in 1993, over time, it has amassed a fervent cult following from VHS rentals and the odd basic cable airing. Filled with zany practical effects and shot with a colorful, wild aesthetic, it’s filled with gross out humor and impeccable production design from the now-famous filmmaker Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen, Twilight), pleasing audiences of cinephiles and 13-year-old boys alike.

This physical media release comes in several versions, including UHD & 2 Blu-ray slipcase edition and the coveted Collector’s Edition. All editions include a workprint alternate cut of the film, the rehearsal version alternate cut, never-before-seen behind-the-scenes featurettes and archival material, filmmaker commentaries, interviews with Claymation master David Daniel and make-up artist & Art Department Supervisor Bill Corso, deleted scenes, and much more.

The Collector’s Edition includes additional, physical features, including a custom art rigid case, a 100+ page hardback book featuring behind the scenes, new essays by film writers Justin Beahm, Witney Seibold and Mike Saunders, fan art, a script book and comic book, custom stickers, replica lobby cards, and canvas poster.

Learn more about this release on Umbrella Entertainment’s website here.