Exhibitor Relations announced on their Twitter (@ERCboxoffice) yesterday that Paramount has officially set a release date for their upcoming FRIDAY THE 13TH sequel for March 13, 2015. However, according to Exhibitor Relations the next FRIDAY film will not be a sequel at all, but another reboot of the franchise.
Whether or not the film will deal with "found footage" or not has yet to be announced, and release dates are apt to be postponed or dropped entirely. So, until further information regarding the film is released, as my grandmother would say, don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
Sound off in the comments sections below. Are you cool with another reboot? Is "found footage" the right way to do it? Let me know what you think.
Justin Beahm, author of
the upcoming HALLOWEEN: THE COMPLETE AUTHORIZED HISTORY, is teaming up again
with Screenvision (who he previously partnered with on the HALLOWEEN theatrical
re-releases) for another big screen genre event: SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT,
opening on December 4th in theaters across the country. Fangoria is the other
partnering entity this time around. The film boasts an all new HD transfer and see the theatrical poster above.
Fangoria Presents unwraps Charles E Sallier Jr.’s 1984 holiday cult horror classic SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY
NIGHT, in theaters this December! SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT tells the tale of
Billy Chapmen, orphaned at five after witnessing the murder of his parents at
the hands of a Santa suit-clad madman on Christmas Eve. Now eighteen and out of
the brutal grip of orphanage nuns, Billy is forced to confront his greatest
fear, sending him on a rampage, leaving a crimson trail in the snow behind him.
Fangoria Presents, in conjunction with Screenvision, delivers this seasonal
slasher essential in a stunning new HD transfer for the ultimate experience in
ho-ho-horror!
The list of participating
theaters is growing by the day, and can be found at www.fangoriaonscreen.com.
"Found footage" sequels to both HALLOWEEN and FRIDAY THE 13TH have been rumored for years.
Unfortunately those rumors are very true. Peter Bracke, author of CRYSTAL LAKE MEMORIES, confirmed it on THE SAUSAGE FACTORY (videos below) and several filmmakers have corroborated that they've been approached by The Weinstein Company and Paramount to bring audiences "found footage" sequels to both popular franchises. Though the idea of either horror franchise adopting the now tired gimmick sounds like an abysmal idea, both studios appear keen on the idea and are actively pursuing making both films a cinematic absurdity. I mean, reality.
"Found footage" movies only work if we believe what we're seeing is really happening or could potentially happen. Films that deal with paranormal subject matter - PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, for instance - work nicely inside this milieu. Slasher movies? Perhaps. Slasher movies involving characters like Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees? NO! The HALLOWEEN franchise dabbled in such "real world", techie terrain with HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION and we see how that turned out. A chill ran down my spine just thinking about it. We know Michael and Jason are, for lack of a better word, fake.
Why either studio won't simply make a film featuring these two genre favorites doing what they do best, sans gimmicks (remake/reboot/3D/found footage) is beyond me. It's not like these movies are rocket science to make. Give fans what we want. Not a tired gimmick.
What say you? Leave your thoughts on the topic in the comments section below. And check out our FRIDAY THE 13TH MEGASODES with special guest Peter Bracke:
SCREAM! Factory announced yesterday their plans of releasing one of my all time favorite 80's slasher movies, SLEEPAWAY CAMP, not only to Blu-ray, but in its uncut form next year!
Here's what SCREAM! Factory had to say about it on their Facebook:
"Happy Halloween
everyone! We are super excited to announce to you on this special day that we
will be releasing the original uncut SLEEPAWAY CAMP film on Blu-ray for the
first time next Spring!
This will most definitely be a Collector's Edition (new art is being worked on
it as we type) and is planned to come loaded with great extras that will be
announced at a later date. We love this film and will certainly aim to please
fans of Angela, Aunt Martha, cussing cousin Ricky, Judy, Meg and the rest of CampArawak's memorable counselors and
campers."
Judging by past "Collector's Editions" from SCREAM! Factory, fans of this film can surely expect a pristine HD transfer with oodles of extras. I personally can not wait! What say you?
Check out my review of the SLEEPAWAY CAMP series below.
Exhibitor Relations announced on their Twitter (@ERCboxoffice) yesterday that Paramount has officially set a release date for their upcoming FRIDAY THE 13TH sequel for March 13, 2015. However, according to Exhibitor Relations the next FRIDAY film will not be a sequel at all, but another reboot of the franchise.
