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Split Repeats as Box Office Champ, Resident Evil’s Final Installment Underperforms

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Defying all logic and shattering initial expectations, Split once again ruled the box office this weekend.  Going into the weekend, the modestly budgeted film ($10 million) had already earned $51 million dollars and added another estimated $26.3 million to its cumulative box office total over the January 27-29 frame for a grand total of $78 million.

Split appears to be the big winner this winter season, not only muscling out fellow horror films, but all new releases as well.  Bolstered by a young teen audience and undeterred by underperforming action films such as XXX: The Return of Xander Cage (a $33 million return on a $85 million dollar budget), Split looks to continue to grab more cash in weeks to come.   It will face more competition over the next few weeks with Rings (and a number of smaller releases such as Don’t Knock Twice) debutting next weekend.  At this point, it will depend if audiences remember (and want to see) a third film in the franchise after 12 years or if horror fans will respond to the film with apathy, similar to last fall’s Blair Witch remake.  Next week’s Superbowl is also a factor, as studios traditionally release films that appeal to women in the form of horror movies and romantic comedies.  Will ticket buyers who wish to escape Superbowl hype choose the reigning champ or yesterday’s creepy hit next weekend?  Stay tuned to Horror News Network to find out!    read more

Too Much Horror Business: Box Office Winners and Losers of 2016

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Although October 2016’s slate of horror films were at an all time low, this didn’t stop studios from making money at the your local cinema at other times of the year.  2016 was another profitable year for horror films, with the exception of a few high profile bombs. 

The undisputed horror box office champ was The Conjuring 2.  James Wan’s sequel to his 2013 film that showcased the further adventures of renowned ghost hunters, Ed and Loraine Warren, raked in $102.5 million domestically, and $320.2 million worldwide.  The largest foreign market happened to be Mexico, where the Conjuring 2 made $20.5 million.  Although the film was not the critical success of Wan’s first film, it appears like there is no stopping this franchise, whether Wan returns to the director’s chair or not. read more

Horror Films Missing from Theater Schedules this October

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Historically, horror films have always staked a claim on the month of October.  In a month dominated by Halloween decorations and haunted houses, the opportunity to see a horror film at you local multiplex has always been “par for the course” for horror fans.  If you are planning on continuing this October tradition, you may find your options severly limited this year when compared to Halloweens past.

Ouija: Origin of Evil is the only major studio, wide-release horror film that will debut this October.  This is in stark contrast to the October 2015 release list.  Last October saw the release of no less than five horror-themed films including: Crimson Peak, Goosebumps, The Last Witch Hunter, Paranormal Activity: Ghost Dimension, and Scout’s Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse.  While the quality of these films varies greatly, the fact is that horror fans had a typically large selection of films to satisfy their Halloween cravings.   read more

Fathom Events to Host Another Screening of Rob Zombie’s 31

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Lightning strikes twice! According to their advertisement materials, the first Fathom Events screening of Rob Zombie’s 31 on September 1st was such a hit that they’re bringing it back for another showing on October 20th. Box office results for the first Fathom Events screening have not been made available. The event appears to include the same music video and behind-the-scenes bonuses that were offered during the first release. The event is being listed as an opportunity to see the film before its theatrical release. According to press releases from several days ago, the theatrical release is now scheduled for one day later, October 21st. This is also the date that the film is slated to be available on Blu-ray and DVD.  The film is also currently available for rental on a variety of Video on Demand outlets. read more

Blair Witch – Review

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Blair Witch – Review

By Lynn Sorel

Rating: 8 out of 10

Synopsis: After discovering a video showing what he believes to be his vanished sister Heather, James and a group of friends head to the forest believed to be inhabited by the Blair Witch.

Our Thoughts: Honestly, I was excited for Blair Witch when I first saw the trailer, however I wasn’t sure what to expect after hearing mixed reviews on the film. As a huge fan of the original film, and the found footage genre it created, I had to see it for myself. read more

Blair Witch Hype Does Not Translate Into Ticket Sales This Weekend

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The much anticipated Blair Witch reboot delivered anemic box office numbers, as the film’s hype did not translate into ticket sales during the film’s opening weekend.  As reported by Horror News Network on Friday, director “Adam Wingard’s new Blair Witch sequel/reboot is garnering mixed reviews as the film debuts this weekend for anxious fans of the original Blair Witch Project.   The film currently sits at 38% on aggregate review site Rotten Tomatoes and has steadily declined throughout the week.  The film originally sat at 53% positive on Wednesday but as more reviews poured in, the film experienced a steep drop.” read more

Mixed Reviews Greet New Blair Witch Film

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Adam Wingard’s new Blair Witch sequel/reboot is garnering mixed reviews as the film debuts this weekend for anxious fans of the original Blair Witch Project.   The film currently sits at 38% on aggregate review site Rotten Tomatoes and has steadily declined throughout the week.  The film originally sat at 53% positive on Wednesday but as more reviews poured in, the film experienced a steep drop.

Positive reviews such as Michael Gingold of Time Out indicate that Blair Witch is a return to form after the low rated 2000 sequel Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2. Gingold explains that “The you-are-there vérité techniques that gave the 1999 horror movie such a frightening immediacy have passed into cliché, and there’s no way today’s audiences would fall for the original marketing campaign’s “It really happened!” pitch. So it’s something of a small miracle that the 17-years-later Blair Witch, essentially a sequel-as-remake (ignore 2000’sBook of Shadows: Blair Witch 2), emerges as satisfying in its own right and pretty damn scary.” read more

Rob Zombie’s 31 Release Changed to One Night Only?

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Fans of Rob Zombie’s House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects, have been eagerly anticipating the release of his new film 31, which appears to be a “return to form” for the horror director. After experimenting with Hollywood-remakes (Halloween and Halloween 2) and the satanic-witch tale Lords of Salem, many fans expected 31 to tread the same ground as his first two gore-drenched films.   While the cinematic quality will be determined later by fans and critics, Zombie’s film will be receiving a special Fathom Event release on September 1st, 2016 instead of the wide release promised for September 16th.  Fathom Events usually handles special events and re-issues in theaters nation-wide, such as the recent two day run of the animated The Killing Joke and the upcoming return of the Shining to theaters in October. read more

‘The Woods’ Revealed to be ‘Blair Witch’ at SDCC 2016

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Jaws dropped during ‘The Woods’ panel at SDCC 2016 yesterday when it was revealed that the movie was actually a sequel to 1999’s ‘Blair Witch Project’. The buzz about ‘The Woods’ on the convention floor was incredible and fans quickly lined up to get into the panel to get their first look.

The Blair Witch Project is one of those movies that divides horror fans. While some love it, others despise it, mainly due to the fact that it ushered in a wave of “found-footage” films which are considered by some fans as a cheap gimmick to appeal to younger audiences who are used to reality television and YouTube videos. read more