Reel Horror News Roundup: September 7 - September 13, 2025

BREAKING: Teen Found Slain

Detectives in Crescent City are baffled after 19-year-old Scott Miller was found brutally murdered in the Lucas family’s kitchen. The cause of death: repeated blows from what appears to be a meat cleaver.

The bizarre twist? Investigators insist the attack bears the unmistakable signature of serial killer “Meat Cleaver Max,” who was executed in the state electric chair months ago.

“Same style, same brutality, right down to the angle of the strikes,” said Detective Harrow. “It’s as if Max walked right out of the morgue.”

🎞️ Based on House III: The Horror Show (1989)

Stephen King’s The Long Walk Gets a Chilling New Film Review

Fifty teens. One deadly marathon. The Long Walk turns Stephen King’s dystopian novella into a tense, haunting film that tests courage, endurance, and morality.

👉Read the full review here: Fangoria

Conjuring: Last Rites Haunts Box Office Records Worldwide

The final chapter in the Conjuring saga didn’t creep in; it exploded. With a whopping $194 million global opening (about $83-84 million domestic), Last Rites smashed previous horror debut records, including the $190M global opening of It (2017). It’s also Warner Bros.’ biggest horror opening yet, reaffirming that Ed & Lorraine Warren’s finales still draw the crowds. 

Other Notes to Watch

• The film scored $104-110 million internationally during its first weekend. GamesRadar++1

• Its domestic haul ranks Last Rites among the top three horror openings ever in the U.S. Rotten Tomatoes Editorial+2Kotaku+2

• Despite mixed critical reception (Rotten Tomatoes ~55-56%, CinemaScore “B”) the franchise’s pull remains undeniable. AP News+1

👉Read the full breakdown here: Fangoria

Alamo Drafthouse Unleashes Dark Visions for Halloween 2025

Alamo Drafthouse is going full-throttle this Halloween with Dark Visions, a horror-packed lineup that blends new nightmares, cult classics, interactive movie parties, merch, and food & drink treats. Films like The Strangers—Chapter 2, Black Phone 2, 28 Days Later, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and a razor-sharp 4K showing of the full Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, just in time to test your will to stay awake.

Other Notes to Watch

• They’re also rolling out a themed menu from September 30 to November 3, featuring specials like a pumpkin-and-pie-spice “Cult Classic Shake,” “Protector Pie” pizza, “Water to Rum” cocktail, and “Divine Dough-Nation Cookies” (with $1 from each order going to local breast cancer nonprofits). 

• Interactive movie parties are in the mix for Scream, Creepshow, Van Helsing, and The Mummy. 

• Their annual Dismember the Alamo horror marathon returns October 25 with secret films, wall-to-wall scares, and limited-edition merch.

👉Read the full spine-tingling lineup here: Fangoria

Amazon MGM Revives One of Horror’s Most Infamous Houses

The haunted house at 112 Ocean Avenue is getting a fresh scare. Director David F. Sandberg (Lights Out, Annabelle: Creation) is set to helm a new Amityville 

Horror reimagining for Amazon MGM, with The Conjuring: Last Rites writers Richard Naing and Ian Goldberg scripting. Producers Peter Safran and John Rickard, plus execs Natalia Safran and Lotta Losten, are backing the return of this chilling tale. No casting or plot details yet, but you can bet it’ll lean into the real-crime lore that made the original a horror legend.

Other Notes to Watch

• This isn’t the only Amityville project in motion: Joseph & Vanessa Winter (of Deadstream) are also developing a separate version. 

• The original 1979 film and 2005 remake will likely loom large in comparisons; fans are curious whether this version will return to the source (“true story” claims, the DeFeo murders) or overhaul the mythology. 

• Sandberg reuniting with The Safran Company isn’t surprising; his horror track record (especially with collaborations like Annabelle: Creation) gives this new Amityville a lot of potential weight. 

👉Read the full announcement here: Fangoria

Your Weekly Streaming Horror Stars: Sinners, Terrifier 3, The Conjuring & More

Horror fans, your next binge is set. Whether you want vampiric palace politics in Sinners, clown carnage from Terrifier 3, or a rewatch of The Conjuring in light of the new sequel, this week’s streaming lineup has something to scratch every kind of fright itch. Expect killer sharks in Dangerous Animals, messed-up toy terror in The Monkey, and a superhero-gone-wrong vibe with Brightburn. Lights off, nightmares on. 

👉Read the full streaming roundup here: Fangoria

VHS Vault: Fright Night (1985)

"If you love being scared, this could be the night of your life."

Some tapes never gather dust, and Fright Night is one of them. Tom Holland’s 1985 cult classic brought vampires screaming into the MTV generation with a perfect mix of scares, satire, and style. Teen horror fan Charley Brewster discovers his next-door neighbor is a vampire, but when no one believes him, he turns to late-night horror host Peter Vincent for help. It’s gothic chills meets pop-culture thrills, all wrapped in neon 80s energy.

🎥 You can sink your teeth into Fright Night on Amazon Prime Video.

 

🎬 Vault Fact File

• Release Year: 1985

• Director: Tom Holland (Child’s Play)

• Stars: Chris Sarandon, William Ragsdale, Amanda Bearse, Roddy McDowall

• Budget vs. Box Office: Made for around $9 million, the film grossed over $24 million, making it one of the decade’s most successful horror releases

• Awards: Won the 1986 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film

• Practical Effects: Legendary FX artist Richard Edlund (Ghostbusters, Poltergeist) brought the creatures to life with jaw-dropping transformations

• Tagline: “There are some very good reasons to be afraid of the dark.”

Watch the official trailer for Fright Night:

⏪ Rewind or ⏩ Fast Forward?

Rewind if you love 80s horror that blends genuine terror with tongue-in-cheek fun, anchored by Roddy McDowall’s unforgettable turn as Peter Vincent.
Fast Forward if slow-burn suspense and practical effects aren’t your thing; you might be craving the faster pace of modern vampire flicks.

Reel Horror News Roundup: August 31 - September 6, 2025

Rewound and ready to play. The screen flickers and Reel Horror News is back with the gory goodies.

💉 Local Woman Meets Gruesome End 

Lakeview Times — August 30, 2025
Elaine Henderson, a woman from the outskirts of Lakeview, didn’t suspect her routine house call with Dr. Giggles would end in horror. 

Witnesses report hearing strange mechanical whirs before the shocking discovery: a nasal probe driven directly into her brain. 

The town is left both horrified and whispering about the infamous doctor’s latest visit, while authorities scramble to piece together what really happened.

🎞️ Based on Dr. Giggles, the chilling scene that made Elaine’s fate unforgettable.

Final Destination: Bloodlines Dominates HBO Max

Final Destination: Bloodlines has become the most-watched film on HBO Max, breaking franchise records and topping streaming charts. Its theatrical release earlier this year grossed over $300 million globally, and critics are calling it the strongest entry yet.

🎞️ Want all the details? Read the full article here: Dread Central

🔥 Keanu Reeves’ The Devil’s Advocate Tops Tubi

Even decades later, The Devil’s Advocate is drawing viewers in. Keanu Reeves’ supernatural courtroom thriller has surged to the top of Tubi’s free streaming charts, proving the mix of devilish deals and suspense still captivates horror and thriller fans alike.

🎞️ Read the full story here: Dread Central

🎈 IT: Welcome to Derry Prequel Series

The highly anticipated prequel to Stephen King's IT is coming to HBO Max, with Pennywise returning to terrorize Derry once again. The nine-episode series will premiere on October 26, 2025, and promises to explore the dark origins behind the town’s most infamous horrors.

🎞️ Read the full article here: Fangoria

Jaws Makes a Splash at the Labor Day Box Office

Steven Spielberg’s classic shark thriller Jaws has returned to theaters for its 50th anniversary, making a significant impact at the box office. The film earned an estimated $8.1 million through Sunday, landing at number two on the domestic charts. 

With the Monday holiday included, the total rises to $9.8 million, outperforming several new releases and proving that the terror of Amity Island still captivates audiences. 

🎞️ For more details, check out the full article here: Fangoria

Sam Raimi Breathes New Life into Magic

The master of horror is teaming up with Weapons producer Roy Lee for a remake of the eerie 1978 thriller Magic. The tale of a ventriloquist undone by his sinister dummy feels right at home in Raimi’s twisted wheelhouse.

👉 Read the full story here: Fangoria

Review – The Conjuring: Last Rites

The Warrens return in The Conjuring: Last Rites, delivering chilling performances and a fair share of scares. While the storytelling stumbles, fans of the franchise will still find plenty of haunting moments to enjoy.
👉 Read the full review here: Dread Central

The Dark Tale That Ended Richard Bachman

Stephen King once wrote under a secret identity, but one chilling novel brought his alter ego to an unforgettable end. 

The Dark Half still haunts fans and reshaped the landscape of horror storytelling.

👉 Read the full story here: Screen Rant 

🎥 VHS Vault: 976-EVIL (1988)

"Don't pick up the phone."

Pull this one off the shelf and you can practically smell the cigarette smoke from your local mom-and-pop video store. 976-EVIL is one of those tapes that practically dares you to rent it, its box art promising supernatural chills and late-night thrills. With Robert Englund (yep, Freddy Krueger himself) in the director’s chair, this flick has that greasy, neon-soaked charm of the late ’80s horror boom. Just dial in and prepare for some demonic long-distance charges.

 

📚 Vault Fact File: 976-EVIL 

• Directed by: Robert Englund
• Screenplay by: Rhet Topham, Brian Helgeland
• Starring: Stephen Geoffreys, Patrick O'Bryan, Jim Metzler
• Filming Location: Los Angeles, California
• VHS Release: New Line Cinema (1989)
• Cult Legacy: Despite mixed reviews, it has a dedicated fanbase and spawned a sequel
• Did You Know? The film's title refers to the 976 telephone exchange, a now-defunct premium-rate number system popular in the late 1980s

⏪ Rewind or Fast Forward?

This one’s pure VHS cheese, and that’s part of its charm. The effects are rubbery, the pacing is a bit clunky, but Englund’s twisted fingerprints are all over it. Horror hotline possession? Only in the ’80s. Rewind if you’re craving neon-drenched nostalgia with a side of camp; otherwise, fast forward to his sharper work behind Freddy’s glove.

🎥 WATCH IT

Dial into terror. Stream 976-EVIL now on Amazon Prime Video. 

Watch the official trailer for 976-Evil:

🎥 VHS Vault: Critters 2: The Main Course (1988)

"Bitchin'!"

When Easter rolls into Grover’s Bend, the town has no idea a different kind of egg hunt is about to begin. Hatched from mysterious alien pods, the Critters return in full force; hungrier, nastier, and even funnier than before. From giant Critter balls to shape-shifting bounty hunters, Critters 2: The Main Course delivers all the campy chaos a VHS-era horror fan could crave.

I saw this one at the movies on the opening Friday night...It was fun, but much better on video.

🎬 Vault Fact File

• Release Year: 1988

• Director: Mick Garris (his directorial debut)

• Tagline: “Get ready for seconds…”

• Starring: Scott Grimes, Liane Curtis, Don Keith Opper, Terrence Mann

• Setting: Grover’s Bend, Kansas

• Notable For: The infamous rolling Critter-ball of death, which became a franchise staple.

⏪ Rewind or Fast Forward?

If you love your creature features with a mix of gore, slapstick, and ’80s practical effects, this sequel is a rewind every time. It’s bigger, bloodier, and wilder than the original. Perfect for late-night VHS marathons.

🎥 WATCH IT

Critters 2: The Main Course is available for streaming or purchase on Amazon Prime Video.

Watch the official trailer for Critters 2: The Main Course (1988):

🎥 VHS Vault: The Horror Show (1989)

They tried to electrocute "Meat Cleaver" Max. It didn't work. Now he's REALLY burned!

This one pretty much went toe-to-toe with Stephen King, being released theatrically just a week after Pet Sematary. I chose to see The Horror Show at the movies and later multiple views on video.

Some tapes you pull off the shelf are pure nightmare fuel, and The Horror Show is one of them. Also known as House III, this late-’80s slasher tried to blend the haunted-house formula with the Freddy-style supernatural killer craze. The result? A strange but memorable VHS gem that still sparks a bit of debate among horror fans.

🎬 VHS Vault Fact File

• Title: The Horror Show (House III)

• Year: 1989

• Director: James Isaac

• Starring: Lance Henriksen, Brion James, Rita Taggart

• Tagline: “He’s just been electrocuted… now he’s back from the dead.”

• Plot: Detective Lucas McCarthy finally brings down sadistic killer “Meat Cleaver Max” Jenke. But after Max fries in the electric chair, his spirit returns to torment McCarthy’s home and family in a twisted, supernatural revenge spree.

Watch the official trailer for The Horror Show:

📼 Watch It

⚡ Face the electric chair again. The Horror Show is available for streaming or purchase on Amazon Prime Video.

⏪ Rewind or Fast Forward?

Rewind if you love:

• Creepy late-’80s body horror effects

• Brion James chewing the scenery as a sadistic villain

• VHS-era atmosphere dripping with neon and nightmares

Fast Forward if you prefer:

• Coherent franchises (House III barely connects to the other films)

• A straight-laced slasher without surreal dream-logic

• Modern pacing over slow-burn supernatural horror

The Horror Show might not be top-shelf ’80s horror, but it’s a wild rental that deserves a spin, especially if you like your killers larger than life and your VHS tapes a little warped.