Horror Highlights: VAMPIRO: ROCKABILLY APOCALYPSE, QUEENS OF THE DEAD, DOCTOR JEKYLL, RED ROOMS

VAMPIRO: ROCKABILLY APOCALYPSE: “Massive Publishing, a leading publisher in the comic book direct market has partnered once again with lucha libre focused live event, merchandise, and media organization Masked Republic on the upcoming project. The two companies recently partnered on the release of another wrestling-inspired series, Luchaverse which featured some of the most iconic luchadors in the business today. Now, with Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse, they are bringing a stylized action filled adventure to die hard horror enthusiasts and the legions of Vampiro fans around the globe. This horrifying first issue is a SUPER SIZED 48-PAGE premiere written by Michael Kingston and is set to release on October 16, 2024 but eager fans don’t have to wait till October to get their first taste of this brand new series. Massive and Masked Republic will have an exclusive ashcan preview available at this year’s San Diego Comic Con (SDCC) available throughout the weekend including a special signing with Vampiro and Kingston on Friday July 26th at booth #1901 from 5pm-6pm!

“SDCC is the biggest event of the year for comic books and pop culture, so it’s only fitting that we bring a sneak peak of this series that is filled with so much of what we love about the comic book medium. Masked Republic have put together a wild ride for fans of action/horror.” – Michael Calero, CEO/Co-Publisher, Massive

“The character of Vampiro is truly one of legend,” Masked Republic President and series co-creator Kevin Kleinrock said, “The too-slick-not-to-be-dangerous, charismatic, silver-tongued devil that Vampiro is in real life was absolutely meant to transcend the lucha libre industry.  Michael Kingston has brilliantly captured his personality of dark humor, quick quips and a rock-and-roll lifestyle and crafted one of the most fun comic stories I have ever read.” 

In the pages and panels of Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse, readers will join Vampiro, luchadora Estrella Nocturna, and underground music vlogger Everitt Holden as they hurtle down Route 66 in a 1955 Pontiac Bonneville on a quest to save the world! It’s a tale filled with monsters, muscle cars, luchadores, cops, clowns, nuns, guns, demons, blood and plenty of BBQ as our heroes race against time -and a whole host of enemies – to try and thwart a secret plan to jumpstart the apocalypse!

“I was featured in dozens of comics in Mexico in the 90s, but it’s always been one of my dreams to have my very own book.” Vampiro said, “The vision for the series Masked Republic and Michael Kingston laid out was right up my alley – fast cars, rock and roll, and an impending apocalypse to fend off.  I really think that both fans of mine and comic readers who just love great stories and may be less familiar with who I am are going to love being along for this wild ride.” 

The SDCC Exclusive limited edition ashcan preview of the series will be available at San Diego Comic Con starting Thursday, July 25 at the Massive Publishing booth #2300 and on Friday, July 26th during a special signing with Vampiro and writer Michael Kingston from 5-6 PM at the Masked Republic/Headlocked booth #1901 (while supplies last).

Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse is illustrated by Martin Pouso, also known as El Terrorifico Dr. Napalm, a cartoonist, illustrator, musician and tattoo artist in his hometown of Montevideo, Uruguay. He has illustrated dozens of independent press series internationally along with the upcoming NacelleVerse series Biker Mice From Mars: Toxic Earth. 

Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse #1 and ashcan cover artist Rafael Gallur is considered by many to be the greatest cover artist in the modern Mexican comic book industry.  He has painted more than 100 covers for Sensacional de Luchas, La Leyenda de Blue Demon, Posesión y Demoníaca, and Pistolero.  

The Vampiro: Rockabilly Apocalypse #1 series will be available for preorder at your local comic book shops via Previewsworld.com and directly on https://massivepublishing.com/. As this monthly series is set to hit store shelves October 16th, just in time for the spooky season!”

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QUEENS OF THE DEAD Casting: “Vanishing Angle is thrilled to unveil the stellar cast for their groundbreaking new horror comedy, Queens of the Dead, directed by Tina Romero, daughter of the legendary George A. Romero, and co-written by Erin Judge & Tina Romero.This film pays tribute to the iconic Romero zombie  with a fresh, contemporary, and queer twist. It features an ensemble of exceptional talent poised to deliver a genre-smashing, glam-gore thrill ride through the zombie apocalypse.

The film features an impressive ensemble including Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding, Twisters), Margaret Cho (Fire Island), Nina West (Rupaul’s Drag Race, Weird: the Al Yankovic Story), Brigette Lundy-Paine (I Saw The TV Glow, Bill & Ted Face the Music), Jaquel Spivey (Mean Girls), Cheyenne Jackson (American Horror Story, Werewolves Within), Tomas Matos (Fire Island, Fantasmas), Quincy Dunn-Baker (No Hard Feelings, The Righteous Gemstones), Becca Blackwell (Bros, Marriage Story), Shaunette Renée Wilson (Black Panther, Billions), Dominique Jackson (Pose), Riki Lindhome (Knives Out, Wednesday), and Eve Lindley (Bros). The film is produced by Vanishing Angle’s Matthew Lee Miller and Natalie Metzger. Financing provided by Creativity Capital.

George A. Romero, often referred to as the “Godfather of Zombies,” revolutionized the horror genre with his groundbreaking films Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead. His work has influenced countless filmmakers and has become a cornerstone of modern horror. The announcement of a new Romero zombie film, directed by his daughter Tina, is a momentous occasion for horror fans worldwide. Tina Romero carries the torch with this talent-rich film loaded with practical effects, jump scares, laughs, and lumbering zombies amassing on the streets of Brooklyn.

Director Tina Romero shared her excitement about the cast: “This is the cast of my wildest dreams. In a movie about survival, you gotta love and root for the survival crew. Every single person in this ensemble brings such a special and specific flavor -both on and off screen. The result is truly a magic sauce.”

Matthew Lee Miller echoed Tina’s enthusiasm, saying: “As soon as we started casting, we knew we needed a team that could deliver on the film’s bold, eclectic vision. This cast exceeds our wildest expectations. Their combined talent and chemistry are electrifying. Tina’s vision is a game-changer, and we believe this ensemble will create something truly unforgettable, honoring the Romero legacy while pushing the boundaries of the genre.”

Natalie Metzger added: “I’ve been obsessed with this script and Tina’s vision from the moment that I read it. It’s so incredibly fun and unique. This film is not just a continuation of the Romero legacy but a fresh take that is sure to captivate a new generation of horror fans”.

Queens of the Dead follows an eclectic group of drag queens, club kids, and frenemies who must put aside their personal dramas and use their unique skills to combat the brain-thirsty undead when a zombie apocalypse breaks out in Brooklyn during their drag show in Brooklyn.

With its powerhouse cast and visionary direction, Queens of the Dead is poised to be one of the most talked-about films of the year. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting project and be ready to join the conga line through the apocalypse.

Tina Romero is a filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY. After earning her BA in Cinema Studies at Wellesley College, she attended the NYU Tisch Graduate Film program, where she won the Warner Brothers Film Award for accomplishments in filmmaking. Her short films (Little Girl Blue and Rainbowarrior) and music videos have featured internationally at the Melbourne International Film Festival, the Winnipeg Magical Feminism Exhibition, and the Accolade Global Film Competition. Her feature script, The Lost Girls, was a finalist for the Sundance Screenwriter’s Lab. In 2018, Tina collaborated with Tom Savini as a guest director for the web series Flicker. Tina’s greatest influence, in film and in life, is her father, George A. Romero. She serves as Vice President of the GARF Foundation, honoring his work and his legacy.”

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DOCTOR JEKYLL Trailer: “Hammer Films invites you to screen DOCTOR JEKYLL, a new adaptation of the classic tale from Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella starring Eddie Izzard. Directed by Joe Stephenson (MIDAS MAN), DOCTOR JEKYLL is a slow-burn gothic horror that delves into themes of duality, concocting a surprising mix of dark humor and flashes of camp within a twisted fairytale. The film also stars Scott Chambers, Simon Callow, Lindsay Duncan, Jonathan Hyde, Morgan Watkins and Robyn Cara. DOCTOR JEKYLL will open in theaters and on demand beginning August 2, 2024.”

• DIRECTOR Joe Stephenson
• WRITERS Dan Kelly-Mulhern, Robert Louis Stevenson
• CAST Eddie Izzard, Scott Chambers, Lindsay Duncan, Simon Callow, Jonathan Hyde, Morgan Watkins, Robyn Cara, Isabella Inchbald, Tony Jayawardena
• GENRE Gothic Horror, Drama, Mystery
• RUN TIME 90 mins

OPENING IN THEATERS AND VOD AUGUST 2ND

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RED ROOMS Trailer: “Utopia released today the new theatrical trailer for Pascal Plante’s multi-award-winning feature RED ROOMS ahead of the film’s U.S. theatrical release, which kicks off on Friday, September 6 at the IFC Center in New York with Plante in attendance for opening weekend and a national rollout to follow.

The acclaimed psychological cyber-thriller, which writer/director Plante called “true-crime meets genre cinema,” follows Kelly-Anne, a young woman who wakes up every morning to wait outside the courtroom to secure a seat at the high-profile trial of Ludovic Chevalier, a man charged with the murder of three teenage girls, with the gruesome videos of two of the crimes surfacing for sale online on the dark web. She finds herself bonding with a fellow voyeur, momentarily breaking her out of her loneliness, while also witnessing the emotional decline of the victims’ families. As the proceedings continue, it becomes increasingly difficult for Kelly-Anne to maintain the psychological and physical balance between her normal life and her morbid fixation with the accused killer, with her obsession reaching new lengths when the final piece of evidence reveals itself within reach.

Named after the highly disputed violent dark web spaces known as red rooms in online urban legends, RED ROOMS was inspired by the fans who inexplicably flock to serial killers throughout modern history and further motivated by the current state of cybersecurity and tech crimes. The film not only succeeds as one of the most chilling entries to the serial killer genre from the last decade —despite never revealing any of the explicit images that the film’s characters are forced to witness— with Plante creating a fictional killer that is a devastating product of our time, but excels as a cinematic portrayal of how modern civilization engages with technology while holding a mirror up to the loneliness and isolation that exists within the dark side of present-day society.

The film was widely praised by critics since its premiere, with Deadline hailing it as “a disturbingly brilliant psychological horror,” and stating that “word-of-mouth cult status beckons.” Little White Lies joined on the praise, calling RED ROOMS “a striking and austere examination of the true-crime industrial complex that benefits from its formality and disturbingly removed protagonist.” Screen International called it “a tantalising combination of courtroom drama and unnerving psychological horror” while Collider, in their A-rated coverage, praised it as “one of the most disturbing psychological horror stories in cinema,” ending their review by asserting that it “defies expectations and keeps pulling the audience deeper into the dark abysm of human nature.” In their coverage from Fantasia, Mashable celebrated the festival’s esteemed opening night feature, writing that RED ROOMS “out-Finchers Fincher.”

RED ROOMS is Montreal filmmaker Pascal Plante’s third narrative feature, following the 2020 Cannes Film Festival selection NADIA, BUTTERFLY and 2018 Berlinale selection FAKE TATTOOS. The film features captivating performances from its three leads; Quebec actors Juliette Gariépy (Home Turf) and Laurie Babin (THE LITTLE GIRL WHO WAS TOO FOND OF MATCHES) alongside Maxwell McCabe-Lokos, the Canadian actor and filmmaker best known as the writer/director of Oscilloscope’s 2022 comedy STANLEYVILLE.

The film world premiered at the 2023 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Crystal Globe Competition and enjoyed a robust festival run that included showing at the Fantasia International Film Festival, where it was the Opening Night Film, BFI London Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Overlook Film Festival, and more. RED ROOMS picked up numerous awards during its international film festival run, including sweeping the 2023 Fantasia Cheval Noir Competition and taking Best Performance (Juliette Gariépy), Best Screenplay, and Best Film, in addition to the Sandro Forte Award for Best Motion Picture Score (composed by Dominique Plante, Pascal’s brother). It was nominated for five Canadian Screen Awards and 13 Irises, Quebec’s highest award for artistic merit, with Gariépy taking the 2023 Revelation of the Year accolade for emerging talent and Babin taking Best Supporting Actress.

RED ROOMS is produced by Dominique Dussault for Nemesis Films. Cinematographer Vincent Biron (THE TWENTIETH CENTURY) artfully lensed the feature, Laura Nhem (THE TWENTIETH CENTURY) was production designer, and Jonah Malak edited.

Further theatrical dates and cities to be announced.”