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Tag: Companion

  • Lily James and Companion director Drew Hancock team for horror thriller Seasons

    The Land is Alive: Drew Hancock and Lily James Tackle Supernatural Horror

    In the world of cinematic dread, a potent new pairing is brewing. Director Drew Hancock, known for crafting intriguing narratives, is teaming up with star Lily James for a supernatural horror thriller titled Seasons. This project merges Hancock’s established experience in genre filmmaking with James’s commanding presence to explore themes of survival and ancient, disturbing rituals.

    Hancock has built a career spanning screenwriting and direction, having contributed to numerous television episodes and music videos. His work includes crafting episodes for shows like Supah Ninjas and Fred: The Show, demonstrating a keen eye for character-driven storytelling. Before tackling feature films, he demonstrated his vision with the sci-fi horror film Companion, which paved the way for future projects. While Companion may not have dominated the box office, it served as a crucial launching pad for Hancock’s subsequent ambitions in directing.

    Now, Hancock is channeling that creative energy into his next major directorial effort with James on Seasons. The premise of the film draws inspiration from Matt Query’s story, expanded into a novel titled Old Country. The narrative centers on a husband and wife who purchase their dream ranch only to discover a terrifying truth: the land is imbued with ancient spirits. For survival, they must submit to increasingly disturbing rituals as the seasons turn.

    In this unfolding nightmare, Lily James will embody the wife, navigating the perilous relationship between their modern aspirations and the primal forces of nature that reside on their property. The story delves into the dark side of human survival when confronting an environment that demands sacrifice.

    The production of Seasons brings together a talented team, including producers such as 21 Laps, Jason Blum, and Michael Clear, underscoring the high-stakes nature of this venture. The project has secured significant backing, with rights to the source material moving from Netflix to Amazon MGM Studios following an earlier streaming arrangement.

    Credit: JoBlo

  • Zach Cregger’s Barbarian is finally getting a physical media release

    Some films are built on hype; others are built on unforgettable, unsettling experiences. Zach Cregger’s breakout horror hit, Barbarian, is certainly one of the latter, delivering a deeply strange narrative that refuses to let go of its audience long after the credits roll.

    The film, which initially found success and generated significant word-of-mouth buzz upon its 2022 release by 20th Century Studios, immediately drew major industry attention. The performance resonated so strongly that New Line Cinema was eager to invest heavily in Cregger’s subsequent work, pouring over $38 million into his project Weapons.

    This momentum led to exciting development deals, including a first look with BoulderLight Pictures, the production company behind Barbarian, which has already resulted in the companion piece, Companion.

    While Cregger continues to explore genre territory—currently working with Sony on a new Resident Evil movie—the behind-the-scenes journey of Barbarian has been marked by an unusual choice regarding physical media. For a time, the film remained elusive, avoiding traditional DVD or Blu-ray releases.

    But that wait is finally over. On August 11, fans will be able to bring this chilling tale into their collections in stunning new packaging. The film is finally arriving in physical format as a 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray SteelBook release.

    The presentation itself is as compelling as the story. The striking SteelBook features brand-new art designed by Creepy Duck Design, giving the package a distinctive and evocative visual flair that matches the film’s unsettling atmosphere.

    Inside the new release, dedicated fans will find plenty of bonus content to dive into. The 4K edition includes an audio commentary featuring writer-director Zach Cregger and producer Roy Lee, offering insight into the creative process behind the horror.

    The Blu-ray offers further depth, including a featurette titled Behind Barbarian, where Cregger and the cast and crew discuss the unique and familiar elements of horror that define the film, along with additional audio commentary and deleted scenes.

    From the unexpected plot premise—a young woman who rents a home only to discover it is already occupied by a strange guest—to the richly cast ensemble featuring stars like Bill Skarsgård and Georgina Campbell, Barbarian proves that sometimes, the best stories are the ones that sneak up on you. Prepare for the unsettling experience that awaits in this stunning new format.

    Credit: JoBlo