FRESH CUTS

• New live-action ‘Resident Evil’ movie is moving forward — with Barbarian’s Zach Cregger writing and directing. Jeron Braxton (Wendell & Wild) is aboard to develop the look. Big swing, big IP.

• Universal opens its year-round horror park in Vegas — Universal Horror Unleashed is officially live at AREA15, celebrating with a red-carpet launch last night; four haunted houses and four themed zones are open now (Thu–Mon).

• ‘Insidious’ next chapter finds its lead — Nope star Brandon Perea will headline the new sequel for Sony/Screen Gems (shooting this fall).

• A new ‘Sleepaway Camp’ is coming — Original writer/director Robert Hiltzik is back; Kenan Thompson is producing. No casting yet; script in development.

WHAT TO WATCH (NEW THIS WEEK)

• Night of the Reaper (2025) — A retro ’80s babysitter slasher from Brandon Christensen.
  Where: Shudder (premieres today, Sep 19).

• Cobweb (2023) — That creepy-in-the-walls chiller with Lizzy Caplan & Antony Starr finally hits the Big Red N in the U.S.
  Where: Netflix (added today, Sep 19).

• In theaters: HIM (2025) — Marlon Wayans’ horror-tinged sports thriller, wide release today. If you want a spiky, crowd-chatty Friday-night watch, this is the one.

Heads-up for next week: House on Eden (2025) — found-footage woods nightmare from Kris Collins & Celina Myers — streams Sep 26 on Shudder.

HIDDEN GEMS (EASY TO STREAM TONIGHT)

• Berberian Sound Studio (2012) — Sound becomes the monster in Peter Strickland’s giallo mind-melt.
  Where: Free on Tubi; also on AMC+/IFC Films Unlimited.

• Two Heads Creek (2019) — Grimy, funny, meat-loving outback horror-comedy.
  Where: Free on Tubi/Plex/Hoopla (availability varies).

• Messiah of Evil (1973) — Moth-eaten seaside cult classic that crawls under your skin.
  Where: Repertory screens pop up often; check local listings or Pluto/AMC+ rotations this month. (Example NYC revival noted here.)

DEEP DIVE — THE REMAKE DREAD

Remakes aren’t the enemy; apathy is. A Sleepaway Camp redo with Hiltzik involved could finally thread the needle between honoring the original’s feral shock and addressing the stuff that aged like milk. If it swings and says something? We win. If it sanding-blocks the edges? We riot.

EVENTS & FESTIVALS

• Fantastic Fest — 20th Anniversary (Austin, TX)
  When: Sep 18–25, 2025 • Where: Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
  This is the genre circus. Shorts blocks, world premieres, karaoke chaos. If you’re in Austin this week, go lose your voice.

• Halloween Horror Nights (Orlando)
  When: Select nights Aug 29–Nov 2, 2025 • What: 10 houses (IPs like Friday the 13th, Terrifier, FNaF, Fallout + originals).

• NEW: Universal Horror Unleashed (Las Vegas) — Now open year-round at AREA15. If HHN is a seasonal haunt, this is your permanent fix.

EXCLUSIVE CORNER — THE B STREAM PICK

BRUTE 1976 (2025) — Uncut. Uncensored. If you saw the blurred version elsewhere, you didn’t really see it.
Where: The B Stream — the platform is explicitly touting the only uncensored streaming cut. Rent/purchase available now. https://link.randywstover.com/Brute1976

GAME SAVES — THIS WEEK IN INTERACTIVE HORROR

• Dying Light: The Beast moved up a day and launched Sep 18. Return of Kyle Crane, new map, ~37-hour campaign. If you’ve got the Ultimate Edition of DL2, you’re covered.

BOOK NOOK

• Breathe In, Bleed Out — Brian McAuley (Sep 2)
  Slasher energy meets wellness-retreat cult vibes. One of fall’s most-anticipated horror reads. https://amzn.to/4pvlLI1

• The End of the World As We Know It: New Tales of The Stand (Aug 19)
  34 stories set around King’s plague-scape; already charting on multiple lists. https://amzn.to/3VVBaDN

LEAVING SOON (LAST CALL ALERT)

• After Midnight (2019) — tender, toothy creature feature from Jeremy Gardner. Leaving Hulu by Sep 30. Catch it before it vanishes.

MONSTER MANUAL — ZOMBIES

Zombies: slow or sprinting, they’re just hunger with a face. The lesson they teach? Crowds make monsters cozy.

QUICK BITES

• Shudder Fridays continue: tonight’s watch party theme is babysitters from hell — Night of the Reaper + a nasty little palate cleanser.

• Next week: more found-footage fever with House on Eden (Sep 26).

If this week had a smell, it’d be wet leaves and hot copper. See you on the other side.