Author - Jerry Paxton

LA Haunted Hayride Returns for 2021 with Ticket Presale Trailer

2021/08/18

Geek News, Halloween, News, Trailers / Videos

Los Angeles Halloween staple the LA Haunted Hayride is back for 2021 and better than ever! Officially opening to the public on September 24th and running select nights through 10/31, the LA Haunted Hayride is returning to LA’s Griffith Park with the traditional hayrides we know and love, mazes, trick or treating, and more for the whole family.

The best part? Ticket presale starts TODAY! Now through 8/25 consumers can sign up to receive a link on August 25th unlocking a discounted rate of $24.99 ($10 off). After the presale period, ticket prices will return to their normal $34.99 each.

2021 Attractions:

Midnight Falls: Scare Zone

Midnight Falls is proudly hosting its 13th annual Halloween Festival for 1985. However, this strange town is always celebrating Halloween and it’s always 1985. But that doesn’t stop the citizens from enjoying the festival’s bizarre celebratory offerings. Visiting the Midnight Falls residents in the town square, neighborhoods and exploring the local establishments reveal more of the strange and sinister secrets behind this eerie town.

The Town Square of Midnight Falls is the epicenter of the festivities. While guests walk around between attractions or hang out to soak in the atmosFEAR various townsfolk from the Midnight Falls community roam the space interacting with guests and attending to their local business.

The Haunted Hayride Experience: Spirit of Halloween

Within the foothills of Midnight Falls, The Hayride leads to a thrilling adventure of horrors afflicting the town. Out in the darkness, a portal has opened spilling hideous creatures from its rotted mouth. The spirit of Halloween comes to life surrounding helpless victims brave enough to board The Hayride.

With summer’s end, as the leaves turn brown it is said the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. The witch of the woods has cast her spell to summon the spirits of the underworld to cross over and assimilate into form using various objects found among town including decorations used for celebrating Halloween. Dazed within the spell cast upon them, the Witch commands her army of crops and flesh to seek revenge on the people that have casted her out.

Additional Attractions (Haunted Mazes):

Trick or Treat
- The neighborhood of Midnight Falls has sprung to life with the magic of Halloween. The various creatures and monsters have decorated their houses for trick or treaters while the mischievous little ghouls lurk in the shadows waiting to give a fright.
Midnight Mortuary
- Dying to drum up more business, the local Mortuary is hosting an open house where guests can tour the property to see what offerings await their demise. Guests separated from their tour risk becoming the next customer of the sinister funeral home.
Dead End Diner

SkyPark at Santa’s Village Unveils Pumpkins in the Pines Event

2021/08/17

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, News

SkyPark at Santa’s Village today announces its Pumpkins in the Pines October festivities lineup. After its busiest summer ever, SkyPark at Santa’s Village welcomes Fall guests to a variety of fun weekend activities, from pumpkin patches to cookie decorating and crafts, to a community sponsored trick-or-treat event and costume party.

“This isn’t your average Pumpkin Patch,” says Michelle Johnson, SkyPark at Santa’s Village’s Creative Director. “We love Fall and it’s reflected in our changing-of-the-seasons Fall decor and pumpkins throughout the park. We’ve made Pumpkins in the Pines the mountain top day-destination, family friendly Fall festival with special characters, seasonal food, and Fall themed activities you won’t find anywhere else!”

The Coachworks Pumpkin Patch will give guests a chance to find the perfect pumpkin. Choose the perfect pumpkin and paint it in Santa’s Workshop. The Monster Mash Light Show will enchant guests throughout the park with colorful lights and Halloween music. In the evening, the Fantom Forest will thrill guests with a unique walk-through haunted hike. Seasonal characters and special shows and experiences will also be featured throughout the park, including Wacko the Magician, the Sleepy Hollow Puppet Show, and much more! Seasonal treats will be available throughout the park.

“We just had our best and busiest summer ever,” says Bill Johnson, Co-Owner of SkyPark at Santa’s Village. “SkyPark at Santa’s Village is all about outdoor adventure in an alpine setting, and we’re providing that experience through Fall and into Winter. Our unique combination of outdoor fun and generally pleasant weather is really resonating with guests who still want to have family adventures. As far as I know, we’re the only park that offers mountain biking, forest hiking, Santa, skating, axe throwing, archery, and pumpkins in a winter wonderland theme park. We even do weddings and forest conservation. If you’re looking for a unique theme park and Fall activities, come check us out.”

When to Experience Pumpkins in the Pines:

Pumpkins in the Pines starts Saturday, October 9th and runs every weekend through October 31st.

SkyPark at Santa’s Village is open Wednesdays through Sundays, please check the website for times of operation.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

– Coachworks Pumpkin Patch
Saturdays 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sundays 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

One of the season’s greatest pleasures is loading up the van (or trendy SUV) with the little ones and heading to the pumpkin patch. Head over to the cozy Coachworks Pumpkin Patch or stop Santa’s Workshop to paint your favorite pumpkin find.

– ParkwideTrick-or-Treating
Saturdays 3:00 PM – 9PM
Sundays 3:00 PM – 5PM

Make your way around to each original Santa’s Village building for treats! Santa’s helpers will be passing out candy so be sure to bring a bag to collect as many treats as you can!

– Cookie Decorating at the Sky Trading Co – $6

Saturdays 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Sundays 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Hungry for something sweet? Join us for some Fall-themed sugar cookie decorating.

– Pumpkin Painting in Santa’s Workshop – $4 Plus Pumpkin

Saturdays 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Sundays 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Get crafty with a pumpkin and set your creative side free.

– Themed Skate Nights

October 30th Monster Mash Skate Party

Rock n’ ROLL on the Silver Bells Arena with themed skate nights every Saturday night from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM! Join us for a Halloween Contest at the Monster Mash Skate Party. Snacks & drinks available for purchase. Skate rentals are complimentary with park admission, though you’re welcome to bring your own!

– Fantom forest

Saturdays October 23 & 30th only 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

SkyPark’s unique Fantom Forest is a walk-through haunted forest complete with characters and spooky sightings. This short family-friendly hike is a guest favorite, so be sure to mark your calendars so you don’t miss it!

– Entertainment and NorthWoods Characters

Saturdays and Sundays (please see Entertainment Schedule upon arrival for various showtimes and character appearances)

Enjoy a puppet show featuring the classic story of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, hear the Stories of the Northwoods and be entertained by Wacko the Magician in the Sky Pavilion. And get your wish list to Santa early when you meet him and the beloved Northwoods Characters at his home.Saturdays and Sundays (please see Entertainment Schedule upon arrival for various showtimes and character appearances)

– Monster Mash Light Show

Saturdays 5:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Sundays 5:00 PM

Wow the family with SkyPark’s one-of-a-kind round-the-park Halloween light show.

– Face Painting
Show your festive side and get your face painted! The talented SkyPark artist will paint faces of all ages, so bring out your inner child and use your face as a canvas for some festive Fall art.

– Halloween Party
Close out what some call the best holiday of the year with a bang! The SkyPark at Santa’s Village Halloween Party is on Friday, October 29th. We’ll be giving out a $100 CASH PRIZE for best costume so be sure to dress your best for a chance to win! Boogie to the sounds of The Sixty Grit Band, who will be playing a special Halloween concert from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Some activities may be subject to change, in order to comply with updated CDC guidelines. Please check the SkyPark at Santa’s Village website for the most recent updates.

To purchase tickets, visit: https://skyparksantasvillage.com

WizKids Unveils Next Wave of Critical Role Miniatures

2021/08/17

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Get ready for the next wave of Critical Role high-quality pre-painted minis, set to hit store shelves this fall. These new releases consist of seven SKUs, featuring Monsters, Characters and NPCs from Tal’Dorei. Expect to see premium figures of the majestic flaming bird known as the Ember Roc and the covetous dragon turtle known as Dieter!

Check out the full list of products included in this next wave from WizKids:

Item # 74256 Critical Role: Monsters of Tal’Dorei – Set 1
Item # 74257 Critical Role: Monsters of Tal’Dorei – Set 2
Item # 74259 Critical Role: NPCs of Tal’Dorei – Set 1
Item # 74260 Critical Role: NPCs of Exandria – Set 1
Item # 74261 Critical Role: Characters of Tal’Dorei – Set 1
Item # 74258 Critical Role: Monsters of Tal’Dorei – Ember Roc Premium Figure
Item # 74262 Critical Role Premium Figure: Dieter

These exciting new miniatures will be available at Friendly Local Game Stores (FLGS) worldwide in November 2021.

To learn more about WizKids’ partnership with Critical Role, visit: www.WizKids.com

Star Wars: Visions Debut Trailer

2021/08/17

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Movie News, News, Trailers / Videos

Today, Disney+ debuted the trailer and announced the Japanese and English dub voice casts for “Star Wars: Visions,” an upcoming anthology series from Lucasfilm that tells new Star Wars stories through the singular style and tradition of Japanese anime. Disney+ also released four exciting images from the trailer.

The new trailer provides a glimpse of the captivating tone and stunning visuals from each of the animated shorts, which can all be viewed both with the original Japanese voice cast or the English dub cast when the series launches on Disney+ on September 22.

“Lucasfilm is partnering with seven of the most talented anime studios in Japan to bring their signature style and unique vision of the Star Wars galaxy to this inspired new series,” says James Waugh, executive producer and Lucasfilm Vice President, Franchise Content & Strategy. “Their stories showcase the full spectrum of bold storytelling found across Japanese animation; each told with a freshness and voice that expands our understanding of what a Star Wars story can be, and celebrates a galaxy that has been such an inspiration to so many visionary storytellers.”

The English dub cast includes the voice talents of returning Star Wars actors and talent new to the Star Wars universe:

The Duel: Brian Tee (Ronin), Lucy Liu (Bandit Leader), Jaden Waldman (Village Chief)
Tatooine Rhapsody: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Jay), Bobby Moynihan (Geezer), Temuera Morrison (BobaFett), Shelby Young (K-344), Marc Thompson (Lan)
The Twins: Neil Patrick Harris (Karre), Alison Brie (Am), Jonathan Lipow (B-20N)
The Village Bride: Karen Fukuhara (F), Nichole Sakura (Haru), Christopher Sean (Asu), Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa (Valco), Andrew Kishino (Izuma), Stephanie Sheh (Saku)
The Ninth Jedi: Kimiko Glenn (Kara), Andrew Kishino (Juro), Simu Liu (Zhima), Masi Oka (Ethan), Greg Chun (Roden), Neil Kaplan (Narrator), Michael Sinterniklaas (Hen Jin),
T0-B1: Jaden Waldman (T0-B1), Kyle Chandler (Mitaka)
The Elder: David Harbour (Tajin), Jordan Fisher (Dan), James Hong (The Elder)
Lop & Ocho: Anna Cathcart (Lop), Hiromi Dames (Ocho), Paul Nakauchi (Yasaburo), Kyle McCarley (Imperial Officer)
Akakiri: Henry Golding (Tsubaki), Jamie Chung (Misa), George Takei (Senshuu), Keone Young (Kamahachi), Lorraine Toussaint (Masago)

Disney+ also revealed a look at the cast voicing the shorts in Japanese, which includes a multitude of veteran voice actors:

The Duel: Masaki Terasoma (Ronin), Akeno Watanabe (Bandit Leader), Yūko Sanpei (VillageChief)
Tatooine Rhapsody: Hiroyuki Yoshino (Jay), Kōusuke Gotō (Geezer), Akio Kaneda (Boba Fett), MasayoFujita (K-344), Anri Katsu (Lan)
The Twins: Junya Enoki (Karre), Ryoko Shiraishi (Am), Tokuyoshi Kawashima (B-20N)
The Village Bride: Asami Seto (F), Megumi Han (Haru), Yūma Uchida (Asu), Takaya Kamikawa(Vaan), Yoshimitsu Shimoyama (Izuma), Mariya Ise (Saku)
The Ninth Jedi: Chinatsu Akasaki(Kara), Tetsuo Kanao (Juro), Shin-ichiro Miki (Zhima), Hiromu Mineta (Ethan), Kazuya Nakai (Roden), Akio Ōtsuka, (Narrator), Daisuke Hirakawa (Hen Jin)
T0-B1: Masako Nozawa (T0-B1), Tsutomu Isobe (Mitaka)
The Elder: Takaya Hashi (Tajin), Kenichi Ogata (The Elder), Yuichi Nakamura (Dan)
Lop & Ocho: Seiran Kobayashi (Lop), Risa Shimizu (Ocho), Tadahisa Fujimura (Yasaburo),Taisuke Nakano (Imperial Officer)
Akakiri: Yū Miyazaki (Tsubaki), Lynn (Misa), Chō (Senshuu), Wataru Takagi (Kamahachi),Yukari Nozawa (Masago)

The studios creating the nine shorts include Kamikaze Douga – “The Duel”; Geno Studio (Twin Engine) – “Lop and Ochō”; Studio Colorido (Twin Engine) – “Tatooine Rhapsody”; TRIGGER – “The Twins” and “The Elder”; Kinema Citrus – “The Village Bride”; Science Saru – “Akakiri” and “T0-B1”; and Production I.G. – “The Ninth Jedi.”

For more on “Star Wars: Visions,” visit StarWars.com.

Halloween Horror Nights Unveils The Return of The Terror Tram and A Halloween 4 Maze

2021/08/17

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, Movie News, News

Universal Studios Hollywood unearths its remaining “Halloween Horror Nights” line-up with the return of the legendary “Terror Tram,” featuring “The Ultimate Purge” and frightening maze “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers,” along with ticket sales for R.I.P. Tour and multi-night visits. “Halloween Horror Nights” kicks off on Thursday, September 9 and runs select nights through Sunday, October 31.

New ticket options, including the R.I.P. Tour, Ultimate Fear and Frequent Fear passes, provide a one-of-a-kind experience to this year’s most extreme and intensely immersive Halloween event as fans will be terrorized and entertained by new mazes, Terror Tram, scare zones, theme park attractions and a hip hop show.

Based on the successful Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions’ film franchise, “Terror Tram: The Ultimate Purge” takes guests on a nightmarish journey into the world of The Purge as they try to survive the night along the world-famous Universal backlot. The annual tradition of The Purge is a one-night event when all crime is legal; however, as the latest film The Forever Purge depicts, members of an underground movement believe that The Purge should be every day – and plan to overtake America through a relentless campaign of mayhem and massacre. Click here for a chilling first look at “Terror Tram: The Ultimate Purge.”

Guests will be stalked at every turn in the “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers” maze, based on the classic slasher from Trancas International Films. With his haunting white mask and signature steel knife, the relentless Myers is ready to resume his killing spree and terrorize the people of Haddonfield as he hunts for his niece Jamie to finally seek his revenge. Click here for a terrifying preview of “Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers.”

“Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood brings together the sickest minds in horror to immerse guests in a living, breathing, three-dimensional world of terror inspired by TV and film’s most compelling horror properties.

This year’s disturbing line-up also includes:

“The Haunting of Hill House,” based on Netflix’s critically-acclaimed supernatural thriller.
“Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” a chilling maze featuring a demented Leatherface and his unrelenting chainsaw.
“Universal Monsters: The Bride of Frankenstein Lives,” inspired by Universal Pictures’ cinematic monsters with an all-original story about one of the studio’s most infamous creatures. GRAMMY® Award-winning musician, SLASH collaborates with Universal Studios Hollywood to compose an original score for the maze and scare zone.
“The Exorcist” maze will possess guests as they live the tormented aberrations experienced by Regan and her determined mother.
“The Curse of Pandora’s Box” is an original concept maze inspired by the most fearsome creatures in Greek mythology.
“The Walking Dead,” a fully immersive journey inspired by AMC’s popular television series.
Award-winning hip hop dance crew Jabbawockeez is back with nightly performances of its high-energy show featuring their gravity-defying dance moves, elevated by special effects and pulse-pounding music.

All-new scare zones designed to taunt, terrorize and torment guests as they navigate the darkness from one frightening maze to another will come to life throughout the theme park with these chilling experiences:

“Universal Monsters: Silver Scream Queenz,” adjacent to the “Bride of Frankenstein Lives” maze, is the first all-female scare zone featuring The Bride of Frankenstein, Anck-Su-Namun The Mummy, Dracula’s Daughter and She-Wolf of London.
“Chainsaw Rangers” is a diabolical gang of chainsaw wielding maniacs who strike upon those entering “Halloween Horror Nights.”
New York Street becomes “Demon City” where bloodthirsty demonic-looking clubgoers prowl the night looking for their next victims.

In addition to the “Halloween Horror Nights” mazes, guests can also enjoy select theme park attractions that will be open during the run of event, including “Jurassic World—The Ride,” “Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey,” “Flight of the Hippogriff,” “Revenge of The Mummy—The Ride,” “Transformers: The Ride—3D” and “The Simpsons Ride.”

Tickets are available at Hollywood.HalloweenHorrorNights.com, and those tickets purchased online provide guests early admission with entry beginning at 6:00 p.m. each night of “Halloween Horror Nights.” Advance purchase is recommended as event nights are expected to sell out.

Event dates are: September 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, 30 and October 1-3, 7-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-31.

The following highlight all “Halloween Horror Nights” tickets now available for purchase:

General Admission: single night admission to “Halloween Horror Nights”
Universal Express™: admission to “Halloween Horror Nights” and one-time express access to each maze, ride and attraction
Universal Express™ Unlimited: single night admission to “Halloween Horror Nights” and unlimited express access to each maze, ride and attraction
Day to Night Ticket: after 2pm theme park admission plus same-day admission to “Halloween Horror Nights”
Day to Night Ticket + Universal Express™: after 2pm theme park admission and one-time express access to each ride and attraction plus same-day admission to “Halloween Horror Nights” with one-time express access to each maze, ride and attraction
Ultimate Fear Pass: be scared all 32 nights of “Halloween Horror Nights”
Frequent Fear Pass: visit up to 26 select nights during the seasonal event
R.I.P. Tour: Groups can scare in style with the R.I.P. Tour featuring one-of-a-kind experiences and photo opportunities with a VIP guide, trolley transportation, valet parking, gourmet dinner at the VIP Dining Room plus unlimited Universal Express access to mazes and attractions.

Click here for more information about each ticket type and for Terms and Conditions.

For exciting updates and exclusive “Halloween Horror Nights” content, visit Hollywood.HalloweenHorrorNights.com, like Halloween Horror Nights – Hollywood on Facebook; follow @HorrorNights #UniversalHHN on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat; and watch the terror come to life on Halloween Horror Nights YouTube.

The event also comes to life at Universal Orlando Resort which celebrates 30 years of fear this year.

SCUF Gaming Unveils Instinct and Instinct Pro Controllers

2021/08/17

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Peripherals News

SCUF Gaming, a leader in the design and manufacturing of high-performance gaming controllers, today introduces the Designed for Xbox SCUF Instinct and Instinct Pro, created specifically for the Xbox Series X|S.

SCUF Instinct incorporates all of the innovative features gamers expect from SCUF – including the patented paddle control system that helped make SCUF controllers the premier choice of competitive players everywhere – with an evolved controller design to improve performance for Xbox fans. Both Instinct and Instinct Pro include four embedded back control paddles, which can be programmed to replicate the ABXY buttons. Their refined ergonomic shape enables better control for a wide variety of hand sizes, with millions of customization options to suit all gamers including interchangeable faceplates, thumbsticks, and D-pads.

SCUF Instinct Pro additionally offers new adjustable Instant Triggers, giving gamers the ability to choose between regular or instant-action at the flick of a switch. Instant Triggers eliminate the trigger pull, activating immediately with a one-tap motion, similar to a mouse click – ideal for fast-paced shooters. You can always switch back to regular triggers and be ready to play your favorite racing game. Instinct Pro also includes High-Performance Grip.

“With SCUF Instinct, gamers have a new advantage when playing on Xbox Series X|S. We’ve refined the way we deliver SCUF performance controllers, with a new form-factor that will appeal to an even wider range of gamers and hand sizes. Four Embedded Back Paddles, Instant Triggers, and a new thumbstick design combine to make our most reactive controller to date,” said Diego Nunez, SCUF Gaming Chief Marketing Officer. “Xbox fans are at the core of SCUF’s history, and we’re proud to have created a controller that both pays homage to that legacy and equips gamers for exciting new games on the newest console generation.”

Today’s gamers shouldn’t stick with one game, franchise, or genre, which is why Instinct introduces onboard, remappable profiles that can be toggled through at the press of a button, a SCUF first. Paddle profiles make it easy to fine-tune controller settings and save them for later for different games. No pause in gameplay, remapping tool, or app required.

Instinct controllers can also be customized with millions of design combinations on the SCUF Gaming website. Pick from a wide variety of faceplates, thumbstick variations, and trim colors to match any setup or personal style. Every detail and feature of Instinct has been meticulously crafted and engineered for an unbeatable gaming experience configurable to any playstyle.

A full list of SCUF Instinct and Instinct Pro features includes:

Profile Switch allows you to save three remapping configurations for different games
Wireless connectivity to play comfortably from a distance, now with improved dynamic latency input
An optional wired connection for lower latency play from your couch with 2m USB Type-C cable
Interchangeable domed, concaved, short, and long thumbsticks for the perfect fit
Improved thumbstick design and material for more grip and durability
Removable faceplate makes it easy to switch designs and thumbsticks
New Share button for gamers to show off their best clips with friends
Self-lubricating rings help thumbsticks glide smoothly against the faceplate
Mute any headset connected to your controller with the press of a button
Instant Triggers activate like a mouse click for faster shots (Instinct Pro only)
Performance grip with a comfortable, non-slip feel for extended gaming sessions (Instinct Pro only)

Pricing and Availability

Compatible with the Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10 PCs, and mobile devices, SCUF Instinct starts at $169.99 and Instinct Pro starts at $199.99. Both are now available exclusively at SCUF Gaming’s website: scufgaming.com/instinct

Plan B from Outer Space: A Bavarian Odyssey Announced

2021/08/17

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Mobile News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Publisher Assemble Entertainment and developer RobotPumpkin Games are pleased today to announce Plan B from Outer Space: A Bavarian Odyssey, a comedic sci-fi adventure that pits an intergalactic castaway against South-German hospitality — headed to Windows PC via Steam, iOS, and Android this Fall. The title follows a similar format to Robot Pumpkin’s debut title, The Innsmouth Case, presented as an interactive novel where the player’s choices affect the outcome of the game — which means 19 different possible endings to explore! The title will also be featured at this year’s Gamescom 2021, where press and influencers will be invited to an exclusive first-look presentation.

So, pour a tall mug of Hefeweizen, throw some Weisswurst on the grill, and polish that accent to ensure the locals don’t catch on that you aren’t from the neighborhood…

“Plan B from Outer Space: A Bavarian Odyssey is a charming, comedic sci-fi adventure that lovingly pokes fun at Bavarian culture in a way that only RobotPumpkin Games can,” said Stefan Marcinek, CEO of Assemble Entertainment. “It’s got cute aliens, pretzels, and plenty of (virtual) beer… what more could you ask for?”

“As an indie studio, it was an unbelievable accomplishment to launch our debut The Innsmouth Case to all modern platforms. Now, we are thrilled to unveil our next game, Plan B from Outer Space: A Bavarian Odyssey,” said Caroline Podeswa, CEO of RobotPumpkin Games. “We adore funny and bizarre stories; thus we can’t wait to show our next adventure to the community this fall.”

While taking a cruise through our solar system, a delightfully adorable extraterrestrial is struck by space debris and comes crashing down in the south of Germany. Unfortunately for them, the locals aren’t exactly up to speed on the reality of life outside of Earth, so the shapeshifting castaway must use their special abilities to blend in with these “Barbvarians” and figure out how to get off the planet, which smells strongly of hops and salted bread. Plan B from Outer Space: A Bavarian Odyssey is an engaging, heartfelt adventure that flips the script on classic “Alien Invader” tropes.

Amazon Prime Video Unveils New Installment of Welcome To The Blumhouse

2021/08/17

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, Movie News, News

Amazon Prime Video is excited to announce this year’s installment of “Welcome To The Blumhouse,” featuring an all new set of unique, unsettling thrillers developed with an eye towards original, diverse storytelling. Produced by Blumhouse Television and Amazon Studios, BINGO HELL, BLACK AS NIGHT, MADRES and THE MANOR premiere worldwide this October exclusively on Prime Video.

The “Welcome to the Blumhouse” slate once again showcases both well-established and breakout actors collaborating with emerging, predominantly female, directors.

BINGO HELL and BLACK AS NIGHT premiere on October 1, followed by MADRES and THE MANOR on October 8.

BINGO HELL
October 1, 2021

Logline
A feisty senior citizen fights to protect her beloved neighborhood from an evil force that’s taken over the local bingo hall and is killing the residents in gruesome ways.

Short Synopsis
When a sinister figure threatens the residents of a low-income community, a feisty senior citizen tries to stop him in Bingo Hell, a wickedly original horror movie with a fiendishly funny twist. After 60-something neighborhood activist Lupita (Adriana Barraza) discovers that her beloved local bingo hall has been taken over by a mysterious businessman named Mr. Big (Richard Brake), she rallies her elderly friends to fight back against the enigmatic entrepreneur. But when her longtime neighbors begin turning up dead under grisly circumstances, Lupita suddenly discovers that gentrification is the least of her problems. Something terrifying has made itself at home in the quiet barrio of Oak Springs, and with each new cry of “Bingo!” another victim falls prey to its diabolical presence. As the cash prizes increase and the body count steadily rises, Lupita must face the frightening realization that this game is truly winner-takes-all.

Directed by: Gigi Saul Guerrero
Written by: Shane McKenzie, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Perry Blackshear
Starring: Adriana Barraza, L. Scott Caldwell, Richard Brake and Joshua Caleb Johnson
Executive Produced by: Jason Blum, Lisa Bruce, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Raynor Shima and Lauren Downey

BLACK AS NIGHT
October 1, 2021

Logline
A resourceful teenage girl driven by revenge, alongside her trusted friends, spends her summer battling vampires terrorizing her city of New Orleans.

Short Synopsis
A resourceful teenage girl leaves childhood behind when she battles a group of deadly vampires in Black as Night, an action-horror hybrid with a strong social conscience and a biting sense of humor. Fifteen years after Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, a new threat leaves its mark on the Big Easy in the form of puncture wounds on the throats of the city’s vulnerable displaced population. When her drug-addicted mom becomes the latest victim of the undead, 15-year old Shawna (Asjha Cooper) vows to even the score. Along with three trusted friends, Shawna hatches a bold plan to infiltrate the vampire’s mansion in the historic French Quarter, destroy their leader, and turn his fanged disciples back to their human form. But killing monsters is no easy task, and soon Shawna and her crew find themselves caught in a centuries-old conflict between warring vampire factions, each fighting to claim New Orleans as their permanent home.

Directed by: Maritte Lee Go
Written by: Sherman Payne
Starring: Asjha Cooper, Fabrizio Guido, Mason Beauchamp, Abbie Gayle with Craig Tate and Keith David
Executive Produced by: Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Lisa Bruce, Maggie Malina and Guy Stodel

MADRES
October 8, 2021

Logline
Expecting their first child, a Mexican-American couple move to a migrant farming community in 1970’s California where strange symptoms and terrifying visions threaten their new family.

Short Synopsis
Beto (Tenoch Huerta) and Diana (Ariana Guerra), a young Mexican-American couple expecting their first child, move to a small town in 1970’s California where Beto has been offered a job managing a farm. Isolated from the community and plagued by confusing nightmares, Diana explores the rundown company ranch where they reside, finding a grisly talisman and a box containing the belongings of the previous residents. Her discoveries will lead her to a truth much stranger and more terrifying than she could have possibly imagined.

Directed by: Ryan Zaragoza
Written by: Marcella Ochoa & Mario Miscione
Starring: Tenoch Huerta, Ariana Guerra, Evelyn Gonzalez, Kerry Cahill, and Elpidia Carrillo
Executive Produced by: Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Lisa Bruce, Sanjay Sharma and Matthew Myers

THE MANOR
October 8, 2021

Logline
After suffering a mild stroke, Judith Albright reluctantly moves into a historic nursing home where she becomes convinced a supernatural force is killing the residents.

Short Synopsis
A malevolent force preys upon the residents of a sleepy nursing home in The Manor, a gothic tale of terror with a modern twist. When a mild stroke diminishes her ability to care for herself, Judith Albright (Barbara Hershey) moves to Golden Sun Manor, an assisted living facility with a sterling reputation. But despite the best efforts of the staff, and a budding friendship with fellow senior Roland (Bruce Davidson), strange occurrences and nightmarish visions convince Judith that a sinister presence is haunting the massive estate. As residents begin to die mysteriously, Judith’s frantic warnings are dismissed as fantasy. Even her devoted grandson Josh (Nicholas Alexander) thinks her fears are the result of dementia, not demons. With no one willing to believe her, Judith must either escape the confines of the manor, or fall victim to the evil that dwells within it.

Written and Directed by: Axelle Carolyn
Starring: Barbara Hershey, Bruce Davison, Nicholas Alexander, Jill Larsen, Fran Bennett and Katie Amanda Keane
Executive Produced by: Jason Blum, Jeremy Gold, Marci Wiseman, Lisa Bruce, Sandy King and Richard J Bosner

CES 2022 to Require Proof of Vaccination for Entry

2021/08/17

Jerry Paxton

CES, Geek News, News

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® today announced that CES® 2022 , the world’s most influential technology event, will require in-person attendees to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination. CES 2022 will take place in Las Vegas on January 5-8, 2022. For those who may be unable to travel to Las Vegas, CTA will again create a digital event that will run in parallel with the in-person program. Digital audiences will have the opportunity to share the spirit of the in-person event.

“Based on today’s science, we understand vaccines offer us the best hope for stopping the spread of COVID-19,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “We all play a part in ending the pandemic through encouraging vaccinations and implementing the right safety protocols. We are taking on our responsibility by requiring proof of vaccination to attend CES 2022 in Las Vegas.”

CTA is also assessing the acceptance of proof of a positive antibody test as an alternative requirement and will share more details on this later. Safety, security and health are always a priority at CES, and we will follow state and local guidelines and recommendations by the CDC. CTA will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation and will announce additional protocols closer to the show.

In Las Vegas, attendees will experience a host of new technologies from global companies, hear about the future of technology from thought leaders and collaborate face-to-face with other attendees. Some 2000 companies including major brands and start-ups will be in Las Vegas. CES 2022 will feature new categories showcasing how the industry is evolving, including space tech, food tech and NFTs. The show will highlight advancements in AI, AR/VR, gaming and computing, digital health, automotive and transportation, home entertainment, smart home and more. Audiences will hear from industry leaders during live keynotes, including General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra and T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert. The CES keynote schedule will be updated regularly as speakers are announced.

Owned and produced by CTA, CES 2022 will convene the tech industry in-person and digitally, Wednesday, Jan. 5 to Saturday, Jan. 8, with Media Days taking place Monday, Jan. 3 to Tuesday, Jan. 4. Global audiences will have access to major brands and startups, as well as the world’s most-influential leaders and industry advocates. For over 50 years, CES has been the global stage for innovation, and CES 2022 will provide an opportunity for companies from around the world, both large and small, to launch products, build brands and form partnerships. Visit CES.tech for all CES 2022 updates, including, safety and security, registration details, and the media page for all press resources.

Midsummer Scream’s Awaken the Spirits! Scares Up Halloween Fun in Pasadena

2021/08/17

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Halloween, Haunted Attraction Review, News, Reviews, Screenshots / Photos, Trailers / Videos

Due to the pandemic, 2020 saw the cancellation of many conventions, events, and haunted attractions. Not looking like we were quite out of the woods yet this year, Midsummer Scream announced that their main convention held in Long Beach would be postponed until 2022. Then, fairly recently (as things started opening back up), they announced that they would host another Halloween/horror convention called Awaken the Spirits! – this time at the Pasadena Convention Center. Midsummer Scream and its now defunct progenitor event used to utilize the Pasadena Convention Center and, personally, I love the location. It may be a little smaller in terms of square footage, but its ease of parking, surrounding food options, and proximity to several hotels make it an “easy breezy” experience for convention-goers. We stayed at a nearby hotel and simply walked across the street to the event each morning, making it nearly effortless and stress-free.

However, a big question remained: Could Midsummer Scream pull together a convention in ONLY a month and a half? I’m happy to say that they not only accomplished this feat but they also accomplished it with a master stroke. Awaken the Spirits! was an absolute blast. The show floor had plenty of exhibitors and vendors hosting a variety of wares for browsing and purchase. Vendors like Temecula Terror advertising their new haunt in Temecula and Nightmare Toys which had a large lineup of NECA and Trick or Treat Studios products for sale. The LA Haunted Hayride brought out an amazing photo op which thrilled guests and saw no shortage of people taking selfies in front of it. One of my favorite haunted houses, Reign of Terror (based in Thousand Oaks) brought out a hears and two huge skeletons to advertise their upcoming haunt. Even spooky musical duo The Dos Feratu were in attendance, playing their creepy tunes throughout the convention halls.

Another thing I have been missing was getting to see all the amazing costumes that people attending these events can put together. During our visit to the Awaken the Spirits! convention floor, we were delighted to see a huge amount of cosplayer turn out. There were people dressed up like monsters of all kinds – with a variety of complexity levels and degree of transformation. Some opted for more “conservative” costume pieces while others donned prosthetic makeup effects and their own horror soundtracks. There were creatures walking on stilts for added height and scare factor as well as others opting for more comedy-based costumes, meant to garner a chuckle instead of a scream. Speaking of costuming and makeup, there were several vendors selling amazing latex and silcone masks and the booth of FX Faces was even selling a huge number of foam latex prosthetics. They even had a makeup artist on-hand applying them to their scare actors.

The lineup of panels did not disappoint either – the only big no-show being Knott’s Scary Farm (they’ve opted to do all their reveals via social media this year). However, all the other big players in the Southern California haunted attraction world showed up and brought something fun to present. Whether it was 13th Floor Entertainment Group Creative Director Jon Cooke revealing that the LA Haunted Hayride would be based in Griffith Park this year and feature several new Midnight Falls locations for guests to explore or Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights Director John Murdy spilling the details about their upcoming “The Bride of Frankenstein Lives” maze and making a haunted house for his kids last year – each panel was interesting and entertaining. I especially enjoyed the two smaller-scale panels featuring a variety of home haunts – going to those homegrown haunts is a yearly tradition for me. It brings me such joy to see the creativity and improvisation that home haunters bring to the table. Also, a special shout out needs to be given to the set designers of this event – stages looked beautiful and featured projection and lighting effects that simply dazzled.

The only thing missing from Awaken the Spirits! was Midsummer Scream’s famous Hall of Shadows – an area of the convention in which various haunted attractions erect small-scale tasts of what guests can expect to see during the spooky season. However, this was an intentional move by the Midsummer Scream team as it simply wasn’t right or practical to give the various haunts such a small amount of time to put together walkthrough attractions. The only exception to this was Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights which brought out a very small “boo box” walkthrough in anticipating of their upcoming “The Curse of Pandora’s Box” maze. As a side note, it was revealed at the event that Midsummer Scream’s next convention, Season’s Screamings, will feature a Hall of Shadows-like area called the “Hall of Yuletide Spirits”.

During our time outside the convention, we were able to get some great food from the restaurants at the Paseo Colorado Shopping Center, giving us time to regroup and reflect on what we just experienced at the event, before jumping right back into the fray for more spooky fun. Pasadena Police were on-hand with not only making sure the convention center area was safe but, also, assisting with traffic direction to parking areas when needed.

Overall, Midsummer Scream’s Awaken the Spirits! has definitely awakened the Halloween spirit. Now, the spooky season is looking bright and hopeful and I’m already starting to pull out the Halloween boxes from the garage in order to start planning my own home’s decor for the Fall. Thanks to the entire Midsummer Scream team for the hard work in bringing the event to life and we can’t wait to check out Season’s Screamings come December!