Not really Horror related but I LOVED the first series of LUTHER back in 2010. LUTHER, which stars Idris Elba (best known for his role in the hit US series THE WIRE) is heading back to our screens for a second series.

Devastated by the brutal murder of his wife, John Luther returns to policing in a different world. His old unit has gone and he's working in the newly created Serious and Serial Unit, headed by former police complaints officer Martin Schenk (Dermot Crowley - BABEL, BLEAK HOUSE).
Luther quickly gathers together his team, rescuing his old partner Detective Justin Ripley (Warren Brown -SHAMELESS) from uniform.

It's not long before they're dealing with their first case. A masked man wanders the streets of London, carrying out ritualistic murders in historic locations, working his way up to one final masterpiece...

Series one ended on one hell of a cliff hanger and if you have not seen it yet i suggest you go out and buy it. LUTHER is one of the freshest and grittiest shows on the BBC with a great cast and a storyline that will keep you hooked. Below is the teaser for the first episode

All of the images and trailers are property of the BBC/Amanda Searle

The Flicker Club, the boutique film experience dedicated to rediscovering cinematic treasures through its popular monthly screening events, has organised, in association with the Stoke Newington Literary Festival,  a day of celebrations to honour American writer Edgar Allan Poe

Highlights include a specially commissioned bust of Edgar Allan Poe being unveiled by Stephen Berkoff.The permanent statue of the undisputed master of the horror story will be on the site of Manor House School on Stoke Newington Church Street which he attended from 1818 to 1820 from the age of nine. The specially commissioned bust is by artist Ralph Perrott.

Plus there’s a rare screening of Roger Corman’s ‘THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH’ as a tribute to Vincent Price on the centenary of his birth.

The event will embrace a light-hearted panel discussion on Poe, his work and his legacy which will include subjects as diverse as references to his work on The Simpsons to having an American football club named after his poem 'The Raven'.  The panel will include multi award-winning horror anthologist Stephen Jones, London novelist Christopher Fowler, American-born science fiction author Pat Cadigan, contemporary urban novelist Nicholas Royle and author/journalist Kim Newman

A rare screening of the classic Edgar Allan Poe inspired movie THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, starring Vincent Price as evil Prince Prospero will take place at Stoke Newington Town Hall at 8.30pm. It is dedicated to Vincent Price on the centenary of his birth

Other events during the day include a screening of Steven Berkoff's ‘Tell Tale Heart’ introduced by Berkoff himself and throughout the day there will be an Edgar Allan Poe exhibition at Stoke Newington Town Hall from the private collection of Peter Fawn which will include hand written letters and the original art work from Marvel's Batman vs Edgar Allan Poe

All guests will get the regular Flicker treatment of a drinks reception, copies of the source material and limited edition copies of a specially recreated film poster of The Masque of the Red Death by Royal Academy Artist Emma Molony

LISTINGS INFO

The Flicker Club
Edgar Alan Poe at  Stoke Newington Festival

3.30pm – 4.30pm
Stoke Newington Town Hall
Panel Discussion. Poe’s place in popular culture

4.30pm
Stoke Newington Town Hall
Steven Berkoff presents screening of his one man show
‘The Tell Tale Heart’ by Edgar Allan Poe.

6pm
The Fox Reformed – Stoke Newington Church Street
Ralph Perrott bust of Edgar Allan Poe unveiled by Steven Berkoff

8.30pm
Stoke Newington Town Hall
Screening of The Masque of The Red Death directed by Roger Corman and starring Vincent Price (90mins)

Cine-Excess, Brunel University's annual International Conference on Global Cult Film returns to London at the end of May with Cine-Excess V – Subverting the Senses: The Politics and Aesthetics of Excess. The event will take place at the Odeon Covent Garden from Thursday, 26th to Saturday, 28th May with screenings and book signings. It will be attended by Guests of Honour, Italian acting legend Franco Nero (Django; Keoma; Die Hard 2) and controversial cult director Ruggero Deodato (Cannibal Holocaust; The House On The Edge Of The Park). 



Here is the full line-up of film events and book signings are: 

Thurs  26th May

CENSORSHIP DEBATE: The House on The Edge of the Park.  Panel discussion on the controversial film with the director, Ruggero Deodato, author Prof Martin Barker, Craig Lapper (senior examiner at BBFC).  Chaired by the international authority on censorship, Brunel University's Julian Petley .  

Time:  630pm -7.30pm   Venue:  Odeon Covent Garden, London,   followed by: 

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (18)  (world premiere of a newly edited version), which includes Q&A with director Ruggero Deodato

Time:  830pm - 11pm,    Venue:  Odeon Covent Garden

Deodato will also be signing copies of the new revised FAB Press book, 'Cannibal Holocaust and the Savage Cinema of Ruggero Deodato'

Fri 27th May

A QUIET PLACE IN THE  COUNTRY (18) (1969), directed by Elio Petri and with Ennio Morricone soundtrack.  Starring Franco Nero and Vanessa Redgrave.  Franco Nero will introduce the film.

Time:  830pm - 11pm       Venue:  Italian Cultural Institute. Belgrave Square, London

Sat  28th May

FRANCO NERO ON STAGE followed by screening of DJANGO (1966) .  The legendary Italian actor talks about his career in films and introduces Sergio Corbucci's cult Spaghetti western, Django

Time:  430pm - 6pm,    Venue:  Odeon Covent Garden  

Franco Nero will also be signing copies of the new FAB Press book, 'Any Gun Can Play: The Essential Guide To Euro-Westerns' by Kevin Grant.  Franco Nero has also written the foreward.

LIVE LIKE A COP, DIE LIKE A MAN (18) (1976)  - including a Q&A with the film's cult director Ruggero Deodato, who specially selected this film for the event.

Time:  9pm - 1130pm   Venue:  Italian Cultural Institute

The box office at both venues is now open for bookings

For Odeon Covent Garden   -  0871 22 44 007  -   http://www.odeon.co.uk/fanatic/film_times/s81/Covent_Garden/

For Italian Cultural Institute  -  020 7396 4406  http://www.iicbelgrado.esteri.it/IIC_Londra/Menu/Istituto/ 

Full details of Cine Excess   -    http://www.cine-excess.co.uk/

Horror Legend Robert Englund (Freddy Kruger) will be joining the cast of the upcoming Brit horror STRIPPERS VS WEREWOLVES as wolf pack leader Tapper.

The films Producer, Jonathan Sothcott, commented “Robert is the ultimate horror movie star – and we are honoured to have him on board and proud of ourselves for being the first British producers to secure him for a movie here. Robert has a dignity and gravitas as an actor that lifts any film he’s in. He’s the cherry on our cake.”

Englund, a 35 year movie veteran,  has also starred in ‘Wishmaster’, ‘2001 Maniacs’ and the cult television series ‘V’.

So as it stands right now STRIPPERS VS WEREWOLVES stars Adele Silva, Barbara Nedeljakova, Ali Bastian, Coralie Rose, Billy Murray, Alan Ford, Sarah Douglas and Nick Nevern.

More news is bound to follow in the coming weeks as film starts Monday 16th May.

Ahead of shooting on comic horror spoof which is set the start on May 16th, Black & Blue Films have released a cool bit of artwork for their teaser campaign.

The films producer, Jonathan Sothcott, has also revealed the film’s opening scene – will feature stripper, Justice, performing a private lap dance for Mickey, a man who violates the no-touching policy by growing a set fangs and claws and trying to eat her. Justice panics and takes the only option open to her: she drives a silver fountain pen through Mickey’s eye…

The film will be centered around VIXENS, a London strip-club, STRIPPERS VS WEREWOLVES stars Adele Silva, Barbara Nedeljekova (Hostel), UK pin-up Lucy Pinder, Billy Murray and Sarah Douglas and will be directed by the Director of the awesome 13Hrs, Jonathan Glendenning.

 Lionsgate has announced that they will be taking over the helm of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE franchise with a direct sequel to the ORIGINAL series of films.THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 3D or as rumour has it to be called LEATHERFACE 3D is to be produced by Carl Mazzocone and rumour has it the film will be directed by John Luessenhop (TAKERS)

Also, from the offices of bloodydisgusting.com, some plot details seem to have emerged about the films plot.The seventh film in the series will be a direct sequel to Tobe Hooper's classic 1974 film and will follows the lead girl, Heather and her friends who are travelling to Texas to collect an inheritance. Here is the twist! Heather is a cousin of Leatherface and he now belongs to her, now that’s one hell of an inheritance right?

Lionsgate’s Mike Pasornek said this about the project: "This is a franchise with such enduring opportunity, and Nu Image is the perfect partner with which to realize that opportunity." Adds Constantine, "We have had much success in working with Nu Image to revitalize existing genres or characters - from The Expendables, which was our highest grossing film ever, to this Summer's Conan The Barbarian 3D. We're thrilled that Carl Mazzocone has chosen us to help him carry out his vision for this great property. It feels very much like home to be again collaborating with Mark Burg after all of our shared successes with the Saw films”

"I'm excited to re-conceive this iconic horror classic in a contemporary setting for a new generation of horror fans to enjoy," said producer Mazzocone. "Our story picks up where the original left off. Both John Luessenhop and I intend to deliver a new chapter derived from Tobe Hooper's 1973 masterpiece with the goal of making it as horrifying as the original -- in 3D!"

Will this work well? We have a very good remake and a decent prequel so do we need a follow up from the original? We will just have to wait and see.

Trinity Films announced a new film label entitled Trinity X, which launches with the UK release of Simon Rumley’s controversial chiller RED WHITE & BLUE.

Mark Sandell, co-director of Trinity Films, said today from Cannes: “Trinity X will take on much more risk-taking projects that may not sit very easily with exhibitors. These films won’t be exploitative, they will still carry the Trinity brand of originality and vision but due to their controversial nature we can challenge the distribution norms and traditional windows.  Red White & Blue is a perfect fit.  It’s a challenging, character driven piece with a strong director’s vision and stunning performances. I haven’t seen that many horror films that are this kind of hybrid and handled with such maturity”.

Rumley adds: ““Trinity has constantly shown itself to be a company which isn't afraid to pick up challenging material and prove to the industry that there is a market for well made and provocative cinema. I'm very pleased they’ve chosen my film to launch Trinity X and I’m much looking forward to working with them on the release of ‘Red White & Blue.”

Although dates has yet to be finalised, it is likely that we will finally get to see what has been voted as one of the best films of 2010 by many leading horror and genre publications.

American Magazine Variety have announced that CATFISH directors Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman will be taking over as directors on the upcoming sequel of the Paranormal Activity series. Word is going around that PA 3 will be set in the 80's which means we will be seeing a totally new set of characters, which in my opinion is a good move.

Original P.A director Oren Peli and Jason Blum are set to produce the film with P.A 2 writer Christopher B. Landon back in the writer saddle.

Paranormal Activity 3 is set to hit American screen October 21st which mean UK fans will probably get to see it around Halloween like last year.

(This information was source VIA the Variety website www.variety.com)

Now I have seen many book tours in my time (and have hosted a fair few horror book signings at my former place of work) but i have never come across this new invention of the BLOG TOUR. YA Horror author, and all around nice chap, Steve Feasey will be visiting a number of book based blog sites to give you, the horror book loving public, a selection of interviews and features. Below is the current details of the tour and i must say i am very interested in how this works!

Doing the jump from model to actress, Lucy Pinder makes her film debut in upcoming British horror comedy STRIPPERS VS WEREWOLVES. Pinder will play a sexy vampire bride who terrorises a vampire hunter.

Lucy said today: "I'm delighted to be making my feature film debut for Black & Blue Films in Strippers Vs Werewolves - it's a really funny part and a hilarious script and I can't wait to start."

Jonathan Sothcott, producer, added: "We are thrilled to have Lucy, undoubtedly the UK's top glamour model, making her first film with us. Strippers Vs Werewolves is a film that will deliver on its title and we know that with Lucy on board the boys won't be disappointed!"

The film is being made by top UK Indie film company Black & Blue Films, whose previous films include Dead Cert, Devil’s Playground, Just For The Record and the recently filmed Elfie Hopkins starring Jaime Winstone.