Latest news with #ItFollows
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Longlegs' Star Maika Monroe Joins Horror ‘Victorian Psycho' Ahead Of Summer Shoot; Project In Talks With New U.S. Buyers After Previous A24 Exit — Cannes Market
Longlegs and It Follows star Maika Monroe has replaced Margaret Qualley in psychological horror-thriller, Victorian Psycho, we can reveal, with Anton continuing to sell at the Cannes market. Monroe takes on the lead role of the young, eccentric governess Winifred Notty, who in 1858 arrives at the remote gothic manor known as Ensor House. Her responsibilities include teaching the children table manners and educating them about their family's history, all whilst hiding her psychopathic tendencies. As Winifred assimilates into life at Ensor House, staff members begin to inexplicably disappear, and the owners of the estate begin to wonder if there is something amiss about their new governess. More from Deadline Nu Boyana Exec Launches Next Gen Company Hollywood Influence Studios With Stratosphere-Shot Debut 'Above The End' Beta Cinema Gives Mid Cannes Market Sales Update On 'Let It Rain', 'The Physician II' & 'The Light' Jacob Elordi & Lily-Rose Depp To Star In Cormac McCarthy Adaptation 'Outer Dark' - Red Hot Project Bubbling At The Cannes Market As previously announced, Thomasin McKenzie (Last Night in Soho) is also cast. Zachary Wigon (Sanctuary) directs from a script by author Virginia Feito (Mrs. March), based on her novel of the same name. Production is being lined up to begin in August of this year. As we revealed late last year, A24 had boarded the project for domestic. However, we can reveal today that the company exited soon after Qualley left some months ago and before Monroe came aboard. No reason was given to us for the departures. We understand Anton has been in talks with other domestic buyers and has already pre-sold the film to multiple international markets. Additional casting is in process. These are the slings and arrows of independent finance and this is a buzzy project that has already withstood the exit of Qualley not long before the intended March shoot and is now pushing forward with another in-demand lead actress and with another domestic buyer likely aboard soon. Kudos to the producers for weathering the storm. Pic is produced by Dan Kagan (Longlegs) under his Traffic. banner as well as Sébastien Raybaud (Greenland: Migration) for Anton and Wigon, in association with Anonymous Content. Nick Shumaker, Bard Dorros and Virginia Feito will executive produce. This will be the third collaboration between Monroe and Kagan following Significant Other and Longlegs. Anton is fully financing the film and is representing international rights. U.S. rights are co-represented by Anton, UTA Independent Film Group and CAA Media Finance. Director Wigon said: 'Maika's intense screen presence has resonated with me over and over again throughout her history of complex performances. I'm absolutely thrilled for her to bring her unique style of psychological portraiture to the fascinatingly bizarre Winifred Notty.' Monroe most recently starred opposite Nicolas Cage in last year's psychological horror hit Longlegs. She has become well-established in the horror genre following her performance in hit It Follows which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014. Additional credits, which both premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, include the cult thriller The Guest and Chloe Okunu's directorial debut Watcher. She is due to start production in the lead role in Reminders of Him, Universal's adaptation of the best-selling novel by Colleen Hoover. Monroe is repped by Entertainment 360, WME, and Felker Toczek. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery Where To Watch All The 'Mission: Impossible' Movies: Streamers With Multiple Films In The Franchise Everything We Know About 'My Life With The Walter Boys' Season 2 So Far
Tom's Guide
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
One of my favorite horror movies is now streaming on Netflix — and it's mind-bending nightmare fuel
I love a movie that lies to you. Unreliable narrators are my kryptonite, and there's a subtle art to setting up all the pieces of a story just convincingly enough to lull your audience into a sense of security before taking a shotgun to their understanding of how things work. That's why I was excited to see one of the biggest surprise horror hits of the decade, "Smile," return to Netflix this week (May 14). I watch a lot of horror movies — it's easily my favorite genre — but they can be hit or miss, especially when we're not talking about the classics. So I'm always delighted to find a new one worth gushing over. I first saw "Smile" in theaters back in 2022 and really enjoyed how it plays with your perceptions to chill you to the bone. The scares never feel cheap, there's no big "gotcha" moment. Rather, it takes you on a haunting, slow burn of paranoia that'll leave you giving every smile you see a second glance for a bit. So if you've been looking for your next nightmare-inducing horror watch, here's everything to know before streaming "Smile" — and why you absolutely should. "Smile" stars Sosie Bacon as Rose, a therapist at a psychiatric ward in New Jersey who finds herself entangled in a terrifying supernatural ordeal, which starts with her new patient, Laura (Caitlin Stasey). Laura admits to seeing strange things after witnessing a professor commit suicide, but just as she starts to open up about her trauma, she has what appears to be a psychotic breakdown. She freaks out and begins screaming at some unseen force in the room, then just as quickly goes quiet, a ghoulish smile on her face, and slits her throat. Soon after, Rose begins to experience eerie, inexplicable visions and becomes convinced that a malevolent force is stalking her. As her friends and family write off her fears as signs of a mental breakdown, her sense of reality begins to unravel. She embarks on a race against time to understand and break the transferable curse that's latched onto her before it's too late. I'll be the first to admit "Smile" isn't a perfect horror film. Its sadistically effective premise isn't an original one, and I definitely got "It Follows" vibes as I was watching it. I also wasn't impressed with the monster design; instead of being the terrifying reveal the filmmakers intended, it had my friends and I cracking up in the theater. But with that aside, Bacon's spiral into madness is convincing and riveting to watch. She makes you feel the horror rather than just performing it, which makes the occasional jumpscare feel earned rather than a cheap shot. I'm usually good at spotting twists, especially in horror movies, but there were several that even I didn't see coming, each delivered with a chilling gut punch that kept me on the edge of my seat. "Smile" manages to be so thoroughly unsettling by letting its central, nauseous motif do the bulk of the heavy lifting. It's hard to go into detail about what "Smile" does well without spoiling anything, and trust me, this is one movie you're better off going in knowing as little as possible. My biggest gripe was that the trailer gave away some moments I would have preferred to experience on my first watch, because knowing what was coming took the fun out of those scenes a bit. If you haven't seen "Smile" yet, now's the perfect time since it's streaming on Netflix, and it's one of the best horror movies I've watched in years. This haunting psychological thriller masterfully builds paranoia, delving into the unnerving ways trauma can claw through our defenses and distort perception. For Parker Finn's directorial debut ("Smile" was based on his short film "Laura Hasn't Slept"), it was a huge commercial success, grossing $217 million on a modest $17 million budget and inspiring a similarly acclaimed sequel, "Smile 2." I'm not the only one who enjoyed it, either. "Smile" has a solid 79% on Rotten Tomatoes from nearly 200 reviews. The site's critics consensus reads: "Deeply creepy visuals and a standout Sosie Bacon further elevate 'Smile's' unsettling exploration of trauma, adding up to the rare feature that satisfyingly expands on a short." I somehow have still yet to see the sequel, but after rewatching the original on Netflix, it's shot to the top of my watchlist. You can stream "Smile" on Netflix now. If you're still not feeling it, be sure to check out everything new on Netflix in May 2025.
Express Tribune
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
9 horror movie intros so good, you couldn't look away
In the horror genre, few things are as critical as a killer opening. While every movie benefits from a strong start, horror films demand it. From jolting jump scares to unforgettable bloodbaths, the first few minutes are often what convinces viewers to stay, or sends them scrambling for the remote. Some of the most legendary scenes in horror history are found right at the beginning, setting the tone, building dread, and in many cases, launching the story with a bang. These nine unforgettable intros prove that when horror films start strong, they can hook audiences instantly — sometimes for life. 1. Halloween (1978) Few horror intros have shaped a franchise as profoundly as Michael Myers' first kill. Seen from the perspective of a child, John Carpenter shows young Michael watching his sister and her boyfriend before grabbing a steak knife, slipping on a clown mask, and murdering her in cold blood. 'Somehow, the creepiest part is when Michael runs downstairs after the fact, panting into his mask, only to be met by his confused parents, who rip it off to find he still hasn't left his bizarre fugue state.' 2. Jaws (1975) On land, humans may rule the food chain — but in the sea, we're helpless. The opening scene of Jaws taps into this primal fear perfectly. As Chrissy takes a solo swim, she's brutally attacked by a shark in a sequence that mirrors the film's iconic poster. The scene's infamous score and Spielberg's use of POV shots force viewers into the predator's eyes, creating what would become the first modern blockbuster's unforgettable beginning. 3. Midsommar (2019) Some horror films begin with a tragedy so bleak, it stains every scene that follows. Midsommar opens on the aftermath of Dani's sister's murder-suicide, which also takes the lives of their parents via carbon monoxide poisoning. Cut to her boyfriend Christian walking through snowy silence to try comforting her. 'The sheer level of dread Ari Aster is able to conjure with this uncomfortably long glimpse into a disaster is hard to describe.' 4. Scream (1996) Arguably the most legendary horror opening ever, Scream introduces us to Drew Barrymore's Casey Becker as she flirts with a mysterious caller. That flirty chat turns nightmarish when Ghostface begins quizzing her on horror movie trivia — then kills her with a dagger. 'The fact that Scream was willing to cast a starlet like Drew Barrymore only to callously murder her was a shock to audiences in 1996, playing with standard slasher movie conventions.' 5. It Follows (2014) A girl flees an unseen pursuer in a panicked sprint, running barefoot and crying into the night. What follows is the eerie image of her broken body on a beach. This is It Follows, using ambiguity and dread to maximum effect. 'This scene only makes complete sense after watching the entire film, cleverly foreshadowing how the curse of It Follows works.' 6. A Quiet Place (2018) In a world ruled by sound-hunting monsters, A Quiet Place opens with a near-silent stroll through a ruined town. A child's toy makes a noise — and in seconds, he's gone. 'This scene is a great way to wordlessly explain how the monsters of A Quiet Place work, shown barreling across fast distances like a freight train to annihilate anything that makes noise above a certain decibel level.' 7. Sleepy Hollow (1999) Tim Burton's gothic slasher kicks off with a grim encounter between Peter Van Garrett and the infamous Headless Horseman. After his carriage driver is decapitated, Peter tries to flee but is hunted down and beheaded. 'This scene instantly conveys the very real danger of the Horseman's myth.' 8. IT: Chapter One (2017) A paper boat, a storm drain, and a child named Georgie set the stage for IT's most infamous moment. When he meets Pennywise the Clown, the audience can only watch in horror as he's lured with talk of 'popcorn and balloons.' 'The creep factor turns to sudden shock when Pennywise finally snaps at his prey, taking off the young boy's entire arm and dragging him into the depths beneath the street to be devoured.' 9. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) The film's documentary-style intro is nausea-inducing and unforgettable. 'Over a black screen, a narrator explains the horror that's about to unfold… ending on a disturbing effigy of corpses piled on a tombstone like some sort of twisted monument.' It warns you exactly what kind of carnage is coming. 'Not only is this sequence powerful enough to induce medical distress, but it makes it clear in no uncertain terms that The Texas Chainsaw Massacre will not be for the squeamish.'
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Watcher 'Ending Explained: Is Julia Actually Being Stalked — and Who Is the Serial Killer?
2022's Watcher arrived on Netflix on Feb. 25 and quickly shot to the streamer's top 10. The film stars Maika Monroe (who fans will recognize from other horror hits like It Follows and Longlegs) as Julia, an American expat who moves to Bucharest to live with her boyfriend, Francis. Shortly after arriving, she notices that a man who lives in an apartment across the street seems to watch her from his window every night. Even weirder, she starts seeing him all over town. Julia tries to tell her boyfriend and even the police that she is being stalked, but no one believes her. Even scarier, a serial killer known as the Spider is on the loose in Bucharest. His M.O. is to stalk women and then eventually sneak into their homes and decapitate them. Julia feels like this can't be a coincidence, but without help from anyone else, she's left feeling scared and isolated. Adding to Julia's worry, one night, she hears her next-door neighbor Irina scream, followed by a loud thud and then silence. Julia causes a scene among her neighbors and demands that someone open Irina's door so she can check on her. When Julia finally gets into her apartment, Irina is nowhere to be found. The final moments of Watcher reveals the true identity of the infamous killer and Julia as his next target. But what happens leading up to the finale, and does Julia survive? Here is everything to know about the shocking ending of Watcher. In the moments leading up to the movie's finale, Julia joins her boyfriend Francis at a fancy work event, and the town is abuzz with news that the Spider has supposedly been caught. But Julia, knowing what she's experienced with their neighbor, isn't so convinced. She still feels like someone is watching her. Trying to lighten the mood, Francis jokes with his colleagues in Romanian and makes a nasty comment about Julia. She isn't fluent in Romanian but understands enough to know he essentially said it's all in her head. Angry, she walks out and heads home. Julia gets on the subway, and once again sees her neighbor, revealing that he's still following her. Then, for the first time in the movie, he speaks to her, saying her concerns have all been a big misunderstanding and that he wants an apology. But as he talks, Julia looks at a grocery bag he has sitting next to him that has the faint outline of a human head inside. At the next stop, Julia runs off the train toward home. In the film's finale, Julia gets back to her apartment and begins packing her suitcases, intending to leave. After seeing the head in her neighbor's bag, she knows she's been right the entire time and is irate that her boyfriend doesn't believe her. As she packs, Julia hears loud music coming from Irina's apartment, even though she's been missing for days. Julia goes to investigate the noise and finds Irina's door is unlocked. When she walks inside, she sees Irina's body collapsed on a chair, missing its head. Before Julia has a chance to escape, her neighbor sneaks up on her and knocks her unconscious. When Julia wakes up, she finds that she's still in Irina's apartment and her neighbor, the Spider, is standing over her. She feels all hope is lost, but then she hears her boyfriend. He's in their bedroom, which shares a wall with Irina's apartment. The scene cuts to Francis seeing the open suitcases and realizing that Julia is planning to leave him. She tries to scream out for Francis but the killer cuts her throat, making her unable to speak. She tries to run away but collapses and starts losing a lot of blood. Julia crawls through the apartment hoping to reach a small coffee table where she knows Irina has hidden a gun. But her crawling slows, and eventually, she stops. The audience then sees Julia's body on the floor surrounded by a pool of blood. After seeing the suitcases on their bed, Francis calls Julia, worried that she's leaving him. He then hears her phone ringing through the wall from Irina's apartment. Francis walks into the hallway and sees the killer emerge from her apartment. Francis shouts at him and begins to chase him, but before he can even get close, a bullet shoots through Irina's doorway, hitting the killer in the chest. The murderer falls into the wall and begins to slide down. Francis stands there in shock looking at him, and then Julia walks out of Irina's apartment, revealing she faked her death to give her time to find Irina's gun. The movie ends with Julia giving Francis a cold stare. Unlike most horror movies, Julia and Francis don't celebrate or feel relieved after surviving the serial killer. Instead, the film ends with her giving him an incredibly icy stare while he stands in complete shock. It appears that Julia has absolutely no intention of staying in a relationship with Francis and feels angry and betrayed that he never believed her. Beyond being a classic serial killer flick, the movie deals with sexism and the familiar pattern of women not being believed. The final moments show that Julia has been the smart, strong one all along. Read the original article on People
