News

RiffTrax, the entertainment and live event company founded by a trio of “Mystery Science Theater 3000” stars, has struck a distribution deal with indie streamer Nebula.

The pact will see RiffTrax bring its existing views as well as new originals to the platform, a streamer which is majority owned by a collective of Nebula creators.

Beginning Oct. 5, RiffTrax will launch its weekly “Saturday Cinema” series on Nebula, beginning with the release of five shorts including commentary. This week’s release is a version of “Night of the Living Dead” with their classic RiffTrax-style commentary.

Founded by “Mystery Science Theater 3000″ alums Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett in 2006, RiffTrax is an entertainment company producing content with “MST3K”-type commentary for films across genres.

RiffTrax has a library of over 1,000 titles and has produced five primetime television specials for the National Geographic Channel, two apps and an official game, “RiffTrax: The Game,...

In 2022, Netflix and showrunner Ryan Murphy released Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story to mixed reviews and a tremendous amount of controversy.

While the series received acclaim from some critics for its performances and its unflinching portrayal of Dahmer’s grisly crimes, others felt that the show went too far in humanizing the monster at its core.

Now, Murphy is preparing to court controversy again, this time with the story of Erik and Lyle Menendez.

(Photo by Mike Nelson/Afp via Getty Images)

The Menendez brothers are far more sympathetic figures than Dahmer, but the fact remains that they committed two brutal murders, which the show will likely depict in graphic detail.

Their murder trial became a national sensation when it was broadcast on Court TV in 1993, but our younger readers might be hearing the Menendez name for the first time.

(Photo by Vince Bucci/Afp via Getty Images)

So here...

Prepare for a captivating exploration of nature’s fury with “The Einstein Challenge: Mother Nature’s Wrath,” airing at 7:30 Am on Sunday, June 9, 2024, on History. In this gripping episode, meteorologists Mike Nelson and Matthew Cappucci delve into the formation and impact of some of the most extreme weather events, from sinkholes to thundersnow and supercell tornadoes.

Join Mike Nelson and Matthew Cappucci as they unravel the mysteries behind these awe-inspiring yet potentially devastating phenomena. Through expert analysis and vivid explanations, viewers gain insight into the intricate processes that drive these extreme weather events and the science behind their occurrence.

From the sudden collapse of sinkholes to the rare occurrence of thundersnow and the destructive power of supercell tornadoes, “Mother Nature’s Wrath” offers a fascinating look at the forces at play in our atmosphere. With stunning visuals and expert commentary, the episode provides a deeper understanding of the impact...

[Editor's Note: This article was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the film being discussed here wouldn't exist.]

"Why don't you just tell us where you got these videotapes from?" Following the release of V/H/S/99 last year, the creative team behind the long-running found footage franchise is taking horror fans back to the ’80s with a visceral vengeance in V/H/S/85, and ahead of its October 6th streaming release on Shudder, we have a look at the new trailer and killer poster by Creepy Duck Design for the anthology film that features segments directed by David Bruckner, Scott Derrickson, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Natasha Kermani, and Mike Nelson!

Synopsis: An ominous mixtape blends never before seen snuff footage with nightmarish newscasts and disturbing home video to create a surreal, analog mashup of the forgotten 80s.

Directors: David Bruckner, Scott Derrickson, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Natasha Kermani, and Mike P. Nelson

Writers: Zoe Cooper, Evan Dickson, Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill, Mike P. Nelson, Gigi Saul Guerrero

Cast: Jordan Belfi,...

Found footage horror fans rejoice, as another installment in the long-running "V/H/S" franchise is just around the corner, and we've got a new trailer showcasing the '80s goods coming our way this Halloween season. That's right! The franchise is taking a trip back in time with "V/H/S/85" which, as the title implies, will be set right in the heart of the 1980s, when home video was just beginning to revolutionize the movie industry and slasher films were dominating the landscape.

The latest entry in the horror anthology series, which is following in the footsteps of last year's "V/H/S/99," is set to screen at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas this week, but it's going to be debuting on Shudder early next month, making it easily accessible for your spooky season viewing needs. So, what horrors are contained within this collection of throwback '80s shorts? Let's have a look-see.

Read...

The lineup for Beyond Fest 2023 has been announced, and, as per usual, attendees will be in for a pretty incredible lineup of sci-fi classics, horror favorites, and more than 30 premieres. The event takes place from September 26th – October 10th.

With 55 features, Beyond Fest 2023 looks like a winner yet again. Some of the major attractions this year are special screenings of The Abyss (hopefully with news of a 4K Blu-ray?), Manhunter, Piranha, The Raven, and Pacific Rim, all with their directors – James Cameron, Michael Mann, Joe Dante, Roger Corman, and Guillermo del Toro – in attendance…and those are just some of the retro screenings! Fans might also want to try nabbing tickets for movies like folk-horror All You Need is Death, Cannes debuted Vincent Must Die, the remake of The Toxic Avenger, and so many more.

You can see the full lineup for the 2023 Beyond Fest below, complete with details on the premiere,...

Beyond Fest announced today its absolutely insane slate of 2023 programming consisting of 55 features, including 5 world premieres, 3 North American Premieres, 7 US premieres, and 18 West Coast Premieres for its eleventh edition.

The fest returns to Los Angeles from September 26 through October 10. Built in partnership with the American Cinematheque and presented exclusively by Neon, Beyond Fest will screen at the Aero Theatre, Los Feliz 3 and Regency Village Theatre with all ticket sales going to the 501c3 non-profit film institution.

The press release that went out this morning highlights a slew of rare treats and world premieres. Tyler Macintyre decks the halls with bloody holly for the World Premiere of the Michael Kennedy-scripted It’S A Wonderful Knife, from Legendary Entertainment, Macon Blair’s The Toxic Avenger delivers an outrageous new take on the Troma classic with the highly anticipated return of the mop-wielding cinema icon, V/H/S/85 reunites Beyond Fest alum David Bruckner and Scott Derrickson,...

The 2023 Beyond Fest lineup is set. America’s biggest genre-focused festival is returning this month with a 55-film slate that includes a Roger Corman career celebration, special screening of The Abyss with James Cameron, the world premiere of Rlje Films/Shudder’s It’s a Wonderful Knife and much more.

The 11th edition of the fest runs from September 26-October 10 in at the Los Feliz 3 in Los Angeles, the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica and Regency Village Theatre in Westwood. See the full lineup below.

Beyond Fest 2023 will open with Gareth Edwards’ sci-fi epic The Creator from 20th Century Studios and close with Kristoffer Borgli’s A24 pic Dream Scenario, starring Nicolas Cage. It also will feature the world premieres of It’s a Wonderful Knife, Welcome Space Brothers, History of Evil and the 4K restorations of Cemetery Man (1994) and The Church (1989).

Other highlights include Legendary’s new remake of Troma classic The Toxic Avenger,...

Beyond Fest is one of the greatest, most unsung movie events of the year in Los Angeles. Happening over 15 days this year (from Sept. 26 to Oct. 9), it is a go-for-broke celebration of genre cinema – smartly programmed, lovingly assembled and genuinely thrilling.

And this year is no different, with highlights being a screening of the special edition of “The Abyss” (the wave lives!) with an appearance by director James Cameron; a screening of “Manhunter,” with director Michael Mann in attendance; a robust Roger Corman retrospective (including a screening of “Piranha” with director Joe Dante) and the West Coast premiere of new movies like Macon Blair’s “The Toxic Avenger” and Nicolas Cage in A24’s “Dream Scenario.”

There are also retrospective screenings of “The Iron Giant” (with Brad Bird), “Pacific Rim” (with Guillermo del Toro) and a presentation of the new 4K restoration of “The Raid,” among many, many other things.

Popcorn Frights’ Wicked Weekend annual event rings in the Halloween season this year with a densely packed slate of horror featuring upcoming titles from Mike Flanagan, Joe Lynch, Scott Derrickson, and more.

The event, running October 4-8 at the historic Gateway Theater, will feature eight film premieres and special presentations.

Wicked Weekend is headlined by a special presentation of the first two episodes of Netflix’s “The Fall of the House of Usher”, genre maestro Mike Flanagan’s hotly anticipated new horror series based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe starring Mark Hamill, Carla Gugino, Kate Siegel, and Henry Thomas, as well as Paramount+’s terrifying prequel Pet Sematary:Bloodlines, based on the untold chapter from Stephen King’s chilling novel that reminds us why sometimes dead is better.

Rewind back to the 1980s with Bloody Disgusting and Shudder’s V/H/S/85 showcase featuring Popcorn Frights alumni galore from Scott Derrickson,...

Premiering On Shudder October 6th the terrifying found footage franchise returns with V/H/S/85.  The synopsis for the movie follows an ominous mixtape that blends never-before-seen snuff footage with nightmarish newscasts and disturbing home videos to create a surreal, analog mashup of the forgotten 80s.

With segments directed by  Directors: David Bruckner(Hellraiser, The Night House ) , Scott Derrickson , Gigi Saul  Guerrero  (Bingo Hell, Culture Shock), Natasha Kermani (Lucky),  Mike Nelson (Wrong Turn)

V/H/S/85  is the sixth installment in the V/H/S franchise. In October 2022, Bloody Disgusting announced V/H/S/85 and that the film was secretly shot back-to-back alongside V/H/S/99. Production was being filmed in secret, with a segment seemingly shot in April 2022.  In October 2022, Scott Derrickson confirmed his segment was already been filmed.

Check out the teaser trailer below:...

We all know Mystery Science Theater 3000 as the show in which a human host and a couple of robots make fun of bad movies. According to in-universe lore, the movies come via mad scientist members of the Forrester family, who test the sanity of a human subject by forcing them to watch terrible films. The humans — beginning with Joel Robinson (series creator Joel Hodgson), followed by Mike Nelson (Michael J. Nelson), Jonah Heston (Jonah Ray), and Emily Connor (Emily Marsh) — fight back by riffing on the films, a task made easier not just by the robot sidekicks Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo, but also by the genuine awfulness of the movies.

But MST3K didn’t always have mockery in mind as its central premise. As seen in the recently-unearthed early episodes recorded for Minneapolis public access channel Ktma, Joel spent more time enjoying Invaders from the Deep and Revenge...

The "V/H/S" franchise is back once again with another installment this year, bringing more found footage spooky goodness to 2023's Halloween season. This time around, "V/H/S/85" will bring the long-running anthology series to the 1980s when slasher movies reigned supreme and the home video market was just beginning to explode. And the folks at Shudder have put together an absolute murderer's row of directing talent to handle the various segments, including "The Black Phone" and "Sinister" filmmaker Scott Derrickson, among others.

Dating back to 2012, the "V/H/S" films have been a bit of a mixed bag (as anthologies often are) with extremely high highs to disappointingly low lows. But after taking a pretty long break they have become something of an annual tradition again, with "V/H/S/94" arriving in 2021, and "V/H/S/99" following in 2022. Now, it's all aboard the '80s nostalgia train. Let's see what that looks like, shall we?

Read more:...

Following the release of V/H/S/99 last year, the creative team behind the long-running found footage franchise is taking horror fans back to the ’80s with a visceral vengeance in V/H/S/85, and ahead of its October 6th premiere on Shudder, we have a look at the teaser trailer for the anthology film that features segments directed by David Bruckner, Scott Derrickson, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Natasha Kermani, and Mike Nelson.

Synopsis: An ominous mixtape blends never before seen snuff footage with nightmarish newscasts and disturbing home video to create a surreal, analog mashup of the forgotten 80s.

Directors: David Bruckner, Scott Derrickson, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Natasha Kermani, Mike Nelson

Producers: Joshua Goldbloom, Brad Miska, David Bruckner, Radio Silence, James Harris, Michael Schrieber, Adam Boorstin

Language: English

Running Time: 110 mins

About Shudder

AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror,...

The terrifying found footage franchise V/H/S returns to Shudder on October 6 with V/H/S/85.

Directors include David Bruckner, Scott Derrickson, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Natasha Kermani, Mike Nelson.

An ominous mixtape blends never before seen snuff footage with nightmarish newscasts and disturbing home video to create a surreal, analog mashup of the forgotten 80s.

New Shudder Films Premiere Every Friday, including: Perpetrator – Premieres Friday, September 1 (Shudder Original)

Jonny Baptiste is a reckless teen sent to live with her estranged Aunt Hildie. On the event of her 18th birthday, she experiences a radical metamorphosis: a family spell that redefines her called Forevering. When several teen girls go missing at her new school, a mythically feral Jonny goes after the Perpetrator. Written and directed by Jennifer Reeder (Knives and Skin, Night’s End) and starring Kiah McKirnan (Mare of Easttown), Christopher Lowell (My Best Friend’s Exorcism), Melanie Liburd (The Idol), Ireon Roach (Candyman [2021]), and Alicia Silverstone (Clueless,...

Prince William and Kate Middleton may have launched a “new era” of Pda upon becoming the Prince and Princess of Wales, yet their “flirtiest” moment happened as newlyweds. What an expert said about William and Kate’s “sizzling” interaction and the “sweet blushes” that followed.

William and Kate’s ‘flirtiest’ moment happened on a 2011 American tour stop in Los Angeles Kate Middleton and Prince William | Mike Nelson – Pool/Getty Images

Los Angeles, California, 2011. That’s when, according to body language expert Judi James, the Prince and Princess of Wales arguably had their “flirtiest” moment.

Following their royal wedding on April 29 of that year, William and Kate embarked on a 12-day North American tour. It marked their first as a married couple and the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Part of the tour included a stop in LA, where, on July 11, 2011, William and Kate tried their hand at pottery-making while visiting children at a ceramics studio.

The longevity of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" has been fascinating to behold. Beginning on Minnesota public access television in 1988, Joel Hodgson's watch-bad-movies-with-sarcastic-buddies cult TV series has deeply entrenched itself into the collected Jungian lore of every Gen-Xer worth their weight in flannel. For much of its life, "MST3K" lived either on Ktma in Minneapolis or, when it became more successful, running at midnight on Comedy Central. 

Throughout, the show famously included the phrase "Keep circulating the tapes" in its credits. That was an acknowledgement from the show's producers that world-of-mouth and shared VHS recordings of "MST3K" were responsible for its modest cultural foothold. Fans would call friends, mail them cassettes, and implore that the cult grow. In 2008, when "MST3K" was finally made widely available through DVD box sets, Dr. Forrester/Crow T. Robot actor Trace Beaulieu said in an Av Club interview to "Keep circulating some of the tapes.

It’ll be a crappy Thanksgiving for fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000: Netflix has cancelled the revived cult favorite after two seasons (or 12 seasons, if you’re thinking cumulatively). MST3K host Jonah Ray announced the news on social media late Tuesday.

“So, Netflix decided to not do another season of MST3K,” Ray said, before throwing not-so-subtle shade at the streamer for its rash of cancellations of late. “We are off to Get Down in Lilyhammer while the Oa helps us take it One Day At A Time. We will be in group therapy with Tuca & Bertie,...

It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a giant spider! Fathom Events and the 2019 RiffTrax Live series have come to bring you the cult classic The Giant Spider Invasion. Continue reading for ticket information as well as a breakdown of this kitschy film. Also in today's Horror Highlights: Ghost Adventures' Halloween spectacular and HELLmington release details.

RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion Fathom Events Details: "The 2019’s “RiffTrax Live” series continues on August 15th & 20th with “RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion.”

Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett (of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame) are back in cinemas with 1975’s awesome-arachnid-science-fiction-horror-cult- classic: one of the most popular MST3K movies ever!

Starring Alan Hale Jr, the (Skipper from “Gilligan’s Island”), Barbara Hale and Robert Easton, who’s been in more movies than a No Smoking disclaimer, The Giant Spider Invasion” explodes across the screen in a pristine new digital transfer.

Following the sidesplitting kick-off to the 2019 “RiffTrax Live” series with the wonderfully awful rubber monster B-movie “Octaman,” and the Casper Van Dien sword-and-laser swashbuckling space odyssey “Star Raiders” in June, RiffTrax’s Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett (of Mystery Science Theater 3000® fame) are back in cinemas in August with “RiffTrax Live: Giant Spider Invasion.” One of the most popular MST3K movies ever, comedy fans won’t want to miss this epic riff on the 1975 science fiction horror cult classic presented by RiffTrax and Fathom Events.

Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 8 p.m. Et (live) / 7 p.m. Ct (live) / 7 p.m. Mt (tape delayed) / 8 p.m. Pt (tape delayed) and rebroadcast on Tuesday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. local time.

Tickets for “RiffTrax Live: 2019” titles can be purchased at www.fathomevents.com/series/rifftrax-live and participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations, visit the Fathom...

Hosted by Fathom Events, Rifftrax Live: 2019 will feature three classic B-movies for your cinematic viewing pleasure. On the docket this time around is Octaman, Star Raiders, and The Giant Spider Invasion. Continue reading for a breakdown of each movie and showtimes. Also in today's Horror Highlights: The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies - London's African Horror: Shades of Superstition and Ghost Town podcast episode details.

Three Rifftrax Live: 2019 Fathom Events Details: "RiffTrax’s Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett (of Mystery Science Theater 3000 fame) are back in cinemas to celebrate the 10th anniversary of RiffTrax Live with three all-new riffs on what are sure to be fan favorites with “RiffTrax Live: 2019.” Join Mike, Kevin and Bill as they take on B-movie classics: the guy-in-a-rubber-suit creature feature “Octaman,” the Casper Van Dien space odyssey “Star Raiders,” and new HD transfer of the MST3K favorite “Giant Spider Invasion.

In the not too distant past — November 24th, 1988, A.D. — a moderately successful stand-up comedian named Joel Hodgson slipped on a jumpsuit. He then spent a few hours on a Minneapolis Uhf station making fun of the terrible movies Invaders from the Deep and Revenge of the Mysterions from Mars, alongside a couple of handmade robot puppets. Only a handful of lucky Minnesotans were watching Ktma that Thanksgiving night, exactly 30 years ago. They all saw the birth of a pop culture phenomenon: a charmingly cheap-looking show that, no joke, changed television.

For the first season of their podcast 372 Pages We’ll Never Get Back, RiffTrax head honcho Michael J. Nelson and writer Connor Lastowka decided to lay off of riffing on movies for a bit and focus on the local library by taking on Ernest Cline’s 2011 sci-fi ode to ‘80s pop culture and all things geeky, Ready Player One.

Read more...

In 1995, a direct-to-video film by the name of Mind Ripper was released by HBO. Starring Lance Henriksen and Giovanni Ribisi, the film went under a couple different titles, including The Hills Have Eyes III, The Hills Still Have Eyes,… Continue Reading →

The post Exclusive: Bill Corbett, Mike Nelson, and Kevin Murphy of Rifftrax Talk Wes Craven’s Mind Ripper! appeared first on Dread Central.

For those who don't know, Rifftrax is the project Mystery Science Theater alumni Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett took on after the cancellation of their other movie-riffing show. Since then, they have had many live events, and their newest one is titled Summer Beach Party Shorts, where they take the piss out of bad educational shorts. The normal crew will be joined by TV's Frank... Read More...

Twin Peaks Recap is a weekly column by Keith Uhlich covering David Lynch and Mark Frost's limited, 18-episode continuation of the Twin Peaks television series.The key image in Part 5 of the revived Twin Peaks is of a woman in ecstasy. Recall, however, the subtitle that series co-creator/director David Lynch appended to his thorny 2006 masterpiece Inland Empire: "A Woman in Trouble." The line separating rapture and anguish is a blurry one, especially for Lynch's ladies, who are as likely to end up exquisitely chiseled corpses (the ubiquitous Laura Palmer; Part 2's doomed henchwoman Darya) as they are world-weary survivors. For the moment, let's focus on Rebecca "Becky" Burnett (Amanda Seyfried), daughter of Rr Diner waitress Shelly Johnson (Mädchen Amick), though Becky's last name—taken from ne'er-do-well husband Steven Burnett (Caleb Landry Jones)—obscures the identity of her father. (Dana Ashbrook's now-law-abiding Bobby Briggs is the most likely candidate,...

[Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers from “Twin Peaks: The Return” episodes as they’re released weekly.]

In the Episode 5 of “Twin Peaks,” we saw more of the town and that included some characters we’ve already reunited with in earlier episodes. Dr. Jacoby (Russ Tamblyn) has a conspiracy theory webcast in which he’s selling his golden shovels guaranteed to “shovel your way out of the shit,” Shelly (Madchen Amick) has to help out her daughter financially again because that no-good husband of hers can’t keep a job, and Hawk and Andy (Michael Horse, Harry Goaz) are still sifting through the old Laura Palmer case files. Speaking of, Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is still living that Dougie life as an insurance agent and has his own stack of case files to sift through.

We also see a few more familiar faces for the first time this season. Here’s a breakdown of who’s who from the original series that showed up in Episode 5:

Read...

So many familiar faces popped up in “Part 5” of Showtime’s Twin Peaks revival — and I think we can see all the far-flung storylines just starting to come together. But it was a minor footnote that finally got me bubbling over with excitement. As the credits rolled, a familiar name popped up in the crawl: angular young actor Eamon Farren is playing (drumroll) “Richard Horne.” That’s Horne, as in Horne’s Department Store, and “I’m Audrey Horne and I get what I want.” (And yes I stood up from my couch and screamed out “He’s a Horne!

"They all float down here, Georgie!" Pennywise and the kids of The Losers Club from the 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's It are featured in hours of content in the new documentary Pennywise: The Story of It. Also: Mystery Science Theater 3000 collectibles and apparel, 43rd annual Saturn Awards Special Achievement Award Winners, a look at a new clip from Mountain Monsters, and Wichita release details.

Pennywise: The Story of It Documentary Indiegogo Details: "Indiegogo Campaign: "From the makers of 'You're so cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night' and 'RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop' and the director of 'Unearthed & Untold: The Path to Pet Path to Pet Sematary' comes this brand-new documentary celebrating the legacy of 'Stephen King's It' and the legend Tim Curry. With over 30 interviews and hours of behind the scenes footage, this is Your opportunity to support this independent project and make it a reality.

There were plenty of mentions of Star Wars Day on May 4 at TV news stations around the country, but one station in Denver kicked it up a notch with an epic lightsaber battle that looks fantastic. 

Kmgh 7News meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo and traffic reporter Jayson Luber lock blades for control of the newsroom in the digital short that is a little more than three minutes long. 

While some Star Wars TV news promos are cheesy and cringeworthy, the Kmgh short doesn't suffer from that problem. One of the best parts of the video is watching chief meteorologist Mike Nelson play the straight man to all...

We’ve Got Movie Sign again! It’s been 18years since the last time the mad scientists forced the bots and their human companion to watch cheesy movies. Mystery Science Theater 3000, a low-budget but hilarious cable comedy show from the 80s-90s, has been resurrected on Netflix, with a new cast but the same satiric spirit. Does Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return live up to its predecessor?

In the not-too-distant past (1988-1999), Mystery Science Theater 3000 was a cult hit, first on Comedy Central and then on the SyFy Network. Created by comedian Joel Hodgson, it ran for over 10 years, despite numerous cast changes, and a netwrok change, along the way. MST3K gained a legion of devoted fans, (myself included) all of whom were sad to see the show go off the air in 1999. Almost two decades later, Hodgson has brought his comedic gem back, with all-new episodes.

If you know the words, sing along:

If you’re wondering how he eats and breathes

and other science facts,

Just repeat to yourself, “It’s just a show,

I should really just relax…”

for Mystery Science Theater 3000!”

While some things have changed about the revival of “Mystery Science Theater 3000” (premiering this weekend on Netflix) an awful lot hasn’t — including the refrain above from the opening theme song, familiar to generations of fans. The lyrics above, a winky nod to the absurdity of the show’s premise, has always been a major tone-setter for the series created by Joel Hodgson, which brings together an appreciation for the clumsiest efforts in film history with its own crude yet charming style.

Read More: Top Showrunners Give Their Take on a Writers Strike and the Influence of Trump on TV — IndieWire’s WonderCon 2017 Panel

The 14-episode season, dubbed “The Return...

2017-04-14T10:41:18-07:00New 'Mystery Science Theater 3000,' Same As the Old 'MST3K'

When I first heard that Joel Hodgson wanted not only to revive his most famous creation, the “talking back to the movies” TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000, but to revive it with an all-new cast, the only reaction I could muster was scoffing disbelief.

The original series, which ran from 1988 until 1999 on several different networks, did switch out its host and the voices of its robot puppets over the course of its run. But that happened gradually. A voice might change here, an onscreen performer there, but most of the show’s core remained present, especially in its Emmy-nominated writers’ room. Eventually every major role had turned over, without ever really rocking the boat.

But replacing everything at once, especially when nothing was wrong with the original series,...

In the not-too-distant future, next Sunday A.D. …well, actually, right now, on Netflix. That’s right, the cult favorite TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000 has returned, with all-new hosts, all-new Mads and all-new voices for some familiar bots. Begun as a Kickstarter and now launching on Netflix, Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return is conceived as a new season of the original show. It builds off of the property’s beloved past and adds a few new quirks, but maintains the basic format of a guy, his bots and a pantheon of bad films.

The conceit of the new Mystery Science Theater 3000 mirrors the old: a hapless employee of Gizmonic Institute finds himself imprisoned on the Satellite of Love by two mad scientists who force him to watch bad movies. He maintains his sanity by riffing on the films, with the help of his robot companions Tom Servo,...

Though Scream Factory originally made their name by releasing comprehensive special editions of beloved horror titles and some lesser-known cult films deserving reappraisal, after five years the company is diversifying their output more and more. They struck an exclusive deal to release IFC Midnight titles, they’ve picked up a few films and put them out under the “Scream Factory” imprint, and have even developed and produced their very first original feature, Mark Pavia’s Fender Bender, in 2016. In addition to all of this, Scream Factory has begun releasing smaller and lesser-known catalogue titles, nearly bypassing the special features altogether and just giving some older cult titles their high-def debuts. Included in their latest slate of releases is everything from a John Stamos sci-fi action film (Never Too Young to Die) to an unofficial Troll sequel. Let’s take a look at four of these catalogue titles—The Screaming Skull,...

by Chris Feil

This Friday marks the return of cult favorite Mystery Science Theater 3000, the spoof equivalent of sharing a movie theatre with a patron who won’t stop talking back at the screen. This time the crowdfunded production heads to Netflix, with many classic episodes also back on the streaming service as well. For some the original series is more of an acquired taste, but for its devoted cult, there is much to rejoice again.

The premise was simple: painfully bad films are forced upon two robots (the gumball machine-like Tom Servo and metallic rooster Crow) and one human (Joel Hodgson, then Mike Nelson, and now Jonah Ray) in a plot for world domination by some crackpot scientist...

2017-03-23T11:26:53-07:00Netflix Unveils 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' Trailer

Fans of the cult classic comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000 have reason to rejoice this week. That's because the upcoming rebooted season of the series got both a definite premiere date and a brand new trailer. Now there's a countdown to new episodes and a long-awaited first look at the new cast.

The trailer introduces new cast member Jonah Ray, who will be filling the seat between Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo during the series' B-movie mockery, a spot formerly occupied by both Michael J. Nelson and series creator Joel Hodgson.

Also on hand in the trailer are Felicia Day and Patton Oswalt, who will portray the descendants of original bad guys Dr. Clayton Forrester and TV's Frank. As a bonus, we also get a glimpse of Mary Jo Pehl, who will...

So this is some cool news! In the not too distant future, Dark Horse comics will be developing a new comic-book series based on the cult sci-fi series Mystery Science Theater 3000, about a hapless human (Joel Robinson, Mike Nelson, and now Jonah Ray) and their two robot pals (Crow T. Robot and Tom Servo) watching and making fun of terrible movies. Now, there's not much detail as to what the comic series... Read More...

Comic readers who are fans of Blood & Gourd can now download the first two issues of the series on ComiXology. Also in today's Highlights: a Q&A with Havenhurst director Andrew C. Erin, a clip and a trailer for Blind Sun, Mystery Science Theater 3000 Volume 38 DVD release details, Arbor Demon acquisition info, and the trailer for Plaga Zombie: American Invasion.

Blood & Gourd Comixology Digital Download Details: The first two issues of Blood & Gourd are now available as digital downloads on ComiXology! If you prefer to collect your comics in physical form, you can limited print copies at bloodandgourd.com.

---------

Q&A with Havenhurst Director Andrew C. Erin: From the Press Release: "Brainstorm Media and Twisted Pictures have announced the February 10th limited theatrical and nationwide Cable VOD and Digital HD release of Andrew C. Erin's Havenhurst. Co-written by Erin (Sam's Lake, Simple Things) and Daniel Farrands (Amityville: The Awakening,...

Dean Hallett, who has served as Evp and CFO of 20th Century Fox Film since 2001, has a new expanded role at the company. He has been promoted to Senior Evp Operations and Strategy, where he will add technology, human resources and labor relations to his purview along with overseeing other cross-divisional projects. He will continue overseeing Fox Film’s strategic planning, business development and digital supply chain. Mike Nelson, previously the group’s Evp and…...

The RiffTrax gang of Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett are back again, this time taking on Replica, an as-yet-unreleased film from the writer/director of Birdemic: Shock And Terror, James Nguyen. The former Mystery Science Theater 3000 jokesters and director Ngyuen talked exclusively with The A.V. Club about Replica, intentional camp, and why filmmakers let these guys put their films through the wringer.

“There’s probably been some release for everything we’ve done,” Nelson says on the unprecedented move of taking on a film that’s never been released to the public. “We had a strong suspicion that Replica would be good. We heard from Mr. Ngyuen that, unlike his other films, this one was more of an immature vision and that made us lick our chops. ‘Wait a minute, there’s a film that’s worse than Birdemic?’”

According to Nguyen, Replica is “a story...

We Got Movie Sign!!! That familiar refrain was always followed by the screening of some f*cking godawful films that Joel Hodgson - then later Mike Nelson and most recently Jonah Ray - would have to endure alongside their two robot friends Tom Servo (Kevin Murphy) and Crow (Trace Beaulieu, then Bill Corbett) at the behest of some nefarious mad... Read More...

The RiffTrax gang will be back in theaters this December, thanks to Fathom Events. Mike Nelson, Bill Corbett, and Kevin Murphy will be putting poor Dropo through the wringer once again as they rebroadcast their 2013 riff on the Mystery Science Theater 3000 favorite Santa Claus Conquers The Martians. In an A.V. Club exclusive podcast, the trio reminisce about Nicholas Webster’s 1964 sci-fi comedy—one of the lamest Santa Claus movies not featuring Dudley Moore—and discuss working with “Weird” Al Yankovic and getting into the Christmas spirit in the chilly climate of San Diego.

Listening to the podcast, it would appear that the trio is simply always on, making each other chuckle incessantly. In addition to Santa Claus, Fathom Events will be also be presenting 2009’s Christmas Shorts-stravaganza, in which Nelson, Corbett, and Murphy are joined by “Weird” Al. The shorts collection will also include Parade ...

"What's on your mind?" After watching Richard Mundy's Twenty-Twenty Four, a lot of haunting and disturbing things. We also have details on RiffTrax Live: Carnival of Souls, a video of the Ash vs Evil Dead Cast at Build Series, and a new clip from It Stains the Sands Red that premiered at Sitges Film Festival.

RiffTrax Live: Carnival of Souls Broadcast in Select Theaters: Press Release: "Denver – August 16, 2016 – Following the recent success of their MST3K Reunion Show, Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett take on the spooky 1962 cult classic Carnival of Souls with their unique commentary. “RiffTrax Live: Carnival of Souls,” will be broadcast live to select movie theaters across the country on Thursday, October 27 at 8:00 p.m. Et / 7:00 p.m. Ct and tape delayed to 7:00 p.m. Mt / 8:00 p.m. Pt, with an All Hallows’ Eve encore on Monday, October 31 at 7:30 p.

Right on the heels of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 reunion held in Minneapolis last month, the RiffTrax gang is back with two new shows. First, Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett will be taking on 1961’s kaiju klassic Mothra in a previously-announced live event on August 18. And then, just in time for Halloween, the RiffTrax team will be revisiting Herk Harvey’s Carnival Of Souls, a low-budget schlocker from 1962 that influenced the films of George Romero and David Lynch. The RiffTrax event will mark the first time the full-color restored version of Carnival Of Souls will be shown on the big screen.

The A.V. Club chatted exclusively with Nelson and Murphy about the upcoming shows, delving into the droll organ music of Carnival Of Souls as well as their favorite kaiju.

The A.V. Club: You’ve done popular and critically acclaimed films for ...

Netflix’s newest series order gets a B… B-movies, that is.

The streaming service is reviving the Emmy-nominated Mystery Science Theater 3000 — with Felicia Day (Supernatural), Patton Oswalt (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) and Nerdist podcast co-host Jonah Ray joining veteran cast members Bill Corbett (Crow T. Robot), Mary Jo Pehl (as Pearl Forrester) and Kevin Murphy (Professor Bobo) — it announced on Saturday night.

Comic-con 2016 Exclusive Videos, Casting News, Scoop and More

In the not-too-distant future. @MST3K pic.twitter.com/L9IpZW2Cmb

— Netflix Us (@netflix) July 24, 2016

MST3K, in which series creator Joel Hodgson, and later Michael J. Nelson, played...

This week RiffTrax is celebrating ten years of its life on the web. To celebrate, comedians Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy, Bill Corbett and the whole team created a “RiffTrax 10 Year Highlight Reel” for their loyal fans to enjoy.

“It was hard to condense 10 years of making movies funny into just six minutes, but we think we did it,” said the RiffTrax team online.

For those unfamiliar with RiffTrax, they are hilarious commentaries added to blockbuster movies, short films, TV shows and cheesy B-movies, all created by the stars of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 or better known as MST3K.

Read More: ‘Batman v Superman’ Honest Trailer Pokes Fun At The Film That Didn’t Bring ‘Justice’ to Either Hero

Shown during the MST3K Reunion Show, this highlight reel includes some of the group’s favorite jokes from riffs they did in the past. The six-minute video includes scenes from “The Lord of The Rings,...

Scream Factory celebrates over three decades of Dan O'Bannon's graveyard bash at this year's Comic-Con with a special Return of the Living Dead autograph signing, and their annual "Inside Look" panel will feature the eagerly anticipated announcements of future releases

Taking place at Shout! Factory's booth (#4118) on Friday, July 22nd, The Return of the Living Dead autograph signing will feature cast members Thom Mathews (Freddy) and John Philbin (Chuck), as well as Sean Clark, who hosted a new episode of Horror's Hallowed Grounds for the Collector's Edition Blu-ray of the beloved horror comedy.

"An Inside Look at Shout! Factory and Scream Factory" panel, meanwhile, will be held in Room 29Ab at 8:00pm. Below, we have the official press release with full details:

Press Release: Now a mainstay at San Diego Comic-Con International, pop-culture purveyor Shout! Factory returns to the convention in 2016 with a dynamic lineup, featuring captivating panel events,...

Deadlight: Director’s Cut is now out for the PS4 and Xbox One. See what horror awaits you in the new launch trailer released by Deep Silver. Also: a look at Bif Bang Pow and Entertainment Earth’s Sdcc 2016 exclusive Dexter wooden Pin Mate, release details for In the Deep, info on the Mystery Science Theater 3000 reunion show, a poster and release news for Viral, and Zombie with a Shotgun‘s new Indiegogo campaign.

Deadlight: Director’s Cut Launch Trailer Revealed: Press Release: “Larkspur, Calif., June 21, 2016 – The survival horror platformer Deadlight: Director’s Cut is available today for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC digitally for $19.99. With the brand-new Survival Arena Mode which offers interactive defenses and novel weapons, players can expect an unforgettably intense struggle against the horde. In addition, the PS4 and Xbox One versions now also encompass the Nightmare Mode,...

RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion Show promises a night of comedy and will reunite most of the members of Mystery Science Theater 3000. The Mystery Science Theater 3000 reunion show will air live in select cinemas from the State Theater in Minneapolis on June 28th.

Press Release: Denver – April 6, 2016 – Get ready for a Satellite of Love-fest as the guys of RiffTrax — Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett (best known for the groundbreaking “Mystery Science Theater 3000”) — celebrate their 10th year at RiffTrax by producing “RiffTrax Live: MST3K Reunion Show,” an amazing night of riffing and comedy with most of the original MST3K stars. Joining Mike, Kevin and Bill live, in front of a packed house at the State Theater in Minneapolis, will be none other than MST3K creator Joel Hodgson (“Joel Robinson”), Trace Beaulieu (“Dr. Clayton Forrester,” “Crow T. Robot”), Frank Conniff (“TV’s Frank”), Mary Jo Pehl (“Pearl Forrester”), Bridget Nelson (“Nuveena,...