John Dies at the End

If you haven't seen John Dies at the End...  Well, what's wrong with you?  The latest film from Don Coscarelli (Bubba Ho-Tep, Phantasm) is now available on DVD and Blu-ray and we've got a sneak peek at some of the bonus content featured on the disc.

Inside, hang out in the Creature Corps. FX shop where Robert Kurtzman shows you what they created for the production.

Head inside for the clip!  Be sure to read our interview with Don Coscarelli here.

I wish this interview was conducted on camera.  There's an honesty to it I love.  And for you indie filmmakers out there, you'll likely relate to what Don Coscarelli has to say.  I've known the Phantasm helmer for many years now and we've got a good vibe when we talk.  I think this interview could have gone on much longer if we were sitting down over a beer or coffee, capturing the whole thing on camera.

Coscarelli was making the press rounds recently, chatting up his latest release John Dies at the End (now available on VOD/DVD) a film that you should see, if you haven't already.  It's weird, dark, funny, sometimes gory and often surreal, but what I love about it is its rhythm and voice.  The film exudes a certain charm and energy that you might find from a young, fresh filmmaker.  But the man behind it all is film vet Coscarelli, back on the genre scene after 10 years since Bubba Ho-Tep and proving he's still "got it."

Inside, Coscarelli opens up and reveals why it took so long for his post-Bubba Ho-Tep effort to hit the screen.

It seems strange to call something “post-modern horror” but John Dies At The End may be the first of it’s kind. Don Coscarelli, the man behind cult classics Phantasm and Bubba Ho-Tep, has brought us a genre bending viewing that’s as fun as it is weird.

The movie's plot is hard to follow, leading to a number of moments where you’ll scrunch your face up and silently mouth “what the hell” to yourself, but by the end you have just about figured everything out.

David Wong (Chase Williamson) and John Cheese (Rob Mayes) are best friends who both ingest the street drug “Soy Sauce” and it draws them into a topsy-turvy world where nothing is what it seems. They discover that for most the drug kills the user but for John and Dave it has allowed them to tap into a paranormal world and help combat the ancient evils that are trying to tap their way into our world. It gives them strange psychic abilities, like the ability to communicate with the dead and to know the exact amount of change in a strangers pocket. Strange, right? 

Don Coscarelli fans who’ve been waiting for his long-anticipated follow-up to Bubba Ho-tep have reason to get excited. The director’s adaptation of David Wong’s comedic horror novel John Dies at the End is finally seeing release (December 27th on VOD) after playing at a string of this year’s indie festivals, and it’s as wonderfully different from Bubba as Bubba was from Coscarelli’s breakthrough Phantasm saga.  

As twisted as anything penned by William S. Burroughs or Philip K. Dick, John Dies pairs veteran actor Paul Giamatti with newcomers Rob Mays and Chase Williamson, in the tale of two paranormal adventurers who stumble upon a drug known as… Soy Sauce? It all makes sense on screen, or rather it doesn’t make sense, but – like the best head trips – in a good way. I sat down with Coscarelli last weekend to discuss John Dies at the End, along with his long-awaited Phantasm V, the upcoming Phantasm II Blu-ray, and lots more. Check out our chat inside.

Don Coscarelli's John Dies At the End is making its way to VOD on December 27th and Magnet has released a new red band trailer to tout its debut.

In John Dies at the End, it's all about the Soy Sauce, a drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. Users drift across time and dimensions. But some who come back are no longer human. Suddenly a silent otherworldly invasion is underway, and mankind needs a hero. What it gets instead is John (Rob Mayes)and David (Chase Williamson), a pair of college dropouts who can barely hold down jobs. Can these two stop the oncoming horror in time to save humanity? No.No, they can't.

Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Paul Giamatti, Clancy Brown, Doug Jones, Glynn Turman and Daniel Roebuck star.

Winter officially begins December 21st and we're thrilled to see that the season is going to be jam-packed with horror releases!

What was once a dumping ground (some might argue it still is) for genre titles is now prime real estate (The Devil Inside raked in big bucks in its debut at the start of 2012).

ShockTillYouDrop.com breaks down the films you can expect to see later this month through March 19th, when winter concludes.  As usual, we weigh in with our thoughts on what is to come and provide you with links to photos and trailers (if available).

Use our comment boards below to sound off on what you are looking forward to!

Don Coscarelli (Phantasm, Bubba Ho-Tep) is back and he's got a new film on the way called John Dies at the End.  The distributor, Magnet Releasing, unveiled the official trailer today and you can view it inside.  The film hits VOD on December 27th and opens in a limited theatrical release February 3, 2013.  Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Paul Giamatti, Clancy Brown, Doug Jones, Glynn Turman and Daniel Roebuck star.

In John Dies at the End, it's all about the Soy Sauce, a drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. Users drift across time and dimensions. But some who come back are no longer human. Suddenly a silent otherworldly invasion is underway, and mankind needs a hero. What it gets instead is John (Rob Mayes)and David (Chase Williamson), a pair of college dropouts who can barely hold down jobs. Can these two stop the oncoming horror in time to save humanity?  No.  No, they can't.

Don Coscarelli's latest film - his last feature effort was Bubba Ho-Tep ten years ago (!) - John Dies At the End is finally on the way and Magnet Releasing has locked in a December 27th VOD debut (February 3, 2013 limited theatrical release).

Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Paul Giamatti, Clancy Brown, Doug Jones, Glynn Turman and Daniel Roebuck star and, today, we've landed a look at the poster...which is pretty damn awesome.

Synopsis: It's a drug that promises an out-of-body experience with each hit. On the street they call it Soy Sauce, and users drift across time and dimensions. But some who come back are no longer human. Suddenly a silent otherworldly invasion is underway, and mankind needs a hero. What it gets instead is John and David, a pair of college dropouts who can barely hold down jobs. Can these two stop the oncoming horror in time to save humanity? No. No, they can't.

Don Coscarelli's latest film, John Dies At the End, has enjoyed a fun festival run, but it's about time it found a distributor, right?

Right.

Enter Magnet Releasing.  The division of Magnolia Pictures announced today that it has acquired the flick and is aiming to release it in early 2013.  If you're heading to the Toronto International Film Festival next month, you'll see it sooner than that.

News fresh from the Twitter-sphere.  As you know, the Toronto International Film Festival is quickly approaching and we've been eagerly anticipating the Midnight Madness line-up, which never disappoints.  

This morning, the official Twitter account for Midnight Madness unveiled the titles participating in the program this year and, man oh man, it's a doozy.

It appears Dredd 3D is making the festival rounds before it opens September 21st.  Not only is the film playing to Fantastic Fest audiences in September, but it's now a Midnight Madness selection as well.

Confirming what we've been telling you for the last month, Rob Zombie's The Lords of Salem will make its premiere.  So will Hellbenders 3D, the latest film from The Burrowers' JT Petty which stars Clancy Brown.

South By Southwest's film festival schedule just got much more exciting.  The midnight line-up has been updated and it now includs The Tall Man, Rec 3: Genesis and V/H/S.

The Tall Man is the anticipated return of Pascal Laugier, the director of Martyrs.  And, of course, Rec 3 is the next chapter in the Spanish Rec series - this time directed solely by Paco Plaza.  Meanwhile, this is V/H/S' sophomore festival run after premiering at Sundance last month.

Head inside for the full SXSW midnight line-up.

Don Coscarelli is a name we all know around these parts; the man has given us the Phantasm series and Bubba Ho-Tep.  This month, he's taking his latest film to Sundance!  It's called John Dies at the End, and like his previous pics, it promises to be a nuts-o, unpredictable journey.  With its debut right around the corner, new promo materials are being released, including a one-sheet that introduces you to..."The Bible Belter."

The Facebook page for Don Coscarelli's latest film, John Dies At the End, yielded some new images and a teaser, likely whipped up to generate some buzz for the film's appearance at Sundance next month.

Written by Coscarelli, who is adapting from a novel by David Wong, the film stars Chase Williamson, Rob Mayes, Paul Giamatti, Clancy Brown, Glynn Turman and Doug Jones.  You'll find the pics, teaser and a full synopsis inside.

Joined by Doug Jones

Directed by Phantasm's Don Coscarelli