CINEPHOBIA SET TO RELEASE THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE & THE HILLS HAVE EYES HOMAGE "BRUTE 1976" THIS SUMMER

 

CINEPHOBIA RELEASING SET TO RELEASE THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE & THE HILLS HAVE EYES HOMAGE BRUTE 1976 THIS SUMMER

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Cinephobia Releasing is proud to announce the Summer release of director Marcel Walz’s (That’s A Wrap, Pretty Boy) and writer Joe Knetter’s (George A. Romero’s Twilight of the Dead) latest feature Brute 1976. The film is set to release in select theaters this August, followed closely by a digital, VOD release on August 26.   ”Brute 1976 is bloody and sexy, with a deranged family so demented they make John Waters’s Pink Flamingos look like a paradigm of family values,” said Cinephobia President Raymond Murray. “Brute 1976 restored my faith in horror that shocks.” An homage to ‘70s horror cult classics The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes. Brute 1976 takes place in 1976, when Raquel and her girlfriend have car trouble and break down on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. At the same time, a group of people are in the desert for a photoshoot. Soon, they stumble upon an abandoned town where a family of masked psychopaths reside.   “I’ve always been a huge fan of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and The Hills Have Eyes, both the originals and remakes” said Walz. “Brute 1976 was an amazing experience to shoot: It was hot, it was dirty and it was bloody. I’m sure the audience will feel that on screen.”   "We are so excited to have Brute 1976, our modern take on the 70s horror films we love so much, in the hands of Cinephobia for it's North American release”, said Knetter. “We look forward to everyone experiencing the Birdy family in all their gory glory."   Brute 1976 stars Adriane McLean (Miracles of Christmas), Sarah French (Blind), Gigi Gustin (The Retaliators), Dazelle Yvette (Garden of Eden) and Adam Bucci (NCIS Los Angeles). From production company Neon Noir, Marcel Walz, Joe Knetter, and Sarah French produced, with Dirk Schürmann and Tobias Schürman serving as Executive Producers. Robert Kern III (Prey, Creepypasta) provided makeup effects, and Marcus Friedlander (The Getback) served as Director of Photography.    About Cinephobia Releasing Launched by Ray Murray, founder of TLA Releasing and Artsploitation Films, Cinephobia Releasing is dedicated to presenting the most eye-opening genre and LGBTQ+ movies from around the world.

ZombieCON Vol.1 available On Demand 7.15.25 from Level 33 Entertainmaent

 

ZombieCON Vol.1 Heroes Will Rise. Undead Will Fall. AVAILABLE ON DEMAND 7.15.25

FOUR COSPLAYING BEST FRIENDS TRIGGER A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE! ZombieCON Vol. 1 is a wild horror-comedy where fan convention chaos spirals into a full-blown apocalypse. When four cosplay-obsessed best friends accidentally unleash a zombie outbreak—one that infects only the worst of humanity — they suit up, sword up and slash their way through a zombified Los Angeles to rescue their beloved Mama Bear. Blending anime-style action, razor-sharp satire, and blood-soaked survival, ZombieCON Vol. 1 is a genre-bending thrill ride and a love letter to fandom—with sharp wit, high energy, and serious cult-classic potential. Directed by Kyle Valle (ZombieCON, "Class Act," "Ass Lounge"), Cast includes Manny Luke (ZombieCON, Hart Blvd.), Erin Áine (ZombieCON, Tom Holland’s Twisted Tales), CHRISTIAN CASILLAS (ZombieCON, Second Chances, "Bro’s"), CARLO MENDEZ ("Dexter: Original Sin," "Parks and Recreation," ), PUNKIE JOHNSON (Saturday Night Live, Love Life), NICHOLE McAULEY (Holiday Hold-Up, The Nutty Professor, Beverly Hills Cop III), MELISSA JANE RODRIGUEZ ("All American," "Zodiac" ) Written by Kyle Valle, Manny Luke, Erin Áine Produced by Kyle Valle, Erin Áine, Manny Luke 110 MIN | ACTION | HORROR | ZOMBIE | THRILLER | COMEDY | NR SYNOPSIS A group of cosplaying best friends must constantly battle closed-minded society just to do what they love - cosplay their favorite heroes. When a fated encounter triggers a zombie apocalypse in which all assholes are turned into zombies, the group must embody the heroes they revere, don their cosplay armor and collectable katanas, and traverse a zombie-infested Los Angeles to save their loved one. About Level 33 Entertainment Los Angeles based Level 33 Entertainment is a global content sales and distribution company dedicated to promoting diverse voices in independent film. Level 33 provides innovative sales, marketing and distribution services for feature films and entertainment content, delivering a flexible and transparent distribution solution for all platforms including Theatrical, Home Entertainment, On Demand, Broadcast and OTT. 

Japanese Horror HOT SPRING SHARK ATTACK Bites into Theaters and VOD July 11

 

Japanese Horror-Comedy Hot Spring Shark Attack Washes Ashore in the US Opens Theatrically July 11 in NY, LA & More Markets Available on VOD Across North America the Same Day SCREENERS AVAILABLE Los Angeles, CA - Utopia has announced the official release of the acclaimed shark film Hot Spring Shark Attack. Utopia will bring the Hot Spring Shark Attack to select theaters and major streaming and cable platforms on July 11. The film premiered at the 2024 Tokyo International Shark Film Festival, where it took home the Audience Award, and was released in Japan and other international territories last year. Hot Spring Shark Attack will debut for special previews at various Alamo Drafthouse locations on Wednesday, July 9. The film will officially open theatrically for extended runs and special engagements Friday, July 11, including Los Angeles and New York City. The same day, audiences across North America will be able to rent or own Hot Spring Shark Attack on Cable VOD and Digital HD, including Apple TV, Prime Video, Fandango at Home, iNDEMAND and Vubiquity. The horror comedy marks the feature directorial debut of writer/director Morihito Inoue. The cast includes Takuya Fujimura (One Cut of the Dead), Daniel Aguilar (Shin Godzilla), Shôichirô Akaboshi, Masaki Naito, Koichi Makigami, Kiyobumi Kaneko, and Mio Takaki. Ahead of the US rollout, Inoue shared, “Shark movies are popular in Japan as well, but the number of shark films produced here has not yet met the growing demand. My film was made domestically in Japan and received great acclaim, not only from regular shark movie enthusiasts but also from many viewers who were previously unfamiliar with the genre. I’m very excited to see how this work will be received outside of Japan..” Selected Hot Spring Shark Attack July 11 Theatrical Openings: Los Angeles: Laemmle Glendale (weeklong) New York: Posteritati (one night) Dallas: Texas Theatre (one night) Atlanta: The Plaza (one night) A full list of screenings can be found here. More dates will be added as confirmed.

 

FREAK OFF Now Streaming on Amazon Prime — A Provocative Look Inside Music’s Most Dangerous Secrets

Coming Soon to Additional Major Streaming Platforms – Screener Requests Welcome

Philadelphia, PA (June 17, 2025) – FREAK OFF, the provocative new feature from acclaimed filmmaker Ricky Burchell (The 6th, Hiding From My Husband), is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, with additional platforms coming soon. This gritty, seductive drama pulls back the curtain on the music industry’s dark side—where fame, power, and betrayal collide in one unforgettable night. Inspired by real events, FREAK OFF follows rising R&B starlet Ava (Alya Demirci) as she gets swept into the high-stakes world of legendary music producer Renzo (Burchell), where seductive parties and blurred lines come at a steep price. When a leaked sex tape threatens to destroy Ava’s career, she must navigate betrayal, ambition, and image control in an industry that’s quick to exploit female talent and slow to protect it. Also starring Alexandra Sanchez as fierce newcomer Crystal, FREAK OFF channels the raw intensity of Pam & Tommy and Hustle & Flow, tapping into today’s headlines around hip-hop mogul P.Diddy scandals and the ongoing reckoning around power abuse in entertainment. Critics, bloggers, and digital outlets: FREAK OFF is now available for streaming and ready for review! We’re actively seeking coverage from reviewers and film sites—email us now to request a screener link and help spotlight this bold, provocative indie drama.

Details:

Official Trailer: Watch Trailer Here

Horror EYE FOR AN EYE w/ Whitney Peak (HUNGER GAMES), Golda Rosheuvel (BRIDGERTON) & Finn Bennett (TRUE DETECTIVE) | Opens 6.20

 

***NEW TRAILER***   EYE FOR AN EYE A FLORIDA-SET HORROR STARRING WHITNEY PEAK (THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING,), S. EPATHA MEKERSON (CHICAGO MED), GOLDA ROSHEUVEL (BRIDGERTON), and FINN BENNETT (TRUE DETECTIVE) CO-WRITTEN BY ELISA VICTORIA AND MICHAEL TULLY, ADAPTED FROM VICTORIA'S GRAPHIC NOVEL "MR. SANDMAN" THE FEATURE DEBUT FROM ACCLAIMED MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTOR COLIN TILLEY OPENS JUNE 20 IN SELECT THEATERS AND ON DEMAND   Colin Tilley | USA | 2025 | 100m Synopsis: Anna (Whitney Peak), grieving the sudden death of her parents, relocates from New York to a small Florida town to live with the grandmother (S. Epatha Merkerson) she’s never met. Isolated and in unfamiliar surroundings, she falls in with a couple of local teens (Finn Bennett and Laken Giles), but when she becomes a bystander to an unforgivable act of violence, she finds herself ensnared by Mr. Sandman – the twisted soul of a tormented child who haunts bullies’ dreams before feasting on their eyeballs when they finally wake. Directed by: Colin Tilley Written by: Elisa Victoria and Michael Tully Staring: Whitney Peak (“Gossip Girl,” HOCUS POCUS 2), S. Epatha Merkerson (“Chicago Med,” LACKAWANNA BLUES), Golda Rosheuvel (“Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,” DUNE), and Finn Bennett (“True Detective: Night Country,” WARFARE) Produced by: Tim Headington, Theresa Steele Page, Rachael Fung and Nate Kamiya Executive Produced By: David Darby, Lauren Shelton, Elisa Victoria, Susan Kirr, and Bill Tagliaferri

SAVE THE DATE: On 6/20, Tsui Hark's Madcap Rom-com, SHANGHAI BLUES, Returns to Theaters in a Pristine 4K Restoration

 

**SAVE THE DATE** TSUI HARK’S TIMELESS TALE OF LOVE, LAUGHTER AND LOST IDENTITY – A HOMAGE TO THE SCREWBALL COMEDIES OF YESTERYEAR -- RETURNS IN A PRISTINE 4K RESTORATION OVERSEEN BY THE DIRECTOR SYLVIA CHANG, KENNY BEE & SALLY YEH STAR IN THIS CHARMING ROM-COM OPENING IN THEATERS BEGINNING JUNE 20, 2025   “It’s impossible not to be carried along by the delirious rush of silliness… [a] knockabout screwball comedy” -- Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian   "As always with this tireless filmmaker, the pace never lets up and the screen is constantly awhirl with colorful movement, while the actors snap their lines out in a manner reminiscent of American pre-code cinema." -- David Cairns, Senses of Cinema   "It succeeds in conjuring up the exuberance and energy that the very best MGM musicals could offer" -- Andrew Saroch, Far East Films   "Far superior to any Hollywood attempts at this genre in the last 20 years, this delicate, touching and often hilarious little film deserves to be known to a wider audience. Fresh in its cheerful attitude and exhilarating in its execution, Shanghai Blues is a shining example of the exciting skill of its director...." -- Chris Hyde, Box Office Prophets OFFICIAL 4K RESTORATION TRAILER SYNOPSIS   In 1937, after The Second Sino-Japanese War breaks out, a soldier and a young woman have an awkward meet cute in darkness under a bridge as they seek refuge during a bomb raid. Although they can’t see each other’s faces they promise to meet again after the dust settles. Ten years later the soldier, now a burgeoning songwriter and tuba-player in a marching band, is back in town desperately searching for his would-be soulmate. As fate would have it they end up living in the same building unbeknownst to each other. Through a series of mishaps he mistakes her new ingénue roommate for his love interest and wacky love triangle hijinks ensue.   Consummate auteur Tsui Hark almost singlehandedly reinvented Hong Kong cinema in the 80’s and 90’s with uber-kinetic genre opuses, amping up cinematic spectacle whether with special effects or sheer unbridled energy. This Hong Kong styled homage to the screwball comedies of yesteryear features black belt level slapstick and delightfully droll romcom shenanigans. With striking mise en scene and inspired production design SHANGHAI BLUES is, “…luscious, loving and a lot of fun…one of Tsui Hark’s most enjoyable works" - Richard James Havis, South China Morning Post. The 4K restoration of SHANGHAI BLUES was supervised from the original negative by Tsui Hark with L’Immagine Ritrovata and the soundtrack remixed by One Cool Sound.   BIOGRAPHY: TSUI HARK   Tsui Hark is widely regarded as one of the most influential filmmakers in Hong Kong cinema, known for his innovative style and pushing the boundaries of filmmaking. He emerged as a key figure during the 1980s Hong Kong New Wave, challenging genre conventions and censorship restrictions with films like Butterfly Murders and Dangerous Encounters of the First Kind.  And with his film series Once Upon a Time in China and Detective Dee turning into major commercial successes, Tsui remains of the highest-grossing filmmakers in Chinese-language cinema.   In 1984, Tsui co-founded Film Workshop, leading to a series of commercially successful films that defined the golden era of Hong Kong cinema. Works such as A Chinese Ghost Story, Swordsman, and Once Upon a Time in China solidified his dominance in Asia. After directing films in Hollywood, Tsui returned to Hong Kong in the mid-1990s and expanded his reach globally with films like Iron Monkey and Time and Tide, which reinvented Hong Kong action genre for international audiences.    From 2011, Tsui ventured into 3D filmmaking with films like Flying Swords of Dragon Gate and Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon. His film The Taking of Tiger Mountain 3D earned him the Best Director award at the Golden Rooster Awards and the Hong Kong Film Awards.   Other notable achievements was co-directing and co-producing The Battle at Lake Changjin, a record-breaking Chinese film that garnered Best Directors and Best Film awards at the Golden Rooster Film Awards. Most recently, his film Septet: The Story of Hong Kong, was an Official Selection for the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, and his adaptation of the classic Jin Yong novel The Legend of the Condor Heroes was released in 2025.