A new US TV spot for Monsters University has arrived, giving us a fun intro to the movie, which follows Mike & Sully from Monsters Inc. during their time at college. The spot is put together like a short promo for the University itself, although with more monstrous students than normal colleges.

Here’s the film’s synopsis: ‘Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan are an inseparable pair, but that wasn’t always the case. From the moment these two mismatched monsters met they couldn’t stand each other. Monsters University unlocks the door to how Mike and Sulley overcame their differences and became the best of friends. Screaming with laughter and fun, Monsters University stars the vocal talents of Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Dave Foley, Julia Sweeney, Joel Murray and Peter Sohn and is directed by Dan Scanlon and produced by Kori Rae.’

The film reaches UK cinemas on July 21st.

The short Mama may only be two and a half minutes long, but that was enough to suggest to Guillermo Del Toro it would be worth backing director Andrés Muschietti to turn it into a feature length film. That’s partly because it contains what Del Toro says is one of the scariest scenes he’s ever seen.

Now the short has popped up online, complete with an intro from Guillermo, to help prepare us for the release of the movie version – which reaches the US on January 18th and the UK on February 22nd.

Here’s the synopsis for the feature-length movie: ‘Guillermo del Toro presents Mama, a supernatural thriller that tells the haunting tale of two little girls who disappeared into the woods the day that their parents were killed. When they are rescued years later and begin a new life, they find that someone or something still wants to come tuck them in at night. Five years ago, sisters Victoria and Lilly vanished from their suburban neighborhood without a trace. Since then, their Uncle Lucas (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and his girlfriend, Annabel (Jessica Chastain), have been madly searching for them. But when, incredibly, the kids are found alive in a decrepit cabin, the couple wonders if the girls are the only guests they have welcomed into their home.

‘As Annabel tries to introduce the children to a normal life, she grows convinced of an evil presence in their house. Are the sisters experiencing traumatic stress, or is a ghost coming to visit them? How did the broken girls survive those years all alone? As she answers these disturbing questions, the new mother will find that the whispers she hears at bedtime are coming from the lips of a deadly presence.’

The first trailer for the thriller Dead Man Down has arrived, with Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace starring. The film reunites Rapace with Niels Arden Oplev, director of the original Scandinavian version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Following the cinematic phenomenon The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, acclaimed filmmaker Niels Arden Oplev and brooding beauty Noomi Rapace reunite for another thrilling tale of vengeance. Colin Farrell joins the prestigious team as brave enforcer Victor, right hand man to an underground crime lord in New York. He seeks to avenge the death of his wife and daughter caused by his boss. When his employer is threatened by a mysterious killer, Victor also becomes detective. Victor is seduced and blackmailed by Beatrice (Noomi Rapace), a victim turned avenger whose intense chemistry leads them spiraling into payback delivered in violent catharsis. FilmDistrict will release Dead Man Down in limited theaters on March 8th this winter.’

No UK date is currently set, but it reaches the US on March 8th.

 

John Dies At The End looks like it’ll be a lot of fun, but if you were planning on pirating it, you might want to think again as you may not survive downloading an illegal copy of the movie!

Here’s the synopsis: ‘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.
‘Adapted from David Wong’s audacious trans-genre horror novel, JOHN DIES AT THE END is written and directed by Don Coscarelli (BUBBA HO-TEP) and also stars Clancy Brown, Glynn Turman and Paul Giamatti.’

It’s due to reach the UK on March 22nd.

As Maniac is a remake of a 1980 video nasty horror, you wouldn’t think Cannes would be the best place to premiere it, but last May it was audiences at the French festival who got the first look at the Frank Khalfoun (P2) directed movie. It’ll reach UK screens on March 15th, but if you fancy taking a look at Elijah Wood as a mannequin store owner killer, the first six minutes of the film are now online.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Just when the streets seemed safe, a serial killer with a fetish for scalps is back and on the hunt. Frank is the withdrawn owner of a mannequin store, but his life changes when young artist Anna appears asking for his help with her new exhibition. As their friendship develops and Frank’s obsession escalates, it becomes clear that she has unleashed a long-repressed compulsion to stalk and kill.

‘A 21st century Jack the Ripper set in present-day LA, MANIAC is a re-boot of the cult film considered by many to be the most suspenseful slasher movie ever made – an intimate, visually daring, psychologically complex and profoundly horrific trip into the downward spiralling nightmare of a killer and his victims.’

Warm Bodies is one of those movies that looks like it could either be brilliant to a bit of a misfire, and to help us make up our minds about it, the first four minutes of the zombie rom-com have been released online.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘WARM BODIES is an upcoming 2013 romantic zombie film based on Isaac Marion’s popular novel of the same name. Directed by Jonathan Levine (50/50), the film stars Nicholas Hoult (Hank McCoy/Beast in the 2011 film X-Men: First Class) and Teresa Palmer (I Am Number Four).’

‘R (Hoult) is a zombie. After a zombie apocalypse, he shambles across an America filled with collapsed buildings, rusted cars, shattered windows, and abandoned high-rises. He can only grunt or moan and craves human brains to get high on their memories. After eating the brains of a suicidal teen, R is overcome with love for the teen’s companion, Julie Grigio (Palmer). R rescues Julie from his zombie pack and takes her back to his lair. She eventually leaves, and R follows her back to Citi Stadium, the largest remaining human refuge.’

The film is due out February 8th, but watch the first four minutes below.