It's always unsettling to see Bruce Banner's body contort and stretch in uncanny ways so his terrifying alter ego, the Hulk, can come out and play. In fact, it's an aspect of the character that the Marvel Comics series Immortal Hulk is famous for highlighting. It's a particularly dark story about Bruce Banner that resonates with many fans and, as it turns out, helped inspire a reinvention of vampires in the Finnish Christmas horror-comedy Red Snow.

Red Snow follows a 16-year-old girl played by Anni Iikkanen whose obsession with Twilight is put to the test when she comes across a real vampire, who is the absolute opposite of what she's grown to love. Instead, he's a 49-year-old balding man (played by Hannu-Pekka Björkman) in a Santa outfit, whose mouth opens his entire face up (think in the same vein as Blade 2) to reveal a disgusting sucker tongue that drains blood from his victims.

At Fantastic Fest 2026, The Direct sat down with director Nichols Lynch to discuss Red Snow, its Immortal Hulk inspirations, and his aim to reinvent vampires and introduce something new to the Finnish film landscape.

The next Hunger Games movie is confirmed to include a homage to a beloved moment from Catching Fire. The upcoming Sunrise on the Reaping is the sixth Hunger Games movie in the franchise and sits between The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and The Hunger Games, telling the story of a young Haymitch Abernathy. Sunrise on the Reaping shares many similarities with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, as both are about Quarter Quell events, but the connection between the two will be cemented further thanks to a cinematography choice in the 2026 film.

The Hunger Games films, based on the books by Suzanne Collins, have always been cinematic spectacles, but a long-time favorite moment from Catching Fire came when the film dramatically shifted from the traditional aspect ratio into IMAX during the tribute's first arrival in the arena. The scene saw Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen rise from the ground in the tribute elevator and emerge into the 75th Quarter Quell arena, where the screen expanded to IMAX to reflect the transition into this new, foreign world.

The sequence has been embraced by fans and hailed as one of Catching Fire's most iconic moments, and now Sunrise on the Reaping will employ a similar tactic. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Sunrise on the Reaping cinematographer Jo Willems confirmed that the tribute's arrival in the 50th Quarter Quell arena will mirror the aspect ratio change used in Catching Fire, switching from widescreen to IMAX in applicable cinemas. 

Horror fans probably didn't expect to get an actually terrifying, giant snake movie any time soon—especially after Sony Pictures' meta-comedy take on Anacanda last year with Paul Rudd (who audiences will soon see in Avengers: Doomsday) and Jack Black. Thankfully, director Mike P. Nelson had other plans with Beware Boiúna, a movie whose titular snake is a force to be reckoned with.

Beware Boiúna, which is now in theaters, follows a group of traveling doctors in the Amazon who visit local towns, helping those they can. Sadly for them, not long into their journey, they come face-to-face with a colossal ancient snake named Boiúna, who wakes from her slumber to correct nature's balance.

Now, if you haven't seen the movie yet, make sure to stop reading—because one of the most shocking points of the movie merits discussion: the shocking death of Jessica Rothe's Alli. Alli is poised as the lead of the entire movie, that is, until she's shockingly and violently dispatched by Boiúna.

Tenzing is Apple TV's new biographical drama movie that focuses on the true story of Nepalese-Indian Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay (Genden Phuntsok) and his historic 1953 ascent of Mount Everest alongside Edmund Hillary (Loki's Tom Hiddleston), a New Zealand climber who was among the British expedition team looking to make history for their country.

What makes this story unique is that the narrative focuses on Tenzing's perspective, starting with his childhood, the growth of his aspirations, and finally his joining the team that would be the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Another key character in Tenzing, which hits Apple TV on October 16, is Colonel John Hunt, played by Spider-Man's Willem Dafoe. John Hunt led the British expedition team and was responsible for logistics, planning, and the overall safety of everyone on the team. Without him, no one would have made it up to the summit in the first place.

It's been seven years since LAIKA Studios released one of its famous, handcrafted stop-motion animated films, but in that time, the studio has been busy. Featuring 233 handcrafted puppets, more than 1000 artists and craftspeople, and 2804 shots over 231 weeks, LAIKA's new film Wildwood might just be the studio's most ambitious film to date.

Ahead of its release on October 23, LAIKA unveiled Wildwood at TIFF, hosting a panel presentation featuring a nearly 30-minute preview of the film, as well as a dedicated pop-up event in Toronto's Portland Square, where fans could view several of the movie's intricate handmade puppets.

The new fantasy film follows a teenager, Prue (Peyton Elizabeth Lee), and her classmate, Curtis (Jacob Tremblay), as they venture into a magical forest in Portland to rescue Prue's abducted brother. 

Walt Disney Animation Studios is so synonymous with magic that the phrase "Disney Magic" has long been cemented in our lexicon. Hexed, its latest foray into the gorgeous world of animated features, demonstrates the best of Disney magic in more ways than one. 

Directed by Moana 2 co-director Jason Hand and Wish co-director Fawn Veerasunthorn, Hexed brings together a world-class cast that includes Hailee Steinfeld ("Billie Doe"), Rashida Jones ("Alice Doe"), Jodie Foster ("Queen Celeste"), Walton Goggins ("Beef Roger Crumbchuck"), Tracey Ullman ("Ms. Quill"), and Stephen Fry ("Elias Quire"), among a host of yet-unannounced vocal talents. 

The Direct's Jeff Ewing went to Walt Disney Animation Studios for a preview of the gorgeous new film. We previewed Hexed, as well as the entirety of the new animated short Lilo & Scratch, dug into the design process behind the film's characters and the magical town of Hexe, took turns drawing Beef Roger, and interviewed the film's directors, Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand, alongside producers Roy Conli and Yvett Merino.

Have you ever wanted to see an original, Halloween Horror Nights maze come to life on the big screen, one that's practically oozing with that old Nickelodeon, nostalgic vibe? Well, luckily enough, Fantastic Fest has the perfect film for you: Flapjax.  

Flapjax is a campy, over-the-top body horror-comedy that follows Gabriel Cagan's Arrow, the fast-food manager at Plucky Hamudders. Business isn't going well, and to save the entire restaurant, he decides to bring back a long-dormant menu item called Flapjax. Much to his surprise, not only does this choice bring untold chaos to his front door, but it unknowingly helps an alien race with its evil plans.

The Direct caught up with Flapjax director Rocko Zevenbergen, along with cast members Gabriel Cagan (Arrow), Estevan Muñoz (Zeke), and Maddie Barbush (Louie), to discuss the many ways nostalgia plays into their new movie. Flapjax premiered at Fantastic Fest 2026 but does not have a wider release date.

Taron Egerton and Jessica Henwick have a new movie coming all about the modern dating scene, but it's not the typical lighthearted rom-com by any means. Everybody Wants to F*ck Me has plenty of laughs, but also an edge of darkness that makes the film unpredictable and nail-biting, with a message the cast warns will be a "conversation starter." 

In Jonathan Schey's upcoming film, Egerton stars as Adam Samuels, a self-made "nice guy" who lures women in with his persona, only to ghost them. An interaction with an alluring woman at a bar, played by Henwick (known for her role in Marvel's Iron Fist), turns Adam's life upside down after his once-winning persona suddenly makes him the desire of every woman around him, to dire and dangerous results.

At the TIFF 2026 premiere of Everybody Wants to F*ck Me, director Schey, Henwick, and co-star Charly Clive spoke to The Direct about the film's place in the modern rom-com landscape and why audiences should "go in blind" to see it.

Disney is completely changing the way it is creating its live-action films, abandoning a strategy that the company has used for many years now, as a new era is ushered in for the entertainment giant. No one can argue that Disney is one of the most successful brands of all time, across any category. The House of Mouse is responsible for creating some of the most influential films of all time, both in live-action and in animation, and is at the top of the food chain in the theme park industry. However, Disney isn't perfect, and sometimes formulas don't yield the results many want them to, which is apparently what happened with the company's live-action movies.

With Disney's slate of upcoming live-action films, it is clear that Disney has completely abandoned its strategy for live-action movies, where they are essentially shot-for-shot remakes of classic animated titles. Starting sixteen years ago with 2010's Alice In Wonderland and followed up by films like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, and Moana, the studio's live-action theatrical adaptations were all extremely similar to the original animated movies they were based on. In the future, Disney is going a different route.

Acclaimed author Patricia Highsmith has a new story, but it's not the one you might be expecting. A Talent For Murder takes audiences inside the mind of Highsmith, the writer of the Tom Ripley novels (which have been adapted time and time again), in a story that blurs the lines between reality and fiction as a young man arrives on Highsmith's door in Switzerland and tries to convince the reclusive author to write one more story.

A Talent For Murder premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September, and while on the red carpet, stars Helen Mirren (Patricia Highsmith), Alden Ehrenreich (Edward Ridgeway), and Olivia Cooke (Clementine Balfour), as well as director Anton Corbijn and writer Joanna Murray-Smith, spoke to The Direct about bringing the twist-filled new thriller to life and which authors they'd personally try to convince to write another book.

A Talent For Murder will be released in US theaters on October 23, 2026. For more TIFF interviews, take a look at The Direct's coverage of the Friday the 13th prequel, Crystal Lake.

20 years ago, Guillermo del Toro directed his brilliant dark fantasy masterpiece Pan's Labyrinth. It's a magical work full of human and inhuman monsters alike, for a positively unforgettable cinematic ride.  We can finally witness Guillermo del Toro's exceptional cinematic work in glorious, human-crafted 3D. 

Guillermo del Toro's filmography is full of films that are both critically acclaimed and popularly lauded. Blade II (starring Wesley Snipes, who appeared again Deadpool & Wolverine), Hellboy, and Hellboy II: The Golden Army set high bars for comic book adaptations, while both The Shape of Water and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio won Oscars for the seasoned genre filmmaker. 20 years later, Pan's Labyrinth might yet be his masterpiece. 

The Direct attended the premiere of Pan's Labyrinth's 3D conversion (also celebrating its 4K upgrade) at the beautiful Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, speaking to the film's Oscar-winning DP Guillermo Navarro, star Ivana Baquero, and the iconic creature maestro Doug Jones to discuss its theatrical re-release on October 8, 2026.

Pan's Labyrinth's 3D Release 

Doris Bithers shocked the world with her claims that she was physically assaulted by a supernatural entity in her suburban Los Angeles home in 1974. The claims were so shocking and violent that they inspired the well-known 1982 horror film The Entity. Now, Doris' story is taking another swing at the big screen with What Happened to Doris?, which just premiered at Fantastic Fest 2026.

In the film, Heather Graham plays Doris Bither, a struggling single mother with three kids in 1974 suburban Los Angeles. Doris' life is turned upside down when she is violently and sexually assaulted by an unseen, invisible force inside her home. As the attacks escalate, in desperation, she's forced to turn to a team of paranormal investigators from UCLA to help figure out what is happening.

At Fantastic Fest, What Happened to Doris? Director Nick Simon, alongside stars Heather Graham (Doris) and Mimi Rogers (Dr. Thelma Moss), spoke with The Direct about how their new theatrical version of the real-life story balanced fact with fiction.

Movies like the recent surprise hit Buddy, which features an orange Barney-like figure murdering children, show that nostalgia is ripe with potential, especially in the horror genre. Enter Play House, a film that just made its debut at Fantastic Fest 2026.

The story follows Will Harrison's Elliot, a broken-hearted man who decides to buy and renovate a dilapidated house in order to win back his ex. During the process, he unexpectedly finds some abandoned VHS tapes under the old water heater tank in the basement. On them is James Urbaniak's Mr. Morton and his kids show, Monster Alley, a series no one has ever heard of. Given that this is a horror movie, there's a reason no one knows about Monster Alley or its unsettling host, Mr. Morton.

The Direct spoke with director and co-writer Nicolas Curcio, along with actor James Urbaniak, to discuss the inspirations behind the children's television show's host, Mr. Morton, and how Urbaniak began figuring out how he'd embody this unsettling and disturbing man.

A new Sony Pictures video game adaptation will now swap in Alan Ritchson after Jason Momoa was originally set to lead the movie. Ritchson has already been on top of the movie and TV world in recent years, largely thanks to his highly acclaimed work in all four seasons of Prime Video's Reacher series. Now, with multiple new action movies coming to theaters and various streamers, Ritchson is on his way towards taking on a massive video game property that will be adapted to live action for the first time.

Sony Pictures (reported by The Wrap) reported that Sony Pictures' new movie based on the Helldivers video game series has been delayed from its 2027 release and will now debut on June 9, 2028. Additionally, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the leading role in this movie will now be played by Alan Ritchson. The movie will be directed by Justin Lin, best known for his work on Universal's Fast Saga.

Ritchson will now take over the role initially set to be played by former Aquaman and current Lobo star Jason Momoa. This switch comes after Momoa reportedly exited Helldivers in early June, although no reason was given for this move. Coming up soon for Momoa are appearances in the upcoming Street Fighter movie from Paramount on October 16 as Blanka, and in Warner Bros.' Dune: Part Three as Duncan Idaho on December 18.

Films that tackle taboo topics are always unique experiences, and that's certainly the case with Agata Trzebuchowska's film Sick. The Polish film, which premiered at Fantastic Fest 2026, follows the story of 16-year-old Maks and his older sister Emma. Over the course of a suffocatingly hot summer, the siblings are forced into isolation in the countryside to take care of their sick grandmother. This situation leads the two's dynamic and relationship to slowly, yet surely, shift closer toward intimacy.

At Fantastic Fest, The Direct spoke with Sick director Agata Trzebuchowska and stars Konrad Kąkol (Maks) and Katarzyna Łubik (Emma) about their psychological horror movie that explores an unnervingly intimate sibling bond.

For more coverage from Fantastic Fest, be sure to check out The Direct's interviews with the filmmakers behind other horror movies such as Beware Bouina and The Heretiks.

Danny Boyle's next film, Ink, is a high-octane journey into the media industry, painting a dark picture of what journalism once was and the watershed moment that's informed how we experience it now. The director, known for an array of films including Slumdog Millionaire and 28 Years Later, unpacks the rise of tabloid journalism in Ink, through the origin story of the UK outlet The Sun, under the leadership of editor Larry Lamb (Jack O'Connell) and media mogul Rupert Murdoch (Guy Pearce). 

While promoting Ink at TIFF, Boyle spoke to The Direct about the importance he felt in making the film, particularly as he considers journalism one of the "pillars" of society, which is "under threat now." Pearce also shared a takeaway for modern journalists after watching Ink, adding that "[sticking] to the truth is vital."

Ink is scheduled for a theatrical release on December 11, before premiering on Netflix on January 8. For more coverage from The Direct at TIFF, take a look at our coverage of Zack Snyder's The Last Photograph.

Maika Monroe is well known within the horror sphere thanks to her starring roles in movies like It Follows and Longlegs. Now, with Victorian Psycho, the genre icon is back, and this time she's bringing one insane performance.

Victorian Psycho follows Monroe's Winifred Notty, an eccentric 19th-century governess who comes to the Ensor House in 1858 to care for the children of the Pounds family (led by Jason Isaacs' Mr. Pounds and Ruth Wilson's Mrs. Pounds). Little does everyone in the house know that Winifred is secretly an unhinged psychopath, harboring a darkness she calls Fred.

Ahead of its November 13 release date, Victorian Psycho premiered at Fantastic Fest, where The Direct caught up with director Zachary Wigon to discuss Maika Monroe's intense performance and the film's connection to the recently published book of the same name.

Verity is finally in theaters, and fans have the chance to buy unique popcorn buckets, special cups, and other merchandise themed after the film. Adapted from the best-selling novel of the same name by author Colleen Hoover (It Ends With Us), Verity tells the story of Jeremy Crawford (Josh Hartnett), a husband whose wife, Verity (Anne Hathaway), is bedridden due to a mysterious accident. However, Verity is a renowned author who is in need of a ghostwriter to finish her work, and that is where Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson) comes in. However, things aren't as they seem.

As nearly any major theatrical release has done across the past couple of years, Verity has been given the popcorn bucket treatment by the major theater chains in the United States, meaning that fans will get the opportunity to purchase special popcorn buckets, cups, merchandise, and other items that are Verity-branded. It is worth noting that different chains are selling different items, so a popcorn bucket or cup from Regal could be different from a bucket that is sold by Cinemark, for example.

Three different chains have marketed different specialty items to celebrate Verity's release, with each offering something rather unique.

Plenty of horror fans love their home-invasion films and supernatural witch adventures like the MCU's Agatha All Along. But thanks to The Heretiks, which just premiered at Fantastic Fest, you can get both in one package.

The movie follows Josie Juliette Wert's Ada, a woman who finds herself in the midst of a war between witches bent on sacrificing her little sister, Ava Mae Seidensticker's Mabel, on Halloween night to end the world. The group, led by Tess Williams' craze Neve, has its plans delayed by Kimberly Epstein's Cai, a former member of Neve's coven who aims to prevent their sacrifice from going through at all costs.

The Direct spoke with the cast and filmmakers of The Heretiks at Fantastic Fest, where they discussed the movie's unconventional blend of horror genres and the unique elements they added to their characters. 

Fans of Luca Guadagnino's Challengers, starring Spider-Man: Brand New Day's Zendaya, will feel right at home with Shudder's latest horror film, Bloody Tennis. Challengers followed two professional tennis players as they worked to make it big while simultaneously juggling a budding love triangle. That passionate portrayal of Tennis and their intense drive to become stronger athletes carries over to the new movie Bloody Tennis, which is streaming on Shudder. 

Bloody Tennis is a supernatural sports body-horror story that follows Sandra Guldberg Kampp's Sophie, an American tennis player who goes away to a remote tennis academy in Southern Europe. Unluckily for her, Sophie's academic journey takes a dark, twisted dive into unexpected madness.

At Fantastic Fest, The Direct caught up with Bloody Tennis director Nikias Chryssos to discuss how Bloody Tennis is similar yet vastly different from the iconic tennis movie Challengers.