Horror Highlights: DEAD OF NIGHT, MY FAVORITE FINAL GIRL, THE THIRD PARENT, THE EXIT STATE, Ripcord’s Halloween Film Festival

DEAD OF NIGHT Slasher Acquired by Level 33 for November 13 Theatrical Release: “DEAD OF NIGHT, the indie horror-thriller directed by Derek Sulek and starring Dermot Mulroney (MY BEST FRIEND’S WEDDING, ABOUT SCHMIDT), Scott Grimes (TED, OPPENHEIMER), Jake Busey (STRANGER THINGS, RUST), and Kirrilee Berger (UNSUNG HERO), has been picked up for U.S. and Canadian distribution by Level 33 Entertainment. Professional wrestling legend, rock musician, and actor Chris Jericho (TERRIFIER 2 & 3, DEXTER) executive produced the film. A theatrical release of the film is planned for November 13, 2026.

SYNOPSIS: When the savagely mutilated body of a teenage girl is discovered in the quiet town of Elmwood Heights, the newly elected mayor (Alex Camacho) scrambles to create a neighborhood watch, desperate to calm the frightened community. But as the gruesome murders continue, determined Sheriff Weaver (Mulroney) struggles to catch the killer while the town spirals into panic. Sensing something more sinister behind the killings, the sheriff’s daughter Kelly (Berger) becomes obsessed with uncovering the killer’s twisted motives before it’s too late.

Dead of Night is directed by Derek Sulek, from a screenplay co-written with Eric Durham. The film was produced by Oren Kamara, Derek Sulek, and Dan Sheldon, with Jijo Reed serving as co-producer. Executive producers include Chris Jericho, Scott Grimes, Ann Koch, Doug Johnson, and Matthew Ballard. Production was carried out in Los Angeles under Fade to Black Films, in association with ZMA Films.

Said the creative team in a statement, “Dead of Night was inspired in part by the fear that gripped Los Angeles during the Night Stalker era, so making the film here gave it an authenticity we couldn’t manufacture somewhere else. We’re incredibly proud of the local cast and crew who brought it to life and are excited to now bring an independent, LA-made horror film to audiences across the country.” Added Level 33 President & CEO Andreas Olavarria, “We are truly excited to be working with the talented team at Fade to Black Films and can’t wait to share this edge-of-your-seat thriller with theatrical audiences across the US and Canada this November.”

The deal was negotiated by Gato Scatena of Scatena & Rosner Films on behalf of the filmmakers and Olavarria & Taryn Procsal on behalf of Level 33.”

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MY FAVORITE FINAL GIRL: “SHE SURVIVES. SHE ALWAYS DOES.

She fights her way out of the babysitting gig, the backwoods, the campground, the nightmares, the party, the sorority house, the spaceship. She battles the evil that wants to destroy her and lives to tell the tale. She is the Final Girl. For decades, she has been horror’s most enduring icon.

In My Favorite Final Girl, sixty-one horror authors, creators, and enthusiasts each choose the Final Girl who left the biggest impression on them, championing her lasting impact and making the case for why she matters. Together, these essays spotlight her astonishing evolution and cultural influence—honoring the trailblazing, trendsetting heroines of horror cinema history, and exploring what makes these characters so beloved, significant, and relevant.

This is a celebration of the smart, strong, brave, capable, resourceful, resilient, and complex women in horror who conquered your worst nightmares.

Turn the page. She’s waiting for you.

Featuring essays from Clay McLeod Chapman, Candace Nola, Phrique, Christa Carmen, Besu Tadesse, Cassandra Celia, Sean McDonough, Victoria Dalpe, D.A. Latham, Ben Young, Caleb Jones, Erica Summers, Dorian J. Sinnott, Mick Collins, Asher Dark, Brennan LaFaro, Jason Nickey, Eric Butler, Laura Bilodeau, Royal Poff, Amanda MDNR Warner, James G. Carlson, Cat Voleur, T.L. Beeding, Douglas Hackle, Joseph Pesavento, Matt Brandenburg, Aimee Nicole, Sam Rebelein, R.C. Hill, Rob Novellin, Kirsten Noelle Craig, Jack Pendleton, Angelique Jordonna, Katrina Thornley, Nicole Mello, Megan M. Ruggiero, Brandin Whetstone, Garry Medeiros, Shannon White, Brian Sheldon, Phoebe Simon, Chana Odom, Jim Groves, Frank Mandosa, Jared Rohrer, Julie Forgit, Bret Laurie, MK Oldman, Amanda Novellin, Jessica Simon, Joshua Dahlin, Aaron Reid, Erica Sheldon, Abby Sinclair, Dave Lizotte, Benaga Laurel, Jarrod Scarbrough, Elijah Koh Poff, and Mike Nastri.”

To learn more and purchase, visit: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HJRN5C6Y

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THE THIRD PARENT: “Your family will soon be complete. BewareTheThirdParent.com”

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Chroma Announces Release Date For Political Thriller THE EXIT STATE and Releases Trailer: “Chroma has released the official trailer for The Exit State, the tense political horror thriller from director Gabriela Ledesma, ahead of the film’s world premiere at Screamfest Tuesday, October 13. The film will arrive on digital Friday October 23 and is now available to pre-order on Apple TV.

Set in a United States spiraling toward authoritarian collapse, The Exit State follows a group of Americans fleeing south toward Mexico. Taking refuge in what they believe is a safe house in neutral territory, they soon learn the shelter is anything but safe, and that escape will come at a terrifying cost.

The film reunites Weapons cast members Callie Schuttera (Blue, “The Rookie,” “On Call”) and Clayton Farris (MaXXXine, “Grey’s Anatomy”), who are joined by three-time Emmy nominee Sharon Lawrence (“NYPD Blue,” “Shameless”), Josh George (“Mindhunter,” “Danger Force”), Jeremy D. Howard (“The Neighborhood,” “Dr. Odyssey”), Nikki Dixon (Hypnotic, “Snowfall”), Stakiah Lynn Washington (Primo) and Cindy Nguyen (“Shrinking,” “9-1-1”).

The Exit State is written by Schuttera, George and Ledesma, and produced by Poison Pictures, the independent production house founded by Schuttera and Ledesma, with George serving as executive producer. Sam Wilkerson serves as director of photography and Justice Parman as editor. Music executive Trevon Kezios (La La Land, The Hunger Games franchise) oversaw an original soundtrack collaboration between garage punk band The Knitts, 411 Music Group and composer Ilia Grigorenko. SFX makeup was led by Allie Shehorn (Obsession).

“The Exit State was born out of an unsettling moment, one where a political future many of us feared began to arrive,” said Ledesma. “When we wrote the script, we believed it was a cautionary tale. By the time we shot it, just a few months later, it already felt uncomfortably current. We decided the time for veiled metaphor was over. But we also wanted to make a horror movie that was tense, fun and kept you guessing.”

As a part of the film’s world premiere at Screamfest, it will be one of the 12 features competing for the inaugural ScareScore award, which ScareScore bills as the first-ever Biometrically Decided Best Feature. Launching at Screamfest, the ScareScore app uses the smartwatches audience members already wear to track heart rate, movement and other physical reactions during each screening, syncing them to the moments on screen that triggered them. The film that scares Screamfest audiences the most, by the numbers, takes the prize.

The Exit State will have its world premiere at Screamfest Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00pm at the TCL Chinese Theater. Tickets for the premiere are on sale now at: https://2026screamfest.eventive.org/schedule/690d48dfb5ec9dd7435ad018“

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RIPCORD’S HALLOWEEN FILM FESTIVAL UNVEILS 50-SHORT LINEUP IN SEVEN THEMED PROGRAMMING BLOCKS: “Ripcord’s Halloween Film Festival unveiled today the programming lineup for its inaugural edition: 50 horror, sci-fi, thriller and fantasy shorts, curated from more than 500 submissions and organized into seven themed programming blocks. The festival launches online at ripcord.film on October 19 and is free to attend. Registered fans can watch every film and vote for their favorites through October 22 to help select the Top 10 and help change a filmmaker’s trajectory.

The Top 10 shorts will screen for a live audience at the TCL Chinese Theatre on October 29. The festival is awarding $200,000 in cash prizes, including a $100,000 first prize, the largest first-place cash prize in short film festival history, with another $100,000 shared among the rest of the Top 10. 

“Fifty films made the cut from more than 500 submissions, and every one of them earned its spot,” said Charlie Cleveland, founder of Ripcord. “These filmmakers made something distinctive, and now it’s the fans’ turn. Watch, vote, and help decide which ten films take the stage at the TCL Chinese Theatre.”

Films were selected by the programming team for their quality, their distinctive genre voice, and their role in balancing the overall lineup. The 50 finalists are divided into seven programming blocks of six to eight films each. The blocks are loosely organized around themes that emerged from this year’s submissions, and each is balanced for tone and mixed in film length so every block plays like a complete night at the movies.

“We built each block around a theme, then worked to make sure it moves the way a great evening should: a little creepy, a little funny, and sometimes deeply strange,” said Vanessa Meyer, Program Director of Ripcord’s Halloween Film Festival. ” We think audiences will find a lot here that will surprise and excite them.”

Ripcord also premieres the festival’s official collectible poster, created by Jim “TAZ” Evans, the acclaimed illustrator known for creating alternative movie posters, iconic rock music gig posters and album cover art. The poster will be available at the October 29 screening event at TCL Chinese Theatre and online at 12am.live.”