There isn’t much in the demonic-possession subgenre that screams “comedic potential,” and the few past attempts (SCARY MOVIE 2 and Linda Blair’s painfully moronic EXORCIST spoof REPOSSESSED come to mind) to try and find the funny in somber old Catholic rituals bears this out. So it’s a relief, and a credit to writer/director J.T. Petty’s skewed sensibilities, that he’s able to drag some very dark laughs out of this difficult premise with his new 3D film HELLBENDERS.

Love him or loathe him, there’s no denying that Rob Zombie made a major impact on screen terror since transitioning into directing. His characters from HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES and THE DEVIL’S REJECTS became the few new horror icons of the 2000s, while his HALLOWEEN duo were among the best projects to come out of the unfortunate remake trend. He’s clearly a horror-literate filmmaker with a deep love of the genre, something that THE LORDS OF SALEM serves to further emphasize.

In THE FIFTH SEASON (having its North American premiere at the current Toronto International Film Festival), writer/directors Jessica Woodworth and Peter Brosens have created a dark, scary vision of a world without spring.

VENGEANCE is the follow up to the popular cable series SPARTACUS’ first season epic, BLOOD & SAND and the prequel, GODS OF THE ARENA.  Unfortunately after the first season aired, the character of Spartacus himself, played brilliantly by relative newcomer Andy Whitfield, developed cancer and had to take an immediate hiatus from the show.  To buy Andy some much needed recovery time Starz went forth with GODS OF THE ARENA, a six-part prequel that was designed to push back the second season production with hopes that Andy would heal and rejoin the cast.  Sadly Andy announced the he was officially dropping out of the second season and shortly thereafter, passed away. The role of Spartacus was then bestowed upon Aussie actor Liam McIntyre.

At the Toronto International Film Festival, horror fans usually set their sights on the popular Midnight Madness program, but there is another showcase that covers all things dark and strange: the Vanguard section, or as programmer Colin Geddes likes to call it, “Midnight Madness’ smarter older sister.” One such sibling in this year’s lineup is Juan Carlos Medina’s allegorical horror-thriller PAINLESS (known as INSENSIBLES internationally). Set in Spain, the film follows two parallel storylines—one contemporary, and one taking place during the Spanish Civil War.

Any film bearing the surname Cronenberg on its credit block will be of interest to FANGORIA, and ANTIVIRAL—which had its North American premiere at the current Toronto International Film Festival following its world premiere at Cannes this past summer—is indeed a Cronenberg joint. Specifically, it’s the first picture from David’s son Brandon. Does the apple fall far?

Neil Jordan’s new vampire film BYZANTIUM takes its name from the ancient Greco-Roman city that later became Constantinople, known today as Istanbul, and like the city, its layers are deep and rich.