Unreal

Black title card reading “FRANKENSTEIN” and the quote “Anyone else watch that scene with Victor sawing the leg and think, wait… is it cake?” Below it, a scene from a period laboratory: a man dressed in a white shirt and red gloves uses a hand saw on a pale, lifeless leg positioned on a block of ice. The setting is dim and cluttered with scientific equipment.

UNREAL’s Editor-in-Mischief watched FRANKENSTEIN (dir. Guillermo del Toro, 2025) over the weekend. He’s asked us to let you know he’s logged it on Letterboxd, and invites you to follow him there for more insightful film observations.

letterboxd.com/stevengregor/

A promotional graphic featuring a quote in white text on a black background: “Don’t panic: Stevenson and Smith like their scares with a wink.” Below it is a subheading about THE FIRST OMEN filmmakers developing a new A24 horror film. Under the text is a still of Emma Corrin with short pink hair, looking tense in a dimly lit room, from A MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD. The Unreal logo appears in the corner.

THE FIRST OMEN duo have a new A24 horror film in the works — here’s what we know (and what we’re manifesting): "...a bachelor-party-gone-feral is intriguing. A hyper-masculine setting filtered through female and queer sensibilities? Inject it.”

whatmonster.substack.com/p/the-first-...

We’d watch that. 🖤

Promotional graphic with the headline: “Paranormal hijinks and homo humour — it’s very SCOOBY-DOO-coded.” Subheadline reads: “On our Slasher Slag Slaydar this week: asymmetrical horror games, B-movie fandom, and Canadian ghosts.” Below is a photo of two young men, Luke Hutchie and Matthew Finlan, hosts of Ghosting, standing outdoors at night in a spooky, blue-lit forest. Both hold flashlights and look startled, as if they’ve just seen something off-screen. The Unreal logo sits in the corner.

On our Slasher Slag Slaydar this week: asymmetrical horror games, B-movie fandom, and SCOOBY-DOO-coded Canadian ghosthunters.
whatmonster.substack.com/p/expect-ama...

Emma Corrin, Hunter Schafer, Havana Rose Liu And Sophie Wilde Join New Horror Pic From A24 And Arkasha Stevenson Emma Corrin, Hunter Schafer, Havana Rose Liu And Sophie Wilde are set to join an untitled A24 horror pic from Arkasha Stevenson and Tim Smith.

Oh wow — we think they call this a murderers’ row. Arkasha Stevenson’s “UNTITLED A24 HORROR FILM” is firmly on our slaydar. deadline.com/2025/11/emma...

Followed!

A promotional graphic for Unreal magazine. The top half has a black background with white text reading: “A rump-ranger’s reading of The Stepfather” and the quote, “Bloodied, bearded… he’s giving bubble-butt bear energy.” Below the text is a film still of a bloodied, bearded man with glasses staring intensely forward, his hair messy and face smeared with red. The Unreal logo appears in the lower-left corner.

A queer reading of 1987 blank-from-hell thriller THE STEPFATHER: “The unruly beard doesn’t match the conservative father role he’s desperate to perform. It’s the first clue he’s not just hiding crimes — he’s hiding himself."
whatmonster.substack.com/p/hes-giving...

A promotional graphic for Unreal magazine. The top half has a black background with white text reading: “Everything we know (so far) about Eli Roth’s ICE CREAM MAN. Production’s wrapped, rumours are swirling — here’s the scoop on the splat-packer’s next chiller.” Beneath, smaller text reads: “Ari Millen as Mark, a character from ORPHAN BLACK.” The bottom half shows a portrait of actor Ari Millen looking directly at the camera, wearing a brown jacket over a buttoned-up shirt. The Unreal logo appears in the lower-left corner.

Everything we know (so far) about Eli Roth's ICR CREAM MAN: "We’re getting Willy Wonka-meets-Silver Shamrock Novelties vibes. And judging by the young cast listed on IMDb, there’s also a faint, moldy-chicken-nugget whiff of COOTIES."
whatmonster.substack.com/p/everything...

A ★★★ review of Keeper (2025) Can’t lie — I was a little distracted by how amazing the house was, and a little annoyed we didn’t get a better look at it. Loved both Tatiana Maslany (ORPHAN BLACK) and Rossif Sutherland (mind blown ...

KEEPER (2025): "Mind blown — he’s Donald Sutherland’s 47-year-old, oh-so-hot son!"

boxd.it/bLflp3

"He’s giving bubble-butt bear energy" A rump-ranger’s reading of THE STEPFATHER (1987)

THE STEPFATHER (1987): "Jerry only marries women who already have children. He doesn’t need to father kids — just to look like he has." whatmonster.substack.com/p/hes-giving...

Just one episode in — we're hooked. It's joyous.

Everything we know (so far) about Eli Roth’s ICE CREAM MAN (2026) Production’s wrapped, rumours are swirling — here’s the scoop on the splat-packer’s next chiller

"We expect Eli Roth’s trash talk to translate into an escalation of gore, shock, and provocation. ICE CREAM MAN arrives at a moment when extreme horror is sliding back into the mainstream."

open.substack.com/pub/whatmons...

That’s class! (The vinyl AND the crochet!) 🖤

Oh wow — mind blown. So good. (Also… was totally mesmerised by that eyes/hands artwork as a kid.)

Thanks. Big fan!

@madefortvmayhem.bsky.social Hey Amanda. Hope you're well. Big fan of your slasher podcast. Any news on the next episode... love, love, love THE NIGHT BRINGS CHARLIE.

"It's serving total DeFeo déjà voodoo" On our Slasher Slag Slaydar this week: serial killers, UFOs, gothic vibes… and a new issue of UNREAL magazine

On our Slasher Slag Slaydar this week: serial killers, UFOs, gothic vibes… and a new issue of UNREAL magazine.

open.substack.com/pub/whatmons...

News: CRY TO HEAVEN (2026) cast announced Hunter Schafer and Théodore Pellerin among the all-star cast of Tom Ford’s “horrific, violent, sad, and oh-so-queer” third film. We're hyped!

Hunter Schafer and Théodore Pellerin among the all-star cast of Tom Ford’s “horrific, violent, sad, and oh-so-queer” third film. We're hyped!

open.substack.com/pub/whatmons...

Partially Devoured “A stroke of genius! This is the definitive love letter to the film, written with such meticulous passion and demented glee that you feel yourself standing on the set during the shoot.”…

One horror movie that changed you? Maybe even saved you. For us, it’s FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980). For Daniel Kraus, it’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968). His new book PARTIALLY DEVOURED promises a CINEMA SPECULATION–style deep dive and memoir. Preordered.
www.counterpointpress.com/books/partia...

YouTube video by Charli xcx Charli xcx - House featuring John Cale (Official Video)

Hold on, wot? A Charli xcx/John Cale gothic folk-horror collab was not on our bingo card. Ok, now we’re sat for WUTHERING HEIGHTS (dir. Emerald Fennell, 2026). Fingers crossed it’s capital-B bleak! youtu.be/Xgp7wlBfASA?...

BBC Sounds - Uncanny - Available Episodes Listen to the latest episodes of Uncanny on BBC Sounds.

Tin-foil hats at the ready. This week's episode of UNCANNY (series five, case three: 'The Devil's Den UFO') involves a UFO craft the size of a Walmart. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand...

In the Dark Releases “Blood Relatives,” an Examination of a Notorious British Crime The New Yorker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative podcast returns with a six-part series that asks whether one of the U.K.’s most famous murder cases ended with a wrongful conviction.

Are you hearing this? Episode four nearly finished us. Reminiscent of the DeFeo case — you know, the IRL murders that inspired THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (dir. Stuart Rosenberg, 1979). No ghosts here (obvs), but maybe the wrong person was convicted. We’ve got chills.
www.newyorker.com/news/press-r...

Behind-the-scenes photo from SCREAM 2 (1997). Actor Jamie Kennedy, smiling and relaxed between takes, sits outdoors with his face and shirt splattered in fake blood. He’s holding a drink bottle, mid-swig, while makeup effects and camera gear are visible in the background.

A new issue of UNREAL has gone to press (more details soon). In true slasher-sequel style, we’ve taken Randy Meeks’s advice from SCREAM 2 (dir. Wes Craven, 1997): expect a bigger page count and more elaborate specs — thicker paper, and yes, a spine.

All killer, no filler. Total franchise vibes.

Landlord from hell? 🖤

Black-and-white behind-the-scenes photo from a slasher film set. A young woman lies on the floor amid broken glass, covered in heavy gore makeup and dirt. She is smiling, her head tilted back, with a thick rope draped across her chest. The image captures a candid, relaxed moment between takes despite the violent scene being portrayed.

The vibe at UNREAL HQ: battered, but still smiling. :) Issue two just went to press! (More details soon.)

Behind-the-scenes snapshot of Laurie Bartram on the set of FRIDAY THE 13TH (1980).

Oh wow — total déjà voodoo vibes with the SLIVER (1993) poster. Hyped for your book! 🖤

Five Horror Movies to Stream Now

"If you’re a regular reader of this column, you know that I have a soft spot for oddball movies that look like they were made for five dollars by 5-year-olds in five days." Love Erik Piepenburg's regular NYT horror movie column! www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/m...

A ★★★ review of The Running Man (2025) If 1988 Bruce Willis and 2005 Ryan Reynolds had a love child it would be 2025 Glen Powell.

If 1988 Bruce Willis and 2005 Ryan Reynolds had a love child it would be 2025 Glen Powell. boxd.it/bC9jFP

Scream 7 movie poster

Sat. 🔥👻🔪

YouTube video by GENTLE MONSTER 2025 Fall Campaign THE HUNT with Hunter Schafer

Love! Like, OMG love. (We demand a season three of Scream Queens, with Hunter Schafer joining the cast.) youtu.be/877sg39dyWA?...