It has been confirmed that Night of the Demons 2 star Zoe Trilling (a.k.a. Geri Betzler) passed away at the too-young age of 57

Geralyn Marie Betzler worked on several movies throughout the ’80s and ’90s. On her first feature, 1985’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, she was credited by her full birth name, but as her screen acting career went on she would take credit as either Geri Betzler or Zoe Trilling – and it’s that second name that most fans seem to know her by. Among her credits are episodes of Guiding Light, 21 Jump Street, and Married… with Children, and the films Amityville Horror: The Evil Escapes, They Came from Outer Space, The Borrower, Dr. Giggles, Night Terrors, Hellbound, and Leprechaun 3 – but her most popular role may be in the 1994 horror comedy Night of the Demons 2, where she stole the show as bad girl Shirley Finnerty. Sadly, just as Night of the Demons 2 is reaching Blu-ray courtesy of Scream Factory, it has been confirmed that Betzler / Trilling passed away last month at the age of 57.

Here’s an obituary from Star Tribune: Geri was born on May 27, 1966 in Wausau, WI, and died on September 8, 2023 in Vista, CA. Geri was a remarkable child and a brilliant, determined, independent woman. At age 18 she moved from Minnesota to Los Angeles, CA to pursue a career in acting and dance. She supported herself by working at a bakery and setting up a distributorship in LA for a small fresh juice company, known today as Naked Juice. She also taught Aerobics in a number of studios, including Jane Fonda’s. At the same time she enrolled in acting and ballet classes. She began her acting career in 1985 with TV roles including a part as Lacey Bauer in the TV series Guiding Light. Throughout her career, she continued to perform guest roles in TV series and theater productions in Los Angeles and New York. She is most know for her roles in horror productions such as Genie in Night Terrors and Shirley in Night of the Demons. She left the film industry and became a choreographer at American ballroom in New York City, as well as a yoga instructor and personal trainer in both NY and LA. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Norma and Frank Theisen, Agnes and Frank Betzler; step-father, Jerry Ruona; aunts and uncles, Sherry (Jim) Bias, Mary Fayfield, Janie (Mike) McNamara, Willard (Birdie) Betzler, and Violet (Hershel) Bachman. Geri is survived by her mother, Phoebe Ruona, Minneapolis; brother, Mike Betzler, Minneapolis; uncle, Bob Fayfield, Shorewood; step-siblings, Karie Ruona, Minneapolis; Mark Ruona, Minneapolis; Julie Ruona, Clearwater, FL,; numerous cousins, and lifelong friends: Loretta Falcone, San Jose, CA: Michael Libow, Los Angeles, CA; Don Schneider, New York City, and father, Larry Betzler, Chula Vista, CA. A private internment will be held at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis.

Betzler’s Night of the Demons 2 director Brian Trenchard-Smith paid tribute to her on Facebook: I am sorry to report the passing of Zoe Trilling who gave such a standout performance in my Night of the Demons 2. Only 57, gone too soon. I remember her skill as an actor, her sense of humor and her warm luminous personality. Cast and crew always had a good time when she was on set. In my view, and that of several directors, she deserved a much bigger career. She was an undiscovered gem. My condolences to all who like myself and my wife had the privilege of knowing Zoe Trilling.

Original Night of the Demons director Kevin Tenney also posted about her: Best known to horror fans for her roles in Night Terrors, Leprechaun 3, and Night of the Demons 2, Zoe Trilling was also part of what we in the industry call a Loop Group, a small collection of actors who add background dialogue and crowd noises to finished films in post production. I worked with her in this capacity on my film Pinocchio’s Revenge. She was even prettier in person than she was on film, and much more petite than I expected. She was also genuinely sweet and down to earth as well as being massively talented. When we needed a devastated mother to tell our lead actress over the phone that her son was dead, Zoe broke down into tears, sobbing uncontrollably as she delivered the news, a performance much stronger and more emotional than I could’ve hoped for from a disembodied voice that would be barely audible in the final mix. She was the very epitome of a seasoned professional, in spite of her young age. We tried desperately to locate her to do an interview or commentary track for the new Blu-ray release of Night of the Demons 2, but she was absent from social media of any kind. And now I find that she passed away just last month right here in California. So, here’s to you, Zoe. Gone too soon and too young to be gone, you’ll be sorely missed by your fans and colleagues alike.

I haven’t seen all of Geri Betzler / Zoe Trilling’s screen performances, but I have seen several of them, and her performance in Night of the Demons 2 is one that always stuck with me. I expected to see her in a lot more films after that, but sadly, it wasn’t to be.

Our sincere condolences go out to Geri Betzler / Zoe Trilling’s family, friends, and fans.

Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 is happening on Netflix after the success of the animated series first monster-infested season.

Grab your holy water and a fork and knife for some delicious wall chicken because Castlevania: Nocturne is stabbing a stake through a second season on Netflix! Castlevania: Nocturne debuted on September 28, picking up 300 years after the events of the original Castlevania series. Nocturne unfurls its leathery wings on the streamer after four successful seasons of the original series inspired by the beloved Konami video game franchise.

Set in 1792, during the French Revolution, Castlevania: Nocturne focuses on Maria Renard and Richter Belmont, a descendant of Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades. While the first series drew inspiration from Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse and Castlevania: Curse of Darkness, Nocturne is primarily based on the 1993 video game Castlevania: Rondo of Blood and its 1997 sequel Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

Here’s the synopsis for the first season of Castlevania: Nocturne:

In a remote part of western France, the counter-revolutionary aristocracy has forged an alliance with a terrifying Vampire Messiah, who promises to ‘eat the sun’ and unleash an army of vampires and nightcreatures to crush the revolution and enslave humanity. Annette, a sorceress from the Caribbean, seeks out Richter Belmont, last descendant of the long-fabled family of vampire hunters, to lead the resistance.

“Thanks to all of the Castlevania fans old and new for the amazing response and support!” said Creator/Showrunner Clive Bradley and showrunner Kevin Kolde in a joint statement. “We are excited to be able to bring you more Castlevania: Nocturne and the next chapter in the rise of Richter Belmont.”

Frederator Studios’ Kevin Kolde, the original series developer, serves as showrunner on Castlevania: Nocturne. Clive Bradley (Trapped) is writing and executive producing alongside Kolde. Powerhouse Animation is handling the animation, with Sam and Adam Deats directing.

Castlevania: Nocturne has been attracting hordes of fans since the show’s late September debut. Nocturne flew to the Netflix streamer’s Top 10 English TV list at the start of October and planted its flag in the Top 10 in 40 countries.

Are you excited about Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2? Do you think it lives up to the quality of the original series? Let us know in the comments section below.

The graphic novel Godzilla x Kong: The Hunted serves as a prequel to the upcoming Monsterverse film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures will be bringing the next feature in the MonsterVerse franchise – the Godzilla vs. Kong (watch it HERE) sequel Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire – to the big screen on April 12, 2024… but before we get there, Legendary has announced that they’re teaming up with Rocketship to bring fans the prequel graphic novel Godzilla x Kong: The Hunted!

Legendary Comics has launched a Kickstarter campaign through which copies of Godzilla x Kong: The Hunted can be ordered, and it’s close to reaching its $79,000 goal.

Here’s the synopsis: A twisted Skull Island trophy hunter baits his trap and sets his sights on the biggest game of all deep within the Hollow Earth in the official prequel graphic novel to the upcoming film Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

A press release notes that, “in a special treat for fans, Legendary Comics is also offering a second graphic novel as part of this pre-sales campaign: Monsterverse: Declassified. Join Bernie Hayes as he takes readers down the rabbit hole to reveal classified Monarch secrets and ancient monster myths in the first-ever Monsterverse anthology!” 

ABOUT THE CREATORS:

GODZILLA X KONG: THE HUNTED

Writer: Brian Buccellato

Artists: Dario Formisani, Drew Johnson, Zid

Colorists: Zid, Niezam

MONSTERVERSE DECLASSIFIED

Writers: David M. Booher, Umar Ditta, Rosie Knight, Dan Park

Artists: Francesco Biagini, David Ferracci, Oliver Ono, Marco Roblin, Drew Zucker

Colorists: Vittorio Astone, Jurek Malottke, Francesca Vivaldi

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is the fifth film in the Legendary Monsterverse, following Godzilla, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Kong: Skull Island, and the Godzilla / Kong smash-up. The animated Netflix series Skull Island and the upcoming live-action Apple TV+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters are also part of the franchise. The first two of Monarch‘s ten episodes will premiere on November 17th.

Godzilla vs. Kong director Adam Wingard returns to the helm for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, working from a screenplay written by Simon Barrett (You’re Next) that follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence – and our own. The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.

Are you a fan of the Legendary Monsterverse, and will you be picking up a copy of Godzilla x Kong: The Hunted? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Blair Butler (The Invitation, Polaroid, Hell Fest) will write Occupant, a haunted house movie produced by Barbarian’s Zach Cregger

Earlier this year, it was announced that New Line Cinema had come out the winner in a bidding war over the haunted house project Occupant, which would be based on a 39-page short story by new writer Victor Sweetser. Now that the writers strike has come to an end, The Hollywood Reporter has discovered that New Line Cinema and producer Zach Cregger, the writer/director of last year’s Barbarian (watch it HERE), have found the writer who will flesh Sweetser’s story out into a screenplay: Blair Butler,  a former writer and on-air personality for shows like Attack of the Show who has gone on to work on several genre films. Her previous writing credits include The Invitation (the vampire movie that starred Nathalie Emmanuel), Polaroid, and Hell Fest. Butler was also a producer on the Marvel-inspired TV series Helstrom.

The Occupant purchase was part of Cregger’s year-long winning streak. Made on a budget of $4.5 million, Barbarian earned more than $40 million at the domestic box office when it was released by 20th Century Studios last year – a big enough success story that New Line Cinema forked over $38 million to pick up Cregger’s mysterious new horror project, Weapons. (Beating out Jordan Peele and Universal in the bidding war.) New Line then signed a first look deal with BoulderLight Pictures, the production company behind Barbarian. And as part of this deal, they put a sci-fi thriller called Companion on the fast track to production, with Cregger producing alongside BoulderLight and Vertigo’s Roy Lee.

Cregger is producing Occupant with Roy Lee and Scott Glassgold, who originated and developed the project. The set-up is described as a reverse haunted house story. Instead of a family moving into an abode, here a historical house is moved for preservation purposes into a neighborhood. Scares ensue.

Occupant sounds interesting to me, and I have enjoyed Butler’s previous genre films to varying degrees, so I look forward to seeing how this one is going to turn out.

Are you interested in Occupant? What do you think of Blair Butler being hired to write the script? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

A teaser trailer for American Horror Stories season 3 has arrived online ahead of the show’s October Hulu premiere

American Horror Stories, a streaming series spin-off from FX’s long-running horror anthology series American Horror Story, began with a seven episode first season in 2021, and an eight episode second season followed in 2022. For the upcoming third season, the episode count has been shortened to just four – and all four episodes of American Horror Stories season 3 are set to drop on the Hulu streaming service on October 26th! With that date just three weeks away, a teaser trailer has arrived online to give a quick preview of the Halloween (or “Huluween”) event. You can watch it in the embed above.

Created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck, the same duo that’s responsible for American Horror Story, this series is a weekly hourlong anthology that features a different horror story, some of which call back to the original series, in each contained episode. Obviously the “weekly” part of that description is being set aside for the new season.

Murphy and Falchuk serve as executive producers on American Horror Stories alongside Alexis Martin Woodall, Max Winkler, Jon Robin Baitz, and Dr. Giggles director Manny Coto, who sadly passed away back in July at the age of 62. The show is produced by 20th Television.

Very little information has been revealed about American Horror Stories season 3, but we do know that Lisa Rinna is in the cast of an episode called Tapeworm. Rinna is best known for playing the characters of Billie Reed on Days of Our Lives and Taylor McBride on Melrose Place… or at least she was, until she was featured on eight seasons of the reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Rinna is the only confirmed cast member. The cast of American Horror Stories season 2 included several actors who had history with the American Horror Story and/or American Horror Stories shows – Cody Fern (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story), Max Greenfield (Veronica Mars), Nico Greetham (Power Rangers Ninja Steel), Denis O’Hare (True Blood), Derrick Aguis (The Rookie), and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious). This will also mark the Horror Story franchise debut of Dominique Jackson (Pose), Judith Light (Who’s the Boss?), Alicia Silverstone (Clueless), Bella Thorne (Amityville: The Awakening), Kristine Froseth (The Society), Raven Scott (Seven Days), Genevieve Aitken (Roman Empire), Kyla Drew Simmons (No Good Nick), Madison Iseman (the I Know What You Did Last Summer TV show), Cameron Cowperthwaite (Pledge), Maryssa Menendez (Minx), newcomer Sarah Silva, Kyanna Simone (Chambers), and Quvenzhané Wallis (Beasts of the Southern Wild). We’ll have to wait and see if any of them ended up returning for American Horror Stories season 3.

What did you think of the American Horror Stories season 3 teaser trailer? Will you be watching this show on Hulu later this month? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Method acting isn’t for everyone, but some derive a particular thrill from escaping into the personalities they play on screen. It’s a way to embody the character completely, surrendering to their will and whim within reason. Lady Gaga is a significant fan of the technique, as evidenced by the actress keeping her Italian accent while playing Patrizia Reggiani for Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci. She also stayed in character as Ally Maine for years leading up to 2018’s A Star is Born. While it’s possible to admire the dedication to playing a part, some find the practice frustrating and disruptive in the workplace. Take Lawrence Sher, for example, who’s the cinematographer for the Todd Phillips sequel Joker: Folie à Deux. During a recent podcast interview, Sher discussed feeling alienated by Gaga due to the star’s request to be called ‘Lee’ during filming.

“I didn’t know Stefani at all,” said Sher, referring to the pop superstar’s icon’s born name, “Stefani Germanotta.” “Strangely, I felt like I never even met her, even during the makeup/hair tests. Because again, maybe it was my philosophy of not trying to get in their space. And then I remember for a week, being like, god, I feel like we are disconnecting. Not even connecting. We are like on opposites. And I would say to my crew, ‘Jesus, I can’t, like, crack it. She either hates me or we hate each other. There’s something weird going on here.’ I barely said anything, except I would say, ‘Stefani, this is where your second team was, minor little things,’ and then the AD [assistant director] at one point said, ‘Oh you know, Stef would like if you just called her Lee on set.’ And I was like, oh, 100 percent, and I literally said, the next thing I said, was something ‘Lee,’ and it was like everything changed. From that point on, it was like she was… our whole connection changed. I was like, alright, cool.”

Asking people to call her ‘Lee,’ short for Harley, is one of Gaga’s ways of remaining in character even when cameras stop rolling. While a nickname doesn’t sound too harsh a request, even slight changes in perspective can alter relationship dynamics in unpredictable ways.

Joaquin Phoenix reprises his disturbing role as Arthur Fleck, a tortured comedian who transforms into a killer after being rejected by Gotham and its people. Lady Gaga plays Harley Quinn in the sequel, with a portion of the film taking place in Arkham Asylum, a fortified prison masquerading as a hospital for Gotham’s criminally insane population.

Other stars attached to Joker: Folie à Deux include Brendan Gleeson, Cathrine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Zazie Beetz, who reprises her role as Sophie Dumond from the original film.

“Joker: Folie à Deux” director of photography Lawrence Sher says Lady Gaga opted to be called “Lee” on set. pic.twitter.com/Rv32mOHBrY

— Lady Gaga Now 🃏 (@ladygaganownet) July 20, 2023

What do you think about Lady Gaga’s request to be called ‘Lee’ on the Joker: Folie à Deux set? Is it a harmless byproduct of method acting or a disruptive distraction capable of generating unease in the workplace? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

Joker: Folie à Deux will hit theaters on October 4, 2024.

William Friedkin’s final movie, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is a great actor’s showcase for Kiefer Sutherland and Jason Clarke.

PLOT: A Naval officer (Jake Lacy) is on trial for mutiny. His court-appointed attorney (Jason Clarke) must prove that his captain (Kiefer Sutherland) was dangerously unbalanced and that mutiny was the only solution to protect the crew.

REVIEW: The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is an interesting final film for the late William Friedkin. While most know him for his seventies epics, having directed at least three or four of the greatest films ever made (The French Connection, The Exorcist, Sorcerer and To Live and Die in L.A), many don’t know that he started his career with a couple of films based on stage plays: The Birthday Party and The Boys in the Band. His most recent work, Bug and Killer Joe, were also stage adaptations (of works by Tracy Letts), but The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial is more traditionally mounted than those. This is basically a stage play put to film, with no exteriors, no music and only two sets.

The play was written by Herman Wouk in 1953 and was adapted from his own novel, “The Caine Mutiny”. That book was turned into a classic film starring Humphrey Bogart as the neurotic Captain Queeg. Kiefer Sutherland, who plays the role here, seems to be nodding towards Bogey’s performance a bit here, without ever resorting to an impression.

Going into The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, you have to keep your expectations in check. This is an actor’s showcase, with Friedkin mounting it in a no-frills kind of way. Yet, you can feel his passion for the material, which is understandable. Captain Queeg is a classic anti-hero in that he’s a problematic, flawed man who – despite being wrong – deserves some measure of respect. If you read some of Friedkin’s more infamous stories from on-set, including filming the French Connection chase without permits and slapping a priest while making The Exorcist, you can guess that Friedkin perhaps sees much of himself in Queeg. Yet, his work stands the test of time like few other directors because he always had loyalty from his collaborators, which Queeg never had. The mutiny itself was justified, but, as the play and earlier film always presented, it was wrong in many ways.

Two powerhouse performances anchor the film, Sutherland’s and Jason Clarke’s as defence attorney Barney Greenwald. In the original movie, as played by Jose Ferrer, he was a supporting character, but in the play – and here – he’s the star. Greenwald’s big speech at the end of the film drives home the whole idea, culminating in a climactic act punctuated by the movie’s only song – Boz Scaggs’ Lowdown. The rest of the cast is filled out with a bunch of pros, including Lance Reddick in his final screen performance as the head of the military tribunal. Lewis Pullman, a dead ringer for his father Bill, plays Tom Keefer, the manipulative officer who pulled the strings of his more thick-headed superior, Jake Lacy’s Maryk, who comes off far less sympathetic here than he does in other versions of the story.

Notably, Friedkin has updated the story to 2023. The original play was set in the Second World War, but here Queeg is in a very modern Navy, with the prosecuting attorney female (excellently played by Monica Raymund) and Queeg, a veteran of heavy combat in Iraq. Yet, the play is timeless enough that only a little needed to be changed, with Friedkin penning the updated script, which uses a lot of Wouk’s dialogue.

While more of a filmed play than a feature, Friedkin still gives his audience plenty of substance to chew on while providing Sutherland and Clarke excellent showcases for the kind of “big” acting neither gets a chance to do much of these days. Ironically, the film drops on Paramount Plus the same day The Exorcist: Believer hits theaters. Even in his old age, Friedkin was defiantly himself and has made precisely the film he wanted to make. While it won’t be confused with one of his masterpieces, it’s still well-assembled and expertly acted by all involved.

The Caine Mutiny Court-Marital is now streaming on Paramount Plus.

7

Fast Charlie, the final film starring James Caan, gets U.S. distribution after Vertical snaps up the rights to the action film adaptation.

Vertical is springing into action by snagging the U.S. distribution rights for Fast Charlie, the final film starring the late James Caan. Pierce Brosnan and Morena Baccarin lead the cast, with the film making its world premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival on October 7. Fast Charlie takes inspiration from Victor Gischler’s 2001 novel Gun Monkeys. 

Here’s a synopsis for Gischler’s novel via Amazon:

Charlie Swift is an old school kind of guy. Runs a tight ship. Respects his boss. Takes care of his mom and kid brother. And, he’s a stone cold killer. When a fancy new-wave hood, hungry for the primo Orlando territory Charlie enforces, offs most of Charlie’s boys in a bloody mob takeover, our man steps in to make things right. But when word gets out that his boss has gone missing and there’s a traitor among his crew of gun monkeys, Charlie knows payback ain’t gonna be easy. Shot up, boozed up, and beaten up, Charlie finds the toughest challenge he’s ever had to face isn’t snuffing out life, but preserving it.

In Fast Charlie, the fixer encounters a problem. The target he’s killed is missing their head, which makes getting paid for the job difficult. Charlie needs to prove the body of his target is legit to the person who ordered the hit, Beggar Mercado (The Wire’s Gbenga Akinnagbe). To do this, Charlie enlists the help of Marcie Kramer (Baccarin), the victim’s ex-wife and a woman with a backbone and a specific set of valuable skills. Pulling Marcie back into a past she intends to leave behind, the mission sends the duo on an unhinged journey as they fight to protect the legacy of Charlie’s best friend and mentor, Stan Mullen (Caan) while bringing down Beggar and his entire operation. (via Deadline)

Phillip Noyce (Salt) directs from a script by Richard Wenk (Equalizer franchise), with Toby Huss (Copshop) and Sharon Gless (Burn Notice) also leading the cast.

“Richard Wenk’s adaptation of Victor Gischler’s thriller novel, ‘Gun Monkeys,’ coupled with Phillip Noyce’s keen direction, brings us into a fast-paced world where loyalty, commitment, and doing what’s right still matter,” said producer Daniel Grodnik. “The relationship between Pierce Brosnan and Morena Baccarin is as surprising for them as it is for the audience which makes for a lot of fun.”

What do you think about the premise for Fast Charlie? Have you read Gischler’s novel? What did you think of it? Let us know in the comments below.