The Fantastic Pavilion presents a weekly recap with the most relevant news about the world of genre cinema.
News
Cam Sehpa, the remake of Caye Casas’ The Coffee Table (La mesita del comedor, 2022), has wrapped filming in Turkey. Can Evrenol directed the movie, which actually originated at the Fantastic Pavilion back in May. Pablo Guisa, executive director of the Pavilion, is one of the executive producers of Cam Sehpa and also has a cameo in it. Bilal Kalyoncu served as producer.
NECA has produced a 1:1 replica of the killer robot doll M3GAN, which can be pre-ordered now. Here are some details of the doll: “It has an articulated inner-armature, movable eyes, and synthetic hair. Her clothing is made from film-used patterns and includes a dress with inner lining, two striped sleeves, a bowtie, underwear, tights, and shoes.”
Home video
Severin Films announced the details of their new two-disc Blu-ray dedicated to Filipino horror, in particular two of its key filmmakers: Eddie Romero and Gerardo de Leon. Titled Fear in the Philippines: The Complete Blood Island Films – and to be released on March 25 –, the set features four pictures: Terror Is a Man (1959), Brides of Blood (1968), Mad Doctor of Blood Island (1969), and Beast of Blood (1970).
Vinegar Syndrome kicked off 2025 announcing new releases. These include a 4K UHD and Blu-ray of the serial killer film Deranged: Confessions of a Necrophile (1974), and a three-disc Blu-ray set featuring the Spanish horror fantasy flicks Curse of the Devil (El retorno de Walpurgis, 1973), The Vampires Night Orgy (La orgía nocturna de los vampiros, 1973), and Demon Witch Child (La endemoniada, 1975).
Vinegar Syndrome’s partner labels also unveiled a bunch of new titles. Some highlights are the Blu-rays of Álex de la Iglesia’s The Last Circus (Balada triste de trompeta, 2010), Paul Schrader’s The Canyons (2013), Bart La Rue’s Satan War (1979), and Lee Tamahori’s Once Were Warriors (1994).
David Weaver’s The Last Frankenstein (2021) is a relatively obscure horror movie that played at some genre festivals a few years ago. An “existential slasher” about a descendant of Victor Frankenstein, The Last Frankenstein will be released on Blu-ray in January. It’s worth noting that this edition is exclusive to DiabolikDVD, the cool online physical media store.
In memoriam
Olivia Hussey (1951-2024). Actress Olivia Hussey passed away on December 27, at the age of 73. According to her official Instagram account, she died “peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones.”
Hussey became a star thanks to Franco Zeffirelli’s Romero and Juliet (1968), though horror fans will always remember her role in Bob Clark’s Black Christmas (1974), one of the foundational movies for the slasher subgenre. She also appeared in Turkey Shoot (1982) – from Ozploitation master Brian Trenchard-Smith –, the TV movie Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990), and the TV miniseries It (1990).