Table of Contents
Welcome back! Instead of looking at a new movie today to start the digest, I thought I’d do a quick preview of the four biggest horror/thriller movies heading to theaters in September. There’s one a week starting this weekend, so take a look below for my brief thoughts on each film.
September Theatrical Preview
The Conjuring: Last Rites – Sept. 5
This one is playing in theaters right now, and I hope to see it this weekend (or early in the coming week). I’ve sort of been looking forward to Last Rites. I’m not the biggest fan of the Conjuring Universe, but I do enjoy a few of the movies quite a lot. The mainline Conjuring movies are the best, and even though The Devil Made Me Do It was just okay, I think Last Rites is going to be a good finale (at least for this phase of the franchise). Plus, I have an interest in the “true” haunting they’re basing this movie on, so I’m very interested to see how they adapt it.
The Long Walk – Sept. 12
This is the movie I’m most looking forward to this month. I’ve been a fan of Stephen King’s stories since I was a kid, and this looks like it could be a great adaptation. Plus, the screenplay is written by J.T. Mollner who wrote and directed my second favorite movie of 2024, Strange Darling. And then you have Mark Hamill as the villain? I’m totally in. I hope The Long Walk is as grueling as it seems.
Him – Sept. 19
I have high hopes for Him. The trailers look awesome, but visual flair doesn’t necessarily mean the movie is going to be good. I’m not familiar with the director, Justin Tipping, but Him is produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions. Of course I love the movies Jordan Peele has directed, but I have also enjoyed the movies he’s produced through Monkeypaw but didn’t direct himself. Monkey Man (2024) is probably my favorite of that latter group, and I think Him has the potential to surpass it.
The Strangers: Chapter 2 – Sept. 26
The Strangers: Chapter 1 wasn’t as good as many of us hoped. I still enjoyed it fine, but it’s impossible to not compare it to the 2008 original. The 2008 Strangers is one of the best horror/suspense movies of the 2000s, so of course Chapter 1 pales in comparison. However, The Strangers: Chapter 2 expands into new ground which I hope will make the franchise feel fresh again. I worry about explaining too much about the strangers. Actually, I worry about explaining anything about the strangers. It also seems like there’s a town-wide conspiracy of sorts, which I bet I’m not going to be a fan of. But I’ll give the movie a shot and watch with an open mind. I’m hoping for the best, but I’m not expecting much.
In the News
- A first look at the upcoming movie The Yeti was released yesterday. The monster movie is about the search for a missing adventurer and oil tycoon that is stalled by the presence of a ferocious beast.
- Curry Barker will direct, star, and co-write the horror film Anything But Ghosts. Barker was the star, writer, and director of the excellent indie film Milk & Serial released on YouTube in 2024. Barker’s creative partner Cooper Tomlinson (who co-starred and produced Milk & Serial) will co-write the script. The movie will be produced by Jason Blum, Roy Lee, and Steven Schneider. (The Hollywood Reporter)
- Fede Álvarez told TooFab that he will not return to direct the next Alien movie. Álvarez directed Alien: Romulus, but he wants to “pass the torch” to a new director. He will still serve as producer on the Alien: Romulus sequel, and he co-wrote the script.
Birthdays
Max Schreck was born on September 6th, 1879. His iconic role as Count Orlok in Nosferatu is by far his most well-known contribution to cinema, but he continued acting up until his death in 1936 at the age of 56.
Betsy Russell, one of the stars of the Saw franchise, was born on September 6th, 1963. Her first appearance as Jill Tuck was in Saw III, and she appeared in each movie after that up until Saw: The Final Chapter (aka Saw 3D, the seventh movie in the series). However, her first horror movie was in the lead role in the 1988 slasher Cheerleader Camp. She’s appeared in a few other horror movies during her acting career, including Chain Letter (2010) and Camp Fear (1991).
More birthdays on September 6th:
- Paul Naschy (1934) – Spanish actor and director known for many films, including his “Hombre Lobo” series
- Tommy Lee Wallace (1949) – director of Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
- Carter Smith (1971) – director of The Ruins (2008)
- Justin Whalin (1974) – Child’s Play 3 (1991)
- Naomie Harris (1976) – 28 Days Later (2002)
- Freya Allan (2001) – The Witcher (2019-2025), Baghead (2023)
Events on This Day
It: Chapter Two was released in US theaters on September 6th, 2019. It didn’t review as well as 2017’s It, nor did it do as well at the box office, but it was still considered a success. The prequel series, It: Welcome to Derry, will debut on HBO Max on October 26th, 2025.
More movies released on September 6th:
- Hellraiser: Hellworld (DVD, 2005)
- All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (digital, 2013)
- Satanic Panic (digital, 2019)
