Prepare for an Increase in Publicly Available Slasher Movies in 2025
Getting a blast from the past, the horror genre's B-movie scene is heating up with some interesting developments! If you've ever wondered what classic public domain characters like Bambi might look like as slasher villains with dark histories and grisly deaths, then the Twisted Childhood Universe has you covered.
First off, we've got Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare. This upcoming film got a sneak peek at Comic-Con, and things are looking intense! The plot revolves around an adult Wendy Darling (Megan Placito) who sets out on a mission to rescue her little brother Michael from an evil Peter Pan, played by Martin Portlock. The director of the film, Scott Jeffrey, hints that this movie is "extremely darker" compared to the Blood & Honey films, tonally speaking.
As for our first glance at the film, we have to admit it's a bit confusing. Initially, the portrayal of Peter Pan is reminiscent of Pennywise from It, but then he morphs into a rather peculiar blend of characters – Michael Myers, the Joker, and the Grabber from Black Phone. Things get even more bizarre when it's hinted that he can fly and we see him brutally slaughtering innocent people before the title card graces our screens.
Next up, we've got Screamboat. Now, this film isn't connected to the Twisted Childhood Universe or the slasher Steamboat film from earlier this year. Instead, it focuses on a menacing mouse terrorizing some New Yorkers on a midnight ferry ride. This one seems to be more of a horror-comedy flick. According to director Steven LaMorte, the movie serves two purposes: it acts as a "love letter" to Steamboat Willie, which entered the public domain earlier this year, and also as the chance for LaMorte to create a horror film on the Staten Island Ferry – a project he's been itching to do for years.
For the horror enthusiasts, LaMorte also shared some exciting details about the murderous mouse. The creature is a "100 percent, in-camera practical creature," designed as a puppet and costume by Quantum Creation FX – a studio that's worked on The Predator, The Mandalorian, and several Marvel movies. The size of the creature allows it to perform some "pretty tough" and "really crazy" kills throughout the film. Apparently, the kills are so gruesome that LaMorte anticipates he'll need to have an awkward conversation with his mother once the filming is complete.
Screamboat is expected to hit theaters in 2025, while Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare has a slated release window of early next year.
Looking for more io9 news? Catch up on the latest on Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, updates on the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
- The trailer-frenzy continues as io9 unveils details about Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare, a darker adaptation of the classic tale, set to release early next year.
- This chilling portrayal of Peter Pan, played by Martin Portlock, blends elements from Pennywise, Michael Myers, the Joker, and the Grabber, promising an extreme horror experience.
- Meanwhile, in 2025, horror-comedy Screamboat is poised to release, featuring a menacing mouse created by Quantum Creation FX (responsible for work on The Predator, The Mandalorian, and several Marvel movies).
- director Steven LaMorte, in an enthusiastic declaration, confirmed that the mouse will perform "pretty tough" and "really crazy" kills throughout the film, expecting the end result to be so gruesome that he might have an awkward conversation with his mother upon completion of filming.
