“Masters of Horror” is a new anthology series featuring 13 legendary directors of the horror film genre who have joined forces to produce a series of new, original horror films that promise to shock, terrify and captivate even the most discriminating horror film fans. These 13 one-hour episodes will air every Friday @ 10pm EST/PST on the Showtime Network. The 13 directors involved include Dario Argento, John Carpenter, Larry Cohen, Don Coscarelli, Joe Dante, Mick Garris, Stuart Gordon, John Landis, Tobe Hooper, and Takashi Milke.
INCIDENT ON-AND OFF-A MOUNTAIN ROAD
Directed by Don Coscarelli
Filmography: “Phantasm,” “Bubba Ho-Tep”
Synopsis: A woman seemingly at the mercy of the serial killer who has kidnapped her turns out to be more resourceful and cunning than expected in this episode from director Don Coscarelli, based on Joe Lansdale’s short story.
DREAMS IN THE WITCH-HOUSE
Directed by Stuart Gordon
Filmography: “Re-Animator,” “Dagon”
Synopsis: In this tale based on the short story by horror master H.P. Lovecraft, Stuart Gordon will once again confirm his place as the premiere director of Lovecraft’s tales of terror. Walter Gilman (Ezra Godden), a college student studying interdimensional string theory, rents a garret in a run-down building in the old New England town of Arkham. Haunted by terrifying nightmares that involve a witch, a supernatural rodent and perhaps Satan himself, Walter starts to lose his grip on reality. He begins to believe his string theory studies have uncovered a portal into a parallel universe rife with diabolical forces gathering to sacrifice his neighbor’s infant. As Walter struggles to prevent this atrocity, it becomes less clear if he will save the child or become its unwitting murderer himse
DANCE OF THE DEAD
Directed by Tobe Hooper
Filmography: “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” “Poltergeist”
Synopsis: Based on his father’s celebrated short story, “Dance of the Dead” depicts a post-apocalyptic dystopia wherein re-animated corpses of former friends and enemies dance on stage for the entertainment of the few that survived a nuclear holocaust. Too naïve and wholesome for her own good, Peggy embarks on her first double date with a slick upper-classman. Her nervous fits of laughter quickly turn to panicked screams as she learns the truth of the dangerous world outside her mother’s protective cloister, and the sacrifices that were made in order to guarantee her survival. Intelligent, haunting and just as politically relevant as when it was first published, “Dance of the Dead” will be an episode to be remembered.
JENIFER
Directed by Dario Argento
Filmography: “Suspiria,” “Terror at The Opera”
Synopsis: Based on the short story written by Bruce Jones, Jenifer is the shocking tale of a modern-day Lolita who, through her Siren-like powers, ultimately destroys the bodies and souls of all men unfortunate enough to cross her path. After police officer Frank (Steven Weber) saves her life, he adopts her, only to learn that no good deed goes unpunished. Jenifer is a twisted and terrifying tale with a horrific twist that warns us all to be careful of what we bring into our home
CHOCOLATE
Directed by Mick Garris
Filmography: “Riding the Bullet,” “The Stand”
Synopsis: Jamie (Henry Thomas), a newly divorced young man who creates artificial flavors for the food industry, suddenly and inexplicably starts to experience brief and random flashes from someone – and somewhere – unknown: sight, sound, smell, touch. Learning that he’s experiencing life through the senses of a mysterious woman, he begins to fall in love with her – without having met her. Eventually, he discovers a horrifying secret that binds him inexorably with the perfect woman in an erotic, horrifying dance of death.
HOMECOMING
Directed by Joe Dante
Filmography: “The Howling,” “Gremlins”
Synopsis: Terror and scandal grip the nation when the media discovers that the living dead have swayed the Presidential election. This adaptation of Dale Bailey’s award-winning short story “Death & Suffrage” blends zombie horror and contemporary political satire with chilling results.
DEER WOMAN
Directed by John Landis
Filmography: “An American Werewolf in London”
Synopsis: A series of bizarre murders lead a cynical Detective Dwight Faraday (Brian Benben) to suspect that an ancient Native American mythological creature is real in this sexually-charged horror comedy.
CIGARETTE BURNS
Directed by John Carpenter
Filmography: “Halloween,” “The Thing”
Synopsis: Jimmy Sweetman (Norman Reedus) knows how to find rare film prints. However, nothing could prepare him for the daunting search for “Le Fin du Monde,” a film allegedly shown only once and rumored to have driven its audience into a murderous frenzy before the theater mysteriously erupted in flames. Working for a shadowy patron, Jimmy’s increasingly obsessive investigation becomes nightmarish and deadly. Finally he discovers “Le Fin du Monde”‘s infamy is well deserved. This supernatural “Chinatown” is a chilling look at the power of cinema and the lengths to which we will go to satiate our private demons.
FAIR HAIRED CHILD
Directed by William Malone
Filmography: “House on Haunted Hill,” “FearDotCom”
Synopsis: Tara, a lonely 13 year-old outcast, is kidnapped by a strange couple and locked in the basement with their 13-year old son Johnny. Despite the fact that he is kind and sensitive, Johnny keeps a terrible secret. These two children form a special bond to a find a way to battle a curse and to survive the night.
HAECKEL’S TALE
Directed by John McNaughton
Filmography: “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer”, “Wild Things”
Synopsis: not available at this time
IMPRINT
Directed by Takashi Miike
Filmography: “The Killer”, “Ichi”, “Audition”
Synopsis: not available at this time
PICK ME UP
Directed by Larry Cohen
Filmography: “It’s Alive,” “The Invaders”
Synopsis: Two urban legends collide on a desolate roadside when Wheeler, a serial killer who slays hitchhikers, offers a ride to Walker, a hitchhiker who slays any individual unlucky enough to offer him a ride. Caught between these two bearers of death and destruction is our heroine, a 25 year old woman who will need to choose her ally carefully or become another bloody notch on a belt in this deadly game of cat and mouse.
SICK GIRL
Directed by Lucky McKee
Filmography: “The Woods”, “May”
Synopsis: not available at this time
For more info, visit the Showtime website.
