Hollywood is getting possessed, Stephen King’s most famous prom queen is back, and the horror business is positively booming!

From Scarlett Johansson entering the terrifying world of The Exorcist to Mike Flanagan bringing Carrie to a whole new generation, this Halloween season is serving up enough cinematic nightmares to keep us sleeping with the lights on!

Meanwhile, Blumhouse is resurrecting familiar horror franchises, a gritty crime-thriller favorite is getting another chapter, and a beautifully animated film about love and loss is making waves on the festival circuit.

Welcome to MANNY’S MOVIE NEWS NOW! Let’s get spooky!

SCARLETT JOHANSSON MEETS THE EXORCIST — AND MIKE FLANAGAN IS JUST GETTING STARTED!

Move over, Black Widow! Scarlett Johansson has a whole new kind of evil to battle!

Horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan, the creative force behind Doctor Sleep, Midnight Mass, and The Haunting of Hill House, is bringing his signature psychological storytelling to THE EXORCIST: MARTYRS.

A trailer unveiled at New York Comic Con offers an early glimpse of Flanagan’s new take on the legendary horror franchise.

Johansson plays a homicide detective investigating a disturbing case involving a serial killer whose crimes appear to continue even after his execution.

Rather than simply repeating the familiar formula, this new installment aims to combine supernatural horror with the unsettling atmosphere of a crime thriller.

MANNY’S TAKE: Scarlett Johansson versus demonic evil? Sign me up! But the real reason I’m intrigued is Mike Flanagan. He understands that the scariest monsters aren’t always the ones hiding under the bed. Sometimes they’re the ones living inside our memories, our guilt, and our grief.

And speaking of Flanagan…

FROM CARRIE TO THE EXORCIST: MIKE FLANAGAN IS HAVING A DEVILISHLY GOOD YEAR!

Talk about a busy horror maestro!

Flanagan’s much-anticipated adaptation of Stephen King’s CARRIE premiered October 7 on Prime Video, introducing a new generation to one of horror literature’s most tragic and terrifying characters.

Summer H. Howell takes on the role of Carrie White, the painfully isolated teenager whose emerging telekinetic powers collide with relentless bullying and religious oppression.

Of course, movie lovers remember Sissy Spacek’s unforgettable performance in Brian De Palma’s 1976 film, complete with one of the most shocking prom nights in cinematic history.

But Flanagan’s version brings the story into the modern world, exploring cyberbullying, social media cruelty, and the pressures facing today’s teenagers.

It’s an especially intriguing approach because Carrie has never been just about supernatural powers. At its heart, it’s a story about isolation, cruelty, and the devastating consequences of pushing someone beyond their breaking point.

Flanagan wrote and produced the eight-episode series and directed four installments.

And now he’s moving from one iconic horror property to another with The Exorcist: Martyrs.

MANNY’S TAKE: From pig’s blood to demonic possession, Mike Flanagan is certainly keeping horror fans busy! What makes him such a fascinating filmmaker is his ability to find genuine human heartbreak beneath all the supernatural mayhem.

After all, the best horror stories don’t just make us scream. They make us feel.

Carrie is now streaming on Prime Video, while The Exorcist: Martyrs is scheduled for theaters in 2027.

BLUMHOUSE UNLEASHES A NEW GENERATION OF NIGHTMARES!

Just when you thought it was safe to turn off the lights, Blumhouse and Atomic Monster have announced a whole new collection of things that go bump in the night!

At New York Comic Con, horror producers Jason Blum and James Wan revealed an ambitious lineup of upcoming projects.

Among the biggest announcements:

  • SAW: The notorious horror franchise is preparing another chapter, with James Wan returning as a producer and Mike P. Nelson directing.
  • PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: The found-footage phenomenon is returning for another supernatural adventure.
  • SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN: The acclaimed horror comic is headed to the big screen with Craig Zobel directing.
  • AMANDA THE ADVENTURER: The unsettling independent video game is being adapted for film.
  • MOLEPEOPLE: LaKeith Stanfield is attached to star in a new horror project from Host director Rob Savage.
  • ANYTHING BUT GHOSTS: Filmmaker Curry Barker is developing a horror-comedy about phony ghost hunters who discover that the supernatural is very real.

What’s especially fascinating is how Hollywood is expanding its search for scary stories.

Instead of relying exclusively on familiar franchises, studios are increasingly turning to independent games, internet sensations, comic books, and emerging filmmakers for inspiration.

MANNY’S TAKE: Horror has always reflected the things that frighten us most. Now, apparently, those nightmares come with Wi-Fi!

But here’s my concern: just because something works as a viral video or an online game doesn’t necessarily mean it will work as a two-hour movie.

The challenge is turning a clever premise into a genuinely compelling story.

And please, Hollywood, remember that jump scares are not a substitute for good storytelling!

“IN WAVES” MAKES A SPLASH AT THE AMERICAN FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL!

Now, here’s some movie news that’s especially close to my heart!

The beautiful animated feature IN WAVES has been selected to open the 30th American French Film Festival in Los Angeles on November 3.

Directed by Phuong Mai Nguyen and based on AJ Dungo’s acclaimed graphic novel, In Waves explores love, loss, memory, and the emotional resilience that helps us survive life’s most devastating moments.

The film features the voices of Stephanie Hsu and Will Sharpe.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Nguyen and Dungo, along with Hsu and Sharpe, about the deeply personal journey of bringing this moving story to the screen.

What makes In Waves so special is its understanding that grief isn’t something we simply leave behind.

It’s something we learn to carry.

And sometimes, the memories that hurt us most are also the ones that keep love alive.

MANNY’S TAKE: This is exactly the kind of film that reminds me why I love movies. Animation is not merely a genre for children. It’s an extraordinary storytelling medium capable of expressing emotions that live-action cinema sometimes struggles to capture.

And I’m delighted that In Waves is receiving the festival spotlight it deserves!

The American French Film Festival runs November 3 through November 8 in Los Angeles.

WATCH: MANNY THE MOVIE GUY’S EXCLUSIVE “IN WAVES” INTERVIEWS!

Go behind the scenes of In Waves with my exclusive conversations with director Phuong Mai Nguyen, graphic novel creator AJ Dungo, and voice stars Stephanie Hsu and Will Sharpe.

Discover the heartfelt inspiration behind this beautiful animated film and how its creators brought a deeply personal story of love, loss, and healing to life.

🎬 READ MY EXCLUSIVE IN WAVES STORY AND WATCH THE CELEBRITY INTERVIEWS!

SICARIO 3: EMILY BLUNT, BENICIO DEL TORO AND JOSH BROLIN ARE BACK!

Here’s something for moviegoers who prefer their thrills without demonic possession!

Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin are returning for a third installment of the gritty crime-thriller franchise SICARIO.

Padraic McKinley is attached to direct, with Steven Knight having worked on the screenplay.

The original 2015 film, directed by Denis Villeneuve, remains one of the most gripping crime thrillers of the past decade, thanks to its relentless tension, morally complicated characters, and haunting depiction of the drug war.

Its 2018 sequel, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, expanded the story but divided some critics.

Now, bringing back the original stars gives this third chapter an opportunity to recapture the intensity that made the first film so memorable.

MANNY’S TAKE: Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin together again? Now that’s a reunion worth getting excited about!

But please, give us more than just another round of gunfire and grim expressions. The original Sicario worked because its moral ambiguity was every bit as frightening as its violence.

THE BATMAN PART II HITS A TEMPORARY PAUSE

Meanwhile, Gotham City is experiencing a production interruption.

Matt Reeves’ highly anticipated sequel THE BATMAN PART II, starring Robert Pattinson, has reportedly paused production while the director attends to a family matter.

The development has naturally raised questions among fans eager to see Pattinson return as the Dark Knight.

However, a temporary production pause doesn’t automatically mean the movie’s release will be delayed.

The original The Batman established a darker, detective-driven interpretation of the iconic DC superhero, with Reeves emphasizing atmosphere, corruption, and psychological tension.

MANNY’S TAKE: Gotham can wait. Family comes first.

I’m looking forward to seeing what Reeves has planned for his next chapter, but I’d much rather he have the time he needs than rush a movie simply to meet a deadline.

Besides, Batman has survived plenty of villains. He can survive a little scheduling uncertainty!

HOLLYWOOD’S HORROR RENAISSANCE: ARE WE ENTERING A NEW GOLDEN AGE OF FEAR?

Between Carrie, The Exorcist, Saw, Paranormal Activity, and a growing collection of original horror concepts, one thing is clear: Hollywood is betting big on being scared!

And why not?

Horror remains one of cinema’s most flexible genres. It can be intimate or spectacular, psychological or supernatural, deeply personal or wildly entertaining.

But the truly memorable horror films do more than frighten us.

Carrie examines bullying and alienation. The Exorcist explores faith and fear. And the best contemporary horror films use supernatural terror to reflect the anxieties of the real world.

That’s what separates an unforgettable nightmare from a forgettable collection of jump scares.

MANNY’S FINAL TAKE: Give me horror with heart, monsters with meaning, and filmmakers who understand that what we don’t see can sometimes be more terrifying than what we do.

And with Mike Flanagan leading the charge, this horror fan is cautiously optimistic!

That’s it for today’s MANNY’S MOVIE NEWS NOW!

Keep watching, keep dreaming, and remember: movies are magic — even when they’re terrifying!