Bassinger is known for her role as Stargirl in the CW superhero series. In Buzzkill, she steps up to become the new sorority leader after the death of the previous one.

“I think a lot of the writing does the heavy lifting when it comes to the comedy, and I find it funny when something chaotic or scary is going on,” Bassinger tells Nerd Reactor. “We just have to believe it a hundred percent, and the more you believe it, a lot of times the funnier it is. That’s my thought process.”

Aliyah’s Interlude is a musician who is making her feature film debut in Buzzkill.

“Honestly, I feel like although yes, the movie is extremely scary, and it’s a horror movie, but I think just the comedic aspects made it so much lighter,” Aliyah said. “If there’s a way to describe it like that, because I do feel like even when we were covered in all blood or the girls were screaming, or there are clowns, there was always just a punchline at the end that kind of lightened the entire mood. So I think it was a good balance, all in all.”

About Buzzkill

When a group of sorority sisters find themselves trapped with a vengeful killer, party-girl Nora (Agudong) knows that the drunker she gets, the more her tipsy memories start revealing clues about who’s murdering her friends. But she’d better hurry, or her next vodka soda might be her last call.

Buzzkill is written by Suzanne Keilly (Slumber Party Massacre) and directed by Jem Garrard (R.L. Stine’s Pumpkinhead).

The film debuts on September 25, 2026, on Tubi.

The post Brec Bassinger and Aliyah’s Interlude Talk Bloody Horror-Comedy in Tubi’s Buzzkill appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The film is told in a nonlinear way, and audiences will follow the two characters as they enter different eras in their lives. It switches from the present to the past, making audiences learn new things as more information is revealed.

“The movie deals a lot in memory and nostalgia and how those things shape and impact your life,” Robinson tells Nerd Reactor. “And the way that your memory is not exactly the same as the way that someone else experienced the same thing. You’re going to have the same experience, but remember it completely differently.”

Jones plays Harper, who has dreams of becoming a chef, but she is stuck trying to help Charlie. The actress also plays CODA’s Ruby, who has a similar connection.

“I think playing characters who are young but shouldering a lot of adult responsibility is really intriguing to me,” Jones said. “I think both Ruby and Harper are going through the same running theme of love and the challenges that come with love.

“When the love is really, really great, it’s hard to sometimes see yourself because I think Ruby was constantly thinking of others because she loves her family so much. I think Harper loves Charlie so much, but at some point, I think you have to be kind to yourself, and I think both those characters go through a journey and a character arc and slowly kind of realize that.”

About Charlie Harper

Synopsis: At an engagement party for mutual friends, Charlie and Harper seemingly meet for the first time, but when a specific song sparks old memories, their complex history is revealed. Through flashbacks from both perspectives, their story unfolds: from what brought them together to where they are today.

Retracing the highs and the lows, the depth of their bond comes into clearer focus as they navigate their diverging aspirations for the future. Through the evolving relationship of Charlie and Harper, the film explores the tension between love, ambition, identity, and personal growth, and examines what happens when two people deeply connected to one another grow in different directions, forcing them to confront whether love alone is enough or if time may be something they cannot overcome.

The film is directed by Mac Eldridge and Tom Dean and written by Tom Dean.

Charlie Harper releases in theaters nationwide on September 25, 2026.

The post Nick Robinson and Emilia Jones Talk Charlie Harper, Love, Nostalgia, and Finding Yourself appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Giacchino still remembers the chair he was sitting in when he first read Bird’s script back in 2009.

Netflix released the official trailer and teaser art, which you can check out below.

“Oh, it’s always the best,” Giacchino replied when I asked about getting to work with Bird again during an early press-day roundtable. “The highlight of my years is when I can see on my schedule that there’s going to be a Brad Bird movie coming up. In this movie, I read this script, like in 2009, I think the first time? I still remember the chair I read it in. I remember just thinking, like, ‘Oh my God, it’s going to be great!”

“I would say the same thing with Michael,” Bird added. “The most fun part of the process to me is bringing the film, which feels relatively complete at that point. And then the very scary process of ripping out this music that is sort of Band-Aids on Band-Aids, and it’s fairly firm at that point. It’s like eight inches of Band-Aids, and you feel like, ‘Well, that’s secure,’ and then you throw it away.

“And Michael makes it beautiful, consistent. And just sitting there and watching that process happen is the highlight of every film that I’ve worked with him on because he’s great. He dials right into the movie that we all want to make, and as soon as I hear it with the film, I’m like, ‘That’s the way it had to be. It’s absolutely what I want.'”

The composer and the director have worked together on several projects since The Incredibles, but their first collaboration came with a bit of uncertainty for Giacchino.

“I had been waiting for weeks to see if I was getting that job on The Incredibles,” Giacchino recalled. “It was my first movie and understandably, I just really wanted to do that movie so bad, but also felt like they’re never going to hire me because they work with Thomas Newman and Randy Newman.

“And these guys would never do this, but for whatever reason they did. [Bird] got on the phone with me to tell me I got the job, and literally the first thing he says out of the gate is, ‘Now listen. Your music could ruin my movie.’ I remember I was on the phone thinking, ‘Oh wait. What? No, I’m going to work really hard.’

“‘No, I know you’re going to work, I know, but listen to me,’ he said. ‘If you and I are not on the same page every step of the way, the audience is going to start thinking things we don’t want them to think. They’re going to start feeling things we don’t want them to feel. So, it is so important that you and I are like clasping hands the entire process to make sure that this story is right. We’re both telling the same story.’

“It was a great thing to say at the time. You know, I mean, maybe you could have said a little nicer?” Giacchino joked.

About Ray Gunn

Logline: In Metropia, a gigantic city in an alternate future as seen from 1939, private eye Raymond Gunn is drawn into a case involving aliens, murder, and a multimedia star named Venus Nova.

The film is directed by Brad Bird and written by Bird and Matthew Robbins from an original story by Bird.

The voice cast includes Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Waits, Alan Tudyk, Matt Berry, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Chernus, Kether Donohue, Michelle Rodriguez, Aasif Mandvi, Matt Jones, Kathryn Hunter, John Ratzenberger, Justin Peck, Patton Oswalt.

Ray Gunn will be released in select theaters, including limited 70mm screenings, on December 4, 2026. It will debut on Netflix on December 18, 2026.

The post Michael Giacchino Recalls Reading Brad Bird’s Ray Gunn Script for the First Time in 2009 appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

To enter, DM the Pan’s Labyrinth Instagram account with a receipt from the ticket purchase for the Pan’s Labyrinth 20th Anniversary showings. For more info on the giveaway, see the Instagram post below:

View this post on Instagram

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A post shared by @panslabyrinth20

 
Giveaway Description:

Hey everyone! Buy a ticket to see PAN’S LABYRINTH in theaters for a chance to win one of these three doodles.

All you have to do is DM us a ticket bought today to ANY showing of the movie, and you’ll be entered into today’s raffle. First raffle closes at 11:59 pm PT today 9/21 – so move quick!

Full terms and conditions at the link in bio.

Good luck!

Pan’s Labyrinth returns to theaters nationwide on October 9, 2026.
 
Full Terms and Conditions
https://panslabyrinth20.com/drawing-terms-conditions/

The post Win Original Guillermo del Toro Artwork with Pan’s Labyrinth 20th Anniversary Giveaway appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The live and online event will be held on Monday, November 23, in Los Angeles and online at juliensauctions.com.

The screen-used Batmobile was featured in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns starring Keaton, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Danny DeVito.

“The four most important things that define Batman: 1. He has no superpowers. 2. He has the greatest rogues’ gallery of supervillains. 3. He has the most impactful origin story of any superhero. 4. The Car,” said Michael Uslan, Originator and Executive Producer of the Batman franchise of motion pictures. “The sheer genius of production designer Anton Furst and his team gave us the 1989-92 Batmobile with the custom build by the brilliant Carl Casper in Batman Returns, still hailed as the all-time classic.”

Carl Casper and Hollywood Productions were commissioned to build three vehicles based on the Batmobile featured in 1989’s Batman under the direction of production designer Anton Furst, with concept design and illustrations by Julian Caldow.

During principal photography, this Batmobile was used as the Number One Hero car and measures 19 feet, 8 inches long. The frame is based on splicing together two Chevrolet Impala chassis with a custom body created with fiberglass. It contains the Chevrolet V8 engine, and the physical appearance has not been altered since the production of Batman Returns.

Here are other details for the Batmobile:

• The front end simulates a large jet-turbine-style intake that is flanked by flowing, sleek front fenders.
• Large fresh-air intakes are mounted ahead of the domineering, highly sculptured and radical rear fenders.
• A Chevrolet V8 engine and automatic three-speed transmission were installed under the one-piece front end.
• The special effects team, for this striking superhero masterpiece, used a blend of practical, digital, and pyro techniques combined with early computer-generated imagery.
• The two-seat cockpit features aircraft-like instrumentation and a variety of visual special-effect gadgets.
• For the visual flaming exhaust system, the team ignited a pressurized mix of air and kerosene operated by radio-frequency transmitters and receivers.
• The black paint, which appears glossy, is original to the car.
• Following the wrap of Batman Returns, the Batmobile was featured at the film’s grand opening and Warner Brothers backlot party before being returned to Hollywood Productions.
• For a number of years, the vehicle remained in storage before being placed on display at the Marconi Automotive Museum.
• The estimate for the vehicle is $5-$7 million U.S. dollars.

The record for a Batmobile auction was the 2013 sale of the George Barris’ 1966 Batmobile for $4.6 million.

Auction info:

Julien’s Studios, 13007 S. Western Avenue, Gardena, CA 90249
Monday, November 23, 2026 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time

Here are the options to bid on the Batman Returns’ Batmobile.

• Bid with Julien’s Auctions online.
• Bid over the telephone through an auction house representative.
• Bid in person in the room at our auction events.
• Bid in advance by absentee bid. Absentee bid forms are available by calling 310-836-1818.

Julien’s Auctions accepts cryptocurrency payments, including Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, DAI, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and USD Coin.

The post Batman Returns’ Hero Batmobile to Be Auctioned Off in November appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Resident Evil tells the story of Bryan (Austin Abrams), an ordinary medical courier whose trip through Raccoon City quickly turns into a nightmare. There’s no Leon S. Kennedy, Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, or Claire Redfield here. Bryan isn’t a trained police officer or a hero who can fight off monsters. He’s just a regular guy trying to survive, and he often struggles. Abrams plays him as someone who reacts to scary situations the way most people would. When something looks like a trap, sometimes the best move is just to walk away. Even when he gets a gun, it doesn’t suddenly make him good at using it.

Bryan’s vulnerability brings both humor and horror to Resident Evil. That tension helps explain why Cregger’s approach works. In Barbarian and Weapons, Cregger showed he knows how to play with what the audience can and can’t see, and he does that here too. Darkness hides figures in the background and foreground, and the movie quickly makes you feel like something could be hiding anywhere. I found myself scanning the screen even during quiet moments. Just when you start to relax, Cregger surprises you with a well-timed jump scare. This is the kind of horror movie that’s even better with a crowd, where everyone laughs one minute and jumps the next.

Resident Evil fans will notice how well Cregger understands the games. Without giving away any spoilers, you shouldn’t expect to see a bunch of familiar enemies. The dangers Bryan faces aren’t just taken from Capcom’s list of monsters, but the movie is full of references to the games. There are green herbs, typewriters, and first-person camera shots that remind you of Resident Evil 7 biohazard and Resident Evil Village.

Even more importantly, Cregger brings the games’ mechanics into the story. Bryan slowly finds better gear, and things like ammo and scavenging really matter. He moves through different parts of Raccoon City, just trying to stay alive. All the while, something dangerous keeps chasing him, which will remind longtime fans of the pressure from Mr. X and Nemesis. Instead of feeling like an adaptation of a specific Resident Evil game, it feels more like watching someone play a new one.

Resident Evil finally gets the movie it deserves as Zach Cregger delivers a scary, funny, fast-paced survival horror thrill ride.

Cregger also smartly avoids weighing the movie down with too much explanation. The story is simple: one man needs to survive the night and reach his destination. Details about Raccoon City and what’s happening around Bryan come out naturally, instead of pausing for a big backstory. This makes it one of the easiest Resident Evil movies to recommend to people who haven’t played the games. The quick 90-minute runtime helps, too. The movie moves fast and rarely slows down, with Abrams carrying most of it. Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, Paul Walter Hauser, and the rest of the cast are fun when they show up, but this is really Bryan’s story.

My biggest complaint is that Cregger sometimes seems almost afraid to make the movie look too much like Resident Evil. That reluctance undercuts the same game-like feeling the movie otherwise nails. The monsters feel more like creations from his own imagination than creatures from Capcom’s world. Not to mention, familiar images from the franchise are used sparingly. As a fan, I sometimes wished he would lean more into the classic Resident Evil style he’s clearly avoiding. It’s like watching someone purposely get every answer wrong on a test, just to show they can do something new.

I get why he made these choices. Cregger isn’t trying to remake Resident Evil 2 or fill the movie with Leon, Jill, Wesker, and a bunch of familiar monsters just for fan service. He wants this story to take place in a different part of the same universe, and that’s what makes it work. This version doesn’t focus on which scenes fans want to see on screen. Instead, it asks what it would really feel like to be an ordinary person stuck in that world.

Overall, Resident Evil is scary, often funny, fast-paced, and a real thrill to watch with a crowd. Most importantly, it finally makes a live-action Resident Evil movie feel like the games. For the first time in a live-action Resident Evil movie, I wasn’t just spotting references to the games I love. I actually felt like I was watching someone try to survive one.

Rating: 4/5 atoms

Resident Evil hits theaters on September 18th.

The post Resident Evil Review – It’s a Thriller Night in Raccoon City appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The film is directed by Joel Crawford (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, The Croods: A New Age) and Januel Mercado (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), who are also childhood friends.

“We love being able to laugh while we’re doing our job,” Crawford tells Nerd Reactor about working with his friend, Mercado. “Making movies is incredibly hard. The schedules are long hours, and when you have friends that you can laugh through the tough times, and even when you can create something that the end result feels the same as you making it, there’s so much laughing and celebrating while we’re in production. So many times we say a joke, and we’re like, ‘Oh wait, put that in.’ It’s just a complete joy to work with my buddy.”

The film has nods to films like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Predator, and the filmmakers were happy to add them into the film.

“We’re such like lovers of cinema and love paying homage to the films that inspire us,” Mercado said. “A tone of this movie, too, that we wanted to communicate with the nostalgia is like when we were growing up, we remember we saw a lot of stuff that we loved, including Predator. I think we were probably too young to watch these movies. And that was something with the storytelling of, we’re big fans of Predator, and I think it would be funny that Jo and Raissa are watching Predator as kids at their Lola’s house.”

About Forgotten Island

The film features the voices of H.E.R., Liza Soberano, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng, and Lea Salonga.

Forgotten Island releases in theaters on September 25, 2026.

The post Forgotten Island Directors on Working with Childhood Friends and Film Inspirations appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

“There’s a lot of things that he’d want to do in his career that he didn’t get a chance to, and that was the point of doing this film,” Schoenke tells Nerd Reactor. “And seeing him realize those in this process was just such a joy. As his friend, watching him getting to act with his Michael Madsen, his favorite actor, getting to see him put his own ideas, have his own input, something that he really wanted to have throughout his career, and then just getting to to fight him and have on screen time with him and stuff like that, which is very different for our relationship, was really just a joy to see all that all that happen.”

For Ramsey, he shares a story about how kind Jason was.

“To get to see the times that I got to work with Aaron on set was so dialed in and it was really important for him to express his authenticity, right?” Ramsey said. “He talked about that even when we first met about the script, and so to get to see that as an artist, as another artist, was was fulfilling. But even beyond that, when I first met first met Jason, it’s the first time I told this story.

“My son was about four years old, and he said, ‘Is your son a Power Ranger fan?'”

“‘No, like Jason, I don’t think he’s even ever heard of the Power Rangers. I mean he’s four.'”

“‘What’s your address?’ I gave I gave him my dress. He sent literally a five foot box of Power Rangers toys for my son. And that’s the kind of guy he was, right? When I first met him, it was just love and light came off of him. Because of that, I said, ‘Yes, I’ll work with you.’ I didn’t see a script, it was just like, ‘Yes, I want to work with you, Jason.’ So to get to work with him on set, get to read the script and see actually how good it is, and then get to work with him on set was just every single moment with Jason in my experience, it just got better and better and better and better. So my experience with him was was always incredible.”

Legend of the White Dragon is now in theaters.

The post Director Aaron Schoenke and David Ramsey on Jason David Frank’s Last Film, Legend of the White Dragon appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Watching Project Hail Mary shows just how impressive big science fiction films can be. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller mix science fiction, comedy, drama, action, and adventure so well that no single part takes over. The humor keeps things light when the science gets tricky, the emotional moments add weight to the mission, and the action brings real suspense.

Ryan Gosling delivers a strong performance as Ryland Grace, a scientist who wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of how he arrived. Grace isn’t your typical action hero, and Gosling brings out his awkwardness, fear, humor, and vulnerability. Whether he’s worried about a new problem or excited about a breakthrough, his reactions feel genuine, and his “every man” persona makes you root for him.

But the heart of the film is Grace’s relationship with Rocky. Their friendship turns the story from just a space survival adventure into something much deeper. A lot of the film’s humor and emotion comes from watching them learn to talk to each other, build trust, and share what they know.

Their friendship also highlights one of Andy Weir’s main ideas: progress comes from working together, sharing knowledge, and not giving up even when things seem impossible.

The film delivers everything I look for in great science fiction, especially with its amazing space visuals and sense of scale. While it has big ideas and striking images, it’s the humor, humanity, and friendship that really make it stand out.

Movie Review: 5/5 atoms

Video

Project Hail Mary is available on Ultra HD Blu-ray in native 4K, HEVC/H.265, Dolby Vision/HDR10 presentation with a mix of 2.39:1 and 1.78:1 aspect ratios. Project Hail Mary delivers a beautiful native 4K image that fits the format perfectly. First of all, the contrast really stands out, with the ship displays, stars, and spacecraft lighting shining clearly against the dark space. Highlights look bright and strong but never overexposed, and the black levels are just as impressive. Shadows are deep and realistic, and the darkness outside the ship creates a truly black background without hiding the details in the ship’s darker corridors.

The color saturation is another highlight, with deep reds and rich greens bringing the image to life, especially when Tau Ceti e—nicknamed Adrian—first appears. The background colors pop against the bold red of the spacesuits. The detail is impressive, showing things like Grace’s light stubble and the textures and flaws on Rocky’s surface. I didn’t notice any major artifacts, and the edges look clean without any fake sharpness.

The film used a ‘film out’ process, which means the digital footage was transferred onto real film stock and then scanned back in. This adds a bit of grain, which keeps the image from looking too clean and gives the sharp 4K presentation a nice cinematic feel.

Video Review: 5/5 atoms

Audio

Project Hail Mary is available on Ultra HD Blu-ray with Dolby Atmos or, if Atmos is not supported, a 7.1 Dolby TrueHD audio presentation. This review will cover the Blu-ray’s Dolby Atmos mix. The Atmos mix for Project Hail Mary focuses on precision rather than just power. The sound panning through the soundscape is dynamic and smooth, and the placement of sounds within the Hail Mary is especially impressive. For instance, alarms, notification pings, mechanical creaks, and Rocky’s movements are all accurately positioned. The ship’s computer voice and the chimes also add a playful sense of direction.

The mix uses the height channels to add nuance to the ship’s setting, where sounds from above create a realistic sense of vertical space without drawing too much attention. The quieter atmospheric effects might be even more effective. The surround channels use echoes, mechanical noises, and ambient sounds to gently wrap around the listener, making you feel like another passenger on the ship.

Daniel Pemberton’s score fills the room but never overpowers the quieter character moments. At the same time, the dialogue always sounds clear and natural, and it never gets drowned out, even during the more chaotic scenes. The bass follows the same approach: the subwoofer adds a satisfying weight to engines, ship movement, and bigger scenes when needed, but never feels overdone.

Audio Review: 5/5 atoms

Special Features

Project Hail Mary has the following bonus features that can be found on the disc:

• Audio Commentary by Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
• Earth’s Favorite Eridian
• Deleted Scenes
  • Day 1 Food Paste
  • I Think I’m Handling Things Pretty Awesome
  • How To Put On A Spacesuit
  • You Sleep, I Watch
  • Maybe We’re Cousins

Features Assessment

The bonus features may not be extensive, but they give fans a nice behind-the-scenes look and add some enjoyable extra value to the 4K release.

The feature-length commentary stands out as the most in-depth extra. Lord and Miller have great chemistry, making their discussion about adapting Andy Weir’s science-heavy novel, balancing humor and tension, and handling technical and storytelling challenges fun to listen to. They share helpful information in a way that’s easy for anyone to follow, while still giving film fans plenty of behind-the-scenes insight.

The featurette on Earth’s Favorite Eridian runs just under eight minutes and focuses on making Rocky feel real. It covers the different techniques used to create the character, including puppetry, animatronics, and digital effects. It’s interesting to see how many methods went into making Rocky seem believable, especially since the final result never looks like just a visual effect. The only downside is that it’s a bit short—Rocky deserves a longer making-of, so this feels more like a fun introduction than a full behind-the-scenes look.

The disc includes five deleted scenes, totaling just under ten minutes. While these scenes aren’t crucial to the final film, they offer a little more time with Grace and Rocky and are fun to watch after seeing the movie.

Special Features Review: 3/5 atoms

Overall, Project Hail Mary is a fantastic film that, at this point, is still one of my favorites of the year. The video and audio presentations look and sound fabulous, while the special features are a bit lacking.

Overall Review: 4.5/5 atoms

Project Hail Mary is now available in stores on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.

This Blu-ray was provided by Alliance Entertainment for review purposes.

The post Project Hail Mary – 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Check out the full video interview below:

“I was inspired by the current, very highly rapid information exchange through social networking, and the highest form, the most extreme form of rapid information, the result is AI programs,” Yeon tells Nerd Reactor. “And then we think that we’re having a consensus… people think alike is beneficial to the society. However, actually, if that happens without thinking, our individuality threatened and it is rendered powerless.”

Starring in the lead role as Kwon Se-jeong is Jun Ji-hyun, aka Gianna Jun. As a biotechnology professor, she must help the survivors during a zombie infestation.

“It was my first time to work with Gianna Jun,” the director said. “And she’s, needless to say, she’s a superstar.”

About Colony

Synopsis: Horror master Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan) directs a new Korean zombie thriller starring Gianna Jun and Koo Kyo-hwan. Professor Se-jeong (Ji-hyun) is thrust into a bloody nightmare when a rapidly mutating virus is released during a biotech conference causing authorities to seal the facility. Trapped inside with no escape, Se-jeong along with a small group of survivors must fight to stay alive while the infected undergo horrific transformations.

The film is directed by Yeon Sang-ho and written by Yeon and Choi Gyu-seok. It stars CAST: Gianna Jun, Koo Kyo-hwan, Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hyun-been, Kim Shin-rock, and GO Soo.

The film releases in theaters on August 28, 2026.

The post Yeon Sang-ho Explains How AI and Social Media Inspired Zombie Flick, Colony appeared first on Nerd Reactor.