The Rotting Zombie's News Round-up for September 2026

Another month, and thankfully I am still employed in my day job, even if it is a fixed term contract that doesn't give me too much long term job security. I'm thinking of taking a week off in November (should my contract be extended that far), in which I will do one of my fabled not leaving the house for a week stints, that is something to look forward to should I so decide to do that. On the show front I am nearing the end of Squid Game: Season 2, but to be truthful, I've been at that point for most of the year. On the book front, I am getting towards the end of Natural Thorn Killers; a book that charts the history of plants in horror films; surprisingly interesting. Over on the game front I am about halfway through Cult of the Lamb and nearing the end of Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5, and I have my eye on Silent Hill: Townfall that came out last Friday. Onwards to the news.

Mahal Empire's Cursed Waters is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. This nautical horror is about a crew of shipwrecked pirates who wash up on an uncharted island populated by a bloodthirsty cult. Directed by Adam Werth, and features John Wells, BJ Mezek, and Vernon Wells.

Heresy had its UK digital debut yesterday (28th September) thanks to GrimmVision. Didier Konings brings a film about a woman acused of witchcraft after a dark entity latches onto her, in a horror that has been compared to The VVitch: A New-England Folktale, with the setting here a small Dutch village in the Dark Ages. The press release states Heresy is '...a haunting tale of misogyny, bodily autonomy and belief...'

Goth pop band, Metamorph have released the official music video for their track 'Witchfire' which is taken from their new Witchfire EP. The press release states the track is all about owning your desire, and the video was filmed by Brian Wimer in New York's East Village and in the forests of Vermont.

Found TV found footage original; A Possession in Lincoln County is getting its theatrical premiere on October 22nd at the Hamilton Film Festival, and its streaming debut on October 23rd. Directed by Louie La Vella and written by Monica La Vella, this follows Jake, a man documenting his wife's fight with cancer. When her diagnosis turns terminal, Jake decides to enact an ancient ritual said to allow the caster to make a deal with the devil.

Magick Mtn is an interconnected anthology of three stories; a squatter imprisoned by a sadistic psychiatrist, a pair of criminal plumbers in trouble on the Sunset Strip, and an architect whose design is devil inspired. Written, directed, and produced by Hana Mae Lee (The Babysitter: Killer Queen, The Babysitter), this was an official selection at Fantastic Fest (TX), the Susquehanna Film Festival (PA) and the Molins International Film Festival (Spain) among other festivals. Magick Mtn comes to digital on 13th October.

Synapse Films have announced the 4K UHD debut of the Frank Henenlotter directed cult comedy horror film Frankenhooker. The story sees a grieving medical student who goes to some extreme lengths to bring his deceased fiancée back to life, events of course quickly get out of hand. The 4K Ultra HD edition features a new 2025 Dolby Vision 4K restoration, and the Blu-ray edition marks the film's return to that format. Extras include an audio commentary with the director and make-up effects designer Gabe Bartalos, some featurettes, a photo scrapbook, and the original theatrical trailer.

Finally for today, British horror The Stranger arrived on UK digital on 14th September thanks to Trinity Content Partners. Described as a home invasion movie with a supernatural twist, this comes from Paul Gerrard and Mike Clarke (A Light Through Coloured Glass) and is about a mysterious stranger who arrives at a troubled family's remote B&B seeking a room, and who claims to be being hunted by a group of supernatural killers.