It’s Sunday, which means it’s time for the horror haul, our weekly round-up and one-stop-shop for all things horror. This week in horror, Alien: Covenant's promo blitz continues with a new clip unleashing some Facehugger chaos and Jeremy Slater's The Exorcist series finally gets that Season 2 renewal from FOX.

Elsewhere, Michael Rooker will reunite with his Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer director John McNaughton and a new behind-the-scenes video from the set of Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich reveals details on the killer puppet reboot. Plus, a new trailer for the festival zombie hit It Stains the Sand Red and A24's horror thriller Woodshock.

For all the horror news we’ve already covered on the site, you can click through the links below. Then, check out other genre highlights from the week and finish it all up with a rundown of the week in horror movie trailers. For more, be sure to hit up Collider Nightmares or our round-up of the best horror movies on Netflix. Thanks for tuning in, and sound off in the comments with your thoughts, questions, and other horror musings.

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'Alien: Covenant' Clip Unleashes a Facehugger

At last, Alien: Covenant is almost in theaters. And it's good! Kind of. Maybe. Depending on who you ask. It also might be horrible. Again, depends on who you ask. One thing's for sure, this movie is going to rile up some fantastic debates among fans of the franchise. For what it's worth, I both loved and hated Covenant, which you can read all about in my full review.

Personally, I'd recommend steering clear of all Alien: Covenant promo from this point out because they're spoiling the shit out of the movie (and have been for a while). But alas, here's a video of a Facehugger attack. It's also got some sweet Demian Bichir action, which is always welcome.

Covenant arrives in US theaters May 19. Here’s the official synopsis:

Ridley Scott returns to the universe he created, with ALIEN: COVENANT, a new chapter in his groundbreaking ALIEN franchise. The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. When they uncover a threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.

'The Exorcist' Renewed for Season 2 at FOX

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Image via Fox

Jeremy Slater's The Exorcist series took a lot of people by surprise when the TV adaptation of William Peter Blatty's 1971 novel and William Friedkin's iconic 1973 film debuted on FOX last year. What seemed like a dreadful idea on paper turned out to be one of the best horror shows in recent memory, and the network has kept folks on pins and needles since the Season 1 finale last December waiting for a Season 2 renewal.

If you thought hope was lost, surprise! FOX has renewed The Exorcist for Season 2. No official details on when The Exorcist will return (though if it follows last year's pattern, you should look for it in the fall) or where Season 2 will pick up.

Speaking with Bloody Disgusting last year, Slater warned that fans shouldn't expect to see much of the Rances in Season 2 (they've been through enough, guys), teasing the introduction of a new case.

A potential season two would find Marcus, Tomas and Bennett tasked with helping a new family or a new case of possession... That doesn’t mean we’ll never see any of the Rances again, but I think the fans would feel disappointed and cheated if we simply brought Captain Howdy back for round three. The Rances have escaped this legacy of terror–for the time being, anyway–and it seems cruel to immediately drag them back for ten more episodes of suffering. Our challenge now is to create a new family that you care about just as much as the Rances, and to find ways to make their story feel just as compelling and unique as what came before.

 

You 'Better Watch Out' Because There's One Effed Up Christmas Horror Coming This Fall

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Image via Well Go USA

In the mood for a deeply fucked up Christmas movie? Get ready for Chris Peckover's Better Watch Out. I caught this one at Fantastic Fest last year when it was going by the name of Safe Neighborhood, and had a very intense reaction to the movie. The trouble is that it's almost impossible to talk about this movie without spoiling it, but let's just say it's definitely not what the crowd was expecting and different people in the audience had very different responses to the film. While plenty of folks in my theater were guffawing and having a blast, I was thoroughly disturbed and writhing in my seat. It's a nasty, visceral little number worth checking out and it's sue to spark an interesting dialogue.

And now we've finally got some details on when you can see it. Well Go USA (who also recently acquired Aaron Moore and Justin Benson's Tribecca hit The Endless) have picked up the film, retitled it to  Better Watch Out and slated it for an October 6, 2017 theatrical and VOD release. Personally, I'm a fan of the new title. It instantly sells the film as a holiday horror movie. October 6 is a bold release date for an independent genre film (the market is pretty flooded with studio horror at that time), but it could pay off since it allows the film to target the Halloween and Christmas crowds with time for a holiday friendly home video release.

Here's the official synopsis from the press release:

Better Watch Out (formerly known as Safe Neighborhood) stars Olivia DeJonge (The Visit) as a babysitter who, one snowy night on a quiet suburban street, must defend her twelve-year-old charge (Levi Miller, Pan) from intruders… but quickly learns that this is one extraordinary home invasion that demands an equally extraordinary response.  Co-starring Virginia Madsen, Patrick Warburton, Ed Oxenbould (The Visit), Aleks Mikic and Dacre Montgomery (Power Rangers), Better Watch Out will surprise and delight anyone who not only loves a good holiday movie, but also wishes Home Alone had a lot more blood in it.

New 'Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich' Video Heads Behind the Scenes

Behind The Scenes of Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich from Exploredinary on Vimeo.

The Puppet Master reboot is shaping up to be quite the unanticipated bit of awesomeness. The film is reportedly set in a parallel universe to the original (a nice way out of having to be a sequel/prequel/remake) and will have a darker tone. But best of all, they're going full practical for the film, and from the look of the video, they're killing it.

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich is directed by Sonny Laguna and Tommy Wiklund from a script by Bone Tomahawk writer/director S. Craig Zahler. The film stars Barbara Crampton. Thomas Lennon, Udo Kier, Michael Paré, Jenny Pellicer, Nelson Franklin, Alex Beh, Tina Parker, Skeeta Jenkins, and Charlyne Yi.

A recently divorced young man who discovers a mint condition Blade doll in his deceased brother’s closet and plans to sell the toy at a convention in Oregon celebrating the 30th anniversary of the infamous Toulon Murders.  All hell breaks loose at the Postville Lodge during the auction when a strange force animates all of the various puppets throughout the convention as they go on a bloody killing spree.

Michael Rooker Reteaming with 'Henry' Director John McNaughton

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Image via Greycat Films

Michael Rooker is following up that mother of a performance in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 by reteaming with the man who helped make his career. Rooker will reunite with Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer director John McNaughton for an adaptation of Flannery O'Connor's 1953 short story A Good Man is Hard to Find, which should be just about as fun to watch as Henry if they're hewing close to the source material. The story follows a family who crosses paths with a dangerous man called The Misfit, who's a bit too keen on murderin'. The screenplay comes from The Passion Of The Christ scribe Benedict Fitzgerald.

Trailer Trash: 'It Stains the Sand Red', 'Woodstuck

It Stains the Sand Red https://www.youtube.com/embed/QxCHyWjXasU

In the throes of a zombie apocalypse, Molly, a troubled woman from Las Vegas, finds herself stranded in the desert with a lone ravenous zombie on her trail. At first, she's easily able to outpace her undead pursuer, but things quickly become a nightmare when she realizes the zombie doesn't need to ever stop and rest. Running low on supplies and beat down by the harsh environment, Molly will have to summon the strength she never knew she had to ultimately face both the zombie and the demons that have chased her all her life. The film will play this year's LA Film Festival and will be released in theaters by MPI Media Group's genre division, Dark Sky Films in Summer 2017.

Woodshock https://www.youtube.com/embed/RpscZ_YD-ns

Written and directed by Kate Mulleavy and Laura Mulleavy and starring Kirsten Dunst, Joe Cole, and Pilou Asbæk. WOODSHOCK – In Theaters September 15.

The Limehouse Golem https://www.youtube.com/embed/MCJp8-MebGY

Set on the unforgiving, squalid streets of Victorian London in 1880, our tale begins in the baroque, grandiose music hall where the capital's most renowned performer Dan Leno (Douglas Booth) takes to the stage. The whimsical thespian performs a monologue, informing his dedicated audience of the ghastly fate of a young woman who had once adorned this very stage, his dear friend Elizabeth Cree (Olivia Cooke); for the beguiling songstress is facing up to her forthcoming death by hanging, having been accused of murdering her husband John Cree (Sam Reid). Lizzie's death seems inevitable, until Detective Inspector John Kildare (Bill Nighy) is assigned to the case of the Limehouse Golem – a nefarious, calculating serial killer, murdering innocent, unconnected victims, leaving behind barely identifiable corpses – and his distinctive signature in blood. All is not what it seems and everyone is a suspect and everyone has a secret.

Thelma https://www.youtube.com/embed/OOZjz1ZDEZc

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Image via Fox