Karamo Brown made headlines in January 2026 when he opted not to promote the 10th and final season of Netflix’s “Queer Eye” alongside his costars. Now, months later, the former daytime talk show host is not only sharing more details about his decision but also reflecting on his sobriety journey following a prior relapse.

In addition to Brown, the “Queer Eye” cast featured Jonathan Van Ness, Antoni Porowski, Tan France, and Jeremiah Brent. Bobby Berk also appeared on the show for the first eight seasons before leaving in 2023. Brent joined in 2024.

Brown interviewed with PEOPLE in June 2026. During the discussion, he detailed his decision to first appear on “CBS Mornings” with his costars and to then opt out of all other promotional engagements with them.

Brown first noted that he and the Fab Five “had always come together because of the fans.” However, ahead of the appearance, he had a change of heart. According to him, “But because of the work I’d done on myself, I asked, ‘If I stay quiet right now and pretend I’m sick or something, whose peace am I protecting?’”

The 45-year-old media personality went on to tell the outlet that the group had become toxic and that there had also been examples of bullying. Unfortunately, per his experience, the executives behind the show never took a firm stance against it.

He said, “Everyone would just say, ‘Well, that’s just that person,’ instead of saying, ‘This behavior does not fly in a professional environment.’ It impacted me negatively, consistently.”

The Talk Show Host Shared The Final Straw With The Cast

Brown continued the interview by describing what ultimately led to his final fallout with his “Queer Eye” costars. As has been previously reported, the media personality stated that his mother had visited him on the set of the Netflix show in 2025. During the visit, she overheard some of his costars speaking ill of him.

For context, multiple sources have confirmed that the conversation included Van Ness, France, and Porowski. However, Brown did not name the culprits. He explained, “The thing I know is the tears I saw in my mother’s eyes.”

Brown added, “[She kept repeating], ‘I thought they were your friends.’ It made me realize I can no longer stay silent about how often I was made to feel like an outsider.”

Regarding what initially led to the group’s demise, Brown shared that it stemmed from an anonymous sexual harassment complaint filed against him early in the show’s run. It’s important to note that he was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Karamo Released A Statement Ahead Of Planned ‘CBS Mornings’ Appearance

Brown and the “Queer Eye” cast were scheduled to appear on “CBS Mornings” on January 20. However, amid his absence, host Gayle King read a statement he’d prepared.

Per Variety, it read, “I hope everyone remembers the main theme I have tried to teach them over the past decade, which is to focus on and to protect their mental health/peace from people or a world who seek to destroy it, which is why I can’t be there today.”

During the awkward interaction, King also mentioned that Brown’s assistant had also discussed bullying from the cast.

Brown Also Opened Up About His Sobriety

Later in the PEOPLE interview, Brown also reflected on his years-long sobriety journey, revealing that in 2006, following a suicide attempt, he learned that he had become a father. He recalled, “The minute I saw [Jason], something in me healed. I understood my purpose.”

The former “Queer Eye” star went on, “My son saved my life, 1000 percent. Because he existed, it made me realize what was bigger in life.”

However, Brown then relapsed in 2018, noting, “a drink would lead to weed, cocaine, pills. I wasn’t coping right, but I pretended like I was. I was so broken.” Regarding his life today, he shared, “I’ve not had a single drink, cocktail, nothing.”

He also shared that he used a 12-step program and attends regular meetings as part of his recovery.

Brown’s Daytime Talk Show Was Recently Canceled

Brown’s syndicated daytime talk show, “Karamo,” premiered in 2022. The show quickly became a hit with audiences, and its segments often went viral on social media. However, NBCUniversal pulled the plug on the conflict-driven talker in March 2026, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

It’s worth noting that his show wasn’t the only talk show canceled. The long-running “Steve Wilkos” show also suffered the same fate as did “Access Hollywood.” “Karamo” is scheduled to air through the summer.

Anthony Anderson is finally getting the “Scary Movie” experience he thought he signed up for years ago.

The actor recently opened up about a surprising discovery he made when he joined the franchise in the early 2000s, revealing that he had no idea its original creators were no longer involved.

Now, with the Wayans family back in control, Anderson is returning for a new chapter that feels much closer to the vision he expected from the start.

Anderson became a familiar face to fans after appearing in “Scary Movie 3” and “Scary Movie 4.”

At the time, however, he believed he was joining a project led by longtime friends Marlon and Shawn Wayans, who had created the franchise alongside their brother, Keenen Ivory Wayans.

Speaking to PEOPLE on the red carpet at the Peabody Awards in Beverly Hills, Anderson explained that he only learned later that the family had already stepped away from the series.

“It’s great,” Anderson said of the upcoming film. He then reflected on the situation that caught him off guard years earlier.

“You know, when I took the job for Scary Movie 3, I was excited about doing the job because I thought I’d be working with my friends Marlon and Shawn and the entire Wayans family. I had no idea that they had left the franchise, and this [was] now just a Miramax production. So for me to do Scary Movie 3 and Scary Movie 4, it was great to do that, but I thought I was going to be doing it with my friends.”

For Anderson, the revelation changed how he looked back on his involvement in the popular comedy series.

How The Wayans Family Lost Control Of ‘Scary Movie’

The “Scary Movie” franchise launched in 2000 with a parody of horror hits such as “Scream.” A sequel followed in 2001, helping establish the films as major box office successes.

Shawn and Marlon Wayans were instrumental in creating the series, while Keenen Ivory Wayans directed the first two movies. Their creative influence helped define the franchise’s blend of outrageous humor and pop-culture satire.

Things changed when Miramax moved ahead with a third installment after the Wayans brothers signed a deal with another studio. The split created a long-running dispute over the future of the series.

Marlon Wayans recently revisited that chapter during an interview with Variety, claiming the family was pushed aside during negotiations.

“The franchise was stripped from us,” Marlon said. “And we were just asking for our fair share.”

Those comments sparked discussion among fans about how one of comedy’s most successful film series moved forward without the people who created it.

Marlon Wayans Brought The Franchise Back

Years later, the situation came full circle. According to Anderson, Marlon personally reached out after regaining creative control and invited him to return for the latest installment.

“And then they went on to do Scary Movie 5, and then Marlon wrestled the franchise back into the family name, and I was one of his first phone calls to make,” Anderson recalled.

The actor shared details of the conversation that immediately convinced him to sign on.

“He was like, ‘Yo, Ant, you want to be down in Scary Movie 6?’ I was like, ‘Hell yeah, it’s about time we get to work together.’”

The moment represented a long-awaited opportunity for Anderson to finally collaborate with the people he originally expected to work alongside.

Familiar Faces Return For The Reboot

The new film marks a major reunion for the franchise.

In addition to the Wayans brothers returning, franchise veterans Regina Hall and Anna Faris are also back.

Rather than treating the project as a straightforward sequel, Marlon has described it as a reboot that reconnects the series with its roots.

The return of so many familiar faces has generated excitement among longtime fans who grew up with the original movies.

For Anderson, the project carries a different energy because of the people involved behind the scenes.

After years of watching the franchise evolve from a distance, he is now participating in a version that feels much closer to its original identity.

Plans For Another ‘Scary Movie’ Are Already Brewing

Even before the new film reaches theaters, conversations about the future are already underway.

Anthony Anderson revealed that discussions have begun about a possible seventh movie that could bring together performers from across the franchise’s history.

He said there have been talks about making another installment and “bringing everybody back from the franchise from the beginning.”

As for the upcoming release, Anderson believes audiences are in for a wild ride.

“It went really well,” he said. “I can’t tell you what’s happening in the film, but you’re going to be thoroughly entertained. I can tell you this, no holds are barred.”

Zendaya’s mom is speaking out (sort of) after the shocking “Euphoria” Season 3 finale left fans devastated. The emotional goodbye to one of the show’s main characters quickly sparked reactions from fans online, many of whom admitted they were still processing their devastating fate.

Following Sunday night’s emotional episode, Claire Stoermer took to Instagram Stories with a cryptic message that hinted she may have mixed feelings about how HBO’s hit drama came to an end.

“Lots of messages in my DM’s from people about last night’s episode,” Stoermer wrote. “I’m gonna keep my thoughts to myself. Definitely made me sad….and other emotions as well. But just gonna leave it right there…”

Her emotional post came just hours after viewers watched Zendaya’s beloved character, Rue Bennett, meet a heartbreaking fate in what has now been confirmed as the series’ final season.

Zendaya’s Rue Bennett Meets A Tragic End

The Season 3 finale delivered one of the show’s most devastating twists yet when Rue died from a fentanyl overdose after relapsing on laced painkillers given to her by Alamo Brown, played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje.

The emotional ending marked the close of Zendaya’s years-long run as Rue, a role that earned the actress two Emmy Awards and made television history. Since “Euphoria” premiered in 2019, Zendaya has taken home the trophy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series twice, first in 2020 and again in 2022, becoming the youngest person ever to win the award following her first victory.

Zendaya Shared An Emotional Goodbye Behind The Scenes

Following the finale, HBO aired a behind-the-scenes segment featuring Zendaya reflecting on her time playing Rue and thanking the cast and crew who helped shape the series.

“I just want to say thank you,” Zendaya said. “I’m incredibly grateful for every single one of you. Many of you have been here since the beginning and watched me grow up. It’s been such a pleasure and an honor. Thank you so much.”

Sam Levinson Says Rue’s Ending ‘Felt Like The Honest Ending’

Series creator Sam Levinson has since defended the controversial decision to kill off Rue, confirming Season 3 marks the official end of “Euphoria.”

Levinson also admitted Rue’s ending was deeply personal. “There’s no reason to sugarcoat it,” he said. “I wanted to tell this story for Angus [Cloud] and for people who weren’t granted a second chance.” Angus Cloud, who starred in the first two seasons of the show as Fez, died of an accidental overdose in July 2023 at age 25.

“The honest ending is that people like Rue don’t make it,” Levinson added. “People relapse. They f-ck up. They’re not ready to get clean. And they weren’t dying like they are now, with the influx of fentanyl into this country.”

Angus Cloud Was Honored In The Final Episode

Levinson later described the finale as both heartbreaking and meaningful, explaining that Rue’s ending was also intended as a tribute to Cloud. Speaking during a Popcast interview, he called the finale “a tragic one in the end, but it’s also the truth.”

The episode included never-before-seen footage of Cloud, a moment Levinson said was deeply intentional. “It was a way of honoring Angus and saying a prayer for the future,” he said. “In terms of the story that we set out to tell, which is a story about addiction and its consequences, this feels like the end to me.”

Jacob Elordi Also Said Goodbye To Nate Jacobs In A Wild Finale Twist

While Rue’s devastating ending stunned fans, she wasn’t the only character to meet an unexpected fate in the finale, as Jacob Elordi’s Nate Jacobs also faced a dramatic end after finding himself buried alive in a coffin and coming face-to-face with a rattlesnake.

During a post-show segment that aired on HBO on May 24, Elordi opened up about filming the intense sequence, admitting the experience was far less terrifying than viewers may expect. “I had to go into this coffin. My shoulders were touching the side, and I couldn’t move my arms, and then they would drill the lid on, and it would get dark,” Elordi said. “It was really nice, actually. It was quite peaceful in there.”

Despite Nate’s dark and controversial journey throughout the series, Elordi said he appreciated the way the character’s story ultimately wrapped. Ultimately calling it a “cool way to go,” the actor reflected on Nate’s complicated arc.

“Nate is someone who’s made so many mistakes and made so many dark choices. It’s cool to see it all come to what it’s come to,” Elordi said of the character.

“Euphoria” is now streaming on HBO MAX.

Sydney Sweeney is once again fueling speculation that all may not be well between her and “Euphoria” co-star Zendaya. Following Sunday night’s shocking Season 3 finale, Sweeney shared a carousel of behind-the-scenes photos from the HBO drama, giving fans a peek at life on set with several of her fellow castmates. But one familiar face was noticeably absent from Sydney Sweeney’s post, and fans were quick to notice.

The actress posted photos alongside Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie, Maude Apatow, and even included a snapshot of the late Eric Dane. Missing from the roundup, however, was Zendaya, who has starred opposite Sweeney on the hit series since its debut.

“It’s called… acting,” Sweeney captioned the post, seemingly shutting down criticism surrounding her raunchy portrayal of Cassie Howard.

It didn’t take long for fans to flood the comments section with theories after noticing Zendaya was nowhere to be found in the post. “There’s no photo in this slideshow with Zendaya; I’m confused …” one fan wrote. Another added, “Zendaya doesn’t like [Sweeney] because of her values.”

“Not one picture with Rue; I’m crying, Zendaya do NOT like you,” another user commented. The speculation quickly reignited long-running rumors that tension may exist between the two stars behind the scenes.

Rumors Of A Rift Have Followed The ‘Euphoria’ Stars For Months

Back in November 2025, The Daily Mail reported that Sweeney and Zendaya were allegedly “locked in a bitter feud,” with claims that differing political beliefs may have played a role in the rumored fallout.

Sweeney, a registered Republican voter, also faced backlash surrounding her American Eagle denim campaign, which some critics accused of containing racist undertones. According to the outlet, Zendaya allegedly refused to participate in press appearances alongside Sweeney during the Season 3 rollout, and the pair reportedly avoided standing near one another at events.

Rumors only intensified in March when Sweeney was missing from a “Euphoria” cast photoshoot. However, Page Six later reported the absence was simply due to scheduling conflicts while she filmed a scene. Still, questions resurfaced the following month after fans claimed the actresses appeared to avoid one another at the Season 3 premiere.

Another ‘Euphoria’ Star Shut Down The Rumors

Despite the speculation, not everyone connected to the HBO drama is buying into feud claims. “Euphoria” cast member Jessica Blair Herman publicly denied rumors of tension between the two actresses, insisting things on set were far less dramatic than fans may think.

“They really did, and I’m not just saying that,” Herman said during an appearance on “Good Day New York.” “Really, they’ve created this beautiful working relationship, and everyone wants to do the work, to come in and do the job.”

When explaining why there are no backstage photos of the pair together, she pointed to the show’s filming schedule, saying, “To be fair, when I was there, they’re not sharing scenes. Their storylines are very separate, you’re shooting on different days and stuff.”

‘Euphoria’ Finale Leaves Fans Reeling

Whether the pair ever works together again may ultimately be out of their hands. Sunday’s Season 3 finale seemingly brought Zendaya’s Rue Bennett story to a devastating end after the character died from a fentanyl overdose following a relapse involving laced Percocet.

Creator Sam Levinson later explained the heartbreaking storyline was deeply personal and partly inspired by the 2023 death of former “Euphoria” star Angus Cloud. “People relapse. They f-ck up. They’re not ready to get clean, and they weren’t dying like they are now with the influx of fentanyl into this country,” Levinson said.

He continued, “I could say with absolute certainty that if I were going through what I went through when I was younger now, then I wouldn’t be here, either. There’s no reason to sugarcoat that. I wanted to tell the story for Angus and for people who aren’t granted a second chance.”

Angus Cloud Passed Away Before ‘Euphoria’ Season 3

Cloud died from an accidental overdose, triggered by a lethal combination of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and benzodiazepines. His tragic death came just one week after he traveled to Ireland to lay his father to rest, a loss he had reportedly been grieving deeply.

Despite his well-documented struggles with substance abuse and the emotional toll of recent events, his mother later insisted his passing was not intentional, saying he had been excited about upcoming projects and focused on supporting his family.

“Euphoria” is now streaming on HBO MAX.

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 7 seconds ago

You want to know the scariest word you can ever hear from an artist? “Deconstruction.” That’s the fancy term creators use when they want to tear something apart in order to understand how it was made. Done well, this can absolutely transform entire genres. For example, Alan Moore’s seminal Watchmen was designed as a deconstruction of superhero stories, and this unflinching glimpse into the psychology of self-proclaimed heroes has influenced the last four decades of tights-and-flights comics and movies. Done poorly, though, and a deconstruction falls apart, ultimately revealing why the original design was so effective in the first place. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened with In a Violent Nature (2024). 

The movie serves as a deconstruction of the slasher genre and is a not-so-secret homage to the Friday the 13th series. It’s a film with a truly fascinating gimmick: we watch the entire story unfold from the killer’s point of view. Like, have you ever wondered what Jason Voorhees is doing whenever he isn’t dramatically hacking and slashing his way through horny young people? In a Violent Nature attempts to answer that question, and it gives us some of the most gruesome kills in modern horror. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long for the gimmick of this movie to fall apart and leave you wishing you were watching a traditional slasher instead. 

When Nature Calls

The plot of In a Violent Nature begins when a group of friends discovers a mysterious locket hanging from a fire tower. When one of them grabs the locket, he unknowingly awakens the corpse of a serial killer. As he hacks and slashes his way through the woods to retrieve the locket, we get some backstory: the killer, Johnny, was once a developmentally disabled boy who died falling from a fire tower when a prank went sideways. Over the years, mysterious deaths have been attributed to Johnny’s vengeful spirit. Now, he’s back and scarier than ever, leaving his victims to answer a chilling question: how do you kill someone who’s already dead?

Obviously, Johnny is a thinly-veiled stand-in for Jason Voorhees. Like the famous Friday the 13th killer, Johnny was a developmentally delayed kid whose death was caused by idiot teenagers. Like Jason, he has inexplicably risen from the dead on multiple occasions, and he’s nearly unstoppable once he gets to killing. Unfortunately, In a Violent Nature’s gimmick keeps Jonny from being as sympathetic or compelling as Jason. Movies like Friday the 13th: Part 2 helped to humanize Jason Voorhees, and his relatively limited screen time made him a mysterious character fans loved to speculate about. Here, Johnny is directly in front of the camera for almost all of the film, robbing the character of any real mystery.

The Man Behind The Mask

Jonny’s constant presence also makes it more difficult to put together this movie’s barebones plot. Keep in mind that we are seeing almost everything from a third-person POV centered on the killer, which means that almost all of the story that we get comes from seeing Jonny effectively eavesdropping on other people. It’s always hard to concentrate on what the other characters were talking about because I was waiting for our slasher to make his move. Like, remember the awesome campfire scene in Friday the 13th: Part 2, where we learn more about Jason Voorhees? Imagine how much worse the whole thing would be if we were just watching Jason watching the camp counselors. 

Now, one area where In a Violent Nature really shines is in its gruesome kills. This is a Friday the 13th-style movie made for the post-Saw era, so our hapless characters almost never get an easy death. Early on, Jonny brutally garottes someone against a tree. At another point, we watch him methodically feed a living victim into a wood chipper, and the prolonged scene makes you feel every moment of this guy’s excruciating torment. In the movie’s most famous kill, we see him hook a poor girl and literally pull her head through her own torso and out her back before he sends her dead body careening down the world’s steepest hill.

The Real Reason You Watch Horror Movies

That brings us to the most divisive element of the movie. In a Violent Nature does a poor job of deconstructing horror movies, but it does help viewers discover exactly why they watch scary movies in the first place. If you’re just here for cool kills and buckets of blood, this film is very nearly perfect. Every kill is memorably nasty, and they are carried out by an iconically ugly killer. Personally, though, I prefer slashers with colorful, memorable victims. This helps us actually care about these people before they are turned into mincemeat. Here, everyone but Jonny is so forgettable that they are just one step above the nameless henchmen in a Marvel movie.

Going in, I really wanted to like In a Violent Nature. I’m a Friday the 13th superfan who is proud to have Jason Voorhees tattooed on my body. Since his franchise has been in legal limbo for so long, I was quite eager to watch a movie that served as a kind of spiritual sequel to the early Friday films. However, writer/director Chris Nash forgot the golden rule of making an homage movie: if you can’t do something better, you shouldn’t do it at all. In this case, all but the worst Friday the 13th movies are better than In a Violent Nature, and you’re infinitely better off watching one of those films instead.

In a Violent Nature is divisive, to put it mildly. Critics loved its bold new take on the slasher genre, while general audiences thought the movie was as slow and plodding as Johnny himself. However, the movie is a solid watch for gorehounds, and it deserves props for its memorable kills, practical effects, and the gallon upon gallon of blood that gets spilled by our creepy killer. If you’re looking for a film with thrilling kills and a chilling villain design, you should definitely stream this movie on Hulu. Otherwise, you should skip the genre deconstruction and just watch a film where you might actually care about one or two of the characters. 

IN A VIOLENT NATURE SCORE

Tom Holland is opening up about the surprising new direction behind Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and it sounds like Marvel and Sony are taking Peter Parker into completely uncharted territory.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Cover [credit: Empire Magazine]

Speaking with Empire, Holland revealed that he actually pitched part of the movie’s story himself, describing it as a “Spider-puberty” concept centered around Peter Parker evolving into adulthood while dealing with dramatic new changes to his powers. According to Holland, “They liked the idea,” and the film appears ready to push Spider-Man further than fans have seen before.

The comments line up with everything Marvel has teased so far about the upcoming movie. Following the emotional ending of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter Parker is now completely alone in New York after Doctor Strange’s spell erased him from everyone’s memory. Marvel has repeatedly described Brand New Day as a “fresh start” for the character, with Holland himself calling it “the first movie in the next chapter.”

What makes the new film especially interesting is the reported evolution of Peter’s abilities. Early details surrounding the movie suggest his powers may begin mutating in unexpected ways, including the possibility of organic webbing similar to Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man films.

Holland also recently explained that the story is heavily focused on identity and growing up, saying the film explores “when young people really find their identity and become adults.”

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Cover [credit: Empire Magazine]

That more grounded coming-of-age direction appears to be exactly what Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige wants for the franchise moving forward. Feige has teased that the movie will deliver a more “classic” Spider-Man story after years of multiverse chaos.

The film is also set to bring in some major new faces. Jon Bernthal is expected to appear as The Punisher, creating what Holland described as a “big brother-little brother rivalry” dynamic between Frank Castle and Peter Parker.

Meanwhile, fans are already buzzing over the film’s darker tone, practical effects, and newly revealed suit design that leans closer to the classic comic book look.

With Spider-Man: Brand New Day positioned as a full reset for Holland’s version of Peter Parker, Marvel may finally be giving fans the street-level Spider-Man story they’ve wanted for years.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day swings into theaters July 31, 2026.

With Marvel Studios moving forward on its X-Men reboot under director Jake Schreier, speculation surrounding the cast has reached a fever pitch. Fans have spent months debating which actors should join the iconic mutant team, while online rumors and alleged “insider reports” continue to circulate across social media. Given the X-Men’s status as one of Marvel’s most popular and enduring franchises, that level of interest is hardly surprising. However, according to Schreier, audiences may want to approach many of those reports with skepticism, as not everything being shared online should be taken at face value.

Speaking with Collider’s Perri Nemiroff at the Gotham Television Awards, Schreier — nominated as a producer for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series on Season 2 of Beef — addressed whether casting has begun on Marvel Studios’ upcoming X-Men movie and, while the director confirmed that conversations are happening, he also made it clear that most of the casting rumors floating around online are not coming from inside the production.

“We’re talking about things, we’re thinking about things,” Schreier said. “I can tell you most of the stuff that gets posted online, I don’t know where it comes from, because it doesn’t come from our room, and it isn’t what we’re discussing. But there is a process.”

Now, if we were being particularly picky, we’d note that Schreier said most of the stuff online. So maybe out there, somewhere, one lucky fan has posted a fan casting that might well be on the money and if that happened, you can bet stomachs dropped around the room. But for now, it’s top secret and that’s probably the way it should be. After all, Marvel is in the process of a big cultural reboot and the X-Men is one of their final cards they’ve yet to play. They need to get this right, and you can bet they’re feeling some of the pressure. But then, pressure turns coal into diamonds, so let’s have some faith.

Who Will Star in Marvel’s X-Men Reboot?

As for who will actually appear in the movie, it’s clearly still up in the air, but it’s important to remember that Marvel is already employing some of the original X-Men characters in Avengers: Doomsday, with Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romijn, Kelsey Grammer and Alan Cumming all returning for the mega-picture. Channing Tatum, who finally debuted as Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine, is involved too, and we’re betting he’d love to stay involved, if that were an option. For now, the next X-Men movie remains officially under wraps, but Schreier’s comments have made one thing clear. Don’t check your timeline for casting news, Marvel will let you know when it’s time.

Marvel Studios’ X-Men does not yet have a release date.

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Release Date

July 13, 2000

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Runtime

104 minutes

Director

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Bryan Singer

Producers

Avi Arad, Lauren Shuler Donner, Ralph Winter, Richard Donner

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 12 seconds ago

If you watch enough horror movies, you learn to dread one thing above all else: weird vanity projects from rock stars. Musicians just love the genre, and when some of them get enough money (or just get bored enough), they crank out some of the most forgettable movies on the planet. For example, the Glenn Danzig-directed film Verotika, a movie so bad that I hope the Geneva Convention eventually classifies it as a war crime. Plus, while he has his fans, Rob Zombie is one of the worst directors to grace the genre, and his Halloween movies feel like nothing more than big-budget fan films.

Because of this, I was very skeptical about Studio 666 (2022), a movie prominently featuring Dave Grohl and the rest of the Foo Fighters. The story came from Grohl, and he and his band are playing fictionalized versions of themselves. Normally, such a vanity project would be an unmitigated disaster. However, the film is a strange brew that tastes weirdly smooth. Grohl is oddly charming as the lead, and his expressive face will make you laugh long before he opens his mouth. The whole thing is a horror comedy done well, and it’s currently streaming for free on Tubi. That means you don’t have to cut into your rock festival budget to jam out to Studio 666.

Rock and Soul

The premise of Studio 666 is that the Foo Fighters are having trouble coming up with songs for their next album. Under pressure from their very intense manager, the band ends up temporarily moving into a spooky old mansion, hoping the change in scenery will get their creative juices flowing. Unfortunately, the house is quite literally haunted, and it doesn’t take long before Dave Grohl gets possessed by a nasty demon. Soon, the band members start dying off, turning the rest of the film into a race against the one thing even scarier than writer’s block: flesh-eating monsters!

Dave Grohl and the rest of the Foo Fighters (including Rami Jaffee, Nate Mendel, Chris Shiflett, Pat Smear, and the late, great Taylor Hawkins) all play themselves, and they serve as the core cast of Studio 666. Going in, I thought this was a recipe for disaster, but I was quickly proven wrong. The breezy script provides each band member with a few laugh-out-loud moments, and the band’s chemistry helps to elevate even the clunkiest dialogue. Grohl, in particular, is a revelation, deftly transforming from lead singer to leading man in a relentlessly hilarious performance. It’s a horror comedy that’s funnier than it is scary, and most of the humor comes from Grohl’s charmingly sincere acting.

Who Needs Plot When You Have Vibes? 

As you might suspect, Studio 666 doesn’t have much of a plot to get in the way of the movie. The mansion the band moves into is really just an excuse to have a fun atmosphere for the kills, which are one of the film’s undisputed highlights. No two bandmates die in exactly the same way, and the exact manner of each death simply gets crazier over time. The onscreen gore is great, and none of the characters take the deaths too seriously. After a poor techie gets electrocuted, for example, they simply decide to dedicate the next album to him. This just adds to the off-kilter comedy, making these over-the-top kills that much funnier.

Like many horror films before it, Studio 666 was misunderstood by professional reviewers. It currently has a 56 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics complaining that it doesn’t get the horror/comedy balance right and that you have to be a major Foo Fighters fan to enjoy it. However, average moviegoers seriously disagreed with this assessment, which is why the movie has a much higher audience score of 80 percent. Incidentally, audiences mostly agreed that the Foo Fighters make for hilarious horror stars and that Studio 666 delivered the exact amount of gore and gut-busting laughs they were hoping for.

A Devil Of A Good Time

Unfortunately, this musician horror masterpiece has largely been overlooked by both fans of the band and fans of the genre. While the movie had a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it theatrical release, it was always intended as more of a direct-to-video release. It made little fanfare when it came out in 2022, and it didn’t take long for this movie to end up on streaming. While it was lost in the noise for a while (have you ever really looked at the sheer number of horror movies that come out each year?), the movie developed a cult following and established itself as one of the most crowdpleasing horror films of the last decade.

Been jamming out to the Foo Fighters since the ‘90s? Looking for a genuinely scary movie that can still make you laugh? Or maybe you just want to see if Dave Grohl can carry a movie as easily as he can carry a tune? No matter the reason, Studio 666 is a bonkers horror/comedy that’s worth watching, ideally with a beer in each hand and your best friends by your side. You can stream it completely for free, meaning that you don’t have to pay a thing to torment your friends with the stupidest possible bit: pointing at the screen like Leonardo DiCaprio and saying “there goes my hero” whenever Grohl is onscreen.

Will they sacrifice you to a demon? Maybe. But if this movie teaches us anything, it’s that really great creatives suffer because of their art!