Horror Movie News Report
Severin Films has announced the details for three August releases as the label continues its 20th Anniversary celebrations. The lineup includes the North American disc premiere of The Ugly Stepsister, a four-film collection dedicated to filmmaker Joko Anwar, and a 4K UHD edition of Just Jaeckin’s Gwendoline.
Written and directed by Emilie Blichfeldt, The Ugly Stepsister is identified by Severin as the 2025 Oscar-nominated horror film’s first physical-media release in North America. The film is described as a reinterpretation of Cinderella, following a young woman who undergoes increasingly extreme cosmetic procedures in pursuit of a prince’s affection. Lea Myren stars, with Thea Sofie Loch Næss also featured in the release’s interview materials.
The two-disc edition includes 4K UHD and Blu-ray presentations, Norwegian 5.1 audio, English subtitles and Dolby Vision video. Bonus material includes commentaries with Blichfeldt and filmmaker Patrik Syversen, as well as commentary from film historian Meagan Navarro. Interviews with Blichfeldt, Myren, Loch Næss and effects artist Thomas Foldberg are also included, alongside a deleted scene, a feature on the film’s effects and two of Blichfeldt’s short films.
The Sacred & The Cursed: The Joko Anwar Collection brings together Satan’s Slaves (2017), Satan’s Slaves 2: Communion (2022), Impetigore (2019) and Dead Time (2007). The four-disc set presents director-approved masters and more than 10 hours of special features, including commentaries, filmmaker and cast interviews, production material, film-critic analyses and trailers.
The collection marks the worldwide home-video premiere of Dead Time. The set also includes Satan’s Slaves, which stars Tara Basro and Bront Palarae; Satan’s Slaves 2: Communion, featuring returning cast members including Basro, Endy Arfian, Nasar Anuz, Palarae, Egi Fedly and Ayu Laksmi; and Impetigore, starring Basro, Ario Bayu and Marissa Anita.
Finally, Gwendoline, the final film from Emmanuelle director Just Jaeckin, will receive its North American UHD premiere in a three-disc collection. The set includes both European and U.S. versions of the film, along with more than six hours of special features. All three releases are currently available for pre-order at Severin-Films.com.
