Shaun of the Dead hardly seems like it was 14 years ago, does it? In 2004, the film was instrumental in kickstarting the zombie revival, along with 28 Days Later, and paving the way toward both the modern zombie film and the modern horror comedy. Much of that success was driven by impeccable casting, as the film introduced actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost to American audiences. And now, it would seem that Pegg and Frost are at it once again, in a new horror comedy called Slaughterhouse Rulez.
The name seems like a play on The Cider House Rules, but in terms of plot synopsis, a much more clear inspiration might be 1981’s The Pit or 1987’s The Gate—both films concern holes in the ground that are either portals to hell, or simply filled with monsters. To quote the full synopsis here:
A sinkhole appears at a fracking site in woods near to an esteemed but tough British boarding school, causing the pupils and teachers alike to fight for their survival against what is released.
Pegg, as is typical of the way these two interact on screen, is clearly playing the more bookish of the duo, a professor at said boarding school who gets sucked into the mystery. Frost, meanwhile, seems to be playing one of the diggers who stirs up trouble—perhaps he’ll be able to beat back the demon with a little bit of the kung fu he’s picked up on AMC’s Into the Badlands?
Slaughterhouse Rulez is directed by Crispian Mills, better known as the frontman of indie rock band Kula Shaker. The film also stars Asa Butterfield, Michael Sheen, Finn Cole and Hermione Corfield, and is scheduled for an ultra spooky Oct. 31 release date in the U.K. No word yet on when it will make landfall in the U.S., but let’s hope we don’t miss the Halloween window. Check out the trailer below.