Dread Central Horror News

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

Chronicle director Josh Trank briefly mentioned a reboot of director Stan Winston’s creature feature cult classic Pumpkinhead starring Lance Henriksen in his in-depth profile over at Polygon earlier this week. And today the Fantastic Four filmmaker went a bit more in-depth regarding his short-live involvement with the film.

Trank tells ComicBook.com: “There was nothing significant to it. I, at one point, had a conversation with my agent, because I had gone from doing my, I guess, sort of micro-payday or whatever, indie movie, Chronicle, and then things started falling apart or whatever. But there was a lot of incoming stuff. After Fantastic Four, there was nothing, literally, nothing came in, which is fine. It did not surprise me and it was up to me at that point to just generate my own content.”

RELATED: PUMPKINHEAD REMAKE STILL IN THE WORKS WITH BIG NEWS COMING SOON

He continued: “At one point, about a year later, I was on the phone with my agent. And he had mentioned to me in passing that at one of their morning meetings at the agency, somebody had brought up that there was a Pumpkinhead remake. This is over four years ago, but there was a Pumpkinhead remake, and that they were open to taking meetings with directors for that. So it wasn’t something that was brought to me. It was mentioned to me from my agent, ‘Do you have any interest in wanting to pursue something like that? If you want, we can set up that meeting.“

He adds: “That’s really all it was. To be honest, I’m obviously a huge film buff. I have never seen Pumpkinhead. So I mean, it would be funny if I watched it, and then I was suddenly [interested in making a reboot]. I should watch it, though, but I have not seen Pumpkinhead. My friend good friend [VFW and Bliss director] Joe Begos might get mad at me if he ever found out that I haven’t seen it. He’ll find out soon when you print it. I’ll deal with it.”

RELATED: THE RACIALLY CHARGED PUMPKINHEAD REBOOT WE’D LIKE TO SEE

Directed by legendary special effects artist Stan Winston, the original film centered on Ed Harley (Lance Henriksen) who seeks revenge against the teenagers responsible for his son’s death following a hit-and-run accident. With the help of a local witch, Ed summons the vengeful demon Pumpkinhead to hunt and kill the group of friends. But when Ed discovers a bond between himself and the creature, he begins to have second thoughts about employing the vicious monster, and he fights to end Pumpkinhead’s murderous rampage before it is too late.

The fiilm sports a 68% approval rating over on Rotten Tomatoes with a Critics Consensus that reads: With effects work and solid direction from Stan Winston — and Lance Henriksen adding welcome gravitas — Pumpkinhead is a creature feature that stands a cut above.

Would you have liked to see Josh Trank take on a reboot of Pumpkinhead? Make sure to hit us up and let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! 

BUY IT HERE

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

On this day in 2002, Dog Soldiers was released in the UK. It’s the directorial feature debut for Neil Marshall, who would go on to helm The Descent, Doomsday, and 2019’s Hell Boy. The film is still widely regarded as the best werewolf horror movie of the 21st Century. If it’s been a while, or if you’ve never seen it, check out the trailer and synopsis for Dog Soldiers below.

Synopsis: During a routine nighttime training mission in the Scottish Highlands, a small squad of British soldiers expected to rendezvous with a special ops unit instead find a bloody massacre with a sole survivor. The savage attackers of the special ops team return, and the men are rescued by Megan (Emma Cleasby), a zoologist who identifies what hunts them as werewolves. Without transport or communications, the group is forced to retreat to a farmhouse to wait for the full moon to disappear at dawn.

Trivia: Simon Pegg was offered a part in the film, but turned it down after Edgar Wright asked him to save his first horror role for Shaun of the Dead (2004). (Source)

There is very little CGI used in the movie because the people involved in the filming believed that CGI was being over-used at the time and that it would take viewers out of the movie because they would be focused on how the special effects looked rather than the story, thus the werewolves are animatronics and bodysuits with stilts. (Source)

Are you a fan of Dog Soldiers? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

During the mammoth #FearlessAtHome live stream event that took place yesterday, horror-themed theatricore outfit, Ice Nine Kills celebrated the 40th Anniversary of classic horror movie, Friday The 13th, with the debut of “Jason’s Mom” – a very special, acoustic parody in honor of one of the deadliest matriarchs in movie history, just in time for Mother’s Day. They dedicated the performance to Adam Schlesinger whose genius songwriting and smash hit, “Stacy’s Mom”, provided the inspiration for the song.

Give Jason’s Mom a spin embedded at the top of the article.

Speaking on their re-imagining of the Fountains of Wayne classic track and the 40th Anniversary of Friday The 13th, INK frontman, Spencer Charnas said yesterday:

“Today marks the 40th anniversary of Friday The 13th and with tomorrow being Mother’s Day, we thought this acoustic cover would be the perfect way to celebrate. We want to dedicate this to the memory of the inspirational songwriter Adam Schlesinger, who co-wrote this amazing and enduring pop song for Fountains Of Wayne. We hope all the Moms out there have a truly killer Mother’s Day. “

Are you a fan of Ice Nine Kills and/or Friday the 13th? What do you think of “Jason’s Mom”? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

Let’s be honest: Self-quarantine and social distancing were easier back when the weather was cold. But as Spring becomes Summer, the outdoors beckon, along with memories of the activities we once took for granted–like music festivals. Since Lollapalooza changed the game in 1991, music festivals have become a staple of Summers worldwide. But along with cinematic entertainment, the live music industry has come to a crashing halt in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Even though we’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel with world economies beginning to flicker back to life (slowly) chances are it’ll be a long time before thousands of people crowd into tight quarters to see a concert (much less spend an entire day in such a situation). This means events like Knotfest, Coachella, and Hellfest may be on hold for years. And when the live-music industry does get the “all-clear” there’s no guarantee we’ll ever get the kind of experiences past festivals provided.

That’s why we decided to put together something special: An entire day’s worth of full (or mostly full) concert videos from some of today’s best-loved hard rock and heavy metal outfits. The goal is to approximate the festival experience, so try watching these sets outside (if possible) with some drinks in the sun. And since we didn’t have to worry about coordinating actual tour schedules (or paying for anything!), we were able to assemble whichever bands we wanted. Plus, being able to pull from different eras makes this a fantasy festival: DreadFest 2020!

Below, check out sets from Slipknot, Nine Inch Nails, Korn, Rammstein, and Ghost. Our headliners are Metallica! All concert videos are pro-shot with excellent audio quality. If you don’t have time this Mother’s Day, bookmark this page for another day, but be sure to enjoy this virtual getaway.

Let’s rock!

Slipknot

Download Festival 2019

Subscribe here: https://knot1.co/KF-subscribe Slipknot Merch: https://knot1.co/SlipknotMerch Knotfest Merch: https://knot1.co/KnotfestStore

A portion of proceeds from the Knotfest store and Slipknot store will be donated to COVID-19 relief efforts.

Nine Inch Nails

Woodstock 1994

Korn

Brixton Academy 2014

Related Article: KORN DROP THE NOTHING ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT ON YOUTUBE

Rammstein

Rammstein – Live in Nimes / Völkerball

VÖLKERBALL shows Rammstein concerts in England, France, Japan and Russia. The Special Edition is extended by a second DVD, which contains the documentaries “Anaconda in the net” by Mathilde Bonnefoy and the Making of the album REISE,REISE by Rammstein guitarist Paul Landers. The limited edition of VÖLKERBALL is released as a large black/white photo-book with photos by Frédéric Batier, who had accompanied the band through their recent tours and portraits the business “LIVE” impressive through various aspects – the photo-book edition contains the 2 DVDs and on top 2 live albums.

“Rammstein – Völkerball” is available here: ► DVD – http://ramm.st/1Wu0cFH ► Website: http://www.rammstein.com ► Shop: http://shop.rammstein.de

Ghost

Hellfest 2016

Metallica

Outside Lands (San Francisco, CA – August 12, 2017)

What do you think of our virtual DreadFest 2020? Who would you pick for your own fantasy festival? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

StudioCanal will unleash director Mike Hodges’ space opera Flash Gordon on 4K in a five-disc collector’s edition box set and on Blu-ray, Steelbook, DVD, and digital in the U.K. on August 3.

This new version was scanned from the original 35mm negative, requiring over 500 hours of manual restoration that included repairing serious damage, color grading, and additional VFX work to remove previously visible strings. The five-disc set is packed with bonus features, as well as a 32-page booklet, the original soundtrack, a feature-length documentary, and much more.

Check out the trailer, poster, full list of special features, and more below.

RELATED: SCREAM FACTORY UNLEASHES GHOST SHIP COLLECTOR’S EDITION BLU-RAY IN AUGUST

Five-Disc Collector’s Edition Contents

Disc One – 4K Blu-ray

Disc 2 – Blu-ray

RELATED: ONE CUT OF THE DEAD HITS BLU-RAY NEXT MONTH WITH GO-PRO VERSION

Mike Hodges said: “I’m very grateful to StudioCanal for this brilliant 4k restoration. The restoration captures perfectly the vivid colors of the sets, skies, and costumes. It also corrects some of the problems encountered with the special effects system we used. With Chroma key compositing we could insert skies, rocket ships, hawk-men, pretty well whatever we wanted, into the blue backing built into the studio sets. The problems came later when we had to eliminate, for example, the wires used on the hawk-men. We were eventually successful but even then some 35mm prints were variable and the wires would be back again. With this new restoration, that problem is thankfully laid to rest. Of course Chroma key is primitive by the side of the current process, CGI (Computer Generated Imaging). That said I’m pleased we stuck with the old fashioned system. CGI would have been too slick. After all, Flash Gordon was a cartoon strip from the 1930s brought back to life on celluloid some five decades later.”

StudioCanal will unleash director Mike Hodges’ space opera Flash Gordon on 4K in a five-disc collector’s edition box set and on Blu-ray, Steelbook, DVD, and digital in the U.K. on August 3.

ORDER HERE

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

Travis Falligant’s killer art collection fittingly dubbed Horror Babies now has some equally killer merch to go along with it. Yes, today we got word that you can now snag items such as the Horror Babies Coloring Book along with Horror Babies Stickers and a Horror Babies Logo Magnet.

Check out a gallery of pics below!

Hey guys! The Horror Babies online shop is NOW LIVE! So go grab your coloring books, magnets & stickers while supplies last! horrorbabies.bigcartel.com (shop link in profile-CLICK PIC TO ORDER FROM IG NOW!)

A post shared by IBTrav Artworks (@ibtrav) on May 8, 2020 at 10:06am PDT

The 16-page Horror Babies Coloring Book features 10 previously released color pages, 3 all-new illustrated pages, and 3 previously seen scenes as coloring pages. You can buy that as a physical copy for $12.00 or as a digital download for $4.00.

From there, the 3″ x 3″ Horror Babies Sticker, depicting Baby Jason playing soccer with his mama’s decapitated head, is made of thick, durable vinyl, protecting it from scratching, rain & sunlight ($2.60). And finally, the Horror Babies Logo Magnet will run you a mere $3.75.

Free Shipping in US.

BUY YOUR MERCH HERE

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

In case you may have forgotten, tomorrow is Mother Day! If you somehow find yourself with nothing planned, no worries as we are here to supply you with 10 horror movie recommendations to stream over on Netflix that prove theses mothers will do ANYTHING to protect their little ones.

Check them out below!

Before I Wake

Foster parents Mark and Jessie welcome 8-year-old Cody into their home. The boy tells Jessie that he’s terrified to fall asleep, but she assumes it’s just a natural fear. The couple become startled when their dead biological son suddenly appears in their living room. To their surprise, Cody’s dreams can magically become real but so can his nightmares. Mark and Jessie must now uncover the truth behind Cody’s mysterious ability before his imagination harms them all.

Bird Box

When a mysterious force decimates the population, only one thing is certain — if you see it, you die. The survivors must now avoid coming face to face with an entity that takes the form of their worst fears. Searching for hope and a new beginning, a woman and her children embark on a dangerous journey through the woods and down a river to find the one place that may offer sanctuary. To make it, they’ll have to cover their eyes — and complete the trip blindfolded.

Child’s Play

Gunned down by Detective Mike Norris (Chris Sarandon), dying murderer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) uses black magic to put his soul inside a doll named Chucky — which Karen Barclay (Catherine Hicks) then buys for her young son, Andy (Alex Vincent). When Chucky kills Andy’s baby sitter, the boy realizes the doll is alive and tries to warn people. Now Karen must convince the detective of the murderous doll’s intentions, before Andy becomes Chucky’s next victim.

Eye for an Eye

Harried working mom Karen McCann (Sally Field) is stuck in traffic, talking on the phone to her teenage daughter at home, when she hears an intruder break into the house and murder her child. Although the killer (Kiefer Sutherland) is arrested, a legal technicality leads to his release. Despite the best efforts of her patient husband (Ed Harris), and a sympathetic police detective (Joe Mantegna), Karen becomes obsessed with taking revenge.

Freaks

Kept locked inside the house by her father, 7-year-old Chloe lives in fear and fascination of the outside world. It’s a place where Abnormals are a constant threat — or so she believes. But when a mysterious stranger offers her a glimpse of what’s really happening, Chloe soon learns that the truth isn’t so simple — but the danger is very real.

He’s Out There

On holiday at a remote Canadian lake house, a mother and her two young daughters must fight for survival after falling into a terrifying and bizarre nightmare conceived by a psychopath. For ‘John’ has been lurking in the shadows for years every time the family took a holiday and even left a children’s picture book to help them cope with the terrifying scenario he has meticulously planned. Will husband Shawn manage to make it to the house in time to stop the carnage? Can local handyman Owen put a stop to the madness? Watch, and learn the stark truth!

I Am Mother

I AM MOTHER is a sci-fi thriller about a teenage girl (Clara Rugaard), who is the first of a new generation of humans to be raised by Mother (Rose Byrne), a robot designed to repopulate the earth after the extinction of humankind. But the pair’s unique relationship is threatened when an injured stranger (Hilary Swank) arrives with news that calls into question everything Daughter has been told about the outside world and her Mother’s intentions.

The Monster

A divorced mother and her headstrong daughter must make an emergency late-night road trip to see the girl’s father. As they drive through deserted country roads on a stormy night, they suddenly have a startling collision that leaves them shaken but not seriously hurt. Their car, however, is dead, and as they try in vain to get help, they come to realize they are not alone — a terrifying evil is lurking in the woods, intent on never letting them leave.

Rattlesnake

Katrina (Carmen Ejogo) is a single mother driving cross country to start a new life with her young daughter Clara when their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. As Katrina changes the tire, Clara wanders off the desert road and is bitten by a venomous rattlesnake. Desperate to save her daughter’s life, Katrina accepts the help of a mysterious woman, but after she miraculously heals Clara, Katrina is asked to repay the good deed by killing a stranger in exchange for the life saved. Without time to lose, she must wrestle with the morality of who deserves to live and who should die, before her daughter’s life is once again put in peril at sundown.

Under the Shadow

After Shideh’s building is hit by a missile during the Iran-Iraq War, a neighbor suggests that the missile was cursed and might be carrying malevolent Middle-Eastern spirits. She becomes convinced a supernatural force within the building is attempting to possess her daughter Dorsa, and she has no choice but to confront these forces if she is to save her daughter and herself.

Are you looking forward to streaming any of these horror movies this Mother’s Day over on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below or over on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! 

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

The original Friday the 13th turns 40-years-old today, making this particular horror journalist feel very old!

Friday the 13th captured audiences’ imaginations and permeated our collective psyche.  The film spawned one of the longest-running and most successful horror franchises in film history with 11 subsequent movies and, 40 years later, the iconic machete-wielding killer continues to haunt, fascinate and terrify new generations. 

If it’s been a while, or if you’ve yet to experience the film that started it all, check out the trailer for Friday the 13th below.

Friday the 13th follows a group of young counselors preparing for the reopening of Camp Crystal Lake, where a boy drowned years earlier.  One by one, the counselors are stalked by a mysterious and violent killer.  The film stars Betsy Palmer, Adrienne King, and Kevin Bacon. Sean S. Cunningham directed from a screenplay penned by Victor Miller.

Trivia: Tom Savini was one of the first crew members on board for the film because the producers idolized his special make-up effects in Dawn of the Dead (1978). (Source)

Because the camp was closed during filming, and situated in the deep New Jersey woods, the cast and crew didn’t see much outside interference, but it turned out they had a very famous neighbor: rock star Lou Reed, who owned a farm nearby. “We got to watch Lou Reed play for free, right in front of us, while we were making the film,” Soundman Richard Murphy said. “He came by the set, and we hung around with each other, and he was just a really great guy.” (Source)

Are you a fan of the original Friday the 13th? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

Earlier this week we passed along the kinda shocking news that Equilibrium and Ultraviolet director Kurt Wimmer was in the process of shooting a remake of Stephen King’s Children of the Corn when this damn COVID-19 pandemic hit. But now he’s already back to shooting in Australia.

And today we have some behind the scenes pics for you to check out. Sure they are admittedly uneventful, but all the same, they prove the remake is indeed in the works. Good to know!

Check them out below.

Are you up for a remake of Stephen King’s Children of the Corn? Make sure to hit us up and let us know in the comments below or over on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! 

The story was first adapted into a 1983 short film, Disciples of the Crow. A year later, it was adapted into a feature film with the original name, Children of the Corn, with Peter Horton (Fade to Black, 2 Days in the Valley) and Linda Hamilton (The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day).

Several sequels followed including Children of the Corn II: The Final Sacrifice, Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest, Children of the Corn IV: The Gathering, Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror, Children of the Corn 666: Isaac’s Return, Children of the Corn: Revelation, Children of the Corn: Genesis, and a remake directed, written and produced by Donald P. Borchers.

RELATED: SURPRISE: STEPHEN KING’S CHILDREN OF THE CORN REMAKE NOW SHOOTING IN AUSTRALIA

The original film adaptation of King’s classic tale of terror starred Linda Hamilton and Peter Horton as a couple driving across the Midwest who comes to a sudden halt when they encounter the body of a murdered boy in the road. In trying to contact the authorities, they wander into a small town populated only by children, followers of sinister young preacher Isaac Chroner. Soon the couple is fleeing the youthful fanatics, who want to sacrifice them to their demonic deity.

Rated R for adult situations/language, violence, the film sports a 35% approval rating over on Rotten Tomatoes with a Critics Consensus that reads: Children of the Corn’s strong premise and beginning gets shucked away for a kiddie thriller that runs in circles.

RELATED: CHILDREN OF THE CORN: RUNAWAY HEADS TO BLU-RAY

The last time we saw the franchise on the screen was in Feast and Piranha 3DD director John Gulager’s long-delayed Children of the Corn Runaway. That sequel centered on a pregnant woman who escapes a murderous child cult in a small town (one guess which one) and spends the next decade living anonymously to protect her son. After they move to a new town, she realizes something evil is following them, and she must confront it to save them.

Written by Joel Soisson (Piranha 3DD, Children of the Corn: Genesis, Hellraiser: Hellworld, Dracula 2000, Trick or Treat, The Supernaturals), the film starred Marci Miller, Jake Ryan Scott, Sara Moore, Mary Kathryn Bryant, Lynn Andrews III, Kevin Harvey, Diane Ayala Goldner, and Eric Starkey.

Check out the trailer below.

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

Well, it looks like Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game writer-director Mike Flanagan isn’t done playing in the Stephen King sandbox as today we have word that Flanagan and his long-time producer Trevor Macy will be reteaming for yet another King adaptation, Revival.

The novel tells the tale of a heroin-addicted rocker in his mid-thirties who meets back up with a mysterious Reverend from his childhood. Together the two men form a pact with profound consequences beyond even the Devil’s devising, discovering that revival has many meanings.

The Fault in Our Stars and The New Mutants writer-director Josh Boone previously tried his hand at adapting the material – with Russell Crowe attached to star – before moving on to another King adaptation – CBS All Access’ upcoming 10-episode limited series based on King’s The Stand.

RELATED: NETFLIX & MIKE FLANAGAN TEAM FOR NEW SERIES BASED ON CHRISTOPHER PIKE’S MIDNIGHT CLUB

As you might imagine, Flanagan will be starting from scratch on the project and will pen his own version of the script with an option to direct. He produces with Macy via their Intrepid Pictures.

Warners’ Kevin McCormick is overseeing for the studio.

For those of you keeping score at home, this is the second Flanagan project announced this week following word that he will take the helm of a Netflix horror anthology series based on the works of famed young adult author Christopher Pike’s The Midnight Club.

RELATED: MIKE FLANAGAN: HAUNTING OF BLY MANOR STILL SET TO HIT NETFLIX THIS YEAR

Are you excited to hear that Doctor Sleep and Gerald’s Game writer-director Mike Flanagan will be adapting Stephen King’s 2014 novel Revival? Make sure to hit us up and let us know what you think in the comments below or over on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! 

Here’s a rundown on the novel via Amazon:

A dark and electrifying novel about addiction, fanaticism, and what might exist on the other side of life. In a small New England town, over half a century ago, a shadow falls over a small boy playing with his toy soldiers. Jamie Morton looks up to see a striking man, the new minister. Charles Jacobs, along with his beautiful wife, will transform the local church. The men and boys are all a bit in love with Mrs. Jacobs; the women and girls feel the same about Reverend Jacobs—including Jamie’s mother and beloved sister, Claire. With Jamie, the Reverend shares a deeper bond based on a secret obsession. When tragedy strikes the Jacobs family, this charismatic preacher curses God, mocks all religious belief, and is banished from the shocked town. Jamie has demons of his own. Wed to his guitar from the age of thirteen, he plays in bands across the country, living the nomadic lifestyle of bar-band rock and roll while fleeing from his family’s horrific loss. In his mid-thirties—addicted to heroin, stranded, desperate—Jamie meets Charles Jacobs again, with profound consequences for both men. Their bond becomes a pact beyond even the Devil’s devising, and Jamie discovers that revival has many meanings. This rich and disturbing novel spans five decades on its way to the most terrifying conclusion Stephen King has ever written. It’s a masterpiece from King, in the great American tradition of Frank Norris, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Edgar Allan Poe.

BUY THE BOOK HERE

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb

WARNING: This film features sequences of FLASHING LIGHTS, which can trigger a seizure in some people with epilepsy.

ALTER‘s latest horror short 3:36 features a woman grudgingly facing trauma, but the source of her pain remains elusive until the final, gut-wrenching moments. 3:36 is exceptional in no small part for its ability to communicate suspense, tension, dread, and heartbreak without any dialog. Give it a spin embedded at the top of the article.

Synopsis: At the darkest hour of the night, a young woman takes shelter in her bathroom. Haunted by nightmarish visions, she slowly loses her sanity to memories she won’t accept. What reality lies beyond the mirror?

3:36 is written and directed by J.P. Ferré and stars Adélaïde Leroux and Francis Ressort.

About ALTER: The most provocative minds in horror bring you three new short films every week exploring the human condition through warped and uncanny perspectives.

What did you think of 3:36? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.

Get all your horror news on https://ift.tt/ksbaVb