Wisconsin thrashers Product of Hate have announced they will need approximately 50-60 background performers for the filming of scenes for a long-form video entitled “Unholy Manipulator,” starring Ashley Laurence (Hellraiser, Hellbound: Hellraiser II and Hellraiser: Hellseeker). Co-produced by FX legend Robert Kurtzman (Army of Darkness and director of Wishmaster), the shoot is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 16, in Galion, Ohio.

The Hellraiser-mad folks over at Yell! have such sights to show you, and as such have given us an exclusive sneak peek at their amazingly detailed Hellraiser infographic.

Infographic, you say?

Click on the image (yes, it gets ever larger) and open up a Puzzle Box of original artwork and ambitious design that you can scroll through to get the details on every single Cenobite to appear in the Hellraiser films, in linear order.

Thanks to Yell! editor Shawn Loeffler and artist Steve Ladanyi for the inter-dimensional rogue’s gallery.

As you’ll read in the upcoming April issue of RM (cover: Hobo with a Shotgun), the first issue of BOOM! Studios’ new ongoing comic book series Hellraiser hits comic stores today, marking the triumphant return of author Clive Barker to the characters and the universe that he created but has only plunged into on two previous occasions: the novella that inspired the whole franchise (The Hellbound Heart) and the first (and finest) film, which he wrote and directed.

To celebrate, Boom! Studios are giving away a completely self-contained, eight-page Hellraiser story called “At the Tolling of a Bell,” written by Barker and drawn by Leonardo Manco. This isn’t a preview of Hellraiser #1, it’s an all-new, original prelude to what goes down in the first issue.

Well, look what just rolled into town with a chip on its shoulder and a dirty bindle on its back…it’s the trailer for the April issue of Rue Morgue #110! Conceived and cut by Rodrigo and Tomb Dragomir – and featuring the voice-over stylings of our pal, Tal Zimerman – you’re gonna want to march yourself into the shower by gunpoint after watching this, it’s so grindhouse grimy!

You might think hanging out with hobos for the past month must have got us feeling cavalier but truth is, we’re just so damn excited about Ghoulish Gary’s illustrated cover for next month’s issue that we thought we’d give you an early look at what’s headed your way (probably in a rusted-out boxcar) in April. Behold…

The line-up for Texas Frightmare Weekend (texasfrightmareweekend.com) is near bursting with the announcement that SID HAIG, JAMES HAMPTON (Teen Wolf, Sling Blade) and MIMI MICHAELS (Chromeskull: Laid to Rest) have been added to the already illustrious slate of guests. Haig will also be on hand in full Captain Spaulding makeup for a very rare photo opportunity! (Day, time and other details to be announced.)

Friend of Rue Morgue Ryan Turek (a.k.a. Ryan Rotten) has written and directed Still Screaming, a documentary about the Scream film franchise scheduled to be released around the same time as Scream 4. Turek is also hard at work on a Hellraiser franchise doc, and talks about Clive Barker’s new Cenobite.

And now a field report from Rue Morgue Audio Drome correspondent George Pacheco a.k.a. Metal George, with visual aids courtesy of photographer-at-large Melanie Skypeck:

This year’s installment of Worcester, Massachusett’s annual Rock and Shock horror and music convention upped the ante in a big way, all across the board.

How shall we count the ways? Hmm…well, let’s see: how about holding a Rob Zombie and ALICE FUCKING COOPER concert as part of the festivities? Hell to the yeah, folks. Massconcerts held the distinction of not only presenting the area’s premier horror convention, but also kicking out three days of live music next door at the city’s Palladium venue…

Toronto electro-goth-rock band The Birthday Massacre will be premiering their latest video “In the Dark” at the Festival of Fear. We caught up with co-directors M. Falcore (from TBM) and Rodrigo Gudino (of Rue Morgue fame) to discuss its horror influences and the freedom afforded by being ignored by the mainstream.

Rue Morgue recently caught up with Rhim and Rainbow from Toronto synth-rock band The Birthday Massacre on the set of their new video “In the Dark.” We discussed the video, horror and their new album Pins & Needles.