AURA ENTERTAINMENT Uncages the Beast With “COYOTES” Trailer/News

Courtesy of Aura Entertainment

Justin Long has quietly transformed into one of horror’s most talented power players. He has been turning what was once a boyish charm and comedic chops into a weapon for chaos. Over the last few years, he’s carved out a reputation as a performer who can pivot from sly humor to genuine terror in the space of a breath. His team-up with his brother Christian Long at last year’s Fantastic Fest for the “V/H/S Beyond” segment “Fur Babies” (a personal favorite of mine from that movie) showed he’s not only game to star in nightmares, but to create them too. He has easily been able to lean into grotesque absurdity with gleeful precision as easy as Freddy Kruger slips on his razor knifed glove. Now, with a slate of new horror projects on the way, Long feels less like a guest in the genre and more like a permanent resident. One who keeps finding fresh ways to shock and entertain. The real question is can everyone else keep up with him in horror’s fast lane?

I recently received news that a trailer dropped of the upcoming indie horror movie from Aura Entertainment called “Coyotes”. Not only will this amazingly looking horror movie be premiering at this year’s Fantastic Fest, but it will also have a theatrical release on October 3rd. “Coyotes” stars Justin Long (“Barbarian”), Kate Bosworth (“Superman Returns”), Brittany Allen (“What Keeps You Alive”), Mila Harris (“Mary”) and Norbert Leo Butz (“A Complete Unknown'“). It is directed by Colin Minihan, best known from his work on “Grave Encounters” (one of my personal favorite found footage movies). A press release the official “Coyotes” marketing team was recently sent to me with more information on the movie. Here is what I found out. starting with the synopsis of the movie:

FROM THE PRESS RELEASE:

“After a Santa Ana windstorm knocks out power in the Hollywood Hills and crushes the family SUV, the Stewarts — Scott, Liv, and their precocious daughter, Chloe — are stranded in their hillside home with no cell service, no escape route, and just enough Spam to start a riot.

But the real problem? Coyotes. Not the scrappy, skittish kind that dig through your garbage and steal your cat — but smart, organized, murder-flavored coyotes. Led by a scar-faced alpha with serious beef, the coyote pack starts picking off neighbors like it’s happy hour at an all-you-can-eat casino buffet.

As wildfires rage on one side and a bloodthirsty canine death cult circles the other, the Stewarts — armed with nothing but a flashlight, an old iPad, and some questionable decision-making skills — must band together and transform from cozy suburbanites into blood-smeared survivalists.

“COYOTES” is a savage, satirical survival thriller where nature bites back — and this time, it brought friends. Welcome to the apex of the food chain. It’s going badly.”

Director Colin Minihan had this to say about the movie:

“I read the first draft of “COYOTES” and started laughing out loud. It had bite. It had chaos. And most importantly, it had fun. I was sitting with Britt, flipping pages, both of us wide-eyed and saying, “Okay, this is f***ing nuts.” That’s when I knew I wanted in.

At the time, there were actual coyotes stalking our old dog in the Hollywood Hills. Every night felt like a horror movie. That real-world weirdness synced perfectly with the script’s energy. It wasn’t trying to be clever, or cool, or some kind of elevated genre exercise. It just was—wild, tense, funny, and totally unpredictable. A horror-comedy-action beast that actually had the nerve to entertain.

I’ve spent the last decade watching horror get more and more self-serious—movies that think they’re profound because they don’t actually say anything. Ambiguity has become a crutch. Somewhere along the way, people forgot that horror could be fun and still have soul. “COYOTES” is a course correction.

This movie is sharp, fast, and unafraid to go for the jugular and the laugh. No social media screens. No hollow metaphors. Just characters who feel real, thrown into a story that knows exactly what it is and never slows down to apologize for it.

Justin Long gives what I genuinely think is his best performance since Barbarian. He’s unpredictable, grounded, and completely dialed in. Working with him was a blast. And Kate Bosworth brings this ferocious, lived-in energy that elevates every moment she’s on screen. She’s unafraid to get weird, to go dark, to lean into the chaos—and it makes the film so much stronger. Watching her and Justin bounce off each other was pure fire.

And getting to make this with Brittany Allen—my wife, my creative partner, and a total badass—was a gift. She plays Jules with a rare kind of emotional precision, but she also scored the entire film in our home studio at night while our kid slept upstairs. She gave the film its rhythm and heartbeat. That magic is in every scene.

I also edited the film myself—not out of control, but out of instinct. This kind of movie only works if you keep the tone razor-sharp and the energy moving. Every cut needed to feel deliberate, alive, and a little dangerous. “COYOTES”  isn’t trying to be cool. It’s trying to bite. And hopefully, leave a mark.”

Not only am I sold on getting more horror from Colin Minihan and Justin Long, but the fact that this one leans into horror-comedy launches my horror fan anticipation into overdrive. “Coyotes” looks like the kind of indie horror chaos worth howling about, and the trailer promises it shall be a bloody good time we can all sink our teeth into. Aura Entertainment brings it to theaters October 3rd, so rally, horror fans! This seems like it is going to be one to show up for. If you’re catching it early at Fantastic Fest, spread the word and let the rest of us know just how wild this beast gets. I’ll be bringing you a full review and interviews from the my coverage of Fantastic Fest soon… so sharpen those claws and stay tuned.

Whether it’s slashers in the woods, ghosts in the attic, or killers in the cornfield, ILHM Reviews brings you the frightful horror flick recommendations worth watching. Follow us on Instagram, be sure to listen to the the "I Love Horror" podcast and remember that if you’re a true fan of horror, every night can be a FRIGHT NIGHT!