The Hollywood Horror Museum presents two very accomplished visionaries in horror as board members, directors John Carpenter and Greg Nicotero. Also in today's Horror Highlights: details on the all-female directed anthology, XX, a Toxic Avenger marathon on El Rey Network, and Nitehawk Cinema's screening of both Wicker Man movies in New York.

Hollywood Horror Museum Members: Press Release: "The Hollywood Horror Museum is proud to announce today, that legendary directors JOHN CARPENTER and GREG NICOTERO are its two newest board members. The museum which has been showing up at various conventions will be touring later in the year before it finds it’s permanent home in 2017. The interview will be made (if available) upon request.

John Carpenter is the writer, producer, and director of many genre classics including Halloween, Escape From New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Thing and They Live. Greg Nicotero is director and producer of The Walking Dead, co-founder of KNB special effects, and special effects artist on Evil Dead 2, Breaking Bad, Transformers and numerous Quentin Tarantino films.

The Hollywood Horror Museum will be an educational nonprofit museum touring the US and Europe in 2017, then open permanently in Los Angeles in 2019. It will include walk-through environmental scenes from films and TV shows, as well as props, life-size replicas, costumes, posters, and art spanning over 100 years of horror. It will teach the history of horror in films, TV, literature and art, and give visitors a chance to learn from the masters of horror. It will also be the largest horror collection in the world.

Other horror legends founding the museum include: Clive Barker (Hellraiser), Sean S. Cunningham (Friday the 13th), Joe Dante (Gremlins), Tom Holland (Child’s Play), Mick Garris (Masters of Horror), Sara Karloff (Boris Karloff estate), Tim Lucas (Video Watchdog), Jennifer Lynch (The Walking Dead) and Victoria Price (Vincent Price estate), Huston Huddleston (Hollywood Sci-Fi Museum), Steve Haberman, (Dracula: Dead and Loving It), Mike Hill (Pet Cemetery), Rebekah McKendry (BlumHouse, Fangoria), Steve Johnson (Ghostbusters), Jovanka Vuckovic (Zombiemania), Amy Humphries (Terror Time) and Brian Yuzna (ReAnimator).

“This is an organization dedicated to horror movies. I wholly support it and am proud to be part of it.” John Carpenter

“The Horror Museum is the best idea I’ve heard in a long while that will give the public some of the greatest movies to watch, remind them of the history of monsters, and protect valuable screen-used props.” Tom Holland

"Horror shows us that the control we believe we have is purely illusory and that every moment we teeter on chaos and oblivion. I can think of no better reminder, nor worthwhile effort, than saving our most iconic and important horror artifacts to display for future generations." Clive Barker

"After too many years in the literal shadows, one of the cinema's most resilient and primal genres is finally getting its mainstream due. The Hollywood Horror Museum is the long-gestating culmination of decades of fan-based collecting, hoarding, and obsession. Past devotees like Ray Bradbury and Forrest J. Ackerman would be proud." Joe Dante

“The establishing of a Hollywood Horror Museum is long overdue. The revenues generated by some of the early horror films helped save the very existence of some major studios. Horror film stars such as my father, Boris Karloff, made nearly 170 films during his career, many of which were horror films.” Sara Karloff"

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XX: Press Release: "New York, New York (April 12, 2016) – Magnet Releasing, the genre arm of Magnolia Pictures, announced today that celebrated musician and songwriter Annie Clark (St. Vincent), will make her directorial debut on the company’s upcoming all-female-helmed horror anthology film XX. Not only will each segment be directed by a woman, each will star female leads. Clark’s segment, scheduled to film this spring, has been co-written and will be produced by genre maven Roxanne Benjamin (SOUTHBOUND, V/H/S, V/H/S/2, FAULTS).

XX is a female-driven horror anthology with each director given full creative license to tell any story they choose revolving around a female protagonist. While the directors have been given free creative rein within budget and time constraints, all of the segments themselves will involve the horror genre.In addition to Clark, other directors attached include Karyn Kusama (THE INVITATION, GIRLFIGHT),Jennifer Lynch (SURVEILLANCE, CHAINED), and Jovanka Vuckovic (THE CAPTURED BIRD, former editor of Rue Morgue Magazine).

As St. Vincent, Clark is one of the most distinct voices and original guitarists of her generation. Her recent album, the self-titled St. Vincent, won her "album of the year" designations from the NME, The Guardian, and Entertainment Weekly and the Best Alternative Album Grammy. An incredible live performer, Clark has been heralded as “the first truly 21st-century guitar hero” by Guitar World magazine and is constantly pushing the boundaries of today’s musical landscape.

“I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to explore the genre-film medium,” said Clark.

“I’ve long been a fan of Annie’s work,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “We’re excited to watch the singular vision she’ll bring to this project.”"

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Toxic Avenger Marathon: Press Release: "Toxic vengeance is upon us during El Rey Network's TOXIC AVENGER Earth Day Marathon!

Pack your bags because El Rey Network will be transporting you to Tromaville, New Jersey for some ass-kicking toxic vengeance with the classic TOXIC AVENGER films, as well as the animated cartoon series, TOXIC CRUSADERS. This is the first time Toxie will be fighting crime on El Rey, so, don't miss out on all the superhero comedy to come! Melvin Ferd's transformation from 98 pounds of solid nerd into The Toxic Avenger will begin on Friday, April 22nd at 8:00 PM ET/PT, and he'll fight crime throughout the weekend until Monday, April 25th at 6:00 AM ET/Pt.

Toxie's face may not be the prettiest to watch for three days straight, but as the first superhero from New Jersey how can you say no?

TOXIC AVENGER 1 (1984)

Tromaville has a monstrous new hero. The Toxic Avenger is born when meek mop boy Melvin falls into a vat of toxic waste. Now evildoers will have a lot to lose.

TOXIC AVENGER 2 (1989)

The Toxic Avenger is tricked into traveling to Tokyo to search for his estranged father, leaving Tromaville open to complete domination by an evil corporation.

TOXIC AVENGER 3 (1989)

Toxie finds he has nothing to do as a superhero, as he has ridden his city of evil. He decides to go to work for a major corporation, which he discovers may be the evilest of all his adversaries.

TOXIC AVENGER 4 (2000)

The Toxic Avenger must defend his friends from his own evil alternate universe doppelgänger The Noxious Offender.

TOXIC CRUSADERS (2008)

An animated series based on The Toxic Avenger films. It features Toxie, the lead character of the films leading a group of misfit superheroes who combat pollution.

About El Rey Network

El Rey Network is a 24-hour English-language network founded by maverick filmmaker Robert Rodriguez. Curated by Rodriguez and his artistic collective, the network unites "the new mainstream" through badass content that awakens the renegade in everyone. El Rey's action-packed slate is anchored by signature series including the original drama, "From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series", the one-on-one interview program, "El Rey Network Presents: The Director's Chair" and "Lucha Underground," a Lucha Libre wrestling series from Mark Burnett. El Rey Network's lineup also showcases a wide range of iconic feature films and TV series including genre, cult classics, action, and horror/sci-fi. El Rey Network LLC is jointly owned by Robert Rodriguez and FactoryMade Ventures with a minority stake held by Univision Networks & Studios, Inc."

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The Wicker Man New York Screening: From Nitehawk Cinema: "We're going to be having an offsite event called Hawks' Nite Out on May 1 and naturally, we're celebrating with both Wicker Man movies. This time, we're taking the double feature an extra step.

Taking place at Villain’s North 3rd 5,000 sq. ft. warehouse around the corner from Nitehawk’s nest in Williamsburg, both films will start simultaneously at 6 p.m. in separate rooms with musical accompaniment by DJ Devon E. Levins of Morricone Youth and WFMU’s Morricone Island as well as beers from Braven Brewing Company. Nitehawk popcorn will also be available for purchase. Special masks will available to guests on a first come, first-served basis.

Tickets ($18 + applicable fees) go on sale April 4th and include one specialty beer salted honey and gin cocktail, courtesy of Braven, New York Distilling Company, and Bushwick Kitchen. Event takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Make your appointment with The Wicker Men at: http://nitehawkmayday.eventbrite.com"