Variety is reporting that horror (and comics) scribe Clive Barker is partnering with Jorge Saralegui in a new production company, Midnight Picture Show, with plans to scare up two R-rated horror films per year based on Barker's extensive catalog of stories.  Already set up are The Midnight Meat Train, which Patrick Tatopoulous will direct for Lions Gate with production starting in the fall, and The Plague, which Hal Masonberg will begin directing this summer.

On tap for 2006 are Pig Blood Blues, adapted from a Barker story, and New York Resurrection based on an original concept by Barker.  Barker plans to take advantage of the recent success of a string of modestly budgeted horror films, which has made the genre attractive in Hollywood once again.  But unlike the bulk of Tinseltown's recent horror output, which are mostly remakes, Barker told Variety, 'We will not be reheating old films, freshening up old ideas...I've got enough (material) here for 20 movies.'

Barker doesn't plan to water down his horror concepts to cater to a younger audience.  In fact he told Variety: 'I want to wind up with a library of pictures that will reflect my sensibilities, which are decidedly R-rated.  The moment I make a PG-13 horror movie, you can take me out and shoot me.'