Coronavirus Mortality Updates: 2020 - 2023 |
DEC. 20 |
Feo's 13 DAYS OF X-MAS
On the 8th Day of X-MAS, Feo Fam gave to me,
8 Evil Aliens, 7 Cars not Starting, 6 Crows a-Murdering,
5 SCARY CLOWNS!
4 Chainsaws running, 3 Hands on shoulders, 2 Smart Rats,
and a Cat that ate the Rats!
And -
59 Years of GHIDORA, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER
By 1964 Gojira was undefeated by every monster they threw at it. Gojira needed more than its own version of kryptonite, the Kaiju needed an undefeatable enemy. Once Gojira got its mighty ass kicked, then it could make allies of former enemies against the common foe, and this is where the good monsters turned bad monsters good and the ones who stayed bad turned worse monsters* entered the GMU.
*Monsters on the side of those damn Xian assholes from Planet Zero!
However, in the U.S.A., thanks to "presenter" Walter Reade-Sterling, it all started in 1965 with (the mispronounced) GHIDRAH, THE THREE-HEADED MONSTER.
Plus -
BLACK CHRISTMAS Turns 49
Director Bob Clark made two Horror movies, two Christmas movies, then washed his hands of both genres. But though BLACK CHRISTMAS floopty-flopped in U.S. theaters (poor distribution and bad movie trailer), it came back roaring on TV every Christmas and began finding shelf space at every video rental store. So how influential can a Horror dud out of Canada be?
Producer and Director Sean S. Cunningham has made it clear that would be no FRIDAY THE 13th movie, let alone franchise, if John Carpenter didn't make HALLOWEEN. And John Carpenter made it clear that there would be no HALLOWEEN if his buddy, Bob Clark, never made BLACK CHRISTMAS.
Also -
SCREAM Turns 27
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET franchise was finished, other Wes Craven movies floundered, and by the mid 1990s Wes Craven was starting to flounder. Why? Well one reason was that youner directors, instead of blazing their own trails, were imitating Wes's trademarks. Wes's strong female lead in nearly all of his movies became the standard.
His consistent "Final Girl" in nearly all of his movies became the standard.
His consistent "deformed villains" became the standard.
One day Wes Craven, busy on developing a remake of THE HAUNTING - as he was burnt out on making violent gory movies (everybody was copying his and John Carpenter's style!) - was approached by Miramax. They bought a screenplay from some nobody named Kevin Williamson and it had all of Craven's tropes.
Are you kidding me? Wes strongly declined the offer. Later, as random fans will do, a young boy approached Wes and enthused about his early movies. Then the child complained that Craven was "going soft." (!). That Mr. Craven "had more guts" (!!) when he made THE LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and THE HILLS HAVE EYES.
How could Craven argue and defend himself to a child? He immediately contacted Miramax to negotiate their offer and was told that actor Drew Barrymore (ALTERED STATES, CAT'S EYE) had signed on. Well now he just HAD to make the damned movie!
So in 1996 when studios were starting to think that Craven had peaked, Wes reminded everyone just who they were dealing with, when he stormed back into theaters with a SCREAM.
Wassmor -
SANTA'S SLAY is 19
Brett Ratner, showing promise after 2002's RED DRAGON and a year away from torpedo'ing his career with X-MEN III, wanted to make an outrageous, scandalous, totally offensive - to Christians only - religious movie that was in no way risky. He wanted all the illusion of brave filmmaking with none of the consequences. So he hired writer and director David Steiman (his assistant on three of his features including, RED DRAGON), and wrestler Bill Goldberg.
But Brett wasn't about comedy only, his movie had to be a Horror movie! So he brought on famed lensman, Matthew F. Leonetti. (THE BAT PEOPLE, POLTERGEIST, STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT, THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT, DAWN OF THE DEAD [2004], EVIL DEAD [2013]) as Cinematographer, and his son Jr., as Producer.
What was the result? The best damn Horror Comedy David Steiman ever wrote and directed is what you get with SANTA'S SLAY.
Finale -
HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Jenny Agutter (LOGAN'S RUN, THE EAGLE HAS LANDED, EQUUS, DOMINIQUE, THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS, THE SURVIVOR [1981], AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, DARK TOWER, CHILD'S PLAY 2, MI-5 [TV], NUMBER ONE, LONG. NUMBER TWO, REGRET, MARPLE: WHAT MRS. MCGILLICUDDY SAW, THE MAGIC DOOR, ACT OF GOD, GLORIOUS 39, BURKE AND HARE, THE AVENGERS, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER) is 72.
SFX Artist Howard Berger (DAY OF THE DEAD, EVIL DEAD II, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4: THE DREAM MASTER, CHILD'S PLAY, PREDATOR, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 5: THE DREAM CHILD, BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR, TREMORS, ARMY OF DARKNESS, IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS, SCREAM, THE NIGHT FLIER, SPAWN, SCREAM 2, PHANTOMS, THE FACULTY, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN 2, THE HAUNTING [1999], THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL [1999], THE GREEN MILE, BATS, THE CELL, UNBREAKABLE, MULHOLLAND DR., GHOSTS OF MARS, CABIN FEVER, HULK, LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, KILL BILL 1 & 2, SIN CITY, THE AMITYVILLE HORROR [2005], LAND OF THE DEAD, THE ISLAND, SERENITY, HOSTEL, THE TRIPPER, THE HILLS HAVE EYES [2006], Masters of Horror: INCIDENT ON AND OFF A MOUNTAIN ROAD, DREAMS IN THE WITCH HOUSE, DANCE OF THE DEAD, PICK ME UP, SICK GIRL, THE FAIR HAIRED CHILD, HOMECOMING, VALERIE ON THE STAIRS, THE DAMNED THING, THE V-WORD, PRO-LIFE, THE SCREW FLY SOLUTION, RIGHT TO DIE, THE TRIPPER, PRIMEVAL, DEATH PROOF, PLANET TERROR, TRANSFORMERS, THE MIST, MIRRORS, THE UNBORN, DRAG ME TO HELL, THE FINAL DESTINATION, SURROGATES, THE BOOK OF ELI, PREDATORS, PIRANHA [2010], THE WALKING DEAD [TV], OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2, ANNABELLE, LEGION [TV], ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, LIFE, WEREWOLF BY NIGHT, and way, way more!) is 60.
Howard shares a December Birth Day with fellow KILL BILL alumni, Daryl Hannah, Lucy Lui, and Larry Bishop.
The prolific Howard also shares December birthdays with fellow Masters of Horror alumni, Tony Todd and Mick Garris.
Actor Nicole de Boer (PROM NIGHT IV, BEYOND REALITY [TV], JUNGLEGROUND, CUBE, MISSION GENESIS [TV], THE DEAD ZONE [2002], Stephen King's THE DEAD ZONE [TV], TIES THAT BIND, NYC: TORNADO TERROR, SUCK, IRON INVADER, METAL TORNADO, SECRETS FROM HER PAST, MY MOTHER'S SECRET, HAVEN [TV], WHERE'S MY BABY?) is 54.
Musician Peter Criss (KISS: PSYCHO CIRCUS. As Actor: KISS
MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK) who is 77.
There are very few who are more of a staple of Horror Thriller from Hong Kong than,
Director Ricky Lau (MR. VAMPIRE [all], PI LI
DA LA BA, YOUNG MASTER VAMPIRE, JIANG SHI ZHOU YAO, GUI YAO GUI, DEMON INTRUDER,
ROMANCE OF THE VAMPIRES, SUPER CAR CRIMINALS, MR. ZOMBIE, THE TAOIST PRIEST, and way more) is 77.
Actor Ramon Rodriguez (DAYBREAK [TV], THE WIRE [TV], THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123, TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN, BATTLE LOS ANGELES, IRON FIST [TV], THE DEFENDERS [TV], LULLABY) is 44.
Writer, Director Eduardo Sánchez (THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, ALTERED, SEVENTH MOON, PARA ABNORMAL, LOVELY MOLLY, EXISTS, SUPERNATURAL [TV], FROM DUSK TILL DAWN: The Series [TV], PORTALS, SATANIC HISPANICS) is 56.
| GET SOME CLOTHES ON | |
|
DEC. 19 |
Feo's 13 DAYS OF X-MAS
On the 7th Day of X-MAS, Feo Fam gave to me,
7 Cars not Starting, 6 Crows a-Murdering,
5 SCARY CLOWNS!
4 Chainsaws running, 3 Hands on shoulders, 2 Smart Rats,
and a Cat that ate the Rats!
And -
101 Films and Black Mandala Trailer Drops
THE 100 CANDLES GAME: THE LAST POSSESSION
Anthology Horror movies found a resurge after the cult popularity of the V/H/S/ franchise.
100 CANDLES GAME: THE LAST POSSESSION is from 101 Films, Black Mandala, and distributed DtV through 101 Films & Trinity Creative Partnership in the USA and UK.
It is the 2nd movie in the series that started with THE 100 CANDLES GAME in 2020. Featuring the directing talents of Guillermo Lockhart (also wrote a segment for the first 100 GAMES), Carlos Goitia (also Producer and Editor), Jeronimo Rocha, David Ferino, Maximilian Niemann, Arie Socorro, Andres Borghi (also Visual Effects Artist on 2018's NIGHTMARE CINEMA), and Ryan Graff.
Horror movie screenwriter, Camilo Zaffora (YOU SHALL NOT SLEEP, 1978,) wrote it all and its Produced by, Michael Kraetzer (original concept for THE 100 CANDLES), Nicolas Onetti (Director and Producer on the 100 CANDLES GAME), and Martín Gerding.
Plus -
INVASION OF THE ASTRO-MONSTER aka MONSTER ZERO Turns 59
It was 1965 and Toho was churning out GODZILLA movies in as many variants as possible. It was the time of GMU (Not George Mason University, but Godzilla Movie Universe: The GMU ain't GNU).
To most folks it was a case of diminishing returns, yet the Kaiju audience couldn't get enough even with the occassional misstep - like GODZILLA'S REVENGE or anything involving Godzilla's son, Minira.
Speaking of kids, they went Kaiju Goo Goo for these monstrous monsters. So with that in mind, let's dive into 1965's INVASION OF THE ASTRO-MONSTER aka MONSTER ZERO.
Also -
Dario Argento's OPERA aka TERROR AT THE OPERA Turns 37
Mike Bracken aka The Horror Geek, is a devout Argento fan, yet always gives an honest review of the work of those he admires the most. 21 years ago he did with Dario Argento's OPERA.
Wassmor -
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS Turns 23
In only two decades the world has changed with head-spinning speed.
In 1998 our cars weren't smart and our phones weren't smart. Our TVs certainly weren't smart and most of the shows on them were kinda dumb. TV stations broadcasting in widescreen 16:9 High Definition wasn't the norm (and HD was expensive and 720 - ick). DVDs were learning to walk and the Internet was a toddler in diapers.
And there was New Zealander Peter Jackson, who made his name in Horror with DEAD-ALIVE and THE FRIGHTENERS (legal DVDs of his earlier Horror movies were nigh impossible to find in the states at that time). He'd actually got the greenlight to shoot all three THE LORD OF THE RINGS movies at once - something that an uncountable number of Producers and Directors had tried for well over half a century to accomplish and failed.
Reviewer Kelly Parks was in the movie theater on opening night when he saw THE LORD OF THE RINGS: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS.
AnThen -
ALTERED Turns 18
For me, this movie was one of those happy accidents that sometimes happens with TV. You see it available for streaming or cable, you know nothing about it, but what the hell? Let's give it a shot.
WOW! Where did this come from and how did I not know about it? If you find enthusiasm infectious then let me tell you about my disease: ALTERED.
Finale -
HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Illusionist Criss Angel (MINDFREAK [TV], HECKLER, PHENOMENON [TV], TRICK'D UP [TV]) is 56.
Actor Jennifer Beals (THE BRIDE, VAMPIRE'S KISS, DOCTEUR M., TERROR STALKS THE CLASS REUNION [TV], INDECENCY, NIGHT
OWL, DEAD ON SIGHT, DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS, THE PROHECY II, THE SPREE, WITHOUT MALICE, AFTER THE STORM, RUNAWAY JURY, TROUBLED WATERS, THE GRUDGE 2, THE BOOK OF ELI, LIE TO ME [TV], WIDOW DETECTIVE, A WIFE'S NIGHTMARE, PROOF [TV], BEFORE I FALL, WHITE ORCHID, SWAMP THING [TV], LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE) is 62.
Actor/Production Designer Jack Fisk (MESSIAH OF EVIL, TERMINAL ISLAND, CARRIE, ERASERHEAD, PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, DEATH GAME, MULHOLLAND DRIVE, INVASION) is 79.
Actor/Director John Gulager (FEAST [all], PIRANHA 3DD, DANCES WITH WEREWOLVES, ZOMBIE NIGHT, HELLRAISER: JUDGEMENT, CHILDREN OF THE CORN: RUNAWAY, SEVEN CEMETERIES) is 67.
Look for John's 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Horror movie, UTERO.
Writer S.D. Hintz (THE OFFERING, BLOOD ORCHARD, VIGILANCE AND VENGEANCE, TALES FROM AN UNDERTAKER, STARVELINGS) is 49.
Actor Alyssa Milano (DOUBLE DRAGON, EMBRACE OF THE VAMPIRE, DEADLY SINS, POISON IVY II, FEAR, BODY COUNT, CHARMED [TV], PATHOLOGY, MISTRESSES) is 50.
Look for Alyssa's 2022 Thriller, DEADLY DESIRES.
Actor Kristy Swanson (DEADLY FRIEND, FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC, HIGHWAY TO HELL, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, SOUL ASSASSIN, ZEBRA LOUNGE, SILENCE, FORBIDDEN SECRETS, THE BLACK HOLE [2006], LIVING DEATH, SWAMP SHARK, A MOTHER'S SACRIFICE, BAD STEPMOTHER, KILLER UNDER THE BED, MIMESIS NOSFERATU, JUST ANOTHER DREAM) is 54.
| DRESS NICE | |
| MORE NEWS |
