Bloody Mary's Horror-i-flick Movie Revue

You could spend ALL your money in there...

2011-07-23T01:35:00.002-05:00

I just stumbled upon something unbelievable. Just like Takashi Miike in Hostel, I could spend ALL my money in here at $5 a pop. Some of these can't be legal.

This poor guy has over 300 orders waiting. Mine is expected in 29 days (August 21, 2011). He's going to be exhausted.

Fear Itself (2008)

2011-07-20T05:57:00.001-05:00

Lookie who I found today...

Mouse Ears in a cop uniform!

Apparently NBC premiered a horror anthology show right before covering the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, then never brought it back from hiatus. Whuuuut? Typically I hear about new network programs about three years after they've been cancelled (like Defying Gravity, which would probably do great right now with the ending of the space shuttle program). The 13 episodes of Fear Itself are currently on Netflix Instant Watch. You can find more information about the directors of the episodes on the FEARnet page.

Now for all I know, Lizzy Moss may only be in three minutes of this first episode. I've only watched through the opening sequence.

The song used is what led me to discovering this show. I found it mentioned in the comments of the video for Serj Tankian's Lie Lie Lie.

While we're waiting for Mad Men to return, you can also see Lizzy Moss in the horror flick The Attic directed by Mary Lambert (Pet Sematary).

I sometimes confuse Mary Lambert's name with Mary Harron (American Psycho) who just happens to have directed the third episode of Fear Itself, "Community" !

Final Girl Film Club: Fritt Vilt (Cold Prey) and Nordic/Scandinavian Movies

2011-07-20T01:23:00.002-05:00

The return of the Final Girl Film Club!

The idea of a sequel to The Shining is pretty amazing, and after the idea of that, anything is bound to fall short. I found Cold Prey pretty decent, but lacking some needed punch. I was much more thrilled by Dead Snow. My review will be delayed a few days for reasons detailed below.

Ingrid Bolsø Berdal (Jannicke) is in an upcoming German movie called Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters with Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Famke Janssen (and witch Zoe Bell!) directed by Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow) so I will be on the look-out for that for sure!

But! This reminds me that I am looking forward to seeing the Finnish Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale. I now regret missing out when it was at the Alamo Drafthouse here in Austin last December. Hopefully I haven't missed my only chance.

And whatever happened to the Icelandic Unholy Night? I still haven't seen the 10 minute short, but from the looks of the trailer I was hoping it would have been made into a full-length feature by now. Perhaps, if I am a very good girl, Santa will magically bring me a Christmas miracle this December!

So, two days before the due date, I sat down to watch Cold Prey and found NetFlix had yanked it from their Instant Watch. I rented it on Amazon, but was disappointed to realize it was dubbed in English. I ordered a used DVD so I could see it in the original Norwegian with English subtitles. I looked into ordering the sequel Cold Prey 2 and the prequel Cold Prey 3, but at this time there are no Region 1 releases.

Of course, this has been an issue since I started this blog. Many titles are unavailable to me, both foreign and out-of-print. I've bought several 80s VHS tapes that were unplayable. I've seen bootleg DVDs offered for sale online and tried one so I could see a made-for-tv movie my grandmother had taped off of PBS when I was a child (The Great American Fourth of July and Other Disasters). I've shelled out big bucks for out-of-print DVDs that a few years later got a rerelease (Madman). I've looked into getting a region-free DVD player, but even with one there seems to be a lot of compatibility issues. I've been resisting using torrents for a number of reasons, not the least of which being that it seems difficult with less popular titles. My internet provider recently announced its 65 megabits per second service, but I am wary of getting service suspended, or getting viruses/malware. I see lots of download membership sites I'm really skeptical of. I feel like I'm the only one not using them. How are YOU working around this problem? Please comment (anonymously if you wish!)

I'd really like to see Cold Prey 2. This girl behind Jannicke looks adorable and I love the actress' name, Marthe Snorresdotter Rovik! The prequel Cold Prey 3 looks really great (especially the posters) but the reviews don't look as promising. Can anyone help me figure out HOW to safely see these?

Cold Prey 3 - Trailer by dreadcentral

Cold Prey 3 - Teaser Trailer 2 by dreadcentral

I've enjoyed recent Nordic/Scandinavian movies I've seen: Trollhunter, Dead Snow, Let The Right One In, Kitchen Stories, and the Finnish Joulutarina (Christmas Story). I poked around NetFlix Instant Watch to see what else was offered from Film Movement. I was so dissapointed to find Monstertorsdag (Monster Thursday) is a SURFING film! I think I will give Troubled Water a try.

It's Friday, FRIDAY

2011-05-13T19:18:00.002-05:00

Murderin', murderin', arrrrrrrgh!

There's Always Room For Giallo

2010-01-28T01:53:00.003-06:00

Jell-O introduced that slogan in 1964, and I love that pun, because like Jell-O, giallo has a reputation for being brightly colored, and not very substantial.

However, not all giallo is in color - author Tim Lucas, who has provided commentary on the Bava #1 box set I'm starting with, tells us that La Ragazza Che Sapeva Troppo or The Girl Who Knew Too Much is generally regarded as the first giallo film, in black & white. This makes it my choice to kick off this year's exploration into the world of giallo.

This trailer is so dee-luscious, I'm reluctant to watch the actual movie. I don't see how it could possibly be as awesome as this trailer makes it look.

Review to follow at my leisure.

Cinema Italiano

2010-01-27T19:34:00.021-06:00

I feared it might never happen for me, but I've gone and managed to finally come down with a raging case of giallo fever! Several outside forces over the past few years have now conflagrated to bring me to this point.

Since being diagnosed with the pandemic Mad Men Madness over two years ago, I've been ravenous for early Sixties culture (it's "feed a fever", right?) - reviewing the history, reading the books and watching the movies referenced in every episode. If you've been following along, you'll know that Season 3 concluded at the end of 1963.

Until I can find a photo of Roger riding Mirabelle like a horse,

this photo of Betty & Don in Roma will have to stand in...

One of the many classic films this incited me to finally get around to was Fellini's La Dolce Vita (1960) referenced in Mad Men episode #110, The Long Weekend. I followed it up with his 8 1/2 (1963) to have it under my belt before the musical remake Nine arrived in theaters.

Fortunately, my mom needed a ride to the airport last week, giving me the perfect last-minute excuse to see Nine on the ginormous screen at the state-of-the-art Muvico Rosemont, the first theater in the United States with all Sony 4K high-def digital projectors. (They're hosting After Dark Horrorfest 4 starting this weekend.) You could physically feel the bass line in this video. It was just fan-damn-tastic!

I've been doing the pony through the house all week!

The lyrics of "Cinema Italiano" really have me in the mood to watch more actual Italian cinema. At one point in the movie, someone tells the main character, fictional director Guido Contini, that the only notion many Americans have of Italy is what he has shown them in his films. That brought to mind, for me, Anthony Minghella's The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999). When I read that Mario Bava was born in San Remo, my image of that town comes only from my many viewings of The Talented Mr. Ripley, which I find enchanting, and bordering on the horror genre. While it's a film set in Italy, by a director with an Italian surname, it's not actually an Italian film. Anthony Minghella also wrote the screenplay for Nine. I find the lyrics of "Be Italian" really interesting, as Sophia Loren might just be the single solitary Italian cast member. Surely there were some other actual Italians in there somewhere. By the way, I'd like to know, just who makes up the brain trust that decided The Hangover and Nine should be in the same Golden Globes category?

Leading up to seeing Nine, coincidentally all month long I'd been preparing for the Final Girl Film Club selection due this week, Mario Bava's Black Sabbath also from 1963! Stacie has carefully laid the groundwork by gently and inconspicuously writing me a prescription for Italian horror at the beginning of each year: Dario Argento's Suspiria early in 2008 and Lucio Fulci's The Beyond early in 2009. She's now taken a solemn vow to review 10 Italian horror movies in 2010.

Ever since seeing Hostel and its sequel (both of which I adore), I've been looking forward to seeing all of the Italian horror movies Eli Roth cited as influences. I remember making a mental note at the time to add Torso, Cannibal Holocaust, Night Train Murders, and Bava's Twitch of the Death Nerve to my queue.

Finally, I've had a particular interest in getting familiar with Italian cinema eventually because, although two of my great-grandparents were native Sicilians, from a small village just like The Godfather, just about zero culture has been passed down to me! No cooking, or language, or anything whatsoever. Shameful, isn't it?

My great-grandparents, who immigrated to Chicago from Sicily

Now that my appetite has been whetted, I plan to watch many, and review several, Italian horror films this year. (After all, Mad Men doesn't return until August!)

Get down with the sickness!

Intermission

2010-01-14T21:41:00.001-06:00

By the way, there's still time to head to the snack bar for refreshments!

Blair Witch kitteh iz SO sorrie!

2009-09-10T23:17:00.002-05:00

Rob Zombie's H2

2009-08-28T22:35:00.004-05:00

Just returned from seeing H2 and was pleasantly surprised. I'll just be posting some quick notes tonight - if I attempt to do a proper review it just won't get done. I don't want to say too much for those on the fence about seeing this one- I'll put anything TOO spoilerish in white text and you can select it with your mouse to reveal the words if you want to read those parts. Perhaps you'd rather wait until after you see the movie.

The trailers discouraged rather than encouraged me to see this first-run, but I gave it a chance anyway, and I'm so glad I did!

Things I Like About H2

1) Rob Zombie added an original element by depicting Michael's psychotic headspace and motivation. I appreciated that he brought a new perspective while still leaving mystery by not explaining it away too much. (I haven't looked at any reviews yet, but I can just imagine that those that hated the backstory in H1 will be hating this as well, and dismissing it as just a conceit enabling him to (spoiler: put his wife in the film again.) I agree with those that feel that in the original Halloween (1978) knowing very little about Michael contributed greatly to its success, but ten movies in, I say the new angle is welcome. It's creepy and weird, and makes it fresh.

2) The whole Dr. Loomis storyline was an excellent way to modernize the story and make it timely. It made for a great reveal (spoiler: Laurie finds out she is Michael's sister by reading it in Loomis' exploitative tell-all book for which he abandoned Michael's treatment to write) and taking the character's pomposity to new heights (spoiler: turned the audience against him, setting up his demise beautifully).

3) It had humor! Most of the audience laughed out loud at many parts where I was merely amused, and I laughed out loud at parts no one else laughed out loud at, but we all laughed. The hook-up between (spoiler: Dr. Frank-N-Furter & The Wolf Man) was, for me, almost worth the price of admission in itself.

4) Most have heard that Daeg Faerch did not return to reprise his role as young Michael. The resemblance between the new actor, Sheri Moon Zombie, and Scout Taylor-Compton was remarkable. And this made (spoiler: the wicked Psycho-like ending amazing.)

5) Lots of nods to previous Halloween films. I love that (spoiler: Danielle Harris, little Jamie of IV & V, reprises her role as Annie; the "it was just a dream" sequences from II, the contemporary Halloween party echoing the local party from V, because I always wanted there to be more costumes! the Rabbit in Red is a strip club, etc.)

6) Seeing Margot Kidder, and Dauber from Coach!

I'll leave it there for now, as it's time that all good little girls are in bed, but there was plenty to like. I think I may go see it again tomorrow.

There's a much more artful (but spoilerish) overview by Maitland McDonagh that I really admire at AMC.

Pandemonium AKA Thursday the 12th (1982)

2009-08-06T23:53:00.008-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of viewing the hard-to-find horror spoof Pandemonium on ThisTV. The working title was Thursday the 12th, which they changed when another film titled Saturday the 14th was slated for release. Can you believe it?

If you're lucky enough to be in an area that has "this" awesome television channel, and you enjoy goofiness, you can see it when it airs again on August 18th and 21st. I'll be writing a review to be posted soon.

Imagine if a "Scary Movie" spoof was released in early 1982, set at a cheerleading camp, with only movies prior to that date existing to parody. It stars a Smothers Brother, Paul Reubens, Carol Kane as a "Carrie White" and Debralee Scott (known to me only from Welcome Back Kott-air and Match Game) as a hitch-hiking "Annie" from the original Friday the 13th, Judge Reinhold from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and more. I don't want to give too much away, but there's even a nod to Happy Birthday To Me, one of my very favorites.

I'm sure there are references I didn't catch, so I hope you'll share them with me here whenever you happen to come across this post and are able to see Pandemonium!

Best New Party Game: Backwards Movies

2009-02-26T05:45:00.010-06:00

"If you watch the movie JAWS backwards,

it's a movie about a shark that keeps throwing up people

until they have to open a beach." - from Reddit

Final Girl Film Club: A Bloody Valentine to Friday The 13th

2009-02-23T00:43:00.015-06:00

If you were wondering, as I was, just what in Sam Hill this was all about, Marcie's excellent "Kate the Great" impression is a monologue from The Rainmaker, inspired by evaluating oneself in a mirror. The 1954 Broadway play preceded the 1956 film in which Katharine Hepburn starred. I'm only guessing, but I imagine many of the actors in this first Friday the 13th were more interested in theater, as they were cast out of New York near the shooting location rather than Hollywood. I don't think we're likely to see many more Bogart or Hepburn impressions in modern horror!

The Rainmaker is airing on TCM this Tuesday, March 3rd. Although Katharine Hepburn has long been one of the women I admire most, I can hardly tolerate this performance through the end of this video clip. I'll still give it a try, though I'd much rather watch Marcie.

I'll be updating this entry with my Final Girl Film Club review, to be completed by the end of March.

Status

2009-02-20T05:58:00.005-06:00

I must spend today making a few screencaps of favorite moments from Friday the 13th III through IX, as they are rented and due back Saturday.

Today I also plan to watch The Ruins on TiVo. Tonight, I am going to see Twilight at our college student union theater, but only because admission is a dollar. I can see it cheaper on the big screen rather than renting it later.

I'm planning on posting a few thoughts on the new Friday the 13th and completing a review of the newly-released uncut DVD of the first Friday the 13th (1980) for the Final Girl Film Club before the due date on Monday.

If I don't show up, send out a search party! And be sure to split up! (No, in the event my cable provider absolutely can't wait five days for me to submit the 37 dollar discrepancy from the payment they received on the 3rd, just sit tight. I'll be back on Wednesday or thereabouts. I told you I blew my entertainment budget this month!)

My First Friday: Crystal Lake Memories

2009-02-14T01:28:00.032-06:00

My earliest Friday the 13th experience was at our now-closed local double-feature theater just over the Illinois state line in Genoa City, Wisconsin. (If that sounds familiar, it may be because the creator of the soap The Young & The Restless lives nearby and borrowed the name.) My friend and I arrrived near the end of whichever was currently playing . We would pay a dollar and you could watch as many times as you wanted as they alternated both movies on a single screen. I'd love to know what the other movie screening that night was. (That must have been the one we told my mother about, if she knew we were there at all.)

I know I had already been exposed to some gore at the age of 10 when my Uncle Hugo had taken me to see John Carpenter's The Thing while I was visiting his family in Pasadena over the summer of 1982 (and for that I'll be forever grateful). I only have a vague recollection of my first bit of topless cinematic sex and one of the girls thinking she was talking to someone in a top bunk and realizing it was actually dismembered body parts, mostly glimpsed through my fingers as my hands were covering my face.

However, this theater often screened films from earlier years. Considering there were only two years a new Friday the 13th movie wasn't released from that time until I graduated high school, that doesn't help me narrow it down much. We did see the Final Girl Film Club pick Visiting Hours there also, which was released in 1982, so it possibly could have been Part 3, the first with the hockey mask. Looks like I'm going to have to watch them all again and see!

UPDATE: Thanks to a tip from J. Astro from The Cheap Bin, I confirmed that it was indeed Part V. It was the hedgeclippers that jogged my memory! They were in the earlier sex scene I recalled, and the bunk bed scene was later in the film. I don't have any recollection of having seen the rest of the film before, and now I see why. Having also just watched Part 3, I'm really glad I don't have to associate any fond memories with that one!

Friday the 13th was especially fun because "Crystal Lake" seemed very familiar. I spent most of my childhood and adult life living within a few miles of Crystal Lake, Illinois, first in Richmond and then in McHenry. (Incidentally, Kevin Smith's Dogma begins in McHenry. Jay & Silent Bob end up there while trying to find the fictional Shermer, the setting of several John Hughes films.) This photo of the lake on the city's website looks like it could be a still from one of the movies, and the "Welcome to Crystal Lake" caption simply makes me adore the matching tagline on the new F13 movie poster.

Just an hour north of John Wayne Gacy and an hour south of Ed Gein & Jeffrey Dahmer!

However, no one I knew went to camp there. Crystal Lake was actually the biggest city nearby, where you would have to go if you needed anything high-falutin' and citified. I picked up a few classes at the community college there, which, unfortunately for sweatshirt purposes was not named Crystal Lake College, but McHenry County. For camping, anyone would come out to the sticks, where I lived. I actually now live even nearer where I did my camping as a Girl Scout at Camp Anokijig in the Kettle Moraine Forest.

This recent revisiting of the Friday the 13th franchise as well as the long-awaited Return to Sleepaway Camp made me wonder, how many of you fellow fans actually attended a summer camp?

Turns out there just happens to be a contest over at Evil On Two Legs if you'd like to share your own Friday the 13th memories.

Friday the 13th Headlines

2009-02-13T16:22:00.002-06:00

Just for fun, here's a corner of the front page of today's local Crystal Lake newspaper:

I had to laugh after seeing the movie. Too bad the headline ends with "in McHenry home", indoors and just a few miles outside Crystal Lake.

The review is syndicated from the Los Angeles Times, by Dan Zak, and besides not agreeing with it I thought it was really poor for such a large market. He actually says, "If you love America, you will not pay to see it."! LOL! Well, sir, I surely do love America, and I'm paying to see it twice.

The New Friday the 13th : First Impressions

2009-02-13T02:24:00.018-06:00

Did Awesome Day fall on Friday, February 13th this year? Did the horror gods on high hear my humble prayer? Because, by gosh and by golly, I wasn't disappointed!

Am I actually going to trade in the contents of my piggy bank, literally, to see this again this very weekend? I am!

I very nearly flung my Junior Mints everywhere at the opening lightning strike. And the first Jason appearance. And the second. And the following jump scare. I held my breath as the opening cast appeared and slowly realized the dialogue...wasn't inspiring instant ridicule? Nay, was amusing? A sleeping bag kill homage! And then when the title screen popped up striking all forty of us in the theater momentarily dumb, and we let out a collective breath and began to giggle as one guy said aloud for all of us, "That was the opening?!" I allowed myself to believe everything was going to be okay!

Tonight filled the hole left in my heart of horrors by my horribly mismanaged expectations of Hatchet. I dorked out the entire five-minute drive home, giggling and clapping on a happy high. Apparently the early word seems to be harsh (as I write this, a 27% on the Tomatometer? Really?). An hour later, I'm beginning to go over everything once again with a slightly critical eye (how badly did I want to see Padalecki go into that chipper?) , but all-in-all, it's Friday the 13th, the waiting is over, and verily I say unto thee, it was good.

The Morning After: Oh! I'm feeling so badly that so many fans were so disappointed. I feel like we've all been to a birthday party, where I was having a lovely time, until someone started crying and then five more kids started crying, and now all the parents are here to pick us up and there isn't going to be any cake. :(

Flicks That Give You The Willies: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde 1941

2009-02-11T19:13:00.010-06:00

Since the 31 Flicks That Give You The Willies event at Shoot The Projectionist , I've been wanting to revisit the movie first brought to my mind in contemplating my own list, the 1941 version of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.

This is perhaps the only movie I first saw as an adult that so disturbed me that I never wished to see it again. I slightly hesitate to watch it now because as usually happens when reviewing films that scared you as a child, they rarely have the same effect as you remember them having. It was not more than ten years ago that this film gave me the willies, and just watching Ingrid Bergman in the trailer leads me to believe I'm still going to find it quite scary.

In finding a double feature DVD of the film on Amazon, however, I soon learned that this version of the film is widely derided in favor of the pre-Code version made ten years earlier, starring Fredric March.

Happily both versions are scheduled to air on TCM this week. On their website, they have a video about movie makeup comparing the two versions. In any genre it seems as a rule people tend to like whatever version they saw first. I suspect I'm still going to prefer the more realistic Spencer Tracy version, considering also that during the first I won't have Ingrid Bergman to look at, but we'll see!

Airing 7 PM Central Thursday, February 12th:

Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (1932) Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale of a scientist who unleashes the beast within. Cast: Fredric March, Miriam Hopkins, Rose Hobart. Dir: Rouben Mamoulian. BW-96 mins, TV-PG, CC

Airing later that evening at 3 AM Central:

Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (1941) A scientist's investigations into the nature of good and evil turn him into a murderous monster. Cast: Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner. Dir: Victor Fleming. BW-113 mins, TV-PG, CC, DVS

Between which I will be attending a midnight showing of Friday the 13th!

If you see her in your dreams, be sure you never, EVER scream....

2008-11-22T03:14:00.010-06:00

Now this is the stuff of true nightmares! What a striking resemblance! Note the shape of the nose, and the hair!

Final Girl Film Club: Joan Crawford in Strait-Jacket

2008-10-06T00:00:00.006-05:00

Today's Final Girl Film Club selection is Strait-Jacket, starring the one, the only, Miss Joan Crawford.

I doubt I'll be able to enjoy the yummy-sounding DVD extras before the due date, but I will watch on YouTube. I'm frightened already!

UPDATE: Alas, I was correct, my DVD has not yet arrived. My heart leapt with glee when I saw the Blockbuster wrapper in my mailbox on Saturday, because Strait-Jacket was next on the queue and "available". It turned out to be Ultraviolet.

Ultraviolet, widely rumored to suck, was a few down in my queue - a third-string pick as I planned to watch it to compare to the 1998 UK television series of the same name, which I'd planned to watch because two episodes star Stephen Moyer, who is also the central vampire in HBO's new TrueBlood.

That kinda took the fizz outta my soda. I'm going to try not to peek at all the reviews at Final Girl until I can watch the movie with all the extras, they sound essential!

FINAL UPDATE: I finally saw it and loved it so much I immediately purchased it for my collection. However, beside mentioning that I really loved Diane Baker before seeing this film from Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie, I really don't have anything to add to Stacie's review at Final Girl. As often is the case, she uncannily noted every favorite part I did, but wrote much more wittily about it. Can't improve upon perfection!

It turned out that the special features from the DVD were on You Tube after all (thanks to a so-called cuckoo-nutso Film Club Coolie). Also on YouTube? Episodes of the UK tv series Ultraviolet! I didn't need to clutter up my queue with that after all!

The Tara Reid Horror Movie Marathon - IF YOU DARE!

2008-10-01T05:56:00.001-05:00

In honor of the awesome cover art on the recent release of Vipers, I dare you to join me for a Tara Reid Horror Movie Marathon!

Tell me you do not want to see a big Tara-shaped lump inside a giant snake! I don't believe you!

xxxxx

Playing Ketchup for TRUEBLOOD Premiere

2008-09-07T00:01:00.001-05:00

The CliffsNotes version of all you need to know

for tonight's premiere on HBO:

From the creator and Executive Producer of Six Feet Under

"I am not that familiar with vampire fiction.

I've never read an Anne Rice book, I never watched Buffy.

Kathryn Bigelow's Near Dark

is the best vampire movie ever made, in my opinion."

Alan Ball Brings New Blood to the Vampire Genre - HBO

Based on author Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire book series

Anna Paquin (The Piano, X-Files, Darkness, the ever-upcoming Trick-r-Treat) is cast as Sookie Stackhouse, a Louisiana waitress who can hear thoughts à la Mel Gibson in What Women Want, a talent that understandably hampers her love life.

Enter Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), a "handsome 173-year-old" who returns to his hometown as vampires worldwide are "coming out of the coffin" due to a new Japanese "synthetic blood nourishment beverage" that recently made killing to feed unnecessary.

Fangs for the Memories: Shades of Buffy in TrueBlood -New York Observer

Early Reviews of TrueBlood - Televisionary

TrueBlood News at TV Guide

Things I Learned From Watching The Manitou

2008-02-26T17:08:00.012-06:00

"So weird, so bad, that it's a beautiful thing. Don't miss it."
- Featured review by "Truman Chipotle" on IMDB

Once again, an crazy-amazing selection from the Final Girl Film Club. I lucked out and caught this On Demand, so I don't have any screen-caps to offer. That's just as well, since Spazmo turned in the most fabulous review with screen-caps of just about anything you could want to see!

Having recently lived near Manatee County, Florida, this was my first subliminal thought as I glimpsed the title of this month's selection:

But seeing as how manatees are herbivores, that probably wouldn't have made for the best horror movie.

I looked at the cards with my usual elaborate concentration. I knew as much about the Tarot as anybody did who had taken the trouble to read Tarot Made Easy, but it was the style that carried it off. If you want to be a mystic, which is actually easier than being an advertising copywriter, or a summer camp warden, or a coach-tour guide, then you have to look like a mystic.
Since I am a rather mousy thirty-two-year-old from Cleveland, Ohio, with the beginnings of a bald patch underneath my scrubby brown hair, and a fine but overlarge nose in my fine but pallid face, I took the trouble to paint my eyebrows into satanic arches, and wear an emerald satin cloak with moons and stars sewn on it, and perch a triangular green hat on my head. The hat used to have a badge on it that said Green Bay Packers, but I took it off, for obvious reasons.

I invested in incense, and a few leather-bound copies of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and a beaten-up old skull from a secondhand store in the Village, and then I placed an advertisement in the newspapers which read: "The Incredible Erskine -- Fortunes Read, Future Foretold, Your Fate Revealed."

Within a couple of months, I was handling more business than I knew what to do with, and for the first time in my life I was able to afford a new Mercury Cougar and a quad stereo with earphones to match. But, as I say, it wasn't easy. The constant tide of middle-aged ladies who came simpering into my apartment, dying to hear what was going to happen in their tedious middle-aged lives, was almost enough to drown me forever in the well of human despair.

I was just going to the icebox to fetch myself a can of beer when the telephone rang. I tucked the receiver under my chin, and opened up the beer as I talked. The voice on the other end was female (of course) and nervous (of course). Only nervous females sought the services of a man like The Incredible Erskine.

"Mr. Erskine?"

"Erskine's the name, fortune-telling's the game."

"Mr. Erskine, I wonder if I could come round and see you."

"Of course, of course. The fee is twenty-five dollars for your ordinary glimpse into the immediate future, thirty dollars for a year's forecast, fifty dollars for a lifetime review."

"I just want to know what's going to happen tomorrow." The voice sounded young, and very worried. I took a quick mental guess at a pregnant and abandoned secretary.

"Well, madam, that's my line. What time do you want to come?"

"Around nine? Is that too late?"

"Nine is fine, and the pleasure's mine. Can I have your name please?"

"Tandy. Karen Tandy. Thank you, Mr. Erskine. I'll see you at nine."

It might seem strange to you that an intelligent girl like Karen Tandy should seek help from a terrible quack like me, but until you've been dabbling in clairvoyance for quite a while, you don't realize how vulnerable people feel when they're threatened by things they don't understand.

- Excerpt from The Manitou by Graham Masterton

This bit from the book makes the story sound like a lame take on a film-noir detective tale. It's cringe-inducingly bad. So, apparently in the book, Harry had never met Karen before. And the book originally had a different ending in its first release. It seems any conclusions drawn from the movie as to the moral of the story would not be what the author intended.

Things I Learned:

I now know that the name of the town of Manitowoc, two hours north up the shore of Lake Michigan, means "Spirit Wood". This in turn led me to the realization that (save for the cable-access show in Aurora), I am practically the female incarnation of Wayne of Wayne's World.

If you're like me, you'll know what I mean: I've seen hundreds more movies than anyone I've met, but my viewing experience is shamefully lacking compared to some of the people I find online. I've been trying to study all the films I see to see how they are related to others I may or may not have seen yet, to try to build a sort of framework to fill in with more movies as I watch them. Here are some things I've sorted out related to The Manitou, which many of you will know, but some of you may not...

Seeing John Singing Rock for the first time, I had the impression he wasn't actually Native American, and I wondered if he might be Iron Eyes Cody, the crying Indian from the anti-pollution PSAs of the 70s who was outed as Sicilian on the Columbus Day episode of The Sopranos. Turns out Michael Ansara isn't Native American or Sicilian, but of Egyptian descent. Having never seen any of the TV Westerns, I'd only heard of his popular role as "Cochise" of the Broken Arrow television series. He has since appeared in a wide variety of television programs. His appearance in The Manitou came a few years after his divorce from Barbara Eden of I Dream Of Jeannie. Lately, he has voiced the role of Mr. Freeze in several animated productions of Batman.

Burgess Meredith played The Penguin on the Batman TV series. Most people will recognize him from his roles in the Rocky and Grumpy Old Men movies.

The actresses who played Harry's first two clients, Mrs. Winconis and Mrs. Herz, were both on the cast of Psycho. Jeanette Nolan was the voice of Norman Bates' mother (nothing like the voice she uses in this film), and Lurene Tuttle was the sheriff's wife, Eliza Chambers: "I helped Norman pick out the dress she was buried in. Periwinkle blue."

Ann Sothern (who played Mrs. Karmann, Karen's aunt) had a long career in both television & film, including her series of Maisie movies. She made television history as the first woman with a job on her series Private Secretary. She previously appeared in two other horror films: Lady In A Cage (1964) and The Killing Kind (1973). Surprisingly, these look pretty raw.

Susan Strasberg (who plays Karen) is known as the daughter of Lee Strasberg of The Actors' Studio. I believe the only thing I'd ever seen her in was Psych-Out/The Trip. Horror movies she has appeared in include Scream of Fear (1961), So Evil, My Sister (1974), Bloody Birthday (1981), Sweet Sixteen (1983), and another Native American-themed film: The Returning also known as Witch Doctor (1983).

Stella Stevens was the January 1960 Playboy Playmate of the Month at the beginning of her career, and might be best known for appearing in the Elvis movie Girls! Girls! Girls! or The Nutty Professor shortly afterward. She has appeared in a crazy list of horror movies - more than enough for her own movie marathon festival! The Mad Room (1969), Arnold (1973), Wacko (1983), Monster in the Closet (1987), Mom (1990), The Terror Within 2 (1990), Little Devils: The Birth (1993), The Granny (1995), Phantasmagoria (1995), Blessed (2004) , Glass Trap (2005), plus a 1978 Aaron Spelling made-for-tv movie called Cruise Into Terror/Voyage Into Evil that sounds like an episode of The Love Boat with Satan on-board. Is there any chance at all that I will ever see it?

Of course Tony Curtis is the father of Her Royal Highness, Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis, which makes me loathe to make any snide remarks, but I'm afraid I must say he really seems like a pompous tool. He starred in Some Like It Hot in drag, and Spartacus, for goodness sake, but felt he had to publicly condemn Brokeback Mountain and refuse to watch it even as a voting member of the Academy. Meanwhile his daughter Jamie Lee Curtis is Jake Gyllenhaal's godmother. What the fuck is that all about, seriously? He's quoted as saying "I was 22 when I arrived in Hollywood in 1948. I had more action than Mount Vesuvius - men, women, animals! I loved it too. I participated where I wanted to and didn't where I didn't. I've always been open about it." Huh? This is really sticking in my craw more than ever now that Heath Ledger is gone and has no more career ahead of him.

I'm not sure I've ever seen him in anything besides Some Like It Hot. I'm going to catch him in The Boston Strangler (1968) this month on AMC. TMC will be playing five of his movies back-to-back on Wednesday, March 12 starting at 8 PM Eastern.

Most of these actors have also appeared in many episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents or The Twilight Zone, etc. that I am going to keep my eye out for.

At the very end of the film, they conclude with a mention of a case in Tokyo a few years prior in 1969 in which a boy was found to have a tumor containing a fetus. This condition has lately become more well-known due to the freak-show medical programs that have become so popular.

Long-distance Dedication: This song will never be the same again...

Awards Season: LiLo Sweeps The Razzies

2008-02-23T16:58:00.006-06:00

"When I look back on this last year, it’s like, what was I thinking?" the 21-year-old tells Harper's Bazaar in its March issue.

"Lohan helped the film bring home a staggering 8 Razzie Awards for all-around terribleness, tying the all-time record set by Showgirls." - Best Week Ever

Now if this news doesn't make you want to run (not walk) to rent I Know Who Killed Me, then I guess nothing will.

The Razzies taken home:

Worst Picture: I Know Who Killed Me

Worst Screenplay: I Know Who Killed Me
Worst Director: Chris Siverston for I Know Who Killed Me
Worst Actress x2: Lohan as twin sisters Aubrey and Dakota in I Know Who Killed Me
Worst Screen Couple:Lohan as twin sisters Aubrey and Dakota in I Know Who Killed Me
Worst Remake or Rip-off: I Know Who Killed Me
Worst Excuse for a Horror Movie: I Know Who Killed Me

Lindsay was nominated for Worst Supporting Actress as well, which she lost to Eddie Murphy. Eddie took home both the Worst Supporting Actor and Actress awards for two of his many roles in Norbit.

Endorsement: I saw it on PPV once in October and then watched it about three times and posted about it when it first came out on DVD at the end of November, and I already want to see it again. I only regret not going out of my way to see it when it was at the Brew & View. I definitely want it in my home library, and enough time has passed for plenty of used copies to offered on Amazon.

Lindsay celebrated the end of 2007 by accepting an award for her "contribution to cinema" at the 12th annual Capri Hollywood International Film Festival. And making out with every man within reach.

Here's hoping she heads off this end at the pass: Lindsay Lohan Recreates Last Nude Photo Shoot of Marilyn Monroe -- New York Magazine

I got the eBay blues...

2008-02-23T04:19:00.006-06:00

I had my eye on an original Embassy-release VHS copy of Deadly Blessing that had finally come along with a low starting bid and wasn't attracting any attention, and I lost out at the last minute by 25 cents. :(

Winning bid: $1.91. Yeah. I don't like to enter a higher bid in the beginning, so the price doesn't get run up too early. I just like to mark my territory. About five hours out, I was checking in every half-hour or so up until about an hour and a half before the end of the auction, and I was the only bidder when I fell asleep. The next day I found that there was only one other bid that went uncontested for the rest of the remaining time. Don't you hate when that happens?!

And which one of you was it? I want to know! I challenge you to a duel!

Well, at times like these I always think, if I suddenly had the money to buy everything at once, it wouldn't be very much fun.

After scoping out the competition, however, I saw that they paid a silly price for Still Breathing starring Brendan Fraser, which now in this context sounds like a great title for a horror film, but alas it's not a horror film, and it's really not very good, although I enjoy Mr. Fraser very much. The history shows it's been selling at a rather high price consistently. I'm always falling over copies of it everywhere I go looking for other movies. I own two, that I paid a dollar each for, only because he makes a neato marionette out of soda cans at one point and I wanted to try to make one myself. The person on set who actually made the marionette in the movie actually answered my post on IMDB! Isn't it cool when that happens?!

Now those two VHS cassettes will get me an easy $20 to buy me a copy of Deadly Blessing and a few more! Thanks, BlueLeaf31!

Masters of Horror: The Washingtonians

2008-02-18T05:17:00.003-06:00

In honor of Presidents' Day, I watched The Washingtonians episode of the Masters of Horror series.

It was pretty silly.

Now, I try to abide by the Showtime At The Apollo creed of not critiquing kids. I have a feeling this little girl was only following direction and the script, but as a reviewer on Amazon put it, she'll have you rooting for the cannibals.

I always have a difficult time deciding just how much to say about a film spoiler-wise. I think the less said about this one the better, as there's not all that much to it, and those few clever little details are really the highlight of the whole film on this one. It's just kinda fun, silly, and short, on par with a made-for-tv movie on Lifetime without any known actors.

Who? This episode drove me to the web to look into what made director Peter Medak a "Master of Horror" and all I found was The Changeling which seems to be fairly popular, but not all that high on my list. And rumor has it he was replaced as the director of Cujo. I did see a movie on his resume that looks promising: The Ruling Class from 1972 described as "a comedy starring Peter O'Toole as a British nobleman who thinks he is Jesus Christ". I read Romeo Is Bleeding and I must have confused it with Romeo Must Die if I ever came across it, because if it stars Gary Oldman, I really should have seen it by now. The Masters of Horror website noted at the time he was reportedly working on a movie called Inamorate produced by Johnny Depp.

Did I say Apollo Creed? lol

Double Feature: The Manitou & The Night of the Comet

2008-02-17T03:07:00.006-06:00

"Generally acknowledged as one of the silliest horror films ever made..." ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide on The Manitou

Oh my. I've read the synopsis for The Manitou and I'm not at all sure I'm ready for this jelly. With the Final Girl Film Club due date a week away, and the status still at Very Long Wait on my Blockbuster queue, I'm also not at all sure it's going to arrive in time. Turns out it's going to be on cable, as I just posted at FG:

UPDATE: I got my TV and discovered The Manitou is On Demand on digital cable here, too!

Curiously, Amazon suggests you order The Night of the Comet right along with this, as its "Better Together" up-sell suggestion. Is there a connection? Is it merely sheer awesomeness?

The Night of the Comet was one of our standard go-to VHS rentals in junior high- if we didn't find anything new to watch, we'd just rent The Night of the Comet again. Over twenty years later, I recently rented it again.

Oh, and a note to the re-releasers of Happy Birthday To Me and Eyes of a Stranger, THIS is how you re-design a DVD jacket...

Reviews to follow...

I'll Be Workin' My Way Back To You, Babe

2008-02-14T11:57:00.001-06:00

Butter my butt and call me a biscuit if this ain't the longest, most drawn-out move in history!

Well, there was that Moses thing...

It's heading into the third month, and I only just moved-in two weeks ago. I'm still without 90% of my stuff, but at least I'm here instead of there.

Actually, when I was there, I'd be driving to Daytona Beach this weekend. Here, I'm driving nowhere because there's a winter storm advisory with freezing rain. Plus, I have nothing to drive. Whose bright idea was this, anyway?

The end has to be in sight! I assure you, the very moment I can take a respite from applying and registering for stuff, I'll be back! (Hasta la vista, baby!)

Dario Argento's Suspiria

2008-01-14T17:13:00.000-06:00

Due 14 January 2008

This month's Final Girl Film Club selection: Dario Argento's Suspiria.

"The Only Thing More Terrifying Than
The Last 12 Minutes Of This Film Are The First 92"

"Even at his best Argento's movies have been more about spectacle than coherence."

Well, I promised to return today, and here I am, but damn it if I don't have any time to spare to write about this, and I'm all up for it, too. I'm separated from my computer, and borrowing my brother's laptop to type this bit on. Unfortunately, it will probably have to wait two weeks until I finally move into my new apartment and get my internet hook-up in February. Everything below is what I started after I watched this back on December 8th.

I was hoping this might turn out to be something like what I expected Satan's School For Girls to be. (The 2000 Shannen Dougherty version, I haven't seen the 1973 Charlie's Angels version yet.) I was looking forward to something creepy like Rosemary's Baby, where everyone was in on the secret except Suzy. I thought the teachers would be training the girls at the school to be witches. I imagined they would use the "ballet school" as a front, and use it to trick foreign girls like Suzy into coming to them whenever they, oh, say... needed a virgin to sacrifice. And they would gaslight her so she would think she was going crazy.

Instead, the teachers keep the ceremonies to themselves, and find it necessary to knock off student after student as they discover their secrets. It doesn't make much sense.

You'll do better to suspend logic for the duration of this movie, it's very dream-like, and that's one of the greater appeals of the film.

Language:

I didn't get very far before I had to switch from the dubbed English language audio to the original Italian audio track, much of which turns out to be dubbed as well. The DVD doesn't have English subtitles, but the closed captioning works. I suppose the dubbing adds another layer of "offness" that could add to the atmosphere of the film.

It was also odd that the school was in Germany, but everyone including the American spoke perfect Italian. Many Hollywood movies set elsewhere have everyone speaking English, so I imagine this must seem natural to the Italian audience. Should they really be speaking German, then, or is everyone Italian and living in Germany? I learned that Freiburg, where the movie was filmed, really is a college town, and has the highest percentage of foreign students of any town in Germany.

Haus zum Walfisch (House of the Whale)

Freiburg im Breisgau Baden-Württenberg Germany
Built 1514-1516 Rebuilt 1946-1948

Mother Of Tears - Early Review

I have lots more to say, but it will have to wait until I'm reunited with my computer...screen-caps & more to follow!

Moooving!

2008-01-02T17:38:00.001-06:00

I've been busy the end of December
(and will continue to be busy through the beginning
of ~~January~~ ~~February~~ March!)
getting ready for school, including moving
to Wisconsin, the Serial Killer State!
I'm off to John Belushi's alma mater!

I've been watching loads of movies at bedtime,
but getting online is just too much of a time sucker.
I've had to resist. I'll be back for the next
Final Girl Film Club review (11 days and counting), if not before.

Here's hoping things will be looking up in the new year!

Things to catch-up on when I return:

Suspiria
Sweeney Todd
The Mist
Horror Films on Ebert & Roper's Worst Films of 2007 lists

Coming Soon: The Poughkeepsie Tapes

2007-12-17T00:40:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 8 February 2008

If you haven't seen the film yet, the less you know going in the better, so you might want to hold off reading reviews and interviews until afterwards. - Ryan Stewart, Cinematical

I was excited when I first saw the trailer in the theater. Then I saw the mask and that kinda put the damper on my enthusiasm. Sounds like a lot of torture porn, but over at Cinematical, Ryan Stewart has said "it works as a horror-comedy". He also said it has a "third act surprise", so I don't want to hear any more about it before I see it.

Cinematical: Tribeca Review

Note to Poughkeepsie Director: Get a New Marketing Team, Immediately

Coming Soon: Cloverfield

2007-12-15T15:15:00.000-06:00

18 January 2008

Watch the trailer at the official site.

See Cloverfield Clues for news!

My Review: I Am Legend

2007-12-14T21:15:00.000-06:00

"Here come this Negro saving the world again." - Tavis Smiley

Smart and downbeat rarely plays mainstream (just look at the fast disappearance of Frank Darabont’s The Mist), but if you’re up for melancholy and contemplation in an action-thriller; then it just doesn’t get much better than I Am Legend. - CinemaBlend

Well, this will not be so much a review as a random collection of thoughts...

Even for the most anti-social of us (like myself), extreme, extended, complete, involuntary solitude can wear away at your sanity. Solitary confinement is a punishment in prisons. Add to that the fact that you have created the situation yourself, with no likely end, and the all-consuming guilt of having personally decimated 99% of the world population, and even the strongest man is headed for a breakdown.

SPOILERS

It was kinda a let-down that the "Dark Seekers" were so CGI that they looked supernatural. They didn't move naturally, and when they yelled, their faces seemed to stretch. Eric D. Snider got it right when he said they looked like they were in a video game. The first glimpse was creepy - what the heck were they doing in that huddle?

FANGORIA has some photos of what the Dark Seekers were originally supposed to look like before they decided to go the CGI route. I think they look super cool.

Roger Ebert: The situation raises questions of logic. If Neville firmly believes he is the last healthy man alive, who is the vaccine for? Only himself, I guess.

Well, ...um, uh.. hmmm.

Roger Ebert: But we have seen every bridge into Manhattan blown up as part of a quarantine of the island, so how did they get there? Boat? Why go to the risk?

Anna said she had come by boat from some evacuation site in Puerto Rico or some-such, didn't she?

MUSIC

Bob Marley - Three Little Birds

I predict Bob Marley will be the #1 download on iTunes!

Watch the first five minutes. Compare to the video clip from Vanilla Sky below.

Elements of Vanilla Sky (a deserted Manhattan and a hot little mamacita), Night of the Comet, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Cast Away, 28 Days/Weeks Later...

Kindertrauma: Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

2007-12-13T03:03:00.000-06:00

See Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory at Kindertrauma.

Hatchet (Unrated Director's Cut)

2007-12-11T12:26:00.000-06:00

“This is the best horror movie I have ever been involved with. All I can say is that it’s great. I stake my reputation on it.” – KANE HODDER

This was bad. And not Michael Jackson "Bad". Or perhaps it IS Michael Jackson bad. Like "Captain Neo" bad. Sha-mone! I was not amused after being fish-hooked into seeing this in theaters on the promise of "the best slasher film in twenty years". If you missed the bullshit reviews, seriously, you need to see them to believe them. They claimed "Victor Crowley will be the first film killer in years to join the upper echelon ranks of Michael, Jason, and Freddy. He is the next big thing in horror."

Now, I'm well aware of the "quote whores" who will praise any movie to the high heavens for promotional purposes, but these were quotes from people I thought I could trust. Horror fans. Bloody Disgusting. Even Jason and Freddy themselves. And I can account for differences in opinion, but these were all unequivocal, in no uncertain terms. Now that I've had time to reflect on the experience, I think I might have actually enjoyed this movie if the reviews hadn't totally skewed my expectations.

It seems they said those things to get funding, or distribution. I can't imagine they really meant them. I can imagine they might have enjoyed the movie, but not what they said in those quotes. It must have been done to get an original small-budget horror film in theaters. I'm all for that, especially with the never-ending onslaught of remakes. But now they're all the boys who cried wolf in my eyes. Couldn't it have been done with favorable honest reviews? Are they really helping horror if the picture underperforms? Isn't that just going to make it harder for the next independent filmmaker who's really holding the next classic?

Maybe I'm just a total noob. I'm certainly not too familiar with the inner workings of the horror film industry. But this one really left a bad taste in my mouth. I fell for it hook, line and sinker and was left feeling completely hosed.

However, I'll be renting this when it comes out next week to watch all the extras. I'm really curious about what the tone of the commentary will be. With my expectations completely dashed, there's nowhere to go but up. Knowing what to expect (and what not to expect) the second time around, and having a skip forward button, hopefully I'll enjoy it more for what it is.

If you haven't seen it, folks, expect a B-movie with a lot of comedy. With that mindset, you'll probably like it a lot.

From memory, there was nobody to root for but the killer. He was way too sympathetic, and the victims were all annoying as hell. Then, they don't allow that direction to pay off. I think it was just a poor formula. What it had going for it was the humor and special effects.

I'm willing to wipe the slate clean and give this one another chance. I'll freely admit if my opinion has improved when I rent it in the next week or two. Reviewers are still raving about it in second wave of reviews for the DVD, so maybe I'm just the odd girl out on this one. If you liked it, please feel free to take me to school in the comments and vote in the poll on the side bar.

This deal doesn't appear to be valid for the new releases, but if you were interested in ordering some older Anchor Bay DVDs, try coupon code BOGOANCBAY to get "buy one, get one free"over at deepdiscount.com. The coupon code expires December 19th.

Release Date: 12/11/2007 ----Release Date: 12/18/2007

First Reviews: I Am Legend

2007-12-10T23:02:00.000-06:00

AMC SciFi Scanner: The First Review of 'I Am Legend'

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter: Smith's fascinating 'Legend' spoiled by ending

Seattle Times: What's riskier for Smith: vampires or a one-man show?

Los Angeles Times Scene Stealer: Re-imagining Times Square in 'I Am Legend'

Actor Will Smith, star of 'I Am Legend,' is helped as he places his feet in cement during a hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater Monday, Dec. 10, 2007, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.

Unfortunately circumstances of my own wouldn't allow me to make the early screening of this today here in Chicago today. :(

If you'd like to accompany us to see it opening weekend (December 14-16) please click on over to the Chicago Horror Movies Meetup Group. If you're not in the Chicago area, find a movie meetup group near you at meetup.com.

Meet 'I Am Legend' director Francis Lawrence at SoHo Apple Store

2007-12-10T22:47:00.000-06:00

Join 'I Am Legend' director Francis Lawrence at the SoHo Apple Store in New York City at 3pm on December 11th, as he screens scenes from the movie and discusses the making of this film, adapted from the Richard Matheson sci-fi novel and starring two-time Oscar nominee Will Smith. Following the discussion, Lawrence will take questions from the audience. The ﬁlm’s producer and co-writer, Akiva Goldsman, will moderate the event.

The store is located at 103 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012. Click through for more details.

Movies Rock: The Blood Brothers

2007-12-07T11:45:00.000-06:00

If you subscribe to any Condé Nast magazines, you got a copy of their supplemental Movies Rock magazine last month. (There's a program of the same name on CBS tonight, but it looks entirely lame.) The magazine had a photo feature called Sight & Sound that included two horror portraits. One, titled Blood Brothers, was composed of a homicidal Marilyn Monroe look-alike posing with two of her victims Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. The other, The Fright Club is a portrait of Tim Burton with Johhny Depp as Sweeney Todd.

I scanned & cropped Marilyn as I thought it might make an interesting desktop wallpaper. Supersize it!

The left panel of the photo had Quentin sprawled out on the floor - I'll scan it a bit later, along with the Johnny Depp/Tim Burton photo. Right now, I'm off to see The Golden Compass!

As I received several copies of the magazine, I might do a giveaway or two if there's any interest. You know, after I start getting a little traffic through here and someone reads this one day. Leave a comment!

First Reviews Call 'Sweeney Todd' Best Film of 2007

2007-12-05T20:02:00.000-06:00

Cinematical: First Reviews Call 'Sweeney Todd' Best Film of 2007

Movie City News: Early Review

If you'd like to accompany us to see it opening weekend (December 21-23) please click on over to the Chicago Horror Movies Meetup Group. If you're not in the Chicago area, find a movie meetup group near you at meetup.com.

Doh! Will Smith gives away ending of "I Am Legend" (but reporters don't)

2007-12-04T07:07:00.000-06:00

TOKYO - Will Smith, director Francis Lawrence, and producer Akiva Goldsman were in Tokyo Tuesday, December 4, 2007 promoting their new movie I Am Legend. Smith, 39, had a busy day, visiting the U.S. base at Yokota in the morning, before being flown back to Roppongi in a Black Hawk helicopter. He will attend the Japan premiere of "I Am Legend" on Wednesday night before heading to South Korea. - from Japan Today

TOKYO - Will Smith had the producer of his latest film holding his head in anguish on Tuesday after the actor gave away the ending of I Am Legend.

Speaking at a Tokyo news conference, Smith inadvertently revealed the plot, prompting co-producer and co-screenwriter Akiva Goldsman to shout: "Don't give away the ending!"

Press handlers asked all present to keep the ending a secret, so as not to spoil it for viewers.

The movie premieres simultaneously in the United States and Japan on December 14.

Reporting by Toshi Maeda, writing by George Nishiyama,
Photos by Koji Sasahara & Kim Kyung-Hoon

Oliver Stone's The Hand

2007-12-03T22:23:00.000-06:00

Continuing with the "newly-lost limb" theme of last week's I Know Who Killed Me, the Final Girl Film Club now presents Oliver Stone's The Hand.

This is the second selection from the recently released Warner Bros. Twisted Terror Collection, last month's pick having been Eyes of a Stranger. Eyes of a Stranger is a new favorite of mine, but I still haven't yet managed to complete my review - it's currently in progress!

The Hand is really not the sort of thing expected from Oliver Stone. For those that might not know his work by name, he is largely known for films about political controversies & conspiracies (Platoon, Born On the Fourth of July, JFK, Nixon) as well as writing screenplays such as Scarface and Conan the Barbarian. This movie led me to discover he previously wrote another horror screenplay based on a nightmare he had, which was made into the movie Seizure! that I'll be watching and reviewing next.

Expect more of a psychological horror thriller than a creature special effects film. Michael Caine stars as a comic-strip artist (Jon Lansdale) at the point of a mid-life crisis, whose drawing hand is severed in an automobile accident. As his life begins to unravel, he's thrown into fits of jealousy and rage, prone to drinking binges and blackouts. He comes to believe his severed hand, which was never recovered, is attacking the objects of his anger. Or is it just a delusion?

Oliver Stone adapted his screenplay for "The Hand" from a book titled "The Lizard's Tail" by Marc Brandel. In addition to the idea of a severed lizard tail having a life of its own, the movie contains many psychological themes regarding the idea of the reptilian brain. The reptilian brain is the center of our most primitive instincts, such as murderous rage and territoriality. (For more on the topic in layman's terms, try The Dragons of Eden: Speculations on the Evolution of Human Intelligence by Carl Sagan).

Jon jokes early in the film, when his wife suggests the possibility of his seeing a psychiatrist:
"After a thousand dollars he'll probably tell me I have a penis complex because I lost my hand!" This seemed to be the central theme of the film. Jon is reasonably successful and attractive, but aging. He's been married to Anne (Andrea Marcovicci), his younger, beautiful wife, long enough to have fathered their daughter, but his wife already has a plan in effect to ditch the marriage in Vermont and move to Manhattan and start an upscale new-age macro-biotic life with her certifiably-icky yoga instructor.

"And tuck this!"

When a marital argument in the car leads to the loss of his livelihood, Jon becomes increasingly controlling and possessive. He feels threatened by the young up-and-coming artist (Charles Fleischer) that now has designs on taking over the comic strip that's been his life's work. Jon accuses him of "cutting the balls off" his main character, "Mandro".

*Someone* has scribbled all over David's work,

and drawn a little caricature of him, too!

Landing on his feet as men quite often do after a mid-life shake-up, he lands a cake-walk "teaching" job and rent-free house across the country in Big Bear Lake, California. Stella, a lovely young thing he's hardly taken notice of in class, delivers herself up on his doorstep.

In spite of this, he needlessly gets caught up in a swordfight with a crude fellow teacher (Bruce McGill) who styles himself to have a claim on Stella, even though she's made it abundantly clear she prefers Jon. Yep, pretty much sounds like a penis complex to me.

"Fuck Christmas!"

Oliver Stone originally had Jon Voight in mind for the lead role, but he turned it down. Dustin Hoffman and Christopher Walken also passed. Michael Caine accepted, despite not having a history in horror at the time, although he's known for his roles in several today. Besides starring an Academy Award winning actor in the lead role, I found the entire cast to be really outstanding.

Jon's little daughter Lizzie is played by Mara Hobel, who was nominated for a Razzie this same year for her role as the younger Christina Crawford in the cult classic Mommie Dearest. (Surely her nominations for both WORST SUPPORTING ACTRESS and WORST NEW STAR were due to the fab-atrociousness of the film itself, rather than due to any fault of her own.)

Mara Hobel as Christina

The highlight of the film for me was being introduced to Annie McEnroe (Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf Bitch), who plays Stella, the career community college student. I've been completely charmed. Her sketchbook is hysterical!

"I'll take it in the can!"

The students in Jon's community college class were a extra-special treat. Extra-special. Just like the local law enforcement.

Do you have a favorite comic strip, Billy?

How about you, dear?

Is this shirt supposed to look like watermelon seeds? It's cute!

Just in time for the holiday season, this movie even has scary Re-Gifting!

Music: There's a pretty boss Blondie song in the movie: Union City Blue. And in tribute to Stella, I hereby declare David Naughton's Makin' It an honorary soundtrack cut.

"I'm kinda old-fashioned, I like to make it in bed, okay?"

*Someone* been doodling in the kitchen
while someone's been diddling in the bedroom...

Special Effects:

The DVD includes a very easy-going, candid and enjoyable commentary by Oliver Stone.

I thought the car accident was corny, but he seems pretty pleased with it. Why didn't Jon just pull his hand in?

One of the things he discusses is being pressured by the studio to include bigger creature effects (à la Jaws) instead of the "less is more" approach. The hand effects were done by Carlo Rambaldi (King Kong, Alien, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Dune).

I was enamored with his lobster!

Stone says Stan Winston and Tom Burman joined the production late as consultants and helped save the day in the hand make-up department.

Trivia:

Three years later, Charles Fleischer (the replacement cartoonist) played the role of Dr. King in A Nightmare on Elm Street. John Stinton (the icky yoga instructor) later had a role in Freddy's Nightmares.

Word is SCTV did a sketch titled "My Bloody Hand" spoofing "The Hand" while the movie was in theaters in 1981. It's part of show #89 included in the Volume 2 DVD set. This is the kind of thing I'd love to see included as an extra on DVD releases, although surely red tape must often make it next to impossible. It's up next in my queue!

Other disembodied-hand movie selections for your perusal:

Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Crawling Hand

Idle Hands (1999)

Devon Sawa (pictured below) starred in this horror comedy the year before he appeared in Final Destination. After seeing Devon's performance in Final Destination, Dr. Dre cast him in the title role in Eminem's "Stan" video. Five years earlier, Devon starred in Casper with Christina Ricci. More recognizable names in Idle Hands are Fred Willard, Vivica A. Fox, Seth Green, and Jessica Alba. Jessica Alba is appearing in theaters this week in the medical horror movie "Awake" with Hayden Christiansen.

More comedy: Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn

The Addams Family's "Thing"

The Beast With Five Fingers

And Now the Screaming Starts!

Out on DVD Today: I Know Who Killed Me

2007-11-27T13:32:00.001-06:00

People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like. - Abraham Lincoln

If you could, in fact, judge a book by its cover, this movie would totally be my bag, baby!

As those of us old enough to remember the early days of Pre-Blockbuster VHS rental know, judging a movie's potential merits by the packaging was a particular skill, something akin to panning for gold in a river bed. Other than word-of-mouth, the art and info on the box were pretty much the only clues we had to go on. (This was back when Al Gore was inventing the Internet, kiddies.) And believe me, we examined every video in the place, there wasn't much of a selection. A movie with box art like this held special promise to be a true winner. This had all the makings of greatness.

Oddly, this brand-new 2007 release plays just like one of those B-movies that has been languishing for years on a video-store shelf waiting for the weeknight you'll discover it. And although it didn't quite live up to its box art, I think this is pretty much required viewing. Just lower your expectations a bit. It had potential to be good, but it turned out to fall into the "so-bad-its-good" category, which I can enjoy just as much. Admittedly, my expectations were high. I expect many have no expectations of this movie at all.

Lindsay Lohan was born the year I was a freshman in high school - I'm about twice her age. She completely captivated me from the moment I first saw her, about ten years later, runnin' thangs playing poker at summer camp in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap. If she was that good in a dual twin role at age 11, I was intrigued to see what she would do with a decidedly un-Disneyfied reprise at age 21.

I really could have done without the Captivity-like "torture porn", but thankfully it doesn't comprise too much of the picture.

I just saw this on pay-per-view in a hotel on Halloween and I don't even remember the mother being Julia Ormond. And I MUST see the DVD extras. So I'll be giving this another look-see before I complete my review.

SYNOPSIS: Lindsay Lohan stars in the mind-bending psychological thriller I Know Who Killed Me as Aubrey Fleming, an unfortunate young woman whose life -and body- are irreparably damaged following an abduction by a heinous serial killer. Though Aubrey pulls off a miraculous escape from the clutches of the madman, she does so with deep-seated psychological scars, plus the loss of a hand, a leg, and untold amounts of blood. While Aubrey's parents view her return as a veritable answer to their prayers, they must soon confront an outrageous and seemingly inexplicable twist: the girl who returned claims another identity -that of a young woman named Dakota. She also exhibits a wholly different personality and mannerisms than Aubrey did, and -more frighteningly- insists that Aubrey is still very much alive, in the throes of the maniac's grip, and only inches away from death. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide

Fun Fact: "Dakota" is the name of Lindsay's real-life little brother.

Now with 200% of your
Recommended Daily Allowance:
EXTENDED STRIP DANCE SCENE!

"A credible piece of pop entertainment," says Stephen Hunter of the Washington Post:
Lindsay Lohan Gets An 'A' for a B-Flick! (Thanks to Bill Walsh for posting a link at Final Girl.)

Official Site: iknowwhokilledme.com

Entertainment Weekly QUIZ: I Saw It, So You Don't Have To

Entertainment Weekly PHOTO GALLERY: Stars who played strippers

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

2007-11-21T02:27:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 21 December 2007

I'm really looking forward to this one! My review will be posted as soon as I can manage to see this. In the meantime, check out this very interesting article by Paul Brownfield at the Los Angeles Times.

QUOTE: "Sweeney Todd is another ambitious reimagining of a venerable text. The result is a beautifully scored, high-art slasher film, told almost entirely in song and topped off with Depp paying homage to Lon Chaney and Boris Karloff."

SYNOPSIS: Johnny Depp and Tim Burton join forces again in a big-screen adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's award-winning musical thriller Sweeney Todd. Depp stars in the title role as a man unjustly sent to prison who vows revenge, not only for that cruel punishment, but for the devastating consequences of what happened to his wife and daughter. When he returns to reopen his barber shop, Sweeney Todd becomes the Demon Barber of Fleet Street who "shaved the heads of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard from again." Joining Depp is Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, Sweeney's amorous accomplice, who creates diabolical meat pies. The cast also includes Alan Rickman, who portrays the evil Judge Turpin, who sends Sweeney to prison and Timothy Spall as the Judge's wicked associate Beadle Bamford and Sacha Baron Cohen is a rival barber, the flamboyant Signor Adolfo Pirelli.

From The Concession Stand:
Mrs. Lovett's Meat Pies

MOVIE CONNECTIONS: Kevin Smith's Jersey Girl.
Gertie originally wanted to see Cats on Broadway. Her father explained that Cats had closed and offered to take her to another show, ending up at Sweeney Todd. Much to his chagrin, her father hadn't been aware of the subject matter, but little Gertie was enthralled! A girl after our own hearts. Sweeney Todd may seem grim subject matter for a school play, but Gertie's school is named for Maria Goretti, a Catholic saint who was martyred by being stabbed to death.

Liv Tyler, Ben Affleck, and little Raquel Castro (Gertie)
perform a number from Sweeney Todd
for Gertie's elementary school Fall Pageant.

While receiving many negative reviews (mostly likely due to the Curse of Gigli), a select few prominent critics reacted favorably. Roger Ebert gave the film three and a half out of four stars! If you haven't seen it, give it a try sometime, it's pretty cute!

News from Cinematical:

'Sweeney Todd' Update: Johnny Depp Finally Sings!

Is There Really Too Much Gore in 'Sweeney Todd'?

Other Johnny Depp & Tim Burton movies: Edward Scissorhands, Corpse Bride, Ed Wood, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sleepy Hollow Other Johnny Depp horror/ish movies: Secret Window, Nightmare On Elm Street, From Hell, The Ninth Gate, The Astronaut's Wife, Dark Shadows (upcoming 2010) Other Tim Burton horror/ish movies: The Nightmare Before Christmas, Frankenweenie. Of these, I especially enjoy Sleepy Hollow (about the Headless Horseman) & From Hell (about Jack the Ripper).

See a movie for just $1 with Fandango!

2007-11-20T06:34:00.000-06:00

Every Wednesday between November 21st and December 26th, McDonald’s is giving away over 8,000 $1 movie tickets, courtesy of McDonald’s Dollar Menu!

Here’s how it works:

Get the new Word of the Week on this page at Fandango every Wednesday at noon (Pacific time).
Text that word to “FNDGO” (36346).
If you are one of the first 1,333 lucky people to send in your message, Fandango will send you a promotion code valid for one ticket at $1, courtesy of McDonald’s Dollar Menu. If you don’t respond in time; you can keep trying every Wednesday, through December 26th.

Good luck!

If you're considering buying any Fandango Bucks gift certificates for gift-giving this season, I'd really appreciate if you'd use this link - . I'll get $2 for every purchase - just a few will earn me enough to buy a used DVD to review, or maybe even some Junior Mints! :)

From The Concession Stand:

Tim Burton to make FRANKENWEENIE feature

2007-11-19T02:06:00.000-06:00

Variety reports that Tim Burton will expand his 1984 short film FRANKENWEENIE into a feature for Walt Disney Pictures. The original live-action version is a spoof of the classic FRANKENSTEIN about a young boy who brings his dead dog back to life through mad-science means. It was previously available on DVD on the now-out-of-print NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS Special Edition. The new film will be created via stop-motion animation and exhibited in 3-D. Following the success of the theater 3-D release of NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Burton will also helm a 3-dimensional ALICE IN WONDERLAND for Disney. The director next has the bloody musical SWEENEY TODD hitting theaters next month.

This news story very slightly adapted from Fangoria online. Check out issue #269 of their print edition magazine, on sale in December, for an exclusive Sweeney Todd set visit!

From The Concession Stand:

hot dog with ketchup

The Special Edition Nightmare DVD that includes the original Frankenweenie is wicked spendy on Amazon - if you're hoping for a deal, click here to check current eBay prices. The original Frankenweenie VHS is currently selling for around $8 on both eBay and Amazon. Most certainly the original will be on the upcoming DVD release of the new animated Frankenweenie.

Coming Soon: I Am Legend

2007-11-16T23:09:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 14 December 2007

This post-apocalyptic science-fiction horror film is the third adaptation based on Richard Matheson's 1954 novel I Am Legend, following The Last Man On Earth (1964) starring Vincent Price and The Omega Man (1971) starring Charleton Heston. A 1994 version starring Arnold Schwarzenegger was narrowly avoided when production ran over-budget. Shwew!

SYNOPSIS: Robert Neville (Will Smith) is a brilliant scientist, but even he could not contain the terrible virus that was unstoppable, incurable... and man-made. Somehow immune, Neville is now the last human survivor in what is left of New York City... and maybe the world. But he is not alone. He is surrounded by "The Infected" - victims of the plague who have mutated into carnivorous beings who can only exist in the dark and who will devour or infect anyone or anything in their path.

Neville indirectly caused of the fall of man - his government-funded research helped spread the virus, and he now works to redeem himself. Naturally immune, Neville realizes that two percent of the human race must also be immune. Perhaps mankind's last, best hope, Neville is driven by only one remaining mission: to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus using his own immune blood. But his blood is also what The Infected hunt, and Neville knows he is outnumbered and quickly running out of time. For three years, Neville has spent his days scavenging for food and supplies and faithfully sending out radio messages, desperate to find any other survivors who might be out there. All the while, The Infected lurk in the shadows, watching Neville's every move, waiting for him to make a fatal mistake.

The Brooklyn Bridge served as a location in I Am Legend, at which there was a $5 million scene filmed, the most expensive scene to date in New York City. See story & photos at The Gothamist.

Following in the footsteps of her brother Jaden, Will Smith's daughter Willow makes her film debut as Marley, Neville's daughter. See her in the trailer below!

I Am Legend Trailer

Add This Video to Your MySpace Profile | More Videos

Movie Connection: Night of the Living Dead
Duane Jones' role as Ben in George Romero's Night of the Living Dead marked the first time a black actor was cast as a non-ethnic lead in a major motion picture in America, and the first time a black actor had a starring role in a horror film (1968).

Become an I am Legend member and stay up-to-date on the movie!

Stephen King's The Mist

2007-11-10T04:08:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 21 November 2007

SYNOPSIS: A small band of citizens hole-up in a supermarket and fight for their lives.

I suppose I'll review this when it comes out on DVD. I did see in in the theaters not once, but twice, but somehow I was unable to put a review together. I hope you saw it in the theater, too, because it was lots of fun!

Movie Merch: I want a Food House apron and an Arrowhead Project patch!

A Happy Thanksgiving For The Mist - AMC Monsterfest

The Director of The Mist on The Power of Stephen King - Fandango

Johnny Depp to revive Dark Shadows

2007-11-09T08:37:00.000-06:00

Warner Bros. is teaming with Johnny Depp's Infinitum-Nihil and Graham King's GK Films to develop a feature based on the '60s supernatural TV show "Dark Shadows".

According to Variety, Depp has always been obsessed with "Dark Shadows" and had, as a child, wanted to be Barnabas Collins, the vampire patriarch of the series. The role was originated by Jonathan Frid.

Over 1,225 episodes, "Dark Shadows" was a highly atmospheric, spooky soap that featured gothic horror staples like vampires, monsters, witches, werewolves, ghosts and zombies.

Halloween (Divimax 25th Anniversary Edition)

2007-10-31T14:37:00.001-05:00

Sleepy Hollow

2007-10-25T03:25:00.000-05:00

Rob Zombie's Halloween

2007-10-15T22:57:00.000-05:00

I Luv Halloween!

2007-10-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

"I Luv Halloween is a graphic novel about the misadventures of a group of friends who meet every Halloween for a night of trick-or-treating. When some ill-fated old woman hands out apples instead of the candy they so desire however, they are not afraid to strike back. With suggestive themes ranging from murder to the perverse, this graphic novel is ripe with several strange and disturbing characters from a psychotic, crazed, and murderous little girl named Moochie who dresses like the Tooth Faerie and delights in killing just to steal her victim's molars, to a dog with only half a head named Mush."

published by TOKYOPOP
Art by Benjamin Roman
Written by Keith Giffen

28 Weeks Later (Widescreen Edition)

2007-09-28T11:41:00.000-05:00

Release Date: 11 May 2007

28 Days Later (Widescreen Edition)

2007-09-27T11:29:00.000-05:00

Release date : 27 June 2003

Flight of the Living Dead: Outbreak on a Plane

2007-09-20T11:18:00.000-05:00

Wes Craven's Red Eye

2007-09-15T06:57:00.000-05:00

Shaun of the Dead

2007-09-10T03:52:00.000-05:00

Release date: 24 September 2004

Michael Jackson's Thriller

2007-09-01T07:15:00.000-05:00

"Michael Jackson's Thriller video killed off zombie films for a good fifteen years. It was the ultimate in high camp. It was only when Resident Evil came out on Playstation that it all started again. It is cyclical, and is all to do with a fear of ourselves, of the enemy within and the fact that we could die at any moment." - Simon Pegg of Shaun of the Dead

The Devil's Rejects (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

2007-08-22T08:07:00.000-05:00

House of 1,000 Corpses

2007-08-21T08:14:00.000-05:00

Turistas (Unrated Edition)

2007-08-16T00:53:00.000-05:00

It's all fun & games until someone loses a kidney.

FROM THE CONCESSION STAND:
Caipirinha de Tangerina

1/2 very sweet tangerine
2 ounces of cachaça
Sugar to taste
Ice cubes

Peel the tangerine and put it in the glass. Sprinkle with the sugar and crush the pieces with a pestle. Add the cachaça and stir to mix. Add the ice and stir again. It's delicious and potent!

- from maria-brazil

Hostel - Part II (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

2007-08-11T00:45:00.001-05:00

Hitchcock liked to quote the nineteenth-century French playwright Victorien Sardou’s advice, “Torture the women!” — adding provocatively, “The trouble today is we don’t torture women enough.” - Philip Kemp in Ken Mogg’s The Alfred Hitchcock Story

Hostel (Unrated Widescreen Edition & Director's Cut)

2007-08-02T00:48:00.000-05:00

Scream (Dimension Collector's Series)

2007-07-23T09:51:00.000-05:00

From the Concessions Stand: Jiffy Pop

Sleepaway Camp

2007-07-08T21:27:00.000-05:00

Release Date: 18 November 1983

Return to Sleepaway Camp (Upcoming?)

"Ignoring the earlier, unsanctioned sequels in the series, twenty years have passed since the grizzly murders that shocked Camp Arawak occurred. Now a new camp has opened with some familiar faces and an old killer just may be hiding and waiting."

American Psycho (Uncut Killer Collector's Edition)

2007-07-04T06:12:00.000-05:00

Maniac

2007-06-19T06:45:00.000-05:00

From the Concessions Stand:
Cracker Jack

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2-Disc Ultimate Edition) (1974)

2007-06-15T04:01:00.000-05:00

Friday the 13th Part II

2007-06-14T07:31:00.000-05:00

Friday the 13th

2007-06-13T07:22:00.000-05:00

Fun Fact: The thirteenth day of the month is more likely to be on a Friday than on any other day.

High Tension/Haute Tension (Unrated Widescreen Edition)

2007-06-10T06:46:00.000-05:00

Release Date: 10 June 2005

Wrong Turn

2007-05-20T09:28:00.000-05:00

Carrie (Special Edition)

2007-05-05T08:05:00.001-05:00

Devil Times Five

2007-05-05T03:45:00.000-05:00

Even if horror isn't your cup of tea, at least the eclectic cast should pique your curiosity. - Cinematical

Although the beginning of the movie will certainly test your patience, once the shit starts hitting the fan you will be glued to your seat, and the final 30 minutes or so are slasher heaven. - Lance Vaughan at Retro Slashers

Cast includes Boss Hogg (Dukes of Hazzard) unhappily married to Rosario (Will & Grace) with Leif as one of the killer kids plus his real life sister and mother! See DVD Drive-in for an excellent overview.

I have vague recollections from long ago of a little Leif Garrett in the woods in an oddly-edited film, so I'll be giving this another viewing.

Final Girl didn't care for it. In her honor, I will actually be making a grilled-cheese sandwich during the slo-mo scene. Sounds like they totally should have included an shorter 40-minute alternate cut on the DVD without the filler.

I'll add my thoughts after I give this another viewing...

May

2007-05-01T09:36:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday To Me

2007-04-25T15:51:00.000-05:00

x
x

Amusement

2007-04-25T10:13:00.000-05:00

Release date: 25 April 2008

See the Official Site to watch the teaser trailer at Yahoo! Movies

Prom Night: The Sequels

2007-04-20T10:25:00.000-05:00

"Some will be crowned, others will lose their heads..."

Prom Night 2: Hello Mary Lou was released the October I turned sixteen, so I saw it in the theater and found it delightfully schlocky & ridikerous. Twenty years later, it's about due for another viewing.

We're not exactly looking forward to this part, but we plan to review Prom Night 3: The Last Kiss and Prom Night 4: Deliver Us from Evil in April as well.

Prom Night

2007-04-15T22:30:00.000-05:00

"If you don't come home by midnight...

YOU WON'T COME HOME AT ALL!"

Somehow we've gotten to this late date having never seen the original Prom Night starring Her Royal Highness of Horror, Jamie Lee Curtis. Both the Prom Night (Full Screen Edition) and the Prom Night (Widescreen Edition) DVDs arrived in our mailbox today.

A so-called "remake" is due in theaters during prom season next year (April 2008) starring Brittany Snow, although the story is made au courant by having her stalked by an obssessed teacher (Johnathon Schaech).

Over at Bloody Disgusting they're all up-in-arms, as well they might be as it may turn out not to be bloody & disgusting with its reported PG-13 rating.

“It’s just taking the same name as ‘Prom Night’ the original, but it’s a different script. It’s actually more in the vein of ‘Fear,’ with Reese Witherspoon and Mark Wahlberg.”
- Brittany Snow

Well, we just so happen to absolutely adore Fear (1996). I gotta tell ya, we're not all that upset. We'll see if it sucks.

April Fools' Day

2007-04-01T22:29:00.000-05:00

Release Date: 28 March 1986

The Exorcist (The Version You've Never Seen)

2007-03-25T06:06:00.000-05:00

A Nightmare on Elm Street (Infinifilm Edition)

2007-03-12T07:08:00.000-05:00

From The Concession Stand:
No-Doz

From Hell

2007-02-20T06:24:00.000-06:00

When a Stranger Calls

2007-02-11T10:53:00.000-06:00

26 October 1979

My Bloody Valentine

2007-02-01T22:52:00.000-06:00

Release Date: 11 February 1981

The Shining (2-Disc Special Edition)

2007-01-10T08:06:00.000-06:00

Vacancy

2007-01-06T00:47:00.000-06:00

Gus Van Sant's Psycho

2007-01-04T02:00:00.000-06:00

Psycho

2007-01-03T02:05:00.000-06:00

This Week In Amateur Blogmistressry

2000-12-10T01:25:00.001-06:00

Anyone?

Anyone? Anyone? ... the Great Depression, passed the... Anyone? Anyone? The tariff bill? The Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act? Which, anyone? Raised or lowered?... raised tariffs, in an effort to collect more revenue for the federal government. Did it work? Anyone? Anyone know the effects? It did not work, and the United States sank deeper into the Great Depression. Today we have a similar debate over this. Anyone know what this is? Class? Anyone? Anyone? Anyone seen this before? The Laffer Curve. Anyone know what this says? It says that at this point on the revenue curve, you will get exactly the same amount of revenue as at this point. This is very controversial. Does anyone know what Vice President Bush called this in 1980? Anyone? Something-d-o-o economics. "Voodoo" economics.