May, 2009
Below are links to articles posted in May, 2009
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog Screening
Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog Screening
Date: Friday, June 12, 2009
Time: 7:30-8:30 pm
Place: Germ Books, 2005 Frankford Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19125
Please join us for an exclusive screening of Joss Whedon’s Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog! Come dressed as…
Killing Ariel- On DVD June 16th
Rick is your all around good guy. He goes to his boss’s party and resists the advances of all the beautiful women, and this is the swinging 70’s and his boss even offers him his beautiful wife. He goes home to loving…
B.S. Entertainment Cast for KODIE
B.S. Entertainment is proud to announce the cast for KODIE their follow up to SPOILS, the low-budget directorial debut from Abel Berry and Jennifer Stone.
KODIE (written by ABEL BERRY) tells the story of David (JAYSON CHAMPION), a paranormal investigator, who…
First Clip From ‘Halloween 2′
The most hotly anticipated R-rated horror movie of the year is easily the August 28 release of Rob Zombie’s “Halloween 2.” MTV just aired the first clip! Plus Scout Taylor Compton just unveiled a photo of herself from the film.
Meanwhile, here’s the latest photo of Scout Taylor Compton as Laurie Strode, via her personal MySpace page.
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Unjustly Forgotten Horror Movie of the Day: 1981’s ‘Galaxy of Terror’
It’s the return of the “Unjustly Forgotten Horror Movie of the Day”, our semi-daily feature spotlighting what the title says — out of print, forgotten horror films that deserve to be seen and heard!
This Roger Corman-produced “Alien” rip off has the distinct honor of serving as inspiration for Paul Anderson’s less-than-excellent-but-still-decent “Event Horizon.” It’s also the only film to feature Erin Moran (Joanie of “Joanie Loves Chachi”) having her head explode. It features the only worm rape scene, involving actress Taaffe O’Connell. That scene alone — which rumor has it was directed by James Cameron — has given the movie a well deserved cult following.
The plot is pretty basic horror/sci-fi fare: As a lone spaceship proceeds on its long voyage across space, the crew are surprised to encounter a strange pyramid form. Surprise turns to horror as one by one, they discover that their darkest nightmares are all starting to become real. The pyramid has to be behind it all somehow, but how can they save themselves from its influence?
The crew were sent on the voyage by a mysterious “master” shown early in the film with a red glowing face.
First Five Minutes of ‘Blood the Last Vampire’
“Blood the Last Vampire” — the live action remake of the anime film of the same name — is hitting screens in the U.S. in July. Yahoo! Japan just posted the first five minutes of the film!
Check it out here.. . .
Report: ‘Alien’ to Be Remade, Rebooted
By this morning, the report has already spread across the webosophere. Originally broken by Bloody Disgusting, it turns out that Ridley Scott and his brother Tony are producing a remake/reboot of “Alien” with a first-time film director at the helm.
Given the awesome success of “Star Trek”, the reboot, at the box office a rebooted “Alien” prequel simply titled “Alien” makes sense from a financial perspective. But from an artistic perspective?
Well considering how flawed the nineties sequels “Alien 3″ and “Alien Resurrection” were, and just how bad “Alien vs. Predator Requiem” was, a prequel/reboot doesn’t seem like that bad of an idea to me.
So who is the director?
Carl Erik Rinsch is apparently known mostly for his commercials and I couldn’t find out a thing about him on IMDB. Here, however, is one of his commercials, which you should note has a monster movie bent.
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Oliver Stone ‘Helter Skelter’ Film Too Good to Be True After All
It turns out the rumored Oliver Stone “Helter Skelter” film was in fact too good to be true, after all. Turns out former Charles Manson prosecutor Vincent Buliosi is at work on another Manson-related film project.
Here’s the word from someone involved in the project, which is entitled “Taming the Beast” — the story of Charles Manson’s life in prison:
I saw the article about Oliver Stone and Vincent Bugliosi doing a “Helter Skelter” remake, but discovered that it isn’t true – according to Stone’s production company, Ixtlan Corporation and Creative Artists Agency, Stone’s agent; and Vince’s wife ( I’ve spoken with the Bugliosis several times over the phone for the past few years).
Vince Bugliosi IS attached to “Taming the Beast”, my company is developing the project and I adapted the screenplay from the book. Vince and I have had several conversations about it over the years, and Dary Matera and Ed George (co-authors of the book “Taming the Beast: Charles Manson’s Life Behind Bars”) approved having Vince involved.
Here’s info about the project:
http://www.myspace.com/ttbtak. . .
The Uninvited Movie Review
Did we really need a new American remake of an excellent Korean horror movie made less than 5 years ago? Probably not, however, fortunately for us, The Uninvited can be listed alongside The Ring in the category of good American remakes of Asian horror movies. Without sticking too closely to A Tale of Two Sisters (Janghwa, Hongryeon), written and directed by Kim Jee-woon, the filmakers behind The Uninvited follow its general concept, while simplifying the plot and adding some well-constructed scenaristic elements.
Following the death of their mother and the fire that destroyed part of the house of her house, Anna is hospitalized for a couple of months. When released, she goes back to live with her father and elder sister, Alex, but unfortunately for her, there is a newcomer in her New England house: Rachel, the nurse who took care of her mother and is now Steven’s (Anna’s father) girlfriend. Anna and Alex start suspecting that Rachel is in fact a serial killer gunning for their father’s wealth. Convinced that she is the cause of her mother’s death, Anna is haunted by the ghosts of three children who try to warn her and guide her through various revelations and surprises.
The Uninvited is part of the recent wave of "softcore" horror movies, defined as PG-13 horror movies, i.e., a horror movie that can be seen by almost anyone. With such a handicap and the lack of consideration (often legitimate) that horror fans have for remakes, this movie seemed destined to receive more bricks than flowers. However, the result is incredibly satisfying. The plot of A Tale of Two Sisters was supported entirely by the eeriness of the atmosphere, which created a true tension and ambiance of fear; but the makers of this remake rethought the script and adapted it to the standards of an american production, rather that trying to follow the postulate and narrative techniques of a Korean production. Just like The Ring was, The Uninvited is occidentalized, and that’s where its strength lies.
That said, The Uninvited is by no means superior to A Tale of 2 Sisters, but I applaude the Guard Brothers for creating a remake that works. While not as complex as the original, The Uninvited remains surprising. Its gradual increase of suspense explodes in a final twist that is quite obviously foreseeable, but also convincing and efficient, in comparison to other twists that just don’t make any sense (SAW V, anyone?).
Cinematographically speaking, the movie impresses thanks to the quality of its photography and actors are convincing, with Elizabeth Banks coming out as the best of the lot. After getting us used to light roles (Zack And Miri Make A Porno), she is unrecognizable in the role of Rachel, the manipulative stepmother.
So…
I give this one 4 rusty pipes out of 5.
DIRECTED BY: Charles Guard and Thomas Guard
SCRIPT: Carlo Bernard, Doug Miro and Craig Rosenberg
WITH: Emily Browning, Arielle Kebbel, Elizabeth Banks, David Strathairn and Maya Massar
Yvonne DeCarlo as Lilly Munster
Lilly Munster was one of the first crushes I ever had in my life. With her porcelain pale skin and long silky jet black hair shocked with white, she has that dark damsel thing going that just grabs me where it hurts.
Just look at her in that sexy sultry outfit. Yvonne DeCarlo was [...]
Very Cool – Oliver Stone Directing ‘Helter Skelter’
We normally don’t cover true crime movies here at ESplatter, but this movie sounds just too good to be true. Variety reports that Oliver Stone is working with Vincent Bugliosi on developing a “Helter Skelter” movie!
Now “Helter Skelter”, the story of the Manson murders as written by prosecutor Bugliosi in his book of the same name, already was made into a TV movie — twice, in fact.
But the prospect of someone like Oliver Stone helming it — it just seems like a match made in heaven. More on this project as it comes available.. . .
Dean Koontz Returns to the Silver Screen
It’s been a while since a Dean Koontz novel was adapted to the silver screen. It seems like forever since “Servants of Twilight” came out — even though I heard rumblings that film was going to be remade. Well, his novel “The Husband” is set to be filmed by Ole Bornedal, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Bornedal’s last film “Deliver Us From Evil” was released in his native Denmark. Koontz’s novel “The Husband” was only published in 2006.
It’s about a husband who is put through a “series of tests” after a stranger calls him, in order to prove his love for his wife. .
Is It a Horror Film, Arthouse Film or Both? Clips From ‘Antichrist’
Lars Von Trier’s new movie “Antichrist” created a huge stir at Cannes, where it premiered Monday. Catch some clips right here.
Is it a horror movie? Sounds like it’s as much an art film as a horror movie. The film is about a couple (Charlotte Gainsbourg and Willem Dafoe) who, after the death of their child, retreat to a cabin in the woods where they encounter strange and terrifying occurrences.
IFC Films is set to release the film in the U.S., but the French news media are reporting that the movie may be cut. The New York Times says: “The Danish director Lars von Trier will make cuts to his new film, “Antichrist,” so it will be more commercially palatable in the United States and other countries, Agence France-Presse reported.”.
Cool New Image of Myers From ‘Halloween 2′
Call it another crappy remake, but “Halloween 2″ is easily the most hotly anticipated horror movie of 2009. Given the lack of R-rated horror content hitting theaters, that’s understandable. But check out this just released image from MTV.
That of course is Tyler Mane as the now mother-obsessed Michael Myers in Rob Zombie’s sequel — which he insists is not a remake of “Halloween II.” OK. So technically it’s not a horror remake.
Sunday at 11 p.m., MTV will air footage from Zombie’s film.
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Win a Ticket to Fangoria Weekend of Horrors in New York!
ESplatter contests are back — with a vengeance! If you live in New York City, here’s your chance to get a FREE pass to June’s Fangoria Weekend of Horrors.
The first four of you to email Lucius Gore get a single free pass to Fangoria Weekend of Horrors New York City! Simply include your name and city. Please live in or near New York City! Weekend of Horrors takes place June 5-7, 2009 at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 West 34th St. Guests include Guillermo del Toro, H.G. Lewis and Dario Argento!.
Unjustly Forgotten Horror Movie of the Day: The Legend of Lizzie Borden
It’s the return of the “Unjustly Forgotten Horror Movie of the Day”, our semi-daily feature spotlighting what the title says — out of print, forgotten horror films that deserve to be seen and heard! This 1975 title is truly forgotten — a long gone gem.
One of the best horror TV movies of all time — likely the best true crime TV movie of all time — “The Legend of Lizzie Borden” has never received a DVD release, much less a VHS release. It’s an incredibly difficult movie to find. And there’s no sign it will get any easier to locate anytime soon.
It never shows up on TV anymore. It had a VHS release way back when. No DVD release in sight.
$70 Zombie Film a Hit at Cannes
How low are horror movie budgets going in the midst of this global depression? How about less than $100 for a hit horror movie at Cannes.
We’ll no doubt be hearing a lot more about “Colin,” a zombie comedy that screened at the French film festival and already has the world buzzing.
CNN reports:
Japanese distributors are currently in negotiations for the rights to the film and buzz around the no-budget zombie chiller has attracted interest from some major American distributors — all of which is a very nice surprise for the team behind “Colin.”
“We were almost fainting at the list of people who were coming [to the final market screening of the film],” said Helen Grace of Left Films who is helping the film’s director Marc Price publicize the film in Cannes. “Representatives from major American distributors — some of the Hollywood studios.”
“When we say it’s a low budget film, people presume a couple of hundred thousand [dollars]. People can’t figure out how it’s possible. What Marc’s achieved has left people astonished.”
It was by advertising for volunteer zombies on social networking site Facebook, borrowing make-up from Hollywood blockbusters and teaching himself how to produce special effects that thrifty director Price was able to make the film for less than the price of a zombie DVD box set.
“The approach was to say to people, ‘OK guys, we don’t have any money, so bring your own equipment,’” the the 30 year-old director told CNN.
“Colin” is apparently the only zombie movie to ever be told from the perspective of the zombie. It will be interesting to hear more about “Colin” as buzz for the title builds..
Splinter Review
Lets make this quick: Splinter is a diamond in a sea of sheizen!
Seth and Polly are on a trip to celebrate their anniversary outdoors. When their tent breaks, they head back on the road to search for a motel. Long story short, they are taken hostages by a convict and his girlfriend, and head together to a gas station where they are attacked by a mysterious creature who takes control of human and animal bodies and transforms them.
Splinter is a monster movie that is not unique, but rare, i.e., an amusing movie that is entertaining and original. Director Toby Wilkins (The Grudge 3) understands what make a great monster flick and emphasizes it. In most monster films in which a creature takes hold of a body, the monster adapts to the body; Splinter works the other way around: bodies are adapted to the monster.
Also, character development is slow, but characters are far from clichés. Instead of using the same old stereotypes, protagonists are "human", with their strengths and weaknesses. Everything is credible.
In short: Watch! This! Movie!
Hilarious Condemnation of ‘Black Devil Doll’ in Florida
Tampa, Florida is a really great town and, indeed, “Black Devil Doll” will be screening there this week. So a local columnist out there has decided to guarantee the movie a sell out crowd by singing it out for livid condemnation. Check out the amazing column here. And if this doesn’t make you want to see “Black Devil Doll,” what else would?
You can of course check out our favorable review right here. The Tampa Bay writer, Steve Pershall, movie critic for the St.
Warner Bros. Announces ‘Freddy v. Jason,’ ‘Creepshow’ for Blu-Ray
On September 8, the George Romero classic “Creepshow” and the Ronny Yu sequel “Freddy vs. Jason” will strike Blu-Ray, courtesy of Warner Bros./New Line. Also out on the same day will be Marcus Nispel’s “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” remake.
“FvJ” has been on Blu-Ray in Canada for a while and apparently looks spectacular. It will be interesting to see how an old classic like “Creepshow” fares in the format. “Texas Chainsaw,” one of the better of Platinum Dunes’ remakes, will feature the same extras as the DVD..
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