This article contains spoilers for Interview with the Vampire episode 3 and Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles novels.
AMC’s Interview with the Vampire episode 3 “No Pain” introduces a character from a future book in the Anne Rice Immortal Universe. In the opening scene, Daniel Molloy’s (Eric Bogosian) ongoing study of the undead is intercepted by “a live one.” The stranger implies knowledge of dubious doings behind the scenes in the insular vampire world. The long-form journalist wonders who this interloper is, and even scribbles “MI6?” on his notepad. He’s not that far off. Raglan James (Justin Kirk) certainly does belong to a secret organization, but he could also be anyone.
Anne Rice lets the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) tell the story of Raglan James, the title character of The Tale of the Body Thief, the fourth book in The Vampire Chronicles. It begins in Miami, a “city of water,...
AMC’s Interview with the Vampire episode 3 “No Pain” introduces a character from a future book in the Anne Rice Immortal Universe. In the opening scene, Daniel Molloy’s (Eric Bogosian) ongoing study of the undead is intercepted by “a live one.” The stranger implies knowledge of dubious doings behind the scenes in the insular vampire world. The long-form journalist wonders who this interloper is, and even scribbles “MI6?” on his notepad. He’s not that far off. Raglan James (Justin Kirk) certainly does belong to a secret organization, but he could also be anyone.
Anne Rice lets the vampire Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) tell the story of Raglan James, the title character of The Tale of the Body Thief, the fourth book in The Vampire Chronicles. It begins in Miami, a “city of water,...
- 5/27/2024
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
From It's a Wonderful Life to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, there are no shortage of "What If...?"-style stories that tackle an alternate history of what came to be. But none of them have focused on an alternate world where Ed Gein didn't become infamous, which is the subject of James Murray's No Gein. From the story's origins to his take on "Pop Culture Alternative History" and how it would impact a movie like Halloween, we dive all into No Gein in our latest Q&a:
Ed Gein has captured the attention of so many storytellers. What drew you to the story of Ed Gein?
I’m an 80’s kid, so during my childhood, Friday the 13th and all those other slasher movies were popular. Later, I got into Halloween and Psycho, but I didn’t know who Ed Gein was for a while. At some point...
Ed Gein has captured the attention of so many storytellers. What drew you to the story of Ed Gein?
I’m an 80’s kid, so during my childhood, Friday the 13th and all those other slasher movies were popular. Later, I got into Halloween and Psycho, but I didn’t know who Ed Gein was for a while. At some point...
- 4/29/2024
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
The novelty of Christian Bale’s performance as the murderous and psychopathic Patrick Bateman in American Psycho is his inherent lust for murder. The cruel intentions that he keeps at bay despite the absolute façade of normality of his mask make his role even more seductive to the audience. However, the film was not the original piece of art from where the idea of Bateman was born.
Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman [Credit: Lionsgate Films]Originating from Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel Psycho featuring Norman Bates and adapted into a film of the same name by Alfred Hitchcock in 1960, Bret Easton Ellis’ novel is not a far throw from the mid-20th century author’s work. Ellis’ American Psycho is a more capitalist take on the classical psychopath against the backdrop of a modern world.
Bret Easton Ellis Clears an American Psycho Misconception
In a world guided by myths and misconceptions, it...
Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman [Credit: Lionsgate Films]Originating from Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel Psycho featuring Norman Bates and adapted into a film of the same name by Alfred Hitchcock in 1960, Bret Easton Ellis’ novel is not a far throw from the mid-20th century author’s work. Ellis’ American Psycho is a more capitalist take on the classical psychopath against the backdrop of a modern world.
Bret Easton Ellis Clears an American Psycho Misconception
In a world guided by myths and misconceptions, it...
- 4/28/2024
- by Diya Majumdar
- FandomWire
When I first saw the title of this, I naturally thought of the song by the same name that became a huge if not ‘Monster Hit’ for Bobby “Boris” Pickett at the height of the fifties and sixties monster craze. The picture takes the theme of sixties creature features and creates a bloody at times gore-filled Anthology of stories to shock, offend and make you go ‘ok’.
The Monster Mash (2022) directed by Kevin Losani and Richard Terrasi succeeds admirably with engaging pulp-like stories whose endings you can see a mile or kilometre off depending on your country. The difference is the work is so lovingly done, with fun, practical effects, at times over-the-top acting that fits and just a little tinge of naughty offence.
The film opens with outstanding titles harkening back to Saturday morning horror cartoons that were never quite frightening. An on-camera host Dr Freudstein (Michael Gentile) and his not-so-able hunchbacked,...
The Monster Mash (2022) directed by Kevin Losani and Richard Terrasi succeeds admirably with engaging pulp-like stories whose endings you can see a mile or kilometre off depending on your country. The difference is the work is so lovingly done, with fun, practical effects, at times over-the-top acting that fits and just a little tinge of naughty offence.
The film opens with outstanding titles harkening back to Saturday morning horror cartoons that were never quite frightening. An on-camera host Dr Freudstein (Michael Gentile) and his not-so-able hunchbacked,...
- 3/28/2024
- by Terry Sherwood
- Horror Asylum
Found is a crime thriller series created by Nkechi Okoro Carroll. The NBC series revolves around Gabrielle “Gabi” Mosley, who works with her crisis management team to find missing people. Gabi was also a kidnapping victim herself as a teenage girl, but what the world doesn’t know is that she keeps her abductor chained up in her basement and makes him help her on the cases. Found stars Shameless‘s famed actress Shanola Hampton in the lead role of Gabi, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Kelli Williams, Brett Dalton, and Gabrielle Walsh starring in supporting roles. So, if you love the NBC series here are some similar shows you could watch next.
The Following (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Fox
If you loved the thrilling and dangerous relationship between Gabi and Hugh “Sir” Evans, then Fox’s thrilling drama titled The Following might be of interest. Starring Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy...
The Following (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Fox
If you loved the thrilling and dangerous relationship between Gabi and Hugh “Sir” Evans, then Fox’s thrilling drama titled The Following might be of interest. Starring Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy...
- 2/20/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
The episode of Revisited covering Psycho (1998) was Written, Edited, and Narrated by Kier Gomes, Produced by Tyler Nichols and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
In the early 1960s, movies like Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho were considered to be groundbreaking and controversial works of art that were not for the easily spooked. Stories like that, which tackle deep psychological struggles, paranoia, voyeurism, and even murder- were far from the horror genre’s mainstay creature features that were capturing audiences at the time. The movie was based on Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel which was published just in time for Hitchcock to purchase every copy in the United States right off the shelves of book stores in order to preserve the shock value of the story’s iconic twist ending. With Psycho, the gilded status “Classic” is certainly well-earned and maybe even a slight understatement. The movie flawlessly captures the...
In the early 1960s, movies like Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho were considered to be groundbreaking and controversial works of art that were not for the easily spooked. Stories like that, which tackle deep psychological struggles, paranoia, voyeurism, and even murder- were far from the horror genre’s mainstay creature features that were capturing audiences at the time. The movie was based on Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel which was published just in time for Hitchcock to purchase every copy in the United States right off the shelves of book stores in order to preserve the shock value of the story’s iconic twist ending. With Psycho, the gilded status “Classic” is certainly well-earned and maybe even a slight understatement. The movie flawlessly captures the...
- 12/12/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
So much of the debate in fandom today is about fealty to the source material. This shows up in comic book movie discourse, of course, and even when a franchise (like "Star Wars") is racking up sequels. There's always the hardcore fans that demand purity, that whatever movie or TV adaptation or sequel be as true to the source material as possible or their precious IP will be ruined forever (or at least until some years pass and suddenly they're angry about the next thing).
It should be noted that the most vocal fans don't really know what they want nor do they have any understanding of what needs to go into translating something from one format to another. There are a few examples out there of adaptations that worked way better than the source material. "Jaws" is one of them, "The Godfather" is another. Both are way better than...
It should be noted that the most vocal fans don't really know what they want nor do they have any understanding of what needs to go into translating something from one format to another. There are a few examples out there of adaptations that worked way better than the source material. "Jaws" is one of them, "The Godfather" is another. Both are way better than...
- 11/23/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
Filmmaker William Friedkin forever changed horror with 1973’s The Exorcist, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. He returned to the genre again in 1980 with the Giallo-like thriller Cruising and fearlessly got weird with gory folk horror The Guardian in 1990. Fearless perfectly encapsulates Friedkin’s style and his approach to life; he was never afraid to speak his mind or direct productions too peculiar or niche for mainstream audiences. The not-so-easily defined psychological thriller Bug, and its mixed initial reception, speaks to this.
That likely stemmed from Friedkin’s upbringing and his early career start in nonfiction. Bridging his path from his earlier work in commercials and documentaries to his seminal horror effort was television. It was a single episode of a popular anthology series from a horror master that kickstarted Friedkin’s career in fiction, and Friedkin never seemed to forget it.
While the acclaimed director continued to trailblaze in film,...
That likely stemmed from Friedkin’s upbringing and his early career start in nonfiction. Bridging his path from his earlier work in commercials and documentaries to his seminal horror effort was television. It was a single episode of a popular anthology series from a horror master that kickstarted Friedkin’s career in fiction, and Friedkin never seemed to forget it.
While the acclaimed director continued to trailblaze in film,...
- 8/11/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
A new episode of the Wtf You Need to Know video series has just arrived online, and for this one we’ve gathered all the important information you need to know to catch up on the Psycho franchise! To hear all about it, check out the video embedded above.
Psycho began with a novel written by Robert Bloch, who was inspired to write the story after hearing about the crimes of Ed Gein. Director Alfred Hitchcock brought Psycho to the screen in 1960, and since then we’ve seen the 1983 film Psycho II, 1986’s Psycho III, a 1987 TV movie called Bates Motel, Psycho IV: The Beginning in 1990, a Gus Van Sant-directed remake of Psycho that was released in 1998, and TV series called Bates Motel, which ran on A&e for five seasons.
Here’s the information on Wtf You Need to Know: Sometimes binging a whole franchise just isn’t feasible...
Psycho began with a novel written by Robert Bloch, who was inspired to write the story after hearing about the crimes of Ed Gein. Director Alfred Hitchcock brought Psycho to the screen in 1960, and since then we’ve seen the 1983 film Psycho II, 1986’s Psycho III, a 1987 TV movie called Bates Motel, Psycho IV: The Beginning in 1990, a Gus Van Sant-directed remake of Psycho that was released in 1998, and TV series called Bates Motel, which ran on A&e for five seasons.
Here’s the information on Wtf You Need to Know: Sometimes binging a whole franchise just isn’t feasible...
- 7/7/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Freshly announced and put up for pre-order this morning, Arrow Video presents The Psycho Collection on both Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD for a limited edition UK release.
The good news? 4K discs are inherently Region Free!
The Psycho Collection will release on September 25, 2023.
Presented together for the first time in the UK on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, featuring all new restorations of Psycho II, III and IV from the original camera negatives, Arrow Video invites you back inside the Bates Motel and wishes you a very pleasant stay.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Limited Edition Contents
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (2160p) presentations of all four films New 4K restorations of Psycho II, Psycho III and Psycho IV from the original camera negatives Original lossless mono and 5.1 audio options for Psycho, stereo and 5.1 options for Psycho II and Psycho III, and stereo audio options for Psycho IV Optional English subtitles for...
The good news? 4K discs are inherently Region Free!
The Psycho Collection will release on September 25, 2023.
Presented together for the first time in the UK on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, featuring all new restorations of Psycho II, III and IV from the original camera negatives, Arrow Video invites you back inside the Bates Motel and wishes you a very pleasant stay.
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Limited Edition Contents
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (2160p) presentations of all four films New 4K restorations of Psycho II, Psycho III and Psycho IV from the original camera negatives Original lossless mono and 5.1 audio options for Psycho, stereo and 5.1 options for Psycho II and Psycho III, and stereo audio options for Psycho IV Optional English subtitles for...
- 6/30/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
“That’s not art. A striptease isn’t art. It’s too direct. It’s more direct than art.”
That line from Akira Kurosawa’s “Ikiru” sums up a lot of feelings people seem to have about nudity in film. The history of painting and sculpture is full of nude portraiture, which is regularly and comfortably classified as art. But the nude scene in movies is rarely discussed alongside a Canova marble statue or Manet’s “Olympia.” Movies blur the boundaries between “real life” and artistic indirection so thoroughly that people discuss nude scenes in movies as practically everything but art. It’s “content” that deserves an “advisory,” or something akin to “porn,” however the Supreme Court is classifying that these days.
As many have noted, the very nature of the actor’s job demands the audience look at them. So when nudity enters the (literal) picture, it complicates the relationship between viewer and viewed.
That line from Akira Kurosawa’s “Ikiru” sums up a lot of feelings people seem to have about nudity in film. The history of painting and sculpture is full of nude portraiture, which is regularly and comfortably classified as art. But the nude scene in movies is rarely discussed alongside a Canova marble statue or Manet’s “Olympia.” Movies blur the boundaries between “real life” and artistic indirection so thoroughly that people discuss nude scenes in movies as practically everything but art. It’s “content” that deserves an “advisory,” or something akin to “porn,” however the Supreme Court is classifying that these days.
As many have noted, the very nature of the actor’s job demands the audience look at them. So when nudity enters the (literal) picture, it complicates the relationship between viewer and viewed.
- 6/28/2023
- by Alison Foreman and Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
When the spooktacular stories of horror novels leap from the pages to the big screen, it's like receiving a double shot of fear straight to the veins! We're diving headfirst into the eerie universe of horror movie adaptations based on books.
From otherworldly creatures to mind-bending psychological nightmares, these films have skillfully captured the essence of their literary counterparts. So, put on your reading glasses and buckle up for a bone-chilling journey into the dark and twisted realms of horror movie adaptations. It's time to witness horror unleashed in this thrilling collision of literature and film!
Warner Bros. The Shining (1980)
Based on Stephen King's iconic novel, The Shining reigns as a horror masterpiece. Stanley Kubrick's directorial genius brought the haunting Overlook Hotel to life, and Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the tormented Jack Torrance remains one of the most memorable performances in horror movie history.
Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock's...
From otherworldly creatures to mind-bending psychological nightmares, these films have skillfully captured the essence of their literary counterparts. So, put on your reading glasses and buckle up for a bone-chilling journey into the dark and twisted realms of horror movie adaptations. It's time to witness horror unleashed in this thrilling collision of literature and film!
Warner Bros. The Shining (1980)
Based on Stephen King's iconic novel, The Shining reigns as a horror masterpiece. Stanley Kubrick's directorial genius brought the haunting Overlook Hotel to life, and Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the tormented Jack Torrance remains one of the most memorable performances in horror movie history.
Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock's...
- 6/19/2023
- by Kimberley Elizabeth
When the spooktacular stories of horror novels leap from the pages to the big screen, it's like receiving a double shot of fear straight to the veins! We're diving headfirst into the eerie universe of horror movie adaptations based on books.
From otherworldly creatures to mind-bending psychological nightmares, these films have skillfully captured the essence of their literary counterparts. So, put on your reading glasses and buckle up for a bone-chilling journey into the dark and twisted realms of horror movie adaptations. It's time to witness horror unleashed in this thrilling collision of literature and film!
Warner Bros. The Shining (1980)
Based on Stephen King's iconic novel, The Shining reigns as a horror masterpiece. Stanley Kubrick's directorial genius brought the haunting Overlook Hotel to life, and Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the tormented Jack Torrance remains one of the most memorable performances in horror movie history.
Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock's...
From otherworldly creatures to mind-bending psychological nightmares, these films have skillfully captured the essence of their literary counterparts. So, put on your reading glasses and buckle up for a bone-chilling journey into the dark and twisted realms of horror movie adaptations. It's time to witness horror unleashed in this thrilling collision of literature and film!
Warner Bros. The Shining (1980)
Based on Stephen King's iconic novel, The Shining reigns as a horror masterpiece. Stanley Kubrick's directorial genius brought the haunting Overlook Hotel to life, and Jack Nicholson's portrayal of the tormented Jack Torrance remains one of the most memorable performances in horror movie history.
Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock's...
- 6/19/2023
- by Kimberley Elizabeth
This article contains spoilers
Alfred Hitchcock almost blew it. For most of Psycho’s runtime, the master of suspense lived up to his name, turning Robert Bloch’s pulpy novel into a thrilling mystery with shocking twists. But then, after the revelation of Norman Bates emulating his mother, now a rotting corpse, the movie stops for a psychiatrist to lecture the audience on Freudian theory. Were it not for the chilling closing voiceover by Virginia Gregg as Norma Bates, and Anthony Perkins’ proto-Kubrickian stare at the camera, Psycho may have gone out with a whisper.
As ill-advised as the lecture scene surely is, it did help establish a key element of the slasher genre that followed. Slashers aren’t just about serial killers who pick off victims one by one. They also need to have deeply weird storylines, dealing not only with the killer’s personal hang ups, but also...
Alfred Hitchcock almost blew it. For most of Psycho’s runtime, the master of suspense lived up to his name, turning Robert Bloch’s pulpy novel into a thrilling mystery with shocking twists. But then, after the revelation of Norman Bates emulating his mother, now a rotting corpse, the movie stops for a psychiatrist to lecture the audience on Freudian theory. Were it not for the chilling closing voiceover by Virginia Gregg as Norma Bates, and Anthony Perkins’ proto-Kubrickian stare at the camera, Psycho may have gone out with a whisper.
As ill-advised as the lecture scene surely is, it did help establish a key element of the slasher genre that followed. Slashers aren’t just about serial killers who pick off victims one by one. They also need to have deeply weird storylines, dealing not only with the killer’s personal hang ups, but also...
- 6/16/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Hello again, Norman. Suntup Editions is back with another hot horror release, this time a fine press limited edition of the classic horror novel Psycho by Robert Bloch.
Printed letterpress from hot metal type, the edition includes an exclusive new introduction by Joe R. Lansdale, six full color illustrations by Gregg Kreutz and a dust jacket illustration for the Artist edition by Paul Mann. The dust jacket for the Artist edition is reversible with the back featuring a version of the first edition jacket with the iconic typeface created by Tony Palladino.
The edition is highly limited with a very low print run, and is now available for pre-order here.
One of the most influential horror novels of the 20th century, Psycho by Robert Bloch is the shocking story that ushered in the dawn of the slasher genre. Forty-year-old Norman Bates is a shy, overweight recluse who lives at home...
Printed letterpress from hot metal type, the edition includes an exclusive new introduction by Joe R. Lansdale, six full color illustrations by Gregg Kreutz and a dust jacket illustration for the Artist edition by Paul Mann. The dust jacket for the Artist edition is reversible with the back featuring a version of the first edition jacket with the iconic typeface created by Tony Palladino.
The edition is highly limited with a very low print run, and is now available for pre-order here.
One of the most influential horror novels of the 20th century, Psycho by Robert Bloch is the shocking story that ushered in the dawn of the slasher genre. Forty-year-old Norman Bates is a shy, overweight recluse who lives at home...
- 6/15/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
We here at Arrow in the Head try to keep up with the horror selections on the biggest streaming services around, and as part of that endeavor, we have gone through the horror options on Netflix US to put together a top 10 list of the Best Horror Movies On Netflix Right Now.
Take note of the “Right Now” part of the subject line, because some of these films are not Netflix Originals and therefore could be removed from the streaming service at any time. If you want to watch them, be sure to start streaming in a timely manner or they may be gone!
Blood Red Sky (2021)
The “vampire vs. airplane hijackers” horror action thriller Blood Red Sky is a project director Peter Thorwarth had been wanting to make for 16 years before it was finally released, and his dedication to the concept paid off: within a month of its Netflix debut,...
Take note of the “Right Now” part of the subject line, because some of these films are not Netflix Originals and therefore could be removed from the streaming service at any time. If you want to watch them, be sure to start streaming in a timely manner or they may be gone!
Blood Red Sky (2021)
The “vampire vs. airplane hijackers” horror action thriller Blood Red Sky is a project director Peter Thorwarth had been wanting to make for 16 years before it was finally released, and his dedication to the concept paid off: within a month of its Netflix debut,...
- 5/13/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
‘Riverdale’ told four pulpy tales of terror in the style of ‘Tales from the Crypt’ that become a meta commentary on genre, violence, and censorship.
“Veronica, it’s just a comic book…”
The CW’s Riverdale–against all odds–has become one of the most bizarre and unabashedly genre programs that’s currently on television. What started as a double-dog-dare of a premise that was ostensibly, “Archie Comics, but Twin Peaks,” will have produced more than 130 episodes across seven seasons that have included some particularly big swings and stylistic experiments (musicals have become a yearly tradition on Riverdale) over the years. Meanwhile, anthology horror has never been more popular on television and if any supernatural-adjacent series is designed to tell spooky tales around the metaphorical campfire, it’s Riverdale.
A Tales from the Crypt tribute already snugly fits within Riverdale’s uniquely weird wheelhouse. However, the events that surround the...
“Veronica, it’s just a comic book…”
The CW’s Riverdale–against all odds–has become one of the most bizarre and unabashedly genre programs that’s currently on television. What started as a double-dog-dare of a premise that was ostensibly, “Archie Comics, but Twin Peaks,” will have produced more than 130 episodes across seven seasons that have included some particularly big swings and stylistic experiments (musicals have become a yearly tradition on Riverdale) over the years. Meanwhile, anthology horror has never been more popular on television and if any supernatural-adjacent series is designed to tell spooky tales around the metaphorical campfire, it’s Riverdale.
A Tales from the Crypt tribute already snugly fits within Riverdale’s uniquely weird wheelhouse. However, the events that surround the...
- 5/3/2023
- by Daniel Kurland
- bloody-disgusting.com
When it comes down to it, all stories—even purely fictional ones—are based in some kernel of truth. Writers, whether they’re novelists, short story authors, or screenwriters, draw inspiration from the world around them, their own lives, and the lives of people they know or meet or read about. Sometimes they want to write about things that happen in real life as accurately as possible, to document, understand, and process them, while other times the inspiration is enough to engage their imaginations and let a whole new story emerge.
Yet there’s no doubt the marketing term “based on a true story” has an undeniable pull for moviegoers, especially in the horror genre. After all, isn’t there something morbidly fascinating about the idea that the terrors we’re witnessing onscreen—whether it’s the rampage of a seemingly unstoppable serial killer or the manifestations of a supernatural entity—actually occurred?...
Yet there’s no doubt the marketing term “based on a true story” has an undeniable pull for moviegoers, especially in the horror genre. After all, isn’t there something morbidly fascinating about the idea that the terrors we’re witnessing onscreen—whether it’s the rampage of a seemingly unstoppable serial killer or the manifestations of a supernatural entity—actually occurred?...
- 2/24/2023
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
This post contains spoilers for the first four episodes of "The Last of Us."
In today's arts and entertainment landscape, it seems that all bets are off when it comes to defining a work and its intentions: the terms "remake," "adaptation," "reboot," "reimagining," "rebootquel" and more are tossed around willy-nilly, with new descriptors being Frankensteined together every year. It's a reaction to the rampant increase of stories being told, retold, and revisited as Hollywood and its ilk seek to minimize risk by exploiting material they believe to be pre-sold. It's a real catch-22, to make something old seem new again.
HBO's "The Last of Us" series is being touted as an adaptation, and on the face of it this appears to be the correct term, given that the story first appeared in one medium (video games) and is now moving to another (live-action television). Yet, in execution, it's not so cut and dried.
In today's arts and entertainment landscape, it seems that all bets are off when it comes to defining a work and its intentions: the terms "remake," "adaptation," "reboot," "reimagining," "rebootquel" and more are tossed around willy-nilly, with new descriptors being Frankensteined together every year. It's a reaction to the rampant increase of stories being told, retold, and revisited as Hollywood and its ilk seek to minimize risk by exploiting material they believe to be pre-sold. It's a real catch-22, to make something old seem new again.
HBO's "The Last of Us" series is being touted as an adaptation, and on the face of it this appears to be the correct term, given that the story first appeared in one medium (video games) and is now moving to another (live-action television). Yet, in execution, it's not so cut and dried.
- 2/6/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
Have you caught the new "Willow" series yet? It's a whole lot of fun. The Disney+ sequel to the 1988 movie feels like a throwback, not just to the fantasy-comedy that inspired it, but also to the great, dynamic young adult "chosen one" stories of decades past, like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "The Princess Bride." On the short list of possible influences for the series, one name I would never expect to see is H.P. Lovecraft, but according to series creator Jon Kasdan, the cosmic horror author's sensibilities are woven into the new story.
Kasdan first mentioned Lovecraft on Twitter, citing the author of works like "The Call of Cthulu" and "At the Mountains of Madness" after the show's first two episodes dropped. "Series is packed with cthulhu mythos easter eggs," he tweeted, adding a cheeky warning that mirrors the sort one might hear about in a Lovecraft tale: "But...
Kasdan first mentioned Lovecraft on Twitter, citing the author of works like "The Call of Cthulu" and "At the Mountains of Madness" after the show's first two episodes dropped. "Series is packed with cthulhu mythos easter eggs," he tweeted, adding a cheeky warning that mirrors the sort one might hear about in a Lovecraft tale: "But...
- 12/10/2022
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Stephen King's novella "The Mist" was originally published in 1980 as part of a horror compilation called "Dark Forces." The impressive compilation included stories by Ray Bradbury, Edward Gorey, Joyce Carol Oates, and Robert Bloch, along with several others. "Dark Forces" was notable in the horror community, and it was widely read by other horror authors. In the 1985 interview book "Faces of Fear," Clive Barker noted "Dark Forces" as the push he needed to start writing his own "Books of Blood."
"The Mist" was easily the standout of the compilation, and would eventually be adapted to film in 2007 by Frank Darabont. The film, like the novella, tells the story of a mysterious fog that rolls in across a small, rural community, cutting off all visibility. Hiding in the mist are unseen creatures. Enormous bugs and land octopodes appear from nowhere and attack the locals. The bulk of Darabont's film takes...
"The Mist" was easily the standout of the compilation, and would eventually be adapted to film in 2007 by Frank Darabont. The film, like the novella, tells the story of a mysterious fog that rolls in across a small, rural community, cutting off all visibility. Hiding in the mist are unseen creatures. Enormous bugs and land octopodes appear from nowhere and attack the locals. The bulk of Darabont's film takes...
- 11/21/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)
The Movie: "Asylum"
Where You Can Stream It: Shudder
The Pitch: Halloween may be over for 2022, but for some of us, the month after October is just an excuse for more scary movies. As Mark Venturini's character in "The Return of the Living Dead" asserts, "this isn't a costume, this is a way of life." November is also a time of preparation for a slew of holidays, birthdays, and celebrations as the leaves change and fall, so by the time one is done orchestrating family visits and planning the gift budget, committing to a two-hour movie might be a tall ask. But what about a crisp 88-minute collection of four creepy stories and a wraparound? What if I told you...
The Movie: "Asylum"
Where You Can Stream It: Shudder
The Pitch: Halloween may be over for 2022, but for some of us, the month after October is just an excuse for more scary movies. As Mark Venturini's character in "The Return of the Living Dead" asserts, "this isn't a costume, this is a way of life." November is also a time of preparation for a slew of holidays, birthdays, and celebrations as the leaves change and fall, so by the time one is done orchestrating family visits and planning the gift budget, committing to a two-hour movie might be a tall ask. But what about a crisp 88-minute collection of four creepy stories and a wraparound? What if I told you...
- 11/17/2022
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
Tom Felton has remembered a terrible experience auditioning with Anthony Hopkins for his film Hitchcock.
Hopkins starred as the late famed filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock in the 2012 drama, which chronicled his daring choice to adapt Robert Bloch’s novel Psycho for the screen.
During the latest episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Felton recounted the “awful” moment of his audition, which he also detailed in his debut memoir Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard.
“This was not my finest hour when it came to auditioning,” the 35-year-old British actor began.
“I got the sides very last minute,” Felton explained. “I knew I wasn’t right for the role. I’ve never seen Psycho – the film was about the making of Psycho – I didn’t know anything particularly well, but I knew I wasn’t right for this.”
He continued: “I’ve very rarely called...
Hopkins starred as the late famed filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock in the 2012 drama, which chronicled his daring choice to adapt Robert Bloch’s novel Psycho for the screen.
During the latest episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Felton recounted the “awful” moment of his audition, which he also detailed in his debut memoir Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard.
“This was not my finest hour when it came to auditioning,” the 35-year-old British actor began.
“I got the sides very last minute,” Felton explained. “I knew I wasn’t right for the role. I’ve never seen Psycho – the film was about the making of Psycho – I didn’t know anything particularly well, but I knew I wasn’t right for this.”
He continued: “I’ve very rarely called...
- 11/2/2022
- by Inga Parkel
- The Independent - Film
So, what is a "legacy sequel," exactly? The phrase is used fairly loosely. However, in the most general terms, it's a sequel that arrives after a longer-than-usual time gap. It tends to star at least one returning actor, one or more popular young stars, and a story that allows for a passing-of-the-torch moment. In some cases, it might even overwrite the events of previous sequels, or at least pay so little attention to them that they may as well not exist.
By the time a legacy sequel comes around, the creative forces involved have usually had plenty of time to come up with a worthy follow-up. Not always, though. Here, we've rounded up 11 good legacy sequels, and 9 not-so good ones. It's a list of movies only, so television shows, including the outstanding legacy follow-ups "Cobra Kai," "Chucky," and "Ash vs Evil Dead," do not qualify. Other than that, if you...
By the time a legacy sequel comes around, the creative forces involved have usually had plenty of time to come up with a worthy follow-up. Not always, though. Here, we've rounded up 11 good legacy sequels, and 9 not-so good ones. It's a list of movies only, so television shows, including the outstanding legacy follow-ups "Cobra Kai," "Chucky," and "Ash vs Evil Dead," do not qualify. Other than that, if you...
- 10/4/2022
- by Luke Y. Thompson
- Slash Film
The September release slate from Severin Films has been announced and detailed today, this latest batch of new releases headlined by 1980 classic The Changeling on 4K Ultra HD.
Severin Films will be haunting disc players across the continent with a new 4K edition of Peter Medak’s beloved ghost story The Changeling, along with landmark Spanish television series Tales to Keep You Awake, My Grandpa Is a Vampire via the Severin Kids imprint, and the entire Plaga Zombie Trilogy through sublabel Intervision Picture Corp.
As if that isn’t enough, Severin will also be putting out a Blu-ray double feature of Al Adamson’s Dracula vs. Frankenstein and Brain of Blood as a standalone release.
Read on for everything you need to know about Severin’s September slate…
The Changeling: It has been called “remarkable” (Paste Magazine), “utterly terrifying” (Mondo Digital) and “a ghost story guaranteed to freeze the...
Severin Films will be haunting disc players across the continent with a new 4K edition of Peter Medak’s beloved ghost story The Changeling, along with landmark Spanish television series Tales to Keep You Awake, My Grandpa Is a Vampire via the Severin Kids imprint, and the entire Plaga Zombie Trilogy through sublabel Intervision Picture Corp.
As if that isn’t enough, Severin will also be putting out a Blu-ray double feature of Al Adamson’s Dracula vs. Frankenstein and Brain of Blood as a standalone release.
Read on for everything you need to know about Severin’s September slate…
The Changeling: It has been called “remarkable” (Paste Magazine), “utterly terrifying” (Mondo Digital) and “a ghost story guaranteed to freeze the...
- 8/15/2022
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Alfred Hitchcock’s magnum opus film, Psycho is returning to cinemas from today, 27th May. This stunning 4K restoration of the original theatrical cut includes an extra 13 seconds of restored footage – so it can once again be seen as it was originally shown in cinemas back in 1960, exactly as intended by Hitchcock. To celebrate, here are ten things you probably didn’t know about Psycho:
Melon-terror! What did Alfred Hitchcock use to create an authentically terrifying stabbing sound? A melon. Specifically, a casaba melon. Hitchcock and his sound guy are said to have tested all kinds of melons before settling on the casaba – its thick skin gives a denser sound than other varieties. This, combined with a slab of steak, proved the perfect combination. Body Double: in the iconic shower scene, Playboy cover girl Marli Renfro had the uncredited role of Janet Leigh’s body double – and it is her...
Melon-terror! What did Alfred Hitchcock use to create an authentically terrifying stabbing sound? A melon. Specifically, a casaba melon. Hitchcock and his sound guy are said to have tested all kinds of melons before settling on the casaba – its thick skin gives a denser sound than other varieties. This, combined with a slab of steak, proved the perfect combination. Body Double: in the iconic shower scene, Playboy cover girl Marli Renfro had the uncredited role of Janet Leigh’s body double – and it is her...
- 5/27/2022
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Normal 0 false false false En-us X-none X-none
By Hank Reineke
Following the success of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho in 1960-61, there was – forgive me – a “mad” rush to cash in on that film’s coattails. On one side of the pond, U.S. based pastiches of Psycho would come courtesy of Shlock-horror maestro William Castle. The gimmicky producer would rush out the psychological-thriller Homicidal in 1961 and, a bit later - and more famously - with Joan Crawford in Straiht- Jacket (1964). In England, Hammer Film Productions, riding high due to their reimagining of the classic “Universal” monsters, would likewise bring to the screen four psych-thrillers of similar temperament: Paranoiac and Maniac in 1963, Hysteria and Nightmare in 1965.
One of the connecting threads of this quartet of Hammer efforts were that all scenarios had been dutifully scribed by their “house writer” of sorts, Jimmy Sangster. In his entertaining autobiography Do You Want it Good or Tuesday?...
By Hank Reineke
Following the success of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho in 1960-61, there was – forgive me – a “mad” rush to cash in on that film’s coattails. On one side of the pond, U.S. based pastiches of Psycho would come courtesy of Shlock-horror maestro William Castle. The gimmicky producer would rush out the psychological-thriller Homicidal in 1961 and, a bit later - and more famously - with Joan Crawford in Straiht- Jacket (1964). In England, Hammer Film Productions, riding high due to their reimagining of the classic “Universal” monsters, would likewise bring to the screen four psych-thrillers of similar temperament: Paranoiac and Maniac in 1963, Hysteria and Nightmare in 1965.
One of the connecting threads of this quartet of Hammer efforts were that all scenarios had been dutifully scribed by their “house writer” of sorts, Jimmy Sangster. In his entertaining autobiography Do You Want it Good or Tuesday?...
- 5/7/2022
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Many of Alfred Hitchcock's most famous films were adapted from literature, either beginning as novels or short stories ("Rear Window" was based on Cornell Woolrich's "It Has To Be Murder.") Proving that the book isn't always better than the movie, Hitchcock's adaptations have weathered the test of time much better than their source material.
However, one of the director's foremost classics was also an original: "North By Northwest." Plotted by Hitchcock in collaboration with screenwriter Ernest Lehman, "North by Northwest" is the director at his most unfiltered. It has an ordinary man swept up in intrigue,...
The post It Took Some Trickery From Alfred Hitchcock To Get North By Northwest Made appeared first on /Film.
However, one of the director's foremost classics was also an original: "North By Northwest." Plotted by Hitchcock in collaboration with screenwriter Ernest Lehman, "North by Northwest" is the director at his most unfiltered. It has an ordinary man swept up in intrigue,...
The post It Took Some Trickery From Alfred Hitchcock To Get North By Northwest Made appeared first on /Film.
- 4/25/2022
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Normal 0 false false false En-us X-none X-none
By Todd Garbarini
Some of the best literary achievements and their respective motion picture counterparts had their genesis in real-life. Robert Bloch made the grave-robber and necrophiliac Ed Gein into the motel manager Norman Bates in Psycho (1960); William Peter Blatty took the ostensibly possessed boy in Cottage City, MD and gave him the identity of Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist (1973); and Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek breathed celluloid life into Kit and Holly respectively in Badlands (1973), based upon Waste Land: The Savage Odyssey of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. Smooth Talk, Joyce Chopra’s brilliant 1985 film adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’s equally excellent 1966 short story “Where Have You Been, Where Are You Going?", is no exception. While it may seem odd to begin this review of what is on the surface, and for all intents and purposes, a story of a teen-age girl’s sexual awakening,...
By Todd Garbarini
Some of the best literary achievements and their respective motion picture counterparts had their genesis in real-life. Robert Bloch made the grave-robber and necrophiliac Ed Gein into the motel manager Norman Bates in Psycho (1960); William Peter Blatty took the ostensibly possessed boy in Cottage City, MD and gave him the identity of Regan MacNeil in The Exorcist (1973); and Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek breathed celluloid life into Kit and Holly respectively in Badlands (1973), based upon Waste Land: The Savage Odyssey of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. Smooth Talk, Joyce Chopra’s brilliant 1985 film adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’s equally excellent 1966 short story “Where Have You Been, Where Are You Going?", is no exception. While it may seem odd to begin this review of what is on the surface, and for all intents and purposes, a story of a teen-age girl’s sexual awakening,...
- 7/17/2021
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
As Disney quietly disappears huge swathes of film history into its vaults, I'm going to spend 2020 celebrating Twentieth Century Fox and the Fox Film Corporation's films, what one might call their output if only someone were putting it out.***As the great studios declined like mammoths sinking into tar pits, the films they produced started bifurcating: there were the stodgy, prestige pictures, like Cleopatra (1963) (which nearly sank Fox into the bitumen altogether), and there were trashy low-budget affairs farmed out to bottom-feeding indie producers, the sixties equivalent of the B pictures of yore. These were often more enjoyable than the respectable productions, even when they really were trash.Lauren Bacall counted Shock Treatment (1964) as the worst film of her career, and apart from her tendency to underrate Written on the Wind (1956), she had pretty sound judgement. Director Denis Sanders was among the first film school graduates to make films...
- 11/12/2020
- MUBI
Universal’s top-of-the-line Alfred Hitchcock classics make the jump to Ultra HD in a worthy update. We’ve seen these before but they’re always different in a theatrical setting… and the quality is so amazing here, a big home theater setup can duplicate a theatrical experience. It might as well be a Robert Burks / John L. Russell cinematographer’s film festival too, or an ‘Editor George Tomasini Festival’ — that unheralded ace cut all four of these masterpieces. And fans of Psycho have an extra treat: a slightly longer original cut.
The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection Ultra HD
Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds
Blu-ray
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
1954-1963 / 1:85 widescreen / Street Date September 8, 2020 /
Starring: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, James Stewart, Kim Novack, Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren.
Cinematography: Robert Burks (3), John L. Russell (1)
Film Editor: George Tomasini (4)
Original Music: Franz Waxman, Bernard Herrmann
Screenwriters: John Michael Hayes,...
The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection Ultra HD
Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds
Blu-ray
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
1954-1963 / 1:85 widescreen / Street Date September 8, 2020 /
Starring: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, James Stewart, Kim Novack, Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren.
Cinematography: Robert Burks (3), John L. Russell (1)
Film Editor: George Tomasini (4)
Original Music: Franz Waxman, Bernard Herrmann
Screenwriters: John Michael Hayes,...
- 9/12/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Born: Aug. 13, 1899 in England
Died: April 29, 1980 (age 80)
Best known for: Directing “Rebecca,” “Rear Window,” “Vertigo,” “North by Northwest,” “Psycho,” “The Birds” and nearly 50 others.
Nickname: “The Master of Suspense”
Awards: Five Oscar nominations, one Thalberg Award (1967); Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award (1972); AFI Life Achievement (1979); eight-time nominee of Directors Guild of America Award; four Emmy nominations, including “best male personality” as host of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” (1956).
Known for: cameos in each movie, his distinct profile, and his drawling deadpan “Good evening” as he introduced each episode of his TV series
Impact: He created a genre known as the “Hitchcockian thriller,” which mixes suspense, humor, romance and striking visuals, often in a story about an innocent person thrust into a dangerous situation. It’s a style that’s been often imitated, rarely duplicated.
Recognition factor: He became a “brand” director when it was rare: He was a selling point as early as the 1940s,...
Died: April 29, 1980 (age 80)
Best known for: Directing “Rebecca,” “Rear Window,” “Vertigo,” “North by Northwest,” “Psycho,” “The Birds” and nearly 50 others.
Nickname: “The Master of Suspense”
Awards: Five Oscar nominations, one Thalberg Award (1967); Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award (1972); AFI Life Achievement (1979); eight-time nominee of Directors Guild of America Award; four Emmy nominations, including “best male personality” as host of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” (1956).
Known for: cameos in each movie, his distinct profile, and his drawling deadpan “Good evening” as he introduced each episode of his TV series
Impact: He created a genre known as the “Hitchcockian thriller,” which mixes suspense, humor, romance and striking visuals, often in a story about an innocent person thrust into a dangerous situation. It’s a style that’s been often imitated, rarely duplicated.
Recognition factor: He became a “brand” director when it was rare: He was a selling point as early as the 1940s,...
- 8/13/2020
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
The 6th most-watched movie on Netflix right now – according to their Top 10 chart – is a recently-released and little known English-language crime drama called The Night Clerk. Produced by Saban Films and starring Ready Player One‘s Tye Sheridan, the pic tells the disturbing story of a voyeuristic young night clerk who becomes the main suspect of a murder investigation.
Film buffs may see some similarities between this premise and Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 classic thriller Psycho, and for good reason. Based on a novel by Robert Bloch, that picture centered on a woman who flees her hometown after stealing money from her boss, only to get into a skirmish with the owner of a motel she checks into.
A skirmish, of course, would be putting it mildly. In one of the creepiest sequences ever put to film, receptionist Norman Bates watches his only guest take a shower through a hole in the wall,...
Film buffs may see some similarities between this premise and Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 classic thriller Psycho, and for good reason. Based on a novel by Robert Bloch, that picture centered on a woman who flees her hometown after stealing money from her boss, only to get into a skirmish with the owner of a motel she checks into.
A skirmish, of course, would be putting it mildly. In one of the creepiest sequences ever put to film, receptionist Norman Bates watches his only guest take a shower through a hole in the wall,...
- 6/12/2020
- by Tim Brinkhof
- We Got This Covered
Article by Jim Batts, Dana Jung, Michael Haffner, Sam Moffitt, and Tom Stockman
Peter Cushing, born on this day in 1913, was one of the most respected and important actors in the horror and fantasy film genres. To his many fans, the British star, who died in 1994, was known as ‘The Gentle Man of Horror’ and is recognized for his work with Hammer Films which began in the late 1950’s, but he had numerous memorable roles outside of Hammer. A topnotch actor who was able to deliver superb performances on a consistent basis, Peter Cushing also had range. He could play both the hero and the villain with ease.
Here, according to We Are Movie Geeks, are Peter Cushing’s ten best roles:
10. Dr. Maitland
During the 1960s, Amicus Studios had a knack for borrowing from the pool of Hammer Studios actors and filmmakers to make their own Hammer-inspired films. While...
Peter Cushing, born on this day in 1913, was one of the most respected and important actors in the horror and fantasy film genres. To his many fans, the British star, who died in 1994, was known as ‘The Gentle Man of Horror’ and is recognized for his work with Hammer Films which began in the late 1950’s, but he had numerous memorable roles outside of Hammer. A topnotch actor who was able to deliver superb performances on a consistent basis, Peter Cushing also had range. He could play both the hero and the villain with ease.
Here, according to We Are Movie Geeks, are Peter Cushing’s ten best roles:
10. Dr. Maitland
During the 1960s, Amicus Studios had a knack for borrowing from the pool of Hammer Studios actors and filmmakers to make their own Hammer-inspired films. While...
- 5/27/2020
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
“I’m working in the outhouse again.” That’s how Ben Hecht, the fabled screenwriter, used to describe toiling in Hollywood. “And the nitwits are still in charge,” he assured his friends.
Hecht wrote terrific movies like Scarface and Notorious but he hated studio chiefs, and it was mutual. His name came to mind last week when Don Winslow posted his poignant piece on Deadline reminding producers and executives that writers of books and scripts these days could use a little more love. Given the tensions of the moment, he argued, a few friendly phone calls (and even checks) would bolster sagging writer morale.
More from DeadlineDon Winslow: Top 10 Things Studios, Networks and Streamers Could Do To Treat Authors BetterDon Winslow: My First Experience With Hollywood MathDon Winslow's Take On Scorsese & De Niro Doing 'The Irishman' Over 'Frankie Machine:' 'I Blame Eric Roth'
Winslow is responsible for...
Hecht wrote terrific movies like Scarface and Notorious but he hated studio chiefs, and it was mutual. His name came to mind last week when Don Winslow posted his poignant piece on Deadline reminding producers and executives that writers of books and scripts these days could use a little more love. Given the tensions of the moment, he argued, a few friendly phone calls (and even checks) would bolster sagging writer morale.
More from DeadlineDon Winslow: Top 10 Things Studios, Networks and Streamers Could Do To Treat Authors BetterDon Winslow: My First Experience With Hollywood MathDon Winslow's Take On Scorsese & De Niro Doing 'The Irishman' Over 'Frankie Machine:' 'I Blame Eric Roth'
Winslow is responsible for...
- 4/16/2020
- by Peter Bart
- Deadline Film + TV
By Mark Mawston
In the music scene of the 60’s you had two bands that stood on their own: the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. In films of the same period and into the early 70s, Amicus and Hammer were the Beatles and the Stones of the horror film genre. At their best, both reflected the popular tastes of era as it pertained to movies of this type. The early 70s saw creative highlights. With Hammer it was the Carmilla trilogy, Vampire Circus, Captain Kronos and, with Amicus, we had the splendid portmanteau films which had started with Dr Terrors House of Horrors and reaching their creative peak at the beginning of the new decade. Two of the company’s best efforts are now released by Second Sight on Blu-ray as stand-alone discs after appearing as part of a boxed set last year, The House That Dripped Blood and Asylum...
In the music scene of the 60’s you had two bands that stood on their own: the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. In films of the same period and into the early 70s, Amicus and Hammer were the Beatles and the Stones of the horror film genre. At their best, both reflected the popular tastes of era as it pertained to movies of this type. The early 70s saw creative highlights. With Hammer it was the Carmilla trilogy, Vampire Circus, Captain Kronos and, with Amicus, we had the splendid portmanteau films which had started with Dr Terrors House of Horrors and reaching their creative peak at the beginning of the new decade. Two of the company’s best efforts are now released by Second Sight on Blu-ray as stand-alone discs after appearing as part of a boxed set last year, The House That Dripped Blood and Asylum...
- 1/31/2020
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Tobe Hooper's 1974 film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of cinema's Og horror classics and a must see for any scary movie aficionado. Given how stomach-churning a lot of the scenes in the gory slasher can be, it's hard to imagine that the film's story has any root in reality. Unfortunately, like a lot of movies and TV shows out there, a real-life serial killer served as inspiration for the movie's chainsaw-wielding villain, Leatherface.
While a family of cannibalistic hillbillies who prey on unsuspecting teenagers is luckily not part of the original story (that we know of), the idea for Leatherface came out of the case of murderer Edward Theodore "Ed" Gein, also known as the Butcher of Plainfield. He is suspected to have killed several victims between the years of 1954 and 1957 and remains one of the most disturbing and notorious serial killers in history.
The Origin of...
While a family of cannibalistic hillbillies who prey on unsuspecting teenagers is luckily not part of the original story (that we know of), the idea for Leatherface came out of the case of murderer Edward Theodore "Ed" Gein, also known as the Butcher of Plainfield. He is suspected to have killed several victims between the years of 1954 and 1957 and remains one of the most disturbing and notorious serial killers in history.
The Origin of...
- 10/23/2019
- by Quinn Keaney
- Popsugar.com
“She might have fooled me, but she didn’t fool my mother.”
Psycho screens Sunday Night September 8th at the Sky View Drive-in in Lichtfield, Il. (1500 Historic Old Route 66) This is part of the Sky View’s ‘Throwback Sundays’. The second Sunday of the month, they screen a classic movie. Admission is only $3 (free for kids under 5). The movie starts at dusk (8:00-ish). The Sky View’s site can be found Here.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing, and its 78 separate edits. But what everyone does not realize is that this iconic sequence – one of the most famous in film history – was actually a creative response thought up by Saul Bass and Alfred Hitchcock to avoid censorship. In 1959, censorship (the Code) was still alive and well in Hollywood,...
Psycho screens Sunday Night September 8th at the Sky View Drive-in in Lichtfield, Il. (1500 Historic Old Route 66) This is part of the Sky View’s ‘Throwback Sundays’. The second Sunday of the month, they screen a classic movie. Admission is only $3 (free for kids under 5). The movie starts at dusk (8:00-ish). The Sky View’s site can be found Here.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing, and its 78 separate edits. But what everyone does not realize is that this iconic sequence – one of the most famous in film history – was actually a creative response thought up by Saul Bass and Alfred Hitchcock to avoid censorship. In 1959, censorship (the Code) was still alive and well in Hollywood,...
- 8/20/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
“She might have fooled me, but she didn’t fool my mother.”
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is checking into the Bates Motel as Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho comes to the big screen at Powell Hall for an evening of spine-tingling and hair-raising terror Saturday June 22nd at 7pm. From the shrieking strings and the slashing chords, the Slso performs Bernard Herrmann’s suspenseful score live and intensifies this black & white psychological thriller. Experience the dangerous duo of a cinematic masterpiece and iconic score from the safety of your red velvet chair. Conducted by Norman Huynh. Tickets can be purchased Here
Featuring the strings of the Slso.One of the greatest suspense thrillers of all time unfolds on the big screen.Film with live score.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing,...
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is checking into the Bates Motel as Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho comes to the big screen at Powell Hall for an evening of spine-tingling and hair-raising terror Saturday June 22nd at 7pm. From the shrieking strings and the slashing chords, the Slso performs Bernard Herrmann’s suspenseful score live and intensifies this black & white psychological thriller. Experience the dangerous duo of a cinematic masterpiece and iconic score from the safety of your red velvet chair. Conducted by Norman Huynh. Tickets can be purchased Here
Featuring the strings of the Slso.One of the greatest suspense thrillers of all time unfolds on the big screen.Film with live score.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing,...
- 6/5/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Bill Murray, Adam Driver and Chloë Sevigny lead Jim Jarmusch’s droll but directionless opening nighter
Jim Jarmusch’s undeadpan comedy is laconic, lugubrious and does not entirely come to life, despite many witty lines and tremendously assured performances by an A-list cast. It’s a droll if directionless riff on a fondly remembered, affectionately reanimated genre: the middle-America zombie nightmares of George A Romero, when the flesh-munching bodies tumble out of their graves, now utterly surrendered to the conformism, consumerism and cannibalistic narcissism that ate away their souls, long before their ostensible death.
The Dead Don’t Die naturally alludes to these traditional satirical expressions of zombie-ism – we get zombie teens mumbling “wifi …” – there are hints at Samuel Fuller and Robert Bloch and with zombie-ism symbolising the persistence of memory and lost loved ones, there might even be a reference to William Faulkner’s line about the past being...
Jim Jarmusch’s undeadpan comedy is laconic, lugubrious and does not entirely come to life, despite many witty lines and tremendously assured performances by an A-list cast. It’s a droll if directionless riff on a fondly remembered, affectionately reanimated genre: the middle-America zombie nightmares of George A Romero, when the flesh-munching bodies tumble out of their graves, now utterly surrendered to the conformism, consumerism and cannibalistic narcissism that ate away their souls, long before their ostensible death.
The Dead Don’t Die naturally alludes to these traditional satirical expressions of zombie-ism – we get zombie teens mumbling “wifi …” – there are hints at Samuel Fuller and Robert Bloch and with zombie-ism symbolising the persistence of memory and lost loved ones, there might even be a reference to William Faulkner’s line about the past being...
- 5/14/2019
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
“She might have fooled me, but she didn’t fool my mother.”
The ‘Grave Tales’ Horror film series continues at Webster University Thursday February 14th with a screening of Hitchcock’s Horror classic Psycho (1957) starring Tony Perkins and Janet Leigh. The screening will be at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood). The movie starts at 7:30. A Facebook invite for the event can be found Here. Look for more coverage of the ‘Grave Tales’ Horror film series here at We Are Movie Geeks in the coming weeks.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing, and its 78 separate edits. But what everyone does not realize is that this iconic sequence – one of the most famous in film history – was actually a creative response thought up by Saul Bass...
The ‘Grave Tales’ Horror film series continues at Webster University Thursday February 14th with a screening of Hitchcock’s Horror classic Psycho (1957) starring Tony Perkins and Janet Leigh. The screening will be at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood). The movie starts at 7:30. A Facebook invite for the event can be found Here. Look for more coverage of the ‘Grave Tales’ Horror film series here at We Are Movie Geeks in the coming weeks.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing, and its 78 separate edits. But what everyone does not realize is that this iconic sequence – one of the most famous in film history – was actually a creative response thought up by Saul Bass...
- 2/11/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Popeye The Sailor: The 1940s Volume 1
Blu ray
Warner Archive
1943 – 45 / 1.33:1 / Street Date – December 11, 2018
Starring Jack Mercer, Harry Foster Welch (Popeye), Margie Hines , Mae Questel (Olive Oyl), William Pennell, Jackson Beck (Bluto)
Directed by Dan Gordon, I. Sparber, Seymour Kneitel
The most animated of the great philosophers, Popeye relied on his fists to express his unapologetic mantra – “I am what I am.” Created by newspaper cartoonist E.C. Segar in 1929, the cantankerous but big-hearted sailor was brought to the screen by Max Fleischer and his brother Dave in a series of blissfully rowdy cartoons running from 1933 till 1942 – which is when everything went south.
1942 was the year that Max’s relationships with both Dave and Paramount fell apart – leading to the brothers’ exit and the beginning of Famous Studios, an in-house animation factory at Paramount staffed by Fleischer’s former creative team. But it may have been the sailor at the...
Blu ray
Warner Archive
1943 – 45 / 1.33:1 / Street Date – December 11, 2018
Starring Jack Mercer, Harry Foster Welch (Popeye), Margie Hines , Mae Questel (Olive Oyl), William Pennell, Jackson Beck (Bluto)
Directed by Dan Gordon, I. Sparber, Seymour Kneitel
The most animated of the great philosophers, Popeye relied on his fists to express his unapologetic mantra – “I am what I am.” Created by newspaper cartoonist E.C. Segar in 1929, the cantankerous but big-hearted sailor was brought to the screen by Max Fleischer and his brother Dave in a series of blissfully rowdy cartoons running from 1933 till 1942 – which is when everything went south.
1942 was the year that Max’s relationships with both Dave and Paramount fell apart – leading to the brothers’ exit and the beginning of Famous Studios, an in-house animation factory at Paramount staffed by Fleischer’s former creative team. But it may have been the sailor at the...
- 1/14/2019
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
It’s been nearly 60 years since the release of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, an adaptation of Robert Bloch’s novel, and the world at large met Norman Bates for the first time. There’s no getting around the fact that Psycho is a masterpiece, one where nearly every single aspect of it became iconic, from Bernard Herrmann’s striking score to its narrative twists and turns to the imagery Hitchcock and cinematographer John L. Russell loaded the film with to the performances, particularly that of Anthony Perkins. Without expounding too much further on its singular legacy – its lasting influence is undeniable and well documented – the bottom line is that it’s a perfect standalone film that does what it needs to do, says what it needs to say, and bows out when the time is right.
Like many movies, especially in horror, one outing tends to be enough. In Psycho‘s case,...
Like many movies, especially in horror, one outing tends to be enough. In Psycho‘s case,...
- 11/12/2018
- by Geoff Cox
- We Got This Covered
By Fred Blosser
Two 1960s murder thrillers with Joan Crawford have been released by Mill Creek Entertainment on single-disc Blu-ray. The cover sleeve bills the package as a “Psycho Biddy Double Feature.” The films are “Strait-Jacket” (1964), the first of Crawford’s three pictures with producer-director William Castle, and “Berserk!” (1967), her first of two with producer Herman Cohen. In using the possibly ageist and definitely sexist phrase “Psycho Biddy,” Mill Creek’s marketing department clearly hopes that audiences will have fond memories of the frenzied, middle-aged Joan Crawford in 1981’s “Mommie Dearest,” shrieking “I told you! No . . . wire . . . hangers -- ever!” at her terrified adopted child, Christina. Never mind that the belittling term “biddy” is problematic in the case of Joan Crawford. There may be plenty of biddies in the world, but the imperious Joan was never one of them. Never mind either that it was Faye Dunaway impersonating Joan Crawford in “Mommie Dearest,...
Two 1960s murder thrillers with Joan Crawford have been released by Mill Creek Entertainment on single-disc Blu-ray. The cover sleeve bills the package as a “Psycho Biddy Double Feature.” The films are “Strait-Jacket” (1964), the first of Crawford’s three pictures with producer-director William Castle, and “Berserk!” (1967), her first of two with producer Herman Cohen. In using the possibly ageist and definitely sexist phrase “Psycho Biddy,” Mill Creek’s marketing department clearly hopes that audiences will have fond memories of the frenzied, middle-aged Joan Crawford in 1981’s “Mommie Dearest,” shrieking “I told you! No . . . wire . . . hangers -- ever!” at her terrified adopted child, Christina. Never mind that the belittling term “biddy” is problematic in the case of Joan Crawford. There may be plenty of biddies in the world, but the imperious Joan was never one of them. Never mind either that it was Faye Dunaway impersonating Joan Crawford in “Mommie Dearest,...
- 10/29/2018
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
The people at Scream Factory have made their name releasing special edition Blu-rays of horror movies primarily from the ’80s and ’90s, the decades that fans of my generation first fell in the love with the genre, and, as a result, produced the movies we hold most dear. But Scream Factory has also branched out in their later years, releasing not only contemporary films (through their partnership with IFC Midnight), but classics as well. Three classic catalogue titles recently made their Blu-ray debuts as part of the this trend: one lesser-known effort from John Carpenter and two from the great William Castle.
One of my favorite of all of Castle’s productions is The Tingler from 1959, starring Vincent Price as a scientist who discovers a creature that attaches itself to the human spine and feeds on fear. Every human has one of these “tinglers,” the movie suggests, but by screaming and releasing our fear,...
One of my favorite of all of Castle’s productions is The Tingler from 1959, starring Vincent Price as a scientist who discovers a creature that attaches itself to the human spine and feeds on fear. Every human has one of these “tinglers,” the movie suggests, but by screaming and releasing our fear,...
- 9/14/2018
- by Patrick Bromley
- DailyDead
It’s 1964. You’ve been a long time fan of Joan Crawford since her Oscar winning performance in Mildred Pierce (1945), and you see she has a new movie opening this weekend: Strait-Jacket! “What could it be about?” you exclaim, right before you see the ad of Joan swinging an axe with a maniacal gleam in her eye and throw down your paper in disgust. “Horror nonsense”, you mumble. “She’ll never get my money again!” That’s a shame, Winifred, because Strait-Jacket is a hot blast of campy delights that I’m positive your kids and grand babies would have a grand old time with. Now have a lay down and I’ll tell you why.
Released by Columbia Pictures stateside in January, with a worldwide rollout in the spring, Strait-Jacket was a big hit for director William Castle (The Tingler) and Crawford, bringing in over $2 million at the box office,...
Released by Columbia Pictures stateside in January, with a worldwide rollout in the spring, Strait-Jacket was a big hit for director William Castle (The Tingler) and Crawford, bringing in over $2 million at the box office,...
- 9/1/2018
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Strait-Jacket
Blu ray
Shout Factory
1964 / 1.85:1 / Street Date August 21, 2018
Starring Joan Crawford, Diane Baker
Cinematography by Arthur Arling
Directed by William Castle
The planets aligned in 1964 as William Castle’s Strait-Jacket premiered in January and Susan Sontag’s Notes on Camp was published later that fall. There’s no mention of Castle’s axe-happy melodrama in Sontag’s essay – an eclectic rundown of kitsch touchstones extolling everything from The Mysterians to Steve Reeves – and that’s surprising because frame by frame, Castle’s overcooked fright-fest encompasses almost everything Sontag had to say about the joys of guilelessly bad art.
Joan Crawford stars as Lucy Harbin, a middle-aged outcast back home after a twenty year stint in a mental institution. The film’s prologue sets the stage; one hot night in 1944 Lucy paused by her bedroom window to find her husband sharing their bed with another, distinctly younger, woman. The enraged...
Blu ray
Shout Factory
1964 / 1.85:1 / Street Date August 21, 2018
Starring Joan Crawford, Diane Baker
Cinematography by Arthur Arling
Directed by William Castle
The planets aligned in 1964 as William Castle’s Strait-Jacket premiered in January and Susan Sontag’s Notes on Camp was published later that fall. There’s no mention of Castle’s axe-happy melodrama in Sontag’s essay – an eclectic rundown of kitsch touchstones extolling everything from The Mysterians to Steve Reeves – and that’s surprising because frame by frame, Castle’s overcooked fright-fest encompasses almost everything Sontag had to say about the joys of guilelessly bad art.
Joan Crawford stars as Lucy Harbin, a middle-aged outcast back home after a twenty year stint in a mental institution. The film’s prologue sets the stage; one hot night in 1944 Lucy paused by her bedroom window to find her husband sharing their bed with another, distinctly younger, woman. The enraged...
- 8/28/2018
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
When it comes to anthologies, no one scratches my omnibus itch better than Amicus. From Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (1965) to (my personal favorite) Tales from the Crypt (1972) through From Beyond the Grave (’74), time and again they served up slivers of ghoulish goodness, succinct and delectable. Asylum (1972) is no different; as a matter of fact, to its advantage it probably has the best wraparound of any horror anthology, which helps set it apart.
Released in the U.K. in July with a rollout stateside by Cinerama Releasing Corporation in November, Asylum did well in its homeland, but fared less with the critics; Roger Ebert’s bizarre (yet humorous) two star review focuses completely on producer (and Amicus co-founder) Max J. Rosenberg’s obsession with coleslaw. Splayed cabbage aside, Asylum holds up as a witty multistory film with a wicked denouement and (as usual) solid work from legendary writer Robert Bloch...
Released in the U.K. in July with a rollout stateside by Cinerama Releasing Corporation in November, Asylum did well in its homeland, but fared less with the critics; Roger Ebert’s bizarre (yet humorous) two star review focuses completely on producer (and Amicus co-founder) Max J. Rosenberg’s obsession with coleslaw. Splayed cabbage aside, Asylum holds up as a witty multistory film with a wicked denouement and (as usual) solid work from legendary writer Robert Bloch...
- 8/25/2018
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Robert Bloch and Milton Subotsky may have helped to codify the Giallo in this murder thriller but the results are not up to even the shaky standards of Amicus. That said, horror fans are going to flock to get their hands on a big color & ‘scope release that’s gone missing for decades. It’s a significant ‘save’ by Kino Lorber.
The Psychopath
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1966 / Color / 2:35 widescreen Techniscope / 82 min. / Street Date April 10, 2018 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Patrick Wymark, Margaret Johnston, John Standing, Alexander Knox, Judy Huxtable, Don Borisenko, Thorley Walters, Robert Crewdson, Harold Lang, Gina Gianelli, Greta Farrer, John Harvey.
Cinematography: John Wilcox
Film Editor: Oswald Hafenrichter
Art Direction: Bill Constable
Original Music: Elisabeth Lutyens
Written by Robert Bloch
Produced by Max Rosenberg, Milton Subotsky
Directed by Freddie Francis
A look at the cast and crew of The Psychopath raises one’s hopes. Good actors Patrick...
The Psychopath
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1966 / Color / 2:35 widescreen Techniscope / 82 min. / Street Date April 10, 2018 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Patrick Wymark, Margaret Johnston, John Standing, Alexander Knox, Judy Huxtable, Don Borisenko, Thorley Walters, Robert Crewdson, Harold Lang, Gina Gianelli, Greta Farrer, John Harvey.
Cinematography: John Wilcox
Film Editor: Oswald Hafenrichter
Art Direction: Bill Constable
Original Music: Elisabeth Lutyens
Written by Robert Bloch
Produced by Max Rosenberg, Milton Subotsky
Directed by Freddie Francis
A look at the cast and crew of The Psychopath raises one’s hopes. Good actors Patrick...
- 5/8/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
For those of you who enjoy your genre offerings on the eccentric side, May 8th is shaping up to be a wild day of home media releases. Severin Films has put together a limited edition Blu-ray for Emmanuelle and the Last Cannibals and they have the uncut version of Violence in a Women’s Prison coming out this week as well. Both The Devil Incarnate and Enter the Devil have been gussied up for an HD release this Tuesday, and for all you Amicus fans out there, Scream Factory is bringing The House That Dripped Blood to Blu, too.
Other notable releases for May 8th include Disembodied, Bizarre, Sick Sock Monsters From Outer Space, The Creeps, Gutboy: A Badtime Story, and The Violence Movie.
The Devil Incarnate
The action takes place in 16th century Spain. The Devil comes to earth to live as a mere mortal. Together with a human companion,...
Other notable releases for May 8th include Disembodied, Bizarre, Sick Sock Monsters From Outer Space, The Creeps, Gutboy: A Badtime Story, and The Violence Movie.
The Devil Incarnate
The action takes place in 16th century Spain. The Devil comes to earth to live as a mere mortal. Together with a human companion,...
- 5/8/2018
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
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