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Friday, January 10, 2003
FLASH!
Fangoria has a major announcement to make at its Weekend of Horrors - It's going back into the film production after a hiatus of several years (Fango's last official productions were a trio of lackluster thrillers titled Mindwarp, Children of the Night, and Severed Ties). The good news is, the first movie to hit production is Frank (Basket Case) Henenlotter's comeback feature Sick in the Head. Henenlotter co-wrote the film with underground rapper R. A. Thorburn, and it concerns the troubled adult child of Mom and Pop serial killers and brain parasites (what Henenlotter feature would be complete without a monster?). Fangoria Presents president Steven Mackler promises the company's return to production, "will deliver the goodies that horror fans expect." Fangoria editor Tony Timpone hopes for the "kind of twisted horror we don't see enough of." Too bad Fango video passed on Flesh Eaters.
Fangoria also reports that Halle Berry and Penelope Cruz have signed on for Dark Castle's 2003 Halloween offering, GOTHIKA. It's about a shrink (Berry) who awakens to find herself a patient in her own asylum. Cruz plays a deranged patient. A vengeful spirit is behind the shenanigans, so that makes it 'horror.' The Sebastian Gutierrez-scripted thriller is reported to be the highest budgeted Dark Castle production to date. Methinks the reason can be spelled B-E-R-R-Y!
Media Blasters racks up to more horror flick DVDs by releasing H.G. Lewis's sequel Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat and Jess Franco's Faceless. Expect supplements, a Caroline Munro interview already announced for the Franco disc.
Mad Cow causes cannibalism!? So is the concept behind Dead Meat, the first ever cannibal horror movie from Ireland. Oh, goody. You can check it out at Creature Corner....
–Chad H. "Chadzilla" Saxelid
posted by Christopher 1:30 PM | Comments
Thursday, January 09, 2003
Fangoria.com's video release section reports that March 4th will see the release of both The Ring AND Ringu on video, Ringu will be subtitled and in widescreen. The only announced extra for The Ring to date is an extended version of Samara's cursed video, whoop-dee-doo.
The site also reports that Ginger Snaps 2 AND 3 will begin production in Canada on January 27. Snaps 1 editor Brett Sullivan directs, both Emily Perkins and Katherine Isabelle return.
MistyMundae.com has some new goodies, a photo, um, spread of stills from Satan's School for Lust in the pictures section, and a new poster, for Lustful Addiction, is offered in the mags and stuff store.
Rapid Heart Pictures (i.e. The Brotherhood series, Leeches, etc.) has expanded into episodic television with an anthology series that will be shot in Canada. The studio offers no further word on just what the series will be concerned with.
While Scott scooped me on Cloud Ten's End Game, I am proud to report that their Judd Nelson-starring thriller Deceived was named "Entertainment Film/Video of the Year" at the 2002 ChristianBEATS Music Awards on December 14th. There best-selling Left Behind 2: Tribulation Force is up for the "Best Live Action Feature" award from DVD Premiere Awards. Winners will be announced sometime this month. Congratulations to all involved.
Tempe Video has remastered J.R. Bookwalter's 'hit' Ozone and is reissuing January 7th as Street Zombies, to be warned is to be armed. Also slipping out with next to no fanfare is William Shatner's alien thriller Groom Lake, which has been in post-production hell for TWO YEARS. Dan Gauthier, Tom Towles, Amy Acker, DICK VAN PATTEN, Brenda Bakke, and Duane Whittaker star in this suspense thriller about a dying woman seeking solace in knowing for certain in aliens do exist. Both are retailing for 14.99 and are Tempe Exclusives, supplies limited. No word when Bookwalter's latest epic, entitled Stingers (which wrapped recently), will be released.
Although their years in the making premiere effort Flesh Eaters (formerly Flesh Eaters 2000) has repeatedly come 'this close' to release with nothing to show for it, Labcoat Productions is moving on and seeking funding for their newest script, entitled Crackerjack Totem. It is described as an anthology film that looks at fate. Screenwriter, director, and Remo D's Manor of Mayhem (Monterey, CA cable channel 24, Sundays) host Shane M. Dallmann is one of my best friends. I continue to wish him and his partners all the best. Their website has a still gallery of Flesh Eaters scenes and ever so slightly more detailed descriptions of the news I pass on here. Flesh Eaters played at a Fangoria convention, where it received positive audience response. Some of the more well know audience members (i.e. Forrest J. Ackerman and Fred Ray) are quoted. Uh, Shane, you didn't pass on those Biohazard jokes we made to Fred, did you?
My views on the Flesh Eaters remake? The movie alternates between being disturbingly gross, over the top funny (both intentional, Shane's dry wit is quite visible, and not, being a low budget/guerilla movie there is more than a little bit of good old fashioned huh? goofiness), and the guy who plays the evil scientist makes sitting through it all more than worthwhile. Hopefully he'll get nominated for a Saturn or a Hubbie or something for his efforts when the move gets a release.
–Chad H. "Chadzilla" Saxelid
posted by Christopher 7:01 AM | Comments
Wednesday, January 08, 2003
Sequels! Sequels! And More Sequels! It’s the first major update for 2003!
Well, let’s start with the ones that aren’t to be. If you’ve been following movie news on the internet in the past week then you’ve probably seen reports about HALLOWEEN 9, EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS 2, and CHILD’S PLAY: BAD SEED. Well, they’ve all been confirmed to be untrue although I highly suspect that HALLOWEEN 9 will eventually come to be. What other means does Moustapha Akkad have to pay his mortgage? Considering what a box office fiasco EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS was I’m amazed anyone even bothered to start such a rumor about a sequel. And for those of you looking forward to the further exploits of Chucky, Universal has gone on the record saying they’re finished making CHILD’S PLAY movies. Now if only we could get Moustapha Akkad to make the same declaration regarding future HALLOWEEN sequels.
But there is reason to rejoice because ANACONDA 2 is apparently going to become a reality. Reportedly, the guy who directed MURDER AT 1600 and HALLOWEEN 4 is going to direct and the people who wrote THEY NEST are currently rewriting the sequel’s script which was originally worked on by the folks that wrote ROBOCOP. But will J’Lo return? Yeah, right! I suggest they change the full title of the film to ANACONDA 2: WHY? because I suspect that’s what most people are saying to themselves while reading this paragraph.
IMDB reports that a SEVEN 2 is in development. Seems Brad Pitt won’t be in it but Morgan Freeman will. A SEVEN sequel with only Morgan Freeman? I think they already made two of them. They were called KISS THE GIRLS and ALONG CAME A SPIDER.
In what should delight the dozen or so fans of the franchise, Warwick Davis has confirmed that shooting on LEPRECHAUN 6: BACK IN THE HOOD is complete. We should all expect the latest installment to hit video shelves later this year. One can only hope there will be an OCTOPUS 3 and a BROTHERHOOD 4 to go along side it!
Dark Horizons reports (and even they call it a wild unsubstantiated rumor) that a New Zealand production company is working on a sequel to DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS. Take that one with a grain of saltwater!
Seems we may have to wait a little longer for that TOMB RAIDER sequel since the movie, which is scheduled for a July release, hasn’t even wrapped production yet and may have its release date pushed back. Damn! And I already had the month circled on my calendar just for that! The complete title (Maybe a bit too complete?) for the film is TOMB RAIDER 2: LARA CROFT & THE CRADLE OF LIFE. Hey, it can’t possibly be worse than the first one? Can it?
Dark Horizons reports that commentators on ESPN have indicated that ex-football jock turned failed action hero Howie Long is up for the title role in THE PUNISHER. Long’s first and last starring role was that stinker FIRESTORM, a movie that was such a turkey that Long's three-picture deal was terminated. Now according to Film Force, an actor has been chosen to play THE PUNISHER and he is someone who is "not a huge star, but known, very respected, and very good for the role." I suspect that rules out Mr. Long, especially the part about being well respected. Expect the identity of THE PUNISHER to be revealed in the very near future.
The guy who originally played THE PUNISHER, Dolph Lundgren, spoke with B & K Sports Magazine about one of the three projects he’s got coming out direct-to-video later this year. Hey, I thought he retired? The one he spoke of is called ALIEN AGENT and in it Lundgren plays a extraterrestrial samurai law enforcer from the future (I’m not making this up!) who must stop evil aliens from building some Stargate to Earth so they can take over or something sinister like that. Even by Dolph’s low standards this one sounds incredibly cheesy. Couldn’t he just make the sequel we’ve all been waiting for – I STILL COME IN PEACE? It should also be noted that the film is being directed by Sidney Furie whose credits include DR. BLOOD’s COFFIN, 3 of the IRON EAGLE movies, SUPERMAN IV: THE QUEST FOR PEACE, THE TAKING OF BEVERLY HILLS, and episodes of VIP and 18 WHEELS OF JUSTICE. As you can see, Dolph Lundren only works with the best. Dolph also claims that Sly Stallone has told him that he’s going to try and work Ivan Drago into the script for ROCKY IV. Keep those fingers crossed, Dolph.
For a change, I thought I’d tell you about a TV show that apparently won’t become a big screen movie anytime soon. Tom Selleck was whining to the Chicago Sun Times last week about how MAGNUM P.I.: THE MOVIE was stuck in development hell because Universal Studios was just sitting on the rights to Selleck’s hit '80s series with no intentions of making anything and they refuse to give him the rights to the show so he can try and shop it around elsewhere. Unless you’re Mr. Selleck, does anyone bemoan this movie not becoming a reality?
You gotta love Cloud Ten Productions, the inept Christian production company behind the LEFT BEHIND movies. They’re currently hard at work on their most ambitious movie yet entitled END GAME about “nuclear weapons, a war arising in the Middle East, terrorism, and a United States attack with weapons of disastrous proportions". What about the Antichrist? They forgot to mention the Antichrist! Cloud Ten claims this movie was already planned prior to 9-11 but was put on hold for the time being but apparently now the time is right for such a feature. Unlike the incompetent way they marketed the LEFT BEHIND films, END GAME is scheduled for a wide theatrical release in the fall of 2003. If it’s half as much fun as MEGIDDO was, this one could prove to be an unintentional laugh riot too.
Oh, I neglected to mention that I got an email just before Christmas from one of the makers of MONSTURD, Rick (Not Mike!) Popko, regarding the giant, killer ass on a rampage movie RECTUMA. Since the director of RECTUMA Mark Pirro did a cameo in MONSTURD as a police sketch artist and helped with the opening and closing credits, Popko and his production partner Dan West will return the favor. They will be helping with the second unit on the film and cameo themselves as cops with Preparation H smeared on their faces trying to calm down the panicked crowd. You helped with my killer turd movie and now I’ll help with your killer butt movie. Sounds like a case of you scratch my ass and I’ll scratch yours. Insert a rimshot or a groan here as you see fit.
And here’s one of those stories that simply makes you question the sanity of everyone involved with the entertainment industry. There is a film in the works called 221bCAUSE about a disgraced junkie cop who works at a New York travel agency situated at 221B Baker St – Sherlock Holmes’ famous address. Whilst there the ex-cop notices letters arriving for Sherlock Holmes and answers them as the legendary detective leading to a case involving the President’s missing son. Is it just me or does this sound more like something that would have been the basis for a 70’s TV cop show? Making this whole scenario even more far fetched is who is set to play this disgrace junkie cop – Britney Spears! And the only reason she has the role is because Jennifer Love Hewitt dropped out of the project after her people convinced her that the film’s drug angle would be bad for her image. Britney Spears as a disgraced junkie cop turned modern day Sherlock Holmes! Only in Hollywood, people! Only in Hollywood! The producer’s want the film ready by 2004 to tie-in with the U.S. Presidential elections. I’m not sure why since it’s not like President Bush has a son, but who am I to argue with people who think Britney Spears would be convincing as a modern day Sherlock Holmes.
And that concludes the first update for 2003. I guess I’m going to have to end it on a sad note. I really never wanted to ever have to report this, but here goes. It seems the Jean-Claude Van Damme vs. the Yeti movie will never be as the entry for the movie ABOMINABLE has been removed from IMDB indicating that the project has finally been scrapped once and for all. Dammit! I really wanted to see Van Damme kickbox Bigfoot too! Somebody send the script to The Rock. I’d bet he’d do it. Hey, Hulk Hogan could play the Abominable Snowman too! I know. I just need to let it go. Sigh.
–Scott Foy
posted by Christopher 9:19 AM | Comments
Tuesday, January 07, 2003
Cult DVD Zone updated
Cult DVD Zone, which features listings of DVD releases of interest to cult movie buffs, has been updated. The latest update covers DVD releases until January 20.
posted by Christopher 2:18 PM | Comments
New Midnite Movies from MGM
MGM has announced their April batch of "Midnite Movies" double feature DVDs. All will be released on April 15 and retail for only $14.95 each. Here are the April titles:
ANGEL UNCHAINED/CYCLE SAVAGES (Both films 1.85:1, 16 x 9)
MUSCLE BEACH PARTY/SKI PARTY (Both films 2.35:1, 16 x 9)
INVISIBLE INVADERS/JOURNEY TO THE SEVENTH PLANET (INVISIBLE INVADERS: 1.33:1; JOURNEY: 1.66:1 letterboxed)
CRY OF THE BANSHEE/MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE (1971) (CRY OF THE BANSHEE--91 minute Director's Cut; 1.85:1; 16 x 9; includes new video interview with director Gordon Hessler; MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE--98 minute Director's Cut, featuring 11 minutes of footage cut from the original release; 1.85:1; 16 x 9; includes new video interview with director Gordon Hessler)
PSYCH-OUT/THE TRIP (PSYCH-OUT--1.85:1; 16 x 9; includes new featurette with director Richard Rush, producer Dick Clark, cinematographer Lazlo Kovacs and actor Bruce Dern; commentary track with director Richard Rush; THE TRIP--1.85:1, 16 x 9; three new featurettes with Director Roger Corman, actor Bruce Dern and Allen Daviau; commentary track with director Roger Corman. This is the theatrical cut; unfortunately, MGM was unable to locate director Roger Corman's original ending for the film.)
Horror fans who are disappointed by the fact that this batch of Midnite Movies only includes two horror films can be rest assured that MGM's August batch of double features will include several highly-anticipated horror titles (many with extras), including the long-delayed double feature of THE VAMPIRE LOVERS and COUNTESS DRACULA.
–Chad H. "Chadzilla" Saxelid
posted by Christopher 1:22 PM | Comments
Monday, January 06, 2003
R.I.P. Conrad L. Hall
Conrad L. Hall, cinematographer on such excellent films as American Beauty, Road to Perdition and Cool Hand Luke – and some not-so-excellent movies like Incubus (the William Shatner vehicle filmed completely in Esperanto) – has died. He was 76.
Read the entire AP obituary here.
posted by Christopher 5:17 AM | Comments
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