I love scary movies and I love blood and guts and severed heads and tangled up intestines everywhere. I guess tangled-up intestines are kind of the same thing as guts, but, wow, do I love grisly gore. It seems like older horror movies often focused more on the psychology of how horrifying a situation or act was and newer horror movies put more attention into convincingly showing every stab and every spurting artery on camera. For example, especially when you factor in what audiences of the time were used to, Last House on the Left was really shocking in 1972. It’s slogan was “To avoid fainting, keep repeating it’s only a movie, only a movie, only a movie.” Most of the most horrible events in the movie, you hear the suffering, but you can’t really see what is going on. By contrast, the 2009 version seems to be shot somehow higher quality, partly just due to the technology of modern cinematography. To my modern eyes, the color palette is more pleasing in the 2009 Last House on the Left. More of the gruesome parts are visible, although they could still go more extreme with that, for my taste. But the new one somehow loses some of the aura of menace, while at the same time vastly improving special effects and general overall look. Partly I suppose Aaron Paul just didn’t seem very scary to begin with and he already seemed like a tragic hero to anyone who had seen him play Jesse in Breaking Bad. You can research more about both the 1972 film version and the more recent 2009 remake at Wikipedia and you can read a bit about Last House on the Left distribution channels for horror at Blue Blood.
Horror special effects definitely have come a long way since the seventies. Now though, the special effects are, not to sound ironic, to die for. Trust me, if the quality of movies were still the same as they were a few decades ago, you can bet that I wouldn’t drop what I was doing over at http://www.partybingo.com just to watch some crappy special effects, and acting that we will just label as sub-par. Thank god though, that isn’t the case! To prove my point, just go watch one of the many (I think there are eight) movies in the Saw series, or if you are really up for some cringing, then watch Hostel.
So, in conclusion, I’ll watch the seventies movies for the acting and the newer ones for the special effects, but the special effects really have to be pretty impressive. I’m thinking about going to see Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D. I figure, even if the acting is all Disney Channel, the special effects on that have to be worth a theater ticket.
Social Bookmarking: Scream as loud as you can! Maybe someone will hear.
Last night saw the premiere of "From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series," airing exclusively on Robert Rodriguez' El Rey Network. While promoting the show, Rodriguez had something pretty interesting things to say about it, and the movie it's based on. Read on!
In an interview with Screen Rant, Rodriguez revealed that he feels the series is an even stronger piece of entertainment than the film, due to the slow-burn approach of TV storytelling, and the fact that we're already familiar with the characters and situations.
"The series is a crime saga with supernatural elements so you have to feel that from the very beginning, but it works much better because it’s the novel version so there are ties," he said. "Everyone’s supposed to get to that bar. Everyone’s destined to get there, and when they get there, because they don’t even get there until like halfway through the season, it’s so emotional when you get there, and you know what’s gonna happen and you know that everyone’s tied to it and it’s their destiny. Even the girl who comes out with the snake means so much now because you’ve gotten glimpses of her already. It’s really powerful and I really like this version more than the film."
He also talked about the genesis of the project, which has allowed him to expand on ideas he once only dreamed of expanding upon.
"Really early on, I just thought this would be a really great show to do, said Rodriguez. "Ever since we finished the movie, there’s a last shot that I put in that wasn’t in the script where the camera pulls back and you see that the bar was on top of an Aztec temple. People always loved that tease, thinking, ‘Is there a sequel that’s gonna follow this up,’ and we never did. And I’ve had that matte painting on my wall for 18 years and I always thought, I wanna do something with that. I didn’t know what. I didn’t know it’d be TV until I got this network."
Have you checked out the pilot episode of "From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series"? If so, drop a comment below and let us know what you thought!
We've been talking about a Doctor Strange movie here on Dread Central for a long while now, and with the pieces slowly falling into place a short list of directors for the project has come to light. Read on to see who could possibly be bringing the Strange in a big way!
According to THR reporter Borys Kit on Twitter the aforementioned shortlist of directors includes Mark Andrews (Brave), Jonathan Levine (Warm Bodies, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane) and Scott Derrickson (Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose).
Given my familiarity and love for the character I'd love to see Derrickson tackle it, but Levin is also a very inspired choice. Stay tuned.
The last actor they were looking at to assume the mystical role was The Dark Knight Rises, Looper, and Inception's Joseph Gordon-Levitt (pictured).
The film is being penned by Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer.
Created in 1963, Doctor Strange is the story of an arrogant surgeon who is injured in a car accident and goes on to become the Sorcerer Supreme of the Marvel universe. Using his magical powers, Strange protects the Earth from attacks from other realms.
On tap right now is a new one-sheet for Gareth Evans' The Raid 2: Berandal that hearkens back to the late 70s / early 80s in terms of design and we like it! Check it out and continue counting the days until this films release.
Iko Uwais (The Raid), Julie Estelle (Macabre), Alex Abbad (Merantau), Marsha Timothy (The Forbidden Door), Mathias Muchus, Tio Pakusadewo, and Cecep Arif Rahman star.
Also Evans asked two of his stars, Iko Uwais (Rama) and Yayan Ruhian (Prakoso), to come up onstage and give the fans an impromptu demonstration of their skills. Fortunately for those of us who couldn't make it to the Texas film festival, the good folks at Austin-based geek news site One of Us caught the action on camera.
Synopsis He thought it was over. After fighting his way out of a building filled with gangsters and madmen – a fight that left the bodies of police and gangsters alike piled in the halls – rookie Jakarta cop Rama thought it was done and he could resume a normal life. He couldn’t have been more wrong.
Formidable though they may have been, Rama’s opponents in that fateful building were nothing more than small fish swimming in a pond much larger than he ever dreamed possible. And his triumph over the small fry has attracted the attention of the predators farther up the food chain. His family at risk, Rama has only one choice to protect his infant son and wife: He must go undercover to enter the criminal underworld himself and climb through the hierarchy of competing forces until it leads him to the corrupt politicians and police pulling the strings at the top of the heap.
And so Rama begins a new odyssey of violence, a journey that will force him to set aside his own life and history and take on a new identity as the violent offender “Yuda.” In prison he must gain the confidence of Uco – the son of a prominent gang kingpin – to join the gang himself, laying his own life on the line in a desperate all-or-nothing gambit to bring the whole rotten enterprise to an end.
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (SPWA) acquired the film for the United States, Spain, Latin America, and South Africa; and Sony Pictures Classics will once again release the film theatrically in the United States.
During last month's Toy Fair we got word that Bif Bang Pow! is giving "The Twilight Zone" the vintage treatment with six 3-3/4" figures coming in the first wave, and now we have more details and official photos to share.
From the Press Release: World-renowned manufacturer Bif Bang Pow! announced a creative partnership with ZICA Toys in conjunction with David Lee, makers of high-quality retro-style toys and action figures, to produce a line of "The Twilight Zone" 3-3/4-inch retro action figures scheduled to ship in the fall of 2014.
The collection will focus on some of the most iconic characters from "The Twilight Zone" series, including William Shatner's nervous airline passenger Bob Wilson and the Gremlin that wants him to crash, both from the terrifying episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"; the sly alien Kanamit from "To Serve Man"; the Invader from Agnes Moorehead's "The Invaders" episode; Burgess Meredith's avid reader Henry Bemis from "Time Enough at Last"; and Talky Tina, the doll that spells doom for Telly Savalas in the "Living Doll" episode.
These 3-3/4-inch retro action figures will be produced in classic black-and-white, matching Bif Bang Pow!'s popular 8-inch line of "Twilight Zone" figures, accompanied by an extremely limited edition color series.
"We're excited for our 'Twilight Zone' action figures to be the first Bif Bang Pow! property to 'enter another dimension' in 3-3/4-inch scale," said Jason Labowitz, President of Bif Bang Pow!. "It's been great to work with a notable company like ZICA Toys to create these action figures for avid fans and collectors of the celebrated TV series."
"ZICA Toys is very excited to be working with Bif Bang Pow! on their new lines of retro 3-3/4-inch scale action figures," said Craig Owen, Owner of ZICA Toys LLC. "They've got some really great properties planned for this format, and I'm looking forward to helping them make some very cool stuff!"
"The Twilight Zone" 3-3/4-inch action figures are now available for pre-order at Entertainment Earth; click here for more info.
“True Detective” is over. “Hannibal” is only getting started. “The Walking Dead” are still walking. Godzilla is returning. That means the fiends of Dinner for Fiends have plenty to chew on for this latest installment. Do you have the stomach for it?
Uncle Creepy was buried under an avalanche of work so it was up to Matt, Buz, Andrew, and yours truly (I’m back!) to disseminate the climax of “True Detective,” the static state of “The Walking Dead,” and the first two episodes of the second season of the best show on television you’re not watching, AKA “Hannibal.”
Before venturing deep into Carcosa, we talk Godzilla, old and new, as well as taking a few moments for the Oldboy remake, the new RoboCop, Pompeii, Stalingrad, and much more.
And somehow, some way, once again Yellowbrickroad factors into the discussion. That film truly is our Carcosa.
Now that the cat's out of the proverbial bag that Wrong Turn 6 is currently filming in Bulgaria, the goodies are slowly trickling in, and right now we have a very candid shot of the film's maniacs for you to dig on courtesy of actor Chris Jarvis on Twitter.
Re-Kill director Valeri Milev is at the helm of the fifth sequel to the outback slasher franchise.
Jarvis, pictured below amongst friends, joins Aqueela Zoll, Anthony Ilott, Sadie Katz, Rollo Skinner, Billy Ashworth, Joe Gaminara, Harry Belcher, Raymond Steers, Luke Cousins, Tabitha Luke Eardley, and Roxanne Pallett for the film.
Fans of "The Originals" got a bit of a jolt last night as Rebekah drove off into the sunset, leaving us to wonder if she's gone for good or just taking a break from her battling brothers. Well, today the official word has come...
THR has confirmed that Australian actress Holt is indeed departing the show as a series regular although the door remains open for her to return as a guest star, potentially reprising her role as early as later this season or during the show's sophomore run.
Rebekah first appeared early in the third season of "The Vampire Diaries" in the 2011 episode "The End of the Affair," prompting an expanded presence on that series and leading to her landing the co-lead on "The Originals" with Joseph Morgan as Klaus and Daniel Gillies as Elijah. Holt has played the character for more than 50 episodes.
We'll miss her sparkly personality and interactions with the rest of her brood and definitely look forward to seeing her visit New Orleans in the coming months and years.
Meanwhile, here's what's ahead in next week's episode:
"The Originals" Episode 1.17 - "Moon Over Bourbon Street" (airs 3/18/14, 8-9pm) UNNATURAL ALLIANCES - After accusing Klaus (Joseph Morgan) of doing nothing while their control over the Quarter crumbles, Elijah (Daniel Gillies) makes a move to take matters into his own hands.
He receives an intriguing offer of support from Francesca (guest star Peta Sergeant), a beautiful woman from a powerful New Orleans family.
In an attempt to bring the warring factions of the city together, the Mikaelsons throw an extravagant party, where Klaus offers Jackson (guest star Nathan Parsons) a tempting deal, Elijah and Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) share a dance, and a violent fight comes to a surprising end.
Finally, even as Marcel (Charles Michael Davis) works on a new path to power, he continues to help Cami (Leah Pipes) deal with her Uncle Kieran’s (guest star Todd Stashwick) tragedy. Michael Robinson directed the episode written by Michelle Paradise and Christopher Hollier.
The trailer is finally here for the upcoming marital horror movie Death Do Us Part, and it makes staying single or living in sin seem so much more safe and appealing! Dig it!
From the Press Release On April 15, orange blossoms will be replaced by bloody roses when Anchor Bay Entertainment releases a story of shattered trust and broken vows: DEATH DO US PART, available on DVD for an MSRP of $19.98.
From writer/producers Julia Benson, Peter Benson, and Ryan Copple, the film was nominated for three Leo Awards and directed by award-winner Nicholas Humphries (SCREAMFEST, Best Short Film: The Little Mermaid). DEATH DO US PART tells of two people on the threshold of beginning a new life together: a threshold that turns into a precipice of death!
Kennedy Jamieson (Julia Benson, "STARGATE UNIVERSE," THAT BURNING FEELING) has waited her whole life for her perfect wedding. Engaged to the charming Ryan Harris (Peter Benson, "THE KILLING," "ARROW"), it looks like her dream is about to come true. Except for one thing - the young couple hasn’t had a chance to celebrate their respective bachelor/bachelorette parties. Ryan’s best man, Chet (Kyle Cassie, "TRUE JUSTICE," LOST BOYS 2: THE TRIBE), books a remote cabin in the woods to throw them a “Jack and Jill” party that they’ll never forget. It doesn’t take long before things take a horrifying turn as members of the group are brutally picked off one by one. Kennedy and Ryan had planned for the celebration of a lifetime – but how long will that lifetime last?
So prepare for a deadly reception from where there is no escape; not until ‘Death Do Us Part’!
Special Features Death Do Us Part: Behind The Scenes
A few days ago when another actor joined The CW's "iZombie" pilot, we wondered when they'd land their lead actress, and now we wonder no longer as word has come that it will be Rose McIver ("Once Upon a Time," "Masters of Sex").
Per Deadline, New Zealand native McIver will play med student-turned-zombie Olivia “Liv” Moore, who takes a job in the coroner’s office to gain access to the brains she must reluctantly eat to maintain her humanity. But with each brain she consumes, she inherits the corpse’s memories.
With the help of her medical examiner boss and a police detective, she solves homicide cases in order to quiet the disturbing voices in her head.
McIver joins the previously announced Robert Buckley, Malcolm Goodwin, Alexandra Krosney, and David Anders in the project .
"Veronica Mars" creator Rob Thomas and Diane Ruggiero wrote the script and are executive producing alongside Danielle Stokdyk and Dan Etheridge. Thomas will direct the pilot, which hails from Rob Thomas Productions and Warner Bros. Television. The pilot is based on characters created by Chris Robertson and Michael Allred and published by DC Comics' Vertigo imprint.
Formerly titled Haunted, Victor Salva's Dark House has opened up its creaky doors, and we have an exclusive clip that may or may not help you decide whether or not to walk on in! Check it out!
The horror-suspense feature Dark House, starring the iconic Tobin Bell (Saw), began its day-and-date roll-out on March 11th via Cinedigm in North America across cable, VOD, Blu-ray Disc, and DVD. Paladin will release the movie in New York and Los Angeles on March 14 with additional markets to follow.
Dark House, which follows the terrifying road trip of a young man in search of his dark past, is the freshman effort of LA-based Charles Agron Productions. It is directed by Victor Salva, who co-wrote the script with producer Charles Agron, based on a story by Agron. In addition to producing the film and co-writing with Salva, Agron plays a lead role.
Along with Bell, up-and-coming young actor Luke Kleintank (“Pretty Little Liars,” 1000 to 1), Alex McKenna (“Crossing Jordan”, “Dallas”), Zack Ward (Postal), and multiple award-winner Lesley-Anne Down (“Upstairs/Downstairs”) star.
Says Charles Agron, President of Charles Agron Productions, “It is so gratifying to see this film--which I first sat down to write four years ago--wind up with an iconic director and star, an ensemble of very exciting young actors, and a pair of distributors with deep experience in horror to bring Dark House to audiences.”
Synopsis When Nick Di Santo learns that his father is not only alive but can possibly reveal the origin of his son's dark gift, he sets out on a trip that takes him to an abandoned mansion he thought only existed in his childhood imagination.
Last night saw the premiere of "From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series," airing exclusively on Robert Rodriguez' El Rey Network. While promoting the show, Rodriguez had something pretty interesting things to say about it, and the movie it's based on. Read on!
We've been talking about a Doctor Strange movie here on Dread Central for a long while now, and with the pieces slowly falling into place a short list of directors for the project has come to light. Read on to see who could possibly be bringing the Strange in a big way!
On tap right now is a new one-sheet for Gareth Evans' The Raid 2: Berandal that hearkens back to the late 70s / early 80s in terms of design and we like it! Check it out and continue counting the days until this films release.
During last month's Toy Fair we got word that Bif Bang Pow! is giving "The Twilight Zone" the vintage treatment with six 3-3/4" figures coming in the first wave, and now we have more details and official photos to share.
“True Detective” is over. “Hannibal” is only getting started. “The Walking Dead” are still walking. Godzilla is returning. That means the fiends of Dinner for Fiends have plenty to chew on for this latest installment. Do you have the stomach for it?
Now that the cat's out of the proverbial bag that Wrong Turn 6 is currently filming in Bulgaria, the goodies are slowly trickling in, and right now we have a very candid shot of the film's maniacs for you to dig on courtesy of actor Chris Jarvis on Twitter.
Fans of "The Originals" got a bit of a jolt last night as Rebekah drove off into the sunset, leaving us to wonder if she's gone for good or just taking a break from her battling brothers. Well, today the official word has come...
The trailer is finally here for the upcoming marital horror movie Death Do Us Part, and it makes staying single or living in sin seem so much more safe and appealing! Dig it!
A few days ago when another actor joined The CW's "iZombie" pilot, we wondered when they'd land their lead actress, and now we wonder no longer as word has come that it will be Rose McIver ("Once Upon a Time," "Masters of Sex").
Formerly titled Haunted, Victor Salva's Dark House has opened up its creaky doors, and we have an exclusive clip that may or may not help you decide whether or not to walk on in! Check it out!