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.
The first official bit of artwork for Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda has swum ashore, and according to it we're in for a bit of a love story. Read on to get your daily dosage of tentacle pron with teeth! No really... with teeth!
From the eagerly anticipated premiere of Sharknado 2: The Second One, Roger Corman’s Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda, and Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark to the greatest moments in shark film history, Syfy viewers will be swimming with fin-tastic special programming during the channel’s "Sharknado Week."
HIGHLIGHTS OF SYFY’S SHARKNADO WEEK (ALL TIMES ET/PT) Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark – Saturday, July 26, at 9PM – When the U.S. government creates an exact robotic copy of the original mega shark, this new mecha shark runs wild – with only the original mega shark standing in the way of global destruction. A production of The Asylum, the movie stars Christopher Judge ("Stargate SG1") and Elisabeth Rohm (American Hustle).
Sharkmania: The Top 15 Biggest Baddest Bloodiest Bites – Premieres Sunday, July 27, at 9PM – This original documentary special takes a lighthearted look back at the 15 best shark movie bites of all time. Comedians, actors, and celebrities including Ian Ziering, Brooke Hogan, Richard Moll, Downtown Julie Brown, and Mark McGrath discuss their favorite scenes – fun, ridiculous, and frightening – from classic shark movies such as Jaws to the outrageous Sharktopus and Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus. A production of Associated Television International. Executive producer: Jim Romanovich. Producers: Dan Goldman, David Stephan. Consulting producer: Robert Corsini.
Sharknado 2: The Second One – Wednesday, July 30, at 9PM – In Sharknado 2: The Second One, the sequel to last summer’s global pop culture sensation, a freak weather system turns its deadly fury on New York City, unleashing a Sharknado on the population and its most cherished iconic sites – and only Fin (Ian Ziering) and April (Tara Reid) can save the Big Apple. The movie, directed by Anthony C. Ferrante from a screenplay by Thunder Levin, also stars Mark McGrath, Kari Wuhrer, Vivica A. Fox, and Judah Friedlander with cameo appearances including Kelly Osbourne, Judd Hirsch, Perez Hilton, Matt Lauer, Al Roker, Andy Dick, Robert Klein, Sandra “Pepa” Denton, Biz Markie, Downtown Julie Brown, Richard Kind, and Kurt Angle, among others. Sharknado 2: The Second One is a production of The Asylum.
Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda – Sunday, August 2, at 9PM – In this new Roger Corman movie, the child of Sharktopus goes toe-to-toe with the latest science experiment "Pteracuda" – half Pteradactyl, half Barracuda – in a battle for monster supremacy. A production of New Horizons Pictures, the movie stars Robert Carradine (Django Unchained) and Katie Savoy ("Living with Models").
DVD Active is reporting that Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' Godzilla is getting set to land on the shores of Blu-ray and DVD this coming September 16. Read on for specs and more. Now, if only someone could find a way to put more Godzilla in the movie. Then we'd be really happy.
The site also reports that there will also be a Limited Edition Godzilla MetalPak, which includes exclusive embossed artwork, the Blu-ray Combo pack, and Zilla’s iconic roar.
All three releases will include the following...
Special Features
MONARCH: Declassified – Discover explosive new evidence not contained in the film that unravels the massive cover-up to keep Godzilla’s existence a secret.
Operation: Lucky Dragon
MONARCH: The M.U.T.O. File
The Godzilla Revelation
The Legendary Godzilla – Go behind the scenes with filmmakers and cast for an even deeper look at the larger than life monsters in the film.
Godzilla: Force of Nature
A Whole New Level Of Destruction
Into The Void: The H.A.L.O. Jump
Ancient Enemy: The M.U.T.O.s
From visionary new director Gareth Edwards (Monsters) comes a powerful story of human courage and reconciliation in the face of titanic forces of nature, when the awe-inspiring Godzilla rises to restore balance as humanity stands defenseless.
Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, Aaron Johnson, Juliette Binoche, David Strathairn, Ken Watanabe, Richard T. Jones, Sally Hawkins, Victor Rasuk, Yuki Morita, and C.J. Adams star in the film, which was rated PG-13 for “intense sequences of destruction, mayhem and creature violence."
Just when you thought you had seen the last of the Sin City: A Dame to Kill For posters comes the first in a series of artwork created exclusively to mark the film's presence at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con. Look for more soon!
Following the groundbreaking film that grossed $160 million worldwide, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For reunites Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller for the next chapter in this trailblazing series.
Weaving together stunning visuals with an uncompromising, hard-boiled plot, the film promises more lurid tales from the various residents of Basin City. With a star-studded cast that includes the legendary Bruce Willis (Pulp Fiction), Academy Award nominee Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler), Academy Award nominee Josh Brolin (Milk), Jessica Alba (Spy Kids 4), and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (The Dark Knight Rises), Sin City: A Dame to Kill For ensures an experience like no other!
The film will be released by Dimension Films in the US and Canada on August 22, 2014.
Synopsis Co-directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller reunite to bring Miller's visually stunning Sin City graphic novels back to the screen in SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR. Weaving together two of Miller's classic stories with new tales, the town's most hard-boiled citizens cross paths with some of its more reviled inhabitants. SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR is the follow-up to Rodriguez and Miller's 2005 groundbreaking film FRANK MILLER'S SIN CITY.
Just in time for the madness of this week's San Diego Comic-Con, director Colin Trevorrow has released the first official bit of Jurassic World artwork early on Twitter. Though more than fit for mass consumption, we recommend chewing slowly. It's the good stuff!
Vincent D'Onofrio, Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ty Simpkins, BD Wong, Andy Buckley, Idris Elba, Jake Johnson, Omar Sy, and Nick Robinson star.
Colin Trevorrow (Safety Not Guaranteed) penned the script with Derek Connolly and directs. Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, and Pat Crowley produce Jurassic World. In theaters June 12, 2015, this is a new sci-fi terror adventure set 22 years after the horrific events of the original Jurassic Park.
Ever wonder where your favorite horror movie stars hang their hats? The good folks over at Roadtrippers have mapped out a new infographic depicting some of your favorite frightening locales. It's all here, kids! Get out your GPS!
Know what's even more genius about this? The fact that we all know someone silly enough to look at this map and actually set out across the United States hoping to visit each and every area.
I mean, what kind of a schmuck would really set out to find the Lost Boys' cave? Surely there's something better to do wi... Huh? Oh. Sorry. Didn't realize you were that person. No offense. In fact, have at it! Your gas card is in the mail!
Head on over to Roadtrippers.com for a more extensive breakdown, which includes some seriously touristy spots!
The slasher subgenre may be on theatrical sabbatical, but that's not stopping author Matt Serafini (Feral) from keeping masked madmen alive and dangerous. Horror fans looking for a little stalk and slash this summer will want to get their hands on Under the Blade, which is out now!
This one comes to us courtesy of the wonderfully warped minds at Severed Press, true purveyors of quality horror fiction. You can grab Under the Blade in both paperback and ebook formats on Amazon.
Those who want the experience of walking into a bookstore and purchasing a copy will have to wait a while longer, as Under the Blade is exclusive with Amazon until late summer.
Serafini's second novel is inspired by the slasher movie subgenre of the 1980s. As such, readers will find familiar elements (a masked maniac, small town secrets, horny teens) arranged in a story that goes beyond the expected trajectory.
From the back cover:
When she returns, so does the horror…
At seventeen, Melanie Holden was the sole survivor of Cyrus Hoyt’s killing spree at Camp Forest Grove. Now in her forties, she has bottomed out personally and professionally, still haunted by the undying memories of that madman. A publishing deal lures her back to the place where her misfortunes began and trouble starts anew, first with a string of escalating harassments and, soon, much worse.
When Melanie joins forces with Forest Grove’s new police chief, they get more than they bargained for as they discover that Cyrus Hoyt is only just the beginning. That the town’s past is actually much bloodier than they could’ve imagined.
And now that it has Melanie back, it doesn’t want her to leave.
Scott Lowell Jackson designed the fantastic cover art, seeking to invoke nostalgic memories of the VHS era while giving the book a more contemporary design.
This release makes us proud of our own MattFini, and we hope that some of you will venture into the woods around Forest Grove to try to survive Cyrus Hoyt!
Listen up, trick-or-treaters! Right now we have the skinny on the single most eagerly anticipated home video release of this year, Scream Factory/Anchor Bay's Halloween: The Complete Collection Blu-ray set.
Loomis once proclaimed that we "don't know what death is." That may bet true, but after this we'll at least we know we'll die smiling!
Halloween Box Set Release Details Anchor Bay Entertainment and Scream Factory proudly announce the bonus features and technical specifications for the September 23rd HALLOWEEN Complete Collection Blu-ray™ set. This new set boasts a wealth of NEW bonus features including 7 brand NEW featurettes, 3 brand NEW commentaries, 4 brand NEW interviews – with many of the participants sharing their thoughts about the franchise for the first time -- and NEW transfers and audio specs on selected titles.
Disc 1 – John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978)
Bonus Features:
HD transfer supervised and approved by cinematographer Dean Cundey
NEW Audio Commentary With Director Of Photography Dean Cundey, Editor Tommy Lee Wallace And The Shape, Nick Castle
Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director John Carpenter and Actress Jamie Lee Curtis.
“The Night She Came Home” Featurette
“On Location: 25 Years Later” Featurette
TV Version Footage
Television Spots
Theatrical Trailer
TV and Radio Spots
Tech Specs:
1080p Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1); Dolby TrueHD 7.1; Original 1978 Audio in Dolby TrueHD Mono
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Disc 2 – John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) (Exclusive to Deluxe Edition)
Original 2008 Blu-ray with different color timing and special features.
Bonus Features:
Audio Commentary With Co-Writer/Director John Carpenter, Actress Jamie Lee Curtis and Co-Writer/Producer Debra Hill
Featurette: Halloween: A Cut Above The Rest
Theatrical Trailer
TV and Radio Spots
Tech Specs:
1080p Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1); Dolby Surround 5.1; PCM 5.1; Original 1978 Mono Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Disc 3 – Halloween II (1981)
Theatrical Version
Bonus Features:
Audio commentary with director Rick Rosenthal and actor Leo Rossi (Theatrical version)
Audio commentary with stunt co-ordinator/actor Dick Warlock (Theatrical version)
“The Nightmare Isn’t Over: The Making Of Halloween II” Featuring Rick Rosenthal, Lance Guest, Dick Warlock, Alan Howarth, Dean Cundey, Leo Rossi and Moore...
“Horror’s Hallowed Grounds: The Locations of Halloween II” - Host Sean Clark revisits the original shooting locations of the film
Deleted Scenes with Optional Audio Commentary from director Rick Rosenthal
Alternate Ending with Optional Audio Commentary from director Rick Rosenthal
Theatrical Trailer
TV and Radio Spots
Still Gallery
Tech Specs:
1080p Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1); DTS-HD MA 5.1
Disc 4 – Halloween II TV Cut (1981) DVD (Exclusive to Deluxe Edition)
Television Cut With Added Footage Not Seen In The Theatrical Version
Tech Specs:
Standard Definition Full-frame 1.33:1; Dolby Digital Mono
Disc 5 – Halloween III: Season of The Witch (1982)
Bonus Features:
Audio Commentary with director Tommy Lee Wallace
“Stand Alone: The Making Of Halloween III: Season Of The Witch” featuring Tommy Lee Wallace, Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin, Dick Warlock, Dean Cundey and more
“Horror’s Hallowed Grounds” - Revisiting the original shooting locations
Still Gallery
Theatrical Trailers
TV Spots
Tech Specs:
1080p Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1); DTS-HD MA 5.1; Dolby Digital Stereo 2.0
Disc 6 – Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
Bonus Features:
Audio Commentary with Actors Ellie Cornell and Danielle Harris
Audio Commentary with Director Dwight H. Little and Author Justin Beahm
Disc 8 -- Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) Theatrical Cut
Bonus Features:
Theatrical Trailer
TV Spots
Still Gallery
Tech Specs:
1080p Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1); Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles: English
Disc 9 – Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995) Producer’s Cut (Exclusive to Deluxe Edition)
Bonus Features:
NEW High Definition Master from the original inter-negative
NEW Audio Commentary with Screenwriter Daniel Farrands and Composer Alan Howarth (Producer’s Cut)
NEW “Jamie’s Story” – An Interview With The Original “Jamie” Actress Danielle Harris
NEW “The Cursed ‘Curse’” – An Interview With Producers Malek Akkad And Paul Freeman
NEW “Acting Scared “– A Look At The Film’s Cast With Actresses Mariah O’Brien And J.C. Brandy
NEW “The Shape Of Things” – A Look At Michael Myers’ Murders And Mayhem With Special Make-Up Effects Artists John Carl Buechler And Brad Hardin And Actor George P. Wilbur (Michael Myers)
NEW “Haddonfield’s Horrors” – The Sights of Halloween The Curse of Michael Myers With Director of Photography Billy Dickson And Production Designer Brad Ryman And Director of Photography (Additional Scenes) Thomas Callaway
NEW “Full Circle” – An Interview With Composer Alan Howarth
NEW Cast And Crew Tribute to Donald Pleasance
Archival Interviews And Behind-The-Scenes Footage
Behind-The-Scenes Footage (approx. 30 Minutes)
Alternate And Deleted Scenes (Not Present In Either Cut Of The Film)
Teaser Trailer: Halloween 666: The Origin Of Michael Myers
NEW Commentary With Director Steve Miner And Jamie Lee Curtis, Moderated By Sean Clark
NEW “The Making of Halloween H20” Featuring Jamie Lee Curtis, Josh Hartnett, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Nancy Stephens, Adam Hann-Byrd, Tom Kane, Editor Patrick Lussier, Producer Malek Akkad, Producer Paul Freeman, Composer John Ottman, Chris Durand (Michael Myers), Writer Robert Zappia, Stunt Co-Ordinator Donna Keegan, Make-Up Brad Hardin And Cinematographer Daryn Okada
Disc 15 – Bonus Features (Exclusive to Deluxe Edition)
John Carpenter’s HALLOWEEN – The Extended Version (In HD - TV Inserts Are In Standard Definition)
Interview with Moustapha Akkad about origin of HALLOWEEN
Featurette: HALLOWEEN UNMASKED 2000
Featurette: The Making Of HALLOWEEN 4: FINAL CUT
NEW The Making Of HALLOWEEN 4 Featuring Actors Danielle Harris, Ellie Cornell, Kathleen Kinmont, Beau Starr, Raymond O’Connor, Erik Preston and Sasha Jensen, Stuntmen Tom Morga (Michael Myers) And George P. Wilbur (Michael Myers), Composer Alan Howarth, Writer Alan B. McElroy, Producers Malek Akkad And Paul Freeman, Special Make-Up Effects Artists John Carl Buechler And Ken Horn
Featurette: Inside HALLOWEEN 5
NEW The Making Of HALLOWEEN 5 Featuring Interviews With Actors Danielle Harris, Ellie Cornell, Wendy Kaplan, Jeffrey Landman, Jonathan Chapin, Frankie Como, Tamara Glynn, Matthew Walker, Don Shanks (Michael Myers), Producer Malek Akkad, Line Producer Rick Nathanson And Composer Alan Howarth
NEW Interview With Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Burman On HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH
HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH Radio Spots
TV Spots – HALLOWEEN 4, HALLOWEEN 5, HALLOWEEN (2007) and HALLOWEEN II (2009)
Photo Galleries -- HALLOWEEN, HALLOWEEN 4 and HALLOWEEN 5
Hallelujah! Ti West's latest fright flick, The Sacrament (review), is on its way to Blu-ray and DVD; and we have the official specs and artwork for you! Say your prayers, clutch your bibles, and read on for the skinny!
From the Press Release The “bone-chilling” (The Hollywood Reporter) death-cult thriller from acclaimed director Ti West arrives on Blu-ray and DVD August 19th from Magnolia Home Entertainment under the Magnet label.
Two reporters for VICE Media journey to a remote Central American compound hoping to reunite with the photographer’s sister, who feels out of touch after struggling with a drug addiction. They find an isolated community of true believers devoted to a shadowy but charismatic figure called “Father.” Skeptical at first, the journalists begin to come around to the group’s utopian claims until things rapidly take a very dark turn.
Need a break after fighting past zombies and comic book characters at the Convention Center in San Diego? Overheating in your superhero costume? Did your lightsaber run out of juice? Marriott Rewards will help you refresh and perk up at the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina Marriott Rewards Local Perks Lounge, July 24-27 from 2pm-6pm PT.
From the Press Release While at the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina, guests who have downloaded the "Marriott Guest Services" application will receive a notification for a "Local Perk."
"Local Perk" is a new initiative that’s part of Marriott Rewards’ "Make It Happen" campaign. Notifications will invite you to enjoy the Marriott Rewards Local Perks Lounge at the hotel, where convention goers will get the chance to relax, charge their electronics at charging stations, feast on complimentary snacks, create a souvenir “gif” at a gif photo booth, and experience other amenities.
WHEN:
July 24th-27th
WHERE:
San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina
333 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Just a 7-minute walk from the San Diego Convention Center!
TIME: 2 PM – 6 PM PT
HOW: To access the lounge:
· If you are an iPhone user: download Marriott’s "Marriott Guest Services" application and accept push notifications. When prompted, accept location services and opt into receiving Local Perks. Go stand by a beacon (we will direct you) and you will receive a Local Perks push notification inviting you to enter the Perk Up! lounge.
· If you are an Android user: please see a brand ambassador at the entrance to the Perk Up! lounge to get a tutorial of Local Perks and sign up for Marriott Rewards.
With Local Perks, Marriott International becomes the first major hotel company to offer opt-in beacon technology with geo-targeted, mobile offers during a member’s stay. Using beacon technology, participating hotels will send guests push notifications on their mobile devices as they move about the property. Offers will be tailored to the property, ranging from food and beverage to spa to golf. Future plans for Local Perks include Marriott Rewards offers available locally in the neighborhoods surrounding participating hotels.
You're pregnant with twins, your feet hurt, it looks like you're harboring a medicine ball under your shirt, and pretty soon you're gonna have to try to squeeze a watermelon through a straw. Yep, that sucks, but in the end we hear it's worth it. But sometimes families aren't so lucky.
From the Press Release When a young couple moves into a new home, they find a mysterious doll that changes their lives forever in the horror thriller BABY BLUES, debuting on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital September 2nd from Well Go USA Entertainment.
Po-Chih Leong (Hong Kong 1941) directed this terrifying story of Tian Qing, pregnant with twins, who has a miscarriage and gives birth to only one child. With his wife suffering from postpartum depression, Hao seeks help and discovers a mysterious doll that may be the source of their problems.
BABY BLUES also stars Kate Tsui (Eye in the Sky), Karena Ng (Magic to Win), and Hoi- Pang Lo (The Grandmaster).
Synopsis A new home brings a fresh start for Hao (Raymond Lam) and Tian Qing (Sing Kwan Janelle), a happily married couple who soon discover she's pregnant with twin boys. But when a difficult delivery leaves the couple with only one son alive, Tian is consumed with grief and postpartum depression. These “Baby Blues” weave an obsessive attachment to a baby doll, presumably abandoned by the previous owner. Before long, mysterious accidents grow into violent episodes that threaten the entire family - and one neighbor's warnings about a curse on their home becomes terrifyingly real...
The first official bit of artwork for Sharktopus vs. Pteracuda has swum ashore, and according to it we're in for a bit of a love story. Read on to get your daily dosage of tentacle pron with teeth! No really... with teeth!
DVD Active is reporting that Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures' Godzilla is getting set to land on the shores of Blu-ray and DVD this coming September 16. Read on for specs and more. Now, if only someone could find a way to put more Godzilla in the movie. Then we'd be really happy.
Just when you thought you had seen the last of the Sin City: A Dame to Kill For posters comes the first in a series of artwork created exclusively to mark the film's presence at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con. Look for more soon!
Just in time for the madness of this week's San Diego Comic-Con, director Colin Trevorrow has released the first official bit of Jurassic World artwork early on Twitter. Though more than fit for mass consumption, we recommend chewing slowly. It's the good stuff!
Ever wonder where your favorite horror movie stars hang their hats? The good folks over at Roadtrippers have mapped out a new infographic depicting some of your favorite frightening locales. It's all here, kids! Get out your GPS!
The slasher subgenre may be on theatrical sabbatical, but that's not stopping author Matt Serafini (Feral) from keeping masked madmen alive and dangerous. Horror fans looking for a little stalk and slash this summer will want to get their hands on Under the Blade, which is out now!
Listen up, trick-or-treaters! Right now we have the skinny on the single most eagerly anticipated home video release of this year, Scream Factory/Anchor Bay's Halloween: The Complete Collection Blu-ray set.
Hallelujah! Ti West's latest fright flick, 
Need a break after fighting past zombies and comic book characters at the Convention Center in San Diego? Overheating in your superhero costume? Did your lightsaber run out of juice? Marriott Rewards will help you refresh and perk up at the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina Marriott Rewards Local Perks Lounge, July 24-27 from 2pm-6pm PT.
You're pregnant with twins, your feet hurt, it looks like you're harboring a medicine ball under your shirt, and pretty soon you're gonna have to try to squeeze a watermelon through a straw. Yep, that sucks, but in the end we hear it's worth it. But sometimes families aren't so lucky.