Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Zack Snyder’s remake of George R. Romero’s classic Dawn of the Dead, doesn’t get enough love. I’m a huge fan of Snyder’s riff. From the looks of Jack C. Gregory‘s alt poster, he is as well.
When there’s no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.
The full international trailer for Hope is here and we get a clear view of the aliens. This film looks to be all out action.
Deal me in.
In the remote South Korea village of Hope Harbor, police chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung- min) and officer Sung-ae (Hoyeon) are called to find a mysterious creature that has wreaked havoc on the village.
In the nearby forest, a coterie of hunters, including Sung- ki (Zo In-Sung) set out to track the beast and find themselves hunted instead.
But all is not as it seems, and perceptions can be misleading. What begins as ignorance plants the seed of disaster, escalating through human conflict into a tragedy of cosmic proportions.
The Dead Zone (1983)
Director: David Cronenberg
Screenplay: Jeffrey Boam; based on THE DEAD ZONE by Stephen King
Stars: Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Anthony Zerbe, Colleen Dewhurst and Martin Sheen.
Tagline: In his mind, he has the power to see the future. In his hands, he has the power to change it.
The Plot…
Everything is going great for Johnny. He’s got a job teaching at a local school. He’s in love with Sarah, a teacher at the same school and she’s in love with him. Soon they will be married.
After a date with Sarah, as Johnny is driving home, a freak auto accident occurs. Johnny survives, but is left in a coma. When Johnny wakes up…
… FIVE YEARS HAVE PASSED.
Johnny has lost more than time. He learns Sarah is married and has a child. The wreck left him with a limp. His full physical recovery will take time. Yes, Johnny lost a lot. But he also gained a power. When Johnny makes physical contact with a person, he sometimes sees glimpses of their future.
Rumors spread about the man who cheated death who can now see the future. Some people are doubtful. Others think Johnny has been granted evil powers. Still others want Johnny to see their future so they can gain from the insight.
Sheriff Bannerman is skeptical, but has nothing to lose. A serial killer continues to kill and leaves no clues. Johnny reluctantly agrees to assist Bannerman. Along the way, Johnny discovers something even more deadly than a sadistic killer.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
When Johnny first discovers his new power, he sees a child trapped in a burning room. As Johnny witnesses this vision, sweat breaks out all over his face. The “sweat” is actually a flame retardant put on Christopher Walken to protect him from the flames. It turned out to be a happy accident since it created a cool effect that wasn’t intentional.
THE DEAD ZONE was the first Stephen King novel to reach #1 on the best selling hardcover list.
Christopher Walken was an excellent choice to play Johnny.
Martin Sheen plays Greg Stillson, a shyster politician running for President. Sixteen years later, Sheen began playing President Josiah Bartlet on the West Wing.
The Dead Zone is my favorite film directed by David Cronenberg.
The Dead Zone (1983) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Psycho Killer (2026)
Director: Gavin Polone
Screenplay: Andrew Kevin Walker
Stars: Georgina Campbell, James Preston Rogers, Malcolm McDowell
Tagline: Meet your new nightmare.
The Plot…
Jane Archer, like her husband Mike, is a Nebraska Highway Patrol officer. Jane is going off duty when over the radio she hears that Mike has pulled a car over. Since she’s near Jane decides to swing by.
Mike says for Jane to head on home. It’s a simple traffic stop. As Jane drives away, she sees her husband gunned down. The killer takes off as Jane’s attempts to save Mike fail.
Jane is convinced that her husband was killed by a serial killer the press has named The Satanic Slasher. This psycho killer is a behemoth who has left dozens of corpses all across the Midwest. At each crime scene the police find bizarre occult symbols.
Jane takes time off. She believes that The Satanic Slasher isn’t randomly traveling the country. She’s convinced the killer has a destination in mind. If she can figure it out and get there first, she can finish him.
What Jane and no one knows is this psycho killer has an endgame in mind that will exponentially increase his number of victims and shock the world.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Psycho Killer took a looong time to get made. Andrew Kevin Walker finished the script in 2007. In 2009, Fred Durst was set to direct with Eli Roth as the producer. Gavin Polone, who ended up directing the film, signed on in 2010!
I was surprised. Psycho Killer was better than I expected. It remined me of the type of movies I’d see at drive-ins in the 70s. Perhaps nostalgia got the best of me. Your mileage, as always, may vary.
Psycho Killer (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.
They Will Kill You (2026)
Director: Kirill Sokolov
Screenplay: Kirill Sokolov, Alex Litvak
Stars: Zazie Beetz, Myha’la, Paterson Joseph, Tom Felton, Heather Graham, James Remar and Patricia Arquette.
Tagline: Let them try
The Plot…
Asia Reaves, an innocent young woman, accepts a job as a live-in housekeeper at a high-class high rise called The Virgil.
It turns out the residents of The Virgil are Satanists. From time to time they “hire” young women who won’t be missed by society. These women think they’re being hired as maids or kitchen help. The truth is they are brought in to be human sacrifices.
It also turns out that Asia Reeves isn’t so innocent. Asia came to The Virgil for a reason. She’s a skilled fighter who snuck in weapons.
One woman against a building full of killers.
Welcome to The Virgil.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
They Will Kill You is a blast. It features outrageous nonstop action, mystery and humor.
Zazie Beetz is believable as an action star. The camera loves her. She’s one to watch.
Kirill Sokolov knows how to shoot action. I love his inventive camera angles and set-ups. I can’t wait to see his future films.
The Virgil, with it’s hidden passages and secret panels, would fit in with so many horror films of the 1930s and 40s.
James Remar provides the voice for “The Pig Head” character.
They Will Kill You is like Rosemary’s Baby on steroids reimagined as an action/horror/comedy.
They Will Kill You (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars.
The poster and trailer for Colony directed by Yeon (Train to Busan) Sang-ho are here. I absolutely love Train to Busan. Peninsula didn’t reach the same heights. Here’s to the hope that Colony does.
US Release Date: August 28, 2026
Starring: Ji Chang-wook, Jun Ji-hyun, Koo Kyo-hwan
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Synopsis: Horror master Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan) directs a new Korean zombie thriller starring Gianna Jun and Koo Kyo-hwan. Professor Se-jeong (Jun) is thrust into a bloody nightmare when a rapidly mutating virus is released during a biotech conference causing authorities to seal the facility. Trapped inside with no escape, Se-jeong along with a small group of survivors must fight to stay alive while the infected undergo horrific transformations.
One of my all-time favorite horror movies, Night of the Living Dead gets a new poster by Zachary Jackson Brown.
“Yeah, they’re dead. They’re all messed up.” – Sheriff McCelland
The Bride! (2026)
Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Screenplay: Maggie Gyllenhaal; based on FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley
Stars: Jessie Buckley, Christian Bale, Peter Sarsgaard, Annette Bening, Jake Gyllenhaal, Penélope Cruz.
Tagline: Here comes the mother f*%#ing BRIDE!
The Plot…
Mary Shelley, the author of FRANKENSTEIN, had another story she wanted to tell. Sadly she died before she could write it. But she’s not letting that stop her…
1930s. Chicago. Ida, a dame who hangs around mobsters, suddenly becomes possessed. During a rant, Ida falls down a flight of stairs and dies.
Frankenstein’s monster has traveled the world and settled in Chicago. He’s assumed the identity of a gangster named Frank. Frank has learned that Dr. Cornelia Euphronius is working to bring the dead back to life. Frank gets Dr. Euphronius to create a companion for him. She uses Ida’s corpse.
Ida has no memory of her past life. Frank tells her she was his bride. Together they go on a crime spree of, uh, monstrous proportions.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Bride is not for everyone. It’s an outrageous mash-up of genres that include horror, romance, gangster, musical and comedy.
I appreciate what was attempted, but for me it was a swing and a miss. Your mileage, as always, may differ.
The Bride! (2026) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Thanks to Yvan Quinet‘s They Live alt poster I can almost hear Roddy Piper when he says…
“I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass… and I’m all out of bubblegum.” – Nada
Check out this Predator alt poster by Vance Kelly! You can see more of Vance Kelly’s art at his website or his Instagram page.
The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Robinson. Perfection.
I have been a fan of Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith’s 30 Days of Night comic since it first came out. I loved the concept — a vampire clan goes to Barrow Alaska, a small town near the artic circle. Each year Barrow goes through 30 days of night. Cut off from the rest of the world, the town folk find themselves in a fight for survival.
When the 30 Days of Night movie was announced, I had high hopes it would be at least good. And man, was it ever. I like the film better with each new viewing. Much of the reason for that is the performance of Danny Huston. If you haven’t seen the film, give it a go.
“Please, God. Please…” – Woman begging for mercy
“God?… No god.” – Marlow
Source: J. Beers Instagram.
Constantine (2005)
Director: Francis Lawrence
Screenplay: Kevin Brodbin, Frank Cappello; story by Kevin Brodbin; based on Hellblazer by Jamie Delano, Garth Ennis
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia LaBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Djimon Hounsou, Gavin Rossdale and Peter Stormare.
Tagline: Hell wants him. Heaven won’t take him. Earth needs him.
The Plot (beware of spoilers)…
LA Detective Angela Dodson turns to John Constantine, a occult expert and exorcist, to help her investigate her sister’s suicide. Constantine discovers that demons have a plan to enter the human realm using the Spear of Destiny and Angela’s sister.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
John Constantine was created by writer Alan Moore, during his run on DC Comics’ Swamp Thing. After negative experiences with movie adaptations of his work (From Hell and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), Moore refused to have anything to do with Hollywood. He went as far as to reject any money or credit for movie adaptations of his characters or work.
Constantine just didn’t resonate with me. Most folks like it better than I do. As always, your mileage may vary.
Constantine (2005) rates 2 of 5 stars
The vintage feel of this alt Dracula poster by Rory Martinez
is fire.
“For one who has not lived even a single lifetime, you’re a wise man, Van Helsing.“ – Dracula
Carrie (1976)
Director: Brian De Palma
Screenplay: Lawrence D. Cohen; based on CARRIE by Stephen King
Stars: Sissy Spacek, John Travolta, Piper Laurie, William Katt, Nancy Allen, P.J. Soles, Michael Talbott and John Travolta.
Tagline: If you’ve got a taste for terror… take Carrie to the prom.
The Plot…
High school is almost unbearable for Carrie. She’s sixteen, immature and an easy target. At school Carrie is bullied daily. Her home life isn’t any better. Carrie is being raised by a single mother who is a religious zealot.
A particularly rough hazing incident in the PE showers leaves Carrie sobbing on the floor. Sue, one of the school’s most popular girls, feels remorse for her involvement. So she asks her boyfriend, Tommy Ross (also one of the cool kids) to take Carrie to the prom. Sue thinks that if Carrie is seen on a date with Tommy other kids might start viewing Carrie differently. Tom eventually agrees.
At first Carrie thinks she’s being set up. Tommy finally convinces Carrie he’s sincere. Carrie agrees to go despite her mother’s refusal to allow the date.
What Sue, Tommy and Carrie don’t know is that Chris, one of the girls involved in the PE incident, has a plan to humiliate Carrie at the Prom. Chris has no idea how badly her “prank” can go. She also has no idea that Carrie has recently discovered telekinetic powers.
Time for the prom. It will be a night you’ll never forget.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Although the ending of the movie is different than Stephen King’s book, King has said he like the movie’s ending better.
Sue Snell is played by Amy Irving. Sue’s mother is played by Priscilla Pointer… who is Amy Irving’s real life mother.
John Travolta, who just became a teen idol thanks to his role on Welcome Back Kotter, has a small role but was billed second on posters/ads.
Sissy Spacek was in real life a high school Homecoming Queen.
Carrie features Amy Irving’s feature film debut.
I had read the Stephen King novel a few years prior to seeing the movie. When the film came out I was a junior in high school. I saw it with a date at a midnight showing. I thought the film was ready to roll the end credits. Then the final scare comes. It caught me so off guard I jumped out of my seat. Yeah, try playing that off with your date. No, I wasn’t scared. Really.
One of Carrie’s taglines was: Carrie may look perfectly innocent, but she’ll shock you right out of your seat… and that’s a promise! In my case, promise kept.
Carrie (1976) rates 5 of 5 stars.
