Frank Frazetta’s Dracula!
Frank Frazetta’s Dracula, like everything Frazetta created, is uniquely his. And like everything that Frazetta created, I’m a fan of it.
Source: Heritage Auctions.
Category: Horror
“Harbinger Down” (2015) starring Lance Henriksen / Z-View
Harbinger Down (2015)
Director: Alec Gillis
Screenplay: Alec Gillis
Stars: Lance Henriksen, Giovonnie Samuels, Matt Winston
Tagline: Terror is just beneath the surface.
The Plot…
Stephen along with his graduate students Sadie and Ronelle are aboard the fishing boat Harbinger. They are at sea to study the effects of global warming on whales. The Harbinger is crewed by ship captain Graff and his crew which consists of Bowman, Roland, Big G, Dock, Svetlana and Atka.
When an large foreign object is discovered on sonar, they bring it aboard. To their surprise they discover they’ve found a crashed Soviet lunar module. Aboard is a dead cosmonaut…
… as well as the alien that killed him.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Harbinger Down comes off as a low-budget homage (re-imagining? rip-off) of John Carpenter’s The Thing. At the start of the film, the date is given as June 25 1982, which happens to be the day JC’s The Thing was released.
When the crew first discovers the module, Graff asks “Is that a man in there, or something?” This is the same question asked by Doctor Copper in John Carpenter’s The Thing.
In John Carpenter’s The Thing, Childs asks about “voodoo shit” in regard to the alien. Here a character makes the same “voodoo shit” reference to the monster.
Harbinger Down (2015) rates 2 of 5 stars
“The Descent” Alt Poster by Juan Ramos!
Like Juan Ramos (who created this alt poster), I am a fan of The Descent. Ramos said he created this piece to “celebrate one of horror’s most claustrophobic, brutal, and unforgettable journeys”.
Mission accomplished!
“Hey, there’s something down here…” – Holly
“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” (1941) starring Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Berman & Lana Turner / Z-View
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941)
Director: Victor Fleming
Screenplay: John Lee Mahin, Percy Heath, Samuel Hoffenstein; based on STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE by Robert Louis Stevenson
Stars: Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner, Donald Crisp, Ian Hunter, Barton MacLane, Frederick Worlock, Lumsden Hare, Lawrence Grant and Forrester Harvey.
Tagline: Do you have secret longings that you dare not reveal? If you do, it’s the Mr. Hyde in you – and you can find out all about him from M-G-M’s fascinating, revealing film!
The Plot…
1887. Dr. Jekyll and Beatrix Emery are in love and wish to be married. Beatrix’s father is not happy with the relationship. To delay the marriage Beatrix’s dad takes her on a prolonged trip out of country.
Meanwhile Dr. Henry Jekyll continues his experiments to separate the good and evil in humans. With Beatrix gone, Jekyll decides to ingest his serum himself. It works by changing Dr. Jekyll’s appearance and personality. He’s no longer a calm and kind person. Now he’s become harsh, crude and sadistic. Jekyll takes to calling himself Mr. Hyde when he’s under the influence of his serum.
Late one night Hyde saves Ivy Peterson from an attacker as she is walking home. This leads to Hyde becoming infatuated with Ivy… in an unhealthy relationship. As time passes Jekyll spends more and more time as Hyde. Hyde’s behavior becomes more outrageous as he gets into bar fights and instigates mayhem. His behavior with Ivy also takes a turn for the worst.
Soon Beatrix will return…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Because of the Hays Code Ivy’s profession was changed from a prostitute to a barmaid.
Spencer Tracy had hoped to play Hyde without use of make-up, but ultimately it was decided to use some. Even still, the transformation from Jekyll to Hyde isn’t enough to make it believable that Jekyll wouldn’t be recognized.
Spencer Tracy also wanted the roles of Beatrix and Ivy to be played by the same actress. Just as Tracy’s Jekyll and Hyde were the two sides (good and bad) of the same person, Beatrix and Ivy would be the female version.
Neither Beatrix nor Ivy appear in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella. They first appear in the stage play adapted by T.R. Sullivan.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) is basically a remake of the 1931 Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Sadly, the remake falls far short of the original which was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning one. Part of the problem is the Hays Code and part is that the transformation from Jekyll to Hyde is lacking.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) rates 3 of 5 stars
“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” (2026) written by Alex Garland; directed by Nia DaCosta; starring Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell and Alfie Williams / Z-View
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)
Director: Nia DaCosta
Screenplay: Alex Garland
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, Chi Lewis-Parry, Maura Bird, Robert Rhodes, Emma Laird, Sam Locke and David Sterne.
Tagline: Fear is the new faith.
The Plot…
At the end of 28 Years Later Spike was saved from a zombie horde by Jimmy Crystal and his followers. Spike feels lucky until it becomes clear Jimmy Crystal is psycho Satan-worshipper. Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, as he calls himself, feels he is part of Satan’s plan in this zombie-plagued world. To that end, the terrorize, mutilate and kill any people they come across… unless the are able to become one of Sir Lord Crystal’s followers.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ian Kelson has made progress with his work to find a cure for the rage virus. If successful, it could mean a chance to free the world of the rage virus’ effects.
When Jimmy Crystal spots Dr. Ian in the distance, Sir Lord decides he and his followers will pay the good doctor a visit.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The final scenes of 28 Years Later had a comic bent that seemed out of place. I was worried that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple would have the same feel. I shouldn’t have been concerned. We learn that Jimmy Crystal and his followers are nothing to laugh about.
While I enjoyed 28 Years Later and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, both fell short of 28 Days Later (which I consider a classic). With that said, I think both 28 Years Later and Bone Temple work better when viewed as a whole.
There’s a scene at the end of Bone Temple that could set up the next movie in the franchise. I hope that that film gets made.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) rates 4 of 5 stars
“A Quiet Place: Day One” Alt Poster by Doaly!
Doaly came up with this very creative alt poster for A Quiet Place: Day One. I love it. Hope you do as well. Click on the art to see a bigger version.
Stay quiet. Stay alive. – Tagline
“The Vampire Lestat” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
Although I’m a huge fan of Interview with the Vampire (both the Tom Cruise movie and the AMC series), I was a bit concerned when I heard that the next season would be titled The Vampire Lestat. A rock-and-roll vampire? Not sure how that could work. (And no, I’ve never read the novels.)
After seeing this trailer, I think my concerns were misguided. Time will tell.
Deal me in.
It’s time to set the record straight.
#TheVampireLestat debuts June 7 exclusively on AMC and AMC+.
“Primitive War” (2025) / Z-View
Primitive War (2025)
Director: Luke Sparke
Screenplay: Ethan Pettus, Luke Sparke; based on PRIMITIVE WAR by Ethan Pettus
Stars: Ryan Kwanten, Tricia Helfer, Nick Wechsler, Anthony Ingruber and Jeremy Piven.
Tagline: This ain’t no walk in the park.
The Plot…
1968. Viet Nam. A squad of Green Berets has gone missing while on a mission deep in the jungle. The Vulture Squad led by Sergeant Ryan Baker, second-in-command Sergeant Xavier Wise, snipers Keyes and Stovall as well as soldiers Verne, Taylor and Miller are sent in to find the missing Berets.
What they find instead seems impossible. Dinosaurs. Living, breathing and very hungry dinosaurs.
This mission won’t be a walk in the park.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Primitive War is based on a self-published book by Ethan Pettus.
Soldiers vs dinosaurs, cowboys vs dinosaurs, heck anyone vs dinosaurs should be fun. Primitive War is good, but I was hoping for better. Still, it’s not a bad way to spend a couple of hours.
Primitive War (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Primate” (2025) / Z-View
Primate (2025)
Director: Johannes Roberts
Screenplay: Johannes Roberts, Ernest Riera
Stars: Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander, Victoria Wyant, Gia Hunter, Benjamin Cheng, Troy Kotsur, Stuart Whelan and Ben Pronsky.
Tagline: Something’s wrong with Ben.
The Plot…
Lucy Pinborough is heading home with some girlfriends from college. Home is a remote Hawaiian house owned by her father. Her dad is a famous novelist who is going to be away for the weekend on a book tour. Lucy plans to have a party at her house with her girlfriends and some guys they met on the plane. Oh, and Ben will be there as well.
Ben is a chimp that Lucy’s family adopted when he was just a baby.
What nobody knows is that Ben has contracted rabies. And is about to become murderous.
Party on!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Here’s a little known fact: Hawaii is the only state in the US that maintains rabies-free status due to its strict rabies vaccination and quarantine requirements.
I had never seen Johnny Sequoyah before this. She was excellent.
Primate (2025) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Werewolf by Night Tribute Art by J. Beers!
I dig everything about this werewolf art by J. Beers. When I was a little kid, the wolfman was my favorite movie monster. I was also a fan of the Werewolf by Night comics — often with great Mike Ploog art. Turns out that J. Beers is as well.
Source: J. Beers Instagram.
“The Planet of the Apes” Overseas Soundtrack Art by Tony Stella!
Tony Stella created this intense album cover for the release of The Planet of the Apes overseas soundtrack.
George Taylor: It’s a mad house! A mad house!
“Dracula” On Broadway Starring Bela Lugosi and Edward Van Sloan – Rare Publicity Photo!
Before becoming a Hollywood star, thanks to the 1931 movie Dracula, Bela Lugosi was a Broadway star. Bela Lugosi and his Dracula film co-star, Edward Sloan, also appeared in Dracula on Broadway at the Fulton Theater for 261 performances.
Above is a rare publicity shot for the Dracula Broadway run featuring Edward Van Sloan, Terence Neill, Bela Lugosi, Herbert Bunston, and Bernard Jukes.
Source: Universal Monsters Universe
Frederick Cooper’s “Curse of the Werewolf”!
The Curse of the Werewolf is my favorite wolfman. He (It?) has always been a favorite of Frederick Cooper as well! Click over and read what Cooper has to say about this piece.
“Father, the bullet. Pepe the watchman has a silver bullet. Get it and use it. Use it on me, father! You must use it — do you hear? You must use it! You must!” – Leon
“Psycho” Alt Poster by by Sahin Düzgün!
I dig how creepy this Psycho alt poster is. Not only does it showcase the two very different sides of Norman Bates, but it also includes mother’s house. This beauty was created by Sahin Düzgün. Sahin is a graphic designer, poster artist and movie lover from Berlin, Germany.
Here is what Sahin had to say about his design:🔪 A shadow, a scream, a moment that redefined suspense. A personal design tribute to Hitchcock’s chilling masterpiece.
Norman Bates: I think I must have one of those faces you can’t help believing.
