Category: Horror

“Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) directed by Neil Jordan, starring Tom Cruise & Brad Pitt / Z-View

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Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994)

Director: Neil Jordan

Screenplay: Anne Rice based on INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE by Horace McCoy

Stars: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Antonio Banderas, Kirsten Dunst, Christian Slater, John McConnell, Bellina Logan, Thandiwe Newton, Indra Ové, Helen McCrory, Roger Lloyd Pack and Stephen Rea.

Tagline: Drink From Me And Live Forever

The Plot…

Daniel Molloy (Slater) is a writer looking for a story.  After a chance meeting with Louis de Pointe du Lac (Pitt), he may have found it.  Louis claims to be a vampire.  Although Molloy is skeptical at first, Louis quickly proves he is what he says.

As Molloy records and takes notes, Louis tells his story. In 1791 Louis was a young, wealthy Louisiana plantation owner.  That changed the evening the vampire, Lestat (Cruise) turned him.  No longer human, Louis and Lestat moved through the night.  Undead but living.  Forced to leave Louisiana, when folks began to suspect Louis and his new friend were behind many disappearances, Louis and Lestat head to New Orleans…

Louis’ tale spans 200 years.  New Orleans.  A new vampire joins them.  Betrayal.  A journey to Europe where they discover the Théâtre des Vampires.  True Vampires putting on plays where they pretend to be humans playing vampires! The victims are real.  To tell more of Louis story would be to say too much.

But I will leave you with this… can an interview with a vampire end well?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles was nominated for two Academy Awards

  • Best Art Direction-Set Decoration: Dante Ferretti Francesca, Lo Schiavo
  • Best Music, Original Score: Elliot Goldenthal

Anne Rice was not initially happy when Tom Cruise was cast as Lestat.  When Rice wrote the novel she envisioned Rutgar Hauer in the role.  She thought of Alain Delon when writing the screenplay.  Then when it was time to cast the role she suggested John Malkovich, Peter Weller, Jeremy Irons or Alexander Godunov.  When Cruise and Pitt were selected for the two leads she suggested that Pitt play Lestat.  That wasn’t to be.  When the film was released, Rice had come around to the Tom Cruise casting.  She said he brought something to the role that she had not foreseen.

While I’m a fan of many of Tom Cruise’s movies and I do really like Interview with a Vampire, I think he was miscast as Lestat.

River Phoenix was set to play Daniel Malloy before his untimely death.  Christian Slater then got the part.  Slater donated his salary from the film to two of River Phoenix’s favorite charities.

The initial scene Stephen Rea shares with Brad Pitt is both funny and a bit scary.  It’s a favorite of mine.

Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“Alien: Romulus” – The Trailer is Here!

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The more I see for Alien: Romulus, the more I want to see it.

“Alien: Romulus” takes the phenomenally successful “Alien” franchise back to its roots: While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

The film stars Cailee Spaeny (“Civil War”), David Jonsson (“Agatha Christie’s Murder is Easy”), Archie Renaux (“Shadow and Bone”), Isabela Merced (“The Last of Us”), Spike Fearn (“Aftersun”), Aileen Wu.

Fede Alvarez (“Evil Dead,” “Don’t Breathe”) directs from a screenplay he wrote with frequent collaborator Rodo Sayagues (“Don’t Breathe 2”) based on characters created by Dan O’Bannon and Ronald Shusett.

“Alien: Romulus” is produced by Ridley Scott (“Napoleon”), who directed the original “Alien” and produced and directed the series’ entries “Prometheus” and “Alien: Covenant,” Michael Pruss (“Boston Strangler”), and Walter Hill (“Alien”), with Fede Alvarez, Elizabeth Cantillon (“Charlie’s Angels”), Brent O’Connor (“Bullet Train”), and Tom Moran (“Unstoppable”) serving as executive producers.

“Howl” (2015) / Z-View

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Howl (2015)

Director: Paul Hyett

Screenplay: Mark Huckerby, Nick Ostler

Stars: Elliot Cowan, Rosie Day, Sam Gittins, Ross Mullan, Robert Strange, Sean Pertwee, Ed Speleers and Shauna Macdonald.

Tagline:  Last train. Full moon. All change.

The Plot…

A late night train traveling through a remote wilderness comes to an unexpected stop.  When the conductor get off to check on things, he is killed by a werewolf.  Soon the few passengers on the train realize that they must work together to survive.  The creature that killed the conductor isn’t alone.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Director Paul Hyett is known for his special effects in Neil Marshall’s Dog Soldiers, The Descent, Doomsday and The Centurion.  Shauna (The Descent) Macdonald and Sean (Dog Soldiers) Pertwee worked with Hyett previously.

The acting is better than expected for a low budget horror film.

MYSTIC: THE MONK ADDISON CASE FILES by Jonathan Maberry is Coming!

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I’m a big fan of Jonathan Maberry’s novels.  My favorite is his JOE LEDGER series, but everything I’ve ever read by Maberry has been worthy.

MYSTIC: THE MONK ADDISON CASE FILES is on my “must-buy” list. (How about that cover by Lynne Hansen!)

MYSTIC: THE MONK ADDISON CASE FILES drops December 3rd, 2024.  Below is the synopsis…

Gerald “Monk” Addison used to be a soldier. Sometimes he’s a bounty hunter. Mostly, he’s a killer of killers.
His body is covered with the faces of victims of serial killers, human traffickers, and other monsters. Their blood is mixed with holy water and then inked onto his skin, allowing him to relive their deaths. To feel what they felt, and to see what they saw. The faces of the killers.

And then Monk goes hunting.

He is forever haunted by the ghosts who hire him. A madman mystic. A man driven to darkness and acts of shocking violence. Monk is a good man on a dark and dangerous road in search of personal redemption. In search of red justice.

MYSTIC collects the Monk Addison case files, pitting him against the most dangerous kinds of human monsters. These are stories of a complex and driven hunter of men. They are tales of a mystic hunting the nightmare streets and back alleys.

For full details click here.

“The Last Voyage of the Demeter” (2023) / Z-View

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The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)

Director: André Øvredal

Screenplay: Bragi Schut, Jr., Zak Olkewicz, story by Bragi Schut, Jr., based on “The Captain’s Log” from DRACULA by Bram Stoker

Stars: Corey Hawkins, Aisling Franciosi, Liam Cunningham, David Dastmalchian, Jon Jon Briones, Stefan Kapicic and Javier Botet.

Tagline: The Legend of Dracula is Born.

The Plot…

The year is 1897.  Captain Elliott is making his final voyage.  Ready to retire and raise his young grandson, Elliott sails to England leading a small crew.  Little does anyone know that one of the large wooden crates they are transporting contains Dracula.  No, they have no idea… but soon they will know!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

André Øvredal described The Last Voyage of the Demeter as “basically Alien on a ship in 1897.”  He’s not wrong.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

BITTER ROOT (Hardcover Omnibus) by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, Sanford Greene / Z-View

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BITTER ROOT (Hardcover Omnibus) by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown (writers), Sanford Greene (artist)

Publisher: Image Comics

The Overview:  Beware of Spoilers…

The roaring ’20s!  What a time to be alive.  The depression had yet to hit and the Harlem Renaissance was in full swing.  W.E.B. Du Bois, Langston Hughes, Louis Armstrong, Cab Callaway, Josephine Baker, Paul Robeson and Marcus Garvey all became well known for their gifts to American culture.  Most folks, even today, know their names.

But have you ever heard of the Sangerye family? Going back as far as can be told the Sangeryes have been monster hunters.  They fought the evil creatures that came forth into our world.  Some monsters could be cured.  Others had to be killed.  But the cost to the Sangerye family was heavy.  Now, the Sangerye matriarch, old Etta Sangerye, knows her time is coming to an end.  She must pick a successor to lead the family.

But who?

Etta has relied on the old ways with potions and medicine. To cure when possible, not kill. But the new generation wants action and to battle head-on.

As the Sangeryes discover a greater evil has made its way to earth and threatens humanity, they must find a family member to lead them.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I was late coming to BITTER ROOT.  When I skimmed some of the early issues, I misjudged it.  I thought the monsters didn’t look like traditional monsters.  Maybe it was more of a kids book.  I was so wrong.  BITTER ROOT is well written and well drawn, but it’s much more than an action/monster comic.  It has heart.  And no pun intended, soul.  You will care about the characters.  The story has universal appeal.

I’m glad I got the omnibus because it’s full of variant covers, sketches, insightful articles and more.

BITTER ROOT has won several awards including 2020 Ring Award for Best Series and the Eisner Award for Best Continuing Series in 2020 and 2022.

BITTER ROOT gets my highest recommendation.

Rating:

The Savage Sword of Conan #2 (2024) / Z-View

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Savage Sword of Conan #2 is out and it is a solid follow-up to the outstanding first issue.

It features two covers to choose from.  I selected the variant cover with art by Nick Marinkovich (shown above).  Dave Dorman did the other cover.

The issue features a letter column.

Pinups included are: Conan I Was by Rafael Kayanan, Conan: Lair of the Serpent by Gerado Zaffino (shown below) and Solomon Kane by Nick Marinkovich.  All of the pinups in this issue are examples of artists at the top of their game.  I’d love to see a full length Conan story from each of these three.

The issue features a full-length Conan story, Conan: Leaving the Garden by Jim Zub (writer) and Richard Pace (artist).  Conan is gravely (no pun intended) wounded.  Near death, Conan is found by a young boy. The monsters that wiped out the caravan Conan was traveling with are near.  If the creatures don’t find him and his wounds don’t kill him, Conan will have his revenge.

Jim Zub creates a horrific tale of human/monsters who worship a god that commands they bury their victims in gardens for a yearly feast!  I look forward to more Conan tales from Zub.

Richard Pace’s art is not as finished as one might expect.  It’s raw and at times sketchy (I don’t mean that in a bad way), but it works for the story.

The second story features the next installment of Solomon Kane in Master of the Hunt by writer/artist Patrick Zircher.  Solomon Kane continues his search for a missing man and his son.  How much time is left before the ancient beast will need to feed again?  Will Kane find the father and son in time?

Patrick “Patch” Zircher is having a ball writing and drawing Solomon Kane. It shows in every panel.  I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Savage Sword of Conan #2 (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.

“The Crazies” (1973) written & directed by George A. Romero / Z-View

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The Crazies (1973)

Director: George A. Romero

Screenplay: George A. Romero based on The Mad People by Paul McCollough

Stars: Lane Carroll, Will MacMillan, Harold Wayne Jones, Lloyd Hollar, Richard France, Ned Schmidtke, George A. Romero and A.C. McDonald.

Tagline: Why are the good people dying?

The Plot…

When a military plane crashes near a small town, the water supply is contaminated with a powerful bio-weapon.  Soon townspeople are starting to act violent towards themselves and each other.  When the military shows up the town is put on lockdown.  As more citizens and soldiers become infected, the decision to nuke the town becomes more likely.

Will anyone survive?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Romero was given a micro-budget for filming.  Most of the actors had little to no training and were locals.  Even some high school students played soldiers in hazmat suits.

The burning house was actually being used by local firefighters for a training exercise.  Romero got permission to film it.

Remade in 2010 starring Timothy (Justified) Olyphant and Radha (Pitch Black) Mitchell

The Crazies (1973) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Never Let Go” starring Halle Berry – The Teaser & Trailer are Here!

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Never Let Go – in theaters September 27! Starring Halle Berry, Percy Daggs, and Anthony B. Jenkins

From visionary director Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, Crawl) and producers of Stranger Things and Arrival comes NEVER LET GO.

In this new psychological thriller, as an evil takes over the world beyond their front doorstep, the only protection for a mother, played by Academy Award® Winner Halle Berry (Actress in a Leading Role, 2001 – Monster’s Ball), and her twin sons is their house and their family’s protective bond. Needing to stay connected at all times – even tethering themselves with ropes – they cling to one another, urging each other to never let go. But when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, the ties that bind them together are severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival.

“Plan 9 From Outer Space” (1957) written & directed by Ed Wood Jr., featuring Bela Lugosi / Z-View

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Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957)

Director: Edward D. Wood Jr.

Screenplay:  Edward D. Wood Jr.

Stars: Gregory Walcott, Tom Keene, Tor Johnson, Lyle Talbot, Conrad Brooks, Maila Nurmi, Bela Lugosi, Edward D. Wood Jr. and Criswell.

Tagline: Unspeakable Horrors From Outer Space Paralyze The Living And Resurrect The Dead!

The Plot…

Aliens are worried that humans will produce a doomsday bomb that could destroy the universe.  To stop them, the aliens put into motion Plan 9.  They resurrect the recent dead.  Humans will be so horrified that they will follow the aliens’ directives.  If not, the aliens will use the zombies to destroy them!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Plan 9 From Outer Space is Bela Lugosi’s last film.  Ed Wood and Lugosi were friends.  They had filmed snippets of scenes for an Ed Wood movie in development.  Bela Lugosi died and Ed Wood decided to incorporate these clips into Plan 9.  Wood also used the fact that Plan 9 would be Lugosi’s last film to induce some of the actors to join the project.

It’s funny to note that scenes featuring Lugosi’s character not played by Lugosi were completed by Wood’s wife’s chiropractor.  He was much taller and looked nothing like Bela Lugosi.  So Ed Wood told him to hunch over and always keep the cape in front of his face.  Problem solved.

The film was made on a miniscule budget.  Tor Johnson’s home was used as a location.  Johnson’s son was a San Fernando Police officer.  They got use of the police car and uniforms through him.  The alien’s flying saucer was adapted from a popular UFO model kit.  Bela Lugosi supplied his own cape (from playing Dracula on stage). The gravestones were made of cardboard or styrofoam and can be seen wiggling when actors brushed against them.

Harry Thomas did the make-up for Plan 9.  He become upset and asked his name be removed from the credits.  Thomas wanted the aliens to have elongated chins using appliances he would make, cat’s eye lenses (special contacts) and green hair (wigs). Ed Wood said that those ideas would be too expensive.  Ironically, the year before Henry Thomas worked on Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments which was the most expensive movie ever made to that time.

Plan 9 From Outer Space gained popularity after being named The Worst Film Ever Made.  It is a bad film, but far from the worst ever made.  The low budget, bad script, Lugosi stand-in, wooden performances, outlandish idea for a movie and more make for a humorous viewing, especially with friends.

Plan 9 From Outer Space (1957) rates 2 of 5 stars.