Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Sinners is one of my all-time favorite movies. I love the number of really sweet alt posters the film has inspired, like this one from Shawn Mansfield.
“You keep dancing with the devil… one day he’s gonna follow you home.” – Jedidiah
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
Director: Renny Harlin
Screenplay: Duncan Kennedy, Donna Powers, Wayne Powers
Stars: Saffron Burrows, Thomas Jane, LL Cool J, Jacqueline McKenzie, Michael Rapaport, Stellan Skarsgård, Aida Turturro, Samuel L. Jackson and Ronny Cox, Renny Harlin.
Tagline: Bigger. Smarter. Faster. Meaner.
The Plot…
At a remote research facility located on the deep sea, Dr. Susan McAlester leads a small group of scientists working to find a cure to Alzheimer’s disease. McAlester’s research involves using proteins from the brains of three captured sharks.
When one of the sharks uses an object as a battering ram to bust through an observation window, McAlester admits that she genetically altered the sharks’ brains to make them bigger. Now the small research team is stranded in a sinking research facilty surrounded by sharks that are…
Bigger. Smarter. Faster. Meaner.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Ronny Cox appears uncredited as an Executive. Renny Harlin appears uncredited as a worker.
*** SPOILERS – MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW***
In the original cut at the end of the film Saffron Burrows was the hero. Audiences in test screenings hated it because she was the reason the sharks were changed. Some of her scenes (that made her more sympathetic) were cut. Reshot footage had a shark kill her and made LL Cool J’s character the hero.
Suddenly killing off Russell Franklin (Samuel L. Jackson) well before the end of the movie was inspired by Tom Skerritt’s character’s demise in Alien. Killing the best known actor and lead character put the survivors in more jeopardy. When I first saw Deep Blue Sea, I was totally shocked when Samuel L. Jackson was killed. Well played, Renny Harlin.
Deep Blue Sea (1999) rates 3 of 5 stars.
World War Z gets a worthy alt poster by Mike Empleado! I love the distressed borders.
“Every person we save is one less zombie to fight.” – Jurgen Warmbrunn
“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955)
Director: Val Guest
Screenplay: Richard Landau, Val Guest; based on the 1953 tv series The Quatermass Experiment by Nigel Kneale
Stars: Brian Donlevy, Richard Wordsworth, Jack Warner, David King-Wood, Margia Dean and Maurice Kaufmann.
Tagline: It’s coming for YOU from Space to wipe all living things from the face of the Earth! CAN IT BE STOPPED?
The Plot…
The first manned rocket ship into space was was a success thanks to Professor Bernard Quatermass. He was the scientific genius behind the design, manufacture and launch of the ship. While in space contact with the three man crew was lost.
When the ship returns Quatermass finds that two of the three astronauts are gone. The only thing left of them is their empty space suits. The third astronaut is in shock and unable to speak. Quatermass discovers that an alien organism killed the other two astronauts and is now in the third… mutating his body into something deadly.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Jane Asher plays the little girl trying to befriend the astronaut as he is mutating. Asher would grow up to be one of Paul McCartney’s fiancées.
The film’s title spells Experiment as Xperiment as a way to draw attention to the fact that The British Board of Film Censors gave the film an X rating meaning the film had themes that might be too strong or intense for persons under the age of 16.
The Quatermass Xperiment was released as The Creeping Unknown in the US.
“The Quatermass Xperiment” aka “The Creeping Unknown” (1955) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Fallen (1998)
Director: Gregory Hoblit
Screenplay: Nicholas Kazan
Stars: Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandolfini, Elias Koteas, Robert Joy.
Tagline: Don’t trust a soul.
The Plot…
Detective John Hobbes is surprised to find serial killer Edgar Reese is so cheerful when he is about to be executed. Reese shows no remorse as he taunts the witnesses and sings “Time is On My Side” as justice is served.
Following Reese’s execution, a new series of murders occur. The killer uses the same methods as Reese. Detective Hobbes and his partner Jonesy believe a copycat is at play. As they investigate the new murders, friends and strangers begin to say and do strange things around Hobbes. It is almost as if they are taunting him. It is especially disconcerting to hear them sing “Time is on my side”.
Then Hobbes discovers an occult connection to Reese. Could it be possible that a demon took possession of the humans behind the murders? If true, this demon can transfer from one body to another simply by touch. Hobbes cannot believe that a supernatural force, a demon, could be involved.
Then the demon makes it’s presence known.
Hobbes is at a loss. How do you defeat a demon that can possess anyone around you? One thing is for sure… he can’t trust a soul.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Fallen is better than I thought it would be. Much of that credit goes to the cast — especially Denzel Washington, John Goodman and James Gandolfini.
Other taglines for the film include:
Fallen (1998) rates 4 of 5 stars.
When I was a kid Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman was one of our favorite Sammy Terry’s Nightmare Theater movies. Even though they didn’t fight until the end of the film, having both Frankenstein and the Wolfman in the same film was a treat!
J. Beers created this alt poster. He used Karloff’s Frankenstein head instead of Lugosi’s. Beers also made the creative decision to make the piece a battle between cold and warm colors. How cool is that?
“You think I’m insane. You think I don’t know what I’m talking about. Well you just look in that grave where Lawrence Talbot is supposed to be buried and see if you find a body in it!” – Lawrence Talbot
Source: J. Beers Instagram.
Roger Motzkus presents his alt poster for Predator… and it’s a winnah.
“There’s something out there waiting for us… and it ain’t no man. We’re all gonna die.” – Billy
Pitch Black (2000)
Director: David Twohy
Screenplay: Ken Wheat, Jim Wheat, David Twohy; story by Ken Wheat, Jim Wheat
Stars: Vin Diesel, Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Claudia Black and Keith David.
Tagline: Don’t be afraid of the dark. Be afraid of what’s in the dark.
The Plot…
A transport spaceship crashlands on a remote planet. Only a handful survive:
The survivors come together in an attempt to assess their situation and chances of survival. Their ship is beyond help. When they discover a deserted outpost, their hopes rise…
But they soon discover that the planet is about to enter a prolonged eclipse. The planet will be in complete darkness the entire time. On this planet when the sunlight fades, dangerous creatures return to the surface.
Don’t be afraid of the dark. Be afraid of what’s in the dark. It’s about to get very dark.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The ship’s crash landing is amazing — especially seen on a theater screen.
Pitch Black is the film that made Vin Diesel a star.
In the original Pitch Black screenplay Riddick dies at the end. Diesel and Twohy liked the character and thought they could make more films about him. So far we’ve gotten The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury (an animated video) which bridges Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick film. Another feature film, Riddick, was released in 2013.
Pitch Black (2000) rates 5 of 5 stars.
I am so psyched for Hope. Here is a short behind-the-scenes teaser.
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.
This is the tribute poster created by Nick Levy for the 40th anniversary of Aliens: July 18, 1986. Levy calls it “One of the greatest sequels ever made and arguably the greatest sci-fi action film of all time.” When you’re right, you’re right and Nick Levy is right.
“That’s it, man. Game over, man. Game over!” – Private Hudson
Widow’s Bay: Season 1 (2026)
Created by: Katie Dippold
Director:
Screenplay:
Stars: Matthew Rhys, Kate O’Flynn, Kevin Carroll, Dale Dickey, Kingston Rumi Southwick and Stephen Root.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Tom Loftis is Mayor of the small island town called Widow’s Bay. Tom, now a widower and single parent, moved to the island to marry his wife. As mayor, Tom’s major goal is to turn Widow’s Bay into a tourist town. Some of the residents are all for the idea. There are others who feel the island is cursed and bringing more folks to the island will create major problems.
Tom sees the naysayers as silly and superstitious. But when strange things begin to happen, Tom tries to find rational reasons for them. Soon enough Tom and the islanders are dealing with ghosts, a killer clown, time warps, a Sea Hag, a serial killer and more.
Welcome to Widow’s Bay!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Widow’s Bay received 19 Prime-Time Emmy award nominations. Results will be announced September 4th.
As you can tell from the award nominations above, critics and viewers overwhelming like Widow’s Bay. I enjoy it, but not as much as most folks. I feel a bit of inconsistency due to the monster of the week format. There are overarching storylines, but they take a back seat to dealing with each week’s ghost/sea hag/serial killer, etc.
Congrats to Matthew Rhys, Kate O’Flynn and Stephen Root for their well deserved Prime-Time Emmy acting nominations.
As always your mileage may vary, but for me Widow’s Bay rates a three.
Widow’s Bay: Season 1 (2026) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Sinners is one of my all-time favorite movies. I love the number of really sweet alt posters the film has inspired, like this one from Shawn Mansfield.
“We gonna kill every last one of ya.” – Mary
A poster and teaser for Mike Flanagan’s series adaption of Stephen King’s Carrie have arrived.
I like King’s novel and am a huge fan of Brian DePalma’s movie adaptation. Since I’m also a Flanagan fan, and the trailer works, I’m looking forward to this. The fact that the entire series drops on October 7th is a plus.
Deal me in.
She just wanted a friend. They gave her a fight.
All episodes of Carrie, a new series from Mike Flanagan, premiere October 7 on Prime Video.
This 30 Days of Night Alt Poster by Fredlobo Lopez is money. It captures the start of one of my favorite scenes in the movie. The vampires are about to attack the citizens of the village and all hell breaks loose. It is complete chaos and the movie captures it perfectly. Click on the image to see a biggie-sized version.
