Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
The Invisible Man by Ryan Kelly!
When I was a kid I loved horror movies. I still do. But when it came to The Invisible Man, I just didn’t care for it. Re-visiting the film as a young adult (and now an older one) I’ve come to love the movie.
I can honestly say, I’ve loved Ryan Kelly’s riff on The Invisible Man from the first time I saw it. ; )
I think this Cujo alt poster by Huan Do is much better than the original theatrical poster. Right?
The first two seasons of Interview with the Vampire were must-see tv. I’m hoping the third season, now titled The Vampire Lestat, will be as well. This trailer for the new seasons looks like expectations will be met.
Bang bang.
Anne Rice’s #TheVampireLestat premieres in 2026 on AMC and AMC+.
The Burrowers (2008)
Director: J. T. Petty
Screenplay: J. T. Petty
Stars: Clancy Brown, Joel Kinnaman, Jocelin Donahue, Doug Hutchison, Laura Leighton, Suzi McLaughlin, Tatanka Means, David Midthunder and William Mapother.
Tagline: Evil will surface.
The Plot…
1879. When a family of settlers is found brutally mutilated, it is thought that hostile Indians did it. Some family members, including a young girl are missing and believed to have been kidnapped. Although there are strange holes in the ground surrounding the kill zone, not much notice is paid to them. A group is formed to track the Indians and save the survivors.
Little does the posse know that the holes were created by vicious creatures that live beneath the prairie. And the posse is heading straight into their territory.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The creatures are pretty cool. I wish we had more action with them.
The Burrowers (2008) rates 2 of 5 stars.
The Creature from the Black Lagoon is one of my all-time favorite movies. Aaron Lopresti has created a drawing worthy of it.
Yvan Quinet is the artist behind this creative alt poster for Bram Stoker’s Dracula! This is so cool. I love the colors and composition. How about the design around Dracula? Check out the Dracula’s shadow. And don’t forget to look into Dracula’s goblet.
Bravo!
You can see more of Yvan Quinet’s art at his website and/or his Instagram page.
Die Alone (2024)
Director: Lowell Dean
Screenplay: Lowell Dean
Stars: Carrie-Anne Moss, Douglas Smith, Jonathan Cherry, Sari Mercer, Steven Roy, Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat and Frank Grillo.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
A zombie outbreak is underway. Ethan and his girlfriend Emma planned to make it to a remote cabin which they hoped w0uld provide sanctuary.
That’s all that Ethan remembers since he woke up alone.
As Ethan begins looking for Emma he is attacked by several armed men. He’d have been killed if Mae, a middle-aged woman, hadn’t rescued him. Ethan thanks Mae and says that he since he woke up, he can’t remember much, only that his girlfriend is missing. Mae hasn’t seen her. Mae says that Ethan is in no condition to continue his journey. She says he’s welcome to stay at her farm until he’s better.
Ethan agrees. Mae’s definitely a survivalist. Her farm is remote and full of booby-traps. As time passes Ethan starts remembering more and more. Before long he’s sure all is not as it seems.
But he has no idea of what is to come.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Frank Grillo appears in just a few (but very memorable) scenes.
I figured out the twist early on, but wasn’t sure how it would play out. The final scenes of the movie were unexpected.
Die Alone (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Check out the trailer for We Bury the Dead starring Daisy Miller.
Deal me in!
After a catastrophic military disaster, the dead don’t just rise – they hunt. Ava (Daisy Ridley) searches for her missing husband, but what she finds is far more terrifying.
Starring: Daisy Ridley, Brenton Thwaites, Mark Coles Smith
Directed by: Zak Hilditch
Release Date: January 2, 2026
I love how this painting of The Frankenstein Monster by Frederick Cooper takes me back to my childhood. It’s fantastic. The colors take it to the next level.
The Mummy (1932)
Director: Karl Freund
Screenplay: John L. Balderston; story by Nina Wilcox Putnam, Richard Schayer
Stars: Boris Karloff, Zita Johann, David Manners, Noble Johnson, Leonard Mudie and Edward Van Sloan.
Tagline: A love that defied time drives a beautiful girl to her doom!
The Plot…
An archaeological expedition discovers the ancient burial chamber of Imhotep. Through a study of the mummifed body and writings left in the chamber, it is learned that a curse was placed on Imhotep. Although wrapped in the traditional cloth of the dead, Imhotep was buried alive! Placed with Imhotep was the Scroll of Thoth. The scroll was believed to hold secrets that return the dead to life.
When one of the archaeologists reads the scroll, he is driven insane as he witnesses the resurrection of Imhotep. Imohotep escapes.
Years pass. Imhotep has worked his way into modern society. He is now Ardath Bey, an expert in ancient Egyptian history. When Imhotep/Bey meets Helen Grosvenor he falls in love. Imohotep believes Helen to be the reincarnation of the Princess he dared to love… and that cost him his life. Determined to have her at any cost, Imhotep plans to kill, mummify and revive her. Then they will both be immortal.
How do you stop something that has beaten death?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Mummy was inspired by the discovery of Pharaoh Tutankahmen’s tomb. There allegedly was a curse on anyone who broke the burial chamber seal.
Boris Karloff, who became a big star after Frankenstein, was cast as the lead for The Mummy. Although a star, his face was again hidden by make-up.
The Mummy (1932) rates 3 of 5 stars.
Check out this Predator alt poster by Rich Davies. You can see more of Davies’ art here.
Outbreak (2024)
Director: Jeff Wolfe
Screenplay: Lance Ochsner, Jeff Wolfe; story by Erik Aude’
Stars: Billy Burke, Raoul Max Trujillo, Alyshia Ochse, Taylor Handley and Jessica Frances Dukes.
Tagline: It starts as an infection. It ends in devastation.
The Plot…
Park Rangers Neil Morris, John Gibson and their Chief Mike Cortez respond to a call involving a rabid dog. When the dog attacks Chief Cortez, Neil hesitates in shooting the animal. The delay results in Cortez being bitten.
Back at the station, Chief Cortez orders Neil to take some time off. For the last two months Neil’s work has suffered. He’s been distracted due to the disappearance of his teenage son. Neil’s wife isn’t doing much better.
Neil reluctantly takes the vacation. He decides to use the time to look for his son. While in the woods, Neil is attacked by a disfigured woman. He kills her in self-defense and discovers she was infected. As Neil drives back home, he sees the town is overrun with infected.
Neil keeps driving. He plans to scoop up his wife and head for safety. Unfortunately, some terrors are inescapable.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Outbreak (2024) is more psychological thriller than all-out zombie actioner. The two twists at the end are worth the price of admission.
Outbreak (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.
The Curse of the Werewolf is my favorite wolfman. Frederick Cooper nailed him!
J. Todd Scott’s SCAR IN THE SKY drops this coming Friday. Here’s the lowdown…
Lightning never strikes twice —until it does.
A killer is hunting down survivors of lightning strikes in this dark and twisting thriller, perfect for fans of J. H. Markert and Richard Chizmar.
Everything changed for Andi Ellis when she was struck by lightning and her heart stopped. Andi was resuscitated, but she was never the same—electronics strangely malfunction in her presence: clocks can’t keep time; batteries swiftly die. And while many lightning strike victims are left with temporary “lightning tree” markings, on her they are permanent scars.
Years later Andi, her eight-year-old daughter, and a fellow lightning strike survivor have fled Texas and Andi’s dangerous ex to go off the grid in a strange and secluded desert community.
Meanwhile, two private investigators pursue a US senator’s missing daughter who they find too late. When searching for information on the strange lightning scars on the girl’s body, they find themselves pulled into an FBI investigation—people who have been struck by lightning are being murdered.
As the death toll mounts, the task force traces the killer farther west—closer and closer to Andi Ellis and her daughter, and the haven she’s carefully created.
Thriller and horror readers will be enthralled by the dark turns in SCAR IN THE SKY.
SCAR IN THE SKY paperback
SCAR IN THE SKY hardback
Who doesn’t enjoy a cool alt poster? Especially when they are as nice as this one created by Dalton Frizzell for The Shining.
