“Longlegs” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
Here we have the poster and trailer for Longlegs. I like the looks of both.
As many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Category: Horror
The Savage Sword of Conan #2 (2024) / Z-View
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.
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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!
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Savage Sword of Conan #2 (2024) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“The Crazies” (1973) written & directed by George A. Romero / Z-View
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!
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
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.
The Bride and Frankenstein by Paul Renaud!
If you’re following Paul Renaud’s Twitter, you’ve already seen this beauty. If so, it’s still worth another look. If you’re not following Paul Renaud’s Twitter, you see why you should.
You can also see Renaud’s art at his Instagram page.
“The Green Slime” (1968) starring Robert Horton, Luciana Paluzzi & Richard Jaeckel / Z-View
The Green Slime (1968)
Director: Kinji Fukasaku
Screenplay: William (Bill) Finger, Tom Rowe, Charles Sinclair, story by Ivan Reiner
Stars: Robert Horton, Luciana Paluzzi, Richard Jaeckel.
Tagline: The Green Slime are coming!!
The Plot…
Commander Jack Rankin (Horton) and Commander Vince Elliott (Jaeckel) are sent on a suicide mission to destroy a giant asteroid headed for earth. Although successful, one of the crew members accidentally carries a green slime substance back to the space station.
Soon the green slime transforms into monstrous beings that multiply and kill members of the crew! If the green slime monsters get back to earth it could be the end of humanity.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Robert Horton, Luciana Paluzzi and Richard Jaeckel were the stars attached. The rest of the cast consisted mainly of amateur and semi-professional actors. Many of the monsters were played by school aged children.
Bill Finger, the co-creator of Batman, is one of the screenwriters of The Green Slime.
The Green Slime was the first film featured on featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000.
The Green Slime (1968) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“Westworld” (1973) written & directed by Michael Crichton, starring Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin & James Brolin / Z-View
Westworld (1973)
Director: Michael Crichton
Screenplay: Michael Crichton
Stars: Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin, Norman Bartold, Alan Oppenheimer, Linda Gaye Scott, Steve Franken, Michael T. Mikler, Terry Wilson, Majel Barrett, Anne Randall, Charles Seel and Dick Van Patten.
Tagline: Boy, have we got a vacation for you…
The Plot…
In the near future those that can afford it go to an adult theme park named Delos. Delos is divided into three separate sections: West World, Medieval World and Roman World. Each world is designed to replicate the eras of their name. Robots almost indistinguishable from humans populate each world. Guest interact and act out their greatest fantasies. Want to be a bank robber in the old west? Overthrow a king? Partake in Roman orgies? You can do all these things and more.
Repeat visitor John Blane (Brolin) and his buddy, first timer Peter Martin (Benjamin) are visiting West World. They’re having a blast. Until things start to go wrong… very wrong.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
I saw West World when it was first released in 1973. I was 15 and loved it. I’ve re-watched it many times over the years and still love it. I thought that James Brolin would be the last man standing. I was so shocked when it turned out I was wrong.
Years after West World Michael Crichton created another amusement park that goes sideways with his novel (and later a film) Jurassic Park.
The film is set in the near future… 1983.
Silent film star, Harold Lloyd’s estate was used for Roman World filming and is listed in the credits!
Alan Oppenheimer plays one of the technicians in charge of the robots. Oppenheimer in the following year will play Dr. Rudy Wells, in a similar role on The Six Million Dollar Man.
As the robots begin to malfunction and the problem spreads from robot to robot we get one of the first instances of computer viruses!
Yul Brynner’s character dresses almost exactly as the character he played in The Magnificent Seven.
Westworld (1973) rates 5 of 5 stars.
“A Quiet Place: Day One” | Official Trailer 2
The second trailer for A Quiet Place: Day One is here. I love apocalyptic movies that show how things go sideways and no one is sure of the best move.
Deal me in!
Welcome to DAY ONE. Watch the new trailer for #AQuietPlace: Day One – only in theatres June 28.
“Gangnam Zombie” (2023) / Z-View
Gangnam Zombie (2023)
Director: Lee Soo-seong
Screenplay: Choe Seung
Stars: Ji Il-joo, Park Ji-yeon.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Young podcasters and shoppers in an upscale mall in Gangnam fight for their lives during a zombie uprising!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
If I make it through the entire movie, I usually am able to justify a two star rating. Not this one.
Gangnam Zombie (2023) rates 1 of 5 stars.
“The Monster Walks” (1932) / Z-View
The Monster Walks (1932)
Director: Frank R. Strayer
Screenplay: Robert Ellis
Stars: Mischa Auer, Rex Lease, Vera Reynolds and Willie Best.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Ruth Earlton (Reynolds) is called back to her childhood home. Her father has died and the will is going to read. Ruth and her fiancé, Ted (Lease) arrive on a dark, stormy night. Ted is introduced to Ruth’s wheelchair-bound Uncle, Mrs. Krug, the strange housekeeper, and her even stranger adult son Hanns. Oh, and let’s not forget the large ape caged in the basement.
Everyone learns that the estate has been left to Ruth… as long as she is alive. If she dies it goes to her uncle. Will Ruth make it through the night?
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Although posters for The Monster Walks features a huge ape, the movie uses a chimpanzee.
The Monster Walks has the right ingredients (creepy house with secret passageways, dark and stormy night, strange characters, a will leaving the money to one family member as long as they live, an ape) but the end result isn’t as good as could be expected.
The Monster Walks (1932) rates 2 of 5 stars.
“30 Days of Night” (2007) starring Josh Harnett, Melissa George & Danny Huston / Z-View
30 Days of Night (2007)
Director: David Slade
Screenplay: Steve Niles, Stuart Beattie, Brian Nelson based on 30 Days of Night by Steve Niles & Ben Templesmith
Stars: Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Ben Foster, Mark Boone Junior, Elizabeth Hawthorne and Nathaniel Lees.
Tagline: They’re Coming!
The Plot…
The remote city of Barrow, Alaska, because of it’s location has a month of darkness once a year. Most of the city’s inhabitants leave. Those that stay have to live with “30 days of night”. This year they will also have to deal with a coven of vampires who have come to Barrow to feast!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Steve Niles conceived 30 Days of Night as a graphic novel. Although he pitched the idea, there was no interest. Niles then reworked the idea and pitched 30 Days of Night as a movie. Again there was no interest. Niles put the idea on the back-burner until a discussion at IDW Publishing brought 30 Days of Night back from the, uh, dead. Niles and artist Ben Templesmith’s 30 Days of Night comic was a hit. This led to several movie studios showing interest in adapting 30 Days of Night.
A picture of Steve Niles can be seen in the attic hideout.
30 Days of Night does a great job of building suspense and ratcheting the tension as the vampires destroy Barlow’s ability to communicate with the outside world. Then we see vampire attacks to those on the outskirts of the city. The full-on attack of the city with the overhead shots of the mayhem is still a favorite scene.
Danny Huston is amazing as Marlow the leader of the vampire coven. Kudos also to Ben Foster.
30 Days of Night (2007) rates 4 of 5 stars.
