Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
The poster and 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!
Discover why our world went quiet. Watch the new trailer for #AQuietPlace: Day One – only in theatres June 28.
I’m glad we are getting some more promotional materials for season 2 of Interview with a Vampire.
Deal me in!
Who are you without your past?
ABOUT INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE
A luxury apartment covering an entire single floor of a high rise. Where the Vampire has granted the interview with the man he once judged to be unworthy. And where the journalist Daniel Molloy has hustled, for a second shot at the interview that got away from him 40 years earlier…Based on Anne Rice’s iconic novel, Interview with The Vampire follows Louis’ epic story of love, blood and the perils of immortality, as told to the journalist Daniel Molloy. Chafing at the limitations of life as a black man in 1900’s New Orleans, Louis finds it impossible to resist Lestat’s offer of the ultimate escape: joining him as his vampire companion.
But Louis’s intoxicating new powers come with a violent price, and the introduction of Lestat’s newest fledgling, the child vampire Claudia, soon sets them on a decades-long path of revenge and atonement. A sensuous, contemporary reinvention of Anne Rice’s revolutionary gothic novel.
Who Are You, Louis? | Interview with the Vampire Season 2 | Premieres May 12 | AMC+
The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)
Director: Jack Arnold
Screenplay: Richard Matheson, Richard Alan Simmons based on THE SHRINKING MAN by Richard Matheson
Stars: Grant Williams, Randy Stuart, April Kent, Paul Langton, William Schallert, Frank J. Scannell, Helene Marshall, Billy Curtis and Raymond Bailey.
Tagline: Victim of weird mist ! Day by day he shrinks! Science is baffled! Cat becomes monster! Terror at every turn! Deadly spider attacks! Lost in a flood’s fury!
The Plot…
Scott Carey (Williams) and his wife, Louise (Stuart) are vacationing on a small boat. When his wife goes down to get some drinks a strange mist passes over the craft. Scott is covered with particles from the mist. Six months later Scott realizes he’s shrinking.
The best doctors confirm that Scott is shrinking and begin searching for a cure. As Scott continues to shrink life becomes more difficult. Before too long even the household cat becomes a danger.
If no cure is found, what will become of Scott as he continues to shrink…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Incredible Shrinking Man is based on Richard Matheson’s novel THE SHRINKING MAN. Some scenes from the book were to risqué for 1957 and probably still are today. They include Scott sleeping with a female midget, Scott abused by a drunk homosexual, and Scott peering through the window to watch a teenage baby-sitter.
Although the story ends with no cure found to save Scott, the studio got cold feet as filming progressed. Director Jack Arnold, hot off The Creature from the Black Lagoon, refused. Instead Arnold came up with a soliloquy for Scott to speak that ends the film. Test audiences proved the decision to be a winner.
The large props used when Scott shrinks were later used on the Universal Studios Tour and the television series Land of the Giants.
Look for Mr. Drysdale (Raymond Bailey) of The Beverly Hillbillies fame playing a doctor.
The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957) rates 5 of 5 stars.
The Mad Doctor of Market Street (1942)
Director: Joseph H. Lewis
Screenplay: Al Martin
Stars: Una Merkel, Lionel Atwill, Nat Pendleton, Noble Johnson and John Eldredge
Tagline: GENIUS – OR FIEND?
The Plot…
Dr. Ralph Benson (Atwill) changes his name and boards a passenger ship after a man dies during one of Benson’s crazy experiments. While on the ship Benson is recognized so he lures the man to a secluded area and throws him overboard. A fire breaks out on the ship. Benson and five others are the sole survivors. Their lifeboat lands on an island populated by natives ready to kill them.
Benson learns that the Chief’s wife is on her deathbed. Benson claims he can cure her. When a shot of adrenaline revives the woman, the Chief thinks Benson has magical powers. Benson sets himself up as a god. He plans to continue his experiments starting with the other survivors. Trapped on an island with a mad doctor and natives ready to kill them, the survivors have little chance for life.
Unless…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Mad Doctor of Market Street is about what you’d expect for a low budget B film of the early 40s. The murders are tame or appear off screen. There’s an attempt at humor. The one surprising thing and it is pretty grim even though it appears off screen is — BIG SPOILER ALERT — the fire that alerts the search party that there are survivors on the island comes from the natives burning the doctor alive!
The Mad Doctor of Market Street (1942) rates 2 of 5 stars.
The Why Files: Season 2 (2021)
Creator: Andrew Gentile
Stars: Andrew Gentile
Tagline: Where Cool Nerds Laugh and Learn
The Plot…
The Why Files started as a weekly Youtube podcast where the host, Andrew Gentile looked at myths, legends, strange phenomena and more. Gentile approaches each subject with respect and the right touch of humor. After explaining the subject he then explains what part is true, debunks parts that can be and admits if the truth isn’t known.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Andrew Gentile is an excellent host. His sidekick is a Hecklefish that adds humor.
Some of my favorite episodes from season two include: Apollo 20: The Secret Mission to the Moon; The Mysterious Case of the Circleville Letters; The Truth Behind Possession and Exorcisms; How a UFO Caused the Battle of Los Angeles; Bigfoot Aliens KGB? Dyatlov Pass Explained; John Titor: Time Traveler, Soldier, Savior; Visitor from Another Dimension: the Man from Taured; What Lies Below? The Denver Airport Conspiracy; Valiant Thor: A UFO, the Pentagon and a 3-year Mission to Save the World..
The Why Files: Season 2 (2021) earns 5 of 5 stars.
These are molds created for John Carpenter’s unmade Creature from the Black Lagoon reboot. Man, I wish Carpenter had made the film. If he doesn’t ever get to it, I’d love to see Guillermo del Toro or Robert Rodriguez give it a go.
Source: Body Snatchers.
The Strain: Season 1 (2014)
Created by: Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan
Directors: Guillermo del Toro (ep. 1); David Semel (eps. 2 – 3); Keith Gordon (ep. 4); Peter Weller (eps. 5 – 6, 11); Charlotte Sieling (eps. 7, 9); Guy Ferland (ep. 8); John Dahl (ep. 10); Deran Sarafian (ep. 12); Phil Abraham (ep. 13)
Screenplay: Guillermo del Toro, Chuck Hogan (eps. 2, 8); David Weddle, Bradley Thompson (eps. 2, 7); Chuck Hogan (ep. 3); Regina Corrado (eps. 4, 9); Gennifer Hutchison (eps. 5, 10); Justin Britt-Gibson (ep. 6); Justin Britt-Gibson, Chuck Hogan (ep. 11); Carlton Cruse, David Weddle, Bradley Thompson (ep. 12); Carlton Cruse, Chuck Hogan (ep. 13)
Stars: Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Jim Watson, Mía Maestro, Kevin Durand, Jonathan Hyde, Richard Sammel, Jack Kesy, Natalie Brown, Miguel Gomez, Ben Hyland, Ruta Gedmintas, Pedro Miguel Arce, Adriana Barraza and Sean Astin.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
A passenger plan lands in New York City. All but four people on board are dead. Dr. Ephraim “Eph” Goodweather (Stohl) of the CDC is sent in with a small team to determine the cause. When his efforts to quarantine the four survivors is refused, Eph believes that they will potentially transmit the unknown virus to to others.
Meanwhile Professor Abraham Setrakian (Bradley), a holocaust survivor, believes the cause is strigoi more commonly referred to as vampires. Setrakian explains these are nothing like movie vampires. Of course no one believes the old man.
The truth is strigoi are behind the deaths. A “Master” strigoi is making his move to bring war on humans. The Master is aided by a sickly billionaire who has been promised eternal life and a former Nazi commandant who has aided the master for decades. Eph and Setrakian are pulling together a team of people who have seen strigoi in action.
The fate of the world hangs in the balance.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan have created a modern day vampire tale with a backstory that extends not just decades, but centuries. The vampires aren’t the classic creatures of the night seen in countless movies. And the stakes aren’t just a beautiful woman’s soul. Here the fate of the world is at risk.
The writers should be commended for creating a huge cast of interesting characters with wonderful backstories. Dr. Ephraim “Eph” Goodweather played by Corey Stoll is the lead. It isn’t often the “star” is given so many character flaws. Several members of the supporting cast have lived up to the title co-star. Kudos to David Bradley as Professor Abraham Setrakian, Kevin Durand as Vasiliy Fet and Miguel Gomez as Augustin “Gus” Elizalde for playing characters that make the show sing. Jonathan Hyde as Eldritch Palmer, the sickly billionaire who aides the Master and Richard Sammel as Thomas Eichhorst, the Nazi vampire acolyte who has served the Master for decades deserve kudos as well.
Although Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan wrote a Strain trilogy of novels, the series doesn’t follow them exactly.
The Strain: Season 1 (2019) earns 5 of 5 stars.
The Why Files: Season 1 (2020)
Creator: Andrew Gentile
Stars: Andrew Gentile
Tagline: Where Cool Nerds Laugh and Learn
The Plot…
The Why Files started as a weekly Youtube podcast where the host, Andrew Gentile looked at myths, legends, strange phenomena and more. Gentile approaches each subject with respect and the right touch of humor. After explaining the subject he then explains what part is true, debunks parts that can be and admits if the truth isn’t known.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Andrew Gentile is an excellent host. His sidekick is a Hecklefish that adds humor.
Some of my favorite episodes from season one include: Top Scariest Places You Can Actually Visit; Rain of Terror; The Most Top Secret Places in the World; Nanorobotics & Nanotechnology – Can We Live Forever?; The Voynich Manuscript; Stay out of the Nevada Triangle; CIA Declassifies UFO Documents; The Philadelphia Experiment and Time Travelers Caught on Film.
The Why Files: Season 1 (2020) earns 5 of 5 stars.
Here are 4 pieces of concept art for King Kong (1933). Looks like the big ape and a few bare breasts helped sell the concept. If you’d like to see bigger versions of each piece click on the source below.
Source: @realwackyguy
The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (1973)
Director: Nathan Juran
Screenplay: Bob Homel
Stars: Kerwin Mathews, Robert J. Wilke, George Gaynes, David S. Cass Sr., Tim Haldeman
Tagline: Possible in this day and age? Those who didn’t believe… are dead!
The Plot…
It’s Ritchie’s weekend with his dad. They decide to camp out. That night while walking back to the cabin, they are attacked by a werewolf. Dad is bitten, but manages to impale the creature. When police arrive they find a dead man on the fence. Later when Dad starts acting strange, Ritchie knows his dad is becoming a werewolf. Even worse no one believes him.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Like a bad 1970s tv movie, but we don’t even get the benefit of commercials.
The Boy Who Cried Werewolf (1973) earns 1 of 5 stars.
Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips next collaboration has been announced. HOUSES OF THE UNHOLY will drop on August 13, 2024. Here’s the lowdown…
HOUSES OF THE UNHOLY is a riveting horror thrill-ride from bestselling creators Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, the award-winning team behind CRIMINAL (soon to be a TV series on Amazon Prime), RECKLESS, NIGHT FEVER and WHERE THE BODY WAS.
An FBI agent from the cult crime beat and a woman with a past linked to the Satanic Panic are drawn into a terrifying hunt for an insane killer hiding in the shadows of the underworld. Can you ever escape your past, or are all your bad decisions just more ghosts to haunt you, wherever you go?
Room 237 (2012)
Director: Rodney Ascher
Screenplay: Rodney Ascher
Stars: Archival footage featuring Stanley Kubrick, Stephen King, Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, Scatman Crothers, Joe Turkel, Barry Nelson, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
Tagline: Some movies stay with you forever…and ever…and ever.
The Plot…
Room 237 features nine segments that explore theories that Stanley Kubrick imbedded hidden messages and themes within The Shining. Some of the theories include that Kubrick directed fake footage of the first moon landing since we really didn’t land with Apollo 11, cultural assimilation of Native Americans or American Imperialism or Genocide are the real themes of the film. There are more.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
If you don’t like one of the theories, don’t worry, another will soon be presented. A lot of sizzle, but no steak.
Room 237 (2012) earns 2 of 5 stars.
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953)
Director: Charles Lamont
Screenplay: Lee Loeb, John Grant; story by Sid Fields, Grant Garett;inspired by The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
Stars: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Boris Karloff, Helen Westcott, Reginald Denny, John Dierkes, Harry Cording and Craig Stevens.
Tagline: The Laughs Are Twice as MONSTER-OUS as Ever Before!
The Plot…
A maniacal serial killer stalks the streets of London. Slim (Abbott) and Tubby (Costello), American cops sent over to study England’s police methods, are pulled into the case.
Let the good times roll!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
In this version, Dr. Jekyll isn’t such a nice guy. In most outings, it isn’t until he becomes Mr. Hyde that he becomes evil.
Boris Karloff appeared with Abbott and Costello four years earlier in Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer.
Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1953) earns 5 of 5 stars.
Here we have the first poster and teaser for Lawson. I don’t know much about this film but it has me interested.
This is the first official movie teaser for LAWSON, a covert operative for a race of living vampires, as he battles a sinister conspiracy to resurrect an ancient god and an old enemy who resurfaces from his shadowy past in this supernatural espionage film based on the bestselling novel Lawson Vampire series by Jon F. Merz.
Starring Brandon S. Stumpf as Lawson, Shahjehan Khan as Wagner, Liz Eng as Atara, Steven Triebes as Niles, Jose Gonsalves as Arthur, Jam Murphy as Lilith, Jay Street as Newby, Morgan Barnsley as Quinn, Pamela Jayne Morgan as Sari, Logan Raposo as Grom, Christian Carrigan as Welch, Thomas Goze as Stefan, Brian McDonald as the Assassin, and Jon F. Merz as Crawford.
Proteus Entertainment presents: LAWSON, coming in 2024.
Son of Frankenstein (1939)
Director: Rowland V. Lee
Screenplay: Wyllis Cooper based on characters created by Mary Shelley
Stars: Boris Karloff, Basil Rathbone, Bela Lugosi, Lionel Atwill and Josephine Hutchinson.
Tagline: AFTER 20 YEARS Driven by the same crazy ambition that made his father create the terrifying monster that stalks in the night! See his juggernaut of destruction loosed upon the world!
The Plot…
Baron Wolf von Frankenstein (Rathbone), son of Henry Frankenstein, has brought his wife and young son back to live in Castle Frankenstein. Baron hopes to rebuild the family reputation, but is surprised to find that the villagers still harbor deep resentment. The haven’t forgotten the murders and destruction brought about by his father’s creation.
Wolf meets Ygor (Lugosi), a strange, deformed man who survived being hung for robbing graves. When Ygor shows Wolf that his father’s creation lies in a coma below the castle, Wolf decides to revive the creature. The operation is a success. Sadly the creature will on follow the commands of Ygor. Unknown to Wolf, Ygor has scores that he plans to settle using the monster.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Director Rowland V. Lee felt that producers had low-balled Bela Lugosi’s salary. Since the script wasn’t complete as filming started, Lee continued to pad Lugosi’s part. This increased Lugosi’s pay and created one of his best non-Dracula roles.
Surprisingly, this is the first Frankenstein film that shows the electrodes in the monster’s neck being hit with electricity to bring him to life.
Son of Frankenstein (1939) earns 5 of 5 stars.
