Category: Horror

“George A. Romero’s Resident Evil” – The Trailer is Here!

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It’s unfortunate that Romero’s Resident Evil didn’t happen. At least we get this documentary.

In 1998, Constantin Film set out to adapt the greatest horror video game franchise of all time, hiring legendary film director George A. Romero. Now, Key 13 Films, in association with Point Five Films and director Brandon Salisbury set out to uncover the mystery behind why Romero’s vision was never produced.

George A. Romero’s Resident Evil is a stylized documentary, utilizing archived footage, unearthed documents, and newly filmed interviews with a wide variety of personalities. The documentary combines elements from Capcom’s hit video game series and the raw, visceral style of George A. Romero to full immerse the audience in a cinematic horror aesthetic.

Now, audiences everywhere will experience the “darkest day of horror the world will never know”, as they uncover the unrequited vision of… George A. Romero’s Resident Evil.

“I Saw the Devil” (2010) / Z-View

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I Saw the Devil (2010)

Director: Jee-woon Kim

Writer: Park Hoon-jung (screenplay), Jee-woon Kim (adaptation)

Stars: Lee Byung-hun, Choi Min-sik 

Tagline: To Catch A Monster He Must Become One

The Plot…

When a serial killer murders a government agent’s pregnant wife, the agent captures, tortures and then releases the killer.  The agent then captures, tortures and releases the killer again.  How long will this go on before one murders the other?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

I Saw the Devil is well directed.  Jee-woon Kim is an excellent director.  He creates shots that are impressive and scenes that produce tension, fear and humor as needed.  The two leads are very good.  Where it goes off the rails for me is with the story and the gore.

The film loses me when the agent releases the serial killer after torturing him.  The serial killer then attacks a girl.  The agent stops him, but not before the killer has sexually assaulted the young woman.  The agent beats the killer and then releases him yet again.  The killer then attacks another woman. And the agent stops him mid-attack.  Rinse and repeat.  The agent could have saved these women from ever being molested.  It’d be one thing if the killer was taken in and escaped to attack women.  To have the agent release him so the agent could capture and torture him again is just stupid… and sick.

Speaking of sick, I Saw the Devil contains many gory scenes.  It wallows in scenes of torture.  While some movie fans enjoy graphic depictions of abuse, I’m not one.  The agent’s final plan to end the serial killer’s life involved a scene worthy of the Saw franchise.  The killer is beheaded when the killer’s elderly parents and his young son open a door.  The killer’s head rolls to sit in front of his little boy and his parents.  How sick is that?  Too sick for my taste.  Keep in mind that I Saw the Devil has earned high ratings on IMDb as well as many awards.  Your mileage may vary greatly from mine on this one.

I Saw the Devil (2010) rates 2 of 5 stars.

BECOMING THE BOOGEYMAN by Richard Chizmar is Coming!

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Becoming the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar is the sequel to his best-seller Chasing the Boogeyman.  Here’s the lowdown…

The terrifying sequel to the acclaimed New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling novel Chasing the Boogeyman, which was hailed as “genuinely chilling and something brand-new and exciting” (Stephen King) and “unforgettable” (Harlan Coben).

A riveting, haunting sequel to the New York Times bestselling thriller Chasing the Boogeyman—a tale of obsession and the adulation of evil, exploring modern society’s true-crime obsession with unflinching honesty, sparing no one from the glare of the spotlight. Will those involved walk away from the story of a lifetime in order to keep their loved ones safe? Or will they once again be drawn into a killer’s web? As the story draws to its shattering conclusion, only one person holds all the answers—and he just may be the most terrifying monster of them all.

It drops on October 11, 2023.  Pre-orders are available now.

“The Apeman” (1943) starring Bela Lugosi / Z-View

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The Apeman (1943)

Director: William Beaudine

Writer: Barney Sarecky based on the short story They Creep in the Dark by Karl Brown

Stars: Bela Lugosi, Wallace Ford, Minerva Urecal and Ernest Morrison.

Tagline:  No one is safe from the cruel desires of this inhuman fiend!

The Plot…

Dr. James Brewster (Lugosi) accidentally turned himself into a apeman.  The only cure is to inject himself with human spinal fluid. Unfortunately the process kills the donor.  That matters little to Brewster, who needs more spinal fluid!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

While The Apeman is supposed to be a horror movie, it falls far short of being frightening.  Lugosi looks like an old 1950s beatnik.  His gorilla is one of the all-time worst movie apes.  The only reason to watch is if you’re an Lugosi completist… and even then you might reconsider.

The Apeman (1943) rates 2 of 5 stars.

BRYNMORE from Steve Niles & Daniel Worm is Coming!

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Steve (30 Days of Night) Niles is reuniting with Daniel Worm for Brynmore.  The two had previously collaborated on October Faction.  This is one to keep an eye on.  Here’s the lowdown…

In Brynmore, the recently divorced and newly sober Mark Turner returns to his hometown of Turner Island hoping to rebuild his shattered life and rekindle a relationship with his estranged daughter, Sophie. Planning to renovate the town’s dilapidated church into a home for himself, Mark’s dreams of a second chance soon begin to crumble as he encounters hostility from the locals and finds himself enmeshed in a dark and sinister legacy of intrigue dating back to when the island was first named after his ancestors. Locked in battle with malefic forces beyond his control, Mark must work to uncover the island’s dark history while keeping himself and Sophie safe from harm—and staying away from the bottle in the process.

Source: Flickering Myth.

“Halloween Ends” (2022) starring Jamie Lee Curtis / Z-View

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Halloween Ends (2022)

Director:  David Gordon Green

Writers:  Paul Brad Logan, Chris Bernier, Danny McBride, David Gordon Green based on characters created by John Carpenter, Debra Hill

Stars: Jamie Lee Curtis, Andi Matichak, James Jude Courtney, Will Patton, Jesse C. Boyd and Michael Barbieri.

Tagline: Their Saga Ends

The Plot…

It’s been three years since Michael Myers was last seen.  Some believe him to be dead, others think he’s an urban legend.  Laurie Strode (Curtis) is writing her memoir and living with her granddaughter, Allyson (Matichak). When Allyson starts up a friendship with Corey, things begin to go south.  Corey was found not guilty in the  accidental killing of a child, but many people in the town still have a problem with Corey.

Is Corey just misunderstood? How far can he be pushed before he snaps… and who does Corey keep meeting under the bridge? (I’ll give you three guesses.)

Michael is back and Laurie is gonna be ticked.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Four writers are credited for Halloween Ends and that makes sense because the movie is at times a misunderstood youth movie, a youthful romance, an adult budding romance, a buddy film, a revenge film, a slasher movie and ultimately a Halloween movie.  For me Michael Myers works best when he’s a mysterious psycho killer with super strength and THAT is the focus of the movie.  Here he we find him living under a bridge and befriending a kid. Really?

What everyone wants is the showdown between Michael and Laurie.  We finally get it.  When their battle is over, the movie should end.  Instead we get an extended scene featuring the town marching to a junkyard to watch Michael’s body thrown into a huge industrial shredder.  Then we get a scene showing that Laurie and Allyson are on good terms now.  Then a scene with Laurie and her potential beau.  Perhaps it should have been called Halloween Ends… Give It Time.

Halloween Ends (2022) rates 2 of 5 stars.

“The Last of Us” – Season 1 (2023) starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey / Z-View

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The Last of Us: Season 1 (2023)

Teleplay by: Craig Mazin & Neil Druckmann (episodes 1 & 9); Craig Mazin (episodes 2 – 6, 8); Neil Druckmann (episode 7)

Directed by: Craig Mazin (episode 1); Neil Druckmann (episode 2); Peter Hoar (episode 3); Jeremy Webb (episodes 4 & 5); Jasmila Žbanić (episode 6); Liza Johnson (episode 7); Ali Abbasi (episodes 8 & 9)

Stars: Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Anna Torv, Nico Parker, Merle Dandridge, Keivonn Woodard, Jeffrey Pierce, John Getz, Scott Shepherd, Storm Reid, Ashley Johnson, Nick Offerman, John Hannah, Terry Chen, Ian Rozylo, Graham Greene, Sonia Maria Chirila, Andy McDermott,  Christopher Heyerdahl, Nelson Leis, Elaine Miles, Marcus Aurelio and Adrian Hein

Tagline: Save who you can save.

The Plot…

2023.  Twenty years ago a pandemic caused by a bizarre easily transmitted fungal infection turned most of the world’s population into mindless mutant killing machines. Society collapsed.

Joel (Pascal) currently lives in a city under military rule.  Joel and his partner Tess (Torv) plan to escape the quarantine zone and head into the wilderness.  Joel’s brother is there somewhere with a group of freedom fighters.  As Joel and Tess make plans for their escape they encounter Marlene (Dandridge).  She can provide them with needed equipment if they will take Ellie (Ramsey) with them.  Ellie is an orphaned fourteen year old with a lot of attitude… and she just may be the key to a cure.

Joel, Tess and Ellie head out.  They will quickly discover the infected aren’t the worst thing they will have to deal with.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Last of Us is based on the popular video game of the same name.  I’ve never played it and didn’t know the story ahead of seeing the show.

Every episode contains twists, but none as brutal as in the first episode.  It should have been obvious looking at the posters, but I had avoided everything I could in regard to press for the show.  I was gobsmacked by how much I came to care for a character I had never seen before.

It’s interesting how time is played with throughout the series.  The first episode features a scene on a talk show that takes places 30 to 40 years before the start of the pandemic.  A scientist is talking about the dangers to humans that fungi could present with minor changes to the environment.  That was clever.  Each episode features flashbacks to strengthen the present story.

The characters are well cast, well written and well played. Of course not enough can be said about Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.  They are supported by an amazing supporting cast. Standouts include Anna Torv, Nico Parker, Merle Dandridge, Jeffrey Pierce, Storm Reid, Nick Offerman, Graham Greene and  Elaine Miles.  Some of these characters appear in just one episode or a few scenes in one episode.  The attention to detail in getting the right person in each role, no matter how small pays off.

Joel (Pascal) and Ellie (Ramsey) are the heart and soul of the series.  Yet sometimes the people they meet take center stage. In episode three, titled Long, Long Time, Joel and Ellie become supporting characters, but this chapter remains essential viewing to The Last Of Us story.  Long, Long Time ranks with the best single episode of any continuing drama ever.  With each new outing we learn more about Joel, Ellie and the world they live in.  I wouldn’t want that reality, but I sure love visiting it.

The Last of Us is making the right choices in every department.  I look forward to season two.

The Last of Us: Season 1 (2023) earns 5 of 5 stars.

EERIE ARCHIVES VOLUME 3 is Coming!

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Eerie Archives Volume 3 is available for pre-order now.  It’ll be 256 pages and feature one of my favorite Frank Frazetta covers.  It drops on October 10, 2023.  Here’s the lowdown…

Cousin Eerie is back with a casket full of blood-chilling tales of terror and the macabre!

Eerie magazine was one of the finest horror comics magazines ever published, and the original issues are expensive and hard to find. Eerie Archives Volume 3 presents another collection of fearful fables in a value-priced softcover format by a host of comics greats, including Archie Goodwin, Joe Orlando, Angelo Torres. Jeffrey Jones, and more. Includes adaptations of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Telltale Heart” and “Masque of the Red Death.” Foreword by Gail Simone.

Collects Eerie magazine issues #11–#15.

  Deal me in.  Pre-Orders are available now.

CREEPY ARCHIVES VOLUME THREE is Coming!

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Creepy Archives Volume Three will drop on September 6, 2023.  It’ll be 288 pages of comic greatness topped by an awesome Frank Frazetta cover.

Cast your bloodshot eyes and feed your fetid imagination on the deliciously deranged tales of terror unearthed from the spine-chilling pages Creepy magazine!

Featuring virtuoso turns by comics legends Archie Goodwin, Frank Frazetta, Steve Ditko, Neal Adams, Gray Morrow and other masters of the macabre, Creepy proves that fear can be fun!

Collects Creepy issues #11–#15 in a value-priced paperback edition and includes original letters pages, text features, and ads.

  Deal me in.  Pre-Orders are available now.

“The Ghost Breakers” (1940) starring Bob Hope & Paulette Goddard / Z-View

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The Ghost Breakers (1940)

Director:  George Marshall

Writer:  Walter DeLeon based on the play The Ghost Breaker by Paul Dickey and Charles W. Goddard

Stars: Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard, Richard Carlson, Willie Best, Pedro de Cordoba, Virginia Brissac, Noble Johnson, Anthony Quinn, Tom Dugan, Paul Fix, Lloyd Corrigan  and Robert Elliott

Tagline:  The two stars of “The Cat and the Canary” find love and laughter in a haunted house!

The Plot…

On a voyage to Cuba Mary Carter (Goddard) and Larry Lawrence (Hope) develop a flirtatious relationship.  Mary is going to Cuba to claim an inheritance. Larry ended up on the ship by accident.  When Mary is told about ghosts and zombies on the land and mansion she’s inherited, Larry decides to stick around.  The mansion is just as creepy as she’d been told.  It’s full of secret passageways, walls with hidden panels, and a painting that looks just like Mary. When what appear to be ghosts and zombies show up, it may be time to sell!

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Due to the success of The Cat and The Canary, the studio wanted to quickly re-team Hope and Goddard. The Ghost Breakers fit the bill. Although they play different characters, the plots of both films are very similar.

This is the third time the play The Ghost Breakers was made into a film.  The first two versions were silent.  It was remade for a fourth time as Scared Stiff in 1953 with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

The Ghost Breakers (1940) earns 3 of 5 stars.

“The War of the Gargantuas” (1966) / Z-View

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The War of the Gargantuas (1966)

Director:  Ishirô Honda

Writer: Ishirō Honda, Takeshi Kimura, Reuben Bercovitch (story)

Stars: Russ Tamblyn

Tagline:  Can a Country Survive When Two Gargantuas Battle to Death?

The Plot…

Two giant gargantuas have appeared.  The green one is evil, attacking, killing and eating people.  The brown gargantua is gentle.  Both are believed to be causing the havok.  When the military is called out to kill both, the battle is on… man vs gargantuas and gargantua vs gargantua.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Russ Tamblyn reportedly didn’t get along with Ishirô Honda and often ignored his directions.  Tamblyn also improvised many of his lines.  This created a problem with Tamblyn’s audio track had to be re-recorded and he didn’t remember exactly what he said in each scene.  Plus Tamblyn took a real laidback attitude in each scene.  All of this adds up to Russ Tamblyn being the weakest part of the movie.

The movie is at it’s best when the gargantuas are battling with each other, the military or attacking people (whether on land or at sea).  Seeing the monsters crashing through buildings, throwing ships or using full grown trees as clubs will bring out the kid in you.

There are a couple of truly creepy scenes: one is when the sailor is looking down into the ocean water and a gargantua is looking up at him, the other is when the gargantua is up to his shoulders walking in the ocean preparing for his next attack.

The War of the Gargantuas (1966) earns 2 of 5 stars.

“The Raven” (2012) starring John Cusack, Alice Eve, Luke Evans and Brendan Gleeson / Z-View

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The Raven (2012)

Director:  James McTeigue

Writer: Ben Livingston, Hannah Shakespeare

Stars: John Cusack, Alice Eve, Luke Evans, Brendan Gleeson, Kevin McNally, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Jimmy Yuill, Sam Hazeldine, Pam Ferris, Dave Legeno  and Michael Shannon

Tagline:  The only one who can stop a serial killer is the man who inspired him.

The Plot…

When a serial killer uses methods from Edgar Allan Poe stories to dispatch his victims, Detective Fields (Evans) reluctantly turns to Poe (Cusak) for help.  This only inspires the demented killer to up the ante by kidnapping Poe’s  fiancée and setting a timeline for her murder.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

Edgar Allan Poe may have been an insufferable alcoholic, but to make an insufferable alcoholic the sympathetic hero of a movie is a tall order.  I did like how the ending aligns with real-life events in Poe’s life.

Luke Evans and Brendan Gleeson are welcome additions in any movie and they shine in The Raven.

My favorite scene is the night of the party when a masked rider (the killer?) enters the ballroom on horseback.

Had the movie centered on Detective Fields a sequel would have been very cool since the final scenes seem to set it up.

The Raven (2012) earns 3 of 5 stars.