Category: Horror

“Blood Vessel” – The 2nd Trailer!

Way back on June 16th of this year I posted the (really cool painted) poster and trailer to Blood Vessel.  It was scheduled to hit theaters in July, but due to the pandemic, I’m not sure if it was even released.

The good news is Blood Vessel is coming to Shudder and we have a second trailer.  I’m looking forward to seeing Blood Vessel.  How can it not be fun with Nazis and vampires during World War II?

Somewhere in the North Atlantic, late 1945, a life raft adrift at sea, and in it, the survivors of a torpedoed hospital ship. With no food, water, or shelter, all seems lost until a seemingly abandoned German minesweeper drifts ominously towards them, giving them one last chance at survival—if they can survive the bloodthirsty monsters on board. Starring Nathan Phillips (Wolf Creek), Alyssa Sutherland (Vikings), Robert Taylor (Longmire), directed by Justin Dix (Crawlspace). A SHUDDER EXCLUSIVE.

“What Lies Below” Trailer!

The trailer for What Lies Below is, uh, below.  It looks to be one type of movie, then changes to be quite a different one… one that I think I might like!

US Release Date: December 4, 2020
Starring: Mena Suvari, Ema Horvath, Trey Tucker
Directed By: Braden R. Duemmler
Synopsis: Liberty, a socially awkward 16-year-old, returns from two months at camp to a blindsided introduction of her Mother’s fiancé, John Smith, whose charm, intelligence, and beauty paint the picture of a man too perfect to be human.

“Songbird” – The Poster, the Trailer and the Controversy

The poster and trailer for Songbird are here.  There has been quite a bit of discussion that using COVID as the cause of the plague was a bad move, was done too soon and at the very least was in bad taste.  I can see those points.

I also see a trailer that makes me want to watch the film.  If the movie is a good one, I hope that the concerns above don’t keep it from getting an audience.

Four years into quarantine the virus has changed and so have we…

In the terrifying thriller SONGBIRD, the COVID-23 virus has mutated and the world is in its fourth year of lockdown. Infected Americans are ripped from their homes and forced into quarantine camps known as Q-Zones, from which there is no escape, as a few brave souls fight back against the forces of oppression. Amid this dystopian landscape, a fearless courier, Nico (KJ Apa), who’s immune to the deadly pathogen,
finds hope and love with Sara (Sofia Carson), though her lockdown prohibits them from physical contact. When Sara is believed to have become infected, Nico races desperately across the barren streets of Los Angeles in search of the only thing that can save her from imprisonment … or worse.

The first feature film to be made during COVID-19 in Los Angeles, and about the pandemic itself, SONGBIRD also stars Bradley Whitford and Demi Moore as a wealthy couple who may hold the key to Nico’s mission; Alexandra Daddario as a singer enmeshed in a messy and forbidden affair; Paul Walter Hauser as a disabled veteran whose best friend – a drone named Max – is his eyes and ears to a world that has left him behind; Craig Robinson as Nico’s boss; and Peter Stormare as the corrupt head of the city’s “sanitation” department, which seizes those infected and transports them to the Q-Zone.

Genre: Sci-Fi Thriller
Cast: KJ Apa, Sofia Carson, Craig Robinson, Bradley Whitford, Peter Stormare, Alexandra Daddario, with Paul Walter Hauser and Demi Moore
Writers: Adam Mason & Simon Boyes
Director: Adam Mason
Producers: Michael Bay, Marcei A. Brown, Jason Clark, Jeanette Volturno, Adam Goodman, Andrew Sugerman, Eben Davidson

“Halloween Kills” – The Poster, the Trailer and a Few Thoughts

So the poster and trailer for Halloween Kills has premiered although we won’t see the movie until October 2021.  That is a LOT of lead time.

I am a fan of the original Halloween movie.  I watched the first couple of sequels but then lost interest.  I do plan to see the last Halloween film that Jamie Lee Curtis starred in and am surprisingly looking forward to Halloween Kills.  I wonder if that will change in the coming year.

Universal Monster Prints from Mondo!

Today Mondo is releasing the five Universal Monsters prints (as well as variant editions).  They are really nice and include…

It is worth a click over to see them in a larger size to enjoy their beauty!

Horror Movies to Amp Up Your Heart Rate! (“It’s the big one, Elizabeth!”)

Michele Debczak at Mental Floss posted the results of a survey to determine The 10 Horror Movies That Are Most Likely to Get Your Heart Racing.  I thought this was an interesting angle to look at horror movies.  Here’s how they got their list…

To compile their list of the most terrifying horror flicks, GIGACalculator.com showed movies to 150 first-time viewers while tracking their heart rates. The film selection was determined by a survey of 2500 self-proclaimed horror fanatics prior to the study.

Before you click over for the full story, here are the rankings of the top ten compared to how I would rate them.

Michele Debczak

Craig

1. Hereditary (2018)

1. The Descent (2005)

2. Saw (2004)

2. A Quiet Place (2018)

3. The Babadook (2014)

3. Us (2019)

4. Insidious (2010)

4. Saw (2004)

5. A Quiet Place (2018)

5. The Exorcist (1973)

6. The Descent (2005)

6. Insidious (2010)

7. Us (2019)

7. The Conjuring 2 (2016)

8. It (2017)

8. It (2017)

9. The Conjuring 2 (2016)

9. The Babadook (2014)

10. The Exorcist (1973)

*. Hereditary (2018)

* I haven’t seen Heredity so I didn’t include it in my list.

I’m surprised John Carpenter’s The Thing didn’t make the list.

“The Descent” – Trivia for this Under-rated Horror Movie!

Rob Hunter at Film School Rejects reminded me of a very good and very under-rated horror movie with his piece, 21 Things We Learned from ‘The Descent‘ Commentary.  Before you click over, here are three of my favorites and my thoughts on each…

10. Claustrophobia is a big aspect of the film’s fear, but Marshall had no clue how many people were affected by it until he started showing the film to audiences. (My wife does have a bit of claustrophobia and it was getting to her.  I don’t have any issues with closed in places and it was also getting to me! – Craig)

14. The sequence where the women see the crawler for the first time, via the night vision camera, was actually their first real glimpse of the creature. Marshall had kept the performers separate so the women wouldn’t see the costumed beasts beforehand. They had the lights off and brought the performer in, and then revealed him as the visibility returned — it went over well with screaming and running on the part of the cast.  (The Descent has one of the best monster reveals! You’ll love it! – Craig)

19. The young performer playing the “child” crawler also plays a child zombie in 28 Days Later (2002). (That kid has two of the best films of the decade on his/her resume! – Craig)

“O.I.” – Some Ideas are Dangerous! Check Out this Fun Short!

O.I. is one of the best short films I’ve seen in a while.  Hats off to all involved!

Barry has a unique problem. He came up with a truly original idea. And sharing it has consequences.

Chris revisits the Tiki bar where he made his first ever deal. He wants to celebrate the biggest deal he’s ever made by drinking down memory lane. It is early morning and there is only one other customer, Barry, and the Barman.

Barry is drinking to forget and is in no mood to celebrate anything. Only Chris’ offer of free drinks for a week if he can’t solve Barry’s problems makes Barry change his mind. Barry has a unique problem. He came up with a truly original idea. And he is the only one immune to it. Chris doesn’t believe a word of it and is determined to prove Barry a liar and win the bet.

Written & Directed by N’cee van Heerden

The All-Time Best Final Horror Movie Scares

  • Carrie (1976):  I saw Carrie at a midnight movie with my girlfriend.  I thought the movie was over except for the credits when Carrie’s hand reached out of the grave and grabbed her friend.  I came out of my seat and am pretty sure I let out a yell.  Not my most macho moment.
  • Friday the 13th (1980): Another late night movie, but this time I was watching alone.  My wife was in bed asleep and I was on the couch and it was well past midnight.  I thought the movie was over, again except for the credits.  I walked over to turn off the tv (no remote in those days – at least for us) and the kid/monster came out of the water to grab the girl.  I backed up so fast you’d have thought it was reaching through the tv for me.
  • Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978): I saw this on cable and thought it was ok.  I like the original a lot better, but I have to give credit to the final scare.  It still gives me chills to think about it.

Ranking Every Arnold Schwarzenegger Sci-Fi Movie!

Phil Pirrello at Syfy.com took on the task to Rank Every Sci-Fi Arnold Schwarzenegger Movie.  I decided to play along.  Below is the chart comparing our rankings and some thoughts after.

Phil Pirrello

Craig

9. Terminator: Salvation (2009)

** Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

8. Terminator: Genisys (2015)

8. The Running Man (1987)

7. The Sixth Day (2000)

7. The Sixth Day (2000)

6. The Running Man (1987)

6. Terminator: Salvation (2009)

5. Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)

5. Terminator: Genisys (2015)

4. Predator (1987)

4. Total Recall (1990)

3. Total Recall (1990)

3. The Terminator (1984)

2. The Terminator (1984)

2. Predator (1987)

1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

1. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

  • I haven’t seen Terminator: Dark Fate, yet so I didn’t include it in the ratings.
  • I was surprised The Running Man rated so high for Phil.  I’m not a fan of it.
  • Seems neither of us are fans of The Sixth Day.
  • I was surprised Phil didn’t rate Predator higher.
  • I almost rated Terminator at #2 and Predator at #3.