“Call me Snake” Alt “Escape From New York” Poster by Rich Davies!
“Call me Snake” alt Escape From New York poster by Rich Davies. You can see more of Davies’ art here.
“Seven Days in May” (1964) screenplay by Rod Serling, directed by John Frankenheimer, starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Fredric March and Ava Gardner / Z-View
Seven Days in May (1964)
Director: John Frankenheimer
Screenplay: Rod Serling; based on SEVEN DAYS IN MAY by Fletcher Knebel, Charles W. Bailey II
Stars: Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Fredric March, Ava Gardner, Edmond O’Brien, Martin Balsam, Andrew Duggan, Hugh Marlowe, Whit Bissell, Helen Kleeb, George Macready, Richard Anderson, Bart Burns, John Alban, Al Bain, John Houseman, Ferris Webster, Kent McCord and Malcolm Atterbury.
Tagline: “I’m suggesting Mr President, there’s a military plot to take over the Government of these United States, next Sunday…”
The Plot…
Set during the Cold War. President Jordan Lyman’s popularity is at an all-time low. He’s just signed a nuclear disarmament treaty with Russia. Many believe the Russians can’t be trusted. Protests across the country have grown violent. Some fear that Russia will renig on the treaty leaving the US unprotected. Others think that if both countries don’t begin to disarm at some point the nukes will be used.
General James Mattoon Scott is the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He’s a highly popular, highly decorated Air Force Ace. Colonel Martin “Jiggs” Casey is the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His role is to assist the Joint Chiefs, particularly General Scott. Privately, neither think Russia can be trusted to keep their part of the disarmament treaty.
Colonel Casey notices some strange messages left for General Mattoon. This leads to his discovery that in seven days General Mattoon and several other military leaders plan a coup. They plan to overthrow the President and take control of the government.
Colonel Casey speaks to the President in private. At first the President can’t believe it. But the evidence is there. Unsure of who they can trust, the President, a few trusted aides and Colonel Casey must find a way to stop a coup led by the most popular military leader of the era.
The clock is ticking.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Seven Days in May was nominated for two 1965 Academy Awards…
- Nominee for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White – Cary Odell, Edward G. Boyle
- Nominee for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Edmond O’Brien
At a dinner with President Kennedy, Kirk Douglas was asked if he was adapting the novel SEVEN DAYS IN MAY. When Douglas said that he was, President Kennedy spoke to him at length about how great a movie it would be. President Kennedy granted set designers access to the White House to assist with an accurate look.
Seven Days in May was set to be released in December 1963. The release was pushed back due to the assassination of JFK.
Seven Days in May marks John Houseman’s first (although uncredited) feature film role.
Kent McCord best known as Officer Jim Reed on Adam-12 appears as uncredited in a non-speaking role as a Secret Service agent.
Although released in 1964, the film is set in the near future. Teleconferencing, digital displays, wall screens and the like look ancient now, but then they weren’t in use and appeared slightly futuristic.
The film features one of my favorite comeback lines when General Scott asks Colonel Casey if he knows who Judas was.
Seven Days in May (1964) rates 4 of 5 stars.
“Highlander” Alt Poster by Aurelio Lorenzo!
How cool is this Highlander alt poster by Aurelio Lorenzo?
The original Highlander film was such a breath of fresh air. It was well written by Gregory Widen, Peter Bellwood and Larry Ferguson. Superbly directed by Russell Mulcahy and starred Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery and Clancy Brown.
Ignore the sequels.
“There can be only one!”
“The Rock” Alt Poster by Vlad Rodriguez!
Vlad Rodriguez is a Miami based illustrator. Rodriguez has a passion for film. Here’s his alt poster for The Rock!
Juan Saniose presents “That F****** Nobody is John Wick!” aka “Baba Yaga is Coming!”
Juan Saniose presents That F****** Nobody is John Wick! aka Baba Yaga is Coming!
“The Wolfman” Alt Poster by Christopher Shy!
I love everything about this alt Wolfman poster by Christopher Shy. Click on it to see a biggie-version.
“Reindeer Games” (2000) directed by John Frankenheimer, starring Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise and Charlize Theron / Z-View
Reindeer Games (2000)
Director: John Frankenheimer
Screenplay: Ehren Kruger
Stars: Ben Affleck, Gary Sinise, Charlize Theron, James Frain, Mark Acheson, Tom Heaton, Isaac Hayes, Douglas Arthurs, Ron Jeremy, Peter MacNeill, Donal Logue, Danny Trejo, Dennis Farina, Ashton Kutcher and Clarence Williams III.
Tagline: The trap is set. The game is on.
The Plot…
Nick Cassidy and Rudy Duncan are prison cellmates who have become friends. Both are scheduled for release soon. Nick has been exchanging letters with a pretty young woman named Ashley. Althorugh she’s sent plenty of pictures and letters, she’s never seen Nick. Nick will meet her for the first time when he’s released.
Nick has shared each letter/photo with Rudy as they’ve arrived. Rudy has secretly become infatuated with Ashley.
Two days before Nick and Rudy are to be released a fight breaks out in the prison cafeteria. A convict with a grudge against Rudy uses the confusion to try to kill him. Nick steps in and the convict stabs him instead. Nick falls to the floor dead as the guards restore order.
Two days pass. Rudy and several other convicts are escorted out of the prison gates. Most have family, girlfriends or significant others to meet them. Rudy has no one. He plans to get on a bus and head home.
Then he sees Ashley.
She’s beautiful. Even prettier than the pictures. Rudy heads for the bus. Then realizes that Ashley has never seen Nick. Rudy hesitates and than makes the decision. He’ll pretend to be Nick.
It works. Rudy and Ashley have a wonderful day together. Finally they head to a cabin she has rented. Rudy cannot believe his luck.
Then things go sideways. Ashley’s brother Gabriel shows up. Gabriel’s a thug without a conscience. The hardcases with him are nearly as bad. Gabriel knows Nick used to work at a small casino. He plans to use Nick’s knowledge of the place to rob it.
With no other options, Rudy admits that he’s not Nick. Ashley can’t believe it. Gabriel doesn’t believe it. He thinks Nick just doesn’t want to help with the robbery. Rudy continues to protest that he’s not Nick.
Gabriel raises his gun as he says, “Then you’re not worth anything to me.” Rudy quickly changes his tune. In order to survive he’s going to have to mastermind the robbery of a place he’s never been in.
Ho! Ho! Ho! Let the reindeer games begin!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
John Frankenheimer’s original director’s cut was much more dark, sexy and violent. For the theatrical release over 20 minutes was trimmed. Frankenheimer’s cut was restored for a DVD version.
Reindeer Games was director John Frankenheimer’s final feature film.
Vin Diesel was orginally set to play Pug, a role ultimately played by Donal Logue. Diesel instead went on to play Dom in The Fast and the Furious. Smart move.
Ashton Kutcher shows up in a brief scene as a college kid.
There are a couple of unexpected twists that are fun.
Reindeer Games (2000) rates 3 of 5 stars.
“Creature from the Black Lagoon” Alt Poster by Ruiz Burgos!
“From the Amazon’s forbidden depths came the Creature from the Black Lagoon”
“Not since the beginning of time has the world beheld terror like this!”
Ruiz Burgos has created an alt Creature from the Black Lagoon poster worthy of the original film. Don’t you agree?
“Frankenstein” (2025) written & directed by Guillermo del Toro / Z-View
Frankenstein (2025)
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Screenplay: Guillermo del Toro; based on FRANKENSTEIN by Mary Shelley
Stars: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Christoph Waltz, Mia Goth, Charles Dance, David Bradley, Kyle Gatehouse, Lauren Collins, Ralph Ineson, Peter MacNeill and Burn Gorman.
Tagline: Only monsters play God.
The Plot…
1857. The Horisont, a ship sailing to the North Pole, has become trapped in ice. While attempting to free the vessel, the crew finds a badly injured man named Victor Frankenstein. They bring him aboard and begin treating his wounds.
Not long after, a huge scarred man with incredible strength attacks the ship. Several of the crew are injured or killed. The monster demands that Victor Frankenstein be turned over to him. Instead the Captain orders his men to fire upon the creature. The shots break the ice around the monster and it sinks away.
As the crew rejoices, Victor Frankenstein says that the creature can not be killed. It will return and attack again. Frankenstein says he knows this because he created the monster.
This is his (and the creature’s) story…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Guillermo del Toro licensed Bernie Wrightson’s illustrations from Wrightson’s FRANKENSTEIN graphic novel adaptation to be used in pre-production of the film.
Del Toro has created a beautiful adaptation. It is well cast, well directed and well acted. The set designs are award-worthy. I enjoyed the experience of watching it, but his Frankenstein is not one I feel I will be re-watching much.
Frankenstein (2025) rates 4 of 5 stars.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving! Greeting above created by John Rivoli of Icons In Art!
“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” – The Poster Has Arrived
What do you think of the 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple poster? The trailer drops next week.
“Rocky” by Chris Koehler!
I love this Rocky print by Chris Koehler. It’s so symbolic and iconic. You have Rocky fists taped and clenched ready to climb the steps to face Apollo who is already in the ring. Beautiful.
Here’s a bit of what Chris Koehler had to say about this piece…
Take some Stallone, add some Carl Weathers, baby you got a stew going! …my tribute to Rocky, one of the greatest love stories ever told… This was a dream project as I’m a huge fan of Rocky; I’ll even go to bat for Rocky V. Prints will be available online soon…! I hope you dig it 🥊
“Red Eye”: Season 1 (2024) starring Jing Lusi & Richard Armitage / Z-View
Red Eye (2024)
Created by: Peter A Dowling
Directed by:
- Kieron Hawkes (eps. 1-6)
Teleplay by:
- Peter A Dowling (eps. 1-3; 5-6)
- Jingan Young (ep. 4)
Stars: Jing Lusi, Richard Armitage, Lesley Sharp, Jemma Moore, Dan Li, Thomas Chaanhing and Robert Gilbert.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Dr. Matthew Nolan and colleagues have been at a medical conference in Beijing. On their last night there, Nolan meets an attractive woman named Shen Zhào. They end up in a nightclub and from there Nolan’s memory gets hazy.
He knows he was in an altercation. He has a stab wound to prove it. Nolan remembers escaping and not much else. He’s glad to arrive back in England after an all-night flight back. His joy is shortlived. Nolan is detained and told he must return to Beijing where he will stand trial for the murder of Shen Zhào. To make matters worse, his colleagues must also return.
MI5 Director-General Madeline Delaney reluctantly agrees to allow Nolan’s extradition, despite his claim of innocence. Agent Hana Li is assigned to escort Nolan back. Nolan is adamant in his claims that he has been set up and he didn’t kill anyone.
When it becomes clear that someone on the plane is planing to murder Nolan before they arrive, Agent Li finds herself wondering who she can trust.
Trapped on a plane heading to Beijing, the bodies begin to pile up. Odds are Nolan and Agent Li will be dead before the plane lands.
Buckle your seatbelts we’re in for a bumpy ride.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Red Eye ramps up the tension with each passing episode. Trust no one.
Red Eye (2024) rates 5 of 5 stars.
Marv by Sabin Arditty!
Marv from Frank Miller’s Sin City is one of my all-time favorite characters. I love seeing artists do their “take” on the big lug. Today we have a Marv by Sabin Arditty.
“First Shift” (2024) written & directed by Uwe Boll / Z-View
First Shift (2024)
Director: Uwe Boll
Screenplay: Uwe Boll
Stars: Gino Anthony Pesi, Kristen Renton, Garry Pastore, Brandi Bravo, Daniel Sauli, Aaron Berg, Onye Eme-Akwari, Tom Ukah, Cate Bottiglione, Tamara Della Anderson and Willie C. Carpenter.
Tagline: Day One, Duty Calls
The Plot…
A hard-nosed NYPD cop is teamed with a new fresh-faced recruit from Atlanta. They have different styles, but unless they can come together as a team, they won’t survive day one.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Gino Anthony Pesi and Kristen Renton have enough on-screen chemistry to make this one watchable… if you can’t find something better.
First Shift (2024) rates 2 of 5 stars.
