Category: Horror

The 10 Greatest 1930s Horror Movies!

Posted on October 4, 2023 by Craig Zablo

Vincent LoVerde at CBR came up with his list of the 10 Greatest Classic Horror Films of the 1930s, Ranked. Before you click over, here is how I’d rank them along with a thought on each.

Loverde	Zablo
10. The Black Cat (1934)	*** Vampyr (1932) – I haven’t seen this yet, but hope to this month!
09. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)	09. Freaks (1932) – Doesn’t resonate with me. Most folks love it.
08. The Invisible Man (1933)	08. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931) – Kids miss stuff, adults will see.
07. Island of Lost Souls (1932)	07. Island of Lost Souls (1932) – Another underrated winner!
06. Dracula (1931)	06. The Black Cat (1934) – Underrated. Karloff & Lugosi!
05. King Kong (1933)	05. King Kong (1933) – Who doesn’t love King Kong?
04. Frankenstein (1931)	04. The Invisible Man (1933) – Didn’t care for it as a kid. Love it now.
03. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)	03. Frankenstein (1931) – was my favorite horror film at one point.
02. Freaks (1932)	02. The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) – Even better than the original.
01. Vampyr (1932)	01. Dracula (1931) – The King of Vampires gets my #1 spot.

“Leave The World Behind” starring Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali & Myha’la – The Trailer is Here!

Posted on October 2, 2023 by Craig Zablo

Deal me in!

A family’s (Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke) vacation is upended when two strangers (Mahershala Ali and Myha’la) arrive at night, seeking refuge from a cyberattack that grows more terrifying by the minute, forcing everyone to come to terms with their places in a collapsing world.

ALL SINNERS BLEED by S.A. Cosby / Z-View

Posted on October 1, 2023October 17, 2023 by Craig Zablo

ALL SINNERS BLEED by S.A. Cosby

Hardback: ‎ 352 pages
Publisher: ‎ Flatiron Books (June 6, 2023)

First sentence…

Charon County was founded in bloodshed and darkness.

The Overview: Beware of Spoilers…

Titus Crown is the first Black sheriff in Charon County, Virginia. Titus grew up there. He then served ten years as a F.B.I. agent. Now he’s come home. Hopefully to do some good. Although elected by a majority, there are still some who can’t get past Titus’ skin color.

When an active shooter call comes in, Titus and his deputies rush to the local high school. They arrive to find one of the community’s most beloved teachers murdered by a former student. As the young killer walks out, gun in hand, Titus attempts to take him in to custody without more bloodshed. Unfortunately, one of Titus’ deputies fatally shoots the kid.

Titus’ investigation into the teacher’s murder uncovers evidence of more crimes. The beloved teacher, a pillar of the community, was involved in sadistic crimes against children. As Titus digs deeper it becomes clear that three people were torturing and killing children. Two are dead. But one is still alive. Hiding in plain sight among the people of Charon County.

Things become even more complicated. Evidence surfaces that Titus’ Deputy may have had a secret reason to kill the kid.

Another person is murdered. The killer stages the body to let the world (and Sheriff Crown) know it is related to the murders of the children. The killer begins taunting Titus. Publicity about the gruesome murders puts the town on edge. It also gives those who oppose Titus as Sheriff a reason to remove him from office.

As Titus continues to dig into the evidence, he uncovers dark secrets hidden for decades. Of course Titus has a secret of his own. The real reason he left the F.B.I..

Thoughts…

S.A. Cosby is one of my must-buy authors. He won the Anthony Award for Best Novel two years in a row for BLACKTOP WASTELAND and RAZORBLADE TEARS. Both get my highest recommendation. As does Cosby’s MY DARKEST PRAYER.

ALL SINNER’S BLEED is another winner. Titus Crown is a great lead character. I was surprised by the ending, but it felt right. Especially Crown’s last act.

Each novel that Cosby has created made me hope for a sequel. Yet, each new book brought new lead characters that I come to love. Perhaps a crossover is due. Truth is, it doesn’t matter what Cosby writes. I, like many, many others will be in line to buy it.
Rating:

“No One Will Save You” (2023) written & directed by Brian Duffield, starring Kaitlyn Dever / Z-View

Posted on September 30, 2023September 30, 2023 by Craig Zablo

No One Will Save You (2023)

Director: Brian Duffield

Screenplay: Brian Duffield

Stars: Kaitlyn Dever, Zack Duhame, Geraldine Singer, Dane Rhodes.

Tagline: None.

The Plot…

Brynn (Dever) is a young woman living on the outskirts of a small town. A tragic event turned many of those in town against Brynn. Now she suffers from anxiety and is a bit of a recluse. When Brynn wakes one night to discover that aliens are invading, she realizes that to survive, she will have to save herself.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Hats off to Brian Duffield who wrote and directed No One Will Save You. The film is engaging from the start. Duffield knows how to tell a story. He chooses interesting camera angles and shots. Duffield’s scares don’t rely on jump takes and he knows how to create tension.

No One Will Save You is basically a one woman show. Thankfully, Kaitlyn “Justified” Dever is up to the task. She was excellent. Dever’s performance is even more impressive taking into account there are less than ten words spoken in the entire movie.

Stephen King said this about “NO ONE WILL SAVE YOU: Brilliant, daring, involving, scary. You have to go back over 60 years, to a TWILIGHT ZONE episode called ‘The Invaders’ to find anything remotely like it. Truly unique.”

I agree with everything Stephen King wrote. If you feel a “but” coming, you’re right. No One Will Save You is all that Mr. King said…

…BUT, movies are sometimes like trips. It’s not about the destination, but the journey. Where No One Will Save You fell short is the ending. I didn’t hate how the film concluded, but for me, it was a step below everything that came before. The ending provides plenty to think about and discuss. I loved everything up to the end. I hope that doesn’t put potential viewers off watching No One Will Save You, because the journey is worth the trip.

No One Will Save You (2023) rates 3 of 5 stars.

“Blood and Snow” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!

Posted on September 29, 2023 by Craig Zablo

I like the concept, the poster and trailer for Blood and Snow. Yes, I get that it looks like a poor man’s version of John Carpenter’s The Thing. So call me a poor man and deal me in.

Two scientists uncover a meteorite impact site in the Arctic tundra, but it kills one scientist and infects the other. A nearby base takes in the lone survivor whilst trying to understand what happened. The lone survivor may not be the person they think she is.

Nosferatu Takes a Victim by Frank Cho!

Posted on September 29, 2023September 28, 2023 by Craig Zablo

Can you imagine a full Nosferatu story with art by Frank Cho? I can and it is amazing. Too bad it’s not real. Ah, but you can see more of Frank Cho’s art if you’re so inclined.

“The Most Dangerous Game” (1932) starring Joel McCrea, Fay Wray, Leslie Banks & Robert Armstrong / Z-View

Posted on September 29, 2023October 17, 2023 by Craig Zablo

The Most Dangerous Game (1932)

Director: Ernest B. Schoedsack, Irving Pichel

Screenplay: James Ashmore Creelman based on “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell

Stars: Joel McCrea, Fay Wray, Leslie Banks, Robert Armstrong, Noble Johnson, Steve Clemente and James Flavin.

Tagline: Arresting, strange and terrible in the story of the polished Russian sportsman who lured ships to their doom…then drove the male survivors into his inland jungle, to be hunted down like animals!

The Plot…

Bob Rainsford (McCrea) is a well known big game hunter on a ship traveling near an uncharted island. The ship hits something that causes it to quickly begin sinking and explode. Bob swims to the island only to discover he is the sole survivor.

Bob is surprised to find a huge house owned by Count Zaroff (Banks). Zaroff welcomes Bob into his home. The Count introduces Bob to Eve (Wray) and her brother Martin (Armstrong). Eve and Martin survived an earlier ship wreck and made it to the island.

Count Zaroff is pleased to have the pleasure of hosting Bob Rainsford, the famous big game hunter. Zaroff explains that he is also a hunter. Zaroff claims to have hunted every kind of animal and was getting bored until he discovered “the most dangerous” game.

When Bob and Eve are alone, she says that two sailors who survived their shipwreck have gone missing. Bob shares his belief that the ships were sunk on purpose. As Eve and Bob go through Zaroff’s mansion they stumble onto his trophy room. To their horror, they discover that Count Zaroff hunts humans. They will soon be his prey.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

The Most Dangerous Game and King Kong share a lot in common. Both films were produced by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. Ernest B. Schoedsack co-directed both movies. Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, James Flavin and Noble Johnson appeared in both films. Both movies used the same sets!

“The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell has been adapted and used as inspiration for countless movies.

A preview of “The Most Dangerous Game” contained a more detailed look at Count Zaroff’s trophy room. It featured mounted human heads, heads in bottles and stuffed full figures of men Zaroff had murdered. When several in the preview audience walked out, the scene was shortened.

Beware of bad copies. The Most Dangerous Game (1932). Iy fell into public domain and there are some shoddy prints out there.

The Most Dangerous Game (1932) rates 5 of 5 stars.

EERIE Archives Volume 6 featuring Tom Sutton, Ken Kelly, Richard Corben, Doug Moench, Basil Gogos, Carlos Garzon, Nicola Cuti & Doug Moench!

Posted on September 25, 2023October 17, 2023 by Craig Zablo

EERIE Archives Volume 6 will be released on June 4, 2024. If you wonder what the 248 pages will contain, here’s the lowdown…

Let Cousin Eerie lead you through the shadows into total darkness in EERIE Archives Volume 6, now in a value-priced paperback edition.

Feel the fear of the frightening fables from creators Tom Sutton, Ken Kelly, Richard Corben, Doug Moench, Basil Gogos, Carlos Garzon, Nicola Cuti, and more. Also includes an in-depth interview with longtime Warren Publishing scribe Doug Moench.

Collects EERIE magazine issues #28–#31.