Cocaine Bear surprised everyone with its box office haul. For fans of animal attack movies, this is not a shock. People love animal attack films and can’t get enough of them. I’m not sure if it’s the man vs. nature theme of the films, the animals themselves getting revenge on humans, or just the all-around fun these films bring. No matter what, they are enjoyable for audiences in theaters. There has been a long history of animals attacking humans on film. Some films that are classified as ‘classic’ cinema fall into the animal attack category. We can always use more movies of animals rampaging through humans on the big screen. What are some of the best animal attack movies?
Grizzly (1976)
Since bears seem to be on everyone’s brain this weekend; then we might as well start with this classic. A fifteen-foot tall...
Grizzly (1976)
Since bears seem to be on everyone’s brain this weekend; then we might as well start with this classic. A fifteen-foot tall...
- 5/2/2024
- by Bryan Wolford
- JoBlo.com
From the Italian godfather of gore, Lucio Fulci, comes City of the Living Dead, a notoriously nauseating, compellingly corporeal masterpiece of apocalyptic zombie horror.
Arrow Video has restored the Italian horror classic for a brand new 4K Ultra HD / Blu-ray Limited Edition, and Bloody Disgusting is debuting the restoration’s trailer today.
Ahead of the release on March 25, watch the brand new 4K trailer below!
Arrow previews, “Stridently going beyond the classical stylings of his horror hit Zombie Flesh Eaters, City of the Living Dead sees Fulci eschew conventional narrative logic in favour of a delirious, oneiric mode of storytelling which stresses visuals, surrealism and atmosphere. Presented here in a 4K restoration with a wealth of extras, Fulci’s gore-drenched classic can now be devoured as never before!”
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Limited Edition Contents:
• Restoration from a 4K scan of the original camera negative by Cauldron Films
• 4K (2160p...
Arrow Video has restored the Italian horror classic for a brand new 4K Ultra HD / Blu-ray Limited Edition, and Bloody Disgusting is debuting the restoration’s trailer today.
Ahead of the release on March 25, watch the brand new 4K trailer below!
Arrow previews, “Stridently going beyond the classical stylings of his horror hit Zombie Flesh Eaters, City of the Living Dead sees Fulci eschew conventional narrative logic in favour of a delirious, oneiric mode of storytelling which stresses visuals, surrealism and atmosphere. Presented here in a 4K restoration with a wealth of extras, Fulci’s gore-drenched classic can now be devoured as never before!”
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Limited Edition Contents:
• Restoration from a 4K scan of the original camera negative by Cauldron Films
• 4K (2160p...
- 1/24/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
“The Godfather of Gore” Lucio Fulci worked across all genres, but it’s his horror output that’s most remembered thanks to his knack for visceral violence, gore, and unconventional storytelling. All of these are on prominent display in his Lovecraftian “Gates of Hell” trilogy that began with 1980’s City of the Living Dead. While its atmosphere and gross-out gore gags are the standout reasons to watch, City of the Living Dead also happens to make for a stellar Halloween hidden gem.
The premise is simple: a priest commits suicide in a Dunwich village cemetery and unwittingly opens the gate to Hell. The death is observed in visions by a medium, Mary Woodhouse (Catriona MacColl), as she’s conducting a séance in her New York apartment. Mary’s so overwhelmed by fear of the imminent evil encroaching that she collapses and is presumed dead, only to be rescued from her...
The premise is simple: a priest commits suicide in a Dunwich village cemetery and unwittingly opens the gate to Hell. The death is observed in visions by a medium, Mary Woodhouse (Catriona MacColl), as she’s conducting a séance in her New York apartment. Mary’s so overwhelmed by fear of the imminent evil encroaching that she collapses and is presumed dead, only to be rescued from her...
- 10/31/2023
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
How do Lucio Fulci fans catalogue their favorites? By number of atrocious set pieces? Or by simply weighing the entrails and moving from there? Fulci’s career is by no means limited to his gruesome peak in the late ’70s and early ’80s, but it’s sure difficult to find many who hold his ’60s spy knockoffs and westerns in as high regard as violent stoners do the likes of Zombie, The New York Ripper, and City of the Living Dead (also known as The Gates of Hell). While there’s no denying the effectiveness of the cheapjack surrealism underpinning The Beyond, most of his other gore touchstones are notable only for the extreme lengths they’re willing to go, not how far they’re capable of burrowing beyond viewers’ gag reflexes.
Take City of the Living Dead, the first of what would be a string of flicks about hell...
Take City of the Living Dead, the first of what would be a string of flicks about hell...
- 9/2/2023
- by Eric Henderson
- Slant Magazine
Since launching in 2020, Cauldron Films has quickly established itself as a boutique label to watch for cult film fans. In addition to unearthing and restoring obscurities like The Crimes of the Black Cat, American Rickshaw, and Frankenstein ’80, they’ve secured a few heavy hitters. Their most recognizable title to date is Lucio Fulci’s City of the Living Dead (originally released in the US as The Gates of Hell). Following an exclusive slipcase edition last year, a standard retail version of the 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray set is available this week.
The 1980 Italian horror film is significant for kicking off Fulci’s thematically connected Gates of Hell trilogy, followed by The Beyond and The House by the Cemetery the next year. Developed in the wake of Fulci’s success with Zombie in 1979, City of the Living Dead features more undead ghouls but this time as accoutrements rather than a centerpiece.
The 1980 Italian horror film is significant for kicking off Fulci’s thematically connected Gates of Hell trilogy, followed by The Beyond and The House by the Cemetery the next year. Developed in the wake of Fulci’s success with Zombie in 1979, City of the Living Dead features more undead ghouls but this time as accoutrements rather than a centerpiece.
- 8/28/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
City Of The Living Dead 4K Uhd Available on August 15th: "On August 15th, Cauldron Films unleashes the worldwide Uhd debut of Lucio Fulci's Italian horror classic City of the Living Dead in 4K, fully restored with a brand-new Dolby Vision™ color grade, exclusively commissioned by Cauldron Films. The 3-disc set includes the 4K Uhd Feature, a Blu-ray Feature and a Blu-ray Extras Disc double-sided Blu-ray wrap with
artwork by Matthew Therrien.
The death of a priest causes a chain reaction that begins The End of Days. The only hope
lies in a jaded reporter (Christopher George) and the psychic (Catriona MacColl) he saved from being buried alive. The two set off for Dunwich, New England to shut the gates of hell before it’s too late and the undead rule the Earth. This horror classic features Special FX work by Gino De Rossi of Zombie and Cannibal Ferox infamy,...
artwork by Matthew Therrien.
The death of a priest causes a chain reaction that begins The End of Days. The only hope
lies in a jaded reporter (Christopher George) and the psychic (Catriona MacColl) he saved from being buried alive. The two set off for Dunwich, New England to shut the gates of hell before it’s too late and the undead rule the Earth. This horror classic features Special FX work by Gino De Rossi of Zombie and Cannibal Ferox infamy,...
- 7/20/2023
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.
Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!
Halloween Action Figures from Fright-Rags
Fright-Rags has released three new Halloween retro-style action figures: Dr. Loomis (with removable coat), Sheriff Brackett (with pistol and flashlight), and Annie (with school books). They join the previously released Michael Myers, Laurie, and Lynda, which back in stock.
Sculpted by Plastic Meatball, each toy stands 3.75″ tall and has five points of articulation. They’re packaged on backer cards with art by Justin Osbourn. Priced at $20, they’re expected to ship in July.
City of the Living Dead 4K Uhd from Cauldron Films
City of the Living Dead will be released on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on August 15 via Cauldron Films. It has been restored in 4K with Dolby...
Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!
Halloween Action Figures from Fright-Rags
Fright-Rags has released three new Halloween retro-style action figures: Dr. Loomis (with removable coat), Sheriff Brackett (with pistol and flashlight), and Annie (with school books). They join the previously released Michael Myers, Laurie, and Lynda, which back in stock.
Sculpted by Plastic Meatball, each toy stands 3.75″ tall and has five points of articulation. They’re packaged on backer cards with art by Justin Osbourn. Priced at $20, they’re expected to ship in July.
City of the Living Dead 4K Uhd from Cauldron Films
City of the Living Dead will be released on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on August 15 via Cauldron Films. It has been restored in 4K with Dolby...
- 4/28/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
A new episode of The Manson Brothers Show, the video series hosted by the writers/stars of the horror comedy The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre – Chris Margetis (Stone Manson) and Mike Carey (Skull Manson) – has just been released, and in this one the Boys take a tour of the City of the Living Dead… or at least, they watch and discuss the 1980 film with that title (which you can watch Here). To find out what they had to say about City of the Living Dead, check out the video embedded above!
Directed by Lucio Fulci, who also crafted the screenplay with Dardano Sacchetti, City of the Living Dead has the following synopsis: The seven gates of Hell have been torn open, and in 3 days the dead shall rise and walk the earth. As a reporter and a psychic race to close the portals of the damned, they encounter a seething nightmare of unspeakable evil.
Directed by Lucio Fulci, who also crafted the screenplay with Dardano Sacchetti, City of the Living Dead has the following synopsis: The seven gates of Hell have been torn open, and in 3 days the dead shall rise and walk the earth. As a reporter and a psychic race to close the portals of the damned, they encounter a seething nightmare of unspeakable evil.
- 3/22/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
The Sacklers of OxyContin infamy have become indelibly tied to the opioid crisis in America. But the truth is they were far from the only contributors to a drug epidemic that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in recent years.
Take Chris and Jeff George, for instance. The steroid-jacked twin brothers opened their first pain medication storefront in Florida in 2007 and before long, as they put it, “We were the Disneyland of pain clinics.” Their exploits are told in the CNN Films documentary American Pain, directed by Darren Foster, which premieres on CNN tonight.
“The George brothers did not start the opioid crisis,” retired FBI agent Kurt McKenzie notes in the film. “But they sure as hell poured gasoline on the fire.”
Director Darren Foster attends the ‘American Pain’ Premiere at Sva Theater on June 11, 2022 in New York City.
Foster, an Emmy-winning filmmaker, first crossed paths with the Georges more than a decade ago.
Take Chris and Jeff George, for instance. The steroid-jacked twin brothers opened their first pain medication storefront in Florida in 2007 and before long, as they put it, “We were the Disneyland of pain clinics.” Their exploits are told in the CNN Films documentary American Pain, directed by Darren Foster, which premieres on CNN tonight.
“The George brothers did not start the opioid crisis,” retired FBI agent Kurt McKenzie notes in the film. “But they sure as hell poured gasoline on the fire.”
Director Darren Foster attends the ‘American Pain’ Premiere at Sva Theater on June 11, 2022 in New York City.
Foster, an Emmy-winning filmmaker, first crossed paths with the Georges more than a decade ago.
- 2/6/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
After a few quiet weeks of home releases, this Tuesday is shaping up to be a great day for horror & sci-fi fans looking to expand their Blu-ray & DVD collections, because we have some killer titles heading home. Arrow Video is giving Alejandro Jodorowsky’s masterpiece Santa Sangre the 4K treatment with a multi-disc collection, and Severin Films is celebrating two William Girdler classics with their Special Edition releases for Grizzly and Day of the Animals as well. Scream Factory is keeping busy this Tuesday with their Blus for He Knows You’re Alone and Eyes of a Stranger, and if you missed it when it was released earlier this year, you can finally catch up with Son, featuring Andi Mattichak this week, too.
Other Blu-ray & DVD releases for May 18th include Hunted, Amityville Poltergeist, The Seventh Day, and Baxter.
Day of the Animals: Special Edition
Just when you thought it...
Other Blu-ray & DVD releases for May 18th include Hunted, Amityville Poltergeist, The Seventh Day, and Baxter.
Day of the Animals: Special Edition
Just when you thought it...
- 5/17/2021
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
A director has been announced for Ghost Walk Studios and 333 Productions' Dead Slate and its none other than Staci Layne Wilson (Psycho Therapy). We have the film's production and casting news. Also: a look at the anthology Vault of the Macabre Presents the Witching Hour and a trailer for Morbid Colors.
Dead Slate First Details and Director Announced: Press Release: "Ghost Walk Studios & 333 Productions are proud to announce Staci Layne Wilson as the director of their upcoming horror feature Dead Slate.
Dead Slate takes you behind the scenes of a slasher film production and follows the stereotypical cast as they are stalked by a masked psychopath who slays in homage to classic cinematic murder set pieces. Max Wasa (Death House) will star as Sammie Borden, the film’s director of the movie-within-a-movie, and Brooke Lewis (iMurders) will portray Captain Lisa Jones. John Dugan (the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre...
Dead Slate First Details and Director Announced: Press Release: "Ghost Walk Studios & 333 Productions are proud to announce Staci Layne Wilson as the director of their upcoming horror feature Dead Slate.
Dead Slate takes you behind the scenes of a slasher film production and follows the stereotypical cast as they are stalked by a masked psychopath who slays in homage to classic cinematic murder set pieces. Max Wasa (Death House) will star as Sammie Borden, the film’s director of the movie-within-a-movie, and Brooke Lewis (iMurders) will portray Captain Lisa Jones. John Dugan (the original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre...
- 10/31/2018
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the classic TV series "The Incredible Hulk", Cinema Retro's Ernie Magnotta sat down for an extensive discussion with the show's creator Kenneth Johnson.
By Ernie Magnotta
Dr. David Banner—physician, scientist…searching for a way to tap into the hidden strengths that all humans have. Then, an accidental overdose of gamma radiation alters his body chemistry. And now, when David Banner grows angry or outraged, a startling metamorphosis occurs.
The creature is driven by rage and is pursued by an investigative reporter. The creature is wanted for a murder he didn’t commit. David Banner is believed to be dead. And he must let the world think that he is dead until he can find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him.
Kids who grew up in the 1970s remember that narration well. Every Friday night at 9pm (until it...
By Ernie Magnotta
Dr. David Banner—physician, scientist…searching for a way to tap into the hidden strengths that all humans have. Then, an accidental overdose of gamma radiation alters his body chemistry. And now, when David Banner grows angry or outraged, a startling metamorphosis occurs.
The creature is driven by rage and is pursued by an investigative reporter. The creature is wanted for a murder he didn’t commit. David Banner is believed to be dead. And he must let the world think that he is dead until he can find a way to control the raging spirit that dwells within him.
Kids who grew up in the 1970s remember that narration well. Every Friday night at 9pm (until it...
- 11/10/2017
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Yet another puzzle picture, that came out on DVD back with the first wave of Wac films in 2010. An expensive romance with Albert Finney and Yvette Mimieux, it was filmed in Europe, co-written by Ray Bradbury and bears the music of Michel Legrand, including an exceedingly well known pop song. Yet it sat on a shelf for three years, only to make a humiliating world debut on TV — on CBS’s Late Nite Movie. It was clearly one of those Productions From Hell, where nothing went right.
The Picasso Summer
DVD-r
The Warner Archive Collection
1969 originally / Color / 1:85 enhanced widescreen / 90 min. / Street Date May 28, 2010 (not a mistake) / available through the WBshop / 17.99
Starring: Albert Finney, Yvette Mimieux, Luis Miguel Dominguín, Theodore Marcuse, Jim Connell,
Peter Madden, Tutte Lemkow, Graham Stark, Marty Ingels, Georgina Cookson, Miki Iveria, Bee Duffell, Lucia Bosé, Jean Marie Ingels.
Cinematography: Vilmos Zsigmond
Original Music: Michel Legrand
Animator:...
The Picasso Summer
DVD-r
The Warner Archive Collection
1969 originally / Color / 1:85 enhanced widescreen / 90 min. / Street Date May 28, 2010 (not a mistake) / available through the WBshop / 17.99
Starring: Albert Finney, Yvette Mimieux, Luis Miguel Dominguín, Theodore Marcuse, Jim Connell,
Peter Madden, Tutte Lemkow, Graham Stark, Marty Ingels, Georgina Cookson, Miki Iveria, Bee Duffell, Lucia Bosé, Jean Marie Ingels.
Cinematography: Vilmos Zsigmond
Original Music: Michel Legrand
Animator:...
- 6/3/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
It takes a lot to stand out when you’re standing between Robert Mitchum and John Wayne. And it surely isn’t easy when you’re also standing in front of the venerable Howard Hawks. But this was the position 25-year-old James Caan found himself in when he took on the role of Alan Bourdillon Traherne, otherwise known as Mississippi, in Hawks’ 1967 Western, El Dorado. Though Hawks was nearing the end of his filmmaking career (this would be his penultimate movie) and Caan was just at the start of his (following two features and about five years of extensive television work), they were each entering the project under similar circumstances. Indeed, it was their shared experience on the disappointing Red Line 7000 (1965) that left them both wanting. It may have been a personal letdown for Caan, but that film’s poor reception wasn’t a deal-breaker as far as his prospects were likely to continue.
- 5/15/2017
- MUBI
By Darren Allison
“Pieces” (Mil Gritos Tiene La Noche) 1982 Directed by Juan Piquer Simón, Starring Jack Taylor, Christopher George, Lynda Day George, Frank Braña and Paul Smith. Arrow 3 disc Blu-ray, DVD and CD.
Arrow continue to satisfy our hunger for classic slasher movies with their latest release "Pieces" (1982), a classic slice of sickening nostalgia which emerged during the height of the video nasty era.
A Boston college campus is being terrorised by a black-clad maniac who collects body parts from his unfortunate co-ed victims. As the corpses (and red herrings) begin to pile up, can Professor Brown (genre veteran Jack Taylor) unmask the murderer before his morbid puzzle is complete?
Fans of the genre should be incredibly pleased with the treatment given to this three disc collector’s edition. Let’s be clear from the outset, “Pieces” is not the best directed movie you’ll ever see. Director Juan Piquer Simón,...
“Pieces” (Mil Gritos Tiene La Noche) 1982 Directed by Juan Piquer Simón, Starring Jack Taylor, Christopher George, Lynda Day George, Frank Braña and Paul Smith. Arrow 3 disc Blu-ray, DVD and CD.
Arrow continue to satisfy our hunger for classic slasher movies with their latest release "Pieces" (1982), a classic slice of sickening nostalgia which emerged during the height of the video nasty era.
A Boston college campus is being terrorised by a black-clad maniac who collects body parts from his unfortunate co-ed victims. As the corpses (and red herrings) begin to pile up, can Professor Brown (genre veteran Jack Taylor) unmask the murderer before his morbid puzzle is complete?
Fans of the genre should be incredibly pleased with the treatment given to this three disc collector’s edition. Let’s be clear from the outset, “Pieces” is not the best directed movie you’ll ever see. Director Juan Piquer Simón,...
- 4/4/2017
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Stars: Christopher George, Lynda Day George, Frank Brana, Edmund Purdom, Ian Sera, Paul L. Smith, Jack Taylor, Gerard Tichy, May Heatherly | Written by Dick Randall, Roberto Loyola | Directed by Juan Piquer Simón
Pieces is one of those movies that horror fans instantly fall in love with. While some would write it off as just another bad movie, others will love those moments of unintentional humour, especially from the dubbed version. This is what makes the Arrow Video Pieces: Limited Edition release on Blu-ray so much fun.
When a murderer stars killing off female students on a Boston college campus, the bodies soon start piling up. With body parts missing it seems that the killer is putting forming an interesting puzzle, but can they be stopped before they complete their work?
With a killer that is straight out of the Giallo genre, but a chainsaw that brings even more gore,...
Pieces is one of those movies that horror fans instantly fall in love with. While some would write it off as just another bad movie, others will love those moments of unintentional humour, especially from the dubbed version. This is what makes the Arrow Video Pieces: Limited Edition release on Blu-ray so much fun.
When a murderer stars killing off female students on a Boston college campus, the bodies soon start piling up. With body parts missing it seems that the killer is putting forming an interesting puzzle, but can they be stopped before they complete their work?
With a killer that is straight out of the Giallo genre, but a chainsaw that brings even more gore,...
- 3/27/2017
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
As is the case with many horror fanatics, the ’80s holds a special place in my heart. I’m a happy guy if you give me some practical effects, stilted yet somehow effective acting, and perhaps a dash of nudity. If you were to distill these things into a single person, I’m pretty sure you’d get Linnea Quigley, the poster girl for Reagan-era horror. While she’s quite well-known for supplying the genre with ample amounts of nudity, it would do her a disservice to say that’s all she brings to the table. This is a woman that radiates everything I love about ’80s horror. In The Return of the Living Dead, for example, her portrayal of Trash playfully poked fun at Goth punks without ever being mean-spirited about it. In Night of the Demons, she took her status as a sex symbol and twisted it to...
- 12/5/2016
- by Bryan Christopher
- DailyDead
Some fun stuff dropping this month! A gory ’80s slasher, a thoughtful Sci-Fi epic, Lego superheroes, and More. Yes. More. No lie. Needle in my eye, etc. More.
The Peanuts Movie
Hailed by both critics and audiences, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the entire gang hit the big screen in their first 3D foray last year. Extras include featurettes like “You Never Grow Up, Charlie Brown,” “6 Snoopy Snippets,” and Meghan Trainor’s video for “Better When I’m Dancin’.” You know you want to revisit your youth. You know you want to fly with the Red Baron! You know you want to dance with Meghan Trainor!
$19.99 Buy The Peanuts Movie
Victor Frankenstein
Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, and the X-men’s Professor X, James McAvoy, join forces to breathe new life (so to speak) into one of the greatest horror stories ever told. Told from Igor’s perspective, this...
The Peanuts Movie
Hailed by both critics and audiences, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the entire gang hit the big screen in their first 3D foray last year. Extras include featurettes like “You Never Grow Up, Charlie Brown,” “6 Snoopy Snippets,” and Meghan Trainor’s video for “Better When I’m Dancin’.” You know you want to revisit your youth. You know you want to fly with the Red Baron! You know you want to dance with Meghan Trainor!
$19.99 Buy The Peanuts Movie
Victor Frankenstein
Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, and the X-men’s Professor X, James McAvoy, join forces to breathe new life (so to speak) into one of the greatest horror stories ever told. Told from Igor’s perspective, this...
- 3/10/2016
- by Harker Jones
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
This one’s going to be a cake walk, creeps: two vintage 80s slasher flicks and some Vincent Price. Sometimes ancient talismans procured in questionable eBay lots really do work as advertised!
Pieces
• Release Date: Available March 1st on Special edition Blu-ray (2 Blu-rays + CD)
• Written By: Dick Randall, Joe D’Amato
• Directed By: Juan Piquer Simón
• Starring: Christopher George, Lynda Day George, Frank Braña, Paul L. Smith
Pieces had a weird effect on me when I first saw it. I remember thinkin’ it was one of the greatest slasher films I’d e’er slapped my eerie eyeballs upon, as it pretty much had everything that makes the genre so outrageous, only amped up to the nth degree. I also remember thinkin’ “Man, I need to own this film right away; it’s the bat’s knees!” I then sat down, ate a slice of pizza (maybe it was a sandwich…...
Pieces
• Release Date: Available March 1st on Special edition Blu-ray (2 Blu-rays + CD)
• Written By: Dick Randall, Joe D’Amato
• Directed By: Juan Piquer Simón
• Starring: Christopher George, Lynda Day George, Frank Braña, Paul L. Smith
Pieces had a weird effect on me when I first saw it. I remember thinkin’ it was one of the greatest slasher films I’d e’er slapped my eerie eyeballs upon, as it pretty much had everything that makes the genre so outrageous, only amped up to the nth degree. I also remember thinkin’ “Man, I need to own this film right away; it’s the bat’s knees!” I then sat down, ate a slice of pizza (maybe it was a sandwich…...
- 2/12/2016
- by DanielXIII
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Enter the Ninja
The film that heralded the start of the ninja craze in the West, Enter the Ninja was one of many martial arts action films made by the uber-prolific producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus after they purchased Cannon Films in the late 70s.
Directed by Golan, Enter the Ninja tells the story of Cole (Franco Nero), a Westerner who is trained in the art of ninjitsu in Japan. Finishing his training he heads the Philippines to visit his war buddy Frank Landers (Alex Courtney) and his newlywed wife Mary Ann (Susan George), who are the owners of farm which is under attack from unscrupulous businessman Charles Venarius (Christopher George) because – unbeknownst to the Landers – there’s a huge oil deposit under their land! Of course having Franco Nero’s ninja on their side means that the Landers can easily see off Venarius’ henchmen. That is until he...
The film that heralded the start of the ninja craze in the West, Enter the Ninja was one of many martial arts action films made by the uber-prolific producers Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus after they purchased Cannon Films in the late 70s.
Directed by Golan, Enter the Ninja tells the story of Cole (Franco Nero), a Westerner who is trained in the art of ninjitsu in Japan. Finishing his training he heads the Philippines to visit his war buddy Frank Landers (Alex Courtney) and his newlywed wife Mary Ann (Susan George), who are the owners of farm which is under attack from unscrupulous businessman Charles Venarius (Christopher George) because – unbeknownst to the Landers – there’s a huge oil deposit under their land! Of course having Franco Nero’s ninja on their side means that the Landers can easily see off Venarius’ henchmen. That is until he...
- 1/31/2016
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Also known as The Gates of Hell (among other titles), this gruesome entry is the first of a loose Lucio Fulci trilogy including The Beyond and The House By the Cemetery. When the Gates of Hell are opened, hordes of ravenous levitating zombies are unleashed and reporter Christopher George has to travel to Lovecraft's Dunwich to close the portal before All Saint's Day.
- 10/30/2015
- by TFH Team
- Trailers from Hell
Following the massive success of Jaws (1975), producers were chomping at the bit to replicate its grosses. Far too many movies to mention here, but suffice it to say that most were stinkers, and none could put a dent box office – wise in the hull of the Orca. However, one little film somehow managed to not only rake in big bucks in its wake, but paid, ahem, ‘homage’ to the soon to be Universal classic. William Girdler’s Bad Bear Bonanza Grizzly (1976) follows it so closely I’m amazed Jaws doesn’t have a big black snout rammed up its grey finned keister. Regardless of its inspiration, Grizzly is a B movie blast.
Released domestically in May of 1976 by Film Ventures International (and internationally by Columbia Pictures), Grizzly brought in a whopping $39,000,000 Us against a $750,000 budget. An amazing performance at the box office, with no help whatsoever from critics who derided the film as derivative,...
Released domestically in May of 1976 by Film Ventures International (and internationally by Columbia Pictures), Grizzly brought in a whopping $39,000,000 Us against a $750,000 budget. An amazing performance at the box office, with no help whatsoever from critics who derided the film as derivative,...
- 9/19/2015
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
City of the Living Dead (1980) is not where my relationship starts with Italian director Lucio Fulci. Also known as The Gates of Hell (a way better title, and what I saw it as), Cotld was not released in North America until 1983. By this time, my eyeballs had already been assaulted by Zombie (1979), and The Beyond (1981). This film was made in between, and it shows – it’s a fascinating fulcrum between the flesh eating exploits of the former and the surreal dreamscapes of the latter. It’s a creepy classic from one of the Italian masters of the genre.
Released in 1980 in his native Italy, Cotld was released in the U.S. by North America Marketing in May of ’83. Derided by critics at the time, it’s never up for re-evaluation by the mainstream. And that’s okay. What fellow horror fiends have known for decades is that Fulci at his...
Released in 1980 in his native Italy, Cotld was released in the U.S. by North America Marketing in May of ’83. Derided by critics at the time, it’s never up for re-evaluation by the mainstream. And that’s okay. What fellow horror fiends have known for decades is that Fulci at his...
- 9/5/2015
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
“It’s exactly what you think it is!”
“You don’t have to go to Texas for a Chainsaw Massacre!”
Indeed. It’s not often that a film will tell you exactly their intention, their mission statement, right up front. With a film like Pieces (1982), it’s a badge of honor, worn proudly, a tattered and bloodied flag waving proudly from its mast on the seas of horror. Not only is Pieces exactly what we think it is, it’s so much more – one of the most cheerfully odd, sleazy slashers to come out of the VHS era. Pull out your slickers folks, things are about to get messy.
Filmed in Spain (subbing for Boston, Mass.), Pieces was released there in August of ’82, with a North American run distributed by Film Ventures International in September of ’83. Surprisingly, it did quite well, bringing in over 2 million Us after playing only 104 theatres.
“You don’t have to go to Texas for a Chainsaw Massacre!”
Indeed. It’s not often that a film will tell you exactly their intention, their mission statement, right up front. With a film like Pieces (1982), it’s a badge of honor, worn proudly, a tattered and bloodied flag waving proudly from its mast on the seas of horror. Not only is Pieces exactly what we think it is, it’s so much more – one of the most cheerfully odd, sleazy slashers to come out of the VHS era. Pull out your slickers folks, things are about to get messy.
Filmed in Spain (subbing for Boston, Mass.), Pieces was released there in August of ’82, with a North American run distributed by Film Ventures International in September of ’83. Surprisingly, it did quite well, bringing in over 2 million Us after playing only 104 theatres.
- 8/1/2015
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
“This morning she was inside a coffin at the funeral home, and now she’s here in my kitchen!”
Gates Of Hell screens midnights this Friday and Saturday (January 2nd and 3rd) at The Hi-Pointe Theater (1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, Mo 63117)
Man, Italian director Lucio Fulci made some great gory zombie horror films and Gates Of Hell is certainly one of them! This marks the fourth Fulci film, after Zombie, The Beyond, and House By The Cemetery to play at Destroy the Brain’s Late Night Grindhouse midnight series (and, after Pieces, the second to star Christopher George!). Gates Of Hell is (perhaps) better known under its DVD title City Of The Living Dead, but it will always be Gates Of Hell to me! I saw Gates Of Hell several times at the drive-ins back in the early 80s but don’t think it ever played in St. Louis at a hard-top,...
Gates Of Hell screens midnights this Friday and Saturday (January 2nd and 3rd) at The Hi-Pointe Theater (1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, Mo 63117)
Man, Italian director Lucio Fulci made some great gory zombie horror films and Gates Of Hell is certainly one of them! This marks the fourth Fulci film, after Zombie, The Beyond, and House By The Cemetery to play at Destroy the Brain’s Late Night Grindhouse midnight series (and, after Pieces, the second to star Christopher George!). Gates Of Hell is (perhaps) better known under its DVD title City Of The Living Dead, but it will always be Gates Of Hell to me! I saw Gates Of Hell several times at the drive-ins back in the early 80s but don’t think it ever played in St. Louis at a hard-top,...
- 12/29/2014
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Stars: Christopher George, Patch Mackenzie, E. Danny Murphy, Michael Pataki, E.J. Peaker, Richard Balin, Carmen Argenziano, Beverly Dixon, Hal Bokar, Denise Cheshire, Bill Hufsey, Linnea Quigley, Vanna White | Written by Herb Freed, David Baughn, Anne Marisse | Directed by Herb Freed
Laura, played very briefly by Ruth Ann Llorens (The Comeback Kid) is a talented high school track runner who meets her demise during a race, where she collapses and dies on the spot in front of her whole school (how embarrassing! Even more so due to the fact she won!) Fingers are immediately pointed towards Coach Michaels, played by the ever charming Christopher George (City of the Living Dead, The Exterminator) because he is a determined and often ruthless son of a gun! A couple of months pass and Laura’s sister Anne, played by Patch Mackenzie (Serial, It’s Alive 3) returns home from the Navy to honour her sister’s graduation.
Laura, played very briefly by Ruth Ann Llorens (The Comeback Kid) is a talented high school track runner who meets her demise during a race, where she collapses and dies on the spot in front of her whole school (how embarrassing! Even more so due to the fact she won!) Fingers are immediately pointed towards Coach Michaels, played by the ever charming Christopher George (City of the Living Dead, The Exterminator) because he is a determined and often ruthless son of a gun! A couple of months pass and Laura’s sister Anne, played by Patch Mackenzie (Serial, It’s Alive 3) returns home from the Navy to honour her sister’s graduation.
- 9/18/2014
- by Mondo Squallido
- Nerdly
Earlier this summer we reported that 88 Films will be releasing Graduation Day and Mother’s Day to Blu-ray in the UK, and now 1981′s Don’t Go in the Woods… Alone will also be given the UK high-definition treatment. Together, these three releases make up the first wave of 88 Films’ Slasher Classics Collection, and the documentary, Scream Queens: Horror Heroines Exposed!, has been included on Graduation Day‘s special features.
Graduation Day will hit Blu-ray in the UK on October 13th, while Mother’s Day will be available in the high-definition format sometime in early 2015. An official release date for Don’t Go in the Woods… Alone has not yet been announced. Below are two official press releases and a look at the Blu-ray cover art. The first release has full details on Graduation Day‘s special features, including the documentary, Scream Queens: Horror Heroines Exposed! (thanks to Blu-ray.
Graduation Day will hit Blu-ray in the UK on October 13th, while Mother’s Day will be available in the high-definition format sometime in early 2015. An official release date for Don’t Go in the Woods… Alone has not yet been announced. Below are two official press releases and a look at the Blu-ray cover art. The first release has full details on Graduation Day‘s special features, including the documentary, Scream Queens: Horror Heroines Exposed! (thanks to Blu-ray.
- 8/5/2014
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Released in 1981, Graduation Day has become a favourite of slasher movie fans thanks to its plasma-spurting set pieces, maniacal mystery-killer storyline and a cast of cult celebrities that includes Christopher George (City of the Living Dead), Vanna White (Wheel of Fortune) and the perennially topless Scream Queen Linnea Quigley. Now set for a Blu-ray release, with a stunning print restored and re-mastered from a colourful 4k scan, from the folks at 88 Films, Graduation Day will arrive in the UK with an array of newly created special features from High Rising Productions including a new feature length documentary entitled Scream Queens: Horror Heroines Exposed.
Hosted by the legendary Debbie Rochon (Tromeo and Juliet, Terror Firmer), this insightful investigation into the challenges of women working within a genre frequently associated with a masculine fanbase is unique in featuring all-female perspectives. Names that have been caught on camera for this epic expose...
Hosted by the legendary Debbie Rochon (Tromeo and Juliet, Terror Firmer), this insightful investigation into the challenges of women working within a genre frequently associated with a masculine fanbase is unique in featuring all-female perspectives. Names that have been caught on camera for this epic expose...
- 8/5/2014
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Ask any self-respecting slasher buff about the genre’s ‘golden age’ and they will doubtlessly wax poetic about the plasma-packed pot-boilers of the 1980s – the decade of destruction that gave us Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger and the transsexual teen-tormenter of the Sleepaway Camp series. Given the label’s name, what better way for 88 Films to celebrate this halcyon era of horror than with a series of numbered and collectible sanguine-splashed shockers from the period of VHS and video nasties?
88 Films is proud to announce the launch of a new “Slasher Classics” line – kicking off with a digitally re-mastered DVD release of Don Gronquist’s notorious censor-baiting backwoods sickie Unhinged (1982). Further fearful fun will be delivered with Don’t Go in the Woods (1981) – the effortlessly enjoyable “hunt ‘em and kill ‘em” epic that once had British authorities outlawing its very exhibition! Directed by James Bryan, Don’t Go in the Woods...
88 Films is proud to announce the launch of a new “Slasher Classics” line – kicking off with a digitally re-mastered DVD release of Don Gronquist’s notorious censor-baiting backwoods sickie Unhinged (1982). Further fearful fun will be delivered with Don’t Go in the Woods (1981) – the effortlessly enjoyable “hunt ‘em and kill ‘em” epic that once had British authorities outlawing its very exhibition! Directed by James Bryan, Don’t Go in the Woods...
- 7/30/2014
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
1981's Graduation Day was a flick filled with boobs and blood. Then there's a few minutes of boobs, followed by several minutes of blood, which are again followed by even more boobs and blood. Sound good? Then you'll be delighted to hear that you'll soon be able to see all those boobs and blood in 1080p HD!
From the Press Release
After the death of a high school track star during a race, a mysterious, fencing-mask wearing killer begins murdering her friends and teachers.
Who could the killer be? Her disgruntled coach? Her angry sister? Her violent boyfriend? As the bodies pile up, a twisted mystery unfolds, slowly revealing itself as it moves towards its bloody climax.
One of the quintessential high school set slasher films of the early 80s, Vinegar Syndrome is bringing Graduation Day to Blu-ray, newly restored in 4K and presented in its original aspect ratio for...
From the Press Release
After the death of a high school track star during a race, a mysterious, fencing-mask wearing killer begins murdering her friends and teachers.
Who could the killer be? Her disgruntled coach? Her angry sister? Her violent boyfriend? As the bodies pile up, a twisted mystery unfolds, slowly revealing itself as it moves towards its bloody climax.
One of the quintessential high school set slasher films of the early 80s, Vinegar Syndrome is bringing Graduation Day to Blu-ray, newly restored in 4K and presented in its original aspect ratio for...
- 7/21/2014
- by Steve Barton
- DreadCentral.com
Kino Lorber and Scorpion Releasing Announce First Eight Titles to be Released Under New Multi-Year Distribution Deal
in August
Kino Lorber and Scorpion Releasing have announces the inaugural releases of eight films under the companies' new multi-year distribution deal. Over the next year and after, there will be additional releases by Kino Lorber from the Scorpion library, including new acquisitions that will be available for the first time.
Among the first selection of titles to be released in August are Green Ice, starring Ryan O'Neal and Omar Sharif; Grizzly, starring Christopher George (both out on DVD August 5th); A Summer Story, starring Susannah York (out g August 12th), the award-winning Australian drama Careful He Might Hear You (out on August 12th), Jack Hill's Sorceress, produced by Roger Corman (out on August 19th); The Girl in a Swing, starring Meg Tilly (out on DVD on August 19th); the acclaimed drama Friendly Fire, starring Carol Burnett, and the 1982 TV movie version of The Elephant Man (both streeting on DVD on August 26th)
"Green Ice"(1981)
Director: Ernest Day
Cast: Ryan O'Neal, Anne Archer, Omar Sharif, John Larroquette
In the Andes mountains a group of archaeologists are murdered after they discover uncut emeralds. Back in New York, Joseph Wiley (Ryan O'Neal, "Love Story") is down on his luck and runs off to Mexico where he meets Lilian Holbrook (Anne Archer, "Fatal Attraction"). The two are instantly attracted to each other, but Lilian is on her way to meet Meno Argenti (Omar Sharif, "Doctor Zhivago"), the man who intends to marry her. Wiley is mistakenly drawn into perilous adventure when a mysterious caller tells him to look at the samples - stolen emeralds. Lilian's sister is killed and, suspecting Argenti, Wiley and Lilian, in a bid to avenge her murder, plan a daring raid on Argenti's vault of emeralds - green ice. Also starring John Larroquette (TV's Night Court).
"Grizzly" (1976)
Director: William Girdler
Cast: Christopher George, Andre Prine, Richard Jackel, Joan McCall
When an eighteen-foot, two-thousand-pound grizzly bear starts mauling campers and hikers at a state park, a park ranger (Christopher George, "The Exterminator") springs into action. But the job is too big to tackle alone, so he enlists the aid of a naturalist (Richard Jaeckel, "The Dirty Dozen") and a helicopter pilot (Andrew Prine, "The Evil") to take this freak of nature down. Meanwhile, the giant grizzly, not content with picnic baskets, continues to kill indiscriminately, leaving pools of blood and piles of body parts in his wake. Can the ranger and his cronies end the grizzly's reign of terror without resorting to excessively extreme measures? This post-Jaws, nature-runs-rampant thriller was directed by William Girdler ("Day of the Animals"), and was a box office hit and the top-grossing independent film of 1976.
"A Summer Story" (1988)
Director: Piers Haggard
Cast: James Wilby, Susannah York, Jerome Flynn
A country girl has a brief, life-shattering moment when she falls for a young lawyer. Adapted from John Galsworthy'sThe Apple Tree, the film tells of the relationship between a young London lawyer, Frank Ashton (James Wilby,"Handful of Dust") and Megan David (Imogen Stubbs, "True Colors"), the innocent girl who helps him during his recovery from a twisted ankle at the farm where she lives. The attraction between the two is overpowering; they make love in the farm hayloft and vow never to be parted. But Frank goes to Torquay where he meets an old schoolfriend and his lovely sister Stella (Sophie Ward). Thus, Frank's plans become muddled and Megan comes looking for him. A Summer Story of young love. Also starring Susannah York (Tom Jones) and Jerome Flynn (TV's Game of Thrones).
"Careful, He Might Hear You" (1983)
Director: Carl Schultz
Cast: Wendy Hughes, Robyn Nevin, Nicholas Gledhill
Winner of 8 Australian Film Institute Awards - Nominated for 5 more - National Board of Reviews: Winner (Top 10 Films)
Set in Australia in the 1930s, this drama stars Nicholas Gledhill as P.S., a six-year old boy who lives with his Aunt Lila (Robyn Nevin, "The Matrix Reloaded," "The Matrix Revolutions") and Uncle George (Peter Whitford, "Strictly Ballroom"). P.S.'s mother died in childbirth, so her sister Lila took him in, and while George and Lila don't have much money, they always done the best they could to the give the boy a good home. One day, Lila's older sister, Venessa (Wendy Hughes, "My Brilliant Career") arrives from a trip around the world; Vanessa is quiet wealthy, and upon her return to Australia, she expresses interest in taking custody of the child. Lila is willing to let the boy meet his aunt, but decides to fight her in court when she decides that she wants the boy full time. The case becomes more complicated by the arrival of the boy's long-absent father, Logan (John Hargreaves, "Emerald City"), an alcoholic who loves his son, but is incapable of caring for him. Careful He Might Hear You won 8 Australian Film Institute Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Hughes) and Best Supporting Actor (Hargreaves).
"Sorceress" (1982)
Director: Jack Hill
Cast: Leigh Harris, Lynette Harris, David Millbern
From legendary producer Roger Corman ("Bloody Mama") comes the box office hit of 1982, "Sorceress." When an evil Wizard Traigon makes a pact with the dark forces to sacrifice his first born to his God Caligara to gain the highest degree of power, but things get complicated when his gives birth to twin. Having knowledge of her husband's plan she runs away and her two daughters grow up to be beautiful warriors played by playboy playmates Leigh and Lynette Harris. After the death of their mother and adopted families at the hands of Traigon and his army, the twins blessed with the forces of light and strength given to them by the magical warrior Krona, join forces with Baldar the Viking and Erlik the Barbarian to take down Traigon and avenge their mother's death. Standing in their way is all sorts of Traigon's minions, from an army of ape man to undead zombies which leads us to a climax in an all out battle between good and evil! Now watch this cult classic, not only from a brand new HD master, but from a previously never-before-seen longer version!
"The Girl in a Swing" (1988)
Director: Gordon Hessler
Cast: Meg Tilly, Rupert Frazer, Nicholas Le Prevost, Elspet Gray
A London art broker (Rupert Frazer, "Empire of the Sun") goes to Copenhagen where he requires the services of a secretary fluent in Danish, English, and German. He falls deeply in love with the woman (Meg Tilly, "The Big Chill"), despite the fact that he knows virtually nothing about her. She insists on not being married in a church, and after they are married, some bad things from her past begin surfacing in subtly supernatural ways, and he must find the best way to deal with them without destroying their relationship. Based on the best selling novel by Richard Adams ("Watership Down") and directed by horror specialist Gordon Hessler ("Cry of the Banshee," "The Oblong Box").
"Friendly Fire" (1979 TV Movie)
Director: David Greene
Cast: Carol Burnett, Ned Beatty, Sam Waterston, Timothy Hutton, David Keith
The true story of Peg (Carol Burnett, "The Four Seasons") and Gene Mullen (Ned
Beatty, "Deliverance") who pursue the truth over their son's death in Vietnam. After their son is killed in Vietnam the couple's on-going inquiries eventually establish he was killed by 'artillery fire from friendly forces'. This beautifully orchestrated, harrowing story, assembled with uncommon sensitivity, is one of the most dramatic works ever made about the Vietnam War. Directed by David Greene ("Hard Country") and based on the novel by C.D.B. Bryan ("So Much Unfairness of Things") The wonderful cast includes Sam Waterston ("The Killing Fields"), Timothy Hutton ("Ordinary People") and David Keith ("An Officer and a Gentleman"). Winner of 4 Emmy Award® including Best Director and nominated for 3 more including Best Actor and Best Actress. 1980 Peabody Award Winner and DGA nominee foe Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Specials or Movies Made for TV.
"The Elephant Man " (1982 TV Movie )
Director: Jack Hofsiss
Cast: Philip Anglim, Kevin Conwak, Glenn Clsoe
The story of John Merrick (Philip Anglim), The Elephant Man, and of his triumph over his terrible affliction. It is a story of life and the affirmation of life; timeless, tragic, uplifting and heroic; an exultation of the humanity of a man trapped inside the twisted, lesion-ridden grip of a terminally disfiguring disease. We see John Merrick as a man with many admirers, beginning with the witty and beautiful actress, Mrs. Kendal (Penny Fuller), who, so taken with Merrick, brought a who's who of English society to visit him regularly. The stellar cast includes Glenn Close as Princess Alexandra and Kevin Conway. Directed by DGA nominee Jack Hofsiss (1984 TV Movie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof). Winner of 1 Emmy Award® for Best Supporting Actress (Fuller) and nominated for 3 more including Best Actor, Philip Anglim who also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Made for TV Motion Picture.
in August
Kino Lorber and Scorpion Releasing have announces the inaugural releases of eight films under the companies' new multi-year distribution deal. Over the next year and after, there will be additional releases by Kino Lorber from the Scorpion library, including new acquisitions that will be available for the first time.
Among the first selection of titles to be released in August are Green Ice, starring Ryan O'Neal and Omar Sharif; Grizzly, starring Christopher George (both out on DVD August 5th); A Summer Story, starring Susannah York (out g August 12th), the award-winning Australian drama Careful He Might Hear You (out on August 12th), Jack Hill's Sorceress, produced by Roger Corman (out on August 19th); The Girl in a Swing, starring Meg Tilly (out on DVD on August 19th); the acclaimed drama Friendly Fire, starring Carol Burnett, and the 1982 TV movie version of The Elephant Man (both streeting on DVD on August 26th)
"Green Ice"(1981)
Director: Ernest Day
Cast: Ryan O'Neal, Anne Archer, Omar Sharif, John Larroquette
In the Andes mountains a group of archaeologists are murdered after they discover uncut emeralds. Back in New York, Joseph Wiley (Ryan O'Neal, "Love Story") is down on his luck and runs off to Mexico where he meets Lilian Holbrook (Anne Archer, "Fatal Attraction"). The two are instantly attracted to each other, but Lilian is on her way to meet Meno Argenti (Omar Sharif, "Doctor Zhivago"), the man who intends to marry her. Wiley is mistakenly drawn into perilous adventure when a mysterious caller tells him to look at the samples - stolen emeralds. Lilian's sister is killed and, suspecting Argenti, Wiley and Lilian, in a bid to avenge her murder, plan a daring raid on Argenti's vault of emeralds - green ice. Also starring John Larroquette (TV's Night Court).
"Grizzly" (1976)
Director: William Girdler
Cast: Christopher George, Andre Prine, Richard Jackel, Joan McCall
When an eighteen-foot, two-thousand-pound grizzly bear starts mauling campers and hikers at a state park, a park ranger (Christopher George, "The Exterminator") springs into action. But the job is too big to tackle alone, so he enlists the aid of a naturalist (Richard Jaeckel, "The Dirty Dozen") and a helicopter pilot (Andrew Prine, "The Evil") to take this freak of nature down. Meanwhile, the giant grizzly, not content with picnic baskets, continues to kill indiscriminately, leaving pools of blood and piles of body parts in his wake. Can the ranger and his cronies end the grizzly's reign of terror without resorting to excessively extreme measures? This post-Jaws, nature-runs-rampant thriller was directed by William Girdler ("Day of the Animals"), and was a box office hit and the top-grossing independent film of 1976.
"A Summer Story" (1988)
Director: Piers Haggard
Cast: James Wilby, Susannah York, Jerome Flynn
A country girl has a brief, life-shattering moment when she falls for a young lawyer. Adapted from John Galsworthy'sThe Apple Tree, the film tells of the relationship between a young London lawyer, Frank Ashton (James Wilby,"Handful of Dust") and Megan David (Imogen Stubbs, "True Colors"), the innocent girl who helps him during his recovery from a twisted ankle at the farm where she lives. The attraction between the two is overpowering; they make love in the farm hayloft and vow never to be parted. But Frank goes to Torquay where he meets an old schoolfriend and his lovely sister Stella (Sophie Ward). Thus, Frank's plans become muddled and Megan comes looking for him. A Summer Story of young love. Also starring Susannah York (Tom Jones) and Jerome Flynn (TV's Game of Thrones).
"Careful, He Might Hear You" (1983)
Director: Carl Schultz
Cast: Wendy Hughes, Robyn Nevin, Nicholas Gledhill
Winner of 8 Australian Film Institute Awards - Nominated for 5 more - National Board of Reviews: Winner (Top 10 Films)
Set in Australia in the 1930s, this drama stars Nicholas Gledhill as P.S., a six-year old boy who lives with his Aunt Lila (Robyn Nevin, "The Matrix Reloaded," "The Matrix Revolutions") and Uncle George (Peter Whitford, "Strictly Ballroom"). P.S.'s mother died in childbirth, so her sister Lila took him in, and while George and Lila don't have much money, they always done the best they could to the give the boy a good home. One day, Lila's older sister, Venessa (Wendy Hughes, "My Brilliant Career") arrives from a trip around the world; Vanessa is quiet wealthy, and upon her return to Australia, she expresses interest in taking custody of the child. Lila is willing to let the boy meet his aunt, but decides to fight her in court when she decides that she wants the boy full time. The case becomes more complicated by the arrival of the boy's long-absent father, Logan (John Hargreaves, "Emerald City"), an alcoholic who loves his son, but is incapable of caring for him. Careful He Might Hear You won 8 Australian Film Institute Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actress (Hughes) and Best Supporting Actor (Hargreaves).
"Sorceress" (1982)
Director: Jack Hill
Cast: Leigh Harris, Lynette Harris, David Millbern
From legendary producer Roger Corman ("Bloody Mama") comes the box office hit of 1982, "Sorceress." When an evil Wizard Traigon makes a pact with the dark forces to sacrifice his first born to his God Caligara to gain the highest degree of power, but things get complicated when his gives birth to twin. Having knowledge of her husband's plan she runs away and her two daughters grow up to be beautiful warriors played by playboy playmates Leigh and Lynette Harris. After the death of their mother and adopted families at the hands of Traigon and his army, the twins blessed with the forces of light and strength given to them by the magical warrior Krona, join forces with Baldar the Viking and Erlik the Barbarian to take down Traigon and avenge their mother's death. Standing in their way is all sorts of Traigon's minions, from an army of ape man to undead zombies which leads us to a climax in an all out battle between good and evil! Now watch this cult classic, not only from a brand new HD master, but from a previously never-before-seen longer version!
"The Girl in a Swing" (1988)
Director: Gordon Hessler
Cast: Meg Tilly, Rupert Frazer, Nicholas Le Prevost, Elspet Gray
A London art broker (Rupert Frazer, "Empire of the Sun") goes to Copenhagen where he requires the services of a secretary fluent in Danish, English, and German. He falls deeply in love with the woman (Meg Tilly, "The Big Chill"), despite the fact that he knows virtually nothing about her. She insists on not being married in a church, and after they are married, some bad things from her past begin surfacing in subtly supernatural ways, and he must find the best way to deal with them without destroying their relationship. Based on the best selling novel by Richard Adams ("Watership Down") and directed by horror specialist Gordon Hessler ("Cry of the Banshee," "The Oblong Box").
"Friendly Fire" (1979 TV Movie)
Director: David Greene
Cast: Carol Burnett, Ned Beatty, Sam Waterston, Timothy Hutton, David Keith
The true story of Peg (Carol Burnett, "The Four Seasons") and Gene Mullen (Ned
Beatty, "Deliverance") who pursue the truth over their son's death in Vietnam. After their son is killed in Vietnam the couple's on-going inquiries eventually establish he was killed by 'artillery fire from friendly forces'. This beautifully orchestrated, harrowing story, assembled with uncommon sensitivity, is one of the most dramatic works ever made about the Vietnam War. Directed by David Greene ("Hard Country") and based on the novel by C.D.B. Bryan ("So Much Unfairness of Things") The wonderful cast includes Sam Waterston ("The Killing Fields"), Timothy Hutton ("Ordinary People") and David Keith ("An Officer and a Gentleman"). Winner of 4 Emmy Award® including Best Director and nominated for 3 more including Best Actor and Best Actress. 1980 Peabody Award Winner and DGA nominee foe Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Specials or Movies Made for TV.
"The Elephant Man " (1982 TV Movie )
Director: Jack Hofsiss
Cast: Philip Anglim, Kevin Conwak, Glenn Clsoe
The story of John Merrick (Philip Anglim), The Elephant Man, and of his triumph over his terrible affliction. It is a story of life and the affirmation of life; timeless, tragic, uplifting and heroic; an exultation of the humanity of a man trapped inside the twisted, lesion-ridden grip of a terminally disfiguring disease. We see John Merrick as a man with many admirers, beginning with the witty and beautiful actress, Mrs. Kendal (Penny Fuller), who, so taken with Merrick, brought a who's who of English society to visit him regularly. The stellar cast includes Glenn Close as Princess Alexandra and Kevin Conway. Directed by DGA nominee Jack Hofsiss (1984 TV Movie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof). Winner of 1 Emmy Award® for Best Supporting Actress (Fuller) and nominated for 3 more including Best Actor, Philip Anglim who also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Made for TV Motion Picture.
- 7/18/2014
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
They had nearly survived the high school experience, and with one week left of school, it should have been their time to celebrate. But in the 1981 slasher film Graduation Day, someone wants certain seniors on Midvale High’s track team to die before they can turn their tassels. It was recently revealed that Graduation Day will be released in the UK on Blu-ray, and now Vinegar Syndrome has announced a Us high-definition upgrade of Troma’s high school horror flick.
Set for a September 9th release, the Us Blu-ray of Graduation Day comes with a handful of bonus feature interviews:
Special Features (courtesy of Blu-ray.com!):
New 4K restoration from the camera negative Interview with Producer David Baughn Interview with Editor Martin Sadoff Interview with Star Patch Mackenzie
“After a high school track runner, named Laura, suddenly dies from a heart attack after finishing a 30-second 200-meter race, a...
Set for a September 9th release, the Us Blu-ray of Graduation Day comes with a handful of bonus feature interviews:
Special Features (courtesy of Blu-ray.com!):
New 4K restoration from the camera negative Interview with Producer David Baughn Interview with Editor Martin Sadoff Interview with Star Patch Mackenzie
“After a high school track runner, named Laura, suddenly dies from a heart attack after finishing a 30-second 200-meter race, a...
- 7/7/2014
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
El Dorado
Written by Leigh Brackett
Directed by Howard Hawks
USA, 1966
When El Dorado was first shown in 1966, the Western in its classical form was beginning to disappear from American cinema. John Ford, synonymous with the genre, released his last feature that year, and El Dorado would be the second-to-last film by its own legendary director, Howard Hawks. The Western was evolving and its old masters were giving way to modern innovators. The stylishly self-conscious films of Sergio Leone first signaled the shift (the films of his “Dollars Trilogy” came out in 1964-1966), and it was certified by the critical, ominous, and violent The Wild Bunch, directed by Sam Peckinpah in 1969. Hawks decried the slow-motion bloodletting of Peckinpah. He argued that he could kill four men, get them to the morgue, and bury them before this newcomer could get one on the ground.
With this as the context of its gestation,...
Written by Leigh Brackett
Directed by Howard Hawks
USA, 1966
When El Dorado was first shown in 1966, the Western in its classical form was beginning to disappear from American cinema. John Ford, synonymous with the genre, released his last feature that year, and El Dorado would be the second-to-last film by its own legendary director, Howard Hawks. The Western was evolving and its old masters were giving way to modern innovators. The stylishly self-conscious films of Sergio Leone first signaled the shift (the films of his “Dollars Trilogy” came out in 1964-1966), and it was certified by the critical, ominous, and violent The Wild Bunch, directed by Sam Peckinpah in 1969. Hawks decried the slow-motion bloodletting of Peckinpah. He argued that he could kill four men, get them to the morgue, and bury them before this newcomer could get one on the ground.
With this as the context of its gestation,...
- 3/14/2014
- by Jeremy Carr
- SoundOnSight
Writer Lee Gambin calls them Natural Horror films, other writers call them Revenge of Nature or Nature Run Amok films and writer Charles Derry considers them a type of Apocalyptic Cinema.
Of course we’re speaking of one of the great horror subgenres for which we’ll employ writer Kim Newman’s tag: The Revolt of Nature.
Since the end of the 1990s, lovers of animal attack films have been subjected to copious amounts of uninspired Nu Image, Syfy Channel and Syfy Channel-like dreck like Silent Predators (1999), Maneater (2007) Croc (2007), Grizzly Rage (2007) and a stunning amount of terrible shark attack films to name a few that barely scratch the surface of a massive list.
These movies fail miserably to capture the intensity of the unforgettable films they are imitating and the recent wave seems to carry with it the intent of giving the Revolt of Nature horror film a bad name.
Of course we’re speaking of one of the great horror subgenres for which we’ll employ writer Kim Newman’s tag: The Revolt of Nature.
Since the end of the 1990s, lovers of animal attack films have been subjected to copious amounts of uninspired Nu Image, Syfy Channel and Syfy Channel-like dreck like Silent Predators (1999), Maneater (2007) Croc (2007), Grizzly Rage (2007) and a stunning amount of terrible shark attack films to name a few that barely scratch the surface of a massive list.
These movies fail miserably to capture the intensity of the unforgettable films they are imitating and the recent wave seems to carry with it the intent of giving the Revolt of Nature horror film a bad name.
- 10/27/2013
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
Stuntman and Burt Reynolds director Hal Needham dead at 82: Received Honorary Oscar in November 2012 Veteran stuntman and stunt coordinator Hal Needham, whose stunt-work movie credits ranged from John Ford Westerns to Roman Polanski’s Chinatown, and who directed a handful of popular action comedies starring Burt Reynolds, died today, October 25, 2013, in Los Angeles. Needham, who had been suffering from cancer, was 82. (See also: "Stunt Worker Hal Needham: Honorary Oscar 2012".) Born in Memphis, Tennessee, on March 6, 1931, Hal Needham began his long Hollywood stuntman career in the mid-’50s. A former tree trimmer and paratrooper, and a motorcycle and car racer, Needham performed stunts in both big-screen and small-screen Westerns, such as John Ford’s 1962 classic The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, starring John Wayne and James Stewart; the all-star 1963 Best Picture Academy Award nominee How the West Was Won; and the television series Have Gun - Will Travel, doubling for star Richard Boone.
- 10/26/2013
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
In the world of horror cinema, the best way to fight a monster–be it supernatural, human, or natural one–is with a character that possesses special knowledge and skills. These experts, recruited into battle by other characters or colliding with the conflict intentionally, are the savants of the horror world.
Examples of savant characters include David Warner’s bat expert Phillip Payne in Nightwing, Zelda Rubinstein’s spiritual medium Tangina in Poltergeist, Matthew McConaughey’s dragon slayer Denton Van Zan in Reign of Fire, Lin Shaye’s paranormal investigator Elise Rainier in Insidious, and Otto Jespersen’s monster killer Hans in Trollhunter.
This article, divided into three sections based on what type of monstrous force is being fought, focuses on the greatest savant characters the horror genre has to offer.
****
Vs. The Supernatural
Peter Cushing as Doctor Van Helsing in Horror of Dracula and The Brides of Dracula: In these two Hammer films,...
Examples of savant characters include David Warner’s bat expert Phillip Payne in Nightwing, Zelda Rubinstein’s spiritual medium Tangina in Poltergeist, Matthew McConaughey’s dragon slayer Denton Van Zan in Reign of Fire, Lin Shaye’s paranormal investigator Elise Rainier in Insidious, and Otto Jespersen’s monster killer Hans in Trollhunter.
This article, divided into three sections based on what type of monstrous force is being fought, focuses on the greatest savant characters the horror genre has to offer.
****
Vs. The Supernatural
Peter Cushing as Doctor Van Helsing in Horror of Dracula and The Brides of Dracula: In these two Hammer films,...
- 10/19/2013
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
Following are some supplemental sections featuring notable director & actor teams that did not meet the criteria for the main body of the article. Some will argue that a number of these should have been included in the primary section but keep in mind that film writing on any level, from the casual to the academic, is a game of knowledge and perception filtered through personal taste.
****
Other Notable Director & Actor Teams
This section is devoted to pairings where the duo worked together at least 3 times with the actor in a major role in each feature film, resulting in 1 must-see film.
Terence Young & Sean Connery
Must-See Collaboration: From Russia with Love (1962).
Other Collaborations: Action of the Tiger (1957), Dr. No (1962), Thunderball (1965).
Director Young and actor Connery teamed up to create one of the very best Connery-era James Bond films with From Russia with Love which features a great villainous performance by Robert Shaw...
****
Other Notable Director & Actor Teams
This section is devoted to pairings where the duo worked together at least 3 times with the actor in a major role in each feature film, resulting in 1 must-see film.
Terence Young & Sean Connery
Must-See Collaboration: From Russia with Love (1962).
Other Collaborations: Action of the Tiger (1957), Dr. No (1962), Thunderball (1965).
Director Young and actor Connery teamed up to create one of the very best Connery-era James Bond films with From Russia with Love which features a great villainous performance by Robert Shaw...
- 7/14/2013
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
Issue #24 of Cinema Retro is being hailed by many readers as the very best in the eight years we've been publishing. What makes it so special? Consider the wide range of great films covered in this one, diverse issue:
Major celebration of The Poseidon Adventure's 40th anniversary with articles by David Savage, Tom Listanti, James Radford and Chris Poggiali. Includes many rare photos, international movie posters and interviews with Carol Lynley and Mort Kunstler, the legendary artist who created the movie poster. Kunstler also provides his original sketches for the ad campaign, reproduced in this issue for the first time. 40th anniversary tribute to Deliverance. John Exshaw visits director John Boorman at his home in Ireland for exclusive interview about working with author James Dickey on the landmark film. Gary Giblin takes an in-depth look at another classic film celebrating its 40th anniversary: Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy, complete with...
Major celebration of The Poseidon Adventure's 40th anniversary with articles by David Savage, Tom Listanti, James Radford and Chris Poggiali. Includes many rare photos, international movie posters and interviews with Carol Lynley and Mort Kunstler, the legendary artist who created the movie poster. Kunstler also provides his original sketches for the ad campaign, reproduced in this issue for the first time. 40th anniversary tribute to Deliverance. John Exshaw visits director John Boorman at his home in Ireland for exclusive interview about working with author James Dickey on the landmark film. Gary Giblin takes an in-depth look at another classic film celebrating its 40th anniversary: Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy, complete with...
- 10/1/2012
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
A Planet Fury-approved selection of notable genre releases for May.
42nd Street Forever (2012) Blu-ray Available Now
225 minutes of pure awesome. Exploitation fans won’t want to miss Synapse Films' latest trailer compilation. This new release features theatrical trailers from the first two volumes with plenty of additional material. Enjoy classic horror, science fiction, action and exploitation coming attractions remastered in high definition. The 80+ titles include such grindhouse favorites as Dr. Butcher, MD, The Pom Pom Girls, Werewolves on Wheels, Savage Sisters, The Teacher, The Evictors and Chained Heat.
The Wizard of Gore/The Gore Gore Girls (1970/1972) Blu-ray Available Now
Something Weird’s Blu-ray release of Herschell Gordon Lewis’ Blood Trilogy last year was a minor revelation. The Blood Feast print, presented in glorious high definition, was stunning in its gore-soaked clarity. All three films (including Two Thousand Maniacs and Color Me Blood Red) highlighted superior transfers, but Blood Feast was the standout.
42nd Street Forever (2012) Blu-ray Available Now
225 minutes of pure awesome. Exploitation fans won’t want to miss Synapse Films' latest trailer compilation. This new release features theatrical trailers from the first two volumes with plenty of additional material. Enjoy classic horror, science fiction, action and exploitation coming attractions remastered in high definition. The 80+ titles include such grindhouse favorites as Dr. Butcher, MD, The Pom Pom Girls, Werewolves on Wheels, Savage Sisters, The Teacher, The Evictors and Chained Heat.
The Wizard of Gore/The Gore Gore Girls (1970/1972) Blu-ray Available Now
Something Weird’s Blu-ray release of Herschell Gordon Lewis’ Blood Trilogy last year was a minor revelation. The Blood Feast print, presented in glorious high definition, was stunning in its gore-soaked clarity. All three films (including Two Thousand Maniacs and Color Me Blood Red) highlighted superior transfers, but Blood Feast was the standout.
- 5/16/2012
- by Bradley Harding
- Planet Fury
Those on the lookout for classic and obscure horror titles will be interested in today’s round-up. We have some new DVD releases to report on from Blue Underground, along with a few upcoming Blu-ray titles :
The first three titles are part of Blue Underground’s Midnight Movies Horror Triple Feature DVD set. The next 3 are part of Blue Underground’s Midnight Movies Thriller Triple Feature DVD set. Both DVD’s will be available on July 31st.
A Blade in the Dark: “Bruno is hired to compose the music for a new horror movie and rents an isolated villa to concentrate on his work. But when several beautiful young women are brutally murdered within the house, Bruno becomes obsessed with solving the savage crimes. Is a clue to the killer’s identity hidden within the film itself, or is there a more horrifying secret lurking deep in the dark?...
The first three titles are part of Blue Underground’s Midnight Movies Horror Triple Feature DVD set. The next 3 are part of Blue Underground’s Midnight Movies Thriller Triple Feature DVD set. Both DVD’s will be available on July 31st.
A Blade in the Dark: “Bruno is hired to compose the music for a new horror movie and rents an isolated villa to concentrate on his work. But when several beautiful young women are brutally murdered within the house, Bruno becomes obsessed with solving the savage crimes. Is a clue to the killer’s identity hidden within the film itself, or is there a more horrifying secret lurking deep in the dark?...
- 4/26/2012
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
On May 15th, Scorpion Releasing, in conjunction with Camelot Entertainment, presents Mortuary.
Bill Paxton, Christopher George, and Lynda Day George star in this tale of horror-filled nightmares that comes startlingly close to reality.
Christie Parson (Mary McDonough) has been having terrifying nightmares ever since her father drowned in the family swimming pool. She knows his death was not an accident, but no one believes her. That is, until her boyfriend Greg (David Wallace) sees a hooded figure, identical to the one that Christie has described as being in her nightmares, in the town's mortuary. But is it real, or is it all in Christie's mind?
Read more...
Bill Paxton, Christopher George, and Lynda Day George star in this tale of horror-filled nightmares that comes startlingly close to reality.
Christie Parson (Mary McDonough) has been having terrifying nightmares ever since her father drowned in the family swimming pool. She knows his death was not an accident, but no one believes her. That is, until her boyfriend Greg (David Wallace) sees a hooded figure, identical to the one that Christie has described as being in her nightmares, in the town's mortuary. But is it real, or is it all in Christie's mind?
Read more...
- 4/23/2012
- shocktillyoudrop.com
Back in the Eighties some cool cover art was all we needed to get us to rent a VHS tape and run home excited. True, more often than not the artwork was not at all reflective of the content, but we still didn't regret it. In fact, I remember renting Mortuary dozens of times for the box art alone.
From the Press Release
On May 15th Scorpion Releasing, in conjunction with Camelot Entertainment, presents Mortuary! Bill Paxton, Christopher George, and Lynda Day George star in this chilling tale of horror-filled nightmares that comes startlingly close to reality! Christie Parson (Mary McDonough) has been having terrifying nightmares ever since her father drowned in the family swimming pool. She knows his death was not an accident, but no one believes her. That is, until her boyfriend, Greg (David Wallace), sees a hooded figure, identical to the one that Christie has described as being in her nightmares,...
From the Press Release
On May 15th Scorpion Releasing, in conjunction with Camelot Entertainment, presents Mortuary! Bill Paxton, Christopher George, and Lynda Day George star in this chilling tale of horror-filled nightmares that comes startlingly close to reality! Christie Parson (Mary McDonough) has been having terrifying nightmares ever since her father drowned in the family swimming pool. She knows his death was not an accident, but no one believes her. That is, until her boyfriend, Greg (David Wallace), sees a hooded figure, identical to the one that Christie has described as being in her nightmares,...
- 4/20/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Also known under the title The Gates of Hell, this 1980 film has Catriona MacColl as a psychic named Mary Woodhouse (a reference to Rosemary’s Baby perhaps?) and Christopher George playing a reporter named Peter Bell. During a séance, Mary has a vision of a priest that commits suicide and the opening of a gateway to hell.
She must find a way to close it before a full-blown zombie apocalypse takes place, and teams up with Peter to find the location of the priest’s death. The two race toward the inevitable showdown with the living dead, and in a nod to H.P. Lovecraft, Fulci has the priest commit suicide in a cemetery in the small New England town of Dunwich.
Typical of any film by Fulci, there will be two things: a plot that moves about as fast as the walking dead and at least fifteen zooms into gratuitous gore.
She must find a way to close it before a full-blown zombie apocalypse takes place, and teams up with Peter to find the location of the priest’s death. The two race toward the inevitable showdown with the living dead, and in a nod to H.P. Lovecraft, Fulci has the priest commit suicide in a cemetery in the small New England town of Dunwich.
Typical of any film by Fulci, there will be two things: a plot that moves about as fast as the walking dead and at least fifteen zooms into gratuitous gore.
- 4/17/2012
- by Derek Botelho
- DailyDead
Do you think that when Bill Paxton auditioned for the role of Paul Andrews in the Howard Avedis classic, Mortuary, that he realized that he would become one of the best known polygamist on the planet? Further more did he realize that he would become iconic as the whiny, outspoken, utterly quotable but almost detestable type cast antagonist in more than one picture from the 80′s? Only Kelly Lubrock knows for sure (Lips!). Make a right onto memory lane, then turn right (spoken in the voice of a true Gps).
Here at It Came From 1980 X, we are taking movies out of obscurity, giving them the spotlight that the clearly don’t deserve and then forcing you to admit that you want to see them and giving them the they never had the on the video store shelf. This particular entry comes courtesy of Vhsps (you can obtain it Here...
Here at It Came From 1980 X, we are taking movies out of obscurity, giving them the spotlight that the clearly don’t deserve and then forcing you to admit that you want to see them and giving them the they never had the on the video store shelf. This particular entry comes courtesy of Vhsps (you can obtain it Here...
- 3/26/2012
- by Jimmy Terror
- The Liberal Dead
Toby Jones/Sienna Miller = Alfred Hitchcock/Tippi Hedren? [Photo: Tippi Hedren / The Birds publicity shot.] Tippi Hedren once told The Times of London that Alfred Hitchcock — for whom she starred in The Birds (1963) and Marnie (1964), and with whom she had an exclusive contract — "kept me under contract, kept paying me every week for almost two years to do nothing" after she refused his sexual advances. "I admired Hitch tremendously for his great talent and still do," Hedren told London's Daily Mail. "Yet, at the same time, I loathed him for his off-set behavior and the way he came on to me sexually. He was a great director – and he destroyed it all by his behavior when he got me alone." Hedren had no luck after she rid herself of her Hitchcock ties. She had a small supporting role in Charles Chaplin's box-office and critical flop A Countess from Hong Kong (1967), starring Marlon Brando and Sophia Loren,...
- 3/21/2012
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Directed by: Menahem Golan
Written by: Dick Desmond, Mike Stone
Cast: Franco Nero, Susan George, Sho Kosugi, Alex Courtney, Christopher George
The Cannon Group struck gold with its first martial arts film, 1981's Enter the Ninja. Though Western audiences had seen ninjas before, most notably in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice, this movie changed how these shadow warriors were portrayed on the screen.
Transplanting martial arts mayhem into a gunslinger plotline, the ninja gained near-superhuman abilities and a more heroic disposition. The resulting film was successful enough for Cannon to launch two franchises (Enter the Ninja and American Ninja) and embedded the art of Ninjutsu into American pop culture.
The film opens as Westerner Cole (Franco Nero) is completing his final test in Ninjutsu, thus earning the right to practice and teach the art. But Hasegawa (Sho Kosugi), a high-ranking ninja in the dojo, isn't happy with...
Written by: Dick Desmond, Mike Stone
Cast: Franco Nero, Susan George, Sho Kosugi, Alex Courtney, Christopher George
The Cannon Group struck gold with its first martial arts film, 1981's Enter the Ninja. Though Western audiences had seen ninjas before, most notably in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice, this movie changed how these shadow warriors were portrayed on the screen.
Transplanting martial arts mayhem into a gunslinger plotline, the ninja gained near-superhuman abilities and a more heroic disposition. The resulting film was successful enough for Cannon to launch two franchises (Enter the Ninja and American Ninja) and embedded the art of Ninjutsu into American pop culture.
The film opens as Westerner Cole (Franco Nero) is completing his final test in Ninjutsu, thus earning the right to practice and teach the art. But Hasegawa (Sho Kosugi), a high-ranking ninja in the dojo, isn't happy with...
- 12/26/2011
- by Chris McMillan
- Planet Fury
The Exterminator
Stars: Robert Ginty, Steve James, Samantha Eggar, Christopher George | Written and Directed by James Glickenhaus
Arrow Video are back again with another fantastic new Blu-ray release. Getting the Arrow treatment this time round is the exploitation movie classic The Exterminator which stars Robert Ginty as John Eastland, a Vietnam vet pushed over the edge after his best friend MIchael (played by cinematic badass Steve James), the man who also saved his life in ‘Nam, is left crippled following a gang attack one day after work. Seeking revenge for the attack Eastland takes to the streets to not only take out the gang but clean up New York, earning him the nickname “The Exterminator”.
I have a confession to make. Despite my love of exploitation movies and films of the 80s, I had never seen The Exterminator until now. I had seen the seen the sequel many years ago on a cut VHS tape,...
Stars: Robert Ginty, Steve James, Samantha Eggar, Christopher George | Written and Directed by James Glickenhaus
Arrow Video are back again with another fantastic new Blu-ray release. Getting the Arrow treatment this time round is the exploitation movie classic The Exterminator which stars Robert Ginty as John Eastland, a Vietnam vet pushed over the edge after his best friend MIchael (played by cinematic badass Steve James), the man who also saved his life in ‘Nam, is left crippled following a gang attack one day after work. Seeking revenge for the attack Eastland takes to the streets to not only take out the gang but clean up New York, earning him the nickname “The Exterminator”.
I have a confession to make. Despite my love of exploitation movies and films of the 80s, I had never seen The Exterminator until now. I had seen the seen the sequel many years ago on a cut VHS tape,...
- 11/14/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Vigilantes in movies have always been a popular concept, from the D.W. Griffiths 1913 western A Misunderstood Boy to last year’s Kick-Ass audiences have enjoyed the idea of “Ordinary Joes” taking the law into their own hands to right society’s wrongs and ensure justice is done. While vigilantes have remained a regular theme throughout the years, the genre has never been more prolific than during the 1970s and early 80s. Films such as Taxi Driver, Death Wish and The Exterminator, which is released on Blu-ray for the first time this week, took vigilantism to new levels, pushing boundaries of acceptable violence on film and reflecting the changes in American values following the Vietnam War.
John Eastland (Robert Ginty – Coming Home) is a Vietnam veteran who, having survived a torture ordeal and witnessed the brutal deaths of his friends, returns home to a tough neighbourhood in New York. When...
John Eastland (Robert Ginty – Coming Home) is a Vietnam veteran who, having survived a torture ordeal and witnessed the brutal deaths of his friends, returns home to a tough neighbourhood in New York. When...
- 11/9/2011
- by Chris Wright
- Obsessed with Film
Directed by: James Glickenhaus
Written by: James Glickenhaus
Cast: Christopher George, Samantha Eggar, Robert Ginty, Steve James
New York City was a different place a few decades ago. Violent crime rates more than tripled between 1966 and 1981, and the city was nothing like the "Disney-fied," family friendly version presented today. While one might mourn the loss of grindhouse theaters during its cleanup, the city could be a pretty rough place back then.
Considering the crime rate, it's no surprise that public support was behind Bernie Goetz. The victim of a violent attack three years earlier, Goetz shot four men on the Number 2 express train in December of 1984, claiming he felt threatened by their actions. Charged with attempted murder, reckless endangerment, assault and several weapons charges, a jury convicted Goetz on a single offense, illegal possession of a firearm, and he served part of a one-year sentence.
It's also no surprise that,...
Written by: James Glickenhaus
Cast: Christopher George, Samantha Eggar, Robert Ginty, Steve James
New York City was a different place a few decades ago. Violent crime rates more than tripled between 1966 and 1981, and the city was nothing like the "Disney-fied," family friendly version presented today. While one might mourn the loss of grindhouse theaters during its cleanup, the city could be a pretty rough place back then.
Considering the crime rate, it's no surprise that public support was behind Bernie Goetz. The victim of a violent attack three years earlier, Goetz shot four men on the Number 2 express train in December of 1984, claiming he felt threatened by their actions. Charged with attempted murder, reckless endangerment, assault and several weapons charges, a jury convicted Goetz on a single offense, illegal possession of a firearm, and he served part of a one-year sentence.
It's also no surprise that,...
- 9/25/2011
- by Chris McMillan
- Planet Fury
Mark Goldblatt! (Also, Lucio Fulci.)
Also known as The Gates of Hell (among other titles), this gruesome entry is the first of a loose Lucio Fulci trilogy including The Beyond and The House By the Cemetery. When the Gates of Hell are opened, hordes of ravenous levitating zombies are unleashed and reporter Christopher George has to travel to Lovecraft’s Dunwich to close the portal before All Saint’s Day. Ace editor and sometimes director Mark Goldblatt makes his Trailer from Hell debut.
Click here to watch the trailer.
And the guru bullpen grows another mind. Let’s all welcome Mark Goldblatt into the fold as our newest (and 65th, I think) contributor. I can guarantee you’re familiar with Mark’s work, even if you don’t know his name. Just a sampling of some of his editing credits: The Howling, Piranha, and Humanoids From The Deep. (Oh, and also Terminator 2, Starship Troopers,...
Also known as The Gates of Hell (among other titles), this gruesome entry is the first of a loose Lucio Fulci trilogy including The Beyond and The House By the Cemetery. When the Gates of Hell are opened, hordes of ravenous levitating zombies are unleashed and reporter Christopher George has to travel to Lovecraft’s Dunwich to close the portal before All Saint’s Day. Ace editor and sometimes director Mark Goldblatt makes his Trailer from Hell debut.
Click here to watch the trailer.
And the guru bullpen grows another mind. Let’s all welcome Mark Goldblatt into the fold as our newest (and 65th, I think) contributor. I can guarantee you’re familiar with Mark’s work, even if you don’t know his name. Just a sampling of some of his editing credits: The Howling, Piranha, and Humanoids From The Deep. (Oh, and also Terminator 2, Starship Troopers,...
- 8/29/2011
- by Danny
- Trailers from Hell
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