It’s not unusual for eras or decades of the horror genre to be categorized by one overarching theme or style. The eighties have become synonymous for their boom in low-budget, often sleazy, slasher films inspired by the cornerstone slashers of the mid-to-late seventies. The horrors of the 50s reflected cultural fears of science creating new […]
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‘Man Bites Dog’: The Controversial Mockumentary is Still a Disturbing Masterpiece 30 Years Later
It can be said that our fascination with serial killers began long before the term was even coined, with famous murderers like Gilles Garnier and Jack the Ripper paving the way for more recent monsters like Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy. It seems like we only get more obsessed with these deranged killers as time […]
‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Trailer Blasts the Nostalgic Sweet Spot! [Video]
At long last, Sony Pictures is unearthing Ghostbusters: Afterlife, discovering a brand new trailer that’s linked directly to the original two films in many ways. The trailer targets the nostalgic sweet spot, offering up the first footage of Annie Potts as fan-favorite Janine, the love interest of Egon Spangler, as well as a tease of […]
[Review] ‘The Green Knight’ Conquers Its Epic Medieval Fantasy Quest With Richly Thematic Perfection!
Writer/Director David Lowery’s adaptation of the anonymously written, 14th-century poem “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” makes for one epic feast of a movie. Lowery deconstructs it, creating an intensely robust sword and sorcery feature thematically, visually, and narratively. The Green Knight doesn’t just ensnare you in its captivating spell piecemeal; it consumes you wholly from the opening […]
Pure Celluloid Mayhem: Stephen King’s ‘Maximum Overdrive’ Turns 35
Maybe it’s nostalgia. Maybe it’s my undying devotion as a “Constant Reader.” Maybe I’m just a sucker for seeing Pat Hingle fire a bazooka. Whatever the reason, I shamelessly love Maximum Overdrive. This first and only film directed by Stephen King is pure celluloid mayhem. Universally panned by critics and nearly as disliked by audiences, […]
‘Terror in the Midnight Sun’ – The Monster Story That Defined “B” Movies in Sweden
Martians, atomic monsters, and thinly veiled Cold War allegories were common themes of the 1950s golden age of science fiction cinema. Although with its firm center in the United States, the steady production of sci-fi epics enthused audiences worldwide. But what if the scenery was not a barren planet or an invaded city, but the […]
Slaves of Satan: Mario Bava, Barbara Steele, and ‘Black Sunday’ [Gods and Monsters]
In Bride of Frankenstein, Dr. Pretorius, played by the inimitable Ernest Thesiger, raises his glass and proposes a toast to Colin Clive’s Henry Frankenstein—“to a new world of Gods and Monsters.” I invite you to join me in exploring this world, focusing on horror films from the dawn of the Universal Monster movies in 1931 to the […]
[Preview] ‘Aliens Fireteam Elite’: In Space, No One Can Hear You Emote
While many horror fans would say the history of the Alien film franchise is a bit scattershot, its video game efforts are perhaps even more erratic. One of the series’ low points is Aliens: Colonial Marines, a 2013 Gearbox shooter that failed to do just about anything right, and its lasting blemish on the IP […]
[Trailer] James Wan’s New Horror Movie ‘Malignant’ Looks Like a Wild Supernatural Slasher!
Every kill brings him closer… to you. Modern horror master James Wan (Saw, The Conjuring, Insidious) is back with Malignant, which Warner Bros./New Line will release in theaters & on HBO Max September 10, 2021. The official trailer debuted this afternoon, and Wan’s latest looks to be a slasher movie with a supernatural element. There’s a […]
Stay Home, Watch Horror: 5 Road Trip Horror Movies to Stream This Week
The hot summer months tend to be synonymous with vacationing, and road-tripping ranks high among the top ways to travel on holiday. But so many things can go wrong on the open road, and horror exploits all of it. Car troubles, creepy rest stops, and seedy motels don’t compare to humanity’s worst prowling the highways. […]
“Screaming for Those Who Cannot Scream”: Dee Snider Keeps on Rocking With New Album ‘Leave a Scar’ [Interview]
Dee Snider. Any metal enthusiast worth their salt knows the name of Twisted Sister’s legendary frontman, surely. And yet, the celebrated musician’s work in radio, television and film (to say nothing of his appearance on the Senate floor to battle the PMRC’s crusade against “obscene” music) has seen to it that he’s become a pop […]
Feelings Change: Anger, Fear, and ‘Possession’ in Andrzej Zulawksi’s Nightmare Divorce
Few movies depict emotional turmoil as effectively and daringly as Andrzej Zulawksi’s Possession. It is a challenging and sometimes inscrutable film, both for the mind and the emotions. Zulawski struggles through a number of deep issues throughout the course of the film; issues that speak to some of humanity’s deepest pains and fears. In many […]
[Review] ‘Fear Street Part 3: 1666’ Closes Out the Netflix Trilogy With a Whimper
The first two-thirds of Netflix’s Fear Street trilogy delivered solid love letters to the slashers of yesteryear, connected by an overarching supernatural curse that’s plagued Shadyside since 1666. Director Leigh Janiak demonstrated a much-appreciated mean streak when killing off characters that audiences actively rooted for; she injected her slashers with emotional stakes. For its conclusion, Fear Street jumps even further back […]
How Clive Barker’s Original ‘Hellraiser III’ Pitch Evolved Into ‘The Mummy’
Clive Barker’s The Mummy is a pretty well known unmade horror at this point, I think, especially with Barker talking about it in more detail during a recent guest appearance on Mick Garris’ Post Mortem podcast. Barker was hired in 1990 to write and direct The Mummy for Universal and wrote a script with Garris […]
A Charming Apocalyptic Misfire: The Curious Case of Clive Barker’s ‘The Plague’
Clive Barker has always made it clear how grateful he is for Stephen King’s quote about him being “the future of horror”, an unexpected compliment that launched a legendary career. Over the years, the author has repaid that kindness by attempting to do the same for other horror artists, going so far as to start […]