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HORROR 101: THE A-LIST OF HORROR FILMS AND MONSTER MOVIES  VOL 1

2001

12-31-01  CITY OF THE DEAD REVIEW
    We've recently finished our review of VCI Entertainments release of CITY OF THE DEAD, featuring 2 minutes that were never included in the HORROR HOTEL prints.  See our Reviews section for more details.
    We should have some more reviews up before our trip to New York for the Fangoria Weekend of Horrors show.  If any of you are planning to go, stop by our table and say hello.  We always like to meet other fans of the genre.

NEW ADDRESS FOR MARK OF NASCHY SITE
    In case you didn't notice, but Mirek finally got rid of that AOL site and put his great Naschy website on another provider.  Check it out for tons of information about Naschy and his films.

THE MARK OF NASCHY

12-27-01  BRUNO MATTEI COMES TO DVD!
    I never thought I see the day when someone would release any Bruno Mattei films.  But coming out early next year, Anchor Bay will be releasing two of his films, RATS: NIGHT OF TERROR and HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD.

12-22-01  CHRISTOPHER LEE VS. DRACULA!
    In a recent article, Lee would really wish people to stop asking him about his horror films.
    ``Why do we keep going back to Dracula? There is no point. Lee said wearily ahead of Wednesday's world release of his latest film ``The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.''
    ``That was a part of my career that at the time -- 43 years ago -- was very important, but that was a long time ago. I have not done a horror movie since 1975 so I just don't see the point in talking about it.''
    Hasn't made a horror film since 1975, huh?  What about HOUSE OF LONG SHADOWS, HOWLING 2, CURSE 3, FUNNY MAN, TALOS THE MUMMY, and SLEEPY HOLLOW?  I know some of them were horrible, but I'd still consider them horror films.
    This is why Lee will never been held in the same regards with me as the likes of say Cushing or Karloff.  Both of them were severally typecast in the horror genre, but had no regrets or bad feelings.

SHRIEK SHOW COMES ALIVE!

    From Media-Blasters, comes their new line of horror films under their Shriek Show label.  With their debut disc of Lucio Fulci's DEMONIA, they showed us fans that they are something to be watching for.  And with the new list of titles they have announced, we are anxiously awaiting the release.  Here some of the titles they have in the works:

BEYOND THE DARKNESS (aka BUIO OMEGA)

    This is the cult fave from director Joe D'Amato.  It was released in a cut version under the title BURIED ALIVE.  Granted the only thing cut was a scene at a disco, it was cut none the less.  Shriek Show will be releasing the uncut version for the first time.  This movie is one intense film.  The film also features Goblin doing the soundtrack.
    It will be released in Anamorphic widescreen.  The extras will include an interview with actress Cinzia Monreale and art director Donatella Donati.

DELIRIUM

    Lamberto Bava's bizarre thriller about a psycho on the loose, terrorizing a centerfold who works for the magazine Pussycat, killing the other centerfolds.
    This film stars Serena Grandi, George Eastman (aka Luigi Montefiori), both who were in D'Amato's classic ANTHROPOPHAGUS, David Brandon (Soavi's STAGEFRIGHT), and Daria Nicolodi (who needs no introduction to Italian horror fans).
    The DVD will be in Anamorphic Widescreen.  The extras include trailers, an introduction by Bava, as well as interviews with Bava, Eastman, and David Brandon.

JUNGLE HOLOCAUST

    A year before he made his famous CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, Ruggero Deodato made this tale of survival.  If you are a fan of cannibal movies, this is a must in your collection.
    The DVD will be in Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1), and will include interviews with stars Ivan Rassimov and Massimo Foschi, as well as audio commentary by director Deodato.  It will also have trailers, and ten lobby card reproductions.

KILLER BARBYS

    Jess Franco's tale of a stranded rock band that ends up having to spend the night at an old mansion who's owner has a thirst for blood.
    The DVD will feature the film in Anamorphic Widescreen, with interviews, music videos, trailers, with more extras to be announced.

Shriek Show is also working on a ZOMBIE HOLOCAUST release, that will feature interviews with special effects artist Maurizio Trani, and are working on an interview with actor Ian McCulloch.

With these titles, and hopefully plenty more to come, this will put Shriek Show as a major name in the DVD market.  We are looking forward to see these titles, as well as anything else Shriek Show can produce.  Check out their site by clicking the logo above.

THE OTHERS NOMINATED!
    Alejandro Amenabar's THE OTHERS has received 15 nominations for the 16th Goya Academy Awards, Spain's top film honors.  The nominations include best film, director, and actress (Nicole Kidman).

12-20-01  WE'RE BACK ON-LINE!
    After several weeks of sheer hell, we've finally gotten things back under our control...at least for now.  There might be a broken link here or there, but we're working on getting them fixed.  If you notice one, please let us know.
    Trust me folks, after talking to tech support after tech support after tech support, each time talking to a different person and having to start completely over with explaining what the problems were, I was ready to just screw the whole website thing and become a drooling fanboy, praising the likes of John Russo and Christopher Lee (more on that later).  But I decided to struggle through and keep this thing alive and breathing.
    We're still working on a update with some news, reviews and stuff, which hopefully will be done in the next day or two.  With the holidays very near, and the New York Fangoria convention right around the corner, I'm not sure how much we'll be doing, but there will be some updates.  Next year promises to be even better, with lots of reviews, as well as some great interviews lined up.  Stay tuned!

12-9-01 WEB SERVER PROBLEMS
    If case you haven't noticed, we've been experiencing some severe problems with our server...oh...I forgot, the problems was on my end.  In any case, we're still trying to work things out here.  There might be a few links broken, but we are working on getting them fixed.
    Sorry for the lack of updates, but we are doing all we can not to take this damn computer and smash it over some upper level tech person, who are too important to talk to the customers!

12-1-01  MISC. NEWS BITS AND BITCHING
   While we don't usually cover horror fiction, there is one book coming out that I would recommend.  Stealth Press has announced that they will be releasing all six of Clive Barker's BOOKS OF BLOOD collections in one big volume.  There will be several different editions of the book.  The trade edition that will be around $40.00, and the signed and limited edition going for around $200.00.  If you are not familiar with Barker's written works, I've always found his short stories very entertaining.  Rawhead Rex is one of my favorites.
    Stealthpress Press has also put out some of the early books from Skipp and Spector, such as LIGHT OF THE END, CLEAN-UP, and THE SCREAM.  LIGHT AT THE END is probably one of the best vampire books that I've read.  Before I decided to put all of my time into movies, I used to read quite a bit.  But as they say, you can only serve one master.  I just didn't have enough time to read all the books (not to mention the money to buy them) I wanted as well as get through all the movies I wanted to watch.  In any case, if you're a reader, you may want to check out their website.

RED DRAGON NEWS
    It's been confirmed by the producers that in the upcoming film, which is the prequel to SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, special digital effects will be used to make 63 year-old Anthony Hopkins appear younger.  Nothings been signed, but Ralph Fiennes might be playing the role of the main serial killer Francis Dollarhyde, known as The Tooth Fairy
    Ok folks, I just have to comment on this one.  I really like Anthony Hopkins.  I've been a fan of his since MAGIC and the remake of THE BOUNTY.  I was very happy to hear when he was cast for SILENCE, which I enjoyed tremendously.  But, I did not care for HANNIBAL at all.  Didn't think it was scary, and the only real disturbing part of the movie, other than Gary Oldman's character, was the fact that they could get away with that type of gore with an R rating.  The ending was a joke.
    But the only reason they are making another version of RED DRAGON is to capitalize on the success of Hopkins as Lecter.  Not only do I think that the original movie adaptation, MANHUNTER, is a great movie, I think Brian Cox did a very good job as the first Lecter.
    And now Hollywood is going to use digital effects to make an actor look younger?  Give it a rest, Hollywood.

WES CRAVEN TO DIRECT PULSE???
    Variety is reporting that Wes Craven might be directing this film based on a Japanese ghost story.  Is this the same story as Kiyoshi Kurosawa's film of the same name based on?  Not sure.  It's nice to see that Hollywood has found some original ideas for their movies again.
    Thanks to Dark Horizons for the info.

11-29-01  VAMPIRE LOVERS DVD NEWS
    This great news comes from DVD Drive-In.  Earlier this week, an audio commentary was recorded for MGM's upcoming DVD Special Edition of Hammer THE VAMPIRE LOVERS.  The commentary features writer / producer Tudor Gates, director Roy Ward Baker, and star Ingrid Pitt.  It will be released sometime next year.

11-25-01  CHRISTOPHER LEE HONORED BY THE QUEEN
    On Tuesday, November 20th, Lee was awarded the title of Commander of the British Empire, or CBE, for his services to entertainment.  Lee has appearance in both Peter Jackson's LORD OF THE RINGS due out next month, as well as in the next Star Wars film which is due out next year.
    The interesting part of the little article from the Associated Press, was how they made comments as to his connection to the horror genre.  The article states that he's been in the film business for 55 years, but then mentions about his work with Hammer Films.  They even made the comment "Queen Elizabeth II met Dracula on Tuesday, and asked about his career."  I'm sure Lee wasn't too happy about it, especially since he's always trying to make sure people know that he's done plenty of stuff outside the genre.

AND NOW SOME SAD NEWS...
    Apparently there will be no Blockbuster Entertainment Awards next year.  According to the reports, the mega corporation had been struggling financially in recent years, and so cancelled the award show due to "the uncertainty of the times" in the post-September 11 world.
    Blockbuster, with the help of Hollywood Video, have stomped out a majority of the old Mom & Pop video stores that used to be around.  Hell, if it wasn't for the porno industry, all those independent stores would be closed.
    So with the news of them canceling their show for next year gives me hope that maybe, just maybe, one day this mighty dick-tator of a video corporation would fall.  And from it's ashes, the small video stores would rise again, like the great Phoenix, restoring the wide selections of videos in big boxes with great box art.  And then there would be happiness and joy and tons of obscure titles to find at the local Gas & Video stores that would pop up.
    Come on.  It could happen.  Well, it's a nice dream anyway.

11-22-01  LOW BUDGET FILMMAKER EARL OWENSBY INJURED
    This bit of info was sent our way from our buddy William Wilson.
    Legendary Shelby moviemaker Earl Owensby was in critical condition Monday at Carolinas Medical Center after suffering severe head injuries in a weekend fall at home.

Credited by the N.C. Film Commission as one of the founders of the state's film industry, he built a studio on a cow pasture outside Shelby in 1973, making and starring in sub-B movies such as "Wolfman," "Death Driver" and "Chain Gang." 

In August, Owensby was inducted into the N.C. Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame. 

Owensby, 66, was cleaning a gutter on his house in western Cleveland County on Saturday when he fell 12 feet from a ladder and hit his head on concrete, according to his wife, Debra.

11-19-01  ANCHOR BAY PROBLEMS?
    If you are having problems with any of your DVDs from Anchor Bay, use the link below to report it.  What help it'll do, I'm not sure, but apparently this is the 'official route' to go.

ANCHOR BAY PROBLEMS?

11-18-01  JUST A LITTLE NEWS...
    We've just got a couple of little news bits today.  In case you haven't noticed, we now have all the exhibits open in our Vincent Price Memorial Poster Art Gallery.  I'm sure we'll be adding more poster art in the future, both from my collection as well as donations, but this will give you a feeling of some of the great artwork that is out there.  Enjoy.

    We have finally gotten our replacement OPERA disc from Anchor Bay.  They were even nice enough to send me a copy of their MOONLIGHTING: THE PILOT DVD.  Gee, I guess they didn't sell that well, huh?
    And speaking of Anchor Bay, next January, they will be releasing Ruggero Deodato's CUT AND RUN on DVD.  It will be released in widescreen (1.85:1), with an intro by the director, the documentary "Uncut and Run", trailer, and director's bio.  This is supposed to be the uncut print, in which if I remember correctly, they have made a composite print.  While I'm not a big fan of cannibal movies, this is one hell of a film.  Michael Berryman really shines in this film.
    AB will also be releasing their edition of Sergio Martino's MOUNTAIN OF THE CANNIBAL GOD.  It is also in widescreen format (2.35:1), and comes with an interview with Martino, bios and still gallery.  Being the print of the $7 edition I got from Diamond is from the EC laserdisc, that one is going to be a hard sell, just for the interview.

    And as expected, Universal, Clive Barker, and Todd McFarlane have signed to a deal to produce a film based on the Tortured Souls action figures that McFarlane's company put out. Barker is writing the treatment for the film, based on the novella he wrote for the action figure series.  As I said before, I think this is as close to a HELLRAISER project that Barker has been involved since HELLBOUND.  One can only hope.

11-10-01  NEW EXHIBIT IN V.P. POSTER ART GALLERY
    The Italian Director Exhibit  is now open in the Vincent Price Memorial Poster Art Gallery.  Enjoy.

ANCHOR BAY NEWS
    According to DVD Maniacs, Anchor Bay have acquired the rights to Italian schlock director Bruno Mattei two films, HELL OF THE LIVING DEAD and RATS: NIGHTS OF TERROR.  The discs will feature new interviews with the director.
    They also will be re-issuing Fulci's ZOMBIE in Feburary.  It will be the same version as the previous one.
    In some really good news (hopefully it comes to be), there will be two versions of NEAR DARK.  A featurette and commentary are planned.  Gee do you think maybe they could get Bill Paxton to partake in the commentary?  I'm sure Lance Henriksen would love to do it.
    FEAR NO EVIL is scheduled for October of 2002, while 2003 will bring us MURDER BY DECREE, ROAD GAMES and finally MAD MONSTER PARTY.

MISC. NEWS
    There are reports out now that Rob Zombie's HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES has found a distributor.  While there is no word as to if it will be hitting the theaters or going straight to dvd / video, it will be uncut.

    Naomi Watts has been casts in the lead role for the American remake of THE RING.  Do yourself a favor and see the original Japanese version.  If you are a horror fan, you owe it to yourself.
    Thanks to Dark Horizons

    Spain's leading horror star has started working on a new script for his long-tormented lycanthrope, Waldemar Daninsky.  The working title is EYES OF THE WOLF.
    Thanks to The Mark of Naschy

11-9-01  HORROR TRIVIA ANYONE???
    If you are like me, and a sucker for movie trivia, especially horror movies, this may be of some interests to you.
    LIGHTS, CAMERA, TRIVIA are small press books that are filled with questions to stump the gray matter between your ears.  While most of the questions are more quiz type than trivia, it will get the gears turning.  Here's a couple of samples of what you can expect:

• In the film HELL NIGHT, what was the name of the house in which they had to spend the night?

• In A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, what personal belonging of Freddy Krueger's did Nancy bring out of the nightmare she experienced while under the supervision of Dr. King?

    They have two issues available on Classic Horror, with another volume on Science Fiction films coming out soon.  For more information, you can reach them at the following address:

LIGHTS, CAMERA, TRIVIA
P.O. Box 1660
Carmel, NY  10512

11-05-01  EVIL DEAD = TRENDY HORROR?
    Can anybody out there tell me just when exactly did EVIL DEAD become trendy?  There was time when nobody but the devoted horror-minded fans knew of this film.  But now you can buy an EVIL DEAD lunchbox?  Or EVIL DEAD shot glasses?  I never thought I'd see the day that I would be sorry to see something like that.

THE V.P. MEMORIAL POSTER ART GALLERY
    We are almost finished with our Exhibit on Italian directors.  My aim is by the this weekend. 

11-01-01  POSTER GALLERY NOW OPEN
    We are now proud to announce the opening of our Vincent Price Memorial Poster Art Gallery.  Click here or on the link in the Navigational bar for more details.  Let us know what you think.

IN OTHER NEWS...
    It seems that Clive Barker is trying to get a movie made based on his line of twisted toys, TORTURED SOULS, put out by McFarlane Toys.  This would be as close to a HELLRAISER sequel that he's ever been.

    Liam Neeson has agreed to play the character of Father Merrin in the upcoming EXORCST prequel that is to be directed by John Frankenheimer.  Previously played by Max von Sydow, Neeson will play the young priest in  post World War II, in Africa, where he has his first meetings with demons and devils.
    Can't say that I'm looking forward to one, folks.

    Synapse Films have announced that they will be releasing Jean Rollin's THE GRAPES OF DEATH.  With a street date of late January next year, here's more details about the disc:

• New digitally mastered version enhanced for widescreen TV (16:9)

• Original French Language with removable subtitles

• Original theatrical trailer

• Video interview with director Jean Rollin and star Brigitte Lahaie

• Director biography and filmography

• Liner Notes by Nigel J. Burrell

• Photo Gallery

• Aspect Ratio 1.66:1

• SRP - $24.98

10-27-01  FANGORIA HAS NO BALLS!
    For the last two years, we have been trying to get actress Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni to appear at the New York Fangoria show.  She has worked with Dario Argento in three movies (OPERA, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and Lamberto Bava's DEMONS 2), not to mention co-host his Italian TV show GIALLO with him.  She's willing to fly herself out for the show, all Fangoria has to do is promote her and pay for her hotel.  But apparently, Fangoria has nothing to do with their Weekend of Horrors show.  It's completely run by Creation, and they just don't want to pay for her to come out there.
    So how about filling up Tony and Mike's mailbox with tons of email stating that we want to see this person at the show.  Below are their email addresses.  Please drop them a line and let them know.

Tony Timpone - tony@starloggroup.com

Michael Gingold - gingold@starloggroup.com

10-26-01  IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT DVD NEWS
    Image Entertainment, who has recently put out a shitload of great titles from Ted V. Mikels, has licensed the following titles:  THE BLOOD DRINKERS, BRAIN OF BLOOD, CURSE OF THE VAMPIRES (an official release this time), and best of all, the Blood trilogy from Eddie Romero: BRIDES OF BLOOD, MAD DOCTOR OF BLOOD ISLAND and BEAST OF BLOOD! 
    And to wet your appetite even more, Image will also be putting out more great classics that were originally released by Sam Sherman's Independent International.  Titles such as Al Adamson's HORROR OF THE BLOOD MONSTERS & DOCTOR DRACULA.  Plus  RAIDERS OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE BLOOD DEAD (which is a edited version of CREATURE WITH A BLUE HAND), and the enjoyably bad Spanish film GRAVEYARD OF HORROR.  Thanks to DVD Drive-In for the great news.
    It's amazing to me at some of the titles that are going to hitting dvd.  It just keeps getting better and better.  And of course, I keep getting poorer and poorer.

HAMMER HOUSE OF HORRORS BOX SET
    For those fans of Hammer that have been thinking about picking up the new box set put out by A&E, we've recently received our box set and it is a must.  The quality is awesome.  Plus, we ordered ours from Deep Discount DVD, which has it for a mere $33.58!  Plus free shipping!  The normal SRP for this is around $60.00.  You can't go wrong on this one folks.  You get four dvds with all 13 original episodes.  Lot of familiar faces and names in here.

10-21-01  REVIEWS AND MORE
    Yes, we finally have gotten some new reviews up.  With the holidays and all coming up, and all these damn dvd titles that are hitting the stores, it's been pretty hard to keep up with everything else.  Not to mention what's going on in the real world.  But enough about that.  Check out our Reviews section for seven new titles reviewed.

In dvd news, Victor Salva's surprise hit JEEPERS CREEPERS will hit dvd on January 15th as a special edition with tons of extras.  It will have both anamorphic widescreen and full screen versions of the film, with English Dolby Digital 5.1, and French and Spanish 2.0 surround tracks.  There's also a audio commentary with director Salva, actors Justin Long and Gina Philips.  The edition will also have two different featurettes.  The first one is "Behind-the Scenes Look At JEEPERS CREEPERS" and "Special Effects - The Making of 'The Creeper'".  Along with deleted scenes, alternate ending with optional commentary and storyboard comparisons, a photo gallery, and theatrical trailer finish out what should be one hell of a special edition.  Looking forward for this one.  Thanks to DVD File for the info.

CITY OF THE DEAD DVD DELAYED
If you are one of those waiting VCI's newly restored uncut version of CITY OF THE DEAD (aka HORROR HOTEL) will have to wait a little more.  It was suppose to be out next week, but has been delayed until the end of October or early November.  This title will be worth the extra wait, with all new interviews with the director and stars, not to mention being uncut for the first time.

WARNER HOME VIDEO PLANS FOR NEW RELEASES
    According to their Marketing Dept., based on the reaction to their release of Hammer's THE MUMMY, they have reconsidered CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN and HORROR OF DRACULA.  No word on just when they'll be releasing them, but at least it's a start.
    They also mentioned that THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS needs re-mastering and possible restoration, but they are considering it.
    And apparently trying to keep up with Anchor Bay on multiple releases, they are working on a Director's Cut of Clive Barker's NIGHTBREED.  Being that the regular releases just came out, tell me they didn't know they had the uncut footage available.  I am getting tired of these companies releasing the film 2 or 3 times, each time with something new to get us to buy it.

MEDIA BLASTERS CONTINUES ITALIAN RELEASES
    Under the newly formed Shriek Show label, Media Blasters have announced the following titles:
    Ruggero Deodato's HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK
    Umberto Lenzi's SPASMO and 7 BLOOD STAINED ORCHIDS
    Lucio Fulci's LIZARD IN A WOMAN SKIN release will feature a two disc set with both the uncut Italian release and the US English release.  There suppose to be interviews, and a poster and still gallery as well.
    Also in a double disc release of Fulci's SWEET HOUSE OF HORRORS and HOUSE OF CLOCK.

ANCHOR BAY OPERA SCREW-UP
    For those of you who received an email from Anchor Bay stating that you now need to mail your defective disc back to them, hold up before you mail it.  Apparently there was some sort of a screw-up there and that email was not suppose to be sent out.  Check out their website for current instructions.  The original 1963 THE HAUNTING is under consideration for 2002.  Special thanks to horrordvds.com for the information.

ANCHOR BAY OPERA DVD REPLACEMENT NEWS

ALEX PROYAS NEXT PROJECT
    The director of DARK CITY and THE CROW will now set to direct the film DRIVE, which is based on a short story by Harlan Ellison, entitled "Along The Scenic Route".
    The film is set 20 years in the future and tells a story where the highways are no longer patrolled by the police and "dueling" is legal and good for TV ratings.  One man decides to get his revenge with his car as a weapon when his girlfriend is accidentally killed by highway duelers.
    With the amount of style that Proyas has shown with his first two films, we are looking forward to this one.

10-16-01  MOVIE NEWS
    Remember Stuart Gordon?  You know, the guy who made that little film RE-ANIMATOR?  Well it's been six years since his last real horror film, and from looking at the trailer for his latest film, it's seems that he's back with a vengeance.  Check out the link here for the trailer, cast and crew info and more.

Official Dagon Site

    Also we received this update from Ted V. Mikels about his latest film MARK OF THE ASTRO ZOMBIES.
    Absolutely great news. We have totally finished the  MOTAZ (MARK OF THE ASTRO-ZOMBIES) shoot. Am in the preliminary stages of the edit now, and will also be making a " the making of MOTAZ movie", with out-takes, et al.  All went beautifully ahead of schedule.
Kind regards,
Ted V. Mikels

    For more information about Mikels and this upcoming film, click here.

10-15-01  NEW QUIZLET POLL
    Remember those old clamshell videos?  Or the ones in the big cardboard sleeves?  Names like Video Gems or Wizard Video?  These are names you don't see that often at the local video store.  These video companies put out some awesome titles, and usually with some great artwork to boot.  So take the poll and let us know who your favorite is.
    The winner of our last poll, your favorite director, was Al Adamson, who won with 45% of the votes.  Ted V. Mikels came in second with 22%.  Ray Dennis Steckler was third with 16%, and Andy Mulligan and Bill Rebane were tied for fourth place with 8%.  Thanks to all who partcipated.

10-13-01  REVIEWS A COMIN'
    We are working on several new reviews and hope to have them up by the end of the weekend.  We will have reviews of Criterion's HAXAN, Dante Tomaselli's DESECRATION, and many more.  Stay tuned.
    In some quick dvd news, Anchor Bay will be releasing the awesome (and under rated) vampire film NEAR DARK.  No details on what, if any, extras will be included.
    Also, this December, Image Entertainment will be releasing these films.  THE CRAWLING EYE is a great sci-fi / horror film written by future Hammer regular Jimmy Sangster, and stars Forest Tucker.  VOICES FROM BEYOND is one of the more hard to find films by Lucio Fulci. Both will be a welcome editions to my collection.

10-8-01  DEVIL'S BACKBONE
    Last night I was able to see Guillermo del Toro's THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE, at the 37th Chicago International Film Festival.  This is the film del Toro made before starting work on BLADE 2.  The film will open in New York on November 21st, followed by a national release through Sony Pictures Classics.
    The film is about a school which shelters orphans during the Spanish Civil War.  The film isn't really what I'd call a horror film, but it does have quite a few elements of the genre, and is very creepy.  There's really almost two different types of films, that are intertwined beautifully.  Below are some shots from the film.  I would highly recommend this film. 

10-1-01  NEW DVD TITLES ANNOUNCED!!!
   DVD Drive-In has reported some great news about some upcoming releases from Warner Bros. and MGM.  Here's the breakdown:
    Warner Bros. says that will be releasing Hammer's HORROR OF DRACULA & CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN only if the response to their release of Hammer's THE MUMMY is high enough.  Which I personally think is crap.  Sorry guys, but I'm telling you right now that HORROR and CURSE will sell a hell of a lot more copies than THE MUMMY will.  Of course, this is just my opinion.  Anyway, back to our story...
    However, Warner will be releasing HOUSE OF WAX.
    MGM has announced these following titles:  GASSSS, INVISIBLE INVADERS, RETURN OF COUNT YORGA, COMEDY OF TERRORS, THE RAVEN, LAST MAN ON EARTH, PANIC IN YEAR ZERO.  But the biggest title (to me at least) is RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD!  They are currently working on Hammer's HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES and even having involvement of Christopher Lee.  They are also will be releasing VAMPIRE LOVERS.  Most of these titles won't be coming out until next year.  I guess we've waited this long for RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, we can wait a little more.

9-28-01  MORE WILLIAM CASTLE COMES TO DVD
    Columbia House Video is planning to continue their release of Castle's films.  They've recently released 13 GHOSTS, and will follow up with MR. SARDONICUS, HOMICIDAL, and STRAIGHT JACKET.  This is great news since the first two titles have never been released on video in the States.  MR. SARDONICUS is a personal favorite of mine.

9-27-01  Häxan (aka Witchcraft Through The Ages) Comes to DVD
    Criterion will be releasing the famous 1922 silent film in a special edition DVD.  Directed by Benjamin Christensen, this film "uses a series of dramatic vignettes to explore the scientific hypothesis that the witches of the middle ages suffered the same hysteria as turn-of-the-century psychiatric patients."  Priced at $39.95, this DVD will have these features:

• Häxan (1922): New digital, speed-corrected transfer of the Swedish Film
  Institute's tinted restoration

• Surround sound score performed by the Czech Film Orchestra, arranged by film music historian Gillian Anderson

• Commentary by Danish silent film scholar Casper Tybjerg

• Benjamin Christensen's introduction to the 1940 re-release

• Stills gallery

• New English translation of intertitles

• Witchcraft Through the Ages (1968): the 74-minute version of Häxan,
  narrated by William S. Burroughs, with a soundtrack featuring Jean-Luc Ponty

• English subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired

• Optimal image quality: RSDL dual-layer edition

9-26-01  ARGENTO'S LATEST TO HIT DVD IN STATES
    Artisan has announced that they will be releasing Dario Argento's last film SLEEPLESS (aka NONHONONNO) on video and DVD this December.  The DVD will be digitally mastered widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround audio, plus Argento commentary, as well as other features.  They are stating that it has a 117 minute running time which means it the uncut version.  Let's just hope that it truly is uncut. 

9-25-01  EVEN MORE BOOKS ADDED
    We added a few more books in our Collectibles section, SLEAZE CREATURES, as well as biographies on Ingrid Pitt, James Whale and Ed Wood.

9-23-01  BAD TASTE CONVENTION PHOTOS
    Last weekend in NZ, there was a little convention honoring the film BAD TASTE and most of "The Boys" were there to celebrate.  Click here to see some of the photos.  We've also added another site dedicated to BAD TASTE in our link section.  Click here to go directly to the site.

9-23-01  UPDATED COLLECTABLES
    We updated our listings of Books, Lasers, and DVDs that are available for sale.  We will also be updating our video trade list in the next day or two.

9-22-01  MASSIVE UPDATE PART TWO!
    Okay folks, here they are.  We have our report of the Cinema Wasteland 2001 show posted in our Celebrity Photo section.  Let us know what you think.

    In some other amusing news, apparently Peter Atkins, who wrote most of the Hellraiser films as well as the first WISHMASTER movie, has written WISHMASTER - THE MUSICAL.  Now, I would hope this is either a joke, or another internet rumor.  But if it isn't a rumor...I'm speechless.

    It also looks like Victor Salva will be creating a sequel to his summer hit JEEPERS CREEPERS.  I think we all seen that one coming.  But according to Fangoria, his plans for a sequel are just your normal re-tread.  Instead, he is thinking among the same lines as James Cameron approached ALIENS.  I just hope they don't beat this one to death.  Can you hear me out there?   You don't have to explain everything all the time!

    And for those fans of Peter Jackson's first film BAD TASTE that Anchor Bay is putting out in November, don't expect any audio commentary from the "Boys".  Apparently AB is going to be using an interview from a website that will be printed in a booklet.  I guess with all the money that they're making, they can't afford to fly someone out to NZ to record a commentary.  If you would like to hear that, and have a few seconds, click on this link and send AB a little message stating that you feel they should spend the extra money and do an audio commentary.  I have personally heard from one of the Boys, and know they are all willing to pitch in.

9-19-01  MASSIVE UPDATE - PART ONE!
    This update has been a long time coming.  We have some news, a brief report on the Cinema Wasteland show (more to come about that, with photos), and a brief editorial.  Let's get that out of the way now.

    With the devastating tragedy that happened last week in New York, it still feels like a movie.  Except in this movie, there's no end credits and we go back to our normal lives.  Here at the Krypt, we are not trying to forget what happened there, but want to have a place where you can come to and take a break from reality.  As they've said, we can't let them win by becoming terror-stricken and huddled in a corner somewhere.  We must continue our lives and jobs the best we can.  And that's what we intend to do.  Our thoughts, prayers, and wishes go out to the families of the victims.

    On a much happier note, we did make it through another Cinema Wasteland show, and I'd like to say thanks to everybody who made it there.  While the turnout was no where what was expected, considering the recent events, it still was pretty good.  And I know that we had a great time, as well as everybody we talked to.  I do apologize for anybody who was there Saturday night watching TRACK OF THE MOONBEAST.  Not because of the bad movie, but if we were a little too loud in the back row.  We will be having pics up in the next day or so from the show, with more of a detailed description of the events.  Stay tuned.

    Also over the weekend, we learned of the passing of two favorites from the film industry.  The first being Victor Wong.  While he appeared in quite a few horror films such as TREMORS and PRINCE OF DARKNESS, he will always be known as Egg Shen from John Carpenter's BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA.  He passed away last Wednesday morning at his home in California.  He was 74 years old.
    The other passing was that of Samuel Z. Arkoff, who passed away from natural causes on Sunday, September 16th.  Arkoff was the co-founder of A.I.P. (American International Pictures), which seemed to specialize in low-budget exploitation pictures.  His company brought us tons of classics from the 50's all the way to the 80's, with titles like IT CONQUERED THE WORLD, AMAZING COLOSSAL MAN, all the Corman / Poe films, and many, many, many more.
    They will both be missed.

    According to Dark Harvest, in a recent interview, makeup master Rick Baker is set to work on the American remake of the awesome Japanese film RING.  While Baker did say that it is not a big makeup film, "There's some interesting designs and there's some weird, distorted corpse-like things."  He had said that he saw the original film, but "Ours will even be stranger."  Sorry folks, but I'm not getting my hopes up for this one.  I have faith in the big-budgeted horror films, especially when their remakes.

    And as I'm sure everybody has heard, due to the massive reports of problems with the their recent release of OPERA, Anchor Bay is recalling the defective dvds.  Go to this site for more information about what to do with the defective dvd:

http://www.anchorbayentertainment.com/opera/

    We hope to be updating our inventories this weekend.  We have some new video titles, both in our Trade List, as well as our Ex-Rental section.  We also have a limited supply of Vincent Price's biography written by his daughter, Victoria.  These hardcover editions are going for 1/2 their original cover price of $27.50.  More details on that later. 

9-11-01  NEW REVIEWS
    It seems getting ready for the Cinema Wasteland show is taking a little bit more of my time than I expected.  But I did get the chance to finish up a couple of reviews, especially Argento's latest, SLEEPLESS.  Check them out.
    I'm hoping this won't be the last update before the show, but who knows.  If it is, we hope to see you there.

9-4-01  NEW YORK FANGO SHOW GUESTS ANNOUNCED!
    Here's the first guest that have been announced for the New York Weekend of Horrors, in Brooklyn on January 5th & 6th:
    Robert Englund
    Bill Moseley (HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES)
    Larry Brand (Screenwriter for HALLOWEEN: HOMECOMING
    Richard Gordon (Producer of such classics like FIEND WITHOUT A FACE)
    Dante Tomaselli (Director of DESECRATION and HORROR)
    And the best news of all, a RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD reunion!

    We've also added another title in our Reference Library.  The latest title is THE GOREHOUND'S GUIDE TO SPLATTER FILMS OF THE 1960's AND 1970's.  Check it out.

9-03-01  MOVIES, MOVIES, AND MORE MOVIES!
    Sorry for the lack of updates as of late.  I really must blame it on the fact that there are so many cool titles that have been coming out on dvd these last couple of weeks, with still tons more titles due out before Halloween.  So we have a lot of reviews in the works and hope to have them up in the next day or two.

    We've also seen THE OTHERS and JEEPERS CREEPERS as well.  Both are highly recommended.  While some may call THE OTHERS slow, I loved the atmosphere.  JEEPERS is a throwback to the late 80's with Freddy / Jason creature.  Remember all those films thrown together back then to try and start a new trend or a new Freddy, but failed miserably?  Well this is like those, except this time it's done really well.  Hate the title, but loved the ending.  

    The other thing that is taking up some of our time is we are getting ready for our trip to Ohio for the Cinema Wasteland show in two weeks.  If you're looking for a great horror convention to go to, this is the one, folks.  It has plenty of celebs to meet, great films to see, and lots of cool stuff to spend that hard earned money on in the dealers room.  If you do go, stop by our table and say HI.  We always like to hear from you.

    And lastly, here are a couple of quick news bites:
    For those of you who haven't shelled out the $10 for the dvd of THE HOWLING, you may want to hold off.  According to Joe Dante, there will be a special edition coming out next year.  I guess he must of got jealous of the new AMERICAN WEREWOLF disc coming out.
    Also, Universal will be releasing BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF on November 2nd.  This is suppose to be one hell of a movie.  Make sure you check it out when it does hit your town.

8-22-01  ARGENTO'S LATEST AND MORE
    Here at the Krypt, we've recently acquired a multi-region dvd player.  What this means is that now I can spend even more money buying dvds from Japan, the UK and where ever else cool movies are released.  There goes my son's college fund.
    Anyway, the most recent dvd title was that of Dario Argento's latest film NONHOSONNO (aka SLEEPLESS aka I CAN'T SLEEP).  A review will be coming shortly, but for right now, let's just say that it's a must see!  Between the camera style, Max Von Sydow, music by Goblin, you can't go wrong.  Definitely check this out.

    In other movie news, VCI Entertainment is diligently working on their new dvd of THE CITY OF THE DEAD (aka HORROR HOTEL).  Not only will this version be completely uncut, unlike the previous releases, they have recently shot an interview with director John Moxey, and soon will be interviewing actors Venetia Stevenson and Christopher Lee.  Looking forward to that dvd.

    And while on the subject of DVDs, Anchor Bay's BAD TASTE dvd will be coming out the first part of November of this year.  They will be once again releasing two different editions: a single disc edition and a double disc limited edition.  No word on the features, but they are planning to make it THX Approved with DTS 6.1 and Dolby 5.1 EX audio tracks.  They are also still planning on a commentary for the dvd, but it's not know who exactly will be doing it.  

    And while BLADE 2 isn't even out yet, screenwriter David Goyer has confirmed that he has signed on to writer BLADE 3.  After that, as they say in Hollywood, he really wants to direct. 

8-18-01  NEWS, NEWS, AND MORE NEWS!
    Some of this news should of been posted a day or two ago, but my real job keeps trying to drive me crazy.  So better late than never.

    For those who never got around to seeing the little film CUBE, first of all you need to.  It's a very original idea and a great little independent film that is done really well.  But the news is that CUBE 2: HYPERCUBE begins shooting very shortly.

    The NIGHTBREED DVD is going to be released in a couple of days.  The bad news is that there is no extras other than a trailer and cast and crew bios.  But while we're hoping for a special edition version, according to dvdreview.com this version will more than hold you over.

    In a couple of Stan Winston related items, apparently Winston is somewhat involved in PUMPKINHEAD 3.  Don't know what exactly his involvement is, but MGM wants this to hit the theaters.  And also, according to Variety, Winston will  produce a 70's style horror film called WRONG TURN.  Rob Schmidt (CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN SUBURBIA) will direct the film.  My only comment was that when it's about a bunch of teenagers, it sounds more like a film from the 90's rather than the 70's.  We'll have to see.

    Variety reports that Edward Norton has been set to star in  RED DRAGON, another adaptation of the Thomas Harris' novel, that was first made in 1986 by Michael Mann called MANHUNTER.  Norton will star as Will Graham, the FBI agent who was the one who caught Hannibal Lecter.  The book was the first appearance of Lecter.  I believe Anthony Hopkins is also set to play Lecter once again.

George Romero's last film, BRUISER, is coming to video / DVD this October.  It will feature commentary by Romero and the producer.  It will also feature a Misfits video (which would along get my wallet out).

And last but not least, check out our Link of the Week on the Navigational Bar to the left.  It's the official site for makeup master Dick Smith.  Check it out.

8-12-01  H.G. LEWIS BOOK REVIEW
    In our Kryptic Library section, we have a review of a great book on the man who started the whole gore genre.  Check it out.

8-11-01  VINCENT PRICE HALL OF FAME PAGE
    We've finally gotten another page done in our Hall of Fame, the one and only Vincent Price.

8-8-01  AMERICAN WEREWOLF DVD NEWS
    Check out this website for information about the new DVD coming out for AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON.  It's amazing.  

http://www.americanwerewolf.com/landing5.html

For those of you who didn't know about the new DVD, here's a list of what it has:

• Never before seen bonus features and footage

• Exclusive interview Make-up Artist Rick Baker

• Interview with Director John Landis

• Audio Commentary with actors David Naughten and Griffin Dunne

• Special storyboard to final feature comparison

• Photo gallery from behind the scenes

• Featurette on the making of the film

• In depth production notes and detailed cast and filmmaker biographies

• Theatrical trailer

• DVD-ROM features

8-5-01  POSTERS ON EBAY
    If anybody is interested, we have a couple of posters up on eBay.  The titles are MAKE THEM DIE SLOWLY (aka CANNIBAL FEROX) and LAST HOUSE ON DEAD END STREET.  Click on our eBay link in our navigational bar to be taken to the auction.

8-4-01 NEWS, REVIEWS, AND REMAKES!
     We've added our Review of All Day Entainment's two trailer DVDs, TALES OF FRANKENSTEIN and THE HORROR OF HAMMER.

    For those of you (like me) that never got around to picking up the DVD of HORROR HOTEL, you're in luck.  VCI will be releasing for the first time a complete and uncut version, under the original title CITY OF THE DEAD.  This version has an additional two minutes of footage which had been cut from the U.S. version.  What's more is that the disc will also feature commentary by director John Moxey, as well as a video interview with him.

    The much talked about film SESSION 9 is apparently only going to be getting a very limited release in Boston, New York, and California (WHY NOT CHICAGO DAMMIT!).  The way the sales look will determine whether it gets a wider release.  From all indications, this is suppose to be very good.

    Now for some stupid news.  Zentertainment is reporting that a remake of Stephen King's SALEM'S LOT is being developed for another four-hour miniseries for TNT.

    And even worse, but Variety reports that a remake of DAWN OF THE DEAD is in the works.  The script is being written by James Gunn (who's recent credit is the SCOOBY DOO movie).  

7-31-01  HAMMER NEWS
    Hammer fans will be happy to hear that Jimmy Sangster has written another book, this time he looks at the scripting and production of his numerous movies with Hammer.  Sangster was responsible for writing many of Hammer's classics, as well as directing and producing a few of them.
    The book is just being released in the UK, so it may take a while before it's available over here.  We will try and keep you informed.

7-29-01  H. G. LEWIS RETURNS!
    H.G. Lewis & David Friedman are teaming up once again to bring us the a sequel to the movie that started the gore craze, BLOOD FEAST.  They were set to start production on BLOOD FEAST 2 at the end of this month.  Originally it was going to be shot on Digital Video, but have since changed that, and will be filming in 35mm.  Click on the graphic for more info.
    We are finishing up reading the excellent book TASTE OF BLOOD: THE FILMS OF H.G. LEWIS by Christopher Wayned Curry.  So far it has been an excellent read.  We will have a review of it up (hopefully) when were done.

A SLIGHT CORRECTION
    It seems that we also were caught in a recent internet rumor about the casting of Vin Diesel in TERMINATOR 3.  Diesel has not been cast, and not even been contacted about it.  We apologize for any trouble this might of cause.

7-21-01  HAMMER'S THE MUMMY RISES FROM THE TOMB...TO DVD!
    Warner Home Video will be releasing Hammer's THE MUMMY on DVD this October.  Apparently, it will be a standard release with no extras.  No word on if it will be widescreen or full-frame yet.  One can hope that it is.  One can also hope that CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN and HORROR OF DRACULA will follow.  But THE MUMMY is being released at the same time that THE MUMMY RETURNS is also being released on DVD.
    Thanks to DVD Drive-In for the info.

    In other movie news, it looks like Vin Diesel is going to be the one fighting against Schwarzenegger in TERMINATOR 3.  Diesel will be playing the T-1G, the new and improved cyborg.  The film is going to be directed by Jonathan Mostow and should start shooting next year.  To early to judge this one folks, but you never know.
    Thanks to Dark Horizons.

    Also a quick note for those fans of metal music and of horror.  You may want to check out the new CD from Iced Earth, entitled HORROR SHOW.  Each track is about a different horror character, such as the Wolfman, Frankenstein, Damien (from The Omen series), and many more.  If you like metal and horror, you should enjoy this CD.

7-17-01  RE-ANIMATOR DVD RISES FROM THE DEAD!
    For those of you who don't have the much sought-after DVD of Stuart Gordon's classic RE-ANIMATOR don't need to worry about paying $50+ on ebay any more.  According to Elite Entertainment's president Vini Bancalari, they've repressed it, and will soon be available once again.

    Also, Paramount will be releasing TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: THE MOVIE, with a commentary by director John Harrison and writer George Romero.  For those of you who don't know, Harrison has worked with Romero a few times before.  Not only did he score Romero's CREEPSHOW (a great score if I might add), but also was the zombie in DAWN OF THE DEAD who gets a screwdriver shoved into his ear.  

7-12-01  HAMMER COMPOSER JAMES BERNARD DIES!
    According to Film Score Monthly, James Bernard passed away on July 9th.  Being a big fan of film soundtracks, Bernard's scores from the Hammer films is one of the (many) reasons I was drawn to them.  He came up with some great memorable scores, his most famous being the main theme from HORROR OF DRACULA.  

7-8-01  BLOOD CULT COMING TO DVD
    The first movie to be made for the home video market is now coming to DVD, care of VCI Entertainment.  They're also putting out the sequel, REVENGE as well.  Stay tuned for more details.

7-7-01  A SLIGHT CHANGE...
    We are doing a little re-arranging here at the Krypt.  We have gotten rid of our News Section.  Now, all of our news bits will be listed here.  That'll save everybody a click or two.
    Also, our Link Of The Week, will now be featured at the top of our navigational bar on the left.  Be sure to check them out.
    We have also updated (finally!) our Quizlet Poll.  This time out, it's about your favorite low-budget director.  The results for the Creation question was a whopping 82% in favor of dropping Creation.  Unfortunately, we don't make that decision.
    And finally, we have added quite a few titles to our Books For Sale section.  We even will be having more titles come in by the end of next week.

7-5-01  MORE UPDATES COMING SOON!!!
    Sorry for the lack of updates as of late.  We've been busy in the real world these last couple of weeks, but hope be get back on track.
    We did add some DVD info in our News section.  We also will be adding some new reviews, as well as updating our Books for sale section.  We've received quite a few new titles in recently, and will have them posted shortly.

6-30-01  NEW REVIEWS
    We've added a couple new reviews, THE OMEN and SALEM'S LOT.  We will also be having a review up very shortly for HANNAH: QUEEN OF THE VAMPIRES (aka CRYPT OF THE LIVING DEAD).

6-23-01  BLIND DEAD DVD
    We have a couple of Anchor Bay's out-of-print double feature DVD of Amando de Ossorio's TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD / RETURN OF THE BLIND DEAD.  They are still factory sealed.  We are selling them at the original SRP of $30.  If interested, let us know asap, since they'll go pretty fast.

6-19-01  UNDERRATED DIRECTOR / ACTOR?
    I know that I feel there are a lot of people out there in the industry that never seemed to get the recognition that they deserved.  Such as Amando de Ossorio, creator of the Blind Dead series.  What about you?  Use our Message Board to give us someone, either actor, director, makeup artist, or whoever, that you think never got the recognition that they should of. 

6-16-01  MORE STUFF FOR SALE COMING SOON!
    Within the next day or two, we will have an updated listing of our Books for sale, as well as some new posters that we've recently acquired, including one for LAST HOUSE ON DEAD-IN STREET.  Stay tuned.

6-09-01  ANCHOR BAY DOES IT AGAIN
    Yes, I know.  Before you tell me that Anchor Bay has put out some great movies on DVD that never would of seen the light of day, blah, blah, blah.  I know.  This is true.
    BUT, they have also advertised movies uncut when it fact they're not completely uncut.  Yea, it could only be a few seconds, but uncut means uncut.
    WICKER MAN is their latest fiasco.  First let me tell you the good part.  The extras will include the theatrical trailer, TV spots, production notes, a booklet and a stills gallery.  Plus a 50 minute featurette with interviews with Christopher Lee, Edward Woodward, Ingrid Pitt, Robin Hardy, Producer Peter Snell, Writer Anthony Shaffer, Editor Eric Boyd Perkins, Art Director Seamus Flannery, 1st AD Jake Wright, Distributor John Simon, and Roger Corman.
    Now here's the bad part.  They are releasing two different editions of the movie.  Both versions will have the same extras.  The first version will be 88 minute U.S. version.  This will retail for around $20.  The second version will have the previously mentioned version, plus on a second disc, the uncut 99 minute version.  The price for the special 2-disc version is around $40.  Oh, and they're only going to put out a limited release of 50,000 of the special 2-disc edition.
    Who in the hell is going to buy the cut version, when an uncut version is available?  What is Anchor Bay trying to do?  Why can't they just release the uncut version with all the extras on one disc for $20.  Even if they wanted to charge $30, that'd be fine will me.  But $40 just to get the uncut version is a crock of shit.
    To me, that shows just how much Anchor Bay cares about their customers.

6-2-01  JUST A LITTLE NEWS...
    Just a couple of quick little notes.  Sorry for the lack of updates these last couple of weeks, but the real world has been keeping me busy.
    We recently learned that The Cabinet Of Dr. Casey, one of the best horror news sites around, is closing down after seven long years.  We would visit them on a regular basis for news bits.  They will be missed.
    We've also added a new feature here at the Krypt.  Each week, we will have a featured Link of the Week.  Just click on the graphic to be taken to the featured site.

7-5-01  NEW TITLES FROM IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT
    It looks like this is going to be a great fall for us horror fans.  Here are some titles that Image has announced that they will be releasing this September:
    AENIGMA - Lucio Fulci's lesser known classic.  Features the famous "snail scene".
    AXE (Special Edition)
    THE CHILD (Special Edition)
    SCHIZO - Peter Walker
    REVENGE IN THE HOUSE OF USHER - Jess Franco
    I VAMPIRI
    FLESH AND THE FIENDS - The best version of the graverobbers Burke and Hare, and  Dr. Knox, played by Peter Cushing.  Directed by John Gilling.  A must have. 

    And for fans of Ted V. Mikels, here is some great news.  Image will also be releasing Special Edition DVD's of two of Mikels' classic films:  BLOOD ORGY OF THE SHE-DEVILS and the classic CORPSE GRINDERS.  Each DVD will feature audio commentary by Mikels himself, along with trailer and filmography.  The CORPSE GRINDERS disc will also feature a music video tribute by Bentmen, and production stills.

    And for the Boris Karloff fans, Image will be releasing a 2-disc Box Set of THE VEIL.  This was a ten-episode pilot of a horror anthology back in 1958 that was never broadcast.  Karloff hosted the program, as well as starring in nine of the ten episodes.  Some of the episodes were directed by such names as George Waggner, Herbert L. Strock, and starring people like Patrick Macnee, Robert Hardy, Niall MacGinnis, Clifford Evans, Morris Ankrum, and George Hamilton.

    And when you see the DVD and video release of Brian Yuzna's FAUST coming out this August, you might want to make sure that it's the unrated version.  Apparently there will be an R-rated version, as well as an uncut version.  The film stars Mark Frost, Andrew Divoff, Isabel Brooks, and Jeffrey Combs.

6-30-01  HAMMER NEWS
    Some more good news for us Hammer fans!  In August, A&E Home video will be releasing a 3-DVD box set of the television series Hammer House of Horrors, that was made back in the early 80's.  All but one of these episodes (Mask Of Satan) were released on video here in the states, under the Elivra / Thriller Video label.  This series will contain all 13 episodes.  The series had some great people both in front of and behind the cameras.  For directors, there were names like Alan Gibson, Robert Young, Peter Sasdy, and John Hough.  In front of the camera, there were Denholm Elliott, Brian Cox, and some guy named Peter Cushing.

6-16-01 - MOVIE NEWS
    After almost 40 years, H.G. Lewis and David Friedman are back at making a film.  But not just any film.   Later this summer, they'll start filming BLOOD FEAST 2.  The film will be a short 12-day shoot, and will apparently be shot digitally.
    (Thanks to DVD Unleashed)

    Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde will be hitting the screens again, in a couple of different films.  Wes Craven had already signed on for one version, with no actors signed yet.  In another adaptation of the classic tale, Al Pacino has signed on for the lead.  Do you think Pacino can ham it up more than in DEVIL'S ADVOCATE?
    (Thanks to Really Scary.com)

6-8-01  EVEN MORE DVD NEWS!
    Retro Media is putting out quite a few interesting titles on DVD this summer.  Here's some of the titles and extras that they are putting out:
    INVASION OF THE BLOOD FARMERS - Letterboxed, original trailer, exclusive still gallery, and an episode of NITE OWL THEATER.
    EVIL SPAWN - Letterboxed Edition, New Episode NITE OWL THEATER, Original Trailer, Behind The Scenes Video, “Case of the Missing Monster”, Blooper and Out-take Reel.
    BEAST OF THE YELLOW NIGHT - Letterboxed Edition, “Drive-In Antics With Fred & Miss Kim”, Exclusive Still Gallery, Original Theatrical Trailer, and Special Video Extra “Remembering John” with Jan Ashley, Andrew Stevens and Fred Olen Ray, Vintage Drive-In Movie Spots
    PHANTOM FROM 10,000 LEAGUES - Original Theatrical Trailer, “Drive-In Antics with Fred & Miss Kim”, Vintage Drive-In Movie Spots, Coming Attractions.
    CURSE OF THE VAMPIRES - Letterboxed Edition, Original Theatrical Trailer, “Drive-In Antics With Fred & Kim”, Vintage Drive-In Movie Spots.
    FEAR CHAMBER (Starring Boris Karloff) - Uncut Letterboxed Edition, “Drive-In Antics With Fred & Kim”, Exclusive Still Gallery, Vintage Drive-In Spots

    Here's some more details about the DVD release of RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 3.  It will include a Dolby Digital surround audio track, one commentary track with director Brian Yuzna, and another commentary track with star Mindy Clarke and FX supervisor Tom Rainone.  There will also be a theatrical trailer.  (Thanks to Fangoria)

    Also for you Jason fans out there.  The new release date for JASON X is not until March 22nd, 2002!  You know there's problems there if the movie is already over a year old and they're going to wait another year and a half.  Either that, or they just got tired of people asking when it's coming out.  (Thanks to Dark Horizon)

6-5-01  MISC. NEWS
    According to the Mark of Naschy website, Paul Naschy will not be doing the remake of THE AWFUL DR. ORLOFF by Jess Franco.  Instead he will be concentrating on a new Waldemar Daninsky film.

    Anchor Bay has announced the details about their upcoming release of Dario Argento's SUSPIRIA, which will be released on September 11th of this year.  There will be two different versions released.  Both will have the same features, but the limited edition will have the original soundtrack on CD.  They're advertising it as uncut.  So let's hope that Bill Lustig doesn't feel that it needs to be trimmed down any.
    Here's the features:

• A new THX certified anamorphic 2.35:1 transfer

• English DTS ES 6.1

• English Dolby Digital Surround EX

• A new 50 minute featurette with interviews with Argento, Jessica Harper, Daria Nicolodi, Goblin, Udo Kier, Stefania Casini, and cinematographer Luciano Tovoli.

• Trailers

• TV Spots

• Radio Spots

• Talent Bios

• Poster and Still gallery

    And while speaking of Argento, the Italian DVD for his latest, NONHOSONNO, has been delayed until July 5th.  Apparently it will be in Italian and English language, and even have a "making of" documentary as well.

    Trimark will be releasing the awesome RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 3 on DVD at the end of August.  It suppose to be a special edition, but no details have been given out.

    GDI Records have quite a few more Hammer titles on their release schedule for this year.  Fans of Hammer films, as well as soundtracks should be very happy with the awesome work that GDI Records have been putting out.  They've just released the soundtrack for CURSE OF THE MUMMY'S TOMB and a vampire compilation THE HAMMER VAMPIRE FILM MUSIC COLLECTION.  Other titles on their schedule are as follows: DRACULA A.D. 1972 , DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE, BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY'S TOMB, THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA, HANDS OF THE RIPPER, CAPTAIN KRONOS - VAMPIRE HUNTER, and fimally THE HAMMER FILM MUSIC COLLECTION VOLUME 3.

5-24-01 BIG DVD NEWS!
    Coming this fall on DVD, is a special edition of John Landis' AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON.  It will feature a new 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a remixed 5.1 Dolby Digital track.  The disc will also feature audio commentary with actors David Naughton and Griffin Dunne, with additional interviews with director Landis and Rick Baker.  Also included will be the original promo featurette, never-before-seen storyboards, cast filmographies, production notes, and trailers.  It will also have some DVD-ROM features, but they haven't been announced yet.

    Also coming out at the same time, will be a special edition of HALLOWEEN II from Universal.  It will be a new 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with audio commentary by the director, Rick Rosenthal.  It will also have some deleted footage.

    For you Italian horror fans, Synapse will be releasing FLAVIA and Lucio Fulci's TOUCH OF DEATH on DVD.  More details later of what extras it might have.

    Universal will be coming out with another huge list of titles from their classic monster films.  This time out, they will be double bills on each DVD.  Apparently, these will not be filled with extras like the last batch of releases.  Here's the list of titles:
    SON OF FRANKENSTEIN / GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN
    FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN / HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN
    DRACULA'S DAUGHTER / SON OF DRACULA
    THE MUMMY'S HAND / THE MUMMY'S TOMB
    THE MUMMY'S GHOST / THE MUMMY'S CURSE
    WEREWOLF OF LONDON / SHE-WOLF OF LONDON.

5-23-01  THE DEAD WILL WALK AGAIN...
    It seems to be official that George Romero is currently writing the fourth entry in his Dead series.  The title has yet to be determined at this time, but the official site states that it will not be TWILIGHT OF THE DEAD or DUSK OF THE DEAD.

5-19-01  HAMMER RISES FROM THE GRAVE...NO REALLY, WE MEAN IT THIS TIME!
    Hammer Films are stating once again that we are returning to the film business after over 20 years.  They will be forming a partnership with a company called FirstSight Films.  They have struck a deal to develop and produce six horror movies, with each budget at $10 to $20 million each.  Some of the movies may come from the Hammer vault, either using characters and / or plots, but most will original stories.  Their plan is to shoot two movies a year, beginning is 2002.

5-11-01  DVD NEWS!
    MGM Home Entertainment's plans for the DVD of John Carpenter's THE FOG has been delayed.  It was originally going to be released this fall.  The reason for the delay is because MGM decided to make this DVD a Special Edition release.  No details as to what 'extras' will be on it, but expect to see a brand new interview with the cast members, including Janet Leigh.  It's now rescheduled for 2002.

    Here are more information on some titles coming out or that have been recently announced:

BASKET CASE: SPECIAL EDITION - Frank Henenlotter's classic tale of brothers.  Unfortunately, the DVD will be Full-Frame, but does come with a bunch of extras.  It will feature outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage from the director's personal collection; trailers; TV and radio spots; gallery of BASKET CASE exploitation art and never-before-seen photos; video short: "IN SEARCH OF THE HOTEL BROSLIN"; clips from Beverly Bonner's comedy cable TV show "BEVERLY BONNER'S LAUGH TRACK"; two radio interviews with actress Terri Susan Smith; commentary track by Henenlotter, producer, and stars.  The SRP is set at $19.99.

THE FLESH AND THE FIENDS: DOUBLE FEATURE - This is the best version of the tale of Dr. Knox and the graverobbers Burke and Hare.  The film was directed by John Gilling, and has a great cast, including Peter Cushing and Donald Pleasence.  This movie is not to be missed.  The special features include a trailer, photo and poster gallery, and both the 93 minute British version, along with the 94 minute "Continental" version.  The film is also presented in widescreen format of 2.35:1.

THE HOWLING - This is one title that a lot of people have been waiting for it to come out.  It is going to be released in widescreen version of 1.85:1, and with a price tag of only $15.00.  But the bad news is that it's not a Special Edition.  The only extras it has is a trailer.  It's a shame that they couldn't get the rights to the audio commentary, or the outtakes, that were on the laserdisc.

NIGHTBREED - This is another film that has been rumored to be coming out in a big special edition.  Well, this isn't the one.  It is in widescreen 1.85:1, but that is it.  No extras.

And for fans of the old black and white classics:
    FREAKS - Tod Browning's dark and chilling tale of revenge.  The SRP is $24.95.
    ISLAND OF THE LOST SOULS / MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM - Double feature set of these two original versions.  ISLAND stars Charles Laughton as the evil Dr. Moreau, with Bela Lugosi co-starring.  MYSTERY has Lionel Atwill as a sculpture who beautiful creations out of wax, until a partner tires to get rid of him in a fire.  Both are classics and are essential in any horror collection.     

5-7-01 MUMMY RETURNS...WITH A SHITLOAD OF CASH!
    Setting new records, THE MUMMY RETURNS made over $70 million it's opening weekend.  The number 2 film, Stallone's DRIVEN only made $6 million.  I guess the only people that went to see those other films was because MUMMY was sold out.  I don't know folks.  I didn't see it yet, but from what I'm hearing, the CGI effects are pretty terrible.  A good friend of ours said it was so bad he that walked out halfway through.  And hell, he even liked LETHAL WEAPON 4!  I don't know if I'll be rushing out to see it or maybe wait until video.  Of course after reading the reviews of THE FORSAKEN, don't know if I'm even going to bother with that one either.  Good thing all these cool older movies are coming out on DVD, so I'll have something really good to watch, and even at a cheaper price than seeing it at the theater!

    For those of you who missed the Argento documentary, EYE FOR HORROR, on the Independent Film Channel, Image will be releasing it on DVD in September.

4-28-01  POE COMES TO THE BIG SCREEN
    Craig Rosenberg has signed a deal with Newmarket to write and direct the film NEVERMORE: THE NIGHTMARES OF EDGAR ALLAN POE.  The story is a thriller where Poe is actually a character in the murder mystery story.  Grieving after the his wife's death, Poe watches as a series of murders unfold, replicating exact details from his fictional horror.  The mystery is populated with characters from his own books, such as Roderick Usher.
    With this film, and the one that Michael Jackson is trying to get off the ground, maybe we will be seeing a string of Poe related films.  That's not necessarily a bad thing.

    In other film news, Distant Horizon has picked up the English-language-territory release rights, except in the England, to the new Japanese horror film KAIRO (aka PULSE) by director Kiyoshi Kurosawa.  The film is about a website haunted by a supernatural influence.

    In some DVD release news, Anchor Bay Entertainment has announced that they are not  going to be releasing ZOMBIE 3, since it seems that somebody else has the rights to it.  This isn't the first time that AB has done this.  They've been known to announce titles that they don't have to scare off other smaller companies from inquiring about them.  Hell, they didn't even have the rights to ZOMBIE when they first release that on DVD.  Then there was the time they announced they'd be releasing the uncut version of CUT AND RUN.  A couple of months later, they said they were still looking for an uncut print.  So they didn't have an uncut print yet, but they were announcing that they were going to be releasing it.  It's a shame for a company who has done some great work, but is developing quite a shady reputation over the last year or two.  But none the less, they've got a few new titles coming out:
    BLACK CAT - Fulci's film with Mimsy Farmer, David Warbeck, Patrick Magee, and Al Cliver.  Released in 2.35:1 ratio, with only  a trailer and Fulci Bio as extras.
    BLADE IN THE DARK - Pretty decent thriller by Lamberto Bava about a musician who rents a house to score a new horror film.  Unfortunately, several young women are brutally murdered in the house.  Starring Andrea Occhipinti, Michele Soavi, Anny Papa.  The extras include trailer, talent bios, and Behind the Blade with director Lamberto Bava and writer Dardano Sacchetti.  Released in widescreen (1.85:1).    
    HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY - The Fulci classic about a house with a terrible past.   Released in 2.35:1 ration, but with little extras, only a trailer, still gallery and talent bios.  With a SRP of $30.00, you're better off spending $7 on the Diamond Entertainment version.  The quality is excellent on that one.
    MACABRE - Lamberto Bava's first movie about a woman who keeps the head of her dead lover in the refrigerator.  Very strange film.  Released in widescreen (1.85:1), and also comes with a trailer, Lamberto Bava bio, and A Head For Horror: Lamberto Bava on MACABRE.
    MANHATTAN BABY - Lucio Fulci's tale of a mysterious Egyptian charm that a girl gets while vacationing in Egypt with her archeologist father.  After returning to New York, an evil has followed them.  Released in widescreen (2.35:1), and comes with trailer, talent bios, and an interview with writer Dardano Sacchetti.

4-24-01 UNIVERSAL LETS LOOSE THE WOLVES!
    Universal Pictures has picked up the distribution rights to Christophe Gans newest film BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF (aka Le Pacte des Loups), which will be out this fall.  The film is based on a French legend of the Beast of Gevaudan, a giant wolf-like creature that was suppose to of killed more than 100 people in the 1700's.  A scientist and his brother are sent in by the King to end the killing.
    When this film was released in France in January, it broke the domestic box office record in its opening weekend.  So far, WOLF has made over $35 million in France.
    From the pics that I've seen so far, this is going to be an incredible movie.  Do not miss this one.    

4-21-01  BUNCH O' NEWS!!!
    First with the DVD News:
    MGM will once again make the horror fan's day with the announced DVD titles for August under their "Midnight Movie" banner.  They are as follows:
    THE BEAST WITHIN - Letterboxed (2.35:1)
    COUNT YORGA, VAMPIRE - With Restored "cat eating" footage
    THE DUNWICH HORROR - One minute of restored footage
    INVADERS FROM MARS - Hooper's remake, with extras to be announced
    ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU (1977)
    IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE - 1.33:1
    KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE: SPECIAL EDITION - Features behind-the-scene footage, commentary track, deleted scenes and more.
    THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD
    PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES - Letterboxed (1.85:1), new digital transfer, original AIP music score
    REPTILLICUS - New digital transfer, extras TBA
    THEATRE OF BLOOD - Letterboxed (1.66:1)
    TWICE-TOLD TALES (letterboxed at 1.66:1). 

    Also coming out that same month from MGM:
    CARRIE - Special Edition: 16x9 transfer, "making of" documentary, featurettes on Stephen King and "Carrie: The Musical".
    DRESSED TO KILL - Special Edition: 16x9, un-rated and R-Rated versions, documentary, deleted scenes
    BLOW OUT
    AUDREY ROSE - Letterboxed 1.85:1)
    BREEDERS (16x9)
    THE HOWLING (16x9)
    SCANNERS (16x9)
    CANDYMAN 2: FAREWELL TO THE FLESH (16x9, with director commentary)
    THE FIRST POWER (16x9)
    HAUNTED HONEYMOON (16x9)
    SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (Special Edition: new 16 x 9 transfer, documentary, deleted scenes, etc.).

    VCI HOME VIDEO will be releasing two great little classics
    RUBY - Starring Piper Laurie and Stuart Whitman.  This DVD will feature a new digital film transfer from the original 35MM negative, and in the restored director's theatrical cut.  Letterboxed at 1.85:1.  Also features directory commentary, interview with Curtis Harrignton, Bios, behind-the-scene photo gallery, theatrical trailers.
    YOUNG HANNAH QUEEN OF THE VAMPIRES (also known as CRYPT OF THE LIVING DEAD - Starring Andrew Prine, Mark Damon, Teresa Gimpera, Patty Shepard.  This is the uncut widescreen version of this Euro-horror classic.  Features bios and horror trailers. 

    Here is yet another reason that Roger Corman is a true genius when it comes to filmmaking.  He had sold the property in California where his Concorde / New Horizons studio were early last year.  Since the new owners were going to demolish the building anyway, Corman had an idea.  He is developed an idea about a man who hates horror films and decides to destroy a company that makes horror films, and literarily blows up the actual studios for the film.  The film is called SLAUGHTER STUDIO.

    Shusuke Kaneko, best known for resurrecting the Gamera series, will now be taking on the newest Godzilla film for Toho.  I think Toho finally realized why their competition was kicking their ass.  According to his website, Kaneko has been involved with every aspect of the film, from production designs, storyboarding, scripting, casting, special effects, scoring, pretty much everything.  The monster suits are being done by Fuyuki Shinada and his staff at Vi-shop Studios.  Apparently Kaneko has decided to go for a classic Godzilla look from the 60's.  Check out his website for more details.

    Entertainment Weekly reports that Rob Zombie's film is pretty much completed, and they're down to one or two distributors.  Their hoping to have in the theaters by Halloween.

    Dark Horizon reports that New Line confirmed that the release date for JASON X has been pulled from August.  No further date has been announced.  This doesn't look good for Jason fans.

3-31-01  HAMMER HORROR DVD NEWS
    This is some great news for fans of Hammer Studios and Frankenstein films.  All Day Entertainment will be releasing a couple of DVDs that are a must for any serious collector.
    The first one is TALES FROM FRANKENSTEIN.  This DVD will have the very rare TV pilot for series that Hammer was going to produce.  It was directed by Curt Siomak, and starring Anton Differing.  But that's not all, the DVD also has the following:

• Appearances by Lon Chaney Jr. and Glenn Strange with Abbott and Costello

• A clip from Chaney Jr. live broadcast of Frankenstein on the TV anthology TALES OF TOMORROW

• Interview with Boris Karloff

• Interviews with Hammer producer Michael Carreras and Peter Cushing 

• Audio Interview with Boris Karloff and Glen Strange

• A collection of trailers from over 20 different Frankenstein films!

All that for only about $25.00.  You can't go wrong.  This DVD is due out in early July.

    But wait, there's more!  All Day Entertainment will also be releasing a collection of Trailers from Hammer Films, THE HORROR OF HAMMER.  This DVD will feature over 50 trailers from different Hammer films, featuring all the great ones like CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, X-THE UNKNOWN, THE GORGON, NIGHT CREATURES, and many more.  The trailers also features an audio commentary about the history of Hammer from Ted Newsom, Gary H. Smith, and Stuart Galbraith IV.
    But there even more!  Not only does it have all these trailers, but it also contains this:

• WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH (Alternate Version)

• Beauties and Beasts (Original behind-the-scenes promotional short for WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH)

• BRIDES OF DRACULA (Alternate Version)

• DRACULA AD 1972 (Alternate Version)

• Prince of Terror (Original behind-the-scenes promotional short for DRACULA AD 1972)

• COUNTESS DRACULA (Alternate Version)

    Not really sure what the Alternate Versions mean, but once again, with a retail price of about $25.00, you can go wrong with this DVD.  The release date is also the first part of July.

3-25-01  MORE DVD NEWS!
Here are the details for the upcoming DVD release of LADY FRANKENSTEIN from DVD Drive-In. The DVD should be out in late April and will be priced at $29.95.

 - New Widescreen 16x9 transfer
 - Video interview with producer / director Mel Welles
 - Video interview with Rosalba Neri
 - Trailer
 - TV spot
 - TV spot for other European horror films
 - Talent bios
 - Poster, Stills and Lobby card gallery
 - Special Rosalba Neri still gallery

Also, Fox has announced what the extras are going to be on the Special Edition DVD of John Carpenter's BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA:

• All new commentary by John Carpenter and Kurt Russell.

• Never before seen deleted scenes

• An effects montage with commentary by Richard Endlund.

• Still gallery, advertising gallery, magazine articles

• Music video

• Trailers and TV spots

• Widescreen transfer (2.35:1)

Also, Warner Home Video has announced that they will be releasing  the Hammer classics THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, HORROR OF DRACULA, and THE MUMMY on DVD.  Unfortunately, these will be Region 2 DVD's, so unless you have a multi-region player, we'll have to wait.  I would imagine that they will see a stateside release before too long.  At least, that's what I'm hoping for.

3-19-01 MISC. DVD NEWS
    Here's a little more details on these upcoming DVD releases:

PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES: Letterboxed (1.85:1) from a digital transfer and will contain the original AIP score.  It will also have the trailer>
THEATRE OF BLOOD: This was Vincent Price's favorite of his own films.  This will be also be letterboxed (1.85:1) and come with the trailer.
TWICE TOLD TALES: Letterboxed (1.66:1) and include the trailer.
KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE: Letterboxed (1.85:1, 16x9 enhanced), and will include deleted scenes, trailer, and other extras that will be announced.
(Thanks to DVD Drive-In)

    In some other DVD news, for those of you who have the awesome VCI DVD of Mario Bava's THE WHIP AND THE BODY, here are some hidden deleted scenes:
    From the disc’s main menu go to the 'Special Features' menu and select the 'American Title Sequence.' Once it is running, hit the Chapter Forward button on your remote control and you will be treated to a deleted scene. Once it finishes, you will be taken to a special 'Hidden Features' menu with a selection for a second deleted scene. Interestingly, both deleted scenes are also accompanied by an optional audio commentary by Tim Lucas.
(Thanks to DVD Review)

3-10-01  HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES...THE STORY CONTINUES...
    Rumor has it that New Line Cinema is very interested in getting distribution of Rob Zombie's HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES.  Whether or not they would release it with a NC-17 rating or not is not known.
    When the movie was screen for Universal, the head of publicity, Terry Curtin, was there.  She had this to say:
    "I'm not sure where the line is, but it was clear from watching the film that it had crossed it.  It's probably the first time in my career that I felt I'd have trouble working on a movie.  What made it even more bizarre was that it didn't seem to offend the audience a bit, which disturbed me even more."
    Now here is where is starts getting confusing.  The film had been submitted to the MPAA back in January and had received a NC-17 rating.  Zombie had said that he was willing to make the cuts to deliver the R-rated film he had signed on for.   Universal's music division distributes albums from the controversial rap artist Eminem, and also had a hand in co-producing the recent movie HANNIBAL.  When asked why HANNIBAL gets a pass and HOUSE doesn't, here's what Universal's Stacey Snider had to say (and this is so funny, I can't believe someone would be this stupid to say):
    "The difference is all about tone. Hannibal is clearly theatrical and based on a popular book that's part of our mainstream culture. The conceit of Rob's movie, which has no recognizable stars, is that it's not a fantasy. It could be real and that's what makes it more upsetting. I can tell Hannibal is a fantasy because when I watch Tony Hopkins or Ray Liotta, I know I'm going to see them in People magazine next week. But with Rob's movie, I was concerned that there was just an uber-celebration of depravity."
(Thanks to Dr. Casey and Ain't it Cool News)

Kryptic Note:  So just because HANNIBAL had big stars, it was okay for them to have graphic violence in the movie!  But if you have a lesser known or no-name actor, you can't have that because people might not realize it's fantasy?!?!?!  Give me a fucking break!  I can't believe the lack of common sense and intelligence here.  Gee that must of been why everybody thought BLAIR WITCH was real, since it didn't have Al Pacino and Sharon Stone running around the woods.
    Anyway, the news continues...

    William Wesley returns.  The director the cult classic SCARECROWS, who seemed to of disappeared years ago, is back and currently finishing up his newest film, ROUTE 666 for Trimark.  The story is about a pair of special agents, played by Lou Diamond Phillips (well, there goes my hopes) and Lori Petty, are tracking a mob witness.  As the flee from the Mafia, taking the route through the desert, they run into the undead.  Special effects were created by Norman Cabrera, who also worked on SCARECROWS.

    And for some DVD news, MGM Home Video will be releasing LAST HOUSE OF THE LEFT, but in the R-rated version.  Makes a lot of sense, huh?
    RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD is being held up due to rights disputes.
    At this time, there are no plans for releases of David Cronenberg's SCANNERS and Roman Polanski's FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS.
    On a good note, here is what IS coming out this summer:
    Mario Bava's PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES
    Vincent Price's THEATER OF BLOOD and TWICE TOLD TALES
    KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE (Special Edition)
    And also DEAD AND BURIED, SQUIRM, DERANGED, THE HUNGER, THE VAMPIRE LOVERS (hopefully the uncut version).
    There is also a possibility of THE BURNING some time next year.

3-6-01  UNIVERSAL DROPS ZOMBIE'S HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES
    According to the LA Times, Universal is expected to announce that they will not be releasing Rob Zombie's film HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES.  They said that Zombie will be allowed to retain the rights to the film to seek out another distributor.
    According Universal rep Stacey Snider, "We have the utmost respect for Rob, who made a really intense and compelling movie, but it turned out far more intense than we could have possibly imagined.  When I looked at the cumulative effect of the entire film, it was clear that the best version of the movie would end up getting an NC-17 rating, and we felt that would make the marketing and distribution of the movie impossible for us."
   Apparently Zombie had gone into a little bit more detail and depth in the script during filming.  Snider had okayed the production after reading the film's script, but says, "There are hundreds of choices Rob made where things played differently than they did in the script.  On the page, when you see a cop killed, it reads like a convention of the genre--'Oh no, we've tightened the screws on our heroes.' In the movie, everything was underlined and emphasized, it was a celebration of the assassination of a character."
    When asked if the choice was due to the pressure on Hollywood from Washington, Snider said that Universal choosing not to release the film was a "content issue, not a witch-hunt response.  I would've responded the same way to the movie without ever having listened to [Sen.] John McCain at the hearings. This wasn't about sending the movie out with an R rating and lots of warnings. This was overwhelmingly a matter of personal responsibility."
    Rob Zombie told the paper that he wasn't surprised about Universal dropping the film.  He said "I have to admit that it would've been great if they'd released the film, but it felt weird from the get-go. Here we were, making this crazy [expletive] horror film, with this big corporate entity behind us. If you look at the history of horror films, the really scary ones, like 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre,' were made by little independent companies, not big corporations."
    He also said "Maybe some people will be offended, but I think the title House of 1000 Corpses doesn't leave much to the imagination. It's not some weird art movie. It's for Middle America, for people who work at 7-Eleven and listen to Metallica and love horror movies. And whether this movie ends up on 300 screens or 3,000 screens, I bet its audience is going to find it."
    
Thanks to Cinescape

MORE SPECIAL EDITION HAMMER DVD'S TO COME!
    George over at DVD DRIVE-IN had this great news about the upcoming Hammer titles from Anchor Bay and what the extras will be:

• SCARS OF DRACULA - Audio commentary by Christopher Lee and director Roy Ward Baker, plus the documentary THE MANY FACES OF CHRISTOPHER LEE

• BLOOD FROM THE MUMMY'S TOMB - Introduction by star Valerie Leon, and rare production stills with Peter Cushing in the Andrew Kier role.

• HORROR OF FRANKENSTEIN - Commentary by director Jimmy Sangster

• DR. JEKYLL & SISTER HYDE - Audio commentary by writer Brian Clemens, director Roy Ward Baker, and star Martine Beswick

• STRAIGHT ON TILL MORNING - Audio commentary by star Rita Tushingham

• FEAR IN THE NIGHT - Audio commentary by director Jimmy Sangster

• LUST FOR A VAMPIRE - Audio commentary by director Jimmy Sangster and star Suzanna Leigh

• HELL IS A CITY - Audio commentary by director Val Guest

• TO THE DEVIL...A DAUGHTER - A new documentary "The Making of TO THE DEVIL...A DAUGHTER", featuring Christopher Lee, Honor Blackman, Roy Skeggs, David Wickes, John Peacock, Gerry Hughes, Peter Sykes, and others.

    And speaking of Hammer films, apparently there is more news of a remake of an older Hammer film.  This time, it's Christopher Lee will star in the remake of 1967 film THE DEVIL RIDES OUT, with Lee playing the same character in the original, Duc de Richleau.  Director Joe Dante is supposed to be directing.

3-3-01 DVD NEWS

    Anchor Bay Entertainment has announce they have acquired the following titles.  Let's just hope that they do have them and they are uncut.
THE APOCALYPSE
HITCHIKE
NIGHTMARE CITY (aka CITY OF THE WALKING DEAD)
DELIRIUM
WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO SOLANGE?
ZOMBIE 3 (the Lucio Fulci / Bruno Mattei film)

    Also coming out on DVD, is yet another Mario Bava film, 5 DOLLS FOR AN AUGUST MOON.  This is a great thriller with a rich playboy holds a party for a bunch of friends on his island beach house for the weekend.  Then the guest start showing up dead.  One by one.  The release date is early May, and will be letterboxed at 1.85:1, with an SRP of around $25.00.

    MGM's MIDNIGHT MOVIE series is just getting better and better.  In June they will be releasing PIT AND THE PENDULUM, HOUSE OF USHER, and X: THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES.  But they will also have audio commentaries by Roger Corman!  And to even make it better, PIT and X will include prologues that were filmed for television back in the 60's.  These prologues will be in the extra features section, and not edited into the films.

2-28-01 MUCHO NEWS!

After dropping from the BASIC INSTINCT sequel, David Cronenberg has gone back to the earlier project he was working on, the psychological thriller, SPIDER.  It is scheduled to start shooting in June in England and Toronto.  Ralph Fiennes will star in the film, which is about a man's descent into madness as he searches for the truth about his mysterious past and death of his mother.

Once again, here's another reason why you won't see too much news about films like following on my site:
    The newest HALLOWEEN film,  which may be called HALLOWEEN 8: MICHAEL MYERS.COM, is about a group of college kids who have a live webcast tour Michael Myers' home for their website.  Someone is a mask decides to show up.  Jamie Lee Curtis is suppose to have a cameo in the film.
    It's times like this that I'm embarrassed to say that I like horror films.

We Craven will be tackling one of the most remade horror stories, DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE.  Apparently Craven will be letting up on the darker elements of the Hyde tale and will be more of a thriller than horror.

(Thanks to Dark Horizon)

James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment and 20th Century Fox have renewed their production deal for another 5 years.  Here's a couple of the projects that are in the works:
    Brother Termite
Based on the novel by Patricia Anthony, Brother Termite will tell the story set 50 years in the future when our Earth is controlled by gray-skinned alien beings who operate as a hive-mind and have been there since Eisenhower signed an agreement back in the 1950s. The story operates as a political thriller as the aliens have a secret agenda they don’t want exposed.
Stephen Norrington (Blade) will direct the project with a script by John Sayles.
    The Coffin
Based on the Oni Press comic book series created by Phil Hester and Mike Huddleston. It tells the story of a scientist who has found a way, via a body suit, to contain the human soul after death. In a double cross by his corrupt employer, the scientist himself is placed on death's door, forcing him to climb into the suit himself. He then attempts to avenge his own death while setting things right with his estranged daughter.
Guillermo Del Toro (Blade 2, Mimic) is now attached to direct the project.

Thanks to Cinescape

Also, for you DVD collectors out there, get ready for one of the most anticipated DVDs: The special edition of John Carpenter's BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA.  This will be released on May 22nd, with a SRP of around $26.00.  The special features have not been announced yet, but it will be a 2-disc set.  This should be very interesting to see what they come up with.

2-26-01  MISC. NEW BITES
    And on a sad note, director Ken Russell, known movies such as ALTERED STATES, THE DEVILS, GOTHIC, says that he is so unbankable that he has resorted to shooting films in his own garage.  Russell is filming an eight-part gothic-horror story called THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER.  He used $29,000 of his own money to finance the film, which he did shoot in his garage.  The crew consisting mainly of family members.  His daughter was in charge of the costumes which she obtained mainly from through thrift stores.  The short film is described as a "self-parodic bloodbath" featuring topless nuns (come on, it is a Ken Russell film after all), and Russell himself as the mad Dr. Calahari.  Russell hopes to sell the 10-minute shorts to a short-film Netcaster, but no deal has been made yet.
    "People probably think I'm dead.  They certainly don't come knocking on my door," Russell stated to producers of a recent British documentary on his career. "I'm no longer miffed - I suppose I'm past that." 

2-20-01  BLIND DEAD CREATOR DIES and LADY FRANKENSTEIN LIVES
    Apparently, Amando de Ossorio, the creator of the Blind Dead series and many other enjoyable horror films, passed away a couple of weeks ago.  Several major newspapers in Spain have reported his passing, so it doesn't sound like another mistake, like on the Elite laserdisc of TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD a few years ago.
    Not only did de Ossorio give us the great Blind Dead films, but also MALENKA, LORELEI'S GRASP (aka WHEN THE SCREAMING STOPS), THE POSSESSED (aka DEMON WITCH CHILD), NIGHT OF THE SORCERERS, and the very cheezy but very enjoyable SEA SERPENT.
    Thanks to GOREZONE.

    On a much happier note, our friends at DVD Drive-In will be bringing us the Special 30th Anniversary Edition of the great film LADY FRANKENSTEIN.  This DVD is the official released and is authorized and endorsed by the producer / director Mel Welles.  But wait, there's more.  Here's what the DVD will have:

• New 16x9 anamorphic transfer

• Interview with Mel Welles

• Trailer

• TV Spot

• TV Spots for other European horror films

• Poster, stills and lobby card gallery featuring material from all over the world.

    The street date is tentatively scheduled for April.  More info will posted when it becomes available.  This film has always been a favorite of mine, and is the film where I first discovered the talented and lovely Rosalba Neri.  Looking forward to this title.

2-13-01 REVISED CROW NEWS!
    It looks like new THE CROW DVD's will be released separately, not just in the box set.  I can't tell you how happy that makes me, since there was no way in hell of me dropping $80 for parts 2 and 3.
    Anyway, here's the extras on THE CROW:
Behind the scenes, commentary by author James O'Barr, three extended scenes (Arcade Games, the Funboy / Draven fight, and The Shoot Out at Top Dollars).  There will be stills from deleted scenes.  Storyboards of the liquor store hold up and the Skull Cowboy, but no footage.  There will also be a Devil's Night Retribution game. 

2-4-01 ARGENTO DOCUMENTARY
    The times for the Argento Documentary, AN EYE FOR HORROR,  that will be on The Independent Film Channel will be as follows:
April 20 10PM, 1:30AM & 4:30AM
April 25 10PM & 3AM
April 30 12AM & 4:30 AM
All Eastern Time

2-1-01  TONS OF NEWS!!!
    F. Paul Wilson's short story MIDNIGHT MASS will be coming to the big screen (hopefully).  I remember reading this story and loving it, so I am very excited about the upcoming project.  The film is being done by FX artist-turned filmmaker Tony Mandile.  "The high concept we've been using is NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD meets SALEM'S LOT", says Mandile.  "It's set in a world overrun by vampires, and the main character, Joe Cahill, was a Catholic priest prior to the entire vampiric occupation.  He was not excommunicated so much as forced out of his parish by accusations of sexual misconduct, and became a drunk. The other main character is a radical atheist friend of his, and she happens upon his old church and finds that the vampires have desecrated it. They’re using it as their base of operations, and she finds him and convinces him to come back and do something about it.” 
   Mandile wrote the script and begins directing this September in New Jersey.  He previously worked on the Kevin Smith-produced A BETTER PLACE and BIG HELIUM DOG.  Mandile will have a table set up at the Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors Convention this April to promote the film.  You can also get more information about the film by checking out their website.
    I'm really looking forward to this project.
(Thanks to Fangoria)

    IMMORTALITY (formally known as WISDOM OF THE CROCODILES) will coming out on DVD this March.  The DVD will include the trailer and a documentary.  The film stars Jude Law, Tim Spall, and Elina Lowensohn.

    Apparently, David Cronenberg has dropped out of directing BASIC INSTINCT 2.  While it would of been interesting to see what he would of done...can't say that I'm upset to see him leave the project.

    DreamWorks has purchased the remake rights for the awesome Japanese horror film THE RING, for somewhere about a millions dollars.  I don't know why they don't just release the film over here as is.  Why do they have to remake it?

    Chuck Parello, director of HENRY 2 and ED GEIN, has recently signed a three picture deal with the Folmax Group.  He will first develop, co-write, and direct an English speaking film based on the Spanish short story The Werewolf of Allariz from Alfredo Conde.  The story is about a true story from the 1850's about a peddler who is acquitted of the savage attack and murders of several women by claiming that he's a werewolf.  Production will begin in Spain this September.
    They should get Paul Naschy for some role in there.  Can't have a Spanish werewolf movie without Naschy, can you?
(Thanks to Daily Variety)

    The documentary COFFIN JOE: THE STRANGE WORLD OF JOSE MOJICA MARINS won the Latin Amercian Jury Prize Special Mention Award at the Sundance Film Festival.  The documentary is about the life and career of Brazil's famous horror director Jose Mojica Marins, who has directed over 40 films and over a 100 TV films, as well as created comic books, plays, radio programs, and more.  The film has in-depth interviews with Mojica and his closest associates, that reveal the weird stories behind his movies.  The film was directed by Andre Barcinski and Ivan Finotti, two Brazilian journalists who published Mojica's biography in 1998. 
(Thanks to Dr. Casey)

1-28-01  ARGENTO NEWS
    Here's a bunch of little news bits about Argento and his newest film NONHOSONNO.  The official English title is SLEEPLESS.  Also, the new film is doing so well in Italy that it's already making a profit, which is great news for Dario.  Hopefully it gets a wide release here in the states.
    In other Argento news, here is the release dates