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Late to the Party: Young Frankenstein (1974)

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Though I would never be confused with an aficionado, someone who had consumed every film or book helmed by Gene Wilder, I felt the cinematic magnitude of his death on August 29. Much like virtually everyone who’d seen Wilder in films like Blazing Saddles, The Producers, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Stir Crazy, I was a fan.

Few had ever been as calm and gentle or as warm and funny as Wilder, so thoughts of his collaborations with Mel Brooks and Richard Pryor began dancing through my head along with the desire to revisit some of those phenomenal works of comedic genius.

That’s when my mind turned to a friend who was constantly quoting Space Balls and History of the World: Part I, and urging me to sample more Brooks fare.

With that in mind, I instantly ran out to pick up a copy of Young Frankenstein, another flick said friend chuckled about often, and was not disappointed.

The film’s premise was that Wilder was a brilliant scientist doing all he could to make the world forget the madman antics of his grandfather, but once given the opportunity, had the “itch” to determine whether he could see reanimation through without the catastrophic end of his predecessor.

For the life of me, I can’t recall who’d said it on Twitter, but they’d noted that the ultimate compliment they could pay Jaws was that they would gladly watch a feature film centered on any of the main characters from the Steven Spielberg classic. That sentiment holds true for me with Young Frankenstein.

Ensemble casts are almost always a joy, with varied talents on display for our delightful consumption, and Young Frankenstein may be the best of the bunch.

Though Brooks did not appear on screen for this film, his voice could be heard off camera on several occasions, and his decision (along with Wilder’s) to pay homage to the Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchester-led Frankenstein films while satarizing them was spot on. The call to move forward in black and white with an exaggerated look from the original pictures was one questioned by the studio at the time, but in retrospect, was absolutely spot on.

It gave the film an old time feel, and as with all Brooks projects, it glowed with the atmosphere and charm of a stage production. And the stage is the finest venue to showcase immeasurable talent.

yfCalm and composed with the occasional moment of lunacy, Wilder was incomprable. From the insistence that his last name be pronounced Fronken-steen so as to distance himself from his “cuckoo” grandfather to “mother-grabbing” knees to the groin of a subdued test subject to “Put the candle back,” Wilder was at his best, which is a profound statement.

Of course, Wilder had written the original screenplay, but once he and Brooks developed the final project, it was a veritable smorgasbord for a cast which proved absolutely ravenous.

The laughs are legion with Marty Feldman, whose eyes alone could have been a character unto themselves, a fact not lost on Wilder or Brooks. Feldman was masterful in countering Wilder’s pronunciation of Frankenstein with Eye-gore, and his own idea to switch his character’s hump from one side to the other throughout was pure genius. In a way, the whole film revolved around Feldman.

However, Feldman was not alone with regard to standout performances, and their praises must be sung.

Teri Garr’s German accent and sexual innuendo never seemed forced, and lingered just long enough for the audience to catch the meaning and laugh as the group moved to the next joke.

Whereas Inspector Kemp was a necessary character which could have been a throwaway, Kenneth Mars gave it the Benicio Del Toro treatment twenty years before we even knew who Fenster was. Mars gave the good inspector a robotic way of moving and almost indecipherable manner of speech that ate up the screen whenever he was appeared in a scene.

Cloris Leachman’s improvisational Ovaltine and the running gag of Frau Blucher never got old, and the intensity with which she straightly played the character was creepy and hysterical at once.

Though Peter Boyle was known best as Ray Romano’s father from “Everybody Loses Raymond,” his portrayal of the monster brought the whole film together. While physically imposing, it was Boyle’s wry smirks and joke set-ups that landed the largest laughs. With top hat and tails and a grunted “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” a brief but unforgettable scene with Gene Hackman and glance at the audience after the little girl by the lake asked what else they could toss into the water, Boyle’s timing was spot on with (almost) nary a word spoken.

I’d be remiss, however, if I didn’t focus attention on Madeline Khan. The woman was an absolute marvel. Who has ever been funnier than Madeline Khan? The perfect combination of beauty, talent and hilarity, Khan absolutely destroyed every moment she was featured, and my biggest laugh came from the schwanzstucker payoff when Khan broke into “Oh, Sweet Mystery.” All of Khan’s innumerable talents were on display in Young Frankenstein, not the least of which was that voice. It cannot be stressed enough — though Madeline Khan may no longer be with us, referring to her skills in the past tense would be an injustice — she is a national treasure.

The brilliance of Wilder and Brooks were on full display with Young Frankenstein, and the ensemble cast offered a humor and charm that cannot be replicated. The theatrical background of Wilder and Brooks was palpable throughout, and the finished product was the better for it.

If you have not seen Young Frankenstein, I implore you to remedy that as quickly as possible, because it opened the door for The Evil Dead franchise, Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland, and is perhaps the finest horror comedy ever produced.

Be sure to check back for next Wednesday’s Late to the Party when Jonathan Correia tackles the first three installments of Paranormal Activity.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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