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Lin Shaye: A Master Class in Acting from the Godmother of Horror

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Lin Shaye

Horror fans rejoice!  Today is the birthday of Miss Lin Shaye!  It ought to be a national holiday or something, right?

She’s young-enough-to-kick-your-ass and old-enough-to-get-away-with-it years old and in many ways is the gold standard in horror acting.  Simultaneously a breathtaking leading lady and a character actress who can disappear into any role, it’s no wonder that Shaye was proclaimed the Godmother of Horror by Wizard World Comic Con in Philadelphia back in 2015.

Few titles have been more deserved and on her birthday it’s the perfect time to take a trek down memory lane through the roles she brought to life that carved out that reputation.

Without further ado, let’s go way back to the year 1984!

English Teacher in A Nightmare on Elm Street

It takes a lot to stand out in a film where a man covered in burn scars is stalking and killing teenagers in their nightmares.  And yet, by her own admission, there are people who still approach Miss Shaye to this day for her role in Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street.

It’s a pretty phenomenal feat considering she’s only on screen for about two minutes.  Yet, that two minutes established a lot about that teacher’s character.  She showed more nurturing in placing that hand on Nancy’s shoulder than either of the girl’s parents expressed in the rest of the film.  Take a look and see!

Sally in Critters and Critters 2

Another small(ish) role, though the part was expanded in the second film, Sally was funny, charming, and had problems distinguishing reality from fiction where tabloids were concerned.  Her red hair and redder lips just added to her unforgettable image in this ultimate 80s creature feature.  Shaye’s work as Sally proved she could work a scene inside and out, pulling or sharing focus depending on what was needed.

Laura Harrington in Dead End

Those small roles lead to larger roles as people began to take notice of the real talent that was Lin Shaye.  She stole the show in There’s Something About Mary and Kingpin, and before long she found herself starring in Jean-Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa’s 2003 horror farce Dead End.  She played Laura Harringon, a mother trying to hold her family together on a holiday trip.  Watching Shaye spin out of control from the caring mother to the maniacal woman in the midst of a breakdown was glorious.  I don’t think I’ll ever get the image of her eating that whole pie with her hands out of my head!

If you’ve never seen it, add it to your list of must see films.  The brilliant ensemble, that also includes Ray Wise, is a holiday favorite in my house and it should be in yours as well.  Take a look at the trailer below for a few glimpses of Shaye’s brilliant performance.

Granny Boone in 2001 Maniacs and 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams

Whether she was calling a seriously messed up square dance or reminding people of their manners at the dinner table, Granny Boone was not to be messed with.  Shaye approached this film, a remake of the H.G. Lewis splatterfest co-starring Robert Englund, with gusto and embraced the carnage of it all with glee.  She completely gives herself over to it.  It was no surprise when she came back for the sequel.  It just wouldn’t have been the same without her…

Elise Rainier in Insidious Chapters 1-4 and beyond!

OK, so maybe the “and beyond” is totally wishful thinking, but you’ll have to forgive me because I don’t ever want this series to end.  Miss Shaye was so compelling in the role of psychic medium Elise Rainier that she soon found the franchise being crafted around that role, even though she ostensibly died in the first film.  The solution?  Start moving backward in time to show us who Elise was and how she came to be the lady we met in that film.  In Shaye’s hands, Elise became a compassionate, powerful woman who could be genuinely vulnerable and tough as nails seemingly simultaneously.  And no one, and I mean no one, emotes terror the way that Lin does in these films.  When her breath and voice become shaky, I immediately begin to tense up even after multiple viewings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKGFgQ7U_Vo

Paulina Zander in Ouija

Oft maligned, Ouija centers on a group of teenagers who find themselves haunted by spirits after playing with a cursed Ouija board.  As they go looking for answers, the heroine tracks down a former resident of the home where the board was found, but Paulina isn’t exactly what she seems to be?  Shaye was wonderful in a role that could have easily been a caricature.  She projected absolute sincerity, even in her nefariousness.  Don’t believe me?  Take a look.

.Teresa in Jack Goes Home

If, by now, anyone ever doubted that Shaye was a serious actress with serious skills, they should sit down and watch Jack Goes Home.  When Jack returns home after an accident that killed his father and seriously injured his mother, he finds himself confronting issues he thought he’d left behind long ago.  Shaye plays Jack’s mother in a stunning performance turning from nurturing to abusive and back again in the blink of an eye.  In short, she is brilliant.  Every action and reaction is perfectly placed and timed.

Allie in Abattoir

What can I say about Lin Shaye in Abattoir?  In the film, someone is stealing the rooms where murders have taken place.  A young woman named Julia goes in search of who could be taking the rooms and what they could be using them for, and in the course of her investigation, she meets Allie.  Allie seems to hold the answers to all of Julia’s question, but giving up those secrets isn’t as easy as either would like.  Shaye gives yet another layered performance that walks a razor thin line between sanity and insanity, and she does it so well!  The film is terrifying and Shaye’s performance enhances every moment.  If you haven’t seen it, you must!

Well, there they are.  Just a few of the roles that proved Lin Shaye was the legend she’s been proclaimed.  She is a consummate actress, regardless of genre (anyone who’s ever seen Sedona or Detroit Rock City knows what I mean), but she will always be our Godmother of Horror.

Featured Image by Richard Perry/New York Times

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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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