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John Lithgow has some big shoes to fill as Jud Crandall

Published

5 years ago

April 4, 2019

John Lithgow has some big shoes to fill as Jud Crandall

When I first heard they were remaking Pet Sematary my initial thought was how impossible it would be to replace the iconic role of Jud Crandall. Originally brought to life by the one and only Fred Gwynne, the kindly old man serves as the story’s backbone.

In a true shamanistic fashion, Jud Crandall is our guide down the weathered path leading to the enigmatic Pet Sematary, and he walks about each grave somehow knowing the story behind every one of them. He’s a man who has spent his entire life close to the mysteries surrounding that silent graveyard, and he is one of the very few who still remembers the insidious secrets of what lies beyond its deadfall.

Jud’s character adds a very human touch to the story. He quickly takes to the story’s protagonist, Lois Creed, and feels protective of the whole Creed family who have just moved in across from him. He’s the grandfatherly kind of guy, the one you can trust and confide in. He knows the area like the back of his weathered hand – both the good and the bad. When the Creed family cat dies, Jud Crandall takes it on himself to share the area’s darkest secret with Louis and leads him to the old forsaken Micmac burial ground that lies uneasily beyond the barrier of the Pet Sematary.

image via IMDB, courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Jud later regrets this action and sets in motion dark forces that have set themselves against the Creeds. Jud Crandall is absolutely essential to the story’s success.

The role was masterfully played by the gentle Fred Gwynne, and, honestly, I felt as if no one could ever live up to his high standard. That’s the deal with remakes though: the originals are so firmly rooted in our nostalgia that to imagine anyone else filling in those already-beloved roles is somewhat a heresy.

Then they announced the one and only John Lithgow would be taking over the role and I was hooked. Many people may remember Lithgow from his comedic role on 3rd Rock From the Sun, a fun and lively sitcom where Lithgow stole every single scene he was in.

Me, on the other hand, think of Dexter Season 4 when it comes to John Lithgow. In that season Lithgow played the overarching villain who captivates Dexter’s attention. Lithgow plays the vicious Trinity Killer and is excellent in the role. No, that’s not quite it. Is there a better word for it? It seems like ‘excellent’ is inadequate a word to fully describe the man’s legendary performance. He by far dominated the show by it.

And he was scary as Hell! I mean that. We had already seen a few maniacs on Dexter, but there was something way more to the character John Lithgow played. It was nothing short of sinister. To look at him you would never expect he was capable of such heinous crimes. The guy was a pillar of the community, well respected, and was a family man who lived right next door. That all lent to the terror of his performance.

So they couldn’t have picked a better actor to take on the role of Jud Crandall, one of Stephen King’s most beloved characters. We’ll be there this weekend ready to get chills as we listen to Lithgow/Crandall explain to us why dead is sometimes better.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

46 mins ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

4 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.