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Late To The Party – My Bloody Valentine – iHorror Holiday Picks

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Valentine

Aw yes, it’s that special time of year. Romantic fuzzy feelings flit about the air, heart to heart. Cupid is quite the busy little rascal right now as he sabotages daily lives with giddy giggles and heart shaped wonderment. This is the rose-tinted season of passion and romance, or at least that’s what they con us into believing in order to trick us out of our hard-earned money; money to be spent on (can you fucking believe it?) even more presents because Heaven knows Christmas shopping just wasn’t nearly enough. Chocolates are a must, dinner reservations have to be made and we’ll find ourselves wading through crowds to sit in dimly lit restaurants and drinking a little too much wine. Soft kisses and teddy bears holding sewn hearts in their fluffy hands. Yeah, that’s what Valentine’s Day is about. Hallmark cards and pop songs.

Well fuck that shit! If that scene isn’t your thing then come join the mayhem over here. Your buddy Manic Exorcism has your Bloody Valentine fix.  We want blood and guts mixed with lots of fun. We may celebrate the romantic holiday a little differently, but there’s no reason why we can’t enjoy this international day of love and beauty. So plan date night for that special maniac in your life. Snuggle up and prepare for a dripping heart-shaped treat. Lucky for us there is a quid essential horror movie to commemorate the holiday. It took me a long time to finally sit down and watch the movie, but at long last I finally watched My Bloody Valentine.

 

image via giphy

 

Right away let me get this out of the way. Do I recommend this movie? Absolutely. I’m talking about the original movie – still not seen the remake yet.

The movie opens up right away with a lovely little murder. We see two miners down in the tunnels. They stop and one starts to undress. We see a beautiful lady is behind that oxygen mask. The man she’s with refuses to remove his own mask and the romance is either brought to an end or reaches it aria (depending on what you’re into really) when he unexpectedly lifts her up and shoves her into the business end of a pickaxe. You get a sense for what kind of movie you’re in for right away.

 

image via moviestillsdb

 

So the movie starts strong and doesn’t lose steam. Apparently there’s a legend here in this happy mining town. Not so long ago a few workers got caught down in those mines due to the carelessness of their supervisors. While the poor souls were left in the dark the rest of the town celebrated the Valentine’s Day Dance. Days later a rescue team pushed through the rubble and only one survivor was left alive. By now he’d lost his mind and was devastated by the trauma. A year later he got his revenge on those responsible for the accident and shoved their hearts in a heart-shaped boxes of chocolate. He then vanished but left a warning to the town before going. He warned them to never, ever have another Valentine’s Day Dance or he’d come back to slaughter once more.

 

image via radiator heaven

 

 

Well it wouldn’t be a movie without a plot. So there has to be a dance and that rings in the carnage all over again!

This movie has the good fortune of having a very likeable cast of characters. They are a bunch of down to earth likable types that you could easily see yourself being friends with. They are innocent too. They had nothing to do with the tragedy. They break their backs down in the dirty mines. They get together and have a few beers and they love their ladies. All they want is to have a nice dance and celebrate the holiday. They’re just not that lucky I guess.

The other thing is the deaths are pretty creative. This movie came out in 1981 and the special effects are still fun to behold. There are a few nasty moments here.

There’s also this gritty dark atmosphere all across the film. Over top all the fun and party planning we see the characters engaged in there is this menacing tone oppressing each shot which makes the movie feel that much more uncomfortable. It works well.

 

 

So yeah, give this one a try or a rewatch. If you want a good horror movie for a Valentine date night this is one you can’t go wrong with. Very good slasher film that does everything right. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to finally see it, but for a first time viewing I can say it still holds up.

So this has been Manic Exorcism wishing each of you a very Bloody Valentine’s Day!

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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