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MondoCon III Artist Interview: Ghoulish Gary Pullin

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With MondoCon III just around the corner, we sat down with one of our favorite Mondo artists, Ghoulish Gary Pullin for a quick chat.

Pullin’s work is heavily centered in a lot of genre favorites. His use of bright colors and specific detail is hypnotic and can be seen through all of his works. Originally, Pullin worked as a art director for ‘Rue Morgue Magazin’e and has since won a Rondo Hatton Award for artist of the year, and become a popular Mondo artist. His work echoes the same sensibilities as those special horror films you never get tired of watching and have the gravity to transport you back into some of your favorite movie moments.

iHORROR: Who were some of your influences?

Gary Pullin: If we’re taking about who my biggest contemporary influences are from the poster scene then, I’d have to say my three biggest are probably Jay Shaw and my Canadian cohorts Jason Edmiston and Justin Erickson from Phantom City Creative. Jay Shaw for his brilliant solutions, simple concepts and use of text. He can nail a movie or soundtrack with one simple, clean image and that can be a powerful thing. Edmiston for his monster talent at painting, drawing, bright lighting techniques and his ability to render just about anything from striking portraits to landscapes. Justin for his clever concepts and strong graphic design that seamlessly mends with his illustration style.

iH: I know it’s prolly a ever-changing list. But, right now what are your top 3 horror films?

Gary Pullin: You’re right, my top three horror films constantly rotate and if you were to ask me next month, it may be slightly different but lately, I keep going back to ‘The Changeling,’ ‘Session 9’ and ‘The Creature From The Black Lagoon.’ I’m also obsessed with the original ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre,’ ‘Friday the 13th’ and ‘John Carpenter’s The Thing.’ See, it’s too hard!

iH: This is the third year of MondoCon. What do you enjoy most about being part of it?

Gary Pullin: Aside from the exhibiting aspect and meeting the people who like my artwork, I’d have to say it’s hanging out and meeting  all of the incredible artists there. I’m lucky to call a lot of these folks friends. It’s also always great catching up with the hardworking folks at Mondo that make MondoCon possible. They have created a whole new convention experience for fans of film inspired artwork, music and pop culture. It’s also in Austin, which is reason enough to attend, I love it there.

iH: With licensing set aside, do you have any dream projects that you would like to work on?

Gary Pullin: I’d love the opportunity to work with Criterion on a blu-ray release, or work with Quentin Tarantino on something. I grew up reading Stephen King books, so I would jump at the chance to do a cover for anything he’s written and as much as I’ve been inspired by movie posters from the 1980s, there was some memorable book covers from that era too like ‘Christine,’ ‘Pet Cemetery,’ ‘Skeleton Crew’ and ‘Salem’s Lot.’

iH. What print do you own (other artists work) that is your all time fave. The one you love the most.

Gary Pullin: That’s another tough question because it changes often, but if it was a matter of of saving one print from a house fire right now it would be Jason Edmiston’s ‘Halloween’ variant. If there was time to run back into the house, I’d grab Ken Taylor’s ‘Maniac.’

iH: What is your process after you choose a project?

Gary Pullin: I usually start out by watching the film again with a sketch book and I’ll do very rough thumbnails, write down thoughts and ideas. If it’s a soundtrack, I’ll listen to it to help find the mood or atmosphere I want to convey. Once I’ve got a few things jotted down, I’ll move onto the computer to tighten up my layouts and to present my best concepts. I like to show a broad range of ideas to show I’ve thought about different directions. It happens once in a while but it’s rare I land on the first idea that comes to mind. Sometimes the client has a general idea or suggestion for what they are looking for or what they would like too see, which helps too and we go from there.

iH: ‘Fright Night,’ ‘Scream’ and ‘It’ are all amazing prints of yours that have had remakes in film and TV. What are your feelings on genre remakes? Do you think there are good ones out there?

Gary Pullin: Thanks very much! I do think there are great remakes that have been made, but the knee-jerk reaction, especially from the horror community, is to instantly pounce on a proposed remake. Considering most of them haven’t been so great,  it’s hard to keep looking forward to them. I look at it like when a band covers a song. If the artists covering the material can’t bring something new to it, build upon the original or are just doing it note for note, then what’s the point? But when they work, they can stand on their own so I try to reserve judgement until I see it. ‘The Thing,’ ‘The Fly,’ ‘The Blob,’ ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,’ ‘The Ring,’ ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ and ‘Piranha 3D’ were all successful updates to me but there’s been more than a few that make me think they really should have just left it on the shelf.

iH: Your artwork for the Monster Squad soundtrack is fantastic. The creature is on of my fave characters. Can you tell me how you got involved in that project? And what’s a dream soundtrack you would love to work on?

Gary Pullin: I really felt like a kid working on ‘The Monster Squad’ vinyls. Mondo first contacted me about creating the Wolfman cover for the 7″ singles that was released back in May. They often joke that Randy Ortiz, Jason Edmiston, Justin Erickson and I are like the Canadian Monster Squad so the asked each of us to do one. I also got to design the back covers of those first four releases so when Mondo came to me to do the full package soundtrack design, they asked what I would do, I suggested we could take that back cover idea of Monster Magazine classified ads and carry it across the rest of the packaging. I imagined what kind of stuff you could order from the back pages of monster magazines or comic books and mixed the whole monster kid craze from the 1950s with ‘The Monster Squad.’ For example, the 6-foot Frankenstein’s Monster on the cover is a nod to the actual Jack Davis’ standee and the Creature model is a nod to the Aurora model. It just seemed to make sense to try this direction and it was incredibly satisfying coming up with the accompanying verbiage and imagery. I felt right at home in the clubhouse working on this one. Up until last year it was ‘My Bloody Valentine’ but I got the opportunity to do that with WaxWork Records but I’d love to do anything official for ‘The Changeling,’ both for the soundtrack or a poster.

Those lucky enough to attend MondoCon III, need to make sure to stop by Gary’s booth and say hello. Among the many great prints and vinyl soundtracks, he will feature a Monster Squad soundtrack with a fantastic Creature (From the Black Lagoon) interior.

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MondoCon features tons of amazing artists, prints, vinyls pins, beer, food and film. For more info on how to be part of the beautiful chaos go to, https://mondotees.com/pages/mondocon.

MondoCon is a celebration of everything we love, including movies, art, comics, music, toys and food. It’s a weekend curated with our fans in mind, featuring incredible Artists & Creators from around the world, Panels, Screenings, Food Trucks & Interactive Events. MondoCon 2016 takes place October 22nd and 23rd in Austin, Texas.

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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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