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‘Needful Things’ Film Celebrates Its Twenty-Fourth Anniversary

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The unrivaled maestro of all things macabre, Stephen King, brought about a modern tale of darkly familiar world-ideas pertaining to the beautifully insidious aspect of human desire. It could have happened anywhere, and that’s part of the charm as well as fear. Needful Things, the sign read above the soon-to-be-opened antique shop.

A NEW KIND OF STORE, it boasted to all who paused to ponder at what may lay in wait behind its locked threshold.

Image via imdb

“You won’t believe your eyes!” they were all told, and oh what dark delicacies were hidden away in secret places of that quaint little storefront.

With his signature impeccable flare, Stephen King rewrote the Faustian classic and warned a brand new generation – “be careful what you wish for.” But I digress, reader; this isn’t a morality epic of wishful desires, but as the title indicates – needful things. Those particulars no one can live without.

Image via Cineplex

That insanely rare baseball card just beyond your reach, the very one that keeps your collection infuriatingly incomplete.

Or how about the obscene phallic sculpture of pure sex that you hope the church-people don’t catch you eyeing? So you must hide it away in the privacy of your own home.

A knick-knack here, a do-hicky there; for me no doubt it would have something to do with a handsome collection of horror literature or comics.

Image via AIM FOR THE BRAIN

Whatever you need, you’ll find it. All right here, my friends – things you never knew you couldn’t live without. Mr. Gaunt, the tall and kindly store owner, will be sure you find such things, then work out a special deal you simply won’t be able to refuse.

Image via imdb

Already proven to be a masterpiece upon its initial publication, the movie adaptation by the same name captured the somber essence of King’s powerful novel.

Image via AbeBooks

Taking on the devilish role of Leland Gaunt would be a devil of a burden. The role of Castle Rock’s very own Tempter would require some massive talent from a seasoned actor with interchangeable grace and malice. Not to mention a flare for old-fashioned charm.

Well speak of the Devil, Max von Sydow (The Exorcist, Solomon Kane, Greatest Story Ever Told, Star Wars: The Force Awakens) took on the role and gives a captivating performance. It is nothing short of perfect casting.

Image via hippoquotes

Audiences were already very familiar with Max von Sydow’s impeccable talent on screen. He had proven himself to be an established actor among the brightest stars, and rightly earned praise for his haunting portrayal of the Messiah in the biblical epic Greatest Story Ever Told.

Some years later he would once more battle the forces of darkness, not as the Savior, but as The Exorcist determined to save the demon-imprisoned soul of Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair).

From Jesus of Nazareth to Father Merrin, von Sydow was not unfamiliar with the ways of the supernatural. However, he had always played on the side of the Light, and in the end – through personal sacrifice – his characters won out against Darkness.

Now it was his turn to give the Devil his due as he took on the manipulative role of the Prince of Darkness and silently worked the certain doom of Castle Rock. His performance is spot on, and feels so deadly natural. It’s spell-binding. If for nothing else the movie is worth watching to see Max von Sydow shine with dark glamour.

Image via imdb

The only person able to withstand the diabolical wiles of Mr. Gaunt is town sheriff, Alan Pangborn (Ed Harris). This was not the first Stephen King adaptation in Harris’s career, having already appeared in the Father’s Day segment of cult-classic Creepshow.

Ed Harris did not fair too well against the tricky zombie of Father’s Day, but is given another chance to battle the dark forces of Stephen King’s wicked imagination. And comes out the hero. Upon meeting with Gaunt in Needful Things, Gaunt asks him what he asks everyone, “What is it you need?”

Image via forum.kinopoiske

Pangborn answered with an honest smile, “Nothing. I have everything I need.”

With that simplicity of contentment the Devil is already outwitted and undone. It’s that level of child-like purity that unbinds the cords of greed, lust, and perverse needs. Covetousness bears no weight against a heart that is truly content.

Pangborn is not a priest or anointed to ward off paranormal enormities. He’s not a renowned warrior nor does he walk in the light of God’s hallowed touch upon him. He’s simply a good man. A man who realizes things don’t complete his life. It’s the people in it that have completed him, and they are the ones he fights the beguilement of Leland Gaunt for.

Image via Mondo Digital

It is a profound simplicity and one I hope our society can someday realize.

The film turns twenty-four today and hasn’t lost one moment of its original charm or character.

Image via The Film Philosopher

“When the smoke cleared, Leland Gaunt and his hellwagon were gone.” Stephen King, Needful Things

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Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

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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.

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Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

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lizzie borden house

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.

Inside the Lizzie Borden House

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.”

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.

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

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28 years later

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.

28 Days Later

The original film followed Jim (Cillian Murphy) who wakes from a coma to find that London is currently dealing with a zombie outbreak.

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