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Happy Father’s Day: Top Five Best Horror Movie Dads

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Horror Movie Dads

Happy Father’s Day, horror fans! You know, it’s hard to decide who gets a worse rap in horror movies: Mom or Dads.

They’re both prone to dipping their toes in the psycho pool when they aren’t outright telling their kids that they’re just imagining something evil is going down in the neighborhood–even when the parents are the ones who unleashed the evil to begin with.

Still, in honor of the holiday, we thought we’d shine a light on a few of those sometimes well-meaning horror movie dads!

***Author’s Note: For the purpose of this list, we’re focusing on the dads who actually tried to do something good, even if their good intentions went south. For that reason, you won’t see, for instance, the old bastard father from Creepshow on this list. That dude was just evil from the start!

#1 Ed Harley, Pumpkinhead

You can hardly blame Ed Harley (the always delightful Lance Henricksen) for wanting a little revenge on the kids who killed his son, admittedly by accident, and then fled the scene. Who wouldn’t want to see them pay?

But maybe, just maybe, going to the old witch, Haggis (Florence Schauffler) and asking her to set loose the ultimate evil on them was a step too far!

No? Maybe?

Regardless, he’s the kind of dad that goes all in for his kid, and we’re wishing Ed a very Happy Father’s Dad with a condolence letter attached.

#2 Lt. Thompson, A Nightmare on Elm Street 1 & 3

Remember those dads who just ignore the problem and insist they’ve got everything under control that I mentioned above?

Nancy Thompson’s police officer dad (John Saxon) fits that bill perfectly. Nancy told that man, who if you’ll remember was part of the mob that exacted a little vigilante justice on one Freddy Kreuger once upon a time, numerous times exactly what was going on, and he spends the rest of the first movie running around trying to arrest a teenager.

I don’t know…maybe it’s just too hard to look your own dirty deeds in the face. Maybe you just can’t believe something supernatural.

Regardless, Lt. Thompson did show up in the third film and reluctantly tried to make up for some of what went down in the first round so I guess we can give him a little credit anyway.

Happy Father’s Day, Lt. Thompson! Hope you sleep well at night.

#3 Frank, 28 Days Later

Now, Frank (Brendan Gleeson) here, is an MVP among horror movie dads.

When rage zombies take over the country, he barricades himself and his daughter in their apartment, figures out a few nifty survival tricks, and welcomes Jim and Selena into their little fortified home like honored guests.

When they set out together to seek the safety of a supposed sanctuary, Frank protects his daughter, Hannah, right up until the point that a tiny drop of blood turns himself into one of the raging monsters they’ve been fleeing.

Poor Frank, it was a nasty way to go, but you kind of figured from the first time he showed up on the screen that he was on borrowed time.

Happy Father’s Day, Frank! You didn’t deserve to go out like that!

horror movie dads

#4 Louis Creed, Pet Sematary

You can’t really blame Louis Creed (Dale Midkiff) for wanting to keep his family together.

He was going through some serious trauma after the death of his little boy, and you have to admit, if you knew there was a way to bring a loved one back you might at least consider it.

Personally, though, I really do think he had a serious issue with “fixing things.” I mean I would have stopped after I saw what happened when the cat came back.

Unfortunately, Louis didn’t learn his lesson, and he paid for it dearly.

Happy Father’s Day, Louis! Would you do it all over again?

#5 Gabe Wilson, Us

All Gabe Wilson (Winston Duke) wanted to do was take his family on a nice summer vacation to the beach.

He is, in a lot of ways, the quintessential bumbling dad buying a broke down boat, singing in the car, embarrassing his kids, not listening to his wife when she says something’s wrong.

Still, when the chips are down, Gabe steps up. His first thought is for his family, and even though he and his wife have differences of opinions on how they should go about protecting them, he’s still in it 100% to the end.

Happy Father’s Day, Gabe! Have you figured out your wife’s secret, yet?!

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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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