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Revisiting The Texas Chain Saw Massacre On The Big Screen

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This year, Tobe Hooper’s seminal The Texas Chain Saw Massacre celebrated its 40th anniversary with a brand new 4k transfer.  The restoration was mainly for blu-ray and DVD release, but the film has also been getting a limited release theatrical run.  Beginning this past summer, the 40th anniversary restoration print of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has been slowly but surely trickling its way through theaters, and it came to my neck of the woods for a single midnight showing last Saturday night.

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The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of those movies that gained its huge cult following in the years after its release, so many of the film’s fans have never seen it on the big screen.  Until Saturday, I was included in that group.  So, in order to cross that one off the list, there I was, midnight on a Saturday night, sitting in a theater full of rowdy horror fans, waiting for the familiar buzz of the saw.

The film itself was shot on 16mm slow film stock, so The Texas Chain Saw Massacre looks like a low-fi indie movie.  That’s actually a big part of its charm; it has the feel of a grindhouse documentary, and that only makes it seem more real.  In retrospect, it’s not as effective as it should be, as the modern horror climate is saturated with found footage duds and faux-documentaries.  But, in the context of when it was made, it’s a knockout – the gritty look helped initial 1974 audiences believe that The Texas Chain Saw Massacre was a “true story.”  Because of the limitations of the original film, there is only so much that the restoration can (or even should) improve.  The picture is cleaned up, and some of the darker scenes can be seen more clearly, but the movie is what it is.  It still looks great.

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The real noticeable difference between the original film and the new restoration is in the sound.  The new 7.1 mix brings out little details that were imperceptible on earlier versions of the film – the song that is playing on the radio in the van, the squeal of the pigs in the background of the slaughterhouse.  These little particulars are cool, but they are also there in the blu-ray.  The real fun of seeing this version of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre in a theater is the saw itself.  When Leatherface cranks up the hardware, the noise is earth-rattling.  By the time the film reaches its conclusion, and Leatherface is swinging the chainsaw around in the iconic final shot, the sound of the gasoline engine on the power tool is deafening, leading to an eruption of full-on applause from the audience.  It’s awesome.

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Classic horror movies are best enjoyed with an audience, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is no exception.  The audience in my particular showing was respectful, but it was a group that was already intimately familiar with the movie; no one was worrying about missing an important plot point because the person next to them was laughing or screaming.  Everyone was just having fun.  The theatrical revival of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre may be running the end of its course, but it is still happening; you’ll just have to keep an ear to the ground in your city to find out when it’s there.  If you want to see the movie, watch the blu-ray.  If you want to experience the film, go to a theater.

 

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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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