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A Look Back At Margot Kidder’s Extensive Career in Horror

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Margot Kidder

Earlier today, we shared the tragic news of the death of iconic actress Margot Kidder. Kidder was perhaps best known for her role as Lois Lane in Superman I-IV, but the Canadian-born actress has strong roots in the horror genre. We all share the loss of such a bright and vibrant star.

Margaret Ruth Kidder – aka Margot Kidder – was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. One (or, rather, two) of her earliest roles was in Brian De Palma’s Sisters where she played Danielle Breton and Dominique Blanchion. The 1973 psychological horror film focuses on a French Canadian model whose separated Conjoined twin is suspected of a brutal murder (as witnessed by a newspaper reporter).

Margot Kidder in Sisters via AIP (American International Pictures)

Kidder’s performance was praised by critics who noted the film’s homage to the works of Alfred Hitchcock. She plays the roles of Danielle and Dominique with a coy balance of coquettish grace and unhinged mania, creating a division between the two sisters.

In 1974, Kidder burst onto the scene with the Canadian cult classic, Black Christmas. Bob Clark’s festive horror film is one of the first conventional slasher films and successfully passes the Bechdel Test. It features a group of strong women whose characters are fully fleshed out as they deal with their own personal concerns and growth (while being systematically hunted down by a crazed killer).

Kidder’s performance as sassy, foul-mouthed fan favorite Barb won her a Canadian Film Award for Best Actress, as well as the admiration of audience members for decades to come.

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via The Mary Sue

A year after Kidder’s debut as Lois Lane in Superman, she solidified her scream queen status as matriarch Kathy Lutz in the hugely successful The Amityville Horror. Though the 1979 film received mostly negative reviews from critics (at the time), it has since been regarded by film scholars as one of the classics of the horror genre.

Kidder was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of a mother in terrified turmoil. The film’s success (it was the highest grossing independent film up until 1990, raking in a total of over $86 million) spawned a slew of sequels, remakes, and genre fan obsessions over the architecturally identifiable (and questionably haunted) house.

Kidder further embraced genre roles with horror anthology series like Deadly Nightmares in 1985 (in which she played the episode lead, Jane Reynolds, in Season 3’s Nightshift), The Outer Limits in 2000 (in the Season 6 episode Revival, alongside Gary Busey), and R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour in 2014 (as the titular character in Season 4’s Mrs. Worthington, for which she won an Emmy Award). Kidder also featured in the anthology film Death 4 Told in 2004 (in the segment titled The Psychic).

Her range extended to the critically acclaimed To Catch a Killer in 1992, the two-part, made-for-TV-movie about the gruesome true story of serial killer John Wayne Gacy. The miniseries was nominated for the American Television Awards for Best Miniseries, and Kidder’s co-star, Brian Dennehy, was nominated for an Emmy Award for his performance as Gacy.

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Smaller roles in The Clown At Midnight in 1999 (alongside Christopher Plummer) and Rob Zombie’s Halloween II in 2009 (playing Laurie Strode’s therapist) continued her work through the genre.

Lois Lane aside, Margot Kidder was a name you’d know with a bright and exuberant face you instantly recognize.

She was versatile. She was resilient. And she will be missed.

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Childhood Memories Collide in New Horror Film ‘Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble’

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It looks like ITN Studious and Jagged Edge Productions are going the Avengers: Infinity War route with their upcoming film Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. From the deranged mind of Rhys Frake-Waterfield (Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey) comes this belligerent mash up of beloved childhood icons.

According to an article out of Variety today, Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble will consist of Winnie the Pooh, Bambi, Tinkerbell, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Tigger, Piglet, The Mad Hatter, and Sleeping Beauty. All of these iconic figured will be warped into nightmarish versions of their former selves. Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble is set to be released upon the world sometime in 2025.

Poohniverse

Actor-producer Scott Chambers (Malevolent) had the following to say about Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. “As horror fans, we would love an Avengers that is all villains. It’d have Freddy Krueger, Jason, ‘Halloween,’ ‘Scream,’ all of those. Obviously that will never happen, but we can make it happen in our own little way, and that’s where this film has been born.”

Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble will be a part of The Twisted Childhood Universe. Just like the MCU, each character will first get a standalone film. After introductions are made, they will be reunited in an Avengers style film. Although they will be killing off the survivors from the previous films, they won’t be working together.

Chambers describes this as an “epic sequences of monster vs. monster.” And I don’t know what more fans could ask of the studio. This fantastical idea is a huge risk but Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble sounds amazing.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Check back here for more updates on Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble. If you haven’t already, check out the trailer for Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 2 below.

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Blumhouse’s ‘The Wolf Man’ Reboot Kicks Off Production with Leigh Whannell at the Helm

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Blumhouse Productions has officially commenced filming its reboot of the Universal Monsters legend, “Wolf Man”. Under the direction of Leigh Whannell, known for his acclaimed work on “The Invisible Man” (2020), the project promises to breathe new life into the iconic tale. The film is slated for a theatrical release on October 25th, marking a new chapter in the storied franchise.

Wolf Man

The journey of a “Wolf Man” reboot began in 2020 when actor Ryan Gosling presented a fresh take on the classic story to Universal. This concept quickly evolved into a screenplay crafted by the talented duo Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo, who are known for their work on “Orange Is the New Black,” alongside contributions from Whannell and Corbett Tuck. The narrative is set in contemporary times, drawing inspiration from the atmospheric tension of Jake Gyllenhaal’s “Nightcrawler,” albeit with a distinct supernatural twist.

The film has seen its share of directorial and casting shifts, with Whannell initially signing on to direct in 2020, only to step away and then return to the project after Ryan Gosling and director Derek Cianfrance exited. The lead roles have been filled by Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner, both of whom bring significant talent to the screen. Abbott portrays a man whose family faces the terror of a lethal predator, with Garner likely playing his wife, sharing in the familial peril. The storyline also hints at a daughter named Ginger, adding a layer of depth to the family’s harrowing experience.

Julia Garner and Christopher Abbott

This reboot represents a collaboration between Blumhouse and Motel Movies, with Jason Blum producing. Ryan Gosling remains involved as an executive producer, alongside Ken Kao, Bea Sequeira, Mel Turner, and Whannell himself. The announcement of the film’s production start was made by Jason Blum, who shared an exciting glimpse of Whannell on set, signaling the beginning of what is hoped to be a memorable addition to the horror genre.

As the “Wolf Man” reboot moves forward, fans and newcomers alike are eager to see how this modern interpretation will pay homage to its roots while offering a fresh and thrilling experience. With a talented cast and crew at the helm, the film is poised to reintroduce the timeless tale of transformation and terror to a new generation.

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‘Immaculate’ Stars Reveal Which Horror Villains They Would “F, Marry, Kill”

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Sydney Sweeney is just coming off the success of her rom-com Anyone But You, but she’s ditching the love story for a horror story in her latest film Immaculate.

Sweeney is taking Hollywood by storm, portraying everything from a love-lusting teenager in Euphoria to an accidental superhero in Madame Web. Although the latter got a lot of hate among theater-goers, Immaculate is getting the polar opposite.

The film was screened at SXSW this past week and was well-received. It also gained a reputation for being extremely gory. Derek Smith of Slant says the, “final act contains some of the most twisted, gory violence this particular subgenre of horror has seen in years…”

Thankfully curious horror movie fans won’t have to wait long to see for themselves what Smith is talking about as Immaculate will hit theaters across the United States on March, 22.

Bloody Disgusting says that the movie’s distributor NEON, in a bit of marketing smarts, had stars Sydney Sweeney and Simona Tabasco play a game of “F, Marry, Kill” in which all their choices had to be horror movie villains.

It’s an interesting question, and you might be surprised at their answers. So colorful are their responses that YouTube slapped an age-restricted rating on the video.

Immaculate is a religious horror movie that NEON says stars Sweeney, “as Cecilia, an American nun of devout faith, embarking on a new journey in a remote convent in the picturesque Italian countryside. Cecilia’s warm welcome quickly devolves into a nightmare as it becomes clear her new home harbors a sinister secret and unspeakable horrors.”

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