Connect with us

Books

Horror Movie Pets Worthy of the Pet Sematary

Published

on

Pet Sematary Horror pets

Since this February is Responsible Pet Owners Month, we thought we’d take a look at some pretty impressive beasts who have gone the extra mile to protect their masters out of gratitude. But since nothing lives forever, we thought we’d visit the afterworld’s most infamous resting place.

The Pet Sematary is known for its twisted take on resurrection — as Jud Crandall says, sometimes dead is better — but we still think that there are a few heroic four-legged friends in the horror genre that should deserve a second chance.

Pets that are so pure and good that there’s no way the sour soil could turn their temperament. They’ve put their lives at risk for their human companions, showing their honorable bravery and dedication, never asking for anything in return.

There are a number of horror films that show the dark side of creepy creatures, but the animals on this list are proof that there is still some good in the world. They’ve comforted and protected their owners in their most dramatic time of need. For that, we think they’ve earned a second shot, even if they do come back a little wrong.

Come on, we at least owe them that much.

Nanook – The Lost Boys (1987)

Image result for nanook the lost boys

We should all be Team Nanook, because that dog is a dang treasure. Loyal friend-to-the-end and A+ vampire detector, Nanook (aka Cody the Alaskan Malamute) is a very good boy.

Fiercely loyal, Nanook wasn’t afraid to turn on family in order to keep his owner safe. This dog doesn’t mess around. Bless you, Nanook, for guarding us all against the goddamn shit-sucking vampires in our family.

Jonesy – Alien (1979)

When you’re hurling through space in a commercial tugboat, it’s helpful to have a little morale boost. Enter Jonesy the cat.

Jonesy is a source of comfort for the crew, injecting a bit of warmth and heart into the cold, gritty atmosphere of the Nostromo. And this cat is into survival — after an encounter with the Xenomorph, Jonesy still manages to escape with Ripley, safely into cryosleep so he can continue to be a comfort to her when she finally awakens. As far as cats go, that’s a pretty good cat.

Sam – I Am Legend (2007)

If you didn’t cry over Sam in I Am Legend, you’re lying.

Loyal, protective, and intelligent (though not always the most obedient), Sam (aka Abbey the German Shepherd) has a very important job in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of New York City. She keeps Robert Neville safe, healthy, and — most importantly — she keeps him sane. She’s the ultimate example of “man’s best friend”.

Clovis – Sleepwalkers (1992)

Clovis (aka Sparks the cat) is a damn hero. Who first spotted the Sleepwalkers? Clovis. Who saved Tanya’s life? Clovis. Who rallied the neighborhood cats for an all-out attack and ultimately saved the day? Friggin Clovis.

This cat deserves a lot of respect and a giant dish of treats.

Max – The Terminator/Terminator 2 (1984/1991)

Max the German Shepherd appears only briefly in The Terminator films but has definite off-screen impact.

After meeting Sarah Connor, Max proves himself to be quite useful in the future; we learn from Kyle Reese that — in his lifetime — dogs are used to spot disguised Terminators. Max stays with Sarah and John through the years as a friend and protector, demonstrating his loyalty one last time as he warns John Connor about the T-1000 in his kitchen.

Beauty and Beast – The Hills Have Eyes (1977/2006)

In a movie with a climax of vicious vengeance, it’s pretty rare to see the family dog get in on the action with their own score to settle. Beast rises to the challenge after his companion, Beauty, is (tragically) killed by psychotic desert-dwellers.

He sneaks, tackles, and mauls his way to glory in a spectacularly satisfying way. This dog has a job to finish, and by god he’s going to do it.

Good boy, Beast.

Bark Lee (aka Molly) – John Dies At the End (2012)

Bark Lee (known as Molly in the book series) has a special connection to the strange and unusual. This dog is heroic as hell, even though he kind of stumbles through each scenario as a passive observer who just happens to be there to assist. He drives, he activates bombs, I mean really, what doesn’t he do?

Molly Bark Lee has certainly pulled his weight in the fight against the total shitstorm apocalypse that John and Dave had to deal with, and for that we commend him.

General – Cat’s Eye (1985)

General may look like a sweet little bundle of stray cat, but this feline has some serious skills. Not only can he dodge traffic like an absolute champion, but he’s a loyal protector of innocent children against the breath-stealing trolls of the world.

This is definitely a very good and surprisingly proactive little kitty. He’s had a hard life zipping around the big city and escaping the SPCA, so he’s well earned a second go-around.

Thor – Bad Moon (1996)

In yet another instance of German Shepherds being totally badass, Thor (aka Primo) from Bad Moon is undeniably the hero of the whole dang movie.

He spots a con man from a mile away (and — with the help of his owner — teaches the creep a very important lesson), he diligently watches over and cares for his family, and most importantly, he takes out a goddamn werewolf. throughout the whole film, Thor is definitely the star of the story, making his way into the good boy hall of fame.

Socrates – Willard (1971/2003)

Rats are actually fantastic pets. They’re highly intelligent and very social, which makes them really easy to train. No one knows this better than Willard.

Socrates is a dear companion and best friend to social outcast Willard. He’s there for him in his darkest of times, forming a very close connection that clearly means a lot to Willard. Socrates is his friend ’til the (unfortunate) end. Though much smaller in stature than the other entries on this list, his wonderful loyalty and close bond help to secure Socrates’ place of honor. He’s certainly earned it.

Inspired to take a trip to the Pet Sematary? Read our review of the film from SXSW!

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Books

‘Alien’ is Being Made Into a Children’s ABC Book

Published

on

Alien Book

That Disney buyout of Fox is making for strange crossovers. Just look at this new children’s book that teaches children the alphabet via the 1979 Alien movie.

From the library of Penguin House’s classic Little Golden Books comes A is for Alien: An ABC Book.

Pre-Order Here

The next few years are going to be big for the space monster. First, just in time for the film’s 45th anniversary, we are getting a new franchise film called Alien: Romulus. Then Hulu, also owned by Disney is creating a television series, although they say that might not be ready until 2025.

The book is currently available for pre-order here, and is set to release on July 9, 2024. It might be fun to guess which letter will represent which part of the movie. Such as “J is for Jonesy” or “M is for Mother.”

Romulus will be released in theaters on August 16, 2024. Not since 2017 have we revisited the Alien cinematic universe in Covenant. Apparently, this next entry follows, “Young people from a distant world facing the most terrifying life form in the universe.”

Until then “A is for Anticipation” and “F is for Facehugger.”

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Books

Holland House Ent. Announces New Book “Oh Mother, What Have You Done?”

Published

on

Screenwriter and Director Tom Holland is delighting fans with books containing scripts, visual memoirs, continuation of stories, and now behind-the-scenes books on his iconic films. These books offer a fascinating glimpse into the creative process, script revisions, continued stories and the challenges faced during production. Holland’s accounts and personal anecdotes provide a treasure trove of insights for movie enthusiasts, shedding new light on the magic of filmmaking! Check out the press release below on Hollan’s newest fascinating story of the making of his critically acclaimed horror sequel Psycho II in a brand new book!

Horror icon and filmmaker Tom Holland returns to the world he envisioned in 1983’s critically acclaimed feature film Psycho II in the all-new 176-page book Oh Mother, What Have You Done? now available from Holland House Entertainment.

‘Psycho II’ House. “Oh Mother, What Have You Done?”

Authored by Tom Holland and containing unpublished memoirs by late Psycho II director Richard Franklin and conversations with the film’s editor Andrew London, Oh Mother, What Have You Done? offers fans a unique glimpse into the continuation of the beloved Psycho film franchise, which created nightmares for millions of people showering worldwide.

Created using never-before-seen production materials and photos – many from Holland’s own personal archive – Oh Mother, What Have You Done? abounds with rare hand-written development and production notes, early budgets, personal Polaroids and more, all set against fascinating conversations with the film’s writer, director and editor which document the development, filming, and reception of the much-celebrated Psycho II.  

‘Oh Mother, What Have you Done? – The Making of Psycho II

Says author Holland of writing Oh Mother, What Have You Done? (which contains an afterward by Bates Motel producer Anthony Cipriano), I wrote Psycho II, the first sequel that began the Psycho legacy, forty years ago this past summer, and the film was a huge success in the year 1983, but who remembers? To my surprise, apparently, they do, because on the film’s fortieth anniversary love from fans began to pour in, much to my amazement and pleasure. And then (Psycho II director) Richard Franklin’s unpublished memoirs arrived unexpectedly. I’d had no idea he’d written them before he passed in 2007.”

“Reading them,” continues Holland, “was like being transported back in time, and I had to share them, along with my memories and personal archives with the fans of Psycho, the sequels, and the excellent Bates Motel. I hope they enjoy reading the book as much as I did in putting it together. My thanks to Andrew London, who edited, and to Mr. Hitchcock, without whom none of this would have existed.”

“So, step back with me forty years and let’s see how it happened.”

Anthony Perkins – Norman Bates

Oh Mother, What Have You Done? is available now in both hardback and paperback through Amazon and at Terror Time (for copies autographed by Tom Holland)

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Books

Sequel to ‘Cujo’ Just One Offering in New Stephen King Anthology

Published

on

It’s been a minute since Stephen King put out a short story anthology. But in 2024 a new one containing some original works is getting published just in time for summer. Even the book title “You Like It Darker,” suggests the author is giving readers something more.

The anthology will also contain a sequel to King’s 1981 novel “Cujo,” about a rabid Saint Bernard that wreaks havoc on a young mother and her child trapped inside a Ford Pinto. Called “Rattlesnakes,” you can read an excerpt from that story on Ew.com.

The website also gives a synopsis of some of the other shorts in the book: “The other tales include ‘Two Talented Bastids,’ which explores the long-hidden secret of how the eponymous gentlemen got their skills, and ‘Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream,’ about a brief and unprecedented psychic flash that upends dozens of lives. In ‘The Dreamers,’ a taciturn Vietnam vet answers a job ad and learns that there are some corners of the universe best left unexplored while ‘The Answer Man’ asks if prescience is good luck or bad and reminds us that a life marked by unbearable tragedy can still be meaningful.”

Here’s the table of contents from “You Like It Darker,”:

  • “Two Talented Bastids”
  • “The Fifth Step”
  • “Willie the Weirdo”
  • “Danny Coughlin’s Bad Dream”
  • “Finn”
  • “On Slide Inn Road”
  • “Red Screen”
  • “The Turbulence Expert”
  • “Laurie”
  • “Rattlesnakes”
  • “The Dreamers”
  • “The Answer Man”

Except for “The Outsider” (2018) King has been releasing crime novels and adventure books instead of true horror in the past few years. Known mostly for his terrifying early supernatural novels such as “Pet Sematary,” “It,” “The Shining” and “Christine,” the 76-year-old author has diversified from what made him famous starting with “Carrie” in 1974.

A 1986 article from Time Magazine explained that King planned on quitting horror after he wrote “It.” At the time he said there was too much competition, citing Clive Barker as “better than I am now” and “a lot more energetic.” But that was almost four decades ago. Since then he’s written some horror classics such as “The Dark Half, “Needful Things,” “Gerald’s Game,” and “Bag of Bones.”

Maybe the King of Horror is waxing nostalgic with this latest anthology by revisiting the “Cujo” universe in this latest book. We will have to find out when “You Like It Darker” hits bookshelves and digital platforms starting May 21, 2024.

'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire' Popcorn Bucket

Continue Reading

Embed Gif with Clickable Title