News
The Two Best Horror Blu-rays From 2018
Hey, this year was filled with some amazing blu-ray releases. Arrow, Shout Factory and Vinegar Syndrome leading the way in all sorts of beautifully polished transfers filled with deep cut special features. But, I’ll be totally danged if Blue Underground didn’t come out in the final hours of 2019 with the two titles that took the extraordinary blu-ray release throne.
The William Lustig founded label has gone and done it. From the 3D slipcovers to the fantastically packaged 3-disc collection, Maniac and Zombie are fucking beauties.
Both of these titles come with each of their respective scores and impressive collector booklets with essays by Michael Gingold and Stephen Thrower.
The Joe Spinell Story on Maniac is really introspective and gets to the heart of the cult favorite actor. A lot of it contains moments that I had no idea about and obviously respects the greatness that Spinell carried with him throughout his varied career.
Maniac also leads with two awesome commentaries. One with William Lustig and Andrew W. Garroni and one with Lustig and the macabre maestro, Tom Savini. Anytime I get a chance to listen to Savini, it is a constant treat. This dude has stories and knows exactly how to tell em.
Blu ray special features:
Audio Commentary #1 with Producer/Director William Lustig and Producer Andrew W. Garroni
Audio Commentary #2 with Producer/Director William Lustig, Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini, Editor Lorenzo Marinelli, and Joe Spinell’s Assistant Luke Walter
Lucio Fulci’s Zombie remains one of the best of the genre, and looks absolutely gorgeous. If you haven’t seen a zombie fight a shark in underwater battle, you absolutely must see it in 4K transfer.
I have seen both titles many times on different formats but here, both of these films feel like an entirely different experience in the best ways. Sweaty Joe Spinell and wooden splinters piercing eyes balls are brought to t new zenith.
Get a look at the full special features of both discs.
Maniac
Theatrical Trailers
TV Spots
Radio Spots
NEW! MANIAC Outtakes
NEW! Returning to the Scene of the Crime with William Lustig
Anna and the Killer – Interview with Star Caroline Munro
The Death Dealer – Interview with Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini
Dark Notes – Interview with Composer Jay Chattaway
Maniac Men – Interview with Songwriters Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky
The Joe Spinell Story
Mr. Robbie: Maniac 2 Promo Reel
MANIAC Publicity
MANIAC Controversy Z
NEW! Audio Commentary #1 with Troy Howarth, Author of Splintered Visions: Lucio Fulci and His Films
Audio Commentary #2 with Star Ian McCulloch and Diabolik Magazine Editor Jason J. Slater
NEW! When The Earth Spits Out The Dead – Interview with Stephen Thrower, Author of Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci
Theatrical Trailers
TV Spots
Radio Spots
Poster & Still Gallery
Guillermo del Toro Intro
Zombie Wasteland – Interviews with Stars Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson & Al Cliver, and Actor/Stuntman Ottaviano Dell’Acqua
Flesh Eaters on Film – Interview with Co-Producer Fabrizio De Angelis
Deadtime Stories – Interviews with Co-Writers Elisa Briganti and (Uncredited) Dardano Sacchetti
World of the Dead – Interviews with Cinematographer Sergio Salvati and Production & Costume Designer Walter Patriarca
Zombi Italiano – Interviews with Special Make-Up Effects Artists Gianetto De Rossi & Maurizio Trani and Special Effects Artist Gino De Rossi
Notes on a Headstone – Interview with Composer Fabio Frizzi
All in the Family – Interview with Antonella Fulci
Zombie Lover – Award-Winning Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro talks about one of his favorite films
Both of these titles are out now and required viewing, must-owns for any self respecting horror fan.
Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'
News
Brad Dourif Says He’s Retiring Except For One Important Role
Brad Dourif has been doing movies for nearly 50 years. Now it seems he is walking away from the industry at 74 to enjoy his golden years. Except, there is a caveat.
Recently, digital entertainment publication JoBlo’s Tyler Nichols talked to some of the Chucky television series cast members. During the interview, Dourif made an announcement.
“Dourif said that he’s retired from acting,” says Nichols. “The only reason he came back for the show was because of his daughter Fiona and he considers Chucky creator Don Mancini to be family. But for non-Chucky stuff, he considers himself retired.”
Dourif has voiced the possessed doll since 1988 (minus the 2019 reboot). The original movie “Child’s Play” has become such a cult classic it’s at the top of some people’s best chillers of all time. Chucky himself is ingrained in pop culture history much like Frankenstein or Jason Voorhees.
While Dourif may be known for his famous voiceover, he is also an Oscar-nominated actor for his part in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Another famous horror role is The Gemini Killer in William Peter Blatty’s Exorcist III. And who can forget Betazoid Lon Suder in Star Trek: Voyager?
The good news is that Don Mancini is already pitching a concept for season four of Chucky which might also include a feature-length movie with a series tie-in. So, Although Dourif says he is retiring from the industry, ironically he is Chucky’s friend till the end.
Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'
Editorial
7 Great ‘Scream’ Fan Films & Shorts Worth a Watch
The Scream franchise is such an iconic series, that many budding filmmakers take inspiration from it and make their own sequels or, at least, build upon the original universe created by screenwriter Kevin Williamson. YouTube is the perfect medium to showcase these talents (and budgets) with fan-made homages with their own personal twists.
The great thing about Ghostface is that he can appear anywhere, in any town, he just needs the signature mask, knife, and unhinged motive. Thanks to Fair Use laws it’s possible to expand upon Wes Craven’s creation by simply getting a group of young adults together and killing them off one by one. Oh, and don’t forget the twist. You’ll notice that Roger Jackson’s famous Ghostface voice is uncanny valley, but you get the gist.
We have gathered five fan films/shorts related to Scream that we thought were pretty good. Although they can’t possibly match the beats of a $33 million blockbuster, they get by on what they have. But who needs money? If you’re talented and motivated anything is possible as proven by these filmmakers who are well on their way to the big leagues.
Take a look at the below films and let us know what you think. And while you’re at it, leave these young filmmakers a thumbs up, or leave them a comment to encourage them to create more films. Besides, where else are you going to see Ghostface vs. a Katana all set to a hip-hop soundtrack?
Scream Live (2023)
Ghostface (2021)
Ghost Face (2023)
Don’t Scream (2022)
Scream: A Fan Film (2023)
The Scream (2023)
A Scream Fan Film (2023)
Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'
Movies
Another Creepy Spider Movie Hits Shudder This Month
Good spider films are a theme this year. First, we had Sting and then there was Infested. The former is still in theaters and the latter is coming to Shudder starting April 26.
Infested has been getting some good reviews. People are saying that it’s not only a great creature feature but also a social commentary on racism in France.
According to IMDb: Writer/director Sébastien Vanicek was looking for ideas around the discrimination faced by black and Arab-looking people in France, and that led him to spiders, which are rarely welcome in homes; whenever they’re spotted, they’re swatted. As everyone in the story (people and spiders) is treated like vermin by society, the title came to him naturally.
Shudder has become the gold standard for streaming horror content. Since 2016, the service has been offering fans an expansive library of genre movies. in 2017, they began to stream exclusive content.
Since then Shudder has become a powerhouse in the film festival circuit, buying distribution rights to movies, or just producing some of their own. Just like Netflix, they give a film a short theatrical run before adding it to their library exclusively for subscribers.
Late Night With the Devil is a great example. It was released theatrically on March 22 and will begin streaming on the platform starting April 19.
While not getting the same buzz as Late Night, Infested is a festival favorite and many have said if you suffer from arachnophobia, you might want to take heed before watching it.
According to the synopsis, our main character, Kalib is turning 30 and dealing with some family issues. “He’s fighting with his sister over an inheritance and has cut ties with his best friend. Fascinated by exotic animals, he finds a venomous spider in a shop and brings it back to his apartment. It only takes a moment for the spider to escape and reproduce, turning the whole building into a dreadful web trap. The only option for Kaleb and his friends is to find a way out and survive.”
The film will be available to watch on Shudder starting April 26.
Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'
-
News4 days ago
This Horror Film Just Derailed a Record Held by ‘Train to Busan’
-
Movies4 days ago
Watch ‘Immaculate’ At Home Right Now
-
News3 days ago
Home Depot’s 12-Foot Skeleton Returns with a New Friend, Plus New Life-Size Prop from Spirit Halloween
-
News5 days ago
Read Reviews For ‘Abigail’ The Latest From Radio Silence
-
News2 days ago
Woman Brings Corpse Into Bank To Sign Loan Papers
-
News4 days ago
Melissa Barrera Says Her ‘Scream’ Contract Never Included a Third Movie
-
Editorial5 days ago
Rob Zombie’s Directorial Debut Was Almost ‘The Crow 3’
-
News4 days ago
A24 Joins Blockbuster Movie Club With Their Biggest Opening Ever
You must be logged in to post a comment Login