On the one hand, it was a sequel, but in a more hopeful way, KILL BILL was really one movie cut in half, making it Quentin Tarantino's "Fifth movie".
He was still relatively new! Would KILL BILL Vol. 2 deliver? Would it ever!
No wait... would it ever?
And -
KICK-ASS is 14
Major studios with their major budgets, have to be concerned, for the sake of their investors, over releasing their movies to the many and myriad movie theaters. All of the movie houses nestled in snug communities across the U.S. and abroad, and all of those communities having at least one corrupt Mrs. Carmody who will need to defend his or herself with self-righteous indignation and Cut & Paste morality, to cover the barely hidden crawlies beneath their skin.
These Oogie Boogie shriekers with nothing to lose (because they live nothing lives) can bring down a major investment over nothing. So its always surprising when a Blue Moon shines and a Major studio takes a risk with an over-the-top violent movie like this one.
Of course, this millennium's fresh-faced major studio grew to its current status by releasing over-the-top violent movies to major theater chains in the first place. Which is why, if anyone was going to release a controversial movie like KICK-ASS, it would be Lionsgate.
Actor Noah Fleiss (PAST THE BLEACHERS, BAD DAY ON THE BLOCK, BRINGING RAIN, BRICK, MOTHER'S DAY MASSACRE, RED CANYON, DEAD SOULS [2012], PATIENT 001) is 40.
Noah shares the same birthday with his BRICK alumni,
Actor Lukas Haas (WITNESS, LADY IN WHITE, MUSIC BOX, MARS ATTACKS!, HEAVY GEAR [TV], LONG TIME DEAD, LATHE OF HEAVEN [2002], BRICK, THE TRIPPER, THE CRADLE, WHILE SHE WAS OUT, INCEPTION, RED RIDING HOOD, TRANSCENDENCE, DARK WAS THE NIGHT, TOUCH [TV], TRANSCENDENCE, BROWSE, THE VIOLENT HEART, MIDNIGHT IN THE SWITCHGRASS, WAR OF THE WORLDS [TV - 2022]) is 48.
Actor Anya Taylor-Joy (THE WITCH, ATLANTIS [TV], MORGAN, SPLIT, THE SECRET OF MARROWBONE, GLASS, THE NEW MUTANTS, LAST NIGHT IN SOHO, THE NORTHMAN, THE MENU) is 29.
Look for Anya in the upcoming 2024 Thriller, FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA.
Actor Ricco Ross (DEATH WISH 3, ALIENS, THE RETURN OF SHERLOCK HOLMES, BODY CONTACT, DOCTOR WHO [TV - 1988-1989], SLIPSTREAM, SHADOWCHASER, PROJECT SHADOWCHASER III, HACKERS, PROTEUS, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE [1996], TIMELOCK, WISHMASTER, OCTOPUS, HYDRA, BITE ME [TV], 4CLOSED, HIDDEN IN THE WOODS, STORY OF EVA, STORMAGEDDON, THE SANDMAN) is 64.
Look for Rico in the 2022, 2023, 2024 Thriller, PHOENIX [TV].
Actor Sadie Sink (ELI, STRANGER THINGS [TV], FEAR STREET [TV - all]) is 23.
Artist Deena Warner (Book covers include: TALES FROM THE GORE ZONE, SORTIES, CATHEXES, AND PERSONAL EFFECTS, CHOCOLATE PARK, HOME BEFORE DARK, DEATH SENTENCES, KING OF SOULS, EULOGIES: A HORROR WORLD YEARBOOK, PRODIGAL BLUES, SPARKS AND SHADOWS, CTHULHU FHTAGN, BABY, and more) is 49.
Writer, Producer, Director Frank Hennenlotter, has made lots of Horror movies but considers himself an Exploitation filmmaker. Yet he's never worked so furiously hard to create a cult following behind his movies as many other Exploitation Horror movie makers.
Not that the void he left stopped those cults from creating themselves, growing and keeping his movies profitable, one media iteration after the next.
E.C. McMullen Jr. recalls the first time he saw Frank Hennenlotter's BRAIN DAMAGE.
And -
19 Years Ago Director Andrew Douglas Brought us...
Sometimes the remake is better. This was one of those times, but just barely. E.C. McMullen Jr. was there on the opening weekend of THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (2005).
Actor Alice Braga (SÓLO DIOS SABE, JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE NIGHT, O CHEIRO DU RALO, I AM LEGEND, BLINDNESS, REPO MEN, PREDATORS, THE RITE, ELYSIUM, THE SHACK, THE NEW MUTANTS, THE SUICIDE SQUAD [2021]) is 41.
Alice shares a birthday with her THE NEW MUTANTS alumni, Maisie Williams.
Look for Sonia in the 2022 Thriller, IVY. Also in 2022, HYPNOTIC. And in 2023, SHARE.
Actor Luke Evans (CLASH OF THE TITANS [2010], FLUTTER, IMMORTALS, THE RAVEN, NO ONE LIVES, ASHES, THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, DRACULA UNTOLD, THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES, HIGH-RISE, THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, 10X10, THE ALIENIST [TV], MA, ANNA, ANGEL OF MINE, CRISIS, NINE PERFECT STRANGERS [TV]) is 45.
Actor Faye Masterson (THE QUICK AND THE DEAD, JUPITER MOON [TV], THE MANOR, EYES WIDE SHUT, THE APARTMENT COMPLEX, SORTED, THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA, PAPARAZZI, RANCID, SAM'S LAKE, TRAIL OF THE SCREAMING FOREHEAD, VISIONEERS, THE LOST SKELETON RETURNS AGAIN, DARK AND STORMY NIGHT, LEGENDARY [VG - 2009], MASS EFFECT 3 [VG - all], THE FINAL MOMENTS OF KARL BRANDT, A HOUSEKEEPER'S REVENGE, THE LAST SHIP [TV]) is 50.
Actor Danny Pino (POINT OF ORIGIN, NYPD 2069, BETWEEN, Rx, ACROSS THE HALL, COLD CASE [TV], ACROSS THE LINE: THE EXODUS OF CHARLIE WRIGHT, LAW & ORDER SVU, SCANDAL [TV], BRAINDEAD [TV], FATALE, MAYANS M.C. [TV]) is 50.
Actor Emma Watson, who began her career with the dark tales of magic and monsters for children with the Harry Potter movies (HARRY POTTER [all], THIS IS THE END, NOAH, REGRESSION, THE CIRCLE) is 34.
Actor Maisie Williams (GAME OF THRONES [TV], HEATSTROKE, THE FALLING, THE CYBERBULLY, DOCTOR WHO [TV], iBOY, MARY SHELLEY, THE NEW MUTANTS, THE OWNERS, GEN:LOCK [TV]) is 26.
SUNDAY -
Actor Abigail Breslin (SIGNS, KEANE, ZOMBIELAND [all], HAUNTER, THE CALL [2013], PERFECT SISTERS, MAGGIE, FINAL GIRL, FEAR INC., SCREAM QUEENS [TV], YAMASONG: MARCH OF THE HOLLOWS, SLAYERS) is 29.
The most famous guitar riff of all time (Smoke on the Water) belongs to this heavy metal-er. Happy Birthday to
Musician Ritchie Blackmore (DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT BAND) is 78.
Actor Cody Christian (SURROGATES, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS [TV], TEEN WOLF [TV], THE STARVING GAMES, SUBMERGED, ASSASSINATION NATION) is 28.
Actor Sarah Michelle Gellar (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER [TV], I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, SCREAM 2, CRUEL INTENTIONS, SCOOBY DOO, SCOOBY DOO 2, THE GRUDGE [all], THE RETURN, VERONIKA DECIDES TO DIE, ADDICTED, POSSESSION, RINGER [TV]) is 47.
Actor Anthony Michael Hall (WEIRD SCIENCE, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, OUT OF BOUNDS, SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, THE DEATH ARTIST, THE GRAVE, EXIT IN RED, COLD NIGHT INTO DAWN, THE KILLING GROUNDS, REVENGE, HITCHED, THE DEAD ZONE [2002], THE DEAD ZONE [TV], FINAL APPROACH, THE DARK KNIGHT, WAREHOUSE 13 [TV], FRIEND REQUEST, AFTERMATH, SEXY EVIL GENIUS, DEAD IN TOMBSTONE, ZOMBIE NIGHT, PSYCHE [TV], NATURAL SELECTION, HALLOWEEN KILLS, TRIGGER WARNING) is 57.
Look for Anthony in the 2023 Thriller movie, ROSWELL DELIRIUM.
AMERICAN PSYCHO Turns 23
Think about this: the people who were born when this movie came out, never had to leave a party early to "Return some tapes".
Bram Stoker winning novelist and Comic book author Mike Oliveri saw it in the theater! Flashback to his first impression of AMERICAN PSYCHO!
SATURDAY -
Horror Writer Nate Kenyon (BLOODSTONE, THE REACH, THE BONE FACTORY, PRIME, DIABLO III: THE ORDER) is 52.
Actor Ron Perlman (THE NAME OF THE ROSE, SLEEPWALKERS, CRONOS, THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN, THE LAST SUPPER, THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU, ALIEN: RESURRECTION, THE SHAFT, BLADE II, STAR TREK: NEMESIS, RATS, HELLBOY [all], Masters of Horror: PRO-LIFE, QUIET KILL, 5IVE GIRLS, THE LAST WINTER, THE MUTANT CHRONICLES, THE DEVIL'S TOMB, DARK COUNTRY, SEASON OF THE WITCH, CRAVE, SCORPION KING: BOOK OF THE DEAD, CONAN THE BARBARIAN [2011], PACIFIC RIM, A PLACE AMONG THE DEAD, MONSTER HUNTER, NIGHTMARE ALLEY, THIS GAME'S CALLED MURDER, Guillermo Del Toro's PINOCCHIO, and way more) is 73.
Look for Ron in the upcoming 2023 Thriller,
TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS.
Actor William Sadler (DIE HARD 2, THE FACE OF FEAR, TRESPASS, FREAKED, TALES FROM THE CRYPT: DEMON KNIGHT, TALES FROM THE CRYPT: BORDELLO OF BLOOD, SOLO, AMBUSHED, DISTURBING BEHAVIOR, JESSE STONE [all], THE GREEN MILE, DEVOUR, THE MIST, THE HILLS RUN RED, RESTITUTION, SILENT BUT DEADLY, RIDDLE, DAMAGES [TV], IRON MAN 3, THE SUSPECT, FRANK THE BASTARD, NOTHING SACRED, AVA'S POSSESSIONS, AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D., LIVING AMONG US, DEADLY CRUSH, THE GRUDGE [2020], ALICE FADES AWAY, THE UNHOLY [2021]) is 73.
Look for William in the 2022 Horror movie, SHE CAME FROM THE WOODS. Also in 2022, SALEM'S LOT.
FRIDAY THE 13th: THE FINAL CHAPTER is 40
40 years later and fans are still waving their canes around in the air and saying "Final Chapter! HA!"
What a damn difference twelve years makes! Actor Chris Hemsworth went from a nobody in a Lionsgate movie to world famous somebody after he hooked up with Marvel.
Producer Joss Whedon went from world famous somebody in a Lionsgate movie to a pariah in hiding after he hooked up with DC.
And as for me? I was there in the theater on opening weekend! This is how it was watching Director Drew Goddard's THE CABIN IN THE WOODS.
E.C. McMullen Jr.
Author page at Amazon
(Amazon.com)
Listed at GoodReads
Internet Movie Database resume (IMDb.com),
Stage 32 listing (stage32.com),
Listed at Academia.edu and is a
23 year member of the San Diego Comic Convention (SDCC).
Wikipedia 1, 2, 3, 4 Starbucks Cup #118
E.C. McMullen Jr. / Feo Amante is quoted throughout the Internet and print as a resource on,