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FEO NEWS FOR SPRING 2024:
- APRIL -
The detritus of old Horror/Thriller history can be found here.

These are archived news items, many of them linked outside of this website.
Eventually the links may not work. Everything's Eventual.

APRIL 30

IDLE HANDS Turns 25

IDLE HANDS

In 1998, Devon Sawa, the kid who played the ghost in CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST, wasn't a kid anymore and came back for another shot at doing Horror comedy in his first adult role.

He was paired up with another child actor nobody in her first adult role, Jessica Alba.

Written by Terri Hughes (who had 0 credits in feature films, Comedy, or Horror) and the man who would come to be her writing partner to this day, Ron Milbauer (same credits), the movie need direction and, after two other directors dropped out for greener pastures, it fell into the lap of a quirky guy named Rodman Flender (THE UNBORN [1991], LEPRECHAUN 2).

According to actor Seth Green, beyond the Horror aspect, nobody even knew what kind of movie they were making: Comedy? Drama? Serious Horror with funny moments?

The writers had one idea, the director another, the producers and studio couldn't agree either. In such a vacuum, Devon (Anton), Seth (Mick), and Eldon Henson (Pnub), improvised many of their lines and sight gags, and somehow miraculously, brilliantly, it all came together, making 1999's IDLE HANDS the best movie the Director, Producers, and Writers have ever made.

And -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

PLANET TERROR

Make-up Artist Joe Blasco (GARDEN OF THE DEAD, THE TOUCH OF SATAN, SHIVERS, ILSA: SHE WOLF OF THE SS, RABID, THE CLONUS, DEAN KOONTZ: WHISPERS) is 77.
Writer and feoamante alumni, Maurice Broaddus (DEVIL'S MARIONETTE, KING MAKER [all], BUFFALO SOLDIER, PIMP MY AIRSHIP) is 52 today.
He says.
Visit him at Maurice-Broaddus.
Actor Kirsten Dunst (INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, MOTHER NIGHT, TOWER OF TERROR, THE DEVIL'S ARITHMETIC, THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, THE CROW: SALVATION, LUCKYTOWN, DEEPLY, SPIDER-MAN, DEADLY FRIENDS, KAENA: THE PROPHECY, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, SPIDER-MAN 2, SPIDER-MAN 3, ALL GOOD THINGS, MELANCHOLIA, CHARM UPSIDE DOWN, MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, THE BEGUILED, WOODSHOCK, CIVIL WAR) is 41.
Writer Colleen Gleason (THE REST FALLS AWAY, RISES THE NIGHT, THE BLEEDING DUSK, WHEN TWILIGHT BURNS, SINISTER SUMMER, THE GARDELLA VAMPIRE HUNTERS, THE CLOCKWORK SCARAB) is 56.
VIsit her at Colleen-Gleason.
Writer and feoamante alumni Brian Knight (RANDOM ACTS OF WEIRDNESS, BLACK DAY, DRAGONFLY, HACKS, FERAL, JOHNNY JUNK, THE PHOENIX GIRLS, THEY CALL US MONSTERS) is 50.
Visit him at Brian-Knight.
SFX Make-Up Artist Mike McCarty (PUPPET MASTER 4, STEPMONSTER, LEPRECHAUN 2, THE STAND [TV], PUPPET MASTER 5, MUNCHIE STRIKES BACK, LEPRECHAUN 3, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, [all], SCREAM 2, SIN CITY, LAND OF THE DEAD, SERENITY, POSEIDON, DEJA VU, THE HITCHER [2007], HOSTEL PART II, PLANET TERROR, MIRRORS, THE FINAL DESTINATION, SURROGATES, SPLICE, THE BOOK OF ELI, EDGE OF DARKNESS, PRIEST, TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D, STATION 4, THE BINDING, ANNABELLE, AMITYVILLE: THE AWAKENING, TONE-DEAF, THE FOREVER PURGE, DOOM: ANNIHILATION, UMMA) is like, 63 or something.
Mike shares an April birthday with his SERENITY alumni, Gina Torres.

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APRIL 29

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

FRIDAY THE 13th - 2009 Derek Mears as Jason

Horror fiction editor, Nanci Kalanta (EULOGIES II) is 63 today.
Actor, Stuntman, Derek Mears (THE DEMOLITIONIST, MEN IN BLACK II, CURSED, SIGNS, Masters of Horror: PRO-LIFE, THE HILLS HAVE EYES II, INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, FRIDAY THE 13TH [2009], HELLBINDERS, PREDATORS, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES, THE AGGRESSION SCALE, COMPOUND FRACTURE, HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS, HATCHET III, LOST TIME, PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS, DEAD SNOW 2, COMPOUND FRACTURE, LOST TIME, FREAKS OF NATURE, SLEEPY HOLLOW [TV], FROM JENNIFER, RWBY [TV], ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, SWAMP THING [TV], THE GUARDIANS OF JUSTICE (WILL SAVE YOU!)) is 52.
Look for Derek in the hoped for USA 2023 release of LION GIRL.
Writers, Producers, Actors, Directors Jen Soska and Sylvia Soska (ReGOREgITATED SACRIFICE, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, AMERICAN MARY, F4F FRIENDS 4 LIFE, SUBURBAN GOTHIC, ABCs OF DEATH 2, SEE NO EVIL 2, THE BLACKBURN ASYLUM, HELLAVATOR [TV], RABID, ON THE EDGE) are 41.
Look for the Soska Sisters in the upcoming 2023 Horror movie, MUTILATOR 2.

SUNDAY -

ANACONDA - Kari Wuhrer

Actor Jessica Alba (IDLE HANDS, PARANOID, DARK ANGEL [TV], SIN CITY, INTO THE BLUE, AWAKE, THE EYE, THE KILLER INSIDE ME, MACHETE, MACHETE KILLS, SIN CITY 2: A DAME TO KILL FOR, THE VEIL, KILLERS ANONYMOUS) is 41.
Look for Jessica in the upcoming 2022 Thriller, TRIGGER WARNING.
Writer P.S. Gifford (THE CURIOUS ACCOUNTS OF THE IMAGINARY FRIEND, DR. OFFIG'S LESSONS FROM THE DARK SIDE, THE FURTHER ACCOUNTS OF THE IMAGINARY FRIEND) is 61 or something.
Actor Rebekah Kochan (EXORCISM: THE POSSESSION OF GAIL BOWERS, WHEN A KILLER CALLS, DRACULA'S CURSE, HALLOWEEN NIGHT, FREAKSHOW, YORKTOWN, DEADLY SANCTUARY) is 38.
Writer Steven E. Wedel (CALL TO THE HUNT, SHARA, DARKSCAPES, SEVEN DAYS IN BENEVOLENCE, MURDERED BY HUMAN WOLVES, ULRIK, LITTLE GRAVEYARD ON THE PRAIRIE, NADIA'S CURSE, UNHOLY WOMB, AFTER OBSESSION) is 56.
Actor Kari Wuhrer (THINNER, ANACONDA, KATE'S ADDICTION, FATAL CONFLICT, KILLER LOVE, EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS, FINAL EXAMINATION, KING OF THE ANTS, THE HITCHER II, THE PROHECY: UPRISING, HELLRAISER: DEADER, THE PROPHECY: FORSAKEN, TORNADO WARNING, SECRETS OF A PSYCHOPATH) who is 55.
Composer Christopher Young THE DORM THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, THE POWER [1984], DEF-CON4, WHEELS OF FIRE, BARBARIAN QUEEN, WIZARDS OF THE LOST KINGDOM, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY'S REVENGE, TORMENT, INVADERS FROM MARS [1986], TRICK OR TREAT [1986], HELLRAISER, FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC, HAUNTED SUMMER, HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER 2, THE FLY II, HIDER IN THE HOUSE, THE VAGRANT, JENNIFER 8, THE DARK HALF, DREAM LOVER, TALES FROM THE HOOD, SPECIES, VIRTUOSITY, COPYCAT, UNFORGETTABLE, HUSH, URBAN LEGEND, BLESS THE CHILD, THE GIFT, THE GLASS HOUSE, THE CORE, THE GRUDGE, THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE, THE GRUDGE 2, GHOST RIDER, SPIDER-MAN 3, UNTRACEABLE, THE INFORMERS, THE UNINVITED, DRAG ME TO HELL, PRIEST, THE GHOSTMAKER, SCARY OR DIE, DELIVER US FROM EVIL, PET SEMATARY [2019], THE EMPTY MAN) is 65.

John Carpenter's VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED Turns 29

VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED - 1995 movie review

By 1995 even the new board of directors at Universal had to admit that their studio, and not John Carpenter, was entirely to blame for fortune they'd lost on, what was now recognized world-wide as one of the best movies ever made, John Carpenter's THE THING. How could they not? Even most of the still living critics who eviscerated it with glee in 1982, were humbly repenting, their virtual hats in their hands.

Except for a few like Roger Ebert. Roger flummoxed more than a few of his contemporaries in 2011 by simply not understanding the movie, the story, how the alien worked, and why. It was as if, whenever Ebert watched a movie, he had fixed expectations for how it has to be told and anything his checked boxes wasn't simply challenging, new, or curious, let alone exciting: It was wrong. Any movie that didn't fit his niches was made wrong.

So Universal, wanting Carpenter's audience but not respecting him wanted to hire John again (We at Universal feel John has a terrible studio reputation. After all, look at the awful things we say about him!). Was there another classic Science Fiction Horror movie that John would like to make? Come, let bygones by bygones! We have a few properties here. Are there any you'd like to do?

Well, John had one... VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED.

THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE is 14

THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE

A teenager already? Ah, they grow so fast! The Horror movie genre is filled with gory gross-out exploitation, with violence and atrocity so over-the-top it achieves Pythonesque humor over repulsion.

With all of that said, 14 years later and I've still never seen such a polished, low-budget, indie exploitation Horror movie like Tom Six's THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE.

SATURDAY -

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4: THE DREAM MASTER

Off again, on again, say again? lead guitarist for KISS,
Musician Ace Frehley (Albums: HOTTER THAN HELL, DESTROYER, LOVE GUN, PSYCHO CIRCUS and way more. Movies: KISS MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK [TV], REMEDY) is 70.
Look for the latest Ace Album,

Actor Kevin McNally (ENIGMA, DOCTOR WHO [TV 1984], THE ADVENTURES OF YOUNG INDIANA JONES: MY FIRST ADVENTURE, UNDERWORLD [TV 1997], JEKYLL & HYDE [1990], PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN [all], THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA [2004], DEAD FISH, SCOOP, DEMONS [TV], THE RAVEN [2012], SUPERNATURAL [TV], BOUNTY KILLER, DESIGNATED SURVIVOR [TV], THE OUTPOST [TV], DECRYPTED, DOCTOR WHO [TV - 2021], PAINTED BEAUTY) is 67.
Look for Kevin in the 2022 Dark Comedy, ARGH!.
Actor Laura Ortiz (THE HILLS HAVE EYES [2006], CHILLERAMA, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF HORROR [TV], VICTOR CROWLEY, SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER [VG], HOLLISTON [TV]) is 36.
Writer, Producer, Director Matt Reeves (FUTURE SHOCK [2014], CLOVERFIELD, LET ME IN, DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES, 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE, THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX, THE PASSAGE [TV], TALES FROM THE LOOP [TV], AWAY [TV], MOTHER/ANDROID, THE BATMAN) is 57.
Actor Lisa Wilcox (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4: THE DREAM MASTER, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 5: THE DREAM CHILD, WATCHERS REBORN, DEAD COUNTRY, FEAR CLINIC [Net Series], SAVAGE, SEBASTIAN, IMAGO, CLINGER, RED HOLLOW, THE CHURCH [2018], SOMETHING HORRIBLE, THE BLOODY MAN, MYSTERY SPOT, DARK RITUAL, SEASONS, WOODS WITCH, THE HOUSE THAT EATS FLESH) is 59.
Look for Lisa in the upcoming 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Horror Thriller, ANADELLIA RISES. Also expected in 2024, DESERT FIENDS.

THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS is 61

THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS

When John Wyndham wrote THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS, no such plant existed. Years later when this movie was released, it was so convincing that many in the audience thought Triffids were real. But of course they weren't in 1963.

But time changes everything and long after the release of this movie, botanist scientists discovered an actual species of Triffid. All that and more in my review of THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS.

DEATH RACE 2000 is 49!

Death Race 2000

When cinema historians look at Ib Melchior's lifetime output, and then Roger Corman's insanely extensive lifetime output, DEATH RACE 2000 is in both of their top ten.

What makes this even crazier? DEATH RACE 2000 is also in actors David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone's extensive lifetime output top 10!

This is a staggering achievement for a futuristic SF movie and something the 2008 DEATH RACE reboot and its sequels will never claim for anyone but its Co-writer, Producer, and Director Paul W.S. Anderson (EVENT HORIZON, RESIDENT EVIL, PANDORUM). Who, unfortunately, boasts a top ten that largely consists of box office bombs you likely have never heard of.

24 years into timeline obsolescence and more than double that since its launch date, yet Paul Bartel's DEATH RACE 2000, and its franchise, STILL LIVES!

CREATURE is 39

CREATURE

Written by William Malone (SCARED TO DEATH). Produced by William Malone (PARASOMNIA). Directed by William Malone (FEAR DOT COM). This movie is William Malone at his most 1980s William Malone-ist!

It stars Klaus Kinski at his most Klaus Kinski-est! Pee Wee Herman's friend, his fictional wife Mrs. Cobblepot and the Mother of The Penguin in Tim Burton's BATMAN RETURNS, Diane Salinger. What's more, it stars Ferris Bueller's Pop, Lyman Ward. The SFX were done by L.A. Effects Group, who worked on Joe Dante's EXPLORERS and JEWEL OF THE NILE the same year, as well as James Cameron's ALIENS the following year.

Whew!

Did all of that talent make a great movie out of CREATURE?

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APRIL 26

My New Novel RUMOR
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
My new novel is also my first novel. Like most comics, artists, musicians, or writers, I began with the riffs of those who came before. In this case, RUMOR is my modernization and extension of H.P. Lovecraft's The Statement Of Randolph Carter. Lovecraft wrote so many stories that ended on a cliffhanger, punchline, many were described as "fragments". Many of those fragments were finished by other authors after Lovecraft's death. Lovecraft's The Statement', hat left me wondering,

Rumor by E.C. McMullen Jr."But what happened next?"

RUMOR is my What Happened Next.

I'm already preparing for two more books to end on a trilogy, and like Lovecraft himself, I'm moving forward by creating my own monsters, not borrowing from anyone else (at least, not that I'm aware - there is little new under the sun ...

... or beneath the surface).

Monday morning on a crisp October dawn, Professor R. Carter was found wandering, disoriented, near death, on the outskirts of Big Cypress Swamp.

Since the weekend, missing person reports from Houston towns and suburbs spiked to unprecedented levels. Strange animals were seen wandering near the edges of neighborhoods and all bordering the swamp.

Carter was the first, and only one of the missing, who returned.

To Police Psychiatrist Iris Scanley and Det. Alex Mezo, the only thing more unbelievable than Carter's witness statement was the madness growing all around them.

"Whatever is happening, its moving toward Houston."

As a panicked city tipped toward anarchy, everyone had a theory, but Scanley and Mezo were unaware that they had only hours to uncover the facts beneath the rumor.

Rumor: People are Dying to know the Truth.

RUMOR is available in Hardcover, Paperback, and Kindle (free to users of Kindle Unlimited).

And -

THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US is 68

THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US

Outdated, flawed, but fun, reviewer Kelly Parks explains why THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US is Ripe For Remake!

Plus -

JASON X is 22

JASON X

Do you remember watching this in the movie theaters when you were 18?

Well now yer 40 and yer OLD! Old enough to be a freaking Grandparent and here we are, still talking about Jason freaking Voorhees!

In fact, screenwriter Ken King, The Fan Behind the Mask, wrote our review of JASON X.

Also -

AVENGERS ENDGAME is 5

AVENGERS ENDGAME

It's almost breathtaking how fast and nearly complete the box office power of DC and Marvel Superhero movies were wiped out by their own studios. Only DC's BATMAN and Marvel's SPIDER-MAN and DEAD POOL appear to stand above the fray, and that's not a given.

Stan Lee couldn't make it to the end of the first MCU story arc, but his parting gift was more than enough for Marvel fans. Even if Marvel comics go under (which seems given) and Disney destroys the brand (already in its final death throes), we ended on a genuinely earned emotional high with AVENGERS ENDGAME.

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

PREY Amber Midthunder

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Michael Dorman (SUBURBAN MAYHEM, ACOLYTES, TRIANGLE [2009], DAYBREAKERS, NEEDLE, SERANGOON ROAD, GOLDSTONE, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES, THE INVISIBLE MAN [2020], THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS [TV], FOR ALL MANKIND [TV]) is 43.
Actor Amber Midthunder (DEADLY SPECIES, NOT FORGOTTEN, 14 CAMERAS, ONLY MINE, LEGION [TV], ROSEWELL NEW MEXICO [TV], THE MARKSMAN, ICE ROAD, PREY, DREAM SCENARIO) is 27.

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APRIL 25

Gravitas Ventures releases FOR SALE May, 7, 2023

And -

IDENTITY is Legal Drinking Age

IDENTITY movie

The only problem with this movie, is that it is a great story that goes, wonderfully, all the way to a great ending.

But then someone in the pipeline thought that an extra five or so minutes of more movie should be shot, then stapled on to that great ending. Like, y'know, so it could set up a possible sequel.

That wished-for sequel, entirely unecessary, never happened. But that poorly grafted extra five minutes was a loud wet sloppy fart that wiped itself on the jewel of the otherwise great Horror movie that is IDENTITY.

Plus -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

SERENITY - Gina Torres

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Daniel Kash (ALIENS, NIGHTBREED, ROBOCOP [TV], THE MICHELLE APTS., VIRUS [1996], THE SLEEP ROOM, GOOSEBUMPS [TV], HIDDEN AGENDA, PILGRIM, KILLING MOON, DON'T SAY A WORD, COLD CREEK MANOR, THE BLACK MIRROR [VG], THE GOOD SHEPHERD [2004], THE HUNT FOR THE BTK KILLER, ONE WAY, DIARY OF THE DEAD, JACK BROOKS: MONSTER SLAYER, THE DRESDEN FILES [TV], REPO MEN, A DARK TRUTH, ALPHAS [TV], MAMA, SOLO [2013], ROBOCOP [2014], HANNIBAL [TV], THE STRAIN [TV], REMEMBER, ASSASIN'S CREED: SYNDICATE - JACK THE RIPPER [VG], BITTEN [TV], DAMIEN [TV], MANHATTAN UNDYING, THE EXPANSE [TV], ORPHAN BLACK [TV], ORDINARY DAYS, TINY PRETTY THINGS [TV], LETTERS TO SATAN CLAUS, QUEEN OF SPADES, DON'T HANG UP, SLASHER [TV]) is 65.
Daniel shares an April birthday with NIGHTBREED alumni, Craig Sheffer.
Daniel shares a April 25 birthday with HANNIBAL [TV] alumni, Gina Torres.
Look for Daniel in the upcoming 2024 Thriller, DEN MOTHER CRIMSON. Also expected in 2024, BELIEVER.
Actor Daniel Sharman (THE NINE LIVES OF CHLOE KING, IMMORTALS, THE LAST DAYS OF EDGAR HARDING, THE COLLECTION, TEEN WOLF [TV], THE ORIGINALS [TV], FEAR THE WALKING DEAD [TV], CURSED [TV]) is 38.
Look for Daniel in the upcoming 2024 Thriller, THE FIX.
Actor Gina Torres (M.A.N.T.I.S., DARK ANGEL [1996], CLEOPATRA 2525 [TV], ANGEL [TV], ALIAS [TV], FIREFLY [TV], THE MATRIX RELOADED, THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS, 24 [TV], SERENITY, FIVE FINGERS, TRANSFORMERS PRIME [Animated - TV], DESTINY [VG], LICHDOM [VG], REVENGE [TV], HANNIBAL [TV], WESTWORLD [TV], DESTINY 2 [VG], GIVE ME AN A, THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA [TV]) is 55.

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APRIL 24

GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN is 69

GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN

If you're Koo Koo for Kaiju have I got a GODZILLA for you!

No, not Gigantis. BLECH! That was a hack job Hollywoodized edit (like Bastardized only so much worse)!

I'm talking about the original GODZILLA RAIDS AGAIN aka GODZILLA vs ANGUIRUS!

And -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

HOT FUZZ - Rory McCann

Actor Melinda Clarke (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 3, MULHOLLAND FALLS, THE KILLER TONGUE, SPAWN, DYNAMITE, .COM FOR MURDER, THE ANIMATRIX, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES [TV], GOTHAM [TV]) is 56.
Writer Don D'Ammassa (BLOOD BEAST, SERVANTS OF CHAOS, SCARAB, HAVEN, MURDER IN SILVERPLATE, DEAD OF WINTER, NARCISSUS) is 79.
Writer / Producer Erick Kripke (BOOGEYMAN [2005], SUPERNATURAL [TV], GHOSTFACERS [TV], SUPERNATURAL: THE ANIMATION [TV], DEADMAN [TV], REVOLUTION [TV], HAUNTED [2013], SUPERNATURAL GENDERSWAP [TV], THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS, THE BOYS [TV], THE WINCHESTERS [TV], GEN V [TV]) is 51.
Horror Thriller Writer John Edward Lawson (Books: SIN CONDUCTOR, THE TROUBLING AMPUTEE, DISCOURAGING AT BEST, TRUTH IN RUINS, THE HORRIBLE, LAST BURN IN HELL, DEVIL ENTENDRE) is 51.
Writer / Producer Damon Lindelof (LOST [TV], STAR TREK [The Kelvin Timeline], COWBOYS AND ALIENS, PROMETHEUS, WORLD WAR Z, ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS. HULK [Animated - TV], THE LEFTOVERS [TV], THE WATCHMEN [TV], THE HUNT, MRS. DAVIS) is 52.
Actor Rory McCann (THE DEVIL'S TATOO, BEOWOLF & GRENDEL, HOT FUZZ, SOLOMON KANE, CLASH OF THE TITANS [2010], SEASON OF THE WITCH [2011], GAME OF THRONES [TV], THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA [TV], TRANSFORMERS: EARTHSPARK [TV]) is 56.
Look for Rory in the 2024 Horror Mystery, THE DAMNED.

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APRIL 23

WITCH Goes Live on VOD and Digital, April, 30th

And -

David Cronenberg's eXistenZ is 25

eXistenZ

After the surprising low box office performance of 1988's DEAD RINGERS, especially after coming off hot from his previous movie, 1996's THE FLY, then the box office failures of 1991's NAKED LUNCH, then this movie, David Cronenberg announced that he no longer wanted to be considered a Horror movie director. He wasn't a Horror movie director, no way! After all, he directed M. Butterfly and Crash and they weren't Horror movies.

So to speak...

Okay, so they both fell into the purview of Body Horror, but still, David was turning over a new leaf!

Then came SPIDER, and A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, and EASTERN PROMISES. All of them centered around a tale of a person dealing with a past of grossly (torturously) distorting someone's body or a person living with a distorted body.

Yes, you could take the boy out of the Horror, but you couldn't take out the Horror in the boy's mind.

Which circles us back to 1999's eXistenZ.

Plus -

BEYOND RE-ANIMATOR is Old Enough to Drink

BEYOND RE-ANIMATOR

When Stuart Gordon (FROM BEYOND) directed writers Dennis Paoli and William Norris' insane adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's RE-ANIMATOR for Producer Brian Yuzna, it was madhouse fun!

When Brian took the reigns for BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR it was madhouse fun squared!

But Brian wasn't done with us fans of the movies. Not until he took us BEYOND RE-ANIMATOR!

Also -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

NIGHTBREED - Craig Sheffer

Actor Anastasia Baranova (RISE: THE BLOOD HUNTER, APOCALYPSE CALIFORNIA, THE DARKNESS II [VG], THE BUREAU: X-COM DECLASSIFIED [VG], MOSTLY GHOSTLY: HAVE YOU MET MY GHOULFRIEND?, WELCOME TO WILLITS, SYN [TV], Z-NATION [TV], EVOLVE [VG], METRO EXODUS [VG]) is 35.
Actor Jaime King (SIN CITY, THEY WAIT, THE TRIPPER, THE SPIRIT, MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D, MOTHER'S DAY, SILENT NIGHT, SIN CITY 2: A DAME TO KILL FOR, BITCH, ESCAPE PLAN 2, BLACK SUMMER [TV], OUT OF DEATH, THE RESURRECTION OF CHARLES MANSON) is 44.
Look for Jaime in the upcoming 2024 Thriller, THE WEIGHT OF DARKNESS
Actor Craig Sheffer (NIGHT BREED, BLUE DESERT, EYE OF THE STORM, BLOODKNOT, THE GRAVE, DOUBLE TAKE, EXECUTIVE POWER, THE FALL, SHADOW OF DOUBT, HELLRAISER: INFERNO, RITUAL, KILLER BUZZ, DRACULA II: ASCENSION, LOVE LIES BLEEDING, WHILE SHE WAS OUT, LIES BETWEEN FRIENDS, THE MARK [all], BATTLEDOGS, DESTRUCTION LOS ANGELES, WIDOW'S POINT, AMERICAN HORROR STORY [TV]) is 64.

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APRIL 22

TETSUO: THE IRON MAN is 35

TETSUO: THE IRON MAN

It's not a David Lynch movie though I wouldn't be surprised if it was trying to be.

Instead, it's Actor, Writer, Producer, and Director Shin'ya Tsukamoto's greatest personal work in the Horror Thriller sub genre of Body Horror and the fork of that into Metal Mutation Horror.

TETSUO: THE IRON MAN is the movie that became Shin'ya's PHANTASM.

And -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

MARS ATTACKS - Jack Nicholson

Actor Amber Heard (SIDEFX, HIDDEN PALMS [TV], THE INFORMERS, ZOMBIELAND, THE STEPFATHER [2009], THE WARD, AND SOON THE DARKNESS, DRIVE ANGRY, PARANOIA, MACHETE KILLS, ALL THE BOYS LOVE MANDY LANE [released to film festivals in 2006. Not released in U.S. until 2013], LONDON FIELDS, THE STAND [TV - 2020], IN THE FIRE) is 37.
Amber shares an April birthday with her ZOMBIELAND alumni, Abigail Breslin.
Actor Jack Nicholson (THE CRY BABY KILLER, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THE RAVEN, THE TERROR, PSYCHE-OUT, CHINATOWN, THE SHINING, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, BATMAN, WOLF, MARS ATTACKS!, THE PLEDGE) is 86 today.
Writer, Director, Producer & more, Ben Rock (MUTANT SPECIES, THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, ALIEN RAIDERS, VICTOR CROWLEY, 20 SECONDS TO LIVE [TV], VIDEO PALACE [TV], WRZ: WRZ: WHITE RACIST ZOMBIES) is 52.

SUNDAY -

IT Chapter 2. James McAvoy

Actor, Producer Jennifer Blanc-Biehn (THE CROW, KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE, DARK ANGEL [TV], MY APOCALYPSE, PRANK, THE JACK OF SPADES, THE BLOOD BOND, THE ABSENT, THE DIVIDE, THE VICTIM, JACOB, AMONG FRIENDS, TREACHERY, THE NIGHT VISITOR, THE LEGEND OF DARK HORSE COUNTY, MINDLESS, EVERLY, HIDDEN IN THE WOODS, HAVENHURST, DEADLY SIGNAL, SHE RISES [2016], DEADLY RETREAT, ALTERED PERCEPTION, FETISH FACTORY, KILLER WEEKEND, SORRY I KILLED YOU, TERROR EYES) is 50.
Actor James McAvoy (CHILDREN OF DUNE, ATONEMENT, WANTED, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, TRANCE, X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, ATOMIC BLONDE, SPLIT, WATERSHIP DOWN [TV], GLASS, DARK PHOENIX, IT: Chapter Two, MY SON, HIS DARK MATERIALS [TV]) is 45.

PET SEMATARY Turns 34

PET SEMATARY

It's the original movie based on the book that Stephen King wishes he never wrote. A book so brutal and scary the King of Horror novelists regrets it.

Screenwriter Ken King tells us how Director Mary Lambert's magnum opus grabbed him by the throat in his review of PET SEMATARY.

SILENT HILL Turns 18

SILENT HILL

Director Christophe Gans was riding high on the International Horror hit, BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF. For five years he'd struggled to convince game maker Konami, that he was the one to make the feature film of their number one game, SILENT HILL. He got the budget to bring together the best practical effects team, digital artists, and the top monster choreographer. Everyone gave it their best and it all shows.

The only problem was, there was one key person there whose best wasn't good enough. He spent the next 18 years trying to fix his mistake.

I'll tell you all about it in my review of 2006's SILENT HILL.

SATURDAY -

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS - 1978 Veronica Cartwright

Today's birthday girl hasn't lead a career that is dominantly Horror, Thriller, Mystery, and or Suspense, but Great Cthulhu! She stars in no less than four Horror movies that went on to be listed as Cinema's top 100!
Actor Veronica Cartwright (Alfred Hitchcock's THE BIRDS, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS [1978], ALIEN, NIGHTMARES, FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, FALSE IDENTITY, CANDYMAN: FAREWELL TO THE FLESH, THE X-FILES [TV - 1993 - 1999], THE LAST MAN ON PLANET EARTH, SCARY MOVIE 2, INVASION [TV], THE INVASION [2007], EASTWICK [TV], NEOWOLF, RESURRECTION [TV], THE TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN [2014], LIMBO, THE FIELD, THE PHANTOMS) is 75.
Veronica shares an April birthday with her SCARY MOVIE 2 alumni, Tim Curry.
Actor Crispin Glover (FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE FINAL CHAPTER, RIVER'S EDGE, WILD AT HEART, WILLARD, SIMON SAYS, THE WIZARD OF GORE, BEOWULF, FREEZER BURN: THE INVASION OF LAXDALE, 9, THE DONNER PARTY, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, FREAKY DEAKY, AIMY IN A CAGE, WE HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN THE CASTLE, SAAT DES TERRORS, AMERICAN GODS [TV], BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON, SMILEY FACE KILLERS) is 59.
Look for Crispin in the expected 2024 release of MR. K. Also in 2024, BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON.

Actor Clint Howard (EVILSPEAK, THE WRAITH, B.O.R.N., FREEWAY, INITIATION: SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT 4, DISTURBED, THE ROCKETEER, SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT 5, BODY CHEMISTRY II, CARNOSAUR, INFESTED, BIGFOOT: THE UNFORGETTABLE ENCOUNTER, LEPRECHAUN 2, ICE CREAM MAN, SAWBONES, TWISTED LOVE, DIGITAL MAN, HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP [1996], TWILIGHT [1998], THE DENTIST 2, BLACKWOODS, HOUSE OF THE DEAD, THE MISSING, BIG BAD WOLF, Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN, THE HAUNTED WORLD OF EL SUPERBEASTO, BLOODRAYNE: THE THIRD REICH, DOWN THE ROAD, BLUBBERELLA, SPARKS, THE LORDS OF SALEM, HUFF, THE PROFANE EXHIBIT, FUNHOUSE MASSACRE, FEAST OF FEAR, AMERICAN BIGFOOT, THE CHURCH [2018], 3 FROM HELL, FEAST OF FEAR, LA FLAMME ROUGE, BEYOND PARANORMAL) is 64.
Actor Andy Serkis (THE ESCAPIST, THE LORD OF THE RINGS [all], DEATHWATCH, BLESSED, KING KONG, THE PRESTIGE, THE COTTAGE, EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION, BURKE AND HARE, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES [2010 - all], THE HOBBIT [all], AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, BLACK PANTHER, THE BATMAN) is 59.
Andy shares an April birthday with fellow LOTR alumni, Sean Bean, and fellow RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES alumni, David Hewlett.

Dario Argento's TRAUMA is 31

TRAUMA

Three common threads of agreement can be found among the fans of Dario Argento.

One - He has his best and his worst.

Two - Fans can't agree on which is his best and which is his worst.

Three - His movies are visually nightmarish dreams of eye candy.

Reviewer Max Glaessner delves into why he feels TRAUMA is a massively under rated Argento ... masterpiece?

HOT FUZZ is 17

HOT FUZZ

After the success of SHAUN OF THE DEAD, Director Edgar Wright, and actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, were back. This movie would be nothing like their past successes. They were neither boastful or cocky. Instead they were all confident and in their sophomore outing delivered their second classic in a row, HOT FUZZ.

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APRIL 19

THE SCORPION KING Turns 22

THE SCORPION KING

The Rock had his own starring role and the movie did okay, but the then WWF (now WWE) owned his Wrestling Ring name. The Rock knew he, and not the WWE, built his audience. So in the Ring he's The Rock. In Life he's Dwayne Johnson, and in this movie he's a wandering warrior named Mathayus. This is how he came to be known as THE SCORPION KING.

And -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

IT - Tim Curry

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Tim Curry (THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, THE SHOUT, LEGEND, CLUE, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, IT [TV - 1990], THE SHADOW, CONGO, GARGOYLES [TV], THE MASK [TV], AAAHH!!! REAL MONSTERS, DOOM RUNNERS [TV], ADDAMS FAMILY REUNION, THE NET [TV], SCARY MOVIE 2, BLOOD MOON, TALES FROM THE CRYPT: RITUAL, BURKE AND HARE, GINGERCLOWN) is 78.
Horror Artist Ghoulish Gary is 50 today. Visit him at GhoulishGary.com.
Today's birthday girl is making just enough mystery thrillers to unbalance her career making rom coms. Do you remember any of her romantic comedies? Neither do I. But everyone recalls her twisted side. Happy Birthday to,
Actor Ashley Judd (THE PASSION OF DARKLY NOON, A TIME TO KILL, KISS THE GIRLS, EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, DOUBLE JEOPARDY, HIGH CRIMES, TWISTED, BUG, MISSING [TV], OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN, DIVERGENT, INSURGENT, ALLEGIANT, TWIN PEAKS [TV - 2017], BERLIN STATION [TV]) who is 55.
Horror Writer / Film maker Gregory Lamberson (Book: JOHNNY GRUESOME. Movies: SLIME CITY, NAKED FEAR, SLIME CITY MASSACRE, SNOW SHARK: ANCIENT SNOW BEAST) is 59.

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APRIL 18

ABIGAIL Hits Theaters Friday, April 19

And -

Renny Harlan's REFUGE gets Limited Theatrical Release Tomorrow

From Director Renny Harlan (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4, THE DEEP BLUE SEA, EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING) and starring Jason Flemyng (DEEP RISING, BELOW, THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, CLASH OF THE TITANS).

Plus -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

EdgarWright

by E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor David Hewlett (THE DARK SIDE, PIN, DEEP SLEEP, SCANNERS II: THE NEW ORDER, SPLIT IMAGES, THE FIRST CIRCLE, BLACK DEATH, MONSTER FORCE [TV], BAD DAY ON THE BLOCK, CUBE, NIGHTWORLD: SURVIVOR, THE TRIANGLE, CENTURY HOTEL, TREED MURRAY, CYPHER, BOA VS. PYTHON, DARKLIGHT, STARGATE: ATLANTIS [TV], SPLICE, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, MORLOCKS, RAGE OF THE YETI, HAUNTER, DARK MATTER [TV], INCORPORATED [TV], THE SHAPE OF WATER, DEPARTURE, Guillermo del Toro's NIGHTMARE ALLEY) is 55.
Writer / Director / Producer / Actor Eli Roth (CABIN FEVER, 2001 MANIACS, HOSTEL [all], GRINDHOUSE, DEATH PROOF, THE LAST EXORCISM [all], PIRANHA 3D, AFTER SHOCK, THE MAN WITH THE IRON FISTS, HEMLOCK GROVE [Internet TV], THE SACRAMENT, THE STRANGER, CLOWN, THE GREEN INFERNO, KNOCK KNOCK, SOUTH OF HELL [TV], REAL SCARES [TV], CABIN FEVER [2016], AFTERLIFE [TV], ELI ROTH'S HISTORY OF HORROR [TV], THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS, HAUNT, DEATHRIDER IN THE HOUSE OF VAMPIRES, Eli Roth Presents: A GHOST RUINED MY LIFE [TV], Eli Roth Presents: THE HAUNTED MUSEUM [TV]) is 51.
Look for Eli's upcoming Horror Thriller for 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, LAKE MEAD. Also expected in 2022, 2023, 2024, BORDERLANDS (which just might be Eli's best movie ever!).

Actor David Tennant (DOCTOR WHO: SCREAM OF THE SHALKA [2003 - TV], THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT [2005 - TV], HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, DOCTOR WHO [TV], TOTALLY DOCTOR WHO [TV], FRIGHT NIGHT [2011], BAD SAMARITAN, GOOD OMENS [TV], DEADWATER FELL [TV], INSIDE MAN [TV]) is 50.
Writer, Producer, Director Edgar Wright (ASYLUM [TV], SPACED [TV], SHAUN OF THE DEAD, HOT FUZZ, GRINDHOUSE, THE WORLD'S END, ATTACK THE BLOCK, LAST NIGHT IN SOHO) is 49.

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APRIL 17

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

EQUILIBRIUM - Sean Bean

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Sean Bean (THE LORD OF THE RINGS: The Fellowship of the Ring, EQUILIBRIUM, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: Return Of The King, THE DARK, THE ISLAND, FLIGHTPLAN, SILENT HILL, THE HITCHER, RED RIDING: IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD - 1983, RED RIDING: IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD - 1974, BLACK DEATH, THE LOST FUTURE, DEATH RACE 2, GAME OF THRONES [TV - First Season], PERCY JACKSON [all], CLEAN SKIN, MISSING [TV], SILENT HILL: REVELATION 3D, WICKED BLOOD, JUPITER ASCENDING, DRONE, DARK RIVER, THE FRANKENSTEIN CHRONICLES [TV], POSSESSOR, WOLFWALKERS, SNOWPIERCER [TV], MUMMIES) is 65.
Look for Sean in the 2024 Thriller, ROGUE TROOPER.
Actor David Bradley (THE MOTH, DOOMWATCH: WINTER ANGEL, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, THE INTENDED, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING, RED MERCURY, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, SWEENEY TODD [2006], LYCANTHROPY, HOT FUZZ, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, WAKING THE DEAD [TV], HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, GAME OF THRONES [TV], THE WORLD'S END, THE STRAIN, WOLF HALL [TV], AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS, Guillermo del Toro's PINOCCHIO, COMA [TV]) is 82.
Look for David in the 2024 Thriller, MY SISTER'S BONES. Also expected in 2024, Guillermo del Toro's FRANKENSTEIN.
Actor Olivia Hussey (BLACK CHRISTMAS, DEATH ON THE NILE, THE CAT AND THE CANARY, VIRUS [1980], ESCAPE 2000, DISTORTIONS, PSYCHO IV, IT [1990], ICE CREAM MAN, THE GARDENER, EL GRITO, ISLAND PREY, HEADSPACE) is 73.

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APRIL 16

KILL BILL Vol. 2 is XX

KILL BILL Vol. 2

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

KICK-ASS movie review

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.

Plus -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

SPLIT Anya Taylor-Joy

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.

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APRIL 15

BRAIN DAMAGE Turns 36

BRAIN DAMAGE

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...

THE AMITYVILLE HORROR - 2005

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).

Plus -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

GAME OF THRONES - Maisie Williams

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 -

SCREAM 2  - sarah Michelle Gellar

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

American Psychos at the club

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 -

Tales From The Crupt: DEMON KNIGHT - William Sadler

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.

George A. Romero's DAWN OF THE DEAD is 45

DAWN OF THE DEAD

In the year of our Star Wars, 1977, George A. Romero's 1968 Masterpiece, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD was blistering hot in Arthouse theaters and on college campuses across America. Hollywood wanted to hire Romero but no major or minor Hollywood studio wanted to touch his script - his sequel.

It would have more blood, more gore, more violence, and what's more, it would have a damn black man as the hero!

Throughout the 1960s to the present, Hollywood relegated black guys in Horror and Science Fiction to the roles of cowards, pimps, drug abusers, street gang criminals, and general mentally damaged jive talkers. Black gals were all hookers, screaming crackpots, and out of nowhere might break out at any moment into booty dance twerking. If the black gal had any measure of success above the black guys, it was only so she could be the best friend of the lead white gal (to check a diversity box on the caucasian), and maybe give the white gal a few lessons on how to be "cool".

If a black character in a Horror or SciFi movie was going to be in anyway heroic or even so much as equal to the white people around him or her, that character had to die before the end credits, leaving only white survivors. Hollywood studios of the era would grudgingly allow the black character to die a hero, but die they must.

So with all of this going against George it took, as usual, an indie outsider to step in and make it happen. In this case, someone from across the ocean stood up for Romero and his second legendary hit, DAWN OF THE DEAD.

FRIDAY THE 13th: THE FINAL CHAPTER is 40

FRIDAY THE 13th IV: THE FINAL CHAPTER

40 years later and fans are still waving their canes around in the air and saying "Final Chapter! HA!"

This is what screenwriter Ken "The Fan Behind the Mask" thinks of FRIDAY THE 13th Part IV: THE FINAL CHAPTER.

The CABIN IN THE WOODS Turns 12 Today

CABIN IN THE WOODS

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.

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APRIL 12

CAT'S EYE is 39

Cat's Eye

Well think about it! Presented by none other than Oscar winning Dino De Laurentiis (KING KONG [1976], FLASH GORDON, HALLOWEEN II, CONAN, FIRESTARTER, MANHUNTER, ARMY OF DARKNESS)! Creature effects by 3 time Oscar winner Carlo Rambaldi (PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES, A BAY OF BLOOD, BARON BLOOD, KING KONG [1976], CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, ALIEN), Oscar winning Cinematographer Jack Cardiff (GHOST STORY), Directed by Lewis Teague (CUJO)! Amicus Horror movie Producer Milton Subotsky (CITY OF THE DEAD, DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS, DR. TERROR'S HOUSE OF HORRORS, THE SKULL, THE PSYCHOPATH, THE TERRORNAUTS, THEY CAME FROM BEYOND SPACE, SCREAM AND SCREAM AGAIN, THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, TALES FROM THE CRYPT [1972], ASYLUM, VAULT OF HORROR, AND NOW THE SCREAMING STARTS, FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE), Producer Martha J. Schumacher (aka Mrs. De Laurentiis: FIRESTARTER, SILVER BULLET, HANNIBAL) and nearly all of them veterans of Stephen King movies working on a Stephen King screenplay!

Whew! How could you NOT make a hit? Wait. Was Stephen King's CAT'S EYE a hit?

And -

22 Years of the Late Bill Paxton's Masterpiece: FRAILTY

FRAILTY - Matthew McConaughey

Award winning Comic book writer, Christos N. Gage, delves into why Actor and Director Bill Paxton's FRAILTY chills like no other!

Plus -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

ALIEN TRESPASS - Dan Lauria

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Nicholas Brendon (CHILDREN OF THE CORN III, PSYCHO BEACH PARTY, SURVIVAL ISLAND, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER [TV], FIRE SERPENT, UNHOLY [2007], BLOOD ON THE HIGHWAY, MY NEIGHBOR'S SECRET, THE PORTAL, COHERENCE, ATTACK OF THE MORNINSIDE MONSTER, INDIGO, REDWOOD, THE NANNY [2018], WANTON WANT, JUDGEMENT, DAWN) is 53.
Look for Nicholas in the upcoming 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Horror, CHRISTMAS SLASHER. Also in 2022, 2023, 2024 ON DARK AND BLOODY GROUND.
Actor Shannen Doherty (ALMOST DEAD, OBSESSED, CHARMED [TV series], STRIKING POSES, SATAN'S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS, HOW TO MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL, ANOTHER DAY, NIGHTLIGHT, BURNING PALMS, WITCHSLAYER GRETL, BLOOD LAKE: ATTACK OF THE KILLER LAMPREYS, BETHANY, DYING TO BELONG, FORTRESS, HOT SEAT) is 53.
Actor Dan Lauria (FEAR RUNS SILENT, STRANGER IN MY HOUSE, TREES, JUSTICE, CONTAGION, FULL DISCLOSURE, THE SPIRIT, ALIEN TRESPASS, DONNA ON DEMAND, DEAD AIR, PERCEPTION [TV], BAD IMPULSE) is 76.
Actor Tom Noonan (GLORIA, WOLFEN, F/X, MANHUNTER, THE MONSTER SQUAD, ROBOCOP 2, THE WIFE, THE ASTRONAUT'S WIFE, THE PLEDGE, EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS, THE ROOST, SERAPHIM FALLS, SYNECDOCHE NEW YORK, THE ALPHABET KILLER, FOLLOW THE PROPHET, THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL, DAMAGES [TV], NIGHT OF THE WOLF, WONDERSTRUCK, 12 MONKEYS [TV], WONDERSTRUCK) is 73.
Actor Saoirse Ronan (ATONEMENT, DEATH DEFYING ACTS, CITY OF EMBER, THE LOVELY BONES, HANNA, VIOLET AND DAISY, BYZANTIUM, THE HOST, LOST RIVER, STOCKHOLM PENNSYVANIA, FOE) is 30.
Look for Saoirse in the upcoming 2024 Thriller, BAD APPLES.

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APRIL 11

38 Years of CRITTERS

CRITTERS

Long before the world-wide cultural watershed moment of 1990s Internet and before the second onrush cultural watershed moment of worldwide distribution of wireless smartphones, stories and movies consistently used the vacuum of these two nonexistent technologies to propel their plot.

People without knowledge needed to seek out a library or wait for one to open. People needed to find the latest edition of a newspaper or track down a company or public entity (again, a library) to research something. People in danger needed to get to a phone somewhere, anywhere, even if that place appeared dangerous.

So back in 1986? Just what was it like to see the first theatrical showing of CRITTERS?

And -

THE TOXIC AVENGER is 38

THE TOXIC AVENGER

There's only one force on earth that keeps the Japanese from outweirding the Good Ol' U.S. of A in cinema and that's the Troma Studios of Lloyd Kaufmann and Michael Herz. I was recruited into their madness with THE TOXIC AVENGER!

Plus -

27 Years of ANACONDA

ANACONDA

Yep! That's right! After a quarter century this movie remains on everyone's radar because despite its low budget, for 1997 it had better cgi than JURASSIC PARK! Way back then, Reviewer Kelly Parks was there in the theater to see the original ANACONDA!

Also -

HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES is Old Enough to Drink

HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES

Two huge Horror fans in New York, Rob Zombie and Sean Yseult, met at a design school and started the White Zombie band in 1985. Rob wrote lyrics and created the direction. Sean wrote riffs, created the musical ethos (Noise Metal), and look of White Zombie. It took them years of living in poverty, scraping to get by, to finally reach success ten years later. In 1998 they broke up.

That same year, Sean and Rob started their own bands. Sean's was an all girl band, FAMOUS MONSTERS. Rob was himself with HELLBILLY DELUXE and being courted by Hollywood, as Rob was talking about Directing Horror movies. After Rob designed a Halloween theme for Universal Studios in 1999, they accepted his pitch for a movie idea he made up on the spot.

However, in 2000, Rob knew shit about directing feature films and Universal eventually soured on his learning curve. Time passed and through all of the trials and tribulations, Universal released HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES on April 11, 2003, just one week before the Kansas City, Missouri World Horror Convention.

Wassmor -

THE DARK Turns 19

THE DARK

Imagine 2003...

Producer 1: "Hey! Check this out. Sean Bean, who plays Borimor in THE LORD OF THE RINGS, will be in a new big budget Hollywood movie called National Treasure."

Producer 2: "Hell, anyone involved in those movies are taking off right now."

Producer 1: "But check out this slate! He's also contracted to be in the big budget Hollywood movies, THE ISLAND, FLIGHTPLAN, and SILENT HILL. All in development right now."

Producer 2: "Yeah his star is rising all right. Hooray for Sean Bean. Good for him."

Producer 1: "Ahem. Have you forgot? He's one of the actors we've contracted for our features! We can get him for our current movie right now!"

Producer 2: "Wait! WHAT? We've got Sean Bean?"

Producer 1: "Yeah!"

Producer 2: "We've got Super Hot Hollywood SEAN BEAN for our THE DARK?!?"

Producer 1: "YEAH!"

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APRIL 10

THE HOWLING Turns 43

THE HOWLING

In the 1970s, Writer Gary Brandner made a good living off of his Horror novels, but he was really onto something when he wrote THE HOWLING.

Director Joe Dante has made some good movies, but he really wowed audiences with this movie, loosely based on Gary's novel and largely re-written by master scribe, John Sayles. Gary turned his novel into a popular series, Joe Dante moved on.

Yet to this day, thanks to the practical effects by Rob Bottin and Rick Baker, the changeling scenes remain unmatched by other make-up artists or CGI anything. This is THE HOWLING.

And -

GOTHIC Turns 37

GOTHIC

As over the top and hambone in all of the scene chewing rococo ways that Director Ken Russell (ALTERED STATES) was infamous for, GOTHIC is Russell unleashed.

Plus -

SLEEPWALKERS Turns 32

SLEEPWALKERS

While watching this movie in my foolish youth, I remember sitting in the theater with the distant hope that one of those damn cats would scratch my OWN eyes out before I had to watch another second of this drivel.

Don't worry, my review of SLEEPWALKERS will be brief.

Also -

SPECIES II is 26

SPECIES II

To my knowledge, this movie is unique in the fact that all three of the big names were so repulsed by the finished product that they wanted nothing to do with it. Michael Madsen, who I'm certain has been in so much worse, and Natasha Henstridge disowned it (claiming, in fact, that they hate it). H.R. Giger, failing to get his name removed, asked that it at least be minimized so as not to promote the movie. No dice. SPECIES II, the last of the theater releases in this franchise, needed all the help it could get.

Wassmor -

ABOMINABLE Turns 18

ABOMINABLE

Legendary film composer, Lalo Schifrin had a son, Ryan, who grew up surrounded by the movie industry. One day Ryan had a story about a monstrous Abominable Snowman. He got help fleshing it out, wrote the script, and wanted to direct it himself.

Of course, no matter how well-oiled the wheels are for you, if you get your big break - and you suck - you'll shrivel in the blinding bright glare of sneers and mockery that no bunch of yahoos from the Big Mitten would ever have to deal with, because nobody knows or gives a damn about who they are.

So when it came time for Ryan's turn at bat... He hit a home run!

Imagine how different his life would be today in 2024, as well as the lives of his investors, if they'd only have kept the faith in the audience (won two jury prizes at the 2006 Austin Fantastic Fest) and didn't toss Ryan's movie at the cable teevee, the second SciFi Channel waved a few bucks in their face?

This is the Cinema Obscura of Ryan Schifrin's great freshman entry into Horror, ABOMINABLE. Sadly, he never made another feature again.

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

Actor Alex Pettyfer (TORMENTED, I AM NUMBER FOUR, BEASTLY, IN TIME, THE STRANGE ONES, THE LAST WITNESS, WARNING, THE INFERNAL MACHINE, SUNRISE, BLACK NOISE) is 34.

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APRIL 9

TREMORS 2: AFTERSHOCKS

TREMORS 2: AFTERSHOCKS

This is still another tale of a major studio that had a fantastic movie in its posession yet had absolutely no idea how to sell it.

So they didn't bother.

Contractually obligated to release TREMORS to theaters, Universal Pictures tossed the minimum number of "wide release" copies to the theater chains with virtually no advance promotion or advertising. I was unaware of it in the age Before Internet (B.I.) and only saw it because it was playing at a second run Dollar Theater and my group of friends couldn't agree on a movie, all were getting frustrated, I saw the poster of a movie I knew nothing about and chose TREMORS, which won by default.

We were FLOORED! HOW did we not know about this movie?

Universal was stunned by the video rental store reaction that word of mouth created. Rental rental chains were suddenly ordering more copies because they couldn't keep their supply in stock. Being Universal Pictures of the 1980s / '90s, they in turn, suddenly wanted a sequel. But it had to be cheaper, so no Kevin Bacon (who had two SciFi Horror flops in the same year and decided he was done with SciFi Horror for the forseeable future [until 1999 and STIR OF ECHOES]), and no original director, Ron Underwood (who went on to direct a box office smash comedy the following year). It was a Strike while the iron is Hot, kinda deal so it had to be made faster: no time for writing a quality script and the creativity of a decent amount of Pre-Production.

So what did we get? Far less interesting and entertaining story than the original but a significantly better sequel than Every Single Tremors sequel that came after. That's what Universal corporate board smushed in the faces of the audience that bought their Lambos and swimming pools and they called it TREMORS 2: AFTERSHOCKS.

And -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

BEING HUMAN - Mark Peligrino

Writer/ Director Fred Dekker (GODZILLA 1985, HOUSE, NIGHT OF THE CREEPS, HOUSE II, THE MONSTER SQUAD, TALES FROM THE CRYPT [TV], ROBOCOP 3, THE PREDATOR) is 64.
Actor Elle Fanning (THE DOOR IN THE FLOOR, DEJA VU, THE LOST ROOM [TV], THE NINES, RESERVATION ROAD, SUPER 8, TWIXT, THE YOUNG ONES, MALEFICENT, THE NEON DEMON, MARY SHELLEY, I THINK WE'RE ALONE NOW, MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL) is 26.
Writer Teri A. Jacobs (THE VOID, SECRETS OF THE BONES) is 60.
Writer Vince Liaguno (THE LITERARY SIX) is about 61 I think, maybe 69.
Actor Kathleen Munroe (FAMILY CURSE, ETERNAL, THE WHITE DOG SACRIFICE, DURHAM COUNTY [TV], SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD, STARGATE UNIVERSE SGU, HAVEN [TV], ALPHAS [TV], CSI: NY, RESURRECTION [TV], THE VOID, BIRDLAND, KNUCKLEBALL, THE CAR: ROAD TO REVENGE, A PERFECT PLAN) is 42.
Look for Kathleen in the upcoming Mystery Thriller, THE DOGS.
Actor Mark Pelligrino (NIGHT LIFE, PRAYER OF THE ROLLERBOYS, MIDNIGHT WITNESS, MULHOLLAND DR. [TV], MULHOLLAND DR., 2:13, LOST [TV], BAD MEAT, LOCKE & KEY, REVOLUTION [TV], BEING HUMAN [TV - 2011-2014], THE TOMORROW PEOPLE [TV], THE RETURNED [TV - 2015], QUANTICO [TV], SUPERNATURAL [TV], 13 REASONS WHY [TV]) is 59.
Actor Kristen Stewart (PANIC ROOM, COLD CREEK MANOR, UNDERTOW, THE MESSENGERS, JUMPER, TWILIGHT [all], SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, AMERICAN ULTRA, EQUALS, PERSONAL SHOPPER, LIZZIE, UNDERWATER, CRIMES OF THE FUTURE, LOVE ME) is 33.

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APRIL 8

THE FORBIN PROJECT Turns 54

COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT

Yes, in 2024 we're finally entering the long predicted age of Artificial Intelligence (AI). What's more, the people who are inventing / creating the AI age are the same ones warning us that AI will destroy humanity. The ones who are seemingly the most eager to invent AI, and are most likely to humanity beneath "digital life", possibly like Larry Page or Sam Altman, are the actual problem.

The problem isn't that AI will rise up and destroy us, but that the people who fund and own it are the ones creating AI to rise up and destroy us.

Presumably with the intent that they will be saved, through safeguards they've put into place.

However, the best laid safeguards don't go quite to plan in the 1970 movie, COLOSSUS: THE FORBIN PROJECT.

And -

David Cronenberg's RABID Turns 47

RABID

Before Producer Ivan Reitman made GHOSTBUSTERS, he was often the guiding light of Writer and Director, David Cronenberg. And before he did that, Ivan made pornography - but not using his real name.

By 1971 he released his first straight picture, a sexy comedy starring Andrea Martin (CANNIBAL GIRLS, BLACK CHRISTMAS, EARTHWORM JIM [TV]), Eugene Levy (CANNIBAL GIRLS, HEAVY METAL), and Art Hindle (BLACK CHRISTMAS, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, THE BROOD, THE VOID). And because of this, Ivan had among his group of friends folks involved with Porn, Comedy, and Horror.

Now connected to Chicago's Second City Comedy, Toronto, Canada's Second Comedy Troupe, and Second City TV series (SCTV), Ivan was well positioned for access to Lorne Michaels' Saturday Night Live (SNL), as Michaels hired many comics who began in Chicago and, later, Toronto. But in the new creeping garden of 1970s Canadian Horror, David Cronenberg was stirring. And boy, could Ivan bring a heady mix of actors to a project! So he got A-List porn actor, Marilyn Chambers, to be the lead in David Cronenberg's RABID. But that's not all...

Plus -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

WHITE NOISE 2 - Katee Sackhoff

Actor / Stuntman Kane Hodder (HOUSE, HOUSE II, FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VII, FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VIII, DEEPSTAR SIX, ALLIGATOR II, JASON GOES TO HELL, PUMPKINHEAD II, PROJECT: METALBEAST, SCANNERCOP II, SE7EN, WISHMASTER, CHILDREN OF THE CORN V, WATCHERS REBORN, JASON X, DARKWOLF, THE DEVIL'S REJECTS, 2001 MANIACS, HATCHET [all], BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON, ROOM 6, FALLEN ANGELS, BORN, ED GEIN: THE BUTCHER OF PLAINFIELD, HACK!, DEAD NOON, B.T.K., MONSTERPIECE THEATER VOL. 1, OLD HABITS DIE HARD, FROZEN, AFFLICTED, MONSTERPIECE THEATER, CUT, EXIT 33, CHILLERAMA, ROBIN HOOD: GHOSTS OF SHERWOOD 3D, AMONG FRIENDS, EXIT TO HELL, LOVE IN THE TIME OF MONSTERS, SMOTHERED, ALICE D, FIELDS OF THE UNDEAD, MUCK, FURY: THE TALES OF RONAN PIERCE, OLD 37, CHARLIE'S FARM, CANNIBALS, SHED OF THE DEAD, KNIFECORP, ROOM 9, and way more) is 70.
Look for Kane's expected 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Horror Thrillers, SEVERED ROAD.
Actor Taylor Kitsch (SNAKES ON A PLANE, THE CONVENANT, X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE, JOHN CARTER, BATTLESHIP, SAVAGES, SHADOWPLAY [TV]) is 44.
Actor Katee Sackhoff (THE FEARING MIND [TV], HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA [TV], WHITE NOISE 2, THE LAST SENTINEL, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: RAZOR, 24 [TV], THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT 2, SEXY EVIL GENIUS, RIDDICK, OCULUS, DON'T KNOCK TWICE, THE MACHINE, 2036: ORIGIN UNKNOWN, THE FLASH [TV], ANOTHER LIFE [TV], NIGHT OF THE ANIMATED DEAD) is 44.
Actor Tim Thomerson (FADE TO BLACK, JEKYLL & HYDE TOGETHER AGAIN, THE OSTERMAN WEEKEND, TRANCERS [all], ZONE TROOPERS, NEAR DARK, DOLLMAN, STRINGER, BAD CHANNELS, DIE WATCHING, NEMESIS, DOLLMAN VS. DEMONIC TOYS, THE HARVEST, FLESHTONE, NEMESIS III, UNSEEN EVIL, DEVIL'S PREY, THEY CRAWL, PROJECT VIPER, PAPARAZZI, THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, BLUE LAKE MASSACRE, WICKED LAKE, LIVE EVIL, ABANDONED, MoniKa, ASYLUM OF DARKNESS, and way more) is 79.
Look for Tim in the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 release of BRING ME THE HEAD OF LANCE HENRIKSEN - aka - LANCE HENRIKSEN WILL BE LONG DEAD BEFORE YOU FINALLY BRING ME HIS HEAD FOR THIS MOVIE RELEASE.
Not being entirely glib, here. So far three of the actors, Art Lefleur, John Saxon, and John Witherspoon have passed on.
Also in 2024, the Horror comedy, BRISTLED.

SUNDAY -

Actor Kyle Labine (DARKSTALKERS [TV], MR. RICE'S SECRET, SPOOKY HOUSE, HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION, I WAS A TEENAGE FAUST, FREDDY VS. JASON, OGRE, 388 ARLETTA AVENUE, SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK) is 41.

KING KONG is 91

KING KONG - 1933

And still an active franchise! In fact, KING KONG is the world's oldest active film franchise to date! In addition to its tons of sequels, tons of spin-offs, many with their own sequels, KING KONG has been remade three freaking times!

KING KONG (1976), KING KONG (2005), and KONG: SKULL ISLAND, were all remade from the original movie as source material: not a re-imagining in the bunch!

Holy Mackerel! How on earth can such a movie franchise endure? To know that, let's deep dive into what KING KONG started.

SATURDAY -

SLITHER - Michael Rooker

Actor Candace Cameron Bure (I SAW WHAT YOU DID, MONSTER MASH: THE MOVIE, SHARON'S SECRET, VISITORS OF THE NIGHT, NO ONE WOULD TELL, NIGHT SCREAM, AURORA TEAGARDEN MYSTERIES [all]) is 47.
Actor Lori Heuring (ANIMAL ROOM, THE OPERATOR, SNAKE TALES, THE IN CROWD, MULHOLLAND DRIVE, PRETTY WHEN YOU CRY, TRUE BLUE, TABOO, RUNAWAY JURY, MUMMY AN' THE ARMADILLO, 8MM2, WICKED LITTLE THINGS, PROM NIGHT [2008], THE POKER CLUB, HUNGER, WITHIN, CROSS [all]) is 51.
Actor John Ratzenberger (TWILIGHT'S LAST GLEAMING, WARLORD'S OF ATLANTIS, MOTEL HELL, OUTLAND, GOLIATH AWAITS, FIREFOX, WARLORDS OF THE 21ST CENTURY, HOUSE II, TICK TOCK, SPIRITED AWAY, MONSTERS, INC., THE INCREDIBLES, MONSTERS UNIVERSITY, COCO, INCREDIBLES 2) is 77.
Actor Michael Rooker (HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER, SEA OF LOVE, THE DARK HALF, THE HARD TRUTH, THE TRIGGER EFFECT, DECEIVER, BROWN'S REQUIEM, SHADOW BUILDER, THE BONE COLLECTOR, THE 6TH DAY, REPLICANT, SKELETON MAN, CHASING GHOSTS, SLITHER, REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA, WHISPER, JUMPER, PENANCE, CELL 213, ATLANTIS DOWN, HYPOTHERMIA, MYSTERIA, THE WALKING DEAD [TV], PENNHURST, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, THE BELKO EXPERIMENT, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Vol. 2, FANTASY ISLAND, LOVE AND MONSTERS, THE DARK TOWER [TV], SUICIDE SQUAD [2021], CORRECTIVE MEASURES, WHITE ELEPHANT) is 68.

Producer Howard Hawks THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD is 73

THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD

It was 1951. The Giant Monkey Movie studio, RKO Pictures, was nearly broke. Which gave Director Howard W. Hawks room to negotiate with them when he wanted to launch his own production company, Winchester (The "W" in Hawk's name), something the major studios didn't want to negotiate. Howard's budget was so low, only $40,000, that even today this movie would be considered low-budget at an inflation adjusted $462,000. So Howard went super cheap on everything and, probably because he was raised in the era of U.S. public schools teaching children to talk with the artificial "Trans-Atlantic" accent, he had the actors use that linguistic argot for his movie (unfortunately for the government, it didn't stick. Damn smart-ass teenage kids going off and making up their own slang and argot!). It wasn't just a gimmick for Howard, as it worked well for low sound quality audio, which Howard also likely had.

And if you don't believe me, why, then you're stuffed full of wild blueberry muffins!

Yet despite all of these roadblocks, Producer Hawks and Director Christian Nyby's movie outperformed the Big studio budget SciFi movies of that year, WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE and THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL.

Both this movie and John Carpenter's THE THING share the same Top 100 American Movies list, and this is how THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD got there.

GRINDHOUSE: PLANET TERROR and DEATH PROOF are 17

PLANET TERROR

By 2007, good friends Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino made enough box office winners that they wanted to make a double feature. A Retro-Throwback to the cheap and sleazy cinemas of their youth: the ones that inspired them to be filmmakers. Robert would make one (that starred QT) and Quentin would make the other, and both would be shown together and include lots of short films by their friends, presented as trailers.

Nobody in Hollywood wanted to say no, but no one wanted to be the first to say yes. This was an over three hour movie they were talking about. In addition to the high budget, such a flick would also have fewer shows per day to make that return.

Nobody could talk them out of it. QT and RR had their budget and would shoot the whole movie under their production companies. Finally a distribution deal was made with Dimension Films (subset of the long dead Miramax), and the rest his history: 17 years of history with GRINDHOUSE.

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APRIL 5

EVIL DEAD is 11

EVIL DEAD 2013

Have you seen Sam Raimi's original THE EVIL DEAD? Have you seen Diablo Cody's version of Sam Raimi's THE EVIL DEAD?

Did you like it? Well, I reviewed it! Yes, I reviewed EVIL DEAD!

And -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE ITALY

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Director, Producer Roger Corman (MONSTER FROM THE OCEAN FLOOR, DAY THE WORLD ENDED, IT CONQUERED THE WORLD, ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS, NOT OF THIS EARTH [1957], THE UNDEAD, WAR OF THE SATELLITES, TEENAGE CAVEMAN [1958], THE CRY BABY KILLER, NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST, BATTLE BEYOND THE SUN, A BUCKET OF BLOOD, BEAST FROM HAUNTED CAVE, THE WASP WOMAN, ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES, HOUSE OF USHER, LAST WOMAN ON EARTH, THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, CREATURE FROM THE HAUNTED SEA, PIT AND THE PENDULUM, PREMATURE BURIAL, THE INTRUDER, TALES OF TERROR, THE RAVEN, THE TERROR, X: THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES, THE HAUNTED PALACE, DEMENTIA 13, THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH, QUEEN OF BLOOD, THE DUNWICH HORROR, SCREAM OF THE DEMON LOVER, BEAST OF THE YELLOW NIGHT, THE VELVET VAMPIRE, THE CREMATORS, NIGHT OF THE COBRA WOMAN, DEATH RACE 2000, PIRANHA [1978], HUMANOIDS OF THE DEEP, GALAXY OF TERROR, FORBIDDEN WORLD, SPACE RAIDERS, SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE [all], SUMMER CAMP NIGHTMARE, MUNCHIES, NOT OF THIS EARTH [1988], WATCHERS [all], THE TERROR WITHIN, DANCE OF THE DAMNED, LORDS OF THE DEEP, over 415 in all) is 98.
Producer Larry J. Franco (ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, THE THING [1982], CHRISTINE, STARMAN, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, PRINCE OF DARKNESS, THEY LIVE, THE ROCKETEER, BATMAN RETURNS, MARS ATTACKS!, SLEEPY HOLLOW, JURASSIC PARK III, HULK, BATMAN BEGINS, DISCARNATE) is 75.
Writer W.D. Gagliani (SHADOWPLAYS, WOLF'S TRAP, WOLF'S GAMBIT, WOLF'S BLUFF, SAVAGE NIGHTS, THE GREAT BELZONI AND THE GATE OF ANUBIS) is 60.
Musician, Model Jaye Vampira (EDEN'S ONSLAUGHT) is 40.
Actor Dallas Page (THE DEVIL'S REJECTS, HOOD OF HORROR, SPLINTER, DRIFTWOOD, GALLOWWALKER, SENSORY PERCEPTION, PENANCE LANE, THE REPLACEABLES, FraXtur [TV], THE GUARDIANS OF JUSTICE (WILL SAVE YOU) [TV], HOMESTEAD) is 67.

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APRIL 4

Bert I. Gordon's TORMENTED Gets the 4K Treatment

TORMENTED

In his lifetime Bert Ira Gordon made more than 25 SciFi movies, many of them Horror. Bert lived to be 100 years old, more than old enough to see a 1990s hit TV show hilariously mock his movies. In fact, Mystery Science Theater 3000 mocked more movies from Bert I. Gordon than any other director!

This movie will be released by Film Masters on April 23, 2024 in a new 4K scan on Blu-Ray. Technically its never looked and sounded better, but how is the movie? My review of Gordon's 1960 Horror Thriller, TORMENTED.

And -

PHONE BOOTH Turns 21

PHONE BOOTH

Writer, Producer, and Director Joel Schumaker was a mixed bag. He could crash and burn, boy could he ever: big time make no mistake. But he approached movie making as an artist and when the studios trusted their instincts for hiring him in the first place, and kept their meddling to a minimum, Joel at his best created classics like THE LOST BOYS, FALLING DOWN, THE CLIENT, A TIME TO KILL, 8MM, and this one, PHONE BOOTH.

Plus -

John Everson's VIGILANTES OF LOVE Turns 20

Already Dead

Read why our reviewer, Jimmy Z, gave Everson's collection of VooDoo and Sex Magic all 5 Bookwyrms when he reviewed, VIGILANTES OF LOVE.

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

GOTHIKA - Robert Downey Jr.

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor A. Michael Baldwin (PHANTASM [all], VIRTUAL GIRL 2, BRUTAL, THE PICK-AXE MURDERS PART III, FLAY) is 61.
Actor Robert Downey Jr. (FIRSTBORN, WEIRD SCIENCE, NATURAL BORN KILLERS, THE GINGERBREAD MAN, IN DREAMS, GOTHIKA, A SCANNER DARKLY, IRON MAN [all], SHERLOCK HOLMES [2009], THE AVENGERS [all], CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING, AVENGERS: END GAME) is 59.
Actor Amanda Righetti (ANGEL BLADE, RETURN TO HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, PIPELINE, FRIDAY THE 13th [2009], CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, SHADOW OF FEAR, THE MENTALIST [TV], COLONY [TV], DERANGED GRANNY) is 40.
Actor Hugo Weaving (THE MATRIX [all], THE LORD OF THE RINGS [all], LITTLE FISH, V FOR VENDETTA, TRANSFORMERS [all], THE WOLFMAN [2010], CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, THE HOBBIT: THE UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, [all], MYSTERY ROAD, STRANGERLAND, MORTAL ENGINES, LONE WOLF, EXPIRED, THE ROOSTER, THE ROYAL HOTEL) who is 64.

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APRIL 3

THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES Lights Up Roku This April 15

And -

Skylark Vision sets April 30th Release for WITCH (Digital & VOD)

Plus -

4D Media sets April 9 Release for JACK IN THE BOX RISES (Digital, VOD, DVD)

Also -

Imagine this Twofer your Grandparents had back on this date in 1968!

Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Turns 56

2001: A Space Odyssey

What happens when you choose to make a hardcore futuristic Science Fiction movie, as accurate as possible on the science? You get a movie that not only outlasts the built-in obsolescence of its title, but remains futuristic and relevant decades after its forecasted due date.

What's more, as Stanley admitted in several promotional interviews at the time, he not only wanted this to be as true as possible to the science in the fiction, but terrifying as well. In many ways, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY is Kubrick's first Horror movie.

AsWell -

PLANET OF THE APES Turns 56

THE PLANET OF THE APES

It's the world's longest running SciFi motion picture franchise from the studio that brought you the 2nd (Star Wars) and 3rd (ALIEN) longest running SciFi motion picture franchises.

The movie bore little if any resemblance to the Pierre Boulett novel of the same name (which happens A. Lot. in Hollywood), but under the guidance of WWII hero, Rod Serling, it was suffused with modern day (late 20th Century) analogies and parables, among them being the threat of nuclear annihilation and racism.

And that's when an odd thing happened on the set.

Dressed in various ape costumes, the actors - themselves of different ethnicities - would eat their lunch with other actors who wore the same ape costumes as them. Actors dressed as Gorillas, Orangutans, and Chimpanzees quietly self-segregated to eat their meals with each other, regardless of the race or nationality of the person inside.

This was only one of the odd things that happened in PLANET OF THE APES.

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

THE CHURCH

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Jamie Bamber (THE DEVIL'S TATTOO, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA [TV], BSG: RAZOR, PULSE 2: AFTERLIFE, PERCEPTION [TV], BODY OF PROOF [TV], JOHN DOE: VIGILANTE, THE MESSENGERS [TV], NUMB, MONEY, THE CAR: ROAD TO REVENGE, STRIKE BACK [TV], TITANIC 666, THE LAIR) is 51.
Look for Jamie in the upcoming 2024 Thriller, HEAVYWEIGHT.
Writer/ Director/ Producer/Actor Lamberto Bava (TERRORE NELLO SPAZIO, KILL BABY...KILL!, HATCHET FOR THE HONEYMOON, A BAY OF BLOOD, BARON BLOOD, THE HOUSE OF EXORCISM, THE LAST SURVIVOR, TENEBRE, DEMONI, THE MIDNIGHT KILLER, DEMONI 2, SHOCK, MACABRO, A BLADE IN THE DARK, LA CHIESA, BODY PUZZLE, THE TORTURER, GHOST SON, VITE IN OSTAGGIO, VISIONS OF MURDER [TV], TAILOR-MADE MURDER [TV], KAMMERSPIEL [TV]) is 79.
Look for Lamberto's upcoming 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Horror movie, TWINS.
The 2018 trailer to TWINS still hasn't built an audience or more funding.

Actor Sofia Boutella (MONSTERS: DARK CONTINENT, KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE, STAR TREK BEYOND, ATOMIC BLONDE, THE MUMMY [2017], FARENHEIT 451 [2018], CLIMAX, HOTEL ARTEMIS, SETTLERS, PRISONERS OF GHOSTLAND, SETTLERS [TV], ARGYLE) is 42.
Writer, Director, Actor Axelle Carolyn (DOOMSDAY, CENTURION, PSYCHOSIS, A RECKONING, SOULMATE, TALES OF HALLOWEEN, DON'T KILL IT, ALL THE CREATURES WERE STIRRING, THE MANOR) is 45.
Axelle shares a birthday month with her CENTURION alumnis, Michael Fassbender and JJ Field.
Actor Jennifer Rubin (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3, BAD DREAMS, DELUSION, DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, THE FEAR INSIDE, THE CRUSH, BITTER HARVEST, FULL ECLIPSE, PLAYMAKER, STRANGER BY NIGHT, THE WASP WOMAN [1995], SCREAMERS, DECEPTIONS II, LITTLE WITCHES, LOVED, LAST LIVES, TWISTS OF TERROR, SANCTIMONY, FATAL CONFLICT, FALCON DOWN, TRANSMORPHERS, HEEBIE JEEBIES, YOU'RE MELTING!) is 62.

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APRIL 2

Count Floyd aka Joe Flaherty, Left Earth on April 1st

Joe Flaherty as Count Floyd on his RCA Mini-Album

Stand-up, Sketch, and Improv comic, and actor, Joe Flaherty (DOUBLE NEGATIVE, HEAVY METAL, REALLY WEIRD TALES, BLUE MONKEY, LITTLE DRACULA [TV], FREAKS AND GEEKS [TV], MANIAC MANSION [TV]), mostly known to fans for a wide variety of movies, TV shows, and SCTV's Count Floyd: the World's Worst Horror Host, died on the biggest prank punchline day of the year, April 1.

Joe Flaherty as Count Floyd
Born: June 21, 1941 Died: April 1, 2024

And -

Mario Bava's LISA AND THE DEVIL Turns 52

THE HOUSE OF EXORCISM

This is a Horror movie by Mario Bava. But behind the camera, it is a sad tale of a friendship destroyed by a director who made a vanity project and his good friend who funded it, because he was convinced that he could sell any movie with his friend, Bava's name on it.

Reality, as reality does, smashed their faith in each other and in so doing, the friendship based upon it. Once 1972's LISA AND THE DEVIL was partially re-shot and fully re-edited to become 1975's THE HOUSE OF EXORCISM, the once wonderful friendship was damaged beyond repair. This is a review of the movie and its real world outcome, LISA AND THE DEVIL.

Plus -

Dario Argento's INFERNO Turns 44

INFERNO

The Horror Geek himself, Mike Bracken, weighed in on what makes Dario Argento's masterpiece work. Mike's review of INFERNO.

Also -

Paul Schrader's CAT PEOPLE Turns 42

CAT PEOPLE

Was the remake doomed from the start? It had everything going for it. Great cast, great writer, bit of a newbie director, but Paul Schrader had his successes before. And even if it was his first Horror movie, so what? Lots of first time Horror movie directors hit a home run with their first Horror movie.

But why was a Horror movie remake like this released during 1980s Comedy movie month for Spring Break? And rated R, keeping a sizeable chunk of those public school Spring Breakers out of it?

Like the same year's THE THING, CAT PEOPLE crashed and burned in theaters, only to find the untapped audience that was always there, in home video.

WassMor -

HELLBOY Turns 20

HELLBOY 2004

Guillermo del Toro loves to bring the human element to his stories. His Monsters in particular are usually flawed, emotionally damaged, but worthy of grace.

Comic book writer and artist, Mike Mignola excels at this throughout his comics, with characters every bit as puzzling and fascinating as anything by Tim Burton.

So what happened with Un-Mignola, Un-Del Toro movie HELLBOY?

FurthrMor -

CLASH OF THE TITANS is 14

CLASH OF THE TITANS - 2010

It must have taken the greatest of care to create a remake to the 1981 original that was just as flawed in writing, direction, and acting, without being better or worse.

Is that what my reviewer, Mark Worthen found with 2010's CLASH OF THE TITANS?

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

CENTURION - Michael Fassbender

Actor Lindy Booth (EERIE INDIANA [TV], TEENAGE SPACE VAMPIRES, THE SKULLS II, AMERICAN PSYCHO 2, ODYSSEY 5, WRONG TURN, DAWN OF THE DEAD [2004], CRY WOLF, DARK HONEYMOON, BEHIND THE WALL, BRAIN TRUST, KICK-ASS 2, THE LIBRARIANS) is 44 today.
Actor Michael Fassbender (SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE CASE OF THE SILK STOCKING, A MOST MYSTERIOUS MURDER, HEX [TV], 300, EDEN LAKE, BLOOD CREEK, CENTURION, JONAH HEX, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, HAYWIRE, PROMETHEUS, SLOW WEST, FRANK, X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, X-MEN: APOCALYPSE, ASSASSIN'S CREED, ALIEN: COVENANT, THE SNOWMAN, X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX) is 46.
Michael shares an April birthday with CENTURION alumni, JJ Field.
Actor Clark Gregg (CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, ABOVE SUSPICION, THE SPANISH PRISONER, ONE HOUR PHOTO, THE HUMAN STAIN, WHEN A STRANGER CALLS, IRON MAN, IRON MAN 2, THOR, THE AVENGERS, THE ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN [TV 2012], AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. [TV], SPINNING MAN, CAPTAIN MARVEL, RUN SWEETHEART RUN) is 62.
Artist, Writer, Director Jacob Hair (Books: SATAN'S 3-RING CIRCUS OF HELL.
Movies: ROTTWEILER, 2001 MANIACS, SNOOP DOGG'S HOOD OF HORROR, BOO, CEMETERY GATES, STARSHIP TROOPERS 3: MARAUDER, THE BEACON, 2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS, SCREAM OF THE BANSHEE, THE STANDFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT, RICK AND MORTY [TV]
) is 43.
Actor Shawn Roberts (JACOB TWO TWO MEETS THE HOODED FANG [1999], X-MEN, TAKING LIVES, SIBLINGS, THRALLS, LAND OF THE DEAD, SKINWALKERS, SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM [2006], STIR OF ECHOES: THE HOMECOMING, DIARY OF THE DEAD, LEFT FOR DEAD, JUMPER, BLACK RAIN [2009], RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE, A LITTLE BIT ZOMBIE, RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION, FEED THE GODS, RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER, TAINTED, CAMPTON MANOR) is 40.

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APRIL 1

SIN CITY is 19

SIN CITY

Director Robert Rodriguez put so many roadblocks in front of himself it's amazing this movie got made at all. He cheesed off the Director's Guild by having three different directors all work on the same single movie story (anthology movies are different). True, Rodriguez didn't belong to the guild, but neither did the movie's original creator Frank Miller, who was also brought onboard as a director, and Robert's good friend, Quentin Tarantino. For the Directors Guild, that combination was a "And that's another thing!"

Yet despite everything that could have gone wrong, this is how everything goes right with SIN CITY.

And -

DEAD MOON RISING is 16

DEAD MOON RISING

At some point it seems that Writer, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Digital Compositor, and Director Mark E. Poole, living in the middle of nowhere Louisville, Kentucky (a town so awkward that its native citizenry still argue furiously over how to pronounce Louisville!), decided he wanted to make a movie, and not just any movie.

Mark E. Poole: "Hey everybody! Let's put on a Zombie movie!"

Proto-Extra: "Hey, can I be a zombie?"

Mark E. Poole: "Why sure as shit you can!"

Proto-SFX MUA: "Can I do the Special Effects?"

Mark E. Poole: "Why sure as shit you can!"

Proto-Crew: "Gosh! This will be the best zombie holocaust movie ever!"

The most difficult thing about the movie was, as always, getting paid enough to cover the cost of making it and making another movie. Many involved were able to use this movie (to greater and lesser success) as their launch pad to greater movie work. Many, that is, except for the guy who put the whole furshlugginer thing together in the first place, Mark E. Poole. As near as I can figure, that pretty much is what launched 2008's DEAD MOON RISING.

Plus -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Writer Douglas Clegg (THE CHILDREN'S HOUR, GOAT DANCE, THE HALLOWEEN MAN, THE NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES, YOU COME WHEN I CALL YOU, MISCHIEF, NAOMI, DARK OF THE EYE, THE INFINITE, THE HOUR BEFORE DARK, AFTERLIFE, NIGHTMARE HOUSE, THE NECROMANCER, THE VAMPYRICON SERIES, THE ATTRACTION, BREEDER, THE ABANDONED, MORDRED TRILOGY, NEVERLAND) is even older than me!
Read our interview with Douglas Clegg.
Actor JJ Feild (K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER, THE INTENDED, WAKING THE DEAD [TV], THE RUBY IN THE SMOKE, THE SHADOW IN THE NORTH, BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE, CENTURION, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER, BRAVE MEN'S BLOOD, STAG [TV], LOST IN SPACE [TV 2018-2021], THE PERIPHERAL [TV]) is 45.
Producer, Director Barry Sonnenfeld (THE ADDAMS FAMILY [both], MEN IN BLACK [all], WILD WILD WEST, SECRET AGENT MAN [TV 2000], THE TICK [TV 2001-2002], LEMONY SNICKETT'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, PLAY OR BE PLAYED, PUSHING DAISIES [TV], A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS [TV 2017-2019], THE TICK [TV 2017-2019]) is 71. Writer Robin Spriggs (WONDROUS STRANGE: TALES OF THE UNCANNY, DIARY OF A GENTLEMAN DIABOLIST) is WAY older than me!

SUNDAY -

AC/DC Angus Young

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Writer, Director Alejandro Amenábar (TESIS, OPEN YOUR EYES, THE OTHERS, VANILLA SKY, REGRESSION, LA FORTUNA [TV]) is 51.
Writer / Director Adam Green (HATCHET [all], SPIRAL, FROZEN, HATCHET 2, CHILLERAMA, HOLLISTON [TV], DIGGING UP THE MARROW, HORRIFIED [TV], VICTOR CROWLEY, ADAM GREEN'S SCARY SLEEPOVER [TV]) is 48.
Musician Angus Young (AC/DC: HIGH VOLTAGE, JAILBREAK, POWERAGE, IF YOU WANT BLOOD YOU'VE GOT IT, HIGHWAY TO HELL, DIRTY DEEDS DONE DIRT CHEAP, LET THERE BE ROCK, BACK IN BLACK, FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK: WE SALUTE YOU, FLIP THE SWITCH, FLY ON THE WALL, WHO MADE WHO, RAZOR'S EDGE, BLOW UP YOUR VIDEO, BALLBREAKER, STIFF UPPER LIP, TNT, BLACK ICE, PWR/UP, Movies: IRON MAN 2) is 68.

THE MATRIX is 25

THE MATRIX

Lana Warchowski brought nothing new to the table with MATRIX RESURRECTIONS, it was just revisiting characters for auld lang syne. It didn't fix any of the problems with the two sequels (but thankfully it didn't introduce bonehead nonsense like General Jar Jar Binks, Midichlorians, a dysfunctional galactic family, or Mary Sue saviors). The 5th in the series made its money, and now it's a DVD 5 pack in Walmart.

Ah, but in 1999, the future was a whole other story for the freshly minted and deliriously excited fans of THE MATRIX.

SLITHER is 18 Today

SLITHER

Aliens taking control of human bodies and turning them into a living Something Else isn't new. There's a whole Heck'in substrate of Horror known as Body Horror. That said, most of it is deadly serious (John Carpenter's THE THING, David Cronenberg's ... Nearly Everything) and rarely as hilarious as James Gunn's SLITHER.

SATURDAY -

THE ADDAMS FAMILY - John Astin

Actor John Astin (THE ADDAMS FAMILY [TV], THE SPIRIT IS WILLING, TEEN WOLF TOO, RETURN OF THE KILLER TOMATOES!, NIGHT LIFE, GREMLINS 2: THE NEW BATCH, KILLER TOMATOES STRIKE BACK!, ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES! [TV], EERIE, INDIANA [TV], KILLER TOMATOES EAT FRANCE!, STEPMONSTER, THE ADDAMS FAMILY [Animated - TV], THE FRIGHTENERS) is 94.
Look for John in the 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Thriller, STARSHIP II: RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMSES.
Writer Scott Edelman (THE GIFT, WHAT WILL COME AFTER, THE HUNGER OF EMPTY VESSELS) is 63 or something.
Actor Juliet Landau (NEON CITY, ED WOOD, RAVAGER, LIFE AMONG THE CANNIBALS, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER [TV], TOOLBOX MURDERS, ANGEL [TV], FATAL REUNION, HACK!, BIOSHOCK [VG - all], HAUNTED, INSIGHT, THE YELLOW WALLPAPER, STRANGE FRAME: LOVE AND SAX, DARK HEARTS, FAIRFIELD, THE TERROR OF HALLOW'S EVE, A PLACE AMONG THE DEAD) is 59.

BEETLEJUICE Turns 36

BEETLEJUICE

For fans of Tim Burton and Neil Gaiman, this movie seemed to cement in place the idea that these two need to work together. Yet in 36 years its never happened. Oh sure, a Burton collaborator, Henry Selick (THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS) worked with Neil on CORALINE, but Burton and Gaiman? Nope.

What is the roadblock after 36 years? Is it subtle artistic differences? Is it possible that Tim is too morbidly whacky for Neil's nightmarish whimsy (I'm leaning in that direction)?

Whatever the case, Tim Burton probably never came closer to making a Neil Gaiman movie than he did with BEETLEJUICE.

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GO TO MARCH 2024
FEO'S BRAGGADOCIO

The ScientistFeo and Cup #118Some people think I'm more important than you (I don't, but they do. You know how they are) and this is their (HA!) evidence.

INTERVIEWS
Joe Mynhardt interviews E.C. McMullen Jr. in the book HORROR 201: The Silver Scream.

Matt Jarbo's interview with Feo Amante at The Zurvivalist.

James Cheetham's Q&A with Feo Amante at Unconventional Interviews *.

Megan Scudellari interviews Feo Amante and Kelly Parks (of THE SCIENCE MOMENT) in The Scientist Magazine.

Check out our interview at The-Scientist.com.

REFERENCES
Anthropologist Gretchen Bakke, PhD, references my UNFAIR RACIAL CLICHE ALERT as an expert resource in her 2010 Anthropological Quarterly essay @ Johns Hopkins University

Researcher David Waldron, references my review of UNDERWORLD in the Spring 2005, Journal of Religion and Popular Culture entry, Role-Playing Games and the Christian Right: Community Formation in Response to a Moral Panic (downloadable pdf).

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
19 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,

Books That Bounce Inspiration from Shivers?*
Cirque Du Freak My Weekend of Horrors*
FilmSchoolRejects The Science of Fiction
In Defense Of J.J. Abrams PHANTASM EXHUMED: The Unauthorized Companion

*Linked to archive.org

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