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FEO NEWS FOR SUMMER 2024:
- JULY -
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.

JULY 31

THE LOST BOYS Turns 36

THE LOST BOYS

This is why all you've got is sequels, prequels, and remakes, while your grandparent's idea of Cool remains Cool: THE LOST BOYS.

And -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

PLANET TERROR - MichaelBiehn

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Producer, Director Chad Archibald (DESPERATE SOULS, PSYCHO WARD, CREEPY CANADA [TV], PARANORMAL PORTALS [TV], DEAD GENESIS, IF A TREE FALLS, NEVERLOST, KILL, IN THE HOUSE OF FLIES, ANTISOCIAL [all], SEPTIC MAN, THE DROWNSMAN, EJECTA, HELLMOUTH, BITE, THE SUBLET, THE DWELLING, LET HER OUT, THE HERETICS, I'LL TAKE YOUR DEAD, THE OAK ROOM, VICIOUS FUN, THE HAUNTED MUSEUM [TV], DEATH VALLEY [2021]) is 44.
Look for Chad's 2025 Horror, IT FEEDS.
Actor Michael Biehn (THE FAN, THE LORDS OF DISCIPLINE, THE TERMINATOR, ALIENS, THE SEVENTH SIGN, RAMPAGE, THE ABYSS, TIMEBOMB, DEEP RED, JADE, CHERRY FALLS, MEGIDDO: THE OMEGA CODE 2, BORDERLINE, THE INSATIABLE, GRINDHOUSE: PLANET TERROR, PSYCH: 9, THEY WAIT, BEREAVEMENT, THE DIVIDE, THE VICTIM, THE DARK FOREST, SUSHI GIRL, TREACHERY, THE NIGHT VISITOR, THE LEGEND OF DARKHORSE COUNTY, THE DARK FOREST, HIDDEN IN THE WOODS, THE SCORPION KING 4, THE GIRL, SHE RISES, THE NIGHT VISITOR 2, THE SHADOW EFFECT, KILLER WEEKEND, and more) is 66.
Michael shares his July birthday with fellow THE FAN alumni, Wesley Snipes.
Look for Michael in the 2025 Horror, THE RED.
Actor Dean Cain (FUTURESPORT, NO ALIBI, PHASE IV [2001], BOA, DARK DESCENT, DRAGON FIGHTER, OUT OF TIME, URBAN DECAY, MANEATER, FROST GIANT, FUTURESPORT, ABANDONED, KILL KATIE MALONE, THE DOG WHO SAVED HALLOWEEN, DIRTY LITTLE TRICK, THE APPEARING, THE BLACK HOLE [2016], DEADLY SANCTUARY, ILLICIT, THE INCANTATION [2018], 2050, PROLONGED EXPOSURE, THE ZOMBIE CLUB, THE SEVEN, 2050, OVERRIDE, THE PHANTOM WARRIOR) is 58.
Dean shares his birthday with fellow FUTURESPORT alumni, Wesley Snipes.
Writer Chris M. Kinney (THE LUNACY MACHINE) is 52.
Writer J. K. Rowling (HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, HARRY POTTER AND CHAMBER OF SECRETS, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE, FANTASTIC BEASTS [all], THE ICKABO'G, ) is 58.
J. K. Rowling shares a July birthday with her filmic Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliff.
Actor Wesley Snipes (THE FAN, U.S. MARSHALS, BLADE, FUTURESPORT, THE ART OF WAR, BLADE II, LIBERTY STANDS STILL, BLADE III, THE DETONATOR, GALLOWWALKER, THE RECALL, ARMED RESPONSE, DEADPOOL AND WOLVERINE) is 62.
Actor Carel Struycken (THE PREY [1983], THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, SERVANTS OF TWILIGHT, TWIN PEAKS [TV - 1990-1991], THE ADDAMS FAMILY, ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES, OBLIVION [all], MEN IN BLACK, I WOKE UP EARLY THE DAY I DIED, ADDAMS FAMILY REUNION, FATAL KISS, THE FALLEN ONES, REVAMPED, TROPHY HEADS, GERALD'S GAME, DOCTOR SLEEP, THE EDEN THEORY) is 76.

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JULY 30

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

PREDATOR - Arnold Schwarzenegger

Writer, Actor Javier Botet (BENEATH STILL WATERS, REC, SEXYKILLER MORIRÁS POR ELLA, THE LAST CIRCUS, DIAMOND FLASH, MAMA, WITCHING AND BITCHING, MAGICAL GIRL, THE HORROR NETWORK VOL. 1, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR, THE CONJURING 2, DON'T KNOCK TWICE, THE INVISIBLE GUARDIAN, FREEHOLD, DEVIL'S GATE, THE MUMMY [2017] THE CRUCIFIXION [2017], HOSTILE [2017], IT [2017], INSIDIOUS: THE LAST KEY, SLENDER MAN, MARA, POLAROID, AMIGO, VENTAJAS DE VIAJAR EN TREN, HIS HOUSE, MALASAÑA: 32, THEM: COVENANT [TV], VOCES, HIS HOUSE, THE NEIGHBOR [TV]) is 47.
Look for Javier's upcoming 2023 Horror movie, Bram Stoker's LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER.
Writer, Producer, Director Chris Nolan (MEMENTO, INSOMNIA, BATMAN BEGINS, THE PRESTIGE, THE DARK KNIGHT, INCEPTION, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, INTERSTELLAR, TRANSENDENCE, TENET) is 54.
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger (CONAN THE BARBARIAN, CONAN THE DESTROYER, THE TERMINATOR [all], PREDATOR, THE RUNNING MAN, TOTAL RECALL, END OF DAYS, THE 6TH DAY, MAGGIE, AFTERMATH) is 70.
Arnold shares July birthdays with his fellow actor from TOTAL RECALL, Ronny Cox, and director of the same film, Paul Verhoeven.
He also shares a July birthday with his director from END OF DAYS, Peter Hyams, and his producer from PREDATOR Joel Silver.
Did I mention that he also shares a July birthday with his TERMINATOR alumni, Michael Biehn?
Actor Hilary Swank (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK...AGAIN, KOUNTERFEIT, THE GIFT, INSOMNIA, THE CORE, THE BLACK DAHLIA, THE REAPING, CONVICTION, THE RESIDENT, I AM MOTHER, THE HUNT, AWAY [TV], FATALE) is 49.

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JULY 29

INVASION OF THE ASTRO-MONSTER is 54

MONSTER ZERO aka INVASION OF THE ASTRO-MONSTER

By the mid-1960s Alfred Hitchcock (PSYCHO, THE BIRDS) garnered respect and box office clout in the U.S.A. and the world. People couldn't get enough of him. Sure there were the 1950 - 1960 monster movies, but overwhelmingly most were uninspired, unimaginative, and their box office was only profitable if the movie budget was a single house mortgage. That's not the way it was world-wide, though.

By the mid-1960s in Japan, Akira Kurosawa was garnering critical respect but his movies couldn't escape from "Art House" cinema in North America. Unless you've got a rock solid grip on the weekend midnight movies (THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW), there's no money to be made at an Art house cinema.

Director Ishirô Honda (GOJIRA) may have started out with the best Kurosawa respect and emulation, but by the 1960s it was clear that a more bonkers, Roger Corman ethos was going to win the box office. You can't maintain uman pathos with all of its subtlety and nuance, when your screen is filled with 10 story mega-monsters beating the crap out of each other, Pro-Wrestling style. So the monsters got crazier (MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA, GODZILLA VS THE SMOG MONSTER) and their raison d'être was forced to keep up. By 1965 Godzilla reached the point where a more powerful monster had to come along to kick his butt, and so Japan got MONSTER ZERO aka INVASION OF THE ASTRO-MONSTER, and thus King Ghidorah was born!

America had to wait another 5 years before it came ashore.

And -

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

BLADE - Stephen Dorff

Writer John Paul Allen (GIFTED TRUST w/Alan M. Clark, MONKEY LOVE, PRETZEL LOGIC: TALES OF LOVE AND HORROR) is 70.
Writer Shaun Jeffrey (EVILUTION, VOYEURS OF DEATH, THE KULT, KILLERS, DEADFALL, FANGTOOTH) is 60.
Actor Stephen Dorff (THE GATE, INNOCENT LIES, BLOOD & WINE, CITY OF INDUSTRY, BLADE, CECIL B. DEMENTED, THE LAST MINUTE, FEAR DOT COM, COLD CREEK MANOR, ALONE IN THE DARK, BOTCHED / THIRTEEN, THE PASSAGE, IMMORTALS, CARJACKED, RITES OF PASSAGE, BRAKE, THE ICEMAN, THE MOTEL LIFE, ZAYTOUN, TOMORROW YOU'RE GONE, THE DEBT, JACKALS, LEATHERFACE [2017], DON'T GO, TRUE DETECTIVE [TV], THE PRICE WE PAY, PARADISE CITY, KING OF THE KILLERS) is 51.
Look for Stephen in the upcoming 2025 Horror Thriller, VAMPIRES OF THE VELVET LOUNGE. Also in 2025, VIPER.
Actor Rachel Miner (CIRCADIAN RHYTHM, THE BLACK DAHLIA, PENNY DREADFUL, HIDE, CULT, TOOTH & NAIL, THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT 3: REVELATIONS, 51, REPLICAS, DARK AS DAY, SUPERNATURAL [TV], IN THEIR SKIN, FRANK THE BASTARD) is 44.

SUNDAY -

PROPHECY II - Bruce Abott

Actor Bruce Abbott (RE-ANIMATOR, INTERZONE, BAD DREAMS, BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR, THE DEMOLITIONIST, BLACK SCORPION, THE PROPHECY II, THE NET [TV], TRANCE) is 68.
Actor Charles Cyphers (THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN [TV], GRAY LADY DOWN, HALLOWEEN, SOMEONE'S WATCHING ME!, THE FOG, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, HALLOWEEN II, HUNTER'S BLOOD, GRIZZLY II: THE CONCERT, CRITICAL MASS, DEAD CALLING, METHODIC, GRIZZLY II: REVENGE, HALLOWEEN KILLS) is 85.

36 Years Of FRIDAY THE 13th: Part VIII - JASON TAKES MANHATTAN

Jason and the billboard
The best part of JASON TAKES MANHATTAN

DEEP BLUE SEA is 25

DEEP BLUE SEA

Have you ever had this experience? You're over at a friend's house and a movie is about to come on. Your friend asks if you've ever seen it before and you say no. But a few minutes into the film things start to look familiar and you realize, "Hey, I have seen this piece of crap! I just forgot."

If you just love DEEP BLUE SEA, you probably won't love our review.

SATURDAY -

Actor Cliff Curtis (DEEP RISING, VIRUS, BRINGING OUT THE DEAD, THE INSIDER, FRACTURE [2004], SPOOKED, THE FOUNTAIN, SUNSHINE, FRACTURE [2007], PUSH, FEAR THE WALKING DEAD [TV], THE MEG, DOCTOR SLEEP, REMINISCENCE, AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER, MEG 2: THE TRENCH) is 56.
Look for Curtis in the upcoming 2025 Thriller, AVATAR 3.
Actor Takako Fuji (JU-ON: THE CURSE, JU-ON: THE CURSE 2, THE GRUDGE, REINCARNATION, THE GRUDGE 2, GHOST IN THE SHELL: ARISE) is 52.
Takako shares a birthday with her JU-ON alumni, Director Takashi Shimizu.
Actor Blair Redford (THE OTHER SIDE, VOODOO MOON, DANCE OF THE DEAD, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL [2008], THE LYING GAME [TV], SiREN, THE GIFTED [TV], GOY) is 41.
Writer, Producer, Director, Takashi Shimizu (JU-ON: THE CURSE, JU-ON: THE CURSE 2, THE GRUDGE, MAREBITO, GRUDGE 2, GHOST VS. ALIEN 03, THE SHOCK LABYRINTH 3D, TORMENTED, FLIGHT 7500, NIGHTCRY [VG], A RAIN WOMAN, INNOCENT CURSE, HOWLING VILLAGE, SUICIDE FOREST VILLAGE, HOMONCULUS, OX-HEAD VILLAGE) is 52.

THE AMITYVILLE HORROR is 45

THE AMITYVILLE HORROR - 1979

How in the world can your hit movie be the swan song of your giant studio? When you promote a hoax as the truth. The INSIDEOUS movies can get away with that today because we have an ever-expanding pool of Social Media made morons who make people rich and famous for such entertaining Tik-Tok things like "Lick! Lick! Yum! Yum! I like air!"

Back in 1979, however, people didn't reward successful folks who looked at them with contempt and made fools of them by defrauding them out of their money - Erich Von Däniken and televangelists somehow excepted (the Warrens also involved themselves with the house in 1976 because of course they would).

"Based On A True Story" is pretty much everything THE AMITYVILLE HORROR had going for it.

Tim Burton's PLANET OF THE APES is 23

POTA 2001

20th Century Fox Studio Suit: "Hey, I've got an idea! Let's remake our PLANET OF THE APES FRANCHISE!"

Studio Head: "Ah... I've always wanted that to happen under my watch."

Suit: "I've heard! We'll have it be a SciFi Action movie! Heavy on the action!"

Head: "Great, great."

Suit: "And we'll have Tim Burton direct it!"

Head: "Wait. What? Tim's no action director. He's all dark and goth and comedy Horror and such."

Suit: "It will be good for him to get out of that rut! We'll force him to cut corners to get the movie out by an impossibly short production to release date window! This new paradigm will be watershed and revolutionary by making him think outside the box! Out of his comfort zone!"

Head: "Sounds like it will fail."

Suit: "Meh! If it does we'll blame him. The loss won't come out of our pockets."

Head: "Hmm. You talked me into it!"

I don't know for a fact that this happened, but watching Tim Burton's PLANET OF THE APES 2001, it sure feels like it.

THE HOST is 17

THE HOST

I wasn't going to watch this movie. By which I mean I was going to watch it, but later. I put it in the disc player intending to get past the previews, get the movie queued up and pause it there while I did some other stuff. You can see where this is going, right?

Kelly Parks review of Joon-ho Bong's THE HOST.

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JULY 26

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION - Kate Beckinsale

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Kate Beckinsale (ROYAL DECEIT, UNCOVERED, HAUNTED, BROKEDOWN PALACE, UNDERWORLD, VAN HELSING, UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION, VACANCY, UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS, WHITEOUT, UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING, TOTAL RECALL [2012], STONEHEARST ASYLUM, ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING, UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS, THE DISAPPOINTMENTS ROOM, THE WIDOW [TV], JOLT, GUILTY PARTY [TV]) is 51.
Producer David Heyman (RAVENOUS, HARRY POTTER [all], TAKING LIVES, THRESHOLD [TV], I AM LEGEND, PAGE EIGHT, THE THIRTEENTH TALE, FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM [all], THE CAPTURE [TV], CLICKBAIT [TV], FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRET OF DUMBLEDORE, WHITE NOISE) is 63.
Actor Thomasin McKenzie (EXISTENCE, THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES, THE CUL DE SAC [TV], THE CHANGEOVER, LOST GIRLS, OLD, LAST NIGHT IN SOHO, LIFE AFTER LIFE [TV], EILEEN) is 24.

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JULY 25

How do you do a Successful Indie Kickstarter?

BLACK CHARIOT

Hex Studios and Amicus Productions head honcho, Lawrie Brewster (GHOST CREW) gives all of the Whys and Hows to running a successful Kickstarter campaign and he tells us all for Free in his latest Patreon post, When You Plan a Kickstarter - Fix a Strong Drink!

Of course, you have to join his Patreon to find out, but the entry level is Free! Also, and just as "Of course", you should join Kickstarter as well so you can track his actual progress on his new upcoming movie, BLACK CHARIOT. Joining Kickstarter is also Free!

And -

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

Altered - Michael C. Williams

Actor David Denman (ANGEL [TV], BIG FISH, WHEN A STRANGER CALLS [2006], THE NINES, TAKE, SHUTTER, FANBOYS, AFTER EARTH, THE GIFT [2015], OUTCAST [TV], BRIGHTBURN, GREENLAND, MARE OF EASTTOWN, ERIC [TV]) is 49.
Actor Shantel VanSanten (THE OPEN DOOR, THE FINAL DESTINATION, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST [TV 2012-2016], THE MESSENGERS [TV], THE FLASH [TV], THE BOYS [TV], FOR ALL MANKIND [TV]) is 37.
Actor Michael C. Williams (THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, TWELVE CITY BLOCKS, ALTERED, THE OBJECTIVE, SATANIC HISPANICS) is 49.
Look for Michael in the 2024 Horror Thriller, GHOST GAME.

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JULY 24

GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH Turns 53

GODZILLA vs HEDORAH movie review

It starts with the familiar Toho logo serenely glowing in sunny technicolor. But something is amiss, the proud orchestra intro sounds like a bunch of drunks still reeling from a night of Bob Dylan's "Everybody Must Get Stoned" parties.

This is how Toho Pictures chose to seriously address industrial pollution through their most popular, yet suffering heavy diminishing returns, franchise in GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH aka GODZILLA VS. THE SMOG MONSTER.

And -

DISTURBING BEHAVIOR Turns 26

DISTRUBING BEHAVIOR

A Science Fiction movie disguised as a Horror movie disguised as a High School movie and it all works?

Yes please!

Amazing how, 25 years later, people are still discovering this movie and wondering how they never heard of it before. If you haven't seen it, this is why you'll want to watch, DISTURBING BEHAVIOR.

Plus -

ORPHAN Turns 15

ORPHAN

You haven't seen this? First remember that it's based on a real life criminal.

Then understand that despite that being true, if this was pure fiction, ORPHAN would remain with you for a long time.

Also -

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

TRICK r' TREAT - Anna Paquin

Actor Daveigh Chase (DONNIE DARKO [all], SPIRITED AWAY, LILO & STITCH, SILENCE [2002], THE RING, KILLER CRUSH, WILD IN BLUE, JACK GOES HOME, AMERICAN ROMANCE) is 34.
Actor Summer Glau (FIREFLY [TV], SERENITY, MAMMOTH, THE INITIATION OF SARAH, THE 4400 [TV], TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES [TV], DOLLHOUSE [TV], DEADLY HONEYMOON, ALPHAS [TV], ARROW [TV], SEQUESTERED) is 42.
Writer, Producer, Actor Trevor Matthews (STILL LIFE, JACK BROOKS: MONSTER SLAYER, THE SHRINE, GIRL HOUSE, FIRST KILL) is 41.
Actor Elisabeth Moss (SUBURBAN COMMANDO, MIDNIGHT'S CHILD, ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN [1995], THE LAST SUPPER, SPIRIT [2001], TEMPTATION, THE MISSING, INVASION [TV], THE ATTIC, THE ONE I LOVE, QUEEN OF EARTH, HIGH-RISE, TOP OF THE LAKE, LIGHT OF MY LIFE, THE HANDMAID'S TALE [TV], US, SHIRLEY, THE INVISIBLE MAN [2020], SHINING GIRLS [TV], THE VEIL [TV]) is 42.
Look for Elizabeth in the 2025 Thriller, SHELL.
Actor Anna Paquin (X-MEN [all], DARKNESS, TRICK R' TREAT, TRUE BLOOD [TV], OPEN HOUSE, SCREAM 4, X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, BELLEVUE [TV]) is 42.

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JULY 23

VMI Gets an AUG! 6 VOD Release Date for GANYMEADE

And -

THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE is 25

THE HAUNTING

Bram Stoker award winning horror author and comic book writer, Mike Oliveri, has a specific view of Jan De Bont's movie. You may disagree with Mike, but the fact remains that though this production was put together by Stephen Spielberg and Samuel Z. Arkoff, both took their names off of 1999's THE HAUNTING.

Plus -

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

TOTAL RECALL - Ronny Cox

Actor Charisma Carpenter (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER [TV], ANGEL [TV], CHARMED [TV], VERONICA MARS [TV], VOODOO MOON, THE EXPENDABLES [all], CRASH SITE, HAUNTED HIGH, THE LYING GAME [TV], BOUND, GIRL IN WOODS, MAIL ORDER MONSTER) is 55.
Actor Ronny Cox (THE MIND SNATCHERS, THE HAPPINESS CAGE, DELIVERANCE, THE CAR, GRAY LADY DOWN, THE BEAST WITHIN, ROBOCOP, TOTAL RECALL, CAPTAIN AMERICA [1990], SCISSORS, STARGATE SG-1 [TV], SPAWN [TV], INVASION AMERICA [TV], DEEP BLUE SEA, FREESPACE 2 [VG], Y2K, THE AGENCY [TV], CRAZY AS HELL, KILL ZONE, AGE OF DINOSAURS, BEYOND THE REACH, THE CAR: ROAD TO REVENGE) who is 86.
Look for Ronny in the upcoming 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Horror Thriller, DEMON STAR.
Ronny shares a July birthday with his ROBOCOP and TOTAL RECALL director, Paul Verhoeven. Ronny shares movies as well as a birthday with...
Actor Eriq LaSalle (INFERNO INDIRETTA, JACOB'S LADDER, COLOR OF NIGHT, ONE HOUR PHOTO, CRAZY AS HELL, INSIDE OUT, MEGAFAULT, BLACKOUT [TV], UNDER THE DOME [TV], LOGAN) is 62.
Actor Daniel Radcliffe (THE TAILOR OF PANAMA, HARRY POTTER [all], THE WOMAN IN BLACK, KILL YOUR DARLINGS, HORNS, VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN, SWISS ARMY MAN, GUNS AKIMBO, ESCAPE FROM PRETORIA), is 35.
Actor, Producer Paul Wesley (WOLF LAKE [TV], FALLEN [TV], KILLER MOVIE, 24 [TV], THE VAMPIRE DIARIES [TV], TELL ME A STORY [TV], KILLER MOVIE: DIRECTOR'S CUT) is 42.
Look for Paul in the upcoming 2023 Horror Thriller, HISTORY OF EVIL.

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JULY 22

THE ISLAND Turns 19

THE ISLAND

Most of our movie reviews here at Feo Amante's Horror Thriller, have the original movie trailer. Trailers are fun! They're a look into the past to see how filmmakers got an audience excited to see their movie.

But as with everything in existence, not all movie trailer are good. The worst movie trailers are those that make you feel that you've been given a complete synopsis of the movie. What's the point in seeing it? They just flashed you a 3 minute Spoiler Cliff Notes version of it!

That was the kind of trailer that Warner Bros. made (far from the first time WB did it) for this movie and that's probably what kept audiences away from THE ISLAND.

And -

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER Turns 13

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER

1998's BLADE (New Line Cinema) was a smash hit. 2000's X-MEN (20th Century Fox) was a smash hit. 2002's SPIDER-MAN (Columbia Pictures/Sony) was a smash hit. 2002 was the same year that BLADE II came out and it was a bigger hit than the first BLADE. Suddenly Marvel had something they never had in their entire history: Two hit Marvel movies in the same year! The cinema age of Marvel was born and it needed to be nurtured.

The guiding light of Marvel Comics, Stan Lee, had a vision of a massive motion picture undertaking that would revolutionize cinema. It would bring all of his heroes under one tent, sharing the same universe. Except that he was out of his most popular heroes. They were all locked into their various studios who saw no need to cooperate with each other on a risky venture that had more to lose than it had to gain.

And what Stan did have? The Avengers was a poor selling group that was doing little (IRON MAN) to nothing (CAPTAIN AMERICA, THOR) in comics and nobody wanted them. It was all Stan had to work with so this is what he would refashion into...

Continued at CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER Turns 12

Plus -

NOPE Reaches its Terrible Twos

NOPE

So you're a big fan of someone, right? You and your spouse, friends, have favorite quotes from their show, show gets cancelled, fond memories remain, and that someone goes on to other things. One of them, Jordan Peele, makes the movie GET OUT, and it rocks you! He makes another movie called US, and it wows you.

Then he makes NOPE and it...

Also -

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

DAY BREAKERS - Willem Dafoe

Actor A.J. Cook (LASERHAWK, THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE, WISHMASTER 3, RIPPER, THE HOUSE NEXT DOOR, FINAL DESTINATION 2, TRU CALLING [TV], BLOODSUCKERS, VANISHED, NIGHT SKIES, MOTHER'S DAY, WER) is 46.
Actor Willem Dafoe (WILD AT HEART, eXistenZ, AMERICAN PSYCHO, SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE, SPIDER-MAN [ALL], THE RECKONING, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, THE CLEARING, CONTROL, INSIDE MAN, THE WALKER, ANAMORPH, ANTICHRIST, DAYBREAKERS, CIRQUE DU FREAK, JOHN CARTER, ODD THOMAS, OUT OF THE FURNACE, JOHN WICK, SCULPT, DEATH NOTE [2017], MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS [2017], THE LIGHTHOUSE, SIBERIA, SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME, NIGHTMARE ALLEY, THE NORTHMAN, DEAD FOR A DOLLAR, INSIDE) is 68.
Look for Willem in the upcoming 2023 Thriller, POOR THINGS. And in 2024, AND, NOSFERATU, and BEETLEJUICE 2.
Actor Franka Potente (RUN, LOLA, RUN, ANATOMY, THE BOURNE IDENTITY, ANATOMY 2, I LOVE YOUR WORK, BLUEPRINT, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, CREEP, SHANGHAI, AMERICAN HORROR STORY [TV], THE CONJURING 2, TABOO [TV], MUSE, BETWEEN WORLDS) is 50.

SUNDAY -

FRIDAY THE 13th - 1980 Adrienne King

Actor David Dastmalchian (THE DARK KNIGHT, HORSEMEN [2009], SUSHI GIRL, THE EMPLOYER, PRISONERS [2013], UNDER THE PYRAMID, THE BELKO EXPERIMENT, TWIN PEAKS [TV - 2017], ANT-MAN [all], BLADE RUNNER 2049, RELAXER, THE DOMESTICS, BIRD BOX, TEACHER, REPRISAL, FROM NOW [TV], BATMAN: THE LONG HALLOWEEN [TV], DUNE, THE SUICIDE SQUAD) is 45.
Look for David in the upcoming Horror Thriller for 2023, THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE DEMETER. Also in 2023, NIGHT TERROR, BOSTON STRANGLER, and LATE NIGHT WITH THE DEVIL.

Today's birthday boy has, among his 180+ credits, always worked as an actor without specifically adhering to any genre. That said, he remains the most recognizable by fans for his Horror Thriller work. Happy Birthday to
Actor Art Hindle (BLACK CHRISTMAS, THE CLONE MASTER, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS [1978], David Cronenberg's THE BROOD, THE SURROGATE [1984], RAW COURAGE, KEPT, STRANDED [2002], OFFSPRING [2009], MONSTER BRAWL, DARK RISING: WARRIOR OF WORLDS [TV], HER EVIL TWIN, SICILIAN VAMPIRE, THE VOID [2016], HUNTER'S MOON [2019], ADAM'S TESTAMENT [TV], BEAST WITHIN, WOODLAND GREY) is 75.
Look for Art in the upcoming 2023 Thriller, TRADER.
Actor Adrienne King (FRIDAY THE 13th, FRIDAY THE 13th Part 2, PSYCHIC EXPERIMENT, ALL AMERICAN BULLY, THE BUTTERFLY ROOM, SILENT NIGHT BLOODY NIGHT: THE HOMECOMING, TALES OF POE, KILLER THERAPY) is 68.
Look for Adrienne in the upcoming 2021, 2022, 2023 Horror Thriller, THE DEAD GIRL IN APARTMENT 03.
Actor Jaime Murray (ANIMAL, THE DEATHS OF IAN STONE, BOTCHED, aka THIRTEEN, DEXTER [TV], DEMONS, DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND, RINGER [TV], FRIGHT NIGHT 2 [2013], WAREHOUSE 13 [TV], DEFIANCE [TV], THE NANNY, THE ORIGINALS [TV], GOTHAM [TV], CASTLEVANIA [TV - 2017]) is 47.
SFX Artist John Nelson (TERMINATOR 2, STAY TUNED, SO I MARRIED AN AXE MURDERER, WOLF, JOHNNY MNEMONIC, JUDGE DREDD, ANACONDA, EVOLUTION, THE MATRIX: RELOADED, THE MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS, I, ROBOT, IRON MAN, WORLD WAR Z, BLACKHAT, BLADE RUNNER 2049) is 70.

And let's be clear here. It's 2021 and audiences are still talking about the high bar that TERMINATOR 2 set with its fantastic yet believable Computer Graphics Images (CGI) that hold up 30 Years Later. John Nelson is the Computer Graphics Animator (at ILM at the time) who did that.

Actor Juno Temple (ATONEMENT, CRACKS, GLORIOUS 39, KABOOM, KILLER JOE, JACK AND DIANE, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, THE BRASS TEAPOT, MAGIC MAGIC, HORNS, MALEFICENT [all], SIN CITY: A DAME TO DIE FOR, UNSANE, MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL) is 34.

MONSTER HOUSE Turns 17

MONSTER HOUSE

It's a House! It's a Monster! It was wrote and produced by Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab (RICK AND MORTY)! If we just follow the template of white kids solving a neighborhood mystery why, we'll have a winner!

Right?

We were there, in the theater in 2006 when we saw MONSTER HOUSE.

SATURDAY -

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE - 1978 - Camille Keaton

Actor Josh Holloway (COLD HEART, SABERTOOTH, WHISPER, LOST [TV], MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL, PARANOIA, INTELLIGENCE [TV], COLONY [TV]) is 55.
Actor Camille Keaton (WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO SOLANGE?, TRAGIC CEREMONY, SEX OF THE WITCH, MADELAINE, ANATOMIA DI UN INCUBO, I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE, KUNG FU CANNIBALS, SAVAGE VENGEANCE, SELLA TURCICA, CHOP, THE BUTTERFLY ROOM, THE LORDS OF SALEM, BLOOD RIVER, PLAN 9, CABARET DIABOLIQUE, DEATH HOUSE, TERROR IN THE WOODS, CRY FOR THE BAD MAN, I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE: DEJA VU, CAMP TWILIGHT, CHRIST RISING) is 74.
Camille shares a July birthday with her THE BUTTERFLY ROOM alumni, P.J. Soles and Heather Langenkamp.
Look for Camille in the 2022, 2023, 2024 Horror Thriller, THE DESECRATED ONES. Also in 2024, COFFINTOOTH.
Writer, Producer Roberto Orci (ALIAS [TV], EAGLE EYE, STAR TREK [2009], FRINGE [TV], COWBOYS & ALIENS, NOW YOU SEE ME, STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, ENDER'S GAME, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2, TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE [2015], SLEEPY HOLLOW [TV], THE MUMMY [2017]) is 51.
Actor Muse Watson (BLACK RAINBOW, THE HANDMAID'S TALE, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, ACTS OF BETRAYAL, IF I DIE BEFORE I WAKE, I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN 2: TEXAS BLOOD MONEY, HOLLYWOOD VAMPYR, SEASON OF THE HUNTED, DEAD BIRDS, FRANKENFISH, HOUSE OF GRIMM, THE PRESENCE, OF SILENCE, MEETING EVIL, THE DEAD ONES, THE LAST EXORCISM II, COMPOUND FRACTURE, SUBURBAN GOTHIC, DARK RESONANCE, VALLEY OF BONES, THE DEAD ONES, DIARY OF A LUNATIC [TV]) is 76.

DRACULA Turns 45

DRACULA 1979

When you hear the name, you know the story. With that in mind, I'll assume that you guys are already up to speed regarding plot content, and will skip forward to what makes this DRACULA unique.

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JULY 19

DAY OF THE DEAD is 38

DAY OF THE DEAD

DAWN OF THE DEAD did an excellent job of blending humor with horror but DAY OF THE DEAD returned to its NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD roots, creating (as Sam Raimi might say) the ultimate in grueling horror.

And -

Peter Jackson's THE FRIGHTENERS Is 27!

The Frighteners The Mark of Death

The Right Place at the Right Time! Read my review of Peter Jackson's THE FRIGHTENERS.

Plus -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

Jared Padalecki in FRIDAY THE 13th - 2009

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor, Writer, Director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (FUJUSHU THE REVENGE KIENAI KIZUATO, GAKKÔ NO KAIDAN F, THE CURE, EYES OF THE SPIDER, GAKKÔ NO KAIDAN G, SEANCE, PULSE, GORE FROM OUTER SPACE, DOPPLEGANGER, KAZUO UMEZU'S HORROR THEATER: BUG'S HOUSE, LOFT, REINCARNATION, SAKEBI, SWEET HOME, THE GUARD FROM THE UNDERGROUND, DOOR 3, PENANCE [TV], OKARATU, REAL, CREEPY, SEVENTH CODE, DAGUERROTYPE, BEFORE WE VANISH, YOCHO: SANPO SURU SHINRYAKUSHA [TV], FOREBODING) is 59.
Cinematographer Matthew Libatique (PI, SATURN, REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, ABANDON, PHONE BOOTH, GOTHIKA, INSIDE MAN, THE FOUNTAIN, THE NUMBER 23, IRON MAN, IRON MAN 2, BLACK SWAN, COWBOYS & ALIENS, THE CIRCLE, MOTHER!, VENOM, DON'T WORRY DARLING, POSTCARD FROM EARTH) is 56.
Writer, Director, Producer, Hideo Nakata (CURSE, DEATH & SPIRIT, DON'T LOOK UP, RINGU, RINGU 2, SOTOHIRO, CHAOS [2000], DARK WATER [2002], THE RING TWO, KAIDAN, DEATH NOTE: L CHANGE THE WORLD, CHATROOM, THE INCITE MILL, THE COMPLEX, MONSTERZ, GHOST THEATER, STOLEN IDENTITY, THE WOMAN WHO KEEPS A MURDERER, SADAKO, STOLEN IDENTITY 2, STIGMATIZED PROPERTIES, USOGUI, SORE GA IRU MORI) is 57.
Actor Jared Padalecki (HOUSE OF WAX, CRY WOLF, FRIDAY THE 13TH [2009], SUPERNATURAL [TV], SUPERNATURAL [TV Animation], PHANTOM BOY) is 42.
Writer, Co-Creator of AustinKillerCon, and Feo Amante alumni, Wrath James White (TERATOLOGIST [w/Ed Lee], SUCCULENT PREY, THE RESURRECTIONIST, SCABS, THE BOOK OF A THOUSAND SINS, YACCUB'S CURSE, POPULATION ZERO, SYMPATHETIC MAGIC, LIKE PORNO FOR PSYCHOS, PREY DRIVE, MASTER OF PAIN (W/Kristopher Rufty) is like 63 or something.

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JULY 18

44 Years of PROM NIGHT

PROM NIGHT

Fay Wray (KING KONG, MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM) was our first Scream Queen. Arguably no other actor was interested in stepping up to the plate until Jamie Lee Curtis in HALLOWEEN (1978). But a single movie doth not a Scream Queen make. Jamie made three more by 1980, cementing her place as Scream Queen in movies like PROM NIGHT.

And -

37 Years of ALIENS

ALIENS

The overwhelming majority of ALIEN fans agree. There are only two good ALIEN movies. Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett, H.R. Giger, Ron Cobb, and Ridley Scott's ALIEN, and this one from James Cameron and Stan Winston: ALIENS.

Plus -

33 Years of ARACHNOPHOBIA

ARACHNOPHOBIA - Julian Sands

By the late 1980s, Producer Frank Marshall (RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, POLTERGEIST, GREMLINS, WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT) was known as a successful, but difficult producer to please. He'd come to the set in the early morning, while the crew was setting up, and tell the director that they didn't have the budget for the Big "X", of the day's shoot. So figure out a way to get all the shots done without it. Frank developed a frustrating style, saying, "My job is to put you inside a box every day. It's your job to get out of it." Directors began to murmer, "What does Frank know about directing, anyway?"

Then Frank directed the wildly successful ARACHNOPHOBIA. Then he followed that up with two more successes. Point proved, he went back to being a successful Producer (THE SIXTH SENSE, SIGNS, JURASSIC WORLD).

So here we are, 32 years later and still going strong. Who knew that Frank's goofy, off-the-cuff Creepy Crawly ARACHNOPHOBIA would have such long legs?

Also -

23 Years of JURASSIC PARK III

JURASSIC PARK III

CEO: "Why haven't we made another JURASSIC PARK sequel?"

Board Member (BM): "Michael Crichton finished his best-selling series in two novels."

CEO: "BAH! Novels! What do best-selling Novelists know? We own the rights to the movies, ergo, we can -"

BM: "Ergo?"

CEO: "Ah! Right. You're the investor from the Hamptons. Well, in Californian that means, 'Y'know?'"

BM: "Oh."

CEO: "Ergo, we can make as many as we want and, ergo, they'll all be great or better than the original."

BM: "You can? Any historical evidence that you ever have?"

CEO: "BAH! History! What do Historians know?"

BM: "Be serious, we're talking money, now."

CEO: "Ah! Yes. Well... uh... y'ergo?"

Watching this movie, that may have started the pitch for JURASSIC PARK III.

Wassmor -

15 Years of THE DARK KNIGHT

THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS

There's a good reason why BATMAN BEGINS and this movie are the two best Batman movies ever. It has nothing to do with the date of release and certainly nothing to do with the death of The Joker actor, Heath Ledger. His death prior to the movie's release makes this franchise tragic and bittersweet in memory, but adds nothing positive to why this movie is so great. This is why THE DARK KNIGHT excels.

Aswell -

13 Years of INCEPTION

INCEPTION Maze

Love it or hate it, what makes Christopher Nolan's INCEPTION so compelling?

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Vin Diesel (SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, THE IRON GIANT, BOILER ROOM, PITCH BLACK, THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK, BABYLON A.D., THE LAST WITCH HUNTER, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY [all], AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, AVENGERS ENDGAME, BLOODSHOT, THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER) is 51.
Director Paul Verhoeven (THE 4TH MAN, ROBOCOP, TOTAL RECALL, BASIC INSTINCT, STARSHIP TROOPERS, HOLLOW MAN) is 85.

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JULY 17

ROBOCOP is 37 today

ROBOCOP

This movie is one of the reasons why Science Fiction Horror movies of the 1980s are so revered. This was Director Paul Verhoven's high point and he never reached the bar he set again.

This is why, after nearly four decades, ROBOCOP remains one of the best Science Fiction Horror Thrillers ever made.

And -

EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS is 22

EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS

From the people who brought you the execrable box office bomb, GODZILLA (1998), comes another Big Horror movie filled with giant critters. Not Godzilla big but pretty damn big.

What's more, miracle of miracles, the damn thing ain't bad!

This was the essence of the marketing campaign for Producers Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich's EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS. We went in with lowered expectations and got our spirits lifted by the fun!

Plus -

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

A fond and final Birthday wish to -

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS - 1978 - Donald Sutherland

Actor Donald Sutherland (CASTLE OF THE LIVING DEAD, DR. TERROR'S HOUSE OF HORRORS, DIE! DIE! MY DARLING!, BLOOD RELATIVES, DON'T LOOK NOW, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS [1978], EYE OF THE NEEDLE, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, THE PUPPET MASTERS, OUTBREAK, VIRUS, FINAL FANTASY, SALEM'S LOT [TV], AN AMERICAN HAUNTING, PUFFBALL, THE HUNGER GAMES [all], THE CALLING, AMERICAN HANGMAN, AD ASTRA, ALONE, MR. HARRIGAN'S PHONE, and way more in mystery and suspense) would have celebrated his 89th Birthday today. He gave life a Good Go.


Actor Heather Langenkamp (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3, SHOCKER, NEW NIGHTMARE, THE BUTTERFLY ROOM, STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, HOME, TRUTH OR DARE, HELLRAISER: JUDGEMENT, PORTAL, THE MIDNIGHT CLUB [TV]) is 59.
Look for Heather in the 2024 Horror, THE LIFE OF CHUCK, based on the novella by Stephen King, from his four novella collection, IF IT BLEEDS.
And in 2025, LITTLE BITES and STALKED.
Heather shares a birthday with her THE BUTTERFLY ROOM alumni,

HALLOWEEN - P.J. Soles

Actor P.J. Soles (BLOOD BATH, CARRIE, THE POSSESSED, HALLOWEEN, INNOCENT PREY, B.O.R.N., ALIENATOR, THE DEVIL'S REJECTS, MURDER ON THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD, DEATH BY ENGAGEMENT, DEAD CALLING, THE TOOTH FAIRY, MIL MASCARAS VS THE AZTEC MUMMY, PRANK, ALONE IN THE DARK II, BEG, ETERNAL, THE BUTTERFLY ROOM, GRINDSPLOITATION, HALLOWEEN [2018], KILLER THERAPY, HANUKKAH, CANDY CORN) is 73.
Actor Mike Vogel (THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE [2003], POSEIDON [2006], THE DEATHS OF IAN STONE, CLOVERFIELD, ACROSS THE HALL, OPEN GRAVES, BATES MOTEL [TV], UNDER THE DOME [TV], CHILDHOOD'S END [TV], SECRET OBSESSION, FANTASY ISLAND, COLLECTION) is 44.

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JULY 16

THE FLY is 66

THE FLY - 1958

Imagine being author James Clavell. You's a former World War II Prisoner of War. During your time in one of the worst Japanese prisons, and after the war, you immerse yourself in Asian history. You write one best selling historical novel after the next, brimming with fascinating historical accuracy and human drama so realistic it nearly sweats. Hollywood comes calling, offering you more money for a 90 page script than your publisher has paid you for writing whole novels that sell in the millions.

So Hollywood looks at your remarkable output and your new fanbase and what do they offer you?

Studio Suit: "Hey James, write us a script about a man who turns into a fly!"

J.C.: "You mean like some kind of modern Franz Kafka allegory?"

Studio Suit: "Do what? Look, do you want a paycheck or not?"

That may or may not be how THE FLY came into existence.

And -

AMITYVILLE 1992 is 32

AMITYVILLE 1992

On the plus side, this movie is directed by Tony Randel (HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II, THE DOUBLE BORN), meaning he carries over his apparent Lovecraft / Barker inspiration. Pair Tony up with good writers and good producers and he'll spin gold. If you don't, well, you get AMITYVILLE 1992.

Plus -

I, ROBOT is 20

I, ROBOT

It's 2 decades later and the future is nearly here.

Released on this day in the USA, it would take nearly three weeks to reach UK shores. Don't call it Isaac Asimov's I, ROBOT, though. Asimov's collection of short stories has about as much to do with this movie as THE LAWNMOWER MAN had to do with Stephen King's short story.

However, in 2004 this movie was a turning point for Will Smith. One where he would act and interact with creatures, in this case "robots", that weren't there. And it wouldn't be one or two, there'd be mobs of cgi, hundreds of characters, months away from completion, and Will had to act, not against some mere background that wasn't there, but an entire cast that wasn't there, and all of them interacting, even fighting with him.

This is how I, ROBOT turned out.

Also -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP -Ann Turkel

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Tenika Davis (SAW VI, WRONG TURN 4, DEBUG, JUPITER'S LEGACY [TV], PERPETUAL MOTION) is 39.
Writer, Producer, Director Scott Derrickson (URBAN LEGENDS: FINAL CUT, HELLRAISER: INFERNO, THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL [2008], SINISTER, DEVIL'S KNOT, DELIVER US FROM EVIL, SINISTER 2, DOCTOR STRANGE [all], SNOWPIERCER [TV], BERMUDA, THE BLACK PHONE) is 58.
Actor Corey Feldman (TIME AFTER TIME, FRIDAY THE 13th PART IV: THE FINAL CHAPTER, GREMLINS, FRIDAY THE 13th PART V: A NEW BEGINNING, THE GOONIES, STAND BY ME, THE LOST BOYS, THE 'BURBS, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES [1990], STEPMONSTER, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES III, LIPSTICK CAMERA, A DANGEROUS PLACE, VOODOO [1995], TALES FROM THE CRYPT: BORDELLO OF BLOOD, EVIL OBSESSION, BORN BAD, LEGION [1998], STORM TROOPER [1998], CITIZEN TOXIE: THE TOXIC AVENGER IV, SEANCE, LOST BOYS: THE TRIBE, TERROR INSIDE, SPLATTER, LOST BOYS: THE THIRST, 6 DEGREES OF HELL, EXPOSURE, THE ZOMBIE KING, ZOMBEX, BODY HIGH, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES [TV - 2012 - 2017], THE SUNDAY NIGHT SLAUGHTER, AGE OF STONE AND SKY: THE SORCERER BEAST, 13 FANBOY, SUICIDE FOR BEGINNERS) is 53.
Corey shares a July birthday with TALES FROM THE CRYPT: BORDELLO OF BLOOD alumni, Producer Joel Silver.
Look for Corey's upcoming 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, Horror Thriller, TALES FROM THE DEAD ZONE. ALso in 2025, GOING VIRAL.
Actor Rosa Salazar (AMERICAN HORROR STORY, INSURGENT, MAZE RUNNER: SCORCH TRIALS, SUBMERGED, MAZE RUNNER: THE DEATH CURE, BIRD BOX, ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, UNDONE [TV], BRAND NEW CHERRY FLAVOR [TV], CHARIOT, PANTHEON [TV]) is 39.
Actor Ann Turkel (THE CASSANDRA CROSSING, GOLDEN RENDEZVOUS, RAVAGERS, DEATH RAY 2000, HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP [1980], MASSARATI AND THE BRAIN, MODESTY BLAISE, DEEP SPACE, THE FEAR, DEJA VU) is 78.

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JULY 15

IT CONQUERED THE WORLD Turns 68

IT CONQUERED THE WORLD

I'm a fan of Horror, Thriller, Mystery, and Suspense, whether in Science Fiction or Supernatural form. That means I've watched a lot of sloppy, goofy, absurd movies - often made by major studios. I also enjoy non-genre movies as well as comedies, though where movies are concerned, nothing is worse than a bad comedy movie. A movie billed as a comedy that isn't actually funny is more than sad, its repellent.

On the other hand, you can have a serious, preachy, Horror movie that is so obnoxiously full of its own uneducated shit that its hilarious!

Roger Corman was only 30 when he made this movie and already had 11 feature films under his belt. He wrote a book called How I Made A Hundred Movies In Hollywood And Never Lost A Dime with co-writer Jim Jerome. In that book he recounted how this movie nearly broke his record of making profit off of his first 100 movies. Roger not only explains how he carefully sold, distributed, and marketed this movie so it'd turn a profit, he details exactly where he felt he went wrong with it. And you know what?

For a guy with his astounding story and success, he's remarkably wrong! He has no idea what went wrong with this movie despite decades of fans and critics explaining the obvious.

For Roger, the problem was his ridiculous looking monster. And yes, that monster is goofball as all get out. But if Giger himself designed the monster the movie would still be bonehead inane! Read about the sublimely stupid fun of IT CONQUERED THE WORLD.

And -

SHOCKWAVES is 47

SHOCK WAVES

Hey! What does this movie and Star Wars have in common? They were both released in 1977! You know what else? They both starred Peter Cushing!

1977 was Peter's year for playing bad guys and between the two movies, Peter thought that this one was going to be his hit.

Seriously?

Way serious! Peter was on the set, looking around at George Lucaseses's Death Star spaceship interior. There was a "control bank" rigged up with Christmas Tree lights and common electrical switches that looked for all the world like Christmas Tree lights and common electrical switches.

Peter made a lot of low budget movies in his day and was going to make more. But even he was concerned by a set that looked so... bereft! Most of it was simply large black drapes.

Mentioning it to George Lucas, he basically got the answer, "Hey! Don't worry aboot it, Buddy! It's all movie magic, fwend! That stuff will be outta focus and the audience won't care anyway!"

Imagine yourself in Peter Cushing's shoes. You've performed in over 100 feature films in nearly 40 years alone (to say nothing of all of your stage theater work) and this inexperienced snot-nosed whelp presumes to tell you how movies are made?

So yeah, Peter played it with sinister authoritative coldness because that's how he read his part and no matter how bad the picture may turn out to be, nobody could ever blame him for its failure.

That's why Peter's Gran Moff Tarkin is so powerful that nobody could replace him when it came time to reprise his role for sequels and why Disney tried to get away with a crappy cgi Cushing.

So only going by what he saw on the set in Production Design and the Director's ability, Cushing felt that ALMOST HUMAN (aka SHOCKWAVES in the U.S.A.), and not Star Wars was the movie that was going to kill it at the box office in 1977.

Plus -

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE is 15

HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

What a predicament! Here you are, one of the most powerful wizards on earth, facing off against hidden wizards nearly as powerful as you, who likely have acolytes skulking among those you feel are allies. You're in the middle of Conspiracies, treason, and must defend the very existence of humanity. Everything hangs in the balance and there's only one person you know who is capable of defeating this hideous, spoiled brat of an enemy that, never-the-less is imbued with a power nearly as great as his weaknesses. And that one person who is able to defeat that evil? Is a child: An innocent child who doesn't deserve to be thrust into such danger, to have such an unbearable weight of responsibility on his young shoulders, yet he is the only one capable of handling the horror!

On top of that, a new and unknown player, with allegiances that are also unknown, has entered the field. Who in the hell is the HALF-BLOOD PRINCE?

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Writer Bill Hussey (THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY, THE ABSENCE) is 41.
Writer Christopher Golden (THIEF OF HEARTS, STRAIGHT ON TILL MORNING, PROWLERS, THE BORDERKIND, CRASHING PARADISE, BALTIMORE, SOULLESS, THE FERRYMAN, MIND THE GAP, WILDWOOD ROAD, DEATH'S EXCELLENT VACATION, WAKING NIGHTMARES, STRANGEWOOD, THE SEVEN WHISTLERS, and a lot more) is like 63 or something.
Actor Terry O'Quinn (SILVER BULLET, THE STEPFATHER [all], BLACK WIDOW, PIN, THE FORGOTTEN ONE, DELIVER THEM FROM EVIL [TV], THE ROCKETEER, AMITYVILLE: A NEW GENERATION, LIPSTICK CAMERA, SHADOW WARRIORS, SHADOW CONSPIRACY, THE X-FILES, MILLENIUM [TV], HARSH REALM [TV], ALIAS [TV], LOST [TV], 666 PARK AVENUE [TV], FALLING SKIES [TV], CASTLE ROCK [TV], EMERGENCE [TV], RESIDENT ALIEN [TV], PIECES OF HER [TV], and way more) is 72.
Terry shares a July birthday with the man who actually WROTE the STEPFATHER story, the late Donald E. Westlake.

SUNDAY -

Chase Williamson in John Dies At The End

Actor Jackie Earle Haley (DAMNATION ALLEY, GRAVEDALE HIGH [TV], DOLLMAN, MANIAC COP III, NEMESIS, ALL THE KING'S MEN, WATCHMEN, SHUTTER ISLAND, A NIGHTMARE ON ELMSTREET [2010], DARK SHADOWS [2012], PARKLAND, ROBOCOP [2014], THE EVIL WITHIN [VG], PREACHER [TV], THE DARK TOWER, ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, DEATH OF A TELEMARKETER) is 63.
Look for Jackie in the 2024 Thriller, THE LONG GAME. ALso in 2024, DEAD MONEY.
Producer Joel Silver (WARRIORS, JEKYLL AND HYDE... TOGETHER AGAIN, LETHAL WEAPON [all], PREDATOR [all], DIE HARD [all], TALES FROM THE CRYPT [TV], DEMOLITION MAN, TALES FROM THE CRYPT: DEMON KNIGHT, CONSPIRACY THEORY, TALES FROM THE CRYPT: BORDELLO OF BLOOD, THE MATRIX [all], THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL [1999], THIR13EN GHOSTS, GHOST SHIP, GOTHIKA, HOUSE OF WAX, V FOR VENDETTA, THE REAPING, THE INVASION, RETURN TO THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, ORPHAN, WHITEOUT, THE HILLS RUN RED, SHERLOCK HOLMES, THE BOOK OF ELI, UNKNOWN, THE FACTORY, SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS, STASH HOUSE, THE APPARITION, THE FACTORY, BULLET TO THE HEAD, NON-STOP, VERONICA MARS [2014], COLLIDE [2016]) is 72.
Look for Joel's upcoming Horror Thriller for 2024, 2025, DARK MOON.
Actor Chase Williamson (JOHN DIES AT THE END, SPARKS, LACE CRATER, BEYOND THE GATES [2016], SiREN, SEQUENCE BREAK, VICTOR CROWLEY, BAD MATCH, DEAD NIGHT, CABARET OF THE DEAD, ALL THE CREATURES WERE STIRRING, ARTIK, GREENLIGHT, SCARE PACKAGE, LUCKY, THE JESSICA CABIN) who is 36.

A Quarter Century of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT

THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT

Never in my life, before or since, has there been anything like the original successful marketing strategy of this movie. A handful of rank amateurs, fresh out of junior college, bested the best marketers of 1999 that George Lucas's Star Wars PHANTOM MENACE and Steven Spielberg's THE HAUNTING, with their cache of monied experts, could buy, and beat them all!

As with any success story, the weedy people eventually came crawling out from beneath their rocks to dismiss and disrespect this picture. By the time this movie went into wide release, I personally sat in the audience on said opening weekend. There I couldn't help but notice the row of people in front of me who kept bowing their heads to look at the floor whenever a scary moment came up.

After the movie was over, these same imbeciles all loudly proclaimed to each other that the movie "Wasn't scary!"

Yeah, sure. My only problem with it was the slight nausea I felt from too much shaky cam.

And Hollywood? Hollywood despised the success of this movie. And yet, merely 7 years later, a nobody named Oren Peli mimicked the strategy of this Found Footage movie for his own microscopic indie starring nobodies and hit success with their formula, making PARANORMAL ACTIVITY a huge smash hit.

As for all you folks who've never seen it asking, "Yeah, but what about the movie itself?" Step inside to find out why you want to see THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT.

X-MEN is 24

X-MEN

and was released this day (or May 15 if you were in the U.K. that year) in 2000. What BLADE proved - that even the minor Marvel Superheroes could have box office clout in the right hands - X-MEN solidified.

With a surprisingly outstanding story shared by first and only time screen writer, Executive Producer Tom DeSanto (APT PUPIL), second feature film script by Director Bryan Singer (APT PUPIL), and first script by David Hayter (THE SCORPION KING, THE WATCHMEN), direction by Bryan Singer, and two old A-List fogies at the top of their game, Patrick Stewart (EXCALIBER, STAR TREK FIRST CONTACT) Leader of the Good Mutants, and Ian McKellan (APT PUPIL, THE LORD OF THE RINGS [all], THE HOBBIT), leader of the No Good Mutants, 2000's X-MEN was nearly a guaranteed winner.

SATURDAY -

Excaliber with Patrick Stewart

Actor Harrison Ford (THE CONVERSATION, THE POSSESSED, APOCALYPSE NOW, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK [all], BLADE RUNNER [all], WITNESS, FRANTIC, PRESUMED INNOCENT, PATRIOT GAMES, THE FUGITIVE, CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER, WHAT LIES BENEATH, COWBOYS & ALIENS, ENDER'S GAME, PARANOIA, INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY) is 82.
Actor Colton Haynes (THE GATES [TV], TEEN WOLF [TV], ARROW [TV], ARROW: BLOOD RUSH [TV]) is 36.
Look for Colton in the 2023 Horror Thriller, TEEN WOLF: THE MOVIE.
Actor Al Santos (JEEPERS CREEPERS 2, MUSTANG SALLY, LOST SIGNAL, KILLER MOVIE, SPEED DEMONS, VAMPIRE RIDERZ, KILLER MOVIE: DIRECTOR'S CUT) who is 48.
Actor Patrick Stewart (EXCALIBER, DUNE, LIFEFORCE, DEATH TRAIN, THE CANTERVILLE GHOST, STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT, CONSPIRACY THEORY, MASTERMINDS, DAD SAVAGE, X-MEN [ALL], STAR TREK: NEMESIS, CHICKEN LITTLE, SINBAD: THE FIFTH VOYAGE, X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, GREEN ROOM, LOGAN, DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS) is 84.

THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU is 47

THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU

Up until 1977, this movie was remade many times in big budget feature film land across the world. The subject matter was that popular then and remains ahead of its time even today - such was the talent of author H.G. Wells.

This tale is such a cash cow that they tried it again in 1996 and it went off the rails into disaster thanks in large part to an arrogant lead actor who hated Hollywood, hated big studios, hated directors who were born after his career started, but loved the money he was paid.

That actor being Oscar winning actor, Marlon Brando. In the hands of a lesser director, Brando was a ham bone scene chewer, difficult to reign in. If you were a good to great director but Marlon wanted to butt heads with you (and it may have nothing to do with the Director. Brando may have wanted trouble for the Producer, or the studio, or Cthulhu knows what), he'd scorch the set if that's what it took: there was no appeasing him.

But in 1977 Moreau was played by Oscar winning actor, Burt Lancaster. Burt was also quite the hammy scene chewer but the difference was, he wanted to give the best performance of his life, each and every time. He had to be better in every new movie than he was in the movie before. Burt brought a powerful dynamism to each role even when the moment required subdued, nuanced subtlety. More than directing, a director had to be an orchestra conductor to bring out Burt's best.

Bringing out Burt's best was exactly what Director Don Taylor (ESCAPE FROM THE PLANET OF THE APES, DAMIEN: OMEN II) did when he made THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU.

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JULY 12

VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA Turns 63

VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA movie

There were two popular Science... no wait. Make that three. There were three popular Science Fiction TV shows in syndication when I was a kid. They were heavy on the Thriller, frequently introduced Horror, and every plot involved a Mystery.

Should be right up my dimly-lit alley, right?

But no. Adults were watching Irwin Allen's THE TIME TUNNEL, LOST IN SPACE, and this one. They were all by Irwin Allen and I was huge into science and living in Florida within eyesight of Cape Canaveral, NASA.

I could not understand what people saw in these shows and their utter lack of vision. THE TWILIGHT ZONE? Sure! THE OUTER LIMITS? Gimmie more! STAR TREK? Naturally. And onward into Larry Cohen's THE INVADERS, as well as DOCTOR WHO. Yet to my 5 year old and onward mind, Irwin Allen anything was trite, silly-ass nonsense.

Wait. Did I say Three? Make that Four Five. Add Irwin Allen's THE LAND OF THE GIANTS and MY FAVORITE MARTIAN. I now think that Roland Emmerich (STARGATE, GODZILLA, EIGHT-LEGGED FREAKS, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW) is our era's Irwin Allen, like Glenn A. Larson (BATTLESTAR GALATICA) was the Irwin Allen of the 1980s.

So obviously I wasn't the one to write a review about something as flat and flavorless as Irwin Allen's VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA movie. Instead I left that to someone who appreciates the flick, like Kelly Parks.

And -

22 Years of REIGN OF FIRE

REIGN OF FIRE

You know where fiction gets weird for me? When the story wasn't supposed to be in any way real. Where it wasn't meant to be possible, it was sold as SciFi, Science Fantasy. And yet, as time passes, the implausible becomes more plausible with every new discovery until the gulf between reality and fiction becomes a mere curtain.

Scientists used to say that flying dragons could not exist. No flying creature could exist that was as big as an elephant. Impossible! It has to be magic!

Then we made a few new discoveries that added to the fossil record and changed minds Pretty Damn Quick.

That doesn't necessarily make 2002's REIGN OF FIRE a better movie, but it does make it a little more realistic.

Plus -

CRAWL is 5

CRAWL

Aja!

After a career of being the Regent of Remakes, Director Alexandre Aja (THE HILLS HAVE EYES [2006], MIRRORS [2008], PIRANHA 3D [2010]) got together with the Raimi Brothers (THE EVIL DEAD, SPIDER-MAN, DRAG ME TO HELL) to make a kinda sorta original movie involving Florida, Gulf Storms, and them dang ol' deadly Gators! It didn't need to be great. When it comes to producing, just good enough is always good enough for the Raimi Brothers and sometimes they do something great anyway!

So where does CRAWL fall?

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE - Edwin Neal

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Claudia Katz Minnick (SPIDER-MAN [all the Raimi], WAY OF THE VAMPIRE, THE BLACK DAHLIA, ALIEN ABDUCTION, FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, OUIJA) is 53.
Writer Michael Marano (DAWN SONG, STORIES FROM THE PLAGUE YEARS) is 58.
Actor Edwin Neal (THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, FUTURE-KILL, KNIGHT RIDER 2000, WING COMMANDER II [VG], THE DIVINE ENFORCER, MY BOYFRIEND'S BACK, CRUSADER: NO REMORSE [VG], DEVILMAN LADY [TV], MURDER-SET-PIECES, MR. HELL, SATAN'S PLAYGROUND, SHUDDER, FORTUNE TELLER, IT CAME FROM TRALFAGAR, HOLY HELL, BUTCHER BOYS, DROPPING EVIL, HALLOWEEN: HARVEST OF SOULS 1985, KILL OR BE KILLED, CANNIBAL COMEDIAN) is 79.
Look for Edwin in the upcoming 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Horror Thriller, THE MANGLED.
Writer, Producer, Jeffrey Reddick (FINAL DESTINATION [all], RETURN TO CABIN BY THE LAKE, TAMARA, DANTE'S COVE [TV], DAY OF THE DEAD [2008], DEAD AWAKE, THE FINAL WISH, MIDNIGHT TEXAS [TV], GOOD SAMARITAN, DON'T LOOK BACK, SOLO RESPIRA) is 55.
Actor Michelle Rodriguez (3A.M., GIRLFIGHT, RESIDENT EVIL, CONTROL, LOST [TV], AVATAR, MACHETE, BATTLE: LOS ANGELES, RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION, THE ASSIGNMENT, SHE DIES TOMORROW) is 46.

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JULY 11

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN Turns 21

THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN

Sean Connery had a long history of fighting with his directors and producers. Fans love him, he draws an audience, he's usually a pain in the ass to work with - although some like Terry Gilliam have had their successes. But for every one Terry Gilliam there are many Stephen Norringtons who know that if Sean gets it into his head that he doesn't like you, he will burn your career to the ground.

This often meant that Sean would burn the production in cost overruns as well, as happened in THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN.

And -

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX Turns 17

HARRY POTTER and the ORDER of the PHOENIX

If you were 16 when you saw this in theaters, you're 33! Only people half your age are truly aware of the world around them, not you, ya muggle!

If you were 16 when the book came out you're 37!

My reviewer, Shirley Muramoto, was a child when the Harry Potter books began in 1997. She was an adult when the Order of the Phoenix book came out in 2003.

Now it's 27 years after the novel, 17 years after the movie, and she's old! OLD! This is what Shirley thought on opening day in 2007 ago when she first saw HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.

Plus -

HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY is 16

HELLBOY 2

It was the sequel that destroyed a franchise, despite featuring a wildly popular character.

Guillermo Del Toro wanted more creative control over the comic book form of Hellboy, but creator and Cartoonist, Mike Mignola pulled the plug on that light. Eventually another sequel was made, but no. The magic and the promise of the first one was gone.

I'm talking as a person who enjoyed the second one. Yet the rewatch value kills it to the point where I stopped after three repeats. It rapidly ages before your eyes, crumbling into incoherence. 2008 was some time ago.

This is how HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY, brought it all crashing down and how.

Also -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

FRIGHT NIGHT

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor, Writer, Director Tom Holland (THE INITIATION OF SARAH, THE BEAST WITHIN, THE CLASS OF 1984, PSYCHO II, CLOAK & DAGGER, SCREAM FOR HELP, FRIGHT NIGHT [1985], CHILD'S PLAY [1988], THE TEMP, THE LANGOLIERS [TV], THINNER, Masters of Horror: WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM, HATCHET II, TWISTED TALES [TV], TOM HOLLAND'S TWISTED TALES, DIGGING UP THE MARROW, ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, A PLACE AMONG THE DEAD) is 81.
Look for Tom in the upcoming 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Horror Thriller, THE TAROT. And in 2024, ROBOT DRACULA.
Actor Stephen Lang (MANHUNTER, PROJECT X, GUILTY AS SIN, THE POSESSION OF MICHEAL D., AN OCCASIONAL HELL, SHADOW CONSPIRACY, A TOWN HAS TURNED TO DUST, AT THE MERCY OF A STRANGER, THE PROPOSAL, EYE SEE YOU, THE I INSIDE, AVATAR [both], TERRA NOVA [TV], PAWN, PIONEER, THE MONKEY'S PAW [2013], THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, EXETER, ISOLATION, DON'T BREATHE [both], SALEM [TV], MORTAL ENGINES, VFW, THE SEVENTH DAY, THE OLD MAN) is 72.
Look for Stephen in a flurry of a slew of AVATAR sequels. And in 2023, MUZZLE. In 2024, HELLFIRE.
Actor Serinda Swan (BEYOND LOCH NESS, TRUST, DESPERATE ESCAPE, PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF, TRON: LEGACY, CREATURE [2011], BREAKOUT KINGS [TV], JINN, THE VEIL, INHUMANS [TV], CORONER [TV], REVENGE RIDE) is 40.
Actor Rachael Taylor (THE MYSTERY OF NATALIE WOOD, MAN-THING [2005], SEE NO EVIL, TRANSFORMERS, SHUTTER, DECEPTION, GHOST MACHINE, THE DARKEST HOUR, 666 PARK AVENUE [TV], THE LOFT, ARQ, GOLD, THE DEFENDERS [TV], WHITE ORCHID, JESSICA JONES [TV]) is 41.

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JULY 10

ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK is 43

ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK

Back in the early 2000s I showed my newly minted "adult old" little brother this movie. DVDs were relatively new, new titles were coming out all the time, a sizeable portion of my paycheck was going to Anchor Bay and a few others that were giving movies like THE EVIL DEAD their due. This week I was all about Horror Thriller action movies, nearly all Science Fiction. At one point in the movie my kid brother excitedly blurted out, "Why aren't they making movies like this any more?"

After the movie I told him the story of the two saviors of 1980s Science Fiction Action Horror Thriller movies: Their initials are J.C. One J.C. started Indie and operated as a demanding perfectionist as well as an Independent Director. Audiences loved him and he was wildly successful, but made few movies.

The other J.C. successfully started off Indie but went to work for Demanding Big studio suits who wouldn't know their ass from a hole in the ground if you showed them a map and gave them crayons to color it in.

Audiences loved him too, but the suits had no idea how to sell his movies and when, so his movies flopped at the box office, yet were over the moon in home video. When that happens once, it's a human error. When that happens nearly every time, the people in charge of marketing, advertising, and release are a confederacy of dunces.

Except for a tiny boutique studio, AVCO Embassy Pictures. They knew exactly when and how to present a John Carpenter film.

This then, is what reviewer Kelly Parks saw when he sat in the theater and watched John Carpenter's ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK.

And -

MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME is 39

MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME

MAD MAX was released in the U.S.A. through American International Pictures in 1979. They spent a small fortune dubbing the Aussie accents of the nobody actors so the characters sounded American. The lip sync-dubbing was atrocious and sounded so bad, but it made a ton of money in the U.S.A.!

Then AIP promptly went bankrupt.

Warner Bros. stepped up and offered George Miller the chance at a sequel and we got 1981's THE ROAD WARRIOR. Once again, (except for the now known Mel Gibson) it featured a lot of nobody actors. Their Aussie accents weren't dubbed and the sequel was better than the original, making way more at the box office.

WB was astounded. A sequel that's better than the original? Box office smash AND critical acclaim? What's wrong with you damn Aussies? So Warner offered George Miller another sequel - BUT - this time his main villain had to be someone who never acted before: Not in movies or stage theater! Nowhere!

But we gotta make it look like we're trying so... How about singer Tina Turner? Her star was ascending and while she'd been in two movies, they were Rock Opera musicals and it was only her being her, a singer. Perfect! This third movie is sure to bomb like a proper Hollywood sequel!

Then they saw the final edit. What the hell? Tina Turner can actually act?!? And she's great in the role?

This is the story of how George Miller did the impossible: He was the first to make two Hollywood franchise sequels back to back into sure-fire hits. All three classics, all of them hits and nobody knew it was going to happen for sure until 1985's MAD MAX BEYOND THUNDERDOME.

Plus -

HEAVY METAL 2000 Turns 24

HEAVY METAL 2000

Some of the greatest Science Fiction Horror Thriller movies found their influence off of the late Heavy Metal magazine (TREMORS, PREDATOR, IMMORTEL), but the only two movies that were an actual product of the magazine, well, they had little theatrical success and no cinematic influence at all.

It took nearly 20 years for a HEAVY METAL movie sequel and HEAVY METAL F.A.K.K.2 aka HEAVY METAL 2000 was the sad result that killed the cinema franchise for the next two decades, and buried the magazine forever.

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Writer, Producer, Director Cary Joji Fukunaga (ON THE ICE, THUMPER, IT [2017], THE ALIENIST [TV], MANIAC [TV], TRUE DETECTIVE [TV]) is 46.

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JULY 9

TRON Turns 42

TRON

Computer genius Steven M. Lisberger spent the 1970s on the ground floor of creating computer graphics for computers. He designed software and hardware and his business sold advertising using his amazing images and animation that no one had and no one knew how to make.

Through it all, a story began to form in his head about how electronic life would or could live in such an environment. The more he thought about it, the more excited he got. But would a studio buy TRON?

And -

PREDATORS Turns 14

PREDATORS

This was the one that Writer, Director, and Producer Robert Rodriguez wanted to make for years. Robert was at the top of his game and his fans wanted to see it happen.

Then stumbles started happening. He was going to write and produce it, but not direct it.

Then he wasn't going to write or direct it, just produce it. Then he was going to be one of three producers.

As these new announcements fell into place, audience anticipation fell accordingly and PREDATORS arrive DOA.

Plus -

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

Norbert Weisser in THE THING

Writer Dean Koontz (Books: DEMON SEED, WATCHERS, PHANTOMS, INTENSITY, THE TAKING, CHASE, THE SILENT CORNER, DEVOTED, ELSEWHERE, THE OTHER EMILY, and more. Movies: DEMON SEED, WATCHERS, PHANTOMS, INTENSITY, TICKTOCK, THE FACE, VELOCITY, THE TAKING, ODD THOMAS) is 77 years old.
Think of those super cheapo, direct to video Albert Pyun SciFi Horror Thrillers of the 1980s & 1990s. Now think of the Nazi officer that appeared in so many of them. You're likely remembering today's birthday boy,
Actor Norbert Weisser (THE DEADLY TRIANGLE, John Carpenter's THE THING, ANDROID, RADIOACTIVE DREAMS, CITY LIMITS, FROM HOLLYWOOD TO DEADWOOD, THE SECRET OF THE ICE CAVE, MIDNIGHT CABARET, CAPTAIN AMERICA [1990], THE ROCKETEER, DECEIT [1992], ARCADE [1993], HEATSEEKER, NEMESIS 3, ADRENALIN: FEAR THE RUSH, OMEGA DOOM, NEMESIS 4, BLAST, SORCERERS [1998], TICKER, THE LEARNING CURVE, INFECTION [2005], COOL AIR, GEMINI DIVISION [TV], ANGELS & DEMONS, BEING KILLED, ABELAR: TALES OF AN ANCIENT EMPIRE, WOLFENSTEIN: THE NEW ORDER [VG], WOLFENSTEIN II: THE NEW COLOSSUS) is 78.

You see that? YOU SEE THAT? Nearly every damn day of the year there is some how, some way, some kind of John Carpenter reference movie!

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JULY 8

58 Years Ago Today, U.S.A saw the Toho release of FRANKENSTEIN VS. BARAGON

FRANKENSTEIN vs. BARAGON

When it comes to Bonker-Ass-Cinema, Japan is second to none.

Even the grand and legendary Toho Pictures, nearly since its inception, built its reputation on being gonzo.

I began as a Big Horror fan. Human-sized monsters from Vampires to Werewovles weren't good enough for me. Not when I was a little kid and all adults were giants capable of being scary monsters and super creeps. When you're a shrimpy kid, and I was the runt of the class until my 15th year growth spurt, monsters that are tall as buildings level the playing field when all humans are comparitively the size of grapes.

Are you already Koo-koo for Kaiju or are you an newbie Big Horror fan? Read my Big Horror spoiler free review of Director Ishiro Honda's FRANKENSTEIN VS. BARAGON, aka in the U.S.A. as Frankenstein Conquers The World.

And -

PHANTASM II is 36

PHANTASM II

It was 1988, 10 years after the first PHANTASM, and before the Age of Internet, Don Coscarelli's sequel came flying at us Horror fans from out of nowhere. The trailer showed that a new actor replaced A. Michael Baldwin, as Mike. Well who was James LeGros?

Wait a minute. Isn't that the guy who played the young nameless cowboy in last year's NEAR DARK? He beat out A. Michael Baldwin for the role in the sequel?

LeGros did more than that. He beat out another actor who would cement his A-Lister status only 6 years later with his star turn in INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE!

Here is the mix, mess, and awesome of an Indie flick that went from Horror to Horror Action movie, PHANTASM II.

Plus -

DARK WATER is 19

DARK WATER 2005 movie review

2005 was 19 years ago. How well did the Hollywoodized Jennifer Connolly version hold up against the original 2002 Japanese version?

This is how Douglas Lobo out of Brazil saw the U.S.A. version of DARK WATER.

Also -

THE DESCENT is 19

THE DESCENT

Director Neil Marshall came hot off of the surprise hit of his first feature film, DOG SOLDIERS. A Horror action movie and we went nuts! Three years later, up against the American remake of DARK WATER, Lionsgate released his second hit, THE DESCENT.

Finale -

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

Kevin Bacon in STIR OF ECHOES

Actor Kevin Bacon (FRIDAY THE 13th, THE DEMON MURDER CASE, CRIMINAL LAW, TREMORS, FLATLINERS, MURDER IN THE FIRST, SLEEPERS, WILD THINGS, STIR OF ECHOES, HOLLOW MAN, TRAPPED, MYSTIC RIVER, WHERE THE TRUTH LIES, THE AIR THAT I BREATHE, DEATH SENTENCE, SUPER, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, THE FOLLOWING [TV], R.I.P.D., THE FOLLOWING, THE DARKNESS [2018], TREMORS [2018], YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT, SPACE ODDITY, THEY/THEM, ONE WAY, THE TOXIC AVENGER [2023], LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND, MAXXXINE) is 66.
Look for Kevin in the upcoming 2024 Horror Thriller, THE BONDSMAN [TV].
Writer Mort Castle (CURSED BE THE CHILD, STRANGERS, KNOWING WHEN TO DIE, NEW MOON ON THE WATER, and a whole lotta short stories!) is 78.
SFX Make-Up Artist Glenn Hetrick (THE X-FILES [TV], BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER [TV], ANGEL [TV], KING OF THE ANTS, THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD: NECROPOLIS, PUMPKINHEAD: ASHES TO ASHES, PUMPKINHEAD: BLOOD FUED, CROSSING JORDAN [TV], LEGION, HEROES [TV], THE HUNGER GAMES [all], EXTANT, AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D., INHUMANS [TV], MASKED MUTILATOR, THE BIRCH) is 52.

SUNDAY -

Shelley Duvall in THE SHINING

Actor Billy Campbell (THE ROCKETEER, Bram Stoker's DRACULA, OUT THERE, THE COLD EQUATIONS, MENNO'S MIND, MAX Q, THE 4400 [TV], SHARK [TV], METEOR [TV], THE DISAPPEARED, LIZZIE BORDEN TOOK AN AXE, THE SCRIBBLER, THE KILLING, HELIX [TV], MODUS [TV], CARDINAL [TV]) is 65.
Actor Shelly Duvall (THE SHINING, FRANKENWEENIE, AAAHH! REAL MONSTERS! [TV], NIGHTMARE CLASSICS [TV], SHADOW ZONE: My Teacher Ate My Homework [TV], TALE OF THE MUMMY, CASPER MEETS WENDY, BIG MONSTER ON CAMPUS, THE 4TH FLOOR) is 74.
Writer, Producer, Director Robert Eggers (THE WITCH, THE LIGHTHOUSE, THE NORTHMAN) is 51.
Actor Jorja Fox (HAPPY HELL NIGHT, HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN 1997, VELOCITY TRAP, MEMENTO, C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigations [TV], 3022, THE MAP OF TINY PERFECT THINGS) is 56.
Writer, Producer, Director Akiva Goldsman (THE CLIENT, SILENT FALL, BATMAN FOREVER, TIME TO KILL, BATMAN & ROBIN, LOST IN SPACE, DEEP BLUE SEA, PRACTICAL MAGIC, MINDHUNTERS, I, ROBOT, CONSTANTINE, POSEIDON, THE DA VINCI CODE, I AM LEGEND, ANGELS & DEMONS, JONAH HEX, FRINGE [TV], WINTER'S TALE, INSURGENT, THE 5TH WAVE, RINGS, STEPHANIE, THE DARK TOWER, DOCTOR SLEEP, STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS [TV], Stephen King's FIRESTARTER [2022]) is 62.
Look for Akiva's upcoming 2024 Thriller, CONSTANTINE 2.
Actor Dylan Sprayberry (SHUFFLE, TEEN WOLF [TV], THE ROW, LIGHT AS A FEATHER [TV], BABY BLUE, TEEN WOLF: THE MOVIE, SICK, MALIBU HORROR STORY) is 26.

SPECIES Turns 29

SPECIES

The Trailer was compelling! The poster was intriguing! For Science Fiction Horror movie fans, creature design by the artist who created the ALIEN, Hans Rudi Giger, was an irresistable draw! Hell! Even as bad as POLTERGIEST II was, Giger's few seconds of Kane's vomit rebirth was and remains the most memorable thing in the picture! Besides actor Julien Beck himself!

Yes, this movie had Oscar winning actor, Ben Kingsley! It had Michael Madsen straight out of Quentin Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS! And it had a femme fatale in n00b actor, Natasha Henstridge as the human appearing alien Sil.

At last on opening day, we excitedly sat there in the dark of the theater like so many hushed crickets, as the movie SPECIES was...

And -

SCARY MOVIE Turns 24

SCARY MOVIE stoned scene

By 2000, Wes Craven brought Horror back big with his SCREAM franchise and everything from FINAL DESTINATION to THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT hit the screens like a tsunami! The minds behind In Living Color were there to rip on it. I was there in the theater to see the Wayan Brothers cut loose on SCARY MOVIE.

Plus -

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST Turners 18

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

The first PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN movie took the Disney ride and turned it into an extension of Disney's Haunted Mansion. The Pirates were the undead: A revenant somewhere between a zombie and a ghost. But in this sequel with Director Gore Verbinski still at the helm, we don't have a haunted movie, we have a monster movie! R! And all the varmints are twisted sea creatures straight out o' the Hell of a Lovecraft fever dream!

This be the hook of PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST.

SATURDAY -

Actor Linda Bella (FILTH TO ASHES FLESH TO DUST, ECSTASY, MONSTERS IN THE WOODS, DRACULA: REBORN, RATPOCALYPSE, DEVIL'S DOMAIN, TALES OF FRANKENSTEIN, STAINED) is 32.
Actor Eva Green (FRANKLYN, CRACKS, WOMB, PERFECT SENSE, DARK SHADOWS [2012], WHITE BIRD IN A BLIZZARD, SIN CITY 2: A DAME TO DIE FOR, 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE, PENNY DREADFUL [TV], MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN, BASED ON A TRUE STORY, EUPHORIA, THE LUMINARIES [TV], NOCEBO) is 44.

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JULY 5

PANIC IN THE YEAR ZERO is 62

PANIC IN THE YEAR ZERO

Another day another Roger Corman movie: the guy made hundreds.

As actor Ray Milland, a renown prankster and cut-up in Hollywood, aged and his film career gave way to a television career and even that was descending over the curve, he tried his hand at directing movies and TV shows. He gave it a good shot for over ten years, only to find he still remained in demand as an actor. He never fell from grace, he only dropped from leading man status then levelled off.

Still, Ray already moved toward Science Fiction and Horror movies, as he craved originality in his work, and those genres were the only thing he saw that delivered that creativity. And boy did he throw himself into some doozies (THE MAN WITH THE X-RAY EYES, THE AMAZING TWO-HEADED TRANSPLANT, FROGS) That's what put him in the driver's seat as both Director and star actor in PANIC IN THE YEAR ZERO, one of two Horror movies he made with Roger Corman in 1962.

And -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

Pruitt Taylor in IDENTITY

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Pruitt Taylor (ANGEL HEART, FEAR [1990], JACOB'S LADDER [1990], SWEET POISON, CHINA MOON, NATURAL BORN KILLERS, NIGHT SINS, THE END OF VIOLENCE, THE CELL, IDENTITY, TOUCHING EVIL [TV], CONSTANTINE, WHEN A MAN FALLS, CAPTIVITY, THE ECHO, DON MCKAY, MYSTERIOUS ISLAND [2010], DRIVE ANGRY, CREATURE [2011], ON THE INSIDE, BRAKE, DARK TOURIST, BROKEN BLOOD, TRUE BLOOD [TV], 13 SINS, THE MENTALIST [TV], THE DEVIL'S CANDY, HEROES REBORN [TV], AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D., BIRD BOX) is 64.
Actor / Stuntman Brad Loree (THEM [1996], UNDERWORLD [1996], THE INVADER, FUTURESPORT, THE 13TH WARRIOR, QUARANTINE [2000], THE 6TH DAY, BONES, HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION, FINAL DESTINATION 2, HOUSE OF THE DEAD, DREAMCATCHER, X2, SCOOBY-DOO 2, THE KEEPER, X-MEN 3, WHITE NOISE 2: THE LIGHT, BATTLESTAR GALATICA: RAZOR, DEAD CALLING, MESSAGES DELETED, WATCHMEN, 2012, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON, FINAL STORM, TRON LEGACY, MR. HUSH, HALLOW POINT, THE DAY OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE BLACKBURN ASYLUM, CHILD'S PLAY [2019], FESTIVAL OF THE LIVING DEAD) is 63.

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JULY 4

TALES OF TERROR is 62

TALES OF TERROR

2024 and Writer, Producer, and Director, Roger Corman turned 98 in April of this year and died in May. Few people live long enough to outlive their copyrights and see their movies go to Public Domain, but Roger did.

Roger Corman's life story melds with influential Horror Writers like Richard Matheson and evergreen Horror movie icons like Vincent Price. What's more, because of his near complete Poe cycle, his cinema story is part of the posthumous works that are the legacy of Edgar Allen.

However, the main of Edgar's stories are little more than bite-sized. How to wring and bring an entire feature film out of Poe's short stories and poems?

Matheson and Corman chose a collection of stories to create TALES OF TERROR.

And -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Jason Liles (TO NEVER BE, DEATH NOTE [TV - 2017], RAMPAGE, THE CLINIC, GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS, STEREOSCOPE [TV], AFTERMATH, HELLRAISER [Hulu]) is 37.
Look for Jason in the upcoming 2024 Horror, STEREOSCOPE. And in 2025, TO NEVER BE.
Actor Marti Matulis (LAND OF THE LOST, SHADOWS, THE APPARITION, AMERICAN HORROR STORY [TV], SLEEPY HOLLOW [TV], TEEN WOLF [TV], WESTWORLD [TV], STUDIO 666, EVIL [TV], SMILE, THE ERL KING) is 54.

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JULY 3

TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY Turns 33

TERMINATOR 2

This is the movie that cemented Director James Cameron into place as a guy who could make sequels as great as or better than the original. It had all been a crap shoot before and one that usually lost the bet.

James Cameron understood the secret formula. Like James Bond movies, audiences wanted their familiar set of characters but in new stories with additional new characters.

This is how Cameron wowed theater audiences with TERMINATOR 2.

And -

MEN IN BLACK II Turns 24

MEN IN BLACK II

Unfortunately not all directors know how to do sequels.

Like the mistakes Director Barry Sonnenfeld made with his sequel, ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES, his sequel to MEN IN BLACK suffered from the rehashing of the same jokes that worked so well the first time.

This is how a franchise that started off so well, stumbled and never recovered from MEN IN BLACK II.

Plus -

TRANSFORMERS Turns 17

TRANSFORMERS

Yeah, this was slated to open on July 4, poster announced that it would hit U.S. theaters on July 4, but gosh darnit! Anticipation for this movie was so high that we all got an early view with late night showings on July 3 of Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS.

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

MINORITY REPORT - Tom Cruise

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Tom Cruise (LEGENDS, INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE [all], EYES WIDE SHUT, VANILLA SKY, MINORITY REPORT, COLLATERAL, Stephen Spielberg's WAR OF THE WORLDS, JACK REACHER [all], OBLIVION, EDGE OF TOMORROW, THE MUMMY [2017]), who is 62.
Actor Shawnee Smith (THE BLOB, DESPERATE HOURS, THE STAND [TV], BOMBSHELL, FACE OF EVIL, THE SHINING [TV], CARNIVAL OF SOULS, SAW [all], THE ISLAND, REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA, THE GRUDGE 3) is 54.
Writer / Director / Producer / Actor Michele Soavi (ALIEN 2 SULLA TERRA, CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD, ROSSO SANGUE, PSYCHO RIPPER, TENEBRE, A BLADE IN THE DARK, PHENOMENA, DEMONI, OPERA, LA MASCHERA DEL DEMONIO, THE BLACK CAT, DELIRIA, LA CHIESA, LA SETTA, DELLAMORTE DELLAMORE aka CEMETERY MAN, IL TESTIMONE, THE BROTHERS GRIMM, ROCCO SCHIAVONE [TV], THE LEGEND OF THE CHRISTMAS WITCH, MENTRE ERO VIA [TV]) is 65.
Actor Patrick Wilson (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA [2004], HARD CANDY, BROTHERS THREE: AN AMERICAN GOTHIC, LAKEVIEW TERRACE, PASSENGERS, WATCHMEN, THE A-TEAM, INSIDEOUS [all], THE LEDGE, PROMETHEUS, THE CONJURING [all], SPACE STATION 76, ZIPPER, HOME SWEET HELL, BONE TOMAHAWK, THE COMMUTER, NIGHTMARE CINEMA, THE NUN, ANNABELLE COMES HOME, IN THE TALL GRASS, MOON FALL) is 50.

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JULY 2

THINE EARS SHALL BLEED Drops July 9 in U.S.A.

And -

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA Turns 38

BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE ITALY

Of all of the movies that got sequels though they didn't need one, there is BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA that never got one. But it could have been awesome!

Plus -

PSYCHO III is 38

PSYCHO III

Released on the same weekend as John Carpenter's BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, only one could win the weekend, but both could lose it. That's exactly what happened, but did Anthony Hop Perkins directorial debut, PSYCHO III deserve it?

Also -

MEN IN BLACK is 27

MEN IN BLACK

Director Barry Sonnenfeld, hot off the success of the Supernatural Horror comedy franchise, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, shot for a Science Fiction Horror comedy franchise with this movie.

And, well, you know how popular it became, but did you know this about MEN IN BLACK?

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

HALLOWEEN II - Nancy Stephens

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Yancy Butler (SAVAGE WEEKEND, HARD TARGET, DROP ZONE, THE EX, RAVAGER, WITCHBLADE [TV], BASILISK: THE SERPENT KING, WOLVESBAYNE [TV], KICK-ASS, LAKE PLACID 3, RAGE OF THE YETI, SHARK WEEK, LAKE PLACID: THE FINAL CHAPTER, HANSEL & GRETEL GET BAKED, KICK-ASS 2, LAKE PLACID VS. ANACONDA, ZER0 TOLERANCE, DEATH RACE 2050, WITNESS PROTECTION [2017], AMERICAN CRIMINAL, INIT!ATION, BOOGEY-MAN, LAST CALL IN THE DOG HOUSE, DIARY OF A LUNATIC (TV), THE ACCURSED) who is 54.
Look for Yancy in the 2024 Thriller, A FAMILY'S FURY.
Actor Saul Rubinek (SANCTUARY OF FEAR, DEATH SHIP [1980], AGAINST ALL ODDS, THE SUICIDE MURDERS [TV], MURDER SEES THE LIGHT [TV], PRESCRIPTION FOR MURDER [TV], TRUE ROMANCE, PALE SAINTS, HOSTILE INTENT, 36 HOURS TO DIE [TV], THE GOLDEN SPIDERS [TV], THE BOOKFAIR MURDERS [TV], A NERO WOLFE MYSTERY [TV], SANTA'S SLAY, JULIA, JESSE STONE: NO REMORSE, WAREHOUSE 13 [TV], LEVERAGE [TV], HUNTERS [TV], CLOCK, [over 100 in all]) who is 75.
Actor Nancy Stephens (PANIC IN ECHO PARK, HALLOWEEN [1978], DEATH CAR ON THE FREEWAY, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, HALLOWEEN II, EMPTY CRADLE, HALLOWEEN H20, HALLOWEEN KILLS) is 76.
Actor / Writer / Director / Producer Tim Sullivan (2001 MANIACS, HOOD OF HORROR, DRIFTWOOD, 2001 MANIACS: FIELD OF SCREAMS, KILLED ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, CHILLERAMA, BLOODY, BLOODY, BIBLE CAMP, PAIN IS BEAUTIFUL) is 60.
Actor John Emmet Tracy (GALATEA, BENEATH [2007], AMERICAN MARY, FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC [2014], IF I STAY, THE SURFACE, GRACE: THE POSSESSION, OLYMPUS [TV], THE HOLLOW CHILD, DRONE, iZOMBIE [TV], BATWOMAN [TV], LITTLE FISH) is 45.

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JULY 1

UNDEAD is 21 Today In The USA!

UNDEAD 2005

What in the Undead is UNDEAD? It's the Spierig Bros. first feature film! And if you've never seen it, this is why you should! UNDEAD.

And -

FIDO is 18

FIDO

How can you have a one joke Comedy that sustains the laughs throughout the movie, AND is emotionally deep, AND is a Cannibal Zombie movie?

In 2006 Director and Co-Writer, Andrew Currie showed us how to do it with FIDO.

Plus -

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

PET SEMATARY - Dale Midkiff

Actor Pamela Anderson (SNAPDRAGON, NAKED SOULS, BARB WIRE, SCARY MOVIE 3, STRIPPERELLA [TV], THE PEOPLE GARDEN, THE INSTITUTE) is 53.
Look for Pamela's upcoming 2023 Horror, 18 & OVER.
Writer Michael A. Baron (Comics: NEXUS, BADGER, THE PUNISHER, DEADMAN, KISS Vol. 3-4. Novels: WITCHBLADE: DEMONS, HELMET HEAD, WHACK JOB, BIKER) is 63 or something.
Writer, Director Mikael Håfström (VENDETTA, SKUGGORNAS HUS [TV], SJÄTTE DAGEN, EVIL, DROWNING GHOST, DERAILED, 1408, SHANGHAI, THE RITE, ESCAPE PLAN, BLOODLINE [TV], MOSCOW NOIR [TV], QUICK, OUTSIDE THE WIRE) is 63.
Look for Mikael's upcoming 2023 Thriller, SLINGSHOT.
Actor Dale Midkiff (STREETWALKIN', NIGHTMARE WEEKEND, PET SEMETERY, PLYMOUTH, BLACKMAIL, TIME TRAX [TV], VISITORS OF THE NIGHT, THE CROW: SALVATION, ALIEN FURY: COUNTDOWN TO INVASION, FALCON DOWN, ROUTE 666, NANCY DREW [2002], MAXIMUM VELOCITY, TORN APART, DEEP RESCUE, FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, 2012: DOOMSDAY [Asylum], HELL'S KITTY) is 64.
Actor Sonoya Mizuno (VENUS IN EROS, EX MACHINA, ALLEYCATS, ANNIHILATION, THE DOMESTICS, MANIAC [TV], AMBITION, DEVS [TV], MEN) is 37.
Look for Sonoya in the 2022 Thriller, Game Of Thrones: HOUSE OF THE DRAGON.
Actor Hannah Murray (AGATHA CHRISTIE MARPLE: WHY DIDN'T THEY ASK EVANS?, ABOVE SUPICION 2 [TV], CHATROOM, WOMB, GAME OF THRONES [TV], DARK SHADOWS [2012], THE NUMBERS STATION, BRIGEND, THE CHOSEN [2016], THE EXPECTING [TV], SHADY PART OF ME [VG]) is 34.
Actor Liv Tyler (U-TURN, THE LORD OF THE RINGS [all], THE STRANGERS, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, SUPER, THE LEDGE, ROBOT & FRANK, AD ASTRA) is 46.

SUNDAY -

ALICE IN WONDERLAND - Marton Csokas

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Horror Writer Giovanni Arduino aka Jonathan Arden aka Jonathon Snow (IL VIAGGIO, SEAL MY LIPS, NEVER LIKE YOU) is 63 or something.
Actor Marton Csokas (JACK BROWN: GENIUS, BEASTMASTER [TV], THE MONKEY'S MASK, XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS [TV], THE LORD OF THE RINGS [all], TIMELINE, EVILENKO, ASYLUM [2005], ÆON FLUX, ALICE IN WONDERLAND [2010], DREAM HOUSE, ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER, THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2, SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR, VOICE FROM THE STONE, THE LUMINARIES [TV], CUCKOO, SLEEPING DOGS, SHADOW LAND) is 58.
Look for Marton in the upcoming 2025 Horror Thriller, HOUSE OF SPOILS.
In 2012 something changed in the Sex Drama / Comedy career trajectory of this next birthday gal's life. She starred in a dreary bodice ripper movie with Horror element trappings (tweeny vampires in love), and suddenly switched tracks into our world.
Happy Birthday to
Actor Angela Sarafyan (THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN 2, SPEED DEMONS, PARANOIA, VAMPIRE RIDERZ, WE ARE BOATS, CAGED, KING KNIGHT, REMINISCENCE, WHERE ARE YOU, A HOUSE ON THE BAYOU, RUN & GUN, WESTWORLD [TV]) is 41.
Look for Angela in the upcoming 2023 Horror movie, HAIL MARY.

CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES is 52

CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

For those who just wanted to See the Apes, they got what they paid for. Those who hoped that this third sequel would live up to the first and third movie, well, this is what they got with CONQUEST OF THE PLANET OF THE APES.

SPIDER-MAN 2 is 20

SPIDER-MAN 2

When it comes to a director being up against the wall with his mega-budget picture, you can't get worse than being up against the evil act of the September 9, 2001 World Trade Center attack. And yet, in a new world where there are no superheroes to save the day, Director Sam Raimi pulled off the seemingly impossible.

No one could have blamed him if SPIDER-MAN flopped, but it was a box office slam-dunk! The sequel was quickly put into production, striking while the "iron is hot" as they used to say in Hollywood.

Could Sam Raimi pull off a miracle twice with SPIDER-MAN 2?

FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is 14

FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

If you can't make your comedy actually funny, at least make it fun!

In 2007 Director and Co-Writer, Scott Thomas, did just that with FLIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (known in some countries as PLANE DEAD).

SATURDAY -

Actor Omar Doom (DEATH PROOF, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, DINO D-DAY [VG], HIGHER POWER) is 48.
Actor Will Kemp (THE CAR MAN, MINDHUNTERS, VAN HELSING, THE PRISONER [TV], NON-STOP, PETALS IN THE WIND, THE SCORPION KING 4, THE MIDNIGHT MAN, THE SECRETS OF EMILY BLAIR, SLUMBER, BARBARIANS) is 46.
Actor Aleks Paunovic (ROSWELL: THE ALIENS ATTACK, NOSTRADAMUS [2000], WISHMASTER 4, PAINKILLER JANE, KRAKEN: TENTACLES OF THE DEEP, BATTLESTAR GALATICA [TV - 2004], MANEATER [2007], FIREBALL, RIVERWORLD, BLOOD: A BUTCHER'S TALE, CHUPACABRA VS THE ALAMO, PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS, FEED THE GODS, THE 100 [TV], DEAD RISING: WATCHTOWER, iZOMBIE [TV], BLACKWAY, NUMB, CONTINUUM [TV], SUPERNATURAL [TV], WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES, DIRK GENTLY'S HOLISTIC AGENCY [TV], FREAKS [2018], VOLITION, PUPPET KILLER, THE SINNERS, SNOWPIERCER [TV], VAN HELSING [TV], HAWKEYE [TV], SNOWPIERCER [TV], ZERO CONTACT, SHELTERING SEASON, GENZEROES [TV]) is 55.
Look for Aleks in the upcoming 2022, 2023, 2024, Thriller, THE RESET. And in 2023, 2024, ZERO CONTACT: POLE TO POLE.
Actor Sarah Power (REPO: THE GENETIC OPERA, SAW V, THE GOOD WITCH'S FAMILY, THE GOOD WITCH [TV], THE HEXECUTIONERS, I LIVED, KILLJOYS [TV], AMERICAN GOTHIC [TV]) is 39.

19 Years of Steven Spielberg's WAR OF THE WORLDS

Steven Spielberg's THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

"But wait!" You may say. "H.G. Wells wrote the novel. Shouldn't you call it H.G. Wells WAR OF THE WORLDS?"

Not if you saw what Steven Spielberg did to it. And We saw it on opening day! Steven Spielberg's THE WAR OF THE WORLDS.

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GO TO JUNE 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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