HOME REVIEWS: MOVIES STORY COMICS MUSIC
Perpetual Bullet Ad
FEO NEWS FOR SUMMER 2025:
- JUNE -
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.

JUNE 9

Black Raven Trailer Drop for BRUTE 1976

From Scott Motisko
Cinephobia Releasing is proud to announce the Summer release of director Marcel Walz’s (That’s A Wrap, Pretty Boy) and writer Joe Knetter’s (George A. Romero’s Twilight of the Dead) latest feature Brute 1976. The film is set to release in select theaters this August, followed closely by a digital, VOD release on August 26.

”Brute 1976 is bloody and sexy, with a deranged family so demented they make John Waters’s Pink Flamingos look like a paradigm of family values,” said Cinephobia President Raymond Murray. “Brute 1976 restored my faith in horror that shocks.”

And -

SUPER 8 is 14 Years Old

SUPER 8

Released on June 10, 2011 in the U.S.A., this movie may have germinated like this (I can't be sure, I wasn't there).

One day Steven Spielberg met with J.J. Abrams, perhaps at one of Chuck Lorre's private San Diego Comic Con parties, and in essence said, "I like the cut of your jib!"

J.J. might have replied along the lines of, "I don't get it."

Steve is a man of action, so likely got to the point, "I think we should make a movie together!"

J.J. probably said something like, "Okay, but we have to have an explosion or crash in the first five minutes."

Steve, who may have looked like he was rethinking his invitation, would naturally ask why and J.J. may have said, "I can't direct a movie or show without an explosion or crash in the first five minutes. Did you see my brilliant creation, LOST?"

Steve: "Ah. Yes. Of course. The 5 minute Gotcha."

J.J. "I'm reluctant to use words like Genius when describing myself, but: Crash in the first 5 minutes! Then an explosion! When that jet engine -"

Steve: "I understand. I mentored Michael Bay."

J.J.: "Michael Bay is God."

Steve: "Yes... Yes, well, at least your name has value. Let's make this god damn thing."

J.J.: "Does it have a title?"

Steve: "SUPER 8."

J.J.: "I don't get it."

Plus -

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

Frankie Faison in CAT PEOPLE

Actor Frankie Faison (CAT PEOPLE, EXTERMINATOR 2, C.H.U.D., MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE, MANHUNTER, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, FREEJACK, THE LANGOLIERS, PREY, HANNIBAL, RED DRAGON, HIGHWAYMEN, MESSENGERS, FOR SALE BY OWNER, CIRQUE DU FREAK, ASSUMPTION OF RISK, THE SOUNDING, THE GRUDGE [2020], THE KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN, THE GRUDGE [2020], REDEMPTION IN CHERRY SPRINGS, HELLO TOMORROW! [TV]) is 75.
Actor Jurgen Prochnow (ZÄRTLICHKEIT DER WÖLFE, EINER VON UNS BEIDEN, THE KEEP, DUNE, KILLING CARS, THE SEVENTH SIGN, IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS, DNA, DARK ASYLUM, HOUSE OF THE DEAD, THE POET, CHAIN REACTION, THE DA VINCI CODE, PRIMEVAL, OKO, SINNERS & SAINTS, 24 [TV], EYE IN THE WALL, SINNERS & SAINTS, EIN SCHMALER GRAT, TWIN PEAKS: THE MISSING PIECES, DRAMA, THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, DAMASCUS COVER) is 84.
When people think of the entertainment quality we've come to expect from Syfy Channel movies, we think of this guy.
Producer, Director, Writer Phillip J. Roth (VELOCITY TRAP, DEEP CORE, PYTHON, MINDSTORM, PYTHON 2, DARK DESCENT, BOA, DARK WATERS, BOA VS. PYTHON, MANTICORE, S.S. DOOM PATROL, LAKE PLACID 2, BATS: HUMAN HARVEST, GENESIS CODE, TERMINATION SHOCK, THE GRUDGE 3, THE MESSENGERS 2, WRONG TURN 3, GHOST TOWN, ANNIHILATION EARTH, LAKE PLACID 3, TRIASSIC ATTACK, MORLOCKS, RAGE OF THE YETI, TRUE BLOODTHIRST, BOOGEYMAN [2012], LAKE PLACID: THE FINAL CHAPTER, WRONG TURN 5, DEADLY DESCENT [2013], INVASION ROSWELL, ROBOCROC, WRONG TURN 6, CRYSTAL SKULLS, LAKE PLACID VS. ANACONDA, ROBOSHARK, DEATH RACE 4, THE CAR: ROAD TO REVENGE, DOOM: ANNIHILATION, PANDORA [TV], HER ADMIRER) is 66.
Actor/Producer Andrew Stevens (THE WEREWOLF OF WOODSTOCK, DAY OF THE ANIMALS, THE FURY, DEATH HUNT, THE SEDUCTION, SCARED STIFF, THE TERROR WITHIN, THE TERROR WITHIN II, NIGHT EYES, VENOMOUS, BATTLEFIELD EARTH, FEAR DOT COM, DEEP EVIL, BLESSED, GLASS TRAP, HALF PAST DEAD 2, MONGOLIAN DEATH WORM, MANDRAKE, ONE NIGHTMARE STAND, 47 HOURS TO LIVE, THE MINUTE YOU WAKE UP DEAD, MY DAUGHTER'S DEADLY ROOMMATES, KILLER RIVALRY) is 69.

RETURN TO TOP

JUNE 9

YOU DUG IT
Good 2 Know: Any weekend box office drop of less than 50% is good. Any weekend B.O. drop smaller than 30% of the previous is excellent.
General Rules:
A. Theaters get approximately 50% of the gross in Domestic (U.S. & Canada) Box Office: B.O. (negotiable).
B. Distributors omitting budget figures believe the movie will under perform.
C. Total gross by the 3rd weekend accounts for at least half of movie's total theater ticket sales regardless of length of stay.
D. After the 3rd weekend, as screens drop, theaters 50/50 B.O. split rises about 10% each weekend, favoring the theater, until it stops at 80/20 (negotiable).

5. FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES in its fourth weekend, steps down from last weekend's #4 with a box office drop of 44% against a 389 screen cut. So far its performing within expectations and has made over 5 times its production budget in its first four weekends.

7. BRING HER BACK dropped two places from last weekend in its 2nd weekend, losing 50% of its box office and 24 screens. That said, its performing to epectations, which were low from the start.

9. SINNERS drops 3 places from last weekend's #6 in its 8th weekend with a 46% drop in ticket sales against a 620 screen cut. It continues to perform far above expectations now earning 4 times its production budget.

10. THUNDERBOLTS drops from last weekend's #7 with a 49% drop in box office against a 565 screen cut. In its 6th weekend, its still only barely breaking even to its production budget.

You Buried Nothing This Weekend

Figures calibrated from reporting by Box Office Mojo and The Numbers. Should there be differences between the two, I err on the side of caution and post the most positive numbers.

And -

DAMIEN: THE OMEN II is 47

DAMIEN: OMEN II

Was it a Supernatural Curse that befell the production?

No, but this was the trouble that fell over production of DAMIEN: OMEN II.

Plus -

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

Johnny Depp as Edward Scissorhands

Actor Johnny Depp (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, FREDDY'S DEAD: The Final Nightmare, ED WOOD, DEAD MAN, THE ASTRONAUT'S WIFE, THE NINTH GATE, SLEEPY HOLLOW, FROM HELL, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN [all], SECRET WINDOW, THE CORPSE BRIDE, Tim Buton's SWEENEY TODD: THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET, Tim Burton's ALICE IN WONDERLAND, THE TOURIST, DARK SHADOWS, TRANSCENDENCE, TUSK, INTO THE WOODS, YOGA HOSERS, ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM [all], MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS [2017]) is 61.
Johnny shares a June birthday with his NIGHTMARE alumni, Robert Englund.
Look for Johnny in the upcoming 2026 Thriller, DAY DRINKER.
Writer / Director / Editor / Actor Caleb Emerson (RED'S BREAKFAST 2: DAWN OF THE RED, CITIZEN TOXIE: THE TOXIC AVENGER IV, RAVING MANIACS, PRETTY DEAD THINGS, DIE YOU ZOMBIE BASTARDS, POULTRYGIEST: NIGHT OF THE CHICKEN DEAD, TORTURE ROOM, THE UNFORTUNATE, SPLATTER DISCO, THE TREK, CRUSTACEAN, THE GRUESOME DEATH OF JOHNNY PISTOL, CONTAGION, FRANKIE IN BLUNDERLAND, I SPILL YOUR GUTS, RETURN TO NUKE 'EM HIGH VOL. 1, GRINDSPLOITATION, KILLER WAVES, THE GHOST INSIDE MY CHILD [TV], IT WANTS BLOOD!, LAS VEGAS FRANKENSTEIN, ELI ROTH PRESENTS: THE LEGION OF EXORCISTS, TEDDY TOLD ME TO, THE AFTER DARK) is 49.
Look for Caleb's work in the upcoming 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, Horror, BLOOD CURSE: THE HAUNTING OF ALICIA STONE. Also in 2022, 2023, 2024, (still re-slated for) 2025, PA39: THE HALLOWEEN BROADCAST. And in 2024, 2025 Caleb edits two movies directed by Tom Devlin: NAMELESS.
Writer David Koepp (APARTMENT ZERO, BAD INFLUENCE, DEATH BECOMES HER, JURASSIC PARK, THE SHADOW, THE TRIGGER EFFECT, THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, STIR OF ECHOES, PANIC ROOM, SPIDER-MAN, SECRET WINDOW, WAR OF THE WORLDS [2005], INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, ANGELS & DEMONS, JACK RYAN: SHADOW RECRUIT, THE MUMMY [2017], YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT, KIMI, PRESENCE, BLACK BAG) is 62.
David shares his birthday with SECRET WINDOW alumni, Johnny Depp. Known in Hollywood as Koepp & Depp.
Look for David's 2024, 2025, Horror Thriller, COLD STORAGE, starring Liam Neeson. Also in 2025, another JURASSIC WORLD movie.

SUNDAY -

Frank Grillo in THE GREY

Actor Lexa Doig (JUNGLEGROUND, WHILE MY PRETTY ONE SLEEPS [TV], TEEN SORCERY, CODE NAME PHOENIX, NO ALIBI, JASON X, THE 4400 [TV], STARGATE SG-1 [TV], BA'AL, FIREBALL, V [TV - 2010], CONTINUUM [TV], AURORA TEAGARDEN MYSTERIES, ARROW [TV], CHUCKY [TV], GOOSEBUMPS [TV]) is 51.
Actor Florence Faivre (THE COFFIN, AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. [TV], THE EXPANSE [TV], AMERICAN MIRROR: INTIMATIONS OF IMMORTALITY, THE ASSENT) is 41.
Look for Florence in the upcoming 2024, 2025 Horror Thriller SURVIVING SILENCE.
Actor Frank Grillo (DEADLY RIVALS, MINORITY REPORT, BLIND JUSTICE [TV], iMURDERS, PRIDE AND GLORY, EDGE OF DARKNESS, THE GATES [TV], MOTHER'S DAY [2010], MY SOUL TO TAKE, THE GREY, DISCONNECT, ZERO DARK THIRTY, COLLISION, CAPTAIN AMERICA: WINTER SOLDIER, THE PURGE: ANARCHY, DEMONIC, BIG SKY, CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, THE PURGE: ELECTION YEAR, THE CRASH, STEPHANIE, WHEELMAN, BEYOND SKYLINE, INTO THE ASHES, AVENGERS: ENDGAME, POINT BLANK, BOSS LEVEL, JIU JITSU, COSMIC SIN, THE GATEWAY, SHATTERED, THE RESURRECTION OF CHARLES MANSON, KING OF THE KILLERS, LIGHTS OUT [2024], DIE ALONE, WEREWOLVES, CREATURE COMMANDOS [TV]) is 58.
Frank shares a June birthday with his THE GREY alumnis, Liam Neeson and Joe Carnahan.
Look for Frank in the upcoming 2023, 2024, 2025 Horror Thriller, HARD MATTER. Also in 2024, 2025, MISDIRECTION.
Writer Daniel G Keohane (CHRISTMAS TREES AND MONKEYS: COLLECTED HORROR STORIES, SOLOMON'S GRAVE, PLAGUE OF DARKNESS, DESTROYER OF WORLDS) is 64 or something.

GHOSTBUSTERS Turns 42!

GHOSTBUSTERS 1984

All the highschoolers who saw it at the theaters in 1983 are in their mid and late 50s!

Watching this movie looks as if it was all so easy to shoot, but its birth agony was anything but. There were a ton of changes made to the script, the look of the props, the monster, everything. A huge part was written specifically for Eddie Murphy, not as some blue-collar schlub looking for a job, but a fellow scientist.

Eddie, however, wanted nothing to do with any of his old Saturday Night Live alumni. Only nobody knew that until nearly the last week of the shoot.

So Eddie chose his path, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis chose theirs, we got a great movie without Eddie, and Ernie Hudson was brought in at the last minute and now has two franchises under his belt. Read why GHOSTBUSTERS remains a classic and a textbook example of great genre moviemaking.

GREMLINS Turns 42

GREMLINS

1983 and Hollywood gossip had it that Steven Spielberg couldn't stop himself from micro-managing his directors. This all stemmed the none-too-quiet rumor getting printed in fan magazines that Steven hired Tobe Hooper to direct POLTERGIEST, but when it came to the day to day operations, Steve kept coming to the set and taking over.

The Directors Guild of America had to do something, but what? Many Directors were also Producers. How do you protect one without stepping on the toes of the other?

A decision had to be made.

So when it came time to Produce this movie, Steven once again hired another director, Joe Dante (THE HOWLING).

Once again, Steve came to the live set, interrupting everything just by his presence. However, the d.g.a, made a few subtle changes to the game. The Director calls the shots on a live set and when he gives the orders, those who want to stay will follow them or get escorted off the set.

Words to that effect.

So when Steven shoulder rolled a passive-aggressive "Anything I can do to help?" offer, Director Joe took advantage of the moment and said, "Why yes there is." And what Joe ordered Steve to do became just one part of the humorous behind-the-scenes legend of GREMLINS.

PROMETHEUS Turns 13

PROMETHEUS

Ridley Scott wanted another shot at ALIEN. George Lucas inverted his once original and inspiring Star Wars saga into a pile of rendered lard where only white humans ran a galaxy full of aliens and those humans were all related, practically inbred.

Ridley thought that would work for his own sequel/reboot/retconn (he never seemed sure) so he made a human-centric universe full of no mysteries and Ancient Astronauts (Scott is bananas for the long debunked fraud, Erich von Däniken), just like that, the ALIEN concept, which had a great foundation in a far younger Ridley Scott's Direction and a great launch under the guidance of James Cameron, sputtered out and hit the mud under the squandered shepherding of its Producers.

Ridley, however, had a chance to turn turn around a long moribund franchise still running on the 20 year old fumes of ALIENS. Did he do that with PROMETHEUS?

HEREDITARY Turns 7

HEREDITARY

Actor Toni Collette (THE SIXTH SENSE, FRIGHT NIGHT, KRAMPUS) had done enough "dark" films. She was done with Horror, she wanted more fun light comedies like Little Miss Sunshine!

Fortunately, however, she read Writer Ari Aster's HEREDITARY and, well, you already know how damn irresistable a great Horror story can be.

SATURDAY -

BATMAN BEGINS - Liam Neeson

There are some people - whom you've never met - that you just like. And I like today's birthday girl,
Actor, Producer Colleen Camp (BATTLE FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES, DEATH GAME, CAT IN A CAGE, APOCALYPSE NOW, DEADLY GAMES, TRIAL BY TERROR, D.A.R.Y.L., CLUE, TRACK 29, WICKED STEP MOTHER, SLIVER, DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE, SHE CREATURE, THE DAY THE WORLD ENDED, HOW TO MAKE A MONSTER, EARTH vs. THE SPIDER, TEENAGE CAVEMAN, TRAPPED, DEAD AND DEADER, MYSTERY WOMAN, CIRQUE DU FREAK, PSYCHE: 9, KNOCK KNOCK, ALWAYS SHINE, THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS, THE LEFT RIGHT GAME [TV], MONSTROUS, WILD EYED AND WICKED, UNIT 234, BORDERLINE, ) who is 73.
Look for Colleen in the 10 years of post-production Hell, but still expected 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 (?) Horror movie, LAKE MEAD, which is Co-Wrote, Exec. Produced, and Produced by Eli Roth (CABIN FEVER, HOSTEL). And in 2025, STILETTO. Also in 2025, I AM YOUR DRIVER.
Actor Liam Neeson (EXCALIBER, KRULL, SUSPECT, THE DEAD POOL, HIGH SPIRITS, DARKMAN, SHINING THROUGH, BEFORE AND AFTER, THE HAUNTING, BATMAN BEGINS, TAKEN, THE OTHER MAN, AFTER.LIFE, CLASH OF THE TITANS, UNKNOWN, THE GREY, WRATH OF THE TITANS, BATTLESHIP, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, TAKEN 2, NON-STOP, A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES, A MONSTER CALLS, THE COMMUTER, MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL, THE MARKSMAN, THE ICE ROAD, MEMORY, BLACKLIGHT, MARLOWE, RETRIBUTION, IN THE LAND OF SAINTS AND SINNERS, ABSOLUTION) is 73.
Look for Liam in the upcoming 2024, 2025 Horror Thriller, COLD STORAGE, based on the novel by David Koep (APARTMENT ZERO, JURASSIC PARK, STIR OF ECHOES, PANIC ROOM, SPIDER-MAN, WAR OF THE WORLDS).
Actor Anna Torv (THE BOOK OF REVELATION, FRANKENSTEIN [2007], FRINGE [TV], STEPHANIE, SECRET CITY [TV], MINDHUNTER [TV], THE LAST OF US [TV], SCARYGIRL, FORCE OF NATURE: THE DRY 2) is 46.
Actor Karl Urban (HEAVEN, THE IRREFUTABLE TRUTH ABOUT DEMONS, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, GHOST SHIP, THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, DOOM, STAR TREK, AND SOON THE DARKNESS, PRIEST, DREDD, STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS, LOFT, RIDDICK, STAR TREK BEYOND, THOR: RAGNAROK, THE BOYS [TV], THE SEA BEAST) is 53.
Karl shares a June birthday with fellow CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK alumni Keith David.

TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA is 55

TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA

I hardly need to tell any fan of Horror how popular a Horror actor Christopher Lee was. He was larger than life in movies and, hell! Co-starring with the major Horror icons of his day from Vincent Price to Peter Cushing to recording a Heavy Metal album in his 90s, he was larger than life in real life!

There's a lot of Horror movies out there and there's a lot of Vampire and Dracula movies out there. Now let me tell you why, if you haven't, you should watch TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA.

RETURN TO TOP

JUNE 6 - D-DAY

INVADERS FROM MARS is 39

INVADERS FREOM MARS

Tobe Hooper wanted to make a family Science Fiction Horror movie from his childhood. But he also wanted it to be fun like he remembered. Like the original from 1953, it had to have plenty of moments when it tipped its hand and let you in on the secret.

But for whatever reason in 1986, few got the joke behind Tobe Hooper's INVADERS FROM MARS.

And -

21 Years Ago Today, Luc Besson's DISTRICT B13 Hit the US Hard

DISTRICT B13 - hostages

When this first hit the shores of France, they were in the throes of a series of flabby, self-indulgent, and regrettably disappointing MATRIX sequels. Lux Besson's movie was the lean mean action Thriller the MATRIX once was but would never be again. In 2003 when MATRIX fans walked away bummed out from the MATRIX sequels, REHASHED and REGURGITATED, they had no idea that Luc Besson was gearing up production. It would be nearly another three years before Mark Cuban's tiny boutique distributor, Magnolia, secured the rights for USA DtV release (the best Mark can do, which is better than most on his distribution level).

Read why this mini-masterpiece remains one of the most High-Octane Thrillers ever made! DISTRICT B13.

Plus -

MAN WITH THE SCREAMING BRAIN is 20

MAN WITH THE SCREAMING BRAIN

Bruce Campbell? Well, we all love Bruce. In fact, from time to time Bruce tests just how much we love him by Writing, Producing, Directing, and Starring in movies like MAN WITH THE SCREAMING BRAIN.

Also -

THE OMEN Turns 19

THE OMEN 2006

When it comes to Remakes, sometimes I think, 'Yeah, it could have been better.' Usually, however, I watch the result and think, 'What's the point?'

What was the point of Gus Van Zant's PSYCHO remake? What the hell was the point of Ridley Scott rebooting ALIEN with not one but TWO stillborn prequels? What was the freaking point of remaking THE OMEN?1

1 Now they're remaking THE OMEN again for 2024? No. They already did. It was released on April 5th of this year. It didn't get much attention but its Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

Robert Englund in DEAD & BURIED

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Robert Englund (SLASHED DREAMS, EATEN ALIVE, THE FIFTH FLOOR, DEAD & BURIED, GALAXY OF TERROR, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET [original series], THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, C.H.U.D. II, NIGHT TERRORS, THE MANGLER, WISHMASTER, URBAN LEGEND, STRANGELAND, PYTHON, JASON VS. FREDDY, 2001 MANIACS, HATCHET, DANCE OF THE DEAD, JACK BROOKS: MONSTER SLAYER, RED, ZOMBIE STRIPPERS!, NIGHT OF THE SINNER, FEAR CLINIC [TV], GOOD DAY FOR IT, THE MOLE MAN OF BELMONT AVENUE, STRIPPERS VS WEREWOLVES, INKUBUS, LAKE PLACID: THE FINAL CHAPTER, ZOMBIE MUTATION, KANTEMIR, THE FUNHOUSE MASSACRE, ABRUPTIO, NATTY KNOCKS, and so much more!) is 78.
Actor Jason Isaacs (DANGEROUS LADY, DRAGONHEART, EVENT HORIZON, RESIDENT EVIL, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, GRINDHOUSE, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, SKELETONS, BATMAN: UNDER THE RED HOOD, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS Part 1 & 2, ABDUCTION, THE GREAT GHOST RESCUE, AWAKE [TV], SWEETWATER, CASTLEVANIA: LORDS OF SHADOW 2 [VG], ROSEMARY'S BABY [TV], DIG [TV], A CURE FOR WELLNESS, MONSTER FAMILY, LONDON FIELDS, LOOK AWAY, THE OA [TV], DARK CRYSTAL [TV], SCOOB!, OCCUPATION: RAINFALL, MASS, AGENT GAME) is 62.
Jason shares a June birthday with fellow "Dangerous Lady" alumni, Susan Lynch.
Jason also shares a June birthday with EVENT HORIZON alumni, Sean Pertwee.
Hollywood everything Chris Stavrakis (NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD [1990], DIABOLIQUE, CHILDREN OF THE LIVING DEAD, DOGMA, REIGN OF THE DEAD, THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES, ALTERED, THE HAUNTING HOUR, MORTAL REMAINS) who is 54.

RETURN TO TOP

JUNE 5

Disney ALIENS Come to Hulu

Before we even have a chance to enjoy the teaser trailer, DisneyHulu shows their complete ignorance about the entire ALIEN cannon, including their own ALIEN: RETCONN ROMULUS.

To whit: "We were safer in space."

The Hell?

The two biggest problems with fighting Aliens in space is that the have acid blood and they go up like match sticks when fire touches them.

Wound an Alien and its Acid blood eats a hole in the spaceship hull, killing everyone on board. An alien on fire and running around while it dies, setting the ship on fire, is not something you want when your oxygen is extremely limited and there is nowhere for all of the acidic smoke to go. And of course, the burning alien will bleed its acid blood everywhere.

Take those two major problems out of the equation and one person with a flame thrower can set a whole charging herd of aliens on fire. And aliens love to attack in herds whenever the opportunity presents itself. Like all predators that are too weak to engage in a prolonged fight/hunt, Aliens are Ambush predators when fighting/hunting alone.

Grizzly bears would be more dangerous.

And -

IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE is 72

IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE

By 1953 Universal Pictures had thrown in the towel on keeping their original monsters, DRACULA, FRANKENSTEIN, THE MUMMY, THE WOLF MAN, THE INVISIBLE MAN going. They wanted fresh blood and by the 1950s and with 20th Century Fox's mad success with THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL in 1951.That same year saw the unbelievable success of Producer Howard Hawks' independent production, THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD. Universal had to jump on that and not put out a cheap-o production like all the Poverty Row mini-studios were doing. THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON would be just the monster UP was looking for, but before that, the studio swung for the fences with IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE.

Plus -

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

FInal Destination 3 movie review

Composer Tyler Bates (BLUE FLAME, DEEP DOWN, NOT LIKE US, ALIEN AVENGERS, SHRIEK IF YOU KNOW WHAT I DID LAST FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH, STRANGE FREQUENCY, CITY OF GHOSTS, DAWN OF THE DEAD [2004], THE DEAD WILL TELL, THE DEVIL'S REJECTS, SLITHER, SEE NO EVIL, 300, GRINDHOUSE, Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN, DOOMSDAY, DAY OF THE DEAD [2008], THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, WATCHMEN, Rob Zombie's HALLOWEEN II, THE HAUNTED WORLD OF EL SUPERBEASTO, TRANSFORMERS: WAR FOR CYBERTRON, SUPER, SUCKER PUNCH, SYM-BIONIC TITAN [TV], CONAN THE BARBARIAN, THE DARKEST HOUR, GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION [VG], THE SACRAMENT, KILLZONE: SHADOWFALL [VG], NOT SAFE FOR WORK, FLIGHT 7500, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY [all], JOHN WICK [all], THE BELKO EXPERIMENT, SALEM [TV], ATOMIC BLONDE, 24 HOURS TO LIVE, DEADPOOL 2, THE PUNISHER [TV], FAR CRY NEW DAWN [VG], PRIMAL [TV]) is 60.
Actor Amanda Crew (FINAL DESTINATION 3, MELTDOWN: DAYS OF DESTRUCTION, WHISTLER, MONSTER ARK, THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT, FEROCIOUS, A CROOKED SOMEBODY, TONE-DEAF, ISABELLE, FREAKS, MOST WANTED) is 38.
Writer Judi Rohrig (Feoamante.com alumni, former Editor of Hellnotes, Horror gadfly, various short stories) who is mumble something years old today.
Musician Niko McBrain (IRON MAIDEN: VIRTUAL IX, IRON MAIDEN [drummer], GIRLS GONE DEAD) is 72.
SFX Artist Jordu Schell (PREDATOR 2, BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR, GUYVER, PUPPET MASTER II, NEMESIS, SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK...AGAIN, HELLRAISER: BLOODLINE, ALIEN: RESURRECTION, STARSHIP TROOPERS, X-FILES: THE MOVIE, GALAXY QUEST, HOLLOW MAN, EVOLUTION, PLANET OF THE APES [2001], HULK, DAWN OF THE DEAD [2004], HELLBOY, SCARY MOVIE 3, BLADE: TRINITY, REEKER, FEAST, 300, THE MIST, ALIENS VS PREDATOR: REQUIEM, CLOVERFIELD, CREATURE OF DARKNESS, AVATAR, BATTLE: LOS ANGELES, COWBOYS & ALIENS, THE THING [2011], THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, MEN IN BLACK 3, THE WATCH, R.I.P.D., MONSTERS AT LARGE, FROM THE RIVER), is 57.
Actor Mark Wahlberg (FEAR, THE BIG HIT, THE CORRUPTOR, PLANET OF THE APES [2001], THE TRUTH ABOUT CHARLIE, THE HAPPENING, MAX PAYNE, THE LOVELY BONES, CONTRABAND, PRISONERS, TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION, TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST NIGHT, SCOOB!, INFINITE) is 53.
Look for Mark's upcoming 2024 Thriller, FLIGHT RISK.

RETURN TO TOP

JUNE 4

POLTERGEIST Turns 43

POLTERGEIST - Heather O'Rourke

43 years ago today, the Cinema Summer of 1982 in North America was called Steven Spielberg's One Two knock-out punch, as his two movies dominated the summer. They knocked out other major movies that would come to be regarded as better movies like Ridley Scott's BLADE RUNNER and John Carpenter's THE THING.

But how could a PG Horror movie with a cast of nobodies overwhelm everything else? Welcome to the dawn of fan power and the blockbuster summer. Steven was hot, coming off of wildly successful movies like JAWS, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, and RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Spielberg was coupled with his director Tobe Hooper, still hot among Horror fans for THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, as together they were creating the cinema's decade that would come to be known by unborn generations as the ultimate era for Horror movies.

This is how audiences felt when they sat before massive screens, surrounded by giant theater speakers, and were lured into the world of POLTERGEIST.

And -

HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN is Old Enough to Legally Buy a Beer

HARRY POTTER and the PRISONER of AZKABAN

By 2004 there were two great fantasy franchises and Warner Bros. had them both! THE LORD OF THE RINGS through WB's company, New Line, had finished its run in 2003, the previous year, but H.P. had another 5 novels to go and the next one was HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN.

Plus -

SPLICE Turns 16

SPLICE

When SPECIES came out it was largely sold on the fact that the Oscar winning artist of the still mega-popular ALIEN movie, H.R. Giger, was the designer here as well. Advanced sales of Giger art books on the movie were sold ahead of release. What's more, Oscar winning actors, Ben Kingsley and Forest Whitaker were also in it. It was directed by Roger Donaldson. Finally, it was sold on its R rating and promised the nudity of its star, Natasha Henstridge.

Unfortunately SPECIES was Produced, and written entirely by Dennis Feldman (VIRUS).

Giger soon realized that MGM (wallowing in the dregs of their SUPERNOVA era) didn't want a great Science Fiction Horror movie like ALIEN, they wanted Giger's name on a cheap movie so they could sell it as if it was the next ALIEN.

"Well what does all that have to do with Vincent Natali and Guillermo Del Toro's movie?"
you may ask.

Because while it was in production, it was decided that this movie would be sold like it was an heir, not to a great movie like ALIEN, but a dreary ALIEN wannabe that had already sank and died in the diminishing returns of Direct To Video land sequels. Compounding the bad marketing was the fact that original Canadian distributor, Entertainment One, was going to give up and dump it direct to video, which probably didn't help the first weekend box office returns on SPLICE.

Also -

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

John Carpenter's THE THING

Actor Keith David (John Carpenter's THE THING [1982], THEY LIVE, LADY KILLERS [TV], FINAL ANALYSIS, NAILS [TV], THE PUPPET MASTERS, GARGOYLES [voice], THE GRAVE, SPAWN [TV], PRINCESS MONOKE [voice], PITCH BLACK, FINAL FANTASY [voice], 29 PALMS, THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK, DIRTY, SPAWN: The Animation, CHAIN LETTER, NOW HERE, SAMUEL BLEAK, THE INHERITANCE, SMILEY, CLOUD ATLAS, UNION FURNACE, SONS OF LIBERTY, IF I TELL YOU I HAVE TO KILL YOU, RANGE 15, RICK AND MORTY [TV], TALES FROM THE HOOD 2, YOU MIGHT BE THE KILLER, LIVERSPOTS AND ASTRONOTS [TV], KIDS VS MONSTERS, THE SEVENTH DAY, FINAL SPACE [TV], BLACK AS NIGHT, THE GATEWAY, NOPE, FROM THE SHADOWS, TIM TRAVERS AND THE TIME TRAVELERS PARADOX, SHELBY OAKS) is 69.
Look for Keith's upcoming 2025 Horror, PORTAL TO HELL.
Writer Joe Hill (Books: HEART-SHAPED BOX, 20th CENTURY GHOSTS, HORNS, NOS4A2, THE FIREMAN, STRANGE WEATHER, WRAITH, FULL THROTTLE. Movies: LOCKE & KEYE, HORNS, Joe Hill's TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE, NOS4A2 [TV], CREEPSHOW [TV], THE BLACK PHONE, LOCKE & KEYE [TV]) is 53.
Actor Angelina Jolie (CYBORG 2, HACKERS, THE BONE COLLECTOR, Laura Croft: TOMB RAIDER, ORIGINAL SIN, LAURA CROFT TOMB RAIDER: The Cradle of Life, TAKING LIVES, SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW, THE GOOD SHEPHERD, CHANGELING, WANTED, SALT, THE TOURIST, MALEFICENT [all], THOSE WHO WISH ME DEAD, THE ETERNALS) is 50.
Actor Sean Pertwee (EVENT HORIZON, TALE OF THE MUMMY, FIVE SECONDS TO SPARE, SEVEN SECONDS TO LIVE, DOG SOLDIERS, EQUILIBRIUM, THE PROPHECY: Uprising, RENAISSANCE, WILDERNESS, BOTCHED, DOOMSDAY, MUTANT CHRONICLES, 4.3.2.1., DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND, FOUR, ULTRAMARINES, LIEN UPRISING, HOWL, GOTHAM [TV], THE PALE HORSE [TV], THE RECKONING, THE INVITATION, YOU [TV], THE NIGHT CALLER [TV]) is 61.
Actor Bruce Dern (MARNIE, "HUSH ... HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE", THE INCREDIBLE TWO-HEADED TRANSPLANT, FAMILY PLOT, BLACK SUNDAY, "AFTER DARK, MY SWEET", THE HAUNTING [1999], THE GLASS HOUSE, SWAMP DEVIL, THE HOLE, CHOOSE, TWIXT, TOOLBOX MURDERS 2, THE HATEFUL EIGHT, FREAKS, SWING LOW, MR. MERCEDES, BUCK ALAMO, HELLBLAZERS, MID-CENTURY, THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME, BUCK ALAMO OR, BLOODLINE KILLER) is 88 and the only living actor who can claim roles in 2 Alfred Hitchcock movies.
Look for Bruce in the upcoming 2023, 2024, 2025 Horror Thriller THE DEVIL'S TRAP. Also in 2025, CATnip and FRACTURED.

RETURN TO TOP

JUNE 3

PSYCHO II Turns 42

PSYCHO II

It's 42 Years Later, and we're still talking about PSYCHO II.

It took 22 years to make the sequel that no one thought could work. You can't follow an Alfred Hitchcock movie. Preposterous! It's foolish to even try. But there were hundreds of big name PSYCHO fans living in Hollywood who worked in the industry. They were among the tops in their field and they would love to give it a shot.

Except for Universal Pictures who held the rights.

In 1983 sequels had to be made quick and cheap. Unless your name was George Lucas or Steven Spielberg, nobody should risk spending more on the sequel than was spent on the original. And even those two came with doubts that they could equal the master, Hitchcock himself.

Then Hitchcock himself recommended a Director. With that blessing, actor Anthony Perkins, who uniquely made Norman Bates all his own, said he'd do it.

The rest, as is said, is the history of PSYCHO II.

Plus -

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

RESIDENT EVIL - James Purefoy

Actor Bonnie Aarons (CAGED HEAT 3000, MULHOLLAND DR. [TV], MULHOLLAND DR., SPECTOR'S ROCK, WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY, I KNOW WHO KILLED ME, INALIENABLE, HELL RIDE, DRAG ME TO HELL, DAHMER VS GACY, THE CONJURING 2, THE NUN [all], JAKOB'S WIFE, FRANK, I LIVE ALONE, THE BELL KEEPER, CAMP PLEASENT LAKE, LITTLE BITES) is 47.
Look for Bonnie in the 2023, 2024, 2025, Horror Mystery, MARTINEZ MARGARITAS AND MURDER. Also expected in 2025, IF IT BLEEDS and EVER AFTER.
Writer/bookstore owner/Actor Del Howison (Books: DARK DELICACIES, DARK DELICACIES II, DARK DELICACIES III. Movies: THE VAMPIRE HUNTERS CLUB, HORRORVISION, SCARLETT COUNTESS, B-MOVIE MONSTER, BOOGIE WITH THE UNDEAD, COUNTESS DRACULA'S ORGY OF BLOOD, THE VOID [2016], EVIL BONG 888: INFINITY HIGH, TRANSMISSION [2023]) is 73.
Look for Del in the 2023, 2024, 2025, Horror Thriller, THE SALEM CHRONICLES.
Writer, Producer, and Feo Amante's Horror Thriller, alumni, Kelly Parks (UNIVERSAL DEAD, DEMON PROTOCOL) is 64.
Actor James Purefoy (THE CLONING OF JOANNA MAY, FEAST OF JULY, BRIGHT HAIR, LIGHTHOUSE, RESIDENT EVIL, BLESSED, BLACKBEARD: TERROR AT SEA, FRANKENSTEIN [2007], SOLOMON KANE, JOHN CARTER, THE FOLLOWING [TV], HIGH-RISE, ALTERED CARBON [TV], HAP AND LEONARD [TV], LIMBO, EL CANDIDATO, A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES [TV], PENNYWORTH [TV], A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES [TV], THE VEIL [TV]) is 56.
James shares a June birthday with fellow THE CLONING OF JOANA MAY alumni, Brian Cox.
Horror Artist Mike Soznowski (SATAN'S 3-RING CIRCUS OF HELL) is 63.

RETURN TO TOP

JUNE 2

YOU DUG IT
Good 2 Know: Any weekend box office drop of less than 50% is good. Any weekend B.O. drop smaller than 30% of the previous is excellent.
General Rules:
A. Theaters get approximately 50% of the gross in Domestic (U.S. & Canada) Box Office: B.O. (negotiable).
B. Distributors omitting budget figures believe the movie will under perform.
C. Total gross by the 3rd weekend accounts for at least half of movie's total theater ticket sales regardless of length of stay.
D. After the 3rd weekend, as screens drop, theaters 50/50 B.O. split rises about 10% each weekend, favoring the theater, until it stops at 80/20 (negotiable).

4. FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES in its third weekend, steps down from last weekend's #3 with a box office drop of 44% against a 389 screen cut. So far its performing within expectations and has made nearly 5 times its production budget in its first three weekends.

5. BRING HER BACK opens this weekend on 2,449 screens, from A24.

6. SINNERS steps down from last weekend's #5 in its 7th weekend with a 39% drop in ticket sales against a 494 screen cut. It has performed far above expectations earning nearly 4 times its production budget.

7. THUNDERBOLTS drops from last weekend's #4 with a 50% drop in box office against a 660 screen cut. In its 5th weekend, its just barely breaking even.

12. A MINECRAFT MOVIE falls from the Top Ten in its 9th weekend with a 66% drop in box office against a 1,263 screen cut. That said, its made over 6 times its production budget.

You Buried Nothing This Weekend

Figures calibrated from reporting by Box Office Mojo and The Numbers. Should there be differences between the two, I err on the side of caution and post the most positive numbers.

And -

Watch for the June 24 Digital Release of -
STRANGER IN MY HOME

Plus -

Magnolia releases 40 ACRES in Theaters Nationwide ... Today? On a Monday?

"That's a bold move, Cotton. Let's see how it plays out."

Finale -

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

IT Chapter Two James Ranson

Actor Morena Baccarin (FIREFLY [TV], SERENITY, SANDS OF OBLIVION, STOLEN LIVES, V [2009 - TV], HOMELAND [TV], SON OF BATMAN, BATMAN: BAD BLOOD, DEADPOOL [TV], GOTHAM [TV], DEADPOOL [all], TO YOUR LAST DEATH, GREENLAND, HOME INVASION [TV], LAST LOOKS, ELEVATION, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, ) is 46.
Morena shares a June 2 birthday with her FIREFLY and SERENITY alumni, Jewel Staite.
Look for Morena in the upcoming 2023, 2024, 2025, TROPICO. Also expected in 2025, GREENLAND: MIGRATION. And expected one year from now in 2026, MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE.
Writer Bill Breedlove (Various short stories) is 63 or something.
Producer Kevin Feige (X-MEN [all], SPIDER-MAN [all], DAREDEVIL, IRON MAN [all], THE INCREDIBLE HULK, THOR [all], CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER [all], THE AVENGERS [all], THOR: THE DARK WORLD, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY [all], AGENT CARTER [TV], DOCTOR STRANGE [all], BLACK PANTHER, CAPTAIN MARVEL, WANDA VISION, THE FALCON AND THE WINTER SOLDIER [TV], BLACK WIDOW, SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, MOONKNIGHT [TV], DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW ROLD, THUNDERBOLTS) is 52.
For 2022, 2023, 2024 look for Kevin's Horror Thriller, BLADE (Never mind, it just slipped back into Pre-Production with no timeline release for the foreseeable future.
UPDATE: Nevermind. It was cancelled
UPDATE: Back in Development Hell, after 25 years and counting.
). Expected for 2026 is, AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY, and MARVEL ZOMBIES [TV]
Writer, Publisher, Warren Lapine (ABSOLUTE MAGNITUDE magazine, Wilder Publications, THE KISS INTERVIEWS, JUST LIKE THE JETSONS AND OTHER STORIES) is 61.
Writer Matthew Pierce (REFLECTED EVIL, THE DARK CURSE OF WHISPERS) is 65 or something I think.
Actor Zachary Quinto (24, HEROES, STAR TREK [2009], MARGIN CALL, AMERICAN HORROR STORY, STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS, STAR TREK BEYOND, PASSAGE TO MARS, HOTEL ARTEMIS, NOS4A2 [TV], INVINCIBLE [TV], DISTANT) is 48.
Actor James Ransone (INSIDE MAN, PROM NIGHT [2008], SINISTER, OLDBOY [2013], KRISTY, SINISTER 2, FUN SIZE HORROR: Vol. TWO, GEMINI, MOSAIC [TV], FAMILY BLOOD, THE FIRST [TV], CAPTIVE STATE, IT CHAPTER TWO, WHAT WE FOUND, BLACK PHONE, V/H/S/ 85) is 46.
Actor Jewel Staite (FIREFLY [TV], SERENITY, THE TRIBE, STARGATE: ATLANTIS, MOTHMAN [2010], THE DOOMSDAY PROPHECY, ANIMISM [TV], THE KILLING [TV], SHE WHO MUST BURN, THE WRONG BED: NAKED PURSUIT, THE MAGICIANS [TV]) is 43.
Jewel shares a June 3 birthday with FIREFLY alumni, Morena Baccarin and they both share a June Birthday month with fellow FIREFLY alumni, Mark Sheppard.
Look for Jewel in the upcoming 2025 Thriller, CHASING MIDNIGHT.
Writer Bev Vincent (THE ROAD TO THE DARK TOWER: Exploring Stephen King's Magnum Opus, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY: 8 Secondary Characters from The Dark Tower Series, THE STEPHEN KING SOURCEBOOK, STEPHEN KING: ILLUSTRATED COMPANION) is 65.

SUNDAY -

Morgan Freeman in Se7en

This writer's work was so profound, that many a modern day Televangelist is so befuddled, as to quote from this writer's works; believing it to be in their Bible! In fact, Dante's interpretation of what the afterlife must look and feel like, not only contradicts the Christian bible, but is widely held (by western Christians who apparently don't even read their bible) as THE actual view of what happens to a person after death. In essence, more western Christians believe in Dante's version of the afterlife than their faith in their Bible's vision (and they probably never read Dante either!)! So Happy Birthday to -
Writer Dante Alighieri (THE DIVINE COMEDIES, INFERNO. Game: THE LOST [VG]. Movies: DANTE'S INFERNO [2007]) whose remains - what remain of them - are 759 today.
Actor Brian Cox (WHEN WE DEAD AWAKEN, MANHUNTER, MURDER BY MOONLIGHT, SECRET WEAPON, HIDDEN AGENDA, DECEPTIONS, THE CLONING OF JOANNA MAY, CHAIN REACTION, THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT, KISS THE GIRLS, THE MINUS MAN, COMPLICITY, THE BOURNE IDENTITY, THE RING, THE RECKONING, X2, THE BOURNE SUPREMACY, RED EYE, TRICK R' TREAT, RED [2008], AS GOOD AS DEAD, RED [2010], THE VETERAN, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, EXIT HUMANITY, BLOOD, HER, ANNA, THE ANOMALY, THE GAME [TV], MORGAN, THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE, GOOD OMENS [TV], STRANGE BUT TRUE, LAST MOMENT OF CLARITY, THE BAY OF SILENCE, SEPARATION, BLADE RUNNER: BLACK LOTUS [TV], THE INDEPENDENT, THE ELECTRIC STATE, THE PARENTING) is 79.
Actor and Producer Morgan Freeman (ELECTRIC COMPANY [TV show, among his many characters were Count Dracula and The Mad Scientist], THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, OUTBREAK, SE7EN, KISS THE GIRLS, ALONG CAME A SPIDER, THE SUM OF ALL FEARS, DREAMCATCHER, UNLEASHED, BATMAN BEGINS, WAR OF THE WORLDS, GONE BABY GONE, WANTED, THE DARK KNIGHT, RED, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN, OBLIVION, NOW YOU SEE ME, LONDON HAS FALLEN, TRANSCENDENCE, LUCY, THE POISON ROSE, SOLOS [TV], THE MINUTE YOU WAKE UP DEAD, THE RITUAL KILLER, 57 SECONDS, MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE) is 89.
Writer Fran Friel (MAMA'S BOY, THE SEA ORPHAN, BEACH OF DREAMS), is another year older today!
Actor Teri Polo (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA [TV], THE ARRIVAL, HOUSE OF FRANKENSTEIN 1997 [TV], VAN HELSING CHRONICLES [TV], BRIMSTONE [TV], THE UNSAID, DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE, 2:13, THE BEACON, THE HOLE [2009], BEYOND, FINAL RECOURSE, DEADLY DELUSION, DEADLY SWITCH) is 57.
Actor Jonathan Pryce (MURDER IS EASY, SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, BRAZIL, THE DOCTOR AND THE DEVILS, HAUNTED HONEYMOON, MAN ON FIRE, DEADLY ADVICE, DARK BLOOD, STIGMATA, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN Trilogy, THE BROTHERS GRIMM, G.I. JOE: RISE OF COBRA, ECHELON CONSPIRACY, CITY STATE, DARK BLOOD, G.I. JOE: RETALIATION, NARCOPOLIS, THE WHITE KING, GAME OF THRONES [TV], TABOO [TV], THE GHOST AND THE WHALE, TALES FROM THE LOOP [TV], ALL THE OLD KNIVES, SCROOGE: A CHRISTMAS CAROL, 3 BODY PROBLEM [TV]) is 78.
Look for Jonathan in the upcoming 2025 Mystery, FLAVIA. Also expected in 2025, UNDER SALT MARSH, and THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB.
Actor Parrish Randall (THE QUICK AND THE UNDEAD, THE FLESH KEEPER, SLAUGHTER HOUSE, PROTEGE, DARK SPACES, DEAD OF KNIGHT, POSSUM WALK, KODIE, CHILLERAMA, JACOB, IMAGO, GUT INSTINCTS, HOUSE CALL, IMAGO [2013], CIRCUS OF THE DEAD, HAIR METAL SHOTGUN ZOMBIE MASSACRE, ESTELLA'S REVENGE, FUN. DARK RITUAL) is 65.

NOSFERATU is 96

NOSFERATU

Released in Germany in 1922, it would be another six years before the vampire made its way to New York City. The "Roaring 20s" in NYC had already experienced the German made METROPOLIS and the city, and so the U.S., was hungry for more.

However, Director F.W. Murnau didn't make a Science Fiction Horror movie like Fritz Lang. Murnau made a Supernatural one. For an early 20th Century America still sick with Superstition, NOSFERATU became the new century's THE EXORCIST, and for the first time in bloodsucker lore, a vampire could die by sunlight.

44 Years of Lucio Fulci's HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY

THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY

A favorite among Fulci fans, read why this still cherished movie is So Bad It's Good after nearly half a century! THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY.

MR BROOKS is Old Enough to Vote!

MR. BROOKS - William Hurt, Kevin Costner

The sinister character of Mr. Brooks has no redeeming qualities. He is everything we should hate. So how did co-writer and Director Bruce A. Evans (STARMAN, STAND BY ME) get us to like him? Read my review of MR BROOKS.

SATURDAY -

THE BATMAN - Colin Farrell

In 2023 I finally added Colin Farrel to this list. I'd never want to put someone in our favorite genres who didn't want to be here, but with his long cinema history now in plain hindsight, Colin's overall ouvre has a distinct twist to nearly every movie he makes. That twist is invariably dark humored and dark fantasy even when its not outright Horror, Thriller, Mystery, and / or Suspense.

Nearly all of his crime movies have a Science Fiction or Supernatural element or, in some cases, a borderland of cryptozoology that exists between Science and Supernatural - whether by intent or extraordinary circumstance.

So without further ado, a Happy Birthday to

Actor Colin Farrell (THE WAR ZONE, MINORITY REPORT, PHONE BOOTH, THE RECRUIT, DAREDEVIL, TRIAGE, ONDINE, FRIGHT NIGHT, TOTAL RECALL [2012], WINTER'S TALE, THE LOBSTER, TRUE DETECTIVE [TV], SOLACE, FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM, THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, THE BEGUILED, LEGEND OF CAMBRIA [TV], THE GENTLEMEN, ARTEMIS FOWL, AVA, VOYAGERS, AFTER YANG, THE NORTH WATER [TV], THE BATMAN, THIRTEEN LIVES, THE PENGUIN (TV)) is 48.
Look for Colin in the upcoming 2025 Mystery Thriller, SUGAR. Also expected in 2025, THE BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER

THE ARRIVAL Turns 29

THE ARRIVAL movie review

Writer and Director David Twohy (PITCH BLACK, IMPOSTOR, BELOW, THE PERFECT GETAWAY) has spent his career bubbling just below the surface of "Breakout". He's written and directed some good movies, with some great moments, but as of this date, no great movies.

That said, there's always just enough about his stories to keep you coming back and THE ARRIVAL is no exception.

THE SUM OF ALL FEARS is 23

SUM OF ALL FEARS

In his life, Tom Clancy had a huge following for his best selling novels. Novels so minutely accurate to the intricacies of real world governments and their various weapons programs and technology, that the CIA and NSA found themselves both intimidated by and attracted to his fiction.

As often happens, once you gain an expertise on a subject, there will be those who are peddling a lie that won't like your facts and they won't like your freely speaking about them.

But in life, Tom was so huge that everything that had his touch turned to gold. Not just his novels, but when he turned his attention to making the most realistic Video War Games anyone had ever seen, those too became bestsellers.

Holy shit how Hollywood wanted a piece of that action!

And it worked!

One Tom Clancy movie after the next was a hit: I'm talking world-wide market hit. Unfortunately, the actors in Tom Clancy movies would catch such flack from their peers that they'd back off making any more. Which is why, during Paramount Pictures run of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan movies, the titular character is played by a different actor every time. Further, every actor who played Jack would, at some point, badmouth Tom Clancy and so their role.

This is what happened when Harrison Ford left the franchise with SUM OF ALL FEARS.

RETURN TO TOP
GO TO MAY 2025
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

NEWS?
SUBMISSIONS?
Read:
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

WHO IS FEO AMANTE?

WHO SAID WHAT?

FAIR USE -

PRIVACY POLICY -

OWNERSHIP -

CONTACT