Caught the latest episode of 'Masters of Horror.' It reunited 'Reanimator,' star Jeffrey Combs and director Stuart Gordon to tell a tale about Edgar Allan Poe writing his story 'The Black Cat.' It was alright. It bodes well for the forthcoming sequel 'House of Reanimator.' Gordon is going to direct this having let co-producer Brian Yuzna direct the previous sequels. Apparently it's going to be set in the White House and have a zombie acting as the President of the United States. It sounds like we might be getting some political satire with our brain-eating next time.
another favorite topic of mine. Perhaps I may suggest John Carpenter's "The Thing"... truly underrated sci-fi horror. As far as late night grindhouse, "I Drink Your Blood" is a classic.
Being an old school guy, I hate this generation of filmakers re-treading classics like this. Come up with something new for a change. X-(
I agree. I loved the original Halloween, and I don't think that a remake is all that necessary (not after all those sequels.) If it was as good as, or very different to the original, that would be one thing. However chances are that it would be almost identical, just with more blood and less subtlety, and nowhere near as good.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
I'm willing to bet that there'll be a Jaws remake within 5 yrs time
It's not quite 'Jaws,' but apparently Joe Dante's wonderful knock-off version, 'Piranha' is getting the remake treatment next according to DVD Review. Alexandre Aja, the nonentity who made the 'The Hills Have Eyes' xerox is going to direct. This guy is the Bruce Li of horror directors. A pale imitation of original talent. A cash-in on other people's work ideas and creativity. The horror genre has always borrowed from the past, but usually in an inventive way that adds something new. What is being done just now is basically theft.
Incidentally, how about a sequel to THHE set in Scotland in which a group of English tourists get lost in the Highlands and have to contend with a family of depraved Scottish hillbilly's. They could call it 'The Hills Have Aye's.'
I'm getting a bit cheesed off with the neverending remakes of films that aren't even that old. Especially as they seem to pick on John Carpenter and George A Romero a lot. Escape From New York is up next apparently. Why not just let John Carpenter and Kurt Russell make another Snake Plissken film?
RogueAgentSpeeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
edited September 2007
I can't recall if this has been posted or not but...Here's the trailer for the film TRICK OR TREAT which comes out next month. It's got a Tales From The Darkside kind of feel to it B-) :
I can't recall if this has been posted or not but...Here's the trailer for the film TRICK OR TREAT which comes out next month. It's got a Tales From The Darkside kind of feel to it B-) :
{[] Looks amazing Rogue. What is that eerie tune that's used? I recognise it from the Buffy episode 'Hush.' It must be a children's lullaby or something. And Anna Paquin dressed as Little Red Riding Hood. :x Thank You God. )
Here's the trailer for the remake of One Missed Call. As with The Ring and Pulse, both remakes of J-horror classics, it seems as if all the ambiguity and sorrow has been removed.
Here's the trailer for the remake of One Missed Call. As with The Ring and Pulse, both remakes of J-horror classics, it seems as if all the ambiguity and sorrow has been removed.
I'm getting a bit cheesed off with the neverending remakes of films that aren't even that old. Especially as they seem to pick on John Carpenter and George A Romero a lot. Escape From New York is up next apparently. Why not just let John Carpenter and Kurt Russell make another Snake Plissken film?
I don't really get that, either, Arthur. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Why remake it?
I read somewhere they were planning to remake The Changeling, an Exorcist-era haunted house films starring George C. Scott. A real classic of the genre if you ask me. I would recommend it to anyone.
I think John Carpenter's remake of The Thing is a classic. Not exactly a horror film, perhaps, but had all the elements.
I think John Carpenter's remake of The Thing is a classic. Not exactly a horror film, perhaps, but had all the elements.
Just as an FYI, John Carpenter's version of The Thing isn't so much a remake of the 1950 movie but rather a very faithful adaptation of the classic John W. Campbell sci-fi novella "Who Goes There?". Carpenter tacked on a different, more ambiguous ending but other than that, he follows the story very closely.
RogueAgentSpeeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
I think John Carpenter's remake of The Thing is a classic. Not exactly a horror film, perhaps, but had all the elements.
Just as an FYI, John Carpenter's version of The Thing isn't so much a remake of the 1950 movie but rather a very faithful adaptation of the classic John W. Campbell sci-fi novella "Who Goes There?". Carpenter tacked on a different, more ambiguous ending but other than that, he follows the story very closely.
Cool info. I didn't know that; I guess I'll have to pick this read up for myself.
BTW, Carpenter's The Thing would be considered horror. I don't remember going to the theatre seeing anything so awesome at the time and I believe that Poltergeist came out that same summer. It wasn't as terrifying as THING. It's pretty much timeless for me. B-)
Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice isUNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
I'm getting a bit cheesed off with the neverending remakes of films that aren't even that old. Especially as they seem to pick on John Carpenter and George A Romero a lot. Escape From New York is up next apparently. Why not just let John Carpenter and Kurt Russell make another Snake Plissken film?
I don't really get that, either, Arthur. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Why remake it?
I read somewhere they were planning to remake The Changeling, an Exorcist-era haunted house films starring George C. Scott. A real classic of the genre if you ask me. I would recommend it to anyone.
I think John Carpenter's remake of The Thing is a classic. Not exactly a horror film, perhaps, but had all the elements.
The other thing I don't understand are the remakes of Japanese horror films that are only a few years old. I've seen the Japanese version of The Ring. Why do I want to see a Hollywood remake 18 months later? Do they do this for the benefit of people who can't watch a film with subtitles? The Japanese horror films have a unique atmosphere in their original form.
I love John Carpenter's The Thing too. That film has a great score and the FX were really inventive for the time. I find that films made before the advent of CGI have a real charm now when you revisit them.
[I read somewhere they were planning to remake The Changeling, an Exorcist-era haunted house films starring George C. Scott. A real classic of the genre if you ask me. I would recommend it to anyone.
So would I HH. I love that film. Its very underrated. You're just about the only other person I know who's seen it
I don't like talking about films that I've seen at Uni but I think it would be appropiate for this thread, since I don't see many horror films, and all of the good horror films that I've seen this year have been at Uni.
1)Homecoming-This was a one-hour film from the 'Masters of Horror' series and was directed by Joe Dante. It's basically an anti-Iraq War Zombie film and is alot of fun. It's very political (it even has an Ann Coulter-like villainess), and probably won't appeal to someone who's deeply conservative, but it is also very funny with some great lines and has a pretty good plot.
2)The Night of the Living Dead-A classic. I didn't find it particularly scary, although I can certainly see why 1968 audiences would. It's extremely well made, especially considering its obviously low budget, and IMO proves to be a more shocking commentary on American race relations than many race dramas actually are. It's also fascinating when considering it's take on masculinity and patriarchy. I very much enjoyed this film, and I look foward to seeing Romero's other films.
3)The Texas Chainsaw Massacre-I've actually seen this film before. The first time, I wasn't overly impressed with it. Now, after seeing it for a second time, I am of the view that it is an unqualified masterpiece. I think it's a work of genius and truly one of the greatest films ever made. It is absolutely terrifying, relying upon not so much violence (although when there is violence, it is ferocious) but the threat of violence. The look of the film is perfect, as it really creates a mood of foreboding and of sheer terror. The villains are truly wonderful (Leatherface must surely rank as among the greatest cinematic villains of all time), the script is extremely smart and the direction is terrific. The film's views on family are particularly horrifying. ) I really love this film and I would say that this is the perfect example of a film which has required more than one viewing for me to truly appreciate its brilliance.
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
RogueAgentSpeeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
3)The Texas Chainsaw Massacre-I've actually seen this film before. The first time, I wasn't overly impressed with it. Now, after seeing it for a second time, I am of the view that it is an unqualified masterpiece.
"Torture Porn" like Texas Chainsaw and others that fit under this particular type of umbrella aren't really horrrific to me unless you're literally experiencing it. Then it would be considered horror.
Never been a big fan of the hack-em-up thrillers with the exception of the ORIGINAL Halloween. Nowadays it's just overdone for the gore effect...
That doesn't scare me, it just makes me want to hurl into my popcorn. We need more effective ghost stories.
Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice isUNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
I'll take it a step further: as far as I'm concerned, these Torture Porn hacks like Eli Roth should be banned from making films altogether. I find their "work" (and I use that term loosely) to be in really bad taste and utterly devoid of any imagination. Their movies aren't scary at all to me, only repulsive; both in their treatment of characters and in the situations they introduce characters to.
Compare that to something like Fellini's "Toby Dammit" from Spirits of the Dead, where the sight of an innocent little girl or a ball bouncing down an escalator sends chills up your spine, and you'll begin to see just how little Roth and his ilk really have to offer.
Compare that to something like Fellini's "Toby Dammit" from Spirits of the Dead, where the sight of an innocent little girl or a ball bouncing down an escalator sends chills up your spine, and you'll begin to see just how little Roth and his ilk really have to offer.
I agree about Roth. The guy's worthless. But I wouldn't ban his work. It's better just to point out what a load of crap it is. Hopefully producers will wise up and stop hiring the guy.
I've always wanted to see 'Toby Dammit'. Does that have Terence Stamp in it?
I've always wanted to see 'Toby Dammit'. Does that have Terence Stamp in it?
It does; the story is a very loose adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "Never Bet The Devil Your Head". Poe's story was more of a satire; it was about a guy called Toby Dammit who had a bad habit of always saying "I'll bet the devil my head..." until one day he says it to the wrong person.
Fellini turns the story into something very different - a washed up actor (Stamp) who goes to Italy to film a western version of the crucifixion and rebirth of Christ and ends up having a run-in with the devil - yet it still follows the major beats of the story (including the final fateful encounter on a bridge) and is able to convey that oppressive air of dread that permeated Poe's best stories. The vignette is full of memorable images and classic Fellini characters.
The other two vignettes, Metzegerstein (with Jane Fonda) and especially William Wilson (with Alan Delon) are also very good, creepy, and quite faithful to the original stories. The Italian locations really give them an ambiance and atmosphere that was missing from Corman's Poe productions.
You should definitely check it out if you get a chance.
Fellini turns the story into something very different - a washed up actor (Stamp) who goes to Italy to film a western version of the crucifixion and rebirth of Christ and ends up having a run-in with the devil - yet it still follows the major beats of the story (including the final fateful encounter on a bridge) and is able to convey that oppressive air of dread that permeated Poe's best stories. The vignette is full of memorable images and classic Fellini characters.
The other two vignettes, Metzegerstein (with Jane Fonda) and especially William Wilson (with Alan Delon) are also very good, creepy, and quite faithful to the original stories. The Italian locations really give them an ambiance and atmosphere that was missing from Corman's Poe productions.
You should definitely check it out if you get a chance.
{[] I will do Tony. That sounds fascinating. I much prefer the kind of horror movies that haunt you, to those that simply try to gross you out.
"Torture Porn" like Texas Chainsaw and others that fit under this particular type of umbrella aren't really horrrific to me unless you're literally experiencing it. Then it would be considered horror.
Never been a big fan of the hack-em-up thrillers with the exception of the ORIGINAL Halloween. Nowadays it's just overdone for the gore effect...
That doesn't scare me, it just makes me want to hurl into my popcorn. We need more effective ghost stories.
I never really use the term 'Torture Porn' to describe Texas, as, unlike Hostel, I don't think it's such a violent film and I don't think it relies upon shock value to scare the audience. What I love about Texas is that it relies more upon the implication of violence so it comes across as much more violent than it truly is. I certainly agree that it may not be truly horrifying unless you see it, but then again, a leather-faced man wielding a chainsaw does sound pretty terrifying. )
I'll take it a step further: as far as I'm concerned, these Torture Porn hacks like Eli Roth should be banned from making films altogether. I find their "work" (and I use that term loosely) to be in really bad taste and utterly devoid of any imagination. Their movies aren't scary at all to me, only repulsive; both in their treatment of characters and in the situations they introduce characters to.
Like John, I don't think that Roth (or anyone else) should be banned, but you will have no arguments from me on the artistic merit of such films. The original Hostel was quite interesting due to its political subtext, but Hostel 2 was really horrible. Just don't compare the Hostel films to the original Texas. X-( )
"He’s a man way out there in the blue, riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smiling back—that’s an earthquake. and then you get yourself a couple of spots on your hat, and you’re finished. Nobody dast blame this man. A salesman is got to dream, boy. It comes with the territory." Death of a Salesman
RogueAgentSpeeding in the Tumbler...Posts: 3,676MI6 Agent
I never really use the term 'Torture Porn' to describe Texas, as, unlike Hostel, I don't think it's such a violent film and I don't think it relies upon shock value to scare the audience. What I love about Texas is that it relies more upon the implication of violence so it comes across as much more violent than it truly is.
Leatherface does nothing for me as a horror character with all of his moronic shrieks and goosing the motor on his chainsaw while circling it above his head...
He'd make a perfect comic book villian though. I could see him in an issue of Spawn, The Punisher or something like that.
I'm just more in love with the haunted house/ghost/sometimes vampire theme of the genre which, IMO, poses a challenge for writers to pull off...
It's easier to just cut up sex-starved teens nowadays to make a quick buck... 8-)
Mrs. Man Face: "You wouldn't hit a lady? Would you?"
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice isUNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
Compare that to something like Fellini's "Toby Dammit" from Spirits of the Dead, where the sight of an innocent little girl or a ball bouncing down an escalator sends chills up your spine, and you'll begin to see just how little Roth and his ilk really have to offer.
This segment was borrowed from Mario Bava's Kill Baby Kill, which showcases a ten year old girl named Melissa. I believe Scorcese copied it as well later. (It's very heartening to see the Maestro finally receiving world wide recognition outside of his own country)
Comments
Being an old school guy, I hate this generation of filmakers re-treading classics like this. Come up with something new for a change. X-(
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809784517/info
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
I know the feeling. I still can't believe they remade 'The Hitcher.'
Argh :v. Resists temptation to make obvious jokes.
Seriously, that's good news re Re-Animator reunion, really. Those guys have done good work.
Yeah , H1 was the best but H4 was really good too
It's not quite 'Jaws,' but apparently Joe Dante's wonderful knock-off version, 'Piranha' is getting the remake treatment next according to DVD Review. Alexandre Aja, the nonentity who made the 'The Hills Have Eyes' xerox is going to direct. This guy is the Bruce Li of horror directors. A pale imitation of original talent. A cash-in on other people's work ideas and creativity. The horror genre has always borrowed from the past, but usually in an inventive way that adds something new. What is being done just now is basically theft.
Incidentally, how about a sequel to THHE set in Scotland in which a group of English tourists get lost in the Highlands and have to contend with a family of depraved Scottish hillbilly's. They could call it 'The Hills Have Aye's.'
Sorry, couldn't resist. ;%
http://www.ifilm.com/video/2878031
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
{[] Looks amazing Rogue. What is that eerie tune that's used? I recognise it from the Buffy episode 'Hush.' It must be a children's lullaby or something. And Anna Paquin dressed as Little Red Riding Hood. :x Thank You God.
Here's the trailer for the remake of One Missed Call. As with The Ring and Pulse, both remakes of J-horror classics, it seems as if all the ambiguity and sorrow has been removed.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sV5DekxWfAQ
Ugh. Again Hollywood wants to tarnish another classic J-horror flick. My son and I love the original.
Just assessing the trailer, there's no Silent Hill feel to it for the hospital part...
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
The Shining,
The Wicker Man
and Peeping Tom
and any films associated with zombies or viruses.
I don't really get that, either, Arthur. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Why remake it?
I read somewhere they were planning to remake The Changeling, an Exorcist-era haunted house films starring George C. Scott. A real classic of the genre if you ask me. I would recommend it to anyone.
I think John Carpenter's remake of The Thing is a classic. Not exactly a horror film, perhaps, but had all the elements.
Just as an FYI, John Carpenter's version of The Thing isn't so much a remake of the 1950 movie but rather a very faithful adaptation of the classic John W. Campbell sci-fi novella "Who Goes There?". Carpenter tacked on a different, more ambiguous ending but other than that, he follows the story very closely.
Cool info. I didn't know that; I guess I'll have to pick this read up for myself.
BTW, Carpenter's The Thing would be considered horror. I don't remember going to the theatre seeing anything so awesome at the time and I believe that Poltergeist came out that same summer. It wasn't as terrifying as THING. It's pretty much timeless for me. B-)
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
The other thing I don't understand are the remakes of Japanese horror films that are only a few years old. I've seen the Japanese version of The Ring. Why do I want to see a Hollywood remake 18 months later? Do they do this for the benefit of people who can't watch a film with subtitles?
I love John Carpenter's The Thing too. That film has a great score and the FX were really inventive for the time. I find that films made before the advent of CGI have a real charm now when you revisit them.
So would I HH. I love that film. Its very underrated. You're just about the only other person I know who's seen it
1)Homecoming-This was a one-hour film from the 'Masters of Horror' series and was directed by Joe Dante. It's basically an anti-Iraq War Zombie film and is alot of fun. It's very political (it even has an Ann Coulter-like villainess), and probably won't appeal to someone who's deeply conservative, but it is also very funny with some great lines and has a pretty good plot.
2)The Night of the Living Dead-A classic. I didn't find it particularly scary, although I can certainly see why 1968 audiences would. It's extremely well made, especially considering its obviously low budget, and IMO proves to be a more shocking commentary on American race relations than many race dramas actually are. It's also fascinating when considering it's take on masculinity and patriarchy. I very much enjoyed this film, and I look foward to seeing Romero's other films.
3)The Texas Chainsaw Massacre-I've actually seen this film before. The first time, I wasn't overly impressed with it. Now, after seeing it for a second time, I am of the view that it is an unqualified masterpiece. I think it's a work of genius and truly one of the greatest films ever made. It is absolutely terrifying, relying upon not so much violence (although when there is violence, it is ferocious) but the threat of violence. The look of the film is perfect, as it really creates a mood of foreboding and of sheer terror. The villains are truly wonderful (Leatherface must surely rank as among the greatest cinematic villains of all time), the script is extremely smart and the direction is terrific. The film's views on family are particularly horrifying.
"Torture Porn" like Texas Chainsaw and others that fit under this particular type of umbrella aren't really horrrific to me unless you're literally experiencing it. Then it would be considered horror.
Never been a big fan of the hack-em-up thrillers with the exception of the ORIGINAL Halloween. Nowadays it's just overdone for the gore effect...
That doesn't scare me, it just makes me want to hurl into my popcorn. We need more effective ghost stories.
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
Compare that to something like Fellini's "Toby Dammit" from Spirits of the Dead, where the sight of an innocent little girl or a ball bouncing down an escalator sends chills up your spine, and you'll begin to see just how little Roth and his ilk really have to offer.
I agree about Roth. The guy's worthless. But I wouldn't ban his work. It's better just to point out what a load of crap it is. Hopefully producers will wise up and stop hiring the guy.
I've always wanted to see 'Toby Dammit'. Does that have Terence Stamp in it?
It does; the story is a very loose adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "Never Bet The Devil Your Head". Poe's story was more of a satire; it was about a guy called Toby Dammit who had a bad habit of always saying "I'll bet the devil my head..." until one day he says it to the wrong person.
Fellini turns the story into something very different - a washed up actor (Stamp) who goes to Italy to film a western version of the crucifixion and rebirth of Christ and ends up having a run-in with the devil - yet it still follows the major beats of the story (including the final fateful encounter on a bridge) and is able to convey that oppressive air of dread that permeated Poe's best stories. The vignette is full of memorable images and classic Fellini characters.
The other two vignettes, Metzegerstein (with Jane Fonda) and especially William Wilson (with Alan Delon) are also very good, creepy, and quite faithful to the original stories. The Italian locations really give them an ambiance and atmosphere that was missing from Corman's Poe productions.
You should definitely check it out if you get a chance.
{[] I will do Tony. That sounds fascinating. I much prefer the kind of horror movies that haunt you, to those that simply try to gross you out.
Like John, I don't think that Roth (or anyone else) should be banned, but you will have no arguments from me on the artistic merit of such films. The original Hostel was quite interesting due to its political subtext, but Hostel 2 was really horrible. Just don't compare the Hostel films to the original Texas. X-(
Leatherface does nothing for me as a horror character with all of his moronic shrieks and goosing the motor on his chainsaw while circling it above his head...
He'd make a perfect comic book villian though. I could see him in an issue of Spawn, The Punisher or something like that.
I'm just more in love with the haunted house/ghost/sometimes vampire theme of the genre which, IMO, poses a challenge for writers to pull off...
It's easier to just cut up sex-starved teens nowadays to make a quick buck... 8-)
Batman: "The Hammer Of Justice is UNISEX!"
-Batman: The Brave & The Bold -
Highly recommended