Zombies have become a pretty major part of the horror genre. The first zombie movie, "White Zombie," was released all the way back in 1932, but they first really took a bite out of our subconscious with George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead" in 1968. Since then, their popularity has exploded, with more zombie movies, TV shows, and books than you could shake a stick at. But where did the idea of zombies really come from?
It turns out that zombies have their origins in Haitian Vodou (more commonly known as voodoo). Unlike its cousin hoodoo, practiced in New Orleans as a kind of mixture of folk medicine and superstition, Vodou is a complex diaspora faith borne of West African religions. In Vodou, a zombi is someone put under the control of another through the use of psychedelic plants, a nightmarish concept documented in anthropological texts like "Tell My Horse...
It turns out that zombies have their origins in Haitian Vodou (more commonly known as voodoo). Unlike its cousin hoodoo, practiced in New Orleans as a kind of mixture of folk medicine and superstition, Vodou is a complex diaspora faith borne of West African religions. In Vodou, a zombi is someone put under the control of another through the use of psychedelic plants, a nightmarish concept documented in anthropological texts like "Tell My Horse...
- 6/3/2024
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
Since its creation in 1985, the City Hunter manga has spawned multiple adaptations, from TV anime to live-action movies. Tsukasa Hojo’s manga is a timeless tale of a character who wants to do good in a world full of bad without getting sucked into violence or vengeance. The Story is Simple Ryo Saeba loves women but can be perceived as harassing in some ways. He says he accepts any mission as long as his heart is moved (or as long as the client is a beautiful woman), but what makes the character so simple to understand is that he deeply cares. Behind his pervy looks, he always does the right thing. His backstory is neither the funniest nor the prettiest; he lived to kill, and yet he chose to become a Pi to maintain some justice in the dark alleys of Shinjuku. With the manga, the anime, the animated features...
- 5/5/2024
- by Mohamed Mir
- Crunchyroll
The latest City Hunter live-action film made its worldwide debut on Netflix on April 25, 2024, and actor Suzuki Ryohei’s portrayal of the Saeba Ryo in the film has captured the hearts of the audiences worldwide, with many praising him for the accurate depiction of the iconic character.
Turns out Suzuki went above and beyond to prepare for the role of Ryo Saeba in the film, with the aim of preserving the essence of the original manga while infusing the adaptation with realism and entertainment fit for a live-action film.
One of the most demanding aspects of the role for Suzuki was mastering the intricacies of firearm combat.
During filming, Suzuki tackled six types of firearms, practicing extensively with model guns to ensure seamless handling on set. But his dedication didn’t stop there. To truly understand the nuances of gun handling and recoil, Suzuki underwent four to five days of intensive training abroad,...
Turns out Suzuki went above and beyond to prepare for the role of Ryo Saeba in the film, with the aim of preserving the essence of the original manga while infusing the adaptation with realism and entertainment fit for a live-action film.
One of the most demanding aspects of the role for Suzuki was mastering the intricacies of firearm combat.
During filming, Suzuki tackled six types of firearms, practicing extensively with model guns to ensure seamless handling on set. But his dedication didn’t stop there. To truly understand the nuances of gun handling and recoil, Suzuki underwent four to five days of intensive training abroad,...
- 4/30/2024
- by Ami Nazru
- AnimeHunch
Max is bringing one of 2024’s most talked-about docuseries to its platform as a trailer teasing the Spacey Unmasked docuseries debuts. The preview drops almost one year since Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey was found not guilty of sex crimes. The U.S. presentation arrives courtesy of Channel 4 and Max, with Oscar-nominee Mike Lerner producing alongside ex-Channel 4 News boss Dorothy Byrne. The two-part docuseries begins airing on Monday, May 6 and concludes on May 7.
According to Channel 4, Spacey Unmasked “investigates Spacey’s conduct and talks to multiple men unconnected to [last year’s] case about their experiences with Kevin Spacey, almost all of whom have never spoken before.”
Spacey Unmasked examines the famed actor from films like Se7en, The Usual Suspects, American Beauty, and more through never-before-seen interviews and archive footage. The doc travels back to Spacey’s youth and early days on Broadway. It also reflects on the actor taking...
According to Channel 4, Spacey Unmasked “investigates Spacey’s conduct and talks to multiple men unconnected to [last year’s] case about their experiences with Kevin Spacey, almost all of whom have never spoken before.”
Spacey Unmasked examines the famed actor from films like Se7en, The Usual Suspects, American Beauty, and more through never-before-seen interviews and archive footage. The doc travels back to Spacey’s youth and early days on Broadway. It also reflects on the actor taking...
- 4/26/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
The official Twitter account of Netflix revealed the main trailer of the upcoming City Hunter live-action film featuring the theme song Get Wild Continual by Tm Network on April 8, 2024.
Newly announced cast includes:
Tetta Sugimoto as Akitaka Ito Ayame Misaki as Tsukino Seta Takaya Sakoda as Kunio Konno
Other cast include:
Ryohei Suzuki as Ryo Saeba Misato Morita as Kaori Makimura Masanobu Ando as Hideyuki Makimura Fumino Kimura as Detective Saeko Nogami
City Hunter Live-Action Film is set to release worldwide on Netflix on April 25, 2024.
Netflix is producing this live-action and describes it as, “a modern-day updated version of the manga, set in the bustling streets of Shinjuku”.
The live-action will be directed by Yuichi Sato. Tatsuro Mishima will be in charge of the script, and Yoshihide Otomo will be composing the music for the film.
The franchise had spawned a media franchise consisting of numerous adaptations and spin-offs from several countries.
Newly announced cast includes:
Tetta Sugimoto as Akitaka Ito Ayame Misaki as Tsukino Seta Takaya Sakoda as Kunio Konno
Other cast include:
Ryohei Suzuki as Ryo Saeba Misato Morita as Kaori Makimura Masanobu Ando as Hideyuki Makimura Fumino Kimura as Detective Saeko Nogami
City Hunter Live-Action Film is set to release worldwide on Netflix on April 25, 2024.
Netflix is producing this live-action and describes it as, “a modern-day updated version of the manga, set in the bustling streets of Shinjuku”.
The live-action will be directed by Yuichi Sato. Tatsuro Mishima will be in charge of the script, and Yoshihide Otomo will be composing the music for the film.
The franchise had spawned a media franchise consisting of numerous adaptations and spin-offs from several countries.
- 4/8/2024
- by Ami Nazru
- AnimeHunch
Actor Ali Fazal, who is known for ‘Mirzapur’, ‘Fukrey’ franchise, ‘Khufiya’ and others, has shared the inspiration behind one of his scenes in the hit streaming series ‘Mirzapur’. The actor recently took to the Stories section of his Instagram and shared a video from the neo-noir psychological horror film ‘Angel Heart’ starring Robert De Niro and Mickey Rourke.
The video shows De Niro and Mickey Rourke sitting across a table with De Niro peeling an egg.
Ali wrote on the video: “One of my all time favourite scenes, in a not very famous film.. but these two riffing. Some of Guddu’s egg inspirations came from here – go guess which part (sic)”.
In ‘Mirzapur’, Ali’s character of Guddu is on a heavy protein diet considering he is a body builder, and the best source of protein for him are the eggs. His character climbs up the ranks of the...
The video shows De Niro and Mickey Rourke sitting across a table with De Niro peeling an egg.
Ali wrote on the video: “One of my all time favourite scenes, in a not very famous film.. but these two riffing. Some of Guddu’s egg inspirations came from here – go guess which part (sic)”.
In ‘Mirzapur’, Ali’s character of Guddu is on a heavy protein diet considering he is a body builder, and the best source of protein for him are the eggs. His character climbs up the ranks of the...
- 4/1/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
The official Twitter account of Netflix Japan unveiled a teaser trailer for the upcoming City Hunter Live-Action Film on March 15, 2024. The teaser previews the film’s ending theme song “Get Wild Continual,” performed by rock music band Tm Network.
Get Wild Continual is a new version of the anime’s very first ending theme song “Get Wild” performed by the same band.
Tm Network expressed their enthusiasm on being able to be a part of the franchise again, stating, “The ending song for a story that is both hard-boiled and comical, and seems to go on and on without end. Anyway, we aimed to create an enchanting sound that makes Ryo Saeba seem both closer and farther away. And finally, with great anticipation, the world premiere through live-action adaptation! Who would have thought that Tm Network’s “Get Wild” would be there to accompany us as the ending theme song.
Get Wild Continual is a new version of the anime’s very first ending theme song “Get Wild” performed by the same band.
Tm Network expressed their enthusiasm on being able to be a part of the franchise again, stating, “The ending song for a story that is both hard-boiled and comical, and seems to go on and on without end. Anyway, we aimed to create an enchanting sound that makes Ryo Saeba seem both closer and farther away. And finally, with great anticipation, the world premiere through live-action adaptation! Who would have thought that Tm Network’s “Get Wild” would be there to accompany us as the ending theme song.
- 3/15/2024
- by Ami Nazru
- AnimeHunch
Kevin Spacey will play The Devil in the Italian film 'The Contract'.The 64-year-old actor is continuing his efforts to rebuild his career by featuring in the psychological thriller from director Massimo Paolucci alongside Eric Roberts and Vincent Spano.The English-language movie has recently wrapped principal photography in Rome and is described as having a similar plotline to Alan Parker's 'Angel Heart' and Taylor Hackford's 'The Devil's Advocate'.Spacey arrived in the Italian capital in December to shoot the picture and his character 'The Devil' is described as similar to Al Pacino's part in 'The Devil's Advocate' – as satan who takes the guise of a human lawyer.Producers Massimiliano Caroletti and Sandro Lazzarini say they "courted" Spacey for eight months to convince him to take the role.The Oscar-winning star's career came crashing down in 2017 after he was accused of sexual misconduct but...
- 3/6/2024
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
Seven years after his career imploded amid dozens of sexual misconduct accusations, Kevin Spacey’s ongoing efforts to resurrect his career have taken him to Italy. The two-time Oscar winner will star as The Devil in The Contract, one of three projects that will soon involve Italian filmmaker Massimiliano Caroletti and his wife, the former porn star Eva Henger.
Cinecittà News, the official news outlet of Rome’s famed Cinecittà Studios, revealed on Tuesday that the project, which recently wrapped shooting in Rome, is being directed by Massimo Paolucci (All in One Day) and will be produced by Tm Entertainment and Sandro Lazzerini. The thriller is based on an idea by Caroletti and scripted by Henger.
Spacey had largely avoided the public eye since his career collapsed in the early days of the #MeToo era, but has recently begun to reemerge, with a role in the upcoming indie thriller Peter...
Cinecittà News, the official news outlet of Rome’s famed Cinecittà Studios, revealed on Tuesday that the project, which recently wrapped shooting in Rome, is being directed by Massimo Paolucci (All in One Day) and will be produced by Tm Entertainment and Sandro Lazzerini. The thriller is based on an idea by Caroletti and scripted by Henger.
Spacey had largely avoided the public eye since his career collapsed in the early days of the #MeToo era, but has recently begun to reemerge, with a role in the upcoming indie thriller Peter...
- 3/5/2024
- by Martina Barone
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Kevin Spacey may have been found not guilty in his sex offenses trial last year, but he still might as well be The Devil as far as a lot of people are concerned – so it’s fitting that he does indeed play a version of The Devil in his latest project, the psychological thriller The Contract, which just wrapped production in Italy. Spacey’s character in the film directed by Massimo Paolucci is called The Devil, and the filmmakers told Variety that his role is along the lines of “Al Pacino’s in The Devil’s Advocate as Satan who takes the guise of a human lawyer, and that of Robert De Niro in Angel Heart, a Satanic businessman who hires a seedy gumshoe detective to descend into Hell.”
Details on the plot of the English-language film have not been revealed. Spacey is joined in the cast by Eric Roberts and Vincent Spano.
Details on the plot of the English-language film have not been revealed. Spacey is joined in the cast by Eric Roberts and Vincent Spano.
- 3/5/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Kevin Spacey will appear as a character named “The Devil” in Italian director Massimo Paolucci’s psychological thriller “The Contract,” which just wrapped principal photography in Rome.
The English-language film, described in a statement as having a similar storyline as Alan Parker’s “Angel Heart” and Taylor Hackford’s “The Devil’s Advocate,” also stars Eric Roberts and Vincent Spano, Italian production company Tm Entertainment said.
Spacey arrived in Rome last December to shoot “The Contract.”
Reps for Spacey, Roberts and Spano did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The “House of Cards” star’s career imploded amid allegations of sexual misconduct in 2017, but he has since been found not liable in an October 2022 lawsuit brought by “Star Trek: Discovery” actor Anthony Rapp and was declared not guilty in a U.K. sexual assault trial in July 2023. He will soon be back on U.S. movie screens with indie thriller “Peter Five Eight,...
The English-language film, described in a statement as having a similar storyline as Alan Parker’s “Angel Heart” and Taylor Hackford’s “The Devil’s Advocate,” also stars Eric Roberts and Vincent Spano, Italian production company Tm Entertainment said.
Spacey arrived in Rome last December to shoot “The Contract.”
Reps for Spacey, Roberts and Spano did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The “House of Cards” star’s career imploded amid allegations of sexual misconduct in 2017, but he has since been found not liable in an October 2022 lawsuit brought by “Star Trek: Discovery” actor Anthony Rapp and was declared not guilty in a U.K. sexual assault trial in July 2023. He will soon be back on U.S. movie screens with indie thriller “Peter Five Eight,...
- 3/5/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
In 1982, anthropologist Wade Davis traveled to Haiti on a mission: to investigate documented cases of zombiism, specifically cases of people who had been declared dead but who then miraculously came back to life. Davis immersed himself in the very real world of Haitian voodoo, witnessing an array of unbelievable rituals and fascinating rites, prompting him to write the book The Serpent and the Rainbow, which would go on to become a bestseller. Referred to in certain circles as a sort of real life Indiana Jones, Davis’ profile rose and, of course, Hollywood came calling, hoping his tales of voodoo and mystery might translate into a spectacular big screen adventure. Davis was wary of Hollywood and worried the adaptation of his book would bastardize his accounts, but hoped if the right people were involved, his story would be given a respectable treatment. As is often the case in the City of Angels,...
- 2/26/2024
- by Eric Walkuski
- JoBlo.com
Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas" turns 34 this year. The movie itself spans more than three decades, chronicling Henry Hill's (Ray Liotta) life as an associate in the New York mob — Hill's life story was first told to the public by the nonfiction book "Wiseguy" by Nicholas Pileggi, who co-wrote the "Goodfellas" script with Scorsese.
"Goodfellas" is a cinematic shot of adrenaline, cut with vivacious energy by Thelma Schoonmaker and scored with classic rock to reflect the anti-authority glamour of mid-20th century gangsters. No matter if you watch it in all its sprawling glory or just sample clips, it's enjoyable — nay, irresistible.
Since "Goodfellas" packs so many years into two-and-a-half hours, it has a huge cast. So much time has passed since "Goodfellas" premiered in theaters and left its mark on crime cinema that not all of these actors are still with us. Miraculously, though, quite a few of them...
"Goodfellas" is a cinematic shot of adrenaline, cut with vivacious energy by Thelma Schoonmaker and scored with classic rock to reflect the anti-authority glamour of mid-20th century gangsters. No matter if you watch it in all its sprawling glory or just sample clips, it's enjoyable — nay, irresistible.
Since "Goodfellas" packs so many years into two-and-a-half hours, it has a huge cast. So much time has passed since "Goodfellas" premiered in theaters and left its mark on crime cinema that not all of these actors are still with us. Miraculously, though, quite a few of them...
- 1/7/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Before Alan Wake hit the scene, PC gamers had Gabriel Knight as their horror author caught in a psychological nightmare. Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers hit the PC back in December 1993, and despite its eventual sales figures deeming it to be a disappointment, Sins of the Fathers still received praise from critics and fans, thanks in part to its voice cast and mature story. Publisher Sierra still stuck with it, and kicked off a series that remains highly regarded among fans of the adventure genre.
Gabriel Knight is a cocky New Orleans book store owner and author struggling with a case of writer’s block. Compounding the situation for Gabriel are his recurring nightmares. Currently looking for material by researching a series of killings across New Orleans, Gabriel’s research leads him to determine that that the police’s theory about mob-related killings is wrong. Rather, the killings are...
Gabriel Knight is a cocky New Orleans book store owner and author struggling with a case of writer’s block. Compounding the situation for Gabriel are his recurring nightmares. Currently looking for material by researching a series of killings across New Orleans, Gabriel’s research leads him to determine that that the police’s theory about mob-related killings is wrong. Rather, the killings are...
- 12/17/2023
- by Mike Wilson
- bloody-disgusting.com
Judging by its trailer, "Barber" is the story of a private investigator out to find a missing girl. A down-and-out protagonist, in over his head, stumbles onto a larger conspiracy that goes all the way to the top. If you've seen it once, you've seen it a thousand times, right? Not necessarily.
That may be the spine of "Barber," but half of the story is a family drama. The titular Pi has a loving relationship with his teenage daughter, and is trying to navigate how to raise her with his ex-wife. And instead of being set in the seedy streets of Los Angeles, the neo-noir capital of the world, this one's set in Ireland, a locale that's far from typical for this subgenre. Those two elements are enough to make this movie stand out from its contemporaries.
Add to that the fact that Aidan Gillen, the wonderful character actor from "Game of Thrones,...
That may be the spine of "Barber," but half of the story is a family drama. The titular Pi has a loving relationship with his teenage daughter, and is trying to navigate how to raise her with his ex-wife. And instead of being set in the seedy streets of Los Angeles, the neo-noir capital of the world, this one's set in Ireland, a locale that's far from typical for this subgenre. Those two elements are enough to make this movie stand out from its contemporaries.
Add to that the fact that Aidan Gillen, the wonderful character actor from "Game of Thrones,...
- 9/21/2023
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
Clockwise from top left: The Deer Hunter (Universal), De Niro after receiving the Best Actor Oscar for Raging Bull (ABC Photo Archives/Getty), The King Of Comedy (20th Century), Cape Fear (Universal), Taxi Driver (Columbia Pictures)Graphic: AVClub
Robert De Niro, who turns 80 on August 17, has spent nearly 60 of those years as a working actor,...
Robert De Niro, who turns 80 on August 17, has spent nearly 60 of those years as a working actor,...
- 8/17/2023
- by Matthew Jackson
- avclub.com
Werewolf private investigator Janie Jones “Strummer” Mercado and her djinn assistant Ben Si’lat return for more supernatural sleuthing in Black's Myth: The Key to His Heart, the follow-up miniseries to Eric Palicki and Wendell Cavalcanti's Ahoy Comics miniseries that debuted in 2021.
Ahead of its release on June 21st, we caught up with Palicki in a new Q&a feature to discuss reteaming with artist Wendell Cavalcanti for more Black's Myth adventures, what readers can expect this time around from Strummer and Si’lat, as well as the joys of working with Ahoy Comics.
Below, you can read our full Q&a with Palicki and view the main cover art by Liana Kangas and variant cover art by Tim Seeley, and in case you missed it, check out our exclusive preview of Black's Myth: The Key to His Heart #1!
To learn more about Black's Myth: The Key to His Heart,...
Ahead of its release on June 21st, we caught up with Palicki in a new Q&a feature to discuss reteaming with artist Wendell Cavalcanti for more Black's Myth adventures, what readers can expect this time around from Strummer and Si’lat, as well as the joys of working with Ahoy Comics.
Below, you can read our full Q&a with Palicki and view the main cover art by Liana Kangas and variant cover art by Tim Seeley, and in case you missed it, check out our exclusive preview of Black's Myth: The Key to His Heart #1!
To learn more about Black's Myth: The Key to His Heart,...
- 6/20/2023
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Actor Mickey Rourke teamed up with filmmaker Darren Aronofsky for the Oscar-nominated film The Wrestler. The movie marked a bit of a comeback for Rourke after years of controversy briefly stalled his career.
But Aronofsky found out quickly that Rourke wasn’t the type of actor he could manage.
Mickey Rourke was ‘uncontrollable’ while making ‘The Wrestler’ Mickey Rourke | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Rourke had a lot in common with his character Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson in The Wrestler. In the feature, Rourke played a former pro-wrestling superstar whose glory days were left far behind him.
Similarly, Rourke was an actor in real-life who burnt many bridges in Hollywood because of his controversy. This left Rourke without significant work in the industry for several years. It was to the point where Rourke was considering doing regular work to make ends meet.
“I think I ran out of motorcycles, and I called...
But Aronofsky found out quickly that Rourke wasn’t the type of actor he could manage.
Mickey Rourke was ‘uncontrollable’ while making ‘The Wrestler’ Mickey Rourke | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Rourke had a lot in common with his character Randy ‘The Ram’ Robinson in The Wrestler. In the feature, Rourke played a former pro-wrestling superstar whose glory days were left far behind him.
Similarly, Rourke was an actor in real-life who burnt many bridges in Hollywood because of his controversy. This left Rourke without significant work in the industry for several years. It was to the point where Rourke was considering doing regular work to make ends meet.
“I think I ran out of motorcycles, and I called...
- 5/20/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
(Welcome to Animation Celebration, a recurring feature where we explore the limitless possibilities of animation as a medium. In this edition: "Pink Floyd — The Wall.")
The first time I watched "Pink Floyd — The Wall" was also the first time I experimented with hallucinogenic drugs. A '90s kid to the core, I had heard countless stories from my parents and their friends about how life-changing it was to experience the film for the first time and I wanted a little taste of that. The joke's on me though, because I have aphantasia, and hallucinogens are one of the only ways folks like me can actually visualize with my eyes closed. Needless to say, I totally freaked out and had to lie down for what felt like approximately three days. Regardless, 10/10 would do again in a heartbeat.
"Pink Floyd — The Wall" is a dramatization of the legendary British rock band's eponymous concept album.
The first time I watched "Pink Floyd — The Wall" was also the first time I experimented with hallucinogenic drugs. A '90s kid to the core, I had heard countless stories from my parents and their friends about how life-changing it was to experience the film for the first time and I wanted a little taste of that. The joke's on me though, because I have aphantasia, and hallucinogens are one of the only ways folks like me can actually visualize with my eyes closed. Needless to say, I totally freaked out and had to lie down for what felt like approximately three days. Regardless, 10/10 would do again in a heartbeat.
"Pink Floyd — The Wall" is a dramatization of the legendary British rock band's eponymous concept album.
- 1/24/2023
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
For the season 5 season finale, Writer/Director/Producer Adam McKay returns to the podcast to discuss movies from his favorite year of cinema… 1987.
The Movies That Made Me will return with Season 6 in January. Happy Holidays! Thank you for listening!
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Tin Men (1987)
Billy Jack (1971)
The Menu (2022)
Boyz N The Hood (1991) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
Menace II Society (1991)
Straight Out Of Brooklyn (1991)
Do The Right Thing (1989) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary
School Daze (1988)
The Swarm (1978) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
The Squeeze (1987)
Squeeze Play (1979) – Lloyd Kaufman’s trailer commentary
Diner (1982)
Robocop (1987) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray reviews
The Evil Dead (1983) – Fede Alvarez’s trailer commentary
Evil Dead II (1987) – Mike Mendez’s trailer commentary, Alex Kirschenbaum’s review
Broadcast News (1987)
Raising Arizona (1987)
The Princess Bride (1987) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
This Is Spinal Tap (1984) – John Landis’s...
The Movies That Made Me will return with Season 6 in January. Happy Holidays! Thank you for listening!
Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode
Tin Men (1987)
Billy Jack (1971)
The Menu (2022)
Boyz N The Hood (1991) – John Landis’s trailer commentary
Menace II Society (1991)
Straight Out Of Brooklyn (1991)
Do The Right Thing (1989) – Allan Arkush’s trailer commentary
School Daze (1988)
The Swarm (1978) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
The Squeeze (1987)
Squeeze Play (1979) – Lloyd Kaufman’s trailer commentary
Diner (1982)
Robocop (1987) – Dan Ireland’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray and 4K Blu-ray reviews
The Evil Dead (1983) – Fede Alvarez’s trailer commentary
Evil Dead II (1987) – Mike Mendez’s trailer commentary, Alex Kirschenbaum’s review
Broadcast News (1987)
Raising Arizona (1987)
The Princess Bride (1987) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review
This Is Spinal Tap (1984) – John Landis’s...
- 12/20/2022
- by Kris Millsap
- Trailers from Hell
It’s been an incredibly robust and busy year for horror, which also extends to its physical media releases. The good news is that shopping for the holidays is more manageable than ever. The bad news is that the sheer selection available can be overwhelming, to say the least.
To help, here’s a Bloody Disgusting Gift Guide for some of the year’s best horror releases, from brand new 4K upgrades to must-have collector’s editions and beyond. All are packed with extras and special features to make the discs worth adding to your collection.
These 20 releases are perfect for gifting (or receiving), from deep cuts to new releases.
All About Evil (Special Edition Blu-ray)
“When a mousy librarian (Natasha Lyonne) takes over her late father’s struggling movie theater, a series of grisly murders caught on camera will transform her into the new queen of indie splatter cinema.
To help, here’s a Bloody Disgusting Gift Guide for some of the year’s best horror releases, from brand new 4K upgrades to must-have collector’s editions and beyond. All are packed with extras and special features to make the discs worth adding to your collection.
These 20 releases are perfect for gifting (or receiving), from deep cuts to new releases.
All About Evil (Special Edition Blu-ray)
“When a mousy librarian (Natasha Lyonne) takes over her late father’s struggling movie theater, a series of grisly murders caught on camera will transform her into the new queen of indie splatter cinema.
- 12/7/2022
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Duncan Jones' 2009 sci-fi film "Moon" is about a lonesome miner named Sam (Sam Rockwell) who works a high-tech drilling facility on the titular heavenly body. In the future, Earth's oil resources have run out, and energy is produced by a new miracle fuel called Helium-3, which can only be found on the moon. The mining equipment is so advanced that the entire building can be run by one person. Sam is aided by an artificial intelligence named Gerty, voiced by Kevin Spacey. Sam misses his family and is growing weary. He even seems to be hallucinating, as he will occasionally see a strange hobo-like man stalking through the hallways.
After Sam experiences an accident while in a lunar rover and is knocked unconscious, he awakens back at base with no memory of his return. But Gerty is acting suspicious, holding secret conversations with home base back on Earth. Sam investigates...
After Sam experiences an accident while in a lunar rover and is knocked unconscious, he awakens back at base with no memory of his return. But Gerty is acting suspicious, holding secret conversations with home base back on Earth. Sam investigates...
- 10/11/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Sin and Damnation – How Scott Derrickson’s Underrated ‘Hellraiser: Inferno’ Rises Above Expectations
At the recent Silver Scream Con, I was surprised to hear Hellraiser star Doug Bradley remark, “The only one in the series I feel doesn’t work is Inferno, for various reasons.” I had always considered the 2000 effort one of the franchise’s stronger offerings, but it had been a while since I revisited the series, so I thought it may not hold up as well as I remembered.
As I’m working my way through the series ahead of David Bruckner‘s reboot, which drops October 7 on Hulu, I can confirm my support for the fifth installment. I have no doubt that Bradley has his reasons for disliking the film – it being the first installment to be released straight to video no doubt required adjustments, not to mention his minuscule screen time as Pinhead – but, even with its shortcomings, I think Hellraiser: Inferno is better than he gives it credit for.
As I’m working my way through the series ahead of David Bruckner‘s reboot, which drops October 7 on Hulu, I can confirm my support for the fifth installment. I have no doubt that Bradley has his reasons for disliking the film – it being the first installment to be released straight to video no doubt required adjustments, not to mention his minuscule screen time as Pinhead – but, even with its shortcomings, I think Hellraiser: Inferno is better than he gives it credit for.
- 9/15/2022
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
What do you do after you make a film that soars so far over budget it cripples one of Hollywood's most beloved studios? First off, you fall to your knees and thank the cinema gods that anyone is willing to finance anything more substantial than a home movie with your name on it. Secondly, you make certain your next film comes in on time and on budget. Finally, maybe tackle a subject that's unlikely to court controversy.
Michael Cimino at the very least delivered 1985's "Year of the Dragon" with a minimum of production fuss, even though his exacting aesthetic standards led him to seamlessly recreate parts of New York City's Chinatown on the Deg backlot in Wilmington, North Carolina while shooting select interiors and exteriors in six different cities all over the world. This might sound like a logistical nightmare, but Cimino learned his lesson from the debacle of "Heaven's Gate.
Michael Cimino at the very least delivered 1985's "Year of the Dragon" with a minimum of production fuss, even though his exacting aesthetic standards led him to seamlessly recreate parts of New York City's Chinatown on the Deg backlot in Wilmington, North Carolina while shooting select interiors and exteriors in six different cities all over the world. This might sound like a logistical nightmare, but Cimino learned his lesson from the debacle of "Heaven's Gate.
- 9/9/2022
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
This Evil review contains spoilers.
Evil Season 3 Episode 7
Evil, season 3 episode 7 “The Demon of Cults” is a fully immersive and self-conscious dive into almost everything the series is about. We get the conspiracies, possessions, brainwashing, love bombing, and the promise of a snippet of Sister Andrea’s (Andrea Martin) hair. David (Mike Colter) stands up the entity. Kristen (Katja Herbers) gets an inside look into clandestine operations. Ben(Aasif Mandvi) has his come-to-Jesus moment.
The case starts at a book-signing, the root of all evil. Dr. Paul, an exit counselor with 500 successful interventions under his ever-widening belt, doesn’t believe in things like demonic possession, but has come across a case which scares him silly. Wanna look? The glee with which Dr. Paul invites David and the others to peek in on his ward, Owen, is disconcerting enough to follow anywhere. By the time the team gets to the cheap...
Evil Season 3 Episode 7
Evil, season 3 episode 7 “The Demon of Cults” is a fully immersive and self-conscious dive into almost everything the series is about. We get the conspiracies, possessions, brainwashing, love bombing, and the promise of a snippet of Sister Andrea’s (Andrea Martin) hair. David (Mike Colter) stands up the entity. Kristen (Katja Herbers) gets an inside look into clandestine operations. Ben(Aasif Mandvi) has his come-to-Jesus moment.
The case starts at a book-signing, the root of all evil. Dr. Paul, an exit counselor with 500 successful interventions under his ever-widening belt, doesn’t believe in things like demonic possession, but has come across a case which scares him silly. Wanna look? The glee with which Dr. Paul invites David and the others to peek in on his ward, Owen, is disconcerting enough to follow anywhere. By the time the team gets to the cheap...
- 7/24/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Tom Cruise’s career doesn’t impress Mickey Rourke.
Rourke weighed in on fellow ’80s breakout star Cruise’s A-lister status during a recent interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored.” When host Morgan asked Rourke what it’s like to see Cruise back at the top of the box office charts with summer blockbuster sequel “Top Gun: Maverick,” Rourke jabbed, “That doesn’t mean shit to me.”
“The guy’s been doing the same f-ing part for 35 years,” Rourke added (via Metro UK). “I got no respect for that.”
Cruise reprises his role of Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the follow-up to 1986’s hit film.
Morgan asked, “You don’t think Tom Cruise is a good actor?,” to which Rourke responded, “I think he’s irrelevant, in my world.”
Rourke continued, “I don’t care about money and power. I care about when I watch Al Pacino work and Chris Walken...
Rourke weighed in on fellow ’80s breakout star Cruise’s A-lister status during a recent interview on “Piers Morgan Uncensored.” When host Morgan asked Rourke what it’s like to see Cruise back at the top of the box office charts with summer blockbuster sequel “Top Gun: Maverick,” Rourke jabbed, “That doesn’t mean shit to me.”
“The guy’s been doing the same f-ing part for 35 years,” Rourke added (via Metro UK). “I got no respect for that.”
Cruise reprises his role of Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the follow-up to 1986’s hit film.
Morgan asked, “You don’t think Tom Cruise is a good actor?,” to which Rourke responded, “I think he’s irrelevant, in my world.”
Rourke continued, “I don’t care about money and power. I care about when I watch Al Pacino work and Chris Walken...
- 7/12/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Mena Suvari (American Beauty) and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) will star alongside Casper Van Dien (Monsters of California), Maya Stojan (Newness), Will Peltz (13 Minutes) and Jessica Belkin (The Orville) in the action-thriller Hunt Club, which has wrapped production in Mississippi.
The film from director Elizabeth Blake-Thomas centers on a group of male hunters who routinely lure women to their island with the chance to win 100K in a hunt, only to find that they are the hunted. But this time, the men mess with the wrong three girls and suffer the consequences.
Hunt Club was written by David Lipper and John F. Saunders. Lipper and Robert A. Daly Jr. are producing under their Latigo Films banner, along with Mark Lester, Keli Price and Kipp Tribble. Kimberly Hines is the film’s executive producer.
Suvari is a BAFTA Award nominee best known for roles in Sam Mendes’ Best Picture winner American Beauty,...
The film from director Elizabeth Blake-Thomas centers on a group of male hunters who routinely lure women to their island with the chance to win 100K in a hunt, only to find that they are the hunted. But this time, the men mess with the wrong three girls and suffer the consequences.
Hunt Club was written by David Lipper and John F. Saunders. Lipper and Robert A. Daly Jr. are producing under their Latigo Films banner, along with Mark Lester, Keli Price and Kipp Tribble. Kimberly Hines is the film’s executive producer.
Suvari is a BAFTA Award nominee best known for roles in Sam Mendes’ Best Picture winner American Beauty,...
- 7/5/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Shudder Acquires Official Fantasia Festival Selection Moloch: "Shudder, AMC Network’s premium streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, has acquired rights to Dutch director Nico van den Brink’s directorial debut Moloch. The film, an official selection of the Fantasia International Film Festival, will be available exclusively on Shudder in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand on Thursday, July 21.
“Moloch is a bold and thrilling new folk horror that is sure to chill Shudder members this summer,” said Shudder general manager Craig Engler.
Added Nico van den Brink, ”I’m extremely excited to be working with Shudder in bringing Moloch to horror-lovers worldwide. The film will have a wonderful home there. I know we have some very creepy stories to tell in the Netherlands and I'm really looking forward to inviting Shudder's diverse and international audience into the unique world of local Dutch folklore.
“Moloch is a bold and thrilling new folk horror that is sure to chill Shudder members this summer,” said Shudder general manager Craig Engler.
Added Nico van den Brink, ”I’m extremely excited to be working with Shudder in bringing Moloch to horror-lovers worldwide. The film will have a wonderful home there. I know we have some very creepy stories to tell in the Netherlands and I'm really looking forward to inviting Shudder's diverse and international audience into the unique world of local Dutch folklore.
- 5/19/2022
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Writer-director Alan Parker’s haunting and psychological horror-thriller masterpiece, Angel Heart, arrives July 12 for the first time ever on 4K Ultra HD™ + Blu-ray™ + Digital SteelBook® from Lionsgate, exclusively at Best Buy. Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Sir Alan Parker (Mississippi Burning), Angel Heart features two-time Oscar®-winning actor Robert De Niro (The Godfather: …
The post Angel Heart Steelbook arrives July 12 on 4K Ultra HD appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
The post Angel Heart Steelbook arrives July 12 on 4K Ultra HD appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
- 5/18/2022
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
“Mephistopheles can be a mouthful in Manhattan, Johnny.”
Writer-director Alan Parker’s haunting and psychological horror-thriller masterpiece, Angel Heart, arrives July 12 for the first time ever on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital SteelBook from Lionsgate, exclusively at Best Buy
Writer-director Alan Parker’s haunting and psychological horror-thriller masterpiece, Angel Heart, arrives July 12 for the first time ever on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray+ Digital SteelBook from Lionsgate, exclusively at Best Buy.
Written and directed by Academy Award nominee Sir Alan Parker (Mississippi Burning), Angel Heart features two-time Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro, Primetime Emmy nominee Lisa Bonet, Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke, and Oscar and Primetime Emmy nominee Charlotte Rampling. Angel Heart will be available on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital SteelBook for the suggested retail price of 27.99.
Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke is Harry Angel, a down-and-out Brooklyn detective who is hired by the mysterious Louis Cyphre (Oscar winner Robert De Niro...
Writer-director Alan Parker’s haunting and psychological horror-thriller masterpiece, Angel Heart, arrives July 12 for the first time ever on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital SteelBook from Lionsgate, exclusively at Best Buy
Writer-director Alan Parker’s haunting and psychological horror-thriller masterpiece, Angel Heart, arrives July 12 for the first time ever on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray+ Digital SteelBook from Lionsgate, exclusively at Best Buy.
Written and directed by Academy Award nominee Sir Alan Parker (Mississippi Burning), Angel Heart features two-time Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro, Primetime Emmy nominee Lisa Bonet, Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke, and Oscar and Primetime Emmy nominee Charlotte Rampling. Angel Heart will be available on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital SteelBook for the suggested retail price of 27.99.
Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke is Harry Angel, a down-and-out Brooklyn detective who is hired by the mysterious Louis Cyphre (Oscar winner Robert De Niro...
- 5/18/2022
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The perfect marriage of psychological horror and noir, Angel Heart, finally comes home this summer with a special 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition SteelBook. Writer-director Alan Parker’s haunting and twisted psychological noir horror-thriller , Angel Heart, arrives July 12 for the first time ever on 4K Ultra HD™ + Blu-ray™ + Digital SteelBook® from Lionsgate, exclusively […]
The post Horror-Noir ‘Angel Heart’ Heading to 4K Ultra HD for First Time Ever with Limited Edition Steelbook appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
The post Horror-Noir ‘Angel Heart’ Heading to 4K Ultra HD for First Time Ever with Limited Edition Steelbook appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
- 5/18/2022
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Mickey Rourke is joining the cast of action movie “Section Eight.” Sales agent The Exchange is introducing the movie to international buyers during the virtual American Film Market, which wraps Friday.
The cast also includes actors Dolph Lundgren, Scott Adkins, Ryan Kwanten, Dermot Mulroney, and Blue October’s lead singer Justin Furstenfeld, as previously announced.
The movie is the story of a former soldier who, after avenging the murder of his family, is sprung from prison and recruited by a shadowy government agency.
It will be directed by Christian Sesma, working from an original screenplay by Chad Law and Josh Ridgway. It is produced by Brandon Burrows of Firebrand.
Rourke’s many credits include “The Wrestler,” for which he was Oscar nominated, “Sin City,” “Angel Heart” and “Iron Man 2.” “Mickey’s raw energy and unique style are such a great addition to ‘Section Eight,’ ” Burrows said.
Rourke is represented by Framework Entertainment and Edelstein,...
The cast also includes actors Dolph Lundgren, Scott Adkins, Ryan Kwanten, Dermot Mulroney, and Blue October’s lead singer Justin Furstenfeld, as previously announced.
The movie is the story of a former soldier who, after avenging the murder of his family, is sprung from prison and recruited by a shadowy government agency.
It will be directed by Christian Sesma, working from an original screenplay by Chad Law and Josh Ridgway. It is produced by Brandon Burrows of Firebrand.
Rourke’s many credits include “The Wrestler,” for which he was Oscar nominated, “Sin City,” “Angel Heart” and “Iron Man 2.” “Mickey’s raw energy and unique style are such a great addition to ‘Section Eight,’ ” Burrows said.
Rourke is represented by Framework Entertainment and Edelstein,...
- 11/5/2021
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
In some respects, “Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon” — Ana Lily Amirpour’s latest feature, premiering at this year’s Venice Film Festival — could be called a return to form, or at least a return to the tropes and visual tendencies the Iranian-American director showed in her promising 2014 debut, “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night.” After Amirpour’s disastrous collaboration with Netflix in “The Bad Batch,” “Mona Lisa” feels like a movie that is of a kind with her initial preoccupations. That is to say: like her first, , undermining audience expectations of their vulnerability in possibly supernatural ways.
The film begins with Mona Lee (a formidable Jeon Jong-seo), a 22-year-old Korean-American who has, for most of her life, been locked in a secure psychiatric unit, borderline catatonic and straitjacketed: until she escapes. In the opening scene, Mona’s sneering, vaguely Republican-sounding nurse taunts her, only to discover that the...
The film begins with Mona Lee (a formidable Jeon Jong-seo), a 22-year-old Korean-American who has, for most of her life, been locked in a secure psychiatric unit, borderline catatonic and straitjacketed: until she escapes. In the opening scene, Mona’s sneering, vaguely Republican-sounding nurse taunts her, only to discover that the...
- 9/7/2021
- by Christina Newland
- Indiewire
Gunpowder Milkshake is a movie that lives up to its title. For starters, it looks like sugar, with its candy-like aesthetic – it’s a visual treat from director Navot Papushado and one of the all-time great cinematographers, Michael Seresin. Seresin shot several of filmmaker Alan Parker’s films, including Angel Heart, Midnight Express, and the joyous Bugsy Malone. To say Papushado […]
The post ‘Gunpowder Milkshake’ Director Navot Papushado on Taking Inspiration From Jackie Chan and Buster Keaton [Interview] appeared first on /Film.
The post ‘Gunpowder Milkshake’ Director Navot Papushado on Taking Inspiration From Jackie Chan and Buster Keaton [Interview] appeared first on /Film.
- 7/14/2021
- by Jack Giroux
- Slash Film
Mickey Rourke & Jennifer Carpenter To Star In Supernatural Horror ‘She’s Still Here’ — Cannes Market
Exclusive: Oscar nominee Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler) and Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter) are set to star in supernatural horror She’s Still Here, which Archstone Entertainment is launching for the Cannes virtual market.
Written by Martin Gomez and to be directed by the Gaudioso twins, She’s Still Here tells the story of a desperate widower who is being tormented by the vengeful spirit of his deceased wife. Exasperated, he enlists the aide of his ghost-hunting nephew to decipher the haunting’s meaning and bring peace to his household.
The film is set to go into production this fall. Producers are Lisa Bruhn of Tenacious Films, James and Anthony Gaudioso, and Scott Martin, Michael Slifkin, and Jack Sheehan of Archstone. Kimberly Hines will serve as executive producer and Sophie Rose Barry as associate producer.
Vet Rourke recently joined the cast of the upcoming Peacock series MacGruber. He received an Oscar nomination...
Written by Martin Gomez and to be directed by the Gaudioso twins, She’s Still Here tells the story of a desperate widower who is being tormented by the vengeful spirit of his deceased wife. Exasperated, he enlists the aide of his ghost-hunting nephew to decipher the haunting’s meaning and bring peace to his household.
The film is set to go into production this fall. Producers are Lisa Bruhn of Tenacious Films, James and Anthony Gaudioso, and Scott Martin, Michael Slifkin, and Jack Sheehan of Archstone. Kimberly Hines will serve as executive producer and Sophie Rose Barry as associate producer.
Vet Rourke recently joined the cast of the upcoming Peacock series MacGruber. He received an Oscar nomination...
- 6/17/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Still something of an anomaly on network television, Hannibal ran for three unique seasons on NBC, and managed to deliver gore and surrealism to viewers on a weekly basis. The show’s creator, Bryan Fuller, has recently suggested that the idea of a fourth outing for the series remains on the table, in part due to the impact that the existing episodes have had on streaming services. And now, he’s gone into detail about what the new plotlines could focus on.
More specifically, Fuller has explained how he wants to go deeper into Will Graham’s brain and explore his relationship with Hannibal Lecter and other characters. Speaking to Rolling Stone, he had this to say about how his idea could work:
“It was not so much about a rebranding as [being] able to go back to earlier dynamics through a brand new prism, which was Hannibal and Will getting...
More specifically, Fuller has explained how he wants to go deeper into Will Graham’s brain and explore his relationship with Hannibal Lecter and other characters. Speaking to Rolling Stone, he had this to say about how his idea could work:
“It was not so much about a rebranding as [being] able to go back to earlier dynamics through a brand new prism, which was Hannibal and Will getting...
- 11/1/2020
- by Jessica James
- We Got This Covered
Production scheduled to wrap on September 21.
Mickey Rourke is flying home to the US today (September 15) after filming his scenes in Greece on Pure Flix/Quality Flix sales title Man Of God.
Rourke and Russian star Alexander Petrov flew to Greece earlier this month where production on the US-Greece feature from Simeon Entertainment and View Master Films resumed following five weeks of principal photography in and around Athens in June-July.
Rourke, who like Petrov travelled to Greece after travel restrictions on flying into Europe were relaxed, landed on September 8.
Man Of God centres on Saint Nektarios of Aegina, a humble...
Mickey Rourke is flying home to the US today (September 15) after filming his scenes in Greece on Pure Flix/Quality Flix sales title Man Of God.
Rourke and Russian star Alexander Petrov flew to Greece earlier this month where production on the US-Greece feature from Simeon Entertainment and View Master Films resumed following five weeks of principal photography in and around Athens in June-July.
Rourke, who like Petrov travelled to Greece after travel restrictions on flying into Europe were relaxed, landed on September 8.
Man Of God centres on Saint Nektarios of Aegina, a humble...
- 9/15/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Production scheduled to wrap on September 21.
Mickey Rourke is flying home to the US today (September 15) after filming his scenes in Greece on Pure Flix/Quality Flix sales title Man Of God.
Rourke and Alexander Petrov from Russia flew to Greece earlier this month where production on the US-Greece feature resumed following five weeks of principal photography in and around Athens in June-July.
Rourke, who like Petrov travelled to Greece after travel restrictions on flying into Europe were relaxed, landed on September 8.
Man Of God centres on Saint Nektarios of Aegina, a humble Greek Orthodox priest who was persecuted by...
Mickey Rourke is flying home to the US today (September 15) after filming his scenes in Greece on Pure Flix/Quality Flix sales title Man Of God.
Rourke and Alexander Petrov from Russia flew to Greece earlier this month where production on the US-Greece feature resumed following five weeks of principal photography in and around Athens in June-July.
Rourke, who like Petrov travelled to Greece after travel restrictions on flying into Europe were relaxed, landed on September 8.
Man Of God centres on Saint Nektarios of Aegina, a humble Greek Orthodox priest who was persecuted by...
- 9/15/2020
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Antonio Campos delivers a star-studded, darkly comic psychological thriller set in the postwar American Bible belt
“There’s a lot of religion going around with this thing,” says Mickey Rourke’s shell-shocked gumshoe in Alan Parker’s Angel Heart, a devilish mix of neo-noir intrigue and gothic horror based on William Hjortsberg’s page-turning novel. The same could be said of The Devil All the Time, a similarly genre-bending tale of twisted faith and postwar trauma, adapted from Donald Ray Pollock’s 2011 novel, which drew comparisons with Flannery O’Connor, William Faulkner and Cormac McCarthy. Set between the aftermath of the second world war and the gathering storm of Vietnam, it’s a labyrinthine tale of hardscrabble lives and monstrous deaths in woodsy environs, littered with fanatical fornicating preachers, misguided, faith-fuelled sacrifices and tortuous family legacies, passed unforgivingly from one generation to another.
Flipping back and forth in time as the narrative slips between Coal Creek,...
“There’s a lot of religion going around with this thing,” says Mickey Rourke’s shell-shocked gumshoe in Alan Parker’s Angel Heart, a devilish mix of neo-noir intrigue and gothic horror based on William Hjortsberg’s page-turning novel. The same could be said of The Devil All the Time, a similarly genre-bending tale of twisted faith and postwar trauma, adapted from Donald Ray Pollock’s 2011 novel, which drew comparisons with Flannery O’Connor, William Faulkner and Cormac McCarthy. Set between the aftermath of the second world war and the gathering storm of Vietnam, it’s a labyrinthine tale of hardscrabble lives and monstrous deaths in woodsy environs, littered with fanatical fornicating preachers, misguided, faith-fuelled sacrifices and tortuous family legacies, passed unforgivingly from one generation to another.
Flipping back and forth in time as the narrative slips between Coal Creek,...
- 9/13/2020
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
A working-class Londoner who started out in advertising, Parker knew how to play to the crowd but wasn’t afraid to take risks or challenge convention.
That was evident from his feature debut, Bugsy Malone, an inspired pastiche of Hollywood gangster films that saw Parker defy genre norms with the recruitment of an all-child cast wielding ‘Splurge’ guns firing whipped cream instead of bullets.
It was a decision that drew anger in some quarters with noted critic John Simon famously branding the film “an outrage” in New York Magazine.
“Wholesome youngsters have been duped into acting like adults,” he said, “stupid, brutal, criminal adults, at that.”
Bugsy Malone flopped in the US but Parker soon established himself stateside with Midnight Express and Fame, two box office hits and examples of Parker’s unrivalled versatility and habit of defying expectations.
In time, Bugsy Malone enjoyed critical reappraisal, emerging as a firm...
That was evident from his feature debut, Bugsy Malone, an inspired pastiche of Hollywood gangster films that saw Parker defy genre norms with the recruitment of an all-child cast wielding ‘Splurge’ guns firing whipped cream instead of bullets.
It was a decision that drew anger in some quarters with noted critic John Simon famously branding the film “an outrage” in New York Magazine.
“Wholesome youngsters have been duped into acting like adults,” he said, “stupid, brutal, criminal adults, at that.”
Bugsy Malone flopped in the US but Parker soon established himself stateside with Midnight Express and Fame, two box office hits and examples of Parker’s unrivalled versatility and habit of defying expectations.
In time, Bugsy Malone enjoyed critical reappraisal, emerging as a firm...
- 8/6/2020
- by Rosie Fletcher
- Den of Geek
UK filmmaker Alan Parker died aged 76 on Friday.
Tributes from across the industry have been paid to filmmaker Alan Parker, who died on Friday (July 31), aged 76.
Former colleagues talked warmly of Parker’s achievements as a filmmaker, his work for public bodies including the BFI and the UK Film Council, his loyalty to friends and his encouragement of young talent.
“Alan was my oldest and closest friend,” said producer David Puttman, Parker’s long-time collaborator with whom he first worked at Collett Dickenson Pearce (Cdp) in what was later called ‘the golden age of advertising’ in the 1960s. “I was...
Tributes from across the industry have been paid to filmmaker Alan Parker, who died on Friday (July 31), aged 76.
Former colleagues talked warmly of Parker’s achievements as a filmmaker, his work for public bodies including the BFI and the UK Film Council, his loyalty to friends and his encouragement of young talent.
“Alan was my oldest and closest friend,” said producer David Puttman, Parker’s long-time collaborator with whom he first worked at Collett Dickenson Pearce (Cdp) in what was later called ‘the golden age of advertising’ in the 1960s. “I was...
- 8/3/2020
- by 57¦Geoffrey Macnab¦41¦
- ScreenDaily
Alan Parker photographed by another legend, Terry O'Neill, in this press still for "Angel Heart" (1987).
Sir Alan Parker has died at age 76. The esteemed British filmmaker was known for making highly diverse, acclaimed films. He had received two Oscar nominations for Best Director, the first for "Midnight Express" and the other for "Mississippi Burning". Parker made his feature film directorial debut in 1975 with "Bugsy Malone", an offbeat and inspired send up of old gangster movies starring a cast comprised of child actors including Jodie Foster. His other films include "Fame", "The Commitments", "Pink Floyd- The Wall", "Shoot the Moon", "Angela's Ashes", "Evita", "Angel Heart" and "Birdy". Parker had not directed a film since "The Life of David Gale" in 2003. As news of his death broke, tributes were paid by his peers in the entertainment industry including Andrew Webber, David Putnam and Barbara Broccoli.
For more click here.
Sir Alan Parker has died at age 76. The esteemed British filmmaker was known for making highly diverse, acclaimed films. He had received two Oscar nominations for Best Director, the first for "Midnight Express" and the other for "Mississippi Burning". Parker made his feature film directorial debut in 1975 with "Bugsy Malone", an offbeat and inspired send up of old gangster movies starring a cast comprised of child actors including Jodie Foster. His other films include "Fame", "The Commitments", "Pink Floyd- The Wall", "Shoot the Moon", "Angela's Ashes", "Evita", "Angel Heart" and "Birdy". Parker had not directed a film since "The Life of David Gale" in 2003. As news of his death broke, tributes were paid by his peers in the entertainment industry including Andrew Webber, David Putnam and Barbara Broccoli.
For more click here.
- 8/1/2020
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
In the late 1970s, when Hollywood was in the middle of its most seismic transformation since the collapse of the studio system, there was a much-talked-about trend that seemed to fit all too snugly into the new world order. That was the arrival of hotshot British movie directors who had honed their craft in the rarefied world of English TV commercials.
At first there were two such transplants: Alan Parker and Ridley Scott. They were soon joined by Adrian Lyne (who made his first feature in 1980) and Scott’s younger brother, Tony Scott (who released his first major film in 1983). All four became players in the industry, and each developed his own style and brand and personality. Ridley Scott was the artiste of the group, crafting visionary sci-fi like “Alien” and “Blade Runner.” Adrian Lyne, director of “Foxes” and “Flashdance,” was the youth-culture maven, and Tony Scott, of “Top Gun” fame,...
At first there were two such transplants: Alan Parker and Ridley Scott. They were soon joined by Adrian Lyne (who made his first feature in 1980) and Scott’s younger brother, Tony Scott (who released his first major film in 1983). All four became players in the industry, and each developed his own style and brand and personality. Ridley Scott was the artiste of the group, crafting visionary sci-fi like “Alien” and “Blade Runner.” Adrian Lyne, director of “Foxes” and “Flashdance,” was the youth-culture maven, and Tony Scott, of “Top Gun” fame,...
- 7/31/2020
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
Actors and directors took to social media to pay tribute to British director Alan Parker, who died Friday. The filmmaker behind “Evita, “The Commitments” and “Bugsy Malone” was 76.
Parker’s first feature film was 1976’s “Bugsy Malone.” He directed over 25 films, and his last film was “The Life of David Gale” starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet. Parker received two Oscar nominations, one for “Midnight Express” and “Mississippi Burning.”
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts wrote, “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of BAFTA Fellow Alan Parker. As BAFTA-winning filmmaker, he brought us joy with Bugsy Malone, The Commitments, Midnight Express and many more.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber who remembered Parker for their collaboration on his adaptation of “Evita,” wrote, “Very sad to hear the news of Alan Parker’s death. My friend and collaborator on the Evita movie and one of the few directors to truly understand musicals on screen.
Parker’s first feature film was 1976’s “Bugsy Malone.” He directed over 25 films, and his last film was “The Life of David Gale” starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslet. Parker received two Oscar nominations, one for “Midnight Express” and “Mississippi Burning.”
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts wrote, “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of BAFTA Fellow Alan Parker. As BAFTA-winning filmmaker, he brought us joy with Bugsy Malone, The Commitments, Midnight Express and many more.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber who remembered Parker for their collaboration on his adaptation of “Evita,” wrote, “Very sad to hear the news of Alan Parker’s death. My friend and collaborator on the Evita movie and one of the few directors to truly understand musicals on screen.
- 7/31/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Updated with latest reactions: Alan Parker, who died today at 76, was remembered Friday by colleagues and friends, with Andrew Lloyd Webber calling his Evita collaborator “one of the few directors to truly understand musicals on screen” and Matthew Modine, who starred in Parker’s 1984 drama Birdy, praising the director as a “great artist” who “transformed” the actor’s life.
And Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher explained the pivotal role Parker played in his life by casting the then-nine-year-old Fletcher as “Babyface” in 1975’s Bugsy Malone.
In a statement, Fletcher said:
Sir Alan inadvertently changed my life at the age of 9 when he stuck me at the end of a line of 30 kids, passing a baseball bat, all whilst saying ‘Give this to Babyface’. He told me to say something different on every take He generously made each moment unique and fun...
And Rocketman director Dexter Fletcher explained the pivotal role Parker played in his life by casting the then-nine-year-old Fletcher as “Babyface” in 1975’s Bugsy Malone.
In a statement, Fletcher said:
Sir Alan inadvertently changed my life at the age of 9 when he stuck me at the end of a line of 30 kids, passing a baseball bat, all whilst saying ‘Give this to Babyface’. He told me to say something different on every take He generously made each moment unique and fun...
- 7/31/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Alan Parker is not one of the name auteurs you learn about in Film History 101. That’s partly because he wasn’t known for doing one thing. The working-class Londoner made his mark in the 70s with commercials and television before breaking out with period child-gangster musical “Bugsy Malone” (1976), starring Jodie Foster. He died Friday morning at age 76.
True story “Midnight Express” (1978) took viewers on a harrowing descent into Turkish prison hell (starring Brad Davis as Billy Hayes), established Oscar nominee Parker as a taut manipulator of suspense, and won Oscars for screenwriter Oliver Stone and composer Giorgio Moroder. In drama “Birdy” (1984), Matthew Modine and Nicolas Cage went on another unpredictable journey, from kids hanging in Philadelphia to soldiers fighting in Vietnam and finally, a grim hospital ward.
Always skilled at using music in his movies, from New York high-school musical “Fame” (1980) to Madonna vehicle “Evita” (1996), Parker became a stylish Hollywood director-for-hire.
True story “Midnight Express” (1978) took viewers on a harrowing descent into Turkish prison hell (starring Brad Davis as Billy Hayes), established Oscar nominee Parker as a taut manipulator of suspense, and won Oscars for screenwriter Oliver Stone and composer Giorgio Moroder. In drama “Birdy” (1984), Matthew Modine and Nicolas Cage went on another unpredictable journey, from kids hanging in Philadelphia to soldiers fighting in Vietnam and finally, a grim hospital ward.
Always skilled at using music in his movies, from New York high-school musical “Fame” (1980) to Madonna vehicle “Evita” (1996), Parker became a stylish Hollywood director-for-hire.
- 7/31/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Innovative and acclaimed British director Alan Parker, died Friday, July 31, after a lengthy, but as yet undisclosed illness, according to Variety. He was 76.
Parker was nominated for two Best Director Oscars. One of those films was 1988’s Mississippi Burning, which highly dramatized the investigation of three murdered civil rights activists in 1964. The films starred Willem Dafoe and Gene Hackman, with the latter being nominated for Best Actor. Parker’s first Oscar nomination though came for the 1978 drama Midnight Express, another film based on true events. Oliver Stone won his first Oscar for the screenplay, which focused on Billy Hayes, who escaped a Turkish prison after being convicted of trying to smuggle hashish out of the country. Giorgio Moroder also won his first Oscar for composing the music. It was Parker’s second feature, and it was vastly different from his debut.
Alan Parker had a special connection with music. He...
Parker was nominated for two Best Director Oscars. One of those films was 1988’s Mississippi Burning, which highly dramatized the investigation of three murdered civil rights activists in 1964. The films starred Willem Dafoe and Gene Hackman, with the latter being nominated for Best Actor. Parker’s first Oscar nomination though came for the 1978 drama Midnight Express, another film based on true events. Oliver Stone won his first Oscar for the screenplay, which focused on Billy Hayes, who escaped a Turkish prison after being convicted of trying to smuggle hashish out of the country. Giorgio Moroder also won his first Oscar for composing the music. It was Parker’s second feature, and it was vastly different from his debut.
Alan Parker had a special connection with music. He...
- 7/31/2020
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
From Bugsy Malone to Mississippi Burning, Shoot the Moon to Angel Heart, Parker was a craftsman committed to entertaining cinemagoers
•A life in pictures
Alan Parker was a great storyteller of the movies, a muscular film-maker who cared about what the public wanted, cared about how to get the public into the cinema to see movies they would really enjoy. He believed that enjoyment was what they deserved. And he made superbly crafted pictures in any and every style that gave them that pleasure.
Related: Alan Parker: 'I like the craziness of the film set'...
•A life in pictures
Alan Parker was a great storyteller of the movies, a muscular film-maker who cared about what the public wanted, cared about how to get the public into the cinema to see movies they would really enjoy. He believed that enjoyment was what they deserved. And he made superbly crafted pictures in any and every style that gave them that pleasure.
Related: Alan Parker: 'I like the craziness of the film set'...
- 7/31/2020
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Alan Parker, the Oscar-nominated English filmmaker whose diverse line-up of credits include Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, Pink Floyd: The Wall, Angel Heart, Mississippi Burning, The Commitments, Evita, and Angela’s Ashes, has passed away following a long illness. He was 76 years old. Born on February 14, 1944 in Islington, North London, Parker began his career […]
The post Alan Parker, Director of ‘Midnight Express,’ ‘Mississippi Burning’ and ‘Bugsy Malone,’ Dead at 76 appeared first on /Film.
The post Alan Parker, Director of ‘Midnight Express,’ ‘Mississippi Burning’ and ‘Bugsy Malone,’ Dead at 76 appeared first on /Film.
- 7/31/2020
- by Jacob Hall
- Slash Film
Sir Alan Parker, a British director known for “Evita,” “Mississippi Burning,” “Midnight Express” and “The Commitments,” has died, an individual with knowledge of his passing told TheWrap. He was 76.
Parker died on Friday after a long battle with an illness.
Parker was a two-time Oscar nominee for directing both “Midnight Express” and the racial drama “Mississippi Burning.”
Among some of Parker’s other iconic credits include “Bugsy Malone,” “Fame,” “Pink Floyd: The Wall,” “Angel Heart,” “Angela’s Ashes” and most recently “The Life of David Gale” in 2003.
Also Read: Olivia de Havilland, Last Survivor of 'Gone With the Wind,' Dies at 104
Parker received the Cbe in 1995 and was knighted in 2002. He’s also a founding member of the Director’s Guild in Britain and was also the chairman of the UK Film Council.
Parker got his start directing TV commercials in the late ’60s and early ’70s, coming up...
Parker died on Friday after a long battle with an illness.
Parker was a two-time Oscar nominee for directing both “Midnight Express” and the racial drama “Mississippi Burning.”
Among some of Parker’s other iconic credits include “Bugsy Malone,” “Fame,” “Pink Floyd: The Wall,” “Angel Heart,” “Angela’s Ashes” and most recently “The Life of David Gale” in 2003.
Also Read: Olivia de Havilland, Last Survivor of 'Gone With the Wind,' Dies at 104
Parker received the Cbe in 1995 and was knighted in 2002. He’s also a founding member of the Director’s Guild in Britain and was also the chairman of the UK Film Council.
Parker got his start directing TV commercials in the late ’60s and early ’70s, coming up...
- 7/31/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
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