The Apocalypse Is Near?

 

Who would have thought it would happen? Seriously. Going back years fans have wondered if we would ever see official releases of Fred Dekker's 'Night of the Creeps' and Joseph Rubin's 'The Stepfather'. Now it has happened. What is next? We're running out of movies that we demand be released. Not only did these two get released but within about two weeks of each other.

'The Stepfather' has been a cult classic for the longest time. A lot has to do with the incredible performance by Terry O'Quinn who more recently has become known from his role on TV's Lost. There are two ways to play out this story of a new old fashioned stepfather who the stepdaughter thinks there is something wrong with him. Something sinister. Do you play the mystery card never quite knowing until the end if he is some lunatic? Or do you just set it up from the get go that this guy is nuts and you're waiting for a) people to find out and b) for him to knock someone off? Luckily they decide to just let you know from the beginning with an amazing establishing shot. It helps make the performance of Jerry Blake by O'Quinn all the more effective because you know what he's capable of and his little hints here and there work so well.

The daughter, played by childhood crush Jill Schoelen ,does a nice job of thinking he's off his rocker to maybe being wrong about him. There's a great moment early on when she overhears something he says at a picnic. Her reaction is perfect. A very underrated performance. 

If you haven't seen this film definitely check it out. I know a remake is coming out soon, or maybe it already came out, but it looks really cheesy. I could be wrong but ... yeah. If you want a good thriller that does have an underline of dark comedy then you really should check out 'The Stepfather'. Especially now that it is out officially. I bought my copy at Best Buy(!). Plus it has a commentary and a new making of. So great to finally add it to my collection.

One film that has been long requested has been 'Night of the Creeps'. I am sure I speak for many of us when I say that we all had bootleg DVD's to hold us over. I believe most of them were basically the old laserdisc burned on DVD. Finally those bootlegs can be turned into coasters because we have a great release.

Fred Dekker's horror comedy has been a cult classic since its release. I think no one knew what to do with it at the time but very quickly when horror fans saw it on video we all fell in love with it. I remember wanting to go see it in the theatre but if I couldn't convince my dad to take me to a movie then I had to wait for video. I was there on release day though waiting to rent it. I think I watched it like 4 times that weekend before having to take it back.

Starring the man himself, the great Tom Atkins, about an alien experiment which lands on Earth in the form of these little slugs which get inside you and lay their eggs until they are ready to hatch into more slugs. In the meantime your body dies turning you into a zombie during the process.

The first body which holds the initial slug is frozen in suspended animation from when the alien tube first crashed back in the 50's before being released thanks to a failed college prank from Chris (Jason Lively) and J.C. (Steve Marshall). Atkins plays Ray Cameron, a detective with a past who gets called to the scene and starts releasing that something very odd is happening. Something that may even involve his past. And Jill Whitlow (another childhood crush - a running theme with these two films?) plays Cynthia who Chris is lusting after but is the first to see the walking dead at her window. Which is where I'd be too so I can't blame the slug infested zombie.

The blend of horror and comedy is always a tough one. So when it is done well it deserves to be noticed. There were rights issues that supposedely held up the release for so long. Personally I don't care because we finally have it in a special edition to boot. Not just on DVD but on Blu-ray as well with a great transfer.

 Go out and get this film. Make a blind buy. If you're disappointed then you must be among the walking dead already.

I know some people may disagree with me but the 80's marked the last great horror decade. That's not to say we haven't had great films in the 90's and 2000's but there was sort of a golden era back then. It was also the last decade where we still had these movies play in the theatres. I guess you could call them grindhouses or whatever you want to say before they died out in the 90's. It's great to see these two 80's classics finally get out there to find a new generation of fans. Part of me is still a bit stunned as they have been in demand for so long and then all at once here they are. I hope the end isn't near because I'd like to watch them again.

*As I am sure is evident but the frame grabs from 'Night of the Creeps' were "borrowed" from the awesome website Blu-ray.com. I go there everyday for news on upcoming blu-rays and reviews. I recommend it. Also hope they don't get mad at me if I admit I took their stills. Er ... borrowed. Not took. Yeah.

Halloween Movies List #2 - Halloween Tales For Kids

Everyone likes a good scary story. Even kids. Granted some of the R rated fare isn't exactly the kind of thing parents want their kids to see (though don't we always find a way?). Granted walking in when your 8 year old is watching 'Cannibal Holocaust' isn't the best way to introduce the kid to scary tales.

Now I saw some pretty crazy stuff as a kid. I think it's safe to say you know what your kid can handle and what they can't. I understand that you want to shelter the kid a little from the darker aspects of life until they're old enough to be able to comprehend it. Although introducing them to scary tales is a way of learning. They exist for a reason. I know that 'Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter' may not be first on your list of what to show your kid. Maybe you want to ease into it a little. I decided to come up with a list of a few suggestions for this Halloween when the kids want to watch something while eating their candy. Some very family friendly but have a few scary things in it. And then a few suggestions for the older kids.

HALLOWEEN TALES FOR KIDS

IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHARLIE BROWN - Something I am sure most of us have grown up on is 'It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown'. There is nothing scary about this but it's a nice introduction to the idea of Halloween and costumes and trick or treating. And there is one moment when a shadowy figure rises out of the pumpkin patch making Linus think it's the Great Pumpkin (something akin to the Santa Clause of Halloween) which for a brief moment could be creepy to a young child but we quickly see it's just Snoopy. Again, a good way to ease into it and a joy for the whole family.

GARFIELD'S HALLOWEEN ADVENTURE - One of my favorites is 'Garfield's Halloween Adventure'. I love the Great Pumpkin but this one holds a special place in my heart. I think it is absolutely hysterical and it has some catchy tunes.

Garfield discovers Halloween and about getting candy so he convinces Odie to go trick or treating with him. They dress up like pirates and set out on the town to get as much candy as they can. They come across a secluded house on a small island where an old man tells them about some ghost pirates returning. There is some ghost pirate action which is a little creepy for the young ones but again the site of Garfield and Odie makes it enjoyable and safe. Plus a good message about sharing. With Odie. Not the ghost pirates. Definitely seek this one out. It's on DVD in a compilation set with the Thanksgiving and Christmas specials.

THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW - Disney has produced some creepy stuff for kids. All of it within safe limits which is why this is a good way to introduce the kids to a story with some real creepiness with 'The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow'.

We all know the story of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman. If not then here's a good way for both adults and kids to find out. Ichabod arrives in the town of Sleepy Hollow which is cursed by the Headless Horseman who doesn't have a head but wears a jack-o-lantern atop his shoulders and beheads others who dare cross his path. A scary tale. A more adult version was done by Tim Burton a few years ago starring Johnny Depp. However, Disney made one featuring the voice of Bing Crosby with some catchy songs and some pretty creepy moments. This one can be a little intense for the very young but might be the perfect vehicle for the slightly older kids looking for a little more reason to hide under the covers. Nothing traumatic but the chase scene at the end is sure one that will make both kids and parents sit a little closer to the edge of their chair. I adored this one as a kid and can't wait for the day I introduce it to my kids. Once I have kids. First things first I guess.

Be mindful that it is on a double feature DVD so it won't be under the title.

THE MONSTER SQUAD - I know what your thinking. My kids are a little older. They like the cartoons but is there a movie they can watch that has horror in it but not traumatizing? You betcha. Warning that there is a little swearing and some suggestions of sexual behavior in this PG-13 rated film but a great fun film is Fred Dekker's 'The Monster Squad'.

A group of kids come into the posession of Van Helsing's diary and discover that the creatures of the night are returning in search of an amulet that if they possess will lead the world into darkness. The monsters are the Wolf Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon, the Mummy, Frankenstein's monster, all led by Dracula. There are a few gory parts and again a few swear words but overall this is a fun film with the kids being the ones to discover this evil plot and have to stop the monsters. A really great film for the older kids. And for the adults. And who knew that Wolf Man has knards?

THE GATE - Maybe now you want to get something with a little more bite too it. Here's a PG-13 rated film that has some good creepy moments. Tibor Takacs 'The Gate' starring a very young Stephen Dorff.

Two friends in the suburbs accidently open a gate to hell in their backyard. Very soon strange things start happening and little demons start popping up. It may sound a little silly but this film has a lot of very creepy moments in it with some intense moments. Definitely not something for the wee ones. There is some language and some scary stuff with the demons, a corpse, and things like that which is something to take into account. But the idea of young kids stopping the oncoming demons is something I think kids like to see. Both this and The Monster Squad feature kids fighting something that at first seems like it's above them but they rise to the challenge. A good positive message buried under the horror. You can't go wrong there.

I hope these titles help and are enjoyable. It's hard to know what is out there for kids but as the great Charles Cyphers says to Jamie Lee Curtis' Laurie Strode in the original 'Halloween' - "You know it's Halloween. I guess everyone's entitled to one good scare." Even the kids.

The rest of the Halloween lists will be posted this week.

New Header And Dodsworth

As much as the mishmosh of images the header is I think it's time for something else. So at some point in the next week or so expect a new header. I may change it on occasion. Who knows. But a new one is needed.

On a side note, tonight on TCM one of my favorite celebs, Dennis Miller, is the guest programmer. His picks include William Wyler's 'Dodsworth', Carol Reed's brilliant 'The Third Man', Alfred Hitchcock's 'Suspicion', and 'Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House' with Cary Grant.

'The Third Man' is hands down one of the best films ever made. Anything by Hitchcock is a must see. However, I had not seen the William Wyler film 'Dodsworth' before so I gave it a go round and boy was this a pleasant surprise. Walter Huston plays Sam Dodsworth, a man in the car business who is retiring in his middle age. His much younger wife is struggling with the thought of getting older. The sign of retirement makes her feel old and she wants to escape her small town roots by going to Europe and pretend to be sophisticated. So far as to convincing Sam they need to dress up for dinner. Only to find people are a bit more casually dressed. Their relationship is sketchy as Sam tries to enjoy where he is in life and Ruth (his wife played by Ruth Chatterton) is trying to get away from her's. The film is an absolute joy and has a very hardened truth about life and relationships. It even has one scene that made me want to applaud. A great film that I am so thankful I got to see.

Which Cronenberg Will Win?

I keep debating which is my favorite David Cronenberg movie. I love almost all, if not all, of his films. 'Scanners' will always hold a special place in my heart. I think it was the first of his films I ever saw. Outside of 'Scanners' though I keep going back and forth between 'The Fly' and 'Videodrome' as my favorite. Each one is different so I can't decide. It might even come down to which one I watched last. Now by choosing a favorite that by no means diminishes the other film in my eyes. Nor does it take away from any of his other films. It's more of a if I had to choose one because if I didn't I would get my foot smashed or something kind of thing. Eh ... that was kind of lame. Anyway, if I had to choose one then it would come down between these two.

These two films are very different. 'Videodrome' in many ways is Cronenberg's most "Cronenberg" film in my eyes. The first time I saw it I was like,"What the hell did I just watch?" I didn't understand it yet I was completely enthralled and fascinated by it. Once I understood it (or at least I thought I did) it worked all the more for me. I also think it was ahead of its time with its use of video and how it impacts people's lives. Even moreso now with the million of cable channels and the internet. The same can be said for his much underrated 'eXistenZ' which was a few years away from the explosion of interaction gaming.

'Videodrome' has the imagery and gore that is prevelant a lot in early Cronenberg films. Led by a strong performance by James Woods this is also his most character center driven of his early films which might be why I lean towards it. The main fault (and this is completely minor in my eyes) is that there tends to be a disconnect from the characters in his early films. We follow the characters along but I don't feel a connection with them. Perhaps Art Hindle's character in 'The Brood' possibly being the exception. However, Woods' character Max goes through the sense of confusion that we the audience are going through. Making it a much easier film to digest because we feel more akin to Max in that sense.

Max (Woods) works at a small TV station that tries to compete with the bigger stations by playing things the others won't touch. Usually revolving around sex and violent programming. One night a pirate signal comes in that he retrieves of a woman being tortured. Obsessed with it he tries to track it down only to slowly fall into a different reality as the signal from this is changing him both literally and figuratively.

As with any of Cronenberg's films they are always different the second time you see them. That is why I think his films are more popular today than in their initial release. The manipulation of the mind and body (or flesh as he often likes to refer to it) is very apparent in this film. The fascination with the sexual side is also a running theme and the character of Nicki Brand (played very well by singer Deborah Harry) is a great example of Cronenberg's use of sex to help tell his stories. Max's desire for Nicki helps drive him further into the search for Videodrome.

This film just works on so many levels especially the more you see it. The very last shot is both haunting and freeing. The various levels at work can be discussed and debated endlessly. However, the film itself is one that is the most Cronenberg in one sense but also one that is very accessible as well.

No doubt that David Cronenberg's most commercial and straight narrative film would be 'The Fly'. Even moreso than 'The Dead Zone'. However, that doesn't mean it does not have the usual Cronenberg themes and ideas. It just happens to be his most accessible film. A case where his aesthetic and a commercial property came together perfectly. The themes of the manipulation of flesh and sex and of course gore all lead to an outstanding film. One that proves you can tell any story you want in horror. On a very basic level it's the story of two people who meet and fall in love. One comes down with a life threatening illness which causes much strife and eventually leads to one deciding to help end the suffering of their diseased lover. Now, in the horror world you tell this story by having two people meet and fall in love. Only the ailment isn't cancer or AIDS or something along those lines. Instead the person starts to turn into a giant mutated fly. All of the elements are there but by adding the horror element you introduce your story to a lot more people. Ones that may not sit through a drawn out depressing drama.

One of the many reasons why I love this film is it works on every level. The lead performances by Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis (who were dating at the time) are so perfect that I think it's what helps elevate this film. You buy the love story and completely are involved with the characters. It becomes a character driven piece instead of a plot driven piece. Again, the only detriment to Cronenberg's early work. And again, I'm not complaining just stating that. You feel for the characters and in a way root for them and for the off chance that there is a cure so they can live happily ever after. Granted that never happens but when that feeling is there it's a sure sign you care about the two people on screen. Jeff Goldbum's transformation is really incredible. Not just in the effects department but in the performance. Before we visually start seeing the transformation we see the differences in his behavior and mannerisms. That is a compliment to Goldbum's portrayal of Seth Brundle.

It's shot well, acted well, written well. The effects in the film by Chris Walas are amazing. Although the effects in all of his films are done well. He has worked with some of the masters - Dick Smith, Rick Baker, Chris Walas.

Another great aspect of all of David Cronenberg's films is his musical calaboration with Howard Shore, who most recently won an Academy Award for his music for the 'Lord of the Rings' films. The music is so great in all of the films but there is something about the score for 'The Fly' which is just as moving and tragic as it is in its horrific moments.

Now, granted I watched 'The Fly' more recently so I am leaning towards that one. I think mainly because it is one that has stayed with me for so long. I saw it in its release back in 1986 and I loved it from that moment onward. I think a lot of it does have to do with the love story aspect of it which works so well. I'm sure if I watched 'Videodrome' tonight I'll say that one. It's a tug of war that's for sure. You can never go wrong with any David Cronenberg film though. Much like a good bottle of wine his films only get better with age. Now that says something.