Actor/director/photographer/art collector Dennis Hopper was pretty much down on his luck in 1983 and decided to stage an old stuntman’s ploy of “blowing yourself up”. I am sure there is some danger associated with this act like what if the protective blast resistant backing you’re nestled against gives way or the powder used in the explosive detonation burns you a bit. Anyway, Hopper chose to go through this publicity stunt to drum up some attention to a career that was faltering badly due to excessive drug use and drinking. Hopper makes it out alive and probably needed a drink or [More]
Andy Warhol was famously known as a leading practitioner of the Pop Art movement in the 60’s and as a constant admirer and pursuer of Celebrity/celebrities through the course of his life up until his death. Warhol was also interested in all kinds of art, namely, sculpture, painting, filmmaking and music. All of these art forms were utilized by Warhol in an idea he had for a mixed media freakout event. Films would be projected onto walls, dancers and Warhol film actors and pulsating, colored lights and strobes would illuminate a performance space that was sonically assaulted by the cacophonic [More]
George Romero continued the tale of the decimation of society by a zombie outbreak with this follow up to “Night of the Living Dead”. Romero angled for social commentary more heavily this time showing a horde of zombies inhabiting a shopping mall and lumbering about all the trinkets and merchandise available in a multi store shopping mall. There are comments from the still human cast about how the undead have returned to a place of comfort where they wiled away hours, buying and looking at products and shit, when they were still counted among the living. Consumerism is criticized but [More]
This is a really short movie. A “quicky” if ever there were one. Not necessarily a bad thing is this case but if you can tolerate this mish mash, then you have earned a symbolic badge of honor for witnessing one of the worst films ever made! Tor Johnson is a defecting Soviet scientist who relocates to the Southwestern Nevada region of Yucca Flat (s). The professor apparently is carrying secret documents that contain highly confidential information regarding Russia’s space plans for The Moon. Russian agents are sent to intercept Johnson and get the classified information back. A chase ensues [More]
Songwriter, lyricist, Pete Sinfield has passed. Sinfield had an early involvement with progressive rock band King Crimson. Sinfield wore many hats in his years working with Crimson. He wrote song lyrics, helped out with the band’s stage rigging, made suggestions about Crimson’s branding, acted as the resident hipster, providing the other members with ideas about what to wear to fit the image of the times, and even contributed bits of playing EMS VCS 3 synthesizer to the group’s sound. Eventually, he wore out his welcome with the band and went on to work with Emerson, Lake and Palmer providing more lyrics to [More]
In celebration of the November 13th birthday of Robert Louis Stevenson, the author of classic “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, we look at a derivation of that work with the shake and bake Hammer picture, “Doctor Jekyll and Sister Hyde”. Stevenson wrote the tale about Dr. Jekyll who developed a serum that would transform himself into a more self-assured, sinister, promiscuous version of himself so that he might more easily pursue some of his “unstated vices and not deal with the shame”. Thus, Mr. Hyde was born. Hyde is variously represented as a savage, violent, night reveler. [More]
Tony Todd was recognized for his roles in the horror franchises “Candyman” and “Final Destination” and my personal favorite “Night of the Living Dead” (1990). Tony has recently passed away. Tood gave a strong performance as Ben in the 1990 “Dead” remake. Thrust into a nightmare scenario, Ben attempts to figure out how the dead have suddenly reanimated and why they are trying to eat the living. Pretty grim stuff. Ben and Barbara occupy a remote farmhouse and attempt to zombie proof the place and ensure their survival. Todd is very good in the part. R.I.P., Mr. Todd.
A chilling compilation of creepy videos showcasing the Great Outdoors. What could be lurking out there just out of view is disturbing! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!
Fairly lively horror whodunit which follows a familiar refrain: a talented artist is victimized by his shady business partner who sets their waxwork museum on fire. The artist miraculously survives albeit horribly scarred and then plots his murderous revenge in the shadows of society. “Phantom of the Opera” used a similar story line but had a musical composer who covertly got even with his enemies. Vincent Price is fine as the unfortunate sculptor who opens a new waxworks emporium that now concentrates on sensationalism and horror to draw in the crowds. To get the enterprise up and running in a [More]
Our three favorite saps are schlepping this time as detectives and get a client who wants them to find his missing daughter. The boys take the job and go “undercover” dressed as pie salesmen (guess what’s coming? lol) to the area where the girl was last seen. It turns out that the dilapidated house they stumble into actually conceals a secret laboratory of a mad scientist who is intending to use the lost girl’s noggin as a brain transplant for his gigantic, bi-pedal, caged gorilla! Dr. Frankenstein is spinning in his grave! This episode adopted the Fifties fad of the [More]
A covert rescue mission is green lighted to rendezvous with the previously lost in space starship, Event Horizon, which has mysteriously reappeared near the planet Neptune. The pursuit is on to find out just where the massive ship has been spending its previous 7 years. The ensuing journey uncovers a rather unpleasant foray into a world of unimaginable depravity. Having navigated a blackhole to use as a portal to a distant world has propelled the Event Horizon into a virtual living Hell In Space. The Event Horizon crew was sacrificed. Will the crew of the Lewis and Clark rescue vehicle [More]
Harmless, enjoyable fodder based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs vision of a habitable Hollow Earth that exists beneath our feet. Peter Cushing and Doug McClure are two adventurers who employ an earth burrowing contraption that propels them deep within the earth to discover a region previously unknown that is full of life! In addition to people, there are any number of monstrous dinosaurs and ultra vibrant alien fauna. McClure provides the brawn and Cushing the brains as they must work in tandem to free an oppressed race and find a way to get back alive to the surface of the [More]
I don’t want to discourage you from seeing this movie but bear in mind that when critics rate the various movies belonging to the “Alien” franchise, this title typically winds up being the lowest rated entry in the bunch. I would have to agree with this assessment. The whole picture is kind of tedious. You are essentially watching recreations of scenes from other Alien movies that were done much better the first go round. This is one of two “Alien/Predator” crossover movies where the title creatures hunt and fight one another and are nebulously connected through various scenarios. This film [More]
Sad to hear of the passing of musician Greg Kihn. Kihn wrote many a pop gem and had a long music career. In later years, Kihn would branch out into writing novels, becoming a radio DJ and continuing to perform his songs. There are a lot of good memories associated with Mr. Kihn. I hope he rests in peace.