News

Since 1997, Days of Our Lives’ resident mad scientist, Dr. Wilhelm Rolf, has been on hand to resurrect the dead, brainwash Salemites, and more. Originally played by William Utay, the part was later recast in 2022 with Richard Wharton as the devious doctor. If either iteration of the demented scientist seems familiar, that’s probably because he resembles a character actor who starred in several horror classics.

A Puppet Master Like Dr. Rolf

Guy Rolfe was a British actor who appeared in films since 1937 and starred in several classics, including Ivanhoe (1952), The Barbarians (1960), and King of Kings (1961). But it was his role as the title character in William Castle’s Mr. Sardonicus in 1961 that made horror fans take notice. In the film, he played a man whose face froze in a creepy and disturbing grin.

He appeared in several subsequent TV shows, including The Champions (1968), which starred General Hospital’s Stuart Damon...

Henry Selick, the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas, says that he has hidden Jack Skellington’s in every one of his films.

The filmmaker recently revealed that he has left Easter Eggs for fans in all of his movies.

“If you look very, very carefully, you might find that there’s some image of Jack in every other film I’ve made. But I can’t legally say that’s true, but it might be true,” Selick said in an interview with GamesRadar+.

The Coraline director pointed fans to a scene from the film, adding, “You might find something in the breakfast.” GamesRadar+ noted the scene from the 2009 film when The Other Mother cracks an egg into a bowl; the yolk has a familiar face.

Other examples include 1996’s James and the Giant Peach, in which the captain of a gang of skeletal pirates looks like Jack and is referred to as Skellington.

David Schmoeller's 1989 film "Puppet Master" was almost going to be a theatrical release in the summer of 1989, but pivoted to the VHS market at the last minute. Looking at the 1989 supper movie season, one can see why producer Charles Band made the decision. "Puppet Master" would have opened against "Batman," "Ghostbusters II," "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," "Back to the Future Part II," "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier," "License to Kill," and "Lethal Weapon 2." There were just too many blockbusters it would've had to compete with.

Its movement to the straight-to-video market might have reduced its prestige, but "Puppet Master" spawned many, many sequels (not to mention a few crossovers) that persist to this day (the most recent "Puppet Master" film was released in 2022). The killer puppets in the film have become minor horror icons and often serve as the face of Full Moon Features, a...

The horror genre is one that frequently insists upon sequels and franchises, even when they’re woefully misguided endeavors. There are too many sequels that are set up to fail and seem financially driven and creatively bankrupt, whether it’s Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2, The Rage: Carrie 2, or American Psycho II: All American Girl. However, it’s always electric when one of these sequels does something special, different, and audiences are left with a Psycho II or The Exorcist III scenario on their hands. The Fly II is a horror sequel that was largely written off the moment that it was announced, sans David Cronenberg, even if its existence makes sense. The Fly II isn’t superior to its predecessor, but it does excel in many areas that are absent in the original. It brings something new to the table and marks a unique voice in body...

A new batch of classic films have made their way into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry this week, including Henry Selick’s The Nightmare Before Christmas!

This year’s new lineup of films that have been deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” also includes James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgement Day!

The National Film Registry says of The Nightmare Before Christmas, “The king of dark whimsy, Tim Burton won over an even larger (and decidedly younger) crowd with this delightful stop-motion animated offering. Jack Skellington, whose giant pumpkin head rests precariously on top of his rail-thin body, is the king of Halloween Town; one year he dreams of bringing a little Christmas magic to his humble hamlet. Conceived and produced by Burton (with direction by Henry Selick), Nightmare features creative set design to construct an imaginary world, songs by Danny Elfman and the voice talents of Chris Sarandon,...

Clockwise from top left: Candy Cane Lane (Prime Video), Your Christmas Or Mine 2 (Prime Video), The Flash (Warner Bros.)Image: The A.V. Club

Prime Video—perhaps more than any other streaming provider—is really leaning into Christmas-themed movies this December. Eddie Murphy plays a family man desperate to win...

In a Halloween world where every person is a monster, a vampire, a skeleton, a werewolf, a demon, or a creature that hides under the stairs, who could possibly be a villain? In Henry Selick's 1993 stop-motion animated fantasy "The Nightmare Before Christmas," Jack Skellington is the community's most famous local hero, but he is not a killer. Indeed, Jack seems to be good-hearted (if he had a heart) and secretly longs for romance. The local mad scientist Dr. Finkelstein (William Hickey) can resurrect dead skeletons, but he doesn't want to take lives. Even the two-faced Mayor (Glenn Shadix) is more ineffectual than evil. 

The only monster in Halloween Town that truly longs for violence and aches to kill people with his own hands is Oogie Boogie, a.k.a. the Boogeyman (Ken Page). As imagined by the film's designer, Tim Burton, Oogie Boogie is a large, empty-eyed burlap sack full of bugs and snakes.

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Dawn of the Dead Vinyl Soundtrack from Waxwork Records

Dawn of the Dead’s theatrical soundtrack is available on vinyl for $60 via Waxwork Records. The 3xLP album includes the complete De Wolfe library cues for the first time on vinyl.

It’s pressed on 180-gram colored vinyl and housed in a triple gatefold jacket with matte satin coating featuring art by Juan Carlos Ruiz Burgos, a four-page booklet, and liner notes by Living Dead historian Jim Cirronella. Shipping begins on December 15.

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie 4K Uhd from Scream Factory

Tales from the Darkside: The Movie will be released on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on November 28 via Scream Factory. Based on the TV series of the same name,...

Tim Burton is clear that a sequel or a reboot of The Nightmare Before Christmas is not happening. In a new interview, the director talks about what he thinks about the idea of the stop-motion film getting a follow-up 30 years after the movie’s debut.

“I’ve done sequels, I’ve done other things, I’ve done reboots, I’ve done all that shit, right? I don’t want that to happen to this. It’s nice that people are maybe interested [in another one], but I’m not,” Burton told Empire.

He continued, “I feel like that old guy who owns a little piece of property and won’t sell to the big power plant that wants to take my land.”

The publication notes that Burton then said in a “grumpy old prospector voice,” “Get off of my land! You pesky little… You ain’t getting this property! I don’t care...

I love Arnold Schwarzenegger. I’ve seen every movie he’s done. Read his book. Follow his newsletter (which I totally recommend if you’re looking for a bit of healthy positivity in your day). Can spell his last name without Googling it. I grew up looking up to him as a father figure and still do to this day. He’s one of those special people you can look to for positivity and motivation when you’re feeling down. An actual positive male role model who just wants you to eat right, lift weights, and be kind. Oh, and he hosted and directed an episode of Tales from the Crypt once and owns a miniature horse named Whiskey that he lets live in the house with him.

What’S Not To Love?!

As you can tell, I am very excited to go through Arnold’s brief but legendary career...

A while back, the CBS All Access streaming service was rebooted and rebranded as Paramount Plus. Since then, the latest Paranormal Activity sequel was released directly to Paramount Plus, and in the not-too-distant future, a Pet Sematary prequel will be on there as well. While we wait for that, the service already has several other horror titles that are available for subscribers to watch. Listed below are some of the Best Horror Movies on Paramount Plus:

Tales From The Darkside: The Movie (1990)

For four seasons, George A. Romero served as executive producer on a horror anthology TV series called Tales from the Darkside. After that show ended in 1988, we got this feature film follow-up directed by Romero collaborator John Harrison; and one of this anthology movie’s three segments is actually a story Romero and Stephen King originally intended to be in Creepshow 2! That’s Cat from Hell, a...

Judd Hirsch has portrayed several memorable characters over the past 50 years including Alex Rieger in the classic ABC/NBC 1978-83 sitcom “Taxi” for which he won two Emmys, the caring psychiatrist Dr. Berger in 1980’s “Ordinary People,” which earned him a supporting actor Oscar nomination, and Eddie Ross, the angry, verbally abusive bartender in Herb Gardner’s 1992 play “Conversations with My Father,” for which he won a Tony. His latest indelible character is the colorful Uncle Boris, a former lion tamer and film worker, in Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans,” earning a second Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for Hirsch.

Hirsch, who just won the AARP’s Movies for Grownups Award for supporting actor, has made Academy Award history with his nomination. He eclipsed by one year the 41-year gap between bids set by Henry Fonda. At age 87, Hirsch would be the oldest acting winner; Christopher Plummer was 82 when he won for 2011’ “Beginners.

Jean-Jacques Annaud directs Sean Connery in The Name of the Rose (Der Name Der Rose), the film version of the novel by Umberto Eco

The Name of the Rose is a great adaptation of the most important work by Umberto Eco. A mystery story set in an era of supersitions (Fourteenth century) with the Inquisition in the middle.

Orson Welles said that one should adapt lesser literary works. This time, the director and the entire team do a great job by focusing on the detective story part of the literary work.

Story line

Brother William of Baskerville (Sean Connery) and his disciple Adso de Melk (Christian Slater) arrive at an abbey where one of the monks died recently, where the abbot hopes that Brother William will be able to solve the crimes.

Our erudite friend is a man far removed from superstition and he tries to find a logical explanation for everything,...

"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" is one of those rare movies where every scene is memorable. Its quotability is off the charts, and it's almost impossible to get through an entire holiday season without hearing at least one person make reference to Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) and his infamously backed-up trailer toilet. It's almost guaranteed that the movie will play on at least one (but probably more like 10+) channels throughout the month of December, and if you aren't secretly a little worried that your Uncle Lewis (William Hickey) will accidentally burn down your Christmas tree, then you aren't really prepared for the hell that often accompanies the holiday season.

The original DVD artwork for "Christmas Vacation" is perhaps just as iconic as the movie itself, sporting a drawing of a frazzled-looking Clark Griswold on its front cover. He's decked out in a Santa suit and wrapped up in Christmas lights that...

Christmas is coming at us faster than Santa’s sleigh, which means ’tis the season for streaming Christmas movies. While there are plenty of family-friendly options for parents — from classics like “A Charlie Brown Christmas” to new entries like this year’s “Spirited” on Apple TV+ — some may prefer a slightly more raunchy selection, which is where 1989’s “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” comes in.

“Christmas Vacation” is streaming on several online platforms, including HBO Max, AMC+, The Roku Channel, fuboTV, Philo, and Sling TV. It can also be rented or purchased on VOD platforms, including YouTube, Vudu, Google Play, Apple TV, and Redbox, for 3.99. In addition, AMC will air the film throughout the next few days at 8 or 10 p.m. Et, including on December 21, December 22, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik, “Christmas Vacation” was the third and effectively final entry in the classic “National Lampoon” series...

The always delightful Doctor Z hangs with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante while discussing a few of his favorite monkey movies.

Dr. Z – Tmtmm Pod Mentions

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Planet of the Apes (1968) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

Beneath The Planet of the Apes (1970) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

Escape From The Planet of the Apes (1971)

Battle For The Planet of the Apes (1973) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

Every Which Way But Loose (1978)

Any Which Way You Can (1980)

The Godfather Part II (1974) – Katt Shea’s trailer commentary

Schindler’s List (1993)

Godzilla Vs. Kong (2021)

King Kong Vs. Godzilla (1962) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

King Kong (1933)

Conan The Barbarian (1982)

Godzilla (1954) – Don Coscarelli’s trailer commentary

Godzilla Raids Again (1955)

Stalag 17 (1953)

In The Heat Of The Night (1967) – Michael Schlesinger’s trailer commentary

King Kong Escapes (1967)

Murders In The Rue Morgue (1932)

The Sorrow And The Pity (1972)

My Octopus Teacher (2020)

It Came From Beneath The Sea...

In the course of his nearly 50-year career on the screen, the late Sean Connery portrayed many famous characters, both fictional and non-fictional. Among those were, of course, Ian Fleming’s suave spy James Bond in seven films; Daniel Druvot in 1975’s The Man Who Would Be King; King Arthur in 1995’s First Knight, Robin Hood in 1976’s Robin and Marian; Dr. Henry Jones Sr. in 1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and many more.

One role Connery never got to play was Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective, Sherlock Holmes. But he did come close, playing a character who was based at least in part on Holmes, in the 1986 movie The Name of the Rose.

Based on the best-selling 1980 novel by Italian historian, philosopher and author Umberto Eco, the book and the film are set in 1327, as a Franciscan monk named William of Baskerville (Connery) and his young...

“Yeah”

By Raymond Benson

It’s the most-heard response from Jack Nicholson’s character, Charley Partanna: “Yeah.” Does he swear a blood oath to Don Corrado Prizzi (William Hickey) for life? “Yeah.” Does he want to “do it” on the Oriental [rug] with Maerose Prizzi (Anjelica Huston)? “Yeah.” Does he want to get married to Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner), an assassin who may or may not be working against his own family? “Yeah.”

Is Prizzi’s Honor an amazing, acerbic black comedy that surprises you at every turn? “Yeah!”

It was director John Huston’s swan song, his last film to be released while he was alive. Prizzi picked up Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Director, Actor (Nicholson), Supporting Actor (Hickey), Adapted Screenplay, Costumes, and Editing. The picture won none of those, but Anjelica Huston snatched the award for Supporting Actress for her role. Allegedly she had to fight to get the part,...

[We're celebrating some of the most memorable horror and sci-fi movies of 1989 this month in Daily Dead's Class of 89 retrospective series! Check back on Daily Dead throughout the rest of August for more special features celebrating the 30th anniversaries of a wide range of horror and sci-fi films!]

Is there a horror movie from your childhood that gives you the creeps even as an adult? If your answer is no, then you are one lucky duckling. If your answer is yes (there are more than a few on my list), then you and I are in the same boat. I usually like to do a refresher before I write about a film, but I honestly could not bring myself to do that for today's retrospective: David Schmoeller's Puppet Master (1989) from Full Moon Features. Sometimes, the movie's poster or just the look of Blade's tiny, beady eyes and hook take me back to the first time I encountered it on TV—and the nightmares that followed.

Puppet Master tells the story of Andre Toulon (William Hickey), the owner and creator of living puppets Blade, Khan, Gengie, Tunneler, Pinhead, Leech Woman, and Jester. Before he is found by two Nazis,...

Billy Crystal turned 70 years old in March, but don’t think that means the actor-writer-director-comedian is slowing down. “I remember when they asked George Burns if he would ever retire. He said, ‘To what? What would I do?’” Crystal says with a laugh. “That’s how I feel.”

Far from retiring, Crystal is “busier than I’ve been in a long time,” he says, with projects including a movie premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, a musical version of his film “Mr. Saturday Night” and plans to step behind the camera to direct his first film since 2001’s acclaimed drama “61*.”

One can forgive those who want to reflect on Crystal’s long and storied career, as he is set to receive the quintessential Hollywood honor on April 12, when he imprints his hands and feet at the Tcl Chinese Theatre alongside other screen greats (check back here on Friday to...

"What's this?" The 25th anniversary celebration for The Nightmare Before Christmas continues with a new Blu-ray edition on September 2nd! To celebrate the occasion, the new Blu-ray is packed with bonus features including a new sing-along mode, an uncut version of Tim Burton's short film Frankenweenie, Burton's early short film Vincent (narrated by the legendary Vincent Price), deleted scenes, and so much more!

Press Release: "Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” the stop-motion animated musical-fantasy following Pumpkin King Jack Skellington’s misguided mission to make Yuletide his own, was hailed as a macabre masterpiece when it debuted in 1993 and holds a 95% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Twenty-five years later, fans can relive the merry misadventure—and sing or shriek along in brand-new sing-along mode—with the 25th Anniversary Edition of “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Viewers can get their spook on instantly via Digital, Movies Anywhere and on Blu-ray Sept.

It's never a dull day on set when you're acting alongside violent puppets and dismembered limbs. Out now in select Us theaters and VOD platforms, and coming to home video on September 25th from Rlje Films, Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich balances brutal kills and zany humor, with lead character Edgar (Thomas Lennon) navigating the blood-stained carnage after an army of Nazi puppets come to life. Ahead of the movie's upcoming home media release, Daily Dead recently chatted with Lennon about his approach to the comedy and violence in the film, his familiarity with the Puppet Master franchise prior to coming on set for the new film, getting his son a dismembered hand cameo in the movie, and watching The Littlest Reich with an audience that embraced the movie's goriest moments.

Most people would've taken a look at this script or heard the pitch and said, "Oh no, this is not for me.

Just in time for Halloween - Disney is releasing a Sing-Along Edition Blu-ray of the classic "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

Here's the announcement, straight from Disney:

Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” the stop-motion animated musical-fantasy following Pumpkin King Jack Skellington’s misguided mission to make Yuletide his own, was hailed as a macabre masterpiece when it debuted in 1993 and holds a 95% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Twenty-five years later, fans can relive the merry misadventure—and sing or shriek along in brand-new sing-along mode—with the 25th Anniversary Edition of “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Viewers can get their spook on instantly via Digital, Movies Anywhere and on Blu-ray Sept. 2.

The new edition audiences to experience “The Nightmare Before Christmas” two different ways: the original, full-length film, in which the holidays collide with chaotic and comical consequences, and all-new sing-along mode, which includes pop-up lyrics to 11 unforgettable songs like...

Just in time for Halloween - Disney is releasing a Sing-Along Edition Blu-ray of the classic "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

Here's the announcement, straight from Disney:

Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” the stop-motion animated musical-fantasy following Pumpkin King Jack Skellington’s misguided mission to make Yuletide his own, was hailed as a macabre masterpiece when it debuted in 1993 and holds a 95% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Twenty-five years later, fans can relive the merry misadventure—and sing or shriek along in brand-new sing-along mode—with the 25th Anniversary Edition of “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Viewers can get their spook on instantly via Digital, Movies Anywhere and on Blu-ray Sept. 2.

The new edition audiences to experience “The Nightmare Before Christmas” two different ways: the original, full-length film, in which the holidays collide with chaotic and comical consequences, and all-new sing-along mode, which includes pop-up lyrics to 11 unforgettable songs like...

Filtered through her experience as an unequalled comic performer, writer-director Elaine May scores a bulls-eye with this grossly underappreciated gem, fashioned in a style that could be called ‘black comedy lite.’ And that’s the release version mangled by the producer. What might it have been if May had been allowed to finish her director’s cut?

A New Leaf Olive Signature

Blu-ray

Olive Films

1971 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 102 min. / Street Date December 5, 2017 / available through the Olive Films website / 29.99

Starring: Walter Matthau, Elaine May, Jack Weston, George Rose, James Coco, Doris Roberts, Renée Taylor, William Redfield, David Doyle.

Cinematography: Gayne Rescher

Original Music: Neal Hefti

Written by Elaine May from a story by Jack Ritchie

Produced by Hilliard Elkins, Howard W. Koch, Joseph Manduke

Directed by Elaine May

Olive’s next title up for Signature Collection status is A New Leaf, the directing debut of comedienne-writer Elaine May. It’s certainly a worthy title.

Arthur Penn’s under-appreciated epic has everything a big-scale western could want — spectacle, interesting characters, good history and a sense of humor. Dustin Hoffman gets to play at least five characters in one as an ancient pioneer relating his career exploits — which are either outrageous tall tales or a concise history of the taking of The West.

Little Big Man

Region B Blu-ray

Koch Media

1970 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 139 147 min. / Available from Amazon.de / Street Date September 14, 2017 / Eur 17.99

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway, Chief Dan George, Martin Balsam, Richard Mulligan, Jeff Corey, Aimée Eccles, Kelly Jean Peters, Carole Androsky, Ruben Moreno, William Hickey, Jesse Vint, Alan Oppenheimer, Thayer David.

Cinematography: Harry Stradling Jr.

Production Designer: Dean Tavoularis

Art Direction: Angelo P. Graham

Special Makeup: Dick Smith

Special Effects: Logan Frazee

Film Editors: Dede Allen, Richard Marks

Original Music: John Hammond

Written by Calder Willingham from the novel by Thomas Berger

Produced...

Richard Condon and John Huston’s show is like a gangland version of Moonstruck, bouncing effortlessly between earnest romanticism and cynical satire. Hit man Jack Nicholson is a brass-knuckle Romeo, and Kathleen Turner’s mysterious bicoastal Juliet has nothing but surprises for him. Near the end of his career, Huston’s direction is as assured as can be.

Prizzi’s Honor

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1985 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 130 min. / Street Date August 29, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95

Street Date September 16, 2003 / 14.95

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, Robert Loggia, John Randolph, William Hickey, Lee Richardson, Anjelica Huston.

Cinematography: Andrzej Bartkowiak

Production Designer: Dennis Washington

Film Editors: Kaja Fehr, Rudi Fehr

Original Music: Alex North

Written by Janet Roach, Richard Condon from his novel

Produced by John Foreman

Directed by John Huston

Who said that John Huston slacked off in his later years? True, his Annie could be fairly re-titled as Gambling Debts Paid,...

Rebecca Lea Jul 10, 2017

Our lookback at the film adaptations and work of Stephen King arrives at Tales From The Darkside: The Movie...

Spoilers lie ahead.

See related Matt Reeves interview: War For The Planet Of The Apes Matt Reeves interview: Dawn, Andy Serkis and blockbuster filmmaking War For The Planet Of The Apes review Andy Serkis interview: War For The Planet Of The Apes

The film: In The Wraparound Story, Betty (Deborah Harry) is getting ready for a party by preparing poor little Timmy (Matthew Lawrence) as the meal. He tries to buy some time by telling her three stories; Lot 249 is a tale of college rivalries and resurrecting mummies; Cat From Hell features a wealthy old man taking out a hit on a black cat he believes to be evil, and finally Lover’s Vow, in which an artist witnesses a vicious murder, but the monster who committed...

Unsung actress Beverly Garland becomes TV’s first lady cop, in what’s claimed to be the first TV show filmed on the streets of New York City. This one-season wonder from 1957 has vintage locations, fairly tough-minded storylines and solid performances, from Bev and a vast gallery of stage and TV actors on the way up.

Decoy

(Policewoman Decoy)

TV Series

DVD

Film Chest Media

1957-’58 / B&W / 1:33 flat full frame (TV) / 39 x 30 min. / Street Date May 30, 2017 / 19.98

Starring: Beverly Garland

Art Direction (some episodes): Mel Bourne

Original Music: Wladimir Selinsky

Written by Lillian Andrews, Nicholas E. Baehr, Cy Chermak, Jerome Coopersmith, Don Ettlinger, Frances Frankel, Steven Gardner, Abram S. Ginnes, Mel Goldberg, Saul Levitt, Leon Tokatyan

Produced by Arthur H. Singer, David Alexander, Stuart Rosenberg, Everett Rosenthal

Directed by Teddy Sills, Stuart Rosenberg, David Alexander, Michael Gordon, Don Medford, Arthur H. Singer, Marc Daniels

How did I experience...

True-Crime Terror! Richard Fleischer and Edward Anhalt’s riveting serial killer makes extensive use of split- and multi-screen imagery. One of the most infamous murder sprees on record fudges some facts but still impresses as a novel approach.

The Boston Strangler

Blu-ray

Twilight Time

1968 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 116 min. / Street Date November 15, 2016 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store 29.95

Starring Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda, George Kennedy, Mike Kellin, Hurd Hatfield, Murray Hamilton, Jeff Corey, Sally Kellerman, George Furth

Cinematography Richard H. Kline

Art Direction Richard Day, Jack Martin Smith

Film Editor Marion Rothman

Written by Edward Anhalt from the book by Gerold Frank

Produced by Robert Fryer

Directed by Richard Fleischer

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

Twelve years ago i wasn’t all that impressed with The Boston Strangler. I thought it too slick and felt that its noted multi-screen sequences were a trick gimmick. I appreciate it more now — except for the name cast,...

Tales From the Crypt, the Emmy-nominated horror anthology series that ran for seven seasons on HBO two decades ago, will live again. Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan has agreed to curate and produce the series reboot for TNT, according to Variety.

The show, which will feature stories culled from the long-running, gory E.C. Comics series as well as new, original stories, will premiere in the fall. It leads a new two-hour block of horror television on the channel.

"To be part of such a beloved brand like Tales From the Crypt,...

Michael Winner is the bad-taste choice to give The Exorcist a run for its money in the faux-religious horror shocker sweepstakes, and the brave actress Cristina Raines leads an impressive supporting cast as the unfortunate suicide attemptee chosen to be the new Gatekeeper for the portal to Hell. Don't expect to see a Keymaster, but instead some of the most indigestible exploitation of the mainstream decade -- mainly real sideshow oddities to represent 'evil' people. Easily the hands-down insensitivity champ of the '70s. The Sentinel Blu-ray Shout! Factory / Scream Factory 1977 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 92 min. / Street Date September 22, 2015 / 27.99 Starring Cristina Raines, Chris Sarandon, Burgess Meredith, Arthur Kennedy, Deborah Raffin, Ava Gardner, John Carradine, Beverly D'Angelo, Eli Wallach, Sylvia Miles, Martin Balsam, José Ferrer, Christopher Walken, Jerry Orbach, William Hickey, Jeff Goldblum, Anthony Holland, Tom Berenger. Cinematography Dick Kratina Special Effects Albert Whitlock Special Makeup Effects Dick Smith Original Music Gil Melle...

The Change-Up: Singh Sleepwalks Through Sci-Fi Stock

Time is not on anyone’s side in director Tarsem Singh’s latest blunder through familiar material, Self/less, a mash-up of recycled sci-fi tropes drained of innovation or potential potency. Issues of class, identity, and health insurance get chugged through the blender of David and Alex Pastor’s script, the directing/screenwriting duo’s foray into the English language. Singh, known for expressively beautiful visuals, presents his most demurely dressed feature to date, though his usual ocular trickery may have offered a slight reprieve from the crushing banality of the laughably conservative moral fable proffered here.

Damian (Ben Kingsley) heads his own self-built empire, but finds he’s been diagnosed with cancer and doesn’t have much longer to live. He has a troubled relationship with his daughter, Claire (Michelle Dockery), but finds he’s not quite ready to call it quits.

'A Hatful of Rain' with Lloyd Nolan, Anthony Franciosa and Don Murray 'A Hatful of Rain' script fails to find cinematic voice as most of the cast hams it up Based on a play by Michael V. Gazzo, A Hatful of Rain is an interesting attempt at injecting "adult" subject matters – in this case, the evils of drug addiction – into Hollywood movies. "Interesting," however, does not mean either successful or compelling. Despite real, unromantic New York City locations and Joseph MacDonald's beautifully realistic black-and-white camera work (and the pointless use of CinemaScope), this Fred Zinnemann-directed melodrama feels anachronistically stagy as a result of its artificial dialogue and the hammy theatricality of its performers – with Eva Marie Saint as the sole naturalistic exception. 'A Hatful of Rain' synopsis Somewhat revolutionary in its day (Otto Preminger's The Man with a Golden Arm,* also about drug addiction,...

You can't choose your neighbors in an apartment complex, and sometimes you get stuck next to a noisy, mean-spirited soul who makes you want to look in the classified ads before you even finish unpacking. Alison Parker has some rowdy neighbors around her new Brooklyn apartment, but what disturbs her the most is that nobody else lives on her floor. And that's only one of many creepy elements to be found in 1977's The Sentinel, and fans of the cult classic fright film should be excited to hear that Scream Factory has announced they will release The Sentinel on Blu-ray this summer.

From Scream Factory: "We are beyond thrilled today to report that we will be bringing the 1977 cult classic chiller The Sentinel to Blu-ray for the first time in the U.S. and Canada!

Planned release is for August. This often underrated, overlooked and shocking film from Director Michael Winner...

The holidays are finally upon us, and in celebration of the seasons, we're posting five fun facts about our favorite festive flicks!Today's featured film is the 1989 comedy classic "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."1. The flick is based on writer John Hughes' short story "Christmas '59," which was published in National Lampoon Magazine in December 1980. There's actually a secret reference to the story in the movie -- during the part when Clark (Chevy Chase) finds a home movie reel in the attic, it's labeled "Xmas '59."2. The Griswolds live next door to Sergeant Roger Murtaugh? Yep, their neighbor's house is the same one that Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and his family lived in during all of the "Lethal Weapon" movies. They're all located on the Warner Bros. Studios back lot. 3. Mae Questel, who played senile old Aunt Bethany in the movie, is best known as another famous lady -- Betty Boop!

Reviewed By Chris Wright, Morehorror.com

Puppet Master X: Axis Rising (2012)

Directed By: Charles Band

Written By: Charles Band & Shane Bitterling

Starring: Kip Canyon (Danny), Jean Louise O’Sullivan (Beth), Oto Benzina (Freuhoffer), Scott King (Moebius), Brad Potts (Seargent Stone), Kurt Sinclair (Major Collins), Stephanie Sanditz (Uschi), Paul Thomas Arnold (General Porter), Terumi Shimazu (Ozu)

Nothing says “Full Moon” like the “Puppet Master” franchise. I am always surprised they come out with a new film and we are already up to the tenth entry! I have had mixed feelings about this franchise and this movie is no different. While it is better than the ninth installment, it is lacking the magic the first films had. Charles Band returns to write and direct this entry.

The movie continues where the previous movie left off. Danny and Beth have discovered that the Nazis have Tunneler and want to extract the serum from him to create super soldiers.

Merry Christmas Eve! One of the most beloved Christmas movies has to be "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"-- and to celebrate the holidays, we've found five fun facts about the classic comedy! 1. The flick is based on writer John Hughes' short story "Christmas '59," which was published in National Lampoon Magazine in December 1980. There's actually a secret reference to the story in the movie -- during the part when Clark (Chevy Chase) finds a home movie reel in the attic, it's labeled "Xmas '59."2. The Griswolds live next door to Sergeant Roger Murtaugh? Yep, their neighbor's house is the same one that Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and his family lived in during all of the "Lethal Weapon" movies. They're all located on the Warner Bros. Studios back lot. 3. Mae Questel, who played senile old Aunt Bethany in the movie, is best known as another famous lady -- Betty Boop! Mae...

Stars: Levi Fiehler, Jenna Gallaher, Taylor M. Graham, Tom Sandoval, Aaron Riber, Ada Chao | Written by August White | Directed by David DeCoteau

Ah, the Puppetmaster series. Once long thought dead, Puppetmaster: Axis of Evil resurrects the franchise and tries to re-capture the spirit of what many consider the high point in the series – the World War 2 set third film, Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge. I’ve long-been a fan of the Puppetmaster series, and Full Moon in general – even going as far as buying the ridiculously overpriced DVD boxset some years ago. In anticipation of the UK release of the eleventh film in the series, we’re taking a look back at the tenth movie (and ninth official sequel, Puppetmaster vs. Demonic Toys is not considered an official ‘canon’ movie fact fans) Puppetmaster: Axis of Evil…

Following Toulon’s death (as seen inPuppet Master III: Toulon...

Out of all the episodes in seven seasons of Tales From the Crypt, this particular entry, ‘The Switch,’ feels less like an episode of the titular show and rather more like a twisted moral play. It’s a play about the vain and how changing yourself for someone isn’t necessarily the right nor best thing to do. If anything, the ending resembles something akin to “Gift of the Magi.” Most episodes are just desserts episodes as is this entry, but in this episode, it twists the formula in that it’s the good guy that gets it in the end (although he doesn’t die) and the rotten people that have it better off in the end (and they usually die).

The thing about this episode that differentiates itself from others, is that it isn’t particularly scary or violent, in fact it’s relatively bloodless other than a...

A short while ago Full Moon released remastered Blu-ray versions of the original Puppet Master, Puppet Master II, and Puppet Master III; and to celebrate, they want to give one lucky Dread Central reader an entire signed box set.

Synopsis:

The most successful independent direct to video horror franchise of all time stars Paul Le Mat (American Graffiti, American History X, Melvin and Howard), William Hickey (Prizzi's Honor, "One Life to Live," The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Name of the Rose), Irene Miracle (Inferno, Midnight Express, Walking Thunder), Jimmie F. Skaggs (Lethal Weapon, Hollow Man, Cutthroat Island).

The secret of life has been discovered by master puppeteer Andre Toulon. But we quickly discover Toulon's secret of death in the form of five killer puppets-each one uniquely qualified for murder and mayhem. Tunneler has a nasty habit of boring holes in people with his drill bit head. Ms. Leech regurgitates killer...

Full Moon Features recently announced that more of their cult horror titles would be released on Blu-ray. The first batch includes the first three Puppet Master movies available on Blu-ray individually or in a three-disc set. We have release details, plus a look at the HD-remastered trailers for all three films.

For over thirty years Charles Band has been creating modern day horror classics such as Puppetmaster, Trancers and Subspecies. According to Charles Band, Chairman and Founder of Full Moon Features, “After testing the Blu-ray market with the original Puppetmaster, and Subspecies, Full moon will move forward with additional Blu-ray releases of the best selling titles in the Full Moon catalog. The fan response has been overwhelming in support of Blu-ray, and they are demanding more. Featuring wide-screen 16:9 fully remastered picture and sound, these transfers have never looked more beautiful, and we’ll re-release the titles on DVD as well.

Puppet Master

Stars: Paul Le Mat, Irene Miracle, Matt Roe, Kathryn O’Reilly, Jimmie F. Skaggs, Robin Frates, William Hickey | Written by Charles Band, Kenneth J. Hall | Directed by David Schmoeller

Ahhh Puppet Master, a film which have seen countless times (at least over two dozen) since I first discovered it all those years ago at my local video rental store. Having owned the VHS (both ex-rental and sell-thru) and the UK and Us DVDs – the huge DVD boxset is still one of my prize possessions – my love for the film remains unbounded. So imagine how excited I was to learn that the film that got me acquainted with Charles Band’s Full Moon and the fantastic, yet perilous puppets, was finally going to see the light of day in glorious high definition on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films.

Bodega Bay Inn, 1939. Puppet maker Andre Toulon (the fantastic William Hickey), a...

After testing the waters with Blu-ray versions of Puppet Master and Subspecies, Full Moon has announced that they are working on bringing more of their horror catalog to Blu-ray. The first new release includes the first three Puppet Master films:

Press Release: For over thirty years Charles Band has been creating modern day horror classics such as Puppetmaster, Trancers and Subspecies. According to Charles Band, Chairman and Founder of Full Moon Features, “After testing the Blu-ray market with the original Puppetmaster, and Subspecies, Full moon will move forward with additional Blu-ray releases of the best selling titles in the Full Moon catalog. The fan response has been overwhelming in support of Blu-ray, and they are demanding more. Featuring wide-screen 16:9 fully remastered picture and sound, these transfers have never looked more beautiful, and we’ll re-release the titles on DVD as well.”

On September 18th, 2012, the premiere Full Moon Blu-ray...

Filed under: Movie News, Holiday Movies

Since its release on Dec. 1, 1989, 'Christmas Vacation' has become a holiday staple -- and not just because Mavis Staples sang the now-classic title track. (Try the veal?) Starring Chevy Chase (before he was the anchor on 'Community'), Randy Quaid (before he ran away from the Star Whackers), Beverly D'Angelo (before 'Entourage') and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (before 'Seinfeld'), the film earned $71 million at the box office and -- unofficially -- received a lifetime holiday season pass from TBS. What was it like when 'Christmas Vacation' was being filmed? Thankfully, Entertainment Tonight has posted video of a long-lost set visit to 'Vacation,' which finds Chase mugging, Quaid holding onto reality with a supple grip, and D'Angelo looking as adorable as you remember. (Sorry, Ari Gold.) No talking head shots of the now-deceased William Hickey (he...

Considered to be his finest film alongside "Bonnie and Clyde", director Arthur Penn's humorous and tragic 1970 American Western classic, "Little Big Man" is now available on Blu-ray.

"Little Big Man" is based on the 1964 novel by author Thomas Berger.

"..121 year-old 'Jack Crabb' (Dustin Hoffman), recounts his colorful life story to a curious historian (William Hickey).

"Among other things, Crabb had been a captive of the Cheyenne, a gunslinger, an associate of 'Wild Bill Hickok' (Jeff Corey), and a scout for 'General George Armstrong Custer' (Richard Mulligan).

"Having been adopted by the Cheyenne and reared in their culture, Crabb has perspective on both Caucasian and Native American life in the 19th century..."

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Little Big Man"...

This is part of Fred Zinnemann Week, hosted at Shadowplay.

I've found that, for some people, the classic-status ubiquity of certain scenes in From Here to Eternity or High Noon, plus the damned aura of taste and quality which surrounds an AFI-favored filmmaker like Fred Zinnemann, can be intensely off-putting. I've also found that I prefer some of the director's less celebrated works. In other words, I think he deserves his high reputation, but perhaps for reasons and films that aren't so well-trodden.

One of Fred Z.'s undoubted attributes was an eye for acting talent. If he had only introduced Brando, Clift and Steiger to the screen, he would deserve to be remembered, but in fact he directed the first films of Julie Harris, Brandon De Wilde, Tony Franciosa, William Hickey, Don Murray, Claude Akins, Shirley Jones and Meryl Streep. And he directed early film appearances of Jessica Tandy,...

The beauty queen, the Mormon missionary tied to a bed – Joyce McKinney's bizarre story gripped Britain in the 1970s and is now retold in a fine documentary

Joyce McKinney is one of those names that for people of a certain age opens a doorway into the past. To mention it is to be transported back to the 1970s, when there were only three TV channels, British food was awful, sex was naughty and Fleet Street was still the home of national newspapers. Back then computers were the preserve of boffins in white coats, but even if journalists had managed to lay their hands on some mainframe monster the size of a small house, and programmed it with all the ingredients of the perfect tabloid story, the results could never have matched the bizarre and compelling tale of a wannabe beauty queen's obsessional love.

Featuring a missionary, a kidnapping, bondage sex,...

Directed BYDavid SchmoellerSTARRINGPaul Le Mat - Alex Whitaker William Hickey - Andre Toulon Robin Frates - Megan Gallagher Irene Miracle - Dana Hadley Jimmie F. Skaggs - Neil Gallagher Matt Roe - Frank Forrester Kathryn O'Reilly - Carissa Stamford Merrya Small - TheresaGenre - Horror/Supernatural/Dolls & ToysRunning Time - 88 MinutesFor as long as horror films have existed, killer toys and/or...

Title: Puppet Master Director: David Schmoeller Writers: Charles Band and Kenneth J. Hall Starring: Paul Le Mat, William Hickey and Irene Miracle Since the birth of the the film industry, puppetry has continuously loaned its magic of entertaining people to the screen, particularly in the horror genre. Several horror franchises featuring puppets have been met with great financial success, including ‘Saw’ and ‘Child’s Play.’ While these series certainly have their flaws, the cult classic ‘Puppet Master,’ which was released this past summer on Blu-ray in honor of its twentieth anniversary, will certainly leave many horror fans wondering why they’ve become so enticed with the dolls. ‘Puppet Master,’ which was co-written by Charles Band, the head [...]...