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It's taken a while, but it feels like we're hitting peak "Star Trek: Voyager" nostalgia these days. It was not always like this: On the heels of "The Next Generation" movies and the sprawling war saga of "Deep Space Nine," the premise of "Voyager," which hurled a Federation ship to the other side of the universe where it presumably would encounter nothing familiar, wasn't as compelling. Initial new aliens like the Kazon were duds, and when the show tried to course-correct, it may have overdone it on the Borg storylines. For the first time, but not the last, it began to feel like there was too much "Star Trek."

However, fans have been going back to "Voyager" and discovering it more old-school charms since the streaming era kicked in -- and especially during the pandemic lockdown.The animated "Star Trek: Prodigy" serves as a sequel of sorts, bringing back multiple...

Choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbett, who taught Kevin Bacon acrobatic dance moves for his starring turn in Footloose and received two Tony nominations for her efforts on Swing!, has died. She was 78.

Taylor-Corbett died Jan. 12 of breast cancer in Rockville Centre, New York, her son, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, told The New York Times.

A onetime dancer with Alvin Ailey’s dance company, Taylor-Corbett also served as a Broadway choreographer for 1981’s Shakespeare’s Cabaret, 1985’s The Boys of Winter, 1988’s Chess, 1994’s Sally Marr … and Her Escorts, 1997-99’s Titanic, 1997-98’s Jackie and 1999-2001’s Swing!, which she also wrote songs for and directed.

Swing!, a celebration of dance in the big band era, featured zero dialogue and was nominated for five Tonys, including best musical. Taylor-Corbett was up for best choreography and best direction of a musical.

In a 1984 interview, Bacon noted he was not a dancer when Taylor-Corbett worked with...

Late in filmmaker Gregory Nava’s harrowing 1983 immigration drama El Norte, Guatemalan refugee Rosa (Zaide Silvia Gutiérrez) lays ailing in a Los Angeles hospital, ravaged by a fatal case of typhus acquired crawling through the rat-infested sewers underneath the Mexican-American border. Sadly resigned to her own death, she turns to her equally ill-fated brother Enrique (David Villalpando) to ask: “When will we find a home, Enrique? Maybe when we die?”–a blunt, heartbreaking moment among many.

But even setting aside the Guatemalan Civil War whose harsh realities provide El Norte its backdrop so too could Rosa’s mournful question could just as easily be asked in relation to the state of independent film in the Americas by the time of El Norte’s world premiere at the 1983 edition of the Telluride Film Festival.

After spending the bulk of the 1970s drinking and producing a series of increasingly unreleasable masterpieces, indie film pioneer John Cassavetes was,...

Star Trek: Voyager premiered in January 1995 as the flagship for the nascent United Paramount Network. The network didn't survive, but the show completed seven lively seasons and 172 episodes, joining the ranks of other classic Star Trek series of the era. The show trapped its crew in the Delta Quadrant: decades from the nearest Starfleet outpost, they were left to find a way home. It was intended to return to The Original Series' loose idea of a starship left to its own devices deep in unexplored space.

Today, Voyager is noted for taking big creative risks, resulting in both classic and risible episodes. But through it all, the sterling cast and unique characters always provided a strong reason to tune in. Below is a breakdown of the ten main members of the Voyager's crew.

Related: Star Trek: Lower Decks Just Simplified Voyager's Biggest Moral Dilemma

Kate Mulgrew as Captain Kathryn Janeway...

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!

V/H/S/99 Blu-ray from Rlje Films

Produced by Bloody Disgusting, V/H/S/99 is going to Hell on Blu-ray and DVD on May 23 via Rlje Films. Pre-orders are only $14.99.

The fifth installment in the found footage horror franchise consists of five segments from directors Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down), Vanessa & Joseph Winter (Deadstream), Maggie Levin (Into the Dark: My Valentine), Tyler MacIntyre (Tragedy Girls), and Flying Lotus (Kuso).

Special features include a filmmaker audio commentary, New York Comic Con panel, deleted scenes, bloopers, and more.

Bride of Chucky Vinyl Soundtrack from Enjoy the Ride Records

Bride of Chucky’s original motion picture soundtrack is available on vinyl for the first time for $40 via Enjoy the Ride Records.

All the Fine Young Cannibals: Guadagnino Crafts Grisly, Devouring Love Story

“It’s amazing what you can do with a cheap piece of meat if you know how to treat it,” says Paul Bartel’s murderous restaurateur in Eating Raoul (1982), the cult comedy about killing people and using their carrion as the meat on the menu. One could say the same for Luca Guadagnino’s cannibal love story Bones and All, adapted from Camille DeAngelis’ 2015 novel by David Kajganich (the director’s screenwriter on A Bigger Splash (review) and Suspiria) in a much richer and darker version than the YA constraints of the original text.…...

Jane Alsobrook, an influential film executive, producer and publicist whose marketing work led to the success of numerous films in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, died Dec. 13 at her home in Sedona, Ariz. of breast cancer. She was 78.

Alsobrook’s career in movies began in 1971. She was recruited to help organize the Los Angeles Film Exposition, or Filmex and soon became part of what is now known as “New Hollywood” — a group that included Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, George Lucas and more. While working for Roger Corman, she also supervised the 1975 Academy Award campaign for “Amarcord,” resulting in four nominations and the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

In 1975, Alsobrook entered the music industry as national publicity director for ABC Records, working alongside legends such as The Pointer Sisters, Steely Dan, Crosby and Nash and Chaka Khan. She then moved back to the world of film in...

Jane Alsobrook, a marketing and publicity specialist who coordinated the U.S. campaigns for numerous successful independent and foreign films in the 1970s and 1980s, has died. She was 78.

It was revealed today that Alsobrook died December 13 at her home in Sedona, Az on after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.

While doing post-graduate work at USC in the early 1970s, Alsobrook joined Gary Essert and Gary Abrahams to help launch the Los Angeles Film Exposition, aka Filmex, the city’s first film festival.

She then joined Roger Corman’s New World Pictures to handle marketing and publicity, notably for Fellini’s Amarcord, which won the Foreign Language Film Oscar in 1975. The following year she shifted gears to become national publicity director for ABC Records, and in the late ’70s she helped engineer the launch of Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, starring The Ramones, which Corman released.

In the early 1980s,...

John Paragon, best known for his role as Jambi the Genie on the television series “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” has died. He was 66.

Paragon died in his residence in Palm Springs, Calif. on April 3, according to a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. A representative for the Sheriff’s Department confirmed to Variety that Paragon’s cause of death was heart disease and chronic alcohol abuse.

Born in Anchorage, Alaska on Dec. 9, 1954, Paragon got his start in show business as part of the L.A.-based improv group The Groundlings, where he worked alongside comics Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman. In 1986, Paragon reunited with Reubens on his Saturday morning children’s show “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” in which Paragon portrayed the teal-faced Jambi the Genie and provided the voice for Pterri. In addition to his role on the series, Paragon also wrote 24 regular season episodes and co-wrote its 1988 Christmas special with Reubens,...

John Paragon, an actor, director and writer most familiar from his disembodied, teal-faced role of Jambi the Genie on Paul Reubens’ Pee-wee’s Playhouse, died April 3 in Palm Springs of unknown causes. He was 66.

Paragon’s death, only recently made public, was confirmed to Deadline by the Riverside County Coroner.

In addition to his work with frequent collaborator Reubens — he also voiced Pterri the Pterodactyl on Playhouse — Paragon is remembered by Seinfeld fans as Cedric, half of the couple Bob and Cedric who appeared occasionally to browbeat Michael Richards’ Kramer. In the famous episode “The Soup Nazi,” Paragon and actor Yul Vazquez, as Bob, stole an armoire that Kramer was guarding for Elaine (Julia-Louis Dreyfus).

Paragon was, like Reubens, a member of the Los Angeles comedy troupe the Groundlings, and contributed to the writing of early stage performances featuring the Pee-wee Herman character. The Jambi character carried over from the...

Josh Braun, producer of some of the best documentaries in the world, joins Josh and Joe to discuss the movies that have influenced him throughout his life.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Man On Wire (2008)

The Cove (2009)

Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010)

Encounters At The End of the World (2007)

Winnebago Man (2009)

Spellbound (2002)

Supersize Me (2004)

Tell Me Who I Am (2019)

Apollo 11 (2019)

The Edge of Democracy (2019)

Finding Vivian Maier (2013)

Searching For Sugarman (2012)

Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008)

A History Of Violence (2005)

Frat House (1998)

Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘N’ Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003)

The Exorcist (1973)

Go West (1940)

A Night In Casablanca (1946)

Hello Down There (1974)

What’s Up Doc? (1972)

El Topo (1970)

Pink Flamingos (1972)

Female Trouble (1974)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Bambi Meets Godzilla (1969)

Gimme Shelter (1970)

Monterey Pop (1968)

Grey Gardens (1975)

Grey Gardens (2009)

Titicut Follies (1967)

To Have And Have Not (1944)

All About Eve...

When Richard Bryce Goodman was a young man, his wide-ranging interests included photography, music and philosophy, but it was a present he received while growing up in Baltimore that seems to have had the biggest influence on his career arc.

“I had a darkroom from age 12 where friends and I used to make our own R&b mixes off Wwin radio with a fancy tape recorder that was given to me by a rich uncle,” says Goodman, an Academy Award-nominated sound mixer.

Goodman’s early training was eclectic. In the late ’60s, he attended London’s Slade School of Fine Art, gaining insight into moviemaking from the institution’s in-house film legend, Thorold Dickinson. Returning stateside, he earned a degree in fine art and philosophy from Bucknell University in 1970. He began shooting documentaries around the college’s art classes using a Bolex camera stocked with film short ends from the psych department.

Buck Henry, screenwriter for The Graduate and co-creator of Get Smart, has died at the age of 89. Henry died of a heart attack at a hospital in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday, the Washington Post reports.

Born Henry Zuckerman in 1930 in New York City, the noted screenwriter was also a regular host in the early days of Saturday Night Live during its first five seasons: He often appeared as the foil to John Belushi’s Samurai Futaba in that series of classic sketches — in one sketch, “Samurai Stockbroker,” Belushi’s...

Stars: Paul Bartel, Mary Woronov, Robert Beltran, Susan Saiger, Richard Paul | Written by Paul Bartel, Richard Blackburn | Directed by Paul Bartel

Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov play David and Sarah Bland, a stuffy married couple who are politely angry at the world for not allowing them to open their restaurant. Money is tight, and to make matters worse, next door is having a swingers party. When one of the partygoers gets the wrong idea and attacks Mary, the Blands kill him. And, wouldn’t you know it, he has a wad of cash on him.

The Blands concoct a plan: They will attract punters to the house with Mary’s charms, and then Paul will kill them. Here’s where Raoul (Robert Beltran) enters stage left. An apparently friendly handyman, he agrees not to blab as long as he can take the bodies (and the cars the grubby victims don...

It's hard to believe that it's been nearly ten years since Ti West's The House of the Devil was released and many people only saw it after it had been available on DVD, Blu-ray, and VOD, so I'm very excited to hear that there will be special screenings throughout the month of October. Here's the official press release and list of cities:

New York, NY (October 4) - One of the best reviewed horror films of all time, Ti West's The House Of The Devil will return to the big screen this October to mark its 10th anniversary. Becoming an instant cult classic upon its release in 2009, The House Of The Devil will receive a nationwide re-release in 27 markets ten years later, beginning October 8th at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Downtown Los Angeles, with a special in-person appearance by Ti West. The House Of The Devil will play single-showing engagements...

The fish in Joe Dante's Piranha don't just nibble your toes, they bite them off, and with the 1978 horror film out now on a limited edition Steelbook Blu-ray from Scream Factory (including a new audio commentary with legendary producer Roger Corman), we've been provided with three copies to give away to lucky Daily Dead readers!

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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) limited edition Steelbook Blu-ray copy of Piranha.

How to Enter: We're giving Daily Dead readers multiple chances to enter and win:

1. Instagram: Following us on Instagram during the contest period will give you an automatic contest entry. Make sure to follow us at:

https://www.instagram.com/dailydead/

2. Email: For a chance to win via email, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with the subject “Piranha Steelbook Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on June 18th.

The fish in Joe Dante's Piranha don't just nibble your toes... they bite them off! If you're looking to enjoy a real scream this June in between your summertime swims, then you'll be pleased to know that Scream Factory will release 1978's Piranha on a limited edition Steelbook with a "4K scan of the original camera negative" and a new audio commentary with the legendary Roger Corman.

From Scream Factory: "Joe Dante's killer fish favorite is now officially a “Scream Factory”-branded title as we present it in a new Blu-ray Steelbook® packaging! Swimming its way this Summer (naturally). Read on for more details:

• Official street date is June 11th for U.S. and Canada territories (Region A).

• We are preparing a new 4K scan of the film from the original negative and have recorded a brand new audio commentary with Executive Producer Roger Corman! All bonus features from...

Joe Dante's killer fish favorite is now officially a Scream Factory-branded title as they present the 80s cult classic in a new blu-ray Steelbook package with an all-new 4K scan of the original negative and a brand new audio commentary with Executive Producer Roger Corman. All bonus features from the prior Blu-ray release will be ported over as well. Piranha will be swimming its way this Summer (naturally) as the official street date is June 11th for U.S. and Canada territories (Region A).

Just when you thought it was safe to go in the river, Piranha features a stellar group of talent in front of as well as behind the camera. The top-notch cast of cult stars includes Kevin McCarthy (Invasion Of The Body Snatchers), Barbara Steele (Black Sunday), Belinda Balaski (The Howling), Dick Miller (A Bucket Of Blood), Paul Bartel (Eating Raoul) and Richard Deacon (The Dick...

Given the sharp rightward turn Brazilian politics has taken, “The Cannibal Club” can’t help but seem considerably more (ahem) biting than it did upon its premiere in the Rotterdam Film Festival a little over a year ago. Having a new president whose attitudes toward the underclasses are scarcely more enlightened than this horror-comedy’s protagonists certainly lends additional frisson to its fictive portrait of a wealthy elite literally eating the poor.

That heightened queasiness factor aside, however, Guto Parente’s eighth feature is a mixed bag: a diverting, stylish, but ultimately rather trite satire whose social critique and grand guignol aspects never quite come to a full boil. Uncork’d Entertainment is opening single-screen engagements in Los Angeles and San Francisco on March 1. On-demand release follows March 5.

Otavio (Tavinho Teixeira) and Gilda (Ana Luiza Rios) live in indolent luxury at their gated country home, he frying up steaks on...

The early ‘70s were really just the hung over ‘60s; idealism had turned to realism as Vietnam marched on and acid dreams turned to lysergic comedowns. And that cutting pall was definitely there in the mainstream culture; TV sitcoms like All in the Family took on bigotry and racism with a sharpened blade and cynical tongue. Meanwhile in the underground, transgressive art was alive and well and still hitting its marks; sordid, seedy, and sprinkled with a devious sense of humor, Paul Bartel’s feature length debut Private Parts (1972) tried to bring that sensibility above ground to an audience not quite ready for its peculiar charms.

Released in September by MGM (!), Private Parts never even received much of a chance to offend mom and pop, as the title prevented it from being advertised in several newspapers and it quickly faded away. Such would be the directorial course of much of Bartel’s career,...

Blessed are the Children is new thriller from co-writer and director Chris Moore, which has been selected to play at the Horror-on-Sea Film Festival on Friday 19th January. I got chance to ask Chris a few questions about his inspirations for making the film, his influences and what makes Blessed are the Children stand out in the horror genre.

What can we expect from the film?

I think you can expect a slasher film that’s fun, has something to say, and characters you actually care about. It’s one of the most important things in a horror film, but a lot of people seem fine with just throwing in a gaggle of busty 20-somethings and calling it a day. I want you to actually feel something when these people are terrorized. I never want you rooting for the killers. I usually come up with a story or concept first...

Matt Gasteier returns to catch up on recent Criterion news and discuss some foodie film in anticipation of Thanksgiving. We cover the February 2018 Criterions, introduce a new challenge called Febluary, and talk about rumors around social media including possibly another Kubrick. We spent a lot of time talking about food on film, whether it is from Criterion or other art films, and we discuss Babbette’s Feast and Eating Raoul in greater length.

Episode Notes

7:40 – February 2018 Announcements

38:00 – Recent Releases and News

54:45 – Foodie Films

1:06:00 – Short Takes (Babette’s Feast, Eating Raoul)

1:13:40 – FilmStruck

Episode Links February 2018 Predictions Thread The Complete Podcast Bloody Disgusting – Night of Anubis, Night of the Living Dead Workprint Isabelle Huppert in the Criterion Closet Criterion Intends to Release Godzilla Films Criterion Food on Film Episode Credits Aaron West: Twitter | Website | Letterboxd Matthew Gasteier: Twitter | Letterboxd | The Complete Pod Criterion Now:...

Welcome to another edition of Over/Under Movies, the podcast in which we choose one overrated film and one underrated film — similar in tone, genre, style, or however we may see fit — and we discuss them.

On this episode, I’m joined by my co-host Oktay Ege Kozak to take a look at two dark comedies that deal with death in vastly different ways. We start with Frank Oz‘s 2007 farce “Death at a Funeral,” which, admittedly, on the surface is a bit of a strange choice as an “overrated.” The film was a decent worldwide hit in 2007 and garnered solid-but-not-spectacular reviews, but in the ten years since its release, it seems to find a spot on many of “Best Dark Comedies” lists.

Continue reading Over/Under Movies Buries ‘Death At A Funeral,’ Savors ‘Eating Raoul’ [Podcast] at The Playlist.

Homage in film can be a tricky proposition. Hew too close to the original, and you’re just making copies with no new toner; veer too far away and folks will wonder why you bothered. Joe Dante’s Piranha (1978) is that perfect beast then - a Jaws “rip-off” that bows to its source while winking at the audience, and yet still manages to be a wholly separate, wildly entertaining ride.

Released by Roger Corman’s New World Pictures in North America in early August (capitalizing on Jaws’ still undulating waves), Piranha was that rare New World phenomenon: It made some good coin ($16 million worldwide against a $600,000 budget) And was well received by critics. Steven Spielberg himself was so won over by Dante’s take and talent that it led to collaborations on Twilight Zone: The Movie, Gremlins, and other projects. Piranha proves that you can hug someone, slap a “Kick Me” sign on their back,...

Post-apocalyptic films were a dime a dozen in the early ‘80s. They were almost always done on the cheap – a small cast of a few survivors, a barren desert and some rags for wardrobe, and voila! Throw it on HBO for a few years and call it a day. But sometimes ambition seeps in, and Night of the Comet (1984) is one of the best examples of low budget ingenuity, smart, sharply drawn characters, and a whole lot of heart. When the aliens return to take back the earth (do you want to claim responsibility for this freak show?) and wish to be shown a film indicative of the ‘80s, show them this – it represents all the best qualities of the decade’s filmmaking.

Distributed by Atlantic Releasing Corporation in mid-November, Night of the Comet brought in over $14 million against a $700,000 budget, making it an indie success with audiences and critics alike.

Last night, at the end of a busy week at work when I was just in the mood to hang out at home and unwind a little, I decided that it was a good time for me to wrap up my viewing of Criterion ’68 by ingesting an assortment of short films that had accumulated, like the last crumbs of cereal at the bottom of the bag, in my chronological checklist of films that I’ve been blogging about over the years. It was a suitable occasion for me to fully immerse myself into what turned out to be a festival of random weirdness. My wife, recovering from a bout with illness, was feeling a bit better but wanted to find a productive use of her time with the resurgence of energy, so she kept herself busy by working on a new quilting project. That left me free to indulge without...

As previously announced, Feinstein's54Below, Broadway's supper club, has will present Eating Raoul In Concert, starring The Skivvies and Roe Hartrampf, for two performances on January 5th, 2017. Based on the cult classic film, the musical featured a book by its original creator, Paul Bartel, lyrics by Boyd Graham and music by Jed Feuer. The creative team behind the concert has just released a sneak peak teaser trailer - check itout below...

In his 1960s and ’70s heyday as the king of drive-in flicks and low-budget exploitation, Roger Corman was the single greatest patron of budding talent in the world. The list of filmmakers and actors who either got their start or their big break working for him goes on and on: Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, Jonathan Demme, Joe Dante, Francis Ford Coppola, Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, Peter Bogdanovich, John Sayles, Charles Bronson, Robert Towne.

Alas, Corman has long since traded cheap thrills for pure cheapness. Given that most of his time is now occupied with Syfy monster movies like Piranhaconda, Sharktopus Vs. Pteracuda, and Dinocroc Vs. Supergator, a sequel to 1975’s sleazy, tongue-in-cheek Death Race 2000 might sound like a partial return to form.

The original, directed by the under-appreciated Paul Bartel (Eating Raoul), had one of the ‘70s Corman’s trademark cocktails of talent: a cast led by ...

We horror fans have been spoiled in recent years when it comes to home video titles, with labels like Scream Factory, Arrow, Synapse, Vinegar Syndrome, Blue Underground and several others releasing genre titles both classic and obscure on pristine high definition Blu-rays, often laden with tons of extra content for too much of a good thing. Now Lionsgate is throwing its hat into the special edition Blu-ray market with Chopping Mall, the first title in their new Vestron Video Collector’s Series. They couldn’t have picked a better title to kick off what is, based on the quality work here, a very promising new label.

Schlock legend Jim Wynorski’s 1986 opus Chopping Mall—aka R.O.B.O.T.S., aka Killbots—is pure B-movie bliss. It takes a group of teenagers (among them genre legends Barbara Crampton and Kelli Maroney, plus Tony O’Dell from Head of the Class...

Epicureanism has come to be associated with mindless indulgence in food and sex, even if those ancient Athenians called for more restraint than you’d typically see in your average horror movie.

Countless horror films, of course, have echoed cultural anxieties surrounding sex, but that other physiological need, food, is also a common ingredient. Poor impulse control is at the heart of every slasher film—usually the perp acting on his, but also the risk-taking behaviors of his victims. And it’s not much of a stretch to consider that there’s a genetic component to this, whether manifested in psychopathy or an inability to keep the fridge door shut.

According to a Bloomberg report, 2015 was the first year Americans spent more on dining out than on groceries, as at-home food prep shows proliferate and the real-life horror that is the obesity epidemic shaves years off our lives. Luckily, amidst...

'Worst Movie Ever?'   No way. But neither is Wayne Berwick and comic Jackie Vernon's tacky cannibalism tale a piece of art. When I say it's interesting, it's more as a study item than entertainment. Bad movie -- but a terrific restoration! Microwave Massacre Blu-ray + DVD Arrow Video 1983 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 76 min. / Street Date August 16, 2016 / 34.95 Starring Jackie Vernon, Loren Schein, Al Troupe, Claire Ginsberg, Maria Simon, Lou Ann Webber, Anna Marlowe. Cinematography Karen Grossman Makeup Effects Robert A. Burns Original Music Leif Horvath Editor Steve Nielson Written by Thomas Singer, Craig Muckler Produced by Craig Muckler, Thomas Singer Directed by Wayne Berwick

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

"Well, the only problem is, I can't make love to a woman, unless I eat her." Just as there are celebrities famous simply for being famous, there are movies that are famous for being bad. Last March I took the curiosity plunge and reviewed the notorious Manos,...

If you are of a certain vintage like me, Saturday morning cartoons in the 70’s were something special. I would make myself a bowl of cereal and stare transfixed as cartoon apes, dogs, and rabbits would drive across my screen in ridiculously shaped hot rods and blue and green Mystery Machines. Roger Corman, always on the lookout for the next profitable venture, transposed Saturday mornings to theatres and drive-ins alike with his dystopic demolition extravaganza, Death Race 2000 (1975) . He just never told anyone it wasn’t meant for kids.

Released in April by New World Pictures, made for $300,000 and bringing home $5,000,000, Death Race 2000 was another success for Corman and company. The mid-70’s was a time of vehicular fantasy on the big screen, especially on the B movie circuit. Everything from Race with the Devil (1975) to Smokey and the Bandit (1977) and beyond emphasized fast cars and explosive chases, with...

The entire cast is now set for the special invitational presentation of Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five, a new musical, today, April 7th at 3 Pm at the Snapple Theater Center 50th Street at Broadway. Music for Slaughterhouse Five is by Jed Feuer The Big Bang, Eating Raoul, with book amp lyrics by Adele Ahronheim The Wild Swans, The Captain's Daughter. The presentation will be directed by Gabriel Barre Amazing Grace, Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party, John amp Jen.

Throughout the month of December, we will be highlighting a film a day that has some tie into the holiday somehow. Some titles will be obvious, others won’t be. Some films will be good and, again, others won’t be. However, we think all titles are worth your time whether to give you chills inside your home or to make you drink more eggnog until you puke laughing.

A mid December night and everyone is out to catch a glimpse of the comet about to pass by the Earth. Regina (Catherine Mary Stewart) is working at the movie theater and misses the comet after spending the night in the projection room with a coworker. Her sister Samantha (Kelli Maroney) is stuck at home with their stepmom and her dumb Comet Party. Samantha runs away but really hides in the tool shed in the backyard. The next morning something is odd.

For the second week of September, horror fans have a ton of Blu-ray and DVD titles they can choose from, including Stan Winston’s Pumpkinhead (the latest from Scream Factory), Synapse Films’ brand new Blu-ray of the original Prom Night, and Bobcat Goldthwait’s sasquatch tale Willow Creek.

Scorpion Releasing is also giving fans their first chance to own Oliver Stone’s directorial debut, Seizure, in stunning HD and Graduation Day is also making its Blu-ray bow this week as well. And as if all that’s not enough, we’re also getting a few re-releases as well including The Amityville Horror, a groovy 4 pack of horror movies from Image and a double DVD of House and House II: The Second Story.

Prom Night Special Edition (Synapse Films, Blu-ray & DVD)

Jamie Lee Curtis (the Halloween film series) and Leslie Nielsen (The Naked Gun film and TV series, Forbidden Planet) star...

 

It's not easy to maintain a firm sense of humor in a movie about two people who fall in love while corpses keep piling up, but I'm not at all surprised to learn that the British madman known as Ben Wheatley (Down Terrace, Kill List) has found a way to pull it off. The man's latest effort will be a big hit with genre geeks who remember cult films like Eating Raoul (1982) and Psychos in Love (1987), but Sightseers is still clever enough to appeal to general movie-watchers. 

  And by "general movie-watchers" I mean people who don't normally see romantic comedies in which a half-dozen people get murdered in casual yet amusingly gory fashion. 

  Simple synopsis for an enjoyably simple movie: Chris (Steve Oram) and Tina (Alice Lowe) have been dating for three months, and (much to the chagrin of her hilariously unpleasant mother) they've decided to get away for a long weekend in his caravan.

Cyber Monday is here and Amazon.com are offering DVD and Blu-ray sales deals for this online-centric final day of the week-long discount shopping sales period. Below are the biggest bargains I've found, many of which have carried over from the Black Friday sales. This is your last chance to get this discounts though, it all goes back to normal soon.

Please note that Dark Horizons will earn a very small referral fee when readers purchase something on Amazon through one of the links below. Said fee helps contribute towards the site's running costs, so if you do grab something - thank you. In terms of personal recommendations for titles and bargains below:

Cyber Monday Blu-ray Picks:

The Criterion disc sale is continuing apace and there's a whole separate article for it right here. Joining since yesterday are titles like "Black Orpheus," "Certified Copy," "Eating Raoul," "House," "La Haine," "The Last Days of Disco,...

Amazon.com are in the midst of offering the last of their DVD and Blu-ray sales deals for the holiday weekend and for Cyber Monday they seem to be doing something special for lovers of the Criterion Collection.

The prestige label offers its classic film titles on Blu-ray at a retail price of $40 and usually sell online for $35. Every now and then Barnes & Noble will hold half price sales with titles going for at least $20. Today, Amazon is selling various key ones for $18 and $21 a piece.

Amongst the titles on offer there's film classics like "8 1/2," "12 Angry Men," "The 39 Steps," "Antichrist," "Being John Malkovich," "Black Narcissus," "Blow Out," "Brazil," "Carlos," "Charade," "Che," "Cronos," "Days of Heaven," "Diabolique," "The Darjeeling Limited," "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," "The Game," "Godzilla," "Hunger," "In the Mood for Love," "The Last Temptation of Christ," "M," "Night of the Hunter," "Paths of Glory," "Rashomon," "The Red Shoes,...

“To achieve harmony in bad taste is the height of elegance.”

—Jean Genet

A breeding ground of mutinous filmmakers, skillful craftsmen and established auteurs, the Cormanian Factory is the self-effacing creative engine of post-war American cinema. First as a director, then as a producer, Roger Corman innovated, anticipated and subverted Hollywood canons, ushering in a liberated practice of moviemaking. Instead of aping European new waves, the Cormanian Factory forged an indigenous cinema, commercial and entertaining yet resolutely opposed to dominant taste. Having always operated below the notoriety level and on rigorously low budgets, Monsieur Corman has never been recognized as the 7th art luminary he truly is. Neither Jaws nor Star Wars would have been conceived without his exploratory and influential work. His most successful pupils (Scorsese, Coppola, Demme and Bogdanovich) diligently achieved international fame, some others, like Corman himself, ‘irresponsibly’ kept on pushing boundaries within the b-movie format in the catacombs of imagination.

After a break, we return right into our look at the varied world of comedy horror in cinema, with the occasional diversion into TV. So far we have had a variety of films from a variety of countries, from the obscure Hausu to the more immediately accessible in Beetlejuice & Drag me To Hell.

Before we go any further, horror has a habit of coming across in such an earnest light that it threatens to make its audience laugh. Take 2011’s The Rite as an example. The Rite starred Anthony Hopkins as an unorthodox priest outside the system who specialises in exorcisms in Rome, (spoiler) as luck would have it he becomes possessed and he over-acts like only Hopkins can. There is also the copious employment of cats jumping at the camera, even a horse with red eyes appears at one point. It was one of the best comedy films of...

By Allen Gardner

Prometheus (20th Century Fox) Ridley Scott’s quasi-prequel to his 1979 classic “Alien” has an intergalactic exploratory team (Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba) arriving on a uncharted planet, where they discover what appears to be a dormant alien spacecraft and what might be the first discovery of intelligent life outside of Earth. Of course, everything goes straight to hell before you can scream “Don’t touch that egg!” Sumptuous visuals and strong performances from the cast (not to mention a nearly-perfect first half) can’t compensate for gaping plot and logic holes that nearly sink the proceedings in the film’s protracted second half. It feels as though some very crucial footage wound up on the cutting room floor. Perhaps, as with “Alien” and “Aliens” we’ll see a “Director’s Cut” of “Prometheus” arriving on DVD within the next year. In the meantime,...

Black Sunday: Remastered Edition (1960) Lorber Films Blu-ray and DVD Available Now

One of director Mario Bava’s most acclaimed works, Black Sunday is a strikingly photographed “old dark castle” thriller revolving around witchcraft and possession. Barbara Steele (Piranha) gives a hypnotic performance as Katia, the unfortunate look-alike descendent of a witch who intends to possess her. This highly influential film, also shot by Bava, was the precursor to countless American and European gothic horrors. This is the uncut European print with a few extra minutes of footage, a different English track and Robert Nicolosi’s haunting original score. After years of ugly public domain releases, Black Sunday is finally being presented in its original aspect ratio with a high definition transfer struck from a pristine 35Mm archival print.

Special Features:

• Audio commentary by Tim Lucas (author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark).

• Original Bava theatrical trailers.

Somehow, despite my failings as a WordPress user, I have been allowed to return to you tonight with a collection of links that went around the Internet today. Above you might notice an image with a bunch of snakes, an alligator, and some lights. Neat, huh? Well that just so happens to be our first look inside the Ark that Darren Aronofsky is building for Russell Crowe’s Noah. Aronofsky’s cinematographer, Matthew Libatique tweeted the image earlier, but appears to have deleted since. Here’s the full look (via The Film Stage, who I think had it re-posted first): Last night the folks at Fantastic Fest gave out some awards, you can find all of the winners here. Today is pretty huge, home video wise. With the Bond Blu-rays getting a massive box set re-release, Criterion releasing The Game and Eating Raoul, and a little film called The Avengers finally hitting shelves, it...

The Avengers I have had a chance to watch The Avengers on Blu-ray and have listened to exactly 6:02 minutes of Joss Whedon's commentary so far with plans on finishing tonight and delivering an article for you tomorrow or the following day. The speed in which I finish depends on Joss, however, as he already tends to be very loquacious. Otherwise, the film looks and sounds great and I did get a chance to watch the "Agent 47" short film (or Marvel One-Shot as they refer to it) with Lizzy Caplan and Jesse Bradford, which wasn't too bad, but it was a short film, which means there wasn't much to expect. Overall, fans of the film should definitely pick this one up, though I will admit, after seeing it three times now, you start to feel its bloat more and more with each viewing. Luckily, it's a film that tends...

As cinephiles are probably quite aware, the Criterion Collection preserves select films deemed historically important or which represent important works by rising and established auteurs of cinema. To provide audiences with the best possible viewing experience of a film, Criterion restores the films to their highest quality and then produces a litany of featurettes to provide audiences with some context for the films in question. Each month, they increase the depth of their library, releasing a select group of titles onto DVD and Blu-ray, often giving the public a chance to purchase films that would otherwise never become available at big box stores. This September, the Criterion Collection releases Marcel Carné's Children of Paradise and Les Visiteurs du Soir, Paul Bartel's Eating Raoul, Vittorio De Sica's Umberto D., and even The Game by David Fincher (The Social Network).

Read more...

By Colleen Wanglund, MoreHorror.com

Horrorfind Weekend 14

Once again Labor Day weekend rolled around and it was time for another trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for the Horrorfind Weekend Convention.

The convention combines all things horror—books, movies, collectibles, etc—and that’s what I really enjoy about it. Last year I had a blast, getting to meet authors I knew online in person and hang out with friends who live in other parts of the country but gather in Gettysburg once a year.

This year’s movie guests included Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange {1971}, Halloween {2007}, and Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse), Ray Wise (Robocop {1987} and David Lynch’s Twin Peaks), Doug Bradley (the Hellraiser series), Mary Woronov (The House Of The Devil {2009}, Eating Raoul {1982}, Death Race 2000 {1975}) and Patty Mullen (Frankenhooker {1990}).

There were quite a few authors representing the small horror press Samhain Publishing, including John Everson, Brian Moreland, David Bernstein,...

Chicago – HollywoodChicago.com is launching a series of calendars – starting with the release of a Blu-ray schedule – complete with links to pre-order the titles you just can’t wait to own!

The Hunger Games

Photo credit: Lionsgate

August 7, 2012

“Clue: The Movie”

“Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax”

“Full Metal Jacket: 25th Anniversary”

“Grimm: Season One”

“Grosse Pointe Blank: 15th Anniversary Edition”

“High Fidelity”

“Marley”

“The Preacher’s Wife”

“Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion: 15th Anniversary Edition”

“Strike Back: Season One”

August 14, 2012

“Dexter: The Sixth Season”

“Glee: The Complete Third Season”

“Jaws”

“Kill List”

“La Promesse: The Criterion Collection”

“The Raid: Redemption”

“Rosetta: The Criterion Collection”

“The Royal Tenenbaums: The Criterion Collection”

August 18, 2012

“The Hunger Games”

A Separation

Photo credit: Sony

August 21, 2012

“The Aristocats”

“Bernie”

“Chimpanzee”

“The Dictator”

“House: Season Eight”

“Pocahontas”

“The Rescuers”

“A Separation”

“The Tigger Movie”

“Weekend: The Criterion Collection”

August 28, 2012

“Battleship”

“Boardwalk Empire...

Cinema Retro has received the following press release:

Attention Florida Cult Movie fans: The 30th Anniversary screening of the 1982 cult hit "Eating Raoul" will be:

This Thursday, June 28th - 9pm

at the infamous Tampa Pitcher Show Theater

with special guest Susan Saiger - the "Eating Raoul" dominatrix!

Tickets are $8 (+ 1 drink minimum)

- Q&A's with Susan Saiger before and after the movie!!!

Tampa Pitcher Show movie theater

14416 N. Dale Mabry Hwy

Tampa, Fl 33618  

(813) 963-0578 or (813) 969-4349

For more info visit the Tampa Pitcher Show official website!

"Eating Raoul" stars cult movie icons Paul Bartel, Mary Woronov, and Susan Saiger.   Directed by Paul ("Death Race 2000") Bartel.

Note: This is not a presentation of the Cult Movie Mania Screaming Cinema Series.  "Eating Raoul" is hosted by our friends at the Tampa Pitcher Show theater, the grindhouse of the new millennium!  Have a Great night at the movies!

--

- The...

Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: Sept. 25, 2012

Price: DVD $29.95, Blu-ray $39.95

Studio: Criterion

Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov work their way up to Eating Raoul.

A sleeper hit independent comedy film of the early 1980s that has since gone on to become a cult favorite, Eating Raoul (1982) is a bawdy, gleefully amoral tale of conspicuous consumption.

Warhol superstar Mary Woronov (Rock’n'Roll High School) and co-writer/director Paul Bartel (The Usual Suspects) star as a prudish married couple who feel put upon by the swingers who live in their apartment building. One night, by accident, they discover a way to simultaneously realize their dream of ridding themselves of the “perverts” down the hall and opening a little restaurant with a very unique menu.

Also starring Robert Beltran (Repo Chick) in the role of the ultimately consumable title character, Eating Raoul is a mix of anything-goes slapstick and clever satire on me-generation self-indulgence

Criterion...

Roger Corman's Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader is heading to this year's San Diego Comic-Con, where Corman will introduce the Epix Original Movie at a 3D screening following the panel to be held on Saturday, July 14th.

The screening will be at 12:00 Midnight at the Gaslamp's Reading Cinemas. The movie will then premiere on August 25th at 10:00 pm Et on Epix.

Synopsis:

In an update to the great genre pictures of the ‘50s, Roger Corman’s first ever 3D film, Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader, follows a college coed who uses an experimental drug to transform herself into a popular beauty – but at a huge price. Produced by Corman along with his producing partner/wife Julie Corman, the movie stars Jena Sims ("The Vampire Diaries"), Sean Young (Blade Runner), Treat Williams (Hair, Prince of the City, "Everwood"), Ryan Merriman ("Pretty Little Liars"), A.J. Lamas ("Leave it to...