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APRIL 30 |
IDLE HANDS Turns 25
In 1998, Devon Sawa, the kid who played the ghost in CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST, wasn't a kid anymore and came back for another shot at doing Horror comedy in his first adult role.
He was paired up with another child actor nobody in her first adult role, Jessica Alba.
Written by Terri Hughes (who had 0 credits in feature films, Comedy, or Horror) and the man who would come to be her writing partner to this day, Ron Milbauer (same credits), the movie need direction and, after two other directors dropped out for greener pastures, it fell into the lap of a quirky guy named Rodman Flender (THE UNBORN [1991], LEPRECHAUN 2).
According to actor Seth Green, beyond the Horror aspect, nobody even knew what kind of movie they were making: Comedy? Drama? Serious Horror with funny moments? The writers had one idea, the director another, the producers and studio couldn't agree either. In such a vaccuum, Devon (Anton), Seth (Mick), and Eldon Henson (Pnub), improvised many of their lines and sight gags, and somehow miraculously, brilliantly, it all came together, making 1999's IDLE HANDS the best movie the Director, Producers, and Writers have ever made.
And -
HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Make-up Artist Joe Blasco (GARDEN OF THE DEAD, THE TOUCH OF SATAN, SHIVERS, ILSA: SHE WOLF OF THE SS, RABID, THE CLONUS, DEAN KOONTZ: WHISPERS) is 77.
Writer and feoamante alumni, Maurice Broaddus (DEVIL'S MARIONETTE, KING MAKER [all], BUFFALO SOLDIER, PIMP MY AIRSHIP) is 52 today.
He says.
Visit him at Maurice-Broaddus.
Actor Kirsten Dunst (INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, MOTHER NIGHT, TOWER OF TERROR, THE DEVIL'S ARITHMETIC, THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, THE CROW: SALVATION, LUCKYTOWN, DEEPLY, SPIDER-MAN, DEADLY FRIENDS, KAENA: THE PROPHECY, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, SPIDER-MAN 2, SPIDER-MAN 3, ALL GOOD THINGS, MELANCHOLIA, CHARM UPSIDE DOWN, MIDNIGHT SPECIAL, THE BEGUILED, WOODSHOCK, CIVIL WAR) is 41.
Writer Colleen Gleason (THE REST FALLS AWAY, RISES THE NIGHT, THE BLEEDING DUSK, WHEN TWILIGHT BURNS, SINISTER SUMMER, THE GARDELLA VAMPIRE HUNTERS, THE CLOCKWORK SCARAB) is 56.
VIsit her at Colleen-Gleason.
Writer and feoamante alumni Brian Knight (RANDOM ACTS OF WEIRDNESS, BLACK DAY, DRAGONFLY, HACKS, FERAL, JOHNNY JUNK, THE PHOENIX GIRLS, THEY CALL US MONSTERS) is 50.
Visit him at Brian-Knight.
SFX Make-Up Artist Mike McCarty (PUPPET MASTER 4, STEPMONSTER, LEPRECHAUN 2, THE STAND [TV], PUPPET MASTER 5, MUNCHIE STRIKES BACK, LEPRECHAUN 3, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, [all], SCREAM 2, SIN CITY, LAND OF THE DEAD, SERENITY, POSEIDON, DEJA VU, THE HITCHER [2007], HOSTEL PART II, PLANET TERROR, MIRRORS, THE FINAL DESTINATION, SURROGATES, SPLICE, THE BOOK OF ELI, EDGE OF DARKNESS, PRIEST, TEXAS CHAINSAW 3D, STATION 4, THE BINDING, ANNABELLE, AMITYVILLE: THE AWAKENING, TONE-DEAF, THE FOREVER PURGE, DOOM: ANNIHILATION, UMMA) is like, 63 or something.
Mike shares an April birthday with his SERENITY alumni, Gina Torres.
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APRIL 29 |
HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Horror fiction editor, Nanci Kalanta (EULOGIES II) is 63 today.
Actor, Stuntman, Derek Mears (THE DEMOLITIONIST, MEN IN BLACK II, CURSED, SIGNS, Masters of Horror: PRO-LIFE, THE HILLS HAVE EYES II, INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL, FRIDAY THE 13TH [2009], HELLBINDERS, PREDATORS, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES, THE AGGRESSION SCALE, COMPOUND FRACTURE, HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS, HATCHET III, LOST TIME, PERCY JACKSON: SEA OF MONSTERS, DEAD SNOW 2, COMPOUND FRACTURE, LOST TIME, FREAKS OF NATURE, SLEEPY HOLLOW [TV], FROM JENNIFER, RWBY [TV], ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, SWAMP THING [TV], THE GUARDIANS OF JUSTICE (WILL SAVE YOU!)) is 52.
Look for Derek in the hoped for USA 2023 release of LION GIRL.
Writers, Producers, Actors, Directors Jen Soska and Sylvia Soska (ReGOREgITATED SACRIFICE, DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK, AMERICAN MARY, F4F FRIENDS 4 LIFE, SUBURBAN GOTHIC, ABCs OF DEATH 2, SEE NO EVIL 2, THE BLACKBURN ASYLUM, HELLAVATOR [TV], RABID, ON THE EDGE) are 41.
Look for the Soska Sisters in the upcoming 2023 Horror movie, MUTILATOR 2.
SUNDAY -
Actor Jessica Alba (IDLE HANDS, PARANOID, DARK ANGEL [TV], SIN CITY, INTO THE BLUE, AWAKE, THE EYE, THE KILLER INSIDE ME, MACHETE, MACHETE KILLS, SIN CITY 2: A DAME TO KILL FOR, THE VEIL, KILLERS ANONYMOUS) is 41.
Look for Jessica in the upcoming 2022 Thriller, TRIGGER WARNING.
Writer P.S. Gifford (THE CURIOUS ACCOUNTS OF THE IMAGINARY FRIEND, DR. OFFIG'S LESSONS FROM THE DARK SIDE, THE FURTHER ACCOUNTS OF THE IMAGINARY FRIEND) is 61 or something.
Actor Rebekah Kochan (EXORCISM: THE POSSESSION OF GAIL BOWERS, WHEN A KILLER CALLS, DRACULA'S CURSE, HALLOWEEN NIGHT, FREAKSHOW, YORKTOWN, DEADLY SANCTUARY) is 38.
Writer Steven E. Wedel (CALL TO THE HUNT, SHARA, DARKSCAPES, SEVEN DAYS IN BENEVOLENCE, MURDERED BY HUMAN WOLVES, ULRIK, LITTLE GRAVEYARD ON THE PRAIRIE, NADIA'S CURSE, UNHOLY WOMB, AFTER OBSESSION) is 56.
Actor Kari Wuhrer (THINNER, ANACONDA, KATE'S ADDICTION, FATAL CONFLICT, KILLER LOVE, EIGHT LEGGED FREAKS, FINAL EXAMINATION, KING OF THE ANTS, THE HITCHER II, THE PROHECY: UPRISING, HELLRAISER: DEADER, THE PROPHECY: FORSAKEN, TORNADO WARNING, SECRETS OF A PSYCHOPATH) who is 55.
Composer Christopher Young THE DORM THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, THE POWER [1984], DEF-CON4, WHEELS OF FIRE, BARBARIAN QUEEN, WIZARDS OF THE LOST KINGDOM, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 2: FREDDY'S REVENGE, TORMENT, INVADERS FROM MARS [1986], TRICK OR TREAT [1986], HELLRAISER, FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC, HAUNTED SUMMER, HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER 2, THE FLY II, HIDER IN THE HOUSE, THE VAGRANT, JENNIFER 8, THE DARK HALF, DREAM LOVER, TALES FROM THE HOOD, SPECIES, VIRTUOSITY, COPYCAT, UNFORGETTABLE, HUSH, URBAN LEGEND, BLESS THE CHILD, THE GIFT, THE GLASS HOUSE, THE CORE, THE GRUDGE, THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE, THE GRUDGE 2, GHOST RIDER, SPIDER-MAN 3, UNTRACEABLE, THE INFORMERS, THE UNINVITED, DRAG ME TO HELL, PRIEST, THE GHOSTMAKER, SCARY OR DIE, DELIVER US FROM EVIL, PET SEMATARY [2019], THE EMPTY MAN) is 65.
John Carpenter's VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED Turns 29
By 1995 even the new board of directors at Universal had to admit that their studio, and not John Carpenter, was entirely to blame for fortune they'd lost on, what was now recognized world-wide as one of the best movies ever made, John Carpenter's THE THING. How could they not? Even most of the still living critics who eviscerated it with glee in 1982, were humbly repenting, their virtual hats in their hands.
Except for a few like Roger Ebert. Roger flummoxed more than a few of his contemporaries in 2011 by simply not understanding the movie, the story, how the alien worked, and why. It was as if, whenever Ebert watched a movie, he had fixed expectations for how it has to be told and anything his checked boxes wasn't simply challenging, new, or curious, let alone exciting: It was wrong. Any movie that didn't fit his niches was made wrong.
So Universal, wanting Carpenter's audience but not respecting him wanted to hire John again (We at Universal feel John has a terrible studio reputation. After all, look at the awful things we say about him!). Was there another classic Science Fiction Horror movie that John would like to make? Come, let bygones by bygones! We have a few properties here. Are there any you'd like to do?
Well, John had one... VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED.
THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE is 14
A teenager already? Ah, they grow so fast! The Horror movie genre is filled with gory gross-out exploitation, with violence and atrocity so over-the-top it achieves Pythonesque humor over repulsion.
With all of that said, 14 years later and I've still never seen such a polished, low-budget, indie exploitation Horror movie like Tom Six's THE HUMAN CENTIPEDE.
SATURDAY -
Off again, on again, say again? lead guitarist for KISS,
Musician Ace Frehley (Albums: HOTTER THAN HELL, DESTROYER, LOVE GUN, PSYCHO CIRCUS and way more. Movies: KISS MEETS THE PHANTOM OF THE PARK [TV], REMEDY) is 70.
Look for the latest Ace Album,
Actor Kevin McNally (ENIGMA, DOCTOR WHO [TV 1984], THE ADVENTURES OF YOUNG INDIANA JONES: MY FIRST ADVENTURE, UNDERWORLD [TV 1997], JEKYLL & HYDE [1990], PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN [all], THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA [2004], DEAD FISH, SCOOP, DEMONS [TV], THE RAVEN [2012], SUPERNATURAL [TV], BOUNTY KILLER, DESIGNATED SURVIVOR [TV], THE OUTPOST [TV], DECRYPTED, DOCTOR WHO [TV - 2021], PAINTED BEAUTY) is 67.
Look for Kevin in the 2022 Dark Comedy, ARGH!.
Actor Laura Ortiz (THE HILLS HAVE EYES [2006], CHILLERAMA, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF HORROR [TV], VICTOR CROWLEY, SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER [VG], HOLLISTON [TV]) is 36.
Writer, Producer, Director Matt Reeves (FUTURE SHOCK [2014], CLOVERFIELD, LET ME IN, DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES, 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE, THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX, THE PASSAGE [TV], TALES FROM THE LOOP [TV], AWAY [TV], MOTHER/ANDROID, THE BATMAN) is 57.
Actor Lisa Wilcox (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4: THE DREAM MASTER, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 5: THE DREAM CHILD, WATCHERS REBORN, DEAD COUNTRY, FEAR CLINIC [Net Series], SAVAGE, SEBASTIAN, IMAGO, CLINGER, RED HOLLOW, THE CHURCH [2018], SOMETHING HORRIBLE, THE BLOODY MAN, MYSTERY SPOT, DARK RITUAL, SEASONS, WOODS WITCH, THE HOUSE THAT EATS FLESH) is 59.
Look for Lisa in the upcoming 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Horror Thriller, ANADELLIA RISES. Also expected in 2024, DESERT FIENDS.
THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS is 61
When John Wyndham wrote THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS, no such plant existed. Years later when this movie was released, it was so convincing that many in the audience thought Triffids were real. But of course they weren't in 1963.
But time changes everything and long after the release of this movie, botanist scientists discovered an actual species of Triffid. All that and more in my review of THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS.
DEATH RACE 2000 is 49!
When cinema historians look at Ib Melchior's lifetime output, and then Roger Corman's insanely extensive lifetime output, DEATH RACE 2000 is in both of their top ten.
What makes this even crazier? DEATH RACE 2000 is also in actors David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone's extensive lifetime output top 10!
This is a staggering achievement for a futuristic SF movie and something the 2008 DEATH RACE reboot and its sequels will never claim for anyone but its Co-writer, Producer, and Director Paul W.S. Anderson (EVENT HORIZON, RESIDENT EVIL, PANDORUM). Who, unfortunately, boasts a top ten that largely consists of box office bombs you likely have never heard of.
24 years into timeline obsolescence and more than double that since its launch date, yet Paul Bartel's DEATH RACE 2000, and its franchise, STILL LIVES!
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