Coronavirus Mortality Updates: 2020 - 2023 |
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.
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!
| DRESS NICE | |
|
APRIL 26 |
My New Novel RUMOR
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
My new novel is also my first novel. Like most comics, artists, musicians, or writers, I began with the riffs of those who came before. In this case, RUMOR is my modernization and extension of H.P. Lovecraft's The Statement Of Randolph Carter. Lovecraft wrote so many stories that ended on a cliffhanger, punchline, many were described as "fragments". Many of those fragments were finished by other authors after Lovecraft's death. Lovecraft's The Statement', hat left me wondering,
"But what happened next?"
RUMOR is my What Happened Next.
I'm already preparing for two more books to end on a trilogy, and like Lovecraft himself, I'm moving forward by creating my own monsters, not borrowing from anyone else (at least, not that I'm aware - there is little new under the sun ...
... or beneath the surface).
Monday morning on a crisp October dawn, Professor R. Carter was found wandering, disoriented, near death, on the outskirts of Big Cypress Swamp.
Since the weekend, missing person reports from Houston towns and suburbs spiked to unprecedented levels. Strange animals were seen wandering near the edges of neighborhoods and all bordering the swamp.
Carter was the first, and only one of the missing, who returned.
To Police Psychiatrist Iris Scanley and Det. Alex Mezo, the only thing more unbelievable than Carter's witness statement was the madness growing all around them.
"Whatever is happening, its moving toward Houston."
As a panicked city tipped toward anarchy, everyone had a theory, but Scanley and Mezo were unaware that they had only hours to uncover the facts beneath the rumor.
Rumor: People are Dying to know the Truth.
RUMOR is available in Hardcover, Paperback, and Kindle (free to users of Kindle Unlimited).
And -
THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US is 68
Outdated, flawed, but fun, reviewer Kelly Parks explains why THE CREATURE WALKS AMONG US is Ripe For Remake!
Plus -
JASON X is 22
Do you remember watching this in the movie theaters when you were 18?
Well now yer 40 and yer OLD! Old enough to be a freaking Grandparent and here we are, still talking about Jason freaking Voorhees!
In fact, screenwriter Ken King, The Fan Behind the Mask, wrote our review of JASON X.
Also -
AVENGERS ENDGAME is 5
It's almost breathtaking how fast and nearly complete the box office power of DC and Marvel Superhero movies were wiped out by their own studios. Only DC's BATMAN and Marvel's SPIDER-MAN and DEAD POOL appear to stand above the fray, and that's not a given.
Stan Lee couldn't make it to the end of the first MCU story arc, but his parting gift was more than enough for Marvel fans. Even if Marvel comics go under (which seems given) and Disney destroys the brand (already in its final death throes), we ended on a genuinely earned emotional high with AVENGERS ENDGAME.
Finale -
HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Michael Dorman (SUBURBAN MAYHEM, ACOLYTES, TRIANGLE [2009], DAYBREAKERS, NEEDLE, SERANGOON ROAD, GOLDSTONE, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES, THE INVISIBLE MAN [2020], THE SECRETS SHE KEEPS [TV], FOR ALL MANKIND [TV]) is 43.
Actor Amber Midthunder (DEADLY SPECIES, NOT FORGOTTEN, 14 CAMERAS, ONLY MINE, LEGION [TV], ROSEWELL NEW MEXICO [TV], THE MARKSMAN, ICE ROAD, PREY, DREAM SCENARIO) is 27.
| GET SOME CLOTHES ON | |
| MORE NEWS |
