Coronavirus Mortality Updates: 2020 - 2023 |
March 6 |
THE LAST MAN ON EARTH Turns 62
After over half a century, Horror fans remain divided over this movie. New audiences watching it for the first time are no exception. They either think its a dull dragged out slog, or find it a compelling slow burn that builds to a powerful punch of an ending.
Considering that nearly the entire movie rests on the shoulders of a single actor, THE LAST MAN ON EARTH remains a testament to the riveting character command of Vincent Price.
And -
ANGEL HEART is 38
When it comes to slow burn creepiness I can't think of any movie that beats this one.
The only misstep is a corny special effect applied at the wrong to an actor who was already effectively commanding the threat of the moment. Other than that, this is why ANGEL HEART is classic Scary Horror.
Plus -
WATCHMEN is 16
The task was called impossible. Warner Bros. developed for years trying to bring Alan Moore's comic to the big screen.
Yet that was the thing: it was a comic book. Every panel drawn by Dave Gibbons, every page: It was practically a storyboard! An excellent, New York TImes Bestselling blueprint in full color! The only impossible thing about making a movie of it was accepting all of the changes a revolving door of untested, uncreative WB suits, unfamiliar with the book but wanting to make it a better story, demanded. All of the changes the disposable Post-It Noters wanted were all garbage And They Knew It. When Writer Alan Moore got wind of it, and after he endured years of endlessly dealing with it, he wanted nothing to do with the nascent movie, broke ties with Warner owned DC comics forever, and sued to have his name removed (it was, eventually).
It appeared, to an outsider like myself, that Warner would have thrown in the towel except, stinging at every major Comic Convention and ceaselessly booed by Alan Moore fans, they stubornly held on just to have the last word. This damn movie had to be made if for no other reason than to spite Alan Moore. We can't let talent get away with having the upper hand like this!
Zack Snyder was brought on board and the only way the WB could do that was give him relatively free reign with this movie and make pie in the sky promises. Which, in fact, they followed through upon. Which means that THE WATCHMEN we got in 2009 is as good as it will ever look through WB.
Wassmor -
HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Shane Brolly (FLYPAPER, IMPOSTOR, DEADLY SWARM, UNDERWORLD [2003 - all], DEVIL'S HIGHWAY, ROOM 6, BOOK OF FIRE, LAZARUS) is 56.
Actor Nicole Kruex (TRINITY, TERROR OVERLOAD, THE CITY, NIGHT ON HAS BEEN MOUNTAIN, NEXT DOOR, AFTER THE DAWN, INSECTULA!, PARANORMALICE, PARANORMAL TAPES, CONFESSIONS OF A GRAVE ROBBER) is 65 or something.
Look for Nicole in the upcoming 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026 Horror Thriller, ARMSAGEDDON. Also in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, maybe 2026 (?), SURVIVOR GIRLS.
Writer Richard Salter (various anthologies) is 65 or something.
Writer and feoamante.com alumni, Christopher Treagus (IN THE AUTUMN OF THE UNFORTUNATES, HUNTING SORROW, TO SUFFER A WITCH) is 65 or something.
Writer Ann VanderMeer (THE NEW WEIRD, ODD?, THE WEIRD, THE BESTIARY, STEAMPUNK Anthology [all], GIFTS FOR THE ONE WHO COMES AFTER, CABINET OF CUROSITIES, THE WEIRD: A COMPENDIUM OF STRANGE AND DARK STORIES, and plenty more) is 69.
| DRESS NICE | |
|
March 5 |
82 Years of FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN
"Meets" being the key word, nearly a misnomer, here. After all, "Meets" implies meeting each other, as in "A cordial meeting."
HA!
This was no polite introduction over drinks at a party. There's no, "Oh, how do you do?" and "Charmed, I'm sure!"
No, this was all ARGH! GRR! ROAR! and
"YOUR MOTHER!"
Yet, for a Universal Pictures sequel at that time in their history, FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLF MAN is surprisingly good and this why.
And -
72 Years of CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON
Like many movie franchise monsters (FRANKENSTEIN, GODZILLA, HALLOWEEN, FRIDAY THE 13th), more than one actor played the Creature in its run.
Ricou Browning played the Creature in the water in all three movies and Ben Chapman played the Creature on land in the first one.
Ricou also paid the rent and put food on the table by being the creator and writer of the popular Flipper movies and TV shows.
In case you hadn't already guessed, the Creature design inspired Director Guillermo Del Toro (MIMIC, THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE, BLADE II, HELLBOY, PAN'S LABYRINTH) when he made THE SHAPE OF WATER. Del Toro's "creature" was actor Doug Jones (HELLBOY, UNIVERSAL DEAD, PAN'S LABYRINTH). While Creature Feature fans wait for an amazing reboot, this is what created the enduring legacy of THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON.
Plus -
16 Years of ALICE IN WONDERLAND
Whew! If any story could could find a home in Tim Burton's wheelhouse, it had to be this one.
Although this is a third and different nearly Lewis Carroll tale of what happened after all of the adventures Through The Looking Glass and in ALICE IN WONDERLAND.
Finale -
HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Samantha Eggar (DR. CRIPPEN, PSYCHE 59, THE COLLECTOR, RETURN FROM THE ASHES, THE DEAD ARE ALIVE, A NAME FOR EVIL, THE SEVEN-PER-CENT SOLUTION, WELCOME TO BLOOD CITY, THE UNCANNY, THE BROOD, THE EXTERMINATOR, DEMONOID: MESSENGER OF DEATH, CURTAINS, INEVITABLE GRACE, THE PHANTOM, THE ASTRONAUT'S WIFE) is 87.
Movie Producer David Fury (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER [TV], ANGEL [TV], LOST [TV], 24 [TV], FRINGE [TV], 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY [TV], SECOND CHANCE [TV], THE TICK [TV], 9-1-1 [TV]) is 66.
Actor Hanna Mangan Lawrence (THE SQUARE, ACOLYTES, LUCKY COUNTRY, X: NIGHT OF VENGEANCE, SPARTACUS: WAR OF THE DAMNED [TV], THE RECKONING, THE REACH, CONTAINMENT [TV], SWEETHEART) is 35.
Horror Writer and Feo Amante alumni, Mike Oliveri (DEADLIEST OF THE SPECIES, WEREWOLVES: CALL OF THE WILD, SINS OF BLOOD AND STONE [w/John Urbancik], RESTORE FROM BACKUP [w/J.F. Gonzalez], THE PACK: WINTER KILL, BRAVO FOUR) is 50.
Visit him at Michael Oliveri.com.
Horror Writer R.H. Stavis (DANIEL'S VEIL, DEMON'S MERCY, THE ORDER OF SOULS) is 44.
Horror Writer Nicholas Alan Tillmans (HARDBALL, ACETONE ENEMA, INVISIBLE CHILDREN'S BOOK INSTRUCTION MANUAL) is 50.
| DRESS NICE | |
