It's FRIDAY THE 13th!

Run through the entire franchise with our reviewer Ken "The Fan Behind the Mask" King, starting with the original FRIDAY THE 13th.

And -

KING GHIDORAH: THE 3-HEADED MONSTER is 59

By 1961, toy sales of GOJIRA, which were expected to be moderate and for a limited time, y'know, just long enough to promote the movie, went through the roof!

So they made more! Then in the world-wide market toy sales went into orbit! Toho Pictures reaction to all of this was to turn GODZILLA from a villain into a hero. Otherwise kids are admiring evil, right?

Which meant GODZILLA needed a villain to battle. So GODZILLA battled MOTHRA, but then they wound up as friends. GODZILLA battled RODAN but then they kinda wound up as friends (those damn lucrative toy sales are kiling our franchise!). Then GODZILLA Director Honda hit upon a great idea! What if we stopped turning all of our monsters into Good Guys? How about we have a Kaiju that will ALWAYS be a bad guy?

By golly, that's just crazy enough to work! And boy did it ever with KING GHIDORAH: THE 3-HEADED MONSTER.

Plus -

FREDDY'S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE is 33

The tagline for this anticlimatic end to the franchise, "They Saved the Best... for Last" remains up for debate with every newly minted fan who chooses to binge the series. The debate centers on just what degree of how awful it is and I've yet to read or hear of any fans of FREDDY'S DEAD: THE FINAL NIGHTMARE.

Also -

ONE HOUR PHOTO Turns 22

For the most part, every Robin Williams comedy was the same movie and taken as a whole they got so tedious that he wore his audience down to dwindling.

But not all Robin Williams movies were comedies and it was here that, for me, he excelled. He could play characters of depth and layers that weren't endlessly "On". What's more, he could play villains like nobody else ever has.

Whenever Robin was called upon to go into the depths of humanity, he could plumb so many levels past the comfort zone I wasn't sure if he would ever come up.

For example, his chilling turn in ONE HOUR PHOTO.

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Robbie Kay (HANNIBAL RISING, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES, HEROES: REBORN [TV], COLD MOON, BLOOD FEST, ONCE UPON A TIME [TV]) is 29.
Actor Elle LaMont (THE DEVIL'S GRAVESTONE, STRINGS, MACHETE KILLS, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN: THE SERIES [TV], VARSITY BLOOD, DEAD STILL, SORROW, EL GÜEY, ALTERNATE REALITIES, FLAY, THE NEXT KILL, ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, MERCY BLACK, FLAY, SALVAGE MARINES) is 41.
Look for Elle in the upcoming 2025 Horror Thriller release of IRON LUNG.
Horror Writer Kathryn Ptacek (GHOST EYES, SHADOWEYES, [editor] WOMEN OF DARKNESS, WOMEN OF DARKNESS II) is 70.

Freestyle Digital Media Drops THE ZOMBIE WEDDING at Theaters and VOD on Septic 13

And -

Vertical Drops YOUR MONSTER Trailer Today

Plus -

HORROR HOTEL is 62 in the U.S.

Right off the bat, I gotta tell you; if you be into that there Wiccan stuff, you sure as hell ain't gonna like this Christopher Lee movie. For one thing, it paints all witches as them whats in league with the DEVIL!

The Devil!

For Another Thing . . . well, no... there is no other thing, that's pretty much it in this heavily influential Horror movie, CITY OF THE DEAD (US) aka HORROR HOTEL (UK).

Also -

CABIN FEVER Can Legally Drink in the USA

Yes it was released before this date at film festivals, but today it hit wide release and Kelly Parks was there to see it in the theater! What did he think? Read his review of Eli Roth's box office hit, CABIN FEVER.

This Septic 24, Gravitas Ventures and Carter Ink Unleash to VOD
NIGHT OF THE HARVEST

And -

This Oct. 4, Shudder and AMC+ Unleash to Stream,
V/H/S/BEYOND

Plus -

KISS OF THE VAMPIRE Turns 61

It's weird to think that Hammer Studios has enough value to make a comeback and has a movie in preproduction already.

Hammer made a lot of vampire movies. You had the Christopher Lee as Dracula and all the other vampires were largely played by someone else.

Hammer's non-Dracula Vampire movies were the most experimental, always inventing new types of Vampires as well as their individual ways of getting what they wanted. KISS OF THE VAMPIRE is one of their inventions that worked.

Also -

CUBE is 26

I didn't get to see this in theaters when I first reviewed it. It was made in Canada so the distribution in the U.S.A. was neglible beyond the odd art house theater and was set to circle the drain as a Direct to Video title.

Even now this movie is without a Bluray release, let alone a 4K one. What DVDs you can find of it are nearly 20 years old. It's sad. It's bad. That's why so many talented Canadians come to the U.S.A. to make their mark in movies.

This is why CUBE deserved a wide release.

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Writer James Newman (HOLY ROLLERS, THE WICKED, ANIMOSITY, UGLY AS SIN, ODD MAN OUT, PEOPLE ARE STRANGE, THE FORUM, OLDEN, THE SPECIAL [w/Mark Steensland) is 51.
Director Brian De Palma (SISTERS, PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, OBSESSION, CARRIE, THE FURY, DRESSED TO KILL, BLOW OUT, BODY DOUBLE, RAISING CAIN, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, SNAKE EYES, MISSION TO MARS, FEMME FATALE, THE BLACK DAHLIA, PASSION) is 81.
Remember that adorable little girl in JURASSIC PARK? Well, guess what? She's middle-aged!
Actor Ariana Richards (TREMORS, GRAND TOUR: DISASTER IN TIME, JURASSIC PARK, THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK, TREMORS 3, BATTLE DOGS) is 45.
Actor Tiffany Shepis (TROMEO AND JULIET, CITIZEN TOXIE: THE TOXIC AVENGER IV, SCARECROW, DEATH FACTORY, TED BUNDY, DELTA DELTA DIE!, ABOMINABLE, CORPSES, CYRUS: MIND OF A SERIAL KILLER, STAR LIGHT, AXEMAN: REDUX AXEMAN AT CUTTER'S CREEK, TAR, KNIFECORP, UPLOADED, HALF DEAD FRED, BAD CONNECTION, and way more) is 45.
Look for Tiffany in the upcoming 2023, 2024 Horror movie, FLESH.

This Septic 20 Lionsgate Unleashes to Theaters
NEVER LET GO

And -

Magnolia and Magnet Trailer Drop:
THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT

Plus -

These Two Movies Turn 25 Today

STIGMATA

Sometimes you reach for the heights. You may fall, but no one can accuse you of not trying.

On that note, back in 1999 I saw two Horror movies, released on the same day, and back to back. I reviewed STIGMATA.

Also -

STIR OF ECHOES

This Kevin Bacon starrer made some bold moves on the SFX front by incorporating cgi in a significant way.

In the 1990s, cgi was hit or miss even in the biggest budget movies, but it pulled it off so believably, on the Big Theater Screen, that audiences could only marvel at the result.

This is what reviewer Michael Oliveri thought of STIR OF ECHOES.

Wassmor -

RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE

If there was ever a movie franchise that struggled, picture after picture, to make the thinnest of profit, it had to be the RESIDENT EVIL ip.

Madly popular game, lukewarm box office reception resulting in a die-hard cult-ish audience that slowly dissapated over the years. And yet, it valiantly held onto theatrical releases instead of going the embarassing Direct to Video way.

Understand, it's one thing to start in television and stay there, periodically getting your favorite time slot and being eagerly anticipated by your loyal TV fans. It's quite another to make each sequel cheaper and cheaper until even SyFy Channel won't show it until after 1 in the morning on a Tuesday, and a YouTube premier will only pay royalties.

So was RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE at least As good as the first movie?

This2 -

MALIGNANT is 3

Have you ever watched a theater trailer that was compelling, maybe even exciting, from Writers, Producers, and a Director whose works you enjoy? And the added frosting of starring actors whose past performances you like?

Wait! This ain't over! Hang on!

So you patiently wait for the movie to come out, you go to the theater to see it, so full of anticipation that you sprung for overpriced drinks and popcorn just to perfectly set the mood of this wonderful theater experience?

And then you see the movie?

On this day in 2021 I saw MALIGNANT.

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Writer, Producer, Director Sebastian Gutierrez (SHE CREATURE [2001], GOTHIKA, SNAKES ON A PLANE, RISE: BLOOD HUNTER, THE EYE [2008], THE SIGNAL [2014], ELIZABETH HARVEST) is 50.
Director Guy Ritchie (LOCK, STOCK, AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS, SNATCH., REVOLVER, ROCKnROLLA, SHERLOCK HOLMES [2009], SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS, THE GENTLEMEN) is 56.
Actor Johnathon Schaech (POISON IVY II, INVASION OF PRIVACY, HUSH, THE GIVING TREE, THE FORESAKEN, MUMMY AN' THE ARMADILLO, 8MM2, SEA OF DREAMS, Masters of Horror: THE WASHINGTONIANS, LIVING HELL, PROM NIGHT [2008], QUARANTINE, LAID TO REST, CHROME SKULL, MIDDEN MOON, DARK CIRCLES, BREAKING THE EDGE, PHANTOM, FLIGHT 7500, THE CULLING, VICE, NOCTURNA, MARAUDERS, JACKALS, DAY OF THE DEAD: BLOODLINE, THE NIGHTCLERK, FRANK AND PENELOPE, SUITABLE FLESH) is 56.
Look for Johnathon in the 2024, 2025 Thriller, THE GET BACK GIRL. Also in 2025, SOMNIUM.

YOU DUG IT
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Any second weekend box office drop less than 50% is good. Any weekend B.O. drop smaller than 30% of the previous is excellent.
Theaters get approximately 50% of the gross.

1. BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE as with the original, this first sequel had its critical naysayers and performed below expectations. Yet, despite that negativity, found its audience and in a big way. BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE surpassed its astoundingly high budget ($100 million) in the world-wide box office, finally knocking off the #1 movie of the 2924 Summer, DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE.

So far you are digging it, though its the second weekend that will determine if this latest Tim Burton outing has legs you can run on.

2. DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, the #1 movie of the Summer, had a steep fall this week 55% drop in ticket sales, but that still landed this mega hit at #2 on the box office this week. Well into profit in US ticket sales alone, it's made 6.4 times its budget in the world market, far surpassing the $1 billion mark, and might leave theaters hovering around the $2 billion mark before Home video.

4. ALIEN: ROMULUS had a terrible, but not surprising, 2nd weekend drop of 57% in ticket sales, prompting 560 theater screen to drop it. With an $80 million production budget, its squeeking into profit only with a worldwide cume of $315 million. It's still in the Top 10 but the next two weeks will tell if you are Digging this or Burying it.

THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE is 19

Stop me if you've read this before -

Have you ever watched a movie trailer that was compelling, exciting, and looked like it had everything going for it?

Hang! On!

You patiently waited for the movie to come out, made time on your Friday night because you wanted that theater experience? So much so that you paid for overpriced drinks and popcorn in order to Perfectly Set the Moo-ood?

And then you saw the movie?

All of the above remains my most memorable experience of watching THE EXORCISM OF EMILY ROSE.

And -

CONTAGION Turns 13

Any movie about a global pandemic is going to draw comparisons to any eventual global pandemic that comes along. How close did this one come to the mark?

I was in the theater to see 2011's CONTAGION.

Plus -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

Actor Jeffrey Combs (FRIGHTMARE, THE MAN WITH TWO BRAINS, RE-ANIMATOR [all], FROM BEYOND, CELLAR DWELLER, DOCTOR MORDRID, NECRONOMICON, CASTLE FREAK, THE FRIGHTENERS, HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, THE ATTIC EXPEDITIONS, FEAR DOT COM, VOODOO MOON, ABOMINABLE, RETURN TO THE HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, PARASOMNIA, DARK HOUSE, THE WITCHES OF OZ [TV], NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 3D: RE-ANIMATION, EDMOND, WOULD YOU RATHER, MOTIVATIONAL GROWTH, FAVOR, THE PENNY DREADFUL PICTURE SHOW, HOLIDAY HELL, AGE OF STONE AND SKY, STREAM, and way more!) is 70.
Look for Jeffrey in the 2024 Horror movie, LILLY LIVES ALONE. And in 2025, WATERWICK.
Actor Josh Herdman (HARRY POTTER [all], PIGGY, MARCELLA [TV], TWO GRAVES) is 38.
Actor Michelle Johnson (BEAKS: THE MOVIE, WAXWORK, SLIPPING INTO DARKNESS, THE JIGSAW MURDERS, GENUINE RISK, BLOOD TIES, DEATH BECOMES HER, DR. GIGGLES, BODY SHOT, INCIDENT AT DECEPTION RIDGE, ILLICIT DREAMS, THE DONOR, SPECIMEN, REVENGE) is 59.
Actor Goran Visnjic (NIGHT WATCH, PUSKA ZA USPAVLJIVANJE, THE PEACEMAKER, THE DEEP END, DOCTOR SLEEP, ELEKTRA, THE DEEP [TV], THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, DARK HEARTS, THE SANTA CLARITA DIET [TV], THE BOYS [TV], THE ACCURSED, HELLRAISER Hulu) is 52.

SUNDAY -
Actor Travis Nelson (TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL, EMBRACE OF THE VAMPIRE, DARK HEARTS, OBSESSION [all], CLARICE [TV]) is 32.
Actor Park So-dam (BLADE OF THE PHANTOM MASTER, SONYEO aka STEEL COLD WINTER, SCARLET INNOCENCE, THE SILENCED, THE PRIESTS, PARASITE [2019], BAKUGAN: BATTLE FORCE) is 31.

Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO is 64 Today

This is the day that this (once) controversial movie finally opened wide across the nation. Picture after picture, Hitchcock had been working in glorious technicolor with big A-List actors, STARS, all of whom were clamoring to be in one of his movies, and he was contracted with Universal to direct the full color THE BIRDS.

But first he really wanted to direct PSYCHO. He was contracted with Paramount for one more picture and they didn't like it. But Alfred was too big a director to say "No" to and he was going to the competition to make his next, Technicolor picture. Best make sure that Alfred will want to come back one day.

It was 1959. Since 1935 Alfred Hitchcock had directed at least one movie every year and every single one was a hit: A Smash Hit!

Hitchcock turned his attention to television and his TV show was a smash hit.

There were times in the early years when no studio would fund Alfred's big budget movie so he raised the funding himself, made a startlingly great movie, and studios fought with each other over distribution rights.

Moreover, every movie Hitchcock made for Paramount was a box office bonanza: Every Single One.

Yet the Paramount suits were locked into the belief that sooner or later even the best directors go bust, they felt they were savvy enough to foresee it, and on paper PSYCHO looked to be it. So they gave Hitchcock a budget so small that he went out of pocket for what he needed. The movie would have to be shot in black and white. Paramount was going to give it a limited run in only a few major cities. So as not to damage their relationship with him, they deferred most of the box office take to Hitchcock and let him market it as he pleased.

He's made us a fortune in money and prestige, so let Alfred make his vainglorious baby, his artsy passion project, and get it out of his system.

PSYCHO got its tiny release. New York City for its June 16th premiere, and Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia on June 22 for its limited run.

Initially, Critics openly reviled it. Walt Disney himself called it "disgusting" and refused to ever allow Hitchcock to film anything on Disney sets, for having made PSYCHO. Paramount suits were all ready to say, "You see, Alfred? You can't let success go to your head. Sometimes you gotta listen to us experts."

However, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, running on TV since 1955, was a top rated show and Alfred was permitted to advertise PSYCHO on his show, in his own inimitable way, which meant that all of the critical bad-mouthing had fans lining up around the block, waiting hours in line, in the sweltering summer, to see what the Hub Bub over PSYCHO was all about.

That made news. News is Free publicity.

Which meant that folks were sending letters wanting the movie in THEIR town! Week after week after week, Hitchcock's low budget little black and white movie with small name talent beat all Star powered technicolor competition and stayed at #1.

Theaters across the nation were demanding it. Theater owners were making threats over having not got it. Paramount had to go wide release!

That day was today - 63 years ago

and Alfred wound up making a fortune. By the end of the year the critics who slammed it, looking like idiots who were out of touch with their audience, had a "change of heart". And Walt Disney? He apologetically ate crow and his studio provided special effects for Alfred's next movie, THE BIRDS.

Alfred remembered, though, and didn't give them screen credit.

But why, in the brand new 1960 space age of free television, did audiences keep suffering in the hot summer months, standing outside to see PSYCHO over and over?

There was a canny dynamic that Alfred Hitchcock created to insure that his movies would remain hits and in theaters long after their initial theater run - even after his death - decades before the movie term "Easter Egg" was coined. Read contributor James Futch's review of the first DVD disc release of Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO.

Plus -

IT is Older Than Georgie will ever be

The novel is so emotionally wrenching that loyal members of the Loser's Club will either return to visiting these characters over and over or, like the characters themselves, distance themselves from the events and never want to revisit the Horrors.

I'm in the latter category but only where the novel is concerned. I've watched the TV movie with Tim Curry and the feature film with Bill Skarsgård more than a few times.

So why won't I revisit the book if I love to read so much?

For the same reason that many people are afraid, in general, to read fiction at all. You don't have someone else's vision of what's happening. When you read you aren't given the luxury of picking apart the special effects, your eye/brain connection instantly noticing the tiny details that warms you with the thought that this isn't really happening.

When you read your mind creates the world, drawing upon your own experiences to fill in the blanks. In the space of a single sentence you can be surprised, alarmed even, at the card shuffle construction your mind performs in a snap: reminding you of an experience you'd prefer to forget, to remain locked away. When that moment comes as it often does to those who love fiction, you are no longer reading what happens in the story, the story is happening to you.

When I re-read a novel, especially a novel as huge as IT, there are moments in there, terrible moments, that I forgot.

In movies, the story is always happening to someone else: One point of removal. If you know of the actor, two points of removal. For the sake of editing they may have even removed the Horrific moment that turned its face away from the page and spoke directly to you.

That's my problem with Stephen King's IT, see? As I read and my mind filled in the blanks, Stephen King seemingly knew his readers would do that. So there are moments in IT where King leads you to the point where your mind would fill in the blank with your own, personal horrors, and in that second, often with a mere sentence, King's empty space is where your monster lives.

Now let me tell you about the 2017 movie, IT.

SATURDAY -

Writer, Producer, Director Dario Argento (L' UCCELLO DALLE PIUME DI CRISTALLO, IL GATTO A NOVE CODE, DEEP RED, SUSPIRIA, INFERNO, TENEBRE, PHENOMENA, TERROR AT THE OPERA, TWO EVIL EYES, THE STENDHAL SYNDROME, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA [1998], TRAUMA, DO YOU LIKE HITCHCOCK?, MOTHER OF TEARS, GIALLO, DRACULA [2012], OCCHIALI NERI aka BLACK GLASSES) is 83.
Actor Corbin Bernsen (KING KONG [1976], DEAD AIM, THE KILLING BOX, SHATTERED, TALES FROM THE HOOD, INHUMANOID, THE DENTIST, MENNO'S MIND, THE DENTIST II, RAPTOR, FANGS, Masters of Horror RIGHT TO DIE, DEAD AIR, CLOSETS, CALENDAR GIRL, SUING THE DEVIL, LIZZIE, SENSORY PERCEPTION, DISTORTION, HAP AND LEONARD [TV], THE PUNISHER [TV], SENSORY PERCEPTION, and way more) is 69.
Look for Corbin in the upcoming 2023 Horror Thriller, HERD.
Actor Doug Bradley (HELLRAISER [all through 8], NIGHTBREED, PROTEUS, LA LENGUA ASESINA, ARCHANGEL THUNDERBIRD, DOMINATOR, THE PROPHECY: UPRISING, PUMPKINHEAD: ASHES TO ASHES, THE COTTAGE, 10 DEAD MEN, BOOK OF BLOOD, UMBRAGE, EXORCISMUS, THE REVEREND, THE INFLICTED, DEER CROSSING, WRONG TURN 5, SCREAM PARK, SHAME THE DEVIL, HOWARD LOVECRAFT [all], ALIEN DANGER, UNITED STATES OF HORROR: CHAPTER 2, CORRECTIVE MEASURES) is 69.
Look for Dougn in the 2022 Horror, THE BARN PART 2. Also in 2022, THE UNITED STATES OF HORROR: CHAPTER 3.
Actor Devon Sawa (SHERLOCK HOLMES RETURNS, CASPER, NIGHT OF THE TWISTERS, THE BOYS CLUB, IDLE HANDS, FINAL DESTINATION, THE GUILTY, EXTREME OPS, SHOOTING GALLERY, DEVIL'S DEN, CREATURE OF DARKNESS, ENDURE, 388 ARLETTA AVENUE, A RESURRECTION, NIKITA [TV], THE FANATIC, HUNTER HUNTER, DEATH RIDER, CHILD'S PLAY [TV], BLACK FRIDAY) is 44.

CAST A DEADLY SPELL Turns 33

Long before 2017 and Noomi Rapace, Will Smith, and Joel Edgerton starred in David Ayers' BRIGHT, there was a movie you likely never saw. It had Fred Ward (TREMORS)! David Warner (THE OMEN, TRON), Clancy Brown (JOHN DIES AT THE END)! It was produced by Gale Anne Hurd (THE TERMINATOR, ALIENS, TREMORS, THE WALKING DEAD)! Read why you really want to see CAST A DEADLY SPELL!

HATCHET is Old Enough To Vote

Through the years, I've seen a lot of people in Social Media post stills and gifs from this movie. Lots of Horror fans know of it, talk about it, yet few have seen it. So let's give you a much needed kick in the ass to Actually Watch it.

Because I was there! At the October 2006 Screamfest film festival when I saw HATCHET!

IT Was Only Five Years Ago When...

... some Losers killed a clown.

I was there in the theater to see it happen! IT: Chapter 2

And -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Jovan Adepo (THE LEFTOVERS [TV], MOTHER!, OVERLORD, Tom Clancy's JACK RYAN [TV], WATCHMEN [TV], THE VIOLENT HEART, THE STAND [TV], THE THREE BODY PROBLEM [TV]) is 37.
Actor Idris Elba (RUTH RENDELL MYSTERIES [TV], ULTRAVIOLET [TV], SORTED, THE WIRE [TV], THE REAPING, 28 WEEKS LATER, PROM NIGHT [2008], ROCKnROLLA, THE UNBORN, OBSESSED, LEGACY, THOR, LUTHER [TV], GHOST RIDER: SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE, PROMETHEUS, PACIFIC RIM, NO GOOD DEED, THOR: THE DARK WORLD, THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, STAR TREK BEYOND, THE DARK TOWER, THOR: RAGNAROK, AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, THE SUICIDE SQUAD, BEAST, CYBERPUNK 2077) is 53.
Look for Edris in the 2024, 2025 Thriller, HEADS OF STATE. Also in 2025, ABOVE THE BELOW.
Actor Naomie Harris (28 DAYS LATER, TRAUMA, AFTER THE SUNSET, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END, NINJA ASSASSIN, SKYFALL, SPECTRE, RAMPAGE, THE THIRD DAY, VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE, SWAN SONG, THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH [TV], THE WASP) who is 48.
Look for Naomie the 2025 Thriller, BLACK BAG.
Writer Elizabeth Massie (WELCOME TO THE NIGHT, SHADOW DREAMS, SINEATER) who is considerably older than me.
Actor Betsy Russell (AVENGING ANGEL, BLOODY POM POMS, CAMP FEAR, SAW III, SAW IV, SAW V, SAW VI, MANDRAKE, CHAIN LETTER, SAW 3D: THE FINAL CHAPTER, KNOCK 'EM DEAD, MY TRIP BACK TO THE DARK SIDE, NON-STOP) is 61.
Director Tommy Lee Wallace (HALLOWEEN III: SEASON OF THE WITCH, THE TWILIGHT ZONE [TV 1985-1986], MAX HEADROOM [TV], FRIGHT NIGHT 2, IT [TV], DANGER ISLAND, ONCE YOU MEET A STRANGER, THE SPREE, VAMPIRES: LOS MUERTOS) is 75.
Look for Tommy's upcoming Horror Thriller, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, HELLIVERSITY.

Buffalo 8's MOTHER NOCTURNA Hits VOD 09/27

And -

THE BRIDES OF DRACULA is 64

Let's pause to consider that the long deceased corpse of Hammer Films has risen again!

"Where's the value in that?" you might ask. Back in 1960, Hammer wanted to make more vampire movies than actor Christopher Lee could star in. Plus, you didn't want to go to the well too many times with Chris in the role of Dracula. Especially since Hammer had him doing triple-time as the Frankenstein Creature and Mummy to boot! So they made their vampire movie and David Peel played the young Baron in THE BRIDES OF DRACULA.

Plus -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

Actor Paddy Considine (CLOSE YOUR EYES, DEAD MAN'S SHOES, BOSQUE DE SOMBRAS, HOT FUZZ, THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, RED RIDING: IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1980, BLITZ, THE WORLD'S END, HONOUR, CHILD 44, THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS, THE OUTSIDER [TV], THE THIRD DAY [TV], WOLF, HOUSE OF THE DRAGON [TV]) is 50.
Actor Rose McGowan (SCREAM, PHANTOMS, DEVIL IN THE FLESH, THE LAST STOP, GRINDHOUSE: PLANET TERROR, DEATH PROOF, FIFTY DEAD MEN WALKING, DEAD AWAKE, CONAN THE BARBARIAN, ROSEWOOD LANE, CHOSEN [TV], THE TELL-TALE HEART, THE SOUND) is 51.
Actor Annabelle Wallis (TRUE TRUE LIE, STEEL TRAP, THE LOST FUTURE, X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, ANNABELLE, SWORD OF VENGEANCE, MINE, COME AND FIND ME, THE MUMMY [2017], ANNABELLE: CREATION, BOSS LEVE, MALIGNANT, WARNING, VANISHED INTO THE NIGHT) is 40.
Look for Annabelle in the 2025 Thriller, MERCY.

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

Actor Wes Bentley (BELOVED, SOUL SURVIVORS, GHOST RIDER, THE UNGODLY, P2, DOLAN'S CADILLAC, THE TOMB [2009], JONAH HEX, RITES OF PASSAGE, THE HUNGER GAMES, THE TIME BEING, PIONEER, INTERSTELLAR, AMNESIAC, FINAL GIRL, BROKEN VOWS, AMERICAN HORROR STORY [TV], BROKEN VOWS, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE FALL OUT, BLADE RUNNER: BLACK LOTUS [TV]) is 45.
Actor Michael Berryman (DOC SAVAGE, THE HILLS HAVE EYES [all], THE FIFTH FLOOR, DEADLY BLESSING, VOYAGE OF THE ROCK ALIENS, INVITATION TO HELL, CUT AND RUN, THE HIGHWAY MAN, SATURDAY THE 14th STRIKES BACK, AFTERSHOCK, SOLAR CRISIS, HAUNTING FEAR, EVIL SPIRITS, THE GUYVER, BEASTMASTER 2, WIZARDS OF THE DEMON SWORD, TEENAGE EXORCIST, AUNTIE LEE'S MEAT PIES, GATOR KING, THE DEVIL'S REJECTS, THE ABSENCE OF LIGHT, PENNY DREADFUL, FALLEN ANGLES, ED GEIN [2007], DEAD MAN'S HAND, BRUTAL [2007], SMASH CUT, OUTRAGE: BORN IN TERROR, NECROSIS, SATAN HATES YOU, SCOOBY-DOO! CURSE OF THE LAKE MONSTER, THE TENANT, MASK MAKER, BELOW ZERO, BEG, THE FAMILY, THE LORDS OF SALEM, SELF STORAGE, ARMY OF THE DAMNED, APOCALYPSE KISS, EREBUS, KILL OR BE KILLED, SMOTHERED, POTENT MEDIA'S SUGAR SKULL GIRLS, THE EVIL WITHIN, DEATH HOUSE, HELL'S KITTY, SHED OF THE DEAD, IMPACT EVENT, MIDNIGHT DEVILS, ROOM 9, THE MAD HATTER) is 76.
Look for Michael's upcoming Horror movie for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 VIOLENT STARR. Also in 2022, 2023, 2024, MR. BLUE SHIRT: THE INSPIRATION. Also in 2023, 2024 THEY TURNED US INTO KILLERS.
Actor Richard Speight Jr. (FREDDY'S NIGHTMARES [TV], DEMONIC TOYS, AMANDA AND THE ALIEN, DEAD WEEKEND, OUT THERE, MENNO'S MIND, BOLTNECK, THE AGENCY, OPEN WATER 2, JERICHO [TV], CRAVE, SUPERNATURAL [TV], THE EVIL GENE, DEATH HOUSE, DRIVEN, HOME IS WHERE THE KILLER IS) is 54.
Actor Patricia Tallman (KNIGHTRIDERS, MONKEY SHINES, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD [1990], ARMY OF DARKNESS, BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT, NEVER DIE TWICE, INALIENABLE, DEAD AIR, ATLAS SHRUGGED II) is 67.
Actor Françoise Yip (NIE LIAN, FUTURESPORT, THE PLEDGE, MINDSTORM, WITNESS TO A KILL, FLATLAND [TV], BLADE: TRINITY, ALONE IN THE DARK [2005], THE DEAL, BLOOD TIES [TV], ALIENS VS. PREDATOR: REQUIEM, SANCTUARY [TV], GARAGE SALE MYSTERY, DEADLY LESSONS, THE PREDATOR, SHADOWHUNTERS [TV], THE ORDER [TV]) is 52.
Françoise shares a September Birthday with her THE PREDATOR alumni, Boyd Holbrook.

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

A final farewell to Writer James A. Moore (FIREWORKS, POSSESSIONS, BLOOD RED, SLICES, DEEPER, THE LAST SACRIFICE, THIS IS HALLOWEEN) who would have celebrated his 59th birthday today.

Actor / Producer Clare Kramer (BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER [TV], THE SKULLS III, MUMMY AN' THE ARMADILLO, THE GRAVEDANCERS, THE THIRST, ROAD TO HELL, ENDURE, BIG ASS SPIDER, THE GRIM SLEEPER, MONSTER HIGH, TALES OF HALLOWEEN, THE LOST TREE, THE WRONG HOUSE, ZER0 TOLERANCE, DATING TO KILL, STRANGE ONES [TV], THE DEAD ONES, CHAOS ON THE FARM) is 50.
Actor Costas Mandylor (FATAL PAST, ALMOST DEAD, VIRTUOSITY, THE EVESDROPPER, SHELTER, DINOCROC, DOUBLE TAKE, THE HITTERS, THE FURY WITHIN, INTREPID, THE SHORE, DR. CHOPPER, SAW III, NOBODY, BEOWULF, SAW IV, PRIMAL DOUBT, IMMORTALLY YOURS, TOXIC, TORN, SAW V, THE CURSED, HYENAS, SAW 3D, THE NURSE [2014], THE BLACKOUT, BLOOD TRAP, THE HORDE, BLINDSIDED, RESIDUE, THE LAST SHIP [TV], DADDY'S GIRL, C.L.E.A.N., LAZARUS, UNBOUND EVIL, DANGEROUS METHODS, DEATH COUNT, DELANO, BLOOD THIRST) is 62.
Look for Costas in the upcoming 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, THE DELANO FILES and SOMEONE DIES TONIGHT. Also in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, DEPRIVATION. Also in 2025, IN TENEBRAS: INTO THE DARKNESS, TRAGIC WASTE, CURSED WATERS

Actor Holt McCallany (CREEPSHOW 2, ALIEN3, THE PEACEMAKER, FIGHT CLUB, BELOW, TOXIC, RISE, A PERFECT GETAWAY, THE GANZFELD EXPERIMENT, CRUSH, WHITE SPACE, THE GANZFELD HAUNTING, MONSTER TRUCKS, MINDHUNTER [TV], BEYOND WHITE SPACE, GREENLAND, NIGHTMARE ALLEY, WOLVES) is 61.
Look for Holt in the 2025 Horror, MARTYR OF GOWANUS
Writer, Producer, Director Daniel Myrick (THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, BELIEVERS, SOLSTICE, THE OBJECTIVE, UNDER THE BED, SKYMAN) is 61.

YOU DUG IT
By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Any second weekend box office drop less than 50% is good. Any weekend B.O. drop smaller than 30% of the previous is excellent.
Theaters get approximately 50% of the gross.

1. DEAD POOL & WOLVERINE stays at #1 for the sith straight weekend in a row with a minute 17% drop in box office sales and a loss of 210 screens. DP&W wins the Summer box office for 2024. DP&W has surpassed the half billion mark in domestic Box Office ticket sales and is well over $1.2 billion in the World B.O., earning 6.3 times its budget.

Of the Top Ten Highest Grossing Superhero movies of all time (9 of which were all made prior to 2020/COVID), Marvel occupies 9 spots (THE INCREDIBLES 2 is at #9). DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE, currently at #7, and at its current rate, could become the #1 Marvel Comics movie franchise.

2. ALIEN ROMULUS, with a box office drop of 43% and a screen loss of 795, AR stays in the game at #2 for the second weekend in a row, earning 3.5 times its budget.

5. TWISTERS, holds onto its 5th place for the 2nd weekend in a row with a Plus 17% in Box Office and has earned 2.3 times its budget.

9. AFRAID enters the Top Ten at #9 in its first weekend, which is not uncommon for a low budget Indie. AFRAID is produced by Depth Of Field (PROSPECT) and Blumhouse Pictures (US) and distributed by Columbia Pictures (Sony).

YOU BURIED IT

11. THE CROW falls from its opening weekend at #8 to #13 with a staggering 61% drop in Box Office sales and losing 2,176 screens in just one week. It's worldwide box office of $10 million is a 0.2% earn against its $50 million budget.

14. TRAP falls in its 5th weekend to #15 with a 54% drop in sales, a loss of 872 screens, and a top box office earn of $73 million world wide.

BACK FROM THE DEAD -

Old releases making a special limited return to theaters, and on the Top 20, include the 15th Anniversary of CORALINE (remastered in 3D and opens at #10 this weekend) followed by the 20th Anniversary of SHAUN OF THE DEAD (opens at #18).

3 day holiday weekend in the U.S. means final figures are not in. Figures calibrated from reportings by Box Office Mojo and The Numbers. Should there be differences between the two, I err on the side of caution by posting the most positive numbers.

And -

Weekly World News Movie Trailer Drop
THE ZOMBIE WEDDING

Plus -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Kristen Cloke (MEGAVILLE, CAGED FEAR, STAY TUNED, SPACE: ABOVE AND BEYOND [TV], THE RAGE [1997], MILLENNIUM [TV], FINAL DESTINATION, BLACK CHRISTMAS [2006]) is 56.
Okay, admittedly, she hasn't been in that many Horror / Thriller movies. BUT: She IS SALMA HAYEK!
Actor Salma Hayek (DESPERADO, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, THE FACULTY, DOGMA, SPYKIDS 3D, ONCE UPON A TIME IN MEXICO, CIRQUE DU FREAK: THE VAMPIRE, SAVAGES, EVERLY, TALE OF TALES, SEPTEMBERS OF SHIRAZ, THE HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT, THE ROADS NOT TAKEN, BLISS, THE ETERNALS) who is 57.
Actor Keanu Reeves (RIVER'S EDGE, DRACULA [1992], FREAKED, SPEED, JOHNNY MNEMONIC, CHAIN REACTION, THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, THE MATRIX [all], THE WATCHER, THE GIFT, CONSTANTINE, A SCANNER DARKLY, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL [2008], JOHN WICK [all], KNOCK KNOCK, THE NEON DEMON, THE BAD BATCH, REPLICAS, CYBERPUNK 2077 [VG], THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS, JOHN WICK 4) is 60.
Look for Keanu in the upcoming 2024, 2025 Horror Thriller, CONSTANTINE 2. Also in 2024, 2025, the JOHN WICK spin-off, BALLERINA.

SUNDAY -

Actor Boyd Holbrook (THE HOST [2013], GONE GIRL, RUN ALL NIGHT, MORGAN, LOGAN, THE PREDATOR, IN THE SHADOW OF THE MOON, THE CURSED, VENGEANCE, THE SANDMAN: IMPERFECT HOSTS [TV], INDIANA JONES AND THE MILK OF MAGNESIA) is 43.
Actor Scott Speedman (NANCY DREW [TV], DARK BLUE, UNDERWORLD, THE 24TH DAY, UNDERWORLD: EVOLUTION, WEIRDSVILLE, ANAMORPH, THE STRANGERS, GOOD NEIGHBORS, THE MOTH DIARIES, LAST RESORT [TV], THE CAPTIVE, OUT OF THE DARK, THE MONSTER, CRIMES OF THE FUTURE) is 49.
Look for Scott in the upcoming 2024 Thriller, CELLAR DOOR, also starring Laurence Fishburne (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3, EVENT HORIZON, THE MATRIX, PREDATORS, CONTAGION).

ISLE OF THE DEAD is 79

For a guy who worked almost exclusively in Horror movies, Boris Karloff handled the dismissive 20th Century attitudes toward his genre so well, and was so acute at choosing the right scripts, that he lived as an A-List actor alongside the likes of his fellow A-List contemporaries like Humphrey Bogart (who refused to work in Horror despite often being the scariest guy in his movies), Ingrid Bergman, and Bette Davis.

Karloff's willingness to go low budget without ever going schlock paved the way for those who took their craft seriously, like Vincent Price and, to some extent, Alfred Hitchcock.

Boris was fine working for small studios like RKO, as long as the scripts had, what he referred to as, "Substance". Substance is what indie Producers like Val Lewton thrived upon and this is why movies like ISLE OF THE DEAD still reign after nearly a century.

THE PROPHECY is 29

We've been here before. A movie that's so good as to be nearly great in some respects, while completely dropping the ball in others. This movie has great dialogue, memorably delivered by some of the best actors alive today, but the story itself is Just. So. Weak. Their motivations are puerile considering that they come from immortal creatures who should have wisdom far beyond any age we could possibly live. The only thing that keeps me watching through repeated viewings is that the director and actors fully embraced their characters.

This is my Love/Hate relationship with THE PROPHECY.

SATURDAY -

C.H.U.D. is 40

On the poster it says C.H.U.D. stands for Cannabalistic Humanoid Underground Dweller.

Those who have watched the movie know what those letters really stand for and that misdirection is just one of the many clever ways this movie surprises you, knows your expectations, and goes against them in a manner most Chuddly. It's only part of the fun of C.H.U.D.

JEEPERS CREEPERS is 23

As retro as it wants to be. In the same vein of 1960s monster movie mayhem as classics like CRITTERS and TREMORS, this is why JEEPERS CREEPERS remains a must see!