The constant big-budget movie releases with their A-list stars, state of the art technology, and expensive advertising campaigns can make it easy to forget that most of the movie industry just doesn’t have that kind of money. Most filmmakers are working with limited resources, yet producing films that are in many cases better than those big money movies. Other filmmakers work with even less, producing films that, in the end, are often relegated to the more obscure cable channels and the bargain bin at Amazon. B-movies have been called Hollywood’s stepchild, but what they really are is its life blood.
Only a few of these films make money, but they have a greater value than simply being good for business: they are good for filmmaking. With little money, no stars, scripts that are disjointed, and often featuring poor production values, the B-movie is the primordial ooze from which new talent and ideas crawl.
Only a few of these films make money, but they have a greater value than simply being good for business: they are good for filmmaking. With little money, no stars, scripts that are disjointed, and often featuring poor production values, the B-movie is the primordial ooze from which new talent and ideas crawl.
- 5/26/2015
- by Gregory Small
- CinemaNerdz
Frankenstein’s monster is so familiar to us that we don’t even call him by his actual name. He preferred Adam, but we just call him Frankenstein, even though that was the name of the Doctor who created him. But it’s the monster, not the doctor who has taken hold in the popular imagination, and we’ve seen versions of him ranging from Boris Karloff to Herman Munster to this arthritis commercial (my all-time favorite prescription drug ad). This, however, is the original iteration, the frontispiece illustration from the first edition of Mary Shelley’s horror classic. Rather than the green stitched up skin quilt with neck bolts that we know and and love, he looks like a pretty normal guy, albeit oddly feminine.
The illustration is on display at The British Museum as part of an exhibit called "Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination." There are also...
The illustration is on display at The British Museum as part of an exhibit called "Terror and Wonder: The Gothic Imagination." There are also...
- 8/29/2014
- by Mily Dunbar
- GeekTyrant
Submit your vote for Reviewer of the Year!
Every year, the Classic Horror Film Board recognizes the best in the horror/sci-fi/fantasy realm with the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards. Fans of the genre can vote for their favorites in over thirty categories, and this year, Cinelinx would like to ask you to vote for one of our own, staff writer Victor Medina, as Reviewer of the Year (Category 29)! We've even included the ballot below so you can vote!
Votes must be submitted by copying and pasting the ballot into your personal email, making your choices, including your name, and sending it in. Votes for Reviewer of the Year are write-in only, so you must be sure to include Vic's name yourself under Category 29 when you vote. Pre-filled ballots are not allowed, so we can't do it for you! Remember, you must write in "Victor Medina, Cinelinx.com" yourself.
Every year, the Classic Horror Film Board recognizes the best in the horror/sci-fi/fantasy realm with the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards. Fans of the genre can vote for their favorites in over thirty categories, and this year, Cinelinx would like to ask you to vote for one of our own, staff writer Victor Medina, as Reviewer of the Year (Category 29)! We've even included the ballot below so you can vote!
Votes must be submitted by copying and pasting the ballot into your personal email, making your choices, including your name, and sending it in. Votes for Reviewer of the Year are write-in only, so you must be sure to include Vic's name yourself under Category 29 when you vote. Pre-filled ballots are not allowed, so we can't do it for you! Remember, you must write in "Victor Medina, Cinelinx.com" yourself.
- 2/26/2013
- by [email protected] (Jordan Maison)
- Cinelinx
‘Lover Come Hack to Me’ was another episode I’d only seen once upon a time, long ago. It was compiled in a VHS set that I’d found at a local Mom and Pop video store, tucked way back in the Horror section. I remember watching it when I was younger, perhaps maybe too young given the things I’ve seen in my recent re-visit, but hey, it was Tales from the Crypt. And you can’t certainly blame a tiger for its stripes. In the original viewing, I guess I didn’t remember the lethal twist that comes in the third act. Perhaps it could be a fuzzy memory on that element, but this ending stands so sharply, so sneakily compared to last week’s episode, it just gels better with the episode overall. This episode is more of a Gothic horror episode than recent episodes. I mean,...
- 2/2/2013
- by Nathan Smith
- Nerdly
It's not everyday the Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) gets to harbor fugitives in Downton Abbey and especially not Irish revolutionaries on the run from the law. So tonight's episode is particularly exciting. Oh that Lady Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay), those harem pants were clearly just the start of her rebellion. What We Learned It Was a Dark and Stormy Night: Tom Branson (Allen Leech) brought some rainy weather with him when he crossed the Irish Sea and he has quite the tale to tell. Something that is a surprise to no one who has watched Downton's previous two seasons is that Tom is fighting for an independent Ireland. We might as well admit we are huge nerds for...
- 1/21/2013
- E! Online
There are days when a film announcement hitting my inbox causes me great joy and excitement. This is one of those times. Read on for the details!
Larry Blamire, writer, director, producer and star of the 2001 horror-comedy feature The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra and its follow-up, the 2009 flick The Lost Skeleton Returns Again (review here), got in touch with me today to dole out some amazing news--namely, he’s planning on a third film in the franchise to be titled The Lost Skeleton Walks Among Us!
“Anyone who knows me knows that I am an outspoken fan of practical FX,” said Blamire, who also directed 2007’s Trail of the Screaming Forehead and 2009’s Dark and Stormy Night, “and I am absolutely thrilled to be partnering with champion practical torchbearer and mad genius Cleve Hall [on a pair of projects]. His “Monster Man” [reality] show has kids, kids mind you, making their own monster masks and such out of rubber,...
Larry Blamire, writer, director, producer and star of the 2001 horror-comedy feature The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra and its follow-up, the 2009 flick The Lost Skeleton Returns Again (review here), got in touch with me today to dole out some amazing news--namely, he’s planning on a third film in the franchise to be titled The Lost Skeleton Walks Among Us!
“Anyone who knows me knows that I am an outspoken fan of practical FX,” said Blamire, who also directed 2007’s Trail of the Screaming Forehead and 2009’s Dark and Stormy Night, “and I am absolutely thrilled to be partnering with champion practical torchbearer and mad genius Cleve Hall [on a pair of projects]. His “Monster Man” [reality] show has kids, kids mind you, making their own monster masks and such out of rubber,...
- 11/13/2012
- by Sean Decker
- DreadCentral.com
There is an upcoming documentary from Benevolent Monster Productions on two true treasures of the horror genre. Beast Wishes: The Fantastic World of Bob and Kathy Burns is a look at this couple who have dedicated so much to helping creative people become master F/X artists.
The film premieres on April 12th, 2012, 7:30 pm at the Arclight Theater in Hollywood. A Q&A follows the screening with the cast and crew, hosted by actor/comedian Dana Gould. Tickets for this event are now available exclusively at the Creature Features website.
If you're going to be near the Arclight on April 12th, be sure to check out this great event. However, if you can't make that one, there will also be Beast Wishes presentations and screenings at Monsterpalooza in Burbank, CA on April 13-15, and WonderFest in Louisville, Ky on May 26-27.
For more information and updates on the DVD release,...
The film premieres on April 12th, 2012, 7:30 pm at the Arclight Theater in Hollywood. A Q&A follows the screening with the cast and crew, hosted by actor/comedian Dana Gould. Tickets for this event are now available exclusively at the Creature Features website.
If you're going to be near the Arclight on April 12th, be sure to check out this great event. However, if you can't make that one, there will also be Beast Wishes presentations and screenings at Monsterpalooza in Burbank, CA on April 13-15, and WonderFest in Louisville, Ky on May 26-27.
For more information and updates on the DVD release,...
- 4/3/2012
- by Doctor Gash
- DreadCentral.com
I can't tell you how groovy the timing was for the release of It Was a Dark and Stormy Night, the long-awaited sophomore release from La horror rockers Creature Feature. With the most wonderful time of the year upon us, I was down in the catacombs shuffling up tracks for my Ultimate Halloween Party Playlist, and adding the entire album Dead Beat by Rufus Rex, the solo project from Creature Feature frontman Curtis Rx (check out my chat with him here)... when suddenly Curtis showed up again to present me with yet another bag of treats, in the form of ten new songs from his main band (Curtis on vocals and guitars, Erik X on keys). Their superb 2007 debut The Greatest Show Unearthed is one of those rare and special albums that just...
- 10/28/2011
- FEARnet
Oh, do we have a deal for you! Not only are the good people at Shout! Factory slashing like Chromeskull (prices that is), but they are offering a huge Halloween prize package valued at over $650! And all you've got to do is cruise over to their site and and sign up.
Use the links below to enter the contest. Here are just some of the titles you'll receive: Audition, Cannibal Girls, Piranha and Humanoids From the Deep just to name a few. Do yourself a favor and enter. What do you have to lose?
From the Press Release
Happy October from your friends at Shout! Factory! To celebrate this macabre month, we’re offering slasher-inspired pricing on some of our more terrifying titles. Sales prices range from 15%-70% off list price. Place items in your cart to see how much you're saving. Sale ends October 31, 2011. To receive your items by Halloween,...
Use the links below to enter the contest. Here are just some of the titles you'll receive: Audition, Cannibal Girls, Piranha and Humanoids From the Deep just to name a few. Do yourself a favor and enter. What do you have to lose?
From the Press Release
Happy October from your friends at Shout! Factory! To celebrate this macabre month, we’re offering slasher-inspired pricing on some of our more terrifying titles. Sales prices range from 15%-70% off list price. Place items in your cart to see how much you're saving. Sale ends October 31, 2011. To receive your items by Halloween,...
- 10/18/2011
- by Doctor Gash
- DreadCentral.com
Director/writer: Larry Blamire.
Parody is sometimes used as a profession of love of a genre, and it is used to great effect in Dark and Stormy Night. For the era it is set in, the Golden Age of Hollywood, writer/director Larry Blamire shows his extravagance in what he does best–writing comedy dialogue. Instead of focusing on the pulps from the yesteryears, as he's done with Lost Skeleton of Cadavara and The Lost Skeleton Returns, he plays with the murder mystery genre.
After two tries, the third product he made is uniquely charming–especially for those who are familiar with the 30's whodunit genre. One would expect that the butler did it but no, what he does is to take all the conventions and blend it into one huge mixing pot this time around.
This film does a better job at invoking the fun that the comedic greats of the time did.
Parody is sometimes used as a profession of love of a genre, and it is used to great effect in Dark and Stormy Night. For the era it is set in, the Golden Age of Hollywood, writer/director Larry Blamire shows his extravagance in what he does best–writing comedy dialogue. Instead of focusing on the pulps from the yesteryears, as he's done with Lost Skeleton of Cadavara and The Lost Skeleton Returns, he plays with the murder mystery genre.
After two tries, the third product he made is uniquely charming–especially for those who are familiar with the 30's whodunit genre. One would expect that the butler did it but no, what he does is to take all the conventions and blend it into one huge mixing pot this time around.
This film does a better job at invoking the fun that the comedic greats of the time did.
- 6/21/2011
- by [email protected] (Ed Sum)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Interviewed by Jessie Lilley
And just what is a “Renaissance Man” anyway? No, I’m not referring to the Voyager episode and I’m also not talking about the Penny Marshall film. In this context, the term Renaissance Man is defined as a person who excels at many different endeavors: the guy can do a lot of stuff and he does it all quite well. Such a one is the subject of this interview.
Larry Blamire first came across my radar when he and I were both living in Hollywood. I was at a private screening in the home of a friend of mine and he rolled a film called The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra. I was transfixed. What a delightful way to spend some time; laughing yourself silly. I immediately found a way to contact this man as I wanted to know what makes him tick.
It’s now years later and,...
And just what is a “Renaissance Man” anyway? No, I’m not referring to the Voyager episode and I’m also not talking about the Penny Marshall film. In this context, the term Renaissance Man is defined as a person who excels at many different endeavors: the guy can do a lot of stuff and he does it all quite well. Such a one is the subject of this interview.
Larry Blamire first came across my radar when he and I were both living in Hollywood. I was at a private screening in the home of a friend of mine and he rolled a film called The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra. I was transfixed. What a delightful way to spend some time; laughing yourself silly. I immediately found a way to contact this man as I wanted to know what makes him tick.
It’s now years later and,...
- 3/23/2011
- by Jessie
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
I thought we would kick off this week with another fine Fangoria contest. This one is brought to you by Shout! Factory Entertainment. I have some extra copies of the brand new Larry Blamire hits, The Lost Skeleton Returns Again and Dark And Stormy Night. Blamire is well known for his hilarious cult flicks like the first Lost Skeleton Of Cadavra. These two titles continue his hysterical legacy at creating stellar works while paying homage to genre flicks of old. Read on for the details!
- 8/17/2010
- by [email protected] (Rebekah McKendry)
- Fangoria
Comic Con alert: Genre fans need to check out the long-awaited sequel to The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra: "The Lost Skeleton Returns Again" and Skeleton.s Creator Larry Blamire.s latest send-up: Dark And Stormy Night on Thursday, July 22 and Saturday, July 24 San Diego Comic Con 2010 Thursday, July 22 Cult filmmaker Larry Blamire of Dark and Stormy Night and The Lost Skeleton Returns Again, will be signing along with members of the cast Andrew Parks, Susan McConnell and Trish Geiger. Meet director, writer and actor Larry Blamire with his cast: Andrew Parks (Donnie Brasco) Susan McConnell (Jackanory) Trish Geiger (Revenge of the Bimbot Zombie Killers)...
- 7/20/2010
- by April MacIntyre
- Monsters and Critics
Next month, the geek world will converge on San Diego, California, it it’s yearly celebration of the popular arts, in the form of Comic Con International. This will be my 18th year attending the festival, although my first as a member of the “press.” I use that term lightly as I consider us here at the Criterion Cast, more like passionate amateurs (a term recently popularized by Michael Chabon), than actual film journalists. We certainly take everything we do here seriously, as evidenced by our commitment over the past year to producing multiple weekly podcasts, attending film screenings, and over the past six months, we’ve covered various film festivals (Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca) to bring our unique cineaste perspectives towards the upcoming crop of films and filmmakers.
While the finalized, official Comic Con Panel Schedule has not been released at this point, Shout! Factory, one of our favorite DVD/Blu-ray distributors,...
While the finalized, official Comic Con Panel Schedule has not been released at this point, Shout! Factory, one of our favorite DVD/Blu-ray distributors,...
- 6/28/2010
- by Ryan Gallagher
- CriterionCast
The company that has given us countless goodies this year including a bevy of Roger Corman titles along with the resurrection of Gamera, Shout! Factory, is not only one of the first out of the gate with its San Diego Comic-Con news, but Shout! is ready to tackle the show with a vengeance!
From the Press Release
Shout! Factory returns to Comic-Con International San Diego 2010 with a stellar lineup featuring upcoming and current home entertainment juggernauts that will be showcased in a special panel discussion, media appearances, special signings, interactive fan activities and Comic-Con exclusives at the Shout! Factory booth (#3749, main show floor) throughout the convention. Fan favorite filmmakers, creators and select stars from Shout! Factory’s branded properties scheduled to attend include: Roger Corman, Julie Corman, Joe Dante (Piranha, Trailers from Hell, Gremlins), Allan Holzman (Galaxy of Terror, Forbidden World), Sid Haig (Galaxy of Terror, The Devil’s Rejects), Mary Woronov (Death Race 2000,...
From the Press Release
Shout! Factory returns to Comic-Con International San Diego 2010 with a stellar lineup featuring upcoming and current home entertainment juggernauts that will be showcased in a special panel discussion, media appearances, special signings, interactive fan activities and Comic-Con exclusives at the Shout! Factory booth (#3749, main show floor) throughout the convention. Fan favorite filmmakers, creators and select stars from Shout! Factory’s branded properties scheduled to attend include: Roger Corman, Julie Corman, Joe Dante (Piranha, Trailers from Hell, Gremlins), Allan Holzman (Galaxy of Terror, Forbidden World), Sid Haig (Galaxy of Terror, The Devil’s Rejects), Mary Woronov (Death Race 2000,...
- 6/25/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Larry Blamire, creator of the cult B-movie homage The Lost Skeleton Of Cadavra, is back this year with both the sequel, The Lost Skeleton Returns Again, and a similar tribute to vintage chillers called Dark And Stormy Night. Both are coming August 17 on DVD from Shout! Factory (see details here), and both feature actor Daniel Roebuck, from Lost and Bubba Ho-tep among others, in their casts.
- 6/12/2010
- by [email protected] (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
Shout! Factory just keeps on turning out first-class disc releases of vintage genre fare, with a couple of new B-horror homages also on its slate. The company passed Fango the content info on its upcoming DVDs of Gamera Vs. Barugon, the second in the Japanese giant-turtle franchise, and Larry Blamire’s The Lost Skeleton Returns Again (pictured) and Dark And Stormy Night.
- 6/8/2010
- by [email protected] (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
We're exactly two months away from the second annual Monsterpalooza, which is returning to the Marriott Burbank Convention Center April 9-11, 2010. To help get people fired up for the event, which features special effects artists from the horror industry along with their many works, the promoters have revealed the expanded guest list along with a slew of presentations and demos that will be taking place over the weekend.
Confirmed guests so far include:
Verne Langdon - Monster Of Ceremonies
Michael Westmore - Academy Award Winning Makeup Artist - Mask, Star Trek, Raging Bull
Tom Burman - Award Winning Makeup Artist - Island Of Dr. Moreau, The Goonies, Nip/Tuck
Barney Burman - Proteus F/X - Dawn Of The Dead, Matrix Reloaded, Star Trek 09
Rob Burman - The Fly, The Thing, Star Trek 09
Amalgamated Dynamics - Academy Award Winners Tom Woodruff & Alec Gillis - Starship Troopers, Avp
Knb - Academy...
Confirmed guests so far include:
Verne Langdon - Monster Of Ceremonies
Michael Westmore - Academy Award Winning Makeup Artist - Mask, Star Trek, Raging Bull
Tom Burman - Award Winning Makeup Artist - Island Of Dr. Moreau, The Goonies, Nip/Tuck
Barney Burman - Proteus F/X - Dawn Of The Dead, Matrix Reloaded, Star Trek 09
Rob Burman - The Fly, The Thing, Star Trek 09
Amalgamated Dynamics - Academy Award Winners Tom Woodruff & Alec Gillis - Starship Troopers, Avp
Knb - Academy...
- 2/10/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
• IFC Films and Mpi Media Group gave Fango the first look at cover art for their DVD release of Pontypool (pictured), the acclaimed and unusual zombie thriller starring Stephen McHattie. Also coming this winter from the two companies is another well-received genre film, the Argentinean ghost story The Appeared.
Directed by Bruce McDonald and scripted by Tony Burgess from his book, Pontypool (streeting January 26; see our review here) casts McHattie as a shock jock who, one cold early winter morning, starts receiving mysterious reports from outside about violent and frightening acts committed by the local townspeople. It turns out that they’re infected with a spreading plague that is transmitted via speech and turns them into bloodthirsty killers. In The Appeared (a.k.a. Aparecidos, out January 12), writer/director Paco Cabezas spins the tale of a brother and sister who discover a diary documenting horrific murder and torture 20 years before.
Directed by Bruce McDonald and scripted by Tony Burgess from his book, Pontypool (streeting January 26; see our review here) casts McHattie as a shock jock who, one cold early winter morning, starts receiving mysterious reports from outside about violent and frightening acts committed by the local townspeople. It turns out that they’re infected with a spreading plague that is transmitted via speech and turns them into bloodthirsty killers. In The Appeared (a.k.a. Aparecidos, out January 12), writer/director Paco Cabezas spins the tale of a brother and sister who discover a diary documenting horrific murder and torture 20 years before.
- 11/6/2009
- by [email protected] (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
Fango hit the La premiere this past Sunday night of writer/director Larry Blamire’s The Lost Skeleton Returns Again (see photos below), the follow-up to his 2001 cult hit The Lost Skeleton Of Cadavra, and chatted him up post-q&A.
Playing to a packed house at Hollywood Boulevard’s Egyptian theater, the film elicited an overwhelming audience response (Blamire’s devotees are quite rabid: this scribe’s parents made a trek all the way from Northern California), and the filmmaker was thrilled by the enthusiastic reception.
“What a terrific turnout,” Blamire tells Fango. “Man, we have the greatest fans. The support is phenomenal, and the audience expectation was palpable and infectious as the characters from the first film made their appearances [in the sequel], including the dead ones.” He’s referring to the roles played by Brian Howe and Dan Conroy, who met untimely ends in the original, with the actors here portraying their identical twins.
Playing to a packed house at Hollywood Boulevard’s Egyptian theater, the film elicited an overwhelming audience response (Blamire’s devotees are quite rabid: this scribe’s parents made a trek all the way from Northern California), and the filmmaker was thrilled by the enthusiastic reception.
“What a terrific turnout,” Blamire tells Fango. “Man, we have the greatest fans. The support is phenomenal, and the audience expectation was palpable and infectious as the characters from the first film made their appearances [in the sequel], including the dead ones.” He’s referring to the roles played by Brian Howe and Dan Conroy, who met untimely ends in the original, with the actors here portraying their identical twins.
- 11/12/2008
- Fangoria
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