Peter Werner, an Oscar-winning director known for his work behind the camera on such TV series as “Moonlighting,” “A Different World” and “Law & Order: Svu,” has died at age 76.
His brother Tom Werner, co-founder of The Carsey-Werner Company, said via an email to The Hollywood Reporter that Peter died Tuesday morning in Wilmington, North Carolina, of a torn aorta.
Born in New York on Jan. 17, 1947, Werner earned his B.A. from Dartmouth College, his M.A. from Antioch University and an Mfa from the American Film Institute.
Also Read:
Lance Reddick Remembered by James Gunn, Ben Stiller, Wendell Pierce: ‘A Man of Great Strength and Grace’
While still a student at AFI, Peter won an Oscar for his 1976 live-action short film “Region of Ice,” which was based on Joyce Carol Oates’ short story and starred Irish actress Fionnula Flanagan.
The next year, he began his long and illustrious...
His brother Tom Werner, co-founder of The Carsey-Werner Company, said via an email to The Hollywood Reporter that Peter died Tuesday morning in Wilmington, North Carolina, of a torn aorta.
Born in New York on Jan. 17, 1947, Werner earned his B.A. from Dartmouth College, his M.A. from Antioch University and an Mfa from the American Film Institute.
Also Read:
Lance Reddick Remembered by James Gunn, Ben Stiller, Wendell Pierce: ‘A Man of Great Strength and Grace’
While still a student at AFI, Peter won an Oscar for his 1976 live-action short film “Region of Ice,” which was based on Joyce Carol Oates’ short story and starred Irish actress Fionnula Flanagan.
The next year, he began his long and illustrious...
- 3/22/2023
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
As reported by the New York Times, on March 8, 2023, prolific B-movie filmmaker Bert I. Gordon passed away at his home in Los Angeles. He was 100 years old.
Bert I. Gordon is a name many may not be familiar with unless they were prone to visiting drive-in theaters in the 1950s, staying up late and watching monster movies on Uhf TV in the 1980s, or were paying attention to "Mystery Science Theater 3000" in the 1990s. Gordon was the director behind such low-budget classics as 1955's "King Dinosaur," 1957's "The Amazing Colossal Man," its sequel from the next year, "War of the Colossal Beast," the 1965 outsized J.D. flick, "Village of the Giants," the 1976 H.G. Wells adaptation, "Food of the Gods," and the 1976 giant ant film "Empire of the Ants." One might note that all the films listed above involve giants of some stripe. One might also want to take note of Bert I.
Bert I. Gordon is a name many may not be familiar with unless they were prone to visiting drive-in theaters in the 1950s, staying up late and watching monster movies on Uhf TV in the 1980s, or were paying attention to "Mystery Science Theater 3000" in the 1990s. Gordon was the director behind such low-budget classics as 1955's "King Dinosaur," 1957's "The Amazing Colossal Man," its sequel from the next year, "War of the Colossal Beast," the 1965 outsized J.D. flick, "Village of the Giants," the 1976 H.G. Wells adaptation, "Food of the Gods," and the 1976 giant ant film "Empire of the Ants." One might note that all the films listed above involve giants of some stripe. One might also want to take note of Bert I.
- 3/9/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The B-movie world has lost one of its most iconic filmmakers, as The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Bert I. Gordon – often referred to as “Mr. B.I.G.” by his fans – has passed away at the age of 100. Gordon produced and directed more than twenty films over the course of a career that lasted sixty-one years, from 1954 to 2015. He also wrote most of his movies. His most popular titles include The Food of the Gods, Empire of the Ants, The Amazing Colossal Man, War of the Colossal Beast, Attack of the Puppet People, and Beginning of the End.
Born on September 24, 1922 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Gordon fell in love with filmmaking at a young age, being given his first camera when he was just 9 years old. He started making TV commercials after he graduated from college, then produced the horror adventure film Serpent Island in 1954. He was also the cinematographer on that movie,...
Born on September 24, 1922 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Gordon fell in love with filmmaking at a young age, being given his first camera when he was just 9 years old. He started making TV commercials after he graduated from college, then produced the horror adventure film Serpent Island in 1954. He was also the cinematographer on that movie,...
- 3/9/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Bert I. Gordon, an American filmmaker and sci-fi director known for his low-budget monster movies in the 1950s and ’60s, died in Los Angeles on Wednesday. He was 100.
His daughter, Patricia Gordon, confirmed the news of his death.
Shortly after WWII, when Americans feared the impacts of nuclear testing and radiation, Gordon created mutated monster movies that wreaked havoc on the world. Despite his many low-budget films, Gordon’s movies featured stars like Ida Lupino and Orson Welles.
Nevertheless, the apocalyptic titles and jarring movie posters weren’t enough to keep them from flopping and receiving negative reviews, according to the New York Times.
Gordon’s career spans over six decades, as he produced, directed, and wrote 25 films. He’s most known for “The Cyclops” (1957), “Village of the Giants” (1965), “Necromancy” (1972), “The Food of the Gods” (1976), “Empire of the Ants” (1977) and “The Amazing Colossal Man” (1957), the last of which was brought...
His daughter, Patricia Gordon, confirmed the news of his death.
Shortly after WWII, when Americans feared the impacts of nuclear testing and radiation, Gordon created mutated monster movies that wreaked havoc on the world. Despite his many low-budget films, Gordon’s movies featured stars like Ida Lupino and Orson Welles.
Nevertheless, the apocalyptic titles and jarring movie posters weren’t enough to keep them from flopping and receiving negative reviews, according to the New York Times.
Gordon’s career spans over six decades, as he produced, directed, and wrote 25 films. He’s most known for “The Cyclops” (1957), “Village of the Giants” (1965), “Necromancy” (1972), “The Food of the Gods” (1976), “Empire of the Ants” (1977) and “The Amazing Colossal Man” (1957), the last of which was brought...
- 3/9/2023
- by Joshua Vinson
- The Wrap
Bert I. Gordon, the sci-fi director who aimed to terrify drive-in denizens of the 1950s and ’60s with low-budget films featuring colossal creatures, shrinking humans and radioactive monsters, has died. He was 100.
Gordon died Wednesday in Los Angeles of complications from a fall in his Beverly Hills home, his daughter Patricia Gordon told The Hollywood Reporter.
Highlights (lowlights?) on his B-movie résumé include The Cyclops (1957), The Amazing Colossal Man (1957), Beginning of the End (1957), Earth vs. the Spider (1958), Attack of the Puppet People (1958), Tormented (1960), The Boy and the Pirates (1960) and Picture Mommy Dead (1966).
In the ’70s, Gordon directed Vince Edwards and Chuck Connors in The Police Connection (1973) and wrote and directed How to Succeed With Sex (1970), Necromancy (1972), The Food of the Gods (1976) and, starring Joan Collins in the muck, Empire of the Ants (1977).
Perhaps as a way to keep costs down, Gordon’s films often were family affairs: His late wife,...
Gordon died Wednesday in Los Angeles of complications from a fall in his Beverly Hills home, his daughter Patricia Gordon told The Hollywood Reporter.
Highlights (lowlights?) on his B-movie résumé include The Cyclops (1957), The Amazing Colossal Man (1957), Beginning of the End (1957), Earth vs. the Spider (1958), Attack of the Puppet People (1958), Tormented (1960), The Boy and the Pirates (1960) and Picture Mommy Dead (1966).
In the ’70s, Gordon directed Vince Edwards and Chuck Connors in The Police Connection (1973) and wrote and directed How to Succeed With Sex (1970), Necromancy (1972), The Food of the Gods (1976) and, starring Joan Collins in the muck, Empire of the Ants (1977).
Perhaps as a way to keep costs down, Gordon’s films often were family affairs: His late wife,...
- 3/9/2023
- by Rhett Bartlett
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Stars: Ego Mikitas, Maxi Witrak, Terrance Livingston Jr., Lydia Hunter, Michael Deni, Tania Fox, Natasha Goubskaya | Written by Ryan Ebert, Anna Rasmussen | Directed by Glenn Campbell, Tammy Klein
The biggest surprise about Shark Side of the Moon is that, in a genre that’s already seen Sharks of the Corn, Sharkula, Ouija Shark and even Shark Encounters of the Third Kind, it took so long for someone to use the title. What shouldn’t be so surprising is that it was The Asylum that did it and it makes its bow as a Tubi Original, part of Bitefest, the streaming service’s Shark Month.
During the Cold War, the Soviets were experimenting with human/shark hybrids at a launch facility. As is usually the case in these situations the experimental creatures got free. In a desperate bid to keep them from reaching the ocean, Sergey lured them onto a shuttle...
The biggest surprise about Shark Side of the Moon is that, in a genre that’s already seen Sharks of the Corn, Sharkula, Ouija Shark and even Shark Encounters of the Third Kind, it took so long for someone to use the title. What shouldn’t be so surprising is that it was The Asylum that did it and it makes its bow as a Tubi Original, part of Bitefest, the streaming service’s Shark Month.
During the Cold War, the Soviets were experimenting with human/shark hybrids at a launch facility. As is usually the case in these situations the experimental creatures got free. In a desperate bid to keep them from reaching the ocean, Sergey lured them onto a shuttle...
- 8/19/2022
- by Jim Morazzini
- Nerdly
Bert I. Gordon’s career groove of shrinking and bloating various animals and people bottoms out in this trashy drive-in groaner: it’s colorful but nigh-unwatchable. The exploitation target is sci-fi and the teen musical, with incompatible helpings of pre-teen ‘cutes’ and girlie show jiggle for the raincoat crowd. The show apparently did well, but I heard mostly about resentful walkouts. Gordon’s early films have far more charm; this one mostly shows contempt for his audience. For fans that think there’s Camp value here, the Blu-ray transfer is sensationally good, as is the reproduction of Jack Nitzsche’s rock music score. The only thing to call this movie is Poor, but how can that be when I find so much to say about it?
Village of the Giants
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1965 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 81 min. / Street Date February 22, 2022 / available through Kino Lorber / 24.95
Starring: Tommy Kirk, Johnny Crawford,...
Village of the Giants
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1965 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 81 min. / Street Date February 22, 2022 / available through Kino Lorber / 24.95
Starring: Tommy Kirk, Johnny Crawford,...
- 2/22/2022
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
There’s something inherently seductive about the glitz and glamour of Old Hollywood. Perhaps it’s the backstage intrigue and the tawdry tales of showbusiness hedonism that draws us in again and again. Or maybe it’s the romanticized image of smokey rooms, silken gowns and stylish fedoras that we find so endlessly alluring. For many, however, it’s the larger-than-life figures from silver screen history that remain irresistible decades later.
Whatever the reason, films, books and television shows about Hollywood’s Golden Age continue to captivate new generations year after year. Look no further than Oscar-winners like “The Artist,” bestsellers like Shawn Levy’s “The Castle on Sunset,” acclaimed documentaries like “Tab Hunter Confidential,” and a host of recent TV series from Ryan Murphy if you have any doubt. Each of these attempt, in some way, to simultaneously celebrate the era while pulling back the curtain on the studio system.
Whatever the reason, films, books and television shows about Hollywood’s Golden Age continue to captivate new generations year after year. Look no further than Oscar-winners like “The Artist,” bestsellers like Shawn Levy’s “The Castle on Sunset,” acclaimed documentaries like “Tab Hunter Confidential,” and a host of recent TV series from Ryan Murphy if you have any doubt. Each of these attempt, in some way, to simultaneously celebrate the era while pulling back the curtain on the studio system.
- 11/16/2021
- by Matthew Chernov
- Variety Film + TV
For this week’s home media offerings, we have only a few titles on tap for genre fans, as there are only five different titles making their way home on Tuesday. Arrow Video is showing some love to the underappreciated Dream Demon with their new Blu, and Scream Factory is resurrecting The Spider (1958) as well. If you’re into classic horror in three dimensions, you’ll definitely want to pick up the 3D Blu for House of Wax (1953) and two indie horror flicks are arriving on DVD this week as well: Wood Witch and The Haunted.
Dream Demon
A young bride-to-be s anxieties over her upcoming wedding take on a horrifying, demonic form in this underseen 1988 rubber reality shocker from director/co-writer Harley Cokeliss (Black Moon Rising), starring Timothy Spall and Jemma Redgrave.
As her marriage to decorated war hero Oliver draws near, well-heeled Diana moves into her sprawling new...
Dream Demon
A young bride-to-be s anxieties over her upcoming wedding take on a horrifying, demonic form in this underseen 1988 rubber reality shocker from director/co-writer Harley Cokeliss (Black Moon Rising), starring Timothy Spall and Jemma Redgrave.
As her marriage to decorated war hero Oliver draws near, well-heeled Diana moves into her sprawling new...
- 6/23/2020
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
In addition to revealing a Collector's Edition Blu-ray release for John Carpenter's Escape From L.A., Scream Factory is also kicking off a new year of horror home media releases with Blu-ray announcements for The Spider (aka Earth vs. the Spider) and the Hammer films The Curse of the Werewolf, Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter, and The Lost Continent.
All four new Blu-rays are due out in April, and while full special features will be revealed at a later time, we have Scream Factory's official announcements and cover art below:
The Curse of the Werewolf Collector's Edition Blu-ray: "Our love for Hammer Films continues into the new year with an upgraded version of The Curse Of The Werewolf! Details we have at this time are as follows:
• National street date for North America (Region A) is 4/21/2020.
• This is being presented as a Collector’s Edition release and will come guaranteed with...
All four new Blu-rays are due out in April, and while full special features will be revealed at a later time, we have Scream Factory's official announcements and cover art below:
The Curse of the Werewolf Collector's Edition Blu-ray: "Our love for Hammer Films continues into the new year with an upgraded version of The Curse Of The Werewolf! Details we have at this time are as follows:
• National street date for North America (Region A) is 4/21/2020.
• This is being presented as a Collector’s Edition release and will come guaranteed with...
- 1/8/2020
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
No, it’s not a the-day-after sequel to The Lost Weekend, but a class-act mystery-horror from 20th-Fox, at a time when the studio wasn’t keen on scare shows. John Brahm directs the ill-fated Laird Cregar as a mad musician . . . or, at least a musician driven mad by a perfidious femme fatale, Darryl Zanuck’s top glamour girl Linda Darnell.
Hangover Square
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1945 /B&W / 1:37 Academy / 77 min. / Street Date November 21, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, George Sanders, Faye Marlowe, Glenn Langan, Alan Napier.
Cinematography: Joseph Lashelle
Film Editor: Harry Reynolds
Original Music: Bernard Herrmann
Written by Barré Lyndon
Produced by Robert Bassler
Directed by John Brahm
Here’s a serious quality upgrade for horror fans. Although technically a period murder thriller, as a horror film John Brahm’s tense Hangover Square betters its precursor The Lodger in almost every department. We don...
Hangover Square
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1945 /B&W / 1:37 Academy / 77 min. / Street Date November 21, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Laird Cregar, Linda Darnell, George Sanders, Faye Marlowe, Glenn Langan, Alan Napier.
Cinematography: Joseph Lashelle
Film Editor: Harry Reynolds
Original Music: Bernard Herrmann
Written by Barré Lyndon
Produced by Robert Bassler
Directed by John Brahm
Here’s a serious quality upgrade for horror fans. Although technically a period murder thriller, as a horror film John Brahm’s tense Hangover Square betters its precursor The Lodger in almost every department. We don...
- 11/28/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
All hail Bert I. Gordon, who singlehandedly carved out his own niche in ‘fifties monster folklore, and even won a battle or two against those sharpies at A.I.P.. His puppet people were originally just ‘Fantastic,’ but they had to be made into a menace with the “A” word usually reserved for icky poo Giant Leeches, Crab Monsters and 50-Foot Women.
Attack of the Puppet People
Blu-ray
Scream Factory
1958 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 79 min. / The Fantastic Puppet People, Six Inches Tall, I Was a Teenage Doll, War of the Puppet People / Street Date November 14, 2017 / 27.99
Starring: John Agar, John Hoyt, June Kenney, Susan Gordon, Michael Mark, Kack Kosslyn, Marlene Willis, Ken Miller, Laurie Mitchell, Scott Peters, June Jocelyn, Hank Patterson.
Cinematography: Ernest Laszlo
Special Effects: Bert I. Gordon, Flora M. Gordon
Original Music: Albert Glasser
Written by George Worthing Yates
Story, Produced & Directed by Bert I. Gordon
It’s easy...
Attack of the Puppet People
Blu-ray
Scream Factory
1958 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 79 min. / The Fantastic Puppet People, Six Inches Tall, I Was a Teenage Doll, War of the Puppet People / Street Date November 14, 2017 / 27.99
Starring: John Agar, John Hoyt, June Kenney, Susan Gordon, Michael Mark, Kack Kosslyn, Marlene Willis, Ken Miller, Laurie Mitchell, Scott Peters, June Jocelyn, Hank Patterson.
Cinematography: Ernest Laszlo
Special Effects: Bert I. Gordon, Flora M. Gordon
Original Music: Albert Glasser
Written by George Worthing Yates
Story, Produced & Directed by Bert I. Gordon
It’s easy...
- 11/18/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Mr. Franz seemed nice at first, but brimming just beneath the surface was a desire to turn his guests into miniature puppets for his own amusement. This unconventional form of entertainment takes center stage in Attack of the Puppet People, and with Scream Factory releasing the 1958 horror film on Blu-ray, we've been provided with three high-def copies to give away to lucky Daily Dead readers.
---------
Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of Attack of the Puppet People.
How to Enter: We're giving Daily Dead readers multiple chances to enter and win:
1. Instagram: Following us on Instagram during the contest period will give you an automatic contest entry. Make sure to follow us at:
https://www.instagram.com/dailydead/
2. Email: For a chance to win via email, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with the subject "Attack of the Puppet People Contest". Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
---------
Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of Attack of the Puppet People.
How to Enter: We're giving Daily Dead readers multiple chances to enter and win:
1. Instagram: Following us on Instagram during the contest period will give you an automatic contest entry. Make sure to follow us at:
https://www.instagram.com/dailydead/
2. Email: For a chance to win via email, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with the subject "Attack of the Puppet People Contest". Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
- 11/16/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Schlock should never be a dirty word in the world of cinema. Some of my favorite films are utterly devoid of taste and frequently, refinement. The majority of drive-in treasures lie somewhere between perspiration and inspiration, covered in flop sweat and trying desperately to entertain. This is often where you’ll find the films distributed by American International Pictures, and always where you’ll see director Bert I. Gordon’s oeuvre. Empire of the Ants (1977) is no exception.
Released by Aip in July and bringing in $2.5 million, Empire was the follow up to Gordon and producer Samuel Z. Arkoff’s success from the previous year, The Food of the Gods, another “loose” H.G. Wells adaptation, and was an even bigger hit (in B.I.G. terms, anyway—everything’s relative, folks). Naturally dismissed by critics, Empire continues the winning Gordon formula of B stars and groovy, goofy, rear projection grisliness.
Released by Aip in July and bringing in $2.5 million, Empire was the follow up to Gordon and producer Samuel Z. Arkoff’s success from the previous year, The Food of the Gods, another “loose” H.G. Wells adaptation, and was an even bigger hit (in B.I.G. terms, anyway—everything’s relative, folks). Naturally dismissed by critics, Empire continues the winning Gordon formula of B stars and groovy, goofy, rear projection grisliness.
- 8/26/2017
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
The 1991 meta-cult classic Popcorn is finally making its way to Blu-ray thanks to Synapse Films. The film received a barebones DVD release from Elite Entertainment in 2001 that has been out of print for some time, making this a sought-after title that some purists will still prefer on the original VHS. Featuring a cohort of dorky film students hosting an all night horror marathon, Popcorn is a fun, ’80s-style slasher as well as a valentine to schlocky sci-fi of the ’50s and ’60s, featuring thematic elements that sit squarely between Friday The 13th, Part 6: Jason Lives and Wes Craven’s Scream.
Mark Herrier—arguably best known for his role as Billy in the Porky’s Saga—is credited with directing the film, but another Bob Clark protégé. Alan Ormsby, helmed the three films within the film: Mosquito, a riff on Them!; The Amazing Colossal Man-influenced The Attack ...
Mark Herrier—arguably best known for his role as Billy in the Porky’s Saga—is credited with directing the film, but another Bob Clark protégé. Alan Ormsby, helmed the three films within the film: Mosquito, a riff on Them!; The Amazing Colossal Man-influenced The Attack ...
- 1/19/2017
- by Mike Vanderbilt
- avclub.com
Sometimes in horror, a giant creature will do. It takes us back to a simpler time, I think. A time when an oversized spider, or a massive lizard sparked shuttered eyes at the Drive-In or local theatre. It feels almost like a cleansing; a reset of the scare-o-meter back to the innocent levels of the Saturday matinee. And if you were a kid in the ‘70s, Bert I. Gordon’s The Food of the Gods (1976) fit the bill nicely.
Released in June by Aip stateside, and then rolled out across the world in ’77, Food brought in $1 million at the gate (good revenue by Aip standards) and the reviews were, not surprisingly, as low grade as the budget. But hey, legendary schlockmeister Gordon did not survive the biz on good copy. And what kind of reviews would you expect from a movie that features giant chickens, gargantuan rats, and Marjoe Gortner?...
Released in June by Aip stateside, and then rolled out across the world in ’77, Food brought in $1 million at the gate (good revenue by Aip standards) and the reviews were, not surprisingly, as low grade as the budget. But hey, legendary schlockmeister Gordon did not survive the biz on good copy. And what kind of reviews would you expect from a movie that features giant chickens, gargantuan rats, and Marjoe Gortner?...
- 6/18/2016
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
In the history of soggy underwater adventures, none have been been soggier than this A.I.P. Panavision curiosity from England. Four out of five insomniacs agree: it has the most awkwardly mis-matched cast of players in fantasy film history... starting with a chicken. Kl Studio Classics Savant Blu-ray Review 1965 / Color / 2:35 widescreen 1:37 flat Academy / 84 min. / City in the Sea / Street Date August ll, 2015 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring Vincent Price, Tab Hunter, David Tomlinson, Susan Hart, John Le Mesurier, Harry Oscar, Derek Newark, Roy Patrick, Herbert the Rooster. Cinematography Stephen Dade Film Editor Gordon Hales Original Music Stanley Black Written by Charles Bennett, Louis M. Heyward, David Whitaker based on City in the Sea by Edgar Allan Poe Produced by Daniel Haller Directed by Jacques Tourneur
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
By 1965 American-International Pictures was looking in all directions, trying to hit on new themes to replace the monsters...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
By 1965 American-International Pictures was looking in all directions, trying to hit on new themes to replace the monsters...
- 8/25/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Tomorrow, Scream Factory's unleashing respective double feature Blu-rays of The Food of the Gods and Frogs, and Empire of the Ants and Jaws of Satan. We've been provided with three Blu-ray copies of each double feature to give away to Daily Dead readers.
The Food Of The Gods
"Legendary director Bert I. Gordon (The Amazing Colossal Man, Attack of the Puppet People) – the father of the "gigantic creature" genre – delivers this spine-tingling tale of ecology gone berserk. Based on H.G. Wells' classic horror novel, The Food of the Gods predicts a terrifying future where oversized animals are suddenly at the top of the food chain and ready to take over!
On a remote island, a mysterious substance is oozing from the ground. A farmer sees that it acts as a growth hormone and thinks his fortune is made. But when rats, chickens, worms and wasps begin sampling the potent substance,...
The Food Of The Gods
"Legendary director Bert I. Gordon (The Amazing Colossal Man, Attack of the Puppet People) – the father of the "gigantic creature" genre – delivers this spine-tingling tale of ecology gone berserk. Based on H.G. Wells' classic horror novel, The Food of the Gods predicts a terrifying future where oversized animals are suddenly at the top of the food chain and ready to take over!
On a remote island, a mysterious substance is oozing from the ground. A farmer sees that it acts as a growth hormone and thinks his fortune is made. But when rats, chickens, worms and wasps begin sampling the potent substance,...
- 5/26/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
With Memorial Day behind us and summer just right around the corner, the horror and sci-fi home releases are really begin to heat up as we’ve got a bunch of great cult classics and new indie genre films to look forward to this Tuesday. Scream Factory is giving fans a double dose of double features with their The Food of the Gods/Frogs and Empire of the Ants/Jaws of Satan Blu-rays and we’ve also got the latest from Dark Sky Films- Let Us Prey- arriving on both Blu-ray and DVD on May 26th.
Anchor Bay is also bringing home Spike Lee’s Da Sweet Blood of Jesus this week, Vinegar Syndrome is giving the cult film Madman a high-def upgrade and Universal is keeping busy as well with their releases of Seventh Son, The Loft and the Orson Welles classic Touch of Evil too.
Anchor Bay is also bringing home Spike Lee’s Da Sweet Blood of Jesus this week, Vinegar Syndrome is giving the cult film Madman a high-def upgrade and Universal is keeping busy as well with their releases of Seventh Son, The Loft and the Orson Welles classic Touch of Evil too.
- 5/26/2015
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
On May 26th, Scream Factory's unleashing nature-gone-wrong creature features, including the killer amphibians from Frogs, the giant rats from The Food of the Gods, the killer ants of Empire of the Ants, and the creepy king cobra from Jaws of Satan.
The Food Of The Gods
"Legendary director Bert I. Gordon (The Amazing Colossal Man, Attack of the Puppet People) – the father of the "gigantic creature" genre – delivers this spine-tingling tale of ecology gone berserk. Based on H.G. Wells' classic horror novel, The Food of the Gods predicts a terrifying future where oversized animals are suddenly at the top of the food chain and ready to take over!
On a remote island, a mysterious substance is oozing from the ground. A farmer sees that it acts as a growth hormone and thinks his fortune is made. But when rats, chickens, worms and wasps begin sampling the potent substance, they morph into bloodthirsty giants!
The Food Of The Gods
"Legendary director Bert I. Gordon (The Amazing Colossal Man, Attack of the Puppet People) – the father of the "gigantic creature" genre – delivers this spine-tingling tale of ecology gone berserk. Based on H.G. Wells' classic horror novel, The Food of the Gods predicts a terrifying future where oversized animals are suddenly at the top of the food chain and ready to take over!
On a remote island, a mysterious substance is oozing from the ground. A farmer sees that it acts as a growth hormone and thinks his fortune is made. But when rats, chickens, worms and wasps begin sampling the potent substance, they morph into bloodthirsty giants!
- 5/18/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Long before he co-starred as James Dalton's memorable mentor and friend in Road House, Sam Elliott took on killer amphibians in 1972's Frogs, and with Scream Factory offering up two double doses of nature-gone-wrong creature features, Frogs is invading homes on Blu-ray this May along with the giant rats of The Food of the Gods, the killer ants of Empire of the Ants, and the creepy king cobra from Jaws of Satan.
Press release - "This spring, nature strikes back! On May 26, 2015 Scream Factory presents Food of the Gods and Frogs, two nature-gone-berserk shockers on Blu-ray for the first time. This release comes complete with bonus features, including new interviews with the films’ stars Belinda Balaski and Joan Van Ark.
The Food Of The Gods
Legendary director Bert I. Gordon (The Amazing Colossal Man, Attack of the Puppet People) – the father of the "gigantic creature" genre – delivers this spine-tingling tale of ecology gone berserk.
Press release - "This spring, nature strikes back! On May 26, 2015 Scream Factory presents Food of the Gods and Frogs, two nature-gone-berserk shockers on Blu-ray for the first time. This release comes complete with bonus features, including new interviews with the films’ stars Belinda Balaski and Joan Van Ark.
The Food Of The Gods
Legendary director Bert I. Gordon (The Amazing Colossal Man, Attack of the Puppet People) – the father of the "gigantic creature" genre – delivers this spine-tingling tale of ecology gone berserk.
- 4/1/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Into the Woods
Written by James Lapine from the musical by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine
Directed by Rob Marshall
USA, 2014
Normally, I’m a fair and agreeable chap who approaches each movie with an open mind. I must warn you, however, that my review of Into the Woods will be neither fair nor agreeable. I will not be fawning over director Rob Marshall, who seems clueless as to what his own movie is about, nor will I be singing the praises of Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim, who has probably written grocery lists more pleasing to the ear than these tunes. What I will be doing is trying to deconstruct one of my most grueling cinematic experiences of 2014.
So you’ve got this great idea.
You want to combine the four fairy tales, “Cinderella (Anna Kendrick),” “Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford),” “Jack (Daniel Huttlestone) and the Beanstalk,” and “Rapunzel (Mackenzie Mauzy),” into one big story.
Written by James Lapine from the musical by Stephen Sondheim & James Lapine
Directed by Rob Marshall
USA, 2014
Normally, I’m a fair and agreeable chap who approaches each movie with an open mind. I must warn you, however, that my review of Into the Woods will be neither fair nor agreeable. I will not be fawning over director Rob Marshall, who seems clueless as to what his own movie is about, nor will I be singing the praises of Broadway legend Stephen Sondheim, who has probably written grocery lists more pleasing to the ear than these tunes. What I will be doing is trying to deconstruct one of my most grueling cinematic experiences of 2014.
So you’ve got this great idea.
You want to combine the four fairy tales, “Cinderella (Anna Kendrick),” “Little Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford),” “Jack (Daniel Huttlestone) and the Beanstalk,” and “Rapunzel (Mackenzie Mauzy),” into one big story.
- 12/25/2014
- by J.R. Kinnard
- SoundOnSight
“Shocktober” continues with Scream Factory announcing two more titles they will be bringing to Blu-ray next year: 1976’s The Food of the Gods and 1972’s Frogs. The former (loosely based on an H. G. Wells novel) sees a pro football player take on giant rats, while the latter stars Sam (Road House) Elliot as a photographer evading murderous amphibians. Both take place on islands where nature has taken over.
“Happy Monday! Our month-long “Shocktober” celebration and countdown to Halloween continues with two more films to reveal: We are pairing 1972’s swampy Frogs (starring Sam Elliott) and 1976’s giant animal-ridden Food Of The Gods (starring Pamela Franklin) together on the Blu-ray format as a double-feature! Expect to see the release emerge next Summer.
We still have more films to announce this month so be sure to check back here on our page this month to be the first to see them!
“Happy Monday! Our month-long “Shocktober” celebration and countdown to Halloween continues with two more films to reveal: We are pairing 1972’s swampy Frogs (starring Sam Elliott) and 1976’s giant animal-ridden Food Of The Gods (starring Pamela Franklin) together on the Blu-ray format as a double-feature! Expect to see the release emerge next Summer.
We still have more films to announce this month so be sure to check back here on our page this month to be the first to see them!
- 10/14/2014
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
We’ve become accustomed to movies and TV shows about post-apocalyptic survivors huddled in locations fortified to keep out whatever undead, mutant, or extraterrestrial threat there is. In "Attack on Titan" the threat comes in the form of giants… man-eating giants!
Probably should mention right now that "Attack on Titan" is anime. I didn’t mention that little tidbit in the introductory paragraph because some of you wouldn’t have bothered to click on it to find out more. Some people just don’t like anime. Me personally? I was huge into anime up until the immediate post-Evangelion period when all new anime seemed to go out of its way to be joyless, slow-paced, existential tripe. “Attack on Titan” looks like a TV show that could get me watching again.
Wit Studio, Production Ig, and “Highschool of the Dead” director Araki Tetsuro are behind this new series based on Isayama...
Probably should mention right now that "Attack on Titan" is anime. I didn’t mention that little tidbit in the introductory paragraph because some of you wouldn’t have bothered to click on it to find out more. Some people just don’t like anime. Me personally? I was huge into anime up until the immediate post-Evangelion period when all new anime seemed to go out of its way to be joyless, slow-paced, existential tripe. “Attack on Titan” looks like a TV show that could get me watching again.
Wit Studio, Production Ig, and “Highschool of the Dead” director Araki Tetsuro are behind this new series based on Isayama...
- 12/11/2012
- by Foywonder
- DreadCentral.com
Directed by: Paul Bunnell
Written by: Paul Bunnell, Steve Bingen, Mark D. Murphy, George Wagner
Starring: Will Keenan, De Anna Joy Brooks, Les Williams, Reggie Bannister, Paul Williams, Kevin McCarthy
Bad boy alien Johnny Xavier (Will Keenan) and his gang The Ghastly Ones are charged with theft and civil disobedience. They are exiled to Earth by the Grand Inquisitor (the late, great Kevin McCarthy) until they can demonstrate an unselfish act.
One year later, after finding shelter in a desert cave, leather-clad Johnny and his rebellious teen followers are still no closer to redemption. It seems Johnny’s main squeeze, Bliss (De Anna Joy Brooks), has decided to escape from the gang to find fulfillment elsewhere. After wandering for days, she stumbles into a diner on the outskirts of the desert, befriending a naïve soda jerk named Chip (Les Williams).
Also at the diner are music promoter King Clayton (Phantasm...
Written by: Paul Bunnell, Steve Bingen, Mark D. Murphy, George Wagner
Starring: Will Keenan, De Anna Joy Brooks, Les Williams, Reggie Bannister, Paul Williams, Kevin McCarthy
Bad boy alien Johnny Xavier (Will Keenan) and his gang The Ghastly Ones are charged with theft and civil disobedience. They are exiled to Earth by the Grand Inquisitor (the late, great Kevin McCarthy) until they can demonstrate an unselfish act.
One year later, after finding shelter in a desert cave, leather-clad Johnny and his rebellious teen followers are still no closer to redemption. It seems Johnny’s main squeeze, Bliss (De Anna Joy Brooks), has decided to escape from the gang to find fulfillment elsewhere. After wandering for days, she stumbles into a diner on the outskirts of the desert, befriending a naïve soda jerk named Chip (Les Williams).
Also at the diner are music promoter King Clayton (Phantasm...
- 4/19/2012
- by Bradley Harding
- Planet Fury
Invasion Earth: The Aliens Are Here
Stars: Janice Fabian, Christian Lee, Larry Bagby, Dana Young | Written by Miller Drake | Directed by Robert Skotak
Aliens invade a small town invading the towns cinema where the patrons are watching a sci-fi marathon. Taking over the projection room, the aliens splice together footage of old sci-fi films from the 50s to try an “bore” the audience into losing their minds so that they can take them over. A couple of teenagers in the audience realise that the alien threat is real and set out to put an end to the aliens plans before it’s too late.
Only really notable for being the one and only directorial effort from Robert Skotak, a visual effects whiz who has worked on such films as Tremors, Darkman, Terminator 2 and more recently Joe Dante’s The Hole, Invasion Earth: The Aliens Are Here isn’t really a movie,...
Stars: Janice Fabian, Christian Lee, Larry Bagby, Dana Young | Written by Miller Drake | Directed by Robert Skotak
Aliens invade a small town invading the towns cinema where the patrons are watching a sci-fi marathon. Taking over the projection room, the aliens splice together footage of old sci-fi films from the 50s to try an “bore” the audience into losing their minds so that they can take them over. A couple of teenagers in the audience realise that the alien threat is real and set out to put an end to the aliens plans before it’s too late.
Only really notable for being the one and only directorial effort from Robert Skotak, a visual effects whiz who has worked on such films as Tremors, Darkman, Terminator 2 and more recently Joe Dante’s The Hole, Invasion Earth: The Aliens Are Here isn’t really a movie,...
- 10/10/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Hollywood loves a big, scary beast, but what about super-sizing the humble human? Clip joint looks up magic mega-moments
Tinseltown has been convincingly developing the magnificence of the mighty in the animal kingdom for decades. A simple shift in perspective transformed King Kong (1933) from a large ape into a monster. Similarly the terror in Tremors (1990) lies not in the idea that we're being chased by sand worms, but that they're half-a-mile long.
Hollywood likes to super-size, to make things larger than life, but when it comes to clumsy old humanity it's much harder to make size scary. The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) looked corny, Allison Hayes's 50ft Woman looked bored, even on the attack. Jason and The Argonauts's (1963) bronze behemoth Talos had the stuff, but he was technically an automaton.
Human giants are smaller, sillier and far less malevolent. Their stomping ground is the cartoon or the gentle family comedy.
Tinseltown has been convincingly developing the magnificence of the mighty in the animal kingdom for decades. A simple shift in perspective transformed King Kong (1933) from a large ape into a monster. Similarly the terror in Tremors (1990) lies not in the idea that we're being chased by sand worms, but that they're half-a-mile long.
Hollywood likes to super-size, to make things larger than life, but when it comes to clumsy old humanity it's much harder to make size scary. The Amazing Colossal Man (1957) looked corny, Allison Hayes's 50ft Woman looked bored, even on the attack. Jason and The Argonauts's (1963) bronze behemoth Talos had the stuff, but he was technically an automaton.
Human giants are smaller, sillier and far less malevolent. Their stomping ground is the cartoon or the gentle family comedy.
- 9/28/2011
- by Henry Barnes
- The Guardian - Film News
The Incredible Shrinking Woman (Original Release Date: 30 January 1981)
There never was a happier home for the re-sized creature feature than the fifties. So many of the classics of the genre (if it is a genre) were released in that decade: Them! (1954), Tarantula (1955), The Amazing Colossal Man (1957), The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), The Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958), and the Abbott-less Lou Costello comedy, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock (1959). (For the fetishists out there: included in The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock is a scene where Costello's character showers his giantess with an elephant hose.) These movies occasionally carried an agenda -- more often than not, the agenda had to do with how we ought to be more careful with technology in the atomic age--though they weren't necessarily always “message” movies. Many of them existed just to exploit the spectacle, or to present us with the novelty of humans interacting with wrong-sized stuff.
There never was a happier home for the re-sized creature feature than the fifties. So many of the classics of the genre (if it is a genre) were released in that decade: Them! (1954), Tarantula (1955), The Amazing Colossal Man (1957), The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957), The Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958), and the Abbott-less Lou Costello comedy, The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock (1959). (For the fetishists out there: included in The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock is a scene where Costello's character showers his giantess with an elephant hose.) These movies occasionally carried an agenda -- more often than not, the agenda had to do with how we ought to be more careful with technology in the atomic age--though they weren't necessarily always “message” movies. Many of them existed just to exploit the spectacle, or to present us with the novelty of humans interacting with wrong-sized stuff.
- 1/27/2011
- by Thurston McQ
- Corona's Coming Attractions
Last week, Art Gilmore, the voice of many of the movie trailers from the 1950's and 1960's died at age 98. His voice has been heard on more than 2,700 trailers. We have rounded up a compilation of 37 trailers featuring Gilmore's famous voice over, embedded after the jump. “Radar Men from the Moon” (1952) Republic serial trailer. “Invaders from Mars” (1953) D: Wm. Cameron Menzies. Paranoid. “Cinecolor”. “Creature from the Black Lagoon” (1954) in “3-D”. “War of the Worlds” (1953) George Pal “The Conquest of Space” (1955) George Pal “The Blob” (1958) Steve McQueen. “I Married a Monster from Outer Space” (1958) “I Was a Teenage Frankenstein” (1957) Whit Bissel. “The Amazing Colossal Man” (1957) “Rodan” (1957) Japanese follow-up to “Godzilla”. “Werewolf in a Girl’s Dormitory” (1961) “Robinson Crusoe on Mars” (1964) “Dumbo” (1941) “Gilda” (1946) Rita Hayworth, Glenn Ford “It’s A Wonderful Life” (1946) Jimmy Stewart D: Frank Capra “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” (1948) John Wayne D: John Ford “Mighty ...
- 10/4/2010
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
Hey gang! You've got to watch this incredible retro 1950's trailer for The Avengers! This thing was put together in credibly well, and I couldn't help but have a smile on my face the whole time I was watching it. I would love to see this movie if it actually existed! Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think!
The trailer above was created by YouTube user whoiseyevan and here's what he had to say about it.
What if... the Avengers movie was created years before the actual comic book?
Lost in the annals of time and space, comes this magnificent motion picture of epic proportions. Taking a page from such horror classics as "Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman" and "House of Frankenstein," Timely Atlas Studios (the precursor to Marvel Studios), created the first superhero movie team-up. "The Avengers" featured an awesome array of characters such as Captain America,...
The trailer above was created by YouTube user whoiseyevan and here's what he had to say about it.
What if... the Avengers movie was created years before the actual comic book?
Lost in the annals of time and space, comes this magnificent motion picture of epic proportions. Taking a page from such horror classics as "Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman" and "House of Frankenstein," Timely Atlas Studios (the precursor to Marvel Studios), created the first superhero movie team-up. "The Avengers" featured an awesome array of characters such as Captain America,...
- 8/10/2010
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Iconic sci-fi/horror filmmaker Bert I. Gordon (The Amazing Colossal Man, The Food Of The Gods, etc.) will be joining the Fango family this summer, reviving the long-dormant “The Pit and the Pen” column. The late writer/producer Alex Gordon (The She Creature, Ed Wood’s Jail Bait) wrote the popular feature for Fangoria magazine during the 1980s, presenting an ongoing diary of his wild and weird war stories from the front lines of the B-movie business during its heyday in the 1950s and ’60s.
- 5/2/2010
- by gingold@starloggroup.com (FANGORIA Staff)
- Fangoria
Thank heavens we live in a world where B-movie czar Bert I. Gordon, he of the larger-than-life-monsters-vs.-puny-humans classics of the 1960’s and 70’s, still walks among us. With pictures like The Amazing Colossal Man, Earth Vs The Spider, The Beginning Of The End, Village Of The Giants and Food Of The Gods on his résumé (he also worked with Orson Welles on The Witching and made the underrated Zsa Zsa Gabor Gothic Picture Mommy Dead), Gordon has firmly stamped his signature on B-cinema, creating a body of work that will stand the test of time.
- 4/25/2010
- by gingold@starloggroup.com (Lee Gambin)
- Fangoria
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.