Melding together genres seldom works. It’s a delicate balancing act; tone is key, and when either (or both) are off the whole thing can come crashing down. By 1991, HBO was already offering up original programming and decided to create a whole new sub genre – horror noir. The result was Cast a Deadly Spell, a very entertaining and perfectly concocted mixture of 1940s detective story and supernatural terror. And when the balance is right, like it is here, the results are sublime.
Originally airing on HBO on Saturday, September 7th, CaDS was met with critical acclaim as a riotous mashup of Bogart and the Dark Arts, treating audiences to a unique blend of murder and magic.
Let’s open up our sacred book of incantations, TV Guide, and see what we’re in for:
Cast A Deadly Spell (HBO, Sept. 7th)
L.A., 1948. Private eye Harry Philip Lovecraft is hired...
Originally airing on HBO on Saturday, September 7th, CaDS was met with critical acclaim as a riotous mashup of Bogart and the Dark Arts, treating audiences to a unique blend of murder and magic.
Let’s open up our sacred book of incantations, TV Guide, and see what we’re in for:
Cast A Deadly Spell (HBO, Sept. 7th)
L.A., 1948. Private eye Harry Philip Lovecraft is hired...
- 3/12/2017
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
By Hank Reineke
Though this welcome Scream Factory issue marks the first time Murders in the Rue Morgue (1971) and The Dunwich Horror (1969) have been made available on domestic Blu-ray, both films enjoyed a previous release on DVD as part of MGM’s long-suspended “Midnite Movies” series. Rue Morgue was first paired with Cry of the Banshee (1970) in 2003, with Dunwich and Die Monster Die! (1965) following in 2005. Though both of these earlier sets are now technically out-of-print, copies remain generally available. Regardless, the more discerning horror-film aficionado would be well advised to seek out this new Blu edition. Not only does Scream Factory’s HD master offer a significant upgrade in visual presentation, the studio has also restored bits of censored footage missing from the Y2K releases.
H.P. Lovecraft’s short story The Dunwich Horror was written in the summer of 1928 and first published in the April 1929 issue of the appropriately titled Weird Tales magazine.
Though this welcome Scream Factory issue marks the first time Murders in the Rue Morgue (1971) and The Dunwich Horror (1969) have been made available on domestic Blu-ray, both films enjoyed a previous release on DVD as part of MGM’s long-suspended “Midnite Movies” series. Rue Morgue was first paired with Cry of the Banshee (1970) in 2003, with Dunwich and Die Monster Die! (1965) following in 2005. Though both of these earlier sets are now technically out-of-print, copies remain generally available. Regardless, the more discerning horror-film aficionado would be well advised to seek out this new Blu edition. Not only does Scream Factory’s HD master offer a significant upgrade in visual presentation, the studio has also restored bits of censored footage missing from the Y2K releases.
H.P. Lovecraft’s short story The Dunwich Horror was written in the summer of 1928 and first published in the April 1929 issue of the appropriately titled Weird Tales magazine.
- 4/4/2016
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Look out! Here come two A.I.P. horror pix from the soggy end of the Poe cycle: the first features Jason Robards, an impressive cast and a disorganized storyline. The second is an almost-good Lovecraft horror with interesting performances from Dean Stockwell and Sandra Dee. Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Dunwich Horror Blu-ray Color Scream Factory Street Date March 29, 2016 / 26.99
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Scream Factory's new double feature disc finishes off two different American-International horror series. The first picture is the last fright film made for the company by the directing and writing team of Gordon Hessler and Christopher Wicking. It's no gem, but it's a lot more interesting on a second viewing. The second is the company's final try to make that old joker H.P. Lovecraft into a filmic horror icon, like Edgar Allan Poe. It has a lot going for it, but also its own set of problems.
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
Scream Factory's new double feature disc finishes off two different American-International horror series. The first picture is the last fright film made for the company by the directing and writing team of Gordon Hessler and Christopher Wicking. It's no gem, but it's a lot more interesting on a second viewing. The second is the company's final try to make that old joker H.P. Lovecraft into a filmic horror icon, like Edgar Allan Poe. It has a lot going for it, but also its own set of problems.
- 3/8/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Also known under the title The Gates of Hell, this 1980 film has Catriona MacColl as a psychic named Mary Woodhouse (a reference to Rosemary’s Baby perhaps?) and Christopher George playing a reporter named Peter Bell. During a séance, Mary has a vision of a priest that commits suicide and the opening of a gateway to hell.
She must find a way to close it before a full-blown zombie apocalypse takes place, and teams up with Peter to find the location of the priest’s death. The two race toward the inevitable showdown with the living dead, and in a nod to H.P. Lovecraft, Fulci has the priest commit suicide in a cemetery in the small New England town of Dunwich.
Typical of any film by Fulci, there will be two things: a plot that moves about as fast as the walking dead and at least fifteen zooms into gratuitous gore.
She must find a way to close it before a full-blown zombie apocalypse takes place, and teams up with Peter to find the location of the priest’s death. The two race toward the inevitable showdown with the living dead, and in a nod to H.P. Lovecraft, Fulci has the priest commit suicide in a cemetery in the small New England town of Dunwich.
Typical of any film by Fulci, there will be two things: a plot that moves about as fast as the walking dead and at least fifteen zooms into gratuitous gore.
- 4/17/2012
- by Derek Botelho
- DailyDead
In comics, crossover events are usually associated with Marvel and DC as an excuse to have their respective superhero pantheons battle it out in new-and-exciting combinations. Last year, Idw said to themselves, why should Marvel and DC have all the fun? They proceeded to throw hordes of zombies at their own roster of comic book properties—which include heavyweights like Transformers, Ghostbusters, and G.I. Joe—in an event dubbed Infestation.
The success of the venture has led them to a sequel of sorts… albeit with a Lovecraftian bent. Now, like any comic fan, I have weaknesses. Gambit is one. Werewolves are another. But perhaps my most ridiculous, gushing, garishly biased fangirling involves one Mr. H.P. Lovecraft. Idw could probably sell me a comic about the Dunwich Horror stampeding over My Little Ponies. And yet… when presented with the preview of Idw’s new crossover, Infestation 2, the first issue of which comes out today,...
The success of the venture has led them to a sequel of sorts… albeit with a Lovecraftian bent. Now, like any comic fan, I have weaknesses. Gambit is one. Werewolves are another. But perhaps my most ridiculous, gushing, garishly biased fangirling involves one Mr. H.P. Lovecraft. Idw could probably sell me a comic about the Dunwich Horror stampeding over My Little Ponies. And yet… when presented with the preview of Idw’s new crossover, Infestation 2, the first issue of which comes out today,...
- 1/25/2012
- by Holly
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Director: Sean Branney.
Writers: H.P. Lovecraft (story), Sean Branney and Andrew Leman (screenplay).
Cast: Stephen Blackehart, Annie Abrams and Matt Lagan.
Enthusiasts of H.P. Lovecraft will eat up the cinematic adaption of the tale, The Whisperer in Darkness. Made by the members of the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society, this film is very clearly a labour of love that came close to not finishing due to funding issues. But thankfully, Sandy Peterson, author of Call of Cthulhu, the role-playing game, saved the day by injecting the money needed to finish the project.
When turning Lovecraft’s works to cinematic expression, some liberties were taken. This movie nicely reproduces the style in films like Dracula, Frankenstein and The Mummy with the set designs and title cards. Also added is a Little Shop of Horrors style (the original) ending. But ultimately, this movie is an update than a wholly faithful adaptation. Had it...
Writers: H.P. Lovecraft (story), Sean Branney and Andrew Leman (screenplay).
Cast: Stephen Blackehart, Annie Abrams and Matt Lagan.
Enthusiasts of H.P. Lovecraft will eat up the cinematic adaption of the tale, The Whisperer in Darkness. Made by the members of the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society, this film is very clearly a labour of love that came close to not finishing due to funding issues. But thankfully, Sandy Peterson, author of Call of Cthulhu, the role-playing game, saved the day by injecting the money needed to finish the project.
When turning Lovecraft’s works to cinematic expression, some liberties were taken. This movie nicely reproduces the style in films like Dracula, Frankenstein and The Mummy with the set designs and title cards. Also added is a Little Shop of Horrors style (the original) ending. But ultimately, this movie is an update than a wholly faithful adaptation. Had it...
- 1/25/2012
- by noreply@blogger.com (Ed Sum)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Horror fans love this time of the year. For those of us not living in La, there's the chill in the air, the colorful leaves, pumpkins everywhere, dead cornfields to explore … if you dare. So, in honor of Our official holiday, I have come up with a list of books and some movies every horror fan should at least take a look at, if not outright add to your book or DVD library.
Without further ado (and in no particular order):
Creepy Places to Visit:
Creepy Crawls: A Horror Fiend’s Travel Guide by Leon Marcelo, Santa Monica Press, 380 pages
I Love this book!! Leon Marcelo travels the world, literally, to find places of horror both real and fictional. Rome to visit the Dario Argento Profondo Rosso Shop then to George Romero’s Pennsylvania and H.P. Lovecraft’s New England. Marcelo also covers Stephen King country, Poe’s Baltimore,...
Without further ado (and in no particular order):
Creepy Places to Visit:
Creepy Crawls: A Horror Fiend’s Travel Guide by Leon Marcelo, Santa Monica Press, 380 pages
I Love this book!! Leon Marcelo travels the world, literally, to find places of horror both real and fictional. Rome to visit the Dario Argento Profondo Rosso Shop then to George Romero’s Pennsylvania and H.P. Lovecraft’s New England. Marcelo also covers Stephen King country, Poe’s Baltimore,...
- 10/18/2009
- by thebellefromhell
- DreadCentral.com
Last month we got a first look at the trailer for Bullet Films' adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's Dunwich Horror starring Jeffrey Combs. Now we've got the trailers for three more Bullet Films productions featuring werewolves, vampires, the potential end of the world, and rednecks battling robots.
The one you might be most interested in is Wolvesbayne, which I first told you about back in July. Jeremy London ("Party of Five") stars as a newly transformed werewolf recruited by a team of vampire hunters to stop a Nazi vampire cult led Yancy Butler ("Witchblade") and Marc Dacascos (Brotherhood of the Wolf).
Wolfsbayne was directed by Griff Furst (I Am Omega, 100 Million BC) from a script by Leigh Scott (Transmorphers, Bram Stoker's Dracula's Curse). Dig the trailer below:
Wolvesbayne - Trailer
Uploaded by dreadcentral
The next isn't at all horror related unless you take into account the horror of the potential...
The one you might be most interested in is Wolvesbayne, which I first told you about back in July. Jeremy London ("Party of Five") stars as a newly transformed werewolf recruited by a team of vampire hunters to stop a Nazi vampire cult led Yancy Butler ("Witchblade") and Marc Dacascos (Brotherhood of the Wolf).
Wolfsbayne was directed by Griff Furst (I Am Omega, 100 Million BC) from a script by Leigh Scott (Transmorphers, Bram Stoker's Dracula's Curse). Dig the trailer below:
Wolvesbayne - Trailer
Uploaded by dreadcentral
The next isn't at all horror related unless you take into account the horror of the potential...
- 1/19/2009
- by Foywonder
- DreadCentral.com
• Filmmaker Richard Griffin of Scorpio Film Releasing let us know that he’s self-distributing his latest feature Beyond The Dunwich Horror through the Scorpio site linked above.
Inspired by the H.P. Lovecraft tale, Dunwich Horror follows a young man named Kenny (Michael Reed) as he arrives in the titular town to find out why his brother Andrew has been committed to a mental institution, and also flashes back to reveal how Andrew (Jason McCormick) became enmeshed in occult phenomena thanks to sexy local girl Nikki (Sarah Nicklin). Genre veteran Lynn (The Crazies) Lowry and busy horror actor Jeff Dylan (Bryan Loves You) Graham also star. The disc’s widescreen transfer is supplemented by:
• Audio commentary by writer/director Griffin, producer Ted Marr, stars Reed and Nicklin and Dp Ricardo Rebelo
• Photo gallery
• Trailer
• Easter egg
Retail price is $20. Look for info on Griffin’s next feature, an expansion of his sacrilegous short Nun Of That,...
Inspired by the H.P. Lovecraft tale, Dunwich Horror follows a young man named Kenny (Michael Reed) as he arrives in the titular town to find out why his brother Andrew has been committed to a mental institution, and also flashes back to reveal how Andrew (Jason McCormick) became enmeshed in occult phenomena thanks to sexy local girl Nikki (Sarah Nicklin). Genre veteran Lynn (The Crazies) Lowry and busy horror actor Jeff Dylan (Bryan Loves You) Graham also star. The disc’s widescreen transfer is supplemented by:
• Audio commentary by writer/director Griffin, producer Ted Marr, stars Reed and Nicklin and Dp Ricardo Rebelo
• Photo gallery
• Trailer
• Easter egg
Retail price is $20. Look for info on Griffin’s next feature, an expansion of his sacrilegous short Nun Of That,...
- 10/20/2008
- Fangoria
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