“Cobra” Alt Poster by César Moreno!
César Moreno shares his riff on an alt poster for Sylvester Stallone in Cobra. You can see more of Moreno’s amazing art at his Instagram page.
Category: Celebs
RIP: Anthony “Rumble” Johnson
Anthony “Rumble” Johnson passed away yesterday at the age of 38. His cause of death was organ failure from a form of cancer known as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
In 2004, Anthony Johnson won the 174 pound National Junior College Athletic Association championship. He then transitioned into martial arts. Mr. Johnson had a 4-0 record when he accepted a UFC fight on just a few days notice. Johnson won the bout with a 13 second KO. Anthony Johnson would go on to post a 23 – 6 record, with one Fight of the Night bonus, two Knockout of the Night bonuses and five Performance of the Night bonuses. When Anthony Johnson fought, fans were assured of an exciting bout.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Anthony Johnson’s family, fans and friends.
Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows (2007) / Z-View
Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows (2007)
Director: Kent Jones
Screenplay: Kent Jones
Stars: Martin Scorsese (narrator), Orson Welles, Val E. Lewton, Roger Corman, Jacques Tourneur, Kiyoshi Kurosawa and Robert Wise.
Tagline: None.
The Overview: Beware of spoilers…
Val Lewton began his career as a writer of pulp fiction. He had two published novels before he took a job at MGM. There Lewton wrote promotional copy and film novelizations. Lewton later became publicist and assistant to David Selznick. Under Selznick, Lewton worked as a story editor and uncredited writer on Gone with the Wind.
In 1942, Val Lewton left MGM to become head of the horror division at RKO studios. He was given carte blanche if he followed three rules: 1) Each film had to be made for $150,000 or less. 2) Each film had to run 75 minutes or less. 3) Lewton’s supervisors at RKO would provide the film titles. Surprisingly, given these parameters, Lewton made a name for himself by taking control of all other aspects of the films he produced.
Lewton’s first RKO film, Cat People became RKO’s biggest hit of the year. Lewton developed a friendship with it’s director, Jacques Tourneur. They reteamed on two other films (I Walked with a Zombie and The Leopard Man). Lewton gave Robert Wise (The Curse of the Cat People) and Mark Robson (The Seventh Victim) their first opportunities to direct. Boris Karloff also appeared in three of Lewton’s films (Isle of the Dead; The body Snatcher and Bedlam). Karloff credited Lewton for helping rejuvenate his career. Val Lewton always wrote the final draft of the films he produced, but seldom took a writing credit. In the two cases where he did accept a credit, Lewton used the pseudonym Carlos Keith (which he also used for some novels).
Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows focuses on Lewton’s career at RKO and the (mostly horror) films he produced there. The films were: Cat People (1942); I Walked with a Zombie (1943); The Leopard Man (1943); The Seventh Victim (1943); The Ghost Ship (1943); The Curse of the Cat People (1944); Mademoiselle Fifi (1944); Youth Runs Wild (1944); The Body Snatcher (1945); Isle of the Dead (1945) and Bedlam (1946).
Val Lewton: The Man in the Shadows earns 3 of 5 stars.
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, Season 1 / Z-View
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities (2022)
Episode 1: “Lot 36”
Director: Guillermo Navarr
Teleplay: Regina Corrado and Guillermo del Toro based on the short story by Guillermo del Toro
Stars: Tim Blake Nelson, Sebastian Roché, Elpidia Carrillo and Lize Johnston
Episode 2: “Graveyard Rats”
Director: Vincenzo Natali
Teleplay: Vincenzo Natali based on the short story by Henry Kuttner
Stars: David Hewlett and Nabeel El Khafif
Episode 3: “The Autopsy”
Director: David Prior
Teleplay: David S. Goyer based on the short story by Michael Shea
Stars: F. Murray Abraham, Glynn Turman and Luke Roberts
Episode 4: “The Outside”
Director: Ana Lily Amirpour
Teleplay: Haley Z. Boston based on a webcomic by Emily Carroll
Stars: Kate Micucci and Martin Starr
Episode 5: “Pickman’s Model”
Director: Keith Thomas
Teleplay: Lee Patterson based on the short story by H. P. Lovecraft
Stars: Ben Barnes and Crispin Glover
Episode 6: “Dreams in the Witch House”
Director: Catherine Hardwick
Teleplay: Mika Watkins based on the short story by H. P. Lovecraft
Stars: Rupert Grint
Episode 7: “The Vewing”
Director: Panos Cosmatos
Teleplay: Panos Cosmatos & Aaron Stewart-Ahn
Stars: Peter Weller, Steve Agee, Eric André and Sofia Boutella
Episode 8: “The Murmuring”
Director: Jennifer Kent
Teleplay: Jennifer Ken based on the short story by Guillermo del Toro
Stars: Essie Davis and Andrew Lincoln
Tagline: None.
The Overview: Beware of spoilers…
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is a horror anthology series. Each episode is a self-contained story introduced by Guillermo del Toro. I enjoyed all the episodes and each earned 4 of 5 stars.
My favorites were:
1. “The Autopsy”
4 “Lot 36”
5 “The Vewing”
I hope we get a season 2.
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, Season 1 earns 4 of 5 stars.
In Conversation… Sylvester Stallone on CBS Sunday Morning! (Full Video)
This past Sunday, Sly was interviewed on the set of Tulsa King. Bravo to all involved.
In the new Paramount+ series “Tulsa King,” Sylvester Stallone stars as an aging New York mafioso fresh out of prison who finds himself setting up a new criminal organization on the plains of Oklahoma. Stallone talked with correspondent Lee Cowan about his first foray into television; the enduring power of “Rocky”; and how he’s matured into a new style of acting.
Sly Stallone Parade Cover Story: Profile/Interview by Dan Bova!
Sly Stallone made the cover of Parade for November 6, 2022. In an interview profile piece by Dan Bova, Sylvester Stallone Talks Bruises, Broken Bones and Why He ‘Always Wanted To Play a Mob Guy’. It’s well worth a read!
“Dave Stevens: Drawn to Perfection” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
The poster and trailer for Dave Stevens: Drawn to Perfection is here. I cannot wait to see this!
Dave Stevens was a once-in-a-lifetime artist who created the hit comic book series The Rocketeer that reintroduced the world to ’50s pin-up queen Bettie Page and was adapted into a beloved feature film. Dave carried with him a style born of 1930s American Pop Culture, an era he never experienced firsthand, but lived on in his heart and through his illustrations. His award-winning, 35-year career spanned advertising, comics, animation, movies, and TV working with luminaries like Jack Kirby, Doug Wildey, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, John Landis, and Joe Johnston. Widely considered one of the best illustrators of his generation, Dave Stevens lived life the way he drew, meticulously pursuing a perfection he saw in his mind. His elegant brush work and iconic imagery continue to attract fans and inspire new generations of artists.
“Mindcage” starring Martin Lawrence, John Malkovich & Melissa Roxburgh – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
I like the poster and dig the trailer for Mindcage starring Martin Lawrence, John Malkovich and Melissa Roxburgh. It took me a second to accept Lawrence in a serious role, but this could work. What do you think?
In this spellbinding thriller, detectives Jake Doyle (Martin Lawrence) and Mary Kelly (Melissa Roxburgh) seek the help of an incarcerated serial killer named The Artist (John Malkovich) when a copycat killer strikes. While Mary searches for clues in The Artist’s brilliant but twisted psyche, she and Jake are lured into a diabolical game of cat and mouse, racing against time to stay one step ahead of The Artist and his copycat.
Starring Martin Lawrence, Melissa Roxburgh, John Malkovich, Robert Knepper, Jacob Grodnik, and Aiden Turner.
“First Blood” Print by Matt Ryan Tobin!
Matt Ryan Tobin created this very cool First Blood limited edition print. It will be released today in two forms: the limited edition of 250 shown above, and a variant edition of 82. You can see both at Mondo.
“Crash Goes the Hash” (1944) starring The Three Stooges / Z-View
Crash Goes the Hash (1944)
Director: Jules White
Screenplay: Felix Adler
Stars: Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard, Dick Curtis, Bud Jamison, Symona Boniface and Vernon Dent.
Tagline: None.
The Overview: Beware of spoilers…
Larry, Curly and Moe get hired as reporters. They’ll get a $100 bonus if they can get a photo of Prince Shaam of Ubeedarn (Curtis) and Mrs. Van Bustle (Boniface) who are rumored to be on the verge of marriage. The boys get jobs as a cook and waiters for a big party at Mrs. Van Bustle’s mansion. Hijinks follow…
Crash Goes the Hash is one of the most popular Stooges’ shorts. Sadly during it’s filming Curly had his first small stroke. There’s a scene where one of the characters tells the boys they’re acting like the Three Stooges and the boys are offended.
Crash Goes the Hash earns 4 of 5 stars.
“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” – The Poster and Trailer are Here!
I enjoyed the first Knives Out mystery and Glass Onion looks even better. Deal me in.
When the game ends, the mystery begins.
Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr., Jessica Henwick, Madelyn Cline, with Kate Hudson, and Dave Bautista in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery on Netflix December 23.
S.A. Cosby Profile/Interview at CrimeReads!
Rick Pullen at Crime Reads has a nice profile/interview with S.A. Cosby, the author of Blacktop Wasteland and Razorblade Tears. It’s worth a read.
“London After Midnight” & “Curse of the Wolfman” Graphic Novels are Coming in 2023!
Here’s some cool news for monster movie and comic books fans. Source Point Press and Chaney Entertainment have teamed to create two new graphic novels for 2023. The first, London After Midnight is based on the most famous lost film in the world. Made in 1927, London After Midnight starred Lon Chaney as a vampire! The second, The Curse of the Wolf Man will be a sequel to The Wolf Man (1941) which starred Lon Chaney, Jr.
Writer, Dirk Manning and artist Marianna Pescosta will be the creative team for London After Midnight. The Curse of the Wolf Man will be written by Josh Werner with illustrations by Stan Yak and colorist Colin Johnson. Ron Chaney (Lon Chaney’s great-grandson and CEO of Chaney Enterprises) will be involved with the creative teams. Look for London After Midnight and The Curse of the Wolf Man on Kickstarter in the spring of 2023,
Source: Rue Morgue.
“The Man in the Barn” (1937) Directed by Jacques Tourneur / Z-View
The Man in the Barn (1937)
Director: Jacques Tourneur
Screenplay: Morgan Cox
Stars: Carey Wilson, Virginia Brissac.
Tagline: None.
The Overview: Beware of spoilers…
In 1903, David E. George on his deathbed claimed to be John Wilkes Booth, the man who killed Abraham Lincoln.
Although accepted history has it that Booth was killed in a barn twelve days after his murder of President Lincoln, this short explores the possibility that David George was in fact John Wilkes Booth!
I wanted to see this short for two reasons:
- It was directed by Jacques Tourneur, the director of The Cat People, Out of the Past, Curse of the Demon and so many other films.
- It involved the conspiracy theory that John Wilkes Booth survived until 1903. I’m a sucker for a good conspiracy theory.
Tourneur’s talent is wasted & so was my time.
The Man in the Barn earns 2 of 5 stars.
“Barbarian” (2022) Written and Directed by Zach Cregger, starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård & Justin Long / Z-View
Barbarian (2022)
Director: Zach Cregger
Screenplay: Zach Cregger
Stars: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long, Matthew Patrick Davis, Richard Brake, J.R. Esposito, Derek Morse and Zach Cregger.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Tess Marshall (Campbell) arrives late one rainy night to the home she’s rented. Tess is in town for a job interview. Surprisingly, she finds the house has been double-booked. The other renter is named Keith (Skarsgård). After unsuccessfully trying to reach the rental office, Tess decides to get a hotel room. When she’s unable to find any available, she learns there’s a big convention in town. Keith suggests that they both stay in the house. Although a little concerned about Keith at first, Tess feels comfortable enough to stay the night. Keith takes the couch and Tess the bedroom with the door locked.
The next morning Tess and Keith leave for the day. Tess is shocked by the condition of the neighborhood. Every house on the block is deserted and dilapidated. After her interview, Tess returns to the house. Keith isn’t back yet. As Tess is checking out the place, she accidentally locks herself in the basement. Looking for another way out, Tess discovers a hidden room. In the room is a dirty, bloody mattress and a camcorder. Tess is starting to freak out when she hears Keith has returned…
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Writer-director Zach Cregger intentionally made Barbarian‘s tone feel like two different films. The first half is “a Fincher movie” while the second is like “a Raimi movie…”. This creates an interesting juxtaposition. In the first half of the film, Tess doesn’t trust her instincts enough to leave. She then makes poor decisions, but for good reasons. Cregger lets it all play out slowly and as Tess begins to think the situation is okay, we as an audience still have doubts. When things reach a climax, Cregger breaks away to introduce a character named AJ (Long).
At first this is very disorienting. Then it becomes clear that AJ’s story ties in to what’s happening with Tess. In fact, AJ will soon find himself in the same danger as Tess. When a character is introduced late in a film, he/she is often the hero who will save the day. Not so, here.
Not only did Cregger change up character expectations, but this is where his filmmaking style changes. Things move quicker and we’re no longer in a psychological thriller, but a full blown horror movie. Hats off to Cregger for having faith in himself (and his audience) to make such a move.
Not only is there a disparity in the tone of Tess and AJ’s stories, but their characters as well. Tess made poor decisions to help another, while AJ makes poor decisions for selfish reasons. The contrast between the characters as well as the way their stories are shown are as different as, uh, up and down. ; )
Georgina Campbell is an actress that I hadn’t seen before. She’s excellent. I’ll be watching for her in the future. Bill Skarsgård hits all the right notes. Is he the nice guy he wants us to believe or is he a monster who has Tess fooled? Justin Long plays against type and does it well. The real star of the show is writer/director Zach Cregger, Barbarian is his first feature and he executed it with style. I’m excited to see Cregger’s plans for his next film.
Oh, and if you think you’ve figured out how the movie plays out from this review… you haven’t.
Barbarian earns 4 of 5 stars.
