JOHN LANDIS – by Giulia D’Agnolo Vallan
Interviews from Various Contributors
M Press Books
I got this book a day after my birthday in the mail last month. Little did I know it would be one of the best birthday presents I’d receive in a very long time. The cover alone sports college frat boys without togas, flipping the bird with innocent, comforting smiles, along with two brothers in black on a mission from God, a werewolf in painful transformation, and a fallen hero of modern music, decked out in his shiny red leather jacket, embraced by dancing zombies. How I would study film for four years in college, attend countless parties with movie trivia games, reenact favorite scenes around the cubicle walls, and pace down aisles of video stores without remembering one of my childhood favorites is beyond me. It was always Christopher Nolan “this”, Quentin Tarantino “that”, Jean Pierre Jeunet “who”, and Michael Mann “blue” that I would reference, and yet, in all that time, the guy that made me laugh the most was rarely spoken. The man that made me fall in love with movies as a teenager was inexplicably missing. And so when my birthday present from M Press Books arrived at my doorstep, I found something that I had lost in all of these years of growing up and becoming a certified tax payer, nine-to-fiver, and weekend warrior. I found my youth again in these pages, and I have John Landis to thank for it.
Continue reading ‘John Landis - Book Review’
Published by wil April 29th, 2008
in HORROR EVENTS NEWS and NEWS.
The 8th annual Shriekfest, in Los Angeles, is looking for entries to their international Horror/Thriller/SciFi/Fantasy Film Festival and Screenplay competition to be held in October of 2008!
The festival is dedicated to screening and recognizing the works of filmmakers and screenwriters in the often forgotten genres. Superior screening facilities, parties, and panels make this a wonderful networking experience for all. Awards will be given in most categories and prizes include cash, product awards, trophies, etc. Check out their website for more information and entry form — www.shriekfest.com. You can also check out the news page and testimonials page and see how Shriekfest has helped many filmmakers and screenwriters in the past.
Published by Brain Hammer April 29th, 2008
in DVD RELEASES.
Gory greetings horroryearbook alumni! It’s a good week to be a horror fan. Check out this week’s incredible list of Brain Hammer approved dvd releases, all of which hit stores Tuesday 04/29/08!
Brain Hammer approved dvds hitting stores 04/29/08:
Published by wil April 29th, 2008
in DVD RELEASES.
I almost forgot about Serial Mom, and I really forgot about John Waters, especially after A Dirty Shame, but now you can relive the Kathleen Turner classic with Serial Mom - The Collectors Edition.
Universal is releasing the DVD on May 6, 2008, synopsis and special features listed below.
Published by wil April 29th, 2008
in NEWS.
First Clive Barker announces that his short story Dread is getting a movie and now Magnolia pictures has just picked up Allister Diesen and Lucky McKee’s thriller Red, based on Jack Ketchum’s book. the film debut at Sundance and was adapted by Stephen Susco. It stars Brian Cox, Tom Sizemore and features Robert Englund and Amanda Plummer.
Gory greetings! This latest edition of PICKS FROM THE CRYPT features a terrible trio of cult classic 80’s horror flicks that boldly go where Ridley Scott had already went in ‘79. I’m talking OUTER SPACE baby! Well, not really outer space because that would cost too much money. In these flicks the ghastly alien horrors of outer space come to Earth and wreck havoc on humanity. LET THE CHEST BURSTING BLOODSHED BEGIN!!!
A defrocked priest (a completely creepy Jess Franco) is kicked out of the church for being too “harsh” and sent to a mental institution. Shortly after his release, he starts work for a sex magazine writing articles about sadistic sex which he claims to be true stories from his real life. He learns that his co-worker Anna (Lina Romay) stages sexy fake torture and black mass shows with her sexy friend Martine and others for the depraved rich upper-crust.
P2’s success severely suffered from poor advertising. While the trailer was wise enough to stick the respected name of horror creator, Alexandre Aja, of High Tension fame in it, it didn’t do much else right. All that was really seen was a women running and screaming from some killer in an abandoned parking garage. While this is theoretically a scary situation, it seemed kind of stale and overused. It just seemed to lack any depth. With all of the slasher films that are around today there must be some reason or motive displayed Otherwise, it’s just killing for killing sake; and even then there must be something that caused this desire to kill even if the victims don’t contribute to this importance. I am very glad to say that the movie is far better than the trailer is. The most important figure of the movie, what really gives it the energy and power that it has wasn’t even shown in the preview; our killer of course. He isn’t just some ominous figure in the dark, we see him up close and personal. We see him for who he is and more than that who he sees himself as in his dark devious attempt to get what he wants and to get it to want him in return.
Published by wil April 28th, 2008
in NEWS.
While HYB was being banned from all future Fangoria events other websites were getting some great news. At the 2008 Fangoria Weekend of Horrors author Clive Barker announced that another one of his shorts from The Books of Blood — Dread will be adapted into a feature film.
It’s 1988. An 80’s rock icon named Billy Jump (Stephen B. Thomas) accidentally gets killed in a fit of rock-star hysterics as the beer he’s drinking makes lethal contact with an electric guitar. And as we all know…beer and electricity don’t mix. Not with the human body anyway…
Published by wil April 26th, 2008
in NEWS.
We are in L.A. for Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors. Molly and WIL will be here Saturday and Sunday, stop Molly and say hi (not WIL he is at the Holiday Inn bar down the street). For more information on the convention click here. [UPDATE: HORROR YEARBOOK WAS BANNED FROM FANGO! FULL REPORTS ARE COMING!]
Published by wil April 25th, 2008
in ORGINAL ARTICLES/ RANTS.
atching Charles Band films is always great because it is fun to try and guess what other horror films he “borrowed” ideas from. The man has made a long career out of reusing other movie schemes, ripping himself off so many times he probably doesn’t even realize he is doing it anymore. His favorite sub-genre to milk is the “tiny killer flick,” thanks to the surprise success of 1984’s Ghoulies, which prompted Band to make 1986’s Troll, 1989’s Puppet Master, 1990’s Subspecies, plus countless others.
Published by wil April 25th, 2008
in NEWS.
Looks like even Eli Roth is bowing down to the PG-13 crowd. Perhaps do to Hostel 2’s flop in theaters Roth is looking to gain his status back as a box office force with a PG-13 Sci-Fi movie.
PIGEONS FROM HELL: Issue #1 of 4 - HACK/SLASH: Issue #11 - THE DARKNESS: V.3 Issue #3 - SIMON DARK: Issue #7 - SCREAMLAND: Issue #2 of 5 - BAD PLANET: Issue #5 of 6 - LOCKE AND KEY: Issue #3
Published by wil April 24th, 2008
in NEWS.
Nothing fancy, no eye-popping graphics, just a list of horror movies and movies horror fans may have an interest in, that are releasing this summer.
