What more could the heart want than a sweeping romantic drama dealing with grief, loss, love, and music? The Greatest Hits is a fantasy romantic drama film written and directed by Ned Benson, the Hulu film follows the story of a young woman Lucy who had a picture-perfect romance but an accident took him away from her. But she gets a second chance when she discovers that she can travel back in time through the music they love, but her excursions in her past are interfering with a new love interest. The Greatest Hits stars Lucy Boynton, David Corenswet, and Justin H. Min in the lead roles with Nelly Furtado, Andie Ju, Austin Crute, Tom Yi, Bryan Ferry, and Retta starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the sweeping love story and the time-traveling drama in The Greatest Hits, here are some similar films you could check out next.
- 4/25/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
The last 70 years of science fiction, horror, and fantasy wouldn't just look remarkably different without the works of Richard Matheson, they'd be comparatively barren. Okay, this is a touch hyperbolic, but only a touch! Yes, we'd still have the transporting, thought-provoking works of maestros like Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, Philip K. Dick, and so many others, but could you imagine living in a world sans such essential tales as "The Incredible Shrinking Man," "I Am Legend," "Hell House," and dozens upon dozens of eerily prescient (or just straight up horrifying) short stories? And these weren't just spellbinding reads. They formed the basis for many memorable movies, and, perhaps most influentially, 16 unforgettable episodes of "The Twilight Zone."
Countless writers and filmmakers have cited Matheson as crucial to their development as genre storytellers (Stephen King considers "Hell House" to be "the scariest haunted house novel ever written"), and you could argue that...
Countless writers and filmmakers have cited Matheson as crucial to their development as genre storytellers (Stephen King considers "Hell House" to be "the scariest haunted house novel ever written"), and you could argue that...
- 4/13/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The "Twilight Zone" episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", directed by Richard Donner, remains to this day one of the show's most popular. Scripted by Richard Matheson and starring a pre-"Star Trek" William Shatner, "Nightmare" follows a man, Robert Wilson, recently released from a sanitarium due to a mental breakdown. On a flight back home, Robert peers out the plane window into the rainy night and sees a massive, furry gremlin standing on the wing of the plane. The gremlin, in true gremlin spirit, pries up a metal panel on the wing and begins futzing with the machinery inside. The gremlin might very well cause the plane to crash. When Robert tries to alert anyone about the gremlin, they all assume he's imagining it, once again succumbing to his nerves.
Matheson first conceived of "Nightmare" in a 1961 short story, published in his anthology "Alone By Night." The story has become...
Matheson first conceived of "Nightmare" in a 1961 short story, published in his anthology "Alone By Night." The story has become...
- 3/30/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
In the "Star Trek" episode "The Enemy Within", Captain Kirk (William Shatner) beams up from the planet Alpha 177 covered in a mysterious magnetic dust. Unbeknownst to any of the Enterprise crew, the dust has fouled up the transporter and created a second Kirk inside its memory buffer. After Kirk leaves the room, the second Kirk materializes ... but displays an altered personality. It seems that Kirk has been bifurcated into a gentle version of himself and a cruel, aggressive version of himself. For much of "The Enemy Within," the Evil Kirk stalks around the halls of the U.S.S. Enterprise, startling the crew and accosting Yeoman Rand (Grace Lee Whitney). Gentle Kirk soon realizes that he needs his aggression back in order to be whole. Eventually, the two Kirks confront one another.
"Star Trek" had a modest budget back in the day, and it certainly didn't have the resources to...
"Star Trek" had a modest budget back in the day, and it certainly didn't have the resources to...
- 3/24/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
On the 1966 "Star Trek" episode "The Enemy Within," Captain Kirk (played by one-time /Film writer William Shatner) beams up from a geological research mission covered in a rare magnetic dust. The dust causes a glitch in the Enterprise's transporter, resulting in Kirk bifurcating into two separate beings. The first Kirk to beam up contains all of Kirk's intelligence and rationality, while the second Kirk -- arriving a few moments later -- contains all of his aggression or anger. With a "good" captain and an "evil" captain on board the Enterprise, mayhem ensues.
By the end of the episode, both Kirks must face off, and then, naturally, reunite. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) points out that Kirk cannot be an effective captain without his irrational rage and aggression; as a gentle person, he's not complete. The "evil" Kirk is a madman but he's also a vital part of Kirk's core being. "The Enemy...
By the end of the episode, both Kirks must face off, and then, naturally, reunite. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) points out that Kirk cannot be an effective captain without his irrational rage and aggression; as a gentle person, he's not complete. The "evil" Kirk is a madman but he's also a vital part of Kirk's core being. "The Enemy...
- 3/16/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
1956's "Forbidden Planet" follows a crew of astronauts traveling the galaxy in a flying saucer. While visiting planet Altair IV, they find a scientist and his daughter (Anne Francis) living alone on this deserted world — and realize they are hiding something.
Directed by Fred M. Wilcox and starring a young Leslie Nielsen, "Forbidden Planets looks like a kitschy B-movie today — and in a way it always was, but it was also a trailblazer. It was one of the first films to show humans in the distant future flying around in faster-than-light starships. Without "Forbidden Planet," there would be no "Star Wars" or "Star Trek."
While the Enterprise has an underbelly and nacelles beneath its saucer head, the "Forbidden Planet" ship (the C-57D) is a simple flying saucer — except this UFO is operated by humans, not aliens. The ship and the other effects got the "Forbidden Planet" special effects team an Oscar nomination.
Directed by Fred M. Wilcox and starring a young Leslie Nielsen, "Forbidden Planets looks like a kitschy B-movie today — and in a way it always was, but it was also a trailblazer. It was one of the first films to show humans in the distant future flying around in faster-than-light starships. Without "Forbidden Planet," there would be no "Star Wars" or "Star Trek."
While the Enterprise has an underbelly and nacelles beneath its saucer head, the "Forbidden Planet" ship (the C-57D) is a simple flying saucer — except this UFO is operated by humans, not aliens. The ship and the other effects got the "Forbidden Planet" special effects team an Oscar nomination.
- 2/10/2024
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
This article contains massive spoilers for "Argylle."
In June of 1970, writer Richard Matheson published the short story "Button, Button." It would inspire a radically unique cinematic adaptation as well as several other official and unofficial retellings. One of its central themes is identity. The characters discover, to their horror, that they don't know themselves, let alone those around them.
That theme is a tenet of the spy genre, and it's no surprise why the genre continues to enjoy such rampant popularity despite the Cold War (arguably the most prolific period for espionage) three decades removed. It has become nearly inextricable from the action genre (thanks in large part to James Bond), and also directly addresses the blurring of reality and fiction where cinema excels. After all, what is spycraft but another form of acting? Furthermore, if someone is called upon to pretend to be someone else for a living, it...
In June of 1970, writer Richard Matheson published the short story "Button, Button." It would inspire a radically unique cinematic adaptation as well as several other official and unofficial retellings. One of its central themes is identity. The characters discover, to their horror, that they don't know themselves, let alone those around them.
That theme is a tenet of the spy genre, and it's no surprise why the genre continues to enjoy such rampant popularity despite the Cold War (arguably the most prolific period for espionage) three decades removed. It has become nearly inextricable from the action genre (thanks in large part to James Bond), and also directly addresses the blurring of reality and fiction where cinema excels. After all, what is spycraft but another form of acting? Furthermore, if someone is called upon to pretend to be someone else for a living, it...
- 2/1/2024
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
I don’t know of many Christmas horror adaptations. Sure, I could probably look at the history of Krampus and piece something together but other than that I’m hard pressed so let me know in the comments what I could cover next holiday season. Winter in general has all sorts of movies and stories that they are based off of. The very first episode of this show was all about The Thing and its source material Who Goes There and now in the middle of winter, at least in Colorado, I think it’s time to look at one of the better vampire properties of the 2000s and a great limited series comic. 30 Days of Night was originally pitched as a movie but when it was turned down, the comic came out and put the author’s name on the map. As is the nature of Hollywood, it...
- 1/22/2024
- by Andrew Hatfield
- JoBlo.com
There is renewed interest at Amazon to adapt Richard Matheson's sci-fi novel "The Shrinking Man", as a tragic, modern-day dramatic feature:
Published in 1956, "The Shrinking Man" was previously adapted into two motion pictures...
...including "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (1957) and "The Incredible Shrinking Woman" (1981) :
"....while on holiday, 'Scott Carey' is exposed to a cloud of radioactive spray shortly after he accidentally ingests insecticide. The radioactivity acts as a catalyst for the bug spray, causing his body to shrink at a rate of approximately 1/7 of an inch per day. A few weeks later, Carey can no longer deny the truth: not only is he losing weight, he is also shorter than he was and deduces, to his dismay, that his body will continue to shrink.
"The abnormal size decrease of his body initially brings teases and taunting from local youths, then causes friction in his marriage and family life.
Published in 1956, "The Shrinking Man" was previously adapted into two motion pictures...
...including "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (1957) and "The Incredible Shrinking Woman" (1981) :
"....while on holiday, 'Scott Carey' is exposed to a cloud of radioactive spray shortly after he accidentally ingests insecticide. The radioactivity acts as a catalyst for the bug spray, causing his body to shrink at a rate of approximately 1/7 of an inch per day. A few weeks later, Carey can no longer deny the truth: not only is he losing weight, he is also shorter than he was and deduces, to his dismay, that his body will continue to shrink.
"The abnormal size decrease of his body initially brings teases and taunting from local youths, then causes friction in his marriage and family life.
- 1/22/2024
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Few films have arrived in theaters saddled with more baggage than "Twilight Zone: The Movie." That the anthology film featuring segments from John Landis, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante, and George Miller actually arrived in the first place was something of a surprise -- and for many in the entertainment industry, it wasn't a welcome one.
The production became a wholly avoidable tragedy on June 23, 1982, when a helicopter crashed on the set of Landis' segment, "Time Out," killing Vic Morrow and child actors Myca Dinh Le and Renee Shin-Yi Chen. The show does not always have to go on, but the movie was nevertheless completed and released (rather insensitively) on June 24, 1983, leading off with "Time Out". For some, it was like watching a snuff film.
How do you not let the realization that you're watching what might be a criminal production -- the National Transportation Safety Board had yet to finish their investigation,...
The production became a wholly avoidable tragedy on June 23, 1982, when a helicopter crashed on the set of Landis' segment, "Time Out," killing Vic Morrow and child actors Myca Dinh Le and Renee Shin-Yi Chen. The show does not always have to go on, but the movie was nevertheless completed and released (rather insensitively) on June 24, 1983, leading off with "Time Out". For some, it was like watching a snuff film.
How do you not let the realization that you're watching what might be a criminal production -- the National Transportation Safety Board had yet to finish their investigation,...
- 1/17/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The episode of "The Twilight Zone" called "Once Upon a Time" is one of the show's attempts at comedy and, by most viewers' gauges, didn't really work. "Once Upon a Time" starred the silent film superstar and immortal filmmaker Buster Keaton as a sad sack janitor named Woodrow Mulligan living in a small middle-American town called Harmony in 1890. Mulligan hates the fancy-pants modern inventions like bicycles and resents that livestock roam the street. The 1890 sequences were filmed in the style of a silent movie with no dialogue, plinking piano music, and intertitles. Mulligan works for a mad scientist who has invented a time-travel helmet that can bring its wearer into the year 1961, but only for 30 minutes. Mulligan, desperate to see his hometown grown up, gives it a shot.
In the year 1961, now filmed with sound, Mulligan meets Rollo (Stanley Adams) a scientist who feels nostalgia for a simpler time, a...
In the year 1961, now filmed with sound, Mulligan meets Rollo (Stanley Adams) a scientist who feels nostalgia for a simpler time, a...
- 1/14/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Tracy Tormé, the vision behind Sliders and an early writer on Star Trek: The Next Generation, has passed away at the age of 64 from complications from diabetes.
Tracy Tormé’s work and contributions within the sci-fi genre made him famous to fans. As per his sister (via The Hollywood Reporter), he “always interested in UFOs — the serious side of UFOs — and in the Air Force pilots who had seen them.” While he only wrote for two seasons on The Next Generation – also serving as story editor – his touch undoubtedly gave the series the thrust it needed to set the tone for the remainder of the series. The greatest success of his career, however, may be Sliders, which he co-created with Robert K. Weiss. Such a following it had developed, when Fox canceled it after three seasons, Sci Fi picked it up for its remaining two. In total, Sliders had 88 episodes...
Tracy Tormé’s work and contributions within the sci-fi genre made him famous to fans. As per his sister (via The Hollywood Reporter), he “always interested in UFOs — the serious side of UFOs — and in the Air Force pilots who had seen them.” While he only wrote for two seasons on The Next Generation – also serving as story editor – his touch undoubtedly gave the series the thrust it needed to set the tone for the remainder of the series. The greatest success of his career, however, may be Sliders, which he co-created with Robert K. Weiss. Such a following it had developed, when Fox canceled it after three seasons, Sci Fi picked it up for its remaining two. In total, Sliders had 88 episodes...
- 1/10/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Tracy Tormé, a UFO expert and son of stylish crooner Mel Tormé who co-created the 1990s series Sliders and was hand-picked by Gene Roddenberry to serve as the head writer on Star Trek: The Next Generation, has died. He was 64.
Tormé died Thursday of complications from diabetes in Escondido, California, his sister and brother, actress Daisy Tormé (Superman & Lois) and recording artist James Tormé, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Tormé also was a writer on Saturday Night Live during its eighth season (1982-83); wrote and produced with Travis Walton the fantasy drama film Fire in the Sky (1993), starring D.B. Sweeney and Robert Patrick; and was a consultant on the acclaimed Robert Zemeckis sci-fi drama Contact (1997).
He wrote the original treatment for the Francis Lawrence-directed I Am Legend (2007) and received co-producer credit on that film, which grossed $585.4 million for Warner Bros. Smith battles mutants as the last human in New York...
Tormé died Thursday of complications from diabetes in Escondido, California, his sister and brother, actress Daisy Tormé (Superman & Lois) and recording artist James Tormé, told The Hollywood Reporter.
Tormé also was a writer on Saturday Night Live during its eighth season (1982-83); wrote and produced with Travis Walton the fantasy drama film Fire in the Sky (1993), starring D.B. Sweeney and Robert Patrick; and was a consultant on the acclaimed Robert Zemeckis sci-fi drama Contact (1997).
He wrote the original treatment for the Francis Lawrence-directed I Am Legend (2007) and received co-producer credit on that film, which grossed $585.4 million for Warner Bros. Smith battles mutants as the last human in New York...
- 1/10/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Everyone has a favorite Disney theme park ride, and if it isn't the Tower of Terror you are objectively wrong. Okay, it's not the most inventive attraction mechanically speaking; indeed, drop-shaft rides of this kind were passing out of fashion when it opened on July 22, 1994. But the Tower of Terror was a drop with a difference. It was a tie-in to "The Twilight Zone."
There was also an important technical wrinkle to the Tower of Terror. As visitors are shot upward through the spooky Hollywood Hotel (on their way to the 130-foot peak), the car occasionally stops and moves out of the shaft as a means of immersing passengers in Rod Serling's Fifth Dimension. It's a gloriously disorienting experience that's as close as anyone will come to that "wondrous land whose boundaries are that of the imagination" outside of getting cast in an actual "Twilight Zone" episode.
And one...
There was also an important technical wrinkle to the Tower of Terror. As visitors are shot upward through the spooky Hollywood Hotel (on their way to the 130-foot peak), the car occasionally stops and moves out of the shaft as a means of immersing passengers in Rod Serling's Fifth Dimension. It's a gloriously disorienting experience that's as close as anyone will come to that "wondrous land whose boundaries are that of the imagination" outside of getting cast in an actual "Twilight Zone" episode.
And one...
- 1/6/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Best known for playing Detective Ken ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson in the original 1970s “Starsky & Hutch” television series, actor/singer David Soul has passed away this week at the age of 80.
A post to the late actor’s official Twitter account states this morning, “David Soul—beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother—died yesterday after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family. He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend. His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.”
Here in the world of horror, David Soul is known for playing vampire hunter Ben Mears in Tobe Hooper’s Salem’s Lot, the original 1979 miniseries adaptation of the Stephen King tale.
Soul had previously appeared in one episode of the Richard Matheson-created supernatural anthology series “Circle of Fear,” and...
A post to the late actor’s official Twitter account states this morning, “David Soul—beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother—died yesterday after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family. He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend. His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.”
Here in the world of horror, David Soul is known for playing vampire hunter Ben Mears in Tobe Hooper’s Salem’s Lot, the original 1979 miniseries adaptation of the Stephen King tale.
Soul had previously appeared in one episode of the Richard Matheson-created supernatural anthology series “Circle of Fear,” and...
- 1/5/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Between 1959 and 1964, there wasn't a more consistently brilliant show on television than Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone" — an accomplishment that's all the more amazing given its anthology concept. Every episode offered a completely new story, often in a completely different genre, from an occasionally different writer. Sure, the rotating staff was a murderer's row of scribes that included Serling, Richard Matheson, and Charles Beaumont, but, good as they were, they didn't have the safety net of writing for the same characters every time out. All they had was their imagination.
Considering Hollywood's risk-averse nature, it's a little surprising that more "Twilight Zone" episodes haven't been turned into full-blown features — at least, not as official remakes. Obviously, "Poltergeist" owes a massive creative debt to "Little Girl Lost" and it's hard to imagine "Child's Play" without the arsenic-laced genius of "Living Doll," but for straight-up adaptations there's Richard Kelly's "The Box...
Considering Hollywood's risk-averse nature, it's a little surprising that more "Twilight Zone" episodes haven't been turned into full-blown features — at least, not as official remakes. Obviously, "Poltergeist" owes a massive creative debt to "Little Girl Lost" and it's hard to imagine "Child's Play" without the arsenic-laced genius of "Living Doll," but for straight-up adaptations there's Richard Kelly's "The Box...
- 12/28/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The episode of Made for TV Horror covering The Night Strangler was Written and Narrated by Jessica Dwyer, Edited by Victoria Verduzco, Produced by John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
51 years ago television viewers were introduced to a monster in modern times. But luckily, they were introduced to a hero who was willing to shine the light on that monster and stop him. That hero’s name was Carl Kolchak and the TV movie that gave birth to the legend of the intrepid reporter was The Night Stalker. As we’ve covered here previously on JoBlo Horror, The Night Stalker became one of the biggest TV movies of all time when it was released and with ratings and accolades like that, it wasn’t hard to see that Kolchak’s search for the truth (which we all know is out there) was far from over. And so it...
51 years ago television viewers were introduced to a monster in modern times. But luckily, they were introduced to a hero who was willing to shine the light on that monster and stop him. That hero’s name was Carl Kolchak and the TV movie that gave birth to the legend of the intrepid reporter was The Night Stalker. As we’ve covered here previously on JoBlo Horror, The Night Stalker became one of the biggest TV movies of all time when it was released and with ratings and accolades like that, it wasn’t hard to see that Kolchak’s search for the truth (which we all know is out there) was far from over. And so it...
- 12/20/2023
- by Jessica Dwyer
- JoBlo.com
When it comes to costume changes in horror movies, the term is a little more elastic than merely an actor obtaining a different wardrobe. A "costume" in a horror movie might refer to full-body latex or an animatronic suit to completely transform an actor's physicality. It could mean a character goes from being an actor in an outfit to a CG creation. Or it may address the fact that, in adapting non-filmic source material, changes had to be made for the camera, or were made by editorial decision.
Whether it be between installments of a franchise, or from original to remake, or from costume to special effect and vice versa, audiences do not embrace every change. And in some cases, even if most people like a change, purists remain unconvinced. Horror movies, novels, and comics leave indelible images in our minds, so when a newer version "re-skins" them, so to speak,...
Whether it be between installments of a franchise, or from original to remake, or from costume to special effect and vice versa, audiences do not embrace every change. And in some cases, even if most people like a change, purists remain unconvinced. Horror movies, novels, and comics leave indelible images in our minds, so when a newer version "re-skins" them, so to speak,...
- 12/10/2023
- by Luke Y. Thompson
- Slash Film
Yet another trio of Dark Sky Films titles have made their way onto Screambox, joining previously dropped classics Willow Creek, Minor Premise, and The Deeper You Dig (details), as well as Ghost Killers vs. Bloody Mary, Landlocked, and Possum (details), and even Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer 1 & 2 and Emelie (details).
All of them have a taste for blood…
First, Stake Land, the Jim Mickle-directed vampire classic that set the stage for his cannibal horror We Are What We Are and the Netflix series “Sweet Tooth”.
In the film, “America has fallen. A vampiric scourge sweeps the nation, turning brother on brother and parent on child as the blood-hungry beasts take deeper and deeper hold upon the land. It’s hard for the survivors to know whether to be more afraid of the creatures themselves or the violent religious groups that have sprung up in response, but there is...
All of them have a taste for blood…
First, Stake Land, the Jim Mickle-directed vampire classic that set the stage for his cannibal horror We Are What We Are and the Netflix series “Sweet Tooth”.
In the film, “America has fallen. A vampiric scourge sweeps the nation, turning brother on brother and parent on child as the blood-hungry beasts take deeper and deeper hold upon the land. It’s hard for the survivors to know whether to be more afraid of the creatures themselves or the violent religious groups that have sprung up in response, but there is...
- 12/8/2023
- by Brad Miska
- bloody-disgusting.com
When Will Smith Asked For Tom Cruise’s Help While Doing I Am Legend ( Photo Credit – IMDb )
Will Smith has finally given a positive update on his 2007 sci-fi film, I Am Legend. Smith opened up about it at a recent event, and as per that, Michael B Jordan might be joining him in I Am Legend 2. But did you know Tom Cruise helped Will with the first film’s script? The Men in Black star once, in an interview, revealed how Cruise did more work on the movie than him. Stick to the end of the article to get the full picture.
The film is set in a post-apocalyptic world plagued by an artificial virus. Will’s character is a scientist trying his best to find a cure to reverse the impact of the virus. The movie was adapted from Richard Matheson’s novel of the same name. It became...
Will Smith has finally given a positive update on his 2007 sci-fi film, I Am Legend. Smith opened up about it at a recent event, and as per that, Michael B Jordan might be joining him in I Am Legend 2. But did you know Tom Cruise helped Will with the first film’s script? The Men in Black star once, in an interview, revealed how Cruise did more work on the movie than him. Stick to the end of the article to get the full picture.
The film is set in a post-apocalyptic world plagued by an artificial virus. Will’s character is a scientist trying his best to find a cure to reverse the impact of the virus. The movie was adapted from Richard Matheson’s novel of the same name. It became...
- 12/4/2023
- by Esita Mallik
- KoiMoi
What made the original television run of "The Twilight Zone" (from 1959-1964) so special was the way individual episodes could function on multiple levels. Since the show was an anthology, and every episode had its own premise, it was free to explore whatever it wanted to. The first level of a given episode was the superficially exciting one that put you in the shoes of a protagonist faced with an unnerving science-fiction premise. But the other level went deeper, studying human nature at extremes. Host and show creator Rod Serling would show up to deliver the moral, but the twists, unhappy endings, and central ironies continue to be surprising and disturbing.
The series typically explored prejudice in the form of racism or anti-intellectualism, or in one of its most famous episodes, the idea of beauty standards. But it also explored nostalgia, whether for a bygone way of life or for the one that got away.
The series typically explored prejudice in the form of racism or anti-intellectualism, or in one of its most famous episodes, the idea of beauty standards. But it also explored nostalgia, whether for a bygone way of life or for the one that got away.
- 12/3/2023
- by Anthony Crislip
- Slash Film
The episode of The Black Sheep covering The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning was Written and Narrated by Andrew Hatfield, Edited by Brandon Nally, Produced by Lance Vlcek and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.
I’ve been on a bit of a TV kick lately. You’ll see it coming up in one of the adaptation videos but also in what I’ve been watching. The 2023 season of Creepshow has been a lot of fun and Mike Flanagan’s “Succession mixed with a Giallo” in Fall of the House of Usher has been one of my favorite pieces of media this year. It reminded me a lot of growing up watching the second coming of TV horror movies in the 90s. I hesitate to call it the golden age because I think the 70s still holds that title but the 90s had all manner from Stephen King adaptations,...
I’ve been on a bit of a TV kick lately. You’ll see it coming up in one of the adaptation videos but also in what I’ve been watching. The 2023 season of Creepshow has been a lot of fun and Mike Flanagan’s “Succession mixed with a Giallo” in Fall of the House of Usher has been one of my favorite pieces of media this year. It reminded me a lot of growing up watching the second coming of TV horror movies in the 90s. I hesitate to call it the golden age because I think the 70s still holds that title but the 90s had all manner from Stephen King adaptations,...
- 11/29/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Today, it was announced that Stephen King's "The Long Walk," one of the famed horror writer's best, gnarliest, and most intense novels, will become a movie. Again. Francis Lawrence of the "Hunger Games" franchise and "Constantine" is the latest filmmaker to enter the revolving door of talent that regularly circles this film adaptation. If you recall stories about everyone from Frank Darabont to André Øvredal making this movie, your memory isn't faulty. Every couple of years, someone tries, and fails, to make "The Long Walk" into a film.
But why? And why is it so hard to adapt this particular book in an age where Stephen King movies have proven themselves extremely viable at the box office? The problem is that, unlike most King novels, where it's possible to sand off the harsh, profane edges to make a more crowd-pleasing experience, the bleak evil of "The Long Walk" is...
But why? And why is it so hard to adapt this particular book in an age where Stephen King movies have proven themselves extremely viable at the box office? The problem is that, unlike most King novels, where it's possible to sand off the harsh, profane edges to make a more crowd-pleasing experience, the bleak evil of "The Long Walk" is...
- 11/28/2023
- by Jacob Hall
- Slash Film
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes has finally been released and has a bit of an uphill battle to contend with. The new movie will obviously not include the popular franchise series’ star, Jennifer Lawrence, and interest in the prequel isn’t generating the same buzz as the sequels to the 2012 original. The film’s director, Francis Lawrence, is a series regular and has returned for this new entry. However, there are other titles in Lawrence’s resume that fans have been wanting follow-ups for.
The Hollywood Reporter has recently spoken with The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes director, where he addresses that he’s currently working on getting Constantine 2 in motion. As James Gunn and Peter Safran take over the DC film slate, Lawrence is asked if the regime change meant that a sequel to Constantine was dead. Lawrence responded, “No, but we’ve had many obstacles.
The Hollywood Reporter has recently spoken with The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes director, where he addresses that he’s currently working on getting Constantine 2 in motion. As James Gunn and Peter Safran take over the DC film slate, Lawrence is asked if the regime change meant that a sequel to Constantine was dead. Lawrence responded, “No, but we’ve had many obstacles.
- 11/22/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
The key to the success of Rod Serling's original run of "The Twilight Zone" (and its enduring popularity) was ingenuity in all aspects of production. Obviously, the writing was almost always top-notch, with episodes boasting wildly clever premises from genre masters like Richard Matheson, Charles Beaumont, and George Clayton Johnson. Though the budgets were modest, directors employed all manner of trickery and inventive makeup effects to dazzle and/or terrify viewers. Meanwhile, the strange tales conjured by Serling's stable of scribes required fully committed performances from actors both established and new to the scene. They had to roll with the weirdness.
On certain occasions, however, Serling and his collaborators couldn't resort to special effects to transport their audience. Sometimes, they had to shell out some dough and wow 'em with the real thing. And sometimes this forced the director to scramble a good deal more than usual. Such was...
On certain occasions, however, Serling and his collaborators couldn't resort to special effects to transport their audience. Sometimes, they had to shell out some dough and wow 'em with the real thing. And sometimes this forced the director to scramble a good deal more than usual. Such was...
- 11/19/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The Mike Flanagan Netflix era has come to an end, as Flanagan and his partner Trevor Macy are leaving the streaming service behind for a new deal with Amazon. That means we likely won't ever get a third season of Flanagan's "Haunting" series, which kicked off with the excellent "The Haunting of Hill House" and continued with "The Haunting of Bly Manor." "Hill House" was a (loose) adaptation of the Shirley Jackson novel of the same name, while "Bly Manor" took inspiration from "The Turn of the Screw" and several other ghost stories penned by Henry James. But what tale of terror would Flanagan and company have relied on if the show had returned for a third season?
We now know the answer, thanks to Flanagan himself. The filmmaker has written an introduction for the new Suntup Editions release of Richard Matheson's "Hell House," and in said introduction, Flanagan...
We now know the answer, thanks to Flanagan himself. The filmmaker has written an introduction for the new Suntup Editions release of Richard Matheson's "Hell House," and in said introduction, Flanagan...
- 11/18/2023
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
This morning, Suntup Editions has announced a fine press limited edition of the 1971 novel Hell House by Richard Matheson, featuring new exclusive material including an introduction by R.C. Matheson, a foreword by Mike Flanagan and afterword by Nancy A. Collins.
In his foreword, Flanagan reveals that had there been a third season of his ‘Haunting’ series for Netflix, it would have been an adaptation of Hell House!
Flanagan explains, “When I adapted Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House as a Netflix series, there was much talk about how to continue the Haunting anthology. We followed Hill House with The Haunting of Bly Manor, based on numerous ghost stories by Henry James. Had there been a third season, I wanted that season to be The Haunting of Hell House. It was actually the first title we explored when Hill House was over, but the rights were spoken for and...
In his foreword, Flanagan reveals that had there been a third season of his ‘Haunting’ series for Netflix, it would have been an adaptation of Hell House!
Flanagan explains, “When I adapted Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House as a Netflix series, there was much talk about how to continue the Haunting anthology. We followed Hill House with The Haunting of Bly Manor, based on numerous ghost stories by Henry James. Had there been a third season, I wanted that season to be The Haunting of Hell House. It was actually the first title we explored when Hill House was over, but the rights were spoken for and...
- 11/16/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Warner Bros. and producer Akiva Goldsman‘s company Weed Road are working on a sequel to director Francis Lawrence’s 2007 Richard Matheson adaptation I Am Legend (watch it Here), which will see Will Smith reprising the role of Dr. Robert Neville, now joined in the cast by an unspecified character played by Michael B. Jordan. Lawrence has said he would “love to” return to the direct the sequel… which is made possible because there were two different endings filmed for I Am Legend. The version of I Am Legend that reached theatres ended with Neville sacrificing himself (using a grenade to blow up himself and the attacking “Darkseeker” creatures) to protect other characters. But that ending was actually a reshoot. The original ending was more low-key, with Neville making peace with the Darkseekers after realizing that he was the monster in the eyes of these creatures. That alternate ending was...
- 11/14/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
There have been movies based on TV shows almost as long as there have been TV shows. Even in the 1950s, the first decades where large numbers of Americans owned a TV set, hit crime series like "Dragnet" and "The Lineup" made their way to theaters, alongside hit comedies like "Our Miss Brooks." Even TV movies got the fancy big-screen remake treatment, with the 1953 teleplay "Marty" not only getting a feature-length movie adaptation two years later, but also winning the Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Actor, and the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
While some TV shows, even those popular enough to get their own movie, wind up forgotten, the big ones usually stick around in the public consciousness. Rod Serling's award-winning anthology series "The Twilight Zone" wasn't just a hit, it became something of an institution. It was an instantly recognizable brand, with...
While some TV shows, even those popular enough to get their own movie, wind up forgotten, the big ones usually stick around in the public consciousness. Rod Serling's award-winning anthology series "The Twilight Zone" wasn't just a hit, it became something of an institution. It was an instantly recognizable brand, with...
- 11/11/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
If "Rocky" is for Boomers and Gen-Xers and "Creed" is for Millennials, then what is the boxing film of choice for Generation Z? One could argue it's "Real Steel." Yes, really.
Released in 2011, the Hugh Jackman-led sci-fi film is loosely based on "Steel," a short story written by Richard Matheson in the 1950s and one that was previously adapted into an episode of "The Twilight Zone" in 1963. Yet, the film itself was very much meant for families -- including then kiddie-aged Gen-Zers -- when it opened in theaters. It would proceed to top the charts on Netflix almost a decade later when the world was on lockdown in 2020, at which point it became apparent just how much of a lasting imprint Jackman's surprisingly heartfelt boxing robots flick had left on the public's consciousness.
Directed by Shawn Levy, "Real Steel" takes place in an alternate future where, instead of people...
Released in 2011, the Hugh Jackman-led sci-fi film is loosely based on "Steel," a short story written by Richard Matheson in the 1950s and one that was previously adapted into an episode of "The Twilight Zone" in 1963. Yet, the film itself was very much meant for families -- including then kiddie-aged Gen-Zers -- when it opened in theaters. It would proceed to top the charts on Netflix almost a decade later when the world was on lockdown in 2020, at which point it became apparent just how much of a lasting imprint Jackman's surprisingly heartfelt boxing robots flick had left on the public's consciousness.
Directed by Shawn Levy, "Real Steel" takes place in an alternate future where, instead of people...
- 11/6/2023
- by Sandy Schaefer
- Slash Film
Patrick Wachsberger’s Picture Perfect Entertainment is launching international sales on Jan Kounen’s “The Incredible Shrinking Man” starring Jean Dujardin, the Oscar-winning actor of “The Artist.”
The ambitious film is a modern adaption of Richard Matheson’s science fiction novel, which was previously brought to the big screen by Universal Pictures in 1957 with Jack Arnold’s “The Shrinking Man.”
The French movie is being produced by Alain Goldman at Pitchipoi Productions and Picture Perfect, the vehicle launched by Wachsberger, the former co-chairman of Lionsgate who won a best picture Oscar for “Coda” in 2021.
Slated to start shooting in May 2024, the movie tells the story of a man who gradually shrinks to less than an inch tall after an exposure to a combination of radiation and insecticide. With medical science powerless to help him, brushes with cats, mouse traps and spiders become a matter of life and death, and he...
The ambitious film is a modern adaption of Richard Matheson’s science fiction novel, which was previously brought to the big screen by Universal Pictures in 1957 with Jack Arnold’s “The Shrinking Man.”
The French movie is being produced by Alain Goldman at Pitchipoi Productions and Picture Perfect, the vehicle launched by Wachsberger, the former co-chairman of Lionsgate who won a best picture Oscar for “Coda” in 2021.
Slated to start shooting in May 2024, the movie tells the story of a man who gradually shrinks to less than an inch tall after an exposure to a combination of radiation and insecticide. With medical science powerless to help him, brushes with cats, mouse traps and spiders become a matter of life and death, and he...
- 11/3/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
"The Twilight Zone" has been revived three times on three different networks, it's been adapted into a feature film, a TV movie, a long-running radio drama, a series of comics, novels, amusement park rides, and even more. But I bet when you see that title you think of the black-and-white series hosted by Rod Serling, don't you?
Really, how could you not? It's no knock on any of the variations that followed; the original run of episodes that spanned from 1959 to 1963 is just that excellent. Sure, there are a few duds, but "The Twilight Zone" was simply paradigm-shifting, zeitgeist-seizing, landmark television, in its time and now. Of course we wouldn't have "American Horror Story", but filmmakers from David Cronenberg to Martin Scorsese to Karyn Kusama have all professed to be inspired by the series, some even to kickstart their careers. That kind of influence is hard to even tabulate.
For...
Really, how could you not? It's no knock on any of the variations that followed; the original run of episodes that spanned from 1959 to 1963 is just that excellent. Sure, there are a few duds, but "The Twilight Zone" was simply paradigm-shifting, zeitgeist-seizing, landmark television, in its time and now. Of course we wouldn't have "American Horror Story", but filmmakers from David Cronenberg to Martin Scorsese to Karyn Kusama have all professed to be inspired by the series, some even to kickstart their careers. That kind of influence is hard to even tabulate.
For...
- 10/29/2023
- by Ryan Coleman
- Slash Film
This article contains spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks, season four, episode eight
For all of its far-flung exploration, Star Trek has always been about debates between the different aspects of humanity. Usually, that took the form of the dynamic between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, a trio replicated in some form or another in nearly every series that followed.
But in one of its earliest episodes, The Original Series bypassed Spock and McCoy and kept it all on Kirk. Written by the legendary Richard Matheson, “The Enemy Within” saw Kirk split into two people after a transporter malfunction. One of the Kirks, sporting the traditional yellow top, operates solely on impulse, which leads him to do things like assault Yeoman Rand and pick fights. The other Kirk, wearing a fashionable green shirt with golden highlights, treats his crew well, but cannot make a decision, even with Sulu freezing on a planet below.
For all of its far-flung exploration, Star Trek has always been about debates between the different aspects of humanity. Usually, that took the form of the dynamic between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, a trio replicated in some form or another in nearly every series that followed.
But in one of its earliest episodes, The Original Series bypassed Spock and McCoy and kept it all on Kirk. Written by the legendary Richard Matheson, “The Enemy Within” saw Kirk split into two people after a transporter malfunction. One of the Kirks, sporting the traditional yellow top, operates solely on impulse, which leads him to do things like assault Yeoman Rand and pick fights. The other Kirk, wearing a fashionable green shirt with golden highlights, treats his crew well, but cannot make a decision, even with Sulu freezing on a planet below.
- 10/12/2023
- by Joe George
- Den of Geek
One of the great unsung traditions of horror is a character’s external environment reflecting their internal state. It has found its way into films as diverse as Repulsion (1965), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974), Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994), and Relic (2020) to name just a few. Edgar Allan Poe was hardly the first to use the device, it had been a feature of the Gothic romances popular in the decades before him, but Poe moved it from character-deepening subtext to overt metaphor in his short story “The Fall of the House of Usher.”
Roger Corman’s 1960 film adaptation of the story latches onto and expands this and several of Poe’s obsessions into what has become a classic of slow-burning terror. The Fall of the House of Usher is the first in what has come to be called the Corman Poe Cycle. These eight films produced between 1960 and 1964 are among the most stylish,...
Roger Corman’s 1960 film adaptation of the story latches onto and expands this and several of Poe’s obsessions into what has become a classic of slow-burning terror. The Fall of the House of Usher is the first in what has come to be called the Corman Poe Cycle. These eight films produced between 1960 and 1964 are among the most stylish,...
- 10/11/2023
- by Brian Keiper
- bloody-disgusting.com
As an anthology television series, with new stories and new characters every single week, "The Twilight Zone" never had someone you could call a "main character." Audiences tuned in every week to see Jessica Fletcher catch killers on "Murder, She Wrote," and for Larry David to be a massive a-hole on "Curb Your Enthusiasm," but there was no single star in "The Twilight Zone."
There was, however, one person who appeared throughout the whole series, in pretty much every episode, if only briefly. His name was Rod Serling. He was already one of the most celebrated TV writers in the world when he created "The Twilight Zone," thanks to hard-hitting dramas like "Patterns" and "The Comedian," and his name was probably not unknown to many fans of televised programs when the series premiered. Over the course of "The Twilight Zone," he would introduce new episodes, tease upcoming stories, and generally...
There was, however, one person who appeared throughout the whole series, in pretty much every episode, if only briefly. His name was Rod Serling. He was already one of the most celebrated TV writers in the world when he created "The Twilight Zone," thanks to hard-hitting dramas like "Patterns" and "The Comedian," and his name was probably not unknown to many fans of televised programs when the series premiered. Over the course of "The Twilight Zone," he would introduce new episodes, tease upcoming stories, and generally...
- 10/6/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.
Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!
The Warriors 4K Uhd from Arrow Video
The Warriors will come out to play on 4K Ultra HD on December 12 from Arrow Video. Both the 1979 theatrical cut and the 2005 alternate version have been newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative with Dolby Vision.
The action thriller is directed by Walter Hill from a script he co-wrote with David Shaber (Nighthawks), based on Sol Yurick’s 1965 novel. Michael Beck, James Remar, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, Marcelino Sánchez, and David Harris lead the ensemble cast.
The limited edition set comes with a 100-page book featuring new writing by film critic Dennis Cozzalio plus archival material, a double-sided poster with Laurie Greasley’s new artwork and the original key art,...
Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!
The Warriors 4K Uhd from Arrow Video
The Warriors will come out to play on 4K Ultra HD on December 12 from Arrow Video. Both the 1979 theatrical cut and the 2005 alternate version have been newly restored in 4K from the original camera negative with Dolby Vision.
The action thriller is directed by Walter Hill from a script he co-wrote with David Shaber (Nighthawks), based on Sol Yurick’s 1965 novel. Michael Beck, James Remar, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, Marcelino Sánchez, and David Harris lead the ensemble cast.
The limited edition set comes with a 100-page book featuring new writing by film critic Dennis Cozzalio plus archival material, a double-sided poster with Laurie Greasley’s new artwork and the original key art,...
- 10/6/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
Sixty-six years ago, Creature from the Black Lagoon director Jack Arnold teamed up with author Richard Matheson to bring Matheson’s sci-fi novel The Shrinking Man to the screen as The Incredible Shrinking Man (watch it Here). Now Deadline reports that Picture Perfect Federation Chairman Patrick Wachsberger, who was formerly the Co-Chairman of Lionsgate, is working with La Vie En Rose producer Alain Goldman on a French remake of The Incredible Shrinking Man that is set to star Jean Dujardin, who won an Oscar for his performance in the lead role of the 2012 silent film The Artist – which also happened to be the Best Picture winner that year.
The Wachsberger-produced Coda just won Best Picture last year and La Vie En Rose earned an Oscar for star Marion Cotillard, so this remake has multiple prestigious names attached to it.
Universal Pictures released The Incredible Shrinking Man in ’57 and still holds the rights to the property,...
The Wachsberger-produced Coda just won Best Picture last year and La Vie En Rose earned an Oscar for star Marion Cotillard, so this remake has multiple prestigious names attached to it.
Universal Pictures released The Incredible Shrinking Man in ’57 and still holds the rights to the property,...
- 10/4/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Picture Perfect Federation Chairman Patrick Wachsberger, former Co-Chairman of Lionsgate’s Motion Picture Group, stopped by our Zurich Summit studio this past weekend to discuss the progress of his Jv with Federation Entertainment, some of the exciting projects he is working on, and the recent challenge of choosing between The Taste Of Things and Anatomy Of A Fall on France’s Oscar selection committee.
Since launching in 2019, Picture Perfect Federation has added outposts in Italy, UK, Germany and Israel.
Wachsberger, who won a Best Picture Oscar for Coda two years ago, tells us he “considered retirement for about 15 minutes” after leaving Lionsgate but explains why Picture Perfect has given him a new lease on life. You can watch the video of our chat above.
Among high-profile projects coming up for the company are Coda director Sian Heder’s next film, The Impossible Us, and The Department, the English-language TV...
Since launching in 2019, Picture Perfect Federation has added outposts in Italy, UK, Germany and Israel.
Wachsberger, who won a Best Picture Oscar for Coda two years ago, tells us he “considered retirement for about 15 minutes” after leaving Lionsgate but explains why Picture Perfect has given him a new lease on life. You can watch the video of our chat above.
Among high-profile projects coming up for the company are Coda director Sian Heder’s next film, The Impossible Us, and The Department, the English-language TV...
- 10/4/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Steven Spielberg worked his way up to directing features by making short films and episodes of TV shows like Columbo and Night Gallery. His earliest movies were also made for television – and the first feature-length TV movie he made that wasn’t part of a series was the classic 1971 thriller Duel (watch it Here). Forty-two years after Duel first aired, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment is now set to give the film a 4K release on November 14th!
Based on a short story by Richard Matheson, who also wrote the screenplay, Duel centers on a motorist terrorized by an evil truck. Dennis Weaver stars as the traveling salesman waging a desperate battle for survival after he is mysteriously singled out.
Jacqueline Scott, Eddie Firestone, Lou Frizzell, and Gene Dynarski are also in the cast.
A press release on Blu-ray.com notes, “Praised for its deft use of relentlessly mounting psychological tension,...
Based on a short story by Richard Matheson, who also wrote the screenplay, Duel centers on a motorist terrorized by an evil truck. Dennis Weaver stars as the traveling salesman waging a desperate battle for survival after he is mysteriously singled out.
Jacqueline Scott, Eddie Firestone, Lou Frizzell, and Gene Dynarski are also in the cast.
A press release on Blu-ray.com notes, “Praised for its deft use of relentlessly mounting psychological tension,...
- 9/20/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
It's always struck me as something of a marvel that "The Twilight Zone" has managed to avoid feeling dated, despite the final episode being broadcast more than 60 years ago. Spanning five seasons between 1959 and 1965, at its best, the show depicts facets of the human condition that are universal, with many plot points, themes, and warnings that remain relevant today.
Rod Serling, the show's creator (and writer of 92 out of 156 episodes) always had an eye for themes that transcended the various settings. The presence of Serling himself in a business suit, offering wry commentary on the episodes, means that however futuristic the environment, they have an almost timeless quality that helps make the series endure. Almost counter-intuitively, this also serves to add to the series' eerie aesthetic.
Some episodes were incredible for their time and still hold up but watching today, the plot mechanics feel a little more predictable; due in...
Rod Serling, the show's creator (and writer of 92 out of 156 episodes) always had an eye for themes that transcended the various settings. The presence of Serling himself in a business suit, offering wry commentary on the episodes, means that however futuristic the environment, they have an almost timeless quality that helps make the series endure. Almost counter-intuitively, this also serves to add to the series' eerie aesthetic.
Some episodes were incredible for their time and still hold up but watching today, the plot mechanics feel a little more predictable; due in...
- 9/11/2023
- by Nick Bartlett
- Slash Film
One might see Rod Serling's 1959 sci-fi anthology series "The Twilight Zone" as an ambitious amalgam of all modern genre writers. Prior to production, Serling famously solicited scripts from some of the best-known sci-fi writers of his time, including the likes of Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, George Clayton Johnson, Malcolm Jameson, and several others. Serling typically wrote the scripts for "The Twilight Zone" himself ... which led to some occasional accidental plagiarism. "The Twilight Zone," then, was somewhat of a culmination of an entire generation's sci-fi literature.
Now handily condensed, many of the more striking speculative tales of the day could be easily consumed by a mass public. Serling's show was a huge hit and lasted five seasons before going off the air in 1964. Sering later wrote "Planet of the Apes" in 1968.
Thanks to syndication deals and Thanksgiving marathons, "The Twilight Zone" lingered in the pop consciousness for decades, eventually spawning...
Now handily condensed, many of the more striking speculative tales of the day could be easily consumed by a mass public. Serling's show was a huge hit and lasted five seasons before going off the air in 1964. Sering later wrote "Planet of the Apes" in 1968.
Thanks to syndication deals and Thanksgiving marathons, "The Twilight Zone" lingered in the pop consciousness for decades, eventually spawning...
- 9/10/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Although he had a career in theatre, radio, and feature films, writer/producer Rod Serling's legacy is inexorably tied to the medium of television. That's for very good reason, of course: not only did Serling create multiple television series that has withstood the test of time (such as "Night Gallery"), but he also was responsible for shaping a good deal about television as we've come to know it. For instance, the teleplay he wrote for an episode of "Kraft Television Theatre" entitled "Patterns" was so popular that the series decided to rebroadcast it in its entirety, thereby creating the concept of the "rerun."
As such, Serling was deeply entrenched in the rise of television, and that meant having to deal with growing pains and emerging annoyances. In order to continue experimenting with the form of TV and pushing the envelope of what types of stories could feature there, Serling...
As such, Serling was deeply entrenched in the rise of television, and that meant having to deal with growing pains and emerging annoyances. In order to continue experimenting with the form of TV and pushing the envelope of what types of stories could feature there, Serling...
- 9/9/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
64 years after its debut on CBS, no series has been able to match the consistency of quality or the rigorousness of thought that Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone" demonstrated over its five stellar seasons. For many, the series' most memorable episodes set us on edge via science fiction or straight-up horror elements, but Serling and his roster of first-rate writers could be just as brilliant when using nothing but plain old reality to freak us out.
The Red Scare metaphor "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" is probably the finest example of this (especially in an era where a massive blackout could easily plunge millions of technology reliant humans into utter chaos), but it's closely followed by the pilot episode that established the series as a one-of-a-kind mindf***. Written by Serling himself, "Where Is Everybody?" sets up as a post-apocalyptic nightmare. Earl Holliman plays an amnesiac who finds...
The Red Scare metaphor "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" is probably the finest example of this (especially in an era where a massive blackout could easily plunge millions of technology reliant humans into utter chaos), but it's closely followed by the pilot episode that established the series as a one-of-a-kind mindf***. Written by Serling himself, "Where Is Everybody?" sets up as a post-apocalyptic nightmare. Earl Holliman plays an amnesiac who finds...
- 9/5/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
In 1981, Steven Spielberg admitted that filmmaking was a learning experience ... in what you hate. Spielberg's first feature was "Duel," a horror movie based on a short story by Richard Matheson, and it was made on a budget of only $450,000, cheap even for 1971. He followed that with "The Sugarland Express" in 1973, a crime thriller that he made for only $3 million. Next came 1975's "Jaws," one of the biggest movies of all time, produced with a budget of $9 million. One can already see the pattern at work. Spielberg started small, and his productions only got bigger and bigger over the years. It wouldn't be until "The Color Purple" in 1985 that Spielberg would break out of his reputation as a maker of mere blockbuster entertainments.
Spielberg never set out to achieve that kind of growth. Indeed, hearing him talk about it, Spielberg always wanted to make multiple small, intimate movies in between the gigantic genre pictures.
Spielberg never set out to achieve that kind of growth. Indeed, hearing him talk about it, Spielberg always wanted to make multiple small, intimate movies in between the gigantic genre pictures.
- 9/5/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
More than a decade after its 2007 debut, Will Smith’s post-apocalyptic horror “I Am Legend” is receiving a sequel.
After signing a multi-year deal with Warner Bros, “I Am Legend” writer Avika Goldsman confirmed that “I Am Legend 2” is in the works. The original film grossed $585 million worldwide, serving as an adaptation of Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel of the same name. It stars Smith in the lead role as virologist Robert Neville, a survivor of a man-made plague who works to find a cure.
Details surrounding the film are being kept under wraps, but here’s what we do know so far about “I Am Legend 2.”
Michael B. Jordan is set to star alongside Will Smith
Smith will reprise his role as Robert Neville alongside Michael B. Jordan, though details surrounding his character have been kept under wraps. Additionally, both Smith and Jordan will serve as producers of “I Am Legend...
After signing a multi-year deal with Warner Bros, “I Am Legend” writer Avika Goldsman confirmed that “I Am Legend 2” is in the works. The original film grossed $585 million worldwide, serving as an adaptation of Richard Matheson’s 1954 novel of the same name. It stars Smith in the lead role as virologist Robert Neville, a survivor of a man-made plague who works to find a cure.
Details surrounding the film are being kept under wraps, but here’s what we do know so far about “I Am Legend 2.”
Michael B. Jordan is set to star alongside Will Smith
Smith will reprise his role as Robert Neville alongside Michael B. Jordan, though details surrounding his character have been kept under wraps. Additionally, both Smith and Jordan will serve as producers of “I Am Legend...
- 9/4/2023
- by McKinley Franklin
- Variety Film + TV
Warner Bros. is headed back to the apocalypse with Will Smith, as the studio preps I Am Legend 2.
The first I Am Legend film (based on the classic 20th-century novel by Richard Matheson) released in 2007 was both a critical and financial success, serving as a faithful adaption and one of Will Smith's most-celebrated blockbuster roles.
Details are sparse when it comes to the upcoming sequel, but ahead is everything we know about I Am Legend 2.
Read full article on The Direct.
The first I Am Legend film (based on the classic 20th-century novel by Richard Matheson) released in 2007 was both a critical and financial success, serving as a faithful adaption and one of Will Smith's most-celebrated blockbuster roles.
Details are sparse when it comes to the upcoming sequel, but ahead is everything we know about I Am Legend 2.
Read full article on The Direct.
- 8/29/2023
- by Klein Felt
- The Direct
The sci-fi/horror anthology series "The Twilight Zone" has always had the power to completely blow our minds, with classic episodes that taught fraught moral lessons, and featured twist endings that would eventually become so iconic that modern audiences are likely to watch episodes for the first time around pre-spoiled, whether they realize it or not, just due to cultural osmosis.
But there is perhaps no episode of "The Twilight Zone" quite like "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet." The episode is a claustrophobic thriller about a man on an airplane suffering from intense anxiety, who looks out and sees a man on the wing of the plane. Naturally, no one believes him because when anybody else looks, the man mysteriously vanishes. Only our hapless hero, sanity fraying, knows that the plane is in danger from the mysterious entity. With nobody else willing to believe him, he has to make a terrible,...
But there is perhaps no episode of "The Twilight Zone" quite like "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet." The episode is a claustrophobic thriller about a man on an airplane suffering from intense anxiety, who looks out and sees a man on the wing of the plane. Naturally, no one believes him because when anybody else looks, the man mysteriously vanishes. Only our hapless hero, sanity fraying, knows that the plane is in danger from the mysterious entity. With nobody else willing to believe him, he has to make a terrible,...
- 8/28/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
The opening narration to "The Twilight Zone" episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" states that Bob Wilson (William Shatner) has just been discharged from a sanitarium, finally having (mostly) recuperated from a nervous breakdown experienced on an airplane six months earlier. He is about to get on a plane again for the first since his breakdown, and his wife Julia (Christine White) is wary that flying may trigger another severe panic attack. Bob assures her that he may be nervous, but that he should be able to survive.
Of course, nothing natural or easy happens in the Twilight Zone. Bob peers out the window and sees, on the wing of the plane, a large furry gremlin (Nick Cravat). It sees Bob as well. When he calls a stewardess for help, the gremlin vanishes, able to lift off into the rainy night sky. When Bob is looking, however, it reappears and begins...
Of course, nothing natural or easy happens in the Twilight Zone. Bob peers out the window and sees, on the wing of the plane, a large furry gremlin (Nick Cravat). It sees Bob as well. When he calls a stewardess for help, the gremlin vanishes, able to lift off into the rainy night sky. When Bob is looking, however, it reappears and begins...
- 8/27/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The pilot episode for Rod Serling's seminal sci-fi TV series "The Twilight Zone" was called "Where Is Everybody?," and it aired on October 2, 1959. It was directed by Robert Stevens and, like most episodes of "The Twilight Zone," was written by Serling himself. This was, according to an article in LitHub, part of his contract; Serling was to write at least 80% of the show's scripts. For the remaining 20%, Serling solicited scripts from just about every writer in Hollywood and reportedly received maybe 14,000 spec scripts in less than a week. That seems high to this author's eye, but given the number of starving writers living in L.A., it could very well be plausible.
It was clear that soliciting scripts from the writers' world at large wasn't practical; there's no way Serling could read all those stories in any kind of timely fashion. Serling put the scripts aside and decided to get more intimate with it.
It was clear that soliciting scripts from the writers' world at large wasn't practical; there's no way Serling could read all those stories in any kind of timely fashion. Serling put the scripts aside and decided to get more intimate with it.
- 8/20/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Science fiction on film has been around almost as long as cinema itself. Starting in 1895 when the first public showings of motion pictures commenced in France and the United States, and as filmmakers began to realize that they could string scenes together to tell a complete, coherent story, the genres of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy were part of the equation.
Celluloid offered ambitious storytellers the chance to put images on the screen—crude at the time, but still groundbreaking—that had only been glimpsed in the pages of novels, short stories, and later, comic books and pulp magazines. And as filmmaking techniques themselves progressed, and the motion picture industry began to take shape in the early 20th century, visionaries came along with audacious ideas that moved the art form, the technology, and the genres forward well into the new millennium.
Below are 16 such visionaries; men and women who either grew...
Celluloid offered ambitious storytellers the chance to put images on the screen—crude at the time, but still groundbreaking—that had only been glimpsed in the pages of novels, short stories, and later, comic books and pulp magazines. And as filmmaking techniques themselves progressed, and the motion picture industry began to take shape in the early 20th century, visionaries came along with audacious ideas that moved the art form, the technology, and the genres forward well into the new millennium.
Below are 16 such visionaries; men and women who either grew...
- 8/18/2023
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
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