There’s a story Alfred Hitchcock always liked to tell about how, when he was five years old, his father dropped him off at the local police station near his home in East London. William Hitchcock left a note for the coppers explaining that his son had been misbehaving. A policeman locked young Alfred in a cell for a few minutes and explained, “This is what we do to naughty boys.”
When Hitchcock recounted that story to Dick Cavett he was in his 70s, but the incident continued to leave a profound mark on the director. He said he was still “terrified of the police” because of that and drew a connection from that to the feelings of guilt and wrong-men-on-the-run paranoia that seeps into so many of his films.
The funny thing is, though, father characters are almost entirely absent from Hitchcock’s work. There are a few: Cedric Hardwicke...
When Hitchcock recounted that story to Dick Cavett he was in his 70s, but the incident continued to leave a profound mark on the director. He said he was still “terrified of the police” because of that and drew a connection from that to the feelings of guilt and wrong-men-on-the-run paranoia that seeps into so many of his films.
The funny thing is, though, father characters are almost entirely absent from Hitchcock’s work. There are a few: Cedric Hardwicke...
- 5/12/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
It's always exciting when a series revisits old characters and storylines.
On When Calls the Heart, Season 11 Episode 6, Thomas Higgins, Elizabeth's old foe and the Superintendent of the School Board, returns to cause trouble.
According to the weekly promo and the photos, he seems even more determined to destroy her career and reputation than he was before.
Thomas Higgins last appeared in When Calls the Heart Season 4 Episode 11 when he wrote a letter that caused Elizabeth to get fired. He only wrote it because she turned him down and sexually harassed her again, hinting he would make it disappear if she dated him.
Elizabeth found proof that he had sexually harassed other teachers, too, and was reinstated, so Higgens likely carries a massive grudge against her.
It's a shame we couldn't bring back Landis instead. While initially set in his ways about how the Valley School District should be run,...
On When Calls the Heart, Season 11 Episode 6, Thomas Higgins, Elizabeth's old foe and the Superintendent of the School Board, returns to cause trouble.
According to the weekly promo and the photos, he seems even more determined to destroy her career and reputation than he was before.
Thomas Higgins last appeared in When Calls the Heart Season 4 Episode 11 when he wrote a letter that caused Elizabeth to get fired. He only wrote it because she turned him down and sexually harassed her again, hinting he would make it disappear if she dated him.
Elizabeth found proof that he had sexually harassed other teachers, too, and was reinstated, so Higgens likely carries a massive grudge against her.
It's a shame we couldn't bring back Landis instead. While initially set in his ways about how the Valley School District should be run,...
- 5/9/2024
- by Laura Nowak
- TVfanatic
Surely the making of one of the funniest movies ever made can’t be that serious…and it really isn’t! Ok, 1980’s Airplane! was a tough sell and there were minor clashes between the directors and Paramount and lawsuits from a rival studio threatened the casting of numerous stars. But there was also perfect against-type casting, clever workarounds to silly DGA regulations and a complete reinvention of the spoof movie, all of which made Airplane! one of the greatest comedies ever.. Oh, and there were fart machines, too!
And so let’s park the taxi, avoid the fish and check in on our drinking problem as we find out: Wtf Happened to this movie?!
Airplane! has its origins in the Kentucky Fried Theater, which the trio of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker (collectively known as Zaz) founded in 1971. One act the fellas grew fond of was dubbing...
And so let’s park the taxi, avoid the fish and check in on our drinking problem as we find out: Wtf Happened to this movie?!
Airplane! has its origins in the Kentucky Fried Theater, which the trio of David Zucker, Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker (collectively known as Zaz) founded in 1971. One act the fellas grew fond of was dubbing...
- 2/14/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Anime and manga live-action adaptations, especially English-language ones, have a mixed track record. For every "One Piece" and "Speed Racer," which manage to capture the endless imagination of the medium, there are thrice as many "Dragonball Evolution" and "Ghost in the Shell" bad movies that nearly ruin their source material.
One of the best ones is not really based on an anime or manga — though it is quite clear that "Akira" was a huge influence — Josh Trank and Max Landis' "Chronicle." The film is set in Seattle and follows three teens who acquire telekinetic powers. Soon enough, the fun and games turn dark and deadly when one of them begins to lose control and relish in their power. Aside from very direct visual references to Katsuhiro Otomo's iconic (and very influential) anime masterpiece, "Chronicle" manages to capture the quick and chaotic descent into madness and horror that plagues the...
One of the best ones is not really based on an anime or manga — though it is quite clear that "Akira" was a huge influence — Josh Trank and Max Landis' "Chronicle." The film is set in Seattle and follows three teens who acquire telekinetic powers. Soon enough, the fun and games turn dark and deadly when one of them begins to lose control and relish in their power. Aside from very direct visual references to Katsuhiro Otomo's iconic (and very influential) anime masterpiece, "Chronicle" manages to capture the quick and chaotic descent into madness and horror that plagues the...
- 2/6/2024
- by Rafael Motamayor
- Slash Film
Science fiction is a fascinating film genre. It inspires dreams of extraterrestrial life, futuristic gadgets, and space travel. Today, this all seems more plausible than ever. Yet, besides reflecting society, sci-fi helps us evaluate our actions -- and their consequences.
Creating scenes with nail-biting stunts requires a collaborative effort between actors and directors. Replacing stars with stunt performers due to their physical capabilities usually works but mishaps can still happen --- both on and off camera. The film industry has seen an increase in accidents over the last decade despite the advancement of technology. According to the Los Angeles Times, from 2010 to 2019, 19 fatal injuries occurred on American film sets. As attorney Chris Deacon told the outlet, "If those engaged to work on set in whatever capacity are dying at the hands of the creative process, then something is fundamentally wrong in the production processes."
Sure, authenticity makes for a thrilling watch.
Creating scenes with nail-biting stunts requires a collaborative effort between actors and directors. Replacing stars with stunt performers due to their physical capabilities usually works but mishaps can still happen --- both on and off camera. The film industry has seen an increase in accidents over the last decade despite the advancement of technology. According to the Los Angeles Times, from 2010 to 2019, 19 fatal injuries occurred on American film sets. As attorney Chris Deacon told the outlet, "If those engaged to work on set in whatever capacity are dying at the hands of the creative process, then something is fundamentally wrong in the production processes."
Sure, authenticity makes for a thrilling watch.
- 10/19/2023
- by Marta Djordjevic
- Slash Film
You're about to enter another dimension. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. I'm talking, of course, about the world of streaming. We've all found ourselves wandering its endless terrain, confused, slightly panicked, ultimately grabbing on to something vaguely familiar just to gain a sense of stability. Alas, we appear doomed to remain stranded in the streaming sphere as long as the idea that being able to access every piece of media ever produced at any time is viewed as a positive thing.
So, what happens when you want to go a level deeper? Perhaps you're not perturbed enough by our contemporary situation as it is, and feel like further spooking yourself with a visit to the Twilight Zone itself? Well, I might suggest Rod Serling's original series, which ran from 1959 to 1964 and in large part remains as relevant today as it was back then.
So, what happens when you want to go a level deeper? Perhaps you're not perturbed enough by our contemporary situation as it is, and feel like further spooking yourself with a visit to the Twilight Zone itself? Well, I might suggest Rod Serling's original series, which ran from 1959 to 1964 and in large part remains as relevant today as it was back then.
- 9/26/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
There is a lot to unpack when it comes to "Twilight Zone: The Movie," a really good movie that comes with a lot of baggage. I'm sure you know some of the movie's reputation, but if you don't then I'd recommend checking out the "Cursed Films" series on Shudder. They did an in-depth episode on the turbulent and tragic production that "Twilight Zone: The Movie" went through. It's a fascinating watch, but trigger warning: they do show the raw footage of the helicopter accident that took the lives of Vic Morrow, Myca Dinh Le, and Renee Shin-Huei Chen during the filming of the movie in full.
That wholly preventable accident overshadowed the whole movie and tarnished its legacy, but it's important to remember that the whole thing started out with giant filmmakers of the day wanting to pay respect to the sci-fi/horror anthology show that they grew up with.
That wholly preventable accident overshadowed the whole movie and tarnished its legacy, but it's important to remember that the whole thing started out with giant filmmakers of the day wanting to pay respect to the sci-fi/horror anthology show that they grew up with.
- 9/23/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
The current state and future of Hollywood, according to director John Landis? Not so great. IndieWire reports (via Deadline) that Landis had some choice about the “pathetic state” of the industry. In short, the “Animal House” and “Coming To America” director thinks Hollywood is “in chaos” thanks to the current WGA writers’ strike and the long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on movie theaters.
Continue reading John Landis Laments Hollywood’s Current “Pathetic State”: “Streamers Really Are The Bad Guys” at The Playlist.
Continue reading John Landis Laments Hollywood’s Current “Pathetic State”: “Streamers Really Are The Bad Guys” at The Playlist.
- 6/30/2023
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
John Landis is looking for a Hollywood savior.
The legendary comedy director told Deadline during the Taormina Film Festival that the film industry is “in chaos” amid the WGA strike and lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on theaters.
“Do you know it’s the first time in Hollywood history that the Directors Guild, the Writers Guild, and the Ia are all united?” Landis said. “The film industry is in chaos and I hope the audience comes back to the theaters.”
The Writers Guild is still on a work-halt order due to negotiations for fair wages. The Directors Guild reached a deal with the AMPTP to avoid a strike; however, SAG contract negotiations are still underway.
The “Trading Places” director continued, “The sentiment really is the sorrow for the pathetic state the business is in. You know, between streaming and the pandemic, it was like a stake through the heart.
The legendary comedy director told Deadline during the Taormina Film Festival that the film industry is “in chaos” amid the WGA strike and lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on theaters.
“Do you know it’s the first time in Hollywood history that the Directors Guild, the Writers Guild, and the Ia are all united?” Landis said. “The film industry is in chaos and I hope the audience comes back to the theaters.”
The Writers Guild is still on a work-halt order due to negotiations for fair wages. The Directors Guild reached a deal with the AMPTP to avoid a strike; however, SAG contract negotiations are still underway.
The “Trading Places” director continued, “The sentiment really is the sorrow for the pathetic state the business is in. You know, between streaming and the pandemic, it was like a stake through the heart.
- 6/29/2023
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Shares of media companies stayed relatively tranquil Wednesday amid the work stoppage imposed by the WGA’s writers strike and another interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve.
Writers Guild of America union members took the picket lines in L.A. and New York for a second day, as they called on studios and streaming companies to agree to new contract terms for Hollywood writers. Meanwhile, the Fed on Wednesday raised its benchmark policy rate by 0.25%, to a new range of 5% to 5.25%, which is the highest it’s been since September 2007.
On the interest-rate hike, the Dow Jones Industrial Average turned negative and closed down 0.8% Wednesday, dropping 270.29 points to 33,414.24, while the Nasdaq ended the day down 0.46%.
Media company stocks saw a muted response. Gainers on the day included Warner Bros. Discovery (up 1.1%), Netflix (+0.6%), Disney (+0.2%) and Lionsgate (+1.5%). Companies ending lower after regular trading Wednesday included Paramount Global (down 0.4%), NBCUniversal parent Comcast (-0.75%), Fox Corp.
Writers Guild of America union members took the picket lines in L.A. and New York for a second day, as they called on studios and streaming companies to agree to new contract terms for Hollywood writers. Meanwhile, the Fed on Wednesday raised its benchmark policy rate by 0.25%, to a new range of 5% to 5.25%, which is the highest it’s been since September 2007.
On the interest-rate hike, the Dow Jones Industrial Average turned negative and closed down 0.8% Wednesday, dropping 270.29 points to 33,414.24, while the Nasdaq ended the day down 0.46%.
Media company stocks saw a muted response. Gainers on the day included Warner Bros. Discovery (up 1.1%), Netflix (+0.6%), Disney (+0.2%) and Lionsgate (+1.5%). Companies ending lower after regular trading Wednesday included Paramount Global (down 0.4%), NBCUniversal parent Comcast (-0.75%), Fox Corp.
- 5/3/2023
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Throwback horror is a huge genre business. Give the Directors, actors, crew, and everyone to work in a time when the genre was in an age when anyone with a blade, drill, screwdriver, or some other implement could wreak revenge. When sexual repression, peer pressure, and social mores were simpler and easy to comprehend. Usher in (not the House of Usher) the Bayview Entertainment’s DVD release of Grainger Hines’s “haunted house” thriller, The Mill (2008).
The film concerns events in an abandoned mill in which eight college kids get up to sex, fun, drinking, drugs, and adventure all in the name of partying. Those heady days of the carnal or in this case, what it tries to do is be charnel. The eight enter a night of horror filled with snakes, wild dogs, tarantulas, and a pack of rats. The trouble is you can see everything coming but that...
The film concerns events in an abandoned mill in which eight college kids get up to sex, fun, drinking, drugs, and adventure all in the name of partying. Those heady days of the carnal or in this case, what it tries to do is be charnel. The eight enter a night of horror filled with snakes, wild dogs, tarantulas, and a pack of rats. The trouble is you can see everything coming but that...
- 4/17/2023
- by Terry Sherwood
- Horror Asylum
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