These last few years the Criterion Channel have made October viewing much easier to prioritize, and in the spirit of their ’70s and ’80s horror series we’ve graduated to––you guessed it––”’90s Horror.” A couple of obvious classics stand with cult favorites and more unknown entities (When a Stranger Calls Back and Def By Temptation are new to me). Three more series continue the trend: “Technothrillers” does what it says on the tin, courtesy the likes of eXistenZ and Demonlover; “Art-House Horror” is precisely the kind of place to host Cure, Suspiria, Onibaba; and “Pre-Code Horror” is a black-and-white dream. Phantom of the Paradise, Unfriended, and John Brahm’s The Lodger are added elsewhere.
James Gray is the latest with an “Adventures in Moviegoing” series populated by deep cuts and straight classics. Stonewalling and restorations of Trouble Every Day and The Devil, Probably make streaming debuts, while Flesh for Frankenstein,...
James Gray is the latest with an “Adventures in Moviegoing” series populated by deep cuts and straight classics. Stonewalling and restorations of Trouble Every Day and The Devil, Probably make streaming debuts, while Flesh for Frankenstein,...
- 9/28/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
“Udo Kier as you’ve never seen him before!” goes a quote in this film’s trailer, which is possibly true if you’re under 30 and only watch what’s fresh in at the box office. The rest of us remember a suite of queer or camp roles in the likes of Blood For Dracula and My Own Private Idaho, all delivered with confidence and authority. Critics addressing Swan Song also seem concerned that this is the first leading role Keir has had for a while, as if he were in danger of being forgotten, when it’s pretty clear that he’s an actor who chooses roles not in pursuit of top billing but rather because he is interested in the characters. The point is not to be the lead, but to be the most memorable ingredient in the mix.
In this film, memory is really all that his character,...
In this film, memory is really all that his character,...
- 8/28/2022
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Here’s the latest episode of the The Filmmakers Podcast, part of the ever-growing podcast roster here on Nerdly. If you haven’t heard the show yet, you can check out previous episodes on the official podcast site, whilst we’ll be featuring each and every new episode as it premieres.
For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro budget indie films to bigger budget studio films and everything in-between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their film making experiences from directors, writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers and distributors.
The Filmmaker’s Podcast #278: Masterclass on Directing: How to have a successful...
For those unfamiliar with the series, The Filmmakers Podcast is a podcast about how to make films from micro budget indie films to bigger budget studio films and everything in-between. Our hosts Giles Alderson, Dan Richardson, Andrew Rodger and Cristian James talk how to get films made, how to actually make them and how to try not to f… it up in their very humble opinion. Guests will come on and chat about their film making experiences from directors, writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, cinematographers and distributors.
The Filmmaker’s Podcast #278: Masterclass on Directing: How to have a successful...
- 5/30/2022
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
The German acting veteran of 275 films answers your questions on creating spine-chilling characters, singing into a lamp and working with everyone from Lars Von Trier to Arnold Schwarzenegger
Have you seen 1970’s Mark of the Devil, 1973’s Flesh for Frankenstein or 1974’s Blood for Dracula recently? What are your thoughts on how they have aged? NatMikeel
No, I don’t watch my old films. I’m not one of those actors who has friends over and after dinner says: “Oh, let’s put on one of my movies.” I’ve made 275 films, a lot of which I want to forget but also some I will never forget.
Have you seen 1970’s Mark of the Devil, 1973’s Flesh for Frankenstein or 1974’s Blood for Dracula recently? What are your thoughts on how they have aged? NatMikeel
No, I don’t watch my old films. I’m not one of those actors who has friends over and after dinner says: “Oh, let’s put on one of my movies.” I’ve made 275 films, a lot of which I want to forget but also some I will never forget.
- 5/19/2022
- by As told to Rich Pelley
- The Guardian - Film News
As we get ready to say goodbye to March, we have one last round of horror and sci-fi Blu-ray and DVD releases headed our way before the new month arrives, and this week’s assortment of titles is pretty damn great. Tragedy Girls is receiving a new Blu-ray release courtesy of those fine fiends over at Vinegar Syndrome, and they are also keeping busy with several other titles this week, too: Flesh for Frankenstein, Beware! Children at Play, and Sister, Sister.
Severin Films is also doing the dark lord’s work with all their amazing releases on tap for this Tuesday, including their 3-Disc Limited Edition set for House on the Edge of the Park, Ballad in Blood, and The Forbidden Door. And for those of you who dig shark-themed horror, you should definitely check out The Requin.
Other releases for March 29th include Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge...
Severin Films is also doing the dark lord’s work with all their amazing releases on tap for this Tuesday, including their 3-Disc Limited Edition set for House on the Edge of the Park, Ballad in Blood, and The Forbidden Door. And for those of you who dig shark-themed horror, you should definitely check out The Requin.
Other releases for March 29th include Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge...
- 3/28/2022
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Hey everyone! Before we wrap up the month of January, we have one more week of horror and sci-fi home media releases, and there is a lot to look forward to this Tuesday. Kier-La Janisse’s stunning documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched is getting its own release and is also included in Severin’s amazing Folk Horror compendium that includes a ton of great films beyond Janisse’s doc.
There are a ton of other great titles coming home on Tuesday, too, including Prano Bailey-Bond’s Censor, Arrebato, the cult classic Creature, Detention, Eyes of Fire, Trauma, a limited edition release of Sleep, and a 4K edition of Blood for Dracula.
Other home media titles arriving on January 25th include Delirium: Special Edition, Ebola Syndrome 4K, New York Ninja, The Deeper You Dig, Doctor Carver and Stage Fright (1950).
All The Haunts Be Ours: A Compendium Of Folk Horror (15-Disc...
There are a ton of other great titles coming home on Tuesday, too, including Prano Bailey-Bond’s Censor, Arrebato, the cult classic Creature, Detention, Eyes of Fire, Trauma, a limited edition release of Sleep, and a 4K edition of Blood for Dracula.
Other home media titles arriving on January 25th include Delirium: Special Edition, Ebola Syndrome 4K, New York Ninja, The Deeper You Dig, Doctor Carver and Stage Fright (1950).
All The Haunts Be Ours: A Compendium Of Folk Horror (15-Disc...
- 1/25/2022
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Nitehawk Cinema is expanding its programming team.
The chain, which has branches in Williamsburg and Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, N.Y., has hired Cristina Cacioppo and Desmond Thorne to augment its programming staff. They will both report to John Woods, Nitehawk’s director of programming and acquisitions.
Cacioppo most recently programmed for the Alamo Drafthouse in downtown Brooklyn, where she oversaw the repertory programming, and spearheaded new film series and events. She has been a film programmer for the past two decades, having previously headed up the 92nd Street Y’s Tribeca film program. She is the co-director of the New York branch of the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, has an ongoing column, “The Outskirts,” for Screen Slate, and has written on occasion for Mubi.
Thorne worked on the programming team at NewFest, New York’s LGBT film festival, for three years, as both a festival programmer and a consultant for their year-round programming.
The chain, which has branches in Williamsburg and Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, N.Y., has hired Cristina Cacioppo and Desmond Thorne to augment its programming staff. They will both report to John Woods, Nitehawk’s director of programming and acquisitions.
Cacioppo most recently programmed for the Alamo Drafthouse in downtown Brooklyn, where she oversaw the repertory programming, and spearheaded new film series and events. She has been a film programmer for the past two decades, having previously headed up the 92nd Street Y’s Tribeca film program. She is the co-director of the New York branch of the Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies, has an ongoing column, “The Outskirts,” for Screen Slate, and has written on occasion for Mubi.
Thorne worked on the programming team at NewFest, New York’s LGBT film festival, for three years, as both a festival programmer and a consultant for their year-round programming.
- 9/20/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
“The Man Who Sold His Skin” and “Coda” stood out among films which picked up awards at the closing ceremony of the 49th Norwegian International Film Festival Haugesund.
For the festival’s grand reopening to the international market, after a restricted 2020 edition due to the Covid-19 pandemic, attendance surpassed pre-pandemic levels with an all-time-high number of industry accreditations for the event which ran Aug. 21-27.
The strong selection of films at this year’s on-site festival and in the virtual confab New Nordic Films was undoubtedly one reason for this strong attendance, as major films shone at the closing ceremony where six awards were doled out.
“The Man Who Sold His Skin,” the Oscar-nominated film from Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, won the ecumenical film prize and the Andreas Award, a collaboration between The Norwegian Film Festival, Film&Kino and the newspaper Vårt Land. The film is a satire of...
For the festival’s grand reopening to the international market, after a restricted 2020 edition due to the Covid-19 pandemic, attendance surpassed pre-pandemic levels with an all-time-high number of industry accreditations for the event which ran Aug. 21-27.
The strong selection of films at this year’s on-site festival and in the virtual confab New Nordic Films was undoubtedly one reason for this strong attendance, as major films shone at the closing ceremony where six awards were doled out.
“The Man Who Sold His Skin,” the Oscar-nominated film from Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, won the ecumenical film prize and the Andreas Award, a collaboration between The Norwegian Film Festival, Film&Kino and the newspaper Vårt Land. The film is a satire of...
- 8/27/2021
- by Alexander Durie
- Variety Film + TV
As part of Severin's mid-year sale, they're offering a number of new titles, including Paul Morrissey's Blood for Dracula, starring Udo Kier! The movie is getting an impressive 4K Uhd upgrade and we have all the details:
At Midnight Eastern on June 25th (Thursday transitioning into Friday), Severin Films is launching their Mid-Year Sale, and as part of it they’re offering up the 4K Uhd debut of Paul Morrissey’s cult classic Blood For Dracula (aka Andy Warhol’S Dracula) in a 3-disc set. The first disc is a Uhd with the film in 4K with Hdr. The second disc is a blu-ray with a 1080P presentation of the film, along with bonus features. The third disc is a newly mastered, extended version of the CD soundtrack
Immediately after completing Flesh For Frankenstein, writer/director Paul Morrissey and star Udo Kier created what remains sumptuously depraved Euroshocker, cunning...
At Midnight Eastern on June 25th (Thursday transitioning into Friday), Severin Films is launching their Mid-Year Sale, and as part of it they’re offering up the 4K Uhd debut of Paul Morrissey’s cult classic Blood For Dracula (aka Andy Warhol’S Dracula) in a 3-disc set. The first disc is a Uhd with the film in 4K with Hdr. The second disc is a blu-ray with a 1080P presentation of the film, along with bonus features. The third disc is a newly mastered, extended version of the CD soundtrack
Immediately after completing Flesh For Frankenstein, writer/director Paul Morrissey and star Udo Kier created what remains sumptuously depraved Euroshocker, cunning...
- 6/24/2021
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Above: French grande for Long Weekend. Artist Léo Kouper.Update: Sadly, because of coronavirus precautions closing down all of Lincoln Center yesterday, this series has been cancelled. It may only ever exist in poster form.One of the most interesting and eclectic New York repertory series in many a moon starts today at Film at Lincoln Center. Titled “Mapping Bacurau,” the series has been handpicked by filmmakers Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles to highlight the varied cinematic influences behind their current arthouse-meets-grindhouse sensation. The result is a baker’s dozen of eccentric horror movies, spaghetti westerns, revenge saga,s and essential texts of the Cinema Novo movement. Having art directed the U.S. poster for Bacurau with illustrator Tony Stella and designer Midnight Marauder, it was fascinating to see how the posters for these films had echoes in our final design, even if only coincidentally. One of which was...
- 3/13/2020
- MUBI
Juliano Dornelles on Michael in Bacurau: “When Udo Kier’s character said to the outsiders about the Brazilian collaborators, ‘They don’t speak Brazilian here.’ Brazilian, it’s not a name.”
In celebration of the theatrical release of Bacurau in New York, Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles will present Mapping Bacurau, a program of films that include John Sayles’s Lone Star,; Colin Eggleston’s Long Weekend; Paul Morrissey’s Blood For Dracula; 70mm print of John Carpenter’s Starman; Ted Kotcheff’s Wake In Fright, and a 4K restoration of Robin Hardy’s The Wicker Man: The Final Cut.
Kleber Mendonça Filho with Juliano Dornelles on Bacurau: “The horses for us is a very interesting marker that this is a Western. They’re beautiful animals, the way they move.” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Bacurau, shot by Pedro Sotero, edited by Eduardo Serrano, costumes by Rita Azevedo, with a.
In celebration of the theatrical release of Bacurau in New York, Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles will present Mapping Bacurau, a program of films that include John Sayles’s Lone Star,; Colin Eggleston’s Long Weekend; Paul Morrissey’s Blood For Dracula; 70mm print of John Carpenter’s Starman; Ted Kotcheff’s Wake In Fright, and a 4K restoration of Robin Hardy’s The Wicker Man: The Final Cut.
Kleber Mendonça Filho with Juliano Dornelles on Bacurau: “The horses for us is a very interesting marker that this is a Western. They’re beautiful animals, the way they move.” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Bacurau, shot by Pedro Sotero, edited by Eduardo Serrano, costumes by Rita Azevedo, with a.
- 2/23/2020
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
I don't know the numbers, but Bram Stoker's book Dracula has been adapted quite a bit into theatrical productions, TV series, and movies. The property is up there with Sherlock Holmes, Pride and Predjudice, and The Three Musketeers as one of the most popular literary creations ever. As far as Dracula goes, some of the numerous filmmakers and actors who have adapted and inhabited the role include: Francis Ford Coppola and Gary Oldham (Bram Stoker's Dracula); F.W. Murnau and Max Schreck (Nosferatu); Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinski (Nosferatu the Vampyre); Tod Browning and Bela Lugosi (Dracula); Dan Curtis and Jack Palance (Dracula); Paul Morrissey and Udo Kier (Blood for Dracula); Fisher and Christopher Lee (Horror of Dracula and Hammer had its sequels); and even an NBC series that sadly lasted only one...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 12/22/2019
- Screen Anarchy
Udo Kier has forged a singular career as a cult-movie staple. All told, the Cologne, Germany-born actor, 74, has appeared in more than 200 films, spanning everything from art house fare (he played a wedding planner in Lars von Trier’s 2011 film Melancholia) to campy, low-budget splatter flicks (like 2018’s Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich) to mainstream Hollywood blockbusters like 1994’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and 1998’s Armageddon.
Along the way, he’s been no stranger to the Berlin International Film Festival, having most recently appeared there in 2018 in support of Gus Van Sant’s Don’t ...
Along the way, he’s been no stranger to the Berlin International Film Festival, having most recently appeared there in 2018 in support of Gus Van Sant’s Don’t ...
With the ability to appear elegant and sinister at the same time, Udo Kier has starred in well over 200 films, but he’s most often remembered for the horror films he’s done. From Blood for Dracula and Suspiria in the seventies, to Blade in 1998 and The Lords of Salem in 2012, his career has […]
The post Interview: Udo Kier Chats About Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich and Andy Warhol appeared first on Dread Central.
The post Interview: Udo Kier Chats About Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich and Andy Warhol appeared first on Dread Central.
- 8/19/2018
- by Michelle Swope
- DreadCentral.com
In terms of horror adaptations, few stories are as well worn as Dracula and Frankenstein. From the early days of cinema until now, it feels a bit like every third genre director out there has taken a stab at adapting at least one of the classic gothics in their own voice, and the fact of the matter is that a whole lot of them don’t work. With notable exceptions here and there, a good majority of Dracula and Frankenstein spins are incredibly dull and, in an arguably worse sin, incredibly similar to each other.
Paul Morrissey’s films don’t have this problem. Working with the help of producer Andy Warhol, he managed to put out some of the most bizarre, inventive takes on the tales to ever hit the silver screen: a pair of Udo Kier-starring, gloriously campy X-rated horror films. They’re strange, they’re silly and they’re very,...
Paul Morrissey’s films don’t have this problem. Working with the help of producer Andy Warhol, he managed to put out some of the most bizarre, inventive takes on the tales to ever hit the silver screen: a pair of Udo Kier-starring, gloriously campy X-rated horror films. They’re strange, they’re silly and they’re very,...
- 5/5/2018
- by Perry Ruhland
- DailyDead
The Climber (1976) is now available Blu-ray From Arrow Video
After shooting cult favorites Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula in Europe, Joe Dallesandro spent much of the seventies making movies on the continent. In France he worked with auteurs like Louis Malle and Walerian Borowczyk, and in Italy he starred in all manner of genre fare from poliziotteschi (Savage Three, Season for Assassins) to nunsploitation (Killer Nun).
The Climber follows in the tradition of gangster classics such as The Public Enemy and Scarface as it charts the rise and inevitable fall of small-time smuggler Aldo (Dallesandro). Beaten and abandoned by the local gang boss after he tries to skim off some profits for himself, Aldo forms his own group of misfits in order to exact revenge…
Written and directed by Pasquale Squitieri (Gang War in Naples, I Am the Law), The Climber is a prime example of Italian crime...
After shooting cult favorites Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula in Europe, Joe Dallesandro spent much of the seventies making movies on the continent. In France he worked with auteurs like Louis Malle and Walerian Borowczyk, and in Italy he starred in all manner of genre fare from poliziotteschi (Savage Three, Season for Assassins) to nunsploitation (Killer Nun).
The Climber follows in the tradition of gangster classics such as The Public Enemy and Scarface as it charts the rise and inevitable fall of small-time smuggler Aldo (Dallesandro). Beaten and abandoned by the local gang boss after he tries to skim off some profits for himself, Aldo forms his own group of misfits in order to exact revenge…
Written and directed by Pasquale Squitieri (Gang War in Naples, I Am the Law), The Climber is a prime example of Italian crime...
- 5/23/2017
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
After introducing moviegoers to Belial in Basket Case, filmmaker Frank Henenlotter brought another evil entity to the big screen in Brain Damage, one of several horror films coming out on Blu-ray in the Us this spring from Arrow Video, who have now revealed the full list of special features for the 1988 film's high-def home media release.
Press Release: May sees the release of a fantastic slate of cult cinema from Arrow Video, with a healthy mix of giallo, cult crime and gore to keep fans happy.
First comes The Climber, starring cult actor Joe Dallesandro (Flesh for Frankenstein, Blood for Dracula). The Climber is a prime example of Italian crime cinema and follows the rise and fall of Dallesandro's smalltime drug dealer, Aldo. Filled with brawls, fistfights, shootouts and explosions, this is an excellent action-thriller. The other big crime release of May is Cops vs Thugs, Kinji Fukasaku's masterpiece...
Press Release: May sees the release of a fantastic slate of cult cinema from Arrow Video, with a healthy mix of giallo, cult crime and gore to keep fans happy.
First comes The Climber, starring cult actor Joe Dallesandro (Flesh for Frankenstein, Blood for Dracula). The Climber is a prime example of Italian crime cinema and follows the rise and fall of Dallesandro's smalltime drug dealer, Aldo. Filled with brawls, fistfights, shootouts and explosions, this is an excellent action-thriller. The other big crime release of May is Cops vs Thugs, Kinji Fukasaku's masterpiece...
- 4/11/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The 21st Annual Austin Film Festival and Conference is in full swing. Movies are taking place from now through Thursday at venues across town including the Paramount, Stateside and Hideout theaters downtown, Rollins Theater at the Long Center, both theaters at the Texas State History Museum and Alamo Drafthouse Village. Badges are still available to purchase for you procrastinators. Keep an eye out here on Slackerwood for daily reports and reviews from the fest.
The Alamo Ritz is going to be hosting a special event tomorrow afternoon with author Anne Helen Peterson, celebrating the release of her new book Scandals Of Classic Hollywood. She'll present a special double feature of 1927's It starring Clara Bow (35mm) and 1954's Carmen Jones starring Dorothy Dandridge (Dcp) and discuss the tragic careers of both actresses. On Monday night, you can enjoy another Universal Horror double feature. This week, they've got Murders In The Rue Morgue...
- 10/24/2014
- by Matt Shiverdecker
- Slackerwood
On the evening of October 14, 1944, the day Udo Kier was born Udo Kierspe in Cologne, the hospital was bombed and Udo and his mother had to be dug out of the rubble. It'd be nearly thirty years before Kier would break through internationally in Paul Morrissey's Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula. He's since appeared in over 200 films directed by the likes of Lars von Trier, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Dario Argento, Werner Herzog, Gus Van Sant, Wim Wenders, Rob Zombie, John Carpenter, Guy Maddin and the list goes on. » - David Hudson...
- 10/14/2014
- Fandor: Keyframe
On the evening of October 14, 1944, the day Udo Kier was born Udo Kierspe in Cologne, the hospital was bombed and Udo and his mother had to be dug out of the rubble. It'd be nearly thirty years before Kier would break through internationally in Paul Morrissey's Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula. He's since appeared in over 200 films directed by the likes of Lars von Trier, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Dario Argento, Werner Herzog, Gus Van Sant, Wim Wenders, Rob Zombie, John Carpenter, Guy Maddin and the list goes on. » - David Hudson...
- 10/14/2014
- Keyframe
German actor Udo Kier has appeared in over two hundred films, yet he is more of a cult figure known to Euro-trash cinephiles than a household name. He made several early films through Andy Warhol’s studio, including Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula, before embarking on a long career that includes a variety of other softcore horror-dramas that feature the very attractive and very gay Kier seducing every naked woman in his path (such as 1970's Mark of the Devil), minor roles in some surprisingly mainstream hits, and almost everything Lars von Trier has ever done (including his upcoming, star-studded sex opus, Nymphomaniac).
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- 11/4/2013
- by Lee Jutton
- JustPressPlay.net
Sarah Dobbs Jun 21, 2017
As news arrives that Sherlock's creators are working on a Dracula adaptation, here are 10 screen versions of Bram Stoker's character...
Dracula is one of the classic monster stories. It’s the quintessential vampire tale; most of our ideas about what a vampire is, what a vampire does, and what a vampire can be killed by come from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel. And while elements of the story have been woven into countless other vampire-themed books, films, and TV shows, it’s Dracula that we keep coming back to, over and over. Sherlock creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are in talks about reviving the character once again for a BBC miniseries, but before that arrives, let’s take a look back at ten other versions of the world’s most famous vampire…
See related Kevin Feige on Black Panther, female superhero movie Thor: Ragnarok - Thor's roommate won't be in it Nosferatu (1922)
Who plays Dracula? Max Schreck.
What’s the story? It’s a pretty faithful, if pared down, version of the Dracula story: a clerk is sent out to meet a mysterious client in a spooky castle, realises he’s a monster, and tries to flee, only for his own wife to fall victim to the vampire’s spell. It’s silent, black and white, and gorgeous.
What makes it special? What’s kind of amazing about this film is that it almost didn’t survive. The production didn’t have the approval of Bram Stoker’s estate, and despite changing a few details – the vampire here is known as Count Orlok, not Dracula, and the other names and locations have also been altered – it’s close enough that when the Stokers sued, a court ordered all copies of the film to be destroyed.
Luckily for us, one survived. It’s incredibly creepy, all weird angles and lurking shadows, and Schrek plays the vampire as a proper monster. There’s nothing seductive about him, he’s just terrifying. Even now. Especially now, maybe, now that we’re jaded and cynical about special effects and CGI. Because this film looks scarier than anything created on a computer, and it’s all real.
Dracula (1931)
Who plays Dracula? Bela Lugosi.
What’s the story? Based on a popular stage adaptation of Dracula, this is another mostly faithful adaptation, though the characters have been shuffled a bit. Here, it’s Renfield, not Jonathan, who goes out to meet Dracula in his castle in Transylvania. Jonathan and Lucy get shunted off to the side of the story, with Mina taking centre stage, while Dr Seward, head of the lunatic asylum, is recast as her father. Lugosi is a much sexier Count than Schreck, and the subtext about Mina’s sexual awakening is, er, pretty much text here.
What makes it special? Oh, everything. It’s beautiful to look at, for one thing. It’s got a bit of a sense of humour, though not enough to stop it from being insanely creepy. Lugosi makes the role completely his own; when people think of Count Dracula, this is the version most of them imagine. Interestingly, this version also does a lot more with Renfield’s story than the original novel, and Dwight Frye is fantastic in that role. Even if you think you’ve seen too many Dracula parodies to enjoy Lugosi’s rendition of the Count, this film is worth watching for Dwight Frye alone.
Dracula (1958)
Who plays Dracula? Christopher Lee.
What’s the story? It’s Dracula, but slightly wonky. It starts with Jonathan Harker setting off to visit Castle Dracula – but this time, he knows what he’s in for, and is planning to kill the Count. He fails, leaving Van Helsing to take up the hunt. Most of the characters have been shuffled around: Jonathan is engaged to Lucy, who’s Arthur’s sister, and Arthur is married to Mina. It’s not obvious why that reshuffle had to happen, because it doesn’t make a huge amount of difference to how things play out. It’s still Mina who has to fight to extricate herself from Dracula’s clutches in the end.
What makes it special? Dracula was one of the first Hammer Horror films, and it was massively successful. It spawned eight sequels, including The Brides of Dracula, Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, and Taste The Blood of Dracula, and it basically shaped the horror genre for a good couple of decades. But what’s special about it today is the cast. Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing are always good value, and here, as the evil Count and the scholarly vampire hunter determined to kill him off, they’re brilliant.
Count von Count, Sesame Street (1972)
Who plays Dracula? Originally Jerry Nelson, and now Matt Vogel.
What’s the story? Okay, this is kind of a cheat. Count von Count isn’t actually called Dracula, but he’s so clearly modelled on Bela Lugosi’s portrayal of the great vampire that I couldn’t just leave him out. The character appears to be based on the idea that vampires are obsessed with counting – folklore from all over the world has it that if a vampire encounters a pile of rice or other grains, they won’t be able to do anything until they’ve counted it all. The Count loves to, er, count.
What makes it special? The fact that Sesame Street included a vampire character is kind of amazing, and the fact that he speaks in a parody of Lugosi’s accent, and wears that cape, well, it’s just sort of brilliant. The earliest incarnations of the Count were a bit spooky, but apparently kids found his maniacal laughing and tendency to zap people who interfered with his counting a bit scary, so he was made cuter and goofier. He’s basically the most adorable incarnation of Dracula you’ll ever find.
Blacula (1972)
Who plays Dracula? Charles Macaulay.
What’s the story? This film is about one of Dracula’s protégés, rather than Dracula himself. After an African prince approaches Dracula for help dealing with the slave trade, he gets bitten and sealed in a coffin for centuries. Popping out in the 1970s, Mamuwalde – dubbed “Blacula” by the Count – sets about trying to win the heart of a woman he believes to be the reincarnation of his dead wife.
What makes it special? Isn’t the idea of a blaxploitation take on Dracula special enough for you? William H. Marshall plays the first ever black vampire in this movie, and since there haven’t been all that many since, that’s still pretty notable. The fashion is glorious, and the music is wonderful too. The plot is, well, kind of flimsy, and pretty slow, and it actually verges on being kind of boring, but there’s something pretty cool about it nonetheless.
Blood for Dracula (1974)
Who plays Dracula? Udo Kier.
What’s the story? A sickly Dracula is starving to death due to the lack of available virgins in Romania, so he travels to Italy in search of a bride. Unfortunately, the family of impoverished aristocrats he ends up staying with employs a rather rapey handyman, and there may not be any virgins left for him.
What makes it special? Produced by Andy Warhol, this is definitely one of the strangest takes on the Dracula story. Many of the established tropes are present – Dracula doesn’t have a reflection, and can’t stand garlic - but rather than being powerful and seductive, Kier’s Count is almost pitiable. He spends much of the film in a wheelchair, which is an oddly creepy image, and he’s kind of… whiny. It’s hard to know where your sympathies should lie, and it’s fun to see a mother actively throwing her daughters at Dracula rather than trying to save them from him. The accents are occasionally baffling (especially Joe Dallesandro’s Brooklyn drawl) but maybe that’s all part of the joke.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Who plays Dracula? Gary Oldman.
What’s the story? Back in the fifteenth century, Dracula’s wife kills herself after being told her husband has been killed in battle. Knowing suicide is a sin, Dracula figures she’s damned, and turns against God himself, becoming a vampire. After skulking in his castle for centuries, he decides to move to London, where he meets Mina Harker – a woman who looks exactly like his dead wife. The rest of the Dracula story is intact, but with a side of overly dramatic tragic romance.
What makes it special? It’s one of the most faithful adaptations around, in terms of how much of the book it conveys to the screen. Characters are shown writing letters and diary entries, as per the book, and Lucy’s three suitors are all present and correct, which is rare.
Unfortunately, some of the performances are pretty terrible (Keanu Reeves is an easy target, but he’s truly awful here, and Cary Elwes is in full smirk mode). There are so many famous people crammed in that it gets distracting, and the set design is too stagey to be effective. But it gets points for keeping all the characters in their places.
‘Buffy vs Dracula’, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2000)
Who plays Dracula? Rudolf Martin.
What’s the story? To kick off the fifth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy went up against the most famous vampire of all time. Yup, they actually wrote Dracula into an episode of Buffy. There’s no real messing with the character, apart from dropping him into modern day California, and he uses pretty much all of his tricks: he turns into a bat, he dissolves into mist, he uses mind control to turn Xander into a slavering minion, and he seduces Sunnydale’s women, including Buffy herself.
What makes it special? There’s something about crossovers that’s always oddly irresistible. Fitting the Scooby Gang into the Dracula story is fun because of the cognitive dissonance it causes: they’re all-American teenagers, and he’s a character from a gothic Victorian novel, so there’s no reason they should ever encounter one another, and the fallout is genuinely funny. (Spike’s indignation is a particular highlight.) There’s also a serious side to the story, as Dracula tells Buffy she’s a creature of darkness, but that’s something that really developed over the rest of the series. This episode is mostly just fun.
Dracula 2000 (2000)
Who plays Dracula? Gerard Butler.
What’s the story? Despite Van Helsing’s best efforts, someone has let Dracula out of his prison, and he’s determined to track down the one woman who might be able to stand up to him. (Who just happens to be Van Helsing’s daughter.) Bringing Van Helsing and Dracula into a modern day setting requires a bit of sleight of hand, but it just about works, and the film has an ace up its sleeve: an explanation for Dracula’s true identity that finally explains why he’s so averse to silver and crucifixes.
What makes it special? It kind of shouldn’t be, because it’s so silly. It’s got that self-aware, slightly camp late-90s horror thing going on, and it’s never actually scary. But it is a lot of fun, with some sharp dialogue (“I don’t drink… coffee”) and loads of geek-friendly faces popping up, including Jonny Lee Miller, Nathan Fillion, and Jeri Ryan.
Blade: Trinity (2004)
Who plays Dracula? Dominic Purcell
What’s the story? Dracula, or “Drake”, is an ancient vampire summoned by modern day vampires looking for an upgrade. Blade has been killing off too many of them, and they want to walk in daylight, which apparently Drake’s blood will let them do. Drake is a bit of a rubbish Dracula, as they go; he’s just a really old vampire, and none of the usual Dracula plot elements are present.
What makes it special? Let’s be clear about this, Blade Trinity is a pretty terrible film. It has two redeeming features, though: Ryan Reynolds and Parker Posey are fantastic, and every scene they have together is wonderful; and it includes a scene in which Drake wanders into a vampire-themed shop and terrorises the snarky goth assistants. Those things just about make it worth watching, but for Dracula super-fans, it hasn’t got much to offer. Purcell’s Dracula is apparently meant to be charismatic, but he just comes off dull and thuggish.
Other notable onscreen Draculas: Countess Dracula (Ingrid Pitt stars as Elizabeth Bathory, so not really Dracula at all, except in the title); Count Duckula (an 80s cartoon about a vampiric duck); Count Dracula (a low budget horror from 1979, directed by Jess Franco and starring Christopher Lee despite not being part of Lee’s Hammer Dracula franchise); Dracula: Dead And Loving It (Mel Brooks’s daft spoof); Dracula Ad 1972 (a reteaming of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing that brings Dracula into the 70s); Dracula Sucks (a hardcore porn adaptation); and Dario Argento’s Dracula 3D (which isn’t out yet, and will almost certainly be terrible.)
This feature was originally posted in October 2013.
As news arrives that Sherlock's creators are working on a Dracula adaptation, here are 10 screen versions of Bram Stoker's character...
Dracula is one of the classic monster stories. It’s the quintessential vampire tale; most of our ideas about what a vampire is, what a vampire does, and what a vampire can be killed by come from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel. And while elements of the story have been woven into countless other vampire-themed books, films, and TV shows, it’s Dracula that we keep coming back to, over and over. Sherlock creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss are in talks about reviving the character once again for a BBC miniseries, but before that arrives, let’s take a look back at ten other versions of the world’s most famous vampire…
See related Kevin Feige on Black Panther, female superhero movie Thor: Ragnarok - Thor's roommate won't be in it Nosferatu (1922)
Who plays Dracula? Max Schreck.
What’s the story? It’s a pretty faithful, if pared down, version of the Dracula story: a clerk is sent out to meet a mysterious client in a spooky castle, realises he’s a monster, and tries to flee, only for his own wife to fall victim to the vampire’s spell. It’s silent, black and white, and gorgeous.
What makes it special? What’s kind of amazing about this film is that it almost didn’t survive. The production didn’t have the approval of Bram Stoker’s estate, and despite changing a few details – the vampire here is known as Count Orlok, not Dracula, and the other names and locations have also been altered – it’s close enough that when the Stokers sued, a court ordered all copies of the film to be destroyed.
Luckily for us, one survived. It’s incredibly creepy, all weird angles and lurking shadows, and Schrek plays the vampire as a proper monster. There’s nothing seductive about him, he’s just terrifying. Even now. Especially now, maybe, now that we’re jaded and cynical about special effects and CGI. Because this film looks scarier than anything created on a computer, and it’s all real.
Dracula (1931)
Who plays Dracula? Bela Lugosi.
What’s the story? Based on a popular stage adaptation of Dracula, this is another mostly faithful adaptation, though the characters have been shuffled a bit. Here, it’s Renfield, not Jonathan, who goes out to meet Dracula in his castle in Transylvania. Jonathan and Lucy get shunted off to the side of the story, with Mina taking centre stage, while Dr Seward, head of the lunatic asylum, is recast as her father. Lugosi is a much sexier Count than Schreck, and the subtext about Mina’s sexual awakening is, er, pretty much text here.
What makes it special? Oh, everything. It’s beautiful to look at, for one thing. It’s got a bit of a sense of humour, though not enough to stop it from being insanely creepy. Lugosi makes the role completely his own; when people think of Count Dracula, this is the version most of them imagine. Interestingly, this version also does a lot more with Renfield’s story than the original novel, and Dwight Frye is fantastic in that role. Even if you think you’ve seen too many Dracula parodies to enjoy Lugosi’s rendition of the Count, this film is worth watching for Dwight Frye alone.
Dracula (1958)
Who plays Dracula? Christopher Lee.
What’s the story? It’s Dracula, but slightly wonky. It starts with Jonathan Harker setting off to visit Castle Dracula – but this time, he knows what he’s in for, and is planning to kill the Count. He fails, leaving Van Helsing to take up the hunt. Most of the characters have been shuffled around: Jonathan is engaged to Lucy, who’s Arthur’s sister, and Arthur is married to Mina. It’s not obvious why that reshuffle had to happen, because it doesn’t make a huge amount of difference to how things play out. It’s still Mina who has to fight to extricate herself from Dracula’s clutches in the end.
What makes it special? Dracula was one of the first Hammer Horror films, and it was massively successful. It spawned eight sequels, including The Brides of Dracula, Dracula Has Risen from the Grave, and Taste The Blood of Dracula, and it basically shaped the horror genre for a good couple of decades. But what’s special about it today is the cast. Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing are always good value, and here, as the evil Count and the scholarly vampire hunter determined to kill him off, they’re brilliant.
Count von Count, Sesame Street (1972)
Who plays Dracula? Originally Jerry Nelson, and now Matt Vogel.
What’s the story? Okay, this is kind of a cheat. Count von Count isn’t actually called Dracula, but he’s so clearly modelled on Bela Lugosi’s portrayal of the great vampire that I couldn’t just leave him out. The character appears to be based on the idea that vampires are obsessed with counting – folklore from all over the world has it that if a vampire encounters a pile of rice or other grains, they won’t be able to do anything until they’ve counted it all. The Count loves to, er, count.
What makes it special? The fact that Sesame Street included a vampire character is kind of amazing, and the fact that he speaks in a parody of Lugosi’s accent, and wears that cape, well, it’s just sort of brilliant. The earliest incarnations of the Count were a bit spooky, but apparently kids found his maniacal laughing and tendency to zap people who interfered with his counting a bit scary, so he was made cuter and goofier. He’s basically the most adorable incarnation of Dracula you’ll ever find.
Blacula (1972)
Who plays Dracula? Charles Macaulay.
What’s the story? This film is about one of Dracula’s protégés, rather than Dracula himself. After an African prince approaches Dracula for help dealing with the slave trade, he gets bitten and sealed in a coffin for centuries. Popping out in the 1970s, Mamuwalde – dubbed “Blacula” by the Count – sets about trying to win the heart of a woman he believes to be the reincarnation of his dead wife.
What makes it special? Isn’t the idea of a blaxploitation take on Dracula special enough for you? William H. Marshall plays the first ever black vampire in this movie, and since there haven’t been all that many since, that’s still pretty notable. The fashion is glorious, and the music is wonderful too. The plot is, well, kind of flimsy, and pretty slow, and it actually verges on being kind of boring, but there’s something pretty cool about it nonetheless.
Blood for Dracula (1974)
Who plays Dracula? Udo Kier.
What’s the story? A sickly Dracula is starving to death due to the lack of available virgins in Romania, so he travels to Italy in search of a bride. Unfortunately, the family of impoverished aristocrats he ends up staying with employs a rather rapey handyman, and there may not be any virgins left for him.
What makes it special? Produced by Andy Warhol, this is definitely one of the strangest takes on the Dracula story. Many of the established tropes are present – Dracula doesn’t have a reflection, and can’t stand garlic - but rather than being powerful and seductive, Kier’s Count is almost pitiable. He spends much of the film in a wheelchair, which is an oddly creepy image, and he’s kind of… whiny. It’s hard to know where your sympathies should lie, and it’s fun to see a mother actively throwing her daughters at Dracula rather than trying to save them from him. The accents are occasionally baffling (especially Joe Dallesandro’s Brooklyn drawl) but maybe that’s all part of the joke.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Who plays Dracula? Gary Oldman.
What’s the story? Back in the fifteenth century, Dracula’s wife kills herself after being told her husband has been killed in battle. Knowing suicide is a sin, Dracula figures she’s damned, and turns against God himself, becoming a vampire. After skulking in his castle for centuries, he decides to move to London, where he meets Mina Harker – a woman who looks exactly like his dead wife. The rest of the Dracula story is intact, but with a side of overly dramatic tragic romance.
What makes it special? It’s one of the most faithful adaptations around, in terms of how much of the book it conveys to the screen. Characters are shown writing letters and diary entries, as per the book, and Lucy’s three suitors are all present and correct, which is rare.
Unfortunately, some of the performances are pretty terrible (Keanu Reeves is an easy target, but he’s truly awful here, and Cary Elwes is in full smirk mode). There are so many famous people crammed in that it gets distracting, and the set design is too stagey to be effective. But it gets points for keeping all the characters in their places.
‘Buffy vs Dracula’, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2000)
Who plays Dracula? Rudolf Martin.
What’s the story? To kick off the fifth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy went up against the most famous vampire of all time. Yup, they actually wrote Dracula into an episode of Buffy. There’s no real messing with the character, apart from dropping him into modern day California, and he uses pretty much all of his tricks: he turns into a bat, he dissolves into mist, he uses mind control to turn Xander into a slavering minion, and he seduces Sunnydale’s women, including Buffy herself.
What makes it special? There’s something about crossovers that’s always oddly irresistible. Fitting the Scooby Gang into the Dracula story is fun because of the cognitive dissonance it causes: they’re all-American teenagers, and he’s a character from a gothic Victorian novel, so there’s no reason they should ever encounter one another, and the fallout is genuinely funny. (Spike’s indignation is a particular highlight.) There’s also a serious side to the story, as Dracula tells Buffy she’s a creature of darkness, but that’s something that really developed over the rest of the series. This episode is mostly just fun.
Dracula 2000 (2000)
Who plays Dracula? Gerard Butler.
What’s the story? Despite Van Helsing’s best efforts, someone has let Dracula out of his prison, and he’s determined to track down the one woman who might be able to stand up to him. (Who just happens to be Van Helsing’s daughter.) Bringing Van Helsing and Dracula into a modern day setting requires a bit of sleight of hand, but it just about works, and the film has an ace up its sleeve: an explanation for Dracula’s true identity that finally explains why he’s so averse to silver and crucifixes.
What makes it special? It kind of shouldn’t be, because it’s so silly. It’s got that self-aware, slightly camp late-90s horror thing going on, and it’s never actually scary. But it is a lot of fun, with some sharp dialogue (“I don’t drink… coffee”) and loads of geek-friendly faces popping up, including Jonny Lee Miller, Nathan Fillion, and Jeri Ryan.
Blade: Trinity (2004)
Who plays Dracula? Dominic Purcell
What’s the story? Dracula, or “Drake”, is an ancient vampire summoned by modern day vampires looking for an upgrade. Blade has been killing off too many of them, and they want to walk in daylight, which apparently Drake’s blood will let them do. Drake is a bit of a rubbish Dracula, as they go; he’s just a really old vampire, and none of the usual Dracula plot elements are present.
What makes it special? Let’s be clear about this, Blade Trinity is a pretty terrible film. It has two redeeming features, though: Ryan Reynolds and Parker Posey are fantastic, and every scene they have together is wonderful; and it includes a scene in which Drake wanders into a vampire-themed shop and terrorises the snarky goth assistants. Those things just about make it worth watching, but for Dracula super-fans, it hasn’t got much to offer. Purcell’s Dracula is apparently meant to be charismatic, but he just comes off dull and thuggish.
Other notable onscreen Draculas: Countess Dracula (Ingrid Pitt stars as Elizabeth Bathory, so not really Dracula at all, except in the title); Count Duckula (an 80s cartoon about a vampiric duck); Count Dracula (a low budget horror from 1979, directed by Jess Franco and starring Christopher Lee despite not being part of Lee’s Hammer Dracula franchise); Dracula: Dead And Loving It (Mel Brooks’s daft spoof); Dracula Ad 1972 (a reteaming of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing that brings Dracula into the 70s); Dracula Sucks (a hardcore porn adaptation); and Dario Argento’s Dracula 3D (which isn’t out yet, and will almost certainly be terrible.)
This feature was originally posted in October 2013.
- 8/19/2013
- Den of Geek
Severin Films is throwing a house party! The company revealed cover art and details for two upcoming DVD/Blu-ray bundles that should have fans of cult '70s horror and the UK's notorious “Video Nasties” pretty stoked: The controversial House on Straw Hill and occult whodunit The House of Seven Corpses. House on Straw Hill (originally titled Exposé) made the headlines following its release by landing on the UK's notorious “Video Nasties” list, joining dozens of other films banned by British censors for their extreme content. While it does have some gory moments, it's been heavily cut mostly due to explicit sex scenes between stars Udo Kier (a horror icon who's starred in Mark of the Devil and Andy Warhol's Dracula and recently Severin's own horror anthology The Theatre Bizarre), Linda Hayden (Blood on Satan's Claw) and '70s UK sex bomb Fiona Richmond. Severin recently obtained the only known...
- 3/29/2013
- by Gregory Burkart
- FEARnet
Today is author Bram Stoker’s birthday. The man who wrote Dracula would be 165 years old today, if he had the same affliction he gave his most famous character. In honor of Stoker’s birthday, we’ve found some of the best spoofs, parodies, and satires on Dracula. Because dammit, birthdays should be fun!
Count Duckula
Count Duckula - Opening Theme [HQ]
A favorite cartoon of mine growing up, Count Duckula was a duck version of Dracula. Every now and again, he would die, but could be resurrected once a century. The most recent resurrection didn’t go according to plan. Instead of blood, ketchup was used. Thus, this incarnation of Duckula was a vegetarian who was more interested in becoming a star than in starting blood wards.
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Dracula: Dead and Loving It (Trailer 1995)
As a sort of “follow-up” to the wildly successful Young Frankenstein, Mel Brooks...
Count Duckula
Count Duckula - Opening Theme [HQ]
A favorite cartoon of mine growing up, Count Duckula was a duck version of Dracula. Every now and again, he would die, but could be resurrected once a century. The most recent resurrection didn’t go according to plan. Instead of blood, ketchup was used. Thus, this incarnation of Duckula was a vegetarian who was more interested in becoming a star than in starting blood wards.
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
Dracula: Dead and Loving It (Trailer 1995)
As a sort of “follow-up” to the wildly successful Young Frankenstein, Mel Brooks...
- 11/9/2012
- by Alyse Wax
- FEARnet
If we look at Italian genre film-making as a blurry palette rather than a paintbox of discreet hues, we can perceive areas where one kind of film-making shades into another. The gothic fantasy may have preceded the giallo, but the two co-existed for some years, and most of the filmmakers who were important to one genre were also valuable in the other, as exemplified by Mario Bava, who more or less inaugurated both fields, first with Black Sunday and then with Blood and Black Lace (to pick, more or less randomly, two well-known English titles for two oft-retitled films).
Antonio Margheriti was another genre workhorse, shooting some of the more elegant bits of Paul Morrissey's Blood for Dracula and Flesh for Frankenstein, but also dabbling in sci-fi, the spaghetti western, Vietnam war flicks, often under the pseudonym of Anthony Dawson.
One thing Margheriti didn't make a lot of was gialli,...
Antonio Margheriti was another genre workhorse, shooting some of the more elegant bits of Paul Morrissey's Blood for Dracula and Flesh for Frankenstein, but also dabbling in sci-fi, the spaghetti western, Vietnam war flicks, often under the pseudonym of Anthony Dawson.
One thing Margheriti didn't make a lot of was gialli,...
- 9/12/2012
- MUBI
Special effects artist known for Et and the monster in Alien
If one asked filmgoers what they immediately visualise at the mention of Ridley Scott's Alien (1979) and Steven Spielberg's Et: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), the majority would most likely name the creatures in the title roles – disgustingly malevolent in the former, and ugly but cuddly in the latter. The special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi, who has died aged 86, was almost entirely credited with creating the character of Et, not only conceptually but also physically, and with actualising Hr Giger's designs for the murderous alien loose on a space ship. Rambaldi's work on these two blockbusters was recognised with Academy Awards (shared) for visual effects. For King Kong (1976), he shared a special achievement Oscar.
On the surface, these lauded, large-scale Hollywood movies seemed a world away from Rambaldi's beginnings as a designer, model maker and special effects man on...
If one asked filmgoers what they immediately visualise at the mention of Ridley Scott's Alien (1979) and Steven Spielberg's Et: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), the majority would most likely name the creatures in the title roles – disgustingly malevolent in the former, and ugly but cuddly in the latter. The special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi, who has died aged 86, was almost entirely credited with creating the character of Et, not only conceptually but also physically, and with actualising Hr Giger's designs for the murderous alien loose on a space ship. Rambaldi's work on these two blockbusters was recognised with Academy Awards (shared) for visual effects. For King Kong (1976), he shared a special achievement Oscar.
On the surface, these lauded, large-scale Hollywood movies seemed a world away from Rambaldi's beginnings as a designer, model maker and special effects man on...
- 8/14/2012
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
Editor’s note: This week, your tireless Criterion Warrior (oh, idea for a new column!) requested a week off to pursue something literary and intelligent and, well, big-wordy. With Mr. Palmer out, our own J.L. Sosa stepped up to the plate to file his very own Criterion, um, File. Be nice, bloodsuckers! When I first saw Paul Morrissey‘s Blood for Dracula, I definitely felt like I was partaking of an illicit pleasure. A friend of mine with an encyclopedic knowledge (and equally impressive collection) of B-movies was moving to new digs and bequeathed to me, along with many other obscure relics, his VHS dub of the Criterion Collection’s unedited laserdisc edition of the film (Ld spine #287, for the digit-obsessed). Based on the rumors I’d long heard, I was expecting copious over-the-top gore. The film delivered on that promise, but also unexpectedly unfolded with the langorous pace of a high-falutin’ costume drama. You...
- 12/8/2011
- by J.L. Sosa
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula. Island of Lost Souls. The Most Dangerous Game. The Night of the Hunter. The Blob. For a company perhaps best known for releasing pristine editions of international arthouse classics, The Criterion Collection certainly has a healthy amount of cult films in its repertoire. Cult cinema is often a difficult beast to recognize, for such films avoid the roads best travelled in their journey towards recognition and renown. Unlike seminal films in the collection including The 400 Blows, 8 ½, or Rashomon, cult films aren’t typically met with immediate cultural or institutional recognition upon release, aren’t made by internationally-recognized talent, and don’t always have an immediately traceable history of influence. That is, however, what makes cult films so interesting and so valuable: they emerge without expectation or pretense and signal the most populist and anti-elite means by which a film can gain recognition, pointing...
- 10/27/2011
- by Landon Palmer
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
3 – Theatre Bizarrre
Directed by:
Douglas Buck (segment The Accident)
Buddy Giovinazzo (segment I Love You)
David Gregory (segment Sweets)
Karim Hussain (segment Vision Stains)
Tom Savini (segment Wet Dreams)
Richard Stanley (segment The Mother Of Toads)
One of this year’s most anticipated films for genre enthusiasts is a horror anthology titled The Theatre Bizarr. There is a lot to be excited about here: first, cult icon Udo Kier (Blood for Dracula, Melancholia) stars in one segment. Second , the D.O.P. Of Hobo With A Shotgun and director of the incredibly fucked up Subconscious Cruelty Karim Hussain is directing one of the seven segments. Sir Richard Stanley, director of the cult classics Hardware and Dust Devil is directing another. Legendary special effects make-up artist Tom Savini and director of the Night of the Living Dead remake is also behind the director’s chair as is Buddy Gionvinazzo, who directed...
Directed by:
Douglas Buck (segment The Accident)
Buddy Giovinazzo (segment I Love You)
David Gregory (segment Sweets)
Karim Hussain (segment Vision Stains)
Tom Savini (segment Wet Dreams)
Richard Stanley (segment The Mother Of Toads)
One of this year’s most anticipated films for genre enthusiasts is a horror anthology titled The Theatre Bizarr. There is a lot to be excited about here: first, cult icon Udo Kier (Blood for Dracula, Melancholia) stars in one segment. Second , the D.O.P. Of Hobo With A Shotgun and director of the incredibly fucked up Subconscious Cruelty Karim Hussain is directing one of the seven segments. Sir Richard Stanley, director of the cult classics Hardware and Dust Devil is directing another. Legendary special effects make-up artist Tom Savini and director of the Night of the Living Dead remake is also behind the director’s chair as is Buddy Gionvinazzo, who directed...
- 7/8/2011
- by Kyle Reese
- SoundOnSight
I just came back from the Fantasia Film festival press conference and I am already overwhelmed. I’ve been looking over the schedule all afternoon (which includes around 126 films in just over three weeks) trying to figure out how to find time to watch everything I want to see. One of this year’s most anticipated films is a horror anthology titled The Theatre Bizarre featuring cult icon Udo Kier (Blood for Dracula, Melancholia) with film segments directed by Richard Stanley (Hardware, Dust Devil), Tom Savini (Night of the Living Dead remake), Buddy Gionvinazzo (Life is Hot In Cracktown), Douglas Buck (Sisters remake), Karim Hussain (Subconscious Cruelty), David Gregory (Plague Town), and Jeremy Kasten (Wizard of Gore remake). The film will have its World Premiere at the 2011 Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal on July 16th at 9:20pm, and you can be guaranteed we will be reviewing it. Severin Films...
- 7/7/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Video first and details below! The Theatre Bizarre Trailer from Severin Films on Vimeo . Severin Films today announced the release of the first official theatrical trailer for the eagerly anticipated feature The Theatre Bizarre - a modern horror omnibus inspired by the over-the-top shocks of Paris. early 20th century .Theatre du Grand Guignol. - which will have its Gala World Premiere at the 2011 Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal on July 16th at 9:20pm. The Theatre Bizarre features horror icon and Hollywood character staple Udo Kier (Blood For Dracula, Suspiria, Melancholia) as the master of ceremonies in the framing story, set in a sinister old theatre, of six films by .horror.s most adventurous minds,. (Fangoria). The Theatre Bizarre will also have its...
- 7/7/2011
- shocktillyoudrop.com
Flesh For Frankenstein / Andy Warhol's Frankenstein (1973) Direction and Screenplay: Paul Morrissey Cast: Joe Dallesandro, Udo Kier, Monique van Vooren, Dalila Di Lazzaro, Arno Juerging, Srdjan Zelenovic, Nicoletta Elmi, Marco Liofredi, Liù Bosisio Highly Recommended Monique van Vooren, Joe Dallesandro, Flesh for Frankenstein The first time I saw Flesh for Frankenstein was during its theatrical release in 1973, when it was titled, Andy Warhol's Frankenstein. Warhol, of course, had little to do with the production besides lending his name to it. The real genius behind Frankenstein and its follow-up, Andy Warhol's Dracula, was Paul Morrissey. [Antonio Margheriti aka Anthony M. Dawson's contributions to the film are unclear.] The original Frankenstein release was in glorious 3-D, with special visual effects by Robert V. Bernier and Carlo Ramboldi. Maybe it's because I find it less distracting, but I prefer the (2D) DVD issue better. That's because the film's dark humor comes through without [...]...
- 4/1/2011
- by Danny Fortune
- Alt Film Guide
Canadian horror and exploitation film fans making their way to London, Ontario’s first-ever Shock Stock convention (running April 29-May 1) will be thrilled to learn that legendary Andy Warhol disciple/actor Joe Dallesandro (pictured) will be appearing. Fans know Dallesandro not only for his landmark New York art/porn hits Flesh, Trash and Heat, but for the wild Paul Morrissey-directed cult favorites Flesh For Frankenstein (a.k.a. Andy Warhol’S Frankenstein) and Blood For Dracula (a.k.a. Andy Warhol’S Dracula).
- 2/10/2011
- by gingold@starloggroup.com (Chris Alexander)
- Fangoria
Ja from Mnpp here. Have you read this phenomenally odd and delightful interview with the actor Udo Kier at The Av Club? Odd and delightful are the two words I'd always use whenever mentioning Mr. Kier, but he really brings it this time around.
Over at Mnpp I picked out my fifteen favorite quotes from the interview, but I'm so oddly delighted in this chat's wake I've got to just keep on thinking about Udo, and what better way to do that then to mercilessly pick apart the work he's done over the years with a completely frivolous list. He's worked so much in such a vast array of projects that there are dozens of his performances that I've missed (I don't know how this is possible but it appears I've never seen any of the films he's done with Fassbinder, for example), but out of the many I have...
Over at Mnpp I picked out my fifteen favorite quotes from the interview, but I'm so oddly delighted in this chat's wake I've got to just keep on thinking about Udo, and what better way to do that then to mercilessly pick apart the work he's done over the years with a completely frivolous list. He's worked so much in such a vast array of projects that there are dozens of his performances that I've missed (I don't know how this is possible but it appears I've never seen any of the films he's done with Fassbinder, for example), but out of the many I have...
- 1/4/2011
- by JA
- FilmExperience
Very few filmmakers have routinely put out fantastic product with less publicity than the wonderful Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin.
With films like Brand Upon The Brain and a fantastic and underseen Dracula film known as Pages From A Virgin’s Diary (currently available on Netflix Watch Instantly), Maddin has become one of today’s most interesting and gifted filmmakers. After much waiting, it looks like Maddin has finally filled out his next project, and what a film it’s going to be.
According to Twitch, Maddin’s upcoming film Keyhole has finally found its lead, in the form of Udo Kier, star of such Criterion films as: Blood For Dracula, Flesh For Frankenstein, Europa, and My Own Private Idaho. The film has been described as a Homer like story of “”a gangster returns home after a long absence toting a drowned girl, who has mysteriously returned to life, and a bound-and-gagged hostage,...
With films like Brand Upon The Brain and a fantastic and underseen Dracula film known as Pages From A Virgin’s Diary (currently available on Netflix Watch Instantly), Maddin has become one of today’s most interesting and gifted filmmakers. After much waiting, it looks like Maddin has finally filled out his next project, and what a film it’s going to be.
According to Twitch, Maddin’s upcoming film Keyhole has finally found its lead, in the form of Udo Kier, star of such Criterion films as: Blood For Dracula, Flesh For Frankenstein, Europa, and My Own Private Idaho. The film has been described as a Homer like story of “”a gangster returns home after a long absence toting a drowned girl, who has mysteriously returned to life, and a bound-and-gagged hostage,...
- 6/17/2010
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
Lars Von Trier, a favorite amongst the Criterion Collection (Europa, Element of Crime, and Antichrist?) and serving up controversy with every film he creates, is working on his secretive disaster film Melancholia. If that wasn’t enough, there’s news now that Kirsten Dunst, fresh off of the Spider-Man trilogy, will be joining the already stacked cast for Von Trier’s descent into ‘planet crashing into Earth’ films that usually is Roland Emmerich’s cup of tea.
Dunst joins Charlotte Gainsbourg (who was amazing in Von Trier’s Antichrist), Kiefer Sutherland, father and son duo Stellan Skarsgaard and Alexander Skarsgaard, Charlotte Rampling and Udo Kier (who’s previously been in two out of print Criterion DVDs, Flesh For Frankenstein and Blood For Dracula).
There isn’t much news on the actual plot of the film, other than it’s a ‘psychological disaster film’ and Von Trier promises ‘No more happy endings!
Dunst joins Charlotte Gainsbourg (who was amazing in Von Trier’s Antichrist), Kiefer Sutherland, father and son duo Stellan Skarsgaard and Alexander Skarsgaard, Charlotte Rampling and Udo Kier (who’s previously been in two out of print Criterion DVDs, Flesh For Frankenstein and Blood For Dracula).
There isn’t much news on the actual plot of the film, other than it’s a ‘psychological disaster film’ and Von Trier promises ‘No more happy endings!
- 4/16/2010
- by James McCormick
- CriterionCast
In Paul Morrissey’s eccentric and utterly unhinged 1974 Eurotrash classic Blood For Dracula (often erroneously credited as the brainchild NYC art guru Andy Warhol), the opening imagery of Dracula (played by iconic German weirdo Udo Kier) painting his face kabuki white has always haunted me. The sequence is the spine and soul of the picture, showing the good Count as a tired, lonely showman who has long been forgotten by time and by the audience he once terrified.
And as eerily gorgeous as that bit of credit crawling business is, it’s the delicate piano waltz playing in the background that truly sells it.
Like Morrissey’s 3D companion film Flesh For Frankenstein the music for Blood was composed by Italian musician Claudio Gizzi. It’s orchestral, elegant, full of melancholy mourning and sadness. And truthfully it’s that dichotomy between the excessive gore, sex and general insanity on screen with Gizzi’s sophisticated,...
And as eerily gorgeous as that bit of credit crawling business is, it’s the delicate piano waltz playing in the background that truly sells it.
Like Morrissey’s 3D companion film Flesh For Frankenstein the music for Blood was composed by Italian musician Claudio Gizzi. It’s orchestral, elegant, full of melancholy mourning and sadness. And truthfully it’s that dichotomy between the excessive gore, sex and general insanity on screen with Gizzi’s sophisticated,...
- 10/6/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Chris Alexander)
- Fangoria
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