Time For An Empowered Female Holiday!

If you are looking for a more “unique” type of gift for the cinephile in your family, time to jump into the deep end of the “exploitation cinema” pool as we are going to celebrate empowered women who fight back!

Biker Chicks!

Let’s begin with a great movie genre: biker chicks! As you can see from the “Angels Die Hard” poster, they also live hard and love hard too!

The women in these films end up fighting back and fending off a variety of evil – always with an attitude!

There are many great examples of this genre, and I count them down here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/01/04/sexy-chopper-chicks-naked-cycle-sluts-sex-violence-hog-sploitation/

In the annals of “blaxploitation” cinema, one woman stood above all others – the legendary Pam Grier!

She was tough as nails and gave it as good as she got – there was no messing around with “Foxy Brown!”

Here are some of Grier’s greatest cinematic beatdowns:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/11/19/studly-superfly-sexy-sheba-blaxploitations-sexiest-stars-pam-grier-shaft-2/

Here is another example of a VERY empowered woman:

“They’ll Love The Very Life Out Of Your Body!”

How can you not love a film with that tagline? “Invasion Of The Bee Girls” is classic 70’s cinema, because these women have all the power and plenty of sting!

This 1973 camp classic has a simple plot: A powerful cosmic force is turning Earth women into queen bees who kill men by wearing them out sexually!

See the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/06/sexy-bee-girls-campy-cult-cinema-gets-its-buzz-on/

And what about this offer?

That’s right, one film is willing to give you inside information you need – about cheerleaders!

The “wild Cheerleader” genre is hilarious for many reasons, and while they began as pure exploitation cinema, they became much more of a statement about empowered women – you can click here to see the five best ones!

https://johnrieber.com/2015/02/19/cheerleaders-pom-pom-girls-david-hasselhoff-as-boner-cult-classics-rah-rah-rah/

And of course, it all got started here – the “Citizen Kane” of “wild wild women kicking ass” movies:

“Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!”

Legendary filmmaker Russ Meyer never topped the inspired title for this classic 60’s drive-in movie, but he made films for decades. The iconic Tura Saldana showed this sap who’s boss, along with her gang of gals who had one simple motto:

Director Meyer was at the forefront of the empowered female trend in exploitation film – and while he loved buxom women, he let them kick ass as well!

In fact, his films always had strong female characters who were tougher than any man they encountered.

If you haven’t seen this movie, here is the trailer with the immortal line:

“Wild Women! Wild Wheels!”

Check out all of the classic Russ Meyer films here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/03/16/sexploitation-classics-the-russ-meyer-edition/

In 2012, indépendent filmmaker Harmony Korine brought back the “empowered women” genre with the controversial “Spring Breakers”:

James Franco starred alongside some of the most popular young stars at the time: Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Benson. It was a wildly original take on 60’s “empowered women” cult cinema, and is worth checking out. See the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/03/24/spring-breakers-pop-culture-phenom-sexploitation-or-a-faster-pussycat/

That’s just a primer on the “empowered women of exploitation” genre of film – let me know what you think!

Looking For Classic Cult Films For Your Favorite Movie Buff?

It’s the 2017 holiday season, and I am always looking for something unqiue to give as a gift…so why not classic cult cinema! Here are two iconic Actresses who have a great body of work to share.

In the 80’s, one legendary Actress made her name with this scene:

Linnea Quigley!

Linnea starred in a number of great 80’s exploitation films, such as “Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers” and “The Return Of The Living Dead”, when she did a nude cemetery dance!

Of course, I love that she starred in “Sorority Babes In The Slimeball Bowl-A-Rama” – one of the great exploitation titles of all time!

She still acts, wrote an autobiography and also makes appearances at conventions around the world – see some of her best movies, with more pictures and trailers, by clicking here!

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/20/shocktober-20th-linnea-quigleys-naked-living-dead-dance-plus-chainsaw-hookers/

My next sex kitten not only starred in a film with Vincent Price, but James Bond 007 as well!

Caroline Munro!

Caroline worked with the legendary horror Actor in “The Abominable Dr. Phibles”, and was a Bond girl in “The Spy Who Loved me” as well!

Munro has a great variety of films, including this 80’s horror classic – that was filmed without permits at the Cannes Film Festival!

This is a unique, low budget horror film, with legendary character Actor Joe Spinell – you can see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/01/28/the-last-horror-film-caroline-munros-hair-joe-spinells-a-troma-fanatic/

Munro still acts and make appearances as well, but you should really check out some of her best films, see a full list here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/06/19/caroline-munro-from-sex-kitten-to-vincent-price-to-bond-girl-a-maniac-too/

Have a cult-filled holiday movie season!

The Best Picture 2017! “The Shape Of Water!”

Director Guillermo Del Toro has made his Oscar-winning masterpiece. “The Shape Of Water” blew us away – and will do the same to Academy voters this year.

Fox Searchlight describes the film this way:

“An otherworldly fable set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. Rounding out the cast are Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Doug Jones.”

Here is the trailer:

In many films with a “creature”, the Director teases the audience for long periods of time; not so here. Del Toro introduces his lead character early on, and Actress Sally Hawkins shows us the creature’s humanity, even as the film takes on a brutal tone…

The entire cast is terrific. As Guillermo del Toro said about Sally Hawkins:

“Not only was she the first choice, she was the only choice. I wrote the movie for Sally, I wrote the movie for Michael [Shannon]… Sally is, I wanted the character of Elisa to be beautiful, in her own way, not in a way that is like a perfume commercial kind of way. That you could believe that this character, this woman would be sitting next to you on the bus. But at the same time she would have a luminosity, a beauty, almost magical, ethereal.”

Each person brings a full range of emotion to their characters – Shannon is terrific as usual, as is veteran character Actor Richard Jenkins…

According to great trivia from the website IMDB, most of the characters were written with the actors in mind. Octavia Spencer said her character was reminiscent of a collaboration between her roles in The Help (2011) and Hidden Figures (2016), and that she “would have played the desk if Guillermo del Toro had asked me to”.

She is also looking at another Oscar nomination for her work in the film.

It’s important to note the film is “R” rated – for sexuality and violence, but the brutality of the cold war scenes are balanced out by warmth and humanity across multiple characters – this is the best film of the year, and bravo to Director Del Toro for matching his wild creativity with the warmth and heart that the film achieves…

Del Toro loves fantasy, and he’s a huge fan of Brian DePalma’s “Phantom Of The Paradise” – on this special edition blu-ray of the classic 1974 film, he even leads a lengthy conversation with the film’s star and composer Paul Williams…check it out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/02/27/cult-classic-phantom-of-the-paradise-guillermo-del-toro-talks-up-paul-williams-great-new-special-edition/

If you want to see more of Sally Hawkins, she was nominated as Best Supporting Actress in 2013 for Woody Allen’s last great film “Blue Jasmine”:

See more about her work in that film here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/09/01/blue-jasmine-best-film-of-2013-woody-allens-bumpy-road-to-brilliance/

Let me know if you’ve seen “The Shape Of Water!”

Songs With An “N”!

I’m celebrating New Year’s Day with some of my favorite Artists and songs!

My musical look at the alphabet from “A to Z” lands on “N”, with classic Artists like The Jackson Five and quirky hits like “Coconut”!

Let’s begin with the beginning of the 90’s – when grunge music took over thanks to these guys, who recorded what was called:

“the anthem for apathetic kids”

Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

An explosive song that changed a generation of music…from my hometown of Seattle – in a Rolling Stone interview in 1994, Kurt Cobain revealed this:

“I was trying to write the ultimate pop song. I was basically trying to rip off the Pixies. I have to admit it. When I heard the Pixies for the first time, I connected with that band so heavily that I should have been in that band—or at least a Pixies cover band. We used their sense of dynamics, being soft and quiet and then loud and hard.”

And what about those lyrics:

“With the lights out it’s less dangerous
Here we are now, entertain us
I feel stupid and contagious
Here we are now, entertain us
A mulatto, an Albino
A mosquito, my libido, yeah!”

Here is the explosive music video:

Oh, in case you didn’t know, this video has been viewed 635-MILLION TIMES!

According to wikipedia, Cobain came up with the song’s title when his friend Kathleen Hanna, at the time the lead singer of the riot grrrl band Bikini Kill, wrote “Kurt Smells Like Teen Spirit” on his wall!

Next up is one of the most under-appreciated Singer/Songwriters of her time:

Laura Nyro – “Poverty Train”

Laura Nyro wrote some incredible music – much of it made famous by Artists such a Barbra Streisand and The Fifth Dimension – more on that in a moment – Nyro’s performance at the Monterey Pop Festival is the stuff of legend – more on that as well, but first, here is Nyro performing at that 1967 festival:

The controversy about Laura’s performance at Monterey Pop is because she felt she was booed by the crowd! That myth grew over the years – here is the story about that day:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/04/15/laura-nyros-brilliant-monterey-pop-performance-and-legendary-musical-myth/

Nyro also performed “Wedding Bell Blues” and “Eli’s Coming” – both huge hits for other Artists! She also wrote Barbra Streisand’s hit “Stony End” as well:

She had a bunch of songs that other people recorded – here is a look at those hits for other Artists:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/05/07/laura-nyros-smash-hits-for-barbra-streisand-three-dog-night-fifth-dimension/

Next up is a band about to embark on a twenties anniversary tour!

“Narcolepsy” by Third Eye Blind

I have always liked this band, with hits like “Losing A Whole Year” and “Semi-Charmed Life”, but this song really shows their ability to set a tone and mood and then blast out a great hook.

Here is the band performing the song at The Fillmore in San Francisco:

Next up is a gorgeous ballad – sung by a twelve-year-old Michael Jackson!

“Never Can Say Goodbye” by The Jackson Five

Originally, this song was going to be recorded by Diana Ross & The Supremes, but Motown decided to give it to The Jacksons instead, and it was a huge hit in 1971.

Here is a real time capsule – the brothers performing the song on a TV show in the early 70’s…look how young Michael is – and make sure to watch the incredible “Wwirling Jacksons” behind him!

I just love that synchronized dancing behind Michael – did you know he sang at the Academy Awards a year later – because of a love song to a rat?

Yes, the song was nominated for an Academy Award – see Michael performing it live on the Oscar telecast by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/08/02/killer-rat-horror-willard-michael-jacksons-ben-love-song-jacksons-oscar-night-performance/

Finally, a amazing Singer/Songwriter was also John Lennon’s drinking partner during the Ex-Beatles’ legendary “lost weekend”!

Harry Nilsson – “Coconut”

Yes, Harry and John were legendary for carousing in Hollywood in the early 70’s, but Nilsson also released some of the biggest hits of that time, with “Jump Into The Fire”, “Everybody’s Talkin'” and “Without You.”

However, one of his most unique songs was “Coconut”, with the iconic lyrics:

“She put the lime in the coconut, she call the doctor, woke him up
And said “doctor, ain’t there nothin’ I can take?”
I said “doctor, to relieve this belly ache?”

And remember:

“Put a lime in the coconut and drink ’em bot’ together
Put the lime in the coconut, then you’ll feel better”

Here is the original music video, and yes, the song is performed by Gorillas!

Harry Nilsson was a terrific Artist, and you can see more videos and find out about his time with John Lennon by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/05/29/lime-in-the-coconut-harry-nilssons-musical-madness-john-lennon-shenanigans/

Let me know your favorite “N” songs!

Filmmaker Anna Biller Takes On A Ladykiller!

I want to share a new project just announced by Director Anna Biller, who is a terrific independent filmmaker from Los Angeles. As wikipedia notes:

“She grew up watching her mother design beautiful clothes, watching her father paint with a vibrant color palette, and watching classic cinema, all of which has had a big influence on her filmmaking practice.”

Do they ever! She’s made two films so far, beginning in 2007 with “VIVA.”

I haven’t been able to find a copy of this film, but I’d love see it, because I admire her visual style – and how she is combining various styles of classic cult cinema in her work…

I am following Biller’s projects because she a refreshing new voice in film who also celebrates the exploitation era of filmmaking as well…more on that in a moment.

She just announced her new project about the infamous character “Bluebeard” – here’s what she posted:

“I had been looking for a novel about a sociopathic man who torments his wife, and I found the perfect novel (as yet a secret)! What’s interesting about the novel is that it shows a strong woman, who never was interested in love before, being caught up in the web of a sociopath so deeply that she loses all of her free will. In terms of the research I did for the script, this is accurate: no matter how strong a person is, they can’t outsmart a sociopath or get them to change their ways. The only way to survive is to make a clean break. Sociopaths often love-bomb women with their charm and sex appeal, so that women become sex-addicted and confused. The typical victim of a sociopath is a person with a good heart who is trusting and loving, who sincerely believes that the sociopath can be rehabilitated. It’s this trust and love that causes the victim to stay longer than another person – often, tragically, long enough to get killed. It’s a fantastic part for an actress, as she must switch between different kinds of awareness as she tries to negotiate her love, trust, sexuality, and suspicions.”

Biller goes on to add:

“The reason I call it a “Bluebeard” picture is that any story about intimidating men that women have reason to be afraid of is a Bluebeard story, after the fairy tale of the same name where a woman marries a wealthy man only to find that he literally has six dead wives locked away in a secret chamber. In modern horror movies, most often the villain is a literal monster (an axe-wielding psychopathic maniac, a masked goon, etc.); but in classic films, the monster was often a woman’s husband or lover, shifting mercurially from dream lover to monster and back again as he went through his different masculine moods. The heroine’s dilemma in these films is to figure out who the man really is. She must decide if she is horrified with him because of her own irrational fears and emotional immaturity, or if he really is an abnormal monster, a killer, someone to flee from.”

I can’t wait to see the filmmaker’s take on this story – you can read more of her thoughts on the project at her website:

http://www.lifeofastar.com/Bluebeard_Movie.html

And speaking of a madman with six wives frozen away:

Check Out Richard Burton’s “Euro-Sleaze” Take On “Blubeard!”

Time to introduce you to “Bluebeard”, an awful 1972 thriller starring Richard Burton, Raquel Welch, Joey Heatherton and Sybil Danning. It was filmed in Budapest, Hungary and directed by Edward Dmytryk.

Hello “Euro-Sleaze”!

“Bluebeard” is a perfect example of the 70’s genre of film known as “euro-sleaze”, cheap films filmed in eastern Europe full of nudity, sex and violence. That’s why the film is stocked with young starlets like Joey Heatherton!

And Raquel Welch Was, Indeed, “The Nun!”

WHAT?!?!?!?! Yes, it just keeps getting more bizarre, as “Bluebeard” stars Raquel Welch playing the world’s sexiest Nun!

This is the kind of “so bad its good” film that is begins saved more now than ever, thanks to great home video companies who remaster these movies so film buffs can see just how wild the 70’s were for film!

Here is the trailer:

If you need more trivia on this film, you can check out my entire story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/04/08/richard-burton-freezes-raquel-welch-bluebeards-classic-euro-sleaze/

As for Anna Biller, I posted about her latest movie, the terrific erotic thriller “The Love Witch”, her take on 60’s sexploitation films through the filter of 1050’s Douglas Sick films.

Here’s what Richard Brody of The New Yorker said about “The Love Witch”:

“Biller puts genre to the test of do-it-yourself artistry, and puts feminist ideology itself to the test of style. The film pulsates with furious creative energy throughout, sparking excitement and giddy amazement that it even exists.”

“The Love Witch” was on many “best films of 2016” lists, including The New Yorker and Indiewire.

You can see more about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/04/13/under-the-erotic-spell-of-the-love-witch-cine-magic-potions-insanity-new-cult-gem/

Bravo to filmmaker Anna Biller, can’t wait to see her take on “Bluebeard!”

A Cult Movie Is Restored To All Its Infamous Glory!

Yes, sometimes a title CAN say it all, and it certainly does here: this is a legendary cult horror film that has been re-released for a new generation of film buffs!

Here is how the terrific home video website “Mondo-Digital.com” describes the new blu-ray release of “The Blood-Splattered Bride”:

“Thanks to its title alone, this Spanish entry in the lesbian vampire craze of the 1970s became a 42nd Street and drive-in favorite. Like most European horror films, it suffered a number of heavy cuts before reaching the States, but its bizarre imagery and visceral nastiness still gripped viewers well into the home video era.”

And now, an uncut remastered version is on the way, thanks to Mondo Macabro!

Here is the trailer for the film’s original release.

And Great News For Cult Film Fans!

Mondo Digital shares the great news about a newly released version of the film:

“Fully restored to its original perverse glory, this film has since been reappraised as a striking and essential entry in development of erotic cinematic horror, and forming a sort of sexy, dreamlike trilogy along with Harry Kümel’s Daughters of Darkness and Roger Vadim’s Blood and Roses, this nominal adaptation of J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s oft-filmed Carmilla strays very far from its source but still captures the twisted essence of the Gothic vampire tale.”

There are a lot of special features included on this new release as well:

“A very solid, well-versed new audio commentary with Daughters of Darkness’ Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan puts the film in context within the cycle of lesbian vampire films, discusses Aranda’s reputation in his native country, explains the background of Spain necessary to appreciated the film, the female archetypes at play in the story, the queasy gender conflicts at play here including the innocent child treatment of Susan, and the ties to other filmmakers of the era like Eloy de la Iglesia, Jess Franco, José Ramón Larraz, and Pedro Almodóvar. Andreu is featured in a substantial two-part interview by Uwe Huber segregated into a discussion of this film (32m13s) and then the rest of his career (28m36s), including some sifting through lobby cards and video releases of his films as he chats (mostly in excellent English) about how he got into the business and had to do some impromptu translating and dialogue coaching on this film, not to mention a completely bizarre tangent about actor (and government agent) Dean Selmier, his affection for this particular film as one of his dozen favorites, his discomfort with the level of sexual explicitness Aranda wanted, the advantages of speaking English (not with a precisely Castilian accent), his work with “crazy” Amando de Ossorio and Luciano Ercoli, and lots more.”

The website goes on to explain even more great features on the release:

“Next up, cinematographer Fernando Arribas appears for a featurette 32m26s) about his switch from studying to become an engineer to working in cinematography, his first collaboration with Aranda on Fata Morgana, the working relationship with Bastedo and Andreu, the shooting locations, and the trickery involved in shooting the memorable beach scene. Finally, author Jonathan The Blood Spattered BrideRigby (Euro Gothic: Classics of Continental Horror Cinema) offers his own dissection (28m20s) of this place in the European classic horror pantheon as it plays The Blood Spattered Bridewith familiar horror tropes (a mangled portrait, a mysterious chapel, etc.) in an unorthodox and extremely Spanish fashion compared to other Carmilla-inspired Euro horrors like The Vampire Lovers and Terror in the Crypt.”

Bravo on this great release – and to see more about it, as well as a ton of other great reviews, check out the Mondo digital website here:

http://www.mondo-digital.com/bloodspattered.html

Bravo to Mondo Macabro for bringing this film back – this home video company is keeping so many great cult films alive – check out their website for more on this title:

http://mondomacabro.bigcartel.com/product/the-blood-spattered-bride

If you like 70’s erotic horror, you may want to check out a few more from the genre – like this one that is also from Spain:

It looks like Spanish filmmakers were eager to jump onto the erotic horror bandwagon! Check out this entertaining genre of horror film here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/01/26/orgies-vampires-from-beyond-the-grave-cult-spanish-horror/

Let me know what you think about “The Blood-Splattered Bride!”

Oscar Nominations 2017!

Yes, the 2017 Academy Award nominations were announced today, and here are some exciting things to share:

The Year Of Great Women In Front Of And Behind The Camera!

Actor/Director Greta Gerwig was nominated as Best Director and Best Screenplay for the terrific “Lady Bird”, which also received nominations for Best Picture, Actress and Supporting Actress.

“Lady Bird” was one of my top three films of the year – bravo to Gerwig, Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf for a terrific film!

Double Nominee Mary J. Blige!

Mary J. Blige was also double nominated, as Best Supporting Actress in “Mudbound” as well as for best original song. Bravo Mary!

“The Shape Of Water” led the way in 2017, garnering 13 nominations, including Best Picture, Director, Actress, Supporting Actress and Supporting Actor….bravo to them all!

“The Shape Of Water” is a masterpiece, and worthy of all these honors.

Here is the trailer for the film, as well as a look at the great cast and Director Guillermo Del Toro:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/12/26/the-shape-of-water-guillermo-del-toros-masterpiece-the-best-film-of-2017/

Speaking of the best films of 2017:

Actor/Director Joran Peele became only the third person in Oscar history to pull of an amazing feat, as Deadline.com reports:

“Jordan Peele’s Get Out scoring noms for directing, writing and Best Picture, as well as an acting nom for star Daniel Kaluuya. For Peele, he becomes only the third person to be nommed in those categories with his first film. Greta Gerwig nearly pulled off the same feat with directing and screenplay noms for Lady Bird, though she wasn’t a producer on the A24 pic, which did get a Best Picture nom.”

The film also scored a Best Actor nomination for Daniel Kaluuya – these are somewhat unusual for a horror film, but very well deserved!

Here is a closer look at the film, along with the trailer:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/03/06/get-out-and-get-to-a-theater-jordan-peele-shocks-you-with-the-best-film-of-2017/

Also of note:

Christopher Plummer becomes the oldest Actor ever nominated! As Deadline notes:

“Christopher Plummer, who stepped into the role of J. Paul Getty in November following sexual allegations against Kevin Spacey in All the Money in the World, was nominated this morning for Best Supporting Actor. The nomination, which — at 88 — also makes him the oldest actor ever to be nominated (Gloria Stuart was 87 in Titanic in 1998). He had been nominated before in 2012 and won for Supporting Actor for Beginners and became the oldest winner of an Oscar at 82 at the time.”

So there are some interesting nominations to share – congrats to all of the nominees…here is the complete list of this year’s nominations:

Best Picture

Call Me By Your Name
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Get Out
Lady Bird
Phantom Thread
The Post
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best actress

Sally Hawkins, The Shape Of Water
Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Margot Robbie, I, Tonya
Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird
Meryl Streep, The Post

Best actor

Timothee Chalamet, Call Me By Your Name
Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread
Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out
Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour
Denzel Washington, Roman J Israel, Esq

Best supporting actress

Mary J Blige, Mudbound
Allison Janney, I, Tonya
Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread
Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird
Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water

Best supporting actor

Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project
Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Richard Jenkins, The Shape Of Water
Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World
Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best director

Dunkirk – Christopher Nolan
Get Out – Jordan Peele
Lady Bird – Greta Gerwig
Phantom Thread – Paul Thomas Anderson
The Shape of Water – Guillermo Del Toro

Best adapted screenplay

Call Me By Your Name – screenplay by James Ivory
The Disaster Artist – screenplay by Scott Neustadter & Michael H Weber
Logan – screenplay by Scott Frank & James Mangold and Michael Green; story by James Mangold
Molly’s Game – written for the screen by Aaron Sorkin
Mudbound – screenplay by Virgil Williams and Dee Rees

Best original screenplay

The Big Sick – written by Emily V Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani
Get Out – written by Jordan Peele
Lady Bird – written by Greta Gerwig
The Shape of Water – screenplay by Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor; story by Guillermo del Toro
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri – written by Martin McDonagh

Best foreign language film

A Fantastic Woman (Chile)
The Insult (Lebanon)
Loveless (Russia)
On Body and Soul (Hungary)
The Square (Sweden)

Best original song

Mighty River, Mudbound (Mary J Blige)
The Mystery of Love, Call Me By Your Name (Sufjan Stevens)
Remember Me, Coco (Kristen Anderson Lopez and Robert Lopez)
Stand Up for Something, Marshall (Common & Diane Warren, sung by Andra Day)
This Is Me, The Greatest Showman (Benji Pasek & Justin Paul)

Best animated feature

Boss Baby
The Breadwinner
Coco
Ferdinand
Loving Vincent

Best documentary feature

Abacus
Faces Places
Icarus
Last Men in Aleppo
Strong Island

Best documentary short

Edith + Eddie
Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405
Heroin(e)
Knife Skills
Traffic Stop

Best original score

Dunkirk
Phantom Thread
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best cinematography

Blade Runner 2049
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
Mudbound
The Shape of Water

Best costume design

Beauty and the Beast
Darkest Hour
Phantom Thread
The Shape of Water
Victoria and Abdul

Best make-up and hairstyling

Darkest Hour
Victoria and Abdul
Wonder

Best sound editing

Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Best sound mixing

Baby Driver
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water
Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Best animated short

Dear Basketball
Garden Party
Lou
Negative Space
Revolting Rhymes

Best live action short

DeKalb Elementary
The Eleven O’Clock
My Nephew Emmet
The Silent Child
Watu Wote/All of Us

Best production design

Beauty and the Beast
Blade Runner 2049
Darkest Hour
Dunkirk
The Shape of Water

Best visual effects

Blade Runner 2049
Guardian of the Galaxy Vol 2
Kong: Skull Island
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
War for Planet of the Apes

Best film editing

Baby Driver
Dunkirk
I, Tonya
The Shape of Water
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

A Movie Battle Of The Heavyweights!

One of the most anticipated films of 2018 will be released for Halloween – because it is, of course, the new “Halloween” thriller!

The Internet went crazy last year when Jamie Lee Curtis playfully released photos acknowledging that she was returning to the “Halloween” franchise – as CinemaBlend reported:

“Rather than follow in the footsteps of Rob Zombie and remake/reboot the property again, the Halloween franchise has decided to return to its roots and give the masses a movie set in the original continuity. It was announced last month that Jamie Lee Curtis will reprise Laurie Strode, the sister of main antagonist Michael Myers, in the simply-titled Halloween, marking her return to this horror-filled world after more than a decade. As for why Curtis is being brought back after all this time, director David Gordon Green answered thusly:”

“Because she is Laurie Strode (laughs). Right? I don’t know who else is going to play her? She’s just really lovely, and lives and works outside the Hollywood norm. And I love her spirit. And her character is iconic.”

And boy oh boy, isn’t she!

Behold Iconic Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis!

First of all, NEVER tell a Scream Queen to keep it down! All great scary movies have a character you feel empathy for – you root for them to survive, against all odds – and against psycho slasher killers – and Jamie Lee Curtis has taken on the best!

Celebrating Cinema’s Greatest Scream Queen!

Jamie Lee Curtis has made a lot of good movies over the years, but she got her start in the horror slasher genre, and those films are great as well! Let’s take a look at three of her best horror films – beginning with Jamie Lee’s first feature film – when she was paid a reported $8,000 for her efforts!

Halloween!

“The Night HE Came Home!”

A classic tagline for what many consider the best “Halloween” movie of all time!

Director John Carpenter’s horror masterpiece just keeps getting better over time.
The plot is a masterclass in simplicity: After killing his older sister, a young boy is institutionalized – but when psychopath Michael Myers escapes, he returns home to terrorize a babysitter and her friends!

Here is the trailer:

“Halloween” is, without a doubt, one of the most terrifying slasher films ever, and the film’s success in 1978 opened the door to a wave of slasher films that changed horror forever…

“Halloween” was Jamie Lee’s first movie ever, and Director John Carpenter considered hiring her as the ultimate tribute to Alfred Hitchcock – since Hitchcock cast Jamie Lee’s Mother, Janet Leigh, in his horror classic “Psycho”.

Now you can see where Jamie Lee got her “scream queen” title from! The young Actress became so well known as America’s newest scream queen that she even had a book written about it!

William Shatner, Psycho Killer!

Here is some great trivia, provided by IMDB: Due to its shoestring budget, the prop department had to use the cheapest $2 mask that they could find in the costume store: a Star Trek (1966) William Shatner mask. They later spray-painted the face white, teased out the hair, and reshaped the eye holes!

Shatner admitted that for years he had no idea his likeness was used for this film. It was only during an interview that someone mentioned his mask was being used. He has since stated that he is honored by this gesture!

Michael Myers is one of cinema’s great psychos, and what makes “Halloween” work so well is that you truly root for Jamie Lee to survive – a tribute to how well she acted in her movie debut!

Among the great bits of trivia about this film, Director Carpenter also wrote the haunting score! The “Halloween” theme is written in the rare 5/4 time signature. John Carpenter learned this rhythm from his father!

Now, time to move on to more Jamie Lee mayhem, this time with a very unusual co-star!

Prom Night!

First of all, check out the credits on the poster: Jamie Lee Curtis is second billed on this horror classic behind Leslie Nielsen!

here is the trailer:

The plot is fairly obvious: A masked killer stalks four teenagers at their high school’s senior prom. The killer is out for revenge against them for the accidental death of a young girl years earlier….

This is a straightforward slasher film, but by this time, Jamie Lee was a star, and as you can see from this cover art, they quickly switched out their original horror poster to highlight her!

In fact, according to the film’s director Paul Lynch in the documentary “Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film”, he was having difficulty securing financing until Jamie Lee Curtis signed on!

Reigning Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis!

“Prom Night” was another big hit for Jamie Lee, as was “Halloween II”. So now Curtis was an official movie star, and the world’s most popular scream queens well! She took full advantage of this by starring in a number of hit slasher films, including this one:

Terror Train!

“Terror Train” is an effective slasher film, with some good scares and lots of blood…much of it on Jamie Lee!

The plot of “Terror Train” is brilliant in its simplicity: A masked killer seeks revenge against six college kids who were responsible for a prank gone wrong three years earlier – and lucky for the killer – the kids are throwing a large New Year’s Eve costume party aboard a moving train!

This film is helped greatly by a truly creepy looking killer, and an ongoing sense of dread throughout. Check out the trailer:

According to the great movie website IMDB, Jamie Lee Curtis once said of her character in this film:

“There are certain things a heroine in a thriller has to be. She has to be vulnerable, so that the audience identifies with her and is rooting for her. But she also has to have an enormous inner strength to overcome the evil, or terror, that is pursuing her. I play the same kind of character as I did in other films. But Alana – the girl I play – is stronger and more defined”.

After a few more slasher films, Jamie Lee broadened her work in film. Curtis used her popularity to star in a number of big movie hits, like “True Lies” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and “Trading Places” with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd!

One of her best films was “A Fish Called Wanda” as well…but we will always remember her as the greatest “Scream Queen” of all time!

So here to Jamie Lee, and I cannot wait for the new installment of “Halloween”, so I can see what Laurie Strode has been up to!

If this wets your appetite for some good old fashioned horror, I have some more great options for you:

If you need even more horror, check out some of these classic horror films!

https://johnrieber.com/2014/10/01/shocks-scares-chainsaws-the-best-halloween-horror-2014/

I love scary movies, let me know what your favorites are!

Ready For A Good Movie? Or Even A “Best Worst” Movie?

Well, this cinephile is holding one of the most wildly entertaining “bad” movies of all time!

The phrase “best worst movie” is not only well known by film buffs, but the title of a terrific documentary as well!

Time For The “Best Worst Movie!”

The documentary “Best Worst Movie” celebrates one of those films – one that is “so bad its good!”

Before I tell you about this terrific documentary, and five of the “best worst” films of all time, something to explain so we are on the same page – THIS is a “best worst” film:

Director Paul Verhoeven decided to “tear the lid off” of Las Vegas with this inside look at the sordid world of “Showgirls”, and it’s a hilariously bad, ridiculous and at times offensive film, which makes it so good!

On the other hand, here is an attempt to “tear the lid off” stripping that was just A HORRIBLE MOVIE!

“Striptease” with Demi Moore was a truly awful film – it was pretentious, condescending and poorly done – even with all that nudity, it was NO FUN AT ALL!

So, with that distinction, let’s get down to some of the “best worst” films ever made – and celebrate them for the effort to be art!

“Best Worst” Movie #5 – “Troll 2!”

The terrific documentary “Best Worst Movie” tells the story of how “Troll 2” became a sensation – years after it was released direct to video!

Here is the vintage 80’s trailer – enjoy!

“Troll 2” is often mentioned as the worst film ever made…and now there is a documentary that looks at the cult that has sprung up around it!

“Best Worst Movie!”

This great documentary looks at the making of “Troll 2” in 1990, and its journey from being crowned the “worst film of all time” to a cherished cult classic.

Check out the trailer:

The “Best Worse Movie” documentary was actually made by the child actor from the movie! He interviews the cast about how the movie changed their lives. He also interviews the Director, who insists that “Troll 2” is a great film!

I chose “Troll 2” as number five only because I wanted to start with it and talk about the great documentary…but next up is a film even movie hater could love:

“Best Worst” Movie #4 – “Birdemic!”

Forget Hitchcock’s “The Birds”, THIS is the film that tears the lid off of wild and REALISTIC bird attacks like this one:

Once you see this trailer, you can never go back!

It takes a certain type of genius to make a film like this – you can read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/08/15/birdemic-brilliant-shocker-or-worst-movie-ever-who-will-survive-watching-it/

In compiling this list, I knew there were many really awful films, including one I had to share for other reasons:

NOT A “Best Worst” Movie – “Manos, Hands Of Fate!”

I’m taking a short break to prove my point about “Showgirls” vs. “Striptease” – not all “bad” movies deserve to be “best worst” films – case in point: this is “Manos, Hands Of Fate”, widely considered one of the worst films of all time. In Spanish, “Manos” means “hands” – so this film is actually called:

“Hands, Hands Of Fate!”

It’s inept, awful in every way – including NOT being any fun to watch – it’s just awful, even with “Torgo” in a crucial role.

Yes, look for the incredible acting of “TORGO” in this trailer:

Ahem. Well, there was THAT.

You can see, just a horrible movie that gives the viewer no “inside joke” pleasure – but it is of course available on DVD, so if you want to learn more about it, go here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/08/22/manos-hands-of-fate-is-here-celebrate-the-worst-of-the-worst-films/

Now, back to the good stuff: a film that boldly entertains you with a film poster that declares:

“Best Worst” Movie #3 – “Confessions Of A Psycho Cat!”

With a title like that, how could it NOT be deliciously bad – and fun to boot? And guess what? It is! Not only that, the “Raging Bull” himself is in it!

Jake LaMotta Battles The Psycho Cat!

OK, Jake LaMotta wasn’t really in “fighting shape” when he took on his opponent – a rich, eccentric upper east wide woman who likes to hunt men – to death!

Folks, there is SO much to love in this film: bad acting, hilarious “wandering around lost” action sequences in Central Park, and an argument between the “Raging Bull” and THIS woman:

What’s so unusual? Well, based on how it’s shot, it’s clear they were never in the room at the same time! Oh, and at one point she gets upset at his lack of attention (no doubt because he wasn’t there!) and so she goes over to a mirror and does THIS:

Yes, she makes out with herself!

Seen enough? Of course not! Click here to see more trivia about the film, why Jake LaMotta got caught up in it, and more! It’s a celebration of the late “Raging Bull”:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/09/20/rip-to-the-raging-bull-jake-lamotta-his-psycho-cat-movie/

LaMotta always had someone in his corner when he fought, and these films always have some kind of “wing man” in the plot – or in this case:

BLUE-FACED WING WOMEN!

“Best Worst” Movie #2 – “The Body Beneath!”

Imagine a film that promotes itself for being filmed in scary places in England!

The legendarily bad film Director Andy Milligan filmed this in spooky looking places in England, and also had these ladies around to scare the guests:

Here, in all its blue-faced glory, is the trailer:

If you are wondering what the blue-faced ghosts have to do with anything, you’ll never find out by watching the film, but that’s just one reason it’s so much fun to watch!

You can read more about this inept Director – and the many classically bad films he made!

https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/24/ghastly-horror-meet-the-ed-wood-of-shock-cinema-cranium-cleaving-andy-milligans-blue-faced-shockers/

Finally, it’s almost too easy to finish with this movie, but is there really any other choice?

“Best Worst” Movie #1 – Tommy Wiseau’s “The Room!”

From the movie’s poster, which is just a shot of the brooding Actor/Director/Producer/Writer Tommy Wiseau, to one of the greatest trailers of all time, “The Room” cries out to be the best worst film ever!

The trailer only hints at the majesty of this movie:

Now you can experience the greatest bad moments by watching Jame Franco tells the story of the making of the film in the new movie “The Disaster Artist”…see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/12/03/the-disaster-artist-is-here-james-franco-pays-homage-to-tommy-wiseaus-best-worst-film-the-room/

Let me know what I left off the “best worst” list, and yes, there will be plenty of Ed Wood movies to be mentioned for sure!

“I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer”

One of California’s most notorious serial rapists and a serial killer as well – The Golden State Killer – is the subject of a fascinating story about obsession, from the late writer Michelle McNamera.

“I was married to a crime fighter for a decade,” writes Patton Oswalt in describing his wife, Michelle McNamara. “She was born with a true cop’s heart and mind… She made everything about me and everyone around her better. And she did it by being quietly, effortlessly original.” When Michelle died in the spring of 2016, she was still hard at work on her debut book.

One Writer’s Obsession…

The book is a fascinating story of obsession, not only the Authors but the Detectives trying to solve the crimes as well.

In the 70’s, a horrific serial Rapist terrorized Sacramento and surrounding areas, committing 49 rapes. Based on years of police work, he was also found to be responsible for a dozen murders in Central and Southern California, the last in 1986. Now more than thirty years later, an incredible book about the attempts to find this killer.

McNamera was married to Actor/Comedian Patton Oswalt, who is now touring to promote his late wife’s book.

McNamara died unexpectedly on April 21, 2016. Following her unexpected death, her husband explained that the book would be finished with the help of her colleagues.

Oswalt posted this on Facebook:

“She left behind an amazing unfinished book, about a horrific series of murders that everyone — including the retired homicide detectives she worked with — was sure she’d solve. The Golden State Killer. She gave him that name, in an article for Los Angeles Magazine. She was going to figure out the real name behind it…”

The Origin Of “The Golden State Killer”…

McNamera came up with the moniker, since prior to that he was known by police as the “East Area Rapist” – EAR. Police admit the lack of a catchy nickname made it more difficult to get the public’s awareness as they struggled to solve the crimes.

Oswalt worked with McNamera’s colleagues to finish the book and he is now promoting it – I saw a fascinating conversation with him recently where he discussed the case and his wife’s obsessor with it.

Here is the video from a portion of the conversation from this appearance at a “Live Talks Los Angeles” event in March:

https://www.facebook.com/LiveTalks/videos/1576548549047439/

It was a great event, one of many fascinating conversations this group puts on…you can see their entire schedule here:

http://www.Livetalksla.org

The book is riveting, and McNamera’s death was a shock to the fans of her “True Crime Diary” website, which is still open…

Oswalt is a great talent, and I posted about him before, specifically about his love of a very obscure horror film:

Yes, he loved “Death Bed – The Bed That Eats!” Click here to find out why:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/07/28/classic-cult-horror-death-bed-the-bed-that-eats-patton-oswalts-obsession-is-here/

Let me know if you’ve read the terrific book “I’ll Be Gone In The Dark!”

“A Quiet Place” Roars At The Box Office!

If you want to see one of the best films of 2018 so far, get out of your seats and head to “A Quiet Place”, directed by and starring John Krasinki, alongside his wife Emily Blunt.

Critics are loving this movie, and so are preview audiences: the film opened last night to more than $4.5 million – on a Thursday night preview night!

Here is the plot in a nutshell:

A family is forced to live in silence while hiding from creatures that hunt by sound. Yes, you can’t make a sound because, as the film’s tagline says:

“If they hear you, they hunt you.”

Here is the trailer:

Bravo to Krasinski and Blunt, two popular Actors who have now made a great new thriller.

While it seems natural that Krasinski would cast his own wife in the role, he once said in an interview with E!:

“I would love to direct Emily Blunt, [But] I’d rather act with Emily than direct. I don’t know if I need that responsibility. She’s so good and I’d be so scared to screw it up, but [I’d be] happy to be in scenes with her. That would be really fun. We’re always up for doing something. It’s just got to be the right thing…Give us a good one! I would love it!”

Well, he got a good one, and they made a great film – let me know if you see it this weekend!

RIP Margot Kidder…

Sad news to share: Margot Kidder, the Actress who portrayed the best “Lois Lane” os all time, has died at the age of 69. The Franzen-Davis Funeral Home in Livingston, MT, said she died Sunday but did not give a cause of death.

The Actress had many big hits in her career, and a series of personal setbacks as well – but her body of work deserves some credit, as she was an iconic Actress to so many of us…

Kidder began her career in the 1960s, working in TV and film, and modeling as well…

Kidder was one of Hollywood’s most free-spirited new sex kittens, at a time when a new permissiveness was underway in the entertainment industry…

She appeared in Brian De Palma’s thriller “Sisters” in 1973, and then starred in the shock classic “Black Christmas” the following year.

Kidder was terrific as the caustic friend who helps Olivia Hussey search for a missing sorority sister. You can read all about this horror classic here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/11/28/the-last-christmas-black-christmas-its-a-horrific-grindhouse-holiday/

Kidder’s winning streak at the movies continued with her role in “The Amityville Horror”…

These roles were great, but she achieved her biggest success starring as Lois Lane in the classic “Superman” films with Christopher Reeve.

Cinema’s Best Lois Lane!

Kidder’s quick wit and “tough as nails” demeanor were the perfect foil for Reeve, and the chemistry between the two stars was perfect for the material…

The first two “Superman” films in the 80’s are considered by many to be the best superhero films ever made…and much of that credit goes to Kidder’s feisty performance…

Kidder’s Rough Stretch…

According to wikipedia, the Actress has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which led to a widely publicized manic episode in April 1996. She disappeared for four days, and was found in a back yard by a homeowner and was taken by Los Angeles police to Olive View Medical Center in a distressed state. She was later placed in psychiatric care. In 2007, Kidder said that she had not had a manic episode in 11 years.

Kidder since worked in numerous films as well as numerous television series and also starred in Rob Zombie’s 2009 film “Halloween II.”

Margot Kidder in her home for Celebrity Home Kathryn Kates story.

In 2015, she won an Emmy Award for her performance in the children’s television series “R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour.”

So sorry to hear about her death…RIP Margot Kidder…

Unfortunately, like Margot Kidder many Hollywood stars can’t overcome their personal demons…

The Shocking Tale Of Jan-Michael Vincent!

This 70’s star of such films as “Big Wednesday” and “The Mechanic” is now struggling, and had one leg partially amputated – you can read this story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/08/31/jan-michael-vincent-from-70s-sexiest-man-to-a-true-hollywood-tragedy/

Another star from the late 60’s also fell from grace…

June Fairchild starred with The Monkees in their movie “Head”, but ended up on LA’s skid row!

You can read more about this tragic Hollywood story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/03/20/sex-kitten-june-fairchild-from-stardom-to-skid-row-a-starlets-shocking-death/

RIP Margot…

Talk About A Hike With A View!

In the distance is downtown Los Angeles – and there are so many great ways to get a spectacular view like this…so I wanted to share some of my favorite hikes in the world! These hikes are made even better because of who I get to take them with – my wife Alex:

Let’s Go “Hitch Hiking!”

Alex came up with the title “Hitch Hiking” – a series of hikes we’ve done together, and classic Hitchcock films that these hikes reminded us of…let’s begin “hitch hike #3” with a trip to Northern California, one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world…

Welcome To Bodega Bay!

Located 67 miles north of San Francisco, Bodega Bay is a gorgeous, wind-swept beach snuggled along beautiful sand dunes that are kissed by ice cold Pacific Ocean water…

Just south of Bodega Bay is Dillon Beach, miles and miles of sand and sea – with beautiful views in both directions…and we explored it for hours…

You can walk for miles in either direction, and you can also head fairly far out into the water based on whether the tide is out or not – bring a picnic and blanket as well, so you can sit down and watch some very aggressive waves – and windsurfing – because as you will see, there is a LOT of wind – but it’s also a beautiful beach to take a long long hike:

When we arrived, there were dozens of windsurfers battling the high wind and waves – the combination of heavy seas and high winds makes this a real endurance test – take a look!

We ended up “beach hiking” more than five miles that afternoon…in some very aggressive winds – but the beach was filled with families having picnics, swimming, and enjoying this spectacular coastline…

The End Of The Day…

It was so windy that we finally called it a day – after close to ten miles of walking the coastline – and we headed a few miles south to Nick’s Cove – a terrific restaurant with an equally impressive sunset view:

So there’s your hike, and if some of this incredible scenery looks familiar, it could be because one of Hitchcock’s great shockers was filmed here:

“The Birds” – 1963

Yes, Bodega Bay was home to much of the filming of this classic shocker. Everyone remembers the terrifying moment when “the birds” decide to go after people!

The plot of this Alfred Hitchcock shocker was simple: a wealthy San Francisco socialite decides to pursue a potential boyfriend, and follows him to a small Northern California town – Bodega Bay – where the local birds suddenly begin to act very strangely…

[caption id="attachment_42393" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Alfred Hitchcock

This film, coming right after Hitchcock’s “Psycho”, firmly established him as the master of the shocker!

Here is a very long but funny movie trailer, hosted by Hitchcock himself:

Rod Taylor and Tippi Hedren starred in the film, which was a huge box office hit…

The schoolhouse, in Bodega, California, has also been known to be haunted, even back during the filming. According to Tippi Hedren, the entire cast was spooked to be there. She also mentioned how she had the feeling, while there, that “the building was immensely populated… but there was nobody there.”

And that classic building is still there!

Hope you enjoyed this “Hitch Hike” – classic Alfred Hitchcock movies combined with a hike through some of the world’s most beautiful places – like this one:

Yes, my first “Hitch hike” was high above the pacific ocean near Malibu – see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2018/06/15/hitch-hiking-1-the-spectacular-view-above-malibu-hiking-hitchcock-walking-then-watching-to-catch-a-thief/

More “Hitch Hiking” to come!

Ready For Some Classic 70’s Horror? Time To Get Amicus!

Bravo to Severin Films for releasing a great box set that celebrates a company called Amicus!

Known as ‘The Studio That Dripped Blood’, the British film company Amicus Productions – founded by American writer/producers Max J. Rosenberg and Milton Subotsky – built a legacy of horror anthologies and twisted thrillers that remains among the very best genre movies of the ‘70s.

I just bought the terrific Severin box set, and here’s how they describe it:

In this trio of Amicus classics – featuring stars that include Peter Cushing, Herbert Lom, Britt Ekland, Patrick Magee, Stephanie Beacham, Calvin Lockhart, Michael Gambon and Charlotte Rampling – you’ll discover the studio’s legendary portmanteau ASYLUM, their insane gothic shocker AND NOW THE SCREAMING STARTS, and – exclusive to this set – the infamous werewolf whodunit THE BEAST MUST DIE, as well as a Bonus Disc of Amicus trailers, TV commercials, rare interviews and more. The Amicus Collection is a Limited Edition, and Numbered to 3500 copies.

Begin By Entering The “Asylum!”

This 1972 horror film is their best known film, with lots of recognizable stars. It’s made up of several short tales, involving a group of people who are at a secluded “asylum”, and every story ties them all together more and more.

Here is the trailer:

Robert Bloch wrote the script for “Asylum” based his own short stories – and Bloch was also the author of the novel “Psycho”, which Alfred Hitchcock turned into the classic shocker.

I have to say again how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE this classic poster.

Here are the special features that Severin assembled on the blu-ray:

Two’s A Company: 1972 On-set report from BBC featuring Interviews With Producer Milton Subotsky, Director Roy Ward Baker, Actors Charlotte Rampling, James Villiers, Megs Jenkins, Art Director Tony Curtis and Production Manager Teresa Bolland
David J. Schow on Robert Bloch – Featurette
Fiona Subotsky Remembers Milton Subotsky – Featurette
Inside The Fear Factory Featurette with Directors Roy Ward Baker, Freddie Francis and Producer Max J. Rosenberg
Audio Commentary with Director Roy Ward Baker and Camera Operator Neil Binney
Theatrical Trailer

Terrific! Next up:

AND NOW THE SCREAMING STARTS!

OK, how about this for a plot:

England, 1795: the young Catherine has just married Charles Fengriffen and moves into his castle. She becomes the victim of an old curse that lays on the family. On her wedding night she is raped by a ghost and gets pregnant.

Here is the trailer:

I didn’t know about this film, and can’t wait to see it – as with the others, it comes with a ton of great extras:

The Haunting Of Oakley Court – Featurette with Allan Bryce, Author of “Amicus: The Friendly Face Of Fear”, and David Flint, Author of “Ten Years Of Terror”, visit the classic horror film location
Audio Commentary with Director Roy Ward Baker and Actress Stephanie Beacham
Audio Commentary with Star Ian Ogilvy
Archive Audio Interview with Actor Peter Cushing By Denis Meikle
Horror Journalist Denis Meikle Recalls And Now The Screaming Starts – Featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Radio Spot

Next up, a film that included a revolutionary feature – a “werewolf break” in the middle of the film!

“THE BEAST MUST DIE!”

A group on an island search for a dreaded Werewolf, and we get to unfold the mystery along with the characters.

Legendary Horror Icon Peter Cushing stars in the film, which is enough reason for me to want to see it.

Here is the trailer:

The Infamous “Werewolf Break!”

Here’s where the movie offers up a novel concept: near the end of the film, there is an inserted 30-second break called the “werewolf break”, where the audience is asked to guess the werewolf’s identity, based on clues from the movie!

In the interview with director Annett on the DVD release, Annett says he hated the addition of the werewolf break. It was not in Annett’s version of the film; he attributes the idea to producer Milton Subotsky. He does admit that some, including critic Leonard Maltin, liked it.

And I love this classic poster!

Here are the special features that are exclusive ONLY to this set:

And Then There Were Werewolves – Audio Essay By Horror Historian Troy Howarth
Audio Commentary with Director Paul Annett
Directing the Beast:
Theatrical Trailer

Finally, the set come with a new documentary, THE VAULT OF AMICUS, which includes these special features:

Over An Hour of Amicus Trailers
Audio Commentary With British Horror Film Writers Kim Newman & David Flint
Phil Nutman Audio Interview with Milton Subotsky – Audio Interview With Accompanying Stills / Posters
Jonathan Sothcott Audio Interview with Max Rosenberg – Audio Interview With Accompanying Stills / Posters
Bonus Amicus TV spots

One last bravo to Severin for this incredible collection!

I am a huge fan of cult 70’s horror, and one person did it better than anyone:

Yes, The Afro-Tastic Vincent Price!

Yes, Vincent Price starred in a number of classic horror films like “The Abominable Dr. Phibes” and “Theater Of Blood”, which Actress Diana Rigg called her favorite film to work on! Read about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/06/06/an-afro-tastic-vincent-price-kills-his-critics-in-theater-of-blood-diana-riggs-favorite-performance/

Let me know if you’ve seen any of the Amicus films!

Nicolas Cage Rules!

Let me get that out of the way first and foremost: for decades now, Nicolas Cage has put himself out there for movie lovers to enjoy – and by that I mean he’s never been afraid to put himself WAY WAY OUT THERE:

Nicolas Cage is ALWAYS willing to take risks, and that’s why I love him – you never know what level of “Nicolas Cage Rage” you will get, but you’ll always get something unique!

Cage has had a great career, beginning with early films like “Peggy Sue Got Married” and “Moonstruck”, and the infamous 1988 film “Vampire’s Kiss”:

While he was rumored to have bitten a live bat, they managed to talk him out of it – yes, he really wanted to – talk about a method Actor!

His willingness to pour himself into a role culminated in the Academy Award for his portrayal of a man drinking himself to death in “Leaving Las Vegas”.

He also has starred in some of the biggest box office hits of all time, like the “National Treasure” franchise as well as “Con Air”, “The Rock” and John Woo’s brilliant “Face/Off”:

So What’s Cage Been Up To Recently?

Short answer: a lot!

I counted 29 projects that list Cage’s involvement since 2010 – in fact, IMDB lists seven projects underway this year alone!

Well, that means I am way way behind. So, I spent a day diving headfirst into some of the Actor’s latest and greatest work!

This Is NOT A “Cage-Free” Day!

I decided to eat some breakfast before I started my “Cage-a-thon”, so I chose a White Castle cheeseburger topped with a fresh egg – a delicious breakfast treat that gave me sustenance and got me focused for the first film on my list – a crime thriller that I knew had a BIG Nic Cage performance in it:

1 – “Dog Eat Dog” from 2016

I had to start with one of the films I was most anticipating – because “Dog Eat Dog” was directed by Paul Schrader, who wrote “Taxi Driver” and directed such great films as “Blue Collar”, “American Gigolo” and “Auto Focus.” The film also co-stars Willem Dafoe as well – and I knew that he was also going all-in on this film, so it was destined to be a wild over the top battle of scenery-chewers!

Here is the trailer:

Three ex-cons trying for one last big score…that’s the quick one-liner for this film, but it’s so much more…Cage and Dafoe have a field day with this dark material, and Schrader paints a wildly colorful cinematic palate, a mix of garish interior and moody exteriors.

Oh, and Cage embraces his role with relish – this is a gritty “Reservoir Dogs”-style film that got me off on an energized start!

Here is a more indepth look at this gritty film:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/11/10/dog-eat-dog-nicolas-cage-chews-up-iconic-filmmaker-paul-schrader-terrific-new-movie/

From one extreme to the other: that same year, Cage starred as a meek mild-mannered American who decides to go to Pakistan to capture Bin Laden – because God told him to – and yes, God is Russell Brand!

2 – “Army of One” From 2016

Well, it’s been awhile since Cage did a comedy – he was great in “Raising Arizona” and “Adaptation”, but he really put it all out there for comic effect in this film – check out the trailer:

Black comedy and farce are VERY difficult to pull off, and while Cage gives it his all, with an “Indiana Jones Meets God” look, this film turned out to be an acquired taste…

This “black comedy” is loud, noisy and very offbeat – and was a bit controversial for the Actor, because in Japan you could have had THIS snack while watching the film!

Yes, they made a corn puff snack with Nic’s face on it to promote the movie release – oh, but they forgot to ask his permission so you can imagine how that went down – click here to see what happened:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/10/11/nicolas-cage-had-no-idea-he-was-being-turned-into-a-snack-food-in-japan/

Almost 4 hours and two films in, I stopped to have lunch – important to show you that I was going “all in” as well:

There was some lettuce, onion, tomato and pickle on this burger, so I call that a “side salad” – fortified, I thought it was time for a good thriller with lots of action, but my reality was a bit different – and the drinking was about to begin…

3 – “Vengeance: A Love Story” from 2017

This film is officially titled “Vengeance: A Love Story”, and is based on the 2003 novel “Rape: A Love Story” by acclaimed Writer Joyce Carol Oates.

I didn’t read the book, but the film stars Cage as a Cop who decides to administer the justice that our system refused to mete out…check out the trailer:

Nic’s Support Team!

This was my third Cage film, and the third one that has had a recognizable co-star, in this case Don Johnson, who is terrific as a Defense Attorney with no morals at all!

As you can see from this ad for the film’s release overseas, there have been a number of different secondary titles like “he is the law”. No matter: what I watched was a VERY downbeat drama about a woman who was gang-raped – and only Cage could administer justice.

There is action in the film, but there is also a LOT of very dark material here, and Cage underplays the role – perhaps to show sympathy for the victim, but he is dour, somber and makes the viewing experience depressing – I needed a drink!

OK, it’s mid afternoon, 3 films into my marathon, and I grab a glass of wine. Time to dig into another 2017 film, the second in a row from last year – and I’m trying to imagine what made Cage want to make it:

4 – “Inconceivable” from 2017

In less than ten minutes I was reaching for the bottle again for a refill – because this Cage effort was driving me to drink.

Cage plays a Doctor whose wife, played by Gina Gershon, is trying to have another child. They befriend a young troubled Mother who quickly turns their life upside down!

Here is a look at the film’s trailer:

First: do you notice the trend of recognizable co-stars continuing, in this case Gerson and Faye Dunaway?

Second, I drank half the bottle of wine, just using “wine drinking” prompts in the film. Cage does little more than act like a comforting shoulder to his wife, as well as to the mysterious young woman – always with a glass of wine close by…as a drinking game it worked, but as a film, I felt like I was watching a “Lifetime Movie” drama!

I was in a bit of a state: the “robust” Nic Cage had gone away, I was 4 films and 8 hours into my Cage-a-thon, and I desperately needed something to wake me up!

5- “Rage” From 2014

If a film with the title “Rage” can’t rouse me up from my semi-drunken, Nicolas Cage-induced slumber, then I’m in big big trouble, but luckily, an angry Nic was on the way once again!

In this thriller, Cage plays a building tycoon who has a mysterious past. That past catches up with him, of course, when his teenaged daughter is kidnapped by people who were, indeed, part of that mysterious past.

Here is the trailer:

Cue The Recognizable Co-Star!

Yes, another familiar face: Danny Glover co-stars as the Cop who is looking for his daughter, but spends most of his limited screen time begging Cage NOT to take matters into his own hands…which of course, he does with two mouths full of chewed-up scenery…

This look is how I was feeling by this time, as “Rage” was entertaining, but I was worried that Cage may be phoning it in just a bit, even if the film is proficiently executed – it felt a bit like what Cinemax has with their “Skinamax” films, except with violence instead of nudity – so what could I do but this?

Yes, there was a lot of drinking in “Rage”, and I joined in…heading into my last movie, I desperately needed SOMETHING to keep me awake – and yes, I saved the best for last!

6 – “Mom And Dad” – 2018

Well, talk about ending on a high note! After almost ten hours, I wrapped my Nic Cage marathon on a terrifically fun high note!

Here is what Variety said about the film:

“To hear director Brian Taylor tell it, thriller “Mom and Dad” is a “gift to the movie gods.”

Taylor joined stars Nicolas Cage, Selma Blair, and Anne Winters at the Variety Studio Presented by AT&T to talk about the new film, Cage’s career (he’s not over-the-top, he “makes the top”), and why the actor doesn’t actually like the word “acting.”

Well, let’s get to Cage “making the top” – check out the trailer!

Yes, Cage goes GONZO in his hilariously black comedy about a virus that turns all parents into merciless killers – as you can see, the posters have a field day with the premise!

Selma Blair also hams it up in a deliciously wicked take on parenting…I was now toasting Cage for his willingness to, as the Director said, “make the top” with his acting choices!

This is a really great film, and it ended my Cage-a-thon, nearly twelve hours after started, on a sunken high note…what a ride!

So, a day with Nicolas Cage is like any other day in your life: full of laughter, happiness, despair, angst, depression and drinking…what could be better?

And if only he had been able to make THIS!

Yes, this is a REAL costume test for Cage – he was set to make “Superman Lives” with Director Tim Burton!

You can click here to read the whole story of how this one got away:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/26/superman-lives-nicolas-cage-is-superman-incredible-documentary-on-tim-burtons-amazing-superman-reboot-debacle/

And if six Nic Cage movies aren’t enough, remember that someone used new technology to put the Actor in every film ever made!

Yes, that’s Cage as Lois Lane – not a still, actually acting the role! See this technology in action here:

https://johnrieber.com/2018/02/15/nicolas-cage-in-every-movie-ever-made-troubling-deep-fake-technology-makes-nicolas-cage-the-busiest-star-in-film/

I could do more of these “Cage-athons”, because he has so many films to explore – bravo to him!

Welcome to “Burning Man!”

One of pop culture’s most unique spectacles, the Burning Man Festival, is about to light up again, but this year, there is more controversy than usual about the event…

As The Daily Mail reports:

“Tens of thousands of people are flooding into Nevada’s Black Rock Desert for the annual Burning Man festival, which kicks off Sunday and runs through the following Monday. This year’s event has kicked up a significant amount of controversy as law enforcement officials threaten to set up traffic stops on the road to the venue and the #MeToo movement calls the appropriateness of the signature ‘Orgy Dome’ into question.

The festival has been going since 1986, and this year’s event is in the desert north of Reno, Nevada.”

No More “Orgy Dome?”

Yes, there is such a thing at the festival, but in the era of #MeToo, it’s under review.

The Daily Mail has great reporting on this year’s festival, including the information that some events are being scaled back due to this controversy:

“Burning Man has been known for its free-spirited atmosphere where clothing is without a doubt optional and activities such as the Hug Church and spanking lessons encourage burners to form special connections with one another.

Following back-to-back-to-back reports of rampant sexual harassment in the news over the last year, organizers have been tasked with teaching participants that freedom on the campground doesn’t mean its a free for all.

In light of that issue, the iconic Orgy Dome – a tent where burners can go enjoy some risque fun – is rumored to have been axed from this year’s event.”

As you can see, the “anything goes” atmosphere is running into the #MeToo movement, and reports of abusive behavior at previous festivals is causing organizers to re-think certain of the more salacious aspects of the festival…

Still, as you can see from this year’s early arrivals, the party is already underway, and the spirit of freedom that permeates the festival will no doubt continue…as I said, The Daily Mail has great reporting on it, which you can see here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6097933/Final-Burning-Man-preparations-70-000-revelers-descend-Nevada-desert.html

If you wonder where the “Burning Man” imagery came from, look no further than this classic early 70’s horror film from England:

“The Wicker Man” is one of the most unique horror films of all time – you can read more about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/06/23/burning-man-inspiration-the-wicker-man-naked-cult-horror/

Don’t mistakenly watch the remake with Nicolas Cage!

Happy Birthday Brian DePalma!

One of cinema’s all-time greats is celebrating a birthday today, a legendary Director with an incredible body of work that continues today.

Brian DePalma was born on September 11, 1940. His incredible career is marked with brilliant films like these:

“Say Hello To My Little Friend!”

It’s a line that has been quoted – and joked about – for decades now, but let’s not forget just how powerfully over-the-top “Scarface” is – an absolutely seminal look at the excess of the 80’s, with an incredible performance by Al Pacino:

And for me one of the greatest films of all time is his adaptation of Stephen King’s first novel, “Carrie”, starring Sissy Spacek:

Piper Laurie, Nancy Allen, Amy Irvin and John Travolta…what an incredible cast – did you know that he and George Lucas had combined casting sessions? What was Lucas up to?

Yes, “Carrie” and “Star Wars” joined forces to find the incredible talent in both films – and there is some great trivia about how and why this happened – you have to read about it here!

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/30/shocktober-day-30-brilliant-carrie-brian-depalmas-horror-classics-star-wars-connection/

One of my other favorite DePalma films is this cult classic:

“Phantom Of The Paradise!”

This is also one of my favorite films of all time, and I’m not alone! There is a terrific new blu-ray edition of this classic 1974 horror musical, which is of course DePalma’s twisted send up of “Phantom Of The Opera”, with an amazingly entertaining soundtrack written by Paul Williams, who also stars in the film!

The new blu-ray edition includes a great conversation between Williams and Oscar-winning “The Shape Of Water” Director Guillermo Del Toro – who is a huge fan of the film as well – check out all of the special features here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/02/27/cult-classic-phantom-of-the-paradise-guillermo-del-toro-talks-up-paul-williams-great-new-special-edition/

Some of DePalma’s films didn’t do well upon release, but then became classics…

Here is a great example. His paranoid 1981 masterpiece “Blow Out” with John Travolta took a cynical, sobering look at America and our political system – and boy, is it sure prescient now!

“Blow Out” tanked upon release, but is now considered another of his great cinematic achievements – and it may be John Travolta’s best performance ever:

Read more about this neglected gem here, along with DePalma’s “The Fury” and “Dressed To Kill” as well:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/03/13/carrie-and-more-5-classic-brian-depalma-thrillers/

One of DePalma’s earlier works is also available on blu-ray – how about Margot Kidder’s incredible performance in “Sisters”?

This psychological thriller cemented DePalma’s reputation as the “new Hitchcock”, and it holds up so well today. Yes, Kidder’s recent death was tragic, but she was mesmerizing in DePalma’s shocker “Sisters’ – see more about it, and her incredible career here:

https://johnrieber.com/2018/05/14/rip-margot-kidder-a-great-actress-dies-supermans-best-lois-lane/

DePalma made so many films, and not all were hits – yes, there were misfires like “The Bonfire Of The Vanities” and “Mission To Mars”, but here is another obscure gem – the moody erotic thriller “Obsession”:

Cliff Robertson is great as a man haunted by the death of his wife, until he gets a chance at redemption…or does he? I posted a story about some of his lesser known films like “Obsession”, see them here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/03/03/a-celebration-of-depalma-the-best-least-known-classics/

And of course, I never even covered this popular film, but it is also a classic:

Yes, he directed “The Untouchables” and he made the first “Mission: Impossible” film with Tom Cruise as well..what a great career – oh, and what about “Carlito’s Way” with Al Pacino? Yes, another great collaboration, along with “Scarface”:

The mark of a brilliant Director is one who just keeps making films, and that is what DePalma has done…there is a great documentary recently released where he takes a candid look at his career, so check that out as well

Happy birthday to this brilliant Director!

Counting down the 31 days of “Shocktober” horror – today with a veteran Oscar-winning Actor who takes us on a “haunted house” thrill ride!

“That house is not fit to live in. No one’s been able to live in it. It doesn’t want people.”

Here’s a great poster from Japan!

George C. Scott Takes On “The Changeling!”

This is one great horror film! Nothing elevates a scary movie more than adding an acclaimed Actor who never does horror…in this case, Oscar-winning Best Actor George C. Scott!

Check out the dynamite trailer!

After a freak automobile accident claims the lives of his wife and daughter, the distraught husband and father retreats to grieve in private. Consumed by grief, he rents an old turn of the century house.

Of course, something isn’t quite right with the house…that is, after all, why it’s a HORROR FILM…

Scott does not realize that he is not alone in the house. Well, he comes to find out – the scary way!

Cue The Dead Child!

That’s right, this grieving widower discovers that he’s not alone in the house: he shares it with the spirit of a murdered child who has honed in on John’s despair and uses him to uncover decades of silence and deceit.

Stephen King Loves It!

Most horror films don’t get much critical acclaim, but Stephen King praised it, and “The Changeling” was the first film to win best picture at Canada’s Genie Awards!

And Bravo once again to Severin Films for their great new blu-ray release of the film, remastered to perfection and stuffed with great extras!

Here’s a look at what’s on the blu-ray:

Audio Commentary With Director Peter Medak and Producer Joel B. Michaels Moderated By Severin Films’ David Gregory
The House On Cheesman Park: The Haunting True Story Of The Changeling
The Music Of The Changeling: Interview With Music Arranger Kenneth Wannberg
Building The House Of Horror: Interview With Art Director Reuben Freed
The Psychotronic Tourist: The Changeling
Master of Horror Mick Garris On The Changeling
Poster & Still Gallery
Trailer and TV Spot

Bravo again to Severin Films – they have released so many great films!

“Shocktober 2018” just kicked off – if you want to see how we horrifically began the month, well, raise your chainsaws up high:

Yes, it’s one of the most shocking horror films ever released – check it out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/01/shocktober-is-here-31-days-of-horror-day-1-slices-up-the-texas-chainsaw-massacre/

Haunted house movies can spend way to much time showing an eerie house, but not much horror – this film has the right thrills, so check it out!

“You see, Jason was my son, and today is his birthday…”

Meet Jason Voorhees!

Time to celebrate Shocktober 2018 by taking you to Camp Crystal Lake, where a young of young people, including the great Kevin Bacon, are about to have a terrifying night!

You see, Jason has decided to crash their party in the most horrorifc way! Time to celebrate the classic 80’s slasher, “Friday The 13th!”

IMDB describes the plot this way:

“One summer at Camp Crystal Lake, a group of young counselors begin to get ready to lead campers. Unfortunately for the former, someone isn’t happy about what’s going on in the camp and enjoys playing kill the counselor. As bodies fall to the ground in the camp, no one is safe.”

Ain’t that the truth! Here is the original trailer:

This horror classic has spawned ELEVEN SEQUELS – including the inevitable “crossover” attempt where they tried to set him against another fading movie franchise “A Nightmare On Elm Street” for the regrettable “Freddy Vs. Jason”:

That’s more painful than one of Jason’s knife wounds. But while the quality dropped with each subsequent effort, this series still connected with an entire generation of horror fans!

Director Sean S. Cunningham has said that the type of actors that he sought for the film were “good-looking kids who you might see in a Pepsi commercial.” And that is certainly what he got!

The movie was filmed at Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in New Jersey. The camp is still in operation, and it has a wall of Friday the 13th memorabilia – a mini-movie museum!

If you’d rather have haunted houses than lakeside skewering, try this classic Halloween film:

“The Changeling” is a great “scary movie” with a terrific performance by Oscar-winning Actor George C. Scott!

A new blu-ray edition gives lots of fun extras, check them out here, along with the trailer:

https://johnrieber.com/2018/10/03/shocktober-2018-offers-up-the-haunted-house-horror-the-changeling-terrific-new-severin-blu-ray/

Celebrate these #31daysofhalloween with some classic horror!

Killer Frogs And Vincent Price, Too!

Behold the greatest single movie poster image of all time. Yes, even frogs can say “enough is enough!”

It’s #31daysofHalloween, a perfect season for movies that are over the top, campy and fun as well as horrific – I mean, how can you not love a horror film with this poster:

That is, for me, one of the most perfect movie posters of all time: that is one evil Frog! The poster captures perfectly what you can expect form the film – good horrific fun, and it is just one of the campy horror treasures I have for you today – let’s begin with the master, the legend – the AFRO:

Vincent Price Enters The “Theater Of Blood!”

Yes, everyone’s favorite Horror Actor, Vincent Price, had a great run of campy horror films the 70’s – like this one:

In “The Abominable Dr. Phibes”, he plays a Doctor obsessed with getting revenge for his wife’s death…and then there was this classic:

Yes, an Actor decided to seek revenge on all of his critics, and Diana Rigg afro’d up as well – she has called it her favorite film of all – read more about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2017/06/06/an-afro-tastic-vincent-price-kills-his-critics-in-theater-of-blood-diana-riggs-favorite-performance/

And now, let’s go to a type of horror film that’s been “gnawing” at me lately:

Zombeavers!

Yes, what a great campy horror movie for #31daysofhorror…”Zombeavers” is EXACTLY what you think it is…and exactly what it should be! Bloody horror fun with zombie beavers!

It’s the genre of killer animals – rodents really – and it’s a hilariously over the top genre epitomized by the new classic “Zombeavers”, and of course, “Frogs” as well!

Read all about these “killer animal” films by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/02/18/zombeavers-the-latest-in-killer-animal-movies-frogs-ants-and-more-campy-horror/

Finally, one more campy bit of horror to share:

Old Lady Horror!

Yes, you may not be aware, but this is one of my favorite horror genres: the killer grandma! And nobody did it better than Actress Shelley Winters!

Yep, Shelley Winters was just one legendary Actress who turned to campy horror late in their career…along with Ruth Gordon, Bette Davis and even Debbie Reynolds! You can read all about the genre of “Old Lady Horror” by clicking on my story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/03/09/old-lady-horror-crazy-ladies-chew-up-the-screen/

So there you have it, some good campy Shocktober fun for you…

Happy Halloween!