Movies
TV: ‘The Walking Dead’ Fireworks Begin in February
The first half of “The Walking Dead” season 2 was a bust. It never elevated the characters and it never fully grabbed my attention. But there’s some hope, which comes from executive producer Glen Mazzara who was added midseason as the series’ new showrunner. I believe his was behind the midseason finale, which leads me to believe the second half could be a major step in the right direction.
Actor Norman Reedus (“Daryl”) talked about the show’s February revival with Daemon’s TV and explained that we haven’t seen anything yet…
“I can say that in the second half, after this hiatus, people are done talking,” he explained. “It’s all kind of firecrackers from here on out. It gets more action packed. The first part of the season, it gets slow when people have to talk. That’s just how it works. I think the writers have done such a great job with setting up storylines and explaining them when they need to be explained, not over talking it and not over thinking it. There are certain things that need to be said to keep the story moving and I think they’ve done a good job with it. I know when people watch the show they go, ‘More zombies. More death.’ But you have to do a bit of talking. Otherwise it’s ‘Transformers.’”
Bring the fireworks!
Movies
‘Rubberhead’ Documentary Spotlights The Wild Life & Work of SFX Raconteur Steve Johnson [Trailer]
Few in the industry are as candid as Emmy-winning artist Steve Johnson (Fright Night, Poltergeist II, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master) and that rare honesty is on full display in the first trailer for documentary Rubberhead: The Life & Monsters of Steve Johnson.
The doc is headed to the Fantasia Film Festival for its world premiere on July 23.
In Rubberhead, “Known for his intense work ethic, perfectionism, and obsession with breaking new ground, Steve Johnson created iconic creatures and effects for some of the most beloved horror and sci-fi movies in cinema history. RUBBERHEAD is a humorous and heartfelt portrait of the life and times of one of Hollywood’s most prolific monster makers, as well as a historical journey through the golden age of special effects makeup.”
As the trailer previews, Johnson shares outrageous anecdotes about his freewheeling adventures in Hollywood, chronicling his meteoric rise and subsequent fall. The doc also highlights cinema’s most groundbreaking effects and techniques, along with Johnson’s deeply personal account of self-sabotage, divorce, and serious struggles with addiction.
Linnea Quigley, John Landis, Tom Holland, and Oscar-winner Bill Corso also contribute as talking heads in this illuminating doc. Director Nick Taylor co-writes with Joseph Krings.
[Related] Steve Johnson Details the ‘Incredible Hulk’ Monster Movie That Never Was!
If you want to dive into Steve Johnson’s wild career in the meantime, check out his two-book saga Rubberhead: Sex, Drugs and Special FX, which serves as the basis for the documentary.
Stay tuned for more from Fantasia 2026 and Rubberhead. In the meantime, check out the first trailer and poster below.