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[TIFF ’13] Top 5 Creature Features Selected By ‘Almost Human’ Director Joe Begos!

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The trailer for Joe Begos’ Almost Human literally blew my mind, showing flashes of inspiration that harks back to classics like Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and John Carpenter’s The Thing.

With Begos’ sci-fi horror playing at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival this month, we thought it would be fun to have the independent director list of his “Top 5 Creature Features.” While Carpenter’s The Thing clearly makes the cut, I think you’ll enjoy seeing what his other four selections were.

The 38th Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 5 to 15, 2013.

JOHN CARPENTER’S THE THING


This would most likely appear on any list of “Best Creature Features” you could find, and it’s with good reason. It’s the fucking best. Not only do you have the absolute BEST practical effects ever put on 35mm(or digital, for that matter), but you have an AMAZING ensemble, mounds and mounds of tension, and one of the most badass characters ever put on film, being played by one of the most badass actors who ever worked in Hollywood. Really, do I need to sell anyone on THE THING?

THE FLY


Another one that essentially should be on any “Creature Feature” list or said list should lose any credibility. Much like THE THING, this is an A-Class picture about a MAN TURNING INTO A FLY. Think about that one. It’s got an Oscar worthy performance from Jeff Goldblum, an Oscar worthy script, and razor sharp direction from Sir Cronenberg. It’s a tragic story that just builds and builds, ending in one of the messiest, coolest, and heartbreaking 3rd acts in monster movie history. Did I mention that the practical effects may very well be the best to have come since it’s release way back in ’86?

BASKET CASE


This movie is such an important part of my life, that I’ve got Belial exploding out of the basket and screaming, inked on my arm for life. This is one of the movies that opened my eyes to the sleazy low budget underbelly of 80’s horror. I accidently watched it at SUCH a ridiculously young age(It was the second movie on a 6 hour VHS tape, following THE WITCHES) and it’s been a constant viewing ever since. A murderous mutant siamese twin brother who lives in a basket and can telepathically communicate with his normal brother, while they seek revenge against the doctor who surgically split them. GOLD. The sleazy setting and 16mm photography, the amazing stop motion scene of Belial trashing a hotel room(actually, all of the stop motion), the sickly score, the insane cast of characters, It all works, and delivers one of the most unique, memorable, and twisted creature movie ever.

DEMON KNIGHT


One of the best horror movies of the 90’s, and one of my favorites ever. This movie is another one that was on constant repeat at an early age for me. Featuring WILLIAM FUCKING SADLER as BRAYKER, our supernatural demon murdering anti-hero, and BILLY GODDAMN ZANE as a crazy demon raising villain known only as THE COLLECTOR, you know you’ve got something special in your hands. Add in to the mix that former cinematographer Ernest Dickerson is behind the camera, giving us a beautifully photographed movie shot to look as if almost the whole movie is lit by moonlight. Inside this immaculate photography you’ll find a slimy, well designed army of demons and enough blood, gore, and monster incarnations to please any hardened genre fan. I wish movies like this were still made and released theatrically.

XTRO


One of my favorite movies of all time, XTRO is a nasty little insane blast. The first 20 minutes alone feature an alien abduction, a diseased looking four legged alien creature raping a lady, and a 40 year old, 6 foot man exploding out of the womb out of the same woman. IN THE FIRST 20 MINUTES. The budget is low, but the bat shit craziness is there, and the alien design is one of my all time favorites. If you haven’t seen this one, SEEK IT OUT. One of the few movies that could really raise the bar with an uncompromising remake and some cash behind it. If only.

Almost Human plays at the 38th Toronto International Film Festival, which runs from September 5 to 15, 2013.

Horror movie fanatic who co-founded Bloody Disgusting in 2001. Producer on Southbound, V/H/S/2/3/94, SiREN, Under the Bed, and A Horrible Way to Die. Chicago-based. Horror, pizza and basketball connoisseur. Taco Bell daily. Franchise favs: Hellraiser, Child's Play, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Scream and Friday the 13th. Horror 365 days a year.

Exclusives

‘Late Night With the Devil’ – Exclusive Clip Begins the Supernatural Horror on Halloween 1977

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The upcoming Late Night With the Devil is one of the most buzzed about horror movies of the year, currently 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and earning rave reviews from both Stephen King and Kevin Smith. King raves that the film is “absolutely brilliant,” adding that he couldn’t take his eyes off it. Smith comments, “I love it. It’s Rosemary’s Baby meets Network.”

David Dastmalchian (Dune, The Suicide Squad) stars as the host of a late-night talk show that descends into a nightmare in the Ghostwatch and WNUF Halloween Special-inspired film.

IFC Films & Shudder will release the hotly anticipated Late Night with the Devil theatrically on March 22 before it heads to Shudder exclusively on April 19, 2024.

Begin the horror with a brand new EXCLUSIVE clip below…

David Dastmalchian stars as Jack Delroy, the charismatic host of “Night Owls,” and the film traces the ill-fated taping of a live Halloween special in 1977 plagued by a demonic presence.

The energetic and innovative feature hails from Australian writing-directing team Colin and Cameron Cairnes (100 Bloody Acres, Scare Campaign). 

The film premiered last year at SXSW. Meagan wrote in her review out of the fest, “Late Night with the Devil captures the chaotic energy of a late night show, embracing the irreverent comedy and stress of live television with a pastiche style. It’s a clever trojan horse for a surprising horror movie that goes full throttle on unhinged demonic mayhem.

“The ingenuity, the painstaking period recreation, a riveting performance by Dastmalchian, and a showstopper of a finale make for one Halloween event you won’t want to miss.”

Spooky Pictures founders Roy Lee (It, The Grudge, The Ring) and Steven Schneider (Pet Sematary, Paranormal Activity, Insidious), Derek Dauchy (“Al Kameen”) and Future Pictures’ Mat Govoni (“Lone Wolf”) and Adam White (“Lone Wolf”) and John Molloy are all producing.

Joel Anderson (Lake Mungo), Rami Yasin, and David Dastmalchian executive produce.

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