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HALLOWEEN

Original Cinematographer Dean Cundey Supervising Transfer For ‘Halloween’ 35th Anniversary Blu!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on June 11, 2013 @ 5:24pm
Category: Movies / Home Video

We learned last week that John Carpenter’s Halloween is getting a 35th anniversary blu-ray release this fall. Coming from Anchor Bay, it includes a brand new audio commentary from John Carpenter and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Now Halloween Movies is reporting that original (and awesome) cinematographer is supervising the transfer! Color issues be gone!

Starring Donald Pleasence, Jamie Lee Curtis, Nancy Kyes, P.J. Soles and Charles Cyphers, “a psychotic murderer institutionalized since childhood escapes on a mindless rampage while his doctor chases him through the streets.”

What other bonus features would you like to see? READ MORE

Anchor Bay Handling Halloween 35th Anniversary Blu With New Commentary!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on June 06, 2013 @ 12:51pm
Category: Movies / Home Video

John Carpenter’s Halloween is due for a 35th anniversary blu-ray release, ~~but no one seems to be sure when, or from whom,~~ it is coming. But it’s in the works and Jamie Lee Curtis is making an appearance on the new commentary. Hopefully it’s a loess fragmented and solipsistic track than last time around.

Update: Anchor Bay has announced that they’re handling! More details to come!

Carpenter commented on the Blu on Facebook, ““Just recorded a commentary track for it with Jamie Lee Curtis yesterday…”

What other bonus features would you like to see? READ MORE

[WTF] Original 1979 MEDIA ‘Halloween’ VHS Sells For Whopping $13,000 On Ebay!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on June 03, 2013 @ 10:47pm
Category: Movies / News

Twitter pal Matt Serafini just blew my mind with this shocking Ebay discovery…

With bidding ending on May 31, someone paid a shocking $13,220 (plus a bizarre $3.77 shipping!) for an original MEDIA copy of John Carpenter’s Halloween on VHS. I guess it is pretty cool to own Michael Myers’ first appearance in the format. I wonder what BETA goes for?

The original Halloween was released several times with the first incarnation being in 1979 (as seen above). Media Home Entertainment, which released various copies of the classic slasher, also referenced the film as HalloweeN (note the capital “N”).

You can actually read a pretty interesting historical account at this Angelfire site (a flashback in its own right!).

[Modern Art] All Hail The Pumpkin King

Games
Posted by Adam Dodd on May 15, 2013 @ 3:00pm
Category: Games / Images

Today, we’re looking at some gorgeous digital paintings from Slovakian artist Rado Javor. After sifting through his gallery I’d say he’s a man who shares my fondness for Halloween. He does an amazing job of capturing the essence of the holiday, which is so much more than costumes, haunted houses and trick or treating. Looking at his work makes me want to scour a pumpkin patch for the perfect pumpkin so I can take it home, stab it repeatedly, pull out its insides, set it on fire and display it on my porch for all to see.

Oh, and there are also a few awesome paintings of alien invasions, because hey, those are cool too.
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Rob Zombie Had A “Miserable Experience” Making The ‘Halloween’ Films, Was Going To Make ‘The Blob’ Serious

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on April 30, 2013 @ 1:05pm
Category: Movies / News

With The Lords of Salem still fresh in theaters, Rob Zombie has been doing quite a bit of press for the film. And he’s a great interview. However you feel about his work, he doesn’t seem to bullsh*t quite as much as a lot of other celebrity horror directors and I found him impressively candid in my interview with him a few weeks back.

He recently spoke to The Playlist and elaborated on his experiences with the Halloween films. “I really like those films. I didn’t have a good time making them. It was actually a kind of miserable experience. Anytime they vary from the format is when I really like them.”

And varying from the format is what he wanted to do with his remake of The Blob, though the fact that it was another remake at all seems to be what turned him off to the project. Head inside for his take on that! READ MORE

[Modern Art] These Horror Movie Killers Would Look Great On My Wall

Games
Posted by Adam Dodd on April 24, 2013 @ 11:00am
Category: Games / Images

If I had to make a list of the top four horror movie killers, it’d include Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers and Pinhead. Ghostface comes in at a close fifth place, and of course there’s Chucky, Leatherface, Jigsaw, Hannibal Lecter — err, this isn’t the point. Deviant Artist Chris Fulton has done a fantastic job capturing their murderous charm, which I don’t find all that surprising after seeing his amazing Silent Hill art. After the break I have five of the top horror movie killers, and the mystery killer is quite possibly the most death-obsessed of them all.
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[Podcast] Aural Pleasures EP. 20: In Which Bill Needed To Run To The Bathroom

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on April 22, 2013 @ 9:00pm
Category: Music / Podcasts

It’s the 20th episode of Aural Pleasures and we’re thrilled to actually have made it this long! Jonny and Bill are joined by Bill’s brother Dan for a roundtable discussion about everything under the sun, including Jurassic Park 3D, Evil Dead, Friday The 13th, and more.

The guys also chat some music, including the soundtracks to Halo 4 and Bioshock: Infinite as well as groups like Deftones and Rob Zombie‘s upcoming album Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor. They also go over the upcoming Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival and figure out which bands Bill is excited to see! (Hint: it’s not Five Finger Death Punch)

Also, keep your ears peeled back for a guest appearance from one of our favorite bands, Tool! All this and a whole lot more, so give it all a listen below! READ MORE

Contests

Let’s Celebrate Halfway-to-Halloween With A Costume Giveaway!

Games
Posted by Adam Dodd on April 22, 2013 @ 5:34pm
Category: Games / Contests

There are only 182.5 days left until Halloween, so lets celebrate!

I love Halloween, always have, and every year I like to extend it to encompass all of October, rather than saving all the fun for the 31st. Now, I’ve found another way to celebrate my favorite holiday with something called Halfway-to-Halloween. It just so happens that this momentous occasion is on April 30. For true Halloween lovers like myself, this is most definitely worthy of a Bloody Disgusting giveaway. We’ve teamed up with our friends at HalloweenCostumes.com to give away three fantastic prizes — details after the break!
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Robert Downey Jr. Wants To Make A Horror Film? I’d Buy That For A Dollar!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on April 16, 2013 @ 6:39pm
Category: Movies / News

An interesting bit of semi-news floating around today that’s exciting, even if it’s likely to never happen, is the possibility of Robert Downey Jr. making a horror film. “Making” as in writing, directing and starring in it. This all comes to light in a GQ cover story that’s been making the rounds today. While more mainstream sites have been citing the piece’s indications that Downey is looking to retire from his role as Iron Man, there’s another nugget of info that’s of far greater interest to you BD readers.

Downey spoke to GQ about writing before adding, “And I want to direct — I think I’d do a pretty good job.” This is where we think his mind is turning to horror, “Nobody has cornered Halloween as a market since Halloween. I will say only this: I am a Village Voice reporter on the run.”

Now, here’s where it gets tricky. I love Downey but he says a LOT of stuff all the time. He riffs constantly and is the master of non-sequiters and coded semi-secrecy. For all I know, he just told the GQ guy in “Downey-speak” he wanted to re-launch the space program. Still, if taken at face value, it would seem that there is some interest in the genre. Of course, even if he’s serious this isn’t even in development yet, so it may fall apart before it even has a chance to fall apart.

But still, it’s nice to hope, right?

The 5 Rob Zombie Films From Worst To Best!!!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on April 12, 2013 @ 7:00am
Category: Movies / Editorials

Rob Zombie is most certainly a talented visualist, but he’s an inconsistent storyteller. That being said, I’ve found something to appreciate (and dislike) in almost all of his films and I figured now would be as good a time as any to take a look at his filmography. If anything, he does deserve some credit for having his own vision.

His upcoming The Lords of Salem hits limited theaters (New York, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, DC, Miami, Dallas, Houston, Detroit) on April 19th from Anchor Bay Films, and I also thought it would be interesting to discuss my thoughts on the film within the larger context of his overall filmography.

The film “tells the tale of Heidi (Sheri Moon Zombie), a radio station DJ living in Salem, Massachusetts, who receives a strange wooden box containing a record, a “gift from the Lords.” Heidi listens, and the bizarre sounds within the grooves immediately trigger flashbacks of the town’s violent past. Is Heidi going mad, or are the “Lords of Salem” returning for revenge on modern-day Salem?”

Head inside for The 5 Rob Zombie Films From Worst To Best!! READ MORE

Return_Of_The_Living_Dead_French_Banner_4_10_13

5 Great Alternate Horror Posters!!!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on April 10, 2013 @ 10:30am
Category: Movies / Images

This list is directly inspired by a post I did a few months back that featured 11 Alternate Horror Posters from Thailand. As I was looking this over last night and enjoying the artwork once again, I thought, “well of course there’s a sh*tload more of these out there.” They don’t only have to be from Thailand. So this morning I did some digging and found a few more that I liked.

There’s something about an alternate poster for a movie you love, especially if it’s a one-sheet you’ve never seen before. It can give you a little extra boost, some new imagery that you already have a positive association with. A foreign poster can also be a cool window into how other cultures experience (and market) your favorite films.

The great thing about this is that you never run out of them. There’s tons of horror movies and even more countries to release them in. So, every once in a while, let’s check in and see what comes up. If you come across something to share, send it to
[email protected], and if we use it we’ll credit you in the piece!

In the meantime, head inside to check out a gallery of foreign posters for The Thing, Return Of The Living Dead, A Nightmare On Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge, The Cabin In The Woods and Halloween. I particularly like how the Japanese Halloween poster at least as much English text in the image as the American one. READ MORE

Incredible Infographic Displays Your Favorite Horror Movie Franchises By the Numbers!!!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on March 29, 2013 @ 5:41pm
Category: Movies / News

A very special thanks to Hank Sforzini for creating and sending us the absolutely incredible Horror Movie Franchises By the Numbers infographic!

This infographic highlights facts from eight popular horror franchises including The Omen, Alien, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Friday the 13th, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Exorcist and Night of the Living Dead.

“I have spent the last year working as a freelance writer for ‘Paste Magazine’ and my creative partner, Joseph Bass, and I created this as we are both horror movie enthusiasts,” says Sforzini.

It’s clear that both Sforzini and Bass love the genre as much as we do, and we give our eternal thanks to them for creating this masterpiece of web art! READ MORE

10 Worst Horror Exposition Monologues!!!

Movies
Posted by Evan Saathoff on March 13, 2013 @ 7:35am
Category: Movies / Editorials

Often times, a horror film has to take a moment or two to finally explain what’s been going on the whole movie. These exposition scenes are almost always eye-rollingly long and drawn out.

Not every film can have Richard Dreyfuss show up and offer a just perfect amount of information with a great performance. Sometimes you have to listen to Tony Todd pontificate instead.

Check out some of the worst offenders after the break. READ MORE

Exclusive

5 Questions With ‘Stoker’ Director Park Chan-wook

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on February 22, 2013 @ 7:00am
Category: Movies / Exclusives

There’s no doubt that director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengenace, Lady Vengeance, Thirst) is a true visual master. It’s in his blood. His English-language debut, Stoker, penned by Ted Foulke (aka Wentworth Miller), is no exception. Not only is the story somehow atmospheric, creepy and fun – but the visual aesthetic is absolutely astounding. Some directors make movies while others truly understand the language of cinema. And Director Park is certainly among the latter in that regard.

I didn’t have time to talk to him for my set report, so I was thrilled to be able to catch up with him at the SLS Hotel in Los Angeles last month. While we chatted for 15 minutes, keep in mind it was via translator – so there was some inherent back and forth that kept the actual content covered on the shorter side.

“After India’s (Wasikowska’s) father dies in an auto accident, her Uncle Charlie (Goode), who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her emotionally unstable mother (Kidman). Soon after his arrival, she comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives, but instead of feeling outrage or horror, this friendless girl becomes increasingly infatuated with him.” Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode, Jacki Weaver, Lucas Till, Alden Ehrenreich, Phyllis Somerville and Dermot Mulroney all star.

Stoker hits theaters March 1st from Fox Searchlight. Head inside for the interview! READ MORE

Happy 81st Birthday To Composer John Williams

Music
Posted by JonathanBarkan on February 08, 2013 @ 6:00pm
Category: Music / News

Today marks the 81st birthday of composer John Williams. This is the man who brought us one of the most infamous horror scores when he composed Jaws in 1975. Since that day, people are still afraid to get in the water (myself included). He also composed the 1979 Dracula, which starred Frank Langella as Dracula, Laurence Olivier as Van Helsing and Halloween‘s Donald Pleasence as Dr. Jack Seward. There was also his work on Brian De Palma’s The Fury (1978), which featured Kirk Douglas and John Cassavetes (Rosemary’s Baby).

But it’s not only for these films that Williams is so well known and accomplished. He is also responsible for fantastic scores to such films as the Indiana Jones series, Jurassic Park, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Schindler’s List, Star Wars, and more.

And so with fond memories for the music of each of these films, I wish John Williams a very happy birthday and thank him for all he has brought us! READ MORE

[This Day In Horror] Nancy Kyes Was Born

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on December 19, 2012 @ 12:01pm
Category: Movies / Editorials

With Halloween being one of the all-time great landmark horror films, it’s hard to overestimate just how important each piece of that film is. And a fairly important component of that film, Nancy Kyes (aka Nancy Loomis, as she was originally credited in the film), was born on December 19th, 1949.

Not only did she play Annie Brackett in the Halloween she had a small appearance in Halloween II (as the same character) and played Tom Atkins’ ex-wife in Halloween III: Season Of The Witch, which I believe makes her to only performer to actually be onscreen in the first three Halloween films. She also had a great role in John Carpenter’s The Fog.

I actually included her in a post earlier this year on underrated horror performances in which I wrote, “It’s a shame that Nancy Kyes (aka Nancy Loomis) has disappeared from the film world. She was an intelligent, strong and funny screen presence whose combined attributes made her sexy. And her Annie Brackett might just be my favorite character in John Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’. Where Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode was stridently virginal and demure and P.J. Soles’ Lynda was stridently sexual and rebellious – Annie struck a good middle ground between those two extremes.“

The 5 Best (And 1 Worst) Films Of John Carpenter!!!

Movies
Posted by EvanDickson on November 26, 2012 @ 7:30am
Category: Movies / Editorials

I’m a writer/director guy. Meaning, moreso than who starred in any given film, I plan my trip to the theater based on who wrote and/or directed it. When I become invested in someone’s creative output, I’ll often follow their “voice” through all kinds of highs and lows, which means finding things to love in their lesser projects. I understand why the public at large doesn’t have the time or inclination to subscribe to this practice (though many more people seem capable of forging this kind of unbreakable alliance with sports teams), but I honestly think it’s an interesting – and compassionate – way to watch films (or listen to music).

Every career has peaks and valleys. In some careers the valleys are more severe and in others the peaks are more triumphant, but they exist. They’re unavoidable from both creative and commercial standpoints. I think it would be fun to examine this from time to time on BD (even though some of the most exciting voices in horror need another film or two under their belt to qualify), with the amount of “Bests” and “Worsts” varying each time.

First up? John Carpenter. I feel like he’s the perfect starting point. Not only does he have a large output, but he’s had one of the more interesting careers in horror, full of ups and downs (and the occasional creative triumph that he was punished for professionally).

Head inside for the 5 Best (And 1 Worst) Films Of John Carpenter. READ MORE

Interview: Pope, Buckingham, And Litt Talk Vertigo’s Horror Anthology, ‘Ghosts’

Comics
Posted by Lonmonster on November 02, 2012 @ 3:32pm
Category: Comics / Interviews

Out in stores now, Vertigo Comic’s Ghosts #1 contains a batch of incredibly memorable short stories in the Halloween-themed anthology (Review here). First off, the Rowland and Paine Detective Agency, from Neil Gaiman’s Dead Boy Detectives, returns once more in Toby Litt/Mark Buckingham’s “Run Ragged.” In a brand new case, Charles and Edwin, kid gumshoes, are on the search for a missing cat, who just happens to be a ghost. The anthology also includes the Paul Pope/David Lapham’s sci-fi extravaganza, “Treasure Lost.” In their ultimate space heist, pirates aboard the Ghost Ship are planning to steal the riches of the wealthy Steven Clan.

Bloody Disgusting sat down with Paul Pope, Mark Buckingham, and Toby Litt to discuss their entries in “Ghosts” #1 and what it means to create a unique ghost story in sequencial art. Check out the interviews after the break. READ MORE

If You Want Your Friend To Live, You’ll Watch This New ‘Until Dawn’ Halloween Trailer

Games
Posted by Adam Dodd on October 31, 2012 @ 11:07pm
Category: Games / Videos

The Halloween trailers just keep coming! Until Dawn is an intriguing horror game because it’s heavily inspired by teen slasher flicks like Halloween and Friday the 13th, with a little Saw thrown in. In it, eight teens are being hunted by someone, or something. It looks creepy enough, and while I haven’t jumped on the PlayStation Move bandwagon, this might end up being the game that changes my mind about it. Might be. Check out its unsettling (and heavily Saw-inspired) Halloween trailer after the break.
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[13 Days Of Horror] Day 13: Don’t Be Scared, It’s Just A Dead Pixels Halloween Podcast

Games
Posted by Adam Dodd on October 31, 2012 @ 5:30pm
Category: Games / News

Here we are, at the culmination of a month’s worth of horror movie marathons, haunted housing, candy purchasing, scare pranking, and pumpkin carving. It’s finally Halloween. The last thing I want to do is bum you out on a day like this, but October 31st has always been a little sad for me. Knowing that it all ends tomorrow as we shift gears in preparation of the holiday season makes Halloween bitter sweet, but it isn’t November yet, so let’s enjoy this amazing time of year while it lasts. TJ and I have another spooky Halloween edition of the Dead Pixels podcast for you.

Now, TJ wanted me to make this episode less spooky, because he thought you all couldn’t handle excessive levels of spookiness. Don’t worry, I talked him into keeping the spooky, because I was all like, “Dude, our readers are totally spooky. They love spooky. They crave spooky. They wake up and eat spooky for breakfast before putting their pants on, one spooky leg at a time.” You’re welcome.
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BREAKING: 2012 Will Host The Longest Halloween in History!!!

Movies
Posted by MrDisgusting on October 31, 2012 @ 4:12pm
Category: Movies / News

Thanks to BD reader Andrew G. for dropping the pumpkin bomb on my Twitter doorstep.

As all of you (should) know, today is October 31. It is Halloween. Tomorrow, well, tomorrow sucks. But not this year, at least if you live on the East Coast. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday signed an executive order postponing Halloween until Monday, November 5, says the Huffington Post.

While the idea of an extended Halloween is exciting, it comes on the heels of the nasty Hurricane Sandy. New Jersey was among the states hardest. The storm was responsible for at least eight deaths there, according to the New Jersey Star-Ledger, and as of Wednesday morning, over 2 million people in the state were still without power.

In a statement, the governor said he made the decision “to minimize additional risks to lives and the public safety as we begin the process of rebuilding and recovering from Hurricane Sandy.” So while you enjoy your extended holiday, stop and say a prayer for those who lost their lives.

‘Nightmare In North Point’ Available Now, Here’s A Launch Trailer To Get You In The Mood

Games
Posted by Adam Dodd on October 31, 2012 @ 2:05pm
Category: Games / Videos

I really enjoyed the open-world crime game Sleeping Dogs, and I love me a good horror-themed expansion. If you’re looking for something to play between visits from treat-hungry kids, I highly suggest checking out the new Nightmare in North Point expansion for Sleeping Dogs. Unfortunately, unlike Red Dead Redemption’s Undead Nightmare and Infamous II’s Festival of Blood, this is not a standalone expansion, so you’ll need a copy of the game to play it. It’s 560 MSP for the Xbox 360 or $4.99 for the PS3 and PC — but really, how can you put a price on beating down Chinese vampires with your magical fury fists? Feel free to click that Read More button, as it will transport you to a magical land that a launch trailer calls home.
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‘Outlast’ Gets A Terrifying Extended Trailer Just In Time For Halloween

Games
Posted by Adam Dodd on October 31, 2012 @ 1:06pm
Category: Games / Videos

Happy Halloween! I have the tricks if you have my treats. Actually, I have treats too, and they’re coming in the form of special Halloween trailers from several upcoming games. The first one is an extended look at Outlast — a survival horror game from new startup Red Barrels Games that should definitely be on your radar if it isn’t already. This game looks terrifying, and if it plays anything like what we see in this trailer, I can see it becoming the next big survival horror game. I’d call it the Amnesia of next year, but with A Machine for Pigs, we kinda already have that. Check out the trailer after the break.
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9 Great Halloween Moments In Film!!

Movies
Posted by Evan Saathoff on October 30, 2012 @ 7:57am
Category: Movies / Editorials

We have so many scary movies to help us get into the Halloween spirit, but so few of them actually involve Halloween, costumes, or trick ‘r treating. In honor of this wonderful gory holiday, here are nine great examples of Halloween in film. Some are horror films, some are kids films, and some are respected classics. READ MORE