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“Popcorn of the Living Dead” Highlights Arena Cinelounge’s Gourmet Popcorn

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While it still perplexes me that the major theater chains haven’t made their popcorn available for curbside pickup, others are getting creative and offering up the perfect movie snack (this is science) in various forms.

Hollywood’s acclaimed arthouse, genre, and independent cinema, Arena Cinelounge Sunset has survived these COVID-19 days by sumptuously re-imagining cinema’s staple snack into a thriving gourmet popcorn business by introducing Arena Cinelounge’s Signature Gourmet Popcorn.

Available in 9 movie-themed flavors, genre highlights include the delicious Popcorn of the Living Dead, a cinnamon churro corn with crushed pretzels, Natural Corn Killers (naked with sea salt), and Once Upon a Time in Popcorn (mesquite smoked cheddar). The best flavor combo has got to be Meoli’s Bliss, which mixes bourbon caramel with espresso pretzels.

“As an independent theater owner, I’ve had to be creative about the survival and expansion of my business,” said Christian Meoli, owner of Arena Cinelounge Sunset.

“Each bag sold supports independent cinema’s survival – in the most delicious of ways!”

“With Popcorn of the Living Dead, we wanted audiences to go in without knowing what to find”, adds Meoli. “So, the end result became a layer of popcorn, then a secret layer under that, then a poster of a classic horror poster in the bag.”

Ultimately, titles like Popcorn of the Living Dead paved the way to officially bridge the gap between movies and popcorn. Poster artist Christopher Butler, who did the poster art of Chelsea Stardust’s Satanic Panic, was hired to do all the popcorn packaging.

Order some snacks for those forthcoming at-home VOD releases and help support independent cinema.

Notes the release: “Committed to the survival of independent cinema, Meoli has made Arena Cinelounge a safe haven for indie filmmakers to screen their films – ones often not shown at an Arclight, AMC, or other major theater chains. His dedication to these indie filmmakers drove him to find a uniquely appropriate way to save not only his business, but the only home that will screen these filmmakers’ works of art.”

Each bag contains blossom popcorn, non-GMO, vegan, dairy and nut-free, with the highest quality ingredients possible.

The complete 9 mind-bending flavors include:

  • Popcorn of the Living Dead – Cinnamon Churro with Crushed Pretzels
  • Eternal Popcorn of the Spotless Mind – Rosemary Salted Caramel
  • Natural Corn Killers – Naked with Sea Salt
  • APOPalypse Now – Jalapeno
  • Once Upon a Time in Popcorn – Mesquite Smoked Cheddar
  • Truffaut Truffle – Truffle
  • Arthouse Gold – Curry
  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Popcorn – Sweet Chili Lime
  • Meoli’s Bliss – Bourbon Caramel with Espresso Pretzels

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.

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The Further

5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including a ‘Poltergeist II’ Reverend Kane Plush!

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Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!


Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker 4K UHD from Severin Films

Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker will be released on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on May 28 via Severin Films. The 1981 psychosexual horror film has been newly scanned in 4K from the original camera negative.

Also known as Night Warning, the film is directed by William Asher (Bewitched) and written by Steve Breimer, Alan Jay Glueckman, and Boon Collins. Jimmy McNichol, Susan Tyrrell, Bo Svenson, Bill Paxton, and Julia Duffy star.

Special features include: commentary by McNichol; commentary by Breimer and Glueckman; commentary by co-producer Eugene Mazzola; and interviews with McNichol, Tyrrell, Svenson, Breimer, actor Steven Eastin, makeup artist Allan A. Alpone, director of photography Robbie Greenberg, and editor Ted Nicolaou.


Poltergeist II Plush from Toynk

Poltergeist II: The Other Side may pale in comparison to the original film by any metric, but it did introduce a formidable villain in Reverend Kane, played by the late Julian Beck.

Toynk has turned the malevolent spirit into a 14” plush doll with a removable hat. Regularly $25.99, it’s currently on sale for $23.39.


Primal Fear 4K UHD from Paramount

Primal Fear will be released on 4K UHD + Blu-ray on March 26 as the 43rd entry in the Paramount Presents line. The 1996 mystery thriller is presented in 4K with Dolby Vision.

Gregory Hoblit (Fracture, Frequency) directs from a script by Steve Shagan (Gotti) and Ann Biderman (Public Enemies), based on William Diehl’s 1993 novel of the same name. Richard Gere, Laura Linney, John Mahoney, Alfre Woodard, Frances McDormand, and Edward Norton star.

Special features include: commentary by Hoblit, Biderman, producers Gary Lucchesi and Hawk Koch, and casting director Deborah Aquila; The Final Verdict; Star Witness: Casting Edward Norton; The Psychology of Guilt; and the trailer.


Lucio Fulci Shirt from Grindhouse Releasing

Pay tribute to the Italian master of horror behind The Beyond and Zombie with Grindhouse Releasing’s “Directed by Lucio Fulci” tee.

Shirts cost $20. Tote bags with the same design are also available for $18.


Blue Velvet 4K UHD from Criterion

Blue Velvet will be released on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on June 25 via The Criterion Collection. The 1986 neo-noir mystery thriller has been digitally restored in 4K with Dolby Vision HDR.

David Lynch writes and directs. Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern, Hope Lange, George Dickerson, and Dean Stockwell star.

Special features include: The Lost Footage; Blue Velvet Revisited; Mysteries of Love; It’s a Strange World: The Filming of Blue Velvet; interview with composer Angelo Badalament; and more.


Final Girl Hat from Inked Up Merch

Bonus item for a good cause! Celebrate Women’s History Month with a Barbie-inspired Final Girl dad hat for $25 or beanie for $20.

Inked Up Merch is donating proceeds to the National Organization for Women, a grassroots organization dedicated to women’s rights.


For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives. You can also visit Broke Horror Fan.

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