On Friday nights, IndieWire After Dark takes a feature-length beat to honor fringe cinema in the streaming age.
First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.
Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.
The Pitch: Drink (Responsibly) Every Time They Say “Cat”
Like midnight movie canonization, the Cat Distribution System works in mysterious ways. The term, as made popular on TikTok, refers to an informal branch of feline government by which every cat-human connection is ostensibly forged. Whether you met Mittens at your local animal shelter — or found Paul Gia-Meowti in an empty boarding school over Christmas break — the central tenets of the C.D.S. suggest that any time a cat and owner find one another that connection was somehow fated.
Watching a grindhouse...
First, the spoiler-free pitch for one editor’s midnight movie pick — something weird and wonderful from any age of film that deserves our memorializing.
Then, the spoiler-filled aftermath as experienced by the unwitting editor attacked by this week’s recommendation.
The Pitch: Drink (Responsibly) Every Time They Say “Cat”
Like midnight movie canonization, the Cat Distribution System works in mysterious ways. The term, as made popular on TikTok, refers to an informal branch of feline government by which every cat-human connection is ostensibly forged. Whether you met Mittens at your local animal shelter — or found Paul Gia-Meowti in an empty boarding school over Christmas break — the central tenets of the C.D.S. suggest that any time a cat and owner find one another that connection was somehow fated.
Watching a grindhouse...
- 2/3/2024
- by Alison Foreman and Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Even outside of Star Wars, prequels tend to get a bad rap. From answering questions that didn’t need answering (and destroying the mysteries of the original in the process) to repeating established formulas ad nauseum, it’s deceptively easy for these blasts from the past to trip over their previously established lore. After all, it’s kind of hard to tell an engaging story when audiences already know what happens next.
Thankfully, the horror genre seems to be especially blessed with filmmakers that see prequels as an opportunity to tell original stories within an established world. I mean, some folks even thought that last year’s Pearl was even better than X, and the trailer for Arkasha Stevenson’s upcoming The First Omen looks like it kicks all kinds of ass – and that’s precisely why we’ve decided to come up with a list highlighting six underrated horror prequels for your viewing pleasure!
Thankfully, the horror genre seems to be especially blessed with filmmakers that see prequels as an opportunity to tell original stories within an established world. I mean, some folks even thought that last year’s Pearl was even better than X, and the trailer for Arkasha Stevenson’s upcoming The First Omen looks like it kicks all kinds of ass – and that’s precisely why we’ve decided to come up with a list highlighting six underrated horror prequels for your viewing pleasure!
- 1/4/2024
- by Luiz H. C.
- bloody-disgusting.com
The American Broadcasting Company aired its iconic series ABC Movie of the Week from 1969 to 1975. In the intro of Michael Karol’s book The ABC Movie of the Week Companion: A Loving Tribute to the Classic Series, the author called the anthology show “influential” for baby-boomers. Karol then went on to quote a press release from Barry Diller; ABC’s vice president at the time said the network was trying to “broaden the base of familiar television anthologies and movies-for-television” and how a 90-minute format would “do justice to that special echelon of story ideas, which don’t quite work in the standard one-and two-hour television program forms.” The concept also entailed working with production companies outside of their own (ABC-Circle Films), including frequent collaborator Spelling-Goldberg. And as many fans of vintage American tele-cinema will agree, one of Spelling-Goldberg’s, not to mention ABC’s most memorable TV-movies from that...
- 12/21/2023
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
So much of the debate in fandom today is about fealty to the source material. This shows up in comic book movie discourse, of course, and even when a franchise (like "Star Wars") is racking up sequels. There's always the hardcore fans that demand purity, that whatever movie or TV adaptation or sequel be as true to the source material as possible or their precious IP will be ruined forever (or at least until some years pass and suddenly they're angry about the next thing).
It should be noted that the most vocal fans don't really know what they want nor do they have any understanding of what needs to go into translating something from one format to another. There are a few examples out there of adaptations that worked way better than the source material. "Jaws" is one of them, "The Godfather" is another. Both are way better than...
It should be noted that the most vocal fans don't really know what they want nor do they have any understanding of what needs to go into translating something from one format to another. There are a few examples out there of adaptations that worked way better than the source material. "Jaws" is one of them, "The Godfather" is another. Both are way better than...
- 11/23/2023
- by Eric Vespe
- Slash Film
We here at Arrow in the Head try to keep up with the horror selections on the biggest streaming services around, and as part of that endeavor, we have gone through the horror options on Netflix US to put together a top 10 list of the Best Horror Movies On Netflix Right Now.
Take note of the “Right Now” part of the subject line, because some of these films are not Netflix Originals and therefore could be removed from the streaming service at any time. If you want to watch them, be sure to start streaming in a timely manner or they may be gone!
Blood Red Sky (2021)
The “vampire vs. airplane hijackers” horror action thriller Blood Red Sky is a project director Peter Thorwarth had been wanting to make for 16 years before it was finally released, and his dedication to the concept paid off: within a month of its Netflix debut,...
Take note of the “Right Now” part of the subject line, because some of these films are not Netflix Originals and therefore could be removed from the streaming service at any time. If you want to watch them, be sure to start streaming in a timely manner or they may be gone!
Blood Red Sky (2021)
The “vampire vs. airplane hijackers” horror action thriller Blood Red Sky is a project director Peter Thorwarth had been wanting to make for 16 years before it was finally released, and his dedication to the concept paid off: within a month of its Netflix debut,...
- 5/13/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
This post contains spoilers for the first four episodes of "The Last of Us."
In today's arts and entertainment landscape, it seems that all bets are off when it comes to defining a work and its intentions: the terms "remake," "adaptation," "reboot," "reimagining," "rebootquel" and more are tossed around willy-nilly, with new descriptors being Frankensteined together every year. It's a reaction to the rampant increase of stories being told, retold, and revisited as Hollywood and its ilk seek to minimize risk by exploiting material they believe to be pre-sold. It's a real catch-22, to make something old seem new again.
HBO's "The Last of Us" series is being touted as an adaptation, and on the face of it this appears to be the correct term, given that the story first appeared in one medium (video games) and is now moving to another (live-action television). Yet, in execution, it's not so cut and dried.
In today's arts and entertainment landscape, it seems that all bets are off when it comes to defining a work and its intentions: the terms "remake," "adaptation," "reboot," "reimagining," "rebootquel" and more are tossed around willy-nilly, with new descriptors being Frankensteined together every year. It's a reaction to the rampant increase of stories being told, retold, and revisited as Hollywood and its ilk seek to minimize risk by exploiting material they believe to be pre-sold. It's a real catch-22, to make something old seem new again.
HBO's "The Last of Us" series is being touted as an adaptation, and on the face of it this appears to be the correct term, given that the story first appeared in one medium (video games) and is now moving to another (live-action television). Yet, in execution, it's not so cut and dried.
- 2/6/2023
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
Alfred Hitchcock’s magnum opus film, Psycho is returning to cinemas from today, 27th May. This stunning 4K restoration of the original theatrical cut includes an extra 13 seconds of restored footage – so it can once again be seen as it was originally shown in cinemas back in 1960, exactly as intended by Hitchcock. To celebrate, here are ten things you probably didn’t know about Psycho:
Melon-terror! What did Alfred Hitchcock use to create an authentically terrifying stabbing sound? A melon. Specifically, a casaba melon. Hitchcock and his sound guy are said to have tested all kinds of melons before settling on the casaba – its thick skin gives a denser sound than other varieties. This, combined with a slab of steak, proved the perfect combination. Body Double: in the iconic shower scene, Playboy cover girl Marli Renfro had the uncredited role of Janet Leigh’s body double – and it is her...
Melon-terror! What did Alfred Hitchcock use to create an authentically terrifying stabbing sound? A melon. Specifically, a casaba melon. Hitchcock and his sound guy are said to have tested all kinds of melons before settling on the casaba – its thick skin gives a denser sound than other varieties. This, combined with a slab of steak, proved the perfect combination. Body Double: in the iconic shower scene, Playboy cover girl Marli Renfro had the uncredited role of Janet Leigh’s body double – and it is her...
- 5/27/2022
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
“ died a senseless death in the other timeline. I didn’t like the sound of that, Captain. I’ve always known the risks that come with a Starfleet uniform. If I am to die in one, I’d like my death to count for something.”
Denise Crosby’s Lt. Tasha Yar, Star Trek: The Next Generation’s inaugural chief of security, managed—due to some alternate timeline trickery—to take that legendary meta-minded dig at her own death from two years earlier in the Season 1 episode, “Skin of Evil.” With that episode having originally aired on April 25, 1988, the anniversary is a good occasion to look back on the controversial behind-the-scenes circumstances that resulted in poor Tasha’s unspectacular, abrupt, red-shirt-like fatal encounter with an alien tar monster on a cheap-looking set.
“Skin of Evil” was the 22nd episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s inaugural season—just three episodes away from the season finale....
Denise Crosby’s Lt. Tasha Yar, Star Trek: The Next Generation’s inaugural chief of security, managed—due to some alternate timeline trickery—to take that legendary meta-minded dig at her own death from two years earlier in the Season 1 episode, “Skin of Evil.” With that episode having originally aired on April 25, 1988, the anniversary is a good occasion to look back on the controversial behind-the-scenes circumstances that resulted in poor Tasha’s unspectacular, abrupt, red-shirt-like fatal encounter with an alien tar monster on a cheap-looking set.
“Skin of Evil” was the 22nd episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s inaugural season—just three episodes away from the season finale....
- 4/21/2021
- by Joseph Baxter
- Den of Geek
Stars: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire, Simon Oakland, Frank Albertson | Written by Joseph Stefano | Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
There’s no denying that when we look back on the horror film genre, one of the directors that we strongly associate with it is Alfred Hitchcock. Yes, there are multiple accounts of his problematic behaviour now but he did know how to make a solid horror experience and ones that stand the test of time. The most iconic of Hitchcock’s horrors is Psycho.
Now, Psycho is a horror classic and it has been brought again and again over the decades. It’s hard to imagine people don’t know what happens in Psycho but there are some details which are less famous than others. The premise is after stealing money from a client to start a life with her boyfriend, Marion Crane goes...
There’s no denying that when we look back on the horror film genre, one of the directors that we strongly associate with it is Alfred Hitchcock. Yes, there are multiple accounts of his problematic behaviour now but he did know how to make a solid horror experience and ones that stand the test of time. The most iconic of Hitchcock’s horrors is Psycho.
Now, Psycho is a horror classic and it has been brought again and again over the decades. It’s hard to imagine people don’t know what happens in Psycho but there are some details which are less famous than others. The premise is after stealing money from a client to start a life with her boyfriend, Marion Crane goes...
- 10/30/2020
- by Xenia Grounds
- Nerdly
Universal’s top-of-the-line Alfred Hitchcock classics make the jump to Ultra HD in a worthy update. We’ve seen these before but they’re always different in a theatrical setting… and the quality is so amazing here, a big home theater setup can duplicate a theatrical experience. It might as well be a Robert Burks / John L. Russell cinematographer’s film festival too, or an ‘Editor George Tomasini Festival’ — that unheralded ace cut all four of these masterpieces. And fans of Psycho have an extra treat: a slightly longer original cut.
The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection Ultra HD
Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds
Blu-ray
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
1954-1963 / 1:85 widescreen / Street Date September 8, 2020 /
Starring: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, James Stewart, Kim Novack, Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren.
Cinematography: Robert Burks (3), John L. Russell (1)
Film Editor: George Tomasini (4)
Original Music: Franz Waxman, Bernard Herrmann
Screenwriters: John Michael Hayes,...
The Alfred Hitchcock Classics Collection Ultra HD
Rear Window, Vertigo, Psycho, The Birds
Blu-ray
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
1954-1963 / 1:85 widescreen / Street Date September 8, 2020 /
Starring: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, James Stewart, Kim Novack, Janet Leigh, Anthony Perkins, Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren.
Cinematography: Robert Burks (3), John L. Russell (1)
Film Editor: George Tomasini (4)
Original Music: Franz Waxman, Bernard Herrmann
Screenwriters: John Michael Hayes,...
- 9/12/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Born: Aug. 13, 1899 in England
Died: April 29, 1980 (age 80)
Best known for: Directing “Rebecca,” “Rear Window,” “Vertigo,” “North by Northwest,” “Psycho,” “The Birds” and nearly 50 others.
Nickname: “The Master of Suspense”
Awards: Five Oscar nominations, one Thalberg Award (1967); Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award (1972); AFI Life Achievement (1979); eight-time nominee of Directors Guild of America Award; four Emmy nominations, including “best male personality” as host of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” (1956).
Known for: cameos in each movie, his distinct profile, and his drawling deadpan “Good evening” as he introduced each episode of his TV series
Impact: He created a genre known as the “Hitchcockian thriller,” which mixes suspense, humor, romance and striking visuals, often in a story about an innocent person thrust into a dangerous situation. It’s a style that’s been often imitated, rarely duplicated.
Recognition factor: He became a “brand” director when it was rare: He was a selling point as early as the 1940s,...
Died: April 29, 1980 (age 80)
Best known for: Directing “Rebecca,” “Rear Window,” “Vertigo,” “North by Northwest,” “Psycho,” “The Birds” and nearly 50 others.
Nickname: “The Master of Suspense”
Awards: Five Oscar nominations, one Thalberg Award (1967); Golden Globes’ Cecil B. DeMille Award (1972); AFI Life Achievement (1979); eight-time nominee of Directors Guild of America Award; four Emmy nominations, including “best male personality” as host of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” (1956).
Known for: cameos in each movie, his distinct profile, and his drawling deadpan “Good evening” as he introduced each episode of his TV series
Impact: He created a genre known as the “Hitchcockian thriller,” which mixes suspense, humor, romance and striking visuals, often in a story about an innocent person thrust into a dangerous situation. It’s a style that’s been often imitated, rarely duplicated.
Recognition factor: He became a “brand” director when it was rare: He was a selling point as early as the 1940s,...
- 8/13/2020
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
“She might have fooled me, but she didn’t fool my mother.”
Psycho screens Sunday Night September 8th at the Sky View Drive-in in Lichtfield, Il. (1500 Historic Old Route 66) This is part of the Sky View’s ‘Throwback Sundays’. The second Sunday of the month, they screen a classic movie. Admission is only $3 (free for kids under 5). The movie starts at dusk (8:00-ish). The Sky View’s site can be found Here.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing, and its 78 separate edits. But what everyone does not realize is that this iconic sequence – one of the most famous in film history – was actually a creative response thought up by Saul Bass and Alfred Hitchcock to avoid censorship. In 1959, censorship (the Code) was still alive and well in Hollywood,...
Psycho screens Sunday Night September 8th at the Sky View Drive-in in Lichtfield, Il. (1500 Historic Old Route 66) This is part of the Sky View’s ‘Throwback Sundays’. The second Sunday of the month, they screen a classic movie. Admission is only $3 (free for kids under 5). The movie starts at dusk (8:00-ish). The Sky View’s site can be found Here.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing, and its 78 separate edits. But what everyone does not realize is that this iconic sequence – one of the most famous in film history – was actually a creative response thought up by Saul Bass and Alfred Hitchcock to avoid censorship. In 1959, censorship (the Code) was still alive and well in Hollywood,...
- 8/20/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
“She might have fooled me, but she didn’t fool my mother.”
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is checking into the Bates Motel as Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho comes to the big screen at Powell Hall for an evening of spine-tingling and hair-raising terror Saturday June 22nd at 7pm. From the shrieking strings and the slashing chords, the Slso performs Bernard Herrmann’s suspenseful score live and intensifies this black & white psychological thriller. Experience the dangerous duo of a cinematic masterpiece and iconic score from the safety of your red velvet chair. Conducted by Norman Huynh. Tickets can be purchased Here
Featuring the strings of the Slso.One of the greatest suspense thrillers of all time unfolds on the big screen.Film with live score.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing,...
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is checking into the Bates Motel as Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho comes to the big screen at Powell Hall for an evening of spine-tingling and hair-raising terror Saturday June 22nd at 7pm. From the shrieking strings and the slashing chords, the Slso performs Bernard Herrmann’s suspenseful score live and intensifies this black & white psychological thriller. Experience the dangerous duo of a cinematic masterpiece and iconic score from the safety of your red velvet chair. Conducted by Norman Huynh. Tickets can be purchased Here
Featuring the strings of the Slso.One of the greatest suspense thrillers of all time unfolds on the big screen.Film with live score.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing,...
- 6/5/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
“She might have fooled me, but she didn’t fool my mother.”
The ‘Grave Tales’ Horror film series continues at Webster University Thursday February 14th with a screening of Hitchcock’s Horror classic Psycho (1957) starring Tony Perkins and Janet Leigh. The screening will be at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood). The movie starts at 7:30. A Facebook invite for the event can be found Here. Look for more coverage of the ‘Grave Tales’ Horror film series here at We Are Movie Geeks in the coming weeks.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing, and its 78 separate edits. But what everyone does not realize is that this iconic sequence – one of the most famous in film history – was actually a creative response thought up by Saul Bass...
The ‘Grave Tales’ Horror film series continues at Webster University Thursday February 14th with a screening of Hitchcock’s Horror classic Psycho (1957) starring Tony Perkins and Janet Leigh. The screening will be at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood). The movie starts at 7:30. A Facebook invite for the event can be found Here. Look for more coverage of the ‘Grave Tales’ Horror film series here at We Are Movie Geeks in the coming weeks.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing, and its 78 separate edits. But what everyone does not realize is that this iconic sequence – one of the most famous in film history – was actually a creative response thought up by Saul Bass...
- 2/11/2019
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Scream Factory sent Mike and myself a bunch of B-Movie horror and science fiction titles and we're covering them all here under the moniker of B-Movie Christmas. Forgotten body horror Brain Dead starring Bill Pulman and Bill Paxton, anyone? Surprisingly compelling early 70s apocalyptic sci-fi Colossus the Forbin Project? Nearly lost William Castle thriller The Night Walker? Early 90s vampire movie Rockula featuring an undead teen desperate to woo and rock alongside his mom, played by Toni Basil of "Mickey" fame, and Thomas Dolby as the film's villain? Other films here include the fantastic Amicus 70s horror anthology The House That Dripped Blood, the Joseph Stefano penned Eye of the Cat, the Curtis Harrington shocker Games starring Simone Signoret, The Four...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 12/18/2018
- Screen Anarchy
The late 80’s mostly pushed aside slashers for a return to potpourri poisons; creatures, monsters, zombies and mad scientists shared the spotlight in a bid to woo horror fans grown complacent with mere stabbing and stalking. Out of this stew grew The Kindred (1987), a mostly forgotten mélange that serves as the final (and best) calling card for the directing team of Stephen Carpenter and Jeffrey Obrow (The Power). Bring your slickers and keep the first five rows clear; things are going to get very messy.
Distributed by FM Entertainment in early January, The Kindred brought in $2.4 million before shuffling off to a home video release from Vestron; some critics praised the effects and that’s about it. But for horror fans who missed it the first go around (pick me!), it offers a fast paced ride through groovy practical effects and a typically, um, heightened performance from Rod Steiger.
We open at night,...
Distributed by FM Entertainment in early January, The Kindred brought in $2.4 million before shuffling off to a home video release from Vestron; some critics praised the effects and that’s about it. But for horror fans who missed it the first go around (pick me!), it offers a fast paced ride through groovy practical effects and a typically, um, heightened performance from Rod Steiger.
We open at night,...
- 11/17/2018
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Release Details for The Outer Limits Season 2 Blu-ray Box Set, Coming November 20th from Kino Lorber
Earlier this year, Kino Lorber released The Outer Limits Season 1 on Blu-ray, and if you've been eagerly looking forward to their second season Blu-ray, then your wait is nearly over, as they'll release the remaining 17 episodes of the series on a four-disc set on November 20th, and we have a look at the full list of special features, including audio commentaries and a new booklet essay by David J. Schow.
The Outer Limits Season Two Blu-ray: "Newly Re-Mastered in HD! The entire first season – 17 Episodes. A four-disc set that controls over 15 hours of transmission from the 1964-1965 series. Guest stars include William Shatner, Adam West, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Duvall, Robert Culp, Eddie Albert, Patrick O’Neal, Dabney Coleman and Robert Webber.
Special Features:
• 17 Episodes and 2 Alternates Episodes - All Newly Mastered in HD
• The Unknown – the alternate cut of “The Forms of Things Unknown” intended a pilot for a show...
The Outer Limits Season Two Blu-ray: "Newly Re-Mastered in HD! The entire first season – 17 Episodes. A four-disc set that controls over 15 hours of transmission from the 1964-1965 series. Guest stars include William Shatner, Adam West, Leonard Nimoy, Robert Duvall, Robert Culp, Eddie Albert, Patrick O’Neal, Dabney Coleman and Robert Webber.
Special Features:
• 17 Episodes and 2 Alternates Episodes - All Newly Mastered in HD
• The Unknown – the alternate cut of “The Forms of Things Unknown” intended a pilot for a show...
- 11/16/2018
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Here’s a confession: I’m not really a cat guy. I have nothing against the critters, and I do get why a lot of people love them; loyalty, beauty, etc. I’m just a dog person. I’m assuming the lead character of Eye of the Cat (1969) is too, because he has one lulu of a cat phobia in this sly and amusing thriller.
Ailurophobia is the exact term for an extreme fear of cats, and I won’t use the word again because it’s a bitch to spell and I ain’t no fancy lad neither. Eye of the Cat was released in June by Universal with the tagline “Terror that tears the screams right out of your throat!” This would not be true unless you also suffer from a debilitating fear of felines; but what you do get is a solid little mystery with a lot of twists,...
Ailurophobia is the exact term for an extreme fear of cats, and I won’t use the word again because it’s a bitch to spell and I ain’t no fancy lad neither. Eye of the Cat was released in June by Universal with the tagline “Terror that tears the screams right out of your throat!” This would not be true unless you also suffer from a debilitating fear of felines; but what you do get is a solid little mystery with a lot of twists,...
- 8/11/2018
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Robert Bloch and Milton Subotsky may have helped to codify the Giallo in this murder thriller but the results are not up to even the shaky standards of Amicus. That said, horror fans are going to flock to get their hands on a big color & ‘scope release that’s gone missing for decades. It’s a significant ‘save’ by Kino Lorber.
The Psychopath
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1966 / Color / 2:35 widescreen Techniscope / 82 min. / Street Date April 10, 2018 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Patrick Wymark, Margaret Johnston, John Standing, Alexander Knox, Judy Huxtable, Don Borisenko, Thorley Walters, Robert Crewdson, Harold Lang, Gina Gianelli, Greta Farrer, John Harvey.
Cinematography: John Wilcox
Film Editor: Oswald Hafenrichter
Art Direction: Bill Constable
Original Music: Elisabeth Lutyens
Written by Robert Bloch
Produced by Max Rosenberg, Milton Subotsky
Directed by Freddie Francis
A look at the cast and crew of The Psychopath raises one’s hopes. Good actors Patrick...
The Psychopath
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1966 / Color / 2:35 widescreen Techniscope / 82 min. / Street Date April 10, 2018 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Patrick Wymark, Margaret Johnston, John Standing, Alexander Knox, Judy Huxtable, Don Borisenko, Thorley Walters, Robert Crewdson, Harold Lang, Gina Gianelli, Greta Farrer, John Harvey.
Cinematography: John Wilcox
Film Editor: Oswald Hafenrichter
Art Direction: Bill Constable
Original Music: Elisabeth Lutyens
Written by Robert Bloch
Produced by Max Rosenberg, Milton Subotsky
Directed by Freddie Francis
A look at the cast and crew of The Psychopath raises one’s hopes. Good actors Patrick...
- 5/8/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Wow — somebody took their sweet time about it, but we finally have a quality Blu-ray set of an entire generation’s favorite Sci-fi / monster TV show, an attraction that lit up our humdrum lives with anticipation in the Fall of ’63. Respected stars and good writers contributed to a weird-oh winner that can boast at least fifteen classic hours of Sci-fi delight, in velvety black and white. With informative new audio commentaries.
The Outer Limits Season One
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1963-64 / B&W / 1:33 flat full frame / 1632 min. (32 episodes) / Street Date March 27, 2018 / available through Kino Lorber / 99.95
Created and produced by Leslie Stevens & Joseph Stefano
Talk about a release that should need no introduction: when MGM Home Video released its first DVD sets of Outer Limits sixteen years ago, we saw the pale transfers and the feeble encoding (eight hours per disc!) and immediately wished for a reissue. Syndicated TV broadcasts looked better.
The Outer Limits Season One
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1963-64 / B&W / 1:33 flat full frame / 1632 min. (32 episodes) / Street Date March 27, 2018 / available through Kino Lorber / 99.95
Created and produced by Leslie Stevens & Joseph Stefano
Talk about a release that should need no introduction: when MGM Home Video released its first DVD sets of Outer Limits sixteen years ago, we saw the pale transfers and the feeble encoding (eight hours per disc!) and immediately wished for a reissue. Syndicated TV broadcasts looked better.
- 3/13/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Sometimes you almost think they don’t want you to watch. I’m not sure a more generic title could be conjured up than Revenge! (1971), an ABC TV movie that sounds like it should sit next to nacho chips and beer on the discount supermarket shelf. But, of course, it’s the ingredients that count, and with a stellar cast and a taut script by Psycho screenwriter Joseph Stefano, Revenge! has enough flavor to entertain the more discerning palette.
Originally airing on November 6th, this ABC Movie of the Weekend was up against NBC’s Saturday Night at the Movies and CBS’s Mary Tyler Moore Show / The New Dick Van Dyke Show, but won out again. Revenge! may be a generic title, but ABC’s brand is strong.
Open your faux TV Guide to page 32 for all the saucy details:
Revenge! (Saturday, 8:30pm, ABC)
A crazed woman believes...
Originally airing on November 6th, this ABC Movie of the Weekend was up against NBC’s Saturday Night at the Movies and CBS’s Mary Tyler Moore Show / The New Dick Van Dyke Show, but won out again. Revenge! may be a generic title, but ABC’s brand is strong.
Open your faux TV Guide to page 32 for all the saucy details:
Revenge! (Saturday, 8:30pm, ABC)
A crazed woman believes...
- 8/13/2017
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Article by Jim Batts, Dana Jung, and Tom Stockman
Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo screens at St. Louis’ fabulous Hi-Pointe Theater this weekend as part of their Classic Film Series. It’s Saturday, March 11th at 10:30am at the Hi-Pointe located at 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, Mo 63117. The film will be introduced by Harry Hamm, movie reviewer for Kmox. Admission is only $5
This gives us a perfect excuse to re-run this top ten list so here, according to We Are Movie Geeks, are Alfred Hitchcock’s ten best films:
Frenzy
Frenzy, Hitchcock’s next to last feature film from 1972, represented a homecoming of sorts since it was the first film completely shot in his native England since his silents and early ” talkies ” in the 1930’s. By dipping into the then somewhat new territory of serial killers, he took full advantage of the new cinema freedoms and truly earned his ‘ R ‘ MPAA rating.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo screens at St. Louis’ fabulous Hi-Pointe Theater this weekend as part of their Classic Film Series. It’s Saturday, March 11th at 10:30am at the Hi-Pointe located at 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, Mo 63117. The film will be introduced by Harry Hamm, movie reviewer for Kmox. Admission is only $5
This gives us a perfect excuse to re-run this top ten list so here, according to We Are Movie Geeks, are Alfred Hitchcock’s ten best films:
Frenzy
Frenzy, Hitchcock’s next to last feature film from 1972, represented a homecoming of sorts since it was the first film completely shot in his native England since his silents and early ” talkies ” in the 1930’s. By dipping into the then somewhat new territory of serial killers, he took full advantage of the new cinema freedoms and truly earned his ‘ R ‘ MPAA rating.
- 3/8/2017
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
“She might have fooled me, but she didn’t fool my mother.”
Psycho (1960) plays this weekend (September 16th and 17th) at the Tivoli as part of their Reel Late at the Tivoli Midnight series.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing, and its 78 separate edits. But what everyone does not realize is that this iconic sequence – one of the most famous in film history – was actually a creative response thought up by Saul Bass and Alfred Hitchcock to avoid censorship. In 1959, censorship (the Code) was still alive and well in Hollywood, movie ratings were still years away, and Alfred Hitchcock was at a crossroads in his career. With a string of box office hits and a popular hit TV show, Hitch was one of Hollywood’s most bankable and recognizable directors.
Psycho (1960) plays this weekend (September 16th and 17th) at the Tivoli as part of their Reel Late at the Tivoli Midnight series.
Everyone remembers the most famous scene in Psycho: the oft-copied but seldom equaled artistry of the shower murder, with its nerve-wracking staccato string music, its implied nudity and stabbing, and its 78 separate edits. But what everyone does not realize is that this iconic sequence – one of the most famous in film history – was actually a creative response thought up by Saul Bass and Alfred Hitchcock to avoid censorship. In 1959, censorship (the Code) was still alive and well in Hollywood, movie ratings were still years away, and Alfred Hitchcock was at a crossroads in his career. With a string of box office hits and a popular hit TV show, Hitch was one of Hollywood’s most bankable and recognizable directors.
- 9/12/2016
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The only thing more amazing than the fact that there are three sequels to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho—an untouchable classic that defies sequelization—is the fact that all three sequels are surprisingly good. This is a horror franchise that never should have existed, and yet it is one of the few horror franchises without a single stinker in the bunch… that is, until we get to the 1987 made-for-tv spinoff movie Bates Motel and Gus Van Sant’s shot-for-shot remake in 1998. For our purposes, let’s just stick to the original series of Psycho films starring Anthony Perkins. Anything without the original Norman Bates just ain’t Psycho.
Having never seen the 1990 made-for-cable sequel/prequel Psycho IV: The Beginning prior to Scream Factory’s new Blu-ray release, I was sure this would be the entry in the Psycho series that dropped the ball—the one that looked like what I...
Having never seen the 1990 made-for-cable sequel/prequel Psycho IV: The Beginning prior to Scream Factory’s new Blu-ray release, I was sure this would be the entry in the Psycho series that dropped the ball—the one that looked like what I...
- 8/30/2016
- by Patrick Bromley
- DailyDead
10. Alien
Directed by Ridley Scott
Written by Dan O’Bannon
UK / USA, 1979
Genre: Sci-Fi Horror
Boasting one of the greatest taglines of all time – “In space, no one can hear you scream” – Alien blends science fiction, horror, and bleak poetry into what could have easily turned into a simple B-monster movie. In fact, the movie was originally pitched to producers as “Jaws in space,” but thankfully Ridley Scott, who was stepping behind the camera for only the second time, took the film far more seriously. Like Steven Spielberg’s great thriller, most of the running time relies on the viewer’s imagination since Scott carefully restricts how little we see of the creature. Alien can certainly test a viewer’s patience. This is an extremely slow burn (something unusual for the genre) and despite the budget, stellar effects, and ambitious set design, Alien in a sense is a minimalist film...
Directed by Ridley Scott
Written by Dan O’Bannon
UK / USA, 1979
Genre: Sci-Fi Horror
Boasting one of the greatest taglines of all time – “In space, no one can hear you scream” – Alien blends science fiction, horror, and bleak poetry into what could have easily turned into a simple B-monster movie. In fact, the movie was originally pitched to producers as “Jaws in space,” but thankfully Ridley Scott, who was stepping behind the camera for only the second time, took the film far more seriously. Like Steven Spielberg’s great thriller, most of the running time relies on the viewer’s imagination since Scott carefully restricts how little we see of the creature. Alien can certainly test a viewer’s patience. This is an extremely slow burn (something unusual for the genre) and despite the budget, stellar effects, and ambitious set design, Alien in a sense is a minimalist film...
- 10/31/2015
- by Ricky Fernandes
- SoundOnSight
Article by Jim Batts, Dana Jung, and Tom Stockman
The Birds screens at Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Ave.- at Manchester – Maplewood, Mo 63143) Thursday, April 2nd at 7pm. It is a benefit for Helping Kids Together (more details about this event can be found Here)
This gives us a perfect excuse to re-run this top ten list from March of 2012. Alfred Hitchcock directed 54 feature films between 1925 and 1976, and here, according to We Are Movie Geeks, are his ten best:
Frenzy
Frenzy, Hitchcock’s next to last feature film from 1972, represented a homecoming of sorts since it was the first film completely shot in his native England since his silents and early ” talkies ” in the 1930’s. By dipping into the then somewhat new territory of serial killers, he took full advantage of the new cinema freedoms and truly earned his ‘ R ‘ MPAA rating. Perhaps ole’ ” Hitch ” wanted to give those young up-and-coming...
The Birds screens at Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Ave.- at Manchester – Maplewood, Mo 63143) Thursday, April 2nd at 7pm. It is a benefit for Helping Kids Together (more details about this event can be found Here)
This gives us a perfect excuse to re-run this top ten list from March of 2012. Alfred Hitchcock directed 54 feature films between 1925 and 1976, and here, according to We Are Movie Geeks, are his ten best:
Frenzy
Frenzy, Hitchcock’s next to last feature film from 1972, represented a homecoming of sorts since it was the first film completely shot in his native England since his silents and early ” talkies ” in the 1930’s. By dipping into the then somewhat new territory of serial killers, he took full advantage of the new cinema freedoms and truly earned his ‘ R ‘ MPAA rating. Perhaps ole’ ” Hitch ” wanted to give those young up-and-coming...
- 3/30/2015
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Throughout the month of December, we will be highlighting a film a day that has some tie into the holiday somehow. Some titles will be obvious, others won’t be. Some films will be good and, again, others won’t be. However, we think all titles are worth your time whether to give you chills inside your home or to make you drink more eggnog until you puke laughing.
On Christmas Eve four daughters are summoned to the country home of their estranged father (Walter Brennan). He believes his new wife is slowly poisoning him. And he has one request: kill her before she kills him! A raging storm cuts the phone line and washes out the roads, not to mention a poncho wearing pitchfork wielding psycho running around. Will anyone survive the holidays?
Home for the Holidays premiered on ABC way back in 1972. And it’s a fun little thriller.
On Christmas Eve four daughters are summoned to the country home of their estranged father (Walter Brennan). He believes his new wife is slowly poisoning him. And he has one request: kill her before she kills him! A raging storm cuts the phone line and washes out the roads, not to mention a poncho wearing pitchfork wielding psycho running around. Will anyone survive the holidays?
Home for the Holidays premiered on ABC way back in 1972. And it’s a fun little thriller.
- 12/8/2014
- by Jeremy Jones
- Destroy the Brain
“If a movie makes you happy, for whatever reason, then it’s a good movie.”
—Big E
*******Warning: Review Contains Spoilers*******
By Ernie Magnotta
If there’s one thing I love, it’s 1970s made-for-tv horror films. I remember sitting in front of the television as a kid and watching a plethora of films such as Gargoyles, Bad Ronald, Satan’s School for Girls, Horror at 37,000 Feet, Devil Dog: Hound of Hell, Scream Pretty Peggy, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Moon of the Wolf and The Initiation of Sarah just to name a few. Some of those are better than others, but all were fun.
When I think back, there have been some legendary names associated with small screen horrors. Genre masters John Carpenter (Halloween), Steven Spielberg (Jaws), Wes Craven (Nightmare on Elm Street), Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and Joseph Stefano (Psycho) all took shots at television...
—Big E
*******Warning: Review Contains Spoilers*******
By Ernie Magnotta
If there’s one thing I love, it’s 1970s made-for-tv horror films. I remember sitting in front of the television as a kid and watching a plethora of films such as Gargoyles, Bad Ronald, Satan’s School for Girls, Horror at 37,000 Feet, Devil Dog: Hound of Hell, Scream Pretty Peggy, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Moon of the Wolf and The Initiation of Sarah just to name a few. Some of those are better than others, but all were fun.
When I think back, there have been some legendary names associated with small screen horrors. Genre masters John Carpenter (Halloween), Steven Spielberg (Jaws), Wes Craven (Nightmare on Elm Street), Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and Joseph Stefano (Psycho) all took shots at television...
- 11/9/2014
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Let's Not Do It Again! kicks off this week at Trailers from Hell, with director Ti West introducing Gus Van Sant's 1998 remake of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho."The only way to watch Van Sant’s remake of Psycho with a fresh eye is to never have seen Hitchcock’s irreplaceable original. That’s because Van Sant’s film is virtually an identical cousin of that 1960 classic using many of the same camera set-ups, albeit this time in color. Whether seen as a provocative post-modern deconstruction or an egregious waste of 60 million dollars, Van Sant’s film is oddly suspense-free, even with Joseph Stefano’s darkly comic screenplay and Bernard Herrmann’s slashing violins still along for the ride. Now apparently having become a Heaven’s Gate-like candidate for rehabilitation, this was given another recent reappraisal courtesy of the Village Voice.
- 2/10/2014
- by Trailers From Hell
- Thompson on Hollywood
by Ryan Rigley
Last week's return of "Arrow" to the CW marks the beginning of a new wave of DC television series. Not only have Warner Bros. and DC announced their plans for a "Flash" spinoff series sometime next year but they've also made mention of a Jim Gordon-centric "Gotham" TV series over at Fox.
Marvel Studios may be killing it in the Cinematic Universe, but it seems like DC has television on lock. In fact, DC has always been pretty proficient with their TV series. Case in point being "Swamp Thing: The Series," a TV show based on a DC character made popular by Alan Moore in the 80's. With Guillermo del Toro's plans to include Swamp Thing in his "Justice League Dark" film, we think now's as good a time as any to reflect back on the "Swamp Thing" TV series.
Series Statistics
Network: USA
Broadcast...
Last week's return of "Arrow" to the CW marks the beginning of a new wave of DC television series. Not only have Warner Bros. and DC announced their plans for a "Flash" spinoff series sometime next year but they've also made mention of a Jim Gordon-centric "Gotham" TV series over at Fox.
Marvel Studios may be killing it in the Cinematic Universe, but it seems like DC has television on lock. In fact, DC has always been pretty proficient with their TV series. Case in point being "Swamp Thing: The Series," a TV show based on a DC character made popular by Alan Moore in the 80's. With Guillermo del Toro's plans to include Swamp Thing in his "Justice League Dark" film, we think now's as good a time as any to reflect back on the "Swamp Thing" TV series.
Series Statistics
Network: USA
Broadcast...
- 10/14/2013
- by Splash Page Team
- MTV Splash Page
Every year, we here at Sound On Sight celebrate the month of October with 31 Days of Horror; and every year, I update the list of my favourite horror films ever made. Last year, I released a list that included 150 picks. This year, I’ll be upgrading the list, making minor alterations, changing the rankings, adding new entries, and possibly removing a few titles. I’ve also decided to publish each post backwards this time around for one simple reason: that is, the new additions appear lower on my list, whereas my top 50 haven’t changed much, except for maybe in ranking. Enjoy!
Special Mention:
Un chien andalou
Directed by Luis Buñuel
Written by Salvador Dalí and Luis Buñuel
France, 1929
The dream – or nightmare – has been a staple of horror cinema for decades. In 1929, Luis Bunuel joined forces with Salvador Dali to create Un chien andalou, an experimental and unforgettable 17-minute surrealist masterpiece.
Special Mention:
Un chien andalou
Directed by Luis Buñuel
Written by Salvador Dalí and Luis Buñuel
France, 1929
The dream – or nightmare – has been a staple of horror cinema for decades. In 1929, Luis Bunuel joined forces with Salvador Dali to create Un chien andalou, an experimental and unforgettable 17-minute surrealist masterpiece.
- 10/12/2013
- by Ricky da Conceição
- SoundOnSight
Stephen King Meets Norman Bates! week concludes at Trailers from Hell, with director Mick Garris introducing his own "Psycho IV," starring Anthony Perkins.After the boxoffice failure of Psycho III plans for Anthony Perkins to again direct and star in a follow up were derailed and Mick Garris was brought in to direct. Original Psycho scribe Joseph Stefano decided to ignore the plot twists of the previous two entries and the unsold tv pilot Bates Motel and treat this one as a direct sequel-cum-prequel to the original. Theatrical play was bypassed and the film debuted on Showtime cable, where it garnered respectable viewership.
- 9/20/2013
- by Trailers From Hell
- Thompson on Hollywood
The Wasteland:
Television is a gold goose that lays scrambled eggs;
and it is futile and probably fatal to beat it for not laying caviar.
Lee Loevinger
When people argue over the quality of television programming, both sides — it’s addictive crap v. underappreciated populist art — seem to forget one of the essentials about commercial TV. By definition, it is not a public service. It is not commercial TV’s job to enlighten, inform, educate, elevate, inspire, or offer insight. Frankly, it’s not even commercial TV’s job to entertain. Bottom line: its purpose is simply to deliver as many sets of eyes to advertisers as possible. As it happens, it tends to do this by offering various forms of entertainment, and occasionally by offering content that does enlighten, inform, etc., but a cynic would make the point that if TV could do the same job televising fish aimlessly swimming around an aquarium,...
Television is a gold goose that lays scrambled eggs;
and it is futile and probably fatal to beat it for not laying caviar.
Lee Loevinger
When people argue over the quality of television programming, both sides — it’s addictive crap v. underappreciated populist art — seem to forget one of the essentials about commercial TV. By definition, it is not a public service. It is not commercial TV’s job to enlighten, inform, educate, elevate, inspire, or offer insight. Frankly, it’s not even commercial TV’s job to entertain. Bottom line: its purpose is simply to deliver as many sets of eyes to advertisers as possible. As it happens, it tends to do this by offering various forms of entertainment, and occasionally by offering content that does enlighten, inform, etc., but a cynic would make the point that if TV could do the same job televising fish aimlessly swimming around an aquarium,...
- 7/22/2013
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
No; Beyond the Hills; Warm Bodies; Beautiful Creatures; Hitchcock; To the Wonder
A gripping combination of political history and personal intrigue, Pablo Larraín's No (2012, Network, 15) dramatically recounts the campaign to remove General Pinochet from power during the 1988 Chilean referendum. Based on a stage play by Antonio Skármeta, the action centres on René Saavedra (Gael García Bernal), an advertising executive enlisted to sell the "No" campaign to a nation with the slogan "Happiness is coming", to the displeasure of the hard-line politicos who believe he's belittling their cause.
The completion of a thematic trilogy (following Tony Manero and Post Mortem), No benefits from Larraín's bold use of boxy, grainy U-matic video stock, which enables him to blend latterday recreations with authentic archival TV footage. The result is a seamless mix of fact and fiction, brought together through a unifying aesthetic in which the medium perfectly fits the message.
At times...
A gripping combination of political history and personal intrigue, Pablo Larraín's No (2012, Network, 15) dramatically recounts the campaign to remove General Pinochet from power during the 1988 Chilean referendum. Based on a stage play by Antonio Skármeta, the action centres on René Saavedra (Gael García Bernal), an advertising executive enlisted to sell the "No" campaign to a nation with the slogan "Happiness is coming", to the displeasure of the hard-line politicos who believe he's belittling their cause.
The completion of a thematic trilogy (following Tony Manero and Post Mortem), No benefits from Larraín's bold use of boxy, grainy U-matic video stock, which enables him to blend latterday recreations with authentic archival TV footage. The result is a seamless mix of fact and fiction, brought together through a unifying aesthetic in which the medium perfectly fits the message.
At times...
- 6/15/2013
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
Having examined, investigated and completely broken down the ins and outs of the entire 'Psycho' franchise for my documentary project 'The Psycho Legacy,' I’ve managed to become pretty well versed in the mythology and time-line of all the events as they take place within the universe set up by Sir Alfred Hitchcock in his 1960 adaptation of the Robert Bloch novel 'Psycho' right through to the final prequel/sequel of that particular franchise with 'Psycho IV: The Beginning.'
One of my initial concerns with A&E’s original announcement regarding their prequel show 'Bates Motel' was that my knowledge of the movies was going to spoil all the details of how the events leading up to the first 'Psycho' had transpired. But alas, what the writers and producers of the show wisely opted to do instead was set the re-imagining in the present day.
One of my initial concerns with A&E’s original announcement regarding their prequel show 'Bates Motel' was that my knowledge of the movies was going to spoil all the details of how the events leading up to the first 'Psycho' had transpired. But alas, what the writers and producers of the show wisely opted to do instead was set the re-imagining in the present day.
- 4/19/2013
- by Rob Galluzzo
- FEARnet
Fifty years after its release (on March 28, 1963), we can't stop talking about Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds." We're still terrified by it, perhaps because Hitchcock wisely avoided providing any explanation for the avian attacks on Bodega Bay. We're still fascinated by how it was made, especially because, at 83, star Tippi Hedren continues to hold forth on the pleasures and horrors of working with Hitchcock. Much of the story has been retold, in books (notably, Patrick McGilligan's "Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light") and in last year's HBO movie "The Girl." Still, as familiar as we think we are with the scary masterpiece, there's still plenty that remains a mystery -- how did Hitchcock wrangle all those birds? How did he mix live ones with pretend birds so seamlessly? And what really went on between him and Hedren? Read on to learn some of the secrets of "The Birds.
- 3/25/2013
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
Welcome to the third installment of Psycho Path, a look at fictional madman Norman Bates from the Psycho franchise.
Intended to run in five parts, Psycho Path will focus on each of Norman’s adventures – in novels, films, and television series – while examining each incarnation of the character and the differences amongst them.
Check out past installments of Psycho Path: Tracing Norman Bates' Twisted Trail Through Page and Screen here
Part III: Third Time’s the Charm
When we last left Norman Bates, he was either dead or insane, depending on which Psycho II you’d like to refer to (book or film, respectively). With the novel series keeping idle for nearly a decade between books (the third and final chapter of Bloch’s Psycho run wouldn’t appear until 1990), the only offerings fans could find in the wake of each Psycho II were another film sequel and a failed...
Intended to run in five parts, Psycho Path will focus on each of Norman’s adventures – in novels, films, and television series – while examining each incarnation of the character and the differences amongst them.
Check out past installments of Psycho Path: Tracing Norman Bates' Twisted Trail Through Page and Screen here
Part III: Third Time’s the Charm
When we last left Norman Bates, he was either dead or insane, depending on which Psycho II you’d like to refer to (book or film, respectively). With the novel series keeping idle for nearly a decade between books (the third and final chapter of Bloch’s Psycho run wouldn’t appear until 1990), the only offerings fans could find in the wake of each Psycho II were another film sequel and a failed...
- 3/18/2013
- by Jinx
- DreadCentral.com
Welcome to the first installment of Psycho Path, a look at fictional madman Norman Bates from the Psycho franchise. Intended to run in five parts, Psycho Path will focus on each of Norman’s adventures – in novels, films, and television series...
...while examining each incarnation of the character and the differences amongst them.
As such, these pieces are not intended to be straight reviews of the works in question (for a fantastic set of write-ups concerning the Psycho films, be sure to check out Chud.com’s brilliant series Franchise Me, which covers the franchise in question here).
We’ll start together at the beginning, with Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel and Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1960 film adaptation, and wrap up with Gus Van Sant’s much-maligned 1998 remake and A&E’s upcoming prequel/reboot series "Bates Motel."
Part I: First Impressions
”I think perhaps all of us go a little crazy at times.
...while examining each incarnation of the character and the differences amongst them.
As such, these pieces are not intended to be straight reviews of the works in question (for a fantastic set of write-ups concerning the Psycho films, be sure to check out Chud.com’s brilliant series Franchise Me, which covers the franchise in question here).
We’ll start together at the beginning, with Robert Bloch’s 1959 novel and Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1960 film adaptation, and wrap up with Gus Van Sant’s much-maligned 1998 remake and A&E’s upcoming prequel/reboot series "Bates Motel."
Part I: First Impressions
”I think perhaps all of us go a little crazy at times.
- 3/12/2013
- by Jinx
- DreadCentral.com
Throughout the month of October, Editor-in-Chief and resident Horror expert Ricky D, will be posting a list of his favorite Horror films of all time. The list will be posted in six parts. Click here to see every entry.
As with all lists, this is personal and nobody will agree with every choice – and if you do, that would be incredibly disturbing. It was almost impossible for me to rank them in order, but I tried and eventually gave up.
****
Special Mention:
Shock Corridor
Directed by Samuel Fuller
Written by Samuel Fuller
1963, USA
Shock Corridor stars Peter Breck as Johnny Barrett, an ambitious reporter who wants to expose the killer at the local insane asylum. In order to solve the case, he must pretend to be insane so they have him committed. Once in the asylum, Barrett sets to work, interrogating the other patients and keeping a close eye on the staff.
As with all lists, this is personal and nobody will agree with every choice – and if you do, that would be incredibly disturbing. It was almost impossible for me to rank them in order, but I tried and eventually gave up.
****
Special Mention:
Shock Corridor
Directed by Samuel Fuller
Written by Samuel Fuller
1963, USA
Shock Corridor stars Peter Breck as Johnny Barrett, an ambitious reporter who wants to expose the killer at the local insane asylum. In order to solve the case, he must pretend to be insane so they have him committed. Once in the asylum, Barrett sets to work, interrogating the other patients and keeping a close eye on the staff.
- 10/28/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Some new photos from the upcoming film Hitchcock have been released, featuring Anthony Hopkins in the title role as the legendary director and Helen Mirren as his wife and partner Alma Reville. Fox Searchlight has also released some other on-set photos that originally appeared in People magazine, presented here un-cropped and in higher resolution.
Based on Stephen Rebello’s non-fiction book Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, the film’s official plot synopsis is is a bit vague, but still intriguing (especially for fans of the 1960 horror classic):
“Hitchcock” is a love story about one of the most influential filmmakers of the last century, Alfred Hitchcock and his wife and partner Alma Reville. The film takes place during the making of Hitchcock’s seminal movie Psycho.
In addition to Anthony Hopkins as Hitch and Mirren as his wife Alma, Scarlett Johansson will play actress Janet Leigh, James D...
Based on Stephen Rebello’s non-fiction book Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, the film’s official plot synopsis is is a bit vague, but still intriguing (especially for fans of the 1960 horror classic):
“Hitchcock” is a love story about one of the most influential filmmakers of the last century, Alfred Hitchcock and his wife and partner Alma Reville. The film takes place during the making of Hitchcock’s seminal movie Psycho.
In addition to Anthony Hopkins as Hitch and Mirren as his wife Alma, Scarlett Johansson will play actress Janet Leigh, James D...
- 10/8/2012
- by Patrick Grieve
- We Got This Covered
With the notion of film canonization once again at issue, we thought it might be an appropriate occasion to check in on our staff’s collective opinion of the greatest films of all time. We had no idea what to expect; our contributors come from all over the world and come from vastly different backgrounds and occupations. The results were, appropriately, eclectic, ranging from acknowledged cornerstones to contemporary classics.
A few facts worth throwing in: with five films appearing, Orson Welles is the most frequently-cited director, followed by Stanley Kubrick, Alfred Hitchcock and Akira Kurosawa; the newest film to merit an appearance was Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds; animated films made a dent, particularly Toy Story and Snow White; several shorts managed to find their way in, as well.
The list, along with some individual writers’ thoughts on the entries that make up the Top 10, follow including special mention of...
A few facts worth throwing in: with five films appearing, Orson Welles is the most frequently-cited director, followed by Stanley Kubrick, Alfred Hitchcock and Akira Kurosawa; the newest film to merit an appearance was Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds; animated films made a dent, particularly Toy Story and Snow White; several shorts managed to find their way in, as well.
The list, along with some individual writers’ thoughts on the entries that make up the Top 10, follow including special mention of...
- 8/23/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
What's the greatest Alfred Hitchcock film? Every film fan will have a different answer, with "The 39 Steps," "Rebecca," "Spellbound," "Notorious," "Rear Window," "Vertigo" and "North By Northwest" all making compelling cases for being the very best. But few of his films had such an impact on cinema as "Psycho," the 1960s thriller that saw him go into darker, more shocking territory than ever before, with some of the most famous sequences in the history of the medium.
Following secretary Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) as she embezzles money from an employer and hides out at a deserted motel owned by the mysterious Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), a man with serious mother issues, only to stunningly and unforgettably kill off its lead halfway through the film, the picture turned out to be the biggest hit of Hitchcock's career, and was arguably his last truly great movie. It was released fifty-two years ago tomorrow,...
Following secretary Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) as she embezzles money from an employer and hides out at a deserted motel owned by the mysterious Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins), a man with serious mother issues, only to stunningly and unforgettably kill off its lead halfway through the film, the picture turned out to be the biggest hit of Hitchcock's career, and was arguably his last truly great movie. It was released fifty-two years ago tomorrow,...
- 6/15/2012
- by Oliver Lyttelton
- The Playlist
Ralph Macchio is checking into the Bates Motel.
The former (and forever) "Karate Kid" himself will be polishing his writing skills (via a little wax-on, wax-off?) as he signs on to play Joseph Stefano in "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of 'Psycho,'" according to Deadline.
The film (which IMDb has listed simply as "Hitchcock") chronicles the making of The Master's classic horror flick that ended up being one of the most influential genre films of all time — despite the fact that no studio wanted to touch the material at the time.
Joseph Stefano, an inexperienced Hollywood screenwriter with only one credit under his belt, was hired by Hitchcock (played by Anthony Hopkins in the film) to rework longtime "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" staff writer James Cavanaugh's reportedly "very dull" adaptation of Robert Bloch's novel, which was inspired by the crimes of Wisconsin murderer and grave robber Ed...
The former (and forever) "Karate Kid" himself will be polishing his writing skills (via a little wax-on, wax-off?) as he signs on to play Joseph Stefano in "Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of 'Psycho,'" according to Deadline.
The film (which IMDb has listed simply as "Hitchcock") chronicles the making of The Master's classic horror flick that ended up being one of the most influential genre films of all time — despite the fact that no studio wanted to touch the material at the time.
Joseph Stefano, an inexperienced Hollywood screenwriter with only one credit under his belt, was hired by Hitchcock (played by Anthony Hopkins in the film) to rework longtime "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" staff writer James Cavanaugh's reportedly "very dull" adaptation of Robert Bloch's novel, which was inspired by the crimes of Wisconsin murderer and grave robber Ed...
- 4/18/2012
- by Bryan Enk
- NextMovie
You read that headline correctly. Ralph "Daniel-san" Macchio has joined the cast of Alfred Hitchcock And The Making Of Psycho. He will be playing screenwriter Joseph Stefano. As you can see from the image above, there is a bit of a resemblance. Macchio, best known for The Karate Kid trilogy and his recent stint on Dancing with the Stars, joins the cast that already boasts Jessica Biel, Anthony Hopkins, James D'Arcy, Helen Mirren, and Scarlett Johansson. It is nice to see...
- 4/17/2012
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
It’s always a good time to read about director Alfred Hitchcock and expect a lot of attention on the Master of Suspense in the upcoming months as there are two films currently in production about him. Alfred Hitchcock And The Making Of Psycho (expect a title change on that one) based in the book by Steve Rebello, is in pre-production with Sacha Gervasi (Anvil! The Story Of Anvil) directing and an outstanding cast attached. Anthony Hopkins has signed on to play Hitch, Scarlett Johansson is cast as Janet Leigh, Jessica Biel will be playing Vera Miles, British actor James D’Arcy is Tony Perkins, and Helen Mirren will play Alma Reville (Mrs Hitchcock). The other Hitchcock film in the works is The Girl produced by The BBC that will premiere later this year on HBO. The Girl focuses on the love/hate relationship between Hitchcock (played by Toby Jones...
- 3/27/2012
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Janet Leigh in Psycho
Photo: Universal Studios Home Entertainment It was announced late yesterday that Scarlett Johansson will be playing Janet Leigh in Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho directed by Sacha Gervasi (Anvil! The Story of Anvil). Fine. Whatever. I'm sure we'll see a recreation of the iconic shower scene and I hope, at the very least, there will be a scene dedicated to the conversation between Hitchcock and screenwriter Joseph Stefano with Stefano urging Hitchcock to show the flushing toilet. Yeah, that would be a highlight for me. Along with Johansson, James D'Arcy has been added to the cast as Anthony Perkins and the two join Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren who will play Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville respectively. The story is said to center on the relationship between Hitch and Alma as he sets about making what has become one of the most iconic horror movies of all time.
Photo: Universal Studios Home Entertainment It was announced late yesterday that Scarlett Johansson will be playing Janet Leigh in Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho directed by Sacha Gervasi (Anvil! The Story of Anvil). Fine. Whatever. I'm sure we'll see a recreation of the iconic shower scene and I hope, at the very least, there will be a scene dedicated to the conversation between Hitchcock and screenwriter Joseph Stefano with Stefano urging Hitchcock to show the flushing toilet. Yeah, that would be a highlight for me. Along with Johansson, James D'Arcy has been added to the cast as Anthony Perkins and the two join Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren who will play Hitchcock and his wife Alma Reville respectively. The story is said to center on the relationship between Hitch and Alma as he sets about making what has become one of the most iconic horror movies of all time.
- 3/3/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Is the big 2012 trend going to be TV series that act as prequels to film classics? We've already heard that AMC is the likely home [1] for a Goodfellas TV series, which has been said to be a prequel to Martin Scorsese's film. There is also Hannibal, a show that explores the early relationship [2] between detective Will Graham and killer Hannibal Lecter. Now A&E is developing Bates Motel, a series that would serve as a prequel to Alfred Hitchcock's classic 1960 film Psycho. Because we need to know all about how Norman Bates got to be crazy, right? Psycho IV: The Beginning didn't cover that angle well enough. THR [3] says that Bates Motel will "offer an understanding into how Norman Bates' psyche developed and would tell the back story of the film's killer, learning of how his mother, Norma, and her lover damaged him, transforming him into serial-killing motel owner.
- 1/13/2012
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
For many fans, independent horror filmmaking seems like a relatively new concept. So you may be surprised to find out the maverick spirit that fuels our beloved genre has been burning for almost 100 years now, since the 1912 version of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde was produced by the independently-run production house Thanhouser Company.
Since then, we’ve enjoyed countless films that bucked the studio system tradition and gave us bold, refreshing explorations of some of our greatest fears and introduced us to some pioneers in the entertainment industry. In honor of these achievements, we here at Dread Central are taking the entire month of March to celebrate all things indie horror.
To kick things off, over the next five days we’d like to take you on a historical journey through the last 100 years of indie horror by taking a look at 25 milestones that helped define the horror genre and, in many cases,...
Since then, we’ve enjoyed countless films that bucked the studio system tradition and gave us bold, refreshing explorations of some of our greatest fears and introduced us to some pioneers in the entertainment industry. In honor of these achievements, we here at Dread Central are taking the entire month of March to celebrate all things indie horror.
To kick things off, over the next five days we’d like to take you on a historical journey through the last 100 years of indie horror by taking a look at 25 milestones that helped define the horror genre and, in many cases,...
- 3/7/2011
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
Actor best known for her roles in Exodus and the Broadway musical Cabaret
The producer-director Otto Preminger had an eye for blue-eyed blondes, casting two complete unknowns, the 19-year-old Jean Seberg in Saint Joan (1957) and the 15-year-old Jill Haworth in Exodus (1960), with mixed results. In Preminger's rambling, all-things-to-all-people saga about the birth of Israel, Haworth, who has died aged 65, played Karen Hansen, a young Danish-Jewish girl searching for her father, from whom she was separated during the second world war. She falls in love with a radical Zionist (Sal Mineo), but is killed during a raid and buried in the same grave as an Arab, a symbol of reconciliation between the two peoples. Despite a phoney accent and the fact that she had never acted previously, Haworth was cute and touching in the significant role.
She then appeared in two more of Preminger's overstretched epics on huge subjects: The Cardinal...
The producer-director Otto Preminger had an eye for blue-eyed blondes, casting two complete unknowns, the 19-year-old Jean Seberg in Saint Joan (1957) and the 15-year-old Jill Haworth in Exodus (1960), with mixed results. In Preminger's rambling, all-things-to-all-people saga about the birth of Israel, Haworth, who has died aged 65, played Karen Hansen, a young Danish-Jewish girl searching for her father, from whom she was separated during the second world war. She falls in love with a radical Zionist (Sal Mineo), but is killed during a raid and buried in the same grave as an Arab, a symbol of reconciliation between the two peoples. Despite a phoney accent and the fact that she had never acted previously, Haworth was cute and touching in the significant role.
She then appeared in two more of Preminger's overstretched epics on huge subjects: The Cardinal...
- 1/13/2011
- by Ronald Bergan
- The Guardian - Film News
Alfred Hitchcock, 1960
Author Robert Bloch, on whose novel Joseph Stefano's screenplay was based, described Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho as embodying "the fear of the boy next door". The terror, for Bloch, lay in the fact that the killer "could be the person sitting next to you". Bloch had been inspired to write his potboiler (copies of which Hitchcock reportedly bought up to keep the end a surprise) by news reports about Ed Gein, the seemingly ordinary Wisconsin loner who was revealed to be a murderer and necrophile. Dubbed "the Wisconsin ghoul", Gein made ornaments and clothing from the skin of the dead and inspired a legacy of fictionalised screen shockers, ranging from the trashy Deranged to the epochal Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Oscar-winning The Silence of the Lambs. But it was Anthony Perkins's maternally obsessed misfit in Psycho who most perfectly distilled the modern fear of the monster who looks just like you.
Author Robert Bloch, on whose novel Joseph Stefano's screenplay was based, described Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho as embodying "the fear of the boy next door". The terror, for Bloch, lay in the fact that the killer "could be the person sitting next to you". Bloch had been inspired to write his potboiler (copies of which Hitchcock reportedly bought up to keep the end a surprise) by news reports about Ed Gein, the seemingly ordinary Wisconsin loner who was revealed to be a murderer and necrophile. Dubbed "the Wisconsin ghoul", Gein made ornaments and clothing from the skin of the dead and inspired a legacy of fictionalised screen shockers, ranging from the trashy Deranged to the epochal Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Oscar-winning The Silence of the Lambs. But it was Anthony Perkins's maternally obsessed misfit in Psycho who most perfectly distilled the modern fear of the monster who looks just like you.
- 10/22/2010
- by Mark Kermode
- The Guardian - Film News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.