I'm pretty sure I've posted about this one before, but if I haven't, you're hearing about it now. I am extremely excited about this film, it looks and sounds amazing. Atleast it did, until The Weinstein Company got their grubby little paws all over it.
I have to tip my hat to Bloody-Disgusting.com, as they posted an article about this today and I felt so compelled to share my own thoughts on the matter that here we are.
Snowpiercer, directed by Bong Joon-Ho (The Host), is slaying in Korea. Released on August 1st, it sold 3.3 million tickets in 5 days. Holy shit, that's insane. It's got an incredible cast, Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton alone set it apart, and the story is even better: The film is set in a future where a runaway experiment to stop global warming
has caused an ice age that killed nearly all life on the planet. The
only survivors are the inhabitants of the 'Snowpiercer', a massive train
that travels around the planet and is powered by a perpetual-motion
engine. Over time a class system evolves on the train, with the elites
inhabiting the front of the train and poor inhabiting the back of the
train. Tired of their poor living conditions, the riders in the back
revolt, attempting to seize control of the engine, which the elites in
the front considersacred.
And here's where it gets fun. The internet has been exploding over the news that The Weinstein Company (who have distribution rights in America) is demanding that Bong cut 20 minutes off the run time to make sure the film "will be understood by audiences in Iowa... and Oklahoma", according to film critic and programmer Tony Rayns. What the fuck? Rayns goes on to say, "Leaving aside the issue of what Weinstein thinks of its audience, it
seems to say the least anomalous that the rest of the English-speaking
world has to be dragged down to the presumed level of American mid-west
hicks.” According to Rayns, Bong stated that the cuts will largely affect character development, effectively turning the film into an action film. Weinstein will be adding opening and closing voice-overs, to assist those not capable enough to follow the film on their own in understanding the deep complexities of the film. What a crock of shit. Not only is this a huge insult to the American public and their intelligence, it's a crime to jeopardize the artistic integrity of a directors film in an attempt to dull it down for what you consider to be redneck hicks in the midwest. As horror fans, this should infuriate each and every one of us because this is yet another problem that we have to deal with in the pursuit of trying to see what these directors originally intend for us to see. The Evil Dead trilogy fell prey to it and it's very sad to see that not much has changed. Check out the trailer below, and please, chime in with your thoughts.
WWE Studios has been on a role lately, with their latest flick The Call pulling in a good 53 million and change. So much so, that they went scrambling back to their filing cabinet and decided to resurrect 2006's See No Evil starring Kane. Some part of me is still hoping that this emerges as a joke, but that seems highly unlikely as the amazing dynamic (and identical) duo, The Soska Sister (American Mary) are attached to direct. That could the final saving grace, in my opinion.
So, are you excited to Jacob Goodnight return to the Blackwell Hotel? Sound off in the comments.
Believe it or not, summer is about to come to a close (Labor Day looms, but a month away) and for fans of horror based TV, that means the return of FX's American Horror Story. From the get-go I was extremely excited about this show, the trailers promised everything I would love about a horror based television show, and it was everything I wanted in horror-tv. Alteast for the first half of the season. However, the second season completely renewed by faith in the series, and I am anxiously awaiting its return in late September.
For those of you who may not be familiar, the series has an interesting format. Each season presents a new story, new characters, new environments and new settings, however, retaining much of the same cast. It's pretty cool, and it worked really well with this last season. This season they will be bringing back cast members from season 2, some from season 1 and some new ones that I think will really nail it this year.
Aside from the fact that I am already a fan of the series, this season is going to be based in and around my favorite city, and some of my favorite folk-lore of all time: New Orleans, and it's voodoo background. (In case you aren't picking up on it, this is wet-dream fodder for me).
Some casting details have emerged for American Horror Story: Coven, which will follow the story of witches throughout time, based in quaint 'ol New Orleans.
Jessica Lange, the recurring star of AHS, will be playing a witch named Fiona. She has remarked in interviews that the show will take place in several different eras, so we will be seeing a lot of different stories. This sounds like it will be similar to last years AHS: Asylum.
Sarah Paulson, one of my favorites from last year, will be playing Lange's daughter, Cordelia.
I'm very excited about this one, the amazing Kathy Bates will be joining the AHS cast this year and she will be playing Madame Delphine LaLaurie a wealthy 19th century Louisiana-born socialite/serial killer who was known for the torture and murder of her slaves. Her story is that of legend in New Orleans. Look it up, it's plenty interesting.
The most exciting bit of casting new for me is that of Angela Bassett being cast as none other than Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen. Laveau is probably the most legendary figure to come out of New Orleans, a figure of mythology and huge historical impact, you can still visit her grave-site (which has become a sort of shrine) in the Big Easy.
I cannot wait for this season, it promises to be pure magic (teehee, no pun intended). For you AHS fans, also plan on seeing Frances Conroy, Evan Peters, Taissa Farmigaand Lily Rabe return to the screen as well as new comer Gabourey Sidibe (Precious).
Jason Eisener (Hobo With a Shotgun) has mastered the art of the short horror film, with One Last Dive, a story that will have you thinking twice before going for a dip at the lake/beach/river/anything-besides-the-pool. This is why I don't swim in that shit.
Any Chucky fans out there? A brand new red band trailer for the new Brad/Fiona Dourif team up effort has hit the interwebs, and while I'm not a huge Child's Play fan, I do think that I'll be checking it out.
In Curse of Chucky: "After her mother's mysterious death, Nica begins to suspect that the
talking, red-haired doll her visiting niece has been playing with may be
the key to recent bloodshed and chaos."
Considering that this is one of my all-time favorite horror films, I'm quite excited about this news. While the price tag is a bit hefty ($49.99 MSRP), I can't wait to bring it home myself, especially considering all the nifty swag you'll be getting. I mean, you better be getting something special for that price!
A few days ago, Warner gave us all a peek inside the packaging for the special edition, 40 year anniversary deluxe Blu-Ray for The Exorcist (read my review here), and it looks AWESOME.
Available on October 8th, the blu-ray focuses heavily on the genius behind it, Mr. William Friedkin, including an excerpt of his memoir The Friedkin Connection: A Memoir, as well as the new featurette "Beyond Comprehension: William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist".
According to Bloody-Disgusting.com, Friedkin is being honored by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films where he will receive the lifetime achiement award later this month, in addition to the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 70th Venice International Film Festival. It's a big year for Friedkin. To honor the 40 year anniversary of the film, Friedkin and Blatty will be attending a screening of the film in Washington D.C. on October 30th and the film will have an exclusive run at AMC Georgetown from October 31st through November 7th.
Here are the full-specs for this very special edition:
– Beyond Comprehension: William Peter Blatty’s The Exorcist (NEW) 40
years after his novel was published, The Exorcist author, screenwriter
and producer returns to where it all began. First stop is a cabin/guest
house in the hills of Encino, California, where Blatty wrote the novel.
The author visits the place for the first time in 40 years and shares
not only memories of writing the book, but also discusses how it
inspired him. We then meet Blatty in two key and iconic locations;
Georgetown University where the film was shot, and at the now-famous
Exorcist steps. Throughout, Blatty reads from his novel, including an
excerpt from a chilling newly published passage.
– Talk of the Devil (NEW) – While at Georgetown University, William
Peter Blatty heard about a true case of possession from Father Eugene
Gallagher. At the time the film came out, the priest talked at length
about exorcism, the true story and about Blatty; this footage is now
available for the first time in many years. It is as revealing as it is
shocking.
-Two Commentaries by William Friedkin
-Commentary by William Peter Blatty
-Introduction by William Friedkin
-1998 BBC Documentary “The Fear of God: 25 Years of the Exorcist”
-Raising Hell: Filming the Exorcist Set footage produced and
photographed by Owen Roizman, camera and makeup tests, and interviews
with director William Friedkin, actress Linda Blair,
author/screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty and Owen Roizman.
-The Exorcist Locations: Georgetown Then and Now — Featuring a tour of the iconic locations where the film was shot.
Faces of Evil: The Different Versions of The Exorcist — with director
William Friedkin and author/screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty
discussing the different versions of the film and featuring outtakes
from the film.
-Original Ending
-Interviews: The Original Cut, Stairway to Heaven, The Final Reckoning
-Sketches & Storyboards
-Radio Spots
-TV Spots
-Trailers
-Premium:Excerpt of The Friedkin Connection: A Memoir
I love, love, love horror-comedies and it looks like we got another one heading our way. Ken Marino (Wet Hot American Summer, Role Models) stars in the raunchy Bad Milo, in which a demon (who has taken residence in his colon) is "birthed" and subsequently must be made friends with in order to control. Sign me up.
The trailer looks hilarious, and it has a supporting cast that makes me even more intrigued to check it out. Catch the trailer after the break!
