Dario Argento’s DRACULA 3D

 

Dracula is my favourite book of all time, and there have been so many film adaptations of the book, and even films in which they create their own stories revolving around Dracula (the Hammer sequels). There have been great adaptations such as Universal’s Dracula (1931) Hammer’s Dracula (1958) (although both loosely based on the book) the most faithful adaptation of the book has to be the BBC 1977 Mini Series Count Dracula which starred Louis Jordan as the Count and Frank Finlay as Van Helsing, (I highly recommend you check this one out it is excellent, it may lack a budget and seem academic at times but it’s so damn faithful to the book). There have been some awful ones such as Dracula 2000 and Dracula 3000, Dracula vs Frankenstein (1971). The one everyone seems to remember most is Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) directed by Francis Ford Coppola, which many horror fans absolutely love, but I have a huge problem with. Something added to the movie which wasn’t in the book: a love story between Dracula and Mina Harker.  The romance of Dracula has been done in Dan Curtis’ Dracula (1974) and  John Badham’s Dracula (1979) starring Frank Langella as the count, and to be honest I was never a fan of the whole ‘Dracula in Love’ storyline. I think Dracula is best suited to what he really is: a monster, a 500 year old Vampire with a lust for blood and a spreader of Vampirism in the 19^th Century. His intention is to live on blood and create more of his kind. Personally, I don’t think Coppola’s effort deserves to have “Bram Stoker” in its title as its different from the book and the characters have all been altered in some way. Having said that, there are some very faithful scenes such as Harker’s experience in Dracula’s Castle and the story of Lucy becoming a Vampire.

So now we have another Dracula movie on the way courtesy of Italian horror maestro Dario Argento…….well okay the guy hasn’t made a decent film in years so who knows how this one will pan out. Argento has said he’s loosely following the book but is basing his movie on Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula therefore we have another ‘Dracula in Love’ storyline, damn it. Although Coppola’s Dracula was lovey dovey it did have some moments in which Dracula was portrayed as a vicious and nasty Vampire and Argento has said that his Dracula will have these trademarks also.

Dracula 3D Stars Thomas Kretschmann as Dracula , Marta Gastini as Mina, Rutger Hauer as Van Helsing , Asia Argento as Lucy, Unax Ugalde as Jonathan Harker.

The Plot– Dracula 3D will see young solicitor Jonathan Harker travelling to a remote castle in Transylvania, where he meets the sinister Count. Intending to travel to England to dine on its populace, the Count leaves Harker trapped in his citadel, where he narrowly escapes the attention of three Brides of Dracula. Harker journeys back to England on the trail of Dracula, and with the help of Professor Van Helsing, must put an end to the Prince of Darkness’ bloodsucking exploits.

I would advise you all to avoid some of the plot revealed on the official website as it gives too much away, so I’ll leave the plot at that.

I have indeed seen the leaked Trailer of Argento’s Dracula 3D and boy does it look a tad stupid! The acting in the trailer is questionable and although some of the effects are unfinished, it still shows a heavy amount of Cheese in both the acting and presentation of the film. On a positive note though the trailer is incredibly gory and shows Dracula in action, slitting people’s throats and drenched in blood. We even get to see Asia Argento, in vampire form, and Rutger Hauer’s Van Helsing facing off against Vampires.

Where there are moments of greatness there are also moments of weirdness, as we know its common for Dracula to turn into a Wolf or a Bat but in the trailer he turns into an Owl and….wait for it….a Giant Praying Mantis…….what the hell?? Since when was a Praying Mantis scary? And why Argento? why a Praying Mantis of all things? Does he turn into a fluffy bunny rabbit too? No idea what he was thinking there!

According to Argento in recent interviews his Count loves and hates with strength, appeal and resolution and he will be a sympathetic character. Dracula will have a strong love connection with Mina. I’m really not sure what to make of Argento’s take on Dracula. I think, like Coppola’s version, if you accept that Dracula can love then you might enjoy it. Hell, he even says in the Book ‘’I too can love and will love again’’ although this line is never again explored. Argento has also stated there will be a heavy amount of CGI in this movie, I think with the period setting the film would benefit more from the use of practical effects. Also Argento’s insistence of 3D is so he can ‘keep up with the times’ (his words not mine) I’m not a fan of 3D myself but it can work well in some movies.

Dracula 3D will either be Argento’s return to form or the final nail in his career coffin, it will either be his masterpiece  or his worst failure, only time will tell. And yes of course I will watch it and later give my review on his adaptation. Dracula is after all the Prince of Darkness, master of Evil…let’s hope Argento hasn’t forgotten that.

 

by Richard Goellnitz

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• RIFF Review: Dracula 3D (filmophilia.com)
• Countdown to Halloween #13: Dracula (grizzlybomb.com)
• Dracula: Triumph of the Masculine (congenitallydisturbed.wordpress.com)
• Italian Teaser Trailer for Dario Argento’s Dracula Offers a Quickie (dreadcentral.com)
• IFC Midnight Nabs Argento’s Dracula and Asks Would You Rather? (dreadcentral.com)

“DEVIL BAT DIARY – The Journal of Johnny Layton”by Peter H. Brothers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Agoura Hills, California

“DEVIL BAT DIARY – The Journal of Johnny Layton”by Peter H. Brothers

Inspired by the famous 1940 film, “Devil Bat Diary” (CreateSpace, ISBN: 9-781461-070924), tells the “true” story of what really happened to the unhappy citizens of Heathville, Illinois, during that terrible prewar summer, as recorded in the long-suppressed journals of Chicago City Register’s principal newspaper correspondent, Jonathan “Johnny” Layton.

The Devil Bats were furiously furry fiends created by a scientific genius who believes himself wrongfully relegated to concocting perfumes and colognes which he despises for wages not worth mentioning. So, as a means to an embittered end, he manufactures an evil ointment with a scent that so infuriates his giant bats to such an extent they feel compelled to tear the throats out of their unsuspecting victims.

“Devil Bat Diary” tells for the first time the full inside story of what took place in ways not possible to show to Production Code audiences back then; did you know for example that Chief Wilkins loved Layton, or that Mary was a religious lunatic, or that Layton and his partner “One-Shot” McGuire couldn’t stand the sight of each other?

Written to coincide with the 70^th Anniversary of the film’s release and dedicated to the great Bela Lugosi, “Devil Bat Diary” is an unforgettably entertaining venture into a world filled with chirping Chiropterans, malicious murders, sacred sex and revolting revelations. [Contains adult subject matter]

(Three-time Rondo Award nominee Peter H. Brothers is also the author of “Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men – The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda” and the “Devil Bat Diary” sequel: “Terror In Tinseltown.”)

Latest Horror News

WILLIAM SADLER CAST IN ‘MACHETE KILLS’

Talented performer William Sadler (‘The Mist’) has signed up for a role. The details of the part are unknown at this time. Sadler who has performed in endless flicks such as ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, ‘Die Hard 2’ and ‘Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight‘ but for me his best performance thus far was his comedic role as the Grim Reaper in 1991’s ‘Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey’. Jessica Alba (‘Sin City’), Michelle Rodriguez (‘Resident Evil: Retribution‘), Amber Heard (‘Drive Angry’), Sofia Vergara and Zoe Saldana (‘Avatar’), Edward James Olmos (‘Dexter’), Mel Gibson and Demian Bichir are all set to star in this new ensmble Grindhouse project.

“The new film finds Machete (Trejo) recruited by the U.S. Government for a mission which would be impossible for any mortal man. Machete must battle his way through Mexico to take down a madman cartel leader and an eccentric billionaire arms dealer (Gibson) who has hatched a plan to spread war across the planet with a weapon in space. Machete takes on an army in an effort to dismantle a plan for global anarchy.”

VICTOR SALVA’S ‘ROSEWOOD LANE’ HITS DVD THIS SEPTEMBER

Universal Home Entertainment have announced that they’ll be bringing ‘Rosewood Lane’ to the US-based masses this September. The new Victor Salva (‘Jeepers Creepers’) helmed horror, which stars hottie Rose McGowan ‘Planet Terror’, ‘Scream’), is set to hit Blu-ray, DVD and VOD simultaneously from 11 September. Daniel Ross Owens, Ray Wise, Sonny Marinelli, Tom Tarantini, Lin Shaye, Rance Howard, Lesley-Anne Down and Lauren Velez all co-star. Director Salva is currently working on the post-production of his latest horror effort ‘Haunted’ which stars ‘Saw’s Tobin Bell.

“Doctor Sonny Blake (McGowan), a radio talk show psychiatrist, moves back to her childhood home on seemingly idyllic Rosewood Lane after the death of her father.  But upon arrival, she discovers her neighbours are inexplicably terrified of the local paperboy (Owens).  When their paths collide, she suddenly finds herself in a terrifying fight to stay alive while at odds with this dangerous and calculating sociopath, who may have gruesomely killed her father…and others.”

SHANNON HINNENDAEL CAST IN ‘EMBRACE OF A VAMPIRE’ REMAKE

Well this is a remake I welcome seeing the original was pants so the least they can do is improve on it! American actress Sharon Hinnendael (‘Look’, ‘Rites of Passage’) has joined the cast of new erotically charged horror remake ‘Embrace of the Vampire’. The movie is based on the Anne Goursaud helmed horror of the same name from 1995 which starred Brit actor Martin Kemp and the sexy Alyssa Milano. Hinnendael is set to play the role of Charlotte which was previously played by Milano in the original. The new project is being described as a supernatural ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ which should ensure sensually appealing themes for the women of the world to lap up and for the men to achieve minor arousal. Production kicked off recently in Vancouver and the remake is being produced by both Filmology Labs Entertainment and Grobman-Campbell Films.

“The story follows a virginal college student who is introduced to a dark world of carnal desires after being seduced by a handsome vampire.”

‘SCREAMING IN HIGH HEELS’ DOCUMENTARY DETAILS

Breaking Glass Pictures will be unleashing horror documentary ‘Screaming in High Heels: The Rise & Fall of the Scream Queen Era’ onto DVD from 28 August across the US. It’ll arrive unrated unlike its TV screening earlier this year and you’ll be able to hear from all three legendary scream queens Linnea Quigley, Brinke Stevens and Michelle Bauer. Learn how the sexy trio of b-movie actresses got into the business of screaming for their lives in the DVD doc that also features the likes of Fred Olen Ray, David DeCoteau, Kenneth J. Hall, Jay Richardson, Richard Gabai and Ted Newsom.

“Three girls living in Los Angeles, CA, in the 1980s found cult fame when they “accidentally” transitioned from models to B-movie actresses, coinciding with the major direct-to-video horror film boom of the era. Known as “The Terrifying Trio”, Linnea Quigley “The Return of the Living Dead”, Brinke Stevens “The Slumber Party Massacre” and Michelle Bauer “The Tomb”, headlined upwards of ten films per year, fending off men in rubber monster suits, pubescent teenage boys, and deadly showers.

They joined together in campy cult films like “Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama” (1988) and “Nightmare of Sisters” (1987). They traveled all over the world, met President Reagan, and built mini-empires of trading cards, comic books, and model kits. Then it all came crashing down. This documentary remembers these actresses – and their most common collaborators – on how smart they were to play stupid.”

By Richard Goellnitz

Related articles

• Rosewood Lane Comes to DVD and Blu-ray this September (dreadcentral.com)

The Meat Puppet press release

Horror / Thriller

“THE MEAT PUPPET”

 

(1. meat puppet; (noun)

person(s) that have no will of their own; somebody that lets others control them. Another name for a human being, especially one who doesn’t think for him/herself, has no soul and is therefore controlled by others).

 

Currently filming in New Jersey is this year’s new bone chilling horror/thriller “The Meat Puppet”. From the mind of Award Winning Actor Keith Collins, along with Silver Phoenix Entertainment, Valenti Vision Films and the pen of NY Emmy Award Winning writer Joseph Pepitone and Billy Pepitone (“Stuck in the Middle”) comes a sadistic thrill fest, full of twists and turns, that is sure to give movie goers the fright of their lives.

 

A vain, successful playboy tortures and kills beautiful girls and uses them to make the perfect meal for his lavish dinner parties. Body parts, blood, torture, cannibalism and NO escape are a few ways to describe this clever new terrifying and psychologically damaging creep show.

 

“The Meat Puppet” tells the story of Andrew “Drew” Shelton who has it all – looks, money, women and an insatiable taste for human flesh. His vanity is only surpassed by his obsession with finding the perfect tasting meal and it has fueled his appetite for killing, preparing and cooking beautiful women. He throws lavish dinner parties and serves his guests his latest victim and one unlucky guest becomes the main course of his next get together. When a no-nonsense detective starts putting the pieces together, it leads to a game of cat and mouse that only increases the stakes. But is Drew the soul-less, cold-blooded killer that he appears to be? Or is he just the Meat Puppet for a more sadistic mind?

 

Directed by Joe Valenti (“Echelon 8”). Produced by Keith Collins. Produced & Executive Produced by Blaze Kelly Coyle and Joe Valenti. Written by Joseph & Billy Pepitone. With a well-rounded cast including many special appearances and STARRING: Gregg Valentino (TLC’s “The Man Whose Arms Exploded”), Billy Sample (“Former NY Yankee”), Brandon Ruckdashel (“Co-ed Confidential”), Geri Reischl (“Gunsmoke”,“The Brady Bunch Variety Hour” aka Fake Jan), Jason Prager (“Beauty and the Geek”), Billy Garcia (“Survivor”), Gary Garver (“formerly from the Howard Stern Show”), Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (“Guns N Roses”), Erick Chopin (Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”), Keith Collins (“Stuck in the Middle”, “BIdentity Crisis”), Jamie Reed-Kovac (Fury – “American Gladiators”), April Hunter (“WCW”, ”TNA”), Doug Bollinger (“Waltzing Anna”, “Mail Order Bride”),Theresa Galeani (“Cross the Line”, “I am Legend”), John Fields (“A-List DJ Unique”), Anastasia Smith (“NY Majesty Lingerie Football League”) and Faith Stanek (“Star Trek Phase 2 Web Series”).

 

“The Meat Puppet”

http://www.Facebook.com/TheMeatPuppetMovie

http://www.TheMeatPuppet.com

Related articles

• Incredibly Unique Cast Assembled For The Meat Puppet (dreadcentral.com)

Horror news

 

WILL SMITH TO STAR IN ‘I AM LEGEND 2’??

Will Smith hasn’t totally ruled it out he says,

“Producers are working on it. I’m not actually. If it’s great, I’m into it,” Smith told the BBC.  “I don’t want to be the sequel guy. I figure I’ve got about six or seven more years where I can run and jump a little bit and then I’m going butt and gut for the rest of my career. Butt and gut.”

Arash Amel is currently writing the script for the producers. Shock exclusively broke the news in 2008 – shortly after I Am Legend‘s 2007 release – that Richard Matheson, writer of the original tale, had signed off on the sequel rights.  It’s unknown how the sequel, or prequel, intends to bring Smith’s character back.

 

ROBERT PATRICK CAST IN ‘TRUE BLOOD’

Patrick will make his onscreen debut this August 5th in Episode 9. He will appear in three episodes.According to The Hollywood Reporter, Robert Patrick (Terminator 2) has landed a recurring guest role in HBO’s True Blood.Patrick will star as Alcide’s father, Jackson Herveaux. “Patrick will first appear in a flashback episode that depicts Alcide (Joe Manganiello) and Debbie Pelt (Brit Morgan) as teenagers in the 1980s. At the time, Jackson was said to be a “powerful, inspiring and heroic” guy, but in the present, he’s given up on life.”

 

 

 

NEW DIRECTOR FOR JAMES WAN’S ‘HOUSE OF HORROR’

According to B-D, Will Canon (Brotherhood ) is currently in talks to direct James Wans’ House of Horrors for Dimension Films.

The site also reports that Maria Bello is still said to be in talks to star as Dr. Elizabeth Klein.

Max La Bella wrote the script, which is said to be quasi-found footage.

Synopsis:

“The Devil made me do it.

The House of Horror is a horror-thriller that centers around a gruesome crime scene. The film is shot with a blend of found footage, interrogation video, news cameras and classical cinematography. The film focuses on the aftermath of a horrific massacre; five college students, brutally murdered inside a decrepit, abandoned home.

We are thrown right into the mix as the lead Detective, Mark Lewis, and the police department’s psychologist, Dr. Elizabeth Klein, question a suspect. The young man at the center is John Ascot, bound by handcuffs in a mobile command station. During the interrogation, John explains everything leading up to the deaths of his friends.

We discover that they were amateur ghost-hunters, seeking out paranormal phenomenon at the abandoned house believed to be haunted. What started out as a harmless activity turned into something truly terrifying and more than they ever could bargain for. John explains to the police that he isn’t responsible for his friends’ deaths, but rather, it was the house. He tells them he believes the house is a gateway to hell; a place of concentrated evil.

We slowly witness an eerie change in John’s demeanor through the course of the movie. Things take a disturbing turn when John hints at the notion that he is possessed by the Devil. Detective Lewis and Dr. Klein are forced to unravel the mystery of how John’s friends were murdered. All this leads to a stunning revelation about the man they’ve been interrogating and a gut-wrenching conclusion.“

SUPERNATURAL GOINGS ON IN ‘THE ETERNALS’

Plot details for CBS Films’ latest offering The Eternals courtesy of Bloody Disgusting.The Eternals is said to be directed by Brad Peyton (Journey 2), but this hasn’t been confirmed yet. Chris Hauty penned the script, with rewrites by Anne Meredith.The film is said to be a romantic supernatural thriller which is “about a college campus that is haunted by the dead students who are not allowed to connect with the living or leave the campus.”

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• True Blood Scoop: Robert Patrick to Play Alcide’s Dad (seattlepi.com)
• New Director in Talks for James Wan’s House of Horrors (dreadcentral.com)
• ‘T2’ Star Robert Patrick Joins ‘True Blood’ (geek-news.mtv.com)
• ‘True Blood’ Season 5 Spoilers: Alcide’s Father’s Appearance Offers Insight into the Werewolf (celebs.gather.com)

Judgement of Souls -Novel by Gothic Welsh Writer Margarita Felices

Gothic horror from a Welsh writer Margerita Felices… links to FREE PREVIEWS included in this article

If you have to find a sacred book in order to redeem your parents, find and kill Max, the person responsible for their punishment.
The same man that broke your heart and turned your perfect world upside down and try to keep the mortal man you now love safe from this vindictive Vampire’s sword, then you should read Rachel’s story.
Want a FREE preview?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Judgement-of-Souls-ebook/dp/B006QFPHJC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328965289&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Judgement-of-Souls-ebook/dp/B006QFPHJC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1337621475&sr=1-1#_

This is the JOS FACEBOOK page.
Come on by and join the fangs… and feel free to post your own work, page or group.
http://www.facebook.com/JudgementOfSouls3TheKissAtDawn

short promo VIDEO to accompany the novel.
http://youtu.be/h-Zb8x9bSho

Read her Latest BLOG interviews here .
http://sumikosaulson.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/interview-with-margarita-felices-author-of-judgement-of-souls/
http://crystaltrentdotsonreviews.wordpress.com/
http://bloodygoodvampires.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/author-margarita-felices-guest-post.html

Who cons the con artist?
Take a look at her new short story – The Psychic – Now available from:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0085MKCYE/ref=cm_sw_r_fa_ask_vatjD.0D5VFBY
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Psychic-ebook/dp/B0085MKCYE/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337957276&sr=8-1-fkmr1

Horror News

‘THE EXORCIST’ TV SERIES ON THE WAY

Well at least its better news then a remake I guess but you will be seeing a new adaptation hit television in the form of a 10-episode mini-series. No news yet on Casting but According to Vulture, ‘Martha Marcy May Marlene’ helmer Sean Durkin has been hired to tackle William Peter Blatty‘s novel.  The Ring producer Roy Lee is overseeing the project with Morgan Creek. Stay tuned here for more News as this unfolds!

‘HATCHET 3’ CASTING UPDATE

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Zach Galligan (Gremlins and Gremlins 2: The New Batch) has joined the cast of Hatchet 3 from MPI/Dark Sky Films and ArieScrope Pictures. Cody Blue Snider (son of Dee Snider) will also be joining the cast, as well as Rileah Vanderbilt who will play the role of a SWAT team member.

Galligan will play a “hard-nosed head of police while Snider will play a gun-loving deputy.”

They all join the previously announced cast of Danielle Harris, Kane Hodder, Derek Mears (“Friday the 13th”), Caroline Williams (“The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2″), Sean Whalen (“The People Under the Stairs”), Diane Goldner (“The Collector”) and Jason Trost (The FP).

‘REC 3’ BLU RAY+DVD RELEASE DATE IN THE UK

REC 3 will hit Blu Ray and Dvd in the UK on September 3rd, which you can pre-order over at Amazon for £11.00.

Synopsis: “Rec: Genesis follows Koldo and Clara as they celebrate the most important day of their lives: their wedding. Everything appears to be running smoothly and the bride and groom and their families are enjoying a wonderful day; that is until some of the guests start showing signs of a strange illness. Before they know what’s happening, the bride and groom find themselves in the middle of a hellish ordeal, as an uncontrollable torrent of violence is unleashed on the wedding. Amidst the chaos, Koldo and Clara become separated and begin a desperate search for one another. What started off as an idyllic day quickly descends into a nightmare of the worst kind….”

The film stars Leticia Dolera, Javier Botet and Diego Martín.

TOM HOLLAND’S ‘THINNER’ HITS BLU RAY THIS AUGUST

More Blu Ray news and The Stephen King adaptation directed by Tom Holland (Fright Night,Child’s Play) will be coming to Blu Ray August 21^st

Synopsis: “Based on the best-seller, Stephen King’s Thinner stars Robert John Burke (Robocop 3) and Joe Mantegna (House of Games) in a story of supernatural terror and countdown to the ultimate payback. A 109-year old gypsy (Michael Constantine, My Big Fat Greek Wedding), hell-bent on revenge, exacts a curse so shocking it compels its victim to gorge himself in an effort to avoid shrinking away to nothingness. With time running out and a torture so bizarre and powerful, even death seems a more likely option.”

by Richard Goellnitz

Horror News

THE LAST EXORCISM 2: PLOT DETAILS

 

Plot details: “The sequel follows Nell (Bell) who, six months after the first film’s events, has move to a halfway house only to realize that the demon that has ruined her life is still after her! Without giving anything away, the sequel takes an interesting romantic approach that’s spun around Nell’s new boyfriend, Chris (I’m not sure who’s playing the character).

A subplot is that Bell is also targeted by a group of rogue Reverends who mean to kill her. The twist is something never before seen in an exorcism film.”

 

DEAD CENTRAL INTERVIEW ROBERT KIRKMAN ON ‘THE WALKING DEAD’ SEASON 3

Q: After two seasons, you must feel like an old pro on set. What aspects of production still surprise you?

A: One thing that’s surprising me is how much I’ve fallen in love with Georgia. The town Senoia where we’re filming is absolutely beautiful. The big change this season is we’ve got this amazing prison that we’re filming in. It’s absolutely stunning, and I never get used to being on set.

Q: What went into constructing the prison?

A: They’ve taken a lot of what you see in the comic book series and brought it to life in ways that I didn’t think possible. This is going to be one of the most impressive looking things that’s ever been put together for a show.

Q: The room in the prison with all the guns and the SWAT gear in the comic is really cool. Is that going to come up on the show?

A: We’re a big fan of the SWAT gear here at “The Walking Dead” writer’s room…maybe that’s an indication that we’ll be seeing that stuff in the show. It’s important to us to maintain the tone of the show. Thus far [the characters] have been out on the road, desperate and living in the heat, and we don’t want it to be that they’re relaxing in this safe place now.

Q: With the evil Governor in the picture, does that mean the humans are the bigger threat this season?

A: The plan was always to evolve naturally into a place where the zombies essentially become a manageable threat. You know the rules. You know how to deal with them. To a certain extent they become something to not really be scared of unless you mess up. Humans, however, do not follow any rules and will always do something that surprises you and are capable of doing things far worse than trying to eat you…We’re definitely going to be seeing a lot of horrible things.

Q: What can you tell us about David Morrissey‘s portrayal of the Governor? Have you seen him in costume yet?

A: I’m actually waiting desperately to see him dressed up in Governor mode and walking the streets of Woodbury. I think he’s going to be absolutely great playing against Andrew Lincoln.

Q: Michonne was introduced in the Season 2 Finale. How are Danai Gurira’s sword skills shaping up?

A: There’s been quite a bit of sword training going on and [Danai] is doing an amazing job. She’s going to be doing all of the hard character stuff and drama that “The Walking Dead” is known for, but she has tremendous physical capability, and the sword training that I’ve seen is absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to see her hack up some zombies.

Q: Can you tell us anything about the sword she’s using?

A: She’s using a sword that we specially designed for the show. The origins of the sword will be revealed on the show.

Q: This season has so many exciting storylines…

A: When you think about The Walking Dead comic series, you think about oh, the stuff they with did the Governor, the stuff they did with the prison and Woodbury and Michonne. And that’s really a lot of the stuff that people remember the story for, and that’s stuff we haven’t even gotten to in the TV show yet. So as much as people love the show, and as high as the ratings are, and as cool as the show is, I feel like we haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet. This season is absolutely going to blow people away.

Q: You’re developing another of your comics, Thief of Thieves, with AMC. What can you tell us about that project?

A: Thief of Thieves is a great heist story about a man named Conrad Paulson who leads a double life as a master thief known internationally as Redman…I am working with Chic Eglee, who is a fantastic writer who worked on the first season of “The Walking Dead”, and right now we are in the pilot development stage so he’s going to be working hard on the pilot script, and once that’s written, we’ll go from there. But it’s really exciting to be working with AMC again.

Q: This season will be 16 episodes instead of 13. Are you looking forward to the longest production time yet?

A: The actors and the crew and a lot of the producers would not be thrilled to hear me saying this, but I love doing 16 episodes a year. I think the more, the better, and I think it’s a lot of fun. We are going to get to tell bigger stories and tell more stories and get into the characters a lot more. So the more, the merrier.

 by Richard Goellnitz

Latest Horror News

TOM CRUISE TO STAR AND PRODUCE ‘VAN HELSING’ REBOOT

I Hated Van Helsing (2004) I thought it was a wasted opportunity, I wanted horror instead I got a kiddie action flick so I welcome a reboot.

Here’s the official word from the studio:

‘Universal Pictures today announced the studio has signed a two-year first-look production deal with one of the leading writing/producing teams in the entertainment industry, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, and their K/O Paper Products banner. The duo will kick off their new relationship with Universal by reimagining titles from the studio’s library including Van Helsing and The Mummy. The announcement was made by Universal Pictures Chairman, Adam Fogelson and Co-Chairman, Donna Langley.

Kurtzman and Orci have collaborated with some of the industry’s top creative minds including J.J. Abrams, with whom they wrote the third instalment of Mission: Impossible, which grossed nearly $400 million at the worldwide box office. In 2007, they wrote Transformers and went on to write Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in 2009. Together, those films grossed more than $1.5 billion worldwide. More recently, the pair wrote and executive produced 2009’s Star Trek, which grossed more than $385 million worldwide. Accompanying their impressive film resume, Kurtzman and Orci have found tremendous success in television, having created the series Fringe, writing/producing Alias and in 2010, producing the reboot of Hawaii Five-O. They also currently executive produce the highest rated show on Hasbro’s The Hub, Transformers Prime.

“Alex and Roberto are extraordinarily talented writers and producers who know the value of a great story in building successful tentpole films,” Fogelson and Langley said in a joint statement. “They have been a major part of some of Hollywood’s biggest movies and television shows in recent history, and we’re eager to have them build on that success at Universal.”

“We’re thrilled to call Universal Pictures our home,” said Kurtzman and Orci. “From the moment we sat down with Adam, Donna, Peter, Jeff and the entire Uni team, there was an instant flow of inspired ideas. They really understand the importance of building a strong creative team and giving our shared projects their full support. We’re proud to start making movies that will live as part of Universal’s enduring legacy.”

Kurtzman and Orci’s upcoming projects include writing Sony’s next instalment of The Amazing Spider-Man; producing Now You See Me, for Lionsgate Summit, set for release in March 2013; and producing Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game, also for Lionsgate Summit. Kurtzman and Orci wrote and produced People Like Us, which marks Kurtzman’s directorial debut and is scheduled to be released in June 2012, and wrote and produced the second instalment of Star Trek, set for release in 2013. The pair most recently rewrote All You Need Is Kill for Warner Bros., with Tom Cruise attached to star, Doug Liman to direct and Erwin Stoff to produce.

Kurtzman, Orci and the rest of their K/O Paper Products team, including President Bobby Cohen, will be housed on the Universal lot. Former assistants Ben Kim and Kim Cavyan will come aboard as creative executives. Kurtzman and Orci are represented by CAA and attorneys Michael Gendler and Kevin Kelly of Gendler & Kelly, APC.’

‘THE DEAD 2’ SCRIPT IS MOVING FORWARD

I Loved the Zombies in Africa movie The Dead so I welcome a sequel.

Co-director of the first film, Howard J. Ford, recently caught up with the Daily Dead and revealed that the script for the sequel is on the way.

“Jon is in the south of France at the moment, but I’m going down to the Cannes Film Festival and am meeting him there. We’re going to write together at his place in France and we are going to be penning The Dead 2. There’s already a lot down on paper, but there are gaps in it and there are a lot of things we couldn’t do in the first movie that we want to do in the second.”

Howard continues, “Basically, it’s because of the fan support and the way it has been selling in America. Jon and I are incredibly grateful for everyone’s support and people putting their hard earned cash towards a Blu-ray or DVD of The Dead. Fan support is why we want to make a sequel. It’s not because we want to go back to Africa and get nearly killed. I can’t promise 100% that it will be in Africa, but whatever happens, it will take you somewhere you’ve never been in a zombie movie.”

‘WE ARE WHAT WE ARE’ REMAKE CASTING DETAILS

I loved the Mexican film WE ARE WHAT WE ARE so not sure what to think of it being remade as it was decent enough as it is. According to the Dead Central, Riley Keough (Jack & Diane) , Julia Garner (Martha Marcy May Marlene), Bill Sage (American Psycho) and Wyatt Russell (Cowboys & Aliens) have all been cast in the film, with Keough and Garner playing a pair of sisters who are secluded from mainstream society.

“Following the untimely death of their mother, their father, played by Sage, forces them to perform a depraved ritual, carried out by their ancestors for generations. Russell will play a young deputy who is in love with Keough’s character.”

The film is scheduled for a release in January 2013.

RIP- DARK SHADOWS ACTOR JONATHAN FRID HAS PASSED AWAY
Dark Shadows star Jonathan Frid has died in Canada. The 87-year-old actor reportedly died of natural causes at Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. Frid was best known for playing vampire Barnabas Collins on gothic television soap opera Dark Shadows. The series originally aired on ABC in the US between June 1966 and April 2, 1971. Frid also starred in 1973 television movie The Devil’s Daughter and 1974 film horror Seizure. He filmed a cameo appearance – his final acting credit – in Tim Burton‘s forthcoming film remake of Dark Shadows, which stars Johnny Depp as Barnabas. Depp previously admitted to being “obsessed” as a child with Frid’s performance as the 200-year-old vampire.”I loved the show when I was a kid [and] I was obsessed with Barnabas Collins,” the Hollywood star said in 2009. “I have photographs of me holding Barnabas Collins posters when I was 5 or 6.” May he rest in peace.

 

by Richard Goellnitz

Top 20 Slasher Films

 

1. Psycho (1960)

2. Halloween (1978)

3. A Bay Of Blood (1971)

4. Black Christmas (1974)

5. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

6. Friday The 13th (1980)

7. Deep Red (1975)

8. Blood & Black Lace (1964)

9. Friday The 13th Part IV: The Final Chapter (1984)

10. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

11. Sleepaway Camp (1983)

12. Halloween 2 (1981)

13. The Burning (1981)

14. Alice Sweet Alice (1976)

15. Child’s Play (1988)

16. A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors (1987)

17. Wes Craven’s New Nightmare (1994)

18. Scream (1996)

19. Torso (1973)

20. Friday The 13th Part 3 (1982)

 

by Richard Goellnitz