News

John Carpenter’s Halloween has influenced everything from other slasher flicks to even music videos. With her new visual “Undone,” indie-pop artist Young Summer rips images from the iconic 1978 film for a tension-splitting story that guarantees to creep under the skin.

Young Summer (real name Bobbie Allen) stars in the video as a woman unaware of her surroundings. While out walking her adorable pooch Scrappy, a stalker (Miloš Šarenac) wearing all black lurks from the corners of each frame.

Everything about the brand new “Undone” music video, on which she worked with frequent collaborator and cinematographer Seth Dunlap, feels very 1970s. From long lens shots to a vibrant but muted color grading, Allen (director/editor) masterfully laces suspense by using various classic film techniques and equipment – namely the telephoto Canon Fd 50-300mm T/4.9 zoom Lens.

“I knew using that long zoom for the spy shots would make the stalking...

If you are a horror fan then there is a big chance that you might have heard about the horror streaming service Shudder, and if you have its subscription you might be wondering what’s in store for you in September 2024. Don’t worry there is a host of new and old horror movies coming to the service in the upcoming month and we have listed the 10 best movies coming to Shudder in September 2024.

Candyman (September 1)

Candyman is a gothic supernatural horror film written and directed by Bernard Rose. Based on a short story titled The Forbidden by Clive Barker, the 1992 film follows the story of Helen as she investigates a local legend of the Candyman but her investigation takes a dark turn when a series of brutal murders start happening. Candyman stars Tony Todd, Virginia Madsen, Bernard Rose, Kasi Lemmons, Vanessa Estelle Williams, Xander Berkeley, Stanley DeSantis, and Ted Raimi.

Chicago – Writer/director Michael Glover Smith’s award-winning feature film “Relative” (2022) was snapped up by Chicago-based Music Box Films, and will have its Digital release on May 21st, 2024. But first, how about one more special screening at the historic Music Box Theatre on Wednesday, May 15th. Click Relative at for tickets and info.

“Relative” is a film about transition, as a family gathers for the youngest son/brother’s college graduation. Each individual family member is dealing with a situational crossroads, and the family togetherness both modifies and challenges them. Meanwhile, the college graduate (Cameron Scott Roberts) has serendipitously fallen for Hekla (Elizabeth Stam). The film also features Wendy Robie, Francis Guinan, Keith D. Gallagher, Emily Lape, Melissa DuPrey and Clare Cooney.

Relative

Photo credit: Music Box Films

Writer/Director Michael Glover Smith is also an author and film studies instructor, and is based in Chicago. His first feature film,...

"I don't want an empty nest!" Music Box Films has posted their official trailer for an indie drama about a family titled Relative, from filmmaker Michael Glover Smith. This originally premiered back in 2022, but we have only caught up with it now and haven't ever posted about this film before. It played at a few small film festivals in 2022/2023, with a very limited release in art house theaters around the country. As various members of the Frank family come together for a college graduation party in Chicago, they find their bonds being tested, and strengthened, in surprising ways. The story focuses on the parents of four kids, who decide to announce that they're about to sell the house they grew up in. "Relative is a warm blend of comedy and drama about a modern American family." This stars Wendy Robie, Francis Guinan, Cameron Scott Roberts, Clare Cooney, Keith D. Gallagher,...

Usually on Test of Time we are looking at heavy hitter franchises or big-ticket movies from the biggest of big-name horror directors. If we looked at Carpenter, we could look at things like The Thing or Escape From New York and ask the stupidest question in the world, like if they stand the test of time and what their influences would be. For Hooper, you could give Texas Chainsaw 2 a whirl or see if Lifeforce makes any more damn sense now than it did when it came out. The answers to these and many more questions in a Mount Rushmore horror creators list of credits would be yes, yes, they are quite good. Next Question. So really, when you are playing with the big boys you have to go a little deeper, look at the lesser known and often less discussed movies in their bag of goodies. Today we...

Wes Craven's 1991 horror hit "The People Under The Stairs" evades easy description. It's a movie that's at once chaotic, insightful, campy, hilarious, horrifying, and weird as hell. There are images in the movie that are impossible to unsee, and ideas about race and capitalism that felt prescient in the '90s and are more relevant than ever now.

"The People Under The Stairs" has been overdue for a remake and it's only fitting that it's finally in the works courtesy of the new master of social commentary-filled thrillers, Jordan Peele. Peele's production company Monkeypaw is at work on an update to Craven's original, and while there's still a lot we don't know about "The People Under the Stairs," we're creeping into the shadows to bring you all the details we can on this fresh take on a very freaky story. Here's everything we know so far.

Read more:...

Three years have gone by since it was announced that Get Out, Us, and Nope director Jordan Peele had signed on to produce a reboot of Wes Craven’s 1991 film The People Under the Stairs (watch it Here) for Universal Pictures, and now we finally have an update to share about the project. While the reboot is still described as being in “early development”, Deadline reports that Doom Patrol and Night Sky writer Ezra Claytan Daniels has signed on to write the screenplay.

Peele will be producing The People Under the Stairs with Win Rosenfeld through their company Monkeypaw Productions. Peele and Rosenfeld previously produced (and co-wrote) the 2021 reboot of the Candyman franchise.

Written and directed by Craven, the original film followed young Fool, who breaks into the home of his family’s greedy and uncaring landlords. There he discovers a disturbing scenario where incestuous adult siblings have mutilated a...

One of the oldest horror tropes in the book, the old, dusty, unfinished basement/crawl space setting has provided a cornucopia of stories about the universal fear of what lurks in the darkest and least-coziest corners of our homes. Yet, in Wes Craven’s 1991 lesser mainstream, still beloved cult favorite The People Under the Stairs, the what’s-hiding-in-the-basement angle is reversed and subverted, as the real monsters are not the othered hiding in the basement, and the home invaders are the heroes. Three decades later, the blueprint for People has imprinted itself onto a couple of other soon-to-be cult favorites, last year’s Barbarian and this summer’s Cobweb— all of which share much more in common than merely their set-ups.

Shifting tonally between biting commentary on social economics and campiness, The People Under the Stairs waivers between Candyman and a Tales From the Crypt episode, as its middle finger to hypocritical,...

About two and a half years have gone by since it was announced that Jordan Peele would be producing a remake of Wes Craven‘s 1991 film The People Under the Stairs (watch it Here) – but while we wait to see if that announcement is going to lead anywhere, Scream Factory is set to give Craven’s film a 4K Uhd release on May 23rd. Copies can be pre-ordered at This Link!

Written and directed by Craven, The People Under the Stairs follows a young boy and two adult thieves who become trapped in a house belonging to a strange couple known as the Robesons after breaking in to steal their rare coin collection. They find a lot more than they bargained for waiting for them in the basement.

The film stars Brandon Adams, Everett McGill, Wendy Robie, A.J. Langer, Sean Whalen, Yan Birch, Kelly Jo Minter, and Ving Rhames.

Scream...

The next horror classic to make the switch to 4K Ultra HD is Wes Craven‘s The People Under the Stairs, with Scream Factory announcing a Collector’s Edition release on April 25.

The Special Features announced at this time include…

Audio commentary by writer-director Wes Craven Audio commentary by actors Brandon Adams, A.J. Langer, Sean Whalen, and Yan Birch Interview with actress Wendy Robie Interviews with special effects artists Greg Nicotero, Howard Berger And Robert Kurtzman Interview with director of photography Sandi Sissel Interview with composer Don Peake Making-of featurette Behind-the-scenes footage Theatrical trailer TV spots Still galleries (storyboards and stills)

In the 1991 film, “Trapped inside a fortified home owned by a mysterious couple, a young boy is suddenly thrust into a nightmare.”

Brandon Adams, Everett McGill, Wendy Robie, A.J. Langer, Ving Rhames, Bill Cobbs, Kelly Jo Minter, Sean Whalen, and Yan Birch star in Craven’s The People Under the Stairs.

There’s something inherently unsettling about teeth, and the addition of someone prodding at them with sharp instruments is especially invasive. On the other side of that coin, the negative association with dentistry can impact the professionals. Cult filmmaker Brian Yuzna tapped into these fundamental fears with his 1996 direct-to-video film, The Dentist, and its 1998 sequel, The Dentist 2.

In fact, Yuzna knew he could sell the movie based on the title alone, so he solicited writers to pitch him on the concept. It was his old pals Stuart Gordon and Dennis Paoli — for whom Yuzna had produced Re-Animator and From Beyond — that cracked the script. Charles Finch (who went on to executive produce David Cronenberg’s Spider) was later brought in to punch it up.

Continuing the underlying social commentary Yuzna explored with Society, the film centers on hot-headed dentist Alan Feinstone. After catching his wife (Linda Hoffman) going down...

Life is about handling contradictions. And they all demand that we choose between compromising, conceding, or refusing to back down—whether it’s opposite a family member, friend, lover, or even yourself. We weigh pros and cons. We anticipate a future that we can never know for certain. Do we choose the job or the potential for love? Do we sacrifice our career for our spouse? Do we leave our hometown, or decide to make a new one? Each choice becomes another snowflake falling atop a mountain ready to unleash an avalanche. Sometimes it falls with the force of an atomic bomb and sometimes it never budges. The only thing we can therefore control is how we ultimately live within that uncertainty. For ourselves or for another?

There’s no wrong answer. Writer-director Michael Glover Smith hasn’t built Relative as some catch-all drama to foist his ideals upon his audience.

Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review on “Relative,” the latest film from Chicago-based filmmaker Michael Glover Smith. Its theatrical release begins on June 8th (click links) at Music Box Theatre and on June 10th at Gene Siskel Film Center, and will expand from there.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Writer/director Michael Glover Smith gathers an ensemble cast that portray the Frank family, anchored by Dad David (Francis Guinan) and Mom Karen (Wendy Robie). Their youngest son Benji (Cameron Scott Roberts) is graduating from a nearby university, and the entire Frank clan will be gathering at their Chicago family home to celebrate. The oldest son Rod (Keith D. Gallagher) still lives in the basement, having left his marriage to Sarah (Heather Chrisler). Clare Cooney is Evonne, going through a marriage and mental stability crisis with her wife Lucia (Melissa Duprey). And rounding out crew is Norma (Emily Lape), whose nostalgic longing...

Chicago – One of the breakout performances in Michael Glover Smith’s new film, “Relative,” is from Elizabeth Stam, who portrays the pivotal role of Hekla. The “Relative” special Chicago general releases will take place (click links) at Music Box Theatre and the Gene Siskel Film Center on June 8th and 10th.

“Relative” is a film about transition, as a family gathers for the youngest son/brother’s college graduation. Each individual family member is dealing with a situational crossroads, and the family togetherness both modifies and challenges them. Meanwhile, the college graduate (Cameron Scott Roberts) has serendipitously fallen for Hekla (Elizabeth Stam). The film also features Wendy Robie, Francis Guinan, Keith D. Gallagher, Emily Lape, Melissa DuPrey and Clare Cooney.

Elizabeth Stam (right) with Cameron Scott Roberts in ‘Relative’

Photo credit: White City Cinema

This is Elizabeth Stam’s second film, after “Bleed American” in 2019. As mentioned in the interview below,...

Chicago – The journey from idea to completed film is a fever dream for the writer/director. Chicago-based filmmaker Michael Glover Smith has realized his dreams in his fourth feature film, “Relative.” The story of family, set in the neighborhood of Rogers Park, begins its local run at Music Box Theatre on June 8th, 2022.

“Relative” is a film about transition, as a family gathers for the youngest son/brother’s college graduation. Each individual family member is dealing with a situational crossroads, and the family togetherness both modifies and challenges them. Meanwhile, the college graduate (Cameron Scott Roberts) has serendipitously fallen for Hekla (Elizabeth Stam). The film also features Wendy Robie, Francis Guinan, Keith D. Gallagher, Emily Lape, Melissa DuPrey and Clare Cooney.

’Relative’ Begins Its Theatrical Run in Chicago

Photo credit: Chicago Film Project

Writer/Director Michael Glover Smith is also an author and film studies instructor (at Oakton Community...

One of the rising filmmakers in the Chicago movie-making scene, Michael Glover Smith has returned this year with his fourth feature, Relative. Produced by Chicago Film Project (which also backed Jennifer Reeder’s Knives and Skin) and starring Wendy Robie (Twin Peaks) and Cameron Scott Roberts (The Walking Dead), the film follows a family at a crossroads, featuring separations, new romances, and empty-nesting as the youngest member of the clan graduates college. Ahead of the film’s hometown screenings at the Music Box on June 8 and the Gene Siskel Film Center on June 10, 15, and 16, we’re pleased to exclusively debut the first trailer.

“I’ve always been skeptical of the phrase “dysfunctional family” since all families would seem dysfunctional if one were able to observe them closely enough,” the director said. “In creating Relative, my goal was to contrive a scenario that would allow me to lift the veil on...

Chicago – The made-in-Chicago film “Relative” … written and directed by Michael Glover Smith … will get its city/Midwest premiere at (appropriately) the Midwest Film Festival on April 5th, 2022. The sold out show at the Gene Siskel Film Center will also have a Q&a, moderated by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com. One of the vital credits on any film is Music Supervisor, and that role on “Relative” was filled by Cait Rappel, a veteran film scorer in her feature film debut.

“Relative” is a film about transition, as a family gathers for the youngest son/brother’s college graduation. Each individual family member is dealing with a situational crossroads, and the family togetherness both modifies and challenges them. The film features Wendy Robie, Francis Guinan, Cameron Scott Roberts, Keith D. Gallagher, Emily Lape, Melissa DuPrey, Elizabeth Stam and Clare Cooney.

’Relative’ at the Midwest Film Festival, Music Supervision by Cait Rappel (inset)

Photo credit: MidwestFilm.

Chicago – In more good news on the road to normalcy, one local writer/director – Michael Glover Smith – produced his fourth feature film last year in Chicago and now it’s ready for its World Premiere. “Relative” will screen at the Gasparilla International Film Festival on March 12th, 2022. For more information, click Relative.

“Relative” is a film about transition, as a family gathers for the youngest son/brother’s college graduation. Each individual family member is dealing with a situational crossroads, and the family togetherness both modifies and challenges them. The film features Wendy Robie, Francis Guinan, Cameron Scott Roberts, Keith D. Gallagher, Emily Lape, Melissa DuPrey, Elizabeth Stam and Clare Cooney.

’Relative’ World Premiere on March 12th, 2022

Photo credit: GasparillaFilmFestival.com

Writer/Director Michael Glover Smith is also an author and film studies instructor (at Oakton Community College and elsewhere), and is based in Chicago. His first feature film, “Cool Apocalypse,...

For all of its wonderful jump-scares and nail-biting suspense, the scariest thing about Wes Craven’s “The People Under the Stairs,” which I starred in as The Stairmaster 30 years ago, may be that this kind of horror film — a progressive and diverse movie that starred a young African-American kid as the hero and heart of the story — is still the exception rather than the rule in Hollywood in 2021.

To say that Wes Craven was ahead of his time when he made the Universal Studios cult-horror classic back in 1991 would be a huge understatement: Wes was an innovative, forward-thinking director who was on the right side of social issues and social justice. He held up a (much-needed) light to important social issues and made a political statement through the art of horror without seeming too overt. He brilliantly cast a diverse and talented ensemble and tackled issues that were ripped from...

‘Never give up’ is a mantra we often apply to most facets of life, and rightly so. (The exception should always be watching the Witchcraft films; and one should pull that parachute early.) Jeremy Kasten’s The Attic Expeditions (2001) is a film that chased that dubious Hollywood rainbow and actually found the gold: a completed movie. Not a coherent one—by design—but completed. And it’s kind of a pip. Now Severin Films has put out this aughts curiosity with some fun extras and a solid transfer to boot. Let’s get crazy, shall we?

A Satanic ritual, a stabbing, an asylum. Welcome to the mind of one Trevor Blackburn (Andras Jones - A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master), the latest patient at a facility for the criminally insane, run by Dr. Ek (Jeffrey Combs - Re-Animator). It seems that Trevor murdered his fiancé, Faith (Beth Bates...

Hello, dear readers! As we get ready to bid another month a fond farewell, we have one final batch of home media releases coming our way before we head into March. Severin Films is keeping busy this week with a trio of Blu-ray releases, including Castle of the Creeping Flesh, The Attic Expeditions, and Plague Town. The new Wrong Turn movie arrives this Tuesday on both Blu and DVD, and if you’re a Troma fan, they’re showing some love to Nightbeast this week as well.

Other releases for February 23rd include Beast Within, Legion of the Night, Only the Good Parts, and the From Dusk Till Dawn trilogy is getting a re-release on DVD, too.

The Attic Expeditions

It's been called "imaginative and audacious" (Los Angeles Times), "fantastic and surreal" (Classic Horror) and "an ideal film that verges towards masterpiece" (Weird Wild Realm). Now experience the Blu-ray premiere...

"Have you ever met anyone from a dream before?" Newcity Chicago Film Project is releasing an indie film titled Dreaming Grand Avenue, written & directed by filmmaker Hugh Schulze. The film is already out and available to watch through "virtual cinemas" at a few small art houses in the US. It's a mysterious drama about a connection between two strangers. Maggie and Jimmy have never met, but they keep showing up in each other's dreams. As they navigate memories, traumas, hopes and desires in sleep and the waking world, they’ll discover the truth of their linked destiny with the help of a dream detective, a sleep scientist, and the poet Walt Whitman himself. The film stars Jackson Rathbone, Andrea Londo, Wendy Robie, Tony Castillo, and Tony Fitzpatrick. There's just something about this film that intrigues me. It's worth a look. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Hugh Schulze's Dreaming Grand Avenue,...

Jordan Peele is producing a remake of Wes Craven’s 1991 campy classic “The People Under the Stairs” for Universal, according to an individual with knowledge of the project.

Peele will produce alongside Win Rosenfeld via their Monkeypaw Productions banner.

“The People Under the Stairs” follows a poor African-American boy roped into a robbery by a neighborhood thug, who is quickly punished for his criminal actions, leaving the young teenager to survive in a house of horrors on his own. Although not particularly scary, the humorous coming-of-age tale in an urban setting, paired with creepy creatures under the stairs and a set of deranged antagonists, should be on the watch list of any horror fan.

The 1991 film, which celebrates its 29th anniversary this coming Sunday on Nov. 1, starred Brandon Adams, Everett McGill, Wendy Robie, A.J. Langer and Ving Rhames.

In related news, Nia DaCosta’s “Candyman” will now open on Aug.

With the recent news that Blumhouse Productions is interested in bringing back the Hellraiser and Scream franchises it got me thinking about another forgotten gem, The People Under the Stairs. The movie is a favorite of mine, and I make sure I go back and watch it at least twice a year.

The People Under the Stairs was released in 1991 and was written and directed by horror legend Wes Craven. The story tells the story about two adults and a kid named Fool break into a creepy old house that is occupied by a crazy brother and sister, and their stolen children. Once in the house, the pair and Fool are in for the fight of their lives.

The People Under the Stairs covers a plethora of topics such as racism, social injustice, child abuse, and greed. The movie was made on a $6 million- dollar budget and grossed around $31 million worldwide.

Every Friday, we’re recommending an older movie available to stream or download and worth seeing again through the lens of our current moment. We’re calling the series “Revisiting Hours” — consider this Rolling Stone’s unofficial film club. This week: Alex Pappademas on Wes Craven’s The People Under the Stairs.

In real life, the house where most of Wes Craven’s The People Under the Stairs takes place is a three-story Craftsman-style mansion in the West Adams district of Los Angeles. When the neighborhood’s well-to-do white population...

1986: Capitol's Clarissa found a voodoo doll in her bed.

1994: Gh's Bobbie & Tony mourned Bj on her birthday.

2010: The "Train Crash" episode of Emmerdale.

2011: One Life to Live's Cord & Tina revisited the past."The best prophet of the future is the past."

― Lord Byron

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Dark Shadows, Burke Devlin (Mitchell Ryan) told Carolyn (Nancy Barrett) that Roger Collins (Louis Edmonds) may have kept the expensive fountain pen for himself on the night Bill Malloy died.

1970: On Another World, Rachel (Robin Strasser) cried to Steve (George Reinholt) that their sick little boy, Jamie, would die as punishment for her sins.

Networks: ABC; Showtime. Episodes: 48 (hour) + 1 movie. Seasons: Three. TV show dates: April 8, 1990 - June 10, 1991. May 21, 2017 — September 3, 2017. Series status: Has not been cancelled. Performers include: Mädchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, Sheryl Lee, Kyle MacLachlan, Everett McGill, Kimmy Robertson, Russ Tamblyn, Ray Wise, Grace Zabriskie, Amy Shiels, Robert Forster, Phoebe Augustine, Chrysta Bell, Richard Beymer, Catherine E. Coulson, Jan D'Arcy, Laura Dern, David Duchovny, Sherilyn Fenn, Miguel Ferrer, Warren Frost, Ashley Judd, David Patrick Kelly, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Peggy Lipton, James Marshall, Owain Rhys Davies, Wendy Robie, Charlotte Stewart, Harry Dean Stanton, Al Strobel, Carel Struycken, Eddie Vedder, Naomi Watts, and Alicia Witt. TV show description:A surrealist murder mystery...

Networks: ABC; Showtime. Episodes: Ongoing (hour). Seasons: Ongoing. TV show dates: April 8, 1990 - June 10, 1991. May 21, 2017 — September 3, 2017. Series status: Has not been cancelled. Performers include: Mädchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, Sheryl Lee, Kyle MacLachlan, Everett McGill, Kimmy Robertson, Russ Tamblyn, Ray Wise, Grace Zabriskie, Amy Shiels, Robert Forster, Phoebe Augustine, Chrysta Bell, Richard Beymer, Catherine E. Coulson, Jan D'Arcy, Laura Dern, David Duchovny, Sherilyn Fenn, Miguel Ferrer, Warren Frost, Ashley Judd, David Patrick Kelly, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Peggy Lipton, James Marshall, Owain Rhys Davies, Wendy Robie, Charlotte Stewart, Harry Dean Stanton, Al Strobel, Carel Struycken, Eddie Vedder, Naomi Watts, and Alicia Witt. TV show description:A surrealist murder mystery series with horror...

Twin Peaks Recap is a weekly column by Keith Uhlich covering David Lynch and Mark Frost's limited, 18-episode continuation of the Twin Peaks television series.The best things come to those who wait, and Big Ed Hurley (Everett McGill) has long been dreaming of the moment that opens Part 15 of Mark Frost and David Lynch's Twin Peaks revival. "I've been a selfish bitch to you all these years," says his one-eyed wife Nadine (Wendy Robie), who's walked a long way—a Dr. Jacoby/Dr. Amp gold, shit-digging shovel slung over her shoulder—to the cash-only Gas Farm that Ed has run for most of his life. She states the obvious: Ed is in love with Rr Diner propietor Norma Jennings (Peggy Lipton), and she, Nadine, has always stood in his way. Those days are finally over. Ed is reluctant to think of this as anything beyond another of his spouse's manic episodes.

[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “Twin Peaks: The Return” Episode 15, “Part 15.”]

Throughout “The Return,” David Lynch and Mark Frost have paid tribute to cast and crew who have passed away since the original seasons aired — including a dedication to David Bowie in last week’s episode — but “Part 15” felt like an episode-long tribute to Catherine E. Coulson. The woman known fondly as the Log Lady and formally as Margaret Lanterman said her final goodbye near the end of Episode 15, speaking to Hawk (Michael Horse) over the phone, just as she has all season, and reminding him to “watch for that one […] the one under the moon on Blue Pine Mountain.”

Read More: ‘Twin Peaks’ Review: Big Secrets Spill Out in ‘Part 14,’ But the Truth Lies Within David Lynch’s Dreams

It was difficult and largely unnecessary to absorb plot points when her final words meant so much more than the narrative. Coulson passed away in 2015 and she filmed scenes for “The Return” shortly before her death,...

Twin Peaks Recap is a weekly column by Keith Uhlich covering David Lynch and Mark Frost's limited, 18-episode continuation of the Twin Peaks television series.Much of David Lynch's work is about regression, or regressiveness, about people who are most comfortable when indulging (really, hiding behind) their baser instincts. An acid-jazz saxophonist with murder on his mind might take refuge in the body and soul of a teenage delinquent (Lost Highway), or a midwestern girl who has played and lost the Hollywood game might concoct a candy-colored dream-life in which she finally attains Tinseltown stardom (Mulholland Dr.). But these escapes always prove to be traps, and cyclical ones at that. What goes around comes around. What has happened before will happen again. Even Blue Velvet's Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini), finally liberated from her abusive sexual relationship with Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper), "still can see blue velvet through my tears.

While last week’s Twin Peaks may have concentrated on trials and tribulations of the smaller people, this week we got back to the what the Doppelganger (Kyle MacLachlan) is getting up to. Giving us an arm wrestling competition we’ll never forget, we were also treated to a bit of nostalgia.

With Dougie reaping the rewards of his encounter with Bradley and Rodney Mitchum (John Belushi and Robert Knepper) it seems he brings luck to all of those around him. With the Doppelganger finding out a few surprising things about his escape from prison, he manages to catch the attention of a watching Richard Horne (Eamon Farren).

It may be funny to watch the Dougie scenes, but this week it is the other side of Cooper that gets the best scenes. The arm wrestling that he takes part in with Ranzo (Derek Mears) is a sign of just how much power he has.

[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “Twin Peaks: The Return,” Season 3, “Part 13” (Episode 13).]

History repeating itself on “Twin Peaks” has so far fallen into the category of not learning from or not being able to move on from past mistakes. Shelly (Madchen Amick) married an abusive man when she was too young and is now romantically involved with Red (Balthazar Getty), a man who’s been shown to have violent tendencies. Her daughter Becky (Amanda Seyfried) also married an abusive man.

In this past Sunday’s episode, Ed Hurley (Everett McGill) reveals through a heartbreaking look that he’s still in love with Norma (Peggy Lipton), while she’s involved with someone else. Even Ed’s nephew James (James Marshall) gives viewers major deja vu with his rendition of “Just You,” a song he had crooned in Season 2 of the original series with two dark-haired ladies backing him up.

Read More‘Twin Peaks’ Review: Part 13 Proves the Magic of Pie, Coffee, and an...

Twin Peaks Recap is a weekly column by Keith Uhlich covering David Lynch and Mark Frost's limited, 18-episode continuation of the Twin Peaks television series.It's great to be in the know. To have a moment (hopefully more than one) when the veil drops and, per that old song, the mysteries of love (of life) come clear. Part 12 of Mark Frost and David Lynch's revived Twin Peaks opens with just such a scene, as FBI Agent Tammy Preston (Chrysta Bell) is initiated into the Blue Rose Task Force by her superiors Albert Rosenfield (Miguel Ferrer) and Gordon Cole (Lynch). The references Albert drops—to things like "Project Blue Book" and to people like "Chet Desmond"—will be familiar to any Peaks obsessive who has pored over the original series, the Fire Walk with Me movie, or Frost's 2016 tie-in novel The Secret History of Twin Peaks. But remember that...

Twin Peaks Recap is a weekly column by Keith Uhlich covering David Lynch and Mark Frost's limited, 18-episode continuation of the Twin Peaks television series.It's worth quoting the latest (perhaps the last?) gnomic pronouncements from Margaret "The Log Lady" Lanterman (the late Catherine E. Coulson), speaking via phone to Deputy Sheriff Tommy "Hawk" Hill (Michael Horse), in full: "Hawk—electricity is humming. You hear it in the mountains and rivers. You see it dance among the seas and stars. And glowing around the moon. But in these days, the glow is dying. What will be in the darkness that remains? The Truman brothers are both true men. They are your brothers. And the others, the good ones, who have been with you. Now the circle is almost complete. Watch and listen to the dream of time and space. It all comes out now, flowing like a river. That which is and is not.

If you are a fan of Twin Peaks you’ll no doubt have already thanked David Lynch and Mark Frost in your head for bringing us season 3. At episode 10 we are now officially down the rabbit hole, but if you were looking for much progress in the main story you won’t get it here. What you do get is plenty of information that further strengthens this new world of Twin Peaks.

The key to this episode is characters, and what they are doing in this episode. Dougie (Kyle MacLachlan) is living life with Janey-e (Naomi Watts) who has found a new-found attraction to her slimmed down husband. Richard Horne (Eamon Farren) is further cementing how evil he is by terrorising his grandmother, and Gordon Cole (David Lynch) confirms something to himself about Diane (Laura Dern).

While it may feel like not a lot happens in this episode of Twin Peaks,...

[Editor’s Note: The following review contains spoilers for “Twin Peaks: The Return” (Season 3), Episode 10, “Part 10.”]

“Laura is the one.”

Although Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) has been dead, case closed for over 25 years, the revival series has made sure to keep her identity alive. Even though she has been one of many female victims on the show, she is important, special. We see this in Part 10 when FBI Deputy Director Gordon Cole (David Lynch) gets a sudden, unexplained vision of her distraught face, and later in the Log Lady’s (Catherine Coulson) message to Hawk (Michael Horse).

Read More‘Twin Peaks’ Midseason Report: A TV Revolution in Nine Episodes, Via David Lynch and ‘Dougie’

The Log Lady’s speech is the best moment of the episode (although we’re sure the Joneses would disagree). Not only is it a thrill to see the Log Lady back, but the scene fits so well into this Lynchian universe of dreamy portent and lyrical imagery, with only beautiful words used to paint a picture.

“Twin Peaks” finally introduced fans to Diane, the oft-named but never seen secretary whom FBI Agent Cooper addressed his recordings to in the original 1990s series: David Lynch saved the plum role for one of his favorite actresses, Laura Dern, and her performance has been nothing short of thrilling and moving. Apart from the performance though, the character’s striking style is Orientalist, using Eastern images and themes to evoke a sense of exoticism.

Not much was known about Diane to begin with, since Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) only ever left recordings for her. It was a one-way exchange that left viewers in the dark. In “The Autobiography of FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper: My Life, My Tapes” written by series co-creator Mark Frost, Cooper offers the only real description of Diane:

“I have been assigned a secretary. Her name is Diane. Believe her experience will be a great help. She seems an interesting cross between a saint and a cabaret singer.”

Read More: ‘Twin Peaks’ and David Lynch’s Love of the Color Red

That summary of the off-screen, off-page character only added more to her air of mystery. Therefore, when we finally meet Dern as Diane, the impact is pronounced, with her striking and unusual appearance: The sleek, platinum blonde bob, the multicolored fingernails that coordinate with her ensemble, and those clothes. The glimpse of each of the three outfits that Diane has worn thus far are showstoppers. They also have a strong Eastern influence in their design.

Diane’s initial look can only be seen from the bust upwards, but its heavy and ornate gold embroidery is Eastern-inflected, and her haircut super-straight styling with heavy bangs is reminiscent of how Asians have been depicted in the past, such as with actress Anna May Wong. While this first glimpse at Diane in Episode 6 isn’t enough to tell her overall aesthetic, Episode 7 certainly gives a clearer idea of her taste.

Read More: ’Twin Peaks’ to ‘Wings’: The 9 Shows That Defined 1990

When Agents Rosenfield and Cole (Miguel Ferrer, David Lynch) visit Diane’s home, she enters the room in a red, silky, kimono-style robe. At that point, the Asian influences cannot be ignored, especially once you add in her home’s decor. A glance around Diane’s house confirms a mix of mid-century modern and Asian pieces ranging from multi-panel screens/room dividers, vases, decorative cranes and black lacquer objects accented with mother of pearl. Even her third outfit, a red and black leather number shows samurai inspirations that gives the illusion of criss-cross styling and a gathered waist.

Diane’s tastes and styling aren’t the most racist or even overt example of Orientalism on the show, but the series does assign its characters quirks that are often the marks of marginalized people. For example, many characters have some sort of physical disability like an eye patch or hearing loss. Making that the most identifiable mark of their characters creates a vicious cycle of reinforcing the perception of their marginalized status: Nadine Hurley (Wendy Robie) isn’t described as the woman whose husband is in love with another woman, but as the kook with the eyepatch. Meanwhile, in the current season, the only Asian character is Naido (Nae Yuuki), the woman without eyes who doesn’t speak in the Purple Room.

Read More: ‘Twin Peaks’ Review: Part 7 Leaves More Clues Than We Can Count as David Lynch Digs Deep Into the Past

Diane’s bold style is used to emphasize her strong personality (“Fuck you, Tammy”) but also her mysterious, exotic qualities that Cooper had tried to encapsulate in his description. Therefore, the Asian trappings are used as costuming and Otherizing to show how interesting and unusual she is. While this practice of using Eastern clothes as costumes was far more prevalent in the past, it still shows up in properties such as “Star Wars” (Princess Amidala’s costumes are very ceremonial Asian, down to the makeup) or critical favorite “Pushing Daisies.”

The Orientalism on “Twin Peaks” was far more pronounced when the show first aired in the 1990s. Although Agent Cooper was a white man teaching Eastern philosophy to solve crimes and Josie Packard (Joan Chen) fulfilled the stereotype of the Asian seductress, the worst affront came in Season 2. Josie’s sister-in-law Catherine Martell for some reason appeared in yellowface for several episodes as a businessman named Mr. Tojamura who sported a samurai hairstyle, spoke in a stereotypical accent and even invoked the bombing of Nagasaki in a conversation. Take a look at that trainwreck below:

“Twin Peaks” has come a long way when it comes to its depiction of Eastern cultures as merely costume or lesser-than. Sadly, it seems to have doubled-down on its brutality towards and objectification of women. But more on that later.

“Twin Peaks” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on Showtime.

Stay on top of the latest TV news! Sign up for our TV email newsletter here.

Related storiesWhy Ben Stiller Put His Comedy Career On Hold After 'Zoolander 2''Twin Peaks' Hints at Both Diane's Traumatic Past and Audrey Horne's Fate'Twin Peaks' Review: Part 7 Leaves More Clues Than We Can Count as David Lynch Digs Deep Into the Past...

Twin Peaks Recap is a weekly column by Keith Uhlich covering David Lynch and Mark Frost's limited, 18-episode continuation of the Twin Peaks television series.The key image in Part 5 of the revived Twin Peaks is of a woman in ecstasy. Recall, however, the subtitle that series co-creator/director David Lynch appended to his thorny 2006 masterpiece Inland Empire: "A Woman in Trouble." The line separating rapture and anguish is a blurry one, especially for Lynch's ladies, who are as likely to end up exquisitely chiseled corpses (the ubiquitous Laura Palmer; Part 2's doomed henchwoman Darya) as they are world-weary survivors. For the moment, let's focus on Rebecca "Becky" Burnett (Amanda Seyfried), daughter of Rr Diner waitress Shelly Johnson (Mädchen Amick), though Becky's last name—taken from ne'er-do-well husband Steven Burnett (Caleb Landry Jones)—obscures the identity of her father. (Dana Ashbrook's now-law-abiding Bobby Briggs is the most likely candidate,...

[Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers from “Twin Peaks: The Return” episodes as they’re released weekly.]

In the Episode 5 of “Twin Peaks,” we saw more of the town and that included some characters we’ve already reunited with in earlier episodes. Dr. Jacoby (Russ Tamblyn) has a conspiracy theory webcast in which he’s selling his golden shovels guaranteed to “shovel your way out of the shit,” Shelly (Madchen Amick) has to help out her daughter financially again because that no-good husband of hers can’t keep a job, and Hawk and Andy (Michael Horse, Harry Goaz) are still sifting through the old Laura Palmer case files. Speaking of, Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is still living that Dougie life as an insurance agent and has his own stack of case files to sift through.

We also see a few more familiar faces for the first time this season. Here’s a breakdown of who’s who from the original series that showed up in Episode 5:

Read...

Showtime has taken pity on us poor souls again by dribbling another “Twin Peaks” teaser trailer that actually contains new footage and spoken dialogue. We must have been very good today.

In the trailer below, some of the familiar faces include Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) driving a car, a grown up Shelly Johnson (Madchen Amick) hanging out at a bar, Lucy Moran (Kimmy Robertson) looking cautious and mastermind, writer, director and co-star David Lynch reprising his role as Agent Gordon Cole, sitting side by side with Miguel Ferrer in his final posthumous TV role as Agent Albert Rosenfield.

’Twin Peaks’ and Beyond: The Best Shows Inspired by David Lynch’s TV Phenomenon

We also get glimpses of the newer, younger faces that have joined the cast. There’s also some intriguing dialogue, especially one by a young woman who seems afraid. “He’s coming. I have to get off the phone,...

We’re mere weeks away from the long-awaited and much-hyped return to “Twin Peaks,” care of a massive 18-episode Showtime series, and the cable outfit is continuing to churn out exciting little snippets for fans to happily pore over. The latest batch of marketing goodies includes four new photos from the series, including a glimpse at Kyle MacLachlan as Special Agent Dale Cooper, back in that damn Red Room again, plus exterior shots of some beloved Twin Peaks locales.

It’s a less sexy, but much more forthright look at the series than other previous glimpses of the series have provided — including plenty of short teasers, a video puzzle, and even pie-hawking billboards — but by now, fans are pretty primed to devour any and all looks at the revived series. And, Dale, it’s good to see you.

Read More: ‘Twin Peaks’: 5 New Secrets About David Lynch’s Cult...

Grab yourself a damn fine cup of coffee and check out this first video of the Twin Peaks cast — Special Agent Cooper, sheriff’s office receptionist Lucy and bad boy James included— talking up Showtime’s upcoming revival.

VideosTwin Peaks Revival: Showtime Releases Haunting Teaser

In the above featurette, Kyle MacLachlan and other returning cast share their reactions to the early revival rumors, as well as the official announcement. Cast members familiar and new then preview the revisiting to come, as well as reflect on the impact Twin Peaks originally made on the TV landscape some 25 years ago.

Related...

David Lynch and Mark Frost's 1990 TV series looks better than ever, while the 1992 feature prequel digs deeper in Laura Palmer's unpleasant final days without as many rewards. CBS's 9-disc retrospective is a setup for the highly awaited series continuation -- delayed by 25 years. Twin Peaks: The Original Series, Fire Walk with Me & The Missing Pieces Blu-ray CBS / Paramount 1990 & 1992 / Color / 1:37 flat full frame & 1:78 widescreen / 25 hours + 134 min. / Street Date September 20, 2016 / 72,99 Starring (series) Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Lara Flynn Boyle, Sherilyn Fenn, Ray Wise, Sheryl Lee, Mädchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, Richard Beymer, Warren Frost, Peggy Lipton, James Marshall, Everett McGill, Jack Nance, Joan Chen, Piper Laurie, Kimmy Robertson, Eric Da Re, Harry Goaz, Michael Horse,Russ Tamblyn, Kenneth Welsh, Wendy Robie, Miguel Ferrer, David Lynch, Heather Graham, Dan O'Herlihy, Billy Zane, James Booth, Michael Parks, Lenny von Dohlen, Hank Worden, David Duchovny, Walter Olkewicz, Jane Greer, David L. Lander,...

Showtime announced today that filming has finished on David Lynch and Mark Frost’s Twin Peaks revival series. Ahead of its 2017 premiere, the series’ complete cast—including returning actors as well as those who are new to the series—has been revealed.

Newcomers to the series include Monica Bellucci, Jim Belushi, Michael Cera, Jeremy Davies, Laura Dern, Sky Ferreira, Robert Forster, Meg Foster, Ashley Judd, David Koechner, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Matthew Lillard, Derek Mears, Sara Paxton, Ernie Hudson, Naomi Watts, Trent Reznor, The Walking Dead‘s Josh McDermitt, and many more.

Returning actors include Kyle MacLachlan, Ray Wise, Harry Dean Stanton, Alicia Witt, and more. Below, we have the official press release and full cast list:

Press Release: Los Angeles, CA – April 25, 2016 – Principal photography has concluded on the highly-anticipated new Twin Peaks for Showtime. And today, Showtime, David Lynch and Mark Frost are revealing a key piece of the mystery:...

Showtime revealed the full cast list for its upcoming "Twin Peaks" revival, and it's nothing short of insane -- and insanely long.

The ensemble includes a whopping 217 actors -- yes, you read that right -- and amid all the returning faces, there are also a bunch of surprising, big-name newbies along for the ride this time around. (We've embedded the entire list at the end of this post.)

Original cast members that will be back include many previously-announced people, and the ensemble will feature the likes of Kyle MacLachlan, Sherilyn Fenn, Madchen Amick, Sheryl Lee, Dana Ashbrook, David Duchovny, Miguel Ferrer, Grace Zabriskie, Peggy Lipton, Ray Wise, Wendy Robie, Russ Tamblyn, and Catherine E. Coulson, among many others.

As for the newcomers, some of the bold names that stand out include Monica Bellucci, Jim Belushi, Michael Cera, Laura Dern, Jay R. Ferguson (a.k.a. Stan from "Mad Men"), Ernie Hudson ("Ghostbusters"), Ashley Judd,...

Showtime’s “Twin Peaks” reboot has revealed its full (huge) cast, which is toplined by the likes of newcomers Amanda Seyfriend, Michael Cera, Laura Dern, Jim Belushi and Naomi Watts, among many, many others. Of note, rockers Trent Reznor and Eddie Vedder are also getting in on the fun this time around. The massive group boasts exactly 217 names, per our basic math skills. Returning cast members from the preexisting “Twin Peaks” universe include Mädchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook, Phoebe Augustine, Richard Beymer, Scott Coffey, Catherine E. Coulson, Julee Cruise, Jan D’Arcy, David Duchovny, Sherilyn Fenn, Miguel Ferrer, Warren Frost, Harry Goaz,...

The new "Twin Peaks" isn't slated to debut on Showtime until 2017, but a flurry of speculation about it happened last week with a tweet from Go For Locations indicating that filming had wrapped on the "first two seasons" of the series.

The episode count for the David Lynch-directed series was always in question, but that tweet suggested we'd be getting even more episodes than originally planned. Said tweet has since been deleted, so we'll have to wait to see how that pans out.

in the meantime in more official news, Showtime, Lynch and Mark Frost has released the official cast list for the new series with a whopping 217 names across the various episodes - a list that includes some real surprise big name inclusions such as Monica Bellucci, Michael Cera, Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Eddie Vedder, Ashley Judd, Ernie Hudson, Jim Belushi, Richard Chamberlain, Laura Dern,...

Some news about the casting of new and old characters for the revamped Twin Peaks has been revealed. It's a lot of information and also gives us an idea of what we can expect from this show.

First off, Leland and Sarah Palmer will return in the form of Ray Wise and Grace Zabriskie. Also, their daughter Laura will return in some capacity. Norma Jennings will return played by Peggy Lipton. Evert McGill will return as Norma's lover Ed Hurley. Wendy Robie will return as the one-eyed Nadine Hurley. As someone who hasn't seen a single episode of Twin Peaks, simply hearing that a character who only has one eye and sports a pirate eye-patch makes me interested in this show. 

There's also a one-armed man who will be returning played by Al Strobel. Again, I'm kinda picking up what Twin Peaks is putting down with this characters who only...

[Editor's Note: "They hate it, we love it!" - A carryover from Deadly Magazine, Deadly Pleasures will now be a regular column on Daily Dead. Each installment, a different writer will defend an often hated genre movie.]

Even though grossly maligned when released in October 1995, Vampire in Brooklyn has become something of an unfortunate punch line in the careers of both its director and star. Although it’s been misunderstood and wrongly forced to take a time out in the horror genre’s “Shame Corner” over the last two decades, I still adore the hell out of Vampire in Brooklyn.

Starring Eddie Murphy, Angela Bassett, Allen Payne, Kadeem Hardison and John Witherspoon, and directed by Wes Craven, Vampire in Brooklyn is pretty much Nosferatu meets Coming to America with a Blaxploitation twist. Murphy plays a smooth-talking vampire from the Caribbean, named Maximillian, who must sire a companion to spend eternity with before the passing of the next full moon or he’ll be doomed to walk the Earth alone forever. As it turns out, a troubled NYPD Detective (played by Bassett) is destined to be Max’s...