The Phantom of the Opera is sometimes considered one of the Universal Monsters. I get it. From the 1925 version that gave us one of the most infamous unmasking sequences ever courtesy of the great Lon Chaney Sr., through the Hammer iteration with Herbert Lom, all the way up to the 2004 film that gave a lot of us our intro to Gerard Butler. Speaking of that movie, its inspiration and reason for its existence was the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical that premiered in October of 1986 and has had runs all the way through as recently as 2021. 1989 was the beginning of its U.S. tour and we got not one but Two Phantom movies that year. Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge is cheesy and may just be more well known due to our friend Joe Bob featuring it on the Last Drive In recently. Here in the JoBlo Horror kitchen today...
- 4/16/2024
- by Andrew Hatfield
- JoBlo.com
The first twenty minutes of the 1979 horror film When a Stranger Calls (watch it Here) really creeped out movie-goers. It stuck in their heads, earning the movie cult classic status. The rest of the running time, viewers don’t often remember so clearly. So when Screen Gems gave the greenlight to a remake, they decided to expand those first twenty minutes to feature length, stretching out the thrills and suspense for as long as possible. It was a clever idea that was brought to the screen in an entertaining way. And if you haven’t seen the When a Stranger Calls remake, this is the best horror movie you never saw. (You can watch that one Here.)
To properly tell the story of this 2006 release, we first have to rewind thirty years. That’s when college friends Fred Walton and Steve Feke sat down to write the script for a...
To properly tell the story of this 2006 release, we first have to rewind thirty years. That’s when college friends Fred Walton and Steve Feke sat down to write the script for a...
- 4/9/2024
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
As the ’80s came to a close, so too did the first wave of the slasher cycle. While they would continue to be produced into the next decade, 1989 was the last gasp of a dying genre. Returning franchises and hopeful upstarts alike struggled to make an impact. We all know you can never really kill a slasher, but it would take Scream‘s reinvention of the concept in 1996 to renew broad interest.
Cutting Class, another ’89 entry in the subgenre, marked the directorial debut — and, as it turned out, sole directorial effort — from Rospo Pallenberg, who notably co-wrote Excalibur, contributed uncredited rewrites on Exorcist II: The Heretic, and served as a “creative associate” on Deliverance. Despite his pedigree, Pallenberg did not write the script; that was the work of Steve Slavkin, who would go on to create Nickelodeon’s pivotal series Salute Your Shorts.
The plot finds prototypical girl-next-door Paula in...
Cutting Class, another ’89 entry in the subgenre, marked the directorial debut — and, as it turned out, sole directorial effort — from Rospo Pallenberg, who notably co-wrote Excalibur, contributed uncredited rewrites on Exorcist II: The Heretic, and served as a “creative associate” on Deliverance. Despite his pedigree, Pallenberg did not write the script; that was the work of Steve Slavkin, who would go on to create Nickelodeon’s pivotal series Salute Your Shorts.
The plot finds prototypical girl-next-door Paula in...
- 2/9/2024
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
There’s a reason that home invasion horror films like The Strangers, Them, The Purge, Hush, Don’t Breathe, Funny Games, and more rank highly among horror fans. The very concept of your private sanctuary getting corrupted and invaded by an unhinged intruder who means you grave harm is inherently terrifying. The realistic thrills of home invasion films can offer some of the most intense horror, and some of the biggest surprises when the formula is subverted.
This week’s streaming picks are dedicated to home invasion horror movies that unleash suspense, chills, violence, and stalker thrills. Here’s where you can stream them this week.
For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.
Angst – Kanopy, Midnight Pulp, Mubi, Tubi
An unconventional, stylized Austrian horror movie that largely influenced Gaspar Noe’s work, Angst follows a psychopath as he’s released from prison and eager to commit crime again. After a botched murder attempt,...
This week’s streaming picks are dedicated to home invasion horror movies that unleash suspense, chills, violence, and stalker thrills. Here’s where you can stream them this week.
For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.
Angst – Kanopy, Midnight Pulp, Mubi, Tubi
An unconventional, stylized Austrian horror movie that largely influenced Gaspar Noe’s work, Angst follows a psychopath as he’s released from prison and eager to commit crime again. After a botched murder attempt,...
- 1/29/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
These last few years the Criterion Channel have made October viewing much easier to prioritize, and in the spirit of their ’70s and ’80s horror series we’ve graduated to––you guessed it––”’90s Horror.” A couple of obvious classics stand with cult favorites and more unknown entities (When a Stranger Calls Back and Def By Temptation are new to me). Three more series continue the trend: “Technothrillers” does what it says on the tin, courtesy the likes of eXistenZ and Demonlover; “Art-House Horror” is precisely the kind of place to host Cure, Suspiria, Onibaba; and “Pre-Code Horror” is a black-and-white dream. Phantom of the Paradise, Unfriended, and John Brahm’s The Lodger are added elsewhere.
James Gray is the latest with an “Adventures in Moviegoing” series populated by deep cuts and straight classics. Stonewalling and restorations of Trouble Every Day and The Devil, Probably make streaming debuts, while Flesh for Frankenstein,...
James Gray is the latest with an “Adventures in Moviegoing” series populated by deep cuts and straight classics. Stonewalling and restorations of Trouble Every Day and The Devil, Probably make streaming debuts, while Flesh for Frankenstein,...
- 9/28/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
Warning: Major spoilers for the following films abound.
Few experiences unite people from all walks of life like a fear of the dark. Often surpassing specific concerns of serial killers, monsters, witches, or demons, what we collectively fear most is that mysterious, dark unknown. Anything and everything could be lurking in the shadows just waiting to pounce. Bishal Dutta’s terrifying new film It Lives Inside follows an ancient evil that hides in dark corners while terrorizing its prey. The film follows a troubled teen named Tamira (Mohana Krishnan) terrorized by a flesh-eating demon known as the Pishacha that feasts on negative energy. This malevolent being soon sets its sights on her best friend Samidha (Megan Suri) and begins a campaign of terror hoping to gorge itself on chaos, destruction, and emotional pain.
One of Dutta’s most frightening scenes takes place in Samidha’s darkened bedroom. Staring at her open closet door,...
Few experiences unite people from all walks of life like a fear of the dark. Often surpassing specific concerns of serial killers, monsters, witches, or demons, what we collectively fear most is that mysterious, dark unknown. Anything and everything could be lurking in the shadows just waiting to pounce. Bishal Dutta’s terrifying new film It Lives Inside follows an ancient evil that hides in dark corners while terrorizing its prey. The film follows a troubled teen named Tamira (Mohana Krishnan) terrorized by a flesh-eating demon known as the Pishacha that feasts on negative energy. This malevolent being soon sets its sights on her best friend Samidha (Megan Suri) and begins a campaign of terror hoping to gorge itself on chaos, destruction, and emotional pain.
One of Dutta’s most frightening scenes takes place in Samidha’s darkened bedroom. Staring at her open closet door,...
- 9/22/2023
- by Jenn Adams
- bloody-disgusting.com
The ’70s shocked you, the ’80s gored you . . . now the ’90s come in for the kill!
The Criterion Channel has announced this year’s Halloween spectacular, which “celebrates an era that saw terror undergo unsettling new transformations.”
The team previews, “In the ’90s, horror movies got bigger budgets, became playfully self-aware, and even won some Oscars—but they’re just as nasty as what came before.
“Featuring cult heroes like John Carpenter (In the Mouth of Madness) and Abel Ferrara (The Addiction) plunging the dark depths of their uncompromising visions, established auteurs like Francis Ford Coppola (Bram Stoker’s Dracula) taking on the genre, and new voices like Ernest R. Dickerson (Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight) and Antonia Bird (Ravenous) offering fresh perspectives on familiar tropes, this selection curated by Clyde Folley offers a hair-raising tour through an oft-overlooked decade in horror that’s ripe for rediscovery.”
The full...
The Criterion Channel has announced this year’s Halloween spectacular, which “celebrates an era that saw terror undergo unsettling new transformations.”
The team previews, “In the ’90s, horror movies got bigger budgets, became playfully self-aware, and even won some Oscars—but they’re just as nasty as what came before.
“Featuring cult heroes like John Carpenter (In the Mouth of Madness) and Abel Ferrara (The Addiction) plunging the dark depths of their uncompromising visions, established auteurs like Francis Ford Coppola (Bram Stoker’s Dracula) taking on the genre, and new voices like Ernest R. Dickerson (Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight) and Antonia Bird (Ravenous) offering fresh perspectives on familiar tropes, this selection curated by Clyde Folley offers a hair-raising tour through an oft-overlooked decade in horror that’s ripe for rediscovery.”
The full...
- 9/22/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Welcome to the Ghostface Glossary, a guide to every horror reference and nod throughout the first five films of the Scream franchise.
After a lot of pausing, rewinding, and zooming in, as well as researching, we’re catching all of the many horror-specific references Williamson, Craven, and Co. included in this beloved postmodern slasher franchise. If we’ve forgotten any glaring ones, kindly let us know.
“If they’d watch Prom Night, they’d save time!”
For millions of horror fans in the ’90s— the budding and jaded alike— a murder mystery slasher movie that promised Drew Barrymore in the marketing and released right before Christmas ’96 came out of absolute nowhere. Written by an up-and-comer with a penchant for the original Halloween and directed by the guy who directed meta masterpiece New Nightmare, the original Scream blew minds and box office numbers with not only its hot cast, brutal kills,...
After a lot of pausing, rewinding, and zooming in, as well as researching, we’re catching all of the many horror-specific references Williamson, Craven, and Co. included in this beloved postmodern slasher franchise. If we’ve forgotten any glaring ones, kindly let us know.
“If they’d watch Prom Night, they’d save time!”
For millions of horror fans in the ’90s— the budding and jaded alike— a murder mystery slasher movie that promised Drew Barrymore in the marketing and released right before Christmas ’96 came out of absolute nowhere. Written by an up-and-comer with a penchant for the original Halloween and directed by the guy who directed meta masterpiece New Nightmare, the original Scream blew minds and box office numbers with not only its hot cast, brutal kills,...
- 3/9/2023
- by Julieann Stipidis
- bloody-disgusting.com
While many modern-day viewers know Carol Kane as Lillian from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, horror fans perhaps know her better as Jill Johnson from When a Stranger Calls and its 1993 sequel, When a Stranger Calls Back, the lattermost of which is coming to Blu-ray from Scream Factory on May 28th, and we've been provided with three copies to give away to lucky Daily Dead readers!
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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of When a Stranger Calls Back.
How to Enter: We're giving Daily Dead readers multiple chances to enter and win:
1. Instagram: Following us on Instagram during the contest period will give you an automatic contest entry. Make sure to follow us at:
https://www.instagram.com/dailydead/
2. Email: For a chance to win via email, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with the subject “When a Stranger Calls Back Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
---------
Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of When a Stranger Calls Back.
How to Enter: We're giving Daily Dead readers multiple chances to enter and win:
1. Instagram: Following us on Instagram during the contest period will give you an automatic contest entry. Make sure to follow us at:
https://www.instagram.com/dailydead/
2. Email: For a chance to win via email, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with the subject “When a Stranger Calls Back Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
- 5/27/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
While many modern-day viewers know Carol Kane as Lillian from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, horror fans perhaps know her better as Jill Johnson from When a Stranger Calls and its 1993 sequel, When a Stranger Calls Back, which will be released on Blu-ray this May from Scream Factory, complete with a fresh "2K scan of the original film elements" and a new interview with Kane.
We have the official press release with the full list of special features below, and in case you missed it, read Scott Drebit's It Came From the Tube column on When a Stranger Calls Back.
Press Release: The Stranger is watching you … again. The chilling sequel to When A Stranger Calls, this suspenseful thriller makes its North American Blu-ray debut May 28th, 2019 from Scream Factory. Featuring a new 2k scan of the original film elements in both 1.33:1 (original TV broadcast) and an alternate 1.78:1 version, When...
We have the official press release with the full list of special features below, and in case you missed it, read Scott Drebit's It Came From the Tube column on When a Stranger Calls Back.
Press Release: The Stranger is watching you … again. The chilling sequel to When A Stranger Calls, this suspenseful thriller makes its North American Blu-ray debut May 28th, 2019 from Scream Factory. Featuring a new 2k scan of the original film elements in both 1.33:1 (original TV broadcast) and an alternate 1.78:1 version, When...
- 4/4/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
While many modern-day viewers know Carol Kane as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, horror fans perhaps know her better as Jill Johnson from When a Stranger Calls and its 1993 sequel, When a Stranger Calls Back, and Scream Factory just announced that the latter of the films is getting the Blu-ray treatment this May.
You can view Scream Factory's announcement and cover art for When a Stranger Calls Back Blu-ray below, and in case you missed it, read Scott Drebit's It Came From the Tube entry on the sequel.
From Scream Factory: "We’re dialing in more terror on Blu-ray this Summer with When A Stranger Calls Back—the often-requested sequel to the classic original babysitter chiller. Street date is planned for May 28th.
Five years after her own terrifying baby-sitting ordeal, Julia Jenz is trying to put her life together when the past comes back to haunt her. Someone is breaking into her apartment,...
You can view Scream Factory's announcement and cover art for When a Stranger Calls Back Blu-ray below, and in case you missed it, read Scott Drebit's It Came From the Tube entry on the sequel.
From Scream Factory: "We’re dialing in more terror on Blu-ray this Summer with When A Stranger Calls Back—the often-requested sequel to the classic original babysitter chiller. Street date is planned for May 28th.
Five years after her own terrifying baby-sitting ordeal, Julia Jenz is trying to put her life together when the past comes back to haunt her. Someone is breaking into her apartment,...
- 2/1/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
I still haven’t seen Independence Day: Resurgence, and there’s a good chance I won’t. When 20th Century Fox made the decision not to screen the film for Us press in advance of the film’s opening, they sent a very clear message to anyone paying attention, and it’s a message that I believe more and more studios would love to send to critics, especially on their giant event films: not only do we not need you, but we don’t want you. At all. And it’s true. Studios don’t really need to screen movies for critics. It’s a professional agreement that we all participate in, but more and more often, studios screen later and almost begrudgingly. I am amazed how many times this year alone I’ve had to basically beg to even find out when or if a screening is happening. The...
- 6/27/2016
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
This week delivers up a wealth of joy. Cannibal Women! Zombies! Curses! Sinful Dwarfs! Doctor Who! So let’s dive in and see just how we’re going to spend our week!
Cannibal Women In The Avocado Jungle Of Death
With a title like that, do you even need to know more? Yeah? Well, it stars 1982 Playboy Playmate of the Year Shannon Tweed. And Adrienne Barbeau from Swamp Thing and Creepshow. (Fun Fact: Adrienne Barbeau played Rizzo in the original Broadway production of Grease! And got a Tony nom for it! What!) And Bill Maher, before he got all respectable with his own HBO show and all. To avoid an avocado shortage, an anthropology professor (Tweed!) heads into the avocado jungle of Southern California to confront the man-eating Piranha Women tribe. How the cannibals are affecting the avocado crops is anyone’s guess. But, hey, I live in SoCal, and...
Cannibal Women In The Avocado Jungle Of Death
With a title like that, do you even need to know more? Yeah? Well, it stars 1982 Playboy Playmate of the Year Shannon Tweed. And Adrienne Barbeau from Swamp Thing and Creepshow. (Fun Fact: Adrienne Barbeau played Rizzo in the original Broadway production of Grease! And got a Tony nom for it! What!) And Bill Maher, before he got all respectable with his own HBO show and all. To avoid an avocado shortage, an anthropology professor (Tweed!) heads into the avocado jungle of Southern California to confront the man-eating Piranha Women tribe. How the cannibals are affecting the avocado crops is anyone’s guess. But, hey, I live in SoCal, and...
- 2/24/2016
- by Harker Jones
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
One of the big sources of excitement within the horror community these last couple weeks has been the persistent rumors of a long-awaited sequel to Beetlejuice, with both Michael Keaton and Winona Rider expressing their interest in being a part of the ghost with the most’s return to the big screen. Will it ever actually happen? Only time will tell. But if it does, it’ll be a follow-up over 25 years in the making – a long time to wait for a sequel, don’t ya think?!
Well, it wouldn’t be the first time us horror fans have had to wait a couple decades for a sequel. In fact, we’ve waited a whole lot longer than that. Just how long, you ask? Let’s take a look at the ten horror sequels that took longer than any others to find their way into our lives!
Embodiment Of Evil...
Well, it wouldn’t be the first time us horror fans have had to wait a couple decades for a sequel. In fact, we’ve waited a whole lot longer than that. Just how long, you ask? Let’s take a look at the ten horror sequels that took longer than any others to find their way into our lives!
Embodiment Of Evil...
- 11/25/2013
- by John Squires
- FEARnet
The big names in horror are frequently recognized by both the genre film community and mainstream entertainment culture. They are often showered with accolades by horror fans and film critics alike. Directors like John Carpenter, Tobe Hooper and Wes Craven have secured their place in history.
Many talented directors live in the shadows and are rarely recognized for their hard work and noteworthy contributions to the genre. To remedy that, we are shining the spotlight on five of our favorite underrated horror directors.
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith has churned out some truly underrated contemporary classics and he himself is vastly underrated on the landscape of horror filmmakers. His films Severance and Creep are vastly different in tonality but both display an affection and understanding of the horror genre not unlike some of the great genre film directors of years past. Severance is full of witty one-liners and contrasted by a hefty dose of ultra violence.
Many talented directors live in the shadows and are rarely recognized for their hard work and noteworthy contributions to the genre. To remedy that, we are shining the spotlight on five of our favorite underrated horror directors.
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith has churned out some truly underrated contemporary classics and he himself is vastly underrated on the landscape of horror filmmakers. His films Severance and Creep are vastly different in tonality but both display an affection and understanding of the horror genre not unlike some of the great genre film directors of years past. Severance is full of witty one-liners and contrasted by a hefty dose of ultra violence.
- 11/12/2013
- by Tyler Doupe
- FEARnet
Recently on FEARnet, my fellow writer Tyler Doupe listed the top ten out-of-print horror films that fans go nuts over. Mark Herrier’s Popcorn (1991) is at the top of the list – and no surprises there – fans and distribution companies have been trying to get this film re-released for a few years now. There have been Kickstarter campaigns, social media campaigns – you name it – fans have tried it.
Popcorn is an interesting little film that came up against a few major hurdles during production; director Alan Ormsby was fired and replaced by Mark Herrier, and lead actress Amy O’Neill was also fired, and replaced by Jill Schoelen. Popcorn has reached such cult status that a VHS tape will run you up to $80+ on Amazon, Ebay, and other collector sites. Released on VHS in 1991 by Sony Pictures Home E, Popcorn also had a DVD release in 2001 through Elite Entertainment. Do I...
Popcorn is an interesting little film that came up against a few major hurdles during production; director Alan Ormsby was fired and replaced by Mark Herrier, and lead actress Amy O’Neill was also fired, and replaced by Jill Schoelen. Popcorn has reached such cult status that a VHS tape will run you up to $80+ on Amazon, Ebay, and other collector sites. Released on VHS in 1991 by Sony Pictures Home E, Popcorn also had a DVD release in 2001 through Elite Entertainment. Do I...
- 5/6/2013
- by Lianne Spiderbaby
- FEARnet
Last week, I embarked on a fun little assignment to pull together a batch of teaser trailers for horror sequels; the one criteria being that they all had to feature exclusive footage specifically shot and used just for that trailer. One of the greatest aspects of putting together articles like this is that after I finish them, I like to open up the discussion amongst my Facebook friends and see if we agree or if they have other suggestions I could’ve possibly gone with. While I already had my horror sequels picked out, I got a handful of terrific recommendations for teaser trailers featuring original footage for non-sequel horror movies. So, low and behold, I thought these awesome teasers warranted a separate article and man, some of these are cool as all hell! Special thanks to Jared Rivet, Jeff Nelson & Sean Keller for pointing out quite a few of these to me,...
- 2/8/2013
- by Rob Galluzzo
- FEARnet
Your palms sweat, your bottom lip trembles, you can feel your heart beating out of your chest. Ring-ring, you’re home alone. Ring-ring, caller unknown. Ring-ring, who could it be? Ring-ring, Hello?
It’s become one of the most popular themes in horror films. From stalkers, psychos and serial killers, to ghosts, demons and the supernatural – the person on the other side of the phone is never calling to find out how your day was. In time for Halloween this year, The Caller, the latest addition to the array of blockbuster thrillers to make you jump at the sound of your own phone is out on Blu-Ray and DVD on 24th October.
This atmospheric, eerie thriller from British director Matthew Parkhill, stars Twilight’s Rachelle Lefevre and True Blood’s Stephen Moyer. Lefevre is divorcee Mary Kee, who is being harassed by a mysterious female caller...
It’s become one of the most popular themes in horror films. From stalkers, psychos and serial killers, to ghosts, demons and the supernatural – the person on the other side of the phone is never calling to find out how your day was. In time for Halloween this year, The Caller, the latest addition to the array of blockbuster thrillers to make you jump at the sound of your own phone is out on Blu-Ray and DVD on 24th October.
This atmospheric, eerie thriller from British director Matthew Parkhill, stars Twilight’s Rachelle Lefevre and True Blood’s Stephen Moyer. Lefevre is divorcee Mary Kee, who is being harassed by a mysterious female caller...
- 10/19/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Dread Central’s next final girl, Jill Schoelen, was one of our busiest final girls working in the horror genre. The actress appeared in Wes Craven’s Chiller, The Stepfather, Curse 2: The Bite, The Phantom of the Opera, Popcorn, and When a Stranger Calls Back, firmly cementing her place as a beloved final girl of modern horror history.
The ironic part of it all is that Schoelen’s acting career was kind of a happy accident.
“When I started off in the business, I came in as a singer,” explained Schoelen. “Then from there, I’d get asked to audition for singing parts that had a little bit of acting. That turned into acting auditions that had a little bit of singing, and then it turned into full-blown acting.”
One of Schoelen’s first roles was in one of this writer’s favorite cult comedies of the 80s: DC Cab.
The ironic part of it all is that Schoelen’s acting career was kind of a happy accident.
“When I started off in the business, I came in as a singer,” explained Schoelen. “Then from there, I’d get asked to audition for singing parts that had a little bit of acting. That turned into acting auditions that had a little bit of singing, and then it turned into full-blown acting.”
One of Schoelen’s first roles was in one of this writer’s favorite cult comedies of the 80s: DC Cab.
- 3/3/2010
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
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