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Development continues on a live action, supernatural crime TV series, based on the feature "Maniac Cop" (1988), to be produced and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and John Hyams, for HBO in North America and Canal+ in France:

The first "Maniac Cop" feature, directed by William Lustig, starred Tom Atkins, Bruce Campbell, Laurene Landon, Richard Roundtree, William Smith, Robert Z'Dar, and Sheree North, following an ex-police officer, who returns from the dead, seeking revenge on criminals, corrupt politicians and co-workers who wronged him.

"Maniac Cop" was followed by the feature sequels, "Maniac Cop 2" (1990) and "Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence".

"We've been talking about a re-imagining of the 'Maniac Cop' films for a number of years," said Refn, "but as we continued to work on the material, we found ourselves wanting to explore the world we were creating in greater depth.

"Turning 'Maniac Cop' into a...

American actor Robert Z'Dar was a staple in B-movies throughout the '80s and '90s, instantly recognizable with his iconic, larger-than-life jawline and commanding presence. Known for his ability to bring both menace and over-the-top energy to his roles, Z'Dar became a go-to actor for directors looking to add a dose of intensity to low-budget films. His physicality and distinctive look (the result of a condition called cherubism) landed him many roles as henchmen and tough-guy villains.

One lesser known but extremely cool horror series that’s worth revisiting is the Maniac Cop franchise. Directed by William Lustig and scripted by Larry Cohen, the Maniac Cop trilogy got off to a great start in 1988 with a film that stars Tom Atkins, Richard Roundtree, William Smith, Laurene Landon, and Evil Dead franchise hero Bruce Campbell, with Robert Z’Dar as the title character. Although Campbell emerges as the hero in the first film, he’s killed off early in 1990’s Maniac Cop 2 – which, despite losing Campbell so quickly, still manages to be one of the best horror sequels out there. Things don’t get questionable until 1993’s troubled Maniac Cop 3. But even though the first two movies are awesome, Campbell doesn’t seem to have the fondest memories of them, as he revealed during a recent interview with Variety.

Variety gathered lines from several of the movies...

The best Richard Roundtree movies and TV shows feature some of the classic exploitation films of the 1970s and some great television shows of the 2000s. Roundtree was born in 1942 in New York and started his acting career after dropping out of college in 1963. He worked as a model while also starring in some theater plays before he finally got his break in a 1970 hidden-camera reality movie called What Do You Say to a Naked Lady. However, his next role made him an icon.

In 1971, Richard Roundtree took on the role of private detective John Shaft in the exploitation crime thriller Shaft. This created a new franchise, and Roundtree became the face of the new strong Black Hollywood action hero, creating a new genre in which future action heroes patterned themselves after his iconic role. However, he refused to be pigeonholed only into that role and still worked in everything...

The 12 Days of Creepmas continues on Bloody Disgusting, with the tenth day getting into the anti-festive spirit for all the holiday grinches out there. This is for those that approach December with a “bah humbug” attitude and prefer any iconography or holiday theming to be kept to a minimum when it comes to horror. Most of these ten horror titles are technically set on or around Christmas, but can’t muster up enough cheer to really embrace the holiday spirit. Many of which don’t even bother with Christmas at all, beyond a quick scene or mention.

If you’re already sick of Santa Claus, and all things holiday related, here are ten holiday horror movies – technically – that would rather just cut straight to the horror.

Keep track of the 12 Days of Creepmas here.

The Brain

Dr. Anthony Blakely (Re-Animator’s David Gale) uses his TV show and a giant...

As temperatures plummet and blankets of snow envelop the landscape, winter horror movies become the perfect escape for those seeking thrills intertwined with the frosty air. Within this chilly realm, we find a particular sub-genre that harmonizes the starkness of winter with the dread of the cold-blooded killer – figures defined by their emotionless, relentless pursuit of victims, often leaving a trail as chilling as the season itself. These ruthless antagonists embody the essence of winter horror movies, their actions mirroring the merciless bite of the colder months.

From snowy suspense to icy massacres, let’s explore the top films where the winter season and heartless homicidal villains provide a double dose of fright.

20th Century Studios 10. Maniac Cop 2 (1990)

Kicking off at number ten, Maniac Cop 2 brings back the dead and vengeful Matt Cordell (Robert Z’Dar) who haunts the wintery streets of the Big Apple. It’s as relentless...

Shudder is a streaming service that is specifically dedicated to the horror genre, so it’s only fitting that we here on Arrow in the Head should compile a list of the Best Horror Movies on Shudder Right Now. As with all streamers, Shudder has movies that come and go on a regular basis, but if you head over there today here are some of the best movies you can find on the service:

Night Of The Living Dead (1968)

Yes, George A. Romero’s 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead seems to be available on nearly every streaming service there is, and that’s because the movie is in the public domain due to the copyright notice accidentally being left off the film print. When you’re a streaming service that deals specifically with the horror genre, it would be insane if you didn’t have Night of the Living Dead...

Sylvester Stallone has been a fixture of pop culture for some 50 years, and it began with "Rocky," one of Hollywood's biggest success stories. That is not hyperbole. Stallone wrote a script that took him from obscurity and made him an Oscar-nominated actor and writer with instant star power and a few million in the bank.

Hopes were high for Stallone. Roger Ebert, for instance, wrote that the young actor reminded him of Marlon Brando, who had played a journeyman fighter in "On The Waterfront." However, thanks to mindless vanity pieces like "Cobra" and "Rambo: First Blood Part II," it wouldn't be long before such a comparison was viewed with derision.

Still, people shouldn't forget what made Stallone a success from 1976 to 1982, during which he proved himself as an actor of intelligence, naturalism, and heart. A mixture of ego and '80s commercialism reoriented his dramatic foundation throughout the rest of the decade,...

There are holiday horror movies that wholly commit to the yuletide theme, and then there are holiday horror movies you might not even recall being set over or around Christmas. This week’s streaming picks are dedicated to the latter category. These horror titles make it clear that they’re set around the holidays without that ever factoring much into the plot… if at all.

That makes them perfect watches when you’ve already exhausted the holiday horror classics and want something a little outside the box. Or way out of the box, in some instances.

As always, here’s where you can stream them this week.

For more Stay Home, Watch Horror picks, click here.

The Brain – Freevee, Prime Video

Dr. Anthony Blakely (Re-Animator’s David Gale) uses his TV show and a giant meatball of a mutant brain to brainwash his audience. It’s up to a plucky...

Development continues on a live action, supernatural crime TV series, based on the feature "Maniac Cop" (1988), to be produced and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and John Hyams, for HBO in North America and Canal+ in France:

The first "Maniac Cop" feature, directed by William Lustig, starred Tom Atkins, Bruce Campbell, Laurene Landon, Richard Roundtree, William Smith, Robert Z'Dar, and Sheree North, following an ex-police officer, who returns from the dead, seeking revenge on criminals, corrupt politicians and co-workers who wronged him.

"Maniac Cop" was followed by the feature sequels, "Maniac Cop 2" (1990) and "Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence".

"We've been talking about a re-imagining of the 'Maniac Cop' films for a number of years," said Refn, "but as we continued to work on the material, we found ourselves wanting to explore the world we were creating in greater depth.

"Turning 'Maniac Cop' into a...

Hello, everyone! We’re back with a brand new round of horror and sci-fi 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD releases coming out tomorrow, and I gotta say, November 16th is a good day to be a genre fan, because we have a lot of cool stuff coming our way. If you missed it in theaters, you can finally catch up with Nia DaCosta’s Candyman and both Maniac Cop 2 and 3 are getting a 4K upgrade courtesy of Blue Underground. Lionsgate has put together the impressive 4K set The Evil Dead: Groovy Collection that includes the first two Evil Dead films and all three seasons of Ash vs Evil Dead (plus a bevy of bonus content) that would make a killer addition to anyone’s home media collection.

Other releases for November 16th include Mulholland Dr. 4K, Prisoners of the Ghostland, Megan is Missing, Caveat, The Resort, and the Mad Max Anthology 4K.

The actor/comedian/writer/director joins us to talk about some of the objectively bad movies he loves.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Explorers (1985)

Chinatown (1974)

Suicide Squad (2016)

The Oath (2018)

The Last Movie Star (2018)

Tango and Cash (1989)

The Thing (1982)

Runaway Train (1985)

Midnight Cowboy (1969)

Conrack (1974)

Volcano (1997)

Dante’s Peak (1997)

Earthquake (1974)

It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)

Independence Day (1996)

Independence Day: Resurgence (2016)

Road House (1989)

Minnie and Moskowitz (1971)

Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)

The Greatest Showman (2017)

West Side Story (1961)

Chicago (2002)

The Producers (1967)

Outbreak (1995)

Volunteers (1985)

Splash (1984)

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Philadelphia (1993)

Bachelor Party (1984)

Con Air (1997)

Bad Boys (1995)

The Rock (1996)

Mandy (2018)

Out For Justice (1991)

Once Upon A Time In America (1984)

Goodfellas (1990)

Paths of Glory (1957)

Hard To Kill (1991)

Above The Law (1988)

Under Siege (1992)

Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995)

The Asian Connection (2016)

Contract To Kill (2016)

The Perfect Weapon (2016)

Sniper: Special Ops (2016)

The Glimmer Man (1996)

The Andromeda Strain (1971)

Contagion (2011)

Other Notable Items

The...

Development continues on a live action, supernatural crime TV series, based on the feature "Maniac Cop" (1988), to be produced and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and John Hyams, for HBO in North America and Canal+ in France:

The first "Maniac Cop" feature, directed by William Lustig, starred Tom Atkins, Bruce Campbell, Laurene Landon, Richard Roundtree, William Smith, Robert Z'Dar, and Sheree North, following an ex-police officer, who returns from the dead, seeking revenge on criminals, corrupt politicians and co-workers who wronged him.

"Maniac Cop" was followed by the feature sequels, "Maniac Cop 2" (1990) and "Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence".

"We've been talking about a re-imagining of the 'Maniac Cop' films for a number of years," said Refn, "but as we continued to work on the material, we found ourselves wanting to explore the world we were creating in greater depth. 

"Turning 'Maniac Cop' into a...

A new live-action, supernatural crime TV series, based on the 1988 feature "Maniac Cop", will be produced and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and John Hyams, for HBO in North America and Canal+ in France:

The first "Maniac Cop" feature, directed by William Lustig, starred Tom Atkins, Bruce Campbell, Laurene Landon, Richard Roundtree, William Smith, Robert Z'Dar, and Sheree North, following an ex-police officer, who returns from the dead, seeking revenge on criminals, corrupt politicians and co-workers who wronged him.

"Maniac Cop" was followed by the feature sequels, "Maniac Cop 2" (1990) and "Maniac Cop III: Badge of Silence".

"We've been talking about a re-imagining of the 'Maniac Cop' films for a number of years," said Refn, "but as we continued to work on the material, we found ourselves wanting to explore the world we were creating in greater depth. 

"Turning 'Maniac Cop' into a series will allow...

Tagline: "Pack it Tight." High on the Hog is ready to blaze this April. This film, starring Sid Haig (3 From Hell), Joe Estevez (Public Enemy) and Robert Z'Dar (Maniac Cop I), will show in several U.S. cities, in mid-april. From director Tony Wash, the film is one part stoner comedy and one part horror. In the story, Big Daddy must fight off the federal government as he tries to grow his green crop. He utilizes his beautiful farmhands, to be a part of his pot protecting army. To show in several countries, a preview of High on the Hog's upcoming release is available now. Actor Sid Haig is also the producer on this feature. He says of the film and its genre: "I’ve always loved the grindhouse action movies of the 70’s and am happy to make this off beat, modernized take on them!" This film...

All right class, take your seats. It's time for roll call: Bruce Campbell? Tom Atkins? Laurene Landon? Richard Roundtree? Robert Z'Dar? Robert Z'Dar? Unfortunately, Robert is no longer with us, however, he and his contributions to cinema won't be forgotten. His film career spanned decades, mostly within the horror and action genres from the mid-’80s to as current as 2014. His most notable roles being Samurai Cop and of course Maniac Cop and its subsequent sequels.

Interesting how life takes you down a path that you don’t even see coming. Back in 2015 while at a friend's movie night, we were watching Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance and after the credits rolled, Maniac Cop popped up in the "suggestions" section. We knew that Robert was in Samurai Cop and we enjoyed his presence and personality there, so it didn’t take much convincing to give it a chance. Not to mention,...

Horror, comedy, and mortality came together with great effect in the first season of 20 Seconds to Live, Ben Rock's innovative web series, and now an Indiegogo campaign has been launched for the second season, and you can also watch a new episode. In today's Horror Highlights, we also have the latest episode of the Splathouse podcast and a trailer and poster for the new thriller The Answer.

20 Seconds to Live Season 2 Indiegogo Campaign: "20 Seconds To Live” is the award-winning horror/comedy web series for people who hate happy endings! We made and released our 8-episode first season, and last year played over a dozen international film and web festivals. Now we'd love to make a second season but we need your help!"

You can watch a new episode of 20 Seconds to Live below, and to learn more about supporting a second season of 20 Seconds to Live, visit:

https://www.

Last month, we reported that the Maniac Cop remake is gearing up to start production next spring, with John Hyams (Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning) set to direct and filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn on board as a producer. While we still have several months before filming will begin, Bloody-Disgusting spotted the first sales artwork for the remake at the American Film Market in Santa Monica, California. There are no cast members attached so far, but the poster teases the gritty look that the filmmakers intend to deliver.

The original Maniac Cop is set in New York City, following a string of grisly murders that eyewitnesses say were committed by a cop. Tom Atkins plays Frank McCrae, who heads up the investigation that eventually points to a young police officer named Jack Forrest (Bruce Campbell), who was set up by the real killer and a mysterious woman. Both Frank and Jack,...

A lot of games to be played in this morning's round-up. First, we have Blu-ray and digital release information for The Murder Game, including a 10th anniversary special documentary on the film. Also: a new clip from Caesar & Otto's Paranormal Halloween and details on The Badger Game Blu-ray.

The Murder Game: "The new HD, extended version of The Murder Game was released this past Friday, October 23rd, on Vimeo for rent or purchase: www.vimeo.com/ondemand/themurdergame

This Friday, October 30th, the Blu-ray will be available from Amazon.com, here: www.amazon.com/dp/B015NQWUJO

A group of teenagers invent a game in which one of them is secretly chosen to be a 'killer,' while the others remain innocent victims. Armed with prop weapons, the "killer" must eliminate the other players before being found out. To enhance the fun, the teens sneak into a large self-storage warehouse,...

The Stop and Frisk initiative in New York is about to get a whole lot scarier. The Maniac Cop remake is finally getting ready to shoot on location in the city, with production kicking off in the spring of 2016. John Hyams, best known for his Universal Soldier sequels Day of Reckoning and Regeneration, is directing. Cult favorite director Nicolas Winding Refn, the man behind 2011's Drive starring Ryan Gosling, will produce alongside William Lustig.

Maniac Cop has been in development since 2012. The screenplay is being penned by prolific comic book writer and raconteur Ed Brubaker. John Hyams says that William Lustig, the man who directed the original Maniac Cop trilogy, specifically sought him out for the role. The director explains.

"I'm a huge admirer of both producers and I'd been looking to do something that bridges the gap between action and horror like this. The script is able to re-invent...

John Hyams ("Universal Soldier: Day Of Reckoning") is on board to direct the remake of the classic cult film "Maniac Cop".

Ed Brubaker is penning the script for the project which, though originally tipped to be a prequel, is now looking to be a straight up reboot.

The story follows a murderous ex-cop who returns from the dead, chased by his former co-workers. Robert Z'Dar, Bruce Campbell, Tom Atkins and Richard Roundtree starred in the original.

"Drive" helmer Nicolas Winding Refn is slated to produce the new version.

Source: The Playlist...

Back in 2012, Nicolas Winding Refn let word slip that he’s overseeing what will either be a remake or a new chapter in the Maniac Cop franchise which most people had, not without cause, written off as finished. After three years of silence, we know who will be tackling the job: director John Hyams and writer Ed Brubaker.The gleefully scuzzy Maniac Cop series, just in case you were unaware, belongs to the Larry Cohen school of genre exploitation, and is about an undead police officer on a killing spree (three of them, ultimately). The 1988 original stars two famous chins in Bruce Campbell and Robert Z'Dar. Z'dar continued on his maniacal path through both sequels; Robert Davi did the investigating in the second and third instalments; and part three (Badge Of Silence) has Jackie Earl Haley in it. All three were produced by Cohen and directed by William Lustig (with...

Heading for release on October 9, Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance has now unveiled an official trailer, which still promises a load of cult goodness. Matt Hannan returns under the direction of Gregory Hatanaka (Mad Cowgirl); the cast includes Bai Ling, Robert Z'dar, Joe Estevez, and Tommy Wiseau (The Room). I'm not sure the plot matters too much, but here's the official description: It's 25 years later, and Detective Frank Washington is forced to team up with his long estranged partner Joe Marshall to solve a series of assassinations.You can watch the trailer below, and also get examine the new poster in all its glory (click to expand and see the big version). ...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Nicolas Winding Refn really loves neon lights. He loves them so much, he put the word "neon" in the title of his upcoming thriller The Neon Demon! Well now it seems that his love of Neon has made it's way onto the first teaser poster for his long gestating remake/prequel of the 80s franchise Maniac Cop.

Last year it was reported that acclaimed comic book writer Ed Brubaker (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) had boarded the project. Could this mean we're even one step closer to seeing the film come to fruition?

Synopsis:

There’s a monster loose on the streets of New York... Or is it just a killer cop out to punish the city that destroyed him?

Released in 1988, the original Maniac Cop starred Robert Z'Dar as the titular ‘Maniac C [Continued ...]...

A big man with a big jaw is no more with word that iconic Maniac Cop star Robert Z'Dar passed away yesterday in Pensacola, Florida where he was attending a fan convention. The popular cult actor who appeared in over one hundred twenty films was taken to hospital complaining of chest pains before going into full cardiac arrest. He was just 64 years old....

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Actor Robert Z'Dar has died at the age of 64.

The cult star passed away from a cardiac arrest on Monday (April 30) in Florida, his long-time manager Jim Decker told local media.

Z'Dar was known for his tall presence and prominent jaw, which was a result of a genetic condition called cherubism.

He starred in over 120 films including the Maniac Cop trilogy, where he played a former NYPD officer on a killing spree.

The actor also played a prisoner in Tango & Cash, starring Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone.

Z'Dar worked as a police officer for a short period before becoming an actor, soon portraying various villains in the 1980s and 1990s.

His other projects included Soultaker, The Final Sanction and the TV shows Growing Pains and The Flash.

Hollywood is just a trash bin full of chiseled bone structure. Aaron Eckardt, Ben Affleck, and of course Michael Douglas and his dad Kirk are all known for their strong jawlines. But cult actor Robert Z’Dar made those guys look like pikers with his mammoth chin, which he exploited to perfection with a string of nasty villain roles that were B-movie heaven. A Chicago native, Z’Dar is probably best know for starring as Matt Cordell in a trio of Maniac Cop films between 1988 and 1993, but his imposing mug graced over 121 films over the past 30 years.

Those credits include such gems as Hellhole, Beastmaster 2, Tango And Cash (he played “Face”), and the amazing Samurai Cop (he was filming the belated sequel to that one when he died). Z’Dar was a staple of the horror convention circuit and was a genuinely nice guy. He was apparently attending one of...

The instantly recognisable movie actor Robert Z'Dar, who found cult stardom through roles like the titular villain in the Maniac Cop series, has died. He was 64.Born Robert Zdarsky in Chicago in 1950, his extraordinary jaw was the result of Acromegaly, but he was able to turn his unique appearance to a career advantage, racking up well over a hundred screen appearances. Z'Dar's love of acting began in high school, and he studied the craft (and played football) at Arizona State University, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Following stints on the Chicago police force and as a musician - his band Nova Express opened for Jefferson Airplane and The Who - he finally scored his first screen role in the crime cheapie Flesh And Bullets in 1985.His imposing 6'2" frame (he actually danced as a Chippendale for a short while) lumbered through half a dozen more obscure genre titles...

Cult film fans rejoice, the Samurai Cop is back! Matt Hannon - the star of the original 1991 cult classic - returns for Samurai Cop 2: Deadly Vengeance and he's bringing a boatload of cult figures with him. Mad Cowgirl helmer Gregory Hatanaka serves as both director and producer while the cast also includes Bai Ling, The Room's Tommy Wiseau, Robert Z'dar, Joe Estevez and more.It's 25 years later, and Detective Frank Washington is forced to team up with his long estranged partner Joe Marshall to solve a series of assassinations.It's gonna be a weird one, folks! Check out the trailer below!...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Ah, what would we have to give to bring back “Mystery Science Theater 3000”? They would have a field day with the completely embarrassing “The Human Race,” an inept sci-fi film that seems like a throwback to incompetent straight-to-video cheapies of the 80's, the kind of time-wasters that would employ Robert Z'Dar and maybe an Estevez. The intro to this slab of tacky genre garbage is foggy, muddy, nearly monochrome, as the victims of the title event are forced to follow a single path to victory. Without warning, we see these strangers look to the sky, as an unseen voice transmits the rules of this “game” straight into their heads – you must get to the end of the path, or you will die. And if you're lapped twice, you are dead. Also, try not to walk onto the grass that surrounds this complex of an arbitrarily-chosen jail, school and home,...

As a special Easter treat, Northgate Pictures is egg-cited to present the first six minutes of Jeremy Todd Morehead's Easter Sunday. The slasher throwback stars Robert Z'Dar (Maniac Cop) and Ari Lehman (Friday The 13th). The story centers on a group of teenagers who accidentally conjure the spirit of a vicious serial killer, who was executited 24 years ago on Easter Sunday. Take a look at the opening scenes and a new poster from this upcoming thriller, which debuts August 9.

It's been 24 years since the deranged serial killer Douglas Fisher was executed by police on Easter night. This year, a group of hard-partying teenagers not only raise some hell, but literally raise the dead! The teens accidentally conjure the spirit of Douglas Fisher... Aka the bunny masked killer! These teens have until midnight on Easter to stop the evil bunny slasher, or he will tear their town - and everyone in it - to pieces.

Cinema Epoch are poised to continue their love affair with director Amir Shervan - best known for cult hit Samurai Cop - with their remastered release of his Killing American Style. Loaded with bikinis, shotguns and Robert Z'dar's intimidating jawline this thing just screams cult hit.A gang of hot headed brutes lead by Tony Stone (Robert Z'Dar, 'Maniac Cop') and sexual sadist John Lynch (Himself) execute a robbery with some inside help. A bloody shoot-out with the Lapd ensues and the criminals are apprehended. After a brief stint in the slammer, the gang escapes a prison-bus with the help of Tony s brother Jesse (Alexander Verdin) who is critically wounded in the process. He needs a doctor, fast. A hospital visit too risky, they seek...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

It's not uncommon for movie and TV stars to make the jump from the screen to the printed page; many well-known actors have capitalized on their name recognition to help boost their profiles as emerging authors. Notable examples include Viggo Mortensen (Lord of the Rings), who found success with his self-published poetry; James Franco (This is the End) recently rolled out a well-received short story collection entitled Palo Alto; and Ethan Hawke (Sinister, The Purge) has won acclaim for the novels The Hottest State and Ash Wednesday. While we don't hear nearly enough about actors from the world of horror and sci-fi making a successful transition to those same genres in print, it's not as rare a phenomenon as you might think. Let's examine the literary legacies of three notable horror stars who carved out thrilling new careers as horror writers... Thomas Tryon Genre Role: I Married a Monster from Outer Space...

Sometimes the titles Scream Factory puts out have you saying, “I didn’t see that coming.” Like Friday’s Facebook announcement that 1985's mostly forgotten Hellhole will get a Blu-ray/DVD special edition later this year. Not only have I never seen this one, I totally forgot it even exists.

So what’s Hellhole about again? According to IMDb:

An unlucky woman's mother is murdered by a scarf-wielding killer named Silk, leaving the woman injured, traumatized, and suffering from amnesia. She's committed to a mental institution, where Silk follows her, looking for the papers he was trying to get from her mother. And Silk's only the beginning of her problems since the asylum is run by a mad doctor, performing experiments in chemical lobotomies!

Director Pierre De Moro's exploitation shocker stars the late Ray Sharkey, 80’s babe Judy Landers, 70’s b-movie mainstay Marjoe Gortner, cult cinema icon Mary Woronov,...

Moviefone's Top DVD of the Week:

"The World's End"

What's It About? The third installment of Edgar Wright's Cornetto Trilogy, following 2004's "Shaun of the Dead" and 2007's "Hot Fuzz," "The World's End" features a group of five reuniting friends. They embark on an epic drinking marathon in an effort to top their pub crawl from 20 years prior, only this time an unexpected alien invasion strikes.

Why We're In: A refreshing blend of comedy and sci-fi, "The World's End" is the perfectly charming film to spoof the apocalypse genre and keep you endlessly entertained. Plus, it features hilarious (as always) performances from Wright staples Nick Frost and Simon Pegg.

Watch: Go behind-the-scenes on "The World's End" (Video)

Moviefone's Top Blu-ray of the Week:

"Tokyo Story" (Criterion Collection)

What's It About? Yasujirô Ozu's ("Late Spring") 1953 classic, "Tokyo Story," tells the sad story of elderly couple Shukichi (Chishu Ryu) and...

By the end of Maniac Cop 2 (1990), director William Lustig and screenwriter Larry Cohen have all but cleaned up their corner of Fun City-era New York. A would-be politician publicly confesses his previous crimes, a babbling wannabe serial killer gets caught, and the zombie cop of the film's title is laid to rest. But the film's grim tone is established early on with the death of two of its predecessor's main characters. Like most of Lustig and Cohen's films, Maniac Cop 2 is dopey fun. The plot — Robert Davi's stoic detective and Claudia Christian's pushy psychologist hunt an undead lawman (Robert Z'Dar) — is pretty dull, but the film handily coasts on sleazy charm. Strip club beardos, blind vets hawking newspapers, and pissy cab driver...

The wonderful loonies over at Blue Underground have updated their list of theatrical engagements for the re-release of Maniac Cop 2 so check it out to see if you'll be one of the lucky ones who'll witness the massacre on the big screen!

From the Press Release

Blue Underground is bringing a 2013 Dcp Restoration of director William Lustig’s Maniac Cop 2 to theaters this fall in advance of its upcoming Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack release.

Featuring a brand-new 4K High Definition transfer from the original camera negative and new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, this Maniac Cop 2 Dcp is the definitive presentation of the action-packed cult-horror favorite. Bill will attend Maniac Cop 2 screenings in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, and San Francisco to introduce what critics have hailed as “Truly The Greatest ‘80s Horror-Action Movie Ever Made!” (Alamo Drafthouse).

The limited theatrical release kicks off...

Yes, you read that glorious headline correctly! In anticipation of the Blu-ray releases of Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence Blue-Underground is putting the second film in the franchise to theatres!

From the Press Release

Blue Underground is bringing a 2013 Dcp Restoration of director William Lustig’s Maniac Cop 2 to theaters this fall in advance of its upcoming Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack release.

Featuring a brand-new 4K High Definition transfer from the original camera negative and new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, this Maniac Cop 2 Dcp is the definitive presentation of the action-packed cult-horror favorite. Bill will attend Maniac Cop 2 screenings in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, and San Francisco to introduce what critics have hailed as “Truly The Greatest ‘80s Horror-Action Movie Ever Made!” (Alamo Drafthouse).

The limited theatrical release kicks off with a sneak preview this Saturday, October 19th,...

Not too long ago the news broke that Blue Underground were set to bring us "Maniac Cop" 2 & 3 in a Blu-ray combo pack. Now we have all of the details that you need. From the release date to the special features that the disc holds. The "Maniac Cop 2 & 3 Blu-ray/DVD combo pack will be available on November 19th courtesy of Blue Underground. Maniac Cop 2: Synopsis: "The Maniac Cop series first sequel pits Matt Cordell (Robert Zdar), the c…...

The movie-making business is a fickle one, with projects oftentimes appearing one day, then completely disappearing the next. There are so many factors that go into making a movie that it's quite frankly a miracle so many movies actually do end up getting made. But what about the ones that are planned and announced, but never actually materialize? There are a whole lot of them, and today we take a look at a handful of horror movie sequels that found themselves stuck in the dreaded Development Hell.   Before the Mask: The Return of Leslie Vernon     One of the most frustrating stories in recent years within the horror genre is the story of the sequel to 2006's utterly brilliant cult classic Behind The Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon... a follow-up that, for whatever reason, just can't seem to get off the ground. Described as a "spreemake," meaning a sequel, prequel...

In the wake of Halloween's runaway success in the late '70s, just about every holiday on the calendar became fair game for a slasher movie theme, and both big studios and independent filmmakers started tearing through the calendar to find any holidays that hadn't yet been exploited for monetary potential. Among the overlooked dates were Thanksgiving, which Eli Roth finally parodied in an awesome mock trailer (we're still hoping he'll deliver a feature version someday) and Easter Sunday. There was the totally insane Easter Bunny, Kill! Kill! but that wasn't an homage to slasher cinema, so an old school body-count flick with pastel colors and a bunny-suit stalker remained unrealized... until now, that is. Virginia-based Northgate Pictures has set about filling that gap with Easter Sunday, a deliberate throwback to the '80s slasher heyday featuring an undead axe-wielding killer decked out in a bunny costume. Written and directed by Jeremy Morehead,...

The Bunny Man, rumored to be the Easter Bunny, is an urban legend originating from two incidents in Fairfax County Virginia in 1970, but has been spread throughout the Washington D.C. area. There are many variations to the legend, but most involve a man wearing a rabbit costume who attacks people with an axe on Easter Sunday! Horror icon Robert Z'Dar (Maniac Cop, Tango & Cash) returns to the big screen alongside Edward X. Young in the first trailer for this blood-soaked slasher flick, which finds Douglas Fisher returning in 2013 to finish the terror he began 24 years ago.

Take a look at the trailer, poster, photos and synopsis, then clickHere to visit this project's Kickstarter page to find out more about this indie horror, which is based on a true Virginia urban legend that terrified an entire state of children and adults alike.

Easter Sunday Trailer

Production on Easter Sunday is currently under way in Virginia,...

The Maniac Cop will soon be back in blue again - on Blu-ray by way of Blue Underground, that is. Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence are coming via the company run by the director of the franchise, William Lustig, so you know he’ll do them justice.

Blue Underground will release both the criminally underrated Maniac Cop 2 and the nearly criminally sabotaged Maniac Cop 3 as Collector’s Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo packs later this year. In the case of Part 3, this is its first appearance on DVD as well as Blu-ray.

An official release date, technical specs, and supplemental features will be announced shortly. I think we can pretty much count on commentary tracks by writer Larry Cohen and director William Lustig. Such a commentary for Maniac Cop 3 would be quite interesting considering its troubled history.

Maniac Cop 2 - This sequel to Maniac Cop...

by Todd Garbarini

Samurai Cop, director Amir Shervan's 1989 film starring actors Robert Z'Dar, Matt Hannon and Jannis Farley, has been restored in high definition on DVD by Cinema Epoch and is now available for purchase in a special edition for a limited time on Amazon.com prior to the film's June 4th, 2013 DVD street date. Click here to purchase this new pressing (do not be fooled into purchasing the inferior Media Blasters DVD that was released in 2004). This new version is superior.

While going through boxes last year in a California studio vault, both Cinema Epoch President Greg Hatanaka and Cinema Epoch Producer and Director of Acquisition's Douglas Dunning (he's also a cult actor and voice over artist) discovered the original 35mm camera negative to the late Mr. Shervan's film. It is from this source that the new DVD has been transferred.

Samurai Cop will also be screened at...

Disciples director Joe Hollow tipped us off to his latest horror feature, A Blood Story, which is slated to go before cameras in January of 2013 in Florida. Read on for word!

Written, executive produced (with Debra Lamb) and to be directed by Hollow (with cinematography by Wolfgang Meyer), the filmmaker says of A Blood Story, “It’s a dark and twisted, blood-drenched love story of sorts that starts with three strangers who meet on their journey to find the truth of an age-old legend, the Fountain of Youth, but they uncover much more. The evil that follows is delved in the deepest of bloody historical secrets, (the Countess) Bathory!”

Appearing in A Blood Story are actors Camden Toy (Disciples), Tawny Amber Young (Nude Nuns with Big Guns), Mark Hanson (Sinners and Saints), Robert Z'Dar (Maniac Cop), Debra Lamb (Disciples), Wolfgang Meyer (The Family), Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead...

Last time on..."There's that guy"... 1. Robert Z'Dar 2. Brian Thompson 3. Philip Baker Hall 4. Andrew Robinson 5. Brion James and for the fifth and final installment of "There's that guy", we take a look at... 1. Bruce McGill Who the hell is Bruce McGill? Well, he has a very familiar face that has appeared on numerous television and film showings since 1977. He has played good guys, bad guys, hell, he's played a slew of characters. They…...

Last time on..."There's that guy"... 1. Charles Cyphers - horror relation: "Halloween" "Halloween II" 2. Clu Gulager - horror relation: "Return of the Living Dead" 3. David Sherrill - horror relation: "The Wraith" 4. Clint Howard - horror relation: "Halloween 2007" 5. Rex Everhart - horror relation: "Friday the 13th" Today we look at... 1. Robert Z'Dar Who the hell is Robert Z'Dar? Well, he is the guy who can use his chin as a conc…...

By MoreHorror.com

It's half way until the holiday season, so what better time to look forward to Xmas than now? Check out the details below about the upcoming horror flick Caesar and Otto's Deadly XMas.

With the holiday season approaching, Caesar and Otto find themselves employed at XMas Enterprises Inc., where a disgruntled employee wearing a Santa suit has begun a killing spree, and has appeared to have found himself the perfect patsies.

Caesar and Otto's Deadly XMas features an ensemble cast of some of the all time great B movie stars including Fomer Cky and current World Under Blood frontman Deron Miller, "Sleepaway Camp" star Felissa Rose, Brinke Stevens, Joe Estevez, Lloyd Kaufman, Debbie Rochon, and Linnea Quigley in a role that lampoons her role in "Silent Night, Deadly Night."

These legends join a cast of up and coming talent such as Paul Chomicki, Ken MacFarlane, Samantha Barrios,...

We've been seeing a ton of behind the scenes footage of "Silent Hill: Revelation" — most of it from fans invading the set. Shaky cam be damned, we're still curious and anxious to see more — and finally, a release date has been set for the 3D horror film.

The videogame-inspired sequel will be hitting theaters on October 26, just in time for your Halloween festivities. Sean Bean, Deborah Kara Unger and Radha Mitchell will be returning to the story directed by Michael J. Bassett. In "Silent Hill: Revelation," Heather Mason (Clemens) and her father (Bean) have been running from dangerous and mysterious forces that the young girl doesn't fully understand. Eventually all is revealed, sinking her deeper into a demonic world.

Are you still worried about the 3D aspect of the film, or will that immerse you in "Silent Hill's" twisted universe even more? Let us know in the comments,...

Nicolas Winding Refn has made movies about vikings, drug dealers, and stunt drivers, and now the Danish director is going to make one about a killer police officer. According to The Daily Grindhouse (via Badass Digest), Refn will be producing a prequel to the 1988 horror/action film Maniac Cop.

The original movie starred Robert Z'Dar as the title character who wandered through the streets of New York City killing innocent civilians. Bruce Campbell played a young officer who was framed for the maniac's crimes and tasked with bringing him down before it was too late. It was written by Larry Cohen and directed by William Lustig, and those two spoke to The Daily Grindhouse about Refn's involvement:

“It’s going to be more a prequel than anything else, I am really excited to come back to this world especially since Nick is going to be a part of it” said Cohen.