Before Mary Elizabeth Winstead played the roles of comic book-based Ramona Flowers and John McClane’s daughter, she starred as Lee Montgomery in Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof. At the time, Winstead was making her mark in the horror slasher genre, even leading the ensemble cast of Final Destination 3. When she got the audition call for Death Proof, Winstead pulled off one little trick to get past the audition stage.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead in 10 Cloverfield Lane
Winstead shared that she wore flip-flops to the audition to tap into the director’s alleged cinematic foot fetish. The Fargo actress managed to impress Tarantino with her take on Lee, rather than use her foot to get cast in the film.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead Attempted One Trick To Get Cast In Quentin Tarantino’s Worst Film Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof
Death Proof was Quentin Tarantino‘s...
Mary Elizabeth Winstead in 10 Cloverfield Lane
Winstead shared that she wore flip-flops to the audition to tap into the director’s alleged cinematic foot fetish. The Fargo actress managed to impress Tarantino with her take on Lee, rather than use her foot to get cast in the film.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead Attempted One Trick To Get Cast In Quentin Tarantino’s Worst Film Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof
Death Proof was Quentin Tarantino‘s...
- 3/25/2024
- by Hashim Asraff
- FandomWire
Quentin Tarantino worked alongside Scott Pilgrim star Mary Elizabeth Winstead for the first time in his feature Death Proof. Before she was cast, however, Winstead was determined to work with the filmmaker. So much so that she was advised not to wear shoes to increase her chances.
How Mary Elizabeth Winstead ended up working with Quentin Tarantino on ‘Death Proof’ Mary Elizabeth Winstead | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Winstead was already a fan of Tarantino before their collaboration. So when she first got wind that the filmmaker wanted her for Death Proof, she didn’t need to read the movie’s script. She was already on board to do the feature.
“My agent called and said they were sending over a script and that happens often but it was Quentin Tarantino’s script,” Winstead recalled in an interview with Hollywood. “So it is automatically, ‘Ok, I’ll do it just let me...
How Mary Elizabeth Winstead ended up working with Quentin Tarantino on ‘Death Proof’ Mary Elizabeth Winstead | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Winstead was already a fan of Tarantino before their collaboration. So when she first got wind that the filmmaker wanted her for Death Proof, she didn’t need to read the movie’s script. She was already on board to do the feature.
“My agent called and said they were sending over a script and that happens often but it was Quentin Tarantino’s script,” Winstead recalled in an interview with Hollywood. “So it is automatically, ‘Ok, I’ll do it just let me...
- 12/30/2023
- by Antonio Stallings
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The title "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" has been attached to several pieces of media over the decades. The best-known version is the Cyndi Lauper song, which came close to topping the pop charts when it came out in 1983. Lauper's tune, however, was a feminist remake of a 1979 song by Robert Hazard.
Lauper's single was so popular in the 1980s that it spawned dozens of other professional artists to record or sing their own versions. And in 1985, it also inspired New World Pictures to put out a romantic comedy of the same name that starred Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt. The film did a modest $6.3 million at the box office relative to its cost. It arguably could have done better if Lauper allowed her song to be used in the film — she refused, however, and Hazard's original version was used instead. Despite that, the feature has left enough...
Lauper's single was so popular in the 1980s that it spawned dozens of other professional artists to record or sing their own versions. And in 1985, it also inspired New World Pictures to put out a romantic comedy of the same name that starred Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt. The film did a modest $6.3 million at the box office relative to its cost. It arguably could have done better if Lauper allowed her song to be used in the film — she refused, however, and Hazard's original version was used instead. Despite that, the feature has left enough...
- 4/22/2023
- by Vanessa Armstrong
- Slash Film
A remake of 'Girls Just Want To Have Fun' is in the works.Village Roadshow are to produce a modern-day take on the cult 1985 romantic comedy dance film that starred Sarah Jessica Parker, Lee Montgomery and Helen Hunt.Marja Lewis-Ryan is co-writing the script for the movie together with Allie Romano while Elizabeth Banks is producing with Max Handelman for the duo's Brownstone Productions company.The original flick centred on army brat Janey Glenn (Parker) who attends a strict Catholic high school in Chicago and has to contend with an even stricter father at home.Janey decides to follow her passion for dance and with the encouragement of her new best friend (Hunt), auditions for the local TV dance show. Hiding from dad, dealing with competition from a spoiled country club and first kiss all feature in her growing up.The movie was inspired by Cyndi Lauper's...
- 4/21/2023
- by Joe Graber
- Bang Showbiz
Girls just wanna have fun, no matter what decade it is.
Village Roadshow is producing a modern-day remake of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, the cult 1985 romantic comedy dance movie that starred Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt.
Marja-Lewis Ryan, who acted as showrunner of The L Word: Generation Q, is co-writing the script with Allie Romano, who was a staff writer and executive story editor on Generation Q.
Elizabeth Banks is producing with Max Handelman via the duo’s Brownstone Productions.
Girls, made by now-defunct New World Pictures, centered on an army brat (Parker) who settles in Chicago, attends a strict Catholic high school and contends with an even stricter father at home. The girl decides to follow her passion of dance and, with the encouragement of her new best friend (Hunt), auditions for the local TV dance show. Hiding from dad, dealing with competition from a spoiled country...
Village Roadshow is producing a modern-day remake of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, the cult 1985 romantic comedy dance movie that starred Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt.
Marja-Lewis Ryan, who acted as showrunner of The L Word: Generation Q, is co-writing the script with Allie Romano, who was a staff writer and executive story editor on Generation Q.
Elizabeth Banks is producing with Max Handelman via the duo’s Brownstone Productions.
Girls, made by now-defunct New World Pictures, centered on an army brat (Parker) who settles in Chicago, attends a strict Catholic high school and contends with an even stricter father at home. The girl decides to follow her passion of dance and, with the encouragement of her new best friend (Hunt), auditions for the local TV dance show. Hiding from dad, dealing with competition from a spoiled country...
- 4/20/2023
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ghost stories have been around forever, and will haunt us long after we are ghosts. Before film, most apparitional tales came from novels or short stories. Yes, there were oral traditions of the spooky place down the block or the hitchhiker on a lost highway, but usually someone put it down in a book. Some of the greatest films about hauntings originate as full cinema creations, with a director’s dark vision on the screen, others come from true cases or urban legends. These ghost stories are novel ideas.
This is by no means a complete list. Almost every Edgar Allan Poe film adaptation has a spectral presence; Charles Dickens’ nighttime visitors in A Christmas Carol are only ghosts of presents we wrap for seasonal coverage; director Lew Allen’s 1944 horror feature The Uninvited isn’t here because I haven’t read Dorothy Macardle’s Uneasy Freehold (1941), which it was...
This is by no means a complete list. Almost every Edgar Allan Poe film adaptation has a spectral presence; Charles Dickens’ nighttime visitors in A Christmas Carol are only ghosts of presents we wrap for seasonal coverage; director Lew Allen’s 1944 horror feature The Uninvited isn’t here because I haven’t read Dorothy Macardle’s Uneasy Freehold (1941), which it was...
- 10/31/2022
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Sometimes a successful sequel requires the filmmakers to tear apart what made the previous entry work, and piece together something new; perhaps just keeping the engine and the chassis, and other car stuffs that I know nothing about. What I do know, however, is that when you rebuild a clever psychodrama like Willard (1971) and turn it into a Rats Gone Wild meets Disney Lonely Sick Boy flick, the result is Ben (1972). And that result is a model so endearingly odd I’m amazed it made it off the assembly line at all, yet so glad it did.
Released by Cinerama Releasing in late June stateside with a worldwide rollout in the fall, Ben was viewed by critics at the time as a laughable follow up to a film that didn’t exactly win over reviewers. They simply found the premise and execution unfrightening and silly, and moved on. They’re not wrong,...
Released by Cinerama Releasing in late June stateside with a worldwide rollout in the fall, Ben was viewed by critics at the time as a laughable follow up to a film that didn’t exactly win over reviewers. They simply found the premise and execution unfrightening and silly, and moved on. They’re not wrong,...
- 5/26/2018
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Guest Reviewer Lee Broughton is back, with a rodent roundup of horror, or more accurately, psychological suspense interrupted by a few salacious slayings. What would Mickey say?
The brief synopses of Daniel Mann’s Willard and Phil Karlson’s Ben that appeared in the horror movie books and magazines that kids in the UK loved to pore over during the late 1970s always gave the impression that this pair of killer rat films were hardcore horror shows.
In truth, the actual horror content of both films is relatively mild and infrequent. In spite of this, Willard and Ben still tend to be discussed in terms of their relation to the often more extreme movies that appeared in the “animals attack” cycle of horror films that flourished during the 1970s.
That particular subgenre represents something of a niche interest area that is governed by a pretty tight set of boundaries. The...
The brief synopses of Daniel Mann’s Willard and Phil Karlson’s Ben that appeared in the horror movie books and magazines that kids in the UK loved to pore over during the late 1970s always gave the impression that this pair of killer rat films were hardcore horror shows.
In truth, the actual horror content of both films is relatively mild and infrequent. In spite of this, Willard and Ben still tend to be discussed in terms of their relation to the often more extreme movies that appeared in the “animals attack” cycle of horror films that flourished during the 1970s.
That particular subgenre represents something of a niche interest area that is governed by a pretty tight set of boundaries. The...
- 11/11/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
When people hear the Michael Jackson song Ben, many don’t know that it was written for a movie. With the remake of Willard, a lot of horror fans were made aware of the story of a boy and his rats. Now both are available in the Willard/Ben Limited Edition Blu-ray box set.
Willard Styles (Bruce Davidson) is somewhat of a social misfit. Made fun of by his co-workers and pushed out of his father’s company his only friends are rats, especially Ben and Socrates. When Socrates is killed at his workplace, Willard decides to get revenge on the people who have wronged him, with his rats. Bruce Davidson plays the part of Willard well, and having Ernest Borgnine as his nemesis, you really do pity him. That is why the relationship with the rats is so endearing to the audience. They give him an escape from the...
Willard Styles (Bruce Davidson) is somewhat of a social misfit. Made fun of by his co-workers and pushed out of his father’s company his only friends are rats, especially Ben and Socrates. When Socrates is killed at his workplace, Willard decides to get revenge on the people who have wronged him, with his rats. Bruce Davidson plays the part of Willard well, and having Ernest Borgnine as his nemesis, you really do pity him. That is why the relationship with the rats is so endearing to the audience. They give him an escape from the...
- 11/3/2017
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
There’s an in between zone that parents often look for if they’re easing their kids into horror. If they’re fans of the genre themselves, the urge to take the tykes from Scooby-Doo to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is very tempting. I was one of the fortunate ones who was allowed to cut out the middleman and dive right into the heady stuff. So it was then that I missed out on a great bridge between the two extremes, The Midnight Hour (1985), ABC’s successful bid to get the Thriller-crazy crowd on their side.
Originally airing November 1st as part of The ABC Friday Night Movie (really? There was no Thursday slot open to make it for Halloween?), The Midnight Hour fought off CBS’ Dallas for its first half and NBC’s Miami Vice for the back, but those shows weren’t the ideal demographic anyway – this...
Originally airing November 1st as part of The ABC Friday Night Movie (really? There was no Thursday slot open to make it for Halloween?), The Midnight Hour fought off CBS’ Dallas for its first half and NBC’s Miami Vice for the back, but those shows weren’t the ideal demographic anyway – this...
- 10/29/2017
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Nick Aldwinckle Oct 30, 2017
This month's round up of genre DVDs and Blu-rays features Ray Harryhausen, Willard, rats on the rampage and more...
The underappreciated ‘nature gone wild’ porn horror movie subgenre has a somewhat patchy history, with a viewer’s search more likely to end up in some SyFy channel Megapterranoshark Versus Crocosaur cul-de-sac than something of the calibre of a Jaws or Arachnophobia. Sharks, spiders and gators are all well served, though (alongside the glaring lack of a movie adaptation of Guy N. Smith’s glorious Night Of The Crabs books) rodents have had something of a raw deal.
See related 26 new TV shows to watch in 2017
Fear not, though, faithful readers: we’re not going to drift off into Stuart Little territory just yet (that’ll be next month’s Stuart Little IV: The Rattening), as this month brings with it not one but two seventies rat-themed monster movie classics (well,...
This month's round up of genre DVDs and Blu-rays features Ray Harryhausen, Willard, rats on the rampage and more...
The underappreciated ‘nature gone wild’ porn horror movie subgenre has a somewhat patchy history, with a viewer’s search more likely to end up in some SyFy channel Megapterranoshark Versus Crocosaur cul-de-sac than something of the calibre of a Jaws or Arachnophobia. Sharks, spiders and gators are all well served, though (alongside the glaring lack of a movie adaptation of Guy N. Smith’s glorious Night Of The Crabs books) rodents have had something of a raw deal.
See related 26 new TV shows to watch in 2017
Fear not, though, faithful readers: we’re not going to drift off into Stuart Little territory just yet (that’ll be next month’s Stuart Little IV: The Rattening), as this month brings with it not one but two seventies rat-themed monster movie classics (well,...
- 10/24/2017
- Den of Geek
Dan Curtis and Richard Matheson fit together as comfortable as Pb &J, warm slippers on a cold day, and the best of TV horror. Dead of Night (1977) is the follow up to their critically acclaimed anthology Trilogy of Terror (1975), in which Karen Black starred in three distinct episodes of small screen mayhem. And much like that one, Dead of Night shall always be remembered for a terrifying final tale.
Originally broadcast on March 29th, 1977 on NBC, Dead of Night was Curtis and Matheson’s sixth collaboration of some sort, starting with Curtis producing the arrival of Kolchak and The Night Stalker (1972). And while this isn’t the best of their ventures together, solid performances and strong writing leading up make that final segment worth the wait.
Let’s dust off our TV Guide and see what the duo have in store for us:
Dead Of Night (Tuesday, 9pm, NBC)
Three...
Originally broadcast on March 29th, 1977 on NBC, Dead of Night was Curtis and Matheson’s sixth collaboration of some sort, starting with Curtis producing the arrival of Kolchak and The Night Stalker (1972). And while this isn’t the best of their ventures together, solid performances and strong writing leading up make that final segment worth the wait.
Let’s dust off our TV Guide and see what the duo have in store for us:
Dead Of Night (Tuesday, 9pm, NBC)
Three...
- 7/9/2017
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
May has been a great month for horror and sci-fi releases so far, and this Tuesday looks to be another great week for fans looking to expand their home entertainment collections.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is bringing home the latest installment in the Resident Evil franchise on May 16th, with several types of releases for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, as well as Resident Evil: The Complete Collection, which brings all the films in the series together.
Scream Factory is keeping busy with their two rat-tastic cult Blu-ray titles on Tuesday, Willard and Ben, and with the new Mummy movie coming our way, Universal has assembled several Universal Monsters box sets that classic horror fans are going to want to pick up this week.
Ben (Scream Factory, Blu/DVD Combo)
Ben is back! When detective sergeant Cliff Kirtland (Joseph Campanella, Meteor) investigates the horrifying murder of Willard Stiles by a band of rats,...
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is bringing home the latest installment in the Resident Evil franchise on May 16th, with several types of releases for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, as well as Resident Evil: The Complete Collection, which brings all the films in the series together.
Scream Factory is keeping busy with their two rat-tastic cult Blu-ray titles on Tuesday, Willard and Ben, and with the new Mummy movie coming our way, Universal has assembled several Universal Monsters box sets that classic horror fans are going to want to pick up this week.
Ben (Scream Factory, Blu/DVD Combo)
Ben is back! When detective sergeant Cliff Kirtland (Joseph Campanella, Meteor) investigates the horrifying murder of Willard Stiles by a band of rats,...
- 5/16/2017
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
If you make him angry, you'll have hundreds of his little friends after you. Rat attacks reign supreme in the 1971 horror film Willard and its sequel, Ben, and with Scream Factory releasing both films on Blu-ray / DVD beginning May 16th, we've been provided with three copies of each movie to give away to lucky Daily Dead readers.
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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive:
(1) Blu-ray / DVD combo pack copy of Willard (1971) (1) Blu-ray / DVD combo pack copy of Ben (1972)
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 “Willard & Ben Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
Entry Details:...
---------
Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive:
(1) Blu-ray / DVD combo pack copy of Willard (1971) (1) Blu-ray / DVD combo pack copy of Ben (1972)
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 “Willard & Ben Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.
Entry Details:...
- 5/13/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
This May, Scream Factory will re-introduce horror fans to rats that attack in their Blu-ray / DVD combo pack releases of Willard (1971) and Ben (1972), and the recently revealed special features include new audio commentaries and interviews that should please fans of the films.
Press Release: The furry little menaces from the genus Rattus are something to be feared in the repellent rodent films Willard and Ben. Making their Blu-ray and DVD debuts May 16th, 2017 from Scream Factory, these two twisted “tails” feature brand-new bonus material, including new scans, new audio commentary and interview with actor Bruce Davison, new audio commentary and interview with actor Lee Montgomery, theatrical trailers, still galleries, and more! Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com
In Willard, Willard Stiles (Bruce Davison, Insidious: Chapter 4) is a young man with a big problem. He lives alone in a crumbling house with his ailing mother (Elsa Lanchester,...
Press Release: The furry little menaces from the genus Rattus are something to be feared in the repellent rodent films Willard and Ben. Making their Blu-ray and DVD debuts May 16th, 2017 from Scream Factory, these two twisted “tails” feature brand-new bonus material, including new scans, new audio commentary and interview with actor Bruce Davison, new audio commentary and interview with actor Lee Montgomery, theatrical trailers, still galleries, and more! Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com
In Willard, Willard Stiles (Bruce Davison, Insidious: Chapter 4) is a young man with a big problem. He lives alone in a crumbling house with his ailing mother (Elsa Lanchester,...
- 4/10/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
For the first week of October, genre fans should get those wallets ready because there are seemingly endless horror and sci-fi movies being released on both DVD and Blu-ray. Warner Bros. is keeping busy with the release of numerous Hammer Classics in HD including Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed, The Mummy and Taste the Blood of Dracula, and we have the latest new release from Scream Factory, the cannibal comedy Gravy, to look forward to as well. Sony Pictures has also put together a stellar new release of Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Kino Lorber is showing the cult classic Burnt Offerings some love this week, too.
Other notable titles arriving on October 6th include We Are Still Here, Final Girl, Fire City: End of Days, Children of the Night, June, Pod, Cop Car, Alleluia, Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! and the second season of Penny Dreadful.
Other notable titles arriving on October 6th include We Are Still Here, Final Girl, Fire City: End of Days, Children of the Night, June, Pod, Cop Car, Alleluia, Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! and the second season of Penny Dreadful.
- 10/6/2015
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
This was ground zero. This was where the love affair started; all the sleepless nights, the cold sweats, the screaming. In 1976, at the age of six, my mom took me to the theater to see Burnt Offerings, my first horror movie.
Six years old. Up until this point my viewing memories consisted of Saturday morning cartoons and a matinee memory of seeing a giant octopus engulf a ship (submarine?). Little did I know that I was to be indoctrinated into a universe of monsters, vampires, guys with knives (girls too), killer critters, ghosts, goblins, and, in my inaugural visit to the screen of screams… the Haunted House.
Well, that description is a little off. The house in Burnt Offerings isn’t haunted exactly; it is…alive. A living, pulsing being that every so often needs a new family to love it. Cherish it. And to be consumed by it so...
Six years old. Up until this point my viewing memories consisted of Saturday morning cartoons and a matinee memory of seeing a giant octopus engulf a ship (submarine?). Little did I know that I was to be indoctrinated into a universe of monsters, vampires, guys with knives (girls too), killer critters, ghosts, goblins, and, in my inaugural visit to the screen of screams… the Haunted House.
Well, that description is a little off. The house in Burnt Offerings isn’t haunted exactly; it is…alive. A living, pulsing being that every so often needs a new family to love it. Cherish it. And to be consumed by it so...
- 4/10/2015
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Reviewed by Kevin Scott
MoreHorror.com
The Midnight Hour (1985)
Written by: William Bleich
Directed by: Jack Bender
Cast: Shari Belafonte Harper (Melissa), Lee Montgomery (Phil), Jonna Lee (Sandy), LeVar Burton (Vinnie), Peter DeLuise (Mitch), Deedee Pfeiffer (Mary), Jonelle Allen (Lucinda Cavender), Kevin McCarthy (Judge Crandall), Dick Van Patten (Martin Grenville)
This is the very first time I’ve featured a TV movie on any of my reviews. I’m really surprised that it is. Some solid entries in the annals of horror and sci fi history made their debut on the small screen. “Salem’s Lot” is the first one to come to mind. Although the film that I’m going to talk about isn’t even remotely close to being anything like “Salem’s Lot” (except for having vampires), it does come from a bygone era where things might have been a little tighter on what could be shown on TV.
MoreHorror.com
The Midnight Hour (1985)
Written by: William Bleich
Directed by: Jack Bender
Cast: Shari Belafonte Harper (Melissa), Lee Montgomery (Phil), Jonna Lee (Sandy), LeVar Burton (Vinnie), Peter DeLuise (Mitch), Deedee Pfeiffer (Mary), Jonelle Allen (Lucinda Cavender), Kevin McCarthy (Judge Crandall), Dick Van Patten (Martin Grenville)
This is the very first time I’ve featured a TV movie on any of my reviews. I’m really surprised that it is. Some solid entries in the annals of horror and sci fi history made their debut on the small screen. “Salem’s Lot” is the first one to come to mind. Although the film that I’m going to talk about isn’t even remotely close to being anything like “Salem’s Lot” (except for having vampires), it does come from a bygone era where things might have been a little tighter on what could be shown on TV.
- 10/28/2014
- by admin
- MoreHorror
It can be such a beautiful happening when the natural forces of humanity and the wild kingdom can get together and establish a sense of harmony in motion pictures. Also, it can be a compelling yet regrettable conflict as well when man and beast decide to collide in the interest of big screen entertainment. Whatever the case may be certainly does not matter because the concept of beasts of all species (rather it be of the four-legged or two-legged variety) collectively clashing or cooperating sends a special message about triumph, tragedy and just plain tenderness.
In Beast of Burden: Top 10 Human-Animal Combinations in the Movies we will look at some of the best selections where man and animal co-exist whether it be in calmness or chaos. There is no doubt that one can come up with numerous top ten lists detailing their ideal man-animal themes in cinema. The struggle for...
In Beast of Burden: Top 10 Human-Animal Combinations in the Movies we will look at some of the best selections where man and animal co-exist whether it be in calmness or chaos. There is no doubt that one can come up with numerous top ten lists detailing their ideal man-animal themes in cinema. The struggle for...
- 8/8/2014
- by Frank Ochieng
- SoundOnSight
by Nick Schager
[This week's "Retro Active" pick is inspired by the Sam Raimi-produced demonic-possession thriller The Possession.]
There's nothing more dangerous than a malevolent swimming pool in Burnt Offerings, a hoary haunted-house thriller that, among its many missteps, features no offerings that are actually burnt. In the case of the evil pool, however, writer/director Dan Curtis (creator of TV's 1960s vampire soap opera Dark Shadows) does find a way to make watery horseplay seem downright unnerving, via a scene in which Ben Rolf (Oliver Reed)—spending the summer at a Victorian mansion in the California countryside with his wife Marian (Karen Black), son Davey (Lee Montgomery), and aunt Elizabeth (Bette Davis)—takes an afternoon dip with the boy. Beginning harmlessly enough, the father and son's goofing off takes a sharp, dark turn when Ben unexpectedly begins dunking and thrashing Davey with a violence that's disquieting, with the crazed look on Ben's face merely further heightening the sense of harmless fun turning terrifying at a moment's notice.
[This week's "Retro Active" pick is inspired by the Sam Raimi-produced demonic-possession thriller The Possession.]
There's nothing more dangerous than a malevolent swimming pool in Burnt Offerings, a hoary haunted-house thriller that, among its many missteps, features no offerings that are actually burnt. In the case of the evil pool, however, writer/director Dan Curtis (creator of TV's 1960s vampire soap opera Dark Shadows) does find a way to make watery horseplay seem downright unnerving, via a scene in which Ben Rolf (Oliver Reed)—spending the summer at a Victorian mansion in the California countryside with his wife Marian (Karen Black), son Davey (Lee Montgomery), and aunt Elizabeth (Bette Davis)—takes an afternoon dip with the boy. Beginning harmlessly enough, the father and son's goofing off takes a sharp, dark turn when Ben unexpectedly begins dunking and thrashing Davey with a violence that's disquieting, with the crazed look on Ben's face merely further heightening the sense of harmless fun turning terrifying at a moment's notice.
- 8/31/2012
- GreenCine Daily
Blu-ray Release Date: April 3, 2012
Price: Blu-ray $17.97
Studio: Image
Sarah Jessica Parker (l.) and Helen Hunt are proof that Girls Just Want to Have Fun.
The silly but sincere 1985 dance-filled comedy-romance Girls Just Want To Have Fun was a film that helped to launch the careers of its two stars, Sarah Jessica Parker (I Don’t Know How She Does It) and Helen Hunt (Every Day).
Janey (Parker) is a shy good girl, while Lynne (Hunt) is a cool rock chick. When the two unlikely friends scheme to get Janey on television’s biggest after-school dance show, they find themselves catapulted into a wild adventure filled with cute boys, hot dancing, great music, prudish nuns, mean rich kids, parents that just don’t understand, and girls doing what they know best…having fun, of course.
Directed by Alan Metter and co-starring Shannen Doherty (TV’s Beverly Hills 90210), Jonathan Silverman (Weekend at...
Price: Blu-ray $17.97
Studio: Image
Sarah Jessica Parker (l.) and Helen Hunt are proof that Girls Just Want to Have Fun.
The silly but sincere 1985 dance-filled comedy-romance Girls Just Want To Have Fun was a film that helped to launch the careers of its two stars, Sarah Jessica Parker (I Don’t Know How She Does It) and Helen Hunt (Every Day).
Janey (Parker) is a shy good girl, while Lynne (Hunt) is a cool rock chick. When the two unlikely friends scheme to get Janey on television’s biggest after-school dance show, they find themselves catapulted into a wild adventure filled with cute boys, hot dancing, great music, prudish nuns, mean rich kids, parents that just don’t understand, and girls doing what they know best…having fun, of course.
Directed by Alan Metter and co-starring Shannen Doherty (TV’s Beverly Hills 90210), Jonathan Silverman (Weekend at...
- 1/31/2012
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
By Todd Garbarini
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Dan Curtis’ Burnt Offerings (1976) was the first horror film/thriller that I saw. I was twelve years-old and its impact on me was indelible. The rapport between Karen Black, Oliver Reed, and Lee Harcourt Montgomery was plausible enough to make me extremely concerned when all hell broke loose on this “perfect” family, though some have argued that this family was frightening enough without the house!
Aside from the artful cinematic visual style and the film’s methodic and slow build-up, the performances by the three leads and supporting work from Burgess Meredith, Eileen Heckart, Dub Taylor, Bette Davis, and the unforgettable Anthony James as the chauffer elevate the film higher than similar genre productions. What also helped make Burnt Offerings so memorable was Robert Cobert’s phenomenal score which fits the movie like a glove. For years I searched fruitlessly...
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Dan Curtis’ Burnt Offerings (1976) was the first horror film/thriller that I saw. I was twelve years-old and its impact on me was indelible. The rapport between Karen Black, Oliver Reed, and Lee Harcourt Montgomery was plausible enough to make me extremely concerned when all hell broke loose on this “perfect” family, though some have argued that this family was frightening enough without the house!
Aside from the artful cinematic visual style and the film’s methodic and slow build-up, the performances by the three leads and supporting work from Burgess Meredith, Eileen Heckart, Dub Taylor, Bette Davis, and the unforgettable Anthony James as the chauffer elevate the film higher than similar genre productions. What also helped make Burnt Offerings so memorable was Robert Cobert’s phenomenal score which fits the movie like a glove. For years I searched fruitlessly...
- 6/29/2011
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Jonelle Allen played Lucinda in the fondly remembered ABC television horror comedy "The Midnight Hour". The Midnight Hour had a huge cast of up and coming or well known actors inlcuding Shari Belafonte (daughter of the legendary Harry Belafonte), Lee Montgomery (Burnt Offerings), LeVar Burton (Ali), Peter DeLuise (Children of the Night), Dedee Pfeiffer (Vamp), Jonna Lee (Making the Grade), Kevin McCarthy (Invasion of the Body Snatchers), Cindy Morgan (Tron) and Dick Van Patten (Westworld). Amidst that huge cast lineup, Jonelle Allen stood out. Even if she was simply standing still, she filled the screen with her presence. Her performance in The Midnight Hour was equal parts mysterious, seductive and just downright fun! We took a moment with Jonelle Allen to look back on The Midnight Hour. Here's what she had to say.
Jonelle Allen So who is Jonelle Allen and what are you all about?
It is difficult to...
Jonelle Allen So who is Jonelle Allen and what are you all about?
It is difficult to...
- 3/9/2011
- by Big Daddy aka Brandon Sites
- Big Daddy Horror Reviews - Interviews
Review by Chris Wright, MoreHorror.com
When most of us think about a solid golden age haunted house movie, we stream "Amityville Horror". Before that, there was "Burnt Offerings" which was released three years before that in 1976. This movie is largely forgotten by many and overshadows by many others in this genre. Also based on a book by Robert Marasco, "Burnt Offerings" gives us chills, fantastic acting, spooky atmosphere and truly scary moments out of any 70's haunted house movies.
The plot of this movie is simple: The Rolf family are caretakers of a fancy old home in the middle of nowhere as a summer home but the catch is the house takes lives to keep itself alive. A simple yet original plot for a movie that is done so well. The acting is superb from all the actors. The low tone music adds a strikingly eerie presence to the movie.
When most of us think about a solid golden age haunted house movie, we stream "Amityville Horror". Before that, there was "Burnt Offerings" which was released three years before that in 1976. This movie is largely forgotten by many and overshadows by many others in this genre. Also based on a book by Robert Marasco, "Burnt Offerings" gives us chills, fantastic acting, spooky atmosphere and truly scary moments out of any 70's haunted house movies.
The plot of this movie is simple: The Rolf family are caretakers of a fancy old home in the middle of nowhere as a summer home but the catch is the house takes lives to keep itself alive. A simple yet original plot for a movie that is done so well. The acting is superb from all the actors. The low tone music adds a strikingly eerie presence to the movie.
- 2/25/2011
- by admin
- MoreHorror
A crafty new submissions policy from Tin House Books is reminding writers to be readers—and consumers.
The book press and quarterly literary magazine's recent call for manuscripts welcomes unsolicited submissions but comes with a caveat: Each submission must include a receipt for a book purchased at a bookstore. As for those who can’t afford to buy books or get to a bookstore, Tin House asks for a haiku or under-100-word sentence explaining why. Writers who prefer their words in e-ink can send similar explanations for their turn away from bookstores and analog reading.
Tin House, which published 10 books last year and has 1,000 subscribers to its magazine, thought up its temporary policy after the 2010 Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference in Denver. "The students in the audience seemed very concerned about what they could do to further their careers," says Lee Montgomery, editorial director of Tin House Books.
The book press and quarterly literary magazine's recent call for manuscripts welcomes unsolicited submissions but comes with a caveat: Each submission must include a receipt for a book purchased at a bookstore. As for those who can’t afford to buy books or get to a bookstore, Tin House asks for a haiku or under-100-word sentence explaining why. Writers who prefer their words in e-ink can send similar explanations for their turn away from bookstores and analog reading.
Tin House, which published 10 books last year and has 1,000 subscribers to its magazine, thought up its temporary policy after the 2010 Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference in Denver. "The students in the audience seemed very concerned about what they could do to further their careers," says Lee Montgomery, editorial director of Tin House Books.
- 7/19/2010
- by Rachel Arndt
- Fast Company
One of the first bits of news to sneak out of Hollywood at the beginning of 2010 was the word that John Carpenter's horror classic "The Thing" would be remade with "Battlestar Galactica" Syfy reboot showrunner Ron Moore producing and newcomer Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. directing. A couple weeks later, the first casting breakdowns emerged, failing to excite MTV contributing editor Josh Wigler.
Maybe he'll be pleased now that there are some names to pin to two of the roles. The lead roles, in fact. Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Joel Edgerton will star in the "Thing" reboot, The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision blog reveals.
Winstead will play Kate Lloyd, named in the previous casting announcement as a Columbia University graduate who butts heads with a Norwegian scientist, Dr. Sander Halvorson. When an alien spacecraft is discovered in their Antarctica research site and the trouble starts, Lloyd turns to an unlikely...
Maybe he'll be pleased now that there are some names to pin to two of the roles. The lead roles, in fact. Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Joel Edgerton will star in the "Thing" reboot, The Hollywood Reporter's Heat Vision blog reveals.
Winstead will play Kate Lloyd, named in the previous casting announcement as a Columbia University graduate who butts heads with a Norwegian scientist, Dr. Sander Halvorson. When an alien spacecraft is discovered in their Antarctica research site and the trouble starts, Lloyd turns to an unlikely...
- 2/8/2010
- by Adam Rosenberg
- MTV Movies Blog
Hollywood saw a rash of ‘animals on the rampage’ movies in the 1970’s including ones about frogs (Frogs in 1972), snakes (Stanley also 1972) and even rabbits (Night Of The Lepus in 1974). Though the conventions were in part established by The Birds in 1963, it was the runaway success of the 1971 shocker Willard, about a nerd’s retaliation against his tormentors with the help of an army of rats, which really ignited the genre. Willard spawned the quickie sequel Ben the next year, but surprisingly neither is available on DVD.
Based on the novel ‘The Ratman’s Notebooks’ by Stephen Gilbert, Willard tells the story of Willard Stiles (Bruce Davison), a lonely young man employed at the company his late father founded, who suffers cruel humiliations at the hands of his boss (Ernest Borgnine), who’s also dad’s former business partner. Willard’s only companion is his ailing, decrepit mother (Elsa Lanchester...
Based on the novel ‘The Ratman’s Notebooks’ by Stephen Gilbert, Willard tells the story of Willard Stiles (Bruce Davison), a lonely young man employed at the company his late father founded, who suffers cruel humiliations at the hands of his boss (Ernest Borgnine), who’s also dad’s former business partner. Willard’s only companion is his ailing, decrepit mother (Elsa Lanchester...
- 1/21/2010
- by Tom
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The 1985 dance flick "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" is getting a remake treatment. After news of the new "Footloose" film surfaces, Twentieth Century Fox and lakeshore Entertainment decided to join in the fun.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt topbilled the first New World Pictures project.
In the original movie, Parker played Janey, a new girl in town who auditions on her favorite dance show "Dance TV." Hunt played her new friend, while Lee Montgomery played Parker's love interest.
Michelle Morgan, who recently wrote the romantic comedy "Is He the One," will pen the script, according to Variety. No actors have been cast yet.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt topbilled the first New World Pictures project.
In the original movie, Parker played Janey, a new girl in town who auditions on her favorite dance show "Dance TV." Hunt played her new friend, while Lee Montgomery played Parker's love interest.
Michelle Morgan, who recently wrote the romantic comedy "Is He the One," will pen the script, according to Variety. No actors have been cast yet.
- 5/29/2009
- icelebz.com
Twentieth Century Fox and Lakeshore Entertainment will remake the 1985 feature Girls Just Want to Have Fun, a teen comedy originally written by Amy Spies. Premise of the first film followed 'Janey' (Sarah Jessica Parker), an army brat thrilled to be transferred to the home of her favorite dance show Dance TV. Janey and her new friend 'Lynne' (Helen Hunt) get excited when the show announces an audition for new talent. Defying her strict and conservative dad, Janey auditions and gets into the finals, paired up with 'Jeff' (Lee Montgomery) who catches the eye of scheming rich girl 'Natalie' (Holly Gagnier). Jeff reluctantly auditions because of the opportunity presented by his entrepreneurial best friend 'Drew' (Jonathan Silverman). Despite her father's objections and Natalie's manipulations, Janey is determined to win it all. A young Shannen "90210" Doherty co-stars in the film as Jeff's younger sister, with an uncredited Gina Gershon also appearing as a dancer.
- 5/29/2009
- HollywoodNorthReport.com
There are those of us reading this who still remember the sweet shocks of the made-for-tv 1970s horror movie. Usually spat out by ABC under its Movie of the Week moniker, they were less daring, less profane but occasionally brilliant exercises in compact genre mayhem.
These prime-time flicks employed network stars in melodramatic tales designed to seep under your skin—often in less than 90 minutes, commercials included. Y’know, stuff like Don’T Be Afraid Of The Dark, Crowhaven Farm, Moon Of The Wolf…and of course, the immortal Karen Black vehicle Trilogy Of Terror.
Which brings us to the man who not only gave us Trilogy Of Terror, but several more of the best ‘70s TV-movie macabres, the late and indisputably great Dan Curtis. He was the driving force behind the cult ‘60s daytime vampire soap opera Dark Shadows and its theatrical adaptations (1970’s excellent House Of Dark Shadows...
These prime-time flicks employed network stars in melodramatic tales designed to seep under your skin—often in less than 90 minutes, commercials included. Y’know, stuff like Don’T Be Afraid Of The Dark, Crowhaven Farm, Moon Of The Wolf…and of course, the immortal Karen Black vehicle Trilogy Of Terror.
Which brings us to the man who not only gave us Trilogy Of Terror, but several more of the best ‘70s TV-movie macabres, the late and indisputably great Dan Curtis. He was the driving force behind the cult ‘60s daytime vampire soap opera Dark Shadows and its theatrical adaptations (1970’s excellent House Of Dark Shadows...
- 12/22/2008
- Fangoria
• Dimension Extreme gave Fango a first look at the cover art for Eden Lake, the killer-youth chiller it releases January 6 with Genius Products. As we previously reported, the disc will include commentary by writer/director James Watkins and a making-of featurette, retailing for $19.97 (with a Blu-ray also coming for $29.95). See Fango #279, on sale in December, for an Eden Lake set visit.
• Ariztical Entertainment revealed to us the full specs for its disc of Gay Bed & Breakfast Of Terror, streeting November 18 (following select theatrical playdates that began this past Friday). Presented in 16x9-enhanced widescreen with stereo sound, the movie will be accompanied by:
• Audio commentary by writer/director Jaymes Thompson, actors Mari Marks and Robert Borzych and postproduction crew Tim Kelley
• Behind-the-scenes featurette
• Fruitcake short film
• Outtakes
• Music video
Retail price is $29.95.
• Media Blasters provided us with cover art (temporary in a couple of cases) and details on a bunch of its winter titles.
• Ariztical Entertainment revealed to us the full specs for its disc of Gay Bed & Breakfast Of Terror, streeting November 18 (following select theatrical playdates that began this past Friday). Presented in 16x9-enhanced widescreen with stereo sound, the movie will be accompanied by:
• Audio commentary by writer/director Jaymes Thompson, actors Mari Marks and Robert Borzych and postproduction crew Tim Kelley
• Behind-the-scenes featurette
• Fruitcake short film
• Outtakes
• Music video
Retail price is $29.95.
• Media Blasters provided us with cover art (temporary in a couple of cases) and details on a bunch of its winter titles.
- 10/29/2008
- Fangoria
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