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The same year that he laid the groundwork for a horror revolution with Black Christmas, Bob Clark released Deathdream (also known as Dead of Night). The 1974 horror film is understandably overshadowed by his influential proto-slasher, but it was on Deathdream that the filmmaker honed his skills that would fuel his masterpiece of the genre: a brooding atmosphere, a calculated pace, a subtle score by Carl Zittrer that’s inseparable from the organic sound design, and even the use of a rocking chair to achieve unease.

Deathdream found Clark re-teaming with writer Alan Ormsby and several other cast and crew members from his 1972 film, Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things. While it suffers from minor pacing issues, Deathdream is significantly more well rounded. Jack McGowan’s cinematography is often flat (albeit an improvement over his work on Dead Things), but the budget – still limited but some five times larger than the...

Jared Keeso, star of Letterkenny, had a guest cameo in Supernatural season 2 as Matt Harrison. In his role, Keeso portrayed a grieving young man dealing with guilt and lack of closure. Keeso's character in Supernatural, Matt, shares similarities with his Letterkenny character, Wayne, both involved in cheating plotlines.

Fans of the series Letterkenny may be surprised to learn that the show's star Jared Keeso also had a cameo in Supernatural. Starring Jared Padalecki as Sam Winchester and Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester, Supernatural is a 15-season TV series that follows the Winchester brothers as they hunt ghosts, demons, monsters, and more. Like similar shows, Supernatural generally has season or even multi-season arcs that are interrupted by monster-of-the-week episodes that provide a breather between the main storyline of the show. These episodes are most likely to feature cameos and guest actors as they don't need to commit for long.

One of...

Merry Creepmas, you filthy animals. The final day of Bloody Disgusting’s 12 Days of Creepmas is here, and it feels only fitting to celebrate with the reigning champion of holiday horror: Bob Clark’s Black Christmas.

In case you missed any of the holiday festivities, you can keep track of the 12 Days of Creepmas here.

Released in 1974, Black Christmas has a simple setup on paper; over Christmas break, the residents of a sorority house are stalked and preyed upon by an unseen foe. Thanks to director Bob Clark and screenwriter Roy Moore, the plot isn’t quite so simple as it sounds thanks to a wonderfully complex cast of characters and character-driven moments that enhance the horror.

Scene-stealer Barb (Margot Kidder) is foul-mouthed and unapologetic, and her pranks or drunken quips ensure this sorority house is full of life. Barb is the precise type of handful that likely wears on housemother Mrs.

In the vast, shadowy world of horror cinema, some films scream so loud they drown out the whispers of many underrated horror movies. These hidden gems, lurking in the less-trodden paths of the genre, deserve a spotlight for their unique takes on terror. From slow-burn psychological thrillers to bizarre journeys into the supernatural, this list is a treasure trove for those who think they’ve seen it all. So, let’s dust off these overlooked masterpieces and give them the scream of approval they deserve.

This isn’t your run-of-the-mill horror list. Here, we’re diving deep into the crypt to unearth films that have slipped through the cracks. These underrated horror movies range from cult classics to modern mind-benders, each bringing its distinct flavor of fear. Prepare to have your horror horizons broadened with these ten cinematic experiences that prove the genre’s richness lies beyond the mainstream.

Geneni Film Distributors...

In the vast, shadowy world of horror cinema, some films scream so loud they drown out the whispers of many underrated horror movies. These hidden gems, lurking in the less-trodden paths of the genre, deserve a spotlight for their unique takes on terror. From slow-burn psychological thrillers to bizarre journeys into the supernatural, this list is a treasure trove for those who think they’ve seen it all. So, let’s dust off these overlooked masterpieces and give them the scream of approval they deserve.

This isn’t your run-of-the-mill horror list. Here, we’re diving deep into the crypt to unearth films that have slipped through the cracks. These underrated horror movies range from cult classics to modern mind-benders, each bringing its distinct flavor of fear. Prepare to have your horror horizons broadened with these ten cinematic experiences that prove the genre’s richness lies beyond the mainstream.

Geneni Film Distributors...

A Christmas Story was initially overlooked upon its release but has since become a national treasure and a top 100 film in American Cinematic History. Zack Ward, who played bully Scut Farkus in the film, faced challenges with people starting fights with him after its release. Recent interactions with fans have been positive, with people recognizing Ward and bringing him joy by mentioning his character's defeat in the movie.

A Christmas Story is one of the most beloved holiday films of all time, and November 18th marked the 40-year anniversary of the movie hitting theaters. While it may be an iconic Christmas film today, such wasn't always the case, and Zack Ward, who played notorious bully Scut Farkus in the production, took to X to reflect on the success of A Christmas Story.

Released in theaters on November 18, 1983, A Christmas Story was directed by Bob Clark, who up until that time...

101 Films presents the Bob Clark: Horror Collection, featuring the director’s highly influential horrors of the early 1970s, brought together for the first time. Though he would achieve wider success in the 1980s with hit comedies such as Porky’s (1981) and A Christmas Story (1983), Clark’s run of three horror movies a decade earlier — low budget horror-comedy Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things (1972), chilling Vietnam War critique Deathdream (Aka Dead of Night) (1974) and genre-defining slasher masterpiece Black Christmas (1974) — ensure his legacy as a master of the horror genre.

Title 029 on the 101 Films Black Label, this limited-edition set also features new Bob Clark documentary ‘Dreaming of Death’, stunning newly commissioned artwork for all three titles with reversible sleeves, a booklet with new writing on Clark’s career, a set of art cards, and extensive additional content.

Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things

Led by a mean-spirited director, a theatre...

From The Video Archives Podcast, writer/director Roger Avary and writer/producer Gala Avary discuss a few of their favorite movies with Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Taxi Driver (1976)

Star Wars (1977)

Matinee (1993)

Dune (1984)

Terror On A Train a.k.a. Time Bomb (1953)

Licorice Pizza (2021)

Batman (1989)

Yentl (1983)

Nuts (1987)

Spaceballs (1987)

Die Hard (1988)

Top Gun (1986)

Cocksucker Blues (1972)

Mijn nachten met Susan, Olga, Albert, Julie, Piet & Sandra (1975)

Straw Dogs (1971)

The Godfather (1972)

A History Of Violence (2005)

Day Of The Dolphin (1973)

Babylon (2022)

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2022)

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (2022)

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Rock ‘n’ Roll High School (1979)

Carrie (1976)

Indictment: The McMartin Trial (1995)

Blow Out (1981)

The Matrix (1999)

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Killing Zoe (1993)

A Clockwork Orange (1971)

The Tenant (1976)

Dr. Strangelove (1964)

Bugsy Malone (1976)

Phantom Of The Paradise (1974)

The Muppet Movie (1979)

The Rules Of Attraction (2002)

The Sound Of Music (1965)

Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory (1971)

Giant (1956)

The Andromeda Strain (1971)

Babe (1995)

Time Bandits...

On September 7, reprint editions of both Ad Nauseam: Newsprint Nightmares from the '70s and '80s and Blood on Black Wax: Horror Soundtracks on Vinyl are getting the deluxe treatment by 1984 Publishing (1984publishing.com), presented by Toronto-based horror periodical Rue Morgue (Rue-Morgue.com).

Michael Gingold's Ad Nauseam is now in its third printing. While initial editions contained newspaper ads solely from the 1980s, this latest version will include an eye-popping 100 additional pages from the 1970s, a decade that rivals the '80s as the most beloved for horror fans. 1970s classics including The Exorcist, The Omen, Jaws, Phantasm, The Amityville Horror, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Suspiria, Carrie, The Rocky Horror Picture Show and many more are now all featured. The book additionally contains a new foreword by director Joe Dante, alongside Gingold's insightful commentary and classic (often hilarious) film reviews.

"After the publication of the first Ad Nauseam,...

If this is the year you've finally had enough of Freeform's annual 24-hour Hocus Pocus marathon, TNT has a solution for you. The network is ready to deliver thrills and chills with an all-day Supernatural marathon that runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and spans four seasons of The CW series.

The selected episodes have been hailed as the most terrifying in the bunch, including run-ins with ghosts, zombies, and even Bloody Mary herself. So, if you have yet to get acquainted with Sam and Dean Winchester - a pair of brothers who've dedicated their lives to fighting paranormal evil following the tragic death of their mother - Oct. 31 is the perfect excuse. Check out the schedule and descriptions of each episode ahead, courtesy of TNT!

Related: Breathe Easy: Misha Collins Says There's No End in Sight For Supernatural Season 4, episode 7 – "It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester" – 8 a.

This weekend Toronto horror fans will have plenty of opportunities to celebrate the genre's past as well as its present at Horror-Rama IV, with panels including a look back at Night of the Living Dead with co-writer John A. Russo and remembrances of both George A. Romero and Bob Clark:

Press Release: (Toronto) Horror-Rama is thrilled to welcome actress Ashley C. Williams to her Canadian convention debut!

Ashley found instant cult infamy for her tragic turn in director Tom Six's notorious black-comic horror masterpiece The Human Centipede where she was stitched rear-to-mouth as the middle segment of a mad scientist's insane experiment. In 2015 she received acclaim for her blistering turn in director Matthew A. Brown's psychological horror film Julia and both she and Brown (who will also be attending Horror-Rama 2017) will screen their masterpiece and meet their fans.

Ashley joins previously announced special guests: John Harrison (Creepshow,...

Director John Harrison (Tales from the Darkside: The Movie) and actress Lesleh Donaldson (Happy Birthday to Me) are joining the list of guests set to attend Horror-Rama Toronto IV, which kicks off on November 4th and will screen cult cinema favorites throughout the weekend!

We have the official press release below with full details on the new guest announcements, and to learn more, visit Horror-Rama Toronto's official website.

Press Release: Horror-rama-toronto IV Celebrating All Things Horror

November 4 & 5, 2017 at 918 Bathurst St., Centre for Culture, Arts, Media, and Education

Just Announced: Lesleh Donaldson and John Harrison attending.

Horror-Rama-Toronto, the Only stand-alone horror convention and cult cinema celebration, returns for its frightful 4th year, in a larger and wilder space with a gaggle of amazing celebrity guests and cinema icons.

The shocking soiree runs November 4 and 5 at the remarkable 918 Bathurst, an arts and culture sanctuary and converted Buddhist temple located just North of Bloor St.

Hey, let's dig up a rotting corpse, just for fun! A group of crazy Florida theater students plays a group of crazy Florida theater students in Bob Clark's no-budget, spirited attempt to ride in the wake of Night of the Living Dead. An hour of bad jokes is capped by a satisfying zombie onslaught that got the film a major release and launched a career. That's how a score of good directors got started in the 1970s. Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things Blu-ray Vci Entertainment 1972 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 76 min. / Street Date February 23, 2016 / 24.99 Starring Alan Ormsby, Valerie Mamches, Jeffrey Gillen, Anya Ormsby, Paul Cronin. Cinematography Jack McGowan Film Editor Gary Goch Art Direction Forest Carpenter Original Music Carl Zittrer Special Makeup Creator Alan Ormsby Written by Bob Clark, Alan Ormsby Produced by Gary Goch Directed by Bob Clark credited as Benjamin Clark

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

Hitting film school,...

The late, great Bob Clark gave holiday film fans two great presents with A Christmas Story and Black Christmas, but some view Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things as his greatest gift of all. If you're in the lattermost camp, then you'll be pleased to know that Vci Entertainment will release the cult zombie film on Blu-ray this February.

DVD Drive-In reports that Vci Entertainment's Blu-ray release of Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things is scheduled to hit shelves on February 23rd.

Boasting a 2K restoration from the 35mm interpositive, this Blu-ray debut of the beloved 1972 film will come complete with a hearty helping of special features, including "two commentary tracks, video tributes to Bob Clark, the original theatrical trailer, music videos, and some very rare, and clever radio spots, which have not been heard since the original theatrical release, plus much more."

The release also comes with three...

Movie theater-dwelling demons, shambling zombies, and gore galore will be shown on the silver screen this weekend at the Mahoning Drive-In Theatre's Zombiefest in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, covering three days and featuring nine living dead films.

Drive-In Zombiefest runs from Friday, May 22nd to Sunday, May 24th. Each evening, the gates open at 6:00pm and the reels start rolling at dusk. Tickets cost $10.00 apiece each night.

From Drive-In Zombiefest: "Exhumed Films and the Mahoning Drive-In Theatre present:

Drive-in Zombiefest

A weekend-long retrospective of nine walking dead favorites shown from 35mm film!

Friday, May 22nd:

Day Of The Dead (1985)- Cooped up in a military base in an abandoned mine, scientists desperately search for cure to the outbreak of walking death that has plagued the world. A 30th anniversary screening of George A. Romero's claustrophobic finale to his classic original undead trilogy!

Messiah Of Evil (1974)- A woman's search for...

There are myriad reasons why some horror films don’t make a connection with moviegoers and in turn fail to live up to expectations set by the studios that financed them. Sometimes it’s because a movie simply isn’t good, but often a film’s lack of box office success can be attributed to circumstances beyond the filmmakers’ control: factors like lack of appropriate promotion, bad marketing, poorly-timed release dates and unduly harsh critical reception can work against an otherwise good film's success. There are countless well-made movies that do not succeed for one reason or another, and we think it’s a damn shame that the majority of movie fans wind up missing out on quality films.

Because we love an underdog story and love to advocate for the little guy, we ran a piece in November that celebrated five of our favorite underrated horror films; as it proved popular,...

'The Boy Who Smells Like Fish' (USA) Dir. By Analeine Cal Y Mayor

LatinoBuzz: This is your first film - they say that sometimes you have been waiting your whole life to tell the first one - Was that the case with this story?

Analeine Cal Y Mayor: Not with this story. I had never heard about this disease until 2006 in the first place. I was waiting indeed for a long time to direct my first feature. I felt I was ready and I enjoyed working with actors very much but the story was not waiting in a drawer for years fortunately. I saw the article in the newspaper and I immediately knew I wanted to do a film based on that news. It was a beautiful girl with this terrible disease, Trimethylaminuria, terrible more because of what it causes emotionally and psychologically to the persons not so much the physical part. I wanted to turn this drama into a comedy, otherwise I would do a documentary.

LatinoBuzz: Was it always an intention when you were writing the screenplay, that this would be in English?

Analeine Cal Y Mayor: Actually it was not the intention at all. I wrote it in Spanish with another screenwriter (Javier Gullón) thinking it would be shot in Spanish. But I always imagined a North American neighborhood where Mica, the main character, lives. Partly inspired by Elvis´ Graceland, he lives in a museum house of Mexican kitsch singer Guillermo Garibai but we don´t have those museums in Spain or Mexico. We started even casting Spanish actors but suddenly it didn´t make sense where they lived. Somehow it didn’t fit that the actor was saying “joder” and other Spanish slang with this setting. Also the singer was supposedly very famous so I wanted it to be outside Mexico, he was an International singer after all. Now that I see the film it seems naturally suited for English language and the good news is that nobody that read it after it was translated suspected it was first in Spanish. Then my Canadian producer Niv Fichman told me “ You need to meet this actor, Douglas Smith, he is perfect for 'Mica'”. So I waited for the occasion for several months and finally one evening in Toronto we met after a screening and walking towards him was really like a film , I still remember crossing to the other side of the theater like in slow motion and when I saw him I knew it was going to work. I don´t know who was more nervous but he stepped on my foot. Zöe Kravitz came later. I didn´t write thinking of any actor in particular. I wanted someone that was attractive but that could stand out in other ways. There´s always in Hollywood like 4 or 5 actresses that I confuse because they don´t really stand out. She had to have a personality that you believed she fell in love with someone like him, and also a beautiful women that in the story is relaxed about her looks. She is an amazing actress and has something unique that I can´t really put in words. She is just a natural.

LatinoBuzz: You've worked on projects across the globe - has it changed the way you look at art?

Analeine Cal Y Mayor: After making video art in Innbruck, Austria and then getting a grant in almost the opposite city: New Delhi, I changed the way of working and also I try to get rid of clichés about expecting some art based on the artist´s Nationality. I learned to see more, I guess. I write a project back home but then when I get to a place I take my time to observe. I forbid myself to take photographs the first week and after a week I decide how to adapt my project or throw it away and start from scratch. Also after traveling I know that people expect a type of film again depending of your Nationality but that is a prejudice. Some people are going to say my film is not very Mexican or very Latin but that is if they are referring to a cliché of the “Mexicanity”. What does a film needs to have a Mexican flavor? Cactus, drug lords? Well, I have some mariachi music after all but because my characters live in a house of a Mexican singer. It ´s all part of the same world.

LatinoBuzz: There's amazing women filmmakers coming out of Latin America that's bringing an excitement and an invigorating voice that's been missing - do you see this continuing to emerge or is there still much needed change needed within the industry?

AnaIeine Cal Y Mayor: I'm optimistic of the emerging women directors. Every year I see a little bit more coming up slowly. In Mexico at least, the industry is still a man´s world. It's funny how some crew members can´t say “Yes, Mam” they say “Yes sir “ all the time! And they do it without thinking. I´m “Sir” in Mexico a lot of times. I admire Claudia Llosa and in Mexico, Paula Markovich, Mariana Chenillo and Patricia Arriaga.

LatinoBuzz: What's next from you?

Analeine Cal Y Mayor: I'm working on a new script that has to happen in an isolated forest, perhaps Sweden or Finland but while that film takes shape I might spend all my savings to do a very, very low budget film. This is one thing that I still enjoy in Mexico: my colleagues make films with 20 million pesos, 2 million or $200,000.

Visit www.analeine.com for more on this great talent!

The Midnight Game (USA) Dir. By A.D. Calvo

LatinoBuzz: What was the first horror film that scared the bejeezus out of you and got you hooked?

A.D. Calvo: Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things. Back in '79, shortly after my father died, my mom moved us into an old white house on a hill with an historic New England cemetery in the backyard. My bedroom window overlooked the tiny lot riddled with crooked, broken headstones. I can still remember the name on one of them, Alexander X. Weed, and my morbid fascination with the babies’ graves that had shifted in the ground over the years, revealing dark crevices into the earth around them. We didn't have cable back then, so I'd occasionally catch a scary movie on channel 9 or 11, our local NY affiliates. This film really scared the crap out of me. The thought of the dead rising from their graves kept me awake half the night. I was only 11 at the time, and I'm sure the death of my father -- and that damn cemetery – didn’t help. I checked that film out recently, and it was rather comical, deliberately campy. But man, oh, man, it wasn't back then. Orville was a living corpse who haunted me on many nights.

LatinoBuzz: How do you see your work evolving within the horror genre?

A.D. Calvo: Honestly, I'm not a big fan of violence in film and have consistently focused more on the psychological aspects of horror. In my more recent films, particularly The Midnight Game, I've tried to "amp up" certain graphic elements -- but my style is still a far cry from anything close to gore porn or slasher, which are just not my thing. I love a great ghost story and would love to revisit that world with a more mature approach one day. I think of horror classics like The Shining as benchmarks for what's possible within that realm. It all comes down to finding the right screenplay or writing something that I feel really works. After four films, three of which were skewed more toward young-adult horror, I'm looking to shift into more mature themes.

LatinoBuzz: With the likes of Guillermo Del Toro and Fede Alvarez etc and even a film like, Mama - crossing over to the mainstream, do you see a possible gateway for films to be made starring a Latino cast and marketed successfully to an American Latino audience?

A.D. Calvo: Yes, I do. I've always loved Latin horror films like The Devil's Backboneand The Orphanage, and even cerebral sci-fi like Timecrimes. I like the weird ones too, e.g., Santa Sangre, The Last Circus. There's just so many amazing Latino actors and directors, many who haven't been exposed much to Us audiences. The Argentine actor, Ricardo Darin, is a personal favorite, but lesser known here in the states, despite the Oscar win for The Secret in their Eyes. He'd be great in an American Latino ghost story! Something gothic like The Others, don't you think? Perhaps a nice mix of foreign Latino names, like Darin, and some better known domestic faces (Oscar Isaac, John Leguizamo, Rosario Dawson -- a few more personal favs). It's fun to think of the possibilities.

LatinoBuzz: You take a trip to a cabin in the middle of the woods straight outta Deliverance with 4 characters from Horror films and there's no cell phone reception -- because, despite all previous warnings, it's still a great idea -- Who are they and who's out in the woods (Dick Cheney is a perfectly acceptable answer)?

A.D. Calvo: I love this question! Here's my dream team: I'd take a Ripley-like character (from Alien)—someone who's capable of kicking ass and protecting the bunch; and I'd throw in a weak male sidekick, to provide a little comic relief—the quirky Shaggy of the bunch. My cabin wouldn't be complete without a wise old man, physically inferior but intellectually a necessity to the group's survival (I'm picturing Michael Caine type wisdom and self assurance here)… Then, lastly, I'd toss in another woman, but a sensitive type—someone who understands that even evil can have a good side. A character like the one Naomi Watts played in The Ring. She'll help offset Ripley's take-no-prisoners attitude, But will make the crucial mistake of sparing the lives of a few of our villains, who are none other than a mutant militia controlled by their own evil inbred children. (Militias really scare me. As do evil children.) Not sure what my chances of survival would be, but it would make for an interesting movie!

LatinoBuzz: Where and how do the ideas come to you? And how do you flesh them out?

A.D. Calvo: My creative process can be summed up as follows: left brain, right brain. On the one hand, I think about other films I've responded to and try to create an amalgam, of sorts, from that. Something fresh and new, but that still feels familiar and is producible within a set of constraints. This is the logical, left brain half of the process. On the other hand, I remain open to the infinite possibilities that unfold before us, in a more mystical and romantic way (the "creative tap" we all have access to). I have found this balance serves me well. Being true to my vision, creatively and aesthetically, while listening to, but not being bound by, the business side of things. In terms of fleshing out ideas, I have a great set of "go to" people whose opinions I really trust. As with any collaborative endeavor, it's important to keep folks involved (and hence excited about the project). Of course, it's also important to separate individual tastes and personal opinions from more important ideas that can make a project better (and not just different). When you hear that a particular thing isn't working, from a couple of trusted sources, you know you have a problem. Likewise if one's suggestion is well received by others on your team then it's probably worth pursuing, despite any hesitation you may have. I believe you can do this without compromising the so-called, "singular vision of the director." I've heard of film directors referred to as "benign dictators" but the key word here is "benign" and not "dictator." Filmmaking is a collaborative medium so you're acting more like a creative CEO, you still have a boardroom of key folks to listen to. It's really just a matter of building the right team and becoming calibrated enough to recognize the things that raise the bar versus the things that don't really matter. That's the core of it, I think. That, and not letting your ego get in the way of that, is key.

LatinoBuzz: What are the next projects?

A.D Calvo: I just finished another screenplay, my first in 2 years. It's definitely a deviation from horror. It’s a character-driven mystery with a little magical realism thrown in. American Splendor and Ghost World meetThe Lovely Bones. Very different for me. I've also been developing an original time travel concept. Sci-fi is a genre I've always enjoyed and I have a unique idea for a time machine that's fairly well grounded in physics... I have a few other concepts in various stages of development.

Any of these projects could be next, but we'll have to wait and see. Having the wherewithal to push another film through to the end is becoming a greater challenge, psychically, for me. Knowing the pitfalls and what is and isn't possible, given a budget, can become a hindrance of sorts, but it can also make you more discerning and creative—which is a good thing… as long as it doesn't cripple you.

For more on A.D.'s work, check out: www.goodnightfilm.com

Eenie Meenie Mineny Moe (USA) Dir. by Jorge 'Jokes' Yanez

LatinoBuzz: Tell us about the scene in the 305 -- there's a few collectives down there doing really interesting things.

Jokes: The 305 is my home, and there's nothing like it anywhere in the world, the mix of cultures, styles, personalities and weather is a stew with a flavor all its own. In the last few years the arts has really been gaining momentum and there’s talent that is staying and making stuff here which is great. I love seeing Miami artists I grew up with getting their respect. Miami has made its mark in music, sports and visual art and I'm happy that it’s finally starting to get an identity in film.

Latinobuzz: Where did this idea come from and how long from when you wrote this, did it go into production?

Jokes: The idea was conceived around 2003/2004, I was living in L.A. and directing music videos flying to all these different cities and I noticed how people would tell me I had an accent and style that they couldn't put a finger on. When I would say “Miami” they would say of course, it's obvious. So the first seed of making a feature with characters that were authentically Miami came to mind in the way New York filmmakers tell New York stories and wanting to make a movie that addressed a lot of the attitudes that I thought were prevalent in the 305, especially about hustlers with strong ethics and loyalty that were gaming the system. The final ingredient was meeting a few tow truck drivers and it inspired using that as a thread to tie everything together. In early 2007, J.Bishop, my writing partner and I finished the script and I started looking for financing. In 2009, we created a short film 'Vladimir’s Vodka' that features some of the characters and the aesthetics of “Eenie Meenie Miney Moe”. That piece created the momentum we needed and we finally went into production in late 2011.

LatinoBuzz: Who are the filmmakers that inspired the aesthetic of your work?

Jokes: I would say for this film i was really inspired by the work of Brian DePalma, Paul Thomas Anderson, Darren Aronofsky and a few little sprinkles of Kubrick, Scorsese and James Cameron. I mean all these guys are like titans in the industry its hard to make a movie and not be influenced by their work. Overall, I’ve been a film buff for years and there’s so many influences that contribute to my aesthetic choices.

LatinoBuzz: What does premiering in your home town mean to you?

Jokes: I couldn't imagine it any better way. I made this movie because of growing up in Miami and being able to share it with so many of my friends and family is what its all about.

LatinoBuzz: What are the constraints of making independent films in Miami?

Jokes: The biggest constraint is finding money, Miami is a party town and not too many investors have done anything in the movie business and actually not been burned by it, the second is the weather being outdoors in the summer is hot and wet two things that’ll put a production in slow motion.

LatinoBuzz: And what are the benefits?

Jokes: Locations and finding people that are still mesmerized by the allure of the movie biz. In La it's big business and people are jaded and want their check, here so many people are just so helpful and proud that their block or business is being shown that they bend over backwards to accommodate you.

LatinoBuzz: Name a classic novel you could make into a film, and set it in Miami -- what is it and who is in it?

Jokes: 'The Count of Monte Cristo': I can see that being re-imagined into a Miami setting and I am definitely drawn into the revenge plot. I would love to use Benecio Del Toro, Julio Mechoso and Nestor Carbonell and some fresh new faces. I like discoveries.

LatinoBuzz: What's the next Jokes Flick?

Jokes: The next one is titled 'The Local Crew', it's a true to life story about some of the experiences J.Bishop and I had growing up. We just finished the script and are building the team to produce it.

For more on Jokes flick, visit: www.eeniemeeniemineymoe.com

Tony Tango (USA) Dir. By Manolo Celi

LatinoBuzz: You wrote the screenplay along with Billy Sommer from an idea Max Maulion and Andres Oliveira came up with.

Manolo Celi: Yep! Billy Sommer was the genius writer. There was a lot of back and forth between us via phone and many many Skype sessions, but the best stuff was written by Billy who is a truly gifted writer. Andres and Maxx had written an initial 1st draft and they created the iconic character of Tony Tango, and what started to be a doctoring of the script, ended up being a complete transplant. Everything changed except for some character names and that there is a dance competition, but even the main characters were re-written completely anew.

LatinoBuzz: How was this presented to you in the first place?

Manolo Celi: Andres and I had worked on some commercial projects previously, and we really hit it off. They gave me that 1st draft, and while I knew the script needed work, I really related to the character of Tony who was a real underdog. I also found both Andres and Maxx to be very talented and driven to get the film done.

LatinoBuzz: How did pitching a story about an overweight tango dancer in ill fitting ballroom outfits to investors go?

Manolo Celi: All of the investments came from Andres and Maxx sources. They dealt with the financing 100%

LatinoBuzz: What about the casting process? These characters where very specific.

Manolo Celi: We were lucky that the two main characters, Tony and Pablo were already being played by Maxx and Andres. And then, we were so fortunate to find tremendous talent like Antoni Corone and Sergia Louise Andersen to complete the picture - not to mention the rest of the cast who were all truly amazing. My main concern was working with the cast to get as genuine performances as possible. While their characters are very absurd and quirky, the audience needed to relate to all of them and sympathize with them.

LatinoBuzz: A lot of care went into the detail in making the film - the costumes, the choreography and the tone of the humor was very specific. How did you go about getting the right team with budget limitations?

Manolo Celi: What can I say about the crew? What great luck!! Many of them, I had already worked with or had known for a very long time. DoP Angel Barroeta is an incredible Dp and professional, not to mention a beautiful human being. Tom Criswell is hilarious and somehow made the art department work with barely any resources, Li Millian, the wardrobe stylist created Tony's most memorable clothing, hands down, Jonathan David Kane made the day to day run so smoothly, Alan Ramos found us the absolute best locations we could find within the limits of our budget, Jerry Perez and Christine Lopez not only acted great throughout the movie, but they also donated so much time beforehand choreographing Maxx's dance routines, Obi Reyes did a miraculous job with all of the film's make up needs, Carlos Gomez was superstar Gaffer. Both Ad's De la Vega and Rafa Herrera ran the set so smoothly, and they kept the energy alive and the production going. And, on the post side even, it was amazing: Juan Pablo Mantilla, the music producer composed an amazing score, and also produced so many great pieces for the film, and Bob Curreri was an incredible colorist. I mean, really, everyone put in so much time and love into the project for next to no money or for no money whatsoever. I hope to work with every single one of these people again, for the rest of my career.

LatinoBuzz: And how much was specifically your vision?

Manolo Celi: It really was a wonderful collaborative process by everyone involved. Obviously, as director, it is important to have a clear vision, and keep everyone on the same track. Especially in a low budget production like this, there are always situations that crop up that force you to think on your feet and be very receptive to suggestions from your team. I believe a good deal of the film reflects my vision, with compromises due to the resources available and not having final cut of the film, but there are many things that reflect the direction that we had aimed for.

LatinoBuzz: You guys applied this green initiative to shooting the film in Miami - and here people are, thinking filmmakers are heartless brutes -- where in the process was that decision made?

Manolo Celi: We all tend to be very environmentally conscious as individuals, but it was Jonathan David Kane who really pushed the green initiative. He was really who got that ball rolling and was very disciplined about it.

LatinoBuzz: What's the next project?

Manolo Celi: I have a short and another feature in the works. The short is musically-themed, and the feature is more indie-action themed. Besides that, I continue directing commercials.

For all info on Tony Tango click here! www.tonytangothemovie.com...

This week in horror history, Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things introduced fans to Orville, a lovable dead guy who is horror’s answer to Bernie (of Weekend at Bernie’s fame.) When a groups of wacky theater folks dig him up fail to bring him back to life with a bit of dried baby blood and a book of black magic, they decide to keep him as their mascot, making him do all sort of things not fit for a corpse. What the group doesn’t know is they actually managed to reanimate the other occupants of Orville’s graveyard, and these zombies are hungry.

The poster for House is so much more promising than the actual film. It's intent is confusing – the movie was rated R, but feels like a kid’s horror movie. House tells the story of troubled horror writer Roger Cobb who moves to his...

Like most horror fans, I'm not always pro remake. There are some films that simply should not be remade. However, I am supportive of remaking a film if the creative team behind the reboot can bring something new to the table or improve upon what the original film did, in some way. Case in point, Tobe Hooper improved on the source material in his 2004 remake of The Toolbox Murders. Hooper's remake was a more cohesive film than the original and was more effective at keeping its viewer engaged throughout the film. The original was poorly paced with the entire middle of the film being exhaustively sluggish. As for bringing something new to the table, James Gunn and Zak Snyder didn't outdo the original Dawn of the Dead with their 2004 reimagining, but that's not what the duo was trying for. Instead, they provided a highly enjoyable companion piece with their reboot...

Earlier this month, Fangoria Entertainment announced a joint venture with Anchor Bay Entertainment to remake Bob Clark's 1972 zombie film, Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things. Steve Stabler is onboard as producer, with horror legend Tom Savini in the director's chair and prolific short filmmaker Drew Daywalt as screenwriter.

For those that haven't seen it, the film revolves around a theater troupe led by Alan, a rather mean-spirited director, who brings them to an isolated island for a night of fun and games. This includes digging up a corpse named Orville and holding a séance with the goal of raising the dead.

The party continues, despite the failure of the séance. All the while, Alan berates his actors and uses Orville's corpse as the butt of his jokes. The director's ensemble is no better, with all of them willing to walk over each other to garner Alan's favor. And while...

Demon: I'm not Regan.

Father Karras: Well, then let's introduce ourselves. I'm Damien Karras.

Demon: And I'm the Devil. Now kindly undo these straps.

Father Karras: If you're the Devil, why not make the straps disappear?

Demon: That's much too vulgar a display of power, Karras.

Demon: What an excellent day for an exorcism.

Father Karras: You would like that?

Demon: Intensely.

Father Karras: But wouldn't that drive you out of Regan?

Demon: It would bring us together.

Father Karras: You and Regan?

Demon: You and us.

Demon: Your mother sucks cocks in Hell, Karras, you faithless slime.

"Your mother sucks cocks in Hell." Perhaps never has a more colorful line been spoken in the history of film…but hold on, we'll get to that in a bit.

As a lover of horror and a Dread Central writer, many of the conversations I have often turn to a discussion of the genre.

Although he's best known for his gory, groundbreaking special effects works on a variety of films, Tom Savini has also made a name for himself in the acting community. We credit his screen career to that menacing stare and intense facial hair. He's also had experience behind the camera as director on 1990's Night of the Living Dead and most recently in a segment for last year's The Theatre Bizarre. Now, Fangoria is reporting that Savini will direct a remake of the 1972 zombie flick, Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things. Savini's had plenty of experience working with zombies, so we're not terribly worried how that will turn out. Filmmaker Drew Daywalt — who has been popular thanks to his creepy horror shorts — will be writing the...

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Bob Clark's comedy horror flick 'Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things' is set to get the remake treatment. All round horror icon Tom Savini ('Dawn of the Dead') is lined up to direct and if anyone knows his stuff about zombies then it's this guy! Savini (below) will direct from a script penned by 'Death Valley' director Drew Daywalt who recently bought us SyFy's lacklustre fantasy horror project 'Leprechaun's Revenge'. This will be the first full feature directing gig that Savini has touched since 1990's remake of 'Night of the Living Dead'. Shooting will kick off a little later this year and the production will be helped on its way by both Fangoria Entertainment and Anchor Bay Entertainment....

A good few years after it was first mooted, the remake of cult zombie horror Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things is finally shuffling and lumbering forward. Veteran of the undead Tom Savini will be directing the comedy scarefest, and producer Thomas DeFeo promises "the most zombies ever in a feature film."Very much one from the vaults, the original Children was shot in a mere two weeks in 1972 by Bob Clark (who also made Black Christmas and Porky's), and involves a troupe of low-budget filmmakers and a seance-gone-wrong in an island cemetery for criminals.Back in 2010, Savini was talking about the new version as a potential project for himself and his Dawn Of The Dead mentor George Romero. There's no mention of Romero's being involved this morning though, and the deal that's been hammered out is a collaboration between Anchor Bay Films and Fangoria Entertainment. Fangoria was the last...

Although it has been discussed before - on this site in fact - the Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things remake has become something "official."  Fangoria Entertainment and Anchor Bay Entertainment are teaming up to make the redo of Bob Clark's '70s zombie flick a reality.  Drew Daywalt scripted the update and Tom Savini is on board to direct.

Read more...

In celebration of the DVD release of Exit Humanity (review here), the Civil War-themed zombie romp, we thought it would be a fine time to take a look back at some of the greatest zombie hordes throughout the history of the sub-genre.

As always, let's start with some honorable mentions. The fact it's Peter Jackson directed, and one of the goriest films of all time, means Dead Alive (aka Braindead) and its infected mob is certainly worthy of an honorable mention here. Also one of the unheralded all-time classics… and perhaps the zombie film with the greatest title ever…Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things, directed by Bob Clark and featuring zombie Orville Dunworth and his undead friends, gets another nod. Also a big honorable mention to the underrated 2009 French film The Horde, which featured a very impressive group of hungry undead.

Now let's get to the meat of the...

Haywire

You can usually tell when someone who fights for a living is put into a movie, as the names in the credits are beefed up with prefixes like "Stone Cold". For mixed martial arts fighter Gina Carano's latest big-screen appearance there are no such signifiers, but then this isn't a typical example of the sub-genre. For one thing, it's actually a decent movie.

Steven Soderbergh continues on his career-long quest to be the director with the most varied CV (his other 2011 offering was the serious and downbeat Contagion). In crafting a film around the considerable talents of non-actor Carano, Soderbergh has delivered a stark, sleek and stripped-down action movie.

Carano play a private firm black ops agent who's hung out to dry by her contractors, and forced to fight her way to the truth in order to clear her name. It's a role that purposely doesn't put many...

Hey folks we got Two Pair Of Passes good for a rare opportunity to meet and greet the one and only Herschell Gordon Lewis at the Music Box Massacre 7 Oct. 15, 2011 To win simply Email Me here with the words Hgl MBM7 in the subject line. The 24-hour-horror-film-marathon takes place noon 'til noon and includes the current line-up of films: Burn Witch Burn (Lost 60's Classic!) Hour of the Wolf (Ingmar Bergman's Nightmare Vision) The Abominable Dr. Phibes (Vincent Price!)Wizard of Gore (with Herschell Gordon Lewis in Person!) Poltergeist (80's Craziness!) Pumpkinhead (The FX Masterpiece!) Gates of Hell (Gore Galore!) The Vampire Lovers (Hammer Horror Lovely Ladies!) Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things (The Bob Clark Classic!)The Sentinel (Rare Screening!)From Dusk 'Til Dawn (Tarantino & Rodriquez Insanity!) Free Autographs & Picture Taking with Herschell Gordon Lewis!!! Plus: Vendor Tables, Vintage Horror/Sci-Fi/Weird...

On June 14, fans will have the opportunity to complete their Supernatural hi-def collections when Supernatural: The Complete Second Season is released on Blu-ray for the first time. Gear up for another ride, as brothers Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) Winchester hunt for what gives most people nightmares. Bound by tragedy and blood to a dangerous otherworldly mission, the two brothers travel from the Colorado wilderness to Nebraska farmlands and on to isolated Wisconsin lakes, encountering creatures that most people believe only exist in folklore, superstition and nightmares. In addition to all the special features from the original DVD release, the Blu-ray edition features a cool interactive road map complete with new interviews and insights into the show, and is the last of the show's 5 seasons to be released on Blu-ray. The four-disc collector's set is priced to own at $59.96 Srp.

They're back: the ghouls the vampires, the ghosts,...

A remake of Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things is being remade in an effort spearheaded by Accelerator and Fangoria Entertainment. The redo of Bob Clark's 1973 film is being produced under Fangoria's Gravesend Film Enterprises. Shooting is expected to begin in 2011. Is Tom Savini involved, as revealed in this interview , furthermore, George Romero? Those details have not yet been revealed. The second project on the Accelerator/Fangoria slate is Cleopatra Brimstone , based on the novel by Elizabeth Hand. That one tells of a grad student who caters to her blood lust.

Even Fangoria has news coming out of Afm further cementing the fact that horror is not only alive, it's twitching, crawling off the slab, and looking for fresh meat. Or in this case not so fresh meat. That's right kids, another remake is on its way, this time of a personal favorite of mine - the Bob Clarke classic, Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things. But wait ... there's more!

From the Press Release

Accelerator is partnering with Fangoria Entertainment's Gravesend Film Enterprises to produce a slate of films.

The first will be a remake of Bob Clark's 1973 zombie flick, "Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things." Production is set to begin spring 2011. The second will be "Cleopatra Brimstone," about a graduate student who turns murderous. Based on the novel Elizabeth Hand, the film will start shooting in summer 2011.

The deal was brokered Robbie Little, co-president of Accelerator, and Gravesend heads Thomas DeFeo and Steven Mackler.

Savini drops some (potential) news.

At the Sitges Film Festival, SciFiWorld spoke to make-up effects artist Tom Savini about his career, which began in Bob Clark's Deathdream and the 1972 comedy-horror Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things. Savini mentioned that he might work with George Romero on a remake of that same movie.

I might do Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things with George Romero. These are zombies that came out of the grave, so they have to be almost skeletons. They have to be really rotted and disintegrated, so that has to be a combination of make-up and CGI, where I will put green-screen [on the actors] so you can see through them. This, I hope, will be the new generation of zombies. Because it's tough to make zombies scary. Zack Snyder made them run in his Dawn of the Dead remake to make them scary. George didn't like that. He sells...

Horror legend Tom Savini has been hanging out at the Sitges Film Festival and the folks at Sci-Fi World caught up with him for an interview.  It's pretty standard fare for the first 8 minutes or so and then all of a sudden Savini lets it slip. Could Savini and Romero be teaming up to bring us a reamke of Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things?  Sounds like it could be in the works. Talk about a horror event.  Let's hope it actually happens. Here's the interview, it's all good but the news about the remake is revealed after the 8 minute mark.

Potential George Romero project number 46: make-up guru and occasional actor and director Tom Savini says he and Romero are scheming a remake of Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things, the comedy horror from 1972.Directed by Bob Clark (who also made Black Christmas and Porky's), the original was shot in two weeks, and involves a troupe of actors and a seance-gone-wrong in an island cemetery for criminals.Savini revealed the plan while talking zombies in general with Sci Fi World, and it's clearly the technical challenges that still excite him. After praising recent work on Land of the Dead and The Walking Dead, he went on to say, "I might do Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things with George Romero. These were zombies that came out of the grave, so they have to be almost skeletons. They have to be really rotted and disintegrated, so that has to be a combination of make-up and CGI,...

Continuing our collaboration with Sci-Fi World - in which we provided our fellow genre fans in Spain with non-stop coverage from the 2010 Comic-Con - we're now receiving content from the Sitges Film Festival courtesy of the site. Below, we have an interview with Tom Savini - FX maestro, actor, director - who reminisces on his career, discusses highlights, comments on various zombie make-up gags and, around 8:14, reveals he might be working with George Romero on a remake of Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things . Find out what he has to say about the undead designs for that one...

We've been through Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and Land of the Dead -- and the remakes, too. We've seen Diary of the Dead, Survival of the Dead, Shaun of the Dead, and several different examples of Return of the Living Dead. City of the Living Dead and Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things -- but now we're offered The Dead, plain and simple. And I'm not talking about the old John Huston movie called The Dead because that's a dramatic film and this website is called FEARnet. Hardly the final word in zombie apocalypse mayhem, but certainly "familiar-yet-novel" enough to keep fans of the ravenous undead satisfied, The Dead was shot in Africa by  a pair of...

Our own John Gholson took the bullet for the Cinematical team and reviewed Vampires Suck, one of the many terrible rip-off movies from the diabolical team of Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. It was just as terrible as you might imagine, and chances are it will make a lot of money this weekend and we'll be stuck with yet another piece of cinematic poop from them in another year or so.

Have you ever seen a movie that bad on purpose? Maybe you and your friends really are daring each other to watch the worst possible movie you can find at the video store, because sometimes that happens -- I'm pretty sure that's how I ended up watching Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things. (Choice quote: "I peed my pants!") Or maybe we were drunk. I don't know. It was college. But others, like Pootie Tang, became instant favorites. It's a crapshoot,...

I know what you're thinking: At this rate, they'll get around to remaking even Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things sooner or later. But the new reboot of George A. Romero's The Crazies is the right kind of remake -- the kind that endeavors to squeeze every drop of acid out of its potent scenario, execution-wise, in ways Romero rarely could.

One of the real joys of Back Catalogue is getting to sift through movies I actually want to watch instead of whatever happens across my desk. This look at the older titles available through Vci Entertainment offered a little bit of everything. Mario Bava, made for TV fare, cult classics, exploitation and even documentary. Needless to say this was quite a viewing party.

Kiss Of The Tarantula was a definite first into the DVD player for me as I loves me some campy spider action. The film follows the mold of other movies like Willard, and Stanley, leaving out the supernatural element. Poor misunderstood, constantly picked on Susan isn't able to control spiders, she just raises them in the family mortuary. And when the locals (and her lecherous uncle) get a little too aggressive poor Susan pops a few of her eight legged friends in for visit.

Death by spider...

As the director of horror classics such as Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things (1972), Black Christmas (1974), and Dead Of Night (1974), Bob Clark was a filmmaker who made a mark on the genre that will never be forgotten. He hit the pop-culture spectrum as the creator of comedic gems such as Porky's (1982), and the perennial holiday classic A Christmas Story (1983). Sadly, Bob Clark passed away on April 4th, 2007, along with his son, as victims of a drunk driver.

From Fangoria comes Screamography: Bob Clark, a never-before-seen one-hour look at the career and legacy of this horror icon.

Presented as a post-Halloween treat for our readers and friends, this episode of Screamography can be viewed in it's entirety - uncut - right here, or on MySpaceTV. Featuring Clark's last filmed interview, this video is a tribute to a filmmaker that will forever hold a special place in the hearts of cinema lovers worldwide.

As the director of horror classics such as Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things (1972), Black Christmas (1974), and Dead Of Night (1974), Bob Clarkwas a filmmaker who made a mark on the genre that will never be forgotten.He hit the pop-culture spectrum as the creator of comedic gems such as Porky's (1982), and the perennial holiday classic A Christmas Story (1983). Sadly, Bob Clark passed away on April 4th, 2007, along with his son, as victims of a drunk driver.

From Fangoria comes Screamography: Bob Clark, a never-before-seen one-hour look at the career and legacy of this horror icon.

Presented as a post-Halloween treat for our readers and friends, this episode of Screamography can be viewed in it's entirety - uncut - right here, or on MySpaceTV. Featuring Clark's last filmed interview, this video is a tribute to a filmmaker that will forever hold a special place in the hearts of cinema lovers worldwide.

Director Bob Clark, who helmed the modern holiday classic A Christmas Story and was the writer-director-producer of the Porky's films, died in a car crash with his son on the Pacific Coast Highway early Wednesday morning; he was 67. According to police reports, Clark's car was hit head-on around 2:30am by an SUV that swerved into Clark's southbound lane; Clark and his 22 year-old son, Ariel, were pronounced dead at the scene. The SUV driver, who was driving without a license, was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and is to be booked for gross vehicular manslaughter. The director of the 1974 cult horror film Black Christmas as well as the 1980 Jack Lemmon drama Tribute (which nabbed Lemmon a Best Actor Oscar nomination), Clark scored a major box office success in the early '80s with the teen sex comedy Porky's, a surprise hit that he wrote, directed and produced which became the highest-grossing film of 1982 and one of the highest-grossing films ever in Canada. Clark went on to helm the sequel, Porky's II: The Next Day, a year later, but it was another 1983 film that would become his most memorable. Based on humorist Jean Shepherd's short story collection In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, A Christmas Story was the nostalgic and humorous tale of a young boy named Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) growing up in the 1940s who yearned for the ultimate Christmas gift, a Red Ryder BB gun. Also starring Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon, the comedy (which Clark directed, co-wrote and produced) was a modest success in its initial box office run but gained a strong and steady following through the next two decades, becoming a TV staple during the holiday season and a consistent seller on DVD. Clark's other films included the Dolly Parton-Sylvester Stallone comedy Rhinestone, Turk 182!, From the Hip, and the two Baby Geniuses movies. Recently, there had been talk of Howard Stern producing a remake of Porky's, and Clark had begun development on a remake of one of his first films, the horror movie Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things. --Mark Englehart, IMDb staff...

Director Bob Clark, who helmed the modern holiday classic A Christmas Story and was the writer-director-producer of the Porky's films, died in a car crash with his son on the Pacific Coast Highway early Wednesday morning; he was 67. According to police reports, Clark's car was hit head-on around 2:30am by an SUV that swerved into Clark's southbound lane; Clark and his 22 year-old son, Ariel, were pronounced dead at the scene. The SUV driver, who was driving without a license, was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and is to be booked for gross vehicular manslaughter. The director of the 1974 cult horror film Black Christmas as well as the 1980 Jack Lemmon drama Tribute (which nabbed Lemmon a Best Actor Oscar nomination), Clark scored a major box office success in the early '80s with the teen sex comedy Porky's, a surprise hit that he wrote, directed and produced which became the highest-grossing film of 1982 and one of the highest-grossing films ever in Canada. Clark went on to helm the sequel, Porky's II: The Next Day, a year later, but it was another 1983 film that would become his most memorable. Based on humorist Jean Shepherd's short story collection In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash, A Christmas Story was the nostalgic and humorous tale of a young boy named Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) growing up in the 1940s who yearned for the ultimate Christmas gift, a Red Ryder BB gun. Also starring Darren McGavin and Melinda Dillon, the comedy (which Clark directed, co-wrote and produced) was a modest success in its initial box office run but gained a strong and steady following through the next two decades, becoming a TV staple during the holiday season and a consistent seller on DVD. Clark's other films included the Dolly Parton-Sylvester Stallone comedy Rhinestone, Turk 182!, From the Hip, and the two Baby Geniuses movies. Recently, there had been talk of Howard Stern producing a remake of Porky's, and Clark had begun development on a remake of one of his first films, the horror movie Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things. --Mark Englehart, IMDb staff...