Horror Movies

Much as I love Orson Welles, I've never quite forgiven him for his Cahiers du Cinema interview when he was asked about his three favorite American directors and answered, "John Ford, John Ford, and John Ford." How dare he exclude our greatest director, Howard Hawks? Of course it should be Howard Hawks, John Ford, and Howard Hawks. Twice because he was versatile enough that his comedies and dramas intertwine; Ford was brilliant visually and emotionally but easily mired in his misty-eyed Irish sentiment. When he tried to do comedy he got lost in children's choirs and rolicking brawls. Hawksian men face danger on a daily basis, and when they die, they die like men, or they survive like men; either way, without speeches. And if they meet a woman, it's ten times faster and more disorienting than a Maginot line charge.There's no chaperone, no parson beaming, no dance, no time for blarney. The whole fabric of the John Ford fort, the small town unity that extends in generations for centuries back, is gone in an instant with Hawks, boiled down to a gummy old cripple, a drunk, and a limping sheriff, holed up in a jail and visited daily by attractive women who seem more modern and free of phony glamor than even Ford's dirty-faced tomboys.It matters not, of course, the John Ford John Ford John Ford mindset has won out. Do a search on Amazon for a Howard Hawks boxed set you won't find a thing (except an Italian R2). Look for a John Ford and whammo. Hawks films are classics--very few misses in his canon--but they're not rich in surface 'importance.' Instead of emotion, race, and historical accuracy, they are fun, archetypal, witty, engaging, resonant more on a Jungian than Freudian level. In some ways it's as if Hawks films take place in the universe that Ford has set up, the same towns and valleys, but then Hawks film doesn't show up for the big dance and goes around back to roll cigarettes and take shots. Fords films are about obeying the rules, worshipping tradition, joining the social order with a deep Catholic devotion, and letting Victor McLagen ham it up; Hawks films are about breaking rules, sidestepping tradition, letting Dean Martin suffer through the shakes brought on by prolonged proximity to Jerry Lewis. "In case you haven't figured it out yet," John Wayne explains to his prisoner; "the minute your brother starts somethin' you're liable to get accidentally shot." The way Wayne says 'shot' is a chilling reminder of death's finality. In some films guns are just toys and marksmanship almost irrelevant - the heroes never miss and the villains never hit- but in Hawks it's about being a dead shot even with a pistol fired from the hip.The earlier sound era of Hawks had some major classics, like SCARFACE (1932), but in the 30s Hawks was still figuring himself out. He had some great writers, many of whom had also witnessed a lot of death, like William Faulkner, a fellow WW1 pilot who took very clear-eyed looks at buddies in danger. BUT Hawks had yet to find his signature action movie style, the male bonding-in-isolation, the querencia mentality, wherein courageous, noble, chivalrous marksmen, pilots, or hunters band together against great odds in an enclosed space. In some of these early films he was even bound by love triangles of the old Lon Chaney Sr. variety, the pugnacious brute ranting with jealousy because his lady love's found a more perfect mate.Anyway, maybe examining these five early films (in order of release) will help. They're all rather obscure so I mention how to locate each film, be it available only on VHS, DVD-R, or TCM--which is a crime considering nearly every John Ford movie ever made is remastered out there on disc, and my own ratings. THE CRIMINAL CODE (1931)Avail. on VHS and Region 2 DVD*** Walter Huston is a tough but fair warden who, as DA, sends a naive kid (Phillip Holmes) up the river for ten years after he whacks a masher with a bottle in a notorious speakeasy. "An eye for an eye - that's the foundation

This week’s B-Sides is for all of you 1970’s folk rock fans. The song actually isn’t too bad, to be honest, but you’re probably not familiar with it because the film it stems from is one of the all-time worst. A New Mexico mineralogist gets conked on the head by a falling moon rock during a meteor storm and now turns into a reptilian monster whenever the moon is full. Track of the Moon Beast should have been so much more fun than the snoozefest it actually turned out to be. Watching it, you’ll fully understand why the film, which was shot in 1972, wasn’t able to find distribution for four years. One of the highlights - or lowlights - of Track of the Moon Beast, depending on your tolerance for poor man’s Crosby, Stills, & Nash folk rock, is a brief musical interlude in which crooner Frank Larrabee takes the stage to perform “California Lady.” My voice been getting froggy I been smoking too damn much Singing songs to the sun that's rising Rhyming words I cannot touch Oh, I been wandering in circles With just a guitar in my hand Playing one too many barrooms and drinkin' more than I can stand California lady, won't you bring your love to me California lady, she's the one I want to see My California lady With lyrics like that there’s nothing left to say but light up a doobie and set your earlobes to mellow. VISIT THE EVILSHOP @ AMAZON! Got news? Click here to submit it! Rock out in the comments section below.

NBC hasn't made it easy to stick with "Grimm," what with a long hiatus and then a move to Tuesday, but it was well worth it. And the payoff comes Tuesday with Episode 2.22, "Good Night, Sweet Prince." Here are a clip and a look back at a few of Season 2's most memorable Wesen. Episode 2.22 - "Goodnight, Sweet Prince" (airing 5/21/13; 10:00-11:00 pm) THE ROYALS BRING THEIR AGENDA FOR NICK TO PORTLAND – JAMES FRAIN AND SHOHREH AGHDASHLOO GUEST STAR -- Just when things look like they’re back to normal with Juliette (Bitsie Tulloch), Nick (David Giuntoli) is called to investigate a flurry of rage-fueled assaults happening all over Portland. He goes to Monroe (Silas Weir Mitchell) and Rosalee (Bree Turner) for help battling Portland’s newest wave of “undead.” As if that weren’t enough, Captain Renard (Sasha Roiz) informs Nick that his brother Eric (guest star James Frain) is in town on family business. Meanwhile, Stefania (guest star Shohreh Aghdashloo) and Frau Pech methodically use their alliances with Adalind (Claire Coffee) to battle one another. Russell Hornsby and Reggie Lee also star. Related Story: Images from "Grimm" Season Finale Episode 2.22 - "Goodnight, Sweet Prince" For more info visit "Grimm" on NBC.com (where full episodes are available for viewing), check out some InstaGRIMMS on Instagram, "like" "Grimm" on Facebook, and follow "Grimm" on Twitter. VISIT THE EVILSHOP @ AMAZON! Got news? Click here to submit it! Keep a grimm outlook in the comments section below!

I love giving people free rein to cover what they want. Melissa over at Melissa's Imaginarium didn't just cover one horror film - she took it upon herself to focus on two short reviews! The Howling and The Wolfman (the remake, not the original) are two very different films; here, she delves into both side by side.The Howling (1981)Directed by Joe Dante and based on the novel by Gary Brandner, The Howling tells the story of reporter Karen White, who is stalked by serial killer Eddie Quist. When she attempts to lure him into a trap, Eddie is shot by police and Karen is subsequently traumatized. As part of her recovery, Karen's therapist sends her to The Colony, a remote resort where he sends his more troubling patients to recover. She soon discovers that the residents are in fact a pack of werewolves, of which Eddie had been a member.Full of bizarre characters, insider werewolf jokes and really cool transformation fx, this is a movie that remains my favorite werewolf movie of them all. Robert Picardo delivers a menacing performance as Eddie Quist while Dee Wallace shines as the tragic Karen. I adored the supporting cast which includes several staple monster movie character actors like Patrick Macnee, Slim Pickens, John Carradine and Christopher Stone as well as Dante muse, Belinda Balaski. Thirty years on and it is still quite entertaining.The Wolfman (2010)Actor Lawrence Talbot returns to his family estate to solve the disappearance of his brother and discovers a terrifying beast is killing the locals, When he is attacked and nearly killed, he finds that he has become the monster.I get a lot of grief for this one and I don't care. This is bar none, one of the best werewolf movies I've seen. Being a huge fan of Curt Siodmak's original 1944 script, I feel this film is the perfect creepy, brooding successor to that film, going places where they could not back then. Benecio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt and Hugo Weaving are outstanding. Art Malik is of particular note, though, as Sir John's manservant, who is caught up in the horror, trying desperately to keep the evil at bay, all the while knowing it is slipping its leash. The cinematography is wonderfully stylish and menacing, with lots of excellent shadow and darkness scenes. The fx, while a bit off in places, are cool. I especially love the transformation in the mental hospital.The unrated version of this film is the best way to see it. it includes many scenes that were cut from the film, like a hellish scene in Hyde Park where the werewolf attacks at a conservatory.

They Go For Monsters The Horrors of It All

With Season 3 of "Teen Wolf" set to debut on MTV Monday, June 3rd, we've gotten hold of some previews and behind-the-scenes videos along with a few teasers from series creator Jeff Davis straight from the set. Davis actually gave the MTV Remote Control Blog 25 hints of what's coming, and we have the highlights below. For the full list be sure to hit the link at the bottom of the page. Synopsis: MTV's hit scripted series "Teen Wolf" is set to debut the first half of its supersized 24-episode third season on Monday, June 3, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT. Season 3 will pick up four months after the events that nearly ended Jackson's life and resurrected Peter Hale (Ian Bohen) with teen werewolf Scott McCall and his friends Stiles, Lydia, and Allison beginning their junior year of high school unaware that a new threat has arrived in Beacon Hills: a deadly pack of Alpha werewolves intent on bringing Derek into their fold. Season 3 will feature the return of stars Tyler Posey as Scott McCall, Crystal Reed as Allison Argent, Dylan O'Brien as Stiles, Tyler Hoechlin as Derek Hale, and Holland Roden as Lydia Martin. There will also be several new faces in Beacon Hills, including Ethan and Aiden, twin Alpha werewolves played by Charlie and Max Carver; Gideon Emery as Deucalion, leader of the Alpha werewolves; Kali, an Alpha werewolf played by Felisha Terrell; and Cora, a tough 17-year-old who has ties to the Beacon Hills werewolf line, played by Adelaide Kane. Now here are a few teasers: Stiles might have a falling out with Scott -- Davis says Isaac (Daniel Sharman) will move in on Stiles' territory as Scott's go-to pal. Is this the end of a classic bromance? New Alphas Ethan and Aiden have their sights set on Scott's friends -- Davis said the new duo isn't necessarily out to harm Scott's inner-circle, but they've definitely got some business to take care of. Allison Argent has gone rogue -- Scott's ex-girlfriend has been off the grid for months, and when she finally returns to Beacon Hills, she'll be a near-stranger. Has she completely committed to hunting? Well, when it comes to bloodshed... Everyone's going to die, basically -- Season 3's body count will be greater than the previous two combined, according to Davis. There's been a REAL WOLF on set (you can meet Shadow in one of the videos below). Derek and Scott will fight side by side -- The two top dogs have had a contentious relationship in the past, but they'll come together in Episodes 2 and 3 and might even need backup to handle their opposition. Season 3's music will feature the moans of an obedient dog -- Composer Dino Meneghin is experimenting with the sound this season, which will also feature a chanting choir. We'll finally learn about Derek's past -- Ian Nelson will play the part of a younger, happier Hale; Alicia Coppola will play Derek's mom, Talia; and Derek's sister, Laura, will be played by Ana Walczak. Don't forget those mysterious jars (in Episode 3.09 grimy antiques will make some waves) while the mysterious symbols scribbled around town will continue to give us anxiety. Get More: Teen Wolf, Full Episodes Get More: Teen Wolf, Full Episodes Get More: Teen Wolf, Full Episodes Get More: Teen Wolf, Full Episodes Get More: Teen Wolf, Full Episodes Get More: Teen Wolf, Full Episodes Get More: Teen Wolf, Full Episodes Get More: Teen Wolf, Full Episodes For more info visit "Teen Wolf" on MTV.com, "like" "Teen Wolf" on Facebook, and follow @MTVTeenWolf on Twitter. VISIT THE EVILSHOP @ AMAZON! Got news? Click here to submit it! Transform in the comments section below!

Now that the spring TV Upfronts are over, we can catch our breath and start doling out some of the goods that the networks provided during the week. First up are a few new images from The CW's "The Originals." Series Synopsis: Family is power. The Original Vampire family swore it to each other a thousand years ago. They pledged to remain together, always and forever. Now, centuries have passed, and the bonds of family are broken. Time, tragedy and hunger for power have torn the Original Family apart. When Klaus Mikaelson, the original vampire-werewolf hybrid, receives a mysterious tip that a plot is brewing against him in the supernatural melting pot that is the French Quarter of New Orleans, he returns to the city his family helped build. Klaus’ questions lead him to a reunion with his diabolical former protégé, Marcel, a charismatic vampire who has total control over the human and supernatural inhabitants of New Orleans. Determined to help his brother find redemption, Elijah follows Klaus and soon learns that the werewolf Hayley has also come to the French Quarter searching for clues to her family history and has fallen into the hands of a powerful witch named Sophie. Tensions between the town’s supernatural factions are nearing a breaking point as Marcel commands his devoted followers and rules with absolute power. For Klaus, the thought of answering to his powerful protégé is unthinkable, and he vows to reclaim what was once his – the power, the city and his family. While they wait to see if their sister, Rebekah, will leave Mystic Falls and join them, Klaus and Elijah form an uneasy alliance with the witches to ensure that New Orleans will be ruled by THE ORIGINALS once again. The series stars Joseph Morgan (“The Vampire Diaries,” Immortals) as Klaus, Daniel Gillies (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Saving Hope”) as Elijah, Claire Holt (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Pretty Little Liars”) as Rebekah, Phoebe Tonkin (“The Vampire Diaries,” “The Secret Circle”) as Hayley, Charles Michael Davis (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Switched at Birth”) as Marcel, Daniella Pineda (The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, “Homeland”) as Sophie, Leah Pipes (“The Deep End,” Sorority Row) as Cami and Danielle Campbell (StarStruck, Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection) as Davina. “The Originals” is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with My So-Called Company, Alloy Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios. Julie Plec (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Kyle XY,” “Wasteland”), Leslie Morgenstein (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Gossip Girl”) and Gina Girolamo (“The Lying Game”) are executive producers. Plec wrote the pilot episode, which was directed by Chris Grismer (“The Vampire Diaries”). The CW will be pairing "The Originals" with "Supernatural" on Tuesday nights, 8PM and 9PM, respectively. For more info visit "The Originals" on CWTV.com, "like" "The Originals" on Facebook, and follow "The Originals" on Twitter. VISIT THE EVILSHOP @ AMAZON! Got news? Click here to submit it! Be an original in the comments section below!

Around these parts we love us our nature-run-amok flicks. The bigger and bloodier the better. One flick that's hit our radar recently is Stealth Media's new flick The Hatching and as you'll see by the sales art it's right up our alleys! Michael Anderson directs with Greg Davies from a screenplay by Nick Squire. The flick is currently in pre-production. Thomas Turgoose and Sylvia Syms star. Synopsis Tim Webber, a teenager at boarding school and his friends Baggy and Nick take a dare to sneak out of the dormitory one night and steal crocodile eggs from a nearby zoo, but the prank ends in tragedy with Nick being killed and Tim taking all responsibility. Fifteen years later, after the death of his father, Tim returns home to Somerset to run the family stone masonry, but there is a sinister undercurrent to the idyllic village setting that seems to harbour a dark secret. People have been disappearing, and it all seems to be centred around the old quarry. Tim meets up again with his old friend Baggy and to their horror clues mount. It appears that the time has come for both Baggy and Tim to pay for their actions of years ago. Those crocodile eggs that came home with Tim hatched! VISIT THE EVILSHOP @ AMAZON! Got news? Click here to submit it! Show us your teeth in the comments section below!

After a very successful run at this year's South by Southwest Film Festival, Kevin and Michael Goetz's Scenic Route, starring Josh Duhamel and Dan Fogler, has landed itself some distribution. Read on for details. From the Press Release Vertical Entertainment has acquired all U.S. rights to the thriller SCENIC ROUTE, starring Josh Duhamel (Safe Haven, Transformers 1, 2, and 3) and Dan Fogler (Balls of Fury and Kung Fu Panda) at the 2013 Cannes International Film Festival. The film marks Kevin and Michael Goetz's directorial debut from a screenplay by Kyle Killen (The Beaver). SCENIC ROUTE first premiered at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival to strong reviews and will be released theatrically in August 2013. Vertical Entertainment’s Rich Goldberg announced the deal today. “Josh Duhamel has over one billion dollars in box office to his name, yet somehow finds a role in SCENIC ROUTE, unlike any other he’s had before” said Goldberg. "He truly has brought himself to another level, and paired with the wonderful Dan Fogler, we felt the success of the film couldn’t be questioned in the independent market. We plan on utilizing every platform possible, from theatrical, digital and VOD, physical, as well as all other ancillary markets, to get this film to as broad an audience as possible.” “Given the ever-changing landscape of domestic distribution, Vertical’s experience, spirited initiative, and resourcefulness simply places SCENIC ROUTE in the best position to find its audience and prosper,” said producer Brion Hambel. “Rich and his team leave no stone unturned…and in a time of slimmer margins, this is paramount to the overall success of an independent film.” SCENIC ROUTE was produced by Brion Hambel and Paul Jensen of Best Medicine Productions (Natural Selection), Anonymous Content’s Luke Rivett (Something Real and Good), and Scott Freeman and executive produced by Duhamel, Keith Redmon (Rendition, The Beaver), and Paul Green (Fun Size, The Beaver). The deal was negotiated by Peter Jarowey on behalf of Vertical Entertainment and Matthew Sugarman of Weintraub Tobin on behalf of the filmmakers. Premiere Entertainment is handling international sales during the 2013 Cannes International Film Festival. Synopsis Mitchell (Josh Duhamel) and Carter (Dan Fogler), life-long friends who have drifted apart, are on a road trip when their old pickup breaks down, leaving them stranded on an isolated desert road. Nobody can pick apart a man like his best friend, and as the relentless elements of the desert grind them down, they start to attack each other’s life decisions with unwavering brutality. As they question who they are and who they could have been, their agitation leads to physical confrontation and ultimately knife-wielding madness, and what begins as an inconvenience becomes a very real life or death struggle. VISIT THE EVILSHOP @ AMAZON! Got news? Click here to submit it! See the sights in the comments section below!

Our friends over at Twitch landed the first trailer for the latest horror flick coming to us all the way from Sweden entitled simply RE. Check it out along with all if the details concerning director Andreas Lindergard's foray into fear. RE is currently in post-production. Look for more on it soon! The film “is a psychological thriller where we follow Emma as she returns to her childhood home only to find her past catching up with her. She is well aware that some things are not real, still she is drawn towards a path beyond reality. Emma also finds herself attracted to what scares her the most, the neighbor she can not remember ever having been living in the house close by. It is a film in the spirit of 60?s films, with some subtle visual references to movies like Repulsion and the like.” VISIT THE EVILSHOP @ AMAZON! Got news? Click here to submit it! Be thrilled in the comments section below.