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Peacock’s Based on a True Story unmasks a new serial killer — and exposes a killer inside someone close to Ava and Nathan Bartlett — in the true-crime sendup’s deliciously twisted sophomore run.

The Season 2 finale reveals that the copycat killer is none other than Sara Paxton’s Paige, the sister of Westside Ripper victim Chloe Lake (Natalia Dyer), whose brutal murder played out in the series’ very first episode. Paige traps Ava and Nathan in the Lipinski Sisters’ podcast studio, and she’s prepared to kill them for profiting off of Chloe’s death, before Matt shows up in the knick of time,...

Based on a True Story season 2 premiered on Peacock with all eight episodes today, and I have to tell you that it was a really fun watch overall! When the first season came out, I really enjoyed it and so I was excited that there was more to tell in the story, especially with some of those season 1 cliffhangers. Let's get into the review of season 2 overall, and whether it's worth your time. Major Spoilers Below.

(But first, be sure to check out our exclusive interviews with stars Tom Bateman and Liana Liberato, as well as showrunner Annie Weisman!)

Colleen Hayes/Peacock Our thoughts on Based on a True Story season 2

A big part of Nathan's journey in the first season included his lack of self-worth and struggles at work. He was a big tennis star, and now it's difficult for him to feel so overlooked. Matt sees this and...

Plot: Season two finds new parents Ava and Nathan Bartlett three months into parenthood. Focused on taking care of her family, Ava is determined to resist her true crime obsession and return to work as a real estate agent while Nathan trains private tennis clients. But a series of new murders pulls her back in – is Matt behind the slayings? Is Tory, now entangled in a relationship with Matt, in danger? For a while, life is good — Ava’s TikTok habit and her new friend Drew provide a welcome distraction, and Nathan’s all in on reigniting his tennis career as well as his friendship with Matt — until danger comes knocking, literally.

Review: When the first season of Based on a True Story dropped last year on Peacock, I was not impressed with the story of a couple who started their own true-crime podcast with input from a real serial killer.

The month of October brings with it plenty of annual viewing traditions, and chief among them for ’90s kids is the “Halloweentown” franchise. The series launched in 1998 with a Disney Channel Original Movie about a 13-year-old girl who learned that not only did she descend from a line of witches, but there’s actually an entire community called Halloweentown populated by witches, warlocks and all sorts of spooky creatures.

“Halloweentown” played on Disney Channel ad nauseum every October, and eventually spawned three additional sequels. With spooky season in full swing – and with all four movies currently streaming on Disney+ — now is as good a time as any to get straight how to watch the “Halloweentown” movies in order.

“Halloweentown” (1998) Disney

The first “Halloweentown” film sets the stage for all to come. Kimberly J. Brown plays Marnie Piper, an ambitious 13-year-old who learns that her mother Gwen (Judith Hoag) and her grandmother (Debbie Reynolds) are witches,...

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Beach season has commenced, and we’re excited to dust off our umbrellas and pack our straw bags for some poolside fun. And while shopping can feel stressful on a good day, there’s a specific panic that comes about when browsing for swimsuits because every details has to be accounted for: print, silhouette, fit, picking a one-piece that will actually be long enough for your torso, etcetera.

The force of nature that is actor Richard Brake (3 From Hell / 31 / Mandy / Barbarian / the upcoming The Last Stop in Yuma County) unleashes terror on a new episode of Bloody FM’s new horror anthology pod, The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings.

A Story to Scare My Son brings to life the disturbing tale of the same name, written by R.D. Ovenfriend.

Subscribe and stream the episode below and explore the lore of other items in the shop, with a rotating cast that includes Mike Flanagan, Kate Siegel, Devon Sawa, Scout Taylor Compton, Joseph Winter, Melanie Stone, David Dastmalchian, Sara Paxton, Jocelin Donahue and more!

Listen on Apple, Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts.

For an uninterrupted experience, find stories from The Antique Dealer’s private collection and more at The Obsidian Covenant (Patreon).

Follow the Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings on:

Instagram: @antiquariumpod

Twitter: @antiquariumpod

The post Richard...

Remakes have always been and will always be a tricky proposition. You could have something as pure and wonderful as 1982’s The Thing, which is objectively better than the revered Howard Hawks and Christian Nyby version, but be trapped in purgatory for way too long before it is decided that its proper and loved. There’s a bunch that are better in different ways or at least thoroughly enjoyable in their own right like John Carpenter’s masterpiece, Philip Kaufman’s Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and of course David Cronenberg’s The Fly. While you can argue the horror vs sci fi merits of any of these movies, their quality can’t be disputed. When it comes down to what you can or can’t remake, I think the gloves are off at this point. There’s very few sacred cows left and sometimes a remake can help. Something...

Stan Rogow, a veteran producer for the Hilary Duff-starring Lizzie McGuire series and feature film, and an Emmy nominee for his earlier work on the TV series Fame, has died at 75.

Rogow died Thursday at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, reports indicate. No cause was given.

Born in Brooklyn, Rogow graduated from Boston University School of Law and worked as a lawyer before serving as an executive in charge of production on the 1980 Emmy-winning CBS telefilm Playing for Time, starring Vanessa Redgrave.

After that, he moved to Los Angeles and soon was working with the TV series Fame, for which he shared in a 1982 Emmy nomination. Rogow served as a producer on the pilot of the NBC series.

Rogow also created the 1992 CBS comedy-drama Middle Ages, starring Peter Riegert, and produced other series such as State of Grace, Afterworld and Woke Up Dead.

Rogow produced Lizzie McGuire and...

Stan Rogow, the writer and Emmy-nominated producer who guided the Hilary Duff-starring Lizzie McGuire series and feature that spawned from the Disney Channel hit and partnered with John Sayles on several projects, has died. He was 75.

Rogow died Thursday at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, family spokesperson Scott Fisher told The Hollywood Reporter.

Early in his career, Rogow served as a producer on the pilot of the acclaimed NBC series Fame and shared an Emmy nomination for outstanding drama series in 1982 with William Blinn and two others.

The Brooklyn native was also an exec producer on the 2004-06 Discovery Kids sitcom Darcy’s Wild Life, starring Sara Paxton, and he co-created another show for the network, the 2005-07 adventure series Flight 29 Down, featuring Corbin Bleu.

Rogow produced Sayles-written The Clan of the Cave Bear (1986), starring Daryl Hannah, before they teamed to create the 1990 NBC drama Shannon’s Deal, starring...

Announcing one of the newest additions to Bloody Disgusting’s Bloody FM network! The Antiquarium of Sinister Happenings is a weekly anthology horror fiction podcast, brought to life as a full cast production.

Every week, join the antique dealer as he takes you through the shop’s collection, where every relic has a sordid and bizarre tale to tell. Each trip to the Antiquarium is framed with incredible theme music courtesy of The Newton Brothers, combining unique immersive elements including interactive magic and an ever evolving roster of actors and narrators: Jocelin Dohanue (House Of The Devil), Sara Paxton, Josh Ruben, Nils Frykdahl (Sleepytime Gorilla Museum), Devon Sawa, Scout Taylor Compton (Rob Zombie’s Halloween), Joseph Winter and Melanie Stone, Natalie Alyn Lind (Pet Sematary : Bloodlines), Addison Peacock (Nosleep) and more!

The latest episode, “As I Got On The Elevator, The Man Getting Off Whispered Something Strange To Me...

If one takes a look at the classic Halloweentown franchise, one may notice an inconsistency in the fourth and final film in the franchise.

Return to Halloweentown saw a new actress, Sara Paxton, take over for Kimberly J. Brown in the lead role of Marnie Piper, a witch who served as the protagonist for all the franchise's movies.

Over the years since the 2006 installment, fans may have wondered why exactly such a significant role was suddenly recast right as the franchise neared its end.

Read full article on The Direct.

It’s that time of year again! The leaves are changing color, the air is getting more relaxed, and Halloween is just around the corner. For many, Halloween is a time to enjoy fright-filled movies and TV shows. But for others, it’s a time to revisit their childhood with the Halloweentown movies.

These family-friendly films follow the adventures of Marnie Piper, a young witch who discovers her heritage and learns to use her powers.

If you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate Halloween this year, why not watch the Halloweentown movies in order?

Based on characters by Paul Bernbaum, The Halloweentown film series aired as works for television on The Disney Channel as Disney Channel Original Movies. To date, there are four fantasy films released in the Halloweentown franchise.

In this blog post, we’ll look at the films in order and provide some fun facts about each one.

1998’s Halloweentown is one of the most beloved Halloween and Disney Channel movies, and is a gift that keeps on giving as new generations discover the film that is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

Starring Kimberly J. Brown, Joey Zimmerman, Judith Hoag and Debbie Reynolds, the film directed by Duwayne Dunham followed Marnie, who on her 13th birthday discovers she’s a witch and is transported to Halloweentown, a magical place that is facing an evil curse. The film spawned three sequels: Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge in 2001, Halloweentown High in 2004 and Return to Halloweentown in 2006.

Halloweentown, written by Paul Bernbaum, Jon Cooksey and Ali Marie Matheson, holds a score of 83 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. You can currently watch Halloweentown on Prime Video or on Disney+. The franchise is also airing as part of Freeform’s “31 Nights of Halloween.”

In celebration of the film’s 25th anniversary, take a look...

August has been a significant month for Screambox, which celebrated the anniversary of Tobe Hooper’s original The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, took a look back at the classic 1985 movie Clue in Who Done It: The Clue Documentary, got creature feature crazy with the sci-fi horror Subject, and had a blast with the Ghostbusters-inspired sci-fi horror comedy The Ghastly Brothers.

In addition to the extremely controversial The Woman hitting the streaming service last week, Screambox has now added Ti West‘s supernatural classic The Innkeepers, courtesy of MPI and Dark Sky Films!

“While director Ti West’s brand of slow burn horror tends to be divisive, as slow burn horror is in general, The Innkeepers presents itself as a worthy selection for being based around and shot in an actual haunted hotel; the Yankee Pedlar Inn,” writes Meagan Navarro.

In the film, “The Yankee Pedlar Inn is in the process of closing.

Stars: Garret Dillahunt, Aaron Paul, Riki Lindhome, Spencer Treat Clark, Sara Paxton, Monica Potter, Tony Goldwyn, Martha MacIsaac | Written by Adam Alleca, Carl Ellsworth | Directed by Dennis Iliadis

Wes Craven’s The Last House on the Left is regarded by many as a classic of the horror genre, and by others as one of the most vile films committed to celluloid. The 1972 film remained blacklisted in the UK, where it was banned for nearly 30 years (finally seeing an uncut release in 2008). In 2006 Rogue Pictures made the shock announcement that Craven had agreed to produce a remake of his film. At the time, many people, myself included, were worried that any remake would have to be watered down for modern audiences – especially when the majority of horror remakes at the time were being released as PG-13. Information on the remake was sparse, apart from Craven and Rogue insisting that it would...

Ever since the 1975 horror blockbuster Jaws made us afraid to go into the water, America has had an obsession with sharks. While great whites get most of the attention, any aquatic killer with sharp teeth will usually quench our collective thirst for marine menace. In 1988, Discovery Channel launched Shark Week, a seven day block of programming filled with nature documentaries, celebrity cameos, and aquatic reality TV designed to explore the wide world of sharks. This annual event has been going strong for the past 35 years, working its way into the public consciousness to become a household name. Each summer’s horror offerings usually bring with it one or more films of the Shark Horror subgenre. Featuring the underwater predators as their villains, these movies vary widely in quality and usually sink or swim based on the verisimilitude of their special effects.

As sharks–even the fake ones–are notoriously difficult to direct,...

Five years ago, Arrow Video gave a two-disc limited edition Blu-ray release to writer/director Wes Craven’s 1972 feature debut The Last House on the Left. Now they’re set to do the same thing for the 2009 The Last House on the Left remake (watch it Here)! The remake Blu-ray will be released in the US, UK, and Canada on August 22nd, and copies can be pre-ordered from Diabolik.

Directed by Dennis Iliadis from a screenplay by Adam Alleca and Carl Ellsworth, The Last House on the Left (2009) has the following synopsis: The night she arrives at the remote Collingwood lakehouse, Mari and her friend are kidnapped by a prison escapee and his crew. Terrified and left for dead, Mari’s only hope is to make it back to parents John and Emma. Unfortunately, her attackers unknowingly seek shelter at the one place she could be safe. And when her family learns the horrifying story,...

Arrow Video announced their August 2023 releases this morning, and included in the mix is a brand new limited edition Blu-ray release of 2009’s The Last House on the Left.

The film, a modern day remake of Wes Craven’s grimy exploitation classic, was directed by Dennis Iliadis. Many, including Stephen King, consider it better than the original.

Arrow brings The Last House on the Left (2009) to Blu-ray in the US, UK, and Canada on August 22, 2023. You can pre-order your copy through Diabolik right now.

The Last House on the Left is a vicious and efficient updating of the 1972 controversial graphic shocker of the same name, produced by its original director/producer pairing of Wes Craven and Sean Cunningham. Special Features for the Arrow Blu-ray include…

• Two version of the film: the original Theatrical Version and the Unrated Version

• Original uncompressed stereo audio and DTS-hd Ma 5.1 surround audio for both films...

Welcome back, dear readers! It’s a new year, and it’s time for more new (to me) horror flicks. We’re kicking 2023 off with a flick from Ti West, a dude who had a hell of a 2022 with not one but two hit films in X and Pearl. But today we’re going to be taking a trip back into his earlier filmography, and our companion will be the great Emily von Seele. In addition to being a Senior Contributor right here at Daily Dead, you probably also know Emily as a regular co-host on the Dead Ringers podcast (I’m in the process of collecting all the Dead Ringers hosts as I’ve previously chatted with Nolan McBride and Philip Yount). Emily’s knowledge about horror films knows no bounds, and she brings an infectious enthusiasm to her discussion about the genre.

There’s no one I...

(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)

The Movie: "Cheap Thrills"

Where You Can Stream It: Peacock, Hulu, Tubi, PlutoTV

The Pitch: What lengths would you go to in order to ensure that you had enough money to keep your family from being evicted? Would you punch a bouncer twice your size in the face at a club? Would you eat something absolutely disgusting? Would you cheat on your wife? Would you commit crimes? These are the questions posed by E.L. Katz's incredible feature debut, "Cheap Thrills." Craig (Pat Healy) and Vince (Ethan Embry) are two down-on-their-luck friends who reunite during a chance meeting at a bar shortly after Craig is let go from his job. The two get wrangled into sharing drinks with a wealthy couple,...

Ana de Armas had zero difficulty finding streams of research to play Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. But learning what drove Norma Jean, the delicate and insecure woman behind the public persona, was an entirely different challenge.

“It was important to find the emotional truth in this character,” she said Saturday at Deadline’s The Contenders Film: Los Angeles. “One of the biggest themes in this movie is the private and public self. Norma Jean was completely unseen. I wanted to capture the essence of that woman, to find the human underneath. It was a long process studying her and her films, to understand what she was feeling at all times, always thinking that Norma for the most part never thought she could live up to Marilyn. What people thought of her was not at all what she felt like.”

Related: The Contenders Film: Los Angeles – Deadline’s Full Coverage

The...

When Jamie Lee Curtis walked the black carpet outside the Tcl Chinese Theatre on Tuesday night for the world premiere of “Halloween Ends,” she was less than 24 hours away from becoming permanently cemented into Hollywood history — or at least, more so than she’s already been — with a hand and footprint ceremony on Wednesday morning.

“I’m, of course, thrilled, honored,” Curtis told Variety about being immortalized outside the theatre. “My family will be there with me, friends, colleagues, collaborators, the community of artists. I’m an artist, I get to make this work. I didn’t think I’d be an actor. I thought I’d be a cop. So the idea that I get to be an actor and do this beautiful work is really very powerful to me.”

The back-to-back events capped an emotional world tour for the scream queen as she says goodbye to Laurie Strode,...

Being normal is vastly overrated, but re-watching the “Halloweentown” franchise each year certainly is not. Of course, there’s one question that always comes back on those rewatches: why wasn’t Kimberly J. Brown in all of them?

Brown starred as Marnie Piper (though she later embraced her name as a Cromwell witch) in the first three movies in the series. But, after “Halloweentown High,” Sara Paxton took over the role for “Halloweentown Returns,” without any kind of explanation from or preparation by Disney. The move draws outrage from fans to this day, as many millennials considered it a “betrayal.”

So why did it happen? Well, according to Brown herself, she was initially in talks for the fourth film. In a 2018 Q&a video, the actress explained that there were conversations, but she never really found out why they fell apart.

“The answer to that is I’m not really sure,...

Andrew Dominik's "Blonde" has finally made its worldwide debut, bringing with it the expected controversy. A success at the Venice International Film Festival, the film became one of the most critically polarizing arthouse dramas in years, inspiring both fervent defenders and mortified detractors to talk about it, write about it, and tweet scorching hot takes about it.

The reason for all the hubbub is plain: The film, adapted from Joyce Carol Oates' much-celebrated novel, takes a fictional approach to the life and times of one of the greatest Hollywood icons of all time, Marilyn Monroe — a stage name that "Blonde" pointedly positions as such, instead referring to the woman and listing her in the credits as "Norma Jeane." As if the artistically liberalized, proudly fantastical way Oates imagined Norma Jeane's life wasn't enough to stir the pot, "Blonde" makes a series of abrasive, potentially off-putting decisions in the way...

Blonde, the Marilyn Monroe biopic, premiered on Netflix and it took the second spot on the charts. The Ana de Armas-starring movie got an 11-minute standing ovation when it was screened at the Venice Film Festival.

Despite glowing reviews for Blonde, the film directed by Andrew Dominik didn’t debut at the top of the streaming service’s chart. The biopic was watched for 37,340,000 hours, according to Netflix’s Global Top 10 chart.

Related Story Marilyn Monroe: Her Life And Career In Photos Related Story Netflix Buys Louis Van Gaal Doc; BBC Profiles Hans Zimmer; BFI Hires For UK Screen Fund – Global Briefs Related Story Netflix Cee Originals Chief Anna Nagler Sets Out Streamer's Stall In Region As Polish Drama Series 'High Water' Launches

Lou, starring Allison Janney, Jurnee Smollett and Logan Marshall-Green, reigned at the top in its second week available on the streaming platform. The Anna Foerster...

Stars: Ana de Armas, Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Garret Dillahunt, Sara Paxton | Written and Directed by Andrew Dominik

Blonde reimagines the life of one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons, Marilyn Monroe. From her volatile childhood as Norma Jeane, through her rise to stardom and romantic entanglements, Blonde blurs the lines of fact and fiction to explore the widening split between her public and private selves.

Andrew Dominik‘s Blonde is perhaps the boldest and most daring mainstream movie of the year, even though it’s not really mainstream. It has a nice, big cast filled with tons of huge names and has lots of recognizable talent behind the camera, but it’s one of the most unconventional movies of the entire year.

Dominik’s films are practically known for causing discourse at this point. If you go into one of his films expecting some straightforward, by the book story,...

Ana de Armas’ upcoming portrayal of Marilyn Monroe, or Norma Jeane as she was known by in terms of birth name, will finally arrive on Netflix this week after premiering at the 2022 Venice Film Festival. De Armas went under intense preparation that included voice coaching as well as cosmetic makeup to fully embody the pop culture icon for a film that’s more impressionistic than concerned with facts.

Directed by Andrew Dominik and produced by Brad Pitt, “Blonde” boasts a runtime of 2 hours and 47 minutes and is based on the Joyce Carole Oates historical fiction book of the same name. Reviews of the film highlight the way the film examines Norma Jeane’s trauma as well as de Armas’ performance.

Fans of Ana De Armas or Marilyn Monroe herself may be wondering how to watch “Blonde,” and we’ve gathered the details below.

Also Read:

From ‘Blonde’ to ‘Gutsy':...

Blonde Review — Blonde (2022) Film Review, a movie directed by Andrew Dominik, written Andrew Dominik and Joyce Carol Oates and starring Ana de Armas, Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Julianne Nicholson, Caspar Phillipson, Xavier Samuel, Toby Huss, Catherine Dent, Evan Williams, Sara Paxton, Lucy DeVito, Garret Dillahunt, Scoot McNairy, Rebecca Wisocky, Haley Webb, Eden [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: Blonde (2022): Andrew Dominik’s Harrowing Film Showcases Ana de Armas at Her Finest...

Ana de Armas worked with a familiar furry face in "Blonde": her dog, Elvis. While promoting the film on "Late Night With Seth Meyers" on Sept. 20, the actor revealed that her 13-year-old Maltese portrays Marilyn Monroe's dog, Mafia, in the upcoming Netflix biopic, alongside a cast that also includes Adrien Brody, Sara Paxton, and Bobby Cannavale.

De Armas teased that Elvis shot two scenes, but one wound up getting cut, leaving an appearance that sounds quite pivotal to the plot. "When I watch it, I don't know how to feel because of course, it's a very serious, important scene in the film. And then at the same time, I'm just looking at him and I'm melting," she admitted.

We have "Blonde" director Andrew Dominik to thank for Elvis's cameo; after selecting de Armas to play Monroe back in 2019, he noticed her fluffy white pup's uncanny resemblance to the late Hollywood icon's own dog.

The first time “Blonde” star Adrien Brody saw Ana de Armas’ transformation into Marilyn Monroe was on set right before filming their first scene together.

“I was transported to another time and place,” Brody, who plays Arthur Miller (aka The Playwright), told Variety at the U.S. premiere of “Blonde” in Hollywood Tuesday night. “I really thought she channeled [Marilyn] — she brought a nuanced, emotionally present [and] connected impression of her. I’m still blown away by it. It was really impressive.”

Based on Joyce Carol Oates’ novel of the same name, “Blonde” presents a reimagined version of the iconic actor’s life, from the traumatic childhood of Norma Jeane Baker to her rise to fame as Marilyn Monroe. The supporting cast includes Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Julianne Nicholson, Xavier Samuel, Evan Williams, Sara Paxton and Scoot McNairy.

“I didn’t know anything about [Marilyn Monroe], to be honest,” “Blonde” writer-director Andrew Dominik said. “I...

"Barbarian" has quietly emerged as one of the biggest surprises of 2022. Written and directed by Zach Cregger, the subversive horror film centers on Tess (Georgina Campbell), a woman who rents an Airbnb ahead of a job interview in Detroit, only to find the house has been double-booked by a fellow named Keith (Bill Skarsgård). To say too much more would be to spoil the fun for those who've yet to see the movie (which you absolutely should asap), so I'll leave it at that.

In terms of its influences, "Barbarian" feels practically tailor-made for the current era of horror, in which filmmakers like Jordan Peele have come to fame making movies that blend imaginatively creepy imagery with biting humor and sharp social commentary. It's also a film that's hyper-aware of where the horror genre is at right now, flipping common tropes on their heads, embracing an unorthodox narrative structure, and...

Barbarian Review — Barbarian (2022) Film Review, a movie written and directed by Zach Cregger and starring Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard, Justin Long, Matthew Patrick Davis, Richard Brake, Kurt Braunohler, Jaymes Butler, Sophie Sorensen, Rachel Fowler, J.R. Esposito, Kate Bosworth, Brooke Dillman, Sara Paxton, Will Greenberg, Derek Morse, Trevor Van Uden, Zach Cregger and [...]

Continue reading: Film Review: Barbarian (2022): An Entertaining, Scary Horror Movie That Will Leave Audiences Breathless...

Hollywood’s glory days were on full display Thursday as the cast of Blonde, with star Ana de Armas resplendent in a pink full-length gown, walked the red carpet before the film premiered in the Palazzo del Cinema at the 79th Venice Film Festival.

Click on the image above to launch a photo gallery.

‘Blonde’: Andrew Dominik & Ana De Armas Sensed Ghost Of Marilyn Monroe While Making Biopic – Venice

Other stars on hand for the Lido festivities included Adrien Brody, who plays Marilyn Monroe’s husband Arthur Miller; Bobby Cannavale, who plays her husband Joe Dimaggio; and Julianne Nicholson, who plays her mother.

Venice Film Festival: Deadline’s Full Coverage

Director Andrew Dominik escorted de Armas on the red carpet as did Brad Pitt, whose Plan B Entertainment produced the film.

Based on Joyce Carol Oates’ novel, the film is a fictionalized take on Monroe — blending fact and fiction...

Click here to read the full article.

Andrew Dominik’s long-gestating Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde received a reception Thursday night at its Venice world premiere that somehow managed to be both rapturous and stunned. The contradictory nature of that response reflects the divisiveness that will most likely follow the harrowing Nc-17 movie into awards season.

The Venice audience responded with rousing applause and a heap of appreciation as the nearly three-hour-long film came to a close, rising to give Dominik and his cast a standing ovation lasting around 14 minutes, the longest of the festival so far. The most exuberant moments of appreciation seemed to come when the attention was focused on star Ana de Armas, whose fully committed performance as Marilyn Monroe is certain to spark Oscar speculation. By the end of the ovation, Dominik and his full cast were in tears.

The epic biopic, which also marks Dominik’s...

The Netflix film “Blonde” has received its first reviews, and critics are celebrating Ana de Armas’ commitment to the role while questioning the techniques of the film itself.

Directed by Andrew Dominik and rated Nc-17, the film adapts Joyce Carol Oates’ novel of the same name. Alongside de Armas, cast members include Bobby Cannavale, Adrien Brody, Garret Dillahunt, Julianne Nicholson, Sara Paxton, Lucy DeVito and Scoot McNairy.

Some critics appreciate the different approach to the biopic of the woman born Norma Jeane Mortenson. Others find the mostly black and white film devoid of any resonance as to the bigger picture of who Marilyn Monroe actually was as a person.

Also Read:

Brad Pitt Praises Ana de Armas’ ‘Phenomenal’ Performance as Marilyn Monroe in ‘Blonde,’ Despite Accent Backlash

Sophie Monks Kaufman of IndieWire writes that Dominik doesn’t quite give enough effort in saying or showing something about the pop culture icon.

Click here to read the full article.

Just as the uncommonly strong and scandal-filled 79th edition of the Venice Film Festival was beginning to wind down, Andrew Dominik’s wildly ambitious Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde arrived on the scene Thursday to reignite discussion. The director and his cast — including star Ana de Armas — spoke about the Nc-17-rated film’s creation shortly after its very first press screenings.

“I did this movie to push myself, because I thought it was a gift,” de Armas said of her decision to take on the daunting task of playing the Hollywood icon. “And this movie changed my life,” she added.

Nearly three hours long, Blonde is based on Joyce Carol Oates’ acclaimed, 700-page novel of the same name, which The New Yorker once dubbed “the definitive study of American celebrity.” Dominik, known for his visually arresting films The Assassination of Jesse James (2007) and...

Blonde director Andrew Dominik and his star Ana De Armas very much felt the presence of Marilyn Monroe while making the long-awaited biopic that has its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival tonight.

Dominik told the Lido press corps this afternoon, “We were kind of chasing her ghost around… Her dust is everywhere in Los Angeles.”

‘Blonde’ Venice Film Festival Premiere Photo Gallery

Said De Armas, “I truly believe that she was very close to us, she was with us… She was all I thought about, she was all I dreamed about, she was all I could talk about. She was with me and it was beautiful. I think she was happy… Being in the same places that she was, filming in her house, it was a very strong sensation there was something in the air and I think she was approving of what we were doing.”

The long-gestating movie,...

There has been a lot of hype built around the upcoming film, Blonde, which is to be a look into the tragic life of actress Marilyn Monroe. From the casting decision of Ana De Armas – who has shown to be a really good doppelganger, but some are struggling with hints of her accent still peeking through – to the Nc-17 rating the film has received from the MPAA, many are curious about the film for numerous reasons.

Recently, Armas sat down with L’Officiel to discuss how the Nc-17 rating shouldn’t be a stigma. Despite the film being available online for streaming, the rare rating usually indicates that no one under 17 years old is not allowed in any fashion to view the movie in the theater, as opposed to an R rating where viewers under 17 can still attend with an adult present. Usually, such a rating is given if there is explicit sexual content presented.

Brad Pitt praised Ana de Armas’ performance as Marilyn Monroe in the upcoming feature film “Blonde” at the premiere of his newest film, “Bullet Train,” on Monday.

“She’s phenomenal in it,” he told Et. “That’s a tough dress to fill.”

Based on the bestselling novel by Joyce Carol Oates and co-produced by Pitt’s own Plan B Entertainment, “Blonde” will dramatize Monroe’s life and career is available on Netflix Sept. 28. The Nc-17 adaptation will also star Bobby Cannavale, Adrien Brody, Xavier Samuel, Julianne Nicholson, Evan Williams, David Warshofsky, Toby Huss, Dan Bitler, Sara Paxton and Rebecca Wisock.

Also Read:

‘Bullet Train’ Film Review: Brad Pitt Caper Comedy Suffers From Terminal Self-Satisfaction

“It was 10 years in the making,” Pitt said of the film. “It wasn’t until we found Ana that we could get it across the finish line.”

The actress, who has credits in movies like “Knives Out,...

Click here to read the full article.

Ana de Armas offers up a taste of the darker side of Hollywood, its adoring and obsessive crowds and incessantly flashing photo bulbs as Marilyn Monroe in the second look at Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn Monroe pic Blonde.

Netflix released a second trailer for the upcoming Nc-17 feature film, based on the bestselling novel by Joyce Carol Oates on Thursday, giving viewers a closer look at how the Dominik-written and -directed film will explore the more unsavory parts of Monroe’s professional and private life.

“I’ve played Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn Monroe, Marilyn Monroe,” de Armas can be heard saying over the montage of footage of the woman born as Norma Jeane struggling with the effects of her public image. “I can’t face doing another scene with Marilyn Monroe.”

As de Armas narrates, images of Monroe in her most popular projects...

Netflix has released some striking new images of Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe in Netflix’s Blonde, which will debut at the Venice Film Festival.

Among the images revealed exclusively in Vanity Fair are one of de Armas with Adrien Brody, who portrays her husband Arthur Miller in the buzzed about feature.

Also released is an image of de Armas being filmed by director Andrew Dominik while she is alongside actor Bobby Cannavale as Joe Dimaggio.

Nc-17 rated Blonde is one of the most anticipated films of the fall season. Dominik wrote and directed the film based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates, and the film blends fact and fiction to reimagine the life of the great Hollywood star, exploring the split between Monroe’s public and private selves.

In addition to de Armas, the cast includes Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Caspar Phillipson, Evan Williams, Toby Huss, Julianne Nicholson,...

Netflix just dropped the first look at Blonde, and what an uncanny look it is. In this new teaser trailer for the Andrew Dominik-directed film starring Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe, the Hollywood icon is initially depicted as a tearful bundle of nerves, praying that some mysterious “she” won’t abandon her. As her make-up is applied and Monroe transforms into a smiling, radiant star, we realize exactly who she’s has been waiting for.

Dominik wrote and directed Blonde based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates, and the film blends fact and fiction to reimagine the life of the great Hollywood star, exploring the split between Monroe’s public and private selves.

In addition to de Armas, the cast includes Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Caspar Phillipson, Evan Williams, Toby Huss, Julianne Nicholson, Lily Fisher, Sara Paxton, David Warshofsky, Xavier Samuel, Michael Masini, Spencer Garrett, Chris Lemmon,...

Bleeder’s DIEgest delivers weekly original audio horror short stories via the Bloody Disgusting Podcast Network. Each new “issue” is designed to be a fully immersive theatrical experience along with music and sound design. Select episodes feature guest performers from the horror community as well as your favorite films, including Sara Paxton (The Innkeepers // The […]

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At long last, 2022 looks to be the time of Blonde. Placing high on our most-anticipated films of the year, Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn Monroe drama starring Ana de Armas was shot back in 2019 but delayed as rumors swirled that Netflix wasn’t quite sure what they had on their hands. Dominik has finally cleared the air.

Speaking to Screen Daily, Dominik responded to reports that it may be rated Nc-17, which the MPA hasn’t confirmed yet but he believes is a “horseshit” decision. “It’s a demanding movie. If the audience doesn’t like it, that’s the fucking audience’s problem. It’s not running for public office,” he added. “It’s an Nc-17 movie about Marilyn Monroe, it’s kind of what you want, right? I want to go and see the Nc-17 version of the Marilyn Monroe story.”

Dominik hopes it will premiere out-of-competition at Cannes,...

Bleeders DIEgest is an original scary story podcast delivered as a fully immersive theatrical experience. From your speakers, straight into your psyche. Our tales are guaranteed to terrify the bravest of souls (even the dead ones). Select episodes feature horror celebrities, so you never know who will be narrating your next favorite story. Bleeders DIEgest […]

The post ‘Shave and a Haircut’: Bloody Disgusting’s Bleeders DIEgest Episode #28 with Special Guest Sara Paxton! appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

It’s been 10 years since audiences first met Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp) in her quest for revenge on the wealthy Grayson family, who she believed were responsible not only for her father going to prison, but also for his death.

Loosely based on “The Count of Monte Cristo” by Alexandre Dumas, the series, aptly titled “Revenge,” ran for four seasons on ABC, from 2011-2015. It followed Emily (real name Amanda Clarke) as she moved to the Hamptons to carry out her plan, only to become more embroiled with the Graysons than she ever could have expected – and uncovering more secrets about her father than she ever knew possible.

Here, the cast and crew talk about the series’ overnight success, the confines of network television and about the departure of a key figure integral to the show’s DNA.

Mike Kelley (creator and showrunner): I met with Channing Dungey, who...

Fifteen years ago, a mermaid was spotted in Tampa by Emma Roberts and JoJo. Aquamarine, loosely based on Alice Hoffman's 2001 young adult novel of the same name, centered on a pair of BFFs who befriend a blue-haired mermaid, played by Sara Paxton, and attempt to help her prove true love exists. Basically, think The Little Mermaid meets the Bratz movie. The Elizabeth Allen-directed fish-out-of-water teen comedy served as Roberts' first leading role in a feature film after spending years on Nickelodeon and was the first major acting job for JoJo, a singing sensation who had previously turned down the chance to star in one of the Disney Channel's biggest hits. While it didn't make quite a...

In a pandemic-free alternate reality there’s a chance we may have gotten Andrew Dominik’s long-gestating Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde this year, but Netflix has decided to unveil the film––which stars Ana de Armas in the lead role––in 2021. While we likely won’t be hearing much about it for the rest of the year, an update has now come in from someone close to the production.

Joyce Carol Oates, whose 1999 novel is the basis for Dominik’s script, has revealed on Twitter that she’s screened a cut of the film and shared some high praise. “I have seen the rough cut of Andrew Dominik’s adaptation & it is startling, brilliant, very disturbing & [perhaps most surprisingly] an utterly “feminist” interpretation,” the author said. “[I’m] not sure that any male director has ever achieved anything [like] this.”

While any comments with someone with a vested interest in the project should be taken with a grain of salt,...

I watched 2006's Aquamarine at my very first sleepover. At the time, it inspired me to style every long-sleeved shirt I owned and taught me to wait for boys to shake their hair, because apparently that meant they liked me. The teen staple is one of those underrated movies that I don't think about or watch very often, but when I do, it brings back a tidal wave of endless summer nostalgia.

If you somehow haven't seen this gem, it's about two shy, boy-obsessed best friends, Claire and Hailey (Emma Roberts and JoJo), during their last few days of summer before Hailey moves to Australia. A large coastal storm washes the ocean ashore their resort pool, bringing a mermaid (Sara Paxton) along with it. Aquamarine, named after a rare and precious gemstone, has legs when the sun is up and when she's dry. The issue: she has to find true...

Exclusive: Production is currently underway on the Netflix and Plan B-produced Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde, which has Ana de Armas starring as Hollywood icon. The Andrew Dominik-helmed film has added Garret Dillahunt, Scoot McNairy, Lucy DeVito, Michael Masini, and Spencer Garrett to the cast.

In addition, Chris Lemmon, Rebecca Wisocky, Ned Bellamy, and Dan Butler have joined previously announced Bobby Cannavale, Julianne Nicholson, Lily Fisher, Evan Williams, Xavier Samuel, Caspar Phillipson, Toby Huss, Sara Paxton, and David Warshofksy.

The film, which is shooting in Los Angeles, is based on a bestselling novel, Blonde, from five-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Joyce Carol Oates.