News

This July, Prime Video is bringing you a lot of entertainment with a sequel of a beloved film like My Spy titled The Eternal City and an animated sequel series to the comedy gold, which was the Sausage Party film titled Foodtopia. However, for the purposes of this article, we are only including the films that are coming to Prime Video this month and have a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score. So, check out the 7 best films that are coming to Prime Video in July 2024 with a 90% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score.

Animal House (July 1)

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

National Lampoon’s Animal House is a classic comedy-drama film directed by John Landis from a screenplay co-written by Harold Ramis, Douglas Kenney, and Chris Miller. Inspired by National Lampoon stories written by Matty Simmons and Ivan Reitman, the 1978 film follows the story of freshmen Larry and Kent as they join a troublemaking...

The Shudder streaming service and IFC Films, both of which are owned by AMC Networks, have secured a deal with boutique Blu-ray and DVD label Severin Films to put together eleven special edition physical media releases of some of the most popular Originals and licensed features in the Shudder and IFC Films library, Variety reports.

The announcement even reveals the titles of six of the eleven movies that will be receiving special edition physical media releases thanks to this deal: Joko Anwar’s 2017 horror mystery Satan’s Slaves (which was a remake of a 1980 film); Brandon Cronenberg’s 2012 feature directorial debut, the sci-fi horror film Antiviral; the 2015 Turkish horror film Baskin, directed by Can Evrenol; Franck Khalfoun’s 2012 Pov remake of the 1980 slasher classic Maniac; Douglas Buck’s 2006 remake of the 1972 Brian De Palma thriller Sisters; and André Øvredal’s 2016 horror thriller The Autopsy of Jane Doe.

Sisworo Gautama Putra, Naryono Prayitno,...

The episode of Wtf Happened to This Horror Movie? covering Maniac (2012) was Written by Emilie Black, Narrated by Travis Hopson, Edited by Jaime Vasquez, Produced by Andrew Hatfield and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

More and more remakes. So many remakes. Not all are good, some would even say that most remakes are trash. However, some are good, some are great even. This leads us to this movie, the remake of Maniac (watch it Here) released to the general public in 2013. While some hated it and with reason, others loved it, also with reason. The film is one of those that made changes that worked for the story and helped bring it to the new audience, who then turned around and saw the original. Well, some of them did. However, this remake didn’t exactly hit it big at the box office and it still seems to be finding its audience.

With the death of disco in 1979 and a demand for change, the 1980s evolved into a neon-soaked, totally rad decade held firm together with cans of “Aqua Net” burning a hole in the ozone. The time for free love and hope for peace was over. It was time for a revolution. But with filmmakers, their creative freedoms would lead to exploring more areas which haven’t been touched on before. It was the year horror would forever be changed.

In this special episode of 80s Horror Memories, we take a feature-length look at the year 1980 as a whole, taking deep dives into the influential horror flicks of the year. Here are the movies we profile:

Dressed to Kill: Brian DePalma’s controversial slasher, which, if anything, is even more provocative in 2023 than it was in 1980.

Maniac: William Lustig’s grimy thriller starring 80s horror icon Joe Spinell.

Alligator:...

Mafia-related murders. An improbable constellation of 20th-century icons. Belated accessibility to the public after decades of obscurity. Are we talking about the JFK assassination or Winter Kills, William Richert’s 1979 film inspired by it?

Adapted from Richard Condon’s 1974 novel, the film flamed out on its initial release for many of the usual reasons: a troubled production, the short-sightedness of critics, and a willingness on the part of the filmmakers to potentially confuse, alienate, or offend audiences of the day. But even if you don’t go in with a conspiratorial mindset, one viewing of this riotously entertaining, chillingly perceptive film could leave you wondering if some larger force is at play, protecting the targets of this should-be New Hollywood classic by keeping it in the dark after all this time.

The history of Winter Kills is nearly as lurid and tangled as the conspiracy it depicts. Unable to secure...

An underground cult gem, 1982’s The Last Horror Film (aka Fanatic) is getting a 4K Ultra HD release from Severin Films, boasting the world premiere of the fully restored version.

The 4K Uhd release will include 5+ hours of new special features, plus a 100-page book featuring an extended Starfix interview with director David Winters and a Memoir from Producer Judd Hamilton. Yeah, Severin is going Big with this one to make it the Ultimate release of the film on home video. The full special features package includes…

Disc 1: Uhd Audio Commentary With Actress Caroline Munro And FrightFest’s Alan Jones Audio Commentary With Joe Spinell’s Assistant Luke Walter Trailers Disc 2: Blu-ray Audio Commentary With Actress Caroline Munro And FrightFest’s Alan Jones Audio Commentary With Joe Spinell’s Assistant Luke Walter Like A Father Figure – Sal Sirchia Remembers Joe Spinell My Last Horror Film Ever! – Illustrated Audio Interview With Producer Judd Hamilton,...

William Lustig's 1980 film "Maniac" is one of the sweatiest, most brutal, most unpleasant grindhouse horror films of its decade on either side. Co-screenwriter Joe Spinell plays Frank Zito, a serial killer with a peculiar M.O. When he encounters his victims, mostly young women, he declares them to be too beautiful, with beauty being punishable by death. He then strangles his victims, strips them, scalps them (!), and carries his "souvenirs" back to his cramped New York apartment where he dresses mannequins in the clothes and "wigs." The film's gore effects were provided by horror movie maestro Tom Savini, who had previously worked on notable horror classics like "Friday the 13th," and with George Romero on "Dawn of the Dead" and "Martin." Savini would also go on to direct the 1990 remake of "Night of the Living Dead." 

"Maniac" is bleak and unpleasant, but may also serve as the Platonic ideal of an exploitation movie.

Many gangland parodies fall flat, but not Jonathan Demme’s marvelous combo of high spirits and murder. Mafia spouse Angela de Marco’s story is goofy comedy with an edge of economic reality: how does one newly-impoverished New Yawk dame make a living for her orphaned son, while avoiding the adulterous attentions of the Big Boss who had her husband iced? Michelle Pfeiffer came into her own, Dean Stockwell has his best adult role and Matthew Modine is uniquely charming as an amorous FBI agent. The tonal balance is abetted by a supporting performances that go every which way: Mercedes Ruehl, Alec Baldwin, Oliver Platt and a slew of Demme regulars. Plus a music score by David Byrne. The disc features three new video interviews.

Married to the Mob

Blu-ray

Fun City Editions

1988 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 104 min. / Street Date September 27, 2022 / Available from Vinegar Syndrome / 39.98

Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Matthew Modine, Dean Stockwell,...

Another unexpected comic treasure from the mid ’70s! Jeff Bridges and Sam Waterston make an irresistible pair of would-be outlaws in a tale of the modern West — high-country Montana, actually — where a gentleman rancher from New Jersey owns all the land and making an honest living is just too boring. Thomas McGuane’s hilariously laid-back dialogue pits our slacker cattle rustlers against society — but only in the pursuit of having a good time. Frank Perry’s beautifully directed show gives choice roles to a fistful of actors: Clifton James, Elizabeth Ashley, Harry Dean Stanton, Slim Pickens, Charlene Dallas, Richard Bright, Joe Spinell, Patti D’Arbanville. Call it ‘literate’ country comedy, with musical accompaniment by Jimmy Buffett. The extras include a great new interview with star Jeff Bridges.

Rancho Deluxe

Blu-ray

Fun City Editions

1975 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 93 min. / Street Date July 19, 2021 / Available from Vinegar Syndrome /

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Sam Waterston, Elizabeth Ashley,...

“This gun is my judge, my jury… and my executioner!”

Robert Forster and Fred Williamson in Vigilante is coming to 4K Uhd and Blu-ray December 15th from Blue Underground’s. Check out the retsoration trailer:

New York City factory worker Eddie Marino is a solid citizen and regular guy, until the day a sadistic street gang brutally assaults his wife and murders his child. But when a corrupt judge sets the thugs free, Eddie goes berserk and vows revenge. Now there’s a new breed of marauder loose on the city streets, enforcing his own kind of law. His justice is swift. His methods are violent. He is the Vigilante.

Fred Williamson (From Dusk Till Dawn), Richard Bright (The Godfather), Rutanya Alda (Amityville II: The Possession), Carol Lynley (The Poseidon Adventure), Woody Strode (Spartacus), Joe Spinell (Maniac) and Salsa legend Willie Colón co-star in this hard-hitting exploitation classic from director...

In late 1979, Joe Spinell was a successful character actor who had appeared in major films by Coppola, Friedkin, Scorsese and Mazursky, but he wanted to go beyond supporting work to make a name for himself as a horror icon. His friend William Lustig was a 24-year old movie fanatic who had directed a couple of adult films and was hungry to graduate to mainstream features. Joining forces with producer Andrew Garroni, Lustig and Spinell scraped together $48,000 and started making Maniac, an extremely unpleasant – and extremely effective – study of a psychotic loner on a killing spree. They […]...

In late 1979, Joe Spinell was a successful character actor who had appeared in major films by Coppola, Friedkin, Scorsese and Mazursky, but he wanted to go beyond supporting work to make a name for himself as a horror icon. His friend William Lustig was a 24-year old movie fanatic who had directed a couple of adult films and was hungry to graduate to mainstream features. Joining forces with producer Andrew Garroni, Lustig and Spinell scraped together $48,000 and started making Maniac, an extremely unpleasant – and extremely effective – study of a psychotic loner on a killing spree. They […]...

From The New York Ripper to The House by the Cemetery, Blue Underground is known for their restorations of beloved horror movies, and now they're taking things to the next level with their upcoming 4K Ultra HD releases of Lucio Fulci's Zombie and William Lustig's Maniac.

The 4K Ultra HD releases of Zombie and Maniac are each slated for a May 26th release from Blue Underground, who previously released both films on Blu-ray, respectively. We have the full release details below, and to learn more, visit:

https://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/zombie-blue-underground-4k-uhd/ https://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/maniac-blue-underground-4k-uhd/

Zombie 4K Ultra HD: "The Dead Are Among Us on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray!

In Italy, it was considered the ‘unofficial sequel’ to Dawn Of The Dead. In England, it was known as Zombie Flesh Eaters and banned as obscene. In America, it was called Zombie and advertised...

Okay, so here’s the thing. This month I wanted to find a good deep cut from the great Tom Atkins, whose charm and mustache thrilled us throughout the ’80s, even as he played a lecherous doctor, a kinda lecherous resident of a quaint seaside town, and a caustic cop haunted by his past (who I assume was also a lech). So when I dove into his filmography in search of a lesser-known vehicle, I perked up when I found the 1980 psychological drama The Ninth Configuration.

Alas, after watching the film, it turns out that Atkins has a relatively minor role, but there’s no way I could skip this movie, as it features a Murderers’ Row of horror character actor royalty. And so I figured, since baseball season did just start...*Puts on best Bob Uecker voice from Major League.*

Well, hello there, horror fans! And welcome to another...

What does the American dream mean to you? Hardworking folk just want the job and the house and the family as promised in the ‘old’ Contract With America that began to slip out of reach in the 1970s. To examine the social absurdities at the tacky end of the consumer divide, Bo Goldman and Jonathan Demme’s marvelous film follows Melvin Dummar, a luckless a guy who became an involuntary media sensation. You just want to hug plucky Paul Le Mat and adorable Mary Steenburgen, even though there’s not a thing to be done for them: going to ‘Easy Street’ isn’t so easy, not even after being named in a billionaire’s Last Will and Testament.

Melvin and Howard

Blu-ray

Twilight Time

1980 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 95 min. / Street Date April 16, 2019 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store / 29.95

Starring: Paul Le Mat, Mary Steenburgen, Jason Robards, Elizabeth Cheshire, Pamela Reed,...

When I got the opportunity to review Blue Underground’s Blu-ray release for William Lustig’s 1980 grindhouse slasher Maniac, I was intrigued, but also a bit nervous. I’d previously only ever seen the 2012 remake starring Elijah Wood, and it was a compelling, beautiful, but ultimately very bleak film. From what I’d heard about the original, it was just as bleak, but also purported to be significantly sleazier. The packaging for the Blu-ray certainly leans into the feel of exploitation cinema with loud artwork, splashy inserts, and a CD copy of the soundtrack that features a sweaty, wide-eyed Joe Spinell (our titular maniac) on the disc. With a total of three discs of content, I was bracing myself for a prolonged dive into some unpleasant material.

The film, after all, doesn’t market itself as the typical popcorn slasher one would see making a big surge in the early ’80s.

Review by Roger Carpenter

Throughout the course of history an occasional film has been singled out as being particularly controversial. As far back as the silent era you had films like The Birth of a Nation, which drew widespread protests for its content. Frankenstein was another early film which had to be cut before being shown at theaters. There are plenty of others as well. Think about The Last Temptation of Christ, Last Tango in Paris, A Clockwork Orange. Then there’s Salo, or 120 Days of Sodom, Cannibal Holocaust, and The Passion of the Christ. The list is endless. In early 1981, when Maniac was released to theaters, it too, was met with huge controversy. News reports ran nightly upon the release of the film in various cities. It was picketed, protested, cut, censored, and outright banned in parts of the world. Most critics roasted the film for its depiction of...

Ooh, it’s a great week for horror fans, as this Tuesday’s Blu-ray and DVD releases are a stellar bunch of films that will make for great additions to your personal collection of movies to enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Because it is the holiday season, I’m stoked to see Scream Factory show a little love to Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 with their Collector’s Edition Blu that hits shelves tomorrow, and for those of you who enjoy your horror movies with a side of sleaze, William Lustig’s Maniac has been given the 4K treatment by Blue Underground (and the film has never looked better).

The Mangler is also getting a brand new Blu-ray this week, and Scorpion Releasing is resurrecting Death Ship with their new Special Edition release as well. Vinegar Syndrome is keeping busy with both Ice Cream Man and Beware My Brethren,...

Frank Zito (a career performance by writer/executive producer Joe Spinell of Rocky and The Godfather fame) is a deeply disturbed man, haunted by the traumas of unspeakable childhood abuse. And when these horrific memories begin to scream inside his mind, Frank prowls the seedy streets of N ew York City to stalk and slaughter innocent young women. Now Frank has begun a relationship with a beautiful photographer (Caroline Munro of The Spy Who Loved Me), yet his vile compulsions remain. These are the atrocities of a human monster. This is the story of a Maniac. Directed by William Lustig (Maniac Cop 2, Vigilante) and featuring landmark gore effects by Tom Savini (Dawn Of The Dead, Friday The 13th), this relentlessly shocking and disturbing film was originally banned or censored all over the world due to its graphic violence. Now Blue Underground is thrilled to present Maniac in a brand-new 4K...

While 2012’s Maniac (directed by Franck Khalfoun from a script penned by Alexandre Aja) is one of the few remakes that’s at least as good as its source material, the original Maniac from 1980 remains a cult classic of the highest caliber. If you’ve never seen Maniac, directed by William Lustig and starring Joe Spinell […]

The post Special Features Announced for New Maniac Limited Edition 3-Disc 4K Restoration appeared first on Dread Central.

Maniac The Notorious Horror Classic… New 3 Disc Limited Edition 4k Restoration From Original Camera Negative With 3D Lenticular Slipcover – Only 10,000 Available! Coming December 11th Exclusive Limited Collector’s Edition includes 2 Blu-rays, Soundtrack CD, collectible booklet, and a ton of extras Frank Zito (a career performance by writer/executive producer Joe Spinell of Rocky …

The post Maniac 3 Disc Limited Edition – New 4K Restoration appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net. Copyrights 2008-2018 - Horrornews.net...

Blue Underground has announced that they will be releasing a limited edition 4K restoration of the horror classic Maniac directed by William Lustig and featuring the special effects of gore master Tom Savini.

The new restoration comes from a recently discovered 16mm original camera negative and the release, limited to 10,000 copies, will include 2 blu-rays, a CD featuring the soundtrack from Jay Chattaway and loads of extras; a few of them never seen before!

Extras include:

Disc 1 (Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:

- Audio Commentary #1 with Producer/Director William Lustig and Producer Andrew W. Garroni

- Audio Commentary #2 with Producer/Director William Lustig, Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini, Editor Lorenzo Marinelli, and Joe Spinell's Assistant L...

William Lustig’s Maniac is just one of those films that will always court controversy. Whether it’s under attack for its graphic, realistic murder scenes, the misogyny in the film, or even its controversial poster (original prints have the killer’s bulge in his pants given full prominence), the film has had a bullseye on its back going on nearly forty years now, which admittedly is no small feat in a genre filled to the brim with controversial titles. The main problem that some folks have with the movie is the blunt, brutal way Lustig approaches the subject matter. They see it as morally reprehensible, they see it as a film with little to no redeeming quality in it, and frankly, they’re right.

Our lead is a killer who travels through a crapsack world that’s seemingly devoid of law enforcement, at least until the film’s final moments,...

Blue Underground let us know about a release date move for their upcoming Blu-ray release of Maniac, but it's for good reason. Previously scheduled for release in November, the new date is December 11th, which is giving Blue Underground extra time to upgrade the bonus features disc from the originally planned DVD format to a Blu-ray.

"The Notorious Horror Classic! New 4K Restoration! Frank Zito (a career performance by writer/executive producer Joe Spinell of Rocky and The Godfather fame) is a deeply disturbed man, haunted by the traumas of unspeakable childhood abuse. And when these horrific memories begin to scream inside his mind, Frank prowls the seedy streets of New York City to stalk and slaughter innocent young women. Now Frank has begun a relationship with a beautiful photographer (Caroline Munro of The Spy Who Loved Me), yet his vile compulsions remain. These are the atrocities of a human monster.

By Bill Blick

In the late 1970s and early 80s, there was a fear that gripped New York City. After 1977, the year of the Son of Sam murders, the disastrous blackout, and the Bronx literally in flames later, the cityscape and New York aura had drastically changed. The movie Death Wish (1974) directed by Michael Winner, made earlier, had caused quite a stir reflecting the bleak and often paranoid reactions of citizens, and it spawned several other films. Vigilante, produced and directed by exploitation genre virtuoso, William Lustig, and written by Richard Vetere, was perhaps arguably one of the leanest and no-holds-barred of this type of film. Lustig and actor Joe Spinell had teamed up to make the lucrative but extremely graphic and controversial horror/ serial killer film Maniac (1980). Vigilante was Lustig’s follow up. Yet, Vigilante remains to be more aestheticized with a raw prose of the street thanks to Vetere's work,...

"I warned you not to go out tonight." Following its world premiere screening this September, the new 4K restoration of William Lustig's Maniac Cop will be released on Blu-ray this November from the folks at Blue Underground, who have revealed the full list of special features, including outtakes and a new featurette with Lustig:

"The Notorious Horror Classic Returns In A New 4K Restored Limited Edition!

Frank Zito (a career performance by co-writer/co-executive producer Joe Spinell of Rocky and The Godfather fame) is a deeply disturbed man, haunted by the traumas of unspeakable childhood abuse. And when these horrific memories begin to scream inside his mind, Frank prowls the seedy streets of New York City to stalk and slaughter innocent young women. Now Frank has begun a relationship with a beautiful photographer (Caroline Munro of The Spy Who Loved Me), yet his vile compulsions remain. These are the atrocities of a human monster.

Forget All Singing! – All Dancing! Tonight’s bill of fare is wall-to-wall high grade crime action. Roy Scheider leads a great cast in an all-New Yawk tale of gangsters, kidnapping and betrayal. The police tactics of Scheider’s special felony crime squad would today land them all in jail, but they’re all stand-up guys. And buckle up for one of the best, most realistic pre-cgi auto chase scenes ever filmed.

The Seven-Ups

Blu-ray

Twilight Time

1973 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 103 min. / Street Date March 20, 2018 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store / 29.95

Starring: Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Victor Arnold, Jerry Leon, Ken Kercheval, Larry Haines, Richard Lynch, Bill Hickman, Joe Spinell.

Cinematography: Urs Furrer

Film Editors: Jerry Greenberg, John C. Horger, Stephen A. Rotter

Stunt Coordinator: Bill Hickman

Original Music: Don Ellis

Written by Sonny Grosso, Alexander Jacobs, Albert Ruben

Produced by Philip D’Antoni, Kenneth Utt, Barry J. Weitz

Directed...

Stars: Ademir Esteves, Ricardo Casella, Sonia Morena, Anthony Mello, Luara Pepita, Fernando Cardoso, Walderrama Dos Santos | Written and Directed by Samuel Galli

Arthur, a man with spiritualist powers, is told that a demonic entity is coming to destroy his daughter’s soul, and that he should take drastic measures to stop this from happening. He must destroy her marked soul on the day of her 20th Birthday or there will be grave consequences. He must find a serial killer who is pure evil and deserving of suffering. He begins his search on the dark web and finds serial killer Charles who has no sympathy for human life. He has found his man, and soon the real evil will commence…

Having debuted here in the UK back in August 2017 at Frightfest, Samuel Galli’s Our Evil has finally made it’s way to DVD – so that everyone who wasn’t at...

Are ’70s auteur pictures liberated and loose, or flaky and undisciplined? Bob Rafelson’s Alabama escapade places Jeff Bridges amid a wide range of choice-quality nuts, with both Sally Field and Arnold Schwarzenegger staking their claim on the big screen. What do the changing face of The South and competition-level body building have to do with each other? You tell us!

Stay Hungry

Blu-ray

Olive Films

1976 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 102 min. / Street Date October 31, 2017 / available through the Olive Films website / 29.95

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Sally Field, Arnold Schwarzenegger, R.G. Armstrong, Robert Englund, Helena Kallianiotes, Roger E. Mosley, Woodrow Parfrey, Scatman Crothers, Kathleen Miller, Fannie Flagg, Joanna Cassidy, Ed Begley Jr., Joe Spinell.

Cinematography: Victor J. Kemper

Film Editor: John F. Link II

Original Music: Byron Berline, Bruce Langhorne

Written by Bob Rafelson, Charles Gaines from his novel

Produced by Bob Rafelson, Harold Schneider

Directed by Bob Rafelson

Some movies are ahead of their time,...

Director William Lustig will be attending a New York City  35mm screening of his infamous and legendary 1980 slasher crime thriller "Maniac" starring Caroline Munro and Joe Spinell on Wednesday November 15 at the Roxy Cinema, located inside the Roxy Hotel in Tribeca. Lee Pfeiffer of Cinema Retro will be interviewing Lustig on stage about the controversies surrounding the film and its enduring legacy. For tickets and info, click here.

Stars: Caroline Munro, David Hasslehoff, Christopher Plummer, Marjoe Gortner, Robert Tessier, Joe Spinell, Nadia Cassini, Judd Hamilton, Hamilton Camp | Written by Luigi Cozzi, Nat Wachsberger | Directed by Lewis Coates (aka Luigi Cozzi)

The entire galaxy is in peril and infamous space-smuggler Stella Star, the greatest star pilot ever to command a vessel, is its only hope. The evil Count Zartharn from the League of the Dark Worlds has constructed a weapon of unlimited power capable of destroying anything in its path. Our heroine Stella Star and her loyal crew must navigate the darkest corners of the solar system to find the Count’s hideout and bring his reign of terror to an end.

The success of George Lucas’ Star Wars in 1977 led to a myriad of clones and quick cash-ins, the most famous (or infamous) of which was Starcrash. A heady mix of Barbarella, Star Wars and even the films of Ray Harryhausen,...

There’s nothing like a good car chase in a movie. Maybe it’s the daring-do of the stunt drivers that makes you feel you’re in danger even though you’re comfortably in your seat, or the high stakes of the moment in which the characters we’re rooting for will either get out of the situation or have a gruesome finale, but an impressive car-chase scene can make even a mediocre movie a beloved classic. What makes a car chase legendary, you ask? They’re the ones that keep you at the edge of your seat and actually fit in with the rest of the plot.

Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver opens Wednesday, June 28th. Baby (Ansel Elgort), is an innocent-looking getaway driver who gets hardened criminals from point A to point B, with daredevil flair and a personal soundtrack running through his head. That’s because he...

“No one seems to love or understand me. Oh what hard luck stories they all hand me”

Melvin And Howard screens Friday, June 16th at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood). This is the third film in their ‘Tribute to Jonathan Demme’ The movie starts at 8:00pm.

Paul Le Mat is an average Joe named Melvin E. Dummar in Melvin And Howard (1980) an effective combination of drama and comedy from director Jonathan Demme. Melvin often finds it difficult to make ends meet, no matter what line of work he’s in. Then, one day, it seems as if his luck might change. A stranger leaves on his desk a will proclaiming Melvin to be one of 16 heirs to the fortune of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. Once upon a time, Melvin had given a lift to an aged, decrepit looking individual (Jason Robards) who claimed to be Hughes. The...

Joe Spinell was a unique character actor in his time. From supporting turns in The Godfather: Part II (1974), Rocky (1976), and beyond, he was never less than interesting on screen; usually playing a mobster, shyster, or cop, his amusingly sleazy demeanour helped him stand out from the crowd. Terror lovers know Spinell from Maniac (1980), the notorious passion project that he also co-wrote. His follow up on the silver scream was The Last Horror Film (1982), a much more lighthearted take on obsession that not only reteamed him with his Maniac co-star Caroline Munro, but jetted them off to The Cannes Film Festival to boot. And while it doesn’t have the gut punch impact of Maniac, it’s the more enjoyable film.

Shown at the Sitges Film Festival in 1982, Tlhf did not receive a theatrical release stateside; instead most folks had to wait for Media Entertainment to drop it onto home video...

Savant UK correspondent Lee Broughton analyzes one of his favorite pictures starring Stacy Keach, who seemed to make only cult items in the '70s and '80s. William Peter Blatty dishes out a thick mix of comedy and dark soul-searching about the human condition as a Caligari- insane asylum, but with new twists. The Ninth Configuration Second Sight Region B Blu-ray 1980 / Colour / 2.35:1 enhanced widescreen / 118 m. / available through Amazon.uk Starring Stacy Keach, Scott Wilson, Jason Miller, Ed Flanders, Neville Brand, George Dicenzo, Moses Gunn, Robert Loggia, Joe Spinell, Tom Atkins. Cinematography Gerry Fisher Production Design William Malley Film Editors Peter Taylor, T. Battle Davis, Roberto Silvi, Peter Lee-Thompson Original Music Barry DeVorzon Written, Produced and Directed by William Peter Blatty from his novel

Reviewed by Lee Broughton

(Note: Savant reviews as a guest at Tfh. Here I stretch my prerogatives by presenting a review from Lee Broughton, a valued U.

Nicolas Roeg's bizarre blend of high drama, searing sex and over-the-top brutality waited a year, only to be given a tiny American release. It then dropped out of sight. We're now in a better position to appreciate the show's great actors - especially Theresa Russell, the boldest and bravest actress of the 1980s. Eureka Blu-ray Twilight Time Limited Edition Small>1983 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 130 min. / Ship Date May 10, 2016 / available through Twilight Time Movies / 29.95 Starring Gene Hackman, Theresa Russell, Rutger Hauer, Jane Lapotaire, Mickey Rourke, Ed Lauter, Joe Pesci, Helena Kallianiotes, Corin Redgrave, Joe Spinell, Frank Pesce, Timothy Scott. Cinematography Alex Thomson Production Designer Michael Seymour Film Editor Tony Lawson Original Music Stanley Myers Written by Paul Mayersberg from a book by Marshall Houts Produced by Jeremy Thomas Directed by Nicolas Roeg

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

I remember Nicolas Roeg's Eureka as being one of the biggest busts of the 1980s.

December 15th is definitely a great day to be a cult film fan as we’ve got a bunch of stellar titles making their home entertainment bows this week. Scream Factory is releasing several films on Blu this Tuesday—The Car, Zombie High and the double feature of The Dungeonmaster and Eliminators—and Arrow Video is keeping busy as well with their special editions of both Blood Rage and What Have You Done to Solange?

Other notable titles include The Last Horror Film, Count Dracula, The Toxic Avenger Collection, a double feature of Axe and Kidnapped Coed as well as the most recent iteration of Fantastic Four.

The Car (Scream Factory, Blu-ray)

The peaceful tranquility of a small Western town is disturbed when a murderous car wreaks havoc by viciously mowing down innocent victims. The new sheriff, Wade Parent (James Brolin), may be the only one who can stop this menace in its tracks.

Special Mention: The Bird with the Crystal Plumage

Directed by Dario Argento

Screenplay by Dario Argento

1970, Italy

Genre: Giallo

One of the most self-assured directorial debuts of the 70’s was Dario Argento’s The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. Not only was it a breakthrough film for the master of Giallo, but it was also a box office hit and had critics buzzing, regardless if they liked it or not. Although Argento would go on to perfect his craft in later films, The Bird With The Crystal Plumage went a long way in popularizing the Giallo genre and laid the groundwork for later classics like Deep Red. A difficult film to discuss without spoiling many of its most impressive and famous scenes, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage is a fairly straightforward murder mystery, albeit with many twists, turns and one of the best surprise endings of all time. But...

World Premiere

USA, 2015

Directed by Victor Zarcoff

It’s sometimes hard for us genre enthusiasts to have to explain to cookie cutters exactly why we like the films we do: “that film was terrible”(exactly, it`s so bad, that it`s good), “that film was revolting”(exactly, that`s the best part), “that film scared the shit out of me”(exactly, it`s good to feel something), “that film was a pretty cool remake” (exactly, fuck you!).

What I realized however, is that the further you crawl down that scummy sewer pipe, the harder it gets to keep yourself presentable and clean. And while you can usually get rid of that dirty feeling left by a grimy film simply by hopping into a quick shower, certain movies like Slumlord, make you want to avoid the bathroom altogether. Does that mean that I liked Slumlord? Should my mom have breastfed me more as a child?...

Stars: Joe Spinell, Caroline Munro, Judd Hamilton, Devin Goldenberg, David Winters, Susanne Benton, Glenn Jacobson, Mary Spinell, J’Len Winters, Sharon Hughes, Sean Casey | Written by David Winters, Judd Hamilton, Tom Klassen | Directed by David Winters

Every year we seem to look at the horror genre and have something to complain about. Mostly it seems that the move towards PG-13 and its bigger audience weakens the impact the films have and lessens the actual horror factor. I’d rather look to the past to fill in some holes in my horror knowledge and forget all those worries. This is why I tend to review a lot of the classic horrors that are released, this week one being The Last Horror Film (aka Fanatic).

The Last Horror Film is the story of Vinny (Joe Spinell) a New York taxi driver with an obsession with actress Jana Bates (Caroline Munro). Following her...

It's that time of the year again! It's time for Doctor Gash's favorite all-day film festival, the Hudson Horror Show. This is the ninth edition of the bi-annual event, and the line-up looks fantastic.

With screenings of 35mm prints of Maniac, Mad Max and an uncut version of The Burning, as well as several other films, moviegoers get 12-plus hours of entertainment for under $30. Not to mention you'll get to peruse an entire lobby full of vendors of hard to find horror items.

And there will be giveaways as well. Even yours truly, Doctor Gash, will be there in his usual spot just before the final movie of the night giving away a load of horror swag!

So if you're anywhere near Poughkeepsie (that includes you, NYC horror fans!) get your Hudson Horror Show IX tickets now. It will sell out! And don't forget to check out the hilarious Hudson Horror Show "Rules" video below,...

A serial killing scalp-collector, a widowed wasteland warrior, and a summer camp slaughter. These characters and plots are featured in the recently announced lineup for Hudson Horror Show 9 that includes 35mm screenings of Maniac (1980), Mad Max, The Burning, and more.

In addition to the three aforementioned titles, the Hhs will also be screening the foreign film Lady Terminator as well as two mystery movies that won’t be revealed until the film reels roll. Hudson Horror Show IX will take place at the Empire South Hills 8 in Poughkeepsie, NY, on Saturday, August 9th. Advance tickets cost $26.00 and at-the-door tickets (if any are still available) can be purchased for $30.00. We have the official press release with the event’s full details:

“The movie festival that even modern technology could not kill, Hudson Horror Show, is back from the grave and hungry for your soul! Hudson Horror Show IX, will be at...

As a composer, I'm quick to acknowledge the role of music in setting the tone for a horror film, and while theme songs with lyrics and vocals can be just as effective as an instrumental score, there are definitely risks involved: along with clothing and hairstyles, songs tend to anchor a film to the year it was made, and as tastes change, a pop tune can be exposed as a quaint and silly relic of its decade. Then again, some of those tracks were pretty goofy to begin with, and nothing could have saved them. With that said, I love every one of these oddball themes to death (even the truly painful ones), so I'd like to share with you the best of the weirdest, straight from one of my more... uh, let's say “eccentric” party playlists. Let's rock! Fat Boys: “Are You Ready for Freddy?” (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master,...

Are you ready for another unlikely pairing for the latest feature on our Fearnet web series here known as 'The Vault?' Of course you are! This week, we've got actors Samm Levine ('Inglourious Basterds') and Amber Benson ('Buffy The Vampire Slayer') providing commentary for William Lustig's "slasher" cult classic 'Maniac,' starring the late, great Joe Spinell. 

You may be familiar with the recent remake starring Elijah Wood (currently streaming over on Netflix Instant), but check out the film that not only inspired that film, but that kicked off a slew of "slasher"imitators in the early 80's! This is the first official directing credit for Bill Lustig who would go on to give us the 'Maniac Cop' and 'Relentless' franchises and it stars character actor Joe Spinell ('The Godfather,' 'Rocky') in a genre defining role as the sympatheitc and troubled Frank Zito,...

If you're looking for a diverse and entertaining horror themed podcast, hopefully you've already found 'Killer Pov,' the weekly horror talk show podcast hosted by Fearnet's own Rob Galluzzo, Fangoria's Rebekah McKendry and Inside Horror's Elric Kane. Available on both iTunes and directly from the GeekNation website (who produces the show), the gang recently celebrated their 50th episode (!) and joining in on the celebration was none other than director William Lustig (aka Bill to those that know him well)! Lustig was the man behind the original 'Maniac,' the 'Maniac Cop' franchise, as well as cult classics 'Vilgilante,' 'Hit List,' 'Relentless' and 'Uncle Sam' (currently streaming this week in The Vault with exclusive video commentary by Heidi Honeycutt & Jill Kill), as well as being at the forefront of home video entertainment with his company Blue Underground. 

During the lengthy 2 hour chat,...

It’s no secret that our beloved horror movies are often snubbed at the Academy Awards. The horror genre as a whole just doesn’t get all that much respect in the world of cinema, which is why it’s so important for us fans to support and spread the word on the movies we love. Quite frankly, if we're not doing it, nobody’s going to do it for us.

That said, there are a handful of horror movies over the years that have defied tradition, and have actually managed to snag themselves those little golden statues. With the 86th Academy Awards heading our way this weekend, today we shine the spotlight on 10 of those movies, which made all of us horror fans proud!

Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde

Though the Academy Awards ceremony wasn’t televised until 1953, it actually began way back in 1929, held at a private dinner party.

You know the drill. A couple of days ago I hit you with Chapter One of this unranked list of my favorite films from 2013. Now I’m back with Chapter Two. Whether or not this will serve as the conclusion to my list remains to be seen. I keep remembering titles I saw earlier in the year that demand inclusion, so we’ll see how it goes. Either way, here are some more movies from 2013 that you should put in your eyeballs. If you missed Chapter One of this list, you can reference it, here.

Toad Road

Artsplotation Films had a hell of a year, as far as I’m concerned. They gave us the gnarly Wither, the equally gnarly Hidden in the Woods and of course, the cerebral Toad Road. I hadn’t really heard word one about this film, until review copies started going out. After that, almost...

Today, we shine the spotlight not on movies but rather on the poster art that was attached to them in 2013. This past year saw some truly awesome poster art make its way onto the internet and our walls, to the point that it was no easy task to cut the list down to only ten. In fact, it was downright painful to be forced to exclude such memorable imagery as a devil baby rocking out in the womb (Hell Baby), Sheri Moon Zombie staring us down in creepy skeletal makeup (The Lords of Salem) and a scary-looking tree standing in front of a scary-looking house (The Conjuring) - which is why I simply couldn’t bring myself to make any further cuts than those.

So instead of the planned ten, let’s instead take a look at my personal picks for the top 13 coolest horror posters of 2013!

Bad Milo

I...

Sequels are often maligned and rarely live up to the original film on which they are based. Many sequels are thrown together, poorly written, low budget attempts to capitalize on the success of the original. However, that’s not always the case. In rare instances, sequels have even gone on to be better than their predecessor. Last December, we ran a feature exploring some of the horror titles we think should have been given the sequel treatment. Since it proved popular, we are bringing you a second round. See the first installment of this feature here.

Below, you can take a look at more of the horror films that we would like to have seen a sequel made for.

Session 9

There are no credible reports of a planned sequel for this horror masterpiece but it would definitely be welcome by my assessment. The ending left enough to the imagination...

For years, it seems, fans have begged the powers that be only to remake films that could stand for some improvement; Maniac is an interesting test of that philosophy. Few would argue that the original film, directed by William Lustig and starring 70s cinema mainstay Joe Spinell, was any kind of masterpiece, but it was certainly iconic in its own right, and emblematic of an era for which many are nostalgic. It would seem to be a lose-lose scenario for this update, which is why it's surprising that it works as well as it does. The premise is, at its heart, still endearingly ridiculous, but its execution is sleek, predatory, and startlingly current, while Elijah Wood makes a better psychopath than Joe Spinell ever did.

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