Happy Birthday to my biggest crush as a child, Sir Christopher Lee!!!
Showing posts with label christopher lee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christopher lee. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Human Sacrifice in Cinema & Literature
Many derivatives of "The Lottery" have been written and portrayed in cinema. Shirley Jackson's original story was made into a film. In a small town of about 300 residents, the locals are excited and nervous on June 27. Children gather stones as adults convene for their yearly event, that in the local tradition is practiced to ensure a good harvest. The head of each family draws a slip of paper from a black box; Bill Hutchinson gets the one slip with a black spot, meaning that his family has been chosen. In the next round, each Hutchinson family member draws a slip, and Bill's wife Tessie gets the marked slip. You can watch the film adaptation on YouTube here.
The Lottery was also done in 1996 and starred Keri Russell. You can watch the film on YouTube here.
There was a film made that was very reminiscent of Jackson's short story and the subsequent film adaptation in 2006, entitled Population 436. A couple notables in this film were Jeremy Sisto and Fred Durst. Steve Kady (Jeremy Sisto), a US Census Bureau representative is sent to a remote and tiny town, Rockwell Falls to interview residents for the census.
On the way to Rockwell Falls he is distracted by a woman falling off a horse and his vehicle hits a pothole and his tires pop. He is assisted by Deputy Bobby Caine (Fred Durst), the Sheriff's Deputy, who drives him into Rockwell Falls and helps Steve find boarding. During his stay, Kady notices the oddness of the town and the people within. Steve's research reveals that the town's population has remained at exactly 436 for over 100 years.
After locating odd texts on biblical numerology, Kady comes to the realization that the town residents have assigned a mystical significance to the number 436 and are willing to go to bizarre and extreme lengths to keep the population at exactly that number.
The Wicker Man falls in line with the odd small, remote town feel, where the "guest of honor" arrives and is treated well and then the horror ensues. Its just done differently and has a great many elements that deepen the story and make it much more of a mystery.
The Wicker Man (1973) stars Christopher Lee and Ingrid Pitt. Inspired by the basic scenario of David Pinner's 1967 novel Ritual, the story centers on the visit of Police Sergeant Neil Howie to the isolated island of Summerisle, in search of a missing girl the locals claim never existed. Howie, a devout Christian, is appalled to find that the inhabitants of the island practice a form of Celtic paganism.
The Wicker Man was remade and adapted a
little differently in 2006 and starred Nick Cage as well as Ellen
Burstyn, Leelee Sobieski, Frances Conroy, Aaron Eckhart, and James
Franco.
The Lottery was also done in 1996 and starred Keri Russell. You can watch the film on YouTube here.
On the way to Rockwell Falls he is distracted by a woman falling off a horse and his vehicle hits a pothole and his tires pop. He is assisted by Deputy Bobby Caine (Fred Durst), the Sheriff's Deputy, who drives him into Rockwell Falls and helps Steve find boarding. During his stay, Kady notices the oddness of the town and the people within. Steve's research reveals that the town's population has remained at exactly 436 for over 100 years.
After locating odd texts on biblical numerology, Kady comes to the realization that the town residents have assigned a mystical significance to the number 436 and are willing to go to bizarre and extreme lengths to keep the population at exactly that number.
The Wicker Man falls in line with the odd small, remote town feel, where the "guest of honor" arrives and is treated well and then the horror ensues. Its just done differently and has a great many elements that deepen the story and make it much more of a mystery.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Free Horror Movie Video Sites You May Not Have Heard Of!
BMovies.com features free "B" Horror and Sci-Fi movies for your viewing pleasure as well as Western, KungFu, and Indie Flix you can watch online on your video viewing devices for free!
1. Attack of the Giant Leaches (1959)
2. Bad Taste (1987)
3. Blood Tide (1982)
FreeMoviesCinema.com features free Horror, Fantasy, Thriller, Sci-Fi, KungFu, Western, Drama, Comedy, and several other genres of film viewing for free from your PC, Laptop, or other mobile devices without the hassle of having to log in or sign up.
Roktv.com Monster Channel features free horror movies 24/7 online and on several mobile devices.
1. Horror Express (1972)
2. Revenge of Dr. X aka Venus Fly Trap (1970)
FilmOn.com
FilmOn.com offers live horror TV as well as 24/7 horror movie viewing on demand for free viewing from your computer, laptop, or other compatible mobile devices.
FilmOn.com offers live horror TV as well as 24/7 horror movie viewing on demand for free viewing from your computer, laptop, or other compatible mobile devices.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
5 Best Horror Franchises of All Time!
1. Hellraiser - Pinhead and the Cenobites never cease to scare the bejesus out of me. You can add anyone to the plot and they are still scary! Even if the characters in the movie suck, Pinhead and the Cenobites never cease to disappoint!
2. Hammer Films Dracula - Hammer Films produced nine Dracula films between 1960 and 1974. (Courtesy of Wikipedia)...
Christopher Lee as Dracula returned in the following six films, which employed ingenuity in finding ways to resurrect the Count. Hammer upped the graphic violence and gore with Scars of Dracula in an attempt to re-imagine the character to appeal to a younger audience.
The commercial failure of this film led to a change of style
with the following films, which were not period pieces like their
predecessors, but had a then-contemporary 1970s London setting. Peter
Cushing appeared in both films playing a descendant of Van Helsing.
Christopher Lee grew increasingly disillusioned with the direction the character was being taken, and with the poor quality of later scripts – although he did improve these slightly himself by adding lines of dialogue from the original novel.
Lee speaks at least one line taken from Bram Stoker in every Dracula film he appeared in, except for Prince of Darkness – in which the Count does not speak (Lee claimed he was appalled by his dialogue in that film and refused to speak it, but Jimmy Sangster rebutted that no dialogue was written for the character in that film). He was also concerned about typecasting. After Satanic Rites, he quit the series.
I used to watch these flicks with my dad while gorging down on pizza and snacks and it was definitely one of the most entertaining memories I have of my childhood. Christopher Lee is one of my favorite actors, and of course, my favorite Count Dracula.
3. Re-Animator - followed by Bride of Re-Animator in 1990 and Beyond Re-Animator in 2003 were preceded by another film based upon an H. P. Lovecraft story, From Beyond; though this film featured a story unrelated to Re-Animator, it was also directed by Stuart Gordon and starred both Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton.
In the book Lurker in the Lobby: The Guide to the Cinema of H. P. Lovecraft, producer/director Brian Yuzna mentions an idea that he had for a fourth Re-Animator. This version would have been titled Isle of Re-Animator, and would have been strongly influenced by the H. G. Wells novel The Island of Doctor Moreau.
Herbert West–Reanimator was a short story by H. P. Lovecraft that was written 1921-1922. In 2011, a musical adaptation opened on Broadway, which director Gordon participated in.
Anyway, The Omen includes:
Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981)
Omen IV: The Awakening
Hellraiser (1987)
Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992)
Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)
Hellraiser: Inferno (2000)
Hellraiser: Hellseeker (2002)
Hellraiser: Deader (2005)
Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005)
Hellraiser: Revelations (2011)
The franchise & The Prophecy are available on one DVD for $5 & under!
2. Hammer Films Dracula - Hammer Films produced nine Dracula films between 1960 and 1974. (Courtesy of Wikipedia)...
- The Brides of Dracula (1960)
- Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966)
- Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968)
- Taste the Blood of Dracula (1969)
- Scars of Dracula (1970)
- Dracula AD 1972 (1972)
- The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973)
- The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires (1974)
Christopher Lee as Dracula returned in the following six films, which employed ingenuity in finding ways to resurrect the Count. Hammer upped the graphic violence and gore with Scars of Dracula in an attempt to re-imagine the character to appeal to a younger audience.
Dracula A.D. 1972
Dracula Has Risen from the Grave
Horror of Dracula
Taste the Blood of Dracula
Christopher Lee grew increasingly disillusioned with the direction the character was being taken, and with the poor quality of later scripts – although he did improve these slightly himself by adding lines of dialogue from the original novel.
Lee speaks at least one line taken from Bram Stoker in every Dracula film he appeared in, except for Prince of Darkness – in which the Count does not speak (Lee claimed he was appalled by his dialogue in that film and refused to speak it, but Jimmy Sangster rebutted that no dialogue was written for the character in that film). He was also concerned about typecasting. After Satanic Rites, he quit the series.
I used to watch these flicks with my dad while gorging down on pizza and snacks and it was definitely one of the most entertaining memories I have of my childhood. Christopher Lee is one of my favorite actors, and of course, my favorite Count Dracula.
3. Re-Animator - followed by Bride of Re-Animator in 1990 and Beyond Re-Animator in 2003 were preceded by another film based upon an H. P. Lovecraft story, From Beyond; though this film featured a story unrelated to Re-Animator, it was also directed by Stuart Gordon and starred both Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton.
In the book Lurker in the Lobby: The Guide to the Cinema of H. P. Lovecraft, producer/director Brian Yuzna mentions an idea that he had for a fourth Re-Animator. This version would have been titled Isle of Re-Animator, and would have been strongly influenced by the H. G. Wells novel The Island of Doctor Moreau.
You can watch From Beyond for free here.
Herbert West–Reanimator was a short story by H. P. Lovecraft that was written 1921-1922. In 2011, a musical adaptation opened on Broadway, which director Gordon participated in.
You can listen to the H.P. Lovecraft original short story on Audible.com here.
4. The Omen - Who doesn't love movies about the Antichrist coming home to roost? You can't really include Rosemary's Baby, but I have hear the theory that the baby who has his father's eyes is supposed to be Damien.
The Omen (1976)
Damien: Omen II (1978) Omen III: The Final Conflict (1981)
Omen IV: The Awakening
The Omen, of course was remade in 2006 and starred Liev Schriber and Julia Styles. I am a fan of the remake as they pretty much stuck to form and added a cool little twist, Mia Farrow as Mrs. Blaylock. Seeing Mia evil was great! Julia Syles kinda aggravates me so watching her get kicked around by Damien was an added bonus!
The Omen - 1976
The Omen - 2006
Damien: The Omen II
The Omen III: The Final Conflict
The Omen IV: The Awakening
5. The Evil Dead - The Evil Dead, of course, consists of "Ash", Ashley J. Williams (Bruce Campbell), kicking possessed demon asses and taking names! Ash finds the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, an ancient Sumerian text in a cabin, which is located in a remotely wooded area in Tennessee. Everyone gets possessed pretty much except for a couple of survivors, Ash and Linda.
Ash is the only character to appear in every installment of the original trilogy Linda, Ash's girlfriend makes an appearance in all 3 films, but her only appearance in Army of Darkness is during the prologue. The original trilogy includes:
Ash is the only character to appear in every installment of the original trilogy Linda, Ash's girlfriend makes an appearance in all 3 films, but her only appearance in Army of Darkness is during the prologue. The original trilogy includes:
The Evil Dead (1981)
Evil Dead II (1987)
Army of Darkness (1992)
The Evil Dead was remade in 2013, sacrilege, let's not discuss that!
I also noticed that that abortion of a film is called Evil Dead and not "The Evil Dead".
I also noticed that that abortion of a film is called Evil Dead and not "The Evil Dead".
I've already blogged and asked, Where was Ash? Where was Ash? Where was Ash, my question has been answered and I won't discuss it again!
I watched Army of Darkness with my dad, too! He would not remember or admit to it, but he loved it. He was making commentary throughout the entire thing, which he never does! He tells you to just shut up and watch!!!
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Friday, August 23, 2013
Bargain Bin O' Horror
Cursed (Widescreen)
$3.17
Red Riding Hood (Widescreen) $4.44
I really liked this flick. Its appropriate for your teen and it had a good story line.
I really liked this flick. Its appropriate for your teen and it had a good story line.
I must own this!
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
The Wicker Man & Christopher Lee
Ok, first of all, Christopher Lee is the man! Christopher Lee was one of the Draculas. He is in many films that are terrifying, and is going to get his dues credited right now. I love you Mr. Lee!
Christopher Frank Carandini Lee is six foot five. He's hot in a creepy sort of way and quite English. Not only is he the best Dracula EVER..., but he was always "the bad guy", and I like it. I like his deep scary voice (he's not playing), and his ominous, terrifying characters!!! Its like oh snap, Christopher Lee is here, and some bad shizits will be happening!
The ever handsome and debonair, Mr. Lee starred in these killer films!
The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)
The Horror of Dracula (1958)
The Mummy (1959)
To the Devil a Daughter (1976)
Tales of Mystery & Imagination: The Black Cat
The Resident
Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland
The Corpse Bride (2005)
Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Howling II
Dracula A.D. 1972
The Satanic Rites of Dracula
Scars of Dracula (1970)
Taste The Blood of Dracula (1970)
Count Dracula (1970)
Crypt of the Vampire (1964)
The City of The Dead (1960)
The House That Dripped Blood
And not to mention, well, yeah, actually I am mentioning it, and talking about it alot in this post, actually. He is Lord Summersdale in The Wicker Man, a creepy as hell culty film. You will be creeped out.
The Wicker Man (1975), not 2006 is a film about a British police officer going to a remote island to investigate the disappearance of a little girl. Pay attention, because there will be a festival going on (for May Day, I gather), and on this little island people do things just a little bit differently here.
MWAH HA HA HA!
Oh, Mr. Lee was also in Season of the Witch, which I watched and blogged recently.
His next masterpiece will be Dark Shadows,
to be released in 2012!!!
YES!!!!!!
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