News

‘Cube’ is a Creative Cult Classic That Still Stands Out After 20 Years

Published

7 years ago

September 9, 2017

Canadian horror films have a longstanding tradition of being innovative, operating within a small budget to achieve great effects. Cube – which premiered 20 years ago at the Toronto International Film Festival – took a simple concept with a simpler set design and created a cult classic.

Director Vincenzo Natali kept the costumes to a basic uniform to allow viewers to learn about each character by their actions, not by their appearance. Starting with a blank slate, we’re drawn in to the story to understand who these people are and what they’re capable of.

We rely on the script to communicate their personal history as well as their flaws, which in turn gives more opportunity for each character to hide behind their relative anonymity. The stranded strangers have no option but to trust each other, but really, what do they know about one another? What secrets could they be hiding?

via IMDb

The whole film focuses on the unknown dangers of the situation. Our group is trapped with no understanding of why they’re there or how they got there. Their only hope is a rough theory about the numbers branded on each new room. Each room is identical (aside from the colored panels), giving no indication of what horrors lie within. Tensions run high as the group grows anxious and tired, clashing at every turn.

It is revealed that each person present holds some knowledge that will assist in the group’s escape, but not everyone in the group is suited to the necessary teamwork. Cube quickly turns into a character study that observes how each personality handles the pressure. While some are predisposed to help one another, providing support and comfort when needed, others have a more selfish approach.

via IMDb

It’s – again – a simple concept, but with expert execution. We have the prevailing mystery of the cube mixed with unavoidable personal conflict. All we’re presented with is what’s in the script and what the actors are able to communicate. There’s no flashy set, no distracting costumes, just the story and the constant danger.

Cube was actually just shot in one room, with a partial cube built for when the cast was shown to be looking through from another side. By using lighting panels to change the color of the cube, they were given the flexibility to re-use the set over and over, but still change up the look so it didn’t grow stale. It’s a brilliant use of a limited budget (the 90 minute film only cost $365,000 to make).

via IMDb

Each creative trap presents a different challenge; while it’s possible to navigate through some rooms, others only offer an unavoidable and gruesome death. The opening sequence is particularly thorough in killing off its victim.

Cube has spawned a series of sequels and there’s talks of a reboot – though, like the characters in each film, it seems to be trapped in development Hell. While I don’t anticipate seeing a remake of the cult classic anytime soon, today is as good a day as any to revisit the film that started it all.

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News

Woman Brings Corpse Into Bank To Sign Loan Papers

Published

2 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Warning: This is a disturbing story.

You have to be pretty desperate for money to do what this Brazilian woman did at the bank to get a loan. She wheeled in a fresh corpse to endorse the contract and she seemingly thought the bank employees wouldn’t notice. They did.

This weird and disturbing story comes via ScreenGeek an entertainment digital publication. They write that a woman identified as Erika de Souza Vieira Nunes pushed a man she identified as her uncle into the bank pleading with him to sign loan papers for $3,400.

If you’re squeamish or easily triggered, be aware that the video captured of the situation is disturbing.

A woman in Brazil took a deceased man to the bank in an attempt to secure a loan 😳 pic.twitter.com/abiO2evgwg
— More Crazy Clips (@MoreCrazyClips) April 17, 2024

Latin America’s largest commercial network, TV Globo, reported on the crime, and according to ScreenGeek this is what Nunes says in Portuguese during the attempted transaction.

“Uncle, are you paying attention? You must sign [the loan contract]. If you don’t sign, there’s no way, as I cannot sign on your behalf!”

She then adds: “Sign so you can spare me further headaches; I can’t bear it any longer.”

At first we thought this might be a hoax, but according to Brazilian police, the uncle, 68-year-old Paulo Roberto Braga had passed away earlier that day.

“She attempted to feign his signature for the loan. He entered the bank already deceased,” Police Chief Fábio Luiz said in an interview with TV Globo. “Our priority is to continue investigating to identify other family members and gather more information regarding this loan.”

If convicted Nunes could be facing jail time on charges of fraud, embezzlement, and desecration of a corpse.

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News

Spirit Halloween Unleashes Life-Size ‘Ghostbusters’ Terror Dog

Published

3 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Halfway to Halloween and the licensed merch is already being released for the holiday. For instance, the seasonal retailer giant Spirit Halloween unveiled their giant Ghostbusters Terror Dog for the first time this year.

The one-of-a-kind demonic dog has eyes that light up in a glowing, terrifying red. It’s going to set you back a whopping $599.99.

Since this year we saw the release of Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, it’s probably going to be a popular theme come October. Spirit Halloween is embracing their inner Venkman with other releases tied to the franchise such as the LED Ghostbuster Ghost Trap, Ghostbusters Walkie Talkie, Life-Size Replica Proton Pack.

We saw the release of other horror props today. Home Depot unveiled a few pieces from their line which includes the signature giant skeleton and separate dog companion.

For the latest Halloween merch and updates get on over to Spirit Halloween and see what else they have to offer to make your neighbors jealous this season. But for now, enjoy a small video that features scenes from this classic cinematic canine.

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Movies

‘The Strangers’ Invaded Coachella in Instagramable PR Stunt

Published

22 hours ago

April 17, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Renny Harlin’s reboot of The Strangers isn’t coming out until May 17, but those murderous home invaders are making a pit stop at Coachella first.

In the latest Instagramable PR stunt, the studio behind the film decided to have the trio of masked intruders crash Coachella, a music festival that takes place for two weekends in Southern California.

This type of publicity began when Paramount did the same thing with their horror movie Smile in 2022. Their version had seemingly ordinary people in populated places look directly into a camera with an evil grin.

Harlin’s reboot is actually a trilogy with a more expansive world than that of the original.

“When setting out to remake The Strangers, we felt there was a bigger story to be told, which could be as powerful, chilling, and terrifying as the original and could really expand that world,” said producer Courtney Solomon. “Shooting this story as a trilogy allows us to create a hyperreal and terrifying character study. We’re fortunate to be joining forces with Madelaine Petsch, an amazing talent whose character is the driving force of this story.”

The movie follows a young couple (Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez) who “after their car breaks down in an eerie small town, are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive in The Strangers: Chapter 1 the chilling first entry of this upcoming horror feature film series.”