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Dark Tower: What Constant Readers Would Like to See in This Movie and Beyond

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For as long as I can remember I’ve been a Stephen King fan.  After picking up Carrie when I was 9 to now I have read just about every piece of work the master of macabre has released.  There was one work of his that I left unread for a very long time.  That was the Dark Tower.  I simply wasn’t interested in it.  Unsure of what it was, I couldn’t place a finger on why it was, or what about it that did not appeal to me I just felt it wasn’t necessary.  Throughout my 33 years of being a huge fan, The Dark Tower always seemed to elude me.  Even as an adult, when a picture of me and my children was picked for the special collage on the back of Wind Through the Keyhole, did I simply not find interest.  Then it happened.  My wife had to say something about it.  She asked me, “How can you be his biggest fan and not read everything he has?”  That was it.  No one was going to question my adulation of my role model, my mentor, my hero.  It was then that I decided to embark on the journey that is The Dark Tower.  This was just last year.

The Books:

Seven books make up King’s Magnum Opus, with Wind Through the Keyhole being a between novels addition, to make an even eight.  I got through The Gunslinger easy enough.  The novel wasn’t that long and the prose was easy enough to understand, as the Gunslinger chased the Man in Black through the desert.  Second came The Drawing of the Three.  The Drawing of the Three began to garner a bit of interest in me and began making me question why it was that I hadn’t read these before. With the visual landscape of a beach and the addition of each character in full detail was enough to keep me occupied.  The idea that each character was added from New York at a various point in time was intriguing to me.  However, nothing could prepare me for the addition of Odetta Holmes/Susanah Dean.  Susanah’s character was so complex yet so simple. She was so plain yet so intricately woven into the mind of the reader.  This book dealt with drug addiction and the results of actions.  The following book, The Wastelands, added another character.  Perhaps one of the most fun characters and one of the most loyal, Oy, was a character that I quickly latched on to.  King interweaves pop culture and fantasy in this book with the use of ZZ Top.  At the end of the book the characters board the train Blain the Mono, a train that is hell bent on derailing itself unless the Ka-tet (the name of the small knit group of characters) can beat it in a riddle contest.  After this book I was hooked especially through to the  next and perhaps best book in the series Wizards and Glass.  If you’re interested in following the Gunslinger and his Ka-tet along the path of the beam I won’t waste any of your time and suggest you pick up the books and begin reading.

My point is this, there are several characters and several worlds within the path of the beam that is known as The Dark Tower.  There are several ways to get there and many trials to face.  I was very happy to realize that there was so much more to the books than i initially realized and was very excited to explore these worlds and these characters.  Yet, it is with baited breath that I await the motion picture adaptation of this work.  There has been already so many overhauls as far as characters and story plot that I fear this is going to be something King calls his constant readers are going to despise.  I hope not but I can’t help but feel something is amiss when King’s quote about the movie is, “It starts sort of the middle of the story rather than the beginning, which may upset some of the fans a little bit, but they’ll get behind it because it is the story.”

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to stand by King on the release of so many film, as this is the year of King. But, why is it we can’t get the works that we fell in love with? Sure, some of his 80s films left a lot to be desired but they at least tried to show some sorm of resemblance.  This year we’ve received the Mist television show, The Dark Tower gets released next month, and It follows in September.  The movie It seems that, at least for us constant readers, with be closer to the source material.

I hope I’m wrong about this movie, I really do. However, as a constant reader, I am growing tired of seeing new imaginings or adaptations. I long to see the works that he created in the books that I fell in love with.  I plan on seeing this film in the theater because, simply, I’m intrigued. I just hope that a series that took me so long to get into in the first place, doesn’t get destroyed in an hour and a half film.

To view the poster click here: https://ihorror.com/movie-poster-dark-tower/

To watch the trailer click here: https://youtu.be/GjwfqXTebIY

 

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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