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Original “Maximum Overdrive” Goblin Restored

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The Green Goblin is back, and he means business. The “Maximum Overdrive” villain is a part of horror movie history on many levels, and now you can own a piece it for a very small price thanks to prop collector Tim Shockey. Shockey talks to iHorror about how he restored the the Goblin and how the fans can get a piece of it for themselves. If you don’t remember the film “Maximum Overdrive”, it is important to horror history.

The 1980’s were Stephen King’s era. Adaptations of his books were in such demand that Hollywood looked to his short stories for inspiration. The short story “Trucks” was no exception, and in 1986 the movie “Maximum Overdrive,” based on that story, hit theaters.

[iframe id=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/ggWS4tTzs60″]

King wrote the screenplay and directed the film which one might think would make a great combination. Unfortunately, the campiness and playfulness of the film is far from terrifying.

That’s not to say “Maximum Overdrive” doesn’t have its creepy villain.

The villain in this case is The Green Goblin; a huge grinning mask that adorns the front of a “Happy Toyz” tractor/trailer. The world’s machines have become victim to some sort of radiation, making them capable of taking on lives of their own and seemingly wanting to eradicate the human race. The Green Goblin appears intelligent; it figures out that diesel gas is its life’s blood and needs humans to run the hose and gas pumps in order to survive.

The Goblin has trapped a small group of people inside a roadside cafe for this purpose and hero Bill Robinson (Emilio Estevez), a café employee, battles the big rig until the explosive finale.

The face of fear

The face of fear

Bill Robinson (Emilio Estevez) makes a deal

Bill Robinson (Emilio Estevez) makes a deal

 

28 years later The Green Goblin is back and he has found a willing human slave in Tim Shockey. Back in the 80’s Shockey, a movie prop enthusiast, was traveling back from a family trip in Willmington NC, when he saw a diner in the horizon around which several diesel trucks were circling. Not too long after that, he put a video cassette titled “Maximum Overdrive” in his VCR and realized that he had seen the movie being made.

Tim Shockey with The Green Goblin

Tim Shockey with THe Green Goblin

By chance, Shockey’s brother, back in Willmington phoned him to say that an ad had been placed in the local paper offering to sell the Green Goblin head from the movie. Shockey drove the several hours back to North Carolina and purchased the prop. The head remained in Shockey’s video store until he sold the business.

Thus began a few decades worth of procrastination as the Goblin head remained in his storage shed for some time. Finally, Shockey making good on a personal promise, took a deep breath and began the restoration process.

“It was really a mess,” Shockey sais, “The whole jaw was gone including the tongue and lower teeth and so was the tops of both ears. Everything that was left was burnt badly. There were a few places where you could still see some of the original green paint. I displayed it in the video store for several years till we sold the business. At that point it was moved to my back yard where it set for over 20 years.”

Before and after the restoration

Before and after the restoration

Having never worked with fiberglass before Shockey began the arduous process of restoring the head with only some pictures to build from. In the beginning, he would sit for hours just staring at the piece wondering where to attack it first. Finally, he picked up a sander and started. “I spent almost two years working evenings and weekends restoring the Green Goblin head. It was painted on March 16, 2013. We attended our first Horror Con 1 week after the head was painted. We have attended around 22 conventions in past two years.”

Shockey was hoping to keep the piece for his private collection, but when people started questioning his sudden social media absence, he explained that he was working on something called the “Goblin Project”, posting pictures of his restoration efforts as he went along. Fans recognized the piece and insisted that he showcase it at various genre conventions around the country,” People started asking if I were going to take it to this con and that con. I had no idea what they were talking about. Once I learned about all the horror and comic cons I knew I couldn’t just leave the goblin locked away in my garage…I had to share it with the fans!”

Santiago Cirilo, The Goblin and Shockey

Santiago Cirilo, The Goblin and Shockey

And he did share. Not too soon after the project was finished and the paint was barely dry, Shockey attended his first “Con”, and has attended about 22 in the last few years. To Shockey’s knowledge, this is the only fully restored Goblin used in the movie.

The original “Happy Toyz” tractor/trailer was presumably destroyed after filming. The man he bought the head from said he saw what looked like the truck being taken to the scrap yard. Shockey is considering mounting the Goblin on a big rig, as it was in the movie, but hasn’t committed to that yet, worried the elements might destroy it during transport.

The Green Goblin has quite a following. Famous people come up to his display and pose in front of the grinning villain. But there is one story that Shockey says he remembers touching him the most, “Here was a young girl that came running up crying and hugged me. I ask her what was wrong and she stepped back and said “Thank you for restoring the Green Goblin head!” She was just so excited to see it and talked on and on about the movie. That moment made all those lonely night and weekends in the garage restoring it worth every second!”

Whatever you might think of the movie “Maximum Overdrive”, The Green Goblin is definitely a part of horror history. And you can own a piece of it too. Shockey had to make some adjustments to the back of the piece and he is selling pieces of the scrap for $20.

Genuine Goblin Head piece can be yours for $20

Genuine Goblin Head piece can be yours for $20

As for the future of the Goblin Shockey says he’s letting the fans decide, “My passion for this project has grown and we have the desire to share it with as many fans as we can! We urge fans to contact their local / favorite cons and tell them to invite me to their event! I am a one man show here. We are building pieces of the truck to mount in behind the head for better photos. Also adding lights and sound! When fans come to see it I want to have as much Maximum Overdrive memorabilia as I can find to make their experience as memorable as possible!”

Horror fans can check out The Goblin Project here to help in the restoration process. Or to own your own piece of “Maximum Overdrive” history check out Hollywood Prop Collector.

You can also follow Shockeys progress on the project by visiting his Facebook page here.

 

Change lanes quickly!

U Turn! U Die!  

To get your copy of “Maximum Overdrive” you can order it at Amazon.com.

 

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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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