News

‘Human Lanterns’ is a Kung-Fu Shaw Bros Film That Takes Inspiration From Ed Gein and Psycho

Published

2 years ago

May 4, 2022

The Shaw Bros have an endless line of classic kung-fu films. Every single one of them is excellent in their own way. However later in the Shaw line, they started mixing it up with Hammer Films. This of course added bit of horror in with the classic kung-fu brilliance. Films like The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires were born out of this cross pollination. In Human Lanterns Shaw and Hammer once again joined forces going after the slasher trend that was taking off in the States.This lead to one of the most bizarre and completely gnarly Shaw bros films of them all.

The result is a incendiary narrative that is a complete must-see – and an outright tale of revenge. All while also encompassing kung-fu action and knots of horror throughout. The killer in the film fits in nicely with Hannibal and the even elegantly displays his tableaus in a similar fashion. This killer very much does the same thing. This leads to a beautiful and terrifying portrait that is very much an exact illustration of the film’s title itself. Director, Chung Sung does a masterful job of creating a film that equally represents the interweaving of the two genres at once.

In Human Lanterns revenge is taken on kung fu masters by creating actual lanterns out of the flesh of their relatives. Not nice, right? Of course, this leads to a bloody amount of revenge that comes from the two kung-fu masters as well as the serial killer whose sadistic approach proves that he is very much in control of the situation by usage of methods that would easily fit a David Fincher film. In fact there are sections in Human Lanters that surprisingly act as moments from both Seven.

Lieh Lo and Tony Liu both play their roles majestically. Each is able to switch on and off the menace, drama and kung-fu easily between each beat. These two are the very balance of the film and utilize a cat and mouse frequency in order to bring the entire thing home.

I loved any time that Shaw Bros would step outside of themselves. It brings to mind the tale of Opium and the Kung-Fu Masters. In that film, they explored opium addiction and the downfall of a certain cultural mentality due to the introduction of drugs or other stimuli that pulled away from focus. In this case focus of being kung-fu masters and protectors of their village.

The official synopsis for Human Lanters goes like this:

Lung Shu Ai (Tony Liu), a pompous and wealthy man, hires Chao Fang (Lieh Lo) to make a special lantern for an annual lantern festival. Chao remembers losing his woman to Lung, so he plots revenge on the man and his loved ones.

The special features for Human Lanterns include:

HD transfer from original negative/ Audio Commentary by Kenneth Brorsson and Phil Gillon from the Podcast on Fire Network/ A Shaw Story – An interview with Susan Shaw/ The Beauty and Beasts – An interview with Linda Chu/ Original Trailer/ Reversible sleeve including original Hong Kong poster artwork/ Brand new slipcase with artwork from R.P. “Kung Fu Bob” O’Brien/Includes full poster of Human Lanterns artwork.

Human Lantern seethes with its mean-spirited menace while also maintaining that edge of beautiful wardrobe and set pieces that Shaw Bros films are famous for. The gore in the film is top-notch – each of the serial killer’s slayings will burn themselves in your memory. The cross-pollination of kung-fu and a completely harrowing backing of very real and freshly explored slasher horror is an exciting thing to see mix together here. Human Lanterns is a gory affair with plenty of impressive narrative to accompany the horrors throughout. If you are a Shaw Bros fan and a slasher fan this is one that you really have to explore for your first time or for a much-needed re watch with the impressive blu-ray transfer.

Human Lanterns is due out on limited edition blu-ray beginning June 7. You can order it right HERE.

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Editorial

Yay or Nay: What’s Good and Bad in Horror This Week

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Welcome to Yay or Nay a weekly mini post about what I think is good and bad news in the horror community written in bite-sized chunks.

Yay:

Mike Flanagan talking about directing the next chapter in the Exorcist trilogy. That might mean he saw the last one and realized there were two left and if he does anything well it’s draw out a story.

Yay:

To the announcement of a new IP-based film Mickey Vs Winnie. It’s fun to read comical hot takes from people who haven’t even seen the movie yet.

Nay:

The new Faces of Death reboot gets an R rating. It’s not really fair — Gen-Z should get an unrated version like past generations so they can question their mortality the same as the rest of us did.

Yay:

Russell Crowe is doing another possession movie. He’s quickly becoming another Nic Cage by saying yes to every script, bringing the magic back to B-movies, and more money into VOD.

Nay:

Putting The Crow back in theaters for its 30th anniversary. Re-releasing classic movies at the cinema to celebrate a milestone is perfectly fine, but doing so when the lead actor in that film was killed on set due to neglect is a cash grab of the worst kind.

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Lists

The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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News

Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors.

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie.

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time.

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.