Producer and director Roger Corman has a movie for every generation going back about 70 years. That means horror fans aged 21 and older have probably seen one of his films. Mr. Corman passed away on May 9 at the age of 98.

“He was generous, open-hearted, and kind to all those who knew him. A devoted and selfless father, he was deeply loved by his daughters,” his family said on Instagram. “His films were revolutionary and iconoclastic, and captured the spirit of an age.”

The prolific filmmaker was born in Detroit Michigan in 1926. The art of making films swayed his interest in engineering. So, in the mid-1950s he turned his attention to the silver screen by co-producing the film Highway Dragnet in 1954.

A year later he would get behind the lens to direct Five Guns West. The plot of that film sounds like something Spielberg or Tarantino would make today but on a multi-million dollar budget: “During the Civil War, the Confederacy pardons five criminals and sends them into Comanche-territory to recover Union-seized Confederate gold and capture a Confederate turncoat.”

From there Corman made a few pulpy Westerns, but then his interest in monster movies emerged starting with The Beast With a Million Eyes (1955) and It Conquered the World (1956). In 1957 he directed nine movies that ranged from creature features (Attack of the Crab Monsters) to exploitative teenage dramas (Teenage Doll).

By the 60s his focus turned mainly to horror movies. Some of his most famous of that period were based on Edgar Allan Poe’s works, The Pit and the Pendulum (1961), The Raven (1961), and The Masque of the Red Death (1963).

During the 70s he did more producing than directing. He backed a wide array of films, everything from horror to what would be called grindhouse today. One of his most famous films from that decade was Death Race 2000 (1975) and Ron Howard’s first feature Eat My Dust (1976).

In the following decades, he offered many titles. If you rented a B-movie from your local video rental place, he likely produced it.

Even today, after his passing, IMDb reports that he has two upcoming movies in post: Little Shop of Halloween Horrors and Crime City. Like a true Hollywood legend, he is still working from the other side.

“His films were revolutionary and iconoclastic, and captured the spirit of an age,” his family said. “When asked how he would like to be remembered, he said, ‘I was a filmmaker, just that.'”

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. This is for the week of May 5 through May 10.

Yay:

In a Violent Nature made someone puke at the Chicago Critics Film Fest screening. It’s the first time this year that a critic got sick at a movie that wasn’t a Blumhouse film. 

Nay:

Radio Silence pulls out of remake of Escape From New York. Darn, we wanted to see Snake try to escape a remote locked-down mansion full of distopean New York City “crazies.”

Yay:

A new Twisters trailer dropped, focusing on the powerful forces of nature that tear through rural towns. It’s a great alternative to watching candidates do the same thing on local news during this year’s presidential press cycle.  

Nay:

Producer Bryan Fuller walks away from A24’s Friday the 13th series Camp Crystal Lake saying the studio wanted to go a “different way.” After two years of development for a horror series it seems that way doesn’t include ideas from people who actually know what their talking about: fans in a subreddit.

Yay:

Finally, The Tall Man from Phantasm is getting his own Funko Pop! Too bad the toy company is failing. This gives new meaning to Angus Scrimm’s famous line from the movie: “You play a good game…but the game is finished. Now you die!”

Nay:

Football king Travis Kelce joins new Ryan Murphy horror project as a supporting actor. He got more press than the announcement of Dahmer’s Emmy winner Niecy Nash-Betts actually getting the lead. 

There is just something about clowns that can evoke feelings of eeriness or discomfort. Clowns, with their exaggerated features and painted-on smiles, are already somewhat removed from typical human appearance. When portrayed in a sinister manner in movies, they can trigger feelings of fear or unease because they hover in that unsettling space between familiar and unfamiliar. The association of clowns with childhood innocence and joy can make their portrayal as villains or symbols of terror even more disturbing; just writing this and thinking about clowns is making me feel quite uneasy. Many of us can relate to each other when it comes to the fear of clowns! There is a new clown film on the horizon, Clown Motel: 3 Ways To Hell, which promises to have an army of horror icons and provide tons of bloody gore. Check out the press release below, and stay safe from these clowns!

The Clown Motel named the “Scariest Motel in America,” is located in the quiet town of Tonopah, Nevada, renowned among horror enthusiasts. It boasts an unsettling clown theme that permeates every inch of its exterior, lobby, and guest rooms. Situated across from a desolate cemetery from the early 1900s, the motel’s eerie ambiance is heightened by its proximity to the graves.

Clown Motel spawned its first movie, Clown Motel: Spirits Arise, back in 2019, but now we are on to the third!

Director and Writer Joseph Kelly is back at it again with Clown Motel: 3 Ways To Hell, and they officially launched their ongoing campaign.

Clown Motel 3 aims big and is one of the biggest networks of horror franchise actors since the 2017 Death House.

Clown Motel introduces actors from:

Halloween (1978) – Tony Moran – known for his role as the unmasked Michael Myers.

Friday the 13th (1980) – Ari Lehman – the original young Jason Voorhees from the inaugural “Friday The 13th” film.

A Nightmare on Elm Street Parts 4 & 5 – Lisa Wilcox – portrays Alice.

The Exorcist (1973) – Elieen Dietz – Pazuzu Demon.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) – Brett Wagner – who had the first kill in the film as “Kemper Kill Leather Face.’

Scream Parts 1 & 2 – Lee Waddell – known for playing the original Ghostface.

House of 1000 Corpses (2003) – Robert Mukes – known for playing Rufus alongside Sheri Zombie, Bill Moseley, and the late Sid Haig.

Poltergeist Parts 1 & 2—Oliver Robins, known for his role as the boy terrorized by a clown under the bed in Poltergeist, will now flip the script as the tables turn!

WWD, now known as WWE – Wrestler Al Burke joins the lineup!

With a lineup of horror legends and set at America’s Most terrifying motel, this is a dream come true for fans of horror films everywhere!

What’s a clown movie without actual real-life clowns, though? Joining the film are Relik, VillyVodka, and, of course, Mischief – Kelsey Livengood.

Special Effects will be done by Joe Castro, so you know the gore will be bloody good!

A handful of returning cast members include Mindy Robinson (VHS, Range 15), Mark Hoadley, Ray Guiu, Dave Bailey, DieTrich, Bill Victor Arucan, Denny Nolan, Ron Russell, Johnny Perotti (Hammy), Vicky Contreras. For more information on the film, visit Clown Motel’s official Facebook Page.

Making a comeback into feature films and just announced today, Jenna Jameson will also be joining the side of the clowns. And guess what? A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join her or the handful of horror icons on set for a one-day role! More info can be found on Clown Motel’s Campaign page.

After all, who wouldn’t want to be killed by an icon?

Executive Producers Joseph Kelly, Dave Bailey, Mark Hoadley, Joe Castro

Producers Nicole Vegas, Jimmy Star, Shawn C. Phillips, Joel Damian

Clown Motel 3 Ways to Hell is written and directed by Joseph Kelly and promises a blend of horror and nostalgia.