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Late To The Party – Zombieland (2009)

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Welcome back to another edition of Late To The Party, the weekly(ish) feature where the iHorror writers take turns discovering movies that, frankly, we should have discovered years earlier.  This week, I caught up with the cool kids by watching 2009’s Zombieland.

Late to the Party – Zombieland (2009)

The Gang In Zombieland (2009)

My reason for not having seen Zombieland before now is simple.  I was biased against it solely because it is a zombie movie.  For the better part of the last decade, zombies have been tedious and boring staples of pop culture.  Sure, every once in a while something cool and fun will come along (28 Days Later… and Warm Bodies come immediately to mind), but for the most part, zombies are old hat.  Zombieland didn’t interest me because it looked like a typical zombie movie.  Anyone who has seen it, however, could have told me that it is far from a typical zombie movie.

Late to the Party – Zombieland (2009)

Batter Up! Woody Harrelson Swings For The Fences In Zombieland (2009)

Going into Zombieland, there were, of course, things that I knew about it.  Obviously, I knew from the title that it was going to be about the zombie apocalypse.  I knew it starred Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson.  I knew part of the plot revolved around Harrelson’s character searching for a Twinkie.  I knew that Bill Murray had a cameo in it.  And I knew that it was a horror comedy, although with what passes for comedy today, that didn’t necessarily mean that it would be funny.  So, armed with this information and my $4.99 Blu-ray (really, it’s surprisingly cheap for such a recently released movie), I set out to tackle Zombieland.

Late to the Party – Zombieland (2009)

That’s A Fact, Jack! Bill Murray In Zombieland (2009)

The first thing that struck me about the movie was how hip and cool it was.  Of course, with Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone in the cast, I knew that it would be targeting a millennial crowd, but I did not expect all of the slick, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World-esque graphics and titles and such – in some places, when the takes are long and the shots are wide, it’s a bit like watching someone play a video game, with instructions and scores popping up every now and again.  Right away, it was clear to me that this was not going to be a stodgy old zombie movie.  This was fun.

Late to the Party – Zombieland (2009)

The Double Tap In Zombieland (2009)

I was also impressed by how director Ruben Fleischer seemed to admit to himself and to his audience that zombies really aren’t all that frightening anymore, so he didn’t even try for scares.  Instead, he focused on the action sequences and the comic gags.  He let the talented actors take their colorful characters and run with them, not tying them down to whatever may be “scary” or not.  And it works – a lot of people might be upset by my saying this, but Woody Harrelson’s Tallahassee is a much more entertaining zombie killer than Norman Reedus’ Daryl Dixon (but, of course, I also think that The Walking Dead is a big culprit in today’s pop-culture oversaturation of zombies, but that’s another article).

Late to the Party – Zombieland (2009)

Woody Harrleson Shoots FIrst In Zombieland (2009)

While I’m pissing people off, I may as well admit that I think I enjoyed Zombieland more than I enjoyed its across-the-pond spirit animal Shaun of the Dead.  Of course, British humor doesn’t always hit its mark with me, but besides that, Zombieland is just more of a fast paced, fun-filled thrill ride of a movie than Shaun of the Dead.  I didn’t like it as much as Warm Bodies, but that’s apples and oranges.  Zombieland is good because it keeps a consistently perfect blend of character and action throughout the movie, and does so with its tongue planted firmly in its cheek.

Late to the Party – Zombieland (2009)

Jesse Eisenberg And Friends In Zombieland (2009)

So basically, Zombieland left me wanting more (in a good way), and now I’m a little more pumped for the impending sequel than I was before.  I’m still bored by typical modern zombie movies, though.  It’ll take more than just Zombieland to change that.

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

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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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Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

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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.

Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Footwear for Wednesday Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams Skullector doll
Morticia Addams doll shoes
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1994’s ‘The Crow’ Coming Back to Theaters for A New Special Engagement

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The Crow

Cinemark recently announced that they will be bringing The Crow back from the dead once again. This announcement comes just in time for the film’s 30th anniversary. Cinemark will be playing The Crow in select theaters on May 29th and 30th.

For those unaware, The Crow is a fantastic film based on the gritty graphic novel by James O’Barr. Widely considered one of the best films of the 90s, The Crow’s lifespan was cut short when Brandon Lee died of an accidental on set shooting.

The official synapsis of the film is as follows. “The modern-gothic original that entranced audiences and critics alike, The Crow tells the tale of a young musician brutally murdered alongside his beloved fiancée, only to be risen from the grave by a mysterious crow. Seeking revenge, he battles a criminal underground that must answer for its crimes. Adapted from the comic book saga of the same name, this action-packed thriller from director Alex Proyas (Dark City) features hypnotic style, dazzling visuals, and a soulful performance by the late Brandon Lee.”

The Crow

The timing of this release couldn’t be better. As a new generation of fans eagerly awaits the release of The Crow remake, they can now see the classic film in all of its glory. As much as we love Bill Skarsgard (IT), there is something timeless in Brandon Lee’s performance in the film.

This theatrical release is part of the Scream Greats series. This is a collaboration between Paramount Scares and Fangoria to bring audiences some of the best classic horror films. So far, they are doing a fantastic job.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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