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Horror Origins – The Joker and The Man Who Laughs!

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Being the nightmare-creation of Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Jerry Robinson, and pitted against the Dark Knight of Gotham, Joker (Batman # 1, 1940) quickly became the most celebrated villain in pop-culture history. Originally he was meant to be killed in the second issue, but DC noticed how well-received their newest rouge was and (wisely) extended the Clown Prince of Crime’s life. Since that day he has proven to be the Batman’s deadliest challenge.

The Joker’s crimes and atrocities are legendary and often prove to have no reason or motive behind them. He’s set off a nuke in the middle of Metropolis, personally targeted and killed members of the Bat-Family, and even threw a baby at Comm. Gordon’s wife, distracting her, and as she frantically struggled to save the child Joker shot her and left her on the floor with several stolen babies crawling over her still-warm and bleeding corpse. That’s not even the tip of the iceberg though.

image courtesy of DC comics, artist Bill Bolland, Allan Moore, ‘The Killing Joke’

Despite his colorful attire, comical demeanor, and never-fading smile Joker is terrifying! He kills because it’s funny to him. It really just boils down to one thing – life is a sick joke and death’s the punchline. That’s his perception of reality. If you disagree then you simply don’t get the joke.

His weapon is simple – though he’s used dozens of instruments to get the point across – laughter! That alone makes him dangerous and frightening, but, of course, Joker has to take it one step further than we’d expect. He’s not above his own methods of cruelty and sadism, as, to simply shock the whole city, Joker allowed his own face to be sliced off. Then returned a year later, stole the face from lockdown at the GCPD, and wore it like a Halloween mask.

image courtesy of DC comics, ‘Death of the Family.’ written by Scott Snyder, illustrated by Greg Capulla

Because that’s the gag – no one is exempt from the horrors of reality. And he’ll wear that horror proudly for all to see.

 

Joker and a Dark Origin

His origins are steeped in horror history. I’m not talking about how Joker became what he is in the comics – there are too many variations to choose from there – but rather, what inspirations the creators drew from when designing the signature look of the character.

Taking inspiration largely from Paul Leni’s German expressionist silent horror, The Man Who Laughs (1928), Joker found his trademark smile from Conrad Veidt’s ghoulish disfigurement. The tragic figure of Veidt’s character, Gwynplaine, is left with a morbid smile permanently etched across his face. If that sounds familiar to you, that’s because it bears an eerie resemblance to both Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker.

image courtesy of WB, ‘Batman’ and ‘The Dark Knight.’ Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger

It’s a smile meant to provoke dread, discomfort, and nausea out of the viewer. Veidt’s smile is anything but the result of comedy and is a curse to him. The same can be said for Joker’s wicked grin.

image courtesy of Universal Pictures, ”The Man Who Laughs’ starring Conrad Veidt

Taking a cue from this classic tragedy, Todd Phillips, director of Joker (now in theaters) gave his titular character a similar ailment, the inability to keep from laughing during times of stress or anxiety, again, lacking humor or good-nature in Joker’s random outbursts. Like Veidt’s smile, Arthur’s (Joaquin Phoenix) laughter is a disfigurement, and a cause to pity him.

Again, as was the case with TMWL, it causes Joker to be the target of ridicule and violence.

image courtesy of WB, ‘Joker’ directed by Todd Phillips, starring Joaquin Phoenix

 

“Wanna Know How I Got These Scars?”

In his Oscar-winning performance in The Dark Knight,  Heath Ledger’s Joker is literally scarred ear-to-ear across the mouth, leaving him with a hideous grin he could never escape.

We’re never told how he got those scars and the few times Joker offers an explanation the stories are never the same. When they happened and how are irrelevant, he just has them. And that trauma is part of who he is.

image courtesy of WB, ‘The Dark Knight’ directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Heath Ledger

The Man Who Laughs is about a boy who is purposely disfigured at an early age. His father is tried as a political prisoner and is sentenced to death by means of an iron maiden (METAL!). The boy, Gwynplaine, must go on and live with his hellish smile for the rest of his days, finding acceptance only in a traveling carnival of freaks.

Although unlike Gwynplaine, Phoenix’s Joker has no physical deformities, the two are connected in a spiritual sense. Both are results of a wicked society governed by corrupt elitists who care not a thing for those suffering in the alleyways and outskirts of high society. Both men are social outcasts, long for acceptance and are denied the comfort of any genuine affection.

They both face ridicule, mockery, and suffer from violence until in a twist of irony (or perhaps destiny) they turn violent against those who broke them down. And the smile (or the laugh) finally feels honestly earned.

image courtesy of WB, ‘Joker’ dir. Todd Phillips, starring Joaquin Phoenix

Finally, throughout TMWL, Gwynplaine does everything he can to hide his smile, almost as if he’s trying to smother it against his arm. Shadowing this same action, Arthur, who (as aforementioned) suffers from a mental ailment that causes him to laugh uncontrollably, desperately fights against the impulse to laugh and smothers his outbursts in his arm, mirroring the very character who originally gave life to the Joker many decades ago.

Even just a curious glance at TMWL‘s trailer grants the watchful eye a view of a clown is wearing eerily similar makeup to Phoenix’s Joker (0.09).

It’s little details like that I love so much.

The Joker has enjoyed a long history of maniacal success and has been seen in many iterations. His latest incarnation is not only faithful to his comic-book history but also pays homage to the smiling man who first inspired life into our favorite clown. If you’ve not seen Joker already I highly recommend it. It is part of the horror community and is very much so a piece of our history.

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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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