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We’re Living in a Golden Era of Stephen King Films

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It’s almost never been better to be a fan of Stephen King.

From It to Gerald’s Game to 11.22.63, we’ve been getting absolutely pummelled with knockout after knockout with material based on the author’s work. And even though there have been a few duds – The Dark Tower really, really missed the mark – we should be thankful for the soon-to-be classics that have been introduced as of late.

The monetary success of It alone should be enough to get any horror fan excited. Things were looking somewhat bleak earlier in the year with Friday the 13th’s cancellation, due to poor performances on seemingly surefire hits like Rings. Thankfully, Stephen King has always been a dependable source for scares, and the numbers don’t lie. It was a commercial and critical success, and you can be sure that we’re about to see a lot more with the author’s name on it based on that alone.

And if things continue the way they have been, I’ll be a very happy person. Gerald’s Game, for those who haven’t seen it, is nothing short of phenomenal. “That scene” in particular – those of you who have seen it will know what I’m talking about – is sure to end up on a lot of people’s lists for scariest and most cringe-worthy horror moments of all time in years to come. But before any of you gorehounds freak out, hear me out; yes, I acknowledge that there have been much more extreme sequences in films before, some that may even rival the one in Gerald’s Game, but its placement during the film and execution is almost unparalleled. This isn’t a movie that is aiming to push Fulci out of the spotlight; this is a movie that, for the most part, is devoid of any other real extreme gore, making its inclusion that much more surprising and altogether terrifying.

Netflix

We’ve not seen this much wealth in the realm of Stephen King films since the 1980’s. And even then, though there were many, many classics being produced, there were also a lot of missteps. For a while, it seemed like King was getting a reputation of being a silly pulp writer because of it. A movie bearing Stephen King’s name, at least for a while, didn’t really mean that you were in for anything truly horrifying. Fun, yes, but it was much lighter than where we are today.

We then had one of the worst films ever made in Dreamcatcher, further sullying his reputation in film. It wasn’t like the man was responsible for directing them – it was simply that many of his ideas are so out there, so outlandish, that what worked on paper was incredibly hard to replicate on film.

Which is also why It was so surprising. It’s one of the more fantastic, epic novels the author has ever brought into this world, and yet, Andy Muschietti’s film seemed to capture all of it perfectly. For those who are still uptight about the 1990 miniseries, I’m here to reaffirm that it’s more than okay to prefer the new version. I certainly do. Pennywise has found a new avatar in the form of Skaarsgaard, and I find no reason to look back, wonderful as Curry was. I think it a lot of people were more honest with themselves and less afraid to fight nostalgia, they’d admit the same thing.

EW

I’d like to see some more updated adaptations with the way things have been going. Children of the Corn, for example, would be a great choice, as would Pet Sematary. A lot of filmmakers have now grown up with a love for King and his novels and their respective adaptations; true love that has shaped their desires to work in film or literature. These are the kind of people we need working on his films. For a while, this was not the case; as John Carpenter said himself, Christine was simply a job he was hired to do. Though the results were fine enough, it was unfortunately devoid of passion. You can say what you will about It, Gerald’s Game, and even 11.22.63 (though really, what bad could you possibly have to say about that one?), but criticizing them for being without passion is simply false.

Luckily, it doesn’t appear that this train is slowing down anytime soon. 1922 has just been released to mainly positive reviews, and Hulu’s Castle Rock is on the horizon, which is hopefully going to live up to expectations. Sure, The Mist has been canceled, and I can’t help but refer back to the disappointment that was The Dark Tower, but for all of the letdowns, the stronger entries seem to be so overpowering that those flubs can be overlooked.

As a huge fan of the novelist, I feel very lucky to be alive in a time where there seems to be such a renewed interest in getting his works the adaptations they deserve. In 2017, we’ve amassed such a wealth of classics, both modern and nostalgic, that it’s overwhelming in scope. Appreciate what you have, folks, because King is one in a million.

Rolling Stone

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Brad Dourif Says He’s Retiring Except For One Important Role

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Brad Dourif has been doing movies for nearly 50 years. Now it seems he is walking away from the industry at 74 to enjoy his golden years. Except, there is a caveat.

Recently, digital entertainment publication JoBlo’s Tyler Nichols talked to some of the Chucky television series cast members. During the interview, Dourif made an announcement.

“Dourif said that he’s retired from acting,” says Nichols. “The only reason he came back for the show was because of his daughter Fiona and he considers Chucky creator Don Mancini to be family. But for non-Chucky stuff, he considers himself retired.”

Dourif has voiced the possessed doll since 1988 (minus the 2019 reboot). The original movie “Child’s Play” has become such a cult classic it’s at the top of some people’s best chillers of all time. Chucky himself is ingrained in pop culture history much like Frankenstein or Jason Voorhees.

While Dourif may be known for his famous voiceover, he is also an Oscar-nominated actor for his part in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Another famous horror role is The Gemini Killer in William Peter Blatty’s Exorcist III. And who can forget Betazoid Lon Suder in Star Trek: Voyager?

The good news is that Don Mancini is already pitching a concept for season four of Chucky which might also include a feature-length movie with a series tie-in. So, Although Dourif says he is retiring from the industry, ironically he is Chucky’s friend till the end.

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Editorial

7 Great ‘Scream’ Fan Films & Shorts Worth a Watch

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The Scream franchise is such an iconic series, that many budding filmmakers take inspiration from it and make their own sequels or, at least, build upon the original universe created by screenwriter Kevin Williamson. YouTube is the perfect medium to showcase these talents (and budgets) with fan-made homages with their own personal twists.

The great thing about Ghostface is that he can appear anywhere, in any town, he just needs the signature mask, knife, and unhinged motive. Thanks to Fair Use laws it’s possible to expand upon Wes Craven’s creation by simply getting a group of young adults together and killing them off one by one. Oh, and don’t forget the twist. You’ll notice that Roger Jackson’s famous Ghostface voice is uncanny valley, but you get the gist.

We have gathered five fan films/shorts related to Scream that we thought were pretty good. Although they can’t possibly match the beats of a $33 million blockbuster, they get by on what they have. But who needs money? If you’re talented and motivated anything is possible as proven by these filmmakers who are well on their way to the big leagues.

Take a look at the below films and let us know what you think. And while you’re at it, leave these young filmmakers a thumbs up, or leave them a comment to encourage them to create more films. Besides, where else are you going to see Ghostface vs. a Katana all set to a hip-hop soundtrack?

Scream Live (2023)

Scream Live

Ghostface (2021)

Ghostface

Ghost Face (2023)

Ghost Face

Don’t Scream (2022)

Don’t Scream

Scream: A Fan Film (2023)

Scream: A Fan Film

The Scream (2023)

The Scream

A Scream Fan Film (2023)

A Scream Fan Film
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Movies

Another Creepy Spider Movie Hits Shudder This Month

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Good spider films are a theme this year. First, we had Sting and then there was Infested. The former is still in theaters and the latter is coming to Shudder starting April 26.

Infested has been getting some good reviews. People are saying that it’s not only a great creature feature but also a social commentary on racism in France.

According to IMDb: Writer/director Sébastien Vanicek was looking for ideas around the discrimination faced by black and Arab-looking people in France, and that led him to spiders, which are rarely welcome in homes; whenever they’re spotted, they’re swatted. As everyone in the story (people and spiders) is treated like vermin by society, the title came to him naturally.

Shudder has become the gold standard for streaming horror content. Since 2016, the service has been offering fans an expansive library of genre movies. in 2017, they began to stream exclusive content.

Since then Shudder has become a powerhouse in the film festival circuit, buying distribution rights to movies, or just producing some of their own. Just like Netflix, they give a film a short theatrical run before adding it to their library exclusively for subscribers.

Late Night With the Devil is a great example. It was released theatrically on March 22 and will begin streaming on the platform starting April 19.

While not getting the same buzz as Late Night, Infested is a festival favorite and many have said if you suffer from arachnophobia, you might want to take heed before watching it.

Infested

According to the synopsis, our main character, Kalib is turning 30 and dealing with some family issues. “He’s fighting with his sister over an inheritance and has cut ties with his best friend. Fascinated by exotic animals, he finds a venomous spider in a shop and brings it back to his apartment. It only takes a moment for the spider to escape and reproduce, turning the whole building into a dreadful web trap. The only option for Kaleb and his friends is to find a way out and survive.”

The film will be available to watch on Shudder starting April 26.

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