Connect with us

News

Serial Killers on the Rise Again in the Entertainment Industry

Published

on

Real life serial killers being portrayed in the movies as well as America’s obsession with them are not new phenomenons.  From Michael Rooker’s break out performance in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer to pre-Hurt Locker Jeremy’s Renner’s portrayal of Dahmer in the self-titled film, stars have been making names for themselves based off of these real life killers for decades.  Even horror veteran Kane Hodder has portrayed two real life serial killers; Ed Gein and Dennis Rader, also known as the BTK Strangler.


However a resurgence is on the rise in the serial killer sub-genre, and an unlikely theme is starting to emerge.  While purely coincidental, two previous Disney channel stars have taken up the reigns as serial killers Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer.  Former High School the Musical star Zac Efron has signed onto Joe Berlinger’s project Extremely Wicked, Shocking Evil and Vile as sadistic serial killer Ted Bundy.  Extremely Wicked will be told from the point of view of Bundy’s longtime girlfriend, and there is no doubt we will see Efron put his baby blues to the test when manipulating her gaze away from his sadistic activities.


Ross Lynch, a former Disney star as well, has recently finished filming a project where he portrayed homosexual cannibal and serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer.  Unlike Berlinger’s film, this movie will not be set during the killing years of his life, instead it takes place during his last year of high school, three months before his first murder.  The movie is meant to portray the psyche of the high school senior both at home and in school before he took that fatal step over the killing line.  The biopic in titled My Friend Dahmer and is based off of the graphic novel under the same title by Derf Backderf, and is directed by Marc Meyers.

However, we must ask ourselves; In an America that glorifies violence, especially by the acts of serial killers, how will the portrayal of two of the most ruthless men to have ever been put through the criminal justice system be received when portrayed by two men who’s fan bases are made up of girls who see them as desirable heart throbs?

American audiences have already seen something similar back in the ‘80s when heart throb Mark Harmon portrayed Ted Bundy in the NBC TV movie The Deliberate Stranger.  This was at a time in Harmon’s career where he was seen as a very attractive and desirable man.  In fact, the same year the TV movie came out Harmon was announced by People’s magazine as the sexiest man alive.  Harmon captured the hearts of many, just as the real Ted did in his days before his capture.

1986 People Magazine cover

The movie begins with the murder of one of Bundy’s later victims, skipping over six previous females who fell victim to his sadistic urges earlier in his life.  The movie then proceeds to follow his trail of victims across the country and into his trial and eventual sentencing.  Chillingly Ted Bundy sat on death row while the TV movie aired on NBC, but according to his lawyer Bundy showed no interest in viewing it.

Resulting from the success of the movie and the handsome portrayal by Harmon fresh life was breathed back into the Bundy case and a whole new generation of groupies were created.  The movie captured Bundy’s charm.  It favored the charismatic and attractive Dr. Jekyll side, while it shied away from the evil and sadistic Mr. Hyde.

True crime author Ann Rule recited her experience knowing the real life serial killer in her book The Stranger Beside Me.  In later editions she recalled the many letters she received after the premier of The Deliberate Stranger.  Women of all ages claimed Bundy was wrongfully convicted and proclaimed their support.  The author took the time to write these ladies and explained they were misplacing their affection for the actor who played Bundy onto the serial killer himself.

This makes me wonder if a new generation of groupies will be born in the wake of the two new movies Extremely Wicked, Shocking Evil and Vile and My Friend Dahmer.  Fortunately these men are no longer threats among us.  Dahmer was killed in November 1994 in prison by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver.  Scarver claimed God had told him to do it.  After several stays of execution Ted Bundy was finally put to death in January 1989 in Florida State Prison by the electric chair.

While both of these criminals in the upcoming movies are now deceased and can no longer corrupt young and impressionable minds through written communication, future movies and media coverage will continue to glorify present and new criminals.

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Editorial

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

Published

on

Horror Movies

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. 

The Crow
Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Continue Reading

Lists

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

Published

on

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.

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Continue Reading

News

Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

Published

on

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
Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Listen to the 'Eye On Horror Podcast'

Continue Reading