The show may have been called "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," but the chosen one (Sarah Michelle Gellar) fought all different types of monsters, not just the fangy, blood-sucky kind. For series creator Joss Whedon, this was to ensure his premise had enough to sustain itself in the transition from a movie to an ongoing TV series:
"Though ['Buffy'] had been a fun idea for a movie, I wasn't really sure if there was a whole series there, just about this girl going and killing vampires. So, I started to think about it and I came up with the notion of playing all sorts of horror movies in high school and making them really metaphors for how frightening and horrible high school is."
Whedon said as much in a 1998 interview (when "Buffy" had started its third season). In bringing these vampires to life onscreen, Whedon said there were two, contradictory rules: they had to look both demonic,...
"Though ['Buffy'] had been a fun idea for a movie, I wasn't really sure if there was a whole series there, just about this girl going and killing vampires. So, I started to think about it and I came up with the notion of playing all sorts of horror movies in high school and making them really metaphors for how frightening and horrible high school is."
Whedon said as much in a 1998 interview (when "Buffy" had started its third season). In bringing these vampires to life onscreen, Whedon said there were two, contradictory rules: they had to look both demonic,...
- 11/14/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
After the much-derided "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" movie debuted in 1992, creator Joss Whedon almost gave up on his original vision. The writer had conceived of "Buffy" as a way to subvert expectations by having the typically helpless blonde become the hero of her own story. Unfortunately, Whedon was beyond disappointed by the film, talking on record about how the project was taken away from him and turned into a campy comedy. In recent years, there's been renewed interest in the "Buffy" movie, which certainly differs in tone from the TV show that came to define the character in popular culture. But the movie did at least give us the first draft of Buffy Summers
After that first iteration hit theaters, Gail Berman of Sandollar Productions thought the subversive vampire slayer might make for a good TV show, and contacted Whedon thinking he'd be uninterested in revisiting "Buffy." But to her surprise,...
After that first iteration hit theaters, Gail Berman of Sandollar Productions thought the subversive vampire slayer might make for a good TV show, and contacted Whedon thinking he'd be uninterested in revisiting "Buffy." But to her surprise,...
- 9/23/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
"Buffy The Vampire Slayer" season 4 is one of the show's more contested runs, but episode 10, "Hush," is a fan-favorite. When silent, grinning demons called the Gentlemen come to Sunnydale and rob the characters of their voices, the series makes a rare turn into outright horror.
Series creator (and controversial figure) Joss Whedon, who personally wrote and directed "Hush," recounted in the episode's DVD commentary that he wanted to test himself as a visual storyteller. He felt the visuals in "Buffy" had become too functional; the dialogue was guiding the storytelling to simple shot/reverse shot techniques. The obvious way to break up this monotony was to make an episode with little dialogue.
"Hush" forces the characters to find new ways of communicating and the story to deliver information without language. Looking at his career wholistically, Whedon never really outgrew using his dialogue as a crutch, but even he acknowledges: "It...
Series creator (and controversial figure) Joss Whedon, who personally wrote and directed "Hush," recounted in the episode's DVD commentary that he wanted to test himself as a visual storyteller. He felt the visuals in "Buffy" had become too functional; the dialogue was guiding the storytelling to simple shot/reverse shot techniques. The obvious way to break up this monotony was to make an episode with little dialogue.
"Hush" forces the characters to find new ways of communicating and the story to deliver information without language. Looking at his career wholistically, Whedon never really outgrew using his dialogue as a crutch, but even he acknowledges: "It...
- 9/4/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
National Lampoon's "Animal House" is perhaps Hollywood's first party film. It's a beloved genre now, with notable entries like "Neighbors" and "Project X," but "Animal House" was a true pioneer in debauchery. It may have seemed like a non-stop rager in the Delta house, but believe it or not, the set was a strictly sober environment — at least, while the cameras were rolling.
"Animal House" was a fratty set from the very start. Director John Landis called all the Deltas to set a week before the rest of the cast to help them form a close-knit bond. One night, they went to a frat party and got in a fight with the real fraternity brothers there, The New York Times reported.
"That fight cemented us as a group," declared James Widdoes, who plays the high-strung chapter president Robert Hoover. After that, the Deltas took to partying in real life almost as much as their characters.
"Animal House" was a fratty set from the very start. Director John Landis called all the Deltas to set a week before the rest of the cast to help them form a close-knit bond. One night, they went to a frat party and got in a fight with the real fraternity brothers there, The New York Times reported.
"That fight cemented us as a group," declared James Widdoes, who plays the high-strung chapter president Robert Hoover. After that, the Deltas took to partying in real life almost as much as their characters.
- 1/22/2023
- by Shae Sennett
- Slash Film
The cast of National Lampoon's "Animal House" acted very similar on and off the screen. The 1978 comedy classic was the acting debut of Kevin Bacon, who was only nineteen at the time. Bacon had his big break when director John Landis plucked him out of acting school and cast him as Chip Dillard, a pledge in the prestigious Omega Theta Pi fraternity. It seemed like a dream come true at first, but the young actor quickly learned that playing one of the bad guys comes at a price.
Landis alienated the clean-cut, antagonistic Omegas from the rugged anti-heroic Deltas before they even began filming. The director brought the Deltas to set a week before the Omegas, where a strong bond quickly formed, The New York Times reported in a 2018 oral history. The group actually visited a nearby fraternity at the University of Oregon for a party — and got in a brawl with the brothers.
Landis alienated the clean-cut, antagonistic Omegas from the rugged anti-heroic Deltas before they even began filming. The director brought the Deltas to set a week before the Omegas, where a strong bond quickly formed, The New York Times reported in a 2018 oral history. The group actually visited a nearby fraternity at the University of Oregon for a party — and got in a brawl with the brothers.
- 1/15/2023
- by Shae Sennett
- Slash Film
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" isn't a show for the faint of heart. Throughout its seven seasons, the characters go through some of the most horrific experiences imaginable -- coping with grief, loss, loneliness, and every existential problem under the sun. Despite its supernatural settings, the series wonderfully grounds these experiences in a recognizable reality.
The Sarah Michelle Gellar-starring series is a high school coming-of-age tale and a supernatural drama. Buffy (Gellar) and the rest of the Scooby Gang spend most episodes fighting off some non-human threat to their town while dealing with typical high school problems -- homework, school dances, dating, and the like.
This same parity applies to the tragedies of "Buffy." Yes, the death of a loved one at the hands of supernatural forces is sad, but so is your boyfriend breaking up with you before prom. As Buffy once told Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) just before her most heroic act,...
The Sarah Michelle Gellar-starring series is a high school coming-of-age tale and a supernatural drama. Buffy (Gellar) and the rest of the Scooby Gang spend most episodes fighting off some non-human threat to their town while dealing with typical high school problems -- homework, school dances, dating, and the like.
This same parity applies to the tragedies of "Buffy." Yes, the death of a loved one at the hands of supernatural forces is sad, but so is your boyfriend breaking up with you before prom. As Buffy once told Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) just before her most heroic act,...
- 1/12/2023
- by Kira Deshler
- Slash Film
Before television was populated with supernatural teen dramas like "Riverdale" and "The Vampire Diaries," and long before "Twilight" took the world by storm, fledgling network The WB took a risk on a bold new series called "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." The premise was born out of creator Joss Whedon's idea to flip the perspective on the defenseless blonde cheerleader archetype that typically dies in horror movies by turning her into a hero.
While Whedon is no longer regarded as the feminist hero he once was, the show still has a lot of merit for its originality as both a supernatural horror series and a serious teen drama that deftly handled feminist issues and empowered young women. "Buffy" was a gripping and surprising show to tune into each week. At turns hilarious and terrifying, it's worth revisiting 25 years later. We've gathered the 14 best episodes of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" from across the series' seven seasons,...
While Whedon is no longer regarded as the feminist hero he once was, the show still has a lot of merit for its originality as both a supernatural horror series and a serious teen drama that deftly handled feminist issues and empowered young women. "Buffy" was a gripping and surprising show to tune into each week. At turns hilarious and terrifying, it's worth revisiting 25 years later. We've gathered the 14 best episodes of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" from across the series' seven seasons,...
- 9/7/2022
- by Molly Turner
- Slash Film
Can you really believe that Mark Metcalf, one of the reasons why the classic movie Animal House was so great, is in his 70s? One of the few guys that no one could really stand in the National Lampoon movie, Douglas C. Neidermeyer, was a true product of a college movie in that he played the Rotc cadet officer that was a little too serious about his position and went full Patton on his fellow cadets a lot of times, berating them and acting like a drill sergeant while still in college. The caption showing just what happened to each
Whatever Happened to Mark Metcalf?...
Whatever Happened to Mark Metcalf?...
- 4/29/2020
- by Tom
- TVovermind.com
Shriekfest Film Festival to screen the West Coast Premiere of The Field, Starring Veronica Cartwright (Alien, The Birds, Witches of Eastwick), Barry Bostwick (Rocky Horror), Mark Metcalf (Animal House, Seinfeld, Buffy), Mark Borchardt (American Movie), Tim Higgins (Funny or Die-Pass Me a Beer), Kara Mulrooney (Little Red). Directed by Tate Bunker The annual Los Angeles competition will kick off with an opening night gala September 26 bpt.me/4345177 To purchase tickets! In addition to 10 features, …
The post Shriekfest Announces the West Coast Premiere of The Field appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.
The post Shriekfest Announces the West Coast Premiere of The Field appeared first on Hnn | Horrornews.net.
- 9/7/2019
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
As clearly established when the music video for Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” shows Mark Metcalf being blown backward through his son’s bedroom window, the sound of a crunchy rock ‘n’ roll riff packs incredible power. As a woman who recently scared off a cougar to the sound of Metallica’s “Don’t Tread On…...
- 8/1/2019
- by Reid McCarter on News, shared by Reid McCarter to The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
1985: Santa Barbara's Mason interrupted C.C. and Gina's wedding.
1993: All My Children's Kendall Hart arrived in Pine Valley.
1994: All My Children's Maria and Edmund were married.
2013: Dallas' Ewing family mourned at J.R.'s funeral."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1966: On Another World, at the dance, Dr. Joe Bernardi (Joe Bennett) encouraged Lee Randolph (Gaye Huston) to see the man underneath the doctor, then discouraged her from speaking to Dr. Farmer about John. He wouldn't let her use his medical opinion to...
1993: All My Children's Kendall Hart arrived in Pine Valley.
1994: All My Children's Maria and Edmund were married.
2013: Dallas' Ewing family mourned at J.R.'s funeral."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."
― Anselm Kiefer
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1966: On Another World, at the dance, Dr. Joe Bernardi (Joe Bennett) encouraged Lee Randolph (Gaye Huston) to see the man underneath the doctor, then discouraged her from speaking to Dr. Farmer about John. He wouldn't let her use his medical opinion to...
- 3/11/2019
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
1985: Santa Barbara's Mason interrupted C.C. and Gina's wedding.
1993: All My Children's Kendall Hart arrived in Pine Valley.
1994: All My Children's Maria and Edmund were married.
2013: Dallas' Ewing family mourned at J.R.'s funeral."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1966: On Another World, at the dance, Dr. Joe Bernardi (Joe Bennett) encouraged...
1993: All My Children's Kendall Hart arrived in Pine Valley.
1994: All My Children's Maria and Edmund were married.
2013: Dallas' Ewing family mourned at J.R.'s funeral."Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results."
― Machiavelli
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1966: On Another World, at the dance, Dr. Joe Bernardi (Joe Bennett) encouraged...
- 3/13/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
Sneak Peek footage from the "Buffy The Vampire Slayer", Season 1 episode "Angel", written by David Greenwalt and directed by Scott Brazil, that aired April 14, 1997 on The WB:
"...'Buffy Summers'(Sarah Michelle Gellar) has just moved to 'Sunnydale' after burning down her old school's gym to escape her 'vampire slayer' duties. Her plans are complicated by 'Rupert Giles' (Anthony Head), her new 'Watcher', who reminds her of the presence of evil.
"'Sunnydale High' is built atop a 'Hellmouth', a portal to demon dimensions that attracts supernatural phenomena to the area.
"Buffy meets two schoolmates, 'Xander Harris' (Nicholas Brendon) and 'Willow Rosenberg' (Alyson Hannigan) who help her fight evil through the series.
"She also gets a love interest in the form of 'Angel' (David Boreanz) a vampire with a soul.
"Together they are the 'Scoobies', and must prevent 'The Master' (Mark Metcalf), an ancient vampire, from opening the Hellmouth and taking over Sunnydale.
"...'Buffy Summers'(Sarah Michelle Gellar) has just moved to 'Sunnydale' after burning down her old school's gym to escape her 'vampire slayer' duties. Her plans are complicated by 'Rupert Giles' (Anthony Head), her new 'Watcher', who reminds her of the presence of evil.
"'Sunnydale High' is built atop a 'Hellmouth', a portal to demon dimensions that attracts supernatural phenomena to the area.
"Buffy meets two schoolmates, 'Xander Harris' (Nicholas Brendon) and 'Willow Rosenberg' (Alyson Hannigan) who help her fight evil through the series.
"She also gets a love interest in the form of 'Angel' (David Boreanz) a vampire with a soul.
"Together they are the 'Scoobies', and must prevent 'The Master' (Mark Metcalf), an ancient vampire, from opening the Hellmouth and taking over Sunnydale.
- 11/13/2017
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Once upon a time, there was a goofy little show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It’s first TV outing, a mid-season replacement that only contained 12 episodes, premiered to mixed responses. Whilst the potential was clearly there, it was easy to write it off as just a little too silly, a little too… odd. Nevertheless, it was granted a Season Two, which premiered on September 15th, 1997.
And this is where shit got serious.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2 is truly a remarkable season of television. This is the year when the writers realised that not only were they making something special here, but that they were capable of producing some incredible content. Whilst the first half does maintain some of the less than impressive traits of Season One, such as poor quality filler episodes (containing mummies) and some rather rubbish bad guys (the zombie from episode 2 and literally everything to...
And this is where shit got serious.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2 is truly a remarkable season of television. This is the year when the writers realised that not only were they making something special here, but that they were capable of producing some incredible content. Whilst the first half does maintain some of the less than impressive traits of Season One, such as poor quality filler episodes (containing mummies) and some rather rubbish bad guys (the zombie from episode 2 and literally everything to...
- 9/26/2017
- by Ben McCarthy
- The Cultural Post
“In every generation, there is a chosen one. She alone will stand against the Vampires, the Demons, and the Forces of Darkness. She is the Slayer.”
There must be about a million films, stories and TV related content that contains one particular scene. A vulnerable young woman, running for her life, terrified of whomever, or whatever, is pursuing her. She is utterly helpless to prevent her oncoming, horrible death – and most of the time is scantly clad. The scenario ends one of two ways – she either meets a terrible fate, or ends up getting saved by a dashing, Harrison Ford look alike male hero. Rinse, lather, repeat.
It once looked like that would be all we’d get from female characters in horror related productions. That was, until, a young writer came along named Joss Whedon, who decided that enough was enough. He had an idea of a young woman...
There must be about a million films, stories and TV related content that contains one particular scene. A vulnerable young woman, running for her life, terrified of whomever, or whatever, is pursuing her. She is utterly helpless to prevent her oncoming, horrible death – and most of the time is scantly clad. The scenario ends one of two ways – she either meets a terrible fate, or ends up getting saved by a dashing, Harrison Ford look alike male hero. Rinse, lather, repeat.
It once looked like that would be all we’d get from female characters in horror related productions. That was, until, a young writer came along named Joss Whedon, who decided that enough was enough. He had an idea of a young woman...
- 9/20/2017
- by Ben McCarthy
- The Cultural Post
Joan Micklin Silver applies sensitive direction to Ann Beattie’s novel about a lonely guy trying to win back his girlfriend, and going about it in all the wrong ways. John Heard is excellent as Charles, who can’t understand why Laura (Mary Beth Hurt) has gone back to her husband and child. The whole thing plays out during a snowy winter in Salt Lake City… which is not the place to expect unrealistic romantic dreams to come true.
Chilly Scenes of Winter
Blu-ray
Twilight Time
1979 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 95 min. / Street Date February 7, 2017 / Head Over Heels / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store 29.95
Starring: John Heard, Mary Beth Hurt, Peter Riegert, Kenneth McMillan, Gloria Grahame, Nora Heflin, Jerry Hardin, Tarah Nutter, Mark Metcalf, Allen Joseph, Frances Bay, Griffin Dunne, Anne Beattie.
Cinematography: Bobby Byrne
Film Editor: Cynthia Scheider
Original Music: Ken Lauber
From the novel by Ann Beattie
Produced by Griffin Dunne,...
Chilly Scenes of Winter
Blu-ray
Twilight Time
1979 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 95 min. / Street Date February 7, 2017 / Head Over Heels / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store 29.95
Starring: John Heard, Mary Beth Hurt, Peter Riegert, Kenneth McMillan, Gloria Grahame, Nora Heflin, Jerry Hardin, Tarah Nutter, Mark Metcalf, Allen Joseph, Frances Bay, Griffin Dunne, Anne Beattie.
Cinematography: Bobby Byrne
Film Editor: Cynthia Scheider
Original Music: Ken Lauber
From the novel by Ann Beattie
Produced by Griffin Dunne,...
- 3/4/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
You might not believe this if I told you but did you know that Animal House came out in 1978? We’re closing in on 40 years since the most popular college movie of all-time came out. It marked the turning of John Belushi TV star into John Belushi movie legend as well as launched the careers of people like Karen Allen, Tom Hulce, Mark Metcalf, Tim Matheson and Peter Riegert. People also seem to forget that the film was directed by John Landis and written by Harold Ramis. It’ll go down as the single most popular fraternity movie of all
What the Cast of Animal House Looks like Today...
What the Cast of Animal House Looks like Today...
- 2/2/2017
- by Nat Berman
- TVovermind.com
Stars: Marshall Caswell, Erin Hammond, Nick Sommer, Max Williamson, Mark Metcalf, Mathew Dunlop | Written and Directed by Drew Rosas, Nick Sommer
I’ve always had a soft spot for slashers with a decent gimmick, so I was delighted when Billy Club‘s penchant for baseball-related violence was revealed. Too many horror movies are content to stick to the humdrum formula of having a nondescript masked killer stalk the nubile teens of Camp Lake Name with no more of a unifying theme than having surfboard impalements be the chief cause of death; not so this film. Here bats, balls, diamonds and even – especially – pitching machines all have a central role to play in the slaughter of Billy Club’s innocent-but-not-quite-so-innocent victims, and the movie is all the more enjoyable for it, despite some ultimately negligible production flaws.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. The film’s story chiefly takes place...
I’ve always had a soft spot for slashers with a decent gimmick, so I was delighted when Billy Club‘s penchant for baseball-related violence was revealed. Too many horror movies are content to stick to the humdrum formula of having a nondescript masked killer stalk the nubile teens of Camp Lake Name with no more of a unifying theme than having surfboard impalements be the chief cause of death; not so this film. Here bats, balls, diamonds and even – especially – pitching machines all have a central role to play in the slaughter of Billy Club’s innocent-but-not-quite-so-innocent victims, and the movie is all the more enjoyable for it, despite some ultimately negligible production flaws.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. The film’s story chiefly takes place...
- 10/31/2014
- by Mark Allen
- Nerdly
Any week that includes a Scream Factory release could be considered a good week. This particular Scream factory release is of a film that has long eluded me. I’ve been aware of its existence, but never managed to actually acquire and consume it. Now that I’ve had that chance, I wish I had tracked it down before, so that I would have a frame of reference to compare the video and audio presentations to. From what I understand, The Final Terror was considered a “lost” film, and since it was a bucket list title, Scream Factory acquired several different sources in order to spruce it up, and splice together a master cut of the film. The Final Terror is not going to appeal to everyone, as in a lot of ways, it very much shows its age. However, if you like classic horror cinema – especially from the eighties...
- 7/1/2014
- by Shawn Savage
- The Liberal Dead
To kick off the month of July, there are a ton of genre Blu-ray and DVD releases coming out that should get you through the long holiday weekend if barbecues and fireworks aren’t necessarily your thing.
Not only will Cannibal Holocaust finally be getting its due in high definition this week, but Scream Factory is also bringing us The Final Terror and Sony is releasing the stellar indie horror flick Afflicted to DVD and Blu-ray as well. And if you’re a horror geek who can’t get enough of Echo Bridges’ multi-title releases, well then you’ll want to check out a few more of their collections which will be arriving this week too. Also, for those of you Twilight Zone fans out there, Image Entertainment has put together a great collection of the series’ most beloved episodes for you to enjoy in honor of the upcoming 55th anniversary of the show.
Not only will Cannibal Holocaust finally be getting its due in high definition this week, but Scream Factory is also bringing us The Final Terror and Sony is releasing the stellar indie horror flick Afflicted to DVD and Blu-ray as well. And if you’re a horror geek who can’t get enough of Echo Bridges’ multi-title releases, well then you’ll want to check out a few more of their collections which will be arriving this week too. Also, for those of you Twilight Zone fans out there, Image Entertainment has put together a great collection of the series’ most beloved episodes for you to enjoy in honor of the upcoming 55th anniversary of the show.
- 6/30/2014
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
The Final Terror
Release Date: 7/1/14 on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack
Written By: Jon George, Neill D. Hicks, and Ronald Shusett
Directed By: Andrew Davis
Starring: Adrian Zmed, Ernest Harden Jr., Lewis Smith, Rachel Ward, Daryl Hannah, Akosua Busia, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Metcalf
Review by Daniel Xiii.
Does The Final Terror Have the Goods Out in the Woods?
Hey creeps, I just sat down with Scream Factory’s Blu-ray of The Final Terror, and I feel like it’s my civic duty to get something out in the open right from the start. Much like the lies propagated by The Neverending Story (which did indeed end after a paltry 90 minutes!) before it, The Final Terror is not what the title proclaims. I mean, there have been like hundreds of horror films made after this movie came out (in 1983)—some even have “terror” in the title!
Well, I guess the best thing...
Release Date: 7/1/14 on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack
Written By: Jon George, Neill D. Hicks, and Ronald Shusett
Directed By: Andrew Davis
Starring: Adrian Zmed, Ernest Harden Jr., Lewis Smith, Rachel Ward, Daryl Hannah, Akosua Busia, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Metcalf
Review by Daniel Xiii.
Does The Final Terror Have the Goods Out in the Woods?
Hey creeps, I just sat down with Scream Factory’s Blu-ray of The Final Terror, and I feel like it’s my civic duty to get something out in the open right from the start. Much like the lies propagated by The Neverending Story (which did indeed end after a paltry 90 minutes!) before it, The Final Terror is not what the title proclaims. I mean, there have been like hundreds of horror films made after this movie came out (in 1983)—some even have “terror” in the title!
Well, I guess the best thing...
- 6/27/2014
- by Holly Interlandi
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Scream Factory is absolutely killing it this year with their releases and one of the many films being added to the ever-growing collection in the coming months is the 80s backwoods slasher flick The Final Terror, making its way out of the woods on July 1st.
Read on for a complete rundown of all the release info, including bonus features and box art!
From the Press Release
This summer, one of the most sought-after and long-lost slasher films from the 80s is being unleashed on Blu-ray™ and DVD for the first time! Produced by Joe Roth (Snow White and the Huntsman) and directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Under Siege), backwoods slasher cult classic The Final Terror features an all-star cast of John Friedrich (Baretta), Rachel Ward (The Thornbirds), Adrian Zmed (Bachlor Party), Mark Metcalf (Zero Dark Thrity), Daryl Hannah (Kill Bill, Blade Runner), Ernes Harden Jr. (White Men Can...
Read on for a complete rundown of all the release info, including bonus features and box art!
From the Press Release
This summer, one of the most sought-after and long-lost slasher films from the 80s is being unleashed on Blu-ray™ and DVD for the first time! Produced by Joe Roth (Snow White and the Huntsman) and directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Under Siege), backwoods slasher cult classic The Final Terror features an all-star cast of John Friedrich (Baretta), Rachel Ward (The Thornbirds), Adrian Zmed (Bachlor Party), Mark Metcalf (Zero Dark Thrity), Daryl Hannah (Kill Bill, Blade Runner), Ernes Harden Jr. (White Men Can...
- 5/20/2014
- by John Squires
- DreadCentral.com
Another 80′s cult classic is making it’s way to Blu-ray and DVD for the first time. Scream Factory just revealed full details on their upcoming release of 1983′s The Final Terror and we have a look at the cover art and list of bonus features:
“This summer, one of the most sought-after and long-lost slasher films from the 80s is being unleashed on Blu-ray™ and DVD for the first time! Produced by Joe Roth (Snow White and the Hunts Man) and directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Under Siege), backwoods slasher cult classic The Final Terror features an all-star cast of John Friedrich (Baretta), Rachel Ward (The Thornbirds), Adrian Zmed (Bachlor Party), Mark Metcalf (Zero Dark Thrity), Daryl Hannah (Kill Bill, Blade Runner), Ernes Harden Jr. (White Men Can’t Jump ), Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix, The Fugitive) and Lewis Smith (Django Unchained). On July 1, 2014, Scream Factory™ will unleash The Final Terror...
“This summer, one of the most sought-after and long-lost slasher films from the 80s is being unleashed on Blu-ray™ and DVD for the first time! Produced by Joe Roth (Snow White and the Hunts Man) and directed by Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Under Siege), backwoods slasher cult classic The Final Terror features an all-star cast of John Friedrich (Baretta), Rachel Ward (The Thornbirds), Adrian Zmed (Bachlor Party), Mark Metcalf (Zero Dark Thrity), Daryl Hannah (Kill Bill, Blade Runner), Ernes Harden Jr. (White Men Can’t Jump ), Joe Pantoliano (The Matrix, The Fugitive) and Lewis Smith (Django Unchained). On July 1, 2014, Scream Factory™ will unleash The Final Terror...
- 5/20/2014
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
[This episode review contains foreshadowing for future episodes, and the following review comments on this, though sometimes indirectly. Depending on your tolerance for spoilers, you may or may not wish to continue reading if you haven't finished watching the show.]
A big pot of gold delivered to your door. World peace. No more EastEnders on TV. Wishing may well be the most common pastime on Planet Earth, just inching ahead of backgammon and darts.
But as the old saying goes: “Be careful of what you wish for”. Cordelia's taking this advice on board a bit too late after new kid in town Anya (in reality, a scary, veiny demon) grants her wish of Buffy never coming to Sunnydale. This can only mean one thing: Alternate Dimension Time.
The Alternate Dimension is a common trope in fiction, in films such as It's A Wonderful Life. It's especially popular in science fiction. Doctor Who came up with Inferno, in which Jon Pertwee's Doctor found himself on a parallel Earth, just hours away from doomsday. Worse still, he had to battle with vicious, unkind counterparts of his friends, including Liz and the...
A big pot of gold delivered to your door. World peace. No more EastEnders on TV. Wishing may well be the most common pastime on Planet Earth, just inching ahead of backgammon and darts.
But as the old saying goes: “Be careful of what you wish for”. Cordelia's taking this advice on board a bit too late after new kid in town Anya (in reality, a scary, veiny demon) grants her wish of Buffy never coming to Sunnydale. This can only mean one thing: Alternate Dimension Time.
The Alternate Dimension is a common trope in fiction, in films such as It's A Wonderful Life. It's especially popular in science fiction. Doctor Who came up with Inferno, in which Jon Pertwee's Doctor found himself on a parallel Earth, just hours away from doomsday. Worse still, he had to battle with vicious, unkind counterparts of his friends, including Liz and the...
- 3/3/2014
- Shadowlocked
Without a doubt, when I was looking through the schedule for the first day of Stan Lee’S Comikaze, “Vampires In Pop Culture And Myth” stood out as the must-see. This was due not only to my love of monsters, but also to a star-studded panel moderated by Buffy and Angel star Juliet Landau (Drusilla!), who was joined by the masterminds of Grimm, writers David Greenwalt and Jim Kouf (who also worked on Buffy and Angel), Mariana Klaveno of True Blood fame (Lorena to you), musician David J (from the bands Bauhaus, Love and Rockets), Gavin Hignight of FEARnet, and Georges Jeanty, the artist for Buffy Season 8, 9, and for the upcoming Firefly series.
The panel came together, in part, due to a feature length documentary in the works from Juliet Landau and Deverill Weekes, a project that will explore many of the themes and topics discussed in the panel. I...
The panel came together, in part, due to a feature length documentary in the works from Juliet Landau and Deverill Weekes, a project that will explore many of the themes and topics discussed in the panel. I...
- 11/12/2013
- by Andy Greene
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Check out the latest trailer and the third poster for Drew Rosas and Nick Sommer's Billy Club comedy horror, starring Marshall Caswell, Erin Hammond, Nick Sommer, Max Williamson, Mark Metcalf and Kelly Cunningham. There's no U.S. release date set as yet, but stick around for more news. Here's what the film's about: From the team that brought you Blood Junkie (2010) comes Billy Club, a new film that combines two of America’s favorite pastimes -- baseball and slasher movies! Billy Club follows the story of a little league team that was torn apart by a gruesome triple homicide and the four friends who reunite 15 years later to pay tribute to their fallen coach and teammates.
- 7/12/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Word of Billy Club, a new indie film set to debut later this summer, came our way today, and we're happy to provide the online premiere of the film's teaser trailer along with some stills and posters.
From the Press Release:
From the team that brought you Blood Junkie (2010) comes Billy Club, a new film that combines two of America’s favorite pastimes -- baseball and slasher movies! Billy Club follows the story of a little league team that was torn apart by a gruesome triple homicide and the four friends who reunite 15 years later to pay tribute to their fallen coach and teammates. A mystery unfolds as the secrets from their past begin to haunt them, and a vengeful killer, hidden by an antique umpire’s mask, returns to even the score.
As both a mind-bending mystery and a breakthrough genre film, Billy Club showcases a passionate collaboration of extremely talented producers,...
From the Press Release:
From the team that brought you Blood Junkie (2010) comes Billy Club, a new film that combines two of America’s favorite pastimes -- baseball and slasher movies! Billy Club follows the story of a little league team that was torn apart by a gruesome triple homicide and the four friends who reunite 15 years later to pay tribute to their fallen coach and teammates. A mystery unfolds as the secrets from their past begin to haunt them, and a vengeful killer, hidden by an antique umpire’s mask, returns to even the score.
As both a mind-bending mystery and a breakthrough genre film, Billy Club showcases a passionate collaboration of extremely talented producers,...
- 7/11/2013
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Here's your Starter For Ten. What was the Angel pilot called?
City Of...? Well, that's a given, but if you'd simply answered Angel, as in the Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season One story, you may have a point. After all, this story properly introduces the broody, enigmatic vampire who these days apparently makes do with biting into tubs of super-strength hair gel in order to to get the lid off.
Up until now, the character of Angel hasn't really done much – which may explain why I always found him a bit annoying in the beginning. For the most part, in the early days, Angel is no more than a frowning poseur. A wannabe pop star in his very own pop video of swirling dry ice and crumpled leather jackets. You half expect him to start crooning a bad cover of some random soft rock pop tune like Heartbeat by Don Johnson (mind you,...
City Of...? Well, that's a given, but if you'd simply answered Angel, as in the Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season One story, you may have a point. After all, this story properly introduces the broody, enigmatic vampire who these days apparently makes do with biting into tubs of super-strength hair gel in order to to get the lid off.
Up until now, the character of Angel hasn't really done much – which may explain why I always found him a bit annoying in the beginning. For the most part, in the early days, Angel is no more than a frowning poseur. A wannabe pop star in his very own pop video of swirling dry ice and crumpled leather jackets. You half expect him to start crooning a bad cover of some random soft rock pop tune like Heartbeat by Don Johnson (mind you,...
- 5/5/2013
- Shadowlocked
Ever tried juggling? It's an accomplishment that very few can pull off, and to those like my clumsy self who have trouble throwing and catching one lone object, never mind three - as a career prospect, it's as likely as taking a stroll 20 feet up in the air.
Buffy wouldn't be too good at juggling - especially given that she's having trouble multi-tasking in her own life. Being a Slayer doesn't allow for an easy social life, as she finds out to her annoyance in Never Kill A Boy On The First Date. All she's after is a simple, hassle-free date with Mr Sensitive Of Sunnydale, Owen Thurman, but her true calling in life is making this aim difficult.
In fact, if Buffy's life were a list of school exam results, then she'd be mortified. While she's scoring a Grade A in making those around her green with jealousy,...
Buffy wouldn't be too good at juggling - especially given that she's having trouble multi-tasking in her own life. Being a Slayer doesn't allow for an easy social life, as she finds out to her annoyance in Never Kill A Boy On The First Date. All she's after is a simple, hassle-free date with Mr Sensitive Of Sunnydale, Owen Thurman, but her true calling in life is making this aim difficult.
In fact, if Buffy's life were a list of school exam results, then she'd be mortified. While she's scoring a Grade A in making those around her green with jealousy,...
- 4/28/2013
- Shadowlocked
[Note about spoilers: As with the Complete Doctor Who Reviews, the individual (and two-parter) episode reviews form part of an overview of the show as a whole, and as such, contain spoilers for events not only in the episodes in question, but also potentially those in future episodes and seasons. There may also be spoilers for the Buffy spin-off show Angel.]
Welcome to another set of complete reviews in which I attempt to prattle on about two of the most famous Joss Whedon creations: Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) and Angel (1999-2004).
On the surface of it, a TV series franchise stemming from a so-so movie about a teenage girl who stakes vampires doesn't inspire much confidence. In 1992, the film, Buffy The Vampire Slayer pitted Kristy Swanson as the eponymous heroine against a mean old vampire king called Lothos and his motley crew of blood-sucking fiends. The movie didn't exactly set the world ablaze, staked by lukewarm reviews and moderate box office takings.
Writer Joss Whedon was nothing if not persistent though. Translating the original concept to the small screen was something of a gamble, given the tepid reactions to the preceding film. How could it possibly work?
And yet, sixteen years later, Buffy is still a huge phenomenon. Seven seasons were produced.
Welcome to another set of complete reviews in which I attempt to prattle on about two of the most famous Joss Whedon creations: Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003) and Angel (1999-2004).
On the surface of it, a TV series franchise stemming from a so-so movie about a teenage girl who stakes vampires doesn't inspire much confidence. In 1992, the film, Buffy The Vampire Slayer pitted Kristy Swanson as the eponymous heroine against a mean old vampire king called Lothos and his motley crew of blood-sucking fiends. The movie didn't exactly set the world ablaze, staked by lukewarm reviews and moderate box office takings.
Writer Joss Whedon was nothing if not persistent though. Translating the original concept to the small screen was something of a gamble, given the tepid reactions to the preceding film. How could it possibly work?
And yet, sixteen years later, Buffy is still a huge phenomenon. Seven seasons were produced.
- 3/6/2013
- Shadowlocked
In the tradition of such horror/sports crossovers like Adam and Joe's Shinpads comes a tale of little league gone horribly awry. Dare you face the terror of the upcoming slasher flick Billy Club?
Drew Rosas and Nick Summer wrote and directed this indie effort starring Erin Hammond, Mark Metcalf, Marshall Caswell, Nick Sommer, and Max Williamson.
Synopsis
Four little league teammates reunite after fifteen years to solve the mystery behind a horrible killing from their childhood. A mysterious letter sends the gang on a mission to unearth the grave of their old coach and prove that their incarcerated friend is innocent. Little do they know the real killer is stalking them and hungry for their blood!
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Hit a homer in the comments section below.
Drew Rosas and Nick Summer wrote and directed this indie effort starring Erin Hammond, Mark Metcalf, Marshall Caswell, Nick Sommer, and Max Williamson.
Synopsis
Four little league teammates reunite after fifteen years to solve the mystery behind a horrible killing from their childhood. A mysterious letter sends the gang on a mission to unearth the grave of their old coach and prove that their incarcerated friend is innocent. Little do they know the real killer is stalking them and hungry for their blood!
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Hit a homer in the comments section below.
- 10/25/2012
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
First poster for Billy Club starring Marshall Caswell, Erin Hammond and Nick Sommer Batter up! Check out this well-designed poster for the Drew Rosas and Nick Sommer-directed-and-written horror comedy. Here, a memorial for their little league coach reunites four friends until the secrets from their past return to haunt them. The cast also includes Max Williamson, Mark Metcalf, M.R. Dunlop, Kelly Cunningham, Andrew Swant and Sara Luther. Drew Rosas and Mark Wheaton produce while Todd Clemens and Blaine Vess serve as executive producers.
- 10/25/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
First poster for Billy Club starring Marshall Caswell, Erin Hammond and Nick Sommer Batter up! Check out this well-designed poster for the Drew Rosas and Nick Sommer-directed-and-written horror comedy. Here, a memorial for their little league coach reunites four friends until the secrets from their past return to haunt them. The cast also includes Max Williamson, Mark Metcalf, M.R. Dunlop, Kelly Cunningham, Andrew Swant and Sara Luther. Drew Rosas and Mark Wheaton produce while Todd Clemens and Blaine Vess serve as executive producers.
- 10/25/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
A clever, if ultimately disappointing, retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale, director Tate Bunker’s Little Red chronicles what must be one of the worst nightmares a parent can have.
Newcomer Hannah Obst stars as 11 year-old Ruth, known to her friends as Red for obvious reasons. Red longs to go to Florida and Cumberland Island to see the wild horses. Believing that her parents have reneged on a promise to take her (and instead send her to some sort of winter camp), she lies to her older sister and makes her way to the airport, hopping a flight from the cold Midwest to warm and sunny Florida.
A middle-aged predator named Lou (Mark Metcalf, Maestro in Seinfeld and Neidermeyer in Animal House) sizes up Red at the airport and approaches her in Florida. He strikes up a conversation and quickly makes it clear that he is someone Red should fear.
Newcomer Hannah Obst stars as 11 year-old Ruth, known to her friends as Red for obvious reasons. Red longs to go to Florida and Cumberland Island to see the wild horses. Believing that her parents have reneged on a promise to take her (and instead send her to some sort of winter camp), she lies to her older sister and makes her way to the airport, hopping a flight from the cold Midwest to warm and sunny Florida.
A middle-aged predator named Lou (Mark Metcalf, Maestro in Seinfeld and Neidermeyer in Animal House) sizes up Red at the airport and approaches her in Florida. He strikes up a conversation and quickly makes it clear that he is someone Red should fear.
- 10/1/2012
- shocktillyoudrop.com
The Anchor Bay Entertainment re-release of director John Schultz' 1999 teen romance comedy "Drive Me Crazy", is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.
The film is based on the novel "How I Created My Perfect Prom Date" by author Todd Strasser :
"...'Nicole Maris' (Melissa Joan Hart) and 'Chase Hammond' (Adrian Grenier) live next door to each other. Nicole lives with her divorced mother and Chase's mother died, , making them two teens living with their single parents. However, they are worlds apart. Nicole is up on the latest fashions. Chase, on the latest protest. She wouldn't miss a pep rally or basketball game with her scheming socialite friends. He can usually be found in a dark coffee room with his friends who don't care what they wear.
"Nicole wants a dream date with the star basketball player, but right before it was certain they were going together, he falls in love with a cheerleader.
The film is based on the novel "How I Created My Perfect Prom Date" by author Todd Strasser :
"...'Nicole Maris' (Melissa Joan Hart) and 'Chase Hammond' (Adrian Grenier) live next door to each other. Nicole lives with her divorced mother and Chase's mother died, , making them two teens living with their single parents. However, they are worlds apart. Nicole is up on the latest fashions. Chase, on the latest protest. She wouldn't miss a pep rally or basketball game with her scheming socialite friends. He can usually be found in a dark coffee room with his friends who don't care what they wear.
"Nicole wants a dream date with the star basketball player, but right before it was certain they were going together, he falls in love with a cheerleader.
- 1/22/2012
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Bluto tells me that this is the best that Animal House has looked on home video and I have to trust him since he.s pre-med. The ultimate college party movie finally arrives in high definition so rev up the Deathmobile and go along for the ride. In 1962, Faber College freshmen Lawrence Kroger (Thomas Hulce) and Kent Dorfman (Stephen Furst) are looking to pledge to a fraternity. The duo visit the big frat on campus Omega Theta Pi, Gregory Marmaland (James Daughton), the Omega president, Douglas C. Neidermeyer (Mark Metcalf), member and psychotic Rotc captain, make Kroger and Dorfman unwelcome in favor of more simpatico pledges like Chip Diller (Kevin Bacon). Kent.s brother was in Delta Tau...
- 7/27/2011
- by Jeff Swindoll
- Monsters and Critics
In what could well be the best grindhouse homage since Machete, Michael Madsen, Danny Trejo, Pam Grier, Brigitte Nielsen and Sasha Grey have signed on to director Frankie Latina's upcoming exploitation flick, Skinny Dip. Let this piece serve as official notice to my FanGirlTastic coworkers that I reserve the right to review this film.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Skinny Dip is "the story of a girl who takes an innocent dare, ends up terribly victimized and then seeks shotgun-wielding revenge while wearing a stolen police uniform."
Word is that Michelle Rodriguez was initially cast in the lead, but was then replaced by Grey, who was considered more age appropriate for the role. While the 10-year difference in their ages is probably a justifiable excuse for the change, I'm betting ex-porn star Grey is a little more comfortable than Rodriguez about gratuitous nudity. And in a movie like this,...
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Skinny Dip is "the story of a girl who takes an innocent dare, ends up terribly victimized and then seeks shotgun-wielding revenge while wearing a stolen police uniform."
Word is that Michelle Rodriguez was initially cast in the lead, but was then replaced by Grey, who was considered more age appropriate for the role. While the 10-year difference in their ages is probably a justifiable excuse for the change, I'm betting ex-porn star Grey is a little more comfortable than Rodriguez about gratuitous nudity. And in a movie like this,...
- 5/12/2011
- by Theron
- Planet Fury
Corey Feldman and Alexander Loy in Person Fri, April 29 at Alamo South Lamar
Corey Feldman is going to be here at Alamo South Lamar this Fridayyy!!! And he’ll be joined by Alexander Loy, the writer and co-star the new film Operation Belvis Bash!
That’s right, pop culture icon Corey Feldman is going to be here live and in-person this weekend for a mini-tour of Alamos in Austin, San Antonio and Houston along with his Operation Belvis Bash co-star, Alexander Loy … And they’re bringing one of the most bizarre movies you’re likely to see this year, with a cast that includes Mark Metcalf (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Larry Thomas (Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi), Daniel Baldwin (the one who isn’t on 30 Rock and also isn’t a born again Christian), Frank Stallone, and ’80s wrestling icon and one of the greatest people on twitter, The Iron Sheik.
Corey Feldman is going to be here at Alamo South Lamar this Fridayyy!!! And he’ll be joined by Alexander Loy, the writer and co-star the new film Operation Belvis Bash!
That’s right, pop culture icon Corey Feldman is going to be here live and in-person this weekend for a mini-tour of Alamos in Austin, San Antonio and Houston along with his Operation Belvis Bash co-star, Alexander Loy … And they’re bringing one of the most bizarre movies you’re likely to see this year, with a cast that includes Mark Metcalf (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Larry Thomas (Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi), Daniel Baldwin (the one who isn’t on 30 Rock and also isn’t a born again Christian), Frank Stallone, and ’80s wrestling icon and one of the greatest people on twitter, The Iron Sheik.
- 4/25/2011
- by George Bragdon
- OriginalAlamo.com
The mayor in last night's Mad Men looked familiar, right? The man who mightily refrained from grilling Betty Draper re: the whereabouts of her pledge pin was character actor Mark Metcalf. He's probably best known for playing The Maestro on Seinfeld. What I hadn't realized, until my viewing partner who apparently rocks harder than I do pointed it out to me, is that Metcalf was also the disapproving father in Twisted Sister's video for "We're Not Gonna Take It" (pictured, left) and the sadistic teacher in their "I Wanna Rock" video. He also played Neidermeyer in Animal House, The...
- 10/5/2009
- by Annie Barrett
- EW.com - PopWatch
Overall a mild amusement but not so well-crafted that it will achieve the cult status its makers long for, "Hijacking Hollywood" is a $150,000 satire of moviemaking co-starring, produced, directed and co-written by Neil Mandt, an Emmy-winning videomaker and veteran of TV news.
Starring Henry Thomas ("Legends of the Fall") as a showbiz-family runt from Detroit who starts at the bottom when he arrives in town, Mandt's self-released "Hijacking" surfaced briefly last month and returns Friday for a run at the UA Warner Center in Woodland Hills.
While many of the jokes are only slight exaggerations of the madness surrounding a big-budget project, and the details of a lowly production assistant's job provide comic possibilities, uneven performances and Mandt's lackluster direction undermine this good-natured lark shot in 16 days.
Kevin (Thomas), the nephew of a big producer's ex-wife, is thrown into the fray surrounding the making of "Moby Dick 2", a megaproduction that features a ludicrous premise ("Ahab survived") and expensive in-camera special effects. Yelled at by the mogul (Mark Metcalf) reluctantly meeting a family obligation and by the video game-playing production coordinator (Scott Thompson), Kevin makes all the usual mistakes the first day on the job.
Rooming with a slick college dropout (Mandt) who is barely navigating the backwaters of filmdom, Kevin is unwittingly seduced by the producer's wife (Nicole Gian), a tryst he takes little pleasure in. That makes him fear his career is over before he's had a chance to pitch his pet project, a socially responsible drama titled "Three Days in a Salt Mine".
Although he appears to be developing into a rebel with a desperate plan, it takes Mandt's schemer to push Kevin into swiping dailies of an $18 million effects sequence shot in Hawaii and holding the footage ransom for a relatively nominal fee. Other escapades include a lame late-night adventure with the producer's cracked wife, mother, brother and dead pet dog that is hardly the zany interlude intended.
While Mandt and Thompson ("The Larry Sanders Show") do well, Thomas and Metcalf ("The Stupids") are disappointing. The former flounders badly in finding the right combination of a wide-eyed bumbler with charisma to contemplate such a risky scam, and the latter is suitably bombastic but otherwise unconvincing.
Mandt is to be applauded for pulling off such an ambitious ruse on a budget equivalent to "Moby Dick 2"'s weekly Fed Ex bills, but in subsequent endeavors, he might consider moving the camera and taking more care in the casting process.
HIJACKING HOLLYWOOD
Broken Twig Prods.
Producer-director Neil Mandt
Screenwriters Neil Mandt, Jim Rossow
Executive producer Ann Mandt
Director of photography Anton Floquet
Production designer Todd Cherniawsky
Editor Charlie Webber
Music Erik Lundmark
Color/stereo
Cast:
Kevin Henry Thomas
Russell Scott Thompson
Michael Mark Metcalf
Tad Neil Mandt
Sarah Nicole Gian
Running time -- 93 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Starring Henry Thomas ("Legends of the Fall") as a showbiz-family runt from Detroit who starts at the bottom when he arrives in town, Mandt's self-released "Hijacking" surfaced briefly last month and returns Friday for a run at the UA Warner Center in Woodland Hills.
While many of the jokes are only slight exaggerations of the madness surrounding a big-budget project, and the details of a lowly production assistant's job provide comic possibilities, uneven performances and Mandt's lackluster direction undermine this good-natured lark shot in 16 days.
Kevin (Thomas), the nephew of a big producer's ex-wife, is thrown into the fray surrounding the making of "Moby Dick 2", a megaproduction that features a ludicrous premise ("Ahab survived") and expensive in-camera special effects. Yelled at by the mogul (Mark Metcalf) reluctantly meeting a family obligation and by the video game-playing production coordinator (Scott Thompson), Kevin makes all the usual mistakes the first day on the job.
Rooming with a slick college dropout (Mandt) who is barely navigating the backwaters of filmdom, Kevin is unwittingly seduced by the producer's wife (Nicole Gian), a tryst he takes little pleasure in. That makes him fear his career is over before he's had a chance to pitch his pet project, a socially responsible drama titled "Three Days in a Salt Mine".
Although he appears to be developing into a rebel with a desperate plan, it takes Mandt's schemer to push Kevin into swiping dailies of an $18 million effects sequence shot in Hawaii and holding the footage ransom for a relatively nominal fee. Other escapades include a lame late-night adventure with the producer's cracked wife, mother, brother and dead pet dog that is hardly the zany interlude intended.
While Mandt and Thompson ("The Larry Sanders Show") do well, Thomas and Metcalf ("The Stupids") are disappointing. The former flounders badly in finding the right combination of a wide-eyed bumbler with charisma to contemplate such a risky scam, and the latter is suitably bombastic but otherwise unconvincing.
Mandt is to be applauded for pulling off such an ambitious ruse on a budget equivalent to "Moby Dick 2"'s weekly Fed Ex bills, but in subsequent endeavors, he might consider moving the camera and taking more care in the casting process.
HIJACKING HOLLYWOOD
Broken Twig Prods.
Producer-director Neil Mandt
Screenwriters Neil Mandt, Jim Rossow
Executive producer Ann Mandt
Director of photography Anton Floquet
Production designer Todd Cherniawsky
Editor Charlie Webber
Music Erik Lundmark
Color/stereo
Cast:
Kevin Henry Thomas
Russell Scott Thompson
Michael Mark Metcalf
Tad Neil Mandt
Sarah Nicole Gian
Running time -- 93 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 7/17/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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