Iconic British horror label Amicus Productions is resurrecting with anthology film “In the Grip of Terror.”
Based at Shepperton Studios, Amicus was founded by American producers and screenwriters Milton Subotsky and Max Rosenberg and was active between 1962 and 1977. The outfit was mainly known for their portmanteau or anthology films featuring four or five horror shorts each, including “Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors” (1965), “Torture Garden” (1967), “The House That Dripped Blood” (1971), “Tales from the Crypt” (1972), “Asylum” (1972), “Vault of Horror” (1973) and “From Beyond the Grave” (1974). A galaxy of stars including Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Joan Collins, Donald Sutherland, Herbert Lom and Patrick Magee starred in the films.
With a central theme of medical macabre, “In the Grip of Terror” will draw inspiration from “Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors,” “Tales from the Crypt” and “Asylum” and will spotlight four tales rooted in the works of revered authors such as H.P. Lovecraft, Ambrose Bierce and E.F Benson.
Based at Shepperton Studios, Amicus was founded by American producers and screenwriters Milton Subotsky and Max Rosenberg and was active between 1962 and 1977. The outfit was mainly known for their portmanteau or anthology films featuring four or five horror shorts each, including “Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors” (1965), “Torture Garden” (1967), “The House That Dripped Blood” (1971), “Tales from the Crypt” (1972), “Asylum” (1972), “Vault of Horror” (1973) and “From Beyond the Grave” (1974). A galaxy of stars including Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Joan Collins, Donald Sutherland, Herbert Lom and Patrick Magee starred in the films.
With a central theme of medical macabre, “In the Grip of Terror” will draw inspiration from “Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors,” “Tales from the Crypt” and “Asylum” and will spotlight four tales rooted in the works of revered authors such as H.P. Lovecraft, Ambrose Bierce and E.F Benson.
- 8/15/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
A few months ago, while covering Hex Studios’ fantasy film throwback The Slave and the Sorcerer, we also mentioned that Hex was also working to “build a new British horror and fantasy studio that’s inspired by the likes of Cannon, Hammer, and Aip”. Now their endeavor has taken a mind-blowing leap forward: Hex Studios has announced they’re working with the family of late producer Milton Subotsky to resurrect Amicus Productions! Hex co-founder Lawrie Brewster is set to be the president of the revived Amicus… and their first project will be exactly the sort of movie Amicus is best remembered for: a horror portmanteau (or anthology) film called In the Grip of Terror!
Milton Subotsky and Max Rosenberg founded Amicus Productions in the early ’60s, and from 1962 to 1977 they produced nearly thirty films, including Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors, Dr. Who and the Daleks, The Skull, The Psychopath,...
Milton Subotsky and Max Rosenberg founded Amicus Productions in the early ’60s, and from 1962 to 1977 they produced nearly thirty films, including Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors, Dr. Who and the Daleks, The Skull, The Psychopath,...
- 8/14/2023
- by Cody Hamman
- JoBlo.com
I for one will never tire of them: those assorted candy boxes with always one or two disagreeable sorts to spit out, but overall filled with enjoyable treats. And so it goes in the movies as well; call them horror portmanteaus, omnibuses, or lotsashortstogether, they offer outrageous highs littered with occasional lows that offer a sugar rush once the box is done. Tales from the Crypt (1972) is one of my favorite examples of a horrific sampler.
This Amicus production was given a release by Twentieth Century Fox in its native UK, and by Cinerama Releasing Corporation in the US, and did quite well on both sides of the pond. Cinerama got the jump in March, with the UK afforded spookier seasonal vibes that September. Critics were kind to this latest from the studio that gave us Torture Garden and The House That Dripped Blood, and spotlit Peter Cushing in perhaps his most poignant role.
This Amicus production was given a release by Twentieth Century Fox in its native UK, and by Cinerama Releasing Corporation in the US, and did quite well on both sides of the pond. Cinerama got the jump in March, with the UK afforded spookier seasonal vibes that September. Critics were kind to this latest from the studio that gave us Torture Garden and The House That Dripped Blood, and spotlit Peter Cushing in perhaps his most poignant role.
- 9/18/2021
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Square Enix and People Can Fly have recently launched the smash-hit looter-shooter “Outriders” and aside from the server issues that have run rampant throughout the game’s launch, it appears that most players overall are having a lot of fun with the game. Outriders has taken inspiration from many different games in the looter genre, and essentially taken the good parts from each of them and put it all into a single game. So if you are enjoying your time as an Outrider in Enoch, what other games might you find enjoyable? Well, there’s countless games to play if you like
Six Games You Should Play if You Like Outriders...
Six Games You Should Play if You Like Outriders...
- 4/5/2021
- by Ben Hestad
- TVovermind.com
It’s Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing together in a horror picture, a formula no shock feature fan can resist. Most of us remember staring at the beautiful full-color photo of Chris Lee in monster makeup in Denis Gifford’s picture book about horror movies. Yet this has remained one of the pair’s most obscure items, at least as a quality presentation. Powerhouse Indicator’s expert added value items put all the rumors to rest, including the question that’s been repeated through the years — where’s the legendary 3-D version? Or perhaps more to the point, was there really a 3-D version? And then there’s the other question — is the movie any good?
I, Monster
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1971 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 75, 81 min. / Street Date September 28, 2020 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Mike Raven, Richard Hurndall, George Merritt, Kenneth J. Warren.
Cinematography:...
I, Monster
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1971 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 75, 81 min. / Street Date September 28, 2020 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Mike Raven, Richard Hurndall, George Merritt, Kenneth J. Warren.
Cinematography:...
- 10/27/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Welcome my friends, to the stories that always end…usually in a tidy 15 or 20 minutes to be precise. Yes, we’re back in anthology land with a title that became Amicus’ modus operandi (and money makers) for the next decade, Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (1965). While this isn’t my favorite Amicus omnibus (it’s still good!), it is their first and credit shall be paid.
Released Stateside in late February by Paramount, Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors did very well with audiences, giving Amicus a reliable hook for their future releases; while they didn’t focus solely on portmanteaus (they released The Skull the same year), those did become what they were known for.
And rightly so; Dr. Terror sets up a formula that works: well known horror actors in short bursts of terror and humor, easy to digest. This one starts us off on a British passenger train...
Released Stateside in late February by Paramount, Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors did very well with audiences, giving Amicus a reliable hook for their future releases; while they didn’t focus solely on portmanteaus (they released The Skull the same year), those did become what they were known for.
And rightly so; Dr. Terror sets up a formula that works: well known horror actors in short bursts of terror and humor, easy to digest. This one starts us off on a British passenger train...
- 11/16/2019
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
The Amicus Collection
Blu-ray
Severin
1972, ’73, ’74/ 1:85 / 88 Min., 91 Min., 93 Min. / January 16, 2018
Starring Peter Cushing, Herbert Lom, Patrick Magee, Calvin Lockhart
Cinematography by Denys Coop, Jack Hildyard
Written by Robert Bloch
Music by Douglas Gamley,
Produced by Milton Subotsky, Max Rosenberg
Directed by Roy Ward Baker, Paul Annett
Released in 1956, Rock, Rock, Rock was a bantamweight jukebox musical bolstered by the presence of three indelible signifiers of 50’s pop culture, rabble-rousing DJ Alan Freed, Hollywood’s perennial Lolita Tuesday Weld and guitar slinging provocateur Chuck Berry. Produced by Milton Subotsky and Max Rosenberg, the movie’s success inspired the New York-born duo to pack up shop and move to England where they founded Amicus Productions.
Hedging their bets, the fledgling company followed in the footsteps of both Aip and Hammer, putting one foot in teensploitation and the other into a line of shockers with a supernatural bent. To their credit their initial...
Blu-ray
Severin
1972, ’73, ’74/ 1:85 / 88 Min., 91 Min., 93 Min. / January 16, 2018
Starring Peter Cushing, Herbert Lom, Patrick Magee, Calvin Lockhart
Cinematography by Denys Coop, Jack Hildyard
Written by Robert Bloch
Music by Douglas Gamley,
Produced by Milton Subotsky, Max Rosenberg
Directed by Roy Ward Baker, Paul Annett
Released in 1956, Rock, Rock, Rock was a bantamweight jukebox musical bolstered by the presence of three indelible signifiers of 50’s pop culture, rabble-rousing DJ Alan Freed, Hollywood’s perennial Lolita Tuesday Weld and guitar slinging provocateur Chuck Berry. Produced by Milton Subotsky and Max Rosenberg, the movie’s success inspired the New York-born duo to pack up shop and move to England where they founded Amicus Productions.
Hedging their bets, the fledgling company followed in the footsteps of both Aip and Hammer, putting one foot in teensploitation and the other into a line of shockers with a supernatural bent. To their credit their initial...
- 1/30/2018
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
My favorite thing about taking these weekly trips to the Drive-In is my own selfish thirst for discovery. I need to patch up the holes of missing films on my personal movie screen; there is still so much to see, and sometimes the holes are so big that they obscure the view. Every once in a while though, a film comes along that not only mends the tears in the fabric but strengthens the whole. Such is the case with Night of the Demon (1957), Jacques Tourneur’s masterpiece of shadowy menace and dread, and a new personal favorite.
Released in its native U.K. in December and then stateside in July of ’58 under the new title Curse of the Demon (where 13 minutes were trimmed from an already lean 95 minute running time), this Columbia Pictures production was fraught with anguish before it even appeared to audiences, most famously producer Hal E. Chester...
Released in its native U.K. in December and then stateside in July of ’58 under the new title Curse of the Demon (where 13 minutes were trimmed from an already lean 95 minute running time), this Columbia Pictures production was fraught with anguish before it even appeared to audiences, most famously producer Hal E. Chester...
- 4/15/2017
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
April's Blu-ray and DVD releases are kicking off in a big way, as we have a lot of great genre releases to get excited for this week. Mike Mendez’s Don’t Kill It arrives on both formats April 4th as well as the cult classic Invasion of the Bee Girls, which makes its HD bow courtesy of Scream Factory. Mill Creek has put together a triple dose of terror with their Psycho Circus Triple Feature Blu-ray set, and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is keeping busy with their releases of Ghost of New Orleans, A Room to Die For, and We Go On this Tuesday.
Other notable home entertainment titles arriving this Tuesday include The Evil Within, Tank 432, Don’t Hang Up and the DVD set for Medium: The Complete Series.
Don’t Kill It (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Blu-ray & DVD)
When an ancient demon is accidentally unleashed in a...
Other notable home entertainment titles arriving this Tuesday include The Evil Within, Tank 432, Don’t Hang Up and the DVD set for Medium: The Complete Series.
Don’t Kill It (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Blu-ray & DVD)
When an ancient demon is accidentally unleashed in a...
- 4/4/2017
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Peter Cushing! Christopher Lee! Each is at the top of his game, playing competing collectors of occult incunabula — the kind that comes with a satanic curse, when the purloined item in question is the Skull Of The infamous, despicable and sharp-toothed Marquis De Sade! Freddie Francis directs up a storm in this amicable Amicus chiller: the mysterious skull-duggery is beautifully shot and edited, giving the horror scenes real Bite.
The Skull
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1965 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 83 min. / Street Date March 14, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Peter Cushing, Patrick Wymark, Nigel Green, Jill Bennett, Michael Gough, Ceorge Couloris, Christopher Lee.
Cinematography: John Wilcox
Art Direction: Bill Constable
Film Editor: Oswald Hafenrichter
Original Music: Elisabeth Lutyens
Written by Milton Subotsky from a story by Robert Bloch
Produced by Milton Subotsky, Max J. Rosenberg
Directed by Freddie Francis
Nine years ago Legend Films brought us a DVD of this 1965 horror item,...
The Skull
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1965 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 83 min. / Street Date March 14, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Peter Cushing, Patrick Wymark, Nigel Green, Jill Bennett, Michael Gough, Ceorge Couloris, Christopher Lee.
Cinematography: John Wilcox
Art Direction: Bill Constable
Film Editor: Oswald Hafenrichter
Original Music: Elisabeth Lutyens
Written by Milton Subotsky from a story by Robert Bloch
Produced by Milton Subotsky, Max J. Rosenberg
Directed by Freddie Francis
Nine years ago Legend Films brought us a DVD of this 1965 horror item,...
- 4/1/2017
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
This spring, Mill Creek Entertainment invites viewers to step right up to watch three vintage horror films—The Creeping Flesh, Brotherhood of Satan, and Torture Garden—in their Psycho Circus Blu-ray collection.
Blu-ray.com reports that Mill Creek Entertainment will release the Psycho Circus Blu-ray collection on April 4th. You can check out the official synopses, trailers, and cover art below.
From Mill Creek Entertainment: “Step Right Up And Experience The Triology Of Terror That People Are Dying To See!
The Creeping Flesh – (1973) – Color – 94 minutes – Rated PG
Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing
A Victorian-age scientist returns to London with his paleontological bag-of-bones discovery from Papua New Guinea. Unfortunately, when exposed to water, flesh returns to the bones unleashing a malevolent being on the scientist’s family and friends.
Brotherhood of Satan – (1971) – Color – 92 minutes – Rated PG
Strother Martin, L.Q. Jones, Charles Bateman, Ahna Capri
A family is trapped in a desert...
Blu-ray.com reports that Mill Creek Entertainment will release the Psycho Circus Blu-ray collection on April 4th. You can check out the official synopses, trailers, and cover art below.
From Mill Creek Entertainment: “Step Right Up And Experience The Triology Of Terror That People Are Dying To See!
The Creeping Flesh – (1973) – Color – 94 minutes – Rated PG
Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing
A Victorian-age scientist returns to London with his paleontological bag-of-bones discovery from Papua New Guinea. Unfortunately, when exposed to water, flesh returns to the bones unleashing a malevolent being on the scientist’s family and friends.
Brotherhood of Satan – (1971) – Color – 92 minutes – Rated PG
Strother Martin, L.Q. Jones, Charles Bateman, Ahna Capri
A family is trapped in a desert...
- 2/7/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Festival to host 65 UK Premieres, including Terrence Malick’s Voyage Of Time and Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro.
The full programme for the 2017 Glasgow Film Festival (Feb 15-26) has been revealed.
The festival will host 65 UK premieres, 67 Scottish premieres and nine world and international premieres.
As previously reported, Glasgow will kick off with the European premiere of Handsome Devil, a coming-of-age drama starring Andrew Scott and directed by John Butler (The Stag).
The world premiere of Mad To Be Normal, starring David Tennant as renowned Scottish psychiatrist R.D. Laing, closes the festival. Tennant is expected to attend.
Premieres
Other highlights include UK Premieres of Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro, Terrence Malick’s Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey [pictured], Cate Shortland’s Berlin Syndrome and Aki Kaurismäki’s The Other Side of Hope.
There will also be first Scottish screenings of Paul Verhoeven’s Golden Globe-winning Elle, Ben Wheatley’s [link...
The full programme for the 2017 Glasgow Film Festival (Feb 15-26) has been revealed.
The festival will host 65 UK premieres, 67 Scottish premieres and nine world and international premieres.
As previously reported, Glasgow will kick off with the European premiere of Handsome Devil, a coming-of-age drama starring Andrew Scott and directed by John Butler (The Stag).
The world premiere of Mad To Be Normal, starring David Tennant as renowned Scottish psychiatrist R.D. Laing, closes the festival. Tennant is expected to attend.
Premieres
Other highlights include UK Premieres of Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro, Terrence Malick’s Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey [pictured], Cate Shortland’s Berlin Syndrome and Aki Kaurismäki’s The Other Side of Hope.
There will also be first Scottish screenings of Paul Verhoeven’s Golden Globe-winning Elle, Ben Wheatley’s [link...
- 1/18/2017
- ScreenDaily
Gather your fright-loving family members, fill your cup to the brim with egg nog, and find a comfy spot around the TV (or computer) screen, because enough horror movies to fill Santa's sleigh are coming to the streaming service Shudder this December, including Rob Zombie's 31, Bob Clark's Black Christmas, and many more.
Press Release: This December, there’s oh so much under Shudder’s tree. But before you get unwrapping, let’s shake the boxes a bit… We have something special for everyone, inside.
Love clowns? Coming exclusively to Shudder is Rob Zombie’s latest, 31, a vicious and characteristically Zombie film. Which is to say it’s dirty, mean and, from the get, right up in your face.
Looking to stay in? We’ve got a very special Shudder exclusive in Shrew's Nest. Directed by Juanfer Andrés & Esteban Roel (and produced by Alex de la Iglesia), this elegant,...
Press Release: This December, there’s oh so much under Shudder’s tree. But before you get unwrapping, let’s shake the boxes a bit… We have something special for everyone, inside.
Love clowns? Coming exclusively to Shudder is Rob Zombie’s latest, 31, a vicious and characteristically Zombie film. Which is to say it’s dirty, mean and, from the get, right up in your face.
Looking to stay in? We’ve got a very special Shudder exclusive in Shrew's Nest. Directed by Juanfer Andrés & Esteban Roel (and produced by Alex de la Iglesia), this elegant,...
- 12/2/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
With the advent and huge success of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960), studios were quick to hop aboard the killer train. Out were the outsized monsters of the ’50s, in were mama’s boys and socially maligned women dealing with sins of the past. Dementia 13 (’63) and No Way to Treat a Lady (’67) are just a sample of the ’60s horror films that focused on smaller scale, human dilemmas, regardless of how twisted they may be. One film that seems to have been misplaced in the schizoid shuffle is Freddie Francis’ The Psychopath (1966), a lean little thriller that acts as a gateway for one of the most revered European horror sub-genres: the giallo.
Of course, Psycho plays a major part in this association; the Italian-originated giallo wallowing in mysteries of the mind shot through with a razor-sharp emphasis on the visceral, stemming from a psychological need, a desire, to fix wrongs,...
Of course, Psycho plays a major part in this association; the Italian-originated giallo wallowing in mysteries of the mind shot through with a razor-sharp emphasis on the visceral, stemming from a psychological need, a desire, to fix wrongs,...
- 7/23/2016
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
Horror comics and magazines filled my shelves as a kid, titles such as Creepy, Eerie, House of Secrets and The Witching Hour weakening my eyes and troubling my sleep. I simply could not get enough of them. However, when I discovered that there were films made in the same multistory, blood soaked spirit, well, I forgot about sleep altogether. My first stop was Creepshow (1982), and delighted with that, I made my way back through earlier (and gentler) excursions of terror. Step right up ladies and gentlemen! Enter the Torture Garden (1967), a carnival exhibit where the evils of man are laid before you…for a price.
Released by Columbia Pictures November ’67 in the U.K. and July ’68 in North America, Torture Garden was the second film of Amicus Productions (Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (’65) being the first) that followed the omnibus format. Amicus, started by producers Max Rosenberg and Milton Subotsky,...
Released by Columbia Pictures November ’67 in the U.K. and July ’68 in North America, Torture Garden was the second film of Amicus Productions (Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (’65) being the first) that followed the omnibus format. Amicus, started by producers Max Rosenberg and Milton Subotsky,...
- 11/7/2015
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
This Halloween, if you want a good, old-fashioned, low-tech scare in between your costume parties and your horror movie viewing, we have this recommendation for you: Turn out the lights, grab your flashlight, place it beneath your chin, and gather round your scare-hungry friends for a spooky reading of “Enoch.” This creepy tale is a short story by Robert Bloch, who also wrote the novel that was the basis of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” one of the films in the Top 10 of HitFix’s Ultimate Horror Poll. Bloch first published “Enoch” in horror fiction pulp magazine “Weird Tales” in 1946. Among other works by Bloch — whose mentor was H.P. Lovecraft — was the screenplay for “The Cabinet of Caligari” (which also made the Top 100 of our horror poll), multiple stories about Jack the Ripper and 10 episodes of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” “Enoch” is about a man named Seth plagued (or protected?) by a...
- 10/31/2015
- by Emily Rome
- Hitfix
Here’s a solution for the indecisive moviegoers. Not sure if you’re in the mood for a drama or comedy or a thriller? Well, how about an anthology? It’s like a good short story collection, or you could call this type of flick a movie buffet or a cinema smorgasbord. Most of the time, these films, in their earlier incarnations, center around a setting (Grand Hotel), a gathering (Dinner At Eight), or an incident (the big cash winners in If I Had A Million). There are animation anthologies (the most famous may be Fantasia or Allegro Non Tropo) and musicals (Invitation To The Dance). The most prolific type may be those in the horror genre, beginning with 1945’s landmark Dead Of Night. In the 60’s and 70’s, Amicus Studios made their mark with Torture Garden and The House That Dripped Blood along with the EC Comics-inspired Tales From The Crypt...
- 3/19/2015
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
By Lee Pfeiffer
I have seen virtually every James Bond clone released by major studios during the 1960s but "Assignment K" had eluded me until it was released as a burn-to-order title by the Sony Choice Collection. I was expecting another low-brow effort done on a small budget and perhaps affording some guilty pleasures throughout. However, "Assignment K" was a pleasant surprise. It's an intelligently written, well-acted espionage yarn that goes to some lengths to avoid Bondisms in favor of a realistic scenario populated by realistic characters. The film was directed by the woefully under-rated Val Guest, whose talents were generally dismissed at the time as workmanlike competence but which today seem much more impressive. (Guest had some spy movie experience, having previously directed key segments of the multi-director farce "Casino Royale".)
Stephen Boyd stars as Philip Scott, a high-powered executive of a London-based toy company. When we first meet him,...
I have seen virtually every James Bond clone released by major studios during the 1960s but "Assignment K" had eluded me until it was released as a burn-to-order title by the Sony Choice Collection. I was expecting another low-brow effort done on a small budget and perhaps affording some guilty pleasures throughout. However, "Assignment K" was a pleasant surprise. It's an intelligently written, well-acted espionage yarn that goes to some lengths to avoid Bondisms in favor of a realistic scenario populated by realistic characters. The film was directed by the woefully under-rated Val Guest, whose talents were generally dismissed at the time as workmanlike competence but which today seem much more impressive. (Guest had some spy movie experience, having previously directed key segments of the multi-director farce "Casino Royale".)
Stephen Boyd stars as Philip Scott, a high-powered executive of a London-based toy company. When we first meet him,...
- 2/1/2015
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Reviewed by Kevin Scott, MoreHorror.com
Torture Garden (1967)
Written by: Robert Bloch
Directed by: Freddie Francis
Cast: Burgess Meredith (Dr. Diablo), Jack Palance (Ronald Wyatt), Beverly Adams (Carla Hayes), Peter Cushing (Lancelot Canning), Maurice Denham (Uncle Roger), Robert Hutton (Bruce Benton), John Standing (Leo Winston), John Phillips (Eddie Storm), Bernard Kay (Dr. Heim), David Bauer (Mike Charles)
It goes without saying how much I love the Amicus and Hammer anthology films. So elegantly terrifying with a prim and proper British flair, I would love to see a film like that today. Not saying that there aren’t good anthologies made now, but I haven’t seen any that mined that perfect blend of EC comics pulp horror and some solid style as classically trained actors and actresses bring it to life. I can even look past all the neckerchiefs and high 1970’s fashion, in fact I kinda like it.
“Torture Garden...
Torture Garden (1967)
Written by: Robert Bloch
Directed by: Freddie Francis
Cast: Burgess Meredith (Dr. Diablo), Jack Palance (Ronald Wyatt), Beverly Adams (Carla Hayes), Peter Cushing (Lancelot Canning), Maurice Denham (Uncle Roger), Robert Hutton (Bruce Benton), John Standing (Leo Winston), John Phillips (Eddie Storm), Bernard Kay (Dr. Heim), David Bauer (Mike Charles)
It goes without saying how much I love the Amicus and Hammer anthology films. So elegantly terrifying with a prim and proper British flair, I would love to see a film like that today. Not saying that there aren’t good anthologies made now, but I haven’t seen any that mined that perfect blend of EC comics pulp horror and some solid style as classically trained actors and actresses bring it to life. I can even look past all the neckerchiefs and high 1970’s fashion, in fact I kinda like it.
“Torture Garden...
- 12/13/2014
- by admin
- MoreHorror
“If a movie makes you happy, for whatever reason, then it’s a good movie.”
—Big E
*******Warning: Review Contains Spoilers*******
By Ernie Magnotta
If there’s one thing I love, it’s 1970s made-for-tv horror films. I remember sitting in front of the television as a kid and watching a plethora of films such as Gargoyles, Bad Ronald, Satan’s School for Girls, Horror at 37,000 Feet, Devil Dog: Hound of Hell, Scream Pretty Peggy, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Moon of the Wolf and The Initiation of Sarah just to name a few. Some of those are better than others, but all were fun.
When I think back, there have been some legendary names associated with small screen horrors. Genre masters John Carpenter (Halloween), Steven Spielberg (Jaws), Wes Craven (Nightmare on Elm Street), Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and Joseph Stefano (Psycho) all took shots at television...
—Big E
*******Warning: Review Contains Spoilers*******
By Ernie Magnotta
If there’s one thing I love, it’s 1970s made-for-tv horror films. I remember sitting in front of the television as a kid and watching a plethora of films such as Gargoyles, Bad Ronald, Satan’s School for Girls, Horror at 37,000 Feet, Devil Dog: Hound of Hell, Scream Pretty Peggy, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Moon of the Wolf and The Initiation of Sarah just to name a few. Some of those are better than others, but all were fun.
When I think back, there have been some legendary names associated with small screen horrors. Genre masters John Carpenter (Halloween), Steven Spielberg (Jaws), Wes Craven (Nightmare on Elm Street), Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw Massacre) and Joseph Stefano (Psycho) all took shots at television...
- 11/9/2014
- by nospam@example.com (Cinema Retro)
- Cinemaretro.com
Popular in the 1960s and early 1970s with more rare appearances in the 1980s, 1990s and the 2000s, the anthology-style horror film has made a solid resurgence in recent years with such portmanteau releases as The ABCs of Death films and the V/H/S series.
With Mexico Barbaro, Fear Paris and other projects in various stages of completion, the anthology horror film looks to continue to be an important part of the horror cinema landscape.
Some anthology films employ a framing or wraparound sequence in an attempt to connect the segments that make up the film while others dispense with this classic Amicus-style approach entirely and simply present a collection of short films connected by genre.
Either way, a horror anthology film is ultimately about the quality of its individual segments and this article will take you on a tour of the greatest horror anthology segments of all time.
With Mexico Barbaro, Fear Paris and other projects in various stages of completion, the anthology horror film looks to continue to be an important part of the horror cinema landscape.
Some anthology films employ a framing or wraparound sequence in an attempt to connect the segments that make up the film while others dispense with this classic Amicus-style approach entirely and simply present a collection of short films connected by genre.
Either way, a horror anthology film is ultimately about the quality of its individual segments and this article will take you on a tour of the greatest horror anthology segments of all time.
- 10/25/2014
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
One of my fondest memories growing up as a young horrorphile was catching as many scary movies and fright-filled specials as I could during the month of October in order to prepare for Halloween night. With the hundreds of channel options out there for viewers these days, I thought it might be fun to break down where genre fans can catch various movies, specials and even Halloween-themed cartoons over the next 31 days so that you can start planning out your viewings in advance.
Here are some of the thrills and chills coming to your televisions this October. Please keep in mind that full schedules have not been announced everywhere yet, so we’ll be sure to update you guys with any additions to the calendar. All times listed are Et/Pt:
Wednesday, October 1st
2:00pm – The Dead (SyFy)
4:30pm – Dead Season (SyFy)
6:30pm – Halloween II (2009) (SyFy)
9:...
Here are some of the thrills and chills coming to your televisions this October. Please keep in mind that full schedules have not been announced everywhere yet, so we’ll be sure to update you guys with any additions to the calendar. All times listed are Et/Pt:
Wednesday, October 1st
2:00pm – The Dead (SyFy)
4:30pm – Dead Season (SyFy)
6:30pm – Halloween II (2009) (SyFy)
9:...
- 10/1/2014
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
The craft stores know something you don’t know. That’s right. It’s time for the 2014 Halloween Season TV Preview! This is where we let you know about the time and channel for everything we can find on TV having to do with Halloween or Horror for the month of October and sometimes late September. This will include holiday specials, horror movies, TV show premier dates and Halloween episodes of your favorite series as well as documentaries that might be considered scary. Anything and everything that might get your ghost good.
I always start with TCM because you can tell they take such care in developing their lineup. Be sure to check out their Thursday nights. This is truly a unique year for that station.
A quick note: We are not going to be able to get it all. So many different markets and channels and providers… it’s...
I always start with TCM because you can tell they take such care in developing their lineup. Be sure to check out their Thursday nights. This is truly a unique year for that station.
A quick note: We are not going to be able to get it all. So many different markets and channels and providers… it’s...
- 9/4/2014
- by Jimmy Terror
- The Liberal Dead
Here's another installment featuring Joe Dante's reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments!
Four horror tales centering on haunted house. Well made and acted, an exploitable entry for general dualler markets, but rather mild for more bloodthirsty horror audience. Could have had class potential except for the title. Ok boxoffice future overall. Rating: Gp.
Its sanguine title notwithstanding, The House That Dripped Blood aims at quiet chills rather than boisterous thrills, taking the form of four horror stories of varying quality centering on an accursed country house. Production, direction and acting are of a high standard, although the stories written by Psycho's Robert Bloch lack the sensational aspects to wholly satisfy the present blood‑and‑guts horror market. In fact, were it not for the title, this could be a fairly...
Four horror tales centering on haunted house. Well made and acted, an exploitable entry for general dualler markets, but rather mild for more bloodthirsty horror audience. Could have had class potential except for the title. Ok boxoffice future overall. Rating: Gp.
Its sanguine title notwithstanding, The House That Dripped Blood aims at quiet chills rather than boisterous thrills, taking the form of four horror stories of varying quality centering on an accursed country house. Production, direction and acting are of a high standard, although the stories written by Psycho's Robert Bloch lack the sensational aspects to wholly satisfy the present blood‑and‑guts horror market. In fact, were it not for the title, this could be a fairly...
- 8/26/2014
- by Joe Dante
- Trailers from Hell
Hi everyone! To kick off Nerdly’s 31 Days of Horror I thought I’d put together a list of my Top 5 flicks to watch on Halloween. Obviously being a huge horror fan my dilemma is that there are so many good horror movies that I sit down to watch at this time of year – how could I possibly condense it down to just one blog post? Well, it took a lot of work but I managed it. So here it is, my top five picks of the best scary movies to darken(?) up your Halloween. With a few honourable mentions thrown in (told you it was hard to pare down the list).
Of course this is the start of our Halloween festivities – look out for a horror movie review a day for the entire month of October but for now here’s my Top 5 Halloween Movie Picks…
One mainstay of...
Of course this is the start of our Halloween festivities – look out for a horror movie review a day for the entire month of October but for now here’s my Top 5 Halloween Movie Picks…
One mainstay of...
- 10/1/2013
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
We return with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes release details for Inbred, Blood, and 4 Dead Girls, a trailer for The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue, featuring Robert Englund, details on a Jason Voorhees-inspired charity, an interview with Nick Basile, the director of Dark, and much more:
The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue Trailer and Release Details: “Two years ago, the Mugg Brothers, who have never worked a day in their lives, inherited a brownstone apartment building. In that short time, their slacker ways have run the building into the ground. Tenants are moving out, no one drinks at the bar downstairs, and the building’s pets are going missing. If all that isn’t enough to make them sit up and take notice, they soon discover a mysterious creature is hiding in the basement and trying to...
The Mole Man of Belmont Avenue Trailer and Release Details: “Two years ago, the Mugg Brothers, who have never worked a day in their lives, inherited a brownstone apartment building. In that short time, their slacker ways have run the building into the ground. Tenants are moving out, no one drinks at the bar downstairs, and the building’s pets are going missing. If all that isn’t enough to make them sit up and take notice, they soon discover a mysterious creature is hiding in the basement and trying to...
- 9/1/2013
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
The anthology horror film is back in the wake of the success of chapter-style horror films like The Theatre Bizarre (2011) and its announced follow-up, V/H/S (2012), the soon-to-be-released sequel V/H/S 2 (2013) and The ABC’s of Death (2012).
While this movement generates a good deal of conversation about the fondly remembered Amicus productions of the 1960’s and 1970’s like Dr. Terror’s House Of Horrors (Freddie Francis, 1965), Torture Garden (Freddie Francis, 1967), The House That Dripped Blood (Peter Duffell, 1971) and Asylum (Roy Ward Baker, 1972) among others, the comparison is not exactly accurate across the board.
While the segments of V/H/S are unified by shared visual style and a wraparound story, The Theatre Bizarre and The ABC’s of Death come off as collections of essentially unrelated horror short films loosely bound by a flimsy wraparound segment in the case of The Theatre Bizarre or a basic concept as...
While this movement generates a good deal of conversation about the fondly remembered Amicus productions of the 1960’s and 1970’s like Dr. Terror’s House Of Horrors (Freddie Francis, 1965), Torture Garden (Freddie Francis, 1967), The House That Dripped Blood (Peter Duffell, 1971) and Asylum (Roy Ward Baker, 1972) among others, the comparison is not exactly accurate across the board.
While the segments of V/H/S are unified by shared visual style and a wraparound story, The Theatre Bizarre and The ABC’s of Death come off as collections of essentially unrelated horror short films loosely bound by a flimsy wraparound segment in the case of The Theatre Bizarre or a basic concept as...
- 4/5/2013
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
Trailer shows more crazed crimefighting in violent comic-book sequel that may be in danger of becoming too slick
Reading on mobile? Watch here
Matthew Vaughn's Kick-Ass may not have been as majestically portentous as Zack Snyder's similarly themed Watchmen, but it satirised its subject with equal intelligence and a hipper sense of humour. Arriving three years ago with perfect timing to offset the slow descent into blandness of Hollywood superhero flicks, it also avoided slipping into spoof territory. Finally, it succeeded in really annoying Daily Mail readers, who got all Mary Whitehouse over 12-year-old Chloë Moretz's turn as a potty-mouthed, frighteningly lethal crime fighter.
With Vaughn stepping back to a producer's role, little-known film-maker Jeff Wadlow takes on writing and directing duties for Kick-Ass 2, the first trailer for which has just hit the web. Moretz returns as purple-tressed, pint-sized killer Hit Girl, with Britain's Aaron Taylor-Johnson...
Reading on mobile? Watch here
Matthew Vaughn's Kick-Ass may not have been as majestically portentous as Zack Snyder's similarly themed Watchmen, but it satirised its subject with equal intelligence and a hipper sense of humour. Arriving three years ago with perfect timing to offset the slow descent into blandness of Hollywood superhero flicks, it also avoided slipping into spoof territory. Finally, it succeeded in really annoying Daily Mail readers, who got all Mary Whitehouse over 12-year-old Chloë Moretz's turn as a potty-mouthed, frighteningly lethal crime fighter.
With Vaughn stepping back to a producer's role, little-known film-maker Jeff Wadlow takes on writing and directing duties for Kick-Ass 2, the first trailer for which has just hit the web. Moretz returns as purple-tressed, pint-sized killer Hit Girl, with Britain's Aaron Taylor-Johnson...
- 3/14/2013
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Special Mention: The Fake Trailers from Grindhouse (2007, USA): The four fake trailers featured in the otherwise disappointing Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino double-feature: Machete by Robert Rodriguez, Werewolf Women of the SS by Rob Zombie, Thanksgiving by Eli Roth and Don’t by Edgar Wright-are all very entertaining trips down horror/exploitation film memory lane and are easily the best part of the film.
****
2) Other Notable Horror Films Of The 2000’s:
This list focuses on films that are partially successful and even touch on brilliance at times but ultimately don’t pull everything together to fully deliver on their promise.
Intacto (Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, 2001, Spain):
This film about a group of people blessed with supernatural good luck has a great premise, several great scenes-the revelation of the plane crash early in the film, the blindfolded race through the trees and the Russian roulette climax-plus the welcome presence of...
****
2) Other Notable Horror Films Of The 2000’s:
This list focuses on films that are partially successful and even touch on brilliance at times but ultimately don’t pull everything together to fully deliver on their promise.
Intacto (Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, 2001, Spain):
This film about a group of people blessed with supernatural good luck has a great premise, several great scenes-the revelation of the plane crash early in the film, the blindfolded race through the trees and the Russian roulette climax-plus the welcome presence of...
- 11/4/2012
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
There's a gazillion horror-themed metal bands out there, and while they're usually enthusiastic and sincere, only a handful manage to distinguish themselves with both talent and originality. So it's always an exciting moment, especially on Halloween, to unearth a black diamond of musical horror in the genre. There are also dozens of indie labels out there specializing in horror music, but one of the more prominent names in the field is Razorback Records, who have discovered some intriguing artists of many modes, ranging from old-school giallo rock like Sweden's Anima Morte and analog electronics with an '80s slasher vibe, to straight-up splatter-metal nastiness. One of the label's latest metal acquisitions is the Louisiana-based outfit Orloff, who take their name from Nosferatu's legendary villain and drape their death, doom and black metal creations in a shroud of gothic atmosphere. After hearing a three-song demo titled Swamp of the Ravens (named...
- 10/31/2012
- by Gregory Burkart
- FEARnet
Where would a horror movie be without a classic death scene – or two? We’ve had some great ones over the years: Janet Leigh’s shower to end all showers in Psycho (1960); the ill fated nude swim in Jaws (1975); David Warner’s famous decapitation in The Omen (1976); John Hurt’s serious indigestion problem in Alien (1979); and the exploding head in Scanners (1980). And let’s not forget the gruesome ends that befell pre-stardom Kevin Bacon and Johnny Depp.
Hang on a minute! I’ve just mentioned all the classic ones! Well let’s face it, so much has been written and discussed about those famous demises, they’ve been pretty much done to death (sorry!). Therefore, the following ten are horror-related deaths that deserve some kind of classic status, a couple of which are notable for their surreal and ambiguous nature.But beware...since most of the best death scenes are...
Hang on a minute! I’ve just mentioned all the classic ones! Well let’s face it, so much has been written and discussed about those famous demises, they’ve been pretty much done to death (sorry!). Therefore, the following ten are horror-related deaths that deserve some kind of classic status, a couple of which are notable for their surreal and ambiguous nature.But beware...since most of the best death scenes are...
- 10/22/2012
- Shadowlocked
Last summer I profiled Sin-Tech, a dark and disturbing compilation of experimental music from indie label Shinto Records that really opened my eyes to some envelope-busting artists from many different genres – including gothic, industrial, Ebm, dark ambient, neo-folk, abstract noise, and a few categories that probably don't have names yet. The macabre landscape explored in that collection was only the first step, as the creators have gathered yet another amazing group of artists for this summer's new collection Torture Garden. Mainly an electro-industrial label with a lot of club-friendly content, Shinto has been bringing aboard a lot more sinister experimental acts lately, and it's these horror mini-soundtracks that...
- 8/9/2010
- FEARnet
My God! It's really happening! Not only has an official synopsis appeared online but the first bit of casting news has come as well! Captain Howdy is pleased!
The goodies appeared today over at Screentest.Biz, which not only gives you a glimpse at the casting process but also reveals that Robert Englund will be joining Snyder in the film! Strangeland II: Disciple begins lensing May 21st in Louisiana!
Synopsis
"One year after Carleton Hendricks aka Captain Howdy's (Dee Snider) sadistic rampage, much more than the physical scars the schizophrenic, sexual sadist gave his victims are left behind. Their lives, destroyed by emotional torment and the media frenzy surrounding the crimes, Detective Mike Gage, his daughter Geneveve and vigilante Jackson Roth (Robert Englund) each have their crosses to bear. But when the badly burned and mentally broken Carlton Hendricks is taken from a state run mental hospital and off his medication by billionaire,...
The goodies appeared today over at Screentest.Biz, which not only gives you a glimpse at the casting process but also reveals that Robert Englund will be joining Snyder in the film! Strangeland II: Disciple begins lensing May 21st in Louisiana!
Synopsis
"One year after Carleton Hendricks aka Captain Howdy's (Dee Snider) sadistic rampage, much more than the physical scars the schizophrenic, sexual sadist gave his victims are left behind. Their lives, destroyed by emotional torment and the media frenzy surrounding the crimes, Detective Mike Gage, his daughter Geneveve and vigilante Jackson Roth (Robert Englund) each have their crosses to bear. But when the badly burned and mentally broken Carlton Hendricks is taken from a state run mental hospital and off his medication by billionaire,...
- 1/13/2010
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Established 1974! Our ongoing news column is on the website.
Guillermo del Toro (left) has a new book out, The Strain (co-written with Chuck Hogan). He’ll talk to Craig Ferguson on CBS about it tonight and fly to NYC to appear at Fangoria’S Weekend Of Horrors Friday.
Sci-fi People
The best of Robert Bloch will soon be available again, Publishers Weekly reports. Idw Publishing has licensed 100 of the legendary Bloch’s short stories for re-imagined adaptations in graphic novel and other formats. Bloch—who always knew he would be best remembered as the “author of Psycho”—was a genre fan who began his professional career writing for Weird Tales in the 1930s and even corresponded with H.P. Lovecraft. He was a master of the short story (his most-anthologized tale being “Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper”) who eventually began writing novels (among them The Scarf, American Gothic, Nightworld). He adapted...
Guillermo del Toro (left) has a new book out, The Strain (co-written with Chuck Hogan). He’ll talk to Craig Ferguson on CBS about it tonight and fly to NYC to appear at Fangoria’S Weekend Of Horrors Friday.
Sci-fi People
The best of Robert Bloch will soon be available again, Publishers Weekly reports. Idw Publishing has licensed 100 of the legendary Bloch’s short stories for re-imagined adaptations in graphic novel and other formats. Bloch—who always knew he would be best remembered as the “author of Psycho”—was a genre fan who began his professional career writing for Weird Tales in the 1930s and even corresponded with H.P. Lovecraft. He was a master of the short story (his most-anthologized tale being “Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper”) who eventually began writing novels (among them The Scarf, American Gothic, Nightworld). He adapted...
- 6/1/2009
- by no-reply@starlog.com (DAVID McDONNELL)
- Starlog
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