After a genre-defining golden age from 1978 to 1984, slashers continued to proliferate cinemas throughout the rest of the ’80s. By the time the ’90s rolled around, however, diminishing returns for franchises and newcomers alike made it seem as though the slasher well had run dry. But, like its bottomless repository of knife-wielding villains, the genre has proven that it can never be stopped. During the dry period before Scream revitalized slashers in 1996, savvy filmmakers began leaning into the campy elements as a response to dwindling audiences rooting for the villains rather than fearing them. Dr. Giggles was just what the doctor ordered.
The 1992 film was a collaboration between Largo Entertainment, who produced the film, and Dark Horse Comics, who developed a short-lived comic book series based on the character. It may not have had the draw of Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, or Freddy Krueger, but its comedic approach to the subgenre...
The 1992 film was a collaboration between Largo Entertainment, who produced the film, and Dark Horse Comics, who developed a short-lived comic book series based on the character. It may not have had the draw of Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, or Freddy Krueger, but its comedic approach to the subgenre...
- 3/27/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
(Welcome to Best Actor Ever, an ongoing series where we explore the careers and performances of the greatest performers to ever grace the screen.)
There is not an actor in the history of moving pictures who has been more egregiously taken for granted by her industry than Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Critics have always had her back. The New York Times' Janet Maslin got it from the jump when she singled Leigh out as "the only thing worth seeing" in her film debut "Eyes of a Stranger." The better-than-average 1981 slasher film set the tone for Leigh's career in that she plays a victim. Her character is a blind-deaf mute whose condition was brought on by being kidnapped and raped at an early age. The 19-year-old Leigh projects sweetness and innocence, but this young woman is all serrated edges. Because she isn't just a victim. She's a survivor.
Roger Ebert was also an early admirer of Leigh,...
There is not an actor in the history of moving pictures who has been more egregiously taken for granted by her industry than Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Critics have always had her back. The New York Times' Janet Maslin got it from the jump when she singled Leigh out as "the only thing worth seeing" in her film debut "Eyes of a Stranger." The better-than-average 1981 slasher film set the tone for Leigh's career in that she plays a victim. Her character is a blind-deaf mute whose condition was brought on by being kidnapped and raped at an early age. The 19-year-old Leigh projects sweetness and innocence, but this young woman is all serrated edges. Because she isn't just a victim. She's a survivor.
Roger Ebert was also an early admirer of Leigh,...
- 3/24/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
As was the case for many western viewers, South Korean cinema was something I discovered in the early ’00s. For a few years afterwards, I tried to immerse myself in films coming out of Korea, keeping up with contemporary releases that made it to the UK, importing other titles that didn’t make the jump but looked interesting, as well as trying to look back, at least a few years, to the late 1990s and the beginnings of what was being called a South-Korean new wave. I have to confess that since then, some key titles apart, I’ve only intermittently kept up with the scene, and am yet to dig into any of their TV dramas, including Squid Game, with which Midnight shares actor Wi Ha-Jun.
In first time director Kwon Oh-Seung’s thriller, largely set across a single night, Wi plays Do-sik, a young man who is also...
In first time director Kwon Oh-Seung’s thriller, largely set across a single night, Wi plays Do-sik, a young man who is also...
- 3/14/2022
- by Sam Inglis
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Today marks the 60th birthday of one of the finest and most underrated actors working: the great Jennifer Jason Leigh. Aside from a brief dalliance with the mainstream in the early 90s, her 40+ year career has been spent largely in independent cinema, from her beginnings elevating schlock like Eyes of a Stranger to her most recent role in Lena Dunham’s Sundance 2022 entry, Sharp Stick.
Leigh has never shown any interest in airing any part of her life offscreen in public. This is likely one of the reasons she has gone under the radar throughout her career. She has amassed huge respect in the industry, but her lack of interest in trophy chasing has meant she has just one Oscar nomination to her name and her pursuit of privacy and choice of roles that she’s never been a huge star. I get the feeling that’s exactly how she wants it.
Leigh has never shown any interest in airing any part of her life offscreen in public. This is likely one of the reasons she has gone under the radar throughout her career. She has amassed huge respect in the industry, but her lack of interest in trophy chasing has meant she has just one Oscar nomination to her name and her pursuit of privacy and choice of roles that she’s never been a huge star. I get the feeling that’s exactly how she wants it.
- 2/5/2022
- by Sam Inglis
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
After a few quiet weeks of home releases, this Tuesday is shaping up to be a great day for horror & sci-fi fans looking to expand their Blu-ray & DVD collections, because we have some killer titles heading home. Arrow Video is giving Alejandro Jodorowsky’s masterpiece Santa Sangre the 4K treatment with a multi-disc collection, and Severin Films is celebrating two William Girdler classics with their Special Edition releases for Grizzly and Day of the Animals as well. Scream Factory is keeping busy this Tuesday with their Blus for He Knows You’re Alone and Eyes of a Stranger, and if you missed it when it was released earlier this year, you can finally catch up with Son, featuring Andi Mattichak this week, too.
Other Blu-ray & DVD releases for May 18th include Hunted, Amityville Poltergeist, The Seventh Day, and Baxter.
Day of the Animals: Special Edition
Just when you thought it...
Other Blu-ray & DVD releases for May 18th include Hunted, Amityville Poltergeist, The Seventh Day, and Baxter.
Day of the Animals: Special Edition
Just when you thought it...
- 5/17/2021
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Although it may be the dead of winter, Scream Factory is looking to warm our horror-loving hearts with four new Blu-ray announcements for May: King Kong (1976), He Knows You're Alone, Eyes of a Stranger, and The Hand:
King Kong (1976) Collector's Edition Blu-ray: "Finally!! 1976’s big budget remake of King Kong stomps its way onto Blu-ray in North America for the first time! Here are the early details we have at current time to share:
• National street date for North America (Region A) is May 11th.
• This will be presented as a 2-Disc Collector’s Edition and will come guaranteed with a slipcover in its first three months of release.
• The newly commissioned artwork pictured comes to us from artist Hugh Fleming. This art will be front-facing, and the reverse side of the wrap will feature the original theatrical artwork. \
• Extras will be announced on a later date. However, we...
King Kong (1976) Collector's Edition Blu-ray: "Finally!! 1976’s big budget remake of King Kong stomps its way onto Blu-ray in North America for the first time! Here are the early details we have at current time to share:
• National street date for North America (Region A) is May 11th.
• This will be presented as a 2-Disc Collector’s Edition and will come guaranteed with a slipcover in its first three months of release.
• The newly commissioned artwork pictured comes to us from artist Hugh Fleming. This art will be front-facing, and the reverse side of the wrap will feature the original theatrical artwork. \
• Extras will be announced on a later date. However, we...
- 2/8/2021
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Any slasher worth its salt should have a little bit of unique flavor; or at the very least, come at the material from a slightly different angle. Such is the case with Ken Wiederhorn’s (far and away) best film, Eyes of a Stranger (1981), a taut thriller and an effective big screen debut for Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Released by Warner Bros. in late March and produced by the Friday the 13th folks, Eyes barely made back its $800,000 budget, and was frowned upon by critics as just another link in a never-ending chain of misogyny and bloodletting. Eyes however, while adhering to many of the tropes of the time, gives a sense of agency to its female leads that wasn’t completely uncommon to the genre yet always refreshing to see.
Our film opens as a photographer comes across a woman, naked and dead, submerged on the shore of a Florida swamp.
Released by Warner Bros. in late March and produced by the Friday the 13th folks, Eyes barely made back its $800,000 budget, and was frowned upon by critics as just another link in a never-ending chain of misogyny and bloodletting. Eyes however, while adhering to many of the tropes of the time, gives a sense of agency to its female leads that wasn’t completely uncommon to the genre yet always refreshing to see.
Our film opens as a photographer comes across a woman, naked and dead, submerged on the shore of a Florida swamp.
- 8/18/2018
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
The 19th Fantasia International Film Festival is right around the corner. Though the full lineup for the festival won't be unveiled until early next month, the second wave of Fantasia titles have been revealed and horror fans have a lot to look forward to.
Press Release: "Montreal, June 11, 2015 – The 19th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival, presented by Ubisoft and Anchor Bay, will soon be stunning Montreal with three weeks of cinematic ingenuity from July 14 until August 4, 2015.
Fantasia's complete lineup of programming and special events will be revealed on July 7th. To tide you over until then, we're thrilled to announce an incredible Second Wave of titles!
The International Premiere Of Takeshi Kitano’S Ryuzo And The Seven Henchmen
Coming immediately after his Outrage saga, Takeshi Kitano’s hilarious crime story stars screen legend Tatsuya Fuji (In The Realm Of The Senses) as a retired yakuza who realizes...
Press Release: "Montreal, June 11, 2015 – The 19th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival, presented by Ubisoft and Anchor Bay, will soon be stunning Montreal with three weeks of cinematic ingenuity from July 14 until August 4, 2015.
Fantasia's complete lineup of programming and special events will be revealed on July 7th. To tide you over until then, we're thrilled to announce an incredible Second Wave of titles!
The International Premiere Of Takeshi Kitano’S Ryuzo And The Seven Henchmen
Coming immediately after his Outrage saga, Takeshi Kitano’s hilarious crime story stars screen legend Tatsuya Fuji (In The Realm Of The Senses) as a retired yakuza who realizes...
- 6/11/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
A little over one month away, the Fantasia Film Festival announced it’s second wave of titles this morning. Fantasia Film Festival holds a special place in the hearts of Sound on Sight and we could not be more excited for their upcoming edition which promises to be bigger and better than ever. Arguably the largest genre film festival in the world, Fantasia will run from July 14th to August 4th this year and feature a large number of world and international premieres. The full-lineup, including special events, will be announced on July 7th.
From the official press release, here are some titles we can now look forward to:
The International Premiere Of Takeshi Kitano’S Ryuzo And The Seven Henchmen
Coming immediately after his Outrage saga, Takeshi Kitano’s hilarious crime story stars screen legend Tatsuya Fuji (In The Realm Of The Senses) as a retired yakuza who realizes...
From the official press release, here are some titles we can now look forward to:
The International Premiere Of Takeshi Kitano’S Ryuzo And The Seven Henchmen
Coming immediately after his Outrage saga, Takeshi Kitano’s hilarious crime story stars screen legend Tatsuya Fuji (In The Realm Of The Senses) as a retired yakuza who realizes...
- 6/11/2015
- by Justine Smith
- SoundOnSight
'Emmanuelle' movies producer Alain Siritzky dead at 72 (photo: Sylvia Kristel in 'Emmanuelle' 1974) Emmanuelle franchise producer Alain Siritzky died after what has been described as "a short illness" on Saturday, October 11, 2014, at a Paris hospital. Siritzky, whose credits include dozens of Emmanuelle movies and direct-to-video efforts, several of which starring Sylvia Kristel in the title role, was 72. Ironically, Alain Siritzky didn't produce the original, epoch-making 1974 Emmanuelle. He became involved in that Yves Rousset-Rouard production via his Parafrance Films, which distributed Emmanuelle in France. 'Emmanuelle': 1974 movie sensation A couple of years after the release of Deep Throat and The Devil in Miss Jones (not to mention Boys in the Sand and Eyes of a Stranger), and the year after Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider sparked a furor by having simulated sex in Bernardo Bertolucci's Last Tango in Paris, the 1974 French release Emmanuelle still managed to become a worldwide cause célèbre.
- 10/15/2014
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
In the words of Lennon & McCartney, it's been "a long and winding road." Queensryche has maintained its status as a legendary progressive rock band over the past 30+ years, enjoying success with albums like "Operation: Mind Crime" and it's follow up, "Empire," selling more than 20 million albums worldwide. Behind their success, however, the band has been plagued by creative differences which led to the departure of lead singer Geoff Tate. Eventually, Tate and the remaining members reached what they described as "an amicable settlement" with one of the terms prohibiting Tate from further performing with his newly formed band using the name Queensryche after August 30, 2014. Before taking on the new name "Operation: Mindcrime," Tate and his band embarked on a summer tour titled "Queensryche starring Geoff Tate - The Farewell Tour" which just recently ended outside of Chicago, closing a significant musical chapter in his life. This was the last night...
- 9/1/2014
- by jmaurer@corp.popstar.com (Jennifer Maurer)
- PopStar
It has been such a long time since I sat down to watch Shock Waves that I can barely recall a single image from the film. Thankfully, Blue Underground has my back, as they will be releasing the film to Blu-ray & DVD on November 25th this year. If you aren’t familiar with Blue Underground, or what they do, they are one of the premiere boutique labels that have been a prolific distributor in cult and genre home video releases. I have a pretty large collection of Blue Underground Blu-rays. I think I’m only missing two of their releases, actually. I have the Hell of the Living Dead/Rats double feature sitting on my desk, and I will be tearing through that one tonight. Look for a review of that this week, and be sure and pre-order a copy of Shock Waves for yourself. Check out the press release below for detailed release info.
- 8/13/2014
- by Shawn Savage
- The Liberal Dead
The definition of a slasher film varies depending on who you ask, but in general, it contains several specific traits that feed into the genre’s formula. Author Vera Dika rather strictly defines the sub-genre in her book Games of Terror by only including films made between 1978 and 1984. In other words, she saw it as a movement. When someone describes Brick, they don’t define it as a noir, but instead neo-noir . In other words, it’s a modern motion picture that prominently utilizes elements of film noir, but with updated themes, content, style, visual elements or media that were absent in those from the 1940s and 1950s. So does one consider Scream a slasher film or a neo-slasher, or simply put, a modern slasher?
Some consider Thirteen Women to be the earliest slasher – released all the way back in 1932. Personally I think that is rubbish. Thirteen Women is more like Desperate Housewives on sedatives.
Some consider Thirteen Women to be the earliest slasher – released all the way back in 1932. Personally I think that is rubbish. Thirteen Women is more like Desperate Housewives on sedatives.
- 10/29/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Dear Warner Bros.,
Hey guys! You don’t know me, but I’ve given you quite a bit of money over the years. For the most part you guys really seem to have solid heads on your shoulders, what with releasing A Clockwork Orange, Thx 1138, Deliverance, Mean Streets, Caddyshack, Chariots of Fire, Blade Runner, Gremlins, Full Metal Jacket, Driving Mrs. Daisy, Goodfellas, JFK, Heat, L.A. Confidential, The Matrix, The Iron Giant, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Prestige and what have you. That’s only a fraction of your impressive resume, and for three or four decades you’ve made other studios more than a little jealous. But enough sucking up, because we’ve got some real business to discuss.
I was doing my rounds on Twitter and saw rumblings of a prequel to The Shining, my personal favorite of your films and possibly my favorite film ever. I...
Hey guys! You don’t know me, but I’ve given you quite a bit of money over the years. For the most part you guys really seem to have solid heads on your shoulders, what with releasing A Clockwork Orange, Thx 1138, Deliverance, Mean Streets, Caddyshack, Chariots of Fire, Blade Runner, Gremlins, Full Metal Jacket, Driving Mrs. Daisy, Goodfellas, JFK, Heat, L.A. Confidential, The Matrix, The Iron Giant, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Prestige and what have you. That’s only a fraction of your impressive resume, and for three or four decades you’ve made other studios more than a little jealous. But enough sucking up, because we’ve got some real business to discuss.
I was doing my rounds on Twitter and saw rumblings of a prequel to The Shining, my personal favorite of your films and possibly my favorite film ever. I...
- 7/31/2012
- by Jeremy Sollie
- Obsessed with Film
Geoff Tate of Queensryche has taken his solo show on the road. In an intimate setting at a place called Viper Alley on Chicago's northwest side, the 53 year-old singer treated fans to an acoustic set of songs from his vast catalog, including some of the finest gems from Queensryche's treasure chest of hits. It was a good move. The legendary front man looked and sounded as though he was born for the gig. He opened with "Got It Bad" a track from Queensryche's 2011 album "Dedicated to Chaos." It's a song rich with sensual overtones and in all it's opulence, was the perfect way to set the stage for a memorable evening with one of rock's all-time greatest vocalists. During the equally seductive "Touch" Geoff's sultry vocals could have melted leather off the barstools - a claim he even acknowledged. "Whew. I started getting a little bit heated up on that one.
- 5/10/2012
- by jmaurer@corp.popstar.com (Jennifer Maurer)
- PopStar
In honor of the impending Halloween holiday, Dr. Jimmy Terror from Dr. Terror’s Blog of Horrors stops by The Liberal Dead to assist in merrymaking and overall mischief.
More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead was recently released on October 18th. I’m sure you’ve been reading all about it, but for those of you who have not been sending out for more paramedics here’s the story thus far:
More Brains! A Return To The Living Dead is now available on DVD. It’s the ultimate account of the tongue-in-cheek, stylish and apocalyptic zombie movie. It features contributions from all the main cast as well as clips, photographs, storyboards, conceptual art, publicity materials, archival documents and behind-the-scenes footage.
Basically the best damn documentary you’re going to see all year. It’s this year’s Never Sleep Again (or at least that’s what I’ve...
More Brains! A Return to the Living Dead was recently released on October 18th. I’m sure you’ve been reading all about it, but for those of you who have not been sending out for more paramedics here’s the story thus far:
More Brains! A Return To The Living Dead is now available on DVD. It’s the ultimate account of the tongue-in-cheek, stylish and apocalyptic zombie movie. It features contributions from all the main cast as well as clips, photographs, storyboards, conceptual art, publicity materials, archival documents and behind-the-scenes footage.
Basically the best damn documentary you’re going to see all year. It’s this year’s Never Sleep Again (or at least that’s what I’ve...
- 10/23/2011
- by Jimmy Terror
- The Liberal Dead
Emerging in April 1981, two and a half years after Halloween and less than one year after Friday the 13th jump-started the slasher movie craze in earnest, Bloody Birthday faced stiff competition in theaters, with Eyes of a Stranger, The Funhouse, The Burning, Final Exam, Just Before Dawn, Happy Birthday to Me, and sequels Friday the 13th Part 2 and Halloween II all staking claims to young audiences that year. Yes, it was a glorious time to be a horror fan! Bloody Birthday borrows its ingredients liberally from the hastily-developed slasher movie cookbook, but it owes its inspiration just as much to Village of the Damned and any number of other "killer kid" flicks. It's a movie that takes full advantage of the freedoms...
- 9/15/2011
- Screen Anarchy
EW reports that the troubled Lindsey Lohan might be up for the rioe of Roman Polanski's murdered wife Sharon Tate in Tyler Shields' Manson family film, Eyes of a Stranger. If Lohan gets this role it could be a turning point if she'll just straighten her ass up, but she also has to stay our of jail so she can be avaiable to work. Shields had this to say;
I’m just going to be directing people to do the craziest shit they’ve ever done.
Shields also said this about Lohan;
We’ve worked together many, many times, She asked me about [Eyes] … And I said, ‘Oh you should be Sharon Tate.’ And she was like, ‘That would be amazing.
I’m just going to be directing people to do the craziest shit they’ve ever done.
Shields also said this about Lohan;
We’ve worked together many, many times, She asked me about [Eyes] … And I said, ‘Oh you should be Sharon Tate.’ And she was like, ‘That would be amazing.
- 4/5/2011
- by brians
- GeekTyrant
How do you know when a mockumentary is Canadian? Well, it might open with a disclaimer like this: “The following ‘documentary’ is fictional. We apologize to any person appearing in the film who believed the documentary was real. Your agreement to appear in the film is greatly appreciated.” That’s from the opening of Fubar, Michael Dowse’s faux-chronicle of a pair of Calgary headbangers as they navigate their way through adulthood, mortality and many, many Pilsners. The film was popular enough to spawn a sequel, this weekend’s Fubar II, so Derek, Detroit and Simon will assess both flicks as well as Dowse’s semi-verisimilitudinous take on Ibiza rave culture, It’s All Gone Pete Tong.
listen now
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Playlist:
The Sweet – Blockbuster
Creeper – Garden of Evil
Girlschool – C’mon Let’s Go
Breach of Trust – Eyes of a Stranger
Listen on I-Tunes...
listen now
Download the show in a new window
Playlist:
The Sweet – Blockbuster
Creeper – Garden of Evil
Girlschool – C’mon Let’s Go
Breach of Trust – Eyes of a Stranger
Listen on I-Tunes...
- 12/26/2010
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
"Just learned, Robin Wood has died," Jaime posted at Dave Kehr's site yesterday evening. "I can't think of anything else to say, except that the loss hurts, a lot. What a wonderful mind."
Anecdotes and appreciations have followed in the ensuing hours. "He and Andrew Sarris were my role models when I started writing film criticism," posts Joseph McBride, "and they remain my two idols in the field. Robin wrote brilliantly and in great intellectual depth and with a brave candor and passion. He showed us all the way to write about films seriously and with the kind of scholarly involvement that characterized the work of the great literary critics who paved his way before film criticism became a true scholarly field. Robin was one of the few auteurists who weathered the structuralist storm by accomodating its insights while not succumbing to its jargon or conformism. His work was actually strengthened by that challenge.
Anecdotes and appreciations have followed in the ensuing hours. "He and Andrew Sarris were my role models when I started writing film criticism," posts Joseph McBride, "and they remain my two idols in the field. Robin wrote brilliantly and in great intellectual depth and with a brave candor and passion. He showed us all the way to write about films seriously and with the kind of scholarly involvement that characterized the work of the great literary critics who paved his way before film criticism became a true scholarly field. Robin was one of the few auteurists who weathered the structuralist storm by accomodating its insights while not succumbing to its jargon or conformism. His work was actually strengthened by that challenge.
- 12/25/2009
- MUBI
The Final Girl: A Few Thoughts on Feminism and Horror By Donato Totaro
One of the more important, if not groundbreaking, accounts/recuperations of the horror film from a feminist perspective is the 1993 Carol Clover's "Men, Women, and Chainsaws". One of the book's major points concerns the structural positioning of what she calls the Final Girl in relation to spectatorship. While most theorists label the horror film as a male-driven/male-centered genre, Clover points out that in most horror films, especially the slasher film, the audience, male and female, is structurally 'forced' to identify with the resourceful young female (the Final Girl) who survives the serial attacker and usually ends the threat (until the sequel anyway.) So while the narratively dominant killer's subjective point of view may be male within the narrative,the male viewer is still rooting for the Final Girl to overcome the killer. We can see this...
One of the more important, if not groundbreaking, accounts/recuperations of the horror film from a feminist perspective is the 1993 Carol Clover's "Men, Women, and Chainsaws". One of the book's major points concerns the structural positioning of what she calls the Final Girl in relation to spectatorship. While most theorists label the horror film as a male-driven/male-centered genre, Clover points out that in most horror films, especially the slasher film, the audience, male and female, is structurally 'forced' to identify with the resourceful young female (the Final Girl) who survives the serial attacker and usually ends the threat (until the sequel anyway.) So while the narratively dominant killer's subjective point of view may be male within the narrative,the male viewer is still rooting for the Final Girl to overcome the killer. We can see this...
- 12/21/2009
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
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