The Weigh In #50

Is horror back from the grave? (pardon the pun)

Part 1 of 4 (prelude)


The Mummy, Dracula, Frankenstein. All of theses are Universal’s original movie monsters; the original monsters that first scared the pants off of moviegoers. Since the 1932 godfather of horror, Nosferatu, horror has been around almost as long as film itself and, as with most genres, has seen its highs and lows. From the movie monsters of the thirties and forties like The Wolfman, and The Creature From the Black Lagoon; to the Italian cinema horror boom of 60’s and 70' s with Argento and Brava; to drive thru favorites like I Spit on Your Grave, and Rosemary’s Baby, up to present day films like Saw, and Hostel. With few exceptions, in order to catch the attention of a changing audience, horror films have changed, sometimes reflecting society at large, sometimes just mimicking what is popular at the time. Studios such as Hammer Horror Films, Troma Films, and Full Moon Entertainment have managed to keep the genre alive to some degree and release films regardless of what was coming out in theaters.

Throughout the 90s and the beginning of this century, the horror genre has been in kind of a lull. Over the last few years though, we have seen a resurgence in horror films. Two types actually. We are seeing glossier hybrid version of the slasher/gore fests that packed drive-ins and theaters 25 years ago
(High Tension, Wolf Creek), and direct re-makes of some of the most famous modern horror flicks
(Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Omen). Over the next few weeks I want to take a look at the history of horror films, the state of current horror films, try and figure out if horror is back on the upswing, or is this is just a fluke; and is this new breed of horror film even a good thing. I hope you stay around for some of the fun.

This week’s Superman Returns news:
Check out this interview special effects guru Mark Stetson on all the tricks to getting the “Man of Steel”
to fly. (courtesy of studiodaily.com)


This weekend at your local multiplex (4/14/2006):

Scary Movie 4: Comedy
Anna Faris, Regina Hall, Craig Bierko, Leslie Nielsen, Carmen Elektra, Shaquille O’Neal
Plot: The fourth film in this series that parodies the top movies of the year and entertainment news, including Saw I and II, War of the Worlds, and Million Dollar Baby.
Buzz: These films seem to have a heavy following and this one (no matter how good or bad), will probably do pretty well, insuring another sequel in the series.

The Wild: Animation
(voices): Kiefer Sutherland, Eddie Izzard, Jeneane Garafalo, William Shatner
Plot: When one of their own is accidentally shipped to the wild, the rest of the animals from the New York Zoo decide to break out to save him.
Buzz: This movie sounds remarkably like last year’s hit from Dreamworks, Madagascar. But with children’s short attention span, I am sure they won’t notice. Will it be a big enough hit to knock Ice Age 2 from the top of the weekly charts?

This week on DVD (4/11/2006):

Fun With Dick and Jane
Wolf Creek
An Unfinished Life
Mission Impossible Box Set
Mission Impossible 2(se)
The Greatest Game Ever Played
Ellie Parker
The Dark
Deep Blue
Woman, Thou Art Loosed
In Living Color (season 5)
Bugsy Malone
The Newsroom (season 3)
Bob Newhart Show (season 3)
Laurel and Hardy Gift Set
The Scorned

As always, if you have any questions, or just want to pick my brain, drop me a line at DPlace76@yahoo.com.
You can check out my random ramblings at www.livejournal.com/users/bigdpimpin.
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