Adam Green’s Hatchet was no work of art, but it completely delivered the “Old School American Horror” that the posters promised. I left the theater thinking Green could be the next Eli Roth, and started wishing for a whole slew of quickly made Hatchet sequels, a la the Friday the 13th films in the ’80′s.
Three years and a few decent films later, Green is finally granting my wish. And while the teaser trailer for Hatchet II spends most of it’s time reviewing the first film, I have to admit that I’m still very excited. Let’s hope that this gets a wide enough release so I can catch it in theaters.
At a certain point, I begin to wonder if being a guy who has hated almost everything Wes Craven does but still continues to follow his work for some reason, is any different from being his biggest fan. Maybe I’m just kidding myself? Or is that killing myself!
Anyway, he’s actually directing again! Check out the trailer for My Soul to Take. The original title was 25/8, but presumably Craven couldn’t get funding for that many eighths. It’s pretty much your standard slasher, with the twist that one of the kids may be the reincarnated spirit of the murderer. Kind of a neat idea. I wonder how he’ll screw it up.
[via I Watch Stuff]
Say NO to genetically modified french chicks. REVIEWED: Splice. PLUS: Things that one may only purchase at Target.
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When he’s not busy reinventing 3D technology, fixing oil spills, and rewriting the script to Ferngully, it seems that James Cameron is finding new ways to revive the endless Final Destination series. Case in point: Cameron has recommended his second unit director (who has been with him since The Abyss) to New Line Cinema as the director of the upcoming Final Destination 5.
Gee. Thanks, James.
While this news is a bit strange, I find it even weirder that they’re making a Final Destination 5. I can only assume that it’s going to be a retelling of Disney’s Pocahontas, with a strong green message at it’s roots. Zing!
via CHUD
"Oh boy! An email from Logan! Let me just read this and- WHHAAA?!"
Are you reading this, Mr. Romero? Because you should be.
For what it’s worth, your pals here at Critical End! were calling you a hack way back when it was considered blasphemy to do so. However, with the release of Land of the Dead, then Diary of the Dead, it seems that most horror fans have come around to our way of thinking.
Yet you refuse to stop.
Two weeks ago saw the release of Survival of the Dead. Survival of the freakin’ dead. Why? Because if I’m to believe what you and others claim, you pretty much invented the modern zombie film. That doesn’t mean you were ever the best at it. Hell, did you see the first iPod? That thing was bulky, only came in white, and didn’t even have a color screen! Whatever the case may be, you’re really giving M. Night Shyamalan and Kevin Smith a run for the “Hack of the Decade” award.
Which brings me back to where I started: Are you reading this, Mr. Romero? If so, wipe the tears off of those big windshields that you call glasses and listen up. If you want to get me and lots of other horror loving fans back into those theater seats, all you have do is simply make this movie:
…or something with Chevy Chase in it. That would be good too.
If you’ve already listened to me and Logan ramble on about the recent Nightmare on Elm Street remake, and you’re still hungry for more, Arnie Niekamp’s Stupid Nerd podcast rides to the rescue once again.
On the newest episode, I chat about the whole Nightmare series with Arnie and Adal Rifai (who luckily remembered a lot more about the goofy, convoluted details than I did.)
Check it (and all the other great episodes) out on iTunes or listen right here by clicking play below.
Here are some things that happened recently that I never got around to posting!
"I'd like to run a few wrestling names for myself by you. Now, I've narrowed it down to Luscious Lou' and 'Texas Joe Hotdog'..."
Shia LaBeouf wasn’t thrilled with the last Indiana Jones either, and he refreshingly blames himself. To be fair, it certainly wasn’t all (or even mostly) his fault. Uninspired writing and terrible CG did most of the work. But it’s still nice to read this:
You get to monkey-swinging and things like that and you can blame it on the writer and you can blame it on Steven. But the actor’s job is to make it come alive and make it work, and I couldn’t do it. So that’s my fault. Simple.
Yep...just as I planned it?
Speaking of travesties wrought by George Lucas, the director recently had some words of advice for the produces of Lost:
Congratulations on pulling off an amazing show. Don’t tell anyone … but when ‘Star Wars’ first came out, I didn’t know where it was going either. The trick is to pretend you’ve planned the whole thing out in advance.
It’s nice of him to share his trade secrets, but it seems unnecessary. From what I’ve heard, the writers of Lost have already usurped Lucas for the title of laziest hacks in the business.
In happier news, Critical End! favorite John Landis is reportedly going forward with a biopic of Bill Gaines, the man behind E.C. Comics and Mad Magazine. I can’t think of a better director for the project. Hopefully this, along with Burke and Hare will represent a return to prominence for Landis.
And finally, this re-imagining of the classic Sesame Street Pinball Number Count (AKA “11, 12!”) is a must-see. Have a great weekend, kids!
It’s been a while since Joe Dante had a hit theatrical release, which is somewhat sad as he shaped a lot of childhood’s in the 80′s and early 90′s with films like Gremlins, Explorers, Innerspace, and yes, even Matinee (Hey, I loved it as a kid). He tried to bring the same child-like touch to films like Small Solders (loved it) and Looney Tunes: Back in Action (seriously underrated), but has failed to really connect with an audience of either kids or adults for some time now.
Well, it looks like he’s going to take one more shot at it, this time with the writer of Vacancy behind him. The Hole, despite it’s unfortunate name, looks to be spooky childhood fun along the lines of Dante’s “It’s a Good Life” segment from Twilight Zone: The Movie. And it’s Dante’s first 3D film to boot!
No word yet on an actual theatrical release, which is sad as we may never see this is in actual 3D. Until then, I guess we’ll have to look forward to the upcoming 3D remake of Joe’s 1978 cheese classic Piranha in August.
