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August 17, 2001

Source: HALLOWEEN

The news is sounding more and more official, the Halloween Movies website reports: "Straight from Moustapha Akkad's office... The meeting's over and the "OFFICIAL" word is that HALL8WEEN has been delayed to an Easter 2002 release." They say that a major meeting took place today between the major producing powers and major Miramax/Dimension executives, including Bob Weinstein. Want to express your discontent? do it here.
 

August 17, 2001

Source: Empire Online

Empire Online is reporting that Ed Norton has officially signed to play the character of Will Graham in the upcoming "Red Dragon" remake. Graham is the agent who originally caught Lecter. Please let this be true! Hopkins, Norton, Watson, Elfman....what other pleasant surprises can we expect I wonder??? I should mention that I haven't seen word of this anywhere else so let's not get our hopes up too high...
 

August 17, 2001

Source: Dark Horizons

Dark Horizons has some pics up from the upcoming Wes Bentley flick SOUL SURVIVORS. The film boasts a fairly decent cast that includes Melissa Sagemiller, Wes Bentley, Eliza Dushku, Casey Affleck, and Luke Wilson. After barely surviving an auto accident which killed her boyfriend (Affleck), a college co-ed (Sagemiller) recovers only to eventually find herself in a sort of limbo state of being between both the living and the spirit worlds in which the ghosts of the afterlife want to collect her, or even worse, use her body in its transition state to enter our world. Check out the pics here.
 

August 16, 2001

Source: Aint-it-cool

Check out some behind-the-scenes footage from the set of "Blade 2". It's about 40(ish) seconds worth, showing you a glimpse of Wesley Snipes and another guy going through practice moves for an action scene. Better check it out since the film isn't set for release until March 22nd, 2002. Check it out here.
 

August 16, 2001

Source: Aint-it-cool

Dark Horizons has some details on Savini's upcoming project "Vicious". Savini plays Kane, a para-military type who has a habit of feeding stray campers to a very large military experiment with teeth. Shooting will take place from August 27th to September 15th with Brinke Stevens also in the cast and Matt Green directing. Check out a picture of the monster-in-progress here.
 

August 16, 2001

Source: 13th Street

13th Street reports that "From Hell", 20th Century Fox's thriller about Jack the Ripper, will have its North American premiere at the 26th Annual Toronto International Film Festival. The exact date of the screening will be made public on August 21. "From Hell" will be in general circulation for us Schmoes on October 16. The film is based on the Alan Moore/Eddie Campbell novel of the same name, stars Johnny Depp, Heather Graham, Ian Holm and Robbie Coltrane, and was directed by the Hughes brothers.

August 16, 2001

Source: Variety

Filming on a new $10 million horror film directed by Rob Schmidt will begin in the autumn. "Wrong Turn" will be about a car load of youngsters who get lost on a country road...and I suppose we can assume something bad happens to them. The script has been written by Alan McElroy, and Oscar-winning effects artist Stan Winston is the producer.
 

August 14, 2001

Source: The Arrow

Dante Tomaselli's upcoming chiller HORROR just got a website where you can check out the spooky trailer for the film and get some more info on the film itself. Want some HORROR? Check it out here.
 

August 14, 2001

Source: Aint-it-cool

A couple of new writers have been hired to write the next "Pumpkinhead" movie. Stan Winston is reportedly involved creatively on the project. This will possibly be a big screen thing, not another straight to video. Guess in light of some of the cool horror flicks coming out lately, MGM ("Jeepers Creepers") decided they'd stick with a good thing. Rumors state that they want the film to be a low-budget 'under 10 million' horror film. Could be cool! Check out the Arrow's review of the classic original "Pumpkinhead" here.
 

August 14, 2001

Source: IMDB

IMDB reports that Warren Beatty will no longer be in the upcoming Tarrantino film "Kill Bill". Supposedly, after news emerged that his co-star Uma was expecting with Ethan Hawke (delaying filming on the project), Beatty suggested that Tarrantino replace Thurman with Winona Ryder or Gwyneth Paltrow (huh?!?). Tarantino rejected his suggestions and now it's not looking too good for Beatty to be taking part in the project. Probably best to file this under rumor, gossip, whichever...
 

August 14, 2001

Source: Variety

Clive Barker has just signed a deal with Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures to turn his comic creation "Ecto-Kid" into both film and TV. The seven figure deal has Barker producing the feature film along with comic fan Don Murphy. Variety provides this description of the concept: "The comic book follows the exploits of Dex Mungo, the love child of a psychic woman and the ghost of a murdered man. Dex has the ability to see the living with one eye and the spectral realm of the dead -- who 'exist' among us -- with his other eye." "I hope to create a franchisable world for Nickelodeon," says Barker, "but also one of great, transcendent beauty; one that reconfigures people's expectations of what ghosts are, of what comes after death."
 

August 13, 2001

Source: Empire Online

I still can't get over the buzz on this flick! I honestly can't remember the last time a film of this genre came out and received such uniformly great reviews. Still haven't seen it yet myself (Tuesday's the big night), but Empire online posts some feedback on the flick that could re-affirm what you may (or may not) already know. Wes Craven and Clive Barker both love the movie. Craven describes Kidman’s performance in the movie, as "wonderfully spooky" and her "best since Dead Calm". Barker, meanwhile, talks of "a film full of whispers and glimpses that possesses a truly exceptional power to disturb and terrify'. Good enough for me! Read Arrow's very positive review on the film here.
 

August 13, 2001

Source: Aint-it-cool

Harry over at Aint-it-cool had the opportunity to talk with Quentin Tarrantino about some of his upcoming projects including "Kill Bill". Turns out Lucy Liu IS in the film, but not in an "Uma Thurman Replacement" capacity. Tarrantino had written a small role specifically for Liu. He went to dinner with her, read her the scene, and he figures someone saw him and jumped to a few conclusions. "Kill Bill" is in fact something Tarrantino and Thurman sort of came up with together while filming "Pulp Fiction" oh so many years ago. Many distractions later he's finally had the time to get the film closer to development. He describes the film as "one for the fans!". He finished the script 2 weeks ago, Thurman's due to have her baby in November and he expects the film will be ready for release sometime in 2003. "Kill Bill" will be shot in Japan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Texas, and (of course) Los Angeles.
 

August 13, 2001

Source: Halloween

So quickly the rumors begin to fly! A couple sites reported last week that there would be a trailer for the next Halloween film out on Friday (August 10th) with "The Others". For anyone who has seen the film you know this to be untrue. In fact, the Halloween website reports that the film is still in post-production and that there is still no set date for a trailer release. Responding to allegations that Moustapha Akkad is unhappy with the almost-finished product, Mr. Akkad's office states "Mr. Akkad is denying all allegations that he is not pleased with the film, according to the Canadian source. There was no rough cut at that time [when he was in Canada], therefore making it impossible for him to comment." So there you go.
 

August 13, 2001

Source: Dark Horizons

Dark Horizons reports that Danny Elfman is now on board to score the music for "Red Dragon". Elfman has scored countless films (most if not all of Tim Burton's) and had a great thing going for a while with a little group known as "Oingo Boingo" (love those guys!). Hopefully Elfman won't be the only good thing about the film! Anthony Hopkins is (so far) the only confirmed cast member, Ed Norton is reportedly still in talks for the role of Will Graham. If Norton commits, this film will definitely be a "must see!" for 2002!
 

August 8, 2001

Source: Cinema Confidential

I heard murmurings of this but now it's starting to sound more and more official that there will indeed be a remake of George Romero's "Dawn of the Dead". Beacon Communications has acquired the rights to do so from producer Richard P. Rubenstein, who originally owned the rights to the 1978 film. James Gunn has been hired to scribe the remake. Otherwise there's been no word on casting, director or production dates so far. The original film told the story of a group of four people who take up residence in a deserted mall while trying to stay alive amidst the armies of the dead and a vicious gang of militant bikers.
 

August 8, 2001

Source: 13th Street

Apparently Edward Norton is in talks to play Will Graham in "Red Dragon". William Petersen (CSI) played the role in the 1986 version "Manhunter". Reportedly, this time around the film will follow the novel more closely with Agent Graham on the trail of the serial killer 'The Tooth Fairy' with the help of the imprisoned Dr. Hannibal Lecter. While Hopkins will reprise Lecter, there's no word yet on who will play 'The Tooth Fairy'.
 

August 8, 2001

Source: Coming Attractions

Just when I was getting excited about this film, it's been announced that it's been pushed back even further into next year, late summer or early fall. Sony had originally stated that we could expect the film to hit theatres in the spring of 2002.
 

August 8, 2001

Source: Coming Soon

Sounds like yet another version of the classic story will be hitting the big screen. Coming Soon reports that Sobini Films has hired screenwriter Kevin Bernhardt to pen the script for "Johnny Frankenstein," a modern retelling of Frankenstein. The film will tell the story of a lonely misfit who, after an unsuccessful suicide attempt, is reconstructed by a visionary female doctor who pushes the limits of organ regeneration and bio-engineering to transform him into a superhuman. Now handsome and alive, Johnny becomes fixated with improving his body and must kill to fulfill a quest for perfection.
 

August 8, 2001

Source: Diabolical Dominion

Diabolical Dominion has a first look at the poster for the upcoming "13 Ghosts". The film boasts a pretty decent cast which includes: Tony Shaloub, F. Murray Abraham, Embeth Davidtz, and Shannon Elizabeth. The film is 2nd in a series of William Castle remakes. The story is about a man who leaves his house to his nephew (Shalhoub), who moves in with his daughter (Elizabeth). Little do they know that the house has 13 ghosts which can only be seen with a special pair of glasses, the 1960 original release provided "special glasses" to the audience so they could see the ghosts. Oh, and there's a fortune hidden somewhere in the house. The film is set for release on October 26th. Check out the poster here.
 

August 7, 2001

Source: JoBlo

Universal Pictures has announced the release of "Boogeymen" on October 2nd 2001! "Boogeymen" is a compilation of the most terrifying boogeymen ever to appear on film in the scariest scenes of all time. Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, Pinhead, Chucky and more are all together in one killer horror collection. A collection like this has NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE. Licensed from major movie studios, the clips are taken from original masters and are very high quality. The set contains scenes from: CLIVE BARKER’S HELLRAISER, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET, WISHMASTER, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, SCREAM, LEPRECHAUN, CHILD’S PLAY 2, CANDYMAN, THE UGLY, I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, THE GUARDIAN, THE DENTIST, PHANTASM, THE PUPPETMASTER, PSYCHO, JASON GOES TO HELL: THE FINAL FRIDAY, and (of course) HALLOWEEN. It's packed full of DVD extras including pop-up animated trivia for each scene, Robert Englund audio commentary, interactive trivia games like "Name that Frame", Legends of the Boogeymen: character histories, DVD-ROM and more!

BOOGEYMEN.COM has just launched and users can submit a question for the Boogeymen panel at the Fangoria Festival of Horrors panel Aug.11. It's the first time someone can ask a question of Robert Englund, Tobe Hooper, Clive Barker, Gunnar Hansen, and more all at the same time. Ask your question here. The panel will pick the best questions and mention who the question was from at the panel. Check out the trailer here.
 

August 7, 2001

Source: JoBlo

"An American Werewolf In London" 20th Anniversary DVD will be released on September 18th and it sounds like it is going to be one sweet package! Some of the features included on the DVD will be an exclusive interview with (two-time Academy Award-winning) Makeup Artist Rick Baker, an interview with Director John Landis, and audio commentary with David Naughton and Griffin Dunne! Other extras include special Storyboard to Final feature comparison, a photo gallery from behind-the-scenes, a featurette on the making of the film, in-depth production notes, and detailed cast and filmmaker biographies Check out more on the film here. For DVD info you can check out the trailer here (get your Windows Media player setup first!): 56k, 128k, 300k , behind-the-scenes info here: 56k, 128k, 300k, and outtake info here: 56k, 128k, 300k.
 

August 3, 2001

Source: Aint-it-cool

Norrington doing Lopez project first? Ain't It Cool contacted the director of the upcoming "Ghost Rider" project. Stephen Norrington had this to say, "Yes, I'm going to do Tick Tock first. As for Ghost Rider - it has the potential to be the best Marvel movie yet, particularly with Nic Cage starring, but it's not moving forward as fast as we anticipated, and we need loads of prep time - more than we had realized. It's a project that's extremely technically complex, one that will stand and fall by the quality of it's visuals, so there's no point pulling the trigger before we're completely R+D'd and prepped." Nicolas Cage hasn't officially signed on the dotted line for the movie, but it appears very likely that he will be starring in the title role.
 

August 3, 2001

Source: Dark Horizons

Looks like author James Patterson ("Kiss The Girls" and "Along Came a Spider") will be releasing Alex Cross to the big screen once again. Patterson told "Mancow's Morning Madhouse" that plans are in the works to turn his book "Roses are Red" into a movie. Sort of an unusual move considering that the book is actually the sixth book in the Alex Cross series by Patterson. It also ties in directly with a sequel novel "Violets are Blue". "Roses are Red" has Cross on the trail of 'The Mastermind', a bank robber who uses groups of criminals to do his dirty work and has a rather unique modus operandi - he holds family members of key employees hostage and if the staffers don't comply then their entire family is killed. It isn't clear if the two books will be combined together or if they will make a separate film for each book.
 

August 2, 2001

Source: IMDB

hmmm...I'm not sure about this but that hasn't stopped me from reporting stuff before: IMDB reports that Nic Cage is still in talks for "Ghost Rider". This much we already know to be true. However, turns out Johnny Depp's interest in the film had also been tweeked a bit. Producer Steven Paul says that when Cage heard that Depp would be the likely candidate for the part (huh????), he phoned the director, insisting that he was the biggest "Ghost Rider" fan in the world - and even owned five Ghost Rider motorcycles. He is also reported to have declared, "I am the Ghost Rider!". Filming is expected to begin in November but still no one has "officially" signed to star in the project. This is the first I heard of J.D.'s interest in this film.
 

August 2, 2001

Source: Empire Online

Not to be confused with "Spider-man"...Empire online got some pics of a rather soggy-looking Ralph Fiennes at work on his latest pic "Spider". In the David Cronenberg directed film, Fiennes plays Dennis Clegg a man living in a halfway house for the mentally ill in London. Dennis, nicknamed "Spider" by his mother has been institutionalized with acute schizophrenia for some 20 years. Clegg struggles to discover the truth about his past and the death of his mother. Check out the pics here.
 

August 2, 2001

Source: 13th Street

A potential rocky ride may be ahead for Lawrence Kasdan's film production of Stephen King's "Dreamcatcher". 13th Street reports that Kasdan was planning on shooting in Quebec early next year for the film's snowy forest scenes, but the contract governing Canadian film actors and producers in America and Canada will have been up in late December, leaving actors in a position to strike. Such a strike would effectively shut down the film business in Quebec where the city of Montreal is considered a major Canadian film centre for movies and television. Kasdan may utilize snowy British Columbia instead for the winter scenes if necessary. British Columbia has a separate contract with the acting union that won't expire until after the shoot wraps.
 

August 2, 2001

Source: JoBlo

Official Site (and trailer) is up for the upcoming "American Nightmare". The film tells the story of how, on Halloween, seven friends call the American Nightmare pirate radio show to confess their fears. Unbeknownst to them, a serial killer is listening. Before the night is over, they will discover that their confessions have ignited a psychological game of cat-and-mouse with a killer intent on delivering their fears upon them (thanks to imdb.com for synopsis). The film is directed by Jon Keeyes and stars Debbie Rochon, and Brandy Little. It's set for domestic distribution, on video and DVD, by Ingram Entertainment on, you guessed it, Halloween. Check it out here.