Author: Tom Stockman

Late Night 11:00pm Screening of AIRPLANE at The Skyview Drive-in in Belleville, IL September 24th

“Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue!”

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There will be a 11:00pm Screening of AIRPLANE at the Skyview Drive in Belleville (5700 N Belt W, Belleville, IL 62226) , Thursday September 24th at 11pm. The gate opens at 10:30. Admission is $10. . The Skyview’s site is HERE

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AIRPLANE (1980) could have derailed the careers of everyone involved. For example, people under 40 may not even know that until this movie, Leslie Nielsen was strictly a serious actor in dramas both on TV and in film. Many may watch 1973’s THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE for the first time today and keep waiting for Leslie Nielson – as the captain of the doomed ship – to get up from the dining room table wearing just his heart-covered underwear below the waist, or for him to make that first clueless remark. He never does. But from AIRPLANE onward, he was strictly a comic actor and a good one. Quite a sharp turn for age 55.

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To the uninitiated, AIRPLANE was actually a shot-by-shot remake/parody of the 50’s disaster movie ZERO HOUR! (with Dana Andrews as the original Ted Stryker!) ZAZ (writer/directors Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, and David Zucker) bought the script and basically remade the film, only giving it a comedic twist. AIRPLANE! made fun of the clichés, stock characters, and silly subplots of the other 70’s disaster movies, not just ZERO HOUR but also other movies like AIRPORT 1975 (the infamous nun scene). A shot-by-shot spoof rarely works, but AIRPLANE! did the job perfectly. But whether or not you’ve seen any of the movies it parodies, AIRPLANE! has a lot jokes and sight gags that work in spite of itself. Surely you don’t need to see any of the movies to find the “Surely, you can’t be serious” scene. This is probably why AIRPLANE! is widely revered as one of the best comedies ever. Forget the fact that this movies would spawn imitators like EPIC MOVIE and DISASTER MOVIE, AIRPLANE! is movie parodies done right.

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Star-Studded Voice Cast Fights a Bloody Battle In TO YOUR LAST DEATH Available October 6th

Baccarin, Moseley, Wise & Shatner Fight To Your Last Death! Celebrated Voice Cast Bathes Animated Horror Film in Blood – Available Nationwide on Blu-ray October 6th from Quiver Distribution – Available Now on Digital HD and Cable VOD. Check out this stunning trailer:

“A strikingly animated, carnage-filled romp that mashes up genres and packs some nice surprises” — Dread Central

“a hyper violent thrill ride…wows with a clever script and remarkable vocal performances” —  Film Threat

“Great animation that will have any horror or comic book fan happy” — Nightmarish Conjurings

Following a wildly successful run on the global film festival circuit, having netted over two dozen awards and 60 nominations, Coverage Ink and Quiver Distribution have announced the Blu-ray release of Jason Axinn’s To Your Last Death.  The blood-splattered, timewarped animated family drama will be available nationwide October 6th on Blu-ray.  It is currently available on a number of digital and cable platforms, including iTunes, Amazon Video, Vudu, Comcast, Spectrum, and Cox.
To Your Last Death combines a wildly imaginative script with eye-popping animation. The film is anchored by a first-class voice cast: Morena Baccarin (Deadpool, “Firefly”, “Gotham”) as the mysterious Gamemaster, Ray Wise (“Twin Peaks”, Batman: The Killing Joke, Robocop), Dani Lennon (The Love Witch, Bite Me), Bill Moseley (House of 1000 Corpses, Repo! The Genetic Opera, The Devil’s Rejects), and William Shatner (the “Star Trek” franchise, “The Practice”) as the sadistic Overseer. 
Of her time in the recording booth, Baccarin shared, “What drew me to this project was how dark it was. This idea that we can be finger puppets, that somebody could be up there, wreaking chaos in our lives… Obviously, it’s a fantasy world, and it’s always fun to do something that’s completely unrealistic and at the same time plays with themes from reality. I enjoyed this character because one could say she’s evil — she’s doing these terrible things — but she’s really just doing her job. It’s not about emotion, and it’s not about being mean or terrible to people. It’s about entertainment, and in a weird way, I thought it would be really fun to attempt vocally to do that.””If you can make people feel that they could die horribly, that’s scary. That’s close to the bone,” added Shatner.

To Your Last Death had its world premiere at the Arrow Video FrightFest in London, beginning a global tour of critical and audience acclaim.  The film has taken home over twenty awards to date including Best Film at the Northeast Film Festival Horror Fest and Horror Avenue Film Festival, Best Horror Film at Vidi Space Film Festival, Bloodstained Indie Film Fest and the Big Apple Film Festival, Best Supporting Actor (Wise), Best Villain and Best Writing at Hexploitation, Fearmaker of the Year at Spooky Empire, and Best Feature Screenplay and Best Sound at FilmQuest.  To Your Last Death was also nominated for Best Feature at the Pasadena International Film Festival in addition to Best Feature, Best Director and Best First-time Filmmaker at HorrorHound.

To Your Last Death was produced by Coverage Ink Films and directed by Jason Axinn, from a script by Coverage Ink’s Tanya Klein and Jim Cirile.  Axinn produced alongside Cindi Rice and Paige Barnett.   Tanya Klein, James Cirile, and John Frank Rosenblum served as executive producers. 

After emerging as the sole survivor in a deadly revenge game set up by her father to punish his children, Miriam receives an offer from a supernatural entity to go back in time and try again.  Now, Miriam must survive both her father’s blood lust and the Gamemaster’s ever-changing rules to save her siblings as she relives the worst night of her life.

Supernatural Thriller EVIL TAKES ROOT: THE CURSE OF THE BATIBAT Available on All Formats September 15th

Mill Creek Entertainment, the recognized leader in the independent home entertainment industry is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of EVIL TAKES ROOT: THE CURSE OF THE BATIBAT on September 15, 2020. This gripping horror/thriller will be packed with special features and available for the first time in stores and online for $19.99 MSRP. EVIL TAKES ROOT: THE CURSE OF THE BATIBAT will also be available to stream digitally with a simultaneous day-and-date release. Check out the trailer:

From the acclaimed team at Genre Labs and Elevate Pictures comes the captivating tale of Felix Fojas, a paranormal investigator, and his journey to investigate the mysterious loss of his old lover, Amanda, in a sleepy midwestern town. Quickly, he discovers she fell victim to the Batibat, an ancient evil that followed her home from the Philippines. Felix must now battle the forces of evil and unravel the mystery of the Batibat in order to save Amanda’s daughter, Sarah, from its hellish grip.  

“We wanted a fresh take on the classic demonic possession tale,” states writer and producer Aaron Mack. “Along with jarring terrors, we wove in elements of police investigation, tortured family dynamics, and elements of the occult that is layered onto the ancient batibat folklore.” 

Genre Labs teamed up with award-winning writer/director Chris W. Freeman to make Evil Takes Root: The Curse of the Batibat in their home state of Ohio which served as the perfect backdrop for this small-town thriller. Cast includes Nicolas Gonzalez (The Good Doctor), Stevie Lynn Jones (Nancy Drew), Sean Carrigan (Ford v Ferrari),and Adetokumboh M’Cormack (Battle Los Angeles).  

THE CURSE OF AUDREY EARNSHAW Screening in Theaters October 2nd – Check Out the Scary Trailer

THE CURSE OF AUDREY EARNSHAW currently sits at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes coming out of the 2020 Fantasia Fest to raving reviews. Check out the trailer:

Set against the autumnal palette of harvest season in 1973, THE CURSE OF AUDREY EARNSHAW explores the disturbed bond between Audrey, an enigmatic young woman, and Agatha, her domineering ‘mother’, who live secretly as occultists on the outskirts of a remote Protestant village. As the community is besieged by a pestilence of unknown origin: children, fields, and livestock begin to die — yet the Earnshaw farm remains strangely unaffected. As mass hysteria sets in the village, the townsfolk commence accusations against Audrey and Agatha of witchcraft. 

Capturing a perfect mixture of religious paranoia and folklore horror, Thomas Robert Lee’s THE CURSE OF AUDREY EARNSHAW is a haunting and unflinching tale of vengeance.

THE CURSE OF AUDREY EARNSHAW celebrated its world premiere at Fantasia Fest 2020, coming out with raving reviews. The film will be releasing in limited theaters on Friday, October 2, 2020 and will be available on major VOD/Digital platforms beginning Tuesday, October 6, 2020. 

“I wanted to tell a story about legacy, and to specifically explore it within the context of a folk horror narrative,” says writer/director Thomas Robert Lee. “The community grows increasingly desperate as their given circumstances grow dire. In reality, the pandemic appears to have amplified hatred and xenophobia, or at least the voices of those spewing hate speech. Obviously there is a world of difference between my screenplay and the very real ramifications of the pandemic, but the similarities, however surface-level they may be, have certainly been on my mind these past months.”

Vin Diesel in PITCH BLACK Extras-Packed Blu-ray Now Available From Arrow Video

” All you people are so scared of me. Most days I’d take that as a compliment. But it ain’t me you gotta worry about now.”

Vin Diesel in an extras-packed new Blu-ray of PITCH BLACK is currently available from Arrow Video.

THERE S A NEW REASON TO BE AFRAID OF THE DARK.

When an intergalactic transport ship crashes on a remote desert planet with no sign of help on the horizon, the survivors, led by Fry (Radha Mitchell), band together to find a way back home. Among the passengers is Riddick (Vin Diesel), a convicted murderer being transported by marshal Johns (Cole Hauser) and now freed of his chains and on the loose. But as a solar eclipse plunges the planet into total darkness, a threat even worse than Riddick reveals itself, and the last humans standing may have to form an uneasy truce with the cunning fugitive (whose eyes have been surgically altered to see in the dark) to last the long night.

Boasting crackerjack direction and a whip-smart script by David Twohy, as well as a star-making performance by Diesel, Riddick s first outing is freshly unleashed in an illuminating, brand new 4K restoration, with hours of exclusive bonus content.

BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

  • Brand new 4K restoration by Arrow Films of the Theatrical and Director s Cuts of the film, approved by director David Twohy
  • High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
  • Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround on both cuts
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing on both cuts
  • Archive commentary with director David Twohy and stars Vin Diesel and Cole Hauser
  • Archive commentary with director David Twohy, producer Tom Engelman and visual effects supervisor Peter Chiang
  • Nightfall: The Making of Pitch Black, a newly filmed interview with director/co-writer David Twohy
  • Black Box: Jackie’s Journey, a newly filmed interview with actor Rhiana Griffith
  • Black Box: Shazza’s Last Stand, a newly filmed interview with actor Claudia Black
  • Black Box: Bleach Bypassed, a newly filmed interview with cinematographer David Eggby
  • Black Box: Cryo-Locked, a newly filmed interview with visual effects supervisor Peter Chiang
  • Black Box: Primal Sounds, a newly filmed interview with composer Graeme Revell
  • The Making of Pitch Black, a short behind-the-scenes featurette
  • Pitch Black Raw, a comparison between early CG tests and the final footage
  • Additional behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the film
  • 2004 archive bonus features, including an introduction by Twohy, A View Into The Dark, and Chronicles of Riddick Visual Encyclopedia
  • Johns Chase Log, a short prequel narrated by Cole Hauser detailing the character s hunt for Riddick
  • The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Fury (in 16:9 widescreen with DTS-HD MA 5.1 audio), an animated short film directed by Peter Chung that acts as a bridgepoint between Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick, featuring vocal performances by Vin Diesel, Keith David and Rhiana Griffith reprising their roles
  • Dark Fury bonus features including Bridging The Gap, Peter Chung: The Mind of an Animator, A View Into The Light, and a pre-animation version of the film
  • Slam City, a motion comic from the film s official website
  • Into Pitch Black, a TV special offering an alternative non-canon glimpse into what happened before and after the events of the film
  • Raveworld: Pitch Black Event, footage of a dance music event held to promote the film
  • Theatrical trailers, plus trailers for the two sequels and video game
  • Image galleries
  • Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned ‘night’ and ‘day’ artwork by Luke Preece

Nobody is Safe From the POOL BOY NIGHTMARE – Now Airing on Lifetime!

Nobody is safe from the POOL BOY NIGHTMARE, from writer / director Rolfe Kanefsky (Art of the Dead), now airing on Lifetime!

This trailer looks amazing!

Pool Boy Nightmare is a sexy suspense thriller about Gale (Jessica Morris, Art of the Dead) a divorced woman and her 18 year old daughter, Becca (Ellie-Darcey Alden, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2) who have just moved into a new home that comes with a beautiful pool in the back yard. Gale hires Adam (Tanner Zagarino, son of action star Frank Zagarino, in his film debut), a local pool boy who used to work for the previous owner, Rhonda (Sarah French, Automation) who died in a “freak drowning” accident. Turns out that Adam has a thing for older women and has a fling with Gale. Knowing she made a mistake, Gale ends the affair quickly but Adam is a very determined young man. He starts dating Becca, Gale’s daughter, to make Gale jealous. As the twisted love triangle heats up, danger also mounts since Adam will do just about anything to get the woman he wants! As Jackie, Becca’s best friend (Cynthia Aileen Strahan, Art of the Dead) and Gale’s ex-husband, Tony (Clark Moore, Stumptown) soon discover, Adam is not only obsessed but very dangerous! In the end, nobody is safe from this POOL BOY NIGHTMARE!

POOL BOY NIGHTMARE premiered on The Lifetime Channel on Labor Day, Monday, September 7th at 8:00 pm as part of their “End Of The Summer Marathon”. It will play all throughout the month. Check your local listings for showtimes and airings. Visit MyLifetime. 

“Travel the World Through Film” – 25th Annual St. Louis Jewish Film Festival Begins November 9th

The J’s St. Louis Jewish Film Festival showcases national and international cinema that explores universal issues through traditional Jewish values, opposing viewpoints and new perspectives. The Jewish Film Festival now offers year-round opportunities to experience Jewish films from around the world. In 2020 all films will be presented virtually! More details can be found at The Jewish Community Center’s site HERE

The 25th Annual St. Louis Jewish Film Festival will have a new and exciting look and feel this year. From Sunday, November 9 through Thursday, November 15 the Festival will present a wonderful selection of 12 documentary and narrative feature films from around the world virtually, so you can watch them in the comfort of your home…either on your computer or TV! While all films depict a slice of the Jewish experience, the films are universal and meant to be appealing to all, regardless of faith.

Music and Broadway play a big part in this year’s festival including Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles, an incredible tale of the world wide influence of the famous musical, Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds, a portrait of Zuben Mehta, Conductor of the Israeli Philharmonic and Crescendo a feature about young Palestinian and Israeli musicians who try to find common ground through music. Remarkable historic figures will be showcased in The Spy Behind Home Plate, a documentary about Mo Berg, professional baseball player and Spy during WWII, and Golda, a window into the life and career of Israel’s only female Prime Minister. Holy Silence, looks into the role of the Catholic Church during the Holocaust and Shared Legacies examines the shared struggles of Blacks and Jews in the US. There is also a comedy called Love in Suspenders.  Features originate from France, Germany, Uzbekistan, Israel, Poland and the United States.

Many of the filmmakers will be on hand for interactive film discussions the week of the Jewish Film Festival. For a complete list of films and discussions, go to www.stljewishfilmfestival.org.

All films will be available for viewing throughout the festival and screened virtually through the film platform Eventive.  Ticket prices are $14 for each individual film and for the first time an all access pass can be purchased for $95. View the complete Film Festival schedule and buy tickets at stljewishfilmfestival.org starting on September 8.

This year’s Jewish Film Festival co-chairs are Marilyn K. Brown, Jeffrey Korn and Paula Sigel. The Jewish Film Festival is a program of the Jewish Community Center.

ABOUT THE J:
The J is an interactive, multi-generational gathering place that offers a variety of programs and services to both the St. Louis Jewish community, and the community at large. The Jewish Community Center provides educational, cultural, social, Jewish identity-building and recreational programming and offers two, state-of-the art fitness facilities, all designed to promote physical and spiritual growth. Everyone is welcome at the J.

WAMG Giveaway – Win the DVD of KILLING EVE, Season 3, the Emmy Nominated Thriller Starring Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer

The Emmy, BAFTA and Golden Globe Award-Winning Global Sensation KILLING EVE, Season 3 from BBC America will be available on DVD and Blu-ray September 15th with exciting bonus features including behind-the-scenes featurettes. Now you can win the Win the DVD of KILLING EVE, Season 3.  Just leave a comment below telling us what your favorite Sandra Oh performance is. (mine’s SIDEWAYS It’s so easy!)

1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES.  NO P.O. BOXES.  NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.

2. WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES.

Starring Acclaimed actors Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy) and Jodie Comer (The White Princess)

AMC Networks’ RLJE Filmsfeatures the DVD/Blu-ray debut of BBC America’s must-see drama KILLING EVE, Season 3 on September 15, 2020. Nominated for eight Primetime Emmys® (including Outstanding Drama Series and two nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series), this thrilling 8-episode series is the story of two women with brutal pasts, addicted to each other, trying desperately to live apart. Featuring fantastic returning performances by Golden Globe® and SAG Award® winner Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy) and Emmy® Award winner Jodie Comer (The White Princess), the third season includes a stellar ensemble cast, both new and returning. Now on a 2-Disc DVD or Blu-ray set ($34.97/$35.97) with 24 minutes of bonus features, Killing Eve, Season 3 previously premiered on BBC America and AMC in April 2020.

The third season of the award-winning drama continues the story of two women with brutal pasts, addicted to each other but now trying desperately to live their lives without their drug of choice. For Villanelle (Comer), the assassin without a job, Eve (Oh) is dead. For Eve, the ex-MI6 operative hiding in plain sight, Villanelle will never find her. All seems fine until a shocking and personal death sets them on a collision course yet again. The journey back to each other will cost both of them friends, family, and allegiances…and perhaps a share of their souls.

Cast members Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter films), Kim Bodnia (The Bridge), Sean Delaney (Midsomer Murders), and Owen McDonnell (Paula) return with amazing new additions including Dame Harriet Walter (Succession), Danny Sapani (Harlots), Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones), Camille Cottin (Call My Agent), Steve Pemberton (Inside No. 9), Raj Bajaj (A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding), Turlough Convery (Ready Player One), Pedja Bjelac (Harry Potter), and Evgenia Dodina (One Week and a Day).

“It’s juicy and entertaining and shocking and stylish as always” –Observer

“…Compulsively watchable, and that’s largely down to its excellent central performances”—Rolling Stone

“It still sizzles, this warped thriller, loaded with dry wit and featuring two brilliant performances” –Globe & Mail

“Suzanne Heathcote keeps the dialogue fresh, lean and zippy”—Times

“Killing Eve ultimately remains a devilish delight” –Paste Magazine

“…Two excellent performances” –Indiewire

Remastered FRIDAY THE 13TH 40th Anniversary Coming to Select Movie Theaters on October 4th & 7th From Fathom Events

“You see, Jason was my son, and today is his birthday…”

Paramount Pictures and Fathom Events Bring a Newly Remastered ‘Friday the 13th 40th Anniversary’to Select Movie Theaters on October 4th & 7th

Head back to Camp Crystal Lake to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of one of the most influential horror films of all time, Paramount Pictures’ 1980’s classic “Friday the 13th.” In October, moviegoers can experience a newly remastered version of the original terrifying film that started it all as “Friday the 13th 40th Anniversary” comes to their local cinema for a two-night event. In addition to watching “Friday the 13th” on the big screen, attendees will view a special bonus, “SECRETS GALORE BEHIND THE GORE – Friday the 13th,” in which revolutionary special-effects and makeup artist Tom Savini (“Friday the 13th,” “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,” “Dawn of the Dead,” “Day of the Dead,” “Creepshow,” etc.) details some of the groundbreaking, gory, and great moments of the original “Friday the 13th.” 

Presented by Fathom Events and Paramount Pictures. Sunday, October 4 at 7 p.m. local time.Wednesday, October 7 at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. local time. 

Tickets for “Friday the 13th 40th Anniversary” are available now at FathomEvents.com and participating theater box offices. For a complete list of theater locations, visit the Fathom Events website (theaters and participants are subject to change based on local cinema openings).

 “Friday the 13th” follows a group of young counselors preparing for the reopening of Camp Crystal Lake, where a boy drowned years earlier.  One by one, the counselors are stalked by a mysterious and violent killer. The film spawned one of the longest-running and most successful horror franchises in film history with 11 subsequent movies and, 40 years later, the iconic machete-wielding killer continues to haunt, fascinate, and terrify new generations. 

The health and safety of our patrons is top priority. Fathom is in regular conversations with our owners – Regal, AMC and Cinemark – and more than 70 affiliate theaters, all of whom are instituting necessary health and safety policies, protocols and procedures in accordance with the CDC and local governments, to ensure a clean and safe environment. Please visit your local theatre website for the most up to date information related to their safety measures.

KILLER THERAPY Drops on VOD, Digital and DVD on September 15th

Check out the scary trailer:

After a series of escalating violent incidents, Brian is moved from failed therapist to failed therapist, maturing into a young man still unable to escape his anger issues.When his life eventually falls apart by his own choices, Brian blames his series of failed therapists, embracing his dark nature and taking his revenge on everyone who ever wronged him, one by one, finally understanding that accepting who you are inside can be the best therapy.

Elizabeth Keener (“The L Word”), Thom Mathews (The Return of The Living Dead, Friday the 13th Part VI), Michael Qeliqi,, PJ Soles (Halloween [1978],  Carrie [1976], Stripes[1981]), Adrienne King (Friday the 13th, Friday the 13th Part II), Daeg Faerch (Halloween[2007], Hancock), Javon Johnson (“The Oval”, “American Soul”, The Hate You Give), Ivy George (“Big Little Lies”)