Okay horror fans – get ready for a chilling new horror film coming your way.
Heading into theaters on Friday the 13th, this September, is the horror movie HAUNT. The new film will have its World Premiere on opening night (Thursday) at the Popcorn Frights Film Festival .
On Halloween, a group of friends encounter an “extreme” haunted house that promises to feed on their darkest fears. The night turns deadly as they come to the horrifying realization that some monsters are real.
HAUNT is directed by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods, writers and producers of the terrific A QUIET PLACE. (review)
Produced by Eli Roth, the film’s score is from TOMANDANDY.
Yeah, I’d say we’re in for a frighteningly good time!
Get ready to snap your fingers! The first family of Halloween, the Addams Family, is back on the big screen in the first animated comedy about the kookiest family on the block. Funny, outlandish, and completely iconic, the Addams Family redefines what it means to be a good neighbor.
Check out the brand new trailer featuring the voices of Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll, Snoop Dogg as “IT”, with Bette Midler and Allison Janney.
Based on characters created by Charles Addams, the film also features Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Tituss Burgess, Jenifer Lewis, Elsie Fisher, Aimee Garcia.
This squad rolls deep. Grab your squad and come to the special advance screening of THE ANGRY BIRDS 2 Movie this Saturday, 10:30am in the St. Louis area.
The flightless angry birds and the scheming green piggies take their beef to the next level in The Angry Birds Movie 2! When a new threat emerges that puts both Bird and Pig Island in danger, Red (Jason Sudeikis), Chuck (Josh Gad), Bomb (Danny McBride), and Mighty Eagle (Peter Dinklage) recruit Chuck’s sister Silver (Rachel Bloom) and team up with pigs Leonard (Bill Hader), his assistant Courtney (Awkwafina), and techpig Garry (Sterling K. Brown) to forge an unsteady truce and form an unlikely superteam to save their homes.
THE ANGRY BIRDS 2 Movie opens on August 14
Enter for a chance to win 4 seats.
Add you name and email address in our comments section below.
NO PURCHASE REQUIRED. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house.
If you’re a generation X kid (mid 30s to late 40s?) you will
have encountered He-Man at some point. Whether it was the ubiquitous TV show or
the even more ubiquitous figures, he was everywhere in the 80s. I loved the TV
show, but was never a big toy guy, so it’s been interesting in recent years to
listen to friends of mine who became collectors, talking about the various
directions of the toys and TV shows over the years.
That’s why I was really pleased to discover the existence of
this documentary, made by Randall Lobb and Robert McCallum, who’ve also made a
bunch of other nerdy documentaries (about Nintendo games, and computer game box
art, and, er, the Lingerie Football League). Can it keep the interest of an
at-best distant fan such as I?
Before I start: if I suddenly sound a lot smarter, that’ll
be thanks to the input of my friend Alex, a lifelong fan of He-Man, a former
moderator on the he-man.org boards and a very nice chap. He’s already seen the
movie and helped me out a few times.
The 6 Million Dollar Man was something of a watershed in the
toy industry, according to the Mattel executives and designers that were
interviewed for this excellent documentary. This showed that a modern TV show
could have a decent toy line attached to it, with quality figures and plenty of
accessories. But I’d suggest the biggest thing (which the documentary also
mentioned) was the removal of a law by President Reagan, which used to prevent
toy companies from producing shows to advertise to children. The market, rather
than Government, should decide what children watch – my opinion on which shall
be left for if you’re next to me in a bar one evening. We’re talking He-Man!
Did you know that Mattel toys passed on Star Wars? They
didn’t have the time to produce a line before Christmas and thought it would be
a disaster, so off it went to another company (spoiler: it wasn’t a disaster).
Mattel decided they wanted a toy line which could appeal
mostly to boys, a mixture of an ass-kicker and Sir Galahad. And here’s where things,
naturally, get interesting. They interview a number of current and former
Mattel executives and designers, who all give their take on the invention of
the character – three of the most prominent are Mark Taylor, Mark Ellis and
Paul Cleveland. One name who isn’t mentioned is Roger Sweet, who refused to
take part unless he was given what he feels to be his just due as the creator
of He-Man – he came up with the name, apparently, and made the pitch to
Mattel’s top brass.
What it does, implicitly at first and then explicitly by the
end, is show how some corporate creations can’t really be called the product of
one person, but are the result of dozens of different creative decisions. I’m
sure Roger Sweet had a hand in the creation of the character, but He-Man
started as a vague rip-off of Conan, inspired by some doodles a Mattel designer
was making. Battlecat (He-Man’s trusted steed) was invented because they’d run
out of money for modelling so just borrowed a tiger from a different set,
painted it green and put a saddle on it. The people who wrote the TV show came
up with other ideas which are now part of the “canon”. And so on, and so on. A
thousand hands have been on this, and it made a really entertaining whole.
The movie is roughly in three parts. First up is the origin,
rise and fall of He-Man, from sketches and ideas to global phenomenon and back
to nothing. Last up is the wilderness years, as they try new ideas, new designs
and partner with indie toy companies to varying degrees of success (sadly, this
documentary was made before the new “She-Ra” show, which is a big hit and would
have made a nice capper to this long strange trip). When they talk about the
original She-Ra, they’re also very honest about how it was almost impossible to
make thanks to the misogyny of everyone at both the toy company and the TV
studio.
The middle part, my favourite, discusses the TV show and
especially the movie, and they succeeded and failed. Several famous sci-fi
authors like Barbara Hambly and J. Michael Stracyzinski wrote for the show, and
their tales are fascinating. But the movie gets interviews with Dolph Lundgren
(He-Man), Frank Langella (Skeletor) and Anthony DeLonghis (Blade, plus, he was
the swordfighting expert on set). Langella’s remarkably interesting, being
honest about the diminishing scale of the production as budgetary problems
happened, and also being generous about it, saying how much he wished it could
have been better and how hard he tried to make his performance as good as
possible. Really interesting stuff. A lot of both TV and movie were hampered in
their storytelling by Mattel’s insistence on their being no deaths, so all
Skeletor’s soldiers are robots, for example.
I think you’ll need at least a passing interest in He-Man to get something out of this, but if you do, you’ll have a great time with it. It’s lovingly made, different sides of every “debate” are aired, lots of fascinating information given, and lots of people interviewed with a fun story to tell. Absolutely worth paying a few $$$ for on the streaming service of your choice, or buying on DVD.
Great news for fans of obscure old action films. THE DAREDEVIL DRIVERS (1938) is available on DVD From Warner Archives
Racecar driver Bill Foster (Dick Purcell) has the talent to collect racing trophies, but his reckless stunts on the track get him banned from the racing association altogether. Hitting the road with his loyal sidekick, mechanic “Stub” Wilson (vaudeville veteran Charley Foy), Bill crashes into a bus owned by Neeley Transport. Bill is determined to sock Neeley’s president in the nose because of the damage to his race car, only to discover that the president is the attractive Jerry Neeley (Beverly Roberts) – a woman immune to Bill’s charms. Bill goes to work for Tommy Burnell (Donald Briggs), the owner of a rival bus company that is sabotaging Neeley Transport. Once Bill learns he’s working for the wrong side, he goes out of his way to help Jerry save her company. This B-movie classic serves up an entire movie serial’s worth of thrills and chills in one streamlined entertainment machine, ably delivered by a cast and crew of true show-business veterans (including radio star Gloria Blondell, sister of Joan).
Writer/Director and decorated Army Veteran Sam Fuller lends his considerable storytelling talent and gift for hard-charging understatement to the true tale of one of the most extraordinary and harrowing military campaigns in human history. Brigadier General Frank Merrill (Jeff Chandler) leads Unit Galahad, officially named the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), deep behind enemy lines and through miles of dank, dense, disease ridden jungle in a desperate bid to ensure the enemy will never have the ability to link up. Ty Hardin Will Hutchins and Claude Akins play some of the dogfaces that were part of this all-volunteer force in this Sam Fuller production that stands alongside Steel Helmet and The Big Red One as boots-on-the-ground recreations of the misery and the heroics of military life. And all the glory arrives as new as yesterday thanks to this new 1080p HD presentation. Also includes Theatrical Trailer (HD). 16×9 Letterbox
Great news for fans of director Sam Fuller. His 1962 classic MERRILL’S MARAUDERS is available on Blu-ray From Warner Archives
Writer/Director and decorated Army Veteran Sam Fuller lends his considerable storytelling talent and gift for hard-charging understatement to the true tale of one of the most extraordinary and harrowing military campaigns in human history. Brigadier General Frank Merrill (Jeff Chandler) leads Unit Galahad, officially named the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), deep behind enemy lines and through miles of dank, dense, disease ridden jungle in a desperate bid to ensure the enemy will never have the ability to link up. Ty Hardin Will Hutchins and Claude Akins play some of the dogfaces that were part of this all-volunteer force in this Sam Fuller production that stands alongside Steel Helmet and The Big Red One as boots-on-the-ground recreations of the misery and the heroics of military life. And all the glory arrives as new as yesterday thanks to this new 1080p HD presentation. Also includes Theatrical Trailer (HD). 16×9 Letterbox
The place: World War II Burma. The mission: Drive a fatal wedge between an enemy linkup. The troops: the 5307th Composite Unit, led by Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill (Jeff Chandler) and manned by Stock (Ty Hardin), Chowhound (Will Hutchins), Kolowicz (Claude Akins) and other young dogfaces who, after a few weeks of basic training, have the fate of the world loaded on their backs. Director Samuel Fuller, whose later The Big Red One is a benchmark work about GIs in World War II’s European theater, turned to the war in the Pacific for Merrill’s Marauders. Few moviemakers capture life among the grunts as well as Fuller. He brings you up close and personal to the intense, gritty heroics of our World War II combat veterans.
Al Pacino in William Friedkin’s CRUISING (1980) will be available on Blu-ray August 20th From Arrow Video
Academy Award-winner William Friedkin (The Exorcist, The French
Connection) directs Al Pacino as an undercover cop pitched into New York s
seedy underbelly in Cruising available for the first time on Blu-ray in a brand
new director-approved transfer.
New York is caught in the grip of a sadistic serial killer who
is preying on the patrons of the city s underground bars. Captain Edelson (Paul
Sorvino) tasks young rookie Steve Burns (Pacino) with infiltrating the S&M
subculture to try and lure the killer out of the shadows but as he immerses
himself deeper and deeper into the lurid underworld, Steve risks losing his own
identity in the process.
Based on reporter Gerald Walker’s novel of the same name,
Cruising was the subject of great controversy at the time of its release and
remains a challenging and remarkable movie to this day, with Pacino s haunted
lead performance as its magnetic centrepiece.
DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
· Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, supervised and approved by writer-director William Friedkin
· High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
· Newly remastered 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio supervised by William Friedkin
· Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
· Archival audio commentary by William Friedkin
· The History of Cruising archival featurette looking at the film s origins and productiom
· Exorcizing Cruising archival featurette looking at the controversy surrounding the film and its enduring legacy
47 METERS DOWN: UNCAGED dives into theaters on August 16 and we have your first look at the brand new preview.
Four teen girls diving in a ruined underwater city quickly find themselves in a watery hell as their fun outing turns into heart-stopping fear when they learn they are not alone in the submerged caves. As they swim deeper into the claustrophobic labyrinth of caves they enter the territory of the deadliest shark species in the ocean.
Sistine Rose Stallone, Corinne Foxx, Sophie Nélisse, and Brianne Tju star. Directed by Johannes Roberts, the breath-snatching film about four girl’s ambitious day in the sun gone horribly wrong in this new trailer.
” There are only three proper responses when I say something to you: “Yes chef,” “No chef,” “I don’t know chef.” “
WHAT A RUSH! 20 YEARS WITH CHRIS CLARK is a night of cinema and cuisine to honor Cinema St. Louis Artistic Director, Chris Clark co-presented by Cinema Saint Louis and Tenacious Eats. The event is Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 6pm and will be held at The Mad Art Gallery (2727 S 12th St. in St. Louis). The event includes a 5-course dinner and a screening of the 2000 film DINNER RUSH.Individual Tickets are $125 or a VIP Table of 6: is $1,000 (includes premium seating and event recognition). A Facebook invite for the event can be found HERE, To purchase tickets, contact Bree Maniscalco 314.289.4154 or bree@cinemastlouis.org
Chris Clark has been an integral part of the growth and artistic direction of the Saint Louis International Film Festival. Drawing on his background in film studies at Webster University and public-event coordination, he has been instrumental in the initiating and production of such Cinema Saint Louis mainstays as the Saint Louis Filmmakers Showcase and QFest. His passion, artistic vision, and dedication has earned him the title of one of the top North American festival directors and programmers by Film Festival Today magazine.
Dinner Rush, Bob Giraldi, U.S., 2000, 99 min.
One unlucky evening, Louis Cropa (Danny Aiello), a part-time bookmaker, discovers that his restaurant has become a hotbed of conflicting characters. In addition to having to please a whiny food critic (Sandra Bernhard), Louis must fend off a hostile takeover from a pair of gangsters (Michael McGlone), to whom his sous-chef (Kirk Acevedo) is in debt.
DINNER RUSH holds a special place in Chris heart – it was his first film secured through the Telluride Film Festival and the film was SLIFF’s audience choice award winner that year, twenty festivals ago in 2000.
And check out this DINNER RUSH-themed menu from the creative chefs at Tenacious Eats:
The evening will include silent and live auctions featuring an array of themed items sure to entertain your adventures and passions.
Doors open at 6 pm with a Silent Auction and cocktails
Five-course dinner and screening of the film DINNER RUSH begin at 7 pm
Live Auction with auctioneer Guy Phillips from The Guy Phillips Show on The Big 550 KTRS and Intermission at 8:10 pm
Tenacious Eats is… Unexpected! Visceral! Titillating! Brought to you in High Definition Taste-O-Vision! (Special glasses, not required)
By integrating film and food, Movies for Foodies creates an original experience, a feast for the senses, an event that brings food and film, chefs and diners together.
Opening In Theaters August 16 is GOOD BOYS! SEE THE FILM CRITICS ARE CALLING “THE MOST INAPPROPRIATELY FANTASTIC COMEDY YOU’RE GOING TO SEE THIS YEAR!” FROM THE GUYS WHO BROUGHT YOU SUPERBAD AND SAUSAGE PARTY, UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS GOOD BOYS.
WAMG has your free passes to the advance screening.
Just how bad can one day get? The creative minds behind Superbad, Pineapple Express and Sausage Party take on sixth grade hard in the outrageous comedy, Good Boys.
After being invited to his first kissing party, 12-year-old Max (Room’s Jacob Tremblay) is panicking because he doesn’t know how to kiss. Eager for some pointers, Max and his best friends Thor (Brady Noon, HBO’s Boardwalk Empire) and Lucas (Keith L. Williams, Fox’s The Last Man On Earth) decide to use Max’s dad’s drone – which Max is forbidden to touch – to spy (they think) on a teenage couple making out next door.
But when things go ridiculously wrong, the drone is destroyed. Desperate to replace it before Max’s dad (Will Forte, The Last Man on Earth) gets home, the boys skip school and set off on an odyssey of epically bad decisions involving some accidentally stolen drugs, frat-house paintball, and running from both the cops and terrifying teenage girls (Life of the Party’s Molly Gordon and Ocean’s Eight’s Midori Francis).
From Point Grey producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the writers of Superbad, Pineapple Express and Sausage Party, and James Weaver (Neighbors), Good Boys, from Universal Pictures and Good Universe, is written by the team of Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky (NBC’s The Office, Bad Teacher). Eisenberg also produces and Stupnitsky directs.
Enter for your chance to win two free passes to the St. Louis advance screening of GOOD BOYS. The theatrical sneak preview will be on August 13 at 7pm.
Leave your name and email address in our comments section below.
NO PURCHASE REQUIRED. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house.
Rated R for strong crude sexual content, drug and alcohol material, and language throughout – all involving tweens.
