November 3 Blu-ray, Digital and DVD Releases

Welcome to ComingSoon.net’s November 3 Blu-ray, Digital HD and DVD column! We’ve highlighted this week’s releases in detailed write-ups of different titles below! Click each highlighted title to purchase through Amazon!

New Movies on Blu-ray/DVD

Blackbird
Lily (Susan Sarandon) summons her daughters Jennifer (Kate Winslet) and Anna (Mia Wasikowska) for one final family reunion as she looks to end her battle with a terminal illness. Amid the bittersweet farewell, unresolved feelings surface.

Lake Michigan Monster
All aboard! The combined spirits of H.P. Lovecraft, early Sam Raimi and Mystery Science Theater 3000 inhabit this action-packed tale of nautical derring-do and monster mayhem winner of the Audience Award for Best International Feature at the 2019 Fantasia Film Festival.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage! (DVD)
SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face catastrophe – until a most unexpected hero rises to take center stage. A theatrical party full of heart and humor, where the power of optimism really can save the world. DVD includes an exclusive, extended sing-along version!

Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda
One of the most important artists of our era, Ryuichi Sakamoto has had a prolific career spanning over four decades. From techno-pop stardom to Oscar®-winning film composer, the evolution of his music has coincided with his life journeys. Following the Fukushima disaster, Sakamoto became an iconic figure in Japan’s social movement against nuclear power. As Sakamoto returns to music following a cancer diagnosis, his haunting awareness of life crises leads to a resounding new masterpiece.

Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President
This documentary traces how popular music helped propel Jimmy Carter to the White House, and the significant role that music has played in President Carter’s life and work.

Reissues

V for Vendetta (4K)
From Lilly and Lana Wachowski and Joel Silver, the masterminds behind The Matrix trilogy, comes another intriguing, action-packed fantasy-thriller.

Kick-Ass (4K steelbook, Best Buy exclusive)
Dave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan with a few friends. His life is not very difficult and his personal trials not that overwhelming. However, one day he makes the simple decision to become a super-hero even though he has no powers or training.

Rambo: The Complete SteelBook Collection (4K, Best Buy exclusive)
When Vietnam vet John Rambo returns home, he struggles to shut off his troubled memories and traumas, setting the stage for a violent conflict with the unsuspecting law enforcement tasked with subduing him. This definitive box set brings together every entry into the iconic Rambo franchise in one action-packed collection. Included are First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo III, Rambo, and Rambo: Last Blood.

The Mortal Storm
The Roth family leads a quiet life in a small village in the German Alps during the early 1930s. When the Nazis come to power, the family is divided and Martin Breitner, a family friend, is caught up in the turmoil.

New On Digital HD

That Good Night (exclusive clip)
Ralph, a once-famous screenwriter, is in his seventies and terminally ill. He has two final missions: to be reconciled to his son, Michael, and, secretly, to ensure he is not a burden to his wife, Anna, as he goes “into that good night”.

Misbehaviour
Misbehaviour tells the sensational true story of the Women’s Liberation Movement’s disruption of the 1970 Miss World pageant and the crowning of the pageant’s first woman of color; making headlines around the world.

Emily and the Magical Journey
Emily and her mother live alone after losing her father. She wants to help her mother find happiness and to learn about the father she never knew. When Emily finds a mysterious chest that transports her to a magical world, she meets fantastic and mythical creatures that become her new friends. After discovering her new friends are in danger, Emily must face her worst fear to complete her journey.

TV on Blu-ray and DVD

Game of Thrones: The Complete Collection (4K)
Summers span decades. Winters can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne begins. ​​Based on the bestselling book series by George R.R. Martin and created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, The Complete Collection is available to watch in stunning 4K UHD for the first time!

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries Complete Collection
This stylish and sexy period mystery stars Essie Davis (The Babadook) as Phryne Fisher, a thoroughly modern woman operating in a mostly male world. Set in 1920s Melbourne, the series follows the glamorous lady detective as she goes about her work with a pistol close at hand and, more often than not, a male admirer even closer.

Catherine the Great (DVD)
Oscar-winner Helen Mirren stars in the enthralling HBO drama, delivering a regal performance as the brilliant monarch who ruled the Russian empire and transformed its place in the world in the 18th century. Over the course of four hour-long episodes, this limited series charts Catherine’s tumultuous reign as the cunning and ambitious empress fights off threats to her crown, wages war with the Ottoman Empire and expands Russia’s borders as far as the Black Sea and Crimea.

Josie and the Pussycats: The Complete Series
Josie and the Pussycats have reunited for an exclusive engagement! Their claws and fangs emerged to bust the meanest dudes without messing up their hair and makeup for their next big sold-out concert. Josie, from the legendary Archie Comics, is here to put on an unforgettable show! So put on those Saturday Pussycat pajamas, grab some cereal, call your friends and rock out to this 2-DISC COMPLETE SERIES COLLECTION!

Monogamy: Season 1 (DVD)
Craig Ross Jr.’s Monogamy is an ensemble drama about 4 couples to undergo a new type of treatment called Swap Therapy to repair their broken marriage. Swap Therapy is the process of switching spouses in order to better define and thus fix, what’s lacking in your own relationship.

The Crown: Season 3
The Crown traces the life of Queen Elizabeth II from her wedding in 1947 through to the present day. Season three covers the time period between 1964 and 1977.

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Waxwork debuts They Live’s The Politician Spinature figure!

Just in time for Election Day in America, Waxwork Records has unveiled the latest entry in their Spinature figure line with the infamous politician from the OBEY marketing in John Carpenter’s cult classic sci-fi horror-comedy They Live! The figure can be viewed in the gallery below!

RELATED: Waxwork Unveils Bride of Frankenstein Vinyl & Spinature Figure!

Happy Election Day! We are thrilled to announce our new and official THEY LIVE Politician Alien Spinatures! Pre-order NOW! https://t.co/ebbpHVf0wU pic.twitter.com/7bSLZGtrkY

— Waxwork Records (@waxworkrecords) November 3, 2020

The Universal Horror line is part of a new set of figures the company has developed called Spinatures, which are highly-detailed turntable-spinner mini-busts that will feature iconic characters from pop culture, horror movies and beyond! Each figure is fitted with a hole in their base to easily attach to the spindle of a turntable and then spin along with your favorite records.

For those who don’t have a turntable, Waxwork has taken this into account for collectors with the ability to proudly display their Spinatures figures virtually anywhere. Any home or office setting is perfect for them, including computer desks, bookshelves, toy and collectible display cases, counter tops and even car dashboards.

RELATED: Entertainment Earth Unveils My Little Pony Ghostbusters Crossover Figure

The approximately four-inch tall figure retails for $24 and can be pre-ordered here!

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POLL RESULTS: Who is the Greatest Horror Director?

To celebrate the arrival of Halloween, ComingSoon.net asked our readers just who was the greatest horror director in the cinematic genre’s history and with over 1,000 votes polled the results are in and one mind with a penchant for the apocalyptic came out victorious. Check out the results below!

RELATED: POLL RESULTS: Who is the Greatest Slasher Icon?

Who is the Greatest Horror Director?

Top Five

• John Carpenter (34%, 370 votes)
• Wes Craven (15%, 159 votes)
• Alfred Hitchcock (12%, 133 votes)
• George A. Romero (5%, 56 votes)
• James Wan (5%, 52 votes)

The horror movie genre is one frequently remembered for both its menacing antagonists and the storytellers who bring them to life, but choosing which is the better is one of the toughest decisions to make of all genres. There’s no denying the charm and technical innovations made by early filmmakers such as Hitchcock, Roger Corman (The Raven), Mario Bava (Black Sunday), Dario Argento (Suspiria), Lucio Fulci (The House by the Cemetery), Antonio Margheriti (Cannibal Apocalypse), James Whale (Frankenstein), William Castle (House on Haunted Hill), Tod Browning (Dracula), Bert I. Gordon (The Amazing Colossal Man), Freddie Francis (The Evil of Frankenstein), Terence Fisher (The Mummy) and Roy Ward Baker (Quartermass and the Pit). The rest of the results are as follows, including an unfortunate group of filmmakers left without votes by our readers:

• Don Coscarelli (3%, 35 votes)
• Guillermo del Toro (3%, 34 votes)
• David Cronenberg (2%, 24 votes)
• Tobe Hooper (2%, 24 votes)
• Sam Raimi (2%, 21 votes)
• Dario Argento (2%, 20 votes)
• Clive Barker (1%, 15 votes)
• Lucio Fulci (1%, 11 votes)
• Mike Flanagan (1%, 11 votes)
• Mario Bava (1%, 10 votes)
• M. Night Shyamalan (1%, 10 votes)
• Rob Zombie (1%, 10 votes)
• James Whale (1%, 10 votes)
• Jordan Peele (1%, 9 votes)
• Steven Spielberg (1%, 8 votes)
• Eli Roth (1%, 8 votes)
• David Lynch (1%, 8 votes)
• Ari Aster (0%, 5 votes)
• Terence Fisher (0%, 5 votes)
• Alexandre Aja (0%, 4 votes)
• John Landis (0%, 3 votes)
• Roman Polanski (0%, 3 votes)
• Scott Derrickson (0%, 3 votes)
• Roger Corman (0%, 2 votes)
• Stuart Gordon (0%, 2 votes)
• Andy Muschietti (0%, 2 votes)
• Michael Dougherty (0%, 2 votes)
• Tod Browning (0%, 2 votes)
• Frank Henenlotter (0%, 2 votes)
• Peter Jackson (0%, 1 vote)
• Joe Dante (0% 1 vote)
• Brian De Palma (0%, 1 vote)
• Fede Álvarez (0%, 1 vote)
• William Castle (0%, 1 vote)
• Freddie Francis (0%, 1 vote)
• William Malone (0%, 1 vote)
• Mick Garris (0%, 1 vote)

Zero Vote Club

• Jennifer Kent (0%, 0 votes)
• Veronika Franz & Severin Fiala (0%, 0 votes)
• Patrick Lussier (0% 0 votes)
• Julien Maury & Alexandre Bustillo (0%, 0 votes)
• Antonio Margheriti (0%, 0 votes)
• Bert I. Gordon (0%, 0 votes)
• Roy Ward Baker (0%, 0 votes)
• Richard Franklin (0%, 0 votes)
• Steve Beck (0%, 0 votes)
• Adam Green (0%, 0 votes)
• Mary Lambert (0%, 0 votes)
• Darren Lynn Bousman (0%, 0 votes)
• Ernest Dickerson (0%, 0 votes)

That being said, there’s a lot of fun and chills to be had from those with access to bigger budgets and special effects of the later 1900s and took it in more surreal or comedic directions including John Carpenter (The Thing), George A. Romero (Dawn of the Dead), Steven Spielberg (Jaws), Guillermo del Toro (Cronos), Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead), Peter Jackson (The Frighteners), David Cronenberg (The Brood), Joe Dante (Gremlins), Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator), John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), David Lynch (Eraserhead), Brian De Palma (Carrie), Tobe Hooper (Poltergeist), Don Coscarelli (Phantasm) and Clive Barker (Hellraiser).

RELATED: POLL RESULTS: What is the Best Director’s Cut?

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Ray Porter Hopes to Play Darkseid in Future Films

We’re still a long ways off from seeing Zack Snyder’s Justice League, but there already exists speculation about Zack Snyder’s Justice League Part II. Well, Ray Porter, who plays Darkseid in Snyder’s cut, has stoked the flames somewhat during an interview with Greek House Show in which the actor expressed his desire to return as the series’ big bad in future films.

RELATED: Jared Leto Returning to Play Joker in Zack Snyder’s Justice League

“I hope so. I would like that,” Porter said when asked if he will come back. “I would love to see that, and obviously I would hope that whoever does that will have me along for the ride. Yeah, I would love to see a continuation of it. And honestly, I personally would love to see a continuation of Zack’s story. So yes, I really hope so. That would be great. I’ve not heard anything about it, but you know. Hope.”

There are quite a few ways to read this quote. We can deduce that the upcoming Justice League is indeed a one off that will, for whatever reason, tease future movies via cool cameos for heroes such as Green Lantern and Martian Manhunter, kill off Steppenwolf and end with the members of the newly formed Justice League staring down Darkseid via a Boom Tube — an ending that would seem relatively anticlimactic without a follow up. Or, the man just dropped a massive hint that there is indeed plenty of story left to tell and Zack Snyder’s Justice League is merely a setup to Snyder’s planned universe.

Or, maybe he doesn’t know a damned thing. Either way, it’s fun to speculate.

RELATED: Joe Manganiello Talks Original Deathstroke Post Credit Scene

Fueled by the hero’s restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Justice League sees Bruce Wayne enlist the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg, and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

Justice League, which features a screenplay from Chris Terrio from a story by Snyder and Terrio, stars Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, Willem Dafoe as Nuidis Vulko, Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luthor, Jeremy Irons as Alfred Pennyworth, Diane Lane as Martha Kent, Connie Nielsen as Queen Hippolyta, with J.K. Simmons as Commissioner Gordon, and Amy Adams as Lois Lane.

It was revealed at DC FanDome that the movie will release on HBO Max in 2021 by being broken up into four one-hour parts that will also be released as one four-hour film.

Released in November 2017, the film earned mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, praising the action and performances from Gadot and Miller while criticizing every other aspect of the film, namely the inconsistent tone that many fault Joss Whedon (The Avengers) for after taking over directorial duties from Snyder. With a large budget of $300 million and a break-even point of $750 million, the film is considered a box office bomb having grossed only $658 million.

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Harrison Ford Pays Tribute to Sean Connery

On Saturday it was learned that the great Sean Connery had passed away at the age of 90. The actor left behind an incredible film legacy in which he played iconic heroes such as James Bond and Jimmy Malone. Yet, perhaps his greatest performance came in 1989 when he was paired alongside Harrison Ford in Steven Spielberg’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as the stern (but lovable) Professor Henry Jones, Sr. It’s only fitting that his onscreen son would pay tribute to Connery via a simple memory.

RELATED: James Bond Star Sean Connery Dead at Age 90

“He was my father…not in life…but in ‘Indy 3,’” Ford said in a statement to Variety. “You don’t know pleasure until someone pays you to take Sean Connery for a ride in the side car of a Russian motorcycle bouncing along a bumpy, twisty mountain trail and getting to watch him squirm. God, we had fun — if he’s in heaven, I hope they have golf courses. Rest in peace, dear friend.”

It’s crazy to think Indy’s last “true” adventure arrived in theaters over 30 years ago. And it’s even crazier to think Connery was only 59 years old playing Henry Jones. Ford is now nearly 20 years older and expected to suit up as Henry Jones, Jr. one last time. Ah, how time flies.

Click here to purchase Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade!

RELATED: David Koepp Explains Why Steven Spielberg Ditched Indy 5

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade opened on May 24, 1989 and went on to gross a staggering $474 million worldwide. The wildly successful sequel currently boasts an 88% fresh on RottenTomatoes as well as a 94% audience score.

Is Last Crusade your favorite Indiana Jones Adventure? What was your favorite moment between Henry Jones and Junior? Let us know in the comments below!

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Happy Election Day From ComingSoon! PLEASE GO VOTE!

Hello from ComingSoon.net! Today is Tuesday, November 3 and that means it’s election day in the USA! Barring any major breaking stories we will not be publishing much movie/TV/video game news today while our staff takes the day off to vote. We encourage our readers in the States to do the same, if you have not already. If you’re voting absentee it is too late to place your ballot in the mail, so please be sure to drop it off at your local polling place!

This has been a tense and divisive election, and while we don’t officially endorse any particular candidate we want to underline the idea that voting is an important power all Americans have and to exercise it accordingly. Please do not be discouraged by apathy, misinformation, long lines, voter intimidation or any idea that “your vote doesn’t matter.” It absolutely does, so please GET OUT AND VOTE!

If you’re in the mood for some good political movies, here’s a few we highly recommend (click Amazon links to purchase)…

All the President’s Men
Reporters Woodward and Bernstein uncover the details of the Watergate scandal that leads to President Nixon’s resignation.

The American President
An environmental lobbyist (Annette Bening) becomes romantically involved with the widowed president of the United States (Michael Douglas) but their relationship jeopardizes his political agenda.

Bob Roberts
A corrupt folksinger (Tim Robbins) runs a crooked election campaign while only one independent muck-raking reporter is trying to stop him.

Bulworth
A veteran US Senator (Warren Beatty) decides to end his life by hiring an assassin – then, on no sleep and with nothing to lose, he becomes a hip-hop rapper, bluntly speaking truth to power! With Halle Berry, Don Cheadle, Oliver Platt.

Lee Daniels’ The Butler
As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man’s life, family, and American society.

The Candidate
Robert Redford plays an idealistic attorney running for officein this marvellous, biting, satire on media-age political campaigns. Peter Boyleand Melvyn Douglas co-star.

The Contender
Sexy secrets from a womans past come to light as she runs for Vice President.

Citizen Kane
A story of idealism corrupted by wealth, Orson Welles’ movie is considered the greatest film of all time and is credited with inspiring more directorial careers than any other film in history.

Dave
Just who runs this country anyway? Uncanny Presidential look-like Dave,is recruited by the Secret Service to become a momentary stand-in forthe President of the United States.

Election
Reese Witherspoon is Tracy Flick, a straight “A” go-getter who’s determined to be president of Carver High’s student body. But when popular teacher Jim McAllister (Matthew Broderick) observes the zealous political locomotive that is Tracy, he decides to derail her obsessive overachieving by recruiting an opposition candidate (Chris Klein) – with disastrous results!

A Face in the Crowd
An Arkansas drifter (Andy Griffith) becomes an overnight media sensation. As he becomes drunk with fame and power, will he ever be exposed as the fraud he has become?

The Front Runner
In 1987, U.S. Senator Gary Hart’s presidential campaign is derailed when he’s caught in a scandalous love affair.

Primary Colors
John Travolta leads an all-star cast–including Oscar winners Emma Thompson, Kathy Bates and Billy Bob Thornton–on a wild race to the White House in this savagely funny comedy.

Wag the Dog
A tale of politics, power and Hollywood so outrageous it could be true! The President of the United States is involved in a sex scandal. His advisors call in a political consultant.

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CS Never-Seen-It-Before Reviews!

Over Halloween, the ComingSoon.net staff decided it was the perfect time to dive into a few horror and cult classics that have been terrifying fans for decades that some of us have been missing out on all this time. In our CS never-seen-it-before reviews, we tackle the devil, zombies, witches, demons, and chainsaw-wielding serial killers and let you know which ones are worth watching or revisiting. You can check out our reviews below!

RELATED: ComingSoon’s 2020 Halloween Gift Guide Video!

MAX EVRY: The Omen (1976)

Click here to purchase The Omen!

Religious horror has always been an issue with me. I was raised secular, and have no real spiritual beliefs to speak of, so concepts like The Devil or The Antichrist have zero effect on me in terms of scares. Not that I haven’t enjoyed a few in my time (I’m looking at you, Conjuring movies) but films like The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby have not had close to the impact on me as they have on the culture at large.

Enter the Omen franchise, which had been on my radar for years due to its classic status and my appreciation for director Richard Donner, but I had never had the inclination to actually view it. Scream Factory had sent me a boxed set of all five Omen films not long ago, and it had been my wish to dig into it someday. With no time like the present, I finally sat down and watched the original Omen this Halloween and was surprised how much I enjoyed it.

Of course, being a horror and pop culture fan I wasn’t wholly unfamiliar with the film. Some of its classic moments like the nanny suicide, Lee Remick’s fall from the upstairs railing, or David Warner’s Final Destination-esque beheading had been featured in clip shows or parodied in other films. Edgar Wright has made a virtual career of paying homage to this film, right down to casting Billie Whitelaw in Hot Fuzz.

That said, I found the story of a US Ambassador whose son turns out to be one wicked little sunuvabitch to be well-structured and expertly directed by Donner. Perhaps the biggest surprise is how much it had the feel of an Italian Giallo film, with much of the complex structure and elaborate kills not too dissimilar to the movies Dario Argento was making at the time. Maybe that is partly due to so much of the runtime taking place in and around Rome, but I think that feeling is definitely there.

The cast is great too. Gregory Peck is onboard 100% for the supernatural silliness, grounding the material. Warner is also groovy as the somewhat sleazy paparazzi who gets roped into the intrigue, and former Doctor Who Patrick Troughton is fabulously unhinged. All the set pieces like the baboon attack at the zoo or the insane death of the priest are so well executed that it really doesn’t matter if you buy into all the biblical stuff. Donner is and remains a wildly underrated journeyman in the best sense, and one of our best living directors.

KYLIE HEMMERT: Suspiria (1977) & Suspiria (2018)

Click here to watch Suspiria (1977)!

Click here to purchase Suspiria (2018)!

I have been meaning to check out the original Suspiria and its 2018 remake for a long time now, and after watching both I can admit I was missing out on a couple of really fascinating horror tales. Starting with the 1977 film from Dario Argento, the mood from the very beginning is foreboding enough to the point where even the environment feels unwelcome, between the storm, the unhelpful cab driver, to the poor girl named Pat Hingle that Suzy witnesses fleeing from the ballet academy. The atmospheric tension is consistent throughout the movie, leaving the audience and our main characters feeling properly unsure and uncomfortable as the narrative unfolds.

Suspiria’s vibrant color palette intentionally sticks out, giving a distinct touch to its visually stylistic flair that serves as one of the elements that gives the original an edge over the remake. The story is relatively fast-paced, eager to traverse the mystery of what exactly is happening at Tanz Dance Akademie. I will say, the movie is highly predictable, from witches being revealed as the main villains in the opening scene thanks to the movie’s perfect fever dream soundtrack and the main theme’s use of the aggressive lyric “WITCH”, to picking out who will meet a gruesome end before the credits roll. However, I appreciate that for its time the highly original feature was likely far less predictable as it is structured to be a grand mystery revolving around the odd people who run the school and why bodies are gruesomely dropping left and right.

My favorite moment from the movie takes place at the very end when terrifying coven leader Helena Markos uses the reanimated, mutilated corpse of Suzy’s slain friend Sarah to try to kill our leading lady. Suspiria is full of effective, gory, and disturbing sequences that feel appropriate for the specific tone established immediately in the movie, but this scene really stuck out and is followed-up by a satisfying conclusion when Suzy is able to prevail over evil and escapes the dying coven as she flees the burning dance academy and maniacally laughs in the rain — which serves as a great circling back moment to when Pat ran away from the school on a different rainy night in terror only to later meet a deadly fate at the beginning of the movie. Unlike Pat, Suzy survives and ultimately brings an end to the nightmare.

Described as a “nightmarish fairy tale” by some, the movie was honestly not that scary to me. But what I greatly enjoyed about the original Suspiria was its effort to create a never-before-seen type of horror mystery that attempts to assault the senses and it kept me engaged throughout as I was eager to see how they intended to handle big reveal moments or its own brutality and Suzy’s role in all of it. A very memorable opening murder sequence tells the audience from the get-go exactly what type of nightmare they have just stepped into, forcing us to become invested with Suzy’s safety as we wonder what horrors await her. Dario Argento’s surreal film may not have truly frightened me, but its handling of the genre drew me in and never let go, making its case for why the movie has earned its spot among the best horror classics.

Diving into 2018’s Suspiria, I have to say, I was really intrigued by the wildly different paths the two versions of this story took. Releasing just over 40 years later, Luca Guadagnino and David Kajganich’s take on Dario Argento’s horror classic essentially heightens the surreal and the bizarre (and the disturbing) that maintains a fascinating and expectedly horrifying first few acts, but ultimately fails to deliver a satisfying final act as the original did.

Something that caught my attention initially was how the running time of the remake had tacked on an extra hour of screentime compared to the first Suspiria, which left me curious to see how the newer film was going to flesh out its story with that extra 60 minutes. While I do love that some of the time is spent incorporating more dancing and training considering the setting of the story — not to mention the horrifying realization that the act of dance is sometimes used to cast a spell that might include manifesting extreme and brutal torture — the last couple of acts of the film take a turn with a build-up that didn’t quite land for me the way the original’s succinct narrative did.

That’s not to say the movie, including its blood-soaked ritualistic ending, is not memorable or should be skipped over. I appreciated the authenticity of the setting, between the use of language and wanting to incorporate the environmental horrors and political violence in 1977 Berlin, and was mesmerized by the cast, especially in every single scene that incorporated dance. Tilda Swinton is always a commanding presence and Dakota Fanning did a great job playing opposite Swinton’s Madame Blanc (Swinton actually plays three roles in the movie) who becomes more and more obsessed with Fanning’s Susie.

One of the biggest things I struggled with in Guadagnino’s homage, though, was the lack of mystery. That may sound strange as there is certainly an ongoing puzzle in the plot, namely building up to the twisty final reveal and the unexpected truth about Fanning’s character, how Susie is not just some random American woman who enrolls at a prestigious dance academy in Germany run by a coven of witches. But instead of shrouding the coven in mystery, we are able to witness the inner workings of the coven’s dynamic which I both loved and hated as it gave interesting insight but also directly removed what made the coven more sinister in the first film.

At the end of the day, though, both versions of Suspiria are worth being experienced. They are original, fascinating, disturbing, and ultimately engaging horror movies that tantalize and terrify in different ways that will stick with you as they demand more of an open mind, which I can always appreciate.

GRANT HERMANNS: Dawn of the Dead (1978) & Day of the Dead (1985)

Click here to purchase Dawn of the Dead!

Or click to watch here!

Click here to purchase Day of the Dead!

Where would the zombie genre be without the brilliant mind of George A. Romero? Admittedly, it wasn’t until late into my high school years that I finally sat down and watched his 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead and now, a decade later, I finally took the time to go back and watch the second and third installments in his long-running franchise, Dawn and Day of the Dead, and while the former certainly hold up to its classic status, the latter not quite as much.

The thriller centered on a small group of people taking shelter from a zombie apocalypse in a large shopping mall is chock-full of sharp satirical jabs at consumerism and race, much like its predecessor, though in expanding its scope and runtime, it also loses a step in its tension-building and pace and occasionally drags. Even if the characters prove thoroughly likable and enjoyable to watch, there’s many a moment after the halfway point in which the story seems to be going nowhere and struggling to find a path forward, as well as trying to find a proper balance between dark and slapstick humor and its more serious elements. Admittedly, the remake does correct some of these flaws while simultaneously suffering from others, but Romero nonetheless crafted an entertaining and still-effective zombie chiller.

The same can not be said, however, for his 1985 follow-up Day of the Dead, centered on a group of military officers and scientists living in an underground bunker in Florida as the world above is overrun by the undead. Described by Romero as more of “a tragedy about how a lack of human communication causes chaos and collapse even in this small little pie slice of society” than an outright zombie flick like the predecessors, the writer/director certainly taps into this theme throughout the story, although struggles to do so in any entertaining or compelling fashion. With a cast of wholly unlikable characters, a more deliberate pacing and overtly bleak tone, it’s hard to truly connect to the story and characters and while there’s still plenty of efficient gore, making for a mostly dull and only mildly entertaining affair.

MAGGIE DELA PAZ: The Evil Dead (1981) & Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)

Click here to purchase Evil Dead!

Click here to purchase Evil Dead 2!

Before Sam Raimi went on to direct high-profile films such as Sony Pictures’ Tobey Maguire-led Spider-Man Trilogy and Marvel Studios’ upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, he first gained recognition for his 1981 independent horror film The Evil Dead and was then followed by its comedy horror sequel Evil Dead 2 in 1987. Both received acclaim for Raimi’s original story, direction, cinematography, and use of practical effects, which definitely cemented Raimi’s status as an influential horror filmmaker. The first two films have also amassed quite a big cult following, making them two of the best horror films to date.

Admittedly, the reason why I’ve never seen the original Evil Dead films before this year was because I’ve never really got the chance to see them when I was younger, where the only time I get to watch old films was through HBO reruns. My first introduction to Evil Dead was actually in 2013 in the form of a trailer for Fede Álvarez’s reboot film which I regretfully also didn’t watch because at that time, I wasn’t really a fan or open to seeing full-on gory horror films like the Saw films. Thankfully, I recently had the opportunity to finally see it after so many times of putting it off.

For people who still haven’t watched the Evil Dead films, the first one begins with five friends led by Bruce Campbell’s Ash Williams, who decided to go on a vacation at an isolated cabin in the woods where they’ve unintentionally woke up an evil supernatural force. From then on, madness ensues as one by one they became possessed by the entity, leaving only Ash to fight for his survival. Even though I’m still not into gory stuff, I have to admit that I’ve come to like this film a lot. I totally get how it was a very important piece in horror history as it became one of the pioneers to the rise of low-budget horror filmmaking. I actually appreciated it more after learning about the difficult behind-the-scenes process of making this film possible. From its creative shots, practical effects, and original storytelling, it’s no wonder that the franchise went on to build a legacy that inspired other filmmakers and movies since its debut. That’s why, when I’ve decided to re-watch it, I wasn’t terrified anymore but was just full of admiration for Raimi and his team’s passion and incredible talent for being able to create such a significant low-budget film.

Although the first one was great, Evil Dead 2 has become my favorite one because I’m more in favor of the comedy-horror genre. Even though it also featured the same great qualities as the original one, the 1987 sequel’s heightened humor and extra context to its backstory made it more appealing to me. I know that it’s quite a rare feat for any filmmakers to be able to replicate the success of their original film. But due to Raimi’s unique vision and talent, he was able to create another groundbreaking film that became one of the strong foundations of its long-running franchise. I also personally preferred Campbell’s leading performance in the second one because his character became more reliable and heroic. I think Evil Dead 2 was where Campbell’s status as a horror icon really solidified as he had become a symbol of tenacity in the face of pure evil.

Overall, I highly encourage everyone, who’s still having second thoughts about checking out these films, to stop missing out on Raimi’s early masterpieces because I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed. Watching the first two Evil Dead films honestly feels like a lesson in filmmaking. That’s why I think it’s really important for every movie enthusiast or budding filmmaker to check them out because you’ll be impressed by the heavy influence it had on the horror genre.

JEFF AMES: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Click here to purchase The Texas Chain Saw Massacre!

When asked to watch Tobe Hooper’s 1974 “classic” The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, my reaction was less than enthusiastic as I’ve never been enamored by Leatherface or his chainsaw-wielding antics. Now that I’ve seen the film… I still don’t get it.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is obviously not meant to be an enjoyable experience. What begins as a peculiar road trip flick — shot in a manner not unlike an adult film replete with young, scantily clad women, silly dialogue, and terrible acting — quickly turns into an extended series of chase sequences and grisly murders all of which culminate in one of the most headache-inducing finales I’ve ever experienced. Indeed, Texas Chain Saw feels more like a lucid fever dream than anything resembling a motion picture. The characters don’t much matter and are disposed of rather quickly; and the ending in which a bound and gagged Marilyn Burns endures an endless barrage of over-the-top mockery by the Sawyer family is simply too wacky to generate anything resembling pure terror.

Even so, the film successfully provokes a feeling of unease thanks to its solid production design, dizzying editing, and reliance on raw filmmaking that is as far removed from the hyper-stylized nature of the countless sequels and remakes that followed as Leatherface is to Ghandi.

Speaking of which, I was surprised at this depiction of Leatherface, who barely resembles the monstrous pop-culture icon he has since become. Here, he is a pathetic creature who cowers before his tyrannical father and lumbers about like Frankenstein on acid. That spinning dance at the climax felt more wretched than threatening; and his efforts to scare Marilyn’s character during the dinner sequence brought to mind that scene in Ron Howard’s The Grinch where Jim Carrey attempts to frighten a young girl by repeatedly jumping at her. I laughed in both instances.

Ultimately, Texas Chain Saw simply has nothing going for it aside from a willingness to ascend to levels of deranged violence typically reserved for snuff films. That’s it. That’s the point. It’s shock and awe. There are no lessons to be gleaned or characters to root for. Bad things happen and then the film ends. I suppose I understand why the film was successful — it’s quite shocking, even for a film made nearly 50 years ago. Though, I still don’t understand the need for such violent displays of human depravity. I’d rather watch Poltergeist.

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Ti West sets new horror pic at A24 with ensemble cast

It’s been seven years since Ti West last stepped behind the camera for the feature world of horror and now he has set his return to the film genre with a film entitled X at A24 with an ensemble cast set to be led by Mia Goth (Suspiria, Emma.), according to Deadline.

RELATED: Donal Logue Joins Johannes Roberts’ Resident Evil Origin Story Reboot

Plot details are currently unknown at this time, but the film is said to be akin in tone and story to West’s past horror films and the 40-year-old filmmaker is set to write and direct the project, which is also in final negotiations to have Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi (Bill & Ted Face the Music) and Jenna Ortega (Scream 5) to join the cast.

The film, which is currently eyeing an early 2021 production start date, is set to be co-produced and co-financed by A24 and BRON Studios, with A24 producing alongside Jacob Jaffke, Kevin Turen, Sam Levinson and Ashley Levinson via their Little Lamb Productions banner, while Mescudi is set to executive produce the project.

West’s last feature project was the 2016 western pic In The Valley of Violence starring Ethan Hawke (The Good Lord Bird) and John Travolta (Die Hart), which received rave reviews from critics and audiences though was a financial disappointment. His previous horror efforts include The House of the Devil, The Innkeepers, segments of V/H/S and The ABCs of Death and The Sacrament, as well as episodes of MTV’s Scream, Cinemax’s Outcast and Fox’s The Exorcist and Wayward Pines.

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Ortega, who is currently filming the highly-anticipated Scream revival from Radio Silence (Ready or Not), was most recently seen in Netflix’s horror comedy sequel The Babysitter: Killer Queen, while Mescudi has graced both the big and small screen this year with HBO’s We Are Who We Are and the well-received threequel Bill & Ted Face the Music. Goth has made a name for herself in the horror genre with films such as A Cure for Wellness, Marrowbone and Suspiria, though was last seen in the period romantic comedy Emma.

(Photo Credits: Getty Images)

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Isabelle Fuhrman to Reprise Role of Esther in Orphan Prequel

Orphan star Isabelle Fuhrman (The Hunger Games, Masters of Sex) is reprising her role as Esther in the upcoming prequel Orphan: First Kill. Golden Globe nominee Julia Stiles (Dexter, Riviera) has reportedly also joined the project that is being directed by William Brent Bell (The Boy, Brahms: The Boy II, Stay Alive), according to Deadline.

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The outlet adds that Bell is already shooting the prequel in Winnipeg and that the filmmakers will be utilizing a “combination of forced perspective shooting and a world-class makeup team” in order for Fuhrman to bring her Orphan character back to life in the prequel.

In Orphan: First Kill, written by David Coggeshall (Prey, Scream: The TV Series), Leena Klammer (Fuhrman) orchestrates a brilliant escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility and travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family. But Leena’s new life as “Esther” comes with an unexpected wrinkle and pits her against a mother who will protect her family at any cost.

The movie comes from Entertainment One and Dark Castle Entertainment. Producers include Dark Castle’s Alex Mace, Hal Sadoff, and Ethan Erwin as well as James Tomlinson, with David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick serving as executive producer. Jen Gorton and Josie Liang will oversee for eOne.

RELATED: Neil Marshall Set to Direct & Produce Horror-Thriller The Lair

The first Orphan movie debuted in 2009 and also starred Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard as a wife and husband who adopt a nine-year-old girl after losing their baby, though she’s not nearly as innocent as she claims to be. The film was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick from a story by Alex Mace.

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Donal Logue Joins Johannes Roberts’ Resident Evil Origin Story Reboot

Donal Logue (Gotham, Terriers, Blade) is set to play Chief Irons in the upcoming Resident Evil origin story reboot directed by Johannes Roberts (47 Meters Down) and produced by Constantin Film, according to Deadline.

RELATED: Resident Evil Reboot Builds Cast Including Scodelairo, Amell & More!

The film is set to be an official origin story to Capcom’s long-running survival horror video game franchise and will be set on an infamous night in Raccoon City in 1998 when the Umbrella Corporation unleashed hell upon the world and it was up to a select group of people to stop them.

Logue will join the previously announced cast that includes Kaya Scodelario (The Maze Runner) as Claire Redfield, Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp) as Jill Valentine, Robbie Amell (Upload) as Chris Redfield, Tom Hopper (Black Sails) as Albert Wesker, Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap) as Leon S. Kennedy, and Neal McDonough (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow) as William Birkin. Chad Rook (The Flash) and Lily Gao (The Handmaid’s Tale) have been cast in supporting roles.

The film will be produced by Robert Kulzer for Constantin Films, who were attached to the Milla Jovovich-starring franchise, alongside James Harris from Tea Shop Productions and Hartley Gorenstein, while Constantin’s CEO Martin Moskowicz and Davis Film’s Victor Hadida are set to executive produce. Sony Pictures’ Screen Gems, who distributed the original films, is set to release the film domestically while Constantin will debut it in German-speaking territories, Elevation in Canada, Metropolitan in France and Sony Pictures Releasing in all remaining territories.

In 2018, it was reported that Roberts had been tapped to helm and write the Resident Evil reboot. Though previously attached, James Wan’s Atomic Monster has dropped out of the project.

Production on the movie is currently underway. The new Resident Evil project is expected to release in 2021.

RELATED: Netflix Orders a Resident Evil TV Series From Supernatural EP

The last installment of the first series of Resident Evil movies, helmed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring his wife Milla Jovovich, earned $26.8 million domestically. Internationally, however, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter grossed an impressive $285.4 million, with $160 million of that coming from China. The $40 million-budgeted sixth film, distributed by Sony‘s Screen Gems, has earned $312.2 million worldwide.

Based on Capcom’s hugely popular video games, the Resident Evil movies have earned $1.2 billion worldwide to date, making it the highest-grossing film series to be based on a video game.

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