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The Story: A college kid (Brandon Lee) witnesses a gangland hit. Betrayed by witness protection, he’s recruited by a task force headed by a no-nonsense cop (Powers Boothe) as a pawn, but little do they know he’s more than able to handle himself against any of his foes.

The Players: Starring: Brandon Lee, Powers Boothe, Tzi Ma & Nick Mancuso. Directed by Dwight H. Little.

The History: The early nineties were the heyday of the martial arts movie star. Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme were consistently churning out hits, so if they could become icons, why not a guy like Brandon Lee? He was movie star handsome, could move, was charismatic and could act. Oh yeah – he also happened to be the son of the greatest Kung-Fu movie star of all time, Bruce Lee.

“I wouldn’t want to refer to them as stepping stones. That seems to demean them.

101 Films presents the Bob Clark: Horror Collection, featuring the director’s highly influential horrors of the early 1970s, brought together for the first time. Though he would achieve wider success in the 1980s with hit comedies such as Porky’s (1981) and A Christmas Story (1983), Clark’s run of three horror movies a decade earlier — low budget horror-comedy Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things (1972), chilling Vietnam War critique Deathdream (Aka Dead of Night) (1974) and genre-defining slasher masterpiece Black Christmas (1974) — ensure his legacy as a master of the horror genre.

Title 029 on the 101 Films Black Label, this limited-edition set also features new Bob Clark documentary ‘Dreaming of Death’, stunning newly commissioned artwork for all three titles with reversible sleeves, a booklet with new writing on Clark’s career, a set of art cards, and extensive additional content.

Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things

Led by a mean-spirited director, a theatre...

Black Christmas (1974) and Carrie (1976) Coming to 4K Uhd: "Your stocking stuffers are sorted! At long last, two of the most iconic horror films of all time, Black Christmas and Carrie, come to 4K Uhd this December from Scream™ Factory, looking better than ever before, and packaged with exciting new bonus features. Black Christmas (1974) (Collector's Edition) (4K Uhd) will be available December 6 and Carrie (1976) (Collector's Edition) (4K Uhd) arrives on December 13. Customers ordering these titles from shoutfactory.com will receive a free exclusive 18”x24” rolled poster featuring the original theatrical artwork while supplies last.

In Black Christmas (1974) (Collector's Edition) (4K Uhd), the college town of Bedford is receiving an unwelcome guest this Christmas. As the residents of sorority house Pi Kappa Sigma prepare for the festive season, a stranger begins to stalk the house. A series of obscene phone calls start to plague the sorority and it becomes clear that a...

Scream Factory is bringing Bob Clark‘s slasher masterpiece Black Christmas to 4K Ultra HD on December 6, and today the full special features package has been announced.

You can pre-order the Collector’s Edition release right now, which comes with an exclusive poster. There’s also a deluxe set that includes the poster as well as a special pin set.

Bonus Features include…

Disc One (4K Uhd):

New 2022 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative

In Dolby Vision (Hdr 10 Compatible)

New 2022 DTS-hd Master Audio Mono – A Restoration Of The Original Mono Track

New 2022 Restoration Of The 5.1 Audio, Restoring Missing Dialogue, Music And Sound Effects

Audio Commentary With Director Bob Clark

Audio Commentary With Actors John Saxon And Keir Dullea

Audio Commentary With Billy (Actor Nick Mancuso)

Audio Interview With Director Bob Clark

Disc Two (Blu-ray):

New 2022 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative

New 2022 DTS-hd Master Audio Mono...

Scream Factory has announced another horror classic for 4K Ultra HD upgrade this year, with Bob Clark‘s slasher masterpiece Black Christmas coming to 4K Uhd on December 6!

You can pre-order the Collector’s Edition release right now, which comes with an exclusive poster. There’s also a deluxe set that includes the poster as well as a special pin set.

Bonus Features include…

Disc One (4K Uhd):

New 2022 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative New 2022 Restoration Of The Original Mono Track New 2022 Restoration Of The 5.1 Audio, Restoring Missing Dialogue, Music And Sound Effects In Dolby Vision (Hdr 10 Compatible)

Disc Two (Blu-ray):

New 2022 4K Scan Of The Original Camera Negative New 2022 Restoration Of The Original Mono Track New 2022 Restoration Of The 5.1 Audio, Restoring Missing Dialogue, Music And Sound Effects Audio Commentary With Director Bob Clark Audio Commentary With Actors John Saxon And Keir Dullea Audio Commentary With...

The words offbeat, personal and edgy used to be a draw for movie fare — we’d check out a new relationship picture based only on an actor or two that we liked. Bobby Roth’s semi-autobiographical buddy story has a good stab at the early ’80s art + singles scene in Los Angeles, with a dash of macho clichés — pals Peter Coyote and Nick Mancuso fight in public and somehow suffer while bedding fantastic women. But the overall vibe is one of honest sensitivity, aided by fine performances from Carole Laure, Kathryn Harrold and Carol Wayne. Plus music by Tangerine Dream.

Heartbreakers

Blu-ray

Fun City Editions

1984 / Color / 1:85 / 99 min. / Street Date August 30, 2022 / Available from Amazon, Available from Vinegar Syndrome

Starring: Peter Coyote, Nick Mancuso, Carole Laure, Max Gail, James Laurenson, Carol Wayne, Jamie Rose, Kathryn Harrold, George Morfogen, Jerry Hardin, Henry Sanders, Walter Olkewicz.

Cinematography: Michael Ballhaus

Production Designer: David Nichols...

David Warner, the English actor who gave memorable performances on the big screen, in a key role in “The Omen,” and as villains in “Time After Time,” “Time Bandits” and “Tron,” has died. He was 80.

The actor died of a cancer-related illness on Sunday in London, his family told the BBC. “Over the past 18 months he approached his diagnosis with a characteristic grace and dignity,” his family said in a statement shared with the public broadcaster.

“He will be missed hugely by us, his family and friends, and remembered as a kind-hearted, generous and compassionate man, partner and father, whose legacy of extraordinary work has touched the lives of so many over the years. We are heartbroken,” the statement continued.

Warner was Emmy-nominated for playing Reinhard Heydrich, a Nazi official who was a key architect of the Final Solution, in the landmark 1978 miniseries “Holocaust,” and won an Emmy for playing...

From the golden age of Canadian tax shelters comes a horror movie about a fiendish, fearful freighter fraught with frills, I mean, chills. A notable cast — George Kennedy, Richard Crenna, Sally Ann Howes, Kate Reid — shows up for paycheck duty, and must have gone through real torture getting this one in the can. It’s got a reputation, and if being ripoff-remade is a marker of success, then it’s earned its place on the horror map: See George Kennedy apparently really doused in awful oily bilge water!

Death Ship

Blu-ray

Scorpion Releasing

1980 / Color / 1:78 widescreen / 94 min. / Street Date December 11, 2018 / 19.69

Starring: George Kennedy, Richard Crenna, Nick Mancuso, Kate Reid, Saul Rubinek.

Cinematography: René Verzier

Film Editor: Mike Campbell

Original Music: Ivor Slaney

Written by John Robins story by Jack Hill, David P. Lewis

Produced by Derek Gibson, Harold Greenberg, Sandy Howard (?)

Directed by Alvin Rakoff

What in the living Hell is on board?...

Exclusive:

Cary Elwes has joined the cast of Black Christmas, the Blumhouse Productions remake of the 1974 slasher cult classic for Universal Pictures. Elwes will play a main part in the film but details of the role were not disclosed.

Elwes joins a cast led by Imogen Poots and featuring Aleyse Shannon, Brittany O’Grady, Lily Donoghue, and Caleb Eberhardt. Sophia Takal is set to direct working off a script she wrote with April Wolfe. Filming begins soon in New Zealand. Black Christmas will be released Dec 13, a week shy of the 45th anniversary of the original film’s U.S. release.

Elwes, who may be best known for The Princess Bride, is featured in the upcoming third season of the Netflix series Stranger Things. Elwes has become a specialist in the horror sector, too, after roles in Saw, Saw 3D: The Final Chapter, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, The Bride, and...

Ooh, it’s a great week for horror fans, as this Tuesday’s Blu-ray and DVD releases are a stellar bunch of films that will make for great additions to your personal collection of movies to enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Because it is the holiday season, I’m stoked to see Scream Factory show a little love to Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2 with their Collector’s Edition Blu that hits shelves tomorrow, and for those of you who enjoy your horror movies with a side of sleaze, William Lustig’s Maniac has been given the 4K treatment by Blue Underground (and the film has never looked better).

The Mangler is also getting a brand new Blu-ray this week, and Scorpion Releasing is resurrecting Death Ship with their new Special Edition release as well. Vinegar Syndrome is keeping busy with both Ice Cream Man and Beware My Brethren,...

By Todd Garbarini

Plagiarism, if done willingly and poorly, generally does not go unnoticed and one cannot help but see certain similarities in various works be it literature, art, or cinema. In listening to the audio commentary with author Jonathan Rigby and director Alvin Rakoff on the new, limited edition Blu-ray of 1980’s Death Ship, a horror oddity about an abandoned old ship inhabited by the ghosts of members of the Third Reich(!), a remark is made that the poster for 2002's Ghost Ship was remarkably similar to the poster art for Death Ship, and it’s true that the similarities are uncanny. I can't help but wonder who came up with the idea for the poster for Ghost Ship, as Death Ship was well over twenty-five years-old and seemed to be relegated to the land of forgotten cinema.

Captain Ashland (George Kennedy) is at the helm of a cruise ship,...

The movie that started a second successful franchise for Star Wars star Harrison Ford is also one of the greatest films ever made. We all know the whip, the Fedora, the wisecracks, the bad guys, the ex girlfriend, the snakes, and the melting face. Here we look at 10 things you never new About Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

His name is Indiana but he was born in a different state.

His nickname may be Indiana, but Doctor Jones originated in a different state altogether: Hawaii! Longtime pals George Lucas and Steven Spielberg were on vacation when they kicked around the idea for Raiders of the Lost Ark, a swashbuckling homage to the old movie serials that also inspired Star Wars. Spielberg was thinking of maybe directing a Bond film, but made Raiders instead.

Who else could have worn that fedora?

Steven Spielberg wanted Harrison Ford pretty early in the process,...

World War II documentary Above the Drowning Sea has been selected to premiere at Arkansas' Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival on Oct. 10.

Directed by Rene Balcer and narrated by Julianna Margulies, Tony Goldwyn and Nick Mancuso, the doc tells the story of Jews who escaped the Holocaust by fleeing to China. The Chinese consul granted more than 5,000 visas allowing Jewish families to escape to Shanghai during WWII, and many of these people are interviewed in the film, according to a release. 

Balcer, who wrote, directed and co-produced the film, won an Emmy in 1997 for his work on Law &...

“Scandal” star Tony Goldwyn and “The Good Wife” alum Julianna Margulies will narrate “Above the Drowning Sea,” a documentary from Emmy-winning writer and producer René Balcer about Jewish refugees who found a safe haven in Shanghai during World War II. Nick Mancuso (“Under Siege”) will also contribute his voice to the project. The film, which will be released theatrically this spring, depicts the thousands of Austrian Jews who were granted visas for China by Ho Feng Shan, a Chinese diplomat stationed in Vienna. After the Kristallnacht in 1938, Austrian Jews faced an increasingly dire situation in their home country and were.

Scandal star Tony Goldwyn and The Good Wife star Julianna Margulies will narrate Above the Drowning Sea, a documentary about the Jewish refugee experience in Shanghai during World War II.

Emmy Award–winning writer-producer René Balcer (Law & Order franchise; upcoming Law & Order: True Crime — The Menendez Murders) is behind the project, acting as writer and director. Nicola Zavaglia is also directing.

Nick Mancuso will also lend his voice to the project. The doc focuses on the segment of Jews fleeing the Holocaust whose only escape was to Shanghai. The movie will be bookended by today’s refugee crisis and...

A sorority house becomes the site of seasonal scares in Bob Clark's Black Christmas. With the holiday horror classic coming out on a Collector's Edition Blu-ray beginning December 13th from Scream Factory, we've been provided with three copies to give away to lucky Daily Dead readers.

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Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Collector's Edition Blu-ray copy of Black Christmas (1974).

How to Enter: For a chance to win, email contest@dailydead.com with the subject “Black Christmas Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on December 16th. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

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Black Christmas Collector's Edition Blu-ray: "The college town of Bedford is receiving an unwelcome guest this Christmas. As the residents of sorority...

Scream Factory brings horror to the holidays with their December 13th release of Black Christmas (1974) on a Collector's Edition Blu-ray, and we have high-def clips and a trailer from the beloved Bob Clark movie.

Black Christmas Collector's Edition Blu-ray: "The college town of Bedford is receiving an unwelcome guest this Christmas. As the residents of sorority house Pi Kappa Sigma prepare for the festive season, a stranger begins to stalk the house.

A series of obscene phone calls start to plague the residents of the sorority and it becomes clear that a psychopath is homing in on the sisters with dubious intentions. And though the police try to trace the calls, they discover that nothing is as it seems during this Black Christmas. "Stuffed with extremely tense moments, chilling cinematography, amazing characters and long-lasting dread… [this] genuine classic is completely deserving of every bit of respect and admiration it's picked up over the last 40 years" (addictedtohorormovie.

There is no definitive answer as to what the first slasher movie really is. Many point to Michael Powell's Peeping Tom or even Psycho as the film that launched the genre. Others suggest it's Mario Bava’s Bay of Blood (aka Twitch of the Death Nerve) that invented the slasher tropes. Some still say it's John Carpenter's original Halloween, a movie that, even if it is not the first slasher movie ever made, can still be called the most influential. It (and Bava’s Bay of Blood) is the movie that producer Sean Cunningham was ripping off when he made the original Friday the 13th, the copycat that launched a thousand more copycats. There has been a push in the last 10–15 years, though, to recognize Bob Clark's 1974 film Black Christmas (aka Silent Night, Evil Night) as the first “real” slasher, as a clear line can be drawn...

Scream Factory has revealed the full release details of two potential stocking stuffers for horror and fantasy fans this holiday season: their Collector's Edition Blu-ray releases of Black Christmas (1974) and Dreamscape.

Press Release: This December, Scream Factory™ proudly presents two genre favorites as part of a month full of holiday horror and sci-fi season’s greetings. Black Christmas and Dreamscape come to Blu-ray in Scream Factory Collector’s Editions on December 13, 2016, both complete with new 2K scans of the films and hours of new bonus content.

Black Christmas

If this movie doesn’t make your skin crawl…it’s on too tight!

The college town of Bedford is receiving an unwelcome guest this Christmas. As the residents of sorority house Pi Kappa Sig prepare for the festive season, a stranger begins to stalk the house.

A series of obscene phone calls start to plague the residents of the sorority and...

Stars: Kaylee Bryant, José Zúñiga, Catherine Black, Anne Bex, Nick Mancuso, Emma Gruttadauria, Sam Myerson, Diana Porter, Mark S. Cartier, Karin Crighton, Kati Salowsky | Written and Directed by Jennifer B. White

Hollywood tag-line writer Jennifer B. White (Nora’s Return) pulls double-duty here, both writing and directing this paranormal/supernatural mystery starring Kaylee Bryant (Zugzwang) as the titular Mary.

The story of The Haunting of Mary (also known as Mary Loss of Soul) follows Mary Solis, a young 15 year old girl who disappears suddenly before reappearing without any recollection of what happened to her. Oh, and she’s missing part of her soul too. That part’s important. Mary and her family begin to suffer a terrible haunting from an angry spirit all the while Mary herself begins to tumble further down.

It’s hard to really go into a full-on overview of the plot here without giving away some of the interesting plot developments,...

B movie maven wraps yet another wild exploitation flick. Our pal, insanely prolific cult, horror and exploitation movie overlord David DeCoteau just let us know that he has just wrapped his latest low budget romp, Bloody Blacksmith, a gory adult fairy tale starring Nightwing and Black Christmas actor Nick Mancuso. Here’s the synopsis: …

The post Cult Movie Legend David DeCoteau’s Bloody Blacksmith Wraps in Canada appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

Big remains one of our favourite Tom Hanks childhood movies (perhaps losing out to Turner and Hooch, boy did that make us blub, we barely held it together) so we're slightly unnerved by reports that a TV series based on the film has been commissioned.

Kevin Biegel and Mike Royce are now said to have received a script plus penalty commitment from broadcaster Fox for the half-hour comedy series, which will explore what it means to be both an adult and child in today's world.

The 1988 Oscar-nominated movie, written by Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg, sees a boy's simple wish to be big come true as a 13-year-old is transformed into a 30-year-old overnight.

We take a nostalgic look at the cast of the huge hit - including Tom Hanks and John Heard - and what came next below:

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks was robbed when he missed out on...

Big remains one of our favourite Tom Hanks childhood movies (perhaps losing out to Turner and Hooch, boy did that make us blub, we barely held it together) so we're slightly unnerved by reports that a TV series based on the film has been commissioned.

Kevin Biegel and Mike Royce are now said to have received a script plus penalty commitment from broadcaster Fox for the half-hour comedy series, which will explore what it means to be both an adult and child in today's world.

The 1988 Oscar-nominated movie, written by Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg, sees a boy's simple wish to be big come true as a 13-year-old is transformed into a 30-year-old overnight.

We take a nostalgic look at the cast of the huge hit - including Tom Hanks and John Heard - and what came next below:

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks was robbed when he missed out on...

As horror fans, we make it our business to know the most obscure details about our favorite films. We watch the bonus features on the Special Edition releases of our favorite DVDs; we read retrospectives and interviews in support of our most beloved titles. But even the most diligent fan is bound to miss something along the way. So, to help you get the lowdown, we're launching a new segment that rounds up some lesser-known trivia from your favorite horror films.

For this installment, we're setting our sights on the classic slasher film Black Christmas. There are plenty of well-known talking points regarding Black Christmas but we have rounded up some slightly more obscure facts that may even enlighten even the super fan.

Now, we present to you: twelve things you may not have known about Bob Clark’s Black Christmas.

During the filming of the infamous phone call sequences,...

We’re back with another edition of the Indie Spotlight, highlighting recent independent horror news sent our way. Today’s feature includes details on The ABCs of Death 2 contest, a new clip from Muirhouse, a Q&A with Lauren Lakis from Horror House, and much more:

The ABCs of Death 2 Contest Details: “We’re in the midst of our contest to find the 26th Director for ABCs Of Death 2. The contest runs until Halloween, and we’re hoping to secure many, many more submissions by then. We’re looking for new, inventive content!”

For more information, or to learn how to participate in the ABCs of Death 2 contest to be the 26th director, visit: http://26th.abcsofdeathpart2.com/

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New Clip from Muirhouse: “In 2007 Phillip Muirhouse began a promotional book tour on supernatural phenomena. As a publicity stunt he was to be filmed inside a local tourist trap, The Monte Cristo Homestead,...

A Planet Fury-approved selection of notable genre releases for December.

Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012) 20th Century Fox Blu-ray and DVD Available Now

Six-year-old Hushpuppy (fearless newcomer Quvenzhané Wallis) lives in the “Bathtub,” a southern Louisiana bayou community far removed from the civilized world. Her father Wink (Dwight Henry), a poor fisherman, keeps her at arm’s length but ensures her well-being within the cultural confines of their rough-and-tumble society. Seen through the eyes of the feisty Hushpuppy, the lines between myth and reality are blurred. An impending storm coincides with the melting of the arctic ice caps (and the thawing of some mythical creatures), which changes the world of the Bathtub forever. This heartbreaking little fable came out of nowhere last summer after building some positive buzz on the festival circuit. Shot on 16mm film for under $2 million, Beasts is a true independent film: a fiercely original and moving...

By Allen Gardner

Harold And Maude (Criterion) Hal Ashby’s masterpiece of black humor centers on a wealthy young man (Bud Cort) who’s obsessed with death and the septuagenarian (Ruth Gordon) with whom he finds true love. As unabashedly romantic as it is quirky, with Cat Stevens supplying one of the great film scores of all-time. Fine support from Vivian Pickles, Cyril Cusack, Charles Tyner, and Ellen Geer. Fine screenplay by Colin Higgins. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bonuses: Commentary by Hal Ashby biographer Nick Dawson, producer Charles Mulvehill; Illustrated audio excerpts from seminars by Ashby and Higgins; Interview with Cat Stevens. Widescreen. Dolby 2.0 stereo.

In Darkness (Sony) Agnieszka Holland’s Ww II epic tells the true story of a sewer worker and petty thief in Nazi-occupied Poland who single-handedly helped hide a group of Jews in the city’s labyrinthine sewer system for the duration of the war.

Exclusive: Actor-comedian Pauly Shore, who had a reality show, Paid Vacation With Pauly Show, on Cmt, is back on the cable channel with a telefilm. The latest entry in Cmt’s original movie franchise established a year ago, is Whiskey Business, starring the 1990s comedy star, which will premiere on March 25. The film, produced by Entertainment One, centers on self-proclaimed “Guido,” Nicky Ferelli, (Shore) who runs away from his mob-tied family when he is wrongly accused of murder, and ends up hiding out in a small southern town making a new and unusual variety of moonshine, while discovering that a country way of life could be the best thing that ever happened to him. “It’s heartfelt, and playing a likeable ‘Guido’ is a throwback to the old Pauly fans know from my earlier movies,” Shore said. Whiskey Business co-stars John Schneider and Tanya Tucker and also features Cynthia Preston,...

At last it's time for the sixth and final installment of Dread Central's Six Slays of Christmas feature! We're now just one day away the year's biggest holiday, and to celebrate the coming of Saint Nick (or whomever you believe in), we've been taking a look at a different yuletide horror flick each day until the 25th! Think of it as a cinema crazed Advent calendar!

Although the Six Slays of Christmas have come to you in no particular order, it's fitting that today's entry was saved for the finale. For Day Six we feature an absolute classic, Bob Clark's 1974 groundbreaking horror film Black Christmas, which proved to us that Canada has more to offer than just Pam Anderson, hockey and Molson Canadian Lager. The script was written by Roy Moore, who drew inspiration from actual murders that occurred in Montreal around Christmastime. And a horrific cinematic gem was born.

Title: George A. Romero Presents Deadtime Stories, Volume 2 Directed by: Matt Walsh, Jeff Monahan and Michael Fischa Starring Nick Mancuso, Antone Pagan Marty Schiff, Jeff Monahan, Tim Coceri, Justin Tatum, Christina Fallon, Kristin Slaysman, Amy Marsalis Running time: 101 min, Rated R Horror master George Romero presents a 2nd volume anthology of three horror short films. The Gorge – three friends go spelunking and get trapped in a cave. They have to resort to drastic measures in order to stay alive. This one had some cheesy gore effects, but the story itself was decent. On Sabbath Hill – a college professor gets a shock when one of his students...

Lost Soul is the first film completed by Pathfinder Productions and readied for film markets. This is a psychological thriller that mixes the occult, a damaged individual and a couple just trying to get by. Dark and light collide in this tale of terror, which stars Nick Mancuso (Deadtime Stories 2) and Dave Vescio (Virus X). Vescio, a theatrically trained actor, plays Donald, a shy man with the ability to summon supernatural elements, and prolific actor Mancuso portrays Dr. Charles Crowther, a man investigating some strange goings-on in a local apartment. Will Crowther uncover Vescios demonic powers? "A sexually obsessed loner's (Vescio) practice of the occult shatters a young couples dreams, drawing them into a supernatural nightmare. This is a psychological thriller that exposes the dark underbelly of Hollywood and some of the seedy characters therein." Check out the trailer above and Afm sales art inside.

More indie goodness is headed our way from Pathfinder Productions, which will be taking its latest film, Lost Soul, out to the American Film Market. Check out the sales trailer and artwork right here.

From the Press Release

Lost Soul is the first film completed by Pathfinder Productions and readied for film markets. This is a psychological thriller that mixes the occult, a damaged individual and a couple just trying to get by. Dark and light collide in this tale of terror, which stars Nick Mancuso (Deadtime Stories 2) and Dave Vescio (Virus X). Vescio, a theatrically trained actor, plays Donald, a shy man with the ability to summon supernatural elements, and prolific actor Mancuso portrays Dr. Charles Crowther, a man investigating some strange goings-on in a local apartment. Will Crowther uncover Vescio’s demonic powers?

Fans of thrillers will have to wait until February 2012 to find out when Lost Soul...

Lost Soul is the first film completed by Pathfinder Productions which will be taking this indie effort out to the American Film Market. This is a psychological thriller that mixes the occult, a damaged individual and a couple just trying to get by. The film stars Nick Mancuso and Dave Vescio. Vescio, a theatrically trained actor, plays Donald a shy man with the ability to summon supernatural elements and prolific actor Mancuso portrays Dr. Charles Crowther, a man investigating some strange goings on in a local apartment. Will Crowther uncover Vescio.s demonic powers? Here's some poster art and a trailer...

by Nick Schager

What's new is always old, and in this recurring column, I'll be taking a look at the classic genre movies that have influenced today's new releases. In honor of Sean Durkin's Cannes and New York Film Festival-heralded cult-life drama, Martha Marcy May Marlene, this week it's Ralph L. Thomas' 1981 drama Ticket to Heaven.

Indoctrination, entanglement, and escape prove the three steps of religious cult experience addressed by Ticket to Heaven, Ralph L. Thomas' 1981 Canadian indie about a man recruited into a bonkers spiritual outfit. Adapted from Josh Freed's novel Moonwebs, Thomas' film opens with a credit sequence in which the camera tracks a white van crossing the Golden Gate Bridge and traversing San Francisco's streets, gradually increasing proximity until it enters the vehicle, where a group of young people are chanting and cheering for "Father." That celebration is interrupted when David (Nick Mancuso...

Details are emerging for the release of Deadtime Stories 2. This is the second horror anthology to be narrated by the Master of Horror himself, George A. Romero. This time around, Romero has three tales of the macabre which range from fatal cave climbing to haunting students and even to a disease causing space dust. Each short is about thirty minutes long, with a cumulative runtime of 141 mins'. The titles of the shorts are: "The Gorge," "On Sabbath Hill," and "Dust." Enjoy the trailer for Deadtime Stories 2, as Romero tells viewers to "be very afraid!"

Yet, the original Deadtime Stories (2009) has been called "sub-par" (DVD Talk) and "pointless" (DVD Sleuth). As well, Romero's performance in the first series has been called "disjointed." Also, in the latest trailer for Deadtime Stories 2, Romero seems subdued and more ready to take a nap rather than scare audiences (we still love you George). Finally,...

Title: George A. Romero Presents Deadtime Stories, Volume 1 Directed by: Jeff Monahan and Matt Walsh Starring: Nick Mancuso, Kristin Slaysman, Jeff Monahan, Amy Marsalis and Bingo O’Malley Running time: 76 minutes, Rated R Three film shorts presented by the godfather of horror George A. Romero. In “Valley of the Shadow,” a woman gets funding to investigate her husband’s disappearance. “Wet,” a lonely alcoholic fisherman digs up the wrong type of buried treasure. Housecall, a town doctor is called to the home of a boy who is experiencing a change and it’s not puberty. Oh George A. Romero, why did you agree to put your name on this steaming bowl...

George A. Romero Presents Deadtime Stories Volume 1 Directed By: Jeff Monahan, Michael Fischa and Tom Savini Written By: Jeff Monahan Starring: Jeff Monahan, Nick Mancuso, Bingo O'Malley, Maryann Nagel, Amy Marsalis and George A. Romero I’ve been so starved for any little morsel of horror I can get my hands on this summer that I jumped at the chance to review this new offering from horror maestro George A. Romero. What a waste. My husband (who will watch anything) pronounced that it was crap within five minutes and left the room in a huff. I stuck around for the entire stink-fest. This “anthology” is comprised of three short films, interspersed with Romero sitting in a chair, cracking corny little intros that make the Crypt Keeper look like a master of prose. It’s a pity to see such a legend (Night of the Living Dead) reduced to this embarrassing...

Dave Vescio is one of Hollywood’s most talented up-and-coming actors and has achieved much recognition through his mastery of playing villainous and evil roles. Dave, having been featured in over two dozen short films in the past 2 years, including, “Blue Hour” and “Q for Death,” is currently focusing on his newest role as a villain in 2012’s Hick. This coming of age story about a 13 year olds life on the road, stars Alec Baldwin, Blake Lively, Juliette Lewis, Chloe Moretz, Eddie Redmayne and Rory Culkin. Hick, produced by the very talented Derick Martini, was just recently unveiled to buyers at this years’ Cannes Film Festival which we'll get deeper into. Check out my latest Versus with actor Dave Vescio.

Brian S- First off, tell me how you got into acting.

Dave Vescio- I actually didn’t start acting until the age of 32. Before that, I was a TV photojournalist for CBS News.

.Stay the hell out of my mine laddie!. I dub this .Chuck amok. week as the square-jawed actor is highly featured in a mother lode of releases. This one is one of his rare directorial ventures, his last in fact, and is presented for the first time in widescreen. Jean Dupre (Nick Mancuso) is on his own after spectacularly quitting his job flying planes for a mining company. He decides to discover what happened to his missing friend, who he speculates has gone in search for a mother lode vein of gold fabled to be on an isolated mountain. The area was site to a rush decades ago and it has been speculated that the source of that...

Based on the classic Jack London adventure story, Call of the Wild follows the thrilling exploits of 18 year-old Miles Challenger and his loyal canine companion Buck. Thirteen episodes of the TV show first aired on Animal Planet from March 31 to June 26, 2000. Episodes feature our heroes battling nature's toughest elements, hardened criminals and performing dangerous rescues.

This beautifully filmed series was nominated for a Leo Award for Best Cinematography in a Dramatic Series by Stephen McNutt and for Best Production Designer by Brian Davies in the episode called "The Attack." Additionally, it was nominated for the 2000 Emmy for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music by Hal Beckett.

Series regulars include: Shane Meier (Miles Challenger), Nick Mancuso (John Thornton), Rachel Hayward (Adoley Thorton), William MacDonald (The Swede), Crystal Buble (Emma), Kathleen Duborg (Mercedes Levant), and Amber McWilliams (Amber Raab).

There are so many channels now, and so many celebrities. It seems like everyone will get a TV show at some point. But there are still some TV stars that no longer have TV shows but really should. For example, someone like Tom Selleck should have a weekly series again, and luckily he is going to return to TV in a new show on CBS.

If not for that recent announcement, Selleck would have been number one on the list that follows after the jump: five stars I'd like to see on a regular TV series again.

1. Nick Mancuso. Mancuso starred in one of my favorite TV shows, 'Stingray,' and he has had a rather interesting career since then. He's been in a couple of TV shows and a slew of movies (including the 'Under Seige' films), but these days it seems like he's very content focusing on his artwork,...

Below we have the first official trailer for director Gregory Hatanaka’s (Mad Cowgirl, Until the Night) new bizarre flick, Violent Blue. The film stars Silvia Suvadova (Kolja, Polanski), Nick Mancuso, Jesse Hlubik (May, I Know Who Killed Me, The Lost), Barry O'Rourke, Andrea Harrison with special appearances by Shane Ryan (Warning!!! Pedophile Released), Luke Y. Thompson (Wicked Lake), Kai Lanette (Amateur Porn Star Killer 2), Lina So, Aneliese Roettger and producer Barry Barnholtz (Public Enemies, A Christmas Proposal, B.T.K., Cyborg 2).

"Violent Blue" Trailer Now Online! The first official trailer for director Gregory Hatanaka's ("Mad Cowgirl", "Until The Night") new bizarre flick, "Violent Blue", is now online! You Tube Link : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ERZyDd_mQY The film stars Silvia Suvadova ("Kolja", "Polanski"), Nick Mancuso ("Under Siege", "Rapid Fire", "Death Warrior"), Jesse Hlubik ("May", "I Know Who Killed Me", "The Lost"), Barry O'Rourke ("Viva"), Andrea Harrison ("Born To Be A Star") with special appearances by Shane Ryan ("Warning!!! Pedophile Released"), Luke Y. Thompson ("Wicked Lake"), Kai Lanette ("Amateur Porn Star Killer 2"), Lina So ("Repo Men"), Aneliese Roettger ("Couples Retreat", "Frat Party") and producer Barry Barnholtz ("Public Enemies", "A Christmas Proposal", "B.T.K.", "Cyborg...

I know that as a reviewer, I’m supposed to maintain some degree of objectivity and not bring my own prejudices into what I watch, but let’s be honest for a moment: there’s no way that you can watch an Mma film on purpose and not know that it’s going to suck more than a little. I mean, seriously. I like seeing guys pummel each other as much as the next guy, but this is the second one that I’ve watched (the first being Never Surrender), and the feeling that they had made the film as a kind of endurance test was just as strong with this film as it was with that one.

Reinero (Hector Echavarria) is a star in the world of cage fighting (a profession that allows him to live the lifestyle of a professional athlete, if this film is to be believed...

Rise of the Gargoyles pits Eric Balfour ("24", "Six Feet Under"), veteran character actor Nick Mancuso, and soap opera actress Tanya Clarke against evil gargoyles that have grown tired of just sitting atop Parisian cathedrals and have come to life to terrify the "city of lights".

You're probably thinking this sounds like the plot of a Sci-Fi Channel original movie. You would be right.

Rise of the Gargoyles premieres on the Sci-Fi Channel this Sunday night, June 21st, at 9/8 Central. That's Sunday night, not Saturday.

For those that would prefer to watch the film without all those annoying commercial interruptions, Genius Products has already announced a DVD release, but you'll have to wait until September 8th.

Here's a look at the trailer. It looks... It looks like a Sci-Fi Channel gargoyle movie.

- The Foywonder

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Rise ... in the Dread Central...

• Fango got the scoop on the DVD dates for several horror films coming from IFC Films in the next several months. All of these titles either have played or can be seen now via video-on-demand, and they’ll be Blockbuster exclusives before being made available for general retail sales.

The animation omnibus Fear(S) Of The Dark and Christopher Denham’s disturbing family study Home Movie are already in Blockbuster stores, and will hit retail in October. A bunch more have Blockbuster berths only, with no retail slots determined yet: Bruce McDonald’s Pontypool, which just joined the on-demand lineup and opened theatrically in New York today (see review here), hits October 13; Antti-Jussi Annila’s Sauna is coming June 23; Daniel Myrick’s The Objective has been moved from its previous Blockbuster date of July 28 to July 14; Duane Graves and Justin Meeks’ The Wild Man Of The Navidad attacks in August...

If you missed Simon Hunter’s grisly futuristic action-shocker Mutant Chronicles during its recent limited theatrical run, there’s now a date to mark your calendars for the movie’s premiere on the Sci Fi Channel. It’ll help send off the station’s old incarnation just before it’s rebranded as (yuck) Syfy in July.

Mutant Chronicles, with Thomas Jane, Ron Perlman, John Malkovich and Devon Aoki, has its first Sci Fi showing Saturday, June 27 at 9 p.m., followed by a repeat Sunday, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. Also set for next month is the Sci Fi debut of Rise Of The Gargoyles, the latest in the ever-growing series of flicks about the winged beasts. Vipers’ Bill Corcoran directed this one, with Eric Balfour, Nick Mancuso and Tanya Clarke starring; it airs Sunday, June 21 at 9 p.m. Check out the trailer here.

Filming on George A. Romero Presents: Deadtime Stories Volume 2 got underway just before this past Christmas. What’s that, you ask? What happened to Volume 1? Glad you asked.

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“Volume 1 is scheduled to come out in the spring, Volume 2 [which we previously reported on here] in the fall, and Volume 3 starts shooting this summer,” explains writer/co-director/co-producer Jeff Monahan (who also stars in Volume 2’s segment “WeT”). “Our distributor, Showcase Entertainment, really liked what they saw in Volume 1. Then when they got so much interest from territories all over the world so quickly,...

The 1979 killer-bat movie Nightwing, which has never been released to DVD, is making a rare return to the big screen in Los Angeles. A 35mm print of the film will be shown at midnight on Friday, February 27 at Landmark’s Nuart Theatre (11272 Santa Monica Boulevard).

Based on Martin Cruz Smith’s best-selling novel, Nightwing stars Nick Mancuso and Stephen Macht (both of whom will attend the screening, do a Q&A and sign autographs, along with more cast and filmmakers to be announced) as a tribal deputy and chairman combatting plague-ridden vampire bats terrorizing Arizona’s Painted Desert. The cast also includes David Warner, Kathryn Harrold and Strother Martin. Tickets for the show ($10.50 for adults, $7.50 for seniors and children) can be purchased here. In addition, the attending actors and crew will be recording a “pirate audio commentary” for the movie, which will be available as a free download at Icons of Fright,...

Producer Jeff Monahan gave Fango the word on the tales contained within Deadtime Stories Volume 2. The second in the series of George A. Romero-presented anthologies recently wrapped up principal photography.

The first in the new trilogy of terror is “Quota,” directed by Matt Walsh on Pennsylvania locations. “Fifty years ago,” Monahan tells us of the storyline, “two lovers were killed up at Lovers Leap. Deke and Judy are going up there tonight—and what they’re going to do isn’t exactly safe sex.” Tim (Evilution) Colceri stars. In “WeT,” helmed by Death Spa’s Michael Fischa, “a lonely man finds a box buried on the beach, and what’s inside it wants to keep him company.” Monahan himself acts in this segment, along with Kristin Slaysman and Death Ship’s Nick Mancuso. Finally, the Monahan-directed “Valley of the Shadow” is about “a woman and a team of scientists...