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Robert Wise’s adaptation of The Andromeda Strain retains much of the Michael Crichton novel’s emphasis on the minutiae of efforts to contain a deadly extraterrestrial microorganism while blending in elements of a procedural thriller and a disaster film. As lensed by Richard H. Kline, the Panavision imagery conjures a sense of impending doom, as almost every resident in a small New Mexico town is found dead after a U.S. military satellite crashes nearby, but it’s Boris Leven’s art direction, especially within the laboratory where a group of scientists gather following news of the disaster, that gives the film its distinctively clinical look and feel.

Nelson Gidding’s script methodically moves toward a climax in which the disarming of a bomb inside the lab could prevent humanity’s extinction. Days prior, the U.S. military activates a covert operation involving a team of scientists, foremost among them Dr.

After a month of Australian true crime titles, Jenn and I are spending April exploring supernatural true crime with a variety of Amityville texts. See also: The Amityville IP

We kicked things off last week with the original 1979 film, The Amityville Horror (listen). Now we’re turning our attention to the more DeFeo-centric text, Amityville II: The Possession (1982). Directed by Damiano Damiani from a script by Tommy Lee Wallace, the sequel acts as a prequel that purports to tell the original murders that were briefly explored in the first film.

While the real life case of Ronald DeFeo Jr is much less supernatural, it does involve a family annihilation. On the morning of Nov 13, 1974, the 23 year old stunned residents of Amityville, NY with the revelation that six of his family members had been shot to death in their beds.

The Possession explores the events leading up to the murders, but...

Before he created Westworld and Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton first blurred the line between science fiction and science fact with his 1969 breakout success, The Andromeda Strain.

The 1971 film adaptation of the novel will infect 4K Ultra HD on May 15 from Arrow Video.

Robert Wise directs the sci-fi thriller from a script by Nelson Gidding (The Haunting).

Arrow previously restored the film in 4K from the original camera negative with original uncompressed mono audio. It’s presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible).

Special Features:

Audio commentary by critic Bryan Reesman A New Strain of Science Fiction – Video appreciation by critic Kim Newman The Andromeda Strain: Making the Film – 2001 featurette featuring interviews with director Robert Wise and screenwriter Nelson Gidding A Portrait of Michael Crichton – 2001 interview with author Michael Crichton Cinescript Gallery – Highlights from the annotated and illustrated shooting script by Nelson Gidding Theatrical trailer TV spots Radio spots Image gallery Booklet...

Kaitlin Olson, nominated for an Emmy, has openly supported Blake Lively in her legal battle with actor-director Justin Baldoni. The dispute centers on allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation at work during the production of “It Ends with Us.”

Ohlson wrote on Instagram on Thursday that Lively was “a kind, lovely, honest, and generous person (and an amazing mom).” Her sharing coverage of Lively’s allegations against Baldoni highlighted the close links between their families. James Olson and Ryan Reynolds, married to Blake Lively, own the Welsh football club Wrexham A.F.C. together.

Today, Lively filed an 80-page complaint with the California Civil Rights Department. This support comes at the same time. The complaint says that Baldoni and his production company, Wayfarer Studios, made the workplace hostile, which harmed the production of the domestic violence drama. When Lively reported wrongdoing on the set, she says she became the target...

Few horror sub-genres are as divisive as exorcism movies. For some, they are silly to the point of high camp, outrageous stories about invisible creatures that can take control of normal people and make them do outrageous things. For others, exorcism movies reveal a hidden realm of evil that has a very real impact on our world.

That tension allows a wide variety of approaches within the sub-genre, despite the dominance of one monumental film from the 70s. Exorcism movies can be ridiculous crowd-pleasers, stately dramas, or lowbrow comedies. Whether it’s because of the power of Christ or a really good script, you should feel compelled to watch these great exorcism movies.

The Exorcist (1973)

Of course, it starts with The Exorcist, directed by the late, great William Friedkin. Friedkin wasn’t writer William Peter Blatty’s first choice to direct the movie, which first went to Francis Ford Coppola and Peter Bogdanovich.

Sunday’s SAG Awards ceremony will be a streaming event for the first time on the Netflix YouTube channel. One of the highlights each year is the special In Memoriam segment. It’s been a particularly rough year with over 100 deaths of prominent actors and actresses who were likely members of SAG/AFTRA. Show producers typically are able to include approximately 40-50 people in a tribute.

Among that group will certainly be Oscar winners Louise Fletcher, William Hurt and Irene Cara, plus nominees Angela Lansbury (a SAG life achievement recipient) and Melinda Dillon. Emmy champs Mary Alice, Kirstie Alley, Leslie Jordan, Ray Liotta, Stuart Margolin, Robert Morse and Barbara Walters.

SEECelebrity Deaths 2023: In Memoriam Gallery

Here is our expansive list of over 100 people who died since last year’s ceremony, several of whom will be honored on Sunday’s event:

Ralph Ahn

J. Grant Albrecht

Mary Alice

Rae Allen...

Twice a month Joe Lipsett will dissect a new Amityville Horror film to explore how the “franchise” has evolved in increasingly ludicrous directions.

While it’s easy to appreciate the grounded, almost stoic nature of the original, it’s hard not to enjoy the outright campiness of Amityville 2: The Possession. The sequel, which never explicitly mentions the Lutzs due to real life legal issues, is an absolutely wild ride.

Written by Fright Night Part 2 and Halloween 3: Season of the Witch’s Tommy Lee Wallace, the second film in the Amityville franchise crams in over the top performances, incest and more than a few nods to horror trends, including both the infamous Pov shots from slasher films like Halloween and Black Christmas, and a narrative riff on The Exorcist.

The film tells the story of the Montelli family, an Italian American family that moves into the now iconic house.

There have been many actors who have appeared in both the long-running show Supernatural and the Arrowverse, which is made up of multiple different shows including Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Legends of Tomorrow, and Batwoman. Supernatural is a dark fantasy show that follows the Winchester brothers (played by Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki) as they hunt all kinds of evil supernatural beings. The longest running American live-action fantasy series, Supernatural ran for 15 seasons. Most of those seasons aired on the television channel the CW. Because of its long run, and because the show often stuck to a monster-of-the-week format, many actors have appeared on Supernatural.

When the CW premiered the superhero show Arrow, it proved to be very successful, so the network ran with that success and churned out one new superhero show after another. The Flash was the next show to premiere on the network, then DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,...

Now that’s dedication in marriage: Paul Newman’s first directed feature film is a drama showcase for his spouse Joanne Woodward, one likely to garner critical attention. A small-town teacher deals with boredom, isolation, repression, and dwindling hope; the carefully measured conflicts allow good input from actors Kate Harrington, Estelle Parsons, and James Olson as the lover with the right approach at just the right time. It’s a picture of sensitive emotions: is Rachel Cameron really becoming a spinster? Does she have any choice in the matter? Middle age does tend to sneak up on a person . . .

Rachel, Rachel

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1968 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 101 min. / Available at Wac-Amazon / Street Date September 6, 2022 / 21.99

Starring: Joanne Woodward, James Olson, Kate Harrington, Estelle Parsons, Donald Moffat, Frank Corsaro, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Bernard Barrow, Nell Potts.

Cinematography: Gayne Rescher

Art Director: Robert Gundlach

Film Editor: Dede Allen

Original Music: Jerome Moross...

James Olson, who starred opposite Joanne Woodward in 1968’s Rachel, Rachel, played a surgeon investigating a deadly alien organism in the 1971 sci-fi classic The Andromeda Strain and survived the notorious Broadway flop Breakfast at Tiffany’s starring Mary Tyler Moore that closed before it opened in 1966, has died. He was 91.

His April 17 death at his home in Malibu was reported by the Malibu Times.

Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery

A familiar character on television and in film for four decades before retiring in 1990, Olson received his first national exposure in the title role of Kraft Theatre‘s 1956 TV installment The Life of Mickey Mantle, following up that high-profile performance with guest appearances throughout the decade and into the 1960s among them Robert Montgomery Presents, Have Gun – Will Travel, Playhouse 90, Route 66, The Defenders and The Magical World of Disney.

His breakthrough film role came in 1968 with Rachel,...

James Olson, a highly versatile stage and screen actor whose credits touched just about every 1970s television hit, has died. He was 91.

Olson died peacefully at his home in Malibu on April 28, The Malibu Times originally reported. His career began in the late 1950s, and though he loved the theater and appeared on Broadway, he’d soon become one of the TV industry’s busiest actors, with credits on nearly 100 shows, sometimes playing multiple and repeating characters.

His dizzying list of guest-starring turns included “Gunsmoke,” “Bonanza,” “Route 66,” “Columbo,” “Kung Fu,” “Wonder Woman,” “The Bionic Woman,” “Lou Grant,” “Maude,” “Battlestar Galactica,” “Little House on the Prairie,” and “Murder, She Wrote,” truly just to name a few. From 1972-1979 he appeared five times on “Hawaii Five-o” – as five different characters.

Olson also had a healthy film career, co-starring opposite Joanne Woodward in the 1968 film “Rachel, Rachel,” which was nominated for Best Picture.

The writer/director of Host talks about some of his favorite cinematic hauntings.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Psycho (1960)

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly (1966)

Hard Times (1975)

High And Low (1963)

Host (2020)

Tenet (2020)

Don’t Look Now (1973)

The Man Who Fell To Earth (1976)

Ring (1998)

Sleepers (1996)

The Wicker Man (1973)

The Haunting (1963)

The Sound Of Music (1965)

Citizen Kane (1941)

The Andromeda Strain (1971)

Vertigo (1958)

Rear Window (1954)

Ghostwatch (1992)

The Innkeepers (2011)

The Innocents (1961)

Burn Witch Burn a.k.a. Night of the Eagle (1962)

Paranormal Activity (2007)

Lake Mungo (2008)

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Death Sentence (2007)

Dead Silence (2007)

The Sixth Sense (1999)

Unbreakable (2000)

Other Notable Items

Akira Kurosawa

Christopher Nolan

Nicholas Roeg

Hiroyuki Sanada

Kevin Bacon

Robert De Niro

Robert Wise

Val Lewton

Orson Welles

The American Cinematheque

James Olson

David Wayne

James Stewart

Tfh Guru Ti West

Richard Linklater

Jack Clayton

Freddie Francis

Deborah Kerr

Mike Flanagan

The Haunting Of Hill House TV series (2018)

Truman Capote

Peter Wyngarde

The Avengers...

Jumpin’ gingivitis! Vicious microbes from space threaten the world, and our only hope is a team of scientists in an underground lab in Nevada. But the sneaky germ from the cosmos is a-mutatin’ faster than a mess o’ jackrabbits, to a form that doesn’t just kill people, but totally consumes our flesh! No, it’s not David Cronenberg or Nigel Kneale, but the ultra-literal director Robert Wise that put this slick, expensive Sci-fi thriller on the screen, from the best-seller by the commercially savvy Michael Crichton.

The Andromeda Strain

Blu-ray

Arrow Video

1971 / Color / 2:35 / 131 min. / Street Date June 4, 2019 / Available from Arrow Video / 39.95

Starring: Arthur Hill, David Wayne, James Olson, Kate Reid,

Paula Kelly, George Mitchell, Ramon Bieri.

Cinematography: Richard H. Kline

Production Designer: Boris Leven

Film Editors: Stuart Gilmore, John W. Holmes

Original Music: Gil Melle

Special Effects: James Shourt, Albert Whitlock, John Whitney Sr., Douglas Trumbull

Written by...

Full disclosure: The Amityville Horror films do not make up my favorite franchise. And it has nothing to do with the central “haunted house” premise, but rather the execution of the series thus far, from the serviceable ground zero template, The Amityville Horror (1979) through the (as yet unseen) upcoming Amityville: The Awakening, with some stops in between at DTVville (not to mention the Ryan Reynolds remake; but I said not to mention, so not mention I shall). The name is so shopworn now that “Amityville” has become synonymous with “poopy”.

But, but, But…let’s rewind to a time when a follow up to the kind-of goofy James Brolin (and his glorious perm) starrer was actually anticipated. That film was a smash success at the box office, and the powers that be wanted to revisit the village of Amityville to see what other demons they could find in the basement.

Some well known actors will be stopping by Supergirl later this season. 

Earlier this week, Teri Hatcher signed up to appear as a new villain in a recurring capacity and we're super excited. 

How so?

Hatcher starred as Lois Lane on ABC's take on Superman. If you recall, it was titled Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and lasted four seasons. 

Yeah, we're still not impressed with the way ABC handled the show. 

Hatcher is probably more well known for her role in Desperate Housewives, but we're sure she'll make her mark on Supergirl. 

She's currently slated to appear in more than one episode later this season. 

Her appearance could also pave the way for a reunion with her Lois & Clark co-star Dean Cain, who currently stars as Jeremiah Danvers. 

He was last seen a few months ago when his character was revealed to be alive and in captivity at Project Cadmus.

As fans eagerly wait the debut of Supergirl on CBS this fall, the network has released a new preview that takes us behind-the-scenes on the first day of production. The pilot episode, which will debut Monday, October 26 at 8:30 Pm Et, was filmed months ago, but this video gives us a glimpse at the set for the second episode. We hear from stars Melissa Benoist, seen in her full Supergirl costume, Chyler Leigh (Alex Danvers) and David Harewood (Hank Henshaw), who reveals that the scene they're filming will "test Supergirl's abilities," although they're trying to "blow her up" at the same time.

Supergirl is an action-adventure drama based on the DC Comics character Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist), Superman's (Kal-El) cousin who, after 12 years of keeping her powers a secret on Earth, decides to finally embrace her superhuman abilities and be the hero she was always meant to be. Twelve-year-old...

It's not a surprise, but CBS has given a formal series order to "Supergirl," which will take its place somewhere on the network's 2015-2016 schedule, to be announced next week. "Glee" and "Whiplash" veteran Melissa Benoist stars as Kara Zor-El, 24-year-old exile from the destroyed Krypton. She's only begun to recognize and embrace her superhuman abilities and embark on a career in heroism, much like her more famous cousin. In addition to Benoist, the "Supergirl" pilot stars Calista Flockhart as media mogul Cat Grant, Chyler Leigh as Kara's foster sister Alex Danvers and Mehcad Brooks as James Olson, former Daily Planet photographer. The pilot will also guest star Dean Cain and Helen Slater, two actors with close personal connections to either Supergirl or The Man of Steel. "Supergirl" hails from Wbtv and from writers Greg Berlanti, Ali Adler and Andrew Kreisberg, with a pilot directed by Glen Winter. Since CBS...

In celebration of Sound on Sight’s 7th anniversary, writers were asked to come up with articles that present their childhood favorites in the realm of films, TV shows, books or games.

I chose films and anyone who has any familiarity with my writing knows I am virtually incapable of writing an article about a single film so I’m going to focus on a number of movies I saw in my youth.

Growing up in suburban Cincinnati, Ohio, I was fortunate enough to have my own room and my own TV set.

My family didn’t go out to the cinema very often so my introduction to movies was primarily through television.

The household cable television was limited to the family room and the parental restrictions that went with that so a far as movie watching went, it was mostly just me in my room where there were no...

By David S. Schow

Hall: “Where’s the library?”

Dutton: “No need for books — everything’s in the computer.”

One of the few regrets of my adult life is that I never got to meet Michael Crichton, who died too young, November 2008. Eminently emulatable, he had conquered publishing, film and television and remains a personal hero. I was hooked from the moment my father returned from his Arctic DEWLine duties bearing a paperback first printing of The Andromeda Strain, which I plowed through while in high school. Then immediately re-read, and re-read again.

I still have that paperback.

Subsequently I devoured everything Crichton wrote — the “John Lange” potboilers written to pay his way through medical school; the landmark A Case of Need (written as “Jeffrey Hudson;” a stingingly strong pro-choice novel done prior to the Roe v. Wade decision); even the dope fantasia Dealing, written with his brother as “Michael Douglas.

October 1st will see the release of The Amityville Horror Trilogy Blu-ray set and we have a look at the original trailers for The Amityville Horror and Amityville II: The Possession.

“There’s no place like home…for bloodcurdling horror! For George and Kathy Lutz from The Amityville Horror, the colonial house on the river’s edge seemed ideal: quaint, spacious and amazingly affordable. Of course, six brutal murders had taken place there just a year before, but houses don’t have memories…or do they? Soon the Lutz dream house becomes a hellish nightmare, as walls begin to drip blood and satanic forces threaten to destroy them. Now the family must try to escape or forfeit their lives – and their souls! One of the most talked-about haunted house stories of all time, The Amityville Horror is a spine-tingling tale of a house possessed by unspeakable evil. The film stars James Brolin (Christine,...

Scream Factory will release The Amityville Horror Trilogy Blu-ray set this October and they’ve provided us with the final list of bonus features:

“Holidays arrive early this year for horror fans and pop culture enthusiasts. Prepare to bring home one of the most iconic haunted house movie collections! For the first time ever, experience three original classic Amityville horror films collected together on 3D Blu-ray! On October 1, Scream Factory is proud to present The Amityville Horror Trilogy Deluxe Collector’S Edition Three-Disc Blu-ray™ Pack. Featuring perfect high-definition picture visuals and purest digital sound available, this essential collection brings together The Amityville Horror (starring James Brolin, Margot Kidder and Oscar(R)-winner Rod Steiger), Amityville II: The Possession (starring James Olson, Burt Young, Rutanya Alda, Andrew Prine, Jack Magner, Diane Franklin) and Amityville 3D (starring Tony Roberts, Tess Harper, Candy Clark). Each movie from this collection is packed with extensive bonus features and more!

Every time we do a story about the Scream Factory, two things Always happen... 1 - We feel our wallets burning like The Wicker Man and 2 - We want to leave a fruit basket of thanks outside of their offices on the doorstep.

On tap right now is more about their upcoming releases of Prince of Darkness and The Amityville Trilogy.

Get ready for the ultimate presentation of the heart-pounding supernatural thriller by heralded master of horror director John Carpenter (Halloween, The Fog, They Live) as the long-awaited Prince Of Darkness Collector’s Edition Blu-ray™ and DVD invade home entertainment shelves everywhere on September 24 from Scream Factory. Available for the first time on Blu-ray, this collector’s edition is brimming with insightful extras, including new interviews with John Carpenter and Alice Cooper, special audio commentary and much more!

Donald Pleasence (Halloween), Jameson Parker (Simon & Simon), Lisa Blount (Needful Things), rock icon Alice Cooper,...

Scream Factory has officially announced their fall lineup, with more than 15 classic horror titles making their way to Blu-ray, including Day of the Dead, Price of Darkness, The Amityville Horror Trilogy, and six Vincent Price movies:

Scanners II and III: “On September 10, Scream Factory will unleash Christian Duguay’s science fiction action thrillers Scanners II: The New Order and Scanners III: The Takeover in a Double Feature Two-Disc Blu-ray™+ DVD Combo Pack. In Scanners II, a breed of humans with dangerously powerful telepathic abilities – the scanners – are being recruited by a corrupt police commander, John Forrester, in his crusade to take over the city. Forrester first enlists the help of an evil scientist, Dr. Morse, who wants to conduct mind-control experiments on the scanners with a new drug. When the side effects render the scanners incapable, Forrester then finds David Kellum (David Hewlett, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes...

It airs on Monday nights. There's a murder. It must be the new Broadchurch.

Early previews and gossip about The Fall couldn't have been more inaccurate unless they had billed it as a replacement for The Great British Bake Off. Broadchurch was brilliant and so is The Fall. And yes, they both have police investigations. But at that point the similarities end.

The Fall is a jet black murder series, unflinching in its method and ice cold in its delivery. There's no Olivia Colman, comedy West Country accents or whodunnit guesswork to lighten the mood in this Belfast-based drama.

Plus, if The Fall was a whodunnit, it would be the worst whodunnit of all time. The biggest mystery in the show is how many ex-Hollyoaks cast members keep popping up. Seriously, you can't move for them.

Tonight's episode two was a deeply disturbing hour of television that wasn't for the faint-hearted.

It’ll be safer than getting married.

When I first heard about this film, it was when I was being sent a review disc from the Warner Archive. A Blake Edwards film that was a western? How hadn’t I ever heard of this film before. Known for his off the wall comedies, Wild Rovers is a peculiar departure in his filmography. Coming off of a $25 million dollar flop in 1970 called Darling Lili, Edwards’ next film was this one, which was supposed to originally me close to a three hour roadshow. Sadly for Edwards, MGM took control of the film in post production and cut it down to 106 minutes, which put a heavy burden on Edwards in general.

Luckily in 1986, the film was restored to a lengthier 136 minute running time, this time with the originally intended overture, intermission card and exit music. Thankfully for the restoration and Warner Archive for releasing this version,...

Netflix has revolutionized the home movie experience for fans of film with its instant streaming technology. Netflix Nuggets is my way of spreading the word about independent, classic and foreign films made available by Netflix for instant streaming.

This Week’s New Instant Releases… Title: Black Heaven (2010)

Streaming Available: 04/12/2011

Cast: Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet, Louise Bourgoin, Melvil Poupaud, Pauline Etienne, Pierre Niney, Ali Marhyar, Patrick Descamps, Pierre Vittet, Swann Arlaud, Francesco Merenda

Director: Gilles Marchand

Synopsis: While searching for the owner of a missing mobile phone with his girlfriend, Marion (Pauline Etienne), Gaspard (Grégoire Leprince-Ringuet) falls for the mysterious Sam (Louise Bourgoin), who draws him into a dangerous virtual-reality video game, where she provokes unsuspecting victims into killing themselves. Directed by Gilles Marchand, this intense French drama alternates between real-life events and those within the simulated computer world. Title: Heartless (2009)

Streaming Available: 04/12/2011

Cast: Jim Sturgess, Clémence Poésy , Noel Clarke, Luke Treadaway, Justin Salinger,...

Between them, they have nearly a century’s worth of TV programming experience, and were part of a generation of Home Box Office management which helped turn company into the premier subscription television service not only in the U.S., but in the world. Their longevity has given them the opportunity to live through their company’s change from a raucously-growing enterprise to a mature business, evolving from what had primarily been a movie service to a programmer just as identified with such acclaimed, high-profile original programming as The Sopranos, Band of Brothers, True Blood, and, most recently, Boardwalk Empire.

Still, they have spent most of their professional lives dealing with movies. A production executive at a major studio might deal with two dozen released films a year. Programmers at HBO (and its sister channel Cinemax) easily deal with over a thousand. They appraise them, try to understand what people...

If you have Netflix and are a horror fan in need of something to watch this Labor Day weekend, one look at this gargantuan list I compiled of the new terror titles Netflix has added for instant streaming in just the first three days of this month should keep you busy until Labor Day next year. You'll find something for everyone, from older titles to recent releases, famous to obscure, classic to not-so-classic, monsters to maniacs - you name it.

For the record, I considered compiling this list in alphabetical order or by year of the film's release, but then I realized I had already spent well over an hour just sorting through the massive catalogue of titles Netflix has now made available for instant streaming and realized Labor Day would be over by the time I finished arranging this list in any kind of order. Ready? Here you go.

Most people have seen at least one of the two versions of The Amityville Horror but not nearly as many have ever had the pleasure of viewing 1982's Amityville II: The Possession. This is a shame, because The Possession is arguably the best film in the entire Amityville canon. I know, that's not saying much -- but really, Amityville II is surprisingly fun.

This prequel was directed by Damiano Damiani and features performances from Burt "Yo, Paulie!" Young, Jack Manger, and James Olson. It's a fictionalized retelling of the story of the DeFeo family -- the owners of the house at 112 Ocean Avenue before the Lutzes of the first film. While what happened to the Lutzes is widely debated, there's no denying that real tragedy struck the DeFeos. Young son Ronny massacred the entire family one night with a rifle. It wasn't until after the Lutzes' story broke (years later...