News

Although it became something of a pop culture catchphrase, Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) only said "He's dead, Jim" four times throughout "Star Trek." He does say variants like merely "He's dead" or "He's dead, captain" a few times, however. This is all to point out that people die frequently on "Star Trek," as being a Starfleet officer is a dangerous job. One cannot serve on the Federation flagship without encountering life-threatening danger on a weekly basis.

Indeed, many Trekkies became flippant about the deaths on "Star Trek" to the point of finding them a little risible. The word "redshirt" -- a slang term for a doomed, nameless pawn -- entered the lexicon when Trekkies noticed how often supporting players, usually in red uniforms, bit the big one under the command of Captain Kirk (William Shatner). McCoy may have only said "He's dead, Jim" four times, but 24 redshirts died on his watch.

Midway through Bob Clark’s Deathdream (originally titled Dead of Night), Andy Brooks (Richard Backus) dons a pair of black leather gloves and sunglasses for an upcoming date. Andy displays a suave and calm demeanor that should be familiar to fans of Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1967 film Le Samouraï, which features Alain Delon as the ne plus ultra of psychotic cool; his haircut even recalls that of Steve McQueen in 1968’s Bullitt. However, Andy’s garb has a tactile purpose, concealing as it does his deteriorating skin, which will turn to dust without a replenishing supply of blood. Because of this, Clark’s genre film goes in the opposite direction of peddling cool, as Deathdream shows how a pair of designer shades can only momentarily shield the irreparable physical and psychological scars of war.

That Deathdream is a vehement anti-war statement can only be ascertained gradually, as Andy’s parents, Charles...

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...

Trekkies may be uncomfortable with words like "hero" and "villain" when it comes to discussions of their beloved media franchise. "Star Trek," when it's operating at peak efficiency, endeavors to present its characters -- protagonist and antagonist alike -- as complex, nuanced, and driven by principles, rather than merely "good" or "evil." In many of its stories, Trek often sees its characters solving problems either through negotiation or by scientific means. Sometimes that leads into morally gray areas, as when terrorists have legitimate grievances. It's not until one goes to "Star Trek" movies that notions of "heroism" and "villainy" are bandied about. Nero (Eric Bana) from the 2009 "Star Trek" film, for instance, isn't a nuanced character with a negotiable motivation. He's a cartoon monster hellbent on genocide. Nero, however, is an exception to the rule. 

All that said, the "Star Trek: The Next Generation" episode "The Most Toys" may have...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products released each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Trick ‘r Treat Action Figure from Trick or Treat Studios

Sam from Trick ‘r Treat is getting a deluxe 1:6 scale action figure from Trick or Treat Studios. Due out in March 2023, it stands 10″ tall and features over 30 points of articulation. Pre-orders are open for 199.99 with free shipping.

Sculpted by Alexander Ray, Sam comes with two interchangeable heads (masked an unmasked), six interchangeable hands, two lollipops (bitten and not), razor candy bar, trick or treat bag, light-up flaming jack o’lantern, and a sidewalk base that measures 7.5″ deep and 5.5″ wide. It’s packaged in a window box with opening flap.

Terrifier Shirt from Terror Threads

Celebrate Terrifier 2’s theatrical release with new Terrifier merchandise from Terror Threads.

MGM’s gigantic silent sci-fi extravaganza took three years to make, by which time the talkies arrived and everything went to pieces. Lionel Barrymore emotes (Emotes!) in his early sound footage, and terrific effects take us to the bottom of the ocean where monsters and a race of Donald Duck creatures menace our heroic adventurers. And don’t forget a few sundry other elements: a Russian revolution, torture scenes, and cool steampunk nautical hardware. All this Life Aquatic lacks is Steve Zissou!

The Mysterious Island

DVD

The Warner Archive Collection

1929 / B&W / 1:37 flat Academy / 93 min. / Street Date March 26, 2019 / available through the WBshop / 19.99

Starring: Lionel Barrymore, Jane Daly (Jacqueline Gadsdon), Lloyd Hughes, Montagu Love, Harry Gribbon, Snitz Edwards, Gibson Gowland, Dolores Brinkman, Karl Dane, Robert Dudley, Sydney Jarvis, Bob Kortman, Angelo Rossitto.

Cinematography: Percy Hilburn

Film Editor: Carl L. Pierson

Technical Effects: James Basevi, Irving G. Ries, Louis H. Tolhurst

Original Music: Martin Broones,...

1970: Days of our Lives' Julie married Scott.

1978: Ryan's Hope's Faith prepared to married Tom.

1981: Dynasty's first season ended with the return of Alexis.

1987: Days of our Lives' Bo & Hope left Salem."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1942: The Second Mrs. Burton premiered on the Blue Network. The radio soap opera had previously aired on CBS Radio, and would return to CBS four months later.

1970: On Days of our Lives, Julie (Susan Seaforth) finally settled the score with former best...

1981: Gh's Laura was offered the "Miss Star Eyes" job.

1982: Barrington and Burgess plotted on Capitol.

1987: Guiding Light's Johnny Bauer saw it snow.

2007: A dollhouse came to life on As the World Turns."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Dark Shadows, Sam Evans (David Ford) called Roger Collins (Louis Edmonds) and told him to meet him at the Blue Whale because "the worst possible thing that could happen, has happened." At the Inn, Sam gleefully announced that Laura, Roger's wife, had come home.

1982: The Doctors' Kit and Mike were stranded during a snow storm.

1985: Lujack's spirit visited Beth on Guiding Light.

1996: All My Children's Adam and Liza were married.

2007: General Hospital's Dillon returned and found out about Georgie's death."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Bebe Spode (Renne Jarrett) came back home and told her father, Martin Spode (Eric Dressler), how much she loved him.

1965: On Peyton Place, Betty Anderson (Barbara Parkins) met Martin Peyton (George Macready).

1968: On The Doctors,...

1970: Days of our Lives' Julie married Scott.

1978: Ryan's Hope's Faith prepared to married Tom.

1981: Dynasty's first season ended with the return of Alexis.

1987: Days of our Lives' Bo & Hope left Salem."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1942: The Second Mrs. Burton premiered on the Blue Network. The radio soap opera had previously aired on CBS Radio, and would return to CBS four months later.

1981: Gh's Laura was offered the "Miss Star Eyes" job.

1982: Barrington and Burgess plotted on Capitol.

1987: Gl's Johnny saw it snow. 2007: A dollhouse came

to life on Atwt."History is a vast early warning system."

― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1966: On Dark Shadows, Sam Evans (David Ford) called Roger Collins (Louis Edmonds) and told him to meet him at the Blue Whale because "the worst possible thing that could happen, has happened." At the Inn, Sam gleefully announced that Laura, Roger's wife, had come home.

1966: On Peyton Place, Rodney Harrington (Ryan O'Neal) had a hard time processing the revelation Hannah...

1982: The Doctors' Kit and Mike were stranded during a snow storm.

1985: Lujack's spirit visited Beth on Guiding Light. 1996: All

My Children's Adam and Liza were married. 2007: General

Hospital Dillon returned and found out about Georgie's death."History is a vast early warning system."

― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1957: On The Edge of Night, Bebe Spode (Renne Jarrett) came back home and told her father, Martin Spode (Eric Dressler), how much she loved him.

1965: On Peyton Place, Betty Anderson (Barbara Parkins) met Martin Peyton (George Macready).

1968: On The Doctors, Phillip Townsend III (Ralph Purdum) continued to hold Liz Wilson captive.

1971: On The Doctors,...

Average fans of A Christmas Story likely don’t know that director Bob Clark had once made creepy horror pictures with Alan Ormsby, but this independent shock effort of the early ’70s still casts a spell of dread. Although Vietnam is never mentioned, the war’s shadow strikes deep into the heart of a small-town family. John Marley and Lynn Carlin lead a fine cast.

Deathdream

Blu-ray + DVD

Blue Underground

1974 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 88 min. / Dead of Night, The

Night Andy Came Home, Night Walk, The Veteran, Whispers / Street Date November 28, 2017 /

Starring: John Marley, Lynn Carlin, Richard Backus, Henderson Forsythe,

Anya Ormsby, Jane Daly, Michael Mazes.

Cinematography: Jack McGowan

Film Editor: Ronald Sinclair

Original Music: Carl Zittrer

Written by Alan Ormsby

Produced by Bob Clark, Peter James, John Trent

Directed by Bob Clark

This gem comes back every ten years in an improved transfer. Bob Clark and Alan Ormsby’s Canadian-financed...

Hey, let's dig up a rotting corpse, just for fun! A group of crazy Florida theater students plays a group of crazy Florida theater students in Bob Clark's no-budget, spirited attempt to ride in the wake of Night of the Living Dead. An hour of bad jokes is capped by a satisfying zombie onslaught that got the film a major release and launched a career. That's how a score of good directors got started in the 1970s. Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things Blu-ray Vci Entertainment 1972 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 76 min. / Street Date February 23, 2016 / 24.99 Starring Alan Ormsby, Valerie Mamches, Jeffrey Gillen, Anya Ormsby, Paul Cronin. Cinematography Jack McGowan Film Editor Gary Goch Art Direction Forest Carpenter Original Music Carl Zittrer Special Makeup Creator Alan Ormsby Written by Bob Clark, Alan Ormsby Produced by Gary Goch Directed by Bob Clark credited as Benjamin Clark

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

Hitting film school,...

Reviewed By: Chris Wright, Morehorror.com

Directed By: Bob Clark

Written By: Bob Clark & Alan Ormsby

Starring: Alan Ormsby (Alan), Valerie Mamches (Val), Jeff Gillen (Jeff), Anya Ormsby (Anya), Paul Cronin (Paul), Jane Daly (Terry), Roy Engleman (Roy), Robert Philip (Emerson), Bruce Solomon (Winns), Alecs Baird (Caretaker), Seth Sklarey (Orville)

Long before Bob Clark brought his name to fame in the horror community with “Black Christmas”, he put out a much lower budgeted flick in this third directorial debut with “Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things.” This movie was a pleasant little surprise to me as when I hear horror movies are “comedies” they are hits and misses. I am not the biggest fan of horror comedies thankfully this wasn’t what I thought it was at all. It was more morbid than anything else.

The movie is about a small group of unemployed actors lead by Alan (Alan Ormsby...

Wow. Is it that time again already? Seems like it was just yesterday. Oh well, let’s check and see what’s in the bag for us this month. Ooh, I like this one.

A good low budget zombie film that is certainly not getting the credit it deserves. When it comes to zombie films, I’m all about the blood and guts. The more graphic the better, so the fact that this remains one of my top three favorite zombie movies despite an almost complete lack of blood says something.

Let’s take a look back at Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things!

It’s late at night and egotistical stage director Alan (Alan Ormsby) and his band of abused actors have just landed on an island for a little voodoo ceremony. They make their way through the forest, past the cemetery, and finally stop at a deserted cottage.