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Thanks to Monstrous Books' James Aquilone, Kolchak fans have a lot to be excited about, from reprints of the original books to new anthologies and, now, a 3-issue comic book series and collection from David Dastmalchian, Steve Niles, and Rodney Barnes! Just recently launched on Kickstarter, the campaign for the new comic book mini-series has already been successfully funded, and sees Kolchak face Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, and the Werewolf. We caught up with Rodney Barnes, Steve Niles, and James Aquilone, who talked about their love of Kolchak, the new comic book project, their favorite monster movies, and more!

Rodney Barnes

How did you first get introduced to Carl Kolchak, and why is this character so important to you?

Rodney Barnes: I saw the first two movies of the week when I was a kid. Was a big fan of Richard Matheson, who wrote them and had written some of my...

The Vampire is as old to cinema as the horror genre itself is. From the influential expressionism of Nosferatu (1922), the many more direct popular literary adaptations like Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) and the modern romance meshing approach of Thirst (2009), vampires seem to have a long lasting significance in the history of horror. Vampires have even transcended into the worlds of exploitation with cult classics like Blacula (1972) and to parody in lesser cult classics like Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995). The key argument I make with this heavily abridged history of Vampires is that not only does anyone remotely familiar with the concept of horror know what a “classic vampire” is but that what constitutes as a “vampire film” is a loose definition.

Bleeding (2024) is a modern retooling of the fundamental traits associated with vampires that delivers a moody character drama with a young adult crime twist. Bell switches gothic castles...

Quick Links The Blacula Reboot Latest News The Blacula Reboot Is Confirmed Blacula Reboot Cast Blacula Reboot Story Details Blacula Reboot: Further News & Info

The upcoming Blacula reboot from MGM and director Deon Taylor will bring 1970s blaxploitation horror icon Prince Mamuwalde into the 21st century. 1972s Blacula and the 1973 sequel Scream Blacula Scream were two of the most influential movies of the blaxploitation era of cinema. Despite having a complex history, the movies have left an incredible legacy, and are still celebrated as an important milestone in representation (even if theyre less-than-appropriate by modern standards).

MGM and director Deon Taylor are rebooting Blacula, and development on the first movie in fifty years about Prince Mamuwalde has already begun. The third movie in the franchise will be set several decades after the first two and will take place in a modern city, retelling the story of Blacula as he takes...

We here at IndieWire love watching films on actual film — and cities like New York and Los Angeles, where repertory cinema is thriving, provide no shortage of opportunities to do just that. Scoping out selections in both major metropolises, we’ve compiled a list of the best screening options for the upcoming month, which include retrospectives on beloved auteurs featuring multiple 35mm prints, as well as 4K restorations of classic films that shouldn’t be missed.

In keeping with our appreciation for the theatrical experience throughout the country and world, IndieWire also gives a special shoutout to The Brattle Theatre of Cambridge, Massachusetts, as well as some of its stellar curation over the next month. Keep reading for our picks.

New York Film Forum ‘Blacula,’ William Marshall Courtesy Everett Collection

In anticipation of the new 4K restoration of Jean-Pierre Melville’s WWII French resistance drama “Army of Shadows,” which will...

Exclusive: Hidden Empire Films has hired Tracey L. Kemble as Head of Feature Development.

Kemble previously worked at Jesse Collins Entertainment, where she served as EVP of the company’s scripted content. Prior to that she was SVP Development & Production at Reina and Regina King’s Royal Ties Productions overseeing the company’s first-look deal with Netflix.

She is also a former producer at BET Productions, where she oversaw pre-production, production and post for Through the Fire: The Legacy of President Barack Obama. Earlier, Kemble served as EVP of The Samuelsson Group, owned by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, where she produced, developed and created the Scripps Networks’ Cooking Channel show Savoring Harlem. Kemble also collaborated with TV One to produce the special John Legend Live from the Red Rooster, working alongside director Ava DuVernay.

Kemble will be based out of Hidden Empire’s Santa Monica headquarters, where she will manage...

Let’s face it, streaming services have lost a lot of their appeal. Between their ever shifting libraries, their kneecapping of theaters, and their tendency to overwhelm viewers with substandard garbage, it’s hard to be excited about our streaming present. Heck, most services now play the same couple of ads over and over, even for paying customers!

With every annoying insurance ad and every movie suddenly shoved from a service you bought to a different service you don’t have, Tubi looks better and better. Tubi is one of many free streaming services available online. Like most other services, free or otherwise, Tubi interrupts the programming with occasional ads.

But Tubi also has an outstanding library, one that rivals Max, with its oft-threatened TCM and Ghibli channels. Still, Tubi can be overwhelming to some users, who can’t always see the gems alongside stinkers such as Big Stan (starring Rob Schneider!

Quick Links Most Recent Blacula Reboot News The Blacula Reboot Is Confirmed Blacula Reboot Release Date Blacula Reboot Cast Blacula Reboot Story Details MGM and director Deon Taylor are rebooting Blacula, a blaxploitation horror icon, with a modern twist set in the 21st century. The release window for the Blacula reboot has been revealed to be Halloween 2024, marking the 50th anniversary of the original film. The new Blacula movie will explore political undertones and act as a social commentary, reflecting on issues of exploitation and cultural appropriation in the history of African-Americans.

The upcoming Blacula reboot from MGM and director Deon Taylor will bring 1970s blaxploitation horror icon Prince Mamuwalde into the 21st century. 1972’s Blacula and the 1973 sequel Scream Blacula Scream were two of the most influential movies of the blaxploitation era of cinema. Despite having a complex history the movies have left an incredible legacy, and 50 years after...

The highly anticipated Blacula reboot, based on the 1972 blaxploitation horror movie, is scheduled to release around Halloween 2024. Deon Taylor, known for his work on Fear and Meet the Blacks, will be directing the reboot from a screenplay he co-wrote. This will be the third entry in the Blacula franchise, following the original movie and its 1973 sequel Scream Blacula Scream, starring Pam Grier.

The Blacula reboot has reportedly set a release window. The movie is an update of the iconic 1972 blaxploitation horror movie, which starred William Marshall as Mamuwalde, an African prince who was transformed into a vampire by Count Dracula himself in 1780 and trapped in a coffin until he was released in modern-day America. The reboot was originally announced in 2021 with Fear and Meet the Blacks' Deon Taylor attached to direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Micah Ranum.

Variety recently ran a piece on an upcoming 50th anniversary screening of Blacula.

More than two years have passed since it was announced that MGM, Bron, and Hidden Empire Film Group were teaming with director Deon Taylor to conjure up a reboot of the 1972 blaxploitation classic Blacula (watch it Here). Last night (and one year late), a 50th anniversary screening of Blacula was held at the Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills – and while promoting that event, Variety happened to include a long-awaited update on the Blacula reboot, saying the new film is slated for a Halloween 2024 release.

The new Blacula has been described as a “modern reimagining” of the original film, but Variety has also made it sound like it’s going to be a follow-up to Blacula and its sequel Scream Blacula Scream (watch that one Here). According to Variety, “the reboot picks up where the original saga left off, after the 1973 sequel Scream Blacula Scream, and will be set in...

Originally announced in 2021, a new take on 1972’s Blacula is on the way from MGM, Bron and Hidden Empire Film Group, with Deon Taylor (The Intruder) on board to direct.

In a new piece on Variety today, reporting on a 50th anniversary screening of the original classic taking place at the Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills on October 24, the site notes that the upcoming Blacula reboot movie is “slated for release next Halloween.”

Variety details, “The new film is a modern reimagining of the 1972 movie, directed by William Crain and starring William Marshall as Blacula.

“The reboot picks up where the original saga left off, after the 1973 sequel Scream Blacula Scream, and will be set in a metropolitan city post-coronavirus pandemic.”

Here’s the full logline for next year’s movie: “Blacula is an ancient African prince who is cursed by Dracula after he fails to agree to end the slave trade.

The African American Film Critics Association (Aafca) has teamed with independent film producers Roxanne and Deon Taylor to host a special Halloween screening of “Blacula,” commemorating the 1970s Blaxploitation classic’s 50th anniversary.

The screening will be held on Oct. 24 at the Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills, with the vampire classic shown in its original 35mm format.

The special event also comes ahead of the Taylors’ upcoming “Blacula” reboot, which is slated for release next Halloween. In 2021, Variety exclusively revealed that that film was in the works with Deon Taylor directing from a script he co-wrote with Micah Ranum. Roxanne Avent Taylor produced the new movie on behalf of Hidden Empire Film Group.

“We are creating an evening that transcends time as we bring together prestigious filmmakers and trailblazers to pay homage to this iconic classic,” said Deon Taylor. “‘Blacula’ was a celebration of storytelling that influenced Blaxploitation filmmaking.

Since 2019, writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander have delivered an imaginatively macabre take on vampires with their Image comic book series Killadelphia. Following a shocking surprise appearance by Todd McFarlane’s Spawn in Killadelphia #30 back in April, the endlessly eerie series will return with a new nightmarish story arc this November, and in addition to the return of Spawn, readers can look forward to more big names popping up in the supernatural side of Philadelphia, including Blacula, Savage Dragon, and Count Dracula!

Below, we have a look at the cover art for Killadelphia #31 as well as the official press release with additional details. To learn more about Killadelphia, visit Image Comics' website, and in case you missed it, read the full first chapter of the Killadelphia spinoff series Nita Hawes' Nightmare Blog!

Press Release: Portland, Or – The Eisner Award nominated Killadelphia from writer Rodney Barnes (American Gods, HBO’s Winning Time,...

In “The Last Voyage of the Demeter,” Corey Hawkins’ Clemens finds himself on the unenviable position of being trapped on a ship — with Dracula.

Based on a single chapter from Bram Stoker’s original novel (“The Captain’s Log”), “The Last Voyage of the Demeter” uses the titular ship’s voyage to England, with Dracula part of the cargo, as an exercise in claustrophobic horror, inspired, in part, by Ridley Scott’s immortal “Alien.” Corey plays a young doctor named Clemens, who boards the ship when it makes port in Bulgaria. Can he find a scientific explanation for the strange happenings on the ship? And is there any way to cure a young stowaway, who seems to only be there to supply Dracula with fresh blood?

TheWrap spoke to Hawkins (in an interview conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike) about the challenges and joys of playing a Black British doctor in...

The episode of The Test of Time covering Tales from the Hood was Written by Andrew Hatfield, Narrated by Niki Minter, Edited by Mike Conway, Produced by John Fallon and Tyler Nichols, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

For the most part on this show, we are looking at certified classics to see if they still hold up. For the most part, anyway. Looking at you C.H.U.D. We try to look at everything from the cinematography and direction to the acting and special effects. Sometimes though the story ends up being the most important aspect of the movie. Every now and then a movie needs a reappraisal even when it wasn’t a hit at the time or seen as a classic. Look at what happened to The Thing. From box office dud (even though that has been blown out of proportion) and critical hatred to topping...

Gordon Pinsent, the Canadian actor whose career went back to the 1950s and earned acclaim over a 60+-year run, has passed away at the age of 92.

Gordon Pinsent may be best known for playing Julie Christie’s husband in 2007’s Away from Her. While Christie received most of the acclaim as a wife suffering from Alzheimer’s, Pinsent’s performance was an emotionally complex one that served as the perfect counterpart to Christie’s. For his turn, Pinsent earned a Genie Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Gordon Pinsent was bestowed various accolades throughout his lengthy career, primarily in his home country of Canada. In addition to six Genie Award nods (with three wins), he also earned an astounding 11 Gemini Award (the Great White North equivalent of the Academy Awards) nominations, not including two honorary awards.

The appeal of Gordon Pinsent crossed generations. Not only was he heralded as a...

Gordon Pinsent, the admired Canadian actor who starred opposite Julie Christie as a husband losing his wife to Alzheimer’s disease in Sarah Polley’s Away From Her, died Saturday, his family announced. He was 92.

A household name in his country, Pinsent also appeared on the big screen in Norman Jewison’s The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), Lasse Hallström’s The Shipping News (2001), Michael McGowan’s Saint Ralph (2004) and Don McKellar’s The Grand Seduction (2013).

On television, he played Possum Lake resident Hap Shaughnessy, a teller of tall tales, on the Canadian comedy The Red Green Show from 1991-2004 and was Chicago-based Royal Canadian Mounted Police sergeant Bob Fraser on the CTV/CBS series Due South from 1994-99.

And he served as the distinctive voice of Babar the Elephant in film and TV from 1989 through 2015.

In Away From Her (2006), which marked Polley’s directorial debut — she also received an Oscar nomination...

When there is a Black principal actor in a scary movie, we all know what their fate entails. Enter Dr. Robin R. Means Coleman and vet movie critic Mark H. Harris, who have made it their duty to hunt down the controversial cultural schisms in horror cinema from 1968 on in their teamed text The Black Guy Dies First (out Feb 7). Their prolific 2019 documentary Horror Noire is their first brainchild. Similar to the doc, their second joint dissects the same scary racial truths of early thrillers to modern blood-smearing tentpoles with encyclopedic cognition.

Fans of the Halloween franchise received some sad news today, as it has been confirmed that stuntman George P. Wilbur – who played horror icon Michael Myers in both Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) and Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995), the sixth entry in the series – has passed away at the age of 81.

Wilbur’s fellow Michael Myers performer Chris Durand, who played the character in 1998’s Halloween H20, broke the news of his passing on Facebook earlier today: “George P. Wilbur passed away last night. George, you were a class act and well loved. You will be missed. May you Rest in Peace.” Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers screenwriter Daniel Farrands reacted to the news by saying, “Very sad to hear of George’s passing. He was such a kind soul and a beloved member of the Halloween family.“

Born on March 6, 1941 in Connecticut, Wilbur served...

Bram Stoker once envisioned his most successful novel, Dracula, as a stage play. The actor he wanted to play the title role, Sir Henry Irving, walked out of the table read, yawning and griping about wordiness. It was probably the most auspicious walkout in horror entertainment history. Had Irving starred in a bomb, Bela Lugosi, Frank Langella, Gary Oldman, and quite a few other actors wouldn’t have been able to don the cape.

Dracula wasn’t the first book about vampires, but it was the first time Vlad “the Impaler” Tepes was portrayed as one. Until then, people thought of him as a cruel tyrant who nailed hats onto the heads of monks, and dipped his bread in the blood of vanquished soldiers. That is if they thought of him at all, outside of Romania, which celebrates him with pride as a freedom fighter and national protector, the “son...

Exclusive: Pam Grier, the actress from such cult classics as Jackie Brown, Foxy Brown and Coffy, has inked with APA.

Grier’s five decades-plus cinematic canon includes work with filmmakers such as Roger Corman, John Carpenter and Quentin Tarantino, among many others.

Her film résumé fired up with 1971’s The Big Doll House, followed by iconic roles in such films as Foxy Brown, Coffy, The Big Bird Cage, Blacula, Scream Blacula Scream and Sheba, Baby.

During the 1980s she became a regular on Miami Vice and played a supporting role as an evil witch in Ray Bradbury’s and Walt Disney Pictures’ 1983 title Something Wicked This Way Comes. She then returned to action in 1988’s Above the Law. Grier also starred in such notable features as Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks!, In Too Deep and a comedic turn in Jawbreaker.

Grier also starred in the Showtime series Linc’s and...

Hello, everyone! Last Friday, we kicked off Indie Horror Month with a tribute to all the great independent genre movies that came out during the 1970s (you can read that article Here), and before we move on to celebrating all the great indie horror from the following decade, I thought it was worth taking some time to tip our hats to several more movies from the ’70s that fans should definitely take some time to check out if they haven’t done so already. And because I always want to try and be as helpful as possible, I’ve also included info on where you can currently stream these films in case you’re looking to fill in some horror history gaps for yourself.

And in case you missed it, we also recapped where a bunch of essential indie horror movies from the 1970s are streaming (you can check out that list Here).

Happy Streaming!

Hello, dear readers! Yesterday, we launched our 2nd annual Indie Horror Month celebration and kicked things off by taking a look back at all the pivotal independent horror from the 1970s, and this writer even took some time to celebrate a current film that perfectly encapsulates the vibes of ’70s genre cinema, Ti West’s X.

Every Saturday throughout the month of April, we here at Daily Dead will be sharing with you a series of lists focused on where you can stream all kinds of great indie horror movies that includes info from both paid and free streaming services out there. And since our celebration of ’70s independent genre films is currently underway, this writer thought it only made sense to put today’s spotlight on where to stream many of the essential indie horror films that were discussed in yesterday’s article and a few others as well.

Hello, dear readers! Today, we here at Daily Dead are kicking off our 2022 Indie Horror Month celebration, and we have a ton of killer content coming your way throughout the entire month of April that will highlight some amazing indie genre goodness created by an assortment of maverick makers from both the past and present. And for our first official piece for Ihm 2022, I thought it made sense to take a look at one of the most pivotal decades in independent horror cinema: the 1970s.

While we’ve had plenty of brilliant indie horror released here in America throughout every decade (it’s worth noting that the roots of independent horror can even be traced back 100 years to the release of F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu), there were certainly several key figures who were busy making horror movies on their own terms prior to the ’70s that helped pave the way...

It’s 2022 and except for a few films like Candyman, Blacula, Bones, and Us, there is still a frustrating lack of Black horror villains. Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, and Ghostface all have their own successful franchises, but genre film clearly still has a lot of work to do as far as representation and diversity. Filmmaker Bill Posley (Culty) is not only putting in the work, but he also created a unique slasher film with the potential to be the first Black horror franchise. Written by Posley and Jonathan Colomb, and directed by Posley, Bitch Ass, features the first Black masked serial killer, as well as an entirely Black cast, and is having its World Premiere at this year’s SXSW Film Festival.

In Bitch Ass, horror legend Tony Todd (Candyman) is the host of a show called Hood Horror Stories, where he introduces the story of a kid named Cecil,...

Invoking an oft-overlooked canon, actor turned director Bill Posley fabricates a highly entertaining homage to the Black horror of decades past with “Bitch Ass,” a slasher picture set in 1999 aiming to become the heir of cult classics the likes of “Blacula” or “Bones.” Posley’s genuine fondness for his predecessors in the genre is first visible in the perfect casting of Tony Todd, who played the title part in the original 1992 “Candyman,” as a TV horror host — think the famed Elvira, the Cryptkeeper from “Tales from the Crypt,” or Mr. Simms from “Tales from the Hood” — to introduce his

Reveling in an appropriately malevolent laugh, Todd describes Bitch Ass as “the first Black serial killer to don a mask” and then immerses us into his world through an old television set and a VHS tape. Right off the bat, Posley announces his murderous protagonist’s fascination with games of all...

As the calendar turns to March, we’re sure you guys and ghouls are looking to get your horror fix.

No matter your preferred flavor, the world’s streamers are supplying a litany of chilling, newly-available options for you this month. Granted, this whole list could just include new titles on Shudder or Screambox, but we figured we’d spread the wealth around a bit to highlight some of the best and/or most intriguing flicks across a variety of services.

All of these films are free to stream stateside, starting this month, with a subscription to the listed streaming platforms. We’ll try to divvy these up to appease all you niche horror maniacs.

Abercrombie & Fitch Slasher Cinema – Urban Legend (1998), HBO Max:

The original Urban Legend stands as just one of several post-modern Scream rip-offs in the late ’90s, wherein every youthful cast member looked like they wore...

March will see the return of a fan-favorite series, the launch of a spinoff of a fan-favorite series and a handful of noteworthy films added to Amazon Prime Video.

Below, we’ve assembled a complete list of what’s new on Amazon Prime Video in March, and it includes the highly anticipated second season of the sci-fi comedy series “Upload,” which premieres March 11. Additionally, the new series “The Boys Presents: Diabolical” premieres on March 4 and promises eight all-new animated stories set within the R-rated superhero world of “The Boys.”

Also on March 4, the Amy Poehler-directed documentary “Lucy and Desi” premieres, chronicling the relationship between Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

In terms of library titles, March 1 brings the Ryan Reynolds-Sandra Bullock rom-com “The Proposal,” the classic “Dead Poets Society,” the sci-fi “Alien” prequel “Prometheus,” the comedy spoof “Spaceballs” and a number of other films to the streaming service.

Look, not every month is gonna be full of bangers. Amazon Prime Video’s list of new releases for March 2022 is extremely light but still has a couple of good options for streaming obsessives.

The biggest title this month is undoubtedly The Boys Presents: Diabolical on March 4. This series presents eight different stories set in The Boys‘ universe, all offered up by different writers. Since each of the eight mini-episodes are animated, it’s probably fair to say this is The Boys‘ Animatrix. Call it the “Anivought”.

Read more TV The Boys Season 3: Herogasm Will Be The TV Event of the Summer By Alec Bojalad TV How The Boys Pulled Off Its Wildest Episode By Bryan Cairns

Also arriving on March 4 is season 2 of the high concept comedy Upload. Set in a digital afterlife, this series created by The Office‘s Greg Daniels asks some big questions about where technology is taking us.

Exclusive: Deon Taylor and Roxanne Avent Taylor’s Hidden Empire Film Group is partnering with actor, comedian and digital content creator Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor to develop a scripted series chronicling his rise to fame on social media amid mainstream entertainment aspirations.

The new series is just the latest to center on the multi-hyphenate, who first garnered international recognition as the biggest star on the now-defunct video sharing service, Vine. Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele had looked to develop a Fox comedy loosely based on a King Bach Vine all the way back in 2015, as a follow-up to their beloved sketch show Key & Peele, with Bachelor set to star, though that series never made it to air.

Deon Taylor will direct the untitled project and exec produce with Roxanne Avent Taylor, alongside Andrew Bachelor, Christina Bachelor and Gary Glushon of Bach Enterprises, and Caleeb Pinkett via his Twentyfive8 Entertainment. It...

Exclusive: Deon Taylor and Roxanne Avent Taylor’s Hidden Empire Film Group is developing a scripted series centered on Percy Miller, the hip-hop mogul best known as Master P. It will chart his journey from childhood to the heights of his success in the music business.

Matthew Carnahan (House of Lies) has been tapped as showrunner for the untitled 10-part series, and will write it with Taylor. The Hidden Empire principal will also direct and exec produce with Avent Taylor, along with Master P, Wayne Barrow and Kristi Kilday of CP3 Productions, with Hidden Empire’s Omar Joseph serving as co-producer.

The series spanning 30 years of Miler’s life will follow him as he pursues a pro basketball career, watching as he blows out his knee, and is forced to reinvent himself, founding record label No Limit and becoming Master P—one of the biggest...

Something almost beyond comprehension is happening on October 31st… and two men want to do a couple of podcast episodes about it. This is the Halloween Parade… volume 1.

Please help support the Hollywood Food Coalition.

Click here, and be sure to indicate The Movies That Made Me in the note section so Josh can finally achieve his dream of showing Mandy to his wife!

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

The Exorcist (1973) – Oren Peli’s trailer commentary

Wait Until Dark (1967) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

The House On Skull Mountain (1974)

King In The Wilderness (2018)

Sugar Hill (1974)

World War Z (2013)

I Walked With A Zombie (1943)

White Zombie (1932) – Mick Garris’s trailer commentary

Night of the Living Dead (1968) – George Hickenlooper’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Pumpkinhead (1988)

Blacula (1972)

Blackenstein (1973)

The Flesh And The Fiends (1960) – Charlie Largent’s two reviews

Road Rebels (1964)

Dear Evan Hansen (2021)

Perks Of Being A...

The comedian and former The Daily Show correspondent talks about his favorite Blaxploitation movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Casablanca (1942) – John Landis’s trailer commentary

The Castle (1997)

The Spook Who Sat By The Door (1973) – Bill Duke’s trailer commentary

Pressure (1976)

Robinson Crusoe On Mars (1964) – Mick Garris’s trailer commentary

Boss (1975)

Django Unchained (2012) – Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary

The Thing With Two Heads (1972) – Stuart Gordon’s trailer commentary

The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971)

The Liberation of L.B. Jones (1970)

Last of the Mobile Hot Shots (1970)

Black Samurai (1977)

Truck Turner (1974)

Schindler’s List (1993)

Black Caesar (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary

Hell Up In Harlem (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary

Judas And The Black Messiah (2021)

Friday Foster (1975)

That Man Bolt (1973)

Blacula (1972)

Foxy Brown (1974) – Jack Hill’s trailer commentary

Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976)

Willie Dynamite (1973) – Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review

Billy Jack (1971)

John Wick (2014)

The Matrix (1999)

Cleopatra Jones...

Filmmakers Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor are expanding their Hidden Empire Film Group (Hefg) production banner to include a new distribution company — Hidden Empire Releasing.

The new film distribution and content sales company specializes in monetizing films across all content platforms and joins the Hefg portfolio which already includes Hidden Empire Productions; the film and television production company, Hyper Engine; and a marketing & branding agency that specializes in reaching diverse audiences.

News of the endeavor comes after the Taylors self-distributed the comedy movie “The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2,” which debuted at the top of the speciality box office in June with a $2,408 per-theater average on 420 screens. Written and directed by Deon Taylor, the movie is a sequel to 2016’s cult hit “Meet the Blacks, staring Mike Epps, Katt Williams and Bresha Webb, and has earned $2.89 million worldwide.

Between that success and the industry’s need to adapt to the “new Hollywood,...

The writer/director returns to talk about his favorite Blaxploitation movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Man Bites Dog (1992)

Trick Baby (1972)

The Exorcist (1973) – Oren Pelli’s trailer commentary

The Untouchables (1987)

Predator (1987)

Purple Rain (1984) – Josh Olson’s trailer commentary

The Loved One (1965) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary

Live And Let Die (1973)

Enter The Dragon (1973) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary, Brian Trenchard-Smith’s trailer commentary

The Green Hornet (1974)

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – Darren Bousman’s trailer commentary

The Last Dragon (1985) – Larry Karaszewski’s trailer commentary

Dead Presidents (1995)

Hell Up In Harlem (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary

Black Caesar (1973) – Larry Cohen’s trailer commentary

Shaft (1971) – Bill Duke’s trailer commentary, Randy Fuller’s wine pairing

Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971)

Coffy (1973) – Jack Hill’s trailer commentary

Midnight Cowboy (1969) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Taxi Driver (1976) – Rod Lurie’s trailer commentary

Boxcar Bertha (1972) – Julie Corman...

Blacula is rising from the dead once again. A Blacula reboot is in the works at MGM, which is teaming up with Bron and the Hidden Empire Film Group for a “modern reimagining” of the 1972 Blaxploitation horror classic. Variety reports that MGM, Bron, and Hidden Empire Film Group’s Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor are teaming up to reboot Blacula, a […]

The post ‘Blacula’ Reboot Will Resurrect the Legendary Blaxploitation Horror Character appeared first on /Film.

Blacula is back, baby! Variety has reported that MGM, Bron, and Hidden Empire Film Group are teaming up for a reboot of the classic blaxploitation horror film. Set to be directed by Deon Taylor, who also co-wrote the script with Micah Ranum, Blacula will be a modern reimagining of the original 1972 movie set in a metropolitan city post-coronavirus pandemic. "Blacula is an ancient African…...

“Blacula” will rise from the dead as MGM, Bron and Hidden Empire Film Group will partner together to develop and produce a modern reimagining of the 1972 blaxploitation horror film of the same name, according to an individual with knowledge of the project.

Picking up where the original saga left off, the reboot will take place in a metropolitan city post-coronavirus pandemic, following the vampire as he thirsts for vengeance.

Deon Taylor (“Black and Blue”) will direct the “Blacula” reboot with Roxanne Avent Taylor handling producing duties on behalf of Hidden Empire Film Group. Aaron L. Gilbert (“Bombshell”) will produce on behalf of Bron, with DJ Holloway managing the project.

The script for the reboot was written by Taylor and Micah Ranum (“The Silencing”).

The official logline for “Blacula” describes the reboot as the following: “In this updated twist on the eternal story, Blacula is an ancient African prince who is...

“Blacula” is leaving the coffin.

MGM, Bron and Hidden Empire Film Group’s Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor are teaming up for a reboot of the blaxploitation horror classic.

The new film is a modern reimagining of the 1972 movie, directed by William Crain and starring William Marshall as Blacula. The reboot picks up where the original saga left off, after the 1973 sequel “Scream Blacula Scream,” and will be set in a metropolitan city post-coronavirus pandemic.

A description of “Blacula” teases how the movie will update the classic story, as it follows the vampire as he “thirsts for vengeance”:

Blacula is an ancient African prince who is cursed by Dracula after he fails to agree to end the slave trade. Blacula is entombed and awakens 200 years later ready to avenge the death of his ancestors and of those responsible for robbing his people of their work, culture and heritage as they appropriated it for profit.

Writer, producer, director Lee Daniels discusses some of his favorite films with Josh & Joe.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Infested (2002)

Shadowboxer (2005)

The United States Vs. Billie Holiday (2021)

A Star Is Born (1937)

Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013)

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Lady Sings The Blues (1972)

Island In The Sun (1957)

Carmen Jones (1954)

Claudine (1974)

Mandingo (1975)

Drum (1976)

Caligula (1979)

Gloria (1980)

The Exorcist (1973)

Abby (1974)

Blacula (1972)

Scream Blacula Scream (1973)

Cabaret (1972)

Lenny (1974)

Sounder (1972)

All That Jazz (1979)

I Am A Camera (1955)

Travels With My Aunt (1972)

The Emigrants (1971)

Star 80 (1983)

Harold And Maude (1971)

The Godfather (1972)

The Godfather Part II (1974)

Pickup On South Street (1953)

In The Mood For Love (2000)

Leave Her To Heaven (1945)

Laura (1944)

Dragonwyck (1946)

The Baron of Arizona (1950)

His Kind of Woman (1951)

Explorers (1985)

Innerspace (1987)

Jack Reacher (2012)

Them (1954)

Revenge of the Creature (1955)

Tarantula! (1955)

Coogan’s Bluff (1968)

Going In Style (1979)

Going In Style (2017)

Judas And The Black Messiah (2021)

Stroszek (1977)

Fitzcarraldo (1982)

Land of Silence and Darkness (1971)

Cave Of Forgotten Dreams...

Mubi's series Double Bill: Bill Gunn is showing July - December, 2020 in the United States.How daring to make a Black picture without a race problem. So daring that the critics stateside assailed Ganja & Hess (1973), so befuddled were they by the vision of director Bill Gunn. He took them famously to task in a New York Times op-ed, which pointedly condemned the whiteness of film criticism. Gunn died in 1989, but his gripe remains unfortunately pertinent today, and at this moment, when much of mainstream media attention afforded to Black films has taken the shape of anti-racist watch lists. These are useful as educational fodder, but less so on the front of appreciating and valuing films from Black directors absent from conversations about art and cinema today—including Gunn’s.Gunn acted in Kathleen Collins’s Losing Ground (1982) and rubbed elbows with James Dean and Marlon Brando. He wrote the...

This weekend marks the 49th anniversary of the release of “Shaft.” Released in 1971, it grossed about $90 million in adjusted prices — a huge success, more than 25 times its cost. More importantly, it forced studios to acknowledge the Black audience segment that was long taken for granted.

Hollywood studio filmmaking is 105 years old. But it took more than half of those years for major studios to release a film from a Black director. There were Black directors, but they were too few and far between. And The first Black director was silent filmmaker Oscar Micheaux, whose parents were former slaves. In the sound era, the first Black director was Spencer Williams, an actor best known as Andy of Amos n’ Andy. And while films in the 1960s began to tell Black stories such as “Lilies of the Field” and “A Raisin In the Sun,” they inevitably reflected white perspectives and denied Black...

Between the recent additions of Blacula and Scream, Blacula, Scream on Shudder, and the upcoming season two premiere of NOS4A2 on AMC, this week belongs to the vampire. One of horror’s most prominent and enduring monsters, there’s an overwhelming selection of genre films dedicated to the vampire. While Dracula might be the most classic take on the blood-sucking creature of the […]...

We are *checks calendar* smack bang in that transition period between one month and another. A time when streaming services update their respective content libraries and gamers all over the world stand up and take notice of the new titles coming to Games With Gold and Ps Plus. Spoilers: the latter is bringing out the big guns for June 2020.

In the world of streaming, Netflix and Amazon Prime have already outlined the newcomers headed to their respective platforms next week; now, it’s Shudder’s turn to showcase exactly what subscribers can look forward to over the next four weeks.

Coming to us by way of Bloody Disgusting, the official list is packed with some delightful horror titles, including Rob Zombie’s cult favorite, House of 1000 Corpses. It’s the gruesome gore fest that later inspired 3 From Hell, the equally gruesome 2019 horror hit which joined Shudder back in February.

With readers turning to their home viewing options more than ever, this daily feature provides one new movie each day worth checking out on a major streaming platform.

Pioneering filmmaker Bill Gunn’s 1973 iconoclastic “Ganja & Hess” revolutionized the vampire genre and was effectively suppressed in the United States because it wasn’t the Hollywood horror movie that its producers had commissioned the artist to make. Gunn made a film unlike anything that came before it (and arguably even after), at a time when black films weren’t allowed to be much more than empty sensation. It comes with a mythical backstory that should inspire all filmmakers, but especially young black directors who would use the impulse to get creative.

The early ’70s...

To take a sequel in a different direction is double edged: yes, the audience avoids a rehash, but stray too far and the filmmakers risk alienation. Thankfully, this isn’t an issue with Scream Blacula Scream (1973), the follow up to the preceding year’s surprise hit Blacula – it still (wisely) focuses on Prince Mamuwalde, while adding some fresh flavor and turning decidedly towards a gothic feel.

Released by Aip near the end of June, Sbs wasn’t nearly the hit that the first was; for some reason audiences stayed away despite promising more after hours bloodletting and groovy music. A pity then as Scream Blacula Scream is a better film than the original – slicker, funnier, and it gives titular (and returning) star William Marshall a chance to be even more menacing. It simply has more bite.

As our fair Prince was turned to dust in the original, we open in...

You can tell that the Halloween season is getting closer, between various retailers already donning their shelves with tons of decorations, the days are getting shorter, and Turner Classic Movies has debuted their October schedule online, which features an abundance of genre awesomeness that will be hitting airwaves this fall. Without a doubt, TCM is one of the best resources for classic film, so for those of you looking to broaden your horizons this Halloween, definitely check out their calendar and set those DVRs.

Also, TCM has designated Godzilla as their “Monster of the Month” for October, so look for a bunch of classic films featuring the “King of the Monsters” and other beloved Kaiju throughout October as well.

**All Listings are in Est.**

Friday, September 27th

3:15pm – The Mummy’s Shroud

6:30pm – The Mummy (1959)

Saturday, September 28th

2:00am – Belladonna of Sadness

3:30am – House (1977)

Sunday, September...

Dull vampire pix were once as ubiquitous as zombie pix are now, but when a good one came along we’d certainly take notice. The predatory Fran and Miriam are a wholly new twist on the ‘Wicked Lady’ highwayman theme — the picture transcends the softcore horror genre with class and style. Fringe director José Ramón Larraz found himself filming in England, and his output outclassed what were passing for Eurotrash horror epics across the channel. How did he do it? The answers become clear in Arrow’s special edition. Although only available in a boxed set, it’s reviewed here separately.

Vampyres

Blu-ray

Arrow Video USA

1974 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 88 min. / Street Date March 26, 2019 / Available in the collection Blood Hunger: The Films of José Larraz, from Arrow Video / $72.89

Starring: Marianne Morris, Anulka (Dziubinska), Murray Brown, Brian Deacon, Sally Faulkner, Michael Byrne, Karl Lanchbury, Bessie Love.

Cinematography: Harry Waxman

Film Editor: Geoff R. Brown...

“Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror” begins with a modest proposal: “Black history is black horror.” It’s a succinct and provocative notion, the idea that there’s a symbiotic relationship between the horror genre and the African-American experience. However, executive producer Tananarive Due said that to her eyes, the two are inextricably linked.

“We were brought here in bondage, and white supremacy continues to mischaracterize and marginalize us,” said Due, a scholar, and novelist who specializes in the supernatural genre. “As the parent of a teenage son who’s already six feet tall, I’m fearful about his future encounters with police and the ways in which black children just like him are assumed on sight to be thugs and less than fully human.”

Due describes that fear and uncertainty as an example of an unrelenting horror that explains why creatives of African descent like herself, gravitate toward...

*Updated On 10/19 with new film and TV show listings (which are highlighted in Bold).* It’s the most wonderful time of the year again, dear readers! Autumn is finally upon us, and Halloween is just right around the corner, which means everyone is looking for all kinds of spooky goodness to indulge in over the course of the next few weeks. With that in mind, we’ve put together our Halloween Horrors Annual Viewing Guide, which should help you figure out which Halloween and horror-themed movies, television shows, and specials are coming to the small screen, and we’ve even gone through most of the premium channels, too, because there are a lot of choices out there as to where you can find your genre fare.

As always, we’ll be updating this schedule every Friday, so be sure to check back right here on Daily Dead each week to...

Stars: Rudy Ray Moore, Carol Speed, D’Urville Martin, Melvin Van Peebles, Lady Reed et al. | Written by Frank R. Salteri, J. Robert Wagoner, Cliff Roquemore, Melvin Van Peebles et al. | Directed by Melvin Van Peebles, D’Urville Martin, J. Robert Wagoner, William A. Levey et al.

Following their success with 2015’s Straight Outta Compton, and the debut of some of their line-up on Blu-ray, Xenon Pictures are releasing a series of classic (a broad term) Blaxploitation movies on VOD this month.

We should begin with the film that started it all. Melvin Van Peebles writes, directs and stars in Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971), a film that seeks to confront and challenge from the moment you try to read the title aloud. When the first scene depicts a preadolescent boy having sex with a grown woman, you know Van Peebles isn’t messing about. “This film is dedicated to...