Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
The Mist has one of the most horrifying and brutal endings ever. I love how this alt poster by Creepy Duck Design captures the scene. If you know, you know.
“It appears we may have a problem of some magnitude.” – Bud Brown
James Byron Huggins’ THE LAST HUNT (the third in the Hunter trilogy) is a hit! It currently has a 4.5 / 5 star rating at Amazon. Its Goodreads rating is even better – 4.65 / 5 stars.
Perhaps even more impressive is that THE LAST HUNT sits in Goodreads’ Listopia #1 spot on the list of Best Action & Thrillers Ever. Huggins is in the company of legends (Child, Clancey, Lundlum and Evanovich) and leads the pack! (See chart below.)
Long time readers of this site know that James Byron Huggins wrote HUNTER with Sylvester Stallone in mind as the lead character. In fact Sly discussed ideas with Byron prior to the novel being written and the second edition is dedicated to Sylvester Stallone.
Sly Stallone has held the movie rights to HUNTER since the start. A couple of times it appeared that the movie adaptation of Hunter would be soon on Sly’s agenda. But the movie business proceeds in mysterious ways, and HUNTER has yet to reach the production stage. Sly’s Balboa Productions still has the rights and hopefully fans will get to HUNTER as a feature film or television series.
Every book in the HUNTER trilogy gets my highest recommendation.
It is rare for a sequel to be considered a better film that the one that spawned it. The Bride of Frankenstein is one that gets that honor. Stephen Andrade gives us an alt poster with a Bride that would definitely get a rise out of the monster.
“Woman… Friend… Wife…” – The Monster
I love Mat Peg’s art. Look at the thought put into this Night of the Hunter poster.
It’s in the style of an old time photograph. Mitchum, the serial killer preacher has his love/hate finger tats in view. He’s holding both his knife and the little girl he threatens with it. She’s holding the doll that secretly carries the money Mitchum’s character is willing to kill for. The title of the movie and stars’ names are scratched in as if with the knife.
Brilliant.
Blade 2 is my favorite movie of the Blade franchise. It’s also one of my favorite horror movies. Most folks know it was directed by Guillermo del Toro. Not as many realize that del Toro’s artist on the storyboards was none other than Hellboy creator, Mike Mignola. Below are some examples.
Guillermo del Toro and Mike Mignola would reteam two years later for the movie adaptation of Hellboy.
A book of Mignola’s storyboards would be a welcome addition to my book shelf.
Click on the photos to see biggie-versions or each. If you want to see even bigger versions check out our source for this post — Marco Foderà.
Eerie Archives Volume 13 is available! It is a double-sized giant and contains 608 pages of horrific fun! Here’s what we get…
A DOUBLE SHOT OF TERROR: TWO HORRIFYING VOLUMES IN ONE!
LEGENDARY CREATORS OF LEGENDARY TERROR!
Collecting eleven issues of Warren Publishing’s legendary Eerie horror anthology, previously compiled in Dark Horse’s hardcover volumes 15 and 16.
This double-volume paperback edition includes jaw-dropping work from Howard Chaykin, Bernie Wrightson, Richard Corben, Carmine Infantino, Jim Starlin, and a host of other fan-favorite talents! Thrill to the ongoing, brutal adventures of Hunter, El Cid, and Coffin! From fanciful freaks to downright disturbing demons, Eerie Archives has something for every horror devotee!
Collects Eerie magazine #70–78, #80, and content from the special reprint issue #79 not collected in previous Eerie Archives volumes.
Deal me in.
CREEPY Archives Volume 13 is coming! It is a double-sized giant and contains 544 pages of horrific fun! Here’s what we get…
A DOUBLE SHOT OF TERROR: TWO HORRIFYING VOLUMES IN ONE!
LEGENDARY CREATORS OF LEGENDARY TERROR!
Collecting eight full issues and nine covers of Warren Publishing’s legendary Creepy horror anthology, previously compiled in Dark Horse’s hardcover volumes 15 and 16.
In this double-sized volume, Creepy teams up with Edgar Allan Poe, the founding father of short-form horror himself. This volume includes all original Creepy magazine letters columns and features are included alongside stories by legendary creators like Alex Toth, Wally Wood, Neal Adams, Bernie Wrightson, and Richard Corben!
Collects Creepy magazine #69–#73 and #75–#77, and the cover to Creepy #74, a reprint issue of stories that were collected in past Creepy Archives volumes.
Pre-orders are available now. Deal me in.
Eerie Archives Volume 12 is out now! It is a double-sized giant and contains 536 pages pages of horrific fun! Here’s what we get…
A DOUBLE SHOT OF TERROR—TWO HORRIFYING VOLUMES IN ONE!
LEGENDARY CREATORS OF LEGENDARY TERROR!
Now in a packed-full double volume with twice as many ghoulish stories, previously collected in Dark Horse’s hardcover volumes 13 and 14.
Collecting eight issues and nine covers of Warren Publishing’s legendary Eerie horror anthology, this double-volume paperback edition features dark and dystopian tales from talents like Wally Wood, Alex Toth, Bernie Wrightson, Richard Corben, and more. Revel in the vengeful exploits of favorite recurring characters Coffin, Exterminator One, and others!
This volume also includes all original letters columns, haunting full-color painted covers by Ken Kelly and Sanjulian, and introductions by modern horror pioneer and painter Tom Neely (The Blot, The Wolf) and prolific Warren writer Budd Lewis!
Collects Eerie magazine #61–#68 and the cover for Eerie #69, a reprint issue of Hunter stories that were collected in past Eerie Archives volumes.
Deal me in.
Dylan Dog: Dead of Night (2010)
Director: Kevin Munroe
Screenplay: Thomas Dean Donnelly, Joshua Oppenheimer; based on Dylan Dog by Tiziano Sclavi
Stars: Brandon Routh, Sam Huntington, Anita Briem, Peter Stormare, Taye Diggs, Mitchell Whitfield, Laura Spencer, Laura Spencer, Marco St. John, Kyle Clements and Kurt Angle.
Tagline: Living investigator. Undead clients. Zombie partner.
The Plot…
Dylan Dog at one time fought the things that go bump in the night. He gave it up when his wife was killed by vampires. Since then Dylan has worked as a private eye on normal cases.
That all changes when Elizabeth Ryan comes to Dylan for help. Her father was killed by something strange. Now Dylan is back… and the case will bring him into contact with vampires, werewolves, zombies and something worse.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
One of the vampires is named Sclavi. Tiziano Sclavi created Dylan Dog.
At one point a character calls Dylan Dog, “Superman”. Brandon Routh who plays Dylan Dog of course played Superman in an earlier film.
Dylan Dog: Dead of Night leans a bit more into comedy than I’d prefer. Even still I would have liked to have seen a sequel.
Dylan Dog: Dead of Night (2010) rates 2 of 5 stars.
CREEPY Archives Volume 12 is out now! It is a double-sized giant and contains 536 pages pages of horrific fun! Here’s what we get…
A DOUBLE SHOT OF TERROR: TWO HORRIFYING VOLUMES IN ONE!
Collecting eight full issues and nine covers of Warren Publishing’s legendary Creepy horror anthology, previously compiled in Dark Horse’s hardcover volumes 13 and 14.
LEGENDARY CREATORS OF LEGENDARY TERROR!
In this double-sized volume, Creepy presents classic tales by Bernie Wrightson, Bruce Jones, John Severin, and more, as the esteemed horror magazine hits another fruitful period of frightful delights! This volume includes several color pieces by Richard Corben, Sanjulian, and Ken Kelly — with black-and-white stories throughout by Bernie Wrightson, Tom Sutton, José Bea, Bill DuBay, Jose Gual, Martin Salvador, and many others.
This archival collection is a perfect repast for those starving for a ferociously macabre feast!
Collects Creepy magazine #60–#64 and #66–#68, and the cover for Creepy #65, a reprint issue of stories that were collected in past Eerie Archives volumes.
Deal me in.
It was announced yesterday that Daniel Simmons died on February 21st from complications of a stroke. Mr. Simmons was 77.
Dan Simmons began his career in education. Mr. Simmons received a B.A. in English from Wabash College and a Masters Degree in Education from Washington University in St. Louis. While teaching, Dan Simmons began submitting short stories.
His first published story, “The River Styx Runs Upstream,” won the Rod Serling Memorial Award. This got Dan Simmons an agent. His first novel, SONG OF KALI followed. It won the World Fantasy Award. His first horror novel, CARRION COMFORT, won the Bram Stoker Award. His first science fiction novel, HYPERION, won the Hugo Award.
Someone who writes in a lot of different genres, could be the sign of an artist looking for his voice. In Mr. Simmons’ case, it was a talent who refused to be constrained.
Even with all the awards Dan Simmons won, I was only vaguely familiar with his work. I don’t read fantasy, and very little science fiction or horror. But I do love a hardboiled thriller! You know, the kind written by Andrew Vachss, or Eugene Izzi, Stephen Hunter, or Richard Stark. And that is how I came to love Dan Simmons’ writing.
Mr. Simmons wrote three novels about Joe Kurtz –
Joe Kurtz was a PI… before he was an ex-con. See he killed a man, a couple of men actually. They’d murdered his girl and unborn child. While it’s pretty reasonable to me that he threw one of ’em off a six story building, the jury didn’t see it that way.
Now, out of prison after eleven-and-a-half years…
…you’d think things would be looking up for Kurtz. You’d be wrong. Too many people want him dead…
I loved the Kurtz novels and they led me to others written by Mr. Simmons. I enjoyed every one of them. Even in the genres I generally avoided. In fact, I still have a few Dan Simmons novels on my “to be read” shelf. I’m going to have to move them up on the list. Dan Simmons was a master storyteller. He was able to write compelling tales in every genre he attempted. How many writers can say that?
Out thoughts and prayers go out to Daniel Simmon’s family, friends and fans.
The Creature from the Black Lagoon is one of my all-time favorite horror films. Although the movie spawned two sequels, neither came close to the original. I continue to hold out hope we will get an updated Creature from the Black Lagoon film… and that it will be as good as the original.
If we do get the CFTBL reboot, I nominate Chris Koehler to make the poster. Until that time, we have Koehler’s CFTBL print to hold us over.
The Night Eats the World (2018)
Director: Dominique Rocher
Screenplay: Jérémie Guez, Guillaume Lemans, Dominique Rocher; based on La nuit a dévoré le monde by Pit Agarmen
Stars: Anders Danielsen Lie, Golshifteh Farahani, Denis Lavant, Sigrid Bouaziz.
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
When Sam goes to his ex-girlfriend’s apartment to pick up his belongings, a huge party is going on. Sam is finally able to catch up to his ex and she tells him his things are in a back room. Sam goes in and closes the door to get away from the crowd. He sits down and falls asleep.
When Sam wakes the apartment is empty. But there are signs of a massacre. Blood on the walls… the floors. Thankfully Sam is alone. He locks the door.
As he looks out the window he see more bloodshed and destruction. Then he spots a family running to a parked car. Before they can escape the family is swarmed and killed.
The zombie apocalypse is well underway… and Sam is trapped in the apartment.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
The Night Eats the World (2018) is a SLOW burn. If you’re into that, you’ll like it more than me. I prefer more action in zombie movies.
The Night Eats the World (2018) rates 2 of 5 stars.
Perdita Durango aka Dance with the Devil (1997)
Director: Álex de la Iglesia
Screenplay: Barry Gifford, David Trueba, Jorge Guerricaechevarría, Álex de la Iglesia; based on 59° And RAINING: THE STORY OF PERDITA DURANGO by Barry Gifford
Stars: Rosie Perez, Javier Bardem, Aimee Graham, Demián Bichir, Santiago Segura, Don Stroud, Roger Cudney and James Gandolfini.
Tagline: Get On The Road
The Plot…
Perdita Durango, in Mexico to scatter the ashes of her dead sister, meets Romeo Dolorosa who is on the run. Dolorosa is a drug dealing, bank robbing satanist. The two hook-up and devise a plan to kidnap a couple of college students and use them in a cannibalistic ceremony.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Álex de la Iglesia has a very visual style. He was joined by terrific leads in Rosie Perez, Javier Bardem and James Gandolfini. But the subject matter was too over the top gross for me. I tapped out at about the 20 minute mark when a coked-up Dolorosa was hacking up a dead body in front of tourists. He then threw the limbs in a boiling pot of blood and drank from it.
The character of Perdita Durango first appeared as a minor character in WILD AT HEART another novel by Barry Gifford. On film she first was played by Isabella Rossellini in the adaptation of the novel.
Javier Bardem’s hairstyle in Perdita Durango is worse than his in No Country for Old Men.
Perdita Durango was released in the United States as Dance with the Devil.
Perdita Durango aka Dance with the Devil (1997) rates 1 of 5 stars.
Diabolique (1955)
Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot
Screenplay: Henri-Georges Clouzot, Jérôme Géronimi, René Masson, Frédéric Grendel, based on CELLE QUI N’éTAIT PLUS by Boileau-Narcejac
Stars: Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse, Charles Vanel
Tagline: Don’t Reveal the Ending!
The Plot…
Michel Delassalle is a cruel man. Michel is the Principal of a boys’ boarding school owned by his wife, Christina. Christina also works as a teacher at the school. Michel enjoys flaunting his authority over his teachers including his wife. He gets off on humiliating them at every opportunity. To make matters worse, Michel has an on-going affair with Nicole Horner, another teacher at the school, who he also mistreats.
Surprisingly, Christina and Nicole have developed a friendship… and a plan. They’ve devised the perfect albi so when they kill Michel, they will be above suspicion.
Or so they thought.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
Alfred Hitchcock reportedly wanted the rights to the original novel but was beaten by just a few hours by Henri-Georges Clouzot who went on to direct Diabolique.
Véra Clouzot died suddenly of a heart attack five years after the release of Diabolique. She was only 46. Her character in the film suffered from a weak heart.
Diabolique was ahead of it’s time. It inspired filmmakers from William Castle to Alfred Hitchcock. And what a twist ending!
Diabolique (1955) rates 4 of 5 stars.