It Came From The Man Cave!: Charles Band

Showing posts with label Charles Band. Show all posts

Kings Of Cult

Monsters, Maidens and Mad Puppets.
Roger Corman, the King of cult cinema.
Charlie Band, the Prince of the B-movie.
Join veteran genre filmmakers Roger Corman and Charles Band as they take you through their long and storied careers working on such films as Eat My Dust, Puppetmaster, Sharktopus, Re-Animator, and many more. This truly unique look at exploitation cinema from the perspective two of its top contributors is a must-see for anyone looking to go a little deeper into the movies they love.

Two mavericks of independent genre film-making sit down for an intimate discussion about their amazing and diverse bodies of work, their fans, the hundreds of legendary performers and artists whose talents they've nurtured and the future of the industry they've both dedicated their lives to. From SHARKTOPUS, to PUPPETMASTER, to RE-ANIMATOR to DEATH RACE 2000 to GINGERDEAD MAN to HOUSE OF USHER and beyond; this is the ultimate master-class in making strange cinema that matters!

There is really not much to say here other then if you are a big fan of these guys you are bound to be slightly disappointed. You do not really get too much new or will learn anything you probably did not know already but never the less its still a good visit.

I did enjoy them talking about the '80s and the VHS boom and how life for both of them was at an all time high. And how the crash has affected them greatly I found that interesting.

I was wishing for more insight and maybe a few clips of some of their movies. All this was, was a 52-minute interview. Was not what I was expecting from two giants in the industry.

Never the less it's an easy watch and you just might take away something you may not have known.

3 Bloody Brains out of 5

Out of a time-rotted tomb crawls an unspeakable horror!

I Bury The Living
1958 | B&W | 76 Minutes | 1.85:1 | NR | Film-Noir | United Artist

Source: DVD

Director: Albert Band

Writer: Louis Garfinkle

Stars:

Richard Boone

Theodore Bikel

Peggy Maurer

Through a series of macabre "coincidences," the newly-elected director of a cemetery (Richard Boone) begins to believe that he can cause the deaths of living owners of burial plots by merely changing the push-pin color from white (living) to black (dead) on a large wall map of the cemetery that notes those plots.

So how many movies will you watch in a lifetime that the monster is a push pin and a cemetery map? My guess would have to be only one! And it is so worth your time to track it down. The movie is pretty easy to find it fell into Public Doman and I have it on a few of those cheap DVD sets with 15 movies on them. The good news for my copy, it looked great they did not try to squeeze it done to pixeled goo.

It's Alive!

The Ultimate Alien Weapon Is Back

Back in 1986 Charles Band was set to produce the sequel called Laserblast 2. The movie was even planned for a theatrical release as production was to start in August of that year. However, Bands production company Wizard Entertainment fell into financial difficulties shortly after the production of Laserblast 2 and the project ended up being scrapped. Elements of the abandoned sequel were later used in the 1988 Empire entertainment film Deadly Weapon. Weapon, like Laserblast, was about a bullied teenager who finds a powerful weapon and uses it to seek revenge.

Well maybe someday this will see the light of day until then I will drool over these.

Charles Band announces Green Friday

I can't say enough good things about Full Moon Streaming other then you get a free week and 10 bucks! Nice thank you Uncle Charley you just gave horror fans a reason not to fight the crowds!

Undersized. Undead. And angry.

Director: Charles Band

Writer: Benjamin Carr

Stars:

Rhonda Griffin

Justin Lauer

Bill Moynihan

Phil Fondacaro

New this week on Full Moon Streaming William Shatner brings you "The Creeps". Mad scientist brings Dracula, the Wolfman, the Mummy, and Frankenstein's Monster to life... but there's a problem and they end up three feet tall.

I have yet to see this movie so I'm really looking forward to diving in later today. If you missed it last week they added Castle Freak one of my favorites from the full moon family.

Also in Full Moon News they have brought back the mystery box sale!

Deformed. Devious. Depraved.

Director:

Charles Band

Writer:

Benjamin Carr (Hellraiser: Deader)

Stars:

Michael Citriniti

Rhonda Griffin

Mel Johnson Jr.

Jerry O'Donnel

Jacqueline Lovell

Dr. Lorca, an eccentric collector of biological oddities – has just “acquired” his greatest specimen: a horrible mutant born of toxic sewage...but the creature's rightful owner wants it back. The collectors' clash is cut short, though, as the sickening specimen comes to life, re-animating an angry, oozing little army of ferocious freaks.

"Fright Night is about horror, both horror of the gasping quality and of the tittering quality. On Fright Night, we're gonna have both kinds of horror films. We're gonna be horrified, and we're gonna laugh."
-William Shatner

You must be a Full Moon Streaming Subscriber if your not already why not?? It's like Netflix for lunatics! Don't believe me on how cool it is. Then you need to hear it from the man himself.

Crash!

Next up in the Charles Band catalog is 1977's Crash. I don't know much about this one but it looks pretty fun and your typical 70's car movie. It was also very hard to find a VHS cover so the poster and half of the cover is going to do this week.

DVD Cover?

Crash! (1977) -- Jose Ferrer is a bitter, wheelchair bound (sort of) expert in antiquities. Sue Lyon is his much younger wife. He holds her responsible for being in the wheelchair due to an auto accident. When an ancient Hittitte idol comes into their lives, they both now have the power to wreak vengeance on each other. He attacks her, she tries to get away and crashes her car. His dog attacks her, but doesn't kill her. She ends up in the hospital with amnesia, the only clue to her identity the evil idol, which she holds in a death grip.

Can the kindly nurse and hunky doctor treating her find out her identity before its too late? Meanwhile, thanks to the cursed idol, her driverless car goes on a rampage, causing accident after accident and explosion after explosion, tormenting the local sheriff's department in whatever podunk town this was filmed in (the end credits state "filmed in Los Angeles" but that's true only in the loosest possible definition of the term).

One Sheet

VHS Wednesday 1977 Cinderella

Cinderella 1977

This was the only VHS cover I could find from Charles Bands 1977 Sex comedy. So here is the poster.

Wizard Video Finds Lost VHS Tapes

With VHS the new Vinyl in the collecting world Charles Band dropped a bomb shell (Or should I say Clam Shell) on the fans Thursday with the announcement that they have found some highly sought after VHS tapes.

LOS ANGELES, CA, Feb 7, 2013 – Horror legend and home video pioneer Charles Band had been putting off his warehouse cleaning for years. But during a recent overhaul of his extensive collection of collectibles, he unwittingly resurrected a veritable treasure trove of vintage horror limited-edition VHS boxes coveted by horror fans and serious collectors. Starting February 12, fans will be able to purchase these original boxes with authentically duplicated VHS copies inside – at an incredibly reasonable price.

“Back in the 80’s, I thought it would be cool to release these films in the oversize VHS boxes,” explained Band. “In the short term, it was very successful - but by 1982 the trend had run its course and the titles were reduced back to regular VHS dimensions.”

Band started Wizard Video in 1980, and was the first to release horror cult films such as Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and I Spit On Your Grave in the early days of home video.

“The kids who remember these oversized packages remember them fondly,” Band continued. “The release of this collection is for them.”

Over a span of 3-4 years, Wizard Video published eighty titles in the large-format boxes. Thirty-five years after the packaging’s popularity died out, Band and his excavation team uncovered the original big VHS boxes of thirty-six of these rare titles in mint condition, between two hundred to four hundred copies per title. Each box will be hand-numbered on the spine and autographed by Charles Band and will include an authentically duplicated VHS copy of the film inside of a clamshell holder. Band estimates that very few of these rare videos are still in print – and no more than 5-10 thousand units were manufactured at the time.

But wait here is some really cool news:

Also found in the collection were original boxes of the first horror video games on the planet, from Wizard Video’s sister company, Wizard Video Games. The Atari 2600 game boxes for Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Halloween will be released TBD 2013 from Full Moon. At the time of release, these titles were deemed too violent for children, and were either banned or sold by request-only, making them an extraordinarily rare find as well.
For more information check out www.Wizardvideocollection.com

Band will release four tiles every month beginning February 12, at $50 a piece. Other tiles will be Headless Eye, Breeders, I Spit on your Grave and Parasite. Sure will be looking forward to the Atari Games when they are released and when more information is brought forth. All I know is all those VHS enthusiast are going crazy as Wizard is one of the most collected out their.

Ooga Booga and Unlucky Charms

Full Moon has announced that Charles Band is hopping back into the director's chair for their next movie "Unlucky Charms". Pre-production has already begun, with principal photography beginning at the end of the month. Stayed tuned here at the Cave for more details when they become available. Unlucky Charms is set to release late Spring of 2013.

Also from Full Moon March 12 will be the world Premiere of OOGA BOOGA at Grindhouseflix.com . You will be able to stream it instantly for only $1.99!! Of Buy a digital copy for $7.99.

Synopsis:

Revenge is served on a spear when dirty cops murder an innocent African-American med student. When his soul is transferred into the body of a popular toy, Ooga Booga, the bodies pile up as he kills every racist in the city, while trying to clear his name.

Ooga Booga made his debut in Full Moon’s Doll Graveyard and had a cameo in Evil Bong.

The super sexy all star cast helps to bring this tale to life. Ciarra Carter portrays Ooga’s girlfriend Donna. Internet sensation Maddox gives an eerie performance as the sadistic Skeez. Amber Strauser, former cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys makes a cameo appearance as Peggy Suey.

Ooga plays hide and seek with the two-time Golden Globe winning actress Karen Black. And the legendary Stacy Keach goes head to head with Ooga himself.

Ciarra Carter

Amber Strauser

Karen Black

Full Moon set to release Reel Evil!

Release Date: November 20th

Director: Danny Draven

Producer: Charles Band

Writers: Shane Bitterling

Stars:

Jessica Morris (Bloody Murder, Venom)

Kaiwi Lyman (Mega Python Vs Gatoroid)

Jeff Adler (Reel Evil)

Jamie Bernadette (Mortal Kombat: Rebirth)

Jim Tavare (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)

Struggling filmmakers - Kennedy, Cory and James - finally catch the break they were looking for when they are hired to shoot a 'behind-the-scenes' documentary for a major studio production. But their dream job quickly turns into a nightmare when they explore the legendary, haunted location and find something far worse than anything Hollywood could create. Terror becomes reality for the filmmakers as they uncover the malevolent secrets of the hospital, and the sinister doctor who once ran it. Trapped inside the hospital with no apparent way out, our crew is tormented by the evil, unspeakable fear.

Special Features
AUDIO COMMENTARY w/ director Danny Draven
VIDEOZONE: Behind the Scenes of Reel Evil
DARKEST HOURS: The Reel Evil Set Visit Episode
DARKEST AMERICA: An Inside Look at Linda Vista Hospital
BLOOPER REEL
MUSIC VIDEO
Original Reel Evil Promos
FULL MOON TRAILERS
FULL MOON VINTAGE TRAILERS!
DVD-ROM Features: Reel Evil SHOOTING SCRIPT and MOVIE POSTER!

Ugh its to bad Full Moon had to jump on the lost footage band wagon! Just like many of you I'm done with this type of movie. But being a fan of Full Moon Horror I will check this out at some point.

Flashback Weekend Big News!

With Flashback Weekend only 10 days away Full Moon Horror has announced it will premier "H.P. Lovecraft's The Evil Clergyman". If seeing Svengoolie was not enough meeting Richard Band is going to be a huge must see! Here is the press release from Charles Band:

“H.P. LOVECRAFT’s THE EVIL CLERGYMAN”
TO WORLD PREMIERE AT FLASHBACK WEEKEND
CHICAGO HORROR CONVENTION
AUGUST 10-12, 2012
MUVICO THEATERS, ROSEMONT, IL

In 1987 Charles Band directed “PULSESPONDERS”, an anthology film comprised of short film sequels to the biggest hits of Empire Pictures; H.P. LOVECRAFT’s THE EVIL CLERGYMAN”, the first (and unseen) “TRANCERS” sequel, and a sequel to “THE DUNGEONMASTER”. “PULSEPOUNDERS” was shot and edited in 1988 before circumstances prevented it from being released. “PULSEPOUNDERS” was thought to be a lost film. For the last 25 years, fans have clamored to see it.

Recently, a “PULSEPOUNDERS” work print was discovered. Charles Band and a team of digital experts have been working for the last year digitally restoring it. Richard Band, the composer of classic film scores such as “RE-ANIMATOR”and “PUPPER MASTER” has composed an original lavish 1980’s style score for it! The first of the “lost” “PULSEPOUNDERS” episodes to be restored, “H.P.’s Lovecraft’s THE EVIL CLERGYMAN” re-united horrors hottest duo; Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton! “THE EVIL CLERGYMAN” also stars horror legends David Warner and David Gale (Dr. Hill from “RE-ANIMATOR”).

Attending this historic cinematic event will be director Charles Band, stars Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton, and composer Richard Band.

PLUS! Richard Band will be having a super-limited supply of the Evil Clergyman original score CD for sale which he’ll be signing.

This is great news as my brother and I finalize plans for our trip on Saturday. If we have the funds I will be checking this out and hope to have a review for you. For a while the only reason for going this year was to pick up Kane Hodder's Book and to see Svengoolie's new Coffin. Now Richard Band and the new Horrables comic have sealed the deal for us. Watch for my flashback write up next weekend if your in the Chicago area please check out this fantastic convention --> FlashBack Weekend<--

Blu-Rays from Full Moon! With Commentaries.

From The Full Moon Press Release July 19,2012

Full Moon Features Launches Their Blu-Ray Line in September with the Puppet Master Series.

The most successful independent direct to video horror franchise of all time!
The first 3 films, fully remastered in HD, 16:9, and 5.1 Surround Sound

Series Synopsis:

The secret of life has been discovered by master puppeteer Andre Toulon. But we quickly discover Toulon’s secret of death in the form of five killer puppets-each one uniquely qualified for murder and mayhem. Tunneler has a nasty habit of boring holes in people with his drill bit head. Ms. Leech regurgitates killer leeches that suck her victims dry. Pinhead strangles his enemies with his powerful vice-like hands. Blade has a gleaming hook for one hand and a razor-sharp knife for the other. And Jester, the ruthless brains of the bunch, is absolutely merciless. Together, they’re an army of skilled assassins, diabolically programmed to guard the deadly secrets of the Puppet Master throughout the decades.

Starring:

Paul Le Mat (American Graffiti, American History X, Melvin and Howard), William Hickey (Prizzi’s Honor, One Life to Live, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Name of the Rose), Irene Miracle (Inferno, Midnight Express, Walking Thunder), Jimmie F. Skaggs (Lethal Weapon, Hollow Man, Cutthroat Island)

Special Features Include:
-Brand new Introductions by Puppet Master creator Charles Band
-Never-before-heard audio commentaries by Charles Band, PM 3 writer C. Courtney Joyner, and PM 3 director David DeCoteau
-Behind the scenes VideoZones
-Killer Puppet Master montage
-Rare Puppet Master promo
-Full Moon trailers

Hats off to Charles Band on finally putting together a few audio commentaries. If you have ever met Band or been to his Road Show's you then know he is a great speaker. I can listen to him tell stroys about his movies for days on end. And know I can do so for a half of day anyway.

Set to hit shelves this September 18,2012. The Blu-Ray suggested retail will be $14.98 and Special Edition DVD's will only set you back $9.98. Both Blu-Ray and DVD's will come in a box set BD running $39.98 and the DVD set at cool $24.98.

Source here

Killjoy Goes to Hell this Fall

Charles Band and Full Moon Features announced earlier this week there next tile release Killjoy Goes To Hell. This will be the fourth installment in this wildly fun franchise about a killer clown. Hell promises to be the most insane Killjoy movie of all time. Band has brought back writer/director John Lechago and the class act of clowns Al Burke, Tai Chan Ngo, and Victoria De Mare. I know I'm looking forward to this. Killjoy along with Evil Bong and Ginger Dead Man are my favorite franchise to come from Full Moon. Watch for this to hit shelves later this fall.

Witness Unspeakable Acts of Total Depravity!

Check out the Girls and Corpses magazine

Charles Band

Writers:

Charles Band

Kent Roudebush

Stars:

Jessica Morris

Ariana Madix

Eric Roberts

The Roaring Twenties end in a SCREAM when the first talking movie debuts. The world's biggest female silent movie star, Rose Pettigrew, goes on a killing spree when she loses her studio contract, murdering her friends and co-stars - Tubby Fitzgerald, the comedian, Erik Burke, the horror icon and Sonny Barnes (ERIC ROBERTS), the cowboy - before taking her own life.

Rose's mansion has stood empty for decades, but when two realtors Reese (JESSICA MORRIS) and Danni (ARIANA MADIX) finally buy the house to remodel and sell it, they discover that there are more than skeletons in the closets.

Haunted by the ghosts of a time long ago, the girls quickly find that they have been cast in a nightmare that will never end.

Being a fan of Full Moon Horror I hate saying this but this movie was not the studio's best work. And it's a shame on so many levels. This movie is clean looks really good easy to watch. Has the strongest cast I have seen in a Charles Band movie. A good story line. Fantastic make-up effects by Tom Devlin and Rocky Calderon. But the movie still falls short.

I think the blame falls on the movie being to clean really. It's a haunted house that sits empty for 80 years and everything is spotless. And after Rose off's everybody, they turn into a ghost that looks like zombies? And their little "Man Cave" is even clean. Amazing after 80 years no cobwebs. They must not have spiders in Hollywood. Speaking of 80-year-old ghost zombies what is up with the two nude girls they got off easy. After 80 years they still look great and no sagging!! But why did they not turn into zombies??

The two leads in this movie Jessica Morris and Ariana Madix are a true bright spot. They are two cuties that worked very well together. The actor who plays Tubby (J. Scott) was also a bright spot in this movie. I liked his character and he played it spot on. Even Jean Louise O'Sullivan (Alien Inhabitant, Ginger Dead Man 3) who played Rose Pettigrew was easy on the eyes and played her character well.

Let's talk about Eric Roberts for a moment shall we? With a $500,000 dollar budget, he most likely was paid half of that. And he was horrible it felt like he just phoned it in. The dude gets to do a sex scene with a hot full nude girl in front of him and he totally acts like a teenager. I could not stop laughing all I could think is this is what he looks like at home! Oh, it was horrible but It's worth the rental just to see how bad it is.

OK back to the review the pace of this movie is the true killer here. Like I said this is a great cast and they do their job well. Band and his editor, on the other hand, did not want to this movie to run only 60 minutes I think. Cutting those extra 14 minutes from this movie would have made it better. I truly found myself fast forwarding in two different spots. The music also did not help the pace of the movie as well. I understand its the 20's and they went for that feel but it dragged it down.

So, in conclusion, this movie is a dollar at your nearest Red Box so if it is raining and your cable goes out and you have nothing better to do check out Morris and Madixin this movie they are going to be the next true up and comers. And its worth it to see Roberts dry hump in the worst way possible and for Tom Devlin's really good make up.

Its not worth seeing for the set's lack of cob webs and very slow pacing did I mention that there is nudity and hot girl on girl action??

Sorry, Uncle Charles only 2 bloody brains for The Dead Want Women!

And only 2 bloody brains for The Dead Want Women! And One squashy brain for Eric Roberts sex scene

PS Charles what is wrong with a 60 minute movie "The Masters of Horror" pulled it off. Just wondering.

This post is also part of May Monster Movie week. Day 7

DevilDolls DVD (Trilogy of Terror) Review

Very Cool Cover art.

Full Moon Horror back on April 2nd announced its latest DVD release, a trilogy of terror! DevilDolls that will only run you $14.98 for 3 really good movies.

The 1st in the set is Demonic Toys from 1992 and directed by Peter Manoogian and written by Charles Band. The setting for this movie is a botched arms dealer bust that leads to the raising of a sixty-six-year-old demon with the power to bring toys to life. The Demon is looking for a body to inhabit so he can increase his powers. It just happens that one of the police officers is pregnant with the ideal host. The murderous toys close in on their victims leaving the officer to fight for her life and the soul of her unborn baby.

The second in the trilogy is Ragdoll from 1999. Directed by Ted Nicolaou who also did Terror Vision and Subspecies 4: Bloodstorm. Written by Benjamin Carr. A kid accidently conjures up the magic of the killing kind with the help of Shadow Man. Together they bring back to life a ragdoll. Of course, he summons the ragdoll to kill and evil music company whose boss wants his music group to sign a contract. Silly rappers dolls are for kids!

And last of the 3 is the wildly popular Doll Graveyard (2005) written and directed by Charles Band. And stars Jared Kusnitz who as gone on to do a slew of Disney jobs like Prom, Good luck Charlie, and Phineas and Ferb. Let us not forget the beautiful Kristyn Green from Evil Bong and The Haunted Casino. Those 3 reasons alone make this DVD a must-buy the set.

Here is the plot for you, It is 1905 and 12-year-old Sophia plays all by herself in her big, creepy house with four handmade dolls as friends. When her abusive father has finally had enough, he forces her to bury them in the backyard. But, after she slips and accidentally breaks her neck, her dad buries her right along with the dolls. 100 years later, the Fallbrook family moves into the very same house. Guy Fallbrook finds the buried dolls while playing in the backyard. After the 100-year-old, decaying dolls are unearthed, Sophia's spirit begins to possess Guy and the dolls are brought back to life.

Enter the world of DevilDolls today available for Purchase on Fullmoondirect.com. The only thing I wish full moon would do more is to offer a little more. Like Blu-Ray more features like audio commentary and remixed sound. But if you are looking for some cheap entertainment then this set will do you good.

Overall based on 2 of the 3 movies I give this 3 Bloody Brains out of 5.

Today On Svengoolie

The Mummy's Ghost tonight on Me-Tv 1944

An Egyptian high priest travels to America to reclaim the bodies of ancient Egyptian princess Ananka and her living guardian mummy Kharis. Learning that Anankas spirit has been reincarnated into another body, he kidnaps a young woman of Egyptian descent with a mysterious resemblance to the princess. However, the high priests greedy desires cause him to loose control of the mummy.

Starring:

John Carradine

Robert Lowery
Ramsay Ames
Barton MacLane

Abbott & Costello Meet the Killer Boris Karloff 1949 on WCIU

Lost Caverns Hotel bellhop Freddie Phillips is suspected of murder. Swami Talpur tries to hypnotize Freddie into confessing, but Freddie is too stupid for the plot to work. Inspector Wellman uses Freddie to get the killer (and it isn't the Swami).

Starring
Bud Abbott
Lou Costello
Boris Karloff as The Swami Talpur
Lenore Aubert

And for the lucky ones that have U-Too at 3:00 Sven Classic's will be spinning

Ghoulies 1985

A young man and his girlfriend move into thre man's old mansion home, where he becomes possessed by a need to control ancient demons.

Starring
Peter Liapis - Who came back for Ghoulies 4
Lisa Pelikan
Michael Des Barres
Jack Nance

If you cant tell by now I'm a huge Full Moon Horror fan. This movie holds up well to its age. I can still tell you what row what seat and what time I went to see this movie with my best friend. A true camp classic in my mind. Check it out.

Also today make sure you vote for the Rondo's witch Svengoolie is up for. The Rondo's are truly fan based.

www.rondoawards.com

Photo from the Svengoolie Yahoo group.

See how I voted here

She Dropped a Bombshell!!

Charles Band dropped a bomb on his fans today releasing photos of the new evil puppet Bombshell. The new puppet is part of Puppet Master X: Axis Rising.

Celebrating the latest evil puppet www.fullmoondirect.com is offering all 9 Puppet master films for only $45.00!!

Bombshell does not look to bad. But my only question would be why does she look like a man?? Only time will tell.

INTRODUCING: BLITZKRIEG

Full Moon Features teased us this week, releasing a photo of Blitzkrieg. A new puppet for Puppet Master Ten: Axis Rising due out next year.

New Puppet Master next year!