Wednesday, November 30, 2016

The Overlook Hour Guest Profile: Mike Keegan, Program Director of the SF Alamo Drafthouse



Anyone who glances at our Instagram feed, even for a moment, knows that we spend a whole bunch of time at the Alamo Drafthouse. In its first year of being open, we have only missed a handful of Weird Wednesdays and even fewer Terror Tuesdays. And with the Alamo’s no talking or texting rules, we end up seeing regular releases there pretty often to eliminate the possibility of the audience ruining the experience. 

Spending so much time at the Alamo, we started getting to know a lot of the people who worked there. And one of our oldest and closest friends there is this week’s guest, Mike Keegan, the program director of the San Francisco Drafthouse. He’s an east coast native, who grew up on movies, presenting and watching them with friends in a basement. Now he brings that same welcoming atmosphere to the Alamo every week, introducing movies as if he was still talking to a room full of friends. And nine times out of ten, Mike is the first face you’ll see when exiting the theatre, when he’s not surrounded by people that is. 

We’ve learned something about Mike over the months that we’ve known him; he’s got a ton of stories and movie knowledge to share. So Lord Battle booked him some time in the Disney Dungeon- weeks in advance - and the day finally came. Part 1 of the conversation with Mike is below (I said he's got a lot of stories, didn't I?). Check back next week for Part 2!





-Huntress

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Bluray Tuesday: Featuring Don't Breathe, The Driller Killer and The BFG

November 29th 2016


I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend and I bet after all the Black Friday shopping our wallets aren't too happy. At least Bluray Tuesday returns with a short list of releases. First up is Don't Breathe which is a favorite of mine for 2016. Don't Breathe is a definite pickup for me today. If you missed our review check it out here. The Driller Killer is one I'm not familiar with but Arrow Video is releasing this in its complete form for the first time as well as in a limited steelbook packaging. Vinegar Syndrome releases 70's horror film Death Machines for the first time on bluray. I'm interesting in checking this film out in the near future as well as The Driller Killer. If you know of these films let us know what you think of them. Disney releases not one but two titles today. First up is a live action remake of Pete's Dragon and new story brought to life, The BFG (The Big Friendly Giant). If you plan on picking these up you save $5 when buying these both together on the same receipt. That's it for this week's new releases, what will you be picking up this week? Let us know in the comments. we love to hear what you are  look forward to owning and adding to you collections. Until next week!

Don't Breathe: Amazon - $19.99

Rocky (Jane Levy), Alex and Money are three Detroit thieves who get their kicks by breaking into the houses of wealthy people. Money gets word about a blind veteran who won a major cash settlement following the death of his only child. Figuring he's an easy target, the trio invades the man's secluded home in an abandoned neighborhood. Finding themselves trapped inside, the young intruders must fight for their lives after making a shocking discovery about their supposedly helpless victim.

Don't Breathe (Blu-ray) 

The Driller Killer  (1979): Amazon - $27.99

Long available in incomplete or full screen editions, Abel Ferrara's 1979 cult classic, THE DRILLER KILLER here receives its definitive presentation accompanied by three of the director's never-previously-released short films from the 1970s. THE DRILLER KILLER stars Ferrara himself (under the pseudonym 'Jimmy Laine') as Reno Miller, an artist being driven made by the pressures of New York life who takes to the streets and begins murdering derelicts with a power drill. Although Ferrara intended to make a film in the tradition of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, the end result bore an even greater resemblance to Martin Scorsese's TAXI DRIVER. THE DRILLER KILLER is an indispensable addition to the collection of anyone interested in 1970s horror, the work of Abel Ferrara, or off-the-wall cinema.

The Driller Killer (Blu-ray) 

Steelbook: Amazon - $29.99
The Driller Killer (Blu-ray) 

The BFG: Amazon - $19.99

Ten-year-old Sophie is in for the adventure of a lifetime when she meets the Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance). Naturally scared at first, the young girl soon realizes that the 24-foot behemoth is actually quite gentle and charming. As their friendship grows, Sophie's presence attracts the unwanted attention of Bloodbottler, Fleshlumpeater and other giants. After traveling to London, Sophie and the BFG must convince Queen Victoria to help them get rid of all the bad giants once and for all.

Special Features:
  • Bringing "The BFG" to Life – Ruby Barnhill (Sophie) hosts a phizz-whizzing journey through the making of "The BFG." This behind-the-scenes documentary details the film's progression through interviews with Roald Dahl's daughter Lucy Dahl, screenwriter Melissa Mathison, executive producers Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Kristie Macosko Krieger, and numerous members of the talented cast and crew.
  • The Big Friendly Giant and Me – Sophie wasn't the first "bean" in Giant Country—many illustrations were created as if drawn by a little boy who was there long before Sophie. This charming, in-world short will bring the drawings to life with animation and narration, recounting the friendship and the dreams shared between the boy and the Big Friendly Giant.
  • Gobblefunk: The Wonderful Words of The BFG – A whoopsey-splunkers tutorial on the meaning of the gloriumptious gobblefunk in "The BFG."
  • Giants 101 – Jemaine Clement (Fleshlumpeater) and Bill Hader (Bloodbottler) introduce us to the loathsome giants in "The BFG," along with movement choreographer/motion capture performer Terry Notary, who collaborated with the actors and Director Steven Spielberg prior to filming to develop their movements and character traits.
  • Melissa Mathison: A Tribute – An homage to Melissa Mathison, the extraordinary, Oscar-nominated screenwriter of "The BFG" and "E.T.," whose talent and heart were as immense as the giants in "The BFG."
The BFG (Blu-ray) 

Pete's Dragon (2016): Amazon - $22.99

Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford), a woodcarver, delights local children with stories of a mysterious dragon that lives deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. His daughter Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) believes these are just tall tales, until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley), a 10-year-old orphan who says he lives in the woods with a giant, friendly dragon. With help from a young girl named Natalie (Oona Laurence), Grace sets out to investigate if this fantastic claim can be true.

Special Features:
  • Notes to Self: A Director's Diary – Director David Lowery narrates the personal diary he kept through the filming of "Pete's Dragon" in this intimate and fascinating look at the movie's making. 
  • Making Magic – Discover fun facts about what went into designing this spectacular, lovable dragon.
  • "Disappearing" Moments – The director shares a montage of the film's "lost" scenes.
  • Welcome to New Zealand – Experience the wonders of New Zealand and learn why it's a magical place to visit … and to make a movie.
  • Audio Commentary – Gain an insider perspective from director David Lowery, co-writer Toby Halbrooks and actors Oakes Fegley and Oona Laurence. 
  • Music Videos: "Nobody Knows" by The Lumineers & "Something Wild" by Lindsey Stirling featuring Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness
  • Bloopers 
Pete's Dragon (Blu-ray) 

Death Machines: (1976): Amazon - $17.99

An evil Oriental Dragon Lady injects three martial arts fighters with a serum that turns them into zombie-like assassins, and she sends them out against her enemies.

Death Machines (Blu-ray) 


- The Impostor

Monday, November 28, 2016

Screenings in the Bay (Monday to Friday): Child's Play, Alien, Roxie Mixtape 3


Here we are at the top of another new week, at the tail end of November. And that means our horror is about to turn seasonal! Which reminds me, limited edition Gremlin Tiki Mugs are still available. Just select one with your ticket at one of these screenings. A second screening of Gremlins has also been added for Tuesday, December 13th, if you wanted to make Terror Tuesday a double feature. Order yours before they're sold out!

This is another light movie week in the bay area,  but there are definitely some huge titles info the lineup. One of these moves was actually just re-released recently,  so you'd better catch it in 35mm while you still can. This is also the week of the Roxie Mixtape 3, a day of short films made by bay area film makers. Details below.


Terror Tuesday

Tuesday 29th @ 10:15pm (1hr 35min)
Horror/ Mystery (Rotten Tomatoes)
Child's Play seems to have been concocted by a parent who went berserk after standing in line for hours on end to purchase a Cabbage Patch doll in the early 1980s. The film opens with serial killer Brad Dourif taking refuge in a doll factory. Dourif is killed by the cops, but not before he has invoked a voodoo curse which transfers his soul into one of the dolls. That particular doll, nicknamed Chuckie, is unwittingly purchased by Catherine Hicks for her son Alex Vincent.


Weird Wednesday

Wednesday 30th @ 10:15pm 1jr 23min)
Horror (IMDB)
Satanic hippies put LSD in an old man's drink on a lark. The old guy's grandson takes revenge by feeding the hippies meat pies, with a secret ingredient: rabid canine blood. The flower children turn into flesh-eating monsters, spreading the disease to their victims.



Midnight Madness

Friday 2nd @ 11:55pm (2hrs 13min)
Action/ Fantasy/ Scifi (Rotten Tomatoes)
On a journey to find the cure for a Tatarigami's curse, Ashitaka finds himself in the middle of a war between the forest gods and Tatara, a mining colony. In this quest he also meets San, the Mononoke Hime.

Also screening Saturday




Friday 2nd @ 10:30pm (1hr 57min)
Horror/ Scifi (IMDB)
After a space merchant vessel perceives an unknown transmission as distress call, their landing on the source moon finds one of the crew attacked by a mysterious lifeform. Continuing their journey back to Earth with the attacked crew having recovered and the critter deceased, they soon realize that its life cycle has merely begun.




Thursday 1st @ 7pm 
This December join us for Roxie Mixtape, an on-going series celebrating diverse and engaging short works by Bay Area filmmakers. Join us for a night of unique, provocative and haunting movies. An eclectic mix of comedy, drama, documentary, experimental and ‘other’, there is sure to be a little something for everyone in this program.


-Huntress

Sunday, November 27, 2016

When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals


Early last year, Lord Battle was contacted by Vanessa Morgan to see if he would be interested in contributing to a book of essays about different movies featuring animals attacks. His answer was absolutely!

Several other Overlook creatures, including Berkeley Blazer, Math Mage, and KillDozer, also joined in, and each submitted an essay about an animal attack movie they were excited to write about. Now, that book is available for preorder! Here's the press release:


Just released with Moonlight Creek Publishing: the horror movie guide

When Animals Attack, edited by Vanessa Morgan

70 essays from Warren Fahy, Paul Kane, Matthew House, Aaron Christensen, Jonas Govaerts, and many others.

The definitive horror movie guide for fans of killers animals and “revenge of nature” films.

When Animals Attack: The 70 Best Horror Movies with Killer Animals provides a fascinating and entertaining insight into the cinematographic world of animals on the rampage. From well-known predators such as sharks and lions to unusual killing machines like turkeys, elephants, frogs, cats, and rabbits, there is no shortage of the species on display in this book.

Leading horror writers and filmmakers present their favorite “animals attack” films through in-depth essays. Some of the films are touching, some are repulsive, and some are just plain silly. Not all of these horror movies line up with the critical consensus, yet they have one thing in common: they have made the heart of the writer beat faster with excitement.


About the editor: 
Vanessa Morgan is known as the “female version of Stephen King.” Three of her stories (A Good Man, Next to Her, The Strangers Outside) have become movies. When Animals Attack is her first non-fiction book. When she’s not writing, you can find her watching horror movies, attending film festivals, reading, going to restaurants, or photographing felines for her blog Traveling Cats. She lives in Belgium.

--------

We're really excited to check out the final product, everything from the cover to the list of movies covered in this book is solid. You guys can order your own copy through Amazon here. And to find out more about the editor and heart behind this whole project, Vanessa Morgan, follow her on Twitter, Google+, and Facebook

If you check out When Animals Attack, please be sure to leave a review!


-Huntress

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Digging Up The Dirt with KillDozer and Mad Monster Founder Eben McGarr



If you've ever picked up fliers at a horror convention, chances are you've grabbed at least one Mad Monster Party flier. They have multiple convention dates a year, spread across the states, on top of also putting out a print magazine, which is edited by Joe Moe and Eben McGarr. The latter is the guest of this installation of Digging Up The Dirt. 




KillDozer: Other than being a monster kid, what inspired the creation of Mad Monster as a publication? By that I mean what really lit the fire to make the dream a reality?

Eben: It's the culmination of all the things I personally wanted from a magazine. It's been described as "Highlights" for Monster Kids and that's kind of the perfect way to look at it. As for what lit the fire to make the dream a reality, that is the secret to what keeps the Monster alive and that answer can be found in the first issue.


KillDozer: What was fundraising like when trying to get Mad Monster off the ground? Was Joe a big part of the planing from the beginning? If not when did he come into the picture and who else was involved during the early stages?


Eben: I came up with the concept and created the outline - I knew I wanted the fun borders to be proprietary to each issue, the flip books, models and games, overall theme, etc. I reached out to my friend and brilliant artist Dan Plegel who is a Mad Genius and he worked with me, tirelessly to bring the Monster to life. At that point, I had known Joe for years, we had brought Forry to NecroComicon, a horror convention we hosted in 2003. I had assumed he would be the new editor/face of Famous Monsters and, when I heard he wasn't, I unleashed my flying monkeys to snag him for us! He immediately got what Mad Monster was all about and was instantly on board. He initially came on board to write and before the first issue was done, I asked him to be co-editor of the magazine and partner in all future plots & plans.


KillDozer: Most genre fans are aware of Fangoria's printer issues at the moment, have you experienced similar problems or ever thought of going to a digital format?


Eben: Many warned us against going into print, you'd think we were launching a catapult repair company. Our mag demands paper. We use a heavy paper stock so you can build quality models and crafts from our pages. The flipbooks in the corner wouldn't be as cool when viewed by clicking a mouse or scrolling from your phone...the sound of the pages flipping... to us, paper is UNdead.


KillDozer: Being a fan of the publication, I've noticed you are not shy about writing or discussing anything political. Do you think your readers share those beliefs or are you trying to spread awareness about certain things?

Eben: We are about entertainment and don't especially consider ourselves political. We are all animal lovers and, to us, that's not really a political issue. There have been one or two debates in the office over content which only lead to more confidence in our choices for having fully thought through the subjects.


KillDozer: The puzzles and games are genius! You really bring back that old monster magazine vibe with things like crossword puzzles and mazes. Was that something you wanted from the beginning? 


Eben: Yes! It's one of things we look most forward to working on. We've had a few contributors over the years but, again, Dan Plegel is our resident architect of horrors.


KillDozer: I was lucky enough to pick up all the copies of Mad Monster at a convention but where should everyone else go to grab a copy? What is your schedule for releasing new Mad Monsters?

Eben: We have so much going on, we kind of get to the mag when we get to it. It takes a lot of work for our skeleton crew. One day we hope to see it monthly. Our past issues are available on 
www.madmonster.com.


KillDozer: How do you go about choosing a cover? When deciding on art is it about capturing the attention of the reader or do you just go with what you love?


Eben: We go with what we love.


KillDozer: How did you become involved with the amazing charity organization Scares That Care? Can you tell us a little about what they do and how we can support them?


Eben: We love Joe Ripple and have seen the good he does first-hand. They help people in need and are 100% transparent about where all of the funds go. Find our about them at scaresthatcare.org and follow them on social media.


KillDozer: Mad Monster seems to have their hands full being involved with everything from magazines and conventions, to broadcasting and film screenings. Is Mad Monster run like a business, or a group of friends just making the magic happen?


Eben: It's more of a family that makes magic happen.


KillDozer: The paper models included in the publication are amazing! Have you built any yourself? What was the inspiration for those?

Eben: Not personally, I never have time, I wish I did. Inspiration? Always loved models.


KillDozer: Are you confident enough to complete one of your cross word puzzles in pen?


Eben: Absolutely. I designed them so I know the answers. ;)


KillDozer: What's next for Mad Monster? Where can people find/follow you?

Eben: Working on something fun but it's a secret. Find us on Twitter - @madmonstermag, Instagram - @madmonstergram, and Facebook. 


-KillDozer

Friday, November 25, 2016

Screenings in the Bay (Friday to Sunday): Deathgasm, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Love Witch


I hope everyone survived Black Friday in one piece. Might I suggest a more relaxing activity to do with any family or visitors you have over for the holidays? The movies! Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot going on this weekend, but there are still some good reasons to head to the movies and enjoy a mountain of popcorn with a new movie. Find out what's playing and where below.


Mondo x Chiller Presents

Sunday 27th @ 9:27pm (1hr 26min)
Horror/ Comedy/ International (Rotten Tomatoes)
New kid in town Brodie and bad-boy Zakk quickly bond over their mutual admiration of heavy metal. But when these two metal thrashing losers unwittingly summon malevolent forces, their dreams of stardom may just have to be put on hold.



Midnight Madness

Saturday 26th @ 11:55pm (1hr 40min)
Comedy/ Cult/ Horror/ Scifi (Rotten Tomatoes)
This low-budget freak show/cult classic/cultural institution concerns the misadventures of Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) inside a strange mansion that they come across on a rainy night. After the wholesome pair profess their love through an opening song, their car breaks down in the woods, and they seek refuge in a towering castle nearby. Greeting them at the door is a ghoulish butler named Riff Raff (Richard O'Brien), who introduces them to a bacchanalian collection of partygoers dressed in outfits from some sort of interplanetary thrift shop. The host of this gathering is a transvestite clad in lingerie, Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry), a mad scientist who claims to be from another planet.




Playing All Weekend (2hrs)
Comedy/ Horror (IMDB)
Elaine (Samantha Robinson), a beautiful young witch, is determined to find a man to love her. In her gothic Victorian apartment she makes spells and potions, then picks up men and seduces them. However, her spells work too well, and she ends up with a string of hapless victims. When she at last meets the man of her dreams, her desperation to be loved drives her to the brink of insanity and murder.

(Screening in 35mm)


-Huntress

Thursday, November 24, 2016

The Overlook Theatre Reviews: The Dark Tapes

of 11 viewers "Liked" "The Dark Tapes" (2016, USA)
Here's what the creatures had to say:

The Berkeley Blazer - "Don't let the low score discourage you, this film is not boring. Some segments, in fact, are downright engaging. Some are bizarre in a way that doesn't feel intentional, and others have some great ideas that don't come together. In short, this is one of the most uneven films I've reviewed for the Overlook, even taking into consideration that this is an anthology. I had a good enough time watching this that it probably deserves a 3, but there are aspects and moments of this movie that are so lazy and unbearable I started to wonder if I had fallen asleep and another film had started. As disappointing as it is diverting, The Dark Tapes will have to settle for half a score that might be worth a look for anthology maniacs." - 2.5 Stars

KillDozer - "With a budget of $65,000 and a dream, a makeup artist and a writer/producer were able to make their vision a reality and bring a very ambitious idea to the screen. Most genre nerds can tell you that the anthology film is an extremely tough thing to pull off, especially when the goal is to have the audience falling in love with the entire finished product. While I appreciated the attempt at trying to bring together science fiction and intertwine it with traditional hauntings and demonology, unfortunately it didn't work with me and actually had me falling asleep during most segments. I can tell you that the effects are practical and fun as hell. I must admit that I am also not a fan of found footage and constantly look for mistakes when watching it. With that being said, the crowd I was with didn't take the film too seriously and had a blast watching it while laughing together and pointing out the silliest of situations as they appeared on screen. I am all for supporting independent horror so feel free to give it a shot as this film has won several solid film fest awards. In my humble opinion these "lost tapes" should have stayed that way." - 2 Stars (not collection worthy, but was fun to watch with a fun-loving loud audience)

The Impostor - "Found footage is a favorite sub-genre of mine. When going into The Dark Tapes, I was thinking it would be similar or just as good as V/H/S due to its similar premise. Sadly I was wrong. The film plays out in four segments with one being an extremely confusing wrap around. While some stories were better than others, by the final drawn out segment I became bored and didn't care what happened next. Watching with a group of friends instead of alone is recommended and actually helped me give it an extra star. So if you are looking for a Safeway select version of V/H/S this is your movie." - 2 Stars

Lord Battle - "Well versed adventurers of the horror genre will know what it means when a movie has "Tapes" in the title and boasts the found footage style. If you are unfamiliar with these warning signs, the chances are slim that you'll pick up The Dark Tapes and fall in love, let alone finish the feature. It honestly takes a special kind of masochistic treasure hunter to unearth a gem in the found footage horror soil, but it's those greedy souls that may find some value in The Dark Tapes. From the start of the wrap around to the Cam Girls short, these features shift from hard science to pure comedy. The acting is crude, the scripts are wounded, and the end product is lacking, but there are enough new ideas to keep those who collect unmarked VHS tapes." - 3 Stars

Huntress - "The Dark Tapes had a strong opening and so many little elements that I liked, I was really bummed when I started losing interest. It’s a found footage anthology, which sounds awesome on paper, but the strange organization and title cards between segments felt awkward and left me wondering why there was a wrap around at all. But re-watching it without preconceived expectations allowed me to appreciate those elements that I liked in the first place." - 3 Stars

The Great Hornito - "This is probably the worst found footage movie I have ever seen but not the least entertaining. I enjoyed the train wreck and would recommend this movie to anyone who hates good movies." - 1 Star

Dabbles - "The only thing I really liked was the girl. It was fun to critique though. I have a lot of critiques. #RIPGerry" - 2 Stars

Math Mage - "Boring V/H/S rip-off pretends to have a theme (Night Terrors?) fails on almost all levels. I liked this premise better when it was The Nightmare." - 1 Star

Trash - "Found footage as a trend is on its way out -- which hopefully means the sub-genre will from now on be home to better movies that are actually using the found footage device for creative reasons, not just cos everyone else is. Still, we’ve got some stragglers, like The Dark Tapes, a new found footage anthology playing at some genre fests right now. Let's break this down. The Dark Tapes has three stand alone segments. First: a family in a haunted house, second: a cam show gone evil, and third: alien date rape or some shit. Then there’s this ongoing segment between these about some scientists with special cameras doing ghost experiments with time, which is the best and most unique part of the movie. Then there’s a tiny little cap on top of that of two people on a smoke break or something. Other than that link to the wrap around, there’s no thread at all with the segments. I have absolutely no idea who collected and labeled and is hitting play on these dark tapes, but hey, neat spooky tape collection. Here's the thing though, I kind of really liked it. Not in a wow-what-a-great-art! kind of way, but in a this is ridiculous and I can't stop laughing way. Knockoffs charm me. And I'm all about time travel and weird scifi, so that wrap around segment with the scientific time-bending experiment to capture a ghost between video frames gets me just a little turned on. But my favorite thing about The Dark Tapes is they slapped about thirty festival laurels on their poster which are all awards they were mostly just nominated for at the same three festivals. And that's some clever con artistry. I give it three whole stars!" - 3 Stars



The Overlook Theatre Final Rating*
(Below is for after you've seen the film)

Long ago, in a seemingly normal residence, located deep in the heart of suburbia, The Great Hornito, Huntress and I watched Grave Encounters for the second time. This screening would soon be one of the most influential in the Overlook Theatre's history, as it proved the impact a found footage film can have in the right setting.

The first incarnation of The Overlook Theatre
 The original Overlook Theatre was a little too comfortable but did have several advantages that made it the found footage headquarters. First it was located away from all bedrooms, which allowed for almost limitless volume levels, perfect for immersive viewing. Second, there was really only 1 window in the room that faced North, so it was almost always pitch black in there. Third we projected on a wall that allowed for a very large canvas. Now when I summon the creatures for a found footage screening, I insist that they see it in the theatre and not at home on a TV, computer, or phone. The screening of The Dark Tapes wasn't any different.

The new location the Overlook Theatre haunts seats 13 people (9 comfortably), and when The Dark Tapes played we had 11 fiends in attendance. In a private location, screening films with 5+ people it quickly becomes clear that, as Dio would say, the "Mob Rules" and when a film starts to deviate down an absurd path or have a poor execution (the end of the first short) the result is more often than not comedic. Now the Overlook Theatre has always been transparent about housing several non-horror fans and has stood by the honest review system, even in light of this. And what came from screening The Dark Tapes in a theatre setting was, 7 of 11 beasts disliking the feature but 11 of 11 engaging in conversation and ultimately having a good time. 

- Lord Battle

The Overlook Theatre materialized in a residence for a screening on 11/3/2016
*Based on the star ratings turned in by character reviewers, others viewed and got to "Dislike" or "Like" but that does not effect the rating.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

The Overlook Hour Guest Profile: Barbara Crampton


Barbara Crampton’s name is synonymous with iconic horror movies. She started her cinematic career with a role on Days of Our Lives, and it was not long before she got into film. After starring in a string of beloved 80’s gems like Re-Animator and From Beyond, she definitely earned her scream queen title. 


She’s worked with big names like Stuart Gordon and Brian De Palma, and even more niche directors like Adam Wingard. Her best roles didn’t end in the 80’s either; Barbara is constantly popping up in new and unexpected roles, like the Reverend Mother in Little Sister and Evelyn, the host of a VHS board game, in Beyond the Gates, which just screened at Another Hole in the Head film fest earlier this month. 


Being a bay area resident, Barbara Crampton is also becoming a familiar face at an growing number of bay area events. She recently made her first appearance at the Alamo Drafthouse, where she did a Q&A following the screening of Little Sister, and was also a special guest for the finale of Another Hole in the Head. Next month, she’s planning to return to the Alamo for another screening of Beyond the Gates, so if you missed it the first time around, make sure to be there!


It was actually during the Little Sister event that we got the opportunity to talk to Barbara, or rather Lord Battle did, as he was hosting the Q&A. And she excitedly agreed to come on the Overlook Hour and speak to those film nerds dwelling in the infamous Disney Dungeon. 

Check out the episode below!




-Huntress

Monday, November 21, 2016

Bluray Tuesday: Featuring C.H.U.D, Return of The Living Dead 3, and War Dogs

November 22nd 2016


Black Friday sales are just a few days away but first we have some new titles released to add to our collections. Vesteron Video releases number 4 and 5 in their collectors series with C.H.U.D 2 and Return of The Living Dead, both with new scans and bonus features. Arrow Video releases C.H.U.D the original with cool packaging, reversible cover and new bonus material. Scream Factory releases David Cronenberg's cult classic Rabid for the first time on Bluray as part of their collectors edition series. Rabid is one I'm looking forward to checking out, it will be a first time watch for me. Miles Teller and Jonah Hill's new film War Dogs, which is a crime thriller, hits stores today and only Target has a steelbook packaging for us steelbook collectors. These are the week's highlights but there are also a few other titles released today I'm sure I will eventually pick up in the near future. All week stores will be having pre Black Friday deals, you can check out Target and Best Buy's ads and even more deals on their Black Friday sections. What will you buy, rent or skip this week? What are you looking forward to picking up Black Friday weekend? Let us know in the comments. Check out our Instagram page for many other updates. Follow and chat with us! Happy Thanksgiving everyone we are thankful for each and every one of you who visit our site. Until next week!

C.H.U.D: Amazon - $22.99

A rash of bizarre murders in New York City seems to point to a group of grotesquely deformed vagrants living in the sewers. A courageous policeman, a photo journalist and his girlfriend, and a nutty bum, who seems to know a lot about the creatures, band together to try and determine what the creatures are and how to stop them.

C.H.U.D (Blu-ray) 

C.H.U.D 2: Amazon - $24.99

A military experiment to create a race of super-warriors go awry, and legions of murderous zombies are unleased upon a surburan neighborhood.

C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud (Blu-ray) 

Return Of The Living Dead 3: Amazon - $24.99 

Julie and Curt are sweethearts. But puppy love turns into tragedy when a motorcycle accident kills Julie and separates the young lovers permanently. Still devoted and very heartbroken, Curt tries desperately to keep Julie alive by exposing her to Trioxin, a potent drug which brings the dead back to life. There's only one problem: when she comes back to life, she's a vampiress voraciously feeding on human flesh. Now Curt's got to keep Julie alive and find a way to manage the undead while not becoming dinner himself.

Return of the Living Dead 3 (Blu-ray) 

Rabid (1977): Amazon - $21.99

A young woman develops a taste for human blood after undergoing experimental plastic surgery, and her victims turn into rabid, blood-thirsty zombies who proceed to infect others, which turns into a city-wide epidemic.

Rabid (Blu-ray) 

I Drink Your Blood (1970): Amazon - $39.99

A band of satanist hippies roll into a town and begin terrorizing the local folk. They rape a local girl and her grandpa goes after them. He fails and is given LSD. This bothers his grandson and he gets back at the hippies by feeding them meat pies infected with blood from a rabid dog. They turn into crazed lunatics and begin killing and/or infecting everything in their path.

I Drink Your Blood (Blu-ray)
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Hell Or High Water: Amazon - $19.99

Toby is a divorced father who's trying to make a better life for his son. His brother Tanner is an ex-convict with a short temper and a loose trigger finger. Together, they plan a series of heists against the bank that's about to foreclose on their family ranch. Standing in their way is Marcus, a Texas Ranger who's only weeks away from retirement. As the siblings plot their final robbery, they must also prepare for a showdown with a crafty lawman who's not ready to ride off into the sunset.

Hell or High Water (Blu-ray) 

To Live and Die in L.A.:Amazon - $21.99

When his longtime partner on the force is killed, reckless U.S. Secret Service agent Richard Chance (William L. Petersen) vows revenge, setting out to nab dangerous counterfeit artist Eric Masters (Willem Dafoe). Along with his new, straitlaced partner, John Vukovich (John Pankow), Chance sets up a scheme to entrap Masters, resulting in the accidental death of an undercover officer. As Chance's desire for justice becomes an obsession, Vukovich questions the lawless methods he employs.

To Live and Die in L.A. (Blu-ray)
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War Dogs: Amazon - $19.99
4K: Amazon - $29.99

With the war in Iraq raging on, Efraim Diveroli offers childhood friend David Packouz a chance to make big bucks by becoming an international arms dealer. Together, they exploit a government initiative that allows businesses to bid on U.S. military contracts. Starting small allows the duo to rake in money and live the high life. They soon find themselves in over their heads after landing a $300 million deal to supply Afghan forces, a deal that puts them in business with some very shady people.

War Dogs (Blu-ray) 

War Dogs 4K (Blu-ray) 

Steelbook: Target - $22.99

War Dogs (Blu-ray)
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Kubo and the Two Strings: Amazon - $19.99
3D: Amazon - $27.99

Young Kubo's (Art Parkinson) peaceful existence comes crashing down when he accidentally summons a vengeful spirit from the past. Now on the run, Kubo joins forces with Monkey (Charlize Theron) and Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) to unlock a secret legacy. Armed with a magical instrument, Kubo must battle the Moon King (Ralph Fiennes) and other gods and monsters to save his family and solve the mystery of his fallen father, the greatest samurai warrior the world has ever known.

Kubo and the Two Strings (Blu-ray) 

Kubo and the Two Strings 3D (Blu-ray) 

Mechanic Resurrection: Amazon - $19.99
4K: Amazon - $24.99 

Living under cover in Brazil, master assassin Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) springs back into action after an old enemy (Sam Hazeldine) kidnaps the woman (Jessica Alba) he loves. To save her life, Bishop must kill an imprisoned African warlord, a human trafficker (Toby Eddington) and an arms dealer (Tommy Lee Jones), all while making the deaths look like accidents. When things don't go exactly as planned, Bishop turns the tables on the people who forced him out of retirement.

Mechanic: Resurrection (Blu-ray) 

Mechanic: Resurrection 4K (Blu-ray) 

Intruder: Amazon - $22.99

During one of Oregon's most violent storms, a young cellist seeks solitude and comfort in the safety of her large apartment, but soon realizes she might not be home alone. With the modern and simple tone of Paranormal Activity paired with the cinematic elegance of Hitchcock's Rope, INTRUDER is a disturbing psychological thriller that will make you think twice about being home alone.

Intruder (Blu-ray) 

Yoga Hosers: Amazon - $19.99

Two teenage yoga enthusiasts team up with a legendary man-hunter to battle with an ancient evil presence that is threatening their major party plans.

Yoga Hosers (Blu-ray) 

Hands of Stone: Amazon - $17.99

At age 72, legendary trainer Ray Arcel (Robert De Niro) comes out of retirement to coach world-class Panamanian boxer Roberto Durán (Édgar Ramírez). Arcel becomes a mentor to the ferocious fighter, convincing him that winning ultimately comes down to strategy. After scoring knockout after knockout, Duran prepares for a bout against Sugar Ray Leonard, the undefeated lightweight champion. Five months later, on Nov. 25, 1980, the two titans meet for an infamous rematch that makes boxing history.

Hands of Stone (Blu-ray) 


-The Impostor