"The Unholy Three" - 1930

Greetings Film Fiends and Deadites,

To kick off the 30s, I present “The Unholy Three” directed by Tod Browning and starring Lon Chaney, Sr. (in his last film), Mae Busch and Matt Moore. This 1930 “talkie” remaking of the 1925 silent film tells the story of murder and intrigue at a circus sideshow as several performers go on a crime spree.  Hard to find on Netflix but is available complete on You Tube. Drink a toast to Lon Chaney’s swan song.

The Dark Secret of Harvest Home (1978)

Greetings Film Fiends and Deadites,

Happy “Autumnal Equinox”! To commemorate this holiday I present a strange piece that was an NBC miniseries in 1978. Based on Tom Tryon’s 1973 novel, “The Dark Secret of Harvest Home”, directed by Leo Penn and starring Bette Davis, David Ackroyd, Rosanna Arquette and Rene Auberjonoiis, tells the story of a young couple moving to a small New England town that practices that “old time” religion.  Although the book was vastly superior to this miniseries, it is still worth a look. Hopefully it will give you some ideas at “planting time”.

Waxworks - 1924

Greatings again Film Fiends and Deatites,

As we weave our way through 1920s silent horror cinema, I present another classic German expressionalist film; “Waxworks” directed by Paul Leni and starring Werner Krauss and Conrad Veidt. This 1924 film is more of an anthology but still rates as one of the best of the era. Available through Netflix (not insta-download) but is on You tube.

by: RFR Casket Crew Jigsaw Jim

At Midnight I'll Take your Soul

Greetings Film Fiends and Deadites,

Besides my ongoing posts on 100 years of Horror movies, every Friday I will post a review of “another” horror movie usually a “blue” or cult movie.I’ll call it “Freaky Friday Film Review”. To start it off, I present “At Midnight I’ll Take Your Soul” (“À Meia-Noite Levarei Sua Alma”.) This 1963 film was Brazil’s first horror film and launched the career of the iconic film maker/actor  Jose Mojica Marins aka Coffin Joe. This was the first of the “Coffin Joe” trilogy films but this one set the stage as Marins plays the undertaker who abhors religion and is only concerned about the continuity of the blood. Discovering that his wife is unable to conceive children, he dispatches her in an unusually gruesome manner along with anyone else who gets in his way. Black and white and in subtitles, this movie is truly a work of genius! Marins actually went to prison for blasphemy for making his movies (talk about suffering for your art!). Be sure to check this film out along with his other two sequels. 5 out of 5 severed thumbs up!

by: RFR Casket Crew Jigsaw Jim

The Hunchback of Notre Dame - 1923

Greetings Film Fiends and Deadites,

As we continue our trip down memory lane, I present one of the classics; “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”,  directed by Wallace Worsley and starring Lon Chaney, Sr. and Patsy Ruth Miller. Based on the Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name, this 1923 film was Universal Studio’s highest grossing film at the time (over $3 million) and launched Chaney as a horror icon. On Netflix insta-download and You Tube.

Ghostbusters Returns To Theaters

As Halloween gets closer and we all get in the haunting mood, we look forward to scary movies, halloween movies and ghost filled entertainment. Along with that comes, horror, Jigsaw and some lighter fare like 80s Classics?

Yes, Who are you Gonna Call? The classic film GHOSTBUSTERS is returning to the big screen this Halloween. Not in a re-envisioning, not a remake, the Original Classic is Back, the boys, Slimer and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man! The film is getting a full digital restoration and getting re-issued this season for a limited number of engagements for all of us to enjoy.

When Rotting Flesh Radio talked to Ernie Hudson last year, we discussed the much talked about Ghostbusters 3. And maybe this re-issue will spark that development further and gets the juices flowing for it once again. Rumors had been floating around that it is a go possibly without Murray attached, although that would destroy any hope of its success. you need the team back in full!

So when you play the awesome Ghostbusters game, kick out your old Soundtrack Cassette Tapes, Read your Ghostbusters Books (Like the Classic we posted on the Rotting Flesh Radio Facebook Page), We can all enjoy Slimer and claim this S%$T is for Real, watch Dogs and Cats Living together and sing along in Theaters this Halloween once again.

Nosferatu (1922)

Greetings Film Fiends and Deadites,

To continue with my serving of seasonal film offerings, I present “Nosferatu” directed by F.W. Murnau and starring Max Schreck as Count Orlock the Vampire. This 1922 German Expressionist film is the first cinematic adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”. Due to copyright issues, Murnau couldn’t use the characters from the original novel so he changed the names. There is also some minor “tweeking” to the story, otherwise a very faithful cinematic telling of the classic vampire story. Also available though Netflix instant download and You Tube.

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Greetings Film Fiends and Deadites,

As the halloween season rapidly approaches, it’s time to sit down with a loved one (or not so loved one) to watch some of your favorite and classic horror films. This installment is the 1920 classic film “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”, directed by Robert Wiene and starring Werner Krauss and Conrad Veidt.  A precursor to “Shutter Island” and it’s available on instant download through Netflix and free on Youtube. The first movie to have a “twist ending”.

Häxan

Greeting Film Fiends and Deadites,

Another highly recommended silent classic, “Häxan; or Witchcraft Though The Ages” directed by Benjamin Christensen and starring Maren Pedersen, Oscar Stribolt and Benjamin Pedersen. This 1922 Danish – Swedish film follows Christensen’s study of the classic witchcraft text “Malleus Malificarum”. Was the most expensive Scandinavian film made at the time and is presented as a documentary on the history of witchcraft and superstition. Available through Netflix and is on You tube.

Beetlejuice - 1988

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! It seems so far that the rumors are coming true and our favorite ghost with the most will come to theaters once again in a sequel.

This sequel has been in the works since the early 1990s, and it has been on and off many times. We have been told that this will not be a “remake” or a “re-envision” of the film. It WILL be a continuation of the story, character and plot of the original film’s title ghost.

David Katzenberg and Seth Grahame-Smith will be the team to bring this film from the 80s Graveyard to the new generation of Fright Freaks to enjoy. They also have assured everyone that it will also have that distinctive Tim Burton style, since Seth has recently worked with Burton on the “Dark Shadows” film starring one of his right hand actors, Johnny Depp.

Found in the pages of Hollywood lore, it has been said that some of the sequel names were as cheesy as a 1990s sequel could get with some listed as “Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian”. All we can say, is thank God that’s not the case now!

I am curious as to how our good friend over at Retroist.com will take this, but the original was a classic. The music, characters and more have remained as Tim Burton’s distinct style, and also sets the mood for family friendly fun classic Halloween Goth Fun.

The original cast was Michael Keaton, who played the title character, Betelguese, Alex Baldwin and Geena Davis, Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones and Winona Ryder.

Over the years toys have been popular and also recently on the Rotting Flesh Radio Facebook Page we posted a ‘Cracked’ Magazine from the 80s poking fun at the movie from our closet of goodies we never threw away.

Overall, I am down for a Beetlejuice revival if it is done right and ONLY if Keaton is returning to his role. If and when that happens, let’s do this. But until then, let’s release the beast…BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE, BEETLEJUICE!!!