Home Video Exclusives

[JohnIan101]

Best Buy - October 9th, 2018


Skyscraper
Exclusive steelbook; 4K BD/BD/DC combo $32.99

Hotel Transylvania 3
Exclusive glow-in-the-dark steelbook; BD/DVD/DC combo $37.99

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Anniversary Edition
Exclusive steelbook; BD/DC combo $14.99

Universal Classic Monsters: The Essential Collection (Alex Ross art set) (available now)
Exclusive store release with art cards; BD only $39.99

[JohnIan101]

Past Tense - Blood, Cleavage, Gun Play And Lycanthropes Part II




The other is "2 Disc Unrated Extended Cut"; released on May 25th, 2004 from Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (ISBN# 1 4049 56891) for $34.95. Came in a two disc case with a translucent slipcover featuring Beckinsale and stats.

There were two inserts. "Drawings Of Underworld: Sketch To Scene Comparison", a fourteen page mini booklet. And a fifty page mini comic book adaptation, released by IDW Publishing; adaptation by Kris Oprisko with art by Nick Postie and Nick Marinkovich. Both came inside the case.

The unrated motion picture is one hundred thirty-four minutes long.

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Extras:

* Commentary: director Len Wiseman and stars Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman
* Thirteen minutes of restored footage.
* Outtakes (full screen, 3:43 minutes)
* "Fang Vs. Fiction" (full screen, 47:04 minutes; aired on American Movie Classics on September 17th, 2003)
* "The Making Of Underworld" featurette (full screen, 13:02 minutes)
* "Visual Effects" featurette (full screen, 9:56 minutes)
* "Creature Effects" featurette (full screen, 12:29 minutes)
* "Stunts" featurette (full screen, 11:42 minutes)
* "Designing Underworld" featurette (full screen, 10:54 minutes)
* "The Look Of Underworld" featurette (full screen, 19:11 minutes)
* "Sights & Sounds" featurette (full screen, 9:07 minutes)
* "Storyboard Comparison" (full screen, 6:43 minutes)
* "Worms Of The Earth" music video by Finch (non-anamorphic, 2:45 minutes)
* Theatrical Trailer (anamorphic)
* TV Spots (non-anamorphic)
* Additional Trailers: Hellboy" (anamorphic, 2004), "Resident Evil: Apocalypse" (anamorphic, 2004) and "Spider-Man 2" (anamorphic, 2004)

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Audio:

* Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround

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Notes:

* This is subtitled in English and French.
* The DVD is dubbed in French (also in 5.1 Surround)

If you want all the extras, you still need "Widescreen Special Edition"; two commentaries didn't carry over to enbiggen re-release. This was my first double-dip DVD.

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Tangent.

More sexy Halloween costumes; unlike last week - stuff that works at being feminine but is... lazy; slapped together at the last minute.



Sexy Nerd? Looks like an employee at some kind of fanboy gimmick breastaurant. The official name is "Naughty Nerd" costume. Sure it works, but not much effort was put into it.

That second is even worse - the costume is just the lab coat. You provide the rest - "Dr. Ophelia Cummings M.D. Sex Therapist". Cute, sure, but weak. The girl has to have some kind of seductive wardrobe to go under that coat or it fails.

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This topic, I want to go back on a previous Past Tense for "Birds Of Prey: The Complete Series" - homage/imitation promotional art.



Who copied who? The series "Birds Of Prey" debuted on October 9th, 2002 on The WB. "Underworld" came out on September 19th, 2003. Somebody copied another.

Click to read about a detailed Selene action figure for "Underworld Evolution". 11.5 inches tall with over thirty points of articulation for $234.99; that's roughly $20.43 per inch. *nods*

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Recommendations.

Five more Halloween titles to consider.

"As Above, So Below" (2014)
Nicolas Flamel was a well known fourteenth century alchemist; considered by some to have discovered his goal - the Philosopher's Stone; transmuting base metals into gold and imbuing immortality. Dr. Marlowe spent a lifetime trying to find Flamel's secret to no avail - a suicide. The present; his daughter Scarlett, a fellow seeker has taken up her father's obsession. A quest from a hidden cave in Iran to France looking for a translation on a statue found sealed away. And to the Catacombs of Paris where she believes her answers awaits. A journey that takes her and her friends through a supernatural, found-footage nightmare (excellent atmosphere).
Universal Studios Home Entertainment - 2014 - R

"Harbinger Down" (2015)
Graduate students on board the fishing trawler, Harbinger have found something terrible in the Bering Sea. They are present to study the effects of global warming on a pod of Belugas whales, tracked. Recording the pod with an underwater camera they come across an object in the icy waters. Fishing nets brings up a 1982 Soviet moon lander, frozen in a block of ice. The mystery of how it ended up in Bering is overshadowed by screams. The Soviets had taken Tardigrades (microscopic life form - water bears) with them to see what would happen if exposed to cosmic radiation, disastrous results. The cosmonaut got infected with a rapidly body modifying infection - as the crew members are. Can they be saved? Should they be saved if that means the world could become infected? Paranoia and terror. This was an independent, Kickstarter funded film with predominant practical effects, augmented with light CGI for wire removal. A film heavily influenced by "John Carpenter's The Thing" (1982).
Vertical Entertainment - 2015 - NR

"I've Been Waiting For You" (1998)
Made for NBC TV movie (aired March 22nd, 1998). Moving from Los Angeles to Pine Crest, a picturesque New England town was more pain than awkward isolation for high school student Sarah Zoltanne. Her single mother Rosemary, got work as a teacher in her school which hampers a social life. And her class life is tormented by the "Descendants Club" - kids of the oldest, riches families in town. Events unfolding has her seriously considering if something supernatural is plaguing her. In 1698 Sarah Lancaster was burned at the stake for witchcraft, her dying breath - a curse on those who murdered her; Lancaster is Sarah ancestor. A series of deaths occur within the Descendants Club, blame centers on the new girl. Growing paranoia and distrust surfaces even among the adults. A result of an illegitimate son wanting revenge? Or perhaps something else - possession or reincarnation? Stars a pre-famous Sarah Chalke, best known as Dr. Elliot Reid on the TV series, "Scrubs". Based on the novel, "Gallows Hill" by Lois Duncan who also wrote the book, "I Know What You Did Last Summer". The DVD is out of print.
Artisan Home Entertainment - 2003 - PG-13

"Lifeforce" (1985)
A mission of discovery into the uncharted mysteries of Halley's Comet, unleashes unimaginable horror on the crew and the world. Led by U.S. Colonel Tom Carlsen, the expedition finds an alien spacecraft nestled within the depths of the comet's energy band. Once inside, they encounter crystalline sarcophagi housing three humanoid beings. Deaths of the crew occurs when they bring the coffins back to Earth. The situation becomes apocalyptic when one of the three beings escape from an ESA research facility, setting off a chain of events that could lead to our extinction. Based on the novel, "The Space Vampires" by Colin Wilson.
Shout! Factory - 2013 - R

"Mayhem" (2017)
Derek Cho works for Towers & Smythe Consulting, corporate law firm. This is the firm which set a precedent over an infectious virus, ID-7 a.k.a. "Red Eye"; a virus which strip its host of inhibitions. The man who went on a murderous rampage was acquitted of all charges - unable to stop himself. Derek worst day, first he's fired, then the building is in lock down when the virus is detected - quarantined. He and Melanie Cross, who was trying to save her home from foreclosure are now targets of everyone inside. Worse yet, they discover both are infected too, but holding on. A dark allegiance; 'save my home, I'll help you kill your boss'. A bloody, brutal, comedy revenge flick.
RLJ Entertainment, Inc. - 2017 - NR

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Sexy vampires with guns and swords, mixed with werewolfs and world building - what's not to love? I own the entire franchise on DVD. Good stuff. Above is Circuit City's weekly ad. It kinda gives the impression that the promo disc was their exclusive.

That's the reason, I went with their lower price - took it home from here.

The films and their worldwide totals:

Underworld (2003) - $95,708,457
Underworld: Evolution (2006) - $111,340,801
Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans (2009) - $91,085,163
Underworld: Awakening (2012) - $160,112,671
Underworld: Blood Wars (2016) - $81,093,313

As I wrote, it should be another one - they're profitable. Oh - now have my answer...

September 13th, 2018; Kate Beckinsale spoke to Variety and gave this comment "I wouldn't return. I've done plenty of those." So there goes that.

One of the reasons is her now ex; at one point she was married to director/franchise co-creator Len Wiseman. In 2016 they filed for divorce - before the release of the last movie, "Underworld: Blood Wars". It was not a happy set, some of the worst experiences in her life as she says.

One more crypt closed.

But not close to dawn, still more sinister pursuers racing towards you in the dark. Next week you'll get a supernatural menace who likes to taunt its prey before eating victims' souls. Bring mints, you know - to be courteous.

[JohnIan101]

Past Tense - Hewed Earth And Calamities Part I


[An earlier version of this PT was originally posted on October 30th, 2014 on JoBlo's "DVD, Blu-Ray & Home Theater Discussion" forum. And here as a mention from Limited Edition Horror 2016 entry for "30 Days Of Night".]

An additional L.E. Horror offering, a bonus - expanded into a two parter. This is a feature that could've been a classic, but plopped out as a turd. It's this year's "Stage Fright" entry ("Part I" and "Part II"). Oh boy! I say facetiously.

Clay and ego with an old school flavor in the other movie titled, "It!"...



British motion picture opened on November 15th, 1967 in America. Budget and sales is unknown. My data is limited. I was able to isolate that this opened in the United Kingdom in July of 1967. I have no box office or theatrical stats, those records appear lost to time; the internet did not cooperate. I was fortunate my internet mojo got me the next.

The feature opened (in the U.S.) against "Cool Hand Luke", "Tony Rome", "The Incident" and "Who's That Knocking At My Door".

The DVD release has no insert.

Man, if you only knew how many hours it took me to restore that poster - five hours.

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Single exclusive.

An unadvertised exclusive from Best Buy. Sorry, no weekly ad picture. It streeted on October 7th, 2008 for $19.98, part of the store's Halloween offerings. Unknown how many were available at each store.

It would get a wide release on December 9th, same year - same price.



A two movie set - "It/The Shuttered Room: Horror Double Feature" from Warner Home Video. A single sided DVD, both movies are presented in anamorphic widescreen. Zero extras, not even their trailers.

Not the first time Best Buy has done this. In August 24th, 2004, the store offered a lot of "Midnite Movies Double Features" for $9.94 apiece, MGM Home Entertainment releases. Perhaps a future Past Tense.

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Rant.

The subject here is "It!". This was something I picked up from Big Lots! for three bucks, years ago. Got around to watching it in May of 2014.

The feature was widely released in the U.S. on a double bill with "The Frozen Dead" (1966).

I remember watching this in the 1990s on KCOP (channel 13), didn't care for it then either.



The film is another version of the Jewish legend, mysticism.

A fire at a British museum's warehouse leaves all the stored artifacts reduced to rubble and ashes... minus one. An undamaged clay statue, called by the museum curator, Mr. Harold Grove (Ernest Clark) as "Mid-European Primitive". He is killed a moment later while inspecting the relic.

Arthur Pym (Roddy McDowall) was Grove's timid assistant; had left for a moment - to fetch a flashlight, so the curator could get a better look at the antiquity. Less than a minute later, stuck down. But by whom? That didn't make sense - at that point, the giant wasn't under anyone's authority.

The death sends Pym down a dark road once he figures out this giant is none other than the infamous Golem from the 16th century. Created by Rabbi Judah Loew as the protector of Prague, Czechoslovakia's ghetto's residents; a creation that ran amok due to his complacency.

Corruption, Pym uncovers the secret to controlling the clay figure to do his dark desires. Things escalate, resulting in a small nuke being used to bring down the soil automaton which fails. And fails reason too - out running a nuke on motorcycle.

*shakes head*

Don't be so curious. It's a crappy flick; nearly embarrassing in its juvenile logic and wanting Pym to be this Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins in "Psycho" [1960]) wannabe. Like the motel clerk, he has his long dead mother in his home in a rocking chair. Why?

Has nothing to do with the story being told. In fact, hinted since she was rocking that there was some kind of supernatural aspect at play. Which in terms of the Golem plot is true, but for Arthur's personal life...

No.

The movie was written, produced and directed by Herbert J. Leder should you care.

Anyhow he gets confidence by using the clay avatar to murder those who get in his way. He interested in the dead curator's daughter, Ellen (Jill Haworth).

Arthur is thwarted by an American broker (Paul Maxwell) who has come to London to purchase the primitive statue (made sometime in 1550) for a New York museum. Ellen and Jim enter in a relationship which infuriate Arthur. She sees Pym as a friend.



Did like this camera set-up. The bust in the background gazing upon the creature.

If this suck so bad, why am I taking about this???

Because under this muck is a good film, better writing and losing pointless story lines. The Golem is a man in suit (Alan Seller), which is fine. But when he's not moving, you need a full size prop - not just having the guy under the make-up stand still which doesn't work since you can see him ever so slightly move/breathe (umbrella scene in particular).

Plus have prop limbs for close-ups. You can see the rubber suit dent and wobble. But the overall look of the Golem is solid, it's creepy; created by Eric Carter.

But there is another part that grabbed my attention.

Pym finds an inscription on the body, takes the rub to a Jewish scholar to translate. First off, Arthur works at a museum; he should've known some department there to have it deciphered. Or maybe, just maybe this move was smart - covering his tracks for when he uses the clay brute. *shrugs* I'm probably giving the movie too much credit.



This is the part - the scholar (Richard Goolden) is concerned by what is brought to him, I enjoyed. Promotional image above. You get a taste of what this could've been...

Arthur: You have it?
Scholar: This is a most rare thing. I don't believe that you got it off some stone as you said. If I translate it for you, will you agree to tell me the truth?
Arthur: [pause] Yes.
Scholar: Very well... "He who will find the secret of my life at his feet, him I will serve until beyond time. He who shall evoke me in the 17th century, beware for I cannot by fire be destroyed. He who shall evoke me in the 18th century, beware for I cannot by fire or by water be destroyed. He who evokes me in the 19th century, beware for I cannot by fire or by water or by force be destroyed. He who in the 20th century shall dare evoke me, beware for neither by fire nor water nor force nor anything by man created, can I be destroyed. He who in the 21st century evokes me must be of God's hand himself because on this Earth the person of man existeth no more." Now, tell me. Where did you get this?
Arthur: [long pause] I traced it off an old statue that came from Czechoslovakia. Does it have any significance?
Scholar: Significance? That statue is the great Golem, believed to have been destroyed centuries ago. If it is still in existence. IF, I say. It is probably the most powerful force on Earth today.
Arthur: More powerful than the H-bomb?
Scholar: [scowl] A bomb is finished when it has exploded, but the Golem will go on and on... forever. Serving or destroying.
Arthur: What do you mean, serving?
Scholar: It will obey whoever places the magic scroll beneath its tongue.
Arthur: Were does one get this magic scroll?
Scholar: If I knew that, I would not reveal it to you. Power destroys.
Arthur: Yes. I appreciate your help.
Scholar: I fear it.

*wicked grin*



That feels very much like that moment from John Carpenter's "Prince Of Darkness" (1987). The possessed girl, Lisa (Ann Yen) - typing at her computer in a trance...

"You will not be saved by the Holy Ghost. You will not be saved by the god Plutonium. In fact, YOU WILL NOT BE SAVED!"

I'm really not into 1960s women, few exceptions and actress Jill Haworth is one of them.



The style of that era works on her; quite feminine and attractive. The other image above is from Arthur's fevered dream. It's easy to see why she's craved for.

This is a movie that screams to be remade, proper. Keep it set in the 1960s, it ain't broke.

Plot hole, rather huge - language. How can the Golem understand Arthur?

He's speaking English; shouldn't his commands be in Hebrew? Is it like Star Trek's universal translator; as in - the person who inserts the scroll is automatically understood?

[JohnIan101]

Past Tense - Hewed Earth And Calamities Part II




Promotional photo with the Golem holding, Pym's mother's desiccated corpse. That element should've been taken out.

Okay, towards the end; Ellen is abducted on Pym's command; she is taken in her night gown.

Back to the above pix. You can see why it looks like a man in a suit; like a rubber toga.

Which brings me to something I didn't connect until doing poster restoration.



Early production artwork on the Golem, above left. Would imagine that's suppose to be Ellen. Still being abducted in her lingerie. The clay monster looks moist and gooey, ready to fall apart - like the Tar Man (production art) from "The Return Of The Living Dead" (1985). "More brains!".

Wondering if this was something they were actually going for. I say this since the film's poster has this gooey, dripping quality around the word, "It". A gooey Golem isn't a new one.

As written in "30 Days Of Night" PT entry (Part I and Part II), the aborted Charles Bronson horror/crime flick, "The Golem". Their clay monster wasn't quite a solid.

The kill order is given; it could travel through pipes as soft mud and reform to complete its task. Maybe this was Leder's original idea as production art, kinda suggests. The sentinel could go into unexpected place, not hindered by its form. Which makes sense; how could anybody NOT see this giant lumbering about?

Another is the poster's text; "Water Can't Drown It!" Pardon? The statue doesn't need to breathe. Water maybe to weaken the clay or wash it away - you know what I mean.

The ending - it has none. The conclusion, the Golem walks into the sea... then what? The end. It made no sense, the giant did this on its own accord. Arthur was now dead. No command given. And shouldn't that thing be highly radioactive? Deadly to be around with?

This flick was also known as "Anger Of The Golem" and "Curse Of The Golem". Would NOT recommend. The only real reason to watch is Roddy McDowall who gives it his all and it's rather a train wreck - a dull one.



Sure. "The Shuttered Room" (1967) is a mess. Also known as "Blood Island". Could not decide what kind of horror movie it wanted to be, a chore to watch. By the way, in her prime - Carol Lynley was the perfect 1960s, 'girl next door'. Quite attractive, but not unapproachable.

Donald Sutherland has a bit part in it as the voice of Zebulon. Yeah even the names sounded generic. Doesn't that poster look like vomit?

Oh - Ernest Clark also co-starred in "The Frozen Dead", weak reason to bundle the films together. His screen time in "It" was a blip.

This bit landed on my lap in the evening of September 30th.

2008 DVD is out of print and is getting re-released this month.



This will street once again, now on October 23rd, 2018 for $15.99.

One catch... this is an MOD (official DVD-R with printed wraparound); part of Warner's "Archive Collection" - as in Manufacture On Demand. Same transfer.

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Tangent.

Another sexy Halloween costume.



As with the poster, that magazine cover took hours to restore. Even had to fix the bar code. But was worth it, came out excellent.

The costume is a sexy business woman, "Working Girl" which is damn appropriate. That image kept rolling in my head when I saw it. I've seen that before, but could not remember. Then it hits me.

Quite similar to Playboy magazine's August 1989 cover. And was one my favorite covers; should've been made into a poster. The hidden rabbit logo is on the stock index chart. Cover girl is Brandi Brandt, Miss October 1987. I got this mag when I was in high school.

Was too shy to get myself. So I paid another kid to buy it for me. He knew a shop clerk who would sell adult magazines to teens who had the money, no questions.

Made me odd among my friends, I also read the articles.

The outfit is a first rate, a sexy Halloween costume. On the right woman - stunning. The glasses come with the ensemble.

This is something I would love to see actress Alexandra Daddario or Victoria Justice in. Very sway. I do appreciate that the bikini bottom matches the knit vest, a pinstripe thong.

Yes, the same Brandt who went to prison for smuggling cocaine in air plane toilets bound to Australia from Los Angeles. The ex-wife of Mötley Crüe's bassist, Nikki Sixx. She was also a Playboy cover girl again, the March 1990 issue; appearing with now President Donald Trump.

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Just Because.



Came upon my radar last month, quite cute. Made to look like quilted dolls. These are cold cast bronze, hand painted, button eyed figurines; $11.99 each, available now.

They are roughly (varies) four and a half inches tall. Something that could - if you have decent space, fit on your desk. Or display them around your home video collection, next to the horror titles. *nods*

Left pix; clockwise: Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, Leatherface, Dracula, The Gill-Man and Pinhead. Right pix (same): Frankenstein Monster, The Bride, Frankie Holding Bride and Bride Holding Frankie.

Tiny sign in the Gill-Man's bowl, reads "No Fishing". These are kinda pricey for such small figurines. But would like to own the entire collection.

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Recommendation.

Okay, fine - have three.

"Duel" (1971)
Made for ABC TV movie (aired November 13th, 1971). A film directed by a pre-famous, Steven Spielberg with a screenplay by Richard Matheson. A movie that became the precursor to "Jaws" (1975). Timid, middle-aged, traveling salesman David Mann is on a business trip in his Plymouth Valiant - traveling through the Mojave Desert when unintentionally catches the wrath of a decrepit, tanker truck that wants him dead. Unrelenting, single minded pursuit - David must rise up from being a pushover to save himself from a metallic force of nature. We do not see the driver, the tanker IS the character. It was a hit when it aired and was given a limited European theatrical release with eighteen minutes of additional footage (which is the DVD). Based on the short story of the same name, published in Playboy (April 1971 issue).
Universal Studios Home Video - 2003 - NR

"John Carpenter's Prince Of Darkness" (1987)
On special request of a priest; a group of grad students led by Professor Howard Birack venture to an abandoned Los Angeles church. Within the basement they find an ancient canister with a glowing, green swirling liquid and a book detailing its history. As the group uncovers more than they wish to believe; the fluid escapes, transforming members of the collective into unholy disciples. Trapped in the building, survivors plot an escape, but must now prevent The Dark from releasing its father onto our world from the beyond.
Shout! Factory - 2013 - R

"The Terror: The Complete First Season" (2018)
Not a movie, but a limited run horror/gothic TV series which ran for ten weeks on AMC. Based on real events (unknown elements fictionalized). In 1846, the British Royal Navy launched two, state of the art ships to find the Northwest Passage (quicker trade route to Asia) through the Arctic; the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror. Upon reaching the top of the world and consumed by glory, both vessels become stuck in the ice - damaged. The plan was to make due for a few months, until the sheet melts; return home in failure. Nature had other plans, no thaw in the Spring or Summer. Things continue to grow worse, escalating into dire circumstances. The crews discover that their canned food supply has gone bad, what hasn't - could very well be tainted. The bleak landscape offers no indigenous food, some decide to engage at creative survival in secret. And a slow brewing insurgence comes into existence. The worst isn't from the harsh environment, malnutrition, fatigue, mutiny or broken spirits... but from what's out there - on the ice, an unknown. Not a polar bear, something else - large and powerful. Something scheming to consume the men inside, something abominable. Based on the Dan Simmons' novel of the same name.
Lionsgate - 2018 - NR

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Last promotional image - Haworth; could do without the cigarette.

...Bela Lugosi's Dead?

Just making sure.

More horror awaits next week. Come back with courage and a mind on doing the right thing - even if that means chopping your friends into pieces... because.

[JohnIan101]

Best Buy - October 16th, 2018


Ant-Man And The Wasp
Exclusive steelbook; 4k BD/BD/DC combo $34.99

Ash Vs. Evil Dead: The Complete Series
Exclusive packaging and Ash bobble head; BD/DC combo $49.99

Hotel Transylvania 3 (available now)
Exclusive glow-in-the-dark steelbook; BD/DVD/DC combo $32.99

[JohnIan101]

Past Tense - Don't Play With Books Covered In Human Skin Part II


Special features chronicle her part. How she had to endure much for the role (and breakdown). There's a moment where she's talking to the camera, after showering - washing the fake blood and mud off. Her face took my attention, a bruise on the side. Make-up is off, washed.

I think that's real.

Don't you underestimate my dirty mind. My dirty talk. My dirty thoughts.

- She Wants Revenge

She was best known as Tessa Altman on ABC's "Suburgatory" (2011). Tessa getting possessed and murdering folks; please, let it be Dalia. When will seasons two and three come out on DVD? Why it hasn't happened yet?

Am bummed we didn't get a fourth season, but they wrote themselves in a corner - final episodes.



Now she is known as Jackie Torrance from Hulu's streaming series, "Castle Rock" (2018), Stephen King's multiverse show. Jackie is the niece of Jack Torrance (played by Jack Nicholson) from movie adaptation "The Shining" (1980) and of course novel of the same name.

Back on topic; early reports came out Diablo Cody was writing the script. I like her, but there are many who despise the woman. Turns out she touched it up. Screenplay was written by Fede Alvarez (who directed) and Rodo Sayagues - not Americans. Cody was brought in to tweak dialog, Americanized them.

Don't have a problem - cultural thing.



Above, behind-the-scenes image of Jessica Lucas being transformed into her possessed self. Yes, that's a spoiler. Awesome effect.

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Once again, DVD got screwed on extras. Let me start by saying the film is only ninety-one minutes long. A short, get to the point flick. Missing are two featurettes and a commentary.

These are short featurettes; "Evil Dead: The Reboot" is ten minutes and "Unleashing The Evil Force" is five minutes. The commentary by director/co-writer Alvarez with co-writer Sayagues and stars Jane Levy, Lou Taylor Pucci and Jessica Lucas. All of this can easily fit on the disc. There's not excuse for their absence, not Blu-Ray native - simple bonuses.

On that commentary, director talks about wanting to release an unrated version for home video. The film originally received an NC-17; cuts were made to secure an R. The trailer has scenes not in the film.

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Good remakes?

I would say "A Nightmare On Elm Street" (2010) - don't get mad. I say it because the first quarter had such great promise; being its own film. Then it quickly descended into mediocrity. Bears repeating - Jackie Earle Haley is NO Robert Englund. Why was he channeling Christian Bale's Batman?

Other good horror remakes include "The Wolfman" (2010), "Dawn Of The Dead" (2004, Part I and Part II); "The Blob" (1988; which got a special edition, but only on Blu-Ray from Twilight Time; I'm still hoping for a better DVD down the line); "The Time Machine" (2002); "Disturbia" (2007); "Friday The 13th" (2009); "The Ring" (2002, Part I and Part II); "The Mummy (1999) and "The Fly" (1986).

Few good ones and LOTS of bad ones.

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Footnotes.

Two stingers during and conclusion of end credits.

First is audio from the original film, Bob Dorian as Professor Knowby - his tape recording about finding the cursed book, Naturon Demonto.

The second is an uncredited cameo by Bruce Campbell playing Ash and saying "Groovy" before the credits close. A bit of CGI work. He's shown in half light, showing the side of his face, young Ash. He then turns to camera, old Ash. The end.

The film has very minor CGI. It was used for technical reasons; removal of wires and effects equipment. I do appreciate that. As it should be, it's a tool not a crutch (for lack of story).

In the photo shown above some, Jane Levy is sitting on a 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 and wearing a Michigan State sweatshirt. Both were homages to the original. Ash owned that (model) car and had that sweatshirt. *nods*

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Tangent.

Two items.

A music video...

Do a YouTube search for "Blood Red Sandman" by Lordi. They're a heavy metal band from Finland, cut from the same cloth as Gwar. The music video a loving tribute to the original "Evil Dead". Or if you know how, "opaxEWKagh8". It's still there (as of writing), checked. Uploaded on January 22nd, 2008 by DrakkarEntertainment.

Watch their other music videos (sings in English). Catchy songs.

Even more sexy Halloween costumes.



Two excellent ideas; first is Millennial Snow White, though the costume is named "Hipster Snow White". And Sexy Lone Ranger, called "Lone Rider". *shakes head* I am impressed that this features a star badge, not something printed on the costume - a good call and enhances the outfit.

I do have issue with Snow's shorts, like granny panties. It should be like Ranger's booty shorts. That same size, just in yellow with the same red trims. You should be able to see her tummy. Other than that, it's a winner.

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Recommendations.

Five more titles to consider this Halloween.

"The Fourth Kind" (2009)
Both a mocumentary and dramatized feature; purported to concern the extraordinary claims by psychologist Dr. Abigail Emily "Abbey" Tyler. In 2000 she used hypnosis to help one of her patients in Nome, Alaska. The recovered memories concerning an alien abduction. In that altered state she witnesses things that should not happen. This starts her own investigation to find the truth. Recreations of Dr. Tyler's sessions are shown in a split screen with the alleged real hypnosis, video tape footage. The stakes rise when Tyler's own child, Ashley goes missing under mysterious circumstances.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment - 2010 - PG-13

"Grizzly" (1976)
A rip-off of "Jaws" (1975); replaces uber fish with big mammal. North West forest, a national park is being stalked by a hungry, violent beast - a fifteen foot grizzly with a taste for human flesh. The park's chief ranger Michael Kelly, photographer Allison Corwin and helicopter pilot Don Stober attempt to stop the giant bear, but are frustrated by all the red tape. They decided to end the rampage themselves. Go with the Kino version, this has been remastered. A side movie with pretty much the same plot is "Prophecy" (1979); changes prehistoric grizzly with a giant bear mutated from toxic waste.
Kino Lorber - 2014 - R

"The Hidden" (1987)
Something is changing law abiding citizens into monstrous hyper-violent psychopaths. The robberies and murders has L.A. police detective Tom Beck baffled. It doesn't help when mysterious F.B.I. agent, Lloyd Gallagher tells him a ruthless extraterrestrial parasite is taken over the bodies of innocent victims - using them as vessels for its acts with an intense fondness for heavy metal music, fast cars and food.
New Line Home Video - 2000 - R

"Hostile" (2017)
The world came to an end from a terrorist attack, an exotic chemical used - turned pandemic. The ones who survive, struggle to exist. While scavenging for her camp, Juliette's armored SUV has an accident leaving her stranded in the desert with a broken leg, stuck in her car - things gets much worse. One of the new creatures of this world is stalking her. If she want to survive to dawn, she must be creative. A bittersweet post-apocalypse feature, told in flashbacks.
4Digital Media Limited - 2018 - NR

"Tell Me How I Die" (2016)
College student Anna is hurting bad for money, reluctantly takes the offer to participate in the clinical study of a experimental drug; $2,000 for the weekend. The research is conducted far from the city in a corporate testing facility, Hallorann Laboratory in the wilderness. The drug is suppose to improve memory, perhaps even curing alzheimers. But there is a side effect in a few, Anna included is able to see into their own futures. Not awe, but horror as there is someone inside murdering them... later that day. A killer who has the same future memory ability. A cat and mouse chase, trying to outmaneuver their own fates.
Entertainment One - 2017 - NR

Come back next Thursday for a bloody crescendo closing Limited Edition Horror 2018; pale, emotionless face with the blackest eyes - the Devil's eyes!

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Update - October 23rd, 2018.

No fanfare at all, just dumped for $24.99.



On this day, the Unrated version was released; Blu-Ray only, where's the DVD??? This is a two disc set. The first is the unrated cut, zero extras. The second disc is the previous release. Unrated is bare bones - why NOT have a DVD release too?

[JohnIan101]

Past Tense - Ahead Of The Curve With Camera, Ghouls And Legends Part I


An additional, brand new L.E. Horror bonus offering! A documentary remix with bite - "The Definitive Document Of The Dead"...



The program had a single theater opening on January 19th, 1981, Joseph Papp's Public Theater in New York. It was made with a budget of $33,000 (estimated). There is zero box office stats, it was an independent theater.

It didn't - but had it opened wide, the documentary would've opened against "Scanners", "The Man Who Saw Tomorrow" and "Scream" (a.k.a. "The Outing"). Man, that research was not consolidated, took hours to collate.

The release came as a DVD and BD/DVD combo, neither of which came with a slipcover or an insert.

- - -

There were three exclusives, all from Synapse Films dot com.

The documentary had a reasonably wide DVD release on November 13th, 2012 for $19.95. But if you ordered directly from their website there was another option.



An exclusive Blu-Ray + DVD combo for $29.95 (not sold in stores) with a 17" x 13 1/2" fold out poster of the cover art by Wes Benscoter without text. This streeted on the same date. Not gonna post the poster - same image.

In addition to the these, it had another exclusive - the BD has the original 1979, educational sixty-six minute version - remastered as an bonus.

The combo had a limited run of 1,500 copies (region free).

Shipping was included with the total if curious.

- - - - - - - - - -

Footnotes.

There's history here that needs to be addressed before I can go further.

The year was 1977; teacher Roy Frumkes at New York's School Of Visual Arts wanted to create an instructional film for his students (shot on 16mm). He had two choices; Earl Owensby's "Wolfman" (1979) or George A. Romero's "Dawn Of The Dead" (1978). Which would hold his kids' attention?

Zombies won.

Frumkes got a grant to film his subject on $7,000 dollars for a twenty-five minute presentation - this became "Document Of The Dead". It grew and grew to cost thirty-three thousand and inflated to sixty-six minutes long. It was a hit for his students... and became somewhat legendary since he pretty much was the only one who captured behind-the-scenes footage on the now horror classic.

Frumkes had interviews with the cast, director and effects master, Tom Savini. This didn't happen at the time, quite common in the later age of laser disc and DVD, special features.

It would become famous to fanboys when in 1988, one of Frumkes' former students, Len Anthony had an ambitious idea. Put the rarely seen (outside of school) documentary on the home video market for his new production company Off Hollywood. But needs more current content... and synchronicity surfaced again with Romero.

New footage was added, twenty-four more minutes from Romero's then current production, "Two Evil Eyes" (1989). Same deal, interviews - now shot on video tape with a $50,000 price tag. Version 2.0 was edited into an eighty-four minute documentary and was released in '89; major hit on VHS - sold for $79.95, presented in Hi-Fi stereo. Narrated by Susan Tyrrell and Nicole Potter.

Fans of "Dawn Of The Dead" got to see rarely seen footage, "Two Evil Eyes" was just gravy (never achieved the status as the '78 motion picture).



Version 3.0 was released on DVD in 1998 from Synapse Films; streeted on October 13th, '98 for $29.95 (region free). The picture quality is good/decent. The later footage looks better.

Now was given a commentary by Frumkes with director of photography Reeves Lehmann; six minutes of deleted scenes as well as a never before scene interview on the set of "Two Evil Eyes" with actress Adrienne Barbeau.

The following year, it was also released as a special edition laser disc (same content); streeted on May 15th, 1999 for $39.95.



3.0 would later be given another DVD release as a bonus on Anchor Bay Entertainment's mega box set - "George A. Romero's Dawn Of The Dead: Ultimate Edition", a massive four disc collection which collects the different cuts of the feature with a ton of bonus materials (and easter eggs). With a folded booklet - mall map and a comic book adaptation...

A twenty-six page mini comic; from IDW Publishing; written by Steve Niles with art by Chee. It retold the movie, up to when the stolen TV helicopter first lands on the mall's rooftop. Part of a bigger official comic book adaptation, graphic novel.

This was a region one release.

The box streeted on September 7th, 2004 for $49.98.



And v3 appeared as a bonus for the United Kingdom's release of "Dawn" from Arrow Films; released on March 1st, 2010, DVD/Blu-Ray combo for £29.99. There were various complaints on their Blu-Ray: colors are muted and 'ghosting' on action/motion scenes.

This is out of print and selling, brand new for £500.00 (not joking, an Amazon listing).

The 2010 release came with four art sleeve options (double sided), the main slipcase is a window - you decide what cover should be shown. It also came with a double sided folded poster and "For Every Night There's A Dawn" collector's booklet.



Romero in plaid, above.

And now this - v4.0 came to life when Synapse wanted to re-release their title, remastered with a brand new commenatry by Frumkes. And like before - include new interviews. This time from the sets of various Romero productions such as "Land Of The Dead" (2005), "Diary Of The Dead" (2008), "Survival Of The Dead" (2009) and 'Dead' reunion. V4 took out all the footage/interivews from "Two Evil Eyes".

The new remix became one hundred two minutes long.

The reunion footage is from Chiller Theatre 2005 convention; the after party was fascinating and quite nostalgic. Various actors and crews from many of the Romero 'Dead' films appear. Great stuff.

Should be noted that two of the above were posted as previous Past Tenses; Limited Edition Horror entries no less!

"Land Of The Dead" - Part I, Part II and Part III.

"Diary Of The Dead" - Part I, Part II and Part III.

Should also be noted that the commentary and extras from v3.0 didn't not carry over into v4.0 or Ultimate Edition box. Those are exclusive to the American 1998/1999 releases. Extras DO appear on the Arrow Films release.



Yup, that is a terrible looking laser disc cover; like they gave up and allowed a failed high school student who play with photographic paper and a puke green colored filter. Joy!

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Rant.

When I heard this was coming, pre-ordered on October 11th, 2012 on my Visa, had to have this. But I ran into a problem.

Package arrived November 17th and it was my 'wrong trousers'.

They sent me the combo by mistake, not the DVD edition. I wrote to the company and got a reply from Don May, Jr. - proprietor of Synapse Films...

Thank you for being so honest about us shipping you the combo version by mistake! Most people would've never have told us they got the more expensive version for the cheaper price. If you want to return it, I guess you can do so, but what you got there was the same DVD version, with the bonus Blu-ray and poster added. Looks like our shipping got their wires crossed and maybe somehow cross-referenced the wrong order.

If you'd like to keep the item, since it is the limited version and it has everything the DVD only version had (but with the Blu-ray bonus disc and poster added), then you certainly can. It was our mistake shipping the more valuable one to you and we apologize. Just keep it if you'd like, in lieu of us shipping out the less valuable version to you. If you would like to return it for the DVD only, then you can send it to...

[JohnIan101]

Past Tense - Ahead Of The Curve With Camera, Ghouls And Legends Part II


I sent the combo back and received the DVD on November 29th. I had made a request, if it was possible - could you send me one of those exclusive posters? They did.

Have that poster inside the DVD case. Probably one of the few who can claim that, definitely sway.

And yes, I am that anal to have kept that info (above) all these years.

- - -

I now have it because of this post.

Work/research began on September 19th, 2018 on the entry. And discovered I was lacking. Did not know that my copy of doc on "Dawn Of The Dead" box set - excludes the extras from the 1998 DVD.

So being anal, I had to have this. Looked about on Ebay and found a copy, brand new for $5.70 (total with shipping). A great deal. It arrived on the 28th, mint.

Now part of my collection.

- - -

The 2012 documentary is full of gems, zero buyer's remorse. One of many moments is an interview with Romero's daughter, Tina. She tells of her and brother's Christmases at home. How her dad made them VERY memorable...

My dad was the ultimate Santa Claus - and not in the sense that he got us whatever we wanted, but in that he really made us believe that Santa existed. And every year there would be something new. Like one Christmas, Santa 'left' his wallet behind. And in the wallet, there - my dad had gone and gotten currency from all over the world. And a little card for a reindeer food shop. And like credit cards. And I don't know where he got this stuff. And with it he left a big red glove.

And one Christmas - this is my favorite memory. My brother [Cameron] was skeptical and said, 'Dad, I want to set-up a video camera. I want to test whether Santa exists.' And my dad said, "okay". And they set-up a camera on our stairwell and my dad got his friend to dress up like Santa and come in. BUT they waited until like three in the morning because this was in real time - they started filming when we went to bed. And they waited till the middle of the night. And just they stayed up and had Jason [Flemyng?] walk around the house and come into the front door. And my dad rigged lighting outside the house to make it look like the silhouette of a sleigh taking off. [laughing].

They show the wallet. Contents also include his social security card - his full name is "Santario Wolfgang Claus", ID# 082-07-0107; a business card "S.W. Claus: Toy Maker & Teamster"; his Medicaid card, ID# 082-09-7471-B; 10% off senior citizen discount card for Long John Silver's restaurant (at all Tampa Bay [Florida] area locations) - expired on May 31st, 1990. Man, that made me laugh.

This is so frackin' cool. If I have a kid, I would love to do that.

- - -



Since were talking about "Dawn" I would like to mention something that didn't happen. Above is the 2013 poster for the re-release which was to have the movie upscaled into 3D. The project was announced then things went silent.

Perhaps it was a technical issue, funding woes or a bit of both. *shrugs* I was curious.

- - - - - - - - - -

Tangent.

One final sexy Halloween costume. You knew this was coming.



This is "Zombie School Girl" which is lost opportunity to call it 'Zombie School Ghoul'. C'mon, that was so obvious. This works, gets the job done, but could be better.

There a costume accessory (not for this one), a bloody, torn bustier with guts hanging out on the side - looks quite squishy and moist. That mixed with this outfit would be perfect. *nods*

Hey, I have a question - what got eaten on her?

She has a bloody hand print on her crotch.

Oh dear!

- - - - - - - - - -

Just Because.



Looking about online for the different researches and stuff, I came across this image, a promotional pix for "Creature From The Black Lagoon" (1954). The Gill-Man holding actress Julie Adams (quite the hottie back in the day), walking onto the beach.

I had not seen this picture before. And there's a reason why. The suit has holes so water can fall out. Holes in the mask and legs were dripping, streaming water. I can see why it wasn't widely used, breaks the illusion.

Spent close to an hour on repairing/restoring. I'm happy with it, thought I'd share. *wink*



By the way, he's my favorite of the Universal monsters. It's too bad unlike "The Mummy", "Dracula", "Frankenstein", "The Wolf Man" or even "The Invisible Man". We only got three "Creature" films in that franchise.

There should've been more.

- - -



Old school Breakfast Club; actors left to right Gaylen Ross, Scott Reiniger, Ken Foree and David Emge. "...Don't you forget about me."

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Recommendations.

Have two more!

"George A. Romero's Dawn Of The Dead: Extended Mall Hours" (2008)
This is a bootleg edition of the 1978 classic, remixed by OfficiallyUnofficial. Sequel to "Night Of The Living Dead" (1968). An unknown force has raised the bodies of the recently dead, causing them to stalk and devour the living. As the big cities are literally being eaten up from within, four survivors flee to an isolated shopping center. After cleansing the mall of its undead tenants and sealing it up, they create a tiny closed society for themselves. Paradise does not last long when a gang of roving bikers set their sights on the locale's goods, unleashing the outside world back in. This edit was made by combining two versions, 'Cannes Cut' and Dario Argento's "Zombi" ('78) version. Why not theatrical? The theatrical cut was created by editing the Cannes Film Festival presentation. Now 139 minutes from the original 127 minute release; a much richer film, more somber with better characterization and more gore. My default version.
Bootleg - 2008- NR

"The Midnight Hour" (1985)
Made for ABC TV movie (aired November 1st, 1985). New England small town of Pitchford Cove - Halloween evening; five high school friends looking for both fun and killin' time before the big party set in motion the apocalypse. The idea was to do a mock incantation at the local cemetery; even going so far as borrowing vintage outfits from the town's museum and various found artifacts, such as an hidden scroll (in a dusty trunk). Nothing happens, a time waster. They leave to prepare for the shindig. It is Phil Grenville who encounters them first, the nerdy kid of the lot - the dead have risen with demons from Hell and a resurrected witch, Lucinda Cavender who seeks vengeance on the descendants who murdered her centuries ago. The situation is a nightmare, everyone is in costume, the dead blend among the living. Phil finds help with teen Sandy Matthews who also realizes the impossible is happening; everyone who dies will now come back to murder the living; starting with Pitchford Cove then the planet. The only way to reverse - break the curse back at the cemetery, but the objects used are separated and time is running out; once it hits 12AM, it becomes permanent. The movie is cut from the same clothe as "Hocus Pocus" (1993), even having a random musical number. With a great soundtrack of classic and (then) contemporary rock. Sadly the DVD is long out of print.
Anchor Bay Entertainment - 2000 - NR

More wickedness coming next Thursday. The horror of failing to get a remake done right. Man, there are apologists still trying to save face. See you then.

I have a new update for the "Night Of The Living Dead DVD Retrospective" - this month is the movie's 50th anniversary.

Hey wait!

Something hit me - a connection. Late actor Charles Rocket played the father, Dave Dennison in "Hocus Pocus" - he had an unlisted cameo in "The Midnight Hour"; the party goer dressed as the goth drag queen.

[JohnIan101]

Best Buy - October 23rd, 2018


Mamma Mia!: Here We Go Again - Sing Along Edition
Exclusive steelbook; BD/DVD/DC combo $24.99

Ash Vs. Evil Dead: The Complete Series (available now)
Exclusive packaging and Ash bobble head; BD/DC combo $49.99

[JohnIan101]

Past Tense - Death Has Come To Your Little Town Part II


In the original, played by Donald Pleasence, Loomis was scared of Michael. He knew what kind of man or rather what Michael's wasn't. There are moments where he's like a child frighten of the dark. But he knows he's the town's best bet to put this jinn back in the bottle. There was awe and respect, mixed with panic.

And here?

McDowell's Loomis is downright flippant - an arrogant ass. And should've died.



Left to right; Danielle Harris as Annie Brackett, Scout Taylor-Compton as Laurie Strode and Kristina Klebe as Lynda Van Der Klok.

The only good thing was Danielle Harris as Annie, yes she's still playing a teen here (was thirty at the time), but she looks the part. Her attack was so brutal (made me flinch) - one of the few highlights. This what it should've been, an unstoppable killing machine on the loose.

Fear Michael.



This is such a lost opportunity, if there is any genuine justice, years from now they'll look back on this remake as a cautionary tale for future filmmakers - what NOT to do.

...Shari Moon Zombie.

Dude, we get it, your wife wants to be in the movies, like Lucy Ricardo. That's totally okay - just give her bit roles. That's cool. Don't give her any more major part, please.

Shaky cam. Man, that should've been at best a short lived fad. Or have a legitimate reason to be there, as in "Cloverfield" (2008).

I like these quotes.

What's happening in the movie industry is exactly what happened in the music industry. We're getting prepackaged "art" devoid of any and all originality. Executives are more worried about making stuff that'll have kitsch value or that America will feel safe knowing about, and so we are left with an absolute overload of banality.

- 24200124

What next? A remake of JAWS from the shark's POV? The original HALLOWEEN was a great piece of pop filmmaking... a perfectly calculated, tight little work that didn't waste a breath on anything unnecessary.

- Blue Meanie 1138

People excusing garbage just for the sake of excusing garbage. Ignoring horrible performances, ungodly writing, and a total lack of atmosphere while using ****ing box office numbers as a point of exhaltation.

- IndustryKiller!

Why do I own it then? There is just enough, barely enough elements that make me want to keep it. But make no mistake, this is a crappy movie. The sequel, "Halloween 2" (2009) is EVEN worse. And it still made money! I'm reminded of a comment Uncle Bill said on the dead podcast "Dead Pit", paraphrasing...

'If you feed sh!t [movies] to enough people for long enough, they develop a taste for it.' Which is why we have a rise in mediocre cinema in Hollywood; formulaic without passion.

Wanna know something else? I didn't care about the new Laurie Strode (Scout Taylor-Compton), uber vanilla.

Going back to Ms. Harris. She's a very attractive woman, I wish she hadn't gotten addicted to tattoos. Her back and side is tatted.



I am glad that another attempt was made at a sequel, not another reboot. The now opened "Halloween" 2018 movie. Which jumps over the eight sequels and Rob Zombie flicks, though I did enjoy "Halloween II" (1981) - that was a direct continuation of the first.

And I'm liking John Carpenter's involvement. He was creative consultant and executive producer. Plus wears the composer hat too. The guy knows how to make good synthwave.

- - - - - - - - - -

Tangent.

My favorite holiday isn't Christmas, it's Halloween. And for the past years I've seen it diminish. In the past retailers would have these big seasonal displays. I recall one year the grocery store Stater Bros. had a huge haunted pirate ship in the store. The deck at arms reach - they had various Halloween items for sale. Quite impressive.

The last time I saw such a thing was more than seven years ago at a 99 Cent Only, they turned one of their store pillars into a haunted tree. Quite sway.

So what happened?

Talking with a friend of mine, he said something I had not considered... Christmas.

Each year Christmas is being offered earlier and earlier, this year accessories were on sale in September. Halloween is being pushed to the wayside, becoming less and less relevant. This saddens me. Don't know what can be done. Retailers have pretty much made their decision.

My heart sinks. I can't be the only one who cares.

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Recommendations.

Debated if I should do a write up for week four. But there are six more days to Halloween - so here's three more. Enjoy.

"Cooties" (2014)
Clint Hadson has fallen on hard times. Dreams of making it big as a horror author has faltered. No choice, but to gain work where he can. He returns home to Ft. Chicken, Illinois; working as a substitute teacher at his former middle school. Clint reunites with his high school crush, Lucy McCormick now an English teacher; only to learn she's taken, dating the P.E. teacher, Wade Johnson. But his life gets significantly worse on an epidemic level. Tainted chicken nuggets served for lunch have turned the kids into homicidal psychos. A contagion that only effects children, pre-puberty. It turns into a siege as the infected attempt to kill all adults. Worse yet, they discover more tainted chicken nuggets are on their way to other schools.
Lionsgate - 2015 - R

"Dean Koontz's Phantoms" (1998)
Jennifer Pailey and her sister Lisa arrive for a ski vacation in the mountain resort town of Snowfield, Colorado. The seemingly implausible has happened; four hundred plus residents have died or simply disappeared in the middle of their daily activities. Unnerved the pair decide to leave town, but cannot when their jeep which had worked moments earlier, refuses to start. Setting out on foot, they soon find three cops who have just returned to town and they too become trapped. Searching for the missing citizens, the group uncovers an ancient beast responsible for mass extinctions. Based on the Dean Koontz's novel of the same name.
Dimension Home Video - 1998 - R

"Freaks Of Nature" (2015)
Set in an alternate universe where vampires, zombies and humans co-exist (for the most part); society has found a way to tolerate each other with various government programs. Dag Parker is navigating high school life, trying win the affections of classmate Lorelei (a vampire) as well as enjoying his friends Petra Lane and Josh Fadem. Life gets turned upside down when a massive alien ship arrives with hostile intent. The Dillford town folks prepare for war with each other and the invaders as peace is broken - each group no longer wishing to help the other. Our friends set out to save the town and the world. A horror comedy.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment - 2016 - R

The monstrous roar softens with each triumphed blow; the fiend is broken and beaten. It slinks back into the dark, but like with all tales; evil can be vanquished, but not wholly defeated. This beast will surely rise out next year, ready to terrorize and indulge in dreadful delights.

And with that - the 4th Annual Limited Edition Horror is put to rest.

Have a safe and fun Halloween; hot ladies - do wear sexy costumes. Not only for yourself, but for everyone else; you're doing a public service. Repeating myself, never a cliché, don't drink and drive.

I have a new update for the "Night Of The Living Dead DVD Retrospective" - this month is the movie's 50th anniversary. A three parter.

See you here on November 8th, 2018 for the next, regular Past Tense installment.