Month: November 2024

The A24 horror film Heretic, which is coming our way from the writing and directing duo of Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, has received a wide theatrical release as of today. JoBlo’s own Chris Bumbray enjoyed the film, giving it a 7/10 review you can read at THIS LINK (or you can watch the video version embedded above), and now we want to know: what do you think about Heretic?

Hugh Grant – whose credits include Notting Hill, Love Actually, Wonka, and Unfrosted – stars in Heretic, which has the following synopsis: Two young missionaries are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse.

Grant has previously said that he finds villain roles to be “more fun” to play, so it should be very interesting to watch him take on a diabolic role in a horror movie. Bumbray said said Grant “radiates fiendishly clever intelligence, and he’s given a sadistic streak I didn’t see coming, which feels bold for a mainstream horror flick.” He is joined in the cast of Heretic by Chloe East (The Fabelmans) and Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) as the missionaries. (You can watch our cast interviews HERE.) Grant hasn’t done much horror in his career, but he did have a role in Ken Russell’s Bram Stoker-inspired supernatural horror comedy The Lair of the White Worm back in 1988.

Beck and Woods’ previous credits include A Quiet Place (they wrote the original script), Haunt (as writers/directors), Nightlight (writers/directors), Spread (writers/directors), the “Adam Driver vs. dinosaurs” movie 65 (writers/directors), and an episode of 50 States of Fright (writers/directors). They also (alongside Mark Heyman) received writing credits on the Stephen King adaptation The Boogeyman – which happened to star Sophie Thatcher, who turned in a great performance in a movie I thought was just okay overall.

Now Heretic has been sent out into the world – and if you check out the movie on the big screen this weekend, come back here and leave a comment below to share your thoughts on it.

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elvira, mistress of the dark, blu-ray

Back in September, it was announced that Arrow Video would be releasing a number of titles in 4K Blu-ray remasters. One of those titles was the cult hit from the 1988, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. The new physical media release will hit retailers in a few days on November 12. Details of the special features and technical specs are now revealed, courtesy of Blu-ray.com.

The description reads,
“She’s back! Elvira, Horrorland’s hostess with the mostest, finally busts out on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with this long-awaited, positively bursting-at-the-seams special edition of her big screen debut, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark!

Having just quit her job as a Los Angeles TV horror hostess, Elvira receives the unexpected news that she’s set to inherit part of her great aunt Morgana’s estate. Arriving in the small town of Fallwell, Massachusetts to claim her inheritance, Elvira receives a less than enthusiastic reception from the conservative locals – amongst them, her sinister uncle Vincent, who, unbeknownst to Elvira, is in fact an evil warlock secretly scheming to steal the old family spellbook for his own nefarious ends…

Campy, quirky and stuffed to the brim with more double entendres than your average Carry On movie, 1988’s Elvira: Mistress of the Dark helped solidify the horror hostess (played by Cassandra Peterson) as a major pop culture icon, here owning every inch of the screen with her quick wit, sass, and of course, cleaving-enhancing gown!”

Special Features and Technical Specs:

  • Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Sam Irving, Kat Ellinger and Patterson Lundquist
  • BRAND NEW 4K RESTORATION BY ARROW FILMS
  • DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTAITON OF THE FILM
  • Original uncompressed stereo 2.0 audio
  • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • Introduction to the film by director James Signorelli
  • 2017 audio commentary with director James Signorelli, hosted by Fangoria editor emeritus Tony Timpone
  • 2017 audio commentary with Patterson Lundquist, www.elviramistressofthedark.com webmaster and judge of US TV show The Search for the Next Elvira
  • Archival audio commentary with actors Cassandra Peterson and Edie McClurg and writer John Paragon
  • Too Macabre – The Making of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark – 2018 version of this feature-length documentary on the making of the film, including interviews with various cast and crew and archival material
  • Recipe for Terror: The Creation of the Pot Monster – 2018 version of this featurette on the concept and design of the pot monster, as well as the film’s other SFX
  • Original storyboards
  • Extensive image galleries
  • Original US theatrical and teaser trailers
  • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck

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On January 1st, the earliest versions of Mickey Mouse – seen in the animated shorts Plane CrazyThe Gallopin’ Gaucho, and most famously Steamboat Willie – became public domain… which, of course, means we’re now going to get multiple horror movies that feature characters inspired by Mickey Mouse. Within the first three days of the year, we saw the short film The Vanishing of S.S. Willie, a trailer for the slasher movie Mickey’s Mouse Trap, and an announcement that Terrifier 2 producers Steven Della Salla and Michael Leavy and director Steven LaMorte, who previously made the Grinch-inspired horror movie The Mean One, were teaming up for a Steamboat Willie-inspired horror flick that we now know is titled Screamboat. The film is aiming for a January 2025 release, and a teaser trailer made its way online back in August. (You can watch that in the embed above.) Now, Screamboat is set to be screened at the American Film Market, and to go along with that screening, Variety has revealed that the film’s cast includes Tyler Posey (Teen Wolf), Kailey Hyman (Terrifier 2), Brian Quinn (Impractical Jokers), and Joe DeRosa (Better Call Saul).

David Howard Thornton, who plays Art the Clown in the Terrifier films and brought the horror version of the Grinch to life in The Mean One, is playing the horror version of Steamboat Willie in Screamboat. Thornton and the newly announced cast members are joined in the cast by Allison Pittel (Stream), Amy Schumacher (The Mean One), Jesse Posey (Teen Wolf), Jesse Kove (Cobra Kai), Rumi C Jean-Louis (Hightown), Jarlath Conroy (George A. Romero’s Day of the Dead), and Charles Edwin Powell (The Exorcist III).

Screamboat will tell the story of a mischievous mouse that stalks a group of New Yorkers on a late night ferry ride, unleashing murderous mayhem on a relaxing commute. Can the ship’s motley crew of travelers find a way to stop a killer creature who has developed a taste for tourists? A previous press release told us LaMorte and the producers are “promising buckets of blood and unhinged chaos as their miniature mouse attacks a group of ferry commuters against the unmistakable backdrop of New York City’s iconic skyline. Screamboat will feature a mix of practical creature effects, miniatures, and cutting edge virtual production to showcase its very mischievous monster slashing his way through a ferry of fear.”

LaMorte is producing Screamboat with Amy Schumacher, Martine Melloul, and the previously mentioned Steven Della Salla and Michael Leavy. Kali Pictures, Sleight of Hand Productions, Reckless Content, and Julien Didon serve as executive producers. The director provided the following statement: “I’m thrilled to be working on Screamboat with such a killer cast from horror legends to comedy icons. David Howard Thornton is bringing our mischievous and murderous take on Steamboat Willie to life like never before. I can’t wait for audiences to laugh and scream with us onboard Screamboat!

Thornton added: “I’m beyond excited to join this incredible cast and bring Steamboat Willie to life with a horror twist. Screamboat is going to be a horrific and hilarious big screen thrill ride that fans won’t want to miss.

Screamboat will be receiving a theatrical release, courtesy of Iconic Events Releasing. What do you think of Tyler Posey, Kailey Hyman, Brian Quinn, and Joe DeRosa joining the cast? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Tyler Posey

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Born in New York City in 1986, Lindsay Lohan began her performance ventures at the tender age of three as a Ford model, quickly becoming one of the most successful child models in the industry. Her early work included over 60 television commercials, including a notable Jell-O spot with Bill Cosby – an association that now carries uncomfortable undertones, given subsequent revelations about Cosby’s conduct.

However, it was in feature films that Lohan would truly shine. Her breakthrough came in 1998 with Disney’s remake of The Parent Trap, where, at age 11, she masterfully played dual roles as separated twin sisters. The performance showed the world not only her natural charm but also her remarkable technical skill for such a young actor, earning critical acclaim and establishing her as a rising star. The early 2000s marked Lohan’s ascension to Hollywood royalty. Her starring role in 2003’s Freaky Friday opposite Jamie Lee Curtis showcased her growing range and cemented her status as a bankable lead. The film’s success – both critically and commercially – set the stage for what would become her defining role.

Lindsay Lohan

2004’s Mean Girls transformed Lohan from a talented teen actress to a cultural phenomenon. As Cady Heron, she perfectly captured the fish-out-of-water story of a home-schooled student navigating the treacherous waters of high school social politics. The film, written by Tina Fey, became a defining piece of pop culture, with quotes and references that remain relevant today. Her starring role in Herbie: Fully Loaded in 2005 seemed to indicate a smooth transition to adult roles while maintaining her family-friendly appeal. However, behind the scenes, troubles were brewing that would derail her promising trajectory.

While primarily known for her screen presence, Lohan proved her versatility by venturing into the music industry. Her debut album Speak released in 2004, proved her vocal talents and reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200, eventually achieving platinum status. Singles like “Rumors” and “Over” showed off her pop sensibilities, while her follow-up album A Little More Personal (Raw) in 2005 revealed a more introspective side to her artistry. Her entrepreneurial spirit emerged through various business ventures, including the launch of her fashion line 6126 (named after Marilyn Monroe’s birth date) in 2008, which began with leggings and expanded into a full clothing line. She later developed her own self-tanning spray called Sevin Nyne and ventured into the hospitality industry with Lohan Beach House in Mykonos, Greece, which briefly spawned an MTV reality series Lindsay Lohan’s Beach Club.

In the digital space, Lohan showed her adaptability by launching her own mobile game The Price of Fame in 2014, following it with a subscription lifestyle website called Preemium in 2017. These ventures, while meeting varying degrees of success, proved her understanding of brand expansion and celebrity entrepreneurship. Her influence on fashion and popular culture remained significant even during her challenging periods. Major fashion houses continued to court her, leading to modeling contracts with brands like Miu Miu and a memorable photoshoot recreating Marilyn Monroe’s final photo session for New York Magazine, showcasing her enduring appeal despite struggles in her private life.

Mean Girls, Lindsay Lohan

As Lohan’s star rose, her personal life began to unravel publicly. Family dynamics played a significant role in her struggles, particularly her relationship with her father, Michael Lohan, whose own legal troubles and public behavior created additional stress and media scrutiny. His multiple arrests and public spectacles added another layer of complexity to Lindsay’s already challenging navigation of fame.

The late 2000s marked a particularly turbulent period, with a series of high-profile incidents that became tabloid fodder. In May 2007, Lohan was arrested for driving under the influence after her Mercedes struck a curb in Beverly Hills. Just two months later, in July, she faced another DUI arrest in Santa Monica, this time also charged with cocaine possession and driving with a suspended license. Police found her with a small amount of cocaine after she allegedly chased another vehicle.

These incidents led to her first significant stint in rehabilitation at the Promises Treatment Center in Malibu. However, this would be just the beginning of a cycle that would repeat several times over the next few years. By 2010, Lohan had been to rehabilitation facilities multiple times. Her legal troubles culminated in various consequences, including multiple jail stays. The media heavily documented each incident, with paparazzi capturing everything from her court appearances to her arrivals at various treatment facilities. The entertainment industry’s unforgiving nature and relentless paparazzi attention created a perfect storm that threatened to permanently derail her career.

During this period, Lohan became an unwitting victim of the notorious “Bling Ring” – a group of teenagers who burglarized celebrities’ homes in the Hollywood Hills. This incident, later dramatized in Sofia Coppola’s film “The Bling Ring,” highlighted the vulnerability of even established stars in the digital age. One of the most bizarre chapters in Lohan’s public life occurred in Moscow in 2018 when she live-streamed an attempted interaction with what she believed to be a homeless refugee family. The incident, which ended in confusion and controversy, emblemized the double-edged sword of social media and instant global reach. Her legal battles extended beyond her own conduct issues. A high-profile lawsuit against Rockstar Games regarding the alleged unauthorized use of her likeness in Grand Theft Auto V showed how complex the intersection of celebrity image rights and media had become in the digital age.

What makes Lohan’s life particularly compelling is her falls and persistent efforts to rise again. After years of struggling with addiction and legal issues, she began the difficult work of rebuilding both her home life and her professional reputation. Her journey to sobriety, though challenging and not without setbacks, proved her remarkable resilience.

In recent years, Lohan has found her niche in romantic comedies, particularly through Netflix productions. Her starring roles in holiday romances like “Falling for Christmas” and “Irish Wish” mark a return to the wholesome, family-friendly entertainment that launched her to fame. These films, while perhaps not matching the critical acclaim of “Mean Girls,” represent something more valuable: a stable, healthy return to the profession she loves. The announcement of Freakier Friday for 2025, a sequel to one of her early successes, feels like a perfect full-circle moment. It represents not just a career revival but a reconciliation with her past, embracing rather than running from the roles that made her famous.

Lohan’s personal life has also found stability. Her marriage to financier Bader Shammas and their growing family represents a new chapter in her life, one marked by internal contentment rather than public drama. This transformation mirrors the romance narratives she now brings to the screen, suggesting that everyone – regardless of their past – deserves their own love story. Her evolution from troubled starlet to rom-com specialist carries a powerful message about second chances and the human capacity for change. Just as her characters find love against the odds, Lohan herself has found personal and professional redemption, proving that past struggles don’t define future possibilities.

Lindsay Lohan’s life in the public light reminds us that redemption isn’t about erasing the past but about learning from it. Her journey from child star to troubled young adult to Netflix leading lady mirrors the complex narratives of the very movies she now stars in – stories where imperfect people find their way to happiness through growth and self-acceptance. As she continues her artistic renaissance, Lohan embodies the idea that everyone deserves their own happy ending. Her narrative shows us that in both movies and life, the path to love – whether it’s love of self, family, or romance – often requires navigating through difficulties and emerging stronger on the other side.

In the end, Lindsay Lohan’s greatest role may be as herself: a survivor who proves that with persistence, support, and self-reflection, it’s possible to rewrite your own story. As she continues to charm audiences in romantic comedies, she reminds us that love, in all its forms, is not just for the perfect – it’s for everyone who’s brave enough to believe in second chances.

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