M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan has made her feature directorial debut with a thriller called The Watchers, which is set to receive a June 7, 2024 theatrical release, courtesy of Warner Bros. / New Line Cinema. With that date just a few months away, a teaser trailer for The Watchers has made its way online – and if you want to see what a movie from a Shyamalan daughter looks like, all you have to do is check out the video embedded above!
The younger Shyamalan wrote the screenplay for The Watchers, based on a novel by A.M. Shine (pick up a copy HERE). The film stars Dakota Fanning (The Equalizer 3) as Mina, a 28-year-old artist who gets stranded in an expansive, untouched forest in western Ireland. When Mina finds shelter, she unknowingly becomes trapped alongside three strangers that are watched and stalked by mysterious creatures each night. Also in the cast are Barbarian star Georgina Campbell, Olwen Fouéré (Texas Chainsaw Massacre), and Oliver Finnegan (Creeped Out).
When the film was heading into production, New Line Cinema’s Richard Brener provided the following statement: “We couldn’t be more excited to make Ishana’s first film with The Watchers. Equal parts visual, immersive, and terrifying, the script grips you from the first page and never lets go.“
M. Night Shyamalan and Ashwin Rajan are producing The Watchers for Blinding Edge Pictures. Nimitt Mankad of Inimitable Pictures is also producing. Jo Homewood serves as executive producer.
Ishana Night Shyamalan was an important part of the creative team behind her father’s Apple TV+ series Servant, writing and/or directing multiple episodes. Speaking about his daughter’s work on Servant last year, M. Night Shyamalan told Entertainment Weekly, “She has slightly more of a fantasy bend than I do. She speaks in bolder colors than I do. The camera is more canted or more grotesque in showing someone scarier. The disadvantage of being an accomplished artist is that your experience starts working against you. I see less options, because I’ve done so many things. She doesn’t see that; for her, everything is possible. There are advantages and disadvantages to the levels of experience that we each have.”
In addition to her work on Servant, Ishana Night Shyamalan has also worked as second unit director on her father’s movies Old and Knock at the Cabin, and she has directed four music videos for her sister Saleka. She is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and was still attending the school when she started working on Servant.
What did you think of The Watchers teaser trailer? Will you be seeing this movie when it’s released in June? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Mario Van Peebles made a big mark on cinema following in his father’s footsteps, Melvin Van Peebles, to be a unique, prominent voice for the African-American community in cinema. He would make many appearances as an actor, including working with fellow gunslinger Clint Eastwood on Heartbreak Ridge, as the sword-wielding Kane in Highlander: The Final Dimension, and taking on the monumental task of portraying Malcolm X in the Michael Mann film, Ali. However, in 1991, New Jack City, which co-stars Ice-T, would put Van Peebles on the map as a director, and he would parlay his run with movies like Panther and the 1993 western film, Posse, in which he also starred.
Peeble returns to the Western genre in a semi-sequel to his 1993 movie that also sports an ensemble of impressive names. Outlaw Posse has Van Peebles working both in front and behind the camera again, and would even have him share the screen with his real-life son, Mandela Van Peebles, as he continues the family film legacy. Mario has been incredibly gracious to sit down with us to talk about Outlaw Posse, which comes out on March 1.
The plot synopsis involves “the Wild West of 1908, where men in power take advantage of an unfair world where corruption and greed run deep. Renegade cowboy Chief (Mario Van Peebles), eager to restore balance, assembles a daring group of outcasts and saddles up on a cross-country odyssey to reclaim stolen gold in unsettled territory. Pursued by the vengeful lawman Angel (Mapother), the posse is caught in a deadly game of survival and redemption, navigating the treacherous terrain of gunfights, showdowns, and horse chases. United by honor, they encounter allies such as Stagecoach Mary (Goldberg) that shape their destiny. As they venture closer to the hidden treasure, they soon learn survival is the only justice.”
The new star-studded film sports a cast that’s headed by Van Peebles, and is joined by Whoopi Goldberg, Edward James Olmos, Cedric the Entertainer, as well as William Mapother, John Carroll Lynch known for Fargo and The Founder, D.C. Young Fly, seen in House Party, Jake Manley of Midway, Mario’s real life son, Mandela Van Peebles, known for Jigsaw, Amber Reign Smith from Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Neal McDonough, who can be seen in Minority Report and Captain America: The First Avenger. The film also features Allen Payne, Cam Gigandet and M. Emmet Walsh.
We’re almost into March of 2024, and Disney has been taking a long, hard look at itself after the disastrous 2023. When two of the most seemingly slam-dunk, profitable IPs are under your umbrella, business should be good, but alas, both Star Wars and Marvel have been plummeting in profits and reception for the House of Mouse. Bob Iger has been adamant about pulling back on the output of the franchise projects so as to not oversaturate the market. Additionally, the streaming service, Disney+, has seen a significant dip in subscribers after they lost 1.3 million accounts once they raised the prices. They have reportedly taken $300 million in streaming losses.
Variety has reported a big shake-up is now happening to the company as Disney now replaces Sean Bailey, who has been the motion picture group’s president of production for the past 15 years. David Greenbaum will now be stepping in as the live-action production president which will be combined with 20th Century Studios, a banner once known as 20th Century Fox until Disney purchased the company. The Disney live-action division oversees spin-offs and remakes of the studio’s classic films. Greenbaum is set to report to Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergman, effective immediately.
Bergman released a statement that says, “David has an incredible creative sensibility and eye for film, and he has built a reputation as an exceptional leader and creative executive, as proven by his track record at Searchlight Pictures and deep relationships throughout the industry. I’m thrilled that he’ll be taking on this new and important role.” He also addresses Bailey’s departure, “Sean has been an incredibly important member of the Studio’s creative team for well over a decade. He and his team have brought to the screen iconic stories and moments that have delighted fans around the world and will stand the test of time. I know he’ll continue to do great things.”
20th Century Studios has theatrically released films like Avatar: The Way of Water and The Creator. However, a number of movies under the banner have been released through the Disney-owned streaming service, Hulu.
Dark Sky Films will be giving Blackout, the latest genre film from writer/director Larry Fessenden, a one week theatrical release at the IFC Center in New York City beginning on March 13th, and that theatrical engagement will feature special cast appearances and a Q&A. The film will then be receiving a nationwide release on digital platforms and VOD as of April 12th. In anticipation of those release dates, a trailer for Blackout has been unveiled, and you can check it out in the embed above.
Blackout has the following synopsis: Painter Charley wakes up in an upstate motel where he appears to have been living for some time. After he packs and leaves he encounters various people in the small town where everybody knows your name. Charley is saying goodbye to the estranged love of his life, Sharon, and settling his affairs with a manic urgency that culminates with a call to a friend, Earl, saying: “You better be ready, I’m coming.” But Charley never makes it to his friend’s house: When the sun goes down he has convulsions while driving his car, goes off the road and ends up in a ditch. Charley, it seems, is a werewolf. He attacks his rescuers and moves through the outskirts of town at night wreaking havoc. But the next day he can’t remember the things he’s done. Now the tight-knit town must rally to find out what is tearing it apart: mistrust, fear, or a vicious monster.
Alex Hurt (Minyan) plays Charley and is joined in the cast by Addison Timlin (Like Me), Motell Gyn Foster (Marriage Story), Joseph Castillo-Midyett (Death Saved My Life), Ella Rae Peck (Crumb Catcher), Rigo Garay (Crumb Catcher), John Speredakos (I Sell The Dead), Michael Buscemi (Habit), Jeremy Holm (The Ranger), Joe Swanberg (You’re Next), Barbara Crampton (Jakob’s Wife), James Le Gros (The Last Winter), and Marshall Bell (Total Recall).
Fessenden produced Blackout through his company Glass Eye Pix, along with James Felix McKenney and Chris Ingvordsen. Gaby Leyner was co-producer.
A press release notes that “Blackout was shot at local shops and locations in New York’s Hudson Valley and serves as a portrait of the area including Woodstock, Olivebridge, Andes, and Kingston. Many local merchants generously supported the independent production. Fessenden explained, ‘My approach was to blend a naturalistic docu-style with the mythological tropes of the werewolf story, an ongoing interest to blend realism with stylization, and to fuse themes of contemporary society with classic monster movie clichés.‘”
Brian Spears and Peter Gerner, who previously created the version of Frankenstein’s monster that was featured in Fessenden’s Depraved, handled the special effects. Since he made a Frankenstein movie and a vampire movie (Habit) before digging into the werewolf myth, Fessenden jokingly said, “Yes, I’m competing with Marvel and Blumhouse to create my own Monsterverse, but at a very different price-point.“
Are you a fan of Larry Fessenden’s work? What did you think of the Blackout trailer? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Earlier this month, we shared the news that Anchor Bay Entertainment – which used to be a major player in the horror world back in the late ’90s and early 2000s, when they gave DVD releases to films like the Evil Dead trilogy, George A. Romero’s Dead trilogy, the Sleepaway Camp franchise, The Hills Have Eyes, The Car, Maniac, Prom Night, some of the Hellraisers, Halloweens, and much more – is being revived, with their first two releases puppet horror film Abruptio and Dinner with Leatherface, a documentary that looks at the life, career, and legacy of original Leatherface actor Gunnar Hansen. Now we’ve learned that the new Anchor Bay has acquired the North American rights to the horror/comedy Crust, with the plan being to release it sometime later this year.
Crust tells the story of Vegas Winters, a depressed washed-up child actor, who fled Tinseltown and now owns and lives in a rundown laundromat. He finds lost socks in the machines and uses them to soak up all his bodily fluids. One night his tears of anguish turn the pile into a loving sock monster named Crust who becomes his protector and friend. Meanwhile he has a new girlfriend, a paranormal investigator poking around, and an old two-faced costar that is forcing him to join a reboot of their 90s sitcom. As Vegas’s life begins to spiral, Crust eliminates his enemies with deadly consequences.
Prolific character actor Sean Whalen, who may be best known for playing Roach in Wes Craven’s The People Under the Stairs, directed the film from a screenplay he wrote with Jim Wald. Whalen also stars in the film alongside Succession‘s Alan Ruck (who may still be best known for playing Cameron in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) and genre regular Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), as well as Daniel Roebuck (Rob Zombie’s The Munsters), Rebekah Kennedy (Two Witches), Shawntay Dalon (Detroiters), Ricky Dean Logan (Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare), and Daniel John Kearney (Dark Circles).
Rose and Kearney produced Crust with Chris Sergi.
Whalen had this to say about the distribution deal: “I am so excited that my directorial debut found its home at Anchor Bay. I’ve loved their films for years and they really understood my vision right away. I couldn’t ask for a better partnership.“
Thomas Zambeck and Brian Katz are behind the revival of Anchor Bay. Zambeck provided the following statement: “As someone who grew up watching Sean on screen, I am thrilled to be in business with him. The fact that it’s on a witty and clever film like this – one that displays such a mastery of tone – makes it so much sweeter. I can’t wait for audiences to take this oddball journey with us and see a movie unlike anything they’ve seen before.“
Are you glad to hear that Crust has found a home at Anchor Bay Entertainment? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.
Dwayne Johnson is currently shaking up his career after his passion project — the superhero film Black Adam — fell from the sky after it debuted to a negative reception and a complete overhaul of the DC Universe put to rest any kind of follow-up. Johnson recently seemingly squashed his beef with Vin Diesel as a post-credits scene in Fast X featured the return of Luke Hobbs, teasing a part in the next entry, Fast X – Part 2. He is also currently making appearances in the WWE again in preparation for an upcoming Wrestlemania and The Rock has turned back into a glorious heel.
Johnson also grabbed the film world’s attention when it was recently announced that he’s taking a break from blockbuster movies to do a more dramatic role in A24’s The Smashing Machine. The biopic will be directed by indie filmmaker Benny Safdie, who has helmed films like Good Time and Uncut Gems with his brother. In addition to his directorial duties, Safdie is co-writing the script, which focuses on Kerr’s struggle with addiction, his career and his personal life during the year 2000. The InSneider is now reporting that Emily Blunt, who has co-starred with Johnson in Disney’s The Jungle Cruise, is in talks to join the UFC fighter film.
The film’s subject, Mark Kerr, is an American former wrestler and mixed martial artist. As a two-time UFC Heavyweight Tournament Champion, World Vale Tudo Championship tournament winner, a PRIDE FC Heavyweight Champion, 1992 NCAA National Wrestling Champion, 1994 National Freestyle Champion, and 4x ADCC World Submission Champion, Kerr is one of the biggest badasses to ever get into the ring. “Dwayne and Benny are singular talents, and their shared vision for Mark’s inspiring story is electrifying,” said Noah Sacco of A24. “We are deeply honored to have their trust as collaborators in bringing this incredibly special project to life.”
Johnson has solidified himself as a superstar of big-budget popcorn movies. Though he’s experimented with slightly bolder films in the past, he explains that he is yearning to try something different with this project as he takes a break from action films. Johnson told Variety, “I want to be clear not to say that this is an abandonment of big, four-quadrant movies. I love making them, and there is tremendous value and importance in [them] … but there’s a time and a place for them. I’m at this point in my career where I want more. And I don’t mean I want more box office. I mean I want more humanity. And that is why Benny Safdie is the perfect, collaborative, hungry partner for me.”
In the immortal words of Lord Byron, the truth is often stranger than fiction. No timeless adage better applies to TheIron Claw, Sean Durkin’s riveting and emotionally fraught biographical tale of the Von Erich brothers, professional wrestlers who rose to prominence in the early 1980s. Based on the true events that shaped the Von Erich family, the film careens down a path of such unmistakable triumph and unthinkable tragedy that one can only sit back and wonder how much, if anything, was embellished or fabricated to increase the dramatic stakes of the story. In particular, the movie explores the lasting effects of “The Von Erich Curse,” which affected the lives of each family member in different ways through a profoundly unfortunate set of circumstances that downright defy belief.
Although the film has received unanimous praise for its stark realism and gritty authenticity, it’s worth exploring the minor and major differences between what transpired in reality and what is depicted onscreen. After all, some crucial aspects of the Von Erich story have been glossed over, downplayed, briefly touched upon, streamlined for the sake of time, or omitted entirely in the film. Between the curious absence of the sixth brother, Chris Von Erich, and the origins of the Von Erich Curse to the accuracy of the wrestling matches, and more, it’s time to hit the mat, separate fact from fiction and find out once and for all, What Really Happened to The Iron Claw? Check out our video above for the full story!
Last week, the trailer for director Eli Roth’s long-awaited video game adaptation Borderlands, which is set to reach theatres on August 9th, made its way online – and while talking to Entertainment Weekly about the trailer, Roth revealed that he’s currently writing a horror script with 16-year-old Borderlands cast member Ariana Greenblatt, who plays Tiny Tina in the upcoming movie!
Roth told Entertainment Weekly that Greenblatt “loves horror, and we have a great idea, so we’re writing a movie together. That is an exclusive, nobody knows that. I don’t want to say anything about it yet, but she’s so smart I’m like, ‘Let’s write a movie together, and we’ll produce it together, and I’ll direct it, and you’ll star in it.’” Of course, Roth didn’t give away any details about the story he and Greenblatt are collaborating on. Roth is also busy writing a sequel to his slasher movie Thanksgiving with Jeff Rendell, who co-wrote the first Thanksgiving with him.
Ariana Greenblatt just made her screen acting debut nine years ago and has racked up an impressive list of credits, including Ahsoka, Barbie, 65, In the Heights, Awake, Love and Monsters, Scoob!, Avengers: Infinity War, A Bad Moms Christmas, Stuck in the Middle, and a couple Boss Baby projects. It’s good to know she’s a horror fan, because her father Shon Greenblatt did some acting back in the day and is best known for playing John Doe in Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare. He also appeared in Chopper Chicks in Zombietown.
Greenblatt is joined in the Borderlands cast by Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Edgar Ramirez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Florian Munteanu, Haley Bennett, Olivier Richters, Gina Gershon, Cheyenne Jackson, Charles Babalola, Benjamin Byron Davis, Steven Boyer, Bobby Lee, Ryann Redmond, Penn Jillette, and Janina Gavankar, who plays “a new, key character” called Commander Knoxx, someone who has not been in the video games. Jack Black provides the voice of the robot Claptrap. Here’s the synopsis: Lilith (Blanchett), an infamous outlaw with a mysterious past, reluctantly returns to her home planet of Pandora to find the missing daughter of the universe’s most powerful S.O.B., Atlas (Ramirez). Lilith forms an alliance with an unexpected team – Roland (Hart), a former elite mercenary, now desperate for redemption; Tiny Tina (Greenblatt), a feral pre-teen demolitionist; Krieg (Munteanu), Tina’s musclebound, rhetorically challenged protector; Tannis (Curtis), the scientist with a tenuous grip on sanity; and Claptrap (Black), a persistently wiseass robot. These unlikely heroes must battle alien monsters and dangerous bandits to find and protect the missing girl, who may hold the key to unimaginable power. The fate of the universe could be in their hands – but they’ll be fighting for something more: each other.
Are you interested to find out what sort of horror story Eli Roth and Ariana Greenblatt are crafting together? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.
The number of actors the Netflix TV series Cobra Kai has brought back to reprise their characters from the Karate Kid films has been very impressive. Not only do you have Ralph Macchio and William Zabka back as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence, but there’s also Martin Kove and Thomas Ian Griffith as villains John Kreese and Terry Silver, Yuji Okumoto and Sean Kanan as villains-turned-allies Chozen Toguchi and Mike Barnes; Ron Thomas, Rob Garrison, and Tony O’Dell as Johnny’s former Cobra Kai buddies; and appearances by Elisabeth Shue as Ali Mills, Tamlyn Tomita as Kumiko, and Robyn Lively as Jessica Andrews. They even brought Traci Toguchi back as Yuna, the “Girl Bell Ringer” she played in The Karate Kid Part II. But one actor who might not be returning from the films is Hilary Swank, who played Julie Pierce in the 1994 film The Next Karate Kid.
Daniel, Johnny, and the Cobra Kai dojo had nothing to do with what went on in The Next Karate Kid, but since Julie was a student of Daniel’s mentor Mr. Miyagi (played by the late Pat Morita), many fans have been hoping to see her show up on Cobra Kai before it wraps up. Well, the sixth and final season of the show is in production now, and according to Swank, she’s not going to be in it.
While speaking with Collider, Swank was asked if she’s going to be making an appearance on Cobra Kai. She said, “I don’t think I am, unfortunately. I know. It’s, like, the number one question I get right now. Most people usually say, ‘What’s it like working with Clint Eastwood?’ But I think, ‘Are you going to be on Cobra Kai?’ has almost surpassed that.“
Created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, Cobra Kai started out thirty four years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament, when a down-and-out Johnny Lawrence sought redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with a now successful Daniel LaRusso. A lot has happened, and a lot has changed, since then.
The actors mentioned above are joined in the cast by Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Peyton List, Oona O’Brien, Dallas Dupree Young, Vanessa Rubio, Courtney Henggeler, and Griffin Santopietro. As of seasons 5 and 6, Alicia Hannah-Kim plays the villainous sensei Kim Da-Eun, and we’ve heard that C.S. Lee (Dexter) will be playing her grandfather Master Kim Sun-Young, who taught the type of karate used by the students at the Cobra Kai dojo, in season 6.
This show has become one of my all-time favorites. I grew up on the Karate Kid movies and always enjoyed them, but Cobra Kai has even managed to increase my appreciation for the movies it follows. I really hope Hilary Swank’s quote about not being on the show is a fake-out, because I would love to see her make some kind of appearance in season 6.
Are you a Cobra Kai fan, and are you hoping to see Hilary Swank show up before the series comes to an end? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Ralph Macchio already has more Karate Kid action lined up beyond Cobra Kai: he’s set to share the screen with Ben Wang and The Karate Kid 2010 star Jackie Chan in a new entry in the franchise that’s scheduled to reach theatres on December 13, 2024.
Look, I don’t want to waste anyone’s time. We all know that Starship Troopers (watch it HERE) isn’t a horror movie. It’s a science fiction intergalactic comedy with a light tone and Neil Patrick Harris- but it’s also a well-made and tightly performed 90s creature feature that is sure to tickle the nostalgia bone for many JoBlo Horror fans. And with Paul Verhoeven being fresh on the mind from our Robocop episode, we thought it would only make sense to follow it up with another Verhoeven classic that showcases how far the director had come in the 10 years between these two films. If you’re still not convinced, this film also delivers on terrifying creatures, plenty of blood and guts, and even some boobies for you slasher trope seekers out there. While being more comedy/action than anything- Starship Troopers is a film that brings the goods with every action sequence and doesn’t spare audiences the gory details while also giving you a sort of college underdog comedy. And for me, sometimes that is simply all I’m looking for. So, my goal today isn’t to convince you that Starship Troopers is a horror movie- but what’s more is that I want to convince you that it’s worth watching anyway. And the best way I know how to do that is to put this movie over the microscope and figure out just what it is that makes it so special after all these years. I’m Kier with JoBlo Horror, and you’re watching Deconstructing.
Released in 1997, Starship Troopers follows the story of Johnny Rico, played by Casper Van Dien. A recent high school graduate living in the 23rd century who decides to skip his admission to Harvard and enlist in the United Citizen Federation- a special branch of military that is engaging in a vast and seemingly endless war with the creatures who inhabit our neighboring galaxies. While his parents don’t approve, Johnny’s clairvoyant friend Carl, played by Neil Patrick Harris, is also enlisting in the Federation’s intelligence branch. As well, his friend with benefits Dizzy, played by Dina Meyer is joining up, and so is Johnny’s new girlfriend Carman, played by Denise Richards. If you were a kid in the 90s, did you know anyone who didn’t have a crush on Denise Richards? Comment below.
So, when Rico and his friends enter the Federation as newbies, they all quickly climb the ranks of their respective departments as they each develop their own new relationships and gear up for their mission to take out an army of giant aliens. And to best look into what works so well with this movie- we’re going to be breaking down Starship Troopers by way of our four key categories. First, we’re going to discuss a brief origin of the film and how it got made- This is a MUCH more interesting topic than you might think so, stick around. Then we’ll get into the film’s legacy, which includes a similar franchise fate to Robocop. After that we’ll play a quick game of JoBlo Horror Trivia before we take on the most difficult topic- the movie’s X-Factor, where we look for that special something that really makes it shine. If you’re interested in revisiting this 90s cult classic and having one hell of a time along the way then make sure you leave a like on the video and of course, subscribe for the best in horror movie content. And let’s hit play on Starship Troopers.
ORIGIN
Okay, so once again this movie is a collaboration of Paul Verhoeven and Edward Neumeier- the duo that brought us Robocop. HOWEVER, instead of being an original story, this film is based and reworked from a 1959 novel of the same name. The original novel was written by Robert Heinlein and when I say that the book was reworked, I don’t mean the story was completely changed. However, in classic Verhoeven/Neumeier fashion, the commentary and subtext of the novel were dramatically altered. Here’s what I mean- Starship Troopers, the novel, is widely believed to be less of a satirical adventure, and more of a propaganda piece for fascism, racism, and the glorification of violent behavior. Now, I haven’t read the book, and some say that there is a sort of irony and sarcasm in the writing that makes it more critical of those ideas. It’s not for me to say, but what I can say with absolute certainty is that Paul Verhoeven did basically the opposite of that.
Much like Robocop’s commentary on police brutality, Starship Troopers offers a not-so-subtle criticism on military, politics, and patriotism. You might think the comedy comes from these ironic digs, but it doesn’t. The comedy in this movie comes from the incredible interactions between these young soldiers who are all learning to survive in their new roles. Verhoeven directed these characters to be likable, brave, tough, and funny- but also, dumb. Well, mostly dumb anyway. But, we’ll get to that.
Despite the controversy of the source material, Verhoeven’s reputation as a filmmaker granted him enough street credit in Hollywood to secure a lofty $100 Million budget from Tristar and Touchstone. And folks, I do not say this lightly- They put that shit to GOOD use with the movies visual effects being way too good to be from the 1990’s. I mean, am I out of my mind or does this look better than the CGI in like half of what we see today? It’s actually nuts. Shout out to Tippett Studio for that one. According to reports from the production, about half a million dollars went into just visual effects. That’s about half of the movie’s total budget- but it is so worth it. Unfortunately, the film barely made its budget back and struggled to even break even at the box office- which is a tale too often told with these beloved cult classics. And that brings me- to this movie’s legacy.
LEGACY
Despite the movie’s lack of profits, Starship Troopers ended up receiving the franchise treatment and getting 2 direct-to-video sequels (Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation and Starship Troopers 3: Marauder). While Verhoeven was interested in directing a sequel, he stated that he needed time to develop something fresh and new. Unfortunately, due to the low box office numbers, the films were not intended to be released in theaters. This caused Verhoeven to walk away from the project- but Ed Neumeier stayed on as the writer of both sequels, and even directed the third film himself which brought back the character of Johnny Rico played again by Casper Van Dien. More recently, there have been two CGI animated films titled Starship Troopers: Invasion and Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars. I haven’t seen any of these subsequent films. Not that I’m not interested in the universe, but more that I’m not interested in a watered-down version of the first film’s original message. And from what I’ve heard, none of the sequels really find that balance.
However, there have been talks of a reboot and a legacy TV series that kicked up pre-pandemic and have since sort of died down into rumor territory. But I have high hopes that eventually we will get something that does proper the original. Maybe I’m being optimistic, but I really believe that the magic of this cast could take a sequel a long way. While certain actors from the film have reprised their roles here and there for a cameo, I think a Starship Troopers film that brings back all the main players who survived the film and if we made them the focus of the story that takes them on one final mission- maybe then we can get something worth watching and discussing. Verhoeven’s use of the Robocop style propaganda commercials are also very much missing from my life these days so I need more of that asap.
When it comes to why this movie is so beloved- I really think that it’s a combination of things. For fans of old science fiction movies, this movie harkens back to classic alien films with its retro-futuristic aesthetic. If you love movies like Stripes or even Road Trip, this movie will give you those vibes. If you’re looking for an empathetic approach to being a young and stupid kid who follows his heart into the most dangerous pants to impress a girl because you’re too young to know any better- this movie is for you. It explores its share of political themes, yes. But it also explores far more grounded themes like friendship, loyalty, heroism, and finding your place in either this world, or an arachnid riddled warzone somewhere off-galaxy.
TRIVIA
Okay, now admittedly, if you’re a fan of this movie- you probably know this story. But I want to share it because I think it really speaks to this movie’s legacy. During an interview in 2016, Casper Van Dien told a story of a time he was picking up his 10 and 8 year old daughters from school. When he pulled up to the pickup zone, he notices his daughters talking to some boys from their class and when the boys saw Casper, they called out “Johnny Rico!” as the two had recognized him. According to Van Dien, when he asked the boys how they recognized him, they said their dads had made them watch the film with them. That just goes to show you that we are getting older and this is officially a dad movie. But I don’t have any kids and even if I did, it’s a fucking sweet dad movie. Van Dien continued with the story stating that his daughter asked him if he actually went naked for the movie’s shower scene. When Casper told his daughter he did indeed go nude, she replied saying “How could you do that to me?!” and “My life is ruined!”. Hey, if being naked in a Paul Verhoeven means you can’t have kids than… I guess I made the right decision. Call me Paul, I’m available.
And before we move on, let’s see if you can answer this question:
During the production, which actor from Starship Troopers suffered from heatstroke while filming in the 120 degree desert weather?
Casper Van Dien
Jake Busey
Clancy Brown
Patrick Muldoon
Comment your answer down below!
X-FACTOR
Okay, look- I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I’m having some trouble with this one. As usual, this is a movie that I adore. A movie that works for me on many levels and a movie that really just plays as one giant X-Factor. This is even Paul Verhoeven’s favorite film of his. How do I distill that into one small thing that makes it tick?
Well, first I wanted to praise the casting of this movie. And I’m not just talking about NPH and Denise Richards. This movie’s supporting cast and main cast are incredible. We get Jake Busey, Clancy Brown, Michael Ironside, Amy Smart, and Seth Gilliam. These actors are all great on their own, but together, it’s truly special. I also wanted to give the X-factor to Denise Richards just on principle, and then I even toyed with the idea of using this section to discuss the incredible CGI and visual effects that hold up so well. But, the truth is, you’ve heard all of that before. You already know that the creature design is flawless, the comedy is raunchy and light, the performances are perfectly dialed in and Rico’s hair is literally ideal. But what I think is the glue that holds that together is the brave and controversial decision of Paul Verhoeven and Edward Neumeier to adapt a book written in hate and turn it into something that brings people together. Imagine reading a book or even seeing a movie that you don’t agree with. In fact, it’s the opposing side of the things you personally believe. Then imagine taking that thing you don’t like and flipping it into the same story, but somehow saying the opposite in subtext. It’s brilliant. It would be like making Titanic into a commercial for a cruise- and making people like it. If you ask me, that more than deserves to be praised by fans of this cult classic film.
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