ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON APRIL 10, 2003 By Steve Newton As a first-time writer-director, shock-rocker Rob Zombie delivered just the type of movie you’d expect from a guy who writes tunes like “Scum of the Earth” and “Demonoid Phenomenon”, then performs them while looking like Charlie Manson’s homeless brother. His film, House of 1000 Corpses—which opens … Continue reading Rob Zombie reopens the ’70s drive-in with the twisted House of 1000 Corpses
Category: fearmongers
Splatter king Tom Savini brings “dead things” to life remaking Romero
By Steve Newton When Tom Savini's remake of George Romero's zombie classic The Night of the Living Dead came out in 1990 I did a phone interview with the gore-FX guru. That was cool. Blood and guts aren’t pretty. Neither is brain matter. But when it comes to the horror genre, those type of bodily components … Continue reading Splatter king Tom Savini brings “dead things” to life remaking Romero
Stephen King dedicates Doctor Sleep to underrated rock genius Warren Zevon
I scored a copy of the new Stephen King novel Doctor Sleep for Christmas, which was great as it continues the story of The Shining, one of my fave works--next to Carrie, The Dead Zone, and The Stand--from King's '70s heyday. But before I even got into the further supernatural torments befalling the telepathic Danny Torrance … Continue reading Stephen King dedicates Doctor Sleep to underrated rock genius Warren Zevon
Drew Goddard’s The Cabin in the Woods isn’t typical scare fare
ORIGINALLY POSTED ON STRAIGHT.COM, APRIL 11, 2012 By Steve Newton When you ask Drew Goddard to name the best horror flicks he’s seen in the past 10 years and he comes up with High Tension and The Descent, it’s obvious he knows his stuff. Both films were distributed by Lions Gate Entertainment, a company that was formed right … Continue reading Drew Goddard’s The Cabin in the Woods isn’t typical scare fare
Drive Angry director Patrick Lussier inspired by classic horror and Canuck rock
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 23, 2011 By Steve Newton Vancouver native Patrick Lussier has made quite a name for himself in the Hollywood horror scene, having edited all three of Wes Craven’s Scream films before taking on the slasher genre himself with the 2009 remake of My Bloody Valentine. He also helped kick-start the past decade’s vampire … Continue reading Drive Angry director Patrick Lussier inspired by classic horror and Canuck rock
The Rite’s Anthony Hopkins betters the devil you know
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JAN. 21, 2011 By Steve Newton LOS ANGELES—Anthony Hopkins is one scary guy. He can be, at least. Just ask anyone who has seen him play cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter in 1991’s The Silence of the Lambs. Forget Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees—Hopkins took cinematic evil to ghastly new heights with … Continue reading The Rite’s Anthony Hopkins betters the devil you know
Radha Mitchell got to explore all her inner angst in the horror remake The Crazies
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 24, 2010 By Steve Newton Radha Mitchell is no Hollywood scream queen, but the 36-year-old Aussie—noted for her leading role in Woody Allen’s 2004 comedy-drama Melinda and Melinda—has taken on her fair share of fierce monsters and supernatural forces. She had her first genre role in 2000’s Pitch Black, playing a downed space … Continue reading Radha Mitchell got to explore all her inner angst in the horror remake The Crazies
Rob Zombie goes for the jugular with Halloween II
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON AUG. 26, 2009 By Steve Newton Rob Zombie likes to fuck with people’s heads. That’s why in his sadistic 2005 shocker The Devil's Rejects, during the scene where two captive men are being driven to a remote location to be butchered by a psycho, the song playing on the van’s radio is … Continue reading Rob Zombie goes for the jugular with Halloween II
The Orphanage director Juan Antonio Bayona loves when the ordinary world becomes a nightmare
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON DEC. 20, 2007 By Steve Newton Most people have a keen recollection of the first film that scared the crap out of them. For Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona, it wasn't anything as fright-worthy as The Exorcist; he got creeped out by seeing Frank Langella go batty in a justifiably overlooked 1979 … Continue reading The Orphanage director Juan Antonio Bayona loves when the ordinary world becomes a nightmare
Slither director James Gunn loves horror movies
James Gunn had no intention of waiting until he was a Hollywood director to helm his first horror flick. He made his splatter debut at 12.
High Tension director Alexandre Aja tackles Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON MARCH 9, 2006 By Steve Newton The French are famous for a lot of things, but making horror movies isn't one of them. Just try to name one French fright flick that has caught your attention lately-besides Alexandre Aja's terrifying 2003 effort, High Tension. As Aja explains on the line from L.A., … Continue reading High Tension director Alexandre Aja tackles Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes
Maurizio Guarini won’t say that John Carpenter’s Halloween theme ripped off Goblin’s Deep Red score
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON OCT. 15, 2013 By Steve Newton It's approaching that time of year when a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of horror, and the atmospheric music that—if you’re lucky—makes fright flicks scary as hell. Who among us hasn’t reached for the Halloween soundtrack to gloom up the mood before the trick-or-treaters arrive, the familiar … Continue reading Maurizio Guarini won’t say that John Carpenter’s Halloween theme ripped off Goblin’s Deep Red score
Fearless demon-killer Bruce Campbell opts for the safety of the sidewalk in Vancouver
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON JULY 7, 2005 By Steve Newton Bruce Campbell won the hearts of horror fans everywhere with his role as the comically intense demon killer Ash in Sam Raimi's low-budget 1983 horror hit, The Evil Dead. He went on to portray the manic, blood-soaked hero in the increasingly slapstick follow-ups, Evil Dead II: … Continue reading Fearless demon-killer Bruce Campbell opts for the safety of the sidewalk in Vancouver