Of all the cautionary lessons that horror imparts, one of the most common warns us never to mess with Mother Nature. Those who are careless or hostile to the environment often meet their demises when Earth retaliates violently in eco-horror movies.
Ecological horror movies explore humankind’s estranged, fractured relationship with the planet, and its characters often find themselves on the defense against nature’s wrath. In celebration of Earth Day, an annual event in support of environmental protection, we’re looking back at some of the best eco-horror movies that remind us to take care of our planet… or else.
Here are ten eco-horror movies to watch this Earth Day.
The Bay
This found footage movie sees a seaside town under siege from an unknown virulent threat. First comes a gnarly rash, then vomiting, then a violent, disturbing death. Eventually, researchers discover it’s a parasitic ocean isopod that...
Ecological horror movies explore humankind’s estranged, fractured relationship with the planet, and its characters often find themselves on the defense against nature’s wrath. In celebration of Earth Day, an annual event in support of environmental protection, we’re looking back at some of the best eco-horror movies that remind us to take care of our planet… or else.
Here are ten eco-horror movies to watch this Earth Day.
The Bay
This found footage movie sees a seaside town under siege from an unknown virulent threat. First comes a gnarly rash, then vomiting, then a violent, disturbing death. Eventually, researchers discover it’s a parasitic ocean isopod that...
- 4/22/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Elizabeth Banks' new film "Cocaine Bear" was indeed inspired by true events. In 1985, a drug smuggler dropped a duffel bag containing $15 million worth of cocaine from a plane into the woods below. There, it was found by a 175-pound black bear, who proceeded to consume the cocaine. Unlike in Banks' movie, where the bear eats the cocaine and goes on a killing spree, the real-life bear wasn't known to have killed anyone. The bear simply died of a drug overdose. Because it was so well-preserved, the bear was taxidermied and subsequently passed around among various owners, not all of whom knew its cause of death. Waylon Jennings owned the Cocaine Bear at one point. These days, one can visit the Kentucky Fun Mall in Lexington, Ky, and visit the bear's taxidermied body. Its current owners, Whit Hiler and Griffin VanMeter, have cleverly named their prize "Pablo Escobear."
Banks' film is refreshingly uncomplicated.
Banks' film is refreshingly uncomplicated.
- 2/24/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
It’s a great time to be a horror fan. Not only are Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video and Shudder awash with all kinds of horror movies old and new, but the Criterion Channel is getting in on the gruesome action with a month’s worth of horror titles from the 1970s.
The subscription service is the digital offshoot of the Criterion Collection, which for more than 35 years has been providing definitive archival home video versions of classic and contemporary films from around the world. Criterion launched its streaming service last year as a way to offer a curated cross-section of its library of films online.
Horror has always had a respectful home at Criterion, with the company publishing definitive editions of a number of the genre’s landmark films. The October rollout of horror movies for the Halloween season is similar to what other companies are doing, but the focus is the difference here.
The subscription service is the digital offshoot of the Criterion Collection, which for more than 35 years has been providing definitive archival home video versions of classic and contemporary films from around the world. Criterion launched its streaming service last year as a way to offer a curated cross-section of its library of films online.
Horror has always had a respectful home at Criterion, with the company publishing definitive editions of a number of the genre’s landmark films. The October rollout of horror movies for the Halloween season is similar to what other companies are doing, but the focus is the difference here.
- 10/1/2020
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options—not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves–each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit platforms. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
Bad Vacations
I imagine your summer plans didn’t go as expected, but in at least a few films in a new Criterion Channel series, some characters have it worse off than having to quarantine inside. Titled Bad Vacations, the collection includes Bonjour tristesse (Otto Preminger, 1958), La collectionneuse (Éric Rohmer, 1967), The Deep (Peter Yates, 1977), House (Nobuhiko Obayashi, 1977), Long Weekend (Colin Eggleston, 1978), The Green Ray (Eric Rohmer, 1986), The Comfort of Strangers (Paul Schrader, 1990), The Sheltering Sky (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1990), Funny Games (Michael Haneke, 1997), Fat Girl (Catherine Breillat, 2001), La Ciénaga (Lucrecia Martel, 2001), Unrelated (Joanna Hogg, 2007), and Sightseers (Ben Wheatley, 2012).
Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel
Epicentro (Hubert Sauper)
“This is utopia, bright and burning.
Bad Vacations
I imagine your summer plans didn’t go as expected, but in at least a few films in a new Criterion Channel series, some characters have it worse off than having to quarantine inside. Titled Bad Vacations, the collection includes Bonjour tristesse (Otto Preminger, 1958), La collectionneuse (Éric Rohmer, 1967), The Deep (Peter Yates, 1977), House (Nobuhiko Obayashi, 1977), Long Weekend (Colin Eggleston, 1978), The Green Ray (Eric Rohmer, 1986), The Comfort of Strangers (Paul Schrader, 1990), The Sheltering Sky (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1990), Funny Games (Michael Haneke, 1997), Fat Girl (Catherine Breillat, 2001), La Ciénaga (Lucrecia Martel, 2001), Unrelated (Joanna Hogg, 2007), and Sightseers (Ben Wheatley, 2012).
Where to Stream: The Criterion Channel
Epicentro (Hubert Sauper)
“This is utopia, bright and burning.
- 8/28/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options—not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves–each week we highlight the noteworthy titles that have recently hit platforms. Check out this week’s selections below and past round-ups here.
An American Pickle (Brandon Trost)
Seth Rogen plays dual roles in his latest comedy, American Pickle follows Seth Rogen both as Herschel Greenbaum, an immigrant who falls in a vat of pickled is brined for 100 years, and his great-grandson Ben Greenbaum, who is a computer coder and lives a very different life, to say the least. While there are certainly humorous sequences (a Brooklyn hipster couple’s first impressions of Greenbaum’s pickle stand comes foremost to mind), Rogen is far more interested in the definitions of family and loyalty, themes that are not explored with a great deal of emotional impact, but do add some heart to what...
An American Pickle (Brandon Trost)
Seth Rogen plays dual roles in his latest comedy, American Pickle follows Seth Rogen both as Herschel Greenbaum, an immigrant who falls in a vat of pickled is brined for 100 years, and his great-grandson Ben Greenbaum, who is a computer coder and lives a very different life, to say the least. While there are certainly humorous sequences (a Brooklyn hipster couple’s first impressions of Greenbaum’s pickle stand comes foremost to mind), Rogen is far more interested in the definitions of family and loyalty, themes that are not explored with a great deal of emotional impact, but do add some heart to what...
- 8/7/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
If you’re looking to dive into the best of independent and foreign filmmaking, The Criterion Channel has announced their August 2020 lineup. The impressive slate includes retrospectives dedicated to Mia Hansen-Løve, Bill Gunn, Stephen Cone, Terry Gilliam, Wim Wenders, Alain Delon, Bill Plympton, Les Blank, and more.
In terms of new releases, they also have Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles’ Bacurau, the fascinating documentary John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection, the Kenyan LGBTQ drama Rafiki, and more. There’s also a series on Australian New Wave with films by Gillian Armstrong, Bruce Beresford, David Gulpilil, and Peter Weir, as well as one on bad vacations with Joanna Hogg’s Unrelated, Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers, and more.
See the lineup below and explore more on their platform. One can also see our weekly streaming picks here.
25 Ways to Quit Smoking, Bill Plympton, 1989
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T, Roy Rowland,...
In terms of new releases, they also have Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles’ Bacurau, the fascinating documentary John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection, the Kenyan LGBTQ drama Rafiki, and more. There’s also a series on Australian New Wave with films by Gillian Armstrong, Bruce Beresford, David Gulpilil, and Peter Weir, as well as one on bad vacations with Joanna Hogg’s Unrelated, Ben Wheatley’s Sightseers, and more.
See the lineup below and explore more on their platform. One can also see our weekly streaming picks here.
25 Ways to Quit Smoking, Bill Plympton, 1989
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T, Roy Rowland,...
- 7/24/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Above: French grande for Long Weekend. Artist Léo Kouper.Update: Sadly, because of coronavirus precautions closing down all of Lincoln Center yesterday, this series has been cancelled. It may only ever exist in poster form.One of the most interesting and eclectic New York repertory series in many a moon starts today at Film at Lincoln Center. Titled “Mapping Bacurau,” the series has been handpicked by filmmakers Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles to highlight the varied cinematic influences behind their current arthouse-meets-grindhouse sensation. The result is a baker’s dozen of eccentric horror movies, spaghetti westerns, revenge saga,s and essential texts of the Cinema Novo movement. Having art directed the U.S. poster for Bacurau with illustrator Tony Stella and designer Midnight Marauder, it was fascinating to see how the posters for these films had echoes in our final design, even if only coincidentally. One of which was...
- 3/13/2020
- MUBI
Juliano Dornelles on Michael in Bacurau: “When Udo Kier’s character said to the outsiders about the Brazilian collaborators, ‘They don’t speak Brazilian here.’ Brazilian, it’s not a name.”
In celebration of the theatrical release of Bacurau in New York, Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles will present Mapping Bacurau, a program of films that include John Sayles’s Lone Star,; Colin Eggleston’s Long Weekend; Paul Morrissey’s Blood For Dracula; 70mm print of John Carpenter’s Starman; Ted Kotcheff’s Wake In Fright, and a 4K restoration of Robin Hardy’s The Wicker Man: The Final Cut.
Kleber Mendonça Filho with Juliano Dornelles on Bacurau: “The horses for us is a very interesting marker that this is a Western. They’re beautiful animals, the way they move.” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Bacurau, shot by Pedro Sotero, edited by Eduardo Serrano, costumes by Rita Azevedo, with a.
In celebration of the theatrical release of Bacurau in New York, Kleber Mendonça Filho and Juliano Dornelles will present Mapping Bacurau, a program of films that include John Sayles’s Lone Star,; Colin Eggleston’s Long Weekend; Paul Morrissey’s Blood For Dracula; 70mm print of John Carpenter’s Starman; Ted Kotcheff’s Wake In Fright, and a 4K restoration of Robin Hardy’s The Wicker Man: The Final Cut.
Kleber Mendonça Filho with Juliano Dornelles on Bacurau: “The horses for us is a very interesting marker that this is a Western. They’re beautiful animals, the way they move.” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Bacurau, shot by Pedro Sotero, edited by Eduardo Serrano, costumes by Rita Azevedo, with a.
- 2/23/2020
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
John D. Lamond.
John D. Lamond, one of the pioneers of Australia’s Ozploitation film industry, died today in a nursing home on the Gold Coast, aged 71.
The producer-writer-director had been battling Parkinson’s disease for more than 20 years.
Mark Hartley’s documentary Not Quite Hollywood celebrated Lamond’s idiosyncratic contributions to the Ozploitation genre and featured his tongue-in-cheek quote, “I’m told I treat women like a sex object. I suppose it’s true because I ask for sex – and they object.”
Hartley tells If: “He was a lovely guy, funny, cheeky, warm and irreverent, and so supportive of me. John, Tony Ginnane, Brian Trenchard-Smith and Richard Franklin kept egging me on to make Not Quite Hollywood.
“He was always totally unapologetic about his films and he had no reason to be apologetic. It was only when he tried to make more commercial films that his finger wasn’t on the pulse.
John D. Lamond, one of the pioneers of Australia’s Ozploitation film industry, died today in a nursing home on the Gold Coast, aged 71.
The producer-writer-director had been battling Parkinson’s disease for more than 20 years.
Mark Hartley’s documentary Not Quite Hollywood celebrated Lamond’s idiosyncratic contributions to the Ozploitation genre and featured his tongue-in-cheek quote, “I’m told I treat women like a sex object. I suppose it’s true because I ask for sex – and they object.”
Hartley tells If: “He was a lovely guy, funny, cheeky, warm and irreverent, and so supportive of me. John, Tony Ginnane, Brian Trenchard-Smith and Richard Franklin kept egging me on to make Not Quite Hollywood.
“He was always totally unapologetic about his films and he had no reason to be apologetic. It was only when he tried to make more commercial films that his finger wasn’t on the pulse.
- 10/24/2018
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Harmony is an ideal. If everyone just got along, the world could be one big campfire sing-along, a Coke commercial writ large, right? But unfortunately that’s not human nature; certainly not as it pertains to our fellow earthly citizens, or to the globe itself. The ‘70s saw the rise of the eco horror film; “Mother Nature’s back, and she’s pissed” practically emblazoned across posters from the likes of Frogs (1972), Phase IV (1974), and Day of the Animals (1977). Australia threw their hat in the ring at the tail end of the cycle with Long Weekend (1979), a fascinating look at environmental and personal disharmony.
Produced by the Australian Film Commission and the Victorian Film Corporation, and premiering at the 1978 Sitges Film Festival, Long Weekend was released in its native land and the U.S in March of ’79, and didn’t do much business at either end. Perhaps audiences were expecting something a little more visceral,...
Produced by the Australian Film Commission and the Victorian Film Corporation, and premiering at the 1978 Sitges Film Festival, Long Weekend was released in its native land and the U.S in March of ’79, and didn’t do much business at either end. Perhaps audiences were expecting something a little more visceral,...
- 1/28/2017
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
"I may be dead, but I'm still pretty." Whether you want to watch Buffy Summers and company battle supernatural beings for the first time or re-live all your favorite moments from the show, reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are playing now on Pop TV. Also: The Drawing short film starring Clarke Wolfe in its entirety, a trailer / acquisition news for Gehenna: Where Death Lives, an excerpt from Duncan Ralston's Woom, the lineup for Ithaca Fantastik Film Festival, and The Master Cleanse at Screamfest.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Pop TV: Reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are now playing on Pop TV.
To learn more, visit:
http://poptv.com/buffy_the_vampire_slayer/
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Watch Short Film The Drawing in its Entirety: Press Release: "Los Angeles, CA: The Drawing is coming! The Drawing is here! The Drawing is a modern monster horror short infused with 80s synth overtones.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer on Pop TV: Reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are now playing on Pop TV.
To learn more, visit:
http://poptv.com/buffy_the_vampire_slayer/
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Watch Short Film The Drawing in its Entirety: Press Release: "Los Angeles, CA: The Drawing is coming! The Drawing is here! The Drawing is a modern monster horror short infused with 80s synth overtones.
- 10/25/2016
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Relax with the latest Horror Highlights brought to you by your friends here at Daily Dead. The first of three items today is a new poster for festival darling, In a Valley of Violence. Also: GoFundMe details for the 22-episode documentary Two Minutes with Tom Holland and a look at Ithaca Fantastik Film Festival's program announcement.
Check Out The New In a Valley of Violence Poster: Focus World will release In a Valley of Violence in select theaters and on VOD and Digital HD on October 21st, 2016.
“A mysterious drifter named Paul (Ethan Hawke) and his dog (YouTube sensation Jumpy) make their way towards Mexico through the barren desert of the old west. In an attempt to shorten their journey, they cut through the center of a large valley — landing themselves in the forgotten town of Denton, a place now dubbed by locals as a “valley of violence.” The once-popular...
Check Out The New In a Valley of Violence Poster: Focus World will release In a Valley of Violence in select theaters and on VOD and Digital HD on October 21st, 2016.
“A mysterious drifter named Paul (Ethan Hawke) and his dog (YouTube sensation Jumpy) make their way towards Mexico through the barren desert of the old west. In an attempt to shorten their journey, they cut through the center of a large valley — landing themselves in the forgotten town of Denton, a place now dubbed by locals as a “valley of violence.” The once-popular...
- 9/10/2016
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Presented by the Denver Film Society, Theresa Mercado's Scream Screen movie series continues this month at Denver's Sie FilmCenter with a new theme: "When Animals Attack!"
Each Saturday night from February 13th to March 5th, an animal-centric horror film will be screened at the Sie FilmCenter. The weekly screenings will be accompanied by additional entertainment ranging from live music performances to a presentation on one of the most dangerous spiders on Earth.
The featured films include Monkey Shines, Long Weekend (1978), Cujo, and Willard (1971). We have details on the screenings below, and to learn more, visit:
http://www.denverfilm.org/filmcenter/detail.aspx?id=28119&Fid=86
"Sat. February 13- Monkey Shines (1988) A quadriplegic man has a trained monkey help him with his paralysis, until the little monkey begins to develop feelings, and rage, against its new master. Directed by George Romero. And special guest DJ Tanner (aka Keith Garcia) will be...
Each Saturday night from February 13th to March 5th, an animal-centric horror film will be screened at the Sie FilmCenter. The weekly screenings will be accompanied by additional entertainment ranging from live music performances to a presentation on one of the most dangerous spiders on Earth.
The featured films include Monkey Shines, Long Weekend (1978), Cujo, and Willard (1971). We have details on the screenings below, and to learn more, visit:
http://www.denverfilm.org/filmcenter/detail.aspx?id=28119&Fid=86
"Sat. February 13- Monkey Shines (1988) A quadriplegic man has a trained monkey help him with his paralysis, until the little monkey begins to develop feelings, and rage, against its new master. Directed by George Romero. And special guest DJ Tanner (aka Keith Garcia) will be...
- 2/5/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
This is definitely the time of year when film critic types (I’m sure you know who I mean) spend an inordinate amount of time leading up to awards season—and it all leads up to awards season, don’t it?—compiling lists and trying to convince anyone who will listen that it was a shitty year at the movies for anyone who liked something other than what they saw and liked. And ‘tis the season, or at least ‘thas (?) been in the recent past, for that most beloved of academic parlor games, bemoaning the death of cinema, which, if the sackcloth-and-ashes-clad among us are to be believed, is an increasingly detached and irrelevant art form in the process of being smothered under the wet, steaming blanket of American blockbuster-it is. And it’s going all malnourished from the siphoning off of all the talent back to TV, which, as everyone knows,...
- 1/9/2016
- by Dennis Cozzalio
- Trailers from Hell
Revelation Perth International Film Festival is set to screen Australian classic Long Weekend as part of its October 26 event.
Australian Revelations is a celebration of Australian film via monthly screenings.
Each Australian Revelations feature screening will be accompanied by a Western Australian made short film, providing opportunities for local filmmakers to have their work seen by new audiences. .Revelation encourages Wa filmmakers to forward their short films for consideration.
Released in 1978, Colin Eggleston.s film is a taut two-hander starring the John Hargreaves and Briony Behets as a married couple trying to salvage their relationship by spending a long weekend away camping..
As things progress, their environment turns increasingly hostile — mirroring the internal conflict of the couple — and playing out as a very tense psychological drama.
Rev director, Richard Sowada, said it was always a pleasure bringing to Wa audiences some of the rare and rarely seen classics of Australian cinema.
Australian Revelations is a celebration of Australian film via monthly screenings.
Each Australian Revelations feature screening will be accompanied by a Western Australian made short film, providing opportunities for local filmmakers to have their work seen by new audiences. .Revelation encourages Wa filmmakers to forward their short films for consideration.
Released in 1978, Colin Eggleston.s film is a taut two-hander starring the John Hargreaves and Briony Behets as a married couple trying to salvage their relationship by spending a long weekend away camping..
As things progress, their environment turns increasingly hostile — mirroring the internal conflict of the couple — and playing out as a very tense psychological drama.
Rev director, Richard Sowada, said it was always a pleasure bringing to Wa audiences some of the rare and rarely seen classics of Australian cinema.
- 10/1/2015
- by Inside Film Correspondent
- IF.com.au
Synapse, one of the leading labels for cult and genre film home video and restoration has announced its Blu upgrade for Australian classic, Long Weekend. Citing the heavy requests for a Blu edition of Colin Eggleston’s 1978 film—remade by Jamie Blanks in 2008 as Nature’s Grave—Synapse has provided and thusly revealed art and features for…
The post Synapse Details Long Weekend on Blu appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
The post Synapse Details Long Weekend on Blu appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
- 1/29/2015
- by Samuel Zimmerman
- shocktillyoudrop.com
Prolific screenwriter Everett De Roche, who died in Melbourne yesterday, was one of the instigators of the Ozploitation genre movement of the 1970s and 80s.
The Us-born writer, who migrated to Australia with his wife in 1968, was 67. He had battled with cancer for three years. He started as an in-house writer for Crawfords for four years in the 1970s, penning episodes of Homicide, Division 4, Ryan and Matlock Police.
His first feature screenplay was Colin Eggleston.s Long Weekend in 1978. Among his film credits were Richard Franklin.s Patrick (1978), Simon Wincer.s Harlequin (1980), Franklin.s Roadgames (1981), David Hemmings. Race to the Yankee Zephyr (1981), Russell Mulcahy.s Razorback (1984) and Franklin.s Visitors (2003).
In 2008 he and director Jamie Blanks collaborated on a remake of Long Weekend, for which he added two characters, a baby dugong and several scenes. "The basic environmental message works as well today as it did in 1978," he said.
The Us-born writer, who migrated to Australia with his wife in 1968, was 67. He had battled with cancer for three years. He started as an in-house writer for Crawfords for four years in the 1970s, penning episodes of Homicide, Division 4, Ryan and Matlock Police.
His first feature screenplay was Colin Eggleston.s Long Weekend in 1978. Among his film credits were Richard Franklin.s Patrick (1978), Simon Wincer.s Harlequin (1980), Franklin.s Roadgames (1981), David Hemmings. Race to the Yankee Zephyr (1981), Russell Mulcahy.s Razorback (1984) and Franklin.s Visitors (2003).
In 2008 he and director Jamie Blanks collaborated on a remake of Long Weekend, for which he added two characters, a baby dugong and several scenes. "The basic environmental message works as well today as it did in 1978," he said.
- 4/3/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Writer Lee Gambin calls them Natural Horror films, other writers call them Revenge of Nature or Nature Run Amok films and writer Charles Derry considers them a type of Apocalyptic Cinema.
Of course we’re speaking of one of the great horror subgenres for which we’ll employ writer Kim Newman’s tag: The Revolt of Nature.
Since the end of the 1990s, lovers of animal attack films have been subjected to copious amounts of uninspired Nu Image, Syfy Channel and Syfy Channel-like dreck like Silent Predators (1999), Maneater (2007) Croc (2007), Grizzly Rage (2007) and a stunning amount of terrible shark attack films to name a few that barely scratch the surface of a massive list.
These movies fail miserably to capture the intensity of the unforgettable films they are imitating and the recent wave seems to carry with it the intent of giving the Revolt of Nature horror film a bad name.
Of course we’re speaking of one of the great horror subgenres for which we’ll employ writer Kim Newman’s tag: The Revolt of Nature.
Since the end of the 1990s, lovers of animal attack films have been subjected to copious amounts of uninspired Nu Image, Syfy Channel and Syfy Channel-like dreck like Silent Predators (1999), Maneater (2007) Croc (2007), Grizzly Rage (2007) and a stunning amount of terrible shark attack films to name a few that barely scratch the surface of a massive list.
These movies fail miserably to capture the intensity of the unforgettable films they are imitating and the recent wave seems to carry with it the intent of giving the Revolt of Nature horror film a bad name.
- 10/27/2013
- by Terek Puckett
- SoundOnSight
Throughout the month of October, Editor-in-Chief and resident Horror expert Ricky D, will be posting a list of his favorite Horror films of all time. The list will be posted in six parts. Click here to see every entry.
****
Enjoy!
150: Session 9
Directed by Brad Anderson
Written by Stephen Gevedon and Brad Anderson
2001, USA
If there was ever a perfect setting for a horror movie, it would be the abandoned Danvers State Mental Hospital. Built in 1878 on an isolated site in rural Massachusetts, it was a multi-acre, self-contained psychiatric hospital rumoured to have been the birthplace of the pre-frontal lobotomy. The hospital was the setting for the 2001 horror film Session 9, where an asbestos clean-up crew discover a series of nine tapes, which have recorded a patient with multiple personalities, all of which are innocent, except for number nine. With a shoestring budget and no real special effects, Session 9...
****
Enjoy!
150: Session 9
Directed by Brad Anderson
Written by Stephen Gevedon and Brad Anderson
2001, USA
If there was ever a perfect setting for a horror movie, it would be the abandoned Danvers State Mental Hospital. Built in 1878 on an isolated site in rural Massachusetts, it was a multi-acre, self-contained psychiatric hospital rumoured to have been the birthplace of the pre-frontal lobotomy. The hospital was the setting for the 2001 horror film Session 9, where an asbestos clean-up crew discover a series of nine tapes, which have recorded a patient with multiple personalities, all of which are innocent, except for number nine. With a shoestring budget and no real special effects, Session 9...
- 10/3/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
"Dream death-match to be sure, but I just noticed Koji Wakamatsu is actually making a new film based on Mishima's life," wrote Sanjuro six months ago, sparking a discussion in the Forum. 11.25 Jiketsu no Hi: Mishima Yukio to Wakamonotachi, with Arata taking the lead and Terajima Shinobu (Caterpillar) playing Mishima's wife, "focuses on the events of November 25, 1970, when Mishima entered the Tokyo headquarters of the Japan Self-Defense Forces along with four members of his private militia, the Tatenokai," wrote Nicholas Vroman in May at Toronto J-Film Pow-Wow. "Seizing control of the commandant's office, Mishima delivered a rambling speech from the balcony hoping to inspire a coup d'etat. He then returned to the office and committed suicide." He also notes that Wakamatsu's been blogging throughout the production. And today, Wildgrounds has posted the first trailer (above).
"Eco Sci-Fi" is the theme of the October issue of Electric Sheep, featuring David Cairns...
"Eco Sci-Fi" is the theme of the October issue of Electric Sheep, featuring David Cairns...
- 10/24/2011
- MUBI
Australia may not have an overabundance of horror films but they’ve managed to produce some quality genre pictures. The recent success of the acclaimed documentary Not Quite Hollywood has shed light on a much overlooked aspect of Aussie genre filmmaking, from lowbrow slashers to twisted thrillers and gross-out horror comedies. Back in the 70′s a number of prominent filmmakers began to develop a film movement that would eventually see the successes of such films as Mad Max and The Last Wave. It was during this time that Australian cinema as a whole experienced resurgence due to increased governmental funding and eventually gave way to what international film critics termed the “Australian New Wave” or the “Golden Age of Australian cinema”.
New Zealand hasn’t produced many horror films over the years, but those it has given birth to are remarkably strong entries. In fact one of the biggest filmmakers...
New Zealand hasn’t produced many horror films over the years, but those it has given birth to are remarkably strong entries. In fact one of the biggest filmmakers...
- 10/9/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Nightmares
Directed by John Lamond
Screenplay by Colin Eggleston
1980, USA
The Italians might have done it best but the Aussies sure did have a good time trying. As unstable as a one-legged pirate walking a tightrope, Nightmares (directed by Ozploitation guru John Lamond) isn’t shy about what it’s doing. From the opening scene we are bombarded with an erratic pace and a pulsating score which quickly informs us that we are in for one hell of a ride. The film opens with a set of flashbacks, where we see Hellen Selleck (Jenny Neumann) subject to two early childhood traumatic experiences. The first, which in some way causes the second, is of a young Helen discovering her mother and her lover having sex. Helen’s initial need for mommy to reinforce that there are no bogeymen under her bed is quickly put on the backburner by a more current and real fear,...
Directed by John Lamond
Screenplay by Colin Eggleston
1980, USA
The Italians might have done it best but the Aussies sure did have a good time trying. As unstable as a one-legged pirate walking a tightrope, Nightmares (directed by Ozploitation guru John Lamond) isn’t shy about what it’s doing. From the opening scene we are bombarded with an erratic pace and a pulsating score which quickly informs us that we are in for one hell of a ride. The film opens with a set of flashbacks, where we see Hellen Selleck (Jenny Neumann) subject to two early childhood traumatic experiences. The first, which in some way causes the second, is of a young Helen discovering her mother and her lover having sex. Helen’s initial need for mommy to reinforce that there are no bogeymen under her bed is quickly put on the backburner by a more current and real fear,...
- 9/29/2011
- by Detroit
- SoundOnSight
London International Documentary Festival
Two weeks, over 130 films and countless events and appearances, the nation's biggest factual film event gives you plenty to chew on – too much for any one mouth but whether it's Finnish saunas, morris dancing or Middle East politics, there's something for you here. Many key films assess influential individuals. Asif Kapadia's new Ayrton Senna film opens proceedings; Steven Soderbergh remembers Spalding Grey and Martin Scorsese honours Elia Kazan; Gomorrah author Roberto Saviano's threatened lifestyle is detailed; and Playboy's Hugh Hefner is recast as a liberal crusader – nothing to talk about there then.
Various venues, Fri to 28 May
Fire In Babylon & From The Ashes, Nationwide
Cricket is hardly underrepresented on the nation's airwaves, but for those who'd prefer a little bit of history to go with the hours of live coverage, you've got an enticing documentary double bill this month. From The Ashes remembers England's tumultuous 1981 Ashes campaign,...
Two weeks, over 130 films and countless events and appearances, the nation's biggest factual film event gives you plenty to chew on – too much for any one mouth but whether it's Finnish saunas, morris dancing or Middle East politics, there's something for you here. Many key films assess influential individuals. Asif Kapadia's new Ayrton Senna film opens proceedings; Steven Soderbergh remembers Spalding Grey and Martin Scorsese honours Elia Kazan; Gomorrah author Roberto Saviano's threatened lifestyle is detailed; and Playboy's Hugh Hefner is recast as a liberal crusader – nothing to talk about there then.
Various venues, Fri to 28 May
Fire In Babylon & From The Ashes, Nationwide
Cricket is hardly underrepresented on the nation's airwaves, but for those who'd prefer a little bit of history to go with the hours of live coverage, you've got an enticing documentary double bill this month. From The Ashes remembers England's tumultuous 1981 Ashes campaign,...
- 5/6/2011
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
“The Long Weekend” is a remake of Colin Eggleston’s 1978 eco-chiller, somewhat of a cult favourite in certain circles. Although the thought of yet another needless retread may cause many to sigh, the original was at least a reasonable choice, given its relative obscurity for modern audiences, and the fact that its message rings even more true today. The film was directed by Jamie Blanks, probably still best known for the post-“Scream” slashers “Urban Legend” and “Valentine”, who recently pulled himself back into genre relevance with the effective backwoods thriller “Storm Warning”. Inevitably, this new version is a slicker, bigger budgeted affair, boasting a couple of familiar leads in the form of Jim Caviezel (Jc himself, who will probably forever be known for “The Passion of the Christ”) and Claudia Karvan (recently in the excellent “Daybreakers”). It now arrives on DVD via Showbox in a 2-disc Ultimate Edition, with...
- 1/10/2010
- by James Mudge
- Beyond Hollywood
Colin Eggleston's Aussie horror cult classic 1978 shocker Long Weekend gets a contemporary makeover courtesy of director Jamie Blanks and the original film's screenwriter Everett De Roche (who wrote, among many others, the fantastic Aussie creature feature Razorback). Long Weekend stars Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan, and cranks out the eco-horror chills to produce that rare thing in cinema - a remake that is as good as the original. Long Weekend comes to R2 DVD on 8th February 2010, as a two-disc special Edition. Those in the U.S interested to see the movie can find it under its oddly retitled name "Natures Grave."...
- 12/13/2009
- 24framespersecond.net
The Scary Movies 3 festival being held by Manhattan’s Film Society of Lincoln Center October 12-22 at the Walter Reade Theater (165 West 65th Street, upper level), which we first reported on last week, has updated its schedule, with the addition of fright filmmaker Eric Red and two of his movies to the lineup. And in conjunction with the Film Society, Fango is offering five free pairs of tickets to the Thursday, October 15 at 8 p.m. showing of An American Werewolf In London, with writer/director John Landis in attendance!
Red will be on hand for 1986’s original The Hitcher, which he scripted, and his new writing/directing venture 100 Feet; see the full updated schedule below. To enter to win tickets to American Werewolf with the Landis Q&A, send an e-mail by 12 noon Est on Tuesday the 13th to fangoscreening@starloggroup.com. You must list “American Werewolf” as your subject line; plus,...
Red will be on hand for 1986’s original The Hitcher, which he scripted, and his new writing/directing venture 100 Feet; see the full updated schedule below. To enter to win tickets to American Werewolf with the Landis Q&A, send an e-mail by 12 noon Est on Tuesday the 13th to fangoscreening@starloggroup.com. You must list “American Werewolf” as your subject line; plus,...
- 10/8/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
Manhattan’s Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced the full slate for its Scary Movies 3 festival, running October 12-22 at the Walter Reade Theater (165 West 65th Street, upper level). Among the highlights are a screening of An American Werewolf In London with writer/director John Landis in attendance, the New York premiere of MacAbre by Indonesia’s Mo Brothers and a non-midnight showing of Oren Peli’s Paranormal Activity.
The complete schedule is as follows:
Monday, Oct. 12
2:30 p.m.: Tom Savini’s Night Of The Living Dead
4:30 p.m.: Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive
7 p.m.: Oren Peli’s Paranormal Activity
9:30 p.m.: The Mo Brothers’ MacAbre
Tuesday, Oct. 13
2 p.m.: David Cronenberg’s The Brood
4 p.m.: MacAbre
6 p.m.: Jerzy Skolimowski’s The Shout
Wednesday, Oct. 14
1:30 p.m.: John Landis’ An American Werewolf In London
8:45 p.
The complete schedule is as follows:
Monday, Oct. 12
2:30 p.m.: Tom Savini’s Night Of The Living Dead
4:30 p.m.: Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive
7 p.m.: Oren Peli’s Paranormal Activity
9:30 p.m.: The Mo Brothers’ MacAbre
Tuesday, Oct. 13
2 p.m.: David Cronenberg’s The Brood
4 p.m.: MacAbre
6 p.m.: Jerzy Skolimowski’s The Shout
Wednesday, Oct. 14
1:30 p.m.: John Landis’ An American Werewolf In London
8:45 p.
- 9/30/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
Fango got the scoop that Manhattan’s Film Society of Lincoln Center will present a third Scary Movies festival next month at the Walter Reade Theater (165 West 65th Street, upper level). It’s one of a trio of genre-centric showcases hitting New York-area revival houses in time for Halloween.
Scary Movies 3 hasn’t had exact dates confirmed yet, but we hear that among the movies to be presented on the Walter Reade’s big screen are Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive, Colin Eggleston’s original Aussie chiller Long Weekend and Jerzy Skolimowski’s odd and obscure 1978 film The Shout. Also part of the lineup will be a cult-classic 1980s film that, we’re told, was remade in the last few years (that really narrows it down!). Keep an eye on the Film Society website for more details to appear soon.
Over at Brooklyn’s BAMcinématek at the Bam Rose Cinemas...
Scary Movies 3 hasn’t had exact dates confirmed yet, but we hear that among the movies to be presented on the Walter Reade’s big screen are Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive, Colin Eggleston’s original Aussie chiller Long Weekend and Jerzy Skolimowski’s odd and obscure 1978 film The Shout. Also part of the lineup will be a cult-classic 1980s film that, we’re told, was remade in the last few years (that really narrows it down!). Keep an eye on the Film Society website for more details to appear soon.
Over at Brooklyn’s BAMcinématek at the Bam Rose Cinemas...
- 9/23/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
Year: 2009
Directors: Jamie Blanks
Writers: Everett De Roche
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Amazon: link
Review by: agentorange
Rating: 6.2 out of 10
For his fifth foray into the horror genre, acclaimed Storm Warning director Jamie Blanks has taken on a remake of one of the most beloved Australian cult films of all time, Long Weekend. Big shoes right? Not only is Colin Eggleston‘s original ecological thriller considered a hidden gem of Australian 70s cinema, but when your story requires the only two human characters you’ve got to be so despicable that they are actually the antagonists you’ve really got to have some finesse as a filmmaker.
For the most part, Blanks succeeds in making a passable mid-budget man vs. nature film with two great performances by Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan. But, as a modern Long Weekend redux I can’t help but be disappointed in some technical corners that were obviously cut,...
Directors: Jamie Blanks
Writers: Everett De Roche
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Amazon: link
Review by: agentorange
Rating: 6.2 out of 10
For his fifth foray into the horror genre, acclaimed Storm Warning director Jamie Blanks has taken on a remake of one of the most beloved Australian cult films of all time, Long Weekend. Big shoes right? Not only is Colin Eggleston‘s original ecological thriller considered a hidden gem of Australian 70s cinema, but when your story requires the only two human characters you’ve got to be so despicable that they are actually the antagonists you’ve really got to have some finesse as a filmmaker.
For the most part, Blanks succeeds in making a passable mid-budget man vs. nature film with two great performances by Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan. But, as a modern Long Weekend redux I can’t help but be disappointed in some technical corners that were obviously cut,...
- 8/1/2009
- QuietEarth.us
Oh. My. God.
We try not to post too many of these kinds of rant heavy non news posts but the DVD art and details for Jamie Blanks’ remake of the Australian chiller Long Weekend has just been released over at Fangoria and it appears that Screengems, in all their infinite wisdom, hase decided to give it the awkward and uninspired title of Nature's Grave, and have given it one of the worst DVD covers I have seen in a long time.
Why do I care? Well not only have we been following Long Weekend's progress for a while (you'll find the trailer here), but Colin Eggleston's original 70s film is one of my favorite Australian movies ever made, so they are not only giving what I've heard is a fairly decent remake a bad name before it's even released, but they are tarnishing a classic. Would you...
We try not to post too many of these kinds of rant heavy non news posts but the DVD art and details for Jamie Blanks’ remake of the Australian chiller Long Weekend has just been released over at Fangoria and it appears that Screengems, in all their infinite wisdom, hase decided to give it the awkward and uninspired title of Nature's Grave, and have given it one of the worst DVD covers I have seen in a long time.
Why do I care? Well not only have we been following Long Weekend's progress for a while (you'll find the trailer here), but Colin Eggleston's original 70s film is one of my favorite Australian movies ever made, so they are not only giving what I've heard is a fairly decent remake a bad name before it's even released, but they are tarnishing a classic. Would you...
- 5/29/2009
- QuietEarth.us
Screen Media Films has announced that it will release Jamie Blanks’ remake of the Australian chiller Long Weekend direct to DVD under the new title Nature’S Grave. The disc is scheduled to street August 4.
Based on the 1978 Long Weekend directed by Colin Eggleston, which has become a cult favorite among Ozploitation fans, Blanks’ film (based on the same script by Down Under genre veteran Everett De Roche) stars Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan as a couple who take a vacation in the woods, and don’t show the environment much respect—then find nature striking back at them. Screen Media’s disc will present the movie in anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound; unfortunately, no special features are scheduled. Retail price is $24.98; look for coverage on the movie at this site as it nears release.
Based on the 1978 Long Weekend directed by Colin Eggleston, which has become a cult favorite among Ozploitation fans, Blanks’ film (based on the same script by Down Under genre veteran Everett De Roche) stars Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan as a couple who take a vacation in the woods, and don’t show the environment much respect—then find nature striking back at them. Screen Media’s disc will present the movie in anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound; unfortunately, no special features are scheduled. Retail price is $24.98; look for coverage on the movie at this site as it nears release.
- 5/29/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
Screen Media Films has announced that it will release Jamie Blanks’ remake of the Australian chiller Long Weekend direct to DVD under the new title Nature’S Grave. The disc is scheduled to street August 4.
Based on the 1978 Long Weekend directed by Colin Eggleston, which has become a cult favorite among Ozploitation fans, Blanks’ film (based on the same script by Down Under genre veteran Everett De Roche) stars Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan as a couple who take a vacation in the woods, and don’t show the environment much respect—then find nature striking back at them. Screen Media’s disc will present the movie in anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound; unfortunately, no special features are scheduled. Retail price is $24.98; look for coverage on the movie at this site as it nears release.
Based on the 1978 Long Weekend directed by Colin Eggleston, which has become a cult favorite among Ozploitation fans, Blanks’ film (based on the same script by Down Under genre veteran Everett De Roche) stars Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan as a couple who take a vacation in the woods, and don’t show the environment much respect—then find nature striking back at them. Screen Media’s disc will present the movie in anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen with Dolby Digital 5.1 sound; unfortunately, no special features are scheduled. Retail price is $24.98; look for coverage on the movie at this site as it nears release.
- 5/29/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (Michael Gingold)
- Fangoria
Beginning October 2, the Sitges Festival Internacional de Catalunya 2008 was a sun-drenched 10-day fiesta teeming with talent and terror. Every major genre movie of current note was on show in the picturesque Spanish resort town’s veteran festival, which surprised organizers Angel Sala and Mike Hostench by equaling last year’s record-breaking figures—especially as this 41st edition took place against the gloomiest of economic backdrops.
But as Sala pointed out in his speech at the closing awards ceremony, people need to escape to fantasy/horror cinema more than ever in such trying times. And Sitges certainly put the credit-crunch blues on hold for anyone attending the numerous gala events. Like the two Surprise Movies: Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea, genius animator Hayao Miyazaki’s delightful reworking of the “Little Mermaid” fairy tale, and Michael Doughtery’s nice and nasty Trick ’R Treat (pictured above). The latter was a...
But as Sala pointed out in his speech at the closing awards ceremony, people need to escape to fantasy/horror cinema more than ever in such trying times. And Sitges certainly put the credit-crunch blues on hold for anyone attending the numerous gala events. Like the two Surprise Movies: Ponyo On The Cliff By The Sea, genius animator Hayao Miyazaki’s delightful reworking of the “Little Mermaid” fairy tale, and Michael Doughtery’s nice and nasty Trick ’R Treat (pictured above). The latter was a...
- 11/4/2008
- Fangoria
Notice anything odd about this poster? Look closely at the rocks... Boo!
We haven't heard much from Darclight Films concerning Jamie Blanks' (Storm Warning) upcoming remake of the Aussie nature rum amok classic Long Weekend since the first trailer dropped back in March so I figured, since we just discovered a hot off the presses poster for the project, I'd write up a little refresher/update.
There's been a lot of hype around the history of the infamous Australian exploitation film scene of late. For the most part, this renewed interest has been spurred on by the Mark Hartley documentary Not Quite Hollywood but also because Australia has been hard at work making some of the best horror films around- Wolf Creek, Black Water, Storm Warning, Acolytes, and the upcoming Dying Breed and Long Weekend to name but a few. Of course, Long Weekend is the only remake of...
We haven't heard much from Darclight Films concerning Jamie Blanks' (Storm Warning) upcoming remake of the Aussie nature rum amok classic Long Weekend since the first trailer dropped back in March so I figured, since we just discovered a hot off the presses poster for the project, I'd write up a little refresher/update.
There's been a lot of hype around the history of the infamous Australian exploitation film scene of late. For the most part, this renewed interest has been spurred on by the Mark Hartley documentary Not Quite Hollywood but also because Australia has been hard at work making some of the best horror films around- Wolf Creek, Black Water, Storm Warning, Acolytes, and the upcoming Dying Breed and Long Weekend to name but a few. Of course, Long Weekend is the only remake of...
- 10/16/2008
- QuietEarth.us
Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan will star in the suspense thriller "Long Weekend" for Arclight Films.
Jamie Blanks will direct from a script by Everett De Roche. Based on the 1978 Australian thriller of the same name, the story concerns a young couple on a camping trip who callously disregard the local environment, firing guns and wounding wildlife, until the wildlife starts to hit back. The 1978 version starred John Hargreaves and Briony Behets and was directed by Colin Eggleston.
"The original film was a great example of a classic chiller and was acclaimed by audiences and critics alike," Arclight head Gary Hamilton said. "We think the time is right to make this new film and that it will have a huge appeal to audiences worldwide."
Hamilton and Nigel Odell are producing. Principal photography is scheduled to begin in Australia in mid-November.
Darclight, the genre division of Arclight Films, will handle worldwide distribution and sales of the film, commencing at AFM, which runs Oct.
Jamie Blanks will direct from a script by Everett De Roche. Based on the 1978 Australian thriller of the same name, the story concerns a young couple on a camping trip who callously disregard the local environment, firing guns and wounding wildlife, until the wildlife starts to hit back. The 1978 version starred John Hargreaves and Briony Behets and was directed by Colin Eggleston.
"The original film was a great example of a classic chiller and was acclaimed by audiences and critics alike," Arclight head Gary Hamilton said. "We think the time is right to make this new film and that it will have a huge appeal to audiences worldwide."
Hamilton and Nigel Odell are producing. Principal photography is scheduled to begin in Australia in mid-November.
Darclight, the genre division of Arclight Films, will handle worldwide distribution and sales of the film, commencing at AFM, which runs Oct.
- 10/25/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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