Happy St. David’s Day (The Patron Saint of Wales FYI): Top 5 Welsh Contributions to Horror

Wales; for many, that little bit on the lefthand side of England, home to some 3 million people (that’s about the same amount of people that live in the state of Iowa) famous for singing, rugby (which to be fair was invented in England, but we just care more), sheep, rain, coal and ummmm that’s about it (and there’s me of course, but I wouldn’t say I’m famous, save for in my mum’s eyes). Wales then isn’t an obvious choice when considering a nation’s impact on the horror genre. But don’t count your sheep before you have sex with them (It’s an old saying). Join Deadly Movies to celebrate this year’s St David’s Day with a salute to Wales’s greatest contributions to our beloved genre (in no particular order btw):

News (Updated): Guy Pearce is a Weyland in Prometheus. Continuity Head F**K

 

UPDATE: A new Prometheus viral campaign has landed in which we get our first glimpse of Guy Pearce’s Peter Weyland, you can see the video and play along with the campaign here. In the 3 minute long keynote speech, Weyland (a sort of Steve Jobs meets Prince Phillip) runs us through the history of technological development, teases Alien fans with a couple of lines about AI, and delivers the wonderful closing line “My name is Peter Weyland, and if you’d indulge me, I’d like to change the world“. Of course all of this is glorious buildup to the events of both Prometheus and Alien. We even get a lovely Weyland Industries logo at the end, a precurser to that well know Weyland Yutani logo from the Alien franchise. You can read about the links between Prometheus and Alien, as well as catching up on ALL the Weyland connections and timelines throughout the Alien franchise, below:

Deadly Movies Alternative Oscars 2012

The Oscars are upon us once again, and there’s little surprise that there’s little surprises. As always any surprises come in the form of omissions. But at Deadly Movies HQ we like to avoid the self indulgence of Oscar porn and have our very own alternative Oscar nominations list. Now this is only an exercise in personal indulgence with a pinch of facetiousness so please don’t bang on at me about what is and isn’t a horror movie or what is and what isn’t a pile of dog crap. Of course feel free to pick your winners and losers from the nominations below.

Deadly Movies Connections: 28 Days Later & The Day of The Triffids. Deserted Deja Vu?

What image do you remember the most about Danny Boyle’s superb 2002 horror 28 Days Later? A good way to judge this is with a quick Google Image search to find which of those images from the film that people most frequently post and discuss. It’s probably not much of a surprise that, posters and DVD art aside, one of the most recurring images found online is of Cillian Murphy’s Jim wondering the deserted streets of London, more specifically walking across a deserted Westminster Bridge. Seeing any major city deserted, especially one as large and famed as London, is a memorable cinematic moment, made all the more stunning by the lack of CG assistance (tut tut I Am Legend). That deserted London sequence has always been my favourite part of the movie, I find the military compound section of the movie less interesting (certainly less visually interesting at least).

So imagine my surprise when, watching The Day of The Triffids (1962) recently, I realised that many of these infamous shots from 28 Days Later had been achieved in the past. In fact I’d go as far to say that Danny Boyle knowingly recreated scenes from The Day of The Triffids. To put this in context, in both films a guy wakes up in hospital after an apocalyptic-type event has taken place (Jim in 28 Days, Howard Keel’s Bill in Triffids) to find himself all but alone and subsequently wanders the deserted streets of London in search of answers. Take a look at the comparison pictures which I’ve mocked up below, It’s actually quite staggering in terms of either framing or imagery. Scenes from The Day of The Triffids appear on top, scenes from 28 Days Later underneath:

Celebrating Black History Month 2012 Part 2: Deadly Movies Top 5 African American Horror Characters

Deadly Movies continues to celebrate Black history month with a look at the finest African American characters from our beloved genre (PS if you missed our look at horror’s greatest African American actors you can check that out here). Again this is less an extensively exclusive list and more an excuse for indulgence in a collection of Deadly Movies very favourite genre characters.

Movies You’ve Probably Never Heard of #19

Weasels Rip My Flesh (1979)

Whilst Weasels Rip My Flesh is easy to dismiss as a nonsensical crap-fest, one thing must be taken into account; It was made by sixteen year old Nathan Schiff on a budget of $400. Sixteen! Wait.., SIXTEEN! Somehow this sixteen year old kid managed to a) make this and other feature films, b) coheres adults to act in his movies, and c) get said movies (eventually) released on DVD. All of that is absolutely remarkable. As you may imagine, the plot of a film that comes from the mind of a sixteen year old boy goes a little something like this: Space goop from a crashed NASA spacecraft mutates a weasel into a giant paper-mâché creature who rips folks arms off. In the meantime a mad scientist hellbent on world domination is attempting to build an army of indestructible weasel humans. At least that’s what I think was happening, but I can’t be 100% certain. Make no mistake, this is a student movie in every conceivable way, complete with household props, duct tape, one of the worst realised monsters you’re ever likely to see, and a lack of any rudimentary filmmaking integrity. But, It’s made by a sixteen year old which just makes it a rather splendid achievement.

So, who out there can lay claim to seeing this very unusual entry into horror cinema?

Think you know your obscure movies? Check out the other 18 movies you’ve probably never heard of here.

Happy Valentine’s Day: The Top 5 Horror Movie Deaths During Sex Scenes!

St Valentine’s Day, a day for love, romance, and gifts.., and night for cashing all that goodwill in for sexy sex time. Sex is all well and good, but it doesn’t come without risks (and I’m not talking Teen Mom or GUM clinic type risks), oh no. I’m talking the type of risk where trying to get your willy wet is more likely to end with getting your willy whacked (and I mean Italian American gangster whacked). So keep a firm hold of your dangly parts as Deadly Movies celebrates(?) the Top 5 horror movie death scenes during sex; because fornication can be fatal. (Reader beware, there are some sexually explicit photos in this post.., Happy Valentine’s Day!)

Great Moustaches & Beards in Horror History: 1981 (Valentine’s Day Special)

Keith Knight (above, right). What a man. What a man’s man. Just look at his resume for a second if you will (and you will). The man boasts roles in classic movies such as Meatballs (1979) and Of Unknown Origin (1983), classic TV shows such as The Littlest Hobo, The Twilight Zone, Robocop, and The Never Ending Story, and voice characterisation for shows like The Care Bears, Babar, Beetlejuice, Rupert, and The Adventures of Tintin. Now I know what the smart folk amongst you are saying: “Steady on there Deadly Movies. This Keith Knight is man enough, we don’t need to hear about some beard or moustache to realise that“. I know my friends, and I agree. But consider the lady folk out there, they crave real men like Keith, and therein we must persist. Now as It’s almost Valentine’s Day we’re here to talk about Keith’s role as Hollis in 1981′s classic Canadian slasher My Bloody Valentine. And just look at what he’s sporting on his upper lip, a moustache that men wish they had and ladies wish they could have at (and vice versa of course). Channeling moustache curls that would make the likes of Salvador Dahi and Rollie Fingers proud, Keith’s Valentine’s Day moustache is worth a thousand roses or boxes of chocolates. Here’s to you Keith and your irresistible hairy lip love slug.

Black History Month Special: Top 5 African American Horror Actors

Deadly Movies celebrates Black History Month with a look at five actors who have contributed hugely to the success of the horror genre. Of course this list is by o means extensive or conclusive, but more so a personal indulgence in some of my favourite actors from horror history; actors with extensive horror resumes and actors who’s memorable performances have cemented there ststus as cult icons.

Top 5 Movie Monsters of the 1990s

The 90s was quite possibly the absolute worst decade for horror in cinematic history. Summed up best by the word bland. So very bland. One ray of light amongst all this blandness was the good old creature feature, which actually produced a couple of modern-day monster greats. So before I launch into a self-assured Top 5 of the best monsters of the bland years, let’s set some house rules: 1) The creature has to be a new film from the decade and not a sequel to a movie from previous decades (so that’s goodbye to Aliens and Predators). 2) ‘Monsters’ refers to proper monsters, beast type creatures that offer up something a little different from the normal humanoid-type beings we’re all so used to (so that’s goodbye boogeymen, zombies, vampires, and werewolves). 3) I’ll try and avoid animals, both current and extinct (so that’s goodbye giant snakes, crocodiles, and dinosaurs). 4) Get on with it.

Deadly Movies Icons: Presenting Tom Atkins

Tom ‘thrill me’ Atkins is what Deadly Movies icons are all about. If he can fit it into his schedule, and if he thinks it sounds fun, he’ll sign onto just about any movie with little to no regard for such frivolities such as artistic merit. And taking a look at his resume it turns out he’s a damn fine judge. Atkins and his mighty moustache began acting life together in the 60s, predominantly in TV roles, often as a detective.., a typecast role than would stay with him throughout his career. Indeed his first movie role was in the aptly names The Detective (1968), where he played opposite none other than Frank Sinatra. More TV cop roles would follow over the next decade until 1980, when Atkins career would take turn down the horror/sci-fi path and never look back. It was, of course, John Carpenter who gave Atkins his breakout role in the genre he’s so regarded for today, starring as Nick Castle alongside Jamie Lee Curtis in The Fog. From there on in Atkins’ life was one of zombies, aliens, serial killers, and creatures. Deadly Movies salutes you and lip-hair with these outstanding highlights:

The Fog (1980): Atkins vs ghost pirates

Escape From New York (1981): Atkins not really vs anyone, but let’s say vs Snake Plissken

Creepshow (1982): Atkins vs the trilogy segment structure

Halloween 3 (1982): Atkins vs face melting kids masks

Night of the Creeps (1986): Atkins vs alien-vampire-zombie type things

Maniac Cop (1988): Tom Atkins vs a, well you can guess.

My Bloody Valentine (2009): Atkins vs the third wave of 3D and a pissed off miner.

Drive Angry (2011): Atkins vs all kinds of mumbo-jumbo

I never Dreamed it Would Turn out to be the Bees! 34 years of Michael Caine and Bees.

34 years ago, In the movie The Swarm,  Michael Caine delivered some of cinema’s finest bee based dialogue (yes I realise we can now hold Nicolas Cage in such honorary company too), perhaps nothing as bee-profound than this beeauty:

“We’ve been fighting a losing battle against the insects for fifteen years, but I never thought I’d see the final face-off in my lifetime. And I never dreamed, that it would turn out to be the bees. They’ve always been our friend“

So profound. Such words can haunt a man. And perhaps they haunted Caine himself. Now in the twilight of his career Caine can pick and choose projects at his leisure, so it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that he’s back with bees. But this time giant bees. Giant bees that he saddles up, sits on, and flies about the place in Brad Payton’s Journey 2: The Mysterious Island. Aside from being a film with a truly bizarre ensemble cast; The Rock, Caine, Vanessa Hudgens (I can’t believe she’s featured in an article on this site that isn’t about her ‘leaked’ boob shots), and Luis Guzmán, Journey 2 is also the moment that all creature feature fans have been waiting for.., Michael Caine’s reconciliation with bees. Yes he once thought they were our friends and they turned on us. Now, on this magical island, Caine has made such good friends with bees that he rides them like a fat man rides his mobility scooter.

Finally, after over three decades, the war between man and bee.., is over (for now………., oooooh).

Note to reader: I’m not really sure what the point of that was.

Happy Groundhog Day! Remembering 4 ways Bill Murray tried to kill himself.

This February 2nd Punxsutawney Phil has declared that we’re in for six more weeks of winter. What better way to celebrate this unwanted news than by recalling suicide attempts (fictional suicide attempts silly, by the wonderful Bill Murray in the equally wonderful Groundhog Day). As unthinkable as it is to contemplate the loss of one of comedy’s all time greats, It is pretty good fun watching Murray’s obnoxious weatherman Phil Conner’s attempting, and failing, to kill himself four times in this 1993 comedy classic. So without further adieu let’s countdown the the ways that Phil tries to escape the never-ending curse that is a perpetual February 2nd in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

1. The class teenage girl favourite; toaster in the bathtub (I believe It is a different toaster to man-eating toaster in Ghostbusters 2, It could be related though. I’m not sure).
2. Stepping in front of a truck.
3. Taking a swan dive from some sort of tall clock-tower thing.
4. Driving himself (and Punxsutawney Phil, the infamous fat Groundhog rat thing) off a cliff-face, into a quarry, and a sweet fire-ball of death.

But that’s just the visual stuff, Phil also confides in ‘wet weekend’ Andie MacDowell that he’s been ”stabbed, shot, poisoned, frozen, hung, electrocuted, and burned.” Technically then, Phil has died some eleven times. Poor bastard. But fun memories.

So on this February 2nd let’s all raise a glass to you Mr Bill Murray (and Harold Ramis) for putting this bizarre American tradition on the pop culture map. And while Dan Aykroyd is pulled out of a metaphorical tree stump every year to predict the coming Spring of Ghostbusters 3, It would seem that the rest of us will have to linger in the perpetual 1984 as Bill Murray continues to deliver an unending winter for everyone’s favourite ghost franchise (collective sad face).

Happy Groundhog Day. Yeah.