Fang Time

I am stupendously excited because tonight I am volunteering at the Fangoria booth at the Days of the Dead horror convention in Los Angeles. The magazine has been a centerpiece of the fright community since its inception in 1979, featuring top notch articles about hundreds and (I haven't counted but probably) thousands of horror films and filmmakers. I'm truly honored to be able to participate in even a small slice of this legacy so today's article is

The Ten Best Fangoria Cover Films

Over the years, Fangoria has featured dozens of genre-changing films on its covers, but the beauty of the thing is that it is inextricably caught up in the time it was produced. Due to the nature of shifting trends, some films featured on the cover never achieved infamy outside of a certain year, while others have long-lasting legacies even today. It's nearly impossible to predict, especially with such left-fielder (at the time) hits like Friday the 13th or A Nightmare on Elm Street, neither of which graced the covers of the magazine during their initial runs.

But more often than not, this leading rag hit the nail right on the head and I've selected ten of my personal favorite films that have appeared on Fangoria covers through the ages.

#10 Pan's Labyrinth (Issue #259 Jan/Feb 2007)

Struggling to find words that adequately imply the enormity and scope of Guillermo del Toro's violent fantasy masterpiece would challenge even the greatest of humanity's writers. Fitzgerald would head for the hills. Dickens would disguise himself as a beggar and escape out the chimney. Kafka would- Well, maybe Kafka would get it.

Pan's Labyrinth is set in the Spanish Civil War, detailing the journey of a girl trapped in circumstances beyond her control as she explores the dark supernatural world hiding in the corners of everyday life. The special effects are exquisite, the story is heartfelt and powerful, and the gore is nightmarishly visceral. Although it's not even explicitly a horror film, Pan's Labyrinth is more likely to give you nightmares than any film on this list.

Unfortunately, I have no full review of this film up on my blog yet, but I have reviewed one of the
Cover Articles: The terrific meta slasher Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.

#9 Little Shop of Horrors (Issue #60 Jan 1987)

I've watched the original Corman picture, the movie musical, and even performed it onstage five nights a week, yet I will never tire of Little Shop of Horrors. For a movie with so little reason to exist (the movie is based on a musical based on another movie), it's just so terrific. With songs by the unstoppable duo of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman and a wall-shattering performance by original Broadway cast member Ellen Greene, Little Shop has a relentless doo-wop energy that can brighten even the darkest days.

Telling the story of a poor Rick Moranis who has to feed blood to a hungry talking plant in order to make his dreams come true, this film harnesses all the B-movie energy of the 50's and synthesizes it into something totally modern and compelling, featuring Steve Martin in one of his best roles as a sadistic dentist and a gut-splitting cameo from Bill Murray.

Cover Articles: Re-Animator; From Beyond; And although I don't have a review of The Terminator, I wrote this article on it long ago.

#8 An American Werewolf in London (Issue #14 Aug 1981)

Hands down, An American Werewolf in London is my favorite lycanthropy movie of all time, although it's not like there's much competition in that department. John Landis' seminal horror film features state-of-the-art effects by make-up maestro Rick Baker that haven't aged a day (OK, maybe they've aged an hour, but they're still terrific) and a thorough sense of humor that The Howling briefly scrabbled at, but almost entirely failed to grasp.

In fact, the porno theater scene might just be one of the funniest moments in movie history. And all this in a horror film that is actually scary as well, along with providing ample thematic material (a stranger in a strange land, guilt over a friend's death, and all the mess that comes along with body transformation - take your pick). A must-see for anyone who's even remotely a fan of the genre.

Read my original review here.

#7 Hellraiser (Issue #67 Sept 1987)

Clive Barker is one of the most important modern voices of the macabre, one of the greatest horror writers alive (now that we've lost Poe, Lovecraft, and - more recently - Matheson), and his directorial debut was sure to be a whammy one way or another (it's a real gamble, as evidenced by Stephen King's Maximum Overdrive). But luckily he erred on the side of the truly fantastic.

Hellraiser is an unstoppable work of glistening cerebral horror, replete with dark sexual imagery and a tense family drama to boot. Pinhead and his Cenobites would soon become overworked stock franchise villains, but here they are representatives of something even more sinister than pure evil - the dark, secret desires of humanity.

Cover Articles: The Lost Boys; Evil Dead II.

#6 28 Days Later/28 Weeks Later (Issues #223 Jun 2003 & #263 June 2007)

I really need to jump on reviewing these bad boys before I'm 28 months too late. But regardless of the fact that 28 Days Later and its sequel 28 Weeks Later do not appear on the pages of this blog, they are essential movies for any modern genre fan. They kick-started the zombie resurgence in the early 2000's, paving the way for my single favorite film of all time, [REC].

While 28 Days Later was an intense British political allegory, 28 Weeks Later was an expanded look at the aftermath of a large scale crisis. Both are fantastic in their own unique ways (the opening scene of 28 Weeks is among the scariest film moments of all time) and both have a sharp wit that keeps them fresh, but it's up to personal preference to pick a better of the two. I'd prefer not to, myself, letting them stand together as one of the most beautiful, brief horror franchises to ever grace cinema screens.

#5 Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (Issue #36 July 1984)

Although there are definitely Friday the 13th films that I've watched more often, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter is almost inarguably the best in the franchise, at least in terms of what a slasher movie is supposed to be. Tom Savini is at his finest here, pulling out all the stops to destroy Jason, the monster he accidentally created. This entry has the most nudity in the entire franchise (a plus for fans of cheesy exploitation and fans of breasts - pulling in all the demographics here) and an all-star class including a pre-fame Crispin Glover and Corey Feldman.

Of course, we all know by now that this wasn't really the final chapter, but it did end an important era in Jason's career - the Crystal Lake Saga, as I named it just now. With its blood and guts and boobs and butts, as well as the John Hughes-esque slate of teen Meat, it's the perfect capper for this Golden Age of slasher cinema.

Read my original review here.

#4 From Beyond (Issue #59 Dec 1986)

From Beyond is a very recent discovery of mine, and I am deeply ashamed that I wasted so much time watching any other movies besides this one. This film is Stuart Gordon's second H. P. Lovecraft adaptation following his smash hit Re-Animator and it pitches everything that cheery, gory, naughty film did all the way up to the rafters.

The film brings back genre superstars Jeffrey Combs and Barbara Crampton, adding a dash of Dawn of the Dead's Ken Foree, and tossing them into a pool of technicolor goo and Lovecraftian horror. Its stomach-turning charms (and high volume sexual overtones) aren't for everyone, but for fans of practical effects magic, colorful 80's horror, or lamprey basement monsters, this is a veritable Mecca.

Read my original review here.

Cover Articles: Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives.

#3 The Descent (Issue #254 July 2006)

There are only two films from this century that have chilled me to my bones. The first is [REC] but you don't need to hear me babble about that same old crap again. The second is The Descent, which pulls off the incredible horror movie task of having a first act that is just as scary, if not even more terrifying than the rest of the movie, shoving its characters into dark, claustrophobic, utterly real cave environments.

All the bloodshed and monsters are just a delicious afterthought in a wall-to-wall petrifying film. Those who say that horror movies just aren't made like they used to be clearly have blocked The Descent from their memory to prevent nightmares.

Read my original review here.

#2 A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors/New Nightmare (Issues #62 Apr 1987 & #137 Oct 1994)

Although my heart will always lie with Jason Voorhees, it's impossible to deny the sheer volume of good sequels that A Nightmare on Elm Street got. In fact, Wes Craven's New Nightmare is just plain one of the best horror movies in the history of cinema. I don't throw my hat in the ring for a lot of movies, but I'm willing to put it to fisticuffs if anybody disagrees on that one.

Wes Craven's influence over the horror genre is incomprehensibly vast and the intelligence he brings to everything he does created one of horror's most enduring phenomena. The mystique and allure of Freddy Krueger survives far beyond his tawdry comedies and that crappy remake because in everything Freddy does, there remains that spark of inspiration that makes Craven one of the most important filmmakers in the genre.

Read my original reviews here and here. Or read my essay on Craven here. Or read my essay on the Nightmare franchise here. I got you covered.

Cover Articles: Evil Dead II; The Lost Boys; Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood; Interview with the Vampire.

#1 The Evil Dead (Issue #23 Nov 1982)

Evil Dead II gets all the credit because it's funnier and consolidates Sam Raimi's style of storytelling into a more mature entity, but I love the rough and ready DIY aesthetic of the original Evil Dead. It's one of the most original horror films ever made, all hung on the most tried and true framework story in the history of the known universe populated with one-dimensional characters.

The beauty of Evil Dead is the simplicity of the story - Cabin. Woods. Zombie things. This allows Raimi room to stretch his creativity in a way that sent the craft of cinema soaring years ahead of its time. I'm too dazzled by the film to make much sense at the moment, but I daresay I've been more coherent on the topic before.

Read my original review here.


So that's that.

Thanks for trucking along on this historical, fangorical tour. If you happen to be at the convention tonight, stop by and say hi!

Word Count: 1860

Surprise Cameo

It's been a while since I've featured another writer on the pages of this blog, but why be stingy? It's always nice to have a guest star. Today's very special article introduces Shannon, one of my very best friends, in her Popcorn Culture debut as she writes about her introduction to horror (I am not ashamed to admit that I appear heavily in this tale) and why scary movies make the perfect date nights, along with some personal recommendations.

Horror with your Honey: 

Why a Week of Scary Movie Dates are Beneficial to a Relationship, and Where to Start

I had never seen a single horror movie before meeting Brennan Klein. All of a sudden, by signing a contact of friendship, I was his go-to movie date for all the classics and everything in between (Literally everything, I cannot tell you the weird horror movies I have seen thanks to him— not complaining).

Luckily (or so I thought), Brennan met someone else who is now responsible for watching horror movies from Spain about someone chopping pieces of students and then piecing them back together into a monster. Initially I was slightly relieved to pass the torch to his boo, but now, in reflection, I miss him dragging me into a movie starring Lee Pace with a title I had never heard of.

[Editor's note: She is referring to Pieces and Possession, the former a great/terrible slasher movie and the latter a decent psychological ghost/possession piece.]

Why?

Because if you and another person were stranded on an island, in scary, deadly conditions, and you get rescued, only that other person can understand the trauma you went through, and thus you and that person have a magical, singular bond because of a horrific experience.

Brennan and I became best friends because we went through the mini-traumas that these horror movies are. Horror is like a roller coaster that pumps adrenaline and dopamine into our systems, and we get off the ride a little closer than before.

So, when you reach that part of your relationship when you are looking at Fandango trying to decide between a sappy romance or some indie flick with subtitles, close your browser and turn on Netflix, because nothing could be better for a relationship than a solid injection of horror.

Now whether you are a horror movie buff like Brennan, a gorehound like me, or a novice on the scary front like I was two years ago, these movies I have selected hit a multitude of the bases.

Allow me to introduce the perfect introduction-horror-movie-date-night-movies!

Movie Cluster #1 : The original trifecta of horror, and its sequel

(watch in this order for the best effect)

Day 1:

Halloween (1978, dir. John Carpenter)

Why this movie: 

Horror movies used to be about tiny budgets, shadows, and masks. John Carpenter (who I met with Brennan) knows this better than anyone else, and which is why the rather tame, theatrical Halloween is my first choice. You get an introduction to the Scream Queen (now better known for her Activia commercials) Jamie Lee Curtis, get to look evil in it’s face, and is not scary enough to make you want to give up on horror as a genre.

Day 2:

Friday the 13th (1980, dir. Sean S. Cunningham)

Why this movie (Writing about this one without spoilers is hard): 

While this movie is no Revenge of the Unhappy Campers (if you have seen that movie, email me), it is the greatest introduction, and arguably just the greatest camp-genre horror movie. One of a major aspects of the horror genre in general is the fact that people are in a contained area when the monster decides to pick off victims one-by-one, and what better buffet is there than kids at a summer camp? Plus, Kevin Bacon is in it. Just watch it.

[EN: For my lengthy review of this film, click here.]

Day 3:

A Nightmare on Elm Street (THE ORIGINAL ONE) (1984, dir. Wes Craven)

Why this movie: 

Wes Craven (who I also met with Brennan) has a really weird mind, as you will see in this movie. Unlike Halloween which is a psychological slasher and Friday which is a classic camp kid killing spree, Nightmare goes beyond the fathomable, into a world one could only dream of— or should I say nightmare. Freddy Krueger is probably the most well known of the three horror baddie front runners, maybe for his complex past or simply his use of wonderful puns. Or maybe it’s because he’s the only one of the three that actually speaks… Also, young Johnny Depp.

[EN: For my lengthy review of this film, click here.]

Day 4:

Scream (1996, dir. Wes Craven)

Why this movie: 

Kevin Williamson basically wrote fan fiction about the three original horror classics and Wes Craven made it amazing. Craven reintroduced horror in the 90s. I was one of those kids who had no idea why everyone was so obsessed with ghost face costumes (keep in mind that I didn’t see a horror film until college) and now I am so bummed because I want to own one. I guess that’s what the internet is for… But in all seriousness, Scream is a perfect watch for a couple who just watched the original three, because together you can point out the references to other horror films that this movie makes, and point out all the stars who were just kids back then, and point out most importantly the horrible 90s fashion.

[For my lengthy review of this film, click here.]

Movie Cluster #2: The other bases (watch any order, but be prepared)

Day 5:

They Live (1988, dir. John Carpenter)

Why this movie: Some of the different subgenres in horror are torture porn (sorry, not covering this one in this feature), monster, slasher, and psychological thriller. So no, I did not pick this movie simply because it is one of my all-time favorite movies, but also because this bad-ass action/thriller/monster movie has the most incredible freaky monsters ever, with an additionally creepy Carpenter commentary on the state of the country. Also you know Shepard Fairey’s “OBEY Propaganda” line? Originated from this movie. BOOM HISTORY MADE.

Day 6:

You’re Next (2013, dir. Adam Wingard)

Why this movie: 

Modern day badass Australian chick visits her boyfriend's family and they start getting killed off in their old family house. It’s essentially a great survival story up to par with classic horror but without the horrible 80s hair-dos.

[For my review of this film, click here.]

Day 7:

The Exorcist (1973, dir. William Friedkin)

Why this movie: 

In my opinion, this is the scariest of them all. This is a possession/ghost sort of horror film, and a classic one at that. For it being the oldest on the list, this movie has the most intense special effects. It is also super perfect for couples, because every time someone decides to walk up those stairs, you will need a hand to hold. And then once the credits roll, you two can both celebrate surviving the possession of Linda Blair.

This concludes the introduction to horror and the conception of a long lasting relationship.

And if things don’t work out, maybe you could use some of the skills you’ve learned from these horror films for other things… 

Thanks for reading, everybody! If you have any opinions on these picks and/or how a horror movie has changed your relationship, please sound off in the comments below. I'm sure Shannon will be patrolling the comments section like a mad hound. If any of these films have piqued your interest, I can offer further recommendations. Have a nice day!

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My, How The Time Flies When You're Ranting About Gender Representation In Slasher Films

One year ago today I started Popcorn Culture in its current form. Before that, I had a Tumblr blog that I updated in spurts and starts and a Wordpress site that vanished into the ether along with an old relationship. But Popcorn Culture is where my movie reviewing began in earnest and I really started to push myself to become a better writer and a more analytical movie watcher.

I'm tremendously grateful for the experience and plan on continuing it for many more years, but for now let's focus on what has come before, not what lies ahead. In the past 365 days, 259 posts have escaped this keyboard (making this the 260th post - another, slightly less major, milestone). Some were long, some were short, most were fixated on shirtless men.

In that time I have reviewed 215 movies. Some were harder to write about than others. Some (mostly the bad movies) flowed out of my fingertips like rain. What I'm saying is I wrote a lot. Be proud of me, dangit.

(Sidebar: In one of those random fits of serendipity the universe throws from time to time, my new blog friend Hunter Allen's own movie review site, Kinemalogue, also had its first birthday today. Please go check it out and congratulate him, he's a cool dude.)

So - to celebrate this momentous occasion I have decided to do what I do best - make a list. Because the traditional first anniversary gift is paper, I will stick along with that theme for

THE TOP TEN HORROR MOVIE POSTERS

#10 Visiting Hours (1982)

There's just so much going on in this poster. Perhaps it's not the best in the world (I mean, obviously. It's at number 10.), but every element works together to paint a picture of what is hopefully a great slasher movie (I haven't actually seen it yet. Census Bloodbath is still stuck in 1980, so there's a couple years left to go.). There's the hospital itself with its genre typical skull design, there's the delighfully cheesy tagline, and there's the subtler RX symbol in the title, all working in tandem to promote the film's pure slashitude. Canadian slashers are just so cool, you guys.

#9 It's Alive (1974)

There are enough evil infant movies to make a baby carriage on a poster instantly scary and It's Alive knows it, opting not to include anything other than negative space in the image outside of the subject. And then there's that tagline, cleverly incorporating the film's title and creating one of those uniquely 70's shlock horror slogans that will stick with you wherever you go.

#8 The Thing (1982)

This poster doesn't get top billing for me because I prefer the alternate tagline ("Man is the warmest place to hide."), but this design is still chilly and mysterious, perfect for the grim cold world of John Carpenter's special effects masterpiece.

#7 The Evil Dead (1981)

The Evil Dead poster is a success for accurately depicting what it's like to watch the film. Sam Raimi's magnum opus grabs you by the throat and never lets go, but the classy poster design betrays the amount of forethought that went into this frenetic terror extravaganza despite the low budget.

#6 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)

Remember back when I was talking about unforgettable 70's taglines? Between this, It's Alive, and Black Christmas ("If this picture doesn't make your skin crawl... it's on TOO TIGHT.") it's a wonder anybody survived 1974 at all.

#5 Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984)

Ah, the poster that fueled a thousand moral outcries. Parents were incensed that a beloved childhood figure was being turned into a murderous lunatic, ignoring that 1) it had been done twice before already in To All a Goodnight and Christmas Evil and 2) Santa's not actually the killer. It helps to watch the movies you're denouncing. Anyway, if a poster's image is that powerful, you know you've done something right.

#4 The Descent (2005)

The Descent is already one of the scariest movies of the decade without the help of this chilling poster, bringing a classic Dalí piece into the modern age.

#3 The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Honestly, this movie was great but it wasn't my favorite for several reasons. Reasons you will certainly get should I ever get the chance to review it anytime soon. But that poster is a work of genius, the Rubik's Cube style cabin providing both an excellent artistic touch and a hint as to the underlying themes of the film, all with a sleek and simple, yet breathtaking design.

#2 Scream 4 (2011)

Speaking of simple yet breathtaking. This poster design is essentially the reason I am into horror movies. I wanted to see Scream 4 so I had to watch the other Scream movies first, and once I did that I had to watch all the movies they references, sending me into a horror movie watching marathon of epic proportions. All because of this elegant Ghostface/Knife design that will be etched into my brain forever. The only reason this poster isn't number one is... well you'll see,

#1 Halloween (1978)

Yeah, Scream 4 is just a really nice riff on the Halloween poster, perhaps the most perfect movie poster ever printed. If I had expanded this piece to include all genres instead of just horror, Halloween would still be crowned victorious. That effortless central image that combines claw, Halloween, and slasher motifs into one incredibly artistic visual is the perfect way to promote what is without a doubt the classiest slasher film ever released.

And hey, this is a special occassion. As a bonus, just for you, I'm going to throw in

THE FIVE WORST HORROR MOVIE POSTERS

#5 A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

I love this film more than I love most things, and I have spent hours trying to convince myself that this poster is worth hanging on my wall. But come on! Look at that bizarre pursed lip/empty stare expression that looks like "Nancy" is trying to unsuccessfully blow a bubble with that utterly bizarre kitchen knife Krueger, looking more like a desiccated skull erupting from her pillow. It's just a mess is what it is, although it's nothing compared to the lunacy of the Japanese one sheet.

#4 The Descent: Part 2 (2009)

No, it doesn't help that this was a terrible sequel to one of the best horror films ever made. But the red on red motif is needlessly confusing to the eye and it's a helpless bastardization of two of the best moments in the original film. And that tagline is utter nonsense, although at this point I'm just taking potshots. The movie has been maligned enough, I suppose, including by me.

#3 To All A Goodnight (1980)

It's incredible that this poster can be so incredibly lazy and overwrought, yet still be better than the film itself. Unfortunately, To All a Goodnight is not about a snake man that comes down from the sky, making this both a bad design and a bad advertisement, a two for one deal that kills any hope anyone might have for the movie in the first place.

#2 Scream 4 (2011)

I mean, seriously? Scream 4 has one of the best posters of all time and the secondary design is this hunk of crap? If I want a poorly CGI'd Ghostface mask gawking at me, I'll go watch a fan animation. This is real life, people. The Scream franchise is notorious for terrible posters and I'd hoped that the utterly perfect Ghostface/Knife design showed that they learned from their mistakes or at least got a new marketing team. Evidently not, and it shames me to think that perhaps the masterpiece level work of my number two poster was just a fluke. So, not only just a bad poster design, one that singlehandedly ruins another, stellar, design. You're better off never releasing a poster at all!

#1 The Hills Have Eyes Part 2 (1984)

I've been mean enough to Wes Craven posters on here, so I won't take too much time out on The Hills Have Eyes Part 2, because in all honesty nobody else did. The film is mostly just stock footage from the first film combined with people talking about how they remember what happened last time, like some twisted sitcom flashback episode. A lazy poster for a lazy movie. This is the ugliest side of horror filmmaking in the 1980's, which is something I usually tend to enjoy. Not here.

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Q Is For Quit It

Today's Blogging From A to Z Challenge is the antithesis of the last one, the horror movies I hold in lowest regard! Now, seeing that there are many many types of crappy horror out there, I am going to unleash a couple parameters on this. Direct to video films are fair fodder, but there must be some sort of studio with a minimum budget behind the film. Otherwise the entire top 10 would be self released crap made on crackerjack budgets. That's not interesting for you and it's not a pleasant stroll down memory lane for me.

So no. No Psycho Santa. Even though it is possibly the worst film I have ever seen with my own two eyes, I'm not even sure it counts as a film. Also, remember that I love bad movies so to make this list, these are the lowest of the low. So crappy as to be totally devoid of cheese, camp, or any sort of real entertainment value.

Warning: Some images contain gore and/or language. Also, some images are hella dumb because the movies are so terrible there aren't even adequate gifs of them.

Brennan's 25 Least Favorite Horror Films - 2014

#25 Chernobyl Diaries (2012)

#24 Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)

#23 Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013)

#22 The Last Exorcism Part II (2013)

#21 [REC] 3: Génesis (2012)

#20 House (1986)

#19 The Grudge 3 (2009)

#18 The Silent Scream (1980)

#17 Hayride (2012)

#16 Graduation Day (1981)

#15 The Gingerdead Man (2005)

#14 Rasen (1998)

#13 Silent Night, Bloody Night (1972)

#12 Prom Night (2008)

#11 Don't Answer the Phone (1980)

#10 Return to Sleepaway Camp (2008)

#9 Ju-On: White Ghost / Black Ghost (2009)

#8 A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010)

#7 Don't Go in the Woods (2010)

#6 The Summer of Massacre (2011)

#5 Escape From Tomorrow (2013)

#4 Halloween II (2009)

#3 Session 9 (2001)

#2 Christmas Evil (1980)

#1 Zombie Diaries 2 (2011)

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