Son of Frankenstein Screening: Press Release: "This Halloween, Famous Monsters partners with the Alex Film Society, a nonprofit organization, to bring you a night of both classic and reimagined monsters!
By 1938, Universal Studios was certain that the public appetite for horror films had faded and they abandoned the genre. That year, a nationwide reissue of Dracula and Frankenstein on a double bill, played to packed theaters across the nation and quickly brought them to their senses. Instead of a low-budget cheapie to cash in on the re-born craze for horror films, Son of Frankenstein (1939) under the direction of Rowland V. Lee, proved to be a handsomely produced entry in the cycle.
Filmed on the most expressionistic sets of any horror film since The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, George Robinson's gorgeous black and white cinematography captures every shadow, every out-sized distortion beautifully.
Son of Frankenstein is also blessed with perhaps the greatest horror film cast ever. Karloff gives his farewell performance as the creature and Bela Lugosi's portrayal of Ygor is creepy, roguish, even pitiable and one is reminded of what a fine actor he could be with a role worthy of his talent. Presiding over all of this is the solid presence of Basil Rathbone as Baron Wolf Frankenstein. Watch for scene-stealer Lionel Atwill, who delivers his definitive screen role as the one arm, Inspector Krogh.
This first-rate production gave a whole new meaning to Baron Frankenstein's famous shout out: "It's alive!"
Sara Karloff and Bela Lugosi Jr. are scheduled to join us onstage at the Alex Theatre to discuss their fathers' careers and the horror films that made them famous.
David Weiner, Managing Editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine, will be on hand to do our celebrity interviews and present the finalist of their Monster Makeup Challenge. Since its inception in 1958, Famous Monsters has had a long-standing relationship with the art of practical movie makeup effects, going behind the scenes again and again to bring the magic of making monsters to fans across the country. In 2015, FM launched its first original comics imprint, American Gothic Press. BROKEN MOON, written by Steve Niles and illustrated by Nat Jones, is AGP’s first title to feature classic black and white movie monsters, and served as inspiration for the four makeup categories.
Famous Monsters is excited to support the Alex Film Society in their mission to present classic films on the big screen at the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA.
October 29th: doors open at 7 p.m., the program starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at www.alexfilmsociety.org
Now in their 21st Year at the Historic Alex Theatre 216 North Brand Blvd. Glendale, CA 91203"
---------
8 Films to Die For Premiere Photos: Press Release: "Horror fans nationwide will have eight more reasons to scream this October as the films in this year’s “8 Films to Die For” festival lineup will be released on Digital HD™ and VOD on October 16th and DVD October 27th from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment. Fans of the series can also check out the films in select theaters nationwide on October 16th.
Horror aficionados can pre-order the films now at Amazon by visiting www.amazon.com/8FilmsToDieFor. For participating theatres and more information about the entire film series go to www.8FilmsToDieFor.com.
Film Synopses
Re-Kill
It's been 5 years since the outbreak that wiped out 85% of the world's population, but the war between Re-Animates (Re-Ans) and Humans wages on, as most of the major cities are still uninhabitable. Within the few surviving cities, the Re-Ans have been segregated into "zones" and are policed by the R-Division of the QUASI S.W.A.T. Unit who hunts to re-kill the Re-Ans in the hope of quelling a second outbreak.
Murder in the Dark
When a group of young people camping in the ruins of a medieval Turkish town play a party game called 'Murder in the Dark', they soon discover that someone is taking the game too far... Produced in an experimental shooting style, this murder-mystery features a cast of actors who were not allowed to see the script. The actors' choices interactively changed the shape of the story. They had to use clues to solve the mystery laid out before them by the filmmakers.
The Wicked Within
When a little girl dies, her family gathers to mourn the loss. Yet the pain is not forgotten and a vengeful demon spirit takes possession of a vulnerable family member tearing at the ties that bind them all together. One by one, it forces each family member to confess to his or her buried lies and face the morbid consequences of their sins.
Lumberjack Man
As the staff of Good Friends Church Camp prepares for a spring break filled with "Fun Under the Son", a demon logger rises from his sap boiler to wreak his vengeance and feast on flapjacks soaked in the blood of his victims.
Suspension
Emily is a high-school student with a penchant for drawing gruesome pictures in her sketchbook. There's a reason for her obsession with horrific images: Her father Tom once went on a murder spree and is now residing in a mental hospital. On a night she's home alone babysitting her mute little brother, Tom escapes and targets Emily and her friends during a bloody killing rampage.
Unnatural
A morally ambiguous corporation experiments with genetic modification resulting in the advent of a bloodthirsty man-hunting creature. When the creature escapes, a group of unsuspecting Alaskan natives and their inexperienced guests, which includes a high-maintenance celebrity photographer and a pair of models, becomes prey for the abomination in a horrifying game of cat and mouse.
Bastard
Five strangers - newlywed serial killers, a suicidal cop, and two runaways - become suspect and victim when a masked murderer makes its presence known in an isolated mountain town.
Wind Walkers
A U.S. soldier returns home from captivity to find that his best friend and fellow former POW has gone AWOL. While out on an annual hunting trip with his friend’s father and some extended family, the group comes under attack by an ancient Native American curse that has mysterious connections to his best friend’s heritage and the prison in which the soldiers were once held captive."