Lazario's Contemporary Horror Digest - Volume 1

[Lazario]

<center>15 (of 23) :
Killer Klowns from Outer Space

<img src="http://image.allmusic.com/00/adg/cov200 ... "></center>

Sub-genres: Monster / Aliens / Vampire, Horror-Comedy, Spoof, Sci Fi-Horror
Director: Stephen Chiodo
Screenwriters: Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo, Stephen Chiodo
Cast: Grant Cramer (Mike), Suzanne Snyder (Debbie), John Allen Hansen (Dave), John Vernon (Curtis Mooney), Michael Siegel (Rich Terenzi), Peter Licassi (Paul Terenzi), Royal Dano (Farmer Gene), Christopher Titus (Bob McReed)
Producers: Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo, Stephen Chiodo
Executive Producers: Paul Mason, Helen Sarlui-Tucker
Associate Producer: Chris(topher) Roth
Music Composers: John Massari
Cinematographer/Director of Photography: Alfred Taylor
Film Editor: Chris(topher) Roth
Production Designers: Charles Chiodo, Philip Dean Foreman
Set Decorator: Luana Speelman
Costume Designer: Darcie F. Olson
Special Effects Supervisor: Gene Warren, Jr.
Estimated Budget: $2,000,000
Filming Location(s): Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Santa Cruz, California; Watsonville, California
U.S. Theatrical Release Date(s): May 27, 1988
Advertisting / Promotional Tagline(s): (1) It's Craaazy! / (2) In Space No One Can Eat Ice Cream! / (3) Alien bozos with an appetite for close encounters / (4) Big Top... Big Shoes... Big Teeth!
Filmed in: Widescreen / Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Region 1 DVD first released: August 28, 2001 (1 release to date) / Screen Format: Widescreen, Languages: English Stereo, Subtitles: French & Spanish / Scene Chapters: 16 / Special Features: Audio Commentary, New Featurettes, Deleted Scenes, Audition Footage, Bloopers, Theatrical Trailer, Alternate TV Scene (Hidden feature), Photo Galleries


Notable Facts / Trivia
1. The movie originally ended with the Terenzi brothers as the survivors of the exploding spaceship while Dave perished after killing the giant Klown, but since the executive needed a "upbeat ending" the Chiodo brothers filmed a second ending that is in all the versions where Dave and the Terenzi brothers survive the exploding spaceship by hiding in the "klown kar"
2. The giant "King Klown" from the ending sequence, affectively called "Klownzilla" by the Chiodo brothers, was actually played by one of them (Charles)
3. Director Stephen Chiodo had hoped the shower scene would rival Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece Psycho (1960), substituting a toilet bowl swirl for the shower drain
4. The $2 million budget went primarily on production costs. The clowns and visual effects were created almost entirely by the filmmakers at very little cost
5. An early version of the restaurant scene was shot showing the Chiodo brothers sitting at a table in the background as extras. Also, a second audio was recorded for this scene. Originally, the scene ended with the little girl's mother screaming at her very angrily and the sound of her voice cutting into the shot was supposed to scare the audience. However, the effect it ended up having was much too extreme, especially considering the expression on the girl's face was far too relaxed at the point of the mother's entrance into the shot
6. The scene where a Klown rams a car off the road and kills the driver was originally intended to be an opening prologue to the film, and the driver was to be the character Joe Lombardo. For this prologue there was also a scene shot where Joe and his date are kissing on a deserted dark road and after his date rejects him, he angrily drives off alone only to meet his demise with the Klown. However when it was decided to have an opening credit sequence be seen first, the kissing/rejection scene ended up on the cutting room floor, and the car crash scene was placed at a later point in the film with the driver not being Joe Lombardo. He ended up being the name of a dead person that Mike and Debbie discover wrapped up in a cotton candy cocoon in the final version
7. The scene in which a car is thrown over a cliff was initially intended to be far more spectacular - the car was to fly over the cliff and crash down to the ground. Unfortunately, the sling rope snapped because effects crew members neglected to remove the stoppers from underneath the car's wheels. The result was what is seen in the final film, the car slowly tumbles over the edge and becomes caught on a tree. There just wasn't enough money in the budget to shoot it twice
8. Several of the film's main characters are based on real people that the Chiodo knews, including their actual names. Especially Mike, who's based on Mike Tobacco, a joker with a lot of stories (none of which involved killer clowns or anything like them, technically), and the Terenzi brothers. They were all good friends who used to do a lot of crazy stunts in the pursuit of picking up girls. The scene where Mike and Debbie are laying on a yellow raft with black patches is directly related to a real Mike-Tobacco story, which was to be explained in the movie but inevitably was cut out
9. The characters of Mike Tobacco and his girlfriend Debbie are meant to be traditional horror gender characitures switched. Debbie is the logical thinker and Mike is, as the Chiodo brothers affectionately dub him, "the dumb broad"
10. In the flower-squirting scene, John Vernon actually suggested that it might be funnier and more effective if Killer, the klown character in this scene, squirted him more than once
11. The main premise for the movie was based on the director's fear of clowns. The first solid idea for the script was for the "road kill" sequence where, in trying to come up with the scariest thing he could think of, Stephen Chiodo decided with his brothers that the scariest thing would be to be driving alone at night on a dark road, have a car pull up beside him, and there be a clown in the car staring over at him. The rest of the ideas for the film built upon that, with the general intention of the movie being to think of as many circus motifs as possible and give them a frightening and perverse twist
12. This is the first film actor Christopher Titus has appeared in. After Killer Klowns, he became a stand-up comedian and scored his own short-lived, Emmy-nominated television series called Titus, loosely (or allegedly, not so loosely) based on his real life. Reportedly, he was so nervous on the set of Klowns, that he actually apologized for his performance
13. Actor Grant Cramer was an acquaintance of O.J. Simpson's one-time wife, Nicole Brown, and accompanied her on a ski getaway, after her divorce to Simpson


What the Critics Have to Say:

Leonard Maltin - "One of a kind", "vividly designed, with cheeky humor, it plays its premise to the hilt"

The Video Graveyard - "Now a cult classic and understandably so due to its warped sense of humor, many memorable scenes, great production design and top-notch clown make-up. Silly and entertaining and a lot of fun with a great title tune by The Dickies. John Vernon steals the show"

The Cavalcade of Schlock, Brian J. Wright - "I'm not eight years old anymore, I shouldn't be creeped out by this", "good for some chuckles", "The low-budget effects are plentiful and enjoyable", "its villains are so nasty looking that I found myself with a case of the willies (-) Their mouths, they're so big! And their teeth, so sharp!", "maybe it's like some unstated fear of clowns I have which I refuse to face. But those are some ugly, creepy clowns", "pretty cool( ; ) I wish Mars Attacks! had been half this enjoyable", "outrageous"

Zombie Keeper - "3 (out of 4)" "fun", "scary", "incredibly evil looking costumes, visual effects, an eerie score, and great puppeteering", "the real stars of the film are the klowns. Moving slowly through the streets, seeming unstoppable at times, the performers behind the costumes are what makes the film work so well", "The sets contain vibrant colors and are quite convincing", "The score (is) fun yet eerie", "a ton of fun", "I highly recommend", "is sure to entertain over and over again"

Mondo Digital - "dark, goofy", "fun", "unbearably creepy", "The clown designs are extremely effective", "ingenious", "well above your average B-movie quickie", "a playful score highlighted by the Dickies' insanely catchy theme song", "riotously colorful"

SF, Fantasy, and Horror - "the clown effects are very good. The most effective moments in the film come in playing their grinning innocuousness against type - particularly good is one moment where ((removed for spoiler-potential)). The design of the gadgets has a witty garishness and there are some natty trick effects"

Horror DVD's - "wonderfully unique", "bizarre and often hilarious", "Believe me, the klowns steal the show here and are definitely worth the price of admission!", "a dark, hilarious comedy with some genuinely impressive effects", "I enjoyed it. I had a blast watching it", "A classic B movie that is highly recommended"

Arrow In the Head - "3 and a half (out of 4)" "(an) all around B-movie fun, freaking time", "absolutely on the money. This flick is the KING of 80's B-movies", "it delivers the goods by the truckloads", "creative and with a dash of humor. I loved the film's simplicity, giggled at its wild imagination and appreciated the high energy level that drove it all", "creepy looking monster Klowns (the Klown makeup is astounding)", "wonderful set designs", "a movie that oozes of campiness and at the same time is damn proud of it", "chilling", "a wild romp that puts its money where it counts (in the effects, they look great!) and then relies on imagination and crazy ideas to make it all work", "never gets boring or redundant and always entertains. The Chiodo brothers clearly had a blast making this film and you feel that positive energy comes through the screen. Whip out the party favors!! The Klowns are here!", "it's a riot", "the Klown makeup kicked my ass all over the place. It’s so gnarly!", "a tightly paced film with enough hints of style to satisfy visual hounds (like me). But the directing definitely takes a back seat to the sets, the Klowns and the effects. They are the stars of this show", "(the) score kicks serious booty", "DOPE!", "Killer Klowns From Outer Space lives up to its title. It’s unique and all its elements (the look, the sets, the makeup, the music, the bad acting) come together wonderfully to offer us one of the best "so cheesy, it's awesome" horror dessert. I say rent this puppy"


<center>A Few Photos


Director Stephen Chiodo

















Films Covered on the First Page
Rosemary's Baby (1968)
Twitch of the Death Nerve (1971)
The Exorcist (1973)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Carrie (1976)
Suspiria (1977)

The Second Page
Halloween (1978)
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
Alien (1979)
The Evil Dead (1981)
An American Werewolf in London (1981)
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Re-Animator (1985)
The Fly (1986)

[Isidour]

killer clowns...and from outter space....

Laz you have really seen every horror movie ever created before right? and what do you think `bout dead alive?

[dvdjunkie]

Lazario:

You are half way through and so far so good. I can't wait to see the next 15. "Killer Klowns" is such a great cult film. Everytime I pull it out to watch it, my wife pops extra popcorn because she is going to sit down and laugh and scream with me.

Keep up the good work.

[littlefuzzy]

killer clowns...and from outter space....

Laz you have really seen every horror movie ever created before right? and what do you think `bout dead alive?

I love Peter Jackson's Dead Alive...

I wouldn't be surprised to see it make an appearance in this thread...

[littlefuzzy]

Rosemary's Baby (1968) - Never seen, I need to watch this some time.
Twitch of the Death Nerve (1971) - Not really familiar with this one.
The Exorcist (1973) - I need to see this some time.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) - I own this (and the remake) although I haven't watched either...
Carrie (1976) - I've seen it on TV, need to get it.
Suspiria (1977) - I own this, it's great!
Halloween (1978) - I own this (as well as 2-5,) it's great!
Dawn of the Dead (1978) - I have seen this, but I am waiting for a good price. I enjoyed the original much more than the remake.
Alien (1979) - I've seen this and most of the sequels, I need the Alien box set.
The Evil Dead (1981) - I own this, and love it (and the sequels.)
An American Werewolf in London (1981) - I may have seen this, I need to get it.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) - Love the series, I need the box set.
Re-Animator (1985) - I have this and Bride (the Pioneer version,) I need to watch them.
The Fly (1986) - I have seen this several times, but I need to get the discs.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space - I have this, although I have only watched it once.

[Lazario]

Laz you have really seen every horror movie ever created before right?

Surprisingly, no. I think several people here might have seen more than I have. Last I counted, depressingly, I only got up to maybe 300 something. So maybe 400, and that's about it. I'm still very selective about the horror movies I see, rent, buy. What I haven't seen though may shock certain people. I haven't seen 1 single classic Universal monster movie. I think I've only seen 1 Hammer film, The Brides of Dracula, on AMC. 2 Amicus films, tops, and the one I really remember I saw when I was a kid and I remember it was an anthology, and one of the stories had a wife killing her husband at the end. Several other horror movies worth mentioning that I haven't seen yet include - Freaks, Cat People (1942), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), Sisters, Scanners (I know! I know!), Angel Heart, Near Dark, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (fans tell me it's great, critics universally agree it sucks), John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness or They Live or In the Mouth of Madness, Dead Ringers, Naked Lunch, Ringu, Ravenous, Battle Royale, Ju-On, Seed of Chucky, Haute (High) Tension, The Village, The Descent, and tragically... I haven't seen Re-Animator yet.

But most of the horror movies I've seen I owe to rental stores, I used to rent psychotically. The best place I used to rent from had this great 4-5-6 deal. 4 movies, 5 nights, 6 dollars. And they had a pretty decent horror selection, so every once a week for a couple of years I could rent 4 horror movies and I saw probably over 76% of their selection. There are still quite a few movies

and what do you think 'bout dead alive?

I cannot reveal what films shall appear in this Display before they go up. But I like the movie a lot and I watched it again just a week ago. I bought that on DVD in 2003, I think. It would be really nice if Lions Gate would release something of a special edition in the near future, I should imagine the cast would be available for interviews and if they try hard enough, and bash him over the head and drag him to a studio somewhere, they could get Peter Jackson to say something about it. He just has to get a little tired someday! Anyway, the film still apparently is missing even more gore footage, but most importantly, additional plot elements that ended up in a 104-minute international version of the film under the title, Braindead. It would just be a real trip to see all the extra stuff. But for some reason, a lot of historical deleted footage will never see the light of day. Though I heard recently, that certain companies have been looking for the famed footage missing from A Nightmare on Elm Street, and a great deal of new footage has just now been found for Halloween. It just seems to be a matter of snuggling up to foreign companies. However, I'm perfectly happy with Lions Gate's 97-minute U.S. unrated cut of Dead Alive, it's already a big step-up from the 80-something minute theatrical version released in '92 / '93.

I can't wait to see the next 15

You'll see quite a bit more than that, I'm extending the Display. After narrowing down 23 of my original candidates for best contemporary horror films, I've realized that it's not possible to sherk all the great honorable mentions, some of which sort of belong in Volume 1 but don't exactly measure up. So there will be a Volume 2 and it will certainly deliver all of what Volume 1 will inevitably lack. But for now, it's lucky 23.

"Killer Klowns" is such a great cult film. Everytime I pull it out to watch it, my wife pops extra popcorn because she is going to sit down and laugh and scream with me.

Nice to see some people still appreciate a good cult rental superstar. I never let Klowns sit-out on a Best-of list. And it's my favorite movie. Of all time. It's one of those movie I completely know my heart, I have a complete visual-audio index in my head at all times and can recite any moment from the movie on the spot. I could even type out every word of dialogue in the entire film right here (but it wouldn't fit), except for maybe the special Klown language. I could only half-spell words like "bodo" and "bobb'yadooks, bubb'yadooks." If the film had gone any more into Gremlins-territory, it would have been too campy. But as it is, it has the perfect mix of fun and terror. In fact, I have a Leonard Maltin review Guide from 1989 that contains his first review of Killer Klowns from Outer Space, which is radically different than the reprinted review he did when the film resurfaced in a huge way on Cable TV and home video. He first said the film was "sadistic" and "repulsive," and gave it a BOMB rating, which clearly indicates he was responding to the scary aspects of the film (which themselves are definitely freakishly disturbing if taken out of the film's intended context) - and I think also proves that sometimes he went to movie viewings with some kind of hangover or bad attitude. Or maybe he still does - the only way to explain his very dismissive reviews of May and Donnie Darko.

[Lazario]

<center>17 (of 23) :
Misery

<img src="http://image.allmusic.com/00/adg/cov200 ... "></center>

Sub-genres: Killer / Serial Killer, Torture, Mind Games / Psychological, Thriller / Drama
Director: Rob Reiner
Screenwriter: William Goldman
Cast: James Caan (Paul Sheldon), Kathy Bates (Annie Wilkes), Richard Fransworth (Buster), Frances Sternhagen (Virginia), Lauren Bacall (Marcia Sindell), J.T. Walsh (State Trooper), Wendy Bowers (Waitress), Graham Jarvis (Libby)
Producers: Rob Reiner, Andrew Scheinman
Co-Producers: Steve Nicolaides, Jeffrey Stott
Music Composers: Marc Shaiman, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Ludwig van Beethoven
Cinematographer/Director of Photography: Barry Sonnenfeld
Film Editor: Robert Leighton
Production Designer: Norman Garwood
Art Director: Mark (W.) Mansbridge
Set Decorator: Garrett Lewis
Costume Designer: Gloria Gresham
Special Makeup Effects: KNB - Robert Kurtzman, Greg(ory) Nicotero, Howard Berger
Estimated Budget: $20,000,000
Gross: $61,276,872
Filming Location(s): Genoa, Nevada; Hollywood Center Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas Ave., Hollywood, Los Angeles, California; New York City, New York; Reno, Nevada
Production / Distribution Studios: Columbia Pictures / New Line Cinema
U.S. Theatrical Release Date(s): November 30, 1990
Advertisting / Promotional Tagline(s): Paul Sheldon used to write for a living. Now, he's writing to stay alive
Filmed in: Widescreen / Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Major Awards Won: 1991 Oscar - Best Actress in a Leading Role, Kathy Bates; 1991 Golden Globe - Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Region 1 DVD first released: December 22, 1998 (2 releases to date) / Screen Format: Widescreen & Full Frame, Languages: English Stereo, Subtitles: French, Spanish / Scene Chapters: 25 / Special Features: Theatrical Trailer


Notable Facts / Trivia
1. Anjelica Huston was offered the part of Annie Wilkes, but turned it down
2. Jack Nicholson was offered the role of Paul Sheldon but passed because he wasn't sure he wanted to do another movie based on one of Stephen King's novels after what he had experienced with Stanley Kubrick on The Shining. Other actors who were offered the part of Paul Sheldon include William Hurt, Kevin Kline, Michael Douglas, Harrison Ford, Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Richard Dreyfuss, Gene Hackman, Robert Redford, and Warren Beatty
3. In Stephen King's novel of Misery, Annie cuts off Paul's foot to prevent him from escaping. Screenwriter William Goldman has stated that the reason he decided to adapt the book to film was because of this gruesome scene and the effect it would have on the audience. However, Rob Reiner and Andrew Scheinman's script revision changed the method of torture to Paul getting his ankles broken with a sledgehammer. Goldman was opposed to the change until he watched the scene, after which he finally approved
4. The film originally had an additional murder scene in which Annie kills a young police officer by running him over repeatedly with a lawnmower. Kathy Bates was very pleased with her performance and the way the scene worked, but Rob Reiner decided to cut it from the film because he was afraid the audience would laugh
5. Rob Reiner has a cameo in the film as a helicopter pilot
6. When Buster makes a stop at a general store to ask the manager some questions, he is stocking copies of video cassettes on racks. One of the videos is a copy of Reiner's film, When Harry Met Sally
7. In the scene where Annie forces Paul to burn his manuscript, we get to see a close-up of the words on one of the pages. It is actually an article about director/screenwriter Cameron Crowe, specifically focusing on the popular 1989 romantic teen flick Say Anything...


What the Critics Have to Say:

Roger Ebert - "3 (out of 4) stars" "Caan is controlled and passive", "Bates is uncanny in her ability to switch, in an instant, from sweet solicitude to savage scorn( ; ) she somehow remains convincing inside her character's madness", "(director Rob Reiner's) strength is in putting a personal stamp on his films. What he does with Misery is essentially simply respectful - he brings the story to the screen... It is a good story, a natural, and it grabs us", "the Kathy Bates performance is trickier and more special. The result is good craftsmanship, and a movie that works"

Leonard Maltin - "(a) white-knuckler", "Extremely well-acted"

The Video Graveyard - "3 (out of 4) stars" "expertly made, well acted, tense and well written"

Zombie Keeper - "3 and a half (out of 4)" "Rob Reiner's direction is tastefully understated. He makes good use of the snowy, isolated location and enhances the mood with a blue-gray color scheme employed throughout the movie. He's smart enough to realize that he's working with strong actors and a good script and lets the story and the performances unfold on their own merits. The result is a highly entertaining, character-driven potboiler that should appeal not only to horror fans, but to fans of good movies in general"


<center>Photo Gallery
(All the widescreen ones are enlargeable- just click)


Director Rob Reiner








</center>

[Isidour]

I love that movie n_n the feet scene was just creepy

I know, sounds weird but hey,it´s a nice effect the one they made

[littlefuzzy]

Lazario, you haven't seen a single classic Universal Studios monster film, or Freaks?? Tsk tsk tsk...

That probably means you haven't seen Abbot & Costello Meet Frankenstein, either...

You might check your local library, they might easily have the Universal films and/or Freaks, possibly even on DVD.

I don't know if you have seen the American Ring movie or not. If you haven't, I would suggest watching the original Japanese film first. Most people who see it first like it better, while most who see the remake first prefer it. However, that may be due to the audience... The people who cared enough to import the original (before it was released over here,) or read subtitles, would obviously watch it first, while the typical teen theater goer wouldn't care about that, so they'd watch the remake first... Also, the more informed crowd may prefer the suspense of the remake, and the teen crowd may think the scary jump-shots are the greatest thing since sliced bread.

[Lazario]

<center>18 (of 23) :
The Silence of the Lambs

<img src="http://image.allmusic.com/00/adg/cov200 ... "></center>

Sub-genres: Serial Killers, Cannibal, Mind Games / Psychological, Drama, Thriller
Director: Jonathan Demme
Screenwriter: Ted Tally
Cast: Jodie Foster (Clarice Starling), Anthony Hopkins (Dr. Hannibal Lecter), Scott Glenn (Jack Crawford), Ted Levine (Buffalo Bill / Jame Gumb), Anthony Heald (Dr. Frederick Chilton), Kasi Lemmons (Ardelia), Brooke Smith (Catherine Martin), Frankie Faison (Barney), Charles Napier (Lt. Boyle), Diane Baker (Senator Ruth Martin), Lawrence T. Wrentz (Agent Burroughs), Alex Coleman (Sgt. Pembry), Harry Northup (Mr. Bimmel), Tracey Walter (Lamar), Roger Corman (FBI Director), Chris Isaak (SWAT Commander), Stuart Rudin ('Multiple' Miggs)
Producers: Ron(ald M.) Bozman, Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt
Executive Producer: Gary Goetzman
Associate Producer: Grace Blake
Music Composers: Howard Shore, Johann Sebastian Bach
Cinematographer/Director of Photography: Tak Fujimoto
Film Editor: Craig McKay
Production Designer: Kristi Zea
Art Director: Tim Galvin
Set Decorator: Karen O'Hara
Costume Designer: Colleen Atwood
Special Makeup Effects: Carl Fullerton, Neal Martz
Estimated Budget: $19,000,000
Gross: $130,742,922
Filming Location(s): Bellaire, Ohio; Bimini Airport, South Bimini Island, Bahamas; Department of Labor Frances Perkins Building - 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.; Lambert International Airport - 10701 Lambert International Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri; Memphis, Tennessee; Perryopolis, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Quantico, Virginia; Soldiers and Sailors Museum and Memorial - 4141 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Filming Dates: November 15, 1989 - March 1, 1990
Production / Distribution Studio: Orion / MGM
U.S. Theatrical Release Date(s): January 30, 1991; February 1, 1991; February 14, 1991
Advertisting / Promotional Tagline(s): (1) To enter the mind of a killer she must challenge the mind of a madman / (2) Dr. Hannibal Lecter: Brilliant. Cunning. Psychotic. In his mind lies the clue to a ruthless killer. Clarice Starling, FBI: Brilliant. Vulnerable. Alone. She must trust him to stop the killer / (3) May the Silence Be Broken!
Filmed in: Widescreen / Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Major Awards Won: 1992 Oscars = Best Actor in a Leading Role, Anthony Hopkins / Best Actress in a Leading Role, Jodie Foster / Best Director, Jonathan Demme / Best Picture / Best Adapted Screenplay; 1992 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films - Saturn Awards = Best Actor, Anthony Hopkins / Best Horror Film / Best Make-Up, Carl Fullerton & Neal Martz / Best Writing, Ted Tally
Region 1 DVD first released: October 3, 1997 (4 releases to date) / Screen Format: Widescreen, Languages: English 5.1 Surround, French & Spanish Mono, Subtitles: English, French, & Spanish / Scene Chapters: 28, 27 / Special Features: New Documentary, Original Featurette, Deleted Scenes, Audio Commentary (Criterion Collection exclusive), Outtakes, Hannibal Lecter Answering Machine Message, Storyboard to Film Comparison (Criterion Collection exclusive), Theatrical Trailer, TV Spots, Photo Gallery, FBI Classificiation Manuel (Criterion Collection exclusive), Storyboards (Criterion Collection exclusive)


Notable Facts / Trivia
1. The role of Clarice Starling was first offered to Michelle Pfeiffer, Meg Ryan, and Emma Thompson
2. Many other actors were offered the role of Hannibal Lector. They include: John Hurt, Jeremy Irons, Robert Duvall, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson, and Lou(is) Gossett Jr.
3. Michael Keaton, Mickey Rourke, and Kenneth Branagh were considered for the role of Jack Crawford
4. Dino De Laurentiis, who had produced Manhunter (1986), passed on potentially making Silence of the Lambs because Manhunter had flopped. He gave the rights away for free to Orion Pictures
5. Screenwriter Ted Tally first suggested Jodie Foster, who had been lobbying hard for the part from the start. Jonathan Demme felt she was wrong for the part but agreed to meet Foster and hired her after only one meeting because he said he could see her strength and determination for the part that he felt was perfect for the character of Clarice
6. Anthony Hopkins described his voice for Hannibal Lecter as, "a combination of Truman Capote and Katharine Hepburn"
7. Buffalo Bill is the combination of three real-life serial killers: Ed Gein, who skinned his victims; Ted Bundy, who used the cast on his hand as bait to make women get into his van; and Gary Heidnick, who kept women he kidnapped in a pit in his basement. Gein was only positively linked to two murders and suspected of two others. He gathered most of his materials not through murder, but grave-robbing. In the popular imagination, however, he remains a serial killer with uncounted victims. Ed Gein is also the subject of several other high-profile, critically acclaimed, or outstandingly made horror films, including: Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Deranged (aka- Confessions of a Necrophile)
8. The character of Hannibal Lector was inspired by serial killer Albert Fish
9. The events in this film occur after the events in Manhunter (1986). Although there are several characters common to both films, there are only two actors who appear in both movies. Ironically, both actors play different characters in both movies. Frankie Faison plays Lt. Fisk in Manhunter and Barney in Silence of the Lambs, and Dan Butler plays an FBI fingerprint expert in Manhunter and an entomologist in Silence of the Lambs
10. With a little over 16 minutes of screen time, Anthony Hopkins's performance was the shortest ever to win a leading acting Oscar
11. Brooke Smith gained 25 pounds for her role as Catherine Martin
12. The butterfly in the posters for the movie appears to have a human skull at its center. However, upon close inspection, this "skull" turns out to be at least three naked women (clearly seven in some versions of the poster) and is very similar to a 1951 photograph by Philippe Halsman, inspired by a Salvador Dali drawing and gouache painting. Upon even closer inspection, the moth's wings appear to have a re-colored image of William Blake's Great Red Dragon, which is creased and folded
13. In his first meeting with Clarice Starling, Lecter describes the drawing on his cell wall as "the Duomo, seen from the Belvedere" in Florence, Italy. Starling later finds Buffalo Bill living in Belvedere, Ohio. Lecter, in fact, gives her Buffalo Bill's location in their first meeting
14. Note Lecter's mention of having consumed a victim's liver with, specifically, fava beans and chianti. Liver, fava beans, and wine all contain a substance called tyramine, which can kill you if you're taking a certain class of antidepressant drugs known as MAO inhibitors. MAO inhibitors were the first antidepressant drugs developed, and were used primarily on patients in mental institutions ... and Lecter both worked in, and was committed to, a mental institution
15. The first moth cocoon found in one of the victim's throats was made from a combination of "Tootsie-Rolls" and gummy bears, so that if she swallowed it, it would be edible
16. Anthony Hopkins invented the fast, slurping-type sound that Hannibal Lecter does. He did it spontaneously during filming on the set, and everyone thought it was great. Director Jonathan Demme became annoyed with it after a while, but denied his irritation
17. The filmmakers had completely prepared to go to Montana to shoot a flashback sequence depicting Clarice's runaway attempt. But after filming the dialogue between Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, director Jonathan Demme realized it would be pointless to cut away from their performances and announced, "I guess we aren't going to Montana"
18. In preparation for his role, Anthony Hopkins studied files of serial killers, visited prisons where he studied convicted murderers, and was present during some court hearings concerning serial killings. While studying videotapes of serial killers and noticing that Charles Manson hardly ever blinked when he spoke, he decided to use that for his Hannibal Lecter. He did, however, blink at least once during Lecter's conversation with Clarice in his "open-plan" cell for dramatic effect
19. The inspiration for Silence of the Lambs was the real life relationship between University of Washington criminology professor and profiler Robert Keppel and real life serial killer Ted Bundy. Bundy helped Keppel in his investigation of the Green River Serial Killings in Washington. While Bundy was executed on January 24th, 1989, the Green River Killings went unsolved until 2001 when Gary Ridgway was arrested. On November 5, 2003, Ridgway pleaded guilty to 48 counts of aggravated first degree murder in a King County, Seattle, Washington courtroom
20. In preparation for the actors, the filmmakers made homemade audio tapes that serial killers had recorded while torturing and killing captured victims available to both Jodie Foster and Scott Glenn. Foster declined to listen to the tapes, and Glenn regretted having done so because he couldn't forget what he had heard
21. After being cast as Buffalo Bill, Ted Levine did a lot of research into developing his character by reading profiles of serial killers. Levine later said that he found the material very disturbing. He also went out and attended a few transvestite bars, where he began interviewing patrons, since Bill was also a cross-dresser
22. FBI agents acted as advisors to the film and while they were very impressed by the film's accuracy in depicting criminal investigations, serial killers, and their victims, they vehemently protested against Clarice discovering Buffalo Bill on her own, stating that inexperienced agents are never sent out alone on dangerous assignments. However, in the film, Clarice is not sent out alone to capture Buffalo Bill. Rather she is continuing to follow up her own leads after Jack Crawford tells her that he and the SWAT team are going to what they assume is Buffalo Bill's home to take him in. During this time, she is not on orders from Crawford, nor is she technically on assignment any longer. She is acting completely upon her instinct. When Jonathan Demme explained this to them and refused to change the climax, they caved-in somewhat. They agreed with the director's decision but said it would be the most improbable course of action of all time, never to be repeated again. To this day, the FBI contends that the actions taken by the Clarice character have been mistaken by moviegoers for common FBI-trainee procedure
23. Gene Hackman bought the rights to Silence of the Lambs and was planning to direct the film as well as play the part of Jack Crawford, but he withdrew after watching a clip of himself in Mississippi Burning (1988) at the The 61st Annual Academy Awards, which made him uneasy about taking more violent roles
24. Despite being recently declared bankrupt, Orion still managed to raise $200,000 for the film's Oscar campaign
25. The film originally was going to be released in the fall of 1990. However, Orion pictures, which distributed the film, decided instead to delay its release until January 1991 so that they could concentrate all their efforts in promoting Dances with Wolves (1990) for Oscar consideration
26. This film is one of only three films to win the top five Oscars - Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The other two are It Happened One Night (1934) and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
27. At least six directors have roles in this film: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Kasi Lemmons, Roger Corman, Dan Butler (who directed episodes of Frasier), and a cameo by George A. Romero
28. Brooke Smith, who played Catherine Martin, and Ted Levine, who played Buffalo Bill were so close on the set, that Jodie Foster would refer to Brooke as Patty Hearst
29. After the shootout with Gumb, the story called for Starling to have partially burned gunpowder buried in the skin on the side of her face, the result of a near-miss. One name for this type of injury is "coal miner's tattoo" - a clever reference to Clarice's character background
30. This film ranks on 3 American Film Institute lists. Clarice Starling was chosen as the 6th Greatest Film Hero (out of 50, also the highest ranked female on the list), Hannibal Lecter was chosen as the #1 Greatest Film Villain (also out of 50), and Lecter's famous line, "A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti," was chosen as the 21st Greatest Movie Quote
31. A large part of the shoot took place in Pittsburgh. The city was chosen for its variety of landscapes and architecture, which was necessary to portray various parts of the country
32. A copy of Bon Appetit magazine can be seen in Hannibal Lecter's temporary cell
33. In Hannibal's last words to Clarice before Dr. Chilton has her removed, he stresses the word "simplicity." This was not just an urging to her to keep things simple, but was a reference to the dress pattern company Simplicity
34. The Tobacco horn worm moths used throughout the film were given celebrity treatment by the filmmakers. They were flown first class to the set (in a special carrier), had special living quarters (rooms with controlled humidity and heat), and were dressed in carefully designed costumes (body shields bearing a painted skull and crossbones)
35. Famed horror director George A. Romero has a cameo as the bearded man who accompanies Chilton and the two guards who forcibly remove Clarice Starling after her final meeting with Lecter
36. Director Jonathan Demme has a cameo in the film, as a man wearing a blue cap at the end of the film
37. This was the first film to win the Best Picture Oscar that was widely available on home video at the time of the ceremony
38. In the second draft of Ted Tally's screenplay, the names of three characters had to be changed from Thomas Harris's novel for legal reasons. Jack Crawford became "Ray Campbell," Dr. Frederick Chilton became "Herbert Prentiss," and, finally, Hannibal Lecter became "Gideon Quinn"
39. Thomas Harris, author of the novel "The Silence of the Lambs", has never watched the film because he is afraid it will influence his writing
40. When Jonathan Demme filmed the scene where Lecter and Starling first meet, Anthony Hopkins said he should look directly at the camera as it panned into his line of sight. He felt Lecter should be portrayed as "knowing everything"
41. Most people incorrectly quote Lecter's famous, "Good evening, Clarice," as, "Hello, Clarice"


Disney Connection : Silence of the Lambs and Disney's beloved animated feature Beauty and the Beast were both big contenders for the 1992 Best Picture Oscar. The Academy Awards have consistently shown a tangible amount of disrespect for both animated films and horror films. But thankfully, they chose Silence as the winner, which as a film is far superior to the cutesy, overrated, and insultingly simplistic love story of Beauty.


What the Critics Have to Say:

Roger Ebert - "3 and a half (out of 4) stars" "the presence of Evil (is) manifestly demonstrated in the first appearance of Anthony Hopkins", "so powerful that it underlies all the rest of the movie, lending terror to scenes that do not even involve him (Hannibal Lecter)", "brilliant", "is carefully prepared", "I wonder if (the project started with) a list of the great universal phobias and dreads. Here is a movie involving not only cannibalism and the skinning of people, but also kidnapping, being trapped in the bottom of a well, decomposing corpses, large insects, being lost in the dark, being tracked by someone you cannot see, not being able to get people to believe you, creatures who jump from the shadows, people who know your deepest secrets, doors that slam shut behind you, beheadings, bizarre sexual perversions, and being a short woman in an elevator full of tall men", "well made", "Foster is inevitably upstaged by Hopkins' rich and gruesome creation, but her steadiness and pluck are at the heart of the movie", "true suspense, unblinking horror, and an Anthony Hopkins performance that is likely to be referred to for many years when horror movies are discussed"

Roger Ebert (another/different review) - "Great Movie ((his highest rating to any movie))" "frightening, involving, and disturbing", "The secret of Silence is that it doesn't start with the cannibal", "malevolent but somehow likable", "Jonathan Demme's movie is likely to last as long as there is a market for being scared. Like Nosferatu, Psycho, and Halloween, it illustrates that the best thrillers don't age", "psychologically works at a deeper level", "one of a kind", "unforgettable", "superb", "(Lecter) bears comparison, indeed, with such other movie monsters as Nosferatu, Frankenstein (especially in Bride of Frankenstein), King Kong, and Norman Bates"

Leonard Maltin - "3 and a half (out of 4) stars"

Washington Post, Rita Kempley - "is delicious with foreboding, a masterly suspense thriller that toys with our anticipation like a well-fed cat. Adroitly directed", "it lurks about the exquisite edge of horror, before finally leaping into an unholy maw of bloody bones and self-awareness", "a mesmerizing, diabolical retelling of beauty and the beast", "compelling", "Jodie Foster ... becomes the screen's most admirable heroine", "Anthony Hopkins relishes his portrait of the cultured psychiatrist with chop-licking amorality", "it works in its rude way", "the mood is not only clinical but compassionate", "just plain scary -- from its doomed and woozy camera angles to its creepy Freudian subtext. It scares like some Poevian raven croaking a warning, perched in the night over the chamber door"

Washington Post, Desson Howe - "brilliant", "gripping", "smart, restrained entertainment, it doesn't splash around in blood and hysteria. It doesn't have to. The menace exists in small places", "Demme switches gears successfully from Something Wild to something eerie. With trusty cameraman Tak Fujimoto, he refrains from predictable stylishness (-) He builds the suspense in sure, strategic steps", "expertly scaring", "horrifying", "Foster carries the right mixture of determination and vulnerability", "Hopkins plays his part with the kind of frosty, clipped authority only the British seem capable of pulling off"

DVD Verdict, Mike Pinsky - "Groundbreaking", "I have always been fond of this film", "Demme's direction is a skillful balance of his b-movie training, a more intimate, character-driven film, and glimpses of a traditional Hollywood thriller", "gritty, realistic sets and a sordid atmosphere are combined with controlled performances by Foster and Hopkins", "riveting", "striking", "Other serial-killer films may be flashier or gorier or have more chase scenes, but none are better than The Silence of the Lambs. More than just a thriller, this is a terrific character study of the face of evil. A face that never blinks"

DVD Verdict, Mike Pinksy (another/different review) - "Demme wisely lets his characters drive the story", "(Foster is) thoughtful and low-key", "Starling is a psychologically complex character, and Foster never miscalculates the level at which she should play", "the Hannibal Lecter of The Silence of the Lambs remains an enigma"

The Video Graveyard - "3 and a half (out of 4) stars" "Excellently crafted with lots of exciting and suspenseful moments to go along with the greatly written script by Ted Tally and some high-grade acting (especially by Hopkins). A must."

The Cavalcade of Schlock, Brian J. Wright - "never fails to sicken, horrify, and scare me when I bring it to mind", "even a crappy EP tape can't hide how good this movie is", "Hopkins presence in the film is enormous", "it's a rousing, suspenseful trip", "various elements are juggled beautifully", "astonishingly good", "quite remarkable for a horror movie", "This movie is well-deserving of its near-legendary status", "

Zombie Keeper - "4 (out of 4)" "highly intelligent and gruesome", "Performances across the board are extraordinary, from Foster's ambitious yet naive Starling to Anthony Hopkins' slithering portrayal of the sociopathic Hannibal Lecter. His performance was so amazing that it painted in the minds of the nation's filmgoers a flesh and blood rendition of The Bogey Man. Levine, as Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb, is very effective, as well", "Levine's characterization of the killer who likes to skin his humps is frightening, while also oddly sympathetic", "Demme's direction makes the most of the...locations", "Demme shows a real flair for directing his actors", "Lecter ... (is) creeping out us, the viewers, as he looks right at us", "A testament to Hopkins' skills", "a gripping, white-knuckle excursion into the minds of psychopathic madmen and why they do what they do", "loads of suspense, plenty of scares"

Horror DVD's - "simply one of the best films ever made (in any genre), and highly deserving of every single award it received", "I don't think there's ever been a character more sinister than Hannibal Lecter", "strong and creepy", "an amazing film. Very few films have presented the mind of a serial killer this well", "unsettling and life-like", "the style of the film doesn't date it in the slightest"


<center>A Few Photos


Director Jonathan Demme

[littlefuzzy]

One debate I have heard is: Why is Silence of the Lambs considered "Suspense - Thriller" instead of Horror??

[Lazario]

Oh - Hollywood is afraid of the critical stigma many horror movies get, including filmmakers. So they think thriller sounds more legitimate and somehow allows for more character development. They forget that that comes with a film's story, not genre pinnings. Also, if you know horror fans like I know them, a lot of them prefer their horror films ultra-Italian or Asian, ultra-gory, and they just say any horror film that isn't purely horror somehow (by the way, I haven't seen 1 pure Asian horror film in my life, they're all horror-thrillers, fantasy-horror, or horror-comedies). It sort of lies in the hands of the changing attitudes among horror fans and critics. Depressingly enough, it shouldn't. But it does.

[Escapay]

One debate I have heard is: Why is Silence of the Lambs considered "Suspense - Thriller" instead of Horror??

I guess it has to do with the connotation. When most Joe Averages say "I love horror films", one would automatically assume they mean low-budget B-movie slasher flicks, the stuff you'd watch late at night on Halloween or find in a bargain bin at Wal-Mart. "Suspense - Thriller" makes it sound more mature, albeit a bit snobbish for Silence of the Lambs, which I agree qualifies as Horror.

IMO, Silence of the Lambs at its core is a very raw psychological drama that asks you "What is normal?". I've often found the strongest scenes in the movie to be between Clarice and Lecter, their conversations aren't necessarily to each other, but to us as well. It's a very chilling thing to see, especially the way Demme likes to point the camera straight at them, so it appears that they're either talking to us, or listening to us.

38. In the second draft of Ted Tally's screenplay, the names of three characters had to be changed from Thomas Harris's novel for legal reasons. Jack Crawford became "Ray Campbell," Dr. Frederick Chilton became "Herbert Prentiss," and, finally, Hannibal Lecter became "Gideon Quinn"

I've always loved the name "Gideon Quinn". Ever since I found this tidbit out several months ago, I've always named a character Gideon Quinn in my short stories and plays. One play in particular, "Think of Laura", had Gideon Quinn as the protagonist, a suffering artist who looks for what he considers the perfect painting, a portrait of a woman named Laura (which itself was taken from the film noir of the same name).

Escapay

[Siren]

Loving your digest! Great movies! Hoping you have Willard and Child's Play

[Isidour]

I realy was starting to wonder why you havenñt added this movie to your selection, it is a really good movie n_n

[Lazario]

What movie is that, Isidour?

[Lazario]

<center>19 (of 23) :
Candyman

<img src="http://image.allmusic.com/00/adg/cov200 ... "></center>

Sub-genres: Slasher, Ghost / Living Dead, Curse / Occult, Romance / Gothic, Thriller, Psychological Drama
Director: Bernard Rose
Screenwriter: Bernard Rose, Clive Barker (based on story)
Cast: Virginia Madsen (Helen Lyle), Tony Todd (Candyman), Kasi Lemmons (Bernadette Walsh), Vanessa Williams (Anne-Marie McCoy), Xander Berkeley (Trevor), DeJuan Guy (Jake), Carolyn Lowery (Stacey), Michael Culkin (Professor Purcell), Gilbert Lewis (Detective Frank Valento), Stanley DeSantis (Dr. Burke), Sarina C. Grant (Kitty Culver), Barbara Alston (Henrietta Mosely), Ted Raimi (Billy), Terrence Riggins (Gang Leader), Rusty Schwimmer (Policewoman), John Rensenhouse (Helen's Attorney)
Producers: Steve Golin, Alan Poul, Sigurjon Sighvatsson
Executive Producer: Clive Barker
Music Composers: Philip Glass, Chrissie Hynde
Cinematographer/Director of Photography: Anthony B. Richmond
Film Editor: Dan Rae
Production Designer: Jane Ann Stewart
Art Director: David Lazan, Mick Strawn
Set Decorator: Kathryn Peters
Costume Designer: Leonard Pollack
Special Makeup Effects: Bob Keen
Estimated Budget: $8,000,000
Gross: $25,792,310
Filming Location(s): Cabrini Green Public Housing Projects, Cabrini-Green Public Housing Projects - 1158 N. Cleveland, Near North Side, Chicago, Illinois; Occidental Studios - 201 N. Occidental Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California; University of Illinois at Chicago, Near West Side, Chicago, Illinois
Production / Distribution Studio: Tri-Star Pictures
U.S. Theatrical Release Date(s): October 16, 1992
Advertisting / Promotional Tagline(s): (1) We Dare You To Say His Name Five Times! / (2) You don't have to believe... just beware / (3) Candyman, Candyman, Candyman, Candyman... Don't Say it Again!
Filmed in: Widescreen / Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Major Awards Won: 1993 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films - Saturn Award - Best Actress, Virginia Madsen
Region 1 DVD first released: September 9, 1998 (2 releases to date) / Screen Format: Widescreen, Languages: English, French, Portugese Surround, Subtitles: English, French, Portugese / Scene Chapters: 28 / Special Features: Audio Commentary, New Featurettes, Storyboards


Notable Facts / Trivia
1. "Sweets to the Sweet" which is written on the walls in two areas of Cabrini Green is actually a line from Shakespeare's Hamlet
2. Virginia Madsen was physically hypnotized for several of the film's scenes
3. Virginia Madsen is allergic to bees, so an ambulance was always on set while filming the bee sequence
4. Producer Alan Poul claims that had Virginia Madsen been unavailable, the part of Helen Lyle would have most likely gone to Sandra Bullock
5. Philip Glass didn't want to score the film at first because he didn't want to do a horror film. But after Bernard Rose showed him a rough cut of the film, he decided that there was more to the film then he originally thought
6. The cast of the film on several occasions after production continue to talk about director Bernard Rose's eccentric on-set behavior. Most popular among anecdotes are his incessant twirling of locks of his hair with his fingers, and never being happy with the amount of blood on actors and sets. According to the cast, he would constantly shout, "more blood! More blood!!" until he was blue in the face
7. Real bees were actually put into Tony Todd's mouth while they where shooting the climax. His only protection was a mouth guard that kept him from having the bees go down his throat. The bees were breed specifically for this movie. They need to make sure that the bees were only 12 hours old so that they looked like mature bees, but at that point, the stinger isn't powerful enough to do any real damage
8. There is a Guy Fawkes mask hanging next to Helen's bathroom mirror. Fawkes is an infamous figure in English history (a potential influence from Clive Barker's original story), who attempted to blow up the English Parliament on November 5, 1605. Every year the British celebrate Guy Fawkes Day by lighting bonfires and burning Fawkes in effigy
9. The architecture flaw of the medicine chests and people being able to sneak in, is something that Bernard Rose discovered in his research for the film and there was actually a series of murders that were committed in this way


What the Critics Have to Say:

Roger Ebert - "3 (out of 4) stars" "dreamlike", "frightening (and) intriguing", "Madsen and Lemmons, courageous and plucky, make sympathetic heroines", "Rose has been clever in his use of locations", "What I liked was a horror movie that was scaring me with ideas and gore, instead of simply with gore"

Leonard Maltin - "3 (out of 4) stars"

Washington Post, Richard Harrington - "it succeeds", "(Bernard Rose) keeps the ratio of outright fear to escalating dread just about even", "an urban nightmare in which the bogyman is on call for those foolish enough to doubt him", "Rose invests the film with plenty of frightful atmosphere", "As Candyman, the towering Tony Todd is an elegant horror ... and his lair is as disturbing as any in recent horror vehicles", "Madsen is a much better actress than is usually found in such a role"

DVD Verdict, Bill Gibron - "refreshing", "enigmatic", "compelling", "bold", "a perfect iconic beast", "potent", "inspiring", "frightening", "resonates with a palpable sense of dread", "suspense resides in every corner", "stark settings", "Rose keeps his apprehension pressing, never once letting the audience breathe", "dark, brooding", "scary", "Candyman wants to examine what makes a monster, and better yet, what authorizes and controls his ephemeral existence", "captivating", "intricate", "(a) mindf*** narrative that never quite lets us know what is real and what is spiritual illusion, Rose succeeds in formulating a new representation of the sinister, an emblem that to this day is still considered based in the truth, even though it is a complete fabrication", "a viable force in the medium of the macabre", "a mesmerizing movie with more meaning than most dances with the devil", "an amazing visual work that actually has some substantive sources for its scares"

Slant Magazine - "3 (out of 4) stars", "a surprise darkhorse smash", "a startlingly effective shocker that gains power upon further, sleepless-night reflection"

The Video Graveyard - "4 (out of 4) stars" "this stands out as an original, engrossing, and highly entertaining film. Top notch acting and direction moves it along at breakneck speed"

The Cavalcade of Schlock, Brian J. Wright - "Candyman stands alone, above the crowd", "possibly the most disgusting-sounding movie I've ever seen, uh, heard", "This ain't a pretty movie, but it managed to turn out to be quite the crowd-pleaser, because it's scary as hell", "Bernard Rose directs it all with a sure hand, with lots of great aerial photography", "the script is intelligent and thought-provoking", "the racial tensions the movie wields never seem exploitative or gratuitous", "The cast is mostly really good, but Todd's Candyman is in another league, beautifully realized by the actor and the script - he always seems larger than life and myth-like on the verge of god-like", "very darkly funny", "one of the most frightening movies I've ever seen", "Great score by Philip Glass"

Zombie Keeper - "3 (out of 4)" "(an) enjoyable film", "it still holds up as one of the best", "Tony Todd turns in a convincing performance as the Candyman and Virginia Madsen also does a solid job with her role as Helen"


<center>Photo Gallery
(All the widescreen ones are enlargeable- just click)


Director Bernard Rose (left side)








</center>

[Siren]

I'm horribly allergic to bees and their cousins. I almost died when I was stung in the neck by a hornet as a kid.

So this movie flipped me the heck out. For the longest time, I couldn't even LOOK at a bee hive or honeycomb without getting vertigo and feeling sick

[numba1lostboy]

This is amazingly thorough work, Lazario! Good job! I'm not a fan of horror, but I found myself reading all your reviews. You could be a movie reviewer!

This may be far-fetched, but any chance you could do this for another genre?? Like comedy or romance? Don't feel obliged, it's just a question.

[Escapay]

This may be far-fetched, but any chance you could do this for another genre?? Like comedy or romance? Don't feel obliged, it's just a question.

Well contemporary horror is Laz's forte, but I'd LOVE to see him tackle a Contemporary Disney Animated Classics Digest. I remember reading his posts in GD about just how intricately he analyzes them, and would love to see something like that in this type of thread.

Hehe, I'd hate to steal Laz's thunder with these Digests, but if I had the time and commitment, I'd want to do a Contemporary Romcom Digest or a Classic Film Digest.

Escapay