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Hammer Films was founded in 1934, but it took an eleven year hiatus on the way to the ‘50s, the decade when the company entered the era it’s best known for. In 1955, the sci-fi horror film The Quatermass Xperiment became their first major international success, inspiring Hammer to start building toward becoming one of the most popular genre companies of all time. Since this year marks the 90th anniversary of Hammer Films, we decided it was time to put together a list of some of The Best Hammer Horror Movies. Here we go:

Horror Of Dracula (1958)

Sure, this is yet another adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula; a re-telling of the story that any horror watcher will see roughly fifty versions of over the course of their fandom. But director Terence Fisher and screenwriter Jimmy Sangster brought some twists to this one that are not present in others and shuffled some of the characters.

On Monday, Hammer Films’ latest documentary, Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters, had its world premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square in London, bringing together horror icons and dedicated fans in celebration of the legendary studio’s 90th anniversary. The premiere offered an exclusive preview of the documentary, which will officially air on Sky Arts this Halloween at 9 pm, promising horror enthusiasts an inside look at the iconic British studio’s storied past and its enduring impact on the genre.

The red carpet was graced by Hammer’s beloved stars, including Caroline Munro (Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter), Madeline Smith (The Vampire Lovers), and Martine Beswick (One Million Years B.C.), who reminisced about their time with the studio that defined gothic horror for generations. Joining them was the film’s narrator, the acclaimed Charles Dance OBE, whose storied career and commanding voice bring depth to the documentary’s rich history.

Guests were also...

Lee's final time playing Dracula in The Satanic Rites of Dracula role inspired his later James Bond villain performance in The Man with the Golden Gun. Lee felt typecast in later Dracula films, leading to his eventual exit from the series. The Dracula actor turned down the final Hammer Dracula film after disliking the screenplay.

Christopher Lee's final time playing Hammer's Dracula saw the star basically auditioning for his eventual James Bond villain role. Lee's filmography is littered with great performances, with some of the most famous being Lord Summerisle from The Wicker Man and The Lord of the Rings' Saruman. One of Lee's most famous parts is Count Dracula, a character he played no less than ten times. Christopher Lee's Hammer Dracula movies make up seven of these efforts, with the 1958 original being the actor's breakout. He brought a menace and a sexuality to the role that hadn't been attempted onscreen before.

Not every horror movie is going to connect with critics, no matter how much the public loves it or if its wider reputation grows more favorably over time. These range from cult classics that earned legions of devoted fans to maligned sequels and reboots that didn't deserve the critical hate they got upon release. Simply put, even the most poorly reviewed horror flicks deserve a reappraisal and are, at the very least worth a look from the curious and unfamiliar.

There are plenty of horror movies that hold a rotten critics' approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes that still make for interesting, and in many cases, even great viewings. With everything from supernatural giallo movies to slasher sequels that subvert expectations, there is a horror movie for every scary sensibility. Here are the 15 horror flicks that didn't connect with most critics that should be given at least one solid viewing.

Read...

Readers in the UK will want to take a gander at what Nyx UK has in store for them next month. With spooky season in full swing you will not want to miss contemporary classics like The Evil Dead, Halloween, What Have You Done To Solange? and Bad Taste. Hammer Sundays next month will have Countess Dracula, The Satanic Rites of Dracula, The Revenge of Frankenstein and The Abominable Snowman. Friday nights get naughty with Jesús Franco’s Vampyro Lesbos and Jean Rollin's The Shiver of the Vampires and The Night of the Hunted. All the spooky season programming for next month on Nyx UK follows. The UK’s hottest Fast TV channel for horror fans unveils a ‘Helloween’ month of movies for October ...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Our Halloween episode! The legendary actor and star of Shudder’s The Mortuary Collection talks about his favorite horror movies from his childhood.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

The Mortuary Collection (2020), now streaming on Shudder!

Nightmare Cinema (2019)

We Come In Pieces: The Rebirth of the Horror Anthology Film (2014)

Bad Boys (1983)

Gentle Giant (1967)

Gone In 60 Seconds (1974)

The Green Slime (1969)

Battle Royale (2000)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Tarzan’s Three Challenges (1963)

The Professionals (1966)

Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966)

Ultraman (1967)

Batman (1966)

The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

Horror of Dracula (1958)

The Brides of Dracula (1960)

Psycho (1960)

Jack The Ripper (1959)

Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)

The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973)

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1974)

Count Dracula (1977)

Son of Dracula (1943)

Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)

The Haunting (1963)

The Haunting (1999)

The Others (2001)

The Babysitter Murders (2015)

Halloween (1978)

Frankenstein (1931)

King Kong (1933)

Scanners (1981)

Wisconsin Death Trip (1999)

Bride of Frankenstein (1935)

The Bride (1985)

Young Frankenstein (1974)

The Love Bug (1968)

Son of Frankenstein (1939)

Son of Kong (1933)

The Road Back (1937)

Crimson Peak...

I don’t know about you, but this writer is more than ready to start looking forward to the Halloween season. And one of the staples of my own ongoing cinematic celebration every year is checking out all the wonderful classic horror movies that Turner Classic Movies airs on their channel. And considering the mess that 2020 has been over the last several months, I thought this year it might be helpful to also include all the genre films that will be playing on TCM throughout the month of September, as it’s never too early to get ready for Halloween.

Check out all the great classic horror movies playing on the small screen over the next two months on TCM, and be sure to set those DVRs so you don’t miss any of the classic films that are sure to get you into the Halloween spirit this year.

Thursday,...

One could be forgiven for not suspecting that Hammer Films, known for their comparatively lurid and bloody, sometimes pointedly lusty, and otherwise vividly imagined (and reimagined) catalogue of horror classics, would be the first place to look if one were in the market for a low-key yet spirited take on a holiday classic to turn to once the perennial screenings of It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Die Hard and countless other popular titles have begun to wear out their welcome. Yet the studio delivered just that in Cash on Demand (1962), a dandy and delicious suspense thriller directed by Quentin Lawrence, from a script by David T. Chantler and Lewis Griefer, itself based on a play by Jacques Gillies, which echoes of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the book and the countless movie and TV iterations which came before, to fresh and potent purpose.

Lawrence, a British TV veteran...

By Adrian Smith

The first question you are probably asking is “Do we need another book about Hammer films?” Speaking as someone whose Hammer shelf is already groaning with the weight of so many volumes on the company, the answer, as far as Hammer Complete is concerned, is “Absolutely.” This book, coming in at nearly 1000 pages, is a lifetime achievement for journalist Howard Maxford, and one that deserves immense praise. Unlike other books which might focus specifically on the horror films, or the posters, or the ups and downs of the company itself, here Maxford has attempted to provide a complete encyclopedia of everything and everyone connected to Hammer. From Temple Abady (who appeared in Never Look Back in 1952) and The Abominable Snowman (1957) to Murial Zillah and Marc Zuber, no Hammer stone has been left unturned or contributor ignored.

Unlike many books of this type which are little more than...

Following their Blu-ray releases of The Satanic Rites of Dracula and Dracula A.D. 1972, Warner Archive will continue their Hammer horror streak with a Blu-ray release of 1958's Horror of Dracula, starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing.

Slated for a December 18th release, we have a look at the Horror of Dracula Blu-ray and its release details below:

From Warner Archive Collection: "Horror Of Dracula (1958)

New 2018 1080p Presentation Sourced From The Hammer/BFI Restoration

Run Time 82:00

Subtitles English Sdh

Sound Quality DTS HD-Master Audio 2.0 - English

Aspect Ratio Original Aspect Ratio - 1.66:1, 16 X 9 Widescreen

Product Color Color

Disc Configuration Bd 25

Includes Original UK Theatrical Trailer (HD)

Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing, Britain’s premier masters of the macabre, bring the Horror of Dracula to vivid, full-color death in this retelling of Bram Stoker’s spellbinding vampire tale. Dracula (Lee), a centuries-old Transylvanian nobleman damned to an eternal half-life,...

Happy Tuesday the 13th, everyone! While it may not be nearly as a good as getting to enjoy a Friday the 13th, genre fans still have a few good reasons to get excited, as there are some killer movies headed to both Blu-ray and DVD this week.

As far as new titles go, both The Meg and Lasso are hitting multiple formats on Tuesday, and cult film fans are going to want to grab The Blood Island Collection from Severin Films (all three films inside the set are being released separately on Blu-ray as well). Herschell Gordon Lewis’ The Wizard of Gore is getting the special edition treatment from the fine folks at Arrow Video, and The Satanic Rites of Dracula comes home this Tuesday, courtesy of the Warner Archive Collection.

Other notable releases for November 13th include Perversion Story, Bloodlust, House of Forbidden Secrets, 10/21, Alpha Wolf,and Teenage Zombies.

Hammer’s Dracula goes out with a whimper in this final Chris Lee-Peter Cushing vampire opus, which posits the Prince of Darkness as a super-mogul super-villain (with insufficient infrastructure). He’s battling Scotland Yard, MI5 and his old nemesis Van Helsing, while still arranging ritual sacrifices. And don’t forget the quartet of vampire babes he keeps in the cellar.

The Satanic Rites of Dracula

Blu-ray

Warner Archive Collection

1973 / Color / 1:75 widescreen / 88 min. / Street Date November 13, 2018 / available through the WBshop / 21.99

Starring: Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Michael Coles, William Franklyn, Freddie Jones, Joanna Lumley.

Cinematography: Brian Probyn

Film Editor: Chris Barnes

Original Music: John Cacavas

Written by Don Houghton

Produced by Roy Skeggs

Directed by Alan Gibson

The final Hammer horror Dracula opus with Christopher Lee is The Satanic Rites of Dracula, a direct sequel to Dracula A.D. 1972, which is frequently named as the worst film of the series. A.

In his latest podcast, host Stuart Wright talks with Mayhem Film Festival co-founder Chris Cooke about his picks for 5 Great British Horror Films, which include:

Three Cases Of Murder (1955) The Satanic Rites Of Dracula (1972) Frightmare (1974) Symptoms (1974) Full Circle (1977)

Follow Chris Cooke on twitter @Cooke_Mayhem. This years Mayhem Film Festival takes place on 11-14 October 2018. For the latest on programme and tickets see www.mayhemfilmfestival.com...

Hammer Horror fans already have a new Blu-ray release of Dracula: Prince of Darkness to look forward to from Scream Factory, and now Warner Archive is bringing more Christopher Lee Hammer Horror movies to life in high definition with new remastered Blu-ray releases of The Satanic Rites of Dracula and Dracula A.D. 1972.

Announced on Warner Archive's official Facebook page, the new Blu-rays of The Satanic Rites of Dracula and Dracula A.D. 1972 do not have release dates yet, but they are expected to come out this year, along with 1974's Bad Ronald.

We'll keep Daily Dead readers updated on the exact release dates for these Blu-rays when they're revealed, and in the meantime, we have a look at the cover art, technical specs, and synopses below (via Warner Archive):

"The Satanic Rites of Dracula

Satanic Rites Of Dracula (1974)

New 2018 1080p HD remaster!

Run Time 88:00

Subtitles English Sdh...

Enter worlds filled with magic and terror in John Burr's fantasy horror film Muse that will see a U.S. digital release on August 21st. Also in today's Highlights: the Blu-ray debut for Hammer Horror: The Warner Bros. Years, ScareHouse 2018 opening day details, and Hell House LLC, II: The Abbadon Hotel release details.

Muse Release Details: "TriCoast Entertainment’s horror division, DarkCoast, will finally release John Burr’s eight-time winning fantasy horror Muse onto U.S. digital streaming platforms on August 21st.

Written and directed by John Burr, Muse is described as a twisted, haunted fairytale that combines elements of a psychological thriller, the supernatural, and past Irish legends and mythological influences. Shot entirely in 15 days, Muse is a gripping, psychological thriller that ultimately examines how inspiration can be the downfall of any great artist. “If you have the opportunity, See. This. Movie.” - Nightmarish Conjurings

Muse credits its fantastic editing to longtime,...

Article by Jim Batts, Dana Jung, Michael Haffner, Sam Moffitt, and Tom Stockman

Peter Cushing, born on this day in 1913, was one of the most respected and important actors in the horror and fantasy film genres. To his many fans, the British star, who died in 1994, was known as ‘The Gentle Man of Horror’ and is recognized for his work with Hammer Films which began in the late 1950’s, but he had numerous memorable roles outside of Hammer. A topnotch actor who was able to deliver superb performances on a consistent basis, Peter Cushing also had range. He could play both the hero and the villain with ease.

Here, according to We Are Movie Geeks, are Peter Cushing’s ten best roles:

Dr. Maitland

During the 1960s, Amicus Studios had a knack for borrowing from the pool of Hammer Studios actors and filmmakers to make their own Hammer-inspired films. While...

This week, we’ve got another fantastic bounty of genre films hitting DVD and Blu-ray on June 16th, including a ton of cult classics like The Land that Time Forgot, Night of the Strangler and the Tentacles/Reptilicus double feature from Scream Factory.

Fans of Neill Blomkamp also have a lot to get excited about this Tuesday, as there’s a Limited Edition collector’s set featuring all three of his sci-fi actioners, with Chappie finally making his way home this week as well. Echo Bridge has put together two different DVD movie packs featuring a bunch of old-school horror movies, and the recent Blumhouse production, The Lazarus Effect, is arriving on Blu-ray and DVD, too.

Blomkamp3 Limited Edition Collection: Chappie/District 9/Elysium (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Blu-ray)

The world of Neill Blomkamp is unlike any other. Distinct of story and vision, and for the first...

We bid a fond farewell to the wonderful Christopher Lee, and salute some of his best roles...

Christopher Lee crammed a dozen lives into one. His Special Forces work in the Second World War remains shrouded in mystery. We do know that, in 1944, he climbed Vesuvius three days before it erupted. A fine, operatic singer, he famously released a heavy metal album in his later 80s. A skilled fencer, he performed all his own sword fights and has been killed on screen more than any actor in cinematic history. As a child Lee briefly encountered Prince Felix Yusupov, murderer of Rasputin, a part Lee would later of course play. Ian Fleming was a cousin, Muhammed Ali a friend and once dedicated a victory to Lee. Fluent in five languages, passable in another four, people like Lee don’t really exist anymore. In truth they probably never did.

One could write a lengthy,...

British screen icon Christopher Lee has passed away at the age of 93.

Christopher Lee 1922-2015: Entertainment world pays tribute to acting icon

The beloved actor notched up more than 280 screen credits across seven decades that saw him work with some of the biggest stars and filmmakers in Hollywood. Whether it was frightening the life out of us in Hammer horrors or duking it out with Jedis in Star Wars, Lee's films bridge multiple generations of moviegoers.

Digital Spy picks out six great Christopher Lee roles below...

1. The Curse of Frankenstein (1957)

Hammer's first ever colour horror film helped to cement the studio as purveyors of fright cinema. Lee brilliantly brought to life Frankenstein's monster thanks to some then-cutting edge prosthetic make-up and a performance tinged with pathos.

Curse of Frankenstein boasted the dream team of Lee, Peter Cushing and director Terence Fisher, who later collaborated on Dracula and The Mummy.

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Mustache twirling aficionados of evil all know that when Hollywood wants ‘bad’ they go British, regardless of the characters actual nationality. Hollywood’s decision to cast Brits as bad guys started in the early days of cinema when American actors were reluctant to play villains so producers looked elsewhere.

They settled on the British because their accent was thought to represent sophistication and intelligence (clearly Hollywood producers have never been to Essex) and had anti-imperialistic connotations from the big, bad British Empire of yesteryear.

The British accent was to become a modern-day equivalent of the white hat/black hat stereotype of good and evil and was used to help audiences instantly recognize that one stereotype most people would never meet in real life; the evil genius. Almost a 100 years later and that tradition is still as strong as ever.

Join us as we take a look at some of...

With Hugh Jackman currently negotiating to play Wolverine for a seventh and eighth time, Cinelinx takes a look at actors who’ve played the same role eight times or more. Who has played the same character most often? Come in and find out.

Hugh Jackman has already played Wolverine five times--x-Men (2000), X2: X-Men United (2003) X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), and The Wolverine (2013)—as well as a cameo in X-Men:First Class (2011). Soon we’ll be seeing him fully clawed again on the big screen in X-Men: Days of Future Past. Recently, he told Collider that he might shoot Wolverine 3 and X-Men: Apocalypse “back-to-back”, which would make a total of eight times (9 times with the cameo) that he’ll portray the Canadian mutant.

You might be thinking “Wow! That’s amazing! I’ve never heard of anyone playing the same role so many times.” Well, for those who may not know it,...

It has been dismissed over the years as cheesy, cheap and laughable but, as has been the case on many occasions, Hammer Films have had the last laugh. They boast a back-catalogue that is to horror movies what The Rolling Stones’ discography is to rock music. Fifty-nine years after the release of their first horror movie proper (The Quatermass Xperiment), Hammer’s films have survived scrutiny and re-evaluation and have now attained National Treasure status. Moreover, in terms of sheer importance, the Hammer films were some of the most influential of the past half-century. The ripple-effect of their imitators cashing in on their success would beget the careers of some of the biggest names in Hollywood today.

And yet since 1984 Hammer has been a dormant entity, existing only in the memory: a pile of ashes, a cape and a signet ring waiting to be reanimated by the crimson, jugular discharge of some poor,...

Article by Jim Batts, Dana Jung, Michael Haffner, Sam Moffitt, and Tom Stockman

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Peter Cushing (1913-1994) was one of the most respected and important actors in the horror and fantasy film genres. To his many fans, the British star was known as ‘The Gentle Man of Horror’ and is recognized for his work with Hammer Films which began in the late 1950’s, but he had numerous memorable roles outside of Hammer. A topnotch actor who was able to deliver superb performances on a consistent basis, Peter Cushing also had range. He could play both the hero and the villain with ease.

Super-8 Peter Cushing Movie Madness takes place February 4th at The Way Out Club in St. Louis and will be a great way to celebrate the actor’s career. The event is on February 4th beginning at 8pm. Condensed versions (average length:...

Actor known for roles as Count Dracula and Lord of the Rings' Saruman will be honoured at London film festival

Lord of the Rings star Christopher Lee has been awarded a prestigious BFI Fellowship. The presentation will be made on 19 October at Banqueting House, Whitehall, during the London film festival, the BFI's premier event.

The BFI Fellowship is an award given "to individuals in recognition of their outstanding contribution to film or television". 2012's honorees were actor Helena Bonham Carter and director Tim Burton. In 2011, writer-director David Cronenberg and actor-director Ralph Fiennes were recipients.

In a statement, Lee said: "It is a great privilege to be included amongst such a distinguished group of predecessors who have received this award from the BFI."

Although he secured his first film role in 1948, Lee, 91, will always be associated with the string of gothic-horror roles he undertook for Hammer Films, including The Curse of Frankenstein...

Even the casual horror fan has seen ‘70s horror films like Halloween and Jaws, but if you take a step away from the mainstream, there is a veritable candy store of titles that influenced the horror boom of the ‘80s. We’ve put together a list of slightly lesser known 1970s titles that we think every horror fan should see. We have steered clear of the obvious choices. So you will not see Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Alien, or even Black Christmas on our list. We have dug a little deeper to spotlight some titles that don’t always get the mainstream acclaim or recognition that they most certainly deserve.

Below, you will find an assortment of films that we think will give any viewer not intimately familiar with the horrors of the 1970s a good jumping off point to embrace one of the richest decades that horror cinema has to offer.

Clicking aimlessly through the internet trying to figure out where you can see The Pirates of Blood River or The Satanic Rites of Dracula? Of course you are. What else would you be doing? Fortunately for all of us, an answer has been found in the form of a Hammer Films YouTube channel. The studio responsible for strapping vampire teeth to Christopher Lee in the 70s has had a vibrant resurgence, reforming after a three-decade break to produce films like Let Me In and The Woman In Black. Their success has opened the door for more horror and sci-fi, but it’s also encouraging to see them focus on some of their earlier cult hits. According to their press release, they’re making restored versions of The Quatermass Xperiment (1955), Man in Black (1949) and Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter (1974) available with designs on more in the future. They have a massive catalogue to choose from, so...

Hammer Films has a number of projects in various stages of development and the success of The Woman in Black means that they’ll continue to release new horror films. We knew that Hammer was looking to revive a number of their old properties, but during a recent interview we conducted with Marcus Hearn, he revealed that they are planning a present-day Dracula movie:

“The company’s chairman, Simon Oakes, is talking about making a new Dracula, and setting it in present-day London. It’s fun to speculate who could step into Christopher Lee’s shoes. Just last year I would probably have dismissed the idea of another Hammer Dracula as quite far-fetched, but I think the success of The Woman in Black has opened up all sorts of possibilities.”

As someone who is a big fan of the Hammer Dracula series, I’m excited at the thought of a...

They may not be household names like their A-list colleagues, but the actors on this list have appeared in some of our all-time favourite geek movies...

Some actors dabble in sci-fi; others dip their toe into fantasy; some may even make an appearance in the odd horror film - all before returning to the safety of the genres in which they feel more comfortable - perhaps a nice, award-chasing period drama, or a well-paid romantic comedy.

A-listers may see the geeky films that we on this site enjoy and celebrate as fun little side-projects, but there are actors out there who commit full-time to these types of movies. It is high time, therefore, that we credited these individuals with the recognition they deserve.

Besides the stipulation that, in order to be included, an actor had to still be alive and working today, there were no strict criteria that had to...

Vampires vs. gangsters. What could go wrong? Well, you'll get a chance to find out on us as we're giving away five (5) copies of Dead Cert on both Blu-ray and DVD!

Winning is simple! To enter, just send us an E-mail Here including your Full Name And Mailing Address along with whether you want the Blu-ray or the DVD. We’ll take care of the rest.

Good luck!

From the Press Release

This fall get ready for a bloodthirsty mix of From Dusk Till Dawn and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels when Dead Cert debuts for the first time in the U.S and Canada on Blu-ray™ and DVD September 27, 2011, from Shout! Factory, in association with Black and Blue Films. Jam-packed with all the ingredients of both a vampire flick and a gangster film -- creepy monsters, scantily-clad women, tough-talking wise guys, gratuitous bloodshed and a seemingly crazy vampire...

Renowned vampire hunter Professor Van Helsing is giving a lecture in China when some villagers persuade him to travel to their remote village and help them fight off seven vampires which have cursed their village. Unknown to Van Helsing, the head vampire is in fact his arch nemesis, Count Dracula, who has assumed the body of one of the Chinese vampires.

I’m not usually a big fan of martial arts films on their own but when combined with other genres (i.e. Big Trouble in Little China), it makes for interesting viewing to say the least. The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires is no exception. The last of the Hammer Dracula films, this was always going to be up against it after Christopher Lee swore he would never don the cape again….and I don’t blame him after Dracula A.D. 1972 and The Satanic Rites of Dracula.

In London in the 1970s, Scotland Yard think they have uncovered a case of vampirism and head off to seek the expert advice of Professor Larimer Van Helsing. Investigating further, Van Helsing discovers that some extremely rich and powerful figures are ploughing money into a huge foundation with a boss who has never been seen.

It turns out that this boss is in fact the resurrected Count Dracula who is finally sick of the endless pain and suffering of eternal life and is plotting to unleash a new enhanced strain of the Black Death thus taking everyone in the world down with him when he dies.

Talk about flogging a dead horse. There’s no wonder Christopher Lee got sick of donning the fangs whenever Hammer came calling! This penultimate Dracula film is slightly better than the abysmal Dracula A.D. 1972, but still suffers from placing the film in a contemporary setting,...

There’s a lot of evil out there! Disposing of the nasty creatures, monsters, zombies, witches, vampires and the like is a dirty job, but somebody’s gotta do it. Remakes of Fright Night and Conan The Barbarian will splatter evil blood all over screens this week when they open in theaters on Friday, August 19th, so here’s a look at our favorite monster killers from the movies.

Now, before we get started… a list like this really needs to be defined, so here are those pesky rules that govern who makes the cut and who gets cut:

You must have multiple kills! One and done is not enough. You must be a full-time monster hunter. None of this part-time, moonlighting crap! You must actually “kill” the monsters. Sorry, but The Ghostbusters don’t make the cut.

Honorable Mention: Hans, trolljegeren – Trollhunter (2010)

Do trolls really exist? Hans says so,...

Shout! Factory has been rocking for the last year or so, with quality genre releases, namely their Roger Corman Collection. Now, they’re releasing something newer in Dead Cert to Blu-ray/DVD on September 27th.

Produced by horror specialists Black and Blue Films and directed by Steve Lawson, Dead Cert marks a welcome return to the fun, almost-traditional British horror filmmaking style that affectionately evokes the spirit of the contemporary-set movies of Amicus and Hammer — particularly the latter’s Dracula A.D. 1972 and The Satanic Rites of Dracula.

When respected but small-time gangster Freddie ‘Dead Cert’ Frankham (Craig Fairbrass) is unexpectedly given the chance to make a tentative leap into the big leagues with the opening of his new nightclub in London’s East End, he doesn’t quite realize what he’s getting into. Unknown to Freddie and his partners, the club stands on the former site of a Black Church,...

One toothy little UK vampire flick we've been keeping our eye on for a while now, Dead Cert, is making its way Stateside courtesy of Shout! Factory; and we've got everything you need to ready yourself ... except sharpened stakes.

From the Press Release

This fall get ready for a bloodthirsty mix of From Dusk Till Dawn and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels when Dead Cert debuts for the first time in the U.S and Canada on Blu-ray™ and DVD September 27, 2011, from Shout! Factory, in association with Black and Blue Films. Jam-packed with all the ingredients of both a vampire flick and a gangster film -- creepy monsters, scantily-clad women, tough-talking wise guys, gratuitous bloodshed and a seemingly crazy vampire hunter -- Dead Cert features a star-studded cast of familiar British acting talent including Craig Fairbrass (The Bank Job), Dexter Fletcher (Kick-Ass), Billy Murray (Rise of the Footsoldier), Lisa McAllister...

This Fall, get ready for a bloodthirsty mix of From Dusk Till Dawn and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels when Dead Cert debuts for the first time in the U.S and Canada on Blu-ray. and DVD September 27, 2011 from Shout! Factory, in association with Black and Blue Films. Jam-packed with all the ingredients of both a vampire flick and a gangster film — creepy monsters, scantily-clad women, tough-talking wise guys, gratuitous bloodshed and a seemingly crazy vampire hunter, Dead Cert features a star-studded cast of familiar British acting talent including Craig Fairbrass (The Bank Job), Dexter Fletcher (Kick-Ass), Billy Murray (Rise Of The Footsoldier), Lisa McAllister (Pumpkinhead: Ashes to Ashes), Steven Berkoff (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), Dave Legeno (Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince), Jason Flemying (X-Men: First Class) and Danny Dyer (Dead Man Running).

Produced by horror specialists Black and Blue Films and directed by Steve Lawson,...

DVD Playhouse—July 2011

By Allen Gardner

The Music Room (Criterion) Satyajit Ray’s 1958 masterpiece looks at the life of a fallen aristocrat as a metaphor for an India that is not only becoming Westernized, but modernized technologically and culturally beyond recognition. When the beloved music room, where he has hosted lavish concerts in the past, starts falling into disrepair as attendance drops steadily, the man realizes his way of life is vanishing. Stunningly shot in black & white, one of Ray’s finest works. Bonuses: Documentary on Ray from 1984 by Shyam Benegal; Interviews with Ray biographer Andrew Robinson and filmmaker Mira Nair; Excerpt from 1981 roundtable discussion between Ray, critic Michael Ciment, director Claude Sautet. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Full screen. Dolby 1.0 mono.

Beauty And The Beast (Criterion) Jean Cocteau’s sublime adaptation of the classic fairy tale become a beloved classic upon its 1946 release, and hasn’t faded since.

The weekend’s here. You’ve just been paid, and it’s burning a hole in your pocket. What’s a pop culture geek to do? In hopes of steering you in the right direction to blow some of that hard-earned cash, it’s time for the Fred Weekend Shopping Guide - your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…

(Please support Fred by using the links below to make any impulse purchases - it helps to keep us going…)

By now, fans know what to expect from Warners deep, dense, impressively comprehensive Harry Potter Ultimate Editions, which means the wait for the rest of the series to get the treatment has sometimes been quite a hard one to bear. Thankfully, we’re nearing the end with the release of Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix: Ultimate Edition & Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince...

There are few horror icons who are instantly recognizable. Karloff, Lugosi, Price, Cushing, Lee ... but there are even less who are women. Arguably the most recognizable of these is the luscious Elvira - Mistress of the Dark and her creator, Cassandra Peterson.

Elvira came into the public eye in the late spring of 1981 when Peterson auditioned for a horror movie host role at Khj-tv when the powers-that-be there sent out a casting all for someone to host their weekly horror show. The sultry Elvira - clad in a black, gothic, cleavage-enhancing gown - soon became a cultural phenomenon. With her dark, Morticia Addams-like makeup, a towering black beehive wig, and wickedly vampish appearance, her comical character was offset by a quirky, quick-witted personality and valley girl-type speech. Soon, her influence was seen on everything from beverage ads to pinball games to major motion pictures.

On June 14th, 2011, Entertainment One (eOne...

“My name is Bond - James Bond". That classic introduction to the cinema’s greatest secret agent is as famous as “I am Dracula, I bid you welcome.” When the box office success of Dr No (1962) turned the unknown Sean Connery into a movie legend, Hammer was never far away from the franchise. With their own films running parallel to the Bond series, Hammer and Eon Productions often made use of the same talent.

Dr No also marked the debuts of Bernard Lee (the first of 11 films as M) and Lois Maxwell (the first of 14 as Miss Moneypenny). Lee had a brief turn as Tarmut in Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1973) and despite never starring in a Hammer horror, Maxwell turned up in their early fifties thrillers Lady in the Fog (1953) and Mantrap (1954).

As doomed double-agent Professor Dent, Anthony Dawson is best known as the vile Marquis in Curse...

Here’s some boobilicious news. Entertainment One is bringing Elvira’s Movie Macabre to DVD in June. Here’s the press release (via DVDTown):

“Leading independent distributor Entertainment One (eOne) has acquired North American home video and digital rights for the nationally syndicated series Elvira’s Movie Macabre, which will arrive in its first two installments of hilariously horrifying “Double Feature DVDs” this June. Presented by Elvira: Mistress of the Dark–the world´s sexiest, most outrageous and original movie hostess–”Elvira’s Movie Macabre” was re-launched on over 120 stations across the country this past fall and was instantly praised as “a dream come true for horror fans” (Fangoria).

Featuring Elvira´s signature, unflinching, tongue-in-cheek commentary of some of the “greatest” B-movies ever to unspool, eOne´s release of all-new Elvira’s Movie Macabre “Double Feature DVDs” kicks off with the zombie-themed pairing of George Romero´s Night of the Living Dead...

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark made her triumphet return in 2010 with her Movie Macabre. Still sexy and crazy after all these years, she returned to bring the horror fans some cult horror classics with her own style of commentary.

Dread Central reports that Elvira's late night Movie Macabre will be coming to DVD via Entertainment One, (eOne) for those of you playing at home. The DVDs will come in a double feature format with the first DVD featuring George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead and I Eat Your Skin. The second DVD announced will feature The Satanic Rites of Dracula and The Werewolf of Washington. Look for the first batch in June!

Entertainment One will distribute the enw Elvira’s Movie Macabre on home video and digital in North America in June, 2011.

Remember how Elvira relaunched her show this past fall? Did you not watch? I agree. It got shitty show times - often past midnight. What old person can stay up that late???

Now you can watch the new series and really enjoy it at a regular time, like 3Pm in the afternoon, with some weak tea and an egg-salad sandwich. The way Elvira meant it to be watched. Her show, Elvira's Movie Macabre, was relaunched this past fall and originally aired in the 1980s before half you little shits were even born.

The double-feature releases from Entertainment One will pair such really unwatchable public domain shit as George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead with I Eat Your Skin and a double-bill of Hammer Film’s The Satanic Rites of Dracula...

Elviria's Movie Macabre The rebooted version of Elvira's Movie Macabre will be making its way to DVD! Great news for fans of Elviria who have not been able to check out her return to hosting horror movies on TV! ...Now if only someone would get around to bringing USA's Up All Night to DVD.

From the press release:

Leading independent distributor Entertainment One (eOne) has acquired North American home video and digital rights for the nationally syndicated series Elvira’S Movie MacAbre, which will arrive in its first two installments of hilariously horrifying “Double Feature DVDs” this June. Presented by Elvira: Mistress of the Dark – the world’s sexiest, most outrageous and original movie hostess – Elvira’S Movie MacAbre was re-launched on over 120 stations across the country this past fall and was instantly praised as “a dream come true for horror fans”.

Elviria's Movie Macabre Featuring Elvira’s signature unflinching,...

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark has proven to be ageless. Everyone's favorite lady of the late, late evening is just as buoyant as ever, and her new TV series is coming home to DVD to give you good reason to stay up all night.

From the Press Release

Leading independent distributor Entertainment One (eOne) has acquired North American home video and digital rights for the nationally syndicated series Elvira’S Movie MacAbre, which will arrive in its first two installments of hilariously horrifying “Double Feature DVDs” this June. Presented by Elvira: Mistress of the Dark – the world’s sexiest, most outrageous and original movie hostess – Elvira’S Movie MacAbre was re-launched on over 120 stations across the country this past fall and was instantly praised as “a dream come true for horror fans”.

Featuring Elvira’s signature unflinching, tongue-in-cheek commentary of some of the “greatest” B-movies ever to unspool,...

So Christopher Lee, the 88 year old British actor, is to be honoured with an Academy Fellowship (read, Lifetime Achievement Award) at tonight’s BAFTAs ceremony in London, clearly the highlight of the night’s activites.

Lee has been a dominant figure in British, European (he’s fluent in Italian and German, proficient in French) and American cinema since 1948 and holds the Guinness World Record for the most acting credits: a staggering 268… and counting. Whilst I’m inclined to say that it’s about time he was bestowed with such an honour, I hope that it doesn’t encourage him to consider retiring.

With his roots well and truly within the low budget offerings of Hammer Studios, Lee has gone on to become the most enduring British actor of all time. Along with the fantastic Peter Cushing, Lee managed to bring a touch of class and superior acting ability to his Hammer adventures.

To quote The Art of Hammer introduction (which quotes the poster for the Hammer Films flick Creatures the World Forgot): “They don’t make them like this anymore.” Bloody, heaving boobs, wild-eyed vampires, lusty werewolves – nothing promises such lurid poster art like a Hammer Films collection.

Edited by Marcus Hearn, The Art of Hammer is a collection of rare Hammer Films posters from the golden age of the British studio’s output of glorious B (and sometimes C or D) horror flicks, creature features and quickie-noirs. The surprisingly brief introduction tells you just enough about the book’s intentions and the studio’s history to ground you, then steps aside and lets the posters tell their story.

And what a marvelous collection it is. For fans of schlocky old horror flicks, Hammer Studios is nothing short of legendary. They gave the world the Dracula movies with Christopher Lee as...

In the early 70s, directors of giallo, the Italian horror genre, made a few tentative trips to England, producing at least one classic

When one thinks of giallo, the bloodsoaked Italian horror genre of the 1960s and 70s, one imagines axes through heads, rooms full of naked corpses, massive bloodshed, pioneering gore special effects, zany psychology, imported has-been leads, spooky music, far too many zooms, and terrible post-synched dialogue. The last thing that crosses your mind is England.

And yet in the early 70s, giallo directors made a few tentative trips to England, producing at least one classic of the genre, Lucio Fulci's Lizard in a Woman's Skin. There's also an enjoyable lesser effort, Jorge Grau's The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue, which lives up to its splendid title (one of no fewer than 15 titles it has had worldwide).

Living Dead, made in 1973, features a mini-army of...

When critic David Ehrenstein told actor Sir Ian McKellen that there existed a photograph of actor Roddy McDowell (How Green was My Valley, Planet of the Apes) performing oral sex upon himself, the great stage and screen star's response was immediate: "Put it up on the internet!" he boomed, in the voice that breathed life in to Gandalf the Grey.

Alas, or not, the image under discussion still apparently lacks a public forum, and is as elusive as McDowell's sole film as director, Tam Lin a.k.a. The Ballad of Tam-Lin a.k.a. The Devil's Widow, starring Ava Gardner.

1970, of course, was the one year in the history of western civilization when the ability to self-fellate was alone enough to guarantee a directing career, and so it was that McDowell found himself in Scotland, filming Ian McShane (sweary Al Swearingen from TV's Deadwood) running screaming through a swamp on Lsd.

• The new Micro Werks DVD outfit gave Fango the scoop on cover art and details for new special-edition discs (coming June 23) of Rick Sloane’s notorious Gremlins knockoff Hobgoblins (a Mystery Science Theater 3000 favorite) and his new sequel Hobgoblins 2. The first flick has been digitally remastered in widescreen, and the follow-up “shot in 35mm and made to look painstakingly identical to the original,” per the company.

Extras on Hobgoblins include:

• Audio commentary by writer/director Sloane

• Hobgoblins: The Making of a Disasterpiece documentary

• Interviews with the original cast

• Still gallery

• Remastered 35mm trailer

Hobgoblins 2 comes with:

• Audio commentary by Sloane

• Making-of featurette with cast interviews

• Deleted scenes

• Still gallery

• 35mm theatrical trailer

Retail price is $14.98 each. Micro Werks (which has yet to set up an official website) also has five discs in Johnny Legend’s The Vampire Chronicles series streeting on the 23rd for $9.98 each. The contents are...

Cinema Retro London correspondent Adrian Smith brings us the inside story of the recent reunion of Captain Kronos cast members.

Brian Clemens, Horst Janon, Caroline Munro, Lois Dane and John Cater . (Photo copyright Matt Gemmell)

The last eighteen months has seen an impressive array of Hammer-related film events here in the UK, most organised by filmmaker and cult-film champion Don Fearney. Saturday, 29 March saw perhaps the most intriguing and popular event so far occur at the Cine Lumiere in London.

Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter is a long forgotten film which was virtually ignored at the time of its release, even by Hammer themselves. However it has developed a strong following since becoming available on home video and DVD, and many see it as one of the strongest entries in the latter end of the Hammer canon, falling between weaker efforts such as Twins of Evil and The Satanic Rites of Dracula.