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The horror hostess who defined campy gothic comedy is back in spectacular fashion. Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, the 1988 cult classic starring Cassandra Peterson as the iconic Elvira, has been unleashed in a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release from Arrow Video. Packed with a new trailer and bursting with special features, this release is a must-have for fans of horror and humour alike.

The film, directed by James Signorelli, sees Elvira trading her life as a Los Angeles TV horror hostess for the small town of Fallwell, Massachusetts, where she inherits her late great-aunt Morgana’s estate. However, the mansion, Morgana’s peculiar pet poodle, and an old cookbook hold more than sentimental value. Elvira unwittingly uncovers a family legacy of magic while grappling with the conservative townsfolk and her sinister uncle, Vincent, who harbours plans to use the spellbook for dark purposes. Chaos, charm, and plenty of double entendres...

Back in September, it was announced that Arrow Video would be releasing a number of titles in 4K Blu-ray remasters. One of those titles was the cult hit from the 1988, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark. The new physical media release will hit retailers in a few days on November 12. Details of the special features and technical specs are now revealed, courtesy of Blu-ray.com.

The description reads,

“She’s back! Elvira, Horrorland’s hostess with the mostest, finally busts out on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with this long-awaited, positively bursting-at-the-seams special edition of her big screen debut, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark!

Having just quit her job as a Los Angeles TV horror hostess, Elvira receives the unexpected news that she’s set to inherit part of her great aunt Morgana’s estate. Arriving in the small town of Fallwell, Massachusetts to claim her inheritance, Elvira receives a less than...

This November, Arrow, the streaming service known for its curated cult classics, unveils a lineup guaranteed to thrill horror, martial arts, and niche film fans. Leading the charge are revered Shaw Brothers martial arts epics, a 4K restoration of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, and a slate of cult horror shorts. With releases spanning decades and genres, November’s offerings bring something for every type of cinephile.

Shaw Brothers Martial Arts Classics

Arrow is shining a spotlight on the legendary Shaw Brothers studio, whose wuxia films blend breathtaking martial arts choreography with tales of revenge, honour, and sacrifice. Beginning with The One-Armed Swordsman trilogy on November 4, Arrow introduces a collection of restored titles that include The 14 Amazons and The Lady Hermit, inviting viewers into the world of noble warriors and gravity-defying battles.

Elvira in 4K

Just in time for November’s dark nights, Arrow is resurrecting Elvira: Mistress of the...

Arrow Video has announced the November 2024 lineup for their subscription-based Arrow platform, which is available to subscribers in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland.

The November 2024 lineup leads with Shawscope Vol. 3, Arrow’s third curation of films from the Shaw Brothers.

Before Hong Kong’s mightiest film studio mastered the art of the kung fu film, Shaw Brothers hit box office gold with a very different kind of martial arts cinema, one that channeled the blood-soaked widescreen violence of Japanese samurai epics and Italian spaghetti westerns into a uniquely Chinese form: the wuxia pain.

Arrow previews, “With all-new exclusive restorations and hours of insightful bonus material, if subscribers thought the previous two Shawscope collections showed the Shaw Brothers at its strongest, you ain’t seen nothing yet when Shawscope Vol. 3 debuts November 25!”

November 2024 Curated Seasons also include: Banged Up, Jemma Moore Selects, Future Shockers, Killer Cuts, Heidi Honeycutts Selects,...

Elvira’s Movie Macabre (1981–86).At the end of a long corridor, a door creaks open to reveal a blinding light and a thick fog. The figure of a woman appears, as if from the beyond. Foreboding organ music accompanies her sashay toward us, cobwebs breaking against her ample curves. Lightning cracks, a wolf howls, and we are delivered to the black void of a soundstage, illuminated by gothic candelabras, with a red Victorian couch at its center, on which Elvira lounges, cooing little come-ons and giggling at her own jokes as she introduces this week’s feature, Count Dracula’s Great Love (1973).Cassandra Peterson’s Elvira is part Sunset Strip stand-up comedian, part Southern belle, part self-effacing ditz, and part glamorous Hollywood host. Peterson conceived of her as a vampiric bombshell with a valley-girl punk affect and a Ronette’s mass of teased-up hair. Her dress was short, black, and low-cut,...

Editor’s note: this list was originally published in October 2022. It has since been updated with new entries.

Short of outright sobs, there are just two sounds you’ll hear coming from movie theaters: laughter and screams. When filmmakers can successfully elicit both — running horror-loving audiences through emotional minefields that chase each adrenaline spike with just enough comedic relief to set them up for another shock — their films take on an almost electric quality. Just thinking of the stunning yet silly reveals in genre staples like “Shaun of the Dead” or “The Cabin in the Woods” can zap a smile on your face, and leave you itching to rewatch other memorable scenes and scares from your favorite funny yet spooky movies.

There’s considerable debate about which title merits being called the first horror comedy. Numerous shorts, including the 1920 silent film “Haunted Spooks,” might qualify. But by the time Bud Abbott...

NewFest has announced the full lineup for the 36th edition of the New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival.

The largest queer film festival in the U.S., it will include more than 140 new features, shorts and episodic projects from 31 countries in addition to legacy screenings.

The festival runs Oct. 10 to Oct. 20 in theaters in Manhattan and Brooklyn, as well as on NewFest’s on-demand platform until Oct. 22, with venues including the Sva Theatre, The LGBT Community Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music and Nitehawk Prospect Park.

The opening film on Oct. 10 is the N.Y. City premiere of Roshan Sethi’s “A Nice Indian Boy,” which had its world premiere at SXSW. The closing night selection is Jacques Audiard’s musical drama “Emilia Pérez,” which won the Cannes Jury Prize and the best actress award for Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz.

Erin Carr’s “Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara...

4K is about to get a lot darker – no, not literally, don’t worry about that. Arrow Video has announced their November slate of 4K releases and a number of worthwhile entries that fit the horror and thriller bill, including Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, 2007’s The Invasion and Sam Raimi’s A Simple Plan.

Each of these entries – in addition to 1986’s At Close Range and manga adaptation Tomie – are getting upgrades this fall courtesy of Arrow, who has made a name for themselves as one of the premiere outlets for such presentations. Let’s take a look at some specs:

These Arrow 4K releases of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, The Invasion and A Simple Plan will all have Dolby Vision/Hdr presentations, bringing the movies into your homes like they never have been before. And each is undoubtedly worth a rediscovery. The Elvira character has always had...

If you thought Elvira looked good before, wait until you see her in Uhd! Elvira: Mistress of the Dark will bust out on 4K Ultra HD on November 12 via Arrow Video.

The 1988 horror-comedy has been newly restored in 4K with Dolby Vision and uncompressed stereo 2.0 audio. The limited edition first pressing comes with reversible artwork, a slipcover, and a booklet written by Sam Irving, Kat Ellinger, and Patterson Lundquist.

Special Features include:

Introduction by director James Signorelli Audio commentary with actors Cassandra Peterson and Edie McClurg and writer John Paragon Audio commentary with director James Signorelli, moderated by horror journalist Tony Timpone Audio commentary with Elvira webmaster Patterson Lundquist Too Macabre: The Making of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark – Feature-length making-of documentary with cast and crew Recipe for Terror: The Creation of the Pot Monster Original storyboards Image galleries Theatrical trailer Teaser trailer

In the film, “Having just quit...

Eric Gardner, Chairman and CEO of Panacea Entertainment who began his career coordinating tours for Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead before pivoting to talent management for such clients as Paul Shaffer, Donny Osmond, The Sex Pistols, as well as members of The Rolling Stones, The E Street Band and The Who, died at his home in Camarillo, California, July 19 from complications of pneumonia. He was 74.

His death was announced by Janis Gardner, his wife and Panacea Entertainment co-owner.

Born Eric Winslow Gardner on November 20, 1949, Garner’s long and notable career as a talent manager, film, television, and Las Vegas residency show producer began in 1970 when he started coordinating tours for the bands Jefferson Airplane, Kiss, and the Grateful Dead. By 1973 his company Panacea Entertainment Corp. was coordinating tours for major bands in 23 countries around the world.

In 1974 Panacea’s emphasis shifted to talent management and over the year’s...

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Walmart’s Collector Con is back, and it’s chock-full of collectible action figures, stuffed toys, and other exclusive merch for the pop culture and fandom-obsessed. The online-only event was most recently held in March, and it’s now back for the summer. Pre-orders kicked off on July 25 at 7 a.m. Pt and run until July 26, coinciding with the start of San Diego Comic-Con.

Many of the collectibles don’t ship until September,...

The British Film Institute has partnered with film animation studio Laika to start its event series Stop Motion: Celebrating Hand-Crafted Animation On The Big Screen, which will offer free screenings for children under 16 and include Laika’s five films to date: “Coraline” (2009), “Paranorman” (2012), “The Boxtrolls” (2014), “Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016) and “Missing Link” (2019), all of which were nominated for the Academy Award for outstanding animated feature.

The season, curated by BFI Southbank Lead Programmer Justin Johnson, will take place from Aug. 1 through Oct. 9. Additional titles playing on the big screen throughout the season will include “King Kong” (1933), “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963), “Chicken Run” (2001), “Corpse Bride” (2005), “Coraline” (2009), “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (2009) and “Anomalisa” (2015).

A free exhibition at BFI Southbank, Laika: Frame x Frame, will also run and showcase the art, science and innovation of the studio’s films. The exhibition will allow visitors an exclusive look at puppets, sets and artifacts from...

Note: The following story contains spoilers from the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 16 finale.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” just crowned America’s latest drag superstar.

The sickening Season 16 finale followed as all of this year’s competing queens returned to watch Nymphia Wind, Plane Jane and Sapphira Cristál compete for the coveted title — with Wind coming out as the winner following a dazzling lip-synch for the crown to Kylie Minogue’s hit single “Padam.” This win marks the second time an Asian drag queen has won the competition series.

Wind walked away with a one-year supply of Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmetics and cash prize of $200,000. The runner-up did not leave the floor empty-handed, walking away with a $25,000 cash tip. Jane, a polarizing competitor who was both loved and labeled a villain this season, landed in third place and left with another $25,000 prize.

The MTV series also had a first in the Miss Congeniality category this year,...

Bloody Disgusting and Screambox are bringing Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls to theaters this week – the gateway horror film channels the spirit of feel-good 1980s films like Beetlejuice, Ernest Scared Stupid, and Pee-wee’s Big Adventure!

The buzzed-about horror-comedy Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls will be released exclusively in theaters for a one-night event on October 19, via Fathom Events. The film will show at 7:00pm & 10:00pm (local times) in theaters throughout the country, and fans will be treated to a special introduction from writer/director/star Andrew Bowser ahead of the film.

In the film, Onyx the Fortuitous is struggling to find purpose with his soul-devouring side gig when he receives a coveted invitation to the mansion of his idol, Bartok the Great. Here, he joins Bartok and his mysterious delegation to raise the spirit of an ancient demon for a once-in-a-lifetime ritual.

This post contains spoilers for the first episode of "The Twilight Zone."

The first episode of Rod Serling's anthology series "The Twilight Zone" aired on October 2, 1959. The episode was called "Where Is Everybody?," and it starred Earl Holliman as a man with no memories, walking down a dirt road. He arrives in a small town. No one is there. He cries out for anyone, but no one answers. He tries the public telephone, but there is no operator. He sees a woman in a car, but she turns out to be a mere mannequin. He helps himself to some diner food, which is still fresh. Machines seem to operate on their own, as when our hero goes to a movie theater and the picture starts automatically. What is happening? Is everyone hiding? Where is everybody? The solitude slowly begins to drive him into a panic.

The twist ending: the...

I had never heard of Onyx the Fortuitous before I started seeing reports about the upcoming movie Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls – and even then, I didn’t pay much attention to it because I figured something called Onyx the Fortuitous must be an animated children’s film. But as it turns out, Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is a horror comedy and Onyx the Fortuitous himself is a viral character who was created by Andrew Bowser and has accumulated over 300 million views online, with over 1 million followers on TikTok. Now Bowser’s movie Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls is set to receive a one-night theatrical release in North America, courtesy of Cinedigm and Fathom Events, on October 19th. Tickets can be purchased at This Link, and a trailer for the film is embedded above to help you decide whether or...

The Elvira’s Haunted Hills episode of The Black Sheep was Written and Narrated by Andrew Hatfield, Edited by Juan Jimenez, Produced by Lance Vlcek and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

It’s always fun to see some of our horror heroes appear outside of their given role as it were. We’ve seen Stephen King appear in tons of his story’s adaptations, but he also showed up in things not associated with him like Sons of Anarchy. Sure, you get athletes that try acting, some that are even successful, but how about our beloved horror hosts? Many of them only stayed on the critique end of the movie spectrum but a couple have made the jump. Joe Bob Briggs appeared in a segment of the recent Scare Package as well as a deleted scene from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 but never got the spotlight in his own feature length film.

Forget the pleasantries, today sucks. Paul Reubens, best known for his incomparable work as Pee-wee Herman, has passed away. The weird, wacky, and wonderful comedy figure is one of the most influential creatives ever to do it, and left in his wake is an irreplaceable void of silly, absurdist joy. Reubens' created the character of Pee-wee Herman while performing with The Groundlings, the legendary improvisational comedy troupe boasting alumni like Laraine Newman, Pat Morita, Craig T. Nelson, Jon Lovitz, Adrienne Barbeau, Conan O'Brien, Phil Hartman, Phil Lamarr, Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Coolidge, Will Ferrell, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Will Forte, Annie Mumolo, Kaitlin Olson, Edi Patterson, Tony Cavalero, and a ridiculous number of other eventual "Saturday Night Live" players.

Pee-wee Herman was an immediate hit and led to Reubens writing, producing, directing, and starring in "The Pee-wee Herman Show." He quickly became a household name, and the Pee-wee character would get another show,...

The Return to Horror High episode of Wtf Happened to This Horror Movie? was Written by Emilie Black, Narrated by Travis Hopson, Edited by Victoria Verduzco, Produced by Lance Vlcek and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

The 1980s, especially the mid-1980s, were basically the heyday of slasher films, many of them were being released each year in theaters and direct-to-video, some of them making huge box office numbers like the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, the Friday the 13th movies, and the Halloween movies. Non-franchise films were not as big both financially and critically but they didn’t do too badly either. Then came Return to Horror High in 1987 (watch it Here). Some would say that the film was ahead of its time, being a very meta horror comedy about slasher films, having endings within endings, and twisting the sub-genre on its head. However, the film failed,...

A new episode of the Revisited video series has just been released, and in this one we’re looking back at a movie that some may not consider to be a horror movie, but at the very least it is an “experimental psychological thriller” from a highly respected genre director. The director in question is David Lynch, and the movie we’re talking about today is the 2006 release Inland Empire (get it Here). To revisit Inland Empire with us, check out the video embedded above.

Written and directed by Lynch, Inland Empire tells the following story over the course of its 180 minute running time: Nikki, an actress, takes on a role in a new film, and because her husband is very jealous, her co-star Devon gets a warning not to make any romantic overtures — especially since the characters they play are having an affair. Both actors learn that the project...

Cinedigm has acquired the North American rights to horror-comedy film “Onyx the Fortuitous and the Talisman of Souls,” which will be released in theaters this fall, Variety has learned exclusively.

The film is based on writer, director and star Andrew Bowser’s viral character, Onyx, which has accumulated over 300 million views online with over 1 million followers on TikTok. According to the film’s official plot description, as an “amateur occultist, [Onyx] learns that sometimes when you raise Hell…you get a little burned.” Just when Onyx is about to give up his paranormal pursuits, he receives an invitation to meet with his idol, Bartok the Great, to take part in a ritual to revive an ancient demon. Onyx makes friends with fellow disciples as things take a turn for the worst and they battle to keep their souls.

The film also stars Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Ralph Ineson, Rivkah Reyes, Tc Carson,...

A new episode of the Revisited video series has just been released, and in this one we’re looking back at the 1987 Sam Raimi classic Evil Dead II (watch it Here)! To revisit Evil Dead II with us, check out the video embedded above.

Directed by Raimi from a screenplay he crafted with Scott Spiegel, Evil Dead II has the following synopsis: After a relaxing cabin vacation doesn’t go as planned, Ash is left with three dead friends, an undead girlfriend and an angry evil spirit on the loose. As nightfall approaches, Ash must prepare to again battle the legions of the damned if he wants to make it to dawn.

The film stars Bruce Campbell, Sarah Berry, Danny Hicks, Kassie Wesley, Richard Domeier, Denise Bixler, John Peaks, Lou Hancock, William Preston Robertson, and Ted Raimi.

The Evil Dead II episode of Revisited was Written, Narrated, and Edited by Lance Vlcek,...

A new episode of the Revisited video series went online over the weekend, and with this one we took a look back at one of the most highly regarded horror movies ever made, the 1973 classic The Exorcist (watch it Here)! To find out what we had to say about The Exorcist, check out the video embedded above.

Based on a novel by William Peter Blatty (pick up a copy Here), who also wrote the screenplay, The Exorcist was directed by William Friedkin and tells the following story: One of the most profitable horror movies ever made, this tale of an exorcism is based loosely on actual events. When young Regan starts acting odd — levitating, speaking in tongues — her worried mother seeks medical help, only to hit a dead end. A local priest, however, thinks the girl may be seized by the devil. The priest makes a request to perform an exorcism,...

Los Angeles, April 8 (Ians) Hollywood star Brad Pitt allowed an elderly neighbour to live rent-free in his Los Angeles mansion.

The 59-year-old ‘Fight Club’ star purchased his home in the Los Feliz area back in 1994 for reportedly $1.7 million and he started snapping up neighbouring properties whenever they came up for sale so he could build a large estate – but after buying one house belonging to a widower named John in his early 90s, Brad struck a deal to allow the man to stay in the house rent-free until his death aged 105, reports aceshowbiz.com.

The story was revealed by ‘Elvira: Mistress of the Dark’ star Cassandra Peterson who sold the original home to Brad. “I think there were like 22 houses that were contiguous to the edge of the property. And every time they came up he bought one,” she told people.com.

“He was very, very kind to the husband.

A new episode of the Revisited video series has just arrived online, and in this one we’re looking back at a classic from the 1980s: the horror thriller The Hitcher (watch it Here), which was released back in ’86. To find out what we had to say about The Hitcher, check out the video embedded above.

Directed by Robert Harmon from a screenplay by Eric Red, The Hitcher has the following synopsis: While transporting a car from Chicago to San Diego, Jim Halsey picks up a hitchhiker named John Ryder, who claims to be a serial killer. After a daring escape, Jim hopes to never see Ryder again. But when he witnesses the hitchhiker murdering an entire family, Jim pursues Ryder with the help of truck-stop waitress Nash, pitting the rivals against each other in a deadly series of car chases and brutal murders.

The film stars C. Thomas Howell,...

Just a couple days ago, DC Studios head James Gunn announced that a Swamp Thing movie will be part of the first slate of DC films he will be producing as he reboots the DC Universe. Yesterday, we heard that Logan director James Mangold is in early talks to direct the Swamp Thing movie. So today seemed like the perfect time to release a new episode in the Revisited video series that looks back at the 1982 film adaptation of Swamp Thing (watch it Here). To find out all about the version of Swamp Thing that reached theatres over forty years ago, check out the video embedded above.

The 1982 Swamp Thing was written and directed by legendary genre filmmaker Wes Craven. His film has the following synopsis: Deep in Florida’s darkest everglades, a brilliant scientist, Dr. Alec Holland, and a sexy government agent, Alice Cable, have developed a secret formula...

A new episode of the Revisited video series has just been released, and while all of the previous entries have been a look back at feature films, this episode does something a little different. This one is looking back at the three-part mini-series Storm of the Century (pick up a copy Here), which aired on ABC back in February of 1999. To find out all about Storm of the Century, check out the video embedded above.

The mini-series was written by Stephen King, and this wasn’t an adaptation of any of King’s previous works. He wrote this one specifically to be a TV mini-series. Directed by Craig R. Baxley, the mini-series has the following synopsis:

A dangerous blizzard hits an isolated town and brings along a mysterious stranger intent on terrorizing people for his own desires.

Tim Daly, Debrah Farentino, Dyllan Christopher, Colm Feore, Jeffrey DeMunn, Nada Despotovich, Spencer Breslin,...

It’s time for a new episode of our Revisited video series, and in this one we’re looking back at one of the horror films Jamie Lee Curtis starred in immediately after the success of Halloween: the 1980 slasher Prom Night (which can be viewed on Amazon Prime at This Link). To find out all about Prom Night, check out the video embedded above.

Directed by Paul Lynch from a screenplay by William Gray (who was working from a story by Robert Guza Jr.), Prom Night has the following synopsis: This slasher movie follows a relentless killer who is out to avenge the death of a young girl who died after being bullied and teased by four of her classmates. Now high-school students, the guilt-ridden kids have kept their involvement a secret, but when they start being murdered, one by one, it’s clear that someone knows the truth. Also...

Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at [email protected].

Elvira: Mistress of the Dark by Nikos Bogris

The Green Ranger by CarlosDattoliArt

Knives Out by Jack Gregory

Metal Gear Solid by Patrick Fowler

Namor by Rux Dardiror

Planes Trains and Automobiles...

It’s time for a new episode of our Revisited video series, and with this one we’re looking back at a film that been disturbing and terrifying viewers for over thirty years now. It’s the 1989 Stephen King adaptation Pet Sematary (watch it Here), and you can find out what we had to say about it by checking out the video embedded above!

Based on King’s 1983 novel, Pet Sematary was directed by Mary Lambert from a screenplay King wrote himself. The film has the following synopsis:

Doctor Louis Creed moves his family to Maine, where he meets a friendly local named Jud Crandall. After the Creeds’ cat is accidentally killed, Crandall advises Louis to bury it in the ground near the old pet cemetery. The cat returns to life, its personality changed for the worse. When Louis’ son, Gage, dies tragically, Louis decides to bury the boy’s...

Would you like to know more?

After hanging with two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon to praise the camp classic Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, we got a bit more abstract with the ethereal noir-ish antics of Jennifer Reeder’s Knives and Skin. This week, we’re delving into Paul Verhoeven‘s not-so-secret satire Starship Troopers in celebration of its 25th anniversary!

Set in the 23rd century, the film follows the exploits of “teenager” Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien) and his friends while serving in the military under the Earth world government, the United Citizen Federation (aka a fascist regime). Humanity’s exploration and colonization of outer space brings them into conflict with an alien species, known as Arachnids, leading to an interstellar war.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud,...

Déjà Vu!

We’ve spent spooky season checking in with an infamous psychopathic bisexual, revisiting a horrendous slasher sequel and heaping all the praise on one of the best genre films of the 2010s. Now, we’re celebrating Halloween by heading to the quaint, puritanical town of Fallwell to hang with Elvira in James Signorelli‘s camp classic Elvira: Mistress of the Dark!

In the film, horror movie hostess Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) quits her job and plans to open a show in Las Vegas. The only problem is she needs 50,000 to finance it! Luckily(?) for Elvira, her dear Aunt Morgana has taken a turn for the worse and…died, leaving Elvira her house, her dog and her recipe book. But when Elvira heads to the town of Fallwell in an attempt to sell the house, she learns that the town’s puritanical residents, led by the overly prudish Chastity Pariah...

Masterclass

It’s not every day that your podcast hits 200 episodes or gets a brand new logo, so it’s been a big week for Trace and me over at Horror Queers.

We’ve had an incredibly busy October on the pod, what with an extended conversation with Don Mancini about the last 30+ years of the Chucky franchise, a discussion about biphobia and Paul Verhoeven’s classic Erotic Thriller Basic Instinct, and our (now annual) check-in on David Gordon Green’s Halloween trilogy, Halloween Kills.

For our 200th episode, we wanted a special, perfect 5-star film, so we knew we had to go with Karyn Kusama‘s The Invitation (2015). In the film, grieving Will (Logan Marshall-Green) and his new girlfriend Kira (Emayatzy Corinealdi) attend a dinner in the Hollywood Hills at the behest of his ex, Eden (Tammy Blanchard) and her new boyfriend, David (Michiel Huisman).

But something’s off:...

Her name’s Elvira, but you can call her tonight–or Cassandra Peterson, her real name. Peterson, who gained popularity as the busty, double entendre-spitting Elvira, has revealed that there may be life for the character, even after she retires.

In a new interview with Variety, Peterson said, “I think I will retire, but I do not think that Elvira will ever retire. Elvira can completely go on without me even if I die, which I will at some point, I think the character will continue to be around. I think it can kind of be like Santa Claus is to Christmas.”

However, Cassandra Peterson isn’t so sure somebody could physically play Elvira for longer than a short stint. “If I did a biopic or, say, a Broadway production. I think somebody else could definitely play me. But I don’t think that they would permanently become Elvira. Unfortunately,...

It’s time for a new episode of our Revisited video series, and with this one we’re taking a moment to pay tribute to one of the most iconic horror hosts of all time, Elvira. The movie we’re covering is the 1988 horror comedy Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (watch it Here) – the Halloween season seemed like a perfect time to show Elvira some love – and you can find out all about it in the embed above!

Directed by James Signorelli from a screenplay written by Sam Egan, John Paragon, and Cassandra Peterson (a.k.a. Elvira herself), Elvira: Mistress of the Dark has the following synopsis:

The late night TV scream queen of horror makes her debut as a movie star in this manic comedy that is full of laughs. The mega-busted terror queen descends descends upon a conservative Massachusetts town to sell her late aunt’s estate.

The word "icon" gets thrown around a lot these days when talking about our pop culture faves, but absolutely no one on planet Earth would dare deny the iconic status of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Performed by the brilliant Cassandra Peterson, the Elvira character was first introduced in 1981 as the horror host of the show "Movie Macabre." The success and popularity of the character allowed Peterson to star in a feature film based on the character, the aptly titled "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark." In the years since Elvira burst onto the scene, she's become a sexy, spooky, empire. Monster kids...

The post Elvira Once Planned to Make an Elvira Goes to Hell Movie appeared first on /Film.

To many, Elvira is the horror hostess who gained notoriety in the 1980s with that signature fitted black dress, raven black nails and stark red lips. To her friends and family, she is simply Cassandra Peterson.

As Elvira, Peterson served as the Mistress of the Dark for four decades, starring in dozens of B-movies and portraying her alter ago on many TV shows. But behind the makeup, Peterson was guarding something very close to her heart — her sexuality. “I was scared that by coming out earlier, I could do some serious damage to my career,” she admits.

Peterson revealed all in her 2021 memoir, “Yours Cruelly, Elvira,” detailing her 20-year relationship with a woman while labeling herself as sexually fluid. The hesitation in talking about her personal life came from having seen many good friends come out — only to have their careers end up in tatters. When asked, she won’t name names,...

Digital Release Announced for So Vam: "Distribution Solutions, a division of Alliance Entertainment, announces the Digital release of Mutiny Pictures’ So Vam coming June 21, 2022. The queer horror is impressively co-written, produced, and directed by then 16-year-old Alice Maio Mackay, a young trans filmmaker in her feature debut!

Kurt is a high school outcast in a conservative town who dreams of moving to the city to be a famous drag queen. When he is kidnapped by a predatory old vampire and attacked, he is rescued just in time by a gang of rebellious vampires who feed on bigots and abusers. As a

vampire, he finally knows empowerment and belonging. However, his killer is still out there, creating new minions with their own rotten

hatred and threatening all that he loves. Until Kurt faces the monster, he will never truly be free. But, this time, he need not face it alone.

The...

“A tribute to midnight cinema that wears its influenceson its red-soaked sleeve.” — Screen Anarchy

Following a world premiere at the San Francisco International Film Festival and a limited theatrical run in 2010, Peaches Christ’s All About Evil disappeared underground for years, becoming the stuff of legend. Now, the demented, blood-splattered classic is back for good, courtesy of a June 10th special edition Blu-ray release from Severin Films and a North American streaming release on Shudder June 13th. Here’s the trailer:

To celebrate, Peaches Christ herself will present the film at “Peaches Christ 4-d Screenings” along the West Coast, including the Los Feliz 3 in Los Angeles on June 9 and the Victoria Theater in San Francisco on June 11 where the film was shot. Fans in Los Angeles can also attend a Blu-ray signing event at Dark Delicacies on June 12 with Peaches Christ and members of the cast.

All About Evil combines...

You probably clicked this article because you're already familiar with the combination of creepiness, cleavage, and camp that makes up legendary horror icon Elvira, so let's just hop right into the fun facts. As the headline states, the opening scene of the 1988 comedy horror film "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark" features the titular vixen herself driving away from a fiery gas station explosion. The explosion is caused partially by Elvira's own ineptitude at safely replacing the gas pump after use, and partially by the gas station attendant's carelessness when it comes to discarding the cigarette he was...

The post The Opening of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark Was More a Little More Explosive Than Expected appeared first on /Film.

Happy Friday, everyone! This time last week, we celebrated the amazing independent horror films that were released throughout the 1970s, so it only makes sense that we shift our focus today to all the great indie genre movies and moviemakers that helped make the ’80s one of the most unforgettable decades in horror.

Much like the 1970s, we saw a handful of eventual Masters of Horror establish themselves as genre storytellers on the indie side of things throughout the ’80s. On the East Coast, we saw an explosion of creativity come out of New York City with filmmakers such as William Lustig, Frank Henenlotter, Larry Fessenden, and Troma’s Lloyd Kaufman making their feature debuts in the world of horror during the ’80s. And even though Troma Entertainment was founded in 1974, the company really came into its own during the 1980s as well. The indie studio founded by the aforementioned...

Sporting a powerful slate of new shows at MipTV, Studiocanal, owned by Vivendi’s Canal Plus, has announced what it describes as a “substantial” distribution deal with U.S. streaming service MHz Networks.

The deal features banner Canal Plus Creation Originale series “UFOs” and “Paris Police” as well as a modern classic, the pay TV’s groundbreaking premium crime drama “Spiral.”

Covering VOD and home entertainment rights, the licensing agreement takes in Season 1 and the brand new Season 2 of “UFOs,” which is part of Studiocanal’s MipTV’s sales slate, led by “Django,” starring Matthias Schoenaerts and Noomi Rapace and Canneseries official selection title “Infiniti.”

The sales also include Season 1 and Season 2, now in production, of large-scale period crime drama “Paris Police” and the renewal of the entire eight seasons of the multiple award-winning “Spiral.” Series will be made available to MHz Networks’ viewers across North America.

A retro French...

What's the next best thing to making a visit to the set of "The Munsters?" How about a photo tour of the set, courtesy of Rob Zombie?

You've met the cast of Zombie's upcoming film, led by Jeff Daniel Phillips, Sheri Moon Zombie, and Daniel Roebuck — as Herman, Lily, and Grandpa Munster, respectively. You've also had your first look at Cassandra Peterson, shorn of her usual "Elvira: Mistress of the Dark" makeup, as Barbara Carr, the #1 real estate agent in all of Mockingbird Heights. Now, get ready to climb out of the coffin and take a quick tour of 1313 Mockingbird Lane with the slide...

The post Rob Zombie Has Some Fresh Photos From Inside The Munsters' 1313 Mockingbird Lane appeared first on /Film.

Dallas Frazier, the songwriter behind such country hits as The Oak Ridge Boys’ “Elvira,” The Hollywood Argyles’ “Alley Oop” and Emmylou Harris’ “Beneath Still Waters,” has died, according to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s CEO Kyle Young. He was 82.

“Dallas Frazier is among the greatest country songwriters of all time. He could convey infectious fun with ‘Elvira,’ and then write something as stunningly sad and true as ‘Beneath Still Waters.’ His songs helped Connie Smith to become a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame,” said Young in a statement published the Country Music Hall of Fame’s official website. “He was a man of kindness, generosity and faith, who overcame a hardscrabble upbringing to offer smiling gifts to all of us. He lived a beautiful life of a beautiful mind.”

Born in Spiro, Oklahoma on October 27, 1939, Frazier released albums throughout his career including Elvira,...

Actress Cassandra Peterson, who is best known for playing ‘Elvira: Mistress of the Dark’ in the 1988 comedy horror by the same name, has claimed that a movie on her life is currently in the works, adding that she would love to see Dolly Parton play the lead role. She said: “There’s a biopic, with […]...

Hello, everyone! Today’s installment of Daily Dead’s 2021 Holiday Gift Guide is all about the books—from fiction to non-fiction to graphic novels and comics, as well as reading material perfect for all the little monsters out there. There have been a lot of excellent book releases throughout 2021, and here’s a look at more than 50 different titles that would be a perfect gift for the genre fan in your life (or maybe you’re doing a little shopping for yourself—that’s totally cool), regardless of their age.

Full disclosure: I recently had my latest book published in October and have included it in this list. I just thought it was important to mention that so it didn’t look like I was trying to be completely self-serving with this edition of Daily Dead’s Gift Guide.

Happy Shopping!

Non-fiction:

Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of...

Though I was lucky enough to have seen the original Elvira film, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, in theatres, the second adventure of the "Mistress of the Dark" escaped me in the early 2000s. Thankfully, Scream Factory (Shout! Factory's rad horror imprint) has us all covered with their brand-new restoration of Elvira's Haunted Hills. The million-dollar production was filmed in Romania, where the money went far and where local crew built some incredible interior sets. As I watched Elvira's Haunted Hills, I discovered that the film was a spoof on the beloved Edgar Allan Poe adaptations by Roger Corman, starring Vincent Price --- particularly House of Usher, The Tomb of Ligeia, and The Pit and the Pendulum --- with a healthy dash of humor ala Young Frankenstein. [There's a particular...

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

Happy October, dear readers! The Halloween season officially kicks off today, and to get you in the spirit and help you along as you start to make your movie-viewing plans for the month, I thought I’d go ahead and scour the extensive horror offerings on Tubi to find 31 movies that should get you ready for all things All Hallows’ Eve. For this list, I went ahead and focused on movies that were either centered around the Halloween holiday, feature October 31st in some fashion, or are films that are essential watches for me every Halloween season as they give off some supremely spooky vibes. And the best thing about these movies? They’re all free to stream on Tubi, which should help with your seasonal budgets.

Check out our rundown of these 31 killer horror titles below, and be sure to check back right here on Daily Dead throughout the...

There’s no better way to celebrate the spooky season than with Elvira, the queen of Halloween. The “Mistress of the Dark” is hosting a one-night, four-film marathon on Shudder as part of Elvira’s 40th Anniversary, Very Scary Very Special Special on Shudder. The evening will see the ever-so-lively Cassandra Peterson come full-circle, as she revisits a similar format to that of her beloved late-night television series, Elvira’s Movie Macabre. The show premiered in 1981 out of the CBS affiliate in Los Angeles, bringing “B” horror and science fiction to the forefront. Over the years, Peterson became a pop culture icon with appearances on various TV shows, spinoffs, and merchandise licensing bonanza. In 1988, she starred in her own movie, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, which is part of the streamer’s lineup. Rounding out this frightful good time will be old school classics House on Haunted Hill, The City of the Dead,...

Drop Dead Diva is being resurrected by CBS: The Eye network is developing a gender-swapped reboot of the Lifetime dramedy, according to our sister site Deadline.

The hour-long reboot, titled Drop Dead Dave, centers on a self-involved Gen Z lawyer named Dave who dies in a freak accident “and his soul is transferred into the body of Rita, a successful but complicated Gen X attorney, forcing Dave to live as a woman and navigate an entirely new perspective on life, love and identity,” per the official synopsis.

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