Notizie

Doug Jones is one of the modern era's most accomplished monster actors, having embodied inhuman creatures in films like Hocus Pocus, Pan's Labyrinth, and The Shape of Water. He was inspired by one of the most iconic horror actors of all time: Boris Karloff. While discussing his career at a panel at this year's Atl Comics Convention in Atlanta, moderated by Collider's Maggie Lovitt, Jones talked about the film that inspired his legendary performances.

Although Jones' first love was comedy, he credited a classic monster movie with inspiring his eventual transformation into one of modern cinema's most accomplished boogeymen:

"My first monster movie, in Indianapolis, Indiana, was a late-night Friday show hosted by Sammy Terry. [laughs maniacally] And it was The Mummy, with Boris Karloff. So watching that movie and the effect those haunting eyes of his had on me, and how he affected the head-to-toe performance that we're talking about.

Neca‘s 12th series of Toony Terrors toys features four more Universal Monsters.

The Phantom of the Opera, The Invisible Man, Bride of Frankenstein, and Creature from the Black Lagoon are modeled in the style of classic Saturday morning cartoons.

The Phantom comes with two interchangeable heads. Invisible Man comes with two interchangeable heads, potion, and bag. The Bride comes with two interchangeable heads. Creature comes with a fossilized hand.

Each 6″ scale figure is individually packaged on a blister card with a cutout backdrop.

Shipping in August, the set of four is available to pre-order for $74.99.

Lon Chaney originated the role of The Phantom of the Opera. Claude Rains portrayed The Invisible Man. Elsa Lanchester came alive as Bride of Frankenstein. Creature from the Black Lagoon was played by Ben Chapman on land and by Ricou Browning underwater.

The post Neca’s ‘Toony Terrors’ Series 12 Includes 4 Universal Monsters appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!

Fright-Rags has added three Universal Monsters to its mini mask line: Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and Creature from the Black Lagoon.

Sculpted by John Tatarelli Jr., the vintage-inspired vacuform plastic masks are approximately 5.5″ tall and 4″ wide — about half the size of a classic mask.

They’re packaged in retro-style display boxes designed by Kyle Crawford that measure 6.75″ high, 5.5″ wide, and 2.75″ deep.

Each limited edition collectible costs $20.

Boris Karloff stomped into the role of The Monster in 1931’s Frankenstein, Lon Chaney Jr. transformed for the part of Larry Talbot in 1941’s The Wolfman, and the Gill Man in 1954’s Creature from the Black Lagoon was played by Ben Chapman on land and by Ricou Browning underwater.

The post ‘Frankenstein,’ ‘Wolf Man,’ ‘Creature from the Black Lagoon’ Get Mini Masks from Fright-Rags appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Mondo has launched pre-orders for a Creature from the Black Lagoon 1:6 scale figure.

Standing 13″ tall, Gill-man includes swappable pieces to recreate the monster’s look from Revenge of the Creature as well.

Designed by Beto Matali (who also sculpted), Hector Arce, and Peter Santa-Maria, the figure features a premium, seamless body design with ultra-realistic textures and details.

It’s stuffed to the gills with accessories: three interchangeable heads, two interchangeable chest pieces (Creature and Revenge), four interchangeable hands, creature fossil hand, harpoon gun with stand, chain with shackle, upper torso base stand, and environmental base with snake and turtle.

Priced at $275, the timed edition collectible is available through March 21. It’s estimated to ship in November.

In the 1954 Universal monster classic, Gill-man was played by Ben Chapman on land and by Ricou Browning underwater.

The post Mondo’s ‘Creature from the Black Lagoon’ 1:6 Scale Figure Is Stuffed to...

A late addition to the Universal Monsters canon, Jack Arnold's "Creature from the Black Lagoon" was released in 1954, a full 23 years after the premiere of Tod Browning's classic adaptation of "Dracula" starring Bela Lugosi.

Some might argue that the Universal Monsters had already established itself with "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" (1915), "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1923), and "The Phantom of the Opera" (1925), but I feel it wasn't until Carl Laemmle Jr. took over the monster arm of Universal in 1931 that the canon would officially form. Within the next 15 years, Universal would churn out 25 monster movies that existed within the same continuity, making it the Marvel Cinematic Universe of its day. Indeed, just like in the MCU, the characters frequently met one another in epic crossover films like "House of Frankenstein" and "House of Dracula."

"Creature from the Black Lagoon" came when the classic Monster canon was more or...

Acclaimed horror director James Wan is reportedly in discussions to helm a remake of the 1954 film “Creature from the Black Lagoon.” If finalized, the project would mark Universal Pictures’ newest effort to revive its iconic monster franchises for modern audiences.

The original movie, directed by Jack Arnold, tells the story of scientists who discover an ancient aquatic humanoid in the Amazon River. Featuring groundbreaking 3D effects and practical creature costumes, “Creature from the Black Lagoon” is considered foundational to the horror genre.

Wan, known for hits like “Saw,” “The Conjuring,” and “Insidious,” brings considerable experience directing horror films. However, faithfully adapting the iconic Gill-man monster poses challenges. The original practical effects and performances by Ben Chapman and Ricou Browning made the Gill-man viscerally terrifying. Some worry a remake may over-rely on computer-generated imagery (CGI), harming its tactile essence.

One example the remake could follow is 2017’s “The Shape of Water,...

James Wan's remake of Creature From The Black Lagoon should utilize a mix of practical effects and CGI. The Shape of Water successfully combined practical effects and CGI for its creature design. Using black-and-white visuals in the remake would enhance the eerie and scary ambiance of Creature From The Black Lagoon.

James Wan is in talks to remake the horror classic Creature From The Black Lagoon, and for it to work, it should take note of one trick from one of Guillermo del Toros best movies. In 1954, the monster horror movie Creature From The Black Lagoon was released. Directed by Jack Arnold, Creature From The Black Lagoon was filmed and shown in 3D, making it a more immersive experience and standing out from other monster movies at the time. Creature From The Black Lagoon is now a horror classic and has been the inspiration for many horror movies.

Creature From The Black Lagoon...

After merging his Atomic Monster film and TV production company with Jason Blum's Blumhouse Productions earlier this year, James Wan looks to have finally set his next movie to direct, a remake of the 1954 monster horror film Creature From the Black Lagoon. More on this upcoming movie and Wan's potential involvement below.

Many people might recognize Wan as the creator of the highly successful The Conjuring Universe. He's also the co-creator of other successful horror franchises, such as the Saw franchise and the Insidious film series. But while he's been signed on as producer or executive producer on recent projects, he hasn't sat in the director's chair since 2023's Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Now, it's been reported that he's in early talks to direct a Creature From the Black Lagoon remake for Atomic Monster and Universal Pictures. He will reportedly produce the film through his Atomic Monster production company,...

1954's "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" was the last gasp of Universal Pictures' black-and-white horror heyday. Pivoting away from literary adaptations towards something more resembling contemporary man-in-suit monster movies, "Black Lagoon" introduced one last staple of the Universal Monster line-up: The Gill-man. A missing link in the evolutionary chain, the amphibian man has the same mix of terror and lovelorn pathos as his monstrous brethren.

It's not quite the pop-culture staple that "Dracula" and "Frankenstein" are, but "The Creature From The Black Lagoon" has been reimagined many times (most famously in 2017 with Guillermo del Toro's Best Picture-winning oddball romance "The Shape of Water" — it was almost black-and-white like "Black Lagoon" too). Now a new comic book starring the Gill-Man comes forth from Skybound Entertainment, boasting a title that belongs to a forgotten Universal Horror picture: "The Creature From The Black Lagoon Lives!"

Skybound isn't just revitalizing "The Transformers" and "G.I. Joe.

Plunging into the shadowy waters of cinematic history, Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) emerges not just as a film but as a phenomenon that has captivated the imaginations of horror enthusiasts and film buffs alike for seven decades. Celebrating its 70-year legacy, this masterpiece has swum far beyond its origins, securing a revered spot in the heart of monster movie lore.

As we dive deeper, we’re embarking on a journey through time, revisiting the ingenious craft and visionary storytelling that have made the Gill-man a beloved icon of horror. This retrospective aims to unearth the secrets behind the movie’s creation, its groundbreaking achievements, and the enduring fascination it holds. Let’s submerge ourselves in the murky depths where the Creature lurks, to rediscover the magic that makes Creature from the Black Lagoon a timeless treasure of the horror genre.

Universal Diving Into the Depths: The Origin Story

Creature from the Black Lagoon...

Clockwise from bottom left: Friday The 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (Screenshot: Paramount Pictures/YouTube); Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth (Screenshot: Dimension Films/YouTube); A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (Screenshot: New Line Cinema); Halloween 2018 (Photo: Universal Pictures)Graphic: Rebecca Fassola

When you think of what makes a great horror movie,...

Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI, and sign up for our weekly email newsletter by clicking here.REMEMBERINGInauguration of the Pleasure Dome.Kenneth Anger has died at the age of 96, as reported this morning by his gallery. "Anger forged a body of work as dazzlingly poetic in its unique visual intensity as it is narratively innovative," wrote Maximilian Le Cain of the pioneering avant-gardist (and devoted occultist) for Senses of Cinema. "Anger’s films are cinematic manifestations of his occult practices. As such, they are highly symbolical, either featuring characters directly portraying gods, forces and demons or else finding an appropriate embodiment for them in the iconography of contemporary pop culture."The Austrian actor Helmut Berger died last week aged 78. He was best known as Luchino Visconti’s muse, unforgettable in The Damned (1969), Ludwig (1973), and Conversation Piece (1974). Among his additional...

Announced this week, Neca’s incredible line of Universal Monsters action figures is getting a new arrival with the addition of The Creature from the Black Lagoon later this year.

Neca previews, “The debut of Universal’s 1954 film The Creature from the Black Lagoon took audiences deep into the Amazon! This 7” scale Ultimate action figure depicts the mysterious and terrifying Creature in extraordinary detail.”

The upcoming figure comes with three extra pairs of hands, and three interchangeable head sculpts. As always, it’ll be housed in display-friendly window box packaging.

In the 1954 classic, “A strange prehistoric beast lurks in the depths of the Amazonian jungle. A group of scientists try to capture the animal and bring it back to civilization for study.”

You can expect Neca’s Creature in August 2023. The figure serves as a wonderful tribute piece to Creature performer Ricou Browning, who passed away earlier this year.

Preview the upcoming action figure below…...

Following the exciting announcement that Tony Todd will be a guest of honor at this year's Salem Horror Fest, the full lineup for the anticipated festival has now been revealed, including the new documentary Satan Wants You and retrospective screenings of Fright Night: Part II, The Fog (1980), The Blood on Satan's Claw, and more!

Exclusively announced on Fangoria, you can check out the full lineup of films and events for this year's Salem Horror Fest on their official website, and we also have the official press release with additional details:

Press Release: Salem Ma - March 13, 2023 - Named by MovieMaker Magazine as one of the “best genre festivals in the world,” Salem Horror Fest has announced the full lineup for their sixth annual presentation, which kicks off on Thursday, April 20, and runs through Sunday, April 30.

The official program begins with a featured showcase of Satan Wants You, a new documentary...

Every year the “In Memoriam” tribute at the Oscars leaves off a few fan favorites and 2023 was no exception: Among those who weren’t included in Sunday night’s video montage were Anne Heche, “Saving Private Ryan” star Tom Sizemore and Charlbi Dean, who appeared in this year’s Best Picture nominee “Triangle of Sadness.”

Fans also noted the absence of Cindy Williams: While she was best known for the ’70s TV sitcom “Laverne & Shirley,” she notably appeared in two classic films of the era, George Lucas’ “American Graffiti” and Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Conversation.”

And while the tribute included “Goodfellas” star Ray Liotta, who died unexpectedly on May 26, 2022, his costar Paul Sorvino, who died in July 2022, was left out.

Also Read:

Celebrity Deaths in 2023: Hollywood Stars We’ve Lost This Year (Photos)

Also missing from the tribute: two-time Oscar nominee Melinda Dillon of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,...

Jay Weston, who was working as a publicist when a chance meeting with Billie Holiday at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival would lead to the producing of her 1972 biopic Lady Sings the Blues, died February 28 of natural causes at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, CA. He was 93.

His death was announced by spokesperson Jeff Sanderson on behalf of the Weston family.

Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries Related Story Ricou Browning Dies: 'Creature From The Black Lagoon's Gill-man Was 93 Related Story Brett Radin Dies: Talent Manager With Knitting Factory Management Was 53

A prominent restaurant critic later in life, Weston’s show business career in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s was marked by such high points as producing Billy Wilder’s last film, Chu Chu and the Philly Flash with Carol Burnett and Alan Arkin, W.C. Fields...

Ricou Browning, the underwater stuntman who portrayed the Gill-man in the 1954 horror classic Creature trom the Black Lagoon and its sequels and went on to co-produce the dolphin tale Flipper for both the big screen and television, died quietly Sunday of natural causes at his home in Southwest Ranches, Fl. He was 93.

His son Ricou Browning Jr, who works as a marine coordinator for film and TV productions, confirmed his father’s death to Deadline.

Related Story Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2023: Photo Gallery & Obituaries Related Story Brett Radin Dies: Talent Manager With Knitting Factory Management Was 53 Related Story Gordon Pinsent Dies: Iconic Canadian Actor In Film And Television Was 92

Considered to be the last surviving original actor to portray any of the Universal Classic Monsters, Florida native Browning studied physical education at Florida State University before landing a job in the 1940s at Wakulla Springs, a scenic park that...

Ricou Browning, the actor, stuntman and diver whose work in the 1954 sci-fi classic “Creature From the Black Lagoon” launched his career as an expert water-based filmmaker, died less than two weeks after his 93rd birthday, his son Ricou Browning Jr. confirmed to TheWrap on Tuesday.

The diver, who legend has it could hold his breath for up to four minutes at a time, landed the iconic role in 1953 after being asked by a film crew to help scout locations at Wakulla Springs Florida for the Universal monster film. He was already performing underwater newsreels shot at the tourist spot.

“Their cameraman asked if I could swim in front of the cameras so they could get the perspective of the size of a human being against the fish and the grass. So I did,” he told the Hartford Courant in 2016. Ben Chapman portrayed the Creature – also known as Gill Man – on land,...

Ricou Browning, who is best known for his playing the underwater version of Gill-man in Creature From the Black Lagoon, has died at the age of 93. Released in 1954, Creature from the Black Lagoon is directed by Jack Arnold and tells the story of a group of scientists who discover an amphibious humanoid in the depths of the Amazon jungle. The success of the film ultimately spawned two sequels, including Revenge of the Creature in 1955 and The Creature Walks Among Us in 1956, both of which also featured Browning as Gill-man during underwater sequences.

As reported by Bloody Disgusting, Browning, who was the last surviving actor to have portrayed any of the classic Universal Monsters, has sadly passed away at the age of 93. In addition to his work in Creature of the Black Lagoon, Browning also served as a marine action coordinator on Thunderball (1965) and Never Say Never Again (1983). Throughout his career,...

There’s sad news to report this evening, as it has been announced that Ricou Browning – who was the last surviving actor to have played a classic Universal Monster, since he portrayed the Gill-Man in the underwater scenes in all three entries of the Creature from the Black Lagoon trilogy; Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954), Revenge of the Creature (1955), and The Creature Walks Among Us (1956) – has passed away at the age of 93. The Hollywood Reporter notes that his daughter Kim confirmed he passed away yesterday, just eleven days after his birthday.

Born in Fort Pierce, Florida on February 16, 1930, Browning started his career in the entertainment industry by working in water shows at tourist attractions and performing in underwater newsreels. When Gill-Man scenes were being filmed for Creature from the Black Lagoon in Florida, the crew chose Browning to play the swimming creature because he was a strong swimmer and could...

Ricou Browning, who took to the water as the menacing Gill-Man in the Creature From the Black Lagoon and as the creative force behind the original Flipper movie and TV show, has died. He was 93.

Browning died Monday of natural causes at his home in Southwest Ranches, Florida, his daughter Kim Browning told The Hollywood Reporter. “He had a fabulous career in the film industry, providing wonderful entertainment for past and future generations,” she said.

The Florida native also served as a stuntman on Richard Fleischer’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), doubled for Jerry Lewis in Don’t Give Up the Ship (1959) and “played all the bad guys in [TV’s] Sea Hunt,” he said in a 2013 interview.

Plus, Browning directed the harpoon-filled fight in Thunderball (1965), another underwater scene in Never Say Never Again (1983) and the hilarious Jaws-inspired candy bar-in-the-pool sequence in Caddyshack (1980).

Browning, who said he could routinely hold his...

We’ve lost another true legend in the world of horror. Bloody Disgusting has learned today that Ricou Browning, known for playing the titular Creature from the Black Lagoon in Universal’s original 1954 horror classic, has passed away this week at the age of 93.

Ricou Browning played the Gill-Man for the film’s extensive underwater sequences, and he subsequently reprised the iconic role in the sequels Revenge of the Creature (1955) and The Creature Walks Among Us (1956).

An underwater cinematographer and stuntman, Ricou Browning was uniquely equipped to play the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and he went on to direct the underwater sequences in films including Thunderball (1965), Hello Down There (1969), Caddyshack (1980), and Never Say Never Again (1983). Browning made his directorial debut with 1973’s sea lion movie Salty, and he notably also co-created the classic “Flipper” franchise. Browning later directed the movie Mr. No Legs (1978), centered on a man with shotguns built into his wheelchair.

The Universal monsters are arguably the most classic and iconic of all horror cinema's spooky creations. Whether you're a fan of Bela Lugosi's Dracula or Lon Chaney Jr.'s Wolfman, there is a monster for everyone. If you're the kind of person who enjoys a good beach day, then there's a decent chance that the monster that suits your fancy is none other than the highly misunderstood Gill-Man who makes his first appearance in Jack Arnold's 1954 flick, "Creature from the Black Lagoon." The movie tells the story of a group of scientists trying to locate the rest of a mysterious fossilized skeleton that has been discovered in the Amazon. As they make their way down the river towards the Black Lagoon, they are unaware that an amphibious creature is stalking their every move. The Creature, often known to the film's many fans as the Gill-Man, develops a fascination (or love?...

Throughout the 1930s, Hollywood studios made multiple acclaimed films about American and British colonists trekking into the wilds of faraway countries in order to hunt the land's game, steal the country's resources, and abuse the locals for their own gain. Films like W.S. Van Dyke's 1931 film "Trader Horn" and Henry Hathaway's 1935 opus "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer" were even nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. The prevailing attitude in Hollywood appeared to be that distant "exotic" countries were there to be conquered. Even "King Kong" was about attempted mastery over the wild world.

By 1954, however, attitudes had changed, as reflected in Jack Arnold's excellent monster movie "Creature from the Black Lagoon." By then, the jungles of the Amazon had become a forbidding place, a place that was beyond mastery. When trekking deep up the river to the titular Black Lagoon, a team of explorers...

Creepshow showrunner and The Walking Dead EP Greg Nicotero wants to reboot Creature from the Black Lagoon with director Robert Rodriguez. Following the success of Leigh Whannell's take on The Invisible Man, Universal has put forth plans to reboot some of their other baddies from the classic Universal Monsters movies. That includes a Wolf Man movie with Ryan Gosling and a Dracula reboot with a sci-fi twist.

At this time, there are currently no plans at Universal to bring the Gill-man back to the big screen, but it might just be a matter of time. If and when the Creature from the Black Lagoon reboot happens, Greg Nicotero wants to be involved as such a tremendous fan of the original movie. In fact, he's already had discussions with Robert Rodriguez about the potential project, as revealed in a recent interview with ComicBook.com.

"I think for any creature, monster kid,...

Lori Nelson, the 1950s starlet who was kidnapped by an amphibious monster in Revenge of the Creature and portrayed Barbara Stanwyck’s younger daughter in Douglas Sirk’s All I Desire, has died. She was 87.

Nelson had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for several years and died Sunday at her home in the Porter Ranch section of Los Angeles, her daughter Jennifer Mann said.

In Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair (1952) and Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki (1955), Nelson played Rosie Kettle, one of the daughters of the characters played by Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride in the Universal series of films.

Nelson also made her mark in I Died a Thousand Times (1955), a remake of the Humphrey Bogart classic High Sierra in which she portrayed the club-footed love interest of Jack Palance’s crook; Pardners (1956), working opposite Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in their penultimate film together...

Some very sad news has been making its way around the web and we held off on reporting it in the hopes that it wasn’t true but it’s been confirmed that Julie Adams of Creature From the Black Lagoon has passed away at 92. The news comes from Ricou Browning, who was the Gill-man in […] The post Rest in Peace: Creature From The Black Lagoon’s Julie Adams Has Passed Away appeared first on Dread Central.

One of the most exciting genre celebrations in recent years, the Salem Horror Fest kicks off again this October and Daily Dead is thrilled to be a media sponsor of the 10-day event. Editor-in-Chief Jonathan James will be on hand to host a conversation with George C. Romero (son of legendary filmmaker George A. Romero), Cassandra Peterson will be in attendance for a 30th anniversary screening of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, and it's now been revealed that Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween will also screen at the festival.

Tickets are up for the Goosebumps 2 screening can be ordered now at Salem Horror Fest's official website. Stay tuned to Daily Dead for more updates on the Salem Horror Fest, catch up on our previous coverage of the festival, and read the latest press release below for more information:

Press Release: Salem, Ma - Salem Horror Fest returns with the 30th anniversary screening of Elvira,...

It’s controversy in the Black Lagoon! Universal releases a much-desired box of all three Gill Man epics — but goes cheap on the encoding and hands us a 3-D rendering of Revenge of the Creature at half-resolution. When is a Blu-ray not a Blu-ray? When it’s not even full HD. And all that after commissioning a state-of-the-art 4k 3-D video remaster!

Creature From the Black Lagoon: Complete Legacy Collection

Creature from the Black Lagoon (3-D + 2-D), Revenge of the Creature (3-D) + 2-D, The Creature Walks Among Us (2-D)

Blu-ray

Universal Studios Home Entertainment

1954-1956 / B&W / 1:85 widescreen / 79, 82, 78 min. / Street Date August 28, 2018 / 39.98

Starring: Julie Adams, Lori Nelson, Leigh Snowden, Nestor Paiva, Richard Carlson, Jeff Morrow, John Agar, Rex Reason, Richard Denning, John Bromfield, Jeff Morrow, Greg Palmer…

and as the Gill Man: Ricou Browning, Ben Chapman, Don Megowan, others.

Cinematography: William E. Snyder; Charles S. Welbourne; Maury Gertsman

Film...

It’s funny how much one year can change something as niche as a bizarre subgenre of ’50s monster movies. A year ago, the Crypt of Curiosities kicked off with a piece that touched on tons of different films in the “Gillsploitation” genre, a silly little corner of horror cinema that riffed on Jack Arnold’s classic The Creature from the Black Lagoon to deliver all sorts of bizarre B-movie delights. There were your run of the mill rip-offs, there were Vincent Price films, hell, there were even Japanese monster movies and Italian gore-fests. It was a short-lived, sparsely populated subgenre, and to tell you the truth, I wasn’t expecting there to be any real big Gill-Man films again after Carpenter’s Creature from the Black Lagoon reboot got canned in the ’90s.

And then a little movie called The Shape of Water came out and changed everything. Suddenly,...

Back in 1964 a lot of people still thought dolphins were fish, but by the time this TV show was finished, we all knew that our happy undersea friend was smarter than the average bear and lives in a world full of wonder. Ivan Tors’ grandly successful Florida-shot family show kept a lot of seagoing movie veterans in green seaweed, including both original ‘Creature’ Gill Men.

Flipper, Season One

Blu-ray

Olive Films

1964-65 / Color / 1:33 flat TV / 780 min. / Street Date August 29, 2017 / available through the Olive Films website / 39.95

Starring: Brian Kelly, Luke Halpin, Tommy Norden.

Cinematography: Clifford H. Poland Jr., Lamar Boren

Original Music: Henry Vars, song by

Written by: Jack Cowden, Ricou Browning, Peter L. Dixon, Laird Koenig, Stanley H. Silverman, Orville H. Hampton, Lee Erwin, Art Arthur, Jess Carneol, Key Lenard, Ivan Tors, Alan Caillou, Arthur Richards, Robert Sabaroff.

Produced by Ivan Tors, Ricou Browning, Leon Benson, Andrew Marton

Directed by: Ricou Browning,...

Undoubtedly, one of the most beloved genre movies to come out of 1987 was Fred Dekker’s The Monster Squad, a perfect blend of humor, heart, and affection for the classic monsters so many of us grew up on. And while it may not have done great business at the box office when it was released in August of that year, The Monster Squad has deservedly become a true cult classic, and remains a brilliant gateway horror experience for younger viewers who are just becoming initiated in the ways of genre cinema.

With The Monster Squad’s 30th anniversary nearly upon us, and with our “Class of 1987” celebration currently in full swing, I thought this would make for a splendid opportunity to chat with the actors who put the “Monster” in “The Monster Squad” in the first place: Tom Noonan (“Frankenstein’s Monster”), Duncan Regehr (“Count Dracula”), Tom Woodruff Jr. (“the...

Texas Frightmare Weekend is proud to reveal its 2014 schedule that jam packed with things to do, people to see, and screams to be had! Read on for all of the latest, and if you're gonna be in attendance... consider us officially jealous!

From the Press Release

Just when fans didn't think Texas Frightmare Weekend could get any more epic... it does - in a huge way! America's largest horror convention is proud to announce several new free film screenings, guests, and events to take place at Dallas, Texas' Dfw Hyatt Regency this May 2, 3, and 4 - cementing Tfw's reputation as the biggest and best gathering of horror fandom in the USA!

In addition to our numerous previously-announced free screenings, Tfw is also proud to host the World Premiere of Billy Pon's Circus of the Dead and the North American Premiere of the Japanese splatter anthology Zombie TV - from Maelie Makuno,...

We already told you that George A. Romero will be appearing at Texas Frightmare Weekend, but we have one more exciting piece of new for fans of Dawn of the Dead. The Alamo Drafthouse is teaming up with Texas Frightmare Weekend for a rare screening of the 1978 zombie classic, with George A. Romero, Tom Savini, David Emge, and Scott Reiniger in attendance.

“Texas Frightmare Weekend is teaming up with The Alamo Drafthouse Dallas to screen five classic Frightmare-themed films during the week leading up to this year’s jam-packed 2014 weekend… culminating with a star-studded screening of George Romero’s zombie opus Dawn Of The Dead the night before Frightmare begins!

In 1968, George A. Romero created what would go on to be the modern zombie genre as we know it with Night of the Living Dead. Ten years later, he redefined it with what is widely considered as the zenith of...

Texas Frightmare Weekend is proud to reveal its 2014 poster, created in cooperation with Mondo, America’s finest purveyors of cinematic artwork. Tfw’s 2014 poster celebrates two of this year’s festival’s biggest draws...

...the Hellraiser series and George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead, masterfully combined by iconic horror artist Gary Pullin. A very limited number of only 100 posters will be printed for this year’s convention, making them the show’s hottest collectors item. Available only at the show itself, quantities will be limited to two per customer.

From the Press Release

Texas Frightmare Weekend is back for blood May 2nd through the 4th, offering up more celebrity guests, more vendors, and the continuation of its wildly popular free film screenings to all Tfw passholders! Continuing last year’s partnership, Texas Frightmare Weekend is monstrously proud to re-team with IFC Midnight and present a gruesome twosome of...

With a jam-packed lineup of stars, this year's Texas Frightmare Weekend was already looking to be a must-attend event, and the convention has just gotten a big time upgrade in the form of a partnership with IFC Midnight.

Read on for all the details, which are sure to have you planning a trip to rattlesnake country!

From the Press Release

Texas Frightmare Weekend is back for blood May 2nd through the 4th, offering up more celebrity guests, more vendors, and the continuation of its wildly popular free film screenings to all Tfw passholders! Continuing last year’s partnership, Texas Frightmare Weekend is monstrously proud to re-team with IFC Midnight and present a gruesome twosome of new horror films from two specialists in the genre!

Texas Frightmare Weekend welcomes a stellar duo of hotly anticipated chillers with Ben Ketai’s subterranean terror opus Beneath and Álex de la Iglesia’s epic...

One of the most beloved art/horror fests on the West Coast is Monsterpalooza, which celebrates the "Art of Monsters." The fest will hit Burbank once again on March 28-30. Save the date!

As usual, Monsterpalooza will feature award-winning F/X artists, special presentations, a walk-thru monster museum, and monster-related artwork on display and for sale. The list of celebrity guests is large and impressive. Take a look at whom you can expect to see at this year’s Monsterpalooza.

Special Celebrity Guests From The Genre And Beyond!

Kenji Sahara – War Of The Gargantuas, Destroy All Monsters, Rodan, Godzilla vs The Thing, The Mysterians, King Kong vs Godzilla

Harou Nakajima – Godzilla, Rodan, Destroy All Monsters

Russ Tamblyn – “Twin Peaks”, War Of The Gargantuas

Rutger Hauer – Blade Runner, The Hitcher, “True Blood”

Dee Snider – Twisted Sister, Strangeland, Van Helsing’s Curse

Tippi Hedren – The Birds, Marnie, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”

Nancy Allen – Blow Out,...

When it comes to Texas-based horror conventions, it doesn't get bigger or better than Texas Frightmare Weekend. That being said, it sounds as if things have just gotten a bit bigger! Read on for the details.

From the Press Release

Texas Frightmare Weekend is back, badder than ever, May 2nd through the 4th, offering up more celebrity guests, more vendors, and more amazing tie-ins than ever!

This year Tfw is teaming up with the incredible Alamo Drafthouse Dallas to screen five classic Frightmare-themed films during the week leading up to the festival… culminating with a star-studded secret screening of one of horror’s greatest masterpieces on May 1st!

On April 27th Texas Frightmare Weekend kicks things off in style at Alamo Drafthouse Dallas with a special 3D screening of The Creature from the Black Lagoon, celebrating the classic film’s Sixtieth Anniversary! On the following night they revisit the birth...

 

  Props to our pals at Bloody Disgusting for this sweet find: during the shooting of the Universal monster classic Creature from the Black Lagoon in 1953, Life Magazine sent a photographer to snap a series of promotional images featuring the Gill Man in various threatening poses, including the iconic image of the Creature and his lovely co-star Julia Adams.      Color-corrected by Kerry Gammill, these incredible photos reveal the details of the monster costume in action (most likely, it's Ben Chapman in the suit here, whereas Ricou Browning wore it for the underwater scenes).      You can see the complete set of large images at Gammill's site Gammillustrations (also the home of Monster Kid magazine), along with a link to the unaltered originals.

Mockbusters were around way before The Asylum. The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) and its subsequent sequels Revenge of the Creature (1955) and finally The Creature Walks Among Us (1956) also had an illegitimate cousin.

In 1955 the crew who worked on Jack Arnold's sequel to the seminal Universal classic, entitled Revenge of the Creature, thought it would be fun to produce and shoot their own Creature spoof/knock-off at Florida's Marine Studios. The fruit of their labor was the little known and even littler seen Return of the Creature. The twenty-minute flick was shown at the wrap party for Revenge and never seen again.

Now, after 58 years of speculation as to whether or not this flick actually existed, a researcher named Tom Weaver has uncovered the long lost film, and there are plans to screen it at this year's Monster Bash in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Weaver explains to RoboJapan, "About 15 years ago,...

Multiple monsters, multiple actors. Universal monster movies span over 30 years, and with so many different versions and sequels it’s tough to keep who played who straight. Did Boris Karloff or Tom Tyler play the mummy in The Mummy’s Hand? In how many Creature movies did Ricou Browning star?

This infographic via DeviantArt designer jlyon1515 gives fans a quick reference guide to the men and women behind their favorite monsters.

And since the holidays are coming up, you might want to consider this awesome print for that special Universal monster fan in your life.

She.ll always be best known as Kay Lawrence, the beauty that the Gillman falls in love with the moment he spies her swimming above him in Creature From The Black Lagoon (1954). Mimicking her movements in the water, the Creature performs a lustful underwater mating dance . he.s directly beneath her but she’s unaware of his amorous overtures in the murky depths of the river. It.s a desire most men (and monster kids) could relate to and Julie Adams is the actress who will always be fondly remembered as the .girl in the white one-piece..

Born Betty May Adams and raised near Little Rock Arkansas, Julie was bit by the acting bug early and moved to California to become an actress. She worked as a secretary to support herself and spent her free time taking speech lessons and making the rounds at the various movie studio casting departments.

As James Bond prepares for his 23rd official outing in Skyfall and to mark the 50th Anniversary of one of the most successful movie franchises of all time I have been tasked to take a retrospective look at the films that turned author Ian Fleming’s creation into one of the most recognised and iconic characters in film history.

Ian Fleming died just one month before the release of the third James Bond film, Goldfinger in August 1964. Even though both Dr. No and From Russia With Love had been successful and well received it was not until Goldfinger that James Bond truly became a worldwide phenomenon and it is a tragedy that Fleming never lived to see the full impact his creation had on popular culture.

The story of the fourth James Bond film, Thunderball, is a complicated one that pre-dates the formation of Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman...

By Lee Pfeiffer

Released in 1966, producer Ivan Tors' Around the World Under the Sea seemed at first blush like an exercise in stunt casting: cobble together some contemporary TV favorites into a feature film and have MGM and Tors divvy up the profits. However, that perception would be entirely wrong. While the film did boast some popular TV stars in leading roles, the film itself is an intelligent adventure flick, well acted and very competently directed by old hand Andrew Marton. The film stars Lloyd Bridges (only a few years out of Sea Hunt), Brian Kelly (star of Flipper), Daktari lead Marshall Thompson and Man From U.N.C.L.E. David McCallum. Veteran supporting actors Keenan Wynn and Gary Merrill are also prominently featured and Shirley Eaton, riding her fame from Goldfinger, has the only female role in this macho male storyline.The film is yet another title...

Reader and contributor Gemma St. Clair returns this weekend with a new list of horror trivia:

1. Halloween II: This is Dana Carvey’s film debut. Keep an eye out for the guy in a blue vest talking to a reporter.

2. Maximum Overdrive: The main truck’s head is based on Marvel Comic’s Green Goblin.

3. The Cell: Tarsem Singh also directed the muisc video for R.E.M’s “Losing my Religion”.

4. The Corpse Vanishes: One of Dr. Lorenzs henchman played by Angelo Rossitti also starred in Tod Browning’s Freaks.

5. The Town That Dreaded Sundown: The hooded killer is said to have inspired the look of Jason in Friday the 13th Part 2.

6. Creature From The Black Lagoon: Ricou Browning (Underwater Creature) and Ben Chapman (Above Water Creature) were not credited for their performances as the creature.

7. April Fool’s Day: The film...

Bringing you the best in Independent Horror from Filmmakers around the world. Over 25 films will be screened throughout the weekend. Whether you are a fan of thrillers or full on zombie attacks, this film festival has something for everyone. It is an entire weekend filled with films, celebrities and events. T

he Festival kicks off on Thursday August 25 at 6:30 pm with a Zombie Walk, followed by the Gothic Queen Competition. Celebrities for the weekend include Ricou Browning who played the creature in “The Creature from the Black Lagoon”, Sergio Guerra from Syfy Channel’s Faceoff and Brant Bumpers… More...

Horror conventions are a great time. You get a chance to see some of your favorite genre stars up close and personal, buy some cool swag, and hang out with a bunch of like-minded individuals. A good time had by all. But someone has decided to amp up the fun quotient. Say it with me ... Mad Monster Party!

The Mad Monster Party, scheduled for March 23-25, 2012, in Charlotte, North Carolina (mark your calendars now, you don't want to miss this), takes all the coolest parts of a horror convention and adds some aspects that you will only find at this once a year event.

Aside from a guest list that includes horror icons Bill Moseley (Otis), Angus Scrimm (Tall Man), Brad Dourif (Chucky), Michael Berryman (Hills), Nivek Ogre (Skinny Puppy) and Ricou Browning (Black Lagoon Creature), this event includes horror-themed karaoke, a haunted funhouse, The Roadkill Garage (which houses some...

More rubber suits, more water monster mayhem and more Joe Dante talking about The Monster of Piedras Blancas.

Low rent but affectionately made by professional monster movie fans, this modest Creature imitation didn’t garner many theatrical playdates but had a long afterlife on tv Double Chiller programs. The well constructed Monster is considerably less sympathetic than his Black Lagoon compatriot. The producers missed a bet by not hiring their lead actor, radio star Les Tremayne, to narrate the trailer.

Click here to watch the trailer and then read on for some annotated oddities.

This movie has already led me to two things that my mind is having trouble processing. The first is this little Wikipedia factoid:

Parts of the rubber monster suit showed up years later on Flipper, in the episode Flipper’s Monster, which was directed by Ricou Browning, who had performed the Gill Man swimming scenes in Creature From the Black Lagoon.

Howard Rodman brings us the greatest of all the Universal monsters and exposes The Creature From The Black Lagoon.

Last of the great Universal monsters, sporting a brilliant man-in-suit design that can’t be beat and has resisted years of attempted remakes and redesigns. The most iconic of the now-classic Jack Arnold/William Alland sci-fi pix and probably the most famous of sci-fi fan Richard Carlson’s numerous genre starring turns. Ditto for co-stars Richard Denning and the still-stunning Julia Adams. One of the greatest 3-D movies of the ’50s. Even Marilyn Monroe was moved by the Gill Man’s doomed beauty-and-the-beast plight.

Click here to watch the trailer and then keep reading for some extra annotations.

There’s not much to be said about The Creature that probably hasn’t already been said. Jack Arnold’s movie is just all-around wonderful. It’s kind of a testament to the...

In a departure from my long-standing and hopefully generally objective approach to genre journalism, in regard to this past weekend’s Monsterpalooza 3 (see our extensive photo gallery below), I’d like to comment, “Omfg this show is the most fucking amazing horror convention anyone has ever attended!”

Orchestrated by Eliot Brodsky, La’s premier horror convention Monsterpalooza ran April 8-10 at the Marriott Burbank Convention Center in Burbank, California, and, given the word of mouth generated by last year’s fantastic show, continued to increase its horrific momentum. The annual celebration of make-up effects again featured its fan-favorite monster museum, which showcased the practical works of dozens of fx artists, as well as a packed and extensive dealer room, in-depth makeup demonstrations, appearances by myriad notable artists (including Glenn Hetrick, Mike Hill, Jeff Yagher, David Whitford, The Chiodo Brothers, John Goodwin, Mike Westmore and dozens more) and the inclusion of...