News

The phrase of “be careful what you wish for” is associated with W. W. Jacobs’ “The Monkey’s Paw,” yet it doesn’t actually appear anywhere in the 1902 short story. The closest semblance is the line, “If you must wish, wish for something sensible.” That said, the more ubiquitous statement emphasizes the risk of tempting fate.

This one punishing lesson in resisting greed, taking responsibility, and exerting self-control has gone on to spawn numerous adaptations, both faithful and loose. From film to television, W. W. Jacobs’ cautionary tale has touched just about every form of entertainment since its birth.

And if the classic “The Monkey’s Paw” wasn’t enough to stop the allure of wish fulfillment, then perhaps these twenty other stories might do the trick.

Tales from the Crypt: Wish You Were Here (1972)

Image: Richard Greene and Barbara Murray in “Wish You Were Here” from Tales from the Crypt (1972).

Amicus Productions...

War films are horror films, aren’t they? Both genres explore inevitable death intertwined with moral quandaries and are full of suspense. Come and See is often hailed as one of the scariest films and Son of Saul almost plays like a found footage in Auschwitz.

There is a thin line between the two, but military horror goes further by blending the literal and figurative. This hybrid subgenre repeatedly uses the zombie as the antagonist of choice, a reason identified by Scholar Kevin Wetmore in Post-9/11 Horror in American Cinema: “Zombies cannot be reasoned with, cannot be negotiated with, they seek only to replicate themselves, which also makes them an excellent metaphor for terrorists.”

That said, in recognition of Memorial Day here are 14 military horrors to choose from that aren’t all just about the undead. The POVs range from civilians trapped in military culture, teen cadets, facing barriers as...

The same year that he laid the groundwork for a horror revolution with Black Christmas, Bob Clark released Deathdream (also known as Dead of Night). The 1974 horror film is understandably overshadowed by his influential proto-slasher, but it was on Deathdream that the filmmaker honed his skills that would fuel his masterpiece of the genre: a brooding atmosphere, a calculated pace, a subtle score by Carl Zittrer that’s inseparable from the organic sound design, and even the use of a rocking chair to achieve unease.

Deathdream found Clark re-teaming with writer Alan Ormsby and several other cast and crew members from his 1972 film, Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things. While it suffers from minor pacing issues, Deathdream is significantly more well rounded. Jack McGowan’s cinematography is often flat (albeit an improvement over his work on Dead Things), but the budget – still limited but some five times larger than the...

In this shattering variation on “The Monkey’s Paw,” grief-stricken suburban parents (Academy Award nominees John Marley of The Godfather and Lynn Carlin of Faces) refuse to accept the news that their son Andy (Richard Backus) has been killed in Vietnam. But when Andy returns home soon after, something may be horribly wrong: Andy is alive and well…or is he? Produced and directed by Bob Clark (Black Christmas) and written by Alan Ormsby (Deranged), Deathdream was one of the very first films to confront the domestic ravages of the Vietnam War and remains one of the most chilling horror films of all time.

Deathdream is available on 4K Uhd Blu-ray on May 21.

Enter for your chance to win a 4K Uhd Blu-ray of Deathdream, courtesy of Blue Underground. Two (2) winners will be selected at random.

Here’s how to enter:

Step 1: Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, or Bluesky.

Midway through Bob Clark’s Deathdream (originally titled Dead of Night), Andy Brooks (Richard Backus) dons a pair of black leather gloves and sunglasses for an upcoming date. Andy displays a suave and calm demeanor that should be familiar to fans of Jean-Pierre Melville’s 1967 film Le Samouraï, which features Alain Delon as the ne plus ultra of psychotic cool; his haircut even recalls that of Steve McQueen in 1968’s Bullitt. However, Andy’s garb has a tactile purpose, concealing as it does his deteriorating skin, which will turn to dust without a replenishing supply of blood. Because of this, Clark’s genre film goes in the opposite direction of peddling cool, as Deathdream shows how a pair of designer shades can only momentarily shield the irreparable physical and psychological scars of war.

That Deathdream is a vehement anti-war statement can only be ascertained gradually, as Andy’s parents, Charles...

Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.

Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!

Crimson Peak 4K Uhd from Arrow Video

Crimson Peak will haunt 4K Ultra HD on May 21 via Arrow Video. The 2015 Gothic horror/romance is presented in 4K with Dolby Vision, approved by director Guillermo del Toro, and original DTS:X Master Audio sound.

Del Toro co-wrote the script with frequent collaborator Matthew Robbins. Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam, and Jim Beaver star with Doug Jones and Javier Botet appearing as ghosts.

The limited edition set comes with a double-sided poster, four double-sided postcards, and an 80-page book featuring writings by David Jenkins and Simon Abrams, an interview with del Toro, and conceptual illustrations by Guy Davis and Oscar Chichoni, all housed in...

1977: Ryan's Hope's Maeve tried to reason with her son-in-law.

1983: Guiding Light's Silas held Quint at gunpoint.

1997: The final episode of ABC daytime soap opera The City.

2008: Guiding Light's Gus crashed his motorcycle."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1955: On Hawkins Falls, reporter Mitch Fredericks (Jim Bannon) and Millie Flagle (Ros Twohey) persuaded the biggest donor to the town's fair, Andy Anderson, that he had psychic powers. Once Andy was convinced of his abilities, Mitch got him to predict that Hawkins Falls would become a booming industrial city,...

1977: Lovers and Friends premiered on NBC.

1980: Edge of Night's Cliff ate Mrs. Corey's soup.

1995: Days' Alice interrupted Bo and Billie's wedding.

2001: All My Children's Bianca was outed at the Crystal Ball."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into different and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1938: Irna Phillips' radio soap opera Woman in White premiered on NBC Red. The show told the story of Karen Adams, a young nurse who dedicated her life to others, taking care of two young siblings after the death of her parents. Karen spent much of her time counseling others,...

1976: Deidre Hall debuted on Days of our Lives.

1984: Guiding Light's Billy was out to destroy Reva.

1993: Days' Lucas and Sami went on their first date.

All My Children's Erica got emotional with her friends."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1952: The first television version of One Man's Family aired for the final time. The once-a-week primetime take-off of the popular radio soap opera was...

1977: Ryan's Hope's Maeve tried to reason with her son-in-law.

1983: Guiding Light's Silas held Quint at gunpoint.

1997: The final episode of ABC daytime soap opera The City.

2008: Guiding Light's Gus crashed his motorcycle."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1955: On Hawkins Falls, reporter Mitch Fredericks (Jim Bannon) and Millie Flagle (Ros Twohey) persuaded the biggest donor to the town's fair, Andy Anderson, that he had psychic powers.

1977: Lovers and Friends premiered on NBC.

1980: Edge of Night's Cliff ate Mrs. Corey's soup.

1995: Days' Alice interrupted Bo and Billie's wedding.

2001: All My Children's Bianca was outed at the Crystal Ball."History is a vast early warning system."

― Norman Cousins

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1938: Irna Phillips' radio soap opera Woman in White premiered on NBC Red. The show told the story of Karen Adams, a young nurse who dedicated her life to others, taking care of two young siblings after the death of her parents. Karen spent much of her time counseling others, although she did find time to marry and experience...

Average fans of A Christmas Story likely don’t know that director Bob Clark had once made creepy horror pictures with Alan Ormsby, but this independent shock effort of the early ’70s still casts a spell of dread. Although Vietnam is never mentioned, the war’s shadow strikes deep into the heart of a small-town family. John Marley and Lynn Carlin lead a fine cast.

Deathdream

Blu-ray + DVD

Blue Underground

1974 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 88 min. / Dead of Night, The

Night Andy Came Home, Night Walk, The Veteran, Whispers / Street Date November 28, 2017 /

Starring: John Marley, Lynn Carlin, Richard Backus, Henderson Forsythe,

Anya Ormsby, Jane Daly, Michael Mazes.

Cinematography: Jack McGowan

Film Editor: Ronald Sinclair

Original Music: Carl Zittrer

Written by Alan Ormsby

Produced by Bob Clark, Peter James, John Trent

Directed by Bob Clark

This gem comes back every ten years in an improved transfer. Bob Clark and Alan Ormsby’s Canadian-financed...

We may only have several home entertainment releases for this Tuesday, but as the saying goes, “quality over quantity,” because this bunch of Blu-rays and DVDs are a stellar lot of films. One of my favorite horror films of 2017, Mark Duplass’ Creep 2, makes its way home on November 28th courtesy of The Orchard, and Scream Factory has given Rob Reiner’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery the Collector’s Edition treatment (and deservedly so).

For you cult film fans, both Death Laid an Egg and Deathdream (aka Dead of Night) get the HD treatment this week, and other notable releases this Tuesday include M.F.A., Rememory, Super Dark Times, Woodshock, and Trailer Trauma 4: Television Trauma.

Creep 2 (The Orchard, DVD)

Sara, a video artist primarily focused on creating intimacy with lonely men, thinks she may have found the subject of her dreams after coming across a stranger’s online post.

The late, great Bob Clark will forever be synonymous with the holiday season thanks to his films Black Christmas and A Christmas Story, but before he brought those stories to life on screen, he gave horror fans the gift of Deathdream, aka Dead of Night (read our own Scott Drebit's Drive-In Dust Offs article on the film here). Over 40 years after its initial release, Deathdream is being revitalized in a 2K restoration Blu-ray from Blue Underground, and we have a look at a new video showing off the film's enhanced visuals.

Blue Underground will release their new Blu-ray/DVD of Deathdream on November 28th, and you can get an idea of what to expect in the full list of special features and videos below:

Deathdream Blu-ray: "Something Unspeakable Has Come Home

In this shattering variation on “The Monkey’s Paw,” grief-stricken suburban parents (Academy Award® nominees John Marley...

Special Mention: The Bird with the Crystal Plumage

Directed by Dario Argento

Screenplay by Dario Argento

1970, Italy

Genre: Giallo

One of the most self-assured directorial debuts of the 70’s was Dario Argento’s The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. Not only was it a breakthrough film for the master of Giallo, but it was also a box office hit and had critics buzzing, regardless if they liked it or not. Although Argento would go on to perfect his craft in later films, The Bird With The Crystal Plumage went a long way in popularizing the Giallo genre and laid the groundwork for later classics like Deep Red. A difficult film to discuss without spoiling many of its most impressive and famous scenes, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage is a fairly straightforward murder mystery, albeit with many twists, turns and one of the best surprise endings of all time. But...

Perhaps best remembered for the huge success of teen comedy Porky’s (1981) and perennial yuletide fave A Christmas Story (1983), Bob Clark will forever be known to horror fans as the director of Black Christmas (1974) , the taut, flat out scary as hell blueprint for John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978) . However, the same year he made BC, came the potent anti Vietnam parable Deathdream, aka Dead of Night, a chilling indictment on the ravages of war mixed with a spooky EC Comics vibe. Rarely talked about, it still packs a wallop today.

Made right after Clark’s rather boring zombie debut Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things (1972), but not released until August of ’74, Deathdream didn’t make much of a ripple at the box office but did see some solid notices. At the time, there weren’t a lot of films tackling the Vietnam War (most notable was 1968’s execrable John Wayne...

Deathdeam

Directed by Bob Clark

Writen by Alan Ormsby

Starring John Marley, Lynn Carlin, and Richard Backus

USA 1972

On August 30th, 1972, Deathdream was released to American theaters. Not the standard Halloween release month, but close enough to it. This second Tombstone Tuesday pick is unlike any other zombie flick in terms of its storyline and technicalities. This movie features one zombie, in one town, with only one purpose to kill.

Andy Brooks, a Vietnam soldier killed in combat, is willed back to life by his grieving mother. From his coffin to his hometown, Andy manages to hitchhike to his family, but not without murdering a man and draining his blood along the way. How else is he supposed to maintain a human-like quality? But what differentiates this zombie flick in comparison to so many others is that it has an overarching message, or theme, that it’s trying to convey.

By Chris Wright, MoreHorror.com

Bob Clark (Black Christmas (review)) brings us a disturbing yet sad horror film that gives you the creeps its entire duration. Dead of Night, also released as Deathdream, surprised me at how good it was despite the premise that sounded shaky at first. Also, this is the first movie that Tom Savini was in charge of the special affects. After being released by Gorgon Video and various other labels in the early 1980s, Blue Underground released this movie with special features on DVD.

The premise is a young soldier is killed in Vietnam but the parents get the dream they wished for when their son turns up at their front door seemingly fine. My reaction when I found out about this movie was it was going to be a run of the mill zombie flick. To my surprise, this movie has deeper elements such as...

Ken Howard (ex-Garrett, Dynasty) - 67

Richard Backus (ex-Ted, Another World; ex-Barry, Ryan's Hope; ex-Jason, Lovers And Friends; Writer for As The World Turns; One Life To Live; Days Of Our Lives) - 66

Janice Lynde (Peggy, Diary Of A Single Mom; ex-Leslie, The Young And The Restless; ex-Laurel, One Life To Live; ex-Gloria, General Hospital; ex-Tracy, Another World) - 63

Todd Curtis (ex-Jordy, Capitol; ex-Skip, The Young And The Restless) - 52

Siena Goines (ex-Callie, The Young And The Restless; ex-Valerie, Passions) - 42

Annie Wersching (ex-Amelia, General Hospital) - 34

Trivia: Also born on this day was the late Tom O'Rourke, who played Justin on Guiding Light for several years, among many other roles. He died in September 2009, a few days before the Guiding Light finale.