News

Now that we're officially past the 4th of July weekend, it's the start of the spooky season for most avid horror fans. Some stores have already started putting out Halloween decorations and Spirit Halloween is set to open up once again next month around the country. In terms of film franchises, there's no better way to kick off this chilling time of year than with John Carpenter’s Halloween. The slasher series has over a dozen films to its name and now Halloween is getting a new book honoring the night Michael Myers came home.

Written by Wayne Byrne and released by Bloomsbury Publishing, You Can't Kill the Boogeyman: The Ongoing Halloween Saga - 13 Movies and Counting is releasing on August 7th. The book explores Halloween’s impact over the last five decades and its lasting effect on pop culture. There will be a ton of new interviews with the directors,...

You Can’t Kill the Boogeyman: The Ongoing Halloween Saga―13 Movies and Counting will be published in hardcover and e-book on August 7 via Bloomsbury Publishing.

Written by Wayne Byrne (Welcome to Elm Street: Inside the Film and Television Nightmares), the book is a cultural and critical examination of the Halloween franchise, considering the style, themes, and development of the series within temporal and industrial contexts.

Through candid conversations, a variety of directors, screenwriters, cinematographers, composers, and actors from across the 13 Halloween films offer exclusive insights into their careers, their unique aesthetic approaches, and their experiences of working on one of the most celebrated horror franchises of all time.

Interview subjects include: actors Gloria Gifford, Marianne Hagan, and Brad Loree; directors Tommy Lee Wallace, Dwight H. Little, and Dominique Othenin-Girard; writer Daniel Farrands; cinematographers Dean Cundey, Peter Lyons Collister, Rob Draper, Daryn Okada, David Geddes, and Phil Parmet; and composers Alan Howarth,...

John Candy was one of the most beloved comedians of the 1980s and 1990s who had plenty of incredibly underrated movies that didnt get enough love. While the late actor died tragically young at age 43, this was not before leaving the world with some of the most iconic comedic performances ever put to the screen in classics like Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Uncle Buck. However, for every legendary Candy performance, there was another hidden gem that, despite being equally hilarious, failed to gain the same lasting legacy as his best-known work.

The best John Candy movies included acclaimed collaborations with comedy greats like Steve Martin, Bill Murray, and Mel Brooks, although lesser-known releases also paired him with the likes of Tom Hanks, Dan Aykroyd, and Richard Pryor. While some underrated movies suffered from lackluster screenplays, Candys vulnerable sincerity and likable comedic charm helped elevate them into solid comedies. There...

A new episode of the Real Slashers video series has just been released, and with this one we’re looking back at one of the more popular installments in the franchise that shares its name with our favorite holiday, Halloween. The movie is 1981’s Halloween II (watch it Here), and to hear all about it, check out the video embedded above!

Directed by Rick Rosenthal from a screenplay by John Carpenter and Debra Hill, Halloween II has the following synopsis: John Carpenter’s Halloween scared the living daylights out of 25 million people and set a precedent in smashing box-office records for a horror film. And now, prepare yourself to go one step further as the nightmare continues in Halloween II. Picking up precisely where its predecessor left off, Halloween II follows the same ill-fated characters as they encounter the knife-wielding terror they left for dead in the first Halloween. But...

This episode of The Test of Time was Written by Andrew Hatfield, Narrated by Niki Minter, Edited by Mike Conway, Produced by Lance Vlcek and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

When you are talking about the big slasher franchises of all time, the original 4, the Mount Rush-Gore if you will, it’s a losing argument to try and say any of the first films don’t hold up. Of course, I’m talking about Halloween, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. What you Can do is look at their many, Many, sequels and see what sticks and what doesn’t. Or you know, in our case, what stands the test of time and what doesn’t. Some of these are just schlocky fun and don’t need a critical reappraisal but a couple of them that have higher reputations that...

Last year, Fright Rags got their “Stop the Killer” series of board games started with a board game inspired by the 1984 killer Santa classic Silent Night, Deadly Night (watch it Here). That was followed by a board game inspired by another classic slasher, the 1981 film My Bloody Valentine (watch it Here). And now Fright Rags has announced that they’ll be staying in 1981 for their third “film to board game” Stop the Killer project, which will be based on Halloween II (watch that Here)!

Details on the Halloween II board game are being kept under wraps for now. All Fright Rags has revealed is the cover art, which can be seen at the bottom of this article. But it’s probably safe to assume that the Halloween II game will be along the same lines as the other two games in the Stop the Killer series, which were created with...

We had a video series here at JoBlo and Arrow in the Head called Where It Was Made a while back. Hosted and directed by Ryan Cultrera, the show was all about “revisiting the actual filming locations for some of the most popular films ever made and seeing how they’re holding up today, all while examining just how these locations were used in the finished film.” The premiere episode, released in 2015, gave a tour of the locations used for filming the 1978 classic Halloween. This Halloween, Where It Was Made is making its triumphant return in the most appropriate way possible: with an episode that gives a tour of the locations that were used for filming the 1981 sequel Halloween II (watch it Here)! You can watch this new episode of Where It Was Made in the embed above.

Directed by Rick Rosenthal from a screenplay by John Carpenter and Debra Hill,...

An upcoming documentary you definitely should know about, courtesy of the Graveyard Shift Sisters blog (which celebrates Black women and women of color in the horror and sci-fi). Titled "My Final Girl: The Black Women of 70s Horror Cinema," from director Kristina Leath-Malin, the film surveys the American horror film tradition of the 1970s through early 1980s with focus on the contributions made by black women. Currently in post-production, the film features notable artists of the period, as well as scholars like: Marlene Clark, Beverly Bonner, Gloria Gifford, Pam Grier, Dr. Robin Means-Coleman, Dr. Isabel Pinedo, Sam Waymon, Dolores Smith, and many more. This is definitely a...

There's a lot going on to commemorate the 35th anniversary of John Carpenter's Halloween, but the granddaddy of them all is the "35 Years of Terror" convention taking place November 15-17 in Pasadena, CA. If you're lucky, you can score a pair of passes on us!

With guests from every film in the series, this con promises to be the "official, ultimate Halloween experience, 35 years in the making!" It's being held at the Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green Street; (626) 795-9311.

We have one pair of tickets to give away (transportation Not included). To enter for your chance to win, just send us an E-mail Here including your Full Name And Mailing Address. We’ll notify the winner by Tuesday, November 12th, so you can plan accordingly.

Recently added guests include, in his first convention appearance Ever, Rick Rosenthal, director of Halloween II (1981) and Halloween: Resurrection; Daniel Farrands, screenwriter of Halloween: The Curse Of Michael Myers...

Ah, Michael Myers. One of cinema's most notorious serial killers; pure evil on two legs. And whereas 'Psycho' is often considered the granddaddy of the "slasher" film, that'd make John Carpenter's original 1978 classic the "daddy" of this particular horror sub-genre. As is often noted, the original 'Halloween' has very little in terms of on screen violence and gore, yet it boasts some of horror's most memorable "kills." The sequels naturally upped the ante. It's no surprise that by the time they got to 'Halloween 6,' the original & now infamous producer's cut had portions re-shot with gore inserted to match what was going in the 'Friday The 13th' series at the time. Some of these outrageous kills feel tonally right for a 'Halloween' movie, others don't. But for better or for worse, Michael's always held his own against the competition! And since it's Halloween, we thought we'd...

Attention Los Angeles area…be on the lookout for a strange individual wielding a large butcher knife wearing what appears to be a modified William Shatner mask. That's right, Michael Myers is coming to the City of Angels this Saturday with a screening of Halloween II at the New Bev.

Screening Saturday, October 27 at midnight as part of Brian Collins'Horror Movie A Day Series and New Beverly Midnights, Halloween II, of course, was directed by Rick Rosenthal and written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill. It stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Lance Guest, Pamela Susan Shoop, Tawny Moyer, Ana Alicia, Ford Rainey, Gloria Gifford and Leo Rossi.

The New Beverly Cinema is located at 7165 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles CA. Tickets are only $8 and can be purchased here. Dig the cool custom artwork below and enjoy your night with the boogeyman!

Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!

Got news? Click here to submit it!

Directed by: Rick Rosenthal

Written by; John Carpenter, Debra Hill

Starring: Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Lance Guest, Pamela Susan Shoop, Charles Cyphers

This review was originally slated for last October. However, just days after viewing the Halloween 2 30th Anniversary Edition disc, the Moustapha Akkad credit controversy sort of eclipsed the release. If you’ll recall, when the much-anticipated Blu-ray debuted last fall, fans noticed the opening credits had been altered. Universal had replaced Akkad’s “presents” credit with a Universal/McA card.

The late Akkad, an executive producer on all eight original Halloween films, was the key person responsible for the longevity of the series. Fans were outraged and started an online petition to encourage Universal to replace the original credit. The studio eventually acquiesced and gave fans the opportunity to exchange their altered DVD for a copy with the original credit. Since the replacement copies have finally...

The following is a list of Los Angeles-area stage and film acting schools, teachers, and coaches organized by category and alphabetically.Each of the entries contains the following information, if applicable: name of teacher or school; address; phone and fax numbers; email address and/or website; average number of students per class; whether beginning, intermediate, or advanced students are taught; whether auditing is permitted; whether a work/study program is offered. Descriptions of the class, school, or coaching are provided by the instructor of institution and edited by Back Stage.Schools of teacher who have been omitted may contact, in writing, Listing, c/o Back Stage, 5055 Wilshire Blvd., 6th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90036, so that we may include you in our next list.  Acting Technique/Scene StudyAARON McPherson STUDIOWest Hollywood, CA aaron@aaronmcphersonstudio.comwww.aaronmcphersonstudio.com310-918-5335Class size varies, 12 max. for auditioning class, 40 max. for scene study; day...

The following is a list of Los Angeles-area stage and film acting schools, teachers, and acoaches organized by category and alphabetically.Each of the entries contains the following information, if applicable: name of teacher or school; address; phone and fax numbers; email address and/or website; average number of students per class; whether beginning, intermediate, or advanced students are taught; whether auditing is permitted; whether classes are ongoing or by sessions; any special emphasis used in classes or coaching; whether a work/study program is offered. Descriptions of the class, schoool, or coaching are provided by the instructor or institutions and edited by Back Stage.Schools or teachers who have been omitted may contact, in writing, Listings, c/o Back Stage, 5055 Wilshire Blvd., 6th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90036, so that we may include you in our next list.Acting Technique/Scene StudyAARON McPherson STUDIOWest Hollywood, CA aaron@aaronmcphersonstudio.comwww.aaronmcphersonstudio.

On Saturday, August 15, ShockTillYouDrop.com and Phil Blankenship of the New Beverly Cinema presented a brand new print of the 1981 sequel Halloween II . Michael Myers fans packed the house, making the screening a sold-out event (apologies to those who couldn't get in)! In addition to Universal's gorgeous presentation, we were fortunate enough to have director Rick Rosenthal, composer Alan Howarth and Gloria Gifford ("Mrs. Alves") down for a pre-screening Q&A. Below, you'll find our chat in four parts. Sadly, as Rosenthal told the audience, he is unsure if Universal is prepping a Blu-Ray edition of his film.

"Is this some kind've a joke?! I've been trick 'r treated to death tonight!" "You don't know what death is!" With Rob Zombie's Halloween 2 making its way into theaters August 28th, ShockTillYouDrop.com and the New Beverly Cinema (7165 Beverly Blvd. Los Angeles) thought it would be apropos to take a trip down memory lane and revisit the Rick Rosenthal-directed Halloween II (1981), written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill. Mark your calendars. We're screening the film as part of our Midnight Shock series at the Bev on Saturday, August 15th. Get this... Universal is striking a brand new print for this event! Showtime starts around 11:59pm. Special guests for a pre-screening Q&A include director Rick Rosenthal, Gloria Gifford and Alan...

Acting COACHINGThe following individuals or companies specialize in one-on-one acting coaching. Private coaching is also available from the majority of those listed in the "Acting Schools and Classes" category. Coaches in other specialties, such as musical theatre, voiceover, or young performers, are listed in those categories.Jules Aaron(323) 660-7342Aaron, the former head of of graduate programs at CalArts and U.C. Riverside, is an award-winning director and acting teacher. He has won directing awards from the L.A. Drama Critics Circle and Back Stage. He coaches actors for specific auditions, develops appropriate monologues, and conducts cold reading sessions. By audition only.Phyllis APPLEGATEOne-On-One(323) 655-5167Emmy-nominated character actor Applegate studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute on scholarship. She offers ongoing individual performance coaching combining Strasberg's methods with her own. Applegate coaches actors on audition techniques, cold readings, character creation, scene study, and text interpretation.The Audition COACHWest Hollwood, www.myspace.