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Stars: Darren Stevens, Mark Templin, Peter Whittaker, Ellen Mildred, Melanie Evans | Written by Trevor Payer | Directed by Brett Kelly

[Note: Nerdly’s Managing Editor Phil is listed as an Executive Producer on the following film, however that does not, and will not, affect the outcome of this review]

Does anyone remember a film from the 60s called Fantastic Voyage? It starred Stephen Boyd and Raquel Welch as doctors who were miniaturized and injected into an injured scientist to save his life by dissolving a blood clot. It was a fun, if silly, piece of big-budget sci-fi that was constantly on TV well into the 80s. Now the makers of Nanoshark, director Brett Kelly and writer Trevor Payer, have given us an updated version, and not only has he done it for less than the original’s daily coffee budget, he’s added a shark, a nanoshark no less, to the plot as well.

As the Prime Minister, this is a Canadian film, is preparing to give a speech, his son collapses. Doctors determine that he’s the victim of a rare blood disease,...

Gorgo promotional imageImage: Courtesy Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Why do we love kaiju movies so much? Is it the sight of an enormous creature stomping its way through a metropolis, tapping into our secret desires to see them leveled? Or the representation of nature’s wrath against humanity for its mistreatment of the planet?...

Stars: John Migliore, Chance Kelly, Grayson Kelly, Sébastien Godin, Steve Kasan, Ellen Mildred, Trevor Payer, Jordan Randall, Jennie Russo, Simon Wheeldon | Written by Trevor Payer | Directed by Brett Kelly

Where to start with Konga TNT? How about the same place I started with when reviewing director Brett Kelly’s Ouija Shark… in that you really have to be in the right mindset to watch Kelly’s particular brand of low-budget genre fare. Or ridiculously drunk and/or wasted!

Like Ouija Shark, Konga TNT harkens back to the shot on video era of filmmaking, where friends got together to make films that remarkably made it to video stores, thanks to a film-hungry rental market. Of course here we’re obviously dealing with mofre modern technology but the ethos behind it still feels very old-school. In this case Kelly apparently shot footage with his kids during lockdown to keep them occupied and...

Gerard Schurmann, whose 1960s film scores included “The Bedford Incident” and “Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow” but who also composed extensively for the concert hall, died March 24 at his home in the Hollywood Hills. He was 96 and had recently been in declining health.

Schurmann’s death was announced by his music publisher, Novello & Co. Ltd., in London. Said James Rushton, head of Novello’s Wise Music Group: “Gerard will be much missed – a man and musician of the highest caliber, who expressed himself, whether through his music or in conversation, with the firmest conviction. He understood so very well about writing for the orchestra, and for instruments generally, but unusually knew how to employ the orchestra both in the concert hall and also for film. He wrote for both with such facility.”

The composer’s death came just a few months after Chandos released a collection of newly recorded suites from his film work,...

It’s a relatively quiet week for home entertainment releases, but Tuesday is playing host to one of my favorite films of the year, Ready or Not, which makes December 3rd feel like an early Christmas to this writer. Scream Factory is showing some love to John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China with multiple editions (including the standard Collector’s Edition as well as the absolutely gorgeous limited edition Steelbook), and Konga, one of my favorite cult films (thank you Terror in the Aisles!) is headed to Blu on Tuesday, courtesy of Kino Lorber.

Other Blu-ray and DVD releases for December 3rd include Boar, Christmas Presence, Game of Thrones: The Complete Eighth Season, Game of Thrones: The Complete Series, and 1 Must Fall.

Big Trouble in Little China: Collector’s Edition/Limited Edition Steelbook

Kurt Russell stars as Jack Burton, a tough-talking truck driver whose life goes into a...

Konga

Blu ray

Kino Lorber

1961/ 1:85 / 90 min.

Starring Michael Gough, Margo Johns

Directed by John Lemont

Like any actor worth their salt, Michael Gough contained multitudes. And so did his fans – from the West End to 42nd Street they gathered as one to sing his praises. Born in Kuala Lumpur and educated in England, Gough bolted Wye College for the Old Vic, eventually graduating to roles in films like Richard III and The Horse’s Mouth. Haunting the studio by day, he tread the boards at night showing a special talent for light comedy and, in the words of critic Caryl Brahms, an “extraordinary capacity for pent-up emotion.”

In 1959 Gough’s day job took a turn for the weird – producer Herman Cohen offered him the lead in Horrors of the Black Museum, the grisly tale of a crime enthusiast with a fetish for eccentric torture devices. And absolutely no capacity for pent-up emotion.

Reclusive, legendary comic book illustrator Steve Ditko, co-creator of Marvel's "Spider-Man" and "Doctor Strange" has died:

Ditko studied under "Batman" artist Jerry Robinson at the 'Cartoonist and Illustrators School' in New York City. 

He began his professional career in 1953, working in the studio of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby ("Captain America") , starting out as an inker for artist Mort Meskin. 

Also during this time, Ditko began a long association with Charlton Comics, where he did work in the genres of science fiction, horror and mystery including "Konga" and "Gorgo"...

...plus co-creating superhero 'Captain Atom' in 1960.

During the 1950s, Ditko drew for Atlas Comics, a forerunner of Marvel Comics. 

In 1966, after being the exclusive artist on "The Amazing Spider-Man" and the "Doctor Strange" feature in "Strange Tales"...

...Ditko left Marvel returning to Charlton to reboot 'Blue Beetle'.

In 1966 Ditko worked with the Warren horror magazines' "Creepy" and 'Eerie"...

...as well as for DC Comics,...

A Tribute to King Kong takes place as part of the The St. Louis International Film Festival Sunday, Nov. 6 beginning at 6:00pm at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium. The first film screened will be the new documentary Long Live The King, which explores the enduring fascination with one of the biggest stars — both literally and figuratively — in Hollywood history: the mighty King Kong. Produced and directed by Frank Dietz and Trish Geiger, the creative team behind the award-winning “Beast Wishes,” the documentary devotes primary attention to the 1933 classic, celebrating the contributions of filmmakers Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, stars Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, and Bruce Cabot, writer Edgar Wallace, and especially stop-motion innovator Willis O’Brien. But Kong’s legacy is also fully detailed: the sequel “Son of Kong,” the cinematic kin “Mighty Joe Young,” the Dino DeLaurentis and Peter Jackson remakes, even the Japanese versions by Toho Studios.

Article by Tom Stockman

Though he may have been but an animated model given life through primitive special effects, King Kong, with his doomed loved for the beautiful blonde, has become one of the most beloved of all movie characters, revived in remakes, sequels and knock-offs. But Kong wasn’t the only massive simian to grace the silver screen. Here’s a look at the ten best giant ape movies.

Honorable Mention: A*P*E

The ad campaign for the 1976 Korean film A*P*E warned “Not to be confused with King Kong”. A captive giant ape, after escapes from a freighter and sets his destructive sights on Seoul, Korea where he falls for an American actress (Joanna Kerns ) filming a movie there. A*P*E was originally filmed in 3-D so there are countless shots of a man in a moth-eaten ape suit throwing Styrofoam boulders at the camera.

In Tim Burton's animated horror-comedy "Frankenweenie," opening on October 5, the story of "Frankenstein's Monster" has been transplanted to elementary school. This time around, Victor is a little boy and his mad experiment aims to resurrect his dearly departed dog Sparky. But with the upcoming science fair kicking into high gear, it gives Victor's competitive classmates the license to create a zoo of demented monster animals. This isn't the first time that Burton has told the "Frankenweenie" story; it was originally a live-action short from 1984. But now working with the backing of Disney, he has turned his gothic fable into a 3D stop-motion love letter to the golden age of movie monsters, complete with references to "Godzilla," "The Mummy" and "Creature From the Black Lagoon." Moviefone spoke with the macabre director about his love of classic horror films and the impact that legends like Boris Karloff and Ray Harryhausen had on his style.

Another lost classic has been resurrected by the loonies over at Scorpion Releasing. Dig on all the details regarding Satan's Slave and find out how you can get your own devilish servant below.

From the Press Release

On March 20th, Scorpion Releasing and Katarina's Nightmare Theater present Norman J. Warren's Satan's Slave. A young girl (Candace Glendenning, Tower Of Evil, Flesh And Blood Show) moves in with her Uncle Alexander (Michael Gough, Batman, Berserk, Konga) after her parents' car mysteriously explodes. After being taken in by her cousins, she soon begins suffering strange visions. But what she doesn't know is that her planned role in the house is more sinister than she could have expected. Starring horror icon Michael Gough and Martin Potter (Goodbye Gemini) and directed by cult director Norman J. Warren (Terror, Inseminoid), Scorpion Releasing proudly presents the complete uncut version.

Special Features

Play with or without...

Michael Gough is known to modern audiences as Alfred the Butler in the Batman films. But fans of horror movies know that he was one of the most entertaining villains of 60's English horror cinema playing mad baddies in Herman Cohen films like Horrors of the Black Museum (1959), Konga (1961) and this little number. Here he plays a sadistic zookeeper and big cat cult worshipper determined to protect his beloved felines at any cost including using the kitties to kill those who stand in his way. Elsiha Cook jr. from The Killing (1956), House on Haunted Hill (1959) and numerous other famous films has a great smaller role as one of the victims but the real star here is Gough who chews up the...

Stars bring a character to life on the screen; but behind them is another kind of actor that brings life to that character’s world. They are the seasoning which turns a good meal into a great meal, the chinking keeping a cold wind from blowing through the holes in a script. Call them what you will: supporting players, character actors, familiar faces, second bananas. To most viewers, their names mean nothing, and a headshot over their obituary usually draws little more than an, “Oh, yeah, that guy!” They rarely get their due, often only at their passing, which, sadly, makes it time to give one of the best his due – Michael Gough, who died this week at the age of 94.

All of his obits usually start with saying he was best known for his role as Batman’s faithful butler Alfred in the Tim Burton version of Batman (1989) and its three sequels.

British cult horror actor Michael Gough has died at the age of 94 after a stellar career playing character roles in over 100 films. Horror fans know him well from his role in the seminal Hammer Horror film Horror Of Dracula (1958) as well as cult goodies such as Horror Hospital, Horrors Of The Black Museum, Legend Of Hell House, and Konga. A younger generation of film fans discovered him when he starred as Alfred the butler in the 90′s Batman franchise and he continued working up to his death, providing voice work for Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride and last year’s Alice In Wonderland.

From The Daily Telegraph:

Michael Gough, the actor who died on Thursday aged 94, achieved cult status for his roles in the Hammer horror films of the 1960s, but became better known as Alfred the Butler in Tim Burton’s Batman films; he was also an accomplished stage actor,...

Today we've lost a true icon. A man who was whipping ass in the film industry longer than most of us have been alive. It is with an extremely heavy heart that we report Michael Gough has passed away at the ripe old age of 94.

The film legend worked up until age 92 and has appeared in dozens of movies throughout his decades long career, including his most celebrated role as Alfred Pennyworth in the original Batman movie franchise launched by Tim Burton. More of his genre-specific credits include Sleepy Hollow, Trog, Konga, The Skull, Horror Hospital, and the still frightening after all of these years The Legend of Hell House.

We here at Dread Central would like to take this time to not only offer our deepest condolences to Michael's friends, family, and constituents but also thank and revere the man for all the movie memories he has given us.

Actor Michael Gough has died at the age of 94. To many, the actor was known as Alfred, Bruce Wayne's butler, in Tim Burton's 1989 film Batman . He revisited that role through three more Bat-films, and he saved face in every single one of them. Horror fans, however, know a different kind of Michael Gough, a man whose career saw him toiling on stage and television, until he appeared in the Hammer Films' production Horror of Dracula . This set him on a path through various genre fare which would include Konga , 1962's The Phantom of the Opera , The Skull , the awesome and bizarre Horror Hospital , The Legend of Hell House (albeit a miniscule part) and, later in his career, Sleepy Hollow . The man brought class to whatever production he was a part of and he will be...

British actress Margo Johns was best known for starring in the 1961 cult classic Konga. She portrayed Margaret, lab assistant and fiancee to Michael Gough’s mad scientist, Dr. Decker, who is crushed by a giant ape in Herman Cohen’s 1961 thriller.

Johns began her career on stage, performing in revues and with repertory companies, before appearing in productions in London’s West End. She also appeared in a handful of films during her career including Meet Sexton Blake (1945) and Murder at the Windmill (aka Mystery at the Burlesque) (1949). She was also featured on television in episodes of such series as The Saint and Danger Man.

Johns died in England on September 29, 2009, at the age of 90.