News

Everything has to be a franchise these days, which means handing out prequels and sequels to stories that 100 percent don’t need them. Given that these are unholy abominations that shouldn’t exist, they have to be spiced up to have any chance of appealing to audiences, often in ways that misfire entirely.

[subtitle]5The Labyrinth [/subtitle]

The Labyrinth raised a lot of questions re: how a human glam rock icon became the king of the goblins, and Labyrinth: Coronation fails to answer those questions over the course of 12 comic books. It reveals that Jareth was born in 18th-century Venice to a maid and a nobleman who sacrificed him to the preceding Goblin King. What follows is a fairly faithful play-by-play of the story in The Labyrinth, only with Jareth’s mother forced to solve it and losing on a technicality. That’s all well and good, but it ends deliberately ambiguously...

Quick Links Oliva Hussey Has Left Behind an Impressive Legacy in Film Olivia Hussey Voiced One of the Most Important Characters in Batman's Lore What Was Talia Al Ghul's Story In the Dcau?

In 2024, the film industry sadly lost many of its greatest and most legendary talents, from James Earl Jones to Donald Sutherland, breaking the hearts of movie lovers everywhere. With the passing of Golden Globe-winning actress, Olivia Hussey, in December, many have since been paying tribute to her with the recognition of such classic films as Romeo and Juliet and Black Christmas. Throughout her career, she tackled a variety of roles in a variety of genres, but her role in Black Christmas is what has cemented her legacy as one of the best scream queens that the horror genre has ever seen. While she appeared in quite a few other recognizable titles in both film and television, many...

Nicolas Cage is always good for a free-to-stream hit, and that has been proven once again as his 2018 psychological thriller Looking Glass has returned to the Freevee movie chart again. The film, directed by Tim Hunter, finds Cage playing Ray, a man hiding dark secrets as he takes over a remote desert motel. Ok, that may sound like a lead into Psycho, but this is a completely different movie - for one thing, it makes Psycho IV look like the greatest movie of all time.

Ray and his wife (Robin Tunney) take over the isolated business following a personal tragedy: the loss of their child in an accident. Soon after moving into the building, Ray discovers a secret hallway that leads to a two-way mirror looking in on one of the motel’s rooms. The story takes a dark, voyeuristic turn, as Ray bears witness to the intimate encounters of...

Following the death of Olivia Hussey, her co-star from Romeo and Juliet has shared a message of tribute. In the 1968 feature film adaptation of the Shakespearean story, Hussey played Juliet alongside Leonard Whiting as Romeo.

Posted on the Instagram account of his wife (per Deadline), Leonard Whiting shared a statement reading, “Olivia, we have shared so much since we were two sweet innocent children clinging onto each other for dear life as every photo of us attests to. You have never been frightened of fighting to fix everything wrong in this world. Rest now my beautiful Juliet no injustices can hurt you now. And the world will remember your beauty inside and out forever. Leonard.”

Related Brooke Shields Shares Painful Experience With Romeo & Juliet Director Amidst Lawsuit

Actor and '80s icon Brooke Shields shares a painful experience from the 1981 movie Endless Love by Romeo and Juliet director Franco Zeffirelli.

Olivia Hussey, the world renowned actress of stage, screen, and even video games, widely recognized for her portrayal of Juliet in the 1968 adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet,” passed away peacefully at her home in Burbank, California on Friday, December 27 at the age of 73. News of her death was announced on the actress’ official social media channels.

Born Olivia Osuna in Buenos Aires, Argentina on April 17, 1951, she was the daughter of Argentine tango singer Andrés Osuna, known by his stage name as Osvaldo Ribó. However, at the age of seven, she separated from her father and moved to London with her mother and younger brother, where she was accepted at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts and began her career in performance. By 13, Hussey was already acting professionally on stage using her mother’s maiden name.

At 15, her career was accelerated upon Italian filmmaker Franco Zeffirelli seeing her in a...

Best known to horror fans for playing iconic proto-final girl Jess Bradford in the late Bob Clark’s slasher classic Black Christmas, Olivia Hussey has passed away at the age of 73.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Eisley, who went peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on December 27th,” a statement posted on the actress’ official Instagram page reads this weekend. “Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her.”

The statement continues, “Born on April 17th, 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Olivia lived a life full of passion, love, and dedication to the arts, spirituality, and kindness towards animals.

Olivia leaves behind a loving family— her children, Alex, Max, and India, her husband of 35 years David Glen Eisley, and grandson, Greyson, and a legacy of love that will forever be cherished in our hearts.

Olivia Hussey, who left an indelible mark on cinema and television through diverse works ranging from Romeo and Juliet to Black Christmas to Jesus of Nazareth has passed away. She was 73.

Olivia Hussey garnered widespread acclaim and a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer for portraying the titular Capulet in what is considered one of the best Shakespeare adaptations, 1968’s Romeo and Juliet. But she soon found a home in genre and horror movies, landing the lead role in Bob Clark’s slasher classic Black Christmas. It was here that Hussey played Jess Bradford, who would actually be one of the earliest examples of the “final girl”, paving the way for the likes of Halloween’s Laurie Strode, A Nightmare on Elm Street’s Nancy Thompson, Scream’s Sidney Prescott, and countless others.

A post on Hussey’s official Instagram account reads, in part: “It is with profound sadness that...

The ever-iconic Olivia Hussey Eisley, who captivated audiences as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 classic Romeo and Juliet, died on Friday at the age of 73.

Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting in Romeo & Juliet (1968) Credits: Bhe Films

Hussey’s breakout role as Juliet earned her international acclaim, showcasing her remarkable talent and timeless beauty. However, despite her success, she later revealed some career regrets, reflecting on missed opportunities and choices she wished she had made differently.

Legendary actress Olivia Hussey dies at 73, leaving one regret behind

Born in Argentina and raised in London, Olivia Hussey‘s passing was announced through a heartfelt statement shared on her official Instagram account.

Related Paramount Slapped With $100M Sexual Abuse Lawsuit by ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Stars

Hussey passed away from cancer on Friday, surrounded by her loved ones. The social media post stated,

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Eisley,...

Olivia Hussey has died at the age of 73. The actress was best-known for portraying one of the two ill-fated protagonists in director Franco Zeffirelli's legendary 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet, for which she won the Golden Globe (Most Promising Newcomer) thanks to her mesmerizing performance as Juliet Capulet. Hussey also lent her lovely voice to Superman: The Animated Series, and she's widely beloved by die-hard fans of the horror genre for her work on Black Christmas (more on these appearances later).

Hussey was only 17 years old when Romeo & Juliet began its theatrical run, and controversy courted the young thespian because she appeared topless on-screen during the movie's infamous love scene with Romeo Montague (Leonard Whiting). The news of Hussey’s death was announced on Instagram and reads as follows:

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Eisley, who went peacefully at home...

Olivia Hussey, the star of Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” and the 1974 holiday slasher “Black Christmas,” died peacefully at home on Friday, her family announced. She was 73.

“Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her,” the family’s statement read. “Olivia lived a life full of passion, love, and dedication to the arts, spirituality, and kindness towards animals.”

Born in Argentina, Hussey was just 15 when she starred in Zeffirelli’s “Romeo and Juliet” opposite 16-year-old Leonard Whitling. She won a Golden Globe for New Star of the Year and the film became a gold standard for students when studying Shakespeare’s play. Hussey would later reunite with Zeffirelli in the 1977 TV production “Jesus of Nazareth” playing Mary.

The actress also had a memorable leading role in Bob Clark’s “Black Christmas,” starred in the television miniseries...

Olivia Hussey, the actress who gained acclaim after starring in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, has died at the age of 73.

Her family announced her death on the actress’ Instagram on Friday. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Eisley, who went peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on December 27th,” read the statement, which was shared alongside a photo of Hussey. “Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her.

Olivia Hussey, known in part for playing one of the two leads in the 1968 feature film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, has passed away. She was 73 years old.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Hussey died due to cancer. Filmmaker Marc Huestis confirmed her passing, telling the outlet, “I just heard some sad, sad news. I adored her. She had so much love, and was the most beautiful Juliet ever. On screen and in real life she exuded love and life.”

Born in Argentina in 1951, Hussey was still a child when she began her acting career. After she was noticed for her stage work in London, she wound up getting cast as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. For her role in the film, which also starred Leonard Whiting, Hussey drew heavy acclaim, even garnering a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year. This success led to other big roles,...

Olivia Hussey, who dazzled moviegoers as the female lead in Franco Zeffirelli‘s noteworthy 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet, died Friday at her Los Angeles home of breast cancer. She was 73.

The Argentina-born actress died “surrounded by her loved ones,” according to an announcement on her official Instagram account. “Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her,” the post reads.

She was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Olivia Hussey eisley (@oliviahusseyeisley)

Hussey was just 15 when she starred opposite British actor Leonard Whiting, 16, as Romeo in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Both were unknowns. The Paramount-distributed film, co-written by Zeffirelli, was nominated for the best picture Oscar and three other Academy Awards, and she received a David di Donatello prize and a Golden Globe for her efforts.

Hussey also...

Olivia Hussey Eisley, the British-Argentine actor who shot to fame as a teenager starring as Juliet in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” and went on to star in the slasher classic “Black Christmas” and the 1978 “Death on the Nile,” died Friday. She was 73.

Hussey’s death was confirmed to the San Francisco Chronicle by filmmaker Marc Huestis, who said she died of cancer, and announced on the actor’s Instagram. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and suffered a recurrence in 2018.

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Eisley, who went peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on December 27th,” reads the social media statement. “Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her. … Olivia lived a life full of passion, love, and dedication to the arts,...

Olivia Hussey Eisley, the actress who shot to fame as one of the star-crossed lovers in Franco Zeffirelli’s controversial Romeo and Juliet in 1968, died peacefully today at home surrounded by her loved ones, according to a post on her Instagram page. She was 73.

Hussey’s credits also include Death on the Nile opposite Peter Ustinov; Psycho IV: The Beginning in which she played Norma Bates and the 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It.

She worked again with Zeffirelli when she played Mary, the mother of Jesus, in the 1977 television movie Jesus of Nazareth.

In 2022, Hussey and Whiting sued Paramount Pictures, alleging that Zeffirelli violated their consent on Romeo and Juliet by filming them nude without their knowledge. Hussey and Whiting were 15 and 16 years old, respectively, when the film was shot. Estimating that the film has made over $500 million since its pre-Summer of Love release, the duo sought...

Olivia Hussey has died. An actor with a 60-year-career to her name, Hussey (later known as Olivia Hussey Eisley) broke out into international attention with her very first major film, starring in Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 film adaptation of Romeo And Juliet. Six years later, Hussey helped create the template for...

Horror movies are closely associated with rapid succession sequels than they are legacy sequels. (How many years did we have a new “Saw” and/or “Paranormal Activity” sequel to look forward to?) But there are still a fair amount of legacy horror sequels – follow-ups that take much longer to marinate than the traditional sequel – and these are the ones that were definitely worth the wait.

Universal “Psycho II” (1983)

The first true legacy horror sequel was a follow-up to perhaps the most celebrated horror movie ever, Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 shocker “Psycho.” “Psycho II” was directed by Australian filmmaker Richard Franklin, whose previous movie “Road Games” is one of the greatest Australian thrillers ever, and was written by Tom Holland, who would go on to direct future classics “Fright Night” and “Child’s Play.”

The sequel sees Norman Bates (once again played by Anthony Perkins) finally released from prison and attempting to enjoy a normal life,...

Mike Flanagan began his filmmaking career in 2011 with "Absentia," a Kickstarter-backed horror movie about a pregnant woman whose missing husband mysteriously returns after an unexplained seven-year absence. He gained mainstream attention with 2013's "Oculus," a gripping horror film about a haunted mirror that technically takes place almost entirely in one room. Then, in 2016, Flanagan offered the one-two-three punch of "Hush," "Before I Wake," and the mainstream sequel "Ouija: Origin of Evil." He was now a recognizable force in the horror community.

Flanagan gathered a huge fanbase with his subsequent adaptations of several famous horror novels. In 2017, he adapted Stephen King's "Gerald's Game" into an excellent feature film. In 2018, he turned Shirley Jackson's "The Haunting of Hill House" into a TV miniseries. In 2019, he made "Doctor Sleep," a convoluted ghost story based on King's sequel to "The Shining." Most recently, he adapted Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher...

The impact of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho cannot be understated. The film changed horror (and movie theaters) forever and introduced the world to the infamous killer, Norman Bates (brought to life by Anthony Perkins). Perkins returned to the role 23 years later for Psycho II, followed shorting by Psycho III, and Psycho IV: The Beginning. Ironically, The Beginning was the end of the original franchise, but in 2013, A&e debuted Bates Motel, a modern-day prequel that follows a young Norman's (Freddie Highmore) descent into madness. The series was praised by Psycho fans for giving nuance to Norman's story and helped introduce the classic property to a slew of new viewers. However, Bates Motel was not always a successful title for television. In 1987, a Psycho-based television spin-off under the title aired on NBC. Premiering a year after the release of Psycho III, the film ignored the canon in hopes that it could spin off into a weekly series.

Even outside of Star Wars, prequels tend to get a bad rap. From answering questions that didn’t need answering (and destroying the mysteries of the original in the process) to repeating established formulas ad nauseum, it’s deceptively easy for these blasts from the past to trip over their previously established lore. After all, it’s kind of hard to tell an engaging story when audiences already know what happens next.

Thankfully, the horror genre seems to be especially blessed with filmmakers that see prequels as an opportunity to tell original stories within an established world. I mean, some folks even thought that last year’s Pearl was even better than X, and the trailer for Arkasha Stevenson’s upcoming The First Omen looks like it kicks all kinds of ass – and that’s precisely why we’ve decided to come up with a list highlighting six underrated horror prequels for your viewing pleasure!

Amazon is running a massive sale on over 100 Scream Factory titles today, including some of the lowest-ever prices on their 4K UHDs and Blu-rays. Now is the time to stock up!

Here are some of the top horror highlights from the sale…

Halloween 4K UHDs:

Halloween – $22.99 Halloween II – $20.99 Halloween III – $20.99 Halloween 4 – $20.99 Halloween 5 – $19.99 Halloween 6 / Halloween H20 / Halloween: Resurrection – $59.99

John Carpenter 4K UHDs:

They Live – $18.99 They Live [Steelbook] – $23.99 The Fog – $19.99 The Fog [Steelbook] – $25.99 Prince of Darkness – $19.99 Escape From New York – $20.99 Halloween – $22.99

4K UHDs:

Child’s Play – $22.99 Child’s Play 2 – $20.99 Child’s Play 3 – $19.99 The Howling – $19.99 The Funhouse – $19.99 Slumber Party Massacre / Slumber Party Massacre II – $20.99 Carrie – $20.99 Carrie [Steelbook] – $22.17 Brotherhood of the Wolf – $20.99 Cat People – $20.99 Happy Death Day – $20.99 Happy Death Day 2U – $20.99 Army of Darkness – $21.99 Evil Dead (2013) – $21.99 Dog Soldiers – $21.99 The Haunting of Julia – $21.99 Lifeforce – $21.99 Krampus: The Naughty Cut – $21.99 Alligator – $21.99 The People Under the Stairs -$22.99 Bubba Ho-Tep – $22.99 The Exorcist III – $22.99 Dawn of the Dead (2004) – $22.99 Motel Hell – $22.99 Dead Silence – $22.99 The Return of the Living Dead...

A new episode of the Wtf You Need to Know video series has just arrived online, and for this one we’ve gathered all the important information you need to know to catch up on the Psycho franchise! To hear all about it, check out the video embedded above.

Psycho began with a novel written by Robert Bloch, who was inspired to write the story after hearing about the crimes of Ed Gein. Director Alfred Hitchcock brought Psycho to the screen in 1960, and since then we’ve seen the 1983 film Psycho II, 1986’s Psycho III, a 1987 TV movie called Bates Motel, Psycho IV: The Beginning in 1990, a Gus Van Sant-directed remake of Psycho that was released in 1998, and TV series called Bates Motel, which ran on A&e for five seasons.

Here’s the information on Wtf You Need to Know: Sometimes binging a whole franchise just isn’t feasible...

Freshly announced and put up for pre-order this morning, Arrow Video presents The Psycho Collection on both Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD for a limited edition UK release.

The good news? 4K discs are inherently Region Free!

The Psycho Collection will release on September 25, 2023.

Presented together for the first time in the UK on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, featuring all new restorations of Psycho II, III and IV from the original camera negatives, Arrow Video invites you back inside the Bates Motel and wishes you a very pleasant stay.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Limited Edition Contents

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray (2160p) presentations of all four films New 4K restorations of Psycho II, Psycho III and Psycho IV from the original camera negatives Original lossless mono and 5.1 audio options for Psycho, stereo and 5.1 options for Psycho II and Psycho III, and stereo audio options for Psycho IV Optional English subtitles for...

One of the most controversial films of its day, Alfred Hitchcock’s pioneering horror masterpiece Psycho has endured as one of the most suspenseful films ever made for over six decades. Nearly everything about the movie is iconic; from the stinging Bernard Herrmann score to the emotive performance of star Anthony Perkins, the film is made up of archetypal elements that have come to define the horror genre as we know it today.

So we know that Psycho the movie is a classic, but what about Psycho the franchise? Yes, though they are largely ignored or forgotten by much of the general public, there are three mainline sequels, a spin-off TV movie, a shot-for-shot remake, and a prequel TV series all branching off of Hitchcock’s pièce de résistance. Here’s why the Psycho franchise as a whole is one of the best in all of horror.

Launched by an...

The Black Christmas fan film It’s Me, Billy is getting a sequel with the upcoming It’s Me, Billy Chapter 2: A Black Christmas Fan Film, and we’ve got some big news this morning.

Olivia Hussey will return to her final girl roots and play Jess Bradford in the short film sequel!

Directed by Canadian filmmaking duo Dave McRae and Bruce Dale, It’s Me, Billy Chapter 2 serves as the second and final installment in their Black Christmas tribute series, honoring the legacy of one of the most important characters and films in the genre.

The filmmakers said in a statement this week, “It’s Me, Billy (2021) was always designed to be the first part of a two-part story, hence the cliffhanger ending. It was always our hope that we’d get a chance to complete our vision and bring this story to a conclusion. Now is that time.

The Sleepwalkers episode of Best Horror Movie You Never Saw was Written by Eric Walkuski, Narrated by Jason Hewlett, Edited by Paul Bookstaber, Produced by John Fallon and Tyler Nichols, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

One thing you have to say about our network, we do find many ways to dissect the works of Stephen King. The man’s bibliography and filmography is filled with so many notable titles – titles that meant a lot to a couple generations of faithful readers and moviegoers – that we may never run out of topics to discuss. And as long as you keep following us on our journeys to and back from the King-dom, we’ll keep diving into that fantastical, frightening world.

In 1992, King was firmly established as a household name; among the most famous authors in the world and certainly one of the most prolific. By that time, numerous films based...

Those Rebecca-on-her-deathbed flash-forwards with which This Is Us likes to tease us every once in a while are tough on series star Mandy Moore, but maybe not for the reasons you’d think. “It’s sad, but it’s more of a challenge not to let my own emotions about where the scenes are going influence what’s happening to Rebecca,” Moore tells TVLine. “I don’t want those to bleed through. But wow,” she adds, laughing, “what a crazy journey of going through five-and-a-half hours of hair and makeup to play those scenes with Justin [Hartley] and Sterling [K. Brown].”

As viewers...

Jon Hamm is returning as Archangel Gabriel in Neil Gaiman’s fantasy series Good Omens as the Amazon drama has added a pair of new angels and a character from hell.

Liz Carr, who has featured in FX’s Devs and BBC’s Silent Witness, has signed on to play Saraqael, while Quelin Sepulveda, who is in Netflix’s action thriller Havoc, will play Muriel.

Bridgerton’s Shelley Conn joins the cast as another new character from hell.

Good Omens was renewed earlier this summer by the streamer with Michael Sheen returning as Aziraphale, a fussy angel and rare book dealer, and David Tennant returning as the fast-living demon Crowley — an unlikely duo that teamed up to save the world from the apocalypse.

Hamm’s Gabriel will be aided and abetted by the Angels Michael, played by returning cast member Doon Mackichan, and Uriel, played by Dune’s Gloria Obianyo.

There’s a terrifying amount of scare-centric programming this October, whether it’s being broadcast or streamed.

Paramount+ has announced its “Peak Screaming” package, which will encompass scary movies, kids shows and originals. Amazon, of course, is releasing four original Blumhouse films this month: Bingo Hell, Black as Night, The Manor and Madres. Peacock may have the largest cache of Halloween goodies, none more tasty than the latest installment of that most seasonally-appropriate of franchises, Halloween Kills. It debuts on October 15 on Peacock and in theaters.

October 1

30 Days of Night (Peacock)

Bingo Hell (Prime Video)

Black As Night (Prime Video)

Blippi’s Spooky Spells Halloween (Hulu)

The Blob (Peacock)

Bride of Chucky (Peacock)

Cat People (Peacock)

Child’s Play (Paramount+)

Child’s Play 2 (Peacock)

Child’s Play 3 (Peacock)

Crawl (Paramount+)

Cult of Chucky (Peacock)

Curse of Chucky (Peacock)

Curse of the Fly (Peacock)

Day of the Dead (Peacock)

Devil (Peacock)

The Devil Inside (Paramount+)

Dracula,...

Just in time for Halloween, Post Mortem with Mick Garris kicks off its fifth season with special guest Joe Hill!

"Burbank, California – October 22, 2020 – For more than three decades, Mick Garris, the award-winning filmmaker, podcaster and writer has been behind countless memorable projects for both the big and small screens including Hocus Pocus, The Stand, Sleepwalkers, The Fly II, *batteries not included, Riding the Bullet, Psycho IV, Critters 2, Nightmare Cinema, Tales from the Crypt, Amazing Stories, Freddy’s Nightmares, Masters of Horror and so many more.

Having just won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grimmfest Film Festival, and also the Master of Horror Award from the Overlook Film Festival, Garris knows a thing or two about making scary movies. So, it comes as no surprise that the master of horror’s hit podcast, Post Mortem with Mick Garris, is returning for a fifth season with a whopping 30 episodes, plus several Ask Me Anything editions.

When Stephen King published The Stand in 1978, the book represented a major increase in scale and ambition for the author, whose story of a nationwide battle between forces of good and evil was both his longest and most sophisticated novel to date. 16 years later director Mick Garris took a similar leap when he graduated from modest horror fare like Critters 2: The Main Course and Psycho IV: The Beginning to helm the miniseries adaptation of The Stand, a four-night, six-hour (not counting commercials) epic with hundreds of sets and speaking roles. Stephen King’s The Stand premiered on ABC […]...

When Stephen King published The Stand in 1978, the book represented a major increase in scale and ambition for the author, whose story of a nationwide battle between forces of good and evil was both his longest and most sophisticated novel to date. 16 years later director Mick Garris took a similar leap when he graduated from modest horror fare like Critters 2: The Main Course and Psycho IV: The Beginning to helm the miniseries adaptation of The Stand, a four-night, six-hour (not counting commercials) epic with hundreds of sets and speaking roles. Stephen King’s The Stand premiered on ABC […]...

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is turning 60 on June 16, which means it's about time we revisit the movie which spawned a unique and uniquely fun horror franchise. In order to properly honor Hitchcock's Psycho, we're revisiting every movie in the franchise and seeing how they shape up after all this time. That means we're ranking all four movies — Psycho, Psycho II, Psycho III, and Psycho IV: The Beginning, plus the 1987 Bates Motel TV special and the 1998 Gus Van Sant remake, from worst to best. Hitchcock's Psycho is a unique entry in his …...

Classic monster movies fans, get those wallets ready, because Tuesday has plenty of awesomeness on tap for you that you’re not going to want to miss out on. Universal Studios Home Entertainment has an abundance of titles arriving on August 28th, led by their brand new Universal Classic Monsters: Complete 30-Film Collection, as well as the Complete Legacy Collections for both the original The Creature From the Black Lagoon and The Invisible Man film series.

As if that wasn’t enough, Universal is also reissuing a bunch of other titles, including four different Child’s Play sequels, three Psycho follow-ups, and the latest from Leigh Whannell, Upgrade, featuring Logan Marshall-Green doing all sorts of badass things to a bunch of bad guys.

Scream Factory has given the cult classic Brainscan the HD treatment this week, Mvd is shining the spotlight on Bram Stoker’s Shadowbuilder with their Blu/DVD combo pack,...

It’s fitting that Masters of Horror wouldn’t exist without Mick Garris. As the series creator and producer, it was Garris who dreamed up the idea to have his friends and colleagues in the genre direct episodes of a new anthology series with total creative freedom. But going all the way back to his days as a publicist in the late 1970s and early ’80s, Garris was shining a light on horror and horror directors with his Z Channel interview show. It’s from this show that the legendary panel interview with John Landis, John Carpenter, and Mick Garris comes. Though he would go on to become a hugely successful filmmaker and author in his own right, Garris has always been the one to keep the home fires of horror burning, all the way up to his current Post Mortem podcast, a regular conversation with the biggest and most influential names in the genre.

Two months after The Dark Tower stunk up the multiplex, It came along and reminded all of us that it's possible to adapt a Stephen King story in a way that can be embraced by audiences and critics, to the tune of new box-office records, even. There are quite a few good films as you can see in our best Stephen King movies list. But while that may be true, there are probably more that just haven't hit the mark.

It's almost hard to blame Hollywood for getting it wrong so often, simply because there have been so many attempts at adaptations from wildly diverse source material, tackled by filmmakers with wide ranging levels of talent. Stanley Kubrick, Frank Darabont, Brian De Palma. There have been some real heavy hitters who have smartly adapted the work of our favorite Maine based ultra prolific author. But for every Stand By Me,...

Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990) Director: Mick Garris Stars: Anthony Perkins, Henry Thomas, Olivia Hussey Last weekend marked the release of Darren Aronofsky's new horror art flick Mother!, which has garnered some very divided reactions among critics and audiences, so now Awfully Good Movies pays tribute to the most famous horror movie ever made about a mother...by... Read More...

This month marks the one-year anniversary of Catalog from the Beyond! I thank those of you who have followed along with my inane babbling for the last twelve months, and to celebrate, I’ve decided to do an extra large edition featuring not one, but two movies that I’ve been circling since I started this column. I’ve said before that I was a latecomer to the Psycho franchise, with my rationale being that the movie was so ingrained in pop culture that I assumed I knew what it had to offer without needing to actually watch it. Now, of course, I know that I was very wrong. But after finally coming to my senses, I subsequently noticed a sizable portion of the horror community that also sings the praises of the two sequels that it spawned in 1983 and 1986.

What intrigued me about these two movies is that although...

The only thing more amazing than the fact that there are three sequels to Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho—an untouchable classic that defies sequelization—is the fact that all three sequels are surprisingly good. This is a horror franchise that never should have existed, and yet it is one of the few horror franchises without a single stinker in the bunch… that is, until we get to the 1987 made-for-tv spinoff movie Bates Motel and Gus Van Sant’s shot-for-shot remake in 1998. For our purposes, let’s just stick to the original series of Psycho films starring Anthony Perkins. Anything without the original Norman Bates just ain’t Psycho.

Having never seen the 1990 made-for-cable sequel/prequel Psycho IV: The Beginning prior to Scream Factory’s new Blu-ray release, I was sure this would be the entry in the Psycho series that dropped the ball—the one that looked like what I...

In this episode of Off The Shelf, Ryan and Brian take a look at the new DVD and Blu-ray releases for the week of August 23rd, 2016.

Subscribe in iTunes or RSS.

Episode Notes & Links News The Middle-Earth Ultimate Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Upcoming Indicator Blu-ray Releases Indicator Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders Blu-ray Kino Lorber: Ridley Scott’s 1492: Conquest of Paradise Prepped for Blu-ray Metropolis (2001) Blu-ray Death in the Garden Blu-ray Upcoming 88 Films Blu-ray Releases The DePatie-Freleng Blu-ray Collection Sony Announces First Waves of Mod (Manufacture on Demand) Blu-ray Releases. The Venture Bros: Season Six Blu-ray The Almodóvar Blu-ray Collection Detailed Links to Amazon 3 Bad Men American Dreamer The Bloodstained Butterfly City on Fire The Huntsman: Winter’s War Midnight Run Modesty Blaise Psycho IV: The Beginning Ratchet & Clank The Spiders The Strain Season 2 Sunset Song A Taste of Honey The Walking Dead, Season 6 Wiener-Dog Woman in the Dunes...

Hope you guys made some extra room in your wallets for all the cash you’ll undoubtedly be shelling out this week (love me some “dad humor”), as August 23rd boasts an awesome selection of horror and sci-fi Blu-ray and DVD releases, all capped off by the home entertainment debuts of both season one of Ash vs Evil Dead and the sixth season of The Walking Dead.

Arrow Video is giving the cult classic The Bloodstained Butterfly an HD overhaul for their impressive-looking two-disc Special Edition release that arrives this Tuesday, and Scream Factory is doing the same for another cult classic, Psycho IV: The Beginning. Kino Lorber is releasing a Blu-ray for Chandu The Magician this week, and we’ve also got a DVD and Blu release for Jon Watts’ Clown to look forward to as well.

Other notable releases for August 23rd include Der Bunker, The Ultimate Vincent Price Collection,...

Scream Factory certainly won’t disappoint Mother with their Blu-ray release of Psycho IV: The Beginning on August 23rd, and we’ve been provided with three Blu-ray copies to give away to Daily Dead readers.

————

Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of Psycho IV: The Beginning.

How to Enter: For a chance to win, email contest@dailydead.com with the subject “Psycho IV: The Beginning Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on August 26th. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

————

From the Press Release: Before the terror can end, see how it all began… Psycho IV: The Beginning comes to Blu-ray for the first time on August 23rd, 2016 from Scream Factory. Anthony Perkins,...

On August 23rd, Scream Factory will take Norman Bates fans back to the sinister start with their high-def home media release of director Mick Garris’ Psycho IV: The Beginning, and to give you an idea of what to expect, we have two clips from the upcoming Blu-ray.

From the Press Release: Before the terror can end, see how it all began… Psycho IV: The Beginning comes to Blu-ray for the first time on August 23rd, 2016 from Scream Factory. Anthony Perkins, Henry Thomas and Olivia Hussey star in this chilling prequel to the classic Hitchcock thriller. The release features new extras including audio commentary with director Mick Garris and Henry Thomas and Olivia Hussey, and an interview with make-up effects artist Tony Gardner.

A seemingly rehabilitated Norman Bates (Perkins) is drawn to a late-night radio show where the host (Cch Pounder, Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight) encourages him to share...

On August 23rd, see how it all began! Scream Factory’s Blu-ray of Psycho IV: The Beginning (directed by Mick Garris) features all-new extras including interviews with the director, cast members, and makeup effects artist Tony Gardner:

Press Release: Before the terror can end, see how it all began… Psycho IV: The Beginning comes to Blu-ray for the first time on August 23rd, 2016 from Scream Factory. Anthony Perkins, Henry Thomas and Olivia Hussey star in this chilling prequel to the classic Hitchcock thriller. The release features new extras including audio commentary with director Mick Garris and Henry Thomas and Olivia Hussey, and an interview with make-up effects artist Tony Gardner.

A seemingly rehabilitated Norman Bates (Perkins) is drawn to a late-night radio show where the host (Cch Pounder, Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight) encourages him to share his views on the topic of matricide. Reliving his childhood, Norman...

Underrated Psycho prequel comes to Blu-ray. Alfred Hitchcock’s stark, blackly comic horror landmark Psycho needs little introduction and certainly, it needs no defense of any kind. Psycho is Psycho. Peerless and, 56 years after its release, still as powerful and affecting as ever. But its sequels often do need defending. The Tom Holland/Richard Franklin 1983…

The post Scream Factory to Release Mick Garris’ Psycho IV: The Beginning on Blu-ray appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

The Psycho sequels and prequels have always been a personal favorite. In 2013 Shout Factory released Psycho II and III, and now they’re rounding out the collection with another Blu-ray release of Psycho IV: The Beginning. The disc will include several bonus features, including an all new commentary with Mick Garris, Henry Thomas and Olivia Hussey, and a new behind-the-scenes documentary featuring Make-up effects artist Tony Gardner. The Blu-ray hits on August 23rd. See the press release below for further details.

Scream Factory Presents

Psycho IV: The Beginning

On Blu-ray August 23, 2016

The thrilling prequel to the immortal classic Psycho

Before the terror can end, see how it all began… Psycho IV: The Beginning comes to Blu-ray for the first time on August 23, 2016 from Scream Factory. Anthony Perkins, Henry Thomas and Olivia Hussey star in this chilling prequel to the classic Hitchcock thriller. The release features new extras including audio commentary...

Scream Factory is taking Norman Bates fans back to where it all started this summer with their newly announced Blu-ray release of Mick Garris’ Psycho IV: The Beginning, starring Anthony Perkins.

Scream Factory has slated their Blu-ray of Psycho IV: The Beginning for an August 23rd release. Bonus features are underway and will be revealed early this summer. Stay tuned to Daily Dead for more updates, and take a look at the official announcement and cover art below:

From Scream Factory: “This Summer stay out of the showers! “Norman Bates” is back in Psycho IV, which is headed to the Blu-ray format on August 23rd.

A seemingly rehabilitated Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) is drawn to a late night radio show where the host (Cch Pounder) encourages him to share his views on the topic of matricide. Reliving his childhood, Norman recounts his trials of a young boy (Henry Thomas...

The phrase "serial killer" is most often attributed to the late FBI agent Robert Ressler, who coined the term along with fellow agent John Douglas as they began profiling and researching murder cases in the 1970s. His work led him to have direct contact with serial killers, with Ressler apparently receiving a painting from killer John Wayne Gacy with an inscription that apparently read: "Dear Bob Ressler, you cannot hope to enjoy the harvest without first laboring in the fields. Best wishes and good luck. Sincerely, John Wayne Gacy, June 1988."

The inscription sounds like it came out of a movie, which perhaps isn't so surprising since Hollywood has been making movies about serial killers since the silent era. Sometimes these movies are about real-life killers, other times they are based on real-life killers or events, or, and perhaps even more disturbing, they are based on nothing but imagination. Either way,...

Like so many retirees, director Steven Soderbergh is spending his twilight years exploring new hobbies. Some people take up golf. Some people play the stock market. And Soderbergh has edited together Alfred Hitchcock’s horror classic Psycho with Gus Van Sant’s somewhat-less-classic shot-for-shot remake of Psycho. The mash-up mixes scenes from the original with the remake — at the 19:20 mark, Janet Leigh opens a door from the outside and then Anne Heche closes it from the inside.

By far the most interesting part of Soderbergh’s experiment is the shower scene — or rather, shower scenes, since Soderbergh overlays the two versions.

I don't know about you guys, but I am beyond stoked for the return of 'Bates Motel' on A&E, which kicks off its 2nd Season on March 3rd. As a die-hard Psycho fanatic (hell, I made a documentary about the entire original franchise), the funnest part of the show for me has been seeing what direction they take this new version of the story. By setting it in modern day and changing a few key aspects from the original movie, they've already created a unique new mythology and universe for these characters to flourish in. And because of that, anything goes! We're in new territory from this point on.

So while I have no true insight into what the writers have planned for this new season, I thought it'd be fun to hypothetically toss out the names of a few characters we've gotten to know from the...