Though Freddy’s third go-round is arguably the best entry in the franchise, I always wondered what could have been had they let Nancy Thompson survive. I don’t know if Heather Langenkamp would have gone on to do more “Elm Street” films or not, but, much like Amy Steel not returning for FRIDAY THE 13th PART 3, you can’t help but think it was a missed opportunity to really build a solid character arc in later sequels. Thankfully, fans got a bit more of Langenkamp in WES CRAVEN’S NEW NIGHTMARE (1994), a film so delightfully esoteric, I’m surprised it got produced.

In 2024, we celebrated 40 years of A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET and Langenkamp turned 60. Sweet dreams, Nancy, and thanks for the memories.

From Fangoria Poster Magazine #2 (1988)

#onesheetwonders #anightmareonelmstreet3dreamwarriors #heatherlangenkamp #nancythompson #robertenglund #freddykrueger #wescravensnewnightmare #fangoria #amysteel #fridaythe13thpart33d

Back in the mid 1980’s, Fangoria decided to jump-start an abbreviated documentary video series that wisely began by spotlighting practical effects guru, Tom Savini. This was followed up by a second volume, “Satanism and Witchcraft”. Unfortunately, this edition would mark the end of Fango’s well-intentioned initial foray into home video. Though Savini’s volume was understandably the more popular title, volume two is much tougher to find these days. This ad is something I kept from 1986, which is when both video volumes were originally released.

#fearflashbacks #screamgreats #fangoria #satanismandwitchcraft #tomsavini

France has been shockingly consistent the past 25 years in unleashing artful, gory, and even thought-provoking horror films. This cinematic movement, dubbed the New French Extremity, has burgeoned with quality thrillers from directors such as Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo (INSIDE), Gaspar Noe (IRREVERSIBLE), Pascal Laugier (MARTYRS), Alexandre Aja (HIGH TENSION), and Julia Ducournau (RAW). These films reaped box office receipts and controversy in equal measure, graphically tackling such hot-button topics as rape, revenge, pregnancy, homosexuality, and vegetarianism.

In 2024, we got a prominent new entry in the movement. THE SUBSTANCE, directed by Paris-born Coralie Fargeat, had a limited release this autumn before recently taking up residence on a number of streaming services. It tells the story of an aging star who goes to horrific lengths to extend her stay in Hollywood’s warm limelight. Specifically, this includes injecting a black-market drug that guarantees glowing, youthful results…but only if the directions are very closely followed.

With its monstrous, twisted body parts and geysers of body fluids, you might think there’d be no comfortable room for commentary. Hold on there, folks, because THE SUBSTANCE handily takes on body dysmorphia, ageism, and celebrity in one fell swoop. In what may be her greatest career achievement, Demi Moore dives head-first into her role as Elisabeth Sprinkle, a Hollywood has-been who’s tumbled down quite a few pegs on the ladder of fame and fortune. The results of her dabble in biofuckery is a pretty, perfect entity simply named Sue, wonderfully fleshed out (literally!) by Margaret Qualley, recently featured in Yorgos Lanthimos’s odd fantasy, POOR THINGS.

Playing out like a coked-up mix of BASKET CASE, MALIGNANT, and Joe Dante’s GREMLINS, THE SUBSTANCE boils its darkly comedic social commentary down to one point: how humans just cannot play by the rules, and that we’re seemingly pre-programmed to derail ourselves. As Fargeat’s blood-soaked fairy tale shows us, vanity, opportunity, and a few extra body parts are destined to get in the way.

#horrorhappenings #thesubstance #coraliefargeat #newfrenchextremity #julienmaury #alexandrebustillo #gasparnoe #alexandreaja #juliaducournau #pascallaugier #yorgoslanthimos #joedante #poorthings #malignant #inside #irreversible #martyrs #raw #basketcase #gremlins #demimoore #margaretqualley

You’re probably saying, “It’s a freaking control panel, big deal!”…and you’d be exactly right!

This is one of the actual props used in James Whale’s 1931 Universal monster classic, FRANKENSTEIN. That’s correct, folks, this thing is almost 100 years old and was also repurposed for the film’s sequel, THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN (1935).

I snapped this at the Museum of Popular Culture (MoPOP) in Seattle, WA back around late 2018. I’ll have lots more props to share with you in the coming months!

#fearflashbacks #frankenstein #thebrideoffrankenstein #jameswhale #universalpicture #universalmonsters #maryshelley #museumofpopularculture #mopop #seattle #washington

We here at UBHB understand. For those folks still feeling bad about Halloween season being over for this year, this one’s for you.

#killermemes&comics #halloweenII #michaelmyers #finger #butt

I don’t know how to feel about this.

One one hand, Guadagnino proved innovative when he rebooted Dario Argento’s landmark of sights and sounds, SUSPIRIA, back in 2018, but Mary Harron already gave us a keenly grotesque and funny adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ bestseller the first time around, way back in 2000.

Go check out the original article over at Variety and see what your take is on this one. One thing’s for certain: Guadagnino is going to have a tough time besting Harron’s “did-he-or-didn’t-he?” ending, which still stands as one of the strongest of its era.

#horrorhappenings #americanpsycho #breteastonellis #lucaguadagnino #maryharron #adaptation #variety

Some of the greatest horror taglines of all time are so damn good, society chose to fold them into our permanent lexicon. These marketing bon mots from such films as ALIEN (1979), DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978), and THE FLY (1986) have become as well-known as the classic films that birthed them.

Stuart Gordon’s go-for-broke adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s “Herbert West – Reanimator” is no exception: “Herbert West has a very good head on his shoulders…and another one in a dish on his desk!” Not only is this statement throwing down the horror gauntlet to get audiences into theater seats, it’s almost perfectly aligned with Gordon’s gloriously icky black humor.

#onesheetwonders #reanimator #stuartgordon #herbertwest #alien #dawnofthedead #thefly

Hide the eggnog! Those maniacs over at Cineverse and Bloody Disgusting have just dropped the news that they will be in cahoots to bring us a remake of SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT.

Though most reports of remakes, reboots, and ‘reimaginings’ make me groan–and even occasionally throw up–this one gave me pause. Let’s face it, the original franchise wasn’t exactly memorable (okay, okay, it’s terrible), so the idea of another go-round for this one gives me a bit of unexpected Christmas cheer.

We’ll all have to wait until at least late 2025 for the results, but in the meantime check out the full story over at Bloody Disgusting!

#horrorhappenings #silentnightdeadlynight #cineverse #bloodydisgusting #remake

From FINAL DESTINATION to the coveted role of Ben in Tom Savini’s 1990 remake of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, Tony Todd was a well-known face in the horror crowd for more than 30 years. Sadly, the actor passed away at his Los Angeles home on November 6th, as reported by TMZ. He was 69 years old.

Todd will forever remain in the horror pantheon for his title role in CANDYMAN, the 1992 film adaptation of a short story by Clive Barker. The Washington D.C. native exuded a stinging mix of danger and sensuality as a legendary, hook-handed boogeyman, capturing the imagination of audiences and critics alike. Upon the film’s success, Todd saw his star power rise as he starred in a number of sequels while pursuing high-profile roles in such television shows as “The X Files”, “Stargate SG-1”, “Boston Public”, “Law & Order”, and a turn as Worf’s brother, Kurn, on both “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”.

#grimgoodbyes #tonytodd #candyman #clivebarker #finaldestination #nightofthelivingdead #thexfiles #stargatesg1 #bostonpublic #law&order #startrekthenextgeneration #startrekdeepspacenine #washingtondc #losangeles

Curiosity killed the George.

#killermemes&comics #curiousgeorge #fridaythe13th #campcrystallake