Feo Amante's Horror Thriller

F24 - A30 - O7 - J13 - S15 - S10 - D14 - J3 - F28

Coronavirus Mortality Updates: 2020 - 2023

March 16

YOU DUG IT
Good 2 Know: Any weekend box office drop of less than 50% is good. Any weekend B.O. drop smaller than 30% of the previous is excellent.
General Rules:
A. Theaters get approximately 50% of the gross in North American B.O. (negotiable).
B. Distributors omitting Production budget figures believe the movie will under perform.
C. Total gross by the 3rd weekend accounts for at least half of movie's total theater ticket sales regardless of length of stay.
D. After the 3rd weekend, as screens drop, theater 50/50 B.O. split rises about 10% each weekend, favoring the theater, until it stops at 80/20 (negotiable).

3. UNDERTONE from A24 debuts just shy of $10 million in its opening weekend.

4. SCREAM 7 steps down from last weekend's massive drop to #3. This weekend, the fall was significantly less with a 50% loss in ticket sales, which isn't great, against a 297 screen cut, which is to be expected.

6. THE BRIDE! drops from last weekend's #3 with a massive 70% loss in ticket sales. You might be ready to bury this one.

9. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES II: THE SECRET OF THE OOZE, gets a 1,372 screen re-release courtesy of Fandango and actually makes the Top Ten.

13. SEND HELP, in its 7th weekend, drops off the Top Ten with a 54% loss in ticket sales against a 720 screen cut, free falling 5 places from last weekend's #8.

You Buried Nothing

Figures calibrated from reporting by Box Office Mojo and The Numbers. Should there be differences between the two, I err on the side of caution and post the most positive numbers.

And -

47 Years of TOURIST TRAP

TOURIST TRAP

46 years: Never a Remake. Never a Sequel. Never an Equal.

This is why TOURIST TRAP is one of the best Horror movies ever made.

Plus -

RAVENOUS Turns 27

Ravenous

Cannibal zombies, Cannibal primitive tribes, Cannibal criminals hiding in plain sight. What about just Cannibals as a pronoun? Someone may not have been born a cannibal but feels as though they are a Cannibal and that has to be respected. Because only food wouldn't accept cannibalism and who cares what your food thinks?

This movie came out back in 1999, takes place in the century before that, and if it wasn't for the dark humor, it likely would have made Horror fans even more uncomfortable. Mike Bracken The Horror Geek, saw it in the theater lo these many moons ago and this is his take on RAVENOUS.

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -
By E.C. McMullen Jr.

RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE - Sienna Guillory

Actor Tara Buck (TRUE BLOOD [TV], THE LIFE ZONE, TOMORROW YOU'RE GONE, THE NIGHT VISITOR, AT THE DEVIL'S DOOR, NOISE IN THE MIDDLE) is 50.
Actor Victor Garber (MONKEYS IN THE ATTIC, GRAND LARCENY, THE FIRST CIRCLE, WOMAN ON TRIAL: THE LAWRENCIA BEMBENEK STORY, EXOTICA, KLEPTOMANIA, HOSTILE ADVANCES: THE KERRY ELLISON STORY, INVISIBLE CHILD, LOVE AND MURDER, DEADLY APPEARANCES, THE WANDERING SOUL MURDERS, A COLDER KIND OF DEATH, TORSO: THE EVELYN DICK STORY, HOME ROOM, ALIAS [TV], ReGENESIS [TV], JUSTICE [TV], DAMAGES [TV], THE LAST TEMPLAR [TV], ICE QUAKE, EVERYTHING SHE EVER WANTED [TV], THE ENTITLED, DECEPTION [TV], I'LL FOLLOW YOU DOWN, THE HUNTERS, CONSUMED, SELF/LESS, VIXEN: THE MOVIE, THE FLASH [TV], DC's LEGENDS OF TOMORROW [TV], POWERBOOK II: GHOST) is 76.
Actor Sienna Guillory (THE LAST MINUTE, SUPERSTITION, RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE, MARPLE: A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED, SILENCE BECOMES YOU, VIRTUALITY, PERFECT LIFE, RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE, THE LIST, RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION, BEING AMERICAN, THE WICKED WITHIN, ABDUCT, HIGH-RISE, DON'T HANG UP, FORTITUDE [TV], CRYSTAL'S SHADOW, A BANQUET, MEG 2: THE TRENCH) is 49.
Look for Sienna's upcoming 2024, 2025, 2026 Horror Thriller, ONE OF US.
Writer, Artist Todd McFarlane (VENOM [Comic], SPAWN [Comic], SPAWN [TV], SPAWN [Graphic Novel], SPAWN [Movie], VENOM [Movie]) is 64.
Writer Amanda Stevens (THE DOLLMAKER, THE DEVIL'S FOOTPRINTS) is way, way old!
Visit her at Amanda Stevens.
Producer and Director Gore Verbinski (THE RING, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: THE CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END, A CURE FOR WELLNESS, GOOD LUCK HAVE FUN DON'T DIE) is 59.

SUNDAY -

NIGHTBREED - David Cronenberg

Director / Actor David Cronenberg (SHIVERS aka THEY CAME FROM WITHIN, RABID, THE BROOD, SCANNERS, VIDEODROME, THE FLY, THE DEAD ZONE, DEAD RINGERS, NIGHTBREED, LAST NIGHT, RESURRECTION, eXistenZ, JASON X, SPIDER, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, EASTERN PROMISES, A DANGEROUS METHOD, DISAPPEARANCE AT CLIFTON HILL, SLASHER [TV], CRIMES OF THE FUTURE, THE SHROUDS) is 83.
Writer Christopher Fulbright (SOMETIMES WOMEN ARE SO COLD, THE COMES THE CHILD*, BLOOD COVERN*, WHEN IT RAINS AND OTHER WRECKAGE, OF WOLF AND MAN - *w/Angeline Hawkes, THE BONE TREE) is 67.
Writer Heather Graham (HAUNTED, PICTURE ME DEAD, IN THE DARK, PRESENCE, IF LOOKS COULD KILL, KILLING KELLY, GHOST WALK, THE VISION, THE DEAD ROOM, THE SEANCE, DEADLY NIGHT, NIGHTWALKER, UNHALLOWED GROUND, PHANTOM EVIL, and way more) is 66.
Producer / Director Renny Harlin (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4, DIE HARD 2, DEEP BLUE SEA, MINDHUNTERS, EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING, THE COVENANT, THE DYATLOV PASS INCIDENT aka DEVIL'S PASS, BODIES AT REST, THE REFUGE, THE STRANGERS: CHAPTER 1, CHAPTER 2, CHAPTER 3) is 67.
Look for Renny's 2025 2026 Horror Thriller, DEEP WATER (deadly sharks) starring Aaron Eckhart (THE CORE, PAYCHECK, THE DARK KNIGHT, BATTLE: LOS ANGELES). Also expected in 2026, BLACK TIDES (deadly whales) starring John Travolta (THE DEVIL'S RAIN, CARRIE, BATTLEFIELD EARTH) and his daughter Ella Bleu Travolta.
Actor Kellan Lutz (GHOSTS OF GOLDFIELD, PROM NIGHT [2008], TWILIGHT [all], THE FORGOTTEN ONES, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET [2010], ARENA, IMMORTALS, MONEY, THE OSIRIS CHILD, 7 GUARDIANS OF THE TOMB, THE GUARDIANS OF JUSTICE [TV], WHAT REMAINS) is 42.
Horror writer and editor, Eunice Magill (Former columnist for Dark Wisdom magazine) is 65.
SFX Make-Up Artist Greg Nicotero (DAY OF THE DEAD [1985], EVIL DEAD 2, PHANTASM II, A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET: THE DREAM CHILD, BRIDE OF RE-ANIMATOR, MISERY, ARMY OF DARKNESS, NEW NIGHTMARE, IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS, THE WALKING DEAD [1995], GALAXIS, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN [all], SCREAM, SPAWN, THE NIGHT FLIER, SCREAM 2, PHANTOMS, THE FACULTY, THE HAUNTING [1999], HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL [1999], THE GREEN MILE, THE CELL, UNBREAKABLE, MULHOLLAND DR., GHOSTS OF MARS, MINORITY REPORT, KILL BILL [all], EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING, SIN CITY, THE AMITYVILLE HORROR [2005], LAND OF THE DEAD, THE ISLAND, SERENITY, HOSTEL, THE HILLS HAVE EYES [2006], PRIMEVAL, MASTERS OF HORROR [all], GRINDHOUSE, TRANSFORMERS, PLANET TERROR, DIARY OF THE DEAD, THE MIST, MIRRORS, THE UNBORN, DRAG ME TO HELL, SURROGATES, SPLICE, THE BOOK OF ELI, THE LAST EXORCISM, PREDATORS, PIRANHA [2010], THE WALKING DEAD [TV], FEAR THE WALKING DEAD [TV], ANNABELLE, ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, CAPTIVE STATE, WATCHMEN [TV], INFERNUM OBSCURA, QUEENS OF THE DEAD) is 63.
Gregory shares a birthday month with THE FACULTY alumni, writer Kevin Williamson.
Horror Artist Sam Shearon (Album covers include GODHEAD, STATIC-X, ROB ZOMBIE: HELLBILLY DELUXE 2) is 49. Visit him at SamShearon.com.
Musician/Actor Dee Snider (Band: TWISTED SISTER. Movies: STRANGELAND, DEEPWATER, THE HISTORY OF FUTURE FOLK, MOTORCITY, HOLLISTON [TV]) is 71.

FORBIDDEN PLANET is 70

FORBIDDEN PLANET

I watch this and I see a Nayfack movie that compells me, but one that was flawed even for its time, and I'm not only talking about it being nearly half exposition.

"Here is where the Krells would come to to play a game remarkably similar to our Bowling. Their extraordinary skill at ball handling was millions of years in advance of our own. They accomplished this stunning achievement through the use of..."

GAH!

Its flaws grow larger with age, and if it was at all possible to make things right without adding more wrong, this is a story that could be ageless.

Of course, some folks already think FORBIDDEN PLANET is ageless.

RESIDENT EVIL is 24

RESIDENT EVIL

There came a point in the genesis of this movie where George A. Romero, who'd been attached throughout its long gestation, left the project, not wanting to have anything to do with it: At all.

That's when the guy who apparently didn't want to direct it, Writer and Producer, Paul W.S. Anderson, found he wasn't able to get anyone else on such short notice. Nearly everyone on this picture was hired, waiting, Production was about to begin, the money clock was ticking and spending, and a quick, cheap, nobody director would need investor approval. So, not wanting to but needing to get this movie made under contractual obligations, Paul directed it himself. This was the result with 2002's RESIDENT EVIL.

TERRIFIER Turns 8 (or maybe 10?)

TERRIFIER

Have you resisted this movie because you've heard about "that" scene and you're not sure if you can "handle" it?

Or maybe you started watching it, saw the woman visitor and told yourself, "Nope! Nope! NOPE!"

If that happened?

Sucks to be you!

This is how Ken King, the Fan Behind the Mask, reacted to TERRIFIER.

SATURDAY -

THE PRESTIGE - Michael Caine

Actor Michael Caine (THE IPCRESS FILE, FUNERAL IN BERLIN, BILLION DOLLAR BRAIN, THE MAGUS, GET CARTER, SLEUTH, THE BLACK WINDMILL, PEEPER, THE EAGLE HAS LANDED, THE SWARM, THE ISLAND [1980], DRESSED TO KILL, THE HAND, DEATHTRAP, THE JIGSAW MAN, THE FOURTH PROTOCOL, THE WHISTLE BLOWER, JAWS: THE REVENGE, WITHOUT A CLUE, A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM, BLUE ICE, ON DEADLY GROUND, BLOOD AND WINE, QUILLS, GET CARTER [2000], THE QUIET AMERICAN, QUICKSAND, THE STATEMENT, BATMAN BEGINS, CHILDREN OF MEN, THE PRESTIGE, FLAW, LESS, SLEUTH [2007], THE DARK KNIGHT, HARRY BROWN, INCEPTION, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, NOW YOU SEE ME, ELIZA GRAVES, INTERSTELLAR, KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE, THE LAST WITCH HUNTER, COME AWAY, TENET) is 93.
Writer John Everson (CAGE OF BONES AND OTHER DEADLY OBSESSIONS, VIGILANTES OF LOVE, FAILURE, COVENANT, SINS OF THE SIRENS [EDITOR], SACRIFICE, THE 13TH) is 60.
Actor Daniel Gillies (NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU, SPIDER-MAN 2, TRESPASSING, Masters of Horror: DREAM CRUISE, CAPTIVITY, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES [TV], THE ORIGINALS [TV], OCCUPATION: RAINFALL, COMING HOME IN THE DARK, SHAMAN) is 50.
Daniel shares his birthday with THE VAMPIRE DIARIES alumnis, Writer Kevin Williamson and a Birthday month with Rick Worthy.
Actor Mercedes McNab (THE ADDAMS FAMILY, ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES, THE FANTASTIC FOUR [1994], BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER [TV], ANGEL [TV], HATCHET, VIPERS, XII, DARK REEL, THIRST, MEDIUM RAW: NIGHT OF THE WOLF, HATCHET II) is 46.
Writer Kevin Williamson (SCREAM [all], I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER, THE FACULTY, TEACHING MRS. TINGLE, GLORY DAYS [TV], CURSED, HIDDEN PALMS [TV], THE VAMPIRE DIARIES [TV], THE FOLLOWING [TV], TIME AFTER TIME [TV], TELL ME A STORY [TV], SCREAM [2022], SICK) is 59.

THE PROPHECY 3 is 26

THE PROPHECY 3: THE ASCENT

With this movie, actor Christopher Walken was able to wrap up his three picture deal in a nice, bright, packag-Ah! He left the franchise, which continued to stumble on without him for another two pictures. If he ever had anything bad to say about the movies I'm unaware of it. I'm also unaware of Christopher ever having anything good to say about THE PROPHECY 3: THE ASCENT.

WILLARD is 23

WILLARD - 2003

Did you read the bestseller, RATMAN'S NOTEBOOKS?

No?

Did you see the first WILLARD movie from 1971?

No?

Well in the 2003 remake, actor Crispin Glover (FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE FINAL CHAPTER, ALICE IN WONDERLAND [2010]), who handles comedy and sinister with equal aplomb, brought on the full force of alienating creepiness, as only he can turn on whenever he wants to. Holy Crap! This is why Glover IS WILLARD!

DOOMSDAY is Old Enough to Vote

DOOMSDAY movie review

If you ever wanted to escape Back to New York, if you were ever Mad for Max, and you didn't want to wait 28 Days Later for it to happen, this is a Neil Marshall (DOG SOLDIERS, THE DESCENT) movie you are going to want to see but quick. That's the opinion of reviewer Bishop Bettini and I can vouch for DOOMSDAY.

GET SOME CLOTHES ON

RETURN TO TOP

March 13

UNDERTONE Opens Today

And -

THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN Turns 84

THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN

1942 and Horror movie icon, Boris Karloff turned in his Frankenstein creature flat top. Gone forever was the gaunt, towering, death come to life, monster that he portrayed. Universal Pictures, under a new and confused management that wanted Monster Movie money without the stain of making monster movies, brought in Lon Chaney Jr. Junior's old man did Horror, Junior did Horror, and who was going to tell the difference between a wasted, sunken cheeked creature and one built like a 2 years after retirement pro football linebacker?

Plus, it had Bela Lugosi as Igor!*

More to the point, who cared? Not the new owners who practically stole Universal Pictures from the Laemmle family after their own Junior acquired a seriously bad loan deal to make a picture.

Early 20th Century Universal Pictures has so many grim lessons to teach modern filmmakers. THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN (now the name of the creature itself) may have run on fumes, but they were powerful enough to represent Mary Shelly Wollstone's monster in our cultureal zeitgiest nearly a century later.

*It also had Cedric Hardwicke and Lionel Atwill, who were monster movie masters back then, lending a gravitas touch of sophisticated theater acting to these otherwise Young Adult movies much the same way Christopher Lee did to Count Dooku or Peter Cushing did for Grand Moff Tarkin or Alec Guinness with Obi-Wan Kenobi, or...

Plus -

THE EVIL DEAD II is 38

EVIL DEAD II

Though Sam Raimi still attempts to have you believe otherwise, this is not a sequel. Ash comes upon the cabin in the woods for the first time, he's not returning to it for a second time. If anything the story was changed from a serious Horror movie to a cornball comedy satirizing itself just enough to be a remake, or a reboot, or a reimagininginginging. You can believe what you like, but since this movie is old enough to be your Father, let's get past all that and treat EVIL DEAD II as a seqboot remock!

Finale -

HAPPY HORROR THRILLER BIRTHDAYS TO -

CRAWL  - Kaya Scodelario

By E.C. McMullen Jr.
Actor Chris Ashworth (AQUARIUS, THE WIRE [TV], LOVE LIES BLEEDING, SEX AND LIES IN SIN CITY, TERMINATOR SALVATION, THE DEMENTED, 13 SINS, 2020, DAY LABOR) is 51.
Actor Steve Bacic (DEADLY SINS, THE X-FILES [TV], VOYAGE OF TERROR, HEAVEN'S FIRE, QUARANTINE [2000], THE 6TH DAY, BALLISTIC: ECKS VS. SEVER, THRESHOLD, X2, STARGATE SG-1 [TV], ANDROMEDA [TV], Masters of Horror: HAECKEL'S TALE, DECEPTION, SAFE HARBOR, THE TOOTH FAIRY, AFGHAN KNIGHTS, BATTLESTAR GALATICA: RAZOR, THE FINAL STORM, 5 SOULS, FATAL PERFORMANCE, GHOST STORM, A HAUNTING AT SILVER FALLS, 5 SOULS, SUDDENLY, SPOOKSVILLE [TV], GARAGE SALE MYSTERY [TV], BLACKWAY, GET OUT ALIVE, DEADLY SORORITY, COLD ZONE, ALTER) is 61.
Actor Noel Fisher (VALENTINE [2001], I WAS A TEENAGE FAUST, KILLER BEES!, FINAL DESTINATION 2, X-MEN: EVOLUTION [TV], LIGHTNING: BOLTS OF DESTRUCTION, RED, BATTLE LOS ANGELES, THE BOOTH AT THE END [TV], THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN PART 2, CASTLE ROCK [TV]) is 42.
Writer / Actor Joe Knetter (SUCKED UP FHIT, TRAPDOOR, TWISTED LONELINESS, ZOMBIE BUKKAKE, DOOMED TO CONSUME, TERROR OVERLOAD, STRIP CLUB SLASHER, THE HORROR CONVENTION MASSACRE, NIGHT ON HAS BEEN MOUNTAIN, NIGHT TERRORS, MONSTERPIECE THEATER VOL. 1, MY UNCLE JOHN IS A ZOMBIE, MONSTERLAND, CHAINSAW MAIDENS FROM HELL, CYNTHIA, HANUKKAH, DESERT MOON, HORRORTHON VOLUME 2, BEARRY, and more) is 50.
Actor Harry Melling (HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1, WAR OF THE WORLDS [TV], THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME [TV], THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH, THE PALE BLUE EYE) is 37.
Actor Kaya Scodelario (MOON, CLASH OF THE TITANS [2010], TWENTY8K, THE TRUTH ABOUT EMANUEL, SOUTHCLIFFE [TV], CRAWL, THE PALE HORSE [TV], RESIDENT EVIL: WELCOME TO RACCOON CITY, THE KING'S DAUGHTER, THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10) is 34.

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MORE NEWS

FEO'S BRAGGADOCIO

The ScientistFeo and Cup #118Some people think I'm more important than you (I don't, but they do. You know how they are) and this is their (HA!) evidence.

INTERVIEWS

Joe Mynhardt interviews E.C. McMullen Jr. in the book HORROR 201: The Silver Scream.

Matt Jarbo's interview with Feo Amante at The Zurvivalist.

James Cheetham's Q&A with Feo Amante at Unconventional Interviews *.

Megan Scudellari interviews Feo Amante and Kelly Parks (of THE SCIENCE MOMENT) in The Scientist Magazine.

Check out our interview at Science on the silver screen.

REFERENCES

Anthropologist Gretchen Bakke, PhD, references my UNFAIR RACIAL CLICHE ALERT as an expert resource in her 2010 Anthropological Quarterly essay @ Johns Hopkins University,
Dead White Men: An Essay on the Changing Dynamics of Race in US Action Cinema
by Gretchen Bakke
Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT., page 426.
PDF (author’s website): https://bakkeconsolidated.org/things/Dead_White_Men.pdf
PDF (author’s website at Archive.org): https://web.archive.org/web/20241008002700/https://bakkeconsolidated.org/things/Dead_White_Men.pdf
PDF (ResearchGate): Dead White Men: An Essay on the Changing Dynamics of Race in US Action Cinema

Researcher David Waldron, references my review of UNDERWORLD in the Spring 2005, Journal of Religion and Popular Culture entry, Role-Playing Games and the Christian Right: Community Formation in Response to a Moral Panic (downloadable pdf).

E.C. McMullen Jr.

Author page at Amazon (Amazon.com)
Listed at GoodReads
Internet Movie Database resume (IMDb.com),
Stage 32 listing (stage32.com),
Listed at Academia.edu and is a
24 year member of the San Diego Comic Convention (SDCC).
Wikipedia 1, 2, 3, 4
Starbucks Cup #118
E.C. McMullen Jr. / Feo Amante is quoted throughout the Internet and print as a resource on,

Books That Bounce* Inspiration from Shivers?*
Cirque Du Freak My Weekend of Horrors*
FilmSchoolRejects The Science of Fiction
In Defense Of J.J. Abrams* PHANTASM EXHUMED: The Unauthorized Companion

* Linked to archive.org

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