News: Jeff Burr dead at 60 RIP

 From the Hollywood Reporter

 'Jeff Burr, the horror specialist who directed Vincent Price in one of his last movies and entries in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Puppet Master, Pumpkinhead and Stepfather franchises, has died. He was 60.'

I first heard the name Jeff Burr in the pages of Fangoria magazine when they covered his first feature film FROM A WHISPER TO A SCREAM. It took some time for me to see the film but I was impressed with it and the cast (the lovable Vincent Price headlining).

It was his third feature as director that really grabbed my attention upon seeing it on its initial theatrical run; LEATHERFACE: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE III. It was a different beast from the first two CHAINSAW films and better for it. It was a lean, mean, killing machine that made for a 90 minute thrill ride.

Burr often directed films with a numeral in the title. But he managed to elevate what otherwise would have been a simple, quick cash in. He put his magical spin on it and made the franchise that much more special.

RIP Jeff Burr.

 

News: R.I.P. Bill Paxton dead at age 61

It was a shock hearing of character actor Bill Paxton's death at age 61 on Saturday due to complications from surgery. He's one of those actors who may not be the lead in a film but certainly makes an impression on the viewer. And he struck me as the kind of guy I'd want to have a beer with.

While I had seen Bill in a music video (the quirky FISH HEADS) and a number of films, (STRIPES, STREETS OF FIRE, THE TERMINATOR) it wasn't until his performance as the wise cracking Private Hudson in ALIENS that I was able to put a name to the face. From that point till now it is a joy to see his name in the credits of a film I'm watching.

There are two films I'd like to note in his long career that don't get the attention they deserve. The first is Sam Raimi's A SIMPLE PLAN. It is one of the few films where Bill stars and he puts in a great performance as a man trying to desperately hold onto a lot of found cash. The supporting cast, Billy Bob Thornton, Bridget Fonda, Cary Cole and others also put in fine performances. The second film is one of two films that Bill directed, FRAILTY. Bill stars (one of the perks of directing) alongside Powers Boothe and Matthew McConaughey as a religious man who has visions. And not the nice kind of visions. It's a smartly done low budget character study with a couple of surprises along the way.

R.I.P.

News: R.I.P. Keyboardist Geoff Nicholls, dead at 68

I don't recall when I first realized that I was a metal head but do recall the first album I ever purchased. It was Black Sabbath's live album, LIVE EVIL. The history of the band was unknown to me at the time and I didn't know Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio were two singers in the band (with a history of animosity between them). All I knew after hearing the songs IRON MAN and HEAVEN AND HELL was that I wanted to listen to more of that, whatever that was. It wasn't long after that I had amassed the entire Black Sabbath catalog and was learning all I could about the members of the band and the line up changes that plagued the band for decades.

There was one band member that I didn't hear much about, keyboardist Geoff Nicholls. Geoff joined the band for the album HEAVEN AND HELL and played with them for many years afterwards. While not an official member of the band until 1986, a status that came and went depending on who was back in the band recording and touring, he was a solid contributor to their pioneering heavy metal sound. I had the pleasure of seeing Geoff in concert a couple of time. Once during the DEHUMANIZER tour and again at Ozzfest. Thank you for all the wonderful music.

R.I.P. Geoff Nicholls.

News: Don Calfa dead at 76

Veteran film and television actor Don Calfa has died at age 76. Being a child of the boob tube in the 70's and 80's I'm certain I had seen him on such shows as KOJAK, BARETTA, BARNEY MILLER and scores of others that I compulsively watched as a child. But it wasn't until his brilliant performance in the horror comedy THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD that I really took notice of the character actor. His portrayal of the Nazi loving mortician Ernie enlisted to help dispose of bags of rabid weasels blew me away. No small feat as I consider the film to be a classic and so much of the film is remarkable.

Rest in peace.

News: Video Watchdog magazine to cease publication

I was in shock when I first learned that Tim Lucas will no longer be publishing VIDEO WATCHDOG magazine. I thought myself very fortunate to discover issue number one on the shelves at a local book store twenty seven years ago and it is sad news that I may never hold a new issue in my hands again. The magazine was filled with excellent writing about the types of films I love and I could not begin to count how many films I sought out due to a review by Tim or one of the many other wonderful contributors.

For details please see the Video WatchBlog.

News: H.G. Lewis dead at 87

It was the mid-80's when I finally had the opportunity to see a Herschell Gordon Lewis film after reading about him in the pages of various horror magazines. His moniker 'Godfather of Gore' made a distinct impression on this fledgling gore hound. Imagine my delight at stumbling across a VHS release of his 1964 Southerners take revenge on Yankees opus TWO THOUSAND MANIACS! There wasn't much plot to absorb while watching and the skills of the film makers were as crude as the gore effects on display but the darkly comedic tale made an impression. It was a film I enjoyed for its schlock value and I sought out other Lewis helmed gore such as BLOOD FEAST, SHE-DEVILS ON WHEELS and THE WIZARD OF GORE. I can't say that Lewis ever made a good film but there's something to be said about a man who came up with the gag to stuff a Northerner in a nail studded barrel and roll him down a hill.

R.I.P. H.G. Lewis (June 15, 1929 - September 26, 2016)

News: Gene Wilder dead at 83

Link to Variety article

Of all the memories I have of sitting in a darkened theatre, gazing up at the silver screen, some of the most memorable were created while watching the antics of Gene Wilder. It was probably the numerous broadcast showings of his film WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY that I first became aware of the comedic genius and that performance certainly played a part in dear old dad taking the kids to see such films as BLAZING SADDLES, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, THE FRISCO KID and STIR CRAZY. Gene's characters in each film was unique and distinct and elicited much laughter. He will be missed but the memories and laughter lives on.

'Put...the candle...back!'

R.I.P. Gunnar Hansen

Gunnar Hansen, dead at the age of 68. I will always remember him as Leatherface.

Variety report

Empire pictures documentary on Kickstarter

Celluloid Wizards in the Video Wasteland: The Saga of Empire Pictures

'An epic documentary about the dramatic rise and fall of Empire Pictures, the most ambitious B-movie studio of the 1980’s. '

Kickstarter link

As I'm a fan of Charles Band and his time heading Empire International Pictures, I bought a ticket to see THE DUNGEONMASTER when it was first released in theatres!, I jumped at the chance to back a documentary about Empire on Kickstarter. The trailer brought back fond memories of the days of VHS rental.

17 days to go. Check it out.