An interesting bit of news came in this morning on Licensing.biz -- apparently Hammer Films has entered into an agreement with a prominent European gaming company to produce a line of arcade video games based on its legendary films.At this point, the deal is only for the U.K., which is probably just as well, since the good ol' arcade game has died an ignominious death here in the States thanks to massive improvements on home systems that give gamers little reason to leave the house (aside from experiencing life, meeting girls, exercising, etc.)
I love the idea that you could conceivably play Peter Cushing's Dr. Van Helsing, hunting down a coven of Dracula's brides; or maybe you could be Oliver Reed, tearing through the Spanish countryside on a lycanthropic killing spree; the possibilities are very cool indeed. With the recent MySpace film Beyond the Rave, a series of postage stamps, and now this, Hammer is back in a big way.
>Hammer is back in a big way.
ReplyDeleteThey'd be back in an even BIGGER way if they actually had something on their film schedule that sounded even remotely interesting. Did you read about the 3 films they have planned for production next? Yawn. Same shit. Even worse is this comment from Hammer chief exec Simon Oakes: "Those earlier Hammer films were very much of their time, and there is a lot of affection for them, but we have to keep up with audiences' expectations today." ??! Douchebag, what were people's expectations back in the 50's and 60's when Hammer finally started making horror films that got them all the attention in the first place? Was Horror of Dracula or Curse of Frankenstein set in the late 50's? No. So why why why all this need for updating and constant bullshittery in modern horror film? This is the same idiotic brand of non-thinking that's been killing Hollywood studios for the last few decades. 50 years later we remember those classic Hammer films for a reason. Just three years later we don't remember Return of the Living Dead 5: Rave to the Grave, for a reason. Here's an idea Simon, don't give audience something they expect, surprise us, don't meet our expectations because we longer have any expectations to begin with because of doofuses like you. Deliver something honest and original, we'll thank you for it later.
Thanks for letting me rant Brian, ha!
I admit, horror films from the 50s-70s are my favourite genre/era, so I agree with you karswell. While I enjoy all horror films, I love the decadence and attention to atmosphere that the older horror films had.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what Hammer could pull from their sleeves in terms of surpassing our expectations as what hasn't been explored already? I'd love to see a return to Gothic horror quite frankly. Not with a modern twist, but with modern technologies and knowledge of film. That'd be great.
I'm taking a wait-and-see approach. One thing I'm interested in is their proposed remake of the Swedish vampire film Let the Right One In. But then again, it could be a sign they're headed down the road to becoming no better than the average American schlock-house putting out lowest common denominator stuff.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone been happy with a remake of an already good foreign horror film? Simon Oakes sounds like he wants to be the next Roy Lee.
ReplyDeleteAnd having a film on myspace probably sounds like a good idea because myspace is of course so hot. Right now. Please, can't we keep movies in their proper prespective and not just tagged onto the hip trend of the moment? Beyond the Rave was dated long before it ever even hit myspace.
What's next? A movie on Facebook? Oh I know! Movies only available from McDonald's Redbox! Everyone loves cheeseburgers! Right? Right? Riiiiight...
I just wonder about the quality of the games, when they're released. I agree that the idea behind them sounds awesome as hell but I can very easily see them just being made as cash-ins...or, well, whatever you want to call a game that "cashes in" on a movie from the 50's, heh.
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