Noms for Genre Entertainment's Top Honors Announced

Coming on the heels of my woeful lamentation for Oscar's neglect of sci-fi/horror/fantasy projects, here come the nominations for the 34th annual Saturn Awards, which were announced yesterday. Since 1975, the Saturns have recognized excellence in the "speculative" genres of movies and TV. In the interest of unity of theme, I'll stick with the horror stuff. Here goes:

Best Horror Film

30 Days of Night

1408

Ghost Rider

Grindhouse

The Mist

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

No 28 Weeks Later?? Bizarre. And since when is Ghost Rider a horror movie? Incidentally, horror-themed sci-fi flicks Cloverfield and I Am Legend were also nominated for Best Science Fiction Film.

Best Actor

John Cusack (1408)

Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd)

Will Smith (I Am Legend)

Will Smith?? Hmmm.

Best Actress

Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd)

Belen Rueda (The Orphanage)

Best Supporting Actor

Alan Rickman (Sweeney Todd)

Shame to see Rickman get it for Sweeney and not Timothy Spall.

Best Supporting Actress

Lizzy Caplan (Cloverfield)

Marcia Gay Harden (The Mist)

Rose McGowan (Planet Terror)

Best Direction

Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd)

Frank Darabont (The Mist)

Best Writing

John Logan (Sweeney Todd)

Best Costume

Colleen Atwood (Sweeney Todd)

Atwood was also nominated for the Oscar.

Best Makeup

Howard Berger, Greg Nicotero & Jake Garber (Planet Terror)

Davina Lamont (30 Days of Night)

Peter Owen & Ivana Primorac (Sweeney Todd)

Nicotero is the heir to the Savini throne, but my vote goes to Lamont.

Best International Film

Day Watch (Belarus)

The Orphanage (Spain)

Very surprising not to see [REC], which I found to be better than any American horror movie I saw all year.

Best Network TV Series

Supernatural

Best Syndicated/Cable TV Series

Dexter

Go, Dex! Best show I've seen since the heyday of HBO.

Best International Series

Jeckyll (UK)

Best Actor on TV

Michael C. Hall (Dexter)

After literally stealing the show on Six Feet Under and now starring in this cult smash, watch for Hall to become one of the major movie stars of the next decade.

Best Supporting Actor on TV

Erik King (Dexter)

Best Supporting Actress on TV

Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter)

Jaime Murray (Dexter)

Carpenter is another major reason to catch Dexter. She'll be playing the lead in Quarantine, this year's American version of [REC]--which will at least make that pill a lot easier to swallow.

Best DVD Release

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Remix)

Driftwood

White Noise 2

Best Classic Film DVD Release

Alligator

The Monster Squad

Witchfinder General

Monster Squad finally got its feverishly awaited release last year, so that's got to be the sentimental favorite.

Best Collection on DVD

The Mario Bava Collection (Vol. 1&2)

Vincent Price (MGM Screen Legends Collection)

Best Retro TV Series on DVD

Count Dracula

The 1977 BBC miniseries is now available with the baby-killing scene fully restored. Yay!

George Pal Memorial Award

Guillermo del Toro

Special Achievement Award

Tim Lucas (author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark)

For the complete list of nominees, go here.

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Ms. Alba, Haven't You Done Enough Harm Already?

As if her lame retread of the Chinese cult favorite The Eye hasn't built enough ill will toward Jessica Alba amongst genre fans, the vacuous actress has now seen fit to desecrate some of the finest horror films ever made.

In a new cover story for Latina magazine, Alba ineptly attempts to recreate famous scenes from her five supposedly favorite horror movies. Check out this cringe-worthy Psycho shot:


If only young Jessica possessed a tenth of the poise, class and chops of a Janet Leigh, this might not be nearly as sad. Want more? Here's her take on Rosemary's Baby:


Check her out displaying the acting skills she honed on the Disney Channel. And speaking of sacrilege, here's Jessie's impersonation of Tippi Hedren in The Birds:


Alba has some better luck with Scream, in which she steps into the shoes of an actress nearly as inane and irritating as herself:


Notice how they made sure that Ghostface can actually be seen creeping up on her, just so readers would be able to tell what movie it's supposed to be? Nice touch. If you have the constitution for one more, here's a rather artful--if only loosely adapted--tribute to The Exorcist:


Now if only that ceiling wasn't there, then maybe she might have simply floated away into the stratosphere, so that we would no longer have to be subjected to drek like Good Luck Chuck and FF: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

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And the Oscar Doesn't Go To...

While I enjoy the Academy Awards as much as a straight man possibly can, it is a yearly frustration to watch quality genre films get routinely ignored. Aside from the patronizing technical categories, most great science-fiction, fantasy and horror movies are nowhere to be found come Oscar night. And so, in collaboration with Cinefantastique Online, where you can find an all-encompassing run-down of overlooked genre pictures, The Vault of Horror presents the nominees we should've seen:

Best Actor: Robert Carlyle (28 Weeks Later)

Carlyle got far more attention for his light-hearted comedic turn in The Full Monty, and that's a real shame. I defy you to find a performance more nuanced and multi-faceted than his in 28 Weeks Later in any other 2007 horror film. The talented Scotsman conveys all the guilt and pain of a failed husband/father, and later plays it to the hilt as the movie's crazed star zombie. It's a role worthy of his acting chops, and it anchors the entire film.

Who Would I Bump? Much like Tom Cruise, George Clooney is a competent leading man, and he delivers a competent performance in Michael Clayton. But when you get right down to it, it's the same performance he gives in most of his dramatic pictures.

Best Director: Robert Zemeckis (Beowulf)

Nothing illustrates the plight of genre filmmakers like Zemeckis' legacy. Not to take away from Forrest Gump (I love the film) but it's very telling that one of our generation's finest sci-fi/fantasy/horror directors has received only a single nomination/win, and it was for one of his only non-genre efforts. Zemeckis' achievement in further innovating photo-realistic CGI moviemaking with Beowulf is something that has gone sorely underrecognized.

Who Would I Bump? Not to hate too much on Michael Clayton, which I greatly enjoyed, but does Tony Gilroy deserve this much recognition for crafting a well-made but not particularly mind-blowing espionage thriller of a type that's been a Hollywood standard for years?

Best Supporting Actor: Timothy Spall (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street)

The best performance in this excellent motion picture is not Johnny Depp's, but rather the enthralling work of this tenured British character actor in the role of the deliciously despicable Beadle Bamford. You literally can't take your eyes off him while he occupies the screen.

Who Would I Bump? This one's tough to call, as I admit I haven't seen all the films in the category. The performances I have seen--such as that of Tom Wilkinson--are simply too good to get rid of.

Best Original Screenplay: Andrew Currie, Robert Chomiak & Dennis Heaton (Fido)

This one is the biggest tragedy of them all. The witty, satirical script for this amazing horror comedy is what makes it such a modern classic. In parts hysterically funny, while in others filled with charm and pathos, it's the kind of material which--had it been written for a more mainstream picture--would surely have been nominated.

Who Would I Bump? The nomination of Ratatouille baffles me. While an enjoyable effort from Pixar, it's far from their best work, particularly in the script department, in which it falls short of flicks like Cars and The Incredibles.

Best Animated Feature: Beowulf

In a category with so few releases to choose from in the first place, how does this solid piece of epic filmmaking get ignored? With great performances, an intelligent adaptation of one of Western civilizations' oldest stories, and some truly groundbreaking technique, it's a gem from top to bottom.

Who Would I Bump? Surf's Up. Enough with the penguins already.

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Forget About a Wide Release for Romero

Well, it looks like I'm going to be making that 35-mile trek down to New Rochelle after all. George A. Romero's Diary of the Dead has taken in $225,000 in 42 theaters over it's opening limited-release weekend. That breaks down to a minimally respectable $5,357.14 per-screen average. Not too bad for a small-budget horror film, but keep in mind that's about $300 per screening, which isn't all that great, either. Especially for a movie by a cult favorite director like Romero. The bottom line is that it doesn't appear as though the film will be getting that wide release after all.
So why didn't enough of you get out there to support this flick in the towns in which it was released? I guess one of the reasons may be Land of the Dead's tepid reception in the fan community. There's also the DVD factor--a lot of people out there just aren't motivated enough to see a movie like this in the theater. That leads me to draw the sad conclusion that there may not be enough died-in-the-wool Romero supporters left out there to make a theatrical release worthwhile. I guess everyone's saving up their dough for Saw XXVII. Too bad.
As for me, I'll be hopping in the Solomobile Thursday night for the big trip to Westchester. Wish me luck!

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China to Horror Movies: Drop Dead!

Whenever things seem rough, whenever the daily trials of life get you down, just be thankful you don't live in China.
In a move believed to be connected to the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, that bastion of freedom and democracy is banning all things horror, according to a story reported Thursday by Reuters. Producers and distributors have three weeks to report all forbidden materials to China's General Administration of Press and Publications.
A statement posted on the Chinese government's website (that's got to be some fun reading) declares that the mission is to "control and cleanse the negative effect these items have on society, and to prevent horror, violent [and] cruel publications from entering the market through official channels and to protect adolescents' psychological health." I'd suggest another method of protecting adolescents' psychological health would be to refrain from running them over with tanks.
The People's Republic has been the site of a growing market for horror films, both domestic (as epitomized by the breakthrough Chinese flick The Eye) and foreign (read: pirate DVD black market). But now the cultural police seem to be clamping down thanks to the upcoming Summer Games, in an attempt to make a good impression on the rest of the world. Well boys, you're off to a smashing start. Try book-burning next, that should help make you even more friends.
The ban comes on the heels of recent crackdowns on supposed "vulgar" content from video, audio and internet media.
My condolenscences go out to all the horror fans in China. But then, if any of you are reading this, you'd better log off before anyone sees you.

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Wanna Pay 100 Bucks for an Action Figure?

Me neither. But still, for the curious, here's a look at the Cloverfield monster action figure that Hasbro is selling exclusively through their website. These photos were posted there yesterday, even though the toy is not available until September 30.


And for anyone who does have a C-note that's just begging to be squandered, here's the lowdown. It's 14 inches tall, makes an authentic monster sound, and comes with ten parasites (yippee!), as well as a Statue of Liberty head accessory (we're doomed as a nation). Batteries not included, kids!
Well, at least we finally get a good look at the thing.

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John Landis Enters the Crypt

There I was, feeling a little bummed out that Diary of the Dead is thus far getting only a limited release of 42 theaters nationwide--with the closest one to me being 35 miles away--when, lo and behold, this life-affirming news comes over the wire.
Variety reported last night that John Landis, best known to horror aficionados as the director of An American Werewolf in London, will be stepping in to helm the biopic "Ghoulishly Yours, William M. Gaines," based on the life of the famous EC Comics and Mad Magazine publisher.
As you probably have guessed, I am a big fan of EC Comics (that's my favorite Tales from the Crypt cover, by the way.) It all began back in the 1950s when my dad first discovered them as a kid. Fast-forward 30 years later, and he passed along the love for those gore-soaked pages to me, his only begotten son.
The picture is expected to focus on the rise of EC Comics in the '50s, and in particular the First Amendment battle that ensued when his horror comics were targeted by the U.S. Senate for their "harmful influence" on kids like my dad. As another life-long fan of EC and classic horror in general, I'm hoping for Landis to knock this one out of the park.
Now all I need is for Diary of the Dead to go wide next weekend...

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Love Hurts

...from The Vault of Horror.

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Saw V Actor to Face Real-Life Death

Thespians have been known to go to great lengths and suffer serious trials for their art, but how many would be willing to make the supreme sacrifice? Apparently, a member of the cast of the new Saw sequel will be facing just such a challenge next month, when director David Hackl begins filming for Lions Gate.

In an interview yesterday with Bloody-Disgusting, the auteur indicated that Jason Ehl, Jigsaw trap-builder extraordinaire, had crafted a trap prop for the movie that was less than entirely safe:

"Today I am looking forward to making a phone call to one of our cast to ask him how he feels about getting into a trap that could potentially kill him. For real. Of course we will make it as safe as we can and have paramedics standing by while we shoot. Its not like he really has an option and maybe it will make him appreciate his life. Ha!!"

Hmmm. I wonder how gung-ho Hackl would be if he were the one stepping into the device? It wouldn't be the first time someone died making a movie (Vic Morrow in Twilight Zone: The Movie, Brandon Lee in The Crow), but it would be the first time they were intentionally put in harm's way. Lawyer up, Lions Gate!

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In more Saw-related shenanigans, The Guardian reports today that the U.K.'s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has dismissed claims that the official poster for Saw IV (pictured here) was inappropriate. The ad for the movie--featured in British newspapers, magazines and the sides of public buses--was the target of 57 complaints from those who felt it was disturbing to children. Six of the complainants claimed that the ad had actually upset their own children. The ASA stated that while it was understandable the ad was distasteful to some, it was unlikely to cause widespread offense.

I normally don't sympathize with so called "media watchdogs", and even less so with perpetually outraged parents, but I'm going to play devil's advocate here. Magazine and newspaper ads seem perfectly acceptable to me, but public buses? That may be taking it a bit too far. It is a severed head we're talking about here, lest we become too callous to such imagery. I don't remember the ad running in such a public fashion here in America. I can sort of understand how that would bother some parents, and potentially disturb little kids. Not my kids, mind you, but normal kids.

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X-Files Set Pix: Hoax...or Cover-Up?

Last month, if you recall, there were some controversial spy shots from the set of X-Files 2 that leaked to the internet showing director Chris Carter and some guy in a werewolf mask. Quickly, the word spread that the highly anticipated sequel would be lycanthropic in theme--harkening back to an obscure season one episode, rather than the alien invasion storyline most fans had hoped to see resolved.
Now, Movieweb is reporting that the pictures were well-orchestrated fakes. According to someone claiming to be a crewmember, Carter intentionally had the photos leaked in order to throw off the fanboys.
Movieweb isn't questioning the new revelation, but Bloody-Disgusting points out that it's also very possible that this latest development is more like damage control. Could it be that the pix were legit, and now Carter and the studio are using some reverse psychology to invalidate what would otherwise be a major spoiler? Or could it be that I've watched too much X-Files myself? The truth is out there, people.

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