Halloween 6: The Producer's Cut - Official Release Petition

Sold at conventions and swapped among friends and fans, bootleg versions of "The Producer's Cut" of Halloween 6 have been circulating now for years.  (I first saw a bootlegged version of it on VHS over a decade ago.) But a new online petition addressed to Miramax/Dimension Films is urging the company for an official DVD/Blu-ray release.  The petition even offers to initiate a Kickstarter campaign to help with the financial burden of transferring the original, unused elements from the Producer's Cut to HD.

Miramax/Dimension have shown a complete lack of interest in giving this version of Halloween 6 an official release, despite past fan petitions.  They even turned a deaf ear to the movie's writer, Daniel Farrands, who explained to execs just how sought after this version of the movie was amongst fans of the series.  I'm afraid unless this petition receives tens of thousands of signatures, the studio will continue being apathetic toward both the film and its fans.

Find a link to the petition below and sound off in the comments section.

http://www.change.org/petitions/miramax-films-release-the-halloween-6-producer-s-cut-on-blu-ray-dvd

The Walking Dead Companion Series in 2015

As if AMC weren't already making enough bank with their original series, they are currently working to develop a companion series to their most popular show, The Walking Dead.  Robert Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd and David Alpert are already on board to produce.  No news yet on storyline, cast, etc.

What say you?  Leave your thoughts on whether or not you think AMC is making the right call here or not, and where you'd like to see this new series go storyline- and cast-wise.

Win BOUNTY KILLER on DVD (CONTEST CLOSED)

Want a chance to win a DVD of the movie BOUNTY KILLER?  Read below to find out how.  But first check out the movie's synopsis.

This is the age of the BOUNTY KILLER.

Bounty killers compete for body count, fame and a fat stack of cash. They're ending the plague of corporate greed and providing the survivors of the apocalypse with retribution.

Based on the graphic novel, Bounty Killer follows the exploits of Mary Death, the leading Bounty Killer on the scene.

It’s been 20 years since the corporations took over the world’s governments. Their thirst for power and profits led to the corporate wars, a fierce global battle that laid waste to society as we know it. Born from the ashes, the Council of Nine rose as a new law and order for this dark age. To avenge the corporations’ reckless destruction, the Council issues death warrants for all white collar criminals. Their hunters: the bounty killers!

Bounty Killer is in theaters and VOD September 6. Go see it!

Starring:
Kristanna Loken
Gary Busey
Eve
Beverly D'Angelo
and... Christian Pitre as Mary Death!

It’s Mad Max meets Grindhouse while getting slashed by Kill Bill!

Sounds pretty wild, huh?  Well, all you have to do is share this contest on your favorite social media platform.  Then leave a comment below with a link to the shared post and you'll be entered to win.  It's as simple as that!  Winners will be announced on 9/27.

Check out the trailer and make sure to take the Bounty Killer quiz to see if you could cut it as a BOUNTY KILLER!



American Psycho - The Television Series!?!?

As most of you already know, I'm a HUGE fan of both the novel and the film adaptation of AMERICAN PSYCHO.  Both told the story of Patrick Bateman, a wealthy stock broker by day and sadistic serial killer by night.  The film was released in 2000 and quickly garnered a cult following.  A forgettable sequel soon followed and the character will eventually find his way onto the stage with a musical version to premiere later this year.  If you thought a musical version of AMERICAN PSYCHO was a stretch, you ain't seen nothing yet.

It was announced today that FX Network is developing a television series based on the classic novel/movie.  According to FX, the series finds Patrick Bateman as a middle-aged man who takes an up-and-coming serial killer under his wing to help him hone his bloody craft.

No, seriously.  I wish I was joking.  AMERICAN PSYCHO the television series is in the works. There's so many things wrong with this I can't even begin to count. God help us all.  What say you?

Frights Rags Exclusive HALLOWEEN & HALLOWEEN 4 Merch

Fright Rags have announced exclusive HALLOWEEN and HALLOWEEN 4 merchandise available for pre-order Tuesday (9/10) at 10AM EST.  Check out Fright Rag's official press release below:

Fright-Rags is gearing up to release exclusive shirts and posters to commemorate the 35th anniversary of one of the most influential horror film's of all time, John Carpenter's Halloween, as well as the 25th anniversary of the fan-favorite sequel, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers. These items are officially licensed by Trancas International Films.

Fans can celebrate "The Night He Came Home" with Fright-Rags' Halloween box set, which is limited to 800 pieces. Enclosed in a collector's box, the set includes a shirt (unisex, womens or hoodie) designed by Justin Osbourn, an 18x24 screen-printed poster by Gary Pullin (with 100 randomly inserted glow-in-the-dark variants), a Judith Myers headstone resin magnet, a prismatic sticker and a Rabbit in Red memo pad.

Osbourn's design is only available on a T-shirt in the box set, but fans can also get it separately on an American Appearl baseball shirt. Another Halloween design, by Christopher Lovell, will be available on a T-shirt, girls shirt or zip-up hoodie. It shows cinema's most iconic boogeyman, Michael Myers, looming over the Myers house.

Lovell also designed a shirt for Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, which features Michael and his niece, Jamie Lloyd. To accompany the shirt, artist Kyle Crawford created a screen-printed poster, which showcases Michael's infamous mask from Halloween 4. The poster is available as a regular 18x24 print (limited to 400) and a glow-in-the-dark variant (limited to 100).

These items will be available exclusively from Fright-Rags.com. Pre-orders launch on Tuesday, September 10 at 10am EST. The box set will be specially priced at $70 until September 17th. If they do not sell out by that point, the remaining sets will be sold for $80. Orders are expected to ship in late October.

For additional information on Fright-Rags' Halloween merchandise, visit http://fright-rags.com/teaser/teaser-halloween.html

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Additional HALLOWEEN and HALLOWEEN 4 shirt designs available for pre-order below.  Check out Fright-Rags.com for more information.

         

Desert Island Top 5: Television Series

Let's face it.  Television, for the most part, sucks.  Series creators and network execs alike seem to have a very limited imagination.  Just channel surf through the major networks during prime time.  You get three cop shows, two legal shows and at least one "reality" show.  If it weren't for these five television series, I'd never turn my TV on.

5. The X-Files.  This was the first "must see" show for me and one I diligently watched as a lad.  The ongoing and ever bizarre adventures of two FBI agents - one a believer, the other a skeptic - could be appreciated by fans of cop dramas as well as sci-fi, horror and fantasy geeks alike.  Whether they were investigating alien abductions, murderous mutants, or any other myriad of evil forces plaguing mankind, everything was a fascinating and deeply-rooted conspiracy.  The series went on way too long and spun off two decent movies, but it's the series' first few seasons that made me a believer.

4. Sons of Anarchy.  Think Hamlet meets the Hell's Angels and you have Sons of Anarchy.  The show focuses on a gun-running motor cycle gang.  The cast is huge, comprised of fine actors and expertly written characters.  The plotting is byzantine, peeling away layer upon layer of character dysfunction and upheaval within the gang's ranks.  The show both glamorizes and condemns the outlaw lifestyle.  It's a brief, bloody existence, but - BY GOD - does it make for riveting television!  It's edge-of-your-seat entertainment, having already established that main characters can meet their bloody demise at any moment.  It is, currently, the best show on television.

3. Buffy: The Vampire Slayer.  Here's an idea.  Let's take a failed movie and turn it into a weekly television series.  Don't think it will work?  Well, it did, like gangbusters!  Joss Whedon took his vision of a vampire slaying teenage girl and turned it into a cultural phenomena and helped launch a fledgling network in the process.  The show sported fantastic writing and a great ensemble cast.  Buffy juggled her duties as vampire slayer with the perils of growing up in a most entertaining and relate-able way.  High school is hell; she's in love with a guy from the wrong side of the tracks (yeah, he's a vampire); and all the demons she's obligated to face are symbolic of the obstacles we all face(d) on the path to adulthood.  The lasting impact of the show and the continued devotion from its fans spawned a comic book series that continues the Buffy legacy well over a decade after the series last aired.

2. The Simpsons.  What can I say about The Simpsons that hasn't already been said?  The fact that it's one of the longest running series in television history is no fluke.  Year after year, The Simpsons have been consistently both hilarious and heartfelt in their depiction of family dysfunction.  The animated series has been imitated time and time again, and has enjoyed, since the beginning, some of the best comedic writing on television.  The show has brought me to tears countless times with its brilliant blend of both slapstick and subtle humor.  Whenever The Simpsons do take their final bow, the show will be remembered as one of, if not the, best series in television history.

1. The Office (US).  Who in their right mind would want to watch a documentary about a group of office workers at a mid-range paper supply company in Scranton, PA?  Enough people to keep the series going for nine seasons, that's how many.  Enter the world of the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, a small work space with big conflicts among its colorful cast of characters, led by deluded boss Michael Scott.  The series highlights the little things and pokes fun at the minutia that makes up our lives.  The series features one of the finest ensemble casts in television history.  The writing staff, many of whom double as cast members, bring the ego clashes, love triangles and all the other seemingly mundane details to life with an incredible eye, dissecting the trivial to find the humor and heart beneath.  I've seen all of the series' nearly 200 episodes at least twice.  It's like having dinner with a group of old friends.  Though you inevitably bring up the same old stories you've shared time and time again, they never really get old and you never really get tired of sharing them.

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Share your own Desert Island Top 5 Television Series list in the comments section below.

DISCLAIMER: Before you starting yelling at me about Breaking Bad, I will get around to watching it at some point.

Vote to Save Your Local Drive-In

Honda recently launched "Project Drive-In", an initiative aimed at saving a dying piece of classic Americana: the drive-in movie theater.  There are only an estimated 300-400 remaining drive-in theaters across the country, and as the studios force theaters to abandon traditional 35mm film prints and projectors for its digital counterpart, that number could significantly decline over the following months.  Multiplexes and traditional movie theaters are also being forced to make this change, which will effectively put an end to 35 mm film prints and projectors nearly across the board.  

From Project Drive-In's official site:

“In less than 3 months, the majority of American drive-in theaters will face closure with the movie industry’s switch from film to digital. Upgrading to digital projection costs roughly $80,000.

We want to preserve this iconic part of American car culture. So we’re taking the first step by starting a drive-in fund and donating 5 digital projectors. Your vote decides where they go.”

Damn technology!  I've wanted to experience a drive-in movie for the longest time and now that dream may slip away forever.  Progress has its price, sure, but the past should be preserved and revered.  It will be a sad day when the final drive-in is forced to close.  For information on saving your local drive-in movie theater and preserving this "iconic part of American car culture" for future generations, click HERE.

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