Editorials

[Hot Take] Why Not Release “Halloween Kills” on VOD and Then Theatrically Next Year?

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[HOT TAKE] WHY NOT RELEASE "HALLOWEEN KILLS" ON VOD AND THEN THEATRICALLY NEXT YEAR?

I should probably start off by saying this is purely an opinion piece on what I believe would be beneficial in this far from perfect world right now in regards to the push-back on Halloween Kills. Furthermore, I stand my ground on these words in light of the fact I do not bow down to any studios or anyone involved in the entertainment industry as I don’t take part in the so-called ass-kissing train to save face in order to continue to receive any free promos, screenings, or goodies. That’s not what I, or Nightmare Nostalgia is about.

In other words, I am a PR’s worst goddamn nightmare. No fucks given.

Ok, this is a little blasphemous for a Myers centered piece- but how could I resist?!

Now that the PSA is out of the way, let’s get down to brass tacks. Surely by now, you’ve all heard about the long-awaited sequel in the newly revived Halloween trilogy Halloween Kills, has been pushed back an entire year to October 15, 2021. The announcement made by John Carpenter himself on social media kind of threw a lot of fans for a loop. The film is cut and done; ready to go. And while one can certainly understand why maybe, possibly, going to the theaters in 2020 might be a bit of a gamble, there’s clearly always the VOD option. An option in which, some studios are using to their advantage, and others, well, are really not wanting to go that route.

Now I can understand a movie such as Halloween obviously begs to be seen the RIGHT way as a perfect cinematic experience. However, Universal and Blumhouse has opted out of the notion of releasing the movie this year to streaming platforms in the middle of a pandemic so that US, the patrons, can view it in the way that it’s meant to be seen. Because Goddess forbid we have anything nice this year.

K.

[HOT TAKE] WHY NOT RELEASE "HALLOWEEN KILLS" ON VOD AND THEN THEATRICALLY NEXT YEAR?

Honestly, I think that’s a bit of a cop-out. A monster franchise such as Halloween should be giving fans the choice. I mean, who is to say things will be better a year from now? I would certainly hope they would be, but as it stands now Halloween as we have always known it, will be a far cry from normal in 2020. And given the mental state of the world slowly chipping away, it really would be nice to have SOMETHING to look forward to.

Now I also know some of you make look at this and say, “What a selfish bitch.” “REAL Halloween fans could wait an entire year.” Or the oh so clever and obvious, “There’s a whole world of horror out there to be discovered, focus on that.” I mean, those are all cute and all but here’s my point- now this might sound crazy:

HOW ABOUT RELEASING IT ON VOD IN 2020; AND THEATRICALLY IN 2021????

Fucking wild concept there, eh?

I can also make the argument that REAL HALLOWEEN FANS, such as myself and many others would be more than happy to pay for it twice. There are so many people suffering greatly on the other side of this pandemic in the mental health arena and it would be such a nice goddamn thing in this shithole year we’re experiencing right now to have something to look forward to that’s coming SOON. Not another year from now. For those arguing otherwise, the term selfish is being thrown around quite a bit, so let me oblige by throwing it right back your way in the face of those horror fans struggling mentally right now. I am their voice. Which often gets stifled not just in the midst of chaos, but anytime really as people still don’t like to talk about it.

This leads me into another proposal since we’re supposed to be practicing compassion and empathy for each other’s health needs; why on Earth is this not a viable option always for people who physically CAN’T attend the theater? Should they have to wait six months later than everyone else because they are either physically or mentally unable to have that cinematic experience? In the face of a world that’s changing, I think it’s definitely time to stop and think about not just one, or two groups of people. But the collective as a whole. This planet is so incredibly diverse with all walks of life and no one should be made to feel any certain way about this until you know their story. I just really feel like this was an opportunity for a franchise that I love dearly to do something really great for not only the collective in this isolated world we must live in right now, but for the unheard fans as well that suffer greatly from both physical and mental distress. It really would have been an erm.. trick or treat for them!

Alright enough of my Ted Talk. Here’s that little cockteaser they put out.

Sigh. Anyways, I would love to hear from anyone who feels the same, or hey, if you just want to tell me to get bent feel free to comment below!

News

Sylvester Stallone Confirms A Director’s Cut Of Rocky IV In The Works

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SYLVESTER STALLONE CONFIRMS A DIRECTOR'S CUT OF ROCKY IV IN THE WORKS

News so exciting it makes me wanna eat snails! Fan-favorite sequel, and personally speaking mine as well, ROCKY IV has been long overdue for a knockout Director’s Cut. Now, we have confirmation from the Italian Stallion himself that it is indeed coming.

While promoting an exciting extended cut version of RAMBO: LAST BLOOD being released on Apple TV over on the Stallion’s official Instagram, an enthusiastic fan posed the question of a possible Director’s Cut of Rocky Balboa being released in the future. Stallone answered shutting down any plans of any new cuts of the 2006 comeback classic. However, he had THIS to say instead:

SYLVESTER STALLONE CONFIRMS A DIRECTOR'S CUT OF ROCKY IV IN THE WORKS

I think amazing might be the understatement of the century.

In addition to being a mighty fan-favorite of the franchise, ROCKY IV was also the most successful installment financially speaking; raking in over 300 million worldwide back in 1985 setting a record on the highest-grossing sports film of all time before 2009’s THE BLIND SIDE took the crown in that arena.

While no official date of release has been announced other than a confirmation of being in the works, I can only speculate that it will probably be ready in time for the film’s 35th anniversary this coming November. In the meantime, there’s a pretty sweet deal over on Amazon for the entire Blu-Ray set which you can check it out here!

Also, if there’s an extended version of the most glorious montage in montage history, I’m going to lose my goddamn mind.

Home Video Releases

‘Rocky’ Documentary With Sylvester Stallone Premieres On-Demand Streaming In June

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I truly can’t think of another way to start the Summer heat other than with a nice cold egg yolk smoothie and the long-awaited premiere of 40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic, narrated by Sly himself and streaming on-demand beginning June 9th, 2020.

Released by Virgil Films & Entertainment with writing and producing credits via Derek Wayne Johnson, the definitive ‘Roc Doc’ offers a heart-felt journey into the making of the original Rocky film as the Italian Stallion himself takes us back to the streets of Philly and the true underdog story of the century.

According to the official Facebook page, the doc was meant to be released back in 2016 in conjunction with the film’s actual 40th anniversary. However, due to unknown delays the project was shelved for a few years.

Official Release Per Social Media:

“In 1976, a low budget movie written by an unknown actor was released, inspiring audiences around the world to go the distance. Rocky became the ultimate underdog film. Over forty years later, Sylvester Stallone recounts the making of the beloved classic through rare home movies provided by Director John G. Avildsen and Production Manager Lloyd Kaufman. Sylvester Stallone pitched the idea for “40 Years of Rocky: The Birth of a Classic” (2019) to director Derek Wayne Johnson and producer Chris May of AJ16 Entertainment after a private screening of their documentary John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs (2017), in which Stallone is also featured.“

The film recounts the emotional depth and challenges of an, at the time, struggling actor with a golden script giving fans a real emotional grip on what this film means for not just Sly himself, but for the people that hold this movie close to their own hearts. I truly think now, more than ever, people need to hear these tales of rising from the ashes into something beautiful and positive that touches all our souls while conjuring up feel-goodness nostalgia. These films have been a part of my life as long as I can remember- growing up in an Italian-American family, it was almost like a right of passage. And now, we finally get the behind the scenes look we’ve been craving all these years.