Tag Archives: horror movie news

Creature Features: A Closer Look At The Movie Magic Of “Independence Day”

CREATURE FEATURES: A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MOVIE MAGIC OF "INDEPENENCE DAY

Creature Features is back and we’re forgoing the BBQ to celebrate the 90s’ classic that would not go quietly into the night- Today we celebrate INDEPENDENCE DAY.

Man, I’ll never forget the hype for this movie. I was fourteen years old and was basically the talk of the Summer. The “Fresh Prince” himself Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and aliens? WE’RE ALL IN ALREADY.

The film originally titled Doomsday, but was sealed with a chef’s kiss to what we now know as Independence Day thanks to Bill Pullman’s pumped up ‘MURICA speech in the film, was indeed a visual spectacular for audiences in 1996. And of course, a big round of applause for practical effects as it wins again- this time even an Oscar!

As we all understand, something like this takes a massive team to pull off. However, Volker Engel, Patrick Tatopoulos, Douglas Smith, Clay Pinney, Mike Joyce, and Joe Viskocil were some of the most notable faces of the special effects mastery. Unlike the films’ latter sequel, the movie relied heavily on old school tricks like miniature models for some of the more complicated scenes; like you know blowing up the White House which was actually measured at 15-feet wide and 5-feet high. In fact, 95 percent of the film was shot using miniatures with motion-control cameras.

As cool as that is, what really tickles my nostalgic tits is the movie magic aliens. Grant it this was supposed to be a family affair with it being a holiday Summer Blockbuster and all. But we all damn well know when President Whitmore went face to glass with one of these suckers’ at Area 51, you got the goddamn chills in that scene. Don’t you deny it.

Engal (seen below in the video) states he wanted to do something familiar yet new when it came to designing the creatures. The shots for the creatures were mostly dudes in fantastic costumes with effects coordinators controlling the limbs mechanically. So once again, puppeteering wins this round for monster magic.

[Trailer] A Wickedly Profound Transformation Awaits In Lovecraft Inspired Series “Black Goat”

[TRAILER] A WICKEDLY TRANSFORMATION AWAITS IN LOVECRAFT INSPIRED SERIES "BLACK GOAT"

Move on over Black Phillip. The wickedly intriguing series, BLACK GOAT is coming so we may all live deliciously in a series brought on by the filmmakers and writers of The Call of Cthulhu and The Purge: Anarchy. And it looks ABSOLUTLY TERRIFYING.

The H.P Lovecraft inspired eight-episode gothic horror series stars Jeff Berg, Eva Hamilton, and Josie DiVincenzo with a story that spans more than 400 years of an ancient alien power that possesses and corrupts the souls of men. Each episode is a different chapter in time, each it’s own whole and complete story, and yet still just a mysterious piece of a much larger puzzle. Only when all fit together do we see the true shape, the true size of the horror.

Synopsis Excerpt:

The story begins in 1607, in the small coastal English settlement of Fort George, Maine. A humble settler, Ephraim Waite, and his devoutly religious followers break from the colony to pursue a more pious life deep in the untamed woods of Maine. Once settled, Ephraim’s wife finds a large, seemingly bottomless tunnel in the ground. It is surrounded and overgrown with strange alien vegetation. She is drawn to it’s powerful presence, seduced by it. Ephraim learns that the natives in the woods believe it to be a passage to an evil underworld, a supernatural power they refer to as Kamog. The power begins to slowly corrupt the village, both his wife and child die, and soon Ephraim finds himself faced with the ultimate choice, to turn from the darkness and perish or sacrifice his mortal soul for a promise of god like power and immortality. To become Kamog.

With the power to possess minds, and leap from one body to another, Ephraim (Kamog) moves through time, decade after decade, body after body, in pursuit of bringing a powerful ancient God to an earthbound form. The power comes at a price however, only minds that are weakened, vulnerable either by health or emotion, can be taken over. Possession is not always successful, and often Ephraim finds himself trapped for years, forced off his path, and fighting to return with deceit, manipulation and murder his only options.

I don’t want to give much more away, but if you’re interested in learning further, check out the FULL SEASON ONE SYNOPSIS over at DestroyAllMedia.com.

Streaming locations and dates TBA.

‘Halloween Kills’ Trailer Is Here With The Return of Pure Evil!

Evil returns this October as horror fans return back to Haddonfield, back to him, back to the Boogeyman. From the few glimpses we’ve seen of it Halloween Kills already shows lots of promise for horror fans.

image via Universal and Blumhouse

That’s right! At long last, we’ve seen the first trailer of the highly anticipated horror epic, Halloween Kills. And we are excited!

Following the immediate events of 2018’s triumphant Halloween, Michael Myers rises from the swirling inferno built to be his prison, like a demon emerging out of the fires of Hell.

image via Universal and Blumhouse

Fire trucks arrive at the scene and the Shape makes quick work of each one of them, proving no earthly flame or human force can stop the purest embodiment of Evil.

And, according to this trailer, they want to drive home that Michael truly is the very essence of evil. 

image via Universal and Blumhouse

More noticeably now are the empty depths of Michael’s eyes, both hollow as an open grave site, and giving us a phantasmal glimpse at the malignancy within him. It’s as if whatever humanity (however little remained) may have been lingering in the man’s soul is finally dissolved by the hate and rage swelling in his heart. This time around Michael is truly the Shape more than ever before.

And I love the burn marks scratched across the iconic mask now. It makes the Boogeyman that much more ghoulish and unsettling to see.

image via Universal and Blumhouse

And speaking of masks the movie teases at some (more) very familiar Easter Eggs and throw backs from movies past. I think Halloween III: Season of the Witch fans will readily recognize an iconic trio.

image via Universal and Blumhouse, zero days till Halloween, Silver Shamrock

The trailer also reveals how Michael thrives off each victim he kills. And given the brief glimpses we’re shown the Shape does look far more savage than ever. So I’m expecting some wild kills scenes from this one.

image via Universal and Blumhouse , Michael takes out the entire firefighter team

It’s fair to say there will be (blood) plenty here for fans to enjoy and we’re very, very excited by what we’ve seen so far. It’s shaping up to be a wicked witching season this October, my Nasties.  

image via Universal and Blumhouse

So enjoy the trailer as we all anxiously await the Witching Season slowly approaching, bringing with it the Boogeyman and all his violent evil.