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PUBLIC ACCESS CHANNEL 43 IS A VHS AESTHETIC DREAM COME TRUE

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These people pretty much had me at VHS transfers.

Channel 43 is an online public access station streaming on Twitch that focuses on horror, science fiction, and all the glorious things we here at Nightmare Nostalgia soak up and live by. The back to the past channel features short form video work from various artists while taking on the format of a television broadcast complete with commercial breaks, bumpers, news stories, PSAs’ and of course, host segments. All of this content has been transferred to VHS, circuit bent, and converted back to digital to create a consistent aesthetic throughout the entire broadcast.

Take a gander at this stunning strip of VHS aesthetic.

Per the press release:

“Channel 43’s first showcase offers up an eclectic blend from both traditional filmmakers and conceptual video artists while maintaining a unified viewing experience. With video work by 20 artists from around the world, the project aims to bring a dose of variety to horror and sci-fi as well as expand the scope of what these genres can be.
Creator and director of programming, Sophia Gordon, has been blending analog and digital technology within her own video arts practice for over 7 years. Her first channel, Miller’s Grove Public Access, incorporated the style for a group exhibition in 2019. Since then, it has become a staple within her work as a curator. Working under the name TeleUphoria Media Network, Gordon’s main initiatives are to preserve a safe space for artists of all experience levels and to create more interesting opportunities for video makers. She runs annual open calls for her rotating lineup of channels and encourages a DIY sensibility that is lo-fi friendly.”

For more information and a downloadable TV guide with schedule, visit Telephoria.org/broadcasts!

Editorials

The Deleted Scene From “Poltergeist” That Almost Gave it An “R” Rating

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THE DELETED SCENE FROM "POLTERGEIST" THAT ALMOST GAVE IT AN "R" RATING
Credit: Poltergeist iii Fan Site

Photo Credits: Poltergeistiii.com

In keeping with the theme of celebrating Poltergeist‘s legacy on it’s last year before the film hits 40, I wanted to highlight a scene that although filmed, never made the cut into the final film. Poltergeist is rich in film lore history and the fascination surrounding the supposed curse, is just one piece of the horror puzzle that has captivated fans throughout it’s run in the 80s’ and beyond in the present. And if you’re a superfan like myself, you might know about this somewhat cringy bit that has since been lost to the abyss of the editing process. Let’s talk about that spider ceiling scene.

Tentacles have been an obvious theme in the first two films, albeit more pronounced in the second film, however here in what was to be an extended and more brutal scene involving Diane (JoBeth Williams) after her bath, it basically gives The Entity (released in the same year) a run for its money. The scene without the added context strongly suggests sexual assault, but the deleted scene takes it to full on rape.

Mike Wood, who served as mechanical effects supervisor for the film and Mitch Suskin, visual effects supervisor, remarked on the cut footage and what it was to entail in an old Cinefex article circa 1982:

“At times we got overwhelmed by fun effects and audacious ideas,” Mitch Suskin remarked, “possibly more than the film required. The one scene that sticks in my mind is where Diane is pulled up the wall, across the ceiling, and down the other side. During that, there was going to be a kind of ‘stain’ in her path-something foreshadowing the closet turning into a mouth. It was a pulsating, organic, ugly thing.” The concept was eventually discarded, but not before the physical effects crew had gone ahead and built it and it went before the cameras. “We made a large latex bladder for the stain,” Mike Wood related. “There were holes in the wall so we could actuate it manually from behind, and we had people strapped to the outside of the set, putting their hands through. During the scene, the stain was to have grown bigger and more amorphous, and the girl was supposed to roll through it from her bed.” A more risque notion was to be the violation of Diane Freeling by unseen forces as she involuntarily defied gravity in her upturned room. Wood contrived a special harness to facilitate “rape” movements in that position, but when the idea endangered the picture’s PG rating, it, too, was scrapped. An alternate scene of Jobeth Williams writhing in bed remains in the film, but its darker implications are less apparent.

poltergiestiii.com

Well, that alone would have indeed given the film a hard “R” rating and I can certainly appreciate why they made the decision they did. I for one, think it may have taken away some of the sophistication the movie has engraved in it with it already embodying plenty psychological scare tactics without all the gore, guts, and torture porn. Don’t get me wrong, I love me a good gorey trash flick. But with Poltergeist, it just doesn’t fit in well with the purity and horror innocence of the film; which is what makes it so damn great. Although I admit, I don’t think I’d be able to suppress the curiosity that resides in me if this footage is ever unearthed and released.

The above images credited to the ultimate Poltergeist fan site, poltergiestiii.com, are the first to my knowledge to have been displayed on the internet. It’s also a fantastic go-to for anything on the film(s) you would ever want to know- so I highly suggest rummaging through their web pages for some fun trivia and stills on the movies.

Editorials

Leprechaun VS Candyman: The Horror Icon Crossover That Almost Happened

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Imagine a world where two iconic horror urban legends crossed paths and possibly fought to the death over… well, I have no clue how that would have worked but hey, IT ALMOST HAPPENED.

Horror crossovers have always been more of a fan service with a guaranteed cash cow for studios for audiences of beloved characters. Sometimes they work, and sometimes they flop harder than Gingerdead Man VS Evil Bong. As ridiculous as the title sounds, its hard to fathom a serious and terrifying entity such as Candyman squaring off against the comical-horror that is the Leprechaun. Both Tony Todd and Warwick Davis are well-known thespian actors that take their roles very seriously and as silly as the premise sounds, I have no doubts they would have given it their all had both been on board with the idea. But, alas Tony Todd just couldn’t do that to the iconic character, and quite honestly- as much as much I wouldn’t mind seeing this, I gotta’ say he made the right decision.

Off the heels from the blockbuster Summer hit in 2003 of Freddy VS Jason, studios were eager to cash in another crossover so they started throwing around ideas. One of which, was this of course and it actually got pretty far along in the process as apparently, a rough-draft of a script was written and presented to Tony Todd himself. Of which he shut down almost immediately according to an interview with Dread Central.

Todd explained the immense respect he has for the character he portrays and that it would be a disservice to possibly tarnish the legacy Candyman has brought forth in the genre. And as much as my curiosity would peak into seeing this showdown, he’s right in the fact that it would very much so diminish the complexity and terror of one of the ONLY POC icons we have in the horror catalog.

The only thing the pair of films really have in common, is the studios both films were made under. Given them the opportunity to crossover without any legal issues. But that is as far as it goes.

I feel like writing this, I’m totally shitting all over the Leprechaun series and really, that couldn’t be further than the truth. Hell, Leprechaun 3 in Vegas (my hometown), is one of my favorite guilty pleasures to watch! I have the utmost respect for Davis and all the joys he has brought all us horror fans with what he did to that character. But in all seriousness, Leprechaun and Candyman just ain’t on that same level. Lep, is a comedy-horror. So of course, a crossover of any kind will work in that aspect. The Sweets of the Sweet, not so much. Guess if we ever want to see that happen, you better get on to downloading the Terrordrome horror fighting style game for PC.

Not much else to say about that, BUT since it’s St. Paddy’s Day here’s one of my favorite clips from the aforementioned Leprechaun 3!

Happy corn beef and cabbage day from yours truly, St. Patti Paultergeist!

I only get to say that once a year so let me have this, hah!