In February 1989, video shop owners were targeted with the promise of immense Poltergeist profits with the final installment of the trilogy ready to be consumed by movie aficionados looking for their perfect Friday night scare at the local video rental outlet. With today being the 30th anniversary, a monumental milestone for tragically Heather O’Rourke‘s final film, I figured let’s rewind back to the film’s initial era and take a look at the exclusive VHS promo given to multiple video store chains to get this film in their shops!
Taken straight from a VHS copy belonging to the curator (unadjusted tracking and all) of Poltergeistiii.com, it truly is a beautiful vintage piece of history that, unfortunately, makes me a little sad at the same time. Of course, all horror fans are aware of the untimely death of the genre’s favorite young demon attraction, Heather O’ Rourke, before the film was ultimately finished. So anytime I see the film or promos regarding it, that’s always in the back of my mind. After the passing of O’Rourke, the director, cast, and crew didn’t even want to continue, and the film was almost scrapped altogether. But, the powers that be pounded too much money in the project, and insisted the film be finished, so here we are. While many consider the rounded out trifecta the weakest installment of the trilogy, I, for one, appreciate the film for what it is, (and come on, it’s a fun popcorn flick) and have all the respect in the world for Heather’s final on-screen appearance.
Anyways, I’m rambling. On to why you’re even here beloved VHS heads!
The seven-minute retailer promo offers some really cool facts, behind-the-scenes shots (not seen in other featurettes), interviews with the cast and crew, and of course details on the monster magic used to perform in the film! Including the infamous garage puddle scene! The retail price for the video was advertised to shop owners as $89.95 a piece (and now you know what contributed to those pesky overdue fees), and purchases included a rad as hell 6-foot tall standee of Reverend Kane, an original theatrical poster to display, and a custom-made mobile counter display of the film to grab the attention of rental goers! What I wouldn’t give to own one of those retro rental artifacts!
Check out this national piece of VHS treasures below and give Poltergeist III a revisit today!
At last, we finally have the long-awaited and much-anticipated first glimpse into the Masters of the Universe movie. Some of us have waited 40 years to feel what was shared across the globe today. That sense of awe, as well as relief, as our beloved heroes and villains all came to searing life before our eyes!
Upon hearing they were planning a big-budget He-Man movie, I was initially apprehensive but cautiously hopeful. If done right (and made with respect for the source material), I knew they could make a movie that would be nothing short of legendary. The question was always whether they respected the material or not.
It’s still way too early to answer that right now, but if the trailer is any indication, I safely can say the minds behind this project know what they’re doing. If nothing else, it’s very apparent that they took the toy designs seriously, as well as gleaning from inspiration gathered from MOTU lore over the years. Right away, I noticed not only Mattel’s familiar design, but I quickly picked up on some 200X inspirations too, especially when it comes to Skeletor.
Right off the bat, we are introduced to Eternia as the mighty Zoar rides the winds over the palace. Zoar, whom I’ve always loved, looks amazing. Just the details of the mighty eagle’s color design is spot on.
We then see the palace is under attack, and Prince Adam is whisked away by his Mother in a desperate attempt to save him from the invading force. I’m wagering a guess that this could be an attack by Keldor. Yeah, I really think we have a good chance of seeing Keldor, and in keeping with the lore, Keldor did attempt a coup early on in the prologue of the Masters’ lore. A coup that led to his disfiguration and eventual transformation into the evil Skeletor. It’s highly likely that’s the battle that’s happening, and the Queen sends Adam to the one place she knows such evil will not find him – Earth. So, you all know Earth was one of my gripes here about this new movie, but, as it seems, it only serves as a shelter for Adam, a place he can grow up, and when the time is right, he’ll be returning to Eternia. I’m ok with that.
Ok, but first, I’m still all about this early battle at the palace. Could it be that the Evil Horde initiates the attack? Again, Keldor would definitely be involved, as he did serve under Hordak in his youth. It was Hordak who led Keldor to the Havoc Staff. It was also Hordak’s demonic power that saved Keldor’s life after acid was splashed across his face. So there’s a lot of really super cool possibilities here.
Also from the trailer, we see that Adam is very aware of his birthplace in Eternia and is searching for a way to get back home as he’s also seeking the Power Sword. He somehow knows that the sword is the key to his homecoming. In keeping with the playful nature of the Filmation show, we see Adam’s finally discovered the location of the Power Sword, and it’s in a comic shop. Of course it is. It’s secured in the hands of a life-sized barbarian guy, and eagle-eyed fans will note that this barbarian statue just so happens to be the concept design of He-Man way back when they were pitching the idea around. It’s little stuff like that that gives me hope for this project. It shows the minds behind the project did some research.
We’re then shown Teela and Adam in a ship warp driving into the center of the universe, where Eternia sits. It’s also worth noting that Beastman is rampaging across the streets of some American city so my guess is the Power Sword is a conduit, a bell, and once it’s reunited with Adam, Eternia responds. It’s Adam’s right of passage, the sign the hero’s ready to begin his journey, and both Good and Evil are drawn to him now. I love how they’re emphasizing the sword so much.
It also looks like we’re in for some really great action scenes! Eternian guards and the skull-helmed forces of Skeltor clash, we see aerial battles raging across the sky, and we even get to see Teela fighting it out with Evil-Lynn, who, if I’m not mistaken, might look to have a yellow hue to her complexion! I might be reading too much into this, but my God, that would be one amazing detail.
And, oh fuck yes, we finally, FINALLY see Skeletor! Our readers know Skeletor is my favorite villain of all time Fucking hell, I’ve written essays on the guy on here. I was wondering if he would have a yellow skull like the classic look or a bleached one more aligned with the 200X cartoon. They went 200X, and I honestly love it. I swear this looks like he walked out of Sideshow Studios, which makes some great statues, and always thought they could make a cool live-action Skeletor.
We see a lot in a short trailer. Stuff like Grayskull (!!!), Snake Mountain (yes, it’s in this movie too, and OMG!), as well as character glimpses like the Sorceress, Fisto, Trap Jaw, and Spikor! The toys and the playsets are coming to life.
We also see Adam transform into He-Man with the classic phrase, “I have the power!” But they couldn’t leave it at that, oh fuck no. The trailer is kind enough to leave us with a battle between He-Man and Skeletor! The epic battle between ultimate Good and ultimate Evil comes to life.
This has the potential to be the best movie ever, really, and I mean that sincerely. The best nostalgia fest that perfectly embodies the era that reshaped all of pop culture is right here in front of us. Sorcery and sci-fi, whimsy and wickedness. Friendships and ancient feuds, battles and legends, MOTU always had it all. This has every right to be incredible. Ok, I’m gonna say it, and I don’t care how corny it is. It not only has potential, but it has the power!
It began with the premise of a Cheeseburger and ended up as the “Romeo and Juliet” of horror.
David Cronenberg’s bold remake ofTHE FLY, shows the cinematic community how a remake is done, and done well. It also took the initial love story immersed in the original 1958 film and took it a step further by throwing us on an emotional roller coaster where we all really rooted for these two, even toward the bitter end in the hopes that Brundle could be saved from his insect brain logic.
Cronenberg’s THE FLY is considered pretty unanimously as one of the greatest monster movies and body horror flicks of the 20th century; but this movie is so much more than that, and often I see the love story that literally sits at the heart of the plot, gets overlooked by the grotesque nature of the movie. Without a doubt, it’s one of the saddest, and most painful love tales one can watch unfold on-screen. Seth and Veronica’s whirlwind romance looks and feels so authentic, as the pair have incredibly believable chemistry that sucks you right into this strange world of telepods, insects, and tragedy. And leaves you in a hot mess of tears and puke- because you and I both know this movie can easily produce projectile vomit for the queasy.
One of the key points that really feels like a stab in the heart of viewers, is a half-mutated Brundlefly’s speech to Veronica on “insect politics”. Veronica is desperate to help Seth, however, Brundle knows that he is beyond her help and orders her to stay away as he feels the insect inside of him has at this point, completely taken over.
“You have to leave now, and never come back here. Have you ever heard of insect politics? Neither have I. Insects don’t have politics. They’re very brutal. No compassion, no compromise. I’m an insect who dreamt he was a man and loved it. But now the dream is over… and the insect is awake. I’m saying… I’ll hurt you if you stay.”
GUT-WRENCHING.
The biggest kick in the dick is at the very end, however. Brundle, insane with an idea to fuse him, and a now pregnant Veronica together in the telepods seem like the answer to his problem. With the help of a concerned, although douche ex-lover and co-worker of Ronnie’s, she manages to escape leaving Brundle’s DNA to be accidentally fused with the pod itself. Now we have a mutated human-fly-telepod. Good grief. Seth, reaching deep inside to his human counterpart shakily grabs a shotgun a distressed Veronica has in her hand and points it at his head, urging his love to end the madness. A hysterical Geena Davis complies and blows Goldblum’s brains out, giving us one of the most miserable endings to any horror film.
It’s a tear-jerker every time, and not something that normally happens at the end of a horror film, as most end on an emphatic cliffhanger that all is not well, producing that exciting adrenaline rush. Here, we’re left with our hearts broken for both Seth and Veronica-wishing for a better outcome, but all is gone and lost permanently.
That is, until THE FLY II came about, which also does a superb job of making us cry our eyeballs out. You know exactly what scene I’m talking about.
