Trick Or Treat (1986)

"You should be loyal to your heroes... they can turn on you."-Sammy Curr

Trick or Treat (1986), directed by Charles Martin Smith, is the story of a bullied metal head (Marc Price, who played Skippy on Family Ties) who brings his rock idol Sammy Curr (Solid Gold Dancer Tony Fields) back to life by playing a record backwards. This movie was panned at the time it came out, even by horror fans, but I always had a soft spot for it. I was a metal nerd in high school so I could relate to Marc Price's Eddie. It also had cameos from Ozzy Osbourne and Gene Simmons, which raised it's cool level for me when I was sixteen years old.

I got the sound track album (on vinyl, it was the 1980's) which had Sammy Curr's songs that were done by the band Fastway for Christmas from my grandmother.

Recently I sat down and watched it again. The movie is very 80's, but still a good scary movie. As I watched it I went online and looked up the people who starred in it. Most of the cast didn't do much of note afterwards.

Lisa Orgolini who played Eddie's love interest Leslie was still acting until 1998, and then nothing. The girl that played Genie (Elise Richards) did one more movie according to IMDB and then dropped off the face of the Earth.

Doug Savant who played the bully went on to be a staple of TV.

Marc Price is a stand up comedian today. Wikipedia's entry on him says he directed the ultra low budget zombie film Colin, but he didn't (and this is why you can't trust Wikipedia).

Glen Morgan who played Eddie's best friend didn't act again, thank God. He went on to be a powerful writer, director, producer in Hollywood. Maybe you know some of his work, X-Files, Final Destination, Space: Above and Beyond. Who knew?

Tony Fields, Sammy Curr himself, a dancer and choreographer, went from Solid Gold and music videos to acting stints on L.A. Law and Murder She Wrote. Sadly he died in 1995.

The film was going to get a cool 20th anniversary DVD release by Anchor Bay, but they couldn't clear all the music rights. It's out on DVD from a no name company that sells mostly to supermarket bargain bins. I think it deserves better.

Until Next Time,

Stay Insane!

AMC TV B-Movie Classics

Before we begin I just want to say I haven't changed my mind about AMC TV. I still think they don't show enough classics films, I still don't like the commercial breaks, and I still think original TV shows like Breaking Bad and Mad Men have no place on station that was suppose to be about classic movies. I really feel cable channels have lost their individual identities and have become just like every other channel out there. Sometimes I can't tell what channel I'm watching.

With that said, AMCTV.com has take a step in the right direction by showing classic films on their web site. They have a B-Movie Horror section that is showing Asylum (1972), Corridors of Blood (1958) with Boris Karloff and The Horror of Party Beach (1964) and others. The B-Movie Sci-Fi/Fantasy section has The Creation of the Humanoids (1962), Dark Star (1974), and Teenage Caveman (1958) just as an example.

What got me really excited was they are showing Rodger Corman's The Undead (1957), which isn't on DVD right now and I had been wanting to see.

So as long as AMCTV.com is going to be doing the right thing and show classics, I'll support the web site in hopes they add more movies for us to enjoy.

Below I've embedded The Undead for your pleasure.

Until Next Time,

Stay Insane!

George A. Romero's Survival of the Dead Release Dates

George A. Romero's Survival of the Dead comes out on VOD, Amazon, Xbox Live and Playstation April 30 and in theaters on May 28th.

The movie's official web site is http://magnetreleasing.com/survivalofthedead/ .

Until Next Time,

Stay Insane!

Ask Ormsby Anything

Ormsby has opened a formspring.me account, so now you can ask him anything. Go ahead, I dare you.

http://www.formspring.me/ormsby

Be warned, he'll answer back.

Until Next Time,

Stay Insane!

Island of Lost Souls Petition

I've decided to take the animal-men by the horns and start a petition to let Universal Studios know there are people out there that want to see "Island of Lost Souls" given a restoration and a proper DVD release.

If you feel the same please click the link below and sign my petition. Even if you don't sign the petition. All the cool kids are doing it.

http://www.petitiononline.com/IOLS1932/petition.html

Until Next Time,

Stay Insane!

Rondo Hatton Awards-Voting is OPEN!!!

Hello Cinamaniacs,

The 8th Annual Rondo Hatton Awards (http://www.rondoaward.com/rondo/rondos.html) are here and voting is open. Usually I don't tell people who I voted for or throw my support behind any particular nominee, not that anyone would listen to me anyway.

But this year I'd like to suggest a movie for the write in vote of :

24. Classic Most in Need of Restoration
Which classic horror film, either released or unreleased, do you think most deserves a restoration?

For this I'd like to nominate 'Island of Lost Souls' (Paramount 1932), the movie I wrote my last blog post about. This classic, starring Charles Laughton and Bela Lugosi, has never been on DVD and is out of print as we speak. It deserves a nice restoration and DVD release with extras.

No matter what your choice is, please remember to vote, you have until April 3rd to email in your vote.

Until Next Time,

Stay Insane!

Why is it not on DVD or Blu-Ray? Island of Lost Souls

Every now and then I'll get in the mood to watch some movie I haven't seen in a dog's age, only to find that it's not on DVD. Recently I was amazed that Universal's "The Boy Who Cried Werewolf" (1973) wasn't on DVD, but not surprised since it's Universally (pun intended) panned and not considered a classic.

Then today I found out "The Island Of Lost Souls" (1933) is not on DVD!

This Paramount released thriller, based on "The Island of Doctor Moreau" by H.G. Wells, is a classic. It starred Charles Laughton as the sadistic doctor and an animalistic Bela Lugosi as the Sayer of the Law. Paramount sold the rights to Universal in 1958 for distribution to TV and the property is stilled controlled by Universal. They came out with a VHS version as part of their Universal Classic Collection in 1997, but since then nothing.

I think this is a shame. There is no reason to keep this film under lock and key in this day of DVDs and being able to watch instantly over the Internet. What do you think?

Until Next Time,

Stay Insane!

Screaming Lord Sutch

As much as I love Alice Cooper (my family celebrates his birthday every February 4th by declaring it a holiday called "The Feast Of Alice Cooper", which should be federal day off in my book) I know he wasn't the first horror themed rock act. There was of course Screamin' Jay Hawkins (who will be the subject of a multi part blog post I'm currently working on) and Arthur Brown (who's big song was "Fire"). Today Bernard Sheehan turned me on to another who had slipped past my radar.

Screaming Lord Sutch (real name David Edward Sutch) was a British singer from the 1960's. He had a hit with "Jack The Ripper", and dressed as the infamous slayer for his horror themed concerts. In the 1980's he actually started a political party in England called the "Official Monster Raving Loony Party" that actually got some notice and votes.

Unfortunately Screaming Lord Sutch committed suicide in 1999.

So today, let's remember an innovator of horror rock. Enjoy the youtube clip of him performing "Jack The Ripper".

Until Next Time,

Stay Insane!

Haven't Seen The Wolfman

I haven't seen The Wolfman. It's not that I don't want to, I've just been so sick I can get out to see it. I've been avoiding reviews and blog posts about it so I go in with an open mind.

Once I'm better I'll get down to my local cinema and see it, then I'll write my review for all of you.

Until Next Time,

Stay Insane

Cinema Insane's Werewolf Special

Join Ormsby for his Cinema Insane Werewolf Special, in honor of The Wolfman coming out on February 12th.

Until Next Time, Stay Insane.

First Episode of Ormsby's Cinema Insane!!!

The first episode of Ormsby's Cinema Insane is finally up at http://www.bymagic.com/.

This month Ormsby shows 'Werewolf in a Girl's Dormitory' (1961) and reviews 'Trick 'r Treat' (2008).

In honor of 'The Wolfman' being released on February 12th there will be a 'Cinema Insane Werewolf Special' that night, so have an eye out for it.

Next month, 'White Zombie' (1932).

Until Next Time,

Stay Insane!