News

Clockwise from top left: This Is Me... Now: A Love Story (Prime Video), Red Rocket (A24), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (Paramount)Image: The A.V. Club

Amazon’s Prime Video kicks off February with a summer blockbuster, a new “narrative-driven cinematic odyssey” from Jennifer Lopez, and a bunch of...

Why is it that, when a horror film achieves something special, both the critics and the public tend to elevate it above and beyond the ‘lowly’ horror genre? David Lynch’s most humane and sympathetic film still makes our heads spin, and this new 4K remaster renders Freddie Francis’s great cinematography at its best. Lynch extends and develops the visual nightmares of his experimental Eraserhead for this true-life classic. Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller and Freddie Jones all give indelible, emotionally-moving performances. How many horror pictures hold up hope for social decency and personal dignity?

The Elephant Man

Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 1051

1980 / B&w / 2:35 widescreen / 123 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date September 29, 2020 / 39.95

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Anne Bancroft, John Gielgud, Wendy Hiller, Freddie Jones, Michael Elphick, Hannah Gordon, Helen Ryan, John Standing, Dexter Fletcher, Lesley Dunlop, Phoebe Nicholls, Lydia Lisle,...

Stars: Francesco Filice, Vivica A. Fox, Hannah Gordon, Sam Asante, Sebastian Deery, Francisca Dennis, Dennis Nimoh, Sean Rey, Mark Rival | Written by Ant Horasanli, Reza Sholeh | Directed by Ant Horasanli

So the latest Fast & Furious film got pushed by by an entire year thanks to the coronavirus and you’re left with a huge gap in your car-racing come crime movie watching schedule. What’s a film fan going to do? Well you could check out a straight to DVD wannabe instead. And that’s where Rev comes in…

Rev tells the story of Mikey, a bored store clerk in Toronto, who spends his time outside of his job not only racing cars but stealing them too! But after he gets caught boosting a rare ride from a cop’s house, the police force him to go undercover or go to jail. Mikey agrees to join a grand theft ring led by violent,...

We're back with another installment of Horror Highlights! In today's feature, we have a clip from Crypt TV's new release, Shadow, the short film Home Invasion, info on Scarecrows' Canadian release, and details on Hola Mexico's virtual theater plans:

Crypt TV's Shadow: "Los Angeles, CA -- Director/producer Benjamin Howdeshell has unveiled the first look at his latest genre short Shadow. A grieving family is given a second chance when their husband and father returns from a nearly fatal accident. But their reunion is less than joyful when they realize he hasn't come back alone. Howdeshell (director of 20th Century Studios' Alien: Harvest and Withorwithout starring Milla Jovovich) and Crypt TV have released new stills and a clip from the short ahead of its debut.

Shadow will premiere on Friday 5/15 on Crypt TV's YouTube Channel at 1p Pst. The live premiere chat will open at 12p Pst, so fans...

Tagline: "It Was Supposed to be the Summer of Their Dreams...Nightmares." Scarecrows is a horror film from director Stuart Stone. Completed in 2017, this title was released in the U.S. late in 2018. Now, this thriller is coming to Digital platforms, in Canada, this May. From writer Adam Rodness, Scarecrows follows four stoners and their trip into an ominous cornfield. In the cornfield, a psychotic farmer is waiting for them. Also, this title stars: Hannah Gordon (Hurt), Mike Taylor (The Hot Zone), Umed Amin and Maaor Ziv. Black Fawn Distribution will handle the Digital rollout in Canada. The film's latest showing details are hosted here. The synopsis also mentions characters being turned into scarecrows. The film's Canadian release poster shows one character bloodied and bruised. Her lips sewn shut, the farmer looms over the graphic. And, this is one field that trespassers should have avoided. Black Fawn Distribution has set...

An adrenaline-filled action-thriller about the illegal underworld of exotic car thieves, Rev arrives on DVD, Digital, and On Demand May 12 from Lionsgate. Starring Francisco Filice, Vivica A. Fox, Sean Rey, and Hannah Gordon – and from the director of TV’s “Petrol” – the Rev DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.98.

When Mikey’s not racing cars, he’s stealing them all over the city. But after he gets caught boosting a rare ride from a cop’s house, the police force him to go undercover or go to jail. Mikey agrees to join a grand theft ring led by violent, impulsive Charlie, who’d beat Mikey to death if he knew he was an informant. Even worse, Mikey finds himself attracted to Charlie’s girlfriend, Ava, and their passionate encounter sets up a bloody, powerful collision between rage and desperation.

The post Viveca A. Fox in The...

“The Silence” is capitalizing on the latest trend for post-apocalyptic stories with creatures that prey on humans by curtailing basic functions. First there was “A Quiet Place,” in which John Krasinski and Emily Blunt had to evade blind extraterrestrial creatures with an acute sense of hearing. Then came the Netflix movie “Bird Box,” where Sandra Bullock had to blindfold herself so that she could avoid looking at creatures with the ability to drive a person to suicide.

Now, Netflix is combining all of these elements and throwing in some of its go-to stars for an extra synergistic push. In the movie, flying critters who kind of look like bats have destroyed the world by going after humans if they make any sound. That’s a familiar premise! The film also pulls from its Netflix stable of stars, including “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” actors Kiernan Shipka and Miranda Otto and “To...

Stars: Hannah Gordon, Mike Taylor, Umed Amin, Maaor Ziv, Jason J. Thomas, Derek Christoff, Andy Dynes, Austin Duffy, Sammi Barber | Written by Adam Rodness, Stuart Stone | Directed by Stuart Stone

It’s not particularly good… some people may have now given up reading the rest of this review proving how showing your hand early can be the worst thing to do. In the case of Stu Stone’s sophomore effort Scarecrows, this is something he should have taken heed of.

Within the first five minutes, the biggest plot point has been revealed as we find that a farmer with a grudge against trespassers has replaced straw and cloth scarecrows with a much more authentic version. This leaves Stone relying on the empathy that we should be feeling for his protagonists and this is where things begin to go wrong but just like Stone’s last scene, let me take you back to the beginning.

Lin Shaye has a Room for Rent which will be released in 2019, but in the meantime, check out the still released for the film by Uncork'd Entertainment. Also: a trailer for Scarecrows, Braid's Midnight screening at the 4th annual Ax Wound Film Festival, and documentary Halloween in a Box.

Room For Rent: "Suspense thriller Room for Rent, starring veteran actress Lin Shaye, will be released by leading genre distributor Uncork’d Entertainment.

The deal for worldwide rights was finalized this week at Afm between Keith Leopard, President of Uncork’d Entertainment and Tommy Stovall, President of Pasidg Productions Inc.

“We’re very excited to be releasing Room for Rent in 2019,” said Keith Leopard, President of Uncork’d Entertainment. “I loved this movie and I think audiences will really enjoy this unique and spine-tingling thrill ride, which features a powerhouse performance by Lin Shaye, in what’s a very different role for her.

Network: PBS. Episodes: Ongoing (90 minutes). Seasons: Ongoing. TV show dates: April 8, 2018 — present. Series status: Has not been cancelled. Performers include: Nicola Walker, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Trevor Eve, Bernard Hill, Ruth Sheen, Tom Courtenay, Gemma Jones, Brian Bovell, Cheri Lunghi, Hannah Gordon, Claire Goose, Tamzin Malleson, Peter Egan, and Frances Tomelty. TV show description: A British crime drama anthology series, the Unforgotten TV show comes from creator and writer Chris Lang. The series, which airs on ITV in UK, follows Dci Cassie Stuart (Walker) and DS Sunil ‘Sunny’ Khan (Bhaskar), as they investigate historic cold cases. In season one, after the bones of a young man are found at the...

Vulture Watch Have Stuart and Khan closed the books on their cold case files? Is the Unforgotten TV show cancelled or renewed for a second season on PBS? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of Unforgotten, season two. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you? What's This TV Show About? A PBS British crime drama, Unforgotten stars Nicola Walker, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Trevor Eve, Bernard Hill, Ruth Sheen, Tom Courtenay, Gemma Jones, Brian Bovell, Cheri Lunghi, Hannah Gordon, Claire Goose, Tamzin Malleson, Peter Egan, and Frances Tomelty. The series follows Dci Cassie Stuart (Walker) and DS Sunil ‘Sunny’ Khan (Bhaskar), as they investigate historic cold cases. In season one, after...

Is Stuart and Khan's cold case heating up, during the first season of the Unforgotten TV show on PBS? As we all know, the Nielsen ratings typically play a big role in determining whether a TV show like Unforgotten is cancelled or renewed for season two. With public television TV series, other factors come into play. Because many viewers feel frustration when their viewing habits and opinions aren't considered, we'd like to offer you the chance to rate all of the Unforgotten season one episodes below. A PBS crime drama, Unforgotten stars Nicola Walker, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Trevor Eve, Bernard Hill, Ruth Sheen, Tom Courtenay, Gemma Jones, Brian Bovell, Cheri Lunghi, Hannah Gordon, Claire Goose, Tamzin Malleson, Peter Egan, and Frances Tomelty. The series follows Dci Cassie Stuart (Walker) and DS Sunil ‘Sunny’ Khan (Bhaskar), as they investigate historic cold cases. In season one, after the bones of a young...

They remembered! ITV has renewed its Forgotten TV show for a third series (season). The British crime drama series stars Nicola Walker as Dci Cassie Stuart and Sanjeev Bhaskar as Di Sunil ‘Sunny’ Khan. The season three order is for six hourlong episodes.Creator Chris Lang is writing the third installment for ITV. In the first two seasons, Unforgotten also featured Tom Courtenay, Trevor Eve, Bernard Hill, Hannah Gordon, Gemma Jones, Ruth Sheen, Mark Bonnar, Lorraine Ashbourne, Peter Egan, Rosie Cavaliero, Badria Timimi, Adeel Akhtar, and Wendy Craig.Read More…...

Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar are to lead a new ITV drama series.

Unforgotten will be a six-part series written by Undeniable's Chris Lang, and will focus on a 39-year-old murder case.

The bones of a young man are discovered below a demolished house, prompting an investigation that rocks the lives of four people who have been waiting for this moment to come.

Trevor Eve, Bernard Hill, Ruth Sheen and Tom Courtenay will also star in the drama.

Walker and Bhaskar will play the lead roles of Dci Cassie Stuart and DS Sunil 'Sunny' Khan, who will look into the case and speak to the four main suspects.

The drama will be set in different areas of the UK, including the London suburbs, the Essex coast, Westminster and the Fens.

Other supporting cast members include Gemma Jones, Brian Bovell, Cherie Lunghi, Hannah Gordon, Claire Goose, Tamzin Malleson, Frances Tomelty and Peter Egan.

We pay tribute to Brian Clemens, a screenwriter and producer whose work lit up 1970s cult TV and beyond...

Brian Clemens, who died earlier this week aged 83, was a highly respected screenwriter and producer both for TV and Film. He will chiefly be remembered for his work on The Avengers, The New Avengers and The Professionals but his credits were numerous and encapsulated a real golden age of cult, escapist television from the 1950s onwards.

Clemens was born in Croydon in July 1931. He spent his National Service as a Weapons Training Instructor. After spending time as a copywriter, he established himself as a scriptwriter - sometimes using the pseudonym "Tony O'Grady" - O'Grady being his mother's maiden name. He received his first commission from the BBC at the age of 24 - a thriller called Valid For Single Journey Only. He went on to write for many of the big TV...

Exclusive: In the second big material deal of the day, Fox has acquired Cold Comfort (aka How To Catch A Russian Spy), a film that will be developed as a directing vehicle for Marc Webb. The subject of the book is keeping his name under wraps, and it is being co-written by Ellis Henican, a longtime pal of mine from Newsday who’s still a columnist there and a bestselling author. Several studios and directors were in the mix on this one, because it’s such a strong star vehicle for a comic actor in the vein of Jonah Hill. This is the true account of an American civilian-turned-self-taught spy, who worked with the FBI to bring down a Russian intelligence agent on American soil. Anonymous Content’s Michael Sugar and Bard Dorros are producing, with Webb also serving as producer. Fox’s Emma Watts and Kira Goldberg negotiated this...

Interview Rachel Bowles 28 Mar 2013 - 08:00

We spoke to wonderful TV writer David Renwick about bringing back Jonathan Creek, scrapped sitcoms, One Foot in the Grave and more...

Working in television writing since the seventies, and with a string of well-loved hits behind him including Not the Nine O'Clock News, One Foot in the Grave, and of course, Jonathan Creek, we spoke to David Renwick about bringing Creek back to the BBC, walking away from projects, and killing off Victor Meldrew...

So onto Jonathan Creek, first of all I was going to ask you about the three other episodes that have been announced for later this year...

Hopefully, hopefully.

Hopefully? Is it still dependant on something?

Well it might not happen if I fail to write something good. I shouldn’t be spreading doom and gloom and doubt and insecurities, although that’s my role! We hope to go into...

Craig here with the third season of Take Three. Today: John Hurt

Take One: Brighton Rock (2010)

Hurt has alternated starring roles with supporting performances since he began acting in films with The Wild and the Willing in 1962. The amount of quality supporting turns he’s delivered over the years is vast: 10 Rillington Place, Midnight Express, The Shout, The Hit, Scandal, The Field, Contact, The Proposition, Melancholia, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy are a mere few. His fine turn as accountant Phil Corkery in the Brighton Rock remake (backing up Helen Mirren, Sam Riley, Andrea Riseborough and Andy Serkis) is a recent solid addition to the list and deserves due credit. Phil’s a gaunt shambles, but loyal to Mirren’s Ida, his long-time crush. He’s one of the old guard. A proud man accustomed to propping up bars whilst waxing forth about the state of the world. He’s the...