Classic-Horror.com | Reviewing the History of Horror Movies

Our editor-in-chief Nate Yapp is proud to have contributed to the new book Hidden Horror: A Celebration of 101 Underrated and Overlooked Fright Flicks, edited by Aaron Christensen. Another contributors include Anthony Timpone, B.J. Colangelo, Dave Alexander, Classic-Horror.com's own Robert C. Ring and John W. Bowen. Pick up a copy today from Amazon.com!

Robert Aragon (The Comic-Con Experience 2008 #4)

Detail from Robert Aragon's Dracula print

Submitted by Julia Merriam on Wed, 2008-07-30 22:26

One of the many constants on the Exhibition Floor is Artists' Alley, a section dedicated to independent artists. Offerings in this section are mostly comic-book related, but can range from the beautiful to the bizarre. It is in this section of the exhibit floor where we find our Comic-Con Experience 2008 #4, artist Robert Aragon.

While many artists in Artists' Alley have horror-themed offerings, Aragon's pieces are one-of-a-kind tributes to classic horror films, with a particular emphasis on Universal and Hammer. Aragon licenses the likeness of many of his subjects from the actor's estates, including those of Boris Karloff and Lon Chaney, and his art accurately and artistically captures the spirit and images of the old films. You'll find no grotesque, trendily warped images of Dracula or the Mummy here, no modern gothic influences. After all, Boris Karloff's Frankenstein's Monster needs no embellishment.(read more...)

Sideshow Collectibles (The Comic-Con Experience 2008 #3)

Submitted by Julia Merriam on Wed, 2008-07-30 21:38

Everybody loves toys. Everybody - including Comic-Con. There are entire parts of the Exhibition Floor devoted to toys – action figures, statuettes, plushies, etc. At Comic-Con, toys are everywhere. And, because toys are everywhere, The Comic-Con Experience 2008, Feature #3 is Sideshow Collectibles.

While Sideshow originally got its start making chintzy little toys and figures of pop culture notables, the company has grown and now specializes in high-quality, screen-accurate replicas of well-known genre characters. These figures, statuettes and life-size replicas do not come cheap, ranging in price from $35 for some of the more common, smaller items to thousands of dollars for their more elaborate display pieces.
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Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (The Comic-Con Experience 2008 #2)

Submitted by Julia Merriam on Wed, 2008-07-30 02:22

There is nothing more awesome than superheroes, supervillains and superstars singing and dancing their hearts out. So, with that in mind, the second installment of The Comic-Con Experience 2008 is Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. A web-based production directed and co-written by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon, starring Neil Patrick Harris (forthwith known as NPH), Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day, Dr. Horrible is something that, superficially, has nothing to do with horror. But, for our purposes, we’ll pretend it does. Because I say so.
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The Comic-Con Experience 2008

Submitted by Julia Merriam on Wed, 2008-07-30 02:20

Since that first convention in 1970, with just 300 people in attendance, San Diego Comic-Con has been devoted to the celebration of the popular arts. While the heart of Comic-Con may be comic books and graphic novels, over the years the event has developed into something of a geek haven, with little bit of everything, appealing to fans across genres. It is this culture of diversity, this unabashed love of popular art – including horror – that now draws over 100,000 people to the San Diego Convention Center, including the staff of Classic-Horror.com
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Cthuliana Corner (The Comic-Con Experience 2008 #1)

Submitted by Julia Merriam on Wed, 2008-07-30 02:17

There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that compares to the terrifying awesomeness of Howard Phillips Lovecraft. Oh, sure, there are people who say that he was bland, repetitive, or even cliché – and to them I say, “Bugger off.” Fact of the matter is, I like me some tentacles. Which is why The Comic-Con Experience, Feature #1 is the Cthuliana booth, run by The Source Comics and Games.

Cthuliana Corner in just part of its glory

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San Diego Comic-Con 2008 Post-Mortem

Submitted by Nate Yapp on Tue, 2008-07-29 01:42

Well, another Comic-Con has come and gone and we have all sorts of coverage we're prepping. Look forward to pieces on Repo! The Genetic Opera, the Attack of the Killer Tomatoes remake, Frank Darabont, classic monster art, Torchwood, Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer, Laid to Rest, and more!

Here's a few more pictures from the course of the weekend to tide you over (click to open larger version in new window):

The Comic-Con logo at night

Our esteemed Managing Deaditor Julia Merriam
standing in front of a series of Dexter posters

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San Diego Comic-Con International 2008 Has Begun!

Submitted by Nate Yapp on Thu, 2008-07-24 13:35

Team Classic-Horror is here in San Diego, CA at Comic-Con International. We'll have a ton of excellent coverage for you over the course of the weekend. To give you a tease, here's some shots we picked up on the Con floor during Preview Night on Wednesday:

Various con-goers caught in cool lighting effect

Julia Merriam, our Managing Deaditor, navigates
the convention floor.

Castle Grayskull

Review: Scars of Dracula (1970)

Submitted by Nate Yapp on Tue, 2008-07-22 21:00

Anyone wondering why Hammer Films felt the need to transplant Count Dracula to Swingin’ London in Dracula AD 1972 need look no further than Scars of Dracula (1970). This tepid continuation of the studio’s Dracula series proves, with little room for argument, that Hammer’s ability to deal with the vampire in his native Gothic setting had long ago dwindled to nothing. All devoted fans get for their troubles is a rehash of old ideas, a terribly insufficient plot, and a bad mishandling of Dracula as a character.(read more...)

The Road Ahead: Comic-Con and Beyond

Submitted by Nate Yapp on Mon, 2008-07-21 12:56

You may have noticed a lack of news stories this month, despite a whole bunch of excellent discs coming down the way (new Alfred Hitchcock sets, Nightmare Castle restored, and Beyond the Door, just to name a few). That's because we've been deep in prep for the three major events that will define the second half of our year.

First up is San Diego Comic-Con International, which runs from July 24th through the 27th this year. We'll have a team of four there this year -- Julia Merriam, Emily Langton, new recruit Courtney Banach, and myself. Keep your eyes peeled to Classic-Horror for daily updates from the floor. We can't reveal all the goodies yet, but we will be looking at offerings from Lionsgate, Universal, Warner Bros., Troma, the BBC, Platinum Dunes, Dimension, and other fine providers of horror entertainment. (read more...)

Review: Damien: Omen II (1978)

Submitted by John Dubrawa on Thu, 2008-07-17 01:00

In 1978, 20th Century Fox looked to recreate the box-office success that it found with 1976’s The Omen by producing a sequel, Damien: Omen II using many of the same components: a supernatural and suspenseful tale of the Devil’s son, Oscar-nominated actors, and the music of Jerry Goldsmith. Behind such a solid and substantiated formula (the original film grossed $60 million in the U.S.), Damien: Omen II is ultimately not quite able to live up to its own expectations, due to the plot being filled with unanswered questions and overly obvious foreshadowing techniques. It is, however, supported with the aforementioned score from Goldsmith (as spot-on as ever) and an honest performance from newcomer Jonathan Scott-Taylor.
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