Entries by Christine Caprilozzi

Horror News Network’s Best Horror Movies of 2019: Christine’s Top 3 Picks

January 5, 2020 /0 Comments/in , /by

SPOILERS AHEAD…

It’s that time of year again where we here at Horror News Network like to pick our top horror movies. Being tasked with a “Top Three,” for 2019, a year where there was no shortage of horror, was not easy. However, after doing so, I noticed the one commonality amongst these films is that they all featured relatable and strong characters.  When characters are brought to life, and fans can connect with them and are actually invested in their well-being. This makes the film scarier, more enjoyable and the viewing experience more worth the time. To detail my choices, I may disclose some spoilers, so beware and enjoy. read more read more

‘Stranger Things’: Season Three Top 5 Moments

July 8, 2019 /0 Comments/in , /by

SPOILER ALERT

As one of the many who binged the new season of Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things over the weekend, I can easily say this season was better than season two.  Not that last season was bad, not at all.  Season three, however, provided a lot more depth to the storytelling. And yes, this includes spoilers.  Those who have watched the entire season know that you can’t recap without major spoilers.

  1. Steve and Robin- While many fans assumed this would be a new love interest for Steve, such was not the case. The chemistry between the two is great. However, after a harrowing encounter with the Russians, Steve and Robin have a heart to heart talk about their feelings.  This is where Robin tells Steve she’s gay.  Anyone who remembers the 1980s knows that this was not a point in time that was friendly to the LGBTQ community.  Robin feeling the need to hide her homosexuality fits right in with the setting of small town 1985 America. Steve’s reaction was perfect and non-judgmental. The friendship between him and Robin, as well as the character of Robin navigating Hawkins, Indiana deserves more exploration in season four.
  1. Girl Power- While past seasons have seen Eleven save the day time and time again, this season saw Max and Nancy assert themselves and drive not only the action, but also the narrative of the story a bit more. The friendship of El and Max was definitely fun to watch. As Eleven grows up, it shows her to be very much acclimating to teenage life. Nancy, on the other hand, had her hands full trying to make an impression at the male dominated local newspaper. Once again, showing that 1985 was a year where women had long standing battles to fight to be taken seriously. With that said, it wasn’t only Eleven and Nancy playing an integral role in saving the world. Suzie assisted to unlock the safe and it was Robin who cracked the Russian’s code.  Let’s also not forget Joyce, who was left on her own yet managed to pull it all together and shut down the re-opening of the portal.
  1. Eleven Loses Her Power- In the finale, we see Eleven completely drained of her powers. While frightening for fans, this was a chance for the rest of the group to all rally and save the human race. I, personally, felt this was a brilliant twist by the Duffers.  Having the group, and the plot, constantly depending on Eleven to save the day would get too predictable. This is a nail biter for fans, leaving them to wonder if Eleven’s powers will return in season four, or will we see Eleven have to adjust to NOT having them.
  1. The Redemption of Billy- Let’s be honest here, Billy Hargrove has never been a likable character. However, last season we saw a bit of his home life, which tried to explain some of his dysfunction and erratic behavior.  This was a small detour last year and season two ended with Billy still being just the town bully… and Mrs. Wheeler’s crush.  The mind flayer taking over Billy made sense because of his physical build and violent tendencies.  What most fans did not expect was to see the emotional rollercoaster, which Dacre Montgomery did a tremendous job of portraying. Whether it was his breakdown on the sauna, or Eleven’s trip through his broken childhood, Billy had quite the journey this season. At the end of the day, it was Billy who came through and saved Eleven. The Duffer brothers surprised us with the emotional depth and humanity of Billy’s last moments.
  1. Hopper- Grab your tissues! The shocking conclusion saw the explosion at the mall and the “death” of Hopper. If the anguish of Joyce and Eleven, both incredibly well played by Winona Ryder and Millie Bobbi Brown, doesn’t make you teary-eyed, then you may need to check your heart. If you waited and watched the ending credits, however, you saw the Russian prison where the guard made reference to an American. We never actually see Hopper’s body. Does this leave the door open for Hopper to still be out there somewhere?  Is this a cliffhanger for fans to hang on?  Either way, in a finale full of slime, gore, and action, the Duffers tie it all back together with the relationships that bond the group together.

So, with Hopper possibly gone and the Byers moving, Stranger Things third season leaves a lot of unanswered questions as to how and where it will pick up next season. Will Eleven get her power back? How will the show deal with the Byers moving out of Hawkins? What are the Russians planning to do with the Demogorgon? Will we see more of Dustin and Suzie together? With the kids slowly becoming adults and the mind-flayer still out there, I’m sure there will be no shortage of material for next year’s Stranger Things binge. read more read more

‘The Craft’ Reboot in the Works From Blumhouse

March 26, 2019 /0 Comments/in , /by

Straight off of the massive success of Us this weekend, genre powerhouse Blumhouse has announced the studio will be rebooting the 1996 fan favorite, The Craft. Zoe Lister-Jones has been confirmed as the writer and director on the project, which will be developed in conjunction with Columbia Pictures.

The original film, directed by Andrew Fleming, centers around a teenage coven of witches discovering their powers. To say that Lister-Jones has big shoes to fill is an understatement. Besides earning millions at the box office, the movie starring Neve Campbell, Fairuza Balk, Rachel True, and Robin Tunney has become somewhat of a cult classic. In 1996, the quartet of blossoming witches inspired and empowered a generation of young women within the horror realm and dark arts community.  As with any remake, die hard fans will remain skeptical to see if this update to their beloved coven lives up to the original. read more read more

‘Hellboy’ Red Band Trailer Unleashed

March 1, 2019 /0 Comments/in , , /by

Last night at the stroke of midnight, the red band trailer for the highly-anticipated Hellboy reboot was dropped.   The film is, of course, based on the iconic Dark Horse comic series from Horror Comic  Award winner Mike Mignola.  This time around Neil Marshall is at the helm, while David Harbour (Stranger Things) steps in as the anti-hero from the abyss, a role made famous by Ron Perlman back in the 2004 original.

The trailer, set to a symphonic version of “Smoke on the Water,” has all the grandeur, grit, and sarcasm that fans come to expect from the Hellboy universe, whether it be movies or comics.  While Mignola’s work always provides a weighty storyline, the teaser leads one to believe that the film follows that lead.  From the trailer it seems as though there story will be matched with epic battle scenes, and certainly enough blood and gore for horror fans. read more read more

‘Candyman’ Remake Set to Cast Title Role

February 26, 2019 /0 Comments/in , /by

According to Variety, the Candyman remake from MGM and Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions, has its sights set on Yahya Abdul-Mateen II for the title role.  At this point the deal is not finalized but Mateen and MGM are in heavy negotiations.  While Mateen will have some big shoes to fill in those of Tony Todd, who portrayed the iconic character in the 1992 classic, he has already appeared in Aquaman and will be appearing in Peele’s upcoming Us and HBO’s Watchmen series read more

Full Trailer and Artwork for Jordan Peele’s ‘Twilight Zone’

February 21, 2019 /0 Comments/in , /by

Today CBS All Access revealed the full trailer for the highly anticipated reboot of the iconic series The Twilight Zone.  Jordan Peele not only serves as executive producer, but also as the host and narrator. The original series debuted in 1959 and ran for five seasons. By the looks of the trailer, Peele and company bring The Twilight Zone, not just into another dimension, but also into the 21st century.

The reboot also exhibits some real star power as well.  Featured in the re-imagined Twilight Zone are John Cho, Lucinda Dryzek, Taissa Farmiga, James Frain, Ginnifer Goodwin, Zabryna Guevara, Adam Scott, and Steven Yeun, just to name a few.  The series is scheduled to premier with two episodes dropping on April 1st, with the full series released on April 11th for CBS All Access subscribers. You can check out the full trailer and key art below. read more read more

‘Velvet Buzzsaw’: The Horror News Network Review

February 11, 2019 /0 Comments/in , /by

Hitting Netflix on February 1st, Velvet Buzzsaw certainly has gained a bit of attention.  Circling around a self-absorbed art scene, the film is very much a satire mixed with horror.  These artists greed comes back to bite them, when they take advantage of an unknown, and deceased, artists’ paintings, which also just happen to be painted with human blood. Filmmaker Dan Gilroy, not only sets up a glossy and absurdly shallow scenario, but does so with some real star power behind him.  Velvet Buzzsaw features Jake Gyllenhaal, John Malkovich, Renee, Russo, Zawe Ashton, Toni Collette, and Natalia Dyer.  With a cast like this combined with the perfect horror setup, what could go wrong? read more read more

Danai Gurira to Exit ‘The Walking Dead’

February 10, 2019 /0 Comments/in , /by

Earlier this week, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Danai Gurira would be leaving AMC’s smash drama The Walking Dead in season 10.  Gurira, who has portrayed the iconic role of Michonne briliantly since season 2, has also made a big impact on the big screen, appearing in 2018’s Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity Wars.  While the actress has signed a deal for a few episodes in season 10 in “limited capacity,” there is much speculation that she will be back in the three Walking Dead movies that AMC is planning. read more read more

Jordan Peele Takes the Super Bowl into ‘The Twilight Zone’

February 4, 2019 /0 Comments/in , /by

In case you missed it during the Super Bowl, or just have no interest in football, Jordan Peele popped in to give the public a tease of his reboot of the classic The Twilight Zone series. Peele appears on the back drop of an empty Super Bowl giving fans just a small taste of him as the host of the series.   Not much else was revealed about the show, except a hint of that iconic Twilight Zone theme song in the background.

Peele, along with his production company, Monkeypaw, has been immersed in several projects ever since the explosive success of his directorial film debut, Get Out in 2017. Besides the upcoming reboot, Peele’s highly anticipated feature, Us, is due out in March, and casting has already begun on another Peele project, the reimagining of Candyman.  The Twilight Zone is set to premiere on April 1st, streaming on CBS All access. read more read more

Jordan Peele Officially Boards ‘Candyman’

November 27, 2018 /0 Comments/in , /by

Apparently, Jordan Peele has said ”Candyman” five times, as his reboot  of  the 1992 genre classic Candyman has officially been announced. According to Deadline, MGM and Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw will team on the project, which is being called a “spiritual sequel.” Nia DaCosta is already attached to direct a screenplay by Peele and Win Rosenfield, with Universal eyeing a June 12, 2020 release date.

The only details released so far is that the sequel returns to the neighborhood where the legend began: the now-gentrified section of Chicago where the Cabrini-Green housing projects once stood. read more read more