Several companies are collaborating on the restoration of over 30 Hammer Films classics. The restored prints will be released on Blu-ray. Dracula Prince of Darkness is the first title scheduled for release in the UK this March. The collection is set for an eventual international release.
In addition to restored picture and sound, the Hammer Films Blu-ray releases will have additional extras and features, produced by Hammer Films expert Marcus Hearn. Some films feature recently rediscovered footage, as well.
© C Harris Lynn, 2011
A rambling melange of pop-culture.
Showing posts with label hammer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hammer. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
RIP: Ingrid Pitt
Ingrid Pitt, the B-movie maven most popularly of Hammer Films, has died at age 73. Pitt appeared in many films, but found her fame in Hammer Studio's The Vampire Lovers, frequently in heavy-rotation on some networks. She went on to star in many Hammer productions, often as a villainess, which she attributed to her desire to see women in fewer docile, even victimized, roles. She later cashed-in on her B-movie cachet with an autobiography, Life's a Scream, and three books of horror trivia.
Ingrid Pitt's real name was Ingoushka Petrov. She survived three years in a concentration camp during the Holocaust.
© C Harris Lynn, 2010
Ingrid Pitt's real name was Ingoushka Petrov. She survived three years in a concentration camp during the Holocaust.
© C Harris Lynn, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
On Frightmare - A Review
Frightmare is a good example of Troma's mixed fare. Though it has since established itself firmly, early Troma sometimes played it straight and generally got it right, as with Frightmare. It is a by-the-numbers vampire flick in the Hammer tradition, but it is a decent entry into the field, despite its utter lack of originality. Frightmare is less "steeped-in" or "inspired by" than "cobbled together from."
It follows the Hammer formula basically to the tee, with a little dose of 1950's urban legend and some good-old, early '80's punk rock culture thrown-in for spice. It is not an "update" but a rehash, especially so soon after the original Hammer Dracula films were made, but at least it's an effective one. It also owes a big tip of the hat to Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things, but only for its "not a vampire" premise. Regardless, it is a traditional horror morality tale in leg warmers and jean jackets, told under neon lights.
The lush sets, wardrobing, and excellent acting keep you engaged despite the fact that it telegraphs its every move -- all of which you've seen before. The imagery is deep, vibrant, and iconographic, but there is no mistaking Frightmare's true nature-- you've seen this done before, and you've seen it done better. You've seen it done by Hammer (several times over, in fact).
Frightmare, and several movies like it, actually built Tromaville and put Toxie and his classmates through school. By 1984-85, Lloyd Kaufman had found the Troma template and I don't think he ever looked back, but Troma's early years were a careful mix of trashy, over-the-top gorefests and more traditional fare. Someone once told someone else, who told some reporter for some magazine or something, 'You make one movie for the money you need to make the movie you want to do,' (close enough!) and I believe that was Kaufman's vision for Troma from Jumpstreet.
Frightmare may be a schlocker, but it really is a decent flick that, while it owes literally everything to Hammer, shows that there are some solid, spooky players roaming Tromaville's city streets.
© C Harris Lynn, 2010
It follows the Hammer formula basically to the tee, with a little dose of 1950's urban legend and some good-old, early '80's punk rock culture thrown-in for spice. It is not an "update" but a rehash, especially so soon after the original Hammer Dracula films were made, but at least it's an effective one. It also owes a big tip of the hat to Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things, but only for its "not a vampire" premise. Regardless, it is a traditional horror morality tale in leg warmers and jean jackets, told under neon lights.
The lush sets, wardrobing, and excellent acting keep you engaged despite the fact that it telegraphs its every move -- all of which you've seen before. The imagery is deep, vibrant, and iconographic, but there is no mistaking Frightmare's true nature-- you've seen this done before, and you've seen it done better. You've seen it done by Hammer (several times over, in fact).
Frightmare, and several movies like it, actually built Tromaville and put Toxie and his classmates through school. By 1984-85, Lloyd Kaufman had found the Troma template and I don't think he ever looked back, but Troma's early years were a careful mix of trashy, over-the-top gorefests and more traditional fare. Someone once told someone else, who told some reporter for some magazine or something, 'You make one movie for the money you need to make the movie you want to do,' (close enough!) and I believe that was Kaufman's vision for Troma from Jumpstreet.
Frightmare may be a schlocker, but it really is a decent flick that, while it owes literally everything to Hammer, shows that there are some solid, spooky players roaming Tromaville's city streets.
© C Harris Lynn, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
Dark Horse Inks Hammer Properties
Dark Horse will release a series of graphic novels and comics properties based on Hammer Films properties, starting with Let Me In. The project is based on a new Hammer film, yet released, which is a remake of the Swedish horror film, Let the Right One In. The movie debuts in October.
Exclusive Media Group is reviving the legendary film house. The company also owns Spitfire Pictures and Newmarket Films distribution.
© C Harris Lynn, 2010
Exclusive Media Group is reviving the legendary film house. The company also owns Spitfire Pictures and Newmarket Films distribution.
© C Harris Lynn, 2010
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