Hollywood Gothique

You are browsing the archives of 2009 January.

Description: Titled LOS CAMPEONES DE LA LUCHA LIBRE in its native Mexicco, this animated tribute to Mexican wrestling epics features a team of masked heroes figting MAD MAX barbrians and legions of monsters. Presented in an English-language 35mm print. Creators Eddie Mort, Lili Chin and others will be in person to discuss the film.
ALSO ON [...]

This 2005 horror film, scheduled for belated DVD release in April, opens in two Laemmle Theatre locations in Los Angeles: for a one-week run in the downtown Laemmle Grand and for midnight screenings in the Sunset 5 in West Hollywood. Filmmaker Christopher Erin will be at the Grand for screenings on Saturday and Sunday. The [...]

On Friday, the Ameican Cinematheque presents a double-bill tribute to the lat science fiction author Michael Crichton: WEST WORLD and THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK. The first, written and directed by Crichton himself, tells of what happens at a vacation resort where humans can fulfill their fantasies, courtesy of robots that eventually run amok. The [...]

Actor Ray Park (THE PHANTOM MENACE, X-MEN) will be among the guests at this months Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention. Park, who has a role in the upcoming G.I.JOE film, will sign autographs between noon and 3pm. Other guests inclue the cast of AMERICAN GLADIATORS.
Location: SHRINE HALL, 700 W. 32nd STREET, LOS [...]

Josephe LoDuca (THE EVIL DEAD 2) signs soundtrack CDs for THE MESSENGERS, XENA, HERCULES, and more.
Location: Dark Delicacies book store – 4213 Burbank Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505 (818) 556-6660 www.darkdel.com
Date: Saturday, January 31 at noon.

30 guests from the FRIDAY THE 13TH franchise – including the newest Jason Voorhees, actor Derek Mears – will descend upon Burbank’s famous Gothic book store, in honor of the February 3 release of HIS NAME WAS JASON, a two-dsic “splatter edition” DVD set. Other guests include Kane Hodder, Richard Brooker, Ted White, Dick Weiand, [...]

This Saturday, January 21 at 6:30pm, the American Cinematheque presents an action-packed triple bill of MAD MAX, THE ROAD WARRIOR, and MAD MAX: BEYOND THUNDERDOME. All are worth seeing, but ROAD WARRIOR is by far our favorite. For all of you folks who enjoyed last year’s DOOMSDAY or thought GRINDHOUSE (2007) was great, here are [...]

The American Cinematheque presents a double bill of terror from director Alfred Hitchcock: the classic tale of what happens when Marion Crane checks into the Bates Motel and the bizarre depiction of nature’s revenge against humanity. The screaming starts at 7:30pm on Wednesday, January 28 in the Aero Theatre at 1328 Montana Avenue, Santa Monica. [...]

REPO THE GENETIC OPERA – the film version of the cult musical – screens in the Royale Theatre in West Los Angeles at 10:00pm tonight. Unfortunately, the show is already sold out, but if you arrive early and wait in line,  you might be able to purchase a no-show ticket. This film received only a [...]

This weekend, Stage 6 films opens THE LODGER in limited one-week engagements in two theatres in the Los Angeles area. (A wider release is scheduled for February 10.) This re-roasting of the old chestnut about a mysterious lodger who schedule coincides with a series of grizzly murders (previously filmed by Alfred Hitchcock and John Brahm) updates [...]

Patrick Tatopoulos directs Rhona Mitra, Michael Sheen, and Bill Nighy in Screen Gems’s prequel to the UNDERWOLRD films. The story depcts  an uprising led by werewolf named Lucian (Sheen) against an aristocratic vampire sect — a revolt that will mark the beginning of a centuries-old war between the two races. Release date: January 23.

Disney’s classic animated fantasy, about the puppet who wants to be a real boy, begins a three-week run on Friday, January 23 in the Disney-owned theatre in Hollywood. 10:00am screenings on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday include a “Character Breakfast” at the Disney Fountain & Studio Store right next to the theatre; seating is limited, so reserve [...]

The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, based on Gaston Leroux’s Gothic novel, returns to Los Angeles for a one-month run. Performances are Tuesday through Sunday (no Monday performance). Call 323 468-1770 for more information.
Location: Pantages Theatre – 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood
Website: www.broadwayla.org
Dates: Januar 21 through February 21

The NoHo Arts ensemble offers a “graphic and sexually charged” stage adaptation of Bram Stoker’s classic novel of vampirism. The production contains nudity and is suggested for mature audiences. Performances run on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm, and on Sunday afternoons at 3:0pm, with additional 8:00pm performances on Wednesday and Thursday, February 11-12. Call 818 508 [...]

A little girl rallies her friends — both real and imaginary — to rescue her father, a bookbinder who can bring characters to life by reading aloud, from the clutches of an evil-doer. Director: Iain Softley directs Brendan Fraser, Andy Serkis, Eliza Bennett. Warner Bros. releases the film on January 23.

The 1976 blaxploitation horror film toplines this week’s Grindhouse double bill, with the second feature yet to be announced. Bernie Casey (IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS) headlines the cast as the doctor whose experiments in regnerating liver cells transform him into an albino vampire who preys on streetwalkers. Rosalind Cash (THE OMEGA MAN) co-stars. Tuesday, January 20 at [...]

Peter Bogdanavich’s 1968 debut – a brilliant depiction of real-life horror intersecting with reel horror, screens on Saturday, January 24 at midnight in the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles. Boris Karloff stars as a thinly veiled version of himself – an aging horror star, who ultimately confronts a psycho-killer picking off people at a [...]

The 3D remake of the ’80s slasherfest opens in theatres nationwide. Patrick Lussier directed from a screenplay by Todd Farmer and Zane Smith, based on the 1981 script by John Beaird, from a story by Stephen Miller. Jensen Ackles, Jaime King, Kerr Smith, Betsy Rue, Edi Gathegi, Tom Atkins, and Kevin Tighe fill out the [...]

MY BLOOD VALENTINE IN 3D, the remake of the 1981 Canadian slasher film, opens in theatres nationwide today. Last night, director Paul Lussier and writer Todd Farmer attended a preview screening at the Arclight Cinemas Hollywood and answered questions about the film. (Lussier will be appearing after the 8:00pm screening of the film at the [...]

Not much new is happening this week in terms of fantasy films, mystery movies, horror-thrillers, and sci-fi cinema events in Los Angeles. The After Dark Horrorfest continues its one-week run, which started on Friday, so you might want to check out some of their “8 Films to Die For,” but be warned – their quality [...]

From Within
So far I’ve seen only two of After Dark’s “8 FIlms to Die For,” DYING BREED and FROM WITHIN. Although neither one is truly outstanding, both had their strenghts and weaknesses. Of the two, FROM WITHIN is preferable; it shows a bit more imagination in its conception, offering something more than just another psycho-cannibal-slaughter-fest. [...]

MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3-D, the remake of the not particularly fondly remembered ’80s slasherfest – opens on Friday, January 16, but thanks to Arclight Cinemas, you can see it a day early at preview screenings in their theatres located in Hollywood and in Sherman Oaks. Not only that: director Patrick Lussier will be making two personal [...]

YOR, HUNTER FROM THE FUTURE will be swinging into action at the New Beverly Cinema on Saturday, January 17 at midnight. Previously, we had listed this title as part of a Sword-and-Sorcery triple bill playing in the theatre earlier in the day. In fact, that event has been expanded into a “Sword and Sorcery Festival,” starting [...]