Posts

Showing posts from October, 2019
πŸ’€πŸ’€The Age Of Gods And Monsters lives on in the hearts and imaginations of those that wish to keep it alive. Ghoulish Grin Films is a small entity but its heart is on fire with the ghosts of old. It is an entity that cherishes the classics and gives it a modern platform. Long Live Indie Horror! πŸ’€πŸ’€ Welcome to the site...and thank you for your support! Enjoy!

Jekyll Is Everyday...HYDE IS HALLOWEEN! (Happy Halloween 2019)

Image
On Halloween 1931, in what would be a spectacular year for classic horror, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" would open to horrified viewers thanks to the masterful Oscar winning performance of Fredric March. Based on the classic novella from Robert Louis Stevenson, this was one of many adaptations and to this day is one of the great storylines portraying the evil in mens hearts. The character was brilliantly portrayed by March, and is probably the characters finest hour. An amazing feat, considering the character over the years has been played by John Barrymore, Jack Palance...even Jerry Lewis! So on this night of nights where we wear our masks, our alter egos, let's remember the landmark story that was immortalized on a year that would live on in horror, thanks to this film and masterpieces like "Frankenstein" and "Dracula." Happy Halloween 2019!                                               

Why HALLOWEEN 1978 Is An Enduring Classic

Image
On October 25th, 1978, a film would continue the tradition of the supernatural movie monster all the while ushering in a new era in horror with the slasher film. Although "Psycho" did it in much earlier in 1960 and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" showed up in 1974 with it's chainsaw wielding maniac Leatherface, the Halloween franchise was one of the most successful independent (at the time) horror films of all time. The success paved the way for the countless slasher films of The '80's and left the Universal Monsters era into the golden past of movie horror. I've always considered "Psycho" the granddaddy of the slasher and it's always been fitting that Jamie Lee Curtis was the final girl in Halloween, being the daughter of Janet Leigh...star of "Psycho." I always loved that connection, but putting that aside Jamie Lee Curtis was (and is) a fantastic actress and gave a performance that will stand time. The character of Doct

"Halloween III: Season Of The Witch" - The Rediscovered Classic

Image
I put off watching the third entry of the HALLOWEEN franchise for a long, long time. It was in its day thrown out like a prodigal son. Knowing that it had nothing to do with Michael Myers or any of the original storyline made it unappealing. Then one day it came on television. And I just said 'what the hell.' After seeing it, I found it to be an amazing horror film. Like an extended, sinister Twilight Zone episode, it played out beautifully. Lead by the fantastic Tom Atkins, it was a film that stood on its own. Had they called it just SEASON OF THE WITCH, I think the film would be a classic today. Some are already appreciating it as it's own unique horror classic. Throw out what you know about the original Michael Myers saga. You know...scratch that. You CAN take the saga into account. They've already tampered with that mythos to the point where they've put out a new version erasing ALL that came before it except the first film. The storyline is such a mess whe

The 15 Second Fright Series On Amazon Video

Image
The spooky season is upon us! And with that there is always Halloween viewing. The 5 Part Series 15 SECOND FRIGHT is now available for streaming for FREE with an Amazon Prime membership! This 5 part series is a collection of micro short films ranging from ghostly, horrific, and humorous. There's something for every fan of horror and its a fun viewing for the casual fan. And for those kids with short attention spans, it's darn near perfect! Thanks for your support and Happy Holidays!      

The Sweet Legacy Of CANDYMAN

Image
27 years ago "Candyman" was released in theaters. Based on the great short story "The Forbidden" from the now legendary Clive Barker horror short story collection THE BOOKS OF BLOOD, "Candyman" ushered in a new era of horror monsters, and was brought to life by horror icon Tony Todd. Also starring the wonderful Virginia Madsen, the film brought a gritty realism to a fantastical tale and was told with great craftsmanship and talent. Horror can sometimes act as a guilty pleasure when it's executed without that kind of care and skill. But this film today stands the test of time thanks to the acting abilities of these great actors and the skillful filmmaking of Bernard Rose. The legacy of this film is so strong, horror's newest voice Jordan Peele plans to remake the film. I hold reverence to Clive Barker's dark and brilliant imagination with his BOOKS OF BLOOD and it's a testament to those books that this story continues to spark interes

60 Years Of THE TWILIGHT ZONE

Image
On October 2nd, 1959 the world was introduced to the fascinating, mind-bending, and all around greatest television shows to have made it to air, "The Twilight Zone." Created by the weird and wonderful imagination of the legendary Rod Serling, this American anthology show changed the landscape of horror and sci-fi and opened up a whole new world of possibilities for imaginative people who grew up with it. I watched the syndicated runs religiously and I can honestly say I've never run into a bad episode (though I do have my favorites, as most would). This show now feels like a part of my DNA as I am constantly going back to that imaginative well when it comes to creating and thinking. There have been revivals (as recent as last year), songs and parodies, even an amazing Disneyland ride (which being Californian I STILL miss), so it's impact is still felt to this day amongst the masses. I mean...how can you NOT hum that intro? Here's to 60 years of other dimens

The Movie And The Man That Changed Horror (51 Years Of Night Of The Living Dead)

Image
On October 1st 1968 the zombie film would be reinvented into a genre that would live on in modern horror thanks to the vision of horror master George A. Romero. "Night Of The Living Dead" continues to be a Halloween favorite for horror fans around the world. A film that acts as a bridge between the old school horror era and our modern age of gore, it's the rare film that satisfies both sensibilities. Influential to pretty much all zombie films and shows that came after, this film still holds up as a classic piece of horror, political commentary, and just plain horror goodness. This film continues to be for me a joy to watch and is a film I have to at least watch in part every Halloween. Long live George A. Romero. And this zombie of a film has already stood the test of time. And will continue as long as horror lives in the arts and entertainment.