Ghoulish Grin Films

A Shakespearian actor who has been recognized as one of the finest character actors of his era. An acclaimed actor who's worked with legendary directors like Cecil B. DeMille and John Ford and performed with the likes of John Wayne, Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, and James Stewart. An actor worthy of the giants of Hollywood. But as a die hard Universal Monsters Horror fan, my favorites of his are the monster mashes "House Of Frankenstein" and "House Of Dracula." Seeing more than one movie monster was something that gave me great joy. And I enjoyed those Universal team ups. And the Carradine films were full on All-Star events. Whether you believe they rank with the original origin films or whether you think they're vintage cash grabs, they are part of a great tradition of classic horror. An age never to be repeated again. Maybe he wasn't MY Dracula. Bela Lugosi (and then later Sir Christopher Lee) were my Princes Of Darkness. But he deserves his spo

Brandon Lee only made six films in his lifetime, with some television under his belt. And his untimely death in 1993 extinguished the flame of his promise. Fortunately, his last film gave him a piece of art that will help keep his memory alive forever. And that was 1994's "The Crow," a beautifully dark and spectacular comic book film. A realization of the genre long before DC and Marvel ramped up their quality projects in the 2000's. I went with my cousin and brother back in '94 to see it and even before Brandon Lee appears on screen it paints a gothic beauty that not many mainstream films were doing back then. When the character Eric Draven popped out of his grave it was an absolutely chilling moment. I knew of the accident on the set of the film and it was an unusually gripping scene. Like it had unnaturally brought him back for one more darkly epic moment. The film is a brilliant comic book film, and literally rocks with it's amazing soundtrack, gorg

This acclaimed actor has been described by his peers no less as one of the greatest actors of his generation. And that was the generation of actors and actresses of the second Golden Age of Hollywood...the late '60's and '70's. He's won a Best Actor Oscar for 1971's "The French Connection" and for 1992's "Unforgiven." He's appeared in classic films like "Bonnie And Clyde," "The Conversation," and "Mississippi Burning" among others. He's worked with legendary actors and actresses like Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Warren Beatty, and Faye Dunaway. But as a kid he was one thing and one thing only. Superman's arch nemesis...LEX LUTHOR! A handful of actors, whether on the big or small screen or as a voice interpretation, have portrayed the great super villain. Including Hackman's "Superman IV: The Quest For Peace" costar Jon Cryer, who's done an exceptional job in the CW D

On Oprah Winfrey's birthday, I wanted to focus on a story that she and a group of talented individuals decided to tackle. I always found the childrens book "A Wrinkle In Time" to be very comforting. It also opened your mind up to very interesting concepts of space and time. I love when stories have that classic feel yet also stretch the boundaries of storytelling. This book is the epitome of that. There was an adaptation of of the book in 2003 but it wasn't all that great (I'm trying to be nice). So The Walt Disney Company decided to make a proper adaptation of the film. When I heard the magnificent filmmaker Ava DuVerney was attached and Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling, Chris Pine, and Reese Witherspoon were on board, I was all in. The film came out and underperformed at the box office and has a 42% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Whether any studio would tackle this property again is the question. I'm not sure. But despite the disappointing reaction

In 2018 I went to my local theater to watch an Oscar Nominee Short Film Showcase. Whether it's a YouTube video of a short film created by a kid on his phone or an Oscar Nominated top notch production, I truly enjoy watching short films. After seeing the live action shorts there was a short intermission and the audience returned to finish the showcase with the animated short film nominees. An animated short titled "Dear Basketball" appeared. I hear the narrators voice. It's Kobe Bryant. And immediately I'm all in. Right away I love it because it's hand drawn animation. Something I still miss (not a knock against computer animation) having grown up with classic Disney and Looney Tunes. And if THAT wasn't enough to earn my love, it was scored by the master himself, John Williams. And as the short film concluded, it stirred in me my love of basketball, which had taken a back seat in recent years. I was OBSESSED with basketball in my junior high/high sc

One of the greats of the horror genre, Tobe Hooper is a special influence for a lot of current and future filmmakers of the genre. His legacy has been set in stone, thanks to the classic 1974 slasher "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." The first film I saw of Mr. Hooper's was 1982's "Poltergeist," which was produced, written, (and some say co-directed by) Steven Spielberg. I was but a child so it definitely was a feat to see something so intense. And it certainly has a Spielbergian feel to it, which gave it a strange appeal. But a fantastic Hooper film that brought me as a kid more and more into the genre HORROR. It would be later on that I would be introduced to his signature film "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," a nightmarish look at the deep, dark places of the country. Featured in this film is the movie monster Leatherface, a throwback to the old Universal Monsters. And a deserving entry at that. It also features what I believe to be one of the

Sharon Tate is unfulfilled potential, manifested by us into immortality. She will forever be remembered for a heinous event. For an evil moment in time. Art always helps us cope through an unspeakable tragedy. And sometimes, after time heals and the events become hazier we honor them by keeping their memory alive. What I love about Quentin Tarantino's latest film "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" (aside from the brilliant recreation of late 1960's Hollywood - widely recognized as films second 'Golden Age') is that Tate was given such treatment. We get to watch as she rises to become a Hollywood starlet (through the magnificent performance of Margot Robbie) and we see her in happiness...and hope. Oh, and that ending! For those that haven't seen the film, let's just say it gives Tate the Hollywood ending she deserved. My favorite quote from the great Stephen King is 'we make up horrors to cope with the real ones.' I've always felt this