Welfare Willis
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Post by Welfare Willis on Apr 4, 2009 17:04:34 GMT -5
EATEN ALIVE (1977) Directed by Tobe Hooper. The next stop on Tobe Hooper's tour of Texas deadliest spots takes us to the Starlight, a hotel in rural bayous of Texas. Where as you can guess customers check in, but they don't check out. This time Tobe drew inspiration from Joe Ball. A texan bar owner who had the brillant idea to build a alligator pit and charge people to watch them feed. Unfortunately, when twenty women including Joe's wife wound up missing that was pretty much the end of Old Joe. He commited suicide before arrest and most of the flesh around the pit couldn't be identified. If Psycho and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre had a baby then you'd get Eaten Alive. Unfortunately, the documentary style you get with Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn't present here. Which in the end I feel hurts the film. Parts of the film felt like a bad LSD drug trip which was true of TCM, but it wasn't as well done here and felt like a mixture of boring and crazy. Texas Chainsaw Massacre heroine Marilyn Burns appears and well... should just really stay out of Texas in the first place. Horror favorite Robert Englund is inspired as Buck. The sex obessed trouble maker who dare I say is the most likable person in the film. Then again being sex obessed myself maybe there's just something wrong with me. Tribute to Joe Bob: 5 Deaths. 6 breasts, 1 ass (whoopie!). Gratuitous Robert Englund crotch shot. Award winning acting by Robert Englund as Buck, the guy who loves to #$%@. An actor who thinks he's in the movie Scanners. 1 chase in the bayou. Scythe Fu. Slap Fu. Mild gore. *** out of 5. Alternate Review: www.shockingimages.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=899
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Post by GuyOfOwnage on Apr 4, 2009 18:22:38 GMT -5
I'm quite split on Eaten Alive. On one hand, I think it's an alright little film in the same vein as TCM, but on the other hand, it totally lacks the substance and depth that made TCM work in the first place. The characters are so flat and one dimensional that it's not even funny, and the story, well...we won't go there. Despite its shortcomings, I still want to pick up the new 2-disc set from Dark Sky, which is the version I'm assuming you've reviewed here.
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Welfare Willis
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Post by Welfare Willis on Apr 4, 2009 18:44:46 GMT -5
I'm quite split on Eaten Alive. On one hand, I think it's an alright little film in the same vein as TCM, but on the other hand, it totally lacks the substance and depth that made TCM work in the first place. The characters are so flat and one dimensional that it's not even funny, and the story, well...we won't go there. Despite its shortcomings, I still want to pick up the new 2-disc set from Dark Sky, which is the version I'm assuming you've reviewed here. Indeed, it is the 2 disc dark sky dvd I reviewed. Hooper is very hit and miss for me. Of course I enjoyed TCM, poltergeist, and the toolbox murders, but funhouse and Eaten Alive I found so-so. The dvd se from dark sky is very nice for a flawed film.
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Post by GuyOfOwnage on Apr 4, 2009 19:02:21 GMT -5
I'm quite split on Eaten Alive. On one hand, I think it's an alright little film in the same vein as TCM, but on the other hand, it totally lacks the substance and depth that made TCM work in the first place. The characters are so flat and one dimensional that it's not even funny, and the story, well...we won't go there. Despite its shortcomings, I still want to pick up the new 2-disc set from Dark Sky, which is the version I'm assuming you've reviewed here. Indeed, it is the 2 disc dark sky dvd I reviewed. Hooper is very hit and miss for me. Of course I enjoyed TCM, poltergeist, and the toolbox murders, but funhouse and Eaten Alive I found so-so. The dvd se from dark sky is very nice for a flawed film. I hope so. I was VERY impressed with the remastering on their release of TCM, which was nothing short of a revelation. If they put just as much effort into the Eaten Alive SE, I'll no doubt be picking it up. And that reminds me...I also need to grab the new 25th anniversary edition of Poltergeist.
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thump
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Post by thump on Apr 4, 2009 19:08:02 GMT -5
STAGE FRIGHT(1987) Directed by Michele Soavi. Italians are known lots of things: spaghetti, mafia dons, and odd films. It is in that regard I give my second review of the night, Stagefright. I know what your thinking, "Fulci, if we've seen one movie about stages coming to life and killing we've seen them all." It's not about that at all though. You see a group of actors are working late into the night for a musical about a mass murder called the nite owl. When the lead actress hurts herself and leaves to go find a doctor. Unfortunately for her (and lucky for us), the closest medical facility is a mental asylum. Where she and her friend soon learn of a actor held at the facility, who instead of going into directing, just murdered a bunch of people. As you can guess the killer breaks out and follows the actress and her friend back to the theatre where mischief ensues. Tribute to Joe Bob time: 2 breasts (just barely). 9 deaths. Dance Fu. Gratiutous stubble. Chase through the rafters. Moderate levels of gore. *** out of 5. Recommend. I love Stage Fright, I have a very positive review back on my old computer. Just when the US slashers were starting to lose their steam for me, Soavi comes along and hits it out of the park. As far as I'm concerned, you can't go wrong with Irving Wallace in a giant owl head.
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Welfare Willis
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Post by Welfare Willis on Apr 4, 2009 19:28:20 GMT -5
STAGE FRIGHT(1987) Directed by Michele Soavi. Italians are known lots of things: spaghetti, mafia dons, and odd films. It is in that regard I give my second review of the night, Stagefright. I know what your thinking, "Fulci, if we've seen one movie about stages coming to life and killing we've seen them all." It's not about that at all though. You see a group of actors are working late into the night for a musical about a mass murder called the nite owl. When the lead actress hurts herself and leaves to go find a doctor. Unfortunately for her (and lucky for us), the closest medical facility is a mental asylum. Where she and her friend soon learn of a actor held at the facility, who instead of going into directing, just murdered a bunch of people. As you can guess the killer breaks out and follows the actress and her friend back to the theatre where mischief ensues. Tribute to Joe Bob time: 2 breasts (just barely). 9 deaths. Dance Fu. Gratiutous stubble. Chase through the rafters. Moderate levels of gore. *** out of 5. Recommend. I love Stage Fright, I have a very positive review back on my old computer. Just when the US slashers were starting to lose their steam for me, Soavi comes along and hits it out of the park. As far as I'm concerned, you can't go wrong with Irving Wallace in a giant owl head. Yeah, I should have included that in the review. The movie almost goes into surrealists territory near the end of the film. Plus I'd watch any play where the killer wears a owl head. If cats only had an owl head killer. We should also add Michele Soavi directed dellamorte, dellamorte aka cementary man.
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Lick Ness Monster
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Post by Lick Ness Monster on Apr 4, 2009 20:12:29 GMT -5
Eaten Alive...I haven't seen this movie in YEARS. All things considered, though, I'm a pretty damn big fan of Tobe Hooper. I rather enjoyed Eaten Alive, as well as Poltergeist, The Funhouse and the original TV version of 'Salem's Lot. And, of course, the first two TCM movies. While the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of my ten favorite horror flicks of all time, the second is almost as good - and indeed, fascinating to look at just how far Hooper had come as a director in the 12-year interval between the two films.
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Welfare Willis
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Post by Welfare Willis on Apr 4, 2009 20:24:10 GMT -5
Eaten Alive...I haven't seen this movie in YEARS. All things considered, though, I'm a pretty damn big fan of Tobe Hooper. I rather enjoyed Eaten Alive, as well as Poltergeist, The Funhouse and the original TV version of 'Salem's Lot. And, of course, the first two TCM movies. While the original Texas Chain Saw Massacre is one of my ten favorite horror flicks of all time, the second is almost as good - and indeed, fascinating to look at just how far Hooper had come as a director in the 12-year interval between the two films. TR, I had forgotten about Salem's Lot. That was a cool ass tv movie back in the day when tv movies meant something.
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Lick Ness Monster
Dennis Stamp
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Post by Lick Ness Monster on Apr 4, 2009 20:26:30 GMT -5
It was actually pretty damn close to the book, as well - a rarity for ANY kind of movie based on a book, TV movie or otherwise. 'Salem's Lot is probably my favorite King book; it's long, but not too long (The Stand and It, while awesome, awesome books, are definitely a chore; by the end of absorbing those, I was pretty f***ing ready for them to be over), I cared a great deal about the protagonist characters, and Mr. Barlow is one badass villain. The final trimester is also both chilling and a little apocalyptic; kind of a newer-age Night of the Living Dead feel.
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erisi236
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Post by erisi236 on Apr 4, 2009 20:29:50 GMT -5
Wasn't there a TV movie remake of 'Salems Lot? A tv movie remake of a tv movie... hmmm.
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Lick Ness Monster
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Post by Lick Ness Monster on Apr 4, 2009 20:33:37 GMT -5
Wasn't there a TV movie remake of 'Salems Lot? A tv movie remake of a tv movie... hmmm. Yup. It starred Rob Lowe, and while it was also relatively close to the book, I found it mind-numbingly retarded. Now, it's back to the review gauntlet for three movies that aren't horror films, technically speaking, but feature gore galore and more death than you can shake a stick at... Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is the first chapter of director Chan Wook-Park's "Vengeance trilogy" of Korean films - a series of movies very popular in the independent underground. The middle chapter even managed to gain some steam in the mainstream market, with no less an authority than Quentin Tarantino himself proclaiming his love for it. While the stories in the respective films are very different, they nonetheless maintain several similarities in both story and themes. This film was released in 2002; its plot is labyrinthine, its characters are multi-faceted and extremely diverse, and its acting is superb. But nonetheless, for a film with the word "Sympathy" in its title, I left it surprisingly feeling very LITTLE sympathy for either protagonist character in the film. More on that later. If nothing else, writer-director Park deserves much praise for his pure bravado when crafting the story of this film, and his decisions on how to let the story unfold. Ryu (Ka Hyun-Shin) is a deaf-mute factory worker, and extremely attached to his sister, dying and in need of a kidney transplant. The opening passages of the film show a desperate Ryu attempting to donate one of his own kidneys to his sister, but rejected on the basis that their blood types do not match. Showing his sense of tragic irony very early in the movie, Ryu attempts to subvert the law in the effort to save his sister, going to black market organ dealers and paying 10,000,000 won while also donating one of his kidneys. The dealers betray Ryu, taking his kidney and his money without providing the promised organ to save his sister in return. And when a new donor is found through legal means, Ryu is now out the 10,000,000 won needed for the operation. Ryu becomes more desperate; taking the advice of his radical left-wing girlfriend, Ryu kidnaps the daughter of one of his factory's CEO's in an effort to raise the funds through ransom money. His sister, upon finding out about the plan, kills herself to unburden Ryu; eventually, the kidnapped daughter turns up dead as well in a tragic accident while Ryu buries his sister at a river bed. This incident sets up the movie's extremely violent and twist-filled second half, as Ryu and Dong-Jin, the father of the kidnapped daughter, square off in a frantic battle of wills, moves and counter-moves. Both men are played to perfection by their respective actors, with Shin conveying the desperation and sadness of his world, and Kang-Ho Song showing us the soul beneath the tortured, heartbroken Dong-Jin; when this man brutally tortures one of the main characters late in the film, we can somehow forgive it. I've heard many people label this film as a masterpiece, and I can't fault them for it; Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is an extremely challenging film, after all, and one that isn't interested at all in pandering to conventional story and character arcs. There is no cut-and-dried protagonist in Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance; while it doesn't exactly delve into the choices and morals that each of the principal characters makes, the film takes on the meaning of a tragic opera, as two men, both wronged for different reasons, commit terrible deeds in the name of a deceased love one. As a challenging piece of movie-making and storytelling, this movie is inherently brave; it doesn't tell us what to think, or who to like, or who to root for. It's precisely for that reason that the movie left me a little cold; I realize that my tastes differ from many people, but, to me, the most important attribute that a movie can have is emotional involvement; it is constantly hammered into us in Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance that neither principal character is either right or wrong. As such, we aren't particularly drawn into the struggle of either character; yes, there is bravado, more than a few gut-wrenchingly violent scenes and an astoundingly well-written and tightly plotted crime plot, but since we don't especially care for or even like the main characters, why bother? When, at the end of the film, Dong-Jin appears to have won only for one final twist that completely yanks the rug out from underneath the character's, and the audience's, feet, I found myself surprisingly apathetic. Given the nature of everything that had transpired in the film before this moment, I wasn't surprised; I was merely waiting for one more tragic incident in a movie filled with them. Of course, there are plenty of fans who disagree with me; I've read MANY reviews online from fans claiming that they found the film to be an unparalleled success. As an alternative to the usual brand of Asian horror films heavily populated by ghosts with long black hair, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is a little refreshing; as a film in its own right, though, it's ultimately a movie with lots to admire, and a very well-written revenge plot - but one with not much heart. **
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Welfare Willis
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Post by Welfare Willis on Apr 4, 2009 21:05:35 GMT -5
Wasn't there a TV movie remake of 'Salems Lot? A tv movie remake of a tv movie... hmmm. Yup. It starred Rob Lowe, and while it was also relatively close to the book, I found it mind-numbingly retarded. Seconded. Also no offense to the awesome Rutger Hauer, but he cannot compare to the nosferatu like vampire of the original.
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Post by DSR on Apr 5, 2009 0:25:37 GMT -5
Okay, I'm just gonna throw some quick points-of-view from myself out there in all directions:
-FULCI!: Hey man, you've reviewed 3 movies that I've been meaning to see in "Sweet Sixteen" "Stagefright" and "Eaten Alive." Funny (well, not really funny, more aggrivating thing) I remember about Code Red working on Sweet Sixteen: I remember they had troubles with the processing people cutting up the wrong print of the movie (they had located two they were gonna use somehow...I can't remember the details), and the guy in charge of Code Red was PISSED! But I will vouch for Code Red, as their prints of "Devil Times Five" and "Beyond the Door" are just beautiful.
-Tobe Hooper: I don't really know how I feel about him as a director...I honestly don't like "Texas Chainsaw" much, but I loved The Funhouse and Lifeforce, and his 2000 offering "Crocodile" is fun for the wrong reason (the CGI crocodile looked like it came straight out of a video game).
-Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance: I remember being pretty well blown away by it when I first saw it, but I need to re-watch it one of these days.
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Post by Rorschach on Apr 5, 2009 2:20:16 GMT -5
EATEN ALIVE is a very challenging film to watch in it's entirety and not be either A) more than a little skeeved out, or B)more than a little bored by the proceedings.
I have also heard that the film's antagonist, Neville Brand, was having mental issues at the time this film was made, and in a few scenes where he was required to hit or physically restrain the women, he actually went too far and really hurt them.
There's also a pretty decent documentary on the Joe Ball killings on the two disc release.
As for the OLDBOY series, the only one I have seen to date is OLDBOY. Judging from TR's review, this is going to have to change. ;D
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Welfare Willis
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Post by Welfare Willis on Apr 5, 2009 14:31:25 GMT -5
Return to Sleepaway Camp (2008) Directed by Robert Hiltzik. Sigh. Ladies and gentlemen it's times like this when I wish I got paid for reviewing movies. With a title like, "Return to Sleepaway Camp" you could guess what the plot is going to be. Camp Arawak is re-opened and we've learned that while 20 years have passed kids are still the rotten bastards they were in the 1980's. This time around the person being tormented is Alan. Alan is a fat slob who will grow up to become Barf from You Can't Do That on Television. Well when mysterious murders happen around the camp everyone begins to expect Alan, but Ronnie (played by the returning Paul DeAngelo) fears the return of Angela. It's not like RtSC is boring like I thought Street Trash was or as mind boggling stupid as say Scary Movie 5. It's just that there is really some huge problems with the script. Where as Angela was this protrayed as a sweet, innocent girl until the twist ending Alan is no where near a victim. In fact, the kids are all portrayed as either one-dimenational sterotypes (I.E. a stoner kid is called weed) or just annoying, whining punks. The film then meanders away a good portion of time showing the kids doing horrible stuff to Alan. Most people watching this know Alan is just a red herring. Plus anyone with half a brain can tell the hidden killer looks nothing like Alan's build. So why waste your time with this annoying kid when you could get to the kill count? However, the bright spot in the film are the kills. They won't remind you of the gore heyday of Tom Savini, but given that the film is low budget they are creative and enjoyable. Still the film isn't good as a scary film and isn't good as a campy film like the sequels were. By the time you reach the cornball not surprising surprise ending your asking yourself where is Pamela Springsteen when you need her? Tribute to Joe Bob: 9 deaths. No boobs, but one fat male ass. Best line to Alan who called Vincent Pastore (of Sopranos fame), "Nothing but a big &$@@!." Some good gore. * star out of 5. A rental at most. I reviewed the film on my 360. Alternate Review: www.fangoria.com/reviews/3-dvd-a-blu-ray/381-review-return-to-sleepaway-camp-dvd.html#comment-607
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Lick Ness Monster
Dennis Stamp
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Post by Lick Ness Monster on Apr 5, 2009 15:04:13 GMT -5
I've commented on it before...but I really, really hated Return to Sleepaway Camp. Even more depressing since I was SO pumped up to see it, as it's the direct sequel to one of my favorite movies of all time.
You touched on it, but yeah, the thing that makes the original movie work so well - especially with that legendary ending - is the fact that you care so much about Angela Baker by the end that the gamut of emotions along with the sheer horror of that ending is incredible. Alan? Not only did I not care about him; I DESPERATELY wanted him to die by the movie's end if for no other reason than just to shut the annoying f***head's mouth.
Just my $.02 on that.
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thump
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Post by thump on Apr 5, 2009 18:34:52 GMT -5
I've touched on this one before, too. In fact, it's one of the few that I disagree with TRadar on. The movie is sloppy but fun. I actually kind of admire the fact that the victim of all the hazing is actually a prick himself. I find that kids that are picked on will usually try to find someone a little lower on the totem pole. Sort of a way of fitting in with (or at least finding common ground with) the jerks that are picking on you in the first place.
As for the end (spoilers, I suppose)...I've heard that Robert Hiltzik's intention was not to have the killer be the same Angela (who was actually Peter) from the first film. She (he) is still locked up in an institution. The killer at Camp Manabe (great name) was actually the original Angela (Peter's sister) who was thought to have died in the boating accident featured in the prologue to the original.
This is completely confusing and there really isn't much evidence in the film to support it, but I'm sure this is what Robert intended. This will probably be explored in further depth if he gets Sleepaway Camp Reunion off the ground.
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Welfare Willis
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Post by Welfare Willis on Apr 5, 2009 18:35:03 GMT -5
I've commented on it before...but I really, really hated Return to Sleepaway Camp. Even more depressing since I was SO pumped up to see it, as it's the direct sequel to one of my favorite movies of all time. You touched on it, but yeah, the thing that makes the original movie work so well - especially with that legendary ending - is the fact that you care so much about Angela Baker by the end that the gamut of emotions along with the sheer horror of that ending is incredible. Alan? Not only did I not care about him; I DESPERATELY wanted him to die by the movie's end if for no other reason than just to shut the annoying snorkhead's mouth. Just my $.02 on that. Amen brother. I can't help but feel if this one of the Michael A. Simpson directed sequels then Alan wouldn't have survived an hour into the film. Just a really, really weak effort. I've touched on this one before, too. In fact, it's one of the few that I disagree with TRadar on. The movie is sloppy but fun. I actually kind of admire the fact that the victim of all the hazing is actually a prick himself. I find that kids that are picked on will usually try to find someone a little lower on the totem pole. Sort of a way of fitting in with (or at least finding common ground with) the jerks that are picking on you in the first place. As for the end (spoilers, I suppose)...I've heard that Robert Hiltzik's intention was not to have the killer be the same Angela (who was actually Peter) from the first film. She (he) is still locked up in an institution. The killer at Camp Manabe (great name) was actually the original Angela (Peter's sister) who was thought to have died in the boating accident featured in the prologue to the original. This is completely confusing and there really isn't much evidence in the film to support it, but I'm sure this is what Robert intended. This will probably be explored in further depth if he gets Sleepaway Camp Reunion off the ground. You know I could have dug that ending a lot more, thump. I think a lot the film was trying to recreate the magic of the first film, but the ending is so weak and rehash it doesn't work. Hell anyone watching this movie is a fan of the original so why not go total mindsnork with the ending. Or in the end actually have Alan be the killer. We then see the part at the end where Angela breaks out of the jail. I'm not a writer so I can't speak to what would've worked, but I know why should the audience care about the film if they can't get can't feel a connection to the story.
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Lick Ness Monster
Dennis Stamp
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Post by Lick Ness Monster on Apr 5, 2009 19:04:40 GMT -5
Amen brother. I can't help but feel if this one of the Michael A. Simpson directed sequels then Alan wouldn't have survived an hour into the film. Just a really, really weak effort. Agreed. Sleepaway Camp 1 and 2, while you couldn't possibly find two more different films, are both classics. And while I feel that Teenage Wasteland isn't quite up to par with the first two, it's a work of art compared to Return to Sleepaway Camp. And Thump, I also get what you're saying. It seems that all of us in this thread have one movie that is extremely unloved, but we feel are unappreciated. For Ivory, it's Zombie's Halloween, and for me it's Van Sant's Psycho.
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Ken Ivory
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Post by Ken Ivory on Apr 6, 2009 3:32:04 GMT -5
I think jackie earl haley is better then to be freddy krueger, but at the same time I think he's just taking all the work he can get. Ehhh....I agree, but I didn't want to put it in such blunt terms. Legendary actors have played Frankenstein and Dracula, and I would never put Jackie Earle above Christopher Lee or Karloff. In other news.....here's a pic from Zombie's upcoming H2: HALLOWEEN 2 film. This is Scout Taylor Compton, who's playing Laurie Strode. Why she looks like a prosti-tot version of Rob's wife, I have no idea. I'm sure it's just a coincidence. Cool pic, if only for the poster in the background.
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