Sure, irradiated zombies and bloodthirsty apocalypse bikers can be pretty scary. Draculas and Frankensteins? Scary. Cthulhus… Mothmen… Graboids? The absolute worst. But for indie content creators, no boogeyman or cryptid is quite as hair-raising as the many great and monstrous leviathans ritualistically summoned by the occult and alchemical ritual known as filmmaking. Look: there’s Shaky Financing dragging itself out of the swamp, eyes burning blood red! And there: Collapsing Theatrical Market, unfurling its batwings in the rafters of the old abbey! And so on and so on.
But! As the Cryptkeeper, Vaultkeeper and Old Witch have reminded us many times before, misery loves company. So rather than hanging on the edge of your seat anxiously peering through ragged knuckles at the current (but only temporary!) dumpster-fire state of your latest film project, instead console yourself with the fact that many of your Halloweentime horror favorites have had their own very bumpy rides.
But! As the Cryptkeeper, Vaultkeeper and Old Witch have reminded us many times before, misery loves company. So rather than hanging on the edge of your seat anxiously peering through ragged knuckles at the current (but only temporary!) dumpster-fire state of your latest film project, instead console yourself with the fact that many of your Halloweentime horror favorites have had their own very bumpy rides.
- 6/28/2024
- by Matt Warren
- Film Independent News & More
The 1990 television adaptation of Stephen King's horror novel "It" may be best known for Tim Curry's performance as Pennywise, who made an entire generation seriously terrified of clowns, but it would be nothing without the heart and soul of the Loser's Club. In the 1950s, a group of misfit kids growing up in Derry, Maine are brought together, partially because they don't belong anywhere else, but also because they happen to be targeted by the malevolent force that haunts their town, stealing and murdering its local children. Together, they have to face off against Pennywise to stop the killing once and for all. That's what they think, anyway. But despite defeating Pennywise as children, they're forced to return to Derry as adults and once again confront the terrors of their youth.
As a result of this, "It" has an interesting casting dilemma of finding not only seven...
As a result of this, "It" has an interesting casting dilemma of finding not only seven...
- 3/23/2024
- by Audrey Fox
- Slash Film
The 1979 children’s fantasy classic will be getting new life as a rebooted series of films. The new franchise will be coming from Michael Ende Productions and will be based on his source material. The novel saw a live-action adaptation in 1984 with Wolfgang Petersen co-writing and directing the film. Then, in 1990, George Miller (not Furiosa‘s George Miller) would direct a sequel that starred Jonathan Brandis. And finally, a third movie starring Free Willy‘s Jason James Richter would follow in 1994.
According to Deadline, the series of films are set to be produced by Iain Canning and Emile Sherman for their production company See-Saw. Meanwhile, Roman Hocke and Ralph Gassmann will also be on board for Michael Ende Productions. Michael Ende Productions and See-Saw are set to collaborate with Lorenzo De Maio, who will serve as an executive producer on all the films. Wolf-Dieter Von Gronau, See-Saw’s Simon Gillis...
According to Deadline, the series of films are set to be produced by Iain Canning and Emile Sherman for their production company See-Saw. Meanwhile, Roman Hocke and Ralph Gassmann will also be on board for Michael Ende Productions. Michael Ende Productions and See-Saw are set to collaborate with Lorenzo De Maio, who will serve as an executive producer on all the films. Wolf-Dieter Von Gronau, See-Saw’s Simon Gillis...
- 3/20/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
This Sunday is Father’s Day and Bloody Disgusting’s Screambox streaming service is celebrating by streaming all three original The Stepfather movies from the ’80s and ’90s!
The trilogy began with 1987’s The Stepfather, directed by Joseph Ruben and starring Terry O’Quinn. In the original classic, which was later remade in 2009, “After murdering his entire family, a man marries a widow with a teenage daughter in another town and prepares to do it all over again.”
Two years later, Stepfather II – also known as Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy – was released into theaters in 1989. Jeff Burr directed, with Terry O’Quinn returning to star.
In Stepfather II, “After escaping the insane asylum in which he was incarcerated, Jerry Blake (Terry O’Quinn) impersonates a marriage counselor and manages to win over a patient (Meg Foster) and her young son (Jonathan Brandis).”
And finally, Stepfather III – also known as...
The trilogy began with 1987’s The Stepfather, directed by Joseph Ruben and starring Terry O’Quinn. In the original classic, which was later remade in 2009, “After murdering his entire family, a man marries a widow with a teenage daughter in another town and prepares to do it all over again.”
Two years later, Stepfather II – also known as Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy – was released into theaters in 1989. Jeff Burr directed, with Terry O’Quinn returning to star.
In Stepfather II, “After escaping the insane asylum in which he was incarcerated, Jerry Blake (Terry O’Quinn) impersonates a marriage counselor and manages to win over a patient (Meg Foster) and her young son (Jonathan Brandis).”
And finally, Stepfather III – also known as...
- 6/17/2023
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
There are a few films that successfully derived the formula of The Karate Kid while making a name for itself with its own identity. One of those movies is the quaint 1992 Chuck Norris film, Sidekicks, a movie recently featured on our list of the Best Chuck Norris Films. This movie would feature an added plot element where the young protagonist finds himself often daydreaming of having adventures alongside his biggest influence, Chuck Norris, that playfully parodies the different films that Chuck has made throughout his career. It would all culminate in getting to meet the Texas Ranger himself as dream becomes reality, and the two team up in a karate tournament.
According to ComicBook.com — the man, the myth, the legend — Chuck Norris recently appeared at Nashville Comic-Con. During his panel, Norris was asked by ComicBook.com’s Chris Killian, “What do you feel is your most underappreciated film? For me,...
According to ComicBook.com — the man, the myth, the legend — Chuck Norris recently appeared at Nashville Comic-Con. During his panel, Norris was asked by ComicBook.com’s Chris Killian, “What do you feel is your most underappreciated film? For me,...
- 6/14/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Clockwise from top left: Stand By Me (Columbia Pictures), Creepshow (Warner Bros.), The Shining (Warner Bros.), Misery (Columbia Pictures), Carrie (United Artists)Graphic: AVClub
You don’t receive the nickname “The Master of Horror” by being crap at your job. Since his first novel was published in 1974 (that would be...
You don’t receive the nickname “The Master of Horror” by being crap at your job. Since his first novel was published in 1974 (that would be...
- 6/5/2023
- by Matt Mills
- avclub.com
Pennywise the Clown is floating to the small screen in a new prequel series ordered at HBO Max.
Set in the world of author Stephen King’s It universe, Welcome to Derry (the project’s current working title) will expand the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the films It and It Chapter Two. Developing the series for television are Muschietti, his sister Barbara and Jason Fuchs, with Andy set to direct multiple episodes including the premiere.
More from TVLineHacks Pauses Production as Jean Smart Recovers From Heart ProcedureWonder Woman's Robin Wright Wants to Suit Up for HBO Max Prequel Series,...
Set in the world of author Stephen King’s It universe, Welcome to Derry (the project’s current working title) will expand the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the films It and It Chapter Two. Developing the series for television are Muschietti, his sister Barbara and Jason Fuchs, with Andy set to direct multiple episodes including the premiere.
More from TVLineHacks Pauses Production as Jean Smart Recovers From Heart ProcedureWonder Woman's Robin Wright Wants to Suit Up for HBO Max Prequel Series,...
- 2/23/2023
- by Nick Caruso
- TVLine.com
Mike Flanagan’s latest Netflix series, The Midnight Club is an adaptation of not just one Christopher Pike novel, but many of the prolific 80s and 90s YA author’s works. In the past, there has been only one adaptation: a 1996 made-for-tv movie of Fall Into Darkness starring Tatyana Ali and Jonathan Brandis (available for free on YouTube).
The series, by comparison, will see filmed adaptations of not just the titular book, but also The Wicked Heart, Gimme a Kiss, See You Later, Witch, Road to Nowhere, and The Eternal Enemy
So what do you need to know about the books before you dive into the series? Let’s break it down!
The Midnight Club (1994)
First and foremost, the series is an adaptation of Christopher Pike’s story about a group of teens in a hospice. In the book there are five main characters (compared to the series’ eight) and they’re all white…...
The series, by comparison, will see filmed adaptations of not just the titular book, but also The Wicked Heart, Gimme a Kiss, See You Later, Witch, Road to Nowhere, and The Eternal Enemy
So what do you need to know about the books before you dive into the series? Let’s break it down!
The Midnight Club (1994)
First and foremost, the series is an adaptation of Christopher Pike’s story about a group of teens in a hospice. In the book there are five main characters (compared to the series’ eight) and they’re all white…...
- 10/7/2022
- by Joe Lipsett
- bloody-disgusting.com
HBO Max is expanding another of big movie franchise.
The Ankler reports that a prequel series based on the Stephen King novel is in the works at HBO Max.
Titled Welcome to Derry, it would take place in the '60s and chart the origins of the curse that viewers of the movies and readers of the book will know as Pennywise the Clown.
The series is set to end with the beginning of the 2017 movie that starred Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise.
Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Frazer, and Wyatt Oleff also starred.
The horror movie grossed almost $702 million from a $35 million budget, and spawned a sequel, It Chapter Two, which starred Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, and Isaiah Mustafa.
The sequel made considerably less ($473 million), but for a horror movie, it was still a huge number.
It was previously adapted into a miniseries with Richard Thomas,...
The Ankler reports that a prequel series based on the Stephen King novel is in the works at HBO Max.
Titled Welcome to Derry, it would take place in the '60s and chart the origins of the curse that viewers of the movies and readers of the book will know as Pennywise the Clown.
The series is set to end with the beginning of the 2017 movie that starred Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise.
Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Frazer, and Wyatt Oleff also starred.
The horror movie grossed almost $702 million from a $35 million budget, and spawned a sequel, It Chapter Two, which starred Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, and Isaiah Mustafa.
The sequel made considerably less ($473 million), but for a horror movie, it was still a huge number.
It was previously adapted into a miniseries with Richard Thomas,...
- 3/29/2022
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
Prepare to learn more about the nightmarish, trans-dimensional evil clown at the center of It.
A prequel series based on the Stephen King novel is in the works at HBO Max, the newsletter The Ankler reports. Tentatively titled Welcome to Derry, the show will take place in the ‘60s and explore the origins of the curse that would haunt the small Maine town for the next 27 years — as well as the origin story of Pennywise the Clown.
More from TVLineHBO Max's Sex Lives of College Girls: Gavin Leatherwood Says He Won't Be Returning for Season 2Hbo Max Adds a Shuffle...
A prequel series based on the Stephen King novel is in the works at HBO Max, the newsletter The Ankler reports. Tentatively titled Welcome to Derry, the show will take place in the ‘60s and explore the origins of the curse that would haunt the small Maine town for the next 27 years — as well as the origin story of Pennywise the Clown.
More from TVLineHBO Max's Sex Lives of College Girls: Gavin Leatherwood Says He Won't Be Returning for Season 2Hbo Max Adds a Shuffle...
- 3/29/2022
- by Keisha Hatchett
- TVLine.com
Featuring: Soleil Moon Frye, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Brian Austin Green, David Arquette, Dana Ashbrook, Jonathan Brandis, Stephen Dorff, Balthazar Getty, Cherie Johnson, Heather McComb, Danny Boy O’Connor, Perry Farrell, Pete Bici | Directed by Soleil Moon Frye
As someone who came into his teenage years in 1990, I have not only had a fascination with the films and TV shows I grew up with in the 80s but also the movies and television shows of the 90s. After all, it wasn’t until the 90s that I became hooked on renting movies from the local video shop, recording films and shows off TV and creating a massive archive of personal recordings. Hey… there’s a reason I run this website and that fascination began in the 90s and continues to this day (thank god for digital formats though – can you imagine how big my tape collection would be today?!). So when I saw...
As someone who came into his teenage years in 1990, I have not only had a fascination with the films and TV shows I grew up with in the 80s but also the movies and television shows of the 90s. After all, it wasn’t until the 90s that I became hooked on renting movies from the local video shop, recording films and shows off TV and creating a massive archive of personal recordings. Hey… there’s a reason I run this website and that fascination began in the 90s and continues to this day (thank god for digital formats though – can you imagine how big my tape collection would be today?!). So when I saw...
- 3/16/2021
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
At only 8-years-old Soleil Moon Frye picked up millions of fans and inspired countless other kids through her titular leading role in NBC sitcom “Punky Brewster.” She was starting to grow up around cameras, and when that show came to an end three and a half years later, while she continued to act, she also picked up an audio recorder and eventually a video camera to begin documenting everything from fun with her celebrity friends at theme parks to intimate conversations and musings on life. As the reality television genre began to take root in the industry, Frye’s recordings were kept just for her, “locked away” for more than two decades. But four years ago things changed.
Around that time, Frye tells Variety, she began to question if the way she remembered certain moments and events from her life really happened the Way she remembered them. Most people in...
Around that time, Frye tells Variety, she began to question if the way she remembered certain moments and events from her life really happened the Way she remembered them. Most people in...
- 3/12/2021
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
Soleil Moon Frye became the ultimate Eighties child star on Punky Brewster, at the age of seven. She played America’s favorite wise-cracking moppet, wearing mismatched high-tops and extolling the virtues of Punky Power. The show was eventually cancelled in 1988 — and that’s when Frye started toting a video camera around, filming her other child-star friends, just in time for their awkward teen years. Kid 90, a new documentary that begins streaming on Hulu today, turns her home-movie footage into a time capsule of show-biz kids growing up in Nineties Hollywood.
- 3/12/2021
- by Rob Sheffield
- Rollingstone.com
By the time she turned 13, “Punky Brewster” star Soleil Moon Frye had done more to impact pop culture than most Americans will in their lifetime. But once the show was canceled in 1988, things stalled. That’s roughly when Frye started carrying a video camera practically everywhere she went, documenting a one-in-a-million adolescence that was anything but the squeaky-clean, always-sunny sitcom that had made her famous. Nor will it seem very relatable to those who idolized the fellow celebs she called friends, even if you spent the decade with their faces pinned to your walls.
With “Kid 90,” Frye opens “Pandora’s box” — as she calls the archive of video cassettes, diary entries, answering machine messages and so forth that she kept locked away for more than 20 years — bracing herself for what she might find, and how those memories might make her feel. The resulting film, which hits Hulu amid a...
With “Kid 90,” Frye opens “Pandora’s box” — as she calls the archive of video cassettes, diary entries, answering machine messages and so forth that she kept locked away for more than 20 years — bracing herself for what she might find, and how those memories might make her feel. The resulting film, which hits Hulu amid a...
- 3/12/2021
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
In the 1990s, as Soleil Moon Frye transitioned in the public eye from Punky Brewster prodigy to guest star on popular shows like Saved by the Bell and The Wonder Years to supporting player in TV movies and schlocky horror flicks, she started recording her life on video camera to regain a measure of control. Captured during their adolescence, at hangouts and house parties, were some of the biggest teen stars of the era: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Mario Lopez, Corey Feldman, Sara Gilbert, Jonathan Brandis, Brian Austin Green, Joey Lawrence, Emmanuel Lewis and, for some reason (albeit very briefly), Mickey Rourke,...
- 3/10/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In the 1990s, as Soleil Moon Frye transitioned in the public eye from Punky Brewster prodigy to guest star on popular shows like Saved by the Bell and The Wonder Years to supporting player in TV movies and schlocky horror flicks, she started recording her life on video camera to regain a measure of control. Captured during their adolescence, at hangouts and house parties, were some of the biggest teen stars of the era: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark-Paul Gosselaar and Mario Lopez, Corey Feldman, Sara Gilbert, Jonathan Brandis, Brian Austin Green, Joey Lawrence, Emmanuel Lewis and, for some reason (albeit very briefly), Mickey Rourke,...
- 3/10/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
My mindset entering Soleil Moon Frye’s autobiographical documentary kid 90 anticipated a fun, nostalgic, low stakes look at kid celebrities. That’s what the slew of happy photos depicting teenaged Stephen Dorff, Brian Austin Green, and Balthazar Getty smiling sells: their childhood adventures as inseparable friends and peers removed from the otherwise tumultuous Hollywood machine. Frye only adds to that image when starting things off by saying, “this is an account of what it meant to be a child in the 1990s.” Expectations are therefore set for a universally relatable experience since I too was a child in the 1990s… just without having my face on Bop magazine covers. And while that is exactly what Frye delivers, joy isn’t the familiar through-line connecting our two worlds. It’s pain.
This reality shouldn’t be surprising, though, since we all share that communal darkness beneath our cheery façades whether or...
This reality shouldn’t be surprising, though, since we all share that communal darkness beneath our cheery façades whether or...
- 3/8/2021
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
"Kid 90" is a new documentary feature, produced and directed by Soleil Moon Frye ("Punky Brewster") , streaming March 12, 2021 on Hulu:
""...during the 1990's, Frye carried a camera around with her everywhere she went in Hollywood, rubbing shoulders with David Arquette, Balthazar Getty, Brian Austin Green, Stephen Dorff, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Harold Hunter, Justin Pierce, Danny Boy O'Connor, Jenny Lewis and Jonathan Brandis, then locking up the footage for more than 20 years. Until now..."
Click the images to enlarge...
""...during the 1990's, Frye carried a camera around with her everywhere she went in Hollywood, rubbing shoulders with David Arquette, Balthazar Getty, Brian Austin Green, Stephen Dorff, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Harold Hunter, Justin Pierce, Danny Boy O'Connor, Jenny Lewis and Jonathan Brandis, then locking up the footage for more than 20 years. Until now..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 2/24/2021
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Punky Brewster star Soleil Moon Frye’s home videos from the Nineties are the focus of Kid 90, a Hulu documentary about the actress’ experiences as a teenaged star — and that of other child actors — during that decade.
“As a teenager in the Nineties, Soleil Moon Frye carried a video camera everywhere she went. She documented hundreds of hours of footage and then locked it away for over 20 years,” the film’s synopsis states. “After all this time, Kid 90 unlocks the vault and presents a true time capsule of a...
“As a teenager in the Nineties, Soleil Moon Frye carried a video camera everywhere she went. She documented hundreds of hours of footage and then locked it away for over 20 years,” the film’s synopsis states. “After all this time, Kid 90 unlocks the vault and presents a true time capsule of a...
- 2/24/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
[We're celebrating some of the most memorable horror and sci-fi movies of 1989 this month in Daily Dead's Class of 89 retrospective series! Check back on Daily Dead throughout the rest of August for more special features celebrating the 30th anniversaries of a wide range of horror and sci-fi films!]
Sequels are always a tricky proposition, and one that most fans meet halfway with more than a little trepidation; we want something new, while still retaining the qualities or spirit that originally drew us in. And then there’s Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy (1989), which tells the same familial terror tale, but in such a way that we don’t mind the repetition—as a matter of fact, we embrace it.
Well, I do, anyway; there are some folks that dismiss Stepfather II as a gorier clone of its predecessor, which is simply not true. It’s also much funnier. Critics naturally had their woodworking tools ready to chisel away at the goodwill the first film had accrued, and many claimed it merely rehashed the events of the first with a bloodier perspective. Given a limited release in theaters, it brought in $1.5 million—not terrible for a limited release and a supposed “rehash.
Sequels are always a tricky proposition, and one that most fans meet halfway with more than a little trepidation; we want something new, while still retaining the qualities or spirit that originally drew us in. And then there’s Stepfather II: Make Room for Daddy (1989), which tells the same familial terror tale, but in such a way that we don’t mind the repetition—as a matter of fact, we embrace it.
Well, I do, anyway; there are some folks that dismiss Stepfather II as a gorier clone of its predecessor, which is simply not true. It’s also much funnier. Critics naturally had their woodworking tools ready to chisel away at the goodwill the first film had accrued, and many claimed it merely rehashed the events of the first with a bloodier perspective. Given a limited release in theaters, it brought in $1.5 million—not terrible for a limited release and a supposed “rehash.
- 8/19/2019
- by Scott Drebit
- DailyDead
27 Club of stars who died tragically at age 27
Robert Johnson
The American blues legend made the Mississippi Delta style famous, but his premature death near Greenwood, Mississippi, remains as mysterious as much of his short life.
Jimi Hendrix
The rock guitarist died in London of asphyxiation while intoxicated on barbituates.
Brian Jones (28 February 1942 – 3 July 1969)
The founder and original leader of the Rolling Stones drowned in the swimming pool of his home in East Sussex, England.
Janis Joplin
The blues singer died of a heroin overdose at the Landmark Motor Hotel in Hollywood.
Jim Morrison
The singer, songwriter and frontman for The Doors was found in the bathtub of a Paris apartment, apparently from an accidental heroin overdose.
Jim Morrison
The singer, songwriter and frontman for The Doors was found in the bathtub of a Paris apartment, apparently from an accidental heroin overdose.
Ron “Pigpen” McKernan
A founding member of the Grateful Dead,...
Robert Johnson
The American blues legend made the Mississippi Delta style famous, but his premature death near Greenwood, Mississippi, remains as mysterious as much of his short life.
Jimi Hendrix
The rock guitarist died in London of asphyxiation while intoxicated on barbituates.
Brian Jones (28 February 1942 – 3 July 1969)
The founder and original leader of the Rolling Stones drowned in the swimming pool of his home in East Sussex, England.
Janis Joplin
The blues singer died of a heroin overdose at the Landmark Motor Hotel in Hollywood.
Jim Morrison
The singer, songwriter and frontman for The Doors was found in the bathtub of a Paris apartment, apparently from an accidental heroin overdose.
Jim Morrison
The singer, songwriter and frontman for The Doors was found in the bathtub of a Paris apartment, apparently from an accidental heroin overdose.
Ron “Pigpen” McKernan
A founding member of the Grateful Dead,...
- 2/20/2019
- by Thom Geier
- The Wrap
1979: Guiding Light's Rita found out she was pregnant.
1993: General Hospital's Luke and Laura visited Bill Eckert.
2004: Days of our Lives' Abby reunited with Jennifer.
2008: ABC aired the 10,000th episode of All My Children."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1957: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) devised a plan to trick Irene into leading the police to Mary.
1965: On Days of our Lives, Julie Olson (Charla Doherty) paid a visit to her aunt, Marie Horton. Craig Merritt also visited Marie, his future daughter-in-law. Julie's father, Ben, had a fight with her lawyer and uncle,...
1993: General Hospital's Luke and Laura visited Bill Eckert.
2004: Days of our Lives' Abby reunited with Jennifer.
2008: ABC aired the 10,000th episode of All My Children."The best prophet of the future is the past."
― Lord Byron
"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.
On this date in...
1957: On The Edge of Night, Mike Karr (John Larkin) devised a plan to trick Irene into leading the police to Mary.
1965: On Days of our Lives, Julie Olson (Charla Doherty) paid a visit to her aunt, Marie Horton. Craig Merritt also visited Marie, his future daughter-in-law. Julie's father, Ben, had a fight with her lawyer and uncle,...
- 11/15/2018
- by Roger Newcomb
- We Love Soaps
It is happening again.
This Friday, director Andrés Muschietti will unleash It on moviegoers, bringing one of horror master Stephen King's biggest and best books to big-screen life at last. (Reviews have already started pouring in.) Starring Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, the sinister shapeshifting clown whose made the town of Derry, Maine his killing ground and Jaeden Lieberher as Bill Denbrough, the leader of a group of kids on a mission to take the monster down, it's one of the most eagerly anticipated King adaptations ever. Not even multiple behind-the-scenes shakeups,...
This Friday, director Andrés Muschietti will unleash It on moviegoers, bringing one of horror master Stephen King's biggest and best books to big-screen life at last. (Reviews have already started pouring in.) Starring Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, the sinister shapeshifting clown whose made the town of Derry, Maine his killing ground and Jaeden Lieberher as Bill Denbrough, the leader of a group of kids on a mission to take the monster down, it's one of the most eagerly anticipated King adaptations ever. Not even multiple behind-the-scenes shakeups,...
- 9/6/2017
- Rollingstone.com
In Stephen King's horror classic It, the battle between Pennywise the clown and the group of children known as "The Losers' Club" is fought both in their childhoods, as well as their middle-aged adult years. Casting each member is key, across both age groups, and the younger half just landed its leader, as up-and-comer Jaeden Lieberher has been cast in the role of Bill Denbrough. This news was landed by Variety, as they reported that Lieberher, the star of such films as St. Vincent and Midnight Special, had landed the role originated by Jonathan Brandis in the 1991 TV miniseries. Bill, the leader of the Losers' Club, comes to know Pennywise after his younger brother, Georgie, is killed by the menacing clown. This is the second role that's been cast in the reboot that is being directed by Andres Muschietti, who is best known for previously directing Mama. The first was,...
- 6/6/2016
- cinemablend.com
Yesterday it was announced that Bill Skarsgard (Hemlock Grove) had officially been cast in the role of Pennywise the Clown in the upcoming adaptation of Stephen King’s It. Now the film has gained another new cast member. Jaeden Lieberher will play Bill Denbrough, the leader of “The Losers Club” in the story. That same character was played by Jonathan Brandis in the original 1991 film.
Lieberher recently starred in the wonderful sci-fi film Midnight Special, and he did a fantastic job in that. It’s awesome to see him land another strong role in a movie. The kid seems like he's perfect for the part, and I’m sure he’ll be awesome.
It will be adapted as a two-part film. The story follows seven kids who come together to form The Losers Club. Along with battling their own personal problems with bullies, family life and such, they are faced...
Lieberher recently starred in the wonderful sci-fi film Midnight Special, and he did a fantastic job in that. It’s awesome to see him land another strong role in a movie. The kid seems like he's perfect for the part, and I’m sure he’ll be awesome.
It will be adapted as a two-part film. The story follows seven kids who come together to form The Losers Club. Along with battling their own personal problems with bullies, family life and such, they are faced...
- 6/3/2016
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
There are certain movies that, as you are witnessing them for the first time, feel like something of an event, and that is precisely my experience with Stephen King’s It, which first aired on ABC in November 1990. I can remember everything about watching both installments—how terrified I was of Tim Curry as Pennywise, how much I genuinely loved those kids and how awesome it was to see one of my favorite actors, John Ritter, show up in a horror movie (based on a Stephen King novel nonetheless). It was a landmark in many regards, but to me, as a fan, it's monumental because it truly was one of the first things I ever saw air on network television that genuinely scared the hell out of me.
And since we here at Daily Dead decided to celebrate the Halloween season by paying tribute to many of our favorite King...
And since we here at Daily Dead decided to celebrate the Halloween season by paying tribute to many of our favorite King...
- 10/27/2015
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
No, I’m not thinking Doubtfire vs. Madea. Technically that would involve a man fighting a woman, as Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire is Robin Williams playing a male character who dresses as an old lady while Mabel “Madea” Simmons is just Tyler Perry playing an old lady. It doesn’t sound like a fair battle. Obviously Madea would kick the fake nanny’s ass. But the synopsis I have in mind is similar for this Mrs. Doubtfire sequel that Fox 2000 has just announced with original director Chris Columbus and Williams both on board. It has to be an Expendables type movie, which means it’s not just Doubtfire 2 but an ensemble piece in which Williams as Daniel Hillard as Doubtfire is joined by Dustin Hoffman as Michael Dorsey as Tootsie, Martin Lawrence as Malcolm Turner as “Big Momma,” David Cross as Tobias Funke as Mrs. Featherbottom, Miguel A. Nunez Jr. as Jamal Jeffries as Juwanna Mann, Harland Williams...
- 4/17/2014
- by Christopher Campbell
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Jonathan Brandis hanged himself 10 years ago this week (November 12, 2003) at Sixth and Detroit in Los Angeles, in the second-floor hallway of an apartment building south of Hollywood near a decent doughnut shop and a cat groomer. He was 27 years old. And he was my first big crush. If you're picturing him in your head, you're imagining him young. Brandis began modeling at 2, scored a soap opera gig at 6, and by 10 was a TV regular with guest appearances on Alien Nation, Who's the Boss?, Blossom, L.A. Law, Full House, The Wonder Years and Murder, She Wrote. He was 16 when he made Ladybugs, 17 when he was cast as teen genius Lucas Wolenczak in Steven Spielberg's seaQuest 2032. You can't picture him any older t...
- 11/14/2013
- Village Voice
More news for Stephen King fans! On top of directors being attached to the Pet Sematary remake and now the film version of the novel Cell, we have word that a filmmaker is now attached to the big screen take on the iconic novel It. Previously adapted as a mini-series starring Annette O'Toole, John Ritter, Seth Green, Harry Anderson, Jonathan Brandis, Richard Thomas, and Tim Curry, It has terrified audiences for over twenty years. Pennywise the Clown remains one of the most horrific visuals...
- 11/4/2013
- by Alex Maidy
- JoBlo.com
Remember Corey Haim in Silver Bullet? He had a super wheel chair that was motorized, gas powered… it made every snot-nosed little so so and so wanna be a cripple so he could fight werewolves with firecrackers and Roman candles all from the seat of his turbo thruster ignited joyride mobile. Even me. I remember it vividly. I wanted Gary Busey for an uncle and a two wheeled funny car that was my chariot passed parapelgia. Well we’re not hear to talk about Silver Bullet or an amazing tale of a boy vs. wold. We’re heard to talk about a movie called The Stepfather III which has a tagline so off base, I’m going to make you read it off the poster if you feel the need to agree with me. It also happens to have one of the most unimpressive, kid-in-a-wheel chair anti-icons in the history of horror.
- 7/24/2013
- by Jimmy Terror
- The Liberal Dead
So if you loved The Stepfather and think it was a pretty solid production, you would be shocked to find out all the insanity that seemed to surround the sequel’s production. Re-writes. Re-shoots. Added blood and/or gore or some reasaonble facsimile there of. Cool box art. Actors and directors who refused to compromise their visions. A couple of Weinsteins with a “better understanding” of what the horror fans really want. While the first movie may be superior in many ways, the soap opera that surrounded the release of this first sequel will tell you quite a bit about the climate of filmmaking in the late 80′s. Is this a true sequel? Sure it is, but does it feel the same? Has The Stepfather II gone simple slasher formula or is it trying to psychological thrill you? You’ll have to listen to the latest installment in The Stepfather...
- 7/7/2013
- by Jimmy Terror
- The Liberal Dead
Our favorite evil clown is making his sadistic return. Warner Bros is set to adapt the best-selling Stephen King novel "It" and they've hired "Jane Eyre" filmmaker Cary Fukunaga to helm the project over two films.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fukunaga will direct and co-write the screenplay with Chase Palmer, who previously turned "Dune" by Frank Herbert into a script for Paramount. Roy Lee and Dan Lin are on board to produce along with Seth Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg from KatzSmith Production.
The book, published in 1986, was previously adapted in 1990 as a TV miniseries for ABC starring John Ritter, Harry Anderson, Tim Reid, Annette O'Toole, Richard Thomas and Tim Curry. The late Jonathan Brandis and "Robot Chicken"'s Seth Green were also part of the cast playing the younger versions Thomas' and Anderson's characters.
The story centers on the Losers Club, a group of neighborhood kids who encounter a...
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fukunaga will direct and co-write the screenplay with Chase Palmer, who previously turned "Dune" by Frank Herbert into a script for Paramount. Roy Lee and Dan Lin are on board to produce along with Seth Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg from KatzSmith Production.
The book, published in 1986, was previously adapted in 1990 as a TV miniseries for ABC starring John Ritter, Harry Anderson, Tim Reid, Annette O'Toole, Richard Thomas and Tim Curry. The late Jonathan Brandis and "Robot Chicken"'s Seth Green were also part of the cast playing the younger versions Thomas' and Anderson's characters.
The story centers on the Losers Club, a group of neighborhood kids who encounter a...
- 6/8/2012
- by Fallon Prinzivalli
- MTV Movies Blog
"Jane Eyre" and "Sin Nombre" director Cary Fukunaga has come onboard the proposed film adaptation of the classic Stephen King 1986 novel "It" reports Heat Vision.
In a clever move considering the book's density and size, Fukunaga and co-writer Chase Palmer have abandoned the single film idea and will instead envision the adaptation as a two film piece.
The story of a group of teen nerds and outcasts (nicknamed 'The Losers Club') in 1958 who encounter 'It', a shapeshifting creature which feeds on children and whose favorite form is that of a sadistic clown called Pennywise.
In 1985 the creature resurfaces. The kids, who're now adults, must take on the demon of their childhood again - this time in a different form. The new film will update the period to contemporary times.
ABC made a rather edgy for its time mini-series in 1990 based on the property starring the likes of John Ritter, Jonathan Brandis,...
In a clever move considering the book's density and size, Fukunaga and co-writer Chase Palmer have abandoned the single film idea and will instead envision the adaptation as a two film piece.
The story of a group of teen nerds and outcasts (nicknamed 'The Losers Club') in 1958 who encounter 'It', a shapeshifting creature which feeds on children and whose favorite form is that of a sadistic clown called Pennywise.
In 1985 the creature resurfaces. The kids, who're now adults, must take on the demon of their childhood again - this time in a different form. The new film will update the period to contemporary times.
ABC made a rather edgy for its time mini-series in 1990 based on the property starring the likes of John Ritter, Jonathan Brandis,...
- 6/8/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
In honor of the Oscar nominations secured by Glenn Close and Janet McTeer for their powerful performances as women living as men in Albert Nobbs, we at The Reelist decided to take a look back at some of our favorite gender-bending roles in film. Sure, everyone remembers Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-n-Furter, Dustin Hoffman as Dorothy Michaels, Hilary Swank as Brandon Teena and Linda Hunt as Billy Kwan, but we think it will be fun to revisit some of the great gender-bending performances that are more often overlooked. Credit: Roadside Attractions From films that run the filmic gamut from sex comedies to art house cinema, check out our favorite forgotten performances from actors who have successfully blurred the lines between the sexes. Ladybugs (1992) Actor: Jonathan Brandis Role: Matthew/Martha Ladybugs, a family film that holds a special place in our hearts, succeeds (despite the presence of a miscast Rodney Dangerfield...
- 1/30/2012
- TribecaFilm.com
As a teenager, I learned about computer geeks through Jonathan Brandis’ role on SeaQuest Dsv. Blue-eyed, blond-haired, and metrosexual, he was a marketable hacker created by network television in response to the growing presence of the internet in the mid-90s. Lucas Wolenczak’s mainstreaming of cyberpunk resembles the slickness of our modern, advertisement-laden World Wide Web. Furthermore, Jonathan’s attractiveness makes the viewer sympathetic to Lucas on a journey that leads to supporting corporate and military structures.
Brandis admitted to being “the farthest thing from a computer genius”; he doesn’t resemble his cyberpunk predecessors. For instance, Case—the drug-addicted hacker from William Gibson’s 1984 novel, Neuromancer—is often told he “looks bad.” Lucas utilizes hair gel, sports an earring in the season two premiere, and often wears the most memorable piece of nineties fashion: the flannel shirt. During a romantic encounter, a female hacker said she “expected brilliance,...
Brandis admitted to being “the farthest thing from a computer genius”; he doesn’t resemble his cyberpunk predecessors. For instance, Case—the drug-addicted hacker from William Gibson’s 1984 novel, Neuromancer—is often told he “looks bad.” Lucas utilizes hair gel, sports an earring in the season two premiere, and often wears the most memorable piece of nineties fashion: the flannel shirt. During a romantic encounter, a female hacker said she “expected brilliance,...
- 10/30/2011
- by Marjorie Anne
- doorQ.com
On USA’s summer hit Suits, Patrick J. Adams stars as Mike Ross, a young man without a law degree but with a photographic memory, who gets hired by one of New York City’s top closers (Gabriel Macht’s Harvey Specter) to be an associate at a law firm that only hires Harvard Law alums. In addition to his bromance with mentor Harvey, Mike has also found romance with his former best friend’s ex Jenny (Vanessa Ray), after pining for and being rejected by paralegal Rachel (Meghan Markle), who doesn’t date anyone from the office.
Fans of...
Fans of...
- 8/25/2011
- by Mandi Bierly
- EW - Inside TV
Leonardo DiCaprio, who is promoting 'Inception,' covers the new issue of 'Rolling Stone' and inside he gets shirtless on a bed. He also talks about growing up in Hollywood, dating and losing his childhood peers Jonathan Brandis and River Phoenix to suicide and a drug overdose. On growing up: "I was essentially a dwarf with the biggest mouth in the world. I would talk back to anyone and be up for any fight, and when you tell a kid that's three years older than you to shove it, you're going to get your ass beat...I was a real punk, there's no question about it." On partying in his early years: "I got to be wild and nuts, and I didn't suffer as much as people do now, where they have to play it so safe that they ruin their credibility. I didn't care...
- 7/21/2010
- by Katy Hall
- Huffington Post
DVD Playhouse—June 2010
By
Allen Gardner
The White Ribbon (Sony) On the eve of Ww I, a small village in Germany is struck by a series of tragic, seemingly unconnected events until the townspeople, and the audience, start to connect the dots. Shot in stark, beautiful black & white, director Michael Haneke has fashioned a haunting metaphorical drama that is as coldly chilling as anything made by Ingmar Bergman, and darkly unsettling as anything from the canon of David Lynch. A rich, tough, brilliant cinematic experience you’re not likely to forget. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bd bonuses: Interviews with cast and crew; featurettes. Widescreen Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
Alice In Wonderland (Disney) Tim Burton’s take on the Lewis Carroll classic finds young Alice (Mia Wasikowska), a 19th century girl who finds herself in an unhappy engagement to a boorish suitor, tumbling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland, where she encounters magical cakes,...
By
Allen Gardner
The White Ribbon (Sony) On the eve of Ww I, a small village in Germany is struck by a series of tragic, seemingly unconnected events until the townspeople, and the audience, start to connect the dots. Shot in stark, beautiful black & white, director Michael Haneke has fashioned a haunting metaphorical drama that is as coldly chilling as anything made by Ingmar Bergman, and darkly unsettling as anything from the canon of David Lynch. A rich, tough, brilliant cinematic experience you’re not likely to forget. Also available on Blu-ray disc. Bd bonuses: Interviews with cast and crew; featurettes. Widescreen Dolby and DTS 5.1 surround.
Alice In Wonderland (Disney) Tim Burton’s take on the Lewis Carroll classic finds young Alice (Mia Wasikowska), a 19th century girl who finds herself in an unhappy engagement to a boorish suitor, tumbling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland, where she encounters magical cakes,...
- 6/23/2010
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
I've been waiting for the right time to write about my childhood love for Jonathan Brandis, the late child actor-turned-teen idol who passed away in 2003. This week marks Brandis's birthday, so what better time to celebrate his life and career?
Though he'd popped up here and there in film and television -- notable appearances include episodes of "Good Morning, Miss Bliss," "Full House," and "L.A. Law," defeating the evil Terry O'Quinn in Stepfather II, and his turn as the young Stuttering Bill in Stephen King's It -- my first memorable Jonathan Brandis moment was probably his starring debut in the 1991 child fantasy sequel The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter. As Bastian Bux, the new protagonist of the story, Brandis made an impression... the movie, not so much.
But Brandis's 1992 was a different story. This was the year that I really obsessed over the 16-year-old actor with the blonde hair and the vulnerable face.
Though he'd popped up here and there in film and television -- notable appearances include episodes of "Good Morning, Miss Bliss," "Full House," and "L.A. Law," defeating the evil Terry O'Quinn in Stepfather II, and his turn as the young Stuttering Bill in Stephen King's It -- my first memorable Jonathan Brandis moment was probably his starring debut in the 1991 child fantasy sequel The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter. As Bastian Bux, the new protagonist of the story, Brandis made an impression... the movie, not so much.
But Brandis's 1992 was a different story. This was the year that I really obsessed over the 16-year-old actor with the blonde hair and the vulnerable face.
- 4/14/2010
- by Jen Yamato
- Cinematical
When you think of final girls of the 80s, veteran actress Meg Foster may not immediately come to mind. But Foster, who was in both John Carpenter’s They Live and The Stepfather 2, is anything but your typical final girl.
In They Live she portrays Holly, who initially is thought to be an innocent bystander of the “fight the power” antics of Nada, played by WWF wrestler Roddy Piper. However, as the movie goes forward, we find that Holly isn’t nearly as innocent as she seems, and by the third act in the film, she kills Keith David and takes on Piper only to meet her demise.
For The Stepfather 2, though, Foster was very much the damsel in distress. She unknowingly falls in love with sociopath Jerry Blake (played by the always brilliant Terry O’Quinn), who takes on the persona of Dr. Gene Clifford once he leaves the...
In They Live she portrays Holly, who initially is thought to be an innocent bystander of the “fight the power” antics of Nada, played by WWF wrestler Roddy Piper. However, as the movie goes forward, we find that Holly isn’t nearly as innocent as she seems, and by the third act in the film, she kills Keith David and takes on Piper only to meet her demise.
For The Stepfather 2, though, Foster was very much the damsel in distress. She unknowingly falls in love with sociopath Jerry Blake (played by the always brilliant Terry O’Quinn), who takes on the persona of Dr. Gene Clifford once he leaves the...
- 2/24/2010
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
The Stepfather 2 Directed by Jeff Burr The Stepfather, one of the most effective psychological thrillers made in the early 80's, may have been a flop in theaters, but it found a second life on cable and videocassette, gaining enough of a cult following to result in a sequel. The original Stepfather was a complex thriller about a man whose quest for perfection leads him to murder his family and try to start fresh with another. Stepfather 2 definitely follows the same formula, but focuses on the courtship leading up to the marriage rather than the marriage itself. It begins with an opening montage, recapping the end of the first film. we learn that Daddy Dearest, a.k.a. Gerald Blake, a.k.a the stepfather, survived the bullet and knife wounds from the end of the original. Played once again by Terry O'Quinn, Blake is now an inmate in a mental hospital.
- 9/30/2009
- by Kyle Reese
- SoundOnSight
Late-night host Jimmy Fallon isn't afraid to admit that Saved By The Bell is his personal guilty pleasure and he wants to see the cast reunite.
Saved By The Bell began as a Disney Channel sitcom called Good Morning, Miss Bliss. It revolves around a sensible teacher (Haley Mills) who instructs students like Zack (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), "Screech" (Dustin Diamond), Lisa (Lark Voorhies), Nikki (Heather Hopper), and Mikey (Max Battimo). (Some notable students in the pilot are played by Jaleel White, Brian Austin Green and Jonathan Brandis.) The school's principal is Mr. Belding (Dennis Haskins) and the maintenance supervisor is Mylo Williams (T. K. Carter).
The show was cancelled after 13 episodes and NBC acquired the rights to revamp the series. A few characters were kept (Zack, Screech, Lisa, and Mr. Belding) and the new show, Saved By The Bell, began focusing on the students. Students Kelly (Tiffani Thiessen) and "Jessie" (Elizabeth Berkley...
Saved By The Bell began as a Disney Channel sitcom called Good Morning, Miss Bliss. It revolves around a sensible teacher (Haley Mills) who instructs students like Zack (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), "Screech" (Dustin Diamond), Lisa (Lark Voorhies), Nikki (Heather Hopper), and Mikey (Max Battimo). (Some notable students in the pilot are played by Jaleel White, Brian Austin Green and Jonathan Brandis.) The school's principal is Mr. Belding (Dennis Haskins) and the maintenance supervisor is Mylo Williams (T. K. Carter).
The show was cancelled after 13 episodes and NBC acquired the rights to revamp the series. A few characters were kept (Zack, Screech, Lisa, and Mr. Belding) and the new show, Saved By The Bell, began focusing on the students. Students Kelly (Tiffani Thiessen) and "Jessie" (Elizabeth Berkley...
- 4/30/2009
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Stephen King's "It" is coming to the big screen, and Warner Bros. has tapped "The Invasion" writer Dave Kajganich to adapt the 1986 novel, as per Variety.
The book was previously turned into an ABC made-for-tv film in 1990 starring Richard Thomas, John Ritter, Annette O'Toole, Jonathan Brandis and Tim Curry as the sadistic clown named Pennywise.
"It" centers on seven children in a small Maine town who confront a malevolent creature taking shape in the form of a clown, who is the source of a series of murders in 1958 and again in 1985, when the cycle begins again.
Though the novel is set in 1958 and 1985, the upcoming version will be set in the present day.
The book was previously turned into an ABC made-for-tv film in 1990 starring Richard Thomas, John Ritter, Annette O'Toole, Jonathan Brandis and Tim Curry as the sadistic clown named Pennywise.
"It" centers on seven children in a small Maine town who confront a malevolent creature taking shape in the form of a clown, who is the source of a series of murders in 1958 and again in 1985, when the cycle begins again.
Though the novel is set in 1958 and 1985, the upcoming version will be set in the present day.
- 3/13/2009
- icelebz.com
Top Ten Movie Mullets There was a time when mullets were cool. It was a magical world of blue-denim jackets, Bob Saget's comedic prowess, and conservatives with some sanity. That world is extinct now. But archeological remnants linger everywhere, the most fascinating of which is the mullet. We find traces of the mullet in photos, TV shows, and movies from this time period known as "The Rad Years." We point and laugh and wonder who would ever ask for such a ridiculous hairdo. Some of us even copycat the mullet as some ironic tribute to a simpler time where looking stupid was looking fine. A few real mullets still exist, hiding in the backwoods, trailer parks, and 24-hour bowling alleys of the once-proud Confederate states. Yet, for the most part, the mullet died about 15 years ago. A slow fadeout. Some wept, some did not. Yet, all of us, secretly or not,...
- 9/1/2008
- by David Frank
- Rope of Silicon
Death of Jonathan Brandis Ruled As Suicide
The death of actor Jonathan Brandis has been ruled as suicide, the Los Angeles County coroner's office has announced. Brandis, who died on November 12 at the age of 27, hanged himself, according to the coroner. Los Angeles Police say a friend of Brandis' called emergency services from the actor's apartment just before midnight on November 11 to report an attempted suicide. Paramedics arrived at his home and rushed the actor to hospital. Brandis died the next day. His film credits included the starring role in 1990's The Neverending Story 2: The Next Chapter and movies Ladybugs and Sidekicks.
- 11/26/2003
- WENN
Glenn, Keitel hit indie pic 'Squeeze'
NEW YORK -- Scott Glenn and Harvey Keitel are joining the indie feature Puerto Vallarta Squeeze, based on the novel by The Bridges of Madison County author Robert James Waller. The project -- shooting in Mexico -- is a romantic thriller about an American government hit man who is on the run and enlists the aid of two innocent travelers in his desperate attempt to escape through the wilds of Mexico. Miguel Sandoval, Craig Wasson, Jonathan Brandis and newcomer Giovanna Zacarias also star. Arthur Allan Seidelman is directing the script by Richard Alfieri, Craig Fernandez and Ami Canaan Mann. Robert Katz and Carolyn S. Chambers are producing. Glenn is repped by ICM. Keitel is repped by Endeavor.
- 12/2/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
'Ladybugs'
A peroxided Rodney Dangerfield presses his girlfriend's teenage son into cross-dressing in ''Ladybugs, '' a typical vehicle for the comedian that should duplicate the appeal of his previous efforts. It's amazing how many touchy issues Dangerfield can joke about without ever being offensive, and the comedian's likability is the primary appeal of this low-budget feature.
Dangerfield is Chester Lee, a salesman who needs a raise if he's going to marry his fiancee Bess (Ilene Graff). Desperate to impress his boss, Dave Mullen (Tom Parks), Chester agrees to coach the company-sponsored girls championship soccer team, which turns out to be undergoing a rebuilding year with a bunch of hapless neophytes.
Chester and his secretary Julia (Jackee) try managing from a how-to book with no success and, in desperation, Chester pressures Matthew (Jonathan Brandis), Bess's antagonistic, athletic and androgynous-looking son, into dressing up as a girl and playing on the team.
The film essentially plays out every complication this causes -- Chester even finds himself in drag when he has to rescue Matthew from the team's skinny-dipping pool party -- taking care to assert and reassert Chester and Matthew's heterosexuality along the way (Matthew is in love with one of his teammates, Mullen's daughter Kim, played by Vinessa Shaw).
The action occasionally comes to a complete halt while Dangerfield does a mini-standup routine, and the comedian has an uncanny knack of milking laughs from even the most familiar gags. He is a fine identification figure for suburban everyman, trying to grab a modest piece of the pie while trying to hold on to the last, torn shreds of his dignity.
Still, the film has some weird, if unspoken, sexual implications. Every man in the film is intimidated by women and the cross-dressing scenes have a panicky tone. Most of this is buried by the laughs, but it's there all the same.
LADYBUGS
PARAMOUNT
A Ruddy & Morgan Production
Producers Albert S. Ruddy, Andre E. Morgan
Director Sidney J. Furie
Writer Curtis Burch
Director of photography Dan Burstall
Production designer Robb Wilson King
Editors John W. Wheeler, A.C.E., Timothy N. Board
Music Richard Gibbs
Casting Mike Fenton, C.S.A., Valorie Massalas
Color/Dolby
Chester Lee Rodney Dangerfield
Julie Benson Jackee
Matthew Jonathan Brandis
Bess Ilene Graff
Kimberly Vinessa Shaw
Dave Mullen Jeanetta Arnette
Running time -- 89 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
Dangerfield is Chester Lee, a salesman who needs a raise if he's going to marry his fiancee Bess (Ilene Graff). Desperate to impress his boss, Dave Mullen (Tom Parks), Chester agrees to coach the company-sponsored girls championship soccer team, which turns out to be undergoing a rebuilding year with a bunch of hapless neophytes.
Chester and his secretary Julia (Jackee) try managing from a how-to book with no success and, in desperation, Chester pressures Matthew (Jonathan Brandis), Bess's antagonistic, athletic and androgynous-looking son, into dressing up as a girl and playing on the team.
The film essentially plays out every complication this causes -- Chester even finds himself in drag when he has to rescue Matthew from the team's skinny-dipping pool party -- taking care to assert and reassert Chester and Matthew's heterosexuality along the way (Matthew is in love with one of his teammates, Mullen's daughter Kim, played by Vinessa Shaw).
The action occasionally comes to a complete halt while Dangerfield does a mini-standup routine, and the comedian has an uncanny knack of milking laughs from even the most familiar gags. He is a fine identification figure for suburban everyman, trying to grab a modest piece of the pie while trying to hold on to the last, torn shreds of his dignity.
Still, the film has some weird, if unspoken, sexual implications. Every man in the film is intimidated by women and the cross-dressing scenes have a panicky tone. Most of this is buried by the laughs, but it's there all the same.
LADYBUGS
PARAMOUNT
A Ruddy & Morgan Production
Producers Albert S. Ruddy, Andre E. Morgan
Director Sidney J. Furie
Writer Curtis Burch
Director of photography Dan Burstall
Production designer Robb Wilson King
Editors John W. Wheeler, A.C.E., Timothy N. Board
Music Richard Gibbs
Casting Mike Fenton, C.S.A., Valorie Massalas
Color/Dolby
Chester Lee Rodney Dangerfield
Julie Benson Jackee
Matthew Jonathan Brandis
Bess Ilene Graff
Kimberly Vinessa Shaw
Dave Mullen Jeanetta Arnette
Running time -- 89 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 3/28/1992
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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