RIP Rev D Wayne Love

Movies or books like Passengers (2016)?

Or Pandorum (2009)? Anything set on a large spaceship meant to transport colonists to another star system, over an extremely long period of time, but something goes wrong.

Now that I'm typing this, I am experiencing deja vu. Have I posted this question before, and just forgot?!? Sorry.

Whatever... anyway, there is an old story by Robert Heinlein that I liked a lot when I first discovered it, when I was in around fifth grade. Wait, I read the segment of this called Universe, apparently there is another segment that I'm not sure I ever read. I should seek that out. The collected, total version, including both segments, is discussed here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphans_of_the_Sky

I also read Proxima Centauri by Murry Leinster. I had a few books and anthologies of very old science fiction when I was a kid, I didn't even really understand that they were outdated in some ways.... anyway, Proxima Centauri is a short story.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxima_Centauri_(short_story)

Anyway, I just noticed this little list on Wikipedia, so that'll give me a start. Does anybody here have any thoughts to add to this??
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphans_of_the_Sky#See_also

The Bay (2012)

Anyone happen to catch this? It's On Demand this month, and I watched it.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1713476/

It's sort of a 70's eco-thriller, done in a found footage style. It's about an entire town getting really, really sick, and many people dying, because of a combination of environmental problems. The main thing that killed people seemed to be a mutated parasite that gew much larger than normal, and did yucky things to people. Anyway, I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something missing, something lacking. Maybe a love story or some kind of subplot would have fleshed it out a little... not sure.

But, there's one scene in it that I think bears mention. Two cops who don't really realize what is going on in the town go to a house to investigate some kind of complaint, and they go inside, and they just get completely overwhelmed by what is happening. We don't see what they see. The camera is outside the house, in their police cruiser. But we hear them and the people they are trying to help, inside the house, and it's just a really effective scene. It's one of those times when not seeing it makes your mind fill in the blanks, and that makes it even scarier than it would have been if they just showed what happened. It's a really nightmarish scene.

Anyway, it got a 5.6 on IMDB, so that's fairly decent. I think I would roughly agree with that rating, overall. Well, check it out if you get a chance.

Who You Gonna Call?

Who you gonna call?......... PUMPKINHEAD!

https://whdh.com/news/2-young-sisters-walking-on-sidewalk-struck-by-dirt-bike-in-dorchester/

RIP Barbara Perry

You guys, I'm gonna come back and patch this into an earlier thread that I'm pretty sure I posted in the last few months. I just can't find it right this second.

I just wanted to mention, apparently Barbara Perry died this month. I primarily know her because she had a very minor part in the first Trancers movie. She was Mrs. Claus here:



But, I think she is interesting because she had one of the longest acting careers in Hollywood history: 84 years, from 1933 to 2017. That's... about three quarters of the time that Hollywood has even existed. I don't think she was ever super-famous, but she certainly hung in there for quite awhile.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Perry_(actress)

I posted something here recently about an actress named Carla Laemmle, who was in Dracula (1931) and The Phantom of the Opera (1925), and took a shitload of decades off before returning to Hollywood in this millennium, including several films in this decade.

Anyway, I like that kind of thing, trying to connect modern times to very remote periods in history by finding a person who was active in both times.

But, my main point here should be: RIP Barbara Perry.

Zac Efron as Ted Bundy

Anybody watch Netflix's new biopic "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile"? It's based on a book, for those participating in this month's challenge, and it's a pretty interesting look into the mind of Ted Bundy, one of America's most infamous serial killers.

I'm not very knowledgable about the man except for his reputation, but this movie covers that prominent era of his life, yet it does so in a rather unconventional way. Ted Bundy is a serial killer, but this movie chooses not to focus on any of the actual murders. Sounds like a jip, but it ends up being a somewhat fascinating character study on the man and how his actions have affected the media and those who he'd had forrmer relations with.

Efron kills it as Bundy. No pun intended. Besides being a sexy stud, Efron has charisma, which is a prerequisite in playing a character that was known to be rather normal, and even somewhat charming fellow. And as far as the movie goes, he seems that way. Normal, but with something definitely off about him.

Pretty good flick, also featuring John Malkovich as a courtroom judge, Haley Joel Osmond as Bundy's ex's love interest, Jeffrey Donovan from Burn Notice, that nerd Jim Parsons from Big Bang Theory, and what do you know! It even has James Hetfield from Metallica! So yeah, it's a pretty good cast, good production values, et cetera. Check it out.

Tommy Lee Wallace's ... IT!!!

This was back in 1990, when the tv/miniseries era of Stephen King's works started taking off. I'd presume that's because his books were so long. I know his story for "IT" is some 1000 pages, so that couldn't all fit into just one movie. Not back then, and not today, either, apparently. Certain popular franchises can secure lengthy runtimes, but the 90s preferred the form of the miniseries.

IT: Chapter Two will be out soon. People are going to get their "IT" on, but which "IT" is worth IT? One is a fucking 90s tv-movie x2, and one is a polished Hollywood soiree. Obviously, people today will prefer the movie of today, which glorified an 80s aesthetic.

TV movies back in the day weren't so bad. Everyone can agree that Dark Night of the Scarecrow is a great fucking movie. And IT was a pretty gnarly mini-series, which featured a lot of popular Stephen King themes, like child protagonists, bullies, monsters, period pieces, et cetera.

The movie is back and forth between young and old versions of the characters. The newer films are separated by one, then the other. In the 90s way, you already know who's who in both sides of the story. Not sure how it is in the book, because I don't have time to read books. I just watch movies, including this 3 hour ordeal that features Tim Curry as a goofy circus clown.

I think Tim Curry is great. I can't believe I stood within 5 feet of that man. It breaks my heart to know that such a legend has been disgraced with a string of bad health problems. He could have done so much more. I was still holding out hope for Rocky Horror: Second Coming. Up until a few years ago, he could have done it! 😦

The cast for both halves the characters do great. The current kids are probably deemed cooler on account of pop culture, but the old cast made for a great effort. It also upsets me to know the fate of young Bill Densborough, Jonathan Brandis. He was a member of the 27 club, having hanged himself in 2003. Also, I miss John Ritter.

I guess the tv movies were pretty cheesy in some sense, but they might be Tommy Lee Wallace's most popular effort. Horror fans today are warming up to Halloween III considerably, but IT might be what he's remembered for. The only other thing I know he's done is some shitty Vampire movie with Mister Bovine Joney^{Bon Jovi}, and fuck that guy.

•belch•

IT's a good movie/miniseries. I like it.

Texas Frightmare, 2019!

This was my 8th consecutive year attending DFW's annual horror con. Each year, I try to meet a few more horror icons who have blown my mind in classic horror flicks that are now considered staple horror franchises. I've met a lot of my heroes. People I've only seen on screen for years and years of my life. People I'd never dreamed I would actually shake hands with. That's what these conventions are for. They blur the line between reality and fiction in the same kind of way that Halloween blurs the line between the living and the dead. Conventions like this make you re-evaluate the scope of celebrity, because you can see them with your own two eyes. It's mesmerizing.

---

On the tail end of this weekend event, I had to start with the photo ops. Never did those before, so I didn't know what I was missing. Sure, you have to pay a lot, but it's a guaranteed way to meet the more high-end celebs, who you'd have no chance with if you waited in a regular line.

First up was the legend, and one of this year's top additions. Bruce fucking Campbell. Now, these photo-ops are very quick, so you don't have time to ask them any questions, and thus you don't have time to embarrass yourself. What you're left with is a quick first impression, and Bruce was classy as fuck.



I mean, look at that guy in his suit? Left to right is dad, @owl, @der, THE CHOSEN ONE, and my dumb ass. Bruce reminds me of his Old Spice days in this look. Fancy as hell.

Next up is the Six Million Dollar Man, who's net worth is some $15 million. He's appreciated in value. While not much of a horror actor, Lee Majors was awesome in Ash vs. Evil Dead.



He's the only reason my dad came, and after he got a second solo pic, he was done. I think the bizarro characters may have frightened him away! The other guy in the pic is my friend Justin, who goes with me to this thing every year.

After him was a high-priority that would come off as rather underwhelming. Tim Curry is the man, and you have to meet this guy before he goes, because he was looking a bit out of it. Since his stroke, he's been in a bit of slump. He didn't even say a word to me, but I don't blame him. I think the smirk on his face isn't a smirk. It's probably just how his face is nowadays.



Time to cool down. After almost no wait comes James Jude Courtney, the excellent rendition of Michael Myers in Halloween 2018. $40 for signed 8x10 and picture.



Oh yeah... back to the photo ops! Last of those, and probably my favorite picture of the entire convention... Robert Englund.



Everybody wants to see Freddy. His lines are the longest of anyone I've seen, but that's what these photo-ops are good for. You get five seconds with the man, and you got to make them count with a good picture. Robert Englund doesn't take bad pictures. I wanted to shake his gloved hand, but he probably avoided that for legal reasons. What an enthusiastic guy, though. Definitely worth it, and my collections of horror icons is formidable now.


So wow... my life is complete now, but I still go on anyway! Angela was there in the corner, and I love Sleepaway Camp!



This lady was very peppy. She seemed to adore anyone who went to her table, and she's also hot as hell. She gave me a hug, and it felt great. $30 for 8x10 and pic.



I could've met Barbara Crampton years ago, but I was a fool. I finally remedied it this year, and she's also hot. They even comment on that in Beyond the Gates, on how she's pretty hot for someone her age. Lovely lady, though. She mentioned she's involved in a new version of Castle Freak from the makers of Littlest Reich. $40 for the 8x10 and pic.



And while I'm not the most aware of his work, I still think that Joe Bob Briggs is cool as hell. I barely know his work outside of a couple of Shriekshow dvd commentaries and his bit role in Casino, but the dude is a legend. He had a busty chick with him, too, and she was wonderful to look at. Only $20 to get an autograph and a pic.

And last, but definitely the best thing about this convention: Joe Bob Brigg's big-tittied assistant:



One of my favorite things about these conventions is the beautiful horror-loving women with huge boobs who like to show them off, and since they're often wearing intricate costumes (or at the very least, a snazzy or titulating outfit), they're expecting you to stare, and I do.


There's a lot going on in these conventions. It gets crowded with people, merchandise, cosplay, lines, tables, booths, dvds sales, staff members, and other shit so it gets overwhelming at times. There's a lot you can miss, but there's a lot of cool stuff you can spot, like the cool shirts of obscure horror movies you'll see people wear, but honestly... there are a lot of Freddy, Jason, and Halloween shirts. I saw about 10 Ash cosplayers today. Just imagine if I'd gone on a busier day! Yet, there's a lot you can miss if you aren't looking for it. When I got there early before it opened, I could have sworn I saw the black lodge giant from Twin Peaks walk past me, hunched over and wheeling his suitcase along with him as he passed me... and sure enough, it was Carel Struycken. The owls are not what they seem.

Damn fine coffee!

XBox/PSN/STEAM

This is a thread to keep track of people's usernames/gamertags and also to talk about what games you like to play!

XBox Live:
DerTables - DrMyShottyIzSik


Playstation Network:


Steam:
DerTables - DrMyShottyIzSik
Ballz - a speck of dust


League of Ledgends:
DerTables - StrungOver

Horror movies as Dungeons and Dragons?

You know what I mean. What horror movies come to mind for you, as being suitable to be adapted into Dungeons and Dragons-type RPG games?

I had this idea because I was thinking about Silent Hill. I realize, that movie got started as a video game. So I was thinking it over, and I thought "you know, that would also work pretty well as a D+D-ish game," because it is basically a fairly contained quest, in a particular setting, where you have to face lots of different kinds of monsters. If you google around a little, you can see that other people have had this idea too. It would be possible to work out melee rules, hit points for different characters, etc etc etc.

Do any other horror movies come to mind for anyone, as being suitable for this type of adaptation?