SUSPIRIA News, Killer Toys, and More!
In this Issue:
- Shelf Life: So Cute You Could Scream
- Tiny Bites – This Week’s Best Horror Headlines
- The A to Z of Subgenres: G is for Giallo
- Things We Love: The ‘Burbs
SHELF LIFE: SO CUTE YOU COULD SCREAM
By Joshua Lyon
Funko’s new IT exclusive for Hot Topic features Pennywise chatting up Georgie from inside the sewer. We know the poor kid’s arm is about to get ripped off, but the terrifying tableau still manages to be adorable, and the evil clown is hardly the only cute little killer out there that’s gotten the kid-friendly treatment. There’s a mini-renaissance happening when it comes to turning horrific villains into, um, child’s play.
Figurines
Funko churns out new Pop horror figures on a near-weekly basis, but the innocent bobble-head look doesn’t do it for everyone. Their Dorbz line has many of the same characters with closed eyes and lil’ stinker grins. (Which works surprisingly well for Jack Torrance) The brand’s Mystery Minis—a blind grab box of mini figs—are cartoonish, but with an edge. The current Series 3 includes Regan from The Exorcist and a Dream Warriors Freddy variant.
Bedtime Books
We can’t wait for the October release of Rory Lucey’s “Jonesy: Nine Lives on the Nostramo,” a retelling of Alien from the ginger kitty’s POV. Until then, we’ll tide ourselves over with Stacie’s Ponder’s “Death Count,”a stick figure illustrated guide to every single kill in the Friday franchise.
Plush Toys
Universal made jaws cute by making him plush—he also plays the film’s theme when you squeeze his dorsal fin. (It’s vintage, but they pop up on eBay pretty regularly for around $50.) Funko has more creepy cuddlers called Horror Plushies, which are soft toys that make Jason, Freddy, and Michael bedtime buddies. Their Mopeez line has many of the same guys, along with Chucky and Ghost Face, but sitting Sad Keanu-style.
Bouncers
In the ’80s, Madballs appealed to underage budding horror fans with foam baseball-shaped skulls, bloodshot eyes, and zombie heads. Kid Robot rebooted the series last year with all the original characters, along with megastars like Predator, Jason, Freddy, and more. Gotta catch ‘em all!
Water Gun
The Freddy Fright Squirter hit shelves in 1989. Essentially, kids wore Krueger’s severed head as a glove and used the hidden squirt gun inside to spray their siblings/teachers/friends. You can find these online for $40-$50, but be sure to Google the exact name of the toy. Otherwise much more frightening options pop up. (We learned the hard way.)
TINY BITES
SUSPERIA NEWS & NEW SUMMER HORROR
Netlfix is making Guillermo del Toro Presents 10 After Midnight, a horror anthology of stories hand-picked by the Oscar winner. And yes, he will write and direct some himself.
In sadder TV news, Fox casts out The Exorcist and Lucifer, and says there are no plans for more X-Files. On the plus side, the CW renewed iZombie and is conjuring up a reboot of Charmed as well as a Vampire Diaries spin-off, Legacies, and Resident Evil might invade the small screen.
We finally have two official pictures of Dakota Johnson as Susie Bannion in the Suspiria remake, and a release date!
We’re on board with this list of 15 great horror comedies but just wish Student Bodies made the cut. Since parenting is scary, here’s 10 horror films featuring a baby, and start the countdown for 13 of summer’s most anticipated horror movies.
Check out these awesome robot monster concept models from Junk, an unmade sci-fi film that Wes Craven planned to produce.
Bryan Fuller left Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chroniclesseries. Maybe now we’ll get a fourth season of Hannibal?
Should Bill Mosley play Fred Krueger in the rumored reboot of A Nightmare on Elm Street? Sign this petition if you agree. (We signed it.)
THE A TO Z OF SUBGENRES: G IS FOR GIALLO
Given life by master Mario Bava, the Giallo were Italian thrillers inspired by the pulpy pages of mystery paperbacks (nicknamed Giallo for their yellow color) and Krimi movies. As the cinematic canon grew, Giallo films built their own highly stylish worlds of murder and grand cinematic suspense often featuring black gloved killers and psychosexual motives. Italian horror legends like Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci and Sergio Martino made deep impressions on the genre— influences which can be felt in American thrillers of the 80s and a burgeoning international neo-Giallo wave.
Essentials: The Girl Who Knew Too Much, Blood and Black Lace, Deep Red, The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh, Don’t Torture a Duckling
Personal Favorites: All The Colors Of The Dark, The Black Belly Of The Tarantula, What Have You Done To Solange?, Tenebre, House Of The Yellow Carpet
The Neo-Giallo: Amer, The Strange Color Of Your Body’s Tears, Berberian Sound Studio, The Editor, Julia’s Eyes, Eyes Of Crystal
THINGS WE LOVE: THE ‘BURBS
Over the past several decades, love for Joe Dante’s 1989 horror comedy The ’Burbs has grown like urban sprawl. Starring Tom Hanks and Carrie Fisher, Hanks plays a suburban dad on staycation who’s convinced that his weird neighbors are murderers in a satanic cult. Shout Factory’s recent Collector’s Edition Blu-ray is stuffed with extras like an alternate ending, a making-of featurette, and cast interviews. Our favorite piece of learned trivia: The movie was shot during a writer’s strike, so the screenwriter was also hired in a bit role as a cop so he could advise on-set.