Blade (1998) - Newspaper Ad [Oakland Tribune]

August 20, 1998

Although the official kick-off for what would become the Marvel Cinematic Universe would take another decade to appear, the success of Blade helped pave the way for it. Showing that there was plenty of box office gold to be mined from the comic publisher's 'lesser known' characters (in regards to general audience awareness of said characters at that time) than believed possible.

This movie was a fun and entertaining introduction to the character of Blade that, most likely, will never be surpassed in my lifetime. I think part of the problem is that the current regime at Marvel Studios seems reticent to lean too far into the bronze age horror stuff with the necessary and unapologetic zeal. Which is one of the many things that made Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness such an underwhelming and chaotic mess.

One would have thought the success of the R-rated Deadpool trilogy (at time of posting) would have given the regime's backbone some much needed calcium, but that did not happen and the long-delayed introduction of Blade into the Marvel Cinematic Universe withered and died on the creative vine. So it goes, unfortunately.

Fright Flicks - Sticker #10

Ghostbusters (1984)

 

Darkman (1990) - Newspaper Ad [San Francisco Examiner]

August 19, 1990

I am pretty sure Darkman is my all time favorite Sam Raimi movie. An almost perfect blending of the operatic angst of the eternally suffering masked super hero with the high energy slapstick of The Three Stooges, covered with just the slightest dusting of gothic horror. I loved this movie just about from frame one. 

Seeing the late Jessie Lawrence Ferguson, who I knew from John Carpenter's Prince of Darkness, kick things off in the small, but nonetheless important, role of Eddie Black warmed my heart. Couple that with my eagle eye spotting director William Lustig in the nearby mob of menacing dock hands and I knew Raimi was not turning his back on the horror franchise that had catapulted him into the Hollywood system.
 

Alien 3 (1992) - Trading Card #64

Weyland-Yutani File No. 120049

Prisoner:    Walter Golic

Offense:    multiple murder and dismemberment, 32 counts; arson, 13 counts

Distinguishing Marks:    small scar over right eye

Notes: mentally unstable

Indistinguishable Bald Dude #2

No idea who this is.
 

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) - Newspaper Ad [Oakland Tribune]

August 18, 1996

This another fine example of one the most unique cinematic sub-genre offerings for the dedicated film geek. A movie where the story of its troubled production might be more interesting and entertaining than the film itself.

What began as Richard Stanley's first modest-to-large budget studio production ended as a messy and uneven patchwork credited to John Frankenheimer. For full details, I heartily recommend watching the David Gregory helmed documentary Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley's Island of Dr. Moreau. A work that is every bit as fascinating and confounding as Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse. The major difference between the two being that Apocalypse Now survived its production to become a critical and commercial hit, while The Island of Dr. Moreau... did not.

The big surprise when I uncovered and researched this ad was learning that David Thewlis had played the shellshocked protagonist Edward Douglas. His performance in the film led me to making an observation to a friend that "throughout the film he looks palpably disgusted and seems to be trying to wish himself to be any other place than where he is."

Thinking on it now, I cannot tell if that was a performance choice or not. I doubt Thewlis would ever deign to answer if asked.

I think I need to watch Lost Soul again, pronto...
 

Fright Flicks - Sticker #9

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3 Dream Warriors (1987)

 

The Return of Count Yorga (1971) - Newspaper Ad [San Francisco Examiner]

August 17, 1971

One of the more memorable Creature Features viewing experiences of my youth. While not the greatest of vampiric cinematic achievements, The Return of Count Yorga did lodge a fistful of genuinely unsettling and creepy moments in my memory. 

The film's female lead was none other than Mariette Hartley, who has been a ubiquitous presence on television programming and movie screens from the 1960s up through 2024. Future Poltergeist and Coach star Craig T. Nelson also had a small part in the film. As did future screenwriter and frequent Mel Brooks collaborator Rudy De Luca.

If you have not seen this, I recommend you do so.

Alien 3 (1992) - Trading Card #63

Weyland-Yutani File No. M47699

Officer:    Francis Aaron

Occupation:    second in command on Fiorina 161

Notes:    low intelligence quotient, obedient, expendable

Somewhat distinguishable bald guy #4. Also the last of the quartet that are somewhat distinguishable from all the others. It's too bad that Star Pics did not figure out a way to make him card #85.
 

Fright Flicks - Sticker #8

Predator (1987)

 

Alien 3 (1992) - Trading Card #62

Weyland-Yutani File No. M51021

Officer:    Harold Andrews

Occupation:    superintendent of prison facility

Notes:    aggressive commander, strict; runs prison with a heavy hand

Somewhat distinguishable bald guy #3

"This is rumor control..." ah, Andrews. You did not stand a snowball's chance in hell of surviving into act two, but you were a fun, disbelieving irritant while you lasted. Brian Glover, who played Andrews, also had a small and memorable role in An American Werewolf in London. "Remember the Alamo!"