Marvel Comics Shipping from Diamond Distributors for March 30, 2022

MARVEL COMICS

JAN220890 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #93 $5.99

JAN220893 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #93 BAGLEY VAR $5.99

JAN220892 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #93 GLEASON VAR $5.99

DEC211048 CAPTAIN MARVEL #37 $3.99

DEC211050 CAPTAIN MARVEL #37 GONZALES X-GWEN VAR $3.99

DEC211049 CAPTAIN MARVEL #37 MOMOKO VAR $3.99

DEC211107 CONAN BARBARIAN EPIC COLL ORIG MARVEL YRS TP ONCE FUTURE $44.99

JAN220963 DARK AGES #6 (OF 6) $3.99

JAN220965 DARK AGES #6 (OF 6) ASRAR VAR $3.99

JAN220874 GHOST RIDER #2 $3.99

JAN220875 GHOST RIDER #2 MOMOKO VAR $3.99

JAN220877 GHOST RIDER #2 TAN CARNAGE FOREVER VAR $3.99

JAN228464 HULK #4 2ND PTG OTTLEY VAR $3.99

JAN220940 HULK #5 $3.99

DEC218046 HULK #5 FORNES WINDOW SHADES VAR $3.99

JAN220942 HULK #5 MEYERS CARNAGE FOREVER VAR $3.99

JAN220934 HULK GRAND DESIGN MONSTER #1 $5.99

JAN220937 HULK GRAND DESIGN MONSTER #1 MARTIN VAR $5.99

JAN220936 HULK GRAND DESIGN MONSTER #1 PISKOR VAR $5.99

JAN220809 IMMORTAL X-MEN #1 $5.99

JAN220812 IMMORTAL X-MEN #1 JEFF JOHNSON CARNAGE FOREVER VAR $5.99

JAN220818 IMMORTAL X-MEN #1 LUPACCHINO WOMENS HISTORY VAR $5.99

JAN220811 IMMORTAL X-MEN #1 NAUCK HEADSHOT VAR $5.99

JAN220813 IMMORTAL X-MEN #1 NOTO QUIET COUNCIL VAR $5.99

JAN220817 IMMORTAL X-MEN #1 VEGA VAR $5.99

JAN220814 IMMORTAL X-MEN #1 YU PROMO VAR $5.99

JAN220872 IRON FIST #2 (OF 5) $3.99

JAN220873 IRON FIST #2 (OF 5) CHEUNG VAR $3.99

JAN220894 MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #36 $3.99

JAN220896 MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #36 KIRKHAM CARNAGE FOREVER VAR $3.99

JAN220895 MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #36 SHARP VAR $3.99

JAN220903 SILK #3 $3.99

JAN220905 SILK #3 INHYUK LEE CARNAGE FOREVER VAR $3.99

JAN220904 SILK #3 RUAN VAR $3.99

JAN220968 SILVER SURFER REBIRTH #3 (OF 5) $3.99

JAN220970 SILVER SURFER REBIRTH #3 (OF 5) SIQUERA CARNAGE FOREVER VAR $3.99

JAN220969 SILVER SURFER REBIRTH #3 (OF 5) TALASKI VAR $3.99

JAN220907 SPIDER-WOMAN #21 $3.99

JAN220909 SPIDER-WOMAN #21 NAKAYAMA CARNAGE FOREVER VAR $3.99

JAN220908 SPIDER-WOMAN #21 PEREZ VAR $3.99

JAN221007 STAR WARS BOUNTY HUNTERS #21 $3.99

JAN221009 STAR WARS BOUNTY HUNTERS #21 SPROUSE LUCASFILM 50TH VAR $3.99

JAN221008 STAR WARS BOUNTY HUNTERS #21 VILLANELLI VAR $3.99

JAN220921 X-CELLENT #2 $3.99

JAN220922 X-CELLENT #2 SHAW VAR $3.99

JUN210759 X-MEN BY HICKMAN OMNIBUS HC DAUTERMAN DM VAR $75.00

JUN210758 X-MEN BY HICKMAN OMNIBUS HC YU CVR $75.00

DEC211106 X-MEN EPIC COLLECTION TP BISHOPS CROSSING $49.99

JUL210767 X-MEN OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 CASSADAY CVR NEW PTG $125.00

JUL210768 X-MEN OMNIBUS HC VOL 02 TUSKA DM VAR NEW PTG $125.00

JAN220819 X-MEN UNLIMITED LATITUDE #1 $5.99

JAN220821 X-MEN UNLIMITED LATITUDE #1 COLA WOMEN OF MARVEL VAR $5.99

JAN220820 X-MEN UNLIMITED LATITUDE #1 HENDERSON VAR $5.99

-------------------

Comic Books, Magazines and Books from Diamond Distributors for March 30, 2022

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

AUG211847 AIR WAR STORIES #4 (RES) $9.99

NOV211078 ALMOST AMERICAN #5 $3.99

NOV211104 AM ARCHIVES THREE STOOGES DELL 1961 #6 CVR A CLASSIC PHOTO $3.99

NOV211105 AM ARCHIVES THREE STOOGES DELL 1961 #6 CVR B LTD ED 1/350 B& $9.99

JAN221900 ANCIENT MAGUS BRIDE FAERIE CASE FILES GN VOL 04 $12.99

JAN221085 ANIMAL CASTLE #4 CVR A DELEP WINTER ANIMALS (MR) $3.99

JAN221086 ANIMAL CASTLE #4 CVR B DELEP PRETEND SILVIO VAR (MR) $3.99

OCT211872 ASCENCIA #11 $3.99

DEC212070 ATTACK ON TITAN OMNIBUS TP VOL 03 VOL 7-9 (MR) $19.99

MAR210767 BETTIE PAGE HOLLYWOOD ADVENTURES MURDER ISLAND TP $19.99

AUG211453 BEYOND THE FARTHEST STAR #3 CVR A RANALDI $3.99

AUG211454 BEYOND THE FARTHEST STAR #3 CVR B LTD ED $9.99

DEC211275 BEYOND THE FARTHEST STAR CHRONICLES 50TH ANN #1 CVR A KRENKE $3.99

DEC211276 BEYOND THE FARTHEST STAR CHRONICLES 50TH ANN #1 CVR B CENTUR $29.99

JAN221650 BLOOD ON SUNSET #4 (OF 5) (MR) $3.99

AUG212140 BLOODSHOT BY TIM SEELEY DLX HC $49.99

DEC212071 BLUE PERIOD GN VOL 06 $12.99

JAN221856 BOOTY ROYALE NEVER GO DOWN WITHOUT FIGHT OMNIBUS GN VOL 03 ( $19.99

FEB221342 BOYS IN THE BASEMENT TP $12.99

JAN221619 BROKEN SOULS BALLAD #1 CVR A CEREGATTI $4.99

DEC211811 BY THE HORNS TP VOL 01 (MR) $19.99

DEC211842 CALL ME NATHAN GN (RES) (MR) $19.99

DEC211797 CARRIERS #4 CVR A ELIAS MARTINS & JORGE CORTES $3.95

DEC211798 CARRIERS #4 CVR B JASON KIMBLE $3.95

OCT211257 CAVEWOMAN HEADING HOME ONE SHOT CVR A MASSEY (MR) $3.99

OCT211260 CAVEWOMAN HEADING HOME ONE SHOT CVR D BUDD ROOT  (MR) ( $PI

OCT211261 CAVEWOMAN HEADING HOME ONE SHOT CVR E BUDD ROOT WRAPAROUND ( $PI

JAN221905 CHRONICLES OF ARISTOCRAT REBORN IN ANOTHER WORLD GN VOL 04 ( $12.99

JAN221096 CIH PRESENTS CEREBUS EMILY ONE SHOT $4.00

JAN221621 CITIES OF MAGICK #1 CVR A TEMPEST $4.99

JAN221907 COUNTRY WITHOUT HUMANS GN VOL 02 $12.99

JAN221811 CROSS DRESSING VILLAINESS CECILIA SYLVIE GN VOL 01 $13.00

FEB221665 DARBI GN $19.99

JAN221777 DARKSTALKERS MORRIGAN #1 CVR A PANZER $4.99

JAN221778 DARKSTALKERS MORRIGAN #1 CVR B STEINBACH $4.99

JAN221779 DARKSTALKERS MORRIGAN #1 CVR C BLANK SKETCH $5.99

OCT211427 DF AVENGERS #50 CGC GRADED $75.00

JAN221379 DF EDGE OF SPIDERVERSE #2 FACSIMILE CGC GRADED $79.99

NOV211487 DOSE #4 CVR A GEBBIA (MR) $4.99

NOV211488 DOSE #4 CVR B GEBBIA (MR) $4.99

JAN221911 DRAGON KNIGHTS BELOVED GN VOL 02 $12.99

JAN221155 EDGAR ALLAN POES SNIFTER OF DEATH #6 (OF 6) (MR) $4.99

JAN221915 EXO DRIVE REINCARNATION GAMES ALL JAPAN ISEKAI TOURNAMENT GN $12.99

JAN221879 FIRE FORCE GN VOL 26 $10.99

JAN221204 GOLD DIGGER TP GOLD BRICK VI REMINTED ED $49.99

JAN221757 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #58 CVR A VITORINO $3.99

JAN221758 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #58 CVR B DIAZ $3.99

JAN221759 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #58 CVR C GARVEY $3.99

JAN221760 GRIMM FAIRY TALES #58 CVR D TAO $3.99

JAN221859 GUNGURED X SISTERS GN VOL 01 (MR) $13.99

DEC211506 HAPPY HILL #2 (OF 5) (MR) $4.99

JAN221721 HARBINGER (2021) #6 CVR A RODRIGUEZ $3.99

JAN221722 HARBINGER (2021) #6 CVR B SAUVAGE $3.99

NOV211054 HATH NO FURY TP VOL 01 $14.99

JAN221541 HAWAII SEA TURTLE RESCUE GN $12.99

JAN221258 HEAD SET #1 IN THE BEGINNING $4.99

JAN221132 HEATHENS #5 $3.99

JAN221881 HERO LIFE OF SELF PROCLAIMED MEDIOCRE DEMON GN VOL 03 $12.99

JAN221922 I AM A CAT BARISTA GN VOL 02 (RES) $13.99

NOV211885 IF THE RPG WORLD HAD SOCIAL MEDIA GN VOL 02 $13.00

JAN221882 IM STANDING ON MILLION LIVES GN VOL 12 (MR) $10.99

JAN221649 IN HIS OWN IMAGE #2 (OF 3) (MR) $3.99

MAY211910 IS WRONG PICK UP GIRLS DUNGEON SWORD ORATORIA GN VOL 16 (MR) $13.00

JAN221224 ISLA TO ISLAND GN $12.99

JAN221225 ISLA TO ISLAND HC GN $21.99

JAN221659 JOHN CARPENTERS TALES OF SCIENCE FICTION CIVILIANS #2 (OF 3) $3.99

NOV211516 KNIGHTS OF THE DINNER TABLE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL TP $15.99

JAN221821 LET THIS GRIEVING SOUL RETIRE GN VOL 02 $13.00

OCT211174 LIVING CORPSE RELICS #6 ENCORE ED (MR) $3.99

JAN228413 LIVING CORPSE RELICS #6 ENCORE ED B&W RAW (MR) $9.99

JAN221884 LIVING ROOM MATSUNAGA SAN GN VOL 10 $12.99

JAN221928 MAGICAL GIRL SPECIAL OPS ASUKA GN VOL 13 (MR) $12.99

JAN221929 MARS RED GN VOL 02 (RES) $12.99

OCT211704 MERLIN & HECTOR #3 $3.95

FEB221341 MISSISSIPPI ZOMBIE VOL 03 $13.99

JAN221166 MONSTER MEN ISLE OF TERROR #1 (OF 3) CVR A MARTINEZ $3.99

JAN221167 MONSTER MEN ISLE OF TERROR #1 (OF 3) CVR B WOLFER $3.99

JAN221168 MONSTER MEN ISLE OF TERROR #1 (OF 3) CVR C LTD ED 300 COPY $9.99

FEB221186 MONSTER MEN ISLE OF TERROR #1 (OF 3) CVR D 100 COPY LTD ED $29.99

AUG212069 MOORCOCK ELRIC HC VOL 04 (OF 4) DREAMING CITY (MR) $19.99

AUG212070 MOORCOCK ELRIC HC VOL 04 (OF 4) DREAMING CITY PX MIGNOLA ED $19.99

DEC211512 MR COLOSTOMY (MR) $24.95

JAN221133 MY DATE WITH MONSTERS #5 $3.99

JAN221933 MY NEXT LIFE AS A VILLAINESS ON VERGE OF DOOM GN VOL 02 $12.99

DEC211953 MYTHS & LEGENDS QUARTERLY JACK & JILL CVR A BARRIONUEVO $8.99

DEC211954 MYTHS & LEGENDS QUARTERLY JACK & JILL CVR B VITORINO $8.99

DEC211955 MYTHS & LEGENDS QUARTERLY JACK & JILL CVR C DIPASCALE $8.99

JAN221646 NUMBER ONE (MR) $3.99

NOV211521 PACIFIC RIM ULT OMNIBUS GN $99.99

SEP211217 PELLUCIDAR ACROSS SAVAGE SEAS #3 CVR A PUGLIA $3.99

SEP211218 PELLUCIDAR ACROSS SAVAGE SEAS #3 CVR B CHARACTER DESIGN $9.99

NOV211870 PHANTOM TALES OF THE NIGHT GN VOL 08 $15.00

DEC211615 PINBALL GRAPHIC HISTORY OF THE SILVER BALL HC $24.99

DEC211939 POIKOS QUESTS & STUFF TP $9.99

JAN221505 QUINTARA STONE #1 CVR A LASHLEY & FERNANDEZ $4.99

JAN221506 QUINTARA STONE #1 CVR B MATT FLINT $4.99

JAN221507 QUINTARA STONE #1 CVR C WATSON & DALIGAULT $4.99

JAN221508 QUINTARA STONE #1 CVR D BILL MAUS $4.99

JAN221509 QUINTARA STONE #1 CVR E HELMER $4.99

JAN221510 QUINTARA STONE #1 CVR F STEVEN BUTLER $4.99

JAN221511 QUINTARA STONE #1 CVR G RAY GRIFFIN $4.99

JAN221512 QUINTARA STONE #1 CVR H BLANK SKETCH $9.99

JAN221513 QUINTARA STONE #1 CVR I LASHLEY VIRGIN FOIL $19.99

JAN221617 RAISE UP THE DEAD ZOMBIE COMICS ANTHOLOGY GN (MR) $17.99

JAN221630 RANGER STRANGER #2 $3.99

JAN221320 RAVEN HEX RETURN OF DARK WITCH (MR) $24.99

JAN221936 REINCARNATED AS A SWORD ANOTHER WISH GN VOL 02 $12.99

NOV212028 REINCARNATED AS VILLAINESS IN OTOME GAME GN VOL 02 $12.99

JAN221643 RISE OF DRACULA #4 (OF 6) (MR) $3.99

DEC219354 RISE OF DRACULA #4 (OF 6) CVR B RENZO (MR) $3.99

MAR210834 SACRED SIX TP VOL 01 NUMEROLOGY $19.99

JAN221472 SAVAGE CIRCUS #10 (OF 11) (MR) $2.99

JAN221553 SEASON OF THE BRUJA #1 $3.99

JAN221165 SEVENOAKS GN $24.95

JAN221939 SHEEPLY HORNED WITCH ROMI GN VOL 01 $12.99

JAN221652 SHELTER DIVISION #3 (OF 3) (MR) $3.99

JAN221257 SIR LADYBUG HC GN VOL 01 $12.99

DEC212082 SOMETHINGS WRONG WITH US GN VOL 07 (RES) $12.99

JAN221864 SUPER HXEROS GN VOL 06 (MR) $13.99

DEC211203 SWORDS OF CEREBUS IN HELL TP VOL 11 $19.95

DEC211474 TAROT WITCH OF THE BLACK ROSE #132 DLX LITHO ED (MR) $19.99

JAN221822 TEASING MASTER TAKAGI SAN GN VOL 14 $13.00

JAN221175 TECHNOFREAK #4 (OF 3) CVR A CHARLES & NEWELL (MR) $3.99

JAN221176 TECHNOFREAK #4 (OF 3) CVR B CHARLES & NEWELL (MR) $3.99

JAN221531 THE LAST SESSION #4 CVR A PARASCANDOLO & MONTE $3.99

JAN221532 THE LAST SESSION #4 CVR B PARASCANDOLO & MONTE $3.99

SEP211221 THREE STOOGES APRIL FOOLS DAY READER PACK $19.99

SEP211204 TOM HOLLANDS FRIGHT NIGHT #1 CENTURY EDITION (MR) $29.99

NOV211890 UNCLE FROM ANOTHER WORLD GN VOL 04 $15.00

JAN221894 UQ HOLDER GN VOL 25 (MR) $10.99

JUN200866 VAMPBLADE TP VOL 12 CLIMAX ROYALE (MR) $14.99

NOV211171 WARLASH BIOBURDEN SGN ED ONE SHOT $14.99

NOV211172 WARLASH COLD METAL MAYHEM SGN ED ONE SHOT $14.99

AUG212307 WELCOME TO SUCCUBUS HIGH GN VOL 03 (MR) $13.99

JAN221259 WILDER #2 (OF 5) CVR A GIAMPA $3.99

SEP211219 WILLYS WONDERLAND #1 CENTURY EDITION (MR) $29.99

DEC211718 WORLD CLASS OGN $14.99

JAN221216 WORLD OF ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #118 $8.99

JAN221944 YAKUZA REINCARNATION GN VOL 01 $12.99

NOV211122 ZORRO NEW WORLD #3 CVR A RANALDI $3.99

NOV211123 ZORRO NEW WORLD #3 CVR B LTD ED 1/300 PHOTO $9.99

MAGAZINES

JAN221360 COMIC SHOP NEWS (90CT BUNDLE) #1806 $PI

JAN221362 COMIC SHOP NEWS SPRING PREVIEWS (90CT BUNDLE) #0 $PI

JAN221552 NON SPORT UPDATE VOL 33 #2 $5.99

JAN221581 TOY VENTURES MAGAZINE #1 $10.99

JAN221582 TOY VENTURES MAGAZINE #2 $10.99

JAN221583 TOY VENTURES MAGAZINE #3 $10.99

BOOKS

JAN221946 ARIFURETA FROM COMMONPLACE ZERO LIGHT NOVEL VOL 05 (RES) $14.99

JAN221369 BATMAN THE ULTIMATE GUIDE NEW ED HC $30.00

JAN221843 GREATEST DEMON LORD REBORN TYPICAL NOBODY NOVEL SC VOL 07 (C $15.00

JAN221948 HAUNTED BOOKSTORE GATEWAY PARALLEL UNIVERSE LN VOL 02 (RES) $14.99

JAN221949 HIDDEN DUNGEON ONLY I CAN ENTER SC NOVEL VOL 06 $13.99

JAN221832 JOSEE TIGER FISH LIGHT NOVEL HC $20.00

DEC211803 MY PARENTS WON`T STOP TALKING HC $18.99

JAN221817 OVERLORD COMPLETE ANIME ARTBOOK ART SC VOL 02 (MR) $40.00

JAN221958 SAINTS MAGIC POWER IS OMNIPOTENT LIGHT NOVEL SC VOL 06 $14.99

JAN221584 STAR WARS THESE ARE DROIDS YOURE LOOKING SEARCH & FIND HC (C $10.99

JAN221959 STRANGE ADVENTURE OF BROKE MERCENARY NOVEL SC VOL 04 $14.99

-------------------

Marvel Studios Releases New Stephen Strange Image from "DOCTOR STRANGE 2"

Marvel Studios has released four new images from its upcoming film, "DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS," which arrives in theaters May 6, 2022.  Directed by Sam Raimi, the film stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor. and Xochitl Gomez.  The image below features Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange/Doctor Strange standing in a room full of candles:

------------------------------

Review: Hurt and Turner Put All the Heat in "BODY HEAT"

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 17 of 2022 (No. 1829) by Leroy Douresseaux

Body Heat (1981)
Running time: 113 minutes (1 hour, 53 minutes)
MPAA – R
WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Lawrence Kasdan
PRODCUER:  Fred T. Gallo
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Richard H. Kline (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Carol Littleton
COMPOSER:  John Barry

DRAMA/ROMANCE/CRIME

Starring:  William Hurt, Kathleen Turner, Richard Crenna, Ted Danson, J.A. Preston, Oscar Grace, Mickey Rourke, Kim Zimmer, Jane Hallaren, Lanna Saunders, and Carola McGuinness

Body Heat is a 1981 romance and crime drama written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan.  The film is set in Florida during a searing heat wave and focuses on a small-town lawyer and a sultry woman who conspire to murder her rich husband.

Body Heat introduces Ned Racine (William Hurt), an inept lawyer who operates out of Okeelanta County, in southern Florida, which is in the middle of a searing heatwave.  One night, he chances upon a very attractive woman, who is all alone.  Although she initially rebuffs his amorous attempts, she eventually gives in to Ned's advances and identifies herself as Matty Walker (Kathleen Turner).  She lives in a posh mansion with her mysteriously wealthy husband, Edmund Walker (Richard Crenna).  Edmund is usually away on business during the week, so that is when Matty is alone.

Ned and Matty begin a torrid affair.  When they can be together, they have lots of sex in the sweltering heat of the night.  When Edmund is home on the weekends, Matty longs to be with Ned, as he longs to be with her.  If Matty were to divorce her husband, an onerous marital prenuptial agreement would leave her with very little, but she would get half his estate if he died...  Matty wishes Edmund was dead, and Ned presents her with a way to get rid of him.  Ned believes that he has figured out how to get away with murder, but has he figured out Matty Walker?

William Hurt (1950-2022) recently died after a reported battle with cancer, and I was taken aback.  William Hurt was one of the biggest names in Hollywood in the 1980s when I was first coming of age an a film fan.  I have decided to go back and watch some of his films that I'd previously seen and also to watch some for the first time.  One of those first time films is Body Heat, which was only the third film in which he'd starred.  It is apparently the film that made him a “bankable” Hollywood movie star.

Body Heat is also the film debut of Kathleen Turner.  Her physicality and obvious and frank sexuality made her a star of the 1980s.  Her adventurousness in choosing movie roles created an eclectic filmography, but Turner's star waned in the 1990s.  In Body Heat, however, she is ready to unleash her unique skill set on the world.  Matty Walker is Turner's signature work, and bits and pieces of the character and her performance of the character continued to show up in her work in the decades that followed the original release of Body Heat.

Here, in Body Heat, Hurt and Turner are stars ascendant.  At first, I wondered if they would have screen chemistry, and from my point of view, they are magnificent together.  The fact that they are willing to be naked together so often in this film speaks to their professionalism and also the depth of their skill as actors.  Both had performed on stage before they entered the world of Hollywood films, so they had acting experience.  That experience was needed in filming what has been described as many explicit sex scenes that were not included in the finished film.

Still, what is left on screen is hot and nasty.  Turner and Hurt are so hot together that they damn near burned this film down, which it needs.  The truth is that Body Heat is rather tepid.  The film is described as a “neo-noir,” a modern version of the classic Hollywood film genre, “Film-Noir.”  Outside of the depictions of sex and nudity, Body Heat's story and the execution of its narrative, to me, seem rather tame compared to a film like, for instance, 1950's Gun Crazy, another romantic crime drama about a killer couple.  Writer-director Lawrence Kasdan, one of the best writer-directors and screen writers of the last five decades, apparently found inspiration for Body Heat in the 1944 Film-Noir classic, Double Indemnity.  Well, it's time for me to see that one.

Beside Ned Racine and Matty Walker, I like the other characters in this film.  Richard Crenna is really good in a small role as Edmund Walker; he deserved more screen time.  Ted Danson's Peter Lowenstein is good, but seems extraneous in this film, and J.A. Preston's Oscar Grace, a police detective, has his best moments in Body Heat's last act.  Also, if you ever wondered what Hollywood executives saw in Mickey Rourke that would make him a star, his small but potent turn as Teddy Lewis, an explosives expert and former client of Ned's, reveals the first glimmer of his movie star potential.

Body Heat is not William Hurt's best work, but his quirky takes make Ned Racine an interesting character.  Kasdan throws out hints about the general sloppy nature of Ned's skills as an attorney and also his inability to see the big picture.  Hurt takes that the rest of the way, creating a Ned Racine that is not savvy enough not to be a fall guy, but too smart not to figure it out eventually.  Body Heat is not a crime fiction classic, but it is a classic “erotic thriller.”  Hurt and Turner make it so.

7 of 10
B+

Saturday, March 26, 2022


NOTES:
1983 BAFTA Awards:  1 nomination:  “Most Outstanding Newcomer to Leading Film Roles” (Kathleen Turner)


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

---------------------------------------

---------------------------------------

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from March 20th to 26th, 2022 - Update #22

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE NEWS:

MOVIES - From Deadline:  A24's recent horror film, "X," could be a budding horror movie franchise.  A prequel film is apparently already close to being finished and preparations are being made for a sequel.

STAR TREK - From Variety:  Actress Ito Aghayere talks about playing "Young Guinan" on the Paramount+ series, "Star Trek: Picard." "Guinan" is the classic "Star Trek: The Next Generation" character originally played by Oscar-winner, Whoopi Goldberg.

MOVIES - From People:  Here are the first look photos of Oscar-winner Nicolas Cage as "Dracula" in Universal Pictures' horror-comedy, "Renfield," in which Nicholas Hoult plays the title role.

BROADWAY - From Deadline:  A Broadway musical is being developed based on the 1983 film, "Trading Places."  Aneesa Folds will play Eddie Murphy's role, and Bryce Pinkham will play Dan Aykroyd's role.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  The CW has given early renewals to 7 of its 19 scripted dramas.  Owners Warner Media and ViacomCBS has put The CW up for sale, with Nexstar being among the suitors.

STREAMING - From Deadline:  HBO Max's "Sex in the City" sequel, "And Just Like That..." has been renewed for a second season.

NETFLIX - From Deadline:  Actress Christina Ricci, who played "Wednesday Addams," in two 1990s "Addams Family" films directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, will play a major role in Netflix's series, "Wednesday."  The nature of her role is still a secret.  Jenna Ortega will play Wednesday in the series.

OSCARS - From Deadline:  At the 94th Academy Awards, Beyonce will indeed perform her Oscar-nominated song, "Be Alive" (from "King Richard" and co-written with DIXSON) via satellite from a Compton tennis court.

From Variety:   Beyonce is in talks to perform her Oscar-nominated song, "Be Alive" (from "King Richard") live from the tennis courts in Compton, California during the 94th Academy Awards.  The film focuses on Richard Williams, the father of tennis legends, Venus and Serena Williams, who learned to play tennis on those courts with Richard as their coach.

MOVIES - From Variety:  The sequel to the 2021 hit, "Godzilla vs. Kong," will start filming in Australia later this year.

OSCARS - From BBC:  The BBC's website has produced a video that presents all the "Best Picture" nominees for the 94th Academy Awards in 59 seconds.

CELEBRITY - From Variety:  This year's "Rase to Erase MS" gala will return to Fairmont Century Plaza hotel on May 20th and will feature music by "Nile Rogers & Chic" and a Tommy Hilfiger Adaptive fashion show.

MOVIES - From ShadowandAct:   Marvel Cinematic Universe star and New Orleans native Anthony Mackie has reportedly bought 20 acres in New Orleans East where he plans to start a movie studio.  However, Mackie has reportedly officially said that it was too premature to discuss specifics of the deal.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 3/18 to 3/20/2022 weekend box office is "The Batman" with an estimated 36.8 million dollars.

From Here:  Negromancer's review of "The Batman."

STAR TREK - From TheGuardian:  Georgia gubernatorial candidate and voting rights champion, Stacey Abrams, made a cameo as "President of United Earth" on the Season 4 finale of "Star Trek: Discovery" (Paramount+).  Some people were mad...

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  The daytime syndicated talk show "Maury" will be ending after the current season, apparently a mutual decision between the host, Maury Povich, and NBCUniversal Syndication Studios.  Povich is reportedly retiring.  The last original episodes will air through September 2022, after which repeats of the show will continue to air in syndication

AWARDS - From Deadline: "CODA" wins the top award, "Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures," at the 2022 / 33rd Producers Guild Awards.

AVATAR - From Variety:  "Avatar 2" star Zoe Saldana said that after watching 20 minutes of the film, she cried.

CANNES - From Deadline:  Not only will "Top Gun: Maverick" make its premiere at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, but its star Tom Cruise will also feted with a "career retrospective" special tribute.

OBITS:

From RollingStone:  Singer-songwriter and rock musician, Taylor Hawkins, has died at the age of 50, Friday, March 25, 2022 in a hotel in Bogota, Columbia.  Hawkins was best known as the drummer of the band, "Foo Fighters." The band announced Hawkins as its new drummer in March 1997, and in addition to being the drummer, Hawkins wrote songs, provided vocals, and played piano and guitar.  He first appeared on the Foo Fighters third album "There is Nothing Left to Lose" (1999).  His side-projects included the bands, "Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders" and "The Birds of Satan."

From CNN:  American diplomat and former U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, has died at the age of 84, Wednesday, March 23, 2022.  Albright was the first female U.S. Secretary of State, serving from 1997 to 2001, during President Bill Clinton's second term, the 64th Secretary of State. She was also the 20th United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1993-97).  Albright was born in Czechoslovakia and immigrated to the U.S. with her parents in 1948.

-------------------

94TH ACADEMY AWARDS:

OSCARS - From Variety:  The nominations for the 2022 / 94th Academy Awards have been announced.  "The Power of the Dog" leads with 12 nominations.  The winners will be revealed March 27th.

From Deadline:    With his "Best Actor" nomination for "The Tragedy of Macbeth," Denzel Washington is the most nominated Black actor is Oscar history.  He has been nominated in two acting categories a total of 10 times with two wins total.

From Variety:   With her "Best Director" Oscar nomination for "The Power of the Dog," Jane Campion becomes the first woman nominated twice in that category. She was previously nominated in that category for "The Piano" (1993).

From Variety:  With his three nominations today, Kenneth Branagh of "Belfast" becomes the first person to have been nominated in seven individual categories over his career.

-----------------------

MOVIE AWARDS:

From Variety:  The American Society of Cinematographers held the 2022 / 36th Annual ASC Awards.  Greig Fraser won the top award, "Feature Film," for his work on "Dune."

From Deadline:  At the 58th annual Cinema Audio Society (CAS) Awards, "Dune" the "Live Action Motion Picture" prize.

From Deadline:  The 2022 / 75th EE British Academy Film Awards ceremony was held in Lond, Sun., March 13th.  "The Power of the Dog" was named "Best Film" and Jane Campion won "Best Director" for the film.  Will Smith was named "Best Actor."  "Dune" won five awards, dominated the "craft categories."

From Variety:  The Directors Guild of America's 2022 74th annual DGA Awards were held on Sat., March 12th.  Jane Campion won the top prize "Outstanding Achievement in Theatrical Film" for directing "The Power of the Dog."  She is the third woman to win the award and the second to have been nominated twice.

From Variety:  The winners at the 2022 / 49th annual Annie Awards were announced, Sat. Mar. 12th.  Netflix's "The Mitchells vs. the Machines" was named "Best Feature."

From Variety:  At the 2022 / 27th annual Critics Choice Awards, director Jane Campion's Western film, "The Power of the Dog," is named is named "Best Picture."

From Deadline:  The Visual Effects Society announced the winners at the 2022 / 20th annual VES Awards.  "Dune" and Disney's "Encanto" led with four wins apiece.

From Deadline:  The American Cinema Editors' 72nd Annual ACE Eddie Awards were held, Sat., March 5th.  The top award, "Best Edited Feature Film (Dramatic)" went to "King Richard."

From Deadline:  The 2022/ 26th annual Art Directors Guild Awards turns out to be a good party.  "Dune" and "Nightmare Alley" are among the winners.

From Deadline:   The winners at the 2022 / 28th annual SAG Awards. "CODA" wins the top prize, "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture."

From Variety:  Here is a complete list of winners at 2022 / 53rd NAACP Image Awards in the film, television and music categories.  Jennifer Hudson was named "Entertainer of the Year."

From Deadline:   The 2022 / 9th annual Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards were announced.  The Amazon film, "Coming 2 America" (the sequel to the 1988 film, "Coming to America"), led with three wins.

From Deadline:  The 2022 BAFTA Film Awards nominations have been announced.  "Dune" leads with 11 nominations.  The winners will be announced March 13th.

From Deadline:   The 2022 / 33rd annual Producers Guild of America Awards nominations have been announced.  The winners will be announced Saturday, March 19th.

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2022 / 74th annual Directors Guild Awards have been announced.  The winners will be announced March 12th.

From COFCA:  The Columbus Film Critics Association name "The Power of the Dog" the "Best Film" of 2021.

From Deadline:  Netflix's Black Western, "The Harder They Fall," was named the "Best Picture" of 2021 at the 13th annual African American Film Critics Association Awards.  The Western tied with "King Richard" for most wins with four.  Will Smith was named "Best Actor" for "King Richard."

From Deadline:  The nominations for the 2022 / 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced.

From Variety:  The snubs and surprises in the nominations for the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards.

From Variety:   At the 2022 / 79th Golden Globes, "The Power of the Dog" wins "Best Motion Picture-Drama" and "West Side Story" wins "Best Motion Picture-Musical or Comedy."

From Variety:  The National Society of Film Critics names the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the best film of 2021.

From AwardsWatch:  The nominations for the 22nd Annual Black Reel Awards were announced a few weeks ago. Netflix's Black Western, "The Harder They Fall," has a record 20 nominations.  The winners will be announced February 27, 2022.

From AwardsWatch:  The Columbus Film Critics Association announced the nominations for their annual film awards.  Director Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog" leads with 12 noms.  The winners will be announced Thurs., Jan. 6th, 2022.

From Deadline:  The Los Angeles Film Critics Association has named the Japanese film, "Drive My Car," the "Best Picture" of 2021.

From Deadline:  The 2022 / 37th annual Film Independent Spirit Awards have announced their nominations. "Zola" leads with six nominations. The winners will be announced Sun., March 6, 2022.

From THR:  The 2022 / 79th Golden Globes Awards nominations have been announced.  "Belfast" and "The Power of the Dog" lead with seven nominations each.  Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From GoldDerby:   The 2022 Critics Choice Awards nominations have been announced. "Belfast" and "West Side Story" leads with 11 nominations each. Winners will be announced Jan. 9th, 2022.

From Deadline:   The American Film Institute announced the "2021 AFI Awards" Top 10 list, and the list includes "Dune," "The Tragedy of Macbeth," and "West Side Story."

From THR:  Director Aleem Khan's "After Love" tops the 2021 British Independent Film Awards, winning six awards, including "Best Film of 2021."

From Variety:   The New York Film Critics Circle has named the Japanese drama, "Drive My Car," as the "Best Film of 2021."

From Deadline:  The National Board of Review hands director Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza" it "Best Film" and "Best Director" awards.  Will Smith picks up the "Best Actor" award for "King Richard."

From THR:  Netflix’s "The Lost Daughter," directed by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, dominated the 2021 Gotham Awards in New York on Monday night (Nov. 29th).  The film won in four of the five categories in which it was nominated, including "Best Feature."

---------------------------------

"RUST" ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING DEATH:

From Deadline:  This link will take you to Deadline's Halyna Hutchins page, which articles related to everything about her shooting death on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From THR:  Alec Baldwin moves to shield himself from liability in the shooting death on the set of the Western film, "Rust."  In an arbitration demand, he blames others for the death of Halyna Hutchins.

From People:  Alec Baldwin says that certain lawsuits recording the Western film, "Rust," are targeted at "deep-pocket litigants" and that the suits are all about money.

From Deadline:  Matt Hutchins, the husband of Halyna Hutchins, blames Alec Baldwin for Halyna's accidental shooting death on the set of the doomed Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  The family and estate of Halyna Hutchins has filed suit against Alec Baldwin (who accidentally shot Hutchins), a slew of production companies and entities, producers, and key crew members involved in the Western film, "Rust," for her death.

From THR:   A Republican New Mexico legislator, State Sen. Cliff Pirtle of Roswell, on Monday introduced a bill that would require all film set personnel who handle firearms to complete a safety course offered by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department.  This is in the wake a cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, being fatally shot on the set of the Western, "Rust," last year by Alec Baldwin with a weapon he says he thought was not loaded with live ammunition.

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin and the other producers of the doomed Western film, "Rust," want a California judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed against them by the script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell.

From Deadline:   Alec Baldwin has finally turned over his cell phone to police for their probe into the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Baldwin's Western film, "Rust," last October in New Mexico.

From Variety:  One of the producers of tragic Western film, Rust, Emily Salveson, pushes tax shelters and hid income.

From THR:  "I let go of the hammer and 'Bang,' the gun goes off" says Alec Baldwin says in his first interview of the moment when a gun he was holding accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Western film, "Rust."

From Deadline:  Alec Baldwin will sit down with ABC's news-reading clown George Stephanopoulos for a one hour special tomorrow night to talk about what happened on the set of the movie "Rust."  It will be Baldwin’s first extensive interview about the shooting.

From Deadline:  Industry veteran, Thall Reed, the father of Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the Western, "Rust," may have handed the police a tip on why the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot to death on the set.

From THR:  A search warrant affidavit filed Tuesday for a prop shop sheds light on how alleged live ammunition ended up on the set of the Western film, "Rust," where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed in October.

From Deadline:  A month after cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins, was shot and killed on the New Mexico set the movie Western, "Rust," by a prop gun “discharged” by Alec Baldwin, those closest to the cinematographer held a private ceremony and interred her ashes at an unknown location.

From Deadline:  Actor Daniel Baldwin defends his brother, Alec Baldwin, in the accidental shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film, "Rust."  "Someone loaded that gun improperly," Daniel says.

From Deadline:  The newest lawsuit involving the tragic shooting on the set of the Western film, "Rust," has been filed by the film's script supervisor, Mamie Mitchell, against Alec Baldwin, the producers, the production company, armorer Hanna Gutierrez Reed, and others.

From Deadline:  Serge Svetnoy, the gaffer on "Rust," has filed a lawsuit against several parties related to the film, including the production, the financiers, star Alec Baldwin, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, and first Assistant Director David Halls.

From THR:   In the wake of the tragic accidental shooting on the set of his film, "Rust," Alec Baldwin on Monday took to social media to urge Hollywood to employ a police officer on every film and TV set that uses guns.

From THR:   The budget for "Rust" - Alec Baldwin was set to earn $150,000 as lead actor and $100,000 as producer, while $7,913 was earmarked for armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and $17,500 was set aside for the rental of weapons and $5,000 for rounds.

From Deadline:  Attorneys for Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the set of the film, "Rust," said that they’re looking into whether a live bullet was placed in a box of dummy rounds with the intent of  “sabotaging the set.”

From THR:   Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the armorer on the film, "Rust," released a statement through her lawyers.  She says she had “no idea where the live rounds came from” that were recovered by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's during the investigation of the accidental on-set shooting death of Halyna Hutchins.

From Jacobin:  An opinion piece says that cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death on the set of the film, "Rust," was not a freak accident, but was about Alec Baldwin and his fellow producers' cost-cutting decisions.  Baldwin accidentally fired the gun that killed Hutchins.

From Deadline:   Two of executive producers on "Rust," Allen Cheney and Emily Salveson, disavow responsibility for the film's troubled production.

From THR:   Iconic "Ghostbusters" actor Ernie Hudson is reeling from the news of the death of Halyna Hutchins, like the rest of Hollywood. Hudson also appeared in the film, "The Crow," the film in which its star, Brandon Lee, was killed because of an on-set accidental shooting.  He also agrees with the call to ban real guns from movie sets.

From THR:  The Sheriff of Sante Fe County says that his office has recovered three guns and 500 rounds of ammunition from the set of the movie "Rust" where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed.

From Deadline:  Regarding criminal charges in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust," District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altweis, "all options are on the table - no one has been ruled out."

From THR:  Does Hollywood Need Guns? Will new regulations lead to an overreactions to a tragedy.

From Deadline:   "Rust" producers have opened an internal investigation into the fatal shooting on the set of the Western film.  They have hired outside lawyers to conduct interviews with the film's production crew.

From Deadline:  "Rust's" AD (assistant director), Dave Halls, has come under scrutiny in the wake of the on-set shooting death of the film's cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The affidavit of Sante Fe Sheriff's Department Detective Joel Cano has been made public. It can be read at "Deadline."  The affidavit was for a search warrant from the property were the Western, "Rust," was being filmed.

From THR:  The production company behind "Rust" has shut the film down until the police investigation into the fatal, on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is through.  The Sante Fe County Sheriff's Office has also revealed a timeline of the shooting.

From Deadline:  The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Department confirmed Thursday night that Alec Baldwin “discharged” a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the movie, "Rust."  As a result, one crew member, director of photography Halyna Hutchins, was killed and director Joel Souza was injured and remains in a local hospital - his condition unknown.

From THR:  "Rust" director, Joel Souza, who was wounded in the accidental on-set shooting, says that he is "gutted" by the death of his cinematographer on the film, Halyna Hutchins.

From Deadline:  The fatal shooting on the set of "Rust" may have been "recorded" according to detective for Santa Fe Sheriff's Department.

From Deadline:  The production company behind the film, "Rust," will launch an internal safety review after the fatal accident that killed Halyna Hutchins; possible prior gun incidents; and a camera crew walkout.

From CNN:   Crew member yelled "cold gun" as he handed Alec Baldwin prop weapon, court document shows.

From Variety:  Actor Alec Baldwin releases statement on the death of Halyna Hutchins: "There are no words to convey my shock and sadness."

From Variety:  The prop gun that killed “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza on during an on-set accident on Thursday contained a “live single round,” according to an email sent by IATSE Local 44 to its membership.

------------------------------------

Nickelodeon Announces Live-Action "Loud House" Series for Paramount+

Nickelodeon to Begin Production on Live-Action the Loud House Series for Paramount+

Series to Star Cast Members from Hit Live-Action Movie, A Loud House Christmas, Including Wolfgang Schaeffer, Jahzir Bruno and Brian Stepanek

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nickelodeon Studios is set to begin production on a brand-new original live-action series based on the Emmy Award-winning animated show, The Loud House, for Paramount+. The as-yet-untitled series follows the success of the live-action movie, A Loud House Christmas, which became TV’s top kids’ entertainment telecast of 2021 when it premiered on Nickelodeon in November.

    “As one of Nick’s most beloved animated franchises, The Loud House has made its way into the hearts of millions of fans across the globe”

The 10-episode series will begin filming in June in Albuquerque, N.M., with a premiere slated for later this year on the streaming service. The news was announced by Brian Robbins, President & Chief Executive Officer, Paramount Pictures & Nickelodeon, and Chief Content Officer, Movies and Kids & Family, Paramount+, at Nickelodeon’s annual upfront presentation held at New York City’s Palladium Times Square.

“As one of Nick’s most beloved animated franchises, The Loud House has made its way into the hearts of millions of fans across the globe,” said Shauna Phelan, Co-Head of Nickelodeon & Awesomeness Live-Action. “When we brought the animated world of Royal Woods to life with A Loud House Christmas, it instantly became a holiday favorite for both new and loyal fans alike, and I just know that they will love what our amazing creative team is preparing for this new live-action series.”

The live-action The Loud House series will follow Lincoln Loud, an 11 year-old boy with 10 sisters, as he navigates everyday life while living with such a large family. Known as the “Man with a Plan,” Lincoln enlists the help of his best friend Clyde McBride to tackle the obstacles and mayhem that they encounter during their daily adventures.

The Loud House live-action series will see the real-life versions of the beloved Loud family from A Loud House Christmas return to reprise their roles: Wolfgang Schaeffer, as Lincoln Loud; Jahzir Bruno, as Clyde McBride; Brian Stepanek, as Lynn Loud Sr.; Sophia Woodward, as Luna Loud; Catherine Ashmore Bradley, as Luan Loud; Aubin Bradley, as Lucy Loud; Ella Allan, as Lola Loud; Mia Allan, as Lana Loud; and Lexi Janicek, as Lisa Loud. Additional casting news will be announced at a later date.

When A Loud House Christmas premiered on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, it became the top kids’ entertainment telecast with kids 6-11 across all TV for the year, drawing 3.1 million total viewers over the holiday weekend. A Loud House Christmas is currently streaming here on Paramount+. The live-action The Loud House series for Paramount+ is executive produced by Tim Hobert (The Middle, Scrubs, Community), Jonathan Judge (A Loud House Christmas, Warped!, All That) and Michael Rubiner (The Loud House). Hobert also serves as showrunner and the pilot is directed by Judge. Production of the series for Nickelodeon Studios is overseen by Shauna Phelan and Zack Olin, Co-Heads of Nickelodeon & Awesomeness Live-Action. Jessica Brown serves as Nickelodeon’s Executive in Charge of Production for the series.

The Loud House animated series debuted on Nickelodeon in May 2016 and centers on 11-year-old Lincoln Loud and his 10 sisters as he gives an inside look at what it takes to survive the chaos of a huge family. Greenlit for a seventh season, it is one of the longest-running animated series on Nickelodeon with 176 episodes. The property has also been translated into: a comic book series, which continues to roll out new stories; chapter books; a digital album; and a podcast, Listen Out Loud. The series is executive produced by Michael Rubiner. Kyle Marshall serves as co-executive producer and Ashley Kliment-Baker is art director.

Share it: @Nickelodeon @NickTheLoudHouse @ParamountPlus #TheLoudHouse

 

About Paramount+:
Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news and a mountain of entertainment. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. The service is also the streaming home to unmatched sports programming, including every CBS Sports event, from golf to football to basketball and more, plus exclusive streaming rights for major sports properties, including some of the world’s biggest and most popular soccer leagues. Paramount+ also enables subscribers to stream local CBS stations live across the U.S. in addition to the ability to stream CBSN for 24/7 news, CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis, and ET Live for entertainment coverage.

For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platforms.

About Nickelodeon:
Nickelodeon, now in its 42nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon is a part of Paramount’s (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment brands.

--------------------

Review: "THE RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD" is Still Alive and Kicking

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 16 of 2022 (No. 1828) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Return of the Living Dead (1985)
Running time:  91 minutes (1 hour, 31 minutes)
MPAA – R
DIRECTOR: Dan O'Bannon
WRITERS:  Dan O'Bannon; from a story by Rudy Ricci, John Russo, and Russell Streiner
PRODUCER:  Tom Fox
CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Jules Brenner (D.o.P.)
EDITOR:  Robert Gordon
COMPOSER:  Matt Clifford

HORROR/COMEDY

Starring:  Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Thom Mathews, Beverly Randolph, Miguel Nunez, John Philbin, Jewel Shepard, Brian Peck, Linnea Quigley, Mark Venturini, Jonathan Terry, Cathleen Cordell, and Allan Trautman

The Return of the Living Dead is a 1985 comedy horror film written and directed by Dan O'Bannon.  The film is indirectly related to the seminal 1968 zombie movie, Night of the Living Dead.  The Return of the Living Dead focuses on a small group of people trying to survive a riot of brain-hungry zombies that are raised from the dead by a strange poison gas.

The Return of the Living Dead opens early on the evening of July 3, 1984 in Louisville, Kentucky.  At the Uneeda Medical Supply warehouse, owner Burt Wilson (Clu Gulager) is leaving work for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, leaving his employee, Frank (James Karen), behind to close-up shop and to also train new employee, Freddy (Thom Mathews).  Frank tries to impress Freddy by showing him some old container drums that the U.S. military mistakenly shipped to Uneeda and are now stored in the warehouse basement.

What Frank does not know is that the drums also contain a toxic gas called “2-4-5 Trioxin.”  Frank accidentally unleashes the toxic gas from one of the tanks, which knocks him and Freddy unconscious.  When the two bumbling employees awaken, they discover that the gas has reanimated a medical cadaver stored in the warehouse's cold locker.  Frank and Freddy call Burt back to the warehouse, but everything they do to solve their “zombie” problem makes matters worse.  That includes asking Ernie Kaltenbrunner (Don Calfa), owner of Resurrection Funeral Home, for help.

Meanwhile, Freddy's girlfriend, Tina (Beverly Randolph), and his friends: Spider (Miguel A. Núñez Jr.), Trash (Linnea Quigley), Chuck (John Philbin), Casey (Jewel Shepard), Scuz (Brian Peck), and Suicide (Mark Benturini), arrive to meet Freddy at his job.  But they don't know what's about to happen at the Resurrection Cemetery, next door.

As long as I can remember, I have read print and online articles and commentary that refer to The Return of the Living Dead as a cult movie.  I never had much interest in watching it.  Over the past year, however, one of my cable movie channels started showing its sequel, Return of the Living Dead II (1988), which I have found to be mildly entertaining.  But that channel never shows The Return of the Living Dead, so after a long stint on the waiting list, I got it from DVD.com (a Netflix company).  Wow!  I wish I had watched it a long time ago.

The Return of the Living Dead is like no other zombie movie.  It is apparently the first to feature zombies that run and also talk.  Its zombies only want to eat the brains of living humans and not the rest of the body.  The Return of the Living Dead's mood and pace are accented by its musical score (by Matt Clifford) and by its soundtrack (which was also released as an album in 1985).  The Return of the Living Dead is a punk rock comedy and rock 'n' roll zombie movie driven by two punk rock sub-genres, “death rock” and “horror punk,” that emerged during the late 1970s and early 1980s.  The songs give the film a freewheeling spirit that carries it through any narrative bumps and inconsistencies.

The film owes much of his identity, spirit, and success to writer-director, the late Dan O'Bannon (1946-2009).  He was one of the most imaginative and genre-busting screenwriters in the history of American science fiction, fantasy, and horror films, writing for such films as Alien (1979) and Total Recall (1990).  O'Bannon produces a film that acts as if it owes nothing to the zombie fiction and horror storytelling that came before it, while gleefully cutting and pasting bits and pieces of American pop culture all over itself.

The casting of this film is an accidental work of brilliance.  All the actors are pitch perfect:  tongue-in-cheek, over-the-top, comically straight, and slyly satirical.  James Karen and Thom Mathews are perfect as Frank and Freddy, respectively, the bumbling employees that release the gas which turns the dead into zombies.  Actor Clu Gulager, who always played the “White Man” boss/leader type, plays Burt Wilson with a artfully satirical edge that is easy to miss.  Linnea Quigley personifies a kind of punk sex goddess and later a deadly sex creature.  As “Spider,” actor Miguel A. Núñez Jr. creates what is one of my favorite male African-American horror movie characters.

The Return of the Living Dead is now one of my favorite zombie films, and perhaps, it is a coincidence that one of my other favorites, George A. Romero's underrated post-apocalyptic jewel, Day of the Dead, was releases the same year, 1985.  [Or maybe something was trying to warn me about the future.]  I highly recommend The Return of the Living Dead (which is available in a “special edition” DVD) and its soundtrack.  This is the most fun I have ever had watching a zombie film … or zombie anything, for that matter.

8 of 10
A

Wednesday, March 23, 2022


The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

------------

-----------------------------------