I Am Ali (2014, documentary) - Boxing icon portrayed in affecting, under-appreciated doc.

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A bright and simple poster focused on its subject for Clare Lewins' I Am Ali

Documents the childhood experience of Cassius Clay, which opened him to the world of boxing, covering his charismatic, wild, braggadocio media style, the boldness of his beliefs of protest held against the Vietnam War, which locked him out of the boxing world, his loving, expanding family life, as well as his impact and enthralling light of life.

I Am Ali is written, co-produced and directed by debuting great English filmmaker Clare Lewins (Perspectives (2013, TV-series)).

It is a deeply moving and fascinating documentary with fantastic sound recordings of Cassius Clay/Muhammed Ali's own making from back in the 1970s as well as interviews with a wealth of richly vivid intimate sources from high and low in society. Ali's warm humanism and grand persona, - one of the greatest of US history and the 20th century, - make this a film not to miss. Outstanding.

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: Unknown

Box office: In excess of 7k $

= Uncertain (projected return of 0.1 times its cost)

[I Am Ali was released 10 October (Germany, USA) and runs 111 minutes. Shooting took place in England, including in London, England, New York, Kentucky, Washington, Los Angeles, California, Chicago, Illinois and in Las Vegas, Nevada. The film only grossed 7k $ in 11 theaters in North America over the course of 2 weeks. Its grosses in its other theatrical release markets Germany, the UK and Ireland are unreported online. If a larger amount in grosses is presumed there with a final gross of 50k $, the film would rank as a box office disaster if made at a small cost of 0.5 mil. $. The-numbers.com estimates that the film additionally made at least 279k $ on the North-American home video market. Lewins has since only returned with a TV movie and a video. I Am Ali is fresh at 65 % with a 6.00/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of I Am Ali?

The In-Laws (2003) - Fine cast fuel amusing hijinks in under-appreciated remake

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A festive matrimonial gathering of Hollywood stars make up the poster for Andrew Fleming's The In-Laws

A young couple are getting married, and their parents are finally about to meet: But her foot doctor father and his CIA hotshot father get closer to each other than anyone could have guessed on this eventful weekend.

 

The In-Laws is written by Nat Mauldin (Downtown (1990)) and Ed Solomon (Charlie's Angels (2000)) and directed by Andrew Fleming (Bad Dreams (1988)). It is a remake of Andrew Bergman's same-titled 1979 action comedy hit.

The poster makes the film look like a Meet the Parents (2000) style romcom, but this is more of a buddy-tasting action comedy. Being unfamiliar with the original film is not a handicap in this case and may even be advisable. I found myself easily let along by the charming stars: Albert Brooks (The Scout (1994)) as the neurotic scaredy cat doctor, and Michael Douglas (Traffic (2000)) as the nonchalant, 'I-can-do-anything' type are both well-cast, share chemistry and are genuinely funny together. Brooks' scenes with David Suchet (Effie Gray (2014)) as Jean-Pierre (among other things appearing in a red thong!) are also a hoot. With Candice Bergen (Rules Don't Apply (2016)) as heavily combated ex-wife, and Ryan Reynolds (6 Underground (2019)) with strangely over-plucked eyebrows as the cute son getting married. 

The In-Laws doesn't take itself seriously but it is a bowl of laughs, while it also trails around admirably as a kind of fun field trip, particularly for fans of its two seasoned, headlining stars.

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: 40 mil. $

Box office: 26.8 mil. $

= Huge flop (returned 0.67 times its cost)

[The In-Laws premiered 19 May (USA) and runs 98 minutes. Shooting took place from June - August 2002 in California, including in Los Angeles, in Chicago, Illinois and in Ontario, including in Toronto. The film opened #5, behind fellow new release Bruce Almigthy and holdover hits The Matrix Reloaded, Daddy Daycare and X2: X-Men United, to a 7.3 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it left the top 5 in its 2nd weekend and grossed 20.4 mil. $ (76.1 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Italy with 1.2 mil. $ (4.5 %) and Spain with 777k $ (2.9 %). Roger Ebert gave it a 2/4 star review, translating to 2 notches under this one. Fleming returned with 3 TV credits prior to his theatrical return, Nancy Drew (2007). Douglas returned with a voice performance in Freedom: History of US (2003, TV-series) and theatrically in The Sentinel (2006); Brooks in Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005). The In-Laws is rotten at 33 % with a 5/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The In-Laws?

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete (2013) - Tillman Jr. directs under-appreciated social realism gold

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Two boys in an urban landscape with looming, oversized adults hovering around them make up this poster for George Tillman Jr.'s The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete

Mister has to take the 8th grade again, but he gets a larger problem this summer, when his mother, who is a heroin-addicted prostitute, is removed from his life, and he does his best to survive, along with his friend from the hood, Pete.

 

The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete is written by Michael Starrbury (When They See Us (2019, miniseries)) and co-produced and directed by Wisconsinite master filmmaker George Tillman Jr. (Scenes for the Soul (1995)), whose 6th feature it is.

The film is a kind of modern day US version of Oliver Twist, though without a Fagin (the classic Dickens' novel's iconic villain.) Instead the fault for the childhood misery laid out here, - which seems at least as grueling as in that 19th century, London-set novel, - is shared by many characters and a surrounding society at large, which - despite incredible wealth - allows itself to let children be abandoned in dire circumstances. Another obvious comparison would be to Lee Daniels' Precious (2009), but unlike that great drama, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete has no escapist insert montages but rather remains at all times in the present predicament of its two boy protagonists. When they meet hunger, addiction and rows of disappointments, it could have made the film unbearable, - and it is completely engulfing to be sure, - but the charisma and drive of the Mister character, and the way he manages so bravely keep himself above water ultimately makes the journey bearable and ultimately deeply moving. Skylan Brooks (Empire (2018-20)) is tremendous in the role, while the precocious Ethan Dizon (Avengers: Infinity War (2018)) as Pete gives one of those kinds of child performances, which is in no way faultless or seamless but is nevertheless priceless, because Dizon puts all of his wonderful being so forcefully into the work. The two are supported by Jennifer Hudson (Sing (2016)), outstanding as Mister's mother, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Wetlands (2017)) as the tough cop, who shares the film's golden nugget lines in a teary scene, and The Wire's Julito McCullum (Will You Marry Me (2024)) as a mean kid from the block.

This is an angry film about the failures of the projects, - both internally and as they relate to the American urban centers and the country. The score (by Mark Isham (Blacklight (2022)) and Alicia Keys (The Secret Life of Bees (2008, actress))) is engaged and well-made, and the direction is a role-model expedition in social realism. The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete is a humbling film in the best possible ways.

 

Related posts:

 

George Tillman Jr.: 2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III]
2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED II]
2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I]
2010 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess  

Faster (2010) - Tillman Jr., the Gayton brothers and Johnson sculpt a fantastic action movie 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: Reportedly 3 mil. $

Box office: 506k $

= Box office disaster (returned 0.16 times its cost)

[The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete premiered 25 January (Sundance Film Festival) and runs 108 minutes. Shooting took place from July - August 2012 in New York. The film opened #24 to a 254k $ first weekend in 147 theaters in North America, its peak in the market, where it grossed 496k $ (98 % of the total gross). Its only other recorded market was South Africa. The-Numbers.com estimates that the film also made 330k $ on the domestic home video market. It was nominated for an Independent Spirit award. Tillman Jr. returned with The Longest Ride (2015). Brooks returned in Oliver, Stoned. (2014); Dizon in Sullivan & Son (2013, TV-series) and theatrically in Bad Words (2013). The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete is fresh at 84 % with a 6.90/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete?

The Indian in the Cupboard (1995) - Oz and Mathison create profound family magic

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A pintsized Indian stands erect in a boy's hand palms on this imagination-teasing poster for Frank Oz's The Indian in the Cupboard

Omri is a boy who lives with his parents and two brothers in New York, and on his ninth birthday he receives a cupboard with magic properties: It turns a plastic Indian toy into a real, live, miniature Indian!

The Indian in the Cupboard is written by Melissa Mathison (The Black Stallion (1979)), adapting the same-titled 1980 children's novel by Lynne Reid Banks (Bad Cat, Good Cat (2011)), and directed by English-born American master filmmaker Frank Oz (The Dark Crystal (1982)), whose 7th feature it is.

An imaginative, fantastical story, perfectly adapted by glorious Mathison and directed impeccably by Oz in what is likely his best picture. The Indian in the Cupboard is irresistible.

The actors portraying the family and the child actors are natural, and Hal Scardino (Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)) as Omri is enormously good, especially his whispering intonations to his 'creations'. Litefoot (Adaptation. (2002)) as the Indian, David Keith's (Heritage Falls (2016)) cowboy and Steve Coogan (The Lost King (2022)) as a World War I medic are all outstanding. The film is well-acted all the way around, elegant and shot (by Russell Carpenter (Avatar: The Way of Water (2022))) and scored (by Randy Edelman (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008))) without ostentation. The narrative tickles our conventional expectations and instead gives us a deep tale (not unlike Harold Ramis' comedy masterpiece Groundhog Day (1993)) with themes of childhood, respect for life, racism and death. The Indian in the Cupboard is moving and unique.

 

Related posts:

Frank Oz:  Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) - Despite stale romance and Anakin, Episode II excites (voice actor)
1999 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess 

Bowfinger (1999) or, Making Chubby Rain  

In & Out (1997) or, Come Out and Dance 

 

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 45 mil. $

Box office: In excess of 35.6 mil. $ (North America alone)

= Uncertain but likely a big flop (projected return of 1.22 times its cost)

[The Indian in the Cupboard was released 14 July (North America) and runs 96 minutes. Shooting took place from July - October 1994 in California, including in Los Angeles, and in New York.The film opened #6 to a 7.7 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it grossed 35.6 mil. $. The foreign gross numbers are regrettably kept hidden away somewhere, but a likely projection would be a 55 mil. $ final gross, which would rank the film a big flop. Roger Ebert gave it a 2/4 star review, translating to 4 notches under this one. Oz returned with In & Out (1997). Scardino returned in Marvin's Room (1996). The Indian in the Cupboard is fresh at 70 % with a 6.40/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Indian in the Cupboard?

Inferno (1980) - Argento's satanic, New York-set nightmare masterpiece

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A fashionably colored skull outline with a seductive woman's lips and jaws in a sea of black makes up most of this most elegant poster for Dario Argento's Inferno

A music student pursues tracks from his sister's mysterious disappearance in New York, just after being near to an equally mysterious double homicide in Rome, his place of study.

 

Inferno is written and directed by Italian master filmmaker Dario Argento (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage/L'Uccello dalle Piume di Cristallo (1970)), whose 7th feature it is. Dardano Sacchetti (Turbo (2000, TV-series)) and co-writer/co-star Daria Nicolodi (Suspiria (1977)) contributed uncredited contributions, and the story is inspired by Thomas De Quincey's (Lake Reminiscences (1834-40)) Suspiria de Profundis (1845). It is the second film in Argento's Three Mothers trilogy, also consisting of Suspiria (1977) and Mother of Tears/La Terza Madre (2007).

It is a fantastical, dream-like horror. Its opening scenes in a largely deserted New York City are unforgettable, and so are several incredible scenes later on. The Verdi scene in Rome and the cat drowning scene in Central Park must be called out as among the film's highlights.

Beautifully, atmospherically lit, and designed with exemplary effects, Inferno is memorable as a surrealist, sensually dense, deeply cinematic descent into the dark hell of our subconscious. It is among Argento's best, an unavoidable, strange and wild horror classic.

 

Related posts:

Dario Argento: The Phantom of the Opera/Il Fantasma dell'Opera (1998) - Argento's Leroux adaptation is a kicker mostly for stout fans 

Demons/Dèmoni (1985) or, Cinema of Death! (co-writer/producer)

Dawn of the Dead (1978) or, Mall of Death! (co-composer)

The Cat O'Nine Tails/Il Gatto a Nove Code (1971) - Solid genetics-themed giallo murder puzzle 

The Bird With the Crystal Plumage/L'uccello Dalle Piume di Cristallo (1970) - The great debut giallo of Dario Argento

Documentary about Dario Argento: An Eye for Horror (2002) - Bio. doc. of Dario Argento 

 

 

Watch a modern-made trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 3 mil. $

Box office: In excess of 1.6 mil. $ (Italy only)

= Uncertain but likely a huge flop (projected return of 0.66 times its cost)

[Inferno was released 7 February (Italy) and runs 107 minutes. Shooting took place from May - September 1970 in Rome, Italy and in New York. Argento became ill with hepatitis during the shoot. The film was commissioned after Suspiria's success, but new Fox management saw no quality in the endeavor and the film reportedly only had a tiny release in North America. The gross numbers, except for Italy, where the film was popular, are regrettably not reported. Only 1,126 paid admission in Denmark. With a projected final gross of 2 mil. $, the film would rank as a huge flop. Argento returned with Tenebrae (1982). Eleonora Giorgi (SoloMetro (2007)) returned in Mia moglie è una Strega (1980); Leigh McCloskey (Bones (2011, TV-series)) in Hart to Hart (1981, TV-series) and theatrically in Hearts and Armour (1983); and Alida Valli (La Bocca (1991) in L'eredità della Priora (1980, miniseries)), Verso l'ora Zero (1980, TV movie) and theatrically in Aquella Casa en las Afueras (1980). Inferno is fresh at 63 % with a 5.70/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Inferno?

The Promotion (2008) - Conrad's under-appreciated supermarket comedy

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+ Best Box Office Disaster of the Year + Best Comedy of the Year 

 

A tense stand-off in an office between two famous funny-men make up this poster for Steve Conrad's The Promotion

Doug is told that he is a 'shoe-in' for the open position of store manager of a large, newly opened Donaldson's grocery store, - but then the Canadian wildcard Richard enters the equation...

The Promotion is written and directed by great Floridian filmmaker Steve Conrad (Lawrence Melm (2004)).

Seann William Scott (Mr. Woodcock (2007)) gets totally free of the shadow of his goofy American Pie (1999; 2001; 2003; 2012) stardom here and is brilliant as an insecure, worried boss-to-be, and John C. Reilly (Dark Water (2005)) is incredibly funny as the imbecile Canadian competition with self-help audio in his ears. With a terrific supporting cast, this is a rare workplace comedy that's really good and hilarious. It challenges the power of the promotion for the regular Joe and succeeds handsomely with plenty of laughs at the expense of the often politically incorrect reality.

 

Related posts:

 

Steve Conrad: Wonder (2017) - Remember napkins for Chbosky's heart-warming family drama (co-writer)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) - Stiller's sweet, visually splendid Christmas present (writer) 

2008 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED III] 

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) - Two Smiths inspire hearts and minds in true-story drama (writer)

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 8 mil. $

Box office: 457k $

= Box office disaster (returned 0.05 times its cost)

[The Promotion premiered 9 March (South by Southwest Film Festival, USA) and runs 86 minutes. Shooting took place around July 2006 in Chicago, Illinois. The film opened #46 to a 30k $ first weekend in 6 theaters in North America, where it peaked at #22 and in 81 theaters, grossing 408k $ (89.3 % of the total gross). The film only has two other recorded markets, (it was also released theatrically in Portugal but the result goes unreported.) Germany with 33k $ (7.2 %) and Singapore with 15k $ (3.3 %.) Roger Ebert gave the film a 2/4 star review, translating to 3 notches under this one. Conrad has not returned with a feature as a director since, instead directing some TV and more turning towards writing. Scott returned in Role Models (2008); Reilly in The Simpsons (2008, TV-series) and theatrically in Step Brothers (2008). The Promotion is rotten at 55 % with a 5.90/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of The Promotion?

Prozac Nation (2001) - Ricci and Lange are stellar in wrongfully discarded depression drama

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Star Christina Ricci lying naked in white sheets make up this poster for Erik Skjoldbjærg's Prozac Nation

The true story of Elizabeth Wurtzel, a young American woman from a torn home, who goes to Harvard to study, which escalates her emotional chaos.

Prozac Nation is written by Frank Deasy (Captives (1994)), Larry Gross (Gunshy (1998)) and co-writer/co-producer Galt Niederhoffer (10 Things We Should Do Before We Break Up (2020)), adapting Elizabeth Wurtzel's (Bitch (1998)) same-titled 1994 memoir, and directed by great Norwegian filmmaker Erik Skjoldbjærg (Insomnia (1997)).

It is an impressively well-written adaptation of the bestselling story of Wurtzel's personal battle with depression and pill addiction, among other things. It lives and breathes due especially to the strong performances of Christina Ricci (Miranda (2002)) and Jessica Lange (Tootsie (1982)) as Wurtzel and her mother, respectively, but also Michelle Williams (Certain Women (2016)) and Jason Biggs (American Pie (1999)) are good in it.

A series of visual finesses are utilized neatly in this very realistic and painful tour of what family-driven depression can look like. Not a light dish or one that will appeal broadly but a great drama nonetheless.

 

Watch a trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 9 mil. $

Box office: 129k $ (Norway alone)

= Box office disaster (returned 0.02 times its cost)

[Prozac Nation premiered 8 September (Toronto International Film Festival) and runs 95 minutes. Ricci was paid 1 mil. $ for her performance. Shooting took place from May - July 2000 in Vancouver, British Columbia, and in Massachusetts, including in Boston. The film was acquired by Miramax for release following its Toronto premiere, but the company soured at it in the months and years to follow and only released the film in North America in 2005 on the Starz network. The film did have a theatrical release in a handful of other minor markets, including Skjoldbjærg's native Norway, where it made its likely biggest earning, 129k $. A projected total gross of 200k $ would mean that the film returned 0.02 times its cost theatrically. Skjoldbjærg returned with Skolen (2004, TV-series) and theatrically with En Folkefiende (2005). Ricci returned in The Laramie Project (2002, TV movie) and theatrically in Pumpkin (2002); Lange in Normal (2003, TV movie) and theatrically in Masked and Anonymous (2003). Prozac Nation is rotten at 28 % with a 4.70/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Prozac Nation?

Orgazmo (1997) - Has you writhing with laughter

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A German Shepherd humps the title character's leg and thereby effectively sets the tone on this poster for Trey Parker's Orgazmo

A good young Mormon male gets astray and involved in a porno in Los Angeles, which puts his value system to the test.

 

Orgazmo is written, directed and co-edited by Trey Parker (Cannibal! The Musical (1993)), who also stars as Joe Young, the Mormon in question, who becomes Orgazmo. Matt Stone (South Park (1997-)) co-produced, contributed uncredited writing and also co-stars as 'Dave the photographer'.

The film is surprisingly well-crafted and far from the trash one might suspect given the title and obviously low budget. The film takes the piss out of Mormons, the porn industry and superhero movies (Batman & Robin in particular.) It is crude and liberal-minded but never mean, and there's a great amount of energy in front of and behind the camera all the way through. Everyone acts with a passionate drive: Especially worth pointing out are Parker and Robyn Lynne Raab (Hey Dude (1990, TV-series)) as his fiancée Lisa, Michael Dean Jacobs (The King of Queens (2003, TV-series)) as porn producer villain Maxxx Orbison as well as Stone. Even real-life porn star Ron Jeremy (Northern Sights (2000)) is good.

The effects and fights are awful, - but they're also supposed to be. Parker and Co. get so much, - and so many laughs, most importantly, - out of precious little here. Hooray for Orgazmo!

 

Parker and others from the cast give an interview about the film here

Cost: 1-1.3 mil. $ (different reports)

Box office: 647k $

= Huge flop (returned approximately 0.56 times its cost)

[Orgazmo premiered 6 September (Toronto International Film Festival) and runs 94 minutes. Shooting took place from February - March 1997 in Los Angeles, California. The film opened #18 to a 210k $ first weekend in 94 theaters in North America, where it grossed 602k $ (93 % of the total gross). It was released in a handful of other markets. The-numbers.com alleges that it made only 45k $ internationally, but that it has also made 334k $ on its domestic Blu-ray release (many years later). Roger Ebert gave it a 0.5/4 star review, translating to 4 notches under this one. Parker returned with Master P: Kenny's Dead (1998, music video) and theatrically with South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999). As an actor he returned in BASEketball (1998). Orgazmo is rotten at 48 % with a 4.90/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Orgazmo?

One Night at McCool's (2001) - Stars shine in Zwart's under-appreciated farce

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Liv Tyler will catch most people's attention, lounged forward showing cleavage in a jaguar-patterned dress on this poster for Harald Zwart's One Night at McCool's

Buxom beauty Jewel wrecks havoc on several men's lives in connection to one fateful night at McCool's.

 

One Night at McCool's is written by Stan Seidel (True Colors (1991-92)) and directed by great Dutch filmmaker Harald Zwart (Hamilton (1998)).

It is a hilarious farce, which interweaves one out there cliche to the next in an inventively written and clever script. There's a colorful team of characters, good pacing and cool music, (a Johnny Cash song and a rad shooting in the end to The Village People are highlights.)

A fantastic cast really kicks butt here: Michael Douglas (Summertree (1971)) wins just by the hairpiece he dons here alone as a hitman but of course the legend backs it up with gusto; Liv Tyler (Silent Fall (1994)) is gorgeous and extremely sexy; John Goodman (Argo (2012)) is wonderful as a religious policeman; Paul Reiser (Red Oaks (2014-17)) plays a lawyer with a gigantic ego; and Richard Jenkins (The Mod Squad (1999)) is a bowl of laughs as a Catholic priest.

 

Watch Zwart and Tyler in the latter's hair, makeup and wardrobe test for the film here

 

Cost: 18 mil. $

Box office: 13.5 mil. $

= Huge flop (returned 0.75 times its cost)

[One Night at McCool's premiered 19 April (UK) and runs 92 minutes. Shooting took place from August - November 1999 in California, including in Los Angeles. The film opened #11 to a 2.5 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it grossed 6.2 mil. $ (45.9 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 1.8 mil. $ (13.3 %) and France with 483k $ (3.6 %). Roger Ebert gave it a 2.5/4 star review, translating to 2 notches under this one. Zwart returned with Hamilton (2001, miniseries), A-ha: Forever Not Yours (2002, music video) and theatrically with Agent Cody Banks (2003). Tyler returned in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001); Matt Dillon (The House That Jack Built (2018)) in Deuces Wild (2002); and Douglas in Don't Say a Word (2001). One Night at McCool's is rotten at 33 % with a 4.80/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of One Night at McCool's?

Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982) - Evil masks ravage in Wallace's under-appreciated horror

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Eeriness abounds on this poster for Tommy Lee Wallace's Halloween III: Season of the Witch

Evil Halloween masks threaten national security, and only one cop is on the right track!

 

Halloween III: Season of the Witch is written and directed by debuting Tommy Lee Wallace (Baywatch (1989, TV-series)), with John Carpenter (Escape from L.A. (1996)) and Nigel Kneale (Quatermass 2 (1957)) contributing uncredited writing. It is the third entry in the Halloween franchise (1978-) and the only entry not featuring slasher boogeyman Michael Myers.

Tom Atkins (Masquerade (1983, TV-series)) is good as the protagonist cop. Though Myers is entirely absent, and the story has no connection to preceding or later Halloween movies, the feeling of dread is clear and present in Halloween III: Season of the Witch, which is an effective, infernal b-movie horror of its very own ilk.

 

Related posts:

 

Halloween franchise: Halloween (2007) - Zombie's remake is a bloody stinker  

Halloween H20/Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) - Myers spreads fresh terror in Miner's fine sequel 

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988) - Myers returns for dull slasher 

Halloween (1978) - Carpenter's haunting slasher classic

 

Watch a VHS trailer for the film here

 

Cost: 2.5 mil. $

Box office: 14.4 mil. $ (North America only)

= Some uncertainty - but at least a huge hit (returned 5.76 times its cost in North America alone)

[Halloween III: Season of the Witch was released 22 October (North America, Turkey) and runs 98 minutes. The original Halloween's writers Carpenter and Debra Hill envisioned Season of the Witch as the first film to turn Halloween into an annual anthology horror franchise, each with a wholly fresh plot and characters. Kneale had his name removed from the credits, because executive producer Dino de Laurentiis insisted that more gore be added to the script. Joe Dante dropped out of directing shortly before production to work on his segment in Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983), and Wallace was consequently hired. Shooting took place from April 1982 - ? in California, including in Los Angeles. The film opened #2, behind fellow new release First Blood, to a 6.3 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent one more weekend in the top 5 (#2) and grossed 14.4 mil. $. Regrettably the film's international gross numbers are not made public. It is the lowest-grossing in the Halloween franchise, and this fact turned the filmmakers and studio heads to the opinion that all future Halloween movies must center on slayer Michael Myers. Roger Ebert gave the film a 1.5/4 star review, translating to 3 notches under this one. Wallace returned with The Twilight Zone (1985-86), Max Headroom (1987, TV-series) and theatrically with Aloha Summer (1988). Atkins returned in 6 TV credits prior to his theatrical return in The New Kids (1985). Halloween III: Season of the Witch is rotten at 41 % with a 4.90/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

 

What do you think of Halloween III: Season of the Witch?