Horror, Fantasy & Science Fiction Films
Articles on specific topics of interest
This weeks CFQ Ultra-Lounge podcast features a talk on Dick Smith getting his honorary Oscar for the groundbreaking work he did as one of the greatest make-up artists in the history of the cinema. Cinefantastique Magazine helped paved the way for this award, by devoting a retrospective cover story to Mr. Smith and his (then) …
This year marks Pixar Animation Studios 25th Anniversary, although the core group that went on to form Pixar actually dates back before 1986. Cinefantastique was on the scene to celebrate Pixar’s first major success, TOY STORY in 1995, along with their early triumphs in computer graphics for effects work. As CARS 2 is about to …
Read More “A CFQ Retrospective: Celebrating Pixar's 25th Anniversary”
To celebrate the lasting legacy of Vincent Price in his centennial year, here is a collection of fond memories and a few letters from a selection of his many friends and co-workers. CHRISTOPHER LEE HOUSE OF THE LONG SHADOWS was my last film with Vincent. It was the first time Vincent, Peter Cushing, John Carradine …
Read More “Memories of Vincent Price for his Centennial Celebration”
In 1960 when Roger Corman cast Vincent Price in The House of Usher he never had any thoughts about making a whole series of Poe films, but box-office success quickly changed his mind. As a result, between 1960 and 1965, Corman and Vincent Price went on to make eight films together, which most people agree …
Read More “Roger Corman celebrates Vincent Price's 100th Birthday in St. Louis”
Millions of dollars and years of pre-production planning, filming, and post-production refinement went into the massive sci-fi blockbuster BATTLE: LOS ANGELES, currently storming theaters across the country; only a small fraction of that expense and time was lavished on its pretender, BATTLE OF LOS ANGELES. Arriving on home video today after a March 12 premier on the SyFy Channel, BATTLE OF LOS ANGELES was made by The Asylum, a movie production company known for making “mockbusters” – low-budget films synthesized quickly to capitalize on the release of the larger films they are imitating.
While Universal’s planned version of AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS was being put on hold, I began looking as some of the dates when Lovecraft came up with his classic terror stories. I was rather startled to see that Lovecraft’s work was mostly done in close harmony with the classic era of Hollywood horror in the twenties …
Read More “At the Mountains of Madness: H. P. Lovecraft and Hollywood”
In the history of Cinefantastique Magazine, Sir Cristopher Lee has appeared on our cover three times, surpassed only by Ray Harryhausen. Interestingly enough, all three of the CFQ covers on Lee (Dracula, The Man With The Golden Gun and The Wicker Man), were also the movies that were given the most play in the …
Read More “Supernal Dreams: Sir Christopher Lee receives the BAFTA Fellowship award in London”
On January 30, 2011, iconic – and very prolific – composer John Barry passed away, after being in ill health for some time. He was seventy-seven years old. There is little doubt a great many will be saddened at the loss of one of film’s truly cherished friends. Barry was an emotionally introspective and poetic …
The Green Hornet jumps to the 4-Color world of comic books and investigates other media.
That criminal mastermind of a film programmer, Eddie Muller is presenting 24 films a second… or rather 24 films in ten days, for the ninth annual edition of NOIR CITY taking place at San Francisco’s historic movie palace, the Castro Theatre, from Friday, January 21 through Sunday, January 30. This year’s festival features several Noir …