Tag Archives: ernest borgnine

Escape From New York (1981)

04 Tuesday Oct 2016

Posted by in John Carpenter

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THIS DYSOPTIAN VIEW of a troubled America, where crime rate has risen to 400% is the setting of our sixth instalment of the John Carpenter Early Years discussions on Surgeons of Horror.

It would mark a massive turning point in Carpenter’s career where he would stride onto iconic movies such as The Thing, They Live, and Big Trouble in Little China.

It would also prove fruitful for its lead star, Kurt Russell taking on Snake Plissken, a character that has stamped itself into film legend, such is the power of his presence on screen.

It’s setting of the President of the USA (Donald Pleasance) being jettisoned onto Manhattan Island after Air Force One is hijacked, the island in question has been transformed into a giant prison, (Think Alcatraz but on a much larger scale) tips this adventure into an adrenaline-fuelled ride. Even more so, with Plissken’s life is on the line. If he doesn’t retrieve the President in time, the toxins in his system will be released, killing him in the process.

So many things went right for Carpenter in the making of this movie. The ensemble cast all look there having a breeze and produce some memorable characters,

And the film crew, most of whom had been working alongside Carpenter since Assault On Precinct 13 / Halloween have certainly found there stride at this point.

All of which made our podcasts discussions on Escape From New York, such a fun one to take part in.

Check out what we had to say below.

Deadly Blessing (1981)

07 Tuesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Wes Craven

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DEADLY BLESSING IS ONE of those movies that appear to have fallen completely off the radar. Craven himself has stated that whenever he mentioned this being one of his movies, he was met with blank stares.

It seems fairly odd that this would occur as Craven’s profile would grow, and it stars Sharon Stone in her first speaking role in a movie, but perhaps when put into connection with the negative reviews that the film would receive at the time coupled with Ernest Borgnine (Escape From New York, The Wild Bunch) getting a “Razzie” nomination for Worst Supporting Actor for his efforts.

Upon review the critical response feels a little harsh.

So, why the negativity?

Well, a lot of it has to do with the strong religious message that is firmly stamped all over it, with Borgnine’s character, Isaiah preaching the word throughout the entire movie.

When you look past this though there are some elements that prove fruitful and there’s enough ticking along to keep you wondering who or what is behind the foul play that is taking place.

And for keen horror enthusiasts there is a lot at play here that would feel familiar to Wes Craven’s A Nightmare On Elm Street in some of the shots that he would produce.

Most notably in the bath scene when a snake protrudes from between Martha’s legs ala Freddy’s glove. Although in this instance it’s a far more phallic image.

The cast pulls off a fairly adequate performance with Maren Jensen known for her role as Athena in the original Battlestar Galactica. Taking on the lead heroine, Martha.

Stone’s performance is also notable, but perhaps more so for the scene in the barn, which creates enough ambience to feel sinister and certainly feels as though Arachnophobia lifted a few shots and ideas from this scene.

Craven regular (Michael Berryman) also makes an appearance as William.

The movie certainly doesn’t deserve to be admonished and definitely warrants a viewing.

With old horror movies providing Hollywood execs with source material, Deadly Blessing has the chops to be revisited.

Check out the surgeons of horror podcast below for more thoughts and views.

https://player.whooshkaa.com/player/episode/id/98476?visual=true

Also available in iTunes.

– Paul Farrell