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HORROR

CURSED FILMS II: The Wizard of Oz | A Review that takes us down the yellow brick road

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These past few years Shudder has become the number one stop for streaming great horror content. One of the most popular shows on the service has been Cursed Films, a series that examines the many myths, legends, and tales about some of Hollywood’s most iconic horror films and franchises. All of these have had numerous issues prior to and during filming, featuring conversations with cast and crew who were there to witness these tragedies firsthand and some still bear the weight of them to this very day.

Today Shudder releases its anticipated second season as Cursed Films returns with a whole new 5-part documentary focusing on more notoriously “Cursed” productions. When people look at films that are super beloved, and when they hear stories about the difficulties or tragedies that happened on set they then go on to ascribe that production as a “Cursed Film”.

All the films in this new season have a darker thread but Cursed Films 2 gives viewers a great look into the world of factory filmmaking and also an eye-opening dissection of the many deep tragedies of some of Hollywood’s most beloved films.

Episode one of season II takes us further down the yellow brick road than ever before and showcases an emotional, nostalgic, and troubled examination of one of Hollywood’s greatest Achievements, The Wizard of Oz. Released back in 1939 on the cusp of WW2 and post The Great Depression created an illusion of a hopeful, brighter future. It’s a story about good vs evil, wanting more, and longing to go home that features a variety of colourful characters, dazzling effects and a pleasant soundtrack of gleeful songs. To this very day, The Wizard of Oz is still treated as an iconic family film and is preserved in the library of congress in the United States Film Registry for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

Cursed Films II: Episode 1: The Wizard of Oz (© MGM)

But what if I told you that The Wizard of Oz is one of the most infamous cursed films of all time and has been the subject of more speculation as the film suffered from many bizarre, horrific moments during production. Episode 1of Cursed Films II dives into the stories that are outside the box and showcases the good which unfortunately behind the scenes was terrible working conditions and the treatment of its cast. The show ultimately makes it more about the people they’re interviewing and how their experiences have changed them, such as showcasing Judy Garland’s unintentional addiction mirroring her own daughter overcoming hers and the unfortunate event during filming where Margaret Hamilton sustained 3rd-degree burns whilst filming her exit as The Wicked Witch of the West in MunchkinLand and the efforts she took. Hearing her son tell during the interview that she made up a story about dressing up In a Mummy costume for a role so that he wouldn’t be scared when she came home with bandages from the injuries she suffered.

Cursed Films II: Episode 1: The Wizard of Oz (© MGM)

The large portion of the first episode showcases the tarnished legacy surrounding the Munchkin cast as rumours began to pour through Hollywood of drunken and sexual behaviour which was started unintentionally by Garland herself. These words plagued the cast for years and ruined their reputation and turned them into laughingstocks. Throughout the episode, Hollywood and the production are described as a factory with dangerous working conditions due to the ignorance of the studio.

With many of the children of the actor’s being interviewed with their own insights, we also see a Wizard of Oz theme park with character actors who took on these roles after becoming inspired by what they saw growing up. This episode’s roster also includes Mythbusters host Adam Savage and Gregg Turkington, both offering insights into the mysteries of the hanging Munchkin and the make-up poisoning of Jack Haley who was supposed to play the Tin Man.

VERDICT

I’m officially hooked on the returning series it highly produces an examination of the many myths and tales of horror classics with a pure cinematic lense. Director Jay Creel’s second season maintains its focus on the film and its stories.

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HORROR

The Boogeyman | Official Trailer | 20th Century Studios

The Boogeyman is an upcoming American supernatural horror film directed by Rob Savage from a screenplay by Scott Beck, Bryan Woods and Mark Heyman, based on the 1973 short story of the same name by Stephen King.

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Genre:

Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Release Date:

June 2, 2023

Director:

Rob Savage

Cast:

Chris Messina, Sophie Thatcher, David Distmalchian

Plot Summary:

The Boogeyman is an upcoming American supernatural horror film directed by Rob Savage from a screenplay by Scott Beck, Bryan Woods and Mark Heyman, based on the 1973 short story of the same name by Stephen King.

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Entertainment

Olivia Cooke to Play a Nun in Horror Film ‘Visitation’

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Horror has been one of the most profitable genres in recent years due to its low cost to produce scary pics while constantly drawing in audiences. Pair that theory with a fresh star like one from HBO’s House of the Dragon and you might have a hit on your hands. That’s exactly what director Nicolas Pesce (The Grudge, Eyes of My Mother) aims to do with his latest horror film as Deadline is reporting that Olivia Cooke (House of the Dragon, Ready Player One) will lead Visitation

Visitation will follow a 14-year-old girl named Maria who is sent away to live with nuns while her mother is dying of an illness, however, her stay at the monastery quickly takes an eerie turn as one of her caretakers starts to be enamored with her for all the wrong reasons. Cooke is set to play a nun who is central to the story, but further character details are under wraps for now. Cooke will be joined in the film by other cast members Isla Johnston, Alfie Allen, Penelope Wilton and Stephen Rea.

Cooke is best known for her role as Alicent Hightower in the new hit HBO fantasy/drama House of the Dragon. She has also appeared in supporting roles for indies such as Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and Sound of Metal as well as supporting roles in blockbusters such as Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One. Cooke will next appear in the thriller, Mother’s Milk alongside Hilary Swank and Jack Reynor. Alfie Allen is also no stranger to the Game of Thrones universe as he starred as Theon Greyjoy in the HBO series. He most recently appeared in the MGM+ show SAS Rogue Heroes. While Johnston played the younger version of Beth Harmon in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit and Rea most recently appeared alongside Emily Blunt in the Amazon series, The English but is best known for his Oscar-nominated role in 1992’s The Crying Game.

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HORROR

Renfield | Official Trailer | Universal Pictures

Dracula’s henchman and inmate at the lunatic asylum.

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Genre:

Comedy, Fantasy, Horror

Release Date:

April 14, 2023

Director:

Chris McKay

Cast:

Nicolas Cage, Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina

Plot Summary:

Dracula’s henchman and inmate at the lunatic asylum.

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