True story: yours truly has a form of degenerative scloliosis.

Honestly, it sounds worse than it is.  Basically what that means is I have a curvature of the spine which just so happens to be very, very near the base of it (one of the worst places it can be).  What this means is that I have a bad back (not all that uncommon) which like so many my age (don't ask) can get twisted out of whack from the simple task of bending over slightly just to pick up a bag of groceries.  Seriously, one never knows what's gonna cause me some aches and pains; I just have to exercise a bit more care, keep my weight under control, and do the stretches regularly that my physical therapist has recommended to keep me limber and loose.

How did I come by this, you might ask?  Well, I suspect it's partly inherited (others in my family have back issues), and I suspect it's the long-term end result of being left-handed in a right-handed world.  So many of us who are lefties spent the bulk of our childhood being forced to sit in desks designed for right-handed people, meaning we'd have to scrunch sideways in order to write comfortably throughout the K-12 education system.  Some day, I say all of us lefties get together and process a massive class action lawsuit against the world.

In any event, that's not the reason I bring this up.  Where I'm going with this is that I've found over time that it helps to have good shoes: the better support I get while walking and/or standing, the less strain I endure on my lower back.  So I'm used to paying a bit more for my footwear ... but Adidas would have me pay as much not so much for posture as it is to show off my love of the Star Wars franchise!

Just in time for the holidays, Adidas has unveiled their newest assortment of Star Wars themed tennis shoes.  While some of these do look as though they have reasonable support, I'm not all that interested in them myself for the above-stated reason.  I do think some of SciFiHistory.Net's longtime readers might find something for that special someone, if you've got the extra scratch and are looking for gift ideas.  The link to the Adidas website is right here, and I encouraged interested parties to check 'em out.

As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!

I know, I know, I know.  Many folks take issue with my listing what they perceive as Horror releases in this space ... but -- as I've often said -- it's my party and I'll cry if I want to!

Besides, Horror tends to gravitate very very closely to the realm of Science Fiction and Fantasy when it's done right, and that's largely why I've used my control at SciFiHistory.Net to showcase a few of them, especially when they do look to deal more with the Science of Horror, as Sleepless Beauty definitely looks to explore.  It's coming relatively soon to home video, and I thought I'd give it the appropriate shout for those who might be interested in such a diversion.

You'll find the coming attraction below, and you can read the promotional materials right after that.  Be warned: this one looks to be a shock to the senses.  I'm going to see if I can get my hands on a screener copy; if so, I'll definitely be reviewing it in this space.
​

SLEEPLESS BEAUTY tells a twisted story about a young woman, Mila, who is kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as Recreation. Her unknown abductors talk to her through a loudspeaker and set strict rules: she cannot sleep and has to fulfill bizarre and violent tasks if she hopes to stay alive. At first, it looks like someone’s sick idea of entertainment but as the demands become more intense, Mila begins to realize that she is losing control of her own mind and instead, may be a pawn in a twisted and deadly psychological experiment.

SLEEPLESS BEAUTY made its world premiere at the 2020 Imagine Film Festival and was an official selection for the 2020 Sitges Film Festival, 2020 Dead Of Night Film Festival, and 2020 Obscura Berlin Film Festival. SLEEPLESS BEAUTY will be available on VOD + Digital platforms beginning Tuesday, November 10, 2020 and will be available on Blu-ray beginning Tuesday, November 17, 2020. 
​
RT: 84min | Not Yet Rated 
Genre: Horror
Epic Pictures
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epicpicturesgroup
Twitter: https://twitter.com/epic_pictures 
Dread
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dreadpresents  
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dreadpresents 
SLEEPLESS BEAUTY is directed by Pavel Khvaleev. Written by Aleksandra Khvaleeva. Produced by Frank Ellrich, Georgiy Smirnov and Elena Talyanksaya. Cinematography and edited by Khvaleev. A Monomania Films Production. 

​About Epic Pictures
Since the foundation of the company in 2007, CEO Patrick Ewald has grown Epic Pictures into an independent content studio with the mission of delivering the best-in-class genre entertainment “for fans, by fans.” Epic Pictures produces, finances, and distributes approximately twenty-thirty independent genre films a year. In 2013, the company established Epic Pictures Releasing which is its US focused distribution division. In 2017, Epic Pictures acquired the world’s most popular horror website, Dread Central, and launched its unique horror label, Dread, followed by its AVOD channel, DreadTV. In 2019, Epic Pictures started the horror gaming site, DreadXP, with a focus on editorial, reviews, podcasts, and original streaming content. In 2020, DreadXP began a video game publishing division with the launch of The Dread X Collection, an anthology of horror games in collaboration with some of the most innovative developers in the independent gaming space. https://epic-pictures.com/

Like so many men of my generation, I grew up on a steady diet of monster movies.

The monsters didn't have to be big to get my attention.  Sure, Godzilla, King Kong, and the occasional giant lizard grown to stupendous size thanks to exposure to toxic waste were grand, but even the haphazard Bigfoot knock off captured my imagination.  Dracula, the Wolfman, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon deserved my attention as much of those lurking behemoths; and I was only all too happy to provide it when the adventure looked grand in the adverts.

So it is with great pleasure I'm happy to promote Monstrum.  Coming soon to home video via Shudder and RLJE Films, Monstrum looks pretty damn spiffy ... if I do say so myself.  The preview is below, and you'll find the upcoming release information just beyond that.

Enjoy!
​

LOS ANGELES (Oct.. 15, 2020) – RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, along with Shudder, AMC Networks’ premium service for horror, thriller and the supernatural, will release the horror film MONSTRUM on November 17, 2020 on VOD, Digital HD, DVD and Blu-ray.  
 
MONSTRUM stars Hyeri Lee (“Hyde, Jekyll, Me”), In-kwon Kim (C’est Si Bon), Myung-Min Kim (Closer to Heaven) and Woo-sik Choi (Parasite). The film was directed by Jong-ho Huh (Countdown, The Advocate: A Missing Body), who co-wrote the film with Heo-dam. RLJE Films will release MONSTRUM on DVD for an SRP of $27.97 and Blu-ray for an SRP of $28.96.
 
In MONSTRUM, a plague has taken over and fear runs rampant in the streets. When rumors of a vicious monster roaming Mount Inwangsan begin to spread, fear turns into panic. In order to quell the rising hysteria, the King brings his most trusted general out of retirement. Joined by his daughter, his right-hand man, and a royal court officer, the general sets out to find and defeat the mysterious creature.

ABOUT RLJE FILMS
RLJE Films’ recent features include Color Out of Space, based on the classic H.P. Lovecraft story, starring Nicolas Cage and Joely Richardson and written and directed by Richard Stanley; David Ayer’s The Tax Collector starring Bobby Soto and Shia LaBeouf; and The Owners from director Julian Berg and starring Maisie Williams from “Game of Thrones”. Upcoming releases include the critically acclaimed horror film The Dark And The Wicked from Director Bryan Bertino; and Adam Egypt Mortimer’s Archenemy starring Joe Manganiello. us.rljentertainment.com.

ABOUT SHUDDER
AMC Networks’ Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving members with the best selection in genre entertainment, covering horror, thrillers and the supernatural. Shudder’s expanding library of film, TV series, and originals is available on most streaming devices in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. To experience Shudder commitment-free for 7 days, visit www.shudder.com.
​
ABOUT AMC NETWORKS
Known for its groundbreaking and celebrated original content, AMC Networks (NASDAQ:AMCX) is the company behind the award-winning brands AMC, BBC AMERICA, IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv, and IFC Films. Its diverse line-up of popular and critically-acclaimed series and independent films include Killing Eve, Better Call Saul and The Walking Dead, which has been the #1 show on basic cable television for ten consecutive years, as well as Documentary Now!, Brockmire, Love After Lockup, and the films Boyhood, Death of Stalin, and many more. Its original series Mad Men and Breaking Bad are widely recognized as being among the most influential and acclaimed shows in the history of TV. The Company also operates AMC Studios, its production business; AMC Networks International, its international programming business; the subscription streaming services Acorn TV, Shudder, Sundance Now; and UMC (Urban Movie Channel); RLJE Films; and Levity Entertainment Group, the Company’s production services and comedy venues business. For more information, visit http://www.amcnetworks.com.

​

Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek remains one of Science Fiction's richest commodities.  Arguably, it's one of the few franchises that remains as relevant today as it was when it was first launched onto the broadcast dial: granted, it's shape and delivery may have changed ... but would you believe that, perhaps, it's richest behind-the-scenes tale involves one of entertainment's greatest comediennes?

I've known this story for quite some time, and I think it's definitely made the rounds certainly in many quarters which have covered Trek to even to a passing degree.  Still, I happened across this article (link) over the weekend which once more gave credit where credit is due -- Trek's biggest fan in its earliest days was none other than comedy legend Lucille Ball, whose Desilu Studios produced the show.

For those who've never heard it, I won't spoil all of the details (I encourage you to follow the link and read it for yourselves), but -- suffice it to say -- it involves the actress greenlighting both the original pilot as well as its second chance ("The Cage" was found much too cerebral for television executives), and lovely lady even ponied up some of her own money to make that happen.  The rest -- as they say -- is history ... but when our modern era is so replete with focusing on what's wrong in our collective world I thought it worth sharing a bit of positive news when this funny lady did something that, truly, changed the world, even if it was just believing in a little ol' television program.

As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!

Fans of the 1972 SciFi/Drama Silent Running from visionary director and special effects guru Douglas Trumbull have plenty to be excited about as Arrow Video recently announced they'd be pressing a new release of the groundbreaking film for distribution this upcoming November 17th.  I was alerted to the release via an email from one of the company's marketing reps, but the alert contained no specific details -- a must when I'm seeking to publish the product on the MainPage.  This morning, however, I found some of the specs on the web, and I'm doing the requisite copy-and-paste thing below.  Check it out if interested!

​
In 1968, visual effects pioneer Douglas Trumbull (The Andromeda Strain, Close Encounters of the Third Kind) contributed to the ground-breaking special photographic effects of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. Four years later, he stamped his own indelible mark on the science fiction genre with his mesmerising directorial debut – Silent Running.

In the not-so-distant future, Earth is barren of all flora and fauna, with what remains of the planet’s former ecosystems preserved aboard a fleet of greenhouses orbiting in space. When the crews are ordered to destroy the remaining specimens, one botanist, Freeman Lowell (Bruce Dern, The ’Burbs), rebels and flees towards Saturn in a desperate bid to preserve his own little piece of Earth that was, accompanied only by the ship’s three service robots.

Featuring a captivating central performance by Dern, visual effects that rival anything in 2001 and a powerful ecological message, Silent Running is a haunting and prescient sci-fi classic that resonates even more strongly today than it did at the time of its original release.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
–        Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative, approved by director Douglas Trumbull and produced by Arrow Video exclusively for this release 
–        High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray™ presentation
–        Original lossless mono audio
–        Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
–        Brand new audio commentary by critics Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw
–        Original audio commentary by Douglas Trumbull and actor Bruce Dern
–        Isolated music and effects track
–        No Turning Back, a new interview with film music historian Jeff Bond on the film’s score
–        First Run, a new visual essay by writer and filmmaker Jon Spira exploring the evolution of Silent Running’s screenplay
–        The Making of Silent Running, an archival 1972 on-set documentary
–        Silent Running by Douglas Trumbull and Douglas Trumbull: Then and Now, two archival interviews with the film’s director
–        A Conversation with Bruce Dern, an archival interview with the film’s lead actor
–        Theatrical trailer
–        Extensive behind-the-scenes gallery
–        Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Arik Roper
GUARANTEED THROUGH PREORDERS FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Barry Forshaw and Peter Tonguette”

Ah, the Gods!  They can be so cruel.  As if any of us needed yet one more reason to hate 2020, word has come to the Information Superhighway this morning that the lovely Diana Rigg has left us.

The talented actress became 'all the rage' (as it were) for her work aboard the popular Spy/Drama television program of the late 1960's The Avengers, a runaway hit definitely for its time and place.  And perhaps defying the odds over what they say about aging women being able to find little work, Rigg certainly kept busy, though her opportunities definitely turned to more conventional fare.  Still, late in her life, she returned to the world of Science Fiction and Fantasy with a top guest spot aboard HBO's stellar Game Of Thrones, introducing her to a whole new generation of fans.  Those who came to know the lady late in the game?  Do yourself a favor and check out The Avengers, and you'll find something worthy of your undivided attention.  Sure, it may be a bit dated: this can happen to programs which define the era of the conception ... and The Avengers did it stunningly well.

Alas, none of us last forever, though milady certainly gave it an admirable try ...

​May she rest in peace.

​Zombie films have been – and probably always will be – all the rage.
 
I’ve often wondered why.  After all, why would we – as a society – be so obsessed with seeing one cinematic version of our inevitable doom?  It isn’t as if we’re unaware that ‘the big sleep’ is coming for every single one of us, but what is it, specifically, that interests us about plague films?  Could it be that there’s this fear deep down inside of everyone that – as crazy as it sounds – unites all of us, regardless of color or creed?  Is there some latent behavior somehow genetically stitched into the very core of our DNA that makes audiences crave for yet one more glimpse into the darkest fate that awaits us all?
 
Truth: much has been written about this collective fascination with ‘zombiedom’ since George A. Romero’s Night Of The Living Dead reanimated the dead in such a way.  In fact, I’d argue that so much has been said about them that – unlike life itself – the business of plague films has become a vicious circle: a motion picture sparks the public’s interest, which leads to more films, which only leads to more discussion, which only leads to even more films, etc. upon etc. all the way until the undead are practically everywhere.
 
Given the breadth of such interest, I’d imagine it’s very difficult to bring something new to the whole zombie genre … but writer/director Jeff Barnaby and his cast and crew swing away with the release of Blood Quantum, now available on VOD, Digital HD, DVD and Blu-ray (just in time to inspire you for Halloween).  Having seen the film, I wanted to offer a few thoughts about what makes it different than the usual run-of-the-mill ‘living dead’ release.
 
[NOTE: the following review will contain minor spoilers necessarily solely for the discussion of plot and characters.  If you’re the type of person who prefers a review entirely spoiler-free, then I’d encourage you to skip down to the end for the final assessment.  If, however, you are accepting of a few modest hints at ‘things to come,’ then read on …]
 
From the promotional materials: “The indigenous people in the isolated reserve of Red Crow are immune to the zombie plague that has taken over the nation, but that doesn’t mean their lives aren’t at risk.  It’s up to Traylor, the tribal sheriff, to protect the families residing on the reserve and a flood of desperate refugees from the hordes of bloodthirsty, walking white corpses that are closing in.”
​

​I shouldn’t have to recount the sad but true history of what the ‘white man’ has done to the various tribes of Native American Indians throughout the years (rest assured, this review will not devolve into a political commentary as I’m fully capable of separating story from storytelling): Barnaby’s script doesn’t shirk that reality either, and he uses that background largely as ‘beats’ for his various characters.  From what I’ve read, “Blood Quantum” is a controversial and dated method by which government genealogical records determined (theoretically) how much Indian blood a person has.  Simply put, it’s the amount of Native blood in the person, and despite the evidence of its ‘bean-counting’ flaws some tribes still use it to establish citizenship within their ranks.
 
How does this political commentary contribute to the film?
 
As fate would have it, the indigenous people of the Red Crow reservation are immune to this particular strain of the zombie virus.  Where other storytellers might have gotten lost in the obvious political ramifications of that reality, Barnaby really only uses it as a springboard to explore his characters.  Traylor (played by Michael Greyeyes) is the reservation sheriff who has grown hardened over the years having to navigate both sides of the social coin – his own people and the neighboring ‘white folk.’  Joseph (Forrest Goodluck) – one of Traylor’s two sons – is disillusioned the way most normal teenagers are but has found love with Charlie, a white girl who is carrying his unborn child; he acts out his frustration in ways that typical amount to little more than juvenile vandalism.  Lysol (Kiowa Gordon) – Traylor’s other boy – is equally disillusioned but chooses to vent his frustration in potentially more destructive way; it’s clear that he’s the story’s ‘ticking time bomb,’ and he can’t wait to drag his two worlds into confrontation.
 
Still, setting aside Quantum’s social context isn’t all that hard: the core of any good zombie flick is – you guessed it – the thrill ride, and director Barnaby performs masterfully once the end of the world as we know it finally arrives.  Be warned: there’s a bit of a time jump – you can’t fashion all of mankind’s expiration in ninety minutes of film – but the story’s set-up is delivered with an almost Hitchcockian elegance – one most audiences probably aren’t expecting given the rules of the zombie genre.  Quantum is grim, indeed, when and where it needs to be; and that’s all the average viewer truly cares about with quality horror.
 
Now, I’m not above pointing out that Quantum has a few flaws.  Pacing is off just a bit in the second half, and – as characters are stereotypically prone to do in horror films – Barnaby’s make their own share of boneheaded decisions.  Still, as carnival thrill rides go, the film is about as effective as it can be while still relying on its political subtext right up until its last frame.  Don’t let those messages intrude upon your entertainment; don’t ask questions about just where a Native American samurai might come from; and you’re likely to be satisfied with this smaller, quieter, gentler (not) depiction of mankind’s inevitable doom.
 
The verdict?

​Recommended.  Blood Quantum might be one of the more interesting indie-style zombie films I’ve seen to come down the pike: though it moves along at a leisurely pace (unlike its plague-infected undead), it’s exceedingly well made and boasts solid performances from all of its players.  True, it’s a bit uneven at times, neglecting ‘the science’ about where/when the affliction comes from and why it affects only those it does, but – in the end – zombie outbreaks are all about ‘endings’ anyway … and, on that count, it delivers mankind’s finale much better than most.
 
In the interests of fairness, I’m pleased to disclose that the fine folks at RLJE Films provided me with a screener copy of Blood Quantum by request for the expressed purposes of completing this review; and their contribution to me in no way, shape, or form influenced my opinion of it.

Ahem.

I've never understood all of the hate supposed comic books fans have for DC Comics films and/or Zack Snyder in particular.  Rest assured that hate is rampant.  While some of it has been fueled on by offhand comments carelessly made by creative folks before and behind the camera, much more of it seems purely organic, ranging from 'I hate Batman because he's just an insufferably dark character' to 'I hate Superman because he's just an insufferably upbeat character.'  Granted, the caped and cowled men and women within the wider DC Universe don't have the usual snarkyness and/or cynicism commonly associated to comic book characters from other publishers -- attitudes which tend to align with the expectations of comicdom's audience of predominantly younger readers -- but at the end of day aren't they all fictional to begin with and can't we all just get along?

For those who are unclear on the history, Zack Snyder bowed out of production on Justice League (2017) due to a family tragedy, so producers were quick to sign Joss Whedon to climb aboard and finish the feature.  Not happy with what was being done, Whedon crafted his own story and engaged in reshoots in order to meet the deadline ... and the end result was the theatrical release that didn't quite feel organic to some, felt rushed to others, or seemed like a middling effort granted a higher effects budget in order to give it the look and feel the new director wished.  At the time, DC enthusiasts (from what I recall) argued that the film treated too many principles as secondary characters (not necessarily unfounded, but, hey, the script essentially introduced three main players as well as the villain in less than three hours of screentime); and it didn't take long for fans to hypothesize how Justice League would've looked had Snyder been able to complete his version.

For me, Justice League was a good film, flawed in small yet important ways which ended up hampering some of my ability to appreciate it as an introduction to a greater world, the wider universe of DC Comics' characters.  But being a dog older than most, I was thrilled to finally get to see this particular band of heroes up on the silver screen, even if that meant having to accept something that didn't quite feel like it needed all of them around to save the day (my chief complaint with the big finish).  Not every superhero played a part custom fit to his or her speciality -- in fact, I'd argue practically any in the DC pantheon could've been fit into the climax and not a beat would've been missed.  Was it too easy?  Well, yes and no ... it certainly wasn't easy ... it just didn't feel like it needed to be this six instead of any other six ... and I hope you get my point.

Well, prayers have been answered, and fandom is getting what it wanted as Warner Bros., DC, and HBO have teamed up to give Zack Snyder an almost unheard of opportunity: he's completed his version of Justice League, and it'll be streaming for HBO's latest portal -- HBO Max -- in 2021.  As I understand, it'll be released in a miniseries-style format with four one-hour episodes, though I've also read that they're naturally considering other venues to deliver a stand-alone feature worldwide.

Part of me is glad this is happening.

Snyder's Man Of Steel was particular good as it re-introduced Superman to the silver screen in such a way that it didn't quite dismiss the greatness of Superman (The Movie).  Yes, it was a cinematic reboot -- much in the same way any newcomer to the role of Big Blue is -- but it did so in a way that colored within the lines thematically with what had come before.  It didn't escape controversy -- Superman killed Zod in the feature, an action many felt disqualified Snyder's interpretation of the character -- and still I looked on it much like I did Supes' changing of the timeline in the 1978 film, meaning, "Buddy, you're going to pay a price for this that you're not going to like."  Superman II (1980) tweaked that price to be paid, and that Man Of Steel learned he couldn't have his cake and eat it too if he wanted to be mankind's savior.

Likewise, Snyder's Batman V Superman performed in much the same way that late 1970's one-two punch did: Zod's death led to the creation of Doomsday, which inevitably led to the death of our hero, closing the loop in the same way ... actions -- even those of the all-powerful -- come with a heavy, heavy price ... thus making Kal-El sacrifice his own life to save those he loved.

It's this arch I'm curious to see continued with Snyder's new version.

Will it be?

Well ... only time will tell ...

In any event, here's the trailer.  Enjoy!
​

In our ongoing attempt to promote literacy, I found a fabulously-veiled 'think piece' on Screen Rant from the other day which seeks to highlight the very best books available to readers interested in further exploring the genre.

Now as I've often said I'm really not a huge fan of lists, but anything that promotes Science Fiction?  Well, that I'm pretty damn fond of!  I do try to be one of SciFi's biggest advocates on the World Wide Web, even though I, myself, read it sparingly.  (Again, this is not because I don't like it; rather it's because I have about a billion books in my present backlog, and I'm trying to get through as many of them before I shake off the ol' mortal coil as I can.)

Still, lists are useful for comparison's sake.  I'd encourage readers to scan through Screen Rant's accounting if for no other reason than to see how many of them you've either read, are planning to read, or (as is often my case) tried to read but gave up on because the prose either didn't work for you or it was just too darn meaty.  (Be honest: it happens.)

Oh, yeah!  You can access the article right here.

As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!

Yes, I'm one of the merry few who still considers Zombie flicks part-and-parcel of Science Fiction.  Sure, I realize that many of them share far more qualities with traditional Horror films than anything else; yet still I'm hung up on the fact that a virus (or other medical condition) which can reanimate the dead means something to serious aficionados of SciFi, so I'll continue to cover them in my corner of the Information Superhighway.

And based entirely on the prerelease materials Blood Quantum certainly looks like it might be a winner!

I'm happily posting the associated trailer and the prerelease materials provided to me by RLJE Films below.  Those interested should be checking this one out as it looks like the Apocalypse is going to be bloodier than usual.

As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!