So many movies ... so little time ...

On this day in 2018 (in the Philippines), Winchester scared audiences silly with its tale of real-life inspiration.  Written (in part) and directed by the team of Michael and Peter Spierig, the film starred Helen Mirren, Sarah Snook, Jason Clarke, and others. 

​According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:

"Ensconced in her sprawling San Jose, California mansion, eccentric firearm heiress Sarah Winchester believes she is haunted by the souls of people killed by the Winchester repeating rifle."

For the record:
Bluntly, Winchester was a bit of a sensation at the 2019 Razzie Awards where the project received nominations (but no wins) in the categories of 'Worst Actress' (Mirren), 'Worst Screenplay,' 'Worst Director,' and 'Worst Picture.'

-- EZ

So many movies ... so little time ...

On this day in 2007 (in Canada and the U.S.), The Messengers delivered its message of pure evil to the cinemas.  Directed by Danny Pang and Oxide Chun Pang from a story by Mark Wheaton and Todd Farmer, the film starred Dylan McDermott, Penelope Ann Miller, and Kristen Stewart. 

According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:

"An ominous darkness invades a seemingly serene sunflower farm in North Dakota, and the Solomon family is torn apart by suspicion, mayhem and murder."

-- EZ

So many movies ... so little time ...

On this day in 1994 (in the U.S.), Trancers 4: Jack Of Swords brought Jack Deth back to theatrical life with its very first home video release.  Directed by David Nutter from a story by Danny Bilson, Peter David, and Paul De Meo, the film starred Tim Thomerson, Stacie Randall, Ty Miller, and others. 

​According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:

"Lost somewhere in the future, lawman Jack learns he's lost his wife to another and lands in a new, dangerous dimension, where evil Lord Caliban rules."

-- EZ

Ach, folks ... this one hurts ...

Growing up when I did, Saturday Night Live was all the rage with my friends (and enemies), but -- for what it's worth -- my closest mates and I were often found guilty on Saturday night staying up late to watch the far better and far funnier SCTV, a comedy import from the Great White North that is Canada.  Not a great deal of my classmates appreciated my humor anyway, so the likes of what came over the airwaves from John Candy, Eugene Levy, Joe Flaherty, Andrea Martin, Rick Moranis, Dave Thomas, and Catherine O'Hara tickled my funny bone in ways that maybe my Cannuck brethren up there understood.  It was goofy funny -- sometimes just plain looney tunes -- but the program and its various characters meant much more to me than just about anything that came out of SNL's glory days.  That's certainly not an insult because I have nothing but respect for the popular NBC line-up of originals: I just didn't laugh as much at their schtick as I did SCTV's, and humor is very subjective anyway.

Because so many of them were part of my formative years, I followed their careers with delight, sometimes being weirdly gleeful when I'd catch them in some American production where they were typically cast as background characters.  Inevitably, they'd wind up stealing damn near every scene they were in; and -- while I celebrated -- those around me couldn't quite appreciate what I found so damn laughably to begin with.  Looking back, it was probably more nostalgia for my youth than it was their work; but that shouldn't be construed to take anything away from any of them.  These folks were genius bit players, and they knew something special about crafting memorable characters.  Not everyone who goes into Comedy -- especially these days -- has those skills; and this is why the line-up meant so much to me.  They knew how to do it to transcend the ages as SCTV is still funny to this day.  If you doubt me, then go and check out those early years wherever you can.  You won't be disappointed.

Argh ...

I just saw word reaching the worldwide web of Catherine O'Hara's passing, and it's heartbreaking.

Yes, many many more readers know her from other work -- Beetlejuice (1988), Home Alone (1990), Waiting For Guffman (1996) -- and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.  As I said, she was an actress unlike so many; and she had the chops to step in to do Comedy and even modest dramatic work with the best of them.  Without a doubt, her time aboard the somewhat ground-breaking Schitt's Creek (2015-2020) but her back on Hollywood's map -- as she enjoyed a good handful of roles in its wake -- and re-introduced the level of zaniness she could bring at the drop of a hat to an all-new audience of untold millions of fans.  (Yes, that show was that popular.)

​Readers are encouraged to check out her IMDB.com profile, and you'll see she raked up a great deal of professional citations -- in various awards categories and programs -- which only underscores how uniquely she did what she did in front of the camera.

Our warmest prayers are extended to the family, friends, and fans of Ms. O'Hara.

May she rest in peace ...

​-- EZ

About Dark Sky Films:
Dark Sky Films, a wholly owned subsidiary of MPI Media Group, is an independent genre film production and distribution label founded in 2008. Dark Sky Films works with emerging talent as well as established veterans to develop, produce and finance feature films and episodic television projects. Representing films from some of most talented directors working today, such as Ti West’s The House of the Devil and The Innkeepers, and Jim Mickle’s Stake Land, Dark Sky continues to identify original talent and projects to bring a vibrant slate of films to the world market, with original productions and releases such as Girl on the Third Floor, We Are Still Here, Deathgasm, Emelie, Catfight, Darlin’, Bliss and most recently, The Dark and 1BR.

Follow us on twitter: @darkskyfilms @mpimediagroup ​

Philadelphia, PA – [January 23, 2026] – Breaking Glass Pictures is excited to announce the upcoming worldwide VOD release of Aliens Uncovered: Invasion, the newest installment in the Aliens Uncovered documentary series. The film will be available on digital platforms beginning January 30, 2026.

Directed, written, and produced by Clive Christopher, Aliens Uncovered: Invasion explores humanity’s ongoing fascination with extraterrestrial life and the possibility of an alien threat. Framed through the Countdown to Contact podcast, the documentary features callers and experts discussing theories of invasion and the controversial 3I Atlas phenomenon—an object some believe could pose a danger to Earth.

As different opinions pour in, the film begins to theorize what such a threat might look like and how first contact could change the very fabric of our existence. Blending speculative science, conspiracy theory, and investigative documentary storytelling, Aliens Uncovered: Invasion invites audiences to question what we truly know about the universe—and what may already be on its way.

“Clive continues to bring a thoughtful and grounded approach to stories about the unknown,” said Rich Wolff, CEO of Breaking Glass Pictures. “Aliens Uncovered: Invasion doesn’t just speculate—it sparks conversation about fear, curiosity, and what it means to look beyond our planet. We’re proud to bring the newest chapter in this evolving series to audiences worldwide.”

Christopher says, ‘Working with Breaking Glass is a true blessing. My growth as a filmmaker is owed to Rich Wolff and Susan Helfrich, who believed in me before I believed in myself. They’ve supported my journey every step of the way and helped me bring these stories to audiences worldwide.’”
— Clive Christopher, Producer, Writer, Director

Aliens Uncovered: Invasion (TV-PG) runs 69 minutes and will be released worldwide in English on January 30, 2026. The film will be available in HD across major digital platforms.

Press Details:

• Official Trailer: Watch Trailer Here
• Poster Art: Official Artwork Here
• IMDb Page: Aliens Uncovered: Invasion IMDb

Production Details:

• Production Year: 2025
• Genre: Documentary, Mystery, Adventure, Educational
• Language: English
• Production Country: US
• Production Company: Golden Record Productions
• Runtime: 69 Minutes

​

So many movies ... so much to celebrate!!!

On this day in 1959 (in the U.S.), the big city of Los Angeles, California played host for the silver screen theatrical premiere of Walt Disney's classic screen Fantasy ... Sleeping Beauty!  Directed by the team of Les Clark, Clyde Geronimi, Eric Larson, Wolfgang Reitherman, and Hamilton Luske from the story by Charles Perrault, the film featured the voice talents of Mary Costa, Verna Felton, Bill Shirley, and others. 

​According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:

"After being snubbed by the royal family, a malevolent fairy places a curse on a princess which only a prince can break, along with the help of three good fairies."

For the record:

• At the 1960 Academy Awards, Sleeping Beauty received a nomination in the category of 'Best Music - Scoring Of A Musical Picture.'
• At the 2009 Saturn Awards, an all-new home video release of Sleeping Beauty received a nomination in the category of 'Best DVD Classic Film Release.'
• In 2019, Sleeping Beauty was inducted into the U.S.'s National Film Registry, the organization which seeks to preserve pictures that have demonstrated a lasting cultural, historical, and aesthetic contribution to the art form.

​
-- EZ