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When Takashi Shimizu remade his 2003, Japanese horror movie Ju-on: The Grudge into the 2004 American horror movie The Grudge, the Japanese director helped solidify the J-horror movement that started in the States with the 2002 remake of The Ring.
Shimizu followed his success with the Grudge by directing 2006's The Grudge 2, but chose just to produce (along with franchise producer Sam Raimi) the direct-to-DVD 2009 sequel, The Grudge 3. While the third installment was a financial success, critics hated it, with one review calling it "an underwhelming cash-in".
Rather than plan another sequel, however, Bloody-Disgusting reports that Raimi's Ghosthouse Pictures is planning another remake of the original Ju-on movie. Whether Shimizu will return for this Grudge is unknown as is whether the latest remake will go straight-to-DVD or have a theatrical run. A third question might be, does anyone want to see another Grudge?
a Flatliners remake and Scary Movie 5 gets screenwriters >> Posted 08.28.11 by Ryan -
It's official: The Weinstein Company is continuing every franchise they own the rights to. After releasing Scream 4 in April, the studio (via their Dimension Films label) is looking to relaunch its remaining franchises, as ComingSoon reports that Halloween 3-D and Scary Movie 5 have both received release dates.
A few years ago, Dimension had started putting together a third installment on director Rob Zombie's Halloween reboot (there was a sequel — 2009's Halloween II), hiring My Bloody Valentine 3-D director Patrick Lussier. Lussier turned to screenwriter, and frequent collaborator, Todd Farmer to write a script for the proposed 3-D sequel, but Dimension halted production in October of 2009.
Last month, Lussier and Farmer publicly admitted that Halloween 3-D was something they wanted to make, but we were waiting for someone to tell them to "go make it." It's unclear whether Dimension will use Farmer's script or whether Lussier will direct, but with a release date of Oct. 26, 2012, for Halloween 3-D it would be surprising to bring on another writer and director. Lussier and Farmer are currently busy preparing a reinvention of the Hellraiser franchise for the studio, but could conceivably start Halloween 3-D once they have finished.
what about Scary Movie 5? >> Posted 06.20.11 by Ryan -
Since actor Leslie Nielsen passed away on Sunday from complications from pneumonia, there has been an outpouring of messages on Twitter and Facebook from actors and directors that knew or were inspired by Nielsen. Most fitting was the tribute written by David Zucker, who, along with brother Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams, co-wrote and co-directed Airplane!, the movie that took Nielsen from being a serious actor and turned him into a go-to comedic one. Zucker said that the trio of directors remembered the actor from his role in 1972's The Poseidon Adventure, where his dramatic work as the captain seemingly made him perfect for the role of Dr. Rumack.
We assured him we wouldn't count this brief comedy experience against him. But when he read the Airplane! script, he "got" its unconventional nature and offbeat style. We heard later that he told his agent, "Take whatever they offer; I'd pay them to do this."
Arguably the best role was that of Dr. Rumack, played by the guy no one wanted or ever suspected would be funny, much less go on to have a second career starring in feature films as a goofball comic. Leslie was great in the role because he never "winked" — let on that he knew he was in a comedy. This was essential to the style, and Leslie had a natural instinct for it.
Nielsen good at making everyone happy >> Posted 11.30.10 by Ryan -
Movies that teach us the true meaning of Christmas via contemporary twists on the Charles Dickens classic, A Christmas Carol, are as common as SUVs at a Hollywood gala to save the environment. But what about movies that teach us the true meaning of God's second favorite holiday, the 4th of July? They're about as common as vegans at a BBQ festival. Hollywood patriot David Zucker will attempt to remedy that with An American Carol, which stars Chris Farley's brother (Kevin P. Farley) as a fictitious version of patriotic scrooge Michael Moore. Based on the trailer, An American Carol isn't going to make anyone forget Scary Movie 5, or whatever edition of that franchise they're up to now, but one aspect of it does make for some interesting debate: Who is wearing more make-up, Kelsey Grammer as the ghost of General George S. Patton or Bill O'Reilly as Bill O'Reilly?
Posted 08.19.08 by reelz