Tag Archives: Guillermo del Toro

Criterion Releasing del Toro’s Frankenstein

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I can’t say I’m surprised to hear the news yesterday that Criterion will be releasing Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein on 4K and Blu-ray this October. They’ve released a lot of his previous films, and have always done such stellar work, so while I’m not surprised, I am damn excited about it. With a planned release on Oct. 27th, the 4K+Blu-ray set will be 4 discs, that will feature 2 versions of the film, both in 4K. It will have the theatrical version on one disc and a new 158-minute extended director’s cut of the film, called Frankenstein: The Reborn Cut, both with Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The Reborn Cut will have a new commentary by del Toro.

Other features on the set include:

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Pan’s Labyrinth Returns to Theaters

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This year is the 20th anniversary of Guillermo del Toro’s film Pan’s Labyrinth, an incredible tale of about a young girl who is battling three different trials in a fantasy world, while dealing with something even more terrifying… reality. Especially when that reality is during war time and your new stepfather is one sadistic SOB. The film won the Academy Award for Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Makeup, and had been nominated for Best Original Screenplay, Original Score, and Best Foreign Language Film. But at the Ariel Awards, Mexico’s Oscars, it won Best Picture, Best Direction, Best Actress (Mejor Actriz – Mercedes), Best Cinematography, Best Score, Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup, and Best Special Effects, and was nominated in three other categories.

So it seems that it wasn’t just me who absolutely loved this film, and it still remains as one of my favorites of del Toro’s work. In fact, I even have the Faun tattooed on my arm, along with the quote from del Toro “Unlike a maze, a labyrinth is a constant transit. It’s about finding, not losing, your way.” Words to remember.

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Double Dose of Frankenstein Soundtrack?

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Even before the movie came out, because I was so excited about it, when Alexadra Desplat’s soundtrack became available on Amazon in a digital format, I bought it. It had 37 tracks with a running time of about 105 minutes. Granted, for a movie almost 2 1/2 hours long, and being del Toro, you know it’s going to have a big score. That is the artwork on the left below.

But about a week ago, I saw they were releasing the actual CD soundtrack, put out by AEC, (pictured on the right below) but even though it is a 2-disc release, it does not have the whole score that I originally purchased on Amazon. This version only has 29 tracks, but it doesn’t list the complete running time, but it looks like it’s about 15 minutes shorter. Not sure why they would do that, but there you have it. If you want the longer score, the digital format might be the only way. They are both showing available on Amazon.

The Thing Expanded

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I know with the amount of attention this has been getting, from all over social media to just the fans aching to see and hear more about not only one of their favorite films, but let’s face it… it’s simply one of the greatest horror films ever made. Am I right? But why this post when everyone in the horror genre already knows about it, possibly even supported the online support process to get your name in the credits as well as some cool additional stuff besides the documentary. Simple. Because we need to remember the fact that upon its initial release, it was hated by most critics and the general public. But us fans… we knew then how fantastic and incredible this film was. And we supported it then and continued to support it until those lame critics faded away, along with those words they wrote some 40+ years ago. Unlike those words, this movie has lasted.

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What a Time to be a Horror Fan

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Horror fans and the Oscars have not had a long and friendly relationship. Over the decades, when some incredible performances have been given out in a wide variety of titles, because they are classified as horror, they usually get passed over. Not always, but in the history of cinema that is well over a century old, let’s face it… traditionally, if it is a horror film, it won’t get nominated besides maybe in makeup or visual effects.

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2025 Year End Review Part 2 – Best Viewings

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And who says there are no good movies coming out these days? For the last couple of years, my Best Viewings of the year have mainly been recent releases, most from that current year. And 2025 was no different. There are 2 from the ’60s, 1 from 2023, 1 from 2024, and the rest from 2025. That tells me a couple of things. That either in past years, I was busy playing catch up with a lot of older great titles that I had never seen before, or that there are some still people out there busting their ass to make some original and entertaining horror films.

I didn’t think I was going to make it, but I set a new personal record for me, barely, but still did it. I manage to knock out 447 films this year, with 209 being new viewings. It sometimes amazes me how many I actually get through each year, but honestly, there are some nights when I can get through 3 movies with no problem. It really has to do with the love of cinema.

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Making of the Descent Book

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Back in 2002, Neil Marshal did something that not many directors could do. And that was getting a film to premiere on the Sci-Fi Channel that was actually a damn good movie! That film was Dog Soldiers. And then, in 2005, he broke another rule by making a movie about spelunking . . . and making it damn good as well! That film was The Descent, which is about a group of women out on a cave exploring vacation that end up not only getting stuck underground but then come across something else living down there.

In 2022, author Janine Pipe gave us Sausages: The Making of Dog Soldiers, but now she is back giving us another book on Marshall’s second feature film, The Descent, this time with Marshall working alongside Pipe. The title is simply called The Making of The Descent and is the definitive book that contains extensive interviews with the cast and crew, with plenty of photographs and illustrations, Marshall’s notes and memories of the film, and much more.

This 176-page hardcover edition will be available in August, being published by Telos Publishing, priced at £34.99, or about $47. For a film that director Guillermo del Toro calls a “bona fide top-tier horror film”, I’m sure this book with be more than worthy of any film fan’s library.

Kudos to Demi Moore!

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During her speech after winning Best Actress at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards last Friday, actress Demi Moore gave praise to her director and co-stars, and her fellow nominees, but also commented on what this film really is saying about the industry, that I truly hope will help in the change that is desperately needed.

She commented on something else that I hope is going to change. She said “I am so grateful, not just for my performance but that you have highlighted this film, this genre. Normally horror films are overlooked and not seen for the profundity that they can hold.”

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