http://www.terrortrap.com/ Horror Movies and Reviews en-us http://www.terrortrap.com/supernatural70s/manitou/ The perversion of joyful expectations into something frightening was a popular theme in 70’s horror movies, with such diverse examples as Larry Cohen's IT'S ALIVE (1974), Richard Donner's THE OMEN (1976), EMBRYO (1976), DEMON SEED (1977), Cronenberg's THE BROOD (1979), and Ridley Scott's ALIEN (1979). But exploitation director William Girdler's THE MANITOU (1978) is unlike any of them. Adapted from Graham Masterton’s novel of the same name, THE MANITOU is a bizarre tapestry of Native American mysticism, European occultism, over the top special effects, and outrageous set pieces... http://www.terrortrap.com/supernatural70s/manitou/ http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/jimmakichuk/ Canadian director Jim Makichuk has been working in the film business for over four decades. But he's best known to genre fans for helming the snowbound horror Ghostkeeper (1981). In our special interview Nightmare at Deer Lodge, we sat down with Makichuk to discuss the making of Ghostkeeper some 30 years ago, and to explore how its lowkey blend of supernatural and gothic elements came about. Featuring never-before-seen photos and a trailer created by Makichuk exclusively for The Terror Trap, you won't want to miss this one. Reserve a room at Deer Lodge, if you dare... http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/jimmakichuk/ http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/michaelmaclaverty/ Michael MacLaverty is a Genie Award-nominated film editor who worked on a variety of cult favorites including Tanya's Island (1980), Prom Night (1980), The Kidnapping of the President (1980), as well as numerous episodes of the TV anthology series Friday the 13th (1988). But it was MacLaverty's work on the troubled 1983 Canadian slasher Curtains that really interested us. What kinds of footage crossed his desk? What deleted sequences does he remember seeing? How about that alternate ending? All is revealed in our exclusive interview Revisiting Curtains... http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/michaelmaclaverty/ http://www.terrortrap.com/television/frankensteinthetruestory/ Since James Whale’s classic adaptation of Frankenstein (1931), Mary Shelley’s novel of the scientist who creates life -- and pays dearly for it -- has been brought to the big screen countless times, most notably by Universal Studios and Hammer Films. But by the early 1970’s, gothic horror had begun to lose ground to more contemporary settings. Nevertheless, a two part miniseries directed by Jack Smight aired on television in 1973: Frankenstein: The True Story. A handsome period piece, The True Story treats Mary Shelley’s themes and plot developments liberally... http://www.terrortrap.com/television/frankensteinthetruestory/ http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/ovidioassonitis/ For Tentacles, Demons, and a Psycho Twin, we sat down with prolific producer-director Ovidio Assonitis, the man behind such horror delights as the infamous BEYOND THE DOOR (1974) and the all-star underwater terror flick TENTACLES (1977). He also gave us the slasher-giallo hybrid MADHOUSE (1981), the epic sci-fi tinged chiller STRIDULUM (1979), Aldo Lado's superior CHI L'HA VISTA MORIRE? (1972), and the early James Cameron effort PIRAHNA II: THE SPAWNING (1981). Don't miss our exclusive interview with this captivating genre veteran... http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/ovidioassonitis/ http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/mariclarecostello/ For Remembering Jessica we sat down with veteran actress Mariclare Costello and asked her to reminisce about working on the underrated early '70s cult classic Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971). What was it like acting alongside the ever-watchable Zohra Lampert? How did director John Hancock react when Costello refused to kill the mole? Is that really the actress herself singing that folk song? How difficult was it to film those scenes in the lake, rising up like a drowned zombie? What did she think of the other cast members? All is revealed in Remembering Jessica, our exclusive interview with Costello... http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/mariclarecostello/ http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/patcardi/ We wanted to know about the filming of Larry Stouffer's criminally underrated creature feature-cum-slasher hybrid Horror High (1974). So we interviewed actor Pat Cardi and asked him to recall his memories of starring as Vernon Potts, the bullied chemistry nerd who concocts a strange potion which turns him into a bloody killing machine! What's this about extra gore being cut from the murder sequences? How did Cardi get along with his co-stars Austin Stoker and Rosie Holotik? Was Joye Hash for real? All is revealed in...Science Kills!... http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/patcardi/ http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/dianejohnson/ Director Stanley Kubrick was so impressed by Johnson's 1974 novel THE SHADOW KNOWS -- particularly its depiction of a person dealing with irrational occurrences -- that he chose her to write the screenplay for THE SHINING (1980). In this exclusive interview, Johnson recalls her memories of working with the director of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, the challenges inherent in bringing Stephen King's novel to the big screen, and some surprising cuts made to the original ending... http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/dianejohnson/ http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/johnmillscockell/ We wanted to know more about the ominous music used in Roger Spottiswoode's slasher-on-the-rails Terror Train (1980). So we sat down with Toronto film composer John Mills-Cockell and asked him to recall his memories of putting the score together. What instruments were used to create the main titles? How did 20th Century Fox react when they first heard the music? How did Mills-Cockell mimic the chilling sounds of locomotive wheels turning? All is revealed in Scoring Terror Train... http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/johnmillscockell/ http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/rogerspottiswoode/ Grab your Groucho mask, fire up the boiler, and stoke the coals! In a rare interview, we spoke with Roger Spottiswoode, the director of Terror Train (1980). What were Jamie Lee Curtis and Ben Johnson like on the set? Was Terror Train gorier before its theatrical release? What techniques did cinematographer John Alcott use for lighting and shooting? What were the changes between screenplay and film version? Spottiswoode tells us everything in ALL ABOARD...IF YOU DARE!, our exclusive Terror Train retrospective complete with rare stills, a photo gallery, soundtrack clips, and more... http://www.terrortrap.com/interviews/rogerspottiswoode/