Every now and then, a movie comes along that truly becomes a cult phenomenon. And over the last few years, it’s hard to remember one that has inspired as feverish a following as “Trick R Treat,” the much-buzzed-about horror flick that finally premieres on DVD this week after nearly a three-year delay.

“Oh, it’s been longer than that, actually. I could go all the way back to 1996 if I wanted to,” laughed writer/director Michael Dougherty (“X2”) when we spoke to him Tuesday. “The film was inspired by an animated short I did in school called ‘Season’s Greetings,’ and it was an old-school, traditionally animated short…it was the first place where I featured the mascot for the film, Sam. That film became a calling card, and then in 2001 I decided to make a companion piece to Carpenter’s ‘Halloween’ film…off and on between 2001 and 2006, there were multiple drafts. Then we finally got the greenlight in 2006.” Read more...

Just as everyone has an opinion, a favorite meal and a nose — albeit a fake one at times — so too does everyone have a birthday. Even celebrities. Here at Birthday Bash, it’s my mission to salute the fine actors, filmmakers and other Hollywood heroes that are celebrating their special day this week. After all, it’s cheaper than mailing a cake.

This week, Birthday Bashers will catch the train leaving Platform 9 3/4 heading for the Cave of Wonders, battling blood-sucking vampires along the way. Or maybe we're just celebrating some actors who've done that dirty work for us. Either way, let's get to the party! Read more...

Walking down the street a couple weeks ago I passed a poster promoting something called the “Vampire Rights Amendment.” Maybe you did, too. It didn’t register at first -- living in New York, one grows accustomed to all sorts of civic grievance. The next time I encountered one of these posters, though, I went home and looked up the VRA online, and was, first of all, surprised to find it online, and then to discover that it was part of an elaborate, under-the-radar ad campaign for an upcoming cable series called “True Blood.” Okay, I was roped in.

I’ve since acquired the first two episodes of the show, and a considerable amount of obscure information related thereto. “True Blood” is drawn from the eight “Southern Vampire Mysteries” written by Mississippi novelist Charlaine Harris, who among other things, I gather, is a former weightlifter. I mean no disrespect. These books are apparently very popular; naturally I haven’t heard of them before this. They chronicle the unusual adventures of a telepathic Louisiana barmaid (already it’s getting good) named Sookie Stackhouse, whose backwoodsy hometown of Bon Temps is apparently infested with werewolves, witches, shape-shifters and, of course, vampires. In fact, the sheriff is a vampire. In fact, Sookie dates a vampire. Sex abuse and serial killing also crop up, but let’s stick with the supernaturals. Read more...