Entertainment Earth

12/22/2020

Shudder Viewers Raise More than $44,000 for Various Charities Via "Joe Bob Saves Christmas"!

Proceeds to Benefit The Trevor Project, The National Women’s Law Center,
The Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue and the Organization for Autism Research

 

New York, NY — December 22, 2020 — Fans of Shudder’s The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs have turned a shared love of Christmas horror movies into generous donations, totaling $44,327 in winning bids across twenty eBay charity auctions that were first announced during the December 11 premiere of the Shudder Original special, Joe Bob Saves Christmas

 

"I was amazed by the generosity of our Last Drive-In family, especially since many of the auction items had minimal to zero actual value and had meaning only to fans of the show. The opening bids were so high that many of our viewers were not rich enough to participate but went ahead and made separate individual donations to the four charities, so our final impact is far greater than we could ever have hoped for, especially in this tough year of 2020. It was truly a Christmas miracle,” said The Last Drive-In host, Joe Bob Briggs.

 

Twenty items in all were put up for auction during the five-hour special, which introduced new lots between segments of two holiday horror films, the 1989 French film Deadly Games (also known as Dial Code Santa Claus) and the 1980 slasher, Christmas Evil. The items ranged from one-of-a-kind signed props, like a replica Demons mask which went for $7,900, to more esoteric memorabilia, like Shadows, the 1986 vinyl LP recorded by Atanas Ilitch, the actor who played the driller killer in cult classic Slumber Party Massacre II, which sold for $1,025. 

 

The final tally will also include a personal donation of $1,000 from Briggs, an additional $2,000 raised from photos sold by The Last Drive-In’s “Darcy the Mail Girl,” and an uncounted number of direct contributions made by viewers.

 

All proceeds after eBay fees and shipping costs will be donated to the following charities: 

 

The Trevor Project, the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.

 

The National Women's Law Center, fighting for gender justice — in the courts, in public policy, and in society — working across the issues central to the lives of women and girls to change culture and drive solutions to gender inequity.

 

The Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, whose mission is to provide a safe and loving environment to all donkeys that have been abused, neglected or abandoned, as well as protecting wild burros under threat of destruction.

 

Organization For Autism Research, dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by autism by supporting research that produces meaningful and practical results.

 

More information on all items and auctions can be found at https://joebobsaveschristmas.com/.

 

On The Last Drive-In series and specials, Briggs, the world’s foremost drive-in movie critic, presents eclectic horror movie double features, interrupting the films to expound upon their merits, histories and significance to genre cinema. Shudder and Briggs first teamed up in July 2018, for a 24-hour marathon intended to be Briggs’ final farewell to televised movie hosting. Due to overwhelming popular demand, Shudder brought The Last Drive-In back as a series and holiday specials in 2019 and 2020, with each episode and special premiere trending in the top ten in the US on Twitter. A third season has been announced for 2021.

 

The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs is produced by Matt Manjourides and Justin Martell and directed by Austin Jennings.

12/17/2020

A Creepshow Holiday Special: Shapeshifters Anonymous (Episode Review)

Series Title: Creepshow
Episode Name: Shapeshifters Anonymous
Episode Season & Number: 2.1
Writer/ Director: Greg Nicotero (Based on a short story by J.A. Konrath)
Cast: Anna Camp, Adam Pally, Frank Nictero, Pete Burris, Candy McLellan, Derek Russo, Tom Glynn
Min: 46

Robert Weston (Adam Pally) goes to a secret support group, called Shapeshifters Anonymous, so that they may help him with his problem. You see, he believes that he is turning into a werewolf, and is, in fact, the serial killer that has been on the news lately. He soon learns that there are different types of shapeshifters. But, he also discovers that not only is Santa Claus real, but that he and his helpers hunt and kill shape shifters.

A Creepshow Holiday Special: Shapeshifters Anonyomous is a Chirstmas themed. nearly one hour long episode. Series runner Greg Nictero directed and wrote it based on the short story by J.A. Konrath. The result is a light-hearted and funny holiday special. Nictero gives it a wonderful use of bright, comic-book colors, like purple and blue. He also adds some awesome homages to classic werewolf movies, that horror fans will get a kick out of.

The acting from the whole cast is lively and entertaining. Adam Pally makes for a particularly likable lead character in Robert. We can relate to him, even if none of us actually turn into werewolves (at least I imagine none of us do). But, it is the lovely Anna (True Blood) Camp, who plays the chapter president Marina, that really stands out. She plays her in a very pleasing manner with just the right amount of flirty sexiness and likable sweetness.

As always KNB EFX knock the special effects out of the park! The creatures all look really cool and add to the fun factor. The epiosde also has some cool gore including ripping and tearing of flesh, head-shots, decapitations, and more!

A Creepshow Holiday Special: Shapeshifters Anonymous is a blast from the cool intro of the creep to the very last reel. The episode is light hearted and has a feel good sentiment that is perfect for the holiday season. To be honest, I couldn't help but smile while watching it. It is also highly imaginative with nice flourishes of gore. This episode is further aided by strong acting from the whole, including a wonderful Anna Camp, as well as stylish and colorful directing from Greg Nictero. It really ranks among the best episodes in this wonderful anthology series. Plus, I feel like this could become an annual Christmas season viewing tradition for me. Fellow horror fans are sure to have the same reaction, when the episode begins streaming this Friday, December 18, 2020 on Shudder


3.5 out of 4

12/07/2020

"Joe Bob Saves Christmas" Will Feature Charity Auction & Premieres Friday 12/11


‘JOE BOB SAVES CHRISTMAS’ TO FEATURE CHARITY AUCTION

Special Premieres This Friday at 9pm ET/6pm PT

New York, NY — December 7, 2020 — In the spirit of the holiday season, this Friday’s upcoming new The Last Drive-In Special, Joe Bob Saves Christmas, will feature unique memorabilia items available via online charity auction, Joe Bob Briggs announced today in a video posted to his social media accounts. The details of the items, charities and auction will be revealed during the special, which features a double bill of holiday horrors. Joe Bob Saves Christmas premieres Friday, December 11, at 9pm ET/6pm PT exclusively on the Shudder TV feed in the U.S. and Canada and will be available on demand on Shudder, including via the Shudder offering within the AMC+ bundle, beginning Sunday, December 13. The auction is expected to run until December 21. 

On The Last Drive-In series and specials, Briggs, the world’s foremost drive-in movie critic, presents eclectic horror movie double features, interrupting the films to expound upon their merits, histories and significance to genre cinema. Shudder and Briggs first teamed up in July 2018, for a 24-hour marathon intended to be Briggs’ final farewell to televised movie hosting. Due to overwhelming popular demand, Shudder brought The Last Drive-In back as a series and holiday specials in 2019 and 2020, with each episode and special premiere trending in the top ten in the US on Twitter. A third season has been announced for 2021. 

 

The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs is produced by Matt Manjourides and Justin Martell and directed by Austin Jennings.

 

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12/04/2019

WinterCon 2019 Part 1

On November 23, 2019, I was on hand, in my Captain America Infinity War cosplay, to cover this year's edition of WinterCon. While, usually held in December, this time around it was a month earlier. It didn't make any difference in how much fun the convention, itself was, though. It remains one of my favorites cons! Here are some of my favorite highlights that day:

First off whenever I run into a fellow Captain America cosplayer, I always get a pic with them. Or as I like to call it: Captain Americas unite!!

 Brian Magurno and myself

Meatloaf is always such an awesome Hydra Captain America!

The next pic has me posing with Barbie Chula, who I have actually shot a couple of times at various conventions. She always has the sickest and coolest cosplays, like the one below (Mary Shaw from James Wong's Dead Silence)! She is also cool as fucking hell!

 I mean now that Disney has the X-Men back with them, this seems very appropriate, wouldn't you say?
 I love this pic with Tommy C, as Simon Belmont! It came out so badass!

I honestly haven't seen Miss Cheng in a couple of years. So, it was great to run into her, in her awesome and sexy Kitana cosplay! I managed to snap a couple of pics of her, with a fellow lovely cosplayer (more of her later!), and with me. 




Here are a couple of more highlights:




I don't recall ever seeing a Count Dooku cosplay. As he is one of my favorite Star Wars characters, portrayed by favorite actor ever in the films, I absolutely LOVED this. The cosplayer truly did an excellent job here!






To be continued!!
Pics taken by Ken Pierce, Freddie, and myself.

12/05/2018

WinterCon 2018, Part 1: Celebrities and Cosplay

On December 1-2, 2018, the latest edition of WinterCon was held at the Resorts World Casino in Queens, New York. This convention has rapidly become one of my personal favorites. It is always a blast to go to, and this year was no different. I was on-hand as press on Saturday to bring you all the goings on. I should mention that I was also in full Punisher cos-play. If you're curious, it is my aunt who did my make-up. Anyway, on to my coverage:

The one celebrity whose autograph I got was Tsugutoshi Komada who played Jet Jaguar in the legendarily camp Godzilla Vs. Megalon. He signed my out of print Blu-ray of said movie.


Later that day, he was joined by Bin Furuya, who played Ultra Man. It was an awesome and fun panel that even had two cosplayers come up onstage and join them. This was a huge highlight of the con for my friends and me!



But, it wasn't just Kaiju fans that had a lot to rejoice, sci-fi, horror, comics, and wrestling were well represented at the con. And, speaking of wrestling Asuka was one of two WWE superstars on-hand (the other was Bray Wyatt) to meet fans and sign autographs. Of course, that bought out many wrestling fans, a few of which were in cosplay.



Star Wars fans had a lot to love as well. There guests from Star Wars: Rebels, as well as Colin Cantwell. Cantwell was the original concept artist for the first Star Wars movie. Cosplayers, including members of the 501 Legion, joined him in an epic picture.




"It's a trap!" Get it?

And, speaking of cosplay here are some more of my favorites at WinterCon:

 Yes, that is me, in my Punisher cosplay, battling Hella, who was cosplayed by Casterly Fox.
 This awesome and beautiful Jessica Jones asked me if she could pose with her Queen poster. As a fellow fan of the legendary band, I was like, "Of course, you can!"
 Beautiful Dizazter made for an awesome, badass, and hot Domino!  
Awesome cosplay by JellicleKacie, as Sabrina Spellman from Netflix's killer "The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina". I LOVE her little Salem!

And, we end the first half of my report with these awesome cosplayers, who were in the full holiday spirit!



To be continued...

12/17/2016

P2 (Review)

Title: P2
Director: Franck Khalfoun
Writers: Franck Khalfoun, Alexandre Aja, Gregory Levasseur
Cast: Wes Bentley, Rachel Nichols, Simon Reyonlds, Philip Akin
Year: 2007
Min: 98

It is Christmas Eve and Angela (Rachel Nichols), a young and beautiful business woman working in Manhattan, NY, is ready to head to her family's house for the holidays She soon realizes that her car isn't working and had to ask the parking attendant, Thomas (Wes Bentley), for some help. Unfortunately, nothing seems to be going her way. She is trapped inside the parking garage with and by Thomas who has a sick obsession with her. His violent, psychotic behavior terrifies her, and this Christmas Eve becomes a fight to escape with her life.
P2 is slow building and nail-biting, suspenseful, horror/ thriller. This sometimes overlooked movie really ranks among the best of the Christmas horror movies. Though simple in its structure and nature, it succeed thanks to tense directing and excellent acting.
Co-writer and director Franck Khalfoun slowly but surely builds on the tension. The movie increasingly keeps you on the edge, as it builds to the exciting and rousing climax. The use of the holiday of Christmas is great because it adds to making her ordeal of being trapped by him alone very real and believable. This is upped by choosing the parking garage as the setting of the film, which can be by their very nature desolate and creepy. That being said, we New Yorkers will wonder why she drives to work and not takes public transportation. In fact, this movie reaffirms my desire to never drive to the city!
While, there is not a huge body count, it is very violent and bloody. The first kill in particular is gruesome and realistic looking, thank to the excellent make-up FX. The movie's gruesome violence helps to raise the stakes and me it more shocking and white-knuckle experience.
Besides the nerve-shredding directing and excellent setting, the other true highlight is the acting. For the most part, the movie is a two person movie. And, you need excellent acting for this to truly work. Thank goodness then that both Wes Bentley and Rachel Nichols deliver this in droves. Bently is terrifying and creepy as fuck. On the drop of the dime he can realistically go from sweet to dangerously angry and threatening. But, even when he is being "nice" there remains an air of total creepiness. It's my favorite role of his.
Just like the role of Angela is my favorite of Rachel Nichols. In fact, she is one of my favorite final girls ever. Nichols plays her so believably and strongly that we cheer her on. She is vulnerable with the right amount of toughness; a good person caught in nightmarish situation. Of course, Nichols is absolutely gorgeous. I recently added the to this site's Horror Crushes, as she is most certainly a horror crush of anyone who sees this movie. And, let's call a spade a spade, she has some of the greatest cleavage that you will ever see in a horror flick. Both Nichols and Bentley pay so well of each other and have a great protagonist/ antagonist relationship that really drives the movie to the stratosphere.
P2 is a Christmas holiday season viewing tradition of mine for good reason. I've loved this movie since I first saw it as a blind buy when it first hit DVD. Suspenseful, violent, and with two superlative leads; it's a movie that deserves to be seated next to other holiday fear classics. If you have never seen it, you need to change that right fuckin now! And, if you have watched this nerve-shredder, watch it again. You need to make P2 part of your holiday viewing traditions as well. In all P2 holds an excellent level of holiday fear and tension.

3.5 out of 4